1

FORMER GOV. MINNER PASSES

ART LOOP RETURNS TO WILMINGTON

WOODBRIDGE VICTORY

What’s Inside?Headlines ........................2Culture............................8Government ...................11Health ........................... 19Sports ...........................23Stay Connected ............27

Delaware Live @DelawareLive

NOVEMBER 7, 2021 • Vol. 2, Issue 45

Photo by KAYE WILGUS

2

Hea

dlin

es

Photo by SCOTT EVERS

3

Former Gov. Ruth Ann Minner, who served two terms as Delaware’s only female governor, died on Thursday, Nov. 4. Minner overcame significant ob-stacles before being sworn in as governor and she was known for her toughness and strength.

“She was a leader who had a real common touch,” Gov. John Carney, who

served as Minner’s lieutenant governor, said. “Gov. Minner focused on raising up the working families of our state because she knew what it meant to struggle. Having grown up poor in Slaughter Beach, she brought that perspective to her job every day and she never lost her attachment to those roots.”

Minner was born the youngest of Samuel and Mary Ann Coverdale’s five children. It was on the farm that she developed her work ethic, learning to drive a tractor, milking cows and tending crops. At 16, she quit school, something her father told her to do as it was “expected.” At 17, she married her junior high school sweetheart, Frank Ingram, and the two began a business in Milford.

The couple had their first son, Frank, soon after they married. A second son, Wayne, was born four-and-a-half years later and a third, Gary, four-and-a-half years

Former Governor Minner passes awayBY TERRY ROGERS

after that. All three sons were planned as the couple wanted to be sure they could attend college. Minner once said that the boys were spaced apart so they each got their share of attention when they were young and so they would be less likely to compete against each other than siblings who were closer in age. Her husband had political aspirations and Minner found herself stuffing envelopes for his campaign.

However, tragedy struck when her husband, only 34, died of a heart attack, leaving her a widow with three young boys and a mortgage. Minner returned to school, earning a GED, taking classes down the hall from her son, Frank, who was in eighth grade, working as a statisti-cian with the Maryland Crop Reporting Service at the same time. Often, her sons went to work with her as she counted plants and kernels.

“We all did our homework together and that made it a lot of fun,” Minner said in an interview in 2001. “One of the reasons I went back was because if the boys knew I didn’t have my education, it might give them the idea they didn’t need one. I never had any one quit school.” The boys learned the same work ethic as their mother at a young age, knowing that if chores were not done, they could not go to the ballpark unless they were.

Times were hard and Minner spoke of needing to purchase a new car in order to keep working but being denied a loan in 1967.

“My 1963 Chevy was dying, but dealers refused to let me take out a loan for a car,” Minner said. “They’d say

HEADLINES

click here to read more

“Oh, you’re single; we need a man to sign for the loan. I turned to banks, but they, too refused, requiring a male signature.”

After her husband’s death, Minner leaned on a family friend, Roger Minner, whose marriage had ended. Roger, a tow-truck operator, let the boys hang out in his shop and Minner often joked that he dated the boys for a year before he asked her out. They married in 1969 and began a towing company. Gary and Wayne joined Roger in the business until Roger died of cancer in 1991. Frank became a teacher at Milford High School.

In 1973, Minner ran for and won a seat in the Delaware House of Representatives for the 33rd District, the first woman to hold the seat. One of the things she remem-bered was the banks denying her a car because she was a single woman and knowing that she might be able to change those rules prompted her to run. As a represen-tative, she lobbied banks in the state to grant loans to women more freely.

As a representative, Minner served on the Bond Bill Committee and mastered the art of capital spending. She also served as House Majority Whip and the chaired the Rules Committee, successfully removing a rule that allowed representatives to table roll call votes. In 1982, Minner was elected to the State Senate where she was credited with the Delaware Land and Water Conservation Act protecting 30,000 acres of land. The act also created the Delaware Open Space Council.

4

When Delawareans vote for their state representatives and senators a year from now, they could find out that they live in a new legislative district.

That’s because during a special session of the General Assembly on Nov. 1, both chambers approved Senate Bill 199, which redraws those district boundaries.

The bill passed 14-7 along party lines in the Senate, with all seven Republicans voting against the measure. It passed in the House 40-1, with Rep. Mike Smith, R-Pike Creek, casting the sole “no” vote.

Now, it heads to Democratic Gov. John Carney, who is expected to sign the bill.

To view the new House districts, click here. To view the new Senate districts, click here.

