Saturday, October 8, 2011
Good times
Friday, October 7, 2011
Years of service
At their October meeting, Kennett Square's Borough Council honored Police Chief Ed Zunino for his 35 years of service with the department. I've known a lot of police officers over the years, and I can tell you this: Kennett and its citizens are lucky to have such a good cop and honorable human being at the helm. Dozens of well-wishers, colleagues and family members turned out for the ceremony.
And over the summer Kennett Township's Roadmaster, Roger E. Lysle, celebrated 30 years with the township. "We are pleased and happy to recognize his faithful service to the Township. Roger is a true treasure to our Township," wrote the township supervisors in their semi-annual newsletter (which you can read on the township's informative and nicely designed website, http://www.kennett.pa.us/).
Congratulations to both men, and compliments to the folks who manage Kennett borough and Kennett Township for being able to keep such skilled and experienced employees on board.
And over the summer Kennett Township's Roadmaster, Roger E. Lysle, celebrated 30 years with the township. "We are pleased and happy to recognize his faithful service to the Township. Roger is a true treasure to our Township," wrote the township supervisors in their semi-annual newsletter (which you can read on the township's informative and nicely designed website, http://www.kennett.pa.us/).
Congratulations to both men, and compliments to the folks who manage Kennett borough and Kennett Township for being able to keep such skilled and experienced employees on board.
Looking ahead
A couple of noteworthy dates for your calendar:
The 77th running of the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup is Sunday, Nov. 6. Gates open at 11 a.m. Top-notch tailgating and some pretty fine races, too, with proceeds going to the Chester County Food Bank. See you there; I already have my tickets! More information is at pahuntcup.org. The course is on the west side of Newark Road, between Routes 926 and 842, in West Marlborough.
The Kennett Square Historical Commission's Candlelight Holiday Home Tour is 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11. On this year's tour are ten homes, a condo suite, a church and a business. kennettsquarehistory.org has more information. I'll be at that one, too, as a volunteer hostess.
The 77th running of the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup is Sunday, Nov. 6. Gates open at 11 a.m. Top-notch tailgating and some pretty fine races, too, with proceeds going to the Chester County Food Bank. See you there; I already have my tickets! More information is at pahuntcup.org. The course is on the west side of Newark Road, between Routes 926 and 842, in West Marlborough.
The Kennett Square Historical Commission's Candlelight Holiday Home Tour is 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11. On this year's tour are ten homes, a condo suite, a church and a business. kennettsquarehistory.org has more information. I'll be at that one, too, as a volunteer hostess.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Rodeo aerobics
The Willowdale Rodeo at the Unionville Community Fair had some unexpected side effects. In her own fiendish version of barrel racing, my aerobics instructor at the Y set up three obstacles around the room and made us race around them, circling each one, all the while holding as many eight-pound medicine balls as we could (I managed three of them, one tucked under my chin). It was very funny and a great cardio workout.
She hasn't figured out how to simulate steer roping for us yet, but I'm sure she's working on it.
She hasn't figured out how to simulate steer roping for us yet, but I'm sure she's working on it.
Generic
Sorry, Cheerios: I've switched to store-brand cereal. It's just as tasty and wholesome, it's much less expensive, I don't need or want the little children's book that comes with Cheerios, and the generic's packaging is easier to open. The latter is actually why I made the switch: the Cheerios bag was difficult to open and then tore open crookedly, with the result that little O's spilled all over the counter and floor every morning. Not a good way to start the day.
And it seems I'm in good company. An Oct. 4 "Wall Street Journal" story on how consumers' buying habits have changed during the recession found that a full 20 percent of all grocery sales are private brand, up from 15 percent before the recession. (Also, 75 percent of shoppers now carry lists, up from 45 percent in 2008.)
And it seems I'm in good company. An Oct. 4 "Wall Street Journal" story on how consumers' buying habits have changed during the recession found that a full 20 percent of all grocery sales are private brand, up from 15 percent before the recession. (Also, 75 percent of shoppers now carry lists, up from 45 percent in 2008.)
Earned income tax?
West Marlborough residents can expect to receive a postcard from the township in the near future giving dates for a public meeting about the proposed earned income tax. The township supervisors are considering implementing this tax to pay for road maintenance expenses, which would increase if the township "takes back" control of several roads currently maintained by Pennsylvania. The added expense would be in the neighborhood of $60,000 per year, or more if Route 82 were also brought under township control.
