Yours to Celebrate
November 19 - December 29
Celebrate the holidays with Noël at Nemours Estate! Tour the festive displays in the 77-room Mansion, Chauffeur’s Garage and gardens. Enjoy live music in the Mansion throughout the season.
Greenville & Hockessin Life
Greenville & Hockessin Life Winter 2024
Letter from the Editor:
From the time she first opened Bath House//Holistic Healing Studio in Greenville in October 2023, Alexandra Pettinaro has been on a journey of selflessness – one that helps facilitate the journeys of those who arrive at her studio seeking peace, serenity and inner growth. Greenville & Hockessin Life recently met with Alexandra to talk about sound healing and the place where mindfulness meets magic.
In his story “May the best plants win,” writer Ken Mammarella gives readers “the dirt” on Mt. Cuba’s trial garden. The story explores how the trial garden at the Mt. Cuba Center in Hockessin is an unheralded example of how the Delaware Valley is a national leader in horticulture and gardening.
In her story “The optics of EPIC: Inspiring health through fitness,” writer Gabbie Burton informs readers about how EPIC Delaware is opening up the doors of fitness to valuable members of our communities, one workout at a time. These programs are available throughout Delaware, including at the Hockessin Athletic Center.
In this issue, we also introduce readers to John Danzeisen, the “soft-spoken” voice of Centreville. When Danzeisen commits to improving the world at large and neighborhoods nearby, he does it for the long term. He has been an ordained elder with Lower Brandywine Presbyterian Church since 2004, volunteered with the Kennett Pike Association from 2009 to 2023, including 13 years as president, served on the American Red Cross of the Delmarva Peninsula board from 1997 to 2007, and served on the Governor’s Commission on Community and Volunteer Service from 2005 to 2012. He brings a global perspective to his volunteering, built on 32 years with ICI Americas, ending as chairman from 1993 until his 2002 retirement.
We also shine a spotlight on the Hockessin BookShelf, which has been calling readers of all ages since 2002.
For more than 50 years, the Delaware Museum of Nature & Science has fed the curiosity and imagination of those who walk through its doors and embark on a journey of the natural world that surrounds all of us. This community treasure is the feature of the photo essay in this issue of Greenville & Hockessin Life. We also take a look at some upcoming events in the area, including popular favorites like Yuletide at Winterthur, Holidays at Hagley, and Brandywine Holiday Festival of the Arts.
We are already planning the next issue of Greenville & Hockessin Life, which will be published in July of 2025. Until then, we hope you enjoy the holidays and we wish you a happy new year!
Sincerely,
Avery Lieberman Eaton averyl@chestercounty.com
Stone Lieberman stone@chestercounty.com
Steve Hoffman, Editor editor@chestercounty.com
Cover design: Tricia Hoadley
Cover photo: Jim Coarse
|Greenville & Hockessin
May the best The dirt on Mt. Cu May the best The dirt on Mt. Cuba’s
By Ken Mammarella Contributing Writer
The trial garden at the Mt. Cuba Center in Hockessin is an unheralded example of how the Delaware Valley is a national leader in horticulture and gardening.
“If you’re interested in visiting terrific in-ground trials, check out the Chicago Botanic Garden in Illinois and the Mt. Cuba Center in Delaware,” Fine Gardening magazine wrote in 2022.
Mt. Cuba devotes several years to plan for each trial, cares for trial participants the first year so they can become established, lets them survive on their own thereafter, monitors them weekly for the best in flowers, foliage, form and other factors, and finally issues a report on the results.
“Our research team evaluates native plants and related cultivars for horticultural and ecological value, highlighting the ecosystem services native plants provide,” Mt. Cuba explains on the landing page for the program, mtcubacenter.org/research/trial-garden.
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Photo courtesy of Mt. Cuba Center Mt. Cuba Center started its trial garden in 2003. Varieties of the same plant are grown together for several years in sunny or shady spots.
Mt. Cuba’s trial garden
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Mt. Cuba was first gardened by Lammot and Pamela du Pont Copeland in 1935 and became a nonprofit center after her death in 2001. In 2003, it began its first trials, and their design is modeled after the Chicago Botanic Garden. Most trials are for herbaceous perennial flowers and run for three years, but in 2015, it began a rhematically related 100-year test of trees and shrubs, aimed on recommending the best way to bring back the region’s forests.
It focuses on two types of plants for trials, said Sam Hoadley, Mt. Cuba’s manager of horticultural research.
One is plants that can easily be purchased but lack solid, comparative information, such as the 70 varieties of coneflowers Mt. Cuba could buy. Or “there is a great deal of confusion among gardeners because some perennial cultivars do not perform as well as advertised,” the trial about coreopsis noted.
The other is plants “that we feel have great ecological value,” Hoadley said, but are not as well known, such as a goldenrod or an ironweed or, as the report on baptisia concluded: It “is a fantastic group of plants that deserves greater garden use. Not only does the floral display rival the beauty of any other spring bloom, but the plants are deer-resistant and require almost no maintenance.”
“Many readers of our reports are increasingly interested in supporting pollinators,” said Laura Reilly, the trial garden’s assistant. That includes hummingbirds, bees, wasps, butterflies and other bugs.
“Anything that feeds on the flower,” she said.
A tough-love approach
The trial garden is located a short walk away from Mt. Cuba’s main house. The 15,000-square-foot plot features clay-loam soil with an average pH of 6.5. It is surrounded by a 4-foot fence to reduce damage by rabbits and groundhogs, and taller fences far in the distance keep out deer. The shade panels covering the shade garden are adjusted seasonally to imitate the local tree canopy.
During a midsummer visit, Hoadley showed off dozens of plants being trialed, including 62 ferns, 26 oakleaf hydrangeas (in the sun and shade), 25 milkweeds (ascelpias), 18 foamflowers (tiarella) and 14 obedient-plants (physotegia).
Signs also highlight an upcoming trial on pycnanthemum (mountain-mint), and more signs point out plants that did the best in earlier trials. One last sign marks Mt. Cuba introductions, referring to “underappreciated or underused
Photo by Ken Mammarella
Sometimes the difference between two plants in a trial is dramatic, as is the case for these two adjacent varieties of oakleaf hydrangea.
native plants” that it’s evaluating.
