Middletown Life Spring/Summer 2019 Edition

Spring/Summer 2019

Middletown Life

Magazine

The peaceful panorama of

Thousand Acre Farm – Page 74

Inside Taking aim: Hatchet throwing comes to Middletown New library being planned for Middletown Volunteer Brewing expands Complimentary Copy

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Spring/Summer 2019

Table of Contents 10

Profile of Jessica Cracco

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Novus Escape Room

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Two Stones Pub to open in Middletown

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Q & A with Gina Robinson

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Volunteer Brewing is expanding

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New library planned for Middletown

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Photo essay: Thousand Acre Farm

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Taking aim: hatchet throwing comes to Middletown

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74 Cover design by Tricia Hoadley Cover photograph by Jie Deng 6

Middletown Life | Spring/Summer 2019 | www.middletownlifemagazine.com

Middletown Life Spring 2019

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The spring is always a great time to go out and spend time with friends and family.

One of the popular spots locally is Volunteer Brewing. In this issue of Middletown Life, we talk to owners Kevin and Dawn Schatz about their plans for a significant expansion of the microbrewery, which has attracted customers with an exceptional selection of beer varieties.

Another exciting development for Middletown is the upcoming opening of Two Stones Pub, which will debut later this year.

If you’re looking for entertainment, this issue takes a look at the growing popularity of hatchet throwing. Middletown has not one, but two, hatchetthrowing businesses: Stumpy’s Hatchet House and Camp Adventureland. We also feature a story about the Novus Escape Room, which challenges visitors to solve intriguing puzzles.

The subject of the Q & A in this issue is Gina Robinson, the principal of Cedar Lane Elementary School.

We talk to Jessica Cracco, a certified personal trainer who helps her clients achieve lasting health and happiness. Cracco, a Middletown native, works out of The Village Gym right in Middletown.

We also have a story about the planned opening of a new library in Middletown.

We hope that you enjoy these stories as much as we enjoyed working on them. As always, we welcome your comments and suggestions for future stories as we begin work on the next issue of Middletown Life, which will arrive in late July.

Sincerely, Randy Lieberman, Publisher randyl@chestercounty.com, 610-869-5553 Steve Hoffman, Editor editor@chestercounty.com, 610-869-5553, ext. 13

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|Middletown Health and Fitness|

Courtesy photo

Jessica Cracco is certified as a personal trainer through the American Council on Exercise. She is one of the trainers at the Village Gym in Middletown.

Helping others achieve lasting health and happiness

By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer

I

n the summer of 2017, Jessica Cracco and her husband Brett were living in the Virgin Islands.

They had both moved there for jobs and for a new adventure—she was working in sales and he was a sales manager for St. John Brewers. Jessica and Brett had known each other when they were both growing up in the Middletown area, and had started dating while they attended different colleges in North Carolina. As a couple, they lived and worked in Baltimore for a time, and then came the opportunity to move to the Virgin Islands. It was a fearless move, and one that held the promise of

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some fun adventures and new professional opportunities for the young couple.

Then the Virgin Islands and other nearby areas suffered a devastating one-two punch when Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria delivered widespread damage with fierce winds and punishing rains over the course of just a few weeks. Jessica and Brett were unharmed as the hurricanes battered the Virgin Islands in quick succession, but their Virgin Islands home suffered catastrophic damage. They moved home to Middletown to chart a new course.

Jessica and Brett are both fitness enthusiasts, and that would turn out to play a big part in their lives when they returned to Middletown.

Continued on page 12

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Jessica is a believer in incorporating some strength training into a regular exercise plan.

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Jessica Cracco Continued from Page 10

But, first, a little background: When Jessica was growing up in Middletown, she played softball and field hockey, and was pretty athletic. She always had an interest in how the mind is connected to the body, perhaps because her brother battled depression. As she grew up, she became interested in learning to help others relieve their anxiety or stress. So when it was time

Courtesy photo

Brett and Jessica were able to save their cat and dog in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.

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to go to college, she headed to Elon University to study psychology. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in neuroscience, and then started working in IT sales.

After spending some time in a high-stress office environment, she started exercising more as a way to relieve stress. She gained a greater understanding about the correlation between exercise and good physical and mental health.

“Exercise was really therapy for me,” Jessica explained.

While still working in a full-time sales role, she became certified as a personal trainer through the American Council on Exercise in 2015. She continued in sales, but she was moving closer to a big decision. She found working with people to improve their health to be very satisfying.

“I knew that I really wanted to help people,” she explained.

When Jessica and Brett returned to Middletown following the devastation of Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria on the Virgin Islands, one of the things she wanted to do was to find a good place to work out.

Jessica said that she worked out at several different gyms in the Middletown area to see which one fit her needs best. After working out at the Village Gym, and meeting the owners, Joe and Christy Pisapia, she knew that she had found the right place to reach her own fitness goals.

“I think it’s a great gym,” she explained. “There are a lot of gyms around Middletown, but the Village Gym is family-owned, and it’s a family environment.

They have the absolute best training.”

One day when she was working out there, Jessica mentioned to the owners that she was certified as a trainer.

Brett took a job as a head brewer for Blue Earl Brewing in Smyrna, and eventually, Jessica decided to transition to become a full-time fitness trainer.

“The Village Gym was really a perfect opportunity,” Jessica explained. “Our gym really goes above and Continued on page 14

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Jessica Cracco Continued from Page 13

beyond. We evaluate where a person is, what they are willing to commit to, and then we develop a plan based on that.”

Each trainer at the Village Gym has a different area of focus and Jessica fit right in as a new addition. She teaches individual exercise and small group classes, as well as regular boot camp classes.

Jessica really enjoys working with clients who want to use fitness as a holistic way to decrease stress, anxiety, and depression. She trains clients one-on-one or in small groups.

“I’m about teaching long-term habit change through strength and conditioning,” she explained.

Jessica’s goal is to help people build lasting, healthy habits to look and feel their best. She has made a real difference in the lives of the people she has worked with.

Kelly Johannsen, a resident of Middletown, said that Jessica has made a real difference in changing how she views working out.

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“I am so glad I made that first initial step to join the gym and then to sign up for the boot camp classes,” Johannsen explained. “Jesse has made a difference in how I feel about working out at the gym.”

Johannsen explained that she has been dealing with weight fluctuations for most of her adult life. At first, she blamed the issue on her thyroid. Eventually she was diagnosed with pre-diabetes and started taking medication to control sugar levels.

She explained, “I watched what I was eating and I exercised, but I didn’t feel good. The medication was making me sick to my stomach. This past year, I tried two different gyms and it just wasn’t working like I expected. I wasn’t losing the weight. I decided I needed a different direction, so I joined Village Gym. I met Jesse and told her exactly what I wanted to gain from exercising. I wanted to get healthy and get off the diabetes medication. And of course lose weight, but I didn’t make that my priority. I signed up for six weeks of boot Continued on page 16

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Jessica Cracco Continued from Page 14

camp classes that were offered at the gym with Jesse in a small group setting. The classes were challenging and kept me motivated to keep going. We worked on upper body, lower body, and cardio. I had never been so sore in my life, but I knew that this was going to get better and it did. This was working for me. I started to see results. I felt better and was losing weight and inches.

