DOVER — Last Friday, Healy Media Group released a five-minute trailer for a full-length documentary the Correctional Officers Association of Delaware (COAD) commissioned with the production company. The oral-history style documentary, called “Hidden in Plain Sight”, has been in production since April. COAD President Geoff Klopp hopes that, once completed, the documentary can inform the public and spur some “long needed” changes in the state’s Department of Correction.

“For years, no one has really know what our correctional officers are dealing with day to day,” said Mr. Klopp. “This documentary will give the public a chance to see who correctional officers are, some of what they do and how they feel about it. We rarely get to interact with the public — We’re always hidden behind the fence.”

In the wake of the Feb. 1 inmate uprising that left Lt. Steven Floyd dead, Mr. Klopp has been pushing harder for more competitive compensation for correctional officers at legislative hall. T.J. Healy II, who owns the production company producing the documentary, said the legislature could certainly used the education that his interviews will offer.

“After shooting these interviews it’s so interesting to me that these issues with the DOC have been going on for years,” said Mr. Healy. “Of course way before (Gov. John) Carney, before (Former Gov. Jack) Markell, and some of these issues go back before (Former Gov. Ruth Ann) Minner and not a whole lot ever seems to get done about it. So many of our Senators and Representatives seem to have no clue. They can tell you all about delDOT, economic development or DNREC, but ask them about the DOC and they have no idea.”

Mr. Healy says that, so far, they have extensive interviews with 12 correctional officers — both retired and active. By the completion of the project he hopes to have filmed around 25 correctional officers. The completion date of the project is undetermined as yet.

The title frame from a trailer of a new COAD-commissioned documentary called “Hidden in Plain Sight” on the difficulties correctional officers face on a daily basis. The documentary has been under production by Healy Media Group since April. (Submitted photo)

Although the DOC’s code of conduct restricts officers from speaking to the media, Mr. Klopp said this project wouldn’t be in violation of that.

“Correctional officers can’t speak to the media, but we’re doing a video production, so this isn’t a media outlet,” he said. “We really hoping that it’ll be a chance to educate legislators and the public on the stresses and difficulty these officers face.”

Mr. Healy said after shooting some of the videos, he briefly considered changing the title simply to “Wow,” because that seems to be the response people have to the sentiments being expressed by correctional officers.

“Not many people know much about correctional officers and their lives, or the DOC for that matter,” he said. “There are just so many surprises to be seen here, it’s really eye opening.”

The production company also helped put together a 30-second commercial for lobbying purposes for the COAD. The ad ran several times over the Memorial Day weekend, said Mr. Healy.

The commercial can be seen at vimeo.com/218878042/0b39d80c8b and the documentary trailer can be seen at vimeo.com/219948363/03d2044016.

DOVER — A House committee on Wednesday released to the full chamber a controversial proposal that would legalize physician-assisted suicide. The bill now awaits a floor vote.

House Bill 160, also known as the Delaware End of Life Options Act, would allow an individual with a terminal disease — defined as “an incurable and irreversible disease that has been medically confirmed and will, within reasonable medical judgment, produce death within six months” — to end his or her life with the aid of a doctor.

About three dozen people spoke before the Health & Human Development Committee Wednesday, with passions evident on both sides.

Supporters, many of whom are suffering from a terminal illness or had a family member who died slowly and painfully, spoke of wanting to end hardship and let people die with dignity. Opponents argued life should be protected and said the measure could be abused.

The bill does not “condone suicide,” said main sponsor Rep. Paul Baumbach, D-Newark, who introduced the legislation after hearing from constituents.

“A vote for HB 160 is a vote for the suffering, dying Delaware residents at the end of their lives,” he said.

The proposal requires the individual be judged by a doctor as being capable of making a decision to die, and it mandates a waiting period between the request and the implementation. The person wishing to end his or her life would have to self-administer the medication, and a physician could not prescribe the drugs if the patient is believed to be affected by “a psychiatric or psychological disorder or depression causing impaired judgment.”

Some speakers expressed concerns individuals might be convinced to end their lives against their will, such as if they fear they would otherwise be a burden on caregivers.

“It is impossible to legislate the safeguards to make sure these people are safe from the dangers of assisted suicide,” Terri Hancherick said.

The Medical Society of Delaware opposes the bill, and one member of the group said Wednesday he fears the physician-aided suicide could lead to less focus on treatment and cures.

“These practices are fundamentally inconsistent with the physician’s role as a healer,” Dr. Prayus Tailor said.

Oregon, the first state to legalize physician-assisted suicide, reported in 2016 that since the law went into effect in 1997, 1,749 people received medication. Of those, 1,127 opted to use it to end their lives.

In Delaware, a measure similar to House Bill 160 failed to make it out of committee two years ago. This time around, there was more support, although the bill has several more hurdles to clear.

Several lawmakers said they have concerns about the legislation but agreed to vote it out of committee to continue discussion.

Six states allow assisted suicide. Adding Delaware to that list, several people said Wednesday, would be a relief for many sufferers of terminal diseases.
“To keep someone alive against their wish is the ultimately indignity,” Thomas LaFollette said.

WILMINGTON — The Delaware American Civil Liberties Union held a “community conversation” at the Central Presbyterian Church in Wilmington on Wednesday concerning prison conditions in the state. The group also released findings from a study they performed on inmate complaint letters they’ve been compiling since 2012. At issue during the discussion was also the results of the Governor directed 54-page independent report released on June 2 by former Judge William Chapman and Charles Oberly, the former U.S. attorney for the District of Delaware.

During the presentation, ACLU-DE Executive Director Kathleen MacRae expressed the opinion that a high recidivism rate, large prison population and onerous mandatory minimum sentencing were among the state prison system’s biggest ills.

“Eight out of ten people who come out of the prison system in Delaware end up back in within three years — that’s an indictment of how poorly the system is rehabilitating, educating, training and changing the behavior of the people that are incarcerated,” she said. “The legislature loves to implement mandatory minimum sentences for even the most low-level offenses. These don’t allow the judges to have any discretion to understand the individual circumstances surrounding specific incidents and people. If a person is employed full-time and they commit a low-level crime, you have to ask if putting them in jail for three to five years serves our purposes as a state and if it truly secures public safety?”

Director of the national ACLU Prison Project, David Fathi attended the presentation as well to discuss how the state fits into the national picture, and possible ways of reducing incarceration rates. According to Mr. Fathi, Delaware has the highest incarceration rate in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic region — about twice as high as next-door neighbor New Jersey.

“It’s important to look at trends over time, and there are some that aren’t looking so good for Delaware,” he said. “Between 1999 and 2015 New Jersey cut its prison population by 35 percent over one year which is amazing. Maryland and Pennsylvania also cut their prison populations, but by smaller margins. In Delaware, the prison population has remained almost exactly flat over that period of time. A consequence are that the state’s prisons are severely overcrowded. At the end of 2015, they were at about 155 percent of their designed capacity, making Delaware’s one of the most crowded systems in the United States.”

Debro Siddiq Abdul-Akba of Wilmington asks ACLU-DE Executive Director Kathleen MacRae and Director of the national ACLU Prison Project David Fathi about sentencing reform at an ACLU hosted prison condition discussion at the Central Presbyterian Church on Wednesday.
(Delaware State News/Ian Gronau)

Mr. Fathi placed special emphasis on the recently released independent report ordered by the Governor that examined the conditions leading up to the Feb. 1 James T. Vaughn Correctional Center inmate uprising that left Lt. Steven Floyd dead. He agreed with much of the report and said that the understaffing concerns expressed by Judge Chapman and Mr. Oberly were likely to blame for the incident.

“An incident this tragic and of this magnitude, in which staff lose control of a large portion of the institution, represents a catastrophic failure of a prison to carry out its most basic task,” said Mr. Fathi. “It’s hard to overemphasize the importance of adequate staffing in a prison. If you don’t have enough staff, you can’t adequately supervise the prisoners, which in turn makes the prison dangerous for all staff and inmates. All additional services and program fail as a result as well.”

Beyond the sheer number of staff members, Mr. Fathi also expressed the opinion that competitive compensation and adequate training are also crucial to the prison system’s safety.

“Prisons function with the consent of the prisoners,” he said. “Staff will always be greatly outnumbered by prisoners. The staff’s authority and ability to control the prison rests, in large part, with their ability to command some level of respect from the prisoners and that requires interpersonal skills. fairness, consistency and rapport. These require training and experience.”

Referring to the independent report, Mr. Fathi said he hopes the state takes to heart two of its chief recommendations — addressing understaffing and reducing the overall prison population. Not ignorant to the current budget battle taking place in the general assembly, Mr. Fathi said the costs of running a prison system safely are too important to overlook regardless of budget.

“Paying prison staff a competitive wage and hiring enough staff to run the prison is going to cost money,” he said. “But that is a price that will have to be paid. Incarceration is expensive in all kinds of ways — socially and fiscally. It seems Delaware has made the political choice to have a very high level of incarceration, and it’ll have to bear the costs of doing that in a safe, humane and constitutional way. The most important recommendation in the report though is decreasing the inmate population and encouraging alternative to incarceration.”

