As a professional living in the Northern Virginia/Washington DC metro area for the past 10 years, life was good in many ways.  For those of you who are familiar with living in that area, there are many things to do and see in addition to delicious places to eat. The employment and cultural opportunities are good and I truly thought I was living.  But let’s face it, getting from point A to point B can be stressful. If you have ever driven the Capital Beltway or Rt. 66, you know what I’m talking about.

About 7 years after living the “Good Life” I began to tire of the rat race and commuting an hour morning and night when I worked 14 miles from home! I was in dire need of a break. I began a search for a place where I could get away from it all  but not so far that it would require more that a weekend trip.  I thought of Virginia Beach, Ocean City, the Shenandoah Mountains, and everything in between. Then a co-worker mentioned a place called Lewes, Delaware. DELAWARE? I thought to myself as I scratched my head, wondering if my co-worker had been having happy hour on his lunch break.  What the heck is in Delaware?

I immediately went to my computer and did an Internet search of Lewes, DE and the following weekend I plugged  in the address of a local hotel into my GPS and off I went to explore unknown territory. My trip took me through rural areas with nothing but cornfields, soybean fields, and dairy farms and I found myself enjoying the scenery.  For a change, I was not experiencing a white-knuckle trip on the beltway.  Yet, although my goal was to escape the city, I didn’t think I was ready for the country life. Two and half hours later, I arrived at my destination.  At that moment my life changed. I was in a place that immediately felt like “home”.  I knew in my heart and mind that I had been called to this magical place called Lewes, DE. The streets were lined with quaint shops that offer everything from A to Z. The people were genuinely friendly, and happy to have me visit their town.  I could go on and on about my weekend in what I would call “paradise” , but to make my long story short. I do believe in love at first sight. I have since left the hustle and bustle of the city behind me and moved to “Paradise”.  Now my life here is simple and stress-free. I no longer drive on beltways, but on quaint streets and pleasant roads.  If you want a taste of Paradise, come to DELAWARE!

Wednesday, August 24th at the VIP Tent at 4:00 p.m. is when several renowned area chefs will be dueling for bragging rights.

One chef pondering what to serve 200 guests is Gretchen Hanson.  She is the Executive Chef of Hobos Restaurant & Bar, a trendy spot on Baltimore Avenue in downtown Rehoboth Beach.  Website? www.myhobos.com.

This is her contribution to the build project of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.  She wants to provide delicious food for volunteers and special guests, and to battle and duel and ultimately win that coveted prize.  She has been rounding up her troops, including her soon-to-be husband, Michael Daley.  Her demeanor?  Cool as a cucumber.

Gretchen has embraced more of a plant-based food culture.  You know, less milk and animal protein.  But she will be the first to tell you that she is not the perfect Vegan.

Her food has wonderful colors and textures.  They appeal to diverse palates.

Her restaurant is sensitive to people with food related allergies.  Gretchen’s concern for the environment carries into her restaurant; Hobos is a green establishment.

I know what she is making for the Challenge; I am not telling.  Remember, there are some that will win the battle, but Gretchen wants to win the war.

I have heard Gretchen say “Your Path, Your Journey, Your Choices”, a statement that so perfectly describes Rev. Dale Dunning and Jusst Sooup Ministry.  It has been her path, her journey, and most definitely her choice.

Sooo, why don’t we have some fun and let the duel begin…Talk to you later.

Cape Henlopen High School in Lewes recently went through its own extreme makeover, so it was the perfect venue for the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Pep Rally.  The beautiful school hosted more than just a rally, the event was pretty much a celebration.

What’s the saying?  If you build it, they will come.  Well the building hasn’t even started yet, but we were all there.  Mascots, children, and adults.  I think I even saw a dog.  And those with physical challenges did not let that stop them.

Over 2,000 people from all over Sussex County came out to support the Extreme Makeover project!

You know when people say “you had to be there”.  That’s exactly what I am telling you too.  It was exciting, moving and also a learning experience.  The work that goes on behind the scenes is exhausting, but so rewarding. 

The history of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is like no other.  The stories of despair were very moving, and the stories of giving someone hope – priceless.

And so we listened, gathered and asked: What else do you need?  Plenty still is needed.  Everyone was giving their names or someone else’s name they thought could help.  Remember, the house is pretty much going to be built in 4 days.

When the rally was over, it was time for the Building Happiness Benefit Concert and what fun it was!!  The theater at Cape is beautiful.  There was entertainment for everyone in the audience. Some were singing, some were clapping, and some were even tapping their toes. 

Thanks to Schell Brothers and all the generous sponsors for a truly unforgeable evening.  I left with a smile on my face and as I write this post my smile is still there; it is midnight.

The fun is just beginning… stay tuned.

One of my favorite things to do in June is pick local blueberries. Here in Sussex County, Delaware, there is a large blueberry farm near Dagsboro where you can go to pick your own berries. The fields are open 7 days a week. Here are some tips from a local:

• Wear a hat no matter how overcast.
• Spray your legs with bug spray.
• Take water to drink.
• Bring a bucket! The farm provides buckets for picking, but don’t forget to take containers to bring the berries home.
• Blueberries freeze well, but make sure you DON’T rinse them before you freeze them. Rinse them when you are ready to thaw and use them.
• They are sold by the pound. Here’s the best part: you can eat while you pick, and they don’t weigh you on the way out!

I use the berries for pies, muffins, pancakes and just plain old snacking. Close to home, fresh off the vine and supplying antioxidants that taste good – what a great way to spend an afternoon!

For information call 302-238-7043.

Happy picking!

Barbara Dean is a Sussex County native, born and raised in Lewes, Delaware. Barbara is the Controller at Schell Brothers and has been with the company for 5 years.

Thanks to Twitter and Schell Brothers (@SchellBrothers) we learned this week that Delaware is officially the best place to retire. Kiplinger’s Magazine researched the total tax burden — income taxes, property taxes and sales taxes — for a typical retired couple in each of the 50 states and Washington, DC. And the results are clear: Delaware retirees pay far less in taxes than retirees living anywhere else in the country.

Retirees who live on a fixed income need to choose their place of retirement wisely. With taxes sometimes taking a big chunk of the household budget, retirees should look for areas that offer low taxes overall, and a state with no income tax (like Florida or Texas) isn’t always the answer.

Kiplinger’s factored in the finances, expenses and incomes of a hypothetical couple with each state’s average home price and compared the “retirement tax bite” state by state. Living in Delaware, the average retired couple enjoys zero income tax, zero sales tax and relatively low property taxes. According to Kiplinger’s a couple in Delaware can expect to pay about $543 a year in taxes.

Taxes in the runner up state, Alaska, are nearly double that at $1,032 and in Pennsylvania, the country’s least tax friendly place for retirees, couples can expect to pay about $7,391 in taxes. For all the results and details, check out the original article here.

You can read the whole blog here.

We’ve been saying it for a long time, and finally it’s catching on! Delaware IS the best place to retire in the US! Read more about why Delaware is for you over at Delaware4U.