Fall Happenings in Delaware!

Looking for some fun things to do this fall? Then you might want to consider these Delaware events. From fun and artistic celebrations to great outdoor excursions, there’s plenty for you to enjoy. Here’s a sample:

The Delaware Wind & Ale Trail – The trail is a unique collection of thirteen locations that educate about the creation and production of their wines and brews. It offers several great tour and tasting experiences.

Bridgeville Apple Scrapple Festival – On October 15th and 16th Bridgeville celebrates a great combo of scrapple and apples. This 20 year tradition features street dances, carnivals, car shows, live entertainment, and more.

Sea Witch Halloween & Fiddler’s Festival –On October 28th through 30th Rehoboth Beach will be filled with the sights and sounds of its annual Sea Witch Halloween extravaganza. From the exciting Sea Witch Parade and costume contest to a 5k Run, the Sea Witch Skim Fest, Pirate’s Coast Haunted House, and more, it’s the ultimate beach-side Halloween destination.

Halloween Haunts – For classic Halloween thrills visit Frightland, Nightmare’s Haunted House, and All Hollow’s Revenge. There’s also plenty of documented locations that may be haunted!

World Championship Punkin Chunkin – Since 1986 people gathered at Nassau to find out how far someone was able to launch a Pumpkin into the sky with a machine. Now the event has over 20,000 attendees and is featured on the Science Channel. And on November 4th through 6th, contestants will meet to crown a new champion!

Leaves Of Love: Great Autumn Date Ideas

Just because summer is coming to an end doesn’t mean that romance has to fall like leaves from the trees. Autumn offers a wide variety of activities for you to share with your partner! Check out this list of awesome ideas for dates as the weather starts to cool down.

1.     Fall means football. Even if your date isn’t a big sports fan, going to a game can be a lot of fun. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement and you’re guaranteed to meet some colorful characters.

2.     Visit the farmers' market. Most cities feature farmers' markets every week. They’re great places to meet local farmers and to shop for fantastic produce. Cooking together is a great way to bond with your love. The food you make from great ingredients bought together will be that much better.

3.     Go apple picking. The wonder of nature really shines in autumn orchards. There’s something romantically bucolic about strolling through an orchard with a basket, selecting fruit to bring home. And you can use what you pick to bake a pie together!

4.     Go for a hot air balloon ride. As the temperature drops, ballooning season starts! It’s a little expensive, but getting above it all in a balloon makes for a wonderful romantic experience.

5.     Go on a hike. The weather's still nice enough to get into the great outdoors. Watching the foliage change is a rare and beautiful experience. A brisk walk followed by a nice picnic lunch can be a great way to spend an autumn day!

Crowd Pleasing Paella!

If you’re looking for a tantalizing meal to serve your guests, then look no further. This flavorful Paella dish only takes 30 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook, yielding a lot of taste for just a little effort! The recipe serves eight.

(Recipe courtesy of allrecipes.com).

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon paprika
2 teaspoons dried oregano
Salt and black pepper to taste
2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into 2 inch pieces
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 cups uncooked short-grain white rice
1 pinch saffron threads
1 bay leaf
1/2 bunch Italian flat leaf parsley, chopped
1 quart chicken stock
2 lemons, zested
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 Spanish onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, coarsely chopped
1 pound chorizo sausage, casings removed and crumbled
1 pound shrimp, peeled and de-veined

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, mix together 2 tablespoons olive oil, paprika, oregano, and salt and pepper. Stir in chicken pieces to coat. Cover, and refrigerate.

2. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet or paella pan over medium heat. Stir in garlic, red pepper flakes, and rice. Cook, stirring, to coat rice with oil, about 3 minutes. Stir in saffron threads, bay leaf, parsley, chicken stock, and lemon zest. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to medium low. Simmer 20 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a separate skillet over medium heat. Stir in marinated chicken and onion; cook 5 minutes. Stir in bell pepper and sausage; cook 5 minutes. Stir in shrimp; cook, turning the shrimp, until both sides are pink.

4. Spread rice mixture onto a serving tray. Top with meat and seafood mixture.

Spring City Bridge is Back OPEN!

The construction work that has been scheduled to span over 8 weeks on the bridge connecting Royersford and Spring City has been completed.  The project finished earlier than expected to re-open the pathway between the two cities.  The bridge will continue to have construction work done over the next couple of weeks, however is back open for commuters to utilize. 