In the first year of a trial, the “plants get in their groove,” Hoadley said, and aren’t rated. After that, “we’re the worst gardeners at Mt. Cuba,” he said. “We’re so hands off.” No fertilizing, no watering, no herbicides, no fungicides, no insecticides, with only two exceptions – mulch and pesticides if there is a serious threat to the trial’s ability to survive.
That tough-love approach is intended to see which varieties do best on their own and hence would be likely to repeat that success for homeowners who might not have much time or training.
Hoadley and Reilly devote three to five minutes to each plant for weekly ratings, May to September. They grade on a 1-to-5 scale, with most plants, predictably, in the middle. In addition, “dedicated citizen scientists … observe and tally insect visitation to help determine ecological value of plants in our trials.” “We hope that they show up,” Hoadley added.
Some plants don’t survive and are marked NR (for not rated) or “dead” in the final reports.
A few stars among hundreds of subjects
In 2025, Mt. Cuba expects to publish a report on veronia (ironweed), followed by solidago (goldenrod) in 2026.
This fall, Mt. Cuba is planting big and little bluestems, the first of two trials on grasses.
The landing page for the trial garden lists multiple completed trials. Many plants, sometimes confused for gardening newbies, have multiple names, including one or more common names, plus botanical names. Trial subjects have included amsonia (aka bluestar), aster, baptisia (wild or false indigo), carex, coreopsis (tickseed), echinacea (coneflower), helenium (sneezeweed), heuchera (coral bells or alumroot) hydrangea, monarda (bee balm) and phlox.
All of Mt. Cuba’s latest completed trials are labeled “for the mid-Atlantic region,” a logical distinction for a garden that emphasizes local plants.
Of the 600 plants listed in the published reports, only two scored a perfect 5.0.
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Photo courtesy of Mt. Cuba Center
Of the 600 plants listed in Mt. Cuba’s published reports, only two scored a perfect 5.0. One is Baptisia sphaerocarpa ‘Screamin’ Yellow,’ one of 46 selections in a trial of wild and false indigo.
Mt. Cuba’s trial garden
One was Baptisia sphaerocarpa, or “Screamin’ Yellow,” one of 46 selections in that trial of wild and false indigo. It scored so well for producing a lot of flowers – as many as 350 inflorescences on a single plant – amid “beautiful, bluish foliage that creates a rounded, medium-sized habit and remains dense and sturdy all season long.”
The other was Echinacea purpurea, or “Pica Bella,” “a compact and floriferous form” of coneflower that fits into a broad range of garden designs. Plus it “was also a favorite among pollinators that flocked to its prominent orange cones.”
“A great plant,” Reilly said.
Two phloxes scored just 1.1 and 1.0. Phlox × arendsii “Susanne” “was plagued by powdery mildew, and four out of five plants completely failed to bloom.” Only one of the Phlox stolonifera “Variegata” plants survived the first winter, and “it barely grew during the rest of the trial. Variegated plants are typically less vigorous than their fully green-leaved counterparts, but this cultivar is significantly worse than normal.”
“There are always surprises,” Hoadley said of the trials. “Carex was thought to be a shade-loving plant, and they did well in the sun. There are always plants that break the rules.”
Photo courtesy of Mt. Cuba Center Echinacea purpurea, or “Pica Bella” is “a great plant,” according to Laura Reilly, the trial garden assistant. It scored a perfect 5.0 in Mt. Cuba’s trial.
Photo courtesy of Mt. Cuba Center
Groups of dedicated volunteer scientists observe the garden in order to help determine the ecological value of the plants during their trial periods.
Mt. Cuba’s trial garden
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Mt. Cuba: A century-long trial of reforestation
In 2015, Mt. Cuba Center began a test on reforestation that is planned to continue for the next 100 years.
Four times – in 2015, 2018, 2021 and 2024 – the center planted 2,700 trees and shrubs on 3½-acre plots that had been previously farmed. The first goal was to return them to forest, and the second was to study the best way to do so, said Nate Shampine, Mt. Cuba’s natural lands manager.
The plantings, all natives and all sourced locally, includes big trees for the canopy (like oak and hickory), midstory trees (like ironwood and witch hazel) and shrubs (like sumac and viburnum).
The study began in an era when “the accepted practice for reforestation was a simplistic one, low in diversity, mainly canopy trees, planted 10 to 12 feet apart like an orchard,” he said. “We were questioning if there was a better way.”
Mt. Cuba, working with West Chester University and University of Delaware, is testing six ways:
1. Sparsely planted trees, at 10-foot intervals.
2. Sparsely planted trees and shrubs, at 10-foot intervals.
3. Densely planted trees, at 5-foot intervals.
4. Densely planted trees and shrubs, at 5-foot intervals
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Mt. Cuba’s trial garden
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5. Natural succession, with Mother Nature allowed to run its course.
6. Control, with sparsely planted trees and a different maintenance schedule.
To keep meadow voles out, plots 1-4 are being mowed for three to five years after planting, while the control plot will be mowed for 10 to 15 years. To keep out deer, all plots have 10-foot fences. All the plots are in areas of Mt. Cuba far from the main house.
Mt. Cuba Center is located at 3120 Barley Mill Road, Hockessin, Del. 19707. To learn more, visit www.mtcubacenter.org.
In 2015, Mt. Cuba started testing six ways to return farmland to forest. The project has involved planting more than 10,000 trees and shrubs.
Photo courtesy of Mt. Cuba Center
Through its many programs –including the Hockessin Athletic Center –of fitness to valuable members of our
THE OPTICS INSPIRING HEALTH
THE OPTIC INSPIRING HEALTH
By Gabbie Burton Contributing Writer
Spending a few hours at the Hockessin Athletic Club (HAC) highlights the full extent to how fun an ordinary workout can be, and EPIC Delaware -- which stands for Endless Possibilities in the Community -- is providing just that for many friends, family and neighbors in the Greenville and Hockessin communities and beyond.
Through its commitment to provide access to physical fitness to citizens with disabilities, EPIC provides access to programs that offer a friendly and enabling environment to exercise, learn about healthy living options and build social skills. Held at several facilities throughout Delaware including the HAC, classes include strength, Yoga and lessons on education, nutrition, and social skills, all aimed at enhancing the overall health of each member.
Just as physical health can easily be looked over in any individual’s life, the same is true for adults with disabilities.
“Adults can be very sedentary,” said EPIC Delaware Executive Director Kat Luebke. “We can all go home and
just want to sit on the couch at the end of the day and not incorporate enough physical activity into our day on average. It is no different for somebody who has a disability.
