DOVER — Like bees to honey, Firefly Music Festival attendees often darted in and out of liquor stores as the nearby entertainment cranked up over the past couple days.

However, the underage ones probably exited the premises with an unclassified misdemeanor instead of spirits.

In what’s become an annual Firefly tradition, state alcohol and tobacco enforcement agents stayed busy issuing citations for anyone under 21 years old who entered a liquor store, whether they attempted to buy booze or not.

Before the music had even started, authorities cited 22 minors for 33 violations on Wednesday. Another 20 underage persons were charged with 28 offenses on Thursday.

By Friday, the number of offenders were expected to drop.

“By the third day, everyone has gotten what they’re going to get and are settling in,” said Lt. Kevin Jones, operations supervisor for the Delaware Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement.

Most of offenses began with illegally entering a liquor store when not 21, which brings a $50 fine and associated costs and fees.

Underage consumption or possession of alcohol offenses were also involved, along with fake identification cards. A couple marijuana-related arrests were made, along with a suspect selling alcohol out of a cooler. Two charges involved providing alcohol to a minor.

According to Lt. Jones, 26 fraudulent ID cards were seized on Wednesday and Thursday.

Focused on three liquor stores on U.S. 13 near the Firefly grounds at the Woodlands close to Dover International Speedway, agents began surveillance operations at 2 p.m. Wednesday. They maintained a constant presence at Raceway Liquors and Lepore’s Liquor Mart and sporadically checked on Kent Liquors.

While business is great, Lt. Jones said liquor store owners don’t enjoy the hassle of monitoring would-be underage drinkers.

“They’re on top of it the best they can be,” he said.

Don’t even notice

A large sign at the entrance outside Raceway Liquors warns of age restrictions, often to no avail.

“We’ll sometime have kids walk right past an agent with a badge out in the midst of an investigation and they won’t even notice,” Lt. Jones said.

On the first day, arrestees came from Delaware, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Minnesota, Ohio and Maryland. Thursday involved more of the same home states, indicating Firefly’s reach as a musical draw for the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond.

When it comes to spotting a minor breaking the law, Lt. Jones said, “You know it when you see it. It’s experience.

“If we think someone’s close, we will ask for an ID. When we card someone who is 25 or 26 they’re often actually happy about being asked.”

There’s a zero tolerance policy when a violation is detected.

“There’s no legitimate reason for anyone under 21 to go into a liquor store,” Lt. Jones said. “There are limited snack items there and they can’t purchase the alcohol.”

Curbing the opportunity for minors to drink is to their benefit, ticket or not.

“Obviously, young kids tend to drink to excess because they don’t have the life experience and the experience with drinking,” Lt. Jones said. “They may get caught up in the moment of the excitement around the event and get carried away with what they’re consuming.”

The busted kids rarely cause a fuss, Lt. Jones said, and accept the consequences of their aborted attempt at illegal purchase or entry.

“I’d say about 95 percent of those we deal with are cooperative,” he said. “Our guys don’t catch a lot of grief.”

There’s at least some good news for any young visitor cited for first offense underage consumption — they can apply for expunging the charge upon turning 21.

Illicit drug use

According to Levy Court Department of Safety Director Chief Colin Faulkner on Friday three festival goers were transported “to the hospital which were most likely adverse drug reactions to illicit drugs.”

Medical personnel also responded to “a lot of alcohol and heat-related events on site as well,” Mr. Faulkner said.

All things considered, Mr. Faulkner said, “it’s really been tame for the most part as I see it.

“Certainly alcohol and the heat play off each other but for the most part everyone we’ve seen has been within mostly regular levels, and very few have been incapacitated.

“There are of some ground level falls and some really bad sunburn, blistered feet…”

Staying hydrated with the proper fluids is the key to getting through the heat.

“People have to walk on a hot day, and when they walk, they sweat,” Mr. Faulkner said. “That’s when you need to drink a lot of water.”

Delaware State News photos/Marc Clery

DOVER — Thursday and Friday’s weather turned out to be ideal for the Firefly Music Festival — mid-70s to mid-80 both days and mostly sunny despite forecast rain.

Last year’s event got its start with heavy rains just before the opening that turned much of The Woodlands into a mud pit. In 2015, downpours and high winds from Tropic Storm Bill forced Firefly organizers to evacuate the venue just before 10 p.m. on Saturday — leading to several performance cancellations and postponements of headline acts.

As of this Friday evening, the forecast for the Dover area puts chances of scattered thunderstorms at 60 percent today and 50 percent on Sunday. Red Frog Events, the company that runs Firefly, has been monitoring the weather to plan and execute a response if needed.

“We’re working closely with meteorologists, police, security and medical officials to monitor radar and make the best decisions regarding the safety and security of our festival goers,” said Michael Coco, senior director of operations with Red Frog Events. “We will continue to monitor weather closely and keep everyone updated via social media and the Firefly App.”

Rickshaw rides to and from the gates

The location of campgrounds and parking lots by the Dover International Speedway can offer quite a walk to the Firefly festival grounds — about 1.5 miles at some stretches. However, a healthy cycle rickshaw presence has made this trip much faster for visitors willing to shell out a few dollars for a ride. Many of the rickshaws, also known as pedicabs, are kitted out with radios for riders’ entertainment.

Matt Soha, a rickshaw driver who came in from Columbus, Ohio, for the event, said the rides are “open fare” and he’s able to get between $5 to $15 per ride.

As an independent contractor, Mr. Soha was responsible for trailering in his rickshaw from Ohio before the event started — but that’s not unusual for someone in the profession.

“This is what I do for a living. I work all over the United States and all sorts of events so I am always on the road,” he said. “This is my fourth year working Firefly.

In the festival heat and humidity staying hydrated is essential for everyone — this is especially true if you’re working up a sweat. Many cycle rickshaws can carry up to three people and cap out at around a 550 pound weight limit. Repeatedly cycling with a fully loaded rickshaw up hill will certainly cause some perspiration.

Many of the drivers have small coolers with water bottles affixed to their vehicles and some wear portable hydration packs on their backs. Mr. Soha says he’s a bit of an anomaly, though.

“I don’t need water, really — I just drink coffee all day,” he said. “Ocassionally, I’ll even be working in the desert and all I need is one bottle of water for the day and I’m fine.”

Art in The Woodlands

Firefly Music Festival is annually home to an art installation, this year the theme was “Jellyfish.” A wooded path that leads from the Lawn Stage to the Backyard Stage in The Woodlands features large inflatable jellyfish and aquatic invertebrates hanging from the trees. However, at the opening of the Lawn Stage side, there is some live artistry happening as well.

Collin Salazar

Collin Salazar, 24, visiting from Los Angeles, has been hard at work on a large mural since the festival started on Thursday. He calls the artwork “The Eyes of Firefly.” It will likely be completed some time between tonight and Sunday morning, he said. Last year when Mr. Salazar attended the festival he manned a booth where he sold paintings, prints and merchandise, but not liking to stand around he proposed some “live art” to Red Frog Events this year.

“I gave them a full six-page proposal about installation, lighting, budget and everything for the mural,” he said. “They were excited about it and we worked together and got it done.”

Mr. Salazar said Red Frog Events will keep the mural upon completion.

“It’s basically a giant commission. They paid for it — between $2,500 and $3,500, which is typical for something like this,” he said. “It will stay here at Firefly afterward. They’ll probably store it here.”

Mr. Salazar said he enjoys painting in front of a crowd and absorbs inspiration from the “energy” of the crowd.

“I love it,” he said. “On Thursday night I was just working and I turned around and there was like 50 people sitting on blankets behind me all of a sudden, watching me. I was like: ‘Woah! Hi, howya doin?”

A vote means much more than just a push of a button.

A vote shapes who represents our values and our ideals. It has the power to shift the conversation around job growth, education, health care and criminal justice reform.

