Delaware
Guidance counselor claims retaliation after filing sexual harassment complaint
ANDES — A steerage counselor at this small Delaware County faculty district within the western Catskills says she was retaliated towards after submitting a sexual harassment criticism towards her boss, Andes Superintendent Robert Chakar.
The counselor submitted the criticism throughout an inner investigation by the Andes Board of Schooling towards Chakar, who has been on administrative go away because the inquiry was launched in mid-February. The district is present process a separate investigation by the U.S. Division of Schooling associated to Chakar’s alleged behaviors.
The counselor is the third girl the Instances Union has spoken to who has filed complaints as a part of the investigations towards Chakar.
Performing Andes Superintendent Patrick Darfler-Sweeny stated the counselor’s resignation, which got here after Darfler-Sweeny really useful her termination, was completely unrelated to the investigation and stemmed from a parental criticism towards the counselor.
The counselor, who requested her identify not be used to guard her profession, was employed in January 2020. Chakar started having “sexually laden conversations” along with her that fall, in accordance with her criticism, a duplicate of which was given to the Instances Union.
The dialogue revolved round making an attempt to get his spouse pregnant by the in vitro fertilization (IVF) course of and all of the sexual activity he allegedly stated was required as a part of that, in accordance with the criticism.
“He would focus on all the a great deal of intercourse they wanted to have and the way that may be actually nice but in addition very consuming to his life,” in accordance with the criticism. “He would then clarify ‘morning, evening, quite a few occasions. It is all that is on the thoughts, intercourse, intercourse, and extra intercourse.’”
It was unclear why Chakar would allegedly join having ample intercourse and IVF. In IVF, a girls’s eggs are faraway from her ovaries and inseminated in a lab earlier than being inserted into her uterus. No intercourse is required to get pregnant when utilizing IVF.
When requested in an interview, the counselor stated she didn’t notice IVF didn’t contain sexual exercise and couldn’t clarify why Chakar allegedly linked the 2.
The conversations would all the time occur when nobody else was current after Chakar had come to her workplace, or after she had been summoned to his, in accordance with the criticism.
Initially, the counselor thought the dialog was harmless, she stated.
“The primary time he got here to me I actually thought he was simply an odd superintendent, and in a roundabout way he was making an attempt to acquaint me to his household and the neighborhood as a result of it’s a really small place,” she stated.
Nonetheless, Chakar got here to her workplace and talked about intercourse together with his spouse at the least 4 different occasions in the course of the 2020-2021 faculty 12 months, in accordance with the criticism.
“I’ve by no means as soon as engaged on this language or conversations,” in accordance with the criticism. “As soon as it had been introduced up so many occasions, I started simply politely slicing him off by saying ‘sure, sure, I do know all about this, we’ve gone over it.’”
The counselor’s criticism to the Andes Board of Schooling is dated Feb. 17, three days after the board acquired the criticism that set off the harassment investigation, however earlier than Chakar was placed on administrative go away. The criticism was submitted on to the varsity board, because the legislation agency that took on the investigation, Binghamton-based Coughlin & Gerhart, had not but been contracted.
The preliminary criticism was filed by a father or mother, who additionally filed a criticism with the U.S. Division of Schooling’s Workplace of Civil Rights (OCR), which is endeavor its personal investigation. The OCR criticism, a duplicate of which was given to the Instances Union, states Chakar put his hand on a fifth grader’s shoulder whereas they had been alone in a college lobby, and the scholar thought of it unwelcome.
The counselor was placed on paid go away April 28, about two-and-a-half months after making the criticism, and acquired discover from Darfler-Sweeny on Could 13 that he could be recommending her for termination on the subsequent faculty board assembly. She resigned Could 24.
She believes she was pushed out due to her criticism.
Darfler-Sweeny, the appearing superintendent, stated she was placed on go away after the district acquired a criticism concerning the counselor from a father or mother.
The district seemed into the criticism, which led to the advice the counselor be terminated, in accordance with Darfler-Sweeny. The counselor had been employed for a four-year probationary time period, versus being tenured, and was capable of be fired at will.
Personnel confidentiality legal guidelines precluded Darfler-Sweeny from discussing the criticism additional.
The choice had “completely, positively” nothing to do with something aside from the criticism towards the counselor, Darfler-Sweeny added.
The board of training’s investigation into allegations towards Chakar is ongoing. In addition to the complaints from the counselor and the preliminary criticism from the father or mother, the Instances Union has reviewed a 3rd criticism.
In that criticism, a father or mother states the superintendent commented on her daughter’s physique, “remarking on her maturing ‘breast buds,’ ” a press release the father or mother referred to as “profoundly disturbing and inappropriate.” The father or mother had not talked about the incident beforehand as a result of they feared retaliation, in accordance with the criticism.
The Delaware County Sheriff’s Workplace opened an investigation into the preliminary criticism, however closed it in early Could with none fees being filed.
