June 10, 2021 - Vol. 2, Issue 23 - Community @pg3 - Town Square Delaware
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Community @pg3 Health @pg24
Food & Dining @pg19
Business @pg22
Town Square LIVE @TownSquareLive TownSquareLive.com
June 10, 2021 - Vol. 2, Issue 23
Stay Connected @pg28 Government @pg8
Town Square LIVE @TownSquareLive TownSquareLive.com 1
Contents
Photo Credit: ann lebengood
Community .................................3
Government ............................... 8
Food & Dining........................... 19
Business...................................... 22
Health ..........................................24
Stay Connected .................... 28
sun’s out and so are diners help renters avoid eviction new beach restaurants
Town Square LIVE @TownSquareLive TownSquareLive.com 2
Photo credit: deborah felmey Community Town Square LIVE @TownSquareLive TownSquareLive.com 3
Community SUN’S OUT, r e a s t Canc
AND SO ARE e B er
r
30
Co
a
aw
Celebrates
DINERS IN THE
alit
De l
ion
STREETS AROUND years
DELAWARE of service
& Village. Details will soon be posted on https://de-
beerwinespirits.com.
The Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition (DBCC) has been connecting
Milford and supporting breast cancer survivors, and their families in
Third Thursday blocks off two blocks of Milford’s communities across Delaware for over 30 years!
South Walnut Street on the third Thursday of the month. DBCC offers breast cancer survivors a variety of resources including:
financial aid, personalized support, health programs, activities, and
The event resumed in May after months of a pandemic events with other breast cancer survivors to foster healing and recovery.
BY BETSY PRICE blackout. Downtown Milford, Inc. has a list of partici-
pants, many with discounts.
Areas around Delaware are tempting diners (and Newark
drinkers—and shoppers) with special events in which The 17th annual Newark Food & Brew Fest is noon to
the dining spreads onto sidewalks, parking spots, parks 7 p.m. July 31. It’s indoors, in more than a dozen down-
or the streets. town restaurants, but it’s also an easy to to savor 4-ounce
They were popular last year because the risk of being samples of more than 50 beers.
infected with COVID-19 is lower outdoors and being Main Street Alfresco will continue every Wednesday
Having gone through I gained both peace
able to offer outside seating kept a lot of restaurants afloat. through September, with the exception of National Night my own journey with Your financial help was
amazing and got me and strength from
breast cancer, I am through a very difficult observing life through
But restauranteurs say many diners prefer to eat out- Out, scheduled Tuesday, Aug. 3. National Night Out passionate about the
work that DBCC does few months. Food or bills nature during my breast
is a real struggle I’m cancer journey. It gives
doors, except for extremes of heat and cold. and Main Street Alfresco will be combined for that one to make the path more
bearable. DBCC learning to deal with but
your help was great.
you a wonderful
provides solidarity and reassurance that nature
Here’s a some of the places offering outdoor events, week. Restaurants, as the name confirms, expand onto knowledgable direction I hope I can explain how
difficult it is for someone
is a cycle and proof that
for people who are life and nature do go on
plus a few themed unifying festivals: Main Street. newly diagnosed. dealing with this can be. in a beautiful way.
Dover
The 11th Delaware Beer, Wine & Spirits Festival runs CLICK HERE TO READ MORE!
To learn more, volunteer, or to donate to debreastcancer.org
4-7:30 p.m. Aug. 28 at the Delaware Agricultural Museum support DBCC's work in our communities visit:
Town Square LIVE @TownSquareLive TownSquareLive.com 4
Community Standard tall tickseed.
Symphyotrichum laeve var. laeve ‘Bluebird’ (Aster
laevis ‘Bluebird’) was ranked as the No. 1 aster in an
evaluation study at Mt. Cuba. Bluebird smooth aster
is a perennial discovered in 1988 in Connecticut and
introduced to the trade in 1994.
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae ‘Purple Dome’ (Aster
novae-angliae ‘Purple Dome’) “evokes feelings of garden
mums, but it’s native, and that alone is reason enough
to grow them,” said Sam Hoadley, Mt. Cuba’s trial garden
manager.
Solidago sphacelata ‘Golden Fleece’ was introduced by
Mt. Cuba in 1985. Golden Fleece autumn goldenrod is
MT. CUBA LAUNCHES a compact and adaptable perennial.
Upcoming events
NATIVE PLANT The next Twilight on the Terrace is 5-8 p.m. June 18.
Tickets are free-$15. The music will be by Stacia LaChole
COLLECTION & the Blac Soul Band, with food by Uncle John’s BBQ
and Burgers by Wildwich.
Birds in Action, running 3-4 p.m. June 19, is a free-
flight show. It’s included in admission.
BY KEN MAMMARELLA Christina in the Gardens, running 6-7:30 p.m. June
Mt. Cuba Center has launched the Mt. Cuba Collection, 5 featured plants 25, features student performers from the Christina
a branded selection of native plants that the Hockessin Iris versicolor ‘Purple Flame’ is a perennial that thrived Cultural Arts Center. Tickets are free-$15.
botanic garden has introduced to commercial production. near Mt. Cuba’s ponds for decades before being introduced Nature as Therapy, running 12:30-3:30 p.m. June 26,
The first five plants are available at garden retailers to trade in 2020. Purple Flame blue flag emerges with is a $49 garden walk and take-home planting.
through early fall. Mt. Cuba was asked to name local eggplant-purple foliage, eventually turning green, but
retailers where the plants are available. bringing back the purple with its flowers.
