Greenville & Hockessin Life Summer/Fall 2017

Summer/Fall 2017

Greenville & Hockessin

LIFE

Magazine

Michael Christopher Salon & Day Spa moves to a new home Page 20 20 Page

Inside • Adorn Goods opens in Centreville • Q & A with author Siobhan Carroll Complimentary Copy

2

Greenville & Hockessin Life | Summer/Fall 2017 | www.ghlifemagazine.com

Advanced Energy Solutions for your home HEATING / COOLING / PLUMBING / ELECTRICAL / ENERGY AUDITS

SPECIAL SAVINGS 0% Financing Bryant® Rebate up to $1650 PECO Rebate up to $650

HIGH PERFORMANCE Air Quality • Efficiency • Inverter Technology Whisper Quiet • Smart Controls • Humidification Dehumidification • Next Generation PA#060983, DE#2015605941

Call us TODAY!

610-388-9333 Visit us online ChaddsFordClimateControl.com 144 Fairville Road // Chadds Ford, PA 19317

where hair and art perform

HAIR โ ข MAKEUP โ ข WAXING โ ข BRIDAL โ ข MEDIA ฦ ฦ ัณฦ -m1-v|;u bh;ฤถ o1h;vvbmฤถ ฦ ฦ ฦ ฦ ฦ ะช ฦ ฦ ฦ ล ฦ ฦ ฦ ล ฦ ฦ ฦ ัณ ะช f1_ubv|b-mv| udio.com

Lee Industries Upholstery Sale

30% OFF 30% OFF now through July 31

Powdermill Square, Greenville, DE • 302.426.1950 • www.somethingsunique.com Mon to Fri 9:30am - 6pm • Sat 10am - 5pm

www.ghlifemagazine.com | Summer/Fall 2017 | Greenville & Hockessin Life

5

GEOTHERMAL HEATING & COOLING SYSTEMS

DEPENDABLE. SMART. EFFICIENT. Geothermal Heat Pump Systems An LSB Industries, Inc. Company (NYSE: LXU)

$30

OFF

any service visit!

• Save 50-70% on Utility Bills with a geothermal system • Safe & Clean - no flame, flue, odors, or danger of fumes • Flexible - Heat & central air from one compact unit • Indoor Unit Only - No outdoor unit - Less noise • Long System Life - unit can last 30+ years

• Low Maintenance • Proven Technology - www.ChelseaAir.com • EarthPure® Refrigerant (non-ozone depleting) • Great Investment for property re-sale • Excellent Financing for PA & DE residents • Free Estimates!

(610) 268-2200 | www.ChelseaAir.com | Avondale, PA | #PA006692

• 24-7 "On-Call" service • Heat Pumps • Green Energy Products • Central Air Conditioning • Air Cleaners

• Geothermal Heat Pumps • Excellent Financing • Humidifiers • UV Germicidal Lights

• Custom Ductwork • "Ductless" Mini-Split AC/Heating Systems • Maintenance Agreements • Free Estimates

Wi-Fi "Smart” Technology Thermostats • Gas Hot Air Heat (Natural & Propane)

• Geothermal Heat Pumps • Excellent Financing • Humidifiers • UV Germicidal Lights www.ghlifemagazine.com | Summer/Fall 2017 | Greenville & Hockessin Life

7

Summer/Fall 2017

Greenville & Hockessin

LIFE

Table of Contents

10 - A shot of altruism: Fundraising the fun way at BBC Tavern & Grill

18 - Q & A with author Siobhan Carroll 20 - The Cutting Edge: Michael Christopher Salon & Day Spa relocates to Greenville

58 32

32 - Kickboxing fitness classes produce health benefits 40 - Green Hill Presbyterian: A small church with a

88

large presence

58 - Adorn Goods: The modern-day general store 68 - Photo Essay: The Hockessin Fire Company 76 - Light Man: Technical Director Rick Neidig 88 - Harvest Market celebrates 22 years

20 Cover design by Tricia Hoadley Cover photograph by Jie Deng

8

Greenville & Hockessin Life | Summer/Fall 2017 | www.ghlifemagazine.com

Style.

Serenity. Safety.

Sight and Sound.

Letter from the Editor:

16

40

Welcome to the summer issue of Greenville & Hockessin Life. This is the ninth year that we’ve been publishing a magazine that serves the communities of Greenville and Hockessin, and we are always delighted by the opportunity to write about the people and places that make these two communities so distinctive.

In our cover story, we profile longtime Delaware style icon Michael Hemphill, who recently relocated his Michael Christopher Salon & Day Spa to Greenville.

We look at the guest bartender nights held at the BBC Tavern & Grill, and how they provide a much-needed source of income for area groups and non-profits. Siobhan Carroll, a writer and associate professor at the University of Delaware, is the subject of the Q&A. We talk to Carroll about her interest in British literature, her work on a new novel, and her favorite place in Greenville.

Our Photo Essay focuses on the men and women who volunteer for the Hockessin Fire Company, providing emergency services whenever and wherever they are needed.

We look at how kickboxing builds physical strength and confidence, and we profile the owners of Adorn Goods, a new business in Centreville that combines nostalgia and contemporary flair.

Our History feature looks at the Green Hill Presbyterian Church, which has roots in the 1840s and a vital presence in the community today.

We also meet Rick Neidig, a longtime technical director who brings his expertise to the theater program at the Tatnall School’s Laird Performing Arts Center.

We hope that you enjoy the stories included in this issue, and we always welcome your comments and suggestions for future stories. By the time you read this, our staff will be hard at work preparing the next issue of Greenville & Hockessin Life, which will arrive in December.

Sincerely, Randy Lieberman, Publisher randyl@chestercounty.com, 610-869-5553 Steve Hoffman, Editor editor@chestercounty.com, 610-869-5553, ext. 13 Cover design: Tricia Hoadley - Cover photo by Jie Deng On the cover: Stylist Michael Hemphill has been the definition of style in our region for decades. www.ghlifemagazine.com | Summer/Fall 2017 | Greenville & Hockessin Life

9

———|Around Greenville & Hockessin|———

A shot of altruism

With their blend of cocktails, camaraderie and causes, BBC Tavern & Grill’s Guest Bartender Night is a hit with local charities

All photos by Ben Fournier

Photographs posted the day after each Guest Bartender Night have become a huge hit on social media.

10

Greenville & Hockessin Life | Summer/Fall 2017 | www.ghlifemagazine.com

By Pam George Staff Writer “A gorilla walks into a bar” is usually the start of a joke. But at BBC Tavern & Grill, you might find the gorilla behind the bar.

You might also find puppies, costumed characters and men made up to look like creatures from a “Star Trek” episode. It’s all part of BBC’s popular guest bartender events, which have served as fundraisers and friend-raisers for nonprofits throughout the area.

Continued on Page 12

Guest bartender nights tend to bring out the creativity in both those who organize the events, and those who attend them.

www.ghlifemagazine.com | Summer/Fall 2017 | Greenville & Hockessin Life

11

Altruism Continued from Page 11

“The folks at BBC excel at the concept,” said Jim Miller, who dressed up in the gorilla suit to benefit the Brandywine Zoo. In the same way that some establishments become known for craft cocktails, live music or decks with water views, BBC is known for well-attended guest bartender nights, he continued.

The events give charities a chance to raise money without renting a hall or a caterer. They receive all the tips given during the specified period and 10 percent of diners’ food bill. But that Guest bartender nights at the BBC Tavern & Grill have helped raise thousands of dollars for nonprofit organizations in the community.

12

Greenville & Hockessin Life | Summer/Fall 2017 | www.ghlifemagazine.com

doesn’t mean the charity can coast. The ones that do well think beyond the bar.

The promotion, held one or two nights a week, is the brainchild of owner David Dietz, whose daughter was 5 when she was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. Shortly after BBC opened in 2010, he decided to do an event to raise money to help find a cure. He invited people to be guest bartenders and sent out Facebook invitations.

“We raised a lot of money, and there were a lot of people in attendance,” he said. Other charities took note. Dietz recalled writing how-to bullet points on the back of a napkin for one friend. The requests for advice kept coming, and the events at BBC kept growing.

Dietz created a copyrighted manual—complete with timelines and checklists—to help the participating nonprofits succeed. “I meet with the event organizers over lunch and share everything,” he said. “I hold their hand through the Continued on Page 14 A benefit for the Chadds Ford Historical Society featured its own libation.

www.ghlifemagazine.com | Summer/Fall 2017 | Greenville & Hockessin Life

13

Altruism Continued from Page 13

process so they can raise a lot of money.” He estimated that charities have raised a total of nearly a million dollars since BBC started the promotion.

Michelle Kramer-Fitzgerald has organized the events, served as bartender for others’ events and enjoyed them as an attendee. “Overall, while organizations’ success and participation vary, almost (all that I know of) have come away with several thousands of dollars raised,” she said. Some have topped five digits, Dietz added.

The causes run the gamut. “I think we’ve hosted every single school in the area,” Dietz said. Healing with Horses, the National Kidney Foundation, Delaware Tennis Foundation and Wilmington Friends are just a few of the nonprofits holding guest bartender nights in the future.

Kramer-Fitzgerald, who owns the publicity company Arts in Media has participated in events for Cit Theater Company, Faithful Friends, Delaware Institute for the Arts in Education and Delaware Humane Association Scheduling the right people for the job is key. They

Call for 2017 Brochure!

*Reservations suggested.

Summer Camp Day July 19 at 9am Summer Foodfest July 22 at 12:30pm & 2:30pm Hockessin Flyer July 29 at 2:30pm The Great Train Robbery August 26 at 12:30pm & 3pm

www.wwrr.com Greenbank Station • 2201 Newport Gap Pike • Wilmington, DE 19808 14

Greenville & Hockessin Life | Summer/Fall 2017 | www.ghlifemagazine.com

don’t need to know how to make cocktails or run credit cards—the staff does all that—but they do need to bring in friends, family and coworkers, who will tip well when the bartender is on duty, Dietz said.

Bartenders who are active on social media are often more valuable than celebrities or Dele-brities, who show up, do the gig and leave. Miller is an example. Shortly before he was scheduled to be a guest bartender for the Brandywine Zoo in 2013, a tree fell on the roof of the zoo’s beloved monkey house.

To raise money for repairs, Miller promised to wear a gorilla suit all day at work, as well as during the BBC event—but only if he raised $500 in advance. “I raised $500 in five minutes,” he said. He upped the ante. “If I could raise $1,000 more, I’d wear it the next day too.”

