I was at a funeral today, a traditional Episcopal service at a beautifully simple church in Downingtown. It was my high-school friend Ed's father who had died, and despite the sad occasion it was wonderful to see Ed and his brother and sisters again after many years. A group of us were very close in school, and we can just pick up again no matter how much time has passed.
The priest knew Ed's Dad well -- he had been active in the parish -- and gave a moving speech about his virtues and his active life. The family photos on display bore out the priest's words. Ed's Dad was a Scoutmaster, and there were photos of him relaxing on his backpack out in the woods, and a Christmas family photo of the whole family that took me back at whiplash speed to my high-school days in the 1970s. We were able to confirm that Ed's three sons -- two of them are twins -- look exactly the way Ed did in high school: mischievous underneath an angelic, clean-cut exterior.
As we were leaving, my pals and I agreed that we must make a point of seeing each other at events other than parents' funerals.
Saturday, September 7, 2013
Friday, September 6, 2013
Lunch surprise
What a nice surprise on Tuesday, running into my former work colleague Linda at Hood's! She was there lunching with her foursome after playing nine holes of golf. They were kind enough to invite me to sit down at their table, and we had a merry time. All four of them live in the Traditions at Longwood development, which as I've been finding out is quite a vibrant neighborhood. Linda shared the happy news that the back surgery she had over the winter was such a success that she's back on the links frequently.
Y Times
I enjoyed my week at the Kennett Y while my usual Y, the one at Jennersville, was closed for its annual maintenance week. I got to catch up with lots of old pals from several circles of my life (Melissa! Carol Anne! Judy!), tried some new classes (I have to admit it: Kennett Y people are tough) and watched the launch party for the new Sh'bam workout.
The Kennett Y is just completing a major overhaul, and one of the new things I noticed was the water fountain that automatically refills your water bottle. The lobby floor hadn't been finished yet, so members were given Sharpies and asked to write a message right on the concrete before it was covered over. I did so. No one will be surprised to learn that it mentions my affection for the Young Relative.
The Kennett Y is just completing a major overhaul, and one of the new things I noticed was the water fountain that automatically refills your water bottle. The lobby floor hadn't been finished yet, so members were given Sharpies and asked to write a message right on the concrete before it was covered over. I did so. No one will be surprised to learn that it mentions my affection for the Young Relative.
Ice Ice
The Stroud Water Research Center is sponsoring a showing of the documentary "Chasing Ice" on Sunday, Sept. 15, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Copeland Lecture Hall at Winterthur Museum. The film "is the story of one man’s mission to change the tide of history by gathering undeniable evidence of climate change. Using time-lapse cameras, his videos compress years into seconds and capture ancient mountains of ice in motion as they disappear at a breathtaking rate." Director/producer Jeff Orlowski will be the guest speaker at the screening.
A wildlife photographer friend of mine who spends part of each summer in the Arctic raves about this film.
Tickets are $15 and you can buy them online. See the Stroud Center's website for more information and the movie's trailer.
A wildlife photographer friend of mine who spends part of each summer in the Arctic raves about this film.
Tickets are $15 and you can buy them online. See the Stroud Center's website for more information and the movie's trailer.
Can't give it away
The burning question is: When will somebody take the cruddy sofa that's been sitting at Route 82 and Wollaston Road, smack in the middle of Unionville? It's been sitting out there for a week now with a cardboard "FREE" sign on it. I don't know whose it is.
One woman who lives nearby said she is thinking of going out there and sitting down to read the newspaper. Another believes it may actually be an art installation because it has attracted such attention and has us all talking about it.
(BTW, the sign had fallen over. I replaced it before I took the photo.)
P.S. I just drove by on my way home Sunday evening and it's still there!
Real Housewives
I had a great time at the "Real Housewives of Kennett Square" walking tour on Sept. 5. The tour was originally set for earlier this summer but was cancelled because of heavy rain. In contrast, Thursday night was perfect, and groups of maybe ten people apiece set out every half-hour or so from the starting point on the Genesis Walkway. Our guide, Grace P, did an excellent job -- as we strolled through town she added lots of interesting information about growing up here.
Along the tour route we encountered the "Real Housewives," notable women from the town's past: schoolteacher Mary D. Lang, photographer Annabelle Swayne, military nurse Marguerite Starr, physician Rebecca Moore, world traveler Emma Lamborn, Esther Hayes, Anna Hicks and Fannie Sinclair. The costumed actresses (in the latter case a lavishly costumed actor, the irrepressible Kirk Fetters) did a splendid job telling us about their lives and accomplishments. Quakerism, such a formative influence in the area, took center stage in many of their lives as they fought slavery and battled for women's rights.
(One anachronistic note: As we were listening to Annabelle Swayne telling us about her photography business, trucks from Majestic Midway were rumbling down Broad Street to set up for the Mushroom Fest carnival.)
I have to say that Kennett looked great, and the friend who went with me said that if she didn't live on a farm with all her critters, she would love to live in town.
Thank you and congratulations to the event's producers, the Kennett Square Historical Commission and the Kennett Amateur Theatrical Society. Great job!
Along the tour route we encountered the "Real Housewives," notable women from the town's past: schoolteacher Mary D. Lang, photographer Annabelle Swayne, military nurse Marguerite Starr, physician Rebecca Moore, world traveler Emma Lamborn, Esther Hayes, Anna Hicks and Fannie Sinclair. The costumed actresses (in the latter case a lavishly costumed actor, the irrepressible Kirk Fetters) did a splendid job telling us about their lives and accomplishments. Quakerism, such a formative influence in the area, took center stage in many of their lives as they fought slavery and battled for women's rights.