Monday’s session happened just one week before the legislature’s deadline to finalize the maps, given that candidates must live in their districts for at least one year prior to the Nov. 8, 2022, general election.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY PASSES REDISTRICTING BILL; NEW DISTRICT LINES TAKE EFFECT NEXT ELECTION

BY CHARLIE MEGGINSON

The redistricting process ordinarily happens in the spring following the decennial census, but this year’s process was delayed because of COVID-19, legal chal-lenges involving the census and flawed data from the federal government.

Some concerned citizens and advocacy groups complained that the process was rushed, that there wasn’t enough time for the public to review and provide feed-back on the maps and that incumbent legislators were being protected at the expense of fairer district maps.

What happened in the SenateSenate President Pro Tempore Dave Sokola, D-Newark,

sought to soothe those concerns while introducing the bill.

HEADLINES

click here to read more

5

A regulation that many interpreted to mean Delaware schools would indefinitely require mask-wearing is on hold—for now.

A proposed amendment to Delaware Administrative Code 815—the rule schools follow for health examina-tions and screenings—would have added a section titled “COVID-19 Mitigation and Prevention”.

That section says all K-12 schools must require masks by all students, faculty, staff and visitors inside school buildings, regardless of vaccination status.

The proposal does not include an end date or conditions for termination of the regulation, meaning another regulation would have to go through the public review process under the Administrative Procedures Act to undo the changes, should the government decide the school mask mandate is no longer necessary.

Permanent school mask mandate is on hold – for now

That process is statutorily required to take 30 days at a minimum but could take up to 100 days.

The proposal outlines exceptions to the proposed rule, including exemptions for students with medical condi-tions or disabilities that prevent them from wearing masks, and when staff, students and visitors are eating, sleeping, engaged in activities that prevent mask-wear-ing, like swimming, or when they are outside of the building.

Now that the public comment period has ended, Sec-retary of Education Susan Bunting—whose departure from the job was announced in mid-October—could choose to act on the proposal.

BY CHARLIE MEGGINSON

HEADLINES

click here to read more

WE’RE HERE because your child’s

health matters.

PEDIATRICS1-866-BAY-DOCS

BAYHEALTH PEDIATRICS, MILFORD

We’re parents too and we know your child’s health is a priority! Whether you have a newborn, toddler, or teen, we’re driven to give them the care they need. As moms we’re experts in TLC, as pediatricians, we’re experts in your child’s health and wellbeing.

CLICK HERE to learn more.

6

Two Delawareans have filed a federal lawsuit against Gov. John Carney and Attorney General Kathy Jennings alleging that a state law signed last month violates their First and Second Amendment rights.

The suit alleges violations of the First Amendment right to free speech by criminalizing the sharing of information in the form of self-manufactured gun blueprints, schematics and 3D printing files. The law also violates Delawareans’ Second Amendment right to bear arms, the suit says.

“The basic right of individuals to self-manufacture arms for self-defense, along with the possession of the parts and information necessary to exercise that right, is protected by the Constitution, period,” said Adam Kraut, senior director of legal operations at the Firearms Policy Coalition, which filed the suit on behalf of Delawareans John Rigby and Alan Knight.

NEW DEL. ‘GHOST GUN’ LAW VIOLATES 1ST, 2ND AMENDMENTS, SUIT SAYS

“Delaware’s new laws make exercising these rights a crime, which is unconstitutional and something we cannot allow to go unchallenged,” he said.

Carney and Jennings did not reply to requests for comment Wednesday.

What the law saysHouse Bill 125, sponsored by House Minority Leader

Valerie Longhurst, D-Delaware City, criminalizes the possession or manufacturing of what are colloquially called “ghost guns.”

A ghost gun isn’t marked with an individualized serial number, either because that number has been illegally removed or because the firearm is exempt from federal laws that require those markings.

Law enforcement agencies often use those serial numbers to track guns associated with crimes back to their point of purchase or last known lawful owner.

The term most commonly describes an unmarked fire-arm, made by private individuals for personal use, often using prefabricated or partially unfinished firearm parts.

Ghost guns are often manufactured using 3D printers, thereby making them unnoticeable to metal detectors.

BY CHARLIE MEGGINSON

HEADLINES

click here to read more

7

Kent County is eyeing a $5 million grant program for small businesses and hospitality companies affected by the pandemic.

The program would include $3 million in grants for businesses with less than 100 employees to pay for employee wages and other business expenses.

Companies would have to demonstrate some negative financial impact resulting from the pandemic by providing the county with pre-pandemic financial figures compared to pandemic-era financials.

The remaining $2 million would be available for hotels and other tourism hospitality industry companies to seek financial relief.

If approved, the grants will be paid for with American Rescue Plan Act funds from the federal government.

The plan, which was developed in coordination with the Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce and Kent County Tourism Corporation, will be voted on during a Nov. 9 Levy Court meeting.

