In spite of the list before me, writing this note takes priority this morning. Over the past couple days of recovery I have had time to contemplate the experience that I just had the opportunity to participate in. It is an experience and a memory that will surely stay with me for years to come.  Those moments are few in life so it is worthy to stop, ponder, and take notice.

The thought that recurs over and over is of a selfless gift that was given to the Dunnings.  The credit for that surely goes to the Schell Brothers.  It is truly a noble act when one seeks out individuals that have the capacity and history of selfless giving to others and then enables them to do even more.  It goes beyond the good PR for the company and it goes beyond the basic charitable giving expected by a company of this caliber.  It shows real leadership.  It also illustrates the power of having a team and not just employees.  I have not met a Schell Employee that is not empowered with a Can Do attitude, a smile, and a great deal of professionalism (not to mention a love for the company they work for).  I take my hat off to each and every one of you for all that you have done with this community, the Extreme Makeover, and with our home.  You have set an excellent example in the community in which you do business and, with the coming show, nationally… and that will create even more ripples that could turn into waves as you inspire others to do the same.

You have also given me pause to adjust my attitude a bit.  Over the years one becomes a bit hardened after dealing with the majority of businesses out there that fall short of expectations.  When I first encountered Schell your reputation was great.  I on the other hand am not one to give much credit to reputation freely.  I have to see it for myself.  During the early months of planning our new home, there were a few bumps in the road, I jumped to conclusions and my defenses were solid.  I have learned a few things…where I looked at bumps as ominous signs…you all looked at them as opportunities.  And I then watched as you truly have stepped up to the plate.  Our home is not yet finished, but I don’t worry about my builder anymore… you have Earned my respect.

Though, like you, I gave it my all for 8 days without complaint, I have also noted how easily ego rears its head as I have made note to a few people in the last two days of how tired I was or how many hours I worked…  that too is a flaw on my part.  I didn’t hear a single complaint from a Schell employee or a need for them to note their individual contributions though surely I witnessed their exhaustion after countless hours on site.  It shows that as a team and as individuals there is real moral fiber in the Schell Brothers choice of employees.  I even sense that is prerequisite for employment side by side with skills.  This too reflects on your leadership.

Additionally noteworthy was to watch what happened to and within the community.  I have always believed that, given the opportunity, people will set aside their own needs and desires to help others.  With all of the troubles in the world we need occasional reminders of our humanity.  Many lessons have been learned this week by many people about the strength and power of giving.  It is a lesson that for many will spark a whole new facet of their lives that will continue for years to come.  That is the ancillary benefit often overlooked but equally as important as the past week.  Perhaps a few more people will join the volunteers at Juust Sooup, perhaps they will seek out others in need in the community, perhaps the young people that attended will open new dialogues about their purpose and value in a community.  This would not have happened without all of you.

I am but one person sharing my thoughts but you should know that I am not alone.  I am very grateful for what you have done, I am proud of all of you as individuals and as a company, I am pleased to know I chose the right builder and the right community.

Thank YOU

Alan B. Tuttle
Reserves at Lewes Landing

State of the art trussing technology is instrumental in designing and manufacturing today’s gabled roof designs, sturdy walls and flooring.

To meet modern day creative design challenges, the progressive and innovative thinkers at Concord Truss design and build trusses at their 45,000 square foot facility in Woodbury Heights, New Jersey. It has achieved the reputation of being one of the largest, most efficient plants of its kind in the United States.

Concord Truss’ focus on quality products, service, and integrity has made them the go-to source for trussing in the mid-Atlantic area. When asked about how they got involved in the Sussex County Extreme Makeover project, company spokesman Darin Phalines said “Chris (Schell) asked us if we wanted to help out, and we’re not going to say “no” to Schell Brothers! We’ve always had a good relationship with them- we like how they respond to us.”

The scope of the Sussex County build is enormous. “Today has been about everything,” says Darin. “The floors, the walls and the roof- it’s a big package deal.” A non-Extreme Makeover trussing project as large as this would take weeks, instead of hours, to complete.”The challenge of the day was how fast it went up, and how quick it had to come together,” says Darin.

Thank you, Concord Truss for generously provided the trussing used in our Sussex County Extreme Makeover Home Edition build.

For information on Concord Truss Company, visit www.concordtruss.com.

