1

POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARDS

HALLOWEEN HARVEST EVENTS

ST ELIZABETHrsquoS HOLDS OFF INDIAN RIVER

Whatrsquos InsideHeadlines 2Culture6Business 10Government 14Health 20Sports 23Stay Connected 26

Delaware Live DelawareLive

October 10 2021 bull Vol 2 Issue 41

Photo by deborah felmey

2

Hea

dlin

es

Photo by hillel brandes

3

HEADLINES

click here to read more

Itrsquos unclear how much the Delaware State Housing Authority has spent of the nearly $300 million it has received for rental assistance

While some officials had feared that updated guidance from the US Treasury would require the state to return that money as early as Monday Oct 4 a spokeswoman for the authority said Thursday ldquoThere is no Oct 4 deadline for returning fundsrdquo

She declined to comment furtherThe Delaware Housing Assistance Program or DEHAP

was created to provide emergency housing assistance to renters affected by shutdowns closures layoffs reduced work hours unpaid leave or financial hardship related to COVID-19

Delaware was awarded approximately $200 million in

Housing Authority No federal money had to be returned by Oct 4

BY CHARLES MEGGINSON

emergency rent relief funds out of the $466 billion dedicated nationally through the Consolidated Appro-priations Act of 2021

Additional funds have been allocated by the federal government since bringing the total amount of assistance available closer to $300 million

Based on updated guidance released Monday by the US Department of the Treasury all states counties and cities that had not dispersed at least 30 of their federal funds and allocated at least 65 of their money by Sept 30 could be forced to return funding

States that had allocated at least 65 of their funds by Sept 30 can begin requesting more money from the federal government this month

A letter Monday from US Deputy Treasury Secretary Adewale Adeyemo explained the agencyrsquos plan to redirect funds from underperforming grantees to high-per-forming areas based on need

Adeyemo said that many states and agencies were able to quickly disperse rental assistance funds while others struggled at first but improved with help from the treasury

Still he said some of the lowest performers have been ldquounable or unwilling to speed up assistancerdquo and have ldquonot demonstrated sufficient progress or intent to make changes in their programs to get resources into the hands of eligible tenants and landlordsrdquo

4

University of Delaware Police Chief Patrick Ogden doesnrsquot believe police agencies need civilian review boards overseeing their operations and personnel decisions Ogden also serves as chairman of the Delaware Police Chiefsrsquo Council

ldquoThese issues are complicatedrdquo Ogden said during a Sept 24 roundtable discussion ldquoItrsquos hard to judge when you havenrsquot stood in someone elsersquos shoes and havenrsquot been in a life or death situation and [made] a split-second decisionrdquo

The boards were the focus of a Friday roundtable discussion thatrsquos one of a series being livestreamed by legislators who want to reform police practices

A months-long Law Enforcement Task Force that met during the General Assembly formulated a list of policy and other recommendations many of which have earned support from police groups

BY BETSY PRICE

But the civilian review boards and changes in the Law Enforcement Officer Bill of Rights have not The lives-treaming events which last through November will focus on those issues Legislative sponsors hope the meetings will educate the public and raise awareness of the two topics

During the events stakeholders discuss reform measures and members of the public are able to ask questions or make comments The second meeting was Friday and it focused on the review boards which would actually be able to subpoena information and investigate as well as police advisory councils which would have fewer powers

Some participants said police advisory councils would alleviate tensions between police and the communities they serve but others argued that advisory councils would only create the illusion of reform

HEADLINES

click here to read more

Lawmakers police seek middle ground on oversight boards

5

Wilmington elected officials appointed officials and city employees will be required to participate in annual ethics training thanks to an ordinance passed during Thursdayrsquos City Council meeting

The proposal sponsored by the councilrsquos lone Repub-lican member James Spadola passed with 10 council members voting lsquoyesrsquo

Councilwomen Shaneacute Darby D-District 2 and Yolanda McCoy D-District 6 voted lsquopresentrsquo and Councilwoman Loretta Walsh D-At Large was absent

Under the ordinance the cityrsquos mayor treasurer council members and full-time city employees will be required to attend or watch a recording of an Ethics Commission- approved training presentation then submit certification verifying they attended the session

ldquoItrsquos important for ethics to be ever-present in our minds as wersquore going about our day-to-day businessrdquo Spadola said while introducing the ordinance ldquoThis is about preventing unintentional mistakes due to not

Wilmington officials workers now required to take annual ethics trainingBY CHARLES MEGGINSON

being up to speed on the ins and outs of the lawrdquoSpadola said the ordinance would put the city in line

with a lot of companies that require similar trainingMayor Mike Purzycki said in a statement to Delaware

