Full Brewgrass
Fest. coverage
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J U N E 2 3 , 2 0 1 5 • V O L . V, I S S U E 2 5
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T H E N E W S O F T H E W E E K F O R G R E AT E R M I L F O R D, D E L A W A R E
Fourth annual Firefly lights up State of Delaware
BY BRYAN SHUPE
The forth annual Firefly Music Festival took
place June 18 through 21 at The Woodlands
in Dover, DE as 90,000 tickets were sold for
the four-day event. Artists heading to The
Woodlands included headliners Paul McCartney
and The Killers as well as Morrissey, Snoop
Dogg, Foster the People, Bastille, Modest
Mouse, Zedd, Hozier, Empire of the Sun and
Kid Cudi. Nearly 100 additional acts performed
across seven stages. Met with inches of rain
during the night and blistering heat during the
day, festival fans were not discouraged from
enjoying over 40 hours of live entertainment.
Aimee Voshell String of Dover, DE attended
the festival for the first time this year, camping
with friends and family. Her favorite performance
for the week was Snoop Dogg as she stated that
“he really knew how to work the crowd.”
Baseball
finds success
Community
speaks to MSD
Submitted photo
See FIREFLY on PAGE 2
Dog days of summer are back
STAFF REPORT
The Milford Dog
Park, located near
the
downtown
Riverwalk at the
corner of Fisher
Avenue and Marshall
Shared by Jessica Malin Daleiden
Street, is open again Chuck, Bogey, Sierra and
after several months Zoe relaxing in the shade
after playing hard at the
of restoration. The
Milford Dog park.
park was closed over
the winter to allow the newly installed sod a
chance to rejuvenate. Receiving substantial use
by pet owners and their four-legged friends
this previous fall, the root system in the park
did not have the opportunity to establish itself
before public use.
“We shut the park down for a few months and
See DOG PARK on PAGE 4
D O YO U E N J OY O U R D I G I TA L N E W S PA P E R ? C L I C K H E R E TO G E T YO U R F R E E S U B S C R I P T I O N !
FIREFLY from FRONT PAGE
“I really enjoyed just seeing it all. The people,
the food, the bands, it was all just exciting to
be a part of it,” stated String. “For me, the best
part was just sharing this experience with my
friends. What I will remember most about this
weekend is all of the laughter and dancing. It
was an incredibly fun experience.”
Many people, young and old, were excited
for the performance of Sir Paul McCartney
on Friday night. He did not disappoint as large
crowds circled the main stage for an almost
three-hour performance that covered over 50
years of music from The Beatles, Wings and
his solo career. Kenney Workman, of Milford,
DE, and his partner Rosanne Pack spent all
four days at the festival and stated that “the best
[performance] was Sir Paul. Besides 2.5 hours
of great music, the visuals and pyrotechnic were
spectacular.”
Workman and Pack also enjoyed a number of
performances including AWOL Nation, Foster
the People, Cage the Elephant, and Snoop Dog.
“This is our second year at Firefly and what I
enjoy the most is hearing music that we may not
be familiar with and the chance to connect with
friends and have a good time,” said Workman.
On Saturday, music fans enjoyed performances
including Foster the People and Sublime with
Rome but missed the headliner Kings of Leon
as their act was cancelled due to the threat of
incoming severe weather. Approximately thirty
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minutes before the headliner’s Firefly debut,
event organizers informed the 90,000 plus
attendees and staff that they would all need
to “evacuate the festival grounds and seek
shelter.” The severe weather included torrential
downpour, flooding and isolate thunderstorms
as some weather stations even reported the
possibility of tornadoes. Fans exited the festival
among the sea of people in what can be described
a fairly organized fashion. Festival goer Shelby
DiCostanzo, of Milford, and her husband
Kevin were among the tens of thousands of
fans exiting the venue at once.
“It was an intense experience which became
scary when we realized both exits were mobbed.
In that moment we had to accept that we were
trapped on the grounds for at least a half hour
more,” said Shelby. “If VIP didn’t start letting
people through to exit, we would have been
stuck in storms in the middle of a field.”
The additional acts for the evening were also
cancelled as the severe weather alerts remained
through 5am Sunday morning. On Sunday, the
festival grounds had major flooding but that
did not discourage individuals from seeing
performances by Snoop Dogg,The Killers and
over 30 additional artists.
Event organizers and the State of Delaware
are excited to evaluate the economic impact of
this year’s Firefly Music Festival as last year the
festival contributed more than $68 million to the
See FIREFLY on PAGE 3
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FIREFLY from PAGE 2
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regional economy and created the equivalent of
579 full-time jobs in 2014, according to a study
conducted by the Center for Applied Business
and Economic Research, part of the Alfred
Lerner College of Business at the University of
Delaware. In addition, state, local and federal
tax contributions as a result of toast year’s event
at Dover International Speedway totaled $9.9
million.
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complete
slideshow
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DOG PARK from FRONT PAGE
then did some other maintenance in the spring,
thatching and applying a fertilizer treatment
program,” said Milford Parks & Recreation
Director Brad Dennehy. “This helped bring
the park back to life. The park is open every
day from dawn to dusk.”
Dennehy states that residents with dogs seem
to really like the park, and he believes that it
has become a gathering spot for locals. “You
can almost see the same people and their dogs
meet at the same time of the day. It’s nice to
hear that other people from other towns speak
highly of it, as there are not many dog specific
parks in the State,” said Dennehy. “I believe it
helps to bring people in to town who may not
necessarily have come to Milford. Ideally if they
stop and get a sandwich or shop somewhere in
town then it’s a win for the community as a
whole.”
Opening on November 1, 2014 the Milford
Dog Park includes two parks in one with one
section for small dogs and another for large
dogs. The Parks and Recreation Department
will continue to make improvements, as
Dennehy states that irrigation in some capacity
is a must to keep the grass looking good and
that it may be helpful to have an area on each
side where dogs can dig in some capacity.
He also believes that the Dog Park may be a
location where residents and visitors can host
events.
4
“In terms of events, we are always throwing
around ideas and give us time we will come up
with something,” said Dennehy. “Personally I
would like to see some sort of “Yappy Hour”
on a Friday evening, where you could turn up
with your dog and maybe listen to some music
with your friends, then head elsewhere in town
for dinner.”
All patrons of the Dog Park are expected
to follow the full list of park rules which are
posted at the park entrance and City of Milford
officials urge residents to review the following
rules prior to arriving at the park. Dogs must
be on a leash and under control at all times
outside the fenced area, Owners/Handlers
must immediately clean up after their dog(s)
and properly dispose of the waste in the DogI-Pots containers provided. No smoking or
food, human or canine, is allowed inside the
fenced park area. All dogs must be healthy,
vaccinated, and collared with identification
and owners/handlers must remain inside, with
leash, within view and control of their dogs at
all times. Limit of two dogs per adult. Only
flying disc and tennis ball type of toys are
permitted within fenced area. Dogs in heat,
puppies under 4 months of age and aggressive
dogs are prohibited. Elderly large dogs will
be allowed in the small dog park area. The
Dog Park will be open to the public from
dawn to dusk. For any additional information,
individuals can contact Milford Parks and
Recreation Department at 422-1104 or link to
the Parks & Recreation Department at www.
cityofmilford.com.
