Saturday, September 3, 2016
FEEDBACK: Hearing from my readers
As expected when I venture into the realm of religion, I got some criticism regarding the "Jesus Is My Prozak" item in last week's column. Letter-writers informed me that I was a bully and a bad Christian, questioned my understanding of both freedom of speech and metaphor, and suggested I had overreacted. Another letter-writer displayed an impressive knowledge of Bible quotes.
SUNFLOWERS: Yellow journalism in Maryland
The mother of all sunflower fields is at the intersection of Hess Road and Jarrettsville Pike in Monkton, Maryland. A photographer friend told me about it, and even though I was expecting something special, I gasped when I first saw it: it's an ocean of yellow stretching out to the horizon.
The field is about 55 miles southwest of Unionville, and you're on Route 1 for most of the trip (it's about a half-hour beyond the Conowingo Dam).
On the Friday afternoon when I drove down, a lot of people had pulled off on the side of the road to marvel at the sight and take photographs. The Royal Farms convenience store just across the street seemed to be doing a land-office business.
The field is about 55 miles southwest of Unionville, and you're on Route 1 for most of the trip (it's about a half-hour beyond the Conowingo Dam).
On the Friday afternoon when I drove down, a lot of people had pulled off on the side of the road to marvel at the sight and take photographs. The Royal Farms convenience store just across the street seemed to be doing a land-office business.
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| This stunning sunflower field is in Monkton, Maryland. |
Friday, September 2, 2016
5K RACE: "Friends Not Foes"
UHS teacher and coach Mark Lacianca asked me to mention the "Friends Not Foes" 5K race that's being put on by the Kennett and Unionville High School cross-country teams on Sunday, Nov. 13. They're looking for sponsors, volunteers and participants.
Mr. Lacianca writes:
"The Kennett and Unionville runners have been practicing together the past couple of years at different times. This summer we took it to another level and met three days a week at 6:30 am for voluntary runs, M + W at Unionville High School and Fridays at Kennett High School. We routinely had between 40 and 60 runners from both schools. The captains from both teams have worked hard and worked together to put the race together."
The race starts at 9 a.m. at Anson B. Nixon Park in Kennett Square. Online registration is $25 and ends Nov. 11 (runsignup.com).
Mr. Lacianca writes:
"The Kennett and Unionville runners have been practicing together the past couple of years at different times. This summer we took it to another level and met three days a week at 6:30 am for voluntary runs, M + W at Unionville High School and Fridays at Kennett High School. We routinely had between 40 and 60 runners from both schools. The captains from both teams have worked hard and worked together to put the race together."
The race starts at 9 a.m. at Anson B. Nixon Park in Kennett Square. Online registration is $25 and ends Nov. 11 (runsignup.com).
WILLOWDALE: No longer vacant
Turner & Co., a women's clothing boutique, is going to be moving into the space formerly occupied by the venerable Willowdale Country Store at Routes 926 and 82. If the name rings a bell, you might have seen their booth at large equestrian events like the Devon Horse Show and Wellington. This will be their first time in a real "bricks-and-mortar" store. Some of the brands they carry are J Brand, Splendid, Ella Moss, Citizens of Humanity, Barbour, Autumn Cashmere, Joie and Blundstone.
LITTER: A good deed
On Thursday afternoon I spotted a West Marlborough neighbor risking life and limb to improve the appearance of our beautiful countryside: he was standing in the middle of Route 842 cleaning up a bag of trash scattered along the road in the area that old-timers call "Club Hill." He had put out a traffic cone to warn oncoming motorists.
This same gentleman routinely stops to pick up litter along the roadside, which is why there's often a stack of discarded beer bottles and cans and fast-food wrappers in the bed of his pickup.
He doesn't brag about it, and I know for a fact he'll be embarrassed when he reads this. But if there were more people like him, the world would be a better place.
This same gentleman routinely stops to pick up litter along the roadside, which is why there's often a stack of discarded beer bottles and cans and fast-food wrappers in the bed of his pickup.
He doesn't brag about it, and I know for a fact he'll be embarrassed when he reads this. But if there were more people like him, the world would be a better place.
Sunday, August 28, 2016
CAMPAIGN: Tips for political advocacy
As this political season swings into high gear ("high" meaning increased activity, not an increase in civil and intelligent debate), people who advertise their choice of candidate via campaign signs and bumper stickers really should be mindful of a few things.
