February 2019 Springmill Sentinel by Sherwin Rausch

www.springmilldelaware.org Volume XVII Issue 2

A NEWSLETTER FOR THE SPRINGMILL COMMUNITY

February 2019

Shadows of Winter or Spring? It’s mid-winter. Boy, could we use a break from the gray, cold weather! Time for a short trip? How about going to Punxsutawney, Pa, to celebrate Groundhog Day! Every year on February 2, Punxsutawney Phil crawls out of his burrow and predicts the weather. The custom goes back to the Middle Ages, when farmers needed to know how to plan their planting schedule. Will there be an early spring or a lingering winter? They took their candles to the church on Candlemas Day, February 2, to be blessed, and, if the weather was clear and sunny, they believed it indicated the return of winter. If it was cloudy and cold, there would be an early spring. An English folk song illustrated the lore. If Candlemas be fair and bright Come, Winter, have another flight. If Candlemas brings clouds and rain Go, Winter, and come not again. The belief spread to other countries and animals soon became part of the custom. In France and England, a bear predicted the upcoming weather. In Germany, it was the badger. When German settlers came to Pennsylvania in the early 1800s, they brought the legend with them, and, as they couldn’t find badgers here, the plump groundhog was assigned the prognosticating duties. The tradition continues to this day. Other groundhogs have helped predict the weather. Dunkirk Dave predicts in Western New York. Wiarton Willie carries on the tradition in Ontario, Canada. And if Potomac Phil in DC sees his shadow, it portends six more months of political gridlock (wink, wink, smile). This will be the 133rd Groundhog Day celebration at Gobbler’s Knob, a hilltop near Punxsutawney, one of the most popular landmarks in western Pennsylvania. Thousands of visitors come to Gobbler’s Knob each year, especially on February 2nd. Do you remember the 1993 comedy with Bill Murray that takes place at this festival? If you follow the ½-mile trail to Phil’s burrow, you can read informational signage and view educational displays. The official celebration spans 3 days, from February 1st through 3rd. and you can imbibe at the Groundhog Wine Festival, dance at the Groundhog Ball, visit the Weather Discovery Center, and shop for memorabilia. The highlight of the festival takes place at dawn on February 2nd, when the chubby marmot is enticed to come out of his hole. His prognosis is correct 39% of the time. The citizens of Punxsutawney know how to throw a party we can all enjoy. This run-away visit can be just long enough for a mental recharge, and the idea of a fun escape is certainly enticing. Anybody wanna go? Helen Weinheimer

Route 301 Opens Navigating the US Highway 301 Middletown Bypass After 3 long years of construction the road that many of us thought we would never live to see is a reality. The new, almost-14-mile-long, US 301 Mainline will be the first road in Delaware to use all-electronic tolling with users paying via their E-ZPass or being billed in the mail. For two-axle vehicles using E-ZPass and traveling the entire road, the toll is $4; it’s and $5.60 for those without E-ZPass. (Continued on page 17)

Notes From Your Board February the 1st - A great time to look back and/or look ahead. We have endured 41 days of winter, but we only have 48 days until Spring. I choose to look ahead. March 10th, Daylight saving time begins bringing us longer hours of daylight and hopefully more sunshine. Ten days later on March 20th, Spring arrives.

are in keeping Springmill a great place to live. Most of our committees are functioning, but more members are needed. This is especially true concerning the Finance Committee. At present the committee has three members. The Finance Committee cannot function effectively with only three members. They are in need of at least three to six additional members. The Finance Committee meets on an “as needed” basis, therefore does not require a commitment of monthly meetings. The committee is a valuable source of help and information to the BOD. They review, recommend, discuss and advise the BOD on any of, but not limited to, the following documents: • All Springmill Accounting records • All binding contracts, agreements and obligations over $10,000 • All records and calculations used to establish and control annual operating budgets and reserves • Procedure and/or rationale used by any of the above

The results of the recent survey are being reviewed by the BOD. We received a total of 229 replies, 80 hard copies and 149 electronically. Of the Homeowners who did not reply, we will assume they are content. For this article I would like to cover two subjects. First: Where do you go for information regarding our community? There are many choices that are available. Various committees, Board of Directors, the Minutes of meetings held by the various committees and the BOD are on file in the library. The By-Laws and Declarations governing our community are also available. They are all valid sources, but by far the best source is the Community Manager. Tracey is the most reliable and quickest way to get answers to your questions. She has a wealth of information and experience that she is willing to share. She is your best source. What source could be the worst? A person that knows another person who has lived in Springmill for over 10 years and knows everything about our community. Don’t go there.

If this Committee is of interest, you can find out more by reading the insert in the Sentinel. I realize that many are tired of hearing about the need for volunteers. However we have already lost the Activity Group and we do not want to see the Finance Committee dissolved. A final thought: There are many people who volunteered when Springmill was founded and served for many years as it matured, then left for various reasons. Are you ready to jump back in? We encourage you to consider a second time around. If not ready to be a full time volunteer, perhaps you would share your experience and knowledge on an advisory basis.

Second: The value of volunteers. Recently the operation of the Clubhouse sprinkler system came into question. Joe Grippo, our Clubhouse Chairman, was on the scene and was instrumental in handling the situation. The BOD never passes up the opportunity to remind everyone how vital the committee members

Think about it!

Jerry Steskal

Sentinel Table of Contents

Board Motions

Shadows of Winter or Spring, Route 301 Opens….….…….……………..……..… Page 1 Notes From Your Board, Board Motions, Page 3 Message From Board ,……………………….…….……. Committee, Group and Activity Reports Clubhouse, First Thursday Dinner Group.…… Page 5 Charity, Romeos…………………………………… Page 7 Property, Website, Dance Group…………..…… Page 9 Community Events, Fun With Neighbors, Communications, Music Appreciation…….. Page 11 Travel…………..……………………………....…… Page 13 Springmill Recipe, Black History Month, Yoga…… Page 13 Bingo, Hummer’s Parade…………………….……….. Page 14 Valentine’s Day, Classy Lassie’s, More of Christmas, Clubhouse Committee, Iceland Trip…………….………………………..…. Page 15 Welcome, Message From Lions Club Restaurant Review, A Time/Mileage Study……Page 17 Middletown News, Thank You Notes, Grief Share…………………………………………. Page 19 Travel Log (Iceland)……………………………………. Page 21 Book Review, Book Club Choices Trans Siberian Orchestra……………………….. Page 23 Meet Your Neighbor, Presidents’ Day……………… Page 25 The Town Church……….…….….……………………. Page 27

The following motion was made by C Fausnaugh and second by B. Collins: Effective March 1, 2019, late fees will not be waived for payments posted after the 10th of the month. Motion passed 5-0. Motions from January 7, 2019 BOD meeting C Fausnaugh made a motion for authorization to invest $100,000. of working capital cash in short term CD’s. Motion 2nd: D Thompson. Discussion followed. Motion approved (5-0) D Thompson handed out the proposed Finance Committee’s Mission Statement and statement of responsibilities. C Fausnaugh made a motion to accept the proposed written duties and responsibilities of the Finance Committee. 2nd: C Bodden. Motion approved (5-0) D Thompson made a motion to consult other Fire suppression companies and have them evaluate our system. Motion 2nd: C Bodden. Motion approved (5-0).

