“When I saw the opportunity, I wanted to jump in and get involved,” says Joe Kollock, co-president of Harvest Garden Pro. “I’m one of those Extreme Makeover crybabies.” You’re not alone, Joe. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition often reduces caring people to tears when we realize just how compassionate a community can be, and how powerful the show is.

“This project will have a positive impact at a grassroots level. We wanted to be a part of that effort. The fact that it’s a local project in our backyard also inspired us to contribute,” says Meredith Sorenson, marketing manager for Harvest Garden Pro. And, adds Meredith, “we appreciate Extreme Makeover: Home Edition’s focus on family. Strong families help build resilient communities.”

Harvest Garden Pro sells top quality mulches, potting mixes and garden soils that are available at independently owned garden centers, as well as at Home Depot and Lowe’s. “We like to think it’s the best landscaping material in the country,” says Joe. Harvest Garden Pro’s products “offer homeowners and landscape designers the opportunity to enhance their environment with sustainable landscaping products,” says Meredith.

Learn more at http://www.gardenpro.us/

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.

Tuesday night, in the VIP tent at the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Sussex County build, local business owners Katherine and Damian Birl, and their children, Colin, 12, Sophia, 9, and Gavin, 6, treated folks to an evening of their Smokin D’z real pit BBQ.

“We know Dale (Dunning). When we order too much food, or cook extra, we share it with her,” said Katherine. “It’s so nice to see good people being blessed. Sometimes it seems like life isn’t very fair, but these people are so deserving. They’re so humbled by this,” she said. “They’re also very nice people,” added daughter Sophia.

The air-conditioned VIP tent is set up to host special visitors to the site and treat them to uniquely themed meals. VIPs are also afforded the opportunity to watch the build up close in a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere, and have the chance to connect with some of the sponsors, builders and behind-the-scenes folks.

Today, I was delighted to meet a couple of VIPs and talk with them a bit about the project unfolding in front of us.

Betty Trammell with daughter Brittany and friend Lumekka

“I’m here for two reasons,” explains Betty Trammel. “Dale is my childhood friend; we graduated from Cape Henlopen High School together,” she adds. In fact, the ladies met when they were about 5 years old, and used to play together, trading off between visits to each others’ homes. “But I’m also a member of his church,” she says, motioning to friend Ouemonde Brangman, seated beside her. “That’s my second reason for being here.”

Ouemonde is also a friend of Dale’s, and the Pastor of New Zion AME Church, located a couple houses down from the location of the Dunning’s soon-to-be-new home. In addition to Sunday service, his church offers shelter facilities. “Dale sometimes refers people to us, and she also does a good job of screening the people she sends here,” he says. Pastor Ouemonde mentioned that he won’t be in town to watch the build for the next few days. “But I’m sure she’ll let me have a tour when I get back,” he says with a smile.

Thank you to all of our VIPs not only for your incredible support of this extreme project, but also for supporting the Dunnings. Their positive impact on our community is inspiring to everyone involved in this project. Also, thank you to all of our generous food sponsors who are so lovingly sharing the gift of food with us this week.

Smokin D’z can be found at Dawn’s Country Market in Milton, and can be reached via email, smokindzbbq@yahoo.com, or at Smokin D’z on Facebook.

New Zion AME Church offers weekly 10 am Sunday services, and monthly “Youth Sundays” with BBQ’s afterward. The church is located on Rt.9 just east of Cool Spring Road, and can be reached at (302) 253-8212.

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.

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.