Chakar and his legal professional haven’t returned requires remark.
Chakar was beforehand investigated by a college board for harassment. He was pressured to resign because the assistant principal at a Bristol, Connecticut center faculty after the inner investigation revealed he repeatedly sexually harassed employees and spoke to women on the faculty inappropriately.
Andes College Board President Kelly Bauer beforehand stated as a lot of the present inner investigation could be launched as was legally potential.
Delaware
Burn Ban lifted in Delaware – 47abc
DELAWARE – Delaware State Fire Marshals have announced that the statewide Burn Ban has been lifted as of Monday morning.
Residents are encouraged to continue practicing safety when burning fires outside, including keeping a fire at least 50 feet from all structures and never leaving a fire unattended.
Delaware
Delaware Lottery Play 3 Day, Play 3 Night winning numbers for Nov. 24, 2024
Claiming lottery in Delaware
18 states have laws that allow national lottery prize jackpot winners to remain anonymous, but is Delaware among them?
The Delaware Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024 results for each game:
Winning Play 3 numbers from Nov. 24 drawing
Day: 4-9-0
Night: 1-8-8
Check Play 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Play 4 numbers from Nov. 24 drawing
Day: 2-9-0-8
Night: 5-6-2-2
Check Play 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Multi-Win Lotto numbers from Nov. 24 drawing
03-05-09-28-30-32
Check Multi-Win Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Nov. 24 drawing
07-11-14-26-48, Lucky Ball: 15
Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Play 5 numbers from Nov. 24 drawing
Day: 5-9-1-9-2
Night: 9-6-2-2-3
Check Play 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
- Sign the Ticket: Establish legal ownership by signing the back of your ticket with an ink pen.
- Prizes up to $599: Claim at any Delaware Lottery Retailer, in person at the Delaware Lottery Office, or mail your signed ticket and claim form; print your name/address on the ticket’s back and keep a copy/photo for records. By mail, send original tickets and documentation to: Delaware Lottery, 1575 McKee Road, Suite 102, Dover, DE 19904.
- Prizes up to $2,500: Claim in person at Delaware Lottery Retailer Claim Centers throughout Kent, Sussex and New Castle Counties.
- Prizes of $5,001 or more: Claim in person at the Delaware Lottery Office (business days 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) with a photo ID and Social Security card.
- For all prize claims, directions to the Delaware Lottery Office are available online or via mapquest.com for a map.
Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Delaware Lottery.
Can I claim a jackpot prize anonymously in Delaware?
Fortunately for First State residents, the Delaware Lottery allows winners remain anonymous. Unlike many other states that require a prize be over a certain jackpot, Delawareans can remain anonymous no matter how much, or how little, they win.
How long do I have to claim my prize in Delaware?
Tickets are valid for up to one year past the drawing date for drawing game prizes or within one year of the announced end of sales for Instant Games, according to delottery.com.
When are the Delaware Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday.
- Play 3, 4: Daily at 1:58 p.m. and 7:57 p.m., except Sunday afternoon.
- Multi-Win Lotto: 7:57 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: Daily at 10:38 p.m.
- Lotto America: 11:00 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday
Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Delaware Online digital operations manager. You can send feedback using this form.
Delaware
Autumn’s newest tradition: The Delaware Fall Festival at Battery Park
The story behind the Kalmar Nyckel
Here’s the story behind the Kalmar Nyckel, the Swedish Mayflower of the Delaware Valley. 10/29/24
Sunday’s autumn weather was perfect for the inaugural Delaware Fall Festival.
The event took place at Battery Park in the historic Old New Castle area of New Castle, providing the ideal setting for a community gathering and a worthy cause.
The free event was organized to raise funds and awareness for the New Castle Outdoor Recreation Coalition’s planned expansion of the park’s playground. Phase 2 of the Battery Park Playground Project will feature a replica of the Kalmar Nyckel, the Swedish flagship that brought settlers who established the first permanent European settlement in the Delaware Valley in 1638.
The festival featured live entertainment, children’s activities, and various food vendors.
Renee Duval, a three-year resident of New Castle, attended the festival with her husband and two children. As regular visitors to Battery Park who often stroll the path near Deemers Beach, they were excited to explore the event after hearing about the food trucks, music, and vendors.
Among the vendors was Theresa Batts, owner of Batts Concessions from Hartford County, Maryland, who learned about the festival through social media. She said the timing was perfect. She and her husband prefer to sell on weekends, but it is very hard to find events on a Sunday. And this weekend, they were celebrating their business’s first anniversary. Batts Concessions offered an array of treats, including kettle corn, homemade peanut brittle, various nuts, and cotton candy. When asked how sales were going, Batts replied, “Fantastic. No complaints. We would definitely do it again next year.”
Delaware Fall Festival organizers hope to make this an annual tradition for the historic waterfront community.
You can contact Anitra Johnson at ajohnson@delawareonline.com.
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