After being ousted from his position as school principal in January, John Turssline of Ocean View is on administrative leave from Indian River School District after violating a personal restraining order. Turssline was the assistant head of school (similar to assistant principal) at G. W. Carver Academy, an alternative school in Frankford.

According to Ocean View Police, officers were dispatched at 10 p.m. on Sept. 11 to an Ocean View residence for a report of a suspicious person. While searching the area, police encountered Turssline, 42. A subsequent investigation by officers revealed that Turssline had been in the area attempting to contact his wife, although a Family Court Protection from Abuse Order restricted Turssline from contacting her or being within 100 yards of her home.

Police subsequently arrested Turssline and charged him with 2 counts of Criminal Contempt of a Domestic Violence Protective Order, 2 counts of violating a Condition of Bail Release and 1 count of Offensive Touching.

Turssline was committed to the Sussex Correctional Institute in lieu of $5000 cash bond.

Further investigation by police resulted in Turssline being charged with 3 additional counts of Criminal Contempt of a Domestic Violence Protective Order, Assault 3rd Degree (a Class A misdemeanor). Unlawful Imprisonment 2nd Degree (a Class A misdemeanor), Stalking, Malicious Interference with Emergency Communications (preventing or hindering a 911 call) and 4 counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child.

Turssline was arraigned on the additional charges by authorities at Sussex Correctional Institute, and committed on a subsequent secured bond in the amount of $12,000.

According to Ocean View Police, Turssline was previously arrested by police on Aug. 18 and charged with 2 counts of Criminal Contempt of a Domestic Violence Protective Order.

“John Turssline has been placed on administrative leave without pay pending further action by the Indian River Board of Education. This is a personnel issue and the district will have no further comment at this time,” Superintendent Susan Bunting said in a released statement.

The school board will likely discuss the matter privately at the next meeting Monday, Sept. 22.

“The district has no written policy regarding employee arrests. Such instances are handled on a case-by-case basis,” said IRSD spokesperson, David Maull. “Any resulting action by the district is based on the severity of the situation and the advice of the school district’s attorney.”

Sussex County launched Smart911 last week, an online service allowing any Sussex County resident the opportunity to create a safety profile for their household.

“Smart911 is a free service which will allow all residents and visitors to Sussex County to provide information about themselves and their families to 911 prior to an emergency,” said Sussex County Emergency Operations Center Director Joseph Thomas. “That’s significant.”

With the use of Smart911, an individual’s safety profile will display automatically to the dispatcher when 911 is called.

On an individual’s safety profile, one can include specific medical information such as allergies or a heart condition, cell phone numbers, photos of family members and even family pets.

“You choose what information you want us to see,” said Thomas. “Items such as photos and physical descriptions can speed the response time. In missing person cases, there are documented cases where photos of children have been used out in the field and we’ve been able to find those children quickly.

“You can even put your vehicles in this system, as far as the make and model, and the tag number of the vehicle.”

Profile makers may also include such information as bedroom locations, entry and exit points, and emergency shutoffs for first responders.

“It’s such an easy process,” said Thomas of creating a safety profile.

The service is completely voluntary and free to use, allowing users to control their information, which travels with them wherever they may go in the country, provided that the area’s jurisdiction also uses the

On Sept. 11, the County, in partnership with Delaware State Police, the Sussex County Volunteer Firefighters Association and the Seaford and Rehoboth Beach 911 dispatch centers, announced the new high-tech tool designed to give first responders extra information when responding to those in need.

“When you dial 911 from any location in the U.S. that supports Smart911, your safety profile will be immediately available to those 911 dispatchers,” said Thomas. “An example is, we get a lot of folks that vacation in our area from Washington, D.C.

“Washington D.C. is a Smart911 community. If they are over here in Rehoboth Beach and unfortunately have an emergency and have to dial 911, their safety profile will display to the Rehoboth dispatchers, which can be pushed out to the first responders. That’s huge to us because now we have that information right in front of us.”

Information is encrypted and never released publicly, and is only relayed to dispatchers when a phone number associated with a household’s pre-loaded profile calls 911.

“This is part of Smart911’s national database. It is a secure database that they maintain. The only way we access the information is if a person dials 911,” he said. “There is a time limit on the information and after that [has lapsed] the profiles goes and we can’t access it.”

“We do third-party audits every year to ensure the security,” said Jessica Rose, community marketing manager for Smart911. “Additionally, all the information in the profile is at the option of the user. They get to choose what they feel is important. Every profile is going to be a little different.”

Sussex County is providing the new service to the public at no cost to individual users or families. County council included funding for the service beginning in its fiscal year 2014 budget. To-date the county has spent $103,800 for the program. Beginning in fiscal year 2016, the County’s financial commitment to fund the program is $37,000.

“This was a very quick decision to get the two cities on board so that we could get universal coverage,” said Lawson. “To do that, the County picked up some of the tab to have it installed in Seaford and Rehoboth.”

As there are only three call centers in all of Sussex County — Sussex County Emergency Operations Center, which covers the entire county and Seaford and Rehoboth, which cover their individual jurisdictions.

“This is the dilemma we have faced, if you call Smart911 at the outlets in Rehoboth the call comes to the county you’re covered, you’ve got the technology. If you call 911 on the boardwalk in Rehoboth you wouldn’t get the benefits of this technology,” explained Lawson. “No one would realize that until they weren’t afforded the benefits of this technology.”

Lawson said that once the county was aware of the potential lack of coverage, Seaford and Rehoboth Beach were contacted.

“They were very open and gracious to the idea of having 911 coverage. They realized the dilemma we were in. For Seaford our backup, if they weren’t able to provide Smart911 if we had to fold down, that’s a coverage gap. Rehoboth, the epicenter of our tourist industry and where all of our visitors come, they have a very active 911 center during the summer months. If they didn’t have coverage, they knew that would affect the residents and visitors alike.

“When you call 911 you don’t want to worry about these types of details. You want quick service to help save a life. Recognizing that it was a very seamless decision for them.”

Developed by Rave Mobile Safety and launched in 2010, Smart911 is available in more than 1,000 communities in 35 states. In Delaware, Sussex County is the second jurisdiction to implement Smart911; New Castle County has utilized the service since 2013.

To learn more about Smart911 or to sign up, click the Smart911 badge on the Sussex County website at www.sussexcountyde.gov or go directly to www.smart911.com. For residents without Internet service, Smart911 information and registration is available at any library in Sussex County. For those without internet access, officials suggest visiting any county library for assistance.

The Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company & First Responders held their annual Triathlon-Duathlon-Aquabike event in Bethany Beach on Sunday, Sept. 21.

Below are the reace results and awards as supplied by the events staff.

Nearly 10,000 students attend schools in the Indian River School District, and school officials aren’t done counting, since state funding is based on student populations on Sept. 30. At this point, the IRSD has 9,872 students — a number that will likely increase in the next week.