Kent considering $5M in grants for businesses hurt by pandemicBY CHARLIE MEGGINSON

With their approval, the county hopes to begin accepting applications in late November, according to county administrator Michael Petit de Mange.

“We’ve lost a number of businesses in Kent County and we know that there are those who are still struggling,” Petit de Mange said in an interview with Delaware LIVE News/Town Square Delaware.

He said grants could be used for any type of business expense that would otherwise be paid for with the revenue that has been lost.

“It’s going to be spelled out in the grant application, but it could be paying bills, it could be covering payroll or business supplies or other expenses related to the business utility expenses,” Petit de Mange said.

Grant applications will first be reviewed by the Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Corporation to check for compliance and completeness.

HEADLINES

click here to read more

Cancer isn’t waiting for COVID-19 to be over.One in three Delawareans will get cancer. Unfortunately, many have put off their cancer screenings in the past year. Screenings detect cancer early, when it’s most treatable. If you’ve skipped or canceled a screening due to the pandemic — for breast, cervical, colon, lung, or prostate cancer — don’t wait one more day. Call your health care provider to schedule your cancer screenings today.

If you don’t 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 HealthyDelaware.org/Cancer.

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

8

Cu

ltu

re

photo by SCOTT EVERS

9

Starting today, the Postal Service is accepting letters for the 109-year-old USPS Operation Santa program. Letters must be postmarked by Dec. 10, and will be up-loaded to www.USPSOperationSanta.com through Dec. 15 for potential adoption.

Every day can be a challenge for some families simply trying to make ends meet.

Holiday expectations put extra pressure on those same families who want to make it a special time, but just can’t. That’s where the USPS Operation Santa program —and generous Postal Service customers—can help make the holidays a joyous and magical time. Since the program began, hundreds of thousands of less-fortunate children and their families have been helped by the kindness of others.

USPS Operation Santa was established by the Postal

USPS OPERATION SANTA NOW ACCEPTING LETTERS FOR 2021 PROGRAMBY TERRY ROGERS

Service to help those in need during the holidays. Whether you believe in Santa or not, the nondenomina-tional program is intended to help as many deserving families as possible experience a happy holiday season. And that can only happen if there are letters to post on USPSOperationSanta.com.

Participation in USPS Operation Santa is simple. All you have to do is write a letter, put it in an envelope affixed with a First-Class Mail Forever stamp, and make sure you include your full return address—apartment number, directional information (i.e., E Main St, Apt 103) and zip code—and send it to Santa’s official workshop address: Santa Claus, 123 Elf Road, North Pole, 88888

Letters without full return addresses or names will not be posted for adoption.

CULTURE

click here to read more

HIGH SCHOOLOPEN HOUSE

Sunday, October 18, 202110:00am - 1:00pm

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 8:30amNovember 14 12:00pm

10

The Wilmington Art Loop—a self-guided exhibition of visual art displayed at galleries, studios, museums and alternative spaces in and around Wilmington—is returning Dec. 3, having been cancelled for 20 months by the coronavirus pandemic.

The Loop, a tradition for 33 years, usually occurred on the first weekend of the month, with many spaces opening month-long shows. Openings also often fea-tured refreshments.

Wednesday’s announcement of the return came from Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki, City Cultural Affairs Director Tina Betz and Jerry duPhily of Out & About. They promised details later, including informa-

Wilmington Art Loop returns in December, after 20-month hiatusBY KEN MAMMARELLA

tion about the free shuttle that ran between spaces. Their announcement did not say anything about COVID-19 guidelines for the shuttles or the venues.

Participating venues pay $30 to $50 a month to be part of the Loop and get their shows featured in Out & About and various websites, including Art Loop Wilmington.

CULTURE

click here to read more

11

go

vern

men

t

Photo by mary elizabeth phillips

12

POSSIBLE SCHOOL BUS DRIVER STRIKE THREATENS TO SEND APPO. STUDENTS BACK TO VIRTUAL LEARNING

BY CHARLES MEGGINSON

Appoquinimink School District may have to transition its high schools to virtual-only instruction, but not because of COVID-19.

In an email sent to parents Oct. 29, Middletown High School principal Amanda Conley said that First Student Busing, who the district contracts for student transpor-tation services, may be facing an employee strike.

“We recently received notice that the drivers from one of our contracted transportation companies, First Student, are threatening to go on strike against the company,” Conley wrote. “If that happens, we will not have enough buses to transport all students to school.”

She said that if drivers do go on strike, the district would be forced to transition its high schools to virtual instruction until the drivers come back to work.

