This autumn's unseasonably warm weather has been a boon to those of us who have slacked off shamefully on our gardening responsibilities. Here it is mid-November and I'm just cutting down phlox and monkshood stalks and clearing lamium!
The upside of being a Garden Sluggard is that tulip bulbs were 25% off at Lowe's, and there was still a good selection. I can't say I've ever seen parrot tulips in the Lowe's gardening section before. And planting 165 bulbs in this afternoon's warm sun was a delight instead of the chilly, unpleasant task it usually is.
Similarly, some folks decided to take advantage of the warm weather to put their Christmas decorations up early. One took to social media to explain that she wasn't "rushing" the holiday, and promised not to turn on her lights until closer to Christmas, but just wanted to decorate in comfort. Understandable!
Friday, November 18, 2016
HIGHER EDUCATION: Doug goes back to school
My energetic friend Doug Stirling is a man who wears many hats-- family man, WCHE radio broadcaster, Kennett High School football announcer, pastor of the Bible Evangelical Church of Kennett Square, and former Kennett school board member among them. Now he's taking on one more responsibility: He has started an online doctoral program with an emphasis in Christian Ministry at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona. Doug, who recently moved from Kennett to the Oxford area, said he expects it will take him four years to complete his degree.
Doug, I'll be happy to proofread your papers. For a fee!
Doug, I'll be happy to proofread your papers. For a fee!
ELECTION: Time to take down those signs
Given the over-abundance of political signs along the roadsides during the campaign, the candidates, or their staffers, did a pretty good job of removing them promptly, but stragglers remain:
-- Two Susan Rzucidlo signs and one Andy Dinniman sign at the intersection of Newark Road and Route 926 in West Marlborough Township
-- A Gary Johnson sign on Race Street near Cypress Street, and a Marty Molloy sign on North Union Street near Fairthorne Drive in Kennett Square borough
-- A Josh Shapiro sign and another Molloy sign on Baltimore Pike at McFarlan Road in Kennett Township
-- A David Cleary sign at the intersection of Baltimore Pike and the Route 1 bypass in Kennett Township
-- Three Jack London signs at the Chatham intersection in London Grove Township
-- Four Dinniman signs on Route 41 and Newark Road in New Garden Township
-- At least 20 Dinniman signs on Route 41 between the Wawa and Lowe's in London Grove Township
-- Orphan Rzucidlo signs on Route 842 near Oak Tree Road and on Route 162 by Scott Road, both in Newlin Township
One friend reports that she made it from Route 796 to Route 82 on the Route 1 bypass without seeing any political signs until she spotted several just before the Route 82 exit: "Roe, London, Rzucidlo and 'College Hunks.' Pretty sure they weren't running for office!"
Of course, some people are keeping signs posted in their own yards to indicate how they voted, and that's completely their right.
-- Two Susan Rzucidlo signs and one Andy Dinniman sign at the intersection of Newark Road and Route 926 in West Marlborough Township
-- A Gary Johnson sign on Race Street near Cypress Street, and a Marty Molloy sign on North Union Street near Fairthorne Drive in Kennett Square borough
-- A Josh Shapiro sign and another Molloy sign on Baltimore Pike at McFarlan Road in Kennett Township
-- A David Cleary sign at the intersection of Baltimore Pike and the Route 1 bypass in Kennett Township
-- Three Jack London signs at the Chatham intersection in London Grove Township
-- Four Dinniman signs on Route 41 and Newark Road in New Garden Township
-- At least 20 Dinniman signs on Route 41 between the Wawa and Lowe's in London Grove Township
-- Orphan Rzucidlo signs on Route 842 near Oak Tree Road and on Route 162 by Scott Road, both in Newlin Township
One friend reports that she made it from Route 796 to Route 82 on the Route 1 bypass without seeing any political signs until she spotted several just before the Route 82 exit: "Roe, London, Rzucidlo and 'College Hunks.' Pretty sure they weren't running for office!"
Of course, some people are keeping signs posted in their own yards to indicate how they voted, and that's completely their right.
RUNNERS: It's important to hydrate
A running club has started, based at the Kennett Brewing Company, 109 S. Broad Street in Kennett Square. They meet at 6 p.m. Thursdays for a three- to-four mile run through Anson B. Nixon Park, followed by a free five-ounce beer (for runners only)! All paces are welcome and, according to their flier, they run "rain, snow, or shine."
LOCKER ROOM: Parents and kids
Overheard in the Kennett Y locker room, as two swim-team kids were getting dressed:
Girl 1: "Do you ever come here to swim?"
Girl 2 (sounding confused): "You mean, swim? Like for fun?"