That’s why it’s so critical to engage all Delawareans in the electoral process. House Bill 89 does just that. This bill aligns Delaware’s primary elections with its presidential primary elections to foster more opportunities for people to vote.

Stephanie Bolden

Sponsored by a bipartisan group of 14 legislators from both chambers, the bill would move all state primaries to the fourth Tuesday in April. The change would take effect with the presidential election in 2020, but it also would move “off-year” elections like in 2022 or 2026 to the same Tuesday.

Delaware should follow suit, as surrounding states Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania are among the 17 states that already hold their state and presidential primaries on the same day. The consolidation move would also save the state $1 million, and with our recent budget challenges, every saved dollar makes an impact.

Currently, Delaware holds its presidential and state primaries for statewide and local races on different dates, months apart, which creates confusion for voters. Press reports have chronicled people showing up for the presidential primary in April and asking why they couldn’t vote for a gubernatorial or congressional candidate.

On top of the confusion, turnout is historically less for state primaries. In the 2016 state primary, for instance, 18.5 percent of registered voters cast a ballot. But, that number nearly doubled to 33 percent for the presidential primary. This is a problem for both Democrats and Republicans.

We have the opportunity to foster wide-ranging change, which could benefit groups of people throughout the state from the children in our schools to seniors making plans for their health care and retirement. With this change, people in the service and living abroad would also have more time to participate in the process.

A robust democracy works best when everyone participates. We should make sure our working families have the opportunity to have their voices heard and are able to be a vital part of the legislative process.

HB 89 was passed in the House of Representatives, and has been assigned to the Senate Elections and Government Affairs Committee.

Stephanie T. Bolden
Democratic state representative for District 2
Wilmington

DOVER — More than half of the 1,368 gun deaths in Delaware from 1999 to 2015 were suicides, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In addition, at least 80 percent of suicide attempts involving a gun are successful, far higher than other methods, according to several studies.

It’s partly because of those statistics that Democratic lawmakers say they introduced legislation Tuesday that would institute a process for removing guns from people believed to be a threat to themselves and others.

“Some people make that argument that, ‘Well, they’re going to find some way to harm themselves anyway,’ but we know if we remove the weapons that they’ll probably try a much less lethal means if we don’t intervene with some sort of treatment right away,” main sponsor Rep. David Bentz, D-Christiana, said of suicidal individuals.

“And we also know that people who fail on an attempt to commit suicide, 90 percent of them go on to not actually go through with suicide, so we really think it’s just removing guns from what is a developing dangerous situation until we can get a grip on it and hopefully, somebody, if they do need help, we can them the help and return their property.”

House Bill 222 would create lethal violence protective orders, enabling the Superior Court to direct law enforcement to take any firearms from an individual found by the court to be a threat to themselves or others.

The burden of proof would be placed on the accuser and a hearing would be held within 24 hours if the court believes holding it later would create a risk.

If the recipient of the order is judged to be a danger to themselves or others, law enforcement would remove the individual’s guns. He or she would also be barred from purchasing firearms.

The order would last up to one year but could be renewed.

Delaware has a similar law for domestic abuse, passed in 2015. That bill engendered serious controversy and, as with anything involving gun control, House Bill 222 is likely to face strong opposition.

Rep. Jeff Spiegelman, R-Clayton, said the bill “sounds really good” in theory, but he believes it infringes on the Second Amendment and could be taken advantage of by vengeful exes.

“The real tragedy of a bill like that is that it has the real capacity of creating the very problem it’s trying to fix,” he said. “So, if you have a girlfriend-who-just-wants-to-get-back-at-boyfriend kind of thing, cops show up, they take boyfriend’s guns. This is used as a weapon in divorce cases, for example, and without any real idea of is there actually a credible threat to somebody.”

Rep. Bentz does not see that as a major problem, noting the bill requires the accuser to show “clear and convincing evidence” the individual in question is a threat.

A person judged to be a danger to someone else or themselves can later apply to have the lethal violence protective order removed. If the individual can prove he or she “does not pose a significant danger of causing personal injury to self or others by owning, possessing, controlling, purchasing or receiving a firearm,” the order will be terminated and the guns returned.

Knowingly seeking a false order is a class A misdemeanor, which can bring up to a year in a jail.

Gun control advocates touted the measure shortly after it was introduced.

“Individuals who are experiencing a mental health crisis should have better access to world-class treatment, not firearms,” Liane Sorenson, chairwoman of the Delaware Coalition Against Gun Violence Educational Fund and a former state senator, said in a statement. “This reasonable proposal will help families keep guns out of the hands of a loved one in crisis and will save lives. I urge my former colleagues in the Delaware Legislature to pass this responsible, life-saving bill.”

A spokesman for Gov. John Carney, a Democrat, said the governor has not spoken to Rep. Bentz but will “seriously consider any changes that will help us reduce gun violence, while protecting the rights of responsible gun owners across our state.”

Rep. Bentz said he hopes to have the bill pass the House before July 1, when the General Assembly breaks for the year.

DOVER — As owners of the historic Schwartz Center building, Wesley College and Delaware State University officials said they are working with city leaders to find a way to keep the arts center functioning.

But they emphasized that community engagement and philanthropic support are critical to the success of any future operation there.

Wesley President Robert Clark said Thursday the two higher education institutions would continue as landlords, willing to offer the building rent free. It is in the heart of downtown Dover at 226 S. State St.

“Here is the property, make it work,” he said. “We want to be part of that community solution, but the key aspect going forward — we want to get that very critical and most important keystone cog back in, and that’s the community support.”

David Sheppard, general counsel for Delaware State University, said Friday: “We’re higher ed institutions. Running a theater business is not our expertise.”

Capital Theater, Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts view of the stage from the balcony seating area. (Delaware State News file photo)

College and city leaders met last week to discuss ways to maintain a cultural hub in the three-story brick building constructed in 1904.

“We’re exploring a myriad of possibilities. That includes getting other interested parties in the community now involved with the Schwartz, taking a look at what we can do to ensure the vitality of that building and our downtown, at a minimum taking a hard look at some of the commitments that were made to the community,” President Clark said.

“Both DelState and Wesley are committed to the arts and we are absolutely committed to the revitalization of our downtown.”

Mr. Sheppard said, “It’s not really in our interest to have the building sit vacant.”

Dover City Council President Tim Slavin said Friday he was talking to individuals in Dover as well as state Division of the Arts Director Paul Weagraff to gather ideas for who could make it work and how.

Some of the ideas and efforts were concepts that the current Schwartz board was working on, he said.

The Schwartz board of directors announced June 8 that the center would close June 30. Tracey Miller, president of the board of directors, has said the group will vacate the building that day, but keep the Friends of the Capitol Theater Inc. entity intact.

But Wesley and Delaware State University knew the nonprofit was in trouble this spring. There was a meeting with leadership in May when Ms. Miller and a few other board members explained the financial troubles and possible solutions.

President Clark said, “Tracey’s been very good and very upfront in communicating on behalf of her board.”

Ms. Miller has said the nonprofit couldn’t make enough to sustain operations despite the board laboring to raise funds and respond to community feedback with increased and diversified programming.

“We thought we were going to be able to figure out some more revenue sources. We just kind of ran out of time,” she said.

At the meeting, Mr. Sheppard said the Schwartz sought $175,000 in new funding, higher than the $120,000 the group received annually until a couple years ago.
He said the center’s leadership was told: “We are interested in helping, but in order to advance that we need to know what your business plan is.”

They had not developed one, he said. When the group — minus the college presidents — met in early June, he thought the Schwartz board members present expected to receive a check at that time.

“That was my feeling. They seemed a little bit annoyed,” he added.

Mr. Sheppard said Ms. Miller indicated the full board would have to discuss it, and then “within a week, we got an email from Tracey that they decided to cease operations.

“That brings us to today,” he said.

City of Dover gets involved

Councilman Slavin said he had been fielding calls from constituents who were concerned about the Schwartz news and people who didn’t want to see it close.

