Middletown Life Spring/Summer 2016

Spring/Summer 2016

Middletown Life

Magazine

An artist's impressions of Delaware downtowns Page 8

Inside : • Postings in the dugout • Spring Expo brings the community together • Q & A with Peter Ramos Complimentary Copy

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Middletown Life Spring/Summer 2016

Table of Contents 8

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A passion for preservation mixed with an eye for business Preserving Harry and Edith’s farm New executive director bring creativity and commitment to Middletown Main Street’s efforts Postings in the dugout Splendid surfaces and historic buildings showcased in Michael Bignell exhibition

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House of dreams

72

Spring Expo brings the community together

84

The Great Middletown steeple chase mystery

90

Middletown Q & A with Peter Ramos

92

Middletown’s 23rd annual Old Tyme Peach Festival

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92 Cover design by Tricia Hoadley Cover photograph by Jie Lan 4

Middletown Life | Spring/Summer 2016 | www.middletownlifemagazine.com

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Spring/Summer 2016

Middletown Life

Magazine

A continuing narrative.

When you first open Middletown Life, it will not take you very long to understand what the purpose of this magazine has been, and will always be.

For the past several years, in each issue, we have undertaken the task of writing a continuing story about a town, its people and its places. Our editorial journeys have taken us to artist’s studios, performance stages, preserved lands and historical landmarks. We have listened to elected and appointed leaders speak about the current state of Middletown, and we have walked the hallways of schools in order to tell the stories of those young people who will be the leaders of tomorrow.

Our aspirations are really quite simple: that if anyone wishes to know the true heart of Middletown – as well as its neighboring communities – that they will be directed here, to this magazine, to the continuing narrative.

As you will soon discover, the 2016 Spring-Summer edition of Middletown Life is certainly no exception. Writer John Chambless profiles artist Diane Laird, whose detailed renderings of Middletown capture the history, flavor of vibrancy of the town.

Writer Richard L. Gaw profiles Delaware Wild Lands, who last November were given the reigns to protect and manage the 1,250acre Taylor Bridge Roberts Farm in Odessa.

Writer Lisa Fieldman profiles Alice DeVore, whose Fingertip Fantasies Dollhouses and Miniatures in nearby Clayton recalls a long-lost Victorian era.

Writer Steve Hoffman sits down with Nick Manerchia, the new executive director of Middletown Main Street, who shares his continuing vision and goals.

Welcome to the 2016 Spring-Summer edition of Middletown Life.

We hope you enjoy the continuing narrative of your town. We’ll see you again in the Fall!

Sincerely, Randy Lieberman, Publisher randyl@chestercounty.com, 610-869-5553, ext. 19 Steve Hoffman, Editor editor@chestercounty.com, 610-869-5553, ext. 13

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—————|Middletown Arts|—————

A passion for preservation, mixed with an eye for business Diane Laird paints the places that make Delaware towns special 8

Middletown Life | Spring/Summer 2016 | www.middletownlifemagazine.com

Photo by John Chambless

Artist Diane Laird in the studio at her home in Odessa.

By John Chambless Staff Writer

D

iane Laird’s love of historic buildings is reflected in her watercolor paintings, and in her work with the Delaware Economic Development Office, which makes sure that towns bring the best of the past into the future.

In the lower level of her home near Historic Odessa is a work area and showplace for her colorful paintings of local places. Her detailed renderings of Middletown, Rock Hall, Odessa and beyond are a natural companion to her advocacy for preserving historic downtowns.

“My grandmother was an artist, but she didn’t start painting until she was in her 50s,” Laird said. “In high school I wanted to pursue architecture, but found that commercial interior design was what I really wanted to do. I went to the College of New Jersey to study design, and ended up doing commercial design for about 15 years, and teaching at the college. I did perspective drawings and architectural renderings as a designer.”

Laird moved to her current home 18 years ago, when her twin son and daughter were young. “I didn’t have any connections here and I wasn’t sure there was going to be a market for design, so I went back to school for my master’s in urban affairs and public policy at the University of Delaware,” Continued on Page 10

‘The Bayard House, Chesapeake City’

‘Dog Town, Middletown’ www.middletownlifemagazine.com | Spring/Summer 2016 | Middletown Life

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Diane Laird Continued from Page 9

she said. “I hoped to bring the historic preservation together with the interior design and do historic interiors.

It didn’t pan out that way, but that’s OK. My internship at UD was with Main Street in the Delaware Economic Development Office. That’s where I’ve been ever since.”

Laird is the state coordinator of the Main Street Program in Delaware. “Main Street is a national program of downtown revitalization. It uses historic preservation as an economic driver,” she said. “I work with staff and volunteers of communities statewide, giving them technical assistance, providing consultants to help them recruit businesses, work with the existing businesses, identify why buildings are vacant and what they need to get leased, to revitalize commercial districts. Towns often create signature events – parades, annual festivals – to build community and to drive retail opportunities.”

When Laird moved to the Middletown area, “I remember riding through town and thinking, ‘There’s lots of opportunity here,’” she said diplomatically of the depressed state of the downtown at that time. Several years later, Middletown applied to become a designated Main Street

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Middletown Life | Spring/Summer 2016 | www.middletownlifemagazine.com

community. Though it began slowly about a dozen years ago in Middletown, Laird has since seen a reinvigorated, coordinated effort to take what is best about the downtown and expand the economic opportunities all around it.

Laird has painted the historic buildings of the downtown – the Everett Theatre, Dog Town and the buildings which hold Purple Sage and Immediato’s – in her works. While keeping the past is a concern, “it can be a challenge to keep historic buildings,” she said. “There’s the cost of shoring up the structure, and getting it leased in a price range that will make sense with what it will be worth in the end. If it’s going to cost $350,000 to get it ready, and it’s only worth $250,000 in the end, that’s the barrier.

“I’m not a purist preservationist, but I value the historic structures,” she said. “If you go into someone’s attic, you don’t have to keep everything, but you need to keep certain treasures. Some things may appear to be common, but are often good representations of a particular time.

“I consider myself a bridge. My previous career was focused on new construction. My current career is working to keep the past relevant, where appropriate. But sometimes you have to clean out the attic,” she said, smiling. “Very often, historic structures can be retrofitted to a

new use, and that’s certainly the goal.”

Laird points to Historic Odessa – the meticulously preserved cluster of Colonial buildings that draws visitors to the region – as a tribute to “very careful administration and oversight through the years.” She also is fond of Rock Hall, Md., where her family has a weekend home.

Many of her paintings capture the quirky little buildings of the small town.

While her architectural renderings are tightly drawn in pen and ink, Laird said she has worked to apply looser details and watercolor to make the works distinctive. She works on site, sketching and painting outdoors and usually completing the work before she packs up.

