Newsletter - Spring 2010

DINING IN THE DARK

Dining in the Dark is a fundraiser for the Delaware Association for the Blind on Saturday April 17th. The evening features dinner under blindfold, a silent auction and several fun events throughout the evening. Please call the DAB office to request a flyer with event details and a form to order tickets. We can also answer any questions you may have and take client requests for transportation.

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED!

DAB has been advised that this year we can expect further cuts to State Grant in Aid. Like most non-profit agencies receiving Grant in Aid, we have had our grant cut the last two years, which has forced us to limit the services we can offer. Any further cuts would be devastating. Please contact your State Senator and Representative, especially members of the Joint Finance Committee, to request that the Delaware Association for the Blind’s Grant in Aid not be cut again this year. Some agencies have been spared these cuts in the past and with your help, we can be one of them this year. Please feel free to call us in the DAB office if you need contact information for your Legislators.

DAB STORE TO VISIT SEAFORD

The staff of the DAB Store will visit the Methodist Manor House in Seaford on Thursday, March 25 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. A wide array of items from the store will be on display and available for purchase. Look for the event flyer in the mail in early March. Call the DAB office if you have any questions or want us to bring a specific item that day.

SPRING ACTIVITIES

To sign up for any of the following activities, call as follows:

We will begin taking reservations on Wednesday, February 3. Activities are on a first come first served basis, so call as soon as possible to avoid missing out on an activity you are interested in. Door-to-door transportation is available.

When calling Activities Coordinator Judy Engelgau, please leave a complete message on the answering machine. New Castle County residents who need to speak with Judy can call her toll free at 1-888-757-0880; however, if you live in New Castle County, you should not call Judy to sign up for activities. Please only call Judy between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.

When you sign up for an activity where prepayment is required, please remember to send your payment by the due date listed at the end of the activity. If your payment has not been received by this date, we will give your spot on the list to a person on the waiting list. If you are on the waiting list, you will be called to let you know when to send your payment.

DAB’s cancellation policy and Theatre Etiquette Policy can be accessed by following the links at the end of this newsletter. If you are not familiar with these policies, please read them carefully. If you have questions, call the office at 655-2111 or toll free from Kent and Sussex Counties at 1-888-777-3925. We will be happy to answer your questions.

Sunday, March 6: NEW CANDLELIGHT THEATRE presents “Evita” This contemporary opera by Andrew Lloyd Weber follows the rise and demise of real life figure, low-born Eva Peron, as seen through the eyes of a peasant, Che. Beginning at Eva’s funeral, the story backtracks from her rise to power, her influence as an inspirational figurehead for the peasants of Argentina and her gradual weakening, illness, and death through a variety of songs of different styles. The most famous song is “Don’t Cry For Me, Argentina.” Doors open for dinner at 6 p.m. Show at 8 p.m. $47 for special opening weekend performance due February 10.

Saturday, March 20: WILMINGTON DRAMA LEAGUE presents “Fences”. In 1957, blacks and whites living in the North theoretically enjoyed equality. August Wilson’s Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning “Fences” explores how the reality for black people in America was far different. Part of Wilson’s acclaimed Pittsburgh Cycle, “Fences” is the story of a father and son in conflict over their identity as black men and their hope for the future. Wilson is ranked among the great American playwrights, and in telling the stories of black Americans, he reveals universal human truths about the struggle for love, dignity, and happiness. 7:30 p.m. Sensory Seminar. $10 tickets. Dinner before the show at the Golden Dove Restaurant.

Sunday, March 28: Get a headstart on spring shopping at FRANKLIN MILLS MALL in Philadelphia, one of the largest discount malls in the country, with more than a mile of stores. Sighted guide recommended. Eat in the Food Court before returning home. 12-5 p.m. $3 transportation charge will be collected on day of trip.

Saturday, April 11: 1 p.m. DELAWARE AVIATION MUSEUM. at the Sussex County Airport in Georgetown. Described as a “hidden gem”, this museum houses more than a dozen vintage planes, World War II-style barracks, aircraft engines and tools. Donations accepted for tour. Bring lunch to eat in the van. Early dinner at the Georgia House in Milford. Menus in Braille and large print. $2 transportation charge will be collected on day of trip.

Sunday, April 18: ANNUAL MOVIE AND PIZZA PARTY —Movie matinee at Cinemark Movies 10 in Newport, followed by dinner at Grotto’s Pizza in Wilmington. $2 transportation charge will be collected on day of trip.

Saturday, April 24: DUTCH APPLE DINNER THEATRE presents “Meet Me in St. Louis”. “Clang, clang, clang went the trolley.” It’s the turn of the century, and the World’s Fair is coming to St. Louis. Based on the classic MGM movie that starred Judy Garland, it features the hits “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”, “Skip to My Lou”, “The Boy Next Door”, and of course “The Trolley Song”. 11:45 a.m. buffet; 1:15 p.m. show. $47 due March 15.

