For the third year in a row, a giant glowing mushroom descended from the crane at State and Union Streets in downtown Kennett, and for the third year, we were there celebrating! This year's event was augmented by a very cool laser light show, and the stage for "The Funsters" oldies band was moved around the corner to Union Street between State and Cypress. The crowd was jovial, the temperature was comfortable (if you were well wrapped up, that is), and I didn't see any obnoxious behavior at all. The only downside was the number of young people I saw who were smoking.
I'm told Kennett Square's "falling fungus" made the national news in a wrap-up of towns that celebrated the New Year in novel ways. And one of my readers was thrilled to see that a mushroom-raising ceremony was held at 8 p.m. for people who didn't want to stay up until midnight (she had suggested the idea months ago).
The next day a friend told me she brought out-of-town guests to the mushroom drop and they had completely misunderstood the event: They thought that at midnight a giant pinata was going to be broken, showering the crowd beneath with mushrooms.
Saturday, January 2, 2016
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
WEST MARLBOROUGH: Debating the cost of police presence
"Clarkie" has gotten a reprieve, at least a temporary one, from the West Marlborough supervisors.
In their proposed budget, the township board had budgeted $0 for police protection. But after hearing from several township residents who wanted the township's part-time officer to stay on, the board tweaked the numbers and budgeted $6,400 to keep him on the job for two more months. (They did that by cutting the budgeted amount for the township engineer from $12,000 to $7,000 and the budgeted amount for the codes enforcement officer from $5,000 to $4,000).
Robert Clarke is the chief of police in East Marlborough but works 40 hours a month in West Marlborough.
During those two months, Supervisor Bill Wylie said, the supervisors from the two townships will try to reach an affordable solution in which Clarkie can still be "on call" to respond to problems in West Marlborough. The board paid $50 an hour for his services when the agreement between the townships started in 2008; it is now $80 an hour. The supervisors hired him for two reasons (to cut down on speeding and to reduce illegal parking at The Whip tavern in Springdell) but he has apparently endeared himself to residents.
Five West Marlborough residents (Kathleen Crompton, Clipper LaMotte, Melissa Marino, Anna Myers, and Nita Greer) attended the normally perfunctory budget approval meeting on Dec. 29 to express their support for Clarkie, saying he provides a quicker response than the state police, knows the township roads and people, serves as a proactive presence to deter crime, and helps out at special events like the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup. They said they like having a familiar face to contact.
"Clarkie is there for us even when he's not on duty," said Nita Greer. "He responds and he cares and he's there."
Clipper LaMotte said Clarkie is a bargain "in terms of bang for the buck," is also a trained nurse, and "knows the territory inside and out." He said his service is "unique and valuable for the amount of money we spend ... he's meant a lot to us."
Kathleen Crompton said just the day before Clarkie had helped out at the Buck & Doe Trust's road cleanup, driving along Route 82 with his lights flashing to slow traffic. "I was delighted to see him," she said.
The residents said they understood the township's financial constraints, however, and would be satisfied if Clarkie could be kept "on call" rather than working a full 40 hours a month.
In their proposed budget, the township board had budgeted $0 for police protection. But after hearing from several township residents who wanted the township's part-time officer to stay on, the board tweaked the numbers and budgeted $6,400 to keep him on the job for two more months. (They did that by cutting the budgeted amount for the township engineer from $12,000 to $7,000 and the budgeted amount for the codes enforcement officer from $5,000 to $4,000).
Robert Clarke is the chief of police in East Marlborough but works 40 hours a month in West Marlborough.
During those two months, Supervisor Bill Wylie said, the supervisors from the two townships will try to reach an affordable solution in which Clarkie can still be "on call" to respond to problems in West Marlborough. The board paid $50 an hour for his services when the agreement between the townships started in 2008; it is now $80 an hour. The supervisors hired him for two reasons (to cut down on speeding and to reduce illegal parking at The Whip tavern in Springdell) but he has apparently endeared himself to residents.
Five West Marlborough residents (Kathleen Crompton, Clipper LaMotte, Melissa Marino, Anna Myers, and Nita Greer) attended the normally perfunctory budget approval meeting on Dec. 29 to express their support for Clarkie, saying he provides a quicker response than the state police, knows the township roads and people, serves as a proactive presence to deter crime, and helps out at special events like the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup. They said they like having a familiar face to contact.
"Clarkie is there for us even when he's not on duty," said Nita Greer. "He responds and he cares and he's there."
Clipper LaMotte said Clarkie is a bargain "in terms of bang for the buck," is also a trained nurse, and "knows the territory inside and out." He said his service is "unique and valuable for the amount of money we spend ... he's meant a lot to us."