Then I decided to move to one-on-one training with Jesse. I wanted to learn to lift weights. I wanted to gain muscle and to lose fat. Jesse is all about form, doing the exercises correctly, and challenging me to reach my fullest potential. I work out five days per week at Village Gym, with one of the days training with Jesse. In five months, my diabetes medication was decreased in half and I have lost 22 pounds. I am halfway to my goal of being off the diabetes medication and weight loss.�

As a trainer, Jessica is really enjoying herself. She really enjoys helping others develop lasting, healthy habits and to reach their fitness goals. She is currently studying for a nutrition certification that she expects to complete in a few months. One of her longterm goals is to partner

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Courtesy photo

Jessica makes sure that everyone uses the proper form when they are exercising.

with a psychologist at some point to create a program that will help change people’s lives by incorporating physical fitness as a way to improve not just physical health, but mental health as well.

Helping people like Kelly Johannsen and Nikki Almeroth live their best lives is very gratifying.

Courtesy photo

She trains clients one-on-one or in small groups.

Almeroth, a Townsend, Del. resident, started taking a kickboxing class to decrease anxiety.

She was soon exercising regularly and really loving the results. “Joining the Village Gym has been like joining a community, a family,� Almeroth explained.

Courtesy photo

Jessica really enjoys working with clients who want to use fitness as a holistic way to decrease stress, anxiety, and depression.

Continued on page 18

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Jessica Cracco Continued from Page 17

“It has helped build my confidence, strength, and endurance. I’ve also decreased my anxiety and have a healthier mental attitude on a daily basis. It’s awesome to get through a really tough workout with a smile still on your face.”

Those smiles mean a lot to Jessica.

If people are enjoying the experience of working out, they are much more likely to stick with the program.

“I try to get them to the point where they don’t want to miss a class because it feels so good to work out,” Jessica explained.

For more information about Jessica Cracco and some of her classes, follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

To contact Staff Writer Steven Hoffman, email editor@chestercounty. com.

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Courtesy photo

The staff and a few of the trainers at the Village Gym.

|Middletown Business|

Business is good for Middletown entrepreneur Novus Escape Room challenges visitors to solve intriguing puzzles

By Drewe Phinny Staff Writer

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Novus is at 727 N. Broad St.

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hat’s the common element among these three Middletown businesses -- Manhattan Bagel, Novus Escape Room, and Holiday Inn Express and Suites? Rishen Patel.

He’s the 34-year-old businessman who started all three enterprises, and he continues to build strong, successful, commercial ventures that capture the fancy of local residents.

Born in England and raised in Tanzania, Patel made his first visit to the United States in 2010. He and his family ran a gas station in Wilmington. In 2013, he became a silent partner at a Middletown bagel shop, where he invested a small amount of money.

“We thought it would go well, but it didn’t,” he said.

“We lost a lot of money; it wasn’t working out. My partner couldn’t manage it, so my wife, Heeral, and I came in and we didn’t even know what a bagel was.

The first two years, we worked from 3 a.m. to closing.”

It was especially discouraging for the recently married couple to work seven days for a failing business.

“Every month, we’d lose money,” Patel said. “And eventually, we had drained all our savings. At that point, we figured, that’s it.”

But, in the end, perseverance paid off. “We kept on pushing through, and the schools really helped us with catering,” he said. “Things improved, and since we got settled, we won rookie-of-the-year from the franchise, we won the highest brand standards, highest growth award and we’re a million-dollar store right now.”

Always focused on good customer service, Patel concentrated on knowing people by name and making sure the food was good and served in a timely manner. Manhattan Bagel, on Main Street, is also rated number-one in the franchise for cleanliness.

Somehow, along with bagels and escape rooms, Patel and his Uncle, Bakulesh, have managed to open a hotel, too. The 93-room Holiday Inn Express & Suites is scheduled to be open in April. “My uncle owns five hotels in Salisbury, Md., so he has the experience.

Continued on page 22

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Novus Escape Middletown Continued from Page 21

He’s the reason I’m taking that first step,” Patel said.

The hotel will employ 30 to 40 people.

It’s a natural match for the other Patel operations.

“We’re partnering with sports complexes and different sports teams to stay with us at the hotel,” he said. “So those are the people who, in the evenings, have nothing to do, so we can cross-market and get them into the escape room. We have a lot of groups coming on from May onwards, and we book ‘Stay and Play’ packages where they stay with us and come play at Novus.”

Patel is quick to share the credit with family, friends and the general community. “The town council is very business-friendly here,” he said.

“They’re very easy to discuss things with.”

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“There’s not too much entertainment in Middletown,” Patel said. “There’s the bowling alley, a movie theater and that’s pretty much it. This [Novus] is perfect. All of our staff are high school kids and they are phenomenal. They do a great job.

They bring their friends in, and it’s great.”

Students and teachers alike can use Novus to take on challenges in a fun atmosphere. Patel pointed out a perfect example. “We had Positive Outcomes Charter School from Camden,” he said. “They brought in 32 teachers.” They took over several rooms and had a great time trying to figure out the mysteries and puzzles. “They left the hardest room with ten minutes to spare,” Patel said. At that point, Continued on page 24

Inside the Chamber of Hocus escape room. www.middletownlifemagazine.com | Spring/Summer 2019 | Middletown Life

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Novus Escape Middletown Continued from Page 22

only one other group had actually come out of the Tesla room successfully.

Chances are those teachers from Camden have benefitted from team building, which is a byproduct of Novus’ appeal. “Team building is something every industry, company and business that has employees requires,” Patel said. “It’s crucial everyone works together and gets along. We have a great way to do that with a one-hour event where they all work together to solve puzzles, find clues and win.”

Novus, founded in Malaysia in 2014, is not a traditional escape room with locks and keys. For one thing, it’s all computerized.

“We have put a lot of effort into the technology. It’s really different from other rooms,” Patel said. “We’re the first character-based escape room in the world.”

Each person who enters a room has a special power (Time Bender, Oracle, Scholar, Assassin, Healer, Light Bringer, Gemini and Lock Master). As the group (from two to eight people) starts to navigate the room, a

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computer displays the story and objective for all to read.

The character known as Oracle sets the pace. His or her job is to memorize important facts in a book within about one minute. The book has pictures that tell the story.

The Oracle communicates significant clues to the others, and they tackle the puzzles to solve that room’s particular mystery. The goal is to break out within 60 minutes, although there are some ways to have that time extended.

Some players breeze through extremely quickly; others take the full hour, and there are some who never solve it. Of course, for those who are stumped, more clues and extra hints are available. The game master (a Novus employee) is available any time. Doors are never locked, so anyone who wants to leave is able to do so immediately.

