D I G I T A L , T A R G E T E D M A R K E T I N G I N C R E A S E S S A L E S ! C A L L 3 0 2 - 5 4 2 - 9 2 3 1 T O A D V E R T I S E T O D A Y.

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Little League continues season

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See TRAILS on PAGE 3

On Monday, June 29, Delaware Department of Transportation Secretary Jennifer Cohan along with other state and local officials opened the Milton Rails to Trails project for pedestrians and cyclists. The project, completed by A-Del Construction, added 1,600 feet of trail and connects Wagamon’s West Shores to the town of Milton. In addition to the trail, the project, which cost $662,000, rebuilt and converted railroad trestle, creating a bridge for cyclists and pedestrians.

“Our growing Sussex County trail system is a great example of our commitment to supporting all modes of transportation, and each new section we complete is another

DelDOT opens Phase II Milton Rails to Trails projectBY TERRY ROGERS

Cara Konlian, MSPT and CEO of Aquacare Physical Therapy, explained that the company has been hoping to open an office in Milford for some time after offering physical therapy services in Sussex County for the past 15 years. When the Milford Wellness Village, located in the former Bayhealth Milford Memorial Clarke Avenue location, began developing, Konlian’s organization began talking with Nationwide Health about opening an office there.

“We are very excited to offer our services in Milford,” Konlian said. “Milford Wellness Village has been amazing to work with and we know they will be wonderful partners moving forward.”

Aquacare Physical Therapy offers water-based therapies designed to assist people suffering from chronic pain, have mobility issues or have suffered traumatic injuries. There is not a pool at the Clarke

Avenue site, so Aquacare Physical Therapy partners with the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Milford to use their pool for therapy.

“We have an agreement to use their pool from 9

Aquacare Physical Therapy opens in Milford Wellness VillageBY TERRY ROGERS

See THERAPY on PAGE 2

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Aquacare Physical Therapy offers water-based therapies designed to assist people suffering from chronic pain, have mobility issues or have suffered traumatic injuries.

Sussex seafood suppliers sell direct to consumers

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Q&A with Rony Baltazar-Lopez

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a.m. to noon each day,” Konlian said. “All therapy is done one-on-one, not in a group class. Many people are still fearful of going to therapy due to the virus, but aquatic therapy provides an anti-viral method for therapy. Because we work one-on-one, there is no interaction with anyone but the therapist. Pools are treated with chemicals that kill the virus, making it a much safer alternative to other types of therapy.”

Another benefit to aquatic therapy, according to Konlian, is that water offers a 90 percent reduction in body weight once someone is submersed from the waist down. This makes it an excellent option for people who are in chronic pain, suffer from arthritis, are recovering from a stroke or have illnesses, such as Parkinson’s Disease, where movements are difficult.

“We also have a really vibrant women’s pelvic floor therapist who works with women who are pregnant as well as post-partum,” Konlian said. “Women suffer pain before and after pregnancy, so this is a way for them to build those core muscles.”

Aquatic therapy is combined with other types of therapy, a method Konlian called “land and water therapy.” Out of the pool, the therapist can perform massages, soft tissue work, mobilization and other therapeutic exercises. The Boys & Girls Club pool also has a ramp that allows people with mobility issues or those in wheelchairs to access the pool without climbing steps.

“We also offer athlete therapies,” Konlian said.

“Pool therapy can be a great intervention for post-operative care. Athletes who have undergone knee surgery, ACL surgery or others can rehabilitate easier in the pool than with traditional therapies. It is a great intervention especially for those who have suffered severe injuries as they can start therapy earlier. Just being in the pool can also reduce swelling.”

Aquacare Physical Therapy takes most insurance plans which often cover the cost of treatments. In most cases, patients are referred by their doctor, but Delaware also allows direct access with no doctor referral. After 30 days of treatment, however, patients must be seen by a physician if they are not referred by a doctor.

To learn more about Aquacare Physical Therapy, contact them at 302-393-5535.

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TRAILS from FRONT PAGEpiece of the puzzle as we continue to build a low-stress interconnected trail system for the benefit of our residents and guests,” Secretary Cohan said.

The Rails to Trails Project is designed to convert abandoned, inactive and publicly owned active railroad corridor segments into off-road paths that could be used by pedestrians and cyclists. There are three projects planned for Sussex County. DelDOT completed Phase II of the Georgetown-Lewes Running Track in 2019. The Ellendale to Milton Industrial Track will consist of 6.8 miles with Phase II of the Junction & Breakwater Trail expanding with the opening of the new Milton trail.

“I’m glad to see completion of the Rails to Trails Phase II extension,” Mayor Ted Kanakos said. “The extended area results in increased connectivity and an area for pedestrian and bicycling use.”

State Senator Ernie Lopez, who was also at the official opening was excited to see this phase of the trail project completed.

“Our beautiful network of trails in the Cape region are jewels for all to enjoy,” Senator Lopez said. “I’ve been proud to support their growth and am particularly pleased to see Milton have a new public space which locals and visitors alike, can enjoy with their families and loved ones.”

State Representative Steve Smyk believes the trail will encourage families to get out and enjoy the nature that surrounds residents of Sussex County.

“It’s great to see this beautiful project completed in Milton,” Representative Smyk said. “Especially now, when families and loved ones are so ready to get outside and spend quality time together in a safe and responsible way, this comes at a perfect time.”

Sussex County Councilman I.G. Burton believes the new trail will enhance the quality of life of those who live in the area.

“The public has made it clear that trails are an important and necessary part of a vibrant, efficient and safe transportation system. And their popularity is evident with the number of cyclists and pedestrians you will find throughout the year exercising, exploring and enjoying our natural beauty. I look forward to more projects like this that promote health while improving mobility. I’m excited to see where the next trail leads.”