The mother of one girl then briefly stuck her head around the corner of the lockers and proclaimed, "This train is leaving in two minutes."
Girl 1 (exasperated): "She ALWAYS says that, `this train is leaving'! "
The woman next to me and I shared a knowing glance. We've reached the age when our parents' stock phrases become precious and endearing memories, like my father's "Four on the floor!" when we kids were wrecking chairs by balancing on the back legs, and my mother's timeless wisdom, "When you're 18 and paying the bills, you can do whatever you want. But until then ..."
Girl 1: "Do you ever come here to swim?"
Girl 2 (sounding confused): "You mean, swim? Like for fun?"
The mother of one girl then briefly stuck her head around the corner of the lockers and proclaimed, "This train is leaving in two minutes."
Girl 1 (exasperated): "She ALWAYS says that, `this train is leaving'! "
The woman next to me and I shared a knowing glance. We've reached the age when our parents' stock phrases become precious and endearing memories, like my father's "Four on the floor!" when we kids were wrecking chairs by balancing on the back legs, and my mother's timeless wisdom, "When you're 18 and paying the bills, you can do whatever you want. But until then ..."
Monday, November 14, 2016
PARK: New entrance being built
Motorists, don't use the main entrance to Anson B. Nixon Park off North Walnut Road anymore. The awkward, potholed entrance is going to be closed permanently the week of Nov. 21 and will be replaced by a new entrance farther north on North Walnut Road, where there is currently a hiking trail. Construction of the new entrance should take six to eight weeks, and during construction, you can park at the Tino Leto soccer fields.
SPORTS: Friends Not Foes
The Young Relative and his father ran in Sunday's "Friends Not Foes" post-season race through Anson Nixon Park (the "friends" in the race name are the cross-country teams from neighboring Kennett and Unionville high schools).
At a delicious post-race meal at La Pena Mexicana, the elder Tally-ho admitted sheepishly that as he was really pushing himself and running hard, his son and some teammates easily breezed past him while joking around and carrying on a conversation.
"They should have a father/son competition," he suggested. "We would have won!"
The YR explained that the team's training regimen includes twice-a-week hydro workouts in the deep end of the Kennett Y pool, not just treading water but actually running in the water, half of the time with their arms raised above their heads. Serious pain!
At a delicious post-race meal at La Pena Mexicana, the elder Tally-ho admitted sheepishly that as he was really pushing himself and running hard, his son and some teammates easily breezed past him while joking around and carrying on a conversation.
"They should have a father/son competition," he suggested. "We would have won!"
The YR explained that the team's training regimen includes twice-a-week hydro workouts in the deep end of the Kennett Y pool, not just treading water but actually running in the water, half of the time with their arms raised above their heads. Serious pain!
FAITH: A talk about Quakerism
If you're interested in learning more about Quakerism, the faith that has played such a major role in our area all the way back to Colonial days, my friend Kevin Arnold is giving a talk about Friends and their beliefs at 7 p.m. Tuesday, November 29, at West Grove Friends Meeting. His talk will cover "the early history, the
range of beliefs of Quakers today; the Quaker understanding of civil
activism; how the ‘Quaker process’ works: threshing sessions,
discernment, gaining the sense of the Meeting; and the different types
of worship… mostly touching on the non-programmed service since that is
most common in this area."
We've attended several of the talks that West Grove Meeting has held about different religions, and they always produce an interesting, intelligent and spirited discussion.
West Grove Meeting is at 153 East Harmony Road in West Grove.
We've attended several of the talks that West Grove Meeting has held about different religions, and they always produce an interesting, intelligent and spirited discussion.
West Grove Meeting is at 153 East Harmony Road in West Grove.
Sunday, November 13, 2016
NEW BAND: Meryl and the Magnetics
It was a very musical week for your columnist. All three concerts I went to were so good, in their own way, that I'm writing about all of them; please humor me.
Any bookers who are looking for fresh musical talent should check out the trio Meryl and the Magnetics. We saw online that they were performing on Saturday, Nov. 12, at the Lower Brandywine Presbyterian Church on Route 52 across from Winterthur and decided, on a whim, to go.
Wow, I am so glad we did! It turns out it was their very first full concert together, and they were astonishingly talented. Their repertoire was all over the map: ballads, rock, jazz, instrumentals, solos, and a trio of original art songs honoring Josephine Baker, and hymns.
Just when I thought, "I would love to hear her do a standard," Meryl sang the beautiful classic "Autumn Leaves." I was entranced with her voice.