Patel is especially proud of Novus’ family appeal.

“We’ve seen grandparents, parents and children all come as one big family,” he said. “They get in the room and solve different things … it’s a great time to bond.”

Continued on page 26

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Novus Escape Middletown Continued from Page 24

There are five themed rooms that vary in difficulty. Somewhere in the middle is Dreadnought, The Ark of Tomorrow. Patel described the challenge: “You’ve been stuck on a ship for two decades and your goal is to find land. So you play the whole game in search of land.” Players enter through one door, solve the puzzles, find clues, get into different areas and escape through another door.

Care to take on the Testament of Tesla?

Better make sure your skills are sharp. The difficulty level is eight points out of ten. At one point, 20 people had tried Tesla, and only two escaped.

Perhaps you’re looking to start with something easier? Project Fallout is rated three out of ten. Novus recommends starting small and working your way up to the more difficult ones. Walk-ins are welcome, but pre-registering online is suggested.

Continued on page 28

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Visitors can choose from five Novus Escape Rooms, all of which vary in degree of difficulty.

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Novus Escape Middletown Continued from Page 26

Novus is working with local law enforcement on a special project.

“They do a lot of outreach with different events where they get together with the folks to show they are human and part of the community,” Patel said. “One day people will have the option of having a special event with a police officer joining them in the room. So they can solve the mystery together. He or she can work with them and give a different perspective.”

For all his business ventures, Patel has stuck to one basic three-part mantra that has served him and his family well. “We understood very early on that you need three good things to succeed -- a great product, a lot of hard work, and good customer service,” he said. “If you have those three things, you can succeed.”

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At the Novus grand opening, Rishen Patel (holding son Aarav) with his wife, Heeral, cuts the ribbon.

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Novus Escape Room 727 N. Broad St., Middletown 302-696-2387 middletown.novusescaperoom.com

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|Middletown Business|

Two Stones Pub to open in Middletown

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

E

ver since business partners Michael Stiglitz, Ben Muse and Chris Meyer launched their first Two Stones Pub in Chesmar Plaza near Newark in 2011, the franchise’s slogan has been the same, and one that’s both simple and profound.

Believe nothing. Try everything.

Very soon, customers in the Middletown area will get to adapt that slogan as their own, because they’ll soon have a Two Stones Pub in which to try everything for themselves. The popular brew pub and restaurant is scheduled to open its sixth location around Memorial Day Weekend -- a 170-seat, 4,766-square-foot pub and eatery in the Hedgelawn Plaza, off of Middletown-Warwick Road. It will

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join Two Stones locations in Newark, Wilmington, Kennett Square, Jennersville and Hockessin, as well as 2SP Brewing Company in Aston, Pa. The eatery will also feature a 648-square-foot, 30-seat outdoor patio.

The Middletown location is sure to bring the same culinary and craft beer confluence of tastes and atmosphere it has already created at its five other pubs, one that offers salads, tacos, burgers and entrees that are often paired with a page-by-page variety of handcrafted beers in the bottle and on tap.

From the time that Stiglitz, Muse and Meyer decided to open their second location in North Wilmington, Middletown has had a circle around it...literally.

“We took out a map and just drew circles [around towns and areas that could potentially serve as Continued on page 32

Photo by Richard L. Gaw

Mike Stiglitz, left, and business partner Ben Muse, will open the newest Two Stones Pub, which will be located in Hedgelawn Plaza in Middletown.

www.middletownlifemagazine.com w www . iddl .m .mi ddleto etownl ownl nlife ife fema fe magazine. maga mag azine ne.com m | Spring/Summer Spring Spr ing ng/S /Su //S S m Su mmeer 2019 2019 19 | Mid Middletown iddle dle letow etow ow wn LLife ife fe fe

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Two Stones Pub Continued from Page 30

locations],” Stiglitz said. “We thought, ‘Let’s be realistic about what zones we want to expand into. After opening in Newark, North Wilmington and Kennett Square, we opened up the brewery in Aston, then two additional locations in Jennersville and Hockessin.

“Middletown had always been a potential destination for us, but every time a new commercial plaza was built, it immediately became the site of a regional chain restaurant. We never want to be directly across a parking lot for someone who is going to sell a bottle of beer for three bucks and a burger for five dollars. We don’t want to have someone drive into a parking lot and decide ‘This or that.’”

Eventually, Stiglitz was approached by his real estate agent, who introduced him to the concept of setting up shop at the new Hedgelawn Plaza near the Route 301 Bypass.

Ten minutes after meeting with the developers of the new Hedgelawn Plaza, Stiglitz was ready to make Middletown the sixth location of Two Stones.

The winning equation to every Two Stones Pub has found in the tantalizing combination of quality beers and a constantlychanging menu that features great pub food and entrees like yellowfin tuna, pan-seared Norwegian salmon and jumbo shrimp primavera.

Continued on page 34

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Two Stones Pub Continued from Page 32

“We bring in the kegs, we keep them cold, we pour the beer in the glass, and we hand it to the customer, but other than having a friendly, educated server, there’s nothing else we need to do with the beer,” Stiglitz said in 2013 just before opening the Two Stones Pub in Kennett Square. “The food is where all of the love comes from, and that’s what has made us successful. Our goal with our food has always been to ‘wow’ everyone.”

There’s another mark of quality that Stiglitz believes Two Stones Pub customers in Middletown will soon recognize.

Continued on page 36

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Two Stones Pub Continued from Page 34

“The secret to our success is found in our people – from the chefs who care so much about the food they put on every plate, to our managers and our staff in the front of the house,” Stiglitz said. “We constantly reinvest in our people. In turn, by keeping our people happy, they keep our customers happy.”

Continued on page 38

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Two Stones Pub Continued from Page 36

The new Two Stones Pub will be located at 840 Kohl Avenue in Hedgelawn Plaza, Middletown, De. To learn more about Two Stones Pub, visit www.twostonespub.com.

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, e-mail rgaw@chestercounty.com.

Courtesy photo

Chile marinated shrimp with pork-fried rice and brussels sprouts forms just a small part of the Two Stones tantalizing menu.

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|Middletown Life Q&A|

q&a Gina Robinson, Principal, Cedar Lane Elementary School To Gina Robinson, who recently became the new principal of Cedar Lane Elementary School in Middletown, education begins with relationships, but is strengthened through the proper and deliberate application of sunshine and joy. As she began her transition from her role as principal of the Cedar Lane Early Childhood Center to her new role, Robinson spoke with Middletown Life about those who inspired her, the building blocks of elementary education, what the future of education may look like, and those whom she would invite to her dinner party.

Q: At its finest, education plants the seeds of inspiration. Introduce me to a teacher or an adult figure who inspired you as a child. Who comes to mind for you?

