So last year I photographed this little boy whom I just adored. I saw him yesterday at the East Goshen Farmers Market and I could not believe how much he had grown! He’s a big boy now and as adorable as ever!
2013!
2012!
all grown up!
Monthly Archives: May 2013
simple joys
I was at the East Goshen Farmers Market taking photos (and shopping!) yesterday. It was a fabulous market and the layout is even better than last year (it would remind you of more of an European market) and I really liked that there were more actual farmers and fewer prepared meals people. I like to cook, so that is my preference.
The East Goshen Farmers Market is under new management which I am very excited about because they are so nice and working so hard for everyone – East Goshen’s market is township sponsored. Some of the new faces I saw yesterday included North Star Orchards whom I visit on Saturdays in the summer at the West Chester Growers Market. Of course I also had to visit Carmen of Carmen B’s Honey which is pretty much the best local honey available!
Anyway, in spite of the many silly rumors that East Goshen wasn’t having an outdoor market this season, it had a large crowd yesterday and many new vendors. And it’s all about the farmers (or should be) so I hope you check them out!
If you were on LAST year’s market list for notifications and what not, you will need to register again. Apparently something corrupted the old list, which happens. Send an e-mail to marketcoordinator@eastgoshenfarmersmarket.org or click on their website http://www.eastgoshenfarmersmarket.org/ and follow their site for the same thing. Or your third choice is to message them through their Facebook page.
I know it gets a little confusing because the former market manager who left to form her for profit business with a model oddly similar to my friend Janet’s Clover Market has somehow forgotten to take down the OLD East Goshen Farmers Market website/blog (http://www.eastgoshenfarmersmarket.blogspot.com ) can you believe it? Anyway, I heard there is a lot of drama going on with that new Malvern market and I don’t understand why that Market Manager can’t live and let live?
I really want to support all three markets, but heck even with Kimberton Whole Foods as a named lead sponsor, until they work out those issues, how can I? I attend these markets to support (and follow) certain farms whose products I like and I don’t have time for middle school turf wars do you?
Anyway enough of the vinegar, enjoy these first photos. I snapped them of the Amish children who were playing as their parents worked their booths. These kids were just so lovely and I loved the fact they could enjoy the simple pleasures of a nice afternoon without having their heads in an iPhone or video game.
I call the photos Simple Joys. I will have more market photos later. Support your local farmers markets wherever you live – it supports local farmers and we need them in our communities!
Enjoy the beautiful weather today!
it’s not easy being green….
It’s not easy being green…poor, poor West Vincent Township. So much darn odd stuff happens within the township boundaries, you just can’t make it up.
The latest is a gargantuan pot bust. Yes marijuana is apparently the new crop in that part of Chester County. I can’t see it from my window and that is good.
Before I post the article I would mention that West Vincent residents have an AWESOME and not connected to the current regime candidate for supervisor – John Jacobs. Given the odd things that happen to West Vincent residents have an interest in cleaning up local government, can it be said this man puts himself at great risk to run? Well of he can do that, you all should be able to vote for him. West Vincent residents all say they want change, well the only way to get that is to break the death grip the current network has with a new supervisor.
You want change, people? Vote the old out and vote in the new. John Jacobs has a website. Here is a link to other endorsed candidates if you are interested. Yes it is GOP and I would put up the Democratic info if I could find it. But the truth is who is representative of them in West Vincent? Clare Quinn? Lordy that isn’t something to brag about and are you all still paying her benefits? Also worth noting? Another fabulous upstanding and honest person that I think would be marvy is running for West Vincent Township Auditor – Maria Holderness. Seriously people, it is time for change in your neck of the woods. After all what does it hurt to consider people whose hands AREN’T in some cookie jar somewhere?
Here is the article and yes, it’s not easy being green:
DA: major West Vincent pot grow operation busted
Posted: Thursday, 05/09/13 01:24 pm Updated: Thursday, 05/09/13 07:14 pm
WEST VINCENT — Over 180 marijuana plants were seized and one man was arrested Tuesday after police discovered a “sophisticated” grow operation at a home in the 1200 block of Jaine Lane in Spring City.
“Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan announced the arrest of Christian Titone of Spring City Thursday for allegedly running what police said was a sophisticated hydroponic grow operation and that housed over 180 live marijuana plants .”;
According to the Chester County District Attorney’s Office, 53-year-old Christian Titone was arrested after police executed a search warrant at his home. Officials said the home was located in a secluded area of the township.“Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan announced the arrest of Christian Titone of Spring City Thursday for allegedly running what police said was a sophisticated hydroponic grow operation and that housed over 180 live marijuana plants .”;
“The defendant thought he could outsmart the police trying to grow marijuana in a secluded section of Chester County. He was wrong,” said District Attorney Tom Hogan. “We have confiscated his drugs arrested him, and now will move to forfeit everything associated with his drug dealing.”photo courtesy of The Daily Local News via Chester County DAs Office
“A large number of grow lights removed from the West Vincent home of Christian Titone, who is charged with a large-scale marijuana growing operation.
Police said investigators executed a search warrant at Titone’s home during Tuesday’s early morning hours. Inside, they found a sophisticated hydroponic grow operation…also found processed marijuana ready for sale…Titone’s home also had a “state of the art” surveillance system…After the search, executed by the Chester County Detectives and the county’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Strike Force, members of the state police’s Clandestine Laboratory Team removed the marijuana and all of the growing equipment, officials said.
I notice the Daily Local lists a rather long list of law enforcement involved. Basically everyone except West Vincent’s own police department and why? Was West Vincent’s Chief out collecting Gabe Pilotti’s gun or something? Pilotti is the one who shot the dogs in cold blood, remember? One would have thought that the West Vincent police would have confiscated the weapon pending the outcome of the court case, right? But we’re not here to discuss dog killers today.
Anyway just chalk it up to more unpleasant spotlights shining down on West Vincent.
Also found coverage in the Philadelphia Inquirer:
POSTED: Thursday, May 9, 2013, 4:07 PM
Aubrey Whelan Philadelphia Inquirer
Chester County detectives have arrested a West Vincent man who, they say, was running “a major marijuana grow operation” in his house.
On Tuesday evening, detectives entered the home of Christian Titone, 54, on a search warrant. Inside, they found 188 marijuana plants — part of what Chester County prosecutors called a “sophisticated hydroponic grow operation” that included lights, ventilation and an irrigation system, according to court documents.
Kudos to the Kennett Times for a catchy article title that cracked me up.
The Kennett Times: Plethora of pot plants lead to drug bust
W. Vincent resident accused of marijuana-growing operation
By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times
Authorities said an alleged marijuana grower thought his remote location and sophisticated surveillance system would protect him from police….“A high-tech, high-end drug operation like this would be providing drugs to suppliers from Phoenixville to Kennett Square and points beyond,” said Hogan….Titone has been charged with several drug-dealing offenses, including possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of drug paraphernalia, the criminal complaint said. Hogan said Titone was released after “promptly” paying $100,000 cash bail. He said a preliminary hearing would be scheduled in the near future.
stormy spring sky
I snapped this yesterday as the thunderstorms were literally rolling in – thought it was pretty cool looking. That is one of the neat things about living out here in Chester County – the vistas are often amazing. (Which is of course why development has to be kept in check and open space preserved.)
west chester growers market at risk! help save the market!
As shocking as it may sound, the Borough of West Chester might do something exceedingly dumb and horrible where the West Chester Growers Market is concerned. The buzz around Chester County is that they are purportedly considering selling the lot that the market calls home!!!
How dumb is that?
I have been busy and was playing catch up with e-mail when I all but fell out of my chair last night. I had received an e-mail from Melissa at Applied Climatology LLC – I buy plants from her at the West Chester Growers Market. Here is what the e-mail said:
Hello Garden Club members!
We received some very concerning news last Friday. If you are already on the West Chester Growers Market mailing list, then you may have already received this news via the market newsletter.
The borough of West Chester is entertaining offers for the sale of the parking lot where we hold our market each Saturday morning.
I’ve attached a copy of the official letter that the market vendors have composed for you, our valued customers.