“Reducing the risk of chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease -- which this population is more likely to get – is something that we’re trying to address.”
According to Luebke, the four main barriers for physical activity in individuals with disabilities are cost, feeling welcome, having a knowledgeable staff and transportation. EPIC aims to address those barriers.
EPIC is free to all members in order remove cost barriers and give everyone an opportunity to participate. The programs mainly rely on grants for funding. Luebke also said that EPIC staff go through state required training to “build their skill set as a direct support professional” and fitness staff either have certification or degrees in their fields. EPIC is active at five locations throughout Delaware including the HAC, and four YMCA locations including Bear Glasgow, Western, Brandywine and Dover, and is continuing to expand their reach to more individuals across the northern Delaware region.
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Photos courtesy of EPIC Delaware unless noted EPIC Delaware provides an experienced team to assist adults with disabilities develop a self-driven program of physical fitness and health education.
offered throughout Delaware, – EPIC Delaware is opening up the doors r communities, one workout at a time
S OF EPIC: THROUGH FITNESS CS OF EPIC: THROUGH FITNESS
EPIC Delaware
Each of the locations has embraced the EPIC members, its instructors and the agency’s mission.
“It’s great because you get to see them in that community,” Luebke said. “They’re going into Zumba classes, they’re getting high fives, the members know them by name and they’re learning other members by name.”
Two programs, many options
EPIC currently offers two programs -- the EPIC abilities program for individuals with physical disabilities, and the traditional EPIC program, which is targeted toward those with intellectual or development disabilities (IDD). The tra-
ditional program, which is offered at the HAC, aims to go beyond just physical activity in order to give the participants skills that translate from the athletic world to the real world.
EPIC offers two three-hour sessions Monday-Friday at the HAC with the goal of keeping members active for at least 90 minutes of the session. Though the sessions are in groups, each participant has a say in their choice of activities for the day. Luebke said that a typical session at EPIC starts with catching up with their fellow members, planning their own workout for the day, and engaging in physical activities that can range from open gym time, group basketball, aquatic exercise or taking classes offered by the participating facility.
With its mission being one of inclusiveness, EPIC Delaware allows its members to fully integrate their fitness regimen with those of other members of the clubs they are a part of.
Whether it’s a group activity or an individual workout, EPIC team members accompany the member and assist them in meeting their set goals.
“Each of our programs is very person centered and driven by that individual and what they want to do,” Luebke said. “They might have individual goals that they’re specifically working on, like weight loss. We help gear their workout in order to help them meet those goals without saying, ‘No, you have to do this,’ because, again, it’s all about what they want to do.”
Additionally, the activities will also include group meetings, where members will discuss a social topic such as holiday plans or nutrition. The ultimate goal of the program
is for members to “graduate” by showing they are able to begin working out independently.
“They have a set of goals that they choose to work on and then as far as our program, we have certain goals to get them to basically graduate and we have a very big checklist,” Luebke said. “They can either stop the program and join the gym, or they can still stay with us, and we just serve them in a different capacity.”
Luebke shared individual success stories of EPIC students, including one young woman who began her program having no desire to work out, but is now committed to a full exercise regimen that includes working out at the squat rack.
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EPIC members can either engage in individual or group activity.
EPIC Delaware
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“We had a member graduate from the program in Dover, because he was basically able to show all the skills that he needed to come in and workout independently,” Luebke said. “He knew how to navigate the building. He knew how to clean off the fitness machines and he displayed the social etiquette that comes with being a member of a community fitness center. It was great to see his progression – from somebody who needed
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EPIC is active at five locations throughout Delaware including the Hockessin Athletic Center and four YMCA locations including Bear Glasgow, Western, Brandywine and Dover.
“We
become recognized members of the community.”
~
Delaware Executive Director Kat Luebke
that support to someone who is now fully independent in the fitness center.”
Whether members ultimately graduate or not is not the main focus of the EPIC program, but rather, that they enjoy their physical activities and make consistent improvements wherever they can.
Overall, the most rewarding part of the job for Luebke and the EPIC team, she said, is seeing the growth in each of the members and their eventual integration into the physical fitness community.
“We watch people come out of their shells when they are here and become recognized members of the community,” Luebke said. “Fitness is for everyone, and we want to be able to support individuals in order to give them that choice to fulfill their needs, do the things that they want to do, and do so not only with peers in their disability community, but with the entire fitness community.”
To learn more about EPIC Delaware, visit www.epicdelaware.org.
Photo by Sasha Reddy
An EPIC Delaware member works out on the treadmill station at the Hockessin Athletic Center.
|Greenville & Hockessin Life Q & A|
Alexandra Pettinaro Alexandra Pettinaro
Owner and Lead Intuitive Healer
Bath House // Holistic Healing Studio
From the time she first opened Bath House//Holistic Healing Studio in Greenville in October 2023, Alexandra Pettinaro has been on a journey of selflessness – one that helps facilitate the journeys of those who arrive at her studio seeking peace, serenity and inner growth. Recently, Alexandra met with Greenville & Hockessin Life to talk about sound healing and the place where mindfulness meets magick.
Greenville & Hockessin Life: Let’s begin by talking about your private pathway to embrace holistic healing. Was there an inspiring moment that led you to this destination, or was your interest developed slowly, over time?
Alexandra: My interest developed over time, and it was a series of events that led me to holistic healing. After graduating from the University of Delaware, I went to Jean Madeline Aveda Institute in Pennsylvania for Cosmetology, where I received my license as a cosmetologist and esthetician. I quickly learned, however, that I enjoyed esthetics much more than cosmetology, but soon after, COVID-19 hit. During lockdown, I found a facial educator on Instagram and I took her Comprehensive Holistic Healing course online. Once restrictions loosened, she held a holistic esthetics retreat
in Texas, and it was there where I furthered my knowledge and honed my craft. Her sister, a sound healer, ended up joining the retreat and it was there when I experienced my first sound bath.
There were gongs, tuning forks, chimes, singing bowls -- so many instruments in the room. I gravitated towards the singing bowls and picked it up relatively quickly, so quickly in fact that the sound healer thought I already knew how to play, but I didn’t take it to heart until I got home.
How did those experiences lead you to start Bath House//Holistic Healing Studio?
