The catalogs for the 94th annual Unionville Community Fair are out, sparking serious conversations in my household about what flowers, crafts and baked goods to enter. The dates are Oct. 5 through 7, and the fairgrounds are at the northeast corner of Routes 926 and 82.
The full schedule, the entry categories and all the rules are on the website at www.ucfair.org.
One notable change this year is that the Exhibit Barn (formerly red, now yellow) has been renovated and the roof has been repaired; we are assured that rain will no longer be cascading down on Terry Hawkins' carefully arranged preserved foods display.
The fair organizers are also making a point of encouraging everyone in our area to participate in the Fair, not just residents of the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District.
This year's fair is dedicated to former president Danielle Chamberlain. The Chamberlains received the overall "family" award for all of their winning entries at the 2017 fair.
Saturday, September 8, 2018
HEADLIGHTS: I can see clearly now
I was telling my eye doctor, Dr. Renny Sardella, how annoying oncoming headlights have become recently. He offered two pieces of practical advice: keep your windshield clean and turn down the brightness of your dashboard display. I tried both and I believe it has helped with the glare.
I was reminded of "the island of Unionville" while at Dr. Sardella's office in Willowdale. I knew three of the four patients in the waiting room, and we started talking about local politics, including the problems that Kennett Township has had with its anti-solicitation ordinance: a pest control company challenged the township's restriction on hours for sales calls as an infringement on its free speech (maybe you read the article in this newspaper).
When one of us asked about the permitted hours, the fourth patient in the waiting room, to that point silent, promptly stated what they were. Apparently we have a well-informed citizenry about local affairs!
I was reminded of "the island of Unionville" while at Dr. Sardella's office in Willowdale. I knew three of the four patients in the waiting room, and we started talking about local politics, including the problems that Kennett Township has had with its anti-solicitation ordinance: a pest control company challenged the township's restriction on hours for sales calls as an infringement on its free speech (maybe you read the article in this newspaper).
When one of us asked about the permitted hours, the fourth patient in the waiting room, to that point silent, promptly stated what they were. Apparently we have a well-informed citizenry about local affairs!
FRUIT: New in the produce aisle
What is that new spiky fruit that has appeared in the produce section? It's called a jackfruit.
Wikipedia tells us that jackfruit comes from a tree native to southwest India -- indeed, it's the national fruit of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka -- and is commonly used in South and Southeast Asian cuisines. Its flavor is described as "a combination of apple, pineapple, mango, and banana."
"It can be used to make a variety of dishes, including custards, cakes, or mixed with shaved ice as es teler in Indonesia or halo-halo in the Philippines. For making the traditional breakfast dish in southern India, idlis, the fruit is used with rice as an ingredient and jackfruit leaves are used as a wrapping for steaming. Jackfruit dosas can be prepared by grinding jackfruit flesh along with the batter."
Though curious, I have not yet purchased one because they're the size of a watermelon, too big for my small household.
Wikipedia tells us that jackfruit comes from a tree native to southwest India -- indeed, it's the national fruit of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka -- and is commonly used in South and Southeast Asian cuisines. Its flavor is described as "a combination of apple, pineapple, mango, and banana."
"It can be used to make a variety of dishes, including custards, cakes, or mixed with shaved ice as es teler in Indonesia or halo-halo in the Philippines. For making the traditional breakfast dish in southern India, idlis, the fruit is used with rice as an ingredient and jackfruit leaves are used as a wrapping for steaming. Jackfruit dosas can be prepared by grinding jackfruit flesh along with the batter."
Though curious, I have not yet purchased one because they're the size of a watermelon, too big for my small household.
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| Jackfruit at the Jennersville Giant. |
NEW GARDEN: Tractor Supply on the way
It looks like they're making good progress on the Tractor Supply store being built on Newark Road at Route 41 in New Garden Township. A friend of mine is a huge Tractor Supply fan for everything from jeans to tractor seats and wasn't aware of the new store. When I told her, I could see her making rapid calculations as to whether the Toughkenamon store would be closer to her farm than the Parkesburg one.
Thursday, September 6, 2018
FELINES: Good advice from the vet
A friend reports that his vet told him he needs to put his cat on a diet.
"A cat," she declared, "should not look like a meatloaf."
Speaking of pets, the Brandywine Valley SPCA is running a clever photo contest/fundraiser. You submit a photo of your pet, "encourage" all of your friends and family to "vote" (each vote costs a dollar) -- and the 13 photos that get the most votes will end up on the SPCA's 2019 calendar. You can follow along on the online leaderboard; "Riley the Forever Puppy" has a commanding lead as of this writing.
Submission and voting deadline is Sept. 30. Go to https://bvspca.org/ for details.
"A cat," she declared, "should not look like a meatloaf."
Speaking of pets, the Brandywine Valley SPCA is running a clever photo contest/fundraiser. You submit a photo of your pet, "encourage" all of your friends and family to "vote" (each vote costs a dollar) -- and the 13 photos that get the most votes will end up on the SPCA's 2019 calendar. You can follow along on the online leaderboard; "Riley the Forever Puppy" has a commanding lead as of this writing.
Submission and voting deadline is Sept. 30. Go to https://bvspca.org/ for details.
The SPCA has an especially warm place in my heart because it's where we adopted Clarence, our beloved miracle rescue cat.