We hope you will consider writing to your local representatives to let them know what the market means to you. Even if you live outside of the borough, please consider writing these officials, as they need to hear from all of our loyal customers. The borough website in the attached letter will provide you with both email addresses as well as a general mailing address.
If you are as concerned about the market’s longevity as we are, please contact the borough as soon as possible.
We are grateful for all of your support – past, present and future!
Thank you very much for your time
Seriously?? Could the Borough Council and Mayor of West Chester be such whores that they would render homeless one of the BEST things about the town of West Chester in fair weather months? Would they really jettison the Grande Dame of local farmers markets? The market that inspired so many OTHER markets?
With all the emphasis on eat local, buy local (you know that little thing called the localvore movement) why would West Chester Borough be so dumb? Is all the borough wants to be known for something like that college party turned riot from last weekend?
The West Chester Growers Market has been a goodwill ambassador and champion of downtown West Chester since before there was a Business Improvement District isn’t that correct? Speaking of the West Chester BID, what do they have to say? Are they ALSO that dumb that they would be behind a decision that if made would take feet off the street in a town they are supposed to promote and support businesses in?
For Sale, Free, or Trade Chester County has posted a petition on Change.org. Please consider signing it and sending it along to everyone you know.
This is what the petition letter says:
To: Carolyn Comitta, Mayor Holly Brown, West Chester Borough Council Member Cassandra Jones, West Chester Borough Council Member Charles Christy, West Chester Borough Council Member Jordan Norley, West Chester Borough Council Member Thomas Paxson, West Chester Borough Council Member Stephen Shinn, West Chester Borough Council Member John Manion, West Chester Borough Council Member Staff, Borough of West Chester
Keep The West Chester Grower’s Market at Church & Chestnut Street!
We, the residents in Chester County, would like to ask for your consideration in keeping the West Chester Grower’s Market at it’s current location. The possible development no matter how high of a dollar figure can’t replace the community out reach that this market has created and sustained for 19 years.Keep The West Chester Grower’s Market at Church & Chestnut Street!We, the residents in Chester County, would like to ask for your consideration in keeping the West Chester Grower’s Market at it’s current location. The possible development no matter how high of a dollar figure can’t replace the community out reach that this market has created and sustained for 19 years.
As residents and fellow business owners, we ask you to sincerely think about our community. The Grower’s Market brings not only families and locals to West Chester, but it brings residents from all over Chester County. These residents then stroll the streets and patronize the local businesses around the Market. Local West Chester neighbors have found a sense of community on that lot like no other.We ask you to reconsider this decision. When making the decision, think of how many businesses have not be able to sustain and have had to cave to the economy and close in West Chester over the past 19 years, and then think about what it takes to keep something going for 19 years in a town, the West Chester Grower’s Market has pulled it off! Please do not stop them from Growing!Sincerely, [Your name]
West Chester Does is also talking about this. “Market Faces Possibility of Losing it’s Place in the Community” and they provide a link to West Chester Borough’s public officials contact information. I like to go to the top so let’s start with the mayor:
Carolyn T. Comitta, Mayor
115 S. Brandywine Street
Tel: (610) 692-6521
ccomitta@west-chester.com
Term to expire 2014
I don’t feel like putting up every e-mail as I am a little pressed for time, but go to the web page where you get contact information. Contact the borough council members and the Mayor. Sign the petition. You can politely remind them that a fair number of them are up in 2014. To me it is never too early to start election issues if they are thinking about things as dumb as getting rid of the farmers market.
I have to ask is West Chester Borough really poor or something? They can’t afford to keep this parking lot? Or are they just that greedy and short-sighted?
I also would like to know what developer wants this lot. They should be contacted too. Is this a developer who has also bought up a lot of land in the borough or a new Johnny Jump Up?
Do you all know that some of this market’s vendors do good things like participate in the Pennsyvania Farmers Market Nutrition Program? This program, the Pennsylvania Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) distributes checks to eligible seniors and Women, Infants & Children (WIC). These checks can be used at participating farm markets and roadside stands to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables which are grown (or are growable) in Pennsylvania.
This market is also about community, and no developer sucking up to a bunch of politicians can really create that except in the false, made for marketing material sense.
