West Marlborough resident Starr Cummin Bright was the lead-off speaker at a gun violence forum sponsored by Oxford mayor Geoff Henry that was held at Oxford Presbyterian Church the evening of April 16.
Starr showed true guts by standing up in front of the large crowd and talking about how, back in 1991 in Landenberg, she was shot at point-blank range by a mentally ill gunman. In her riveting, emotional talk, she described the devastation that one .32-caliber bullet has caused in her body and her life.
"This guy never should've had a gun," she said simply.
Supporting Starr at the talk were her two daughters (who were ages 1 and 3 at the time of the shooting), her husband, sculptor Clayton Bright, and a host of friends.
"Unionville in the News" is not a forum for my political opinions, but I will say that listening to the ensuing discussion, I was struck by the vast cultural and ideological gulf between the extremists on both sides. I know a lot of avid gun-owners with well-defended homes -- hunters, target-shooters, crime victims, farmers -- who fall squarely into the middle camp. We need to hear more from them.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Sunday, April 14, 2013
TT loves HP
Much to my surprise and relief, learning how to use my new computer has not been bad at all. In fact, I've actually enjoyed the learning curve.
My old Compaq 2003 laptop was still serviceable -- if the butt of jokes from friends and family -- but it was past its peak: it was getting a little slow, the sound card hadn't worked for years, and an increasing number of my files for work just didn't seem to like opening up in Word 97 anymore.
So while I had a week between projects, I went to Staples and bought an HP All-in-One PC with Windows 8 and Word 2013. As soon as they finished transferring over my old data, I took it home, set it up immediately and devoted the next two days to figuring out the various icons, "tiles" and "charms and learning the new Word functions (new to me, at least!).
With my learning style, I would have appreciated having a manual spelling out where to find things ("This is where your photos were on your old system. Here's where they are now"), but instead you have to just play around and experiment. That part gets a bit frustrating -- until you happen upon a shortcut or a new function that you realize will save you lots of time.
One problem that quickly cropped up was that the new version of Word I bought didn't have Outlook, which is what I used to use for email. Then I remembered that I didn't really need Outlook; I could just get my email directly from Verizon's website. Yes! OK, yes, I lost all my saved emails and email addresses while doing so, but the important people write to me all the time anyway, or I can get their contact information online. Spring cleaning!
I was almost certain my little Olympus camera wouldn't sync with the new computer. I envisioned trying to find the camera's instruction manual, circa 2002, and the software that came with it. No need: the camera linked automatically.
The new computer is so sharp-looking, with its big screen (I actually had to de-brighten it), and everything is so well organized. With my old computer, the space under my old Ikea desk was clogged with peripherals and power cords. Now, there's only a footstool. Amazing.
My old Compaq 2003 laptop was still serviceable -- if the butt of jokes from friends and family -- but it was past its peak: it was getting a little slow, the sound card hadn't worked for years, and an increasing number of my files for work just didn't seem to like opening up in Word 97 anymore.
So while I had a week between projects, I went to Staples and bought an HP All-in-One PC with Windows 8 and Word 2013. As soon as they finished transferring over my old data, I took it home, set it up immediately and devoted the next two days to figuring out the various icons, "tiles" and "charms and learning the new Word functions (new to me, at least!).
With my learning style, I would have appreciated having a manual spelling out where to find things ("This is where your photos were on your old system. Here's where they are now"), but instead you have to just play around and experiment. That part gets a bit frustrating -- until you happen upon a shortcut or a new function that you realize will save you lots of time.
One problem that quickly cropped up was that the new version of Word I bought didn't have Outlook, which is what I used to use for email. Then I remembered that I didn't really need Outlook; I could just get my email directly from Verizon's website. Yes! OK, yes, I lost all my saved emails and email addresses while doing so, but the important people write to me all the time anyway, or I can get their contact information online. Spring cleaning!
I was almost certain my little Olympus camera wouldn't sync with the new computer. I envisioned trying to find the camera's instruction manual, circa 2002, and the software that came with it. No need: the camera linked automatically.
The new computer is so sharp-looking, with its big screen (I actually had to de-brighten it), and everything is so well organized. With my old computer, the space under my old Ikea desk was clogged with peripherals and power cords. Now, there's only a footstool. Amazing.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Subs
I'm told that the former Magnolia Deli in Kennett (on Magnolia Street between Center and Meredith Streets) is getting a facelift and is going to reopen shortly as a new deli and sub shop called "Tailgaters." I drove by on Saturday afternoon and the door was open and renovation work looked like it was in high gear. I have a number of friends, avid eaters all, who live within a block or two of this spot, so I'm sure to hear more about it!
