"So what's moving in to the Half-Moon?" is a question I've gotten several times this past week. The popular saloon and restaurant served up its last plate of crab nachos on March 11. It will be shut for several weeks for renovations and then will open under new management as the Grain Craft Bar & Kitchen (there is one on Main Street in Newark). I'm told that many of the Half-Moon staff will stay on, and several big-screen TVs will be installed. I can't speak to whether the crab nachos will stay on the menu.
Saturday, March 11, 2017
NEWLIN: Closed "indefinitely"
Janie Baird, who chairs the Newlin Township supervisors, wrote to me to try to clear up the confusion over the correct Brandywine Creek Road detour. Because of the eroding slopes on the river side of the road, part of the road is being closed to westbound traffic, and PennDot has installed concrete barriers to reduce the already narrow road to one lane.
Janie said the official detour for westbound motorists is not Harvey's Bridge Road but rather Strasburg Road and Mortonville Road.
Janie said the official detour for westbound motorists is not Harvey's Bridge Road but rather Strasburg Road and Mortonville Road.
According to PennDOT, the road will remain closed "indefinitely" to westbound traffic.
Janie also notes that Newlin Township is pursuing state grant money to repair Laurel Road, which has been completely closed to through-traffic since May 2014, when part of the road collapsed after a heavy storm.
"The damage is considerable and the cost has been
estimated at $1,003,000," she writes. "This amount is more than our small Township
can afford on its own. We have been encouraging residents on Laurel
Rd. to write letters of concern to Senator Killion and Representative
Roe."
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| The one-way section of Brandywine Creek Road. |
WEST MARLBOROUGH: Misty Valley
Lee Schlingmann's photograph of the Doe Run Valley in autumn won first prize in the county's photo contest, but where exactly was she standing when she took it?
Several life-long residents at the West Marlborough Township meeting on March 7 stared at the photo, trying to identify roads, buildings, fences and treelines, but just couldn't figure it out. I turned to social media the next day for help.
It took "Brother" Wilson of West Marlborough's road crew only five minutes to pinpoint it: It was taken from north of Covered Bridge Road, looking south across "Misty Valley." The house on top of the hill is Swaynes' on Ryan Road.
I contact Lee, the photographer, and she confirmed Brother's hunch. Lee said her prize was a gift certificate from Dansko and she is still picking out her shoes. She said she submitted the photo on a whim and then forgot about, so it was a happy surprise to hear she had won.
Several life-long residents at the West Marlborough Township meeting on March 7 stared at the photo, trying to identify roads, buildings, fences and treelines, but just couldn't figure it out. I turned to social media the next day for help.
It took "Brother" Wilson of West Marlborough's road crew only five minutes to pinpoint it: It was taken from north of Covered Bridge Road, looking south across "Misty Valley." The house on top of the hill is Swaynes' on Ryan Road.
I contact Lee, the photographer, and she confirmed Brother's hunch. Lee said her prize was a gift certificate from Dansko and she is still picking out her shoes. She said she submitted the photo on a whim and then forgot about, so it was a happy surprise to hear she had won.
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| Lee Schlingmann's prize-winning photo of Doe Run Valley. |
DINNER: Scouts spaghetti dinner
Boy Scout Troop 24 will be holding its spring spaghetti dinner from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday, March 25, at Kennett Friend Meetinghouse, 125 Sickle Street in Kennett. We attend these dinners often: it's a great organization and a great meal (spaghetti, homemade sauce, meatballs, sauteed mushrooms, salad, bread, drink and dessert). Plus we always get a chuckle watching the boys at work. Tickets (adults $8, kids 4-12 $5, 3 and under free) are available at the door.
Thank you to Kathy Salameda for letting me know about this event; her two sons are in the troop!
Thank you to Kathy Salameda for letting me know about this event; her two sons are in the troop!
