All summer long I've been asked: "When's the ice-cream place opening?" They're referring, of course, to the proposed ice-cream parlor in the brick building that's being renovated at Route 82 and Cemetery Lane in "downtown" Unionville. On Thursday I went straight to the top and asked the store's owner, Henry "Jerry" Brown of Newlin Township, about his plans. He told me it's not going to be just a summer-only ice-cream parlor, like his other shop in Vermont. Here he's planning to have food and coffee, and he's hoping to be open by Christmas.
His eyes twinkled when I mentioned that the now-under-construction Unionville Park, just across Route 82 from the shop, is not going to be bad for business.
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Denim & Diamonds
"Denim & Diamonds," the opening-night party at the Unionville Community Fair, was lots of fun. As soon as I arrived I checked out how my entries fared (five ribbons, one of them blue) and texted my chicken-keeping pal to let her know how her eggs fared (three ribbons, one of them blue). Then I chatted with my Fair friends, browsed through the Silent Auction items and ate; the very good food was by Triple Fresh in Ercildoun.
Berta Rains, who until recently lived in Doe Run, won the Fair Volunteer of the Year award, an announcement that was greeted with a large and well-deserved round of applause. The award came as "a total shock" to her, and she said the Fair "is really all about community -- and that's my passion." The photo shows Berta with Barron "Boots" Hetherington from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.
In the live auction, the biggest hit was the four dozen gourmet cupcakes made by Robin Mastrippolito of Embreeville. I bid on and won two dozen of them and then drove up the prize for the remainder by proclaiming how delicious they were!
(The other "big-ticket" items in the live auction were a tour of Baily's Dairy; a tour of New Bolton Center; an event at the Yellow House of Willowdale, with a gift certificate from Sovana Bistro; riding lessons at Laureleye Farm; a six-month membership to the Y; a painting of Abraham Lincoln by our Congressman, Joe Pitts; a gift certificate to the new Unionville ice-cream parlor; and Walt Disney World passes).
This is always a good party and I really wish more people would attend. I often hear that $100 is too steep for a party in a barn, but the money goes to great causes--and really, $100 is a bargain when you look at the ticket price for some other local fundraisers.
Berta Rains, who until recently lived in Doe Run, won the Fair Volunteer of the Year award, an announcement that was greeted with a large and well-deserved round of applause. The award came as "a total shock" to her, and she said the Fair "is really all about community -- and that's my passion." The photo shows Berta with Barron "Boots" Hetherington from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.
In the live auction, the biggest hit was the four dozen gourmet cupcakes made by Robin Mastrippolito of Embreeville. I bid on and won two dozen of them and then drove up the prize for the remainder by proclaiming how delicious they were!
(The other "big-ticket" items in the live auction were a tour of Baily's Dairy; a tour of New Bolton Center; an event at the Yellow House of Willowdale, with a gift certificate from Sovana Bistro; riding lessons at Laureleye Farm; a six-month membership to the Y; a painting of Abraham Lincoln by our Congressman, Joe Pitts; a gift certificate to the new Unionville ice-cream parlor; and Walt Disney World passes).
This is always a good party and I really wish more people would attend. I often hear that $100 is too steep for a party in a barn, but the money goes to great causes--and really, $100 is a bargain when you look at the ticket price for some other local fundraisers.
Telemundo
Friday night found the Cranky Friend and me at La Pena Mexicana in Kennett eating their amazing tacos (chicken for me, shrimp for him) and watching the news on the Spanish-language station Telemundo. The headlines were pretty much the same as on English-language TV: the government shutdown and the confrontation between motorists in New York, with a feature on "cervezas artisanales" (not hard to figure that one out).
Then an ad came on for a money-transfer service. It showed a Spanish-speaking person trying to send money only to be met with a blank look from the clerk, who spoke only English. We had to laugh at the mirror-in-a-mirror situation: there we were, knowing only the rudiments of Spanish but trying our best to decipher Telemundo, and seeing an ad about ... people who don't speak Spanish.
Then a "Judge Judy"-type program came on and we had a much tougher time trying to understand what was going on: the two participants and even the judge were speaking very quickly. Cranky thought he caught the phrase "dos mesas," which made him think they were arguing about furniture (two tables?).