As far as Mr. Fathi’s suggestions on reducing the prison population? He says start with sentencing reform to reduce or eliminate mandatory minimum sentences and toss out cash bail.

“Cash bail locks people up for being poor — it’s as simple as that,” he said. “Bail reform could bring down the pre-trial detainee population quite substantially and very quickly.”

Inmate complaint letter analysis

During the presentation, Ms. MacRae had Paul Stanley Holdorf of the National Lawyers Guild Delaware-New Jersey Chapter, present an analysis of data the ACLU-DE has been collecting on inmate letters to the organization since 2012. Ms. MacRae claims that by looking at the volume and severity of the complaints coming out of JTVCC preceding the inmate uprising, an observer would have been able to see that tensions were rising to a head.

According to their data, the ACLU-DE went from receiving just over 100 inmate complaint letters specifically from JTVCC in 2012 to nearly 400 letters in 2016, while letters from the state’s other prisons remained fairly flat at under 100 letters per institution. The letters varied in subject, but the most common complaints were related to grievances, interference with community relations, medical care and mental health. Ms. MacRae feels that if the DOC had been tracking inmate grievances closely, officials may have also observed that the system was headed for a breakdown.

“With a proper grievance system in place, the DOC may have been able to predict this uprising and maybe avoid it,” she said. “We don’t even know what the exact policies for their grievance process are. In most states, the grievance process is public information and it’s on their DOC’s websites. That’s not the case in this state. We’ve had to file a Freedom of Information Act request to try to understand the grievance process and to determine what records and data the DOC is keeping about grievances and how they analyze it. We haven’t received a response yet, but we’re not optimistic.”

DOVER — A bill that supporters say would drive economic activity while cleaning up polluted sites along the Delaware River has been sent to the full House chamber for a vote.

House Bill 190 would alter the 1971 Coastal Zone Act, which limits development and industrial activity along the coast.

The bill, which has bipartisan support, would create an exemption for 14 sites.

The House Natural Resources Committee voted 9-1 Wednesday to release the measure despite complaints from environmentalists and others that the proposal kowtows to big business.

Without the bill, Delaware Economic Development Office Intergovernmental Relations and Special Project Director Patty Cannon said, “Delaware’s closed for business.”

Ms. Cannon said DEDO has heard from 36 businesses that were interested in moving to Delaware but viewed the Coastal Zone Act as too much of an obstacle.

The act has helped keep the state’s natural resources fresh and allowed the tourism industry to thrive, but it has also restricted economic growth in other fields, the main sponsor of House Bill 190 said Wednesday.

“But what many feel is an unintentional consequence of the 1971 law is the rigid restrictions placed on businesses in the coastal zone, making it difficult to operate with flexibility to change products or processes efficiently when needed and to allow them the ability to adapt to changing markets, especially in today’s world,” said Rep. Ed Osienski, D-Newark. “I feel that is why many of these sites are no longer in operation and those thousands of good-paying jobs have gone away.”

Currently, all industries not operating when the Coastal Zone Act was passed 46 years ago are banned from the zone. The bill would allow the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control to issue permits for bulk transfer facilities at the 14 sites, although the original act stated that banning such facilities is “imperative.” Bulk product transfer consists of moving large quantities of a substance such as oil from a ship to a dock.

Certain industries, such as those using oil refineries, natural gas terminal and incinerators, would remain banned.

DNREC Secretary Shawn Garvin said in an email three of the 14 sites have been vacated, while two other locations are currently inactive.

The lone site below the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal is the Delaware Storage & Pipeline Co. facility in Little Creek.

Wednesday, more than 40 people spoke in the hourslong hearing, and while many praised the legislation, about an equal number protested its introduction.

Opponents argued the process is being rushed along, preventing environmentalists from weighing in on the proposal.

“If we can have in Delaware a stakeholder process and multiple town halls around the legalization of marijuana, about budget concerns and what we’re going to do about education but we cannot have one hour dedicated to Delaware’s foundational environmental legislation, I ask you, what is wrong? Where is the Delaware way in that dialogue?” Brenna Goggin, director of advocacy for the Delaware Nature Society, said. “We are not asking or opposing modernization to the Coastal Zone Act. We are simply asking for a public dialogue.”

If the bill passes, lawmakers will return later and make further changes to the Coastal Zone Act, she said — “death by a thousand cuts.”

But to supporters, the positives far outweigh the negatives.

“This bill will do many things for Delaware workers,” Mike Hackendorn, vice president of the Delaware Building and Construction Trades Council, said. “These sites will be cleaned up and they will provide jobs for Delawareans and also much needed revenue for the state of Delaware.”

Gov. John Carney made reforming the Coastal Zone Act a tenet of his campaign platform last year, and he said in a statement when the bill was introduced last month it would clean up brownfields while creating jobs.

Not everyone agrees with the lofty promises some believe the bill offers.

“In conversations before the hearing and in front of the podium, I keep hearing ‘Field of Dreams’ references: Build it and they will come,” Jeffrey Gordon said. “That’s great for a movie. It’s not great for potentially really messing up something that has worked very well.”

The measure is expected to be heard in the House soon.

College is one of the most complex processes any student and parent will have to endeavor for one’s education. As someone who has been through the process and experienced its difficulties firsthand, it is of no doubt that finding a college that suits someone personally and fits the needs required to a single person is essential to not only one’s education, but their future job opportunities as well.

Something I noticed among my peers as this process continued was the desire for specific aspects of a college that seem somewhat untraditional or irrational at first, however I asked professionals about some of these choices and voiced the questions of many students who have been or are going through the college application process in order to help students and their parents better understand how this whole thing works.

First, I conducted a survey to get a better estimate of how many students find themselves in the same predicaments or scenarios as other students. One question that was asked on the survey conducted at Polytech High School asked students what factors helped them determine the college they chose.

Torie Seagraves

Fifty-nine percent of students surveyed said that tuition was one of the major reasons they chose the college they did, and of that amount, 57 percent will still need to apply for student loans.

In-state tuition will always seemingly be cheaper. Common in-state scholarships offered in Delaware consist of the SEED program, the INSPIRE program, and the Associate in Arts Program. Despite the benefits of in-state tuition, students still desire the out-of-state experience.

“I encourage my students to go out of state if they can, meet new people, go out in different environments, learn new things, and be exposed to new cultures,” Polytech High School counselor Aaron Kellam said.

Will students consider these choices that provide them with a broader experience or stay in a familiar environment to take advantage of a decreased cost of education? In my survey, about 75 percent of students found the location of their college to be a determining factor in their decision-making process. However, taking into consideration that over three-quarters of those students will have to work during their college career, it is safe to say that the vast majority of students who use “location” as a determining factor are looking to go out of state out of their own preference.

One traditional factor that seemed less popular was a student’s choice to attend a school based on their athletics. Only 17 percent of students found importance in a school’s sports or sports record. The majority of students also said that their intended major was an important reason for choosing an institution. Given this information, one may predict that this majority of students is set on a major and certain on what career they plan to pursue.

Polytech Superintendent Dr. Deborah Zych explains how attending a technical school is most likely beneficial for the college process so students may easily narrow down their options with their desired major.

“The need for career and technical education is growing. Not only do students here have the whole academic scope of high school requirements, plus advanced placement courses as well as dual enrollment courses where they earn college credit, but when you look at the career and technical ed side of the house they earn 11 1/2 credits in a concentrated program of study, which culminates in student certification, job placement, shadowing and eventually apprenticeship placement,” she said.

All are reasons that directly influence students to be set on a career path prior to their college education, saving them time and money.

Another stressful aspect of this process is preparing for the SATs and ACTs that are continuously used as key indicators for a student’s potential to a college. Although, as SAT and ACT scores become “unessential” to indicate on college applications, is the ongoing rumor true about the diminishing of the SAT and possibly the ACT? I asked Dr. Zych about this educational phenomenon.

“I don’t think they’re becoming less valuable because more and more states are using the SAT as their accountability test. So there’s a lot of pressure on school districts to provide SAT prep, to focus on the types of questioning, and the rigors of the SAT,” she said.

It is also a concern to students whether the school they choose to attend matters in comparison to the degree that is obtained. Students are concerned with the relentless question of whether a degree is better if it is obtained at a more prestigious school or if a degree at one school is still the same at another.

“I have never gone to a job interview and anyone ask me where my specific school was and how that made an impact on me getting hired or not hired,” Mr. Kellam said.

As students lack the knowledge of where to begin when facing this extensive process, some beneficial sources are collegeboard.com or commonapp.org.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Torie Seagraves is a senior broadcast media student at Polytech High School who will be graduating tonight. 

The Schwartz Center in Dover. (Delaware State News/Marc Clery)

DOVER — A week after the board president for The Schwartz Center for the Arts said leaders were weighing their options for the future, Tracey Miller today said the downtown Dover venue will close June 30.

