A scene featuring Jamero Umber (Hurtt-Dunkley) at Back Court Day as he runs into rival basketball player Erick Scott

Justin Hurtt-Dunkley (left) with Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan and screenwriter Tarell Alvin McCraney at a special screening in New York on February 07, 2019. Photo by Julie Cunnah.

Actors Justin Hurtt-Dunkley (left) and Melvin Gregg playing one on one in High Flying Bird. The entire film is shot on an iPhone.

TSD: Why do you say High Flying Bird isn’t really a sports movie? 

High Flying Bird is not your typical basketball film as it does not have a focus on basketball gameplay. The film is much more a story about the politics of the sport and the relationship of professional black athletes to managers and owners and their profound influence on the game. 

 

TSD: What are your opinions of screenwriter Tarell Alvin-McCraney and the clever, nuanced way he melded his notions of basketball, business and the politics of the sport?

Tarell Alvin McCraney is another legend  – just an unbelievably exceptional playwright. His style of storytelling is so unique, natural, and authentic. He is a beast. When I learned Tarell was the writer on this project, it made the booking even more exciting. It was as if the film already had a stellar line-up. 

The film focuses on the NBA and these rookie players, and there is a lockout and they don’t have any money. Black athletes are looked at as commodities as the owners seemingly remain in complete control of the game. But the agent is trying to get the players to take over the game and ownership of their talent.

Alvin-McCraney came up with a very cool idea that players can play it one-on-one or three-on-three with streaming rights.

A sports reporter interviews Jamero Umber (Justin Hurtt-Dunkley) and Emera Umber (Jeryl Prescott), who plays his mother, about the Jamero Umber brand after playing the one on one game with rival/teammate Erick Scott and how he is handling the lockout

TSD: What does it say about a director who can play off of the world’s obsession with smartphones and actually use an iPhone to film this movie? Did the quality of images suffer at all?

Soderbergh told us he found it easy and liberating to shoot using an iPhone. He had a couple of them all set up on location.

Being filmed on an iPhone was such a different experience. But I believe was great for the tone of the film and the objective Soderbergh wanted to convey. We are so used to looking at video playback from an iPhone that it may feel even more natural and familiar to the viewer as a bystander. I know it did for me.   

TSD: Did you do any theatre in middle or high school? 

I attended Newark Charter School and Kirk Middle School and graduated from Newark High School (2010), but I didn’t perform on stage at any of those schools. When I finished with classes in school, I would make trips to New York and Philadelphia to study with different coaches and participate in workshops. I studied under Mike Lemon in his studios in Philadelphia and Shiek Mahmud-Bey in New York at the time.

Hurtt-Dunkley graduated from Long Island University in 2015 and pursued acting while in college.

Actor Justin Hurtt-Dunkley at the premiere of High Flying Bird at the Film Society of Lincoln Center Feb. 7, 2019. Photo by Julie Cunnah.

TSD: Fondest memories of Delaware? 

Director Steven Soderbergh, screenwriter Tarell Alvin McCraney, and the cast of High Flying Bird, including Justin Hurtt-Dunkley (third from left)

The post Delaware Actor in Soderbergh’s ‘High Flying Bird’ to Present Special Screening in Wilmington appeared first on Town Square Delaware.

The man who helped elect Bill Clinton president came to Wilmington on April 23rd to talk politics and not surprisingly, the conversation turned to a Delawarean named Joe Biden.

Paul Begala, who rose to national prominence as chief strategist for the 1992 Clinton-Gore Campaign, had plenty to say about the former vice president and his soon-to-be-announced (if we can believe the latest “reports”) presidential candidacy. 

But the political consultant who starred on CNN’s Crossfire and now teaches at Georgetown University wanted to focus on some broader themes influencing American society before he got into his handicapping of the 2020 Democratic primary field.

Begala’s insightful and often humorous assessment of the national political landscape was shared with an audience at Wilmington Country Club at the invitation of Westover Capital Advisors, a wealth management firm that annually hosts a summit featuring a prominent national speaker.

In his introduction of Begala, Westover Capital president and CEO Murray Sawyer said the country’s politics are interwoven with its economic future.  “There is no doubt that Washington influences the markets and the economy,” said Sawyer, citing by example “trade issues, tax and regulatory policy.” Sawyer further cautioned that “a fundamental belief that most of us have in free-market capitalism is today under attack by some.”

Begala focused his remarks on two major themes: we are experiencing unprecedented volatility in the power shifts of major political institutions and simultaneously (and perhaps not coincidentally) we are living in a “hyper-partisan, negative partisan era.”

“In the last ten elections – the year 2000 to now” Begala argued, “the House, the Senate or the White House have flipped eight times.  In ten elections between 1960 to 1978, the White House or Congress only flipped three times.”

And at a time when the political dialogue can too-often be characterized as, “I’m good, you’re evil … I’m right, you’re wrong,” Begala decried today’s hyper-partisan era, which he says diminishes chances of compromise.

“We’re in trouble when negative identification has infected our political life so deeply,” said Begala, joking that as an avid University of Texas graduate, “We used to save that for important things like college football.”

Begala had high praise for Delaware’s two US Senators, saying Tom Carper and Chris Coons “are always at the top of the list of people who find bi-partisan solutions.”

“When both sides are demonizing the other, common sense suggests someone is going to come to the middle.  Your political culture in Delaware is really interesting to me.”

When it comes to the 2020 Democratic presidential primary – a race that with Joe Biden’s official entry will number 20 candidates – Begala made no effort to hide the centrist thinking that helped make a moderate southern governor from Arkansas president of the United States.

“I don’t want a Democrat who’s just as divisive, vulgar and combative … someone who is trying to out-Trump Trump,” said Begala, who went on to suggest Biden will have a very strong shot at the nomination.

“He’ll [Biden] start out as the favorite not only because of name ID but because he’s earned it,” said Begala.  “Thirty-six years in the Senate, eight as Vice President. I actually believe in qualifications.  I also like his demographics — he’s from Scranton as well as Delaware. He really has a sense of the folks that Democrats have alienated in the last couple of elections.” 

Begala also likes Biden’s history of reaching across the aisle to build consensus, which he says some Democrats will not like. “I’ve known him as long as I’ve been in this business; he’s just terrific because he’s authentic. People love Joe. And they’ll call him by his first name.”

Begala is pragmatic, saying all presidential candidates possess attributes that can cut both ways. He concedes that he hears a reluctance among some voters that Biden might be too old. “I think that’s really not fair. It really matters how they perform. Democrats lost 49 states saying that Ronald Reagan was too old. I think we make a mistake if we dismiss a candidate for being either too young or too old. I think what people want to know is the age of your ideas.”

When asked what he thought would be the defining issue of the 2020 campaign, Begala said he hoped “it will be about the American Dream, the middle-class American Dream.  If the middle class does better everyone is doing better.  Sometimes Democrats get distracted with these boutique issues.”

Westover Capital Director of Wealth Management Matt Beardwood says he thought the talk’s themes were important no matter one’s political orientation. “The political divisiveness and vast and growing gap between liberals and conservatives, Republicans and Democrats, has become a hallmark of American politics today,” said Beardwood. “Unfortunately, for the majority of us who fall somewhere in the middle, we’ve lost more than we’ve gained. Paul’s remarks were spot on. We feel that creating a forum like this for our clients not only engages and inspires but from time to time, challenges or supports the collective. “

The post Political Pundit Paul Begala To Wilmington Audience: Joe Biden Can Win appeared first on Town Square Delaware.

Speaking to young girls at Serviam Girls Academy’s first-ever Women’s Career Day last month, Army musician Mary Kate Hall told students, “I ended up in the Army and the Air National Guard because I wanted to go to college. I knew there was no way mom could afford to send me to college on her own.”

Hall was one of 20 women with professional backgrounds in science, law, and business, and the military who shared their stories with Serviam students, giving them a window into career goals and the path to achieving them. Speakers included a family court judge, a physical therapist, a physician, a civil engineer, a veterinarian, an ‘improvisor’ from City Theatre Company, and leaders in Wilmington’s business community.