With the opening of this section of the Rails to Trails system, Delaware now has more than 500 miles of pedestrian and bike trails. The next phase of the Georgetown to Lewes trail which will eventually stretch nearly 17 miles.

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The hot humid days can take a toll on your car’s air conditioning and filtration system. Tim Millman of TJ’s Repair and Milford NAPA Auto Parts explained that it is critical to have your car’s air conditioning system checked to be sure it is operating at peak efficiency.

“Many people assume that since cool air is coming from the vents, everything is just fine,” Millman said. “But that is not necessarily the case. When your filters are dirty, your air conditioner has to work harder to push out that cold air and that takes a toll. That could lead to a lot of problems down the road that will be expensive to fix. Your air conditioning system is also important to keep your engine cool, so that is another reason you want it running properly.”

Millman explained that there is some basic maintenance that can help your car’s air conditioner work more efficiently, even on the hottest days of summer. Check to be sure the condenser is clean and that the cabin air filter is changed.

“We offer an air conditioning system check,” Millman said. “Our Air Conditioning Tune Up includes cleaning the condenser, replacing the cabin air filter, checking belts and checking fluid levels. We especially

recommend having your car in for a check up if you plan on going on any road trips over the summer. One of the biggest issues people face when they are traveling is an issue with a belt or a hose. We can check to be sure they are all in good shape, so your road trip is not ruined by a car breakdown.”

Another reason that Millman suggests you have your car’s filtration and air conditioning systems checked is the Saharan dust cloud that is blanketing the United States periodically this summer. Although the dust cloud occurs every year, it is especially strong this year.

“The particles in this dust cloud are every small and cannot be seen by the naked eye,” Millman said. “That can actually make it worse because the particles can get inside your engine and cause many problems. Your car pulls air in from outside to cool the engine which means it is sucking up those tiny dust particles. Your filtration system can only do so much without some attention, so during this year’s Saharan dust cloud, you really need to stay on top of changing filters and checking the compressor.

You can arrange for an appointment to have your air conditioning system checked by calling 302-422-8383.

Take care of your car’s air conditioning system this summerBY TERRY ROGERS

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There will be a Milford School District School Board Election on Tuesday, July 21, 2020. Voting hours are from 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Polling locations are at Milford High School – 1019 N. Walnut Street in Milford and E.I. Morris Elementary School – 8609 3rd Street in Lincoln.

You may vote by absentee ballot. Applications available for voting absentee by mail online at: https://ivote.de.gov, Fillable/Downloadable form at: https://elections.delaware.gov/services/voter/absentee/school.shtml, or call the office at 302-739-4498 to have one mailed to you. The deadline to register via absentee ballot is July 17 at noon.

The Kent County Department of Elections, in accordance with Title 14, Chapter 10 of Delaware Code will be publicly advertising the upcoming school board elections. The Milford School Board has the authority to administer and to supervise the schools of

MSD to hold School Board Elections, July 21STAFF REPORT

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MSD from PAGE 5the Milford School District, and to determine policy and adopt rules and regulations for the general administration and supervision of the schools. Such administration, supervision and policy shall be conducted and formulated in accordance with Delaware law and the policies, rules and regulations of the State. For more information about School Board policies and regulations, please visit the State of Delaware website, Title 14: http://delcode.delaware.gov/title14/c010/sc03/index.shtml.

For more information about School Board Elections, please contact the Kent County Department of Elections at (302) 739-4498 or go to Department of Elections: Kent County Office.

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On Tuesday, July 21, Milford School District Board of Education will hold an election for an at-large seat. Voting will be held from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Milford High School (1019 North Walnut Street) and Evelyn I. Morris Early Childhood Center (8609 Third Street, Lincoln). Rony Baltazar-Lopez and Scott Willey are both vying for the seat. Below are questions we asked Baltazar-Lopez and his answers.

Baltazar-Lopez is 25 years old, born and raised in Milford. He graduated from Milford High School in 2013 and was appointed to Milford School Board in 2019, the youngest and first Hispanic member of the board. Baltazar-Lopez graduated from the University of Delaware in 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and is currently pursuing his Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the same institution. He is currently the public information officer for Attorney General Kathy Jennings at the Delaware Department of Justice. His previous work experience includes being an outreach coordinator for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Delaware, and most recently, as a legislative aide in the United States Senate.

What do you see as the biggest issue facing Milford School District in the upcoming school year?

Our biggest challenge as a school district right now is the uncertainty of the upcoming school year due to COVID-19.

First, we need to improve and expand mental health supports and resources for students, families, and educators. Our students have experienced an enormous amount of stress, anxiety and/or depression from being home all this time. Parents and guardians have had to become teachers for their children while managing their full-time responsibilities. Moreover, teachers have had to abruptly transition from traditional lesson plans to finding innovative and expansive ways to reach their students.

Second, we need to alter school board policy to allow us to continue adjusting to the growing concerns around COVID-19 and create mechanisms to allow us to react quicker should we be hit with another crisis in the future. We do this by forming a committee of various stakeholders—students, teachers, parents, and others—to find ways that we can improve upon any mistakes we made during this pandemic, and improve for next time so that no student is left behind.

Q&A with Milford School Board candidate Rony Baltazar-LopezBY TERRY ROGERS

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Rony Baltazar-Lopez is 25 years old, born and raised in Milford, graduated from MHS in 2013 and is running for a seat on the MSD Board.

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Third, as we continue discussions regarding reopening, school districts need to ensure that they are following proper protocol in accordance to the DOE’s recommendations to continue teaching our students while reducing the spread of COVID-19. These protocols must be translated and properly communicated to our non-English speaking families as well.

Do you feel the current Milford School Board has handled the recent COVID-19 pandemic well? If so, what were some of the positive outcomes? What would or could you have done differently?

