Just what are those loud "booms" that many local residents have been hearing at all hours during the past few months?
The mystery prompted a lively discussion at the monthly West Marlborough Township meeting on Dec. 5.
Bill Shaw, who lives on Newark Road south of London Grove village, came to the meeting to express his concerns to the supervisors. He said the noises sounded like explosions going off north of him (he said he was familiar with how explosives sound, having worked in demolitions in the military). He said he knew they were much too loud to be coming from the nearby gun club (the Southern Chester County Sportsmen's and Farmer's Association).
Mark and Anna Myers said they too have heard the noises, sometimes as late as 1:30 a.m., and thought they sounded like a cannon being fired. Anna Myers said it was difficult to tell which direction the noises were coming from because they echoed.
Supervisor Jake Chalfin said that after hearing about the noise from several residents he contacted the Pennsylvania State Police, but they had no leads or theories to offer.
The supervisors suggested that residents keep track of the times they hear the noises.
Theories put forth so far include the following: (1) there's blasting going on at a quarry somewhere; (2) someone has a cannon on his property and likes setting it off for fun; and (3) the noises are sonic booms from aircraft breaking the sound barrier.
Thursday, December 7, 2017
MARKETING: Nothing but the truth
With all the apocalyptic hyperbole, meaningless buzzwords and self-serving spin that bombard us these days, it was downright refreshing to see this slogan on a work truck in West Chester the other day: "Roofs Leak. We Fix Them."
Plain, straightforward, and to the point. I applaud!
Plain, straightforward, and to the point. I applaud!
Sunday, December 3, 2017
KENNETT SQUARE: Open-air market
The Kennett Square Holiday Village Market at The Creamery (401 Birch Street) is well worth a visit. I stopped by the open-air market on Saturday and was amazed at the variety of items that the vendors were selling, like scarves, ornaments, vintage Christmas decorations, S'mores kits, prints and artwork, ceramics, wooden bowls, jewelry, cards, shiny silver spoons with phrases stamped on them, and fancy polenta and catsup from Happy Cat Farm. Musicians were playing "Feliz Navidad," and an ice sculptor was carving a snowman. Members of the Spade & Trowel garden club were selling greens, holiday arrangements and paperwhites kits. There was a variety of food and drink for sale, and portable heaters kept everyone warm.
I got a chance to meet Meredith Langer, a Kennett Square calligrapher who organized the market, and complimented her on a job well done. I was impressed with the variety and quality of the vendors and, judging by the large crowd, the organizers clearly have found a niche.
Parking on Birch Street was difficult; a free shuttle bus runs between the 100 block of South Broad Street and the Creamery.
The market is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, and Sunday, Dec. 10.
I got a chance to meet Meredith Langer, a Kennett Square calligrapher who organized the market, and complimented her on a job well done. I was impressed with the variety and quality of the vendors and, judging by the large crowd, the organizers clearly have found a niche.
Parking on Birch Street was difficult; a free shuttle bus runs between the 100 block of South Broad Street and the Creamery.
The market is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, and Sunday, Dec. 10.
NPR: The Squire of the Square
A loyal Unionville reader called me the morning of Saturday, Dec. 2, to report that Kennett Square had just been mentioned on National Public Radio! She was listening to a quiz program in which celebrities were asked to identify bits of information as truth or urban legends, and this celeb didn't believe that Herb Pennock was really the Squire of Kennett Square. The host corrected her and went on to mention that Kennett is the Mushroom Capital of the United States.
WEST MARLBOROUGH: Good food and good company
The annual pre-Hunt get-together at Lydia Bartholomew's Plumsted Farm on the morning of Saturday, Dec. 2, was great fun as always. Addressing the guests from horseback just before the hunt moved off, Anne Moran, one of the Masters of Mr. Stewart's Cheshire Foxhounds, took a few minutes to thank Lydia for her hospitality and to express appreciation to the landowners for allowing the Hunt to cross their properties.
Then the foxhunters headed off to the east, toward Newark Road, while the rest of us socialized with friends and neighbors and enjoyed the lavish spread of pastries, fruit, chili, fruit, subs and hot coffee (with or without additives). It was a lovely morning, with bright sunshine and brisk but comfortable temperatures.
Then the foxhunters headed off to the east, toward Newark Road, while the rest of us socialized with friends and neighbors and enjoyed the lavish spread of pastries, fruit, chili, fruit, subs and hot coffee (with or without additives). It was a lovely morning, with bright sunshine and brisk but comfortable temperatures.
EARTHQUAKE: An odd sensation
The 4.1-magnitude earthquake that rattled our area just before 5 p.m. Nov. 30 was greeted by either excitement (by me), jaded boredom (by those who have lived on the West Coast) or confusion and regret (by those who missed it).
I was sitting on the sofa trying to solve a puzzle (I participate in a weekly nerd-fest competition) when I heard a rumbling noise and the house shook. My first thought -- who thinks of an earthquake initially? -- was that it was either a cattle trailer or a heavy dump truck on the road outside, but there was no sign of either. Nor was there a low-flying helicopter, which can also shake the house.
Puzzle-solving was preempted as I immediately went online to find out what was going on.
I should add that the cats showed no reaction to the tremors; both continued snoozing per usual.
I missed the August 2011 earthquake (I was in my car), so I was glad to experience this one.