LIVE News that the ordinance isnrsquot designed to stop people with bad intentions from acting unethically but rather to provide reminders for those with good intentions so that they donrsquot mistakenly engage in unethical behavior

ldquoItrsquos remarkable how people can innocently or uncon-sciously cross a line and then find themselves in the appearances of conflicts that they could have easily avoided if theyrsquove just had an opportunity to have their consciousness elevated about these thingsrdquo Purzycki said

The bill was originally heard at the September council meeting but was tabled after Spadola introduced a floor amendment to remove a section of the billrsquos language

HEADLINES

click here to read more

HIGH SCHOOLOPEN HOUSE

Sunday October 18 20211000am - 100pm

VIKING FOR A DAYYou are invited to feel the energy

of VKNation as a Viking for a Day

Viking Visits begin October 4th

HIGH SCHOOLPLACEMENT TEST

November 13 2021 830amNovember 14 1200pm

6

Cu

ltu

re

photo by Ruth houston-behrens

7

CULTURE

click here to read more

UDrsquoS REP OFFERS FREE AUDIO PRODUCTION OF POErsquoS lsquoMURDERS IN RUE MORGUErsquo

BY CHARLES MEGGINSON

University of Delawarersquos Resident Ensemble Play-ers will present an audio production of Edgar Allen Poersquos ldquoThe Murders in the Rue Morguerdquo available for streaming between Oct 27 and Nov 14

According to REP ldquoIn this grisly story all of Paris is shocked by the horrifying murders of a mother and daughter Their bodies are viciously brutalizedmdashone decapitated one dreadfully slashed and wedged up the chimney Multiple witnesses heard the murderer but give contradicting reports Police are baffled at the nearly supernatural strength of the murderer and are left with no evidence as to how the criminal entered or escaped the scenerdquo

REP founding member Michael Gotch is at the helm of the production as its director and script adaptor

ldquoThe Murders in the Rue Morguerdquo isnrsquot Gotchrsquos first foray into modern audio adaptations of classical stories Last year Gotch was responsible for REPrsquos radio adap-tation of ldquoDraculardquo which the troupe says ldquoterrified and delighted listenersrdquo

The transition to audio format happened as a result of pandemic-related restrictions that meant the REP couldnrsquot perform before a live audience

Many theatre troupes transitioned to Zoom plays and recorded video productions but Gotch saw an opportunity to return to an older form of American entertainment

ldquoThe primary way that a family or an individual was able to witness something dramatic was the radio play in the 1930s and 40srdquo Gotch said ldquoSo I thought wersquove done it before in the world lsquowhy not return to that and see if we can exercise that muscle of both our audience and our actors who only have the ability to listen to somethingrsquordquo

8

CULTURE

A two-digit Delaware tag sold for just over $280000 at auction in Rehoboth Beach last weekend

Emmert Auction sold the ldquo37rdquo tag to a buyer who wished to remain anonymous After 13 minutes of furious in-house and phone bids the tag sold for $282000 A matching trailer tag ldquoT37rdquo also sold separately for $7750

Butch Emmert auctioneer and president of Emmert Auction told the crowd that the tag belonged to the former chair of the Delaware Realtors Association from northern New Castle County

ldquoWe had bidders from all three counties in Delawarerdquo Emmert told the crowd before bidding started ldquoThere is tremendous tremendous demand for two- or three- digit tags in Delaware right now There is no better time with three digit and four digit tags going up 25 to 25 percent this yearrdquo

The tag came short of the $410000 that the number 20 brought about three years ago which Emmert also sold

TWO-DIGIT DELAWARE TAG FETCHES BIG MONEY AT WEEKEND AUCTIONBY JONATHAN BUDLER

His auction company has become a hub for low-digit Delaware tags filling the packed Rehoboth Beach Con-vention Center with bidders and awe-struck watchers

At the same auction tag ldquo7073rdquo sold for $7000 and ldquoC4269rdquo sold for $3500

Delaware is unique when it comes to its affinity for low-digit black vehicle tags becoming a status symbol for many in the First State Several websites including wwwlowdigittagscom and wwwdelawaretagtraderscom connect sellers with potential buyers to show how popular tags are as a commodity with market value similar to the stock market

According to the sites some four-digit tags can reach the $10000+ range with single digit tags reaching as high as $500000

9

Along with cooler weathermdashat lastmdashfall is crammed with so many festivities they could drive you mad if you tried to hit them all

Herersquos a short list of some favoritesFarm amp HarvestFifer Orchards Hayrides pumpkins andhellipScooby

Doo corn mazes Thatrsquos right Fifer Orchards at 1919 Allabands Mill Road in Camden-Wyoming is featuring a Scooby Doo inspired corn maze this year along with their usual Fun Park U-Pick apples and pumpkin patch Open through October except for apple picking which ended Saturday Oct 9 Admission to U-Pick apples and pumpkins is $195 per person Fun Park and the Scooby Doo maze admissions are $795 per person weekdays $895 Saturdays Opens at 10 amndash5 pm daily

