At lunch today in Unionville, my friend sat so she could keep a close eye on her truck bed, where she had stowed a brand-new, in-the-carton Husqvarna weed-whacker that she was returning to Lowe's.
At one point during lunch I noticed her peering suspiciously out the window. I turned around to see a group of people getting into their car somewhat near her truck.
"They really don't look like criminals," I protested.
"A new weed-whacker can turn ANYONE into a criminal," she said darkly.
Thursday, June 9, 2016
JENNERSVILLE: The new Penn Medicine facility
If you haven't been to the spanking-new Penn Medicine facility in Jennersville, here's a navigation guide. It's not like your standard medical office building, with long corridors that lead to separate, clearly demarcated departments.
No: you walk in through the automatic doors and right there in front of you is a desk with a big sign behind it saying "Penn Medicine." It looks like a receptionist welcoming desk, but it's not: it's actually the place where you sign in for whatever study you're having done.
I didn't know this, so I looked at the directory sign on the wall, saw "Radiology" and walked in the direction indicated. But there didn't seem to be a separate "radiology" department; everything is in an open-plan kind of layout. I walked in the opposite direction and, without going through any doors, found myself in a bustling family medicine office.
Thank goodness one of the pleasant front-desk ladies spotted me wandering around looking increasingly anxious and clued me in.
At that point I did see a small sign on top of the desk indicating that was indeed the spot where you sign in if you're there for an imaging study or bloodwork. Perhaps the sign needs to be bigger to catch the attention of worried patients? Perhaps I need to be more observant?
No: you walk in through the automatic doors and right there in front of you is a desk with a big sign behind it saying "Penn Medicine." It looks like a receptionist welcoming desk, but it's not: it's actually the place where you sign in for whatever study you're having done.
I didn't know this, so I looked at the directory sign on the wall, saw "Radiology" and walked in the direction indicated. But there didn't seem to be a separate "radiology" department; everything is in an open-plan kind of layout. I walked in the opposite direction and, without going through any doors, found myself in a bustling family medicine office.
Thank goodness one of the pleasant front-desk ladies spotted me wandering around looking increasingly anxious and clued me in.
At that point I did see a small sign on top of the desk indicating that was indeed the spot where you sign in if you're there for an imaging study or bloodwork. Perhaps the sign needs to be bigger to catch the attention of worried patients? Perhaps I need to be more observant?
WEST MARLBOROUGH: The future of Doe Run Village
The future of Doe Run Village was briefly discussed at the June meeting of the West Marlborough Township supervisors.
Nancy Truitt, whose family owns the village, told the supervisors that she is 63 years old and her mother is 93, so they are thinking about doing some preliminary estate planning. She said several times that they very much want to preserve the village, which they purchased in the late 1980s when the King Ranch was broken up. She said she and her family are thinking about options for what to do with the restored village, which she said takes "a lot of effort to maintain," and want to work with the township during the process.
Bill Wylie, chairman of the supervisors, thanked Ms. Truitt for attending and characterized the village as a unique entity.
Doe Run, which is one 15-acre tax parcel, encompasses several rental houses along Route 82, a garage that the Truitts rent to the township, and a small office building used by the township and the Brandywine Conservancy. The Truitts also live in the village.
Ms. Truitt was accompanied by her attorney, Jim Thomas of Lancaster.
Nancy Truitt, whose family owns the village, told the supervisors that she is 63 years old and her mother is 93, so they are thinking about doing some preliminary estate planning. She said several times that they very much want to preserve the village, which they purchased in the late 1980s when the King Ranch was broken up. She said she and her family are thinking about options for what to do with the restored village, which she said takes "a lot of effort to maintain," and want to work with the township during the process.
Bill Wylie, chairman of the supervisors, thanked Ms. Truitt for attending and characterized the village as a unique entity.
Doe Run, which is one 15-acre tax parcel, encompasses several rental houses along Route 82, a garage that the Truitts rent to the township, and a small office building used by the township and the Brandywine Conservancy. The Truitts also live in the village.
Ms. Truitt was accompanied by her attorney, Jim Thomas of Lancaster.
WEST MARLBOROUGH: Quarterly police report
Also at the June 7 West Marlborough Township meeting, Lieut. Rich D'Ambrosio, station commander of the Pennsylvania State Police barracks at Avondale, reported that in the past three months his troopers had responded to 52 calls in West Marlborough. There were nine crashes (three of them involved driving under the influence and three involved injuries), four criminal incidents, and two less serious incidents involving ID theft and disorderly conduct.
He said that as always, West Marlborough is a peaceful place to live. He noted that having only four criminal incidents in three months is "fantastic," saying that elsewhere the troopers deal with that many in a single shift.
He once again advised residents to keep their vehicles locked to prevent thefts and to report any suspicious activity.
He said that as always, West Marlborough is a peaceful place to live. He noted that having only four criminal incidents in three months is "fantastic," saying that elsewhere the troopers deal with that many in a single shift.
He once again advised residents to keep their vehicles locked to prevent thefts and to report any suspicious activity.
FEMA: Revision of flood insurance map
Much of the June 7 West Marlborough Township meeting was taken up by a discussion of the new flood insurance map issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Township engineer Al Giannantonio explained the revisions, which affect only two houses in the township, one near Springdell and one on Highland Dairy Road. Al brought along the large-scale maps, thick binders of documents, checklists and even CDs containing information about the plan.
At one point the engineer held up a list of definitions.
"Government loves acronyms," he explained dryly.
