In her "Longest Night" service on Dec. 21 at Unionville Presbyterian, the Rev. Annalie Korengel did a beautiful job describing the disconnect that a great many people feel at this time of year: How can you feel jolly like you're "supposed to" at Christmastime when you're grieving for a loved one or suffering from the misery of depression?
Light, hope and faith will gradually conquer the darkness, she assured us, just like the hours of welcome daylight gradually lengthen as we get past the Winter Solstice. Part of the opening prayer was, "Help us know that You are present with us in all of our moods and feelings and seasons."
The 45-minute service also included New Testament readings, a hymn, Christmas carols and a candle-lighting ceremony to remember those who have passed.
Saturday, December 23, 2017
KENNETT TOWNSHIP: Way's Lane property sold!
The Bayard Taylor/Kennett Library wrapped up 2017 with two huge wins.
In November the citizens of New Garden Township voted to support the library by paying a direct tax. Previous library boards had failed to convince New Garden residents that this was a good idea, sponsoring and then losing at least three referenda.
And in December the library board sold what was known as the Waywood property on Way's Lane, which it had purchased more than 15 years ago in hopes of building a new library there. To the board members' consternation, their vision of moving the library "out of town" turned out to be a spectacularly unpopular one. There was a candlelight vigil outside the library. Heated letters to the editor filled the Kennett Paper, each side accusing the other of skullduggery. The ensuing fissures and mistrust took years to heal.
But now a completely new library board, under the direction of veteran fundraiser Tom Swett, has purchased from the borough an "in-town" site on East State Street, just a stone's throw from its current building, and has done a great deal of the behind-the-scenes diplomacy needed to secure political and financial support from the community.
The sale of the 5.3-acre Way's Lane property (to Chatham Financial, which has its headquarters on McFarlan Road, very close to the site) will provide both proof of the board's commitment and some ready cash. The Board originally paid $550,000 for the property; Chatham Financial bought it for $900,000.
Here's the Board's statement on the sale:
"The $900,000 proceeds from the sale will be used to help build the new Kennett Library at the corner of State and Willow Streets. The Kennett Library is very grateful for the generosity of Chatham Financial who paid considerably above the appraised value of $750,000 in order to help fund the upcoming capital campaign. The sale of the property is an important step forward that was needed to make the vision of a new Kennett Library a reality."
In November the citizens of New Garden Township voted to support the library by paying a direct tax. Previous library boards had failed to convince New Garden residents that this was a good idea, sponsoring and then losing at least three referenda.
And in December the library board sold what was known as the Waywood property on Way's Lane, which it had purchased more than 15 years ago in hopes of building a new library there. To the board members' consternation, their vision of moving the library "out of town" turned out to be a spectacularly unpopular one. There was a candlelight vigil outside the library. Heated letters to the editor filled the Kennett Paper, each side accusing the other of skullduggery. The ensuing fissures and mistrust took years to heal.
But now a completely new library board, under the direction of veteran fundraiser Tom Swett, has purchased from the borough an "in-town" site on East State Street, just a stone's throw from its current building, and has done a great deal of the behind-the-scenes diplomacy needed to secure political and financial support from the community.
The sale of the 5.3-acre Way's Lane property (to Chatham Financial, which has its headquarters on McFarlan Road, very close to the site) will provide both proof of the board's commitment and some ready cash. The Board originally paid $550,000 for the property; Chatham Financial bought it for $900,000.
Here's the Board's statement on the sale:
"The $900,000 proceeds from the sale will be used to help build the new Kennett Library at the corner of State and Willow Streets. The Kennett Library is very grateful for the generosity of Chatham Financial who paid considerably above the appraised value of $750,000 in order to help fund the upcoming capital campaign. The sale of the property is an important step forward that was needed to make the vision of a new Kennett Library a reality."
Friday, December 22, 2017
WILMINGTON: A Solstice Walk
I marked the Winter Solstice on Dec. 21 by taking part in a mid-day Labyrinth Walk at the Delaware Art Museum's open-air labyrinth, housed within the stone walls of a former reservoir. It was just above freezing but sunny, and the winding paths of the labyrinth were more crowded with walkers than I'd ever seen them.
When they reached the middle of the labyrinth, some people lingered quietly to savor the moment. One free-spirited woman -- attached to the laces of her burgundy boots were cut-outs of Monarch butterfly wings -- stood smiling with eyes shut and face and hands uplifted to soak in the sunshine.
