Monday, May 29, 2017

KENNETT: Honoring those who gave all

I am writing this on deadline, so I don't have much time to describe the Kennett Square Memorial Day parade on Monday. Suffice it to say that (1) it was wonderful and well-attended despite the drizzle, (2) a lot of kids seem to be involved in Scouts, Little League, and martial arts, and (3) the gigantic Army tank rolling north on Union Street was just amazing.

LONGWOOD: The fireworks are back!

Longwood Gardens celebrated its newly reopened fountains display with a spectacular, sold-out fireworks and fountains show on Saturday night.
We had a great time watching the fireworks from our usual "cheap seats" (our car in the parking lot of the former Superfresh shopping center), and we especially liked the ultra-loud, ultra-bright ones, the squiggly, fizzy ones, and the multi-colored ones.
But our friends who managed to buy tickets and experienced the full show from inside the Gardens could not come up with enough superlatives to describe the vastly upgraded, amazingly creative fountains and sound system. "Best in the world" was one of the more restrained phrases they used. They didn't even mind the fact that they got soaking wet.

KENNETT: Slaves seeking freedom


The Kennett Underground Railroad Center asked me to mention that they are once again offering two-hour-long guided bus tours on June 18, July 16, Aug. 20, and Sept. 17 (all Sundays). The Underground Railroad, a network of people who helped slaves to escape from the South, was very active in our area from 1830 to 1860.
"View select Underground Railroad sites, historic homes and Quaker Meetinghouses while learning about local abolitionists, both African-American and white, and activity that went on in this area."
Advance reservations are required; requested donation is $20 for adults and $15 for youth. For more information: 484-544-5070 (phone); info@kennettundergroundrr.org (email); www.kennettundergroundrr.org (website).

Friday, May 26, 2017

UHS: May Play Society presents "Sweeney Todd"


Be careful before you accept any locally made meat pies: the murderous Demon Barber of Fleet Street and baker Mrs. Lovett are coming to the Unionville High School auditorium. The high school's May Play Society is presenting the Sondheim musical "Sweeney Todd" at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 2, and Saturday, June 3. Admission is free.
Mary Paxton-Boeni, the show's costume director, filled me in on the May Play Society's history. It was formed in 2008 when then-freshman Domingo Mancuello gathered a group of friends to put on "An Evening of Monty Python," a show directed, produced, funded, and performed entirely by students. Since 2008 UHS Spanish teacher Julie Hawkes (and Domingo’s mother) has served as the faculty sponsor for the group. Each year a senior assumes the role of director/producer, and this year it is David DeMarco.
(Domingo went on to study, direct, and perform at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and is now working with the Fulton Theatre in Lancaster.)
 

EAST MARLBOROUGH: Tough Mudder, tough ladies

So two of my friends who did the Tough Mudder competition on May 21 at Plantation Field not only survived the arduous race but fully intend to sign up for it again ASAP.
I saw them at the Kennett YMCA on Thursday evening, several days after the event, and although their bruises and scrapes were starting to fade, they were still on adrenaline highs as they described clambering up mud banks, diving into a pit filled with ice water and swinging from ropes.
One woman said the obstacles in the first part of the course involved mud, the second involved water, so by the end "you were actually pretty clean!" (Now there's a recommendation.)
Her teammate, who had her hair specially braided for the event in an awesome warrior style, said she broke a toe but in all the excitement didn't even realize it until days later.

SCAMS: Inexcusable rich!

Of all the get-rich-quick spam emails I've received -- and immediately blocked -- this is probably the funniest, just because it is so awkwardly written and so obviously bogus:
"As I can remember I always wanted to sprawl on the beach, sip on a cocktail and know that my bank account goes from strength to strength. But my dreams would remain just dreams if one guy didn't give me the recipe for my happiness.
Damn it! I become inexcusable rich! And I'll feel guilty if I didn't tell about how it works to someone else. Today fell's your chance."
As my father always used to say, "Right. From the movie `Fat Chance'!"