“I’m atypical as a plein-air painter, since I work with a combination of mediums, watercolor and pen and ink,” she said. “Most artists in plein-air competitions use pure oils, pastels or just watercolor.”

Laird is now experimenting with very loosely applied watercolor and gouache washes over her drawings, which may add a whole new dimension to her style. “It’s time to experiment a little bit,” she said. “It may produce a little more colorful, painterly quality. I seek God, and I believe that he planted the seed in me. That’s why I could never, as much as I’ve been frustrated, not do this.

Continued on Page 12

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Diane Laird Continued from Page 11

Art is part of who I am. I think this new direction makes use of my skill, but makes the art a little bit more fun, a little more suggestive.”

Her paintings are always popular with buyers. Her original paintings, prints and notecards are sold at The Hickory Stick in Rock Hall, at Smyrna Cards and Gifts, at regional art shows and online through her website, www. simplejoysllc.com. Last year, she funded a trip to Curacao by selling seven of the paintings she created while there.

Closer to home, she is an advocate for sensible development, although she has reservations about the traffic in downtown Middletown that has followed the booming commercial areas to the east and west of downtown.

She’s proud of her involvement in Project Pop-Up in the state, which has brought small businesses to vacant downtown locations. As part of the initiative, business owners are given an initial three months of free rent to get off the ground. One of her first success stories is Amber Shader of Amber Shader Photography and First & Little in Middletown, who moved her photography and children’s accessories business into a tiny space next to the

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Everett, and has thrived. “She’s kind of the poster child for Pop-Up,” Laird said of Shader. In the past four years, 18 businesses were matched with vacant properties in half a dozen towns in Delaware. Of those, 13 are still in business in their original locations.

The quaint shops and family businesses of downtowns inevitably feel the pinch when big-box retailers open outside of town, Laird said. “In a consumer-driven society, I’m not sure that everything we want could be held in a downtown anymore. We want stuff,” she said. “Business owners will tell me, ‘Walmart stole my customers,’ but I say, ‘You have a great opportunity to offer customers exceptional service, a unique product line, and cater to your customers.’ You’re not going to find personal service at big-box stores. So they have to work a little harder, but they can make a go of it.”

In a case of society coming full circle, “there’s now a strong national trend of people wanting to come back to downtown,” Laird said. “Boomers want to move back, so they can walk to dinner and buy their gifts in independent shops, but be close enough so they can drive to Walmart or Target.” Ideally, renovated downtown buildings have retail on their ground floors and housing above

them, to keep residents – and shoppers – from going elsewhere.

In Middletown, Laird has painted the facade of the Everett Theatre, and said, “It’s a little gem. It’s retained so much of its historic character. That little canopy brings a great sense of scale to the street. At night, when it’s lit up, it creates a great sense of excitement.”

In Smyrna, she points to the Painted Stave Distillery on West Commerce Street, which is built in an old theater, as a notable success. In Milton, she said the Milford Playhouse is another such ideal reimagining of a space.

Continued on Page 14

‘Purple Sage and Immediato’s’

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Diane Laird Continued from Page 13

And getting the long-vacant former Wachovia Bank at the hub of downtown Middletown up and running as a restaurant “will be a huge win,” she said. “For the longest time, it was vacant. The bank left, the building went up for auction. The buyer that was most interested was a community bank. It would have been an ideal fit, but somebody from the back of the auction floor bid more. It was an investor from Washington, D.C., who bought the building and let it sit. It was vacant for eight years. So that’s why it’s such a victory now. It’s one of the few remaining vacant spaces in downtown Middletown. There’s parking right there, there’ll be a great restaurant in there, and it’s going to be a great space. I can’t wait to see it finished.

“That’s the ideal when it comes to preservation – keeping a space active, and alive,” she said. “You retain the fabric of the history, but keep the building in use. That’s truly bringing the past into the present.”

To contact Staff Writer John Chambless, email jchambless@chestercounty.com.

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——|Middletown/Odessa Environment|—— More than a decade ago, Delaware Wild Lands began to talk about finding a way to preserve the 1,250-acre Roberts Farm on the outskirts of Odessa. Last November, they purchased the property, and the result will protect an iconic vista of natural lands that helps to define the area

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Preserving Harry and Edith’s farm Kate Hackett, executive director of Delaware Wild Lands, at the Taylors Bridge Roberts Farm in Odessa.

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

M

any years ago, on the farm that now partially bears his name, Harry Roberts of Odessa went hunting muskrats.

At the time, Roberts was courting Edith, a woman who would eventually become his wife, and he wanted to impress her in advance of an upcoming social occasion they were planning in Wilmington.

The pelts he collected did their job, because all evening, Edith looked resplendent in a fur coat.

Photo by Richard L. Gaw

The beautiful garment is now preserved at Delaware Wild Lands in Odessa, an organization that owns and manages more than 6,000 acres in New Castle County and 21,000 acres in Delaware.

The fur coat is not the only item of the Roberts family that Delaware Wild Lands protects.

Last November, after more than a decade of negotiations, the 1,250-acre Taylors Bridge Roberts Farm in Odessa was purchased by The Conservation Fund and donated to Delaware Wild Lands (DWL) for permanent protection and management. The acquisition Continued on Page 18

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Roberts Farm Continued from Page 17

was made possible with a grant from Mt. Cuba Center, and creates more than 10,000 acres of contiguous and protected wildlife habitat in the vicinity of the property.

Bordered by three waterways, including the state-designated priority Blackbird Creek, the Appoquinimink River and Hangman’s Run, the property had been one of the largest unprotected tracts remaining in the coastal zone, until its purchase.

Owned and operated by the Roberts family for more than half a century, the property features acres of freshwater tidal wetlands and forested coastal plains ponds -- all of which provide ideal habitat for a variety of species, including bald eagle, osprey, fox, muskrat, otter and shorebirds.

“The Roberts Farm is a key linchpin for wildlife habitat and water quality protection in the upper part of the Delaware Bay because of its large size, important location and careful management,” said Blaine Phillips, Senior Vice President and MidAtlantic Regional Director for The Conservation Fund. “This property has been a priority for protection for over twenty years, and now thanks to the incredible support of Mt. Cuba Center, we were able to preserve it forever.

Our partnership with Mt. Cuba Center and Delaware Wild Lands brought together the key elements to make sure that the legacy of this family farm will live on.”

“Conserving open space is critical to maintaining biodiversity and a healthy environment, which is the essence of Mt. Cuba Center’s mission,” said Continued on Page 22

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Photo by Bill Stewart

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Roberts Farm Continued from Page 18

Ann C. Rose, president of the Board of Mt. Cuba Center. “Together with the adjacent tracts of protected land, the Roberts Farm property preserves a contiguous, protected corridor along Delaware’s ecologically important coastal zone.”