Then an ad came on for a money-transfer service. It showed a Spanish-speaking person trying to send money only to be met with a blank look from the clerk, who spoke only English. We had to laugh at the mirror-in-a-mirror situation: there we were, knowing only the rudiments of Spanish but trying our best to decipher Telemundo, and seeing an ad about ... people who don't speak Spanish.
Then a "Judge Judy"-type program came on and we had a much tougher time trying to understand what was going on: the two participants and even the judge were speaking very quickly. Cranky thought he caught the phrase "dos mesas," which made him think they were arguing about furniture (two tables?).
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Give a pint. Save a stinkbug.
This afternoon I arrived at the American Red Cross blood drive at the ChesLen Preserve headquarters on Cannery Road -- only to find that it was cancelled. It seems the Red Cross personnel arrived and were not happy when they saw some stinkbugs in the room where the drive was going to be held. They considered it an unsanitary and inappropriate condition; I'm told the nurses even contacted their union rep.
I'm sure the Red Cross personnel were just following their rules and putting safety first, but I suspect they're not from around here. If they were, they'd know how plentiful stinkbugs are all over Chester County in the autumn, even in immaculately kept homes. If they consider some stinkbugs on the wall to be an infestation, all our homes would be condemned for sure.
The ChesLen people could not have been nicer and more apologetic to us donor wannabes about the situation, but it wasn't their fault, and no one grumbled. I was actually amused. I guess I'll have to donate my pint of A-positive somewhere else.
I'm sure the Red Cross personnel were just following their rules and putting safety first, but I suspect they're not from around here. If they were, they'd know how plentiful stinkbugs are all over Chester County in the autumn, even in immaculately kept homes. If they consider some stinkbugs on the wall to be an infestation, all our homes would be condemned for sure.
The ChesLen people could not have been nicer and more apologetic to us donor wannabes about the situation, but it wasn't their fault, and no one grumbled. I was actually amused. I guess I'll have to donate my pint of A-positive somewhere else.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Uptempo
That highway purgatory that is Route 1 between Route 202 and Longwood was considerably enlivened for me today. In the left lane in front of me was a fellow in a Volvo with his left arm out the window making sweeping, energetic gestures. I think he was conducting music. If he was doing wrist or wrist physical therapy exercises, he was doing them wrong.
Fallout
Horses and fireworks aren't a good mix. And two women upset about the much-discussed fireworks at a Stone Barn wedding reception on Sept. 7 let the West Marlborough supervisors know about it, loud and clear, at the board's monthly meeting on Oct. 1.
One woman's farm is very close to the Stone Barn; the other's farm is all the way up on Scott Road north of Unionville. Both said the fireworks terrified their animals.
"It affected us big-time," said the Scott Road woman. "It was way excessive." She said one of her colts suffered a head cut after running into a fence.
Bill Wylie, who chairs the Board of Supervisors, apologized to the community and promised that the board would "be a lot smarter next time" someone asked for permission to have a display. He said that although the board did grant permission for the Sept. 7 event, the display was much more extensive than he had expected: "It was big and loud and 11:30 at night," he said. "We were all caught by surprise ... we underestimated what they were going to do."
Also on the agenda, the board agreed to set up an account where citizens can donate money to the many volunteer fire companies that helped to battle the huge hay fire Sept. 14 at the Hicks Brothers' Meadow Spring Farm on Newark Road: Avondale, Christiana, Cochranville, Goodwill, Hockessin, Kennett, Keystone Valley, Longwood, Modena, Po-Mar-Lin, Union, West Bradford, West Grove, and Westwood. The companies that provided standby coverage were Concordville, East Brandywine, Lionville, North East, Quarryville, Rising Sun, and Rocky Run.
All donations will be tax deductible and distributed to the fire companies by Dec. 15, 2013. Donations (checks only) can be sent to West Marlborough Township, P.O. Box 94, Unionville,. PA 19375; email westmarlboroughtownship@verizo
The supervisors also talked about options for improving signage at the intersection of Route 926 and Newark Road in London Grove village, not only to alert westbound motorists that if they go straight on 926 they'll run smack into a hill (which a motorist recently did), but also to discourage impatient drivers heading south on Newark Road from turning left directly onto 926 instead of turning correctly and stopping at the stop sign. (Yes, people do this. For instance, a guy in a white Titan pickup with Maine tags this afternoon.)
