Delaware
Sussex broker tapped to lead Delaware Association of Realtors
George Thomasson, a Sussex County Realtor and associate broker with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty, was installed Jan. 12 as the 2024 president of the 4,400-plus-member Delaware Association of Realtors by his longtime broker, Bette Gallo. The ceremony, held at Wild Quail Golf & Country Club, included installation of the organization’s full slate of officers and directors for the year.
At the Inspire: Inaugural Luncheon, Thomasson shared his 2024 strategic initiatives to inspire future association leaders with a leadership academy, bolster the awareness of Realtors’ value to the public, and sign a memorandum of understanding with the National Association of Real Estate Brokers to create a more inclusive environment for Black real estate professionals.
As president, Thomasson will preside at all meetings of the DAR board of directors and executive committee, and will serve as an ex officio member of all DAR committees and work groups. He will also serve as the official spokesperson for the association on issues related to the real estate industry as well as local residential and commercial markets in Delaware. He also will represent DAR and its members on the National Association of Realtors board of directors and at local, state and national functions.
Originally from the Washington, D.C. area, Thomasson’s journey in the industry began in 1987 when he obtained his D.C. real estate license. His career has spanned various ventures, from co-founding the Eklektikos Gallery of Art in Georgetown, D.C., with his life partner of 30 years, Michael Sprouse, to relocating to Delaware and rekindling his passion for real estate in 2003 at Gallo Realty (now BHHS PenFed Realty). Also, he serves on the Lewes Historic Preservation and Architectural Review Commission.
Thomasson boasts a distinguished track record of service within the Sussex County Association of Realtors, including his presidency in 2022. He also held the pivotal position of 2023 DAR Public Policy Committee chair and has been an esteemed DAR board member since 2018. With this extensive background, Thomasson brings a wealth of experience and unwavering leadership to his new role.
The full slate of 2024 DAR officers includes: President George Thomasson (Sussex County), President-elect Scott Farnan (New Castle County); Vice President Steve Schmidt (Kent County), Treasurer Steve Alexander (Sussex County), and Chief Executive Officer and Board Secretary Wesley T. Stefanick.
Directors installed from Sussex County are SCAOR President Adriane Gallagher, Bruce Plummer, Kevin Thawley, Allison Stine, Joe Maggio and Dr. Susan Giove. Chrissy Steele of Sussex County, immediate DAR past president, and Trina Joyner, SCAOR National Association of Realtors director, were installed as general members.
For more information, go to delawarerealtor.com.
Community members lined the streets of Media on Saturday for the fourth annual Delco Pride Parade, celebrating visibility, community and support for LGBTQ+ residents across Delaware County.
Marchers carrying rainbow flags, signs and banners made their way through downtown Media before gathering at the Delaware County Courthouse for a Pride flag-raising ceremony.
For many attendees, the event represented more than a celebration.
“I think it’s so special…in a community where Pride isn’t a long-established tradition…to be able to have people be so out and proud, visible in the community,” said Abby Weissman, who marched alongside fellow members of the Hedgerow Theatre Company.
The message resonated with attendees of all ages.
“Everyone’s expressing themselves,” 11-year-old Madelyn Rothdeutsch Keckler said. “Not what people want them to be, just what they are,”
Others said the event reflected personal journeys toward acceptance.
Francis Palmarino, who marched with members of his church community, said finding a welcoming congregation helped him embrace his identity as a bisexual man.
“It’s not something to be scared of,” Palmarino said. “The idea of Pride is to celebrate togetherness.”
Parents and allies also turned out to show support for LGBTQ+ loved ones.
“It’s important for parents like me to be visible in this parade because then they know that no matter what, they are always loved,” said Nikki Brake-Silla, who attended in support of her daughter.
Volunteers with the organization Free Mom Hugs offered encouragement to attendees whose families may not be as supportive.
“Even if someone’s birth family is not accepting of them, we like to let them know there’s a place for them,” said Bonnie Kaplan.
