We need more like him

We knew he'd retire sooner rather than later, but every election cycle that he didn't, I for one breathed a sigh of relief.
Well, the time has come: as doubtless you'll read elsewhere in this week's Kennett Paper, State Rep. Chris Ross has announced that he will not run for reelection when his term ends next year.
I've known Chris for 20 years, not only as my state representative but as a valued friend and neighbor, and if we had more people like him in government the world would be in much better shape. In the toxic atmosphere of political extremism that pollutes Harrisburg as well as Washington, Chris has kept to a moderate, thoughtful, reasonable, sensible, ethical course. I haven't always agreed with him, but more often than not, when I'll ask him about his vote (the poor man; he probably dreads seeing me at parties), his well-reasoned explanation makes sense and touches on broader ramifications I hadn't even considered.
Unlike so many ego-crazed politicians, Chris is always friendly, down-to-earth and approachable and is such a good sport about taking part in community events and parades. His appeal crosses partisan lines, and how refreshing is that kind of unity! When I posted on Facebook the news about his forthcoming retirement, the response was sad and swift from friends far left and far right on the political spectrum.
Whoever replaces him has some big shoes to fill (metaphorically speaking). Thanks for your unselfish, truly public service, Chris; and happy retirement!

Steel Rails and other hits

This week's musical adventure took us down to Newark for a bluegrass concert by Johnny & Jeanette Williams, Louisa Branscomb and Joe Zauner as part of the Brandywine Friends of Old Time Music series.
Among my varied popular musical experiences, I've seen in concert megastar arena-rock bands, feminist singer-songwriters, folk groups, reggae bands, a New Age flute player, and the uncategorizable chainsaw-wielding Wendy O. Williams and the Plasmatics, but until Friday night I can safely say I had never seen a bluegrass band. I'm glad I finally remedied this sad shortcoming: they were wonderful! Johnny played the guitar; his wife Jeanette played a novel upright electric bass; Louisa played mandolin and guitar; and Joe (whose day job is an attorney) played one mean banjo. They did a lot of their own original songs, as well as some country classics, gospel tunes and even a bluegrass version of the disco standard "I Will Survive." One song I particularly liked, "Dear Sister," was written by Louisa and was based on Civil War letters written by some Confederate ancestors of hers.
It was a great Southern-tinged evening (at one point the band asked if Newark was north of the Mason-Dixon line) with sweet harmonies and much foot-tapping among the audience.

Wild Birds

It's not your seed, or your feeders, or your yard: the wild birds just haven't been coming to our feeders much this autumn until the past week. I noticed the unchanging levels of seed in my feeders and thought perhaps it had gone stale, even though I opened the bag only recently.
But no: when I was shopping at Wild Birds Unlimited in Hockessin on Thursday, owners Kathy and Charles Shattuck told me that everyone has reported the same situation. They had no explanation. Fortunately, I have noticed a lot more chickadees in just the past few days.
By the way, I know I've said it before, but it's worth repeating this time of year: Wild Birds is a great, locally owned, community-supporting nature store with lots of tasteful, classy gifts for humans and birds. I especially love their cards and ornaments. And be sure to say hi to West Marlborough's Risa Herman, who works there!

My 15 minutes

So now I guess I can add "model" to my resume! My trainer asked me if I'd demonstrate some Pilates moves for a workshop she was giving at the Jennersville Y, and I cheerfully agreed. Obviously she selected me for my "everywoman" body rather than asking one of the incredibly flexible teenage girls we have in class.
Modeling was fun and challenging. While I was demonstrating each move, the instructor would go around my body pointing out to the audience what I was doing right (back straight, legs straight, body stretched out, hands under shoulders for pushups), so I had to make sure that every detail of my form was perfect. No slacking off or breaks!
Doing it "wrong" was fun, too. To illustrate bad form, she asked me to deliberately plunk down from a crunch instead of inching down vertebra by vertebra. And once I got to let my stomach sag down and then pull it in to demonstrate how important our "powerhouse" abdominal muscles are.
I got a good workout -- and I hope I inspired some of the folks in the audience to try this excellent form of exercise.

In the movies

Movie director M. Night Shyamalan, who lives on the Main Line, is planning to shoot yet another one of his films in these parts in January and February. According to an email I received from the Chester County Conference & Visitors Bureau, the production team is searching for an "older stone/wood farmhouse,  on wooded, secluded property with outbuildings (barns, spring-house etc…). Will shoot a lot at this site, so will take over for about 6 weeks or so" (which means the owner has to vacate the premises). The property should be "in reasonable condition but not newly restored." Location fees to be negotiated.

Nina Kelly at the Visitors Bureau is the one to contact; 484-770-8550 ext. 201.

M. Night shot "The Village" in Chadds Ford and parts of "The Happening" and "The Last Airbender" around Unionville. It's great fun watching the movies on DVD and spotting friends' fencelines and properties and the famous "Road to Nowhere" that he created at the intersection of Scott and Powell Roads in Newlin Township.