Yes, I do believe the Milford School District handled the recent COVID-19 pandemic well considering the short notice given by Governor Carney and his administration to close schools. Our district has been hard at work since day one, especially our teachers who had to abruptly transition to remote e-learning, to ensure that no student was left behind in learning and that no student went hungry.

We have not experienced a crisis like this in recent times and for many of us, COVID-19 hit us by surprise. This pandemic challenged school leaders to think outside the box and forced us to step outside our comfort zones to try something we have never done before. Like many new ideas or projects, there will always be room for improvement, and we can certainly learn from our mistakes so that we do better next time.

With that said, we could have certainly transitioned

quicker to remote e-learning and we could have provided hotline numbers and resources sooner to our students and families.

However, moving forward, we need to improve and expand mental health supports and resources in preparation for the upcoming school year. Moreover, we need to alter school board policy to allow us to continue adjusting to the growing concerns around COVID-19 and create mechanisms to allow us to react quicker in the event of another crisis in the future.

With graduation rates in Milford at almost 90 percent, how would you, as a school board member, continue to improve this rate?

According to the latest report by the Department of Education, Milford School District has steadily increased its graduation rates since 2017. In 2017 the graduation rate was 86.32 percent; in 2018, it was 87.39 percent; and the latest report for 2019, the graduation rate was 88.42 percent. While I am content that our school district’s rates are increasing, I am also cautiously optimistic given that graduation rates for our diverse students, English learners, low-income students, and students with disabilities are far from close to 90 percent.

In 2019, the graduation rate for Hispanic/Latino students was 83.33 percent and the graduation rates for multi-racial students was 75 percent compared to the 89.93 graduation rate for white students. Moreover, the graduation rate for English Learners was 66.67 percent; the graduation rate for low income students was 80.23 percent; and for students with disabilities,

the rate was 81.48 percent.To improve these outcomes, first we have to ensure

we expand on proven early-warning indicators. This means that we develop or improve strategies for tracking students at greatest risk of dropping out beginning in their first year of high school or even before that.

Second, we need to expand and improve upon targeted and school-wide interventions early and consistently. This means that our schools should personalize the learning experience for broad student groups by focusing on a school environment that emphasizes inclusivity; an education that emphasizes the connections between high school and careers; and an education that is rigorous as many students don’t necessarily dropout due to academic challenges.

Third, we need to improve attendance rates to improve graduation rates. The less time a student misses class, the less likely they are to fail. Chronic absenteeism occurs when a student misses about 10 percent of the school year (about 18 school days). In the 2018-2019 school year, about 12 percent of Milford students experienced chronic absenteeism. Unfortunately, students with disabilities and lower income students are likelier to experience chronic absenteeism.

Furthermore, redefining our disciplinary practices and policies should also be taken into consideration as out-of-school suspensions reduces the amount of class time for students and puts them at a greater risk of falling behind.

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What ideas do you have to improve student test scores throughout the district?

According to the Delaware Department of Education, student proficiency rates in English Language Arts and math for students in the Milford School District between grades 3 and 8 stand at 52 percent and 43 percent, respectively. Moreover, only 51.26 percent of students were considered college and/or career ready in the 2018-2019 school year.

I strongly believe that for us to improve these scores, we need to create a motivating and inspiring school environment, free of politics, for all our teachers and students. At the school board level, we need to pass a school-wide resolution that reflects our intentions to improve these scores to reassure our teachers, students, parents, and community members that we are serious about improving these goals.

My next proposal is that we expand and enhance the mentoring program at our elementary schools. Specifically, allowing our high school seniors the opportunity to use their “senior options” for volunteer credit. Research indicates that third grade is a critical turning point for students as a child who can read on grade level by third grade is four times likely to graduate than a child who does not read proficiently by that time. As a former mentor in the Washington, D.C. Everybody Wins! Program, reading and mentoring children is crucial for their development.

Next I would encourage our principals to expand on before and/or after school tutoring sessions. Our school district has done a good job providing tutoring

after school within the last few years and I would like to see that expanded so that more students have the opportunity to stay before or after and receive the help they need.

Next, while only about 10 percent of our school budget is truly flexible, I would propose reallocating funds based on student needs. This means filling teaching positions as well as instructional support positions such as paraprofessionals that best fit student needs, especially for our low-income, English learners, and students with disabilities.

Furthermore, communication with our families is vital in this process. Encouraging our families to attend family nights, information meetings, and engaging them in their child’s education is key to improving scores. Additionally, as school leaders, it falls on us to engage our families not just through traditional means but also through multiple languages using town halls, church events, and yes, social media to foster these connections.

Ultimately, I would like to say that scores are not the only indicators of a child’s success. Recognizing this and fostering an environment that focuses on students as individuals rather than test scores is important.

Overcrowding continues to be a problem in Milford schools. What ideas do you have to address this overcrowding?

The population of the Milford School District has increased over the past several years and it will continue to grow in the nearby future. As school leaders, we need to ensure that we allocate existing financial

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resources to address overcrowding in the short-term. This means investing in mobile classrooms or finding mechanisms of distribution of students among the various buildings.

However, these ideas are temporary solutions to the increasing student population. Overcrowded schools lower the quality of education a student receives, and we simply cannot let that happen.

With that said, revitalizing the salvageable areas of the old Milford Middle School must be our top priority to alleviate overcrowding in our other schools. This long-term solution will require our upmost commitment. While the Milford Middle School Committee led several public hearings to discuss input for the building, school leaders have a responsibility to ensure that our community remains onboard for this type of solution. Now more than ever we need leaders who will ensure transparency, accountability, and be effective communicators (and listeners) moving forward with this type of project.

