WEST MARLBOROUGH: Tax increases approved; West Marlborough will help fund new library

In 2020, West Marlborough Township taxpayers will see their property taxes increase from 1.7 mills to 2 mills and their earned income taxes increase from 0.5% to 0.75%. The money raised by the tax increases will go toward emergency services, construction of the proposed Kennett Library and creation of a $10,000 rainy-day fund. 

The supervisors unanimously approved the budget and the earned income tax increase at a standing-room-only meeting on Dec. 30. The board had approved the millage increase at a separate meeting earlier in December.

Residents packed the Dec. 30 meeting in the township garage -- after all the folding chairs were filled, some stood and others sat on the running board of the township truck. Everyone who spoke was in favor of funding emergency services, but the residents were split on whether township taxpayers should help pay for library construction. 

Supervisor Bill Wylie reminded residents that the vast majority of the tax money is going to fund emergency services: "EMS is why we're raising taxes," he said.

Dot Shaw said not many township residents use the library, and her husband Bill Shaw called the library's proposed building an unneeded "frill" and a "Taj Mahal." John Taylor urged the board to "keep our money in West Marlborough." Don Silknitter said funding the library "does not seem to be in the interest of the whole township." Christina Powell said she didn't agree with the way the library board expected the townships to pick up the tab. 

But Starr Bright called the library "an incredible resource" that "enhances the community." She visits frequently, not only to check out books and audiobooks but also to attend meetings. "If you don't use it, you don't know how much they offer," she said. Her husband Clayton Bright said supporting the library contributes to "an educated community."

Brett Dolente, another library user, said the library is "a public service we should all contribute to."

Tom Brosius said he found the library board's presentation to be moving and pointed out that the library provides "a lot of education," including citizenship classes and English tutoring. "It's a tiny amount of our money," he said.

Phoebe Fisher said that even people who don't use the library still benefit from having an educated community. 

Supervisor Jake Chalfin said he had originally been "on the fence" about funding the library "until they came and spoke. I was extremely impressed." He said the other municipalities in the library's service area all providing funds and "we'd look pretty silly if we didn't contribute." He said although a new library has been talked about on and off for decades, "I have a lot of confidence they're going to pull this off."

He said the modern, accessible library will have meeting rooms, classrooms, and programs for all segments of society and will actually be less expensive to operate. 

"An educated community," he said, "is a strong and prosperous community."

The budget calls for a $65,000 contribution to the emergency services that serve West Marlborough, or $79.85 per resident. The supervisors are proposing to contribute $15,000 a year for five years to fund the library construction, or $18.42 per year per resident. The township currently contributes $1,500 a year ($1.84 per resident) to fund library programs. The real estate tax will raise a total of $145,000 (a $25,000 increase) and the earned income tax will raise $195,000 total (a $65,000 increase).

Residents listen as former township supervisor Josh Taylor (back right, in knit cap) offers his opinion at the Dec. 30 West Marlborough Township meeting.

THE NEXT CHAPTER: A big decision for this UHS runner

The first time we started hearing comments from parents about "Hey, maybe he'll get a college scholarship," we laughed it off. Sure, the Young Relative showed some talent in the YMCA's Stride running program at Hillendale Elementary and on the track team at Patton Middle School. But really, how many kids continue the sport in college!
Then, at UHS, he kept working hard and got much, much faster, but we downplayed the whole college thing: we didn't want to pressure the kid any more than he did himself. 
Then college coaches started showing up at his big meets.
You know where this is going: A few weeks ago the Y.R. committed to run for a Division I school on the Main Line. We are beyond proud, not only because he's a terrific athlete but because he's a smart, funny, wonderful young man. Dearest Partner is already figuring out shortcuts to get to the university's athletic facilities so we can keep watching him run.

THE PANTO: Audience participation welcome!

We got a marvelous sneak peek of the upcoming pantomime, "Snow White and the Magic Mirror," when director Caroline Smith invited us to a rehearsal at St. Michael's Lutheran Church. 
This year's Dame ("Dame Flora") is played by Kevin Sheridan, who is new to the Kennett Amateur Theatrical Society (although we recognized him right away as an actor in the Haunted Kennett Square walking tour). Kris Gibbons once again plays an evil henchman -- this year he is "Mendicant." Beth Holladay, last year's marvelous Cheshire Cat, is the evil stepmother Queen Bergamot. Elea Feit is Momma Bear (Poppa Bear was in London that night). Also at the rehearsal were longtime KATS favorites like William Crampton (Father Time), Deborah Crampton, Peter Giangiulio (a dwarf), Shelley May Mincer, Lisa Teixeira (Queen Turmeric; "she's a little pushy"), Bing Carandang, and Nancy Goyda. 
Rounding out the cast are Kevin Pizzini is Digby the palace gardener, Stephen Ashby (last year's Queen of Hearts) is Sir George; Becky Galante is Bianca; Gillian Haldeman is Rosalind, Bianca’s friend; Jamie Gallop is Pastelle, and the Mirror is played by Chase Gibbons, Amelia Miller, Claire Suto. Angel Hicks and Zula Ali. And don't forget the always adorable children's chorus! Phil and Marilee Calabrese are co-music directors.
The show, the 19th "Annual Pantomime in the British Tradition," is written by KATS founder Gary Smith. Shows are at the Kennett High School auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17, and 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for kids, and are available at www.callkats.com.

SOURCE REVEALED: "Do Your Best"

Small rectangular signs reading "Do Your Best" have appeared at numerous intersections around Willowdale. It's a bromide, sure, but I appreciate the reminder, especially when I'm tempted to cut corners to finish an editing project ("Oh, who will notice if I spell it Hanukah in one place and Hanukkah in another?"). 
The other day I noticed that there was some tiny lettering below the motto and pulled over to take a look: "Go Army. Beat Navy."
Mystery solved.

WEST MARLBOROUGH: Eternal return of the birds

It took a while, but the birds have finally returned to my back yard. The nuthatches, juncos and chickadees are eating out of my two feeders, the mourning doves are taking care of any spilled seed, and the downy woodpeckers and red-bellied woodpeckers are tap-tap-tapping at the suet cakes. 
We had to attach the suet feeder securely to the trunk of a white pine after some hungry creatures managed to defeat what I thought was a raccoon-proof setup involving a bungee cord wrapped around a tree limb. Overnight the bungee cord was dangling from the limb, the suet holder was on the ground and the suet had disappeared.
The squirrels are doing their best to extract seed from the little openings of the tube feeders. One guy was embracing the feeder with his whole body, clinging on to the little metal footholds while the feeder swayed violently. They may be tree rats, but they're pretty comical to watch. (In case they think they're being unfairly accused, I've noticed that the other feeder, the one with the squirrel guard, needs to be replenished MUCH less often!)

