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.
Wednesday, November 27, 2019
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.
"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.
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.
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.
"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.
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