A: My parents were my first inspiration. They instilled in me a love of reading. I was an early reader, and I always had books with me, wherever I went, and my parents encouraged that in me. I can remember my favorite Continued on page 42

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All photos courtesy

Gina Robinson, previously the principal of the Cedar Lane Early Childhood Center, was recently named the new principal at the Cedar Lane Elementary School. www.middletownlifemagazine.com | Spring/Summer 2019 | Middletown Life

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Gina Robinson Continued from Page 40

Christmas present being The Babysitter’s Club series. I also loved school and learning. Probably the most inspirational teacher for me was Mrs. Dougherty when I was at St. Elizabeth’s High School in Wilmington. I had the privilege of having her twice -- in my freshman and junior years. She was the first teacher I had who treated her students as equals, not just as a group of high schoolers. She respected us not only as learners, but as people, with respect and care. I will always remember her for that.

Were there other teachers who inspired you on your journey to becoming an educator? Do you ever look back at what they taught you and apply those lessons now?

I had a really negative kindergarten experience. I had a teacher who was very mean and negative, and I can remember my fellow students and I receiving big black Xs on our papers, and a stamp that read, “You can do better.”

In the first grade, my teacher was Mrs. Brady, who was the complete opposite.

She was rainbows and sunshine, and she made us love to be in school. She made every one of us feel special. I can remember being sent to the principal’s office once that year for running in the hallway, and when I returned to the class, I was sobbing. Mrs. Brady held me, and told me that it was going to be all right. I thought that if I was ever to become a teacher, that’s the kind of teacher I wanted to be.

Robinson is an advocate of small-group instruction, where every student is with a teacher in a small-group setting, every day, for reading and math.

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When did you decide you wanted to become a teacher?

Not until late high school. Until then, I had plans to become a lawyer, and all of my college applications indicated “Pre-Law.” A personal experience I went through around that time steered me away from law. My parents told me, “You love kids. Why not education?” I agreed with them that this was the path that I was

supposed to be on. I always was around kids. When I was little, I lived in a neighborhood with all boys, and they all followed me around, and I read to them from my books. They called me “Mother Hen.” All of those experiences I had when I was younger made me realize that it made total sense to become a teacher.

You’re currently the principal of the Cedar Lane Early Childhood Center, but you’re about to transition into becoming the principal of the Cedar Lane Elementary School in April, when Melissa Stilwell becomes the new principal at Lorewood Elementary School. In what ways do you feel these positions dovetail with one another?

At the Early Childhood Center, it’s an opportunity to work with the youngest learners and encourage them to engage in active learning, not just sit at a desk and absorb information. I want to bring that same component to the elementary school. It’s so important, especially for our first and second-graders, to move through their learning.

My son is a first-grader, and I don’t ever want to hear him say that school is boring. That’s going to be my goal at Cedar Lane Elementary School – to make sure that this sense of active learning, playfulness and fun comes through while the students are learning.

It’s safe to assume that many of the students at the Early Childhood Center are going to follow you over to the elementary school, beginning next school year.

The Early Childhood Center actually feeds to four different elementary schools, but many of the students at Cedar Lane Elementary School came through the Early Childhood Center, so I know a lot of the kids and their parents already.

One of the many programs taught at Cedar Lane Elementary School is the “Seven Habits of Happy Kids.”

It’s part of the “Leader in Me” program that’s become a gold standard for learning in the Appoquinimink School District. Describe the program’s importance in the development of a child.

It empowers students as leaders. I’ve already been in talks with the elementary school administration about ways I want to empower our fourth and fifth graders. For example, we want to create a welcoming event for our first graders, and we would like to have fourth and fifth graders plan that event – to introduce the first graders

and their families to their new school, perhaps create their own video, and coordinate school tours.

It’s about empowering those students to know that their voice matters, to have them understand that we as teachers and administration care about what they say, and that we believe that they can use their voice. It’s about showing the kids their own power.

I want to look at what you believe are the fundamental building blocks of elementary education. What’s tops on your list?

I strongly feel that the base building block of education is through forming relationships. Students have to feel safe and secure in their environment and trust their teacher before learning can truly begin. It is my role to empower teachers to be the leader of their classroom, and show their students that they are safe. That’s a big problem in our society today; kids don’t always feel safe in their world, so making a student know that they are safe – and that people believe in them – is crucial, because they can’t begin to learn until they know they are safe in their classroom.

Once they feel secure, then they’re ready to be empowered as learners and as leaders.

I hear that you welcome every student when he or she arrives at the Early Childhood Center.

Every morning.

That’s 292 students this year. You’re about to go to a school that has over 900 students.

I believe in knowing every student’s name, and knowing their families. They have to know that they are seen, and that they are loved, and that we’re happy that they are there.

Cedar Lane Elementary School is the largest elementary school in the Appoquinimink School District, and it sits in perhaps the largest-growing region of Delaware. In grades 1-3, there is a 22 to 1 student to teacher ratio, and in grades 4 and 5, it’s a 26-1 ratio.

Within these parameters, how can you still strive to achieve an individualized education? How can the individual student be noticed?

It starts with the teacher taking the time to get to know each student. I’m a big advocate of small-group instruction, where every student is with a teacher in a Continued on page 44

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Gina Robinson Continued from Page 43

small-group setting, every day, for reading and math. If you’re at a table with only six students, you can have better conversations and gear their instruction to what they need.

That’s where a teacher really gets to see what his or her student needs to learn.

It then extends to a comprehensive team – a school counselor, a school interventionist, a school psychologist and parents. Everyone needs to be fully invested in getting a system in place to help make sure that students don’t fall through the cracks. Our teachers meet twice a week at professional learning communities, to collaborate as a team and look at what each individual student needs, so that we can help them meet benchmarks and release their abilities.

In many ways, education should be reflective of the society it belongs to. Do you ever stop to consider what elementary education will look like two decades from now? In what ways do you see education evolving, against the backdrop of a changing society?

I think elementary education will become more individualized, to each child, involving technology. I don’t think every student will be sitting in a school building. I think

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there will be a lot more students learning differently from home, connecting to their teacher, virtually, and having their own set learning path.

We’re seeing more and more families make different choices for their children’s education, and I think that the public school system is going to have to keep up with that, and meet those needs.

But won’t that changing approach to education also have an adverse effect on a child’s ability to develop social skills?

Absolutely. It is a concern. The society would have to be really advocating for smaller learning communities, more after-school activities, more sports. I don’t necessarily think that’s the best way for public education to go. I just think that it could be a path that it ends up going.

I’m an advocate of public schools. I think schools are where kids should be. We need to teach students to problem solve, how to work well with others, and I think that’s hard to do sitting behind a computer and not interacting face to face with people.

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Continued from Page 44

Let’s return to inspiration. In addition to being leaders, school principals are advocates and cheerleaders. As you transition into your next role, how will you continue to inspire the students you reach, and how do you ingrain that philosophy in the school’s teachers?

My goal will be to bring sunshine and light to the school. If the teachers, the families and the students see that on my face every day, and if they see that I’m happy to be here, that feeling is very likely to pass along to them.

