Children are less likely these days to lose important paperwork in their backpacks, since the Indian River School District is offering a new paperless information system. Parents will now receive promotional literature in the form of emails, instead of the traditional paper fliers.

The district launched the Peachjar system on June 2. With the system, paperwork usually posted in schools or sent home with students will be emailed to parents and posted on the schools’ public websites, advertising school events or making district announcements.

“Paper fliers may get buried in the kids’ backpack and the parents may never see it,” said IRSD Public Information Officer Dave Maull. The Peachjar system offers “a little bit better chance of getting it,” he said.

The information being offered can include events such as band concerts, festivals or sign-ups for community sports teams.

Principals must approve every flier, but other staff may help post the documents online.

Outside organizations can still send home electronic fliers, but they must pass the same approval process, with the school principal or district superintendent approving the final document.

“If there’s an outside organization that wants to distribute materials to our students, they have to go through the Peachjar system,” Maull said, but that’s the easy part.

Those aiming to submit a flier must visit www.Peachjar.com to create a username and password, then upload a PDF file of the flier. IRSD staff will then approve or reject the flier from there. The rules remain the same for community organizations as they have been, and materials from “for-profit” organizations will not be distributed.

“It’s a good system, and we really think it’s going to get us a wider reach,” Maull said. “It really does save a lot of money,” he added.

Often, the schools or district will send out public notices in both English and Spanish, and that will continue. And the sign-up process for parents will, in many cases, mean taking no action at all.

“Most people have provided the school with an email address,” Maull said. “So, as long as a person has an email address on file, they got it.”

In those cases, no action by parents is required. Peachjar has sent every guardian with an email on file a welcome email and password so they can manage their accounts and delivery preferences.

Email addresses will not be shared with any other service.

Those not already in the Peachjar system can also sign up via the Peachjar link can be found on IRSD’s main webpage, at www.irsd.net. The school fliers are also posted publicly there.

“We think it’s going to be a really good system. It’s more efficient than posting paper fliers,” Maull said.

The AlertNow phone system will still deliver urgent updates, such as weather delays or breaking news.

“It’s a good system, and we really think it’s going to get us a wider reach,” Maull said. “It really does save a lot of money” in printing and paper costs.

Fenwick Island Town Manager Merritt Burke IV announced last week that the Town had received recognition from Delaware Gov. Jack Markell for their efforts in creating and maintaining a healthy community.

Burke noted that the state has 57 municipalities, of which 15 had applied for a grant from the Delaware Coalition for Healthy Eating & Active Living.

“We were one of five to be awarded,” said Burke.

The Town received a Delaware Healthy Community award of special merit for 2014 and a special tribute from Markell.

“The special recognition for a small municipality category recognizes communities that perform exemplary community health promotion work but have fewer resources than larger municipalities,” read Burke from the tribute, adding that other recipients of the award in 2014 were Newark, Smyrna and Dover. “They are to be praised for their efforts to take a prevention driven effort.”

Burke said the Town’s application included the Town’s 2013 no-smoking ordinance for the Town’s two parks and public beach, as well as the Town’s Environmental Committee and Parks Committee.

“Your community is very active, and I want to congratulate everyone here, including staff and council on this award,” said Burke. “It’s a very important award.”

At the May 23 town council meeting, the council also discussed possibly altering Chapter 116, Peace and Good Order, in town’s code, relating to special events permits for events on commercial property.

Councilman William Weistling Jr. said the code currently only regulates events on public streets and beaches. He said the Town had received a recommendation from Fenwick Island Police Sgt. John Devlin that the council might want to consider adding events on commercial property that exceed 75 people.

“That would require them to also take out a permit,” Weistling explained. “What that normally requires is that a police officer would be available, and we would charge the businesses according to our Special Events Rules & Regulations, $100 per hour for police coverage.”

Weistling said he wanted to hear what the council thought of the idea before it was sent to the Town’s Charter & Ordinance Committee.

Councilman Todd Smallwood said he was wary of putting any financial pressure on the town’s businesses.

“I just don’t want to put any more pressure on our businesses right now. They’ve had such a hard winter and are trying to make some money.”

Weistling said the Town could choose to assess the fee per hour, to make it more affordable for businesses to pay.

“The state police don’t charge that much,” added Councilwoman Diane Tingle.

Smallwood said the Town would also have to look at the definition of a “special event.”

“Like Pottery Place has their Columbus Day sale — is that in there? If Dairy Queen introduces a new Blizzard, I consider that a ‘special event.’”

Weistling said he believed the primary concern was the traffic on Route 1.

“I think it’s a good idea just from a safety standpoint,” added Roy Williams.

The council agreed to have the chapter of the code reviewed by the Charter & Ordinance Committee.

In other Fenwick Island news:

• Through the Department of Defense, the Fenwick Island Police Department will be given a brand-new military-surplus vehicle, with a value estimated at $78,000, to be used for emergencies.

Police Chief William Boyden noted that emergency personnel, including the Delaware National Guard, had had trouble reaching some homes in the town during Hurricane Sandy. This vehicle, he said, should enable emergency personnel to traverse the town during another such event, should one occur.

• The Fenwick Island Beach Patrol will be on-duty this weekend and next, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and begin guarding the beaches full-time on June 14.

• The Town’s annual Bonfire will be held on July 5, with a rain date of July 6.

• Resident Bob Clark told the council he was concerned about curb cuts in front of the Ropewalk restaurant. “I almost broke a leg in front of Ropewalk,” he said. “I think it’s dangerous.”

The council said that the restaurant and the Delaware Department of Transportation are aware of the issue and have agreed to fix it in the fall, following the summer season. “Are they waiting for someone to break their face before they fix that?” asked Najib Nadi. “They’re looking for a big lawsuit.”

• Weistling reminded residents that the summer season is here and to be extra-careful when out and about in town.

“Last Saturday, one of our residents was struck by a car, on her bicycle. Luckily, she wasn’t hurt… Stay alert on the highway. I hope it’s not something we’ll be seeing on a regular basis,” he added.

June 8 marks World Oceans Day, an annual observation to honor the world’s oceans and celebrate the products the ocean provides, such as Maryland blue crabs and marine animals kept as pets.

To show its appreciation of the world’s oceans — especially the Atlantic — the Bethany Beach Nature Center will celebrate World Oceans Day on Saturday, June 7.