The park is located in close proximity to the
Chaney-Wilmont Greenway, located between
the Vinyard Shipyard and Goat Island, where
the Parks & Recreation Department hopes
will eventually include a visitor and nature
center off of Marshall Street to offer more
opportunities for healthy lifestyles. “Well they
say people with dogs are happier and healthier,”
said Dennehy. “Any dog owner knows there is
nothing like happiness like a dog wanting to
go for a walk, so I think anything we can help
foster a happy and active community is a good
thing.”
The Music School of delaware
Your place
for summer fun!
Early Childhood Music & Movement
“Beach days” (18m–4yr) & “Seashore” (4–6yr) camps
Adult Classes
Guitar/Piano for Beginners!
Youth Programs
rEGiSTEr
By May 1
and SavE
$20!
Jump Start Twinkles (3–8yr) (a great start to Suzuki violin!)
& Beginner Guitar camp! (8–12yr)
statewide locations!
Milford Branch • (302) 422-2043
10 S Walnut Street, Milford dE 19963
www.musicschoolofdelaware.org
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Brewgrass Festival strikes a chord Downtown
BY BRYAN SHUPE
The inaugural Brewgrass Festival in
Downtown Milford, hosted by Downtown
Milford, Inc., was a huge success as it raised
over $14,000 for the organization. According
to organizer Sara Pletcher, it was the largest
single-event fundraiser for DMI to date.
Known for her past success as organizer of
the annual Toasting The Town: St. Patrick’s
Pub Crawl, an event which features local
businesses and restaurants as well as local
craft breweries and wineries, Pletcher did not
disappoint as over 500 attendees enjoyed live
music and local brews.
Located on the northern and southern
banks of the Mispillion River in Bicentennial
and Memorial Park, the event offered live
bluegrass music, food and beer tastings from
local Delaware and Maryland breweries.
Highlighting Milford’s largest natural
resource, the Mispillion River, and the bicycle
and pedestrian paths that surround the river
known as the Mispillion Greenway Riverwalk,
residents and visitors to Milford experienced
the blend of nature and entrepreneurial spirit
that downtown Milford offers.
“Seeing all the people in the Parks was just
amazing,” said Pletcher. “People brought their
chairs and really enjoyed the atmosphere. I
don’t think people truly enjoy the River and
5
Photos by John Mollura
Parks around town that often, so I’m thrilled
we could provide them the opportunity to do
just that.”
Milford’s own Mispillion River Brewing
was the presenting sponsor as they featured
three different brews including their Reach
Around IPA, Holy Crap Imperial Red Ale and
Chupacabra American Pale Ale. Mispillion
River Brewing opened its doors in the Milford
business park off of Airport Road in Milford,
DE in 2013. Partners Don and Marti Brooks,
Scott and Tammy Perlot and Eric and Megan
Williams now run the 15 barrel system with
the help of their Brewmaster Ryan Maloney.
The local company was excited about the
opportunity to lead the craft beer element
See BREWGRASS on PAGE 6
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BREWGRASS from PAGE 5
of the event as eleven local breweries from
around Delaware and Maryland were featured.
Chapel Street Junction, a five piece band
based in Newark, DE, was among one of
many bluegrass-style bands that played during
Sunday’s event on one of two performance
stages. Performing Bluegrass, Irish and
Americana music, Chapel Street Junction has
been playing music for 10 years at over 100
shows in DE, PA, MD, and NY.
“When we performed at the fest, the energy
from the audience was incredible,” said guitarist
Scott Perlot. “Dancing, singing, craft beer and
tasty food on a warm Sunday afternoon. It
doesn’t get much better. Everyone in Chapel
Street Junction would love to perform at the
Milford Brewgrass Fest in 2016 next year.”
The event is planned again for 2016 and
Pletcher is encouraging attendees to take
the survey that was sent to festival goers last
week. She states that the feedback will help to
shape next year’s event and help other future
events evolve. “The response has been pretty
positive,” said Pletcher. “As with any event,
there are things we’ll change and correct,
it’s how events evolve, but the smiles were
contagious on Sunday and people enjoyed
the Festival.”
Pletcher hopes that unique events such as
Brewgrass Festival will help attract visitors
and residents of Milford to experience what
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Downtown has to offer. “Since this event
was on a Sunday and most of our downtown
businesses are closed on Sunday, I hope
this type of event showcased the town’s
capabilities. People who came from out of
town, outside Milford, Lincoln, and Houston,
which was about 57 percent of ticket holders,
will hopefully visit again and see what else
Milford has to offer,” said Pletcher. “For
Milfordians, I think they were excited to
see this type of event happen in our town.
People were proud of their town on Sunday
and I think we need to carry that momentum
in everything we do to better the community
we live in. Sunday was a good day. Not just
for me, my committee, or DMI, but for the
City.”
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Milford School District holds community workshop
BY TERRY ROGERS
On Wednesday, June 17, Milford School
District held a workshop open to the public to
discuss ways that they may reduce the budget
shortfall they are experiencing in their operations
budget. Dr. Phyllis Kohel, Superintendent, and
Sara Croce, Chief Financial Officer, explained
the deficit as well as the possibility of adding a
match tax in an effort to reduce the amount of
the budget shortfall.
“We have been in deficit spending for three
years,” Dr. Kohel explained. “Over the past two
years, we have been able to cut approximately
$1.2 million from the budget. Those cuts were
at the expense of programs we did not want
to have to cut. Luckily, we have not had to cut
any curricular daily programs. Last year, we cut
15 assistant athletic coaches at the high school,
leaving our teams very undermanned. This year,
we had to cut extra-curricular programs, like
Odyssey of the Mind, Math Club and things that
happen outside of school hours. Our cuts will
sustain the district through 2019 as long as no
major things occur, but it means we cannot bring
those programs back.” Dr. Kohel explained that
the operations deficit had already cost the district
good teachers as four had given their resignation,
two taking jobs at Cape Henlopen and two at
Indian River. She said that Indian River had been
able to give 15 percent raises to teachers over the
7
past three years, making it harder for Milford to
compete with those districts.
Dr. Kohel said that she will recommend to
the school board that they go back out for an
operations budget in October. A referendum
for operations and a new Middle School failed
in March 2014 and one for operations and a new
High School failed in May 2015. Dr. Kohel said
that they understood that the district needed to
do a “lot of work with the community” before
they can request any type of school building, but
that increasing operations revenue was crucial to
keeping the district solvent.
Ms. Croce explained the budget cuts at a recent
school board meeting which included limited
contracts for the Middle School band and
chorus teachers, although it did not eliminate
those programs from the schools. She explained
that, in 2006, when Milford residents passed a
See SCHOOL DISTRICT on PAGE 8
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SCHOOL DISTRICT from PAGE 7
referendum for increased operations, they had
eliminated the capitation tax and the match tax.
A match tax does not require the district to go
out for referendum which provides funding for
specific areas, such as technology and specialists.
The maximum amount that can be collected by
a district with match taxes was $350,000, which
does not fill the current budget deficit, but would
lower it significantly.
“A capitation tax would need to be approved
by a referendum,” Ms. Croce explained. “In the
past, Kent and Sussex County used DMV records
to determine who should be taxed in the district.
They no longer use that information. Now they
use property records to determine capitation
tax. But, again, to reinstate a capitation tax
would require us to go back out for referendum,
so only the match tax could be implemented
without asking the voters for approval.” After
the presentation by Ms. Croce and Dr. Kohel,
the floor was opened for comments and
questions from the approximately 50 residents
who attended the meeting.