KENNETT: Lost in translation

A friend travels frequently to Germany for work and mentioned Kennett Square's Mushroom Drop to some of her colleagues. They were dumbfounded, first that Americans make such a big deal out of New Year's Eve and second that the celebration involved … a huge lighted fungus. She explained that other small towns host similar festivities, lowering items like pickles and chocolate kisses, but she said the Germans still didn't quite get the point.

CHILDREN: Raising the next generation

Parents of young kids, I am in awe of your stamina. I do some pretty tough exercise classes at the Y, but after spending only a few hours with two little ones on Christmas, we were exhausted. We didn't realize how quiet and serene our daily lives are.
The little boy was racing around with a newly empty cardboard box covering most of his body. It started out with no eye holes, but they were quickly added, then holes in the sides were cut out to accommodate his arms. Fortunately the Box Boy was intercepted before he could start whirling around in an office chair with wheels.
His sister was also unstoppable. She was striding around the house, intent on meeting her daily quota of steps (which she could track on her new smartwatch). Then she'd stop and say, "Let's play!" or tell me more details of her new "ginormous" doll house.
"Is it furnished?" I asked.
"Yes, there is furniture," she answered.
"Does it have a patio out back?" I asked.
Her eyes widened. "How did you KNOW?!"
Toward the end of the afternoon I turned to their father and asked, in wonder, "How do you do it?"  
He knew exactly what I meant. 
"I fake it," he replied. "I mean, I was pretty much asleep there on the sofa."
 

CHRISTMAS: It came without packages, boxes or bags!

Amid the feasting and celebration, a few non-material things stood out this Christmas. 
The first was an open house I attended where the guests represented a broad cross-section in terms of age, politics and backgrounds. And no one argued; they simply enjoyed each other's company! It was truly heartening -- even if the delicious and potent mixture of Champagne and cranberry juice may have helped things along a bit.
The second was a man who was sitting on a bench near the checkout lines at the Kennett Giant the day before Christmas Eve. He was holding something in his lap -- at first I thought it was a Chihuahua, but when I got closer I could see he was hugging two stuffed reindeer toys and stroking one, gazing down at it with the beaming, doting smile that I have when I'm cuddling my cats. My heart melted. He was probably the happiest, most content person in the store, which was full of harried shoppers worrying about things like whether the $75 rib roast would in fact serve 10 people.
Finally, my brother told me that the best present he received was the chance to spend time with the Young Relative running through the White Clay Creek Preserve on Christmas morning. I didn't spoil the moment by inquiring about times, distances or post-race discomfort.

KENNETT: Baseball Old Timers banquet

The Kennett Old Timers Baseball Association is holding its 40th annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony and banquet at 6 p.m. Jan. 18 in the Red Clay Room at the Kennett Fire Co. Tickets are $40 and, as always, are on sale at Burton's Barber Shop, 105 West State Street, in downtown Kennett. Eight local athletes will be inducted into the Hall of Fame (Corey Anderson, Curtis Glasco, Robert Gottschall, Todd Haines, Steve Hands, Scott Hoffman, Steven Lam, and Mark Unruh), and a Special Recognition Award will be given to Prissy Roberts, who has been instrumental in organizing the banquet for 22 years. Special guest will be Dickie Noles, the former Phillie who pitched in the 1980 World Series when the Phillies beat Kansas City 4-2 for the title.

KENNETT SQUARE: Ringing in the new decade

Once again, the New Year's Eve Mushroom Drop will take place at Broad and Union Streets in the middle of Kennett Square. The laser light show starts at 6 p.m., the lighted mushroom will be hoisted up by crane at 8:45 p.m. (as long as it's not too windy), and the band "The Funsters" will be playing out on South Union Street from 9 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. We've been to five of the six Mushroom Drops (we wimped out the year the wind-chill was in the single digits) and it's a really fun, family-friendly event.

 

SUSHI: A new Asian restaurant

Word has apparently gotten out that Wasabi 3 has opened in the Longwood Village shopping center. When we stopped in for dinner on a Wednesday evening at 7, nearly every table at the new Asian restaurant was full. There were a lot of family groups, and the place was doing a bustling takeout business as well.
The menu contains plenty of sushi offerings ("raw" is indicated by a fish icon) as well as Chinese and Thai favorites like General Tso's Chicken and Pad Thai. Dearest Partner ordered a chicken and broccoli dish with brown rice, and I had a TNT roll (crab, avocado, and lobster salad).
You never know what to expect at a restaurant that has just opened, but our food arrived almost immediately and was just what we ordered. My sushi roll was beautifully presented in an almost architectural configuration with two lettuce leaves and a purple orchid.
After we were finished, the waitress brought us a pretty cut-up orange and fortune cookies for dessert. 
The bill was a pleasant surprise: they gave us a 15% discount, I suppose as an opening promotion.

WEST MARLBOROUGH: An important budget meeting

West Marlborough Township taxpayers will want to attend an important budget meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 30. The supervisors will be voting on a budget that includes a $65,000 contribution to the fire and ambulance companies that serve the township ($79.85 per resident) and a $15,000 contribution toward building the proposed Kennett Library ($18.42 per resident).
To pay for those two projects, and to establish a $10,000 rainy-day fund, the supervisors on Dec. 13 raised the property tax from 1.7 mills to 2 mills, and on Dec. 30 they will vote on a proposal to raise the earned income tax from 0.50% to 0.75%.
At the unusually contentious Dec. 13 meeting, residents told the supervisors that although they support funding emergency services, they don't think West Marlborough should help to fund construction of a new library. The supervisors said they need to balance those objections against the support for the library project that they've heard from many other residents.

QUAKERS: Misadventures during the War of Independence

University of Kansas historian Richard Godbeer has just released "World of Trouble," an account of the adventures of Philadelphia Quakers Henry and Elizabeth Drinker during the American Revolution. Because they refused to take sides during the War of Independence, Quakers were not popular with either the colonists or the British. Nor did it help that Henry was an agent for England's East India Company. He and 29 other pacifists were arrested by Pennsylvania's government and imprisoned. Those who refused to swear an oath of allegiance and were exiled to Virginia for eight months. And after the British surrendered at Yorktown, the Drinkers' house was vandalized because they refused to display celebratory candles. 
The "Wall Street Journal" reviewer, Robert Landers, called the book "well-written and fascinating . . . a tale not only of resilience in the face of hardship but of the perils of exercising freedom of conscience -- even when the cause that threatens it can be rightly seen as a fight for freedom itself." 
I've already ordered my copy. It'll be great reading during a snowstorm.

UNIONVILLE: A fashion show at the River Museum

How exciting! Unionville fashion designer David Ferron just announced that he's going to have his very first runway show, and it will be this coming March at the Brandywine River Museum of Art. David, a Unionville native, opened his dressmaking and tailor shop in the former saddle shop in the middle of Unionville in 2018. As he wrote on his Facebook page: "I believe that by leaving big cities like NYC designers like myself can rediscover why they started making in the first place, create a long-lasting impact on smaller communities that are craving the arts, and inspire the local youth to think outside of the box when it comes to the definition of happiness. This is the mission for my show in March and I can’t thank the Brandywine River Museum enough for their support!"

