Friday, May 22, 2015
LONDON GROVE: Residents don't want to join a regional police force
At a public meeting on May 28, about 100 London Grove Township residents made it clear to their township supervisors that they're perfectly happy with current coverage from the Pennsylvania State Police barracks at Avondale and don't feel that joining a proposed regional police force would be worth the tax money.
The supervisors called the hour-long meeting, held at Engle Middle School, to get input from township residents. Under the proposal, London Grove, which doesn't have its own police force and relies solely on the state police, would join with Kennett Square Borough, Kennett Township, New Garden Township, West Grove, and Avondale (all of which do have their own forces or hire police from another municipality) to create one large unified department to cover the area.
Based on their estimates, the board said the cost for London Grove residents to join the proposed regional force would mean doubling the earned income tax or tripling the township millage rate (figures that drew gasps from the audience).
The supervisors said that they were considering joining the proposed regional force because the population and development are increasing in London Grove, and state police cannot handle "quality-of-life" issues like parking enforcement (one resident mentioned, for instance, an ongoing problem in which Avon Grove Charter School students park on his cul-de-sac despite the prominent no-parking signs). But the residents at the meeting said they believed there were more cost-effective methods of handling these problems.
The supervisors explained that a decision on joining the regional force is needed within weeks. When asked why the issue wasn't put on the ballot in the primary election so that residents could give it a thumbs up or down, the supervisors said they are not the ones who can place a referendum question on the ballot; citizens need to collect a certain number of signatures on a petition before such a question can be added.
I have to say that Richard Scott-Harper, the London Grove Township board of supervisors chairman, did a great job running the meeting. He was respectful to all but moved the meeting along in very efficient fashion.
NEW BOLTON: The final "First Tuesday" lecture of the academic year
New Bolton Center's final "First Tuesday" lecture of the academic year will be on Tuesday, June 2, at 6:30 p.m. Dr. Laura Johnstone, a Resident in Internal Medicine, will discuss cancer treatment in horses.
"Equine veterinary medicine, following in the footsteps of human and small animal oncology, has an increasing number of options when it comes to cancer therapy for horses," said a press release. "Those options include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy."
The lecture, which as always is free and open to the public, will be in New Bolton’s Alumni Hall. Register with Barbara Belt at beltb@vet.upenn.edu.
I always find these lectures fascinating, and the speakers are simply top-notch.
"Equine veterinary medicine, following in the footsteps of human and small animal oncology, has an increasing number of options when it comes to cancer therapy for horses," said a press release. "Those options include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy."
The lecture, which as always is free and open to the public, will be in New Bolton’s Alumni Hall. Register with Barbara Belt at beltb@vet.upenn.edu.
I always find these lectures fascinating, and the speakers are simply top-notch.
Thursday, May 21, 2015
NOTTINGHAM: A great meal at the Nottingham Inn
We will be adding a new restaurant to our regular rotation. Last night we had a delicious dinner at the Nottingham Inn on Route 272, just off the Route 1 bypass, near the Maryland border. I had the evening's "special": a grilled ham steak with shrimp in an orange-cranberry sauce, with spinach and roasted potatoes. My date had the salmon cakes with sweet-potato fries.
It's a wholesome, friendly spot full of "regulars." As soon as we said it was our first visit, we got a warm welcome from everyone. Our cheerful waitress offered to tell us the history of the place. When one elderly woman came in with her son, two waitresses went over to her immediately and said how glad they were to see her and asked where she had been. Our fellow guests were two men who looked like they were talking business, several couples, and a family with two teenage girls who, judging from their clothes, had just come from sports practice.
In addition to the restaurant (which also serves breakfast and lunch) there's a "creamery" -- an outside window where you can get ice cream. (A family of ice-cream lovers I know who live nearby make a point of visiting the very day that the place opens every spring -- and many times during the summer as well!)
It took me about 25 minutes from my house to get to the Inn, and that was going "the back way." Had I used the Route 1 bypass, it would have been less.
It's a wholesome, friendly spot full of "regulars." As soon as we said it was our first visit, we got a warm welcome from everyone. Our cheerful waitress offered to tell us the history of the place. When one elderly woman came in with her son, two waitresses went over to her immediately and said how glad they were to see her and asked where she had been. Our fellow guests were two men who looked like they were talking business, several couples, and a family with two teenage girls who, judging from their clothes, had just come from sports practice.
In addition to the restaurant (which also serves breakfast and lunch) there's a "creamery" -- an outside window where you can get ice cream. (A family of ice-cream lovers I know who live nearby make a point of visiting the very day that the place opens every spring -- and many times during the summer as well!)
It took me about 25 minutes from my house to get to the Inn, and that was going "the back way." Had I used the Route 1 bypass, it would have been less.