Patti Persia, a real estate appraiser and leader of
the Milford Historical Preservation Committee
with DMI, asked what it meant when the district
said that the state would come in and take over the
school district if an operations referendum was
not passed. Ms. Croce explained that a Financial
Recovery Team would come to the district and
take over all financial decisions. She said that the
8
district had requested one member of the team
to come to the district voluntarily to see if there
were areas the budget could be cut that they may
have missed.
“He said that the only option we had as a
district was to pass a referendum,” Ms. Croce
said. “When the state came to Christina, they
had a lot of positions that were paid 100 percent
out of local funding. Those positions were
eliminated. We don’t have that in Milford as every
position we have from custodian to secretary to
teacher to administrator is authorized through
our student count, which means we only pay 30
percent of those salaries. Eliminating positions
will not really make much difference in Milford
because so little of their salary is covered by local
monies.”
Rosemary Connelly, who owns a business in
Milford, asked how the district had gotten into
the financial difficulty in the first place. Ms. Croce
explained that there are a number of factors that
led to their current financial position. She said
that in 2008 and 2009, when the economy took a
downturn, the state made substantial cuts to the
education budget as did the federal government.
She said that the district had lost over $3.4
million in funding over the past few years that
were absorbed at the local level. Ms. Croce
pointed out that the district had not requested
an operations referendum since 2005 and that
they had been sustaining those cuts through
their contingency fund, but that fund had now
dropped dangerously low.
“During good times, we actually saved money,”
said Board Member, Pat Emory. “We had almost
$7 million in a contingency fund that we set aside
just for this. A good example is the ten percent we
had to absorb with bussing. That was $350,000
per year we never had to deal with before, but
we have to provide the service to our kids.”
Jennifer Cinelli-Miller, a member of the Citizen
Budget Review Board with Milford School
District agreed with Mr. Emory. Ms. CinelliMiller said that the federal government was
providing funding for education which allowed
the states to reduce their own expenses related
to education. When the federal government
stopped providing those funds, the state did not
replace them at the district level.
“What Milford did when the Citizen Budget
Oversight Committee first started was to take
the federal money given to the districts, such
as Race to the Top funds, and set them aside,”
Ms. Cinelli-Miller said. “That allowed Milford
to sustain themselves much longer or we would
already be where Laurel was.” Dr. Kohel pointed
out that those cuts caused an $18 million shortfall
across the state. Former board member, Roland
Cohee, spoke up to say that the district knew
that funding such as Race to the Top would run
out in three years, so the board shouldn’t imply
to the public that they were surprised when the
government stopped providing those funds.
See SCHOOL DISTRICT on PAGE 9
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SCHOOL DISTRICT from PAGE 8
Dr. Kohel explained that when Milford received
Race to the Top funds, they did not add anything
that could not be sustained, unlike other districts
who added programs and staff they could not
fund once the Race to the Top money was gone.
Instead, Milford tried to enhance programs they
already had so that when the money from Race to
the Top was gone, they were at the same position
they were before the funds arrived.
A question was asked about the percentage of
students who lived in owner-occupied homes
and those that lived in rental homes. Ms. Croce
said she did not have that information, but Paul
Hayes, who taught in Laurel for 30 years and
who now lives in Milford, explained that renters
pay taxes through their rent and that whether
a student lived in a owner-occupied or rented
home had no bearing on tax rates.
Several members of the audience pointed out
that there was a trust issue between the board
and the public, pointing out that it was difficult
to put the past in the past. Dr. Kohel said that
she knew there were mistakes made by previous
administrations, but that there was nothing
that the current board could do to change
those decisions. Yvette Dennehy, the leader of
Buccaneer Tomorrow, a local parent group, who
will be sworn in as a school board member in
July also pointed out that it was time for Milford
to put the past in the past, to learn from mistakes
made by previous boards and administrations. She
9
said it was time to look forward, not backward.
One member of the audience suggested that the
board allowed the old Middle School on purpose
in order to force citizens into building a new
school.
“Let me tell you something, you weren’t sitting
here and I was,” Mr. Emory said. “It wasn’t
purposeful by any stretch of the imagination.
You can believe that all you want, but that was
not the case. The building declined over the years
by itself, we did nothing to cause that.”
Jim Purcell mentioned that it was good to see
the district reach out to the city for help with the
referendum, pointing out that Mayor Bryan Shupe
had worked very hard to get the referendum
passed. He also said that it may be time for the
district to begin looking at foundations and grants
that would help alleviate the budget shortfall.
Ms. Croce also showed a pie chart showing what
portion of the district budget was discretionary.
According to what was presented, the district is
only allowed to manipulate less than two percent
of their entire budget. All other funding is
dedicated to specific expenses.
“It is not like your household budget,” said
Renate Wiley, board member. “When you see
the electric bill is higher this month, you can
say, ‘oh, I can only spend $75 on groceries.’ The
board does not have that option with its budget,
unfortunately. Donna Evans asked what the new
school tax would be if a referendum passed and
Ms. Croce said that the tax would be 4.8 percent,
up from the current 3.4 percent. Ms. Persia said
that property values were starting to rise and
as the school district declined, property values
would also decline.
Nadia Zychal said that the district may want to
create an open suggestion box on their website
in order to allow community members to
provide ideas for revenue streams, suggestions
for improving the district and even volunteering.
Mr. Hayes and Mr. Cohee both commented that,
although someone could visit the district office
for a copy, the entire budget was not available
online for people to see. Both felt that it was
important to have that information. Mr. Cohee
also said that there needed to be more information
regarding meetings held.
“The special meeting held a few weeks ago where
the board voted for the budget cuts was listed on
the website ‘to discuss a financial matter,’” Mr.
Cohee said. “What exactly does that mean? No
one knew you were voting for those cuts or they
probably would have turned out.” Ms. CinelliMiller said the proposed cuts were also not
presented to the Budget Oversight Committee.
Mr. Cohee said that if the board wanted to be as
transparent as they say, they needed to be more
open about the decisions they made.
Mr. Cohee said that he applauded Buccaneer
Tomorrow for their efforts in trying to get the
referendum passed, but felt that the board was far
too silent. He asked why more board members
See SCHOOL DISTRICT on PAGE 10
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SCHOOL DISTRICT from PAGE 9
were not at the Bug and Bud Festival as he only
saw teachers, students and parents working at the
booth. Another member of the audience asked
why there were only four members in attendance
at this meeting.
“Because we can’t,” explained Barry Fry, board
member. “At the first public meeting for the
referendum, we all attended. And the very next
day, Phyllis had an email saying that we were in
violation of the law. There is a law in Delaware
that says any board cannot have a quorum
present in one location. So what does that tell
me as a board member? That I cannot be in the
same room with more than three other board
members or someone is going to be pointing
fingers.” Mr. Fry also pointed out that there were
3,700 voters for and against the referendum. The
next week, less than 600 people turned out to
vote for school board members. Ms. Dennehy
also mentioned that there were many meetings
to discuss the referendum, but fewer than 500
people total turned out to hear the presentation,
yet many more than that voted against it.
The board asked those present if they thought
adding the match tax would be accepted well
and the majority said they felt that if the district
forced a tax on citizens, they would lose another
referendum in October. The board will vote on
the match tax as well as the current operating
budget on Monday, June 22.