It starts with that greetings that I do every morning. I need to set that model for teachers and staff, in order to make kids feel welcome here. Our job is to know our students and their stories. I am the one who gives everyone – teachers and staff – the wings to fly, and to empower them to make the best decisions for their kids, at the moment. We have a superb and happy staff at the Early Childhood Center, and I look forward to bringing that next door.

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Middletown Life | Spring/Summer 2019 | www.middletownlifemagazine.com

What is your favorite spot in Middletown/Odessa/ Townsend?

My home in Middletown is my favorite spot that I share with my children and my husband. My secondfavorite spot is Meredith Middle School. It’s where I started my teaching career, so for the last 17 years it’s been a major part of my life, as a teacher and as a parent. Also, my church meets there, so you could say I’ve been at Meredith every day for the last 17 years.

You decide to have a dinner party. Who would you choose to invite to sit around that table?

My grandmother Mimi, a little-bitty Polish lady who would make you laugh and drive you nuts at the same time. I would also invite Reese Witherspoon. She doesn’t know that we’re best friends, but we are. She helps empower women, and I respect her for that. I would also invite Michelle Obama and Jesus.

What kinds of food or items are always found in the Robinson’s refrigerator?

I try to be a healthy eater, so I always have roasted sweet potatoes, hard-boiled eggs and strawberries, and none of my children eat any of it, so there’s always more for me.

—Richard L. Gaw

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26th Annual Middletown Olde-Tyme Peach Festival Sat. Aug. 17, 2019 www.middletownpeachfestival.com

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|Middletown Business|

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Volunteer Brewing grows up The landmark brewery is expanding in the heart of Middletown

By John Chambless Staff Writer

T

ake one step inside Volunteer Brewing and you’ve seen the whole operation – all 500 square feet of it. Work your way through the boisterous, shoulder-to-shoulder crowd on most weekends, and behind the bar will be Kevin and Dawn Schatz, who own and run the Middletown business that puts the micro in microbrewery.

But that is about to change. This spring, demo and renovations will begin at a two-story home next door that will expand Volunteer’s space by about 500 percent, uniting the two back yards into an outdoor playground for beer lovers, and providing critical indoor space for those days when the weather is rainy or cold.

Not that the weather has stopped anyone so far. People find their way to the former garage behind 120 W. Main St., even though no sign indicates it’s there. They’re drawn by the beer – an exceptional range of varieties – by the food trucks providing constantly changing cuisine, and by the backyard party atmosphere. But in the coming year, Volunteer will have a front porch

overlooking Main Street, a proper sign and a whole new connection to the community.

As for Kevin and Dawn, “We’re perhaps a little beyond our comfort zone,” Kevin said wryly in late February as he contemplated the financial plunge he has taken, as well as the construction work ahead of him. But both he and Dawn were smiling.

All of this started in 2011 with a Christmas gift. “He loved the craft beer scene,” Dawn said, so she bought Kevin a home brewing kit. “I started with extract, which is the easiest way to do it,” Kevin said. “It was fun, but it stunk up the whole house.”

Those first batches went well, and friends and family were impressed, Kevin said. In 2012, he bought real equipment and started producing beers in batches of 10 to 15 gallons. To get the operation out of their Middletown home, they started looking for spaces to rent. With a 2-year-old and a 5-year-old at home, they wanted to start the kind of place where their friends Continued on page 54

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|Middletown Life| Volunteer Brewing Jump Continued from Page 53 Continued from Page 54

could come for a night out and some good beer.

“We thought, ‘The town is growing, so why are there no breweries in Middletown?’” Dawn said. As a wellness practitioner, she found a home on West Main Street to Continued on page 56

Photo by John Chambless

The back yard of the house next door to the current Middletown location will become a new gathering spot for customers.

Renovations of the house itself will be complete in the coming year.

Wallis Repair Collision Center

Phone (302) 378-4301 FAX # (302) 378-7323

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106 Patriot Drive Middletown, DE 19709

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expand her business, Wellbeing on Main, and behind it was a wood frame garage. It was, they both admitted, nothing fancy.

Month after month, Kevin rehabilitated the space into a functioning brewery. Now with three young children, the Schatz family had little time for brewing, but they managed to open the tiny space a few times, drawing an ever-growing crowd.

In 2016, they participated in the first Grapes and Grains Festival in Middletown, supplying their beer with no actual place for people to visit them. By 2017, they made their debut at the Middletown Peach Festival, offering a cream, and a peach cream beer that sold out in the first hour and a half. Volunteer Brewing was on the map, but had to close for a month and a half for more brewing, leaving customers wondering.

But about that name. “We wanted the brewery to be part of the community,” Kevin said. “I thought that if we named it Volunteer, we were going to have to make sure that everything we do is giving back, and being involved in non-profits. We put events out to our community and say,

Courtesy Photo

Heaters take the chill off during the winter months at Volunteer Brewing.

Continued on page 58

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‘Please pitch in, and afterward you can come over here and we’ll give you a beer.’”

“The idea was to incentivize volunteering,” Dawn said. “When we were brainstorming the name, we thought, ‘What word do you associate with giving back?’

We just kept coming back to Volunteer. We thought it would be cool to organize and sponsor volunteer events, and then afterward offer a free beer.”

Continued on page 62

Courtesy Photo

Volunteer is part of regional beer competitions, such as this one held recently at Crooked Hammock in Lewes.

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Courtesy Photo

The beer choices change regularly, depending on Kevin’s ideas

Courtesy Photo

Even a snow day doesn’t stop hardy fans of Volunteer Brewing.

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Courtesy Photo

People turn out when Volunteer Brewing is open, whatever the weather might be. www.middletownlifemagazine.com | Spring/Summer 2019 | Middletown Life

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Volunteer Brewing Continued from Page 58

Since debuting, Volunteer’s army of devotees has contributed to Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Warriors Helping Warriors, Neighborhood House, the United Way, Relay for Life, and several other organizations.

When Volunteer sells one of their Dead Poets Society IPAs, 10 percent of the proceeds benefit the Everett Theatre. All this good work in the community came from what is officially Delaware’s smallest brewery.

Dogfish Head, of course, is the largest.

Volunteer is still just Kevin and Dawn, with a couple of servers when the business is open. They are volunteers, of course. Kevin works full-time in the field of healthcare insurance operations, and Dawn is busy with her own counseling practice, so Volunteer is open one day a week, giving Kevin time to brew at night twice a week. All the recipes are original.

“When we opened, we didn’t figure people would come here to drink,” Dawn said. “We thought it would be people grabbing their beer and going. That was one of the big surprises when we opened. People actually came and hung out here. People said it was cozy and intimate, and really different.” So live music, space heaters, yard games and seating were added.

“We have tanks that can do 50 or 60 gallons now,” Kevin said. So when a beer you love is announced, you had better get to Middletown quickly, because it may not ever return. The customers who are regulars are on a first-name basis with the owners, and proved their loyalty when Kevin offered stainless steel growlers that were numbered.