The band comprises Meryl Joan Lammers (vocals, flute, guitar, maracas; she's also a music therapist), Chris Braddock (bass guitar, guitar and dobro), and Paul Boris (keyboards). I could easily see them being a big hit at the summer concert series at the Myrick Center or Anson B. Nixon Park.
At intermission the church pastor, the Rev. David Lovelace, graciously gave us a little behind-the-scenes tour of the beautiful church after we went up to him and asked him why there was a mirror hanging on one side of the choir area. (It seems the organist also directs the singers and hence needs a good sightline.)
After the show I was delighted to run into my friends of many years Mary Nell and Brownell Ferry from Kennett Square. How nice it was to see them and hear they are doing well!
Any bookers who are looking for fresh musical talent should check out the trio Meryl and the Magnetics. We saw online that they were performing on Saturday, Nov. 12, at the Lower Brandywine Presbyterian Church on Route 52 across from Winterthur and decided, on a whim, to go.
Wow, I am so glad we did! It turns out it was their very first full concert together, and they were astonishingly talented. Their repertoire was all over the map: ballads, rock, jazz, instrumentals, solos, and a trio of original art songs honoring Josephine Baker, and hymns.
Just when I thought, "I would love to hear her do a standard," Meryl sang the beautiful classic "Autumn Leaves." I was entranced with her voice.
The band comprises Meryl Joan Lammers (vocals, flute, guitar, maracas; she's also a music therapist), Chris Braddock (bass guitar, guitar and dobro), and Paul Boris (keyboards). I could easily see them being a big hit at the summer concert series at the Myrick Center or Anson B. Nixon Park.
At intermission the church pastor, the Rev. David Lovelace, graciously gave us a little behind-the-scenes tour of the beautiful church after we went up to him and asked him why there was a mirror hanging on one side of the choir area. (It seems the organist also directs the singers and hence needs a good sightline.)
After the show I was delighted to run into my friends of many years Mary Nell and Brownell Ferry from Kennett Square. How nice it was to see them and hear they are doing well!
BLUEGRASS: Seneca Rocks! rocked
On Nov. 11 we drove down to Newark to see a terrific show by the country-infused bluegrass band Seneca Rocks! as part of the Brandywine Friends of Old-Time Music's autumn concert series.
"Happy" was the operative word for the evening: there was a great turnout, the musicians were clearly having fun playing together, and the audience members had big smiles. The band comprised Dudley Connell on guitar, Sally Love on guitar, Tom Adams on banjo, David McLaughlin on mandolin (he was especially amazing), and Marshall Wilborn on bass; everybody took their turn with the vocals.
At one point the band performed a Kitty Wells song in which Sally was singing about visiting every bar and honky-tonk just to see who was there. My companion leaned over to me and said, "Hey! Just like Tilda!"
The next Brandywine Friends show will be by the Red Squirrel Chasers at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Hall, 420 Willa Rd., Newark.
"Happy" was the operative word for the evening: there was a great turnout, the musicians were clearly having fun playing together, and the audience members had big smiles. The band comprised Dudley Connell on guitar, Sally Love on guitar, Tom Adams on banjo, David McLaughlin on mandolin (he was especially amazing), and Marshall Wilborn on bass; everybody took their turn with the vocals.
At one point the band performed a Kitty Wells song in which Sally was singing about visiting every bar and honky-tonk just to see who was there. My companion leaned over to me and said, "Hey! Just like Tilda!"
The next Brandywine Friends show will be by the Red Squirrel Chasers at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Hall, 420 Willa Rd., Newark.
WEST MARLBOROUGH: Raising the roof
A West Marlborough couple wants to add a second story to the garage on their Springdell Road property but will need permission from the township's zoning hearing board to do so.
The owners, Drs. Joshua Farber and Frances Koblenzer, will need a variance because the height of the garage would be about 26 feet, higher than the zoning code's 15-foot limit for accessory buildings. The property is at 175 Springdell Road, which is on the west side of Springdell Road between Runnymede and Chapel Roads.
The zoning board will hold its hearing at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 22, at the township garage. I will be there.
The owners, Drs. Joshua Farber and Frances Koblenzer, will need a variance because the height of the garage would be about 26 feet, higher than the zoning code's 15-foot limit for accessory buildings. The property is at 175 Springdell Road, which is on the west side of Springdell Road between Runnymede and Chapel Roads.
The zoning board will hold its hearing at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 22, at the township garage. I will be there.
UNIONVILLE: A new sign at Station 36
In last week's column I wrote that the Po-Mar-Lin firehouse in the middle of Unionville was finally getting a sign. I thought it was going to be a sign out by the street, but instead it's a very handsome medallion on the front of the building.
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| The new sign at Station 36. |
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