RAISING CHICKENS DELAWARE AG LAB FISHING ON THE BAY · 2016-05-09 · raising chickens delaware ag lab fishing on the bay a couple’s backyard adventure p. 13 the next generation

Delaware LivingAugust 2015

RAISING CHICKENS DELAWARE AG LAB FISHING ON THE BAYA COUPLE’S BACKYARD ADVENTURE

P. 13THE NEXT GENERATION OF FARMERS

P. 29A QUEST FOR BLACK DRUM

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DELAWARE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE’S 2014 ANNUAL REPORT

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OUR FAVORITE READER PHOTOS OF THE FIRST STATE

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Contents

Scanning from the AirFor the first time, the Co-op uses aerial scanning to prevent outages, improving reliability.

Amazing AviationA look inside Dover’s Air Mobility Command Museum, one of Delaware’s coolest places.

Saving LilyA seal pup’s story of survival, from her rescue in Bethany Beach to her release in Assateague.

Unique Eats at Abbott’s GrillGo behind the scenes at Abbott’s on Broad Creek in Laurel and learn how their chef makes delicious, unique entrées. 36

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Follow Del. Electric Co-op on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Delaware LivingMessage from the Editor

This is the third edition of Delaware Living, Delaware Electric Cooperative’s magazine and annual report to members. As in previous editions, we’ve tried to include stories that will appeal to our readers’ varied interests. While Delaware is the second smallest state, there is no shortage of intriguing stories to be found across our “small wonder.” As you flip through the following pages, you’ll revisit 50 years of history at Cape Henlopen State Park, learn about raising chickens, travel to one of the most interesting museums in Delaware and, of course, have a chance to review your Cooperative’s performance over the past year. If you have any comments about this year’s edition of the magazine or story suggestions for future publications, please contact me. All of us at Delaware Electric Cooperative sincerely hope you enjoy reading Delaware Living.

Jeremy Tucker,Editor

Teresa McCann,Assistant Editor

Matt Rogers,Design Editor/Writer

Contact Delaware Living

Phone: 302-349-3118

Email: [email protected]

Mailing Address:Delaware Living Magazine14198 Sussex HighwayGreenwood, DE 19950

On the Cover: A summer field of sunflowers in Sussex County, Del. Photo By: Tamera James

CEO’s Message Bill Andrew

After the brutal winter of 2014, we hoped Mother Nature would provide us with a mild reprieve in 2015. Instead, she had a different plan for us all. While staggering heat engulfed the West Coast of the United States, the Mid-Atlantic States and New England were left shivering. Record snow fell on Boston, Mass. and snowstorm after snowstorm left Delaware under a sheet of white. While no significant snowstorms struck the state, each ice and snow event brought its own set of problems for DEC linemen to address. During nearly every snowstorm this winter, car accidents knocked out power, leaving some members in the cold as crews worked—at times—in sub-zero temperatures to replace broken poles and damaged equipment. The National Weather Service reported that the month of February was the third coldest on record and energy use among members skyrocketed. On average, members used about 30 percent more energy in February of 2015 when compared to the same month in 2014. We answered many questions from members, worried about higher-than-usual electric bills. As spring arrived, we dealt with several large outages, once again caused by vehicle accidents. At one point in April, we were replacing three poles per week due to crashes. Sixty percent of our power lines are underground, but the cost to bury all lines, protecting them from accidents and storms, would be tremendously expensive. Finally, I have some good news. The cost for power remains relatively low and we do not anticipate a rate increase, at least over the next several months. Of course, there are never any guarantees, but barring any significant changes, DEC should continue to offer members the lowest electric rates in the state through the end of 2015.

Bill AndrewPresident and CEO

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1. Frozen berries and bushes during January’s ice storm. 3. Georgetown Elementary Career Day.2. Co-op Linemen celebrate National Lineman Appreciation Day. 4. The Co-op’s ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.

Snapshots The First State

Want to see your photos in the 2016 edition of Delaware Living or in our monthly newsletter? Please email them to [email protected] or mail them to the address below:

Delaware Living Magazine14198 Sussex HighwayGreenwood, DE 19950

Photos Courtesy of Ron Browan, Cliff Chipman, Allen Dudley, Eric Gooch, Amy Hansberger, Brian Jesse, Tom Lekas, Mary Anne Macielag, Phil Mandel, Seth Paulanski, George Perasso, Joe Radcliffe, Dennis Sherman, Keith Steck, Debbie Walls, Don Ward, Tom William and J. Young.


Snapshots The First State



Co-op Energy Mix Commitment to Clean EnergyThe energy that powers the lights and appliances in your home comes from a variety of sources, including nuclear, coal, natural gas, wind and solar. Your Co-op is dedicated to using a mix of traditional, reliable sources of energy and power generated from clean, renewable sources. Ten percent of DEC’s power now comes from renewable sources. We’ve put together an info-graphic to show you how we’re reducing our impact on the environment.

DEC and 10 other electric cooperatives are joining together to build a clean natural gas-driven power plant in Cecil County, Maryland. The plant will be online in 2017.

We are purchasing energy produced by converting methane gas from DSWA’s Sandtown Landfill into electricity. The project has reduced carbon emissions at the landfill by 60 to 90 percent and produces energy for 1,000 Co-op homes.

About 4 percent of our energy comes from wind farms in Maryland and Pennsylvania. The mountainous areas of those states provide ideal conditions for generating clean wind energy.

Our Bruce A. Henry Solar Energy Farm in Georgetown produces power for 500 homes.

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Reliability “Keeping the Lights On.”

Aerial Scanning:Aerial Inspections of Delaware Electric Cooperative’s power lines are expected to improve reliability for Cooperative members. In May, engineering firm McKim & Creed, based in North Carolina, used a helicopter to scan 40 miles of transmission lines in Sussex County using LIDAR technology. LIDAR uses light from a laser to capture detailed images of transmission lines and the surrounding terrain, allowing engineers to see exactly where trees may be in danger of falling on lines or if electrical equipment needs to be replaced. Scanning took place near Angola, between Laurel and Seaford, Five Points, the Retreat at Love Creek and Ocean View. This is the first time Delaware Electric Cooperative has used LIDAR technology and a helicopter to improve the system. According to Co-op Engineering Manager Troy Dickerson, “The technology being used isn’t new, but this is the first time the Co-op has been able to utilize the scanning equipment. Maintaining thousands of miles of power lines is a tough job and this is going to make our job easier. This is good for members and good for DEC.” Results from the aerial imaging were received in July and Co-op employees are now fixing all of the possible problems found on the system. Dickerson said the overall project cost around $200,000, an important investment for the Co-op that will result in fewer outages, saving Co-op members money by avoiding future repairs.

Tree Trimming:Just like the human body, Delaware Electric Cooperative’s electrical system needs constant maintenance to keep it healthy. When something goes wrong, your lights go out. Trees, branches and vegetation pose a tremendous threat to any electrical system. During major storms or even just breezy days, trees can fall onto power lines and take down utility poles. That’s why your Cooperative manages a comprehensive tree-trimming program—our engineers call it vegetation management. Over the course of a normal year, local contract crews will trim trees and shrubs away from power lines across about 25 percent of our system, meaning crews are able to cover our entire service territory every four years. Our vegetation-management program prevents power outages, helping to keep your lights on during severe weather. Of course, we can’t prevent all outages, which can happen as the result of an equipment malfunction, animals and even car accidents. So, how can you help? Be conscientious about where you plant trees on your property. Trees should never be planted directly under overhead power lines. Small trees eventually become large trees so it’s best to plant all trees at least 25 feet away from lines. Trees that grow taller should be planted at least 40 feet away. We’ll keep doing our part to improve reliability and we hope you will help us.Crews clear trees away from downed

lines after a severe storm near Hartly, Del., in the summer of 2014.