Please help save the market! If you tweet try a hash tag like #SaveTheWCGrowersMkt
Together we can save this market. It is a shame someone couldn’t buy the lot from the borough and give the market a 99 year lease or something, right?
The other alternative is if you own land this market could move to close to this lot with parking, please step forward. The easiest and most properly right thing is for West Chester Borough to sit down and leave the farmers market and that parking lot alone, but in case that doesn’t happen, it would be good to have alternatives that could save this awesome market.
Thanks for stopping by. it’s a sin truly the way politics can potentially ruin a good thing and tradition like this…..
slice of life: simple pleasures
Image
unacceptable behavior
The West Chester University students involved in what erupted into a near riot this past weekend and included terrifying innocent people and destroying private property should be expelled. Period.
The behavior exhibited this past weekend is quite simply put: unacceptable. Who wants that kind of behavior and activity occurring in our county seat only blocks from the Chester County Courthouse? No one.
And if this whole debacle can indeed be tracked back to those “I’m Shmacked” people, here’s hoping the District Attorney is a little bit proactive and finds a way legally to deal with this and hold all accountable who should be held accountable.
In February 2012 I ironically wrote a post about this whole shmacked stupidity. At that point in time the organization “I’m Shmacked” came up in connection with a startling series of events at Lower Merion High School. I had said (at the time) that this was germane to folks in Chester County because basically this nonsense could occur anywhere. I wasn’t trying to be psychic, it is just common sense and here we are.
This Shmacked Movement is this project by Arya Toufanian, 20 (?), of Potomac, Md and Jeffrie “Yofray” Ray, a 2011 graduate of Lower Merion High School in Ardmore, PA . In a nutshell it is like girls gone wild for the college party scene.
Photo from Main Line Media News article http://mainlinemedianews.com/articles/2013/05/05/region/doc51864906d4176970915489.txt
So if “I’m Shmacked” is behind this, enough is enough. What happened over the weekend in the Borough of West Chester could have resulted in serious injuries and even someone getting seriously hurt or killed.
West Chester University needs to do more here than say they will hold students accountable under their honor code or whatever. Those students who are responsible need to be ejected. West Chester Borough has worked too hard to fix up that town and make it attractive to more than those searching for a good kegger. It is admirable that the University is cooperating with police, but they need to do as much as possible to see that nothing like this ever happens again. And quite frankly, unless students responsible get permanently booted from the University who is to say it won’t happen again?
I hate to sound like a Purtian, but this is why no one ever wants off campus college students as neighbors. Let’s get real, no one wants college students to NOT have fun, but fun should not include destroying property and possibly harming others. And parties like this one which turned into essentially a riot in West Chester will follow these kids for a long, long time. And I have to ask at the end of the day is one kegger worth possibly ruining your immediate future over? Is the behavior at this party the same kind of behavior these kids would exhibit in their parents’ homes? I sure hope not.
I am not going to go into the whole hazards of binge drinking, violent drunken behavior in some, or drunk driving. We all watch the news and we know the reality there. Besides, everyone knows when you are the age of most of these college students you feel invincible and untouchable by reality. Well, they felt untouched by reality…I daresay some of them involved were wishing life was a little less real right now.
Sign me tired of exceedingly stupid and destructive behavior related to alcohol. I know I am not the only one – read this post on “From The Editor’s Chair”
Here is selected coverage on this – there is so much I can’t capture it all:
The Daily Local: Motorist describes Walnut Street chaos
By GINGER RAE DUNBAR gdunbar@dailylocal.com
Posted: Tuesday, 05/07/13 12:01 am
WEST CHESTER — A 1993 graduate of West Chester University who asked to remain anonymous said he may stop donating to the university after witnessing Saturday’s wild party on Walnut Street.
“I used to give on occasion to WCU, but I doubt I will anymore,” he said. “There may be a lot of great students, but I didn’t see much care from the hundreds that were around me on what was happening.”
He said he saw the events unravel in the early afternoon as he turned his car into the 400 block of Walnut Street on his way home to East Goshen.