A Message From The Board Please remember your Association dues are due on the 1st of each month. It is the home owner’s responsibility to have their dues paid by this due date. The mailer from Associa is a reminder for your records. Please allow enough time for your payments to arrive no later than the 10th of each month, or a $15.00 late fee will be applied to your account.

Calendar Table of Contents Appo Library Update, Job Opportunity, Cultural Events, A Volunteer Opportunity…..… Page 1 Springmill Library………………………………….. Page 4

Committee, Group and Activity Reports 2 Windmill Lane, Middletown, DE 19709 302-376-5466 Board of Directors Don Thompson - President Carolyn Bodden - Vice President Bob Collins - Secretary Carolyn Fausnaugh - Treasurer Jerry Steskal - Director Board Recording Secretary Tracey Lund - Community Manager: Tracey.lund@associa.us Committees Charity Committee: Pat Kolbay Clubhouse Committee: Joe Grippo Communications Committee: Tom Rigg Community Events (CEC): Peggy Andrews Finance Committee: Open Maintenance & Repair Committee: Georgieanna Anderson Property Committee: Julia Hambrecht Springmill Website: Stan Heer Welcome Committee Person: Joann Campbell Groups Fun With Neighbors: Riggs and Weinheimers Travel: Betty Freeman, Anne Lucas, June Stemmle Anyone wishing to join a Committee or Group should contact the Chairperson of that Committee. Note: All committees, groups and activities using the Clubhouse must coordinate dates and times with Tracey Lund. Calendar: Tracey Lund

Chairman of Communications Committee Tom Rigg Sentinel Editor - Joan Gross, Tom Rigg Treasurer - Sharonlynn Tassone Secretary - Sonya Comstock Design and Production - Joan Gross and Marie Rigg Business Manager - Dick Rausch Advertising - Carol Geiger, Janet Herner, Jerry Ryan, Pat Steskal Editorial - Sonya Comstock, Wilma Feinberg, Carol Geiger, Dick Rausch, Lee Rosenson, Jerry Ryan, June Stemmle, Harry Weinheimer, Helen Weinheimer Calendar - Joe Grippo, Julie Hambrecht, Tracey Lund Distribution - Diane Morton and the distribution team

Clubhouse Committee The Clubhouse Committee did not meet in January. However, we were busy. All the Christmas Decorations were taken down and put away. Many thanks to the committee members who helped. Also, thanks to Eileen Bogel, Sharon Fagone, and Diane Morton for their help. We are in the process of changing the thermostats to programmable ones, so the temperature can be set to drop to a certain point after all leave and come back up in the morning before the Clubhouse is used. Many thanks to Sam Merrick for his help. Please remember to keep the Cardroom doors closed when not in use: It does make that room warmer. We are having some problems with the Nitrogen part of our Fire Suppressant system. Even though we are having problems, we are fully protected. Anaconda, which installed the system, is working to get it back online. We meet every second Thursday of the month at 10 a.m. in the Craftroom and all are welcome. The February meeting is on February 14th Joe Grippo

First Thursday Dinner Group Greetings! Are you ready? Can you believe? February is right around the corner. My Mom said that as one ages, time flies by so quickly that months seem more like weeks. I guess I am aging (thank goodness) because time sure flies. Well enough of the chitchat. It is time to begin to think about dining out on the first Thursday of February. Michele and Carl Wiener are hosting us again and we are most grateful. Thank you, Carl and Michele. The Wieners have selected Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews located on Route 40 in Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Plaza. The exact address is 2496 Pulaski Hwy, Newark, Delaware 19702. The time is as usual -- 4:30 PM and the date of the first Thursday in February is February 7, 2019. Now that gets us off to a quick start, does it not?. RSVPs may be made by phoning the Wieners (see Directory for contact info) Oh, and do make sure that if you have a new neighbor or know someone, who may enjoy a very informal time out without having to cook, that you invite them. Offer to pick them up and to sit with them. Bet they will appreciate you for the thoughtful gesture. As always though, just make sure that either you or the neighbor RSVPs so that all are included in the count. Also, if you need a ride, let us know and we will connect you up with one. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s looking forward to a delightful evening with you. Peace, Danese Collins

Neighbors Helping Neighbors Doll Sewing Group – Carol Geiger Carolyn Rifino Family Emergency Numbers: Sunshine – Mary Elizabeth Rhoads Pat Howe, JoAnn Stump Faith Altman Library - Julia Hambrecht, Nancy Shannon

Springmill Activities Bocce – Don Thompson Book Clubs 1 – Debra Kupper 2 – Mary Elizabeth Rhoads 3 – Lydia Olson 4 – Mary Jo Starrett 5 – Joan Gross Bridge Thursday 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th Joan Gross Friday a.m. – Beginners & refreshers Marie Rigg Bunco 1 – Deb Kupper Bunco 2 – June Stemmle Cribbage – John Oppelt Dance Party – Bonnie Silva Dinner Group First Thursday Danese Collins Dominos – Jo Verni Golf – Joe Tomasetti (Men’s) Joann Stump (Women’s) Hand and Foot – Jo Verni Hand/Knee/Foot Mon. p.m./Tues. p.m. – Carolyn Bodden Ladies Cards – Carolyn Rifino Mah jongg – Pat Wiedemann Meditation – Cynthia Frank Men’s Hearts – Len Brussee

Committee, Group and Activity Reports (cont.) Charity Committee On a chilly January morning, our volunteers collected donations from 60 households for the M.O.T. Senior Center. Monday, February 4th at 8:30 AM, we will collect for Neighborhood House, weather permitting.