Milburn Orchards Kids can run free at Milburn

Halloween harvest events move into full swing

BY BRIONNA N STONEBRAKER

Orchards at 1495 Appleton Road Elkton Maryland The site has its own corn maze hayrides Bail Trail FarmYard playground Giant Sand Dig and Boo Barn and thatrsquos not even half the attractions An array of cute farm animals wait to greet Milburnrsquos guests Ticket sales online only this year with a 33 discount every Friday General admission with a fee is $899 per person Senior ages 60+ receive 25 off Open Fridays and Saturdays in October from 10 am to 5 pm and in November from 10 am to 4 pm

Wicked R Western Productions Harvest and Halloween events galore can be found at Wicked R Western Pro-ductions at 2621 Sandy Bend Road in Camden-Wyoming ldquoWith a family-friendly festival during the day and a haunted trail at night there is something to do for everyonerdquo says Delaware resident Amanda French She

CULTURE

click here to read more

has been visiting WRWP since she moved to Delaware with her family 5+ years ago Adult admission is free Children is $10 per child Family Fun Fest opens from 10 am to 2 pm every Saturday and Sunday in October Wicked Woods events on Fridays and Saturdays in October from 7 pm to 11 pm For more information go here

Coverdale Farm Preserve Find scenic hayrides at the Coverdale Farm Preserve at 543 Way Road Greenville on the weekends from Oct 8 through Nov 14 Hours of operations range from 10 amndash5 pm Saturday and 11 amndash3 pm Sunday

10

Busi

nes

s

Photo by ThisIsEngineering from Pexels

11

The Delaware Department of Labor has ruled that employees terminated for refusing to be vaccinated against COVID-19 are ineligible to receive unemploy-ment insurance

According to Delaware law claimants may not receive unemployment insurance if they have violated an employersrsquo policy that is deemed to be reasonable in nature and has been clearly communicated to employees

ldquoIn general DOL has determined that vaccine require-ments by employers are considered reasonable in naturerdquo the agency said in a press release ldquoEmployees and claim-ants that fail to comply with employer-initiated COVID-19 vaccination requirements in most instances would not qualify to receive UI benefits upon separation from the employerrdquo

The department said each case is unique however and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis

ldquoLike all UI claims eligibility will depend on the specific circumstancesrdquo the department said

The Department of Labor is encouraging employers

THOSE FIRED FOR REFUSING VACCINE inELIGIBLE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

BY CHARLES MEGGINSON

who hire union employees to review the governing col-lective bargaining agreement before requiring vaccinations

In May the US Equal Opportunity Employment Commission issued updated guidance asserting that employers are within their legal rights to deny employment on the basis of COVID-19 vaccination status

The commission said vaccine requirements are per-missible so long as employers comply with the reasonable accommodation provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Such exceptions could include disability a doctor having advised a woman not to get the vaccine while pregnant or breastfeeding or because of an employeersquos sincerely held religious belief practice or observance

In September President Biden issued sweeping new regulations that say private employers with 100 or more workers must require employees to be vaccinated or tested weekly

BUSINESS

click here to read more

一漀 戀愀挀欀礀愀爀搀 最愀爀搀攀渀㼀一漀 瀀爀漀戀氀攀洀

欀渀漀眀猀 琀栀愀琀 攀瘀攀爀礀漀渀攀 眀椀渀猀 眀栀攀渀 眀攀

攀愀琀 氀漀挀愀氀㨀 眀攀 最攀琀 昀爀攀猀栀Ⰰ 栀攀愀氀琀栀礀 昀漀漀搀 眀栀椀氀攀 猀椀洀甀氀琀愀渀攀漀甀猀氀礀 猀甀瀀瀀漀爀琀椀渀最

氀漀挀愀氀 昀愀爀洀猀 戀甀猀椀渀攀猀猀攀猀

圀攀밂爀攀 瀀爀漀甀搀 琀漀 戀爀椀渀最 漀甀爀 挀甀猀琀漀洀攀爀猀 栀椀最栀ⴀ 栀椀最栀ⴀ焀甀愀氀椀琀礀Ⰰ 昀爀攀猀栀 瀀爀漀搀甀挀攀

昀爀漀洀 漀甀爀 挀漀洀洀甀渀椀琀礀 瀀愀爀琀渀攀爀猀

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

12

BY KEN MAMMARELLA

HIGHMARK REBATES 51 OF HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS

The check from Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware is really in the mail And itrsquos for a lot of money

Highmark is rebating $121 million to individual Del-awareans and those who buy small-group insurance according to Delaware Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro The 20857 individuals will split more than $84 million with an average rebate of $405