In the end, he raised more than $2,000 before the guest bartender night even began. It didn’t come without sacrifice. He lost weight while wearing the hot suit for two days—and behind the BBC bar—in July.

Continued on Page 16

State Line Liquors Four Generations Family Owned & Operated. Since 1937.

Ranked #2 Best Beer Retailer in the USA by

See the Events page for Wine Tastings, Beer Tastings, Tap Socials & Special Events statelineliquors.com/events-tastings

Fine Wines • Liquors • Specialty Beers Gourmet Foods • Cheeses Growler Bar with 25 Taps 1610 Elkton Rd., Elkton, MD 1 (800) 446-WINE 1 (410) 398-3838 statelineliquors.com 16

Greenville & Hockessin Life | Summer/Fall 2017 | www.ghlifemagazine.com

Altruism Continued from Page 14

Guest bartenders for the Chadds Ford Historical Society wore period costumes and sold such specialty cocktails as “Andy’s Potion” (Ketel One Vodka on the rocks with orange slices), which was inspired by Andrew Wyeth’s drink of choice.

Not everyone needs to wear a costume, but they do need to invest their energy as well as their time. “Be committed to it, and choose people who will be equally committed,” Kramer-Fitzgerald said. “The more ‘dug in’ you are about making the event a success, the more successful it will be.”

Many of the female bartenders go glam before slipping behind the bar. BBC hires professional photographer Ben Fournier to snap photographs of the guests and bartenders.

The next day, photos are posted on the BBC Facebook page and guests, bartenders and the charity are encouraged to tag each other for more visibility.

Fundraising activities should go beyond pouring beer and wine. Dietz said that PAWS for People brought puppies for a kissing booth. “After a few glasses of wine, ladies paid $20 to hug the golden retrievers,” he said. Wilmington Youth Rowing Association brought a rowing machine to the restaurant so guests could compete against kids.

Between the increased foot traffic, the food and beverage orders, and hundreds of BBC tags on Facebook, the restaurant benefits from the promotion. So does the charity, which has no overhead. The attendees, however, also have fun.

“It’s a nice place to have a drink, grab a little bite and learn about a group,” said Alice Martinelli, who held a guest bartending night to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

As an attendee, she learned about Lori’s Hands, a Newark nonprofit that pairs university students with the chronically ill to provide support. “I would not have known if a friend hadn’t invited me to BBC,” she said. “I want to support charities in our community. If I know

I’m going to go out and meet friends for a drink and I can write a check or put money in a tip jar or have a silent auction opportunity—it all works together.”

Kramer-Fitzgerald agreed.

“Not everyone necessarily supports the same causes at the same levels, but almost everyone will enjoy meeting up for a drink and some nosh for a good cause,” she said. “I’ve gone to plenty of these events that aren’t my main ‘charitable’ focus, but I like to support friends’ causes, and it’s the perfect informal way to do so.”

To contact Pam George, email delwriter@gmail.com.

Fun and frivolity have marked the fundraisers at the BBC Tavern & Grill.

www.ghlifemagazine.com | Summer/Fall 2017 | Greenville & Hockessin Life

17

———|Greenville & Hockessin Q & A|———

Siobhan Carroll P

rofessor Siobhan Carroll’s first book, “An Empire of Air and Water: Uncolonizable Space in the British Imagination, 1750-1850” describes the complicated relationship between literature, science, and exploration during the growth of the British Empire. Greenville & Hockessin Life caught up with Carroll to discuss her teaching interests as a professor at the University of Delaware, her work on a novel, “Khartoum,” what inspired her to become a writer, and her favorite place in Greenville. Predictably, it’s a place where she can get a lot of writing accomplished.

Courtesy photo

Siobhan Carroll, an associate professor at the University of Delaware, is particularly interested in British literature from 1750 and 1850, modern science fiction, and fantasy.

She is working on the novel, “Khartoum.”

18

Greenville & Hockessin Life | Summer/Fall 2017 | www.ghlifemagazine.com

Q: You’ve been working on your novel, “Khartoum.” How is that progressing, and what can you tell us about the book?

A: I’m still in the drafting stages of this novel, which takes place in an alternate version of nineteenthcentury Sudan. It’s an opportunity for me to think about imperialism and how it continues to shape our world. The narrative will include some of the real historical figures associated with Sudan in this period – people like Winston Churchill and the “Mahdi” who led what is sometimes called the Victorian Jihad – but also people like Joseph Conrad, who were not.

You started writing at an early age.

What stories or authors inspired you?

Susan Cooper’s “The Dark is Rising” remains a terrifically surprising and unsettling fantasy novel.

Like the Harry Potter books, it features an 11-year-old boy who learns he is a wizard on his birthday, but the secret magical world he encounters is much darker and stranger than Harry’s. Cooper wrote her novels based on a nightmare she had and the magic sequences unfold with a kind of dream logic that remains incredibly powerful. If you know a (mature!) kid who likes reading, I recommend giving them this book.

How did you come to live and write in Delaware, and to teach at the University of Delaware?

UD’s English Department was kind enough to hire me to teach 19th Century British Literature and Science Fiction. My experience here has been great. Our students at UD are immensely talented and a pleasure to work with. I feel I learn something new from them every semester.

Carroll is a resident of Greenville, Delaware.

Your teaching interests focus on 18th century and 19th century British literature from 1750 to 1850. What is it about literature from that period that resonates with you?

Revolution and change. This period encompasses both the American and French Revolutions, and the dawn of Victorian social reforms.

As Charles Dickens says, it really was the best of times and the worst of times. People tried to reimagine society from the ground up. In many ways, they succeeded in making the world a better place: you and I can now vote, and attend free public schools, and walk down streets not covered in sewage. But the process of reimagining the world is not easy.

Many times, it can be devastatingly cruel. And in this process, you can literally see the role that literature was playing in shaping people’s lives – the ideals they fought and died for, the world they saw, and even their ability to think through problems. Literature was a tremendously active social and political force in the 1700s and 1800s. It’s fascinating to study.

What development or current trend in literature most pleases you?

In the 1990s, it was almost impossible to have an SF novel published with a dark-skinned “hero” on the cover. Even if you the author argued that the character was black and should therefore be shown as black, the publisher would often “whitewash” their race. Thanks to the rise of the internet and a lot of fan and writer agitation, this has largely changed.

What is your favorite spot in Greenville or Hockessin?

The Greenville Brew-ha-ha. I get a lot of writing done there.

If you could invite any three guests, living or dead, to a dinner party, who would it be?

Dr. Who, Ernest Shackleton, and Mary Wollstonecraft. That’d be entertaining.

What food is always in your refrigerator?

Cheese!

www.ghlifemagazine.com | Summer/Fall 2017 | Greenville & Hockessin Life

19

————|Greenville & Hockessin Life|

Photos by Jie Deng

The cutting edge 20

Greenville & Hockessin Life | Summer/Fall 2017 | www.ghlifemagazine.com

All photos by Jie Deng

Michael Christopher (above) opened a new salon location in April in the Montchanin Corporate Center, just off Route 100 where it meets Routes 52 and 141.

Michael Christopher Salon & Day Spa relocates to Greenville

By Pam George Staff Writer

W

hen the news broke that a developer planned to raze the Galleria Shoppes on Pennsylvania Avenue in Wilmington, many Greenville-area women – and more than a few men – panicked. Michael Christopher Salon & Day Spa had been a fixture there for 37 years. Construction on the new mixed-use building on the site was expected to take up to two years. What would they do?

Continued on Page 22

www.ghlifemagazine.com | Summer/Fall 2017 | Greenville & Hockessin Life

21

Michael Christopher Continued from Page 21

Owner Michael C. Hemphill mulled that over. “My knee-jerk reaction was to leave and come back in two years,” he said. “But two years could become three, depending on how long the building takes, and I thought, ‘Michael, that’s insanity. If you can find something better, then move on.’”

Retirement was never an option. “I don’t want to retire,” he said. “I wouldn’t be a good retiree at all. I work three days a week, I sell on QVC – I’m having a blast.”

He began searching for new digs within a two-mile radius of the Pennsylvania Avenue salon. Pettinaro invited him to tour the developer’s Montchanin Corporate Center, which is tucked just off Route 100 where it meets Routes 52 and 141. The brick structure had once housed Columbia Gas and then MBNA. Hemphill was impressed with the well-manicured campus and stately facade. “I said, ‘Oh, my God, this is like a sanctuary – it’s fabulous. I love the approach and where it’s located.”

He wasn’t concerned that it lacked the visibility of the Pennsylvania Avenue site. After all, Michael Christopher

22

Greenville & Hockessin Life | Summer/Fall 2017 | www.ghlifemagazine.com

Salon & Day Spa is established. Hemphill has been a guest on local TV shows as well as “The Today Show” and “Good Morning America.” In the Wilmington area, he’s a household word.

But the building also presented drawbacks, namely generic corridors leading to traditional office spaces.

Then Hemphill spotted a four-bay garage in the back of the building. The broker discouraged him. Hemphill, however, immediately saw the possibilities, a skill he developed as a stylist.

“In five minutes, I have to figure out how tall the clients are, how much they weigh, how long is the neck, how short is the nose, what kind of hair they have – is it curly or straight, and are there any cowlicks? – and what can they handle,” he explained.

His snap judgment was on target. The new salon, which opened in April, has not missed a beat. In fact, he’s gained new customers thanks to the site’s accessibility and the plentiful parking.

Hemphill is clearly not one to spot an opportunity and Continued on Page 24

The comfortable salon features accessories and products to complement an upscale lifestyle.

The Station Gallery Fine Art & Custom Framing

3922 Kennett Pike, Greenville, Delaware 302.654.8638 stationgallery.net www.ghlifemagazine.com | Summer/Fall 2017 | Greenville & Hockessin Life

23

Michael Christopher Continued from Page 22

promote it. “His vision is the secret to his success,” said Rebecca Barry, the education director and manager of the Wilmington salon, who has been with Hemphill for 32 years. “He has the ability to see what others can’t, and he’s proved that with reinvention of the salon.”

To be sure, the Kennett Square native became a master at branding long before that term entered the marketing lexicon.

Beauty is in the blood It helped that Hemphill knew what he wanted to do from a young age. He grew up in the industry. His father, Clifford, owned two salons four blocks from each other. (Both were named Clifford’s Hair Fashions.) His mother worked the front desk.