Cape Henlopen State Park is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. The park welcomes visitors year round from near and far, coming to enjoy the beaches, nature trails, fishing, camping and picturesque scenery. Cape Henlopen offers more than just a few pretty pictures, though; it also has historic roots in shipping and military defense. Strategically positioned at the mouth of the Delaware Bay, the park was crucial to commercial shipping in the 1800s and 1900s. While the historic Henlopen Lighthouse doesn’t guide ships through the bay anymore, two stone “breakwaters” off the point of the Cape still provide a safe harbor for ships during rough seas. In 1941, the U.S. Army established Fort Miles at Cape Henlopen, outfitted with bunkers and gun encampments concealed in the dunes and observation towers on the coastline. Although the park is now used for recreation, scientific observation and education, its rich and versatile history add to its natural charm. Photos were provided by the Delaware Public Archives.

Cape Henlopen State Park

Boxing match at Fort Miles.

The Point, March 1970.Surrender of German U-858 at Fort Miles, May 8th, 1945.

Cape Henlopen Lighthouse, 1926.

Old entrance to the State Park.

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Delaware Day Trip Spending Time at the Beach

Cape Henlopen Lighthouse, 1926.

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An observation tower open to the public, across from Fort Miles.

One of the many trails in the park, connecting Herring Point in Cape Henlopen State Park to

Gordon’s Pond Beach.

Herring Point, also known as the “Jetty,” is a favorite spot for locals because of the drive-on

beach.

Cape Henlopen is a safe haven for hundreds of species of animals, plants and insects.

Views like this are commonplace in the State Park, attracting visitors year round.

Fort Miles offers visitors a glimpse into the Park’s war history, complete with guns and war-era

buildings on display to the public.

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The life of a baby gray seal is tough. Mother seals abandon their pups after just a few weeks, leaving the vulnerable offspring to fend for themselves—in an ocean full of danger and uncertainty. In April, one such pup, now famously known as Lily, was found laying on the shore near Bethany Beach, Del. It was a windy spring day and the staff and volunteers with the Marine Education Research and Rehabilitation Institute (MERR) couldn’t tell what was ailing the seal pup. “Our volunteers had been monitoring her and I went down to assess. It was a little hard initially, because the sand was blowing and we really couldn’t see her all that well. She was moderately underweight, she didn’t look great,” said Suzanne Thurman, director of MERR, which is based in Lewes, Del. Thurman asked for the help of

a local photographer and MERR volunteer who, using a zoom lens, was able to capture detailed images of the baby seal. The photos confirmed MERR’s fears; the seal was suffering from a broken jaw and would need to be rescued. It was time for a carefully choreographed operation to begin. Thurman, along with volunteers, needed to place the seal into a rescue crate to safely transport her to the Institute. The first attempt failed, Lily scooted back into the ocean and rescuers were forced to move behind the dunes out of Lily’s view. Luckily for the crew and for the injured baby seal, Lily eventually crawled into the rescue cage on her own, and was taken back to MERR for the start of her treatment. According to Thurman, “She needed a little coaxing to go completely into the crate, but all in all, she was the most accommodating seal MERR has ever rescued.”

Thanks to Lily’s cooperation and the dedicated treatment from veterinarians, the seal pup survived the night and was taken to the Marine Animal Rescue Program at the National Aquarium in Baltimore the next day. Aquarium staffers were

unsure of Lily’s long-term prognosis when she arrived on Easter Sunday. “Her teeth were pointing in opposite directions, so once we identified the fractures, we were able to formulate a management plan for her as far as medications. It was a challenge to come up with activities for her that

Lily’s Story From the Atlantic Ocean to Baltimore, and Back Again.

Lily participates in a hunting activity.

Delaware Wildlife Rescuing a Seal Pup

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wouldn’t make her situation worse,” said Jennifer Dittmar, manager of the National Aquarium’s Marine Animal Rescue Program. With proper care, her broken jaw was eventually able to heal on its own. Lily was fed a diet of herring and capelin during her stay at the rehabilitation center and was even taught to hunt in the wild with foraging activities. Dittmar said, “When she came in, she was only about a month old and weighed about 35 pounds. She was at the age where she’d been weaned from her mom, but she hadn’t yet learned to eat on her own. When she came to us she hadn’t yet eaten solid foods so we actually had to teach her to eat solid food on her own, which is always a challenge.” Lily made a full recovery and gained 12 pounds while she was healing. On June 9th, it was time for the seal to be reunited with her natural habitat—the Aquarium scheduled a

morning release at Assateague State Park, just south of Ocean City, Md. Curious onlookers started arriving on the beach an hour before the release was scheduled to occur. By 9:30 a.m., nearly 600 people had gathered around the path Lily would take from her crate to the Atlantic Ocean, excited to cheer on the pup who had become famous thanks to local media reports. When the crate was opened, Lily hesitated for just a moment. Her timidity didn’t last long though. As the crowd cheered, she made her way down to the water, splashed in and, for a few minutes, swam along the beach, giving her rescuers one last chance to say farewell. For her saviors, it was a bittersweet moment. As you can imagine, it’s easy to become attached to an adorable baby seal, but her caregivers said they understand she belongs in the ocean. “Some of our volunteers become attached to the animals, but I know that she’s supposed to be out here and doing what she has to do as a gray seal and wild animal. It’s not hard for me because what we’re

doing is helping her and it’s been a great experience for me, to give back and make sure the seal is where she’s supposed to be,” said Dittmar. Dittmar doesn’t think Lily would have survived without the help of MERR and the National Aquarium, and says the gray seal now has a chance to live a full and healthy life. She could eventually grow to 8 feet in length, weigh up to 550 pounds and live for 35 more years. It’s a happy ending for Lily and those

to whom she owes her life. According to Thurman, “For us

to see a young seal, especially one that was just born this year to have a chance to live her life, is just very enjoyable. It’s just a wonderful day, we’d love to see more success stories like this.”

About Gray SealsWeight: 550 - 880 pounds

Length: 7.5 - 10 feet

Appearance: Pups are born with white fur. Adult females have a silver-gray coat with scattered dark spots. Adult males have a dark gray coat with silver-gray spots; males also have a long arched nose.

Lifespan: 25 - 35 years

Diet: �sh, crustaceans, squids, octopus

Habitat: Cold coastal waters and rocky seashores

Current Population: 250,000+ in the North Atlantic

Gray seals can be found in the North Atlantic, shown in the region shaded orange.

Lily, as she first exits her transport crate, before returning to the ocean.

Co-op Briefs The Past and the Future

Construction is underway on a new natural gas-fired power plant in Cecil County, Md., which will provide clean, sustainable energy to members of Delaware Electric Cooperative and 10 other non-profit utilities in Maryland and Virginia. Co-op officials took part in a groundbreaking ceremony for the Wildcat Point Power Plant in late 2014. The state-of-the-art plant will be owned and operated by Old Dominion Electric Cooperative (ODEC) based in Glenn Allen, Virginia, which is partially owned by Delaware Electric Cooperative.