Short game
A steep hillside is not really where you'd expect to find a putting green. But an especially observant reader alerted me to what certainly looks like one, in a resident's side yard near the intersection of Wollaston and Mill Roads.
"I just about died laughing when I caught a glimpse of the red flag way up on the hillside," he wrote. "The land has been cleared, there appears to be a putting surface and there's certainly a red pin flag."
It's an unusual but very scenic choice, looking down on the Red Clay Creek.
Just up the road there's a massive new house being built. It's too early to tell what all the attachments to the main house are going to be, but it's going to be interesting to watch. It should be a nice addition to East Marlborough's tax rolls.
"I just about died laughing when I caught a glimpse of the red flag way up on the hillside," he wrote. "The land has been cleared, there appears to be a putting surface and there's certainly a red pin flag."
It's an unusual but very scenic choice, looking down on the Red Clay Creek.
Just up the road there's a massive new house being built. It's too early to tell what all the attachments to the main house are going to be, but it's going to be interesting to watch. It should be a nice addition to East Marlborough's tax rolls.
Friday, April 12, 2013
Health and shopping
Jennersville Regional Hospital is holding a "Girl's Night Out" program on May 9 at Dansko in West Grove. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for socializing, refreshments and shopping (10% off at the Dansko Factory Outlet), and at 7:15 p.m. Michael Barkasy, MD, of Family Practice Associates of West Grove will discuss women's health concerns.
Dansko is located on the north side of Baltimore Pike, west of the Jennersville Shopping Center.
To register for the program, call 610-869-1223 or email Teresa_Rougeaux@chs.net.
Dansko is located on the north side of Baltimore Pike, west of the Jennersville Shopping Center.
To register for the program, call 610-869-1223 or email Teresa_Rougeaux@chs.net.
Peter Hausmann
I am sure that many in the local land-preservation community know Peter Hausmann, a long-time open-space advocate and Chester County resident. Peter just received another honor: he was awarded the Lifetime Conservation Leadership Award "for his decades of leadership and dedication in conserving our special places and landscapes" by the
Pennsylvania Land Trust Association at their meeting in State College.
Peter has served as chairman
of the Board of Trustees of the Natural
Lands Trust for the past 13 years (in my experience, heading any board of trustees for 13 years is a formidable accomplishment in itself). "During his tenure as chairman, the
organization has preserved more than 35,000 acres of open space, the single
most productive period in the organization’s 60-year history," the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association's press release said.
(Photo credit: Ed Cunicelli.)
Change of seasons
Earlier this week I was planning to write a happy little spring-is-nigh! item about how the skunk cabbage is flourishing and how the forsythia, marsh marigolds and willows were just about ready to pop. Then came a few days of 80-degree weather and suddenly everything's in full, glorious bloom.
On Monday morning I saw three grape hyacinths popping up; by the end of the week there were dozens. Of course, the warmth also brought out dozens of stink bugs from their winter hiding places in drawers, behind pictures, inside pant legs, and on curtains.
All my winter habits were outdated. No need to leave the hot-water tap running to warm up: the water was warm immediately! No need to turn up the bedroom thermostat or microwave the heating pad before bedtime! I uncovered the deck furniture (it's still a little early for the hammock) and sat in the sun. Didn't it feel marvelous?
This is the first spring that my parents are living in their new home and they are absolutely thrilled to discover that the previous owner had excellent taste in spring bulbs. The squill and daffodils are particularly beautiful.
Spring wouldn't be spring without the London Grove Meeting Plant Sale, which this year is Saturday, May 11, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Even if you're not a gardener, the Plant Sale is a delightful social occasion and a community tradition.
On Monday morning I saw three grape hyacinths popping up; by the end of the week there were dozens. Of course, the warmth also brought out dozens of stink bugs from their winter hiding places in drawers, behind pictures, inside pant legs, and on curtains.
All my winter habits were outdated. No need to leave the hot-water tap running to warm up: the water was warm immediately! No need to turn up the bedroom thermostat or microwave the heating pad before bedtime! I uncovered the deck furniture (it's still a little early for the hammock) and sat in the sun. Didn't it feel marvelous?
This is the first spring that my parents are living in their new home and they are absolutely thrilled to discover that the previous owner had excellent taste in spring bulbs. The squill and daffodils are particularly beautiful.
Spring wouldn't be spring without the London Grove Meeting Plant Sale, which this year is Saturday, May 11, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Even if you're not a gardener, the Plant Sale is a delightful social occasion and a community tradition.
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