Memo to Residents: Tropical Storm Warning

As you may know, a tropical storm is heading our way this weekend. The prolonged high winds and heavy rains represent potential hazards like: flooding, power outages and wind damage.

We strongly request that all residents properly prepare in advance, and below is a list of suggested actions:

• We are requiring you to secure all balcony/patio and yard furniture, as well as, all outside personal belongings (toys, planters, grills), preferably bring them inside.
   
• e a flashlight with fresh batteries on each floor of your home.
• Please use candles with extreme caution, and never leave a burning candle unattended.
• Have a battery-powered radio and clock available.
• Stay away from downed and loose wires and report them immediately to PECO and the Office if the wires are within the Community.
• If you lose power, move items from your refrigerator into your freezer to keep them cold as long as possible, and open your freezer and refrigerator as little as possible.
• Close your blinds and windows, and stay away from windows during the height of the storm.
• Generators are not permitted to be used at any time. This includes storing the generator on the patio or balcony for use inside the apartment.
• Consider placing a rolled towel at the bottom of patio on front entrance door if water intrusion is an issue, and keep the doors closed.
• Walk or drive cautiously. Debris-filled streets and pathways are very dangerous. Washouts may weaken road and bridge structures. Please be mindful, and observe any blocked out or taped off roadways and pathways.
• Stay indoors! Resist the temptation to watch the storm outside as the high winds may create projectiles that could put you at risk of injury.

Keep PECO’s emergency telephone number 800-841-4141 handy. The more customers who call to report an outage, the faster they may dispatch crews and restore your service. Restoring power is typically not a matter that our site Management team has any control over.

Some other important numbers to keep at the ready are:
The Police Department number is:
Our Emergency “On-Call” number is:

We thank you in advance for your patience. We expect that there may be problems and our staff is making every effort to plan accordingly. It takes a team effort to deal with storm related matters and clean-up after a storm. Should damage to the property occur, please report the matter to the Management Office and we will make an inspection to assess the damages as soon as possible. Repairs will be schedule in the order of severity.

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Forecasters project that Hurricane Irene will strike the North Carolina coast Saturday morning, then move northeast along the east coast. On Saturday and Sunday, states in the mid-Atlantic and New England will suffer torrential rain and hurricane force winds from the Category 2 storm. According to weather.com, Hurricane Irene has the potential to produce flooding rains, high winds, downed trees, and widespread power outages in and around cities like Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, and Boston. 

If you don't already have one, now's a good time to create a disaster preparedness plan for you and your family. You can read the National Hurricane Center's hurricane preparedness tips at www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/disaster_prevention.shtml. The page offers tips on developing a family disaster plan, creating a disaster supply kit, and evacuation. 

Click here for weather.com's projected tracks for Hurricane Irene. 

Check weather.com, accuweather.com, or wunderground.com for up to date information about Hurricane Irene. 

And most importantly, be safe!

Aced The Interview, Now What? The Perfect Thank You Note

The job market is more competitive than ever before. With unemployment rates high, job seekers need to work to stand out from the pack. No matter what your skillset, a little old-fashioned courtesy can help you continue the great impression you made with your interview.

A thank you note isn’t only designed to show your appreciation for the interview. Nobody really expects to be thanked just for doing their job. A thank you note signals a sense of commitment and seriousness regarding the position. Some tips for writing a good one include:

-        Personalize it. Use as much detail from the interview as possible – mention the day you met, for example, in the note. If you were asked a question that you found challenging or intriguing, bring it up again. This signals that you were engaged and not just going through the motions.

-        Reiterate your qualifications. Take the opportunity to mention one or two salient points about your experience and skillset. Choose those most relevant to the position.

-        Close Positively. End the note with a statement of positive results, like “I’m looking forward to working with you.”

Best Sparkling Wines for Under $20

Want to put some fizz into the party, but can’t spend top dollar?  These scrumptious sparkling wines taste a lot glitzier than their price tags, and they’re available in most large liquor stores:

Louis Bouillot Perle de Vigne, France
$19

With a name meaning "Pearl of the Vine," this Crémant de Burgundy lives up to the hype with its delicate yet rich finish of sharp Granny Smith apples.