“All I’m trying to do is enable the conversation at this point. This isn’t something the city government is going to step into and solve this problem,” he said. “This is going to have to be a community-based solution and a partnership between a lot of different entities.”

“City finances have been very tight and we have virtually no grant- in-aid. It wouldn’t be a core city function to fund an arts center, but it’s in our best interest to make sure an arts center is open and working and available to our citizens.”

Mr. Slavin, who has never served on the Schwartz board and wasn’t involved as an elected official in the center’s problems in the past, said the community has shown a “longstanding support of arts and arts programming” and pointed to the long-operating Biggs Museum, Kent County Theatre Guild and Delaware Friends of Folk that have found success with broad-based support. “How do we include the Schwartz Center for the Arts in that conversation?” he asked.

He acknowledged there isn’t a magic-bullet solution to getting an organization into the Schwartz Center to offer programming.

“We don’t want to over-promise on this,” he said.

President Clark reiterated the need for deep community support.

“If you look across the country, there’s a lot of cities that have these small venues. If you look at every single one of them, the operating model that makes those entities successful is 50 to 60 percent of the support is philanthropic community engagement.

“As we look forward, the city’s obviously got an interest, the state’s got an interest. (Delaware State University and Wesley) have been supportive. But at the end of the day, it takes this holistic, collective — all entities in the community — to support a theater like this,” he said.

It was a massive and dedicated community campaign that reopened the theater in 2001 after it closed in 1982. The Friends of the Capitol Theater formed in 1996 and launched a $3.3 million capital campaign to renovate and modernize the building. Funds included $1.3 million from the General Assembly and $1.2 million in grants from philanthropic groups, including the Longwood Foundation and Delaware Community Foundation.

The city and higher education institutions don’t have a formal time frame to find a solution for reopening the theater, but Mr. Slavin said he plans to touch base next week.

President Clark said: “The purpose here is to look forward. How can we get the community actively engaged, so we can keep this historic entity that sits downtown vibrant and move it into the future.”

Lease details

Since Wesley and Delaware State stepped in more than a decade ago to salvage the nonprofit’s operations, the two institutions have invested at least $4 million in the Schwartz Center for the Arts, according to Mr. Sheppard. The mortgage was about $3 million, he said, split equally with Wesley and DSU.

The relationship began in 2004 and was formalized in 2007 when they entered into a lease with the Friends of the Schwartz Center II, a nonprofit formed to raise funds for the Schwartz.

Under that lease, the Schwartz Center did not pay rent, but handled routine costs such as utilities. Wesley and Delaware State funded major structural repairs needed for the building, such as HVAC issues.

In addition, from 2007 to 2015, DSU and Wesley contributed $120,000 annually to the Schwartz.

Over the years, Schwartz board members and executive directors and leaders of both Wesley and Delaware State have changed.

President Clark joined Wesley in summer 2015.

Mr. Sheppard has been representing Delaware State since January 2015.

Ms. Miller became board president in May 2016, when the current board became a formally seated working board rather than an advisory board. She also was handling executive director duties since that position went vacant in August 2016 when Sydney Arzt left after 19 months on the job.

Mr. Sheppard said the 2007 agreement also required each of the two institutions to contribute $60,000 a year to support the theater and the Friends of the Schwartz II to raise money from grants, contributions, in-kind donations and other sources.

“Each one of the players involved had a financial commitment. The requirement for Friends II was to raise funds or get grants to an amount equivalent to what had been raised at the end of the prior fiscal year,” he said, which was an obligation of $175,000.

“There was never a year, from 2007 to 2012 that Friends II ever met their burden with respect to the fundraising,” Mr. Sheppard said.

In August 2012, the Friends of the Schwartz II filed a certificate of dissolution with the state of Delaware.

“At that point, they are in breach of the agreement,” Mr. Sheppard said.

The Schwartz operated without a lease from 2012 to 2016, Mr. Sheppard said, and both institutions continued to give the center money until 2015, when it reduced the contribution to $55,000 each and then stopped altogether last year.

In the interim, there was an effort to turn the corporation over to the community, Mr. Sheppard said, which culminated in the working board seated in May 2016 that included spots for the chief financial officers of Wesley and Delaware State.

“When the lease was executed in May 2016, the expectation was we would no longer be providing financial support to the theater,” Mr. Sheppard said, noting that fact was conveyed well before that time to Schwartz leaders.

“It had never shown an ability to stand on its own two feet,” he said. “My understanding is it had always run deficits. There was not the requisite community involvement to make it successful.”

Ms. Miller has said the building was expensive, requiring more than $100,000 a year to run the theater, noting summer electric bills hit $7,000 for the 550-seat theater, and an additional $25,000 in liability insurance.

She said while ticket sales were up in the last year, they weren’t generating enough revenue to cover costs and private and corporate contributions were insufficient.

While DSU’s use of the Schwartz was minimal, downtown-based Wesley College uses it for a number of events through the year, from the nursing school pinning ceremony in May, to annual Founders Day programs in March, freshman convocations in August and special fundraisers.

President Clark said Wesley values the venue and is proud of what both institutions have been able to do to support the Schwartz and the community since 2004, but stressed that “for the building to come alive and be successful, it must have community support.”

“As committed to our community and as committed to the arts that we are, we can not do it alone,” he said. “We’ll provide the clay, you create the masterpiece — that’s our support, because at the end of the day, we don’t have the expertise to run a theater. We don’t have the resources, but we can provide the structure.”

DOVER — On the first day of the Firefly Music Festival, people arrive crisp, energized and ready to have a great time.

But by Saturday and Sunday the alcohol consumption, sleep deprivation and heat can often make a combination that will hamstring even the most enthusiastic partiers.

As the Kent County Department of Public Safety, which has provided Advanced Life Support (ALS) services at Firefly all six years, warns the festival is a “marathon not a sprint.”

Attendees ought to pace themselves accordingly.

Ben Caprielli and his wife Cassie have been coming to Dover for Firefly from New York City for five years in a row. Now festival-hardened veterans, they’ve built a sort of survival kit over the years that they now bring to every festival.

Two festival goers go into a medical tent at Firefly in Dover. (Delaware State News/Marc Clery )

“First of all, we have to have all sorts of sunblocks. If you get burnt on the first day, you never really recover and the whole festival can be miserable,” said Mrs. Caprielli.

“We have regular sun tan lotion, but we also have sunblock lip balm — chapped, sunburnt lips are horrible. It’s easy to forget to reapply sunscreen, especially if you’ve had a couple drinks and you’re having a good time, so I have an alarm set on my phone that reminds me every two hours.

“Also, we both wear our hats and sunglasses the entire time.”

Naturally, water is a must, they say. Although Mr. Caprielli carries around a backpack, he tries to keep it light.

“We carried around water bottles the first year, but it got annoying. Now we just share the three liter hydration backpack on Cassie’s back,” said Mr. Caprielli. “They sell them here, but we got ours on Amazon for around $15.”

The hydration backpack vendor on the Firefly grounds is near the Lawn Stage. The company called Vibedration sells two liter models for $25 and three liter models for $50 in a variety of styles. Patrons are able to refill whatever receptacles the have at the several complimentary refilling stations throughout The Woodlands.

“We carry around extra absorbent rags too — we roll them up, wet them with cold water at the refilling stations and put them around our necks,” said Mr. Carpielli. “They don’t stay cold for long, but you’d be surprised by how quickly they bring your body temp down.”

Emily Thornton from Brooklyn NY fills up her water pouch at Firefly on Saturday. (Delaware State News/Marc Clery)

Attached to their backpack survival kit are two blankets.

“Sometimes sitting in the grass exposes you to bugs and stuff and it can get itchy in the grass, so blankets are great,” said Mrs. Caprielli. “It’s usually hot during the daytime, but in some of the evenings it can actually get cold, so an extra blanket comes in handy.”