“What we’re hoping to do is get people to visit the Nature Center to see what it is locally that we have that ties in with the ocean, other than what you see at the beach,” explained Nancy Lucy, the center’s director. “What they’ll see is the back bays, the inland bays, the marsh, the swamp and how the ocean and bays work in tandem.”

Lucy said the celebration will take place throughout the day, with the main feature beginning at 10:30 a.m., with the Kidz Nature Adventure, which takes place every Saturday at the center.

“Come and discover — what are your oceans doing? What do you know about the ocean and the way it interacts with the inland bays? Did you know there’s a place in Bethany that you can walk out over the wetlands on a boardwalk trail and learn about it?”

The Kidz Nature Adventure Saturdays are held year-round at the center, but will change locations throughout the month.

“We’re trying to make it more dynamic,” said Lucy. “Every third Saturday we’re meeting at the James Farm and doing the bay net seining, where we’re taking them out into the shallows. And on the fourth Saturday of every month, we’re doing water quality testing, where we go to our vernal pool out back and the kids, with the adults, all do a water quality test. It’s going to be fun this summer.”

The nature center prides itself on being kid-friendly, with many programs, interactive displays and even touch-tanks.

“We have a scavenger hunt the kids can do outside on the trail,” said Lucy. “Last Saturday, we planted the raised bed garden with the kids, and we did a salad garden. So when they come back to see how their plants are growing, they’ll be able to take a basket and pick cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, herbs, and take it home and make a salad… It’s just a lot right here.”

The Bethany Beach Nature Center trail is open daily from dawn until dusk. During the summer, the nature center will be open Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays. Admission is free, and the center is open to the public; however, children must be accompanied by an adult.

Lucy, who started volunteering at the center five years ago before recently becoming its director, said it’s always wonderful to help teach children about the nature that surrounds them.

“There’s such a sense of wonder when you can explain it to the kids and have them understand. They take that message home with them across the bridge,” she said. “It’s amazing to see the lightbulb go off.”

Lucy said that, as much fun as it is to see the children learn about nature, it’s also great to help adults learn new things, as well.

“I have a saying: ‘You walk through the front door of the Addy Cottage as an adult, but you walk through the back door as a child, because you’re going to explore and discover.’ They love that. We have three generations coming in here all together — the grandparents, their children and the grandchildren.”

The nature center itself is housed in the relocated Addy Cottage, which was one of the original beachfront cottages in Bethany Beach.

“There were three of these cottages that were built by John Addy. This one that is here at the Nature Center is the only one that survived the storm of 1962. The other two cottages were swept away to sea. People really like to learn that kind of information… a little taste of the local historic feel of the town.”

Lucy said she hopes many families will attend Saturday’s event, to not only help celebrate World Oceans Day, but to learn something new.

“I hope people discover in their own back yard how important and relevant not only the ocean is, but our connection to the ocean and the inland bays,” she said. “It’s a fun place to explore the dynamic of nature, not only with the beach and ocean, but with the back bays, creatures and critters.”

The Bethany Beach Nature Center is located at 807 Garfield Parkway (Route 26), about a mile west of Route 1, just west of Grotto’s Pizza. For more information, call (302) 537-7680 or visit www.inlandbays.org/visit-us-bethany-beach-nature-center. For more information on World Oceans Day, visit www.worldoceansday.org.

This year’s Indian River High School Hall of Fame inductee is a doctor, mother, fundraiser and cancer survivor. She was also voted “Most Likely to Study on a Thursday Night” in college.

Consistency and community are the most important things to 2014 inductee Devi Enerio-Ellant, Class of ’87.

“I will always call myself a Delawarean — better yet, a Delawarean from Sussex County,” said the nowadays New Yorker.

The Hall of Fame was established (and restarted in 2012) to recognize IRHS graduates who have made significant achievements in their chosen fields and made noteworthy contributions to society on a local, national or international level.

“By honoring graduates who have become outstanding citizens, we hope to inspire current students in their areas of studies, community service and extra-curricular opportunities,” the nomination packet states.

“I tell my New York friends Delaware was the best place to grow up,” Enerio-Ellant said.

Her family moved to Dagsboro from the Philippines when she was 4, and the children became IRHS’s only Asian students, apart from someone from Laos.

“However, we blended in and were treated as equals,” she recalled, suggesting that her success came from the community’s high “level of support and encouragement.” She also worked hard for her successes.

“You can have a dream, but you have to be consistent,” she told the Class of 2014 at IR’s senior awards night. Be determined, show up and get involved (even if that means being late for class or applying for a long-shot job), she added.

She also reminded them the importance of family and faith.

“Give back to your community and don’t forget where you came from,” she added. As her class vice president, she has organized six reunions since graduation.

Principal Bennett Murray encouraged students to use people like Enerio-Ellant as a model to work hard and do good.

“You guys will be alumni just like her,” he said.

Presented with the honor at senior awards night, Enerio-Ellant herself had been Delaware’s first winner of the Campbell Soup Company’s $40,000 scholarship.

As much as she loved Dagsboro, she double-majored at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. She was already active in her community there, delivering Thanksgiving dinners to homeless families and serving as a Eucharistic minister at the campus chapel.

Enerio-Ellant said she “realized that helping others … means a great deal to those people you are helping,” which she said can, hopefully, serve as a model to encourage others to help.

She researched a children’s genetic disorder at Cornell Medical Center in New York and at North Shore University Hospital, eventually publishing the results.

She studied in locations from Texas to Spain, including the Winnebago Indian Reservation in Nebraska, where she treated severe diabetics and learned important limb-salvage techniques.

Earning a doctorate from New York College of Podiatric Medicine, she garnered a competitive surgical residency and has worked for the past 13 years at Hotel Trades Council Midtown Health Center and Brooklyn Health Center, serving patients who include chefs, actors, hotel workers and their families.

She has volunteered her services both at the New York City Marathon and at Ground Zero after 9/11.

When not healing others, she’s busy with her own three children.

To fundraise for school supplies, teacher support and afterschool programs, Enerio-Ellant implemented a new handheld bidding technology. Known for its auction fundraiser, Hunter College Elementary School raised a record amount of money.

She appears to be rubbing off on her children, as two of them fundraised in school and online to help victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. Between school and the Web, they raised more than $3,000 and 10 boxes of supplies. They still volunteer at soup kitchens and choose a charity to donate their own money.