These plants “support healthy habitats by providing Coreopsis tripteris ‘Gold Standard’ gets its name from
homes and food for wildlife,” Jeff Downing, Mt. Cuba’s its bright color and its superior performance when
executive director, said in a statement. “By adding native compared to the straight species in Mt. Cuba’s 2015 trial.
plants to your garden, you can contribute to a healthier The perennial, derived from seeds collected in Alabama,
ecosystem.” was introduced in 2016 and is commonly called Gold
Town Square LIVE @TownSquareLive TownSquareLive.com 5
Community YMCAS TO OFFER
FREE SUMMER
MEMBERSHIPS
FOR TEENS don’t
youth develop through positive experiences, especially
as the pandemic that isolated many people is easing.
“The last year has been a challenging one for all of us,
wait.
POWER.
especially our children and teens. It is more important
BY BETSY PRICE than ever that we keep our young people engaged in
positive experiences, and we can do that in a healthy
Encouraging teens to Take On Summer, YMCA of and safe environment at the Y,” said Deborah Bagatta-
Delaware is offering free summer memberships for Bowles, CEO. “Providing opportunities for youth is at
those ages 12 to 17. the heart of our mission.”
Dajour Jones who has been a part of the program for four She said Take On Summer is designed to help cultivate
years at the Bear/Glasgow YMCA is excited to return. values, skills and relationships that lead to positive
“I love it,” Jones said. “In the part of Delaware that I live behaviors, better health and educational achievement.
I didn’t really have friends like that before the program. Jones said that his favorite part of the program is the
When I went to this program I got to interact with a trips that the group would go on, especially to Wells Fargo
variety of different children.” Center and the Lincoln Financial Field. Jones also quite
Jones said that spending time in the pool, playing enjoyed the community outreach that the group has
games and going on trips with other people his age built done, which taught him the importance of giving back.
a comradery that was really important to him. “I’ve gotten a lot of maturity out of it. I’ve gotten a lot
The memberships start June 15 and will include access more balanced and caring,” Jones said. “We’ve picked
to the YMCA fitness facilities and pools, as well as up trash and things like that for the community. It’s Enroll now.
in-person and virtual activities including workforce made me a better person overall.”
development, leaders in training, youth government,
black achievers and teen nights. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE!
The Y wants the free memberships to help Delaware’s
Town Square LIVE @TownSquareLive TownSquareLive.com 6
Community
WORRIED YOUR TEEN WILL
SPEND THE SUMMER
ON THE COUCH?
LEARN NEW SKILLS & BUILD WORK ETHIC
RENOVATED EAST WHILE EARNING GREAT $$$
END LIGHTHOUSE
OFF LEWES AGAIN SEARCH HUNDREDS OF OPEN POSITIONS!
WELCOMING TOURS FREE 'JOB MATCH' SERVICES
CLICK TO LEARN MORE OR VISIT
DELAWARERESTAURANT.ORG/JOBS
BY BETSY PRICE
The East End Lighthouse in Lewes is shining brighter than But with time comes wear and then disrepair, and the made breakwater, creating a safe harbor for ships during
ever, thanks to restoration efforts over the pandemic. Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs stepped in a storm. When it was a working lighthouse, it proved
Work on the historical breakwater lighthouse was to preserve the structure for future generations to enjoy. vital for ships and boats to know where they were at sea.
completed this past December, with work lasting There is no public access to the East End Lighthouse. The breakwater was initially commissioned by Congress
throughout the summer of 2020. However, Cape Water Tours and Taxi out of Lewes charters and President John Quincy Adams in 1825. Each
Delaware’s Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs trips to the structure. massive stone was painstakingly brought down from a
did structural repairs on the 136-year-old building and The structure has a shiny coat of reddish brown, black New York, quarry and hand-laid into the structure.
had it repainted. New windows were added, along with and white paint. The inside still smells of the oil needed On the tours, curators provide historical narration
pylon restructuring and extensive ironwork. Extensive to keep the light lit during its early days. Most of the and information about the lighthouse and breakwater.
rust removal was also part of the task. rust is gone off the walls inside and a historical plaque Guests can get out off tour boats and explore the lighthouse,
Initially going into service in 1885 and decommissioned commemorates the structure’s importance. including climbing metal rungs for the remarkable view
in 1996, the lighthouse is an iconic Lewes landmark. Standing at 45 feet tall, the lighthouse sits on a man- from the top.
Town Square LIVE @TownSquareLive TownSquareLive.com 7
Photo Credit: Deb Felmey Government Town Square LIVE @TownSquareLive TownSquareLive.com 8
Government MORE SAFE
HAVENS
LIKELY FOR
SURRENDERING
BABIES
whip and a bill sponsor, was also emailed for comment.
Nicole Poore, the committee’s vice-chair, applauded
BY KEN MAMMARELLA
the bill and asked to be added as a sponsor.
A bill to allow families to safely surrender babies at Melanie Ross Levin, director of Delaware Office of
Delaware’s police stations received only positive comments Women’s Advancement and Advocacy, also praised the
at a Senate Health & Social Services hearing Wednesday. expansion, because it “provides immunity from criminal
SB 161 expands the safe haven concept from hospitals, prosecution.”
and the idea came from nurses at ChristianaCare, according Only one or two babies have been surrendered under
to Sen. Marie Pinkney, the bill’s primary sponsor.
