A friend and I were breakfasting at Perkins the other day and she reported ruefully that her HBA1c number had jumped significantly (it's a blood test that shows how well you've been controlling your diabetes over the past few months).
"What happened?" I asked.
She said she hadn't been walking at Longwood Gardens as much as usual because she'd suffered a concussion in a car crash over the winter. And she admitted that one other factor just might have played a role in her weight gain: "It was Girl Scout cookie season."
Thursday, April 7, 2016
POLICE: Reduced hours for Clarkie
East Marlborough Police Chief Robert Clarke ("Clarkie") will stay on patrol in West Marlborough Township, but his hours will be reduced from 40 to 12.5 a month.
At their April 5 meeting, the West Marlborough supervisors passed a resolution updating the township's policing arrangement with East Marlborough. West Marlborough will pay $1,000 a month (12.5 hours at $80 an hour) for Clarkie's services. That will decrease the total amount West Marlborough pays for police services from $42,000 to $12,000 each year.
"He will always be available by phone," explained Supervisor Bill Wylie. "We just don't have him for as many hours."
Earlier this year the West Marlborough supervisors considered eliminating local police services entirely in the township, leaving only the Pennsylvania State Police to provide protection. But numerous township residents told them that Clarkie did a great job and they liked being able to call him as needed. Mr. Wylie described him as "extremely well-liked."
The brief township meeting was lightly attended, with only the three supervisors (Mr. Wylie, Hugh Lofting Sr., and Jake Chalfin), township secretary Shirley Walton, Township Planning Commission members Tom Brosius and Anna Myers, road crew boss Hugh Lofting Jr., and myself in attendance.
At their April 5 meeting, the West Marlborough supervisors passed a resolution updating the township's policing arrangement with East Marlborough. West Marlborough will pay $1,000 a month (12.5 hours at $80 an hour) for Clarkie's services. That will decrease the total amount West Marlborough pays for police services from $42,000 to $12,000 each year.
"He will always be available by phone," explained Supervisor Bill Wylie. "We just don't have him for as many hours."
Earlier this year the West Marlborough supervisors considered eliminating local police services entirely in the township, leaving only the Pennsylvania State Police to provide protection. But numerous township residents told them that Clarkie did a great job and they liked being able to call him as needed. Mr. Wylie described him as "extremely well-liked."
The brief township meeting was lightly attended, with only the three supervisors (Mr. Wylie, Hugh Lofting Sr., and Jake Chalfin), township secretary Shirley Walton, Township Planning Commission members Tom Brosius and Anna Myers, road crew boss Hugh Lofting Jr., and myself in attendance.
WHIP: Possible litigation?
Also at the April township meeting, Supervisor Bill Wylie announced that the board members will be holding some unscheduled executive sessions to discuss with the township solicitor possible litigation on the township's part against the Whip Tavern. Mr. Wylie said he could not say anymore about the issue because it's a legal issue. Parking has been an ongoing issue for years at the popular Springdell bar, with patrons parking illegally along the road and on private property.
DINNER: A meal at the Market in Kennett
The patrons of the Market at Liberty Place definitely skewed toward the younger side the evening of April 6. The Market was hosting a fund-raiser for the Kennett Square Preschool Co-op, and lots of families showed up for dinner. We had excellent (as always) Buddy Burgers, followed by ice cream from Punk'd Pineapple. Other members of our clan (we took up an entire large table) had crepes or pizza. One fellow tried the cod sandwich and the lobster mac and cheese from Ray Maxwell's Chef-a-Topia and pronounced it fresh and excellent (it looked delicious).
During dinner I got to sit next to a certain very cool four-year-old. He claimed to be a "fast eater" but kept setting down his cheese sandwich because there were far more interesting things going on, like counting the number of working versus burned-out light bulbs in one display.
During dinner I got to sit next to a certain very cool four-year-old. He claimed to be a "fast eater" but kept setting down his cheese sandwich because there were far more interesting things going on, like counting the number of working versus burned-out light bulbs in one display.
FARM MARKET: Opening for the season!
The King family's Maple Arch Farm south of Parkesburg is opening for the season on Friday, April 22. I've written several times about this roadside market, which sells organic produce, beef, chicken, eggs, plants, canned goods and homemade baked goods (love the whoopee pies!). The market is on the west side of Limestone Road (Route 10), just north of Friendship Church Road. They are closed on Sundays.
Monday, April 4, 2016
LGFK: A "garden party" at London Grove Kindergarten
Deni-lyn Lane, the Head of School at London Grove Friends Kindergarten, wrote to tell me that the kindergarten will be starting a preschool program this year. "I also wanted to let you know that we are having a Garden Party on Sunday, April 10, from 12:30-2:30," she wrote. "Families will be planting a lettuce garden in clementine boxes, enjoying spring activities, and getting to know our school community."
I asked Teacher Deni-lyn to please keep me apprised of Kindergarten goings-on because I know a lot of "graduates" read this column! LGFK is at the southwest corner of Newark and Street Roads in West Marlborough.
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| London Grove Friends Kindergarten is holding a "Garden Party" on April 10. |
I asked Teacher Deni-lyn to please keep me apprised of Kindergarten goings-on because I know a lot of "graduates" read this column! LGFK is at the southwest corner of Newark and Street Roads in West Marlborough.
Sunday, April 3, 2016
INSECTS: What is this creature?
I wonder if any readers can help me identify this insect. It's an inch and a quarter long, antennae included, and I find one wandering around the house every few days. When I put its photo up on social media I got several different answers. Some say it's the so-called assassin bug, which is getting all kinds of bad press, but reader "Mr. S" thinks it's a harmless Western Conifer Seed Bug. Any entomological advice would be welcomed.
