The Brandywine Valley SPCA (whence we adopted our amazing miracle rescue cat Clarence) has received a $50,000 grant to develop its "Mama-in-a-Box." According to the BVSPCA's fall newsletter, this invention is designed to help care for the large number of kittens that arrive at shelters in spring and summer. It "provides a replica momma cat that can support up to eight kittens with a built-in heating mat and temperature-controlled bottles in a natural position. This setup allows caregivers to focus on bathing and stimulating and, in turn, to have more lifesaving capacity."
The BVSPCA team received the grant, one of two awarded nationally, after presenting the idea at the Petco Foundation's Innovation Showdown program in May.
Saturday, November 4, 2017
HERSHEY: A race in Chocolate Town
We spent Saturday in Hershey at the PIAA cross-country championship, and I'm happy to report that the amazing Unionville High School girls' XC team took sixth place in the entire state!
The girls' team comprised Madison McGovern, Marcella Krautzel, Hallie Weaver, Josie Cicchino, Katelyn McGovern, Meghan Smith, and Gemma Krautzel. The girls' times for the 3.1-mile course averaged 20 minutes 6 seconds. The notoriously tough course ends with a brutally steep hill that must have been excruciating for already exhausted legs and lungs.
Before the race we walked around the team tent area. Some of the teams had decorated their tents with enlarged photos of the athletes' heads, and we were amused to see that one team honored its star runner by mounting his cardboard head on a pike! Didn't that used to be the fate of executed traitors?
Naturally, chocolate plays a key role in the town: the banners in the huge parking lot sported the names of Hershey candy bars; the lamp posts were decorated with Kisses; we drove past the Chocolate Workers Union Hall (a historical plaque commemorates their sit-down strike); and we chuckled at a billboard advertising the Cocoa Counseling Center.
After the meet, I asked Google Maps to find us a restaurant near Elizabethtown and it suggested Martin's Country Kitchen, Home of Randy Lee's BBQ, right on Route 743. Great choice! We cleaned our plates and didn't need another meal the rest of the day.
The girls' team comprised Madison McGovern, Marcella Krautzel, Hallie Weaver, Josie Cicchino, Katelyn McGovern, Meghan Smith, and Gemma Krautzel. The girls' times for the 3.1-mile course averaged 20 minutes 6 seconds. The notoriously tough course ends with a brutally steep hill that must have been excruciating for already exhausted legs and lungs.
Before the race we walked around the team tent area. Some of the teams had decorated their tents with enlarged photos of the athletes' heads, and we were amused to see that one team honored its star runner by mounting his cardboard head on a pike! Didn't that used to be the fate of executed traitors?
Naturally, chocolate plays a key role in the town: the banners in the huge parking lot sported the names of Hershey candy bars; the lamp posts were decorated with Kisses; we drove past the Chocolate Workers Union Hall (a historical plaque commemorates their sit-down strike); and we chuckled at a billboard advertising the Cocoa Counseling Center.
After the meet, I asked Google Maps to find us a restaurant near Elizabethtown and it suggested Martin's Country Kitchen, Home of Randy Lee's BBQ, right on Route 743. Great choice! We cleaned our plates and didn't need another meal the rest of the day.
GREENVILLE: In loving memory
I had the honor of attending F. Michael Donohue's memorial service as Christ Church Christiana Hundred on Oct. 2, and I don't think I've ever been to a service that better reflected the honoree. Everything was done right. The beautiful church was packed (I imagine there were a lot of empty offices in Wilmington that morning). The hymns were beautiful and uplifting ("Abide With Me" and, set to the tune of Beethoven's "Ode to Joy," "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee"). The eulogies, by Mike's longtime business partner Rodman Ward Jr. and his daughter-in-law Kirstie Donohue, painted a portrait of Mike as a distinguished leader of character and integrity, a masterful stockbroker, an avid athlete, and a loving family man (and sometime prankster).
I was especially impressed with the Rev. Ruth Beresford, who led the service. Perhaps sensing that there were many non-churchgoers in the crowd, she explicitly invited all to take part in the Communion ritual and explained all the details that can baffle outsiders. It felt very inclusive.
The reception afterward in the parish hall was catered by the Wilmington Club, and (of course) included the club's signature fried oysters.
I was especially impressed with the Rev. Ruth Beresford, who led the service. Perhaps sensing that there were many non-churchgoers in the crowd, she explicitly invited all to take part in the Communion ritual and explained all the details that can baffle outsiders. It felt very inclusive.
The reception afterward in the parish hall was catered by the Wilmington Club, and (of course) included the club's signature fried oysters.
THE FLASH: Up in the balcony
An evening at the Kennett Flash is always fun, especially when you sit in the balcony. It's only a few steps above the rest of the room, but you feel like you're in your own spacious VIP lounge, furnished with comfortable sofas.
On Sunday, Oct. 29, we were at the Flash to see Sarah "Hurricane Hoss" Larsen (who has played with Mason Porter) and Abbie Gardner (of Red Molly). When she performed her song "Modena," Sarah drew raucous applause from our party, two of whom have worked in the tiny Chester County borough.