Saying she loves what she does, Hall said she lucked out learning that she could have a career in the Army band. But, she said, landing the perfect job — she participated in several auditions and interviews — required lots of preparation. Her practical advice included where to look for help with college tuition costs. “All military services have access to federally-funded tuition. They can help get you to school to do what it is that you want to do when you grow up. I’m still working on the growing up.” 

Professionals demonstrate that all things are possible

Serviam President Peggy Provoznik Heins said some project-based learning programs push her middle schoolers to apply math and science concepts to real-world business situations. And with older students having an eye toward high school, career day was a natural fit.

“Who better to demonstrate to our young scholars than professional women that all things are possible,” Heins said. “We were so grateful that these strong, confident women shared their incredibly interesting career stories with us. This was an eye-opening experience for our students, reminding them of the importance and value of a good education.” 

 

Therapist Dr. Kietra Winn told students that her goal was to pursue a career where she would find joy every day and allow her to ‘give back.’ She joined the Center for Child Development in Newark after earning her master’s degree and later a doctorate in clinical social work. “It was a lot of hard work, but I’ll never say that I want to be challenged again.”

Barclays Managing Director Rachana Bhatt shared that she loved math and science classes in high school and fully thought she would become a scientist or engineer. But an economics class that she took her senior year made her rethink her career objectives. That’s when I thought, “Business sounds interesting, too.” She ended up earning a dual degree in business and engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. 

Serviam 8th graders learn about careers they have never heard of

Eighth-grader Adrionna Deloatch said she was surprised to learn that many of the speakers didn’t follow a straight path to professional success. “Listening to them finding their way was so inspiring to me. Some speakers said they went to multiple colleges to figure out what they were doing, and then they finally found their interests and it became their passion. I really appreciated hearing that.” Adrionna is deciding between attending Archmere and Wilmington Christian School in the fall.

 

Student Jae’lyn Rapier, who will enroll in Mount Pleasant’s International Baccalaureate® (IB) program in the fall, said career day helped her connect what she is learning to real-world experiences. “I got words of encouragement because I asked questions like, ‘Does high school really prepare you for college?'” Jae’lyn says she hopes to become an orthodontist.

Cheyenne Walker will be a freshman at Tatnall School in the fall, where she hopes to take part in the performing arts program there. “I think the speakers the school lined up were really great. They were so interesting and I had never heard of so many of those careers before. I’m not sure I will pursue any of their career paths, but they all proved that they are successful because they love what they do.”

Serviam Girls Academy is a tuition-free, independent middle school serving underserved girls of all faiths in grades 5 through 8. Serviam Girls Academy is almost entirely donor-driven. Their biggest fundraiser of the year, Evening Under the Stars, takes place Friday, April 26th. The event is open to the public, and tickets are still available.

The post Serviam Students Inspired by Career Stories from Delaware Leaders appeared first on Town Square Delaware.

Just one day after a gunman opened fire at a synagogue in suburban San Diego, 26 cyclists rolled into Newark this morning to deliver a message of peace.

The Delaware stop was the midpoint of a 600-mile, six-state, six-day ride, that began in Newtown, CT and will end at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, drawing attention to the worldwide attacks based on hate.

“Team 26” cyclists come from all over the country — from points as close as West Chester, PA, and as far as Texas — and they include high school and college students, as well as adults whose lives were personally impacted by gun violence.

Each of the 26 cyclists pedals to remember the 26 people — 20 children and 6 educators — who died in the 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown.

Departing from King of Prussia Sunday morning, the cyclists toughed it out through a driving rain shower before making their way to the University of Delaware campus, where they were greeted by anti-gun violence groups and legislators including Governor John Carney, New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer, State Senator Bryan Townsend, and State Reps David Bentz and Kendra Johnson.

Lead cyclist Monte Frank said this year’s ride has been particularly challenging. “The weather has just been atrocious. We’re doing a century every day (100 miles), with stops and events, and we’ve got a lot of climbing coming up. But this fight we’re in is a fight that’s worth it.”

Governor Carney made certain he introduced himself to each of the road-weary cyclists as they stepped off their bikes at UD’s ISE Lab on Academy Street. “We’re truly honored that the Governor and so many legislators came out to support us. To us, it shows that leadership in the state is committed to reducing gun violence,” said Frank.

Frank, 50, lives in Sandy Hook. He started the ride as a way to honor the victims of the shooting in his neighborhood (his daughter attended the school) and to deliver a message to Congress demanding common sense gun legislation. He says over the years, the ride has become much more. “We connect communities and unite people in a common cause.”

This is the 4^th year that Delaware Moms Demand Action and the Delaware Coalition Against Gun Violence have hosted Team 26 on their swing through the First State. After offering all of the riders a healthy lunch, a few cyclists shared the reasons they ride.

Cycling enthusiast Jordan Lynn was a first-year college student at Virginia Tech when a gunman opened fire on campus in April, 2007. “It was just such a surreal event that day. But since then, the attacks have just stacked up. And it’s become apparent now that even though 32 people lost their lives – freshmen, grad students, professors, a whole range of so many people with such promise – that Virginia Tech has now become just another statistic.

Lynn says he loves taking his message to college campuses, where there is much promise for the future.

Cyclist Tommy Fadoul’s cousin Reemah was also killed by the gunman at Virginia Tech. “I still remember the agonizing eight hours we had to wait for word from the school. Then I remember having to tell my younger sister the tragic news that Reemah was gone.”

Fadoul said he hopes Team 26 inspires greater local action. “I ride because we’re stronger together. Whether it’s at a college campus, the US Capitol, a synagogue or a church, it’s all about connecting communities.”

This is the first year that University of Delaware students banded together as a group to welcome Team 26.

Freshman Avery Jones, who graduated from William Penn High School in New Castle in 2018, has recently launched a new club on campus – Students Demand Action. Her goal is to introduce students to a variety of gun violence awareness initiatives and to promote voter registration drives before the 2020 election.

While Jones has been worried about gun violence ever since Sandy Hook, she says it was the mass shooting and the response by high school students at the Parkland School in Florida that ignited her to action. “Seeing them move so quickly, getting a march going, and gaining a lot of national exposure, I think that’s what really inspired a lot of students and why we decided to take action.”

The post Governor Greets Cyclers Crossing Country to Combat Gun Violence appeared first on Town Square Delaware.

Fifth graders at the Independence School are really putting their minds to the study of brain science. On a recent visit to labs at the University of Delaware, the middle schoolers met with doctoral students doing cutting-edge research on the human brain and how it works.

The Independence School students spent a day at the University of Delaware’s Department of Linguistics and Cognitive Science, where they learned about tools and technologies scientists and researchers are using to understand the mind.

The April 9th visit marked the first time the labs have hosted a middle school STEM event, which the University hopes will encourage some students to pursue education and careers in science.

Graduate and doctoral students took time out of their day to try to inspire other students – future scientists and engineers and researchers.

The middle schoolers learned about parts of the brain and their function by working on activities as simple as a paper hat brain diagraming project and as complex as testing SMARTING EEG (Electroencephalography) caps — real devices that measure electrical activity that is naturally occurring in the brain. 

“Basically, our brain sends information throughout our body through electrical currents via neurons, and EEG can measure these signals. We taught the kids how this happens,” said Julie M. Schneider, Ph.D., Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at
University of Delaware.

“We also explained to the students that when we conduct EEG research, we have people participate in tasks, like listening to sentences or reading words on the screen, and we can map what they are hearing and seeing onto the EEG signal so that we know how their brain responds to that type of stimulus.”

Several students also took turns as doctor and patient, both performing an MRI using a mock MRI machine (magnetic resonance imaging) and entering the simulator, which gave them a glimpse of what it might be like to have an MRI. “Part of the educational experience is to simply help dispell any myths they might have about the equipment and science in general,” said Schneider.

“I thought the field trip was really fun and interesting,” said fifth-grader Brinton Harra. “Our visit to the lab makes me think about becoming a neuroscientist when I grow up.”

The trip supplemented the fifth graders’ intensive, year-long Learning Applications (LeApps) course, which includes studying the brain, neuroplasticity and many other aspects of learning.

The post Kids Put Their Minds to Brain Science appeared first on Town Square Delaware.

Back in November, you may recall we heralded with delight the “official” end of the epic road construction project on the vital, overloaded stretch of Rte. 141 through Greenville.