“After 17 years of operation, it is with great sadness I report that The Schwartz Center for the Arts will close its doors June 30, 2017.  While ticket sales have increased significantly, overall revenue has not been enough to sustain the business.  With looming cuts to art and education funding within the state and the overwhelming cost of over-head on the building we are forced to close the theater. The theater has done well this last year but has run out of money and time. The board of the theater has worked tirelessly this past year to find a way to keep the non-profit solvent and relevant,” she wrote in a press release titled “The Schwartz Center runs out of time.”

She continued, “We have contemplated everything from turning the center into a school during the week and sponsoring entertainment on the weekends to only being open once a quarter for large shows like the Lip Sync Battle or a community ballet.  The money just isn’t there to sustain us through down times. I believe this is a huge loss for the community as well as the state. It is my hope that someone or some entity finds it important enough to support the arts, culture and entertainment needs of the city and steps up to reopen the center.

“The important life changing opportunities that come from the arts and cultural centers aren’t free but are certainly worth the investment. To be able to continue our endeavor it would have required substantial and ongoing support from the city, the county, the state as well as and especially the community.”

In an interview last week, Ms. Miller said the board of directors was to meet today about continued operations. She wouldn’t elaborate on the center’s financial situation at that time.

The last event is slated to be Sunday’s premiere of “Jason’s Letter,” a movie filmed mostly in Dover.

The Schwartz building on State Street is owned by Wesley College and Delaware State University. It is operated by The Friends of the Capitol Theater, Inc., all are 501c3 non-profit entities. Both higher education institutions last year stopped donations to the nonprofit center.

Ms. Miller had taken on additional roles at the center since former executive director Sydney Arzt left last year after 18 months in that position. In addition to the volunteer board, there are five paid employees, some full time and some in part-time positions.

The 550-seat center has received $47,500 in state funding in recent years.

The General Assembly gave the Schwartz $12,500 in the current fiscal year, as well as that amount in both fiscal years 2015 and 2016 and $10,000 in fiscal year 2014.

Prior to that, the center had not been funded through grant-in-aid spending since before 2006.

Community challenges

The Schwartz Center has a storied past. The building on South State Street was built in 1904 as The Dover Opera House. George M. Schwartz expanded it into a movie theater in 1923 and renamed the venue The Capitol Theater. It fell into disrepair in the 1970s and closed its doors in 1982.

After a dedicated community campaign, the Friends of the Capitol Theater renovated the building and reopened it in 2001. Wesley and DSU became involved as partners in 2004.

Ms. Miller said last week the biggest challenge for the Schwartz Center today is attendance — “100 percent.”

“We’ve done our best to widen our appeal and try to listen and know what our community wants. It’s still tough to get Dover out to shows unless it’s a community-based show, like ‘The Nutcracker’ or ‘Seussical’ or The Children’s Theatre shows,” she said.

And while ticket sales were up 99 percent over last year, she said, that’s not enough to secure success.

“No theater ever makes it on ticket sales. Not when you are selling a $15 ticket. There are a lot of things that come into play here. It’s not all about ticket sales,” she said. “There are a lot of layers that go into running a theater and getting the community involved is the biggest part of this.

“We’re just like any other small community theater in the country. We depend on the community,” she said.

In February, the center held The Battle of the Schwartz,” a sold-out lip-sync contest showcasing local celebrities, that organizers reported raised $64,700.

Its board, which transitioned from an advisory board to a working board last summer, had solicited community input and tweaked program offerings this year based on feedback.

“We’re doing really, really well this year. The theater’s done better programming than it’s ever done,” Ms. Miller said. “I think we’re listening to the community more. We brought movies back. We’re getting more involved with educational programming.”

John A. Metheny Sr.

HARTLY — A local and state fire company official was arrested Wednesday after sexual abuse of a minor allegations, the Delaware State Police said.

John A. Metheny Sr., 72, of Hartly, was charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child after turning himself in to Troop 3 detectives in Camden, authorities said on Thursday.

Attempts to reach Mr. Metheny and the Delaware Volunteer Firefighter’s Association Thursday were unsuccessful.

According to a police detective in an affidavit of probable cause, Mr. Metheny allegedly confessed on Tuesday post-Miranda to improper physical contact with the girl. He estimated six to eight interactions, authorities claimed, and perhaps as many as 10.

The Hartly Volunteer Fire Company, where Mr. Metheny currently serves as vice president, released a statement after police announced the arrest.

“The Hartly Volunteer Fire Company became aware that Mr. Metheny was charged by law enforcement of committing a felony on (Wednesday),” President Robert E. Quillen Jr. said.

“Following our established policy, he has been suspended awaiting the action of the court.”

According to police in a news release, a 17-year-old female accused Mr. Metheny, the Hartly VFC’s vice president, of groping her buttocks and breast several times when they were at different places. The girl told police told authorities that she expressed displeasure after each alleged incident and told him to stop.

The girl reported her concerns to police on May 15, authorities said, and claimed the alleged sexual assaults had been ongoing since November 2016. Some alleged incidents occurred when the two were alone at the Hartly Fire Company at 2898 Arthursville Road, the girl told investigators.

Police did not disclose why the girl spent time at the fire station and said only limited details would be released due to “the sensitivity of this case, and in consideration of the (alleged) victim.”

Mr. Metheny was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 11 in New Castle and released on a $30,000 unsecured bond. A preliminary hearing in Kent County Court of Common Pleas was scheduled for June 16 at 8:30 a.m.

The allegations detailed

According to the affidavit, the girl first expressed her concerns to a municipal police department, who then contacted state police.

In papers, a detective recounted an interview on May 15 when the girl supposedly said, “He would always put his arm around her but she never thought anything of this.”

According to the juvenile, however, the contact allegedly moved to her buttocks and breast.

“At first she didn’t say no because she was scared so she would just move away from him,” the affidavit read.

“He wouldn’t touch her again until he saw her again.”

The minor claimed she told Mr. Metheny to stop and “he would leave her alone for awhile then he would start touching her again.”

In February, according to the girl, she told Mr. Metheny “she wasn’t comfortable with this and she didn’t want him touching her because it made her feel weird. He stopped touching her until April.”

Finally, according to the minor, Mr. Metheny allegedly touched her again and she warned if it happened again she would tell police. The girl went to authorities “anyway because she felt really scared,” according to court papers.

According to the juvenile, the alleged contact occurred an estimated four or five times before she told the man to stop, then approximately 10 to 11 times from November 2016 to February.

Police said in papers that the girl “stated he would always touch her over her clothes,” The affidavit indicated some alleged contact supposedly happened in a vehicle.

Mr. Metheny allegedly responded “OK” when asked to stop in February.

The alleged contacts ceased, according to the minor in the affidavit, but resumed in April in a storage room.

A biography on the Hartly VFC’s website described Mr. Metheny as “responsible for the overall building maintenance and oversees the trustees. In the past Allen has held virtually every position in the company to include Fire Chief and Ambulance Captain.”

Mr. Metheny currently serves as treasurer for the DVFA and Hartly VFC, and director of the National Volunteer Fire Council.

He’s a past president of the DVFA, Delaware State Fire Chief’s Association and the Del-Mar-Va Volunteer Firemen’s Association, and has instructed at the Delaware State Fire School since 1970. His bio described him as a Certified Government Finance Manager.

Photos special to the Delaware State News/Jon Lloyd Jr.

WOODSIDE — Polytech High School seniors accepted diplomas Thursday. The graduates:

Valedictorian:

Hannah Elise Coté

Salutatorian:

Samantha Noelle Stafford

Christopher Damian Aguayo

Christian Manuel Alfaro

Jane Elizabeth Allen

Lauren Marie Allison

Laura Almeida-Muñoz

Kelley Nicole Alstott

Krista Rennae Anderson

Megan Lee Anderson

Merveille Aurora Avinou

Zendelle John Llanto Badiang

Dyce Raymond Bailey

Zachary Alexander Bailey

Robert Joseph Bailor

Adrienne Star Baker

Julia Catherine Balcerak

Calab Avery Barnette

Jarod Charles Batman

Chase Brooks Bayley

Brandon Antonious Bazemore

Donavan Darrius Beckford Jr.

Larry Roger Benson

Tyrese Serrill Benson

Chace Moore Biron

Kyle Louis Bischof

Bréyana Joy Bishop

Abigail Lorene Bivens

Dena Marie Bonsignore

Raygan Aiyana Boyd

Jeremy Daniel Briscoe

Dylan Allen Brooks

Bryce Westley Brown

Ravyn Olivia Brown

Krisanne Lindsey Buckson

Jasmine Gabrielle Bunkley

Samantha Michelle Cahall

Kaitlin Joy Callahan

Darian McKenzie Carroll

Braeden Carlson Carter

Brianna Marie Caseley

Andrea Michelle Castellar

Carter Ryan Chasanov

Elizabeth Ann Chordas

Tyrah Storm Christianson

Yelianiz Cintron Oyola

Brett Simmons Clarke

Aysia Breion Clay

Layton James Clough

Sean Alexander Colbert

Alexandria Jayne Cole

Ashlyn Marie Colley

De’Vaughn Samuel Collick

Te’Vaughn Curtis Collick

Juliana Nicole Comegys

Matthew Aaron Conley II

Gabriel Atticus Connaghan

Steven Michael Connors

Donald Francis Cordrey III

Ashlyn Nicole Correia

Kirstyn Nicole Corson

Hannah Elise Coté – Valedictorian

Robin Marie Cox

Collin Scott Craig

Jaydin Hailey Crow

David Anthony Cruz

Mariah Ann Custis

Giuseppe Cusumano

Ashley Nicole Czetli

Brie Lynne Dalious

Emmanuel Eric Davis

Jacob Hunter Davis

Joshua Thomas Davis

Nathaniel Asa Davis

Taylor Mae Davis

Peter Colman Deely

Darrell William DeMoe II

Noah Michael Deneumoustier

Camryn Lynne Dennis

Kalea Riane DesLauriers

Derrick Joseph DiNuova

Brianna Marie Dorey

Kasi Alexis Duke

Jaeden Nasir Dungee

Wendy Hope Ehst

Michelle Helene Emig

Dale Ray Estepp Jr.