The 2573 groupsmdashwhich Navarro said are ldquooften small businessesrdquomdashwill receive nearly $39 million The average group rebate is $1514 with 20 groups receiving rebates over $10000

This is the second time in state history that rebates will go to participants of the individual Affordable Care Act marketplace

More than $126 million was sent to 19000 residents last year More than $88 million was rebated to small groups last year

ldquoEmployers can consider using these dollars to enhance benefits reduce premiums for employees in future policy years or provide refunds directly to group health plan participantsrdquo Navarro suggested this year repeating the same suggestion that he made in 2020

The rebates exist because the marketplace requires insurers to spend at least 80 of premiums on policy-holdersrsquo healthcare services ldquoNo more than 20 of premiums can be spent on administrative costs such as salaries sales and advertisingrdquo Highmark wrote in the letter accompanying the check

In 2020 Highmark spent ldquoonly 749 of a total of $165659697 in premium dollarsrdquo the letter continued Therefore the Medical Loss Ratio rule says it must re-fund 51 of premiums

Navarro announced the scale of rebate on Aug 31 and one letter received by a Highmark customer dated Sept 17 but received Oct 4 says the rebates are due Sept 30

The rebates are calculated on a three-year average Navarro said adding that ldquopolicyholdersrsquo decreased and delayed use of healthcare throughout the pandemic as something likely to necessitate future rebatesrdquo

Highmark the only general insurer in Delawarersquos marketplace will increase base rates an average of 3 for 2022 he announced earlier in August That follows two consecutive years of rate decreases Federal subsidies have cut consumer costs by 40 and will continue in 2022 he added

BUSINESS

13

A business group that is usually harshly critical of Delawarersquos Chancery Court praised it this week for striking down a motion against the company at the heart of its organization

Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware applauded Chancery for refusing a motion to hold TransPerfect Global in contempt of court A press release from the business group called the motion ldquofrivolousrdquo

The Delaware group formed after TransPerfect a New York language translation company objected to the way it was treated in Delawarersquos business court

TransPerfect came before the Delaware Chancery Court when its owners got into an argument

The Chancery Court ordered Transperfect to be sold which it was to owner Phil Shawe Transperfect continues to battle fees charged to it in the proceeding and the Shawe family and Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars working

BY BETSY PRICE

BUSINESS GROUP USUALLY CRITICAL OF CHANCERY COURT PRAISES LAST MOVE

against Gov John Carneyrsquos election and being critical of Delaware courts including their lack of diversity

Most recently Transperfect has objected to the Chancery Court upholding the bulk of $39 million in fees that Custodian Robert Pincusrsquo and Skadden Arpsmdasha vast American international law firmmdashcharged during the court battle Those fees must be paid by TransPerfect which says it has been overcharged The company has been treating TransPerfect ldquolike a bottomless piggy bank without repercussionsrdquo the press release said

The contempt charge was filed by Skadden Arpsrsquo attorney Jennifer Voss

The press release called the court decision significant for TransPerfect ldquobut more importantly it is a victory for so many who have been wronged by a system that lets elite law use insider relationships for their own gainrdquo

A Delaware Courts spokesman declined to comment on the business grouprsquos press release

The press release said Chancellor Kathaleen St J Mc-Cormick should build on the decision by terminating the $4 million+ escrow account that Voss and Pincus want to access and holding Skadden Arps ldquoaccountable for bad-faith billing practices by imposing sanctionsrdquo

The business grouprsquos press releases says itrsquos made up of more than 5000 members including employees of TransPerfect concerned Delaware residents business executives and others

BUSINESS

Cancer isnrsquot waiting for COVID-19 to be overOne in three Delawareans will get cancer Unfortunately many have put off their cancer screenings in the past year Screenings detect cancer early when itrsquos most treatable If yoursquove skipped or canceled a screening due to the pandemic mdash for breast cervical colon lung or prostate cancer mdash donrsquot wait one more day Call your health care provider to schedule your cancer screenings today

If you donrsquot have a provider we can help If you are uninsured or underinsured you may be eligible for free screenings To learn more about eligibility requirements and recommended cancer screenings and other information please visit HealthyDelawareorgCancer

To schedule your cancer screening by phone

Call your health care provider dial 2-1-1 or speak directly with a nurse navigator at the health system nearest you below

ChristianaCare 302-216-3557Bayhealth 302-216-8328Beebe Healthcare 302-291-4380

14

go

vern

men

t

Photo by mary elizabeth phillips

15

Delaware will spend $100 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds to provide nonprofits with one-time grants to support major capital projects

The Community Investment Recovery Fund announced Oct 7 by Gov John Carney will be paid for using funds the state received from the American Rescue Plan Act