Just a caveat if you decide to eat dinner at the Flash (they offer snacks and sandwiches): we ordered before the show started and our food didn't arrive until intermission. There was only one very busy waiter for the entire room, and by 7:45 we were getting so hungry that we were paying more attention to his comings and goings than the performer: "Do you think that's our food? Is he coming our way?"
On Sunday, Oct. 29, we were at the Flash to see Sarah "Hurricane Hoss" Larsen (who has played with Mason Porter) and Abbie Gardner (of Red Molly). When she performed her song "Modena," Sarah drew raucous applause from our party, two of whom have worked in the tiny Chester County borough.
Just a caveat if you decide to eat dinner at the Flash (they offer snacks and sandwiches): we ordered before the show started and our food didn't arrive until intermission. There was only one very busy waiter for the entire room, and by 7:45 we were getting so hungry that we were paying more attention to his comings and goings than the performer: "Do you think that's our food? Is he coming our way?"
APPLIANCE: Shouldn't be this tricky
I bought a new lamp the other day and was eager to see how much better my office would look with a brighter bulb. But first I had to unwrap the power cord, which was not a simple matter. First I had to remove the tiny white elastic string holding it to the lamp socket. Then I tore off the cardboard label and peeled off the super-sticky multilingual safety warning wrapped around the bundled-up cord. Underneath were three very tight zip ties (not simple twist ties, mind you) holding the bundle together. I had to find a penknife and gingerly saw through the zip ties without nicking the power cord. I can't imagine someone with vision problems or arthritis being able to manage without assistance.
Friday, November 3, 2017
KENNETT TOWNSHIP: New houses going in
What's going on near the northeast corner of the Five Points intersection south of Kennett Square? It's "Stonehouse," another housing development by Tom Bentley. His company, Bentley Homes, is building 38 "carriage homes" in nine clusters of three, four, or five units. There will be two entrances to the development, both on South Union Street. The houses will be priced in the mid-$400,000s, and the first units are expected to be ready next spring.
The website describes the development as "nestled in the heart of Kennett Square," only "steps" away from Kennett High School, within walking distance to downtown and "minutes" away from Longwood Gardens.
The website describes the development as "nestled in the heart of Kennett Square," only "steps" away from Kennett High School, within walking distance to downtown and "minutes" away from Longwood Gardens.
BB&T: An excellent employee
Shout-out to Laura Bernal, a teller at the New Garden East branch of BB&T Bank. I went in there the other morning with at least 40 checks to deposit. This is not the account I usually use, so not only had I forgotten the account number but I don't even have an ATM card for it.
No matter: Laura quickly totalled the checks (double-checking her math) and made sure she put it in the correct account. She assured me that my ignorance of in-person banking was no problem (I'm sure it was) and even apologized that the transaction took her so long (it didn't).
Excellent customer service from a delightful human being.
No matter: Laura quickly totalled the checks (double-checking her math) and made sure she put it in the correct account. She assured me that my ignorance of in-person banking was no problem (I'm sure it was) and even apologized that the transaction took her so long (it didn't).
Excellent customer service from a delightful human being.
Sunday, October 29, 2017
WEST CHESTER: New technology
Bill Haaf of Chester County Citizens for Climate Protection (www.chescocooler.org) asked me to mention his group's upcoming lecture, "The Current State of Carbon Capture Techniques," at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8, at West Chester Borough Hall, 401 E. Gay St. Princeton professor Michael Celia will be discussing ways to capture carbon dioxide in order to reduce greenhouse gases while still burning fossil fuels. The captured carbon dioxide can then be used to make chemicals or can be stored deep underground.
DINNER: Locavores
Our Sunday supper was a memorable one: we had roasted chicken with potatoes and carrots, both just harvested from the garden, marinated with cider from Barnard's Orchards. Easy and delicious.
LONDON GROVE: Draining the swamp
I spotted some excellent product placement the other day. The pest-control company called Mosquito Joe has placed a sign at the corner of Route 926 and, you guessed it, Mosquito Lane.
A waggish friend wondered what an appropriate sign would be on Tapeworm Road.
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| Excellent product placement! |
A waggish friend wondered what an appropriate sign would be on Tapeworm Road.
UHS: The Prince of Denmark
For the Fall Play, the ever-ambitious UHS students have decided to put on "Hamlet," and we have every confidence they will do their usual close-to-professional job. The curtain goes up at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 9, Friday, Nov. 10, and Saturday, Nov. 11. Tickets are available at the door.
UNIONVILLE: The Mum Tour
About 40 antique automobile enthusiasts gathered at Primitive Hall on a warm, sunny autumn morning for a tour of the 1738 Pennock homestead, followed by a drive through the Unionville countryside. The "mum tour" was sponsored by the local Model T club and was organized by Lou Mandich and Charlie Brosius.