Roadmaster and supervisor Hugh Lofting reported that township police officer Bob Clarke issued 12 citations in September (10 for speeding and two stop-sign violations) and five warnings. There were no zoning permits or building permits issued in the month.
November's monthly meeting will be Monday, Nov. 4, not Nov. 5, because of the election.
One woman's farm is very close to the Stone Barn; the other's farm is all the way up on Scott Road north of Unionville. Both said the fireworks terrified their animals.
"It affected us big-time," said the Scott Road woman. "It was way excessive." She said one of her colts suffered a head cut after running into a fence.
Bill Wylie, who chairs the Board of Supervisors, apologized to the community and promised that the board would "be a lot smarter next time" someone asked for permission to have a display. He said that although the board did grant permission for the Sept. 7 event, the display was much more extensive than he had expected: "It was big and loud and 11:30 at night," he said. "We were all caught by surprise ... we underestimated what they were going to do."
Also on the agenda, the board agreed to set up an account where citizens can donate money to the many volunteer fire companies that helped to battle the huge hay fire Sept. 14 at the Hicks Brothers' Meadow Spring Farm on Newark Road: Avondale, Christiana, Cochranville, Goodwill, Hockessin, Kennett, Keystone Valley, Longwood, Modena, Po-Mar-Lin, Union, West Bradford, West Grove, and Westwood. The companies that provided standby coverage were Concordville, East Brandywine, Lionville, North East, Quarryville, Rising Sun, and Rocky Run.
All donations will be tax deductible and distributed to the fire companies by Dec. 15, 2013. Donations (checks only) can be sent to West Marlborough Township, P.O. Box 94, Unionville,. PA 19375; email westmarlboroughtownship@verizo
The supervisors also talked about options for improving signage at the intersection of Route 926 and Newark Road in London Grove village, not only to alert westbound motorists that if they go straight on 926 they'll run smack into a hill (which a motorist recently did), but also to discourage impatient drivers heading south on Newark Road from turning left directly onto 926 instead of turning correctly and stopping at the stop sign. (Yes, people do this. For instance, a guy in a white Titan pickup with Maine tags this afternoon.)
Roadmaster and supervisor Hugh Lofting reported that township police officer Bob Clarke issued 12 citations in September (10 for speeding and two stop-sign violations) and five warnings. There were no zoning permits or building permits issued in the month.
November's monthly meeting will be Monday, Nov. 4, not Nov. 5, because of the election.
Everybody loves Matthew
A six-month-old named Matthew was the star attraction at the Tolsdorf oil-change place on Route 1 today at lunchtime. The little guy, who has a full head of dark hair, came in with his aunt about 30 seconds after I did and immediately charmed me with his big, alert eyes (great eye contact!) and ready smile. He seemed fascinated by everyone, especially the men working on cars.
Two customers came in after me, a middle-aged woman and a man, and they both did the same thing: they gave the guy behind the desk their car information and then made a beeline straight to talk to Matthew.
Way better than Wifi!
Two customers came in after me, a middle-aged woman and a man, and they both did the same thing: they gave the guy behind the desk their car information and then made a beeline straight to talk to Matthew.
Way better than Wifi!
Doe Run Church Road
Two residents came to the Oct. 1 West Marlborough Supervisors meeting to complain about the condition of the gravel portion of Doe Run Church Road, saying it was dusty and rough, like driving on a washboard.
Road crew member Hugh Lofting II explained to them that it was probably the most heavily traveled gravel road in the township, and the level of traffic creates the washboard effect. He said he could apply a coat of oil on the road to keep the dust down, but that is expensive and would create a harder road.
Supervisor Josh Taylor told the residents that although "I understand your concern about rattling and the neighbors' cars getting hurt," driving more slowly on the road might minimize the problem.
Supervisor Bill Wylie said he would discuss the situation further with the road crew.
The next afternoon I set out to investigate and drove the third-of-a-mile stretch of road, which runs between Dupont Road and the paved and speed-humped portion in East Fallowfield Township. As much as I love gravel roads, I have to say that it was like driving over sheets of corrugated metal. The speed limit is 25, but any faster than 8 m.p.h. and my vehicle started vibrating violently.