UNIONVILLE: A science fair winner, and crazy drivers

Lew Kinter of Unionville was kind enough to pass along two interesting bits of news.
The first is that UHS senior Sagar Maheshwari, age 18, received the Grand Award, Third Place (which carries a $1,000 prize) at this year's Intel International Science Fair in Los Angeles on May 19. Sagar's project, in the Computational Biology and Bioinformatics division, was entitled "SiteKey: A Novel Binding Site Predictor for Ordered Proteins Interacting with Intrinsically Disordered Proteins."
"Congratulations to Sagar and Unionville HS!" writes Lew, who is a member of the Board of Directors and a long-time science fair judge of Delaware Valley Science Fairs. 
Second, he issued a warning to motorists and bicyclists about the intersection in the middle of Unionville where Route 162 and Wollaston Road cross Route 82.
He writes, "The most unusual numbers of drivers that I’ve observed in my 66 years do not even slow down, let alone stop before crossing this intersection! ‘California Roll' is California Run, and many are obviously preoccupied with their hand-held devices. Be super careful at this intersection and do not assume that opposing drivers will stop!"
Excellent advice, and I am happy to share it. I know that Chief Robert "Clarkie" Clarke and the entire East Marlborough police force are well aware of this situation.

UNIONVILLE: Where's the bulletin board?

What happened to the bulletin board at the Unionville Post Office?
As long as I can remember this has been an important source of local information -- events, blood drives, cars and horses for sale, apartments for rent, lost dogs, municipal meetings, and so forth -- and many people in the community have told me they're quite unhappy that it was removed.
Perhaps the powers-that-be might reconsider their decision?  

AVONDALE: Informed consumers

The other night we stopped in at Perkins on Route 41 in Avondale for a quick dinner before doing some target shooting next door at TSS (so convenient!), and I was dismayed to find that Perkins has added calorie counts to the menu. All of my favorites clocked in at upwards of 800 calories. You want fries with that? That'll be 470 extra calories!
I ended up ordering a garden salad and a chicken-salad sandwich on half a roll, which I think totalled about 500 calories. 
My dinner companion, who works hard at his physical job and is thus not so constrained by numbers on a menu, ordered a thick, delicious-looking pork chop with broccoli and a baked potato. I stole his roll and ate it the next day.
I should add that although the food-lover in me is unhappy, the healthy side of me actually appreciates knowing the nutrition information. At least I can weigh whether that the chilly deliciousness of a small chocolate Frosty milkshake at Wendy's is really worth 340 calories, or a chewy, salty Wawa soft pretzel (paired with a large Diet Coke) is worth 320 calories. 
And speaking of new menus, La Pena Mexicana on West Cypress Street in Kennett Square has expanded its offerings as well. The Mexican restaurant remains a great bargain, with terrific food and a homey atmosphere. They were doing a great business, both takeout and in the restaurant, on Saturday night when we stopped in for dinner.

UNIONVILLE: Parade for rescue dogs

There's going to be a parade of rescue dogs in the ring at Plantation Field at noon Wednesday, June 21, with prizes awarded for the oldest dog, the youngest dog, and the dog from farthest away. The parade is being held in conjunction with the "Jump for Rescues" horse schooling show (proceeds benefit local dog rescue groups), but anyone is welcome to bring his or her rescue dog. I attended the parade last year as a spectator and enjoyed seeing the wide variety of canines.
Plantation Field is at 387 Green Valley Road in Unionville.
Thank you to Kathleen Crompton for telling me about this event!

Sunday, May 21, 2017

WEST MARLBOROUGH: The extended Plant Sale

London Grove Monthly Meeting had to extend its annual plant sale because sales and attendance took such a heavy hit due to the rain on May 13, the actual day of the sale. I stopped by the Meetinghouse on the afternoon of May 19, and the weather could not have been more different: it was hot and sunny. Several Friends, including Betsy Walker, Elinor Thomforde, Denis Newbold, Mark Myers and Leona Provinski, were striking the tents and carting away the last of the tables.
Betsy Walker asked me to mention that the proceeds from the sale benefit several local groups, such as Kennett Area Community Service, the Tick Tock Early Learning Center in Toughkenamon, the Kennett Area Senior Center, His Mission in Kennett Square, and La Communidad Hispana. I contributed my part by going home with some leftover herbs and a few pots of irises.

ROUTE 41: Road project

On Monday, June 12, PennDOT will be holding "an open house meeting" to discuss its plans for the Route 41/Route 926 intersection in Londonderry Township (one of several local intersections I avoid as much as possible). According to the email I received, "PennDOT representatives and its design engineering team will be present to receive your ideas and answer questions." The meeting will be from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Londonderry Township building, 103 Daleville Road, Cochranville.
PennDOT has come up with four alternatives for the intersection, which you can see at the meeting or on the website (www.pa41.com).