Kathleen Crompton said just the day before Clarkie had helped out at the Buck & Doe Trust's road cleanup, driving along Route 82 with his lights flashing to slow traffic. "I was delighted to see him," she said.
The residents said they understood the township's financial constraints, however, and would be satisfied if Clarkie could be kept "on call" rather than working a full 40 hours a month.
Sunday, December 27, 2015
NOT PALM BEACH: Fraudster has a new address
Convicted Ponzi schemer Tony Young, late of West Marlborough, Palm Beach and Maine, has been transferred to the minimum-security Federal Prison Camp in Pensacola, Florida, which Forbes magazine dubbed the second-cushiest prison in America.
When he was sentenced back in 2011, his wife Neely asked the judge to commit him to a Florida prison so she could visit. But Young, now 44, was first sent to the Federal Correctional Institution at Jesup, Georgia, and then was transferred to the Federal Correctional Institution in Fort Worth, Texas, before moving to Pensacola.
Other Pennsylvania white-collar criminals who spent time at Pensacola include former NBA referee Tim Donaghy of Delaware County, who was involved in a gambling scandal, and Robert Powell, a key figure in the Luzerne County "Kids for Cash" scandal.
Young's projected release date is July 7, 2023.
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| Tony Young's new home: the Federal Prison Camp in Pensacola, Florida. |
When he was sentenced back in 2011, his wife Neely asked the judge to commit him to a Florida prison so she could visit. But Young, now 44, was first sent to the Federal Correctional Institution at Jesup, Georgia, and then was transferred to the Federal Correctional Institution in Fort Worth, Texas, before moving to Pensacola.
Other Pennsylvania white-collar criminals who spent time at Pensacola include former NBA referee Tim Donaghy of Delaware County, who was involved in a gambling scandal, and Robert Powell, a key figure in the Luzerne County "Kids for Cash" scandal.
Young's projected release date is July 7, 2023.
USPS: A Christmas card from Jim
I'm sure many of you remember with fondness our former Unionville Postmaster, Jim Robinson. He reported in this year's Christmas card that he and his partner Chad have decided to sell their Denver high-rise and by 2020 hope to become "full-time RV people." The two of them are in Phoenix until Jan. 20 for a temporary break from the Denver snow.
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| Our former Postmaster Jim (right) and his partner Chad. |
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| Jim and Chad's RV. |
LOOKING FORWARD: More will be revealed
There are going to be some exciting stories developing in 2016.
1. Who will win Chris Ross' seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives? Three Republicans have already declared their candidacy. Because of his moderate stances and personal charisma, Chris appealed to many voters who otherwise would have supported a Democrat. But what will happen now?
2. Who will win Joe Pitts's seat in the U.S. House of Representatives? The always-conservative voters in Lancaster County will have a heavy influence on that race.
3. How will the controversy over the Newlin Township equestrian ordinance play out? The Pennsylvania Attorney General's office has ruled that the township's new ordinance is too strict and violates state regulations for agricultural uses. The township supervisors are supposed to meet with a representative from the AG's office next week. Residents are following the issue closely.
4. Will the library manage to turn itself around? East Marlborough Township has just named Tom Swett to the misstep-prone library board. Tom is a well-known and popular citizen with influence, smarts and fundraising experience, and he and the other new members might just have a shot at starting to restore public faith in the library after a truly awful year of controversy. First step: Swallow your pride and dump the "Kennett Public Library" name change. It has brought you nothing but grief and criticism.
5. Who will take over the Unionville Community Fair? The current president is stepping down and so far no one is stepping up to replace her. It's a huge job, but I would hate to see this wonderful tradition go by the wayside.
1. Who will win Chris Ross' seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives? Three Republicans have already declared their candidacy. Because of his moderate stances and personal charisma, Chris appealed to many voters who otherwise would have supported a Democrat. But what will happen now?
2. Who will win Joe Pitts's seat in the U.S. House of Representatives? The always-conservative voters in Lancaster County will have a heavy influence on that race.
3. How will the controversy over the Newlin Township equestrian ordinance play out? The Pennsylvania Attorney General's office has ruled that the township's new ordinance is too strict and violates state regulations for agricultural uses. The township supervisors are supposed to meet with a representative from the AG's office next week. Residents are following the issue closely.
4. Will the library manage to turn itself around? East Marlborough Township has just named Tom Swett to the misstep-prone library board. Tom is a well-known and popular citizen with influence, smarts and fundraising experience, and he and the other new members might just have a shot at starting to restore public faith in the library after a truly awful year of controversy. First step: Swallow your pride and dump the "Kennett Public Library" name change. It has brought you nothing but grief and criticism.
5. Who will take over the Unionville Community Fair? The current president is stepping down and so far no one is stepping up to replace her. It's a huge job, but I would hate to see this wonderful tradition go by the wayside.
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