Category: Uncategorized

Judy McGrane sent this link depicting how the unsporting behavior of a competitor at a dog show led to its disqualification.

Saint Joseph basketball Phil Martelli will speak 6 p.m., April 12 at the Media Theater, 104 E. State St.,  on “Making Good Decisions.”

PennDOT reported the number of individuals killed in crashes on the state’s highways in 2011 was 1,291, which is the second-lowest number on record, according to State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129).

The number of fatalities involving drunk drivers also dropped to the lowest level in 10 years in addition to motorcycle and bicycle-related deaths.

The Philadelphia Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen was among the honorees at the Media Area NAACP’s  2012 Freedom Fund Luncheon held today, March 24, at The Oaks Ballroom in Glenolden, Pa.

Sam Rohrer is taking his campaign for the U.S. Senate to St. James Alumni Association Hall, 1499 E. 9th St., Eddystone. His town hall will be held 7 p.m., April 11.

By Kate Rainey

It is 3 p.m., Saturday, March 17, 2012 at Marple Presbyterian Church, Broomall, PA.

St. Patrick’s Day wouldn’t be complete without music.

 Suzuki Piano songs may not be considered traditional Irish tunes, but this is the day 17 pupils of Yuki Kremin perform their first recital. I am one of three adults who take the stage for a mostly Asian audience. James, who is nine years old, and I are the only ones who attempt duets: Lightly Row and Honeybee, German and Bohemian folk songs.

 “Have fun,” goes through my mind as I nervously prepare for this occasion. Hal McKay often said those words when I took lessons during the first five years of James’s life. During the last week of 2011, I called my former teacher to say I was “having fun” banging on the keys again. 

 Mr. McKay said to phone him in the New Year for a “tune up.” I was shocked when I read that he died on Jan. 13.

It is now almost three months after speaking to a man who taught me about music and life. I feel like a child before this performance. There are butterflies in my stomach, nerves pinching in my fingers and pounding in my head. I try to listen to kids, whose feet don’t reach the floor, but there is too much tension throughout my body to focus.

 According to Suzuki method, repeated listening brings about rapid progress in music. By listening to other performers and our own hearts, we can grow into a person with fine musical senses and strong personal relationships. Not a bad life skill to learn at any age.

Sunday

After attending the 10:45 a.m. service, March 18, at Calvary Chapel of Delaware County in Chadds Ford, my family is shopping at the new Whole Foods, Glen Mills. We are planning our own “Cupcake Wars.”

“This is like going to Disney World,” I think as we search for a parking place, smell grass fed burgers on the grill and greeted by a man selling organic bird food. The store is crammed, but somehow I manage to attain a “personal shopper.” 

I ask an associate where the baking aisle is. Laurent, who has a French accent, points his hand in the direction and proceeds to take me.  

“You can just show me the way,” I say. 

He shakes his head and walks to the sweet supplies. I grab flour, Vegan Sugar (whatever that is), cocoa bits and baking chocolate. He is watching. He doesn’t leave. 

“Macadamia nuts?” I ask. 

“Don’t know,” he replies in his accent, and asks the man stocking a shelf nearby.

That man says they are all gone. 

“No problem,” I say looking at the list. “They are in parenthesis.” 

They laugh. Last item, “Coconut shreds?” 

We walk to another part of the store, with the French man now pulling my cart. 

“You have a personal shopper!?” Mike, husband of 17 years on this day, finds me and exclaims.  

We leave Whole Foods with a cartful of sweets and rationalize it is healthy. We feel food shopping can be a mood booster. They know how to reach consumers inside their souls by creating a unique experience with friendly employees, taste tests and soothing music. 

Monday 

After eating “healthy” cupcakes which produces a sugar hangover, it is Monday morning and I’m at the Rocky Run YMCA. Before hopping on the elliptical, I check messages on iPhone. Our router is old and internet service is not working again. 

I receive this email from Jill, who is a Boeing engineer, and working in England for the next couple years: 

“I don’t know if you remember, but before I left for the UK, you gave me a sealed envelope with some of your stories in it for me to read when a need a dose of Kate.  I’ve been saving it for when I have a bad day, because I know it will lift my spirits.  A couple of times on my drive home from work I’ve thought about reading it, but I haven’t because I’m using it as a crutch … I know it’ll be there if I really need it, and just knowing I have it makes me happy.  I feel really lucky that I have a friend living 2500 miles away from me that can lift my spirits just by thinking about her.”

