Dana Herbert will appear on TLC's 'Ultimate Cake Off' program scheduled to air Monday, Oct. 12. at 10 p.m. (Photo by Kathy F. Atkinson)

Bear resident Dana Herbert, the café manager for the Delaware River and Bay Authority and owner of the Desserts by Dana specialty baking business, will appear on an episode of The Learning Channel’s new competition series, Ultimate Cake Off.

The episode is scheduled to air at 10 p.m., Monday, Oct. 12.

“It was an honor to be selected to participate in the Ultimate Cake Off competition,” Herbert, who graduated in 1998 from the University of Delaware’s Department of Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management, said. “What a tremendous learning experience combined with an opportunity to showcase my talents. I am looking forward to seeing the show when it airs.”

In the episode, Herbert will face off against two other contestants in a challenge to create an edible masterpiece in hopes of winning $10,000 and to have their cakes featured at a marquee event. In this episode, the bakers are competing to create a cake to be featured at Lego Land California’s 10th birthday celebration.

With only nine hours, the competitors must make cakes that are at least five feet tall and are creative enough to win the taste of the client and the ultimate prize. To add to the pressure, the contestants also face two mini-challenges — a skills test and a taste test — that could give one team the ultimate advantage, the ability to idle another team for 30 minutes.

The series is hosted by chef Michael Schulson, owner of Atlantic City’s Izakaya. Joining Schulson are judges Margaret Braun, an acclaimed sugar artist based in New York, and Leigh Grode, owner of Los Angeles’ Cake Divas bakery.

Through out the year, DSWA holds household hazardous waste collection events, where citizens can drop off their products to be disposed of properly.

Some items that are accepted include: nail polish, aerosol cans, bleach, fluorescent light bulbs, paint thinners, solvents, pesticides, and pool chemicals.

DSWA asks that you keep the materials in their original packaging and don’t mix products in one container. Also, pack your items separately in absorbent material or triple bag them to prevent spills. Bring rags with you, just in case of an accident.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events

Saturday, September 5, 2009
8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Old Curtis Paper Mill site
Paper Mill Road
Newark, DE
New Castle County

Saturday, October 3, 2009
8 a.m. – 4 p.m
Cheswold Collection Station
54 Fork Branch Road
Cheswold, DE
Kent County

Saturday, November 7, 2009
8 a.m. – 4 p.m
Frawley Stadium Parking Lot (Blue Rocks)
801 South Madison Street
Wilmington, DE
New Castle County

All events are held rain or shine.

For a complete list of acceptable items, go to DSWA’s website.

Discovery Corps is an initiative for students between the 10th – 12th grades to earn community service credit, while learning about nature and science.

Students who volunteer for the program are expected to participate in 20 to 40 hours per school year, which include 6 special event shifts and short monthly meetings.

Activities like live animal handling, demonstrations at the “Science in Action Lab”, natural history instruction, and assisting at craft stations during special events are some opportunities which Discovery Corps students will participate.

The experience attained at the museum can be used to fulfill schools’ community service requirements and students can also request a letter of recommendation for their future endeavors.

For more information, visit DMNH’s website. An application can be found in the Volunteer section of the About Us tab.

Applications are also available by contacting Terri Reed, Director of Human Resources and Visitor Services, Delaware Museum of Natural History, P.O. Box 3937, Wilmington, DE 19807 or by calling 302-658-9111 ext. 324.

Submission deadline is September 30, 2009.

The 24th Annual Delaware Coastal Cleanup, organized by DNREC, will be held on Saturday, September 19 from 9 a.m. to noon, with September 26 as the rain date.

The cleanup is part of the Ocean Conservatory’s International Coastal Cleanup, a global effort to rid waterways of trash, identify sources of pollution and work to reduce or eliminate the problem for the future.

In a 5-year study, the Ocean Conservatory reported that general-source marine debris, trash from both land and ocean-based activities, as increased across the U.S. by more than 5% each year.

In an effort to reduce these numbers, volunteers will record the type and quantity of trash collected during the cleanup. This information, which will be compiled by the Ocean Conservatory, will help identify the sources of pollution and hopefully lead to ways to reduce or eliminate it.

Last year, about 1,700 volunteers pulled over 20,000 lbs of trash from 38 sites across Delaware.