Once completed in 2017, the plant will be capable of producing 1,000 megawatts of electricity—enough energy to power 390,000 homes. Wildcat Point is being

built near Rising Sun, Md., and was approved for construction by the Maryland Public Service Commission. The project has created 600 construction jobs and 30 permanent positions in Cecil County.

According to Delaware Electric Cooperative President and CEO Bill Andrew, “The construction of the facility is expected to have a positive impact on members. The plant will provide our members with a sustainable source of energy for years to come. Wildcat Point will likely help to stabilize rates for our members because of its close proximity to Delaware, and could lower the cost of power across the entire Delmarva Peninsula.”

New Power Plant to Provide Cleaner Energy to Co-op Members

Construction is underway in Cecil County, Md., on the massive new power plant.

Historic Snapshots: Help Us Identify the Members in These Photos!

The Delaware Public Archives kindly sent us these photos, but we don’t know anything about the people pictured. Do you know anyone in these photos? They were taken at DEC’s 1964 or 1965 annual meeting. If you know anyone on this page, please email [email protected] or write to us at 14198 Sussex Highway, Greenwood, DE 19950.

Delaware

Maryland

Cecil County

Location of New Power Plant

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Egg-cellent Idea

lay their eggs. They have also reinforced the

coop to deter predators. “The thing is like Fort Knox. We have placed wire over the top of the cage because predatory birds will fly in and take a chicken. Chris also dug a trench around the base and has bricks under the soil line to prevent animals from digging. And then we have the chicken wire just in case a snake tries to get in.

The two agree the best part about raising backyard chickens are the fresh eggs. People have differing responses when they hear about the Kent County couple’s hobby. They said, “Some people laugh, some people say that’s awesome, other people want to know more and some people think we’re crazy.”

And with their busy hens producing 60 to 70 eggs per week, the Tretinas expect their flock to eventually grow even larger, bringing them more enjoyment and thousands of delicious eggs.

chickens to start laying eggs, seven months in all.

The chickens are fed organic feed and, and as you can imagine, the eggs taste very different from those you might purchase from your local grocery store. Becky said, “There’s a huge difference between our eggs and store-bought eggs, the yolk is a lot deeper orange and they taste much richer.”

This year, the Tretinas expanded their flock to include 12 additional hens. It turns out, their family and friends enjoyed the fresh eggs so much, there weren’t enough eggs left for their own meals.

For those interested in raising their own small flock of chickens, the two have some simple advice. “It just depends on how much space you have in your backyard. There are a lot of great resources online. You can have a few chickens if you have a tiny space, or several dozen if you’re out in the country like we are. Pretty much anyone can do this,” said Chris. In Delaware, chickens must also be registered with the Department of Agriculture.

Chris and Becky check the coop for eggs every day and top off the chicken’s food and water every two or three days. Their coop is large, about 200 square feet, with a roost where the chickens perch at night, and hen boxes where the chickens

Do you know where the eggs you use to fix your breakfast come from? Chris and Becky Tretina of Hartly, Del., know exactly how their scrambled eggs end up on their plates—their breakfast comes from their backyard. The couple became interested in raising their own hens in 2013, and in 2014 the novice growers purchased their first flock of chicks.

“I think what convinced us was when we started doing research about where our food comes from. We realized that having our own chickens would be easy and the benefits of having fresh eggs every day would be awesome. We know how old the eggs are and what the chickens ate,” said Becky.

The Tretinas started their adventure by purchasing 12 chicks, which were kept in a child’s swimming pool inside their home—the chicks were kept warm with a heat lamp to ensure their survival. After being moved to their chicken coop outside, it took several additional months for the

The Tretinas have eight different kinds of chickens in their coop.

“Blondie” poses for the camera, showing just how docile chickens can be.

Fresh Eggs for Your Family;Raising Chickens in Your Backyard

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Making A Change An Art Activist

If a picture is worth a thousand words, the works of John Donato are conversations that never end. The Sussex County artist discovered his passion for art at a young age. “As early as I can remember, I was a good doodler,” said Donato.

Donato realized those doodles wouldn’t get him very far in the working world, so he pursued graphic design at the University of Maryland. He calls it art with a purpose. Donato would eventually go into marketing and worked for several years in the Washington, D.C., area. It was a marketing job for the Carl M. Freeman Companies that brought him to Delaware. That’s when he revisited art as a hobby.

“My mom saved my doodles, she was really good about saving my doodles,” said Donato. “So I picked up a doodle of a pig and painted it.”

He gave that painting to his mother, who showed it to some

A principal from New Jersey approached and asked him to help students paint a mural about literacy. He says he liked the idea so much that he expanded on it.

“Instead of just coming in and painting a little spot, why not really center it on what these kids are trying to learn?” He came up with a program that engaged the students and encouraged them to read before he even stepped foot in the school.

The program was a huge success, and soon, he was getting phone calls from others in the teaching community. Before long, Donato was traveling around the region helping several other

of the local artists. All the artists wondered, “Who’s this painter? He has some talent.” In 2008, when the economy started to take a tumble, Donato decided to turn his hobby into a career.

“I had to talk to my wife, had to talk to everybody and really had to ask myself if I could actually make it as an artist, with the reality that this economy is probably the worst time to actually start an art career.”

Then John’s marketing expertise kicked in and he put together a business plan. The first year he participated in 30 shows in the mid-Atlantic region and successfully sold many paintings.

Delaware Artist Inspires Creativity One Fish at a Time

By Lisa Bryant

As a child, Donato doodled for fun. Now, as an adult, he paints as a professional artist, but still maintains a whimsical and fun style.

His paintings frequently include animals.


paint a fish in simple steps with very few rules, which allowed them to tap into their artistic talents. “I keep telling them trust me, I’m here.”

Donato shows the children a few simple techniques and he even helps them a little bit. But he says 99 percent of the work is theirs. During the program, the students’ confidence level increases.

“By the end of the week, they’re really hard-core painters,” said Donato. “They’re really not afraid, their fear is gone and they’re working together.”

The artist’s formula gently pushes children out of their comfort zone and allows them to open up and express what they’re feeling deep inside.

schools paint murals.The program grew to include

tough lessons in subjects like bullying prevention. Donato said, “I was seeing a lot of at-risk children who needed help and some sort of communication or self-awareness or a source of self-expression.”

The Rehoboth Art League approached Donato about a mural project for foster children who were aging out of the system. “I really had to start thinking about their challenges and how am I qualified to help?”

So, Donato started attending youth advisory council meetings, which gave him an opportunity to speak with foster children and learn about their specific challenges and how he could help them.

That’s how he realized he could help them with a simple fish.

Donato guided children to

Donato is also on a mission to bring art back into the education curriculum, saying children are not getting enough time to exercise the creative right side of the brain.

“You have to engage in both,” said Donato. “I think art is creativity and is a very necessary component. My mission is to really prove that.” To learn more about Donato’s art programs, please visitwww.johndonatoart.com.

Donato’s mission is to reinforce the concept that art and creativity are meaningful communication tools, and necessary components for sustaining healthy educational systems, families and productive lifestyles.

