This afternoon I saw our township police officer, Lieutenant Robert Clarke, patrolling along Lamborntown Road and stopped to chat. He confirmed a rumor I'd heard, that thieves are rummaging through cars parked in driveways, even here in our rural area. Clarkie said the bad guys are apparently after whatever they can find: change, wallets, credit cards, electronics.
His advice: "Lock your doors!"
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Rural bliss
What remarkable weather we had on Saturday! With the rain the night before, the Cheshire foxhunters didn't know whether they would be going out until almost the last minute (despite the mud and fog, they did). It was cloudy all morning, but then at about noon the clouds disappeared, the sun shone brightly and the temperature rose into the 50s. A glorious mid-winter day!
The fog reappeared as the sun went down. I was coming home through Willowdale a little after 5 p.m. and the dense low fog in the field along the east side of Route 82 reminded me of the end of the July 4 fireworks display, years ago when we had fireworks at Willowdale.
Reserve champ!
Huge congratulations to Bryce Fitzgerald of Cherry Knoll Farm, West Marlborough, whose Angus steer Fuzzy won second place for Purebred Angus Steer Lightweight and was named Purebred Angus Reserve Champion Steer at the 97th annual Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg. As you read in last week's Kennett Paper, Bryce, age 14, is an eighth grader at Patton Middle School. Well done!
(I checked the Farm Show results to see how the baking contest winners from our Unionville Community Fair fared in the state competition, but I didn't see any local names. Better luck next year.)
(I checked the Farm Show results to see how the baking contest winners from our Unionville Community Fair fared in the state competition, but I didn't see any local names. Better luck next year.)
Winter Soul
A young friend asked me to give a little publicity to an event he's involved in, the "Winter Soul Shakedown Festival," hosted by the Brandywine Folk Collective, to be held starting at 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, at the Charles A. Melton Arts and Education Center, 501 E. Miner St., West Chester.
The festival's Facebook page says that not only is this "the largest West Chester music party of the year" but also "all in attendance will get an extra special treat this evening from The Pretty Dittys as they release their new single and music video for Isabel." Performers, described as "the hottest Philadelphia area folk artists," are Left of Logic, The Sun Flights, Emma Nelson, Vita and the Woolf, The Pretty Dittys, Iamlove, and qiet. Admission to the all-ages event is $10.
The festival's Facebook page says that not only is this "the largest West Chester music party of the year" but also "all in attendance will get an extra special treat this evening from The Pretty Dittys as they release their new single and music video for Isabel." Performers, described as "the hottest Philadelphia area folk artists," are Left of Logic, The Sun Flights, Emma Nelson, Vita and the Woolf, The Pretty Dittys, Iamlove, and qiet. Admission to the all-ages event is $10.
Red, white and green
Friday, January 11, 2013
A Fan!
Thank you to the nice neighbor who told me that my column is the first thing she turns to in The Kennett Paper each week! That was so heartening to hear, first because it means people are supporting local journalism -- and second because I really try to write about the things that interest folks in the different circles that make up our wonderful little community.
The Coffee Party
This afternoon I was having coffee at the Kennett Starbucks with a pal when my phone rang and I answered. It was a chronically cranky Kennett friend of mine, and over the hubbub at the coffee shop I could hear him say that he needed to apologize for a silly misunderstanding we had had.
I told him that was nice, but I could barely hear him because I was at Starbucks and it was jammed.
"Oh! I can't apologize if you're in a Republican place!" he said.
I didn't understand this at all: he's a staunch Democrat, certainly, but he's also a Starbucks fan.
"You can't apologize because I'm in a Republican place?!" I said, in some confusion.
"Public! PUBLIC!" he said, loudly enough that my friend across the table could hear. And at this point she was roaring with laughter, which is good, as I was trying to cheer her up.
Cranky friend and I decided we'd better talk later, in a quieter setting, lest we generate another misunderstanding.
I told him that was nice, but I could barely hear him because I was at Starbucks and it was jammed.
"Oh! I can't apologize if you're in a Republican place!" he said.
I didn't understand this at all: he's a staunch Democrat, certainly, but he's also a Starbucks fan.