Men’s Poker – Tom Ferrara Men's Pool – Larry Daigle Men’s Cards ”31” – Len Brussee Music Appreciation Club – Roy Peters Pickleball - Jane Kimmins Red Hats (listing open groups only) Classie Lassies – Dolores Bille Crimson Belles – Mary Elizabeth Rhoads Happy Hatters – Kathy Kobus Old Bats in the Red Hats Peg McMullen Scarlett O’Hattas – Phyllis Torgersen Romeos – Art Lamb Rummikub – Tues. – Carolyn Rifino Thurs. – Jo Verni Fri. – Tiny Farquhar Senior Exercise – Geri Abel Social Singles – Bridget McGrath/ Kathy Cioffi Tennis – (Men’s/Women’s) Jerry Ryan Texas Holdem – Stan Heer Water Aerobics – Ann Raymond/ Sandy Corrozzi Yoga – June Stemmle

Your generous donations to the holiday fund provided assistance to the following: M.O.T. Senior Center had the wish lists of 25 senior filled with wrapped gifts and/or gift cards. Neighborhood House gave us the wish lists of 13 families (45 individuals). They were fulfilled with wrapped gifts, toys and/or gift cards. Warriors Helping Warriors - $750 +$310 in Kohl’s cash Delaware National Guard - $600 Fisher House Dover Air Force Base - $500 Watchmakers Initiative - $300 Wounded Warriors - $200 Tunnels to Towers - $162 Thank you very much! Christmas cards, used (with personal message half cut off) or new, can be left in my lower mailbox any time during the year. Thank you to all who have given many already. It is wonderful to have knitters now busy making caps for our soldiers. Call and I will be happy to deliver the instructions to you. “Every sunrise is an invitation for us to arise and brighten someone’s day.” Richelle E. Goodrich Pat Kolbay

If you wish to join a service group or an activity, contact the leader (Contact info is in the Directory)

ROMEOS We meet at a different restaurant for lunch on the third Thursday of every month. This is a group of men who get together to share food and conversation. All are welcome to attend. Contact Art Lamb to be put on the e-mail list.

Committee, Group and Activity Reports (cont.) Property Committee

Website www.springmilldelaware.org

The Property Committee met on Monday, January 14. Bob Collins was our BOD liaison. Darren Welch and Debbie Lloyd attended as guests interested in joining the committee. This was our first meeting since November and, due to illness and vacation by some of our members, we did not have a quorum. Items discussed were leaf removal. lawn mowing day (which will now be Wednesdays), Code of Ethics for 2019, Mission Statement, Tree Trimming Volunteers (which is on hold for the present time), ornamental grass trimming, A notice to be sent to all homeowners with an approximate schedule for the entire season for any landscaping work ,i.e. fertilization, weed killer. The final snow accumulation for the January 13th storm was 3.6 inches. The 7th amendment of the Covenants states that the homeowners are responsible for the ice melt on their driveways and the sidewalk to their front door, not the Association. It is important that every resident read the Covenants (whether for Property information, MRC or any other committee). Residents in the past have also been requested not to leave a car in the driveway as this hinders the snow removal. The Property Committee and Tracey welcome your concerns but please note that we can only do what is covered by the Covenants. Our next meeting is Monday, February 11th at 3:30 in the craft room. If you wish to attend as a guest, please let me know before that date if you want to be put on the agenda. Julie Hambrecht

Our Group met on January 8. We spent a large part of our time discussing the concept of Categories for Calendar Entries. The developers of our Website software realized that many Calendars would have many events, making a specific event hard to locate. Categories and Subcategories are a way for a user to reduce the number of events displayed to only the specific type (Category). Try it: On the Home Page, click Calendar, click in the Category box, click Bridge (which is a “subcategory” of “All Games”). See how the Calendar now shows only Bridge activities. Up until now, we have not used Subcategories, but that will change over time as many listed Categories will become Subcategories under a new Category. Another area of major discussion was the many outdated pages found under “Activities”. We discussed an action plan for bringing, and keeping, these pages up to date. Many of you have already received an email requesting updated information, and there are already newly updated pages on the Website.

You may have noticed an announcement in the Springmill News section of the Residents Home Page about the Website being down for a few hours in early February. Our Web Host has been teasing us (Web Masters) for several months about all the wonderful new features that will be coming. They have given us no hints, so I am hoping some of my suggested improvements will be part of the upgrade. Next meeting is February 12, 10:00 AM, Great Room. Stan Heer

Happy New Year From the Dance Group aging found that any style of dance can help maintain or even improve muscle strength, balance, endurance, and other forms of physical health in older adults. One group of researchers even found that people engaged in social or group dancing experience less pain, a particular benefit for seniors who often have to deal with increasing physical discomfort. As you age, your body loses muscle mass, coordination and balance, making you more likely to fall and injure yourself in the course of everyday activities. Dancing can help counteract this decline.

Cabin fever getting you down? Come to our next dance! February 9 at 7 P.M. at the Clubhouse. We have a great group of people who meet and enjoy each other’s company and dance to music from the ‘50’s on. Below is an article about the benefits of dancing. Please read it and hopefully it will encourage you to come and join us. Just bring along your favorite beverage and a glass for it, plus a snack or dessert to share. We have a table set up for the food with napkins and plates. Each of the tables has a filled ice bucket. Just come and let the music take you!

Social and mental benefits of dancing for senior citizens Keeping you physically strong isn’t the only benefit dancing provides. It can also improve your social and emotional health. Overall, research confirms that participating in dance can improve your sense of well-being, keeping you connected to your community and interested in everyday life as you age.

Physical health benefits of dancing as you age Research has found that dancing improves strength and muscle function in older adults, as well as increasing balance and flexibility, leading to better stability and fewer injuries. Dancing can also improve your cardiovascular health, which will decrease your chances of developing heart disease. And in one study, healthy older adults who participated in a six-week dance program showed improved posture, reaction times, and motor performance.

If you’re a senior searching for a new leisure activity, consider dancing. You could improve your physical health, increase your emotional well-being, and meet a new friend or two in the process. By Katharine Paljug @kpaljug | June 20, 2017

https://www.yourcareeverywhere.com/life-stages/healthyaging/health-benefits-of-dancing-for-seniors.html

The health benefits of dancing for seniors don’t depend on doing a specific type of dance. A review of multiple studies on dancing and

Submitted by Eileen Bogel

Committee, Group and Activity Reports (cont.) Community Events

Communications Committee

“SEAN REILLY” February 23, 2019 “OL’ BLUE EYES” is coming to Springmill. Sean Reilly, vocalist in the Sinatra style, will perform “TALES BEHIND THE TUNES” show. Show starts at 7:00 p.m, seating is limited to 100. Please get RSVP to Michele Wiener before February 12. 2019. BYOB and BYO Snacks. Flyer in Sentinel.

The Communications Committee held its monthly meeting, Mon., Jan. 14th in the Clubhouse, it was called to order 10 a.m. Minutes of the previous meeting, held on December 10, 2018 were approved. SharonlynnTassone gave the Treasurer’s Report for December 2018.