After school, Hemphill headed to the salon to do his homework and watch the stylists. “They had cigarettes hanging out of their mouths, ashes falling off, and there was all this hair spray. It was crazy,” he recalled. “If you’ve ever put a match to a can of hair spray, it’s like a blow torch.”

When he finished his homework, he entertained himself by styling Continued on Page 26

24

Greenville & Hockessin Life | Summer/Fall 2017 | www.ghlifemagazine.com

Christopher’s new location has a wide range of hair products.

FREE

CORDLESS ULTRA UPGRADE EXTENDED

FREE UPGRADE Extended to

9/15/17

Blind Factory, Inc. 3316 Kirkwood Hwy, Wilmington DE 19808 • 302-999-8800 • blindfactoryinc.com www.ghlifemagazine.com | Summer/Fall 2017 | Greenville & Hockessin Life

25

Michael Christopher Continued from Page 24

the hair on a mannequin. “I enjoyed it; it came easy,” he said.

By age 14, he was riding his bike to neighbors’ houses with a briefcase full of curlers and stale beer (a makeshift product that produced a stiff effect). The ladies had their hairdryers ready, and he set their hair for a few dollars.

Because he was too young to enroll in local hairdressing schools, he talked his parents into letting him attend an 18-month program in Toronto that accepted young teens. “It was very fancy,” he said. “Teachers came in with big hats and mink coats. That’s all I needed to see; I thought it was very glamorous.” He stayed with a retired schoolteacher, who helped him keep on top of his regular curriculum.

Back home at 16, he became an apprentice at his father’s salon and accumulated the hours that he needed to get his license at vo-tech school. When he was 17, his father died.

His mother, who had four children at home, shouldered the salon on her own with Hemphill’s help. He is the only child who entered the family business. By law, she had to go to hair school to own the salon, which he ran when she was in classes.

Kitchens | Baths | Additions | Decks

Providing All Your Remodeling Needs

CONTRACTING INC. We exceed clients' expectations by delivering on efficiency and superior quality.

Call us today for a free estimate!

302-218-5112 DE/PA Licensed, Bonded & Insured

Be social with us! @EMSContractingInc

For our mission statement and project photos visit www.EMSContractingInc.com 26

Greenville & Hockessin Life | Summer/Fall 2017 | www.ghlifemagazine.com

At 20, he wanted to open another spot in downtown Wilmington, but his mother was reluctant to take on the additional risk. In 1975, he opened his own shop above a bar on the second floor of a city building. In 1980, the salon moved to Pennsylvania Avenue.

Hairstylist to celebrities and Dela-brities The rise of Michael Christopher Salon coincided with the age of the celebrity hairstylist. Picture Vidal Sassoon, who gave Mia Farrow her trademark pixie Continued on Page 28

www.ghlifemagazine.com | Summer/Fall 2017 | Greenville & Hockessin Life

27

Michael Christopher Continued from Page 27

Early childhood education provides the transition from the home to a school atmosphere.

Classes for 2s, 3s, & Pre-K 9am to noon Before Care 8-9am | After Care 12-2pm

7200 Lancaster Pike, Hockessin, DE 19707 For information call Karen Rombach at

302-239-7100 Ext.34 email: eep@stmaryoftheassumption.com

www.stmaryseep.org

28

Greenville & Hockessin Life | Summer/Fall 2017 | www.ghlifemagazine.com

Mowing Weekly/BiWeekly • Leaf Removal

Kelly’s

Lawn Care LLC

DDA #1391

Kellyslawncare3@verizon.net

302-584-1045

• Fertilizer/Weed Control • Spring/Fall Clean-ups •

Spiritual, intellectual, social, emotional & physical education for the “whole child.”

spray residue. No matter what he did, Hemphill could not remove the buildup. He learned that baking soda, mixed with shampoo, could do the trick. He worked with a California lab to develop a ready-to-use, branded product.

Over the years, Hemphill has not been afraid to push the envelope and try new things. It’s a lesson he learned in the early 1980s from the late John Rollins, who was born on a farm in rural Georgia and became a Delawarebased entrepreneur with interests in automobile and truck leasing, exterminating, media, harness racing and the hospitality industry.

“I always go to the top person for advice,” Hemphill said. “That’s where the buck stops. People at the top love to share.”

Hemphill asked Rollins what he needed to do to grow his business. Rollins told him, “If you don’t get close to bankruptcy at least once, you’ll never make it.” To get off the fence and explore growth takes money, he said.

Rollins was right. Michael Christopher opened in the

• Gutter Cleaning • Plantings • Stone • Tree Removal •

cut. In the 1980s, there was nothing quite like Michael Christopher in Delaware, and actresses who came into town to perform at The Playhouse called the salon for services.

In addition to serving high-profile clients, celebrities like Sassoon also created a line of hair care products. Hemphill did the same. It’s a practical move, as well as a business opportunity. Proprietary products give him control in an age when conglomerates are gobbling up smaller companies in the hair care industry. After a merger, formulas might change, and some products are discontinued. The shampoos and conditioners are also subtle reminders that clients might need to schedule a cut and color. “It’s like having a billboard in the bathroom,” he said.

In the days before YouTube, Hemphill created a how-to VHS series on blow-drying, and packaged it with products. The kit was a hit on West Chester-based QVC. Hemphill has continued his relationship with the shopping channel, and a newer product, Erase, is a big seller.

The product was inspired by a client with stubborn hair

Power Washing • Bed Maintenance • Mulch

Bloomingdale’s store in King of Prussia and in Pike Creek. Hemphill, at one time, wanted to be in every Bloomingdale’s location. Then he experienced the reality of managing a site in Florida. The department store’s financial woes and the decision to split with his partner in Pike Creek prompted Hemphill to scale back to the one location.

New beginnings As of April, that location is that much closer to Greenville, where many of his clients live.

The new salon was designed to meet modern expectations and industry trends. “The pendulum swings every 10 years,” said Hemphill, who frequently renovated the old salon.

Signs on the Montchanin campus direct customers to the back of the building and to the incline leading to the old garage, whose doors have become windows. Out

front, there’s a courtyard-like setting that resembles the rooftop of a posh New York City penthouse. You can almost picture Carrie and her “Sex & the City” pals lounging in the area, which features potted hibiscus, waist-high planters with lush plants, and outdoor wicker chairs.

Once inside, customers can power up laptops and iPads at the computer bar and grab a cappuccino from the self-serve machine, or wine from the beverage fridge.

Longtime clients may recognize the fire engine-red chandelier above the reception area and other pieces from the old salon.

The 16 stylists’ chairs benefit from three sources of light, including the natural light that streams through the window during the day.

The mixing area for hair color is visible, much like an open kitchen in a restaurant. Clients can watch the action, which in most salons is tucked out of sight.

One task, however, is offered in a quieter environment.

Continued on Page 30

www.ghlifemagazine.com | Summer/Fall 2017 | Greenville & Hockessin Life

29

Michael Christopher Continued from Page 29

Since many love the luxury of a lengthy shampoo and scalp massage, the shampoo chairs are sequestered in an area that links to the day spa section of the salon. While they enjoy the suds, they can gaze at the shelves of handbags and hair accessories.

The days of the mega salon and day spas have given way to more specialized and personalized services.

Clients don’t have a day to devote to pampering. But they do want quick-hit routine services, such as manicures, facials and waxing. The salon has three treatment rooms, one of which has a shower. There’s also a pedicure room.

“We’re more condensed,” said Rhonda Hutchinson, administrative assistant, who’s been working with Hemphill since 1978. “The atmosphere is so relaxing from the moment you turn into the drive.”

Hemphill said that customers have been pleased with the move. Some have been with Hemphill since he first started at Clifford’s so long ago. Celebrating more than four decades in the industry, he’s styled mothers, daughters and granddaughters.

And more are on the way. Recently, an 8-yearold approached Hemphill to ask if he was Michael Christopher. He said yes. “Wow!” she marveled.

Hemphill smiled and told himself, “My brand is good for another 15 years!”

To contact Staff Writer Pam George, email delwriter@ gmail.com.

30

Greenville & Hockessin Life | Summer/Fall 2017 | www.ghlifemagazine.com

—|Greenville & Hockessin Health and Fitness|

Kickboxing fitness classes produce health benefits for people of all ages

32

Greenville & Hockessin Life | Summer/Fall 2017 | www.ghlifemagazine.com

All photos by Steven Hoffman

Denise Lovett leads a kickboxing fitness class at Cornerstone Martial Arts in Hockessin.

By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer “All right, gang! Let’s bring it in!”

Denise Lovett, a kickboxing fitness instructor with Cornerstone Martial Arts in Hockessin, enthusiastically leads the class of participants through a series of warm-up exercises, including jumping jacks. Soon, they are running laps as Lovett stands in the middle, claps, and cheers them on.

“All right, let’s take it to the floor for push-ups!”

Once the push-ups are finished, Lovett demonstrates a speed skating move for the students to do. Soon, they are punching and kicking heavy bags as the instructor watches to make sure that each person is using the proper technique.

“This class is comprised of kickboxing veterans,” Lovett explained during a break, “so they know the routine well. They know what they are doing. The class is really focused on the health benefits that you can get from kickboxing.”

Continued on Page 34

Denise Lovett is a certified personal trainer who has incorporated kickboxing exercises into her regular routine. www.ghlifemagazine.com | Summer/Fall 2017 | Greenville & Hockessin Life

33

Kickboxing Continued from Page 33

A moment later, Lovett yells out, “Time!” and directs everyone to run more laps.

Lovett is a certified personal trainer, and she is focused on making sure that each person is getting what they expect—and need—out of the class.

“I think everybody comes for a different reason,” she explained. “Some are here to relieve stress. Some are here to have a great workout. Some are here for the community. Anyone who takes group fitness is looking for accountability and someone to motivate them. They want a good workout, they want someone to push them, and they want accountability.”

As a certified personal trainer, Lovett is an expert at the motivation part. Being a cheerleader for everyone in the class is a role that she relishes.

“Sometimes,” she explained, “you need to be taken out of your comfort zone.”

Lovett herself was taken a little bit out of her own comfort zone when she first tried a kickboxing class.

34

Greenville & Hockessin Life | Summer/Fall 2017 | www.ghlifemagazine.com

She explained that she learned about the benefits of kickboxing while watching her children, John and Kate, take a martial arts class with Rob Kloss, the owner of Cornerstone Martial Arts. One day, he started demonstrating some kickboxing techniques that were going to be incorporated into a new class. Lovett was looking for something new to add to her own fitness program at the time. She had developed into a dedicated athlete at this point in her life because heart disease runs in her family.

