Community Briefs 11/2/22

Sussex County Mediacom employees earn top service awards

Mediacom Communications recently recognized three employees from Sussex County who achieved high-level performance rankings in customer service and broadband network operations over the past year.

David Collins of Millsboro was named Customer Service Hero, earning a national bronze-level award for excellence as a senior-level broadband specialist. He works at the company’s Dagsboro headend, which is a network data center where internet traffic is routed between local customers and the global internet. Collins has been a Mediacom employee since 2015.

Jerry Shockley of Frankford was named Area Operations Employee of the Year, recognizing his longtime service and exemplary work as a network operations maintenance specialist. He began his telecommunications career in 1979, 17 years before Mediacom became a company.

Katherine Brinsfield of Frankford earned the region’s Unsung Hero Award to recognize excellent service delivered to customers, and support to colleagues who serve customers in lower Delaware and elsewhere. She has been a Mediacom employee since 2005.

Companywide, Mediacom employs 4,000 people. Collins, Shockley and Brinsfield were among 120 employees recognized for outstanding performance achievements over the past year. Award recipients receive monetary bonuses and other employee recognition.

Love’s A Joke comedy show set Nov. 4

Love’s A Joke: Stand-Up Comedy Battle of the Sexes is set for 8 p.m., Friday, Nov. 4, at the Milton Theatre.

Love has never been so hysterical! Love's a Joke is a stand-up tour featuring comedy couples Max Cohen, Vicky Kuperman, Jeremy Hall and Missy Hall. 

She's Russian. He's terrified. She's older. He's shorter.

America’s top comedy couples take the stage to dish on marriage, sex, divorce, parenthood, fighting, weddings, porn, and who (or what) they fantasize about when their spouse isn’t looking.

Tickets are available at MiltonTheatre.com, or call the box office at 302-684-3038 for assistance. The Milton Theatre is located in downtown historic Milton at 110 Union St. along the Broadkill River.

Farm conference scholarships available

The Historic Lewes Farmers Market will provide scholarships to the 19th Annual Small Farm Conference to be held Friday and Saturday, Nov. 4 and 5, at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

The event objective is to equip Delmarva farmers and landowners with tools and strategies to increase farm profitability and promote farm sustainability. Topics to be addressed include individual and community needs, emerging problems, and concerns of limited-resource, new/beginning and underserved farmers.

The two-day program is packed with interactive workshops, off-site farm tours via bus, seminars, networking opportunities and special guest appearances. To preview the conference, visit: wwwcp.umes.edu/extension/small-farms-program/conference. Discounts are available for early registrants. To register, go to eventbrite.com.

To request HLFM scholarship applications, email info@historiclewesfarmersmarket.org or call 302-644-1436.

For more, go to historiclewesfarmersmarket.org.

Sussex County STEM Fair set Nov. 5

The inaugural Sussex County STEM Fair is set for 3 to 4 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 5, at the Lewes Public Library, hosted by Sussex County STEM Alliance and Lewes library, with support from a generous FACES grant from the Carl M. Freeman Foundation.

Following weeks of preparation, students will present their completed projects in science, technology, math and engineering for judging.

The fair encourages students to experience hands-on STEM learning in a fun way while developing scientific process and critical thinking skills. Categories include physical science, life science, earth and space, engineering and math, computers and robotics. All students will be recognized for their efforts and awarded exciting prizes.

More than 40 students in grades K-5 attending a public, private, home or alternative school in Sussex County will participate. Both individual and group projects will be presented. All projects will be judged by STEM professionals.

The Itzels to perform in Dagsboro Nov. 6

Hickory Hill Methodist Church will host a free concert by the Itzels at 6:30 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 6, at 32433 Molly Field Road, Dagsboro. Singer/songwriters and Grammy nominees the Itzels have been touring full time for almost 30 years. Their concert will consist of original music, traditional hymns and worship songs. Light refreshments will follow the show. All are welcome. To learn more, call 302-470-2281.

Unitarian Universalists to meet Nov. 6

The Unitarian Universalists of Southern Delaware will hold an online and in-person service at 10 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 6.  Draw the Line is the topic. The Rev. Heather Rion Starr said, “News of our country’s dissolving democracy is coming in from many directions. As a concerned people, committed to not completely tuning out the world and worries around us, what is there for us to do?” For more, go to uussd.org.

Alzheimer’s caregiver workshops start Nov. 7

In support of National Alzheimer's Awareness and Family Caregivers Month in November, the Alzheimer’s Association will a present a three-part workshop series, Living with Alzheimer’s for Caregivers: Understanding the Middle Stage, at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 7, at the Lewes Public Library, 111 Adams Ave., Lewes. Sessions continue Monday, Nov. 14, and Monday, Nov. 21. 

This series is designed to help caregivers understand and cope with the middle stage of the disease, when gaps in memory and thinking become more noticeable, and individuals begin to need help with day-to-day activities. These sessions will provide caregivers with knowledge, tools and strategies for optimal care in order to maintain quality of life with a focus on communication, safety, moods, behavior and seeking support.