Road crew member Hugh Lofting II explained to them that it was probably the most heavily traveled gravel road in the township, and the level of traffic creates the washboard effect. He said he could apply a coat of oil on the road to keep the dust down, but that is expensive and would create a harder road.
Supervisor Josh Taylor told the residents that although "I understand your concern about rattling and the neighbors' cars getting hurt," driving more slowly on the road might minimize the problem.
Supervisor Bill Wylie said he would discuss the situation further with the road crew.
The next afternoon I set out to investigate and drove the third-of-a-mile stretch of road, which runs between Dupont Road and the paved and speed-humped portion in East Fallowfield Township. As much as I love gravel roads, I have to say that it was like driving over sheets of corrugated metal. The speed limit is 25, but any faster than 8 m.p.h. and my vehicle started vibrating violently.
Paved surfaces and so much more
At its Oct. 1 meeting, the West Marlborough Planning Commission spent an hour going through the new Act 167 stormwater management ordinance that all Pennsylvania townships must enact by January 2014. Many of the requirements in the document have been dictated by the state, but the planning commission is poring over the technical ordinance carefully, with the help of township engineer Al Giannantonio, and adapting the language that it is permitted to change so that it best meets the township's requirements. The planners scheduled a few more meetings this fall to complete their work. At the meeting were commission members Jake Chalfin, Gus Brown, Nancy Swayne, Anna Myers and Jeb Hannum.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Uprooted
So here's where That Tree ended up: as the centerpiece of an autumn display at Dick Hayne's Terrain at Styers garden shop in Glen Mills, surrounded by pumpkins and mums. (You'll recall that "That Tree" is the beloved hickory that stood atop a Springdell hillside, all by itself, until it was blown over this spring. A few weeks ago I reported that I saw some of Mr. Hayne's workers digging out the root ball and hauling it away.)
This is what the roots looked like just a few hours after the tree fell, before they were cleaned and groomed and styled:
Thanks so much to the Terrain customer/Tilda reader who sent me this tip! Much appreciated.
Thanks so much to the Terrain customer/Tilda reader who sent me this tip! Much appreciated.
Monday, September 30, 2013
On the road
On Apple Grove Road yesterday I spotted a motorcycle pulled over to the side of the road; the driver was poring over an atlas and the passenger was checking her phone. As I tend to do, I stopped and asked if they were lost. Sort of yes, sort of no: It turns out that they were covered-bridge fans, and their map showed three in the vicinity but wasn't at all specific about their locations. Wow, something I actually knew about: I directed them to two in the Laurels and the one on Frog Hollow Road.
They were nice folks and extremely grateful. Somehow I just didn't expect Super Glide riders in black leather jackets to be covered-bridge enthusiasts: that'll teach me not to stereotype!
They were nice folks and extremely grateful. Somehow I just didn't expect Super Glide riders in black leather jackets to be covered-bridge enthusiasts: that'll teach me not to stereotype!
Sunday, September 29, 2013
"Every living creature that moves"
The Pet Blessing ceremony at Unionville Presbyterian Church on Sunday afternoon was so sweet! I took Binnie, my brown-and-white guinea pig, and she attracted much attention from kids and adults alike, primarily because she was one of the few non-canines in attendance (I saw one cat). The church's pastor, the Rev. Annalie Korengel Lorgus, said a brief, lovely prayer over her, and then Binnie got a certificate and a seed treat -- which she started munching right away. There were refreshments for the humans, too. Annalie told me that the green stole she wore, featuring charming drawings of animals, was made especially for the occasion.
Nice!
I got to spend some time this past week with a high-school and college pal who now lives in Camden, Maine, but was visiting family down here. He said he'd forgotten how beautiful Chester County was. And that's quite a compliment when you think of how lovely the seaside town of Camden is!
The Farm Show
This coming weekend is one of my favorite events of the year: the Unionville Community Fair, aka the Farm Show! All over our area people are getting their entries ready: baking, printing photos, putting the finishing touches on their craft projects, selecting a dozen uniform eggs from their hens, choosing unblemished gourds and harvesting what's left of their gardens. But of course you don't need to enter anything to enjoy the Fair: come out for the parade, the exhibits, the animals and the camaraderie. You can find the fair schedule and all the information you need at ucfairinc.org.
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