Conley advised parents that teachers are prepared to make the transition. She emphasized that her email is only a precaution and she hopes the strike doesn’t happen “for the sake of our students and our school.”

Appoquinimink School District could not be reached for comment Nov. 3.

The busing contractor, First Student, faced an employee strike in Rhode Island near the end of October after drivers complained of unsatisfactory pay and benefits.

That strike ended last Friday after union leaders and First Student struck a deal including “generous pay raises …increased 401(k) contributions, and other benefit im-provements for our valued, hardworking Warwick school bus drivers,” according to WPRI Providence, who reported on the deal.

In Delaware, bus drivers have long complained of poor working conditions, low pay and scant benefits, but school districts are limited from offering contractors better deals because the state dictates the rate school bus contractors can be paid.

Delaware is also in the midst of a school bus driver shortage so extreme that the state has increased bus driver compensation and created additional financial incentives, such as double tier and triple tier allowances to more accurately compensate drivers that service more than one route.

GOVERNMENT

click here to read more

13

All new residential units in New Castle County will be required to have the infrastructure to support electric vehicle charging, thanks to an ordinance passed by the County Council two weeks ago.

The ordinance, sponsored by Councilwoman Dee Durham, D-District 2, will help new home buyers more easily and less expensively add a charging system, according to a press release from the county.

What the ordinance doesThe updated code does not require that new homes be

equipped with an EV charger but it does require all new residences built after July 1, 2022, to have enough room in the electric panel and conduit in the walls to ensure that installing an EV charger will be as easy and inex-pensive as possible.

If a single-family or townhome’s electric service panel is not in the garage, the ordinance mandates that builders run a raceway conduit to within five feet of a parking spot in the garage, if the house has one.

NEW CASTLE COUNTY TO REQUIRE NEW HOMES TO BE EV-CHARGER READYBY CHARLIE MEGGINSON

If the new residence does not have a garage, a raceway for EV charger wiring must be run out to any designated off-street parking space, sealed against the weather, and marked for future use.

The ordinance also addresses what the county calls “a growing concern that the EV future will be inequitable.”

“Those who live in apartments do not typically have access to the type of dedicated 220-volt outlet to charge an EV overnight,” the release says.

To ensure apartment dwellers can charge their EVs, the ordinance requires at least 10% of parking spaces in new multi-family residential units buildings to be EV- capable, including at least one handicap-accessible spot.

GOVERNMENT

click here to read more

14

A Republican resolution to condemn federal action against parents at school board meetings and reaffirm their rights to bring grievances to local boards of educa-tion failed Nov. 1 in the Delaware Senate along party lines.

On Oct. 4, the federal Department of Justice issued a one-page memo instructing the FBI and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to meet with federal, state and local law enforce-ment agencies to discuss strategies for addressing harassment, intimidation and threats of violence against school board members.

The memo came after months of raucous school board meetings becoming battlegrounds over hot-button issues like masking in schools and the perceived introduction of critical race theory into curricula.

“Threats against public servants are not only illegal, they run counter to our nation’s core values,” wrote Attorney General Merrick Garland. “Those who dedicate their

RESOLUTION CONDEMNING FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR SCHOOL BOARD OVERREACH FAILS IN SENATE

BY CHARLIE MEGGINSON

time and energy to ensuring that our children receive a proper education in a safe environment deserve to be able to do their work without fear for their safety.”

The resolutionSenate Resolution 22, introduced by Sen. Colin Bonini,

R-Little Creek, said the DOJ memo “does not accurately reflect the reality of what is occurring nationally and in Delaware.”

While introducing the resolution, Bonini said he in-cluded language to condemn violence and harassment but argued that the federal government should not be intervening in matters of free speech at the local level.

“If I disagree with you, I will absolutely defend your right to say what you want to say and I’ll defend your right to condemn whatever I say,” Bonini told the Senate. “But when the federal government—think about the power of the federal government—says we’re going to keep a special eye on you, we should all be very, very concerned.”

He said he and his team worked hard to draft a reso-lution that could garner bipartisan support and argued that if the same thing happened under a Republican administration, he’d run the same resolution.

GOVERNMENT

click here to read more

OB-GYN & FAMILY MEDICINE

1-866-BAY-DOCS

I’M 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. I’m here to bring better health for you and your loved ones.

CLICK HERE to learn more.

I’M HERE to care for your growing family.

15

CHILD CARE PROVIDERS, DSU TO RECEIVE MILLIONS IN COVID-19 RELIEF FUNDS

BY CHARLIE MEGGINSON

With Delaware’s unemployment rate hovering around five percent, state leaders have announced a new plan to get people back to work: investing in childcare and early childhood development.