RECIPES

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Instructions:1. Preheat oven to 375F. Line a baking sheet with foil and set aside.2. Season each fillet with sea salt and pepper to taste, patting the spices into the flesh of the fillet to make sure the spices stick.3. Heat oil and butter in a large skillet or grill pan over high heat.4. When butter is melted and oil is hot, add salmon fillets, flesh side down.5. Sear the flesh side of each fillet for 3-4 minutes.6. Place fillets on baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes, or until salmon is cooked through and flakey (watch closely to make sure you don’t overcook.)7. While salmon is cooking, mix the Hidden Valley Ranch mix with the Greek yogurt, stirring to combine.8. Remove fillets from oven and top each with a dollop of the ranch dip.9. Garnish with lemon juice and fresh dill if desired.10. Enjoy!

Ingredients:4 6-ounce salmon fillets

1½ cups Greek yogurt

1 packet Hidden Valley Greek Yogurt Ranch Dip mix

Sea salt and pepper to taste

1 Tablespoon canola oil

1 Tablespoon butter

Lemon slices and fresh dill for garnish (optional)

Greek Yogurt Ranch SalmonTotal Cook time: 30 mins.Serves: 4

Instructions:1. Preheat oven to 350F. Poke holes in all of your potatoes with a fork and place on a nonstick baking sheet. Bake potatoes for 40-60 minutes, until fork tender. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely (you can put them in the fridge to speed up the process)2. Once potatoes are cooled, cut into bite-sized cubes. Place in a bowl and set aside.3. Mix together sour cream, Greek yogurt, salt and pepper, chives, cheese and bacon.4. Toss potatoes in sour cream, topping with more bacon, cheese and chives if desired (you should!) 5. Serve immediately.6. Enjoy!

Ingredients:3-5-lb. bag red potatoes, washed

1 cup light sour cream

1/2 cup Greek yogurt

8-10 slices of bacon, cooked& crumbled

1/4 cup chives

Cheddar cheese

Salt and pepper to taste

Loaded Baked Potato SaladTotal Cook time: 1 hourServes: 4-6

The Cookie Rookie

RECIPES

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Instructions:1. Prepare your chocolate chip cookies according to recipe or instructions. Allow to cool on a cooling rack.2. While your cookies cool, make your frosting. Using an electric mixer, whip the cream cheese until fluffy.3. Microwave the half and half for 45 seconds. Remove from microwave and add the white chocolate chips. Stir constantly until the white chocolate is completely melted.4. Pour the white chocolate over the cream cheese and continue mixing to combine. Add the powdered sugar and beat for 3-4 minutes until fully combined and fluffy.5. Ice each chocolate chip cookie with a generous helping of the white chocolate cream cheese icing. Then top with sliced fruit.6. Enjoy!

Ingredients:12 Chocolate Chip Cookies

8 ounces low fat cream cheese

1/4 cup half and half

1/3 cup white chocolate chips

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 cup sliced strawberries

1 cup raspberries

1 cup blueberries

1 cup sliced kiwi

Mini Chocolate Chip Cookie Fruit PizzasTotal Cook time: VariesServes: 16

Instructions:1. Place all of the ingredients in a blender and mix until smooth.2. Serve over ice.3. *Can also be made into a slush. Add ice to blender and only 24 oz. of water would be needed.*4. Enjoy!

Ingredients:1-lb. package frozen peaches

12-ounce can of lemonade concentrate

36 ounces water

Easy Peach LemonadeTotal Cook time: 5 mins.Serves: 5

Becky woke up on her 30th birthday and realized she didn’t know how to cook anything! With the help of her mom, Susie, she started The Cookie Rookie Blog as a way to document her journey to learn how to cook, one recipe at a time. A true passion was found along the way. Her recipes are simple, flavorful, (mostly) healthy and fun!

Read all about Becky’s culinary adventures and find more recipes on her blog at www.thecookierookie.com

About Becky, “The Cookie Rookie”

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Breweries are popping up all over the First State and one of the newest places to grab a cold craft beer is 3rd Wave Brewery in Delmar, which opened in late 2012. The brewery offers four house beers and many others on a seasonal basis. Delaware Living sat down with Co-owner and Manager Lori Clough to chat about her unique brews.

Q: What’s the story of how you opened the brewery?

A: I had a couple of home brewing kits and the beer turned out really well. It was easy, like making a cake. We home brewed for almost two years and then my friend, Susan Vickers, called and asked if I wanted to buy a brewery. I thought she was joking. The next weekend we sat in her garage drinking beer and within two weeks we had a contract.

Q: What’s behind the name, 3rd Wave?

A: If you’re a surfer, you know waves usually come in sets of three. The third wave is usually the best one!

Q: How has the community responded to your opening?

A: The community of Delmar has been just awesome, very supportive of us. A lot of our customers are locals—people here in the town that don’t want to drive into Salisbury. The community has been great.

Q: What’s your favorite beer on tap?

A: My favorite is the Big Reef Porter. It’s one of my home recipes that we took and made into a big

commercial recipe. It’s on the lighter side, closer to an English brown ale. To me, this is a gateway for someone to begin drinking a darker beer. It has a slight roasted and chocolate flavor and it’s not as heavy as other darker beers.

Q: What are some of your most popular beers?

A: We produce a series of wheat beers—four per year—and they are very popular. A boysenberry in the winter, apricot in the spring and we’re getting ready to put our peach beer out. The peaches can’t go in too early because they have so much sugar, the alcohol content would be too high. We’ll chop up 300 pounds of peaches for this year’s batch of peach beer.

Q: What are your hopes for 3rd Wave?

A: I hope we continue to make great beer, that’s most important. I also hope that we continue to stay inventive and fun. As long as we’re having fun and can pay our bills, we’ll be happy. I want everyone to be able to come inside and have fun.

Delmar’s 3rd Wave Brewing Company:Q&A With Co-Owner Lori Clough

3rd Wave Brewery 502 North Bi-State Blvd. in

Delmar, Del.

Monday-Thursday: 3-9 p.m.

Friday and Saturday: 12-10 p.m.

Sunday: 12-6 p.m.

Lori pours a beer from the tap.

3rd Wave also bottles their product.

There’s a beer for everyone at 3rd Wave.

Employees cut peaches by hand for a peach brew.

The brewery has a relaxed, fun atmosphere.

Delaware Drinks Brewery Spotlight

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them are creative in some sort of really unique way and most of them do something for the shop. Two of my sisters make fantastic jewelry, it’s unbelievable.” Shoppers can find folk art, birdhouses, jewelry and other locally crafted items.

Wooleyhand said the spirit of her mother lives on at the Seven Sister’s Shop, which serves as a reminder of her mother’s passion for the arts. “She’s here. She was crazy beautiful inside and out and she would have just loved it here. She would have loved the shop—and would have also told me what to do.”

Some artists are quick to note the inspiration behind their masterpieces. That’s not the case for Jennifer. Her creative process starts by gathering driftwood from locations around Delmarva; places she prefers to keep a secret. Then, she waits—never knowing exactly what her natural bounty will be turned into. Her imagination can run wild, and she eventually turns her fanciful ideas into art. “I go find a piece of driftwood that looks like a lion’s head and that’s what I turn it into. I’ll get out the wood, gourds and paint and

then watch TV. That’s when it hits me and I start painting.”