QUAKERS: Worship, living and plants
Here are a few Quaker notes for you:
1. West Grove Friends will be celebrating the spring equinox by holding meeting at the "New" West Grove meetinghouse at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, March 19. The 1831 meetinghouse, which is open only a few times a year, is on State Road.
2. Kevin Arnold, former clerk of London Grove Meeting, will be talking about "living as a Quaker in the world today" at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 28, at West Grove Meeting on Evergreen Street in West Grove, as part of West Grove's ongoing "Faiths of Our Neighbors" series. We went to a Quakerism talk that Kevin gave in November and he is an excellent and knowledgeable speaker.
3. The eagerly awaited London Grove Friends Plant Sale will be from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 13.
1. West Grove Friends will be celebrating the spring equinox by holding meeting at the "New" West Grove meetinghouse at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, March 19. The 1831 meetinghouse, which is open only a few times a year, is on State Road.
2. Kevin Arnold, former clerk of London Grove Meeting, will be talking about "living as a Quaker in the world today" at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 28, at West Grove Meeting on Evergreen Street in West Grove, as part of West Grove's ongoing "Faiths of Our Neighbors" series. We went to a Quakerism talk that Kevin gave in November and he is an excellent and knowledgeable speaker.
3. The eagerly awaited London Grove Friends Plant Sale will be from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 13.
LIBRARY: History back on display
Jeff Yetter, vice president of the Kennett Library (aka the Bayard Taylor Library), shared with me the welcome news that the 1911 Wanamaker tall-case clock is back on display at the library.
The clock, donated to the library by the Darlington family, was removed in 2015 during library renovations and been living at a board member's house.
Jeff adds that "the planning for the new Kennett Library is coming along and the Library should be making some design concepts public in the next few months. . . . We are moving forward."
In other library news, the annual House & Garden Tour is Saturday, June 3. As usual, I am writing the little blurbs for the tour program and it is a fantastic lineup of houses this year, all right around Unionville.
The clock, donated to the library by the Darlington family, was removed in 2015 during library renovations and been living at a board member's house.
Jeff adds that "the planning for the new Kennett Library is coming along and the Library should be making some design concepts public in the next few months. . . . We are moving forward."
In other library news, the annual House & Garden Tour is Saturday, June 3. As usual, I am writing the little blurbs for the tour program and it is a fantastic lineup of houses this year, all right around Unionville.
MEDICARE: Keep track of your bills
A Unionville reader wrote to me about her recent dispute with Medicare, which denied payment for her husband's ambulance trip from the cardiologist's office to the ER. The bill was nearly $1,000.
"Of course, we appealed their decision--there are 5 levels of appeal. The third step of the appeal process is a teleconference with an administrative law judge. He was very helpful & ruled in our favor," she said.
"I am telling you our story because more people should be aware of this situation. I'm sure many people grumble and just pay the bill," she wrote. "Medicare recipients need to be careful if an ambulance is ever called for them."I asked her how her husband is doing, and she said he was fine and was in fact, at that moment, stripping wallpaper from the bathroom walls.
"Of course, we appealed their decision--there are 5 levels of appeal. The third step of the appeal process is a teleconference with an administrative law judge. He was very helpful & ruled in our favor," she said.
"I am telling you our story because more people should be aware of this situation. I'm sure many people grumble and just pay the bill," she wrote. "Medicare recipients need to be careful if an ambulance is ever called for them."I asked her how her husband is doing, and she said he was fine and was in fact, at that moment, stripping wallpaper from the bathroom walls.
THEATER: Magic on Cherry Tree Lane
We're looking forward to attending the UHS Spring Musical, "Mary Poppins," this coming weekend. I remember the Disney movie from when I was in first grade (yes, I can still sing "Supercalifragilistic" ... etc.) and the wonderful (and very different) P.L. Travers books from when I was a little older.
The UHS kids always put on a great show and have staggering amounts of talent. In recent years they've done "West Side Story" and "Shrek" and in both cases they outshone professional versions we've seen, in both the performances and the sets.
The show is at the high school at 7:30 p.m. March 16, 17, and 18.