“JOLLY TARS” Sunday, March 10, 2019. Come spend a JOLLY afternoon at a pre-St. Patrick’s Day Celebration. Enjoy Irish & Popular Music preformed by the JOLLY TARS. Assorted cheese and crackers, dessert and coffee will be served (also provided Baileys Irish Creamers), BYOB! Flyer in Sentinel. SAVE THE DATE “BINGO” March 22, “ERIC KERNS” April, 27 “COMMUNITY GARAGE SALE” April 27, “KENTUCKY DERBY” MAY 4, “MEMORIAL DAY PARTY” May 27. “THE SEATIONS” June 15, MORE TO COME The CEC would like to acknowledge the generosity of Bob & Danese Collins (Danese is a CEC member) for their donation/delivery of cases of water. It is truly appreciated. Thank you both. The CEC welcomed Jerry Steskal as our Board Liaison. The CEC meets the first Wednesday of every month at 9:30 a.m. in the craft room. Our next meeting will be February 6, Please try to stop by, see what we do & how we do it (we are a welcoming and fun committee to be part of). YOU NEVER KNOW UNLESS YOU TRY IT!! Peggy Andrews

Dick Rausch, as Business Manager, reported that we currently have 40 advertisers in the Sentinel. There are renewals needed and new advertisers sought out. In the 2019 Directory there were 16 advertisers. The editorial plan for the February Sentinel was reviewed. There was discussion of keeping the Sentinel at 28 pages. As editor, I think further discussion is needed. It will be on next month’s agenda. The Seminar sub-committee has made some plans for future seminars. Who Gets Grandma’s Yellow Pie Plate? on February 6, see flyer insert. Safe Gardening is scheduled for March 21. Mark your calendars now so you don’t miss these informative programs. There are other seminars that are in the works and we will let you know about them when plans are finalized. A report on the use of the computer for the hearing impaired was made to the BOD. They received it for further discussion. There was some discussion about using it for recording meeting minutes. The Communications Committee will begin working with the Website Committee to create a Springmill Handbook for Activities, Committees and Groups. Carolyn Fausnaugh was our BOD liaison. Our next meeting is Monday, February 11 (second Monday of the month) at 10 a.m. in the Clubhouse. Come and join us if you would like to be part of the Communications Committee. Tom Rigg

Fun With Neighbors Did you come to Game Night? How long would it take your team to identify a vampire in this sketch in Pictionary? So what if we’re not professional artists. We laughed and laughed and had a great time! Helen Weinheimer

Music Appreciation Music Appreciation will be held in the Great Room at 2:00 p.m Tuesday, February 12. Jo and Mark Verni will present a mixed bag of wonderful songs and music originally done by popular recording artists of the ‘50s and ‘60s. The songs are not necessarily done by the original recording artists. Maybe you can guess who is singing. There might even be a prize or two. If he is in town, he no doubt will have fingers flying on his smart phone. Come join us for songs that will bring back some great memories..

So let’s continue the fun in February. On Saturday February 2, we will gather for The Price Is Right – Springmill Version!! No need to bone up – you will be provided with ads from various stores. Friday the 15th is pizza night – Bring your own beverage and a snack to share while we wait for the pizza to be delivered. Don’t forget your money!! Tom and Marie Rigg

Roy Peters

Committee, Group and Activity Reports (cont.) Travel Washington, DC in May 2019

Vermont in August 2019

The first is a 3 day/2 night trip to Washington, D.C. in early May. This Travel Group trip includes the National Museum of the American Indian and Smithsonian Museums, a dinner cruise on the Potomac with views of all the landmarks, a tour of Mt. Vernon, its museum and gardens with dinner at Mt. Vernon Inn Restaurant, and is capped off with a trip to Old Town Alexandria. The sign-up for this one will be on February 8, with a $250 deposit and the balance due on March 15. This package includes bus, meals, Embassy Suite hotel stay and tours for $600/per person. Contact Anne Lucas for additional information.

Some of you have mentioned an interest in touring Vermont. The Travel Group received an invitation from BonAire to join their group as they travel to Vermont. It will be a 4 Day/3 Night trip, with a $50 deposit due by February 8. The all-inclusive package is $589 per person and includes a sugar farm, Cabot Cheese, Ben and Jerry’s, a winery and much more. We will post the information on the Clubhouse bulletin board, or if you would like more information dropped in your lower mailbox, email Betty Freeman or June Stemmle. June Stemmle

It’s hot soup weather! Make this chowder early in the morning and reheat it later. Add a side salad and serve it with a good, crusty bread. This is a full, satisfying meal. Fish Chowder 2 lbs fish fillet, any type 2 cups sliced (1/2 “) carrot 2 cups raw, cubed (1”) potatoes 2 cups sliced onion 1 teaspoon Salt 1 teaspoon dried dill weed ¼ teaspoon ground cloves ¼ teaspoon thyme

1 small bay leaf ¼ cup butter or margarine 2 cups boiling water ½ cup dry white wine 1 cup half & half or evaporated milk 2 tablespoons flour 1 tablespoon dried parsley

Cut fillets into 1 1/2 –inch pieces and refrigerate until needed. Combine carrots, potatoes, onions, salt, dill weed, cloves, thyme, bay leaf and margarine in a 6-quart soup pot. Add boiling water, cover and cook until vegetables are tender, about 30-40 minutes. Add fish and wine. Cover and cook an additional 20 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork. Remove bay leaf and discard. Combine half-and-half and flour. Blend until smooth; add to chowder. Stir carefully until hot and slightly thickened. Sprinkle with parsley. Makes about 10 cups chowder. Note: Milk may be substituted for wine, if desired.

5 Super Interesting Facts About Black American History 1. Rosa Parks wasn't the first Claudette Colvin, a 15-year-old girl, refused to move to the back of a bus nine months before Parks did. 2. MLK improvised his most famous speech Although he had prepared notes, Martin Luther King Jr. improvised much of his "I Have A Dream" speech. 3. Esther came before Betty The iconic cartoon character Betty Boop was modeled after a Harlem jazz singer named Esther Jones. 4. There were black senators in the 19th century The first black U.S. senator was Hiram Revels, who took office in 1870. 5. Satchel Paige was baseball's first black hall-of-famer Pitcher Satchel Paige was the first black player to be inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. Taken from nationaltoday.com Submitted by Marie Rigg

Submitted by Helen Weinheimer

Yoga Position - Chopping Wood This is an exercise that my class likes to do to relieve tension. It increases circulation throughout the whole body and energizes the whole body. It seemed appropriate for celebrating President’s Day…both Washington and Lincoln were comfortable with a hatchet. Starting Position: Stand up tall, with your legs about shoulder width apart and your knees slightly bent. Next clasp your hands, like you’re holding an axe, and raise your arms over your head. Now, bend slightly at the knees, exhaling though the mouth, and bending from the waist, allow your arms to fall forward in a chopping motion…reaching toward the floor, but bending as far as you can

with comfort. Your exhale should make an audible sound as you “chop.” Then raise your upper body to standing and continue with this chopping movement five or more times. The audible sound as you exhale increases the flow of energy. End in a standing position, hopefully feeling more energized. It’s great to do whenever you’re feeling angry or frustrated. June Stemmle

Bingo Perhaps it was cabin fever that drew 58 residents to BINGO. Lady Luck sure blew the way of one lucky winner of three games of bingo along with the 50/50. Tex Morton did a great.job as Bingo caller along with his added sense of humor it was most entertaining evening. Peggy Andrews

Bernadette Hnat, Sallie Midash, Tex Morton, Diane Morton getting ready to call numbers

Phyllis Burris will check you in

Chris Chappelle, Barbara Alt,Jean Sweeney, Carolyn Bodden, Sallie Midash, Nancy Shannon, Kathy Cioffi, Mary Warren, Betty Freeman - all winners of the second half