Once I left the retreat, I found that where I was working was in the process of closing, so I saw an opportunity. I invested in a set of singing bowls and started a pop-up studio in Powder Mill Square. Little by little, classes took off. At first, three people came to my classes, then eight, then twelve and then twenty. It gained momentum and soon enough it led to a bigger opportunity to find a more permanent fixture for Bath House. I chose this space in particular because of its outdoor courtyard, which is where we hold some of our classes.
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Photos by Jie Deng Alexandra Pettinaro in her Greenville studio.
Alexandra Pettinaro
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Of the many classes and workshops Bath House//Holistic Healing Studio offers, a specialty is sound healing. For those not familiar with the healing nature of this technique, introduce them to what they can expect to feel and experience.
When you arrive, you can expect to remove your shoes and turn off your cell phone. You’ll find a mat space that feels right and help yourself to tea and tarot cards as you get settled. From there, you will lay down and let me guide you. All we’re trying to do in a sound bath meditation is slow our brainwaves down. We go through five brainwave cycles in a day: gamma, beta, alpha, theta and delta, all of which are linked to creating a relaxed and calm state of mind, in a setting that allows you to close your eyes, meditate, or take a break from active thinking.
During a sound bath, the singing bowls emit frequencies that help to lull your brain waves to a slower state. We try to get down to theta waves during a sound bath to a point where we’re still awake and aware, but in that ultra relaxed sweet spot. Each person experiences a sound bath differently; during my first sound bath, I felt overjoyed, giggly and very relaxed, but others may feel overwhelmed and intense. It’s all about intention and going into it with an open mind and open heart.
Let’s talk about some additional classes being taught by your instructors. Megan Carpenter teaches Yin Essence – Yin Yoga with Reiki. By its title, I am suspecting that many aspects of healing are addressed in these classes, yes?
Megan is a great reiki practitioner and her touch is magic!
Yin is a slower, more meditative style of yoga that focuses on holding passive poses for extended periods—typically three to five minutes or longer. This practice targets deep connective tissues like fascia, ligaments, and joints, rather than just muscles. By allowing these tissues to gently stretch and release, Yin Yoga helps to increase flexibility and promote the flow of energy through the body. It’s a deeply grounding practice that allows practitioners to turn inward and tap into their subtle body, where emotions,
tension, and energy are stored.
Reiki is an energy healing practice that works with the body’s natural energy field. Reiki can help clear blockages, restore energetic balance, and promote deep relaxation. This is especially powerful when combined with Yin Yoga, as the longheld poses and deep stretches allow for the energy to move more freely, releasing emotional and physical blockages from the body and mind.
Both Yin Yoga and Reiki are deeply relaxing, allowing the nervous system to enter a state of calm and healing. This can be incredibly helpful for people who are experiencing stress, anxiety, or mental fatigue. By combining these practices, Megan creates a space where the mind and body can deeply unwind, reset and rejuvenate.
Then there is Yogalates with Stacey White. Everyone is at least somewhat familiar with the basics of Yoga, but how does Yogalates differ from it?
Yogalates with Stacey offers a balanced, well-rounded practice that blends the best of both worlds. It brings together the strength-building, core-focus of Pilates and the flexibility, fluidity, and mindful movement of Yoga, providing a unique way to enhance overall physical fitness. Whether you’re looking to deepen your flexibility, build core strength, or create a more balanced body, Yogalates offers a holistic approach to all those goals. It’s an excellent option for anyone looking to bring more strength and stability to their Yoga practice, or to add a flow-based component to their Pilates routine.
The beginning of class starts with somatic movements, and we finish with an extended savasana (laying down position) where Stacey offers pressure point activation and tuning forks.
On your website, you refer to your studio as a place “where mindfulness meets
magick.” Describe the connection.
At its core, mindfulness is about being fully present in the moment, with awareness and without judgment. It’s a practice of tuning into the body, breath, emotions, and mind, and observing them with clarity and compassion. When we bring mindfulness into our practices—whether it’s Yoga,
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Alexandra Pettinaro
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meditation, energy work, or any of our other classes—we encourage participants to connect deeply with themselves, to become more aware of their internal states, and to cultivate a sense of calm amidst the chaos of daily life.
In our studio, mindfulness is woven into every class, interaction, and healing experience. Whether you’re practicing Yin Yoga, doing a Pilates flow, or receiving Reiki, the goal is to bring you into the present moment, to allow you to let go of distractions and tap into your body’s wisdom. This mindful presence creates a foundation for healing, growth, and personal transformation.
Magick, in this sense, isn’t about the supernatural or the mystical in a traditional sense. It’s about the transformative power of intentional practice, energy, and connection. It’s about the “shift” that happens when you align with your true self, when you break through old patterns, or when you experience profound moments of clarity, healing, or inspiration.
“Where mindfulness meets magick” isn’t just a tagline—it’s the experience we aim to cultivate. It’s about the profound transformation that happens when we are fully
present with ourselves and our practice, when we allow space for growth, healing, and connection. The magick of that process is something both tangible and intangible, something you can feel deeply within, and that radiates out into your life.
It’s the quiet power of mindfulness meeting the expansive potential of transformation—the magic that happens when we show up fully and allow ourselves to be open to what is possible.
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Alexandra Pettinaro
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Whether it is through massage techniques, energy work, aromatherapy or sound healing, what are the inner signals a person should look for that tell them it is time to seek the healing arts?
The body often sends subtle but clear signals that it is time to seek support. These signals can manifest physically, mentally, and emotionally. Here are some key inner signals to be mindful of: chronic tension or pain; feeling overwhelmed or burned out; difficulty sleeping or restlessness; mood fluctuations; physical symptoms of stress; a desire for personal growth or healing; and sensory sensitivity.
In general, when we are too busy or distracted by day-to-day life, we can lose touch with our own inner rhythms. The act of seeking healing can be a gentle way to reconnect with your body and your needs in order to allow you to come back into balance. If you feel called to try one of these services, it’s likely a sign that your body and mind are ready for the healing that they offer.
For a person reading this article who has never done any classes in the healing arts but is interested in dipping their toes into those waters, how would you suggest they begin that journey?
None of our classes require any experience or knowledge, and we are open to everyone – all bodies and all levels of experience, and our healers will guide them from start to finish. All of our classes and services are centered around nervous system regulation so each time you leave our studio feeling renewed and more connected to oneself.
