WEST MARLBOROUGH: Landlord alert

Want to be a landlord? The London Grove Apartments just came on the market. Asking price is $695,000 for the seven-unit, 9,292-square-foot brick building that sits on eight-tenths of an acre at Newark Road and Route 926. McLane Hendriks of Patterson-Woods has the listing.
The West Marlborough Township coffers are going to be swelling from all of the real estate transfer taxes they've been depositing this year, with the Ledyard, Wintersteen and Weymouth estates changing hands.

EAST MARLBOROUGH: It's a sales center

As we have long suspected, the trailer that's been sitting along Route 82 across from the Willowdale Chapel has been converted into a sales center for Toll Brothers' forthcoming Unionville Walk development. The 42 single-family houses, to be built on the west side of Route 82, will be priced starting in the mid-$600,000s. The Toll Brothers marketing website says the development "is anticipated to open in the summer of 2019," but that's obviously not happening. The website mentions as one of the development's selling points "the award-winning Unionville-Chadds Ford School District, consistently ranked as one of the top 10 districts in the state."

JENNERSVILLE: Much improved crossroads

The revamped Jennersville intersection by the Red Rose Inn seems to be working very well. The turn lanes and left-turn arrows provide for a much more efficient traffic flow. Motorists got an unwelcome reminder of how cumbersome and frustrating the intersection used to be when some of the new lanes were blocked temporarily for another go-round of paving, striping and edging. Once again, a single left-turning motorist could back traffic up all the way to the Jennersville shopping center or the Route 1 bypass.
Now, if only the busy Toughkenamon intersection could undergo such an update! 

RIP: "Paddy" Neilson

Tributes have been pouring in for Louis "Paddy" Neilson, III, of West Grove, who died Sept. 5 at age 77: a consummate horseman, a tireless advocate for equestrian sports, a faithful and supportive friend, a delightful guest, a world-class conversationalist, an always perfectly dressed gentleman who loved life and loved his family. Everyone seems to mention his unforgettable smile and sense of humor. According to his obituary, he "jumped his last fence in the line of duty just a couple of weeks before his death."
A celebration of his life will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, October 4, on the kennel lawn of Mr. Stewart’s Cheshire Foxhounds on Route 82. Contributions may be made in Paddy’s memory to (1) Fair Hill Foundation (P.O. Box 1324, Elkton, MD 21922); Cheshire Land Preservation Fund (P.O. Box 983, Unionville, PA 19375); or the Atlantic Salmon Federation (P.O. Box 807 Calais, ME 04619-0807).

EAST MARLBOROUGH: Plantation Field reminder

My friend and tireless PR guy Denis Glaccum wants to remind everyone that this coming weekend (Sept. 19, 20, 21, and 22) is the annual Plantation Field International Horse Trials, where you can watch everyone from Olympians to novices competing in a beautiful setting that's right down the road. Go to the website for a full schedule; in addition to the equestrian competition there will also be antique car show, a fun run, a Victory Brewing beer garden, tailgating, and vendors.
Spectators and competitors 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.

EMBREEVILLE: Another chapter in the development saga

Foes of the controversial proposed development at the former Embreeville Hospital site are expected to show up in force at the Wednesday, Oct. 2, meeting of the West Bradford Township zoning hearing board. The would-be developer is challenging the validity of the township's zoning ordinance. The meeting will start at 7 p.m. at the township building, 1385 Campus Drive, Downingtown.
Residents have argued that the large proposed development is inappropriate for the site and will have a negative impact on roads and the countryside. 

Details on the hearing can be found on the West Bradford website under “Project Updates,” then “Embreeville.”

Thank you to Newlin residents Martin and Marilyn Tully for keeping me apprised of this ongoing saga.

WEST MARLBOROUGH: Field Day at the gun club

On Sept. 8 we stopped by the open house/field day at Southern Chester County Sportsmen's and Farmers' Club off Route 926. We watched kids trying their hand at trap shooting, under the direction of an instructor ("Pull!"), walked around the small lake, observed a muzzle-loading demonstration, watched the action on the club's outdoor gun ranges and caught up with a couple of friends in the clubhouse. I had not realized how extensive the gun club's property was. All the members and guests seemed very safety-conscious, and I noticed that safety rules were prominently displayed throughout the facility. I overheard one man remind his young son, "Eyes and ears!" as they approached the trap-shooting area.

WEST GROVE: Always a winner

We went to Twelves in downtown West Grove for a special occasion last week and, as always, had an exquisite, memorable meal. When scanning the menu, the quandary for me is always whether to order the crab cakes, which I know will be phenomenal, or to try something new. I opted for the latter this time and had a half-rack of lamb with vegetables and amazing garlicky mashed potatoes.
The next day several people asked if we'd ordered the locally sourced cheese plate. We hadn't. Though it sounded delicious, we knew enough from previous visits to save room for dessert, this time peach cobbler in individual ramekins.
The service at Twelves is always professional and unobtrusive: they don't hover or interrupt your conversation, they just keep an eye on you and know when you need something. Perfect.

WEST GROVE: A ladies' man

As I was driving through downtown West Grove the other morning I spotted a widowed fellow I know strolling hand-in-hand with his daughter and cute grandson. I stopped, he introduced them (he is a very proud patriarch) and we chatted for a moment.
I saw him a few days later and he said that shortly afterward, the trio had run into another female friend of his.
The daughter was surprised at her father's apparent popularity in the neighborhood.
"Just how many women do you know?!" she asked.
"Not enough!" replied my friend.