That’s already 437 students more than last year’s 9,435 students.

“That’s the state’s indication of how much money we are going to receive,” said Assistant Superintendent Mark Steele at the school board’s most recent meeting.

Because the State of Delaware funds a certain number of staff based on unit count, IRSD is currently understaffed, until that additional funding arrives for about 30 more positions.

“We certainly did not expect this much growth,” Steele said, noting that the growth figures nearly doubled the projections he estimated last summer. He has already contacted the Delaware Department of Education as a heads-up.

“The majority of the enrollment is in the northern half of the district,” Steele said. “We’re still seeing students coming daily.”

IRSD Board Member Jim Hudson asked how much local money is needed to fund those new teachers. IRSD Financial Officer Patrick Miller said about 30 percent, so close to $20,000 for a younger teacher. A more experienced staffer would be paid more.

Meanwhile, teachers are losing hours to a new lesson plan.

“The paper looks simple, but the time you have to put in is tremendous,” said J.R. Emanuele, Indian River Education Association (IREA) representative.

He said he has received many calls and emails about a new lesson plan in The Next Generation of Learning-Focused model.

“Teachers used to be able to put an emphasis on teaching. But now the emphasis is how to write the most correct lesson plans,” Emanuele said.

Different principals have different expectations regarding lesson plans, said Director of Curriculum and Instruction LouAnn Hudson.

“It could last three to five days if it’s done properly,” Hudson said.

She said the new version includes “scaffolding,” to help build differentiation in each lesson. (That’s meant to help instructors approach different types of learners.) It also ensures teachers are tying the lesson back to educational standards.

“The amount of paperwork makes it feel like they’re going to face observation each day. The workload is becoming so overwhelming that they can’t keep up. We’re in the third week of school, and people are weary.”

Emanuele wondered, if it’s not useful to a teacher, wouldn’t a teacher’s time be better spent elsewhere? He said he sees a “disconnect between requirements and the people who actually have to do the work. It’s easy to legislate ‘Do this, do that’ when you don’t really have to do it yourself.”

He said the 20-minute time estimate given is unrealistic, and even “very experienced” teachers have spent hours on the paperwork.

“Reading this lesson is like putting a song on a piece of paper and trying to figure out what the beat is, what the tempo is,” Emanuele quoted a fellow teacher.

Three weeks into the school year, some teachers are looking for ways out.

“Teachers are asking [how to just become] paraprofessionals so they don’t have to do the lesson plans.”

“I’m hearing the same thing from the teachers,” said Board Member Donald Hattier.

In other district news:

• During public comments, Anne McBride encouraged the board to fund a proper girls lacrosse program at Indian River High School. As a volunteer field hockey and lacrosse coach, McBride said it’s the fastest growing collegiate sport.

She has purchased sports equipment but now wants to create a competitive atmosphere with a varsity team.

“There’s only so much we can do amongst ourselves,” she said. “We’ve got a number of girls who are competing collegiately without the benefit of a competitive program. Just imagine [what they could do with more.]”

• Bunting reviewed district achievements from last school year, including test scores, a successful public referendum, new educational programs, sports victories, technological improvements and more.

• In May, all school safety monitors received state certification as constables.

• Board Member Rodney Layfield made a case for potentially installing Bermuda grass on high school stadium fields.

“We are the only district in the Henlopen Conference that does not provide a turf or Bermuda grass for our athletes,” he said. “I’m a little embarrassed what we give our kids to play with. … I think it’s time we start stepping up for those people. … I’d like to see us build something we can be proud of.”

• The new state test for reading and math will take place once, in spring. New Common Core education standards are in full implementation in the classrooms.

• The minor cap budget for Howard T. Ennis has been fully utilized, so the district must rely on local funds until late October or November.

• The board honored IRHS’s statewide HOSA winners, Lili Cooney and Katie Boyle.

Selbyville Middle School will fill most of the state student council this year, with Vice President Dominic Patille, Secretary Gabrielle Tierney, Treasurer Chloe McCabe and Historian Madeline Weber.

• The board approved several policies: first readings of JFBA — Student Officers and JECC A — School Choice, plus first and second readings of BBE — Unexpired Term Fulfillment, BBB — School Board Election and AD — Educational Philosophy.

• A 20-by-10-foot practice wall was requested by IR High School lacrosse boosters, which will totally fund the project. The district will double-check building permits.

• IRHS student council representative Clayton Hardy said the school’s new student orientation was successful, and he joked that students already eagerly anticipate the end of the school year.

• National School Lunch Week is Oct. 13-17. National School Bus Safety Week is Oct. 20 to 24.

• A Health Curriculum Workshop is being held Sept. 25, from 4 to 6 p.m. Committee members will represent the community, parents, staff and school board.

• People are welcome to attend district committee meetings at IR Educational Complex in Selbyville on Monday, Oct. 13: Curriculum at 3:15 p.m.; Policy at 4:30 p.m.; Buildings & Grounds at 6 p.m.; and Finance at 7 p.m.

The next regular Board of Education meeting is Monday, Oct. 27, at Sussex Central High School at 7 p.m.

The Sussex County Council this week received an update on the progress of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) flood ordinance.

The County participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, which requires the County to adhere to requirements of the federal government and, more specifically, FEMA.

“At this time, FEMA has required all municipalities throughout country that participate in NFIP to update their flood maps, as well as the regulations that govern construction within a flood zone,” said County Administrator Todd Lawson.

The County will need to update its own ordinance by mid-March 2015, in order to avoid jeopardizing the county’s flood insurance coverage.

Lawson said County officials have worked with staff from FEMA and the Delaware Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Control (DNREC) on the updates.

In moving forward, Lawson said, the County could take its current ordinance and try to “piecemeal” it with updates, so that it receives approval, or utilize the draft FEMA released for all municipalities to use called the “basic model ordinance.”

“This only affects properties within a specific flood zone,” emphasized Lawson. “If the County chooses not to do anything and update its ordinance, we will be in violation of the regulations, and therefore our residents will not qualify for the National Flood Insurance Program. Basically, we have to do this.”

Lawson said that an ordinance introduction is anticipated late this year, with public hearings set to be held in the early part of 2015. He said the County will have the discretion to adopt what is referred to as “freeboard.”

“This idea of freeboard is additional height of construction beyond the minimum height that the County already has. … For example, if you have a minimum height of 10 feet above mean sea level, if we were to adopt additional freeboard above that, it means it’s10 feet plus whatever we adopt.”

FEMA recommends a freeboard requirement of 12 to 18 inches in its Model Ordinance.

“One of the reasons this is important is we only govern in the county jurisdiction. All municipalities throughout the county that have a flood ordinance as well are considering the exact same thing we will consider.”

Lawson said there is some discussion among the jurisdictions to try to coordinate freeboard requirements to create a universal standard. He added that Slaughter Beach and Bethany Beach are waiting for the County to consider what their freeboard requirement will be before they decide on their own. Rehoboth Beach has already adopted a 1-foot freeboard requirement.

