There's an extremely friendly and animated older woman who's a regular at the Kennett Y. She talks to everyone, young and old, male and female, whether they speak English or not (I've even heard her try Italian). She obviously likes people and enjoys making connections.
I find her amusing and refreshing. The other day she came up to me and shared her secret for a happy life: she swims every day and prays the Rosary.
Speaking of the Kennett Y, they'll be hosting a huge swim meet, the "Dragon Fest Invitational," on Saturday, Nov. 4, and Sunday, Nov. 5. I've learned to steer clear of the Y on swim meet weekends because many of the exercise classes are cancelled; the building is packed with swimmers, siblings and parents; and every parking space/patch of grass/square of macadam is filled for blocks around.
Friday, October 27, 2017
TRAVEL: Security experts
I lead a largely quiet, simple life here in West Marlborough: naps, knitting, and Wawa soft pretzels are high up on my list of pleasures. So I was startled to receive a pamphlet from a company that, for $334 a year, wants to provide me with "crisis consultation and coordinated in-country response services" should I be the victim of kidnapping, blackmail and extortion, or wrongful detention in foreign countries.
I had to chuckle about the kidnapping part. Right: Good luck with getting my friends and family to pony up any ransom money!
I had to chuckle about the kidnapping part. Right: Good luck with getting my friends and family to pony up any ransom money!
ON HOLD: Hula dancers in paradise
I was on hold the other day with the death certificate office in the state's Department of Vital Statistics. The on-hold music was, of all things, luau music.
After a half-hour, I'd finally worked my way down from ten callers ahead of me to only one -- when a recorded message abruptly told me that the call volume was too busy and I should call back later.
Sigh.
I did so that afternoon, and this time the on-hold music was a easy-listening version of "Here Comes the Sun."
Someone in state government has a sense of humor.
After a half-hour, I'd finally worked my way down from ten callers ahead of me to only one -- when a recorded message abruptly told me that the call volume was too busy and I should call back later.
Sigh.
I did so that afternoon, and this time the on-hold music was a easy-listening version of "Here Comes the Sun."
Someone in state government has a sense of humor.
Wednesday, October 25, 2017
GUN CONTROL: Let's avoid stereotypes
An invitation to a Gun Sense Chester County meeting in Oxford came across my desk the other day. It gave the time and place and stated the group's purpose: "This is an educational event on the current status
of gun legislation. We invite gun owners and non-gun owners to come,
listen and engage in thoughtful dialogue, because we as a group feel
that common ground is the solution to reducing gun violence."
Then came what I found to be a jarring and ambiguous sentence: "There is a likelihood that in this particular venue that there may be some NRA members, and we hope the dialogue remains respectful."
I was reminded of a never-more-timely quotation from "Faith and Practice," the Quaker book of wisdom: "Much of the misunderstanding, fear, and hatred in the world stems from the common tendency to see ... groups as blocs, forgetting the varied and precious individuals who compose them."
Then came what I found to be a jarring and ambiguous sentence: "There is a likelihood that in this particular venue that there may be some NRA members, and we hope the dialogue remains respectful."
I was reminded of a never-more-timely quotation from "Faith and Practice," the Quaker book of wisdom: "Much of the misunderstanding, fear, and hatred in the world stems from the common tendency to see ... groups as blocs, forgetting the varied and precious individuals who compose them."
Sunday, October 22, 2017
WEST GROVE: Chicken dinner
The West Grove-Avondale Rotarians were a model of efficiency on Wednesday evening as they assembled takeout bags of BBQ chicken for their fundraiser at Fred S. Engle Middle School in West Grove. And a tasty meal it was: a half-chicken, a roll, baked beans, pickled mushrooms, coleslaw and chocolate-chip cookies. I took home two dinners and only needed to add some steamed spinach.
KENNETT: A cheerful breakfast
At a fundraising breakfast I attended this past weekend, one of the prominent questions on the obligatory evaluation form warmed my heart: Please rate the quality of the coffee. Clearly, this is a not-for-profit group that has its priorities straight. (The coffee was very good. As were the eggs, potatoes and bacon!)
The event venue was the Red Clay Room, and as usual, I was impressed with how efficiently the staff got all of us fed -- this was a packed room full of people who wanted to socialize.
The event venue was the Red Clay Room, and as usual, I was impressed with how efficiently the staff got all of us fed -- this was a packed room full of people who wanted to socialize.
NEW GARDEN: Voters will decide on library tax
The Kennett Library (aka the Bayard Taylor Memorial Library) is once again asking New Garden Township residents to approve a library tax referendum. Voters in Kennett Township and East Marlborough Townships approved a similar tax years ago, but so far New Garden residents have rejected it. (When I served on the library board in the 1990s and we ran an unsuccessful referendum, the main objection from New Garden residents seemed to be that most of them live so close to Delaware that they used the Hockessin Library rather than the Kennett one.)