“We wouldn’t be able to keep our economy going without frontline workers,” said Gov. John Carney, while announcing a $120 million investment in relief for Delaware’s childcare industry. “One of the things that I’ve learned is, in order for all those frontline workers to go to work, there have to be people that are caring and educating their children.”

Sixty-six million of the $120 million announced during a press event Nov. 1 has already been spent. That money was made available in direct grants for eligible early child care and education programs through The Delaware Early Education and Child Care Stabilization Fund.

The remainding investment will be paid for using funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, a federal stimulus package aimed at hastening the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Delaware received nearly $1 billion in discretionary funds from the act.

ARPA investments in childcare announced on Nov. 1 include $24 million more in Child Care Stabilization grants to help childcare providers statewide remain open and $10.6 million in direct financial relief for Del-aware childcare workers.

Carney and Delaware State University president Tony Allen also announced $10.6 million in ARPA funds for the university’s new Early Childhood Innovation Center. The state will pay the university $30.6 million over five years to develop the center, with the remaining $20 million coming from other state funds.

The investment is the university’s largest grant received to date, surpassing philanthropist MacKenzie Scott’s donation of $20 million last year.

“This new funding from the American Rescue Plan will support childcare providers, help providers keep their doors open, and help them attract and retain staff,” Carney said during the announcement at DSU.

“We’re excited about our new partnership at Delaware State University, which will build on workforce devel-opment efforts statewide to support current and future early childhood staff.”

Under terms of the partnership between DSU, the Delaware Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services, the university will develop statewide infrastructure for Delawareans seek-ing careers in childcare.

The funding will also expand scholarship opportunities to support working professionals who are seeking additional education.

Melanie Thomas-Price, founder and administrator of A Leap of Faith Child Development Center in Wilm-ington, said she has never been so excited as she was when she heard about the investment.

Throughout the pandemic, she said, parents and workers relied on childcare to remain open to care for their children. She said at every turn, her industry answered the call.

“Now, we are making the call,” she said. “And it looks like to me like I’m in the right place because we don’t really have to make the call—you guys have already decided that we are worthy. We are worthy to move forward to raise up the children and to also help parents in our community.”

Thomas-Price said the funding will keep centers open, staff members paid and children cared for, but that there are other implications from the pandemic that can no longer be ignored.

click here to read more

GOVERNMENT

16

GOVERNMENT

Two separate resolutions passed in the House and Senate requesting the Delaware Supreme Court issue an advisory opinion on the General Assembly’s authority to remove indicted State Auditor

Kathy McGuinness. The auditor was indicted in October on a slew of felony

and misdemeanor corruption charges alleging nepotism, fraud, theft and witness intimidation. She has pled not guilty to all charges.

Neither resolution will move forward at the moment, though, because the House Concurrent Resolution was introduced after the Senate had already gone home for the day and the House didn’t bring the Senate Concurrent Resolution to a vote.

Both were introduced during a special session to pass redistricting legislation.

Article III, Section 13 of the Delaware Constitution says that the governor may “for any reasonable cause” remove any officer of the state government, except the Lieutenant-Governor and members of the General Assembly, upon the request of two-thirds of all the members elected to the House and Senate.

HOUSE, SENATE SEEK ADVICE ON MCGUINNESS REMOVAL, BUT FAIL TO FINISH JOBBY CHARLIE MEGGINSON

What happened in the SenateSenate Concurrent Resolution 63 states that the

General Assembly does not believe it has ever made such a request to the governor and therefore seeks an opinion from the court to determine what constitutes “reasonable cause,” among other things, including:

• Does the authority under Section 13 to remove a public official implicitly include the authority to take a lesser action, such as suspension of that public official?

• If Section 13 does implicitly include the authority to take a lesser action, must the General Assembly address the governor on the lesser action or can the governor choose to take a lesser action than that addressed to the governor?

• Does the application of Section 13 require a hearing on the matter prior to a vote in either House to address the governor to remove an officer?

• If the application of Section 13 requires a hearing, must each House hold a hearing prior to its respective vote to address the governor, or does a hearing in the first House satisfy the requirement?

• If the application of Section 13 requires a hearing in each House, would a joint hearing satisfy the require-ment?

click here to read more

17

State GOP predicts ‘red wave’ in 2022, plans to kick off campaign MondayBY CHARLIE MEGGINSON

With just over a year until the next big election, the Delaware Republican Party has announced a campaign season kickoff with action items for every day until Nov. 8, 2022.

The free rally will be held on Monday, Nov. 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Nobles Pond, located at 13 Nobles Pond Crossing in Dover.

The event will feature free food and drink, activities for children, a cash bar and an opportunity to mingle with the candidates.