If you put your candidate's sticker on a stop sign, that sends an ambiguous message.
If you're a rude or aggressive driver and your car sports a political bumper sticker, you're not doing your candidate any favors in the mind of the driver whom you cut off in traffic.
And if you're selling your house, it might not be such a good idea to put up a political yard sign. Emotions are running so high that you might well immediately turn off a buyer from the other party ("X supporters live there?! Just keep driving, Honey."). I actually saw such a situation in Chatham and could only feel sorry for the real-estate agent.
If you put your candidate's sticker on a stop sign, that sends an ambiguous message.
If you're a rude or aggressive driver and your car sports a political bumper sticker, you're not doing your candidate any favors in the mind of the driver whom you cut off in traffic.
And if you're selling your house, it might not be such a good idea to put up a political yard sign. Emotions are running so high that you might well immediately turn off a buyer from the other party ("X supporters live there?! Just keep driving, Honey."). I actually saw such a situation in Chatham and could only feel sorry for the real-estate agent.
FRAUD: Only a friend can betray you!
The Chester County Controller's Office is putting on an excellent seminar to help nonprofit groups prevent fraudulent use of their hard-earned money.
I attended the presentation in Modena on Aug. 23 with Controller Norman MacQueen, Deputy Controller Carol Pollitz, and Internal Audit Manager Sharon Kay Jones, and found it to be so interesting and relevant that I didn't even remove my knitting from my workbag (I will never finish these socks!).
Ms. Jones started by giving alarming examples of fraud committed by Chester County residents. I was amazed by the amount of money stolen and the slipshod controls that were in place. She explained that the number-one reason why people steal from nonprofits is that they're living beyond their means. They get away with it because people trust them and don't want to believe that a friend could do such a thing.
Ms. Jones then outlined practical recommendations that can help prevent insider fraud, like having two people present and alert at all times when handling cash (say, when selling tickets at a high school football game). I was happy and relieved to note that almost all are in place in the nonprofit group I work with.
About a dozen people attended, representing an array of nonprofits, including churches, youth groups and fire companies. They were all nonprofit veterans and offered excellent examples of accounting lapses they'd witnessed. One woman said her church used to allow volunteers to write checks to themselves for reimbursement.
"No, that's not happening any more," she said she told them when she took over.
There was a lively debate about whether volunteers should be allowed to use credit or debit cards. Although it's traditionally frowned on, with today's technology, procurement cards (or "p-cards") can be set with a ceiling for purchases, and use can be limited to certain places.
I highly recommend this useful seminar for all treasurers and other officers. The folks from the Controller's Office said they planned to repeat it this fall, so keep an eye out for an announcement.
I attended the presentation in Modena on Aug. 23 with Controller Norman MacQueen, Deputy Controller Carol Pollitz, and Internal Audit Manager Sharon Kay Jones, and found it to be so interesting and relevant that I didn't even remove my knitting from my workbag (I will never finish these socks!).
Ms. Jones started by giving alarming examples of fraud committed by Chester County residents. I was amazed by the amount of money stolen and the slipshod controls that were in place. She explained that the number-one reason why people steal from nonprofits is that they're living beyond their means. They get away with it because people trust them and don't want to believe that a friend could do such a thing.
Ms. Jones then outlined practical recommendations that can help prevent insider fraud, like having two people present and alert at all times when handling cash (say, when selling tickets at a high school football game). I was happy and relieved to note that almost all are in place in the nonprofit group I work with.
About a dozen people attended, representing an array of nonprofits, including churches, youth groups and fire companies. They were all nonprofit veterans and offered excellent examples of accounting lapses they'd witnessed. One woman said her church used to allow volunteers to write checks to themselves for reimbursement.
"No, that's not happening any more," she said she told them when she took over.
There was a lively debate about whether volunteers should be allowed to use credit or debit cards. Although it's traditionally frowned on, with today's technology, procurement cards (or "p-cards") can be set with a ceiling for purchases, and use can be limited to certain places.
I highly recommend this useful seminar for all treasurers and other officers. The folks from the Controller's Office said they planned to repeat it this fall, so keep an eye out for an announcement.
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