Following the parade, eventgoers gathered outside the Delaware County Courthouse as the Pride flag was raised and members of the Transcendent Choir performed.
A.K. Hazel, a nonbinary advocate for transgender youth, said the ceremony was moving.
“I got very emotional because getting to raise the Pride flag here at all means so much, knowing that my community believes in me and the people that I love,” Hazel said.
The Delco Pride Festival is scheduled for June 13 in Upper Darby.
Meet the calves at Knutsen Farms in Harrington
The family dairy farm recently won a conservation award.
June means blueberry season is here, and Delaware has several farms offering u-pick fruit.
Whether you’re looking for farm-fresh produce to munch on or local ingredients for your summer baking, here’s where you can pick your own blueberries in Delaware this year.
Fifer Orchards, Camden
Recognized as a Delaware century family farm after opening in 1919, Fifer Orchards in Camden typically offers blueberry picking Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (exit by 5 p.m.) for the U-Pick experience.
For even more fun, U-Play admission features yard games, photo opportunities, food and picnic tables and restrooms for public use. The farm also has Saturdays Extras events with even more to do.
You also can stop by the Farm Store to purchase local goodies and a selection of the orchard’s fresh fruits and vegetables.
If you find yourself getting hungry after picking blueberries, the Farm Kitchen building sells a variety of lunch and dessert items.
The farm uses its Facebook page to keep guests updated on daily picking conditions and orchard offerings.
1919 Allabands Mill Road, Camden, (302) 697-2141; fiferorchards.com/
Bennett Orchards, Frankford
Bennett Orchards is another location offering u-pick blueberries. This Frankford farm has several varieties of blueberries and sells produce at various farmers markets throughout the beach towns if you can’t fit in a day of picking.
The farm provides wagons free of charge to help with the picking experience, and Bennett Orchards’ picking containers can be used on return visits for a discount.
Keep tabs on their website for updates on u-pick offerings this summer.
31442 Peach Tree Lane, Frankford,(302) 732-3358; bennettorchards.com/.
Kingsley Orchards, Frankford
Kingsley Orchards in Frankford is well-known for several types of u-pick berries.
If you’re new to the orchard or have never picked your own fruit before, find one of their farmers for a quick lesson on all things u-pick!
Keep an eye on their Facebook page for updates on u-pick hours and availability.
24349 Blueberry Lane, Frankford,(302) 238-0105;www.kingsleyorchards.com/index.html.
Parsons Farms Produce, Dagsboro
Parsons Farms Produce in Dagsboro has u-pick blueberries and other fruits available during the spring and summer months.
To make the u-pick outing complete, they also have fresh beef for sale, a country store filled with fresh produce, ice cream, events and farm animals available for feeding and petting.
The farm’s Facebook page will provide u-pick updates as the crops become available.
30391 Armory Road, Dagsboro, (302) 732-3336; parsonsfarmsproduce.com/.
Got a tip or a story idea? Contact Krys’tal Griffin at kgriffin@delawareonline.com.
300 years later, Shad welcomed back to Brandywine
Dam removal begins in the Brandywine as the Shad and other fish are welcomed back to historic breeding grounds. The project is the first of many on the waterway and one of a series in the Delaware River watershed.
William Bretzger, The News Journal
The Delaware history column features excerpts from The News Journal archives including The Morning News and The Evening Journal. See the archives at delawareonline.com.
20 years ago, The News Journal, June 7, 2006
100-year-old Stone Balloon demolished for condominiums
There was no ceremony or parting words. Just the sound of the orange high-reach excavator machine as it began clawing into the wall of the Stone Balloon tavern on East Main Street in Newark.
A large crowd gathered Tuesday to watch the 100-year-old building come down. As the familiar walls crumbled, they snapped photos on their digital cameras and cell phones.
Owner Jim Baeurle will replace the tavern with a 54-unit project called the Washington House Condominium, as well as retail and office space. Demolition could take several days. Construction is set to start in July.