Another festive visitor wore a marvelous steampunk top hat with a garland of holly and ivy around the brim.
There were a number of young kids, competing to see who could get to the middle the fastest. They made a funny contrast with the visitors who were walking in stately fashion, seeming to measure each pace as they negotiated the labyrinth's 90- and 180-degree turns.
It was great to see our tireless hostess Carol Maurer, who looks after the labyrinth, schedules periodic maintenance get-togethers for volunteers, and organizes events like the Solstice walk.
When they reached the middle of the labyrinth, some people lingered quietly to savor the moment. One free-spirited woman -- attached to the laces of her burgundy boots were cut-outs of Monarch butterfly wings -- stood smiling with eyes shut and face and hands uplifted to soak in the sunshine.
Another festive visitor wore a marvelous steampunk top hat with a garland of holly and ivy around the brim.
There were a number of young kids, competing to see who could get to the middle the fastest. They made a funny contrast with the visitors who were walking in stately fashion, seeming to measure each pace as they negotiated the labyrinth's 90- and 180-degree turns.
It was great to see our tireless hostess Carol Maurer, who looks after the labyrinth, schedules periodic maintenance get-togethers for volunteers, and organizes events like the Solstice walk.
EAST MARLBOROUGH: New car wash
The new Go Green N Clean car wash by the Kennett Walmart has finally opened, just in time for winter salt season. I was going to check it out today -- my car is perpetually in need of a wash -- but I drove right past the entrance. Either it's not clearly marked or, just as likely, I totally overlooked the sign. The entrance, I now know, is on Onix Drive, behind the Hilton Garden Inn.
KENNETT: Distracted?
Motorists in downtown Kennett Square are a columnist's dream; it seems like I could feature a new instance of what-were-they-thinking? behavior each week.
Today, for instance, a woman parked in front of Sam's Subs on East State Street and blithely opened her car door right into traffic. I had to brake sharply so as not to crash into her or the door. And one can't even excuse her recklessness by saying that she needed a Sam's Sub stat, because while I waited, she took pains to carefully fold in her driver's side mirror so it wouldn't get hit.
I'm shaking my head.
Today, for instance, a woman parked in front of Sam's Subs on East State Street and blithely opened her car door right into traffic. I had to brake sharply so as not to crash into her or the door. And one can't even excuse her recklessness by saying that she needed a Sam's Sub stat, because while I waited, she took pains to carefully fold in her driver's side mirror so it wouldn't get hit.
I'm shaking my head.
KENNETT: New townhouse development
There's a big difference between reading in the newspaper about a forthcoming project and actually seeing it get under way. I was driving on Hillendale Road the other day, west of the Five Points intersection, and saw that construction has started on the Ryan Homes development called Sinclair Springs. Seventy-eight townhouses will be built on the 20-acre site, which will have two entrances/exits off Hillendale Road. Prices start in the $320,000s, and the townhouses will be built in groups of four to six.
Sunday, December 17, 2017
CHRISTMAS: Prince of Peace
The benches were filled for the annual carol sing at Marlborough Friends Meeting the evening of Dec. 17. After a short period of silent worship in the Quaker style and two Bible readings, the singing part of the program started, led by a guitarist and a harp player.
We sang a nice mixture of traditional hymns like "Joy to the World" and "The First Noel" and secular songs like "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "Jingle Bells." "The 12 Days of Christmas" had us all out of breath by the time we finished with all those lords and maids and drummers.
It's funny to hear the different ways that people pronounce words like "Deity" (Day-ity? Dee-ity?) and "Alleluia" (Is there an initial H or not?).
Several of the songs took me back sharply to elementary-school Christmas programs. Thanks to our martinet of a chorus teacher, I still make a point of enunciating the "gel" in "angel" very distinctly, and I pronounce the second syllable of "comfort" like it's a military fort, not "fert."
The evening closed with a beautiful, reverent version of "Silent Night," followed by cookies, cider (fitting; the Barnard family of Barnard's Orchards were among the founders of Marlborough Meeting) and good fellowship.
We sang a nice mixture of traditional hymns like "Joy to the World" and "The First Noel" and secular songs like "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "Jingle Bells." "The 12 Days of Christmas" had us all out of breath by the time we finished with all those lords and maids and drummers.
