NOTTINGHAM: Parenting skills on display in the park

Lovely Nottingham County Park (home of the Serpentine Barrens and the Mystery Hole) was full of picnickers, me included, on Saturday afternoon: all the pavilions were reserved, and you could smell hamburgers grilling and hear horseshoes clinking.
As we walked through the parking area in front of one of the pavilions, a family was just arriving. I overheard the dad telling his son, "You didn't set still in the restaurant, so you better not set still here!"
I had to laugh, because it actually made sense in a perverse sort of way.
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WEST MARLBOROUGH: A special treat in store for zoning board fans

West Marlborough Township zoning hearing board fans will get to attend a double-header starting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 23, at the township building in Doe Run. First up, Gwilym Attwell and Colleen McLaughlin are asking for a variance from the front yard setback requirement so they can install a generator at their Upland Road home. Second, Daniel K. Waltson is appealing the township's cease-and-desist order against him, which forbids him from using the pole barn at his Springdell property for his lawncare business and as an apartment. The township issued the cease-and-desist order because he did not meet several zoning requirements.

UNIONVILLE: Mrs. Wood's fifth-grade class

Attention, UHS class of 1971: This old photo came across my desk (figuratively speaking) today, showing Mrs. Wood's fifth-grade class at Unionville Elementary School in 1964. One of the boys pictured was able to recall the names of several of his classmates, some of whom I see on a regular basis. Can you?

OXFORD: Restaurant-quality meals at a retirement home

This afternoon we stopped in to visit a fairly new resident of the Ware Presbyterian Village outside of Oxford and found him sitting on his front porch, reading a detective novel. During our conversation I asked him how the food was at Ware, and he said it was "very good" and said he'd tried dishes he'd never had before in his life. He showed me the printed-out menu that all the residents receive, and I was amazed at how appetizing it was: just a few of the offerings were fried calamari with marinara sauce, chicken with mango, rainbow trout, chicken salad on brioche, BBQ ribs, all with the calorie count and nutritional data spelled out.
As we were leaving, we saw a few of the senior citizens already heading up the hill to the dining hall.

UNIONVILLE: Won't somebody think of the children?

An update on the Wollaston Road speeding situation that I wrote about in last week's column:
A Buffington Street resident passed along the encouraging news that East Marlborough Township has installed its portable speed meter along Wollaston Road near her home, bringing to motorists' attention the fact that the limit is 25 m.p.h.
"Community wake-up call!" she said.

COUNTRY ROAD: Bicyclists certainly do love a challenge

There is a long (half-a-mile), steep hill on the country road where I live. It's a pleasant walk downhill, and coming back gives you a definite aerobic workout.
Yesterday evening, possibly the most beautiful day of the summer, I was starting off my walk and saw a bicyclist just finishing the hill. He was sweaty and panting.
"Long hill, isn't it?" I said.
His weary look disappeared.
"Yeah. Great hill!" he said. "Love it!"
I'd forgotten how hard-core bicyclists are. I should know, having several of them in my immediate family.
Later on my walk I saw another physical feat worth remarking on. Barn swallows were swooping down to catch insects on the surface of a little pond. My bird book describes them as marvelously agile birds, and their flying skills were certainly on display.

AVOIRDUPOIS: Everything tastes good on a red-checked tablecloth

I regret to say that I have put on a couple of pounds, and I know exactly why: weekend picnics. It is so hard to resist when you are faced with BBQ chicken, pasta salad, mac-and-cheese, chocolate-chip cookies, whoopie pies, and ice cream. You think you're safe and fill your plate with smart choices like salad and vegetables and watermelon and then your hostess says something along the lines of, "The dessert table is this way!"
Even the Blogger app that I use to write "Unionville in the News" mocks me! To prove that I am not a robot when posting, Blogger shows me nine extremely appetizing photos of food -- sushi, blueberry pie, and the like -- and asks me to check the ones that depict pizza. Oh, so helpful, Blogger.
Now I'm going to take a break and make some deviled eggs.