With deep gratitude to our clients for this third year in a row as a 100% Client Referral based business AND our Best Year Ever in Real Estate, we want to show our appreciation by giving a Generous Blessing to a Charity close to our hearts in honor of our clients that have Blessed Us so Generously.
This year, in the spirit of Giving, we invite you to join us in making a bigger impact by fulfilling the Believe in Tomorrow Foundation’s “Wish List” or by making a Donation of any amount to the Believe in Tomorrow Foundation. As a Thank You to you and your family for partnering with us, we are offering Complimentary Tickets to the OCMD Winterfest of Lights during the 2022 Holiday Season.
(Maximum of 4 Admission Tickets per Donation.) Scan the QR Code for details:
Lauren Britt Hudson Teamleader, Salesperson MD: 640847 DE: 0024702
TheBrittsTeam.com
Keller Williams Realty 6200 Coastal Highway Suite 101 Ocean City, MD 21842 443-614-0633 (Mobile) 410-995-8450 (Work)
Lauren@TheBrittsTeam.com
You’ll be the toast of the party this holiday season thanks to the help of talented SoDel Concepts chefs who share appetizer and dessert recipes you can make at home.
THE SPIRIT OF THE SEASON
HARNESSING
The latest news, advice and information from the Shore’s leading healthcare provider.
The Gary Sinise Foundation awards a local hero after reading his story.
Photos from the Rehoboth Beach Hometown Christmas Parade.
Our society pages return with shots from four recent events.
Jennifer Prince grew a hobby into a popular business in short order.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware prepare for a busy holiday season.
Strategies for your contributions from the Community Foundation.
Salisbury’s Newtown Historic District’s Holiday House Tour returns.
Cozy up inside Windmill Creek Vineyard and Winery’s Winter Igloo Village.
Described as one of America’s truly great golf courses, Baywood Greens is a public 18-hole championship course. Manicured greens, flawless fairways, man-made ponds, timber bridges, tunnels and over 200,000 flowers, plants, shrubs and trees don’t begin to describe its beauty.
Known as the “Augusta of the North,” Baywood Greens is by far the most visually spectacular golf course in Delaware and is consistently ranked #1 by Golf Digest’s Best in State.
In our March/April 2022 issue, we featured the remarkable life of Berlin resident Morris Semiatin, a WWII veteran who was awarded the Purple Heart for valor and heroism, among other notable accomplishments.
Morris’ story, written by Olivia Minzola and photographed by Grant L. Gursky, received rave reviews — and found its way to The Gary Sinise Foundation in Los Angeles where it was read by the man himself. Morris’ son, Ben, shared the following with us: “Look who’s reading my dad’s article from your March/April issue! Gary Sinise! OMG! Because of this article, the Gary Sinise Foundation gave my dad $35,550 to be used for the next 6 months of monthly fees at his retirement home in Berlin, Gull Creek Senior Living. My dad and I are flying to New Orleans at the end of this month to visit the National WWII Museum, and it’s ALL expenses paid — 2 nights and 3 days of our trip. My dad is so excited! We are hoping Gary meets us there.”
We hope so, too, Morris and Ben! Congratulations and so well deserved! CS
Rehoboth Beach Hometown Christmas Parade, presented by the Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company, is one of the town’s most anticipated events of the year. The Lodge at Truitt Homestead certainly made a fun and festive statement with their entry in last year’s event. Organizers have confirmed Santa will be attending the 2022 parade, set for Monday, December 5 from 6-9 p.m.
Go big or go home — that’s the motto Schell Brothers lives by when it comes to building parade floats. The company that once showcased a magical train float along the parade route stole the show at last year’s event with this enchanting holiday toy factory, complete with snow.
More than 550 people dressed in their finest country attire to celebrate the winners of Coastal Style’s Best Of Readers’ Poll at Castle Farm in Snow Hill. Utah’s Drive Country Band rocked the stage, while guests enjoyed delicious food samples offered by award-winning eateries. Activities also included mechanical bull rides and laser skeet shooting.
Held October 6 at The Starboard in Dewey Beach, Beebe Healthcare Foundation’s Beebe Goes Purple fundraiser benefited its Go Purple Fund, which aims to make a difference in the fight against opioid addiction in Sussex County. Sadly, Delaware ranks second in the nation in opioid overdoses, and more than half of the state’s overdose deaths occur in Sussex County.
Cambridge, Maryland is not a big town by any means, but if you ask anyone around here, they know Carmela’s. Winning seven Best of Dorchester County Awards voted by our loyal locals has been such an exciting achievement. Best Italian, Best Pizza, Best Takeout, Best Waitstaff, Best Lunch, Best Sandwiches, and Best Wings: all our bragging rights. Our TikTok and Facebook page have both allowed us to reach customers who live outside of the Cambridge area and keep them up to date on our new recipes and exciting specials. Our kitchen staff and waitstaff are committed to giving all of our patrons an experience as if they are a part of our family. The food coming out of the kitchen is all scratch made and the recipes have been well-loved for over 40 years. Each dish is cooked to order and made with fresh, local ingredients, when possible. Each of our servers goes above and beyond to make sure everything comes to your table hot and delicious.
Charlie and Carmela started their journey in the restaurant business when Chef Stefano was just a baby. Now, he joins them in the kitchen creating some of the finest meals for local families. Our family really is dedicated to making sure Cambridge, Maryland has a spot to go for all of their special occasion dinners and also just to have a pizza and beer after a long day of work. Great food and good memories. The welcoming and friendly faces that greet our customers as they walk through our doors know that those customers are what kept us going through the tough times behind us and the delicious food is what keeps the customers returning. We look forward to serving this community, our loyal, local friends and our new, just passing through, customers, for many years to come.
The Eastern Shore community came together to support the Oak Orchard Riverdale Boys & Girls Club at the Great Futures Gala on September 17 at The Peninsula on the Indian River Bay. The Great Futures Fund steering committee proudly announced its contribution of $100,000 to support daily operations and costs associated with the organization’s building expansion project in Long Neck.
Celebrating its 10-year partnership with SoDel Concepts, the Delaware Botanical Gardens held its annual dinner to celebrate its staff, volunteers, supporters and corporate partners. The evening featured delicious coastal foods presented by SoDel Concepts, wine presented by Bin 66 and music under the tent by its Musician in Residence, Vince Varrassi and 5th Avenue.
BY PAMELA AQUILANI
As the cold weather arrives, one of the last things on your mind may be updating your exterior planters; however, the winter season is actually a wonderful time to either add new planters or spruce up your existing planters by adding some holiday flair.
Jennifer Price, the owner of Boxwood & Bloom, specializes in creating customized planter designs, ranging from colorful window boxes to large-scale projects with up to 20 planters, for residential and commercial clients across Delmarva.
Jennifer said she has always been drawn to exploring her creativity through gardening and planting in her free time. After growing bored with traditional planters, she started experimenting with enhancing her personal planters. In the winter of 2019, she shared some of her finished designs on social media and soon received requests to put together planters for friends and family.
