UNIONVILLE: Jonesing for a Hoodie

Hood's BBQ in downtown Unionville will be closed for the Hood family's annual vacation from Monday, Sept. 2, through Tuesday, Sept. 17. They'll reopen for business as usual on Wednesday, Sept. 18.

KENNETT SQUARE: Makeover for St. Pat's

Worshippers will be returning to the renovated St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, 212 Meredith St., on Mushroom Festival weekend. The Mass schedule will be Saturday, Sept. 7, at 5 p.m. and Sunday at 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., noon and 6 p.m. 
While the sanctuary has been getting a major makeover (new lights, new floor, fresh paint, new furnishings, new sound system, new kneelers and refinished pews), services have been held at Kennett High School's auditorium. 
Father Christopher Rogers tells me that the official reopening will take place on Sunday, Oct. 6, at noon. Bishop John McIntyre from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will be present.
St. Pat's is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year.

 

 

UNIONVILLE: God's creations

Unionville Presbyterian Church is holding its Sixth Annual Pet Blessing ceremony from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29. The Rev. Annalie Korengel has blessed both of my cats and at least two guinea pigs. For me, the ceremony is a chance to express gratitude for everything that our cherished pets bring into our lives -- friendship, warmth, responsibility, even the vet bills. The church is at 812 Wollaston Road in Unionville.

WILMINGTON: Avoid the moor

If, like me, you're a longtime Sherlock Holmes fan -- I'm currently watching the first season of "Elementary" -- you might be interested in seeing the Delaware Theatre Company's next show, a slapstick, high-energy adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Hound of the Baskervilles." Three actors play all the roles. According to reviews of other productions that I've read, the show is fast-paced and over-the-top silly (that's a good thing in my book). "Hound" runs from September 11 through 29.

PLANTATION FIELD: Supporting the Food Bank

Denis Glaccum tells me that spectators and competitors at this year's Plantation Field International Horse Trials (September 19 to 22) are being asked to bring nonperishable food to help out the Chester County Food Bank. There will be containers to drop off donations at the entrance. 
Denis makes the helpful suggestion, "Next time you are in the store, just grab cans of food for your trip to Plantation Field."

 

WEST MARLBOROUGH: The Hunt Cup

I just received my invitation to the 85th running of the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup, a hugely popular autumn event. The date is Sunday, Nov. 3, and the course is west of Newark Road, between Routes 926 and 842. In addition to the usual subscription levels, this year tailgaters have the option of reserving a tent with a table -- $500 at the finish line and $350 on the hilltop.
Gates open at 10:30 a.m., with the junior hunt cup race at 11:30 and the carriage parade at 1 p.m. Mr. Stewart's Cheshire Foxhounds will parade at 2 p.m. and there will be a sidesaddle exhibition at 2:30 p.m. The Lewis C. Ledyard Memorial Race starts at 1:30 p.m., the Arthur O. Choate, Jr. Memorial is at 2:15 p.m., the Hunt Cup at 3 p.m. and the Athenian Idol (the flat race) at 3:30 p.m.
Visit www.pahuntcup.org for more information.

PENNSBURY: Cutting down trees

In last week's column I asked if anyone knew why a previously wooded site on Route 1, just opposite the Chadds Ford Antique Mall, was being cleared. Two readers were good enough to write and tell me that the owner is taking timber off the property but at present has no plans for development. One reader's reaction to that news: "Whew, we don't need another traffic light."

WEST MARLBOROUGH: Back home safe and sound

Rescuing two loose horses was all in a day's work for West Marlborough road crew member Hugh Lofting on Aug. 29.
Shortly after dawn, on his way to work, he saw several trucks stopped near Archie's restaurant on Newark Road and knew something was up. He stopped and discovered that there were two stray horses that had been rounded up and were being held by Jamie Hicks, of Meadow Spring Farm next door, and Dr. Dean Richardson, the celebrated New Bolton Center vet, who lives nearby. Nobody recognized the horses, and Archie's owner, Ron, was not thrilled about having them hang out on his lawn.
Knowing his wife always keeps her horse trailer hitched up, Hugh phoned her and retrieved the trailer from her farm. By the time he got back, the sister of the horses' owner was on the scene. 
Getting the pair, Nigel and Nea, into the trailer was no easy task, as Nea was a yearling and had never been in a trailer before. Hugh, Jamie Hicks and Dr. Richardson managed to load them both, and Hugh drove them back to their pasture.
Both horses are fine, although according to their owner, Deanna Manfredi, Nea needed a few stitches for a cut. The pair had gotten out of their Bartram Road paddock through an unchained gate.
Due to the excitement, Hugh turned up slightly late for a meeting with the engineers working on a Spencer Road drainage problem. They asked if dealing with loose horses was really part of his job description.
"You don't understand," he said. "There are 814 people in this township. I know every one of them."