Cleanup efforts will be held in over 40 sites in New Castle, Kent, and Sussex Counties, scattered along the state’s 97-mile coastline. Sites will be located at river and ocean shorelines, wetlands, and other watershed areas.

Volunteers are asked to pre-register online, so they may receive a complimentary t-shirt for their effort provided by Delmarva Power.

The Ocean Conservatory will provide trash bags, data cards, and pencils, while Playtex will supply volunteers with gloves.

Check out more information about the event, sites, and online registration.

All you need to do is call the Campground Reservation System (1-877-987-2757) before August 21, 2009, and mention their special promotion code: WEBCAMP89. Schedule your three-night camping trip between September 15 – November 30, 2009, and you will get 33% off your stay.

Keep in mind, if your stay exceeds three nights, you’ll be charged the regular amount for each additional night. The offer excludes reservations made prior to July 21, 2009 or for holiday weeks. You must call in your reservation to be eligible for the discount.

While you’re enjoying the great outdoors, the parks are offering programs that make peak your interest.

Candlelight Ghost Tours of Fort Delaware
September 11, 12, 25, 26
Fort Delaware State Park tour
Camp at Lums Pond State Park

Introduction to Surf Fishing
September 13
October 8, 12
Delaware Seashore State Park

Forest Colors Hayride
October 11, 18
Trap Pond State Park

Killens Pond 4th Annual Fall Festival
October 17
Killens Pond State Park

Scarecrow Stuffing Contest
October 17
Cape Henlopen State Park

21st Children’s Fantasy Trail
October 23, 24, 25
Cape Henlopen State Park

Halloween Camping Weekend
October 30, 31
Lums Pond State Park

For more information about camping at Delaware state parks or the programs they offer, check out their website.

Space is limited, so be sure to register as soon as you can.

For more information, call 302-739-3436, 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Programs (as described by DNERR)

Canoe the St. Jones River

Monday, July 27 12 noon - 2 p.m.

Join a biologist and journey the St. Jones River by canoe to observe the various habitats and wildlife of this fascinating ecosystem. Please wear comfortable clothing. Life jackets will be provided and are required to be worn. Canoeing experience is recommended. Participants must be at least 16 years of age to paddle.

The trip will meet at Scotton Landing off of Irish Hill Road in Dover. Space is limited.

Whose Scat Is That?

Friday, August 7 2 - 3 p.m.

Become a nature sleuth and learn more about how wildlife biologists gather clues and evidence about animal behavior as they examine animal scat, tracks and other signs that animals leave behind. Meet at the St. Jones Reserve. Open to all ages.

Boat Trip on the St. Jones River

Monday, August 24 12 noon - 2 p.m.

Discover the history of the St. Jones River and the St. Jones sub-estuary aboard a 24-foot skiff boat. A naturalist will point out the abundant wildlife - birds, waterfowl, fish, amphibians and reptiles - that will make this expedition an adventure for all ages. The trip will meet at Scotton Landing off of Irish Hill Road in Dover. Space is limited.

Cross Country Habitat Hike along Blackbird Creek

Friday, September 25 9 -11 a.m.

Join a naturalist and hike through wooded areas, meadow habitats, and shrub areas of one of the most ecologically-pristine areas in the state. Bring your binoculars to view the beautiful birds and waterfowl that inhabit the Blackbird Creek Reserve.

Wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather. Please, no strollers. The hike will meet at the Reserve, 801 Blackbird Landing Road near Townsend.

Doggin' Delaware by Doug Gelbert

“The dog days of summer” have a whole new meaning with a guide of the 40 best places to hike with your dog in Delaware.

Doggin’ Delaware: The 40 Best Places to Hike With Your Dog in the First State by University of Delaware alum, Doug Gelbert, is a one-stop read for outdoorsy, dog-lovers who are looking for Fido-friendly places to visit.

The parks and natural areas listed can be found throughout the state, from Brandywine Creek State Park up north all the way to Trap Pond State Park down south. Gelbert offers information about each park, conditions to expect, and its dog-friendly traits.

There is a section dedicated to bringing your dog to the beach that explores which beaches allow dogs and when they are permitted. There are tips about how to make the beach experience for you and your furry friend safe and fun.

Along with park specifics, Doggin’ Delaware guides novices on health and hiking issues for their pets while venture into the great outdoors.

Looking to bring Rex out of Delaware? There are many other Doggin’ books for locations across the country, so there will probably be a guide for your next adventure.