Her father needed a quadruple bypass at the age of 50, so she wanted to do everything she could to improve her heart health. She likes running on trails and roads, lifting weights, and high-intensity interval training. The high-intensity of the workout from the kickboxing class is very good for participants, so she thought she would give it a try.

“I loved it right away,” Lovett explained. “It really works. It’s a great way to build stamina.”

She noted that, as people age, their bodies may stop

responding to certain exercises, so it’s important to keep trying different things. Lovett explained that this kickboxing program is based on martial arts techniques. The full-body exercises are interspersed with punching and kicking, and the high-intensity interval training can produce real results, regardless of your age or the physical condition that you start out in.

One day about four years ago, Kloss and Lovett were talking about the need for a morning kickboxing class. Kloss wanted to offer one, but Continued on Page 36 Eric Stuverude, a resident of Landenberg, takes one of the morning kickboxing classes.

www.ghlifemagazine.com | Summer/Fall 2017 | Greenville & Hockessin Life

35

Kickboxing Continued from Page 35

he didn’t have an instructor for it. Lovett explained that she made an offer that if Kloss would send her for the necessary certification to teach the classes, she would serve as the instructor for it. The certified personal trainer was working with whole groups of people. The morning class immediately became popular with those who took it.

“A majority of the class has been here for years,” she explained.

The participants say that it’s a very healthy environment, in part because of Lovett’s unwaveringly positive attitude.

Ralph LoPilato, a resident of Hockessin, has been taking the class for about four years.

“It builds my endurance and helps me stay flexible,” he said.

“It’s an aerobic workout so it’s good for your heart. It does build some self-defense tools because we’re kicking and punching. I feel more confident and strong.”

He credited Lovett with helping to make the class fun.

“It’s a very positive environment,” he said, adding that Kloss makes sure that any of the people who are paying to take classes at Cornerstone get their money’s worth by having them work hard during the class.

36

Greenville & Hockessin Life | Summer/Fall 2017 | www.ghlifemagazine.com

While participants learn proper punching and kicking techniques during the kickboxing class, there is not a heavy emphasis on selfdefense—there are other offerings at Cornerstone Martial Arts that focus on that.

The kickboxing class, Lovett said, is intended to be fun—but beneficial.

“The class is for all ages,” she said. “I have two children who are ten and eleven and they can do it. You see different fitness levels here.

There’s a lot of fun music, there are people that you can enjoy being with, and you may not feel like you’re working out as hard as you are because it’s fun.”

The last three minutes of each class may be the most difficult for participants because the intensity gets raised a bit. During what Lovett calls “the lightning round,” she calls out different exercises for the class to do. The participants complete each exercise. By the end of the class, everyone is sweating and smiling.

Continued on Page 38

Ralph LoPilato finds that the kickboxing class produces very good results.

www.ghlifemagazine.com | Summer/Fall 2017 | Greenville & Hockessin Life

37

Kickboxing Continued from Page 37

“For me, a lot of people get caught up in trends and lose sight of getting a good, solid base workout,” Lovett said. “Kickboxing classes like this are a staple for fitness now. It’s not something that you do every day.

You’ll do it for two or three days a week along with your other fitness program.”

For more information about Cornerstone Martial Arts, visit the Facebook page, the website at cornerstonehockessin.com or call 610-234-1966.

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

38

Greenville & Hockessin Life | Summer/Fall 2017 | www.ghlifemagazine.com

Cornerstone Marts Arts in Hockessin.

|Greenville & Hockessin History|

All photos by L. Fieldman unless otherwise noted

Green Hill Presbyterian Church is a ‘friendly, family church’ with many outreach programs benefiting the community.

40

Greenville & Hockessin Life | Summer/Fall 2017 | www.ghlifemagazine.com

Green Hill Presbyterian A small church with a large presence Lisa Fieldman Staff Writer

G Courtesy photo

Above: Rev. Thomas G. Speers is currently serving as the interim pastor, while helping the church transition to new leadership.

reen Hill Presbyterian Church sits tucked back off Kennett Pike, its spire rising above the surrounding rooftops. The understated white church appears timeless. Following the walkway through the cemetery towards the church entrance, you feel the substantial weight of history surrounding you.

Continued on Page 42

www.ghlifemagazine.com | Summer/Fall 2017 | Greenville & Hockessin Life

41

Green Hill Continued from Page 41

Green Hill is one of four area churches that grew out of the Brandywine Manufacturers Sunday School. The school was modeled on Robert Raikes’ Sunday School in England. During the Industrial Revolution, Raikes was determined to educate poor children through free classes on Sundays. A mill worker who immigrated from England to work in the Simsville Cotton Mill on the Brandywine had benefited from Raikes’ free education. So he set up similar classes for his fellow workers. The school taught Bible lessons, reading and writing. This basic education was often the only learning available to the workers and their families.

In 1815, E.I. duPont de Nemours visited the Sunday school in the cotton mill. He was impressed, and he encouraged his eldest daughter, Victorine, to take an active role in the school.

Victorine’s new husband, Ferdinand Bauduy, had succumbed to an illness shortly after their marriage, and the Sunday school seemed to help fill the void and ease her grief.

Her two sisters, Sophie and Eleuthera, joined her as teachers, even though they were still children. The girls would learn their lessons with their tutor, then teach the exercises in the Sunday classroom. All religious denominations were welcomed at the

42

Greenville & Hockessin Life | Summer/Fall 2017 | www.ghlifemagazine.com

The beautiful simplicity of the original church has been maintained. Historic 100-year-old Hook and Hastings organ pipes were acquired in 1993 to enhance worship.

school, and lessons were taught with no distinctions between the different faiths.

The school grew as more families traveled from neighboring factories and mills to attend class. Eventually, the Brandywine Manufacturers Sunday School found a permanent home in a schoolhouse constructed at the entrance to Hagley. As time passed, the religious Continued on Page 44

Green Hill Presbyterian welcomes all to worship at 10:30 every Sunday. www.ghlifemagazine.com | Summer/Fall 2017 | Greenville & Hockessin Life

43

Green Hill Continued from Page 43

denominations found the means to start their own churches. The Methodists built Mount Salem Church, St. Joseph’s on the Brandywine was formed by Catholics, and the Presbyterians established their church on a portion of Green Hill Farm. The Episcopalians remained at the Brandywine Manufacturers School, and later built Christ Church.

In 1847, the Presbyterians purchased the church property, but they lacked money for the construction of their house of worship. A plan was conceived to sell grave plots to raise capital, and the church cornerstone was laid the following year. Green Hill Presbyterian Church installed its deacons and elders in 1849, and counted a congregation of 28 members.

Green Hill Presbyterian remains the same simple family church envisioned by its founding members. The cemetery that funded the construction of the building has grown to wrap around the church -- a reminder of its heritage. Reverend Thomas G. Speers, who is serving as the interim pastor, said, “It’s a blessing we have the cemetery here. I actually love wandering through it to get to the church, because I think it represents a much greater reality. All those folks are cheering as we gather here.”

Walking among the gravestones, you find large family plots dating from the 1800s to the present time. Families who were early members of the congregation have remained connected to the church throughout the generations.

Charles Reed is the church historian, and has a great deal of appreciation for the stories the gravestones tell. He explained that the earliest date on a stone is 1835. Since the monument predates the church, he’s certain the grave was moved to the cemetery at a later time.

“I believe it was not uncommon for rural people to have a cemetery on their property,” he said.

Continued on Page 46

Complete Landscape Service Design - Construction - Installation Master Plans/General Site Development New Installations - Renovations Foundation Plantings - Screening - Raised Beds Entry Spaces - Streambank Restoration Outdoor Rooms - Hardscape - Specialty Gardens

Hockessin, Delaware 19707

302.239.9229 www.irwinlandscaping.com 44

Greenville & Hockessin Life | Summer/Fall 2017 | www.ghlifemagazine.com

www.ghlifemagazine.com | Summer/Fall 2017 | Greenville & Hockessin Life

45

Green Hill Continued from Page 44

“When they moved, they would move their deceased loved ones with them. It’s pretty clear that may have happened here.”

One of the more intriguing gravestones is a simple marker with the inscription, “Unknown drummer boy 1861-1865.”

“It’s possible a young boy arrived in this area during the Civil War, died, and was buried in the cemetery,” Reed said.

Today, churches are often built on a grand scale, but at its founding, accessibility was more important to Continued on Page 48

Gravestones from the 1800s mingle with more recent monuments in the peaceful cemetery.

46

Greenville & Hockessin Life | Summer/Fall 2017 | www.ghlifemagazine.com

July 21–29, 2017

Rt. 213 & 273, Fair Hill, MD 410-392-3440 www.cecilcountyfair.org

I CECIL

Green Hill Continued from Page 46

Green Hill and other area churches, rather than grandeur.

“This was a very walk-to, ride-your-horse-to neighborhood church,” Reed said. The congregation was made up of mainly Scots-Irish people who were more likely to be the workers: the house maids, the servants, the stablemen, rather than the mill owners.

Jane Reed added, “These people were often the house-people for the wealthy. Some were ‘up-thecrickers’ who worked in the powder mills.”

Pastor Speers noted that there are five Presbyterian churches along Kennett Pike, ranging from downtown Wilmington to Mendenhall, Pa. “Today, you can go to any one of them easily, but back when folks were on foot or horseback, they needed a neighborhood church,” he said.

Green Hill’s congregation currently numbers around 85 members, but there is a great vitality to this small church.

Jane and Charles Reed have a long history of service to Green Hill. It was their neighborhood church when they lived in Westover Hills, and they honored the tradition of walking to worship.

Charles is treasurer of the church and also serves on the Presbytery Council. Jane is a Commissioner, as well as Clerk of Session.

“We have a great deal of prayer in this church,” Jane said, “and we like to think it works. We have a very good core of Bible-based people.”

The congregation is diverse in age, ranging from a newborn to a member who recently celebrated his 104th birthday. “There are members of families that go way back, and have been involved with this church for many years,” said Rev. Speers.

Continued on Page 50

OVER 40 YEARS EXPERIENCE Trailer Repair Truck Accessories Hitches - Welding Snowplows - Spreaders Spray Liners UHAUL 9140 Gap Newport Pike, Avondale, PA

610-268-0007 • basherandson.com 48

Greenville & Hockessin Life | Summer/Fall 2017 | www.ghlifemagazine.com

www.ghlifemagazine.com | Summer/Fall 2017 | Greenville & Hockessin Life

49

Green Hill Continued from Page 48

It’s also a happy church, according to Jane. “We call it the family of Green Hill Church. When someone joins, we welcome them into the family,” she said. “When we have a baptism, we are the ones who want to help bring the child up religiously.”