KENNETT: Summer concert schedule

The summer schedule has been announced for the free Wednesday-night concerts at the amphitheater at Anson B. Nixon Park:
June 21: Eric Ambel
June 28: Ben Arnold (folk-rock singer-songwriter)
July 5: Kategory 5 (1970s and 1980s music)
July 12: Bryan Tuk (big-band jazz)
July 19: Grady Hoss & the Sidewinders (alt-country/classic country)
July 26: The GTV's (garage rock)
August 2: Kofi Baker's Cream Experience
August 9: The West Chester Band (pops orchestra)
The music starts at 7 p.m. and runs until 9 p.m.; we usually get there earlier to get a good spot and to socialize before the show. Food is available from a different vendor each week, or you can bring your own picnic supper. People bring lawn chairs and blankets. Kids and dogs are welcome.





SPRING GULCH: Time for outdoor music

On Saturday we headed up to the Spring Gulch Folk Festival in Lancaster County and listened to a wide variety of music, from "Brazilian bluegrass" to zydeco, Appalachian Mountain harmonies, Southern rock, and social justice anthems.
One duo, Mark Mandeville and Raianne Richards, said they like to walk from town to town, with their instruments, just so they can explore small-town America.
The high-energy band Matuto -- they had members of the audience dancing and kicking in a conga line -- travels, too: around the world as cultural ambassadors for the U.S. State Department.
The old-time fiddle and banjo duo Sam Greaves and Tyler Hughes sang the moving "Ain't We Brothers" and "Just Like Jordan." 
My favorite act was the Snyder Family Band out of North Carolina. The father plays upright bass, his daughter plays fiddle, and his sons play banjo and guitar. They were terrific, and after their set the merchandise table was swamped with folks like me buying their CD.
The Spring Gulch Resort Campground where the fest is held is a lovely, sprawling, hilly place, so people parked their RVs at their assigned spot and then drove down to the field using golf carts. There was a definite 1960s contingent in evidence, like the circle of guys with gray ponytails and tie-dyed shirts playing hackysack while holding their drinks.
The family sitting in front of us spanned three generations and brought along Chloe, their low-key, 10-year-old dog.
Although many of the RVers went back to their campsites for dinner, the on-site food vendors included Rita's water ice, Auntie Anne's pretzels, funnel cakes, freshly grilled burgers, pulled pork sandwiches, and home-made whoopee-pies (I had a mocha one, so tasty!).
I was fascinated by the way they produced the corkscrew French fries: the woman impaled a whole raw potato onto a rod connected to a driver, which propelled it into a spiralizing blade. Seriously, the Dewalt tool company needs to use that in an ad.
We were really impressed by the campground personnel, who although they were busy remained cheerful, efficient, and laid-back. Spring Gulch has a New Holland address, but it took us only a half-hour to get there from Unionville. (The 10 p.m. trip home was a little longer; thank goodness for GPS.)

OVERHEARD: I want specifics!

So I was driving down State Street on Friday evening, and as usual traffic was slow because there were so many people visiting downtown Kennett. I was stopped in the middle of the block, in front of La Verona, where every table on the sidewalk was filled with diners.
One woman was reading an email out loud to her female companion ... and to everyone else within earshot, including me in my vehicle.
Some kind of unpleasantness had transpired between the woman and the author of the email; at one point the author said it was "my prerogative" to behave the way he or she had. The author wrapped up by explaining that although the email was much longer than intended, he/she still felt that he/she had done nothing wrong and was not going to apologize.
I was really sorry when the light changed and I had to drive off. I wanted more details, and I am sure a lively discussion ensued, considering the rapt interest that the woman's friend was displaying.

SPORTS: Another PR for the YR

The Young Relative wrapped up his season with a career-best performance at the District 1 track and field meet at Coatesville Area High School on Saturday morning. Thankfully, the weather had cooled off considerably from the previous few days, and the only thing that was blistering was the pace of the athletes.
All season long my family and I had a wonderful time watching the UHS boys and girls compete; witnessing their dedication, effort, camaraderie and sportsmanship never got old.

Thursday, May 18, 2017

DUPLICATES: Identity politics

The other day I was picking up a package and the friendly clerk asked for my name. There's another local woman with the same name as mine, who shops at many of the same stores I do, so to be safe he also asked for my address and birth date.
The computer was slow, and while we were waiting he told me that name confusion had led to some major hassles for him when he was applying for a mortgage. Apparently a man with the same name had a seriously spotty credit record, including defaulting on a liquor license. After many phone calls he convinced the bank that he was not in fact miscreant, and he was eventually able to buy his house.