The opening of all traffic lanes was much welcomed to regular drivers on the mile plus stretch of roadway, one of New Castle County’s busiest. 

That marked the completion of one part of the overall 141 project but the beginning of another.  Since then, you may have also noticed not only the lingering presence of orange construction barrels, but that two major on/off ramps from/to 141/52 have been closed and we’ve learned another is set to follow.

As we reported in November:

Phase 5 of the project, which is projected to begin in March 2019, will include stormwater pond rehabilitation, landscaping along the median and alongside the roadways, rehabilitation and paving on the multi-use path along the roadway, and repaving the Lancaster Pike intersection and approaches to the new roadway in both directions.

This work will require intermittent lane and shoulder closures — but not during rush hour and not for more than a few hours each day — and is expected to take eight weeks.

We checked in with DelDOT for an update on this work along with questions about when the giant “construction campground” alongside 141 near Barley Mill Road will be cleaned up.  Here’s what we learned:

Q. When will the entrance ramp from Kennett Pike onto southbound 141 and the ramp from 141 north onto Kennett Pike be opened?

A. Pending weather, the Rte. 52 southbound to 141 southbound ramp will reopen this Thursday. The 141 northbound to 52 eastbound (into the city) ramp should be open by May 15 pending weather. These ramp closures have been necessary to complete curbing work.

Q. Are there other ramp closures coming?

A. The 141 northbound ramp to 52 northbound closure will take place after May 15 and take about two weeks to complete.

Q. How about the bike path work?

A. The daytime 141 northbound lane closure for the bike path work should be wrapped up this Thursday. This path starts at Barley Mill Road and goes up onto Route 52 and will be reopening this week for cyclists and pedestrians.

Q. What other work then is left for completion?

A.  The last part of the contract will be paving the Route 48 intersection and the area around the Montchanin Road intersection and completing work on the stormwater pond by the railroad bridge.

Q. When will all the construction vehicles, gear and materials be cleaned up by 141?

A: No definitive date yet, but safe to say end of summer.

The post Update on Kennett Pike/141 Exit/Entrance Ramps and When Construction Campground Will Go appeared first on Town Square Delaware.

Ardavia Lee stands beneath a photo of her mother with other Wilmington firefighters holding her 2019 State Youth of the Year award from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware

In late 2016, Ardavia Lee’s whole world came crashing in. She and her three sisters were home alone when they heard three knocks at their front door. Opening the door to face Wilmington firefighters wearing a ‘sea of red, white and blue,’ Lee and her sisters were told the grim news that their mother, Ardythe Hope, was badly injured after fighting a blaze in Canby.

Hope was Wilmington’s first African-American female firefighter, and her daughters were enormously proud of their mother’s courageous line of work. But with injuries too severe to treat, Hope died, leaving her three children to find their way. 

After months of healing and working with many in the community who vowed to help, Ardavia made it her mission to get back on her feet. One place she sought solace was the Greater Newark Boys & Girls Club, where the basketball program and community service projects helped keep her busy.

Now 18 years old, Ardavia Lee mentors others at the Greater Newark Boys & Girls Club

“My life was overwhelming, and I did not know how to handle it. One thing that remained clear was the constant support of the Club staff and my teammates. Today I am a person who is constantly smiling and encouraging of others,” she said.

Ardavia shared her powerful and triumphant story at the annual Youth of the Year event on April 11th at The Queen in Wilmington, where she was awarded the Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware’s 2019 Delaware Youth of the Year. “I am so proud to be a small part of something so much bigger than I am. The Boys & Girls Club is not just a Club to me. It’s my home,” she said.

Ardavia Lee on April 11th, when she received the 2019 Youth of the Year award

In presenting their award to Ardavia, the organization said the St. Elizabeth’s senior is much more than the sum her circumstances. “She is a thriving young woman, who conducts herself with grace and self-worth. She is a leader in her Club and community and a role model for all young people,” said John Wellons, President of Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware.

Award presenters said that while Ardavia didn’t have a choice in losing her mother on that fateful day, she did have a choice in how she chose to move forward. “She has worked hard to walk through her pain, and lean into her faith, family and community and live each day in the spirit of her mother,” said Boys & Girls Club of Delaware’s Hilary LaMotte Burke.

In February Ardavia was awarded a $25,000 Sallie Mae Bridging the Dream Scholarship for excelling both inside and outside the classroom.

Like her fallen firefighter mother, Ardavia is committed to helping others. When she’s not busy maintaining her 3.94 GPA, playing basketball, volleyball or throwing for the track team, she is volunteering in her community and her Club. She is considering her college choices, which include Delaware State University and the University of Delaware. She even hopes to attend law school after college. 

As Delaware Youth of the Year, Ardavia will receive a $5,000 scholarship from Boys & Girls Clubs of America and $3,500 in scholarships from Janosik Family Charitable Foundation and Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware.

Joining Ardavia in the Youth of the Year Finalist pool were five other outstanding youth from across the state. Selected among thousands of Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware youth, Tyler C. of Seaford, Tiffany G. of Wilmington, Tair R. of Milford, Jai’mere S. of Laurel and Justin W. of Dover represented their local Boys & Girls Clubs.

“Becoming Delaware Youth of the Year is an exciting and inspirational journey. These young people serve as model ambassadors for other Boys & Girls Club youth and as a strong voice for all young people,” said Burke.

The post Daughter of Fallen Firefighter Wins Delaware Youth of the Year appeared first on Town Square Delaware.

L to r: Cathy Elzea, Seth Lampkins, Direct Support Professional Monica Muchene, CeCe Morris and awardee David Oruko. Photo by Ken Swann.

David Oruko finds great joy in providing new possibilities to people who find some of life’s simplest tasks difficult — like how to feed or dress oneself. Oruko works as a house manager at a group home for Mosaic in Delaware, a holistic healthcare provider that serves people with developmental disabilities, mental and behavioral health needs and autism.

Staff and program participants say not a day goes by that they are not immensely grateful for the tireless effort Oruko puts forth toward making each Mosaic resident feel cared for, respected and more independent.

Selected from nearly 350 people nominated nationally, Oruko was recently named the Direct Support Professional of the Year for Delaware.

Families of residents say they are truly blessed to have someone as compassionate as Oruko care for their loved ones. Parents of adult children in the Mosaic home managed by Oruko are often surprised to see their children learning to do things they never thought they could. One parent said David positively changed not only her life, but the life of her son by teaching her son to do things for himself such as putting together a grocery list, learning to shave, and do laundry. 

“I help them manage many day-to-day responsibilities that you and I take for granted. But then they go to work, they go to senior centers or other programs, just like you and me,” said Oruko.

“Priceless fulfillment” is what David Oruko said he gains by helping others and seeing them smile through his work as an award-winning direct support professional (DSP) at Mosaic. “Initially this used to be a job,” Oruko said. “But now it’s just a part of my life. The individuals have given me so much that I consider them to be part of my family.”

The post Delaware Man Honored for ‘priceless fulfillment’ of Serving the Disabled appeared first on Town Square Delaware.

For the first time ever, races at Point-to-Point were called off yesterday due to the relentless downpour that organizers say were unprecedented. While many speculated that the races would be held today (Monday), Winterthur has confirmed that the National Steeplechase Association has made no plans yet for rescheduling.

“We are 40-1 for races here,” a representative at Winterthur told TSD who added that the rain didn’t dampen the spirits of tailgaters. “I suspect that everyone knew what they were getting into and weren’t going to let that get I the way of a good time,” he said.

Indeed, most tailgaters seemed perfectly happy slogging their way through muddy walking paths on the grounds of Winterthur with an umbrella in one hand, a drink in the other. Still, the day was challenging for hosts. “Other than my car getting a little stuck in the mud and a couple of people bailing because of the weather, I think I’m Okay. But we’re still going to have a good time,” said Stacey Meyer.

Meyer, whose boyfriend was one of the jockeys, who was supposed to race yesterday afternoon, said that the forecast for May 5th was “100% rain for all 7 days leading up to it.” So she knew to come prepared with ‘cute rainboots,’ a tent and food that could be shared from the trunk of her car.