Delaware received $925 million from the federal stim-ulus bill which is designed to hasten the economic recovery from the pandemic

The announcement was the latest in a string of proc-lamations about how the federal money will be spent

Carney announced the allocation of $2264 million in ARPA funds last week including this recovery fund $264 million for affordable housing in Wilmington $50 million for jobs training programs statewide and $50 million to replace the Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill in Smyrna

Last month Carney announced a $110 million plan to provide universal wired broadband access for all Delaware homes and businesses

Nonprofits to compete for $100 million to use on major capital projects

BY CHARLES MEGGINSON

That leaves nearly $600 million in remaining ARPA funds to be allocated toward yet-to-be-announced projects

For a non-profit to receive funding it must complete an application by Nov 30 2021

Grants will only be made available for capital projects that meet strict federal compliance eligibility standards according to the application portal

This fund exceeds the General Assemblyrsquos record- setting Community Reinvestment Fund by $30 million The Community Reinvestment Funds are included in the statersquos Bond Bill each year and provide grants to nonprofits for capital projects The FY 2022 one totaled $70 million and relied on legislators to decide how to allocate the grants

Carney said in his announcement that the one-time nonprofit grants will help Delaware rebuild from the pandemic and come out of the crisis ldquostronger than beforerdquo

ldquoThis Recovery Fund will help support community centers and other nonprofits that are seeking to rebuild and strengthen the communities they serve every dayrdquo Carney said

It is not clear what the governorrsquos office is doing to track the funds or determine the efficacy of the investments

Both the state treasurer and auditor appear to be separately monitoring allocations to towns cities and school districts on their state webpages

GOVERNMENT

donrsquot wait HealEnroll now

16

Delaware will spend $50 million to replace the Dela-ware Hospital for the Chronically Ill in Smyrna with a state-of-the-art 72000 square foot facility

The project which will be funded through federal COVID relief funds will create 250 to 300 construction jobs

The hospitalrsquos main building originally opened in 1932 Today staff at the hospital provide skilled nursing care to more than 100 chronically ill residents

ldquoThe Hospital for the Chronically Ill has provided necessary care to vulnerable Delawareans for years in-cluding throughout the COVID-19 pandemicrdquo said Gov John Carney ldquoBut the building itself is more than 90 years old and needs to be replacedrdquo

He cited the hospitalrsquos five-star rating but said the residents ldquodo not live in a five-star buildingmdashand they ought tordquo

Carney said the new modern facility will provide the hospitalrsquos nearly 500 workers with the tools they need to continue providing quality care to Delawareans

STATE TO REPLACE SMYRNA HOSPITAL FOR CRITICALLY ILLBY CHARLES MEGGINSON

Lt Gov Bethany Hall-Long said that as a nurse shersquos keenly aware of how the pandemic has affected the physical and emotional health of Delawarersquos aging population and their families

ldquoThey deserve the highest quality of carerdquo Hall-Long said ldquoThese investments will go a long way to ensure that happensrdquo

The announcement marks the third event this week during which Gov Carney announced a multi-million dollar project using federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act

On Oct 4 state officials announced a $264 million investment in the revitalization of Wilmingtonrsquos River-side neighborhood Carney announced on Oct 5 a $50 million investment in workforce development initiatives aimed at training Delawareans for skilled labor positions

GOVERNMENT

click here to read more

WErsquoRE HERE because your childrsquos

health matters

PEDIATRICS1-866-BAY-DOCS

BAYHEALTH PEDIATRICS MILFORD

Wersquore parents too and we know your childrsquos health is a priority Whether you have a newborn toddler or teen wersquore driven to give them the care they need As moms wersquore experts in TLC as pediatricians wersquore experts in your childrsquos health and wellbeing

CLICK HERE to learn more

17

Delaware will put $50 million of COVID-19 relief money into workforce development but exactly how that money will be spent isnrsquot clear

The plan was announced by Gov John Carney Oct 5 morning without an explanation of where the money would go A press release from his office two hours later listed some projects that will receive money but gave little detail on specifically how it will be used

To pay for the initiatives Carney plans to tap the more than $1 billion in COVID-relief funds Delaware received from the American Rescue Plan Act a federal stimulus package aimed at hastening the economic recovery from the pandemic

ldquoWersquore focused on investments that will build on the strengths of Delawarersquos world-class workforce and

STATE TO SPEND $50 MILLION TO HELP PEOPLE QUALIFY FOR BETTER JOBS

BY CHARLES MEGGINSON

support Delaware families and businesses who were most affected by the COVID-19 pandemicrdquo Carney said at the press conference ldquoThese workforce development programs will help Delawareans develop the skills they need to succeed in a 21st-century economyrdquo