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First State Dance Academy offers summer classes
BY TERRY ROGERS
First State Dance Academy will offer summer
dance classes for 2015. According to Michele
Xiques, Director of First State Dance Ac, the
studio will offer six different classes designed
for all ages.
“One of our classes is Creative Movement
which is geared toward children aged 2½ to
3½,” Ms. Xiques said. “It basically teaches basic
movements and patterns to small children. We
ask them to pretend they are a frog, pretend
they are a truck, just simple little things that
get them started learning how to do certain
movements. We will also offer Intro to Dance,
Ballet and Tap to children who are 3½ and
older, so the Creative Movement class gets
them prepared for what we do in other dance
classes.”
Creative Movement is offered Tuesday and
Wednesdays from 4:30 until 5:15 PM and runs
from July 7 to July 23. The Intro to Dance begins
July 7 through July 23 and is held on Tuesdays
and Thursdays from 5:30 to 6:15 PM. The cost
for either class is $90 per student plus a $5
registration fee. After July 1, the registration
fee is $15.
In addition to those classes, the dance studio
will offer Beginner Ballet Fairy Tale Week from
July 20 through 23 from 6:30 to 7:45 PM. The
cost for the class is $50 plus a $5 registration
11
Submitted photo
fee. There are also Beginner and Intermediate
Ballet classes available. They are a six week
program that begins June 23 and runs through
July 30 on Tuesday and Thursdays from 5:30
until 7 PM. The cost is $180 per session or $40
per week. There are no single class rates and
there is a $10 registration fee.
See DANCE on PAGE 12
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DANCE from PAGE 11
Since children naturally are attracted to music,
dance is a natural way to not only encourage
their love of music, but to help them understand
how movement communicates messages and
represents actions. Dance classes can help
students learn how to participate in group
settings, develop social skills and express
emotions. In addition, research indicates that
children who participate in dance have refined
listening skills as well as more creativity and
imagination than children who are not exposed
to dance or music. Dance can also improve
balance, coordination and rhythm.
In addition to classes for children, First State
Dance Academy is also offering Advanced
Ballet to Stay in Shape on Monday, Wednesday
and Thursday from 5:30 to 7:45 PM staring
June 22 and running until July 30. The cost
is $50 per week for the six week sessions or
those interested can pay $250 for the entire
session. In addition, the academy will offer
Zumba classes and Ballroom Dancing for
adults, although the dates and costs for those
classes have not been determined.
Anyone interested in the classes can visit the
studio website at http://www.firststatedance.
com or call 302-422-2633. There is also a
brochure with more information about the
classes on the website as well as information
about the instructors and the student
accomplishments.
12
M I L F O R D L I V E ’ S W E E K LY R E V I E W | T H E N E W S O F T H E W E E K F O R G R E AT E R M I L F O R D, D E L A W A R E
Tips for keeping your pet cool
www.milfordlive.com
STAFF REPORT
The hot summer days of summer are upon us,
and that means taking care of ourselves, and our
pets. It is important for pet owners to ensure
their animals’ comfort and well-being in the heat
of the summer; animals are especially at risk for
heat stroke and other complications from the
heat.
Kevin Usilton, Director of Development and
Public Relations for the First State Animal Center
and SPCA, urges pet owners to never leave their
pet in a parked car, not even for a minute. “On an
85-degree day, for example, the temperature inside
a car with the windows opened slightly can reach
102 degrees within 10 minutes,” he said. “After 30
minutes, the temperature will reach 120 degrees.
The pet may suffer irreversible organ damage or
die.” He adds that keeping the engine running
with the air conditioning on for a few moments
is also dangerous for the animal, and harmful to
the environment. Usilton recommended that the
pet be kept at home inside, or in an enclosed
yard with shade and access to plenty of fresh,
cool water. “As much as many dogs love to ride
in the car with their owners, hot summer days
are not appropriate for car rides around town,
unless you are going to the veterinarian for a
scheduled appointment,” he says.
Usilton said that bystanders can help a pet
left in a hot car by doing the following: Take
down the car’s make, model and license-plate
13
Submitted photo
number. If there are businesses nearby, notify
their managers or security guards and ask them
to make an announcement to find the car’s
owner. If the owner cannot be found, call the
non-emergency number of the local police or
animal control and wait by the car for them to
arrive. Delaware Animal Care and Control can
be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 6983006, option 1.
Provide ample shade and clear, cool water if
the pet must remain outside. Add ice to the pet’s
water to keep it cool. A dog house, while it is
important to have if the pet is outside, does not
always provide ample protection from the heat
See PETS on PAGE 14
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PETS from PAGE 13
– in fact, it can make the risk worse as it is an
enclosed small structure with not much escape
for hot air and not enough ventilation. The dog
house structure must be in a shaded area if
being used. Also, dogs can get sunburned. Let
the dog lie in a dog or baby pool in cool water
in the shade to keep body temperature down in
scorching temperatures.
Extreme temperatures can cause heatstroke.
Some signs of heatstroke are heavy panting,
glazed eyes, a rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing,
excessive thirst, lethargy, fever, dizziness, lack
of coordination, profuse salivation, vomiting,
a deep red or purple tongue, seizure and
unconsciousness. Animals are at particular risk
for heat stroke if they are very old, very young,
and overweight, not conditioned to prolonged
exercise, or have heart or respiratory disease.
Some breeds of dogs, like boxers, pugs, bull dogs,
shih tzus, and other dogs and cats with short
muzzles, will have a much harder time breathing
in extreme heat.
Usilton recommends that if citizens find
animals trapped inside cars or if they find pets
languishing in the heat without appropriate
shade and water, to please Delaware Animal
Care and Control at (302) 698-3006, option 1,
for guidance. He encouraged anyone who may
know of situations involving animal cruelty or
other animal neglect to contact DEACC at 302698-3006, option 1.
14
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Delaware Senate to decide on opt-out bill
BY TERRY ROGERS
The State House of Representatives has
passed a bill that would allow parents to opt
their children out of the Smarter Balanced
Assessment. The bill, which was introduced
by State Representative John Kowalko, passed
with a vote of 36 to 3.
Some school administrators are concerned
that the bill will cause some schools to lose
federal funding if too many of their students
opt out of the state tests. In addition, if a large
number of students that are top-performing
opt out of the testing, the assessment could
cause negative actions in a district that are
unfounded. The bill has been sent to the Senate
and, if passed, will be sent to Governor Jack
Markell for signature.
“I would like to hear the arguments for and
against the legislation prior to committing
myself to a particular vote on the issue,” said
Senator Gary Simpson. “Obviously, we need
to have tough standards and viable tests if we
are to achieve the kind of results we want from
our educational system, but, at the same time,
I believe we are testing too much and wasting
valuable time, expense and effort on the various
other tests we now require of our students.”
Senator Simpson said that he believed the bill
had a 50/50 chance of passing in the Senate.
The bill has yet to be voted on in the Senate
15
Education Committee. Public hearings on
the bill have sparked heated debate between
Committee Chairman, Senator David Sokola
of Newark and members of the public
who were in attendance. Senator Sokola has
proposed a resolution that would expand
the responsibilities of the Department of
Education in regard to studying tests. Governor
Jack Markell has repeatedly called House Bill
50, the opt-out bill, a “bad bill” as the state
could lose federal funding if too many students
do not take the standardized tests.