Did we mention that everyone at the shop is friendly and fun? The combination of imaginative art, a beautiful property and the fresh Kent County air allows for a unique experience.

“We’ve been told that there’s a warm feeling as people come up the driveway. I’m just thrilled that they’re happy here. You can tell that they are happy and that they’re enjoying the crazy art,” said Wooleyhand.

The non-traditional retailer doesn’t keep traditional hours either. Until fall, you can call Jennifer at 302-270-4848 to make an appointment. The Seven Sister’s Shop has an annual open house, which will take place the last Saturday in October from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. and they’ll be open every Saturday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. until Christmas. No matter when you decide to visit, Wooleyhand said she can make certain guarantees. “This stuff isn’t made in China, it’s made here. And it’s made by people who love it. I think people get that. It’s a place of whimsical fascination.”

Sometimes the most extraordinary memories are made in places found off the beaten path. One such place can be found down a long, winding driveway about 10 miles west of Dover on Westville Road. It’s called the Seven Sister’s Shop yet doesn’t really seem like a shop at all. Chickens roam freely in the yard, a donkey can be heard braying beyond the house, music is playing and a fresh pot of coffee is brewing inside the tiny shop, which could be mistaken for a cottage.

Above the doorway is a West Virginia license plate, which belonged to owner Jennifer Wooleyhand’s late mother. “I have six sisters. We were raised in Wyoming and everyone knew the seven sisters. In the 1970s, my mother owned an antique shop called the Seven Sister’s Shop. When she passed away in 1995, I bought the company name from the state of Delaware, just to keep it in the family. Then, three years later I opened up the art shop.”

Living up to its name, the shop is a family affair. Jennifer, her sisters and close friends produce arts and crafts to sell to patrons. “Most of

Seven Sister’s Shop Brings Family and Friends Together

CEO’s Message Storm ReadinessSevere Weather

radios, reflective sleeping bags, breathing masks, and of course, duct tape.

You can make your own emergency-preparedness kit at home with your family, or purchase one online from places like the Red Cross.

Whether you’re preparing for a severe thunderstorm or gearing up for hurricane season, it’s important to always have a plan when it comes to severe weather. Don’t get caught unprepared when the next storm hits.

Life in Delaware is often beautiful and serene. But, when it comes to severe weather, being in a relatively flat state surrounded by water can be less than ideal. From hurricanes to tornadoes to nor’easters, Delaware is hit with severe storms every year. It’s important to have a plan in place long before the storm alerts, watches, and warnings are issued.

Severe weather can strike anytime, anywhere. Make an emergency plan with your family and be sure to discuss the following: how you will get to a safe place; how you will contact one another; how you will get back together if separated; and what you will do in various emergency situations.

After creating a plan, consider making or purchasing an emergency-preparedness kit. When disaster strikes, there isn’t time to sort through belongings to find what is important. Having everything you may need in one place, such as an emergency- preparedness kit, will save you crucial time during severe weather. A kit should include non-perishable food items, water, first-aid supplies, copies of important family documents, a flashlight and extra clothes. Some kits even contain emergency

Information provided by:

Severe Weather

Be Prepared for the Next Big Storm

Delaware Living 20

Photos:Top: An example of an emergency kit, purchased from the American Red Cross.Middle: The Red Cross is a non-profit organization and sells its kits online at www.redcrossstore.org.Bottom: An emergency kit will cover your basic needs for survival in the case of a disaster. They contain everything from water to duct tape.

Co-op crews work to restore power in Kent County in 2014. Courtesy of Jeff Brown.

$5 million

$4 million

$3 million

$2 million

$1 million

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 20132012 2014

Delaware Living 21

Capital Credits Returned

Co-op Membership PaysDid you know you actually own Delaware Electric Cooperative? As a member-owner, you are entitled to margins, also known as the Co-op’s profits. These are called capital credits and are returned to you in the form of a check or a billing credit. In 2014, we returned more than $4 million to those who were Co-op members in 1995. It takes 17 years for capital credits for a given year to be returned to members. That’s because the Co-op uses that money to improve electrical infrastructure. When capital credits are returned to members, you are seeing a return on your investment.

Bill WellsChairmanDistrict 3

Bruce HenryVice-Chairman

District 5

Laura PhillipsSecretary-Treasurer

District 6

Patricia DoreyAsst. Sec.-Treasurer

District 4

Charles Towles, Jr.District 1

Bruce WaltonDistrict 2

Woody Noel, Jr.District 7

Bill Haughey, Jr.District 8

Dean BeltDistrict 9

Howard ClendanielDistrict At-Large

Delaware Electric Cooperative 2014 Annual Report

Michael BrownDistrict At-Large

If you’re a former member or know a former member who may be owed capital credits from DEC, please call 855-332-9090 or visit www.delaware.coop/member-services/capital-credits.

Delaware Living 22

Operating Revenue

Cost of Electric Service Cost of Purchased Power Distribution Expense Consumer Account Expense Administrative & General Expense Total Operating Expense Depreciation Interest on Long-Term Debt Other Deductions Total Cost of Electric Service Operating Margins Non-Operating Margins Patronage Allocations Patronage Capital or Margins

Delaware Electric Cooperative was audited for 12 months ending March 31, 2015, by Adams & Akin, an independent Certified Public Accounting firm. The financial position of DEC for the 12-month period ending March 31, 2015, was found to be in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis. The complete Accountant’s report is available

for inspection at the Cooperative’s office in Greenwood.

Delaware Electric CooperativeFinancial Report

2014 $151,117,133

108,044,332 12,621,507 3,945,032 6,964,337 131,575,208 11,938,698 3,435,566 72,327 147,021,799 4,095,334 610,877 831,025 $5,537,236

2013 $140,784,702

94,167,771 12,124,889 3,928,105 6,706,655 116,927,420 11,355,273 3,403,857 169,456 131,856,006 8,928,696 2,214,587 1,151,152 $12,294,435

DEC is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

2014 2013Assets Utility Plant Less Accumulated Depreciation Net Utility Plant Other Property & Investment Non-Utility Investments in Associated Organizations Total Other Property & Investments Current Assets Cash & Short-Term Investments Accounts Receivable Materials & Supplies Other Current & Accrued Assets Total Current & Accrued Assets Deferred Charges Total Assets Ownership & Liabilities Memberships Equities & Margins Total Equities & Margins Liabilities Long-Term Debt, RUS, CFC & CoBank Accumulated Operating Provisions Total Long-Term Liabilities Current Liabilities Notes Payable to Associated Organizations Accounts Payable Other Current & Accrued LiabilitiesTotal Current Liabilities Regulatory Liabilities Deferred Credits Total Ownership & Liabilities