They also stress the importance of dressing light and being particular about footwear. Sandals and flip-flops may seem like the best options because they’re light, but that’s not always the case, they said. Both wear lightweight boots that are well worn-in. Their feet sweat a bit, but it’s a tradeoff worth making, they claimed.

“We both went with sandals the first year, but because of all the walking, we got crazy blisters by the end of the festival — each step hurt,” said Mr. Caprielli. “Plus, your feet start to drag a bit by Sunday cause you’re tired and the ground is sort of uneven in a lot of spots. It’s a good way to stub your toe or trip. Boots are really the way to go in my opinion.”

Another essential item: the bandanna. Often, the dirt roads throughout the festival grounds can get dry — if a gust of wind comes through, it can blow dust into one’s face.

“This year really hasn’t been bad, but if it’s a little dusty and windy, having a bandanna tied over your face is really worth it,” said Mr. Caprielli. “It’s sucks to be sweaty and hot and then get a mouthful of dust.”

Back at their campsite they have dozens of other essentials like a first aid kit, Advil and baby powder.

“I don’t want to be too graphic, but it only took me the first year to find out that baby powder is a must,” said Mr. Caprielli. “You’re really going to want to apply it generously to any areas that might chafe from a lot of sweating and walking — if you know what I mean.

“I know we look like a couple of nerds with our backpacks and baby powder, but you should see how we compare to the people who showed up completely unprepared by Sunday night — they’re practically crawling out of here. It probably takes them a week to recover.”

The Kent County Department of Public Safety released the same list of “tips and tricks” as they did last year — the Caprielli’s already follow most of them, right down to the nether region powdering. They include:

• Beer is not water. You must drink water with your beer (or favorite alcoholic beverage).

• Wear shoes you have worn before that will not give you blisters. Many people are surprised at how far they have to walk. This is a very large venue. We give out literally hundreds, maybe thousands of bandaids every weekend.

• Guys — bring powder.

• Take a break now and then and chill. Don’t overdo it. Every year we transport many people out because they didn’t pace themselves.

• Take care of your friends — keep an eye on your buddies. If a friend is having trouble, get help. We don’t judge.

• Bring sunscreen (non-aerosol), pack a hat and wear cool clothing.

The department maintains a presence on site from Wednesday night until Monday morning and urge festival-goers to “flag them down” if they need help. There is a “Fan Care Center” at the base of the bridge on the east side of Del. 1, and there is an aid tent set up in every section of the festival — the tents are white with a red cross. The paramedic teams are also patrolling each section of The Woodlands on ATVs and gold carts.

A survey of Public Safety employees on Saturday revealed that the most common complaint they address throughout the four-fay festival is heat exhaustion. Patrons often have a bit too much to drink, don’t stay hydrated enough and fall ill.

Often, cases can be remedied by simply having the person sit in the air conditioned medical tent for a half hour or so, drink some water and catch their breath, staff said. In extreme cases though, a person may need to be evacuated.

A feature Red Frog Events, the production company responsible for Firefly, introduced this year to help with the heat and general hygiene are the “Spruce Up Stations.”

For $79, music fans can get a pass that enables them to use private showers and air conditioned bathrooms and a lounge for the duration of the festival.
Kelly Faust from Milford bought one of these passes this year and said it was “worth every penny.”

“Right around 4 p.m. is when it gets hottest; it’s so refreshing to just go in there and take a quick rinse and cool off. It’s like getting a second wind,” she said as she left a Spruce Up Station on Saturday afternoon.

CAMDEN — Bella Abbrescia, of Camden, a sophomore at Archmere Academy in Wilmington, has been selected for the 2017 International High School Honors Performance Series at the Sydney Opera House in Australia.

She will perform Soprano 1 in July with the Honors Choir. Participation in one of the five Honors Ensembles is limited to the highest-rated high school performers from around the world. Bella was also recently selected for and performed as a Soprano 1 in the 2017 National High School Honors Performance Series at the world-renowned Carnegie Hall in New York.

Bella Abbrescia, of Camden, has been selected for the 2017 International High School Honors Performance Series at the Sydney Opera House in Australia. (Submitted photo)

Earlier this year, she auditioned for the Honors Performance Series and was accepted after a review by the Honors Selection Board. Acceptance to the elite group is a direct result of the talent, dedication, and achievements demonstrated in her application and audition recording. Bella will join other performers from all 49 United States, Guam, two Canadian provinces, and a number of foreign countries for a special performance at the world-famous Sydney Opera House

“Being selected to the Honors Performance Series is something each finalist should be extremely proud of accomplishing,” said Morgan Smith, program director,

“We processed more than 18,000 nominations this year and have selected nearly 750 of the most talented student performers from around the world. Working with these conductors and performing at the Sydney Opera House is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that these musicians will never forget”.

Bella has studied music since the age of 9, when she began by auditioning at the University of Delaware’s Blue and Gold Children’s Choir. She was selected and performed as a member for two years in 2010 and 2011. She also auditioned for and was selected as a Soprano One in the Delaware All State Choir for the last three years, being selected as the first chair in 2015 and second chair in 2016.

She is currently a member of the Archmere Academy Mastersingers, a nationally renowned choral group, where she has been a member since her freshman year audition in 2015. She has auditioned for and been selected to perform several solo performances as an Archmere Mastersinger. The Archmere Mastersingers have national recognition as one of the top high school choirs in the country.

They have received recognition in San Francisco’s Heritage Musical Festival of Gold, the National Festival, the Orlando Music Fest, the North American Music Festival International Competition in Toronto, and have performed in Rome at the Vatican.

The Mastersingers will be competing this year in the 2017 Chicago Festival of Gold. Bella also planned, designed, directed and performed her own solo sophomore voice recital in September of 2016 at the Wesley College Bennett Chapel in Dover.

Finalists will come together in for six days in Sydney in July. They will have the opportunity to learn from world-renowned conductors, work with other finalists, and get a taste of the area.

The Sydney Opera House Honors Choral Performance will take place Monday, July 10. The performance is open to the public. Tickets can be purchased through the Sydney Opera House box office.

The Honors Performance Series was created to showcase accomplished individual high school performers on an international level by allowing them to study under master conductors and perform in this world renowned and celebrated venue.

HOUSTON — A year ago at this time, Lafayette Bell was watching the Netflix drama “House of Cards” when he had a an idea.

“I told my daughter ‘I want to be on that show.’ I noticed they film in Baltimore and I found the Baltimore Film Office website. A few weeks later I noticed they were having an open call for ‘House of Cards,’” he said.

A few weeks after that, he found himself on the set of the hit show that centers around the conniving President Frank Underwood, ready to film four episodes for the program’s fifth season.

All 13 chapters were released on the streaming service May 30.

Mr. Bell, an actor, songwriter and rapper who goes by the stage name Sgt. Bell., nabbed a nonspeaking, uncredited role as a member of the Congressional Black Caucus. He is seen in several scenes in a group setting, meeting with various people.

Lafayette Bell

“It was a neat experience. It’s as if you played baseball and the Phillies called and asked if you wanted to play for them for a few games,” he said.

His journey started when he submitted a few photos of himself, one of his rap videos and a list of life experiences, such as being a Marine Corps veteran and having a commercial driver’s license.

A casting call in Baltimore involved a photo shoot and a conversation with show producers.

“They look at the way you dress, how you smile, if you have all of your teeth. If you fit the profile of a politician,” Mr. Bell said.

“I’m slightly balding and a middle-aged guy. They said they liked my look and not to change a thing.”

He remembers a few weeks going by and then getting a call out of the blue.

“I was in Best Buy and a weird phone number came up. They had sent me an email prior to that, which I hadn’t looked at. But they were telling me that I made the cut and to be on the set soon after that. They told me what to wear and to bring extra clothes just in case,” he said.

A few days later, he made the drive to Baltimore to start shooting. The nerves started to set in as he prepared for the experience.

“The anticipation definitely built up,” he said.

“I kept wondering if I’m going to be the character they want me to be. In the final cut, they want everything to be right.”