Recently Milford School District requested a Certificate of Need from the state to refurbish the old Middle School into a 5th/6th grade school. Although the request was denied last year, the district has stated they plan to submit another request this year. Do/did you support this request and would you like to see the district continue to seek approval to refurbish the old school? If not, what are your ideas for the building?

Yes, I did support Milford School District’s move to submit a Certificate of Necessity (CN) to the State

of Delaware to revitalize areas of the old Milford Middle School into a fifth and sixth grade school. I continue to support this initiative and I expect that we submit another CN to the State this year.

I was one of the last classes at the old Milford Middle School before it closed its door in 2013. Seven years have gone by since the school was in operation and we have yet to move significantly further in the process. Having a vacant and deteriorating school not only exacerbates our overcrowding issues, it hurts nearby property owners whose property values are stagnant or decreasing because of the vacant middle school.

With that in mind, I agree with the majority of the public in using the building as a school. Not only is it on property that the school district owns, the school itself has historical value that cannot be overlooked.

The old Milford Middle School—which back in the 1950s was a high school—saw the first group of African Americans bidding to become the first black students to enroll in the District.

Moving forward, school leaders have to be engaged with the public about these efforts to ensure that we are transparent and accountable for all decisions made. We also have to make visible efforts to reach out to communities that have not been part of the decision, including our non-English speaking folks and low-income families to ensure a process that has support from all our residents.

What areas do you see that could be improved in Milford and what ideas are you hoping to implement to make those improvements?

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BALTAZAR-LOPEZ from PAGE 9

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I believe we can improve on mental health supports and resources for students, families, and educators. I have been a proponent of increased mental health supports since my first day on the board. I believe that mental health is extremely overlooked, and the lack of access produces outcomes that are not beneficial to our schoolchildren and families.

To increase mental health supports and resources, our first step is increasing awareness of mental health needs. According to NAMI Delaware, 50 percent of mental illnesses begin by age 14. Our school board needs to pass a resolution that explicitly states its intention to address the need for mental health supports. We do this by

• Expanding outreach and partnerships with various other community agencies to ensure that we have resources readily available for our students;

• Encouraging our teachers and counselors to be trained in Mental Health First Aid to see the signs of mental illness and to help students when they’re experiencing a crisis; and

• Providing presentations and speakers at assemblies to assure our students that there is no shame in seeking help when they need it.

Another area that Milford School District can and should improve on is increasing teacher and staff diversity. According to the most recent report by the Delaware Department of Education, in the 2019 school year, less than 6 percent of Milford teachers were African American and less than 3 percent of teachers were Hispanic/Latino. While 90.71 percent

of all teachers were white teachers, the Milford School District is comprised of 25 percent African American students and 20 percent Hispanic/Latino students. To increase diversity among our staff, we need to look into hiring an equity and inclusion staff member who will be responsible for recruiting and ensuring that the hiring process is fair for teachers of diverse backgrounds;

• Establish a committee of various stakeholders that will make recommendations on board policies that need to be changed to increase diversity and inclusion; and

• Expand incentives, such as tuition reimbursement for teachers to seek further education, to bring more diverse and qualified teachers into our district.

Schools may be facing budget reductions due to lost revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic at the state level. In what areas do you see the district able to cut costs without impacting student learning? What areas do you not want to see cut?

Fortunately for education, Governor Carney passed a $4.5 billion operating budget for the next fiscal year without cuts to schools or state workers. However, with the ongoing pandemic, as a school district, we need to ensure that we maintain an emergency fund for the future should there be reductions in revenue from the state. This will allow us to keep operating without reductions in staff or cuts throughout our district.

Should there be a desperate need to cut costs in See BALTAZAR-LOPEZ on PAGE 12

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certain areas in the future, I would make it a priority to ensure that our teachers, parents, students, and community residents voice their opinions at a public forum at one of our school board meetings so that they can publicly share their opinions on what programs they do not want to see cuts from.

Ultimately, I believe that education should never have to be at risk for budget cuts. I will use my legislative and policy experience to meet with our state elected officials to advocate for our students and teachers in our district.

Recently, a federal judge declared that the method for determining property tax in Delaware was unconstitutional as it used 20 and 30 year old assessment numbers to determine taxes. In what way do you see this possibly impacting Milford School District in the future?

Our state funding system in Delaware relies in part on local taxes but it has limited the ability of school districts to raise sufficient local funds by disregarding the lack of a regular property reassessment. About 27 percent of all public education funding in Delaware comes from property taxes and three-quarters of those property taxes collected go directly to districts. Property taxes are levied based on a percentage of the most recently assessed value of the property. We all know that property values are not static and market values fluctuate over time.

In Kent and Sussex counties, property taxes have not been reassessed since 1987 and 1974, respectively

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(both before I was born). This has prevented school districts from keeping up with inflation, which erodes the purchasing power of our budgets and thus requires more dollars to achieve the same results. It has led to the increased need for referenda, which requires increased school personnel time to pursuing referendums that otherwise could be used for educational purposes. Furthermore, it deprives school districts from their fair share of the Equalization Funding, it deprives us from reliable data on a district’s wealth, and it prevents equity among taxpayers.

While we wait for the next phase of the court case and whether defendants will appeal the ruling to the Delaware Supreme Court, should this ruling be left as is, I would expect that property values will be reassessed by the counties. This would increase the revenue coming into our district. This means that, in the future, we could see a less need to go to referendum for major expenses and it would present us the opportunity to reduce the high tax rate that Milford already has due to the low property assessments in both Kent and Sussex counties.

In addition to the two polling places, voters who live within the boundaries of Milford School District may vote by absentee ballot. Applications for absentee ballots can be obtained at https://ivote.de.gov or at https://elections.delaware.gov/services/voter/absentee/school.shtml or call the Kent County Elections Office at 302-739-4498. The deadline to register for absentee ballot is July 17 at noon. Those who plan to vote in person must bring photo identification to the polling place.

