Community Briefs 7/17/24

Farm bureau to take part in state fair events

Delaware Farm Bureau team members are looking forward to enjoying refreshing milkshakes from the farm bureau food booth while participating in the 10-day Delaware State Fair, which opens Friday, July 19, in Harrington. Highlights include young ag professionals showcasing their livestock, the young farmers and ranchers’ antique tractor pull event and a pig-kissing contest. Farm bureau representatives at a booth in the Agricultural Commodities Building will educate the public on the importance of agriculture. Visitors can also test their agricultural knowledge with a trivia game and guess the number of lima beans in a jar for a chance to win a prizes. For more information, go to defb.org.

Mediacom launches mobile phone service 

Mediacom Communications recently launched Mediacom Mobile, the company’s new mobile phone service. Offered in partnership with Verizon, and designed to be paired with Mediacom Xtream internet service, Mediacom Mobile will provide consumers speed, scale, reliability and wide-ranging availability at affordable rates.

The unlimited mobile service fee is $40 per month, per line including all taxes and fees. A pay by the gig plan mobile phone service is available for $15 per month, per gigabyte including all taxes and fees. Mediacom Mobile customers will also seamlessly access thousands of Mediacom Xtream Wi-Fi Hotspots across the nation for an enhanced wireless experience inside and outside the home. For more information, go to mediacommobile.com or call 855-633-4226.

Morrissey to represent Delaware at American Legion Boys Nation

Kieran Patrick Morrissey from Cape Henlopen High School and 99 other incoming high school seniors representing 49 states and the District of Columbia will gather for the 78th session of American Legion Boys Nation from Friday July 19 to Friday, July 26, at Marymount University in Arlington, Va.

The 100 student “senators” will learn from a hands-on approach how the U.S. Senate and the federal government function.

Prominent past Boys Nation graduates include former President Bill Clinton, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and the late Sen. Joe Lieberman.

The American Legion Auxiliary sponsors similar programs with Girls State and Girls Nation.

Public urged to try to reunite stray pets

The Delaware Division of Public Health requests the cooperation of the public at this time to assist in making every effort to reunite stray dogs with their owners before contacting the Office of Animal Welfare’s Delaware Animal Services for pickup or taking them to Brandywine Valley SPCA, the state’s contracted animal shelter. This urgent plea is a result of the recent strain on local animal shelters as a result of a canine infectious respiratory disease complex outbreak. Recently, the Delaware Department of Agriculture issued an order prohibiting shelter and rescue dogs from moving in or out of the state due to the outbreak. The impact on local shelters is significant.

“Stray dogs are usually found very close to home, and by walking the dog around the neighborhood or checking with neighbors, the dog can often be reunited with their owner(s) with no need for impoundment,” said Christina Motoyoshi, OAW executive director. “We ask that all finders post the dog on the State Lost and Found Pet Registry at animalservices.delaware.gov/lost/33 so owners may quickly find their pet.”

Young Lewes dancers excel at national championship

Local sisters Erin and Alanna Mayo represented Lewes and the McGough Academy at the North American Irish Dance Championships recently held in Texas. The prestigious competition attracts dancers from across the continent and beyond, celebrating their dedication and skill.

Erin Mayo, competing July 2 in the Under 12B category, secured second place overall and was the top North American dancer in her category. A dancer from England took first place. Erin’s performance affirmed her status as one of the top-level dancers globally.

Showcasing her promising talent, Alanna Mayo participated July 3 in her first national championship in the Under 7 Traditional Set, in which she finished 11th.

As they continue to compete and perform, both Erin and Alanna Mayo will carry the honor of representing their country on international stages, showcasing the rich cultural heritage and talent of American Irish dancers.

Multiple myeloma support group to meet July 20

The Delaware Multiple Myeloma Support Group meets every third Saturday of the month, with occasional exceptions. The next session will be from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., Saturday, July 20, at Milton Public Library. Guest speaker Paula Waite, chaplain from Beebe Healthcare, will discuss advance healthcare planning. For more information, go to myeloma.org/delaware or email Sue Iwahashi at myelomaemailsue@gmail.com.

UUSD to meet July 21

The Unitarian Universalists of Southern Delaware will meet at 10 a.m., Sunday, July 21. Missing the Boat will be the topic. The Rev. Heather Rion-Starr said, “What is happening in your life right now that is something you wished for, but may not be quite as you expected? Is that disappointment you’re feeling, or grace, or something else? Join us in reflecting upon where we have arrived on this day.” For more information, go to uussd.org.

Free estate-planning class set July 22

Delaware Money School will host Avoiding Probate, a free financial class, from 5 to 6 p.m., Monday, July 22, at the Georgetown Public Library, 123 Pine St., Georgetown.

Deirdre O’Shea McCartney, Esq., will facilitate the program.

The class covers avoiding probate, how to make the transition of property occur seamlessly at the time of death, without opening an estate. Having written, spoken and taught on the subject many times, the presenter breaks down what appears to be a complex subject to simple, understandable layman’s terms. This class focuses only on steps the lay person can take so assets transfer at death to the intended beneficiaries by operation of law, immediately and automatically. Those who have served as a personal representative or executor of an estate know firsthand how complex, expensive and time-consuming the probate process can be.