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| Tilda wants to know what kind of bug this is. |
MUSIC: Two concerts coming up
1. Singer-songwriter Jen Chapin will be performing at Oxford Friends Meetinghouse, 260 S. Third St. in Oxford, on Saturday, April 9. Proceeds benefit the Meeting. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. and the music starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults; children 12 and under are free. Refreshments are available at intermission.
2. Catherine Marie Charlton of Kennett Square sent me an email announcing that her trio (herself on piano; Steve Meashey on double bass; J. Jody Janetta on drums/percussion) will be giving a concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 22, at the Episcopal Church of the Advent in Kennett. She said the show will feature a preview from what she calls her "Wyeth Album, a two-year project (so far) to be released in celebration of the Andrew Wyeth 2017 centennial, including 'Helga Chorale' by composer Ann Wyeth McCoy (Andrew Wyeth's sister)." Tickets are $10 at the door or online.
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| Steve Meashey, J. Jody Janetta, Catherine Marie Charlton; photo by Joe del Tufo. |
LONGWOOD: A sea of daffodils
A kind reader recommended that I check out "the marvelous display of Tete-a-Tete daffodils" in Longwood Gardens' Oak and Conifer Knoll (near the Eye of Water), so we went over on Sunday afternoon (after the wind calmed down a bit). She was so right: the masses of yellow flowers are spectacular. The name comes from the fact that most of the flower stalks have two "heads."
Before it gets too warm, stop by and see the early spring display, which also includes
blue scilla and yellow winter aconite. The hillside full of hellebores by the Chimes Tower was just lovely as well (and it was fun to get a glimpse of the progress being made on the fountain renovation project, a huge undertaking).
While we were at Longwood we had fun watching a Lancaster photographer and his assistant doing an engagement shoot. Later we spotted the two cameramen pull into the Longwood Wendy's for dinner: the glamorous life of professional photographers!
Before it gets too warm, stop by and see the early spring display, which also includes
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| The tete-a-tete daffodils at Longwood Gardens. |
While we were at Longwood we had fun watching a Lancaster photographer and his assistant doing an engagement shoot. Later we spotted the two cameramen pull into the Longwood Wendy's for dinner: the glamorous life of professional photographers!
ICE CREAM: La Michoacana is open again
Spring is officially here: we've made our first (of many) visits to La Michoacana ice cream on East State Street in Kennett. I enjoyed a mango water ice for my inaugural visit of the season, and it was great to see the owner, Noelia, again.
On Sunday evening we were sitting outside the shop eating our ice cream when a father and daughter went in, and I heard them declare that it was their first visit of the year, too.
On Sunday evening we were sitting outside the shop eating our ice cream when a father and daughter went in, and I heard them declare that it was their first visit of the year, too.
STORM: High wind warning
The big story from this weekend was the storm that blew in on Saturday night. The wind started kicking up around 9 and by a little after 10 a fierce storm was battering us, with thunder and lightning, hail and howling gusts of wind. We lost power for 15 minutes or so around 11 p.m.
On Sunday morning the yard was littered with pine branches. I was glad to see that the daffodils and tulips were unscathed, if perhaps leaning a bit to the east.
At the West Grove-Avondale Rotary Club Pancake Breakfast at the Avondale Fire Co. (top-notch pancakes!), everyone was sharing stories about detours they encountered due to downed trees. One tree fell on the notorious "S-curve" on Newark Road. I saw half a tree down along Route 842 west of Newark Road, and another tree fell all the way across Lamborntown Road south of Street Road.
I couldn't believe that two golfers were out on the golf course at Loch Nairn. And mid-morning I saw a large pack of bicyclists on my road. I'm assuming they were taking part in the 55-mile Brandywine Valley Roubaix, sponsored by Chester County Velo and WCCX ("this Grand Fondo/Gravel Grinder takes the rider through the scenic country-side of the Brandywine Valley, one of the most unspoiled areas in the Mid-Atlantic"; no argument from me!). Proceeds from the event went toward Quest Therapeutic Services, which offers equine-assisted therapy and other services for children with disabilities.
On Sunday morning the yard was littered with pine branches. I was glad to see that the daffodils and tulips were unscathed, if perhaps leaning a bit to the east.
At the West Grove-Avondale Rotary Club Pancake Breakfast at the Avondale Fire Co. (top-notch pancakes!), everyone was sharing stories about detours they encountered due to downed trees. One tree fell on the notorious "S-curve" on Newark Road. I saw half a tree down along Route 842 west of Newark Road, and another tree fell all the way across Lamborntown Road south of Street Road.
I couldn't believe that two golfers were out on the golf course at Loch Nairn. And mid-morning I saw a large pack of bicyclists on my road. I'm assuming they were taking part in the 55-mile Brandywine Valley Roubaix, sponsored by Chester County Velo and WCCX ("this Grand Fondo/Gravel Grinder takes the rider through the scenic country-side of the Brandywine Valley, one of the most unspoiled areas in the Mid-Atlantic"; no argument from me!). Proceeds from the event went toward Quest Therapeutic Services, which offers equine-assisted therapy and other services for children with disabilities.
SPAGHETTI: Dinner with the Boy Scouts
I've written before about the twice-yearly Boy Scout Troop 24 spaghetti dinner at Kennett Friends Meeting, but I'm going to rave about it again. The home-made marinara sauce was so delicious; I'm told the recipe is an old family one, and they start the process of making it days ahead of time. We also enjoyed the meatballs, the sautéed Kennett Square mushrooms and the dessert buffet.
One mother told us that the boys in this troop go on a camping trip each month, even in cold or rainy weather. Glad to hear that such hardy youths still exist!
One mother told us that the boys in this troop go on a camping trip each month, even in cold or rainy weather. Glad to hear that such hardy youths still exist!
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