CENSORSHIP: Let's give 'em something to talk about

Hey, it was time for a new controversy.
The gossip-filled election season is over.
Owners of horse farms in Newlin are, however grudgingly, applying for and receiving special exceptions to comply with the highly unpopular new ordinance.
And then along comes "Nineteen Minutes." In short, one parent wanted the best-selling book by Jodi Picoult to be banned from the Kennett High School library because she felt it was inappropriate. The book is about a school shooting and bullying and contains some graphic language and violence.
The school board rejected her request by a 7-1 vote, the lone dissenter being the minister of a Kennett fundamentalist church.
There was an absolutely spot-on editorial in last week's Kennett Paper, hoping that a censorship issue like this never again raises its ugly head. The editorial writer quoted school board member Rudy Alfonso, a Navy veteran: "Banning this book, to me, would almost be like turning my back on all those hundred of thousands of American veterans, men and women, who died to allow us to keep those freedoms and not to have censorship. I see this attempt to ban this book as if we live in Nazi Germany."
There's a world of difference between finding something troubling and wanting to ban it. Speaking of Nazi Germany, I find books and websites by Holocaust deniers disturbing. I find violent, misogynistic song lyrics disturbing (and all too common). I find our culture's worship of celebrities disturbing.
But banning them? Not only is it impractical in today's world, where kids are two jumps ahead of us technology-wise, but surely it would be better to use these troubling books as valuable teaching moments.
For instance, instead of banning Holocaust deniers, let's make sure kids study the Holocaust. Have them read first-person accounts by the prisoners and the solders who liberated them. Then they'll have a frame of reference to debunk the hateful deniers.
Yes, I swallowed hard when I saw The Young Relative reading "Of Mice and Men" in the sixth grade. Part of me wanted him to stay in that sunny world of suburban childhood innocence, with Legos and "Star Wars" and "Plants vs. Zombies."
But he's a young man now. And I well remember the empowering sense of pride I felt when, at his age, I was trusted enough and considered mature enough to read what in those days passed for edgy books: "Catcher in the Rye," "The Godfather," "The Magus," "Manchild in the Promised Land."
And all of them were right there in our school library.

SIGNS: Drawing your attention to a village and a war hero

I've noticed three new signs in the past few weeks.
The first two I don't even need to tell you about because I know you've seen them (unless you are a certain pair of snowbirds who are basking in a warmer climate): the handsome "Historic Unionville Village" signs on Route 82 on either edge of town.. As one wag (OK, me) quipped, "Like you really need a sign to tell you you're in Unionville?" The East Lynn Grange was the organization that installed the signs.
The second is a blue-and-yellow historic marker that we spotted on the way back from our adventure at the Oxford Wal-Mart on Saturday. The marker is on the north side of Route 926, east of Route 10, and it commemorates Villa Nova, a one-room schoolhouse that operated in Upper Oxford from 1866 to 1954. Vietnam War hero Robert A. Davis, son of Viola "Polly" S. Brown-Davis, was a pupil there; he died in combat in 1966 while shielding his comrades. The sign was just recently dedicated by his family.

WARM MILK: In search of used horse blankets

Our friends at Bailey's Dairy of Pocopson Meadow Farm have put out the following request:
"Attention Equine friends: We are looking for used horse blankets for this winter. While most cows are extremely hardy and can handle the freezing cold temps, we have a few older girls that deserve to be spoiled. The blankets do not need to be clean or in great shape [or waterproof]. You can drop them off at the farm store. Thanks!"
Baily's is at 1821 Lenape Unionville Road. And it is well worth a visit even if you don't have a blanket to donate.

THE SEASON: Like you have nothing else to do in December

Three things to put on your December calendar:
1. The Christmas tree lighting ceremony will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, December 6, at the Martin's Tavern park in downtown Marshallton. It is sponsored by Friends of Martin's Tavern. a group dedicated to preserving the town's historical structures.
2. On Saturday, December 6, Unionville native Gillian Grassie will perform on her Celtic harp at London Grove Friends Monthly Meeting. A potluck supper at 5:30 (all are welcome, just bring a dish to share) will precede the concert, which starts at 7:30. This is the final event in London Grove's year-long 300th-birthday celebration.
3. Elliot Engel will speak at 3 p.m. Sunday, December 14, at Kennett Friends Meeting. His topic: "How the publication  of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol in 1843 changed forever the way we celebrate Christmas. Using biography, anecdotes, analysis, and LARGE doses of humor, Professor Engel brings back to life both the wild popularity of this most famous Christmas story and the marketing genius of its remarkable author. The profits of his book-signing sales will go to a children’s hospital founded by Charles Dickens himself in 1852." The free program is sponsored by the Hadley Fund, which has brought this entertaining lecturer to town several times. He has such a following, in fact, that one of my readers wants the event moved to a larger venue!

SPECIAL OLYMPICS: Kennett youth wins Valor Award

Congratulations and a high-five to James Sarno of Kennett Square, who won the Valor Award at the recent Pennsylvania Special Olympics Fall Festival in Villanova. His plaque reads: "Award of Valor: Strength, Spirit, Sportsmanship."
His justifiably proud mother, Regina, posted dozens of photos of James participating in the tournament with his WCU Rammies team and winning his award.  "Hope Facebook does not explode with Special Olympic photos," she wrote wryly (but with joy in her heart) on her page.

BACON: Choice is always a good thing

Clearly I am traveling in the wrong circles. A friend attended a fund-raising buffet breakfast in Kennett this weekend and was impressed that he could select from TWO kinds of bacon: one chewy and one crunchy.

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS: Some tough young athletes

I was picking up pizza the other night and noticed the pleasant young woman at the counter had her wrist taped up. I asked her what happened, and she said another player had crashed into her as she was going up for a layup in a basketball game that morning. She had fallen and hit both her head and her wrist. And then her coach, fearing she might have a concussion, wouldn't let her take her free throws! (Another player did, and made one of them.)
I had to admire this latest example of the resilience of youth. There she was, not only hard at work but telling the story with a smile!
Speaking of high-school sports: I want to offer a belated "Hail Unionville" to the UHS girls field hockey team for winning the district championship. They beat Central Bucks South 3-1 to take the title, with goals by Logan Perkins, Erin Matson and Annie McDonough. Well done!