Carolyn Swett of Unionville, a longtime third- and fourth-grade teacher at Upland Country Day School, died on Nov. 20 at the age of 77. Her former students have been sharing fond memories of her and recalling her as a sweet person and a memorable teacher. I met Mrs. Swett only a few times but was always struck by her kindness and her smile. My condolences to her husband, Tom, and her family.
Her memorial service is at 11 a.m. Dec. 6, with visitation at 10:30 a.m., at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 122 E. Pine St., Georgetown, DE. 19947.
Saturday, November 29, 2014
CLEANING: A product that lives up to its billing
This is going to sound like an infomercial, and for that I apologize, but my mother has discovered a truly great product. It's a microfiber cleaning cloth, and all you have to do is wet it, wring it out and then go to town on any kind of grime you have around the house, from kitchen grease to bathroom scum to windows, walls, and floors.
I don't like housecleaning, to put it mildly, but I am singing the praises of this product because:
(A) It really works. I have used it to clean stink bug stains on walls, stainless steel fixtures, my computer monitor and keyboard, the stovetop, storm windows and the (formerly) cruddy inside of my driver's-side car door (I often open the door by pushing on it with my foot).
(B) You don't need to use any smelly, itch-inducing chemicals, just plain water.
(C) You can throw it in the washer and reuse it.
The company that sells this cloth is called Streakfree Products in Baltimore. The U.S.-made cloths are six dollars each, and you can order online or by calling 1-877-373-3050.
I don't like housecleaning, to put it mildly, but I am singing the praises of this product because:
(A) It really works. I have used it to clean stink bug stains on walls, stainless steel fixtures, my computer monitor and keyboard, the stovetop, storm windows and the (formerly) cruddy inside of my driver's-side car door (I often open the door by pushing on it with my foot).
(B) You don't need to use any smelly, itch-inducing chemicals, just plain water.
(C) You can throw it in the washer and reuse it.
The company that sells this cloth is called Streakfree Products in Baltimore. The U.S.-made cloths are six dollars each, and you can order online or by calling 1-877-373-3050.
PARADE: Light-hearted at Kennett's Christmas Parade
The Kennett Christmas parade (officially the "Holiday Light Parade") on Friday evening was a hoot. We loved seeing the fire trucks, tractors, balers, hay wagons, a propane truck, and work trucks festively decked out with lights, wreaths, inflatable snowmen and such as they drove east on State Street toward the middle of town. The contingent of giant pieces of equipment from the Hickses' Meadow Springs Farm was especially impressive. A lot of the drivers brought along their little kids, who beamed with delight as they waved at the crowd.
The lighted mushroom made a special appearance on a cart before its New Year's Eve drop, and to end the parade Lou Mandich chauffeured Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus into town in an antique car. We were amused to see a second Santa walking along the sidewalk escorted by two elves in green outfits, who were telling all and sundry about how difficult it was to keep Santa on schedule during the holiday season.
There was also a costumed contingent from KATS, the theatrical troupe that puts on the annual pantomime. (This year's show, “Comedy of Errors & Pirates,” will be January 23 and 24, 2015, at the Kennett High School auditorium.)
I've said it before: Kennett does parades really well.
The lighted mushroom made a special appearance on a cart before its New Year's Eve drop, and to end the parade Lou Mandich chauffeured Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus into town in an antique car. We were amused to see a second Santa walking along the sidewalk escorted by two elves in green outfits, who were telling all and sundry about how difficult it was to keep Santa on schedule during the holiday season.
There was also a costumed contingent from KATS, the theatrical troupe that puts on the annual pantomime. (This year's show, “Comedy of Errors & Pirates,” will be January 23 and 24, 2015, at the Kennett High School auditorium.)
I've said it before: Kennett does parades really well.
Thursday, November 27, 2014
COFFEE: That is one expensive credit card
Is there something here I'm not understanding?
It seems that the coffeeshop chain Starbucks is selling, for $200, a "limited edition" "sterling silver" card preloaded with $50 in credit. "Just a few left!" reads the ad. "Head to a store and get it before it's gone!"
So let me get this straight: They actually expect consumers to pay $150 for the questionable privilege of possessing a coffee credit card in their wallet?
I have to say, I am really souring on Starbucks. First they remove the comfy chairs from their Longwood store. Then they send me mournful emails lamenting the fact that I have lost my "gold status" (a direct result of the lack of comfy chairs). And now they fill up my inbox with gimmicky come-ons like this!
Wawa, Foxy Loxy, and Philter, here I come.
It seems that the coffeeshop chain Starbucks is selling, for $200, a "limited edition" "sterling silver" card preloaded with $50 in credit. "Just a few left!" reads the ad. "Head to a store and get it before it's gone!"
So let me get this straight: They actually expect consumers to pay $150 for the questionable privilege of possessing a coffee credit card in their wallet?
I have to say, I am really souring on Starbucks. First they remove the comfy chairs from their Longwood store. Then they send me mournful emails lamenting the fact that I have lost my "gold status" (a direct result of the lack of comfy chairs). And now they fill up my inbox with gimmicky come-ons like this!
Wawa, Foxy Loxy, and Philter, here I come.
FOXHUNTERS: A big crowd for the Thanksgiving Hunt
This morning was the Thanksgiving Hunt Meet at the Kennels in Unionville, and dozens of carloads of folks braved the cold to enjoy the traditional pageantry of the horses and hounds.