He made the trip to Baltimore seven times from July to February, through every kind of weather.

He couldn’t tell many people what he was up to.

“I could tell my immediate family but I couldn’t tell my friends. That was hard,” he said.

“They are seeing me now and letting me know. It’s sort of like being an astronaut and going up in space and your friends not even knowing you were an astronaut until the rocket launches.”

His fears that he wouldn’t be good enough were quickly dissipated during a scene with series star Kevin Spacey, who plays President Underwood.

“We were arguing over cocaine and they wanted us to have this ticked-off look. If you watch the scene, I’m the only who follows him around the room with my eyes. I look right at him,” he said.

“They seemed to like that. I wanted to reach out and touch him. In the scene, I’m really mad about how his character portrayed our community.”

The experience was an eye-opening one for Mr. Bell as much of the downtime was filled with talking to the other background actors.

“There’s this whole industry of people that that’s all they do. They go from job to job, maybe just playing a dead body on “CSI” or “Law and Order.” It was interesting to hear what they had coming up next,” Mr. Bell said.

Mr. Bell, owner of Diamond State Records, says he would like to do more acting. He’s currently in a local commercial for a Harrington seafood restaurant. He’s also working on an album of music and another one of comedy.

Dover native Ukee Washington chats with children at the Dover Educational and Community Center in Capitol Green . (Delaware State News/Marc Clery)

DOVER — Whenever Ukee Washington gets a chance to visit his old stomping grounds in Dover, he always tries his best to take it, no matter how busy his schedule might be — especially when there’s an opportunity to meet and inspire children.

That’s because he still fondly remembers his days as a youth in the city back when he split his time between Dover and Philadelphia.

It was during that period of his life that he built lifetime friends and everlasting memories.

On Wednesday, Mr. Washington visited the Dover Educational and Community Center Inc., and its 30 or so children in Capitol Green, as he casually walked up to the facility off River Road, just like it was in his own backyard.

Dover City Councilman Roy Sudler Jr. was preparing a cookout on the grill as Mr. Washington, the man who many of the children may have seen on TV co-anchoring CBS 3’s Eyewitness News out of Philadelphia, came walking up.

Suddenly, Mr. Washington became a real person to the excited kids … and not just a face on TV.

“We all have to start somewhere and I started right here — in West Philly and Dover, Delaware, because I commuted,” Mr. Washington said. “I came back-and-forth between seventh and 12th grade and those were the best years of my life. So yeah, it feels great to come back.”

Mr. Washington, who was inducted into the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame in 2013, had something of a unique life in high school.

He was from Philadelphia but with his father, Ulysses, serving as the chairman of Delaware State University’s Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr. Washington grew accustomed to spending the week in Dover and his weekends in Pennsylvania.

Ukee Washington was a star basketball and track and field athlete at Dover High School in the 1970s. (Delaware State News/Marc Clery)

Mr. Washington forged many memories as a student-athlete in the Capital School District in the mid-1970s, where he excelled in basketball and track and field.

With 1,305 career points, the 6-foot-4 forward/center broke Dover High School’s career scoring record and was seventh on the state’s all-time scoring list at the time.

He twice won the maximum three state championships in track and field while breaking records in the hurdles and mile relay. His 14.28-second time in the high hurdles set a mark that stood for seven years while his 300-meter hurdle time of 37.85 seconds was in the record books for 17 years.

Nowadays, Mr. Washington is best known for being a news anchorman on Philadelphia television. Since 1986, he’s been an on-air reporter and anchor on KYW-TV.

In 2008, he was inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia’s Hall of Fame.

Mr. Washington said he wants every child to realize they have the same opportunity to achieve success — they just have to focus and work towards their goal.

That’s why he relishes the chance to meet the area’s youth whenever he can.

“You know what, I come back as often as I can,” said Mr. Washington. “I come back at least once a week because my dad is still down here.

“To come back and see where it all started, to see the young people coming up and talk to them about their dreams

and wishes, it’s a beautiful thing.”

The humble, down-to-earth quality that Mr. Washington still displays is one of his best qualities, says Don Blakey, a former state representative.

“Ukee grew up in this area and participated in a lot of things that these kids are beginning to participate in,” Mr. Blakey said. “To make that connection is really important because it gives (the children) something to look forward to.

“He remembers where he is from. There’s no doubt about it.”

Mr. Washington gathered the children around him at the Dover Educational and Community Center last week and listened to their hopes and dreams. He ate lunch with them and listened intently to them.

He even played a couple of rounds of “Ring Around the Rosie” before falling to the ground, drawing happy laughs from the kids in Capitol Green.

“This is my first time meeting him and I think it’s awesome,” said Brandon George, an 8-year-old.

Ukee Washington, in the dark sweater, grew up with the Rev. Rita Mishoe Paige, right, in Dover. (Submitted photo)

The Rev. Rita Mishoe Paige, president of the Dover Educational and Community Center, has known Mr. Washington since they were children themselves.

She is happy that Mr. Washington is still “one of the kids from the neighborhood who remembers where he came from.”

“A lot of these children come from economically disadvantaged homes and that’s the uniqueness of our day care center,” Rev. Paige said. “We’re located in the center of the population we serve (Capitol Green).

“Meeting Ukee may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a lot of these children. I think they’re very excited to get to meet him.”

That’s the funny thing, according to Mr. Washington, because he was just as excited to meet them.

“That’s why I was sitting down and looking into their eyes and talking about their dreams and what they want to be when they grow older,” he said. “One person wanted to be a meteorologist, another person wanted to be a doctor.

“To have those dreams now and to believe in yourself now and to have some adults around you that will help further those dreams, that’s a beautiful thing. I’m counting on these kids.”

As for Dover, Mr. Washington said it will always remain a large part of who he is and what he has become.

“I talk about Dover on the air whenever I can,” he said. “I come down here for events whenever I can. Dover will always be a large part of my life because I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing right now if it wasn’t for Dover.”

While the old Dover High School off Walker Road that he attended has been leveled and a new one has been built, nobody can take away his memories.

“When it comes to the new school I know that it’s beautiful, but it’s all about what everybody’s doing inside, from the teachers to the administrators and getting that education … and I know Dover will continue that,” said Mr. Washington, who called the new Dover High the “Taj Mahal of high schools.”

As for his future plans, he said he’s happy doing what he’s doing, delivering the news on TV in Philadelphia.

“We’re in a much different world now, but I try to bring the positive news as well,” he said. “I try to balance it out. I’m enjoying what I do so much and look forward to continuing it.”

Ukee Washington was inducted into the Broadcasters Pioneers of Philadelphia Hall of Fame in 2008. (Delaware State News/Marc Clery)

Photos Special to the Delaware State News/Gary Emeigh

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following letter was addressed to Delaware Attorney General Matt Denn. A copy was submitted to the Delaware State News for publication.

I write to you concerning the case of the state against Zachary Krytzer. Krytzer killed my brother Heath Janssen on June 7, 2016 in a brutal, horrific manner. He was sentenced to four years in prison and 11 years of probation on May 23.

While I understand that no recourse is available since sentence has been passed, I want you to understand that I believe that this was a gross miscarriage of justice, and that the sentence did not adequately account for the severe impact of my brother’s loss or was of sufficient punitive measure. Simply put, your division “dropped the ball.”

A roadside memorial was constructed with flowers and a Verizon hard hat where Heath B. Janssen was killed on June 7, 2016,  on Del. 1 in Little Heaven. . (Delaware State News file photo/Marc Clery)

When the case was scheduled to go to trial, the charge against Krytzer was manslaughter, which was entirely appropriate. This charge was lowered to vehicular homicide 1 when Krytzer entered his guilty plea.

The state had a very strong case against the defendant, and it is unlikely that any jury would have found much sympathy for a heroin addict who demolished an upstanding citizen and veteran working within a construction zone, regardless of the fact that the accused had no prior criminal record and was diagnosed with PTSD. Why a plea was allowed and accepted is beyond reason.