Some of the most enriching moments of classes in the healing arts are the conversations between teacher and student that occur after a class or a workshop, when the student begins to feel the work of connection beginning to start.
What are your best moments as a teacher and healer?
One of the most powerful moments for me is when a
student has a moment of deep realization or awareness – moments when they connect the dots, when they begin to understand how a specific emotion or past experience is affecting their physical body or energy. It’s a kind of magic, an “Aha!” moment when they realize that healing is not just about the body, but about the mind, emotions, and energy, too.
It’s not about the teacher imparting knowledge, but about the student realizing their own innate wisdom, strength and healing capacity. When they tell you they feel stronger, more aligned, or more in touch with their true selves, that’s when you know that the work has shifted from external guidance to internal transformation. As a teacher, it’s incredibly rewarding to see someone begin to trust their own intuition, and to feel their sense of self-worth and inner peace blossom.
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Alexandra Pettinaro
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In the end, the best moments for me as a teacher and healer are the ones where I see students begin to take ownership of their healing journey. It’s when they start to trust themselves more, to feel empowered and recognize the incredible potential they hold within. That’s the magic of this work—creating the space for self-discovery and transformation and watching each person bloom in their own unique way.
What is your favorite spot in Greenville or Hockessin?
I have two: Indulgence Jewelers in Greenville and the Floorplay Studio in Hockessin.
You host a dinner party and can invite anyone – living or not, famous or not. Who would you like to see sitting at that dinner table?
From a fictional standpoint, I would like to invite Rick Sanchez, Mr. Fox, Rocket from Guardians of the Galaxy, Aang the Last Airbender and Monkey D. Luffy. From real
life, I would invite Steve Irwin, whom I admired for his commitment to wildlife and his family. I would also invite Morgan le Fay -- also known as Morgana – who was more than just King Arthur’s half-sister, but a force of nature and her legendary spells and shape-shifting abilities are the stuff of folklore. Finally, I would invite Lady Gaga, the filmmaker Wes Anderson and Cleopatra.
What food or beverage can always be found in your refrigerator?
Coconut water. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, so you’ll always find eggs!
Bath House//Holistic Healing Studio is located at 3801 Kennett Pike Building C Unit 109, Greenville, Del. 19807. To learn more about Bath House, visit www.thebathhousegreenville.com or text or call (302) 319-5112.
~ Richard L. Gaw
|Greenville & Hockessin Life Photo Essay|
For more than 50 years, the Delaware Museum of Nature & Science has fed the curiosity and imagination of those who walk through its doors and embark on a journey of the natural world that surrounds all of us
DISCOVERING THE BLUE
BIG MARBLE
Photos by Jim Coarse Text by Richard L. Gaw
|Greenville & Hockessin Life Photo Essay|
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On a recent weekday afternoon at the Delaware Museum of Nature & Science, a father held his young daughter by the hand and walked her through the Museum’s Paleozone exhibit, pointing out the Earth’s progression from the Pre-Cambrian Period to the time when Dinosaurs roamed to the world she lives in today – an incredible sweep of a story that described millions of years of evolution.
Within minutes, she was led to the African Savanna and the Artic Tundra and the Tropical Rainforest and was introduced to animatronic dinosaurs and interactive exhibits. By the time she and her father returned to the broad daylight outside, the young girl’s imagination and curiosity had taken a giant and permanent leap forward. The young girl is far, far from alone. Each public in 1972 -- annually hosts over 90,000 visitors – targeted to everyone from pre-K through gray – and has already conducted 406 Discovery Tours and mobile unit visits to schools this year, led by a team of educators who bring both experience and enthusiasm to each tour.
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|Greenville & Hockessin Life Photo Essay|
“Our mission is to ignite a lifelong passion for exploring, discovering and valuing nature and science,” said Christina Zampini, the Museum’s assistant director of programs and a former excited that they even walk through the doors. At their second step, we are excited when they pause for a second and take an exhibit in. Our come back but when we hear that they have connected this Museum to their lives, because the more connected they are to the content, the more likely they are to live that content.”
The Delaware Museum of Nature & Science is located at 4840 Kennett Pike, Wilmington, Del. 19807. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the Museum is closed on Wednesdays from Labor Day to Memorial Day. To learn more about upcoming exhibits and schedule a Discovery Tour for your class, school or youth group, visit www.delmns.org or call (302) 658-9111.
|Greenville & Hockessin People|
The ‘soft-spoken’ voice of Centreville
The ‘soft-spoken’ voice of Centreville
By Ken Mammarella Contributing Writer
When John Danzeisen commits to improving the world at large and neighborhoods nearby, he does it for the long term.
He has been an ordained elder with Lower Brandywine Presbyterian Church since 2004; volunteered with the Kennett Pike Association from 2009 to 2023, including 13 years as president; served on the American Red Cross of the Delmarva Peninsula board from 1997 to 2007; and served on the Governor’s Commission on Community and Volunteer Service from 2005 to 2012.
He brings a global perspective to his volunteering, built on 32 years with ICI Americas, ending as chairman from 1993 until his 2002 retirement. That perspective also includes almost five years living in England, traveling the world to sell products in dozens of countries and studying global leadership at the University of Michigan for eight weeks. He also earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Ursinus College, and an MBA from Widener University.
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Photos By Ken Mammarella Centreville resident John Danzeisen in his library, which includes many books, including one signed by the author Tom Clancy, whom he met just after Sept. 11, 2001 while they were both serving on the U.S. Department of Defense Task Force on U.S. Terrorism Vulnerabilities.
John Danzeisen
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“I appreciate and admire other cultures that I have been exposed to,” he said in an interview from his Centreville home. The University of Michigan program, developed for and by large companies, also exposed him to how executives who worked in other cultures thought differently.
“The Americans are known to be impatient,” he said. “The Asians, on the other hand, were much more deliberative. You must adapt to different cultures. You must begin to think like the people that are there and understand what motivates them.”
Although he’s been retired for two decades, those lessons about globalization still resonate.
“When it comes to talking with my friends about the U.S. economy and trade, I have a greater appreciation for the importance of global trade, the impact of globalization and how this country, I think, needs to embrace some of the principles more about globalization than we do now,” he said. “Isolationism scares me.”
Character and commitment
Separate interviews with three of Danzeisen’s friends echoed the same sentiment: that he is a man of character and commitment.