“Protection of these 1,250 acres and my family legacy is a remarkable accomplishment for my family and for the future of Delaware,” said Chris Roberts. “For decades, I’ve worked to improve and restore the diversity and quality of wildlife habitat on these lands. I planted dozens of cedar trees along Staves Landing Road that define and protect the interior of the property, refined management of key resources of the property including the 100-acre Big Pond Refuge and kept invasive species and phragmites at bay. I am pleased to know that this property will be forever protected and managed for these purposes.”

Although the property is one of the many crown jewels in the continuing expanse of protected lands in Delaware, it took nearly a decade of discussions to acquire it. Toward the end of his life, Harry Roberts wanted to assure that the property he had worked on over the course of his lifetime would help provide for his family, long after he was gone. After his passing several years ago, Edith and her two sons inherited the property, and a concerted effort by DWL began to convince the Roberts family to preserve it.

Over time, DWL Executive Director Kate Hackett, Phillips and other conservationists met with Chris Roberts Continued on Page 24

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Roberts Farm Continued from Page 22

in order to put a conservation plan in place.

“It was a full-court press, in order to gain the trust of the Roberts family, explore possibilities and answer all questions,” Hackett said. “Then Mt. Cuba Center took an interest in our efforts, and funded the cost of acquiring the property. There are a number of conserved properties in that area already, so to add this as a missing puzzle piece and manage this large swath of conserved lands was a huge incentive for them.”

Over the next several years, DWL will implement a long-term management plan for the property that will include farming, hunting, trapping, wildlife tours and bird walks. The Taylors Bridge Roberts Farm will also serve as a 1,250-acre classroom: school and university groups will visit the property for research and educational opportunities.

The organization is beginning a collaboration with the Brandywine Zoo Chapter of the American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK) to study the habitat needs, nesting and migration patterns of kestrels – a small bird of prey that’s been on the decline in the United States. In addition, DWL is also organizing school tours with the Appoquinimink School District, in order to allow for students to create stream monitoring programs.

“We are on a steep learning curve in all kinds of ways,” said Hackett, who is working with Chris Roberts in getting to know the acreage. “We’re already starting to determine what’s there, what we want to manage for, Continued on Page 26

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Photo by Andrew Martin

The wide expanse of the Taylors Bridge Roberts Farm is even more breathtaking when seen from above.

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Roberts Farm Continued from Page 24

and what’s happening in the context of the entire region. I’m learning what the Roberts family has known over the course of their lifetime: what species have lived here, the vegetation and sea levels; and the proper management of water levels in the reserve.”

Because the property will continue to be farmed as well as made available for hunting, there will be no trail system constructed on the property.

However, on May 7, DWL will host an Open House of the Taylors Bridge Roberts Farm for the entire community.

“It’s a celebration to say, ‘Look what we all did, together,’” Hackett said. “It’s intended to showcase the beauty of the property, and allow families to take a hayride to see the marshlands, admire the ducks in the preserve, see the boardwalk in the marsh, as well

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as respect it as a working farm.

“We have a really strong commitment to making sure that the lands we conserve remain environmentally and economically productive,” Hackett added.

“For 25 years, we as a community and as a group of conservationists have known that the Roberts Farm is critically important to the entire matrix of our natural habitat. The quality of its wildlife and its scenic vistas are indicative of an iconic Delaware landscape. It’s part of our historical and cultural heritage.”

For more information about the Taylors Bridge Roberts Farm, other projects, or to make a donation to Delaware Wild Lands, visit www.dewildlands.org.

Delaware Wild Lands is located at 315 Main Street, Odessa, De. 19730-0505. Phone: 302-378-2736.

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, e-mail rgaw@chestercounty.com.

Photo by Blaine T. Phillips, Jr.

The Taylors Bridge Roberts Farm, at sunset.

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—————|Around Middletown|—————

Photo courtesy Richard Frasher

Middletown Main Street officials and merchants in the community organize the Fashion on Main events twice a year to showcase the offerings of local boutiques.

New executive director brings creativity and commitment to Middletown Main Street’s efforts 30

Middletown Life | Spring/Summer 2016 | www.middletownlifemagazine.com

“It’s important to keep the traditions going. If Middletown Main Street isn’t doing it, these traditions may go away.” ~ Nick Manerchia

By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer

W

hen Nick Manerchia became the new executive director of Middletown Main Street in January, he was able to get right to work planning the upcoming events like Fashion on Main and the Grapes and Grains Beer & Wine Festival because of his previous experience with the organization that is charged with revitalizing the downtown.

Although he’s just 27 years old, Manerchia had already served on Middletown Main Street’s Board of Directors—and he was board president for two of those years.

The knowledge that he already possessed about Middletown Continued on Page 32

Nick Manerchia www.middletownlifemagazine.com | Spring/Summer 2016 | Middletown Life

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Manerchia Continued from Page 31

Main Street’s purposes and practices made him an ideal candidate to take over the leadership role.

“I was already very familiar with the organization,” Manerchia explained. “And because I’ve been involved with the community, it has been a great transition. It feels right.”

Manerchia has spent most of his life in Middletown. His family moved to the town when he was 10. He started volunteering with community events while he was still in high school.

“I’ve always had a passion for this community,” he explained.

Photo courtesy Richard Frasher

Because of his previous involvement with community events, Manerchia was already familiar with the regular activities like the fashion show that Middletown Main Street plans.

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Manerchia graduated from Middletown High School in 2008 and started working at the Premier Center for the Arts as a teacher and show director. He’s probably best known around the area as an actor who has also taught acting at the Everett Theatre. He also worked at a branch of WSFS Bank as well.

It would be a tall order for anyone to replace former Middletown Main Street executive director Tracy Skrobot, but in Manerchia the organization has an energetic, creative, and dedicated new leader.

“As a person,” Manerchia explained, “I’m always extremely passionate about whatever it is that I am doing.”

Now, that passion will be targeted toward improving Middletown, one small building block at a time.

Manerchia believes that it’s more important than ever to keep Middletown’s downtown vibrant and growing.

“Middletown is a small town, but it has grown so much,” he explained. “We still have the small town feel, and we want to keep that. It’s important to keep

the traditions going. If Middletown Main Street isn’t doing it, these traditions may go away.”

Middletown Main Street already has a lineup of events and activities like Trick-or-Treat on Main and the annual Christmas Parade that bring families into the downtown for festivities that they enjoy year after year. He enjoys playing a role in keeping these popular traditional events alive for the next generation of Middletown residents.

He wants to take events that have been successful in the past and build on each one, but he also wants to develop new events and activities that will attract more people to the downtown.

One of the first events that Manerchia will be helping to plan is also one of Middletown Main Street’s most successful fundraisers each year—the Fashion on Main event, which takes place each spring and fall.

For Fashion on Main, Middletown’s growing group of fashion boutiques collaborate to organize a fashion Continued on Page 34

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Manerchia Continued from Page 33

show—a day of style, beauty, and fun—to showcase the latest styles and fashions that are available in the local businesses.