I was sitting on the sofa trying to solve a puzzle (I participate in a weekly nerd-fest competition) when I heard a rumbling noise and the house shook. My first thought -- who thinks of an earthquake initially? -- was that it was either a cattle trailer or a heavy dump truck on the road outside, but there was no sign of either. Nor was there a low-flying helicopter, which can also shake the house.
Puzzle-solving was preempted as I immediately went online to find out what was going on.
I should add that the cats showed no reaction to the tremors; both continued snoozing per usual.
I missed the August 2011 earthquake (I was in my car), so I was glad to experience this one.
ST. PAT'S: The Sharrett Courtyard
On Thanksgiving morning, Father Chris Rogers dedicated the new courtyard at St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church to the parish's longtime priest, Father Victor Sharrett. The Father Victor F. Sharrett Courtyard sits between the church and the former school building. (Thank you, dear Doug, for sharing this photo.)
As Father Rodgers wrote to his parishioners:
"The vacant land between our Church and School was for decades the place of our parish convent and the home of the Sisters of St. Joseph who taught in our parish school. As such, the ground is holy. Our project will recapture that holiness, creating a welcoming path and entrance in the shape of a Celtic cross, a shrine on the convent porch and a garden with benches, beauty and life. The ground that housed our Religious Sisters will once again be a place of welcome, reflection and prayer for many years to come."
As Father Rodgers wrote to his parishioners:
"The vacant land between our Church and School was for decades the place of our parish convent and the home of the Sisters of St. Joseph who taught in our parish school. As such, the ground is holy. Our project will recapture that holiness, creating a welcoming path and entrance in the shape of a Celtic cross, a shrine on the convent porch and a garden with benches, beauty and life. The ground that housed our Religious Sisters will once again be a place of welcome, reflection and prayer for many years to come."
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| The Father Victor F. Sharrett Courtyard was dedicated on Thanksgiving. |
FIRE: Generous support
As I mentioned in last week's column, the response was swift to the fundraising campaign set up for the family that lost its Dean Drive house, possessions, and pets in a Thanksgiving night fire. The initial goal was $25,000; within nine days 549 people, many of them anonymous, had donated a total of $40,263 and the campaign was ended.
One of the fire victims wrote what I thought was a beautiful message of thanks: "The kindness of our community, including many of you whom we have never met, has been immeasurable and has continued to fill our hearts. You have truly made a difference in our lives and given us hope for the future. We are witnesses to the good that exists in this world and that alone has provided more mental and emotional healing than you’ll ever know."
One of the fire victims wrote what I thought was a beautiful message of thanks: "The kindness of our community, including many of you whom we have never met, has been immeasurable and has continued to fill our hearts. You have truly made a difference in our lives and given us hope for the future. We are witnesses to the good that exists in this world and that alone has provided more mental and emotional healing than you’ll ever know."
WEST MARLBOROUGH: Ready for winter
West Marlborough Township's new road grader arrived on the morning of Nov. 27, and it is so big it barely fits in the township garage. Hugh Lofting Jr. and "Brother" Wilson of the township's road crew were happy to show me the features of the yellow 2007 John Deere grader, including its gigantic side plow. They said it's much quieter than the old grader.
The township used $70,000 in state funds to replace its 1973 Caterpillar grader, which will be sold to neighboring Newlin Township. The new grader came from Jackson County, Iowa, where it was used to maintain the county's 550 miles of dirt and gravel roads.
The township used $70,000 in state funds to replace its 1973 Caterpillar grader, which will be sold to neighboring Newlin Township. The new grader came from Jackson County, Iowa, where it was used to maintain the county's 550 miles of dirt and gravel roads.
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| "Brother" Wilson and Hugh Lofting Jr. with the new grader. |
BIRDS: Late arrivals
Finally the birds have found the seed and suet in my backyard! I've been filling the feeder regularly, but only the squirrels have been enjoying the seed. This week I was happy to note that numerous chickadees have shown up, and just this morning I spotted a red-bellied woodpecker at the suet feeder. Maybe the birds' tardiness has something to do with the warm autumn?
QUAKERS: Sing we now of Christmas
If you're looking for somewhere to sing Christmas carols, with no new-fangled inflatables, glitz or projected lights, here are three "Friendly" suggestions from the local Quaker community.
Bradford Friends Meeting will hold its annual Christmas sing at its meetinghouse in Marshallton at 11 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 17.
Marlboro Friends Meeting will hold its annual Carol Sing at its meetinghouse in Marlboro Village at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17.
And West Grove Friends Meeting is holding its annual Carol Sing at "New" West Grove Meeting, which is actually a very old, mostly unused meeting house at 609 West State Road. There's no electricity, but there are candles and a red-hot pot-bellied stove. It's at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 18.
I can tell you from experience that all receive a warm welcome at these events.
Bradford Friends Meeting will hold its annual Christmas sing at its meetinghouse in Marshallton at 11 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 17.
Marlboro Friends Meeting will hold its annual Carol Sing at its meetinghouse in Marlboro Village at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17.
And West Grove Friends Meeting is holding its annual Carol Sing at "New" West Grove Meeting, which is actually a very old, mostly unused meeting house at 609 West State Road. There's no electricity, but there are candles and a red-hot pot-bellied stove. It's at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 18.
I can tell you from experience that all receive a warm welcome at these events.
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