While doing online research on how to grow her hobby into a proper business, Jennifer connected with a community called Digging and Gathering on Instagram. Through it, she collected inspiration and ideas from like-minded women from across the country. Jennifer also frequented a local nursery to learn more about the intricate details of greenery.
We believe in giving thanks and giving back. It’s our passion to protect and support our wonderful Delmarva community.
Deeley Serves, our charitable outreach group, is dedicated to improving the lives of others across the region through volunteering, raising funds and awareness, and looking for ways to make things better all year long.
Service is at the heart of everything we do. Our team will bring that helping spirit to your personal and business insurance programs, safeguarding everything that matters most, so you can Be Sure.
As COVID hit, people understandably started to invest more in their home aesthetics. This resulted in an increased volume of requests for Jennifer’s services, and Boxwood & Blooms was officially born.
“I have a lot of fun working with my clients, getting to know their personalities and styles and understanding the environments the planters will be living in,” she shared. “I handpick every element of
nurseries as much as I can.” CS
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware offer more than 60 programs designed to positively impact the lives of local youth.
For almost a century, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware have enriched the lives of thousands of local youths at over 42 locations across the state. In addition to before- and after-school care, as well as summer fun clubs and care options over holiday breaks, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware offer more than 60 programs designed to positively impact the lives of local youth and prepare them for successful futures.
“We have programs that encompass a little bit of everything, from sports and fitness to arts and culture and mental health. We support kids from all different backgrounds and demographics,” shared Madeline Milligan, director of marketing and communications.
“After the pandemic, things like learning loss and mental health are especially important now,” Milligan continued. “We work to provide our kids with mentors
and individuals at the club that they are comfortable with.”
A recent program that has received much praise is the Mini-Farm operation at the Western Sussex Boys & Girls Club site in Seaford. Through this program, youth participants have worked with program leaders to build and maintain a community garden that has produced more than 2,000 pounds of food this year. In addition to
Kresen “Kre” Muir knows the values of hard work and the rewards of dedication.
The 19-year-old Eastern Shore native is a standout athlete on the football field who excelled at Parkside High School through his junior year. Transferring to Stephen Decatur High School for his senior year presented multiple challenges, including acclimating to a new environment, bonding with new students and teammates and learning a new playbook. A leader on and off the field, Kre met each obstacle with head on — and led the Seahawks in tackles while making lifelong friendships along the way. One of his first responsibilities as a young man was to manage the challenges of wearing braces.
Referred to Tilghman Orthodontics by pediatric dentist Dr. Jean Ann Lewis, Kre was outfitted with braces at age 14 by Dr. Michael Tilghman, who assessed and managed the subsequent care of his case.
“The experience of wearing braces teaches kids the importance of good oral hygiene. It also teaches them responsibility,” said Kre’s mom, Shae. “You must put in a lot of work on your own time to ensure the best results possible, such as wearing your rubber bands. Let’s be honest, no kid enjoys wearing those.”
Kre’s braces came off when he was 17, and he immediately reaped the benefits of his commitment. “Kresen has always been a happy kid, but after his braces came off, his smile got bigger, that’s for sure,” Shae said. “He’s very genuine and even more confident in himself.”
Kre received multiple collegiate offers to play football at Division 2 and 3 schools, but his dream was always to play Division 1. After receiving the opportunity as a walk-on at Southern Utah University, Kre was ecstatic.
“It says a lot about his confidence that he’s attending college in Cedar City, Utah — 2,500 miles away from home,” Shae said. “He was able to see the amazing results in the work he had to do wearing braces for multiple years. This was one of the responsibilities that he had to do to help guide him in his path of life.”
harvesting the produce grown, the youth involved in this program have learned the significance of growing their own food, as well as specific information about each produce item.
The Oak Orchard branch of the Boys & Girls Club in Millsboro consists of two facilities: One supports preschool-age children; the other is geared to children from 6 to 13 years old. Combined, these two facilities support over 100 Sussex County youth members. In addition to homework help, the Oak Orchard Boys & Girls Club hosts various prevention programs, such as Smart Girls and the Passport to Manhood programs. It also hosts a tobacco-prevention class called Smoke Stoppers, as well as other programs designed to empower its youth members to succeed in the future.
The Sussex County community supports the Oak Orchard site through local business collaborations, donations and volunteering. A noteworthy example of this community-wide support is the Great Futures Fund, which was established in 2018 by a committee of local volunteers. Fundraising from the Great Futures Fund has directly supported the Oak Orchard branch’s building expansion, allowing the club to continue to enroll more children from its waitlist.
Around the holidays, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware hosts an “Adopt a Family” program. Through this program, individual or group donors are paired with local kids. The donors then purchase items from their paired children’s wish lists. Items on the wish lists typically include specific toys or clothing with size information.
“For the holiday season, the “Adopt a Family” program is a fantastic way to get involved with our organization. Last year, we had over 200 kids who were ‘adopted’ through this program,” said Milligan.
There are also many opportunities to get involved with Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware on a more regular basis, such as mentoring or assisting with a specific program. If you’re interested in finding out more about opportunities to make a difference at your local chapter of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware, please visit bgclubs.org
The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore specializes in helping donors and nonprofits maximize the positive impact of their generosity. Since 1984, CFES has granted $100 million to the Lower Shore community.
The holiday season is often filled with feelings of warmth and generosity. With the giving spirit all around, being savvy about how and where you donate can maximize your impact and ensure you feel good about where your money is going.
“As one of the region’s leading philanthropic experts, The Community Foundation assists donors and nonprofits every day in charitable giving and nonprofit capacity building,” said Community Foundation President Erica Joseph. “While the need for financial and volunteer support is tremendous, being wise in your giving will give you peace of mind.”
“He's very well-educated, very caring, very understanding, and he listens to you.”
After detecting a mass in her breast, Mary Kay was promptly referred to board certified breast surgeon Dr. Matthew Richards, the newest member of Beebe’s Center for Breast Health. While initially uncomfortable with the journey ahead of her, Mary Kay was immediately put at ease knowing her doctor was not only a fellowship trained expert in his field, but also a neighbor and cancer survivor who could understand and empathize with her.
Breast Health CENTER FOR
Scan to learn about breast cancer care at Beebe.
The Best Care is Here.
Matthew Richards, MD Board Certified and Fellowship Trained Surgeon
Mary Kay D. Breast Cancer Patient
For more than 30 years retirees have called Londonderry on The Tred Avon home.
As the first and only 62+ cooperative senior living community on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Londonderry is home to over 180 residents with more than 121 cottages and 26 apartments. Cooperative senior housing is a unique option for retirees seeking an active adult lifestyle with all the financial benefits of homeownership but with none of the burdens.
