There are four more Wednesday-night concerts at Anson B. Nixon Park in this summer's series: Grady Hoss & the Sidewinders (food by Kennett Brewing Company) on July 19; The GTVs (food by the Sawmill Grill) on July 26; Kofi Baker's Cream Experience (food by Yo'r So Sweet) on Aug. 2; and the West Chester Community Concert Band (food by Portabellos) on Aug. 9.
The music starts at 7 p.m. It's always a fun and relaxing evening in a pretty venue.
Saturday, July 15, 2017
EAST MARLBOROUGH: An Aldi supermarket is proposed
The rumors are true! An Aldi supermarket wants to take over the Sears hardware store and the PetValu store at 817 East Baltimore Pike (across from Applebee's). To do so, the investors will need to obtain a conditional use permission from the East Marlborough township supervisors, and a hearing is set for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 19.
I have never been to an Aldi, which is an international supermarket chain, but I have heard very positive reviews for the quality of their service, prices and products. The closest one to us is at 154 Airport Road, between Coatesville and Sadsburyville.
In other grocery news, everyone is always asking me what's happening with the long-vacant SuperFresh store in the Longwood shopping center. I don't know.
Also on the agenda at that meeting, the supervisors will be hearing a request from Landhope Investors to allow (once again) wedding receptions to be held at the Yellow House in Willowdale and to allow events in other buildings on the same 156-acre property (where the Unionville Fair takes place every October). In the formal zoning-code language:
In other grocery news, everyone is always asking me what's happening with the long-vacant SuperFresh store in the Longwood shopping center. I don't know.
Also on the agenda at that meeting, the supervisors will be hearing a request from Landhope Investors to allow (once again) wedding receptions to be held at the Yellow House in Willowdale and to allow events in other buildings on the same 156-acre property (where the Unionville Fair takes place every October). In the formal zoning-code language:
- Grey Barn – to use this building for event space for functions of not more than 300 attendees . . . and for occasional retail sales . . .
- Yellow House and Little Yellow House – to use the Yellow House as event space for functions of not more than 300 attendees, . . . and, in addition, as a bed and breakfast operation . . . with the use of the Little Yellow House as a bridal suite or overnight suite for family members of event sponsors, and to use both buildings for occasional retail sales
- Red Barn – to use the Red Barn for event space for functions of not more than 300 attendees . . . and for occasional retail sales related to special events . . .
COATESVILLE: Jaywalking geese
On Thursday morning we were driving through downtown Coatesville on our way to a funeral in Eagle and got stuck in something of a traffic jam: roughly two dozen Canada Geese were taking their sweet old time moseying single-file across Business Route 30. Apparently they like hanging out near the West Branch of the Brandywine Creek, which flows right through town. Fortunately, drivers were patient and allowed the birds to take their time crossing.
On our way back, a few hours later, the geese were gathered on the grassy area at the northwest corner of the intersection.
On our way back, a few hours later, the geese were gathered on the grassy area at the northwest corner of the intersection.
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| Canada Geese crossing Business Route 30 at Route 82 in Coatesville. |
POCOPSON: Bluebird Chat
My friends at Brandywine Ace Pet & Farm (the hardware store at the intersection of Route 926 and Pocopson Road) wrote to tell me that they hold a "bluebird chat" at the store every other Wednesday at 10 a.m. (There is one on July 19.) It's a roundtable discussion led by Ken Liester from the Pennsylvania Bluebird Society. Those who attend qualify for discounts on bluebird houses, feeders and seed. No registration is required.
I probably shouldn't mention cats and birds in the same item, but this hardware store offers a wonderful selection of cat food, including the aptly named "Fussie Cat," which Clarence prefers paws-down over any other brand of canned cat food.
I probably shouldn't mention cats and birds in the same item, but this hardware store offers a wonderful selection of cat food, including the aptly named "Fussie Cat," which Clarence prefers paws-down over any other brand of canned cat food.
EAST MARLBOROUGH: The art of rock
Outside the Unionville Post Office the other day I found a small flat stone, painted blue, with the timeless advice "Know Thyself" painted on it in red. Naturally this piqued my curiosity, and after a little Internet research I discovered that "rock sharing" is this summer's equivalent of the Pokémon Go craze.
What you do is paint a picture or a saying on a rock and just leave it for someone to find. There's a certain random, low-tech, non-commercial quality about the whole thing that I like.
What you do is paint a picture or a saying on a rock and just leave it for someone to find. There's a certain random, low-tech, non-commercial quality about the whole thing that I like.