Support for the passage of the bill, however, is
growing among parents. Many parents believe
assessments cause lost classroom time, while
at the same time increasing stress on both
students and teachers. Jennifer Heulings, who
has two daughters who previously attended
Milford School District but now attend private
school, said that she would like to have the
option to opt her daughters out of state testing.
“My children have been in private school for
the 2014-2015 school year with no state testing
required,” Ms. Heulings said. “It has been
amazing. The kids aren’t tired and exhausted.
My oldest, who despises tests, has been happier
and no longer experiences test anxiety. They
will be returning to public school next year
and I am dreading the testing that will come
with their return.”
Teachers, who will not speak out on record
for or against the test, say that although they
understand the need at the state level to be
sure that students are achieving, there are
better ways to do it than the Smarter Balanced
Assessment. One former teacher said that
some state standards were lowered after 2001
in order to meet national No Child Left Behind
mandates and this has led to the testing process
being less than effective.
“I think the state test could be used as a
viable way to determine how students are
progressing, but there need to be changes,” the
retired teacher said. “The answer to a question
in the reading portion of the test should be
correct as long as it is backed up by a rational
argument. An answer in the math section
should receive partial credit if they worked the
problem correctly. If a student must choose
only one answer and one way to explain it, that
See OPT-OUT on PAGE 16
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PHWR marsh restoration moves forward
STAFF REPORT
Work to restore the marshes at Prime Hook
National Wildlife Refuge is expected to start this
month, the first phase of a $38 million project
to build storm and sea level rise resilience into
the natural landscape. The project will repair
breached marshes and reconstruct severely
damaged shoreline, including critical dune
restoration. It will also restore approximately
4,000 acres of back-barrier tidal marsh, which
will enhance and support a long stretch of barrier
beach along the Delaware Bay. The resilience and
restoration efforts are funded by the Disaster
Relief Appropriations Act of 2013 through the
Department of the Interior.
Al Rizzo, project leader for the Coastal Delaware
National Wildlife Refuge Complex, says the first
phase of the project, which involves carving out
relic drainage channels that historically allowed
the marsh to drain, will begin in June. Once the
marsh drainage work is complete, the second
phase, expected to start in October, will be to
pump in 1.1 million cubic yards of sand along
7,000 linear feet of shoreline and fill the deep
cuts formed during Hurricane Sandy and other
storms. The dunes and restored beach area will
be planted with beach grasses and shrubs to
hold the sand in place. Work is expected to be
complete by April 2016.
In 2006 the dune system that protects the area
16
of Fowler Beach Road was originally breached
during Hurricane Etnesto. Since then, repeated
Nor’easter storms in 2009 and 2010 added to this
land erosion by opening up breaches in several
areas of the dunes. Again in 2012 the main
breach was deepened and widened by Hurricane
Sandy from a diameter of about 300 feet to
approximately 1,500 feet wide.
Over the years Prime Hook National Wildlife
See PHWR on PAGE 18
OPT-OUT from PAGE 15
is not okay. We need critical thinkers and that
does not teach critical thinking skills.”
School administrators and teachers are
reluctant to speak out for or against the bill.
Many fear loss of state or federal funding
if they speak out for the bill and it does not
pass or if they speak out against the bill and it
does pass. If the measure passes, parents must
notify the school at least two days prior to
the administration of the test. The bill would
take effect prior to the start of the 2015-2016
school year.
M I L F O R D L I V E ’ S W E E K LY R E V I E W | T H E N E W S O F T H E W E E K F O R G R E AT E R M I L F O R D, D E L A W A R E
www.milfordlive.com
Fight seasonal allergies with Bayhealth
STAFF REPORT
Allergy season is in full bloom. Roughly
50 million Americans suffer from allergies
while another 25.9 million people suffer from
asthma, according to the Asthma and Allergy
Foundation of America.
“Spring is when the flowers and trees are
blooming, and the pollen count is high. Everything
is active,” said Bayhealth Otolaryngologist
(earn, nose, throat or ENT specialist) Catherine
Wright, MD. “In the winter everything freezes
and is dormant so when the spring arrives it
hits people hard because they go from having
no symptoms and then the triggers hit them.”
which are administered at Bayhealth ENT
with offices in Dover and Milford. “The shots
essentially help acclimate a person’s body to the
allergens. The shots help the body learn how to
react to the allergen so when the environmental
allergies are presented to them it isn’t so bad,”
Dr. Wright said.
The clinics in Dover are held on Tuesday and
Friday with times available in the morning,
lunchtime and late afternoon. The allergy shot
See ALLERGIES on PAGE 18
http://www.bayhealth.org
Bayhealth ENT registered nurse Beverly
Auckland said the most common allergies are
grass, weeds, ragweed, and dust. The most
common symptoms for allergy sufferers are a
runny nose, itchy eyes and clear nasal drainage.
One way community members can fight off
the allergy season is through allergy shots,
17
M I L F O R D L I V E ’ S W E E K LY R E V I E W | T H E N E W S O F T H E W E E K F O R G R E AT E R M I L F O R D, D E L A W A R E
www.milfordlive.com
PHWR from PAGE 16
Refuge has seen drastic environmental changes
and political challenges for state and local
officials. Flooding of the Prime Hook area has
left many residents fearful about the future of
their houses and properties. Environmentalists
also argue that the severity of recent storms
has diminished the health of the surrounding
ecosystem. Restoration has been attempted
several times including the dune rebuild in 2011
which was destroyed just weeks later as the
restored sand was washed away. Officials stated
that a Comprehensive Plan must be completed
to move forward with any restoration or recovery
process. The Comprehensive Plan (CCP), which
encompasses much more than just the marsh
restoration, was completed in December 2012
after local and national legislators urged Secretary
of the U.S. Department of the Interior Ken
Salazar to conclude the CCP for the Prime Hook
National Wildlife Refuge.
Rizzo said restored marshes at the refuge will
provide a more resilient coast against future
storms and create additional habitat for birds,
including American oystercatchers and federally
listed species such as rufa red knots and piping
plovers. For more information on this project
and other Service Hurricane Sandy resilience and
recovery projects, individuals are encouraged to
visit
http://www.fws.gov/hurricane/sandy/.
SERVING MILFORD.
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and businesses of Milford.
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ALLERGIES from PAGE 17
clinic at the Bayhealth ENT Milford location is
held on Thursdays.
“You know your shots are working if you can
taper off your medication. When the shots are
kicking in and doing what they’re supposed to
do, you won’t have to take the medications as
much,” Dr. Wright said.
A referral from your primary care physician
may be needed before an appointment can be
made. To make an appointment at Bayhealth
ENT, call 302-393-5009 (Milford) or 302674-3752 (Dover). The offices are located at
800 N. DuPont Blvd., Milford, DE, and 826
S. Governor’s Ave., Dover, DE. For more
information, visit www.bayhealth.org.
18
M I L F O R D L I V E ’ S W E E K LY R E V I E W | T H E N E W S O F T H E W E E K F O R G R E AT E R M I L F O R D, D E L A W A R E
www.milfordlive.com
DE summer reading program happening now at Milford Public Library
STAFF REPORT
The Delaware Division of Libraries and all
public libraries in Delaware invite children, teens,
and adults to join the 2015 Summer Library
Reading program! Themes for this year are
“Every Hero has a Story” for kids, “Unmask”
for teens, and “Escape the Ordinary” for adults.
