Begging your indulgence, kind sirs and genteel ladies, do you have a few moments during this Memorial Day weekend for a brief history lesson of this column?
Thanks.
When Banter was “born,” its purpose was to shine a light on news and muse about people and things in and around Berwyn, ergo its natal name, Berwyn Banter.
That was June 1997, yes, more than a quarter of a century ago!
During the column’s print infancy and upbringing (the Internet then being a mere wisp of its current omnipresent behemoth) it most often appeared bi-weekly in The Suburban & Wayne Times, eventually expanding its scope to include occasional opinions, also about the people and things in and around Berwyn.
In early 2009, The S&WT merged with another local weekly, Main Line Life, and the newly minted paper became Main Line Suburban Life.
The column was repurposed to cover a broader area of the Upper Main Line and appear weekly.
And its emphasis shifted to a combination of news and opinion, with its name changing to Main Line Banter.
The King of Prussia News and the Main Line Times joined Main Line Suburban Life then as a part of Main Line Media News.
A couple of years ago, the Main Line Times and Main Line Suburban Life were consolidated to become the current Main Line Times & Suburban, both in print and online publications.
Such is the way of today’s newspaper business.
Why, this historical ramble of what seems light years ago and a galaxy apart?
Blame it on the coronavirus!
For the first time in more than two decades, Banter’s “beat” has become “the world as we think we know it, at least until it isn’t!”
It seems everything that is happening, or isn’t, along “The Line,” keeps morphing into a surreal salmagundi that changes as abruptly as the scientific and political players (and their opinions) on the world’s CV gameboard.
With that in mind, here are a few observations and opinions to consider about people and things on Banter’s new “beat:”
News from only three years ago:
The historic General Warren Inne, Malvern, is now open for take-out orders Wednesdays through Sundays, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Daily menus and information are available on its web site, generalwarren.com.
Other area restaurants that continue to be open daily for pick-up service only include Frankie’s Fellini Café, Berwyn, San Nicola Paoli, Anthony’s in Malvern, Berwyn Pizza and the historic Kimberton Inn, which, by the way, had 260 orders on Mother’s Day… EmJ’s, Berwyn, is open Wednesdays through Saturdays, from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and on Sundays, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Berwyn’s 30 Main Bistro across from the train station is open for lunch from Noon to 4 p.m., Wednesdays through Sundays, and for dinner daily, 4 to 9 p.m. Sadly, Alfredo’s also opposite the train station, has closed permanently. ..
Dr. Aaron Ufberg’s Berwyn dental offices, originally set to reopen for all services on May 18, will now be open for emergency care only because of a recent order of PA Oral Health Committee not yet allowing dental hygiene visits … PA State Stores have relaxed restrictions on sales at hundreds of stores throughout the Commonwealth, but not yet in stores throughout the Delaware Valley … The Conestoga High Leadership and Awards were presented virtually on May 13th , and a video of ceremony is being aired daily on TETV (Comcast Channel 14 and Verizon Channel 20 daily at 1 and 7 p.m. In other T/E Schools news, the next meeting of the board of school directors will be held virtually on May 27 at 7:20 p.m.
Churches throughout the area continue to serve their faithful offering virtual worships, Bible studies, prayer groups and other electronic communications, while relying on their web sites, PayPal and Venmo for ongoing financial support … Non-profits hard hit indirectly by the pandemic are struggling to survive while their services are more needed more than ever … Food pantries like The Great
Valley Food Cupboard, located in The Baptist Church in the Great Valley, Devon, the Wayne United Methodist Church, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Ardmore, and the Upper Merion Area Community Food Cupboard on Town Center Road all are being overwhelmed with clients while, at the same, time, facing shortages of volunteer workers and food donations … Readers that have news or stories they would like to share about people, places and things in their families or neighborhoods are invited to email them to mainlinebanter@verizon.net.
Opinions from three years ago:
The coronavirus virus may be the catalyst for a new world order … The daily list of the pandemics political and scientific “good guys and bad guys” changes more often than sheets in a cheap hotel … Nobody is perfect when it comes to assessing the virus. Even Dr. Tony Fauci originally (early February) said that it “was not a major threat to the United States.” … Dr. Deborah Birx, a native of Carlisle, PA, by the way, is the best advertisement for wearing scarves, and not sticking your neck out … Dr. Rick Bright, the whistleblower immunologist fired by President Trump for his apocalyptic views of “the darkest winter in modern history,’ had his day testifying May14 to the Health Committee of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Did anybody really hear the whistle? … Now that we know President Trump is taking drugs (hydroxychloroquine) we still believe he is not hallucinating by feverishly wanting the country to safely reopen as soon as possible.
News from today:
The Phillies have the best win-loss record in MLB! … Auditions are over, and a full rehearsal schedule is looming for “Beauty and the Beast.” Berwyn’s Footlighters Theater Premiere of its 95th Season in September. Also, on the boards in the season are “The Wedding Singer,” “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” and “Urinetown,” among others… Volunteers are needed by T& E Care to sort school supplies for needy students in the TE School District. Dates for the sorting at Beaumont School are June 17, 18 and 20, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Opinion from today:
May is celebrated as Mental Health Awareness Month, and Berwyn’s Daemion Counseling Center reminds that mental health challenges don’t adhere to a calendar. Let’s all join Daemion in making mental health a priority all year, remembering it’s all a state of mind.
Nobody asked, but it is difficult to not agree with Ralph Waldo Emerson when he said: “society is a hospital of incurables,” and also “you can’t do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.”
The Last Word: Good day, good luck, and good news tomorrow!
Comments invited to mainlinebanter@verizon.net