“It’s a hugely successful event,” Manerchia said.

“It is really awesome to have so many boutiques in town who are involved. We get to be really creative to produce an awesome fashion show.”

People who attend the fashion show then visit the boutiques in downtown to buy some of the fashions that were on display.

Manerchia said that he believes people really enjoy the experience of shopping in a small, charming town like Middletown.

“People do want to come down to Main Street and shop,” he said. “And these unique shops are all within walking distance of each other.”

Manerchia is also hard at work planning the second edition of the Grapes and Grains Beer & Wine Festival, which is slated for May 14 this year. After the success of the first festival, the number of confirmed vendors exceeded last year’s event by the end of January. He said that he hoped to sign up twelve vendors by the time the event rolls around.

Another important component of Middletown Main Street’s mission is bringing new businesses to town.

Manerchia’s excited about the collection of boutiques and shops already in place, as well as the recent opening of Metro Pub & Grill, which is executive chef Patrick D’Amico’s creative take on American fare. Manerchia explained that the pub-style restaurant was constructed in Peachtree Station. The restaurant is open every day from 11 a.m. to midnight.

“The food is really great,” Manerchia said, adding that, the creative force behind the Metro Pub & Grill, the RM Hospitality Group, is also hard at work making plans to bring a new restaurant to the former Delaware Trust Bank building.

Having a variety of restaurants and eateries in town to attract visitors is very important, Manerchia said. He would also like to see a coffee shop come to the business district.

Getting the community to make Main Street in Continued on Page 36

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Photo courtesy Richard Frasher

Manerchia is looking to increase participation in the Grapes and Grains Beer & Wine Festival this year.

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Manerchia Continued from Page 34

Middletown a part of their routine is one of the biggest challenges—as well as an opportunity.

Manerchia noted that, in the world of Twitter and Instagram, it’s always a challenge to get people to see what’s in town, and to become a part of the community.

“One of my biggest goals is to get people to come to Main Street to see what Middletown has to offer—to live in the moment and enjoy it,” he explained.

Because Manerchia stepped into the executive director position with considerable knowledge about Middletown Main Street’s activities, he was already considering new events and making some changes to existing events during his first month on the job.

He said that Music on Main may be held two times instead of three times during the warmer months. And they may be adding a food truck festival and a classic car show to the lineup of events. Manerchia’s also looking to stage the first musical production as a benefit for Middletown Main Street. A children’s theater

production for children between the ages of 5 and 18 has been selected as the first show, which will likely take place early in the summer. Manerchia hopes that the musical production will attract a diverse cast and a large audience.

“I’m hoping to do two shows a year,” Manerchia explained. “We’re starting with one this year.”

Another one of his goals, and one of the things that he is most looking forward to in his new role, is collaborating with the business owners, Middletown officials, and community leaders to build on and expand the lineup of existing events and add new ones. He’s hoping to increase the number of volunteers and board members who are engaged with all of Middletown Main Street’s activities.

“I feel like we have such a strong core of supporters,” he said. “I love that sense of community and togetherness.”

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

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—————|Middletown Sports|————— The Appoquinimink High School Varsity baseball team won the 2015 Delaware State Championship with a unique blend of talent, commitment, accountability and toughness. Yet to head coach Billy Cunningham, the program is most defined by good sportsmanship.

Courtesy photo

The Jaguars finished with a regular season mark of 13-5 in 2015.

Postings in the dugout

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

I

n the weeks leading up to the 2015 Delaware DIAA High School State Championship Tournament, Appoquinimink High School Varsity Baseball head coach Billy Cunningham was looking for something that would motivate his team, which was about to enter the tournament as the eighth seed.

There is an application on Cunningham’s iPhone that gives him access to motivational quotes, and all through the 2015 season, he flipped through the app and chose a few, which he then posted in the many dugouts the

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Middletown Life | Spring/Summer 2016 | www.middletownlifemagazine.com

Jaguars used throughout the season. Some were about overcoming adversity. Some were about sportsmanship. One simply said “Win.” The Jags had been to the state tournament before, in 2011 – when they lost to Caravel in the championship game – but the 2015 squad was a whole new team and Cunningham was only in his second season at the helm. Despite the team’s 13-5 regular season record, the perception was that the Appo program was still the new kid on the block, a program only in its sixth campaign, competing in a tournament that had been defined and dominated

by St. Mark’s and Caravel, who had collectively captured 11 out of the previous 12 state championships.

And then there it was, a quote by Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon: “Don’t ever let the pressure exceed the pleasure.”

Before the first game of the tournament, Cunningham posted the quote in the dugout.

It remained there, in every dugout they used, throughout the first three games of tournament, which the team won.

On the afternoon of May 30, the quote was posted in the Appo dugout at Frawley Stadium, a 6,000-seat ballpark in Wilmington, before the state championship game against

Cape Henlopen, a school that Cunningham himself attended and played second base for from 2002 to 2006.

The sign was there when the Jaguars scored four runs in the first inning and five more runs in the third, on hits by Chandler Fitzgerald and Brett Willett and Joe Otto and Thomas Rybicki.

The sign was there when starting pitcher Ryan Steckline struck out seven Cape batters, eventually surrendering the mound to fellow lefty Kevin Banning in the seventh.

Finally, the sign was there, in the dugout, in the moments after the last out in a 10-2 victory.

Appoquinimink had become the first public school to win the state baseball title since Brandywine did it in 2002. What made the victory even sweeter for every Appo student, administrator, student and fan was this: They had become the only high school in Middletown with a state baseball title.

“Just seeing the kids in the dugout and on the field was amazing,” Cunningham said.

“Honestly, it was a relief that it wasn’t a one-run game, because it allowed us to better enjoy the moment, as opposed to being locked in, pitch-by-pitch.”

Before the last pitch was thrown, Cunningham Continued on Page 42

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Baseball Continued from Page 41

took a moment to thank his coaches, Derek Marshallsea and Kevin Ellis, for their dedication. When the game ended, he allowed himself to enjoy the scrum of human celebration – his kids, as he calls them – form near the pitcher’s mound. He had never been through that before, either as a coach or a player.

It was merely the latest moment in a journey that began when Cunningham was just another kid ballplayer from Lewes. He was in love with the game nearly from the time he could first throw a baseball, and by the age of 10, he was playing on a youth travel team run by longtime coach Pete Townsend. It gave him a chance to play with the same group of young players for the next several years, and it became a springboard that landed him as the second baseman at Cape Henlopen High School.

As a player – first at Cape and then on to a collegiate career at Delaware State and then Wesley College – Cunningham was never the most gifted athlete on the field. He didn’t hit many home runs, was not terribly fast, but he simply outworked everyone and became a solid, if not spectacular, contribution to the teams he was a part of. The outgrowth of his own baseball career has extended to his coaching.

