On the way home the other day I stopped off at Starbucks for a cup of coffee and who was there but my friend Joe Lordi, the now-retired director of the Bayard Taylor Library. We had a nice chat, and he said that his latest book, a photographic history of the small town of Las Vegas, New Mexico, is selling so well that he's considering embarking on a second printing.
He also told me a charming story about how he helped a friend of ours choose a diamond ring for his intended, and then helped him stage-manage the romantic -- and successful -- proposal at Longwood Gardens.
Friday, February 11, 2011
At the bar
Monday, Feb. 21, will be the third night of testimony before the West Marlborough Zoning Hearing Board in the case of the Springdell neighbors versus The Whip. The neighbors are arguing that the township officials were lax in allowing The Whip to expand to the point that it is having a negative impact on their lives in terms of parking, noise and litter. The hearing will start at 7 p.m. at the township building.
I've heard a lot of grumbling among residents about how much this zoning hearing process is costing the township -- and hence the taxpayers. The zoning hearing board itself employs a solicitor (Craig Kalemjian) and a court reporter, and because the township is a party to the case it also must pay for an attorney (Dwight Yoder) and any professionals who will testify on its behalf, such as the township engineer.
That's a lot of suits in the township garage at one time, and it adds up to a lot of billable hours for a township with a small budget.
I've heard a lot of grumbling among residents about how much this zoning hearing process is costing the township -- and hence the taxpayers. The zoning hearing board itself employs a solicitor (Craig Kalemjian) and a court reporter, and because the township is a party to the case it also must pay for an attorney (Dwight Yoder) and any professionals who will testify on its behalf, such as the township engineer.
That's a lot of suits in the township garage at one time, and it adds up to a lot of billable hours for a township with a small budget.
Hither and yon
The Cheshire Hunt is running a contest in which they post a photo of the greater Unionville area each week and you have to identify where it is. I didn't find out about it until Week 2, which was easy (a farm on Green Valley Road). Week 3 was even easier (The Whip). Week 4, I needed some help but got the right answer (Fairview Road at Doe Run Church Road).
But week 5 was a doozy! I looked at the photo -- a coop, a snowy field, trees, cattle fencing -- and thought, I've seen that a million times. But trying to find it, as we discovered, is an entirely different matter.
We started our search on Apple Grove Road and Hilltop View Road, then took an invigorating hike through the snow- and ice-covered paths in the Laurels. Then we drove all over God's creation, gravel roads and paved, west to Runnymede and Cochranville (where we stopped for gas and coffee at the Turkey Hill), north to Strasburg Road, south to London Grove Road via Lamborntown Road.
We asked a woman on horseback near St. Malachi if she recognized the photo; she gave us a few suggestions that didn't pan out. We asked Ed at the Unionville Feed Mill; he said try Doe Run Church Road. We did, and that didn't work either, but on Doe Run Church near Route 82 we did see two longhorns in a field with a fox. (Elsewhere in our travels we spotted a bluebird, a red-tailed hawk, and a fox in a snowy field pouncing on a mouse.)
We enlisted the aid of a Springdell friend who sometimes hunts with Cheshire. She said she'd been over every coop around, and even she didn't recognize it.
At about 4:30 p.m. -- we'd been at it since lunchtime -- we gave up. Susan's parting words were, "Try Tapeworm Road on your way home."
No luck.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
As I remember him
If there's a Victorian mansion somewhere in the afterlife, it now has a new caretaker. Ted Marvin spent his life looking after Dunleigh Castle, his rambling home across Street Road from New Bolton Center, and he died there on Feb. 5. In his healthier years Ted was a generous host, an artist, a musician and a very good tennis player. He was a talented and devoted gardener -- perhaps you noticed the towering castor-bean plants by the gateposts flanking the driveway -- and several unusual specimens in my own garden came from Dunleigh. One can only wonder what will happen to the property without Ted there to repair the roof, haul the coal, and mow the lawn. Condolences to his friends and family.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Hungry?
On my list of restaurants to try is Luigi & Giovanni's in Downingtown. Take a look at their menu online (http://www.luigiandgiovannicaterers.com/); doesn't the pasta sound delectable? I'm not often in that part of the county, but it might well be worth a special trip.
I had never heard of the place until friends told me about it last week, and even the website describes it as "a secret dining spot." My friends had the Fior di Latte Pomodoro Alla Romana (fresh mozzarella, tomato, braseola, and extra-virgin olive oil on a bed of arugula) and the Pappardelle Luigi & Giovanni (Gulf shrimp, sea scallops, sauteed with fresh tomato tossed in a rich alfredo sauce). I think I'd try the Canneloni Rigati con Salsicce (rigatoni pasta filled with ground veal, spinach, & mozzarella topped with a hearty tomato cream sauce).
The "ristorante" is at 259 Church Street, Downingtown; they also run a catering operation in Downingtown and a specialty market in Newtown Square.
I had never heard of the place until friends told me about it last week, and even the website describes it as "a secret dining spot." My friends had the Fior di Latte Pomodoro Alla Romana (fresh mozzarella, tomato, braseola, and extra-virgin olive oil on a bed of arugula) and the Pappardelle Luigi & Giovanni (Gulf shrimp, sea scallops, sauteed with fresh tomato tossed in a rich alfredo sauce). I think I'd try the Canneloni Rigati con Salsicce (rigatoni pasta filled with ground veal, spinach, & mozzarella topped with a hearty tomato cream sauce).