The tax would be less than 1 percent. If the tax were implemented, most residents who work in other municipalities would not see any increase in their taxes, because they already pay the tax to the jurisdiction where they work; rather, part of that total would come back to West Marlborough.
For comparison, the millage rate (real estate tax) and earned income tax for neighboring municipalities are 0 mills and 0.50 percent for East Fallowfield; 2.3 mills and 1 percent for Highland; 0 mills and 0.75 percent for Londonderry; 1.25 mills and 0.75 percent for London Grove; 0.75 mills and 0.625 percent for New Garden; 0.40 mills and 0.75 percent for Kennett Township; 1.43 mills and 0 percent for East Marlborough; and 0.75 mills and 0.50 percent for Newlin. West Marlborough's current millage is 1.70 and it doesn't currently have an earned income tax.
The tax would be less than 1 percent. If the tax were implemented, most residents who work in other municipalities would not see any increase in their taxes, because they already pay the tax to the jurisdiction where they work; rather, part of that total would come back to West Marlborough.
For comparison, the millage rate (real estate tax) and earned income tax for neighboring municipalities are 0 mills and 0.50 percent for East Fallowfield; 2.3 mills and 1 percent for Highland; 0 mills and 0.75 percent for Londonderry; 1.25 mills and 0.75 percent for London Grove; 0.75 mills and 0.625 percent for New Garden; 0.40 mills and 0.75 percent for Kennett Township; 1.43 mills and 0 percent for East Marlborough; and 0.75 mills and 0.50 percent for Newlin. West Marlborough's current millage is 1.70 and it doesn't currently have an earned income tax.
In production
Monday, Oct. 17, is the new hearing date for Richard Hayne's request to make cheese and tomato products for wholesale use at his Springdell farm, which comprises the former Thouron and Tony Young properties. Mr. Hayne has applied for conditional use permission from West Marlborough Township to make the products, even though for months he has already been making cheese (which has won awards for quality) and selling it at his Terrain stores and area farmers' markets. The hearing will start at 7:30 p.m. at the township hall in Doe Run.
At its Oct. 4 meeting the township planning commission discussed what its response should be to the request. They drafted a letter to the board of supervisors stating the following recommendations: (1) that the use never become "intensive"; (2) that the current production capacity be determined and not increased; (3) that the use not change the character of the neighborhood, for instance by markedly increasing truck traffic; and (4) that the supervisors pay particular attention to mitigating light and glare coming from the farm's large greenhouses.
At its Oct. 4 meeting the township planning commission discussed what its response should be to the request. They drafted a letter to the board of supervisors stating the following recommendations: (1) that the use never become "intensive"; (2) that the current production capacity be determined and not increased; (3) that the use not change the character of the neighborhood, for instance by markedly increasing truck traffic; and (4) that the supervisors pay particular attention to mitigating light and glare coming from the farm's large greenhouses.
Volunteers
I just received a donation request from the Po-Mar-Lin Fire Company in Unionville, and I'll be sending a check like I do every year. I hope you support whichever fire company covers your local area -- these hard-working and dedicated volunteers do a great job.
I was interested to read that Po-Mar-Lin operates an engine, a rescue engine, a 3,000-gallon tanker, a "brush tactical unit" and a John Deere Gator "for brush fires as well as equestrian accidents."
I was interested to read that Po-Mar-Lin operates an engine, a rescue engine, a 3,000-gallon tanker, a "brush tactical unit" and a John Deere Gator "for brush fires as well as equestrian accidents."
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Pulling on oars
Not that I'm advocating unsportsmanlike behavior, but I thought Nielsen-Kellerman's ad in "Rowing News" was pretty amusing. The Boothwyn-based firm makes a Blue Ocean megaphone especially for rowing coaches and says that it's not only "extremely loud and clear" but also floats and "bounces without breaking -- withstands coach rage."
I checked out NK's website (nkhome.com) and found they also make some very cool specialized electronic pocket wind and weather meters for all kinds of outdoors enthusiasts: athletes, pilots, farmers, shooters and hunters, skiers, firefighters, coaches -- even concrete workers, home inspectors and race-car drivers who need precise information about humidity.
I checked out NK's website (nkhome.com) and found they also make some very cool specialized electronic pocket wind and weather meters for all kinds of outdoors enthusiasts: athletes, pilots, farmers, shooters and hunters, skiers, firefighters, coaches -- even concrete workers, home inspectors and race-car drivers who need precise information about humidity.