Catherine Short comes every year to Point to Point, where she typically hosts an elaborate tailgate party on the rails. For her, the heavy downpour prompted her to scale back. “Well, I had to completely change my outfit and wear a different hat. I usually have so many more flowers, but this year I have a lot less. I’ve really had to scale down. I usually bring all of my grandmother’s silver and china but this year I had to simplify. So I went with disposable plates and less food that I could offer from the back of my car. That was that’s the theme this year simplify, simplify.”

While everyone was prepared for the elements, there seemed to be a decided generational difference, with many younger women and girls wearing Hunter rainboots with sundresses and sweaters or a jean jacket, and older tailgaters wearing lined raincoats and jeans or long pants tucked into rain boots.

Wearing a pair of navy blue duck boots, Mary Casey said her high school daughter asked whether she didn’t have a more attractive pair of rainboots to wear.  And Maureen Murphy said her daughter came to Point-to-Point wearing a white sundress. “My sister Michele texted my daughter and me before we all headed over here, and she wrote, ‘There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear.’ But my daughter still showed up here today like it was a day on the beach.”

Attendance was noticeably down, with some tailgaters choosing to cancel or move their parties indoors to private residences. But there were two noticeable perks — staff didn’t seem to bother checking for the wrist bands as people entered the private tailgate area, and Winterthur planner Jill Abbott allowed hosts to erect tents at their spots for the first time. “There is no way we could have even had this party if we didn’t have a tent,” said Amy Mottola. “It would have been a complete wash-out.”

When hosts Gary and Dana Nitsche plan for their tailgate, they start with a new menu and make everything from scratch. “Well, we had to scale back on the food because a few of our guests bailed. But our outlook is always the same — it’s a great time because of the people who are here — good friends and family,” she said.

Wilmington Friends Junior Annabel Teaugue said the weather made a difference this year. “The ground is so slippery. So it’s honestly easier to stay in one place.  And everything is better when the sun’s out! But we’re all in the same boat, and it’s nice that my friends are hanging out together at one tailgate all day.”

Point-to-Point first-timer Lexi Paterson said she and her friends were coming rain or shine. “It’s totally fine in the rain. We’re all here dressed up – with our boots on – and having fun with friends. Now I see why so many people come year after year,” she said.

When TSD talked to some of the tailgaters whose spots were not on the rails whether they were disappointed that the races were canceled, one confessed, “Oh, I guess I didn’t realize there were no races. We came to have fun with our friends, and we’re having  a really good time.”

The post Rain and Mud Cancels Races But not Partying at Point to Point appeared first on Town Square Delaware.

Tony the Tiger pitched in today as Food Lion donated enough food for 10,000 meals today for the Food Bank of Delaware

With some friendly assistance by Kelloggs’ Tony the Tiger, Food Lion helped jump-start Delaware’s annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive today by donating 10,000 meals to the Food Bank of Delaware in celebration of the start of the campaign. 

The nation’s largest one-day food drive takes place Saturday, May 11 as the National Association of Letter Carriers – the men and women delivering your mail – gather donations of nonperishable food items residents leave by their mailboxes.

All donations collected in Delaware will be distributed in Delaware.

In addition to today’s large food donation, which took place at the Newark post office, Food Lion has donated thousands of Stamp Out Hunger blue plastic bags that letter carriers are distributing to homeowners this week. But any bag is sufficient.  

To help Stamp Out Hunger, simply leave a bag containing non-perishable foods, such as canned soup, canned fruits and vegetables, canned meats and cereals next to your mailbox before the time of regular mail delivery on Saturday. Food items should be in non-breakable containers, such as boxes and cans. Letter carriers will bring the food items back to local offices and then bring them directly to the Food Bank of Delaware.

Stamp Out Hunger in order to provide food assistance to Delawareans who rely on the Food Bank of Delaware’s network of hunger-relief partners for support. Last year, letter carriers in Delaware collected more than 119,000 pounds of food for the Food Bank of Delaware’s network of partners.

“We are the eyes and ears of our community,” said Aishia Tolson, food drive coordinator and Newark letter carrier. “This is a way to give back to people we serve every day.”

Food Bank of Delaware President and CEO Patricia Beebe says the donations come at a critical time. “Ensuring that our partner agencies shelves are stocked is a priority year round, but especially during the spring months when donations are traditionally down,” she said.

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Surrounded by cartons of baby formula and stacks of onesies, books, bibs and toys stacked neatly on tables for anyone to take, a smiling Giovanna Andrews bends down, opens a book and starts reading to a rapt toddler.

Andrews conceived of and launched the Thousand Bib and Book Giveawayinside the Wilmington Public Library — her second significant effort to support young mothers and moms to be.  

On this day of generosity and joy, she is surrounded by dozens of families filling shopping bags with early childhood essentials that Andrews and her Harper’s Heart team of volunteers have collected for distribution.

Trusting that her team can handle the logistics, Andrews stays focused on the little one-and-a-half-year-old little girl so her mom can ‘shop.’ The youngster squeals with delight with every turn of the page.

“This is why I do this – I love interacting with young families and little babies and offering them help. Because not too long ago, I was just like these moms – in crisis and struggling to find help for me and my little baby,” said Andrews.

On April 29^th, Andrews received a 2019 Jefferson Award for “Outstanding Service Benefitting Local Communities” and for developing a successful nonprofit to help mothers in need. Andrews will represent Delaware at the National Jefferson Awards for Public Service ceremony in Washington, DC later this month.

Andrews says she “simply cannot put into words” the overwhelming feeling of affection and affirmation she felt when the Delaware Chapter of the Jefferson Awards for Public Service reached out to her telling her she would be winning an award. “I have never been recognized for anything before. And my organization is so new. It affirmed that what I do really matters,” she said.

Harper’s Heart, which Andrews named after her 14-month-old daughter Isabella Harper Andrews, is not yet a 501-C3 and is less than a year old. But her organization already has a strong presence on social media and a growing awareness among Wilmington area social service agencies, who are drawn to the simplicity of Andrew’s notion that providing young families essential items, at no cost, is a good idea and good for the soul.

“I heard about this from the YWCA. They are always looking out for opportunities like this for young families,” said Sheema Porter.

Porter is always hunting for ways to save as she raises her two young children. “There are so many wonderful things here for young moms like me. But what I really appreciate are the books. I want to get my kids off of tablets and read to them more. I am just so appreciative of what they’re doing for young moms,” she said.

The Wilmington Public Library donated most of the 1,000 books that Harper’s Heart distributed on May 4^th. Donations of larger toys, infant furniture, clothing, shoes, towels, baby formula, toiletries, bibs, blankets, even cases of water came from other organizations, church groups and generous individuals. Volunteers held a free raffle giveaway for a beautiful new basinet.

TSD first met Andrews at her Thousand Diaper Giveaway at the Kingswood Community Center last December. The response was so overwhelming that Andrews had to go home to fetch more supplies to satisfy the needs of the hundreds of moms who showed up for free diapers, clothing and other baby items.

Andrews told us then about her personal story of being pregnant, and later a young mother, and having to turn to strangers for financial support. She was just 21 and in her last semester of college in Pennsylvania – with no means of supporting herself – when Isabella was born.

She turned to the Your Loving Choices crisis pregnancy center in Bloomsburg, where the young mom learned valuable parenting skills and earned “mommy bucks” that she could redeem to “shop” for baby essentials for her daughter. Those mommy bucks came from donations from people she would never be able to meet or thank.

That feeling of gratitude served as the inspiration for Andrews to launch Harper’s Heart. “As I reflected on my pregnancy journey and looked at the items I received from faceless donors, I could not help but be inspired. I knew there were people out in the world that loved my daughter and me who I could never thank. I would never have the chance tell them their gently used onesie made a huge impact on our lives.”

Andrews says Harper’s Heart is on a quest to redefine social service. Their slogan is “Where Service Meets Love,” and they plan to offer more giveaways in the near future. If you would like to donate, you can reach them at HarpersHeartInfo@yahoo.com. You can also follow them on Instagram at @Harpers_Heart.

The post Jefferson Award Winner Brings Joy and Loving Essentials to Young Moms appeared first on Town Square Delaware.

Petals Flowers & Fine Gifts owner Patty McCoy says she wasn’t provided any notice that one of the main arteries leading to her shop would be experiencing closures for much of May

Patty McCoy’s Montchanin flower and gift shop is usually humming with activity this time of year. But McCoy is painting anything but a rosy picture of the cash register-crushing impact on her business caused by the ongoing roadwork around her store.

