Have you ever heard of the Kennett Choirboys? I hadn't until the group popped onto my Facebook page. It's a choir for boys in grades three through eight who love to sing. The group meets weekly at the Kennett Square Presbyterian Church.
Auditions are on Sept. 11, at the first rehearsal, or by appointment. The coming season will include "Once on this Silent Night" in December and "Of Mythical and Other Assorted Creatures" in May 2014. For more info: e-mail kennettchoirboys@gmail.com
Saturday, August 3, 2013
Development
I've been seeing a few more of those "Exton Comes to Embreeville" signs in people's yards around town, expressing concern about the large housing development proposed for the former Embreeville State Hospital. I even got an email from a teenager who is upset about the effects that the project could have on Route 162 and other local roads and the community -- it should be a useful civics and media lesson for him.
On stage
Singer/songwriter/harpist Gillian Grassie will be returning to her native Unionville for a show on Aug. 22 at Catherine's restaurant. In recent months she has been performing in Italy and Germany, but she'll be back in the States for the fall season, including several Philadelphia shows. Gillian's proud Mom is Babette Jenny of Laurel Forge Farm.
Friday, August 2, 2013
The lycoris is here
It's a few days later than it was last summer, but the lycoris is in bloom, and just like it does every year it took me completely by surprise. All of a sudden, these amazing stalks with reddish/mauve buds show up above the pachysandra bed! Its nickname is an apt one: Surprise Lily.
When I mentioned the lycoris in these pages last July, a loyal and now deceased reader from Marlboro Village shared the following anecdote, and I'm going to run it again in her memory because we all really miss her:
"Another nickname for Lycoris is, I believe, Naked Lady, because of the lack of foliage and probably the pink hue. Story about that: a friend once phoned someone with whom she'd been discussing these flowers and burst out as soon as the phone was picked up: `I've just found several more Naked Ladies in my garden!' A silence, then: `Lady, I think you have the wrong number.' "
When I mentioned the lycoris in these pages last July, a loyal and now deceased reader from Marlboro Village shared the following anecdote, and I'm going to run it again in her memory because we all really miss her:
"Another nickname for Lycoris is, I believe, Naked Lady, because of the lack of foliage and probably the pink hue. Story about that: a friend once phoned someone with whom she'd been discussing these flowers and burst out as soon as the phone was picked up: `I've just found several more Naked Ladies in my garden!' A silence, then: `Lady, I think you have the wrong number.' "
Goodness gracious
Owning an out-of-the-ordinary wristwatch is a lot like owning an out-of-the-ordinary car. When it needs a new battery, you can't just go to Batteries R Us and plunk in a new one. No: you have to go to a Special Craftsperson at a Special Shop.
So the other morning I called my watch guy, who is on the Main Line, to see if he was open.
When he answered, I said cheerfully, "Great! You're there!"
"I'm really not taking any new work," he said -- rather baldly, I thought.
"Oh!" said I, startled.
"What was it you needed?" he asked.
I explained, and grudgingly he agreed that he could just find time to put a new battery in.
Before he could change his mind, I got in the car and headed out through the teeming rain. It was an eventful trip. Route 842 between Unionville and West Chester was on the verge of flooding. Lancaster Avenue in downtown Wayne was completely shut down due to a restaurant fire AND a car crash. Emergency guys in yellow rain slickers directed traffic onto the little side streets.
Finally I reached the watch guy's shop and announced myself as the woman who had phoned earlier.
"Good," he said. "Now I can lock the door."
He sat down at his workbench and started taking the watch apart but accidentally dropped two of the tiny screws on the floor. Beyond vexed with himself -- and, I suspect, me -- he sent me away, telling me he'd have to keep the watch for a few days.
To my great surprise, by the time I'd reached Berwyn he called and said he'd managed to find the screws -- they'd rolled under the counter -- and my watch was ready.
I made a U-turn and plunged back into the Wayne detours for the third time! I picked up the watch and paid him his $20 (plus tax), and he looked up at me and said, "Bon après-midi, mademoiselle."
He may be temperamental, but I like this guy.
So the other morning I called my watch guy, who is on the Main Line, to see if he was open.
When he answered, I said cheerfully, "Great! You're there!"
"I'm really not taking any new work," he said -- rather baldly, I thought.
"Oh!" said I, startled.
"What was it you needed?" he asked.
I explained, and grudgingly he agreed that he could just find time to put a new battery in.
Before he could change his mind, I got in the car and headed out through the teeming rain. It was an eventful trip. Route 842 between Unionville and West Chester was on the verge of flooding. Lancaster Avenue in downtown Wayne was completely shut down due to a restaurant fire AND a car crash. Emergency guys in yellow rain slickers directed traffic onto the little side streets.
Finally I reached the watch guy's shop and announced myself as the woman who had phoned earlier.
"Good," he said. "Now I can lock the door."
He sat down at his workbench and started taking the watch apart but accidentally dropped two of the tiny screws on the floor. Beyond vexed with himself -- and, I suspect, me -- he sent me away, telling me he'd have to keep the watch for a few days.
