Susan Mangigian, Chester County Life

If you are looking for an over 55 community with loads of appeal and a ton of choices, look no further than Hersheys Mill http://www.hersheysmill.org/.  Right now, there are 38 active listings on the market there in a wide variety of price ranges.  The lowest price right now is $219,000 for a two bedroom, two bath unit.  The highest price is $735,000 for a 3 bedroom, 2 full bath a one powder room single. 

I deliver Meals on Wheels to a few families in Hersheys Mill every Thursday.  Since this is a gated community, you have to stop at the gatehouse.  The guards are very nice and because I show homes here quite often, we always share a laugh as to whether this is a real estate visit, or my weekly Meals on Wheels delivery. 

The landscaping is absolutely breathtaking and the grounds are very well cared for.  There are numerous pools, a tennis court and their very own golf club, which many of the units back onto.  The clubhouse is lovely.

If you are looking for an over 55 community, call or email me.  I'd love to give you a tour of the grounds and show you some of the homes for sale.  Now is a terrific time to buy a home, rates are great and inventory is high.  As a resident of East Goshen Township, I can't speak highly enough of the amenities, the beauty and the great people that live here.  Hersheys Mill is adacent to and within walking distance or a very short drive  to a food store (Genuardi's), two pharmacies, a great pizza place (Vanos) and a dry cleaner.

Here is a link to the Hersheys Mill Golf Club.  http://www.hersheysmillgolfclub.com/  It features a private, 72-par golf course located in the center of a gated, 800-acre residential community.  Two dining rooms give members a choice between formal and informal dining.   

Abraham Lincoln is a hero of mine.  I am a Democrat.  Mr. Lincoln was a republican.  The irony of my position is very known to me, so please don't feel the need to point it out. 

Every 4 years, my home is a House Divided.  I have very strong beliefs that the Democratic party is the better of the two parties, my love for Honest Abe not withstanding.  My husband, Jack, thinks that the Republicans walk on water and the Ronald Reagan was the best president ever, bar none, except for perhaps Richard Nixon.

A house divided against itself can not stand.  Well, every 4 years, we are generally at war.  This year is slightly different because even my died in the wool republican husband can see that old "W" has made a mess of things in the 8 years that he has been president.  But, we still have such fundamentally different beliefs in what we think is right that my children have requested a cease fire!

These are pictures of our front lawn.  Jack got this McCain Palin sign from what he says is a nice lady who stopped by one day while I was at work.

I paid for my sign when I went to the West Chester Restaurant Festival.   The two additional signs below were delivered to me by like minded friends.  Joe Sestak for congress and Barbara McIlvaine Smith for State Representative.  Both democrats, both very well regarded people. 

10/27/08 is our 24th wedding anniversary.  We've been through many presidential elections.  Jack votes early in the morning.  I vote mid day.  Every time I vote, I call him to tell him that I just canceled out his vote! 

A house divided against itself can not stand unless there are children living there!  Children who stand between us and say, hey guys, can we talk about something else now??  So, we fight nice.  Needless to say, my neighbors get a big kick out of this every 4 years!  When we first moved here I was a lonely voice in the republican wilderness of Chester County.  Now, I am still in the minority, but there is definitely hope!

4 years ago, I had a John Kerry sign on my front lawn.  My husband requested I take it down.  I respectfully reminded him that it was a big lawn... go get your own sign.  So there you go.  I was having the exterior of my home painted that year and my painters were Republicans.  We had many debates while they were here and one morning I came out to find a pair of flip flops stapled to my John Kerry sign.  I left them there just to show them I was a good sport.  And, because, it really was funny!

Hershey Bars were on sale at the local CVS, so I decided to stock up on them. 2 for $1.00.

One for me, and 3 for 3 special people in my life. 

The front of my bar had a little sign on it that said Taste of Victory, Instantly Win Cash, Cars & More. 

I didn't buy the Hershey Bars to win a prize, I bought them because a regular sized bar, slim and wonderful, is about my favorite chocolate in the entire world.  So I made a cup of tea, got my book and my reading glasses and retired to the old arm chair to see what I won. 