“‘We are all meant to shine, as children do,’” Enerio-Ellant quoted from author Marianne Williamson. “‘As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people the strength to do the same.’”

“In 2011, after being diagnosed with breast cancer and undergoing major surgery, Dr. Enerio-Ellant has shifted her focus to supporting and fundraising for breast cancer,” wrote her Hall of Fame nominator, Tia Beth Watson. “She chooses to come to Delaware, rather than New York, every year after her diagnosis, to walk with her Indian River High School friends to raise money for the Delaware chapter for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.”

Team Devi has been a top fundraiser for three years.

As a board member of Sailing Heals, she hopes Delaware will soon be a location for the nonprofit program designed to give cancer and trauma victims “a soulful day at sea” during their treatments and recovery.

“I believe that my friend and classmate Devi shows outstanding leadership skills and has shown exemplary contributions to society here in Delaware, where she grew up, as well as in New York City,” Watson wrote.

South Bethany welcomed Tim Saxton back to the town council during a May 31 swearing-in ceremony. In addition, Sue Callaway and George Junkin joined Saxton to renew their two-year oaths to serve the Town. And former council member Pat Voveris stepped up next to be sworn in as mayor.

With Al Rae voting by remote access on speakerphone, the council unanimously approved the council positions of mayor pro-tem (Jim Gross), secretary (Callaway), treasurer (Saxton), Budget & Finance Committee council representative (Tony Caputo) and council liaison to the Planning Commission (Rae).

Chairpersons were also approved for town committees, including Community Enhancement (Callaway), Budget & Finance (Saxton), Canal Water Quality (Junkin) and Charter & Code (former councilman Jim Fields).

The Town is also seeking another resident to serve on the Sea Level Rise & Storm Surge Adaptation Committee, which Junkin oversees.

A number of residents attended the meeting and community breakfast, and Voveris thanked them for a “great show of support.”

With a “seasoned council, I look forward to a productive year,” she said.

Municipalities throughout the state are in the process of updating their town codes regarding floodplain requirements. Town Administrator Bob Dickerson said this week that Selbyville has until March of 2015 to incorporate new federal requirements.

Any town that does not will make its citizens ineligible for the federal flood insurance program.

Even with very little land affected by federal changes to the floodplain, Dickerson said Selbyville must look at its five-page requirements document and incorporate about 25 pages of language. That includes new definitions, appointing a floodplain manager to oversee everything and more.

Town Engineer Erik Retzlaff said the problem faced by the Town is the sample language was written by the Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Control, so it’s unclear exactly what language is required by federal officials and which is desired by the State.

There was talk of hiring a lawyer to differentiate the two. However, Dickerson noted that the paperwork still needs a review.

In other Selbyville news:

• The Click It or Ticket partnership with Worcester County, Md., police was successful, reported Selbyville Police Chief W. Scott Collins.

“Ocean City’s expecting issues — I’m sure we’ll have some overflow from that,” Collins said in regard to rumors of an influx of student-aged vacationers in June. The department is fully staffed, he said, with a new vehicle to be on the roads by June 9, and three old police cars should be for sale next month.

After some discussion about extreme speeders and dangerous driving, Collins said the police do look for that, but they’re stretched thin during the busy evening hours, when the shopping centers are full and Mountaire changes shifts.

New signage was proposed around the Southern Delaware School of the Arts, to encourage safe driving.

The police department issued $2,997 in fines and 250 tickets and took 194 calls for service in April.

• Selbyville’s wastewater treatment plant got high marks in a May 15 inspection by DNREC.

Councilman Frank Smith III read DNREC’s report, stating that overall housekeeping and plant operations were good, treatment calculations were correct and it was “quite evident the personnel take their jobs seriously.”

• The Town’s new wells continue to work, and the Town can officially begin the design process for a new aeration system that removes volatile organic compounds from the water. “That’s when we’ll really see a difference in water quality,” Councilman Rick Duncan said.

They hope to take the project to bid in fall.

DNREC is still trying to pinpoint the source of gasoline additive methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) in the Town’s water, which has plagued Selbyville and caused the new aeration system to be needed.

• The council unanimously approved Earl and Patricia Simpler’s request to subdivide their property at 37223 Roxana Road in the R-4 Residential District. They will pay to bring sewer and water to a total of four additional lots, which Councilman Jay Murray said called “fair-sized.”

• Dickerson noted that the Town’s museum has no regular hours, but people can ask Town Hall for admission at any time.

• There were 30 grass violations reported for uncut grass, which elicited some chuckles.

Unoccupied or foreclosed-upon houses are usually the biggest problem, Dickerson noted.

The grass must reach 12 inches before the Town issues a citation, although councilmembers made note of how long that is. Jay Murray suggested sending a warning even before the grass is that tall.

• A new resident asked about trash collection for big items. Dickerson said one large item can be tossed out with the first garbage collection each month (such as a sofa or television set), just placed next to regular garbage bins. Coming from an eco-friendly area in Texas, the newcomer said she was also pleased to see curbside recycling pickup was offered.

• Town athletic fields are being booked for summer. Duncan said people can just go to town hall to request a reservation.

• Town officials reported that the Delaware Department of Transportation wants to replace an old corrugated pipe under Polly Branch Road, offering to pay $1,300 for 2-foot wide property acquisitions, a permanent easement and a temporary construction easement.

DelDOT will also pay for Retzlaff’s engineering services as he instructs them on how to avoid existing water and sewer pipes in the area.

The next Town Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 7, at 7 p.m. at town hall.

“I didn’t think it was going to happen again. I didn’t know if it was going to happen again… I looked up to him,” testified the man accusing former state senate candidate Eric Bodenweiser of sexually abusing him when he was a child.

The victim’s statement followed defense attorney Joe Hurley’s question as to why he would return to Bodenweiser’s home after the first instance of alleged abuse.

Bodenweiser is currently charged with 14 counts of unlawful sexual intercourse in the first degree, and 14 counts of unlawful sexual contact in the second degree. In the original November 2012 indictment, there were 39 and 74 counts, respectively.

The victim was visibly agitated during his testimony as to how Bodenweiser allegedly assaulted him when he was 10 years old. He testified that the alleged incidents of sexual abuse took place in Bodenweiser’s living room, bedroom and a hallway bathroom, where he alleged he was raped twice.

Hurley, however, questioned why the victim would continue to return to the home of his alleged abuser.

“I was inquisitive,” he said.