"You can't apologize because I'm in a Republican place?!" I said, in some confusion.
"Public! PUBLIC!" he said, loudly enough that my friend across the table could hear. And at this point she was roaring with laughter, which is good, as I was trying to cheer her up.
Cranky friend and I decided we'd better talk later, in a quieter setting, lest we generate another misunderstanding.
Thoughts and prayers
Usually as I settle into bed for the night I review the day and think about who might need some special attention from above. So the other night I ran through my local friends and neighbors and realized that all sorts of calamities were besetting them: from the death of loved ones (human and animal), to catastrophic illness, to major surgery, to romantic heartbreak.
The next morning I mentioned this sad list to a friend, and she said she has found exactly the same thing. Her solution: she simply prays for everyone.
The next morning I mentioned this sad list to a friend, and she said she has found exactly the same thing. Her solution: she simply prays for everyone.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Vintage Y
While clearing out some old files I found a four-page autumn 1990 brochure from the "Kennett-Unionville" branch of the YMCA, which was then located at 112 South Broad Street in Kennett Square.
Executive director was Nancy Donnelly, program director Betsy Benner, director of administration Nancy Rolfe, adult fitness coordinator Marlel Holloway and Board Chairman Jeff Whittle.
The Y's phone number was only seven digits long; the 215/610 split hadn't occurred yet.
According to the brochure, most of the Y exercise programs were held at the American Legion hall in Kennett and at local schools (one was the Unionville Middle School, which hadn't yet changed its name to Patton Middle School). As I recall, the South Broad Street facility boasted one small aerobics room that wasn't air conditioned. It would get sweltering during Step class in the summer!
(Just out of curiosity, this afternoon I walked past the old white building and saw that it's vacant and boarded up. In addition to the Y, it also formerly housed a billiard parlor, a music studio and I believe a boxing gym.)
Membership fees in 1990 were $35 for a youth, $40 for an adult and $60 for a family, with additional charges for each program. (Twenty-three years later, I pay $63 a month for my adult membership, which I think is very reasonable considering all that today's Y offers.)
If somebody from the Y wants this piece of memorabilia, please get in touch with me and I'll drop it off: uvilleblogger@gmail.com (Update: It has been CLAIMED by Doug Nakashima of the Kennett Y!)
Executive director was Nancy Donnelly, program director Betsy Benner, director of administration Nancy Rolfe, adult fitness coordinator Marlel Holloway and Board Chairman Jeff Whittle.
The Y's phone number was only seven digits long; the 215/610 split hadn't occurred yet.
According to the brochure, most of the Y exercise programs were held at the American Legion hall in Kennett and at local schools (one was the Unionville Middle School, which hadn't yet changed its name to Patton Middle School). As I recall, the South Broad Street facility boasted one small aerobics room that wasn't air conditioned. It would get sweltering during Step class in the summer!
(Just out of curiosity, this afternoon I walked past the old white building and saw that it's vacant and boarded up. In addition to the Y, it also formerly housed a billiard parlor, a music studio and I believe a boxing gym.)
Membership fees in 1990 were $35 for a youth, $40 for an adult and $60 for a family, with additional charges for each program. (Twenty-three years later, I pay $63 a month for my adult membership, which I think is very reasonable considering all that today's Y offers.)
If somebody from the Y wants this piece of memorabilia, please get in touch with me and I'll drop it off: uvilleblogger@gmail.com (Update: It has been CLAIMED by Doug Nakashima of the Kennett Y!)
End of the year
At their January meeting, the West Marlborough supervisors heard a wrap-up report from the township engineer, Al Giannantonio, about 2012 development activity in the largely rural township: 12 zoning permits; 6 subdivision/land development plans; 23 building permits; 3 demolition permits; and 14 certificates of occupancy were issued. (The three building permits issued in December were for work being done on an old barn and house on Apple Grove Road; reroofing at the Powell property on Street Road; and construction of a retaining wall at the Dupreys' Cherry Knoll Farm on Wilson Road.)
The supervisors also said they're in the process of reviewing the township's schedule of fees for zoning and building permits.
The supervisors also said they're in the process of reviewing the township's schedule of fees for zoning and building permits.