COUNTRY LIFE: Suddenly it's summer

As I'm writing this, the temperature in my office is 87.4 degrees. The sudden heat doesn't bother me, but poor Clarence has abandoned his cozy fleece perch and is sprawled in the corner of the room, with a fan blowing on him.
The transition to summer-like warmth has certainly been an abrupt one, and with it my life has suddenly become outdoor-focused. Within a half-hour after I put out fresh nectar in the back yard, not only one but two male hummingbirds showed up. The wren babies have hatched in the birdhouse -- a faint cheeping noise is audible -- and the parents are working hard to keep them fed. The pansies in my window boxes and planters, which were thriving just days ago, look distinctly wilted. 
That faint yellow pollen dust that is coating every surface spells trouble for allergy sufferers.
The other day I was chatting to a front-desk clerk and she mentioned how miserable this time of year is for her. I asked her if spending the day in an air-conditioned office helps at all.
"Not really," she said, with deep resignation. "It gets in somehow."

Sunday, May 14, 2017

MISPLACED: Where are they?

As I was leaving the restaurant after Mother's Day breakfast, I couldn't find my sunglasses and returned to the table to see if I'd left them there.
They weren't. I re-checked my bag, and sure enough there they were.
The waiter was amused. "Did you ever think you'd lost them and then you realize they're sitting on your head?" he asked.
No, I replied. I certainly have never done such a thing. Nope. Never. Not me.

EAST MARLBOROUGH: Willowdale Steeplechase

In contrast to the pouring rain on Saturday, Sunday was a warm and sunny day for the 25th running of the Willowdale Steeplechase.
A highlight this year was the Miss Nancy Nicholas Memorial Side Saddle Race ("2 miles over timber"), in which the jockeys wear old-fashioned jackets and ankle-length skirts (and, fortunately, modern protective vests and helmets) and ride and jump with both of their legs on one side of the horse, rather than astride. We were in awe of the skill, balance and strength of these amazing equestrians. The winner was Julie Nafe on Mccradys, owned and trained by Lauren Schock.
We've been to Willowdale many times, but by happenstance this year we found that the best vantage point for watching the races is really on top of the hill. True, you don't get the close-up view of the horses galloping by, but you do get to see a lot more of the race course.
Socializing is, of course, a big part of the steeplechase experience, and I thank the folks who fed us (and very well). The tailgate displays were lovely, with scrumptious-looking food and beautifully arranged flowers. One nostalgic party of tailgaters came dressed as 1960s hippies, complete with headbands, love beads and leather vests, and brought along a bubble machine.
The energetic little kids, many carrying stick ponies, are always fun to watch, as are the canines. One Lab was having a great time splashing around in the creek near the fence line, and we spotted a huge mastiff, a Bernese Mountain Dog, a Vizsla, several dachshunds, and a very handsome Rhodesian ridgeback. We weren't sure what breed the latter was until we saw the distinctive line of whorled, against-the-grain fur on his back.

WEST MARLBOROUGH: Charlie Zahm concert

Local balladeer Charlie Zahm and fiddler Tad Marks will be performing from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 21, at London Grove Friends Meeting. Charlie and Tad have a vast repertoire of songs, from traditional Celtic to hits of the 1960s, but on Sunday they will be singing "lots of traditional songs from across the world." The concert will be held indoors in case of rain or outdoors if it's sunny. A $10 donation is suggested.

 


RIP: Thank you, Chief

My deepest condolences to the family of Ed Zunino, the former Kennett Square police chief who died Friday, May 12. I got to know Eddie (and his wife, Lois) years ago when I was working as a police reporter, and he was always pleasant, humble, smart and fair. He was always available to answer my questions, and if he couldn't he'd explain why. He was a well-respected gentleman and a great, hard-working cop.

WEST MARLBOROUGH: The Plant Sale

Quakers have a reputation for being hardy folks, and that quality was certainly on display Saturday morning at the London Grove Friends Meeting's annual Plant Sale. I've been attending the plant sale for more than 25 years and can never recall such steady, heavy rain. Even though they were cold, muddy and soaking wet despite their foul-weather gear, the Friends remained cheerful and welcoming.
We arrived at about 8:30 a.m. and Mark and Anna Myers' field was already so muddy and rutted that cars were getting stuck. We went inside the meeting house, bought breakfast sandwiches and coffee, and then made an abbreviated tour of the sale, saying hello to Betsy Walker, Jill Benjamin, Margaret Walton, Tammy Brosius, Pat and Doug Mooberry, Grace Pfeifer, Dale Hendricks, and Kelli Trice.
Attendance and sales were so dampened by the weather that the sale was extended for a few more days.