Registration is free and incentive prizes are
awarded based on reading milestones.
“The Summer Library Reading Program is a
lighthearted way to approach the serious topic
of summer learning loss,” said State Librarian,
Dr. Annie Norman. “Studies have shown
that children who participate in public library
summer reading programs score higher on
reading achievement tests at the beginning of
the new school year, experience less summer
reading loss, and begin the school year with
more confidence.”
Throughout the summer, libraries will be
presenting a variety of fun and educational
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Math), art, and cultural programs. The following
three programs for children will be presented at
libraries throughout the state:
Act!vated Story Theatre: They don’t just tell
stories, they act!vate them with physical comedy,
audience participation, American Sign Language
and imaginative props; staged by professional
actors and young “guest stars” from your
19
community before a gigantic oversized book.
Each show promotes reading and a love for
literature. In partnership with the Delaware
Division of the Arts.
Tom Crowl, Comedy Ventriloquist: Puppeteer
and ventriloquist, Tom Crowl, has a satchel of
mischievous “friends” who, through the use of
their imaginations, become out-of-the-ordinary
super heroes, fighting evil in fantastically funny
ways. From sharing hero stories to solving clues
with the help of the audience, “Super Quack and
Library Dragon” will keep everyone guessing.
In partnership with the Delaware Division of
the Arts.
Heroes All Around: The Delaware Aerospace
Education Foundation is bringing facts and
fun designed to inspire the next generation of
heroes! Navigate your way to exploration and
adventure with magnetic forces, use pattern
blocks to design a vehicle fit for a hero, and
see how homemade stethoscopes can help you
listen to your heart. Learn about air pressure and
gravity by making a super hero helicopter! You
and your child will see a collection of NASA
mission pins and your young hero will use a
paper bag and their imagination to make a space
helmet and a space mission patch. Programs
address a variety of State science standards:
Science Standard 1 – Nature and Application
of Science and Technology, Science Standard
2 – Materials and Their Properties, Science
Standard 3 – Energy and Its Effects, Science
Standard 4 – Earth in Space, Science Standard
6 – Life Processes.
The Milford Library is located at 11 S.E. Front
Street and hopes to serve as the anchor to help
with the revitalization effort downtown. With
a Milford library card a patron also has access
to all materials in all libraries throughout the
State of Delaware, including universities, online
databases and downloadable e-books and audio
books. For more information on the Milford
Public Library visit www.milfordpubliclibrary.
org or contact the library at 302-422-8996.
LISTEN ANYWHERE ON
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Milford New Century Club rededicated
BY TERRY ROGERS
On Friday, June 12, the Milford New Century
Club, a building that was built in 1885, was
rededicated as the new home for the Milford
Women’s Club, an organization formed by
members of the New Milford Century Club.
The Century Club was created by Mrs. Jonathan
Willis, the wife of a prominent clergyman and
congressman as a way for women to express
their opinions of the political agenda during
the late 1800s.
In 2012, the building was severely damaged
by Hurricane Sandy and the Century Club
did not have the funds to make repairs. After
seeing the damage, Dave Kenton and his wife,
Dawn, who was a third generation member
of the club, purchased the building and began
seeking grants in order to make the repairs.
“We went to the city, we looked to the state,
anywhere we could think of to try to get
this building back to its former glory,” Mr.
Kenton said. “One day, Dawn came home
with an article from the paper that mentioned
grants available from the federal government
through the National Park Service for repairs
of damage due to Hurricane Sandy. We
began the process of applying for the grant
and were able to obtain funding that let us do
what needed to be done.”
Mr. Kenton said that the building received
20
a new roof, electrical upgrades and exterior
paint. In addition, a new HVAC system
provided air conditioning to the building
which Mrs. Kenton said “made this building
cool for the first time in 100 years.”
“When a storm like Sandy is barreling up
the coast, my concern is how it would affect
the rich campus in our state from Claymont
to Fenwick Island,” said Tim Slavin, Director
of the State Division of Historical & Cultural
Affairs. “As you may recall, Sandy had
Delaware in its crosshairs. When the storm
passed, we were relieved that we were largely
spared, but still had concerns about buildings
owned by non-profits who may not be able to
pay for even minor damage.” Mr. Slavin said
that it was through the work of Delaware’s
leaders in Washington, Senators Tom Carper
and Chris coons along with Representative
John Carney who pushed for legislation that
created the Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund, of
which Delaware was awarded $1 million.
Mr. Slavin said that the grants issued from
the fund were not just about the bricks and
mortar but also about the stewards of the
great old buildings who care for them, often
providing their own funds to keep them in
their full glory. Jennifer Eggleston of the
National Park Service said that her agency was
well aware that not only lives were impacted
Archive photo
Pictured are three generations of past and current
Presidents. Left are Elaine T. Dickerson and her
daughter Dawn D. Kenton. They are holding a picture of Virginia S. Salevan, mother of Mrs. Dickerson and Grandmother to Mrs. Kenton.
by Hurricane Sandy, but some of the state’s
valuable resources were affected as well.
She said that the New Century Club was an
example of how the grant money issued by
the department was put to good use.
“We saw your before pictures,” Ms.
See CENTURY CLUB on PAGE 21
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CENTURY CLUB from PAGE 20
Eggleston said, pointing around the newly refurbished room. “The building
was in pretty bad shape. Today, it looks like it must have looked when it was
first built 100 years ago. It always brings me great pleasure to see an building
like this restored to its former glory.”
The Century Club building was built in 1885 to house the Milford Classical
Academy which operated until 1898, providing education to many prominent
Milfordians. That same year, Mrs. Willis invited 60 women to attend a meeting
in the Milford Grange Hall for the purpose of discussing political agendas
of the time. During that era, the opinions of women were not held in high
regard when it came to such discussions. Most accounts of the beginning of
the club were that it would never survive and the first meeting almost proved
that to be true as inclement weather kept most of the women home, with
only 13 attending.
However, at subsequent meetings, the group continued to grow and they
were forced to move into the Odd Fellows Hall on North Walnut Street.
By October 1899, that space also grew too small to hold meetings and the
group began renting the Milford Classical Academy building. Eventually,
they purchased the building so that it would become their permanent home.
The motto of the club was “Knowledge Comes but Wisdom Lingers.”
The women chose the daffodil as their flower as well as green and yellow as
their color. During meetings, they discussed temperance, education, prison
reform, street conditions and women’s rights. According to Mr. Kenton, one
of the contributions the group made was the installation of large, cast-iron
drinking fountains in North and South Milford. The fountains had a basin
for human water consumption as well as a basin at the bottom so that dogs
could access the water as well.
The building is available for organizations and individuals to rent at a cost
of $50 per day through the week and $100 per day on weekends. For more
information on using the building, individuals can contact Dave Kenton at
302-745-7600.
21
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Sports
Baseball looks back on
successful
season
adversity, we didn’t let it bring us down.”
BY KEVIN EICKMAN
Coming off of their unpleasant 2014 season,
the Milford Buccaneers had a lot of goals.
The previous year had left such a bad taste in
their mouths, they could not get to 2015 soon
enough. Speaking with the coaches and players
prior to the start of the season, they knew that
they had better baseball in them than they had
demonstrated last season. Speaking with senior
Cole Davis back in March, there was little doubt
this would be a team on a mission.
