The other day in the Giant parking lot in New Garden, I heard a crash nearby, looked over, and saw that two cars backing out of their spots simultaneously had just collided. The Prius had a dent in its back bumper that repaired itself before my eyes, returning to its normal configuration as if nothing had happened; it was like a scene from Stephen King's horror novel "Christine." The other vehicle had some scrapes on its bumper that didn't look as if they would self-repair.
I remembered
one of my friend Paul's favorite maxims: "Parking lots are dangerous places,
so you should drive as quickly as possible and get out of them."
Saturday, March 19, 2016
NEWARK: A matter of pronunciation
A friend reports that she spent so much time on the phone the other day trying to resolve an email problem that she developed a certain joking rapport with the tech, named Hakim. He asked her to supply the answer to her "secret question," where she had met her husband.
"Newark," she replied (they both went to UD).
"Why are you saying it so funny?" asked the puzzled Hakim.
It turns out Hakim is from Newark, New Jersey, and didn't realize there were actually two cities by that name. Apparently it took him several attempts to pronounce it "the Delaware way"!
"Newark," she replied (they both went to UD).
"Why are you saying it so funny?" asked the puzzled Hakim.
It turns out Hakim is from Newark, New Jersey, and didn't realize there were actually two cities by that name. Apparently it took him several attempts to pronounce it "the Delaware way"!
Tuesday, March 15, 2016
FEEDBACK: An objection to my story
It seems a reader objected to my covering the Friends of the NRA banquet in Kennett Square on March 5 and wrote a letter to the editor about it. Alas, the writer did not give his or her name, expressing a fear of people with guns, so it couldn't be published.
I greatly appreciate the feedback and I'm happy that my column reaches a diverse group of readers. But just because I attend and cover an event doesn't mean I endorse it. If I only wrote about people and events of which I approved 100%, this would be a very short column indeed! (Then again, some would find that a good thing.)
I greatly appreciate the feedback and I'm happy that my column reaches a diverse group of readers. But just because I attend and cover an event doesn't mean I endorse it. If I only wrote about people and events of which I approved 100%, this would be a very short column indeed! (Then again, some would find that a good thing.)
Monday, March 14, 2016
CAKE: A talented baker!
Cakes & Candies by Maryellen created the spectacular cake I had Sunday afternoon at a teenage girl's birthday party. Not only was it gorgeous (it was frosted in ombre shades of pink) but it was delicious too. The cake part was moist (there were two layers, one chocolate and one vanilla), and the frosting was really good instead of that overly sweet icing you get so often.
Maryellen's bakery is at 1332 B West Chester Pike in West Goshen, near where Westtown Way intersects West Chester Pike.
Maryellen's bakery is at 1332 B West Chester Pike in West Goshen, near where Westtown Way intersects West Chester Pike.
Saturday, March 12, 2016
ODESSA: Heading north to freedom
I've been interested in the Underground Railroad ever since I wrote a report about Harriet Tubman in the fourth grade, so on March 11 I gave myself the day off from editing and drove down to Odessa, Del., to attend an open house at the Appoquinimink Friends Meeting House. In a hidden attic room of this tiny brick Quaker meeting house, slaves escaping from Maryland could hide until darkness fell and they could head farther north on their journey.
I climbed up the ladder to the attic and with a flashlight peered into the dark hiding space under the eaves, concealed by a panel. The freedom seekers had no heat and certainly no room to stand up. For the open house the Meeting put out some provisions, candles, a blanket and a chamber pot to give an idea of the conditions the slaves endured.
I thought about other chambers where people have hid from persecution over the years: "priest holes" in Great Britain in medieval days, and the Frank family's Secret Annexe in Amsterdam during WWII.
According to the Facebook page of Delaware Historic Preservation (where I got these photographs), "It is reputed that Harriet Tubman frequented this route as she led runaways from Dorchester County on Maryland's Eastern Shore, into Kent County, Delaware near Camden, north through Duck Creek, Blackbird, and to the vicinity of John Hunn's farm, the current site of Middletown High School."
The hostess, a member of Appoquinimink meeting, told us a little about the history of the meeting (which is still open for First Day worship) and about abolitionists in Delaware.
