Usually the year-end "Dear Valued Member" letter from the YMCA lists all the good things the Y has does over the past 12 months -- and then tells you how much your dues are going up.
What a surprise this year: rates are actually decreasing! Not by a lot, but it's still good news.
From what I hear, some of the Y branches have been facing stiff competition from the chain fitness centers that have moved into the area; they've been luring Y members away with their lower fees.
Even without the price rollback, I still think the Y is a great value: I live halfway between two branches, and I'm at one or the other several times a week.
Thursday, December 4, 2014
THE GRINCH: An interactive performance of the Dr. Seuss classic!
I am an unrepentant purist when it comes to "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." Misguided family members have tried to persuade me that the Jim Carrey version is somehow better than the original cartoon classic; they are so very, very wrong.
And the following Grinch-fest sounds like a pretty darn awesome event.
At 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at the Hockessin Public Library, they're going to show the original cartoon video of the Dr. Seuss book, along with audience participation a la "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." There will be a green-skinned Grinch (played by a prominent and very nice Hockessin business owner). There will be a Cindy Lou Who. There will be a seasick crocodile, and a Max with a outsized horn tied to his head. The audience will be encouraged to join in ("Stink. Stank. STUNK!"), singing and making merry noise as the Whos celebrate Christmas, with or without presents.
It's free, it's family-friendly and it's sponsored by the Hockessin Business Association (or should that be "Whockessin"?) and the New Castle County Libraries. The library is at 1023 Valley Road.
And the following Grinch-fest sounds like a pretty darn awesome event.
At 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at the Hockessin Public Library, they're going to show the original cartoon video of the Dr. Seuss book, along with audience participation a la "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." There will be a green-skinned Grinch (played by a prominent and very nice Hockessin business owner). There will be a Cindy Lou Who. There will be a seasick crocodile, and a Max with a outsized horn tied to his head. The audience will be encouraged to join in ("Stink. Stank. STUNK!"), singing and making merry noise as the Whos celebrate Christmas, with or without presents.
It's free, it's family-friendly and it's sponsored by the Hockessin Business Association (or should that be "Whockessin"?) and the New Castle County Libraries. The library is at 1023 Valley Road.
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
WEST MARLBOROUGH: Power outage doesn't faze township officials
Oh, the irony.
The evening of Dec. 2, the members of the West Marlborough Planning Commission were discussing how renewable energy technology should be handled in the township's zoning code -- when suddenly the (electric) power went out in the township garage where they meet.
But by the light of flashlights, cell-phone screens and flashlight apps, they carried on, as did the township supervisors, who met after them.
(The photo shows supervisors Hugh Lofting, Bill Wylie and Jake Chalfin shedding some light on the situation.)
Road crew member Hugh Lofting Jr. arrived quickly, turned on the township dump truck's headlights for illumination and lit some candles. Township zoning officer Al Giannantonio held a flashlight aloft, reflecting it off a white piece of paper like an old-time photographer.
PECO was alerted in a comically roundabout way. I took a photo of the supervisors and posted it to Facebook. A township resident who is in South Carolina, seeing my post, called PECO to report the outage.
The township officials and the audience made the best of the situation. Several people told me that "at least you'll have something to write about!" (Like that's ever a problem in West Marlborough.)
Resident Don Silknitter remarked that no one could accuse the supervisors of keeping residents in the dark.
And during the meeting supervisor Bill Wylie asked for public comment, and then looked out into the darkness where the audience was sitting. "Seeing, or rather hearing, none. . . " he quipped.
I'm told that the blackout resulted from two transformers blowing on Buck Run Road. It affected everyone west of Newark Road to the village of Springdell.
So back to the original discussion: the planning commission, which is working on revisions to the township's zoning regulations, agreed to ask engineer Harry Roth to prepare brief, clearly written guidelines for alternative energy sources such as solar and wind power that will be easy for residents to understand, will protect neighbors, will take into account the noise, height and appearance of the technology, and will require the equipment to be well maintained and dismantled when it is no longer operational.
The township supervisors also welcomed their new colleague, Jake Chalfin, who replaced Josh Taylor. The board agreed to advertise its proposed 2015 budget, which calls for no millage increase. And they agreed to wait until January to vote on the proposed revised permit fee schedule so that Jake could review the changes.
The evening of Dec. 2, the members of the West Marlborough Planning Commission were discussing how renewable energy technology should be handled in the township's zoning code -- when suddenly the (electric) power went out in the township garage where they meet.