Sunday, April 25: 2010 Braille Auto Rally – 1:00 p.m. All braille readers are invited to participate in the 2010 Braille Auto Rally. The braille reader, who serves as navigator, is paired with a driver. Route instructions are given in braille, and the team who completes the route in closest to perfect time is the winner. Instructions will be prepared in both Grade II and Grade I braille. The event is free.

Drivers and navigators will meet at Brandywine Springs Park, Newport Gap Pike, at 1:00 p.m. The rally route will finish at Landis Lodge, where a picnic lunch will be served. Call 655-2111 or 1-888-777-3925 toll free from Kent and Sussex Counties to sign up as a navigator. Transportation is available.

Saturday, May 1: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Brand new DUPONT ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER, located on the edge of the 212 acre Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge on the tidal Christina River in Wilmington, where the city, river, and marsh meet. The facility showcases the many species of amphibians, birds, mammals, fish, reptiles and native plants that make their home in the refuge. Two guides will take us on a one and a half hour outdoor tour of the 1200 foot boardwalk, where we will dip nets into the water and explore what we catch, and the botanic garden. $8 per person. Lunch following the tour at Timothy’s Restaurant, on the Riverfront.

Saturday, May 8: 12-4 p.m. trip to DELAWARE PARK. Enjoy the excitement of live horse racing in The Grove, the outdoor picnic area located in the most picturesque area of the park. You can bring your own picnic or take advantage of the sandwich and BBQ stands. The Grove is right by the track. Horses parade through on their way to the starting gate. Folding chairs and/or blankets are recommended in case it is crowded and picnic table seating is limited. If you prefer to attend the slots, you will need to bring a sighted guide. There is no admission charge; $2 transportation charge collected on day of trip.

Saturday, May 22: WILMINGTON BLUE ROCKS BASEBALL GAME versus the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. 6:05 p.m. game, with fireworks to follow! No charge for tickets. Seats close to the action in the Reserved Section. $2 transportation charge will be collected on day of trip.

Saturday, May 29: ECARTE DANCE THEATRE presents its spring concert at Delaware State University in Dover. No charge for the visually impaired. Guest tickets: $10. Enjoy front row center seats for a contemporary ballet and modern dance performance featuring dancers of all ages and music and dance in a wide variety of styles. Braille and large print programs available. 5:30 p.m. Sensory Seminar. Reception with light snack food following the 7 p.m. show. $2 transportation charge will be collected on day of trip.

Saturday, June 5: Annual trip to REHOBOTH BEACH. Lunch at Grotto’s Pizza on Rehoboth Ave. Sighted guide recommended, so you can visit your favorite spots on the Boardwalk at your own pace. 12-5 p.m. Eat on your own before the trip home. $2 transportation charge will be collected on day of trip.

BEACON LODGE:

DAB is offering full and partial grants to attend Beacon Lodge, a residential camp for blind adults in central Pennsylvania. Please call 302-655-2111 to request a grant application. You will also need to complete an application for Beacon Lodge. It would be advisable to submit both applications as soon as possible as Beacon Lodge has reduced the number of sessions this year, and the available sessions will probably fill up quickly. The number of grants is limited and priority will be given to those who have attended Landis Lodge in the recent past and submit their grant applications before February 28th. Call our office for more information. Transportation for the August session will be available.

ACCESSIBLE PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC SIGNALS

The Delaware Department of Transportation (DELDOT) is accepting and prioritizing requests by legally blind Delaware residents to have accessible pedestrian traffic signals (APS) installed at signaled traffic intersections that present crossing problems for blind or visually impaired persons. The legally blind person who will benefit from the APS must make the request to have an intersection evaluated for an APS. Please call Traffic Design Engineer Mark Galico at (302) 659-4081 for more information or to make a request for an APS installation. You may also find the request form online at the DELDOT web site at www.deldot.gov under Online Services. If you would like to try out one of the already installed APS units, you can find one at the intersection of Apple and Elkton Roads in Newark and at RT 1 and Postal Lane near the Midway Shopping Center in Lewes.

SUPPORT GROUPS FOR THE BLIND

Would you like to meet with other blind and visually impaired Delawareans to talk about some of the problems you are facing as a person with vision loss? Peer-facilitated support groups of blind and visually impaired persons meet on a regular basis in each county as follows:

For more information, call Peer Support Coordinator Deborah Briddell at (302) 654-1376 or e-mail her at dbriddell@dabdel.org.

HAVE YOU MOVED?

Have you moved or has your address changed due to the “911” address requirements? Please call the DAB office so we can update your mailing information.

The DAB Newsletter is also available in braille, on cassette tape, and now via e-mail. If you would like to receive your newsletter in any of these formats, please call the DAB office. The newsletter is also available on the web at www.dabdel.org.

DAB Cancellation Policy

DAB Theater Etiquette