Some may even announce their candidacy at the rally, said Jane Brady, the state party chair.

She said in the wake of Republican Glenn Youngkin’s underdog victory in the Virginia governor’s race and a shocking Republican turnout in the New Jersey election, the odds of a Republican comeback in Delaware have never been better.

GOVERNMENT

click here to read more

In Virginia, Republicans won back control of the state’s executive branch, sweeping all three statewide elected positions on the ballot, including governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general. They’re also poised to take back control of the state’s House of Delegates. Democrats maintain a slight lead in the State Senate.

In New Jersey, a closer-than-expected election gave the state’s incumbent Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy a slim lead over his Republican challenger, Jack Ciattarelli. Murphy won by about 45,000 in an election that drew 2.45 million voters. That despite polls showing Murphy maintained a comfortable lead over Ciattarelli until the end—as much as 11 points according to a Monmouth University poll released the week before the election.

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

18

Closures for toll plaza, I-95/Route 141 interchange, Route 9

BY KEN MAMMARELLA

Painting, construction and flooding are the reasons behind some upcoming road closures in New Castle County, according to the Delaware Department of Transportation.

EZ Pass lanes on I-95The I-95 Newark Toll Plaza northbound and south-

bound EZ Pass lanes will be closed for patching and striping, 9 a.m. Nov. 15 through 5 a.m. Nov. 18, pending weather.

During the closure, motorists will utilize the CASH lanes and are warned about potential slowdowns. The EZ Pass work started last week.

I-95 and Route 141 rampsAs part of the long-running improvements to the

GOVERNMENT

interchange of Route 141 and I-95, nighttime paving will close multiple ramps from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., Thurs-day–Friday Nov. 11–12 and Monday–Friday Nov. 15–19.

The ramps affected are Exits 5A and 5B on I-95 south-bound and Exits 3B on Route 141 northbound and southbound, Newport.

Variable message boards and detour routes will be posted.

Route 9Route 9/St. Augustine Road, between Belts Road and

Sixth Street near Middletown, is closed until further notice, due to washout from last week’s flooding.

19

hea

lth

Photo by pixabayfrom Pexels.com

20

Children ages five through 11 are now eligible to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 pediatric vaccine in Delaware. The Delaware Division of Public Health announced Nov. 3 that providers can begin administering the vaccine immediately.

The announcement comes after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last week gave its approval to expand the emergency use authorization to allow for the Pfizer vaccine to be administered to children in that age group.

“This is very exciting news for Delaware in the ongoing fight against COVID,” said DPH director Dr. Karyl Rattay. “We have been waiting for the day when we could give our younger school-aged children this very effective layer of protection and let them get back to a more normal childhood.”

Rattay said it’s natural for parents to be concerned about rare adverse reactions, but said the benefits of the

CHILDREN AGES 5-11 NOW ELIGIBLE FOR PFIZER COVID-19 VACCINEBY CHARLIE MEGGINSON

vaccine far outweigh the “extremely rare chance of a bad reaction.”

She said if her children were in the 5-11 age group, she would vaccinate them right away.

Pfizer’s pediatric COVID-19 vaccine differs from the original in that the dose has been reduced for children under 12 years old.

In a press release, the Division of Public Health cited nationwide clinical trials involving more than 3,000 children ages 5-11. In those trials, the vaccine was found to be more than 90% protective against developing symptomatic cases of COVID-19.

“No severe vaccine-related side effects such as myo-carditis or severe allergic reactions were identified,” the release said. “Side effects were found to be similar to, or fewer than, those experienced by adults and included sore arms, fatigue, headaches, muscle pain, chills, and low-grade fevers lasting a day or two.”

click here to read more

HEALTH

21

Delaware announced on Friday the season’s first confirmed cases of influenza: a Kent County child under age five, infected with influenza strain B, who was hospi-talized, and a 26-year-old Sussex County woman, with influenza strain A, who was not hospitalized. Neither individual had received the flu vaccine, Delaware Division of Public Health pointed out.

The division used the announcement to encourage flu vaccines, with details available at flu.delaware.gov. The vaccine is recommended for Delawareans six months of age and older and can be administered at the same time as the COVID-19 vaccine, the state said. Flu vaccines take two weeks to become effective.

The division is offering flu and COVID-19 vaccines at community-based events, and it runs clinics for uninsured and underinsured individuals.

The flu virtually disappeared in Delaware last season, with so many people shelter-ing in place and large gatherings limited by pandemic guidelines. The 2020-2021 flu

DEL. ANNOUNCES FIRST TWO CASES OF FLU AND ENCOURAGES VACCINESBY KEN MAMMARELLA

season had 26 confirmed cases of the flu, one hospitalization and one death from flu complications.