She asked where I was from and when I said I lived near London Grove Friends Meeting, she told me she had visited there two summers ago under somewhat dramatic circumstances. While she and her husband were driving through Chester County, a sudden cloudburst with ferocious wind hit. She was terrified and insisted that her husband pull off the road. They stopped at London Grove Meeting and sat on the bench on the porch until the storm abated. She said she left a note on the door thanking the Meeting for serving as a refuge.
I climbed up the ladder to the attic and with a flashlight peered into the dark hiding space under the eaves, concealed by a panel. The freedom seekers had no heat and certainly no room to stand up. For the open house the Meeting put out some provisions, candles, a blanket and a chamber pot to give an idea of the conditions the slaves endured.
I thought about other chambers where people have hid from persecution over the years: "priest holes" in Great Britain in medieval days, and the Frank family's Secret Annexe in Amsterdam during WWII.
According to the Facebook page of Delaware Historic Preservation (where I got these photographs), "It is reputed that Harriet Tubman frequented this route as she led runaways from Dorchester County on Maryland's Eastern Shore, into Kent County, Delaware near Camden, north through Duck Creek, Blackbird, and to the vicinity of John Hunn's farm, the current site of Middletown High School."
The hostess, a member of Appoquinimink meeting, told us a little about the history of the meeting (which is still open for First Day worship) and about abolitionists in Delaware.
She asked where I was from and when I said I lived near London Grove Friends Meeting, she told me she had visited there two summers ago under somewhat dramatic circumstances. While she and her husband were driving through Chester County, a sudden cloudburst with ferocious wind hit. She was terrified and insisted that her husband pull off the road. They stopped at London Grove Meeting and sat on the bench on the porch until the storm abated. She said she left a note on the door thanking the Meeting for serving as a refuge.
 |
| The Appoquinimink Friends Meeting House, built in 1785. |
 |
| This is the opening to the attic space where the Freedom Seekers hid. |
CHESHIRE: Side-saddle race at this year's event
The 71st running of the "Cheshire Races" will be held on Easter Sunday, March 27, at Plantation Field in Unionville. This year's races will have something new on the card: the Mrs. Miles B. Valentine Memorial Ladies Side Saddle Race. Among the participants, in addition to our local side-saddle enthusiasts, will be international competitor
Susan Oakes. According to the press release, "A display of tradition, elegance and bravery, this year’s race is run in honor of Mrs. Miles B. Valentine, who graced many hunt fields with her style, grace and unmatched horsemanship."
Gates open at 10 a.m. After the pony races and the Junior Field Master Chase, the side-saddle race is schedule to start at 12:30 p.m., followed by the Heavyweight Race at 1 p.m., the novice race at 1:30, the open timber race (the Cheshire Bowl) at 2 p.m., the ladies' race at 2:30, the foxhunter's timber race at 3 and the flat race at 3:30.
Proceeds benefit the Cheshire Hunt Conservancy.
Gates open at 10 a.m. After the pony races and the Junior Field Master Chase, the side-saddle race is schedule to start at 12:30 p.m., followed by the Heavyweight Race at 1 p.m., the novice race at 1:30, the open timber race (the Cheshire Bowl) at 2 p.m., the ladies' race at 2:30, the foxhunter's timber race at 3 and the flat race at 3:30.
Proceeds benefit the Cheshire Hunt Conservancy.
HISTORY: Cathy Q talks about Kennett agriculture
I was delighted to see that my friend Catherine Quillman, a writer, artist and historian who lives in West Chester, will be giving a talk entitled "Agricultural Roots: How We Grew What We Grew," at the Kennett Township Historical Commission's annual public program on Thursday, May 19. She'll be discussing 19th-century agriculture in Kennett Township. The program starts at 7 p.m. with light refreshments and fellowship at the
township building on Burrows Run Road.
Thank you to Fredda Pennock, treasurer of the commission, for alerting me to this event. I've been to several of these talks and they are quite interesting.
Thank you to Fredda Pennock, treasurer of the commission, for alerting me to this event. I've been to several of these talks and they are quite interesting.
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