What could Krytzer possibly have offered to make a deal worthwhile, except for the exchange of the headache and expense of a jury trial for your office? Perhaps you can explain this.

At sentencing, the prosecuting attorneys acted surprised that Krytzer only received four years in prison. I find this absurd. Unless the judge made some drastic and unknown reduction to the sentence at the last minute, what other conclusion is there than the plea deal was struck with a recommended sentence of four years? Would the defendant and the attorneys on each side have agreed to a deal without having a definite sense of the sentence to be handed down? Why would this be a surprise to the prosecutors? Perhaps you can explain this.

Your division had a real opportunity to set a standard with this case. My brother, a Verizon employee, was killed in a designated construction zone on Route 1 in Little Heaven. His work area was properly marked with cones and he wore appropriate safety gear. The incident occurred during the midday, that is, in clear daylight hours. His killer was driving under the influence of several drugs.

This is exactly the type of incident that is highlighted by the state as needing to be addressed within the criminal, political, and social contexts — a worker killed in a construction zone, a driver under the influence, an opioid addict. You had the perfect chance to send a strong signal that these behaviors will not be tolerated in Delaware, and that transgressors will be punished appropriately.

Do you believe four years’ imprisonment to be satisfactory in this case, given these factors? Or is this the facet of the state’s opioid crisis that nobody discuses? Perhaps you can explain this.

I encourage you to review the case against Krytzer, and especially to review the many victim impact statements submitted to give you a sense of the man my brother was.

Ian Janssen
Middletown

Response

The following is a response to Mr. Janssen from Danielle Brennan, the deputy attorney general who prosecuted that case.

I extend my deepest sympathy to you and your family for the loss of your brother. As you may recall, we first met June 28, 2016, to discuss the facts and circumstances of this case. Following that meeting, on July 1, we were advised that your parents wished to be the point of contact in this case. Several meetings with your parents followed and we were advised that the decisions presented at those meetings were brought back to you and the rest of your family. Of course, we met with your parents prior to the resolution extended in this case to discuss the legal issues and receive their input.

Importantly, the plea agreement extended to Mr. Krytzer required him to plead guilty to vehicular homicide in the first degree and did not include an agreement as to the sentence he would receive. The plea was an “open sentence” that allowed the judge to consider the facts and circumstances and determine the sentence.

The sentence of four years of Level 5 incarceration imposed upon Mr. Krytzer for Vehicular Homicide In The First Degree was also available to the judge had he pled or been convicted of manslaughter. The minimum sentence for vehicular homicide in the first degree is 18 months and the minimum sentence for Manslaughter is 24 months.

The difference between these two crimes is the state of mind — reckless for manslaughter and criminal negligence for vehicular homicide. While your factual recitation is correct, at trial evidence supporting both, and other lesser theories of culpability, would have been presented to the jury. While an acquittal was unlikely, a verdict of a lesser included offense is always a real possibility. These were among the factors discussed with your family in determining how to proceed in the case.

The plea agreement reached here provided finality for your family and a sentencing range allowing for the imposition of extended incarceration.

We understand that you and your family are grieving, and your brother’s death and the impact that has had on your family was a paramount consideration for us. We appreciated the thoughtful consideration provided by members of your family and addressed their concerns within the bounds of the law. This office prosecuted the case within the laws and standards available. To be sure, and for the reasons you note, a minimum sentence was not appropriate in this case, and the Court agreed.

Sincerely,
Danielle Brennan

Vice President Mike Pence pays his respects as U.S. Army carry team transfers the remains of Army Sgt. Eric Houck of Baltimore, Md. The Air Force Mortuary Affairs Office released this photo, which has been cropped here, on its website. (U.S. Air Force/Senior Airman Aaron J. Jenne)

DOVER — Some notes and quotes between headlines and deadlines …

***

Locally, and nationally, Vice President Mike Pence’s visit to Dover Monday did not seem to get much attention.

He came to Dover Air Force Base for the dignified transfer of three U.S. soldiers recently killed in the Nangarhar Province of Afghanistan.

Vice President Pence held his hand over his hearts as an honor guard carried from a C-5M Galaxy the flag-draped transfer cases of 101st Airborne Division soldiers Cpl. Dillon C. Baldridge, 22, of Youngsville, North Carolina; Sgt. William M. Bays, 29, of Barstow, California; and Sgt. Eric M. Houck, 25, of Baltimore.

The families allowed the ceremony to be open to the media for photographs.

Last Saturday, Vice President Pence remarked on the casualties during a speech for the Faith and Freedom Coalition in Washington, D.C.

“We received a heartbreaking reminder of the risks that our service men and women face in the defense of freedom,” he said. “As I traveled to Wisconsin this afternoon (June 10), I was informed that three American soldiers were killed and one wounded in a terrible attack in Afghanistan.

“The Bible tells us that ‘no greater love has a man than this, that he should lay down his life for his friends’ “Pence said. “Let me say from the heart, when heroes fall, Americans grieve. And tonight, our thoughts and prayers are with the families of these American heroes. We honor their service, their sacrifice, and we always will.”

Vice President Pence, who has a son serving with the U.S. Marines, told the Faith and Freedom audience that President Trump pledged to commit more funds and resources to the military and “restore the arsenal of democracy.”

The Taliban took credit for the attack, saying that one of its own had infiltrated the Afghan military.

***

Today’s Opinion page includes a letter from Ian Janssen, whose brother Heath, was killed last year while he was working along Del. 1 in Little Heaven.

In a cover letter he sent with a letter he sent to Delaware Attorney General Matt Denn, Mr. Janssen wrote, “The attorney general’s office missed a valuable opportunity to address an aspect of opioid crisis that receives little attention, either from the state or the press. Victims of crimes committed by addicts, which was not accomplished in this case.

“With certainty, I can state that these sorts of crimes will reoccur, and just punitive measures are needed to address this problem. This appears not to be palatable in Delaware; resources continue to be poured into treating addicts although their victims receive paltry judicial remedy for the devastation caused.”

***

A local tradition, the African American Festival, returns to Legislative Mall in Dover Saturday for its 27th year.

We’ll have more on that in advance of the event this week.

Eddie Holman, known for his 1970 hit “Hey There Lonely Girl” is the headliner.

NEWARK — Nolan Henderson rewrote the Blue-Gold game record book on Saturday night.

And he only needed one half of football to do it.

Smyrna High’s standout quarterback helped lead the Gold to a 44-0 victory over the Blue in the 62nd annual DFRC senior all-star game at Delaware Stadium. It snapped a two-game losing streak for the Gold team.

Henderson broke the record for most passing yards and passing completions before halftime. He finished with 260 yards and 20 completions.

He threw for 250 yards and completed 19-of-29 attempts in the first half alone. He only played one drive in the second half.

The recent Eagles graduate also tied the record for most passing touchdowns with three. It tied Jeff Taylor (1974) and Dutch Hoffman (1977), both of Newark High.

Caesar Rodney’s Najee Whitted celebrates with his Gold teammates after he scored the first TD of the Blue-Gold game Saturday. (Special to the Delaware State News/Gary Emeigh)

The previous record for most passing yards was set in 1995 by Jon Boney of Christiana High with 209.

Henderson was also well past the completion record, previously 11 by Mike Potts of Glasgow High, set in 2003.

It was fitting Henderson’s big night came on the campus of the University of Delaware. Henderson is signed to play quarterback for the Blue Hens next season.

Aside from Henderson’s performance the night will likely also be remembered for a two-hour weather delay that occurred with 33 seconds left in the third quarter. It caused the second half to be abbreviated, playing 12-minute quarters instead of the traditional 15.

Smyrna defensive lineman Jamier Smith takes down Blue quarterback Justin Beneck of Wilmington Friends and forces the ball loose in the first half of the annual Blue-Gold football game at the University of Delaware. (Special to the Delaware State News/Gary Emeigh)

While Henderson’s passing stole the show, it was the ground game that gave the Gold team its first touchdown of the night.