Get vaccinated before
current law, Pinkney said, and officials don’t expect an influx
“Abandonment of a baby is an irresponsible act,” the by allowing for surrendering to occur at more places. June 29 and you’re
bill says, and safe havens “prevent the unnecessary risk There was some concern that security cameras and automatically entered to win.
of harm to or death of that baby” by a “desperate” parent. the lack of privacy at hospitals discourage them becoming
The state reached out to police and fire departments. safe havens, Pinkney said, but Poore noted that police From biweekly winners to two
Police agencies were receptive, Pinkney said, but fire stations pose the same issue. low-number license plates and
departments were not. They’re mostly volunteer, she Illinois addresses the privacy issue by establishing safe ONE BIG $302,000 PAYOUT —
said, and representatives feared that they did not have haven boxes, with alarms that register when babies are getting vaccinated has never
the abilities and facilities to care for surrendered babies. dropped off, Pinkney said. been more rewarding.
Committee members Brian Pettyjohn, the Senate’s
minority whip, and David L. Wilson, did not speak at Visit DEwins.org for the details
the virtual committee meeting about the bill and were and the entire list of prizes.
emailed for comment. Gerald Hocker, the Senate minority
Town Square LIVE @TownSquareLive TownSquareLive.com 9
Government REPEAL OF YOUTH AND
TRAINING WAGE HEADS 刀攀搀甀挀攀⸀ 刀攀甀猀攀⸀ 刀攀瀀攀愀琀⸀
TO CARNEY 䬀攀渀渀礀 䘀愀洀椀氀礀 匀栀漀瀀刀椀琀攀猀 漀昀 䐀攀氀愀眀愀爀攀
挀愀爀攀 愀戀漀甀琀 琀栀攀 攀渀瘀椀爀漀渀洀攀渀琀⸀ 䤀渀猀琀攀愀搀 漀昀 甀猀椀渀最
㘀㔀 䬀 猀椀渀最氀攀ⴀ甀猀攀 瀀氀愀猀琀椀挀 戀愀最猀 愀 眀攀攀欀Ⰰ 漀甀爀
挀甀猀琀漀洀攀爀猀 栀愀瘀攀 栀攀氀瀀攀搀 甀猀 爀攀搀甀挀攀 漀甀爀 瀀氀愀猀琀椀挀
眀愀猀琀攀 琀漀 樀甀猀琀 Ⰰ㔀 爀攀甀猀愀戀氀攀 戀愀最猀 愀 眀攀攀欀℀
圀攀 氀漀漀欀 昀漀爀眀愀爀搀 琀漀 挀漀渀琀椀渀甀攀 氀漀眀攀爀椀渀最
琀栀愀琀 渀甀洀戀攀爀 眀椀琀栀 漀甀爀 挀甀猀琀漀洀攀爀猀밂 猀甀瀀瀀漀爀琀⸀
吀栀愀渀欀 礀漀甀 昀漀爀 礀漀甀爀 挀漀洀洀椀琀洀攀渀琀
BY BETSY PRICE 琀漀 爀攀搀甀挀椀渀最 瀀氀愀猀琀椀挀 眀愀猀琀攀 椀渀 漀甀爀 挀漀洀洀甀渀椀琀礀Ⰰ
As expected, Democrats were successful Tuesday in After rancorous hearings in the House and Senate, 洀愀欀椀渀最 漀甀爀 眀漀爀氀搀 愀 挀氀攀愀渀攀爀Ⰰ 洀漀爀攀
passing a bill through the state Senate that would repeal the arguments among senators pretty much repeated 戀攀愀甀琀椀昀甀氀 瀀氀愀挀攀⸀
the youth and training wage passed in 2018. everything that had been said before.
House Bill 88, which is part of a package of economic Those who supported the bill said that it was unfair to
bills pushed by the Dems, would go into effect 90 days treat young people and new workers different from others;
after it’s signed into law. that many young people work to help support their family;
That would mean anyone hired after that date would and that it’s time to raise the minimum wage.
have to be paid at least the prevailing minimum wage Those who opposed it said that young people and new
for the job. The youth and training wage let employers workers often require time to learn the job properly; the
pay anyone younger than 18 or in their first 90 days of timing of the bill is bad because of COVID-19; and
employment a half dollar less per hour. passage of the law will mean fewer jobs for younger
Related bills include one that would raise minimum people and that companies will use automation instead
wage to $15 by Jan. 1, 2025, and a bill that would raise of hiring more people.
the tip wage. While Republicans argued that many younger workers
Business groups have fought all three bills. need to be taught to work and not spend a lot of time on
Democrats have a supermajority in the Senate and a their cellphones, bill sponsor Sen. Jack Walsh, D-Stanton
majority in the Senate, which means they can pass most said the bill only set the wages and did not require an
legislation they want to. employer to keep a worker who wasn’t good.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE!
Town Square LIVE @TownSquareLive TownSquareLive.com 10Government BILL THAT WOULD
CREATE PROGRAM
TO HELP RENTERS
AVOID EVICTION
PASSES SENATE
About 18,000 Delaware households end up being
evicted, supporters said, at a rate that’s 2% higher than
the national average. While 69% of those are likely to be
eligible for legal representation, about 4,000 tenants
probably would accept it, the bill’s financial note says.
Sponsor Sen. Bryan Townsend, D-Newark, said one
of the program’s points was to offer pre-eviction help
rather than post-eviction help. He said he had not real-
BY BETSY PRICE
ized the critical insecure housing has on every aspect of
A bill that would create a new state program to help a person’s life until he became chair of the Senate Health
people on the edge of eviction stay in their homes or Committee.
apartments is headed to the House after passing the “Long before the pandemic, Delaware has had…an
Senate Tuesday. underfocus on housing and an underfocus on the way
The bill would add jobs in the Department of Justice in which unstable housing has this tremendous impact
to create a diversion program to resolve landlord-tenant in so many ways,” he said. “We can try to bring stability
disputes before they result in legal actions. It would also to the process that does not reward bad tenants for being
set a floor on how much a renter must owe before they bad tenants.”
can be evicted and allow tenants to stay in their homes Those who are in danger of losing their home need to
if all back rent, fees and costs are paid. have legal representation, he said.