“It’s like Delawareans and license plates,” Dawn said, smiling. “When Kevin announced there would be a limited number of these growlers, there was a line of about 15 people by the time we opened.” The first 118 sold out, leading to an expanded run for a total of 130. Kevin still has the 000 numbered mug on display, but he’s a little concerned about it walking away with some rabid Volunteer fan.

The burgeoning craft beer scene in Delaware is expanding with a new Crooked Hammock location opening soon in Middletown, and First State Brewing Company coming to a location on Patriot Drive. The society of brewers is a friendly one, Kevin said, and Volunteer is regularly represented at beer competitions in the region. Beer makers support one another,

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since more beer equals better business for everyone.

And towns such as Middletown can reap the benefits of all those extra visitors.

“We always tell people who come here to go see the downtown,” Kevin said. “People come to town and they stick around.” There is a vague plan to brew a beer in conjunction with Stumpy’s, the new hatchetthrowing business that just opened in Middletown.

For now, the Volunteer location lacks a dishwasher, so all beer glasses are taken home by Kevin and Dawn for cleaning. The cans and other supplies are stashed in every available space in their Middletown home, and in a storage unit. “This is like the infancy of the brewery,” Dawn said. “I think someday we’ll look back and say, ‘Remember how we used to wash the glasses at home?’”

The home next door at 116 W. Main that will be Volunteer’s new home belonged to Jack and Tammy Pickett, who supported the business from its earliest days. They have moved to Smyrna, and offered to sell the home to Kevin, allowing Volunteer to grow. Once renovations are complete, the original Volunteer garage space will be devoted to brewing, not holding customers, and visitors can wander between the two adjacent yards.

The new outdoor space, opening this spring, will have a fire pit, more space for bands, and eventually a second floor for use by local groups and charities, a rear rooftop deck, the porch overlooking Main Street, and an indoor seating area where customers can enjoy beer without frostbite or heatstroke, depending on the season. There will be space for a wider variety of food trucks as well.

But even with the expansion and adding full-time staff, Kevin said canning or bottling for wider distribution is not in the cards. “It would be nice to be in some local restaurants,” Kevin said, “But I don’t want to distribute. We don’t know where that would end up.”

Besides, if Volunteer gets too big, he would miss the camaraderie. When huge sacks of malted grain arrived recently from Laurel, Del., Volunteer customers stepped up to haul the bags inside and stack them up. That’s the kind of customer contact that would be Continued on page 64

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lost in a bigger operation.

“You should be able to come here and enjoy the beer and the experience, but not outside of that,” Kevin said. “The idea is to try to keep low overhead so we don’t have to get to the point of relying on distribution. It should be all about Middletown.”

“It’s like family here. Like ‘Cheers,” Dawn said. “We never want to lose that.”

You can track the progress of renovations at Volunteer at www.VolunteerBrewing. com, or call 302-464-0822 for more information.

To contact Staff Writer John Chambless, email jchambless@chestercounty.com.

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The Tome School The Tome School sets high standards in academics and personal behavior with a rigorous academic program and a dedicated, caring faculty that helps students reach their potential and acquire the skills that they will need to lead successful lives.

“Tome is unique,” said head of school Christine Szymanski. “We put a big emphasis on respect, personal responsibility, and academic rigor. We talk about doing things the ‘Tome Way.’” The ‘Tome Way’ has always been to provide a topquality education to students at an affordable cost—that was what Jacob Tome envisioned when he founded the school in 1889. Jacob Tome, a banker, politician, and philanthropist, built one of the largest fortunes in the U.S. at the time while he was living in Cecil County. He wanted to create a school in the area that would offer the finest education for students willing to undergo its challenging regimen, regardless of their families’ ability to pay the cost for that education.

With its long tradition of excellence, the Tome School continues to be true to that mission today, focusing on academics, character, and community. The school

educates approximately 455 K-12 students each year.

With small class sizes—the maximum number of students is 14 in kindergarten, 20 in grades 1-8, and 25 in grades 9-12—the faculty members offer the personal attention that students need.

Tome graduates are well-prepared for the future. In two recent graduating classes, the school’s seniors exceeded the state average SAT scores in reading, math, and writing by more than 100 points. When a graduate of The Tome School arrives on a college campus, he or she is typically ready for the new academic challenge.

“We are very academically driven,” explained Szymanski.

“So when students get to their next schools, they are very well-prepared.”

Tome School keeps tuition significantly lower than other independent schools, partly because of the substantial funding from The Jacob Tome Institute and partly because of parental assistance. Volunteer efforts by Tome families help keep tuition increases to a minimum.

The Tome School is proud to be a part of the Cecil County Community, and has been an active member of the Cecil County Chamber of Commerce for 30 years.

The Tome School is located at 581 S. Maryland Avenue in North East, Maryland. The telephone number is 410287-2050. For more information, visit www.tomeschool. org.

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“This library, to be located at the community’s preferred site, will be a community gem and a source of literacy and education for generations to come.”

County Executive Matt Meyer

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Middletown to get new library

By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer

A

brand new, state-of-the-art library with abundant programming spaces and the latest technology to better serve the area will soon be built in Middletown.

County and local officials announced the project during the latter part of 2018. A groundbreaking should come later this year, and the new library could open as early as sometime in 2021.

It has long been a goal to increase access to library services in the area south of the C & D Canal, and the new project will greatly enhance the offerings in the fastestgrowing region in New Castle County. The new library will be designed to meet the community’s needs, with adequate spaces for programs and core library services that promote literacy and learning.

The new library is expected to be approximately 25,000 square feet, about twice the size of the Appoquinimink Library, which has outgrown its temporary home in rented office space in downtown Middletown.

The new library will be constructed on a portion of the Promenade property at the corner of East Main Street (Route 299) and S. Catherine Street.

“We have listened to the people and are increasing county service south of the C&D canal, in collaboration with the state and town of Middletown government,” County Executive Matt Meyer said in a statement.

“This library, to be located at the community’s preferred site, will be a community gem and a source of literacy and education for generations to come.”

At the event where the site of the new library was announced, Meyer talked about how the construction of a new library was a priority since it is a way to expand services Continued on page 68

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New Middletown library Continued from Page 67

for county residents who live south of the C & D Canal. Other priorities include a new paramedic station and a new park.

Marcus Henry, the general manager for the county’s Department of Community Services, explained at the announcement that over the last few years officials looked at more than a dozen sites for the new library before deciding on the site at the corner of Route 299 and S. Catherine Street. It is a site favored by current library users, and it has numerous advantages over some of the other sites. The site offers high visibility, as well as ease of accessibility, including multiple points of access for those walking, cycling, driving, or taking mass transit. The new library will be in close proximity to residential areas, schools, and recreational areas. The characteristics of the property

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The future site of the new library is just a short distance from downtown Middletown.

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New Middletown library Continued from Page 68

are also favorable for development, and the site size is large enough for the library to have adequate parking. There’s even room on the site for future expansion.