Barbara Alt, Dick Rausch, Andy Lucas Phyllis Burris, Joann Campbell, Noel Cole all winners in the first half of Bingo

50 - 50’ anyone? Joyce Foster, Joann Campbell

Barbara Alt Again?? Winner of 50-50

A somewhat mild New Year’s Day brought a large crowd of people to the Four Corners of Middletown to watch this annual parade, now in its 48th year. Jack Schreppler, organizer of this annual event, roller skated down Broad Street and onto Main Street and shook hands with old and young folks in the crowd. Current events were featured, along with politically incorrect floats, honoring some people while crushing others. This brief parade featured tributes to the late Burt Reynolds while criticizing President Trump’s border wall. For the floats honoring the Eagles, a big round of applause and cheers for the team. The New Year has arrived in Middletown. Sonya Comstock

Classy Lassie’s Christmas Dinner Classy Lassies celebrated our annual Christmas Dinner this year at Caffe Gelato in Newark on Thursday, December 2nd. Our private room and restaurant were beautifully decorated for the holidays with a prix-fixe menu, including a choice of five entrees plus salad, dessert, coffee, tea and wine. As in previous years, our group had a gift exchange toward the end of the evening, which is always fun and full of surprises. Caffe Gelato’s staff, and especially our coordinator, Danielle, and server, Tara, were extremely efficient, friendly and accommodating both during our dinner and previously in setting up all details. We had a great time – everyone agreed their dinners were excellent, atmosphere and decorations festive and the whole staff friendly and efficient. Who could ask for more? Patricia Wiedemann & Bernadette Hnat December Hosts

And More of Christmas 2018

Clubhouse Committee at Work

Iceland Trip

Joe Grippo abd Sam Merrick Change thermostats Story on page 21

222 Carter Dr., Suite 104

Restaurant Review There Are Newcomers in Springmill!! Say hello, invite them to go to an event or committee meeting with you.

Friends and I have been to Capers and Lemons on several occasions and have always been pleased with the menu, the service, and the absolutely delicious meal that we enjoyed. Over the last several years, I think we have tried almost everything on the dinner menu. On my last visit, I ordered the chicken piccata. Normally, chicken piccata is served in very thin pieces with lemon, wine and capers. Their chicken is served in large chunks that are tender, juicy and absolutely delicious, accompanied by garlic mashed potatoes.

We welcome Wayne & Kathy King on Springmill Dr. Renee Frank on Whispering Trail

The meal always starts with their delicious bread and a lovely dipping oil. The oil can be purchased in the tiny store that is part of the restaurant, along with other Italian delicacies. Capers and Lemons is part of the Platinum Group of restaurants. Check out their website and menu.

Several of the local Lions Clubs of Delaware have hospital equipment available to borrow, free-of-charge. Please give them a call to see if they have what you need, below are the listings. They also accept hospital equipment that you are no longer in need of.

If you decide to make the trip, (Address: 301 Little Falls Dr, Wilmington, DE 19808 Phone: (302) 256-0524) make a reservation because it is always busy. It is a bit of a drive from Springmill. but worth it. Why oh why can’t we attract a restaurant of this quality in or near Middletown? Joan Gross

Brookside LC (Newark) Fred Williamson 738-4724 Glasglow LC Bill Georgov 834-3026 Dover LC Bruce Marvel 674-2868 Submitted by Carolyn Rifino Middletown Lions Club (301 Continued from page 1) Ground was broken for the US 301 project on February 5, 2016. The project is partially funded by a $211 million U.S. Department of Transportation loan that will be paid back through toll collections on the highway. The total cost of the project, including land purchases and the maintenance of a reserve fund, is estimated at $636 million. Let’s take a tour of the new road from where it starts at DE Highway 1 just south of the Roth Bridge. The road travels southwest with the first exit in 2.3 miles at Jamison Corner Road. Continue south and 3.9 miles later you will approach the North Middletown exit which will bring you to the original US Highway 301 and DE 71, which is about 1 mile north of Springmill Drive. Continue south and you will reach the South Middletown DE 299 (Levels Road) exit in 3.2 miles. Continuing south for an additional 2.5 miles will bring you to the southern terminus of the new road at the Maryland State line. Let’s discuss tolls. The general rule is that if you enter US 301 Mainline from Maryland, going north, to any exit or take it south into Maryland, from any entrance, you will have to pay the full toll of $4.00 with EZ Pass or $5.60 with Toll by Plate. The tolls are much

lower if you enter 301 Mainline at any point in Delaware and head north. For example, South Middletown to the Roth Bridge is $1.00, North Middletown to the Roth Bridge is $0.75 and Jamison Corner Rd to the Roth Bridge is $0.50. The tolls are the same if you exit at any of those three points while driving south from the Roth Bridge. You can avoid the $4.00 toll going south to Maryland by doing the following. Take the original Rt. 301 to Levels Rd and turn right, following the signs to US 301. Do not enter 301, stay straight on DE 299 for 3.5 miles (it becomes DE 282 in 2.5 miles. At Hammer’s Bar and Grill, turn left onto Sassafras Rd (there is a sign showing the intersection). In 2.2 miles you will arrive at the intersection of US 301. Make a right and continue south. This is the same point you would have been at on the original US 301 about 3 miles into Maryland. It is a little less convenient than it used to be, but you do save $4.00. I am interested in seeing if the truck traffic on the old Rt. 301 will be reduced as much as Del DOT anticipated. Dick Rausch

A Time/ Mileage Study On Friday January 11, 2019, we left Boscov’s parking lot at 2:15. The car GPS said the trip home (using the route usually taken) would be 27 minutes and 19 miles. We arrived home at 2:35 (20 minutes) and 16 miles. Savings of 7 minutes and 3 miles. Is it worth the tolls? Tom Rigg

GriefShare Group

Middletown News Town Meeting The first meeting of the New Year opened with the Mayor and Council giving approval for a Conditional Use Permit for Nicole J. Designs, Inc. on Industrial Drive. Daneya Jacobs, Middletown Main Street Director, presented a video of what is being planned for the New Year. She mentioned that a Grant was given to help with improvements that will bring more residents into town for recreational activities as well as shopping. Approval was also given for a Conditional Use Permit request for warehouse/offices to support the operation of Dare to Have Hair.com on Patriot Drive. A Motion was made to adopt a Resolution to amend the Rules and Regulations of the Town Electric Tariff concerning the PPCA Base Rate. Under New Business, several Latino organizations asked to speak to the Mayor and Council about the Hummer’s Parade on January 1. Over 200 residents from Middletown and other towns were in attendance at this meeting. Speakers were offended by a particular float, featuring a man in a diaper in a cage. The speakers asked the Mayor and Council to initiate more control on what is featured in the parade. The Mayor said he would appoint a council who would review what would be featured in the 2020 parade. If it appears to be offensive in any way, a permit would not be issued for that float. The Mayor said he recognized that freedom of speech is important in this country, but also that consideration should be shown for all people, so as not to be offensive in any way. This council would meet with the assigned group of residents in the early fall to review what will be featured in the parade. The Mayor agreed with the organizations that such floats will never be permitted in the parade again. Sonya Comstock

Closed Business Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) has closed its operation permanently. No new business has applied for this location.