If enacted the program would cost the state $1.3 million
the first year and $3.6 million by the third year and CLICK HERE TO READ MORE!
require two deputy attorneys general, one legal admin-
istrative specialist and one legal assistant.
Town Square LIVE @TownSquareLive TownSquareLive.com 11Government GENERAL ASSEMBLY EASES “Space constraints inside Delaware’s Legislative Hall
—one of the smallest statehouses in the nation—have
RESTRICTIONS, ALLOWING previously made the public’s safe return impossible given
previous social distancing requirements,” the press
25 PEOPLE IN GALLERY FOR release said.
It said small numbers of people now will be allowed
SESSIONS because Gov. John Carney now has reduced social
distancing from 6 feet to 3 feet, and nearly half of
eligible Delawareans are fully vaccinated.
The announcement comes two days after House
Minority Leader Danny Short, R-Seaford, told fellow
members of the Legislative Council, a committee of
leadership members of Democratic and Republican
caucuses that he thought it was time to open.
Speaker of the House Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth
Beach, told him that they had been talking about that,
and he would call him after the meeting to discuss what
they were thinking.
Short and other Republicans pointed out that when
they go out, most people are not wearing masks and they
BY BETSY PRICE didn’t know why Leg Hall couldn’t open. Democrats
said they still see many people wearing masks and that
With the Delaware General Assembly in the last month the House and Senate floor is closed except to members
there were issues they weren’t sure how to deal with.
of its regular session, rules have been changed to open and staff.
One included the fact that many people working in
Legislature Hall in Dover to the public in a limited way. Floor sessions will be held in Leg Hall in a hybrid form,
Leg Hall and many elected officials have children who
The statehouse will require the public to sign up to with only members and staff allowed on the house floor.
have not been vaccinated yet. Nobody wanted the kids
reserve a spot in the gallery for House and Senate sessions, Members may opt to dial in from their legislatives offices.
to somehow be exposed through their parents’ work.
a press release said Friday night. Sessions will continue to be broadcast online via the
While a special session has been called for later in the
Those spots will be limited, with 25 available in the legislative website, and committee hearings will continue
year to deal with redistricting, the regular session must
House and 25 in the Senate. Those who are admitted will to be in a virtual format.
end by midnight on June 30, 2021.
be allowed to arrive 30 minutes before a session. They will The General Assembly press release noted that Legis-
Starting June 8, the House and Senate will meet Tuesdays,
be asked to leave once the session is completed. All members lative Hall has been closed since March 2020. In that time,
of the public must wear masks while in Legislative Hall. 10% of Delaware’s population has been infected with
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE!
Access to the rest of the building will be forbidden, and the COVID-19 virus and more than 1,670 residents have died.
Town Square LIVE @TownSquareLive TownSquareLive.com 12Government CORRECTION COMMISSIONER
TO QUIT TO OVERSEE STATE
STIMULUS FUNDING
BY BETSY PRICE
Delaware Correction week, Rehoboth Beach, Ocean View and Cheswold have
Commissioner Claire signed on to the program, joining Lewes, Newark and
DeMatteis is leaving her Dewey Beach.
job to become special Carney will nominate Deputy Correction Commissioner
assistant to the governor, a Monroe B. Hudson Jr. to replace DeMatteis. He has been
press release said Friday. deputy commissioner since 2019. He served for 31 years
In that capacity, she will in the Delaware State Police, rising to the rank of lieutenant
oversee management of the federal stimulus funding colonel and serving as deputy superintendent. The
received by Delaware and also assist with crisis man- Delaware Senate is expected to consider Hudson’s
agement projects across state government. nomination on June 23.
The job does not require Senate confirmation. Carney also will nominate Jacqueline Mette to serve
DeMatteis previously had been a special assistant to the as the next Alcohol Beverage Control Commissioner.
governor, overseeing reforms to Delaware’s corrections She has served as deputy legal counsel for Carney since
system following the 2017 riots that led to the death of 2018 and was chief policy adviser for the Delaware
Sgt. Steven Floyd. Department of Services for Children, Youth and their
State Auditor Kathleen McGuiness, who last week an- Families. The Senate is expected to consider Mette’s
nounced a project to help school districts, county and nomination on June 23.
municipal governments report their stimulus spending Mette would replace Commissioner John H. Cordrey,
and maintain transparency, congratulated DeMatteis who is retiring after serving for two decades.
on her new position. “These are all committed public servants who I’m
McGuiness said in an emailed note that she welcomed confident will serve Delaware well,” said Carney in the
the additional set of eyes on the federal money coming press release. “Together, they have decades of experience
through the state. in and around state government, and I want to thank
DeMatteis’ role does not affect McGuiness’ Project: them for their willingness to continue serving.”
Gray Fox, she said. Since announcing the program last
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE!
Town Square LIVE @TownSquareLive TownSquareLive.com 13Government TWO MEN SENT
TO PRISON IN
DELAWARE’S
LARGEST HEROIN,
FENTANYL CASE
distribute 10 kilograms of heroin and about 14,000
fentanyl-laced fake Oxycodone pills.
The street value of the seized drugs was more than of $1
million. The amount of heroin seized is conservatively
一漀琀栀椀渀最 戀爀椀渀最猀 愀
estimated at 1.4 million doses, a press release said.
Perez-Guillen was arrested Aug. 21, 2019 in New Castle,
Delaware, after selling a kilogram of heroin and 600
fake Oxycodone pills containing fentanyl. Rivera-Villa 昀愀洀椀氀礀 琀漀最攀琀栀攀爀
was arrested the same day outside the residence he
shared with Perez-Guillen in Gloucester City.