 

3-D Printer

The Bayard Taylor Library in Kennett has just acquired a MakerBot Replicator 2, a super-duper 3-D printer, and on Monday afternoon I got to watch it in operation.
Although it's called a printer, what this thing actually does is to lay down not ink, but thin layer on top of thin layer of molten plastic to form a shape, the exact dimensions of which are set by a computer program. What it reminded me of was a high-tech, more precise version of a pastry bag or a hot glue gun.
Library employee Ivy was kind enough to walk me through how the printer works. First the machine heated the biodegradable blue plastic filament (it looked like weed-whacker line) to 230 degrees centigrade ("Please wait while I heat my extruder," it informed us).
Ivy selected "Shark" as the product to be made. The machine's little platform rose (like Igor hoisting Frankenstein's monster up into the thunderstorm) and the "printer" started forming the shark, layer after layer, moving in a delicate zigzag to create the creature's teeth. As it worked it made beeping noises ("rather C3PO-ish," commented Library Director Donna Murray).

I stood there gawping in amazement during the 15 minutes it took to form my little shark (you can see it being formed right under the "hot surface" sign). The experience reminded me of the injection-molding machine that enchanted my brother and me at a Florida amusement park 30 years ago (we had it make a Yeti) -- except there's no mold involved in this; the product just forms before your eyes.
Ivy said that, being self-described geeks, she and her boyfriend first experimented with programs to make "the nerdiest things we could find," like robots and "Star Wars" and "Dr. Who" characters (Donna proudly showed me her blue Tardis, the time machine from the "Dr. Who" series). But imagine the possibilities: this thing can create customized cookie cutters, or tools, or toys, or Christmas ornaments.
I've included a photo of the completed shark next to my guinea pig Binnie for size comparison.
An anonymous benefactor donated the $2,800 machine to the library -- "he told me, `Buy one and send me the bill,'" said Donna -- and Ivy is planning to hold several introductory classes for the public. Patrons will be able to bring their own premade programs on a storage card or transmitted wirelessly or "mess around with something they've found," she said.
Bayard Taylor is the first public library in Pennsylvania to have a 3-D printer, and she hopes it will attract new patrons. Anybody interested can email her at btmlteens@gmail.com

Embreeville rezoning

The Newlin residents leading the fight against the proposed multi-use development at the former Embreeville State Hospital want you to mark Tuesday, Dec. 10, on your calendar; that's when there's going to be a key meeting of the West Bradford Township supervisors.
"The attorney and land planner for the developer are tentatively scheduled to make the pitch for rezoning of the Embreeville site at the December 10 supervisors meeting," reads an email I received. "They are still seeking 1,100 dwelling units. For those of you who have not attended a supervisors meeting to voice your opposition or just show support, THIS IS THE ONE TO GO TO! The meeting starts at 7:30 and will provide a period for public comment after the developer presents its rezoning plan. If you cannot go to the meeting, please email your detailed views to the West Bradford supervisors at www.wbradford@westbradford.org. The December 10 supervisors meeting will be at the Township Administration Office at the corner of Marshallton-Thorndale Road and Poorhouse Road."
The residents are concerned about the possible impact of such a large development on our rural roads and countryside. There's a multitude of information about the controversial plan on the West Bradford website.
Also, I'm told a third iteration of the anti-development sign is in the works and doubtless will be coming to a yard near you.

DogSaucer

If you're in the mood for creating Venn diagrams, imagine how the sets "motorcycle enthusiasts" and "dog lovers" would overlap. I'd wager that the vast majority of motorcyclists are also dog lovers. And my high-school classmate Greg is hoping that, like him, they'll want to take their dogs along with them on their motorcycle jaunts, ideally using his invention the DogSaucer.
This clever product is a little wheeled dog trailer with a clear top that reminds me of one of those personal space ships in "The Jetsons." A friend said she spotted a dog riding in one in Lancaster County and he looked "very happy."

The photo, taken on Greg's Chester Springs farm, shows his best friend Nova, who has logged more than 30,000 miles in the DogSaucer.

Spirit Wing

On Saturday a friend and I traveled to the Oxford Friends Meeting to listen to a quartet called Spirit Wing as part of the Friends Folk Club series. It's hard to describe Spirit Wing, which hails from Phoenixville: the bulk of the show was Native American-inspired music, but they also played country music, bluegrass and reggae. It blew my mind just a little when the group who had just done a traditional longhouse social dance segued into an impassioned version of George Gershwin's "Summertime," a tropical steel-drum number and a very funny song called "Counting Coup on the Highway" (let's just say the band isn't fond of Volvos).

No matter what the musical genre, though, the group's message was a wholesome one of respect for nature (they talked about how exciting it is to see crawfish back in the Schuylkill River after a long hiatus) and the importance of keeping traditions alive and expressing gratitude for peace, family and friends. They did a fun show (including a sing-along that involved the audience members making crow noises -- yes, of course I joined in!) and kept both kids and adults entertained.
Oxford Meeting is a nice venue (sorry about tracking in all those yellow gingko leaves!), though I'm not sure the benches were designed with the human body in mind. At intermission they had excellent baked goods and I browsed through a book called "Quaker Economics."

Fire company fundraiser

Earlier this year I heard some folks kicking around some ideas about holding a fundraiser for the local volunteer fire companies, but I had no idea that from these casual conversations would come a party as successful as the one at St. Michael Lutheran Church on Saturday night. Thanks to the dedicated, hard-working committee members, it was an absolutely rocking evening, with a terrific turnout of uniformed firefighters and emergency personnel (fire trucks, too) and people from just about every circle of the Unionville community you can think of. I'd start listing them, but I'm sure I'd forget somebody; suffice it to say I was losing my voice after about 90 minutes. All the money raised from admission tickets, the raffle and the auctions will be split among the Po-Mar-Lin, Modena and West Bradford fire companies.
It was hard to believe that the party was a first-time effort, it was so well organized and successful. And did I mention fun!