WEST GROVE: Fun with the speed monitor

Dearest Partner was driving along Rosehill Road outside of West Grove the other day when he saw a jogger suddenly break into a sprint. Then the man pulled up, walked back to his starting point -- and did the same thing again.
At that point D.P. realized what was going on. Alongside the road was a speed monitor, the kind that tells you how fast you're going, and the jogger was having some fun with it. He registered 8 miles per hour, or a 7:30 mile.

UNIONVILLE: The rain gauge is half full

Monday was a dreary day, dark, cold and rainy. But a fellow customer at the Unionville post office had a different outlook.
"I'm glad it's raining," he said, cheerfully.
The women behind the counter didn't know what to make of this.
"What, you don't like the sun?!" asked one of them.
"Nope," he said. "It could be snowing."

WILLOWDALE: Goodbye to Sue

Susan Durnall died on Dec. 5 at age 68. I never knew her last name; I only knew her as Sue, the friendly, dark-haired woman who worked behind the deli counter at the Landhope store in Willowdale. After making tuna subs for me for at least 20 years, she didn't even need to check the printout to know what I'd order. I will miss her, and I'm really glad I had a nice chat with her the last time I saw her. One of her coworkers told me that Sue was a huge Rolling Stones fan and was very happy that she got to see the band one last time back this past summer.

AVONDALE: Taco Bell will open on Route 41

A Taco Bell franchise is being built on Route 41 just across from the Wawa convenience store in Avondale. One wonders how a Taco Bell could turn a profit in an area that has so many authentic Mexican taquerias, but I'm sure the marketing folks and the franchisee have run the numbers.

WEST MARLBOROUGH: Tax increase for emergency services and library

West Marlborough Township taxpayers will see their property taxes increase from 1.7 mills to 2 mills in 2020 to help pay for emergency services and for construction of the proposed Kennett Library. The supervisors unanimously approved the tax increase at a contentious meeting the morning of Dec. 13.
The half-dozen residents who attended told the supervisors loud and clear that although they support funding emergency services, they don't think West Marlborough should help to fund construction of a new library. The supervisors are proposing to contribute $15,000 a year for five years to fund the library construction, or $18.42 per resident. The township currently contributes $1,500 a year ($1.84 per resident) to fund library programs.
In comparison, the budget calls for a $65,000 contribution to the emergency services that serve West Marlborough, or $79.85 per resident.
The supervisors responded that they heard what the angry residents were saying, but they need to balance those objections against the support for the library project that they've heard from many other residents.
The supervisors are also proposing to raise the township's earned income tax from 0.50% to 0.75%. They will vote on that increase and on the overall budget at a meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 30.
The property tax and earned income tax increases will also allow the township to start a $10,000 rainy-day fund.
 

KENNETT TOWNSHIP: Pork and sauerkraut to welcome 2020

Wow, here's a hearty way to welcome the new decade! 
The Hamorton United Methodist Church will be serving a traditional pork and sauerkraut dinner -- pulled pork, home-made sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, and home-made desserts -- from noon until 5 p.m. on New Year's Day. You can eat it there or take it home; the cost is $12.
Hamorton United Methodist is on Route 1 at Route 52 South; the driveway is on the northbound side of Route 1.
Thank you to church member and "Unionville in the News" reader Linda Young for letting me know about this tradition!

 

NEW GARDEN: Peebles becomes Gordmans

Back in August I wrote that the Peebles department store in the New Garden shopping center is closing but will re-open under a different name. It's now official: as of Feb. 18, 2020, it's going to be a Gordmans. Slogan: "Brands you expect. Prices you don't." Like Peebles, Gordmans is owned by Stage Stores, based in Houston.

WEST MARLBOROUGH: An Irish soldier visits Primitive hall

Usually the history lectures at Primitive Hall are pretty tame: a slide show about colonial botanist Humphrey Marshall; an illustrated lecture about Philadelphia silhouettes; an analysis of the Pennock family's connections with London Grove Friends Meeting.
Not so on Thursday, Dec. 5.
The evening started out normally, as the guests gathered in the candlelit center hall of the 1738 house museum. Matthew Skic, an associate curator at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, gave a lecture about Richard St. George, an Irish soldier and artist who is the subject of the museum's new exhibit, "The Cost of Revolution."
Then things got exciting.
Actor Seth Reichgott, dressed as St. George, swept into the center hall from a side parlour, shouting at the "ruffians" who were threatening him (the peasants in the Irish Rebellion). He then told us about his military adventures and the uprisings that were occurring around the world. He talked about being shot in the head at the Battle of Germantown in the American Revolution and how he suffered physical after-effects ever since, as well as what we would today call PTSD.
Seth's amazing performance, sometimes delivered while he was standing atop a Windsor chair, was electrifying. We hung on every word of the monologue, written by Philadelphia playwright Chris Braak.
If you missed the lecture, Seth and another actor perform it twice a day at the museum, which is at 101 South Third Street. "The Cost of Revolution" exhibit is open through March 17, 2020.

GIANT: It was jammed -- until it wasn't

On Sunday morning we were at the Jennersville Giant, and it was jam-packed. You had to watch where you were going before leaving an aisle so as not to crash into another cart. The pet food aisle was partly blocked by a restocker, so I entered from the other end.
But once we had navigated the store, picked out our groceries (except for molasses, which they were out of) and selected a BBQ chicken for supper, we were the only shoppers in the check-out area. We commented on this disparity to the self-service clerk, who was enjoying some idle time.
"Oh," she said knowingly, "they'll all show up at once. Happens every time."

WAWA: There's a secret menu

We had dinner the other evening at Mikimoto's in Wilmington with a delightful young couple. They are big sushi fans, as am I, and Dearest Partner was very happy with his (cooked) scallops.
The female half of this couple is employed by an ad agency that does work for Wawa (she contributes to the Hoagiefest promotion each year). She told us that there's a "secret menu" on Wawa's touchscreens, which you can access by pressing on the goose when it's animated (she said its wings flap).
What's on the menu? Birthday-cake-flavored milkshakes and smoothies!