Avery Danae Fairbanks

Douglas Sam Falasco

Amanda Grace Finney

Anthony Jordan Devine Flamer

Donald Stephen Fooks III

Kamren Devon Foster

Nicholas Shane Fretz

Andrew Philip Gardner

Cole Bentley Garey

Rahilah Yasmine Garfield

Corissa Marie Garza

Joshuah Andrew Gayle

Matthew Aaron Gayle

Dakota Nicholas Gearhart

Camille Mott Geyer

Jordan Belle Gonzaga-Kreitzer

Keishla Marie Gonzalez

Samantha Josephine Gratteri

John Richard Greim

Richard Owens Grier

Lili Jayne Griffin

Olivia Nicole Alexandria Griffin

Ronald Curtis Griffin Jr.

Brooklyn Mone’t Guy

Joseph Michael Haass

Jalyn Renee Haith

Stephanie Elisabeth Klarissa Hamilton

MaKayla Renee Hargett

Ryan Wesley Harrington

Cassidy Brooke Harris

Tianna Olivia Harris

Renee Michelle Hawkins

Robert William Hawkins

Cierra Lynn Heimbach

Kayla Kolbe Heinicke

Skylar Alexis Higgins

Elizabeth Morgan McClure Hill

Alexandra Eunice Hobbs

Sabriyyah Esana Hobby

Leon Eldred Holland

Donyai Quan Hope

Rocher Monai Hopkins

Kelsey Gabrielle Hudson

Kenneth Ryan Hundertpfund

Maureen Hope Iplenski

Joshua Dayton Irvin-Wallace

Kyle Walter Jankowski

Brittney Nicole Jarvis

Stephanie Joanem

John Martin Joerg III

Cameron Allie Johnson

Isaiah Darren Johnson

Kendra LeAnne Jones

Nicholas Alexander Jones

Anthony Michael Keeley

Isaiah Maurice Kelly

Matthew James Kirkpatrick

Hunter Seth Klecan

Brooke Nicole Klippert

Nathan Wayne Kreer

Courtney Amanda Krise

Shane Christopher Kunz

Jessica Marie Kwasnieski

Katlyn Raydene Labonte

Brandon Michael Lanoue

Jada Elaine Lehman

Cole Anthony Levering

William Bradley Lewis II

Alyssa-Rose Lipnicki

Ashley Paige Logullo

Mark Edward Luettke

Jhymier Daivyon Luis-Archer

Noah Wayne Lust

Justin Scott Mabrey

Marco Maddalena

Liam Robert Maher

Zachary Donald Maheu

Abigail Nicole Mannering

Kayla Ashtyn Marino

Matthew Luke Markoya

Tamia Reneé Mathias

Ashley Maria Matthews

John Joseph McCann Jr.

Ryan Sean McCone

Jaden Gregory McCove

Kyra Yakeerah McFadden

Lillian Mae McNaught

Jacob Andrew McNelia

Morjai Le’Shawn McTeer

Pajuah Di’shae Marie McTeer

Elizabeth Soleh Mengah

Katherine Olivia Miller

Sarah Elaine Miller

Qasim Maxwell Moon

Jessey Elaine Moore

Mary Elizabeth Morrison

Jocelyn Theresa Morton-Elzie

Danielle Suzanne Moser

Douglas Octavis Mullen Jr.

Troy Antoine Nixon Jr.

Dominique Alyssa Pedicone

Bryan Josef Perry

Zachary Allen Phillippi

Eric Douglas Phillips

Andrew Jarrod Pierce Jr.

Hunter Logan Poisson

JaQuan Markeís Pope

Dylan Joseph Powell

Joie Lawren Powell

Trent William Pratt

Lauren Marie Price

Brandon Deshawn Quail

Eberardo Benigno Raymundo

Jesse Aaron Reynolds

Miguel Julian Rivera

Aleah Jewel Roberts

Raven Essence Roberts

Jeremiah Christopher Roy

Jamie Morgan Ryan

Destiny Dominque Salandy

Kayla Lynn Sanders

Anisa She’marie Santiago

Ariana Alecia Santos

Giovany José Santos

Yesica Marisol Santos-Chavez

Brianna Julianna Sapienza

Andrew Darrell Sapp Jr.

Jasmin Monét Scott

Torie Denee Seagraves

Jered Nelson Seibert

Mackenzi Elizabeth Semans

Alyssa Nicole Senato

Ahmed Shafique

Madeline Brooke Sheehan

Naje Chynna Simon

Logan Robert Simpson

Macey Rae Simpson

Sarah Ann Simpson

Caleb Ryan Smart

Kaitlin Rose Smith

Michelle Anastasia Smolarek

Sabrina Marie Sparks

Cameron Jared Spence

Samantha Noelle Stafford – Salutatorian

Grace Quinn Stang

Mikalyn Elizabeth Stanley

Alexis Renee Startt

Megan Lynn Steerman

Henry Charles Stephan III

Tyler Schafer Stevenson

Zachary Thomas Strachar

Hannah Rose Sturgis

Laniece Octavia Sykes

Ralph Landon Thompson

Sophia Vern’a Tilley

Angelique Toussaint

Connor Mitchell Tracy

Amicaela Lucila Valerio

Jonathan Valle

John Gilbert Van Sciver

Cody Lee Vavala

Taylor Leigh Vinson

Alexander John Walker

Destiny Cherie Walls

Zion Lee Waters

Meadow Haley Watkinson

Bryan Austin Weaver

Jacob Daniel Welsh

Melanie Aubrey White

Jillian Marie Wilkins

Kaylani Ahnee Williams

Logan K. Williams

TeJay Sage Williams

Bryona Tania Wilmer

Jacob Gregory Wilson

Tyler Jonathan Wingfield

Lilli Julia Lynn Woodeshick

Skyler Nicole Wooleyhand

Matthew Tyler Yiannakis

Elizabeth Mary Zeitler

Taylor Lynne Zendler

Lisa Scott and Tricia Massey will perform in Saturday’s ecarte dance theatre spring concert. (Submitted photo)

DOVER — ecarte dance theatre will present its spring concert at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Education/Humanities Theatre of Delaware State University. The modern dance and contemporary ballet company will premiere 11 works choreographed by artistic director Judith Engelgau, ballet mistress Tricia Massey and three student choreographers.

The novice company, ages 4-12, will perform three pieces to music from Green Day, Jason Mraz, Johann Sebastian Bach, and the soundtrack from the film “Moana”.

Ballet mistress Tricia Massey has choreographed “Safe and Strong,” a modern work for herself, Lisa Scott, and Melani Coles. Three pieces representing the ecarte Young Choreographers Workshop will be presented by Emma Massey, Ruby Rogers and Gabrielle Beish.

The performance features a triad of company pieces honoring the resilient spirit of America that has continued to guide and inspire throughout centuries of unexpected highs and lows. “And Crown Thy Good With Brotherhood” draws from the music of Common, John Legend, and Meshell Ndegeocello. “For Amber Waves” is danced to the contemporary jazz of Brian Blade. Aaron Copland provides the musical backdrop for the more classical “For Spacious Skies”.

ecarte would like to welcome the visually impaired community by presenting a Sensory Seminar prior to the performance. All those interested in participating should call 302-674-4689 for further information.

Tickets, $15 adults, $10 students and senior citizens, may be purchased at the box office the evening of the performance. Group discount rates are available with prior request.

Most people are fairly familiar with the adage, “Nothing is for certain except for death and taxes.”

Indeed, I recognize that, as a citizen, it is essential to contribute to society in the monetary form of taxes – as distasteful as that may be for many of us!

Surely, many of the readers here can sympathize with the sticker-shock of property taxes every year; who wants to pay for land they already own?!

However, my main qualm (as I’m sure other readers feel) about taxation and tax codes in general is that, often, all parties involved aren’t necessarily pulling their weight. The knee-jerk reaction to hearing about tax cuts for anyone from low-income or to the wealthy and/or major corporations is usually, “Why should they get a cut, when I’m working my fingers to the bone?”

In order to fully understand, it is important to examine the effects of taxation as studied in “Tax Policy for Economic Recovery and Growth” as researched by the University of Kent from 2009. The authors of this scholarly article do a particularly good job of boiling down what sorts of taxation spur the most long-term economic benefits for nations seeking to not only catalyze, but to sustain, growth.