Legendary basketball coach John Wooden usually dedicated the first practice of every season to teaching his players the proper method of tying up sneakers and wearing athletic socks. It was often met with skepticism and snickers from his players, but it was crucial, Wooden said, to success; having firm footing on the court enabled a player to be Continued on Page 44

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Courtesy photo

Appoquinimink became the first public school to win the state baseball title since Brandywine in 2002.

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Baseball Continued from Page 44

better prepared. In the Appoquinimink baseball program, Cunningham subscribes to a similar philosophy, one grounded in the principles of fundamental baseball, and one that, in these days of “Chicks Dig the Long Ball,� is largely an overlooked tool.

Courtesy photo

Head coach Billy Cunningham makes a visit to the mound.

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For the last two seasons, the first thing Appo players learn at the first practice is how to properly run from home plate to first base.

“We tell our players that if you can treat that 90 feet with the respect that it deserves, the rest of their approach to the game is going to fall in line,” Cunningham said. “As a coach, I have a hard time with guys who aren’t willing to work as hard as they possibly can. When our guys hit a ground ball, they’re running down the line as fast as they can, every time. They learn early that certain things are not optional, and running every single ball out is one of them.”

On the Appo club, entitlements are not given to anyone, and there are no pre-designated captains selected at the beginning of every season.

In contrast, leaders emerge organically, and not by rank or talent, and therefore, leadership is contagious.

“Joe Otto, Brett Willett and Chandler Fitzgerald have been playing since they were freshmen, and they’re examples of guys who have naturally taken on the role of leaders,” Cunningham said.

“But our identity is more defined by the way we’ve gone about our business as a team, that any one of the guys is free to say what needs to be said. It’s part of a culture that’s starting to develop here. We’ve got 12 players coming back this season from last year’s team, and any one of them has that chance to contribute to that culture.”

Although the 2016 season is now underway, it comes as small irony that although it will be the truest measure of success, it’s only three months long. The other nine months are spent in the weight room, or attending showcase camps before college coaches, or joining traveling teams in the summer – all done with the hope of being seen, evaluated, and given the chance to take a talent to the college level. More and more, high school baseball has become a pressurefilled, 12-month season, one made more so if you are the state champions.

“Winning the championship brings a new atmosphere,” said Cunningham, who is joined this year by assistant coaches Bill Marriott and Scott Martin, as well Marshallsea. “We may no longer be the underdog, but our job is to get the Continued on Page 46

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Baseball Continued from Page 45

kids to understand that you have to put in just as much or even more work. There’s an added layer when you play the champion.”

“Ninety percent of it has to do with motivation, toughness and competitiveness. If you watch a boxer or a wrestler, they look like they’re ready to go before they enter the ring. We teach them to adopt that same attitude. If you go into a game with your shoulders slumped; If you look defeated, you’re going to be defeated.”

While the 2015 state champion trophy stands prominent in a trophy case at Appoquinimink High School, the magnitude of the recognition is not what Cunningham is most proud of. When he interviewed for the job two years ago, he said that the greatest aspiration he had for the team was to someday win the Rocky Salvatore Award, given annually by high school umpires to the Delaware high school baseball team that displays the best sportsmanship.

That award was given to the team in 2015, and it’s the other side of the culture that Cunningham and his coaching staff are teaching, one that extends well beyond the white lines.

“The award shows that they’re not just good players, but good kids as well,” Cunningham said. “At the end of the day, I want my players to have the comfort level to talk with me not just about baseball, but about their classes, or their parents. I want to develop relationships that extend beyond the field.

“I stress to our kids that I don’t want them to just be good players. I want them to be good guys. I want them to handle themselves well in class, get good grades, and do whatever it is they wish to do after high school.

Winning the state championship is only a very small part of their lives.”

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, e-mail rgaw@chestercounty.com .

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——————|Middletown Arts|——————

Splendid surfaces and historic buildings showcased in Michael Bignell exhibition

Photo by John Chambless

The first floor of the Odessa visitors center features ‘Beyond Realism’ through the end of May. 52

Middletown Life | Spring/Summer 2016 | www.middletownlifemagazine.com

By John Chambless Staff Writer

T

here’s certainly no lack of picturesque places in Odessa for an artist to capture, and Michael Bignell has found several of them in his solo exhibit at the Odessa visitors center.

“Beyond Realism: The Art of Michael A. Bignell” opened on March 1 and continues through May 29 on the first floor of the historic former bank building at Second and Main streets. The exhibit fills two large rooms with Bignell’s meticulously rendered paintings of Odessa, Lancaster farm fields, bustling New York City and Key West. Throughout, it is his depictions of reflections and surfaces that make his work so immediately appealing.

His recent views of Odessa, however, strike a special chord – especially since you can walk out of the visitors center and see the buildings that you’ve just seen on the gallery walls. The large “Elite Coach in Odessa” is a tour de force, with the gleaming side of a tour bus parked on Main Street treflecting the 1800s homes across the street. It’s a perfect summation of the way history meets today in the carefully preserved downtown.

The docents who lead tours in period costume are depicted in “The Odessa Experience” (2015) and “Odessa Up Close” (2015),

‘Downrigging’ (2008)

Continued on Page 54

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Bignell Continued from Page 53

which depicts the visitors center with a guide and young students on the sidewalk. The first of Bignell’s Odessa paintings, simply titled “Odessa” (2015), captures the scale, history and charm of the town. Prints of the work are available.

While the Odessa paintings have a quiet charm, Bignell’s New York City paintings are vibrant depictions of the sensory overload of midtown Manhattan. The gleaming sea of taxis in “Gridlock” (2011), the jumble of competing billboards and standstill traffic in “City Lights” (2013) and the array of colors, shadows and architectural styles in “Fifth Avenue” (2011) are all wonderful.

But Bignell’s regional scenes are just as fine. “Downrigging” (2008) was painted on the river in Chestertown, Md., and

‘Boatyard Blues’ is part of Bignell’s ‘Key West Series.’

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‘The Odessa Experience’ (2015).

captures the rigging of tall ships starkly outlined against a pale blue autumn sky. He has a couple of views of teams of horses working on Amish farms, and several portraits of bulky, inquisitive cows in fields. Two of the paintings show the flapping tumult of geese in flight. In “Sassafras Relic” (2013), he shows a tractor streaked with rust and faded by the sun on a farm in Georgetown, Md. One of Bignell’s “Key West Series” paintings, “Robbie’s Marine Salvage,” shows the rusty hulls of dry-docked ships

‘Gridlock’ (2011) captures traffic in Manhattan.

Continued on Page 56

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Bignell Continued from Page 55

as they await demolition for scrap. But he also documents the men who wrestle a living from the sea in Key West. The men depicted in “Eddie” and “Boatyard Blues” are as weather-beaten as their ships.