Green Hill’s congregation has a passionate interest in music. For several years, they have been inviting outside musicians to accompany and enhance worship services several times a year. This year musical guests have included the Welsh Choir, Capitol Brass, The Sunday Breakfast Mission Men’s Choir, and Vision A Capella. Additionally, the Chancel Choir joins voices with the choirs of St. Joseph R.C., Lower Brandywine Presbyterian and Christ Church for a service on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. During Advent, the choir again joins with Lower Brandywine to perform a Christmas Cantata at each church.

Bruce Fine is the music director of Green Hill, and he accompanies worship service on the church’s historic Hook and Hastings pipe organ. He is also directing the new handbell choir. “Our bell choir includes a 9-year-old boy and a 96-year-old member,” Rev. Speers said.

The members of Green Hill Presbyterian are engaged in various outreach programs in the Wilmington area.

“Like every church around, we are also active in the wider community,” Rev. Speers said. Some of the important programs the church supports are Urban Promise, Meals on Wheels, Sunday Breakfast Mission, and A Door of Hope. “We have been cooking for Emmanuel Dining Room every Thursday since they opened their doors,” Jane Reed said.

Charles Reed added, “We are not the kind of a church where you sign up and disappear into the Continued on Page 52

SEARCHING FOR A NEW HOME IN DELAWARE?

Building new homes in Delaware since 1978 Bowers Landing: Ranch and two-story single family homes on ½ acre lots, from the mid $200’s. Bike to the Delaware Bay and Bowers Beach’s open-to-the-public white sand beaches. Close to Dover Air Base and Dover Downs. 40 Live Close minutes to Rehoboth Beach. Lake Forest School District.

Avonbridge at Odessa Chase: Two homes available immediately. New Carriage homes adjacent to the Odessa to Delaware National Golf Course from the low $240’s. Golf Course Clubhouse now open. First floor master bedrooms available.

Beaches!

Bon Ayre: Manufactured homes in an established 55+ landlease community in historic Smyrna close to Bayhealth & Christiana Care. From the low $100’s. Beautiful clubhouse on site. Call 302-659-5800. Visit www.BonAyreHomes.com.

Quick Delivery Homes available immediately! Energy-efficient natural gas appliances available.

Low Mearfield: Ranch and two-story single family homes within the City of Seaford, from the low $200’s. Close to Rte. 13 Delaware & area shopping. Quick Delivery Homes available immediately!

Property Sunnyside Village: Singles in the historic Town of Smyrna, from the $200’s. Eight ranch & 2-story models to choose Taxes! from. Close to schools, day cares, fitness center, health care and shopping centers. Energy-efficient natural gas appliances available.

Cambria Village: Town homes in the Town of Smyrna, from the $160’s. Very Close to downtown Smyrna, Rte. 1 & Rte. 13. Four models to choose from. Quick Delivery Homes available immediately!

Hidden Brook: Coming Soon. Single family homes overlooking the scenic Willis branch of Garrison Lake. From the mid $200’s. Smyrna School District Brookefield: Single family homes along Voshell’s Pond in Camden, from the mid $300’s. Caesar Rodney School District. First floor master bedrooms available. Quick Delivery homes under construction now. Energy-efficient natural gas appliances available.

Huntington Mills, Clayton, DE: Ranch and two-story single family homes in a well established community from the high $200’s. One quick delivery home available. Energy-efficient natural gas appliances available.

Old Country Farms, Clayton, DE: Ranch and two-story single family homes in an established community from the high $200’s. Adjacent to the new Clayton Middle School. Quick Delivery Homes under construction now!

Watergate at Milford: New townhomes for rent from $1,100 per month. See www.WatergateAtMilford.com

There’s Never Been A Better Time to Buy! For more information call 302.653.1650 or visit www.LenapeBuilders.net 50

Greenville & Hockessin Life | Summer/Fall 2017 | www.ghlifemagazine.com

www.ghlifemagazine.com | Summer/Fall 2017 | Greenville & Hockessin Life

51

Green Hill Continued from Page 50

woodwork. People come here because they want to be involved. We are a very active group.”

In addition to Sunday worship service, the church hosts seven to eight community meetings each week, holds Bible study groups, and offers children’s Sunday school.

Rev. Speers arrived at the church in 2016 and will serve as the interim pastor until a permanent pastor is called to lead the congregation. He relocated from Connecticut, where he served at First Presbyterian Church in Hartford.

A grave marker for a Civil War drummer boy.

“I’m actually the trailing spouse,” he explained.

His wife, Bessie, accepted Tower Hill’s head of school position, which necessitated their move to Delaware. The couple reside on the Tower Hill campus. “I won’t find a more convenient church; I live across the street,” he said, adding with a smile, “It’s a tough commute.”

He said that his focus is on working with the church in terms of honoring their history, and reconnecting with the denomination. His work this summer will include a mission study to determine what the church is looking for in their new pastor. “A fair amount of energy will go into that process in the next couple of months,” he said. “We are also in the midst of a reviewing what programs we Continued on Page 54

Individual & Family Outings • Wine tastings • Booze Cruise • Graduation Parties • Retirement/Birthday Parties • Wedding Rehearsals • Tours & Sightseeing Corporate/Small Business Events • Networking events • Team building • Holiday parties • Company picnics • Charity & Non profit events • New product launches

day!

Book To

410-885-5500 mvbaybreeze@gmail.com www.mvbaybreeze.com

Locally and Independently Owned and Operated

Blue Crabs and Shrimp available in season! Beer, Wine, & Signature drinks served on board to get the boat cruisin’ and boozin’. Call, email or book online at MVBayBreeze.com to reserve your spot TODAY! The cruise is on... Boat Located at Schaefer’s Marina in Chesapeake City.

52

Greenville & Hockessin Life | Summer/Fall 2017 | www.ghlifemagazine.com

2 Hour boat tours of the C&D Canal and Elk River

PENNSBURY ANTIQUE MALL | 610-388-1620 | 640 BALTIMORE PIKE, CHADDS FORD, PA OVER 100 DEALERS

PENNSBURY-CHADDS FORD ANTIQUE MALL • Furniture • Oriental Rugs • Original Paintings & Prints • Toy Trains

• Signed Wyeth Prints • Ephemera • Quilts • Jewelry, Silver & Coins

• Ceramics & Glass • Rocks, Gems & Minerals • Military & Sports Items • Pottery

spindizz buying & selling music + midcentury furnishings

TOP DOLLAR PAID FOR RECORD COLLECTIONS 484-770-8654 waxstax@spindizz.com www.spindizz.com

EARTH WIND FIRE & ICE

UNIQUE GIFTS!

signed

ANDREW WYETH PRINTS, REMARQUES & ORIGINALS

ROCK SHOP

Educational Experience Children Welcome • Please Touch Store

Showcase Minerals, Fossils, Jewelry, Beads, Native American Gifts Lower Level: (610)388-6546 Open Friday-Sunday 10am-5pm Proprietor: Glenda (610)873-2282 | Cell: (484)995-5667

484-885-5488 Large Selection • Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity!

Loom & Easel Gallery

Oriental Rugs

Call Sherry with questions

215-528-1501

Email: Loomeasel@verizon.net www.loomeaselgallery.com

earthwindfireice.com

Sell | Buy | Cleaning | Repairs | Appraisal

Upper Level: Thursday - Monday 10am-5pm • 610-388-1620 | Lower Level: Thursday - Monday 10am-5pm • 610-388-6546

Ample Parking

WWW.PENNSBURYANTIQUEMALL.COM

Green Hill Continued from Page 52

are supporting, and why. Part of our energy is in the direction of, ‘Let’s be discerning of what we do and how we do it.’

“I’m delighted to be a part of this. I am enjoying it a great deal,” Rev. Speers said. When the time arrives, he will move on to another church. For now, he is doing the work he was called to do at Green Hill.

“In the midst of a time when, nationally, we are so divided, I think how churches and synagogues have a long history of people who have learned to get along despite their differences,” he said. “They’ve learned to not demonize. They’ve learned to find a deeper common core. It strikes me that we are needed more than ever right now, to deal with that reality. By the way we are treating each other, it seems a lot of folks have forgotten that. I’d like to be a part of finding that common core.”

Green Hill Presbyterian Church is at 3112 Kennett Pike, Wilmington, Del. Worship service is held every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Visit www.greenhillpres.org for more information and upcoming events.

To contact staff writer Lisa Fieldman, email lefieldman@gmail.com.

Now Open! new menu • waterfront dining

443.350.9943 | www.tritonbandg.com | 285 Plum Point Rd., Elkton, MD 21921 54

Greenville & Hockessin Life | Summer/Fall 2017 | www.ghlifemagazine.com

Bike and Hike returns to Hagley with beer and ice cream evenings

Visitors can bike, hike, jog, or stroll the beautiful banks of the Brandywine during Hagley’s popular Bike and Hike series. The series returns this year with select evenings featuring Dogfish Head Craft Brewery beers and Woodside Farm Creamery ice cream.

Bike and Hike runs for an additional two weeks this year and takes place every Wednesday through Sept. 13. The July and August dates will take place from 5 to 8 p.m., and the September dates from 5 to 7 p.m. The path is a three-mile loop from Hagley’s Visitor Center to Eleutherian Mills and back. Participants can explore parts of the picturesque, 235-acre property not usually open to visitors.

Bike and Hike at Hagley is presented by Dogfish Head Craft Brewery. All Bike and Hikes are weather-permitting, with updates posted on www.hagley.org.

Enjoy one of several Dogfish Head Craft Brewery beers during Bike, Hike and Brews nights on July 12, Aug. 2, and Aug. 16.

Dogfish Head beers and special menu items from the Belin House Organic Café will be available for purchase. The star of the special menu will be sliders, with the style of slider changing each time.

All Bike and Hike participants can pack their own food, order a Picnic Tote in 56

Greenville & Hockessin Life | Summer/Fall 2017 | www.ghlifemagazine.com

advance from the café, or choose something to eat when they arrive. The complete Belin House Organic Café menu will be available for every Bike and Hike. Picnic totes (sandwiches, sides, dessert, and soft drinks) are $20, and orders are due by 3 p.m. each Tuesday at 302-658-2400, ext. 271. Plates, napkins, and utensils are included. The totes are handmade by a local artisan and are a keepsake for participants.