Vince Robertson, assistant county attorney, stated that the County is trying to find out what other municipalities are doing.

“So if there is some issue where flood insurance comes into play, there’s some consistency, whether it’s 12 inches, 18 inches or zero above base flood elevation.”

“What does this really do after we adopt it?” asked Councilman Sam Wilson.

“In the big picture, it maintains flood insurance for everybody in Sussex County,” explained Robertson. “If we don’t adopt it, everybody that’s required to have flood insurance that’s in a flood zone would lose their eligibility for federal flood insurance.”

Robertson said the ordinance would be “clarifying what’s in existence.”

Councilman George Cole said that, if property owners weren’t able to qualify for the NFIP, they could go to the private sector for flood insurance.

“Which is very expensive — awfully expensive,” he said. “You have to have the federal flood insurance, because it’s more affordable.”

Wilson said he was concerned about the financial burden on the taxpayers who didn’t purchase property within the flood zone.

“It’s really not going to do any harm, and they still get the federal flood insurance,” said Cole. “We’re not prohibiting anybody from building. We’re just following these guidelines so they can get flood insurance.”

Cole added that he didn’t know how much of taxpayers’ monies go to pay for the insurance.

Councilman Vance Phillips said he had heard that one year of premiums have covered all claims over the last 15 years.

“I’ll get that reference before the public hearing,” he said. “If that’s the case, then it may not be subsidized by the taxpayers but fully covered by premiums.”

Robertson said that historically the County’s approach has been to follow the minimum requirement from FEMA.

Cole said he felt the County should try to take the lead when it comes to the freeboard requirement, so that other municipalities, if they wish, may follow suit.

“It seems to me the program is there. The question would be freeboarding. Since Rehoboth has gone to 12 inches, and uniformity would be nice to have in Sussex County for builders and contractors who have to build, so they don’t get different regulations everywhere they go... See if we can come to a conclusion and try to take the lead on freeboarding.

“Time is critical. We have a March deadline for everybody — not just for the County but the towns… Let’s get it off the table first.”

Phillips suggested the freeboard be left at zero feet in the draft ordinance, until the council has more discussion.

“I think it’s pretty important,” said Cole, stating that he wanted the council to have further discussion with staff about the definition of freeboard and how County requirements may affect the cost to property owners. “All I’m asking — we ought to have an opportunity to have a conversation… This is the first we’ve heard of it. … I think shooting from the hip is not an appropriate way to address this important issue.”

Phillips said the additional freeboard is not a requirement but a recommendation, and said he believed hearing from staff would be beneficial to the council.

Council President Michael Vincent also asked Robertson to look into whether or not a property owner could add freeboard, if it was not required by the County to do so, and still get a federal discount on insurance.

“This should be interesting,” he added.

In other county news:

• Sussex County Council will be sponsoring its annual election contest, giving students in high school the chance to win a scholarship for college. Participating students are being asked to predict winners in November’s General Election for federal, state and county offices. The student with the most correct predictions will win a $200 scholarship, while five runners-up will each win $100 scholarships.

• On Tuesday, Sept. 30, the County will hold a workshop on Code of Ethics at 1 p.m., after the regularly scheduled council meeting.

• County taxes are due on Sept. 30 and may be paid online, at www.sussexcountyde.gov.

The public can clean out their medicine cabinets this weekend and participate in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, on Saturday, Sept. 24, when they can drop off unwanted and unused prescription or over-the-counter medications at a number of area police agencies, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Collections are held twice a year and, according to the DEA, since Sept. 2010, nearly 4 million pounds of drugs have been collected nationally through the program.

“It’s good for the community,” said Selbyville Police Chief Scott Collins. “It’s a good service to provide — especially if you look at the number of elderly people in our community. It’s an easy way for them to get rid of excess drugs or the drugs they no longer use.”

Collins, whose department usually collects between 45 and 55 pounds of prescription drugs, said it’s a safe way for households to get rid of medications without potentially damaging the environment or having them misused.

“What we were seeing is young people and others having a lot of access to narcotics that were being prescribed to other family members. Sometimes it was for abuse, and sometimes it was younger family members just seeing what the other family members had,” he said of family members using others’ prescriptions.

“Instead of them being shoved into a closet and being forgotten or a medicine cabinet, and not being kept track of,” he said, “this way they know where they go and are disposed of in the appropriate manner.”

Collins said that those who participate may simply put the medications in a plastic bag and drop them off at the department on Saturday. Or, if they are unable to make the take-back event, the medications may be dropped off at the department at another time.

“They can drop them off at any time,” he said. “It’s no-questions-asked. We just drop in a biohazard bag and store them until the next drug take-back.”

The Ocean View Police Department does something similar, as it has a box in the Wallace A. Melson Municipal building’s lobby, allowing people to drop off drugs at any time. Ocean View Police Chief Ken McLaughlin said the program has served the community well, and he believes it has had a positive impact on keeping prescription medications off the streets.

“We’ve had that box in place for over two years,” said McLaughlin. “It has worked very well. We collect annually probably about 200 pounds of unused prescription medications.”

Facing nearly a full house of residents, Mediacom representatives joined a Millville Town Council workshop to directly hear concerns about service, straight from the horses’ mouths.

The Town of Millville has a non-exclusive franchise agreement with the cable TV, Internet and phone service provider. However, that contract only covers cable television, which was intended as the main topic of discussion.

But many citizens’ problems were three-fold, with numerous complaints of service outages for phone, Internet and television.

“[As a company], we’ve had a frustrating summer,” said Carrie Boggs, Mediacom’s government relations manager. “I know you all have had a frustrating summer with your Internet.”

Half the problem is reaching the call centers, customers said, with long hold times and busy signals, leading to a two-week waiting period to get tech support out to the customer.

Millville public meetings from 2011 and 2013 showed similar displeasure with customer relations and lack of reliable service.

Mediacom has a “non-exclusive agreement,” so another company could come in to apply for a franchise agreement, Town Solicitor Seth Thompson had pointed out in 2013.

When Mediacom had a digital upgrade at the beginning of the year, they admitted that their national forecast for tech support was way behind the actual call volume. Customers needed to install digital boxes to receive all their channels if their system wasn’t already compatible with a new broadcasting format.

All over Delaware, Mediacom had a “huge, huge amount of demand for us to come in and install digital equipment that we mailed and thought customers would want to do on their own,” Boggs said.

Tech employees came from the Midwest and South just to help manage demand.

Freshest in many minds was an Internet outage Monday, Aug. 25, when Mediacom was swapping a major router.

“Everything was going as planned, but software issues” delayed the reboot from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m., said supervisor Dave Rickards. “It’s unacceptable, really. It’s something very unfortunate that should have been invisible to the people.”

Running from Lewes to Ocean Pines, Md., the outage was what Rickards said was one of the largest local outages they’ve had. Although it’s meant to increase bandwidth for customers (which can improve Internet speeds for gaming or streaming video), many residents still complained of slow speeds.