KENNETT TOWNSHIP: That's a lot of taxpayers' money

It was the lead story on the Philadelphia TV news programs. It was on KYW Newsradio every 20 minutes. It seems everyone is talking about former Kennett Township manager Lisa Moore and how she managed to embezzle $3.2 million of taxpayers' money from under the noses of the township supervisors over a six-year period. And that was on top of her six-figure yearly salary!
The investigation has been going on since April, but Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan and the Kennett Township supervisors just released the full story this past week. Money earmarked for employee benefits, the police department, land preservation and other township services was diverted to "extravagant personal expenses such as clothes from Gucci and Chanel, jewelry, and travel" to places like Italy, Las Vegas and France," according to Hogan's press release. "Part of her scheme even involved pretending to be married" so that the fraudulent spouse could obtain medical benefits.
I'm the treasurer for a nonprofit organization, and early in my tenure I attended a county seminar about preventing and spotting fraud. The major "tell," they explained to us, was someone who was living beyond his or her means. In our wealthy community, though, that's not always easy to spot.
A friend asked if I was going to write anything in this column about the sad situation, and I said I didn't think I had a lot to add. I liked what he said, though: he wonders if someone in Hollywood has gotten wind of this story and is bidding for the movie rights. There are certainly several juicy roles!

THE WAITING ROOM: Three-by-five cards

Apparently you no longer just "wait" for your car to be serviced. I was at a dealership this morning and was asked, "Will you be hanging with us today?"
Yes, thank you, I would be. I had brought a hardcopy proofreading project with me, so I took a seat in the "hanging" room, inserted my earbuds and got to work while the mechanics replaced my faulty Takata airbags.
After a while, I noticed that the man sitting next to me was poring over a stack of index cards, jotting occasional numbers in pen.
I grew so curious that I formulated a neutral opening remark: "Looks like this corner of the room is a paper-and-pencil zone," I said brightly. If he was doing something sinister, I figured, he'd simply glare at me.
In fact, he was eager to chat. It seems that he works for a medical device company and uses the index cards to keep track of each surgeon's preferences and what spinal implants he or she will need to have on hand for upcoming cases. His explained that his coworkers input all their data into their computers or phones, but he prefers to keep his notes the old-fashioned way.

TOWN HALL: Meet with Rep. Sappey

State Rep. Christina Sappey will be holding a "town hall" meeting to discuss local and state issues from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, January 16, at the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District office, on the south side of the high school. To register: email repsappey@pahouse.net or call 484-200-8264.

TOGETHERNESS: A loving couple

At a meeting the other evening I sat down next to a friend, and presently his wife of many years joined us. I realized I was sitting between them and offered to move so they could enjoy being next to each other.
"Oh, no," they said instantly. "We're fine. Don't get up! No, no."
I laughed and pointed out how strongly they seemed to share the same opinion.
"It's the first thing we've agreed on all day," commented the husband with a wry smile.

WASHINGTON DC: Rep. Houlahan's district director visits

Rep. Chrissy Houlahan's district director, Sue Walker, visited the West Marlborough Township supervisors' meeting on Dec. 3 to introduce herself and talk about what services the congresswoman can offer. Ms. Walker said the newly drawn Sixth Congressional District encompasses all of Chester County and the southern part of Berks County, and Rep. Houlahan has offices in Reading and in West Chester (709 East Gay Street). Ms. Walker said the staff members focus on casework and outreach and can help constituents with federal matters like veterans' services, federal taxes, Medicare, Social Security, green cards, visas and passports. She said they are also able to help municipalities apply for federal grants.

KENNETT SQUARE: 200 apartments on West State Street

A developer is proposing to build 200 apartments, plus a pocket park, in the 600 block of West State Street, Kennett Square. The tract is near the Mill Road intersection. Tenants of the four apartment buildings, to be called "The Lofts of State Street," would park next to and underneath the buildings.
The borough's zoning hearing board will review the project at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, in the meeting room at the Kennett Fire Co. on Dalmatian Street.
The project is being proposed by StanAb LP, a West Chester-based development company owned by Tony Stancato and Vic Abdala.

WEST MARLBOROUGH: Tax increases on the horizon

The West Marlborough supervisors have been warning for months that a tax increase is likely, and the proposed budget for 2020 reflects just that. 
The earned income tax would go from 0.50% to 0.75% and the property tax would go from 1.7 mills to 2 mills. These increases would generate an additional $65,000 to fund emergency services (fire companies and ambulance service) and Kennett Library construction. There would be no increase in the police services provided by the East Marlborough police, for which the township pays $12,000 a year.
There seems to be general support for funding emergency services, but residents seem unsure whether West Marlborough taxpayers should contribute to building the proposed new Kennett Library. Residents have also been wondering whether the supervisors could help to fund these causes using the windfall in real-estate transfer taxes that resulted from the sale of several estates in the township.
The proposed 2020 budget will be discussed in a public meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12. Ordinances would need to be advertised and passed before any tax increase could be imposed.

MARLBORO: The annual carol sing

Marlborough Friends Meeting's annual candlelight Carol Sing will be at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22, with refreshments to follow. "The Spirit of Christmas never fails to visit as the Marlborough community gathers for a time of song and fellowship. Harp and guitar music blend easily into centuries-old woodwork." This event is an old-fashioned and meaningful Christmas tradition we never miss. The tiny Marlborough meetinghouse is at the corner of Marlboro Road and Marlborough Spring Road. All are welcome.

AT THE MOVIES: Right theater, right time, wrong movie

We thought we'd purchased tickets to see the Mr. Rogers movie with Tom Hanks. It even said so on the tickets we printed out. But the first scene of the movie was anything but warm and fuzzy: it showed two German shepherds on the prowl in front of gloomy-looking mansion.
"I don't think this is the right movie," I whispered to Dearest Partner.
Sure enough, it was not "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood" but "Knives Out," a brand-new murder-mystery starring Jamie Lee Curtis, Christopher Plummer, Daniel Craig, and Don Johnson. It turned out to be hilarious, great fun, and thoroughly entertaining. Serendipity is sometimes our friend.
When we go back to see the Mr. Rogers movie, I'll remember to bring my earplugs. The volume of the previews was so painfully loud that I had to keep my fingers in my ears. I was wincing, but nobody else seemed bothered. I believe hearing aids are going to be a growth industry for this next generation.

BLACK FRIDAY: The stores get ready

A friend was sharing her pre-Black Friday adventures at her local Megalomart. She was not there to score a big-screen TV or any other popular item; she just wanted to buy her weekly groceries. Unfortunately for her, to handle the expected rush of shoppers, store employees had taped off certain vital areas. "It was like a crime scene," she said. And yellow arrows pointed the way to the checkout area; she said it reminded her of the yellow brick road in the "Wizard of Oz."
I was at Lowe's on Thanksgiving Eve to buy tiki torches, of all things, and saw piles of items shrouded in black plastic, their identities to be revealed on Black Friday. The mystery piles were decorated with question marks.
"What are they?" I asked an employee. He looked around to see if anyone in authority was watching and lifted up a corner of the plastic; it was a socket wrench set.
"But don't tell anybody!" he warned me, jokingly.

