I didn't realize that it's illegal for people to send prescription medications through the mail. Nor did a friend of mine who needed to send some antibiotics to her daughter at college.
My friend found out about the restriction from a clerk at her post office, and she was still furious and frustrated when I saw her a few minutes later at the Y. She said the regulation put her, a law-abiding and churchgoing woman, in the impossible position of either knowingly breaking a federal law or making a completely unnecessary trip to her daughter's school in Kentucky.
Wisely, she said she was going to run around the Y's track to calm down and get some perspective.
Tuesday, January 7, 2020
WEST MARLBOROUGH: A township website is coming
West Marlborough Township, population 814, will be joining the Information Superhighway this year. The township supervisors have decided that it's time to launch a township website so that residents can read meeting agendas and minutes and check zoning regulations online instead of checking the bulletin board outside the township garage or visiting the township office during its limited hours.
Bill Wylie said at the Jan. 6 meeting that he had long been reluctant to start a website, given the township's desire to maintain a low profile, but decided the step was overdue.
"It won't be very long before we have it," he said.
Cindy Walton, daughter of township secretary-treasurer Shirley Walton, has offered to create the website, Mr. Wylie said.
Bill Wylie said at the Jan. 6 meeting that he had long been reluctant to start a website, given the township's desire to maintain a low profile, but decided the step was overdue.
"It won't be very long before we have it," he said.
Cindy Walton, daughter of township secretary-treasurer Shirley Walton, has offered to create the website, Mr. Wylie said.
WEST MARLBOROUGH: Pay hike for township employees
Like all second-class townships, West Marlborough's supervisors had to reorganize during the first week of the new year.
William Wylie will remain the chair of the board of supervisors and Jacob Chalfin will remain vice-chair, with the third supervisor, Hugh Lofting Sr., serving as roadmaster and emergency management coordinator. Shirley Walton will continue as the township's secretary-treasurer. All full-time and part-time salaried employees (except the supervisors) will get a 3 percent pay raise.
Joseph Huston was reappointed to another term on the township's zoning hearing board, and Emery Jones, Nancy Swayne and Tom Roosevelt were reappointed to the planning commission. Tom Brosius will remain as planning commission chair, with Tom Roosevelt as vice-chair and Emery Jones as secretary.
The supervisors expressed their regret that Anna Myers had decided to step down from the planning commission after about 20 years of service.
"You have been the backbone of that group for a long time," Bill Wylie said to her. "Thank you."
William Wylie will remain the chair of the board of supervisors and Jacob Chalfin will remain vice-chair, with the third supervisor, Hugh Lofting Sr., serving as roadmaster and emergency management coordinator. Shirley Walton will continue as the township's secretary-treasurer. All full-time and part-time salaried employees (except the supervisors) will get a 3 percent pay raise.
Joseph Huston was reappointed to another term on the township's zoning hearing board, and Emery Jones, Nancy Swayne and Tom Roosevelt were reappointed to the planning commission. Tom Brosius will remain as planning commission chair, with Tom Roosevelt as vice-chair and Emery Jones as secretary.
The supervisors expressed their regret that Anna Myers had decided to step down from the planning commission after about 20 years of service.
"You have been the backbone of that group for a long time," Bill Wylie said to her. "Thank you."
Friday, January 3, 2020
CALENDAR YEAR: A new life on Earth
On New Year's Eve a friend was showing off photos of his first grandson, born at Christiana Hospital that morning. The infant had the tax-savvy smarts to arrive on the final day of 2019. Even though the proud new grandfather was wearing a surgical mask in the photos, you could tell he was grinning ear to ear while gazing at the sweet new baby. He'll be a wonderful grand-dad!
FOOD: King Ranch Casserole
King Ranch Casserole: as soon as I saw the name, I knew I had to try making this hearty dish.
For its debut I chose a foolproof audience, a New Year's Eve potluck dinner whose guests are always hungry and will eat just about anything. I got lots of positive feedback and was asked to share the recipe, so here it is. It's got a little bit of a bite to it, but you can certainly amp up the spiciness if desired by adding more peppers. It's delicious and would be a great choice for a football playoff game party.
1. Roast eight boneless skinless chicken thighs at 400 until cooked but not dried up (option: use the meat from a precooked rotisserie chicken). Shred the meat with two forks.