Hockessin’s Woodside Farm Creamery will be on site on July 5, Aug. 9, and Sept.

6, offering various flavors of their homemade ice cream for purchase. Kimo’s Real Hawaiian Shave Ice will help Bike and Hike visitors cool off on Aug. 23.

The last Wednesday of the month will be Hagley’s Dog Days of Summer. Bring your canine companion on July 26 and Aug. 30. Leashes for dogs and waste removal are required.

Admission to all Bike and Hikes is $2 (members and children under 5 are free). There is free admission to Special Olympics of Delaware athletes and their families. Use Hagley’s main entrance off Route 141 in Wilmington, Del. For more information, call 302-6582400 weekdays or visit www.hagley.org.

We Sell and Service the New Castle & Chester County Areas with over 250 appliances on display at our showroom Scratch & Dent Models • Parts Department • Budget Appliance Showroom FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED

www.hawkinsandsons.com

HAWKINS & SONS, Inc. Home Appliance Center

302.998.1010 400 New Road (DuPont Road & Kirkwood Hwy.) • Elsmere, DE 19805

NEW IN OUR SHOWROOM - GE APPLIANCES

———|Around Greenville & Hockessin|

All photos by Kelli Wilke and Courtney Kattler

Bree Wellons and Jennifer Steiner of Adorn Goods Artful Home & Epicure in Centreville.

58

Greenville & Hockessin Life | Summer/Fall 2017 | www.ghlifemagazine.com

Bree Wellons and Jennifer Steiner had an idea to create a shopping experience that combines the nostalgic with the contemporary.

The result of their ideas is now open in Centreville

Adorn Goods combines the inventory of handmade items from artisans with the look of a modern-day general store.

The modern-day general A store

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

dorn Goods Artful Home & Epicure in Centreville is the article in Oprah magazine about the vision of entrepreneurs that sticks with you long after you read it.

Adorn Goods is small-town life with a contemporary flair; a gathering place with a generous helping of the unique.

Continued on Page 60

www.ghlifemagazine.com | Summer/Fall 2017 | Greenville & Hockessin Life

59

Adorn Goods Continued from Page 59

Adorn Goods is the segment you see on your favorite Home & Garden Network program that confirms that a store of this kind can be a workable concept, not only offering one-of-akind gifts, but asking customers to linger for a while.

Adorn Goods is the wrapped bundle of nostalgia meeting modernism; the place where convenience collides with necessity; and the end result of what happens when two friends get together, toss away the envelope of convention and come up with an idea to open what is quickly becoming the coolest general store of its kind.

Adorn Goods, tucked into the fabric of a still-small hamlet in the heart of the Brandywine Valley, is the vision of Bree Wellons and Jennifer Steiner.

60

Adorn Goods Artful Home & Epicure is located in the heart of Centreville.

Greenville & Hockessin Life | Summer/Fall 2017 | www.ghlifemagazine.com

The key business concept of Adorn Goods is immediately seen on its many shelves and along its widebeam wooden floors: Small-batch gift and food items brought to the store from farmers and artisans Wellons and Steiner have partnered with, like Blackberry Farm in Knoxille, Tenn., Farmhouse Pottery in Woodstock, Vt., as well as local chefs and bakers.

From pottery, tableware and home accessories to locally sourced gourmet foods, Adorn Goods is an all-in-one shopping experience.

“Adorn Goods is the culmination of our passions,” said Steiner, a former advertising executive in Wilmington.

“Bree and I have always been interested in the concept of what makes a house a home, and we hope for Adorn Goods to become a community spot for ideas, whether you’re coming here for gifts, or food or the events. We want it to be an all-around easy place for people to make it a part of their routine.”

“Because families are so busy these days, frozen, pre-made foods are a huge hit these days,” Wellons said.

“We’re already finding that people love the convenience of stopping by Adorn Goods and taking home delicious meals made by local chefs.”

Eventually, Adorn Goods will offer fresh baked goods every Saturday morning from different local bakers and a fresh coffee bar, as well as fresh grab ‘n’ go lunches.

“Our goal is to make Adorn Goods the place to go to on Saturday mornings, where you can come in, grab Continued on Page 62

www.ghlifemagazine.com | Summer/Fall 2017 | Greenville & Hockessin Life

61

Adorn Goods Continued from Page 61

a morning coffee and a homemade muffin, and then take home some meals to go, such as seafood and meats from our freezer,” Wellons said. “We’ll not only have your food needs covered, but if you need to get that special gift, we’ve got you covered, too.”

Since its opening, Adorn Goods has also hosted small private events, such as cooking classes, women’s nights, baby showers and small business meetings. Nearly a dozen events have already been booked through the summer, which will not only take advantage of the interior space, but the spacious front and side porches as well.

It won’t take long to track down personal touches -- influenced by their memories and their travels -- that Wellons and Steiner have brought to the store. In 2009, Wellons launched Dilwyne Designs, a design studio influenced in part from her extensive travels around the world. She’s brought that eye for detail to Adorn Goods to combine a small-town feel with a modern-day vibe. When she was a child growing up in Carlisle, Pa., Steiner and her brother would visit a local candy store one day a week and fill small brown paper bags with penny candy. Sure enough, kids of all ages can fill up on a lot of sweet things at Adorn Goods.

“What we’ve found is that the products we have chosen to showcase, combined with our travels and experiences, have given us the ideas Continued on Page 64

62

Greenville & Hockessin Life | Summer/Fall 2017 | www.ghlifemagazine.com

FREE stump grinding $50 off any service $125 off with removal of 2 or more trees

of $300 or more

tree work of $800 or more

Gallo Tree Service Inc. • 302-737-TREE

Gallo Tree Service Inc. • 302-737-TREE

Gallo Tree Service Inc. • 302-737-TREE

Present coupon at time of estimate.

Not valid with other offers or prior purchases. Exp. 10-30-17.

Present coupon at time of estimate.

Not valid with other offers or prior purchases. Exp. 10-30-17.

Present coupon at time of estimate.

Not valid with other offers or prior purchases. Exp. 10-30-17.

Adorn Goods Continued from Page 62

for what became this store,� Steiner said. “As our small towns begin to expand, we are very quickly losing everything that people want from a store -- the connection that businesses of this Continued on Page 66

Adorn Goods has already become a meeting place for private events.

64

Greenville & Hockessin Life | Summer/Fall 2017 | www.ghlifemagazine.com

www.ghlifemagazine.com | Summer/Fall 2017 | Greenville & Hockessin Life

65

Adorn Goods Continued from Page 64

kind have with the community they serve. We are bringing that environment back to the community.�

Adorn Goods is at 5712 Kennett Pike, Centreville, Del. To learn more, visit www.adorngoods.com.

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty. com.

T L

MOVING SERVICES, LLC

C

610-268-3243 A Personalized and Friendly Service Specializing in House and Retirement Home Moves

Coordinating and Managing Moves Since 1984!

If you’re planning a local or long distance move, across town or across the country, then do what smart senior citizens and other residents have done for years and call TLC Moving Services, LLC at 610-268-3243.

These professionals will pack your items with the utmost care, arrange to have them moved by a reliable moving company, then unpack them and place them in your new home where you desire. If you are downsizing, they can help you arrange a sale of your goods or assist you in donating to the charity of your choice.

Once out of your old home, they can clean-up and make repairs so the house is ready for the new owners, or to be put on the market.

If moving is in your plans, then your first move is to call TLC Moving Services, LLC. Put these professionals to work for you and call Caen Stroud at 610-268-3243.

CaenStroud@msn.com 66

Greenville & Hockessin Life | Summer/Fall 2017 | www.ghlifemagazine.com

www.tlcmovingservicesllc.com

Roger C. Summers Lawn Care “27 Years of Doing it the Right Way” Tree Removal Tree Pruning

Firewood

Grass Cutting

Spring Clean-Up • Stump Removal

Call for estimate 302-234-8725 or 610-388-0832

www.RogerSummersLawnCare.com

www.ghlifemagazine.com | Summer/Fall 2017 | Greenville & Hockessin Life

67

—|Greenville & Hockessin Life Photo Essay|—

Standing by to save a life Inside the Hockessin Fire Company Photos by Jie Deng Text by John Chambless Being a firefighter is like no other job in the world.

It begins with exhausting physical conditioning, and stretches out for hour after hour – or day after day – of sitting and waiting for something to happen. Then, when a fire sparks or a car careens off the road, it’s instantly time to control the chaos, channel the adrenalin jolt and get to work.

Continued on Page 70

Steve Pickering, left, and Nick Colicchio are two of the 25 volunteer firefighters at the Hockessin Fire Company.

68

Greenville & Hockessin Life | Summer/Fall 2017 | www.ghlifemagazine.com

www.ghlifemagazine.com | Summer/Fall 2017 | Greenville & Hockessin Life

69

Photo Essay Continued from Page 68

At the Hockessin Fire Company, the gleaming chrome of the engines and the neatly arranged coats and equipment testify to the long hours of busy work at the station house. Firehouses are always the neatest buildings because the people who are on standby need to occupy themselves, and because the pride of firefighters runs deep. Putting the extra shine on a pumper truck shows how strongly these volunteers care about the job they are called to do.

The courage to run into the flames, instead of away from them, is often cited when people are describing those who do this work. But it’s also the fortitude to help injured people who are at the worst, most panicked moments of their lives. The rewards for saving a home or a life are sometimes acknowledged with a plaque or public notice, but usually the Continued on Page 72

Part of the job of a volunteer firefighter is to make sure that all firetruck apparatus and attire is cleaned and prepared in the event of an emergency call.

70

Greenville & Hockessin Life | Summer/Fall 2017 | www.ghlifemagazine.com

The symbol of the company is prominently displayed throughout the facility.

The Hockessin Fire Company was established in 1936, and its current building was constructed in 1997.

www.ghlifemagazine.com | Summer/Fall 2017 | Greenville & Hockessin Life

71

Photo Essay Continued from Page 70

accomplishment is internal – shared between a firefighter or EMS worker and the eternally grateful mother, father, son or daughter.

The Hockessin Fire Company began in 1936, after a local business, the Hockessin Supply Company, burned to the ground and the blaze threatened nearby structures. Five men thought something should be done, and after months of planning, a lot was purchased for $600 to build a firehouse, and the Cranston Heights Fire Company agreed to loan one of their fire engines until the fledgling company could buy their own.