But by the light of flashlights, cell-phone screens and flashlight apps, they carried on, as did the township supervisors, who met after them.
Road crew member Hugh Lofting Jr. arrived quickly, turned on the township dump truck's headlights for illumination and lit some candles. Township zoning officer Al Giannantonio held a flashlight aloft, reflecting it off a white piece of paper like an old-time photographer.
PECO was alerted in a comically roundabout way. I took a photo of the supervisors and posted it to Facebook. A township resident who is in South Carolina, seeing my post, called PECO to report the outage.
The township officials and the audience made the best of the situation. Several people told me that "at least you'll have something to write about!" (Like that's ever a problem in West Marlborough.)
Resident Don Silknitter remarked that no one could accuse the supervisors of keeping residents in the dark.
And during the meeting supervisor Bill Wylie asked for public comment, and then looked out into the darkness where the audience was sitting. "Seeing, or rather hearing, none. . . " he quipped.
I'm told that the blackout resulted from two transformers blowing on Buck Run Road. It affected everyone west of Newark Road to the village of Springdell.
So back to the original discussion: the planning commission, which is working on revisions to the township's zoning regulations, agreed to ask engineer Harry Roth to prepare brief, clearly written guidelines for alternative energy sources such as solar and wind power that will be easy for residents to understand, will protect neighbors, will take into account the noise, height and appearance of the technology, and will require the equipment to be well maintained and dismantled when it is no longer operational.
The township supervisors also welcomed their new colleague, Jake Chalfin, who replaced Josh Taylor. The board agreed to advertise its proposed 2015 budget, which calls for no millage increase. And they agreed to wait until January to vote on the proposed revised permit fee schedule so that Jake could review the changes.
WEST MARLBOROUGH: Police and zoning updates in the township
Also at the dimly lit township meeting, township police office Bob Clarke reported that during his 40 hours on duty in November, he investigated 21 incidents and issued 13 traffic citations: eight for speeding, two for driving without a license and three for parking violations.
Lieut. Rich D'Ambrosio from the Avondale state police barracks gave his quarterly report on state police activity in the township. He said that in September, October and November there were 50 incidents in West Marlborough, including 10 vehicle crashes (four serious), four criminal incidents (including one arrest for harassment), three thefts and no burglaries or serious assaults.
He advised residents to keep their cars and houses locked. He said that during the holiday season thieves drive around looking for packages to steal, so he suggested leaving a note asking delivery drivers to drop off packages out of sight. He also advised giving Christmas tips in person rather than leaving them for the recipient (or a thief) to pick up.
Zoning officer Al Giannantonio reported that he received a zoning application to build a house, a barn, a three-car garage and a two-bay tractor shed at 326 Apple Grove Road, which is directly across the street from the Plantation Field grounds, near the township's border with Newlin. He is reviewing the request. He said he approved a request by the owners of 551 West Street Road to construct an addition.
Lieut. Rich D'Ambrosio from the Avondale state police barracks gave his quarterly report on state police activity in the township. He said that in September, October and November there were 50 incidents in West Marlborough, including 10 vehicle crashes (four serious), four criminal incidents (including one arrest for harassment), three thefts and no burglaries or serious assaults.
He advised residents to keep their cars and houses locked. He said that during the holiday season thieves drive around looking for packages to steal, so he suggested leaving a note asking delivery drivers to drop off packages out of sight. He also advised giving Christmas tips in person rather than leaving them for the recipient (or a thief) to pick up.
Zoning officer Al Giannantonio reported that he received a zoning application to build a house, a barn, a three-car garage and a two-bay tractor shed at 326 Apple Grove Road, which is directly across the street from the Plantation Field grounds, near the township's border with Newlin. He is reviewing the request. He said he approved a request by the owners of 551 West Street Road to construct an addition.
INTO THE WOODS: The other White Clay Creek Park
When I think of White Clay Creek Park, I think of wonderful old London Tract Meetinghouse, the fabled "ticking tomb" in the graveyard, and pleasant walks along (sometimes through) the creek. But until we visited on Saturday, I didn't realize that there is a "whole 'nother" eastern part of the park, called the Judge Morris Estate, that's entirely in Delaware.
We parked at the Judge Morris mansion, paid our admission fee as out-of-staters and set off on the Chestnut Trail. Even though the temperature was in the thirties, we had a pleasant (brisk) hike through the woods, hearing chickadees and spotting some interesting tree fungus.