It's funny to hear the different ways that people pronounce words like "Deity" (Day-ity? Dee-ity?) and "Alleluia" (Is there an initial H or not?).
Several of the songs took me back sharply to elementary-school Christmas programs. Thanks to our martinet of a chorus teacher, I still make a point of enunciating the "gel" in "angel" very distinctly, and I pronounce the second syllable of "comfort" like it's a military fort, not "fert."
The evening closed with a beautiful, reverent version of "Silent Night," followed by cookies, cider (fitting; the Barnard family of Barnard's Orchards were among the founders of Marlborough Meeting) and good fellowship.
GARDENING: A great calendar
Landscape architect and gardener Carol A. Krawczyk of Kennett Square has published a beautiful wall calendar, "The Garden Calendar for Southeastern Pennsylvania 2018."
Carol describes the calendar as "filled with monthly gardening tips, full color photos of plants in bloom during each month, and gardening suggestions in the actual calendar. The actual calendar part includes red letter days (deadlines), green planting/harvesting dates, and blue to-do chores in the garden."
You can buy a copy at RP Nurseries in Willowdale; the State & Union shop in Kennett Square; the Gateway Garden Center in Hockessin; and online at eBay. Carol has also created a Facebook page for the calendar if you want more information.
Carol describes the calendar as "filled with monthly gardening tips, full color photos of plants in bloom during each month, and gardening suggestions in the actual calendar. The actual calendar part includes red letter days (deadlines), green planting/harvesting dates, and blue to-do chores in the garden."
You can buy a copy at RP Nurseries in Willowdale; the State & Union shop in Kennett Square; the Gateway Garden Center in Hockessin; and online at eBay. Carol has also created a Facebook page for the calendar if you want more information.
EAST MARLBOROUGH: Just deserts
We were loading our groceries into the Jeep at the megalomart on Saturday evening when the guy across from us climbed up into his giant pickup truck, started the engine and revved it up loudly a couple of times, pumping out noxious-smelling exhaust. He then pulled out from his parking space abruptly and sped through the lot, probably not the most considerate move given the place was full of little kids and distracted shoppers pushing carts overflowing with Christmas stuff.
Just a few minutes later, we came across his broken-down truck with its four-way flashers on, sitting there blocking a lane of traffic. I was ashamed at the sense of satisfaction I felt at the guy's misfortune.
Just a few minutes later, we came across his broken-down truck with its four-way flashers on, sitting there blocking a lane of traffic. I was ashamed at the sense of satisfaction I felt at the guy's misfortune.
PETS: The squeaky cat toy
The other day the mischievous Clarence swatted one of his squeaky cat toys into his water dish, causing the mouse's internal squeaker speaker to chirp without ceasing. Thinking that perhaps it just needed to be dried out, I tossed it in the dryer for 20 minutes. It was dry, but it still squeaked.
I stuck it in the fridge, then the pantry, just to get it out of earshot. No luck: I could still hear its high-pitched chirps.
I put it outside, but then it started to rain, which I feared would be counterproductive.
Finally I stashed it in the freezer overnight. The next day, mercifully, it was back to normal, chirping only when Clarence batted it around.
Pretty sturdy technology for a cat toy!
I stuck it in the fridge, then the pantry, just to get it out of earshot. No luck: I could still hear its high-pitched chirps.
I put it outside, but then it started to rain, which I feared would be counterproductive.
Finally I stashed it in the freezer overnight. The next day, mercifully, it was back to normal, chirping only when Clarence batted it around.
Pretty sturdy technology for a cat toy!
NEW GARDEN: Primo's Hoagies is coming
Fans of Primo's hoagies are in luck: there's a franchise opening on Baltimore Pike in Toughkenamon, on the east side of the Jenkins & McMahon plumbing supply house. The sub shop is set back a bit, so it's difficult to see when you're coming from the west.
And speaking of Toughkenamon, every time I've driven past the Brown Derby restaurant for the past few weeks, there have been no signs of life inside. Out of curiosity I peered inside and saw only the word "closed" written on a piece of white paper taped inside the front door.
And speaking of Toughkenamon, every time I've driven past the Brown Derby restaurant for the past few weeks, there have been no signs of life inside. Out of curiosity I peered inside and saw only the word "closed" written on a piece of white paper taped inside the front door.
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