Some other major outages have been related to Route 26 road construction.

Resident Wally Barns referenced the original franchise agreement, in which Mediacom promised “high-quality” service.

“What constitutes reliable … service, and is that what we have gotten?” Barns asked.

In March, Mediacom also trailed in the Consumer Reports’ National Research Center’s annual telecom survey, which Barns called a repeat of previous years’ results.

“Mediacom does not meet the definition of what I would consider … reliable,” he concluded.

Conducting his own ping tests — a test of Internet connections — Barns said, he had more than 100 service interruptions in the last 68 days, lasting from minutes to hours.

Rather than paying penalties, he suggested monthly reports and a service improvement plan.

Richard Shoobridge had already dropped Mediacom for cable television but still uses the other services. He said a call center employee had suggested his router wasn’t working, when Shoobridge knew the outage was more widespread.

“I would like truth from the company when I call up the company and ask them what’s happening,” he said.

“What happens if that phone goes down and I’m trying to call 911? Granted, I have a cell phone, and most people do, but that’s not the point,” said resident Paul DuCott.

Getting frustrated

Repeated Internet, phone and cable television outages are driving some residents up the wall, they said. If they’re lucky, repeatedly restarting the system fixes the problem.

“I was ready to throw my computer out the window, I was so frustrated,” one woman said.” I didn’t bother calling and reporting it, because we know there’s been issues.”

Two hours after his modem was installed, resident Matt Cassera said, he already had tech problems that left him without service for two weeks.

“I called the day it was installed. They would not come out to fix it for 14 days,” Cassera said. “But I still have to unplug and re-plug it four to five times a day. Every day. I don’t even call anymore because I get ‘Did you unplug it?’”

He claims that the “rudest” customer service rep refused to credit his account for those 14 days of lost service. Boggs called that an “anomaly. We are supposed to give credit where credit is due.”

All Mediacom customers are typically eligible for billing credits if they report the service outage quickly and request a credit within 30 days, Boggs said. But credits are given for full days, not just a few minutes or hours.

Most of the complaints aired came from residents of Millville by the Sea and Bishop’s Landing, so Tech Manager Pat Hynes promised to investigate the individual homes when he returned to the office Wednesday, after Coastal Point deadline.

“We have a reporting program that we look at. It tells us if the modems are dropping in and out. I haven’t looked at any of your modems. Something seems to be tied together. I would like some time to look at this,” Hynes said.

Some residents complained about their refurbished equipment, which seemed even less reliable. It’s normal practice to clean, refurbish and test equipment, then return it to the field, Boggs said. But she apologized to anyone who’s been on the “short end of the stick.”

Mayor Gerald “Gerry” Hocker Jr. reminded residents that Internet service is a private contract between Mediacom and customers, not part of the Town’s cable franchise agreement.

Boggs said the Delaware area is “dear” to the company, being part of the growth from a “mom-and-pop” business to national provider. She said Mediacom is the eighth-largest service provider, “small of the big, and big of the small” companies.

Boggs thanked people for their patience. She said maintenance now continues seven days a week; technicians have been pulled from other projects; and 60 new phone staff are about to complete their training.

“We are getting back to equilibrium.” In the next week, Boggs said, she expects customer service to at least return to normal.

Mediacom customers are being encouraged to notify the company about service problems. They can troubleshoot by calling or using Facebook, Twitter and the company’s mobile phone app.

The next regular Millville Town council meeting is Monday, Oct. 14, at 7 p.m.

Coastal Point • File Photo : Restaurateur Matt Haley, killed in a motorcycle accident, will be remembered by members of the community during a service on Sunday, Sept. 28. Rather than mourn the early death of a local entrepreneur and worldwide philanthropist, Sussex County will celebrate the life of Matt Haley, when the Freeman Stage at Bayside hosts a public celebration of his life on Sunday, Sept. 28, at 2 p.m.

Restaurateur Matt Haley died Aug. 19 after a motorcycle collision in the mountains of northwestern India, while he was on a six-week humanitarian mission to India and Nepal.

Based in Rehoboth Beach, Haley was founder and CEO of the Matt Haley Companies, which includes eight restaurants under the SoDel Concepts banner, including NorthEast Seafood Kitchen in Ocean View, Bluecoast in North Bethany and Papa Grande’s and Catch 54 near Fenwick Island.

His friends and staff were heartbroken by the news. It was only knowing that Haley wouldn’t want the restaurants to close that kept his friends and employees returning for the first few days.

“The first two days were hard to work, but we knew that he wouldn’t want it any other way,” said Ronnie Burkle, a corporate chef with SoDel Concepts. “That gave us the drive those days.”

Doors for the public celebration will open at 1:15 p.m., ahead of the 2 p.m. program. The service will last between 90 minutes and two hours.

Several speakers will share stories and insights about Haley, in addition to videos encapsulating his impactful life. People will also hear some of Haley’s favorite music, recorded and live.

Guests are being asked to bring non-perishable food items for the Delaware Food Bank, which Haley and his companies supported, hearkening back to his grassroots philanthropy.

Open seating is being provided. Parking and admission are free. The outdoor venue is located on Route 54 about 4 miles west of Fenwick Island, at 31750 Lake View Drive, Selbyville.

There will be a live webcast for those who cannot attend in person. A link will be provided at the website at www.freemanstage.org on Sunday.

The 53-year-old chef was honored in 2014 with the James Beard Foundation’s Humanitarian of the Year Award, for work in the realm of food that has improved the lives of others and benefited society at large.

Enthusiastic in partnering with other businesses and nonprofits for the greater good, Haley was travelling to bring technology to a Nepali village and visit several young girls, who he considered as daughters.

“His legacy will continue on in nothing but greatness,” Burkle said. “The company is strong and already had set forth moving on with out him, even before the accident, when he was stricken with cancer. He had set everything in motion then. Still, though, I can’t believe he’s really gone.”

Coastal Point • Laura Walter : La Sierra in Selbyville was one of three locations recently identified by the Delaware Division of Alcohol & Tobacco Enforcement as selling illegal prescription drugs. Arrests have been made at three local convenience stores in recent weeks, for the alleged sale of illegal prescription drugs. The medications were allegedly being sold at La Sierra, at 58 West Church Street in Selbyville, Danny’s Pizzeria on 48 N. Main Street in Selbyville and at Taco Town at 34051 DuPont Boulevard in Frankford.

During the mid-August raids, the Delaware Division of Alcohol & Tobacco Enforcement (DATE) seized prescription-style drugs and substances, more than 500 bootleg DVDs and approximately $88,000 in cash, officials said.

“It all started with a routine visit that one of our agents made,” said Lt. Kevin Jones, DATE operations supervisor, who oversees statewide enforcement. “It was discovered that one of these businesses in Selbyville were selling prescription medication over the counter. An arrest was made there … and then we learned that there were several other locations that were doing the same thing.”