Compare that to the 2019-2020 flu season: Delaware recorded more than 7,000 confirmed cases, nearly 400 hospitalizations and 11 deaths.

“We must not get lulled into a false sense of security with last year’s unusually low case numbers,” said Dr. Karyl Rattay, the division’s director. With Delawareans resuming pre-pandemic activities, the flu is a definite threat to our health.”

The flu and COVID-19 have many similar symptoms. They include fever or feeling feverish, chills, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, fatigue, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle pain, body aches and headaches. COVID-19 differs from flu in causing a change in or loss of taste or smell.

HEALTH

22

Enrollment is now open for 2022 health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, and it runs through Jan. 15 at www.HealthCare.gov.

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware is the only insurer offering plans—13 of them—on Delaware’s Health Insurance Marketplace.

Plans are offered in five tiers—bronze, silver, gold, platinum, catastrophic—and are based on how enrollees choose to split the costs of care with Highmark.

The choice of the plan, tax credits and financial assis-tance dramatically affect how much coverage costs for Delaware’s 30,000 marketplace enrollees. The overall average monthly premium in Delaware is $675, with the average premium reduced to $211 per month after tax credits, the state said. For the 81% of Delawareans who receive financial help, the average premium after tax credit is $119 per month.

“More than 20% of Delaware Marketplace participants were enrolled in a plan costing $10 or less a month in

IT’S OPEN ENROLLMENT TIME ON DEL. HEALTH INSURANCE MARKETPLACEthe past year,” Delaware Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro said in announcing the open enrollment.

For any marketplace plan in 2022, individual consum-ers can’t pay more than $8,700 in out-of-pocket medical costs and families can’t pay more than $17,400.

All that said, Highmark is raising premiums by an average of 3% for 2022.

Two dental insurers—Delta Dental of Delaware, Inc. and Dominion Dental Services, Inc.—will offer a collec-tive 12 stand-alone dental plans on the marketplace. Some Highmark plans include vision and dental coverage.

Signing up and getting helpConsumers can go to www.choosehealthde.com,

www.healthcare.gov or www.cuidadodesalud.gov/es/Free in-person assistance is available from federally

funded and trained specialists at Westside Family Healthcare (statewide) and Quality Insights (New Castle and Sussex counties) and by certified application counselors at Henrietta Johnson Medical Center in Wilmington and La Red Health Center in Georgetown.

State-licensed insurance agents and brokers are also available to help individuals re-enroll and to help employers update their coverage, at no extra charge.

As usual, consumers are urged not to delay, even though many do: About 74% of Delaware’s enrollees signed up during the final three weeks of open enroll-ment in 2020.

BY KEN MAMMARELLA

In addition to the marketplace, some Delawareans might be eligible for coverage though the state’s expanded Medicaid program, which is open year-round. More than 10,000 Delawareans receive coverage under the Medicaid expansion each year.

These programs have helped to reduce Delaware’s uninsured rate from 10% in 2008 to 6.6% in 2019, according to the Census Bureau.

HEALTH

23

spo

rts

Photo by KEVIN EICKMAN

24

SPORTS

click here to read more

Woodbridge rolls over Red Lion

One of the marks of a good football team is when the offense is struggling it find other ways to score. The Woodbridge Blue Raiders did just that Friday night scoring in all facets of the game as they rolled to a 35-6 victory over the Red Lion Lions in a Class AAA District 3 game.

Less than two minutes into the game, Woodbridge struck early with the defense as Red Lion punter Samuel Crossan mishandled the snap in his own end zone and Ben Carter was there for the recovery and a Woodbridge touchdown. Kenny Newton added the conversion run giving Woodbridge an 8-0 lead with 10:10 to play in the first quarter.

BY BENNY MITCHELL

“It gave us some big momentum, I saw him drop the ball and everyone was going for the ball and luckily I was the one there and got it,” Carter said.

On its next drive, Red Lion quarterback Mac Krauss engineered a six play 63 yard scoring drive capped off with a 23-yard pass to Seth McGroerty. The point after kick bounced off the left upright as Red Lion cut the lead to 8-6 midway through the first quarter.

Neither team would mount a scoring threat through-out the rest of the first half as Woodbridge took the 8-6 lead into halftime.

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⸀

25

SPORTS Smyrna seniors excel on their “Night”

The sunset was nearly “Eagle Red” just before kickoff on Senior Night at Charles V. Williams Stadium Friday night. That was an omen of what was about to happen as 17 seniors (nine starters) went out in style in their final regular season home game before a bundled-up crowd in a 48-7 win over Appoquinimink. The game was played mostly in the 30s but that didn’t seem to bother the “red hot” Eagles as they won their sixth straight game to improve to 7-2 on the season.