The Grief Support Group continues to meet at 5:30 in the Clubhouse every Sunday. As stated before, but because we feel it is important for all to know we say it again, we are an open and inviting group and your presence is valued. We warmly welcome you to be a part of us any time you feel you have contributions or any time you feel you could use a listening ear in your journey of grief. Each week, we watch a video seminar on DVD that covers topics essential to recovery from the hurt of grief and loss along with our discussion and sharing. Because of the snow, we missed our January 13 session, thus pushing us back a week on the calendar. A snapshot of key themes for our February sessions (barring any more snow days) is below. Please note that no one is expected to speak unless he or she volunteers to do so. In past years, we have had no one who went through all the sessions without speaking, but we have sure come close to that. Some of us are listeners. Some of us find our pain too deep or too fresh to speak about it. Some of us are still so deep in our self-conversations about the matter that we cannot speak. There is nothing wrong with any of these as we all make our way through our grief journey in different ways. The important thing though, is to make sure that we do allow ourselves to deal with our grief. February 3 -- Why? This session deals with your “Why” questions --- especially, “Why, God?” February 10 -- Guilt and Anger You’ll learn how to deal with false guilt How to grieve conflicted relationships How to handle grief-related anger February 17 – Complicating Factors You will learn how traumatic experiences affect grief How to deal with nightmares and flashbacks How thinking affects emotions February 24 –Stuck You will learn how to prevent getting stuck in grief Common misconceptions that hinder grief Why the path to healing is not always smooth We have only two items that we ask committal to and they are that everything shared remain confidential and that you not date during the 13-week session. Danese and Bob Collins

Heartfelt Thanks As many of you already know, on Oct. 16th, I had a neurostimulator put in to decrease the pain I had been having. However, it caused a spinal cord injury and I’m paralyzed from the waist down. The neurostimulator was removed.

I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all who prayed for me, sent cards, called, visited and brought food after my recent surgery. You all helped make my recovery easier. We are blessed to be living in such a caring community. Thank you to all of you. Ann Basler

Please know that there has been so many cards and calls. A special thank you goes to GEORGE RYOR AND JERRY RYAN for making the ramp that allows me to get into the house with my wheelchair. Another special thank you goes to CAROL GEIGER for setting up the food chain with all these great cooks. Thank you again and again for all those who cooked and their visits.

I would like to thank the Springmill Residents for all the condolences for the passing of my wife Joy D Frazer of Poets Way. I feel very Blessed to have so much support and love during this most difficult time.

A special thanks to BRIAN BLACKNEY for all the countless times he came over and offered his assistance. NANCY JAEGER, my neighbor, friend and nurse for giving me medical advice sometimes as late as 11 P.M.

Thankful

Springmill is a great community!!

Thanks again, WILMA FEINBERG

Travel Log - Iceland - Part II The Golden Circle Hallo (hello). As promised, we’re about to embark around the Golden Circle. First stop after a delicious hot/cold breakfast buffet at our hotel was Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO site which marks where the Atlantic Ridge with North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. We actually walked through a volcanic fissure that had opened up and saw some of Iceland’s flora (moss, lichen, and birch trees…one of the few deciduous trees in Iceland) close up. Then it was on to Gullfoss Waterfall, whose wildness and fury outdoes Niagara Falls (Soon the power of Gullfoss will be harnessed to produce electricity.), and the thermal area of Geysir, which reaches 90 feet and goes off every 4-8 minutes. Old Faithful reaches about 60 feet and you have to wait hours by comparison. The next stop was Horse Mane Falls, before visiting the Fridheimar Farm to see a show featuring Icelandic horses. The Icelandic horse can do 5 different movements, and is the only breed that performs the “tilt” where the front and back legs are moving differently at the same time. Afterwards we had a tour of the farm’s greenhouse cultivation center, which grows tomatoes with geothermal energy, and enjoyed a lunch which included tomato soup. The cultivation center does double duty; they grow tomatoes and cultivate bees, which pollinate the vertical plants and also produce honey. This place was amazing…what a beautiful and functional way to farm! On our fourth day we visited Snaefellsnes Peninsula’s black and white sand beaches, waterfalls, craters, fishing villages and glacier. While some people chose to check out all things above ground, the more adventurous of us decided to travel 100 feet below ground to the 8,000-year-old Vatnshellir Caves…a journey to the center of the earth. I learned a LOT about different kinds of lava, and colors formed by different minerals (gray is calcium & smooth chocolate is iron). The amazing part to me was the bacteria on the ceiling and the moss and ferns that were growing on some of the underground walls closer to the surface. During the afternoon, we visited an Icelandic family that preserved Greenland shark (hakarl). It takes months to clean and cure the shark that ends up tasting disgusting…like a baby’s wet diaper! It’s definitely an acquired taste. On the way to our hotel…atop a hill in a fishing village, we took time for a nature cruise in Breioafjorour Bay to see the bird life and eat sea creatures (scallops, sea urchin roe, oysters, starfish, mussels, crabs) scooped up from the sea! The raw scallops tasted almost sweet with the saltiness of the sea…think sushi. Our next day’s itinerary took us to Vik, one of Iceland’s most southerly villages, and one of its most visited spots. Our new “hotel,” Hotel Katla by Kea provided a series of cabins with 12 rooms in each…like being in camp. Each evening we gathered in a small common area to share pre-dinner snacks and air drop photos to one another. The rooms were rustically cozy and the cabins created a feeling of camaraderie. The sights on our sixth day included Hellisheioavirkjun, the largest geothermal power station in Iceland and the second largest in the world. (Warning…don’t push buttons unless you