In short, their findings most strikingly point out the following:

1. Personal income taxes are harmful to growth because they are progressive (aka, the tax bracket conundrum). This form of taxation also discourages savings since the income that you would normally put into savings is taken away.

2. Corporate income taxes are harmful to growth because they discourage investment in capital and productivity improvements (think about how many times we all go to a certain major chain store where there are 30 registers and only five people working!). This also assumes that companies aren’t shifting their money around to offshore accounts and other tax havens to hide income.

3. Higher taxes on property transactions and property ownership discourage growth by hindering labor mobility, as well as discouraging companies to invest in real estate as a means of capital.

4. Perhaps most importantly, consumption taxes (VAT) can affect the real value of wages, but are otherwise seen as a non-discouraging factor to savings and investment. Strikingly to me, a value-added tax also ensures that we all pay our “fair share,” since it is a flat tax on goods, and therefore, nobody is paying more or less than the next person.

Sounds pretty good, huh? Now comes the part that I know nobody will want to hear, since it becomes the “middle-class” burden. The conclusion on personal income taxes: Tax cuts at the high end will spur the most economic growth.

Additionally, lowering the amount that low-income earners pay into Social Security is also shown to be effective in economic growth because it increases their disposable income, as well as gives them incentive to work. I know, I know: “Aren’t the lower class the ones who reap the most benefits of the Social Security program?”

However, lowering their federal income tax would not really help, since they don’t pay that much in the first place, so, the money has to come from somewhere.

These are the main points in the article, and of course, the authors detail many other intricate methods of encouraging growth in particular sectors of the economy based on tax credits and incentives for investment in particular fields.

Indeed, death and taxes cannot be escaped, unfortunately. I know that, especially as a lifelong Delawarean, we are all probably pretty averse to any sorts of sales tax. However, these findings make me curious about moving our economy forward. A VAT such as the EU and UK implement is shown to be quite effective in generating government income while, at the same time (and most importantly to me), fairly applying an equal tax rate for all. As a middle-income worker, I know the results above are disheartening because it seems like we bear the brunt of taxation in this scenario, but this more or less is just the surface appearance because of the phrasing of “high/low-income tax cuts.”

Of course, all of what I’ve written hinges on a critical component: all of us have to be willing to pull our own weight.

Jeffrey Haycraft
Camden-Wyoming

Vivica A. Fox and Jamol Manigault star in “Jason’s Letter” premiering Sunday at Dover’s Schwartz Center for the Arts. (Submitted photo)

Terrance Tykeem is ready to get the conversation started. He’s hoping that process will begin Sunday afternoon.

That’s when “Jason’s Letter,” a film he produced, directed and wrote, will premiere at Dover’s Schwartz Center for the Arts. The majority of the movie, about 75 percent, was filmed in Dover in January.

The rest was filmed in Middletown and the Philadelphia area.

The premiere will be the final event held at the Schwartz Center as officials announced Thursday that the theater will close on June 30.

“Jason’s Letter” is set in the fictional town of Hayden Heights, Delaware, where 72 percent of the residents are black and members of the police force are predominantly white. In the film, nearly all of those who have been shot and killed by the police are unarmed minority men, women and young children.

After a young boy with whom he attended elementary school becomes the latest casualty, 12-year-old Jason McKey offers some unconventional solutions to the situation in a letter that is read to city council.

“Being such a powerful topic, I’m just really looking forward to people seeing the film and then talking about it afterward,” Mr. Tykeem said.

“This is a conversation that nobody seems to want to have. But people have to start talking about the problem in order to effect change.”

Mr. Tykeem said the letter, which is based on a real letter written by an 11-year-old boy after the 2014 police shooting in Ferguson, Missouri, contains simple solutions such as more community involvement by police. The final proposal is one that Mr. Tykeem would not reveal but says is “controversial.”

“When they hear this, everyone is going to get a jolt. That this kid found that this is the only solution was wild to me. I’m looking forward to see people’s faces,” he said.

Mr. Tykeem stressed that the movie is not an anti-police film but one he was driven to make after reading the actual letter.

“A friend kept telling me about this letter from a little boy who lived in Ferguson, Missouri. He wrote it as a school project. I kept putting off reading it but when I got around to it, it blew me away,” he said.

“As soon as I read this two-and-a-half-page letter, the script just rolled out.”

Mr. Tykeem met with the boy and his mother on a conference call that lasted about an hour.

“I just wanted to get more insight from them into the situation. The mother was very reluctant to have this movie made. I could tell she was terrified and still is terrified by her surroundings today,” he said.

“She finally agreed to let this go forward, which I was thankful for. We really need to start humanizing these young black boys. We underestimate these kids so much.”

Mr. Tykeem said the letter read in the film is nearly identical to the actual letter that, despite tries by the family, was never really read before the council in Ferguson.

“We made some grammatical changes to it but that’s about it,” he said.

In the movie, Jason is played by the young actor Jamol Manigault. Vivica A. Fox, from the “Kill Bill” and “Independence Day” films and the TV show “Empire,” plays the city manager who rallies to get the letter read in front of council.

Michael Pare, best known for his leading role in the 1983 cult classic “Eddie and the Cruisers”; Quinton Aaron, who played the football player Michael Oher in “The Blind Side”; and Joseph Gannascoli from “The Sopranos,” also star.

The Dover location shooting took place Jan. 6-9 at City Hall, the library and a few downtown houses and businesses.

Mr. Tykeem said Dover proved to be the perfect location.

“When I talked to the mother and boy, I had them describe their small town. We scouted a few locations in Delaware and found Dover to be just what we were looking for. It’s a small town but yet has so much going on,” he said.

Actor Michael Pare also stars in “Jason’s Letter.” (Submitted photo)

Dover residents served as extras in the film and Mayor Robin Christiansen and Dover City Councilman William Hare appear as councilmen from the fictional Delaware town.

Mr. Tykeem said filming in Dover was a pleasant experience and he hopes to come back.

“I’m planning a film about post-traumatic stress disorder and I told the mayor that I’d be looking to film that in Dover as well,” he said.

Mr. Tykeem said that many in the movie’s cast will appear at Sunday’s premiere, including Ms. Fox.

“We’re not sure about Michael Pare yet. He’s filming a movie with Johnny Depp and isn’t sure if he’s going to get away. But he’s trying,” Mr. Tykeem said.

The film doesn’t have an official distributor but he said two television networks that he refused to name have expressed interest, as have three film companies.

Representatives from HBO, USA and TNT will be in attendance Sunday.

The 3 p.m. film will be preceded by red carpet arrivals.

VIP tickets are available for $30 and include a meet and greet with the celebrities after the movie, plus a bag filled with items from Delaware businesses.

Otherwise, tickets are $15 for those 16 and over and $10 for youth 15 and under.

To purchase tickets, visit schwartzcenter.com, call 678-5152 or stop by the box office at 226 S. State St., Dover.

June Jam Saturday

As we told you last week, June Jam 39 will be held on June 10 at G&R Campground in Houston. Gates open at 10 a.m. with music kicking off at noon.

The lineup includes:

Triple Rail Turn (former Philbilly)

kRUSH

Mike Hines and The Look

Wesley Spangler

Smokin Gunnz

Dirty Deal featuring Billy Meyers

Universal Funk Order

13:1

Junior Jammers

There will be games for kids and adults, raffles, and 50/50 drawings with all proceeds going to local organizations and individuals as needed throughout the year. Food will be available for purchase as well as vendors.

Tickets can be purchased at Mainstay Suites in Dover, B&B Music in Camden, Lewes and Salisbury, Md. for $35 in advance or $40 at the gate.

Explore Tech opening

Dover Public Library is one of 14 sites selected to host Explore Tech: Engineers Make a World of Difference, a national traveling exhibition that introduces the role engineers play in our lives.

The exhibit features hands-on and multimedia components that allow exhibit visitors to interact with exhibit content in a dynamic way, encouraging new perspectives about engineers and their vital work.

The exhibition is now on display until Aug. 4. On Saturday, the library will have a grand opening for the exhibit and host a STEM Makerfest; a day of hands-on science and technology activities and demonstrations.

For a calendar of other related programs, visit doverpubliclibrary.org. The exhibit is free and open to the public during the library’s regular hours.

The Dover Public Library is at 35 Loockerman Plaza.

Beach Goes Blue Saturday

The Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce and USO Delaware will hold the Beach Goes Blue – Red & White Too! service recognition day on Saturday to salute all military and first responders.

Highlights include:

•The John M. Scharp Memorial Geck-Go 5K at 8 a.m, rain or shine. The Kiddie K starts at 7:50 a.m. (10 and under free). Register Saturday beginning at 7 a.m. or online at www.trisportsevents.com.