The press release listed the allocation of $413 million of the $50 million total but not how the money would be spent once allocated or if there would be any mechanism to track the efficacy of the investments

Rep Ruth Briggs King R-Georgetown said she believes Delaware needs to invest in workforce development but that todayrsquos announcement left her with more questions than answers

GOVERNMENT

click here to read more

18

Wilmingtonrsquos Riverside neighborhood will receive $264 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds to support its already-underway revitalization project

The funds come from more than $1 billion the state received from the American Rescue Plan Act a federal stimulus package aimed at hastening the economic recovery from the pandemic

Gov John Carney was joined Oct 4 by Delawarersquos federal congressional delegation to announce the invest-ment in REACH Riverside a Wilmington non-profit organization

ldquoThis is what a redevelopment project should look likerdquo Carney said ldquoItrsquos a holistic approach to it that doesnrsquot just include new housing units which obviously are critically important but it also includes educational services from preschool to higher education it includes social services it includes health carerdquo

Carney said the investment would ldquosupercharge and acceleraterdquo the project and allow developers to complete certain phases of the project five or six years sooner than they otherwise would

WILMINGTON NEIGHBORHOOD TO RECEIVE $264 MILLION COVID-19 RELIEF FUNDSBY CHARLES MEGGINSON

REACH Riverside is engaged in a public-private partnership to develop a ldquopurpose-built communityrdquo that will include 600 high-quality mixed-income housing units according to the grouprsquos website

According to the organization the purpose-built community is designed to create pathways out of poverty for the lowest-income residents and build a strong economically diverse community

When complete the first phase of the mixed-income community will offer a 70-30 ratio of subsidized to market- rate units Existing Riverside residents will be offered ldquofirst dibsrdquo on new units according to REACH Riverside

The organization will collaborate with the Wilmington Housing Authority EastSide Charter School the Kingswood Community Center the Teen Warehouse and several other organizations to provide its comprehensive network of community services

The organizationrsquos plans focus on three pillars of revi-talization which it says are ldquoshown to have the greatest impact on long-term community health and well-beingrdquo

GOVERNMENT

click here to read more

OB-GYN amp FAMILY MEDICINE

1-866-BAY-DOCS

IrsquoM KANDIS SAMUELS-LEUTZINGER MD MPH

Caring for families has always been my passion In addition to treating patients of all ages my expertise in OB-GYN prenatal care and deliveries means I can provide all the care needed for mothers and the youngest ones in your family Irsquom here to bring better health for you and your loved ones

CLICK HERE to learn more

IrsquoM HERE to care for your growing family

19

GOVERNMENT

Delaware Secretary of Education Susan Bunting will leave her post in December capping a career of nearly five decades in public education in the First State

Her successor has not been chose Gov John Carney said in an Oct 6 press release announcing her departure

Bunting became the secretary of education in 2017 She had spent the previous four decades in the Indian River School District where she began in 1977 as a language arts teacher and later became superintendent from 2006-2017

She has not announced her next steps but intends to remain involved in educator training and development the press release said

ldquoSusan has spent a lifetime dedicated to public education in Delaware and the people of our state have been lucky to have her at the helmrdquo Carney said in the release ldquoNo one has made a bigger impact than Susan on preparing the next generation of Delaware educators and helping them grow into effective teacher-leaders Most importantly I want to thank Susan for her tireless dedication to Del-awarersquos students especially those most in need Her public service and dedication to the success of all Delaware children is unmatchedrdquo

At the Department of Education Bunting oversaw the creation and expansion of Opportunity Funding Delawarersquos

CARNEY CABINET EXODUS CONTINUES WITH BUNTING LEAVING EDUCATION

BY BETSY PRICE

first weighted student funding program The program targets support for low-income and English learner students

Over the past 19 months she oversaw the Depart-mentrsquos efforts to vaccinate thousands of educators and child care providers while helping districts and charter schools continue to educate children during the COVID-19 pandemic

Before her confirmation in 2017 Dr Bunting led Indian River School District one of the statersquos largest school districts serving more than 11000 students She had taught in Maryland for several years before she joined Indian River in 1977

刀攀搀甀挀攀 刀攀甀猀攀 刀攀瀀攀愀琀䬀攀渀渀礀 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 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

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 戀攀愀甀琀椀昀甀氀 瀀氀愀挀攀

20

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Photo by pixabayfrom Pexelscom

21

pace car including on the 24-degree turns of the Speed-way Drivers will go on the track in groups of up to 25 vehicles over the two days

ldquoDover International Speedway has been such a great partner in our vaccination efforts this year and this takes it to a whole new levelrdquo said Dr Karyl Rattay DPH director ldquoFor anyone holding out or hesitant to be vaccinated vaccination is safe effective and now can get you a once-in-a-lifetime driving experiencerdquo