“To me, the emotional part was on Dec. 17, saying goodbye to the staff and customers,” Baeurie said before the demolition. “But now we turn the page and bring to Main Street what I tried to do for two years. The excitement outweighs the sadness.”
University of Delaware students, residents and business owners had mixed emotions.
Travis Duke, 22, a UD senior from Wilmington, went to the Balloon every Thursday night for two years. His dad went there in the 1970s to watch George Thorogood perform.
“I’m upset,” Duke said. “You can’t really replace the Stone Balloon with condos. It was a one-of-a-kind type of place.”…
The Stone Balloon was opened by Bill Stevenson in 1972.
“I don’t think people will ever realize how much fun we had at this building,” Stevenson said.
50 years ago, The Morning News, June 9, 1976
Governor vetoes bill to merge 3 vo-tech schools
Fearing more problems with budget deficits and desegregation, Gov. Sherman W. Tribbitt yesterday announced his veto of a bill to put three New Castle County vocational schools under the control of a single school board. ….
The bill would have given the New Castle County Vocational Technical Board of Education control over Wilmington’s Howard Career Center which opened last year and Newark’s Hodgson Vocational-Technical School, due to open this fall. …
Before making the decision, Tribbitt talked with Albert H. Jones Jr., president of the State Board of Education. He also met with vo-tech officials and school superintendents from Wilmington and Newark which would have lost control of their vocational schools through the bill….
While vetoing the merger bill, Tribbitt let stand the two companion measures. Those bills increase the vo-tech property tax from 3 cents per $100 of assessed valuation to 4 cents in Sussex County, 4 cents this year and 5 cents next year in Kent County, and 8 cents in New Castle County. The revenues raised in New Castle County will be split, based on enrollment, among the Wilmington, Newark and vo-tech districts.
Tribbitt said the cost of consolidating the three vocational schools under one board would be greater than the increased taxes would raise. The problem, he said, is “leveling up,” which state law requires when districts are consolidated. By putting three schools under one district’s control, the district would have to pay all staff according to a pay scale equal to the highest now existing at any of them. That, Tribbitt said, would have created at least a $300,000 deficit next year.
Desegregation was mentioned indirectly in the veto message, but Jones elaborated on it. In consolidating, Jones said, the district’s three schools would have to meet U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare standards. Those standards require that the district couldn’t have one school with mostly white students while another was mostly black or have a similar racial imbalance between teachers at different schools.
Meeting those guidelines, Tribbitt said, could have meant “significant shifts” in students, teachers, administrators and programs. “It could have meant busing,” a Tribbitt aide noted.
100 years ago, The Evening Journal, June 12, 1926
Wilmington to join in nation’s 150th birthday celebration
Wilmington Mayor Forrest, at 11:11 a.m. on June 28, simultaneously with the ringing of the Liberty Bell by Mayor Kendrick in Philadelphia, will ring a bell in this city, as an echo of the tolling of the symbol of liberty.
The ringing of the bell will be a signal for the commencement of American Independence Week.
President Coolidge in Washington is expected to perform a similar service, and each of the state governors are expected at that time to toll a bell in the state capitols.
The week has been set aside by a special act of Congress for the celebration of the 150th birthday of the Declaration of Independence and commemorating the Centennial of the death of its author, Thomas Jefferson.
Claude G. Bowers, executive secretary of the national commission, yesterday wired Mayor Forrest about the celebration and received an immediate return telegram from the mayor assuring the commission of his fullest cooperation. …
The tentative program follows: “Patriot’s Pledge of Faith Day” on Monday, “Universal Education Day” Tuesday, “Founders Day” Wednesday, “Great American Day” Thursday, “Signers Day” Friday, “Monticello Day” Saturday, “Jefferson Centennial Day” Sunday and “Sesqui-Centennial Independence Day” on Monday.
Reach reporter Ben Mace at rmace@gannett.com.
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