(One anachronistic note: As we were listening to Annabelle Swayne telling us about her photography business, trucks from Majestic Midway were rumbling down Broad Street to set up for the Mushroom Fest carnival.)
I have to say that Kennett looked great, and the friend who went with me said that if she didn't live on a farm with all her critters, she would love to live in town.
Thank you and congratulations to the event's producers, the Kennett Square Historical Commission and the Kennett Amateur Theatrical Society. Great job!
Thursday, September 5, 2013
On the edge
The clouds on Monday evening were spectacular after a muggy day: big clouds outlined with a rim of bright gold. As I was stopped at a light in Kennett I spotted a pedestrian on North Union Street, a young woman, who caught a glimpse of the view, stopped and took out her camera to capture it.
"There's weather coming," predicted a friend, and he was right: the weather alerts started sounding and a windy but brief thunderstorm blew through at 9 p.m.
"There's weather coming," predicted a friend, and he was right: the weather alerts started sounding and a windy but brief thunderstorm blew through at 9 p.m.
Go figure!
A bunch of us met up at Starbucks on Sunday and had a great gab-fest. At one point a friend who lives in Kennett held up his phone and showed us a photo of what his right forearm had looked like the previous weekend: a blistered mess.
"Yikes, poison ivy!" I said.
No, he said. It was actually an allergic reaction to his fig tree, of all things! He'd been pruning it and ended up with this awful rash. It turns out that fig tree sap, plus direct sun, can cause nasty blisters. He ended up at his dermatologist's.
"Yikes, poison ivy!" I said.
No, he said. It was actually an allergic reaction to his fig tree, of all things! He'd been pruning it and ended up with this awful rash. It turns out that fig tree sap, plus direct sun, can cause nasty blisters. He ended up at his dermatologist's.
Joy in the morning
What is it with yard art? First I spotted "Mitt" last autumn on a hillside near Blow Horn; then it was "Dad" for Father's Day near Kirkwood; then earlier this summer a religious message at the Chapel Road Baptist Church near Springdell. Now a prominent West Marlborough farm is getting into the act: I spotted "FAT CHANCE" embossed on a small hillside near where the high-tension lines run through that farm.
Reflections
A pal of mine who lives amidst the hustle-bustle of downtown Kennett stopped by on Labor Day and we had a drink on the deck. It was a very peaceful afternoon even for West Marlborough, with a gentle breeze. My friend put his feet up on the railing, gazed at the conifers and said he wouldn't be at all surprised to see a few Zen monks drift by.
London Grove crash
Another vehicle crashed into the hillside where Route 926 meets Newark Road. A motorist heading west on Route 926 the evening of Aug. 28 saw the stop sign too late and went careening up two flights of the concrete steps leading to London Grove Friends Meeting. The van then flipped over and ended up on its side against the yellow house. Photos posted on Facebook show the giant Blittersdorf crane lifting it away from the house and setting it back on its tires.
The accident -- and the fact that it was far from the first at the crossroads -- sparked a discussion at the Sept. 3 West Marlborough Township Board of Supervisors meeting. Anna Myers, who lives near the intersection, suggested that a double-arrow sign be placed at the intersection to indicate that the road ends, like the sign at Route 82 and Newark Road (pictured here). Roadmaster Hugh Lofting said because it was a state road, the township could not take the responsibility of installing such a sign, but he would bring it up with the state Department of Transportation. There was some skepticism in the audience, however, whether any additional signage, or speed bumps, or rumble strips, would be effective in preventing accidents.
The accident -- and the fact that it was far from the first at the crossroads -- sparked a discussion at the Sept. 3 West Marlborough Township Board of Supervisors meeting. Anna Myers, who lives near the intersection, suggested that a double-arrow sign be placed at the intersection to indicate that the road ends, like the sign at Route 82 and Newark Road (pictured here). Roadmaster Hugh Lofting said because it was a state road, the township could not take the responsibility of installing such a sign, but he would bring it up with the state Department of Transportation. There was some skepticism in the audience, however, whether any additional signage, or speed bumps, or rumble strips, would be effective in preventing accidents.
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
West Marlborough meeting
It was a quiet West Marlborough township meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 3. The planning commission didn't meet at all, and most of the business on the supervisors' agenda was routine.
Zoning officer Al Giannantonio announced that the Powells were given zoning permission to install a shed at their Springdell Road home, and Roadmaster Hugh Lofting noted that Officer Bob Clarke issued ten speeding tickets and three warnings in the month of August.
Mr. Giannantonio also discussed the Act 167 stormwater management ordinance that all Pennsylvania townships must enact by the beginning of 2014. Many of the requirements in the document have been dictated by the state, but the township planning commission will devote time at its next few meetings to adapt the language that it is permitted to change to meet the township's requirements as best it can.
Zoning officer Al Giannantonio announced that the Powells were given zoning permission to install a shed at their Springdell Road home, and Roadmaster Hugh Lofting noted that Officer Bob Clarke issued ten speeding tickets and three warnings in the month of August.
Mr. Giannantonio also discussed the Act 167 stormwater management ordinance that all Pennsylvania townships must enact by the beginning of 2014. Many of the requirements in the document have been dictated by the state, but the township planning commission will devote time at its next few meetings to adapt the language that it is permitted to change to meet the township's requirements as best it can.
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