As reported here Tuesday, the replacement of railroad crossings along Route 100 (AKA Montchanin Road) has resulted in temporary road closures, detours and traffic jams.

McCoy says she understands the need for the upgrades but that it couldn’t have come at a worse time for her business, Petals Flowers & Fine Gifts. “Mother’s Day is the largest floral holiday – period,” she said. McCoy says she places her floral order for Mother’s Day months in advance and expects she is already down $10,000 to $20,000 since the road closure.

Inside Petals Flowers & Fine Gifts, where owner Patty McCoy has loaded up on beautiful gifts and flowers for Mother’s Day and other special spring occasions

“This construction has killed our foot traffic. And seventy-five percent of our business is walk-in. There are just so many events coming up in May where people either need flowers, gifts, or both,” she said. 

Those events include graduations, proms, and end-of-year school celebrations.  And, of course – for those of you who may have forgotten, Mother’s Day this Sunday, May 12. 

McCoy wants shoppers to know that her store is still accessible via Rockland Road, just a little trickier to reach.  

Montchanin Road was closed starting on Monday of this week. DelDOT says sections will remain closed through May 24th.

McCoy says she “got wind” of the Rte. 100 overhaul just one day before work began and that she immediately contacted DelDOT requesting that they delay the work to begin after Mother’s Day but got no relief.

Other businesses in the tiny, tony Montchanin Village include a dental office, executive recruiters, a frame store, an accountant and an interior design shop.

Petals Flowers & Fine Gifts sist on Montchanin Road but can be accessed by Rockland Road

The dental office of Garrett B. Lyons has been notifying patients to set aside extra time in order to make their scheduled appointments.

None of the businesses we spoke said they had been provided an advance head’s up of the road construction and its potential impact.

TSD has reached out to representatives at DelDOT and we will update the story once we hear from them.

The post Road Construction Is no Bed of Roses for Montchanin Florist appeared first on Town Square Delaware.

Mt. Pleasant Elementary school teacher Marla Moore with her gleeful, award-winning 1st graders

First graders who collected nearly 4,000 disposable bottles to build a greenhouse for their school’s garden earned 2nd place in a contest sponsored by the Philadelphia Zoo.

TSD introduced readers to Marla Moore’s 1st grade class at Mt. Pleasant Elementary last month just as they had completed their outdoor conservation project.

Marla Moore’s 1st graders proud of their plastic bottle greenhouse, which saves 4,000 disposable bottles from the landfill and provides year-round growing opportunities

The plastic bottle greenhouse sits over an existing garden bed which the school uses to grow vegetables, eaten by the students in the cafeteria. Now vegetables can grow year-round inside the 6 ft x 6 ft greenhouse, and the plastic bottles avoid the landfill.

Nearly 3,000 students in over 200 classes from over 100 schools participated in the UNLESS Contest through the Philadelphia Zoo this year. The Mt. Pleasant Elementary 1st graders took second place in the Kindergarten to 2nd grade division. 

“When they announced that we were the 2nd place winner, my kids leaped up with excitement! I had tears in my eyes and was trying to not cry. I wanted to place so badly for them because I didn’t want to have to face 19 disappointed little faces,” said Marla Moore.

The Mt. Pleasant 1st graders also raised $2,700 to purchase 750 re-usable water bottles for all of the students at their school. The judges said that extra effort is what catapulted the youngsters to take a second place finish.

A few of Marla Moore’s students pose after their 2nd place win

“The fact that they reached both goals – collecting 4,000 disposable water bottles and raising enough money to give re-usable water bottles to everyone at the school – is pretty remarkable. They worked hard all year long to make this an award-winning project,” said Moore.

Moore said her students now appreciate that even youngsters can have a big impact on their environment. “This project showed my students that identifying a problem, coming up with a plan, and taking action for that plan all pay off. Now, all we have to do is continue to tell our story — a story about how no matter how small you are, you can make big changes in this world.”

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When Janice Kaplan was at the helm of Parade Magazine, the popular Sunday newspaper supplement had a readership of 74 million people. So it was no wonder that when she picked up the phone to ask President-Elect Obama to share an essay for her readers on the eve of his first inaugural speech, he happily obliged.

But Obama’s media relations person said that the newly-elected president couldn’t just give away gems from his upcoming speech, and he asked for guidance from the then editor-in-chief. With about 30 seconds to come up with a response, Kaplan suggested Obama write an open letter to his daughters on his hopes for them over the next four years.

The “Barack Obama: A Letter to My Daughters” cover story got international attention, as did her own interviews with stars including Barbra Streisand, Clint Eastwood, Matt Damon and Daniel Craig.

Author, television producer, broadcast journalist Janice Kaplan visits the Siegel JCC

Kaplan enjoyed her seemingly easy access to “A level players,” spending decades in journalism before turning her focus toward writing books. Now the author of 14 books, including the New York Times bestseller The Gratitude Diaries and her latest, How Luck Happens, Kaplan visited Wilmington’s Siegel JCC today to speak to a packed crowd over lunch.

Kaplan was the featured guest at the Jewish Federation of Delaware’s WOW (Women of Wisdom) spring 2019 event.

The former award-winning producer at Good Morning America and former executive producer of the TV Guide television group didn’t spend time looking back on her career, but instead offered simple advice based on her theory that gratitude brings happiness.

Much of her advice is contained in her bestselling book, The Gratitude Diaries, which is based on a year she pushed herself to live each day with an abundance of gratitude.

A New Year’s Eve resolution leads to Kaplan to write her favorite book

Kaplan’s year of gratitude starts at the end of a long night, one New Year’s Eve, when she sets a resolution to try to live more gratefully.

“This was actually my 13^th book, and I know as authors we’re not supposed to have favorites. But this one was my favorite. And it was my favorite because by getting to live a year gratefully, I ended up living the best year of my life,” she said.

Kaplan had just left as the editor of Parade Magazine when she was asked by a national foundation to do a big survey on gratitude. It was the results of that survey that spurred her to make that New Year’s resolution, dig deeper and write an entire book on her research findings with advice for leading a more grateful life.

Kaplan says she started by being more grateful to the people and things she had long taken for granted. And that each month of the year she would be grateful for something different. “Right after New Year’s, I decided I was going to be grateful to my husband. I thanked him for things he does all the time, but I never seemed to notice.”

Health benefits of living a grateful life

Kaplan says expressions of gratitude can bestow a number of health benefits, including lowering blood pressure, improving sleep and decreasing depression. And continued positive behaviors bring on greater happiness. “One thing that gratitude does is that it quite literally lets you reframe the picture. By only focusing on the positive, things felt really, really different,” she said.

Kaplan even went on to say that psychologists who have studied behavior say connectedness neuron circuits can grow stronger when people express gratitude.                                                    

At the end of her book, Kaplan reflects on what she has learned by focusing her attention more gratefully, saying it had given her the ability to experience joy for almost any reason.

Referencing a Benedictine Monk and author who explored the value of gratitude in the context of spirituality, she said, “It’s not happiness that makes us grateful. It’s gratitude that makes us happy. I wish you to find the good in everything you do.”

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When the Swedes arrived on the banks of the Christina in the early 17^th century they surely made use of a sharp axe or two to clear trees and brush for their new settlement. One must imagine they would be surprised 400 years later to encounter festive young people launching these devices at a target with delight.

But that’s exactly what they would have found on this beautiful spring day at the Constitution Yards seasonal beer garden, where Wilmo Axe opened their throwing pits for the first time.

The business was added this year to Constitution Yards popular activity offerings, bringing what has become a national craze to Delaware.

“The axe range popularity is at a peak right now. It has been sweeping across the country,” said Constitution Yards owner John Heil. “When we founded Constitution Yards, we were trying to be transformational. This is continuing that thought.”

The axe throwing on Wilmington’s Riverfront is the only one of its kind in the area, and it’s all outdoors. And yes, you can enjoy an adult beverage or two, but keeping your wits about you is highly recommended.

Heil says axe throwing is a great group activity, and they expect to appeal to businesses interested in a fun team building exercise that’s a departure from the norm. “This adds to the fun factor, and this is what we’re all about. And it attracts all sorts of folks,” said Heil.