SIDEWALKS: E. Marlborough homeowners would pay for sidewalks under new rules
On Monday, June 1, at 6:45 p.m. the East Marlborough Township supervisors will hold a public hearing on their proposed new sidewalk ordinance. Under the proposed ordinance, homeowners would have to foot the bill for sidewalk installation (the township would dictate where the sidewalk would be placed). The total cost would be capped at 15% of the property's assessed value, with the township picking up anything over that amount. The homeowners would be responsible for sidewalk maintenance and removing snow and ice.
The formal title of the ordinance is "An Ordinance providing for and regulating the construction of sidewalks abutting public roads or highways within East Marlborough Township and providing for the maintenance of such sidewalks, including the removal of snow and ice therefrom” (aka “The East Marlborough Township Sidewalk Construction and Maintenance Ordinance”).
The formal title of the ordinance is "An Ordinance providing for and regulating the construction of sidewalks abutting public roads or highways within East Marlborough Township and providing for the maintenance of such sidewalks, including the removal of snow and ice therefrom” (aka “The East Marlborough Township Sidewalk Construction and Maintenance Ordinance”).
The proposed ordinance is online at http://www.eastmarlborough.org/index.php/government/township-ordinances/11-government/256-2015-sidewalk-ordinance. Or you can read a copy at the East Marlborough
Township Building (721 Unionville Road) during the township’s business hours, 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon, Monday
through Friday.
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
PLUMAGE: Just one of the colorful residents of West Marlborough
A peacock is hanging out along Route 842 between Ryan and Thouron Roads here in West Marlborough, so please drive slowly along that stretch of road (near where the high-tension lines cross). On several recent evenings I've seen him calmly strutting across the road without looking both ways first. (He is not a stray; he lives at a nearby farm.)
PRIMARY: A predictably depressing turnout at the polls
Voter turnout was predictably -- but depressingly -- low for the May 19 primary election. Of the 322,060 registered voters in Chester County, only 39,324 voted (12.21 percent). Turnout was 12.49 percent for Democrats and 16.87 percent for Republicans.
Here are the Unionville-area results by precinct:
1. In East Marlborough East (Patton Middle School), 308 of 1,753 registered voters voted. Turnout was 17.57 percent overall (15.82 percent for Democrats, 24.27 percent for Republicans). Christine Kimmel beat Richard Hicks for a seat on the township Board of Supervisors, 184 to 34 (they were registered as Republicans, so they weren't on the D ballot).
2. In East Marlborough South, (Kennett Square Missionary Baptist Church), 125 of 1,468 registered voters voted. Turnout was 8.51 percent overall (5.95 percent for Democrats, 14.18 percent for Republicans). Kimmel beat Hicks, 66-28.
3. In East Marlborough West (Willowdale Chapel), 296 of the 2,180 registered voters voted. Turnout was 13.58 percent overall (12.05 percent for Democrats, 19.98 percent for Republicans. Kimmel beat Hicks, 127-67.
4. In Newlin, 143 of the 972 registered voters voted. Turnout was 14.71 percent overall (17.36 percent for Democrats, 17.99 percent for Republicans). Supervisor Bill Kelsall, running on the Republican ticket, received 78 votes, with two write-in votes.
5. In Pocopson, 374 of the 2,574 registered voters voted. Turnout was 14.53 percent overall (12.87 for Democrats, 21.24 for Republicans).
For comparison I always check the turnout numbers from the highly motivated senior citizens who lives in the Kendal/Crosslands community (Pennsbury North-1). Of the 661 registered voters (54 percent of them Democrats), 311 voted, for an overall turnout of 47.05 percent (57.66 percent for Democrats, 47.27 for Republicans).
6. Here in West Marlborough, 109 of 589 registered voters voted. Turnout was 18.51 percent overall (15.49 percent for Democrats and 27.74 percent for Republicans). In the hotly contested race for the District Judge nomination in District 15-4-04 between incumbent Matt Seavey and challenger Nicole Morley, both Democrats and Republicans chose Seavey over Morley, both in West Marlborough and in the entire district (West Marlborough is only part of the district, which also comprises West Grove and Avondale Boroughs, London Grove, Franklin, London Britain, and New Garden Townships.)
In West Marlborough we had two write-in candidates, Hugh Lofting Sr. and Jake Chalfin, who were seeking to keep their seats on the Board of Supervisors. Both will be on the November ballot.
Don Silknitter, the majority inspector at West Marlborough's polling place (the township garage), told me that the first voter of the day arrived in a limo on her way to the airport. She had her driver make a detour to the polling place. Later in the day, a voter with limited mobility arrived, and, at the urging of Don and the other election officials, he pulled right into the garage so that he could cast his ballot with as little difficulty as possible.
For more election statistics, visit the Chester County Voter Services website. It is very user-friendly.