know what they do.) We drove along the south shore to Seljalandfoss (foss means waterfall) to one of Iceland’s most picturesque waterfalls with a walkway behind it. Then it was on to Skogar Museum, an indoor/outdoor museum, which contained ALL aspects of Icelandic Life. Afterwards, it was on to another waterfall, Skogafoss, before viewing Reynisfjara, a black volcanic sand beach (VERY windy and with treacherous undertow, but beautiful), with lots of bird life, before going to see the natural rock formations at Dyrholaey. Day seven featured a cruise day among the HUGE icebergs of Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon. We tasted 1,000 year old ice and saw seals galore. Later, we bussed to Skaftafell, gateway to Vatnajokull National Park, the largest in Europe and its glacier, which is Europe’s largest as well. At day’s end, we headed back to the city and the Hotel Reykjavik Centrum. Our last full day, we visited the south shore’s Lava Exhibition Center. This museum has only been open a year and is sensory interactive…a fascinating experience. It is next to Reykjanes Peninsula, known for its landscape, lava fields, hot springs and…the Blue Lagoon, with its warm, mineral-rich waters in a geothermal pool located in the middle of a lava field. The Blue Lagoon was definitely FUN and a highlight of the trip. It’s no surprise that it was chosen one of 25 Wonders of the World by National Geographic…it “unlocks the astonishing powers of geothermal seawater, with beautiful vistas, providing relaxation and rejuvenation.” Of course we had to lather our face with the silica…unfortunately it didn’t take 20 years off my appearance. The lagoon is quite large, so you never feel crowded; it has a silica bar, a walk-up bar, and waterfalls. Be sure to step out every 20-30 minutes to regulate your blood pressure. It’s so soothing to be in, you hate to get out. Your ticket provides lockers, shower areas with all the amenities, and towels. This last stop literally took us full circle around Iceland’s perimeter. Some of us had a later flight on our last day, so we explored the city a bit more during our final few hours…managed to tuck in the Harpa, Reykjavik’s concert hall, the Aurora Reykjavik Northern Lights Center, and have one final soup and bread lunch. The homemade soups and bread with European butter here are amazing! It was advantageous to try new foods; whale and horse (tasted like rare roast beef), Icelandic yogurt which is served in various forms from breakfast to dinner, smoked fish, cold water fish of EVERY kind, and lamb cooked many ways, including a lamb hot dog, which was delicious. Fish and lamb are in abundance and inexpensive. If you want to have a steak, you practically have to mortgage your house. Figures I’d end this saga with food, but the sense of taste does linger in your memory. Considering my age, Iceland was an once-in-a-lifetime experience. I encourage you to add it to your trip wish list. You’ll be glad you did. Takk (thank you) for joining me on this journey, and Bless (good-bye). June Stemmle Pictures on page 15

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Book Review

Travel Group…

The Reckoning

Trans-Siberian Orchestra

John Grisham When Pete Banning, WWII hero, patriarch of a prominent family, farmer, father and a member of the Methodist church, drives into town one day and calmly kills his pastor and friend, Dexter Bell, a well-respected minister of his church, the entire town is shocked. Murder in this small town of the minister by a respected member of the community, and no explanation is given by Pete Banning. His statement to the sheriff, lawyers and judge and family is simply “I have nothing to say.” Readers are exposed to the life he led in the war, which led to his being hospitalized when he returned home. Not willing to cooperate with his attorneys or take the stand, he calmly sits through his trial and accepts the decision by the jury to be executed for his crime. With his wife in a mental hospital and unable to cope with all of this, his two children cannot believe that their father would commit such a crime. They are in college, and he asks that they not come home until after his execution. Family members search for the truth, but without Pete’s cooperation, they are left with unanswered questions. What did the minister do to Pete or his family? The minister’s wife becomes a widow with two small children and nowhere to turn. When the execution takes place and Pete is buried in the family plot, the motive finally arises as to how the family became so distressed, and how Pete dealt with the shocking news about his wife. The year is 1946, and it is the Jim Crow South where the law of the land prevails, no matter what the consequence. Sonya Comstock

On an unseasonably warm but drizzly December day, our group of Springmill music lovers boarded a motor coach, happy that we were in for a unique multi-media performance by TSO, celebrating their 20th anniversary at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. The thing that made the trip even better was anticipating a holiday lunch at Popi’s Italian Ristorante. Let me begin by saying that from first course to last, there wasn’t a crumb left on anyone’s plate. All the selections were perfectly cooked and the staff was quite amenable… available to take care of any need. If you’re in Philly and want a good meal in pleasant surroundings, Popi’s is located on 3120 S. 20th Street. www.popisrestaurant.com Forty very contented diners exited ready, and amply sustained, for the next part of our holiday adventure. The Trans-Siberian Orchestra didn’t disappoint, providing a concert that included a wonderful string section, a light show, lasers, video screens, and special effects synchronized to music. The first half of the show was a theatrical musical production about “Christmas Ghosts” in the life of a runaway girl…of course, it had a happy ending. The second half was a rock extravaganza with all of the above accompaniments as well as fiery explosions and musicians on cranes above the audience. We didn’t know where to look first…a sight/sights to behold. Jean Sweeny shared that this was her third TSO show, but for the rest of us it was a new and energizing event. The musicians and singers presented a top-notch performance! The club box seats were a plus considering the size of the venue, providing private restrooms for our area and a cash bar in the suite. There were tables, or bar seating, if you preferred that to the assigned seating. Happily, while the seats were close together…not great if you have long legs, they were padded and comfortable during the 2 ½ hour show with NO intermission.

Book Club Choices

With all the running around…yes, the band literally ran up and down the aisles of the audience downstairs, and the hair bobbing reminiscent of a Pantene commercial, it was exhausting to watch. And they were performing a second show at 8:00!

Book Club 1 (Deb Kupper/1st Wed.) Choice made too late for publication Book Club 2 (Mary-Elizabeth Rhoads/4th Tues.) We will be reading “The Secret Sister” by Brenda Novak..

We’re sorry you missed joining us, but hope you’ll consider some of the unique opportunities the Travel Group provides. Our next excursion is to see Shen Yun along with lunch at historic City Tavern, prepared by TV chef Walter Staib. I hope you signed up for this Feb. 28 trip…or at least put your name on the wait list, just in case a last-minute ticket becomes available.

Book Club 3 (Lydia Olson/3rd Mon.) Choice made too late for publication. Book Club 4 (Mary Jo Starrett/1st Wed.) We will be sharing “Before We Were Yours” by Lisa Wingate. Book Club 5 (Joan Gross/3rd Tues.) When we meet, we will talking about “The Tatooist of Auschwitz” by Heather Morris .

June Stemmle

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Meet Your Neighbor Dennis Krause, of 413 Morning Glory Lane, seemed quite pleasant on the phone, so I was looking forward to meeting him, his wife, Carolyn, and their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Kai and their calico cat, Callie, a stray. As soon as I rang the doorbell, my arrival was announced by Kai and Callie. After a short wait, Carolyn warmly greeted me at the door, with Dennis close behind. Once we settled on a spot to sit, we took the official portrait and got right to our interview. My first surprise was that Carolyn was from Hawaii…the first interviewee from that state. She was born and raised on Oahu in Waialua and lived there for twenty-five years. Then Dennis, who was stationed there during his service in the Air Force, entered the picture. The couple met in church. At the time, Carolyn had been working for a piano company that was hoping to acquire the church as a client. Carolyn started going to church services and met Dennis, who it seems, was a good church goer. The two got to know each other, dated for about a year and then decided to marry. When you work for the U.S. Government, you tend to go where they tell you. The twosome’s first move was to New Mexico, then back to Hawaii for Carolyn while he served in Korea. Once he finished his tour in Korea, Dennis was again stationed in Hawaii for another four years.