氀椀欀攀 愀 最漀漀搀 洀攀愀氀⸀
BY BETSY PRICE Inside that residence, Drug Enforcement Administration
Two New Castle men have been sentenced to prison, agents and task force officers found seven additional 䘀愀洀椀氀礀ⴀ漀眀渀攀搀 ☀ 漀瀀攀爀愀琀攀搀 昀漀爀
one for 10 years and one for 7, in a drug case involving kilograms of heroin, 13,000 more fake Oxycodone pills, 洀漀爀攀 琀栀愀渀 ㈀㔀 礀攀愀爀猀Ⰰ
more than $1 million of heroin, cocaine and fentanyl- and three kilograms of cocaine. They found another two
laced pills. kilograms of heroin located inside hidden traps behind 䬀攀渀渀礀 䘀愀洀椀氀礀 匀栀漀瀀刀椀琀攀猀
U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Andrews sentenced the seats of a car registered to Perez-Guillen. 漀昀 䐀攀氀愀眀愀爀攀
Julian Rivera-Villa, 57, yesterday and his co-defendant, David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of 愀爀攀 栀漀渀漀爀攀搀 琀漀 瀀爀漀瘀椀搀攀 漀甀爀
Ricardo Perez-Guillen, 41, on April 13, 2021. Rivera-Villa Delaware, said this was the largest federal seizure of
received the 10-year sentence and Perez-Guillen the heroin and fake Oxycodone pills by Delaware law 挀漀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀攀猀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 昀漀漀搀 琀栀愀琀
seven-year. enforcement in recent memory, 戀爀椀渀最猀 礀漀甀爀 昀愀洀椀氀礀 琀漀最攀琀栀攀爀⸀
Court records say Rivera-Villa and Perez-Guillen,
both of Gloucester City, New Jersey, conspired to CLICK HERE TO READ MORE!
Town Square LIVE @TownSquareLive TownSquareLive.com 14Government
REPUBLICAN BILL WOULD
STOP UD, DSU, DELTECH
REQUIRING VACCINES
BY BETSY PRICE
A Republican representative has filed a bill that would Efforts were not successful Thursday to get responses
prevent Delaware colleges and universities from insisting from Democratic leaders in the Delaware General
students be vaccinated to return to campus this fall. Assembly or college communications staff.
House Bill 209 filed by Rep. Rich Collins, R-Millboro, Some opposed to vaccinations say that requiring proof
would forbid state or local governments including any of vaccination is a way to force those reluctant to take a
entity receiving at least $10 million in annual state shot into doing it.
funding, such as the University of Delaware, Delaware Collins says requiring vaccinations tramps over
State University and DelTech from requiring proof of citizens’ most basic rights.
vaccination to engage in certain activities or receive services. “There are some people that may have religious
“No one should be coerced into having a vaccine injected objections,” he said in the press release. “Others may
into their body,” said Collins said in a press release. believe that the vaccine poses a bigger threat than
He says the bill will prohibit the denial of rights and services contracting the virus. In any case, our citizens have the
to citizens based on their COVID-19 vaccination status. right of self-determination, the right to worship as they
It would not apply to the question of whether businesses see fit, and the expectation that their health care privacy
can require workers to be vaccinated. will be respected.…
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE!
Town Square LIVE @TownSquareLive TownSquareLive.com 15Government BILL WOULD TOUGHEN,
WIDEN BAN ON SINGLE-
USE PLASTIC BAGS
BY BETSY PRICE
Delaware’s ban on single-use plastic bags might become The new bill requires a reusable bag to
tougher, if a new bill becomes law. be 10 mils thick.
HB 212, introduced Thursday, goes for multiple The bill specifies that reusable bags
measures: “must be made of polypropylene fabric,
• The ban would expand to all stores as of July 1, 2022. PET non-woven fabric, nylon, cloth,
• Reusable bags would have to be even thicker. cotton, jute, hemp product, or other
• Reusable bags would have more specific require- washable fabric. The bag also must be
ments on how they’re made. made of cloth or other durable fabric that
“Shortly after the implementation of the state’s prohi- has stitched handles, is designed to be used at least 125 found any issues of non-compliance with the program.”
bition on single-use plastic bags, we realized the law of times, and has a capacity of at least four gallons,” the By banning single-used plastic bags, advocates hoped
unintended consequences was occurring,” said Rep. Gerald representatives said in a release announcing the bill. consumers would bring bags from home and keep reusing
Brady, D-Wilmington West, the bill’s main sponsor, The bill retains multiple exceptions to the ban, the them. Some also hoped stores, if they gave out bags,
said in a release. “We immediately received complaints release said. would switch to paper, and if they charged for bags, the
from constituents, that new, thicker plastic bags were being The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and charge would be enough for consumers to go bag-free
provided by several stores. Unfortunately, the thicker Environmental Control in May launched a survey ask- or bring bags from home.
bags only compounded the threat on our environment.” ing consumers how they’re handling the ban. A pinned Those hopes did not happen.