After obtaining search warrants, DATE agents raided three locations simultaneously, seizing prescription drugs, DVDs and cash.

“Antibiotics, birth control, injectable medications. … They were non-controlled substances; they weren’t like codeine or those controlled painkillers,” Jones explained.

“From what I understand,” he said, noting that he’s not an investigator, “a lot of their clientele is the migrant worker community. A lot of the people will buy their medications that way instead of going to a normal pharmacy. I guess that’s what they’re used to doing,” Jones surmised.

A client could approach the counter with an injury or infection, he offered, and an employee would dispense the medicine, without a prescription.

DATE agents did some undercover purchases this way.

“Some people might say, ‘What’s the big deal?’ But when people are able to just walk in and get prescription-level medication without any medical advice,” medicine might react badly with an existing medical condition, Jones said. “Those laws are put in place to protect people.”

DATE must also determine who is manufacturing the medications, which could have come from anywhere.

The “obviously bootleg” DVDs were just noticed during investigations.

“The covers appeared to be printed on a home printer, like four recent movies on one DVD,” Jones said.

Depending on the severity of the crimes and Attorney General’s Office’s plans, Jones said the pharmacy operations and counterfeiting may be a felony. But none of the businesses have been closed as a result.

“There’s always due process that these people are entitled to,” Jones explained. “State statute does not allow us to arbitrarily shut down a business. That decision is ultimately made down the road in court,” unless the crime is particularly egregious or location is unsafe for the public, he added.

Oscar B. Jimenez, 35, of Ocean City, Md., was charged with Operating a Pharmacy without a License; Delivery of Non-Controlled Prescription Medication; Delivery of a Hypodermic Syringe and Trademark Counterfeiting for operations at La Sierra. He was held on $5,500 unsecured bail.

Isela Delgado, 31, of Ocean City, was charged with Operating a Pharmacy without a License; Delivery of Non-Controlled Prescription Medication; and Delivery of a Hypodermic Syringe, for operations at Taco Town. She was held on $4,100 unsecured bail.

Damian D. Garcia, 31, of Frankford, was charged with Operating a Pharmacy without a License and Delivery of Non-Controlled Prescription Medication for operations at Danny’s Pizzeria. He was held on a $1,500 unsecured bail.

Investigation into the matter is still ongoing. The two months of investigation leading to the arrests included DATE agents, Delaware State Police, Delaware Department of State Division of Professional Regulation, Delaware Probation & Parole and Milton Police Department, which provided an officer to serve as a translator.

Last week, the Ocean View Planning & Zoning Commission unanimously approved design plans for the Assawoman Canal Trail, Phase I, which would establish a trailhead parking lot and canal trail.

The commission reviewed a land development plan submitted by Becker Morgan Group on behalf of the Delaware Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Control’s Division of Parks & Recreation, related to the future trail.

The trail will run from Route 26 to the Ocean View marina, with 5,200 feet of trail. The trail itself is designed to be 8 feet wide, with 6 inches of stone dust topping that will be suitable for bicyclists, as well as walkers.

Jon Falkowski of Becker Morgan spoke on behalf of DNREC at the meeting, saying that bidding for Phase I of the project is to begin this fall, with construction starting in January 2015 and being completed by Memorial Day 2015.

“There will be one bridge crossing, right near the Town Road site. We plan to construct 60-foot pedestrian foot bridge to span that,” he said.

The bridge surface will be made of a fiberglass material, with marine-grade wood used for the decking.

“It’s all very minimal disturbance to install that,” he said. “DNREC has used this bridge in a few other projects… It’s nice-looking and holds up.”

At Town Road, there will be a 10-space parking lot, with restroom facility, bike racks and signage. Falkowski said there will also be a road crossing located at Central Avenue.

“We’re modifying some sidewalk there, putting some curb ramps in there, to make it all ADA-compliant.”

For the construction, DNREC has secured a temporary easement on an empty lot on Osprey Lane.

Falkowski also stated that motorized vehicles would not be permitted on the trail for the public; however, a gator-type vehicle may be used by police for emergency response on the trail.

He emphasized that the trail is meant to be a dusk-to-dawn facility, and they will not be installing lights in the Town Road parking lot. He added that they are working with a building manufacturer to have the doors to the bathrooms automatically lock.

“The trail itself isn’t lit either,” he said. “It is a true dusk-til-dawn facility.”

The commission unanimously approved the plan, with a 5-0 vote.

Bob Ehemann, community assistance and grant coordinator for the Division of Parks & Recreation, publically thanked town officials for their help through the process.

“I appreciate their efforts in making this happen,” he said.

The annual Wags, Witches & Warlocks Halloween festival is set to return to downtown Bethany Beach on Saturday, Oct. 25.

The event will feature a parade at 10 a.m., which is open to “pets, boys and ghouls of all ages,” organizers noted. Registration for parade participants will begin at 9 a.m., with a $5 pet donation welcomed.

The event will also include costume contests, pumpkin painting, Halloween crafts and more.

Wags, Witches & Warlocks is designed to benefit the downtown businesses, as well as the Sussex County SPCA.

For more information, visit the website at WagsWitchesAndWarlocks.com or Twitter, @WagsWitchesWarlocks, or look for the event on Facebook, under WagsWitchesWarlocks.

The Millsboro Art League (MAL) has announced that its annual Fall Art Show & Contest will open Sept. 28 and run through Nov. 1, at MAL’s gallery at 203 Main Street in Millsboro Town Center.

Artists are being invited to submit gallery-ready artwork in any medium, and an application is available on www.millsboroartleague.com. Awards will be made in two categories: Emerging and Professional artists — for first ($100), second ($50) and third ($25) places. Artists will receive their awards at a public reception to be held on Saturday, Oct. 11, from 2 to 4 p.m.

Toby Jo Vandiver will judge this show and share her expert eye and experience as a printmaker and artist trained at Corcoran College of Art & Design. She may be familiar to area artists who know her from Rehoboth Art & Framing and her studio at The Studios on Walnut.

Vandiver has exhibited at several area venues, including Rehoboth Art League, The Kitchen in Milton, Scott Angelucci Gallery in Milford, and a solo show at Epworth Church in Rehoboth Beach.

For additional information on this show and upcoming MAL events, go to www.millsboroartleague.com.

Beebe Healthcare will offer free flu clinics for the community starting this month.

Influenza viruses are always changing, so annual vaccination is recommended. Each year scientists try to match the viruses in the vaccine to those most likely to cause flu that year.

Vaccinations will be provided to adults (18 or older) only at the clinics. Parents should contact their children’s physician or the Division of Public Health for information about pediatric vaccinations.

Megan Williams, director of Population Health, said Beebe will once again host a free flu clinic at the Medical Center in Lewes every Monday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Nov. 17. Beebe will also host additional free clinics across Sussex County to better serve the community.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that the following populations consider getting the influenza vaccination:

• People 50 to 64 years of age. Nearly a third of people between the ages of 50 and 64 years of age in the United States have one or more medical conditions that place them at an increased risk for serious flu complications.