Free COVID-19 vaccinations will be available during the event as well as free testing

The first 250 people to register to be vaccinatedmdashwith or without driving the trackmdashwill receive two tickets to the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Dover International Speedway on Saturday April 30 2022

If yoursquove ever dreamed of driving around the Monster Mile the Delaware Division of Public Health wants to make your dream come true

The only catch Yoursquoll have to get vaccinatedThe ldquoRace to End Covidrdquo vaccination drive is DPHrsquos

latest scheme to convince vaccine-hesitant Delawareans to get the jab

Individuals who pre-register to receive their first second third or booster shot (there is a difference) will have the opportunity to drive their own car or truck around the track The opportunity will not be available for individ-uals who do not receive a vaccination at the event

The event will be held on Saturday Oct 16 from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday Oct 17 from 8 am to 5 pm

Up to 800 drivers with valid driverrsquos licenses and their passengers will take two laps behind the trackrsquos

BY CHARLES MEGGINSON

WANT TO DRIVE MONSTER MILE GET A VACCINE THERE OCT 16-17

Track driving without an advance appointment will only be available if the driving slots do not fill ahead of time so registration for a day and time is strongly recommended Walk-ups for vaccination-only and testing will be accepted but appointments are recommended

Participants who wish to drive the track alone must be at least 18 years old with a valid driverrsquos license car registration in their name and vehicle insurance Partic-ipants who are 16 or 17 years old with a valid driverrsquos license must have a parent or legal guardian in the vehicle to sign a minor release form

click here to read more

HEALTH

22

The number of new COVID-19 cases in Delaware remain steady but deaths rose dramatically last week partly because of a review of records

The seven-day average of new positive cases dropped to 4509 as of Oct 7 down two from last week as the percentage of total positive tests rose slightly according to the weekly wrap-up from the Delaware Division of Public Health released Oct 8

The number of hospitalizations jumped nine over the last week to 234 with 32 considered critically ill

Deaths jumped 43 for a total of 1997 Nineteen of those were added after a review of vital statistic records

At the same time the number of Delawareans who are fully vaccinated rose to 547406 The state said 707 or 582650 Delawareans 12+ have received at least one dose of vaccine while 543471 Delawareans 18+ have received at least once dose

The state routinely and randomly tests a number of positive tests to try to type them This week all of the samples that were positive for a variant strain were the Delta variant except for one Mu and one Gamma

The state has see 4192 breakthrough cases or 810s of 1 of those vaccinated with 79 hospitalizations and 54 deaths

BY BETSY PRICE

New Delaware COVID-19 cases levels off other stats rise

HEALTH

23

spo

rts

Photo by benny mitchell

24

SPORTS

click here to read more about week 4

BY NICK HALLIDAY

25

SPORTS

St Elizabethrsquos defense holds off late Indian River drive

Two goal-line stands along with a few drive-ending turnovers helped St Elizabeth preserve its lead over Indian River as the Vikings remained unbeaten after a 14-7 victory Thursday night at Abessinio Stadium

The Vikings staked themselves to a 14-0 lead at half-time with two second quarter touchdowns Their first score wrapped up an 81-yard drive that began with the recovery of an Indians fumble Chris Caracter and Quasim Benson did all of the work on that drive trading handoffs for the first six plays The first quarter ended with a 27-yard run by Benson to the IR 40 When play resumed in the second Benson ran six more times

BY NICK HALLIDAY

click here to read more

the last of which went for 16 yards around right end for a touchdown

The Vikingsrsquo next drive began at their own 22 after an IR punt and the offense went to work again St Eliza-beth quarterback Brett Smick kept the drive going twice while facing a third and 10 by finding Mike Downes with passes The first went for 25 yards to the St Ersquos 47 and the second was good for 16 yards to the Indiansrsquo 26 He followed that second pass with a floater to Caracter just inside the right sideline in the end zone for a touch-down with 154 left in the half

That would be it for the Vikingsrsquo scoring for the night however Indian River took the second-half kickoff and drove all the way to the St Elizabeth two where the Vikings made a tackle on fourth and goal to force a turnover on downs That drive took nine and a half minutes

The Vikings went three and out on their drive and were forced to punt from their own end zone That gave IR possession at the St E 22 but again they could not convert a fourth down

26

SPORTS

Smyrna rallies to defeat St Georgersquos tech

A matchup of two Top 5 teams played out as advertised as Smyrna overcame a 21-8 halftime deficit to win 30-24 at St Georgersquos Saturday afternoon

The Eagles broke a 24-24 tie with an 18-yard touch-down pass from Cameron Edge to Devin Demoe with 50 seconds left in the game to get the hard-fought victory