He said he stopped his car and was unable to drive forward with the mass of people in the street. Unsure of what was happening, he said, he was boxed in by all the people surrounding his car.
“It seemed like we (the drivers) might just be there for a bit while the drunk students were milling about,” he said. “It lasted a while with no movement, and then the crowd started to get nasty.”…He said he had heard someone in the crowd say the pole was used to smash a car window. And when he later drove past, he saw a parked car’s window had been broken….In between calls to the 911 dispatcher, he took a photograph. At that point, people were standing on parked cars. While in the center of the crowd, he said, he was “worried if my car was next.”
His 14-year-old daughter was in the car with him, he said, and she was scared, too.
By GINGER RAE DUNBAR
and JIM CALLAHAN
Jcallahan@21centurymedia.com
Published: Sunday, May 05, 2013
WEST CHESTER — Frustrated party guests flipped a car onto its side Saturday afternoon after police broke up a beer blast that organizers were warned not to start. Witnesses said the party was based on a YouTube video called “I’m Shmacked”.
“Booze and education don’t mix,” said West Chester police Lt. William Morris.
Two people were arrested in what Police Chief Scott Bohn described as a “mass disturbance.” In a news release issued Saturday, police classified the incident as a “riot.”….Police said Zachary Geanotes, 19, of Villanova, was charged with riot, criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, furnishing alcohol to minors and underage drinking.
Police said Andrew Derr, 19, of Willow Grove, was charged for failure of disorderly persons to disperse, forgery, underage drinking and carrying a false identification card….The West Chester police were assisted by Westtown East Goshen, West Goshen and West Chester University police as the crowd was dispersed.
‘I’m Shmacked’ Behind Chaos in West Chester, Partygoers Say
ByTom Sunnergren Email the author 5:22 am
“I’m Shmacked,” a production company that specializes in video of teens and college students having wild parties, is being implicated in the near riot that led to a flipped car on S. Walnut Street in West Chester this weekend, Action News reported.
According to Philly.com, “I’m Shmacked” was co-founded by 2011 Lower Merion High School graduate Jeffrie Ray.
NBC10:Caught on Cam: Police Bust Party, Partygoers Flip Over Car
By Danielle Johnson and David Chang
| Monday, May 6, 2013 | Updated 6:53 PM EDT
Police have arrested three people in connection to a wild West Chester party in which guests flipped a car onto its side.
Police were called to a home in the 400 block of South Walnut Street around 12:42 p.m. Saturday after neighbors complained of loud noise. Police say several college students were among the hundreds of people in attendance.
“We saw a cop come maybe a half hour after it started,” said Andrea Lavish, a West Chester student. “I asked, ‘are you going to shut it down?’ She said, ‘I’m not sure yet,’ and she let it continue. Then about 45 minutes later more cops came and shut it down.”
free the maid!
I will fully and completely admit from jump that I am inspired to write this by mom bloggers like Jannell Burley Hoffman. Don’t know Jannell? She wrote the inspired post To My 13-Year-Old, An iPhone Contract From Your Mom, With Love – if you haven’t read that post, you should! She is one of my mom blogger heroes!
I like to remind people that I am a relatively new parent late to the parenting game. I missed out on a lot of things fellow mom bloggers take for granted. I love my new world and parenting is wonderful, challenging, exasperating, and awesome – usually ALL at the same time every day.
My kid is awesome. Yes, I know all parents say that, but in my case it is true. I love him to the moon and back. But my kid is a teenager, and no one gave me an instruction manual. (What’s wrong with you people? Do you want me to be Queen Dork and not know what is going on?)
I am learning that often communication is minimal. Girls like to chatter. Boys seem to be strong, silent types in training. That of course doesn’t mean anything is wrong, I think it is just not cool to be overly verbose or something.
When you ask a question generally every thing is “good”. And when you ask what they are doing a popular response is “stuff”. And that isn’t being rude or anything, it just is.
I am learning that I have to keep my sentences short or I lose my audience. Short as in brief in length, not terse in attitude. This of course is next to impossible for me to do if you know me. Hell, I talk in my sleep sometimes I have so much to say on any given day.