At Londonderry, we are committed to supporting an active, healthy lifestyle for all our residents. Farm-to-table dining, a robust activities program, and access to a variety of cultural activities make Londonderry the ideal place to retire. With over 1,500 feet of shoreline on the Tred Avon River, our waterfront community is ideal for kayaking, fishing, sailing, or just sitting by the water enjoying our wonderful variety of waterfowl.
Come home for the holidays! For more information, contact the sales and marketing department at (410) 820-8732.
This giving season keep these simple tips in mind:
Who You are Supporting
Always verify a nonprofit’s charitable status. Donate to trusted charities and beware of scammers who create fake charities. Remember that tax-exempt and tax-deductible are not the same. Check a nonprofit’s status on your state’s charity database, CharityNavigator.com, Guidestar.com or at IRS.gov/charities-andnonprofits.
Nearly every cause is represented by the robust nonprofit sector here on the Lower Eastern Shore. When you know a nonprofit well and work with them regularly, you will have greater confidence in where you are donating your money or time. Reputable nonprofits are eager to talk about their goals, services, and fundraising needs. You should feel comfortable asking questions that increase your understanding of the impact your gift will make.
If giving local is important to you, it is wise to understand if you are giving to a national organization or a local chapter. Check with the local branch of an organization about the best way to donate — you may be able to specify that your gift be used for a particular branch or a local need.
Donations of time and expertise are a thoughtful way to give back. For example, volunteering, donating clothing or food, or sharing your professional expertise may be very appreciated. Check before donating items to ensure items meet any requirements and do not become a to burden manage. By connecting in this way, you may find great joy in meeting like-minded people who are passionate about similar causes as you.
Recurring donations are a great way for you to give affordably year-round. By setting up an automated donation, your support will be ongoing, and you won’t have to remind yourself to send a gift each time.
Reputable charities realize not everyone can give to every cause and understand a “no, thank you.” The holidays bring a higher frequency of donation requests at public locations. If an organization or individual is pressuring you beyond a simple ask, this may be a red flag. Avoid on-the-spot decisions or pressure to give to an unfamiliar organization. Responsible organizations will welcome your gift tomorrow as much as they do today.
Creating traditions and passing on the giving spirit is a key part to creating your legacy. Involving children and grandchildren in charitable activities teaches philanthropy and family values and ensures the benefit of your charitable goals extends for generations to come.
Consider a Donor Advised Fund or Estate Planning Strategy
You can support causes you care about when and where it is convenient for you through a Donor Advised Fund. Contributions are generally tax deductible right away and you can decide when to support your favorite charities. Donor Advised Funds are a great option for donors who want a hands-on approach to giving, while benefiting from the diligence and charitable guidance of a community foundation.
Leaving a bequest, giving life insurance, or using a charitable gift annuity may help you commit assets now that will carry on your legacy in the future.
There are unique tax-saving options to increase your giving. Donors can use charitable contributions to reduce tax liability and increase the gift impact by donating longterm appreciated assets (stocks) directly to a nonprofit.
Contributions from your IRA to a charity (Qualified Charitable Distribution) are an easy way to reduce your tax burden and support your favorite nonprofit. Individuals 70½ or older can contribute up to $100,000 per year taxfree from their Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) directly to a charity (certain restrictions apply).
Endow Maryland state tax credits reward donors for gifts to qualified endowment funds at Maryland community foundations. These funds support urgent community needs and provide maximum flexibility over time. Always speak with your tax professional about the best strategy for your situation.
Overall, your philanthropy should be something that makes you feel good and helps your community. As a regional community foundation, CFES is here to help, even if your contribution is not made to them. Contact the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore at CFES.org or 410.742.9911 CS
ou love your family, but curating multiple healthy meals in one day for years is a punishing task. If cooking burnout threatens your enthusiasm, cut a few corners, starting with breakfast. You can elevate your healthy-cooking
positivity with granola. Homemade granola is the morning fast food that doesn’t compromise nutrition.
One morning, just before dawn, I crept downstairs to watch the sunrise from the cuddle chair in the kitchen.
I’d awoken tired and frustrated. Responsibilities and commitments mounted in a pile almost as high as my laundry. With my mug of coffee cradled between my palms, melancholy and a sense of being overwhelmed
strangled any sliver of joy that may have tried to emerge that morning.
Soon, the kids would wander sleepily downstairs for breakfast. But that day, unfortunately, I didn’t have the motivation to wave my magic spatula and transform flour into pancakes.
I poked around the pantry and discovered the glass container of homemade granola. Seeing the fruit of my meal prep from weeks ago rehabilitated my mood. That morning, I needed the perfect balance of nutrition and convenience.
Easy. Fast. Inexpensive.
Too often, store-bought granola contains lots of refined sugar. So, here’s a tiny reminder that eating plans high in refined carbs and
sugar contribute to chronic conditions. Also, refined sugar is an enemy of your immune system. So, as we’ve entered cold- and-flu season, it’s essential to focus on foods that nourish your gut and strengthen your immune system. You want your body to make jiu-jitsu moves and attack viruses and other germs.
The time has come for you to shake off some problematic food habits that hold your body captive in a state of fatigue and meal-plan mediocrity. Keep this in mind. Rehabilitate your breakfast plan by serving real foods, like homemade granola. You can serve a nourishing morning meal with a handful of basic ingredients without much fuss.
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Award winning estate…This crown jewel of the Delmarva’s Peninsula Eastern Shore coastal corridor is situated on an acre of land overlooking indigenous habitat ponds at the Links of Lighthouse Sound and features stunning, panoramic views of Assawoman Bay and the Ocean City skyline. A collaboration of NYC and Washington DC design teams, along with local artisans, means this property is truly a work of art. This masterpiece offers 6BR 7.5 BA, 32’ boat slip, chef’s kitchen, 40’ x 60’ gated pool and over 8,000 sq. ft. of pure decadence. $4,500,000
Notable features include: 6 bedroom en-suites, front and back staircases, chef’s kitchen with Carrara Italian marble, elegant dining room featuring Gracie hand-painted wallpaper depicting paintings of our local Audubon setting, 3-story octagonal turret overlooking a 40x16 gated pool, hot tub with hardscape, designer silk window treatments, butler’s pantry featuring a 120-bottle wine refrigerator, 2 laundry rooms, hand-crafted custom woodwork, 9’ vaulted or extended ceilings, rooftop and a widows watch with spectacular 360-degree panoramic views. 30’boat slip also available with offering.
Beth Evans
Berkshire Hathaway Gallo 33292 Coastal Highway Suite 1 Bethany Beach, DE 19930 302-249-5200
“You can elevate your healthy-cooking positivity with granola. Homemade granola is the morning fast food that doesn’t compromise nutrition.”
Sultenfuss cautions that storebought granola often contains lots of refined sugar, which should be avoided.