$330,043,622 143,504,890 186,538,732

161,254 63,181,297 63,342,551

4,723,016 18,843,551 2,484,894 1,032,988 27,084,449 4,072,233

$281,037,965

$1,758,360 129,107,467 130,865,827

100,238,351 16,048,881 116,287,232

1,839,983 11,420,484 10,343,666 23,604,133

0 10,280,773

$281,037,965

Delaware Living 23

$316,201,832 135,261,240 180,940,592

161,254 61,215,742 61,376,996

2,865,084 18,757,037 2,232,977 597,537 24,452,635 1,145,359

$267,915,582

$1,714,690 124,128,375 125,843,065

91,066,862 19,744,872 110,811,734

0 10,731,928 10,403,115 21,135,043

0 10,125,740

$267,915,582

Delaware Living 24

Delaware Electric CooperativeFinancial Report

2014 Revenue

Residential Sales: 79%$120,001,767

Commercial Sales: 16%$23,777,215

Other Income: 5%$7,338,151

2014 Expense

Purchase Power: 74%$108,044,332

Operations and Administration: 16%

$23,530,876

Depreciation: 8%$11,938,698

Interest and Other: 2%$3,507,893

Delaware Living 25

# Of Meters kWh Sales

Residential 75,213 1,037,380,306 Seasonal 4,181 22,966,444 Irrigation 257 2,897,736 Commercial 8,472 229,157,208 Public Lighting 482 5,991,282 Other Public Sales 267 3,305,205 Total 88,872 1,301,698,181

Residential:75,213

Commerical: 8,472

Seasonal: 4,181

Other Public Sales: 267Public Lighting: 482 Irrigation: 257

2014 Meters

Delaware Living 26

Explore Delmarva AMC Museum

Delaware is fondly known as the Small Wonder, a tiny state chock-full of surprises. Included in the wonders of the second smallest state is the Air Mobility Command Museum (AMC), which you’ll find along state Route 9 in Dover. If you’re a Delawarean and have never heard of the museum, you may be surprised by what you’ll find.

As visitors drive up to the AMC museum, they’ll see more than two-dozen aircraft sitting outside a historic hangar—a sight that will leave both children and adults in awe. The museum houses 33 aircraft—everything from helicopters to fighter jets to an iconic and massive C-5.

The C-5, one of the museum’s latest acquisitions, is the largest plane on display and was recently

repainted to match the original color scheme of the planes, which have been housed at the Dover Air Force Base for decades. If you live in Dover, you know the sound of a C-5 well. Museum Director Mike Leister, a former air reserve technician, said the plane has been a huge hit with visitors. “I don’t tell people the wingspan or how much a plane weighs, I tell them that a C-5 can haul six Greyhound buses. They

can identify with that. We try to make our stories here something people can grasp and understand. The Internet is great, but when you see one of these airplanes and you have to tilt your head back to see the top of it, that connects.” The C-5 on display was the only C-5 to launch an intercontinental ballistic missile in mid-flight.

Included in the museum’s impressive collection of aircraft is a C-133B Cargomaster, a C-130E Hercules and a F-106A Delta Dart. Each aircraft has a unique story and the VC-9C on display served as Air Force Two—and Air Force One when a President was onboard—from 1975 through 2011. The plane carried Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush and their First Ladies.

Dover’s Air Mobility Command Museum Leaves Visitors in Awe

The museum houses 33 aircraft, each with its own exceptional history.

Delaware Living 27

The VC-9 also carried Queen Elizabeth II and the Chief of Staff of the People’s Army of China. The third Saturday of each month, the former Air Force Two and many other planes are open for the public to tour.

While the aircraft resting outside the museum may be impressive due to their sheer size, even more historic planes can be found inside the hangar, which itself has a rich history. It was used to test missiles during the Second World War.

Inside, you’ll find a B-17 bomber used during World War II. “This is the only B-17 that you’re going to run into in the United States where you’re going to come up to the bomb bay, take a look at it and see it lit. We have a number of airplanes, including some out on the flight line lit. We use solar panels and LEDs so you can see and understand what you’re looking at,” said Leister.

Also on display in the hangar is a C-47, which was used to drop paratroopers over France during the invasion of D-Day. In July, a paratrooper who jumped out of the C-47 visited the museum, sitting in the same seat he anxiously waited in more than 75 years ago. Now in his 90s, the moment was moving for museum

staff and the brave veteran. The museum also boasts several

flying simulators and allows guests to tour the control tower that was used at the Dover Air Force Base from 1956 through 2009. As an added bonus, the museum is one of the best places to see aircraft take off and land at the Dover Air Force Base.

With more than 100,000 visitors in 2014, the museum’s 150 volunteers play an integral role in making the unique attraction such a success. World War II veteran Bill Pool has been volunteering at the museum for seven years. “I like kids. You get to explain things to a sizable number of people who have no perception about what happened between, say, 1941 and 1946.”

Pool wasn’t a fan of airplanes during the war. He served in the infantry in China and Burma.

“I learned to hate airplanes because they were always heading to a place that had hot food and cold beer and they had very little of that where I was serving.” Now, Pool said he loves showing visitors the historic planes and enjoys sharing his experience as a soldier.

If you’d like to meet veterans like Bill and share in their stories, tour amazing aircraft and test your flying skills, you can stop by the Air Mobility Command Museum any Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Dover’s Air Mobility Command Museum

Address: 1301 Heritage RoadDover Air Force Base, DE, 19902

Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Closed on Mondays, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s.

Admission and parking are free.

Guided tours are available daily. For groups of 10 or more, please call our tour scheduler at (302) 677-5991 or email [email protected].

www.amcmuseum.org

The C-5 above was the only C-5 to launch an intercontinental ballistic

missile mid-flight.

Photos:Top: Inside of C-47A Skytrain, which carried paratroopers.Middle: Nearly all the parts and pieces of the planes are authentic and restored to their original state.Bottom: Inside the museum’s B-17 Bomber.

Beat The Peak

Turn o� unnecessary lights. Turn your thermostat up 2 or 3 degrees in the summer.

Delay use of major appliances like dishwashers and

washing machines.

Thank you from Delaware Electric Cooperative

Saving members millions!

Sign up today and save. “Beat the Peak” helps keep Delaware Electric Cooperative’s rates low. During times of peak energy use, your Co-op pays a premium price for power. Because of this, we ask our members to conserve energy during these times to save us, and in turn you, money. Our Beat the Peak Indicators tell you when to conserve electricity by illuminating a red light during peak hours. To sign up, call us at 855-332-9090 or check out our website at www.delaware.coop and click on “Beat the Peak!”

Already part of our “Beat the Peak” program? Do these things during peak hours to conserve energy.

Delaware Living 29

Delaware Ag Mobile Ag Lab

how many young farmers are going to come out of the Ag Lab’s program, but it’s easy to see that the children walk away with a greater appreciation of how their food ends up in their fridge.

“I go through a little book called, “How Did That Get Into My Lunchbox,” which is an AFBF (American Farm Bureau Foundation) award-winning book, and we talk about what it takes to get from the farm to the grocery store. You start with planting a seed.”

Towards the end of the session, the kids get the opportunity to begin farming themselves by planting a cherry tomato plant in a styrofoam cup to take home. The children are very excited by the concept of growing something for themselves. One of the children participating told his friends, “I’m going to make my own ketchup now!”

The lesson is over in less than half an hour, but the children walk away with a new understanding of how farms affect their daily lives. When asked what they learned, the kids are eager to share their new knowledge.

“I learned the state drink is milk,” said camper Emma Sweetman.

Colton Thornton added, “Tomatoes need a lot of water and sun.”

Another camper, Samuel Cherry, said, “When you’re a farmer, you don’t need a boss. You’re basically a boss for yourself.” When asked if he would consider being a farmer now, Cherry nodded his head, with a smile on his face and his tomato plant in hand. There’s no way of knowing

If you were to take a drive in Delaware, chances are you would pass a farm at some point along the way—if not more than one. Corn, soybeans, chickens, dairy cows, horses, even alpacas can be seen from roads all over the state. The agriculture industry plays a huge role in Delaware’s economy and way of life. You might be surprised by the number of people who don’t know much about how farmers help to put fresh, local food on our tables.