A few audience members near me wondered aloud how many taxpayer dollars were being used to fund this federal government initiative.
At one point the engineer held up a list of definitions.
"Government loves acronyms," he explained dryly.
A few audience members near me wondered aloud how many taxpayer dollars were being used to fund this federal government initiative.
TOUR: Postmortem on the Library tour
I've heard a lot of positive comments about the Library's Home & Garden Day on June 4. One seasoned tourgoer said she and her companion have learned to set their itinerary based on who is providing the food at each location. They first visit the homes that are serving their favorite food (Portabella's, in this case), just in case it runs out.
The day after the tour, I ran into a couple whose house was on the tour and they couldn't stop talking about what a wonderful experience it had been.
The day after the tour, I ran into a couple whose house was on the tour and they couldn't stop talking about what a wonderful experience it had been.
Sunday, June 5, 2016
HOME AND GARDEN DAY: Another great tour
Thank you, Margaret Hennes.
If she hadn't persuaded us to visit the garden at WynEden on the Library's annual house and garden tour, we would have skipped it. Instead, it turned out to the most memorable part of the day.
What a magical property! There's a picturesque pond with water lilies and quaint bridges; a vast slope completely covered by hostas spills down from the house to the lake; and paths take you past other tucked-away gardens as they meander through the hills full of mountain laurels, azaleas, and rhododendrons. A high mesh deer fence surrounds the property.
In one bed near the lake I saw a variety of spiderwort I've never seen before, with beautiful white and pale purple flowers. And I had never seen pitcher plants growing anywhere except at the carnivorous plant room at Longwood Gardens, but there they were, thriving right at the lake's edge.
We heard the owner, Wayne Guymon, telling some other guests that maintaining the ten-acre property is a full-time job, although he views it as a pleasure and a privilege rather than a job.
Our West Marlborough neighbor Sunny McGeorge was stationed by the lake doing a painting of some flowers. She said she had visited WynEden before with her Garden Club and jumped at the chance to be one of the volunteer artists on the tour.
Other highlights on the tour were the gorgeous infinity pool at the Gahagans' on Smith Bridge Road; the recycled architectural details, the flower arrangements and the quirky artwork at Cloud Hill on Nine Gates Road; and the "three blind mice" perched on a tall clock at Luedekes' old schoolhouse on Fairville Road.
The parkers on the tour put in yeoman's duty this year, as several of the houses had limited parking areas and guests had to park on the shoulder of the road instead of in someone's field. The parkers were also very proactive about asking if we knew the way to the next house on the tour.
Just driving along the back roads of southern Chester County and northern New Castle County on our way between the houses was a treat. And unexpectedly we also saw some amazing sports cars out and about: two Ferraris, a Lamborghini and a Delorean.
Once again the well-organized ladies of the library's Special Events Committee did a terrific job coordinating all the details of the tour, from the well-drawn map, to the fresh flower arrangements, to the library program exhibits at each house. And I liked the new method of gaining admission: you turned in your tickets at the first house you visited and were issued a wristband. So much easier than the old system of tying a paper ticket onto your person with a piece of string.
If she hadn't persuaded us to visit the garden at WynEden on the Library's annual house and garden tour, we would have skipped it. Instead, it turned out to the most memorable part of the day.
What a magical property! There's a picturesque pond with water lilies and quaint bridges; a vast slope completely covered by hostas spills down from the house to the lake; and paths take you past other tucked-away gardens as they meander through the hills full of mountain laurels, azaleas, and rhododendrons. A high mesh deer fence surrounds the property.
In one bed near the lake I saw a variety of spiderwort I've never seen before, with beautiful white and pale purple flowers. And I had never seen pitcher plants growing anywhere except at the carnivorous plant room at Longwood Gardens, but there they were, thriving right at the lake's edge.
We heard the owner, Wayne Guymon, telling some other guests that maintaining the ten-acre property is a full-time job, although he views it as a pleasure and a privilege rather than a job.
Our West Marlborough neighbor Sunny McGeorge was stationed by the lake doing a painting of some flowers. She said she had visited WynEden before with her Garden Club and jumped at the chance to be one of the volunteer artists on the tour.
Other highlights on the tour were the gorgeous infinity pool at the Gahagans' on Smith Bridge Road; the recycled architectural details, the flower arrangements and the quirky artwork at Cloud Hill on Nine Gates Road; and the "three blind mice" perched on a tall clock at Luedekes' old schoolhouse on Fairville Road.
The parkers on the tour put in yeoman's duty this year, as several of the houses had limited parking areas and guests had to park on the shoulder of the road instead of in someone's field. The parkers were also very proactive about asking if we knew the way to the next house on the tour.
Just driving along the back roads of southern Chester County and northern New Castle County on our way between the houses was a treat. And unexpectedly we also saw some amazing sports cars out and about: two Ferraris, a Lamborghini and a Delorean.
Once again the well-organized ladies of the library's Special Events Committee did a terrific job coordinating all the details of the tour, from the well-drawn map, to the fresh flower arrangements, to the library program exhibits at each house. And I liked the new method of gaining admission: you turned in your tickets at the first house you visited and were issued a wristband. So much easier than the old system of tying a paper ticket onto your person with a piece of string.
CLOSED: Smith's Bridge is being painted
Just a warning that Smith's Bridge over the Brandywine in Montchanin is closed until the end of June for painting. Smith's Bridge Road is blocked at Route 100, but it's actually open past the Granogue estate and right up to the bridge itself, which is chained off.
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