2. Saute in butter a chopped bell pepper, a chopped onion, a half-pound of chopped mushrooms (local, of course!), and four cloves of garlic (minced).
3. Transfer the vegetables to a stock pot.
4. Add salt, black pepper, a few dashes of Tabasco and a half-teaspoon of chili powder.
5. Thicken by adding a cup of flour, a little at a time. Stir well, then add 3 cups of chicken stock, a half-cup of heavy cream, and a 10-oz can of diced tomatoes and green chili peppers (Giant brand; I used "mild").
6. Soak 6 corn tortillas (5.5-in diameter) in chicken stock for a few minutes and then use them to line the bottom of a greased 9-by-13-inch baking dish. They will overlap by about a third.
7. Cover the tortillas with half the sauce. Add half the shredded chicken. Top with 2/3 cup cheese (I used a Giant-brand mixture of shredded Jack and shredded cheddar).
8. Soak 6 more tortillas and make another layer of tortillas, the rest of the sauce and chicken, and another 2/3 cup cheese.
9. Top with 6 more tortillas and a final 2/3 C cheese. The pan will be full!
10. Bake at 350 until lightly browned.
11. Let it cool for 15 minutes (for easier serving).
For its debut I chose a foolproof audience, a New Year's Eve potluck dinner whose guests are always hungry and will eat just about anything. I got lots of positive feedback and was asked to share the recipe, so here it is. It's got a little bit of a bite to it, but you can certainly amp up the spiciness if desired by adding more peppers. It's delicious and would be a great choice for a football playoff game party.
1. Roast eight boneless skinless chicken thighs at 400 until cooked but not dried up (option: use the meat from a precooked rotisserie chicken). Shred the meat with two forks.
2. Saute in butter a chopped bell pepper, a chopped onion, a half-pound of chopped mushrooms (local, of course!), and four cloves of garlic (minced).
3. Transfer the vegetables to a stock pot.
4. Add salt, black pepper, a few dashes of Tabasco and a half-teaspoon of chili powder.
5. Thicken by adding a cup of flour, a little at a time. Stir well, then add 3 cups of chicken stock, a half-cup of heavy cream, and a 10-oz can of diced tomatoes and green chili peppers (Giant brand; I used "mild").
6. Soak 6 corn tortillas (5.5-in diameter) in chicken stock for a few minutes and then use them to line the bottom of a greased 9-by-13-inch baking dish. They will overlap by about a third.
7. Cover the tortillas with half the sauce. Add half the shredded chicken. Top with 2/3 cup cheese (I used a Giant-brand mixture of shredded Jack and shredded cheddar).
8. Soak 6 more tortillas and make another layer of tortillas, the rest of the sauce and chicken, and another 2/3 cup cheese.
9. Top with 6 more tortillas and a final 2/3 C cheese. The pan will be full!
10. Bake at 350 until lightly browned.
11. Let it cool for 15 minutes (for easier serving).
KENNETT SQUARE: The Mushroom Raising
We wimped out this New Year's Eve and attended the Mushroom Raising at 9 p.m. rather than the Mushroom Drop at midnight. A lot of people had the same idea: in fact, the earlier celebration was so well attended that we failed to see some family members who turned out to be there. Before the lighted mushroom was ceremoniously hoisted up, we watched a juggler and some hula-hoop twirlers performing at State and Union Streets and chatted with some Kennett Square police officers who were on duty.
The Funsters were just setting up their equipment on a stage in the middle of South Union Street. I'm told that later in the evening the band did a rousing version of "Love Train" that sparked an impromptu love train among the crowd.
The Funsters were just setting up their equipment on a stage in the middle of South Union Street. I'm told that later in the evening the band did a rousing version of "Love Train" that sparked an impromptu love train among the crowd.
JENNERSVILLE: One-stop shopping
Driving through the parking lot of the Jennersville Hospital, I saw a sign that made me chuckle. Underneath a stop sign was an arrow and a sign saying, "ALL MOB DELIVERIES." I immediately thought of Tony Soprano and his underworld colleagues and how convenient it would be for them to have a place to drop off unwanted, uh, items rather than making nighttime detours to the Pine Barrens. Given the context, though, I'm assuming that MOB stands for "medical office building."
 |
| This parking lot sign made me do a double-take. |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)