Wednesday, September 5, 2018
PLANTATION: Running vs. galloping
The Plantation Field International Horse Trials will be adding a different kind of "cross-country" competition this year, one that involves just humans instead of humans and horses.
Start time for the "low-key" 5K "fun run" around the equestrian cross-country course is 7:30 a.m. Sept. 22, with registration ($20 per person, cash or check) beginning at 7 a.m. Enter on the Apple Grove Road side of at Plantation Field.
The press release notes that the jumps "will be available for jumping if you are so inclined!"
Walkers and dogs are welcome, and the run will be held rain or shine. Prizes will be awarded to the top three male and female finishers, and everyone gets a T-shirt and a free weekend pass to the equestrian events. Everyone has to be off the field by 9 so that the riders can take possession of the course.
Registration forms at available at plantationfield.com.
Start time for the "low-key" 5K "fun run" around the equestrian cross-country course is 7:30 a.m. Sept. 22, with registration ($20 per person, cash or check) beginning at 7 a.m. Enter on the Apple Grove Road side of at Plantation Field.
The press release notes that the jumps "will be available for jumping if you are so inclined!"
Walkers and dogs are welcome, and the run will be held rain or shine. Prizes will be awarded to the top three male and female finishers, and everyone gets a T-shirt and a free weekend pass to the equestrian events. Everyone has to be off the field by 9 so that the riders can take possession of the course.
Registration forms at available at plantationfield.com.
WEST MARLBOROUGH: Less maintenance = less traffic?
As part of the township's ongoing effort to reduce traffic volume and speeds, West Marlborough Township's traffic consultant, Albert Federico, is asking PennDOT to reduce the amount of maintenance it does on Newark Road (north of Route 926), Springdell Road (south of Chapel Road) and Route 841 and 842 through the township.
The consultant said that a traffic count showed that the roads were "over-classified from a maintenance perspective" and were receiving maintenance better suited to major roads.
He also asked PennDOT to remove the route designations from portions of Routes 841 (from 926 to 82) and 842 (from 841 to Newark Road). "Unfortunately there are all-too-frequent occurrences when through motorists follow these routes and are unprepared for the rural nature of the roadways and surrounding areas," he wrote in his letter. "Often this leads to driver behavior inconsistent with the local context."
At the township meeting on Sept. 4, Supervisor Bill Wylie gave as an example the situation when truckers, following their GPS routes, discover that roads and intersections are too tight to allow them to maneuver (such as the intersection of Newark Road and Route 82).
The township hopes to meet with PennDOT to discuss these possible changes.
The consultant said that a traffic count showed that the roads were "over-classified from a maintenance perspective" and were receiving maintenance better suited to major roads.
He also asked PennDOT to remove the route designations from portions of Routes 841 (from 926 to 82) and 842 (from 841 to Newark Road). "Unfortunately there are all-too-frequent occurrences when through motorists follow these routes and are unprepared for the rural nature of the roadways and surrounding areas," he wrote in his letter. "Often this leads to driver behavior inconsistent with the local context."
At the township meeting on Sept. 4, Supervisor Bill Wylie gave as an example the situation when truckers, following their GPS routes, discover that roads and intersections are too tight to allow them to maneuver (such as the intersection of Newark Road and Route 82).
The township hopes to meet with PennDOT to discuss these possible changes.
WEST MARLBOROUGH: Missing Shirley
It just didn't seem like a real West Marlborough Township meeting without longtime secretary/treasurer Shirley Walton, who is recovering from surgery, but the supervisors tried to carry on nonetheless on the evening of Sept. 4.
Supervisor Hugh Lofting reported that a contract has been signed for a project to replace a small bridge along lightly traveled Runnemede Road. Completion is expected by the end of the year.
Mr. Lofting also reported that the committee exploring ways to fund emergency services will be gathering data by talking to the fire and ambulance companies that provide service to township residents.
The supervisors also reviewed Chief Robert Clarke's statistics for the past two months. "Clarkie," the chief of the East Marlborough police department, works 12.5 hours a month in West Marlborough. In July there were 27 calls from West Marlborough residents to 911; three arrests (two for underage drinking, one for drugs). In August there were 28 calls to 911; one arrest for drugs; and six citations (three stop sign violations, two inspection violations, one driving without a license).
Four building permits were issued in August: a run-in shed for Joe Rothman on Apple Grove Road; a house for Juan Medina on Byrd Road; an addition for Jake Chalfin on Runnymede Road; and a fence for Ruth Truitt on Wilson Road.
Supervisor Hugh Lofting reported that a contract has been signed for a project to replace a small bridge along lightly traveled Runnemede Road. Completion is expected by the end of the year.
Mr. Lofting also reported that the committee exploring ways to fund emergency services will be gathering data by talking to the fire and ambulance companies that provide service to township residents.
The supervisors also reviewed Chief Robert Clarke's statistics for the past two months. "Clarkie," the chief of the East Marlborough police department, works 12.5 hours a month in West Marlborough. In July there were 27 calls from West Marlborough residents to 911; three arrests (two for underage drinking, one for drugs). In August there were 28 calls to 911; one arrest for drugs; and six citations (three stop sign violations, two inspection violations, one driving without a license).
Four building permits were issued in August: a run-in shed for Joe Rothman on Apple Grove Road; a house for Juan Medina on Byrd Road; an addition for Jake Chalfin on Runnymede Road; and a fence for Ruth Truitt on Wilson Road.
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