•Military Village presented by USO DE as military personnel, demonstrations and exhibits will fill the horseshoe surrounding the Rehoboth Beach Bandstand from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

•Displays from local and state first responder agencies including the Rehoboth Beach Police Department, State Police Scuba Team, SORT (Special Operations Rescue Team), various municipal police agencies, and more from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• “Big Red” fire truck and ladder truck displayed at the Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Co. Station 86 (219 Rehoboth Ave.) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Three performances on the bandstand by the USO Show Troupe at 1 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. The Blue Cat Blues Band performs at 9:15 p.m.

• Choreographed light show on the beach at 10 p.m.

For the full schedule of events visit www.beach-fun.com.

Now showing

New this weekend in theaters is Tom Cruise in “The Mummy 3D”; the horror thriller “It Comes at Night”: and the military film “Megan Leavey.”

On DVD and download starting Tuesday is “The Lego Batman Movie” and Keanu Reeves in “John Wick: Chapter Two.”

From left, John Marino as Nunzio, Patti Gatto as Emma, Teresa Pierce as Caitlin, Terry Doane as Nick, Chris Polo as Aida and John Zinzi as Frank in “Over the Hill and Through the Woods.” (Delaware State News/Marc Clery)

DOVER — The tale of an Italian-American family from New Jersey is making its way to the Patchwork Playhouse in the Kent County Theatre Guild’s rendition of “Over the River and Through the Woods.”

“It’s not a well-known play,” director Mike Polo said. “But I read the synopsis and thought it was such a neat idea to do a play that is about real life, and circumstances that so many people actually deal with.”

Just like real life, the play is a mix of comedy and drama with both conflicts and resolutions.

“There are only six characters in the show but in each of them, you’ll see something familiar — something that reminds you of someone you know,” Mr. Polo said.

Mr. Polo was practically raised with the Kent County Theatre Guild — his parents joined soon after the founding in the 1950s, Mr. Polo met his wife Chris, who is also in the play, through the guild and he estimates that he’s been involved in more than 100 productions in various capacities.

In the play which opens June 16, Nick Cristano is a single man whose parents have retired to Florida but his

Chris Polo as Aida , left, and Terry Doane as Nick. (Delaware State News/Marc Clery)

grandparents are still in Jersey.

When he tells them that a new job will take to Seattle, a series of schemes start to keep Nick around, including bringing the single Caitlin O’Hare to one of their Sunday dinners.

John Marino of Lewes, who plays Nick’s grandfather, Nunzio, is performing the show for a second time His first was in The Bronx, New York in the mid-1990s.

“I played (the other grandfather) Frank in that production and the writer (Joe DiPietro) was very involved. It was great to work with him and he kept writing and even later won a Tony,” he said.

“My wife knew that show was a great experience for me and when she saw online that the Theatre Guild was doing the show she signed me up to audition.”

Mr. Marino Nunzoi is a great character to play.

“Nunzio is fun-loving. He doesn’t let misfortune overshadow him. But most of all, he loves his wife of 60 years.”

Nunzio’s wife, Emma is played by Theatre Guild veteran Patti Gatto of Dover.

“I had heard about the play before and knew it was about this Italian family and my husband is Italian and this play makes me feel like I’m at the dinner table with his family,” she said.

It also has all the complications that a real life family has, including generational conflicts.

Teresa Pierce as Caitlin, left, and Terry Doane as Nick. (Delaware State News/Marc Clery)

“The play shows the inner workings of an extended family and one of the things grandchildren face with their grandparents is how different their lifestyles are,” Mr. Marino said.

“The grandparents have mixed emotions seeing their grandson pursue a successful career because he lives in a different world than they did so success is defined differently for them.”

And as Nick, played by Terry Doane, follows success, his career takes him away from his tight-knit family.

“The play is so much like what people go through in real life,” Mr. Polo said.

“Everyone gets older and you have to make certain choices to become the person you need to be and it’s not always easy for everyone to accept those choices. The play is able to portray that but with a decent amount of humor thrown in.”

Nick is facing the challenges many young adults do.

Terry Doane, right, as Nick hugs John Zinzi as Frank. (Delaware State News/Marc Clery)

“He goes through what most people do in early adulthood – from your early 20s to early 30s. He’s successful and ambitious so his career may take him far from home but he still feels a duty to stay close to his family,” said Mr. Doane. “I had never heard of the play before but it’s great — really accurate.”

Mr. Doane is originally from Alaska and is stationed at Dover Air Force Base and is taking the stage for the first time in almost a decade.

“I have a degree in theater but hadn’t used it in a long time so my wife and a co-worker encouraged me to audition. It’s definitely fun.”

And the fun is what keeps all the actors coming back.

“It’s a great hobby to have,” Ms. Gatto said. “It’s always fun and the people are always great.”

Also in the play is Ms. Polo as grandmother Aida, John Zinzi as Frank and Teresa Pierce as Caitlin.

“Over the River and Through the Woods” will be staged June 16, 17, 23 and 24 at 8 p.m. and on June 18 and 25 at 2 p.m.

General admission tickets are $18, $16 for military and seniors, $15 for students and children under 13 are $10. They can be purchased online at www.kctg.org, by phone at 302-674-3568, or at the door. The Patchwork Playhouse is on Roosevelt Ave. in Dover.

Ashton Brown is a freelance writer living in Dover.

DOVER — A 23-year-old Dover man charged after an alleged murder at the Port Mahon fishing pier in 2016 pled guilty to three felonies Thursday and could receive 18 years in prison when sentenced in September.

Zhyhee Harmon admitted to two counts of possession of a firearm by a person prohibited and second-degree conspiracy to close three separate cases against him. He and two co-defendants were earlier charged with first-degree murder after Dontray Hendricks, 24, of Dover, was shot to death during an alleged robbery attempt of March 29, 2016, according to police.

Harmon — arrested on May 4, 2016 — will spend a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison based on the plea. Superior Court Resident Judge William L. Witham Jr. set a sentencing date of Sept. 13 and ordered a pre-sentence investigation.

During an appearance lasting just over 10 minutes at the Kent County Courthouse, Harmon said he understood the ramifications of his plea and acknowledged that he had received competent counsel leading up to it.

A defense attorney referenced Harmon’s IQ of 67, which he said would have presented problems if presented in a capital murder trial, if applicable.

Zhyhee Y. Harmon

The two firearms convictions could bring 5 to 8 years in prison each during sentencing, with the conspiracy count covering 0 to 2 years.

A trial had been scheduled for June 19.

Deputy Attorney General Jason Cohee declined comment afterward, as did Mr. Hendricks’ family members who attended the hearing.

Still awaiting trial are defendants Chelsea Braunskill, 19 when arrested, and Daiquan T. Bordley, 22 at the time, who were both indicted on first-degree murder, second-degree conspiracy and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony counts.

Judge Witham ordered Harmon not to contact Ms. Braunskill and Mr. Bordley, and said a fine and restitution may be imposed. Harmon agreed not to appeal his case to the Delaware Supreme Court.

When announcing arrests in 2016, the Delaware State Police said Mr. Bordley allegedly shot Mr. Hendricks in the torso during an altercation before fleeing. Authorities said Ms. Braunskill arrived with Mr. Hendricks at Port Mahon and was allegedly aware of a plot to rob him of drugs and money.

According to police, Harmon and Mr. Bordley allegedly fled in one vehicle and Ms. Braunskill left the scene in Mr. Hendricks’ car. The late Mr. Hendricks had driven to the pier after first picking up Ms. Braunskill at Delaware State University and had plans to smoke marijuana with her, authorities alleged.

In an affidavit of probable cause, police alleged that Mr. Harmon sold a Cobra .380 handgun the day after the shooting death.

The Prillaman family already has a pretty good legacy around the Caesar Rodney High athletic program.

Now, Jessie, the youngest of four Prillaman girls to play for the Riders, is adding to that list of accomplishments.

Only a sophomore, the CR forward was named to the Top XI list on this year’s girls’ soccer All-State team.

Prillaman was one of just two Henlopen Conference players to be ranked among the 11 best players in the state as she was joined by Indian River’s Madison Hogsten.

Middletown senior Alyssa Poarch, who helped the eventual DIAA Division I state champion Cavaliers reach the state tournament before being injured, was named the state Player of the Year.

Division I runnerup Padua had the most selections with five players making the Top XI.

Prillaman was ranked as the fourth-best player in the state for the Henlopen Conference champion Riders this spring.

She doubled her goal total from her freshman season by netting 34 goals, with 14 assists, as a sophomore.

CR coach Darrell Gravatt said Prillaman put up those kind of stats despite being the target of opposing  teams’ top defenders.

“Jessie is a very dangerous forward who routinely takes on and beats players every game,” said Gravatt. “Jessie is very fast, very skilled, very smart, and a great dribbler 1v1. Jessie is truly two-footed and can score with either foot.

“Jessie has an excellent first touch on balls in the air and on the ground. She combines very well with her teammates and is a prototype forward who can cross, slot, shoot, pass, and dribble very well.”

Jessie Prillaman of Caesar Rodney drives the ball down the field as Caesar Rodney takes on Concord at Caravel Academy in Bear in the first round of the DIAA tournament. Special to The Delaware State News / Doug Curran

Gravatt said Prillaman’s goal is to play for an NCAA Division I program in college. Her older sister, former Riders’ All-Stater Lexi, currently plays for Richmond.