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| This rock advises, "Know Thyself." |
WEST MARLBOROUGH: Swept away
In the latest episode of that long-running comedy of Tilda's life, "No Good Deed Goes Unpunished":
In the middle of last week, to beat the predicted record-high temperatures, I spent a few hours doing a meticulous job of weeding the garden. It looked beautiful, with neat rows of flowers separated by weed-free spent compost. I even weeded between the rows of sunflowers.
Fast-forward to Friday afternoon's flash flood. I returned home to find that a good portion of that spent compost had been washed out of the garden and into the grass. Had I left the weeds in place, of course, they would have held back the mulch.
That was a memorable storm indeed. My phone was chiming all afternoon with incoming weather alerts, and even a friend who doesn't subscribe to the warnings received one. I'm still not sure how it got through his phone's Invisibility Cloak.
In the middle of last week, to beat the predicted record-high temperatures, I spent a few hours doing a meticulous job of weeding the garden. It looked beautiful, with neat rows of flowers separated by weed-free spent compost. I even weeded between the rows of sunflowers.
Fast-forward to Friday afternoon's flash flood. I returned home to find that a good portion of that spent compost had been washed out of the garden and into the grass. Had I left the weeds in place, of course, they would have held back the mulch.
That was a memorable storm indeed. My phone was chiming all afternoon with incoming weather alerts, and even a friend who doesn't subscribe to the warnings received one. I'm still not sure how it got through his phone's Invisibility Cloak.
Sunday, July 9, 2017
POCOPSON: Bliss on the Brandywine
We spent Saturday afternoon having a great time at a big annual picnic along the Brandywine.
The host, a gregarious fellow, spends the day of the party driving around the sprawling property in his Gator, grinning and welcoming everyone. A highlight of the party is when we are driven upstream in a battered truck and then get to float down the creek in inner tubes.
To get into the creek you have to descend a ladder leaning against the bank. I clambered down gingerly, but one man in our group who walked with a cane made the descent gracefully and without hesitation. The instant he hit the water he leaned back in his tube and closed his eyes with an expression of bliss. (I felt bad when I bumped into him downstream, still with his eyes shut. I felt like I'd interrupted him just as he was approaching nirvana.)
The Brandywine was in perfect condition for tubing on Saturday: unlike the previous time we made the trip in August, there was plenty of water and we had to "portage" over the shallow parts only a few times.
Three people brought a multi-compartment raft that looked like a fidget-spinner writ large. It was easily ten feet across.
A pig roast is another tradition at this picnic, but usually by the time we get to the food table there's nothing left but a big aluminum tray with charred remains. This time there was ample pork, and it was delicious.
As people ate and socialized, a changing array of musicians played on a makeshift stage. We were fascinated to watch the sound guy walking around the audience, tweaking the sound levels using only his tablet.
One rock band featured a very poised young woman on vocals. "That's my grand-daughter!" announced the woman sitting behind us, bursting with pride, as the singer finished the 4 Non Blondes hit "What's Up." "And this is her grandfather!"
I think what we'll remember the most about this year's picnic was an enchanting eight-week-old pit bull puppy named Bubba. Bubba's owner brought him along so he could get used to people, and she let anyone hold him who wanted to. Bubba fell asleep in my lap for a while, exhausted with all the attention, then woke up re-energized and squirmed around, wagging his little tail. I'd hold ice cubes in my hand and he'd lick them. I don't think socialization is going to be a problem.
The host, a gregarious fellow, spends the day of the party driving around the sprawling property in his Gator, grinning and welcoming everyone. A highlight of the party is when we are driven upstream in a battered truck and then get to float down the creek in inner tubes.
To get into the creek you have to descend a ladder leaning against the bank. I clambered down gingerly, but one man in our group who walked with a cane made the descent gracefully and without hesitation. The instant he hit the water he leaned back in his tube and closed his eyes with an expression of bliss. (I felt bad when I bumped into him downstream, still with his eyes shut. I felt like I'd interrupted him just as he was approaching nirvana.)
The Brandywine was in perfect condition for tubing on Saturday: unlike the previous time we made the trip in August, there was plenty of water and we had to "portage" over the shallow parts only a few times.
Three people brought a multi-compartment raft that looked like a fidget-spinner writ large. It was easily ten feet across.
A pig roast is another tradition at this picnic, but usually by the time we get to the food table there's nothing left but a big aluminum tray with charred remains. This time there was ample pork, and it was delicious.
As people ate and socialized, a changing array of musicians played on a makeshift stage. We were fascinated to watch the sound guy walking around the audience, tweaking the sound levels using only his tablet.
One rock band featured a very poised young woman on vocals. "That's my grand-daughter!" announced the woman sitting behind us, bursting with pride, as the singer finished the 4 Non Blondes hit "What's Up." "And this is her grandfather!"
