Well, we've officially finished the first week of school here in West York.

Here was daughter Sarah, third from left, getting ready to board the bus on the first day last Monday:

The first week went well. We're still adjusting to the homework in the new "Everyday Math" program, but I really like it. (Some people don't.)

And, Sarah went the whole week without getting in trouble. (That's huge. She's not a bad kid, but boy can she talk out of turn.) Our deal is that if she goes the first two weeks with no trouble, she gets a new game for her GameBoy. (She has one of the old-fashioned models, so games are only about $6.) Yes, I'm into bribery. Call it rewards for good behavior if that sounds better. It amounts to the same thing: She gets something she wants for acting the way I want.

And I'm OK with that. Here's to a good REST of the school year (I'm not forking over $6 every two weeks, though!)

Posted in Dover/West York Joan's randomness

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I live in a nice house in a nice neighborhood. That's it up there. You know the kind... brick front, siding on the other sides, and while I don't have candles in the window, I do have a nice butterfly bush that really looks nice around this time of year.

Now, the problem with living in a nice house in a nice neighborhood, is that if you let the weeds get even slightly out of control, in comparison with your neighbors, your house looks like this:

Now, why, you ask, would I LET my weeds take over like that?

Posted in Dover/West York Joan's randomness

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Not a hail photo (sorry, my camera battery died!)

But I picked this up with the cameraphone a few weeks ago and thought you'd enjoy it.

Um...

Posted in Dover/West York Joan's randomness

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Jess was posting on the biz blog about a site that tells you how "walkable" your neighborhood is - in other words, how much is there within walking distance, or do you have to drive to everything?

My West Manchester Township neighborhood is in the middle of EVERYTHING, so I expected something like an 80 or above. But, surprisingly, we only got a 58! I would guess there aren't many places in York County that would rate higher - even in the city, where there's a lot of "stuff," grocery stores aren't really that walkable.

Try it out and let me know how your part of the county fares.

Posted in Dover/West York York County online

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You've heard me mention several times how much I love picnics.

Well, the Greater Dover Historical Society was kind enough to invite me to their annual picnic last week! Jo, a member, was kind enough to introduce me around, so I got to meet a lot of people who I'd heretofore heard of only in e-mails.

Oh, and there was food. FOOOOOOOOD. Did I mention food?

Here I am (center) talking with Madelyn Shermeyer, the GDHS president (right), and her daughter Lisa Byerts, who I had as a teacher in middle school!

Posted in Dover/West York Things we eat

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Intrepid photographer Jo checked in with this visual update on the Smittie's pretzel stand on Route 74 North. She took this photo last Thursday evening.

Looks like the new, lighthouse-style pretzel stand is getting closer to completion. That means no more pretzel "shack" soon!

Posted in Dover/West York Things we eat

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Thanks to all who've stuck with me during my attempt at "Joan's Local Favorites Week."

Today, to wrap up the week, I thought I'd hit a topic of reader request - soft pretzels!

Phil says there's nothing like a Smittie's soft pretzel. (He's also a fan of Mack's chocolate ice cream, which I can't fault him for.)

Now, for those of you who are true Yorkers, you know a Smittie's soft pretzel means this:

But, guess what? That might be changing soon. Why, you ask?

Posted in Dover/West York Joan's randomness

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Colorado potato beetle; image from Wikimedia

Daughter Sarah and I collected our third letterboxing stamp and read some facts about beetles today at Sunset Lane Park in West Manchester Township.

A nice walk around the park - which I found out has horseshoe pits, how cool is that?!

And, did you know there are more types of beetles than there are types of plant species total? Scary.

Posted in Around town Dover/West York Things to do

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Lots of fun going on today and into the coming week up in Dover, courtesy of the Greater Dover Historical Society.

Many of you might know about the society's project at Dover borough's Alda Ketterman park, setting up a working replica blacksmith shop.

Well, the society holds an open house at the shop in Ketterman Park, Butter Road, Dover, from 10 to 2 p.m. the second Saturday of each month through October - including today. You can visit the reconstructed blacksmith shop and watch resident smithy Ted Ziegler forge hot steel on the anvil.

What else is the group up to?

Posted in Dover/West York Things to do

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So, in my recent entry on picnic foods, I gave a shoutout to new commenter Joe for his guess about what was missing from my picnic.

In another recent entry, I mentioned that one of the posters on The Exchange was talking about Zimmie's pool.

Guess what? It was Joe! Small world, huh?

So, Joe, did you - or anyone else - hit the opening day of Graham Aquatic Center (the former Boys' Club or Farquhar Park pool)?

We were there - and even got some neat video footage! Check it out when you can.

Posted in Dover/West York Joan's randomness Local memories

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