“Everything that went wrong last year, we
remember,” Davis said at the time. “We know
that we are so much better than what we showed,
I promise that won’t happen again.”
The words of Davis would prove prophetic this
past season as the Buccaneers would finish the
season with an 11-7 record, while winning the
Henlopen South championship. The Buccaneers
suffered a first round tournament exit at the
hands of top seeded Saint Mark’s, but the 7-3
defeat did little to dampen the positive attitude
that coach Nick Brannan felt about this years
squad.
“What a great season for our guys, they really
played up to their potential this season,” Brannan
stated. “Following last season and the way we
got down on ourselves, this year when we faced
22
The adversity that Brannan was referring to was
a stretch in the middle of the season that saw the
Buccaneers battle three consecutive tournament
teams. Milford would lose a pair of one run
games. First to Saint Georges 1-0, then to Dover
4-3, in 12 innings, before they were pounced on
by State title runners up Cape Henlopen 14-4.
The season was on the brink at that point, but
this was a team that showed their character when
it mattered. Just a week after the loss to Cape,
Milford had to travel to Harrington to battle Lake
Forest in the “Battle of the Bat.” There was a lot
more at stake then bragging rights as the winner
would have the inside track to the South, Milford
responded with an 11-1 win “ With all that had
gone wrong the previous two weeks, they didn’t
make any excuses.” Brannan continued “That
game was so important to us, it showed what
kind of hear this team has.”
Huge for the Buccaneers this season was
the pitching of Davis and fellow senior Dustin
Reeder, who combined for 10 of the Buccaneers
victories. “I can’t believe to tell you how much
those guys meant to us, they answered the call all
season long,” said Brannan. “Those guys put up
a lot of innings for us this year.”
Photo by Kevin Eickman
Besides pitching there were some other seniors
who played a big part for the Buccaneers, in
particular Tommy Jordan and Tommy Saxon.
“Those guys were huge for us this year, they
always seemed to be there when we need them
the most,” Brannan commented. “It didn’t matter
if it was a big hit or a play on defense, those guys
were always there.”
Looking forward to next season, there are
some players that improved over the season that
Brannan will be looking to lead next year. One of
them is sophomore Abraham Mow. “Abe started
the season as the number seven hitter and by the
end of the year is was second in the order. That
shows just how much he improved as the year
See BASEBALL on PAGE 24
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Sports
Rockies Pro Scouts win Tricia Martin Scholarship Tournament
BY TERRY ROGERS
After two days of baseball, the Rockies Pro
Scouts Purple emerged as the winners of the
Second Annual Tricia Martin Scholarship
Baseball Tournament which was held at Milford
High School on June 13 and 14. The event was
organized by Rowland George, who works for
the Rockies Pro Scout Baseball Program and
his wife, Diane, a librarian at Milford Central
Academy. Ceremonial first pitches were thrown
by Senator Gary Simpson and Mayor Bryan
Shupe.
The first tournament, held July 5 and 6, 2014
raised $5,000 for a scholarship that would go to
a Milford High School male or female athlete
who hopes to enter the teaching profession.
The student must display the positive attitude
and confidence that friends and co-workers
say that Dr. Martin exemplified. This year,
the scholarship organization raised more than
$3,600 from the recent tournament and other
fund raisers held throughout the year.
“Tricia exemplified the people in this world who
put education of children first and themselves
second,” Mr. George said. “If there is one thing
my brother, Will, and I understand it is the need
to provide kids with the ability to believe in
themselves. That is what Tricia did with every
23
student and adult who came in contact with her.
She wanted everyone to believe in themselves
and know that they could achieve greatness.”
The first scholarship recipient was Sarah Jump
who graduated from Milford in 2015. Sarah had
a GPA over 4.0 and was a three sport athlete,
competing in Cross Country, Swimming and
Soccer. Mr. George said that Sarah had decided
to attend LaSalle University to pursue a career
in teaching.
“As part of the scholarship application, the
student was required to write an essay about
what Tricia meant to them,” Mr. George said.
“In Sarah’s essay, she said that she looked
forward to the day when she could stand in
front of her own classroom and be as much of
an inspiration to her students as Tricia was to
every student she met. That was the statement
that we were looking for and we knew Sarah was
the right person to receive the first scholarship.”
Mr. George said that the organization raised
$5,000 in their first year and were able to give
a $3,000 scholarship to Sarah, the largest single
scholarship given to the Class of 2015.
Mr. George said that the balance of the funds
raised were placed in an endowment. Additional
funds will be added to the endowment so that
the organization can provide scholarships of at
Submitted photo
least $2,000 each year.
Tricia Martin was the Principal at Milford
Central Academy when she and her daughter,
Taryn, were tragically killed in an auto accident in
April 2014. For unknown reasons, Dr. Martin’s
vehicle, which was traveling on Barrett’s Chapel
Road, crossed the center line and exited the
roadway, striking a telephone box and fence.
The vehicle then overturned into the roadway.
Dr. Martin was inside the vehicle while her
daughter got out to seek help from passing
motorists. Another vehicle traveling eastbound
struck Dr. Martin’s vehicle. Taryn was struck by
one of them and Dr. Martin was ejected from
her vehicle. She was transported by helicopter
to Christiana Medical Center where she was
pronounced dead. Taryn was later flown to AI
DuPont Children’s Hospital where she died of
her injuries a few days later.
See TOURNAMENT on PAGE 24
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Events Around Town
MHS Basketball Camp
The Milford High School Basketball team is conducting
a fundamentals basketball camp for entering 3rd graders
through entering 8th graders. The camp will take place
at the Milford Central Academy from June 22-25 from
9am until 3:00pm. Registration forms may be picked
up at the MCA front office or by emailing Coach Spath:
rspath@msd.k12.de.us. The cost is $90 for all 4 days.
Breakfast, Lunch and a snack are provided. Campers will
receive a regulation size basketball, a water bottle, and
a duffle bag.
AUMC Vacation Bible School
Avenue United Methodist Church (AUMC) invites
all children from preschool through 12th grade to join
Vacation Bible School (VBS) from June 21-25, 2015.
The theme of the 2015 VBS is "Everest: Conquering
Challenges with God's Almighty Power" and takes
participants through five evenings of age appropriate
Bible studies and activities. The evening will begin at 5:00
pm with a free dinner for all participants. For children
from preschool through rising grade five, the evening
will transition to games, stories, arts and crafts, videos
and singing. For students who are rising to sixth grade
through 12th, there will be youth activities designed to
generate discussion and learn about God's work in the
world and the lives of all His children. It costs nothing to
participate, but registration is required. To register for
VBS, contact the church at 422-8111.
Reformation Lutheran Church Vacation Bible School
Children who have finished Pre-K through Grade 5 are
invited to attend “Son West Roundup” Vacation Bible
School at Reformation Lutheran Church, 613 Lakeview
Avenue, Milford. The program runs from June 22-26
from 9 a.m. to noon. Vacation Bible School is free and
24
registration is online: reformation.lutheran.net/vbsreg/
For more information, please call the church at 302-4229117.
Parks and Recreation Summer Fun
Register NOW for any of the Camps or Clinics described
below. Summer Plaurground - a fun filled day at Mispillion
Elementary School from 9am-2:30pm. Participants will
go swimming, skating and on other adventures during
this 5-week program for children GOING INTO the 1st
- 6th grades. June 22 - July 24, 2015, $50 per week,
register for one or more weeks. Kiddie Kamp: This one
week camp is designed for toddlers aged 3-5 years old.