Brett M. Sause, Registered Representative offering securities through NYLIFE Securities LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Licensed Insurance Agency 1954 Greenspring Drive, Suite 700, Timonium, MD 21093, 410.321.6161. Brett M. Sause is an agent licensed to sell insurance through New York Life Insurance Company and may be licensed to sell insurance through various other independent unaffiliated insurance companies. Brett M. Sause Member Agent, The Nautilus Group® is a service of New York Life Insurance Company. The Nautilus Group® as well as its employees and Member Agents do not provide tax or legal advice. Atlantic Financial Group, LLC is independently owned and operated from NYLIFE Securities LLC and its affiliates. SMRU #1910042 exp. 8/24/2023
In most households, cereal is already the featured menu item for breakfast. But with the right granola recipe, you can transform a ho-hum breakfast into a powerhouse bowl of crunchy goodness.
5 cups organic oatmeal (sprouted oats is best, just not quick-cook)
½ cup coconut oil or avocado oil
½ cup of real maple syrup or honey
1 tsp sea salt
2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut
2 cups sliced almonds or a combination of nuts and seeds (sunflower, cashews, pecan, pignoli, etc.)
1 cup of raisins
1 cup of small apricots, diced
1 cup of cranberries, dried
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Cover a 13” × 18” baking sheet with unbleached parchment paper. In a large bowl, combine the oats, nuts/seeds, melted coconut oil, and maple syrup or honey. Toss until the oat mixture is coated and wet. Pour the mixture onto the baking sheet. Spread evenly. Bake mixture until golden brown, approximately 15 minutes. Stir the mixture every 5-7 minutes to prevent edges from burning. Remove the mixture when done. Cool mixture. Add the dried fruit. Stir to combine.
Clever ways to use granola, other than for breakfast:
• Add layers of granola to a yogurt parfait
• Mix with crumb topping on an apple crisp
• Sprinkle on a salad, then drizzle with balsamic vinegar
• Roll banana slices in granola
• Use as a topping on smoothies and smoothie bowls
To make granola, you don’t have to be a wizard in the kitchen. It’s an easy recipe that uses ingredients found in most American kitchens. CS
At age 48, Janeen Boyd didn’t expect to need hip surgery. However, after more than a year of extreme pain while walking and failing everything else, including physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications and intraarticular injections, she found herself at the office of William Doran, DO, of TidalHealth Orthopedics.
“He showed me the x-rays and MRI, and said surgery was an option,” Janeen said. “I had surgery on March 31, and by Easter, I was walking without a limp.”
Janeen benefited from Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery. Dr. Doran has been performing less-invasive knee surgery since 2018 and saw the need to expand robotic options for hip replacements as well.
Dr. Doran was recently voted one of Delaware’s Top Docs by Delaware Today magazine and is Delaware’s most experienced robotic orthopedic surgeon.
Mako Total Hip surgery is appropriate for people suffering with severe hip pain or stiffness resulting from degenerative joint disease, including but not limited to osteoarthritis, post-traumatic arthritis, or avascular necrosis and rheumatoid arthritis. It can be a life-changing experience for individuals who have failed conservative treatment options such as physical therapy, oral medications, and steroid injections.
The surgery is unique in that it provides a personalized surgical plan. Prior to surgery, a CT scan of the patient’s hip or knee joint is obtained. This generates a threedimensional model of their unique anatomy. The 3D model helps surgeons see details they can’t typically see with an x-ray alone. This information helps Dr. Doran determine the optimal size, placement and positioning of each patient’s implant.
Throughout the procedure, Mako provides real-time data to the surgeon. This allows him to continuously assess the movement and tension of the new joint and adjust the surgical plan if needed. In the operating room, Dr. Doran guides Mako’s robotic arm to remove the arthritic bone and cartilage from the hip. As Dr. Doran prepares to place the acetabular component into its final position, the robotic arm guides the implant at the desired angle predetermined in the surgical plan. This technology helps ensure the appropriate orientation and depth of the implant, resulting in personalized and reproducible outcomes.
“I didn’t know what to expect, but I was up and walking the same day I had surgery, and the scar isn’t even as long as my index finger,” Janeen said.
Best of all, she can walk pain free.
Janeen’s experience isn’t unique; patient Beverly Stallings of Hurlock also experienced excruciating pain while walking for more than a year.
“I thought it was muscular,” she said. “It was terrible, and nothing helped.”
Dr. Doran previously performed a knee replacement for Beverly and she had excellent results. When a new pain developed, she reached out to him for help. After explaining the x-ray finding and discussing treatment options, including anterior hip replacement, “I made the appointment that day,” she said.
Her experience gave her all the confidence she needed.
“His team is the best,” she said. “The nurses and staff are all compassionate and understanding, and Dr. Doran is a godsend.”
After her anterior Mako hip surgery, Beverly’s pain was gone, and she started walking immediately.
“I’m not going to let any grass grow under my feet,” she said.
She and Janeen both have the same advice to others: Don’t put it off.
“If you need it, get it done,” Janeen said. “It’s so much better than what I could have imagined.”
Dr. Doran sees patients in Seaford, Millsboro and Georgetown. To learn more, call 302-990-3280 or visit tidalhealth.org/orthopedics to schedule an appointment online.
To learn more about Dr. William Doran of TidalHealth Orthopedics and his personalized approach to joint replacement surgery, visit tidalhealth.org/orthopedics
I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from Salisbury University’s Perdue School of Business. I joined the TidalHealth family from Wor-Wic Community College, where I was the Director of Development and the Executive Director of their Foundation. I’ve worked at Atlantic General Hospital as a Marketing Analyst, and have proudly served some incredible kids and families as the Division Director for the Eastern Shore March of Dimes.
I couldn’t be more excited to be in this important role at TidalHealth. There are a number of exciting things happening, from a new robotic surgery program at TidalHealth Nanticoke in Seaford, new and revolutionary cancer treatments and research initiatives across the health system, and for the first time in our 125-year history at TidalHealth Peninsula Regional, a new residency program for internal medicine doctors with a similar surgical residency program to follow next year.
As a young girl growing up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, I have vivid memories of riding close to my dad on the bench seat of his truck as he made his way around Ocean City conducting business. Always at my eye level, and right there on the dashboard, was a sticky note that he had written as a reminder to himself. It read, “At the end of each day, ask yourself the question, have I done my very best today to make a positive difference?” With the greatest respect and admiration for my dad then, as I still have today, I ask myself as I end each day at home with my family, “Did I make a difference today?”
I’m Jessica, and I’m honored to introduce myself as the new President of the TidalHealth Foundation. Our team is excited and energized to work with you and to get to know the game changers, difference makers and the giving hearts of Delmarva who are just as passionate about healthcare as we are.
As I mentioned above, I am a proud born-and-raised Eastern Shore girl. You may know my dad, Clay Stamp, who for years was the Emergency Manager for the Town of Ocean City (and made as many friends as he put miles on that old truck).
It is thanks to our community that we are able to support all of these wonderful healthcare initiatives. If you want to learn more about the TidalHealth Foundation, or make a gift that will improve healthcare for generations to come, please call us at 410-543-7140 or stop by The Giving House, our home base, on the TidalHealth Peninsula Regional campus. Thank you so much for your support.
