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Delaware Festival of Words inspires teens about books and publishing

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Delaware Festival of Words inspires teens about books and publishing


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Do you know a Delaware teen who loves to read, their nose always buried in a book? Or one who is always sketching the characters and worlds they’ve dreamt up? What about one who dreams of becoming a published author?

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On Saturday, Dec. 2, at St. George’s Technical High School, Delaware teens can spend the entire day meeting published authors, gaining tips of the trade and inspiration, at the Delaware Festival of Words.

“Witnessing students react to authors like rock stars and embrace their ideas while forming their own makes me confident that the power of words will flourish!” says librarian and attendee Suzanne Smith.

Each year, a group of Delaware teachers and librarians organize this small grassroots event to engage secondary readers with diverse literature, writing techniques, and the world of publishing. It’s open to any middle or high school student in Delaware, their teachers and librarians. And it is totally FREE. The Festival provides lunch and buses upon request. Even better, teens leave with books and swag. 

In the past, the Festival brought in big YA Lit names like Walter Dean Meyers, banned author Emily Danforth, Jason Reynolds and Kwame Alexander. At its peak, upwards of 200 participants would come from all over the state. 

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But in 2020, like all public events, COVID brought the Festival to a screeching halt. In fall of 2020, the Festival pivoted, offering virtual workshops, book clubs, and author talks over a one-week period. 

In 2022, the Festival resumed in person, bringing in show-stopping keynote speakers K.A. Holt, who writes award-winning novels-in-verse, and Yamile Saied Mendez, whose book “Furia” was a Reese’s YA Book Club selection.

This year, the Festival is reinventing itself once again. The theme is “Reading Local.” Teens can attend workshops and author panels taught by successful authors and members of the industry who all live within a two-hour radius. With this year’s format, there’s no author students won’t connect with. 

High schoolers will be interested in learning from Nicole Gabor, whose book “Catwalk’ is about an aspiring model who becomes New York’s new “it” girl, or Kelly Lidji, whose ghost story “Maggie, I Have Your Baby” is based on a local Delaware legend. 

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Our middle schoolers will be interested in learning from fantasy writers Ryan Gebhart and Aggie L. Jae. For any teen interested in writing children’s books, David Teague and Kent County author Abraham Keys will discuss the creation of their picture books.

Upon registration, teens pick between a variety of interactive workshops. Writers will be interested in workshops such as creating believable characters, constructing a ghost story, and incorporating the six-step story arch. Artists will be interested in using the technique of repousse to create an illuminated letter, and creating a world map for a fantasy novel. Poets and spoken word artists will be wowed by a Poetry Out Loud performance.

Teachers and librarians can connect with UD LibSearch staff, to learn the most effective way to research in the state. They are invited to learn alongside their students. 

The Festival was founded in 2000 by Peggy Dilner, who worked at the Educational Resource Center at the University of Delaware after retiring as a librarian for Colonial School District. She thought Delaware teens deserved a literacy event, and the Delaware Department of Education and the University of Delaware agreed. When Dilner retired, Christy Payne took on the role and continued to grow the Festival until 2015, when current director Andrea Rashbaum took over.

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To date, Festival of Words Delaware is the only literacy event for teens of its kind in the state of Delaware. It’s in its 23rd year and going strong!

A teen only has to attend once, and they are hooked. 

“The Festival of Words has been an amazing experience,” said student Gabby. “It’s a great way to meet new people who also love to read or write, and the chance to meet and talk with authors is something you will never forget.”

Know a teen who’s interested in attending? The event takes place on Saturday, Dec. 2 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at St. Georges Technical High School in Middletown. Teens should register at www.festivalofwordsde.com. Teachers and librarians who are interested in securing free transportation to the event for their cohort of students should email festivalofwordsde@gmail.com.

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Carrie Simpson teaches English at the Tatnall School and is a volunteer organizer of Delaware Festival of Words.

More: Open Call: Serafin Ensemble is at the heart of richest cultural landscape in world

More: An exhibit highlighting three generations of Wyeths debuts in Delaware at Biggs



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Delaware

Delaware State Fair announces 2025 stars. Taylor Swift won fewer Grammys than one here

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Delaware State Fair announces 2025 stars. Taylor Swift won fewer Grammys than one here


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This holiday season, the Delaware State Fair wants to warm you up for summer 2025 with headliners CeCe Winans and comedian Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias. 

Tickets for both shows are now on sale.  

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Here’s what you need to know about legendary singer CeCe Winans and the acclaimed entertainer Fluffy, plus how to secure tickets to their performances.

Who is Gabriel ‘Fluffy’ Iglesias?  

Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias is arguably the cuddliest comedian in the world. This jolly giant is coming back to Harrington this summer with more shenanigans.  

Fluffy, who headlined the Delaware State Fair in 2023 and 2017, has over 25 million followers across his social media platforms. The comedian’s ability to dish up clean while still making all ages laugh has separated him from the pack. Fluffy will work his magic to squeeze big laughs out of the audience when he returns to the Small Wonder. 

How much are tickets to see Gabriel ‘Fluffy’ Iglesias?

Fluffy’s show at the Delaware State Fair starts at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 20. Tickets are $48-$84. For tickets, visit delawarestatefair.com.