The victim said he became acquainted with Bodenweiser while his family resided in Quillen Acres in Frankford. During his testimony, he recalled himself as an average child who liked video games and playing outdoors.

He described his deceased mother as an “angel” and his best friend, who worked at Bodie’s Markets. His father was nicknamed “the drill sergeant,” a Vietnam veteran whom the victim called a mean and vulgar alcoholic at home and who was on permanent disability.

The victim stated that he had become familiar with Bodenweiser after playing with his dogs. Later on, the two would play tennis together, both at Bodenweiser’s house and at the old Indian River High School.

“I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary in the beginning… He was like a mentor, a big brother, if you will.”

The victim said it was only later that it “started getting weird.”

“He started asking me if I had seen pornographic movies. At the time, I had never seen anything like that. I was just learning about myself, basically.”

The victim testified that Bodenweiser would play pornographic VHS tapes in the living room of his home, and have him watch it, while Bodenweiser would do other things around the house.

The first time the victim allegedly watched such a tape at Bodenweiser’s was when the alleged abuse began, he said.

“That was the first time he ever approached me or touched me in an inappropriate way.”

That day, in the spring of 1987, Bodenweiser allegedly invited the boy into his house and turned on a pornographic movie. The victim went to the bathroom, where, he said, Bodenweiser followed and “repeatedly asked what I had there,” regarding the victim’s exposed groin.

Beginning with that day, the victim described five episodes of alleged sexual molestation. He described at least four instances that year of Bodenweiser allegedly touching himself in front of the boy, and four in which Bodenweiser allegedly grabbed the boy’s hand and placed it on Bodenweiser’s privates.

Three times, the victim testified, he allegedly pushed the boy’s head down onto his own privates and twice performed the act on the boy. Twice, the victim said, Bodenweiser allegedly inserted himself into the boy from behind, once with lubrication and once without. Both times, the boy left, painfully bleeding from his rectum, he said. He testified that he would stay away for a few weeks or a few months.

The victim said he had been too scared or embarrassed to tell anyone, concerned that his father would have been enraged, his friends might mock him or his mother would be fired.

At the same time, “I wanted encouragement. I didn’t get that from my father,” said the victim, recalling that his father was unimpressed when he tried out for seventh-grade football. When the victim sought praise from Bodenweiser, the man, he said, told some stories from his own football days, then invited the victim inside, turned on pornography and continued the abuse.

“I was angered, because I trusted him and it continued to happen,” the victim said. “I couldn’t understand why it kept happening and why he wanted to do those things. I thought something was wrong with me.”

Eventually, he testified, he told his parents — at age 17 on Mother’s Day, promising them “not to speak of it” again. The victim said he kept that promise even after their deaths — until he heard of Bodenweiser’s 2012 campaign for the 19th District state senate seat.

“I made the decision then I was done running from this,” said the victim, stating that he hadn’t wanted Bodenweiser to “be in another position of power and do to another kid what he did to me.”

Impatient, he called Delaware news agencies and police to find out what “legal legs” he had to stand upon with the allegations.

He also contacted Bodenweiser’s estranged brother, Paul, who had a website attacking the candidate’s campaign. The victim said he and the brother had spoken a few times, and Paul Bodenweiser had once sent him a $100 bill, although he never asked for money, he said.

Earlier in the trial, Bodenweiser’s pastor, Duane Smith — a senior pastor at Harbeson’s Sussex County Bible Church — testified that he had provided some campaign guidance and encouragement to his friend and parishioner, Bodenweiser, in the 2012 election.

Smith said he had heard about the victim’s September allegations to the media, and that, then, on Oct. 5, 2012, Bodenweiser came to Smith’s church office and allegedly said, “I did it. There is some ‘there’ there, as to what he is saying.”

Smith said Bodenweiser had told him of the incidents when he had lived in Frankford, in which a boy about age 14 would be waiting when Bodenweiser came home, once with a pornographic magazine. Smith said Bodenweiser told him they had watched a pornographic movie together and that “oral sex took place” on that occasion and three or four others.

Hurley suggested there could be a difference between abuse, such as letting a minor watch adult movies, and molestation — touching someone inappropriately. He also questioned the validity of the minister’s interpretation and memory of conversations from 18 months prior.

“I feel confident, but I acknowledge there may be different wording,” said Smith.

Smith said he had told Bodenweiser the church would “walk with him through this process” but that Bodenweiser must make things right and not malign the accuser. Smith said he subsequently threatened to begin official church discipline proceedings against Bodenweiser when the news reported Bodenweiser’s denial of the accusations.

Bodenweiser, Smith said, later suggested that he could fight the charges in court, get acquitted, then confess afterward to the church that he had done what he had confessed to the pastor. Smith said he rejected that proposition.

Amie Errickson, the victim’s close friend in high school, testified that the victim had confided in her that he had been abused.

“I know he was sexually abused, as I was sexually abused as a child,” she said. “When you have something done to you, it affects your life.”

“Are you allowing your personal situation to affect your memory? … Do you hear the word ‘touched’ and translate it to sexual abuse because of what happened to you?” Hurley asked.

“No,” Errickson replied.

Although, she said, they hadn’t discussed the case for quite a while, she acknowledged that she had told the victim two or three weeks prior that she would testify, and they had carpooled to court that morning.

Delaware State Police trooper Lindsay Coleman also briefly took the stand early this week, stating that, in September of 2012, she had answered the victim’s call to DSP Troop 7 in Lewes to report the crime. Because he was an adult — not a child currently in a dangerous situation — she recommended he call Troop 4 detectives in Georgetown.

Radio personality Dan Gaffney also testified earlier this week concerning his interaction with the victim, who called him in September during an on-air discussion of primary election results. Gaffney said that he had asked the victim to leave a message, and that Gaffney had returned the call a day or two later.

Recalling that conversation with the victim, Gaffney told a story similar to the victim’s testimony — that the victim and Bodenweiser had watched pornographic movies, which “progressed to nudity and oral sex” between the two.

“He seemed emotional at that point,” Gaffney said, so Gaffney asked him to stop. “I got the picture. I didn’t want to hear any more.”

The judge allowed Gaffney to leave the witness stand, stating that he might be called back and that he could not discuss his testimony outside the courtroom.

“I do speak on the radio and [deliver] news for a living,” Gaffney retorted. “How am I supposed to do that?”

“Just don’t do it,” said Judge E. Scott Bradley. Gaffney, he said, could discuss the trial, but not his own testimony.