The Delaware Farm Bureau Foundation is working to solve that problem. The Bureau launched the mobile Ag Lab in 2014, a trailer outfitted with information, tools and fun activities meant to teach children about farming. Spearheading the effort is Farm Bureau Program Coordinator Laura Simpson.

“This is our second year,” said Simpson. “We go mostly to Boys and Girls Club camps, but occasionally we get requests from schools. We also do special events.” The Ag Lab is hitched to the back of a pickup truck that wheels it up and down the state, from Wilmington to Georgetown, with many stops in between. Approximately 1,200 Delaware children participate in the program annually.

“We talk about what they feel a typical farmer looks like. A lot of times they guess overalls and a man with a beard.” Simpson said, “I tell them you don’t have to be old or young, or a man or woman. I also tell them that farming is a viable career choice.” After Simpson tells the children that anyone can be a farmer and conducts an activity on healthy eating, she reads them a book.

Planting Seeds That Could Grow Into New Farmers

Photos:Top left: Children participate in a healthy eating activity.Top right: The outside of the Ag Lab trailer can’t be missed if seen on the road.Middle: The children listen to Laura read a book about where food comes from.Bottom: The first step to planting a tomato is potting mix.

Delaware History Into the Vault

The Employees of Delaware Electric Cooperative love living and working in the First State. Delaware has a fascinating history

and we asked the Delaware Public Archives to choose some of their favorite photos for us to share with all of you. Not all of

the photos are dated, but they provide a wonderful glimpse into what life in Delaware looked like many years ago. A

C

E

D

B

Delaware Living 30

F

H

J

G

I

PhotosA. Cooper’s Corner directional sign in Kent County, November 3, 1924.B. A group of women sunbathing at Rehoboth Beach.C. Aftermath of a tornado in Felton, January 27, 1967.D. Wilson Mathias riding his pony outside White’s Cafeteria in Milton.E. Delaware Memorial Bridge foot walk construction, October 5, 1950.F. Felton Train Station, 1873.G. Milton’s 150th Anniversary, Downtown Milton, August 1957.H. Milford Bridge and Operator’s House, 1931.I.W.M. Chambers Garage near Viola, August 3, 1931.J. Bridgeville Fire Company, circa 1920.

Delaware Living 31

LR

Primary Wires carry electricity from a substation to your neighborhood.

A Crossarm supports power lines, keeping them from touching.

Surge arrestors protect transformers from lightning.

A Secondary Service Drop carries electricity from the transformer to your home or business.

Telephone & Cable Wires hang lower than electriclines.

Insulators prevent energized lines from touching each other.

The Neutral Wire helps balance the electrical system.

Transformers lower the voltage of electricity so it can safely run your appliances.

Guy Wires stabilize poles.

The Pole Ground Wire runs the entire length of the pole and directs energy from lightning safely to the ground.

Ever wonder what’s on an electric pole? Not all poles have the same equipment on them, but these are the parts you’ll commonly see and their functions ...

What’s on a DEC Pole?

FALLENERGY SAVINGS

Open curtains and blinds during the day to allow the sun to naturally heat your home.

When awake, set your thermostat as low as is comfortable. While away or asleep, set it 10 to 15

cooler to save 10% annually on heating and cooling (unless you have a heat pump).

Have your heating systems inspected or serviced.

Apply caulk and weather-stripping to seal air leaks and drafts.

Make sure your heaters and radiators are not blocked by furniture, rugs, or curtains to ensure

that the whole room is heated.

Soon the leaves will be changing color, the tra�c will clear up, and in a few months it will be time to make the switch from AC to

heating your home. Follow these �ve simple tips to stretch your dollar farther when it comes to your energy bill this autumn.

Information Provided by: US Department of Energy | www.energy.govDelaware Living 33

The water churns behind the boat as the group heads out to open water.


Outdoors Delmarva Delaware Fishing Trip

the go-to bait for drum, and circle hooks are the best way to keep them at the end of your line. Captain Brian said the fish usually bite right before the sun goes down.

With little time to spare, everyone unofficially stakes a claim on a rod and then waits for a hit. Light fog has started to roll in, and soon after, Don Baltrush of Milton feels something tugging on his line. It ends up being the first catch of the day, a dogfish.

As everyone is reeling their lines out of the water, we snag another fish, a 20-pound black drum! Since no one claims it, Dustin, who is helping out with mate duties, decides to keep it—he’ll get several dinners from the fish.

The next rod to go down is Don’s, and this time he is hopeful. He says, “I think I got a drum, hope it’s a black one!” But the line snaps just as the big fish gets within reach of the net. This time the drum wins the battle.

"I don't know, but we got it up to the boat and he got off. This is the story of my life,” said Don, as he chuckled. “It was a lot of fun and heartbreaking at the same time. I'll get the next one.”

The next one, however, went to me (yes, TV hosts can still catch

farther out in the bay than we’re used to. Instead of sitting off the shoreline of Slaughter Beach, we’re in New Jersey.

“We’re in an area called Bayshore Channel, about a mile and a half from the Cape May-

Lewes Ferry terminal, and we’re going to soak some clams and see if we can't get some big drum. It seems like they bite more over here as opposed to the Delaware side,” said Captain Wazlavek.

As usual, clams are

It’s a trip our WBOC crew has made many times out of Lewes Harbor Marina, on a spring mission to find black drum in the Delaware Bay. Just the thought of being able to haul in what could possibly be a 40-year-old fish, weighing close to 100 pounds, is enough to get your heart pumping with anticipation. Anyone who has had the privilege of winning a battle with a black drum knows that you will be thanking your heart for hanging on for what can seem like an endless battle.

Captain Brian Wazlavek of the Li’l Angler 2 is taking us a little

Outdoors Delmarva: The Quest For Black Drum

By Andrew Tawes

Outdoors Delmarva Delaware Fishing Trip

Delaware Living 35

himself. Don snags a fairly vocal drum in the boat, which loudly voices its displeasure at being

caught with the signature call of a black drum. Once unhooked, Don decides to release it back in the bay.

Throughout the evening everyone gets a chance to battle a drum, and a couple more will max out the 50-pound scale.

“This was awesome, the best night of drum fishing I’ve had in a while,” said Don.

With nine fish caught and a

fish). After about a 15-minute battle, our second drum is in the boat, a nice 42 pounder.

As the fog continues to roll in, Dustin has a theory. “For whatever reason, in the Delaware Bay, when it gets foggy, overcast and a little chilly, it’s perfect for fishing.”

Dustin must know what he’s talking about. Another fish is on one of our lines, and this time Outdoors Delmarva Producer Chuck Regner is reeling in the bounty. After a lengthy 25-minute battle, Chuck brings in the biggest catch of the day so far, maxing out the 50-pound scale.

"Man, that was a tough fish to haul in. That was a thrill and was really awesome,” said Regner.

The excitement on board is palpable as Don, who already lost one black drum, is ready to win the second battle and redeem

boat full of sore arms, this was a day on board the Li’l Angler 2 that none of us will soon forget. Black drum fishing in the Delaware Bay is something you just can’t beat.