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Sussex County’s absentee ballots could double for Tuesday’s primaryCounting absentee ballots for Delaware’s

presidential primary is a surprisingly quiet process, sporting none of the bombast that has marked the national campaigns.

While polls don’t open until Tuesday, the Sussex County Department of Elections Director Kenneth McDowell and elections workers began counting absentee ballots last month.

Their first attempt was scuttled when a new machine arrived from Wisconsin just as they started, and the office postponed opening ballots to get the new machine set up and running.

But on June 25, the only noise in the large white room was the ripping open of mail-in ballots. Workers — representing the Democratic, Republican and Independent parties, as required by state law — opened 1,000 ballots at a time, sorting them by hand into voting districts and then into alphabetical order.

“It’s the old way of doing it,” McDowell said. “That’s what we found slowing us down the most.” A sorting machine is supposed to be coming soon.

Those ballots were then fed into a large gray voting machine that scanned them and stored the information on county computers, to be sent to the state at 8:01 p.m. Tuesday night,

along with the rest of Sussex County’s votes.Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the

state ordered absentee ballots to be mailed to all registered Democrats and Republicans to vote in the presidential primary. Only party members got ballots because Delaware has a closed primary, meaning only party members can vote.

A new law just signed by Gov. John Carney will allow Delaware residents to vote by mail in all 2020 elections — which include the state election primary Sept. 15 and the general election on Nov. 3.

That mail-in process will follow the same track that absentee ballots do, state officials said.

BY ETHAN LANG

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we can helpJoin us for an interactive talk on healthy living at the Bayhealth Sussex Campus. Topics vary each quarter.

Setting your pace for living healthy?

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to learn more.

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“All we’re doing in the state of Delaware is trying to keep people out of the way of COVID and not get anybody sick,” McDowell said. “It’s something this generation has never dealt with.”

He thinks it’s been successful so far, partly because the state has refined methods and installed extra counting machines.

Sussex County mailed out 21,743 ballots for the primary, he said. As of Friday afternoon, 15,633 ballots had been returned.

The county has been counting absentee ballots each day and will continue to until 8 p.m. Tuesday, McDowell said.

The number of returned ballots dwarfs the previous record of 9,600, set in the 2016 general election when everybody could vote, not just party members.

Having two voting machines, both new, has been a boon, McDowell said. Processing about 10,000 ballots may take six and a half hours on one machine, even if the process runs smoothly.

“It worked out really well,” he said. “We’ve had two machines running at a time for a long while now.”

Friday was the last day for the county to mail out an absentee ballot, and the mail will run on Tuesday until 8:00 p.m. so any last-minute ballots can be counted.

BALLOTS from PAGE 14

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McDowell said the county wasn’t really set up to do 21,000 absentee ballots, but the system has worked.

Sussex County is considered the heart of Republican support within the state but McDowell — a Democrat appointed by the state Board of Elections — said he only got 50 letters expressing frustration with the expansion of absentee voting.

Most of the concerns came from independents frustrated by Delaware’s closed primary process rather than focusing on the debate around absentee ballots and mail-in voting.

All of the paper ballots are kept in a vault. The county began getting them before the first scheduled election Feb. 28, which was postoned once to June 2 because of the coronavirus and the postponed again to Tuesday.

“Now we’re on number three,” McDowell said. “During that time any ballot that was voted, we kept in the vault. It’s been secure until we started reading.”

Even with the rise in the number of absentee ballots and expected increase in mail-in voting, McDowell said that some voters just like going to polls.

For those voters, the county will open 24 voting centers — one for every town in the county. Any Sussex County voter with ID to

cast a ballot at any one of them, no matter where he or she lives.

But you must live in Sussex County, McDowell said. If you live in a town such as Milford or Woodbridge, both of which lie on the county line, you cannot vote in Sussex if your property actually falls in Kent County.

The state only required six polling places, but because Sussex County is 49 percent of the landmass of Delaware, McDowell didn’t want people to have to travel far or wait in long lines once there.

“Normally, I’d have all 73 locations open, but it’s not normal,” McDowell said.’

With the voting supercenters, as he calls them, “You could be in Rehoboth for the day, but live in Bridgeville, and rather than travel 45 minutes back to Bridgeville, you just walk in with your ID and vote.”

Masks will be required to vote, he said. The machines will be wiped down after each vote, hand sanitizer will be available and poll workers will wear masks or face shields.

While round one of the state elections will be over Tuesday night, McDowell’s office is just getting started with its 2020 election work. School board elections are coming, and ballots will be sent out again for the Sept. 15 and Nov. 3 elections, he said.

“It’s progress at work,” he said.

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Elevating deviled egg: Delaware chefs have fun with America’s favorite picnic food

Doug Ruley knows a thing or two about deviled eggs.

The seasoned chef, who oversees the culinary operations at all 12 SoDel Concepts restaurants, features them on menus and serves them at VIP functions, including a Delaware Day dinner for former Gov. Jack Markell.

What’s the appeal? For one, they’re approachable. They’re also versatile.

“All our chefs add a conceptional touch,” he said. “We’ve done deviled eggs with lobster or a scrapple chip and green apple. We’ve also made deviled eggs with lump crab, and then, of course, there is the Old Bay deviled egg.”

This past weekend, thousands of Americans served deviled eggs at backyard family picnics. But as Ruley demonstrated, these summer staples can be far from ordinary.

An age-old traditionA deviled egg is typically a hard-boiled

chicken egg that’s shelled and split in two. The yolk is scooped out, mixed with other ingredients and then returned to the cavities.

The “devil” in the details comes from spicy ingredients, such as black pepper or mustard.