In this parental unit role I find things coming out of my mouth that startle me and make me run for the hills. Why? WHEN DID I START SOUNDING LIKE MY MOTHER???????
Anything involving sweets, macaroni and cheese, spaghetti and meat sauce is approved. Vegetables are the enemy some days and some days they are very confused because some days they are welcomed to the dinner table as a friend.
Homework is of course the mortal enemy of ALL fun. Some days I find myself prisoner of the backpack myself. As for video games, I don’t understand them or their allure. Maybe it’s a girl thing but all I think they do is suck out brain cells, which is why I believe in brain rotting with limits. (I have of course noticed that video games often result in someone channelling Monty Hall and playing “Let’s Make a Deal” LOL)
And oh my. Texting is a contact sport some days and why does Face Timing always seem LOUD? And what is up with these parents that let their kids text after midnight?
And then there is the whole cleaning up thing. I think having a teenager is like trying to domesticate a hurricane some days. Stuff just appears in a trail following your child. Especially socks and sneakers. It really is quite remarkable. And then there is the whole asking-for-help-tidying-up-thing.
“Wut?????”
Cleaning up. You know putting away laundry and stuff?
“Huh???? What do you mean???”
Yes, I know it is really so much more fun to leave piles of laundry decorating bits of furniture and the floor. I was a kid once too, believe it or not. (I know no kid believes it is possible. But then again I was the kid who asked her mother if there were any really BIG dinosaurs alive when she was little. Yes, remarkably I survived my childhood.)
Ok back to the laundry….I mean why put dirty laundry IN the basket when you can put it AROUND the basket? It’s so like a modern art installation that way, right?
But sigh…..the maid is off today so I need a little help. So my dear teenager, please humor me and neatly put away all that lovely laundry that was washed and folded for you just like magic. You might have to re-fold some of it as it has been living on the floor and apparently learned to dance. I mean why else would all those clean clothes end up UNDER the furniture, right?
And my dear if you could also have a brief look and tidy up that bureau drawer that is at present half-open with clothes looking like they just escaped a tornado hanging out of it.
I know, I know I am sooo not cool when I ask for help on this stuff. I am like the hall monitor because I also want you to make your bed once in a while too, right? (You can roll your eyes like teenagers are universally wont to do – I won’t mind.)
But my darling believe it or not these little life skills will come in handy some day when the maid is off. And way down the road in a time yet to come, this will all make you smile and laugh and shake your head ruefully when you are a parent.
So free the maid and help her out! She loves you! (And she is not above bribing you with brownies or something if you comply.)
bucket lists and life
Do you have a bucket list? A mental check list of things you want to do? Dreams, wishes, day dreams, hopes?
I think everyone does. But I think sometimes people put even their day dreams on hold. It is the nature of life.
Of course when I think about dreams, even the word evokes my favorite Langston Hughes poem (which I have loved since about the 4th grade):
Dreams
Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.
I guess it is easy to take life for granted. I did once upon a time. Then my father died. Then my brother-in-law died in between Thanksgiving and Christmas of 2010. Then in 2011 about this time of year I was diagnosed and began treatment for breast cancer.
Those events changed the game for me. I started to take chances (not risks, chances – there is a difference) on what I really wanted to do. For example my writing and photography. In that area I have had many professional by lines in the past couple of years and look forward to more. It helps that my amazing better half supports my dreams. But then again, to be truly loved is one of the most amazing gifts human beings can give to one and other.
Another thing on my bucket list was to ride in a hot air balloon. My friends Barry and Teri made that possible on the 10th anniversary of 9/11 in September 2012. I will never forget that ride, and wow does a balloon ride made you feel free.
What else do I want to do? A lot. I would love to in my most Walter Mitty of dreams be part of a cooking show or any of the flea marketing, junking, picking shows. I can cook and have a good, natural eye when it comes to fun antiques, collectibles, and adaptive re-uses. I would also love to write about those things professionally for a print or online publication.
So a week ago a friend of mine posted on their Facebook page that the Food Network was auditioning for their show “Chopped”. I figured what they heck and applied as an amateur home cook. I will probably never get chosen, but it sure was fun to apply!