SEMPER FI: A Korean War veteran

At Lowe's in Avondale I parked next to a pickup truck with a Korean War bumper sticker and various military decorations. The owner, an elderly gentlemen, and I were returning to our vehicles at the same time, and as he opened the passenger-side door of his truck and gave his little sweater-clad dog a cuddle, I noticed he was wearing a U.S. Marine Corps cap.
I thanked him for his service, and he thanked me in turn for remembering.
He said at the outbreak of the Korean War he'd gone to the Lancaster recruiting center to volunteer and was disappointed to learn that the Marines no longer had a paratrooper division.
"Seems not many men wanted to jump out of planes," he said, adding drily, "especially over North Korea."

RIP: Goodbye, Mr. Stegeman and Mr. Brown

Two prominent members of the community recently passed on. Both were kind, generous and public-spirited gentlemen and will be missed.
William Jackson Stegeman, the founder of Jackson ImmunoResearch Laboratories, died on Oct. 13 at age 77 at the Friends Home in Kennett Square. He started the company in 1982 in a room in a neighbor's barn, then moved to a rented building in Avondale, and finally to the headquarters that he built on Baltimore Pike in Jennersville (next to the Jennersville YMCA, where I often saw him working out). The company's products are used in research labs around the world.

Henry Brown died at his Newlin Township home on Nov. 21 at age 81. After "Jerry" retired from his career as an architect with Anderson, Brown, Higley and Associates in Wilmington, he opened Unionville's Foxy Loxy ice-cream store.  How appropriate that a party to celebrate his life will be held at Foxy Loxy on Friday, December 6, from 4 to 7 p.m.; all who knew him are welcome. I will miss his smile and the twinkle in his eye.

 

WEST MARLBOROUGH: The Landowners' Tea

After being postponed at least twice last year due to rain and mud, the Landowners' Tea for Mr. Stewart's Cheshire Foxhounds was finally held the morning of Saturday, Nov. 16, at Lydia Bartholomew's Plumstead Farm on Street Road. It was a beautiful sunny morning and, as always, there were lots of neighbors, ample food and drink, and conversations about the perennial interests of horses and real estate transactions.
Just before the horses and hounds set off for the day's hunting, Master of Fox Hounds Sanna Neilson gave a short, gracious speech, thanking the guests for allowing the members of the hunt to ride across their land.
For fun, I wore a vintage hat of my mother's decorated with (I think) pheasant feathers. Kim Brosnan-Myers told me it reminded her of the time a few years ago when she was cleaning out a closet at London Grove Friends Meetinghouse and found a cache of old hats and gloves. She said the story goes that during World War II, the ladies of the meeting decided they would not buy new hats or gloves and instead contributed the money they saved to the American Friends Service Committee.
 

THANKSGIVING: Amusement for kids and grown-ups

The surprise hit of Thanksgiving dinner this year was the paper tablecloth, which was printed with puzzles and turkey cartoons to color (boxes of crayons were distributed around the table). I had the pleasure of sitting next to a Hillendale Elementary School student, and we had great fun creating and pronouncing nonsense words from the hidden-word puzzle (SUBLATS!).
Across the table, the boy's parents were deeply engrossed in the game where you try to create more squares than your opponent out of a grid of dots. Dearest Partner sketched a rabbit and a cat on the tablecloth, then switched gears and helped a couple of kids tune their ukulele.
We were very fortunate in the timing of our journey to Perkasie for the Thanksgiving celebration. As we were zooming up the Northeast Extension in the early afternoon, we saw the aftermath of a chain-reaction crash involving several cars on the southbound side of the highway. Traffic was backed up for miles, and it looked like emergency vehicles were having trouble getting to the site because it's in a construction zone without shoulders. On our return trip at about 6 p.m. the roadway was as clear as could be.

UNIONVILLE: A suitable soundtrack?

A reader who jogs around Unionville High School's track told me that on a recent visit, hard-core rap music was blaring from the stadium's speakers.
"I'm not easily offended," he said (he's not; I know him well), "but it was really disgusting." He gave a few examples of the lyrics, none of them pleasant, much less printable. He said none of the coaches or adults present seemed the least bit troubled by the violent, misogynistic imagery.
My reader suggested that the message being sent seemed in no way consistent with the school district's laudable goals of promoting respect, civility and tolerance for all.

WINTERTHUR: Local Roadshow episodes to air

The episodes of "Antiques Roadshow" that were shot at the Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library in June will air on PBS  January 6, 13, and 20, 2020. The episodes will kick off the show's 24th season. I'll be watching to see if I spot any familiar faces!

KURC: A new home for a historical group

The Kennett Underground Railroad Center has found a permanent home, and a very appropriate one: the former house of Dr. Isaac Johnson at 120 North Union Street in downtown Kennett Square. Dr. Johnson treated an escaping slave who had badly injured his foot when he jumped off a train to flee from his pursuers. The man was nursed back to health by nurse Esther Hayes and recuperated in a house owned by James Walker at 233 South Union Street. He returned to Kennett years later, and had named himself Johnson Hayes Walker in their honor.
"Now we have a place where we can share all we know about the Underground Railroad operatives and activities in the Kennett area," the Underground Railroad Center's board of directors wrote in the group's annual fundraising letter. Their goals for 2020 are to install "a museum-quality display" in their new facility, expand their tours and presentations, do outreach to students and offer a scholarship at Kennett High School.
The house sits at the corner of Union and West Linden Streets, across from the parking garage.

NEW BOLTON: An unexpected treat

At a New Bolton Center lecture the other night on equine infectious diseases, the topic may have been unappetizing but the buffet set up outside the lecture hall was most certainly not. Before the program I said hello to New Bolton professor and associate dean Corinne Sweeney, DVM, and told her how tasty the food was (I'd noticed some vet students chowing down with gusto as well). She said all credit for the refreshments should go to Sarah Riggins Tonge, owner of Catering by Occasion.
I reached out to Sarah for more information and she told me that she handles all of New Bolton's events and also runs the café at New Bolton, which is open for breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday for staff, clients and the public. She also does outside catering "with our signature pit-style BBQ chicken." She can be reached at cateringbyoccasion@yahoo.com.
Sarah, a Unionville native, graduated in 2002 from Unionville High School.

CHEATERS: Eroding social capital

After a neighborhood get-together, I was walking back to my car along with a woman who had a service dog, a handsome Bouvier des Flandres. I complimented her on how well-behaved the animal was, and she said that is because he's a "real," highly skilled and intensively trained service dog. She told me that there are unethical dog owners who buy "service animal" vests online just so they can get special privileges.
I stopped in my tracks."Are you kidding me?!" I said in amazement.
It's true, she said matter-of-factly. And then when the faux service dogs misbehave, the reputation of real service animals and the users who need them is tarnished.
Utterly disgusting. Like when greedy people start fake GoFundMe accounts, claiming some calamity has befallen them and seeking to cadge money from good-hearted strangers.