David Butler, a neighbor of Danzeisen and his wife, Diane, at the Jersey Shore, said they have spent a lot of time together at the dog park.
“He has a beautiful respect for one another as humans,” Butler said, noting that they disagree on a lot of political issues. “He fosters that by being open-minded and showing a lot of grace. We can debate, and still walk away as friends. He’s really smart, analytical and worldly. He sets a fine example for others.”
“John is tall and imposing, but that doesn’t begin to describe his most important qualities,” said Kent Riegel, who as general counsel worked with him at ICI. “He shines with intellect and decency, and he’s softspoken, thoughtful in delivery and confident in what he does.”
Edward Nass, a ruling elder at Lower Brandywine, raised Danzeisen’s stature this way: “He’s a commanding presence, literally and figuratively. He’s influential and commands a lot of respect.”
Nass praised Danzeisen for his dedication as church treasurer and for helping on three major fundraising efforts: a $1 million campaign two decades ago to expand the church, a $300,000 campaign inspired by the church’s 300th anniversary and a “faith legacy fund” to encourage remembering the church in wills and estates. Danzeisen is “very grounded in his faith and loves our history, and he and Diane have
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Danzeisen with Charlie Brown, a black Lab. He and his wife, Diane, also share their home with a yellow Lab named Sally Brown.
John Danzeisen
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done so much to keep it going,” Nass said.
“John has an exceptional sense of civic awareness without having any personal agenda,” said Richard Beck, a Kennett Pike Association board member. “He’s a good leader, with a wish to be useful. He’s straightforward, and that’s refreshing.”
A
brief backstory
Danzeisen and his family moved to Delaware in 1996, buying a Centreville house that they’re remodeling with Glidden paint, an ICI product that he knows well from six years as Glidden’s CEO. Danzeisen
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and his wife, Diane, collect boxes (mostly tea caddies) and antique furniture from the Georgian period and earlier, including this 16th century oak coffer.
John Danzeisen
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He and Diane have two children and three grandchildren, and they share their home with a black Lab named Charlie Brown and a yellow Lab named Sally Brown.
He was encouraged to volunteer with the Red Cross by Norman Barthelson, a former ICI colleague. He had often given blood but had
been banned for life because he’d been living in England in the time of mad cow disease. He leveraged expertise in finance and his many connections, near and far.
His interest in improving Centreville led to volunteering with the Kennett Pike Association.
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“We have a voice, and we know how to use it. The state knows that, and the county knows that. We’re responsible. When we ask for something, it’s in the best interest of the community.”
~ John Danzeisen on the Kennett Pike Association
John Danzeisen
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The association, which dates back to 1957, counts as members 300 families, 12 neighborhood associations that represent another 300 families and 36 businesses and institutions. It focuses on the preservation, beauty and responsible development of the road and points nearby.
The association has become a must-stop for developers’ proposals seeking approval for their plans.
“There is a severe housing shortage in the U.S., and elected officials are under a lot of pressure to build more affordable housing,” Danzeisen said.
“At first, the association welcomed a proposal to build ten ‘pocket houses’ on an acre-and-a-half in Centreville.
“We liked the idea because its adds diversity and lets people stay in town as their needs change, but it withdrew support once leaders found out the community had not been asked about it.”
Civic involvement
“We have a voice, and we know how to use it,” Danzeisen said. “The state knows that, and the county knows that. We’re responsible. When we ask for something, it’s in the best interest of the community.”
Aesthetic attention was added to the association’s charge in 1996, he said, and that includes caring for the median landscaping along routes 52, 100 and 141.
“John has a lot of common sense and a feel for what the community needs to be beautified,” Diane said. “He has a real feel from talking to so many people. He knows what people in this community want. Now, they’re not all on the same page, but he tries to reach a common ground with everybody.
“This is a very close and tight-knit community, and we all work together.”
The Danzeisens are also thinking about a new community. They’re on the top of the waiting list for Stonegates, the senior complex in Greenville, but they’re not ready to move in.
Danzeisen is also planning his tombstone for the family plot at Lower Brandywine.
“It’ll have a looped recording, so when you walk up, I’m going to greet you and say ‘Hi, thanks for coming,’” he said.
The Hockessin Bo calling readers of a
The Hockessin Bo calling readers of a
By Monica Fragale Contributing Writer
Bookstores call to the readers in all of us, inviting us in to peruse and maybe purchase different adventures and experiences on the pages of its books.
The Hockessin BookShelf has been calling readers of all ages since 2002. In November, the store celebrated three years under Kennett Square owner Jennifer Blab.
“I knew the previous owner, and she was moving and planning on closing her store,” Blab said. “I didn’t want it to close.”
The Hockessin BookShelf is one of more than 2,000 independent bookstores in the United States, according to the American Booksellers Association, a trade association for independent bookstores. In a time of Amazon selling millions of books each year and corporate bookstores like Barnes & Noble on the decline, independent bookstores are continuing to hold a special place in communities.
“Independent bookstores provide inclusive and affirming community spaces; support access to books; ally with librarians and teachers; ensure that people can see themselves reflected in books; champion the right to read and the First Amendment; promote long-form reading that fosters critical thinking; create opportunities for discourse; provide
alternatives to monopolies that limit consumer choice; and bring people together,” said Allison K. Hill, the American Booksellers Association’s CEO, in a letter posted on the ABA website (bookweb.org).
For Blab, the Hockessin BookShelf was a place she frequently brought her children when they were younger.
“We were regular customers there, and we would often visit to buy children’s books,” she said.
Over the years, the BookShelf has played host to countless author readings, book signings, book clubs, children’s events, and other happenings geared toward book lovers.
On Dec. 22, the bookstore will host a book signing by former Hockessin resident and author Caroline Woods beginning at 4:30 p.m. It is part of Woods’ book tour to promote The Mesmerist, a historical fiction thriller novel released by Doubleday this fall. The book is available for purchase at The Hockessin BookShelf.
The BookShelf also hosts the Mystery Book Lovers Club, which meets on the second Monday of each month and is led by the bookstore’s event coordinator, Lisa Driban. Mystery lovers can join the lunch group at 2 Fat Guys or the evening group at the bookstore.
Looking for a group that celebrates books and food? Try the Eat Drink Read book club, which is led by Blab and which, starting in January, will meet at Two Stones Pub for
The Hockessin BookShelf has been inspiring readers of all ages since 2002.
ookShelf has been all ages since 2002
ookShelf has been all ages since 2002
lunch or the Back Burner Restaurant for dinner. Both meetings in 2025 will be held on the fourth Thursdays.