Everyone should have a will prepared by a competent attorney. This class teaches how to prepare an estate in such a manner that the entire probate process can be avoided and the will never comes into play.

Advance registration is required at demoneyschool.org.

Second Street Players director applications due July 22

Second Street Players announces its slate of shows for the 2025 season and is calling for potential directors to submit applications by Monday, July 22. Shows will include “One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest,” “The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales,” “Steel Magnolias,” “Hairspray,” “Villain School,” “Little Shop of Horrors” and “The Homecoming.”

Interested directors will find two separate applications on the website – one for those applying to direct for the first time at SSP and the other for those who have previous SSP directing experience. To obtain applications, and for show dates and full descriptions, go to secondstreetplayers.com. Interviews will begin Monday, July 29.

Second Street Players is a year-round community theater that produces shows covering practically every genre at the Riverfront Theater, 2 South Walnut St. in downtown Milford.

Thompson Island to host All about Fins July 25

Thompson Island Brewing Company and the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays will present an All About Fins happy hour benefit event from 3 to 5 p.m., Thursday, July 25, at the restaurant, 30133 Veterans Way, Rehoboth Beach.

Attendees can enjoy brews and snacks while they learn all about fish, rays and sharks from Nivette Pérez-Pérez, CIB community science manager, and Johnny Moore, a Division of Fish and Wildlife invasive species expert.

Tickets are $15, and proceeds will benefit the Center for the Inland Bays. To purchase, go to tinyurl.com/me9u999s.

Healing benefits of laughter is topic July 26

As part of ongoing efforts to provide Southern Delaware’s older adults with health and wellness programs, WeCare, a personal health nursing service in the Milford Wellness Village, has launched a new partnership with Dickens Parlour Theatre to educate seniors about chronic disease self-management through the healing power of laughter. A Funny Thing about Your Health and Wellness will be held at 1:30 p.m., Friday, July 26, at the theatre, 31810 Good Earth Lane, Ocean View.

Attendees will enjoy a 90-minute session with comedian and healthcare professional Lon Kieffer, who uses humor to explore the caregiver experience and introduce an array of wellness programs. Kieffer is also executive director of the Milford Wellness Village that supports the WeCare program.

“We are thrilled to bring our community together in this unique way. Not only do we provide entertainment, but now we also offer education that empowers our audience to manage their health proactively,” said Rich Bloch, co-founder of Dickens Parlour Theatre.

Admission is free, but space is limited. Individuals are encouraged to sign up at dickensparlourtheatre.com.

Sound bath and inner peace experience set July 28

Dimitra Yoga will present  Sound Bath Workshop - An Inner Peace Experience from 1 to 2:30 p.m., Sunday, July 28, at 17437 Ocean One Plaza, Suite 1, Lewes. Individuals will experience guided meditation and harmonious sounds to promote heart-opening, encouraging kindness and compassion for themselves and one another, and within. In a safe, calming environment. participants will take part in intention-setting and journaling. Attendees can expect to achieve deep relaxation and stress relief, enhanced mental clarity and focus, and emotional and spiritual rejuvenation. Attendees should bring a yoga mat, a journal and pen, and an open heart. For more information and to sign up, go to dimitrayoga.com.

St. Peter’s Vacation Bible School to kick off July 29

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church will host Vacation Bible School with the theme Compassion Camp: What Every Living Thing Needs, from 4 to 6 p.m., Monday, July 29 to Friday, Aug. 2, at Second and Market streets in Lewes.

Compassion Camp explores compassion for self, others and the world. Participants learn about the needs of all living things and how to show compassion for the Earth, including their local ecosystems. By fostering awareness, gratitude, wonderment, reciprocity and kinship, participants become stewards of God's creation.

Water activities are scheduled for Wednesday, July 31. Attendees are asked to dress accordingly and bring a towel. 

For more information and to register, go to stpeterslewes.org/christian-formation/vacation-bible-school.

Second Street Players auditions start July 31

Second Street Players announced upcoming auditions for its fall children’s stage production, “Boo! Thirteen Scenes from Halloween.”

Director Rachel Loper will host open auditions at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, July 31, and Friday, Aug. 2, at Riverfront Theater, 2 S. Walnut St., Milford.

The cast will comprise 15-20 members of varying ages and genders, with many having multiple roles. Prospective cast members must be ages 10-18. Crew members will include two stage managers, four stage crew, one or two light operators and one or two sound operators.

Auditions will consist of a cold reading from the script.

Show dates will be Friday to Sunday, Oct. 4 to 6. 

With a full moon and a grinning jack-o'-lantern beaming from every window, it's a hard heart that doesn't get a little spooked at Halloween. This witch's brew of 13 playlets, each with a sinister twist, is designed to make the skin crawl and tickle funny bones with a few scary chuckles. Full of a wicked assortment of trick-or-treaters, grave diggers, witches and goblins, each story is a special haunt.