Standing on the mounting block at Primitive Hall, Charlie gave a brief history of the beautiful area that the motorists would be driving through. He explained how Lammot du Pont bought up 4,000 acres of land to form the Buck & Doe Run Valley Farms, where he raised cattle, hogs and horses. (Coincidentally, Mr. du Pont's nephew, Irénée du Pont, and wife Barbara were part of the mum tour.)
After World War II W. Plunket Stewart, founder of the Cheshire Hunt, persuaded Robert Kleberg of Texas to purchase the land, plus another thousand acres, to serve as grazing land for his King Ranch cattle. In the 1980s the Brandywine Conservancy was established to save the land from being sold for development; instead, the acreage was subdivided into parcels no smaller than 30 acres.
"The efforts of the Brandywine Conservancy and other private, county, and state conservation programs today have resulted in over 25,000 contiguous acres of preserved land, the area we will travel through today," Charlie said.
The itinerary took the motorists, driving everything from Model T's to Corvettes, along Route 841 to Greenlawn Road, St. Malachi Road, Springdell Road, Route 82, Covered Bridge Road, Doe Run Church Road, Fairview Road, Brandywine Creek Road, Green Valley Road, Powell Road, Scott Road, Route 162 and back onto Route 82. The tour ended with lunch at Hood's BBQ.
Standing on the mounting block at Primitive Hall, Charlie gave a brief history of the beautiful area that the motorists would be driving through. He explained how Lammot du Pont bought up 4,000 acres of land to form the Buck & Doe Run Valley Farms, where he raised cattle, hogs and horses. (Coincidentally, Mr. du Pont's nephew, Irénée du Pont, and wife Barbara were part of the mum tour.)
After World War II W. Plunket Stewart, founder of the Cheshire Hunt, persuaded Robert Kleberg of Texas to purchase the land, plus another thousand acres, to serve as grazing land for his King Ranch cattle. In the 1980s the Brandywine Conservancy was established to save the land from being sold for development; instead, the acreage was subdivided into parcels no smaller than 30 acres.
"The efforts of the Brandywine Conservancy and other private, county, and state conservation programs today have resulted in over 25,000 contiguous acres of preserved land, the area we will travel through today," Charlie said.
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| Just a few of the antique cars that rallied at Primitive Hall on Oct. 21. Photo courtesy of Lou Mandich. |
The itinerary took the motorists, driving everything from Model T's to Corvettes, along Route 841 to Greenlawn Road, St. Malachi Road, Springdell Road, Route 82, Covered Bridge Road, Doe Run Church Road, Fairview Road, Brandywine Creek Road, Green Valley Road, Powell Road, Scott Road, Route 162 and back onto Route 82. The tour ended with lunch at Hood's BBQ.
RIP: A gentleman and a soldier
The word "gentleman" comes to mind immediately when I think of F. Michael Donohue, who died on Oct. 24. He was smart, courteous, funny, worldly, well-informed and well-dressed, with a military bearing (after all, he had been an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps).
Whenever I was invited to an event at the beautiful Kennett Township home he shared with his wife, Audrey, and an assortment of dogs, I would accept immediately, because I knew the company, the conversation and the food and drink would be top-notch. I think my favorite image of Mike was him standing at the doorway greeting his guests, with his hand out and a broad smile of welcome. It would be hard to imagine a more gracious host.
Quite simply, "F. Michael" was one of the best. We are holding our dear friend Audrey in the light.
Whenever I was invited to an event at the beautiful Kennett Township home he shared with his wife, Audrey, and an assortment of dogs, I would accept immediately, because I knew the company, the conversation and the food and drink would be top-notch. I think my favorite image of Mike was him standing at the doorway greeting his guests, with his hand out and a broad smile of welcome. It would be hard to imagine a more gracious host.
Quite simply, "F. Michael" was one of the best. We are holding our dear friend Audrey in the light.
KENNETT: Scout spaghetti dinner
Boy Scout Troop 24 had a full house for their spaghetti dinner at Kennett Friends Meeting on Saturday. The food, as always, was delicious: I look forward to chowing down on the meatballs, the homemade sauce, and the mushrooms over linguini. The dessert table had a Halloween theme: I chose a cupcake with a skeletal arm emerging from the chocolate icing.
The polite boys, in their Scout uniforms, did a good job fetching drinks and bussing tables. As a bonus we got to watch a video of the youths in action over the summer, setting up tents, cooking over a campfire and plunging into a river.
One veteran helper told us that this year's fundraising dinner was an unusually popular one, with many takeout orders: usually there's a lull in the action in the middle of the afternoon, she said, but not this year. And we had a nice chat with a fellow diner about the value of Scouting and the importance of supporting local community events like this, even if our families aren't directly involved.
The polite boys, in their Scout uniforms, did a good job fetching drinks and bussing tables. As a bonus we got to watch a video of the youths in action over the summer, setting up tents, cooking over a campfire and plunging into a river.
One veteran helper told us that this year's fundraising dinner was an unusually popular one, with many takeout orders: usually there's a lull in the action in the middle of the afternoon, she said, but not this year. And we had a nice chat with a fellow diner about the value of Scouting and the importance of supporting local community events like this, even if our families aren't directly involved.
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