On Nov. 17 we headed to Newark for the opening concert of the Brandywine Friends of Old Time Music 2017-18 series. The quartet of Adam Hurt (banjo and fiddle), Beth Williams Hartness (guitar), David McLaughlin (banjo and mandolin), and Marshall Wilborn (upright bass) played a wide variety of bluegrass, old-time, and gospel tunes -- even George Jones's "She Thinks I Still Care" -- in addition to originals like David's entertaining "Skeleton Dance" and "Going Back to Old Virginia."
Adam used a West African gourd banjo to play "Old Molly Oxford," a Morris dance tune -- talk about genre-bending! He explained that the gourds are grown between boards so that they develop into the right shape and size. In introducing Washington Phillips' "What Are They Doing in Heaven Today?" Adam also mentioned another instrument I'd never heard of: the manzerene, a sort of home-made zither with violin strings that Phillips would assemble before every performance.
The show closed with a rousing singalong of the Carter Family's "My Home's Across the Blue Ridge Mountain."
In the next show in the Old Time Music series, The Herald Angels will perform at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15, at the Unitarian Universalist Hall, 420 Willa Road, Newark.
Saturday, November 18, 2017
NEW GARDEN: Townhouses being built
While driving home via Pemberton Road the other day, I noticed that construction has started on the 86-unit Pemberton townhouse development in New Garden Township. The Bentley Homes townhouses will be built in groups of three or four, and prices start in the mid-$200s. The Bentley website highlights the development's proximity to Bancroft Elementary School.
UHS: The Art Gala
Paintings, photographs, metal sculptures, etchings, pottery, carved rocks, jewelry, fused glass, painted furniture, collages, tiles, paper sculptures and probably lots of other media I'm forgetting about were on display this past weekend at the 42nd annual Unionville Art Gala, a fundraiser for the high school PTA.
I made several circuits of the artwork on Saturday afternoon and had to keep reminding myself that I'm trying to get rid of things, not acquire more. I think my favorite works were the whimsical little etchings and paintings of animals and woodland sprites by Katy Winters of Havertown.
As always, part of the gala was devoted to pieces created by UHS students, including portraits, still lifes, jewelry, Adirondack chairs, sculptures and even a beautiful prom gown. The featured artists were seniors Margaret Clisham and Helen Nichols. I recognized several names, either as friends of the Young Relative's or from school activities. The talent on display was impressive!
I made several circuits of the artwork on Saturday afternoon and had to keep reminding myself that I'm trying to get rid of things, not acquire more. I think my favorite works were the whimsical little etchings and paintings of animals and woodland sprites by Katy Winters of Havertown.
As always, part of the gala was devoted to pieces created by UHS students, including portraits, still lifes, jewelry, Adirondack chairs, sculptures and even a beautiful prom gown. The featured artists were seniors Margaret Clisham and Helen Nichols. I recognized several names, either as friends of the Young Relative's or from school activities. The talent on display was impressive!
NEWLIN: State funds to repair Laurel Road
On Nov. 17 State Rep. Eric Roe sent out an email announcing that Newlin Township will receive a $754,354 grant from the state to rebuild an 820-foot portion of Laurel Road that collapsed into the Brandywine Creek after heavy rain in the spring of 2014.
"This project will include rebuilding the compromised portion of Laurel Road, installation of a new guardrail, removal of debris, stabilization of the bank to halt ongoing deterioration and relocation of new utility poles," said Rep. Roe.
In other news out of Harrisburg, the Senate has voted to name the Eastern Hellbender our commonwealth's official amphibian. But apparently there's a move in the state House to nominate a much smaller creature, the Wehrle’s salamander. I'll keep you posted on this important decision by our legislators.
Reporting on this would have posed a problem at a newspaper where I used to work: the publisher had a debilitating fear of snakes and would not allow in the paper any story, photo or graphic of anything resembling a snake. I once had to eliminate a cobra headdress from some clip art of a pharaoh.
"This project will include rebuilding the compromised portion of Laurel Road, installation of a new guardrail, removal of debris, stabilization of the bank to halt ongoing deterioration and relocation of new utility poles," said Rep. Roe.
 |
| The collapsed section of Laurel Road in May 2014. |
In other news out of Harrisburg, the Senate has voted to name the Eastern Hellbender our commonwealth's official amphibian. But apparently there's a move in the state House to nominate a much smaller creature, the Wehrle’s salamander. I'll keep you posted on this important decision by our legislators.
Reporting on this would have posed a problem at a newspaper where I used to work: the publisher had a debilitating fear of snakes and would not allow in the paper any story, photo or graphic of anything resembling a snake. I once had to eliminate a cobra headdress from some clip art of a pharaoh.
Thursday, November 16, 2017
SNOW DAYS: On the ground
I got to chatting with a retired teacher today about whether we're going to have a snowy winter. She told me that some years back she worked in a western Pennsylvania school district, where the superintendent wasn't the one responsible for declaring snow days. No: that duty fell on two of the bus drivers who lived in the most remote parts of the district. If the snow was falling there and they couldn't get out, they'd consult with each other and then tell the superintendent to cancel school.
Apparently it didn't happen very often.
Apparently it didn't happen very often.
HOCKESSIN: The Grinch returns!
This program down in "Who-ckessin" is well on its way to becoming a Christmas tradition. Once again the Hockessin Business Association is hosting a showing of Dr. Seuss' "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," with actors, audience participation, singing and lots of noise!
This year's show will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, at the Hockessin Library, 1023 Valley Road, Hockessin. It's free and very family-friendly.
Portraying the Grinch (completely against character!) is our friend Charles Shattuck, the owner of the Wild Birds Unlimited store.