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Who is CeCe Winans?  

CeCe Winans is recognized as the best-selling and most award-winning female gospel artist of all time. She has won 15 Grammy Awards, plus 27 Dove Awards and 16 Stellar Awards, according to her bio.  

Beyond being a respected gospel singer, CeCe has established a legacy as one of the most accomplished female music artists of all time. She currently has one more Grammy Award than superstar singer Taylor Swift.  

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Some of the notable songs CeCe is known for singing include “Goodness of God,” “Holy Forever,” and “Count on Me” with Whitney Houston.  

In October, CeCe dropped her new Christmas album titled “Joyful, Joyful.”   

CeCe is one of 10 siblings in the famous musical family, The Winans, and is widely known for performing alongside her brother Benjamin in the acclaimed duo BeBe & CeCe Winans. In addition to BeBe & CeCe, her parents and siblings have released music under a wide variety of names including Mom and Pop Winans (CeCe’s parents) and The Winans (four of CeCe’s brothers). 

How much are CeCe Winans tickets?

CeCe Winans’ show at the Delaware State Fair starts at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 22. Tickets are $38-$73. For tickets, visit delawarestatefair.com. 

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When is the Delaware State Fair?

The 106th Delaware State Fair (18500 S. Dupont Highway, Harrington) launches for 10 summer days, starting Thursday, July 17 to Saturday, July 26 2025. For more updates on headliners and other information, visit delawarestatefair.com.

If you have an interesting story idea, email lifestyle reporter Andre Lamar at alamar@gannett.com. Consider signing up for his weekly newsletter, DO Delaware, at delawareonline.com/newsletters. 





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Delaware

Sussex County blocks state-approved plan for medical marijuana biz to open store

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Sussex County blocks state-approved plan for medical marijuana biz to open store


Chip Guy, the Sussex County spokesman, said Stark was mistaken in believing the county was awarding her a building permit.

“To be clear, the county DID NOT issue a building permit,’’ Guy said in an emailed response to questions about The Farm’s bid to put astore in Sussex.

Guy said an official “notified the applicant that the building plan review [tenant fit-out] had cleared initial steps. That is but one step that is part of the process in determining whether to issue a building permit in the first place.”

Guy said the county’s “due diligence’’ found that The Farm’s location simply did not qualify for approval.

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Stark remains flabbergasted by the decision, saying she had relied on the state’s approval of the location as well as the state’s identified patient need for that area of Sussex.

“In my mind, when they approved that location and we started spending money and had rent to pay, and drawings put together, and had to start seeking other approvals and permits, it was an established use,” Stark said.

Robert Coupe, the state’s marijuana commissioner, said the state’s hands are tied as long as the current state law remains in effect.

“There’s nothing for me to do. They have to fight that fight,’’ Coupe said of Stark.

Coupe, whose office will soon issue 30 licenses for retail recreational marijuana stores statewide, added that Sussex’s “three-mile buffer, as it currently exists, definitely presents challenges for our selected applicants” in Sussex, where 10 retail licenses will be granted.

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“If it appears that it will be difficult for them to find areas to operate, probably a focus for them will be on specific towns that have said they will allow operations,” he said.

Guy, who has not agreed to do any interviews on the Sussex law, wrote last month that he disagrees with the assertion that no parcels exist in unincorporated Sussex for retail stores. Yet he would not identify any permitted sites, or consent to a request by WHYY News to analyze the zoning map to find any.

Stark said she has spoken to a lawyer about her options, and if her efforts fail, is also considering whether to find a site elsewhere in Sussex, perhaps within the town limits of Frankford, which hasn’t banned cannabis stores.

“It’s ridiculous,’’ Stark said of her company’s predicament in Sussex. “And more people just need to know it’s ridiculous.”

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U.S. House GOP bans Delaware’s U.S. Rep. from same-sex bathrooms

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U.S. House GOP bans Delaware’s U.S. Rep. from same-sex bathrooms


From Philly and the Pa. suburbs to South Jersey and Delaware, what would you like WHYY News to cover? Let us know!

Rep. Nancy Mace, R-South Carolina, has introduced legislation that would bar transgender women from using women’s restrooms and other facilities on federal property.

It comes just a few days after she filed a resolution intended to institute a bathroom ban in parts of the U.S. Capitol complex that she said was targeted at Delaware Congresswoman-elect Sarah McBride, a Democrat, who First State voters elected to serve as the first openly transgender person in Congress just two weeks ago.

Mace said to reporters Monday that McBride, who she misgendered during her comments, didn’t “belong in women’s spaces, bathrooms and locker rooms.”

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While not specifically mentioning Mace’s bills, House Speaker Mike Johnson issued a statement Wednesday dictating that House policy in January would ban transgender women from using facilities — like bathrooms and locker rooms — that do not correspond with the sex they were assigned at birth.

“All single-sex facilities in the Capitol and House Office Buildings — such as restrooms, changing rooms, and locker rooms — are reserved for individuals of that biological sex,” Johnson said in a statement. It was not clear how the policy would be enforced.

“Each Member office has its own private restroom, and unisex restrooms are available throughout the Capitol,” he added.

Mace’s resolution, which she said she wanted to be included in the rules package for the next Congress, requires the House sergeant at arms to enforce the ban.



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