The ban started Jan. 1, affecting large stores and chain post on DNREC’s Facebook page has so far generated Acme, for instance, switched to 2.25-mil plastic bags
stores. Last fall, retailers appealed to delay the start, citing mostly negative comments. and gave them out for free.
concerns about coronavirus and a shortage of paper bags. “We have received inquiries from consumers about Plastic carryout bags are not well-recycled, the release
The state denied the request. whether stores can swap out single-use carryout plastic said, and because they tend to jam recycling machinery,
The ban originally defined a recyclable bag as “either bags for thicker plastic bags” said Nikki A. Lavoie, DN- they must not be placed in the recycling carts that many
a bag made of cloth or other fabric that has handles and REC’s chief communications officer. They’ve been told Delawareans have.
is designed and manufactured to be used repeatedly or… that the current law allows that.
a durable plastic bag with handles that is at least 2.25 “We have performed inspections throughout the CLICK HERE TO READ MORE!
mils thick.” state,” she added. “We have not issued any actions or
Town Square LIVE @TownSquareLive TownSquareLive.com 16Government STATE AUDITOR PLANS TO TRACK HOW
DELAWARE SPENDS COVID CASH
come in to review how officials have spent these funds,” that seeks to protect consumers and promote good
she said. government—gave Delaware a C+ rating and ranked it
The initiative will be dubbed Project Gray Fox, in in the bottom 10 states in providing online access to
honor of the state wildlife animal. government spending data. In 2019, Delaware received
Several mayors attended her press conference to a D+.
support the notion. “Delaware should be striving for an A+ rating, and
“Newark is excited to participate in Auditor we’re going in the wrong direction,” McGuiness said.
BY BETSY PRICE
McGuiness’ transparency initiative,” said Newark “As the First State, we should be a leader in fiscal
Mayor Jerry Clifton. “Our shared constituents expect transparency—and that’s why I’ve created this initiative
State Auditor Kathy McGuiness announced recently transparency from their government, and Project: Gray for Delawareans.”
that she hopes to answer questions about how county Fox helps us meet that expectation.”
and local governments and school districts will spend “As mayor, I really appreciate all the efforts of the
the $1.2 billion in federal COVID-19 funds by tracking Delaware State Auditor’s Office,” Dewey Beach Mayor Dale
the expenditures. Cooke said. “Since transparency with expenditures of
“One thing I have heard repeatedly from Delawareans funds is of major importance in a small municipality
is that they want to know exactly how that money is going with minimal staffing, any process that makes it easier to
to be spent,” McGuiness said in a Dewey Beach press document and keep our property owners and residents
conference. “This is an unprecedented amount of federal informed is certainly a welcomed addition.”
money for these officials to receive and, as Delaware’s “Transparency in the expenditure of these public funds
fiscal watchdog, I want to help track where these tax is critical because all Delawareans should be confident
dollars are being spent.” these funds are being used to benefit their respective
McGuiness’ website will host a secure online portal— communities,” said Lewes Mayor Theodore Becker. “The
powered by OpenGov—that will allow government of- city of Lewes looks forward to participating in this program.”
ficials to enter their American Rescue Plan spending A spokesman for Gov. John Carney declined to comment
quickly and efficiently each week. The website will then on the program.
provide easy-to-read graphics for the public to review McGuinness said Project Gray Fox is the first of its
and compare the expenditures. kind in the First State.
“Building this reporting into their workflow now will She pointed out that in April 2016, the U.S. Public
save officials headaches and hassles later when entities Interest Research Group Education Fund—a nonprofit
Town Square LIVE @TownSquareLive TownSquareLive.com 17Government SPEAKERS AT SENATE MEETING STRONGLY
OPPOSE CHANGING FOIA
BY CHARLES MEGGINSON
A bill aimed at restricting Freedom of Information At Gay’s invitation, Aaron Goldstein, Delaware’s chief Javonne Rich, policy and advocacy director for the
Act requests generated spirited opposition from members deputy attorney general, spoke as an expert witness in American Civil Liberties Union of Delaware, argued
of the public at a Senate Elections and Government support of SB 155. that the bill “contradicts the purpose and spirit of FOIA,
Affairs Committee meeting on Wednesday. “This bill modernizes our FOIA law to make the law which is to promote open government and transparency,
No members of the public spoke in support of SB 155. simpler to understand, codifies current practices, as well as allow the public to monitor the performance
If released from the Senate committee, the bill would be addresses problems with abusive filers, and gives [the and decisions that are made by governmental bodies.”
brought to the Senate floor for a vote before being sent to Department of Justice] the ability to respond to the real John Flaherty, director of the Delaware Coalition for
the House for committee assignment and consideration. heart of legal questions that come before the office by Open Government, summarized his organization’s
Senate Bill 155, sponsored by Sen. Kyle Evans Gay, providing more time for responses.” opposition to SB 155, noting that the allowance for
D-Brandywine Hundred, seeks to amend how government Goldstein argued these changes are necessary due to an additional administrative fees would “make Delaware
bodies respond to FOIA requests. increase in requests received over the years, specifically one of the most costly states to request public informa-
If passed into law, SB 155 would grant public bodies from “abusive filers.” tion by ordinary citizens and the news media.”
the ability to deny requests they deem “unreasonable, Abusive filers, according to Goldstein, pervert the Flaherty also highlighted findings of an analysis
disruptive or abusive.” “good intentions of FOIA” and “undermine the important conducted by the Coalition for Open Government,
The bill would further allow public bodies to charge purpose of FOIA, which is to ensure access to the work which found that since 1995, “of the 580 FOIA opinions
additional administrative fees for all FOIA reviews, of government and observe government functions.” issued in response to citizen complaints by the Delaware
including for the review and redaction of information Goldstein believes that FOIA requests can and have attorney general, no complaints were labeled unreason-
deemed exempt from FOIA. been weaponized to “unduly waste government resources” able, disruptive or abusive” and that “no examples have
According to the Delaware Department of Justice, or even harass and stalk individual government employees. been provided of FOIA requests that have been fulfilled
Delaware’s FOIA law already prohibits disclosing certain These requests, according to Goldstein, “do not serve under the current law, but would have been denied under
information, including personnel or student records, the purposes of open government or FOIA, and wastes the proposed law.”
tax returns of other citizens, Social Security numbers, health government resources.” Flaherty’s time expired, and his feed was cut before he
and welfare records, Family Services records, criminal In spite of this, Goldstein notes that “there is [currently] could continue.
history records, investigative files and prisoner records. no legal basis to deny those requests.”