TRACK: The Post-Season

It's on to the District track meet this Saturday, May 20, for the Young Relative! Thankfully the competition will be held close by, at the Coatesville High School stadium. We attended the League meet on May 10, also at Coatesville, and as always had a great time cheering for the YR and his team-mates. 
Sitting near us in the stands was a serious-looking man with binoculars, a stopwatch, several electronic devices, a clipboard and a bunch of binders. Who else could it be, we speculated hopefully, but a college scout!

KENNETT SQUARE: Invasive plants


The Four Seasons Garden Club of Kennett Square has asked me to mention that Kelly Sitch, a botanist from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, will be giving a talk about invasive plants in our area and their impact on the environment at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 7, at the Episcopal Church of the Advent in Kennett Square. The public is welcome.
 

WEST MARLBOROUGH: Living history

I have the honor of being a Board member at Primitive Hall, the wonderful 18th-century Pennock homestead in West Marlborough, and on Saturday afternoon I was giving a tour to a group of ladies from the Chester County branch of the Daughters of the American Revolution. With great enthusiasm I told them that over Memorial Day weekend a group of Revolutionary War re-enactors would be camping out at the Hall. Then I realized that these particular re-enactors are, in fact, British troops ... D'oh!

Loyalists and rebels alike are welcome to stop by and visit with the re-enactors, who portray the members of His Majesty's 40th Regiment, Light Infantry Company. Activities will include building brush huts, roll calls, marching, weapons and tactical drill, cooking, sewing, washing and hygiene, and they will be dressed in uniforms or period clothing throughout the weekend. They've told us that they love having modern visitors.
The Hall (830 N. Chatham Rd.) will be open to the public from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Saturday, May 27, free of charge. And that evening, adults can join the Company's officers inside the Hall for "Pub Night": "taste ciders, grog, and British ales and try your hand at card games played by British officers during the War for Independence." Pub Night admission is $25.

KITCHEN: There is such a thing as too efficient

I made brownies on Saturday and, opening the utility drawer to get a spatula, I noticed that one I had never used before had made its way to the top of the pile of implements. It's a newfangled one, with a flexible silicone scraper, and it was so well designed and efficient that it removed absolutely every trace of delicious gooey chocolate batter from the bowl.
Who sees the downside here?

MOTHER'S DAY: A good answer

A gym friend reports that, in preparation for Mother's Day, the members of her four-year-old son's preschool class were asked what their mothers' "superpowers" were. Her son's answer? "She goes to class at the Y." The mom's heart was instantly melted.

Sunday, May 7, 2017

PARTIES: The season for outdoor live music

I perceive that the outdoor party season is upon us. Around 9:30 p.m. Saturday night I heard the familiar rhythmic thumping that told me that somebody, not too far away, was hosting a shindig with live music, and possibly something to do with the fact that it was Derby Day. I doubt the revelers were put off by the chilly weather.
Earlier in the evening we were in West Chester and stopped in for dinner at Mabel's BBQ on East Market Street. They told us they were swamped with takeout orders for Derby Day parties. Mabel said she had been cooking since 6:30 that morning!

BIRDS: Where are the hummers?

Do you have hummingbirds yet? A few weeks ago my mother reported seeing a male hummingbird in her garden, so I immediately put out my feeder. Neither one of us has had a single visitor since, though. However, we're still changing our nectar regularly. The wonderful little creatures will be here soon enough.

GARDEN: Hairy Bittercress

Hairy Bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta) is the name of that grass-like weed that has been flourishing in garden beds and lawns this spring. It's new to me, though a gardening friend in Landenberg reports that he has been dealing with it for at least five years.
Probably its most notable feature is its multiple skinny, inch-long seed pods along each stalk. Just try uprooting it and it will forcefully shoot out hundreds of seeds -- hence its nickname, shotweed.
According to the Gardening Know How website, "The leaves are alternate and slightly scalloped with the largest at the base of the plant. Tiny white flowers develop at the ends of the stems and then turn into long seedpods. These pods split open explosively when ripe and fling seeds out into the environment. The weed prefers cool, moist soil and is most prolific after early spring rains. The weeds spread quickly but their appearance reduces as temperatures increase. The plant has a long, deep taproot, which makes pulling them out manually ineffective."