The trial in Georgetown’s Superior Court was expected to last two to three weeks.

Ron Gray this week filed with the Sussex County Board of Elections to run for a second term. Gray, who was elected for the first time in November 2012, followed then-newly elected state Sen. Gerald Hocker as representative for the 38th District in the state House of Representatives.

“I have learned so much and met so many wonderful people during my first two years as your state representative for the 38th District,” Gray said, addressing his constituents. “I especially enjoyed helping our citizens with their interactions with state government.

“I look forward to meeting old friends and making new ones while campaigning door-to-door. With or without an opponent, I hope to be walking in your neighborhood soon.”

Gray grew up on a farm along Route 54, between Fenwick Island and Selbyville. He is a graduate of Indian River High School and has a degree in civil engineering from the University of Delaware, along with a master’s degree in business administration from Indiana University.

Gray will host a campaign kickoff party on Wednesday, July 9, under the tent at The Cove at Bayside, beginning at 6 p.m. Those who are interested in learning more about Gray and his campaign are being invited to attend.

Gray wasn’t the only state representative to file for a second term this week. District 40 Rep. Tim Dukes has also filed to run.

The Cove at Bayside is located at 31806 Lakeview Drive in Selbyville. For more information about Gray, visit www.friendsofrongray.com.

The Coastal Camera Club (CCC) recently announced their top photography awards for 2014: the Print Photograph of the Year, the Digital Photograph of the Year and the Peoples’ Choice Award.

Dick Snyder won the Print Photograph of the Year for his photo “Diocletian’s Palace.” John Roecker won the Digital Photograph of the Year for his photograph of the towers, titled “The Sentinels.” Bob Pilkington won the Peoples’ Choice Award for his flower photograph titled “Bloom.”

Throughout the year, CCC members entered more than 300 photographs in the monthly competitions. Of these, more than 50 placed first in the monthly competitions, which qualified them to compete for the top awards. The awards were announced during the CCC’s annual year-end awards banquet at the Cadbury, in Lewes.

Also during the banquet, numerous members were recognized, including the Photographer of the Year for the CCC’s Group B, Dick Snyder; the Photographer of the Year for CCC’s Group A, David Ara. And tied for Photographer of the Year for CCC’s Masters Group were Ken Arni and Leslie Sinclair.

A listing of all of the CCC’s 2014 award winners can be found on the club’s website at www.coastalcameraclub.com.

From time to time, the club may bestow its highest honor, the “Member for Life” designation, on long-time members for their consistent outstanding contributions to the club. The rare and special award was accorded in 2013 to Tom Fluharty and, most recently, in May of 2014, to Carolyn Trout.

The Coastal Camera Club is dedicated to promoting an interest in photography and enhancing the skills of members through learning and sharing of photographic knowledge and experiences. Guests are always welcome to visit the CCC meetings and competitions at the Cadbury at Lewes retirement community, 17028 Cadbury Circle, Lewes.

Programs featuring speakers are held on the second Wednesday of each month, and competitions are held on the fourth Wednesday. For further information, go to www.coastalcameraclub.com.

The Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Julien Benichou, will kick-off the seventh summer season of the Freeman Stage at Bayside at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 20, 2014. Admission costs $10 for adults, with those 18 or younger admitted free of charge.

The MSO is enjoying its 17th season and its ninth year under the musical direction of Benichou. The 50-plus-member orchestra continues to grow in numbers and in its repertoire.

“The arts are such an important part of the cultural life of our communities,” said Benichou. “I see the MSO flourishing in the near future, giving us the opportunity to bring the Mid-Atlantic region beautiful musical experiences.”

Along with the orchestra, the June 20 performance at the Freeman Stage will feature the Irish Vallely Brothers Trio and nearly 100 students from John M. Clayton Elementary School, who will be singing three songs on stage with the orchestra.

“We are grateful for our partnership with the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra,” said Patti Grimes, executive director of the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation. “This is the seventh season at the Freeman Stage at Bayside, and each year the MSO has helped us launch our summer schedule.

“With the inclusion of the students of John M. Clayton Elementary School, thanks in part to a NEA Challenge America grant that we received, we feel as though this is a the perfect collaboration between professional musicians, aspiring musicians, and the community that supports them both.”

Among the performances scheduled for later this season are Clear Space Theatre Group, Jesse Garron’s Tribute to Elvis and the First State Ballet Theatre. Also returning in 2014 are the Arts & Jazz Festival, local artist John Donato, Tommy Edward as Sir Rod, tribute band Hotel California’s “A Salute to the Eagles” and Bruce in the USA, whose performance will include special guests in the audience from Operation SEAs the Day — a beach-week event held in September for veterans who are recovering from injuries sustained while serving the country. Two nights of “Locals Under the Lights,” when local artists will have their moment in the spotlight, will also be back in 2014.

Performers new to the outdoor stage this summer include Vocal Trash, winner of NBC’s “Phenomenon” Mike Super, Darrah Carr Dance, the Shaun Johnson Big Band, the Hot Club of San Francisco, Grammy Award winner Cristina Pato and more.

For more information on this season’s events or to purchase tickets, call (302) 436-3015 or visit www.freemanstage.org.

The Margaret H. Rollins School of Nursing at Beebe Healthcare recently celebrated the Class of 2014 graduation, with 24 graduates, at Epworth United Methodist Church in Rehoboth Beach.

Connie Bushey, the recently retired director of the School of Nursing and one of the School of Nursing’s alumni, was the honored commencement speaker. Dawn Crouch, president of the Class of 2015, presented congratulations to the graduates. Danielle LeGates, president of the Class of 2014, shared class reflections and a video with her classmates.

The Hon. William S. Lee, chair of Beebe Healthcare’s Board of Directors, presented the Board of Directors Award for the highest academic achievement to Jill Petrone. The Beebe Healthcare Medical Staff sponsored the Salutatorian award for the second-highest academic achievement, which was presented by Medical Staff President Paul Peet to Thomasina Roe.

The Alumni Award, given for Medical-Surgical Clinical Excellence in District Nursing, was presented to Alexa Colegrove. The Patient Care Director’s Leadership Award was presented to Danielle LeGates.

The Beebe Healthcare Auxiliary presented their award honoring the graduate who excelled academically, clinically and in community involvement to Candace Conaway. Leah Smith received the Maternal Child Award, given by Eleanor Cordrey in memory of her sister Virginia Cottingham to the graduate demonstrating an interest in maternal-child nursing.