The number of fish we catch climbs as the sun sets.

The black drum is well known as the largest of the drum family, sometimes growing to be over 100 pounds. It’s also known for its long lifespan, which can stretch over 40 years. (Image courtesy of www.noaa.gov)

Black Drum Information

Habitat: Atlantic Coast and Gulf of Mexico

Weight: Average around 40 lbs. Record is 146 lbs.

Length: Average around 16 in.

Diet: Worms, shrimp, crabs and smaller fish

Delaware Living 36

When you think about dining on the water, Laurel isn’t normally the first place that comes to mind. But Chef Ryan Cunningham is working hard to put Abbott’s on Broad Creek on the map. Located in downtown Laurel, the young restaurant has had a busy year-and-a-half since its opening in December of 2013. Abbott’s had already made a name for itself with Abbott’s Grill in Milford, but bringing people to a new location was a welcome challenge for Chef Ryan.

Q: What do you think draws people to Abbott’s Grill?

A: We take familiar things and put our own twist on them, and wow people that way. Once you hook people, they’ll try anything.

Q: What’s the biggest challenge you’ve encountered so far in this location?

A: Getting people out of the “has-to-be-this-way” mentality, and getting people to lose the expensive idea too—because we’re not expensive at all. We want to have something for everybody.

Q: What’s the most popular item on your menu?

A: Either the chicken livers or the frog legs—those are the kinds of things we like to do here. We don’t really keep anything on our menu that isn’t selling. We change around our menu anywhere from eight to 12 times a year.

Q: What makes you one of the most popular restaurants in the area?

A: We’re giving our all, all the

time, to make the customers happy. We’re not here to make a ton of money and we’re not here to just go through the motions. We’re here to provide a service and strive for excellence all the time. We also use a lot of local ingredients and vendors. That’s what it’s all about, locals helping locals; supporting each other. That’s how you build a strong community and that’s what we’re trying to do here.

Q: What does buying locally mean for the quality of your food?

A: You know where it’s coming from. You know it was picked today or yesterday, not just left sitting in a truck somewhere for God knows how long. It’s really nice to work with such natural ingredients.

Q: If you could tell readers one thing, what would it be?

A: Come see what it’s like to have people that really care cook dinner for you. We put so much love, time, and energy into what we do and really stand behind it.

Q&A With Chef Ryan Cunningham of Abbott’s on Broad Creek

Abbott’s on Broad Creek waterfront deck.

Abbott’s uses fresh, local ingredients in all of their dishes.

Pan-roasted flat-iron steak with roasted marrow bone and beef

au jous with parsley salad.

Crispy chicken livers with beet ketchup, bacon and frisee.

www.abbottsgrill.com

300 Delaware Ave. • Laurel, DE 19956

(302) 280-6172

Restaurant SpotlightDelaware Eats

Abbott’s is buzzing with features every night, specialty events, live music, community benefits and “tap takeovers,” when local breweries team up with Abbott’s and sell their craft beers at the bar. Chef Ryan is hopeful that Abbott’s on Broad Creek will continue to be successful, and also hopes it will be the first of many new businesses to open in Laurel.

Delaware Living 37

Did You Know? Easy Ways to Pay Your Bill

Paperless Mail

DEC Headquarters

Bank/Credit DraftPhonePay NowSmartHub

Paperless: Save a tree and sign up for paperless billing by setting up a SmartHub account. Go to decoop.smarthub.coop.

Mail: You can mail your payment to: Delaware Electric Cooperative, P.O. Box 600, Greenwood, DE 19950.

DEC Headquarters: Pay your bill at our drive-through window or in our lobby from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. An after-hours drop box is also available 24 hours a day.

SmartHub: You can pay your bill and report an outage online or with our app, DEC Connect, when you sign up for a SmartHub account. You can also monitor your energy use and view your billing history. Sign up at decoop.smarthub.coop.

Pay Now: Pay your bill online without signing up for a SmartHub account by visiting https://decoop.smarthub.coop/PayNow.html. You’ll need your account number.

Automated Phone Payments: Secure payments can be made 24 hours a day by calling 888-999-0957.

Credit Card Draft or Bank Draft: Sign up to automatically have your electric bill paid through bank draft each month by visiting www.delaware.coop or by calling 855-332-9090.

You can also set up bank/credit draft if you have a SmartHub account.

Co-op Billing and Payment Options

Delaware Living

PRESORT STDUS POSTAGE

PAIDSTRASBURG, VA

PERMIT #285

Delaware Electric Cooperative, 14198 Sussex Highway, Greenwood, DE 19950

#29Spotlight on Excellence Entry FormNRECA Voting Member Classification * Distribution Cooperative: 50,001-90,000 meters

Category * 6. Best Special Publication

Entry Title * Delaware Living 2015 - Large

I wish to receive Judges' comments onthis entry

No

Contact's Name * Jeremy Tucker

Cooperative * Delaware Electric Cooperative

Mailing Address 14198 Sussex Highway Greenwood , DE 19950 United States

Contact's Email * [email protected]

Contact's Phone Number * (302) 349-3162

Name of entrant as it should appear onthe award (if given)

Jeremy Tucker

mailto:[email protected]

Is this the first time you've entered theSpotlight competition?

No

Entrant's Email [email protected]

Names of others (freelancers ororganizations) involved in the project, ifapplicable

Teresa McCann, Matt Rogers

Describe your/the co-op's role in theproject *

Our summer communications intern, administrative assistant and Iworked over several months to design, write and edit the publication,sent to our 89,000 members in August. Most of the project wascompleted in-house.

Describe others’ role in the project(Reference outside sources of material,including templates; pre-existing Webtools and apps; information from outsidegroups, such as Straight Talk orTouchstone Energy; stock photos andmusic, etc.) *

Two reporters for a local TV station contributed stories, which was ahuge help, considering we have a relatively small communicationsdepartment. The scripts were in "TV" format and had to be editeddown. Recipes were also submitted to us from a blogger who providesus support for our monthly inserts. Our Association in Virginia alsolooked over the final version, checking for errors and AP style.

Circulation or Number of People Reached * 89,000

Number of Attendees *

Project’s Budget * $36,000

Target Audience(s) * Members

Project's Objective *

This is the third year we produced the magazine, and each year we are overwhelmed with positive responses. The oldannual report was boring, so in 2013 we decided to produce a magazine to showcase interesting community stories,Co-op news and Cooperative served businesses. We also used the publication to promote programs like "Beat thePeak." Our goal is to educate members about their Co-op and their communities. This year, we received tons ofpositive emails, phone calls and letters and broke a record for new sign ups for Beat the Peak, email notifications andpaperless billing. An additional 20,000 members have read stories on our website and social media. This has turnedinto our most important communications and marketing tool.

Restrictions/Limitations * None, our board and executive staff fully support the project.

Describe why you chose this type of socialmedia and how you used it *

Provide a brief summary that states thepurpose of the event, how the programwas implemented, and results and howthey were measured *

Provide a brief summary that states thepurpose, how the program wasimplemented, and results and how theywere measured using the RACEframework. Each component has its ownword limit noted below.

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Documents

RAISING CHICKENS DELAWARE AG LAB FISHING ON THE BAY · 2016-05-09 · raising chickens delaware ag lab fishing on the bay a couple’s backyard adventure p. 13 the next generation