WEST GROVE: Not-so-joyful noise

Tuesday evening I was picking up a book at the Avon Grove Library when a young patron suddenly began shrieking. 
"Oh, dear," I said to the library worker who was helping me. "Somebody's not happy."
The child just kept wailing, and her parents decided for the good of everyone that it was time to leave. The father carried the distraught girl under his arm, and the mother toted a sleeping infant in a car seat. 
"We'll try again in a few years," said the patient dad, with good humor.

KENNETT Y: A new executive director

Tom Gallagher is returning to the Kennett YMCA as the new executive director. He served as the Kennett Y's health and wellness director and senior programming director before moving to the Spring Valley Y in Royersford. Welcome back, Tom.

LONDON GROVE: A bell choir to ring in the season

The Belles and Rose Joyful Ringers Bell Choir will perform at London Grove Friends Meeting at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, with refreshments and social time to follow. London Grove member Grace Pfeifer describes the family-friendly evening as "a joyful start to the holiday season." The meetinghouse is at Route 926 and Newark Road. Carpooling is encouraged because parking is limited. 

BVVH: A new owner for Dr. Moss's practice

It's official! Dr. Marc Daniel, DVM, has purchased Dr. John Moss's Brandywine Valley Veterinary Hospital on Strasburg Road.
Dr. Daniel lives outside of West Chester with his wife, three cats, a rescued dog from Haiti, chickens, and honey bees. He and his wife have two sons in college and two daughters at home.

He writes, "I am honored to have the opportunity to assume the ownership of Brandywine Valley Veterinary Hospital. Dr. Moss and his associates have been providing high-quality and compassionate veterinary care to the community for many years and I hope to continue what he has started. I feel that practice ownership will allow me to further fulfill my desire to care for people, their pets and the staff that work under my guidance."

Dr. Daniel already gets high marks from me. I met him last month at BVVH when our elderly rescue cat, Clarence, was very sick. Dr. Daniel immediately spotted a large abscess and took care of it. A week later, to our delight and relief, Clarence was back to his normal self,  yowling, jumping up on the bed, and curling up on his blue fleece blanket.

THANKSGIVING: A lot of gratitude

I wish a Happy Thanksgiving to all my readers. Thanks for reading my column, thanks for supporting your local newspaper (unfortunately, a rarity these days), and thanks for offering your feedback and contributions all year long.
I want to offer my special gratitude to the long-suffering Dearest Partner (who didn't know what he was getting into), student/athlete/all-around great kid the Young Relative, my feline buddies Tina and Clarence, and my dear neighbors and friends for inspiring and starring in so many "Tilda items" and adventures. And, as always, in loving memory of Mum and Dad, my most faithful readers (Dad: "Wait . . .  you mean YOU'RE Tilda!?").

WEST MARLBOROUGH: Another deer-vs.-vehicle collision

En route to a New Bolton Center lecture on Thursday evening, I came upon two vehicles with their blinkers on, pulled off to the side of Route 842 near the Stone Barn's pond. I stopped, rolled down my window and asked if everything was OK.
The woman thanked me for stopping and said they were unhurt and just waiting for a tow truck. 
"These deer, they just jump in front of cars!" she exclaimed. Sure enough, there was a deer carcass along the road and, not coincidentally, one of the cars had some obvious front-end damage. I'm sure this scenario has played out many times along Chester County roads in recent weeks.

AVONDALE: Qfix, an international business amidst cornfields

On Nov. 19 I spent an interesting hour visiting Qfix, an Avondale business, and talking with CEO and Chief Technology Officer Dan Coppens and a few members of his team. 
The company's motto is "Positioning Patients for Life," which pretty much describes their product line: they design, engineer, manufacture and market devices used to position patients receiving radiation therapy. With more accurate and consistent delivery of radiation, the total dosage can sometimes be decreased, thereby reducing the risk of side effects, the cost of care and the number of times the patient has to travel to the medical facility. Dan said the staff members are very mindful of the fact that their products can improve patients' and families' quality of life during a very rough time.
Qfix, which employs about 160 people, operates out of several buildings on its 440 Church Road campus, which is surrounded by cornfields. Sales reps travel frequently to trade shows, and about half of the company's products are exported outside the United States.
Dan, who lives in the Inniscrone development in London Grove Township, said staffers are quick to pick up on any "sightings" of Qfix products, either in medical centers or in the media. For instance, their proton-beam therapy equipment appeared in Ken Burns' recent PBS documentary "The Mayo Clinic: Faith, Hope, Science," about 15 minutes into the program.

Qfix is located at 440 Church Road, Avondale.

UHS: The Art Gala

On display at the UHS PTA's annual Unionville Art Gala this past weekend were works by numerous local artists, everything from landscapes and still lifes to jewelry, pottery, woodworking, collages, 3-D works and sculpture. The featured professional artist was Diane Cannon, whose work was showcased in the lobby, and the featured senior artist was Sophia Mayer (honorable mention went to Ashley Kirk and Claire Favor). When I stopped by on Saturday, I especially enjoyed seeing the display of artworks by the students and overheard one woman pointing to a senior's painting and saying fondly, "I had her in third grade!"
Outside the high school I was amused to see a different kind of art: Calculus students had graphed the solutions to differential equations on the sidewalk in colored chalk. Maybe I would have understood calculus better in the open air!

THE Y: Not just a place to work out

An athletic friend who has been going through some domestic upheaval told me that going to the YMCA is helping her immensely as it provides her with some much-needed consistency. Seeing familiar faces, rooms and fitness equipment, as well as working out hard, is keeping her on an even keel. She even referred to it as her "medicine."

OXFORD: A gathering in Lower Oxford Township

Sunday evening, driving home from Oxford, we made a wrong turn and presently crossed over the Route 1 bypass, which was, of course, the highway we wanted to be on. No matter. We found ourselves in a dark, rural area, but up ahead was a yard full of what I thought were Christmas lights and inflatables, as brightly lit up as a used car lot. Wow, they got started early on the holiday, I said.
Dearest Partner disagreed, saying they weren't Christmas decorations; rather, it must be a construction site with barricades and signage.
As we got closer, we discovered we were both wrong. It was a gathering of probably 15 parked Amish buggies, all equipped with ample safety reflectors.

WHODUNIT: A sellout for the ACT Players

We were looking forward to seeing the ACT Players' production of the Agatha Christie classic "And Then There Were None," especially since neither of us could remember who the murderous villain turned out to be. But as soon as we pulled into the parking lot of the Kemblesville United Methodist Church on Saturday evening, the attendant informed us the show was sold out. It was unfortunate for us, but certainly good news for the local amateur theater group.
The ACT Players' next show is a revue called "Broadway Moments" at the Kennett Flash at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, and at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26. You might want to make reservations!

