So much to be thankful for

What a difference a year makes

By Mike McGann, Editor, UnionvilleTimes.com
Thursday, as you probably know from the near-riot conditions at the Super-Fresh, is Thanksgiving.

In doing my research for this year’s column, I looked back on last year’s column (which actually ran on Thanksgiving) and noted all of the things I’m personally thankful for in and around Unionville.

Without doubt, I’m still thankful for all of the things I mentioned a year ago from our schools and teachers, to the Unionville Recreation Association (and the KAU Little League), to warm, breezy afternoons in May at Willowdale, to grabbing a cup of hot, fresh coffee at the Landhope — these are the quintessential things that make Unionville what it is and I’m thankful for all of them.

But a year later, I have a lot more to be thankful for, too.

A year ago, readership here could often be counted on fingers (and maybe toes) and now, the numbers are decidedly higher. Your voices, both in terms of letters to the editor and comments on stories and columns have turned this into the sort of two-way conversation I hoped The Times would become. If that’s had a small role in shaping the larger community discourse, I’m thankful for that.

But maybe the things I’m most thankful is the small publishing family that’s grown up around The Times in the last year. Hannah Christopher has spent entirely too much time talking up The Times, writing, selling ads and helping us grow. Kelly Hockenberry’s weekly column has been a smash hit. Kelli Siehl and Nicole Brown have helped to give depth to our local news coverage, and Eddy K. Foster and P.J. D’Annunzio (who also serves as news lead for The Kennett Times) have enlivened our pages with arts and entertainment coverage. Dave Conard has brought passion and experience to sports.

There’s more folks I could mention, but you get the idea, it takes a bunch of us to make The Times what it is and I’m thankful for each and every one.

And of course, I’m thankful for you the readers. From comments, to suggestions to complaints, your input has helped to shape how we cover the news.

To you and yours, Happy Thanksgiving!

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While you’re cooking, Thursday, pop on Channel 6 a bit after 10:30 and you might just catch a lot of Unionville-area kids singing on the steps of the Art Museum. Students from the district’s elementary school choruses are part of about 800 area kids who will be singing together as part of the parade.

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Kudos to PennDOT for getting the 926/52 intersection fully up and running on schedule. The general design of the roadway seems pretty good and traffic is moving better through the area than prior to the renovations.

That having been said, hopefully a final repave is in the future, as the roadway seems kind of haphazardly done — understandable, to some extent because of the staged method of opening/closing parts of the intersection.

The big push now is to get the U.S. 1 work done — as we’re coming into the holiday season and the usual traffic issues caused by Longwood Gardens, the potential a giant mess between now and the end of the year is there. I have my fingers crossed, but…

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If you haven’t already, make sure you catch Running in The Red tonight at the high school. In addition to being a great opportunity to see the fabulous new auditorium, the show is said to be hilarious. Tickets are just $7 for adults, $5 for students.