An ‘A’ student, Gravatt said he thinks Prillaman has the drive to keep accomplishing great things.

“Personally, I believe that Jessie is a phenomenal forward who will keep getting better and better,” he said. “No one out works her in and out of season.   … I am blessed to have such talent on the pitch.”

Hogsten was also a prolific scorer for Henlopen South champion IR. Rated as the ninth-best player in the state, the senior tallied over 40 goals in her senior season.

Indian River’s Madison Hogsten, left, battles Polytech’s Mallary Jopp. Delaware State News/Marc Clery

In doing so, Hogsten became IR’s all-time leading scorer with 119 career goals. Hogsten, who suffered a season-ending knee injury just before the Division II state tournament, plans to continue her career at Salisbury.

“She was one of the reasons we could make it to a state championship game two years in a row,” said Indians coach Steve Kilby. “She was definitely the player we looked to, to finish the ball on the attacking third for us.”

Sports editor Andy Walter can be reached at 741-8227 or walter@newszap.com.

GIRLS’ SOCCER

All-State team

Top XI

Alyssa Poarch     Sr.          Middletown

Emilia Ryjewski  Sr.          Padua

Ashlee Brentlinger            Jr.           Padua

Jessie Prillaman  So.         Caesar Rodney

Julia Detwiler      Sr.          Padua

Macie Pennington            Sr.          Caravel

Arryana Daniels  Sr.          Padua

Alexandra Narvaez           Sr.          Newark Charter

Madison Hogsten             Sr.          Indian River

Nicole Czechowicz           Sr.          Caravel

Katie Szczerba    Jr.           Padua

Player of the Year: Alyssa Poarch, Middletown

Division I

First team

Caelan Brooks    Jr.           Appoquinimink

Hannah Broomall             Sr.          Appoquinimink

Jessie Prillaman  So.         Caesar Rodney

Macy Ramsey     So.         Caesar Rodney

Kimmy Glasser    Jr.           Caesar Rodney

Sheyenne Allen   So.         Wilm. Charter

Gianna Raposelli               Sr.          Concord

Alyssa Poarch     Sr.          Middletown

Rachel Finelli      Jr.           Middletown

Alexa Rodriguez Jr.           Middletown

G-Taylor Wolf    So.         Middletown

Emilia Ryjewski  Sr.          Padua

Ashlee Brentlinger            Jr.           Padua

Julia Detwiler      Sr.          Padua

Arryana Daniels  Sr.          Padua

Annie Brush         Sr.          Padua

G-Katie Szczerba               Jr.           Padua

Kira Short            Jr.           Sussex Tech

Second team

Bella Scarpinato Fr.          Appoquinimink

G-Kiyanna Gill     Sr.          Appoquinimink

Julia Lyncha        Sr.          Caesar Rodney

Brooke Hollingsworth     So.         Cape Henlopen

Taylor Mitchell   Sr.          Wilm. Charter

Hannah McDermott         Sr.          Wilm. Charter

Nikki Musselman              Sr.          Wilm. Charter

Susan Sesay        So.         Middletown

Juliana Looney   Sr.          Mount Pleasant

Chloe Frantz       Jr.           Newark

Lindsay Machamer           Sr.          Padua

Cam Scully           Jr.           Padua

Brianna Niggebrugge       Jr.           Padua

Paxton McGinnity             So.         Polytech

Casey Bell            Sr.          Smyrna

Ella Marsh           Sr.          Sussex Tech

G-Valencia Whealton      So.         Sussex Tech

Alexis Semmel    Jr.           William Penn

Division II

First team

Leah DaCosta     Sr.          Archmere

Macie Pennington            Sr.          Caravel

Nicole Czechowicz           Sr.          Caravel

Meghan Bailey   Sr.          Caravel

G-Sydney Keld    So.         Caravel

Logan Walls        Fr.          Delmar

Melayna Immediato        Jr.           Del. Military

Madison Hogsten             Sr.          Indian River

Samantha Whelen            Jr.           Indian River

Margaret Ford    Sr.          Indian River

Alexandra Narvaez           Sr.          Newark Charter

Hannah Cutler    Sr.          Newark Charter

Britney Stewart  Sr.          St. Georges

Hannah Schepers              Jr.           St. Mark’s

Isabelle Pilson    Jr.           Tower Hill

G-Morgan Rollins             Sr.          Tower Hill

Allie Olmstead    Jr.           Ursuline

Megan Ogden    Sr.          Ursuline

Second team

Julia Jogani         So.         Archmere

Lauren Murray   Jr.           Archmere

Summer Stewart               So.         Caravel

Sierra Frey           Jr.           Caravel

Ashlyn Carr          So.         Delmar

Bashia Korten     Sr.          Delmar

Elise Buonopane               Jr.           Del. Military

Sloan Maas         Jr.           Wilm. Friends

Grace Engel        So.         Indian River

G-Fabrea’ McCray            Jr.           Indian River

Hannah Fox         Sr.          Lake Forest

Jill Hynson           Jr.           Newark Charter

G-Maria Thomas               Fr.          Sanford

Alanna Speaks    Sr.          St. Elizabeth

Alexis Shanan     Sr.          St. Georges

Sydney Aguilar    So.         St. Georges

Julia Smith           Jr.           Tower Hill

Ali Kochie            Sr.          Ursuline

Coaches of the Year

Overall: Tom Brackin, Caravel

Large schools: Bill Grossman, Concord

Small schools: Bonnie Mills, St. Georges

Private-parochial: Tom Brackin, Caravel

Overall assistant: Eddie Gibbons, Brandywine

Large schools assistant: Dave DuHadaway, Newark

Small schools assistant: Eddie Gibbons, Brandywine

Private-parochial assistant: Jamie Juno, Caravel

Tom Wagner

DOVER — A Delaware businessman sold a piece of property to a local school district for almost double what he paid for it two weeks earlier, then received millions of dollars from the district for construction management work that skirted state bidding and purchasing requirements, state auditors said Thursday.

The findings were released following an investigation prompted by an anonymous tip regarding Sussex Technical School District’s dealings with Laurel businessman Michael Horsey.

Auditors found, among other things, that after sitting in on a December 2011 planning meeting between district officials and state transportation officials regarding a new school bus entrance, Horsey — through one of his businesses — bought a piece of land needed for the project for $110,000. He sold it to the district two weeks later for $200,000, an 82 percent increase.

Sussex Tech then awarded the construction management contract for the bus entrance to Common Sense Solutions, another business owned by Horsey, for almost $206,000.

Horsey’s company later received additional contracts worth $1.6 million for two unrelated projects that were not subject to competitive bidding because they were “piggybacked” on to the bus entrance project. Auditors said a school attorney signed off on the piggybacking based on language in a document that was not part of the original bus entrance contract.

The document in question says that the district reserved the right to retain new construction management services for projects beyond the scope of the bus entrance modification “without explanation or justification.”

“That language is not in compliance with state law,” said state audit manager Laura Horsey, who is not related to Michael Horsey or his family.

Auditors found that the district ultimately paid Common Sense Solutions almost $3.9 million from July 2011 to November 2016. Officials said they found an overall lack of support for invoices, several violations of state budget and accounting rules, and conflicts of interest.

The problems included manipulating invoices to avoid state approval for purchase orders over $5,000 and $10,000.

Officials said Terry Little, the former school facilities director who served on a committee that chose Horsey’s company for the bus entrance project, encouraged the invoice splitting in emails to vendors on which Michael Horsey was copied.

Auditors also said payments and invoices appeared to be split to avoid a requirement for three letter bids for projects exceeding $50,000, and competitive bidding for projects exceeding $100,000.

Officials also found that the rates and costs Horsey was charging to the district were significantly higher than average compared to other school contracts they examined.

Little resigned from the school district in July 2015, then was hired by Horsey’s company as project coordinator and liaison for the same projects he managed while working for Sussex Tech.

Delaware law prohibits any former state employee from representing or otherwise assisting any private enterprise on any matter involving the state for two years after leaving state employment if the person was responsible for such a matter while a government employee.

State auditor Tom Wagner said the activities outlined in the report war in “direct circumvention of state laws, rules, regulations and procedures.”

Horsey and Little did not immediately respond to a telephone message left with Common Sense Solutions.

Sussex Tech superintendent A.J. Lathbury also did not immediately respond to telephone and email messages.

In its formal response to the audit, the district said it is trying to improve financial scrutiny and enforcement of fiscal policies.

The district also noted that its contract with Common Sense Solutions expires on June 30, and that there are no plans to use the company’s construction management services after that time.

Republican state legislators from Sussex County said the audit raises “troubling questions” about how decisions are being made at the school, how tax dollars are being spent and whether sufficient oversight is being exercised.

“We urge the state Attorney General’s Office to investigate these findings and aggressively pursue action should any criminal wrongdoing be found,” GOP lawmakers said in a prepared statement.

LEWES — Beebe Healthcare plans to spend $180 million on expanding services on three Sussex County campuses, the board of directors announced this week.
Construction on the first phase of the expansion could begin by the fall of 2018.