Then, for those who prefer to read on their own in a bibliophile’s dream, there is the Silent Book Club, which is held on the first Tuesday of every month. It’s a local chapter of a national movement, according to Blab.
“It’s where people come and read their own books for 45 minutes and then spend the next 45 minutes talking about books and getting recommendations,” Blab said.
Peruse the shelves of the Hockessin BookShelf and you’ll find a mix of new and used publications. Local authors with new books can consign them with the store, according to Blab. For every book of theirs sold, the author and bookstore split the proceeds 70/30.
“We have our local author showcases every month where we bring in a couple of authors to sign books and greet the
customers,” she said.
The next local author showcase will be Saturday, Dec. 21, and features authors Dave Aupperle and Lola B.
Those bibliophiles looking for a new home for their used books can check with the Hockessin BookShelf to see if they can bring them in.
“People can bring in books and receive store credit,” Blab said. “They may use a portion of their credit toward purchasing other used books. Our used books are half the cover price, and another 25 percent off with credit.”
The bookstore also recognizes its customers’ birthdays, sending out postcards for a special gift.
“Customers with store accounts get a free, used book for their birthday,” Blab said, adding that it was already an established tradition when she took over the bookstore.
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Courtesy photos
Peruse the shelves of the Hockessin BookShelf and you’ll find a mix of new and used books.
The Hockessin BookShelf is one of more than 2,000 independent bookstores in the United States, according to the American Booksellers Association.
The bookstore has been host to countless author readings, book signings, book clubs, children’s events, and other happenings geared toward book lovers.
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For those who want to order new books, they can order them and pick them up in the store, or they can use an online store called Bookshop.org to order books that are then delivered to them.
For those who want to listen to audio books, they too can be ordered through an outside company that also benefits the Hockessin store. Libro.fm allows users to select Hockessin as their home store, and a portion of anything that is purchased goes there.
Lynn Ciarlo is the children’s coordinator and also the liaison with nearby schools. Among other things, she works with Blab to bring different children’s books into the store.
Part of the magic of any bookstore has much to do with the people who staff it. Driban has been with the Hockessin BookShelf for more than ten years.
“Lisa handles all of our events and creates our newsletter,” Blab said of Driban. “She definitely helped me learn the ropes of the store when I bought it because she has such knowledge of working there for so long.”
“She’s been with us over two years,” Blab said, describing the stuffed animal sleepover event that she does. “Children drop off their stuffed animals to spend the night, and the next morning they come and pick them up and have refreshments.”
There is also a morning story time once the children pick up their stuffies. Overnight, children receive pictures of their “stuffies” doing different things like playing UNO or hide-or-seek, she said.
Rounding out the staff is Audra Call, a teenager who works part-time, shelves books, and works on projects.
For those not yet familiar with the BookShelf, Blab urges them to stop by, check it out, and discover her favorite part
Courtesy photo
Hockessin BookShelf is
Lancaster Pike in Hockessin.
Enjoy Yuletide at Brandywine Holiday among other
Yuletide at Winterthur and the Brandywine Holi
Get in the holiday spirit with Yuletide at Winterthur
Yuletide at Winterthur is on view through January 5, 2025. Seven contemporary artists whose works are inspired by the collections in the museum, garden, and library are featured amid the traditional festive splendor seen on tours of the historic mansion. Yuletide at Winterthur also includes a large-scale gingerbread house, a magical 18-room doll house, jazz and cocktails on Wednesday evenings, and enchanting decorations and outdoor lighting inspired by the woodlands on the estate.
Contemporary artists
the Arts return this holiday season, leading a w events, activities, and attractions to enjoy throu
nections across communities, transforming our perspectives about history, and commenting on our lives today. Most of the artists in Transformations took part in the Maker–Creator Research Fellowship program, which invites artists, writers, filmmakers, horticulturists, craftspeople, and other creative professionals to immerse themselves in Winterthur’s collections.
Decorated trees and outdoor whimsy
The Yuletide tour includes several lavishly decorated trees, including the traditional Dried-Flower Tree as well as trees inspired by pop art of the 1960s, a Japanese maple in the garden, and the 48 shades of green paint in the historic mansion. Outside, enjoy a twinkling holiday light display inspired by the woodlands at Winterthur.
The featured artists on the Yuletide tour are part of Transformations: Contemporary Artists at Winterthur.The exhibition, on view through January 5, welcomes visitors to discover how the old influences the new—forging con-
Yuletide events include Wonderful Wednesdays on December 4, 11, and 18, featuring some of the area’s best jazz, seasonal cocktails, and special workshops, one-man performances of A Christmas Carol by the
oliday Festival of wide variety of oughout the area
great-great-grandson of literary master Charles Dickens, a candlelight concert by OperaDelaware, Brunch with Santa, and more.
Gingerbread House and Doll House
A large-scale gingerbread recreation of the enormous dairy barn on the estate will be on display, created by Bredenbeck’s Bakery of Germantown. An 18-room dollhouse, exquisitely furnished with more than 1,000 miniatures, will also be on view.
During Yuletide, Winterthur is open seven days a week with extended hours on select Wednesday evenings. Tickets can be purchased on-site or online at Winterthur.org.
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t Winterthur and Festival of the Arts, r local events
Photo Courtesy Yuletide at Winterthur Yuletide at Winterthur includes the work of contemporary artists, a large-scale gingerbread house, a magical 18-room doll house, jazz and cocktails on Wednesday evenings, and enchanting decorations and outdoor lighting inspired by the woodlands on the estate.
Holiday Events
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Brandywine Festival of the Arts
About 150 of the region’s finest artists and artisans will return to the Wilmington Riverfront on Dec. 21 and 22 to ring in the season at the Brandywine Holiday Festival of the Arts.
The event at the Chase Center will bring indoors many of the painters, jewelry makers, potters, photographers and fabric artists who have made the Brandywine Festival of the Arts the must-go September show for the area’s art lovers for more than 60 years.
The festival is an opportunity to complete holiday gift shopping while interacting with popular artists and fellow art lovers. Featured at this year’s holiday fest will be artist and designer Rick Hidalgo, an A.I. du Pont High School graduate whose works include paintings, sculpture and woodcraft.