Katrina Sellers received the Dr. David Howard Memorial Award. The Bayside Health Association Award, honoring the memory and characteristics of Alison Trout, was presented to Megan Shockley. Shauntey Singletary was honored with the Faculty Award recognizing the attributes of diploma education.

Cancer in Common of Rehoboth honored Sarah Lowe with its award recognizing the graduate with an interest in cancer. Jenna Wilgus was the recipient of the Delaware Hospice award honoring an exemplary graduate exhibiting a compassionate philosophy in all aspects of care.

Danielle LeGates, Jill Petrone, Jessie Simpson and Ashley Willey were honored for their perfect attendance. The grandmother of a graduate, Dr. Vanessa Lee, shared the Invocation, and the Benediction was presented by the Rev. Rick Betts, uncle of one of the graduates.

Joan G. Thomas, interim director of the School of Nursing, along with class advisors Joy Bartell and Nicole Hall, presented the graduates with their school pins. Jeffrey M. Fried, president and CEO of Beebe Healthcare, presented the diplomas.

Members of the Class of 2014 are: Jennifer Byler, Alexa Colegrove, Candace Conaway, Debra Demopoulos, Alyssa Edwards, Jillian Gamble, Samantha Halla, Danielle LeGates, Sarah Lowe, Meryha Michels, Whitney Mott-Lynn, Jill Petrone, Tatiana Richardson, Thomasina Roe, Brandi Romano, Katrina Sellers, Amber Shetzler, Megan Shockley, Jessie Simpson, Shauntey Singletary, Leah Smith, Chelsey Webb, Jenna Wilgus and Ashley Willey.

A reception and fellowship was shared following the graduation in the Epworth Church Fellowship Hall.

The Margaret H. Rollins School of Nursing, at Beebe Healthcare, is the only hospital-based nursing program in Delaware, and is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). The diploma in professional nursing is awarded at the completion of the curriculum, qualifying graduates to be eligible for National Council of State Boards of Nursing NCLEX examination, leading to licensure. School of Nursing graduates can complete a bachelor’s degree in nursing degree at Wilmington University and the University of Delaware through articulation agreements.

On Thursday, June 12, food fans can go to the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center from 5 to 8 p.m. to sample dishes created by 10 celebrity chefs of Southern Delaware’s “Culinary Coast,” then cast their vote in the First Annual Top Chef of the Culinary Coast competition, to benefit Meals on Wheels Lewes-Rehoboth.

Chefs from area restaurants will be paired with local producers and farmers to create cuisine to tantalize the tastebuds and win votes in the friendly competition-for-a-cause. Along with voting for Top Chef of the Culinary Coast, attendees will be casting votes for Sexiest Food, the Best Reinvention of a Delmarva Tradition, Food You Couldn’t Live Without and the Most Creative Chef.

Live music will be provided throughout the evening, by Viki Dee and Paul Cullen.

The small dishes will created by chefs from local eateries including Kevin Reading of Abbott’s Grill, Joe Churchman of Bramble & Brine, Mark Buchanan of The Brick Hotel, Maurice Catlett of Fish On, Gretchen Hanson of Hobos Restaurant & Bar, Paul Gallo of Nage, Ronnie Burkle of NorthEast Seafood Kitchen, Robert Iannacconi of the Rehoboth Beach Country Club, Matt Kern of Salt Air and Ciro Verdi of Touch of Italy.

The ticket price is $45 and includes not only tastings but two drinks courtesy of Delaware Distilling Company and 16 Mile Brewery. All attendees must be 21 or older. There will also be ice cream tastings from Hopkins Farm Creamery and coffee tastings from The Point.

Participating restaurants and local producers and farmers are members of Local on the Menu, the Southern Delaware Tourism initiative that connects restaurants with producers of wholesome, locally grown and sourced ingredients. Local on the Menu producers will provide ingredients for the competition and will include Lavender Fields Farm, Touch of Italy, Big Fish Seafood, Zitvogel Farms, Pure Harvest Farm, Evans Farms, Good Earth Market, Swallow Acres Farms, Naked Farmer, Williamsville Farms and Baxter Farms.

Tickets for Top Chef of the Culinary Coast are available at the Cape Gazette offices in Nassau Commons, the Meals on Wheels office just west of Coastal Highway on Route 9 and at Rehoboth Main Street offices adjacent to the Convention Center, or purchase tickets online at www.visitsoutherndelaware.com/TopChef. Remaining tickets will be available at the door.

Proceeds benefit the Meals on Wheels Lewes-Rehoboth home-delivered meal program. In 2013, MOW Lewes-Rehoboth served 102,540 meals to 291 homebound citizens in Eastern Sussex County. Volunteers gave 9,064 hours of their time and drove 87,000 miles to make meal deliveries.

There were 465 outreach visits made by MOW Lewes-Rehoboth staff, resulting in 30 people receiving emergency assistance (over and above food delivery) and 128 people being counseled by a registered dietitian. Meals on Wheels Lewes-Rehoboth also provides holiday meals, gifts and cards to families that would otherwise have nothing.

For further information, contact Meals on Wheels Lewes-Rehoboth at (302) 645-7449 or kkeuski@comcast.net, or visit www.beachmeals.com.

Washington College in Chestertown, Md., has announced its Dean’s List for the Spring 2014 semester. The following local students were recognized for academic excellence and achieving a grade point average of 3.5 or higher for the semester: Marisa Atkins, Class of 2015, an environmental studies major from Selbyville; Matthew Hall, Class of 2014, a business management major from Millsboro; and Dean Marro, Class of 2014, a biology and psychology major from Millsboro.

Founded in 1782 under the patronage of George Washington, Washington College is a private, independent college of liberal arts and sciences located in historic Chestertown, Md.

Each summer, millions of people visit Delaware’s beaches and drive along the undeveloped stretch of Route 1 between Bethany Beach and Dewey Beach. But only some of those people realize that they are driving straight through a state park. And even those who regularly enjoy Delaware Seashore State Park as an access point to the beach, bay and inlet may not be aware of the wide variety of educational programs and events that are offered by park staff throughout the summer season.

Located about a mile north of the Indian River Inlet is the Indian River Life-Saving Station Museum. The site, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, not only introduces visitors to Delaware’s maritime history, but it also acts as the anchor point for all educational programs offered by Delaware Seashore State Park. The programs range from kayaking and hiking to jewelry-making and museum tours.