Caesar Rodney’s Najee Whitted opened the scoring with a 2-yard rush. Whitted then pounded home the two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead.

Henderson reeled off three-straight touchdowns, two of which went to Glasgow’s Michael Credle. Henderson’s first passing touchdown was for 28 yards across the middle to Dover running back John Castro.

Le’ah Sytles (17) of Woodbridge pressures Blue punter Maverick Jackson into shanking his kick to the right. (Special to the Delaware State News/Gary Emeigh)

Credle’s touchdowns were for 36 and 10 yards.

Henderson’s biggest highlight-reel play of the contest came when he connected deep downfield with Delmar’s Jimmy Adkins. Adkins, who played quarterback in high school, made a one-handed catch near the right sideline for a 49-yard reception.

Glasgow’s Tyrique Woodland scored the lone touchdown in the third quarter on a 3-yard rush. Whitted then converted for two points for the second time to force a running clock.

Gold team getting ready to hit the field for the opening kickoff Saturday. (Special to the Delaware State News/Gary Emeigh)

Appoquinimink’s Kenyon Yellowdy replaced Henderson at quarterback for the Gold in the fourth quarter. He scored a rushing touchdown from 26 yards out and Whitted again scored the two-point conversion before the game was halted with seven minutes remaining.

Meanwhile the Gold defense stifled the Blue all night long. The Gold were led by the Woodbridge High duo of Le’ah Styles and Shymere Vessels.

Styles deflected a punt to set up the first Gold touchdown while Vessels had a pair of sacks. Styles added a sack of his own in the third quarter.

DOVER — Thousands of Firefly Music Festival goers were on their feet cheering uproariously as Bob Dylan & His Band took the main stage at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday.

The band and Mr. Dylan were decked out in dark tan suit jackets and slacks with black undershirts.

After walking perfunctorily on stage, they picked up their instruments and just started playing sans introduction.

When one’s been around as long as Mr. Dylan, no introduction is necessary.

By the time he started into “Highway 61 Revisited” — his third song of the night — his lower tempo rock brought many of the audience from their feet back to their blankets. Those that remained standing swayed lazily side to side as the 76-year-old Nobel laureate rocked them.

Bob Dylan (File photo)

Not everyone was susceptible to Dylan’s classic mix of folk, blues, country and rock. Grady Klein, who’d come to the music festival with his parents and three friends said he didn’t “see the attraction.”

“My parents were so excited for Bob Dylan. He’s supposed to be some big deal,” said the 16-year-old. “I can’t even understand what he’s saying up there. It’s fine, though. I’m going to catch some sleep before Chance the Rapper comes on at 12:30.”

Grady’s father, Ted, agreed and disagreed with his son’s interpretation of the performer who’s been a force in the music industry for five decades.

“It’s true, Dylan has always been a bit difficult to understand. I can’t really make out much of what he’s singing. But I remember all the rhythms to the songs — it’s nostalgic,” he said. “Besides, he’s a legend. When you’re at that height, it doesn’t even matter how you sound — just as long as you show up.”

As a musician, Dylan has sold more than 100 million records, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time. In addition to his recent Nobel Prize for Literature, other accolades earned by the singer/songwriter have been 11 Grammy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, an Academy Award, induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Minnesota Music Hall of Fame, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame.

He scored a special citation from the Pulitzer Prize jury in 2008 and in 2012 he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama.

The music legend became a leader in the fight for civil rights and the anti-war movement in the 1960s with his songs “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “The Times They Are A-Changin’.”

He’s crossed the musical spectrum ever since in a variety of genres. His latest album, “Triplicate,” comprises 30 recordings from the Great American Songbook including “As Time Goes By” and “Stormy Weather.”

For some, though, seeing Mr. Dylan at a venue that showcases so many young performers brought them back to the bygone times of their youth.

Vic Torrence of Akron, Ohio, said seeing Mr. Dylan on stage, although both performer and fan are much older, reminded him of his early musical fandom.

“I saw him in Lexington, Kentucky, back during the Never Ending Tour in 1990,” said Mr. Torrence. “I was 23 at the time but being here right now surrounded by all these young people enjoying him too, it feels like yesterday.

“He’s an incredible musician and an American treasure.”

Firefly goes cashless

Ahead of the Firefly Music Festival, Red Frog Events, the production company responsible for the event, announced they were working with payments and point of sale company, Square, and using its newest contactless and chip reader to bring “Firefly Cashless” to all festival-goers.

“We’re always looking for ways to improve the festival experience for our guests,” Alex Yount, senior manager of sponsorships for Firefly Music Festival said in May. “Firefly Cashless allows them to spend less time with the hassles of carrying cash, and more time focusing on the music and magic of The Woodlands.”

The change required all vendors to accept Apple Pay, Android Pay and Samsung Pay from smart phones along with all major credit cards and debit cards. Attendees were also advised to download “Square Cash” before the festival and quickly send and request money owed between their festival group for free.

A few vendors still accept cash, and tipping in cash is still acceptable. Several patrons said that it looks like some of the food lines were moving faster than last year because of cashless payment.

“I actually don’t have a credit card,” said 17-year-old Tanya Granger from Philadelphia. “But I just used my iPhone. It’s quick and easy. I just have to make sure not to spend too much or my mom will kill me.”

StubHub hawks free friendship bracelets

Near the Coffee House in The Woodlands, StubHub, an online ticket exchange owned by eBay that provides services for buyers and sellers of tickets for sports, concerts, theater and other live entertainment events, set up a booth offering free friendship bracelet assembly to Firefly guests.

“We’re always trying to add to the festival experience at event we’re a part of and one of the really important elements of music festivals like Firefly is coming together with friends to have a great time,” said Jessica Erskine, head of entertainment communications for StubHub. “So friends can come into the tent here and built their own bracelets together for free — we provide the beads, charms and supplies.”

StubHub also offers their bracelet makers the opportunity to win a festival upgrade by taking a Snapchat photo of their new friendship bracelets and connecting with the company on social media.

“All through Firefly we’re selecting the snapchat posts at random and upgrading the tickets of people who made friendship bracelets to VIP status so they have access to the VIP areas in the festival,” said Ms. Erskine. “We also just going around The Woodlands and little ‘surprise and delight’ meet ups where we take a Snapchat photo with music fans and just upgrade them to VIP.”

NEWARK — It’s safe to say Nolan Henderson has mastered playing at Delaware Stadium as a high schooler.

The next challenge for the recent Smyrna High grad is doing that as a college player.

The University of Delaware quarterback signee had a banner day Saturday night in the 62nd Blue-Gold senior football all-star game, helping lead the Gold to a 44-0 victory.

Henderson annihilated the game’s record book, breaking the marks for most completions and passing yards in the first half alone. He also threw three touchdowns to tie that record.

Henderson finished with 260 yards and 20 completions, and nearly all of those were done in the first half. Henderson only played one drive in the second half, where he had just one pass for 10 yards.

Smyrna quarterback Nolan Henderson hands off to Dover’s John Castro at Blue-Gold All-Star Media Day at the University of Delaware. (Special to the Delaware State News/Gary Emeigh)

It was the third time Henderson played on the University of Delaware field. He improved to 3-0 — his previous two wins were both Division I state championships over Salesianum in 2015 and Middletown this past year.

In the Middletown victory, Henderson was not asked to pass much as Smyrna went with a run-heavy attack to down the Cavaliers. On Saturday, the Gold team played a much more open game, but Henderson said his goal was still the same, just earn the victory.

“I didn’t really think about breaking any records or my yards,” Henderson said. “In the (2016) championship game I had like six yards passing and we won. That was the same mindset. I had a great receiving core, the line gave me plenty of time. I knew any record would be in jeopardy with this group together.”

Not only did Henderson break all of the records, he also was awarded the game’s Most Valuable Player award.