WILLOWDALE: A win-win situation

"Clear Your Clutter for a Good Cause," read the post about Rep. Christina Sappey's Nov. 16 event in Willowdale, and I took that as a command.
I spent an afternoon going through my kitchen drawers and cabinets and packed up unwanted gadgets, extra pots and pans, a rice cooker, excess tea towels, a double boiler, pie plates, and a springform cake pan (used once). How did I ever accumulate so many baskets? I cleaned out the pantry of jars of spaghetti sauce. I went through my closets and culled everything I hadn't worn in the past year or so (good-bye, purple wool Jones NY winter coat). 
Amidst my trunkload of stuff, I actually had enough items to donate to each of the nonprofits represented at the event: Green Drop, the Brandywine SPCA, David's Drive, the Food Bank, and the Marine Corps' annual Toys for Tots collection drive. Worthy causes all.

GLEN MILLS: White Dog Cafe to open in 2020

American contemporary restaurant the White Dog Café will be opening in early 2020 in the Shoppes at Brinton Lake shopping center, in the space where the Big Fish Grill used to be. Other branches of the "local, seasonal, sustainable" restaurant are in Wayne and Haverford, as well as the original University City one founded in 1983 by Judy Wicks. White Dog is now owned by Fearless Restaurants.

WEST MARLBOROUGH: Events at Primitive Hall

Last weekend I volunteered to provide refreshments for an event at Primitive Hall, the 1738 ancestral home of the Pennock family on North Chatham Road. What could be more seasonal than my ginger snaps and cider from Barnard's Orchards?
I stopped by Barnard's the day before, told Lewis Barnard there would be about 30 people at the event, and asked him how many gallons of cider I should buy.
He didn't miss a beat: "Thirty." A born salesman!
Speaking of Primitive Hall, there's going to be a history lecture there on Thursday, Dec. 5. Matthew Skic, curator of the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, will give a 20-minute talk about the museum's new exhibition, "The Cost of Revolution: The Life and Death of an Irish Soldier." The Irish soldier is Richard St. George, who fought on the battlegrounds all around here and was wounded at the Battle of Philadelphia. His talk will be followed by a 20-minute dramatic presentation, a monologue written by Philadelphia playwright Chris Braak and performed by actor Seth Reichgott. A reception starting at 6 p.m. precedes the 7 p.m. lecture and performance.
Tickets are $35; contact me at uvilleblogger@gmail.com to RSVP because this will probably be a sellout. (FYI, I am on the Hall's board of trustees.)

STAYIN' AWAKE: Caffeine and nicotine

On my way home from the Y the other night at 8:20, I stopped by the Wawa to pick up a half-gallon of milk. I noticed that the guy in front of me was buying a cup of coffee the size of my head, a liter of Dr Pepper and two different kinds of chewing tobacco. I pondered this odd assortment of substances and concluded that he must be working the night shift. 
"Yes. 100%," confirmed a police officer friend who has pulled his share of overnight duty.

WEST MARLBOROUGH: Red, white, and blue milk

At my first newspaper back in 1980, all of us reporters doubled as photographers and had to carry our cameras at all times, even off-duty. Woe to the reporter who happened upon a fire or car accident and didn't promptly deliver a roll of film (black-and-white) to the newsroom!
I was reminded of those days on Tuesday, when I was driving home from an errand run and saw (a) a loose cow (b) in a cemetery (c) eating an American flag for lunch. Of course, I stopped and got the shot. It would have made our chief photographer howl with laughter and probably would have made page 1 the next day.
After taking the photo and uploading it to Facebook, I drove up the road and pulled into the driveway of the Upland Road farmette I thought was the cow's likely home. A man was standing there next to a turkey and some chickens.
"Your cow's in the cemetery," I announced.
He sighed, as if it wasn't the first time, and said he'd retrieve her.

A cow munches on an American flag at the old cemetery on Upland Road.





UNIONVILLE: Not doing business as Chantilly Corp.

First thing Tuesday morning I received an odd email purportedly from a Unionville friend inviting me to sign up for a networking service so that he could start sending me business referrals. Time was of the essence: the invitation was good for only 24 hours!
I immediately smelled a rat. To start with, he is a creative fellow and certainly would have come up with a better business name than "Chantilly Corporation." Second, I would have heard had he moved to Toledo, Ohio, where Chantilly was supposedly headquartered.
I emailed him and alerted him that his name was being bandied about in cyberspace. He confirmed that it was a fake and apologized for the spam. When I ran into him later that morning at the Unionville post office, I greeted him as the CFO of Chantilly. He told me the bogus message hadn't gone to just me but had circulated throughout his email list. The upside was that he was reconnecting with friends he hadn't heard from in a long time.

KENNETT: A co-working facility

The latest idea for the former Midge's Bar at 120 East State Street in downtown Kennett is a co-working space called Work2gether, where for a fee you get access to the shared office facility for a certain number of days a month. Membership fees start at $65 a month, which gets you access for 2 days a month from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, plus an hour of meeting space.
The long-vacant building was extensively renovated from its dilapidated tavern days and was going to be a tapas restaurant, then a boutique, but nothing ever materialized.

KENNETT: Pancakes with the Masons

We arrived at just the right time for the semi-annual pancake breakfast at the Kennett Masonic Lodge 475 the morning of Nov. 9. By the time we were sitting down with our scrumptious flapjacks and sausages, the line of hungry newcomers was stretching almost out the door. 
We chatted with former East Marlborough Township supervisor Bob Weer, who is enjoying retirement life at Jenners Pond, and his daughter Blair Fleischmann, who was on her way after breakfast with husband Charlie to watch the Andrews Bridge foxhunters. Collis Townsend, who is active in the Kennett Library's fundraising campaign for a new library, stopped by to say hello. He readily agreed with me that neither carbohydrates nor caffeine intake counts when consumed at a pancake breakfast.

UNIONVILLE: Art Gala Nov. 15 and 16

The annual Unionville Art Gala will be held Nov. 15 and 16 at Unionville High School. Admission is free, and proceeds from the event benefit programs at the high school. The student featured artist is senior Sophia Mayer (students Ashley Kirk and Claire Favor were runners-up for the honor) and the featured local artist is Diane Cannon. Hours are 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16.

 

 

 

 

NEW BOLTON: Robotic CT imaging for horses

At a First Tuesday lecture at New Bolton Center on Nov. 5, three veterinarians (Barbara Dallap Schaer, Kathryn Wulster, and Dean Richardson) gave a fascinating presentation about New Bolton's new robotic CT imaging system.
Instead of having to anesthetize the horse and figure out how to slide the affected body part into the CT "doughnut," the new system uses computer-controlled robotic "arms" that move around the standing, awake horse to acquire the data. The vets then review the high-resolution reconstructed images and can plan treatment accordingly. The new CT system provides key information about injuries and sometimes uncovers unsuspected problems.
As orthopedic surgeon Dr. Richardson quipped, "If I can't see it, I can't fix it."
Dr. Richardson said the most frequently injured equine body part is the fetlock, and he showed photos showing why: when the horse is galloping, the fetlock is almost flat against the ground.
The speakers said that new system may even have applications for human medicine. Now children have to be sedated for CT scans so they don't move, but with a robotic system the child could lie in bed playing a video game during the scan.
One of the first questions from the audience, most of whom were horse owners, was about the cost of a scan using the new system. The speakers said it was about the same, given that anesthesia wasn't needed, and insurance companies have been covering the procedure.