Unlike these protections, SB 155 would allow public bodies Opponents of the legislation expressed concern that
discretion in discerning whether a request is “unrea- the bill’s language is overly vague and could be open to
sonably broad, unduly burdensome, intended to disrupt interpretation, allowing government agents excessive
the essential functions of the public body, or is abusive.” authority over what information should be released.
Town Square LIVE @TownSquareLive TownSquareLive.com 18Photo Credit: J&J Photography Food & Dining Town Square LIVE @TownSquareLive TownSquareLive.com 19
Food & Dining WHERE
VACCINATED
PEOPLE CAN GET
DEALS ON FOOD
AND DRINK
• 1000 Degrees Pizza, 4526 Linden Hill Road,
Wilmington, 50% off order Monday-Thursday
• Aroma Mediterranean Cuisine, 208 Second St.,
Rehoboth Beach, free dessert with meal
• Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, 3214 Kirkwood Highway,
Wilmington, 10% off order
•B ardea Food & Drink, 620 N. Market St., Wilmington,
free dessert with purchase of meal
• Bawarchi Indian Restaurant, 2909 Concord Pike,
Wilmington, 30% off check
BY BETSY PRICE
• Bear Diner, 603 Pulaski Highway, Bear, free coffee
Small businesses across Delaware are getting state with meal from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
grants to cover the cost of providing incentives for • Blue Moon Restaurant, 35 Baltimore Ave., Rehoboth
vaccinated customers. Beach, 10% off all food purchases
More the 200 will receive state grants up to $5,000 for • Cactus Cantina Mexican restaurant, 211 W. Ninth
reimbursements, the state announced Monday. St., Wilmington, free lunch
About 80 are in the food and drink business. Their • Cafe Milano, 4737 Concord Pike, Wilmington, half
incentives vary. Some are food; some are drink; some are off any entrée, large pizza or stromboli (dine-in only)
something else. Sometimes there’s free stuff; sometimes • Centreville Cafe, 5800 Kennett Pike, Wilmington,
there’s a discount. Some list qualifications. And some offers free signature sandwich or latte
are available only at scattered outlets of popular chains.
Here’s the latest list, as alphabetized by the state: CLICK HERE TO READ MORE!
Town Square LIVE @TownSquareLive TownSquareLive.com 20Food & Dining MUNCH YOUR WAY THROUGH
DAY AT THESE NEW BEACH
RESTAURANTS
BY BETSY PRICE
Although Memorial Day in Delaware was a wet one, it shopping center. (The zip code is Lewes, but it is not in
didn’t dampen coastal diners’ appetites for new restaurants. the city.)
Now that Delaware’s eateries are fully open, you can Taste of the South Bistro in Long Neck offers an array
munch your way through the day at these beach newbies. of baked goods along with breakfast and brunch items.
Breakfast, lunch or brunch Farther inland, Taste of the South Bistro is now
In Lewes, Eggcellent is a breakfast and lunch spot operating in Long Neck. Georgia native Brandon Tatum-
nestled in the former home of the first Café Azafran, Poole is a newcomer to the hospitality scene, but he’s no
which later became The Gate House and Bushi Sushi. stranger to pleasing customers. He owns Vogue on 54
Eggcellent owner Elina Kamalova serves the ultra- Salon & Spa and Vogue on 24 Salon & Spa.
trendy avocado toast—with two eggs, tomatoes and The shopping center location once housed a short-
crushed red pepper. But the Elvis sandwich brings the lived bakery, and Taste of the South takes full advantage
fun factor to the table. Sliced bananas top two pieces of of the equipment to whip up pies, cakes and cinnamon-
French toast with peanut butter and bacon. sugar doughnuts.
In downtown Rehoboth, Sunny Bay Café is in Cuvee The family-style breakfast and brunch menu includes
Ray’s old location. Currently open for breakfast and such classic dishes as shrimp-and-grits, cheesy grits and
lunch, the café sports traditional American breakfast chicken and waffles.
fare. But you’ll also find savory, sweet and breakfast Honey’s Farm Fresh in Lewes has a second location in
crepes. The clever kids’ menu includes “I Don’t Know” Ocean View for lunch and breakfast. It’s not hard to find.
(chicken tenders with fries) and “Grandma Lets Me The 1930s-era dining cars next to the building are
Have It” (a beef hotdog with fries). remnants of the long-gone Royal Zephyr restaurant.
Restaurants capitalizing on daytime hours aren’t limited Salted Rim Margarita Bar & Grill, which was in the
to the resort towns. Greenman Juice Bar & Bistro, a space, has moved to the former La Tonalteca/Fat Tuna
downtown Rehoboth destination for smoothie-lovers, building in Millville.
now has a second site in Peddlers Village, a Route 24
Town Square LIVE @TownSquareLive TownSquareLive.com 21Business Town Square LIVE @TownSquareLive TownSquareLive.com 22
Business
DEL. RANKED NO. 9 IN NEW JOBS SURVEY
BY KEN MAMMARELLA
Delaware is the the ninth best state for jobs, according • Fourth in employment.
to the 2021 Best & Worst States for Jobs, released Wednesday • 14th in median annual income (adjusted for cost of
by WalleHub, a personal-finance website. living).