For more information, go to secondstreetplayers.com or email rachelbassdrum@aol.com.

Blood drive set in Nassau Commons Aug. 6

In partnership with Dedicated Financial, Delaware Retiree Connection will host a blood drive with Blood Bank of Delmarva from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 6, in the Blood Bank van in the parking lot at 17527 Nassau Commons, Lewes. To register, go to donate.bbd.org or delmarvablood.org or call 888-825-6638.

‘Gentleman’s Agreement’ screening and talk set Aug. 7

The Lewes Public Library, Seaside Jewish Community and Speak Out Against Hate will present a screening of the 1947 film, “A Gentleman’s Agreement” at 4 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 7, at the library, 111 Adams Ave., Lewes.

Based on the novel of the same name by Laura Z. Hobson, the film was directed by Elia Kazan and features actors Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire, John Garfield and Celeste Holm.

In this controversial portrayal of anti-Semitism, for a job assignment a reporter pretends to be a Jew and gains firsthand experience of prejudice in daily dealings with friends, workers and American society.

Before filming began, Samuel Goldwyn and other Jewish film executives are said to have approached Darryl Zanuck and asked him not to make the film, fearing it would stir up trouble.

In light of today’s rising anti-Semitism, the movie once again has relevance, showing how people benefit from walking in the another person's shoes. Attendees are welcome to stay afterward for a discussion moderated by a member of Speak Out Against Hate.

Registration is required. To sign up, go to lewes.lib.de.us and click on the calendar.

Israel UMC to host VBS Aug. 12-16

Emotions for Health workshop set Aug. 14

HealTree will present Emotions for Health from 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 14, at 1632 Savannah Rd, Suite 10, Lewes.

Emotions have frequencies. Thoughts are not esoteric vapors of nothing; they are physical, tangible phenomena in the body that can affect an individual’s emotions, actions and behaviors. Creating real change happens when people work to shift their frequency on a cellular level. Workshop participants will learn to connect to their personal power through emotions and create changes in their health and day-to-day living.

A practicing transformation coach for more than 20 years, workshop facilitator Alexis Brown initially pursued a career in medical science as a histologist. Often called microscopic anatomy and histochemistry, histology allows for the visualization of tissue structure and characteristic changes the tissue may have undergone. Fascinated with scientific research on the mind-body connection, Brown developed a lifelong passion for examining how the subconscious profoundly affects overall quality of life.

To sign up and learn more, go to healtree.co or call 302-827-4683.

Millsboro library summer reading program runs thru Aug. 19

Millsboro Public Library has launched its annual summer reading program, themed Adventure Begins at Your Library.

Readers of all ages are invited to embark on a journey filled with books, activities and events designed to inspire a love of reading and exploration.

“Child literacy is a significant problem in Delaware,” said Anthony Connolly, library assistant director, referring to the latest data published by the state. “Our state has dropped considerably in national reading scores, coming in at 37th in the U.S.” Most agree continued investment in literacy programs is paramount in combating declining literacy rates in the state, he said. “One such investment is a summer reading program at public libraries, like ours. There’s a direct benefit for children who participate.”

Program hIghlights include learning challlenges, interactive storytelling sessions and author visits; craft workshops and science experiments; and scavenger hunts, trivia nights and book-themed escape rooms.

The program continues through Monday, Aug. 19. To sign up, go to millsboro.lib.de.us/summer-reading-program-2024 or stop by the library at 217 West State St., Millsboro.

Apply by Aug. 23 for chamber board position

The Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce has one vacancy on its board of directors for 2024-25. The minimum requirements for board of directors members are as follows: attendance requirements of 50% at general membership meetings and 75% at board meetings; chamber member for at least one year; able to volunteer hours to the chamber; serves as task force chair or co-chair; and participate in interview with executive committee.

The Rehoboth-Dewey chamber requires representation in six business categories: accommodation, attraction, retail, real estate, restaurant/eatery, and service. The chamber also requires representation in three major geographic business areas: Downtown Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach and Route 1.

Applicants for the board of directors are being accepted until Friday, Aug. 23. Those with interest in serving a two-year term on the chamber board in 2024-25 should contact Carol at 302-227-6446, Ext. 13 (office), 302-542-7547 (cell) or carol@beach-fun.com.

Delaware Farm Bureau T-shirt design entries due Sept. 30

The Delaware Farm Bureau invites all youngsters with a connection to agriculture to unleash their creativity for its T-shirt design contest.

Designs will be judged based on creativity, originality and representation of farm bureau values. The winning designer will receive two complimentary tickets to the Delaware Farm Bureau annual banquet Saturday, Dec. 14, when they will be honored for their achievement.

Eligibility is open to anyone 18 years and younger with a connection to agriculture, including but not limited to 4-H and FFA members.

Designs must include the phrase “Delaware Farm Bureau,” and contestants are encouraged to feature DEFB’s tagline, Local Farmers Feeding Your Family. Each design should use no more than three colors and be original work. To submit a 300 dpi high-resolution digital graphic, go to defb.org/defb-t-shirt-design-contest. The deadline to enter is Monday, Sept. 30.