Fran 'The Title Man' Gaspari Title Insurance-PA & NJ

I was privileged enough to have received an invitation to the retirement party for Dave Evans, a lifelong banker and business associate and friend.

The gala was hosted by Phoenixville Federal Bank & Trust, indicating the mutual respect and admiration accrued over Dave's many years of service. He leaves behind a well-trained staff of mortgage professionals who will surely carry on his legacy at the consumer-friendly, local banking institution, more affectionately know as Phoenix Fed.

Dave oversaw operations in the mortgage department at Phoenixville Federal Bank & Trust for many years.

He is an avid golfer and a 'not so shabby' tennis player, I'm told. I'm sure Dave will pursue both those interests with much rigor and enthusiasm now that he has retired. Travelling with his wife will also be on the Evans schedule of things to do.

The memories of many closings shared between us will last for many years. Stories, both serious and funny, fill our minds and provide much to talk about whenever we gather to eat or share a beverage.

And the well-attended gathering last night to celebrate his retirement attested to Dave's popularity among notables in the real estate world in the Phoenixville and Southeastern Pennsylvania area. In fact, I never saw so many local title people gathered together in one place, not to mention the many real estate agents among his sphere of influence.

I couldn't resist writing this post to memorialize his retirement and our friendship, both personal and professional.

May The Lord be gracious to him and his family, and provide them with many more years of joy and happiness...!!!

It has been actively raining in Pennsylvania all year...

In fact, the grass is so green this time of year...when we would normally be recovering from brown dormancy, we're mowing grass twice a week instead, and we're mowing it wet to boot...!!!

Of course, my Scag Tiger Cub Zero Turn, which allows me to cut 2 acres of lawn in an hour and a half instead of 3 to 5 hours as with a conventional tractor, is still in the shop waiting for a small part from Kawasaki, the engine manufacturer...

I thought perhaps by writing this post, I might get some productive Google Juice flowing with some of the key words in here...!!!

The good news, however, is that the Berks County sweet corn crop is in and simply delicious...If you've never tasted Berks County sweet corn on the cob, you don't know what you're missing...

It is so good you can eat it raw...!!!

Have a great weekend and go out and grab yourself some of that great sweet corn on the cob...!!!

In fact, there are a lot of Pennsylvania freshly farm grown products in season right now...go for a nice weekend family drive and hunt down one of those pleasant Pennsylvania roadside stands...they're full of local peaches, watermelons, cantaloupe, tomatoes, peppers, corn, squash, cucumbers, lettuce, string beans, apples, pears, pumpkins, etc...!!!

The other day I posted about our new U.S. Supreme Court Justice, Sonja Sotomayor, and in that post I referenced the idea of CELEBRATION...

Well as of July 30, 2009, the faithful Catholics of the Diocese Of Allentown, Pennsylvania have reason for CELEBRATION...a new Bishop...a new shepherd...!!!

May The Lord's blessings be upon him in this new mission...!!!

Newly ordained a Bishop at the same time as his installation as chief shepherd of the Diocese, The Most Reverend John O. Barres, brings with him a youthful appearance and an interesting background...

The oldest son of former Protestant ministers, with four older sisters and a younger brother, and who was baptized by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, and who played JV basketball at Princeton University, chose for his episcopal motto---'Holiness and Mission'...!!!

Especially memorable at his installation homily were his words to the young people of the diocese:

"Know the hope and dreams I have for each one of you. Know that I realize that you want to understand and know the truth and person of Jesus Christ, the Truth and Person who will set you free.

Your deep and developing Catholic faith, your heroism in embracing the truth of the Gospels and Church teaching, and resisting negative peer pressure, helps to rekindle the faith of the generations that go before you. Thank you for that faith. Thank you for that heroism. Keep following the Light of Christ."

We pledge our loyalty to Bishop Barres and wish him well as he shepherds the flock of the Allentown Diocese!

And with initials J.O.B. he reminds us as Pope Benedict XVI did last October to study and pray the sacred Scriptures daily...!!!

Bishop Barres, a warm and hearty welcome to you, and may God's richest blessings be upon you...!!!

Anyone who has passed through Douglassville, Pennsylvania, probably on the much traveled Route 422, will recognize the landmark on the corner of Rt.422 & Rt. 662...Michael's Restaurant...

The famous landmark, formerly known as Michael's Diner, is currently undergoing a massive facelift, which will render the popular eating establishment even more recognizable and impressive than the 'old Michael's'...

Well, we had a 'family after church breakfast' there last Sunday...

And the food is as good as its ever been...!!!

Breakfast is outstanding, open 24 hours, excellent dinner entrees including soup and salad bar, and courteous service are all hallmarks of Michael's...

Next time, don't only say 'Make a right at Michael's'...stop and go in and enjoy a scrumptious meal...!!!

Michael's Restaurant...a fine Douglassville Landmark and dining experience...!!!

Most of my neighbors in Amity Township spent the weekend cleaning up the damage caused by an intense storm which swept through our area on Friday evening around the dinner hour...

According to the weather 'experts' no tornado was seen to touch down by local radar...

Except Amity is literally within a valley surrounded on all sides by substantial hills...in fact, I'm always kidding my children by saying we live in a former volcano or a large meteorite-caused crater... and lest I'm mistaken, radar, is only able to detect line of sight occurrences, and the damage to our area was focused mainly on low lying areas, particularly those in heavily clustered treed areas and densely wooded areas along creeks and gullies...

Hence the term 'flying under the radar' typically applies to this one hour duration, mile and a half wide, catastrophic storm...

Our home suffered a screen panel torn off our french doors and two major limbs brought down on two trees...even though our Star Spangled Banner continued to wave atop its twenty foot mast, unmolested by the ravages of Mother Nature, attesting further that we live in the home of the brave...

Only by the Grace of God were lives spared and damage to residences kept to an unbelievable minimum...

In any case, tornado or no, Amity residences are counting our blessings, and thanking God that the powerful winds and bigger than golf-ball sized hail didn't damage our most precious possessions...our family members...!!!

In just a few days, no one but us will know that anything unusual and so devastating occurred in our resilient and lovely neighborhood...!!!

Amity lives...!!!