If you’d like to reach me, email jessica.hales@tidalhealth.org.
From ensuring the hospital’s youngest patients have a toy to lift their spirits during their stay, to funding important health screenings, the TidalHealth Foundation is here for its community.
Throughout the years, the TidalHealth Foundation has raised more than $51 million in support of program expansions, capital projects and equipment, educational programs and community health and wellness initiatives.
President Jessica Hales, who joined the organization earlier this year, is excited to continue the Foundation’s good work right here on the Eastern Shore.
"TidalHealth makes a huge difference in the lives of our friends, families and neighbors, and I am so excited to be part of this incredible organization,” Hales said. “We have our sights set on the future, and every gift is appreciated.”
The TidalHealth Foundation, governed by a Board of Directors, receives contributions from a broad public base that includes individuals, businesses, and foundations.
Contributions are used to purchase state-of-theart medical equipment for diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation, patient care services, education programs for professional and support staff, community education programs, health screenings and facility improvement and expansion.
The TidalHealth Foundation was established in 1993 and is a Maryland non-profit corporation exempt from federal taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Gifts made to the TidalHealth Foundation may be used to meet either current or long-term needs of the organization and are tax deductible.
Gifts made without restriction are of the most value to TidalHealth as they provide the greatest flexibility for the benefit of the community. Cash gifts are deductible annually.
Planned gifts, donor-advised funds or qualified charitable distributions are also great ways to give.
If you’d like to donate, visit tidalhealth.org/donate.
If you’d like to help improve the health of your community, consider making a donation to the TidalHealth Foundation at tidalhealth.org/donate.
This holiday season, give the gift that can’t be bought — the gift of your time.
Last year, volunteers at TidalHealth donated nearly 19,000 hours, working in hospitals, at community events and with their pets as certified pet therapy teams.
While that’s impressive, TidalHealth Volunteers Manager Kelly Novak said the number of people willing to donate their time has plummeted since the pandemic; prior to 2020, volunteers donated more than 45,000 hours each year.
"I’m excited to see volunteer opportunities growing with our new health system from Seaford all the way to Crisfield,” she said. “It’s always wonderful to see people wanting to give back to the community through TidalHealth.”
Novak said TidalHealth has volunteer opportunities for many ages — there is even a special program for teenagers — and everyone makes a difference.
"TidalHealth can be the location where our loved ones, friends, neighbors come in time of distress, so when you volunteer at TidalHealth you are giving not just to TidalHealth but to your community and maybe your loved one or neighbor,” she said.
To learn more about volunteer opportunities at TidalHealth, email kelly.novak@tidalhealth.org
How can I help? If you’d like to volunteer in the hospital, at community events or with your dog as a certified pet therapy team, contact Kelly Novak, Manager of TidalHealth Volunteers, at kelly.novak@tidalhealth.org.
Toby and his owner, TidalHealth Volunteer Manager Kelly Novak, donate their time lifting the spirits of patients in Seaford and Salisbury.
William Doran, DO Locations in Georgetown, Millsboro and Seaford 302-990-3280
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Serves 8 to 10
For the Roasted Cranberries
3½ cups fresh cranberries ¼ cup maple syrup ¼ cup orange juice
Zest of 1 orange 1 pinch fresh rosemary 1 pinch salt
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400°F. Mix all ingredients well and bake for 15 minutes. Set aside to cool for 10 minutes.
For the Candied Pecans
1 cup sugar 1 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp salt 1 egg white 1 Tbsp water 1 lb pecan halves
Instructions
Preheat oven to 250°F. Mix sugar, salt and cinnamon, then whisk egg white and water in a separate bowl. Toss pecans in egg/water, then toss in sugar-saltcinnamon mixture. Coat well. Bake for one hour, until brown, stirring every 15 minutes, for even baking.
For the Brie 1 large Brie wheel (rind removed)
Instructions
Bake the Brie in your favorite cast-iron pan for 10 minutes at 350°F. Once baked, top with prepared pecans and cranberries and serve with crackers or crusty bread slices.
¼ cup toasted walnuts
1 cup dried cranberries
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1 small shallot, sliced
½ tsp garlic, chopped
3 oz orange juice
1 Tbsp lime juice
1 Tbsp water
2 cups mayonnaise
Add all ingredients, except the mayonnaise, to a saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and cool completely, then puree. Stir in the mayonnaise and chill.
For the Brussels Sprouts
1 lb Brussels, cleaned and quartered (do not rinse with water)
½ cup Pecorino cheese, shredded (good quality)
½ cup toasted walnuts
3 cups vegetable oil
In a pot, heat the vegetable oil to 325°F. Add the Brussels using a spoon and fry until golden brown. Remove the Brussels from the oil, using a slotted spoon, and place in a paper-towel-lined bowl. Salt to taste.
In a bowl of your choice, spread the aioli around the sides. Place the crispy Brussels in the bowl. Top with the Pecorino and toasted walnuts.
For the Crust
Two 10” pie pans or one 9” springform pan
Ingredients
1½ cups graham cracker crumbs
1½ cups Nilla Wafer crumbs
½ cup coconut, shredded
1 Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp flour
1 tsp salt
1 stick, plus 5 Tbsp butter, melted
Instructions
Combine all ingredients and press into pans. Bake 8–12 minutes at 325°F or until lightly browned.
For the Custard
Two 10” pie pans or one 9” springform pan
Ingredients
6 limes, zest and juice
2 oranges, zest and juice
14 oz lime juice
16 egg yolks
1 Tbsp salt
3 14-oz cans condensed milk, sweetened
½ cup heavy cream
1 oz triple sec
1 oz tequila
1 oz elderflower
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
Instructions
Zest and juice the limes and oranges. Weigh the fresh-squeezed juice from the limes and oranges and add bottled key lime juice to equal 15 oz of juice. Next, whisk the yolks, salt and zest until well combined.
Whisk in condensed milk and cream, followed by juice, liquors and vanilla extract. Pour into cooled crust and bake at 345°F for 18–24 minutes. NOTE: Use this time only as a guide. Depending on the strength of your oven, it may take significantly longer.
Bake until pie is just set and jiggles as a whole, with little to no browning on the edges.
Day
(Recipes make enough to assemble two cakes)
Coconut Cake
(Makes 2, 4-layer, 10-inch cakes)
4 sticks butter, room temperature
3 cups sugar
6 eggs
1½ cup heavy cream
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
¼ cup oil, blended 4⅓ cups flour
1⅓ Tbsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
Paddle together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing until fully incorporated. Scrape down the bowl several times throughout. Once all incorporated, paddle on high until pale in color.
Combine heavy cream, vanilla extract and blended oil. Combine dries. Add dries to butter mixture in three parts and the cream mixture in two parts, alternating back and forth, starting and ending with the dries. Mix on low each time, until nearly combined, before stopping the mixer and adding the next addition.