It’s amazing that “Slower Lower” Sussex County will be the focus of Extreme Makover: Home Edition.  A well deserving family will be awarded the surprise of their lifetime, but along with that, the show offers much more than entertainment. It’s an opportunity for the community to come together, to overcome struggles, and to share in the joys.

A build project of this magnitude is only successful because of the volunteers, sponsors and donors that open more than their hearts.

It was surprising to see a thrift shop on the list of cash sponsors for this Extreme Makeover project, and even more surprising that they were able to donate $5,000! During these hard economic times, they contributed a substantial amount of money.

A Friendly Visit

On Monday I went to visit All Saints’ Parish Thrift Shop in the Rehoboth Plaza. They are in what is often called “the forgotten mile”, but the area is not forgotten by any means. There is plenty of commerce on both sides of Coastal Highway; you’ve probably been caught in its traffic as you traveled north or south on Ocean Highway.

For a Monday morning, it was packed.  Were they giving something away?  The shop appeared to be quite stocked, even after the weekend. Very organized with friendly staffers helping the customers.

If anyone knows the hardships of someone in need is All Saints’ Parish Thrift Shop.  It contributes to about 60 charities in Sussex County, besides the individual needs of some in the community, and other support organizations.

The Organizers

I met Lynn Kaplan and Richard Faull, who with an army of about 60 volunteers of all denominations make the Thrift Shop a must stop shop for quality and affordable merchandise.  Since 1994 this shop has been serving collectors, people living on a fixed income, students, and those that just love the art of “thrifting” – that love of rummaging through second hand stores, finding treasures that perhaps were someone’s trash, or imagining what the former life of the item was like.

Lynn loves taking customers around, putting an outfit together and making suggestions.  She said they have the best customers.

I wanted to meet them because I might not recognize them tonight at the Pep Rally.  Will they be crying or laughing?  Richard said he cries easily.  It will, definitely, be an emotionally charged evening.

The Pep Rally + Benefit Concert will take place at Cape Henlopen High School in Lewes, Delaware.  It will unite the community as a whole and it will be very powerful. I hope to see you there!

All Saints’ Parish Thrift Shop
in the Rehoboth Plaza
20673 Coastal Highway
Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
302-226-3123
www.rehoboththriftshop.org

The Thrift Shop is open for business and donations, Mondays through Fridays, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

The Thrift Shop is also a member of the Lewes-Rehoboth Association of Churches, which is a group of different denominations, together meeting the needs of others.

All Saints’ Parish Thrift Shop is directly associated with All Saints’ Church, 18 Olive Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 and St. George’s Chapel, 20274 Beaver Dam Rd., Rt. 23, Harbeson, Delaware 19951.

Selecting the options for your new home, though exciting, can sometimes be a daunting experience. You may feel overwhelmed by the numerous options from which to select, or nervous about the finality of selecting items for a house which will be your home for many years. In order to make the process enjoyable, simple and seamless, here are some tips to help you along. First and foremost, think about the way you live. By considering the following questions, you will be sure to personalize your home to best suit your design tastes, as well as your needs.

• Will this be a full-time or part-time residence?
• How many people will be living in this home? What are their ages? Do any of the residents have special needs?
• How do you plan to use the space in your home? Is a home office necessary? Would you like to designate space for a home gym? Do you love to entertain? Think about how you use your time each day and how much of that time will be spent in your new home.
• Do you have pets? Consider flooring selections carefully – the nails of animals can scratch hardwood floors and catch in looped carpets.
• What do you love about your existing home that you want to replicate in your new one? What do you wish to change?
• What do you love? Which styles and colors make you happy? What do you find visually pleasing?
• What items are you bringing with you? If you have rugs, pieces of furniture, media equipment and/or artwork you will be showcasing in your new home, consider where they will be placed. Is wall space, lighting, electrical, etc. adequate for each item?

When preparing to meet with your builder’s selections professional, you may want to consider doing some homework prior to the meeting.
• Know what is available. Research the products offered by your builder. If possible, schedule some time to look around the design center prior to your appointment day.
• Look through home design books and magazines. Bring pictures that reflect the styles you like.
• Don’t forget the exterior! It can be challenging to select the color for the exterior of your home from a small sample. Drive through existing communities and look for exteriors you like and snap pictures of them for reference.

Most importantly, have fun with it! Your home is a reflection of you and how you live. There are no wrong answers. If you love it, go for it!

Erika Fields is the Selections Coordinator for Schell Brothers and has assisted over 300 customers in choosing the options for their new Schell Brothers home.

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.