I want to express my gratitude to everyone at Brandywine Valley Veterinary Hospital on Strasburg Road for their kind and professional treatment of my dear cat, Tina. She had some dental work done on Monday, and I felt dreadful about depriving her of her breakfast, stuffing her into the cat carrier, and hauling her to the vet. There is no way to convince a feline that it's for her own good, when she just wants to eat her kibble and nap on the windowsill per her usual Monday morning routine.
Everyone at the practice is so nice and compassionate. They go out of their way to create a calm, soothing atmosphere for both scared animals and worried, guilt-ridden humans. Dr. Carol Schafer called me as soon as the surgery was over (all went well) and prepared a folder of x-rays and photographs detailing the work she'd done. She even checked in with me the next morning to see how Tina was doing (healing perfectly).
I was interested to learn that although both European and American vets use the same postop pain pills for cats, the package sold in America contains only three pills, whereas European cats get six. Are American cats tougher?
Thank you from me and lots of affectionate head-butts and purring from the cat.
Friday, October 6, 2017
SKY: Stargazing with Kevin Witman
At 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13, my gym friend Kevin Witman of Cochranville will be bringing some of his high-powered telescopes to the parking lot of the Londonderry Township building, 103 Daleville Rd., for an astronomy presentation. The rain date is the following evening. Kevin's enthusiasm for stars and planets is contagious and he is great with kids.
QUAKERS: A talk at Marlborough Meeting
Chip Thomas of Marlborough Friends Meeting reports that Henry Jason will be speaking about the principles and beliefs of early Quakers at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21 at the Marlborough meetinghouse, which was built in 1801. It is located at the northwest corner of Marlborough and Marlborough Spring Roads in East Marlborough Township. For more information about this small Quaker congregation and its peaceful, historic meetinghouse, you can visit their website or their Facebook page.
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
WEST MARLBOROUGH: A new road grader?
West Marlborough residents may soon be saying goodbye to the township's venerable road grader, fondly nicknamed "Sisyphus."
Township roads supervisor Hugh Lofting Jr. believes he has found a suitable replacement for the early-1970s Caterpillar grader online, but because state funds will be used in the purchase, the township supervisors must go through a specified bidding process. At their Oct. 3 meeting, they approved publishing a request for bids, which will be opened later this month.
If all goes as expected, Sisyphus (so named by Rob Mastrippolito of the Newlin Township road crew) will be sold.
Also at the Oct. 3 meeting:
-- Township secretary/treasurer Shirley Walton reported that at the end of the third quarter of 2017, the township had received 79% of its budgeted income but had spent only 68% of its budgeted expenditures. (Mrs. Walton was quick to point out, however, that many one-time expenses arise in the final quarter of each year.)
-- The township's zoning and building officer reported in September that he issued two permits for building renovations, one at 1013 Old Hilton Road and the other at 135 Springdell Road.
-- Township roadmaster Hugh Lofting Sr. reported that work to shore up a steep slope alongside Rokeby Road is awaiting only a final approval from the state Department of Environmental Protection.
-- The Southern Chester County Sportsmen's and Farmers' Association, better known to locals as simply "the gun club," wants to tear down several dilapidated sheds on its Sportsmen's Lane property and replace them with a pole barn for storing tools, equipment and machinery. The club already received approval for the barn from the township zoning hearing board, but the plan now needs to be reviewed by the township planning commission and the supervisors. A discussion of the plan is expected at the township's next meeting, on Monday, Nov. 6.
Township roads supervisor Hugh Lofting Jr. believes he has found a suitable replacement for the early-1970s Caterpillar grader online, but because state funds will be used in the purchase, the township supervisors must go through a specified bidding process. At their Oct. 3 meeting, they approved publishing a request for bids, which will be opened later this month.
If all goes as expected, Sisyphus (so named by Rob Mastrippolito of the Newlin Township road crew) will be sold.
 |
| Sisyphus, West Marlborough's workhouse road grader. |
Also at the Oct. 3 meeting:
-- Township secretary/treasurer Shirley Walton reported that at the end of the third quarter of 2017, the township had received 79% of its budgeted income but had spent only 68% of its budgeted expenditures. (Mrs. Walton was quick to point out, however, that many one-time expenses arise in the final quarter of each year.)
-- The township's zoning and building officer reported in September that he issued two permits for building renovations, one at 1013 Old Hilton Road and the other at 135 Springdell Road.
-- Township roadmaster Hugh Lofting Sr. reported that work to shore up a steep slope alongside Rokeby Road is awaiting only a final approval from the state Department of Environmental Protection.
-- The Southern Chester County Sportsmen's and Farmers' Association, better known to locals as simply "the gun club," wants to tear down several dilapidated sheds on its Sportsmen's Lane property and replace them with a pole barn for storing tools, equipment and machinery. The club already received approval for the barn from the township zoning hearing board, but the plan now needs to be reviewed by the township planning commission and the supervisors. A discussion of the plan is expected at the township's next meeting, on Monday, Nov. 6.
Sunday, October 1, 2017
TIME TRAVEL: The Renaissance Faire
I have a low tolerance for role-playing and similar tomfoolery, but I have to admit I had an absolutely wonderful time on Sunday at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire in Manheim. The costumes were amazing: people were dressed as wenches, monks, steampunks, pirates, wizards, elves, wood sprites, fairies, butterflies, knights, lords and ladies (Tudor AND Renaissance), and minstrels -- and those were just our fellow visitors. Shops sold costumes, jewelry, leatherware, candles, and all sorts of fantasy knickknacks. We watched a jousting tournament and a falconry display, ate pork sandwiches and ice cream (we skipped the turkey "legges" and boot-shaped glasses of beer), listened to singers and musicians, and just enjoyed the people-watching on a beautiful autumn afternoon. Where else can you hear a father tell his young son, "Get that sword out of your mouth!"
The Faire is open through the end of October and is an easy drive up Route 283. If you buy your tickets online and print them out at home, they are much less expensive.
The Faire is open through the end of October and is an easy drive up Route 283. If you buy your tickets online and print them out at home, they are much less expensive.
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