Here are the Unionville-area results by precinct:
1. In East Marlborough East (Patton Middle School), 308 of 1,753 registered voters voted. Turnout was 17.57 percent overall (15.82 percent for Democrats, 24.27 percent for Republicans). Christine Kimmel beat Richard Hicks for a seat on the township Board of Supervisors, 184 to 34 (they were registered as Republicans, so they weren't on the D ballot).
2. In East Marlborough South, (Kennett Square Missionary Baptist Church), 125 of 1,468 registered voters voted. Turnout was 8.51 percent overall (5.95 percent for Democrats, 14.18 percent for Republicans). Kimmel beat Hicks, 66-28.
3. In East Marlborough West (Willowdale Chapel), 296 of the 2,180 registered voters voted. Turnout was 13.58 percent overall (12.05 percent for Democrats, 19.98 percent for Republicans. Kimmel beat Hicks, 127-67.
4. In Newlin, 143 of the 972 registered voters voted. Turnout was 14.71 percent overall (17.36 percent for Democrats, 17.99 percent for Republicans). Supervisor Bill Kelsall, running on the Republican ticket, received 78 votes, with two write-in votes.
5. In Pocopson, 374 of the 2,574 registered voters voted. Turnout was 14.53 percent overall (12.87 for Democrats, 21.24 for Republicans).
For comparison I always check the turnout numbers from the highly motivated senior citizens who lives in the Kendal/Crosslands community (Pennsbury North-1). Of the 661 registered voters (54 percent of them Democrats), 311 voted, for an overall turnout of 47.05 percent (57.66 percent for Democrats, 47.27 for Republicans).
6. Here in West Marlborough, 109 of 589 registered voters voted. Turnout was 18.51 percent overall (15.49 percent for Democrats and 27.74 percent for Republicans). In the hotly contested race for the District Judge nomination in District 15-4-04 between incumbent Matt Seavey and challenger Nicole Morley, both Democrats and Republicans chose Seavey over Morley, both in West Marlborough and in the entire district (West Marlborough is only part of the district, which also comprises West Grove and Avondale Boroughs, London Grove, Franklin, London Britain, and New Garden Townships.)
In West Marlborough we had two write-in candidates, Hugh Lofting Sr. and Jake Chalfin, who were seeking to keep their seats on the Board of Supervisors. Both will be on the November ballot.
Don Silknitter, the majority inspector at West Marlborough's polling place (the township garage), told me that the first voter of the day arrived in a limo on her way to the airport. She had her driver make a detour to the polling place. Later in the day, a voter with limited mobility arrived, and, at the urging of Don and the other election officials, he pulled right into the garage so that he could cast his ballot with as little difficulty as possible.
For more election statistics, visit the Chester County Voter Services website. It is very user-friendly.
THE GALAXY: A sky tour on June 6 at Anson B. Nixon Park
One of the (many) great things about country life is that the sky is usually dark enough to observe planets and constellations.
The Chester County Astronomical Society is hosting a "sky tour" at the Anson B. Nixon Park's Tino Leto Athletic Fields on North Walnut Street starting at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, June 6. According to a press release that the organizers sent me, "The program provides an orientation to the stars and planets with the help of a green laser light, which makes it easier to follow the leaders as they visit (point) to the stars. This is the first late Spring tour we've done and has the advantage of being warm while we view Venus, Jupiter and Saturn as the sky darkens."
Visitors should bring a small flashlight and. Several telescopes will be set up for viewing. If you need more information, the people to contact are Don Knabb of the Chester County Astronomical Society (observing@ccas.us) or Pete Kennedy of Friends of Anson B Nixon (610-444-4479 or pkiii@verizon.net).
AMTRAK: A sense of community among commuters
A West Chester man related the following heartwarming story.
He was on the train coming home from a meeting in Philadelphia when two young mothers boarded at 30th Street Station. Between them they had three children: a newborn, an infant, and a little boy age 4 or so. "They were packing all their mom regalia, and obviously struggling getting strollers folded and in the overhead bins. I offered to help, and then I witnessed an amazing scene. Everyone was tired, it was late, but half of the passengers pitched in to assist them. People were holding babies, schlepping bags, and offering seats."
He concludes that the world can be a sewer sometimes ... "but not tonight. Not on my train."
Sunday, May 17, 2015
MOGREENA: Celebrating the 7th annual Energy Independence Day
On Sunday afternoon we headed up to Modena for the seventh annual Energy Independence Day, hosted by Waste Oil Recyclers and Organic Mechanics Soil Company. There's a great vibe to the place (fondly dubbed "Mogreena"), a repurposed industrial park that sits along the Brandywine Creek.
I think there were more visitors this year than ever before. Musicians played throughout the day; we heard Brad Hinton and Beaucoup Blue. State Rep. Harry Lewis gave a brief speech commending the businesses for sparking a renaissance in Modena.