A "yes" vote on the referendum on Tuesday, Nov. 7, would mean increasing New Garden's current 1.62-mill real estate tax by 0.1000 mills. That would mean an annual increase of $20 for a resident whose home is assessed at $200,000, $30 for an assessment of $300,000 and $40 for an assessment of $400,000.
The library board's argument is that a dedicated library tax provides a predictable, stable source of funding. Relying exclusively on fundraising, in contrast, is "costly, uneven, time consuming and puts the operating costs on a small number of givers. That model is rarely sustainable in developed areas like ours and throughout Chester County which uses libraries heavily and expects an extensive and very professional array of services."
A "yes" vote on the referendum on Tuesday, Nov. 7, would mean increasing New Garden's current 1.62-mill real estate tax by 0.1000 mills. That would mean an annual increase of $20 for a resident whose home is assessed at $200,000, $30 for an assessment of $300,000 and $40 for an assessment of $400,000.
The library board's argument is that a dedicated library tax provides a predictable, stable source of funding. Relying exclusively on fundraising, in contrast, is "costly, uneven, time consuming and puts the operating costs on a small number of givers. That model is rarely sustainable in developed areas like ours and throughout Chester County which uses libraries heavily and expects an extensive and very professional array of services."
HOBBIES: Out of my depth
I love discovering that my friends have unexpected talents. On Saturday, for instance, a friend told me he has won several meatloaf competitions. Who even knew there was such a thing?!
And I learned that my friend Arthur Schless, who recently moved with his wife, Suzanne, from Newlin to Crosslands, creates cryptic crosswords. I solve some pretty challenging crossword puzzles, if I do say so myself, but I can't even touch cryptics. Literally, I cannot figure out a single answer. It's humbling. Arthur, who is a retired psychiatrist, recently contributed a puzzle called "Swirl" to puzzlecrypt.com, which is run by master puzzler John de Cuevas.
And I learned that my friend Arthur Schless, who recently moved with his wife, Suzanne, from Newlin to Crosslands, creates cryptic crosswords. I solve some pretty challenging crossword puzzles, if I do say so myself, but I can't even touch cryptics. Literally, I cannot figure out a single answer. It's humbling. Arthur, who is a retired psychiatrist, recently contributed a puzzle called "Swirl" to puzzlecrypt.com, which is run by master puzzler John de Cuevas.
SIGNS: Hard-earned money
I was amused by two fiscal signs I spotted along Route 113 on our travels this weekend.
"We meet needs, not quotas," read a sign at a bank, an obvious jab at the recent scandal in which Wells Fargo salespeople opened accounts without customers' permission just so they could meet unrealistic sales targets.
And in front of an accountant's office was a wooden cutout of a figure struggling with the heavy sack slung over his shoulder. Except it wasn't Santa bringing toys, it was Uncle Sam taking away our tax dollars. Ouch.
"We meet needs, not quotas," read a sign at a bank, an obvious jab at the recent scandal in which Wells Fargo salespeople opened accounts without customers' permission just so they could meet unrealistic sales targets.
And in front of an accountant's office was a wooden cutout of a figure struggling with the heavy sack slung over his shoulder. Except it wasn't Santa bringing toys, it was Uncle Sam taking away our tax dollars. Ouch.
PHOENIXVILLE: The Year of the Cat
We spent Saturday evening in downtown Phoenixville. We ate at Molly Maguire's Irish Restaurant & Pub, during which we were treated to a wholly unexpected and dazzling fireworks display (it was from a private party). The poor little terrier at the table next to us was terrified. Her owner cuddled her and tried to cover her ears through the lengthy and very loud display.
After dinner we headed over the newly expanded Colonial Theatre to hear Al Stewart perform all of the songs from his classic 1976 "Year of the Cat" album. He didn't play them in the order they are on the record, so toward the end I felt like a card-counter at a blackjack table: "OK, the only songs left are 'One Stage Before' or 'Year of the Cat'."
Al's supporting band was called the Empty Pockets, and I don't think I've ever seen a happier drummer than Danny Rosenthal: though he was working really hard, he kept grinning through pretty much the whole show. He appeared to be just a few years older than the Young Relative and seemed fully aware of his good fortune in getting to tour with such a top-notch performer. And Marc Macisso's sax solo during "Year of the Cat" was thrilling.
After dinner we headed over the newly expanded Colonial Theatre to hear Al Stewart perform all of the songs from his classic 1976 "Year of the Cat" album. He didn't play them in the order they are on the record, so toward the end I felt like a card-counter at a blackjack table: "OK, the only songs left are 'One Stage Before' or 'Year of the Cat'."
Al's supporting band was called the Empty Pockets, and I don't think I've ever seen a happier drummer than Danny Rosenthal: though he was working really hard, he kept grinning through pretty much the whole show. He appeared to be just a few years older than the Young Relative and seemed fully aware of his good fortune in getting to tour with such a top-notch performer. And Marc Macisso's sax solo during "Year of the Cat" was thrilling.
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