a timeshare in Ocean City, Maryland, and therefore know that they’ll have at least one real vacation a year. The Krauses, who have been married for 47 years, have two daughters, Christina and Brenda, both of whom live in Delaware. They also have two grandchildren; Alexis (15) and Ella (13). When asked about final thoughts or a life philosophy to pass along, Dennis immediately said that what’s kept them happy and together is that he truly enjoys Carolyn’s company. Both decided that having God as a central part of their existence and sharing a life of service to their church, friends, and community has been important to them. It seems to me that giving of yourself each day makes for a more fruitful life. *You’ll have to make their acquaintance sooner rather than later. It seems their next phase of life will be on a farm. They are planning to move sometime in late spring. June Stemmle

Is it President's Day or Presidents’ Day? Washington's Birthday, also known as Presidents' Day, is a federal holiday held on the third Monday of February. The day honors presidents of the United States, including George Washington, the USA's first president From Wikipedia

In 1984, he continued his Air Force duty in Dover, Delaware, retiring in 1990. The couple’s next move was to Springmill in 2007. It seems their youngest daughter, Christina, was living in Middletown and told them, “You have to move here to be closer to your grandchildren,” both of whom were preschool age at the time. As a real estate agent, Christina also knew the market and insisted that Springmill was “the place to be.” Trusting their daughter, Carolyn and Dennis packed and moved in within the month. Since moving, the positives have been caring neighbors, relationships they’ve made with other dog walkers, and not having to worry about outside maintenance of their property. Carolyn is still working. At present, she is at Del Tech, on the Terry Campus in Dover, in the Math Department. She received her Master’s Degree from Temple and has been teaching math for thirty years, so she feels comfortable handling any facet of that discipline. As mentioned, Dennis has separated from the Air Force (served from 1967-1990), but he still works part-time in his daughters’ business, doing “whatever they need me to do, so they can have more time building their real estate firm. When they have time for themselves, which they say is “very little time,” Carolyn enjoys playing the piano and reading…“absolutely not cooking.” Dennis enjoys walking Kai, doing puzzles, is involved with the Lions Club in Middletown, and is partial to reading historical and biblical selections. Carolyn proudly added that Dennis has been writing camp fire stories over the years and finally integrated them into book form. Having submitted his work to a publisher, he was recently informed that soon he will be a published author! When asked about their favorite vacation spot or getaway, they mentioned that for many years, the first choice would have been Hawaii. But now, most of Carolyn’s close family members are older and so the trips have become less frequent. They do have

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timetable of Old Middletown, the beamed ceiling is black, and the walls are light grey. The cement floors will be polished. Lighting that can be changed according to the venue will make all the difference.

Rev. Dan Betters and the Leadership of The Town Church envisioned a church in the middle of the rapidly-growing Westown area where folks could shop and then attend church without driving a great distance. He began as an Associate Pastor at Reach Church in 1998, but felt called to plant Stone’s Throw Church in 2010. The 200+ members of the church, as well as the regular attending people, also believed in the vision and were able to raise the funds needed to accomplish this undertaking.

Seating in the Sanctuary can accommodate 500 attendees. No pews, but instead very comfortable chairs that will satisfy all ages. The chairs can be removed or rearranged should wedding receptions or parties take place here or a theater show or some other major event. Rev. Betters would like to see the church used for more than religious purposes and would like folks to think of it as a place to hold special events. The stage could be altered to satisfy many different venues, while offering a large parking area. Facilities to serve refreshments could be made available. State of the art technology throughout the church will make it an attractive facility to hold events.

A building team, made up of members, was committed to building the new church as cost-effectively as possible. Over time, the right pieces fell into place. The land next to Westown Movies was available in 2011 and a price was agreed to with a hand-shake. All that changed when the entire area became “the place to be” and the handshake agreement was not honored as the price of land skyrocketed. To stay within the budget, the church leadership agreed to reduce the size of the land originally agreed upon but keep the same purchase price. That was 2012, and the area was exploding beyond anyone’s expectation. Staying within the town limits was Betters’ decision because he knew the Mayor would be so supportive of their project. What would be the deciding factor was having all the utilities that the town offered and be located in the center of homes and businesses too.

The change of the name of the church from Stones Throw to “The Town Church” is more in harmony because of its location in the town itself and happy to be here where all types of facilities are at their fingertips. Paul Palmer, Jr., the owner of Bay Country Associates, is a member of The Town and the general contractor. Kevin Creek, the owner of New Covenant Electric and also a member of the church has overseen all of the electrical work. Jake VanWingerden, owner of Tidal Creek Growers completes the building team and has overseen all of the site work, and landscaping projects. Rev. Betters says locating in the town meant spending more money initially, but the total benefit is what the town offers – natural gas, sewers, water, and, above all, full cooperation from all town members from the beginning. He cannot say enough about the support he has received from the Mayor, who has been so helpful with this project.

The church had to raise $500k in under 6 months to close the deal. They were able to do so and able to pay off the $1.05 million land before construction was to begin in 2016. Pleased with the results so far and with the growing membership from the MOT area, Cecil County area, Chestertown, and even members from Oxford, PA, the dream of building a church in the heart of Middletown became a reality. Rev. Betters and the church belong to the Presbyterian Church in America.

As of now, Phase 1 should be completed so that the church can open sometime in February offering a worship space. Members will be welcomed into a Gathering Hall with a beautiful old brick fireplace in the center. The beautifully restored doors will lead into the Sanctuary. Rooms have been set aside for babies and toddlers, who will be cared for by volunteers as their parents attend services. The next phase will be to offer a clinical and professional counseling center designed to help people with difficulties in their lives. The church wants to be more than just a place to visit once a week, but a place where people and families can meet for a variety of reasons.

Rev. Betters thanks the Gospel Growth Fund for its contribution and knows that the church members will continue to support the church as it grows. The vision for the church building would be something that represented Old Middletown with reclaimed elements from historical buildings. The solid mahogany doors leading into the sanctuary were originally installed in the Vice President’s Executive building in D.C. when Ulysses S. Grant commissioned the building. These doors were carefully removed and stored until ready to assemble in the church by skilled carpenters. Keeping the aged doors which welcome members into the Sanctuary was a major accomplishment led by Pastor Dan’s wife, Laura, and her team. The old mixing with the new. In time, French chandeliers will be hung. When the Summerton Place in Middletown was demolished, the church asked permission to remove pieces that could be reused in the church such as old floors, mantels, bricks, beams, and they have now become part of the new church. Keeping the church in the

Pastor Dan Betters resides in Middletown with his wife and five children. Assistant Pastor Scott Winchester resides in Odessa. Both pastors are eager to open their church to old and new members. Only one service will be offered on Sunday, but by Easter, two services will take place every Sunday. A long time coming, Rev. Betters is eager to serve its members in this beautiful old-fashioned church with modern amenities. He is grateful for a congregation that shares in this dream of being a church that matters to people in the Town and who sacrificed so much to see this vision become a reality. Sonya Comstock