Stop the mixer as soon as the last streaks of flour are incorporated into the batter. Divide into four, 10-inch, round cake pans. Bake at 350°F for 15 minutes, until cakes are golden on top and cooked through.
Chocolate Cake
(Makes 4, 10-inch cakes)
6 cups sugar
5 cups flour
2 cups Valrhona cocoa powder
2 Tbsp baking soda
2 Tbsp baking powder
2 tsp salt
1 cup sour cream
8 eggs
2½ cups buttermilk
1 cup oil, blended
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
2 cups coffee, hot
Instructions
Sift sugar through salt into a large bowl. Set aside.
In a separate bowl, whisk sour cream and eggs together, followed by buttermilk. Add the blended oil and vanilla. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until combined. Stream in hot coffee, whisking just until combined.
Divide into four, 10-inch, round cake pans. Bake at 350°F with the high fan setting for 20 minutes, turning every 10 minutes. After 20 minutes, turn fan down to low and continue baking until cooked through, about 5-15 minutes depending on oven.
Coconut Filling
½ qt heavy cream
3 cups coconut milk
2½ cups sugar
2 tsp salt
⅓ cup corn starch
3 Tbsp coconut rum
1½ lbs butter, softened 1 lb coconut flakes
In a large pot, combine heavy cream and coconut milk and begin to heat on medium. Combine sugar and salt. Whisk about half into the heating cream mixture. Whisk the corn starch into the remaining sugar/salt.
Once the cream comes to a simmer, temper with the sugar/ cornstarch mixtures, returning it all to the pot. Bring to a boil and cook for 2 minutes, until thick. Stir in the coconut rum and then turn off the heat. Add the softened butter and whisk until incorporated. You can also use an immersion blender for this. Stir in the flaked coconut last. Pour into a large bowl, cover the surface directly with plastic wrap and chill overnight in the refrigerator.
Nutella Crunch
3 cups almonds, sliced and toasted
1½ cups Nutella
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp salt
1 cup Rice Krispies (regular or chocolate)
Instructions
Paddle together Nutella, powdered sugar and salt. Stir in almonds, followed by Rice Krispies. Chill until assembling cake.
Chocolate Cream Filling
2½ cups heavy cream
¾ cup honey
2 sticks butter
16 oz semisweet chocolate
8 oz milk chocolate
2 tsp salt
1½ cups sour cream
Instructions
Combine heavy cream, honey and soft butter in a medium sauce pot and bring to a simmer (butter should be melted at this point).
Meanwhile, put both chocolates in a bowl. When cream mixture starts to boil, remove from heat and pour over the chocolate. Allow to sit 30-60 seconds to melt the chocolate and then whisk until smooth. Stir in the salt, followed by the sour cream, until there are no lumps. Chill in the refrigerator overnight.
Cake Soak
Combine 2 cups simple syrup, 2 cups whole milk and 1 Tbsp vanilla extract. Put in a squeeze bottle.
Cream Cheese Frosting
4 lbs butter, soft 3 lbs cream cheese, soft 3 lbs powdered sugar 1 Tbsp salt 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
Paddle cream cheese until smooth. Add butter and paddle until evenly combined. Add salt and powdered sugar and paddle on high until light and fluffy. Add vanilla extract and mix until incorporated.
Pull coconut and chocolate creams out of the refrigerator at least 2 hours ahead of assembling, so they are soft and spreadable.
Note: Assemble cake in the order listed below, from the bottom up. Start by placing a round of coconut cake on your cake board. Pipe a tall boarder of cream cheese frosting around the edge of the cake. Scoop one-quarter of the total chocolate cream filling inside the boarder and spread out evenly with an offset spatula. Sprinkle about one-quarter of the Nutella crunch all over the cream. Press it down into the cream.
Top with a layer of chocolate cake. Drizzle the cake all over with the cake soak. Pipe a tall boarder of cream cheese frosting around the edge of the cake.
Scoop one-quarter of the total coconut cream filling inside the boarder and spread out evenly with an offset spatula. Sprinkle about one-quarter of the Nutella crunch all over the cream. Press it down into the cream. Top with a layer of coconut cake. Drizzle all over with the cake soak. Pipe an extra-tall board of the cream cheese frosting around the edge of the cake.
Scoop one-quarter of the total chocolate cream filling inside the boarder and spread out evenly with an offset spatula. Scoop one-quarter of the total coconut cream filling inside the boarder and spread out evenly with an offset spatula.
Top with the second layer of chocolate cake. Drizzle all over with the cake soak. Place the entire cake in the refrigerator (or freezer) to completely firm up before frosting and finishing.
Top of cake
¼ batch coconut cream
¼ batch chocolate cream
Coconut cake
¼ batch Nutella crunch
¼ batch coconut cream
Chocolate cake
¼ batch Nutella crunch
¼ batch chocolate cream
Coconut cake
Bottom of cake
Once cake is firm, cover the entire top and outside with the cream cheese frosting. Smooth out. Optional: Decorate sides of cake with a mixture of toasted coconut and toasted sliced almonds. CS
1½ parts Redemption Bourbon
2 parts stone batch
½ tsp allspice dram
¼ part bergamot
½ part blackcurrant
½ part Pineau Des Charentes (grape aperitif)
Cider
Instructions
Stir all ingredients in shaker with ice, except cider. Strain over highball glass with ice. Top with cider. Garnish with lemon oils (optional).
Embellished “decorator trees” that are highly curated and coordinated certainly have a place and are admired for their designer appeal. But Jeffrey Parker takes a different tack despite his architectural and interior design expertise. “I love all of the wonderful, themed trees in retail stores and commercial spaces; however, I do not subscribe to that in my home,” says the principal and founder of Jeffrey Parker Interiors.
“At home, the holidays are a much more personal thing and steeped in tradition,” he says, dialing back to his first childhood Christmas tree — a request of his parents when he was 8 years old. “I decided I was old enough to have a tree of my own for my room, so my father went out to a wooded area and dug up a little cedar tree, put it in a pot, set it on my toy chest, and we went to the fiveand-dime to buy a string of lights and some blown-glass ornaments.”
Parker also created little cardboard houses to fashion a village for his tree, complete with tiny people. Even today, “going to sleep in the glow of a tree will make any part of my adult day fade away — it’s such a warm, cozy feeling,” he said.
Memories set the tone for holiday decorating at his red-brick Georgian home in Easton, where Parker blends antiques with contemporary art and has created spaces that are thoughtful and livable. Here is a snapshot of how Parker decks the halls of his home, Boxwood Hall.
For Jeffrey Parker, collecting ornaments is a year-round affair. He even gets them as birthday presents.
Over the years, Parker’s initial bedroom tree evolved into what is now a nine-footer “laden in ornaments, virtually all glass.” The family Christmas tree, as Parker calls it, holds ornament collections started by his late parents after they were married. As his collection expanded, he decided to add a five-foot tree atop the grand piano, which is home to the most special antique ornaments. One is a glass church gifted to him by a friend. “It was from his great aunt, and it hangs not on a hook but on her hairpin, and it’s about 175 years old,” Parker shared.