Each week from June 17 to Aug. 16, park staff will be offering more than two dozen individual programs allowing visitors to experience the natural beauty and ecology of the Delaware coast, learn about the area’s maritime heritage, and try new recreational activities under the guidance of trained park staff.

For a fun and educational day on the water, two different pontoon boat tours will be offered every Thursday. Participants can choose to have a picnic lunch and explore the world of bay-dwelling creatures with the new Island Discovery Boat Tour or just sit back and enjoy the view with the classic Rehoboth Bay Sightseeing Tour.

For those who enjoy being active, Kayak Eco-Tours are offered every Tuesday through Friday morning. The trips provide participants with an opportunity to learn how to paddle while experiencing the sights and creatures of the bayside habitat and enjoying a unique view of the historic Indian River Life-Saving Station.

To learn about the various critters of the coast, visitors can check out the park’s newest programs: Jelly Jelly Jellyfish, From Beach to Bay, Marsh Walk and Clamming 101, as well as its classic programs: Seining the Bay and Crabbing 101. Each will cover a specific creature of habitat unique to the area.

The park also offers indoor programs for those looking to escape the heat. The Nautical Accessories course teaches a rotating set of maritime knots made into unique accessories and the Sea Glass Jewelry classes will teach step-by-step how to make pendants and earrings using sea glass and wire-wrapping techniques.

For night owls, Delaware Seashore State Park will also be offering several evening programs throughout the summer, including the Wild Crab Chase, in which families use flashlights to try to spot the nocturnal ghost crab. Lantern Tours, held on Wednesday evenings, allow visitors to tour the Indian River Life-Saving Station by lantern light and to experience what it was like to be a surfman, patrolling Delaware’s coast more than 100 years ago.

A full calendar of all of Delaware Seashore State Park’s summer programs can be found online at destateparks.com. For additional information, and to register for programs, call the Indian River Life-Saving Station at (302) 227-6991 or stop by and pick up a program guide.

The Bethany Beach Fourth of July Parade Committee is in the process of planning its 31st annual event and is seeking volunteers. The event will take place on Friday, July 4.

The 2014 grand marshals will be Phil and Mary Rossi, in recognition of their years of dedicated service to making the parade what it is today.

Floats and bikes may be entered the day of the parade from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at the registration desks with floats registering at Route 1 and Central Avenue, and bikes at the Christian Church grounds.

The official Bethany Beach Parade T-shirts will be on sale the day of the parade, as well as during the Seaside Craft Show on Saturday, June 7, and from 9 to 11 a.m. at Town Hall during the week leading up to the event.

The annual Firecracker 5K Run/3K Walk will be held on Sunday, June 29, at 8 a.m. at the bandstand. Entry forms will be available in Town Hall and at the T-shirt sales tables. For details and online registration, visit bethanybeach5k.com.

The parade will begin at noon at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Garfield Parkway and take its traditional two-mile route through town. It will feature six marching bands and five entertainment groups on trucks.

The horseshoe-throwing contest occurs at 2 p.m. at the southwest corner of the Christian Church grounds, and the award ceremony will take place on the bandstand at 7:15 p.m.

New this year, judging will take place before the parade begins. There is no theme, other than creating something patriotic using the traditional red, white and blue colors. Fireworks will complete the day, at dusk.

For updates, visit the Town’s website at www.townofbethanybeach.com. To volunteer, contact Events Director Julie Makewski at (302) 539-8011, ext. 123.

Mark Hedetniemi, manager of Beebe’s Rehab Services Department in Georgetown and Millsboro, has been honored with the Beebe Healthcare’s “You make a Difference” Award for May.

Hedetniemi was recognized by his peers and team members for his dedication and enthusiasm as a manager. Representatives said he is known for his commitment to building strong working relationships with his team members in Rehab Services, as well as with those in other departments. Always putting the patient first, they said, Hedetniemi, a physical therapist, successfully and with ease balances his time between supporting his team and giving care to his patients, they said.

“Many of his team members say that he excels in his communication skills. He expresses his opinions in a way that makes people want to consider his point of view and he uses analogies that make sense. Mark is an active participant on several committees and project teams, including the Georgetown Construction Team and the Values Transformation Team. He is a formidable leader for the Outpatient Improvement Team for the education and training of staff.”

Hedetniemi also serves as a co-lead on the Rehab Services Orthopedic Program Development Team and is a mentor for a new manager a Beebe Healthcare’s Wound Care Center.

“As a member of Beebe’s Leadership Book Club, he seems to remember everything he reads and consistently is open to learning new things and applying what he learns to allow constant growth and evolvement of his leadership skills.”

Beebe Healthcare’s “You Make a Difference” (YMAD) employee recognition program, which was established in 2002, gives employees the opportunity to recognize their colleagues for outstanding service. The program is similar to an employee of the month program, but 18 employees can be selected annually.

Each nomination, submitted by fellow employees or management, must meet specific criteria, and is evaluated by the YMAD committee. Winners are announced in a surprise ceremony in which the committee visits the winner in his or her department and presents the award.

Employees selected for the award receive:

? A parking space with sign/plaque for a month;

? A $100 check;

? A letter of congratulations and personal visit from Beebe President and CEO Jeffrey Fried;

? A photo for the wall plaque in the hall outside of the cafeteria;

? A special pin for their badge; and

? A letter to team member’s director and department recognition.

Reading programs for all ages continue to lead the parade of events scheduled for summer at the South Coastal Library. Each program revolves around discovering and exploring the world of science.

• Fizz, Boom, Read offered for kids up to age 12: The “Power Up with Books!” program prepares children ages 3 to third grade for success by developing language skills. Participants read for 10 hours and keep time on a reading log. Those who turn in completed logs earn a certificate, a “Fizz, Boom, Read!” T-shirt, a gift book and a surprise.

• The “Celebrate Science!” program helps build reading and language skills for children in grades 4 through grade 7. Participants read for a total of 20 hours and write the titles of the books read in a reading log. Those who turn in completed logs earn a certificate, a “Fizz, Boom, Read!” T-shirt, a gift book and a surprise!

• Story time for the Baby Bookworms (ages 2 to 3) is Wednesday and Thursday from 10 to 10:30 a.m.; and for preschoolers (ages 4 to 5) 10:45 to 11:15 a.m., and a combined group on Saturdays from 9:30 to 10 a.m. The story times may be precluded to allow special events for the children.