Bignell will visit the exhibition on May 11 for a discussion of his working methods and a questionand-answer session from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Admission is $10 (free for Historic Odessa Fondation members). The visitors center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Sunday

56

‘Elite Coach in Odessa’ (2015).

from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Guided tours of the town’s historic homes are available. Visit www. historicodessa.org.

To contact Staff Writer John Chambless, email jchambless@chestercounty.com.

Middletown Life | Spring/Summer 2016 | www.middletownlifemagazine.com

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—————|Middletown Arts|—————

House of Dreams Alice DeVore has a passion for dollhouses and miniatures.

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Photo by Lisa Fieldman

By Lisa Fieldman Correspondent

H

ave you ever fancied owning a Victorian mansion? Do you covet a spacious villa or cozy cottage? If so, Alice DeVore is the woman to make your dreams come true.

DeVore has been in the dollhouse and miniatures business for more than 30 years, and her shop, Fingertip Fantasies Dollhouses and Miniatures, is on Main Street in Clayton, Del. Laughing about the occasional off-color phone call she receives as a result of the name, she said, “Dollhouses are about fantasy, Continued on Page 60 Photo by Lisa Fieldman

A quilting project miniature created by Alice DeVore.

Alice’s shop on Main Street in Clayton, Del.

Photo by Lisa Fieldman

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Dollhouses Continued from Page 59

and it is all created with your fingertips.”

“Dollhouses are not just for children,” DeVore said. Her customers are men and women of all ages and come from varied backgrounds. “Some people want to recreate their childhood home, but others want to build and furnish their dream house,” she said.

DeVore had a dollhouse when she was a child, but did not pursue the hobby as an adult.

As a busy mother raising children, her interest was rekindled when a friend

There are chair styles to fit every décor.

Continued on Page 62

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106 Patriot Drive Middletown, DE 19709

Middletown Life | Spring/Summer 2016 | www.middletownlifemagazine.com

Photo by Lisa Fieldman

Dollhouses Continued from Page 60

gave her a dollhouse kit. She constructed the exterior of the house, but then needed to complete the interior, so she turned her attention to making miniature home decor. One of her specialties was to create tiny clay versions of food on a one-inch scale. Her favorites were tiny turkey dinners, and pies that had bottle caps for tins. In addition to food, DeVore sewed dainty tablecloths and napkins. On a whim, she rented a table at a craft fair and all of her miniatures sold quickly.

Some interesting characters waiting for a new home.

Photo by Lisa Fieldman

Continued on Page 64

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Dollhouses Continued from Page 62

Bolstered by her success, she attended more craft shows, and after two years of successfully selling her miniatures, she decided it was time to open a shop.

DeVore built her business offering dollhouse kits, as well as custom-built houses and all the miniatures needed for a well-furnished home. As a testament to her expertise, her loyal customers followed her through three moves over several decades, from her original location in Pike Creek, to Booths Corner, and to Aston, Pa., until she finally opened her shop in Clayton. Her son and daughter live in Dover and her desire to be near family and grandchildren brought her south. Her current store is in a former pharmacy and is more than 100 years old.

“The neighbors have been so welcoming,” DeVore said of the warm reception she has received from the tightknit community. “People stop in to say hello, or wave from their porches every day.” She especially enjoys visits from the neighborhood children.

“Everyone is fascinated with things in miniature,” DeVore said. Each pint-sized item needed to furnish Continued on Page 66

Photo by Lisa Fieldman

A gingerbread-style dollhouse ready for Christmas.

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Dollhouses Continued from Page 64

a house is available in her shop. The range of miniatures is extensive – from garden furniture to four-poster beds, carpets and drapery, even electrical and plumbing supplies. Some of the more extravagant houses have bathtubs with running water, or working outdoor fountains.

Of course, there is quite a range in cost as well. If you don’t have the desire to take on a large project, you can opt to do a room box. Like a shadow box, a room box simply showcases one room of a house.

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A wine and cheese board handcrafted by a local artisan.

Middletown Life | Spring/Summer 2016 | www.middletownlifemagazine.com

Photo by Lisa Fieldman

“I have a customer who is creating a room box for each room of her home,” DeVore said. “Each room box is a miniature version of the room where it is displayed.

Room boxes can be an economical way to venture into the world of dollhouses, and they can be as grand or as simple as you wish.”

Another popular alternative is a fairy garden. These magical, tiny worlds can be created with artificial or living plants. Add some sprite-sized garden accessories and you have created a space where fairies cavort and play. Both children and adults are enchanted by the fairy gardens DeVore has created in her shop.

When a customer approaches DeVore about a dollhouse, she helps them determine which type of project best suits them. Next, she asks how handy they may be – are they comfortable assembling the house or are they mainly interested in the interior? One of the services that she offers is the construction of the house, including the wiring. “Building dollhouses provides you with Continued on Page 68

Photo by Lisa Fieldman

A sampling of woodwork available to customize your dollhouse.

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Dollhouses Continued from Page 67

an opportunity to learn about wiring, plumbing and interior decorating,” she said.

DeVore can also outfit your house with all the appropriate period furnishings, though most people prefer to handle the decorating themselves. She regularly travels to trade shows in Las Vegas and Ohio to keep her stock of miniatures and houses current.

Whenever possible, she purchases miniatures from local artisans. In her display cabinet are beautiful reproductions of famous paintings done by a local artist. So if you can’t afford a Monet for your living room wall, you can purchase a diminutive one for your fantasy home.

Another artisan mother-and-son team create lovely table and floor lamps, complete with decorative shades. DeVore still enjoys making miniature food and she has quite an array -- charcuterie boards to produce to baked goods, allowing you to set your table for a tiny, though grand, feast.

According to DeVore, men have been developing an interest in miniatures and dollhouses over the past several years. Even though most men may not refer to them as dollhouses, the appeal is much like the hobby of model building. “Men often like to build a house that recreates their fishing camp or their man cave,” she said.

Continued on Page 70

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Photo by Lisa Fieldman

A customized dollhouse from the Rocky Mountain line of dollhouses.

A room box transformed into a country store.

Photo by Lisa Fieldman

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Dollhouses Continued from Page 68

To cater to that interest, the shop offers barns, garages and hotels in addition to houses. Log cabins are also very popular, and DeVore built a replica of the Ponderosa for her two oldest grandchildren.

Can you guess which television show has caused a surge of dollhouse popularity? If you guessed “Downton Abbey,” you would be correct.

“The dollhouse hobby originated in England,” DeVore said, “and as the show gained popularity, the interest in dollhouses exploded.”