Jill and I met 15 years ago through a mutual friend. We walked hundreds of miles together before she started working oversees. We are born the same year, six days apart. Our lives are so different. She has worked for the same company for over 25 years, where I’ve had many (favorite was Press Newspapers). I admire her stability, where she says she admires those who are “less structured and takes life where it leads them.” She never gets bored of my stories. No matter how trivial they may seem, they become alive & fun with her. 

Tuesday

This morning I attended the third “Focusing” class taught by Sister Mary at the Franciscan Spiritual Center at Neumann University. Every week when I ring the bell to enter the convent, I feel like Julie Andrews from “The Sound of Music.” It is an exhilarating, yet peaceful feeling walking through this building. 

Focusing is a technique that consists of six easy to master steps that identify and change the way thoughts and emotions may be held within the body. This tool is for tapping into greater self-awareness and inner wisdom. “What is unclear becomes clear,” and learning to be with anything that arises, as well as other advanced listening techniques. 

For the first time, we paired up in partners. We practiced the beginning stage of this powerful tool. My partner, Kay, is a woman in her late 60s. For five minutes, I listen to her describe the tightness in her throat, that feels like a knife going through, tightening up, there are long pauses in between, and then she feels softening, “like a flower flourishing.” When it is my turn to recount how a situation makes me feel, I go back to the piano concert. I re-live the butterflies in stomach, but this time they widen, go back in and become a sharp pain and then soften up with a white color. It goes on for five minutes, and reminds me of something that was done in the 1960s. My family would think I’m really losing it now. 

Wednesday 

While delivering the re-birth of Riddlewood-Sunnybrae Community Association’s newsletter on Man O War Drive, I heard three death stories. The first was more details of Hal McKay, from his wife Ann. I handed her a copy which included the piano man’s obituary. A retired English teacher, she was on her way to teach Reading at the community college. We had an interesting conversation and hoping she will write an essay about the streets named after horses for a future issue. 

As I walk down the road, Jenny H. stops her car to ask if I’ve heard about her neighbor, who fell on his front step on St. Patrick’s Day. A tragedy, as this man who grew up in Riddlewood died on his 42^nd birthday.

Lastly, I stop to say hi to Gail F, who is getting her mail, and ask her how nursing school is. She has 3 girls and a migraine. I commend her for taking on so much at once. She proceeds to tell me of a mutual friend’s mom, who died last week —- and came back to tell the story. 

“Did she see Jesus?” I ask with excitement. 

“No, she didn’t see Jesus,” she said. “But she did see her husband who died years ago.” 

Wow. This is the fourth near death experience I’ve heard in four months. 

Thursday 

While cleaning up the kitchen sink late in the afternoon, I glance out the window and see a healthy red fox zoom across our front yard. Our two year old, black lab, Rita, was chasing after this four legged animal. My heart was beating quickly as I ran outside to make sure our pet didn’t catch it. 

Thankfully, the fox escaped into the woods and Rita did not break through the electric fence! Afterwards, Rita was running around in circles with excitement. She sniffed the line where the fox had stepped thru. There was a skunk-like odor leftover in the air. 

Friday 

Saw a turkey vulture eating a rabbit on War Admiral Lane. 

Stopping by new Chick-fil-A to get contact for advertising in June newsletter.  

Picking up James from school and going to see Rita’s foster mom, who is now caring for another dog.  Rita came up with this black lab mix from NC in June. They are from same shelter. 

Saturday

Mike and I are attending our first Bar Mitzvah – at a Messianic Synagogue.  A new week of writing with photos included. 

With the polls showing Sam Rohrer topping the GOP field for the U.S. Senate Primary Election on April 24, he is now taking flake from a group affiliated with anti-American billionaire and one-time Nazi collaborator George Soros.

This broadcast just shy of three-minutes long was made by the late Paul Harvey. It’s entitled “If I Were The Devil” and broadcast in 1965.

Reader Tom C submitted this link from FrontPageMag.Com which describes how the new “Arab Springers” who took over Egypt have designated Israel its enemy and expelled its ambassador.

Hat tip Myron Shegda