Greg Norman Estates Sparkling Pinot Noir/Chardonnay, Australia
$18

This Aussie gem tastes twice as expensive as its price. It has a frothy head; fine bubbles; notes of complex citrus, red berry, yellow stone fruit, and biscuit; and a silky smooth richness. The Pinot Noir grape dominates the blend.

Trapiche Extra Brut, Argentina
$15

Hand-crafted in the Andean foothills, this lively sparkler shows typical Chardonnay aromas of apples and pineapples with a toasted bread note. Added regional varietals Semillon and Malbec help to create a full, crisp character.

Mondoro Sparkling Asti, Italy
$15

Produced from white muscat grapes grown in the Asti region of Northern Italy, this sweet wine has a delicate, refreshing character that pairs well with desserts or soft fruits.

Verichon & Clerc Privilège Blanc de Blancs, France
$12

Blending Chardonnay, Chenin, Ugni Blanc, and Colombard grapes in the méthode traditionnelle, this Brut blanc de blancs has a rich fragrance of hazelnut and toasted grain, with hints of poached pears and buttered toast that linger over a long-lasting finish.

3 Quick Tips to Save Money on Your Utility Bills

We’re all looking for ways to save money, and if we can do that while also saving the Earth, everybody wins. So here are a few tips to reduce your utility bills as well as save money and resources.

Switch as many light bulbs as you can to compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs – they take a fraction of the power and last forever. You may want to keep traditional incandescent bulbs in some areas (like the dining room), but the more you can swap the better.

On that note, turn off the lights when you leave a room. Forgetting to turn off the lights in an unoccupied room wastes a lot of electricity and money! The same goes for televisions and computers. A quick flip of the switch can take dollars off your electric bill.

If you pay for heat, insulate your windows in the winter with plastic sheeting—this will keep more warm air inside the house. In the summertime, try to only use your air conditioner in an emergency, and use fans and open windows to maintain cross breezes for natural cooling as much as you can.

Get in Shape With a Couch to 5K Program

Getting in shape (and the motivation to exercise, period) is no easy feat. For many, there is always an excuse as to why today is NOT the day to throw on the old sneakers and hit the gym. So why not create an excuse—an achievable goal—for why today IS the day to get in shape?

How about setting a goal to run a 5K (3.1 miles)? Although it may seem impossible now, with a can-do attitude and training plan, anyone can get in tip top running shape and cross the 5K finish line with energy to spare. A great plan to follow is Cool Running's Couch-to-5K Running Program. Not only does it provide a day-by-day running schedule that has helped thousands of people run three miles in just two months, the program also has a Facebook fan page for discussion and inspiration from other former couch potatoes sharing their accomplishments. Signing up is the first step, so check out Active.com for running races near you!

At the end of the program, not only will you be a healthier person, you'll realize that there's really nothing you can't do.

Play A Round at The Best Golf Courses in the United States

Although there are definitely some great local places to play, there are a handful of top-notch courses that all golfers should add to their list. Here’s a look at a few of the top golf destinations around the country that are truly a hole in one.

Pebble Beach Resort; Pebble Beach, CA. The site of the 2010 U.S. Open, this course is legendary—and if it’s good enough for the pros, it must be worth a round. Check the website for more information about the gorgeous Pebble Beach resort and a once-in-a-lifetime golf experience.

Whistling Straits; Haven, WI. The PGA Championship is returning to the Straits Course for 2010, so you know this place must be a golfer’s heaven. Both the Straits course and the Irish course at Whistlng Straits are ranked among the best in the United States, and may remind golfers of courses found in Ireland. Click here for more information.

Bandon Dunes; Bandon, OR. Inspired by Scottish tradition, the Bandon Dunes course sits atop a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and is surrounded by breathtaking beauty and nature. Not only is it a superb place to play, it is part of a secluded southern Oregon resort that includes three more challenging courses to try. Click here to find out more!

Pinehurst Resort and Country Club; Pinehurst, NC. This beautiful North Carolina golf destination features eight amazing and unique courses, as well as several luxury hotels, a spa, and a variety of dining options. Click here to check out the website and start planning your golfing getaway!

For more great places to play, click here to check out Golf Digest’s "100 Greatest Golf Courses in America."

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