Though dollhouses and miniatures can be traced back to the early 1600s, one of the most famous houses is a replica of Windsor Castle given to Queen Mary on her birthday. Renowned architect Edwin Lutyens labored for four years on the castle, involving hundreds of craftsmen and artisans. The finished dollhouse contained the best of everything the United Kingdom could offer. It includes a library of lilliputian books handwritten by famous authors of the day (such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle), contemporary paintings, a wine cellar

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Photo by Lisa Fieldman

A crate of books handcrafted by talented artisans.

holding real wines, and a garage with gasoline-powered automobiles. Most of the carpets and furniture are 1:12-inch scale reproductions of the actual furnishings of Windsor Castle. Since its creation, the mini-castle has been on display as a tribute to the people of the United Kingdom. Today, it stands in a room in Windsor Castle where it attracts dollhouse enthusiasts from all over the globe.

If you are not ready to take on a project as daunting as a castle re-creation, DeVore can help find the project that’s perfect for you.

“Dollhouses encourage people to use their imagination,” she said, “which is why it is a great hobby for children as well as adults.” In addition to her shop, she has a website (www.dollhouseminiatures.com) that serves local and international customers. Though everything you need to get started can be found on the website, it is well worth the trip to chat with DeVore and marvel at the dollhouses and miniatures in her delightful shop.

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—————|Middletown Business|—————

Spring Expo brings the community together

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—————|Middletown|————— Nearly 100 vendors and 1,300 visitors enjoy the event that showcases the many offerings of the local business community

Continued on page 73

Photo by Steven Hoffman

Roxane Ferguson, the executive director of the Middletown Area Chamber of Commerce, with Jenny Hott, the chamber’s new office manager.

By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer

O

rganizers had high hopes for the eighth annual Middletown Area Chamber of Commerce Spring Expo on March 3, but this year’s event exceeded even the loftiest of expectations. Nearly 1,300 people turned out for the event at the Townsend Fire Hall, and there were

97 vendors—both records for the Spring Expo.

“It’s the one event that brings the community and the business community together like nothing else can,” explained Roxane Ferguson, the executive director of the Middletown Area Chamber of Commerce. “It has grown exponentially each year. This year’s event was amazing and offered something for everyone. We’re blessed to Continued on Page 74 www.middletownlifemagazine.com | Spring/Summer 2016 | Middletown Life

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have such a tremendous response from both the residential and business communities for the Spring Expo.”

The addition of the Taste of Middletown component of the event has helped build its popularity, according to Ferguson. Visitors enjoyed food and beverages from a wide variety of local restaurants and businesses, including the Metro Pub, Crow Vineyards, Guzzy-Q Barbecue and Catering, Back Creek, the Bahama Breeze Island Grille, Pat’s Pizza, Kreston’s, Sherm’s Catering, Half Baked Patisserie, and Uncle Mike’s Ice Cream and Water Ice. Tammy Nichols, one of the co-owners of Half Baked Patisserie, was at the Spring Expo to remind people that “stressed” is just “desserts” spelled backwards. Long lines formed at the stand to sample the cupcakes and other sweet treats.

Continued on Page 76

Photo by Steven Hoffman

Tammy Nichols, one of the co-owners of Half Baked Patisserie was at the Spring Expo to remind people that “stressed” is just “desserts” spelled backwards.

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Photo by Steven Hoffman

Jessica Grant, Ricky Perez, and Tito Gomez, all culinary arts students at Middletown High School, were at the Spring Expo to demonstrate their culinary skills, handing out samples of their food and telling people that the culinary arts program does catering for events.

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Spring Expo Continued from Page 74

“It’s a great networking event,” Nichols said.

“There’s something for everyone here.”

James McHatton, a culinary professional with the Bahama Breeze Island Grille, was serving up one of the restaurant’s signature items, a sliced jerk chicken breast, fresh asparagus and mushrooms tossed in a Parmesan cream sauce with bow-tie pasta, for visitors.

“I’m very excited about this. It’s my first time here,” McHatton explained.

The culinary arts students from Middletown High School demonstrated their culinary skills at the event, handing out samples of their food and telling people that the culinary arts program does catering for events in the community.

Representatives from the Crow Vineyard and Winery brought with them a white, red, and rosé—something for every palate—as they offered tastings of the 2013 Barbera, the 2014 Barbera rosé, and 2013 Vidal Blanc.

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“It’s the one event that brings the community and the business community together like nothing else can.” ~ Roxane Ferguson,

the executive director of the Middletown Area Chamber of Commerce

Stephanie Price the Crow Vineyard and Winery’s tasting room manager, said that she liked how organizers lined up a nice of vendors to participate.

“I found it very well-organized and it was laid out well,” Price explained.

Several of the vendors talked about the importance of participating in an event like this because the Middletown community is growing so fast.

Middletown Life | Spring/Summer 2016 | www.middletownlifemagazine.com

Continued on Page 78

—————|Middletown|—————

Continued on page 77

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Spring Expo Continued from Page 76

“I think it’s a great event for the community,” said Beth Oliphant, a marketing representative with Christiana Care Health System Imaging Services. “It draws a lot of people. The town is growing so quickly. This event is a good way to let people know where we are and what services we provide.”

Drew Kennedy, the owner of Spot On Marketing, which helps small businesses with their Social Media and marketing, offered a similar opinion. “Middletown has been growing, and the environment is definitely good for the business community,” he said. Kennedy added that just

Photo by Steven Hoffman

Drew Kennedy, the owner of Spot On Marketing, said that just the opportunity to network with the other vendors makes participation in the Middletown Area Chamber of Commerce Spring Expo a worthwhile event.

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Middletown Life | Spring/Summer 2016 | www.middletownlifemagazine.com

the opportunity to network with the other vendors was worth the participation in the event.

There were seven networking groups who took part in the Spring Expo, too. These groups included referral networking groups like C & D Marketing and Middletown Business Associates; networking groups like The Women’s Network, Middletown Women’s Mastermind, and Bear Glasgow Association; the Middletown Business Incubator, which is a collaborative workspace incubator group; and the the Ambassadors Group, which is a network of volunteers who Continued on Page 80

Photo by Steven Hoffman

Missy Muller (right), the owner of Done & Done Fitness, and Chris Sumo (left), the training manager of Done & Done Fitness were at the Spring Expo to let people know how they can assist on the fitness journey.

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Spring Expo Continued from Page 79

help support the Middletown Area Chamber of Commerce’s initiatives and events.

The 97 vendors who took part in the Spring Expo included 21 new vendors, just one illustration of the event’s growing popularity.

Victoria Carter of Bayada Pediatrics was one of those attending the event for the first time.

She was telling attendees about the nursing and therapy services that Bayada Pediatrics provides to children.

“This is our first year here and it’s great,” Carter said. “There are so many vendors here.

We’ll be back next year.”

Nicole Monroe-Cole, the chairwoman of the Spring Expo, said that the event is a good way to

Photo by Steven Hoffman

James McHatton, a culinary professional with the Bahama Breeze Island Grille, was serving up one of the restaurant’s signature items, a sliced jerk chicken breast, fresh asparagus and mushrooms tossed in a Parmesan cream sauce with bow-tie pasta, for visitors.