To register and find detailed session information, go to lewes.lib.de.us. Participants may choose to attend any or all sessions. Registration is requested, but walk-ins will be accepted as space allows.

DART Stuff The Bus for Thanksgiving food drive starts Nov. 7

DART announced its 25th year of partnering with the Food Bank of Delaware for the annual Stuff The Bus Thanksgiving food drive. This year’s goal is to collect 25 tons of nonperishable food for Delawareans in need of assistance. Stuff the Bus local event locations, collection dates and times are: Rehoboth Safeway, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday, Nov. 7, 19283 Coastal Highway, Rehoboth Beach; Milford Walmart, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 8, 939 N. Dupont Blvd., Milford; and Seaford Walmart, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 8, 22899 Sussex Highway, Seaford.

DART also encourages the public to donate directly to the Food Bank of Delaware.

To learn more, contact the Food Bank at 302-292-1305 or go to FBD.org.

Estate-planning mistakes class set Nov. 7

The Delaware Money School will offer a free class, Eight Common Estate Planning Mistakes, at 2 p.m., Monday, Nov. 7, at Greenwood Public Library with instructors Deirdre O’Shea McCartney, Esq., and Robert Jeter. The class covers common estate-planning mistakes and how to avoid them. It will explore some common myths about estate planning and offer suggestions on how attendees can optimize their financial future and legacy for their own and their loved ones’ benefit. Having written, spoken and taught on the subject many times, the instructors break down a complex subject to understandable terms. Everyone should be aware of these mistakes and be able to consult with their attorney and financial advisor on a plan for their future to correct them. To register, go to demoneyschool.org. 

Bayhealth Total Health in Milton sets Nov. 8 job fair

Bayhealth will host a career fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 8, at Bayhealth Total Care, 18383 Hudson Road, Milton.

With the facility set to open in February 2023, the Bayhealth team is excited to bring nearly 70 new jobs to Sussex County. The innovative facility will feature a hybrid emergency and walk-in center – the first of its kind in Delaware – primary and specialty care practices, and lab and imaging services.

Open positions available include, but are not limited to, nurses and nurse managers, techs in multiple areas, environmental service associates, public safety officers and more. Employees can start immediately upon hire. Bayhealth offers employees competitive benefits and other incentives such as a part-time weekend program and a student loan repayment program.

Candidates who attend have a chance to win a $500 gift card. To see all open positions and register, go to Bayhealth.org/Career-Fair.

Free program to address Secure Act 2.0 and estate planning Nov. 8

The Secure Act 2.0 contains many changes that may affect Americans’ retirement plans.

John Robbert of Chesapeake Legal Counsel and Len Hayduchok of Dedicated Financial Services will present Secure Act 2.0 and Estate Planning, a free program about navigating those changes, from 3 to 4 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 8, at the Lewes library. They will explore the key provisions as they stand now and what they may look like for 2023 and beyond.

Questions to be covered include what the Secure Act 2.0 is and what changes it brings; what its main provisions are and how they will impact people’s retirement and legacy planning; what document review and amendments may be advisable; considerations on additional trust options and beneficiary designations; and more.

There is no cost or obligation, and no products will be sold; this is an educational seminar. Attendance is free, but seating is limited. To reserve a spot, go to dedicatedfinancialservices.com.

Elementary school PE grant applications due Nov. 9

National nonprofit Project Fit America recently received a $10,000 donation from GOLO to fund the development of a grant program in its corporate home state of Delaware.

To create new opportunities for kids to be active, fit and healthy, Project Fit creates and administers exemplary fitness programming for elementary and middle schools. 

One public elementary school in Delaware will be selected to receive a customized program to adapt to its existing physical education curriculum. The grant application deadline is Wednesday, Nov. 9.

Programs are designed to help increase children's fitness levels through fun and innovative activities by providing physical education equipment, on-site teacher training, curriculum materials and lesson plan support supplies.

For details and to apply, contact Project Fit America via email at info@projectfitamerica.org and include PFA Delaware Grant in the subject line, or call 800-711-4348.

Prime Timers’ singles-only happy hour set Nov. 9 

Delaware Coastal Prime Timers, a social group for single and coupled gay men, will hold a singles-only happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 9, at Above the Dunes Restaurant on the Boardwalk at Wilmington Avenue in Rehoboth Beach.

Prime Timers is a fun, welcoming, member-driven international social organization with 75 chapters and more than 10,000 members. To find out about upcoming events, send a name and email address to coastalprimetimers@gmail.com.

CHEER to honor veterans at Nov. 10 dinner

CHEER will host its annual Veterans Day Celebration at 5 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 10, at the Warren L. and Charles C. Allen, Jr. CHEER Community Center on Sand Hill Road, east of Georgetown. Following dinner, the honor ceremony will begin at 6:30 p.m. The evening will conclude with entertainment by disc jockey Sky Brady for attendees’s dancing pleasure. A cash bar will be offered.

All veterans are welcome free of charge. Tickets for spouse or guests are $10 each. Seating is limited so reserving space early is encouraged. Practicing social distancing procedures and wearing a face mask are recommended.

For tickets or more information, call Robin Greene at 302-853-4199.