A library has been located in the town of Middletown since 1901, so locating the new building in town was also

a factor that was considered. A permanent library has long been needed—and desired—for the growing area, which is why the project is receiving so much support at the state, county, and local levels.

Continued on page 72

Photo by Steven Hoffman

The new library will offer additional space for programs and offerings that help promote literacy and learning.

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New Middletown library Continued from Page 70

The estimated cost to design, construct, and furnish the library is approximately $24 million. The project will be funded through a combination of county, state, and private funds. Library construction costs will be split by the state and county governments, which have each already contributed $5 million in capital funding.

“Libraries are a reflection of community growth and development, and it’s wonderful that this library will soon have a new home to support the continued growth of this thriving community,” said Delaware State Librarian Dr. Annie Norman in a statement. “Thank you to the many officials, Friends of the Library members and other supporters who are working to keep libraries in the forefront as a priority.”

At the announcement, speakers included Meyer, Henry, and Norman, as well as Delaware State Sen. Stephanie Hanson, New Castle County Manager of Libraries Diana Brown, Middletown Mayor Ken Branner, and Friends of the Appoquinimink Library president Susan Kemer.

Several of the speakers talked about the importance of securing the right site for the new library. Middletown has a long history of having a library in town. Additionally, it

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was important to continue to serve the people who already make use of the library.

With the additional program spaces, state-of-the-art technology, and extra room for library materials, the new library, when completed, should serve even more people in the community. Meyer noted that libraries remain valuable resources in a community. One illustration of that is the fact that the number of new library cards in the county is growing significantly.

“Our libraries,” said Meyer, “are thriving like never before.”

To contact Staff Writer Steven Hoffman, email editor@ chestercounty .com.

Photo by Steven Hoffman

There will be expanded offerings at the new library.

Photo by Steven Hoffman

The new library will offer additional space for programs and offerings that help promote literacy and learning. www.middletownlifemagazine.com | Spring/Summer 2019 | Middletown Life

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|Middletown Life Photo Essay|

The peaceful pano Situated along the Chesapeake and Delaware canals, Thousand Acre Farm links its unparalleled views with the gift of hospitality

T

here are so many reasons why Thousand Acre Farm has received countless accolades for being one of the finest barn venues of its kind in the Northeast. The reasons are found outside, where the views of the Chesapeake stretch nearly endlessly providing the perfect backdrop to any wedding or special occasion. They are found inside as well, where guests are invited to enjoy the amenities that are found within the custom-made barn.

Continued on page 76

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norama Photos by Jim Coarse Text by Richard L. Gaw

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Photo Essay Continued from Page 74

Thousand Acre Farm is serenity. It is camaraderie among friends and family. It is waterfowl hunting outings, and a wild game dinner in the “Man Cave.� It is the time spent with no other noise but the one that the nearby swaying water marsh grasses give off. It is the sight of a bride about to walk down the aisle to her groom, who waits for her in the gazebo along the shoreline, while her dress flutters from the gentle winds.

Continued on page 78

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Photo Essay Continued from Page 76

Thousand Acre Farm is breathtaking and simple. It is majestic and quiet. It is the bridges in the distance and the intimacy of an event. It is the gift that awaits everyone who travels down that long driveway off of South Reedy Point Road and, upon their arrival, gets to glimpse into the magic that happens when nature meets hospitality.

Thousand Acre Farm is located at 260 South Reedy Point Road, Middletown, De. 19709. To learn more, visit www.thousandacrefarm.com.

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|Middletown Business|

Aiming for big success Hatchet throwing comes to Middletown, with two new establishments

By John Chambless Staff Writer

T

he resounding thwack of a hatchet smacking a board has become the soundtrack of a night out, as two hatchet-throwing businesses have just opened in Middletown. One of them is part of a franchise with the tongue-in-cheek name Stumpy’s Hatchet House.

Combining alcohol and sharp objects might seem like a risky business proposition, but for a group of Middletown residents, there’s nothing like squaring off against your friends by hurling hatchets at a bull’s-eye target.

With a décor that’s part hunting lodge and part upscale nightclub, the Middletown location is a place to socialize while honing a skill that’s simple, yet just challenging enough. The business is owned by family members Exan, Hector and Anne Correa, as well as Milton Delgado.

They’ve all lived in the Middletown area for decades.

Exan said he didn’t think he would be in the hatchet-throwing business until he booked his birthday party in December 2017 at a Philadelphia site. “We had a group of 24 people from age 30 to 65, all different skill levels, and everyone had a great time,” Exan said.

Milton, for his part, thought, “That’s a stupid idea,” he said, laughing. “I’m not going.” But he and his husband, Hector, were hooked by the end of the night.

The group signed a franchise agreement with Stumpy’s Hatchet House and went through the zoning process, finally finding a home in a huge former warehouse on Middletown Warwick Road. You can’t miss it. It says STUMPY’S in gigantic letters on the side. It took about 10 weeks to renovate the space and build a location that adhered to the company’s general design sense, but the team added some unique twists. There’s a comfortable seating area just inside the front door where guests can wait their turn in the throwing pit, or converse after their session. There’s a bar where beer and wine are sold (the location is not a BYOB), and patrons are Continued on page 84

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Photo by John Chambless

From left: Stumpy’s owners Evan and Anne Correa, and Hector and Milton Delgado.

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Return to the days of summer camp at Camp Adventureland

By John Chambless Staff Writer

A

lmost within sight of Stumpy’s Hatchet House, Camp Adventureland offers an immersive experience that has hatchet throwing and elaborate escape rooms under the same roof.

The franchise has brand new locations in Horsham, Pa., and Boothwyn, Pa., and the Middletown location had a kickoff party for invited guests in late February.

The warehouse space has been transformed into a summer camp, with a log sign welcoming guests, and rows of hatchet throwing pits along two walls. Picnic tables are set up in the middle of the room.

Dennis Shea, the vice-president of business development for Camp Adventureland, said the new business has a more family-oriented slant than the nearby Continued on page 86

Hatchet Throwing Continued from Page 82

welcome to bring their own meals and snacks, or order from local restaurants.

Guests check in online before arriving, or at a table that was built by Exan, where they sign waivers that are an essential part of the business.

But it’s not as dangerous as it might sound. There are hosts who can explain hatchet throwing and offer tips on technique if needed, or guests who are familiar with hatchet throwing can be on their own after they sign in. There are various game variations hanging on a clipboard outside each throwing pit, so guests can choose their level of difficulty.

“We went with the tagline ‘A Social Throwdown,’” Exan said. “A lot of hatchet places will stress the competition. If you want us to, we can do that, or we can back away. If you need us, let us know, and we can give you more instructions.

Our coaches have as much, or as little, interaction as the group wants.”

The time slots are one or two hours long, with Continued on page 85 Comfortable couches are a place to lounge before and after throwing.

“We went with the tagline ‘A Social Throwdown” Exan Correa

The Curse of the Jade Skull escape room has an Aztec theme.