Axe throwing at Constitution Yards is available to kids 14 to 17 years of age as long as a parent or guardian is present. Axe Master Katie Derer says they were pleased they were able to offer it to teens because so many other activities at Constitution Yards are centered around fun for the whole family.

Other activities at the expansive, 30,000 square foot facility include corn hole, badminton, bocce ball, arcade games, life-size Jenga and wiffleball. Kicking up the fun factor yet another notch, sumo wrestling will debut in June.

Derer, who has four years’ experience as an axe master and has been training instructors for the last two weeks, emphasized that safety is their number one priority. “We teach everybody how to throw securely and safely. You do not need to be experienced. It’s definitely something everybody can pick up,” she said.

Wilmo Axe has eight lanes and 16 targets – two targets per lane. There are various ways to compete, but the most popular is the round robin, which is five throws per person. Participants will have two sizes of axes (approved through a national axe throwing organization) to choose from. Up to 10 people per lane can participate in an axe-throwing session.

Hourly throwing for small groups – $20/hour per person – as well as private lane rentals are available. The cost for a private lane rental is $40 for a two-hour reservation with 8-10 people.

Derer says they expect to go through a lot of lumber this summer. So they plan to incorporate monthly bonfires into the axe throwing activity lineup using the wood from the targets.

She says her Wilmo Axe team is ready for the scores of families and party-going revelers who might be attracted to experience the thrill of axe throwing. “For sure this is going to be a hugely exciting thing on the Riverfront. We have always been a very active beer garden. It’s an exceptional way to step outside of your comfort zone.”

Constitution Yards also plans to offer valet parking for the first time this summer on Friday and Saturday nights. They have 60 parking spaces on the property and can park additional cars offsite. But with the rains of the last two weeks, the timing of availability of valet parking is TBD. Pricing also is still in the works.

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Former 76ers general manager and Tower Hill School graduate Pat Williams founded the Orlando Magic in 1987

A newspaper columnist in Orlando recently wrote about a Mount Rushmore of people who revolutionized and revitalized that central Florida city, and one of them was a no-brainer – Walt Disney, who chose the Orlando area to build a fantasy destination for millions of tourists.

But another historical figure he named wasn’t as obvious – Pat Williams. If Disney turned Orlando into a fantasy town, then Williams turned Orlando into a major-league town.

That’s why it was such a big deal when Williams recently announced his retirement from the Orlando Magic, the NBA franchise that he, more than anybody else, helped to create in 1987. Williams, who just turned 79 this month, has been the team’s general manager and executive vice-president and now, after more than 50 years in the business of sports, he is walking away.

Basketball Hall-of-Famer Pat Williams, Tower Hill ’58, discussed leadership with students there last November

Williams, of course, got his start in Delaware, not Florida. He was a star athlete at Tower Hill School who played baseball at Wake Forest before beginning a long and distinguished front-office career in professional sports long before he packed his bags for Orlando.

That career started in baseball with the Phillies organization, and he held various titles as he worked his way up the minor-league ladder, just like a player. Then he jumped to basketball and became the Sixers’ business manager before short stints as general manager of the Chicago Bulls (where he traded for Chet Walker) and the Atlanta Hawks (where he traded away Pete Maravich).

He returned to the Sixers as GM in 1974, when they had one of the worst teams in the NBA, and Williams played a big part in turning that rag-tag group that went 9-73 in 1973 into a team filled with All-Stars who eventually won an NBA Championship.
The story behind Williams’ most important acquisition has become the stuff of legends. The 76ers owner at the time was a soft-spoken businessman named Fitz Dixon.

He made a fortune the old-fashioned way – he inherited it – and he knew nothing about basketball. Fortunately for the Sixers, Williams did. And he knew that the New Jersey Nets – one of the franchises from the upstart American Basketball Association that was invited to join the NBA – were having financial problems and they might be interested in selling the rights to their star player, a guy by the name of Julius Erving.

Williams approached Dixon about the possibility, but Dixon had never even heard of Erving – don’t forget, in those primitive times before ESPN, etc., the ABA games were rarely on television and few people had seen Dr. J’s high-flying act. Dixon balked at the asking price – more than $6 million, a hefty amount in those days – but Williams convinced him to make the deal by comparing Erving to somebody even a non-sports guy like Fitz Dixon knew about. Williams told his boss that Julius Erving was the Babe Ruth of basketball, and that was enough to sway Dixon.

And the rest is history, not to mention a little geography, as Dr. J moved to Philadelphia and transformed the Sixers from chumps to champs.

Then Williams was given another challenge – a group of investors wanted to bring an NBA franchise to Orlando, which isn’t exactly the big city no matter how many Epcot Centers they build there. Williams joined the group in 1987 and he used his connections and persuasiveness to get the coveted franchise, and suddenly Orlando was known for Shaquille O’Neal as much as it was known for Mickey Mouse.

Pat Williams’ personal life is as interesting and eclectic as his professional one. For one thing, he is the father of 18 children and 14 of them were adopted, from four different nations. And Williams has really made his mark as an inspirational and motivational speaker and prolific author – he’s written more than 100 books, including his latest, Character Carved in Stone, which is subtitled Leadership Secrets of the United States Military Academy at West Point. The book has made the New York Times’ best-seller list.

It hasn’t always been fun and games for Williams, however. In 2011, he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, which is often a fatal cancer, and he underwent treatment for the disease, including chemotherapy and stem cell therapy. The disease did go into remission and Williams is currently cancer-free.

The disease didn’t slow Williams down and retirement won’t, either. You get the feeling that Williams isn’t done yet, that he has another 100 books in him. The energy and passion that he has always had – whether it’s convincing Fitz Dixon to pay more than $6 million for Julius Erving, inspiring an audience at one of his motivational seminars, or dealing with a serious disease – hasn’t gone away just because he’s stepped away from the NBA.

That unabashed enthusiasm has carried Pat Williams through a long and fruitful life, from Tower Hill to Mount Rushmore.

The post Wilmingtonian, Hall-of-Famer Pat Williams Has Left His Mark on NBA and Orlando appeared first on Town Square Delaware.

Delaware Food Battles founder JulieAnne Cross with Tom Kramer of Lefty’s in Rehoboth – one of the Grilled Cheese Battle winners, 2018

Considering that less than 20 percent of chef positions in the U.S. are held by women, JulieAnne Cross has made her way into local foodie “stardom” by applying her passion for gastronomy with an unusual tack: staging culinary battles.

The founder of the Delaware Food Battles has been facilitating burger competitions between area chefs since 2012, and in 2018, she launched a new competition: the Grilled Cheese Battle, taking place this Wednesday, May 22.

Mojo Loco’s Carne Asada grilled cheese sandwich, with poblano pepper, homemade onion jam, and gooey, dripping American cheese, wowed last year’s guests

This year’s event has already surpassed 2018’s participation (story and pics from last year’s event here), with a 35% increase in restaurant competitors. While this is Cross’ business, she tells us her work is all part of her mission to “make the place I live more fun.”

This year’s Grilled Cheese Battle moves from the suburbs to downtown Wilmington’s Queen Theatre on Market Street, bringing Cross’s work full circle to her days throwing city block parties.

“I’ve thrown block parties on Market Street, and I’ve put on nightlife events on every block from Fifth to Eleventh Street. I finally have the opportunity to bring the Delaware Food Battles inside city limits and I can’t wait to be considered another annual festival that city dwellers and suburbanintes block off their calendars for,” Cross, a former TSD contributor, said.

The Grilled Cheese Battle is an indoor competition that challenges participants to vie for a single ‘People’s Choic’e trophy. The winner is determined by votes cast by attendees.

Mojo Loco, who serve up tacos out of a food truck, took home the top prize at last year’s inaugural Grilled Cheese Battle

Fifteen chefs are signed up to be the Delaware grilled cheese king/queen in 2019.

Cross said, the combination of bread and cheese somehow sparks creativity in everyone from working moms to professional chefs. “That triggers passionate opinions from elite foodies with broad palates, as well as picky eaters.”