This year there was a demonstration of glassblowing by Glass Routes (www.glassrts.com). Robin Mastrippolito of Embreeville brought along her decadent homemade cupcakes. We tried two new varieties, one that involved white chocolate and a brandy-soaked blackberry, and the other that included oatmeal and walnuts. Both were delicious and disappeared immediately.
There were lots of kids, many with elaborately painted faces, and a wide variety of well-behaved, leashed dogs. We enjoyed meeting a pit bull mix named Harper, who brought his master to Modena all the way from their home in Center City Philadelphia.
There are beautifully tended vegetable, herb and flower gardens throughout the complex (thanks to Organic Mechanics' potting soil and volunteer "garden nights" held throughout the growing season).
I think there were more visitors this year than ever before. Musicians played throughout the day; we heard Brad Hinton and Beaucoup Blue. State Rep. Harry Lewis gave a brief speech commending the businesses for sparking a renaissance in Modena.
This year there was a demonstration of glassblowing by Glass Routes (www.glassrts.com). Robin Mastrippolito of Embreeville brought along her decadent homemade cupcakes. We tried two new varieties, one that involved white chocolate and a brandy-soaked blackberry, and the other that included oatmeal and walnuts. Both were delicious and disappeared immediately.
There were lots of kids, many with elaborately painted faces, and a wide variety of well-behaved, leashed dogs. We enjoyed meeting a pit bull mix named Harper, who brought his master to Modena all the way from their home in Center City Philadelphia.
There are beautifully tended vegetable, herb and flower gardens throughout the complex (thanks to Organic Mechanics' potting soil and volunteer "garden nights" held throughout the growing season).
BUCK & DOE TRUST: The annual spring fling brunch
It was a new location but the same great food for the Buck & Doe Trust's spring fling brunch in the Laurels on Sunday. The annual event was moved from the Speakman covered bridge to the newly renovated Mary Ann Pyle Bridge -- which meant that to reach the site, the guests drove into the Laurels off Fairview Road instead of Apple Grove Road.
The pancakes, strawberries, sausage and apple-cider doughnuts were delicious, and it was fun to eat on the bridge. I enjoyed seeing glimpses through the floorboards of the Buck Run underneath.
Amy McKenna, president of the Trust, spoke briefly about the group's successes. It's always heartening to learn how much of our area is protected. Virginia Logan and Edith Dondero from the Brandywine Conservancy also spoke about their organization's land-preservation activities.
After the formalities, several of us walked over to the Speakman bridge. It was fun to see the kids and puppies running around, in and out of the creek. Hats off to the talented, hard-working cooks and the volunteers who lug the grill, tables, tents, chairs and equipment a long way off the paved road just so we can show up and have a lovely time with friends and neighbors.
The pancakes, strawberries, sausage and apple-cider doughnuts were delicious, and it was fun to eat on the bridge. I enjoyed seeing glimpses through the floorboards of the Buck Run underneath.
Amy McKenna, president of the Trust, spoke briefly about the group's successes. It's always heartening to learn how much of our area is protected. Virginia Logan and Edith Dondero from the Brandywine Conservancy also spoke about their organization's land-preservation activities.
After the formalities, several of us walked over to the Speakman bridge. It was fun to see the kids and puppies running around, in and out of the creek. Hats off to the talented, hard-working cooks and the volunteers who lug the grill, tables, tents, chairs and equipment a long way off the paved road just so we can show up and have a lovely time with friends and neighbors.
OPEN HOUSE: Chester County artists at work
You probably saw lots of directional signs all over the place for the Chester County Studio Tour this weekend. On Saturday afternoon we made it to four of the studios, each interesting in its own way. The first was maritime painter Annie Strack's home and studio on a cul-de-sac off Route 82 south of Kennett. Then we went to Ree Gallagher's jewelry studio and Lore Evans' stained glass studio, both in the Woodward Farms development off Kennett Pike. Lore showed us a stained-glass piece she is working on for the chapel at Paoli Memorial Hospital.
We ended up at the Willowdale Art Academy (above the Landhope store at Routes 926 and 82), where Karen D'Allaird paints still lifes and landscapes and teaches art classes for adults and children (Frank DePietro's waterlily paintings were also on display there).
There were almost 50 studios on the free two-day tour, all over Chester County. The artists said they'd had a steady flow of visitors all day. Doug Mooberry's Kinloch Woodworking in downtown Unionville was so busy that there were crossing guards on duty.
We ended up at the Willowdale Art Academy (above the Landhope store at Routes 926 and 82), where Karen D'Allaird paints still lifes and landscapes and teaches art classes for adults and children (Frank DePietro's waterlily paintings were also on display there).
There were almost 50 studios on the free two-day tour, all over Chester County. The artists said they'd had a steady flow of visitors all day. Doug Mooberry's Kinloch Woodworking in downtown Unionville was so busy that there were crossing guards on duty.
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