The UHS kids always put on a great show and have staggering amounts of talent. In recent years they've done "West Side Story" and "Shrek" and in both cases they outshone professional versions we've seen, in both the performances and the sets.
The show is at the high school at 7:30 p.m. March 16, 17, and 18.
CAT: A feline smorgasbord
Now that Clarence the Amazing Wonderful Miracle Rescue Cat has gained back the weight he lost when he was a stray, he is becoming more cat-like in his food preferences. Though he is always happy to see kibble (Purina Fancy Feast Filet Mignon Flavor With Real Seafood & Shrimp) in his dish, his taste in canned food is inscrutable; I am constantly trying new products.
Last night we were in the pet aisle in the Giant, which features a bewildering array of manufacturers and brands, even several "organic" and "lite" lines (diet food for cats ... groove on that for a minute). Cans with a "Gravy Lovers" label seemed like they would appeal to Clarence, as did pouches of "decadent" broth.
As I fretted, Minder #2 looked on with amusement, calculating that the per-pound cost of some special "hand-flaked tuna" would be about $57. He noted that in his household, the dogs eat what he puts in front of them or go hungry, and hinted that Clarence may be slightly (read: extraordinarily) spoiled.
"Yes," I agreed, "but we're so lucky to have him!"
"That cat," he said darkly, "has a darn good gig."
Last night we were in the pet aisle in the Giant, which features a bewildering array of manufacturers and brands, even several "organic" and "lite" lines (diet food for cats ... groove on that for a minute). Cans with a "Gravy Lovers" label seemed like they would appeal to Clarence, as did pouches of "decadent" broth.
As I fretted, Minder #2 looked on with amusement, calculating that the per-pound cost of some special "hand-flaked tuna" would be about $57. He noted that in his household, the dogs eat what he puts in front of them or go hungry, and hinted that Clarence may be slightly (read: extraordinarily) spoiled.
"Yes," I agreed, "but we're so lucky to have him!"
"That cat," he said darkly, "has a darn good gig."
Sunday, March 5, 2017
KENNETT: Last meal at the Half Moon
On Saturday we paid a farewell visit to the Half Moon Restaurant and Saloon, which is closing its doors on March 11. Judging by the crowd -- the rooftop dining area was completely full -- a lot of other folks were saying goodbye, too. I ordered my favorite Full Moon cheeseburger with caramelized onions, and we shared a heaping plate of cheese-slathered waffle fries.
Taking over the Half Moon's premises will be the Grain Craft Bar and Kitchen. That restaurant has a branch on Main Street in Newark, and I'm told that we are in for a treat.
Taking over the Half Moon's premises will be the Grain Craft Bar and Kitchen. That restaurant has a branch on Main Street in Newark, and I'm told that we are in for a treat.
WORKING: On the sales floor
On Saturday evening we were running some errands at a "big box" store and a sales clerk, an older gentleman, came up and asked us if we needed any help. He offered some good advice that allowed us to avoid an unnecessary purchase, and we joked that we wouldn't tell his boss.
He snorted, saying he wasn't entirely sure who his boss actually was these days; it seems there had been some major reshuffling in the chain's management structure.
It was slow in the store, so we struck up a conversation. He explained that he likes to keep busy, and this is one of two post-retirement jobs that he has. He said the store is woefully short-staffed and has difficulty finding quality workers. He used as an example a young colleague who is temporarily off on worker's comp. Our friend saw little difference in the amount of work that got done whether the youth was able-bodied or out on disability.
He snorted, saying he wasn't entirely sure who his boss actually was these days; it seems there had been some major reshuffling in the chain's management structure.
It was slow in the store, so we struck up a conversation. He explained that he likes to keep busy, and this is one of two post-retirement jobs that he has. He said the store is woefully short-staffed and has difficulty finding quality workers. He used as an example a young colleague who is temporarily off on worker's comp. Our friend saw little difference in the amount of work that got done whether the youth was able-bodied or out on disability.
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