Visit Cruden Bay Books’ website for more information and titles.

Previous participants seine the Delaware Bay and get a closer look at all of the Estuarine critters found in the Bay. (Photo courtesy of Partnership for the Delaware Estuary)

Teachers and other educators, get ready to clock over 35 hours of continuing professional education or professional development hours during the 13th Annual Delaware Estuary Watershed Teacher Workshop.

Offered by the Bucks County Conservation District, the Partnership for the Delaware Watershed, and Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of State Parks, the workshop will be held from July 20 – 24. Participants will get the opportunity to learn more about the Delaware Watershed through classroom and field experiences.

Attendees will literally get to experience the watershed from its upper portions to the mouth of the Delaware Bay, as they spend three days in Bucks County, one day exploring Philadelphia and New Jersey, and finishing the program with an overnight stay in Lewes, Delaware with free accommodations.

Some of the topics covered include but are not limited to the following:
• Learning the differences between rural and urban watersheds
• Getting up close and personal with horseshoe crabs
• Exploring wetlands and their functions
• Seining for creatures in the bay
• Learning how everyday activities affect the watershed

Eligible participants must either be a K-12 classroom teacher, or an environmental instructor in a school or an organization within the Delaware River Watershed.

Participants are required to pay a fee of $50.

Space is limited to 25 people.

On July 16 from 8:00am-4:00pm at Tyler State Park in Newtown, PA, Teacher Workshop attendees are invited to take a free course titled, Watersheds 101. Anyone who completes Watershed 101 along with the 5-day workshop will receive additional professional hours, a curriculum manual, and access to the Watershed Program.

For more information, please contact Cheryl Jackson at (800) 445-4935, extension 112, or e-mail her at CJackson@DelawareEstuary.org.

A link to the registration form can be found on the website of the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary.

• United Way of Delaware volunteers were determined to participate in its statewide Day of Action, even thought it meant getting wet!

Heavy rains didn’t stop volunteers from constructing Delaware’s second Born Learning Trail as part of the United Way of Delaware’s Day of Action on Saturday, June 20.

Lead by United Way of Delaware’s Young Impact Professionals Society (YIPS), volunteers from United Way, local union members, and enthusiastic family and friends went to work in inclement weather at Iron Hill Park.

Unfortunately, the wet weather postponed painting until July 11th at 9 a.m.

Families are encouraged to use the trail immediately after its completion.

The Born Learning Trail consists of 10 signs that offer fun, outdoor activities that can be done with pre-school aged children. The first trail United Way of Delaware volunteers created was finished about a year ago and can be found at Glasgow Park, near the playground area.

YIPS is a group of volunteers between the ages of 20-40 who support the United Way of Delaware in their mission to improve the quality of life for all citizens.

Madeline Beck

Life is full of possibilities, especially for Bear resident Madeline Beck, who has been awarded a scholarship from the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society.

This national scholarship program awards high school seniors who either have MS or have a relative with the disease.  Started in 2003, the MS scholarship program offers financial support to students for their first year of education beyond high school.  In 2009, over $1 million was awarded 510 scholars around the country, and only four were from Delaware.

Madeline’s mother was diagnosed with MS almost 10 years ago, but life isn’t too unusual for their family.

“It’s not usually different,” Madeline explained. “She deals with it well.  Sometimes, she’ll get really tired and have to stay in bed.  She’ll get migraines, too.”

MS is a chronic disease that attacks the central nervous system.  Symptoms and progress of the disease vary between patients and are often unpredictable.

Besides being touched by MS, eligibility for the scholarship was also based on extracurricular activities and community involvement.  Madeline made the most of her high school career, playing the clarinet in Padua Academy’s marching band for four years, participating in Math League, was a Homeroom Representative for student council, played club soccer and worked with the stage crew for Salesianum.

The recent Padua Academy graduate is set to attend Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA this fall to study mechanical engineering.  Immersing herself right at the start, Madeline has already signed up for engineering courses for her first semester.

The oldest of four siblings, Madeline is the first to venture off to college.  Her mother encourages Madeline and her brothers to spend at least one year away from home after college, but she is still sad to see her eldest start the process.

Although she doesn’t entirely know where her studies may take her, she has plenty to look forward to for the future.

“It’s kind of scary,” said Madeline.

“I’m looking forward to not really being on my own, but being able to figure it out…and hopefully being successful at it.”