VOL. 13 NO. 17
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2008
NEWS HEADLINES AN OLD-FASHIONED CHRISTMAS - Delaware Choral Society to perform in area Colonial church. The day will also include an open house at the headquarters of the Laurel Historical Society. Page 3 A BORN COOK - Or did he learn? Rehoboth Beach chef credits both genes and his grandmother’s training for his skills. Page 5 DUE FEDERAL PAYMENTS - TIME is running out for area citizens whose checks were returned to claim their economic stimulus payments. Page 9 NANTICOKE TRIBUTES - Five people honored for their contributions to the hospital. Page 12 EMERGENCY SHELTER - Volunteers with Delaware Teen Challenge build residential hall. Page 12 HELP FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT - Raffle of allterrain vehicle benefits Delaware State Police needy family fund. Page 14 HOSPICE BENEFIT - Annual Festival of Trees is set for Dec. 5 through 7 at Delaware Technical and Community College in Georgetown. Page 16 SEMIFINALS - The Delmar varsity field hockey team competed in the state semifinals last week. Page 41 ALL-CONFERENCE - This week’s Star sports section features photos of Laurel and Delmar soccer, field hockey and volleyball players named first team all-conference as well as the list of local football players named to the all-conference teams. Coverage begins on page 41. POP WARNER - The Laurel and Delmar Mitey Mite teams and the Laurel and Woodbridge Junior Pee Wee teams met on the football field last weekend in Laurel. Page 41
INSIDE THE STAR BUSINESS BULLETIN BOARD CHURCH CLASSIFIEDS EDUCATION ENTERTAINMENT FINAL WORD FRANK CALIO GAS LINES GOURMET HEALTH LETTERS LYNN PARKS MIKE BARTON
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MOVIES OBITUARIES OPINION PAT MURPHY POLICE JOURNAL PUZZLES SNAPSHOTS SOCIALS SPORTS TIDES TODD CROFFORD TOMMY YOUNG TONY WINDSOR
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Confidence booster Special needs students benefit from regular trips to the gym By Lynn R. Parks The first time she visited Diamond Dreams gym near Delmar, Md., Rosie Thornton was afraid to try any of the exercise machines. “She was really scared,” said Debbie Ralph, a paraprofessional in the Laurel High School class in which Rosie, 14, is a student. But a couple of sessions with trainers Jamie Evans, gym director, and Chris Desjardins, director of athlete performance, changed all that. Now, Rosie walks right into the exercise rooms and hops up on the machines without hesitation. “I like the treadmill, the bicycle, the elliptical and the weight machines,” she said. “Before, I just really didn’t like them. But everyone helped me.” Rosie, a ninth grader, is one of 14 members of a self-contained special education classroom at the high school. Two times a week, she and her classmates visit Diamond Dreams. “I feel more energetic,” said Rosie, who said she goes 3 to 4 miles per hour on the stationary bike. “This is good for all the kids,” said teacher Jenny Davis. “They all have improved coordination, confidence and self-esteem.” In a letter recommending Diamond Dreams for a grant, Davis added, “The exercises and drills Jamie and Chris have put together for my students help them in many different areas including fine and gross motor skills, balance, speed, critical thinking, hand-eye coordination, math, anatomy and health. These skills help them at home as well as at school.” Diamond Dreams, which opened three years ago, is a rarity, director Evans said. It is a non-profit gym dedicated to helping people, athletic and non, improve their general fitness. “We don’t want to turn anyone away for financial reasons,” Evans said. Last year, the gym received a grant from the Nemours Health and Prevention Services, based in Newark, to provide exercise programs for preschoolers throughout Sussex Continued on page 4
Above, Rosie Thornton, 14, rides the stationary bike at Diamond Dreams, Delmar. Rosie said that when she first visited the gym, she was afraid of the exercise equipment. Below, Caiti Herscher, 18, shows off with the weights. Teacher Jenny Davis said that her students have increased confidence since going to the Diamond Dreams gym in Delmar. Photos by Lynn R. Parks