• People who can transmit flu to others at high risk for complications. Any person in close contact with someone in a high-risk group should get vaccinated. This includes all healthcare workers, household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of young children up to 23 months of age, and close contacts of people 65 or older.

According to CDC, people at high risk for complications from influenza include:

• People 65 years and older.

• People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities that house those with long-term illnesses.

• Adults and children 6 months and older with chronic heart or lung conditions, including asthma.

• Adults and children 6 months and older who needed regular medical care or were in a hospital during the previous year because of a metabolic disease (such as diabetes), chronic kidney disease or weakened immune system (including immune system problems caused by medicines or by infection with human immunodeficiency virus [HIV/AIDS]).

• Children 6 months to 18 years who are on long-term aspirin therapy. (Children given aspirin while they have influenza are at risk of Reye’s syndrome.)

• Women who are pregnant during influenza season.

• All children 6 to 23 months old.

• People with any condition that can compromise respiratory function or the handling of respiratory secretions (that is, a condition that makes it hard to breathe or swallow, such as brain injury or disease, spinal cord injuries, seizure disorders, or other nerve or muscle disorders).

Those who become ill with the influenza virus are being advised to make sure to rest, drink plenty of liquids, avoid using alcohol and tobacco, and take medication to relieve symptoms. Never give aspirin to children or teenagers who have flu-like symptoms, especially fever, without consulting a physician.

In some cases, physicians may choose to prescribe certain antiviral drugs to treat influenza. Antibiotics do not cure influenza, which is caused by a virus.

In addition to the Monday vaccination clinics in the lobby of the Medical Center on Savannah Road in Lewes, additional flu vaccination clinics are set for:

• Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2 to 6 p.m., at Crossroad Community Church, Georgetown;

• Wednesday, Oct. 1, 1 to 6 p.m., at CAMP Rehoboth, 37 Baltimore Ave., Rehoboth Beach;

• Thursday, Oct. 2, 2 to 5 p.m., Beebe Walk-In Care, Millville;

• Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2 to 5 p.m., Beebe Lab Express, Georgetown;

• Thursday, Oct. 9, 2 to 5 p.m., Beebe Lab Express, Millsboro;

• Sunday, Oct. 12, 8:30 a.m. to noon, Lewes Presbyterian Church;

• Wednesday, Oct. 15, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., St. Jude’s Catholic Church, Lewes (Nassau);

• Tuesday, Oct. 21, noon to 3 p.m., Beebe Lab Express, Milton;

• Thursday, Oct. 23, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sussex County YMCA, Rehoboth;

• Saturday, Oct. 25, noon to 3 p.m., Beebe Health Campus, Outpatient Center, Route 24, Rehoboth Beach;

• Saturday, Nov. 8, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Rabbit’s Ferry Community Center, Robinsonville Road (Shady Nook Road), Lewes

For more information on the clinics, call Beebe Population Health at (302) 645-3337. For a full listing of flu clinics and street addresses, go to www.beebehealthcare.org/calendar.

The Dagsboro Town Council met last Monday, to listen to a presentation from the Artesian Water Company about a potential purchase to improve the quality of the town’s water.

“We’re getting more frequent water-quality complaints — more so on dead-end lines,” said Town Administrator Stacey Long.

The Town’s current contract with Artesian includes one flush per year, but the council previously approved the purchase of an additional flush from Delaware Role Water to attempt to remedy the water-quality situation. The additional flush costs $5,700.

“That additional flushing that we just approved is about $5,700,” Long said. “We may have to do two additional flushes throughout the year, so that’s an additional $11,000.”

The additional costs to attempt to improve the water quality caused the council to seriously consider an Artesian pitch for a project that would remedy the problem, but concern about the cost of the fix was an issue.

“It’s a big chunk to pay for, but it would be a permanent fix,” said a representative from Artesian. “Small grants for small municipalities are easier to get.”

If the Town is able to get a grant for the fix, Artesian said, residents “more than likely” would not see a difference in water pressure, and wouldn’t run out of water, as they would have by using Millsboro’s water supply as a backup water source.

The council this week also approved the request of what will be Dagsboro’s newest business, Dagswood Deli.

The deli owner requested that the council allow the business to put down shells as a surface material in the parking lot instead of paving it, which is a town-center requirement.

The council agreed to allow the business two years before they will have to face the cost of paving the parking lot.

The council will hold a public hearing during their next scheduled meeting, on Monday, Oct. 28, for a potential charter amendment regarding adding a vendor’s license.

The Sea Witch Halloween & Fiddler’s Festival is Delaware’s Official State Fiddlers’ Festival. Fiddlers and banjo players alike provide a full day of foot-stompin’ entertainment. With a cash prize contest, the audience becomes the recipient of some of the best pickin’ possible.

There is both an adult and children’s competition (sponsored by the Cape Gazette) for best fiddle, bluegrass and banjo playing. The Fiddler’s Festival is held from 1 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Hall. Visit www.beach-fun.com for Fiddlers’ Festival registration form and complete program information.

There are no fees for the Fiddlers’ Festival; donations are appreciated. Concessions will be provided by Kick N’ Chicken and Hopkins Farm Creamery and will be available for purchase in Convention Hall.

For more festival or area information, contact the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce at 1-800-441-1329, ext. 0, (302) 227-2233, ext. 0, or via email at rehoboth@beach-fun.com.

After months of new oyster aquaculture regulations being hammered into shape, a group of concerned citizens are hoping to straighten that picture.

Calling themselves the Coalition for Sustainable Aquaculture, a group of homeowners along Route 1 and the Little Assawoman Bay wants Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control officials to delay implementing the aquaculture regulations, which were just approved in August.

They foresee aquaculture creating boating hazards for recreational bay users, restricted access to marinas and businesses, excessive clutter, noise pollution, debris and more.

The citizens attended the Sept. 18 Citizens Advisory Committee meeting at the Center for the Inland Bays. In a way, they were returning to the scene of the “crime,” as the CIB’s Tiger Team had done the initial oyster research in 2012, with multiple stakeholders. That data went to the state legislature for the 2013 bill and DNREC for regulation writing.

Public information sessions were held Jan. 30 and Feb. 26 in Lewes to help draft the regulations. Once the regulations were written, the public could submit feedback beginning May 1, with a public hearing on May 21.

However, some believe that the wintertime meetings weren’t sufficient for people who don’t live in Delaware in winter.

“A lot of people are away in winter, and no notification came to us,” said Diane Maddex, president of the Water’s Edge Condominium Association.

“One of the ironies of not being on top of this was I worked with [the CIB’s] Rick Eakle and thought, ‘What a wonderful thing.’ In my mind, I pictured a couple of fishermen lowering cages into the bay from a pier,” Maddex said.