The Hawks had just tied the game on a 32-yard field goal by Julio Lopez with 154 to go but Yamir Knight returned the ensuing kickoff to the 49-yard line and

BY GLENN FRAZER

Edge moved the Eagles downfield in 64 seconds culmi-nating in the Demoe TD catch

St Georgersquos used an 11-play drive eating up most of the first quarter to get on the scoreboard first on an eight-yard run by GirsquoVonni Sanchez-Word Smyrna came right back to score on a 20 yard pass from Edge to Demoe and a conversion run by Wayne Knight to take an 8-7 advantage with two minutes left in the quarter The Hawks regained the lead on their very drive as

Donovan Brooks found Brandon Montgomery for a 20-yard score and a 14-8 lead The ensuing onside kick was recovered by St Georgersquos and it took just three plays to score again on a one-yard run by Sanchez The big play in that drive was a 38-yard pass from Brooks to Kwami Miller Smyrna had a chance to add more points late in the half when Edge again turned to Demoe who made a catch at the one but he was ruled out of bounds with no time left The Hawks took a 21-8 lead into the half

The second half belonged to the Eagles as they scored on an eight-yard run by Wayne Knight late in the third quarter a 94-yard pass to Yamir Knight and the final 18-yard catch by Demoe in the final quarter to complete the comeback

Edge passed for 276 yards and three touchdowns as Demoe caught eight of those passes for 127 yards and two scores while Yamir Knight had five receptions for 148 yards and a touchdown Wayne Knight gained 67 yards on nine carries and a score for Smyrna

The Hawks were led by Sanchez with 104 yards on 33 carries and two touchdowns

Smyrna improves to 4-2 and has a ldquobye weekrdquo before hosting Dover in a homecoming game on Oct 22 while St Georgersquos falls to 3-2 and will host Hodgson in its homecoming game Saturday

27

SPORTS

Woodbridge scores fourth quarter touchdown to remain undefeated

The irresistible force met the immovable object for fans of defensive football they got a treat on Friday night The Woodbridge Blue Raiders and Laurel Bulldogs came in the game undefeated in an anticipated showdown before a large crowd that filled the bleachers and surrounded the fence at Schollenberger Field at Laurel High School

In the end it was an 85-yard touchdown pass from Seth Smart to Lextyn Wescott midway through the fourth quarter that gave Woodbridge a 6-0 road victory

ldquoWell anytime you can go to the house of a 4-0 team and get a win itrsquos very satisfying The boys played tough all nightrdquo Woodbridge head coach Marvin Dooley said

Neither team could mount an offensive drive in the first quarter Woodbridge would reach the red zone first early in the second quarter after a fourth down and five from the Laurel 27-yard line when Smart threw a pass as he was going to the ground con-necting with Wescott who caught the pass the spun out of a tackle and took the ball down to the one-yard line

On the next play Kenny Newton took the snap from the Wildcat formation but the Laurel defense stiffened forcing a fumble at the goal line Evan Collins recovered the fumble at his one-yard line as Laurel averted an early scoring attempt by Woodbridge

After a scoreless first half both teams continued their offensive struggles into the second half trading punts and turnovers The game had nine total turnovers Woodbridge with six and Laurel with three Neither team was able to capitalize on the turnovers or field position for three and half quarters

ldquoThis was an awful game for turnovers the good things about this is it shows the fight our boys have to overcome so much adversity and to have a relentless attitude to keep grindingrdquo Dooley said

BY BENNY MITCHELL

Woodbridge finally capitalized when Jordan Evans intercepted Kaden Shockleyrsquos pass at the five-yard line and returned it to the Woodbridge 15-yard line That would lead to the gamersquos lone score as Wescott made a leaping catch at his 42-yard line raced to the middle of the field then cut back to his right to elude two defenders and raced into the end zone The conversion attempt failed and Woodbridge led 6-0 with 518 to play in the game

ldquoThe play was great for a few reasons The pressure Smart faced the catch and run Lex made in a pressure situationrdquo Dooley said

Wescott caught four passes for 150 yards while Smart completed six of nine passes for 157 yards a touchdown and two interceptions Newton led the Blue Raiders on the ground carrying the ball 20 times for 49 yards

Javier White had 20 yards on 10 carries caught two passes for 27 yards and had two interceptions on defense for Laurel

The Bulldogs drop to 4-1 on the season and will return to Class A play Friday when they travel to Odessa in a District 2 matchup The Ducks are 2-3 so far this season

Woodbridge improves to 5-0 and will host Caravel Academy (5-0) in a Class AA District 3 showdown on Friday night

28

Sta

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on

nec

ted

Photo by sik imagery

29

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30

Without these collaborators this outlet would not be possible

Bryan Shupe CEOBetsy Price EditorSonja M Frey Publisher

John Mollura Photography

Photo Credit john mollura