The "ristorante" is at 259 Church Street, Downingtown; they also run a catering operation in Downingtown and a specialty market in Newtown Square.
Breakfast spot
I had an excellent breakfast this morning at the Country Butcher's cafe. I had three wonderful pancakes, my breakfast companion had a mushroom and cheese omelet (the "Kennett"), and there were four kinds of coffee to choose from (I had the delicious hazelnut). I've heard good things about the oatmeal they serve, too, and the crepes and Belgian waffles sound terrific.
My friend and I were the only people there at 8 a.m., but lots more folks arrived soon afterward. I overheard a couple of well-dressed people doing business, one gentleman sat contentedly by himself reading, and a table of senior citizens looked like they had just come from the Y.
The Country Butcher is in a little shopping center at the southeast corner of Cypress and Walnut Streets, on the east side of Kennett Square.
My friend and I were the only people there at 8 a.m., but lots more folks arrived soon afterward. I overheard a couple of well-dressed people doing business, one gentleman sat contentedly by himself reading, and a table of senior citizens looked like they had just come from the Y.
The Country Butcher is in a little shopping center at the southeast corner of Cypress and Walnut Streets, on the east side of Kennett Square.
We want information
I know that a lot of people refuse to have anything to do with Facebook. My mother, who is hands down the most curious person in the world, claims she just doesn't have time for it -- although, of course, she insists that I promptly forward any photos or snippets of news that her grandchildren post.
But this winter Facebook has been a huge boon to me and a lot of other locals, thanks to people who post frequent updates about weather and road conditions from their various mobile devices. For instance, my friend Kelly just this minute (6 p.m. Feb. 8) posted that the power's out in Jennersville. Another friend of mine is a township road crew member and provides predawn descriptions on his Facebook page about what roads are icy and where he'll be plowing next.
One snowy morning a farm owner on Route 926 posted that her employees had no trouble getting to work, so I decided it was safe to head out to Perkins. Another morning, a friend posted that his employer, Jackson ImmunoResearch in West Grove, was having a delayed opening, so I thought I'd probably stay put at home. Similarly, store owners, the library, and the Y have all been posting their schedule changes.
Facebook's like having an ultra-local weather report. When storms head in from the west, folks in Oxford and Parkesburg are the first to report signs of snow or power outages. And it's bizarre how different the weather can be in Unionville versus Exton, Swarthmore or Germantown. We can be getting freezing rain and they'll be getting nothing -- or vice versa.
Another reason to love the Internet.
But this winter Facebook has been a huge boon to me and a lot of other locals, thanks to people who post frequent updates about weather and road conditions from their various mobile devices. For instance, my friend Kelly just this minute (6 p.m. Feb. 8) posted that the power's out in Jennersville. Another friend of mine is a township road crew member and provides predawn descriptions on his Facebook page about what roads are icy and where he'll be plowing next.
One snowy morning a farm owner on Route 926 posted that her employees had no trouble getting to work, so I decided it was safe to head out to Perkins. Another morning, a friend posted that his employer, Jackson ImmunoResearch in West Grove, was having a delayed opening, so I thought I'd probably stay put at home. Similarly, store owners, the library, and the Y have all been posting their schedule changes.
Facebook's like having an ultra-local weather report. When storms head in from the west, folks in Oxford and Parkesburg are the first to report signs of snow or power outages. And it's bizarre how different the weather can be in Unionville versus Exton, Swarthmore or Germantown. We can be getting freezing rain and they'll be getting nothing -- or vice versa.
Another reason to love the Internet.
A new truck
The Po-Mar-Lin Fire Company in Unionville bought a new truck from the Longwood Fire Co.
Station 36's website gives this photo and account: "On Saturday [Feb. 5] members spent the day removing decals and washing and waxing our new truck. After a few minor repairs the new truck is ready to serve the community. It will mainly be used to pull the trailer with Utility 36 and also carry manpower to any other type of incidents. It will be put to good use. Special thanks to Longwood Fire Co. for offering us this vehicle and working with us on purchasing it. We greatly appreciate it."
Civil War Road Show
"Although no battles were waged on our soil, Chester County had a tremendous network of Underground Railroad stations and was home to many pre-war abolitionists," according to the Chester County Parks & Recreation Department's website. "During the War, the county provided men for soldiers, charitable and medical relief via women’s organizations, and materials through the iron-making industry. Our railroad system, iron and steel industry, and agricultural wealth were vital to the war effort. After the war ended, the county’s contributions continued by operating the largest Veteran Orphanage, as well as other organizations such as the School Savings Bank."
The exhibit will be bivouaced at Penn State's Great Valley campus from July 28 through Aug. 1 (end of July: barring more snow days, Unionville students will probably be finished the 2010-11 school year by then). The website is: http://www.chesco.org/ccparks/site/default.asp. (And, unless they've changed it, you'll recognize the photo at the top of that website: it's the shopping center at Willowdale!)
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Happy Valentine's Day!
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