Tickets are on sale, at $40 in advance and $50 at the door. Guests can sample each entry and get two drink tickets for beer or wine, as well as entertainment. A portion of the event’s proceeds will support the Food Bank of Delaware, which provides nutritious foods to Delawareans in need and facilitates long-term solutions to the problems of hunger and poverty through community education and advocacy.

Eight years into her career as a ringleader in Delaware’s culinary competition circus, Cross reflects on what got her to this point.

“I was relatively new to restaurant marketing, social media being a pretty recent addition to any marketer’s arsenal. One day I saw Rachael Ray’s Burger Bash on TV, and a lightbulb went off, leading me to bring the idea to a client. Not only were there very few food competitions happening in Delaware, but there were zero burger competitions that I was aware of. That was the start of my foray into food competitions.”

She’s made a lot of friends along the way, with over fifty restaurants competing for just a handful of trophies in burger and grilled cheese battles since 2012.

Not surprisingly, she’s gained support from female entrepreneurs and chefs.

Sasha Aber, owner of Home Grown Cafe, has competed in Cross’s food battles six times since 2013, winning two Burger Battle trophies in that time. She said, “JulieAnne has been putting on food events for almost a decade. She is great at bringing diverse chefs together for friendly, laid back, but at the same time, highly competitive and exciting competitions.”

JulieAnne Cross (left) with a Delaware Burger Battle winner, 2014. Photo by Allesandra Nicole.

Chef Tara Kenyon, 8^th & Union Kitchen’s executive chef until 2018, said, “I first met JulieAnne through the amazing event that is the Delaware Burger Battle when I was just up and coming as a female chef. She’s been a consultant when it comes to the restaurant industry ever since! To see another lady leader rising up to help the community really gives you strength. She’s another reminder that women rule.”

The 2018 Grilled Cheese Battle featured eleven competitors, with food truck Mojo Loco taking home a trophy from their first-ever Delaware Food Battle entry.

They will return to defend their title, along with Home Grown Café and Maiale Deli and Salumeria (both multiple trophy winners in the Delaware Burger Battle), Brandywine Prime, Brick Works Brewing and Eats, Chuck Lager – America’s Tavern, Delicious Craving, Drip Cafe, Ernest & Scott Taproom, Lefty’s Alley & Eats, Sonora at the David Finney Inn, Stitch House Brewery, Uncle John’s BBQ and WildWich.

Beneficiary Food Bank of Delaware will also serve samples prepared by their Culinary School students.

The post Lady Food Boss Serving Up Delaware’s Best at 2019 Grilled Cheese Battle appeared first on Town Square Delaware.

The long-awaited opening of Chuck Lager’s American Tavern in Pike Creek brought an international celebrity chef to town, and he wasted no time putting on the apron and getting behind the line in the kitchen.

Top Chef star Fabio Viviani, a native of Florence, Italy, was here for the weekend-long opening for Chuck Lager’s, which is the first in a new chain of upscale tavern restaurants Viviani and his partners are launching across the US.

“It was awesome to see Fabio go into action … he took command of the kitchen and we really saw what he was made of,” said Craig Colby, a local restauranteur who along his twin brother Michael Colby is a co-owner with Viviani of the new eatery at the corner of Limestone and New Linden Roads. “It was very impressive.”

Family and friends got the first look at the appealing, classically American comfort-foodish menu on Thursday night, and VIPs were feted on Friday. 

Then Saturday was the grand public opening, which Colby says was “flawless” from an execution standpoint.  A 20-minute computer system malfunction on Sunday was the only hitch in the successful kickoff, but that hasn’t affected early reviews of the food and service, which have been positive (we haven’t eaten there yet).

Chuck Lager’s décor – like the menu – is comfortable and welcoming, with attractive concrete flooring with a cool metallic finish, cushioned seating for 175 (another 40 seats will soon be available on the outside patio), tables and banquettes, and contemporary lighting fixtures throughout.

Expansive floor to ceiling windows facing the center’s parking lot are flanked by handsome brick walls where the Colbys have perched flat screen TVs (for sports fans) or large beer graphics that hark back to the 1950’s.

“Our graphic designer really hit it out of the park,” said Colby. Interestingly, the Colby brothers hired a California designer to create the golden beverage graphics before they knew what they would offer behind the bar. “We loved his work so much that we literally chose several of our beers based on the designer’s work,” he said.

The Colby brothers, who live just over the Delaware line in PA, jumped into the food biz in the 1990’s, at one point owning 15 Burker Kings. They now own several Red Robins in the state and other restaurants in Washington state, New Jersey and Florida. 

The Fabio-Colby team also have another dozen projects they are in development stages on throughout the country, including one in Delaware: a new all-natural chicken spot – Dixie Chix Southern Kissed Chicken – which will open between the Royal Farms and Border Cafe on Route 7 in September.

Viviani calls Dixie Chix a “chef-driven, higher-end hipster version of Chick-Fil-A.” Former World Series Phillies star Ryan Howard joins the team for the Dixie Chix venture. 

Chuck Lagers has 24 beers on tap, 24 bourbons, and a variety of bottled and canned beer. Spiked milkshakes will soon be added. Their Smoked Mozzarella appetizer, an employee favorite, comes with a tasty tomato jam, arugula and parmesan cheese. Wings are smoked for hours before they are put in the fryer and served with three signature sauces. The Creamy Polenta app with roasted mushrooms was meant to bring in a little Kennett Square flair.

The pasta and meatball dish includes Fabio’s signature one-pound meatball. “It is delicious, and I have yet to finish one on a single sitting,” said Colby. Viviano gave an “Italian treatment” to the NY Strip Steak on the menu, “making it even better than what you would come to expect from a steakhouse,” added Colby.

We caught up with celebrity chef Viviani to find out how the heck he ended up opening this concept restaurant in the First State, and to get the low down on the mysterious Mr. Chuck Lager himself. 

So why Delaware for your latest venture?

For me, Craig and Michael Colby — my business partners — we got together discussing hospitality about a year and a half ago. They are local. They are from here. They operate a few chain restaurants in the area, and they wanted to do something different. They wanted to do more of a classic American tavern, food made from scratch.

We are planning to do a lot of projects throughout the United States. Chuck Lager was one of the brands we discussed to own and operate with our business partner Chuck Lager. So what happened was very simple. We put together a business plan, we put together a menu, we tested a bunch of things. We searched for a location like this for about a year. 

How did you meet Craig and Michael Colby?

Through many mutual friends in hospitality. They were looking for a culinary partner — an operating partner / chef for several concepts they had in mind. And we all contributed to the process of making this restaurant a reality.

The thing is that we own and operate a lot of restaurants in a lot of busy metropolitan areas. So for us to do concept outside of big cities – in a suburban area, more of a neighborhood restaurant – while still keeping the hipster, cool, rustic but a little bit refined aspect of the hospitality that we provide for downtown locations, it was a good fit.

You have several restaurants across the country —

This is my 31^st restaurant. Everywhere from Chicago to L.A. and New York City, to Tampa, Detroit, San Diego, Arizona, Oklahoma, and Upstate New York.

How did you break through into the national Foodie scene?

Bravo Top Chef was the show that put me on TV. But since then, I’ve done countless shows. I’ve had a lot of fun doing those. Some of them I’ve won. I look good on TV, I think. But I’m not a TV guy. Meaning I will open a new restaurant all day over TV. If someone comes to me and says do you want to have a new restaurant or a brand new TV show, I’ll pick the restaurant.

You know, most of my colleagues will sell their soul to the devil to stay on TV and be famous I don’t care. I would rather be unknown with a hundred restaurants than a celebrity with one burger joint.

What impresses you most about Delaware?

You know, I think there are a lot of B and C locations – and I don’t mean from a quality perspective. I mean from a density, a population, easy to reach perspective. I tend to focus on ‘A’ locations for hospitality because the concentration of people is very high, so there’s a higher likelihood of people being exposed to and enjoying your brand.

But for me, the B and the C markets are big opportunities because just like in Delaware, there is a good amount of people, and the best part is that there is not a ton of options. So when you come to town, it’s like the circus coming to town. Everybody goes!

And for me, that’s important because my goal is not to be famous. My goal is to feed people. And if I can be the “plus 1” in the area – “Oh, Fabio has a restaurant here. Let’s go check it out” – then that spells success to me.

Tell us about the menu and your choices there.

So, the idea of the menu is cravers that America loves.