Well, you may have guessed it from the title of this post,  I won nothing!  And not only did I not win anything, I got a rather nasty note inside that said "Sorry, you are not an instant winner".  This is the story of my life.  I don't think I have ever been an instant winner.  Ever!  At least this notice said Not an Instant Winner.  Usually, the note says Not a Winner.  Not a winner??  Geez.  Not only don't I get a prize, but I get insulted in the bargain!  Oh sure, I've won a medium sized coke at McDonald's.  But a winner?  Never.  This is really starting to tick me off.  Mr. Hershey, you are now on notice.  I am 49 years old.  How much longer do you suppose I have to be a winner?  I mean really.  Life is short.  Get with it already.  I'm already 5 to 7 pounds over my "acceptable middle aged weight". 

I can't just keep eating Hershey Bars willy nilly in the hopes of winning cash. 

I want to be a winner now!  They say you have to use visualisation to get what you want.  So here I am... (the dots are to drive a certain friend of mine crazy).... visualizing away until yep.... you guessed it! 

I am a Winner!

I had the pleasure of participating in the dedication of the Veterans Memorial Pavilion in my hometown, East Goshen.  The Veterans Memorial Pavilion honors all veterans past, present and future that have served our country to protect the freedom that we have enjoyed all of our lives. 

East Goshen Township Park is located on Paoli Pike, just east of Route 352. 

Sons of the American Revolution, Posting of the Colors

The Master of Ceremonies, Senya D. Isayeff, a retired Army officer was very interesting, very funny and quite entertaining. 

Amerikids entertained the crowd with lovely renditions of the Star Spangled Banner, God Bless America and My America.

There were several speakers present.  Ann Marie Fletcher-Moore, Chairperson, East Goshen Township Park and Recreation Board.  E. Martin Shane, Chairman, East Goshen Board of Supervisors, Gary R. Green, CEO, YMCA of the Brandywine Valley and Kathy Sullivan, Executive Director of YMCA of West Chester.

As a member of the Chester County Women's Commission, I was pleased to see two of our Chester County Commissioners in attendance.  Carole Aichele, Chairman gave a lovely speech detailing her life growing up in and marrying into a Navy family.  Commission Kathi Cozzone presented the township with a citation honoring them in the building of the Veterans Pavilion.

One of my favorite public servants, State Representative Barbara McIlvaine Smith (156th District) gave a lovely speech about the service her family provided, including her grandfather, an American Indian who enlisted to fight in World War II when he was 50 years old.  Rep. McIlvaine Smith is a very gracious and intelligent woman and it is always a pleasure to see her and hear her speak. 

State Senator Andrew Dinniman brought the house down when he admitted that his contribution to the proceedings was the new comfort station adjacent to the Veterans Memorial.  He went on to say that the township supervisors (in a mostly republican township) had made the generous offer of naming the comfort station (aka, the restroom), after our illustrious and Democrat Senator but he politely declined.  I, of course, made a point of thanking him personally for the restroom as I will use it regularly when I walk in the park!   Senator Dinniman then went on to speak passionately about the PA National Guard being the largest contingent of national guardsman ever to be deployed.  Most are currently in training, but all will be sent over to Afghanistan and Iraq probably by the end of the year.  Senator Dinniman is working with the Downingtown VFW to make sure that the families of these National Guardsman and woman have the support they need to keep the home fires burning while their spouses fight for the freedoms we enjoy here. 

Congressman Joseph Sestak (far left above), a Delaware County, PA native served in the navy, rising to the rank of a 3 star admiral.  Congressman Sestak also served in President Clinton's White House as the Director for Defense Policy on the National Security Council. After 9/11, he was selected to serve as the first Director of "Deep Blue," the Navy's anti-terrorism unit where he worked to establish new strategies for the Navy to fight the Global War on Terror.  Congressman Sestak gave a very moving speech, commenting on the fact that the military bases performance and talent as reasons to move men and women up the ladder of advancement.  Not who you know, who your people are, etc.  Just hard work and talent.   If you work hard and improve yourself, you will rise through the ranks.  For having had such a distinguished career, Congressman Sestak is very modest and soft spoken. 

I was very proud and moved to have witnessed this dedication.  Father Joe Glatts, USAF, retired, lead the crowd in prayer, after the laying of the wreath.  Brian Kearns sounded "TAPS".  It was a wonderful experience and one I am glad that I did not miss.

I am a new dog owner.  We got our little J.J. on 7/17.  At about 11:00 in the morning.  It was one of the happiest days of my son Max and my life!  My neigbhor Karen laughs because when people ask me when I got him, I can pinpoint the exact moment.  It was truly life changing for me.  I have always been a devout animal lover, but always had cats. I have never, except for maybe a month or two, been without a cat! But a dog... now this is an entirely different animal so to speak!!  He's the first blond haired boy I have ever fallen in love with!  He's got big brown eyes and a loopy grin and I frankly don't know how I managed to live 49 years without him! 