I said NO!
This morning before I went to the gym I stopped by Ulta, a national chain store on Concord Pike in Delaware, to take advantage of a sale on the shampoo I like. I bought probably a year's supply, plus a couple more things that caught my eye, and went to the checkout.
The clerk asked if I had a frequent buyer card.
No, I said.
Did I want one? she asked hopefully. It wasn't a credit card and I'd get coupons, she said.
No, I said.
She rang up my purchases and then asked if I wanted to donate to the store's breast cancer awareness program.
No, I said.
She then told me I qualified for a few issues of some fashion magazine and gave me a slip to fill out, pointing to the 800 number that you had to call so they didn't automatically renew your "free" subscription.
No, I said.
Finally she let me pay and get on with my day. Honestly!
Attention management: We customers just want to shop and leave. This kind of time-wasting hassle from salespeople is NOT a good idea.
The clerk asked if I had a frequent buyer card.
No, I said.
Did I want one? she asked hopefully. It wasn't a credit card and I'd get coupons, she said.
No, I said.
She rang up my purchases and then asked if I wanted to donate to the store's breast cancer awareness program.
No, I said.
She then told me I qualified for a few issues of some fashion magazine and gave me a slip to fill out, pointing to the 800 number that you had to call so they didn't automatically renew your "free" subscription.
No, I said.
Finally she let me pay and get on with my day. Honestly!
Attention management: We customers just want to shop and leave. This kind of time-wasting hassle from salespeople is NOT a good idea.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
A Fair to Remember
I can't find words to describe how wonderful the Unionville Community Fair was this year. We are unbelievably lucky to have a group of volunteers who can pull together such a fantastic event for the community. A few special mentions:
1. The Denim & Diamonds preview gala was terrific, with a diverse group of people you don't usually see at the same party. The food by Triple Fresh Catering was delicious, from the bruschetta to the perfectly cooked chicken marsala to the penne with crabmeat.
2. The Parade. Tractors, the Unionville marching band, the Fair queen (who is a delightful young woman) and princesses, scouts, politicians waving from antique cars, gleaming firetrucks. Adorable.
3. The Rodeo. People around here were talking about nothing else for the week leading up to it, at the post office and on Facebook, and I understand that several local riders begged to be allowed to participate (uh, no. The cowboys are pros, the broncs get major altitude when they buck, and the bulls are really, really big). The rodeo drew a huge and enthusiastic crowd, despite the fact that a certain other high-profile sports event was being held at the same time; the friends I went with said they saw virtually everyone on their street there. Afterwards we went "backstage" to see the steers, bulls and horses and the big rigs that carry them. I thanked the cowboys for putting on such a great show, and they in turn thanked us for supporting the show. One even tipped his hat to me!
4. While I was helping out with one of the contests, a visitor stopped me and told me this was her first visit to the Fair. She was quite frankly stunned by the wonderful entries, the cheerful, friendly and wholesome atmosphere and the variety of activities, and she asked me to pass along her highest compliments to the organizers. Consider it done, madam.
1. The Denim & Diamonds preview gala was terrific, with a diverse group of people you don't usually see at the same party. The food by Triple Fresh Catering was delicious, from the bruschetta to the perfectly cooked chicken marsala to the penne with crabmeat.
2. The Parade. Tractors, the Unionville marching band, the Fair queen (who is a delightful young woman) and princesses, scouts, politicians waving from antique cars, gleaming firetrucks. Adorable.
3. The Rodeo. People around here were talking about nothing else for the week leading up to it, at the post office and on Facebook, and I understand that several local riders begged to be allowed to participate (uh, no. The cowboys are pros, the broncs get major altitude when they buck, and the bulls are really, really big). The rodeo drew a huge and enthusiastic crowd, despite the fact that a certain other high-profile sports event was being held at the same time; the friends I went with said they saw virtually everyone on their street there. Afterwards we went "backstage" to see the steers, bulls and horses and the big rigs that carry them. I thanked the cowboys for putting on such a great show, and they in turn thanked us for supporting the show. One even tipped his hat to me!
4. While I was helping out with one of the contests, a visitor stopped me and told me this was her first visit to the Fair. She was quite frankly stunned by the wonderful entries, the cheerful, friendly and wholesome atmosphere and the variety of activities, and she asked me to pass along her highest compliments to the organizers. Consider it done, madam.
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