Calories burned

I know there are a lot of very active Kennett YMCA members who also read this column, so here's an update on the construction. The renovated weight room is scheduled to reopen on Saturday, March 23, but that same day, the cardio room (with all the treadmills and other machines) and the stretching room next to it will be shut down, and they'll remain closed until Sunday, April 14. The Y suggests that members could temporarily use the cardio machines at another Y branch during the shutdown. (I find the Jennersville Y on Baltimore Pike just as convenient as the Kennett branch, and there's also a Giant and a Starbucks very close to it.)
And according to the Kennett Y's website, the multipurpose room (the one off the lobby) will undergo renovations from March 25 through May 15.

Jam for the Soldiers

My Unionville friend Moira, and lots of other locals, had a great time at the "1st Annual Jam for the Soldiers," a music fest held March 9 at Thorncroft Therapeutic Riding Center in Malvern for the benefit of Project Healing Waters. She was kind enough to write an account of the memorable day:
   "The first band was playing as we walked up to see organizer, and musician, Davey Dickens (himself a veteran and outdoors man) collecting donations and putting on wristbands. After several hugs and hellos to many great friends, all fans of the local music scene, we scouted the best location for our seats.
    As a family-friendly event, there were kids running everywhere! Many little girls pretending to be cantering around the ring on majestic steeds!
     There were veterans of many wars in the audience. Most were there to not only support the cause, but their kids and grand kids on stage too! Some of the musicians were veterans too, encouraging everyone to remember and pay tribute to all those who have made sacrifices for our country.
   The diverse music included classic rock, southern rock, soul, funk, jazz, bluegrass, and original songs. The bands were Gateway Drugs, HellSaddle, Josh Komorowski and The Sons of Thunder, WaveRadio, Mason Porter, Johnny Defrancesco Power Trio, The Rolling Thunder Blues Revue, and The Sermon!
     With a line-up like that, it was nearly 9 hours of fantastic music. On such a gorgeous spring day, the audience was floating in and out of the arena to enjoy the music and the sunshine. A popcorn machine provided snacks and a place to socialize.
     It was a success all around! I can't wait for the 2nd Annual Jam For The Soldiers! And many more after that!"
 (Thank you, Tilda Tally-"Mo," for the terrific write-up!)

Lock your cars

We country folk tend to be a bit casual about security, and unfortunately it seems that bad guys are taking advantage of our trust in our fellow humans. Recently cars have been broken into in people's driveways all over our area, and the thieves are grabbing cash, electronics and whatever property they think they can sell for a quick buck. No part of the countryside seems immune.
The thefts make me angry. And I think it's a real shame that now, when I see a stranger walking along my road, I find myself wondering whether he's up to something evil rather than automatically smiling and waving to him.

Pulling out all the stops

The famous organ at Longwood Gardens is going to be open to the public the morning of April 20 -- and not just to look at, but actually to play! "Sign up for your five minutes of fame on The Longwood Organ by emailing performingarts@longwoodgardens.org," reads the little blurb in Longwood's new spring catalog. What's more, it's free with garden admission! What an opportunity; I may have to try this. Amateur morning is going to be from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, April 20.

Too many bananas?

Loyal "Unionville in the News" reader Barbara sent me two tasty tips:

1. "If anyone has a little equestrian who will be receiving an Easter Basket, there is a Peanut Butter Pony (which also involves milk chocolate, according to the write-up). This pony is in the Bit o'Britain catalogue (Fall/Winter 2012) on Page 7. Even an older equestrian with a sweet tooth would appreciate finding this tucked between the chocolate bunnies, chicks and jelly beans, I'm sure."

2. "If you have ripening bananas or find a super bargain price for same at the market, there is a way to use them without having to make banana bread. Peel the bananas, line them up like soldiers (not touching) on a cookie sheet and pop them into your freezer. (no need to cover). I wrap them together in foil after they are rock solid. When you are craving chocolate but prefer a nutritious treat, place a banana on a plate, take a large soup spoon and cover the banana, the entire length with a very thick, generous ribbon of Nutella. Delicious."

Thank you, Barbara! 

Nearing the end of winter

How is your yard looking (other than muddy)? My light-purple and dark-purple crocus are in bloom. The assortment of "daffodils for naturalizing" that I put in last autumn seem to be living up to their billing, with buds about ready to pop. The hellebores are doing great in their first spring here. I'm seeing some foliage from the tulips and grape hyacinths and the beginning of the monkshood and allium. It's even exciting to spot the first purple leaves of the anise hyssop, which in four months or so will be conspiring to take over the whole garden like it does every summer.
A house along Route 82 south of Willowdale has a beautiful Longwood-like display of thousands of light-purple crocus carpeting the whole front yard. A lovely, cheerful sight!

Our national bird

My birdwatching guide is correct: Bald Eagles are indeed unmistakable. I just spotted one perched at the top of a tall tree along Route 82 east of Newark Road. It was huge and magnificent and just seemed to be calmly surveying the countryside. It was the first I've seen north of the Conowingo Dam in Maryland.