Saturday, May 6, 2017

WEST MARLBOROUGH: Traffic study to be updated

Once again, traffic was the major topic of discussion at the monthly meeting of the West Marlborough Township Board of Supervisors.  The supervisors agreed to hire traffic engineer Al Federico of Kimley Horn to update the traffic study he conducted in 2011. The cost of the update will be $3,350, and gathering new traffic numbers would cost $350 per location.
The updated study will focus on Route 842 between Route 841 and the township line; Newark Road between Route 926 and Route  842; Springdell Road between Route 841 and the township line; and Route 841 between Route 926 and Route 82.
The supervisors made the decision in the face of steadily increasing traffic volumes and speeds through the township, and possible improvements at the intersection of Baltimore Pike and Newark Road in neighboring New Garden Township.
Bill Wylie, who chairs the Board of Supervisors, said the supervisors will use the data to review possible steps the township could take to control traffic, such as installing four-way stop signs, lowering speed limits, and assuming maintenance responsibilities for roads that are currently owned by the state.

WEST MARLBOROUGH: Those dusty days of summer

Even though the "No Winter Maintenance" signs haven't been taken down yet, the West Marlborough road crew is already preparing for summer dust-oil season. (Oil keeps the dust on the gravel roads from billowing up.) At their May meeting, the supervisors discussed what kind of oil they will be using this season and the schedule for preparing and treating the roads.
"If we're going to have dirt roads, we have to maintain them," said supervisor Bill Wylie.
Also, roadmaster and supervisor Hugh Lofting Sr. reported that the long-anticipated Rokeby Road project should finally get underway this autumn. The edge of the road has been gradually eroding and falling down a steep bank toward the Buck Run. The reconstruction project will stabilize it.

JEANS: Out of touch

You may have heard that the department store Nordstrom recently started selling $425 jeans that are covered with fake mud -- as they describe it, "a crackled, caked-on muddy coating."
How tone-deaf can you get! Deep scorn was the reaction from several local friends who regularly get their Tractor Supply jeans covered with not only actual mud but also manure, grease and other actual products of manual labor.
And frankly, I think Unionville mud should command a premium.

 

EAST MARLBOROUGH: New car wash

People keep asking me what's being built on Onix Drive near the Kennett Walmart, the Applebee's, the Bank of America and the Hilton Garden Inn. No, it's not another bank or drugstore. It's going to be a car wash.

A car wash is being built next to the Hilton Garden Inn east of Kennett Square.

SCHEDULE: So much to do!

I have a whole slew of upcoming events to tell you about, so I'll just list them in order:
-- 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, May 11: Walt Chiquoine will talk about the route that the British Army took to the get to the Battle of the Brandywine in September 1777. Presented by the Kennett Township Historical Commission, the lecture will be held at the township building, 801 Burrows Run Road. Free, with refreshments.
-- 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 13, 2017: the annual Plant Sale at London Grove Friends Meeting House at the intersection of Route 926 and Newark Road. For me, this wonderful event is as much a community get-together as a plant sale. Get there as early as possible for the best selection of plants; the socializing is up to you. There's also a bake sale and coffee.
-- 9 a.m. Saturday, May 27: West Grove Memorial Day Parade. Starts in the Avon-Grove High School parking lot, travels north on Prospect Avenue, and ends at the memorial plaza at East Evergreen Street and Exchange Place.
-- 10 a.m. Monday, May 29: Kennett Square Memorial Day Parade. Starting at 10 a.m. at the Kennett High School, the parade travels north on Union Street, turns right onto Cypress Street, left onto Broad Street, left onto State Street, on right onto North Union Street. A memorial service follows at the Union Hill Cemetery on North Union Street.
-- 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, June 3: Open house at Marlborough Friends Meeting, 361 Marlborough Road, Kennett Square. The schedule is: 2:30 p.m. introduction to Quakerism; 3 p.m., panel of Friends discussing their experiences; 4 p.m., lecture by author Doug Gwyn on "The Quaker View of Christian Revelation; 5 p.m., brief Meeting for Worship; 5:30 p.m., dinner provided by the Meeting; 7 p.m. Meeting for Worship.
-- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 3: Bayard Taylor Home & Garden Tour. This year's tour focuses on the Unionville area. Tickets ($40) are available at the Kennett Library, 216 East State Street, Kennett Square.