Smyrna started out with “short fields” on its first three drives. Brandon West blocked the first two Appo punts, giving the offense the ball at the 18- and 16-yard line of the Jaguars. It took just three plays to score the opening touchdown on a 7-yard run by senior Wayne Knight. The second Eagle score took just one play as Cameron

BY GLENN FRAZER

Edge zipped a sideline pass to senior Devin Demoe who dove, keeping his feet inbounds, and hit the pylon at the same time for an outstanding catch. The conversion was good as Wayne Knight passed to Nate Chandler in the back of the end zone and it was 16-0 Smyrna. The Eagles added a third first quarter touchdown when Edge made a perfect pass to Denim Smith for 18 yards and a 24-0 advantage.

The Appo defense got a stop on the Eagles midway through the second quarter and quarterback Ryan von-Brandt engineered the half’s best drive to the Smyrna 20 but consecutive sacks by West, senior Nate Lesniczak and Julian Charlescar ended the Jags scoring threat.

click here to read more

don’t wait. build.Enroll now.

26

SPORTS battle of THE Buccaneers

It was the first true cold game of the season at Bob People’s Stadium Friday night, on the campus of Caravel Academy. A battle of Buccaneers was scheduled to take place as Milford (3-4) traveled up to Caravel (7-1), looking to keep their slim playoff chances alive. However, on this night Caravel would prevail behind senior running back, Ky’shwn Drumgo and his 118 yards rushing and two touchdowns, for a 44-0 victory.

The game was tight early, as Caravel only took a 14-0 lead into halftime. The turnover bug plagued Milford in the first half. A 17-yard pick-six from Caravel sophomore Jordan Miller opened the scoring as time expired in the first quarter of play. That was one of two turnovers in the first half for the visiting team.

Caravel’s offense struggled to complete drives in the first quarter, however, it really began to find a rhythm on its opening drive of the second quarter. A 95-yard drive that spanned almost five minutes long, highlighted by a 48-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Truman Auwerda to Mekhi Carmon would result in Drumgo’s first touch-down of the night.

The second half belonged to Caravel as it began to assert dominance in this one. The home team opened up the second half with a 55-yard drive capped off by Drumgo’s second TD of the game.

BY PATRICK GARYANTES

After that score, the Caravel defense pulled the impressive feat of churning out a safety, despite the Milford offense starting at the 25-yard line. The drive went, Milford penalty, tackle for loss, tackle for loss, Milford penalty, safety, with Andre Smith coming up with the big tackle on the Milford running back, Aaron Sivels.

The final scores for Caravel were a touchdown pass from Auwerda to JT Wingo for 56 yards, John Antonio two-yard TD catch, and a second pick-six for the Bucs by Vandrick Hamlin.

Auwerda would finish 5-of-8 for 135 yards and two touchdown passes for Caravel. Sivels, the senior running back for Milford, was bottled up in this one and perhaps hobbled after rolling his ankle late in the first quarter, only gaining 37 yards on 14 carries.

Milford falls to 3-5 on the season and will finish its season Saturday when it visits Mount Pleasant. Caravel continues its strong season, moving to 8-1 with a date with undefeated St. Elizabeth Thursday at Abessinio Stadium.

27

Sta

yc

on

nec

ted

Photo by ROSEMARY CONNELLY

28

STAY CONNECTED

PHONE NUMBER: 302-542-9231

FOR NEWS AND INFORMATION: NEWS@DELAWARELIVE.COMTO ADVERTISE WITH US: SHUPE@DELAWARELIVE.COM

INSTAGRAM.COM/DELAWARE.LIVE

TWITTER.COM/LIVE_DELAWARE

FACEBOOK.COM/DELAWARELIVENEWS/

WATCH DELAWARE LIVE ON YOUTUBE!

LINKEDIN.COM/COMPANY/DELAWARE-LIVE-NEWS

DELAWARE LIVE IS YOUR

SOURCE FOR NEWS AND

INFORMATION ACROSS ALL OF

DELAWARE. STAY CONNECTED

WITH US BY PHONE, EMAIL OR

CONNECTING WITH US ON

SOCIAL MEDIA BY CLICKING ON

THE LINKS.

DELAWARE LIVE:

OUR STATE.

OUR NEWS.

OUR HOME.

29

Without these collaborators, this outlet would not be possible:

Bryan Shupe, CEOBetsy Price, EditorSonja M. Frey, Publisher

John Mollura Photography

Photo Credit: john mollura