Boots
How convenient -- if unexpected -- that we have a Dubarry store in West Nottingham, west of Oxford! To celebrate the completion of a rush editing project, I decided to splurge on a pair of their boots, but I really didn't want to buy them online without trying them on.
The friendly sales guy told me that the location of the retail store and warehouse is actually a strategic one because it's close to the port of Baltimore, where the Dubarry boots and clothes arrive from Ireland, and it's also a good central location for the various sporting events where the boots are sold. (The sales guy said he's the one who travels around to the events and stands in a bucket of water to advertise how waterproof the boots are!)
Coming home I thought I'd take the scenic route. Alas, that didn't work out so well: the "no outlet" sign along one-lane Glen Roy Road north of West Christine Road is quite accurate, no matter what my map said. And judging from the number of trees growing where the road used to be -- just past the "Road Closed" sign -- it has been abandoned for quite some time. I ended up on Route 926, where I got to drive past a farmhouse that always intrigues me: the ivy on the front wall is so thick that it seems to play a structural role.
Update: The boots are as comfortable and waterproof as everyone promised. So far in the breaking-in process I've walked along a muddy road and across a marsh and stomped out some bonfire embers, and there's a little bit of chicken manure and cranberry sauce in the mix as well.
The friendly sales guy told me that the location of the retail store and warehouse is actually a strategic one because it's close to the port of Baltimore, where the Dubarry boots and clothes arrive from Ireland, and it's also a good central location for the various sporting events where the boots are sold. (The sales guy said he's the one who travels around to the events and stands in a bucket of water to advertise how waterproof the boots are!)
Coming home I thought I'd take the scenic route. Alas, that didn't work out so well: the "no outlet" sign along one-lane Glen Roy Road north of West Christine Road is quite accurate, no matter what my map said. And judging from the number of trees growing where the road used to be -- just past the "Road Closed" sign -- it has been abandoned for quite some time. I ended up on Route 926, where I got to drive past a farmhouse that always intrigues me: the ivy on the front wall is so thick that it seems to play a structural role.
Update: The boots are as comfortable and waterproof as everyone promised. So far in the breaking-in process I've walked along a muddy road and across a marsh and stomped out some bonfire embers, and there's a little bit of chicken manure and cranberry sauce in the mix as well.
At New Bolton
New Bolton Center's First Tuesday lecture on Jan. 8 drew a big crowd. Dr. Olivia Schroeder, a veterinarian with New Bolton's Boucher Field Service, spoke about equine metabolic syndrome and pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction ("equine Cushing's disease"), two metabolic ailments that cause obesity in horses, and how they can be treated. These ailments are fairly common, which would explain the large audience. I was struck by the similarities between the equine metabolic syndrome and the human variety.
I attend these monthly lectures as often as I can and I'm always impressed with how knowledgeable and articulate these veterinarians are: they seem to have the latest research statistics at their fingertips, along with a wealth of practical experience to share.
I attend these monthly lectures as often as I can and I'm always impressed with how knowledgeable and articulate these veterinarians are: they seem to have the latest research statistics at their fingertips, along with a wealth of practical experience to share.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
2013 roster
In its annual reorganization meeting Monday evening, the West Marlborough Township Board of Supervisors elected Michael Ledyard as board chair for the coming year. Former chair William Wylie will become vice chairman, and the third supervisor, Hugh Lofting, will remain roadmaster and emergency management coordinator. Shirley Walton will continue as the township's secretary/treasurer, Dwight Yoder as the solicitor, Russell Yerkes as zoning officer, Al Giannantonio as engineer and Eddie Caudill as building inspector.
Tom Best and Clayton Bright were reappointed to the township's Zoning Hearing Board.
And in its three-minute-long meeting, the township's Planning Commission voted to stick with the status quo, re-electing Josh Taylor as chairman, Richard Corkran as vice chairman and Anna Myers as secretary.
Tom Best and Clayton Bright were reappointed to the township's Zoning Hearing Board.
And in its three-minute-long meeting, the township's Planning Commission voted to stick with the status quo, re-electing Josh Taylor as chairman, Richard Corkran as vice chairman and Anna Myers as secretary.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)