Jenifer Adams-Mitchell said this could significantly impact her business at Coastal Kayak. Sailboats usually need an angle to exit or return to shore, but shellfish plots to the immediate north and south of her bayside beach could make sailing hazardous.

“If you happen to be near one of these oyster beds and you fall on it, it’ll be bad news [for kayakers, too],” Adams-Mitchell said.

With a majority of her business coming from repeat customers, “I can’t imagine going out and seeing whole sea of PVC pipes” makes people want to return. “We’re pretty sure it’s going to have a pretty big impact … and with Sussex County, tourism is our economy.”

“You’re putting a whole 10 percent of the bay off limits to us — most of it right where we would go out,” said summer resident Jack Neylan, vice president of the King’s Grant Condominium Association.

“I hate to sound ‘NIMBY’ [Not In My Back Yard], but what about real estate values?” Neylan added. He also mentioned the debris that could wash up after a major storm, plus the impact on wetlands wildlife. Having only seen paddleboards and kayaks close to shore, Neylan also wondered if the fishing boats could handle such shallow water.

“The fact that there was newspaper coverage is a joke. There was so little coverage of it anywhere that none of us knew what was going on,” another resident said. “I’m astounded the ones who sponsored it from our area didn’t have foresight or decency to notify property owners.”

The group of citizens said they wish DNREC had notified individual homeowner associations, rather than just putting the legally mandated public notices in newspapers.

Under the regulations, the eastern Little Assawoman Bay would have 118 acres in three major plots (containing one-acre plots in groups of 73, 25 and 20).

Indian River Bay has 115 plots (with 24 acres tucked between North Bethany and Cedar Neck Road, plus 91 near Dagsboro at the edge of Piney Neck Road).

Rehoboth Bay contains 209 plots (with groups of 120, 71 and 18, mostly near marshland).

Without seeing any visuals with the regulations, the residents said they envision hundreds of 5-foot PVC poles marking each corner of every acre, plus floating oyster cages and noisy boats and winches.

“I hope we can do something to really minimize this. I think aquaculture would be a great thing,” said Maddex, acknowledging that the bays need better filtration — a function of healthy oysters. “This isn’t the way to do it.”

They hope DNREC will test aquaculture in northern bays, reduce acreage in the Little Assawoman, set business hours that are less than 24 hours, reduce the visual markers and adjust clamming regulations. Ultimately, they said, they hope DNREC will slow the implementation of regulations and listen a little more. (Meanwhile, watermen had complained that the regulations were taking too long to write, and that they would get their cages in the water too late this season.)

In response to this sudden outcry, DNREC was invited to a public meeting Monday, Oct. 6, at 6:30 p.m. at the Millville Volunteer Fire Company’s fire hall.

State Sen. Gerald Hocker and Rep. Ron Gray are also inviting the public to an ice cream social, on Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 6:30 p.m. in the Millville Fire Hall, at which David Saveikis and DNREC staff will discuss and hear from the public about the new aquaculture regulations and their implementation in the Little Assawoman and Indian River bays.

SEE ATTACHED MAP PDF BELOW.

The 152nd anniversary of the bloodiest day of the Civil War took place on Sept. 17. On that date in 1862 at Antietam Creek in Maryland, when the 1st Delaware Regiment charged “Bloody Lane,” a strong Confederate position in a sunken road, the color guard of nine men were all killed or wounded in a hail of gunfire and the regimental flags left on the field.

The Rebel position was about 100 yards at the opposite end of an open field into which the Union troops entered from the cover of woods and a cornfield. In less than five minutes, the 1st Delaware paid a toll in casualties of 286 men out of 635, including eight of 10 company commanders.

After several attempts to reclaim the flag failed because of continued heavy fighting, Maj. Thomas A. Smyth called for 25 marksmen to lay down a covering fire, while an attempt was made to retrieve the colors. Lt. Charles B. Tanner courageously volunteered to venture into the fatal area between the lines to bring the flags back.

Tanner was a Philadelphian by birth who had enlisted at age 19 in the 90-day 1st Delaware Regiment in 1861, then joined again as a sergeant when the regiment reorganized into a three-year unit. He rose quickly to sergeant-major and then second lieutenant within three-months.

Roger A. Martin recorded Tanner’s description of what happened next at Antietam. He had to cross a considerable distance; and, with the sustained gunfire, “it seemed as if a million bees were singing in the air.”

Somehow, he reached the flag and staff “splintered by shot, and the colors pierced with many a hole, and stained with the lifeblood of our comrades, when a bullet shattered my arm.” Miraculously, Tanner made it back to his comrades, despite receiving two more wounds.

Tanner spent the next month in the hospital recovering from his wounds, but renewed his heroic service at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, where he was wounded once again. Although medically discharged in September 1863; incredibly, he reenlisted a year later and suffered another wound at Petersburg.

When Delaware’s Thomas A. Smith, now a general, was killed in battle on April 9, 1865, the day Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered his army at Appomattox, Tanner had the solemn duty of escorting his body back to Wilmington. The following month, Tanner mustered out of service, the war having ended.

Twenty-seven years after the war, Tanner applied for and justifiably was awarded the Medal of Honor. Martin tells us in “Delaware’s Medal of Honor Winners” that the citation read: “Carried off the regimental colors, which had fallen within 20 yards of the enemy’s lines, the color guard of 9 men having all been killed or wounded, was himself 3 times wounded.”

Today, the 1st Delaware’s regimental and U.S. flags are part of Delaware Historical Society’s collection. Both were badly damaged during the Civil War, and are in need of professional conservation. DHS launched a campaign on the recent anniversary date of Sept. 17 to raise $30,000 to perform the necessary work.

DHS’s Fall 2014 “Making History” newsletter states, “Torn and tattered from service in battle, the flags need our help if they are to survive and continue to serve through public exhibition and education.” According to Civil War News, which has taken the appeal nationally, when conservation is completed, “the flags will be introduced to the public in an exhibition at the Delaware History Museum.” All supporters will be invited to a reception to view the restored colors.

Details of the appeal can be found online at http://dehistory.org/rally-round-the-flags. Donations can be mailed to the Delaware Flag Fund, Delaware Historical Society, 505 N. Market St., Wilmington, DE 19801. For further information, call Dr. Constance Cooper at (302) 655-7161.

Bethany Beach resident Thomas J. Ryan is the author of “Essays on Delaware during the Civil War” (available at Bethany Beach Books or from www.tomryan-civilwar.com). Contact him at pennmardel@mchsi.com.

The Brooks Tegler AAF Big Band is coming to Georgetown. The 17-piece 1940s-era jazz and swing band is the entertainment for the 2014 Wings & Wheels Big Band Dinner & Show on Friday, Oct. 3, at 6 p.m.