Another nine-foot tree in the family room is wide in stature and decked with the European glass-blown ornaments gifted to him or discovered in shops or while traveling. There’s a tree dedicated to wooden nutcrackers, as well.
Ornament collecting is a year-round affair, and it has always been that way for Parker. He says, “It became known that on my birthday, if you didn’t know what to give Jeffrey, buy a Christmas ornament.”
“Home is where your heart is, and my collection and pets and family and the people
I love the most… that is what home is for.”
Parker’s love of antique ornaments extends to selections he has made for his home, such as a Louis XV marble mantle above a second masonry fireplace he added to the home. The dining room chandelier is a 19th-century Baltic Russian crystal piece he found through a New York antiques dealer. “I like to live with history and with antiques, yet I don’t want to feel like I’m living in a museum; part of the way I achieve that is through my contemporary-art collection,” he says. “The juxtaposition between contemporary art and antique furniture is a beautiful conversation.”
Parker enjoys juxtaposing contemporary art with antique furniture, calling it “a beautiful conversation.”
Though Parker travels frequently, he ensures he’s in Easton during the holiday season.
The holidays at Parker’s home are about celebrating the past and welcoming the new. He holds an annual Christmas party with a jazz combo and caroling in the library, storytelling all around — especially sharing the backgrounds of the hundreds of ornaments. And though Parker travels often, he is always home for the holidays. “Home is where your heart is, and my collection and pets and family and the people I love the most… that is what home is for,” he said. CS
From the moment one enters the home of Marcia Schieck and Richard Greenfield during the holiday season, they are welcomed by a dazzling extravaganza of trees, decor and keepsakes.
Written by Kristen Hampshire | Photography by Pamela Aquilani
When Marcia Schieck was a young girl, she watched as her mother would forage at garage and estate sales, craft stores and even in their own attic for materials that could be repurposed to set the stage for a cozy, special holiday. Eventually, she helped and has carried on the tradition over the years, designing and decorating spaces for Christmas and beyond.
“I grew up in a small town in Western Pennsylvania, and we had to be creative,” Schieck related, adding that her mother made “all of our holidays feel like a parade — a magical movie.”
Schieck has spent years gutting, renovating, designing and staging homes. “For me, it’s not just the home design, walls and floors but also how you fill the space with love, comfort and happiness,” she said. “It’s about creating spaces with passion, love and a giant sprinkle of magic.”
Giant, to be sure. Schieck has a 25’ x 10’ storage unit lined with shelves and containers of holiday decorations. Her Dewey Beach home is transformed into a Christmas wonderland featuring a dozen trees that Schieck decorates herself as her husband, Rich Greenfield,
ehelps with logistics — like hooking up all the lights to Alexa, so they can simply say, “Turn on Christmas magic,” and pop-poppop, the trees all turn on within a minute, and their three-story, 7,700-square-foot coastal home is glittering with spirit.
Schieck’s holiday “extravaganza,” as she calls it, really started about eight years ago, when the couple would rent the du Pont estate in Dewey in the fall, where they’d enjoy some preholiday time with friends and family. “The elements of the house we are in now lend themselves to coming alive during the holidays,” she said, “and I wanted to create something you would see in a magazine — a place where you’d want to go to spend a week over Christmas.”
So, that’s exactly what she did, and every year the decorating starts before Thanksgiving and extends through winter. “I encourage people to keep the happiness up,” she added.
When asked how she pulls it off or where she finds the inspiration, Schieck suggests looking in magazines, selecting some photos of an ideal Christmas setting and considering how to recreate the look as her mother taught her.
To keep the joyous holiday momentum flowing, Schieck begins decorating before Thanksgiving and continues throughout the winter.
All but one tree is changed up annually. “My longest-standing tree is the fairy tree, with about 20 hand-painted, hand-designed whimsical fairies,” she said. “On a 10-foot tree, they come alive.” Other trees she designs based on the space. “I might get boxes from my storage unit and pick one element that becomes the theme,” she described. For example, last year she wanted a red-and-gold look for one of the trees. “I found the most sparkly, pretty bows that were red and handmade them. Then I started tucking in ribbon and ornaments, and next came painted pinecones.”
Schieck emphasizes the fact that gorgeous trees can come together on a budget. “You don’t have to spend a lot of money to make it special,” she said. “One of my favorite strategies is a simple green tree sprayed with white frosting and lights, and what carries the tree is the lights. Then I take boxes and get beautiful red-and-blackchecked wrapping and make big bows to put underneath.”
Beyond the evolving tree collection, Schieck dresses bannisters, mantles, shelves and wall space with festive garland — some blooming with colorful ornaments — and wreaths of all sizes hanging from felt red ribbon. Holiday throw pillows adorn seating, and bow sashes transform dining room chairs. Throughout the home, candles introduce warm, cozy light. Schieck also works in natural elements, especially pinecones, since they are so plentiful in the area. “Just take some from the front yard and spray paint them white or gold — that is one of the big design tricks I use because they are everywhere,” she said.
To give her space that extra sprinkle of magic, Schieck embellishes mantles, shelves, bannisters, and more with festive garland and wreaths of varying size.
Schieck has grown her holiday decor collection (and stash) over the years by shopping after the season ends. Another tip she shares is to hit the sales where ornaments that might have been priced at $8 are marked down to a dollar or less. This allows you to be elaborate the next year or to add a tree or several. But above all, Schieck’s secret to making Christmas magic is to focus on the feeling, not on the “stuff.” “Decorating at Christmas and creating a special place is really individual,” she said. “It’s about making it feel like a cozy blanket and your own.” CS
Schieck advises holiday decorators to “focus on the feeling, not on the ‘stuff’” when it’s time to deck the halls of their own homes.
“I’m a forager — a floral designer — and I often get inspiration from magazines and try to replicate those ideas,” says Jeanne Bernard, who takes an organic approach to decking her Dorchester County halls. “I love incorporating natural elements. If you were to come to my house today, you’d see a hornet’s nest on my hutch, birds’ nests, plants… and I carry that through in my holiday decorating.”
In 1997, the Bernards bought the property, which had a modest home on it. Ten years later, the couple decided to build a family home that adult children, grandchildren and friends could enjoy too. “Once we put a pool in this summer, it became the Bernard Resort,” she said.
The holidays are also bustling times and chockfull of celebration. As an interfaith family, the Bernards celebrate Christmas and Hannukah. From keeping tradition with a 12-course Ukrainian Christmas Eve dinner to spreading the joy with wooden nutcrackers the kids love, the couple are preparing for yet another joyous season at their coastal gathering place.