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Winners get to ring the bell to announce their victories.

no set-up or clean-up if you’re having a party. There are napkins, plates and cutlery available if needed. When the 11 pits are full and everyone’s throwing – and ringing a bell when they score a bull’s-eye – Stumpy’s can sound like a battle zone. “I’ve tried to talk on the phone when everyone is throwing and I’m saying, ‘What? I can’t hear you!’”

Milton said, laughing.

Stumpy’s had an opening in February, and has been building clientele and word-of-mouth ever since. “Every week we see growth,” Exan said. “We just booked a party of 40 people. We’ve had everyone from 21 on up. … The lanes are marked from 12 to 15 feet, so people can get the best distance. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes to get the hang of it, then we hear a roar when somebody does it.

Women often pick it up sooner.”

Continued on page 87

All photos courtesy unless otherwise noted

Stumpy’s is a loud and boisterous place when all the throwing pits are busy.

The rules are posted where visitors can sign waivers on iPads.

While they’re not throwing, Stumpy’s patrons can try their luck at giant Jenga.

Stumpy’s Hatchet House sells beer and wine for patrons who come to throw. www.middletownlifemagazine.com | Spring/Summer 2019 | Middletown Life

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Adventureland Continued from Page 84

“Right now we have Curse of The Jade Skull, which is our Aztec room, and a 1920s speakeasy called the Blind Tiger.”

Stumpy’s, which is for adults over 21 only. There’s no alcohol at Camp Adventureland.

About 30 part-time and fulltime employees are part of the experience.

“We wanted to be here in Middletown,” Shea said.

“It’s a family-oriented area.

We want to attract families, while we still have the corporate teambuilding side during the week. We’re the only place in the country that has escape rooms and hatchet throwing under one Joe DiDomenico roof.

“The ownership group has a Disney background, so they’re very creative,” Shea said “They were nationally known for building escape rooms. So they built them all over North America. Then they decided, ‘Why are we building these for other people when we could build them and own them ourselves?’ So we looked at that and added hatchet throwing, which is the buzz right now.”

There will be competitions set up with local police, fire and EMT teams, and possibly with high schools or clubs, Shea said. “We’re going to be part of the World Ax Throwing League as well, so the best of the best here will be sent over to Canada to participate.”

All throwing is monitored for safety by a “Camp Counselor.” There’s training and a waiver before anyone throws. “It’s not about strength, it’s about Continued on page 88

Hatchet throwing is only half of the adventure at Adventureland.

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Hatchet Throwing Continued from Page 85

Hatchet throwing is not a matter of strength. In fact, if you throw too hard, the hatchet can bounce off the target. Finesse is required. “Anyone can get the hang of it,” Anne said. “My friends were in here recently and the husband is more of athlete. She got it right away. All you need to do is pay attention to the form. It can become a competitive thing between men and women, and that’s great.”

“We had a group of women who were in their 60s,” Milton said, “and they were nailing it.”

Adding to the fun are the two giant Jenga games that were an afterthought purchase when the site was opening, but now have become an essential part of a night at Stumpy’s. Whenever someone isn’t throwing, they can be building towering structures that inevitably fall with a mighty clatter, getting cheers from everyone in the club. “It’s a great addition for some extra fun,” Anne said.

The pits are named by the owners, with rustic signs designating “Piture Perfect,” “Pit Crew,” “Pit-O,” “The Sand Pit,” “The Peach Pit” and more. There’s a line of T-shirts with witty slogans, and a sign out front advises visitors, “Don’t be an axehole.”

The owners are hoping Stumpy’s will be a regional draw that will bring people to Middletown to try Continued on page 89

Courtesy photo

Patrons take turns aiming hatchets at wooden targets.

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Adventureland Continued from Page 86

coordination,” Shea said. “Only one thrower is allowed at a time.”

Two escape rooms are open now, and a total of five are planned. They look like Disney theme park rooms, with elaborate sets and props that immerse participants in a fantasy world. “Right now we have Curse of The Jade Skull, which is our Aztec room, and a 1920s speakeasy called the Blind Tiger,” said Joe DiDomenico, the vice president of design and creative director. “It’s about trying to stop the mobster Mugsy Malone.

Each room will have a game master who’s part of the game. They play along with you, and help you by giving clues from a control center. They talk to you via microphone. The game masters work with the teams so everyone has fun.”

For more information, visit www.campadventureland.com.

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A speakeasy is the heart of a 1920s escape room.

Hatchet Throwing Continued from Page 87

other attractions. “We’ve been talking to our guests as they come in, and it’s nice to see people driving from Wilmington,” Exan said. “We had someone here from Philadelphia. One of our goals with this was to make Middletown a destination, and so far that’s happening. Our hope is that people come here, have a good time, then go to Metro Pub, or Greene Turtle, or Volunteer Brewing. We have a lot of cool places in town now. We’re just glad we’re a part of it.”

“This is about bringing people to a place that’s comfortable, and slightly upscale, but not too much,” Milton added. “This is the kind of business I’ve always wanted to have. A business where our goal is to make sure everybody has a good time.”

Stumpy’s Hatchet House is at 819 Middletown Warwick Road, Middletown. Visit www.

StumpysMiddletown.com for hours and more information.

To contact Staff Writer John Chambless, email jchambless@chestercounty.com.

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MOT CALENDAR OF EVENTS June 1 Relay For Life Silver Lake Park 4 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.

The signature fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.

Join us to remember loved ones lost, honor survivors, and help raise money to make a global impact. Walk of survivors and caregivers followed by a luminaria ceremony.

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July 4 Fireworks 6 p.m. (raindate 7/5) Silver Lake Park

Middletown Life | Spring/Summer 2019 | www.middletownlifemagazine.com

August 16, 17, 18 Third Annual Weedstock 474 Fleming Rd., Townsend 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Third annual Weedstock weekend at the Fire Base Lloyd.

Live music, food trucks, vendors of goods, private location.

Must be 21 or older.

Overnight camp sites for an additonal price.

Sponsored by Delaware Norml www.facebook.com/ DENORML/

August 17 Peach Festival 8:45 a.m. – 4 p.m.

The 2019 Middletown Peach Festival will be held Saturday August 17, 2019 beginning at 8:45a.m. with the annual Peach parade on Broad Street and will conclude at 4 p.m. Many activities are centered around Main Street.

Main Street and a portion of adjoining N Cass Street will be closed to traffic for the event.

Entertainment is scheduled throughout the day around town. There are activities for children, a local artist exhibit, historical exhibits, a peach pie contest, crafts, music, food, games, and of course – Peaches! The Peach Festival is a rain-or-shine event! Last year’s attendance was about 27,000 people.

Sept 1 Odessa Brewfest Odessa 12 p.m. – 8 p.m.

The Odessa Brewfest is an opportunity to sample some of the best regional and national craft beers, as well as locally-produced wine and spirits, accompanied by great food, great live music, and great people, all in a beautiful setting among the 18thcentury houses and grounds of Historic Odessa.

Unlimited sample with your ticket.

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