WalletHub compared the 50 states across 35 key indi- • 16th in average length of work week (in hours).
cators of job-market strength, opportunity and economic • 24th in job opportunities.
vitality. Delaware’s rank (1 being best and 25 being average): • 28th in monthly average starting salary.
Town Square LIVE @TownSquareLive TownSquareLive.com 23Photo credit: Delaware Division of Public Health - DPH Facebook Health Town Square LIVE @TownSquareLive TownSquareLive.com 24
Health STATE BEARING DOWN ON 70%
VACCINATION MARK FOR FOURTH
OF JULY
having received at least one shot, only one-third of those Adolescent hospitalizations this year have been three
in the 18-45 age group have received a dose. times higher than hospitalizations related to the flu for
The state has been increasingly focused on pumping the last three years.
these numbers up with its DE Wins initiative, a weekly Rattay also said the CDC has announced that a full
raffle with numerous prizes for those that have been vaccination of Moderna or Pfizer is 91% effective at
vaccinated. The state has also partnered with local busi- reducing the risk of infection and 81% effective for those
nesses in offering discounts to those with vaccine cards. partially vaccinated.
The state also has dropped mass vaccinations in favor
of targeting smaller venues where people are already heading, CLICK HERE TO READ MORE!
such as alfresco dining nights or community events.
Officials said during a recent press conference that
the state needed to vaccinate 5,000 people a week to reach
BY BETSY PRICE
their goal. But officials have not answered questions
about whether they really are vaccinating 5,000 people
As Delaware nears its Fourth of July goal of having at a week.
least 70% of those eligible have at least one vaccine shot, The numbers are trickling up. At a recent vaccination
state officials on Tuesday unveiled guidance for colleges event at the Starboard in Dewey Beach, a free Orange
and universities and illustrated the danger that Crush was offered to those who got vaccinated at the
COVID-19 poses to adolescence. event, but only 37 said yes.
During the state’s weekly COVID-19 press briefing, Dr. Karyl Rattay, director of the Division of Public
Gov. John Carney said the state is nearing the vaccine Health, said that hospitalizations across the country are
goal set by President Biden with 67.5% of those 18 and showing why it’s so important to have youths vaccinated.
older having at least one shot. In a CDC analysis of 204 adolescent hospitalizations in
That means only 2.5% more of the population by July March and April, one-third required ICU admission
4 to succeed. and 5% required a ventilator. She said 75% of this group
But it’s going to be a hard-won victory, as demand for had some kind of underlying condition.
the shots has fallen off. With 92% of those 65 and older
Town Square LIVE @TownSquareLive TownSquareLive.com 25Health FRIDAY’S COVID-19
NUMBERS
ILLUSTRATE
CONTINUING
DECLINE IN
COVID-19 CASES
vaccinated recently. Prizes drawn Monday were $5,000,
as well as two annual passes to a Delaware State Park,
and a Luxury Suite Package for the Wilmington Blue
BY BETSY PRICE
Rocks. The state is waiting for winners to give permission
And the good news keeps coming. for their names to be shared. They do not have to reveal
On June 4, 51 people were hospitalized in Delaware who they are.
because of COVID-19. And only 48 new cases were re- On June 4, another drawing was held for $5,000 and
ported on a seven-day average. Firefly tickets.
The numbers illustrate the decline in the number of At the end of the month, the state will give away
new cases, hospitalizations and deaths. $302,000 and two low-digit car tags, drawing from a
As of June 3, a state Division of Public Health press pool of everyone who has been vaccinated in Delaware
release said, there have been 109,005 positive cases of and is in the state’s DelVax system.
COVID-19, and the seven-day average of new positive Variant update
cases decreased to 48.4 as of Thursday. The seven-day The United Kingdom variant has now accounted for
average for positive tests was 2.0%, a drop from 2.7% 850 cases in Delaware in random testing by the state
the week before. Public Health Laboratory. There are more because the
A total of 1,674 Delawareans have died from COVID-19, state lab has only tested 2,915 specimens in total and
with 14 additional deaths added in the last week. 182 within the past week.
DE Wins! update
The state has contacted the first winners in the DE CLICK HERE TO READ MORE!
Wins! Raffle, which rewards people who have been
Town Square LIVE @TownSquareLive TownSquareLive.com 26Health VA WILL VACCINATE
VETERANS’ 12- TO
17-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN
BY BETSY PRICE
The Wilmington VA Medical Center began vaccinating health care system and beneficiaries who are eligible Now youths ages 12-17 can get the Moderna vaccine.
adolescents Monday. due to disability or death of a veteran. Dillon said the VA has no way of knowing how many
The expansion will only be offered to those 12- to “To date, Wilmington VA Medical Center has admin- youths it will vaccinate.
17-year-olds who are caregivers of veterans or veteran istered more than 34,000 doses of the vaccine at the “At this time there is no estimate, but getting any
beneficiaries under the Save Lives Act. medical center in Wilmington and our five community- amount of vaccinations in arms is a success on the road
Shots will be available at its main campus at 1601 based outpatient clinics in Delaware and southern New to reaching immunity in the community and putting
Kirkwood Highway. Jersey,” said public affairs officer Jacob L. Dillon in an this deadly virus behind us as we go into the summer
The Save Lives act was passed in March, allowing the email. “We have vaccinated nearly 70% of the 25,000 months,” Dillon said.
VA to expand its vaccination efforts beyond the veterans Veterans who get their primary care through Wilmington
use the VA for health care. VA Medical Center.”
That allowed the VA to vaccinate veteran spouses, That puts the Wilmington VA Medical Center in the
veterans’ caregivers, veterans who cannot enroll in the VA top-10 VAs in the country for vaccination percentage.
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