To my great surprise, by the time I'd reached Berwyn he called and said he'd managed to find the screws -- they'd rolled under the counter -- and my watch was ready.
I made a U-turn and plunged back into the Wayne detours for the third time! I picked up the watch and paid him his $20 (plus tax), and he looked up at me and said, "Bon après-midi, mademoiselle."
He may be temperamental, but I like this guy.
Josiah Harlan
A few weeks back, perhaps you'll recall, a friend told me, with some pride, that it was a Unionville native who came up with the idea for the U.S. Camel Corps. I did some research online and came up with nothing.
But two readers were quick to confirm that Josiah Harlan, born in Newlin Township in 1799, was indeed the man. Both readers sent me a fascinating article about Harlan entitled "The Life and Times of an Adventurous Quaker" by Dr. Daniel Rolph, Historian and Head of Reference Services at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
Harlan spent many years in military service in Afghanistan and India, and when he returned to America he proposed using camels as pack animals:
"In 1855, Jefferson Davis (then Secretary of War for the United States, later the President of the Confederate States of American during the Civil War) allocated $30,000 to purchase camels for American forces to be used in the Southwest. Harlan advocated the camels be obtained from Afghanistan while the U.S. government opted for those from Africa. Regardless, the American Camel Corps was short-lived."
Dr. Rolph notes that Harlan was the exception to the belief that all Quakers are "predominantly pacifists, or non-aggressive in nature."
He also writes that Rudyard Kipling's short story "The Man Who Would Be King" "was based in part upon the life and experiences of Harlan while he resided in the border area of the Punjab in India and what is now Afghanistan."
Folk fest
Anson B. Nixon Park is hosting the Second Annual Brandywine Folk Festival Aug. 23 through 25. The lineup comprises more than 30 performers, vendors, beer-gardens, and games/activities for kids. "The Brandywine Folk Festival aims to unite the unique stylings of many different musicians while creating a family friendly atmosphere, giving back to our community, and providing aid for charity (SPARC Southeastern Pennsylvania Autism Resource Center)," according to the website. There's lots more information on their website and updates on their Facebook page. Day tickets are $25 in advance, $35 at the door; event tickets are $65 in advance, $75 at the door. Kids 12 and under are free.
Speaking of beer, the Kennett area is certainly going to be awash in ale! In recent weeks, Two Stones Pub, Kennett Brewing Company and now Victory Brewing have all announced they're going to be setting up shop in or near town.
Speaking of beer, the Kennett area is certainly going to be awash in ale! In recent weeks, Two Stones Pub, Kennett Brewing Company and now Victory Brewing have all announced they're going to be setting up shop in or near town.
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Where have all the flowers gone?
Somebody asked me today where the sunflower fields are this summer. Good question. I've seen a few tucked away on back roads, but you have to know where to look. It's quite a contrast from a few summers ago, when seas of yellow were all over the place, inspired by Longwood Gardens' magnificent, much-photographed display along Schoolhouse Road.
(Update: I just spotted another sunflower field along Paoli Pike, east of West Chester, near where Albrecht's nursery used to be.)
Summer camp
This past weekend two dozen Revolutionary War re-enactors (from the British side, booo!) camped out at Primitive Hall in West Marlborough. I stopped by to visit them on Saturday afternoon and again on Sunday morning. They seemed to be having a great time, living outdoors like soldiers and marching around and drilling with their muskets.
Clouds were rolling in on Saturday afternoon, and the Captain speculated that some rain might be on its way. Without thinking I pulled out my phone to check the Weather Channel, then realized how out of place that was. "Wait. Are you allowed to look at this?" I asked him. He laughed and said yes, although during more rigorous outings than this weekend's event (they call it "immersion") they avoid everything not "of the period."
The forecasted rain held off until the middle of the night, and during the deluge the hardy soldiers simply moved their straw bedrolls to the porch and went back to sleep.
When I showed up on Sunday morning (reveille was at 6:30 a.m.) they had a cooking fire going with three metal pots hanging on top of it: one of boiling water for tea, one for their breakfast porridge (to which they added fresh peaches) and one for the ham and cabbage that would serve as their lunch. They ate from wooden or metal bowls with wooden spoons.
I asked about their morning routine and one of the re-enactors told me that soldiers usually shaved every three days or so. One of the men in their unit acted as a barber and would shave them with a traditional straight razor -- not a pleasant experience, he said, even if the razor was freshly stropped.
One anachronistic note: a rake was lying tines-side-up and one of the officers "suggested" that it be stowed away safely. One soldiers agreed that was a good idea lest one of them get bopped by it repeatedly a la Sideshow Bob from "The Simpsons"!
The re-enactors, who came from as far away as New England and Chicago, told me they especially enjoyed spending time at a house that would have existed during the Revolution (the Hall was built in 1738).
You may notice in the photos that the men's uniforms are not exactly uniform. That's because they came from four different units. There was even a loyalist present!
Clouds were rolling in on Saturday afternoon, and the Captain speculated that some rain might be on its way. Without thinking I pulled out my phone to check the Weather Channel, then realized how out of place that was. "Wait. Are you allowed to look at this?" I asked him. He laughed and said yes, although during more rigorous outings than this weekend's event (they call it "immersion") they avoid everything not "of the period."