The dinner and dance is part of the 7th Annual Wings & Wheels Fall Festival, held at the Sussex County Airport, 21553 Rudder Lane in Georgetown. The dinner and dance is similar to a World War II Camp Show and is a tribute to World War II. The event will be held in a large hanger at the airport. In keeping with 1940s popular culture, the Ultimate Abbot & Costello Tribute Show also will entertain the audience with comedy routines.

“We are preparing for an unforgettable night that will kick of an event that has transformed into a regional tribute to World War II veterans, their contribution, and, of course, the wings and wheel that they used,” said Linda Price, Wings & Wheel event organizer.

Dinner for the evening will be provided by Lighthouse Catering, and 16 Mile Brewery will be on hand with their handcrafted beers but attendees may bring their own beverages.

The Brooks Tegler AAF (Army Air Force) Big Band is made up of professional musicians, many of whom are children of World War II veterans and fans of the U.S. Army Air Force. Tegler said he immerses himself in the history of the war and the era, and is very careful to stay true to the songs as they were originally performed. Included in the band’s repertoire are songs made famous by Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller and Duke Ellington.

The band travels around the world playing the music. They’ve performed as a tribute band to the Glenn Miller Orchestra in London and will tour Japan after their performance in Georgetown.

Tickets cost $45 per person and can be purchased online at www.wings-wheels.com/big-band-dinner/show.htm.

Maestro Julien Benichou, now in his ninth year as music director and conductor of the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, has planned a series of concerts for 2014-2015 titled “A Glorious Journey.” The season will showcase music from Vienna to London and from Leipzig to Paris.

The season’s premiere concert on Saturday, Oct. 4, at Mariner’s Bethel Church in Ocean View, features two Viennese musicians, Brahms and Beethoven, in two of the19th century’s major masterpieces, composed 74 years apart.

The MSO will see the return of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s concertmaster, Jonathan Carney, who will solo in Brahms’ “Violin Concerto in D Major” followed by Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major, Sinfonia Eroica.” The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. A lecture about the evening’s program, presented by Diane Nagorka, will take place at 6:45 p.m.

The MSO will usher in the holiday season on Friday, Dec. 5, in Ocean View and Saturday, Dec. 6, in Lewes, with a program of orchestral and vocal music, including traditional seasonal favorites featuring soprano Esther Jane Hardenbergh, joined by vocalists from the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music.

The March 2015 concert ends in London, with Haydn’s “Symphony No. 104,” preceded by Mendelssohn’s “The Hebrides,” “Fingal’s Cave” and Schumann’s “Cello Concerto,” showcasing MSO principal cellist Lukasz Szyrner.

The final concert, in May 2015, will celebrate French music, with Debussy’s “Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun” and “Chants d’Auvergne,” pastoral songs arranged by Joseph Canteloube, featuring soprano Janice Chandler Eteme. The program culminates in the “Symphony in D Minor” by Cesar Franck, considered perhaps the most energetic piece in the history of Western music.

Season subscriptions with reserved seating and single tickets are on sale now. The subscription price is $140 for all four concerts. Single tickets cost $38 for adults ($45 for the December concert). A limited number of complimentary tickets are available to those 18 or younger; however, reservations for those tickets must be made in advance. The concert series is also being performed in Easton, Md., and Ocean Pines, Md.

To receive a concert brochure or order tickets, call 1-888-846-8600 or visit the MSO website at www.midatlanticsymphony.org to download a ticket order form.

Through a partnership with the Delaware Department of Agriculture, a Delaware farmers’ market will be a featured highlight at the fifth annual Delaware Wine & Beer Festival on Saturday, Oct. 11, at the Delaware Agricultural Museum in Dover.

“This event is truly all about Delaware,” said Secretary Ed Kee of the Delaware Department of Agriculture. “This is a great opportunity for our farm wineries, and we are very pleased to be able to promote five Delaware farms at this year’s Delaware Wine & Beer Festival. Those who attend can take home fresh fall produce, honey, apples, artisan breads and quality cured meats.”

The following are farms participating in the Delaware Wine & Beer Festival Farmers Market:

• Fifer Orchards — Fifer Orchards & Country Store is a three-generation family farm located in Camden-Wyoming. Fifer’s is no stranger to farmers’ markets, having participating at numerous venues across the state, in addition to their own two locations in Camden-Wyoming and Dewey Beach. Fifer’s offers a full range of produce and fresh fruits, such as apples, peaches and strawberries, as well as being known for their special events.

• Hill’s Market Apiary — Owned and operated by Ken Outten, who is also president of the Delaware Beekeepers Association, Hill’s Market Apiary is located in Felton. Outten has a small farm where he grows hay for the racehorse industry and strawberries. He started keeping bees to improve his berry crop yield. In addition to wholesale and retail honey sales, festival-goers can learn how to get into the beekeeping hobby or business because Hill’s also sells small honey bee colonies and queen bees.

• Maiale Cured Meats — Chef/owner Billy Rawstrom is a graduate of Johnson & Wales University and has been cooking professionally for 15 years. A Delaware native, he enjoys cooking Italian, French and American cuisines. He is also known as the “Sausage King of Delaware.” Maiale said he believes that the difference between his products and others is the unique combinations and flavors of sausage and salami. Maiale Cured Meats, located in Wilmington, makes more than 30 varieties of fresh sausage and 10 types of salami.

• Old World Breads — Old World Breads is an artisan bread bakery, located in Lewes, offering handmade bread steeped in Old World tradition. Serving local farmers markets and eateries, Old World Breads focuses on handcrafted, all-natural breads made without preservatives or enhancers. Owner Keith Irwin has been immersed in the bread and pastry profession for more than 25 years and remains committed to the Old World, European style of bread that locals have grown to love.

• Suzuki Farms — Founded in Delmar, Suzuki Farms has been offering the East Coast fresh, organic, chemical and pesticide-free Japanese vegetables for 26 years. On his 28-acre farm, Ken Suzuki grows more than 30 kinds of vegetables that are considered essential ingredients in Japanese cuisine, including organic daikon radishes, kabocha (Japanese pumpkin), edamame, fuki (Japanese rhubarb), mame yuzu (a citrus fruit) and gobo (burdock).

The festival will also include two live bands, the Delaware Homebrew Championship, the Delaware Artisan Faire — featuring 40 Delaware artists and artisans — a presentation on Delaware’s brewing history, and wine and beer glass painting classes, as well as the First State’s breweries, wineries and distilleries, serving more than 55 varieties of hand-crafted beers, wines and spirits.

The Delaware Wine & Beer Festival will be held at the Delaware Agricultural Museum and Village, with the Farmers Market set up against a fall backdrop in the 19th century farm village, on Saturday, Oct. 11, from noon to 5 p.m.

Festival tickets cost $25 in advance and $35 on the day of the festival, and can be purchased by visiting the official festival website at www.DelawareWineandBeerFestival.com or by calling Kent County Tourism at (302) 734-4888. Admission includes a souvenir stadium cup and 10 sampling tickets for the breweries, wineries or distilleries of the attendee’s choice.