WEST MARLBOROUGH: Quakers During the Revolution

Local historian and West Marlborough resident Mark Myers will be speaking about the experiences of local Quakers during the Revolutionary War at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 28, at London Grove Friends Meetinghouse. His talk is part of the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the building of the meetinghouse, which is at the intersection of Street Road (Route 926) and Newark Road.

 

UNIONVILLE: Grief support group

Sad to say that the "opioid epidemic" that's making headlines is not news to those of us who regularly read the obituaries and know young (and not-so-young) people who have overdosed.
"If Love Were Enough," a grief support group specifically for mothers and fathers who have lost a child to an overdose (prescription drugs, heroin, fentanyl, whatever), has started to meet at 812 Wollaston Road, just across the street from the Unionville Presbyterian Church, on Wednesdays from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. More information is available from Pastor Annalie Korengel at 610-952-2992.

POCOPSON: Bluebird seminar

During one of my regular visits to the Brandywine Ace hardware store (Clarence and Tina are fans of the store's premium cat foods), I noticed they're holding a bluebird seminar on Wednesday, Feb. 7, at 6 p.m., presented by Ken Leister of the Bluebird Society of Pennsylvania. Topics include attracting, nesting, and predators. Brandywine Ace is at the intersection of Route 926 and Pocopson Road.

KENNETT SQUARE: Formerly the Half Moon

On Jan. 17 we had dinner at Grain Craft Bar+Kitchen in downtown Kennett, our first visit there since it was the Half Moon. The place is much brighter inside, with open bulbs on long, looped-up cords, and the booths have been replaced by high tables.
I had a salmon fillet with a pesto topping, roasted cauliflower and fries, and my date-night companion had the buttermilk fried chicken cooked with an interesting "jerk" seasoning. Both meals were tasty and substantial. 
Our waiter was a pleasant, low-key young man who didn't mind in the least that we sat and chatted long after we'd finished dinner, reluctant to head back out into the cold.

KENNETT TOWNSHIP: Roundabout at 5 Points?

Construction of a traffic roundabout is being considered for the busy Five Points intersection south of Kennett Square, and the township engineers will be making a public presentation, including a computer simulation, about the plan at the Kennett Township supervisors' meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7.
The Five Points intersection is where Hillendale Road and Route 82 (South Union Street) intersect, with Old Kennett Road heading off to the southeast. The meeting will be at the Kennett Township building, 801 Burrows Run Rd.
I'm guessing that given the increasing volume at that intersection, more people than just Kennett Township residents will be interested in this proposal.

UNIONVILLE: Fashion comes to the country

Unionville is getting its own fashion designer! David Ferron, born and raised in Unionville, is returning after a 10-year career in the fashion industry in New York City to open a dressmaking store with an emphasis on bespoke wedding dresses. He'll be moving into the former Unionville Saddle Shop in downtown Unionville -- there are already tailor's dummies in the front windows.
"Your Body, Infinite Options," reads the tagline on his website, davidferron.com. 
I have an interview scheduled with him in his shop, and I'll write more for my Feb. 1 column.

WEST GROVE: A life well lived

Singer-songwriter Billy Penn Burger of West Grove died on Jan. 6 at Temple University Hospital at age 63. I asked Biff McNeil to share a little bit about him, and he wrote this beautiful obituary:

"Billy Penn Burger was most certainly an accomplished musician.  I had the honor of working with him numerous times over the past 20 years, both as a player and a sound engineer. He was an absolute joy to work with.  He had an easy going way of letting you know exactly what he wanted from you, getting it out of you, and making you feel incredibly at ease all at the same time. 

"Billy was one of those musicians who continuously reinvented himself.   From The Get Right Band in the late 70’s and 80’s, to The Billy Penn Project in the 90’s, to his latest solo work as a singer songwriter, and all the side work and other stuff in between, he truly did it all.  His songs are gorgeous, his lyrics evocative, and he churned them out at an almost alarming rate.  He won awards, received critical accolades, and played to sold-out houses.  Anyone who ever worked with him will tell you all of those things. 

"But invariably, any discussion of Billy will quickly turn into a discussion of what an incredibly nice guy he was.  He was the very definition of a good human being.   It sounds corny, but he just exuded calm, kindness, and peace.  Billy was extraordinarily giving to young songwriters and musicians, always with a smile and an encouraging word, no matter what.  There really just aren’t enough superlatives.   
"Billy Burger was hugely talented without a hint of arrogance, sweet and kind without being saccharine, and socially passionate without being angry. I admired him in so many ways. He was a true gentleman, and a truly gentle man, and there is surely a little less light in the world without him. "