Hidalgo, whose work has been displayed at museums and galleries in Delaware, Philadelphia and in the 2023 Famous International Artist Invitational Exhibition at the Sunshine Contemporary Art Museum in Beijing, China, says he “strives to elevate everyday objects into compelling works of art, inviting viewers to experience the sensory qualities of each creation.”
Hidalgo has had no formal art training after high school, but worked for five years as a hair stylist, which, he said, “is in some respects the same as painting and sculpting.”
He later took education classes and became an art teacher at Nativity Prep in Wilmington while developing his artistic style in his spare time. He enjoys exploring what he can create with the materials available to him, which includes making his own oil-based paints and exploring encaustic painting, adding colored pigments to a hot wax medium and applying them to a wood surface. He now does most of his work at a warehouse studio in Newport, next to the studio of painter/ sculptor Dennis Beach, one of his mentors.
Barry Schlecker of Barry’s Events, the event’s producer, launched the festival last year at the suggestion of artists who wanted the opportunity to showcase their work ahead of the holiday season. Many of the artists who participated last year will return.
The roster of exhibitors includes Wilmington painter and folk artist Eunice LaFate, jewelry maker Olga Ganoudis, well-known for her licensed works for the “Game of Thrones” television series; painter Rick Phillips; photographer and visual artist Eric Zippe; Jimmy Thompson of the City Painting Group, known for paintings of Wilmington buildings; Sue Ann Cox, “The Fairy Potter;” Sandy AskeyAdams, who focuses on inspirational paintings of natural scenes; and jewelry maker Cheryl Titcher, who specializes in animal themes.
Also exhibiting will be glassmaker Gregory Losco, potter Lindsey Ostafy, jeweler Oksana Pivush, Smashed Label painter/designer/muralist Crae Washington, and sculptor Brian Marshall, who creates whimsical robots and fish from recycled materials.
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Photo courtesy the Brandywine Holiday Festival of the Arts
Featured at this year’s Brandywine Holiday Festival of the Arts will be artist and designer Rick Hidalgo, an A.I. du Pont High School graduate whose works include paintings, sculpture and woodcraft.
Holiday Events
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In addition to artists, the festival will feature food vendors, live music and entertainment, face painting by Dori Fostok and other children’s activities.
Angel’s Retreat, a volunteer-run animal rescue organization, will be the festival’s featured non-profit. They promote responsible ownership of companion animals, are a resource for homeless animals, provide hospice care for senior and special needs dogs and they encourage adoption. Angel’s Retreat will have animals available for adoption throughout the weekend.
The two-day festival will be a highlight of the season on the Wilmington Riverfront, which will also host an array of holiday-themed events. Visitors to the Riverfront’s breakfast and lunch with Santa programs on December 21 will receive free admission to the festival.
Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Dec. 21 and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 22. Daily admission will be $5, with children 12 and under accompanied by an adult admitted free. Parking at the Riverfront is always free. For more information, go to https://brandywineholiday.com.
Somerville Manning Gallery presents an exhibition by Sarah McRae Morton
The Somerville Manning Gallery concludes the year with an exhibition of the work of Sarah McRae Morton. The exhibition is on view through Dec. 31. Morton grew up in rural Lancaster County in Pennsylvania, where she still keeps a hayloft studio above the horse stalls in her family’s barn. She attended the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and has trained under artists Myron Barnstone in Coplay, Pennsylvania and Odd Nerdrum in Norway. The Somerville Manning Gallery presents museum-quality works of art and offers personalized support in all aspects of art collecting, including placing works in private collections and museums internationally, as well as assisting its clients in the development of their personal collections. For 40 years, the gallery has offered and exhibited significant works of American art, showcasing its trajectory from the Brandywine Tradition to the American Modernism, Post-War, and Contemporary movements through many critically acclaimed shows while also working with countless museums and institutions to help
build their collections. For more information, visit www.somervillemanning.com.
Make handmade felt ornaments at the Hockessin Library
Spend an evening sewing an original felt holiday ornament at the Hockessin Library on Monday, Dec. 16. Choose from different patterns or bring your own. This class is presented by The Art Studio and teaching artist Sarah Dressler. All levels of artists are welcome. The event takes place in the library’s small Community Room from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The library is located at 1023 Valley Road in Hockessin. For more information, call 302-239-5160 visit delawarelibraries.org.
The Wilmington & Western Railroad plans holiday activities
Visit the Wilmington & Western Railroad for unique opportunities for fun this holiday season. Full details about the Wilmington & Western’s programs can be found on the website at www.wwrr.com. Holiday highlights include the Santa Claus Express and the Holiday Lights Express.
Why stand in line at the mall and wait to see Santa, when you can ride the train and have Santa come to you? The Jolly Old Elf rides the train and greets everyone on board, and gives all children a special treat. Be sure to bring your camera and have Santa pose for pictures with your child during this 90-minute round-trip to Ashland.
Or, experience the magic of riding aboard the festively decorated, 100-year-old heated coaches, each of which is covered in thousands of holiday lights. Many of the trackside neighbors also decorate their homes and yards for our passengers to enjoy during this one-hour evening trip through the Red Clay Valley.
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Holidays at Hagley
Holidays at Hagley returns and will feature Holiday Home and Garden Tours, the seventh-annual Gingerbread House Contest, Santa Day, Holiday Nights Tours, and more.
Holidays at Hagley will take place now through January 1, 2025.
In the du Pont Family Home exhibition, tour Eleutherian Mills and encounter the holiday decorations and traditions of multiple generations of the du Pont family. This year’s theme, “White Christmas,” reminisces on the outdoor and indoor activities the du Pont family relished as the glittering snow fell along the Brandywine. Tours are held daily, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the last house tour starting at 3 p.m.
In the Gingerbread House Contest, stop by and see the festive entries in Hagley’s annual Gingerbread House Contest. Entries created by local individuals and families will be on display throughout the holiday season in the Hagley Barn.
Use Hagley’s main entrance off Route 141 in Wilmington, Del. To purchase tickets or for more information about Holidays at Hagley, visit www.hagley.org.
Photo courtesy Hagley Museum
Holidays at Hagley will feature Holiday Home and Garden Tours, the seventh-annual Gingerbread House Contest, Santa Day, Holiday Nights Tours, and more. Enjoy Holidays at Hagley through January 1, 2025.