There’s a more recent station building, of course, and the company now includes an engine, a rescue vehicle, tanker truck and ambulance. Each year, volunteers put in nearly 30,000 hours for emergency responses, training, duty crews and administrative support.

Continued on Page 74

The 2011 Spartan Crimson Fire Engine has seating for seven firefighters, and can pump 1,000 gallons of water through 1,200 feet of supply line.

Engine 19-2, now retired, is used at fairs and parades.

72

Greenville & Hockessin Life | Summer/Fall 2017 | www.ghlifemagazine.com

www.ghlifemagazine.com | Summer/Fall 2017 | Greenville & Hockessin Life

73

Photo Essay Continued from Page 72

So far this year, the Hockessin Fire Company responded to well over 600 calls for emergency services, and 260 fire calls. Imagine that you are the panicked person on the other end of the line, suddenly in need of life-saving help. That’s what these volunteers provide.

We spent some time at the fire station recently, looking at the tiny details and the people who provide a safety net for residents and visitors alike. The Hockessin community may not be large, but the pride of the fire company is beyond measure.

The Hockessin Fire Company currently has 25 available volunteer firefighters on its roster, and there is always room for more. If you are interested in serving, contact membership secretary Patricia Gropp at 302-239-7159.

The Hockessin Fire Company employs ten full-time firefighters and 35 part-time staff.

74

Greenville & Hockessin Life | Summer/Fall 2017 | www.ghlifemagazine.com

www.ghlifemagazine.com | Summer/Fall 2017 | Greenville & Hockessin Life

75

———|Greenville & Hockessin People|———

Light man

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

I

t is the morning of June 16 at the Laird Performing Arts Center at the Tatnall School in Greenville, exactly one day before the opening of Delaware All-State Theatre’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Tatnall’s technical director Rick Neidig is the coolest cat in the house.

In nearly every theatrical production -- whether it is Broadway, community theater or the school cafeteria -- there is a block of time that is reserved for the technical crew to synchronize sound and lighting cues. While other techies scurry around the theater in an attempt to finish a theatrical

All photos by Richard L. Gaw unless otherwise noted

Rick Neidig, technical director at the Tatnall School, with some of the cast from a the Delaware All-State Theatre’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

76

Greenville & Hockessin Life | Summer/Fall 2017 | www.ghlifemagazine.com

For the past few decades, the work of lighting and technical designer Rick Neidig has lit up some of the most electrifying performances in Delaware and around the world. His permanent workspace, however, is the Laird Performing Arts Center at the Tatnall School, where he illuminates the work of student productions punch-list, Neidig’s focus is that of comfort and control. Standing at a console in the darkened control room, he flicks levers and presses buttons as if they are an extension of his hands, and down below, past the empty 525 seats of the cavernous performance space on the stage, the young actors are suddenly and magically lifted by a spectrum of lights.

There it is, right there -- the kaleidoscope of light that Neidig has created in his mind for this musical, becoming a nearlycomplete canvas -- the precious moment when the creative and the technical play in the schoolyard and discover that there really are no boundaries to their imagination. They want to do more, create more, and burst open the seams to a reality that is better than the one defined as accepted convention.

Rick Neidig has been defying accepted convention for more than 30 years.

Courtesy photo

Neidig worked with The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater for three years.

Continued on Page 78

Stage Lighting ttechnology have evolved greatly over the decades. www.ghlifemagazine.com | Summer/Fall 2017 | Greenville & Hockessin Life

77

Light man Continued from Page 77

He’s worked at more than 160 theaters and concert halls around the world, from a 2,500-seat Roman amphitheater to the Bob Hope Theater in Palm Springs, Calif., to community theater productions in Newark and Wilmington, to touring with George Thorogood and the Delaware Destroyers all over the United States. He has been the full-time technical director at the school for the past seven years, following 18 years as the lighting director and director of production at the Grand Opera House in Wilmington.

With every concert, play or musical -- he’s created stage lighting and sound for 32 Showcase productions at Tatnall -- Neidig approaches his work by attempting to define the various tonalities of it.

Continued on Page 80

Neidig in the production booth at the Laird Performing Arts Center at the Tatnall School, where he has taught for the past seven years.

Meat McLimans Market Furniture Warehouse

“McLimans is neat, well-organized and filled with fabulous deals. You can back up a truck and literally fill it up with great furniture!”

-Philadelphia Magazine

Established 1976

Quality BUTCHER SHOP & DELI

Serving Hockessin since 1980 • Prepared Meats • All Natural Chicken • Catering Specialties • Marinated Items • Certified Angus Western Beef • Boar’s Head Gourmet Deli Meats • Honey Glazed Sliced Ham • Homemade Sausage • Homemade Prepared Salads • Fresh Roasted Beef & Turkey

302-239-2529 Shoppes of Hockessin MC/VISA/WSFS 78

Rt. 41 — Lancaster Pike M-F 8:30-6 • Sat 8-4:30

Greenville & Hockessin Life | Summer/Fall 2017 | www.ghlifemagazine.com

• Gently Used Name Brands: Ethan Allen, Thomasville, Etc. • Older Reproductions Circa 1910-1960’s • Fine New Antique Reproductions • Handmade In USA-farm Tables/chairs • See The Value! See The Savings!

• Browse Our Website For Partial Inventory

13,000 SQ. FT. OF QUALITY FURNITURE 610.444.3876 • 940 W. Cypress St, Kennett Square • www.mclimans.com

www.ghlifemagazine.com | Summer/Fall 2017 | Greenville & Hockessin Life

79

Light Man Continued from Page 78

“I always approach my work from the standpoint of what the customer wants,” Neidig said during a break in the musical’s technical production. “In the case of a play, for instance, I read the script and begin to form ideas. In some productions, it’s the theatrical aspect, while in others, the focus is on the word. I also consider the time of day the production is set in, as well as its mood and its vibe and its colors.

“Very often, I never feel like a show that I design is ever complete,” he said. “I’m never satisfied and I’m never done and there’s always more that I could do.”

It’s part of a restless and creative spirit that has followed Neidig around like a companion since he first became involved in theater when he was a Continued on Page 82 Some of the many performers from the cast of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Symphony Under the Stars Love Is In The Air Saturday, August 19, 2017, 7:30 pm • Open Air Theatre, Longwood Gardens Ticket price includes the concert, all-day admission to Longwood Gardens on the day of the concert, and post-concert illuminated fountain performance in the new Main Fountain Garden.

2017 – 2018 Season Concerts Saturday, October 14, 2017 • 7:30pm Opening Night – Reveries & Passions Saturday, December 2, 2017 • 7:30pm Pops Goes The Holiday!

80

Saturday, April 14, 2018 • 1:00pm

Beethoven and Bellinis

Sunday, April 15, 2018 • 7:30pm

Art of the Dance

Saturday, August 18, 2018 • 7:30pm

Symphony Under the Stars

Greenville & Hockessin Life | Summer/Fall 2017 | www.ghlifemagazine.com

Tickets On Sale Mid-July 2017

Michael Hall Music Director

www.ghlifemagazine.com | Summer/Fall 2017 | Greenville & Hockessin Life

81

Light Man Continued from Page 80

student at the Air Base High School in Dover.

“I had no idea what I was doing,” he said. “I was building sets in the school cafeteria, and when someone said they wanted a yellow wall, I thought they were asking for a real yellow wall, not just particle board painted yellow.”

After beginning as an architecture major at the University of Texas at Austin, Neidig transferred to Penn State and then back to Texas, before eventually transferring to the University of Delaware in his sophomore year.

“I was living off campus with three other guys and I was ready to quit school, and my adviser pointed to some core classes that he suggested I take,” he said. “ I saw that there was a lighting class, taught by Tom Watson. I took the class and at the end of the semester, Tom asked me, ‘Are you a theater major?’ I told him that I wasn’t. He said, ‘Let me talk to your parents about this.’ He brought them to campus, had dinner with them, and invited them to a show that we were involved in called Hot L Baltimore.

“I then became a theater major.”

Neidig received 44 acceptances to graduate schools and 11 full-scholarship offers to study theater production, and weeded down his choices to Yale University, Purdue University and Missouri Repertory Theater.

A friend of his told him that the rock star George Thorogood needed someone to drive his stage gear to begin the start of his tour in New Hampshire.

A week before the tour, Thorogood’s roadie invited Neidig to join the tour. College would have to wait. He remained on the road with the band for the next year -- hitting city after American city -- and then joined The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater production team for the next three years.

After four solid years of touring around the world, first with Thorogood and then with Alvin Ailey, Neidig was anxious to get off the road. It all came to a halt one day when he was with the dance company in Dubai, India.

“I was physically tired just from flying, so here I was, dressed in a silk Madison Square Garden jacket and Syrian scarf, and I asked the flight manager at the Dubai airport, just for fun, ‘By the way, how much would the Concorde cost to get back to the U.S. from France?’ I Continued on Page 84

82

Greenville & Hockessin Life | Summer/Fall 2017 | www.ghlifemagazine.com

www.ghlifemagazine.com | Summer/Fall 2017 | Greenville & Hockessin Life

83

Light Man Continued from Page 82

paid for the flight with my frequent-flier miles, on a flight from Paris to New York.”

Soon after he returned to Delaware, Neidig was hired as the lighting director at the Grand Opera House, and eventually became the director of production.

He remained there for the next 18 years, working on hundreds of shows. During that time, he was also instrumental in developing the Baby Grand theater next door to the Grand Opera House.

Opened in 2007, the 23,000-square-foot Laird Performing Arts Center features a 40-foot proscenium with a 38-foot deep stage (from the curtain), dressing rooms, full scene shop, multipurpose room and the following technical capabilities. It also includes 288 dimmers, 236 light fixtures, 54 front of house lighting positions, 120 onstage overhead electric positions, 64 stage level electric positions, clear-com communication to all technical positions, several light and sound booths, an acoustically designed wall configuration, a state-of-the-art sound system with ten channels of

84

Greenville & Hockessin Life | Summer/Fall 2017 | www.ghlifemagazine.com

wireless microphones, and video projection capabilities with computer and video interface.

In short, the theater is fully jacked, and if Neidig knows every last bell and whistle to the place, it is because he helped design it -- even before he began full-time at the school.

“I wanted the theater to be capable enough to allow for a full ballet company to come in here and do a full production on this stage,” he said. “I wanted no cabling on the ground, but rather, have it placed in the ceiling, so that no one would ever trip backstage.

“I sat in at all meetings to make sure that they did the right things. I would crank out my mechanical engineering training and provide them with metric calculations.