The kids will play indoor & outdoor games, learn about a
theme, do an art project, have a snack and get to know
each other. $40, July 27 - 31, 2015 from 9am - 12 at the
Milford Parks and Recreation Building. Milford Parks and
Recreation. 422-1104, 207 Franklin Street, Milford, DE
19963.
Arena's Run The Goat 5K Benefits B&G Club
A new 5k run/walk, Arena's Running of the Goat,
planned for Friday, Aug. 21 will benefit the Greater Milford
Boys & Girls Club. The run (or walk) starts at 6:30 p.m.
and finishes in front of the presenting sponsor, Arena's in
Milford, and will take participants (runners and walkers)
along the Mispillion Riverwalk out to Goat Island and
back. The course is unique in that it incorporates a variety
of terrains, ranging from sidewalks and paved streets
to the challenging half-mile trail around the island. A
highlight of this benefit is the post-race party featuring
beer and bands in Arena's parking lot. Spectators
and family members may participate in the party by
purchasing a wristband admission. Registration for the
race is now open at www.races2run.com. Sponsorship
opportunities are also available.
BASEBALL from PAGE 22
went on,” Brannan stated.
Another player to keep an eye out for is freshman
Bryce Greenly who gained more playing time as
the season went on. “The experience he gained
this past season, will only serve to make him a
better player going forward,” Brannan said.
TOURNAMENT from PAGE 23
Trisha Davis, Seventh Grade Language Arts
Teacher at Milford Central Academy and a close
personal friend of Dr. Martin’s, established
the scholarship fund along with several other
teachers to honor Dr. Martin and her daughter.
Scholarship applicants must display and exemplify
the positive attitude and confidence that was so
much of who and what Dr. Martin was about.
Members of the Milford High School Athletic
Department and Guidance Department, along
with Mrs. Davis and Sherri Firch, Instructional
Technology Specialist who was also a close friend
of Dr. Martin’s determined the scholarship
winner. In addition, Dr. Martin’s mother, Sheila
Garrow, assisted in deciding who would receive
the initial scholarship.
If you'd like to suggest
an event for the calendar,
visit www.milfordlive.com/
calendar and click Suggest
Event at the right side of
the grey menu bar below
the Milford LIVE logo.
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CRIME REPORT
Selling Stolen Property Online
On June 9, 2015
the Milford Police
arrested and charged a
53yo Milford woman
in connection with
selling stolen items
online during the
month of May 2015.
Debra L. Hughes was
charged with Theft
By False Pretense
Under
$1500
(2
counts), Selling Stolen Property (2 counts)
and Receiving Stolen Property (2 counts).
police state that investigation that Hughes
would receive stolen property and then sell
the property online to unsuspecting buyers
and ship the property to them. Hughes
would receive payment in the form of checks
from the buyers and then cashed the checks
at a local check cashing business. Hughes
was arraigned and released on $3,000.00
unsecured bond.
Ellendale man charged in Multiple
Burglaries
On June 9, 2015 the Milford Police arrested
and charged a 20yo Ellendale man stemming
from a burglary at a residence located in
Milford Crossing Apartment Complex.
25
Alexander
Jackson
2nd was charged
with Burglary 2nd
Degree, Conspiracy
3rd (2 counts), Theft
Under
$1500
(2
counts), Theft By
False Pretense Under
$1500,
Receiving
Stolen Property Under
$1500,
Criminal
Mischief Under $1000
and Selling Stolen Property Under $1500.
According to police, investigation revealed
that on 3/3/15, Jackson and another suspect
broke into the residence and stole property.
Jackson and the other suspect then sold the
stolen property to a nearby pawn shop. Jackson
was also charged in two other burglaries that
both occurred on the morning of 6/8/15 at
two different rooms at Travelers Inn Motel.
In these incidents Jackson was charged with
Burglary 3rd Degree (2 counts), Theft Under
$1500 (2 counts), Felony Theft $1500 or
Greater, Theft By False Pretense Under $1500,
Criminal Mischief Under $1500 and Receiving
Stolen Property Under $1500. Investigation
revealed that Jackson broke into both rooms
and removed property. Jackson then sold
the stolen property to a nearby pawn shop.
Jackson was arraigned and committed to SCI
in default of $22,750.00 secured bond.
Man Arrested After Firing Handgun
On June 14, 2015 the Milford Police
Criminal Division arrested and charged a
47yo Greenwood man stemming from a
domestic dispute that occurred at a residence
located in the 100
block of NW Front
St. Robert G. Cook
was charged with
Reckless Endangering
1st Degree (3 counts),
Aggravated Menacing
(2 counts), Possession
of a Firearm During
the Commission of
a Felony and Felony
Endangering
the
Welfare of a Child (2 counts). Milford Police
Patrol Division initially received a report of
a verbal domestic dispute at the residence.
While en route to the residence another report
had been received stating that a gunshot was
heard inside the residence. Milford Police
arrived at the residence and took Cook into
custody without incident. According to
police, detectives later discovered that Cook
had been involved in a verbal altercation with
other individuals at the residence that he
had been visiting. During the dispute, Cook
See CRIME on PAGE 26
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CRIME REPORT
CRIME from PAGE 25
obtained a handgun and pointed the handgun
at individuals inside the residence. As other
individuals attempted to subdue Cook and
remove the handgun from his possession,
Cook fired a round from the handgun barely
missing the individuals. They then attempted
to hold Cook down until the Milford Police
arrived. There were two children present
during the incident, ages 3 and 7 months.
Cook was arraigned and committed to SCI in
default of $32,500.00 cash bond.
Two Men arrested for Armed Robbery
On June 11, 2015 the Milford Police
concluded an armed robbery investigation
with the arrest of the second of two Milford
Men. The armed robbery occurred at the
Milford Mobile convenience store located in
the double digit block of Causey Ave on the
evening of 6/7/15. Timothy Jarvis 19yo and
Dwan Jarvis 19y0, were both charged with
Robbery 1st Degree, Possession of a Deadly
Weapon During the Commission of a Felony,
Aggravated Menacing, Wearing a Disguise
During the Commission of a Felony and
Conspiracy 2nd Degree and Resisting Arrest.
Timothy Jarvis was additionally charged with
Tampering with Physical Evidence, Possession
of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of
Marijuana. Police state that investigation
26
revealed that
both Timothy
and
Dwan
Jarvis entered
the
Milford
Mobile wearing
bandanas,
brandished
what appeared
to be a handgun and demanded money from
the store clerk. The two received money from
the store clerk and then fled on foot. A short
time later Milford Police observed Timothy
Jarvis fleeing on a nearby street, Milford Police
were able to apprehend Timothy Jarvis after a
brief foot pursuit. It was later discovered that
Dwan Jarvis had fled in a different direction.
Days later, on 6/10/15, the Milford Police
observed Dwan Jarvis on foot in the same area
in which Timothy Jarvis was apprehended.
Milford Police then took Dwan Jarvis into
custody. Timothy Jarvis was arraigned and
committed to SCI in default of $89,350.00
cash bond. Dwan Jarvis
was
arraigned
and
committed
to SCI in
default of
$111,000.00
secured
bond.
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