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link the community with businesses in the area.

“The eighth annual Spring Expo was a huge success with 1,253 attendees who were able to connect with our our vendors and networking groups to learn about all the great things happening in the MOT area,” she said. “I know everyone is excited to see what the ninth annual expo will bring to our community.”

Ferguson said that the enormous success of the Spring Expo says something about the overall strength of the community.

“The MOT area truly embodies what community spirit is all about, and the event exemplifies that immensely,” Ferguson said. “The feedback Continued on Page 82

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Beth Oliphant, a marketing representative with Christiana Care Health System Imaging Services, said that the Spring Expo was a good opportunity to tell people about the services that are provided in the Middletown community.

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Spring Expo Continued from Page 81

has been overwhelmingly supportive, and I’m looking forward to working with the committee on next year’s event.”

For more information about the Middletown Area Chamber of Commerce, check out the organization’s Facebook page or visit www.maccde.com.

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

Photo by Steven Hoffman

Vendors found the Spring Expo to be a good way to connect with potential customers and other vendors in the area.

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Middletown Life | Spring/Summer 2016 | www.middletownlifemagazine.com

—————|Middletown Photo Essay|—————

The great Middletown steeple chase Mystery Photo Essay by Carla Lucas

Spiraling towards the sky, Middletown’s steeples are among the first things you see as you enter town. Each of Middletown’s steeples has its own unique style and architecture.

Can you recognize the area’s buildings from one or two of their details?

The answers to the mystery are found beginning on page 87!

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Photo Essay by Carla Lucas Continued from Page 85

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Middletown Baptist Church

1

419 Armstrong Corner Rd. The church is located north of the downtown area.

The Steeples revealed 2 Forest Presbyterian Church 44 W. Main St. Forest Presbyterian Church was built in 1851. The current facade with clock tower was added in 1882.

Continued on Page 88 www.middletownlifemagazine.com | Spring/Summer 2016 | Middletown Life

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Photo Essay by Carla Lucas Continued from Page 87

Bethesda United Methodist Church 113 E. Main St. BUMC was founded on Feb. 13, 1822. The original building was completed in 1823, and has had many additions and renovation over the years.

3

St. Andrews School Located on Noxontown Road, this unique steeple can be seen on the St. Andrews School campus.

4

Grace Orthodox Presbyterian Church 13 Pennington St. The church was established in 1938, meeting at the Everett Theatre until the property on Pennington Street was obtained.

St. Joseph Parish 319 E. Main St. The original St. Joseph Church was established in 1883, and St. Joseph Parish in 1907.

This Roman Catholic church has grown tremendously in this century, and the new church was dedicated in 2007.

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St. Anne’s Episcopal Church 15 E. Green St. The church was originally established in Middletown in 1704.

7

8 Holly Hills Ministries 17 W. Cochran St. Holly Hills Ministries was launched in April, 2008. This building was the original location of St. Joseph Parish.

Trinity African Episcopal Methodist Church 27 E. Lockwood St.

9 Dale United Methodist Church 143 E. Lake St.

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Q A

—————|Middletown Life Q&A|—————

with Peter Ramos

Photo by Steven Hoffman

Peter Ramos’ Simple Solutions General Contracting won the Middletown Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business of the Year Award.

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Peter Ramos started Simple Solutions General Contracting in 2001. He was only 23 at the time. The business expanded to Townsend last year, and was the recipient of the Middletown Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business of the Year Award at the annual gala in February. Middletown Life caught up with Ramos to talk about the award, and what it’s like having a business in the Middletown area.

Q: Simple Solutions General Contracting was the recipient of the Middletown Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business of the Year Award for 2016. How did you feel when you were presented with the award?

A: Stunned, to be honest. There are so many amazing businesses in the Middletown area. Receiving this award really sets us apart from other contracting businesses. It shows our commitment to our customers.

Q: How long has Simple Solutions General Contracting been in business?

A: Fourteen years. We have an office in Newark and we opened our office in Townsend last year.

Q: Tell us a little about the business.

A: We’re a small, family-owned business. We do all phases of home improvements – residential projects mostly, but we also do light commercial work.

Q: What’s it like doing business in the Middletown area?

A: It’s great. It’s a small community, and we work with many of the local businesses.

Q: Simple Solutions did the contracting work for the remodeling of the Middletown Area Chamber of Commerce’s business incubator on North Cass Street. How did you get involved with that?

A: We were looking for a way to build the business in Middletown and the chamber asked us to give a quote for the project. We were able to do the custom countertops and renovate the office space and the cubicle spaces.

Q: What is the hardest part of your job?

A: Time management is a challenge.

Q: What is the best part of your job?

A: Seeing the customers’ reactions to the work we completed. We want to build a relationship with the customer, so that any contracting need they may have, they know they can rely on us.

Q: What three dinner guests, living or dead, would you invite to a dinner party?

A: George Strait, Tom Landry, and Jack Roush.

Q: What food is always in your refrigerator?

A: Cheese.

Q: What is your favorite spot in the Middletown area?

A: The Main Street area. My family and I enjoy visiting the local shops and restaurants.

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—————|Middletown Traditions|—————

Middletown’s 23rd annual Olde Tyme Peach Festival

The 23rd annual Middletown Peach Festival will take place on Saturday, Aug. 20. The fun begins at 9 a.m. with the Peach Parade on Broad Street, and there will be a variety of attractions and entertainment throughout the afternoon, including activities for children, a local artist exhibit, historical exhibits, and a peach pie contest. There will be live music throughout the day, as well as plenty of crafts, music, games, and food—especially peaches. Most of the activities will once again be centered around Main Street. The event usually attracts approximately 300 vendors from throughout the area.

Dozens of food vendors will be interspersed with the retailers, selling festival favorites like ice cream, pizza, hamburgers, and French fries.

Of course, the Olde Tyme Peach Festival offers much more than a fruitful day of fun and food. As the event has grown, it has become important to the success of dozens of community groups and non-profit organizations that set up booths to make people aware of their causes.

The Olde Tyme Peach Festival was started by the Middletown Historical Society in 1994, and the town’s history continues to be a focal point of the festival. Proceeds from the event also help the Middletown Historical Society fund its operations throughout the year.

Approximately 30,000 people attended the 2015 festival.

More information about the 23rd annual Olde Tyme Peach Festival, including booth applications, parade entry applications, the registration for the car show, and much more can be found at www.middletownpeachfestival.com.

Photos from the Top Photos by Steven Hoffman

Peaches have played a vital role in the development of Middletown.

The parade is always a highlight of the festival.

History continues to be an important part of the day, with special exhibits, demonstrations, and even games.

There will be plenty of games and activities for children.

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