Yet Henderson said the off-the-field aspects of the Blue-Gold game is what will stick with him.

“It’s cool to leave a legacy,” Henderson said. “It’s going to be in that program that’s handed out. But mostly I’ll remember the relationships we made. From hating Middletown, to them being one of the closest groups we had here. That’s what I’ll remember the most.”

It wasn’t just Henderson who was setting records.

The previous game-high for receptions was seven and two Gold receivers surpassed that. Glasgow’s Michael Credle, who is headed for Delaware State, is now the record-holder with 10 catches.

Credle caught a pair of touchdowns and recorded 116 yards. Middletown’s Anthony Delpercio had nine receptions (63 yards).

“I think when you have talented guys who are willing and ready to learn it’s always possible,” said Smyrna High and Gold coach Mike Judy. “I did not even know what the records were we just wanted to play and come out on top. For these kids it was a great experience.”

Henderson now has a few weeks off before he moves in at Delaware July 9.

“Each time I come to this field I get a little more comfortable with it,” Henderson said. “From the Salesianum final, to the Middletown final, to now, I’m more comfortable and the talent level keeps going up with who I’m throwing to.”

DOVER — The police seizure of two cell phones from a man accused of a Felton home invasion was invalidated in Superior Court on Thursday.

In an 11-page order, Judge Jeffrey Clark pointed to ample opportunity authorities to obtain a search warrant for the phones Marquan Richardson had on Aug. 8, 2016.

According to the order, Mr. Richardson was developed as a suspect in June before arriving at a probation office appointment in New Castle County two months later. A detective arrived and seized two phones Richardson possessed without a warrant.

Mr. Richardson is charged with home invasion, three counts of first-degree robbery and other alleged offenses regarding an incident on June 9, 2016.

According to documents, the State maintained that “had the detective not obtained the phones while he was at the probation office, it would have been easy and expected for Mr. Richardson to destroy evidence contained on the phones.” Also, the State pointed to alleged consent to seize the phones.

According to Judge Clark, “the State failed to meet its burden of establishing that Mr. Richardson consented to the seizure of even the first phone.

“Furthermore, as to both phones, police had adequate time to obtain a warrant prior to the scheduled meeting. …“

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

Stop the fast-tracking of the ill-advised HB 190 that weakens Delaware’s Coastal Zone Act. The bill needs to be withdrawn. What is needed instead is an authentic public engagement process about the future of our Coastal Zone — a real dialogue about real issues, not the monologue that HB 190 represents. There is no downside to taking a step back from the current rush to pass a seriously flawed bill and begin a real inclusive process that examines a shared vision for the future of Delaware’s Coastal Zone in 2017 and beyond.

Delaware needs fresh ideas to meet the new challenges we all face in the evolving 21st century economy. We need to create good-paying jobs, must protect our ecotourism industry, need to clean up our water, and want to maintain the high quality of life the protected coastal zone provides. For the past 47 years the CZA has endeavored to do just that.

HB 190 is not an improvement to the CZA. Many of the problems with this bill are attributable to the lack of involvement from a diverse group of stakeholders who have an interest in and use the coastal zone. Diverse stakeholders involved in an inclusive and transparent problem-solving process is a fundamental prerequisite to any credible process that may be needed to revisit the CZA.

It makes it possible to find agreement, creates new allies, and produces momentum for needed change. Most importantly, it can create a shared vision for the future of our coastal zone that is understood and accepted by all Delawareans. Rather than pushing Delawareans to the sidelines as done in the crafting of HB 190, we must invite them to join the public dialogue and provide them the tools to solve our shared problems.

Delaware’s elected leadership must conduct a joint fact finding effort to get to the truth and achieve balance in addressing the new challenges in our coastal zone. It would be helpful if Gov. John Carney would become a champion of this joint fact finding and visioning effort; engaging all Delawareans to create a vision for the future of our coastal zone in the same way [late former] Gov. Russell Peterson provided bold visionary leadership in his day.

So, how might we accomplish this authentic public engagement?

We start by broadening the base of those involved beyond the “usual suspects” and politically connected; giving opportunities for regular citizens to participate in listening sessions, workshops, and working groups open to the public. We use these public gatherings to identify everyone’s issues and concerns related to Delaware’s Coastal Zone.

Once these issues and problems are identified, we have our government, universities, private sector, and citizen experts work together to more clearly define each problem. This ensures we develop a common and factual understanding of each problem and its root cause. We must put this in writing and share it publicly to develop a common understanding of what is at stake, what needs to be fixed, and what should be left alone in our Coastal Zone.

Only with agreement on the facts and problems can we take the next step to collectively identify the many alternatives to solve these problems. These alternatives should be identified and shared with the public throughout Delaware, having regular people help select the best options and set the priorities for actions to meet a collective vision for the future.

Only through a deliberate, transparent, and inclusive process can we thoughtfully develop our shared vision for the future of Delaware’s Coastal Zone that continues to protect the beaches, wetlands, and open spaces we cherish while meeting the new challenges of today and for the future.

As citizens, let’s stop HB 190, and embark on an authentic public effort to meet our many challenges together. We should welcome any opportunity to achieve this public effort through a thoughtful legislative action that codifies this authentic public engagement effort to define and achieve a new shared vision for Delaware’s Coastal Zone.

This is the way we honor the legacy of Gov. Russell Peterson, our cherished Coastal Zone, and all the Delawareans who worked to achieve the many successes that have improved our quality of life in Delaware.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr. David B. Carter is the former manager of DNREC’s Delaware Coastal Programs and former Fish and Wildlife regional manager for the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife. Dr. Carter has over 30 years of professional coastal conservation experience specific to the Delaware Coastal Zone. He is a lifelong resident of Delaware’s Coastal Zone and currently resides on his farm along Blackbird Creek in Townsend.

DOVER — To match its eclectic mix of entertainment options, the Firefly Music Festival sought to bring every food options of all persuasions to The Woodland for their four-day event. Fans could have a regular old cheese burger if they wanted, but they could also have everything from an alligator po’boy to a roasted cauliflower and black bean salad.

In advance of the event, Red Frog Events noted that they’d be trying to bring a variety of food options that “provide a well-rounded experience.” Patrons were told that they could expect healthier options, including vegan, gluten free and vegetarian choices.

The music festival had almost 50 individual food vendors and food trucks posted up at various spots throughout The Woodlands. Some specialty options were in the cordoned off VIP areas.

Carl Kavanaugh and his girlfriend, Britney Whelan grabbed a seat near The Fort in the Lawn Stage portion of The Woodlands both selecting two very different food options on Sunday. Mr. Kavanaugh settled on an order of florida fries from a food truck called The Butt Hutt. The mounded fries were covered with cheese, onions, peppers, pork and garlic sauce. Ms. Whelan opted for fried avocado tacos from Nameless Taco.

“This year they have a lot of lighter foods which is nice because it is really hot out here,” said Ms. Whelan. “I have no idea why Carl is eating a ton of cheese and meat in the blazing sun and 90 degree weather, but that’s his problem.”

FireFlyThur14-MCleryThe girls of Bohofaux, from left, Erin Keer, Caitlin Gillette, Erin Moore, Michelle Aguilar, Dasha Torkhova, and Maddy Muhersteff create braids and glitter art for VIP guests at Firefly in Dover. Delaware State News/Marc Clery

Braids and glitter body art at Firefly

In the VIP area of the Lawn Stage at Firefly a tent set up by Boho Faux was giving festival attendees braided dos and glitter face art all four days of the event.

The service bills itself as style for “bohemian free spirits,” which certainly aren’t in short supply at the music festival.

Vanessa Slater of Ontario who’d had her hair braided on Sunday afternoon and glitter applied said the tight braids are a good way to keep the hair out of her face.

“Most of the festival I just had my hair in a pony tail, but when it got really hot I just wanted to have it in braids,” she said. “I thought I might run into an issue with the glitter sweating off, but it actually stays in place pretty well.”