SCAMS: Watch out for these ruses

I've said it before: if only criminals would put their creativity to positive uses (positive for society rather than themselves, that is).
Neighbor and retired district judge Tom Martin asked me if I would bring to the public's attention three recent scams that were reported on a listserv for Pennsylvania Magisterial District Judges.
1. A Reedsville district judge reported that a couple came to his courtroom, the wife in tears. A man had contacted them, saying that their 19-year-old son had been "sexting" with a 15-year-old North Carolina girl. The man, claiming to be the girl's father, threatened to report the youth to Pennsylvania authorities unless the parents sent him $10,000. A few days later a man who said he was the "North Carolina sheriff" called the Pennsylvania parents, stating that unless they paid up, he'd come and arrest the son.
"Obviously after they told me that, I knew it was a scheme, but one that had these parents an emotional wreck," wrote the judge. "Just wanted to let all of you Judges know how extreme these scheme artists will go." 
2. A State College judge said in one day two older couples came into his court and reported receiving a phone call from a person claiming to be Lt. Frank Rodgers of the Sheriff's Department. "For the couple in the afternoon the caller told them that there was a warrant issued for the wife's arrest because she failed to show up for jury duty. She was given the specific address of the court and told to report to the court to settle the matter.  They were to speak to Nancy Brown, at the court."
The judge found that no Frank Rodgers or Nancy Brown was employed by the sheriff or the county, nor was there any record of the wife's supposed oversight in the computer system.
"While this sounds like a bad prank, I don't like it and am concerned that someone could be setting up the older couple(s) and/or the court for something," the judge said.
3. A Columbia judge said his in-laws received a call from someone who claimed to be with a police department in Florida stating that their grandson (the judge's son) had been arrested for drunk driving and they needed to send $2,000 to pay his fine. The grandparents paid up. "They called me after the fact. The sad part is my father in law is a retired Federal Judge. He should have know better -- plus my son is in the Coast Guard and was deployed at the time."
 

 

RIP: An angel in blue jeans

The word "angel" was used many times on the morning of Jan. 5 at Laurie Szoke's memorial service at Kennett Friends Meeting.
After Laurie's friend Jessie Cocks set the mood for the service by chanting and drumming, friends, neighbors and colleagues began sharing stories of Laurie's kindness to people and animals, her gentle nature, her energy and single-minded determination, her fondness for coffee and long talks, and her self-agency and skill at networking and fundraising.
Whether she was leading 4-H programs for youth, taking a newly arrived immigrant under her wing, finding homes for stray dogs and cats, giving away "angel" ornaments, or just showing up and bringing light into someone's day, Laurie made a lasting difference in the lives of so many people.

Laurie Anne Sicko-Szoke died at age 59 on Dec. 24, 2016.

CRASH: Horse people are tough!

I heard that a neighbor had been involved in a bad accident recently, so when I saw her on our road yesterday I flagged her down and asked how she was and what had happened.
She explained that she and a friend were on Route 896 near Kemblesville, on her way to go fox-hunting, when another motorist, a college student, fell asleep and forced her truck and horse trailer off the road and into a utility pole. When his car hit her truck, it took off the truck's entire front wheel.
My neighbor and her companion were bruised but not badly hurt. One of the horses in the trailer was okay, but the other is at New Bolton Center for treatment. The youth walked away from the crash with only a bloody nose.
My friend said she feels very sore, but -- being a typical equestrian -- was determined not to give in. The day after the crash, she told me with a proud grin, she borrowed a friend's truck and trailer and has not missed a day's fox hunting.

OYSTERS: Stephanie does research

On Monday morning, I met up with an old (meaning "longtime," of course!) Unionville friend for a New Year's breakfast and I was delighted that she brought along her younger daughter Stephanie, who is on break from her graduate studies in biology at Louisiana State University.
Stephanie, a graduate of Tower Hill and Dickinson, just finished successfully defending her master's project, in which she investigated whether increased sediment levels would have any immediate or chronic impact on oysters (the answer was no, although her experimental set-up didn't allow her to sustain the high sediment levels she wanted, so more research is needed). After shucking and analyzing all the oysters, she was left with a pile of shells. A creative young woman, she covered them with glitter and tied on little ribbons to make Christmas ornaments. Her gift will grace my 2017 Christmas tree for sure!

WEST MARLBOROUGH: A new Planning Commission secretary

The first week in January, per Pennsylvania's municipal code, the supervisors of all townships must meet to "reorganize." The West Marlborough supervisors did so on Jan. 3, but not much changed: Bill Wylie is still chairman; Jake Chalfin remains vice chairman; and Hugh Lofting Sr. remains roadmaster and emergency coordinator.
Longtime secretary-treasurer Shirley Walton was reappointed and received a 2 percent raise. The supervisors will continue to meet on the first Tuesday of each month in the township garage in Doe Run.
Bill said he wanted to express how lucky and thankful he is to live in West Marlborough and serve the township. He said he particularly admired the state of civil discourse among the residents, noting the "high degree of respect" they display for each other, even when they disagree.
The township planning commission also reorganized. Tom Brosius remains chairman, with Tom Roosevelt as vice chairman, but after 16 years of taking minutes, Anna Myers decided to step down as secretary. Emery Jones Taylor will be the new secretary.

Anna Myers (right) shares with Emery Jones Taylor (left) some tips for taking minutes. I took the photo during the Planning Commission meeting on Jan. 3.

Both the planning commission members and the supervisors thanked Anna for her service as secretary. Her decision sparked a nostalgic conversation among her fellow planning commission about the secretaries that preceded her (including her brother) and a few knotty controversies that the commission has faced during her tenure.
During the meeting I happened to be sitting next to Mark Myers, Anna's husband. "This is why I live here," he said, referring to the generations-deep roots that so many Unionville residents have in the community. "You just can't find that anywhere else."

KENNETT SQUARE: Artworks is for sale

Perhaps you've noticed that 124-126 South Union Street, the brick building that housed Artworks, is up for sale after the death of its owner, Olen Grimes. The 2,912-square-foot building in downtown Kennett Square has three levels plus a finished basement, and five parking spaces. "Great opportunity to invest in this high-growth area," reads the sales blurb. Asking price is $489,000 and Al George of ReMax Town & Country has the listing.

KIAWAH: Long-distance running

A 40-year-old gym friend from Oxford competed in the half-marathon on Kiawah Island, South Carolina, on Dec. 10. She said that at the point where the runners separated (the marathon runners took one route, the half-marathoners another), a man stood with two signs: "Dumb" and "Dumber," pointing respectively to 13.1-mile and the 26.2-mile courses.
My friend said the humor was exactly what she needed at that point.