For us spectators, it was glorious to see the snow-covered fields and to feel the warm sun. For the riders, it wasn't such a great day; Master of Foxhounds Mike Ledyard, in his welcoming speech, used the word "challenging" to describe the footing. It was fun to watch Ivan Dowling and Stephanie Boyer leading the eager hounds out from their kennels to start the day's sport.
I had a great time seeing friends and neighbors from so many circles. I'll single out two for their headgear: spectator Ron Fenstemacher in a turkey hat and foxhunter Richard Buchanan in a traditional black top hat (he changed into a helmet for the hunt).
There was also some serious tailgating going on. As I was walking through the rows of cars, I was offered Dunkin Donuts coffee, a Bloody Mary with celery sticks, Champagne (in glass flutes!), mulled cider and hot chocolate laced with vodka.
Most of the spectators were well wrapped up, although I did see one hardy kid in shorts throwing snowballs. And apparently not everyone expected they'd be walking through snow: I had to laugh when I heard one shivering young woman protest, "This is like the tundra!"
For us spectators, it was glorious to see the snow-covered fields and to feel the warm sun. For the riders, it wasn't such a great day; Master of Foxhounds Mike Ledyard, in his welcoming speech, used the word "challenging" to describe the footing. It was fun to watch Ivan Dowling and Stephanie Boyer leading the eager hounds out from their kennels to start the day's sport.
I had a great time seeing friends and neighbors from so many circles. I'll single out two for their headgear: spectator Ron Fenstemacher in a turkey hat and foxhunter Richard Buchanan in a traditional black top hat (he changed into a helmet for the hunt).
There was also some serious tailgating going on. As I was walking through the rows of cars, I was offered Dunkin Donuts coffee, a Bloody Mary with celery sticks, Champagne (in glass flutes!), mulled cider and hot chocolate laced with vodka.
Most of the spectators were well wrapped up, although I did see one hardy kid in shorts throwing snowballs. And apparently not everyone expected they'd be walking through snow: I had to laugh when I heard one shivering young woman protest, "This is like the tundra!"
KIDS AND DOGS: An encounter with a helpful little boy
A Kennett Square Facebook friend reports that she and a friend were shopping for fleece material at the fabric store the other day.
"I told the lady I was with, here is another shade of brown.Here comes this little curly-haired tyke about 4 or 5 years old, grabbed that bolt of material, wrestled it off the shelf and clumsily handed it to me. He was so proud of what he did.
"I told him that material was perfect and it was going to be used to make my doggie a blanket for Christmas.
"I also told his mother how proud she should be of her son. I hope he never changes.
So many children are not taught to help or to even respect the elderly. I wish I would have gotten his name. I just wanted to share something good for a change."
"I told the lady I was with, here is another shade of brown.Here comes this little curly-haired tyke about 4 or 5 years old, grabbed that bolt of material, wrestled it off the shelf and clumsily handed it to me. He was so proud of what he did.
"I told him that material was perfect and it was going to be used to make my doggie a blanket for Christmas.
"I also told his mother how proud she should be of her son. I hope he never changes.
So many children are not taught to help or to even respect the elderly. I wish I would have gotten his name. I just wanted to share something good for a change."
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
JENNERSVILLE: Traffic improvements at Route 796
Curious motorists like me are wondering what the final configuration will be of the Route 796 exit off the Route 1 bypass. A new medical center, Penn Medicine Southern Chester County, is being constructed at the intersection, and as part of the approval the developer was required to make road improvements. The exit ramp off Route 1, the entire length of which backs up during the evening rush hour, has been widened and is now divided into two lanes, one marked for right turns only. And given the orange construction barrels on the site, it looks as if the short stretch of Route 796 between the bypass and Woodview Road is going to be widened, and a concrete base was installed that could hold a traffic signal.
More will doubtless be revealed. The medical center is slated to open in the summer of 2015.
Farther down the Route 1 bypass, residents are objecting to a giant digital billboard proposed to be built near the Route 10 exit in Lower Oxford Township. There's already an online petition asking the township supervisors not to rewrite the township's zoning ordinance to permit the installation of this sign, which would be even bigger than the one on Route 202 (Concord Pike) south of Route 1.
More will doubtless be revealed. The medical center is slated to open in the summer of 2015.
Farther down the Route 1 bypass, residents are objecting to a giant digital billboard proposed to be built near the Route 10 exit in Lower Oxford Township. There's already an online petition asking the township supervisors not to rewrite the township's zoning ordinance to permit the installation of this sign, which would be even bigger than the one on Route 202 (Concord Pike) south of Route 1.
CAROLS: A merry noise at local Quaker meetinghouses
Three local Quaker meetings are hosting community carol sings: Bradford Meeting at 11 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 21; Marlborough Meeting at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21; and New West Grove Meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 22.
Bradford Meeting is on Strasburg Road in Marshallton; Marlborough Meeting is at the intersection of Marlboro and Marlboro Springs Road in East Marlborough Township; and New West Grove Meeting is at 609 West State Road in West Grove (this is NOT the main meetinghouse in the town of West Grove).
Bradford Meeting is on Strasburg Road in Marshallton; Marlborough Meeting is at the intersection of Marlboro and Marlboro Springs Road in East Marlborough Township; and New West Grove Meeting is at 609 West State Road in West Grove (this is NOT the main meetinghouse in the town of West Grove).
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