Whenever I am with him, the theme from the Courtship of Eddie's Father runs through my head. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rblnqK8wZBI

Yesterday, my best friend was neutered.  I didn't feel much like a best friend, although, they tell me this was for his own good.  Max can't see how, being a 12 year old boy in the throws of early puberty.  I'm having a little trouble with it myself.

Poor little guy has to wear one of those cones!!

By God, this little boy is cute!

Honestly, have you ever seen such a facia bello?  Such a Sheyner ponim

I was walking my puppy last night, under cover of darkness. 

Honestly, if you passed me on the street, you wouldn't recognize me!  I had my glasses on... only close friends get to see me in my real glasses (reading glasses are one thing but I am very, very near-sighted and believe me, it's not a pretty picture).  I had on pink striped pajama bottoms.  I had on black athletic socks that were washed and put in the foyer because they belonged to my son's best friend (since my feet were cold, and he left them here... finders keepers!).  I had Max's sneakers on (black athletic high tops)!  Hey, they were nearby, and very comfortable, I might add.  I had my Looney Tunes Denim jacket on.  As I walked down the street, again, let me remind you it was very dark (darn suburbs, never heard of street lights), I was thinking that most people would say I was eccentric.  I was talking to my dog.  His name is JJ.  I call him JJ once in a while, but in a 10 block walk, my little guy gets called:  baby boy, little man, lovey, my little love, come here boy, little guy and and many other endearments. 

I have a very sensitive funny bone and you can get me to laugh no matter how mad, sad or just plain tired I am.  My older son Mike always asks me why I laugh when he makes fun of me.  That's easy, because it's funny!  It's not unusual for people to come up to me in a restaurant or a movie theater and say, I thought that was you, I heard your laugh.

I am also somewhat superstitious.  Not really, (really) I just don't believe in tempting fate.  I always go out the same door I go in.  I knock on wood whenever I say something good is going to happen and I knock on wood whenever someone I'm talking to says something good is going to happen.  I used to knock wood every night before I fell asleep growing up, but I don't usually (at least not very often anymore) do that now.  A client bought me a beautiful tiny wooden box to carry with me so that I can knock wood wherever I happen to be.  Do I have to say that we are now wonderful friends? 

Once when Max was a toddler, we were visiting Mike's elementary school.  The gym teacher was up on a ladder and Max walked under it.  I panicked and insisted that he walk under again in the opposite direction, never realizing until too late that the gym teacher was looking at me rather oddly!  What can I say, I'm eccentric!  I figured by walking back the other way, he would undo any bad luck he garnered by going under there in the first place.

Are you eccentric?  I hope so!  If you are, I think we can be friends! 

I'd love to hear about your quirks.

12/20/08 Update...

I have sunk to an all time low.  Have awakened early  at 5:30 for my much needed cup of tea, I discovered that Michael left the milk on the counter all night.  In my pajamas, slippers, the horrid glasses and no makeup, I drove over to the grocery store that opens at 5:00 AM.  I only saw a few people, no one I knew, but I did get some strange looks!

As a lot of you know, I started a group called The Ladies that Laugh.  Mostly, we meet about once a month, everyone brings wine and an appetizer and we sit around and laugh until our sides hurt.  On Mother's Day, a lot of us got together, rented a bus and went down to Philadelphia to participate in the Race for a Cure.  It was a wonderful event and we all had a good time while raising money for eradicate breast cancer.  You can read about in in my post http://activerain.com/blogsview/506041/Mother-s-Day-Race

This Friday night, the Ladies that Laugh are at it again.  Once again, the Ladies that Laugh will convene at my home, bring wine and appetizers, laugh until our sides ache AND RAISE MONEY TO HELP END BREAST CANCER! 

We will all be wearing pink and we will all contribute $5 to play a part in helping Susan G. Komen for the Cure ® end breast cancer forever.  To spice it up, we will have prizes.  Kim Esposito, my good friend and artist will be donating a pink pillow. A woman who she knows donated a pink bracelet.  Lisa Hilburn, my friend and neighbor donated a pink baseball cap and a set of white athletic socks with the pink breast cancer ribbon on them.  I will be donating a WAWA gas card.  For every $5 someone donates, their name will go into a hat.  The more you donate, the better the chance of winning. 