I think the thing about life is to not be afraid of it. That’s hard.
Some people can’t handle the Technicolor of life. This past weekend I learned the sad news that someone I was no longer friends with but had been friends with for many years of my life had passed away. It was an odd feeling.
It was someone who I had not been in touch with for years because our lives went different places with different people yet when I heard the news I was genuinely sad. But on the other hand, how to process this news? After all I don’t want to be a death hypocrite – you know those people who are almost like professional mourners – but wow, this death kind of hit me right in the gut for a while. It was like a door banged shut on childhood and young adult memories in a most final way.
It made me think about things again and realize life is too short not to live it to the best degree possible. Carpe Diem people! Life waits for no one.
And that includes bucket lists. So what is on your bucket list? Tell me!
nothing says “forest” like cutting down the trees…
So if you drive around Malvern and are familiar with Forest Lane, parts of it are indeed quite wooded and lovely. It seems like the road runs between East Goshen and Willistown Townships. Unfortunately down towards what I believe is just Willistown, there has been a lot of building – Bentley Homes has been super-sizing and Main Line McMansioning. They are currently advertising 830 Forest Lane on their website. Ironically they call it “The Evergreen”. Kindly note there is barely a tree in site.
Across the street from these Bentley homes still remain some of the homes built less recently on Forest. There are some truly lovely homes. And as you proceed down Forest towards Sugartown you head into woods. I think some smidgen of them are conserved, but I am not sure.
817 Forest Lane is a home that was in the woods and for sale for years. It almost had the look of abandonment it looked so unloved.
A smaller house built at the end of the 1950’s it had that look like Mike Brady of the Brady Bunch was the architect. Definitely a retro mid-century modern, it did however fit into the woods. The house itself needed a major overhaul and who knows if it was actually salvageable. I think if someone had a little imagination the house could have been cool.
However, the chatter on this always was whomever owned it had moved some place else and were holding out for a developer. It had once been listed at a ridiculous pie in the sky price, and the price had been chiseled back over time. It had been listed with descriptions like:
AN INVESTORS DREAM! Oversized 2.10 acre lot in highly desirable Malvern. The potential of this superb lot is limited by your imagination. Tear down and build the home of your dreams in serene wooded splendor. Home is located across the the street from conserved trust land and surrounded by newly-constructed, luxuriously-appointed homes. Owner will do no repairs. This home/lot is being sold “AS IS.”
Yes, it screamed “developer buy me”. Of course reading the ad you did not realize it was an odd pie shaped lot. But note the term “serene wooded splendor”. Unfortunately what I drove by the other day is more aptly described as “rape of the forest.”
Now I get the former owners so allowed this home to rot and lot to get way overgrown, so I accept the eventuality of the house being saved was slim. I also accept that there was nothing much architecturally special about this mid-century woods dwelling house, but still when I drove by the other day all I could think was there goes more of the woods.
I did a little Internet research and according to Realtor.com the home sold for $285,250 on February 4, 2013. That coincides with when it appeared someone was actually cleaning up debris around the property.
Apparently the destiny of a good part of Forest Lane is new construction. That is a pity because once the fabulous open space and woods that make people love the road are gone, they are gone. Cut down enough woods and you change the eco system too.
Once again I ask the residents of Chester County if you really want to have so much development? Part of the extreme beauty of this county is the landscape which used to be far more wooded and wild than it is. Farmland is also what makes the county unique and beautiful. That is also disappearing far too quickly.
I am of course totally confused by what I see on Forest because this land is located in Willistown Township which I thought was all big on land conservation and protecting the environment? If as a novice and non-resident you look at their municipal website, what is it you see first when you look at their website? The moving banner of photography that shows woods and nature, don’t you?
Glad I can’t see this from my window, but it is sad to note that nothing says “forest” like cutting down the trees….to me this is very sad…trees that tall take sooooo long to grow and it is not like all of them are dying or something. I am sure the neighbors are thrilled they will no longer have to look at basically an abandoned house, but still I lament the loss of those trees. Some municipalities might refer to these as “heritage trees”.
Is new construction and multiple developments of homogenous Tyvec wrapped boxes the new “heritage” ?