This year's show will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, at the Hockessin Library, 1023 Valley Road, Hockessin. It's free and very family-friendly.
Portraying the Grinch (completely against character!) is our friend Charles Shattuck, the owner of the Wild Birds Unlimited store.
WILLOWDALE: Night owls
Yes, it's true, the Landhope convenience store at Willowdale is once again open 24 hours a day, so you can buy coffee, soda, ice cream, lottery tickets and gas very late at night or very early in the morning. In fact, according to the sign on the door, they're looking for employees to work the second and third shifts.
FRITANGAS: Delicioso!
A friend pretty much commanded me to try Fritangas Snacks, a Mexican restaurant in that little brick strip mall on South Union Street, across from Kennett High School.
When it comes to Mexican food, I hear and obey: we two Anglos went there the next night for dinner.
The place is freshly painted and bright and cheerful inside. The menu on the wall is written mostly in Spanish, but the friendly woman who waited on us translated as needed.
We had burritos -- tinga de pollo (shredded chicken) for me and carnitas (pulled pork) for my date -- and they appeared from the kitchen very quickly. The chef toned down the spiciness at our request but included a little container of hot sauce on the side. To drink I had pineapple-flavored agua, which was excellent, and for dessert a dish of coffee ice cream (yes, it was cold outside. So what?).
As the name indicates, in addition to ice cream, tortas, burritos, tacos and quesadillas, Fritangas also sells a wide variety of authentic Mexican snacks: nachos, esquites (corn salad), elotes (corn on the cob), frituras, dorilocos, churros locos, and intriguing combinations of fruits, vegetables and crunchy tidbits.
The restaurant's winter hours are Monday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
When it comes to Mexican food, I hear and obey: we two Anglos went there the next night for dinner.
The place is freshly painted and bright and cheerful inside. The menu on the wall is written mostly in Spanish, but the friendly woman who waited on us translated as needed.
We had burritos -- tinga de pollo (shredded chicken) for me and carnitas (pulled pork) for my date -- and they appeared from the kitchen very quickly. The chef toned down the spiciness at our request but included a little container of hot sauce on the side. To drink I had pineapple-flavored agua, which was excellent, and for dessert a dish of coffee ice cream (yes, it was cold outside. So what?).
As the name indicates, in addition to ice cream, tortas, burritos, tacos and quesadillas, Fritangas also sells a wide variety of authentic Mexican snacks: nachos, esquites (corn salad), elotes (corn on the cob), frituras, dorilocos, churros locos, and intriguing combinations of fruits, vegetables and crunchy tidbits.
The restaurant's winter hours are Monday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
POOL: Sets and laps
I'm always entertained by the chatter of the schoolkids in the Y locker room. The other day one girl was telling her friends that for English class, she was assigned to write about "something painful." She chose swim practice -- a perfectly valid topic, though probably not what the instructor intended. The teacher made the mistake of trying to correct the girl's swim-team jargon. The young athlete's description of her point-by-point rebuttal to the teacher (who sounded like an insufferable know-it-all) was devastating.
I'm encouraged by kids who display that sort of spunk.
I'm encouraged by kids who display that sort of spunk.
Sunday, November 12, 2017
HOCKESSIN: Old meetinghouse photos
Hockessin Friends Meetinghouse is holding a talk on Saturday, Nov. 18, about Charles S. Philips, who photographed Quaker meetinghouses, other buildings and landscapes in New Castle, Chester, and Delaware counties in the 1890s. On Jan. 14, 1896, he visited Hockessin Friends Meeting.
Pamela Powell, photo archivist at the Chester County Historical Society, will present a slide show of images by Philips from the historical society's collection.
Potluck supper is at 6 p.m., with the program to follow at 7 p.m.
The meeting's 2018 calendar, "Quiet Shelter: Selected Photographs of Friends Meetinghouses by Charles S. Philips,” will be available to purchase for $20. The cover features an image of Hockessin Meeting from the CCHS collection. The calendar is a fundraiser for the renovations of the meeting's First Day School classrooms.
Hockessin Friends Meeting is at 1501 Old Wilmington Road.
HAMLET: The play's the thing
Leave it to the courageous actors at Unionville High School to take on "Hamlet" as their fall play. We had never before seen senior Suchi Jain, who played the lead role, on the UHS stage and greatly admired her intensity and her command of the language (not to mention her fencing skills).
Sophomore Rachel Tierney played Ophelia, and she did a great job with the "mad scene," staggering painfully around the stage wearing only one shoe.
The lighting, designed by Jonathan Chidekel, was striking, especially in the opening scene, when a spotlight narrowed in to highlight the telling detail of Claudius and Gertrude's clasped hands.
The curtain call was funny: everyone reverted to being smiling high school kids only seconds after the last scene, where pretty much everyone dies violently.
Hearing the Bard's words reminded me of the play's many contributions to our language -- to name just a few, "neither a borrower nor a lender be," "ay, there's the rub," "to thine own self be true," and "there's method in his madness."
Sophomore Rachel Tierney played Ophelia, and she did a great job with the "mad scene," staggering painfully around the stage wearing only one shoe.
The lighting, designed by Jonathan Chidekel, was striking, especially in the opening scene, when a spotlight narrowed in to highlight the telling detail of Claudius and Gertrude's clasped hands.
The curtain call was funny: everyone reverted to being smiling high school kids only seconds after the last scene, where pretty much everyone dies violently.
Hearing the Bard's words reminded me of the play's many contributions to our language -- to name just a few, "neither a borrower nor a lender be," "ay, there's the rub," "to thine own self be true," and "there's method in his madness."
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