I think what we'll remember the most about this year's picnic was an enchanting eight-week-old pit bull puppy named Bubba. Bubba's owner brought him along so he could get used to people, and she let anyone hold him who wanted to. Bubba fell asleep in my lap for a while, exhausted with all the attention, then woke up re-energized and squirmed around, wagging his little tail. I'd hold ice cubes in my hand and he'd lick them. I don't think socialization is going to be a problem.
WEST MARLBOROUGH: Increase in traffic volume and speed
It was an uneventful meeting of the West Marlborough Township supervisors on July 3.
Supervisor Bill Wylie updated the public on the progress of the township's ongoing traffic study, which is being conducted by Al Federico, a traffic engineer with the firm Kimley Horn. Mr. Wylie said the updated traffic counts have confirmed residents' reports that both traffic volume and speed have increased. He said the supervisors will use the data to review possible steps the township could take to control traffic, such as installing four-way stop signs, lowering speed limits, and assuming maintenance responsibilities for roads that are currently owned by the state. The full report is expected by the end of July.
Roadmaster Hugh Lofting reported that the road crew has been busy mowing roadsides, spreading dust oil on the gravel roads and oil-and-chipping some of the township roads. He said the township received a state grant for $224,683 to repair a bridge on Runnemede Road as part of the commonwealth's low-volume road maintenance program.
And resident Ana Myers told the supervisors she was pleased that PennDOT had replaced the "Stop Sign Ahead" sign on Newark Road at Route 926 that had been missing since a truck ran over it in January.
Supervisor Bill Wylie updated the public on the progress of the township's ongoing traffic study, which is being conducted by Al Federico, a traffic engineer with the firm Kimley Horn. Mr. Wylie said the updated traffic counts have confirmed residents' reports that both traffic volume and speed have increased. He said the supervisors will use the data to review possible steps the township could take to control traffic, such as installing four-way stop signs, lowering speed limits, and assuming maintenance responsibilities for roads that are currently owned by the state. The full report is expected by the end of July.
Roadmaster Hugh Lofting reported that the road crew has been busy mowing roadsides, spreading dust oil on the gravel roads and oil-and-chipping some of the township roads. He said the township received a state grant for $224,683 to repair a bridge on Runnemede Road as part of the commonwealth's low-volume road maintenance program.
And resident Ana Myers told the supervisors she was pleased that PennDOT had replaced the "Stop Sign Ahead" sign on Newark Road at Route 926 that had been missing since a truck ran over it in January.
RESPECT: An open-and-shut case
I belong to a community-minded organization that prides itself on its member relations, so management encourages us to submit comments, which are then posted in the lobby for all to read. The sentiments expressed sometimes make me shake my head. For instance, a few members expressed their anger that the organization was closed for a recent major national holiday and said their membership fees should be reduced accordingly.
As humor writer Dave Barry might say: I am not making this up.
Perhaps it didn't occur to them that opening the facility would mean that some employees would be required to work on a holiday rather than spending the time with their families, or their pets, or even all by themselves communing with nature or Facebook.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: All teenagers, especially those from a privileged background, should be required to work with the public in a menial job. I believe this would go a long way to helping them understand how unreasonable and entitled people can be and, ideally, inoculating them against such behavior in the future.
I know; I can dream.
As humor writer Dave Barry might say: I am not making this up.
Perhaps it didn't occur to them that opening the facility would mean that some employees would be required to work on a holiday rather than spending the time with their families, or their pets, or even all by themselves communing with nature or Facebook.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: All teenagers, especially those from a privileged background, should be required to work with the public in a menial job. I believe this would go a long way to helping them understand how unreasonable and entitled people can be and, ideally, inoculating them against such behavior in the future.
I know; I can dream.
EAST MARLBOROUGH: A menace in an Audi
On Thursday evening I was heading west on 926, between Willowdale and London Grove, near Mill Road. It was raining, so I was doing slightly under the 45 m.p.h. speed limit.
All of a sudden a white Audi zoomed past me on a double-yellow line, going up a hill. I didn't even see the driver pull back into the right lane, the car was already that far ahead of me. Had the driver passed me literally three seconds later, he or she would have been in a head-on crash with an oncoming car.
What on earth could have been so urgent for the Audi driver to risk not only his or her own life but that of other people? I will never understand why people are in such a hurry and drive so recklessly.
All of a sudden a white Audi zoomed past me on a double-yellow line, going up a hill. I didn't even see the driver pull back into the right lane, the car was already that far ahead of me. Had the driver passed me literally three seconds later, he or she would have been in a head-on crash with an oncoming car.
What on earth could have been so urgent for the Audi driver to risk not only his or her own life but that of other people? I will never understand why people are in such a hurry and drive so recklessly.
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