I love American cravers. There is a hint of Italian. The Chicken Marsala is the best you will ever have. I will put my Chicken Marsala here up against any restaurant chicken marsala in the state. But we also have a great Tuna Tartare app with ponzu sauce made with Takarashi spice and staples like burgers, pizza and tacos. 

We have things that are not American, but America loves. We have nachos. You know, America doesn’t have a thousand-year history for food and culture. It’s very recent as a country. So the reality is that there are a lot of influences on American cuisine. A lot of the food that America loves is not American food!

Think about Chuck Lager being the American melting pot of every single dish you dream about.

One of our guests said last night, “This is a hybrid between the best American food I’ve ever had and the stoner food I wanna eat whenever I’m off on a weekend and I want to get high!” I find it funny! Because the reality is it’s true! It’s the food that you don’t get to enjoy every day.

How would you describe a craver?

A craver is like “Oh my god, you have to try this.” A craver is a dish that’s well done that you want to go back for more.”

Tell us more about Chuck Lager. His name almost sounds fictitious – a name entirely perfect for your new restaurant.

Our business partner Chuck is an old family friend and a world-class traveler. He is a very successful American businessman – with investments in oil, gas and hospitality (hotels) – and with several interests abroad. As a matter of fact, he’s probably biking right now somewhere in Malaysia. Aside from Chuck Lager being The Most Interesting Man in the World alongside the man from Dos Equis (haha), Chuck is a world-class traveler and gourmand.

And yes, “Chuck” is also beef chuck, one of the tastiest parts of beef to make burgers. And “Lager” is like beer. So when we were thinking about a name for this restaurant, using Chuck’s name seemed like an obvious choice.

The post Chuck Lagers’ Opening Brings National Celebrity Chef Swagger to Pike Creek appeared first on Town Square Delaware.

Ardavia Lee stands beneath a photo of her mother with other Wilmington firefighters holding her 2019 State Youth of the Year award from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware

In late 2016, Ardavia Lee’s whole world came crashing down. She and her three sisters were home alone when they heard a knock at their front door. Opening the door to face Wilmington firefighters wearing a ‘sea of red, white and blue,’ Lee and her sisters were told the grim news that their mother, Ardythe Hope, was badly injured after fighting a blaze in Canby Park.

Hope was Wilmington’s first African-American female firefighter, and her daughters were enormously proud of their mother’s courageous line of work. But with injuries too severe to treat, Hope died, leaving her three children to find their way. 

After months of healing and working with many in the community who vowed to help, Ardavia made it her mission to get back on her feet. One place she sought solace was the Greater Newark Boys & Girls Club, where the basketball program and community service projects helped keep her busy.

Now 18 years old, Ardavia Lee mentors others at the Greater Newark Boys & Girls Club

“My life was overwhelming, and I did not know how to handle it. One thing that remained clear was the constant support of the Club staff and my teammates. Today I am a person who is constantly smiling and encouraging of others,” she said.

Ardavia shared her powerful and triumphant story at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware’s annual fundraiser on April 11th at The Queen in Wilmington, where she was awarded the 2019 Delaware Youth of the Year. “I am so proud to be a small part of something so much bigger than I am. The Boys & Girls Club is not just a Club to me. It’s my home,” she said.

Ardavia Lee on April 11th, when she received the 2019 Youth of the Year award

In presenting their award to Ardavia, the organization said the St. Elizabeth’s senior is much more than the sum her circumstances. “She is a thriving young woman, who conducts herself with grace and self-worth. She is a leader in her Club and community and a role model for all young people,” said John Wellons, President of Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware.

Award presenters said that while Ardavia didn’t have a choice in losing her mother on that fateful day, she did have a choice in how she chose to move forward. “She has worked hard to walk through her pain, and lean into her faith, family and community and live each day in the spirit of her mother,” said Boys & Girls Club of Delaware’s Hilary LaMotte Burke.

In February Ardavia was awarded a $25,000 Sallie Mae Bridging the Dream Scholarship for excelling both inside and outside the classroom.

Like her fallen firefighter mother, Ardavia is committed to helping others. When she’s not busy maintaining her 3.94 GPA, playing basketball, volleyball or throwing the shotput for the track team, she is volunteering in her community and her Club. She is also considering her college choices, which include Delaware State University and the University of Delaware. She even hopes to attend law school after college. 

Ardavia with Firefighter Corey Ferrell, who grew up with Ardavia’s mom and was an H. Fletcher Brown Club member as a kid.

As Delaware Youth of the Year, Ardavia will receive a $5,000 scholarship from Boys & Girls Clubs of America and $3,500 in scholarships from Janosik Family Charitable Foundation and Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware.

Joining Ardavia in the Youth of the Year Finalist pool were five other outstanding youth from across the state. Selected among thousands of Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware youth, Tyler C. of Seaford, Tiffany G. of Wilmington, Tair R. of Milford, Jai’mere S. of Laurel and Justin W. of Dover represented their local Boys & Girls Clubs.

“Becoming Delaware Youth of the Year is an exciting and inspirational journey. These young people serve as model ambassadors for other Boys & Girls Club youth and as a strong voice for all young people,” said Burke.

The post Daughter of Fallen Firefighter Wins Delaware Youth of the Year appeared first on Town Square Delaware.

On a day filled with bright sunshine and steamy temps nearing 90 degrees, a handful of invited visitors were treated to frosty, delicious scoops of ice cream this morning at Rockwood Park as part of a preview of next month’s Ice Cream Festival.

A hot air balloon, super-magnification telescopes and a big-time fireworks display are just some of the activities in store for New Castle County’s Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Festival on Saturday, June 29^th.

The festival will go all day, from Noon to 9 pm, concluding for the first time in over a decade with fireworks at dusk.    Should the weather be uncharitable, a rain date is set for Sunday, June 30^th.

Hot air balloon and special daytime telescopes

The hot air balloon will at times be inflated and tethered to the ground and semi-inflated and lying on its side so that kids and their parents will be able to walk through. “The hot air balloon will be a really cool experience,” said Carey Lockman-Corbin, community services coordinator for New Castle County. “I think the colorful balloon will not only look great, but it will be a lot of fun for families.”

The Mount Cuba Observatory is hoping the forecast calls for lots of sunshine because they are bringing several high-powered telescopes equipped with special filters to Rockwood Park so fairgoers can look directly at the sun.

The festival will look a little different this year – no carnival rides or bungee trampoline activities – as organizers try to return the festival to its roots and revitalize the original spirit of the event.

Look for the new Author’s Alley and Vintage Marketplace

People looking for a day of fun and plenty to eat will still find lots of choices at this year’s event. The Local Food Court will include a mix of restaurants and food trucks — 10 in all — selling smoked BBQ, pizza, tacos, Carribean soul food, kettle corn and more.

A local music sound stage will feature seven different bands, including Hoochi Coochi and the Wilmington Concert Opera, and there will be a variety of kid’s activities, like giant bubbles, face painting, a photo booth, stilt walkers, opportunities to meet costumed characters and a kiddie train. The schedule of musical performances and list of activities and exhibitors can be found here.

Also new this year is an ‘Author’s Alley,’ with published local authors reading excerpts from their books (also for sale of course), and a Vintage Marketplace with a variety of antique and handcrafts items sponsored by First State Flea.

“It’s a combination of antiques and handmade items, like handmade soaps and candles as well as home accents and jewelry. So, we’re really supporting local entrepreneurs and also a few local museums, who will sell gift items,” said Lockman-Corbin.

Ice Cream and Cold Treats

Seven ice cream and water ice vendors (two this year) who take great pride in their locally-run businesses have pledged not to run out of their ice cold treats. This year’s include Caffe Gelato, Dino’s Water Ice, Ice Cream Shoppe, Kilby Cream, Kona Ice, UDairy Creamery and Woodside Farms Creamery.

Organizers want to remind festival-goers that while admission is free for kids 12 and under accompanied by a paying adult, the ice cream and all food at the event is pay-as-you-go. Admission is $5 for attendees 13 and over.

County Executive Matt Myer thanked the Rockwood Park Preservation Society for their support of the park and the festival. “This is an effort to make sure that this park and the friends of this park have the funding they need to move this park forward long into the future,” he said.

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