As the leaves change, Bernard decorates with gourds, branches she clips from the property, dried foliage and pinecones. When Thanksgiving passes, the autumn theme transitions to a merry atmosphere, and she’ll repurpose found items as she pulls out Christmas boxes. The same occurs outdoors. “I transition container plantings using lots of greenery and sticks and sometimes ornaments or ribbon,” she said. Her double front door serves as a canvas for an oystershell-and-pinecone garland she created with complementary wreathes. “The wreathes I make with our garden club in our annual workshop,” she shared.
The Bernards frequently traveled to Germany on business and always brought home a wooden nutcracker doll. “My husband also loves to go to auctions, and one time he found a huge box of broken nutcrackers,” she said. “They were missing arms, legs, eyes or something. So, we spent a whole winter in ‘nutcracker hospital,’ where he would repair the carpentry, and I would paint or make a new cape.”
The grandchildren adore the nutcracker collection, which includes about 40 colorful and intricate dolls. “They use them to tell stories and do a lot of imaginative play,” Bernard said. “One year, I didn’t get them out, and they said, ‘Grammy, where are the nutcrackers?’ so we had to go find them.”
Bernard makes incorporating natural elements into her design scheme a priority.
Green is Bernard’s favorite color, and holiday decor always incorporates the hue. She also focuses mostly on displaying decor collected over the years. “It is inspired by my kids and grandchildren,” she said, pointing to whimsical gingerbread houses and candy trees. By the mantle where seven stockings hang is a Chesapeake Bay “crabby tree,” with old-world ornaments collected from travels. Bernard also works in family photographs and decorates a garden tree — her favorite pastime, aside from enjoying family. “I like things that bring smiles to their faces,” she said. CS
December 4 marks the return of the Newtown Neighborhood Association Holiday House Tour. Prepurchased tickets are just $18 per person.
Written by Alison Pappas
The Newtown Historic District is thrilled to welcome back its Neighborhood Association Holiday House Tour on Sunday, December 4.
The neighborhood, which is bursting with charm and historic homes, earned its name after fires that took place in 1960 and 1986 forced the community to build a new town. The Holiday House Tour, which has been taking place every three years for the last 15 years, celebrates the neighborhood’s unique history and is an enjoyable activity for local history lovers, architecture and design enthusiasts and anyone simply looking to partake in a new experience within our local community.
The 10-home tour showcases the stirring history and timeless architecture of the Victorian era.
Featured in the tour are 10 homes and two churches that showcase the beauty of Victorian design, as well as other historical architectural styles. Poplar Hill Mansion, a historic-house museum and well-known events venue, is the tour’s starting point. There, attendees can purchase tickets, or if they have already prepurchased tickets online, they can simply check in and pick up their tour materials. These materials consist of a trifold brochure that showcases photos and descriptions of each tour stop.
The tour is available from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for one day only and is self-guided, with an expected duration of two and a half hours if walked from start to finish. The homeowners, as well as volunteer docents, will be present to answer any questions and provide background information, making this a truly interactive experience for attendees. A notable stop on the tour is the Gillis Grier Bed & Breakfast. A beloved symbol of the neighborhood, the Gillis Greer B&B is a historic, Queen Anne Victorian-style inn that features striking stained-glass windows, an octagon-shaped, multistory, exterior tower and other late-19th-century aesthetics.
While a key theme is sharing local history, the tour also celebrates the spirit of neighborly engagement. “The people who move here, move here for the love of their homes. They see a place; it talks to them; they buy it, and they do what they can to fix it up, if needed. The tour allows us to showcase the love of our homes,” shared committee and board member Lisa Gingrich, who has been a resident of the Newtown Historic District since 2012.
Guests can purchase tickets online beforehand at EventBrite.com for $18 or in person on the day of the event, for $20. CS
Born and raised in Lewes, Brenda Jones wouldn’t want to live anywhere else, citing the town’s walkability and connection to the people who travel its streets.
Written by Kristen Hampshire | Photography by Pamela Aquilani
Brenda Jones was born and raised in Lewes — she’s a “BB baby” — so when one of the charming town’s last remaining corner lots in the Historic District became available, she captured the opportunity to build a modern farmhouse home with an airy office, where she runs her architectural firm.
Aside from the fact that she is rooted in Lewes, Jones loves the town’s walkability, and some of her favorite times are spent relaxing on the front porch in the evening. “You have such a connection to the sidewalk and to those who walk past,” she said.
Of course, there’s also the Lewes holiday season, which she likens to a Hallmark movie. “The music and festiveness of the street being closed off and the stores are open; people are carrying packages,” she said, rehashing the kickoff of the annual Lewes Lights holiday tour.
Jones’ home, built in 2018, introduced fresh possibilities for Christmas decorating — including room for an eight-foot tree rather than the tabletop-sized one she displayed at her former home. “Christmas decorating is timeless,” she added of her approach.
Welcome Home Holiday spirit starts on the generous front porch, where Jones fashions lit greenery in eclectic containers and hangs garland around the door. A small tree flanks an antique wagon brimming with spruce, twigs and lights. A brightly painted red shutter offers a perch and backdrop for ice skates. Every element has a story. The skates were Jones’ when she was young, and the wagon rested in her parents’ Lewes attic for decades. “My father bought it at a barn sale, and it sat — and I finally figured out a purpose for it,” she said.
Jones participates in the Lewes Lights tour, for which she switches up her front-porch decor every year. “This past year, our street won the Jingle Bell Lane award, so the opening ceremony will take place here,” she shared.
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Festive touches permeate the Jones household inside and out, including Adirondack chairs with cheery throws, along with a dining table bedecked with Danish china, red chargers and gold-colored flatware.
Festive touches throughout the property include dressing Adirondack chairs with holiday pillows and cheery throws, setting a dining tablescape that combines Danish china with Santa-red chargers and touches of gold by way of a centerpiece candle and flatware. A Nativity scene dresses the mantle, while garland bedazzled with cranberries, lights and ornaments embellishes the banister. Centerpieces include a rustic lantern housing glass ornaments. “I like to combine heirlooms with newer decor,” Jones said of mixing past and present.
To create more hanging space for ornaments, Jones introduces elements from the outdoors, such as twigs fashioned into a tree display. She collects antique ornaments at estate sales; she discovered a treasure trove of them when she cleaned out a previous historic home, and boxes of holiday decor were left behind. “I think it’s important to bring in all of the years from Christmases past — your childhood, maybe your children’s younger days,” she said. “I just love revisiting the old memories and knowing we will make new ones.” CS
OLD MEETS NEW Jones enjoys merging past and present during the holidays.
Intimate and romantic. Cozy and unique. That’s the setting you’ll find at Windmill Creek Vineyard and Winery in Berlin at its Winter Igloo Village. Made popular during COVID-19 as an opportunity to gather safely outside of the home, up to six guests can enjoy a fondue-type dinner experience with music in a heated igloo under the twinkling lights. The village is open Thursday-Sunday, 4:30-9:00 p.m., from November through April. Reservations are required. For more information, visit WindmillCreekVineyard.com CS