Deviled eggs have a long history dating back to ancient Rome, and the delicacy became popular in Europe.

Today, the dish is an American favorite. SoDel Concepts goes through about 560 a week in the summer, and 300 a week in the off-season.

Samantha Diedrick Harris of Wilmington is a fan.

“Basically, if any restaurant has deviled eggs on the menu, I will order them,” said the owner of Secretariat, an event-planning company. “It’s my favorite to make, too. I

BY PAM GEORGE

See EGGS on PAGE 18

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Jesus “Zeus” Valentino-Gordiany, chef at Benvenuto Restaurant in Milford, says his deviled eggs were inspired by his mother’s shrimp salad.

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even have a specialty plate, and I want to collect more.”

It’s no wonder that Delawareans are devoted to deviled eggs. The blue hen is the state bird, noted Ronnie Burkle, a corporate chef with SoDel Concepts.

But that is not the reason why local chefs like Burkle love them.

“They’re a blank canvas for amazing realms of creativity,” he said.

Imaginations gone wildJesus “Zeus” Valentino-Gordiany would

agree. Customers at Benvenuto Restaurant, where he is the executive chef, can’t wait to see his deviled egg special on the Milford eatery’s menu.

“Every time that we do, it sells out,” said chef, who has come up with so many versions that he’s offered a deviled egg “trio” as an appetizer.

His special for Benvenuto was inspired by his mother’s shrimp salad, which included bacon, avocado and chopped eggs.

“One day, I looked at it and thought, ‘I could turn this into a deviled egg.’ It has all the same components; it just looks different,” he said.

He used avocado to make a crema, which

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anchors the egg to the serving dish and serves as a topping. Atop the traditional yolk blend is a juicy shrimp that’s been chili-crusted and pan-seared and a chunk of crisp, glistening bacon. The kicker: a sprinkle of crunchy garlic.

Those accustomed to eating deviled eggs with their hands should consider a knife and fork for this dish.

At Krazy Kat’s at the Inn at Montchanin, executive chef Dan Tagle recently put a local spin on his take by topping the eggs with sweet corn and crabmeat.

In the past, he’s used avocado, Bourbon-bacon, horseradish or smoked salmon in his eggs. “My favorite is traditional filling with creme fraiche and caviar,” he said.

Some like it hot. Bite into a chicken-fried egg filled with sriracha yolk mousse at the Stone Balloon in Newark.

For a pop of color, Maurice Catlett, a SoDel Concepts chef, has pickled his eggs in beets and topped the yolk with jalapeno slices and country ham.

Valentino-Gordiany — a diehard fan of “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory ” (the Gene Wilder version) — is adept at putting the flavors of a multifaceted dish into one egg, much like Wonka’s three-course gum.

For his “Greek salad” egg, he blends the yolk with roasted red pepper and tops it with a kalamata hummus, cucumber slices and whipped feta.

“There are so many different things you can do,” he said.

The perfect eggFor many of us, however, just making even

plain deviled eggs can be problematic. Cook them too long and the yolks go green. Fresh eggs can be the devil to peel. You wind up with whites with missing chunks.

Here are some tips from the pros:1. Buy your eggs a few days or even a week

in advance for easier peeling.2. Put eggs in a pot, cover them with water

and bring to a boil.3. Let the eggs boil for one or two minutes.

Cover them and turn off the heat.4. Let the eggs sit for 10 to 12 minutes.5. Drain the hot water, and let cold water

run over the eggs until they are cool or place them in an ice bath.

6. Peel eggs under water to loosen the membrane.

7. To keep eggs from drying out, assemble close to serving time.

8. Consider piping the filling into the whites for a pretty presentation.

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Fresh catch: Sussex County seafood suppliers selling directly to consumersBY PAM GEORGE

Earlier this year, Donna and Jesse Atkinson had high hopes for their burgeoning oyster business, Delaware Delicious Oysters.

The Harbeson residents are growing 700,000 oysters in the Rehoboth Bay as part of the state’s aquaculture farming initiative, launched in 2018.

The entrepreneurs were ready to market their first harvest when the novel coronavirus came to Delaware.

“That’s been a struggle for us because restaurants and distributors are the main part of the market,” Donna Atkinson said. “We were going to sell 2,500 to one client alone, and then COVID hit.”

The Atkinsons are in good company. “Covid-19 has impacted us as our wholesale sales have slowed down, and shuck house sales have diminished,” said Chuck Gifford, owner of Tower 3 Oyster Co., located in Sally’s Cove on the Rehoboth Bay. “Our sales certainly have not reached our projections.”

Both small farms swiftly targeted consumers to help pay the bills. That’s also the case for many area fishermen.

The advantage: Consumers have access to seafood right from the bay or sea. The drawback: You must find the purveyors; you

won’t find these items in the market.The Delaware Sea Grant at the University

of Delaware has made the task easier. The organization — which helps communities manage and conserve coastal resources — created a seafood supplier directory organized by the species.

“As a result of the shutdown, we saw a very precipitous decline in seafood sales,” said

Edward Hale, the fisheries and aquaculture specialist for Sea Grant. “Most of the restaurant demand for oysters completely evaporated.”

Sea Grant was quick to organize the

Photo credit: Labrador Fishing Facebook

Sussex County residents say you can buy lobster, crabs, tuna and more. Many get a text when a boat arrives.

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directory. “The public and the fishermen have responded well to it,” Hale said.

Sussex County residents were quick to respond. They say you can buy lobster, crabs, tuna and more. Many are on a customer list and get texts when seafood is available, often on a first-come, first-served basis.

Sea Grant is also testing a community-sponsored fishery group (CSF). Like a produce-oriented CSA, the process involves placing a bulk order that’s distributed among participating individuals. The group meets every few weeks in the parking lot of the Crooked Hammock Brewery.