"Amazing, selfless, inspiring, and uplifting"

My Facebook friend Joan shared with me the happy news that dairy farmer Mary Lou King of King Farms, Cochranville, won $100,000 as first prize in the “Unstoppable Moms” contest sponsored by the "Live Kelly and Michael" TV show! Joan said Mary Lou plans to split the prize money with her daughter Kelly Stoltzfus, who nominated her for the honor, with the rest of the money to be divided between her other three children.
Here is Kelly's VERY sweet letter nominating her Mom:
"My mom is the most amazing woman in the whole entire world! I'm sure everyone claims this title for their mother, but I guarantee you have never met someone as special as my mom. Being 21, and the oldest of 4 kids, my mom has been the one and only role model of my life. My family all grew up on our 300 cow dairy farm in PA. My mom has been milking the cows at 4:00am and 4:00pm every day with my dad ever since they were married back in 88. She never has off weekends, holidays, and VERY rarely goes on vacation, but this doesn't phase her at all. My parents have been married for 24 years and are still head over heels in love. I mean, us kids still catch them making out in the barn! Their constant love and joy for each other has been the best model for me and my new husband of 4 months. I just admire how after 24 years and 4 kids, my parents are still so close. My mom is also a nurse. She went to school and received her degree right after high school, which inspired me to do the same thing, and my 18 year old sister now as well, who is starting nursing school this fall. My mom's nursing degree also helped her when my youngest sister, Kandy, was born mentally handicapped."  

Good eats

A friend who is a mother of three boys, all heavily involved in sports, said they eat so much that she finds herself going to the grocery store on pretty much a daily basis just to replenish the larder (her State Trooper husband probably also eats his share, too). What's more, she discovered that among her sons' peers there's an informal system of ranking the hospitality offered at various houses, and hers has been labeled as one that "always has good food" -- which, of course, means the boys also bring all their hungry friends and teammates over to eat.

Yes, Master

My friend and gardener Nancy Sakaduski alerted me that applications are being taken for the 2013 training class of the Chester County Master Gardeners.
 "Penn State Master Gardeners are volunteers trained by Penn State Cooperative Extension to educate the home gardening public on the latest research-based practices in gardening and environmental stewardship," according to the group's press release.
To be selected, you should display "an interest in horticulture and a commitment to complete the required volunteer and educational hours. A Master Gardener trainee is required to attend 42 hours of classes, pass the exam at the end of classes and perform 50 hours of service to the organization."

You can apply to the program by calling the Penn State Extension office at 610-696-3500 or e-mailing the program coordinator at exa108@psu.edu.

"Who's gonna notice?"

A few weeks ago I was driving along Hood Road, east of Mosquito Lane, and spotted a dozen-plus old tires that someone had dumped along the shoulder of the road. I posted a photo on Facebook and alerted our hard-working West Marlborough Township road crew. The next day the tires were gone. Shame on anyone who would pollute our beautiful countryside to save a few bucks in disposal charges.

Frank's happy

Well, at least somebody's happy about West Marlborough Township's new 0.5 percent earned income tax: Frank, my accountant! I've been going to him for probably 15 years, and every year his bill would include a fee for preparing my local tax return. Every year I'd phone him and say no, we don't have a local tax in West Marlborough, and he'd apologize and say he forgot to delete that line item because it was so uncommon for a municipality NOT to have a local tax. (Sometimes he'd blame a co-op student.)
So when I handed him my Keystone local tax forms this year, he chuckled (he's a cheerful guy) and said, "Hey! I'll finally get it right!" He said the only other client he has who doesn't pay a local tax lives in some remote part of Bucks County.
While he was going through my paperwork and we were chatting, he also praised a new employee of his who used to work for the federal government. It seems this guy "thinks" like an IRS official and has scored a series of "no-change audits," always a huge asset for an accounting firm.

Graffiti and croquet

Well, that was quick work! In last week's column I mentioned getting a complaint from a reader about the unsightly graffiti at the abandoned gas station on Baltimore Pike in front of the Wal-mart complex. Within two days it was gone, neatly painted over with white paint. Well done, East Marlborough Township road crew (at least, I'm assuming that's who obliterated it)!
More good news out of East Marlborough: according to a story in last week's Kennett Paper, dessert-loving neighbors packed a township hearing to support an ice-cream parlor that's being proposed for a renovated brick building on Route 82 in the middle of Unionville, next to Kinloch Woodworking and in front of Lou Mandich's Last Chance Garage. During the hearing, the residents learned that in the late 19th century the property "was often the scene of croquet competitions between teams from the towns in the area." What fun Tilda would have had reporting on those! The Doe Run/Blow Horn squad would of course have totally ruled, although the Embreeville and Springdell teams would have been formidable opponents. Do you think they had Fantasy Croquet back then?