‘So you do know what you’re doing,’ they’d say. I’d tell them. ‘I’m not just an arty-farty dude who likes to play in the theater.’”

Neidig looks at the technical aspects of a theater production as more than just some people pulling levers from a dark and distant booth -- but almost as another

character in the production itself.

When he created the lighting design for Sam Shepard’s True West the Chapel Street Theater in Newark, Neidig, a fan of the playwright, noted that the play takes place in the Mojave Desert.

I purposely created the lighting tonality to an acidic, green-yellow tone that bathed the actors and the stage,” he said. “I wanted the audience to feel thirsty and Continued on Page 86

Neidig once toured with Delaware rock legend George Thorogood, as well as with the esteemed Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

www.ghlifemagazine.com | Summer/Fall 2017 | Greenville & Hockessin Life

85

Light Man Continued from Page 85

hot by the end of the play. If you know what you’re doing with frequencies in sound and in tones of lighting, you can influence that which creeps into the audience member’s mind and makes them feel something, and contributes to a visceral reaction.”

At the core of Neidig’s position at Tatnall is his role as a teacher. In every one of the 32 theater showcases he has done at Tatnall, he works side-by-side with his students for as long as three weeks prior to each production -- and then stands back to let the students operate all technical aspects of a production. For several of his past students, they’ve taken their theater bug and made it a part of their present and potentially their future; many have gone on to major in theatrical production and stage management in college.

Among the many lessons Neidig imparts to his students, perhaps his most honest one comes from the background of his own experiences -- that while the making of theater

86

Greenville & Hockessin Life | Summer/Fall 2017 | www.ghlifemagazine.com

is often a thrilling ride, it is also a transient one.

“I get to go through the catharsis of design, but then I get to go through the catharsis of ripping it all down,” Neidig said. “I’ve always tell people that my favorite time on a stage has been eight o’clock in the morning -because at that point of the day, it’s all about possibilities -- and one o’clock at night -- after it all gets torn down and moves on.

“When I see students get freaked out when they tear down a set because they’ve worked so hard on it for two months, I tell them that this is part of the process. For the ones who are most reluctant, I tell them, ‘Here’s a hammer. Smash something.’ The whole point of theater is to do the work, and then move on. You make your memories and you move on. You take what you have learned from this small piece of your life, and you move on.”

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@ chestercounty.com.

Raw Bar, Crabcakes, Homemade Seafood Soups, Burgers and more Casual Dining on the water!

SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

BRING

YOUR

BOAT

AND

Monday-Sunday 11am to 2am

DOCK FREE

AT OUR

PIER!

Visit our Boardwalk featuring Fisher’s Popcorn, Dolly’s Saltwater Taffy & much more!

www.leeslandingdockbar.com

443-747-4006 • 600 Rowland Dr., Port Deposit, MD 21904 www.ghlifemagazine.com | Summer/Fall 2017 | Greenville & Hockessin Life

87

————|Greenville & Hockessin Life|————

Hockessin’s kitchen of nutrition

All photos by Richard L. Gaw

This July, Harvest Market will celebrate its 22nd year in Hockessin.

88

Greenville & Hockessin Life | Summer/Fall 2017 | www.ghlifemagazine.com

Bob Kleszics began Harvest Market in 1995 to serve as a sanctuary of health and education for local families. As it celebrates its 22nd anniversary, Harvest Market is just getting started

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

I

n July 1995, Bob Kleszics opened Harvest Market with a simple mission: To provide the Hockessin community with the highest quality, most nourishing foods and related products available, while conducting business in socially responsible ways that are both sustainable and rewarding for its customers, employees, producers and the environment.

More than two decades later, on the eve of the market’s 22nd anniversary, Kleszics said he would never have imagined that the mission he created would eventually grow to include almost 50 current employees, a fully-operational kitchen and the ability for the store to produce its own food -- all supported by a dedicated, knowledgeable staff.

“Part of the success of Harvest Market is that we have been able to find people who believe in our vision, with a focus on healthy, clean food, and sustainable agriculture,” said Kleszics, who has incorporated management training conferences into the store’s operations. “Our customer service is all encompassing. We treat our customers, our farmers, our co-workers, our truck drivers -everybody -- with the same respect and understanding.”

If the success of Harvest Market ends with row after row of organic and local fresh produce, grass-fed meats, nutritional supplements, culinary herbs and spices and personal care products -- it begins with conversations, recommendations and education. Donna Merrill, a registered nurse and herbalist with more than 30 years of experience, offers free consultations to Harvest Since 2013, the Harvest Market Kitchen has provided its busy customers with healthy To-Go Market customers on Mondays, selections such as salads, soups, sandwiches and sides.

Tuesdays and Fridays.

Continued on Page 90

w w.gh www www.ghlifemagazine.com ggh hlif l emagazine.com | Sum li SSummer/Fall ummer/Fall 2017 | Gr Greenv Greenville en n illle & Ho Hocke Hockessin ccke kessi kessi ssin n LLife if ife

89 9

Harvest Market Continued from Page 89

“During every interaction with customers, we get an opportunity to talk about the farmers and producers that Harvest Market works with,” said Holly Tyson, communications coordinator. “The relationships we have formed with our customers starts with our staff. We take pride in serving as a point of education in the community, and people have come to respect our opinions.

And, like our customers, we’re always learning, and when we don’t happen to know the answers, we will look it up or find someone on staff who knows those answers.”

While Harvest Market focuses on the nourishing, the sustainable and the delicious -- it has also become a constantly-evolving source of new initiatives. From the time it opened in 2013, the Harvest Market Kitchen has become a daily showcase of grab-and-go soups, salads, sandwiches, sides and sweets, all made from scratch with the same high quality ingredients sold throughout the store. After receiving several Best of Delaware awards for its healthy organic foods, the kitchen received a Best of Delaware award this year for being voted Best Gourmet-Food-to-Go in Northern Delaware.

“We started out with a four-foot-long section, then doubled it to an eightfoot-long section, and now have plans to expand the size of our to-go section to the entire 12-foot case and expand the range of products, and offer the highest-quality of ingredients,” Kleszics said.

Continued on Page 92

90

Greenville & Hockessin Life | Summer/Fall 2017 | www.ghlifemagazine.com

Up and down its aisles, Harvest Market continues to be a local source for fresh, organic produce.

www.ghlifemagazine.com | Summer/Fall 2017 | Greenville & Hockessin Life

91

Harvest Market

The store recently created a pollinator garden.

Continued from Page 90

The store’s interactive website has become a great resource for nutritional news, recipes and suggestions, and it also collaborated with Charles and Kathy Shattuck of Wild Birds Unlimited and Peg Castorani of Gateway Garden Center on the Hockessin Pollinator Garden, which grows just outisde the store’s front doors.

“That’s what is so great about being involved in the community, because it was done at the same time Bob was asking about how we can educate our customers about pollinator health, to inform them that one of every third bite is because of pollinators,” Tyson said.

While Harvest Market continues to be an incubator of ideas, the original mission of the store is seen and felt well beyond its front door. Two years ago, it participated in the Hockessin Fourth of July Parade and handed out over 1,000 organic apples. At last year’s parade, staff handed out 3,000 organic apples.

This year, in celebration of its anniversary, Harvest Market will host a Customer Appreciation Day on July 7, which will feature free samples across the store, giveaways and raffles for Harvest Market gift cards, and a ten percent discount all day.

It’s just another way of saying ‘Thank You’ to the community it has served since 1995.

Harvest Market is located at 7417 Lancaster Pike, Hockessin, De. 19707. 302-234-6779.

Store hours are Monday - Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information about Harvest Market, visit www.HarvestMarketNaturalFoods.com.

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.

FRIDAY

+

Exclusive new video content every week at

chestercounty.com

92

Greenville & Hockessin Life | Summer/Fall 2017 | www.ghlifemagazine.com

All Wood Made in America • One Week Turnaround

CABINET FACTORY HOME OF ALL WOOD CABINETRY

2 LOCATIONS IN TAX FREE DELAWARE

$500 OFF $7,500 CABINET PURCHASE

OR

Mad

e

in U Don’ S t Chin be fooled A ese im b itatio y ns

$1,000 OFF $10,000 CABINET PURCHASE

*Not to be combined with any other offers. Restrictions apply. Visit store for details.

SHOWROOM 302-543-5550

OUTLET 302-792-5070

3460 Naamans Rd, Wilmington, DE 19810 Rt. 202 and Rt. 92 Naamans Rd

100 Naamans Rd, Unit 3A, Claymont, DE 19703 1st Exit off I-95

HOURS: Mon - Thurs 10-6, Fri 10-5, Sat 10-2

HOURS: Mon - Thurs 9:30-5:30, Fri 9:30-5, Sat 9:30-12

www.cabinetfactorydelaware.com

www.cabinetfactorydelaware.com

Family Owned and Operated Since 1980 • Free Computer Design • In-House Installers, No Subcontractors

FURNITURE & CABINETRY We build everything from Kitchens, Bars, Free-standing or Built-in Entertainment Centers, Bookcases, Tables and Furniture

SHOWROOM MONDAY-SATURDAY 10AM-4PM

ALL OUR WOODWORKING IS MADE HERE BY OUR CRAFTSMEN 610-869-0700 | 420 West Baltimore Pike, West Grove, PA | londongrove.com

Greenville & Hockessin Life Magazine Summer/Fall 2017 www.ghlifemagazine.com A Chester County Press Publication P.O. Box 150, Kelton, PA 19346

Enjoy the Outdoors

WHY SIT INSIDE ON A BEAUTIFUL DAY just because the big game

is on or you and friends want to binge watch your favorite TV show.

Now you can transform your outdoor space into an extraordinary entertainment area where you can listen to your favorite music or watch your favorite TV shows. Let Overture provide a weatherproof TV and an outdoor high performance sound system so you can better enjoy the outdoor areas of your home. CONTACT US TODAY

FOR A FREE IN HOME CONSULTATION!

w w w. o v e r t u r e a v. n e t Wilmington Store • 302.478.6050 2423 Concord Pike (Rt 202), Wilmington, DE Rehoboth Beach Store • 302.226.1940 Seacoast Ctr, Ste 1, 20660 Coastal Hwy, Rehoboth Beach, DE

No Sales Tax in Delaware

Home Theater | Flat Screen Indoor & Outdoor TVs | High-End Audio | Lutron Lighting Control Systems Home Automation | Multi-Room & Outdoor Music Systems | Home Networks Motorized & Automated Window Treatments | Security Cameras