AUTUMN: Changing of the seasons

Up until the end of October, I was still harvesting zinnias, celosia, cosmos, ageratum, salvia, phlox and even snapdragons from the cutting garden. Then came the first frost, and everything turned to either mush or dried-up, colorless stalks. Another gardening season is over.
Tom Tatum's outdoors column in last week's paper also offered a good reminder that it's rutting season. The romance-minded bucks are not thinking straight and are even more likely than usual to cross the road without looking both ways. Also, if you see one deer along the road, there are probably others nearby.

WEST MARLBOROUGH: Making the pitch for a new library

Kennett Library board member Jeff Yetter has been making the rounds of local government meetings asking for funding to build a new library, and he and library director Megan Walters brought their road show to West Marlborough on Nov. 4.
The architect's renderings show a modern, 29,000-square-foot building located just a few lots east of the current library on East State Street in downtown Kennett Square. Jeff said the glass walls are designed to draw people in and allow them to see all the library's activities.
Jeff emphasized that libraries are about far more than just books these days. The library runs many popular children's programs and has a thriving English-as-a-second-language tutoring program, but the 58-year-old building has just run out of space.
Plans also call for an auditorium that could be used by community groups as well. There would be 37 parking spaces reserved for patrons.
The catch, of course, is the cost of building and operating a new library, the same hurdles that the library board has struggled to overcome since the idea of a new library was floated back in 2000. Jeff said the building is estimated to cost $15 million, and operating expenses would of course increase in a larger facility with an expected doubling of patrons.
He said that West Marlborough has 108 library cardholders, 1% of the total, though the number of township users is likely higher. He asked the township to contribute $22,638 per year for three years toward the cost of building the library.

HERSHEY: The YR's last XC race for Unionville

On Saturday we headed to Hershey for the state cross-country meet, the final one for the Young Relative in a Unionville jersey. Even though the tough final hill (not-so-fondly known as Poop-Out Hill) was eliminated because of the muddy conditions, it was still a grueling race. Nonetheless, the Y.R. drew on his physical and mental strength to give his best performance ever at Hershey, and both the Unionville boys' and girls' teams finished sixth in the whole state. Two Unionville boys were named to the elite first team by the Pennsylvania Track and Field Coaches Association.
At the Parkview course, spectators park at the Giant Center, an arena surrounded by acres of vast parking lots. To help you remember where you parked, the light poles are identified by numbers and banners depicting candy-bar wrappers. We parked at "Almond Joy." Dearest Partner was in one of his playful road-trip moods and kept reminding me that we had parked at KitKat. Or Mounds. Or Reese's. Or Butterfingers.

WEST MARLBOROUGH: An unexpected windfall

The West Marlborough Township supervisors and residents received some happy news at the township's Nov. 4 monthly meeting: real-estate transfer taxes have brought $33,756 into the township's coffers so far this year, more than twice the $15,000 the supervisors had projected in the 2019 budget. The windfall resulted from the sale of several large properties in the township this year.

WEST MARLBOROUGH: A new space for the township

If anybody has a spare dining-room table to donate, please contact Shirley Walton, West Marlborough Township's long-time secretary-treasurer. The township has expanded its tiny Doe Run Village office into the much larger space formerly occupied by John Goodall and the western staff of the Brandywine Conservancy, and Shirley said that without furniture it is so empty that it echoes. Having a table (an oval one is preferred) would allow the township staff to review plans without spreading them out on the floor, she says.
Shirley's email address is westmarlboroughtownship@verizon.net.

DINOSAUR: Another relic from the past

I received an updated credit card in the mail the other day, and it just didn't look official. When I took out the old one from my wallet, I realized why: credit cards no longer have raised numerals on them. The reason is obvious: when was the last time you saw a clerk using an imprinter -- that sliding device that embossed your credit card number on a receipt? I think the last manual transaction I ever conducted was at a restaurant circa 2010, when their electronic system was temporarily down. I remember it only because the transaction never showed up on my credit card statement.

LANCASTER COUNTY: The Pa. Renaissance Faire

When Dearest Partner suggested that we visit the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire in Manheim, I rolled my eyes, assuming it would be full of the Dungeons & Dragons crowd and people who argue about Elvish grammar. Humor me, he said; so I went.
That was in 2017, and we had so much fun that we've returned every October since. This year we even got dressed up, D.P. in a peasant costume and me in a beaded dress I bought for $6.50 at the Avondale Goodwill.
The "Ren Faire" is just a hoot and a utopia for people watching. If you're looking for a place where people of all ages, colors, sizes, sexual preferences, political viewpoints, and ethnicities are welcome and everybody gets along, visit the Ren Faire next summer. It was endearing to see a burly, tattooed guy dressed as a Viking marauder, carrying his little son on his shoulders. We saw a guy in chain mail painted to resemble a Flyers jersey, a Wizard of Oz troupe, the Three Musketeers, a Civil War soldier, several Plague doctors, lots of monks, knights, fairy maidens and wenches, and a pope who was a dead ringer for the current incumbent. Even the undead showed up: a couple dressed as Jack Skellington and his girlfriend Sally participated in the afternoon costume contest.
We especially liked the falconry show, the archery exhibition (featuring a semi-automatic crossbow invented in China 2,500 years ago), and the jugglers (the amazing Paolo Garbanzo juggled four lighted torches while standing on a ball!).
We also had an interesting conversation with a security/first aid guy, who said problems arise only when (1) the heat is bad (many of the elaborate costumes are heavy) and (2) people imbibe too much beer.
Perhaps the most touching moment of the day was when a woman asked us to take a photo of her with her young grand-daughter. She said she'd brought her kids to Ren Faire when they were little, and was delighted to continue the tradition with the next generation.

WEST MARLBOROUGH: Taking care of the cemetery

Thanks to the interest and generosity of a West Marlborough resident, two massive and mostly dead oak trees were cut down on Oct. 29 at the old Mount Olive AME Church cemetery on Upland Road. The worry was that if the trees fell, they could disturb some of the graves. 

At least six African-American Civil War soldiers are buried in the abandoned cemetery. The last burial there was in 1944.

 

Flags mark the graves of African-American veterans.

The two huge trees were cut down on Oct. 29.

The headstone for Civil War veteran John Dorsey and his wife Rebecca.