The forecasted rain held off until the middle of the night, and during the deluge the hardy soldiers simply moved their straw bedrolls to the porch and went back to sleep.
When I showed up on Sunday morning (reveille was at 6:30 a.m.) they had a cooking fire going with three metal pots hanging on top of it: one of boiling water for tea, one for their breakfast porridge (to which they added fresh peaches) and one for the ham and cabbage that would serve as their lunch. They ate from wooden or metal bowls with wooden spoons.
I asked about their morning routine and one of the re-enactors told me that soldiers usually shaved every three days or so. One of the men in their unit acted as a barber and would shave them with a traditional straight razor -- not a pleasant experience, he said, even if the razor was freshly stropped.
One anachronistic note: a rake was lying tines-side-up and one of the officers "suggested" that it be stowed away safely. One soldiers agreed that was a good idea lest one of them get bopped by it repeatedly a la Sideshow Bob from "The Simpsons"!
The re-enactors, who came from as far away as New England and Chicago, told me they especially enjoyed spending time at a house that would have existed during the Revolution (the Hall was built in 1738).
You may notice in the photos that the men's uniforms are not exactly uniform. That's because they came from four different units. There was even a loyalist present!
Nourish
Nourish, the café at the new Market at Liberty Place in Kennett, started rolling out its menu on July 29, so I stopped by on Tuesday to see what was on offer. A gym friend of mine, Amy, is working there, and she described the freshly baked muffins and quiche, both of which sounded delicious, but as soon as I saw the breakfast burrito my decision was made. It was delicious: local eggs, local Cheddar, fresh salsa and basil. Amy also made me a glass of orange juice, using a machine that slices the fruit in half and then squeezes it, right before your eyes. There's also a juice guy there who was busy making a yummy-looking drink with apples and wheatgrass for a woman who looked like she'd come straight from yoga class.
And I saw my real-estate pal Margot, buying some goodies for the broker's open house she was hosting that afternoon.
I'd brought some hard-copy work to do, so after I ate I retreated to a back table in the enclosed patio. I wired myself in and did proofreading for about an hour, then chatted with a few friends I saw before leaving. The Market is becoming a very popular spot!
And I saw my real-estate pal Margot, buying some goodies for the broker's open house she was hosting that afternoon.
I'd brought some hard-copy work to do, so after I ate I retreated to a back table in the enclosed patio. I wired myself in and did proofreading for about an hour, then chatted with a few friends I saw before leaving. The Market is becoming a very popular spot!
"A traveling ministry"
Hooray for Bruce Jameson, the letter-writer in last week's Kennett Paper who suggested that those panhandlers at the shopping centers on Route 1 might not be legit. I've written a few items about them over the years and I had hoped that East Marlborough's new antisoliciting law might put an end to their fairly aggressive tactics.
Mr. Jameson told one of the solicitors that he'd check them out online before sending a check; the fellow replied that because they are a "traveling ministry" there's no way to mail them a donation. Hmmm. Makes you wonder.
Mr. Jameson told one of the solicitors that he'd check them out online before sending a check; the fellow replied that because they are a "traveling ministry" there's no way to mail them a donation. Hmmm. Makes you wonder.
Stop means stop
I don't know why bad driving still outrages me, but it does. At lunchtime today I was on 842 at Newark Road when the driver of the oncoming vehicle, a Ford Escape, ran the four-way stop and turned southbound onto Newark Road. I was eager to see what she would do at the four-way stop at London Grove Meeting but had a hard time keeping up with her.
She did slow down, enough for me to smell the cigarette smoke coming from her vehicle, but then rolled right through the stop sign there, too (it's too bad the State Police weren't there today). She turned onto Spencer Road so I didn't get a chance to see if she'd obey the 25 mph limit approaching Toughkenamon. My guess is, she wouldn't.
She did slow down, enough for me to smell the cigarette smoke coming from her vehicle, but then rolled right through the stop sign there, too (it's too bad the State Police weren't there today). She turned onto Spencer Road so I didn't get a chance to see if she'd obey the 25 mph limit approaching Toughkenamon. My guess is, she wouldn't.
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Spanning the globe
My proofreading project this week is a book on Ancient Greece. I was sitting there on the sofa reading about the Peloponnesian War when the lively New Orleans song "Iko Iko" started running through my head. I soon realized why: the author often referred to "oikos" (Greek for household) and it must've been having a subconscious impact.
Here's something else I learned other than that the Thirty Years Peace between Athens and Sparta didn't last nearly that long. I was reviewing the reference list for one chapter and saw the entry "Oxford Readings in Aristophanes" by Erich Segal. This couldn't possibly be the same Erich Segal who wrote "Love Story," the tearjerker 1970 book, could it? Yes! It turns out that Professor Segal was also a respected classics scholar who received his bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from Harvard and went on to teach at Yale (which is where he was teaching when the book and movie of "Love Story" came out), Princeton, Oxford and the University of London. (He also wrote the screenplay for the Beatles' "Yellow Submarine.")
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