“It puts consumers directly in line with seafood suppliers, which is a unique experience,” Hale said.

The CSF is currently closed to new members, but you can source products using the directory. Note that according to Delaware law, you must buy a whole fish. The purveyor cannot clean and break it down for you.

Perhaps that is why oysters, scallops and oysters are in such high demand. Just ask Roger Wooleyhan of Millsboro, who owns the Labrador Fishing Co.

The commercial fisherman sells lobsters, stone crab claws and fish in Lewes Harbor. Keep an eye on the company Facebook page,

where he posts the date, time and selection. And be prepared to wait in line.

Fishermen are selling directly to Sussex County residents Sea Grant folks and local shellfish harvesters — Friends Clams & Oysters and Tower 13 Oysters– selling directly to the public.

Before the coronavirus, Wooleyhan specialized in fish and conch, much of it headed overseas. When the markets dried up and packing houses closed, he put 500 lobster pots in the water.

“I wasn’t even planning on doing it this year,” he said of the lobsters. “It’s been the first spring that I haven’t fished in my whole life, and I’m 67.”

He’s been selling out of lobster so often that he’s buying more pots. Prices are typically $10 a pound. You might find lobster for less in the supermarket, but you won’t find it as fresh, he noted.

Local oysters, meanwhile, are higher in salinity, given that the Rehoboth Bay is saltier than the Chesapeake Bay.

“They have a salty, sweet taste — very flavorful,” Atkinson said.

Gifford said consumer sales have been so strong that he plans to continue retail sales even when the business’s wholesale distribution side picks up again.

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BY BRYAN SHUPEGrotto Pizza, an iconic pizza restaurant

chain, takes pride in sharing that it’s celebrating 60 years in business this summer! Grotto’s instantly recognizable swirl, a combination of sweet tomato sauce and a blend of cheeses, has been baked into the dining traditions of Delaware beach vacationers, as well as pizza aficionados for decades. Cheese first, swirls of sauce second – that’s what makes it uniquely Grotto Pizza.

Dominick Pulieri, Grotto Pizza founder, was born in Wilkes-Barre, PA, to Italian-immigrant parents. After graduating high school, Pulieri enrolled at Kings College and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology in 1964. He taught biology, general science and chemistry in the Smyrna School District from 1965 to 1970.

Pulieri first started making pizzas with his brother-in-law, Joseph Paglianite, at his pizza restaurant in Harvey’s Lake, PA. Looking for a way to fund his college tuition, Pulieri ventured to Rehoboth Beach, Del., in 1960 to open a pizza restaurant with his sister, Mary Jean, and his brother-in-law Joe – which became Grotto Pizza. During his first summer in business, pizza slices sold for 20 cents and a whole pie was priced at $1.60. Pulieri celebrated his first

$100 earned on July 2 – his 18th birthday.It wasn’t easy selling slices during that first

summer in business as pizza wasn’t a well-known delicacy. To get the locals interested, Pulieri and his sister talked to everyone about pizza and handed out free samples to folks that passed by his store. In 1963, Grotto Pizza opened a second location along the boardwalk, but remained a seasonal operation as Pulieri taught school in Smyrna during the year. Pulieri opened Grotto Pizza as a year-round restaurant in 1974 to meet the growing demands of his guests. Today, Grotto Pizza operates 19 locations in Delaware and Maryland with its 20th store slated to open its doors in Millsboro in late 2020.

As the company continues to grow, the Grotto Pizza core values of excellent pizza, delicious food, friendly guest service and community involvement have remained unchanged. In fact, the company is proud to share that more than 100 of their 1,600 employees have worked at Grotto Pizza for over 20 years. Additionally, Grotto Pizza has contributed more than 1.5 million to nonprofit organizations through its Community Pizza Night Program.

“We’re so thankful to the local community, visitors and our long-time employees that

have supported Grotto Pizza for the last 60 years – contributing to the success of our business,” said Pulieri. “The Grotto Pizza experience is 100 percent customer focused and we’re committed to ensuring that our pizza, our commitment to the community and our guests’ experience remains legendary for years to come – thank you for your business!”

Grotto Pizza celebrates its 60 year anniversary

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Grotto Pizza celebrates its 60 year anniversary - During his first summer in business, Dominick Pulieri sold slices of pizza for 20 cents and a whole pie was priced at $1.60.

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Sports

On a warm, early summer evening, for a little while, a sense of normalcy returned to Milford last Thursday. Albeit altered for health and safety issues; the Major League Division of Milford Little League continued its season. While there were not the huge crowds that usually accompany the festivities of a typical Milford Little League night, those in attendance and on the field were treated to an exciting game that allowed them to forget about what has been a mentally taxing time for almost everyone.

Those in attendance were treated to an exciting game between the Yankees and the Phillies. In what looked like was going to be a blowout win for the Phillies, the Yankees showed great resiliency after falling behind 10-2 in just the third inning. The Yankees showed resolve in chipping away at the Phillies’ lead, eventually closing the gap to 10-8 as they refused to yield. The Phillies were able to gather themselves and shut down the opposition over the final two innings, in large part due to the pitching of Landon Short who came in to seal the deal for the Phillies.

Speaking with Phillies coach Chris Short offered nothing but praise for both squads and the way

they battled during the game. “We had a very nice lead and you kind of think that you are going to be able to sit back and enjoy an easy victory,” he said. “You have to tip your hat to the Yankees though, they dug deep and got themselves back in the game. If not for Landon being as dominant as he was the last two innings, we easily could have ended up losers in this game.” With the win, the Phillies avenged their season-opening loss to the Yankees as both teams boast identical 3-1 records.