This is a great group of ladies and we always have a wonderful laugh filled time when we are together.  It will be made even better with the knowledge that we are also making a difference. 

Two issues that affect women, our mother's, our daughters, our sisters and our friends are Breast Cancer and Domestic Violence.  I got an email today from a colleague on the Chester County Women's Commission that informed me that while it is true that one in 8 women are affected by breast cancer, it is also true that one in 4 women are affected by domestic violence.  This is a shocking statistic to me.  My colleague also included a copy of a letter to the editor that was in today's Daily Local News.  Here it is below:

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.  We take this time to mourn those who have died because of domestic violence, to celebrate those who have survived, and to reach out to the community to help us bring an end to this devastating crime.   Domestic violence takes many forms, and does not discriminate.  It can be a pattern emotional and/or physical abusive behaviors and affects people of all races, religions and cultures, regardless of where they live or their economic status. Victims can include male, female, opposite sex and same-sex relationships.   Domestic violence has a staggering impact on the youth in our communities. The cycle of violence is not limited to a single relationship, but travels from one relationship to the next, from one generation to the next. This cycle harms our society and our children, and is a problem that requires a total community response.   According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the annual cost of lost productivity in the workplace due to domestic violence is $727.8 million, with the resulting national health care costs (often absorbed by employers) for medical and mental services for victims amounting to $4.1billion.   At the Domestic Violence Center of Chester County, we provide a 24 hour hotline, emergency shelter, adult and group counseling, legal advocacy and representation, transitional housing programs, and children's programs. We provide educational programs to schools, churches and community and business organizations.  All of our client services are free and confidential with the goal of empowering domestic violence survivors to become self-sufficient members of society, free from the threat or reality of abuse. In 2007 we provided services to over 3200 survivors and their dependent children in Chester County.   Each member of society should take a stand against domestic violence. Whether it is on the larger scale of government sponsored prevention efforts or non-profit agencies working together with individuals, we must commit to preventing the violence, and bringing hope and healing to those affected by it.   Dolly Wideman-Scott, CEO Domestic Violence Center of Chester County   24 Hour Hotline:  610-431-1430, Toll free:  888-711-6270 Office: 610-431-3546 www.dvccc.com "Freedom Through Empowerment"

Together, we can make a difference in both of these areas.  I contribute a portion of every commission to the Susan Komen Foundation. 

As a member of the Chester County Women's Commission, I am hoping to make a difference in public awareness of Domestic Violence and Breast Cancer. 

I am way behind in listing what I am reading.  I just finished a Jonathan Kellerman that was so familiar, I am sure I read it before, only years ago.  I am either getting old or just reading too much, because when I pick up a favorite author, unless the book just came out, I can't remember if I read it or one just like it!! 

Anyway, the book was called Billy Straight and it was a pretty good mystery/thriller with a cameo appearance of Alex Delaware who is in most of Jonathan Kellerman's novels.  The main character is Petra, who is usually the bit player.  It kept my interest (again, apparently) and was a good diversion from the real world.

My son Max just finished "Where the Red Fern Grows" and he asked me to read it because it's about a boy and his dogs. 

This is a 6th grade book, but Max was very passionate about it and he loves to share his reading with me.  So far, I am enjoying it. 

What are you reading?

I was perusing the East Goshen Township Newsletter over dinner tonight and I thought it would be helpful to have a concise list of upcoming events in the township.

The Annual Pumpkin Festival

Saturday, 10/18 from 10 am to 12 pm (rain date, Sunday, 10/19)

East Goshen Township Park

Live bluegrass music with the Graystone Ramblers, free pumpkins for every child, hayrides, apple cider, apples and some magic!  This is one of my son Max's favorite township events.

 Saturday, 10/18 at 12:15 after the Pumpkin Festival (rain or shine)

East Goshen Township Park

Please join together for the Dedication of the Veterans' Memorial Pavilion, which honors all veterans, both past and present.  There will be an honor guard as well as a 21 gun salute.  Taps will be played.  This should be a beautiful ceremony.  Regional reenactor groups from colonial times will be present. 

Mark your Calendars for an opportunity to help your neighbor!

12/6/08 is East Goshen's 3rd Annual Neighbor to Neighbor Day!

This will be a morning of helping a senior with raking leaves.  You will need to register to help. 

Check back here for more fun and worthwhile things to do in East Goshen Township!