This part of the park is certainly close to civilization, though: we could hear the low rumble of traffic from the Kirkwood Highway and Polly Drummond Hill Road throughout, and at one point on the trail we were almost walking through someone's backyard. As the park's website says, "Come to White Clay Creek to escape the encroaching development of New Castle County."
A friend who graduated from Salesianum said he was very familiar with that part of the park, having spent many of his leisure hours there as a youth.
We parked at the Judge Morris mansion, paid our admission fee as out-of-staters and set off on the Chestnut Trail. Even though the temperature was in the thirties, we had a pleasant (brisk) hike through the woods, hearing chickadees and spotting some interesting tree fungus.
This part of the park is certainly close to civilization, though: we could hear the low rumble of traffic from the Kirkwood Highway and Polly Drummond Hill Road throughout, and at one point on the trail we were almost walking through someone's backyard. As the park's website says, "Come to White Clay Creek to escape the encroaching development of New Castle County."
A friend who graduated from Salesianum said he was very familiar with that part of the park, having spent many of his leisure hours there as a youth.
FOXCATCHER: 1996 murder makes it to the silver screen
The film "Foxcatcher" was released by Sony Pictures Classics on Nov. 14, based on the sad tale involving millionaire John du Pont and the wrestling team he coached at his Newtown Square estate (du Pont murdered Olympic wrestler Dave Schultz there in 1996). Steve Carell plays John du Pont; Mark Ruffalo plays Dave Schultz; Channing Tatum plays Mark Schultz, Dave's brother; Vanessa Redgrave plays John du Pont's mother; and Sienna Miller plays Dave Schultz's wife.
The film was shot in the Pittsburgh area. Because Foxcatcher Farm was torn down in 2013, Morven Park in Leesburg, Virginia, was used for exterior shots of the mansion.
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The film was shot in the Pittsburgh area. Because Foxcatcher Farm was torn down in 2013, Morven Park in Leesburg, Virginia, was used for exterior shots of the mansion.
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BLACK FRIDAY: Will Thanksgiving soon go international?
Richard Allinson, a pal of mine who is a disc jockey in England, took to social media to solicit song suggestions for his Black Friday radio show. Wait a minute, I thought: they don't have Thanksgiving in England; how can they have Black Friday?
It seems that Black Friday is yet another American export, and one that, not surprisingly, is being embraced by British retailers.
"It's become a great day in the calendar," Mark Lewis, online director at a British department store chain, was quoted as saying in a Nov. 28 Wall Street Journal story by Peter Evans.
First, though, marketers need to bring British consumers up to speed on exactly what Black Friday is. According to the article, electronics retailer Currys offered this explanation on its website: "The Black Friday shopping deal phenomenon began in the U.S. It's always the Friday after Thanksgiving Day and is seen as the kickoff for the shopping season leading up to Christmas."
It seems that Black Friday is yet another American export, and one that, not surprisingly, is being embraced by British retailers.
"It's become a great day in the calendar," Mark Lewis, online director at a British department store chain, was quoted as saying in a Nov. 28 Wall Street Journal story by Peter Evans.
First, though, marketers need to bring British consumers up to speed on exactly what Black Friday is. According to the article, electronics retailer Currys offered this explanation on its website: "The Black Friday shopping deal phenomenon began in the U.S. It's always the Friday after Thanksgiving Day and is seen as the kickoff for the shopping season leading up to Christmas."
Sunday, November 30, 2014
LIVE MUSIC: Celtic harp and Christmas music concerts
Two concerts are coming up in Unionville this Saturday evening, Dec. 6.
(1) Unionville native Gillian Grassie will be playing the Celtic harp at London Grove Friends Meeting. A potluck supper will be at 5:30 p.m. and the concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free; the concert is the final event in London Grove's year-long 300th anniversary celebration.
(2) The Brandywine Valley Chorale will be performing its holiday concert at 7:30 p.m. St. Michael Lutheran Church. "Accompanied by orchestra and organ, the choir’s centerpiece is the Bach “Magnificat”, a musical setting of the biblical canticle taken from the book of Luke. In addition, the chorale is premiering a new work, “Shepherd’s Song At Christmas.” Local artist David Bennett Thomas has taken the words of Langston Hughes’ writing and set them to an original score." Tickets (adults, $15; students, $10) are available online at thebvc.org or at the door.
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