While the game itself was exciting, the fact that Milford Little League was able to play a season at all, is a testament to the community. There were a lot of tough decisions that had to be made, the hardest was how the league would be configured. In a perfect world, everyone would have gotten to play. With all the different divisions, both baseball and softball, there simply weren’t the resources to make it all happen. The decision was made to simply play Major League Baseball, which is typically when the 12-year old play their final season in Little League. After 12, they usually go onto middle school and travel ball, it is really the last time that these players who have been together since T-ball, will spend on the same

team.Speaking with board member Steve Thein, the

decision to go with just Major Leagues was a difficult one. “We really had to consider all our options, looking at the logistics of it all, it came down to a very difficult decision. We knew that we could do this one league, staying within the Department of Health’s guidelines,” he said. “We really did receive a lot of understanding and support from the parents, which was very important. It was not an easy decision to just go with one league, but in the end everyone understood.” When asked about how the players were enjoying the experience Thein responded, “They are having a great time, they have gone

Play ball: Little League continues seasonBY KEVIN EICKMAN

See LITTLE LEAGUE on PAGE 24

Photos by Kevin Eickman

Those in attendance were treated to an exciting game between the Yankees and the Phillies.

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through a lot and just to get on the field and play ball has been very refreshing for them, as well as the community.”

Thein became active in Milford Little League about 10 years ago, when he found himself walking his greyhound Hawk and looking for social interaction. Thein serves primarily as the public address announcer with his lovable sidekick at his side. The beautiful greyhound is a fan favorite too. “Every time we come to the field, the kids and parents just love seeing Hawk,” he said. Thein loves the fact that everyone enjoys seeing the dog. “You can always hear them saying ‘Look, there goes Hawk.’ It’s really fantastic.”

SportsLITTLE LEAGUE from PAGE 23

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Sports

St. Georges head football coach John Wilson will finally be reunited with his team Tuesday when they all meet to begin conditioning programs.

“We’re very excited and happy to be able to be with our kids again,” said Wilson, who coaches the St. George’s Technical High School’s Hawks. “I’m sure they’re going to be challenges, but when you look over everything, whatever is necessary we’re going to do to make sure we keep our kids and coaches safe.”

It’s been almost four months since Gov. John Carney closed schools and sports programs to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus in Delaware.

While the Delaware State Board of Education approved the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association’s plan to allow student athletes to work out together starting Monday, July 6, each district must set its own guidelines before schools can open.

Woodbridge High School Football head coach Jed Bell said his team has a plan in place and is waiting on the thumbs up from the Woodbridge School System. He knows that

thermal thermometers have been ordered and expects students and their families to be asked to sign a waiver of some kind.

“Our plan is that all workouts will have to take place outdoors,” Bell said. “They will be limited to no more than 10 kids per group, no more than one coach overseeing that group.” Workouts will take place from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Tower Hill athletic director Seth Kushkin said the school was planning to send an email to parents Monday announcing conditioning there would start Thursday.

“I think just for our families, for our kids, for our coaches, more than anything else they are just excited to have an opportunity to be together and be able to gather on our campus,” Kushkin said.

Kushkin said the move is beneficial for everyone, even though no one has yet said formal team practices could start in August or that the sports teams would play this fall.

“None of us know what the future will bring,” he said. “I think more than anything it’s a positive and healthy step for all these kids and everybody to be able to gather …

we’ll take any steps forward we can at this point.”

Wilson also is happy that his student athletes will be able to be together and focus on what they love. The district office was closed Monday because of the Fourth of July holiday, pushing the team’s start to Tuesday.

“They have recognized the benefit of getting our kids back on campus and being together,” he said.

Those benefits are physical, mental and emotional, he said.

“These kid have been stuck inside for four and a half months,” Wilson said. “Some of

Schools start sports workouts after getting state OKBY BETSY PRICE

See SCHOOL SPORTS on PAGE 26

Submitted photo

No one has yet said formal team practices could start in August or that the sports teams would play this fall.

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them have lost their spring season. Even the American Pediatric Society came out and said the benefit of the social and emotional connections of getting kids back in the school far outweigh the risks of them getting COVID-19.”

It’s been particularly hard on kids who have parents who work all day, leaving the kids to their own, he said.

“You’re going to see the physical activity is down among those kids,” he said, opening the door for anxiety and depression. Sports help them get out and give them something to focus on, he said.

Some sports have specific restrictions. Football, for example, is not allowed to have any contact drills.

At Tower Hill, Kushkin said, “We are just strictly doing conditioning. We will not have balls. We’ll just have kids together on a field in a socially distanced manner.”

Athletes and staff are required by the Return to Play plan to adhere to social distancing guidelines. In addition, strict daily sanitization of equipment is required. Equipment with holes and foam are required to be covered. Sharing of towels, clothing and equipment is prohibited under the plan.

Wilson said COVID-related checks required

by the state and district will only take about 15 minutes at the start of every practice. For him, that means taking temperature and making sure the students fill out a survey about how they feel that day. St. George’s will keep that as a paper trail in case it’s needed later.

Bell said that if schools don’t open, he assumes sports teams won’t be allowed to play

“I’m worried about the kids who come to school to play sports, the ones for whom that’s the motivating factor,” he said. “That’s their driving force … Not everybody comes to school with that push from home and academic mindset.”

The fall sports practices were set to start Aug. 17. The state coaches association has offered plans for practice that start on different dates all the way until the end of September. Specific details, including start dates and formats, will be discussed and approved during DIAA board meetings in July and August.

Wilson is betting that if Gov. Carney opens the economy up to a Phase 3, sports will be allowed in the fall, complete with fans in the grandstands.

“We won’t know yet if we’re going to have football this fall,” he said, “but as an educator, I think it’s important to give kids not only the opportunity to be out there and socialize, but also to get some physical activity.”

SCHOOL SPORTS from PAGE 25