• Spark a Reaction, the reading program for teens ages 12 to 18, allows participants to read anything of their choice (at their grade level) for a total of 1,000 pages. A brief book review is required for each title they read. Prizes, a T-shirt, a gift book and a certificate are given when the activities have been completed.

A pizza party on June 18 will kick off the summer reading program for teens. There will be music, Wii, games, a craft and a treasure hunt. It will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. (The party is provided by the Friends of the South Coastal Library, Grotto Pizza and Giant Foods of Millville.) Preregistration is required.

• Grownups can experiment with Literary Elements. A reading log must be completed, and a prize will be given to all participants. New for 2014, if three book reviews are submitted, participants will receive a dollar coupon per review toward waiving late fees (only valid at South Coastal Library and up to three per person).

Other events scheduled for early June include:

• Rain Barrel Workshop, June 12 from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Participants should bring their own sizeable plastic container with a top, and Phil Miller from DNREC will help transform it into a rain barrel with a free kit. Class size is limited, and registration is required.

• In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Beatles arrival in America, “Is Paul McCartney Really Dead?” will be explored by Beatles historian Joel Glazier on June 12 from 6 to 7 p.m. Learn how some of the more popular clues fueled the rumors about the demise of Paul in the fall of 1969.

• A series of three film previews will be presented on June 16, 23 and 30, from 7 to 9 p.m. As “film critics,” each participant can help select films for the Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival. Film titles and descriptions are not provided in advance, to enable attendees maintain an “open mind.” (For mature audiences, ages 18 or older.)

For additional information, contact the South Coastal Library at (302) 539-5231 or visit the website at southcoastal.lib.de.us.

Joseph “Jay” Townsend will present “Trees: Amenity or Necessity in the 21st Century?” on Saturday, June 14, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Lewes Public Library, hosted by the Delaware Botanic Gardens at Pepper Creek.

“Sprawling subdivisions, planned urban development, skyscrapers, interstates, corporate agriculture — do we really need trees in this brave new world? The discipline that considers this question is urban forestry.

“Researchers have calculated the physical contributions trees make to our wellbeing in urban environments. Each contribution has a monetary value. It turns out that trees contribute many times their installation and maintenance costs in physical benefits.

“Other researchers are studying the psychological benefits trees provide. These are more difficult to monetize but have an equal or greater impact on our lives. Not all trees are equal in their contribution to the urban environment.”

Tree contributions, tree species and tree shape will be discussed at the June 14 event. Entrance to the lecture is free to DBG members and $15 for non-members.

Townsend grew up in Wawa, Pa. He attended Kenyon College in Ohio. After graduation, he drifted out to the West Coast and went to work as a tree climber. The Davey Tree Expert Company sent him to Hawaii for two years and then moved him into management in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Townsend was accepted into the University of Delaware’s Longwood Program in public horticulture in 1979. He returned to the Davey Company upon completion of his graduate work and opened the Brandywine office for the company, which he managed for 25 years. Taking advantage of early retirement, he returned to UD to pursue a doctoral degree researching the psychological impact of tree canopy on city dwellers. He hopes to graduate in the fall of 2014.

The June 14 presentation is one of a series sponsored by the Delaware Botanic Gardens at Pepper Creek, whose mission is to create a world-class, inspirational, educational and sustainable public botanic garden in Southern Delaware for the benefit and enjoyment of the public. For more information, visit the website at delawaregardens.org.

The Delaware Department of Education this week announced the recipients of four state merit scholarship programs for the 2014-2015 academic year.

Merit scholarships are competitive and awarded based on a student’s academic performance, participation in school activities and service to the community. Students may apply for Delaware merit scholarships in their senior year of high school. All four awards are renewable.

Three of the programs are memorial scholarships that honor state legislators and provide full tuition, fees, room, board and books at the public universities in Delaware. Those scholarships and their recipients are:

• The B. Bradford Barnes Memorial Scholarship, in honor of the former Speaker of the State House of Representatives, is awarded to one student each year enrolling full-time at the University of Delaware. Zachary Scott Jones of Appoquinimink High School in the Appoquinimink School District is this year’s recipient.

•The Herman M. Holloway Sr. Memorial Scholarship, in honor of the first African-American state senator in Delaware, is awarded to one student each year enrolling full-time at Delaware State University. Crystal Burbage of Howard High School of Technology in the New Castle County Vo-Tech School District is this year’s recipient.

•The Charles L. Hebner Memorial Scholarship, in honor of the former Speaker of the State House of Representatives, is awarded annually to one full-time student at the University of Delaware and one full-time student at Delaware State University who are majoring in the humanities or social sciences. (Preference is given to political science majors.) Brian Spicer of Cape Henlopen High School in the Cape Henlopen School District and Chyvante Floyd of Polytech High School in the Polytech School District are the recipients this year.

The Diamond State Scholarship assists full-time students attending regionally accredited, nonprofit colleges in any state. Winners of the Diamond State Scholarship receive $1,250 per year. For the 2014-2015 academic year, 70 students were awarded Diamond State Scholarships.

This year’s winners included Indian River High School seniors Ashley Banks, Samuel Izzo and Logan Robinson and Sussex Technical High School seniors Allison Bagshaw and Bansri Patel.

A full list of the scholarship recipients can be found on DHEO’s website at www.doe.k12.de.us/dheo.

Gallery One in Ocean View this week announced it will offer a two-day workshop “Plein Air Tune-Up” with artist Bill Patterson on June 14 and 15, from 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Patterson will teach “The Painting within the Photo.”

Artists who have had “artist block” or found themselves staring at the big white canvas and not knowing what to paint will find the course is targeted at jogging their creativity and teaching them to use a different way of seeing, so that they can get the most out of their reference photographs as a starting point for paintings.

The workshop will cover center of interest, color theory, composition, study of values, paint handling and more. The fee is $80, and the workshop is open to beginner, intermediate and experienced students.

Patterson received his formal education from Rowan University, the University of the Arts, and Studio Incamminatti in Philadelphia. He holds a bachelor’s degree in art education and a master’s degree in teaching. His work has been featured in Delaware Beach Life, the Metropolitan Magazine and the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Gallery One is open seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is located at 32 Atlantic Avenue in Ocean View. For more information, visit www.galleryonede.com or call (302) 537-5055.