The organization plans to expand its Lewes hospital campus to create private rooms for complex medical and surgical inpatients. The expansion will include a new labor and delivery wing.

The campus will remain the site of heart and vascular care, and to that end, the plans include creation of a dedicated heart, stroke and vascular center of excellence.

In Rehoboth Beach, Bebee intends to develop a specialty surgical center for inpatient and outpatient procedures. Surgical procedures will be focused on less complex cases for patients requiring a shorter inpatient stay, and Beebe will establish a minimally invasive surgical center at the site.

In Millville, Beebe will build a health campus with a new emergency department. In addition, a comprehensive satellite facility of Beebe’s Tunnell Cancer Center will be developed to support the diagnostic imaging, physical rehabilitation services, laboratory and walk-in care currently offered in Millville on Del. 26.

A portion of the estimated $180 million the organization plans to spend will come from charitable contributions to the Beebe Medical Foundation.

“We have so many grateful patients in this community, many who have given back to Beebe in one form or another. With our advanced thanks, the community’s philanthropic support will be critical to bring this vision to life,” Judy Aliquo, president of Beebe Medical Foundation, said in a statement.

More details will be released over the next few months.

“Beebe Healthcare has continued to grow and expand over the last 101 years,” board of directors Chairman William Swain Lee said in a statement. “To continue to serve our community, this next step is essential.

“In 1916, Beebe was a two-room hospital. What will we look like 100 years from now? It is hard to say; however, what we do know is that our community is growing and we need to grow along with it to continue to provide the most advanced medical care for those who live, work, worship and visit us here in Sussex County.”

DOVER — On Monday in Kent County Superior Court, five men were indicted for their roles in what police earlier described as “an open air style drug environment” in the Greenwood area.

Jermaine Boyd

Frank R. Lovett

Upon announcing arrests in April, the Delaware State Police identified Frank R. Lovett and Jermaine A. Boyd (also known as Pettyjohn) as the alleged leaders of an illegal narcotics dealing operation. Forty-one arrests were made in alleged connection to drug sales on Unity Lane, police said.

Also indicted on racketeering and drug charges, among other counts, were Mark L. Boyd, Shanun T. Handy and Joseph R. Palmer.

Police said the arrests concluded a three-month investigation. Eight search warrants were obtained through the area.

Mark Boyd

Shanun Handy

Joseph R. Palmer

Seized evidence, according to state police, included over 101 grams of crack cocaine packaged for sale, 531 baggies of heroin (3.717 grams), 48 grams marijuana, Loaded .357 Ruger handgun which was reported stolen in 2016, Loaded 9mm Hi Point Model 995 Assault Rifle, .22 caliber handgun, Shotgun, Loaded .380 Browning handgun, ammunition and over $2,300.00 in suspected drug proceeds was also seized.

Jermaine Boyd was listed as a Dover resident while Mark Boyd, Palmer and Handy were from Greenwood. Lovett resided in Harrington.

Darus L. Young

• Dover resident Darus L. Young was indicted on multiple 10 counts regarding three alleged first-degree robberies in the Milford and Frederica areas In January. He was 18 at the time of arrest.

Other charges include wearing a disguise during the commission of a felony, terroristic threatening, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and second-degree conspiracy.

•,Two Smyrna teens were indicted for an alleged shooting on April 22 that sent a 19-year-old man to the hospital with a chest wound.

Micah K. Rothwell and Adryan Jean-Baptiste, both 15 at the time of arrest, were arrested after investigation into the alleged incident in the parking lot area of Trevi Restaurant in the unit block of East Glenwood Avenue in Smyrna. Police alleged that the Jean-Baptiste was the shooter.

Charges included first-degree attempted murder, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, first-degree conspiracy, and carrying a concealed deadly weapon.

Daymien J. Robert

Avery Maxwell

• Two men were charged in an alleged August 2016 home invasion in the Cheswold area – Daymien J. Robert of Newark and Avery Maxwell of Smyrna. Mr. Robert was 36 at the time of arrest and Mr. Maxwell was 24.

Charges included home invasion, second-degree robbery, wearing a disguise during the commission of a felony, motor vehicle theft and second-degree conspiracy.

John Carney

DOVER — Two months into his tenure, Gov. John Carney announced he would push for a dedicated human resources agency, something the state has lacked since the State Personnel Office was split up in 2005.

On Monday, after several months of planning, legislation that would create a Department of Human Resources was filed.

One day later, a similar bill was introduced — an unusual case of competing bills.

Complicating matters, both bills are sponsored by Democrats and the two main backers had conflicting comments on the subject.

Senate Bill 2, the first to be introduced, would shift portions of the Office of Management and Budget to the new agency, giving the director of the department broad powers “to supervise and direct all human resources and benefits employees in executive branch agencies.”

House Bill 4 would accomplish something similar, but it would also create in the Department of Human Resources an Office of Women’s Advancement and Advocacy dedicated to promoting gender equality.

Often, when legislators are drafting proposals dealing with identical topics, they work together and introduce their ideas as one bill. But in this case, the main backers of the two proposals said they worked closely with the governor’s office, and each legislator believes their measure should be the one to go through.

Sen. Nicole Poore, a New Castle Democrat who introduced Senate Bill 2, said her proposal is unchanged from a draft handed down by the governor’s office. It also has historical precedent on its side, she noted.

“Historically, when you’re creating a department and you have to nominate a cabinet secretary, they have started in the Senate,” Sen. Poore said.

House Majority Leader Valerie Longhurst, a Bear Democrat, is the lead sponsor of House Bill 4. Asked why she thought another bill had been filed, she said she was unsure.

“You’d have to ask them,” she said of the senators backing Senate Bill 2. “All I know is I’ve been working on this bill for about two months with the governor’s office and OMB, so I filed the bill that I worked on with them. Obviously, it’s 60-some pages, so there’s a lot of technical issues. I think the bill that’s over there is a first draft of a bill.”

When the question of which bill Gov. Carney prefers was broached to the governor’s office, Gov. Carney avoided stepping into the issue, saying in a statement he is “confident that leadership in the Delaware House and Senate will work together to pass legislation to create this new department and help us deal with” inclusion.

Supporters say both bills would promote diversity and focus on combating inequities in state government — something that has been under the microscope since a 2016 announcement by then-Gov. Jack Markell of a review of racism in state agencies. That analysis has not been completed.

Neither of the two bills, sponsors claim, would add costs as they simply reorganize government agencies.

Both Sen. Poore and Rep. Longhurst said they partnered with Gov. Carney’s office, although Rep. Longhurst said she was initially unaware Senate Bill 2 was being drafted.

“She filed a bill and didn’t tell me about it. She knew I was working on a bill, so I don’t know,” she said when asked if she planned to speak to Sen. Poore about the dueling proposals.

Sen. Poore said she is supportive of the proposed Office of Women’s Advancement and Advocacy in Rep. Longhurst’s bill but “whether or not it ends up being a separate bill or stay on, I guess we’ll see.”

Senate Bill 2 passed the Senate 20-1 Thursday, and House Bill 4 is set to be heard in the House Administration Committee Wednesday.

The misguided Europeans, self-benefiting China and American political elitists vigorously foment their views by voicing the forthcoming evils that will transpire with the United States’ exit from the existing, though erroneously lauded, Paris Climate Agreement.

They do not consider all the elements involved that determined President Trump’s decision to depart the non-beneficial agreement now afforded to America. They have disregarded the fact that President Trump has left the door open for renegotiating a new, improved Climate Change Agreement without all the downsides America has experienced in the PCA.

Equality in fair-share payment must be a critical issue. America has been carrying the monetary heavy load while the other PCA participants enjoy America’s contribution. Still, the declared attacks upon the president continue to flourish and reject his ideas for a better climate change program.

No, Nancy Pelosi, we will not all breathlessly die in America by abandoning this ill-fated, multi-flawed treaty that has had no positive rewards for America. Another dissenting voice has been expressed by ex-Vice President Al Gore, who believes American children will develop and suffer from asthma by America’s absence in the PCA. Isn’t this the same Al Gore who proclaimed he invented the internet? You are wrong again, Big Al. It is also rather intriguing that climate change agendas have made Al Gore a very wealthy man.

The ill-advised Europeans, advantage-intent-seeking China and American political elitists like the PCA just the way it is. With the absence of the United States, China has expressed a desire to be the “new” leader of the PCA. China should be focused on improving their own country’s environment prior to directing the world on achieving an effective climate change program!

President Trump is keeping to his vow to put America first. To achieve this goal, he must combat the governmental American political elites who enjoy their antiquated process of the status quo. Change will not be easily attained when governed by their SOP (Standard Operating Procedures). Old habits die hard! A fresh approach is required in Washington, D.C.’s, hallowed halls.

America wants positive climate protection everywhere. However, the United States must not be depicted as the detractor and destroyer of the climate evolution. A fair renegotiation of the current Paris Climate Accord is demanded by bringing all parties involved to the environmental table, mediating in good faith. Add this to the American wish list!

May God always bless the United States of America.

Beverly Monahan
Dover