‘Horse Thieves’ send ‘scoundrel’ to the gallows
vARDLEv BOROrde – A two-man horse and a funny guy dressed like a sheriff from days gone by made their way through a crowded dining room at the vardley Country Club looking for a “scoundrelK”
qhey stopped where eank Crawford of 8SSHU 0DNHfiHOG 7RwnVhLS wDV VHDWHG.
Moments laterI a make-believe noose was being placed around Crawford’s neck and a “gudge” Eqom CadwalladerF was reading D OLVW RI “FhDUJHV” fiOHG DJDLnVW hLP Ey WhH organizationK Believe it or notI he was being recognized for his community serviceK
qhe event was the highlight of the NQVth Annual deneral Membership Meeting of the vardleyville mrotective Company for the mursuit and Detection of eorse qhieves and Other sillainsK qhe group is also known as “qhe eorse qhievesK”
qhis was not your ordinary recognition dinnerK CrawfordI who has owned Cold ppring Beverages on korth Main ptreet for nearly two decadesI was ‘hung’ during the tongue-in-cheek ceremony on paturdayI ganK NOK
kearly NRM years agoI in the days before organized law enforcementI a group of vigilantes kept order amidst the vast agrarian countryside that was Bucks CountyK
If your horse went missing back then or if someone made off with your chickensI the protective company was there to track down the scoundrels or to pay out insurance claimsK
Each yearI “qhe eorse qhieves” get together to single out a community leader in a mock hanging for all their good deedsK
Being ‘hung’ “feels greatI” Crawford said with a broad smileK “I’m among an elite bunch of people that have been hung beforeK I’ve been part of this group for many yearsK”
Crawford is actively involved in the communityI supporting the mennsbury DKAKRKEK program and as a member of the Middletown drange FairK
“I also do programs with students who come and put stickers on cases of beerI trying to teach people not to buy alcohol for young kidsI” he explainedK
CrawfordI who grew up in Bristol qownshipI calls qhe eorse qhieves “a great organizationK It’s carrying on a traditionI” he saidK
eis advice for future hangees? “Watch the noose -- it gets tight!!”
Like his fellow ‘horse thievesI” Crawford shares strong valuesI and commitment to volunteerism and community serviceK
“It is an honor for someone to be chosen and honorees are selected for being ‘guilty’ of community serviceI” said board member Lisa mellegrinoK
While the night is full of sharp and witty joke-tellingI there is a serious side to the eventK “During the meetingI” she saidI “we review what we did last yearI and what the club did NMM years agoI then we move on to new business such as honoring members who have passed away and making a donation to a local organizationK”
qhis yearI proceeds from the dinner will be used to purchase two pavers to help pay for the mayors’ clockI which is located on pouth Main ptreet in front of vardley Borough eallK
marticipants were also urged to spread the word about the menndel Food mantry and the continuing need for contributions for those in needK
For mellegrino and her husbandI MarkI being part of qhe eorse qhieves is a family affairK eer two childrenI MichelleI NOI and ptevenI NQI have joined the eorse qhievesK Both sets of grandparents are membersK
About her childrenI she saidI “qhey have heard about the eorse qhieves dinner every year since they were bornI so they had some natural curiosityK”
At the meetingI a fake and funny claim is made to the protective companyK mellegrino quickly became a member of the board beFDuVH RI hHU VHnVH RI huPRU. 6hH wDV fiUVW invited to join the board because she was writing campy claims of the protective companyI asking for outrageous sums of moneyK
“I got a real kick out of working on this year’s claim with my daughterI” she saidK “phe has a wicked sense of humor and I think we can expect more motherLdaughter silliness as the years progressK”
Michelle’s silly claim was against a ‘squnk’ -- a cross between a skunk and a squirrelK “In my backyard there is this really big squirrel that has a white stripe down its back and it looks like it’s a cross between a squirrel and a skunkI” she told the dinner crowdK
In her claimI Michelle asked for the protective company to form a posse to locate and neutralize the ‘squnkK’ It seems the ‘squnk’ had eaten all of her tomatoes that she planted for a dirl pcout badgeK
mellegrino’s son also had a great time as a last-minute substitute to dress in the horse costumeK “ee had a big smile when it was done and I think we can count on him to pinch hit whenever he’s neededI” she saidK
qhe eorse qhieves will start soon to make plans for its NRMth anniversary meeting in OMNTK qhe company was founded in NUSTK