Newsletter - Fall 2007

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

We will begin taking reservations on Wednesday, August 1. 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. The September trip to Dutch Apple and the September 28 trip to the Phillies game were listed in the summer newsletter so check on ticket availability for these trips when you call. 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.

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 has been included at the end of this newsletter. If you are not familiar with the cancellation policy, please read it carefully. If you have questions, call the office at 655-2111 or 1-888-777-3925 toll free from Kent or Sussex County.

Saturday, September 8: DUTCH APPLE DINNER THEATREin Lancaster, PA, presents “Swing!” The theatre will be jumpin’ and jivin’ with over thirty fabulous songs from the Big Band Era and the dance phenomenon that swept the nation in the 30’s and 40’s. This all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza features classic tunes such as “It Don’t Mean a Thing”, “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy”, “Blues in the Night”, “In the Mood”, and many more. Whether you are nostalgic about a time past or discovering swing for the first time, you?ll adore “Swing!” 11:45 a.m. buffet, 1:15 p.m. matinee. $41 per person due August 1. If you did not sign up this summer, you may do so in case of cancellations.

Saturday, September 15: Trip to the National Wildlife Refuge in CHINCOTEAGUE AND ASSATEAGUE ISLAND, VIRGINIA, famous for its wild ponies. The free trip will include exploration at the Visitor Center, a guided beach walk, and a guided woodland trail walk. The guide, a national park ranger, will focus on hands-on activities in the Visitor Center and discussions of the wildlife, history, and terrain during the walks. This trip obviously requires a lot of walking, so be prepared with good shoes, sunblock, and a hat. 12:30-3 p.m. Bring a lunch to eat in the van. Early dinner after the activities at Etta’s Channel Side Restaurant, which overlooks Assateague Channel.

Saturday, September 22: INDEPENDENCE SEAPORT MUSEUM at Penn’s Landing, Philadelphia. 1-3 p.m. Visit will include an hour in the museum’s galleries, which house such exhibits as Divers of the Deep, Home Port Philadelphia, Coming to America, and On the Rivers, On the Shores: Small Craft of the Delaware River Valley. The second hour will be a tour of the two historic ships docked at the museum’s port. The USS Olympia was a Spanish American War flagship at the Battle of Manila Bay. It is the oldest steel warship afloat in the world. The USS Becuna is a World War II submarine which prowled the Pacific for Japanese ships. It is the only Guppy 1-A submarine on display. Two docents will guide the group; group rate is $7 per person. Bring lunch to eat in the van. Early dinner on the way home at Lonestar.

Friday, September 28: PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES baseball game at Citizens Bank Park versus the Washington Nationals. Right field lower level seats in rows 13 and 14. $22 due August 15. This trip was listed in the summer newsletter, so availability may be limited.

Saturday, October 6: JOHN DICKINSON PLANTATION on Kitts Hummock Road, near Dover, is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the reopening of the mansion with new renovations. Visitors will receive a first-hand view of not only John Dickinson’s life, but also the lives of the tenant farmers and enslaved people who were living and working there. Guides will focus on the importance of John Dickinson’s place in American history. Called the “Penman of the Revolution”, Dickinson was significant in history as signer and framer of the U. S. Constitution. Free. 12:30-2:30 p.m. Bring lunch to eat in the van. Early dinner following the tour at the Countrie Eatery in Dover.

Saturday, October 13: Dine and be entertained in style on the cruise ship THE SPIRIT OF PHILADELPHIA, which is docked at Penn’s Landing. We will board at 11:30 a.m. for a 12-2 p.m. cruise. Full hot buffet and salad bar, choice of desserts, coffee and tea included. Historical narrated tour down the river. Live entertainment and a DJ and dance floor. $42 due September 1. An additional $2 gratuity is suggested at the table.

Sunday, October 14: 2007 Braille Auto Rally – 1:30 p.m. All braille readers are invited to participate in the 2007 Braille Auto Rally. The braille reader, who serves as navigator, is paired with a driver from Brandywine Motor Sports Club. 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 1:30 p.m. The rally route will finish at Landis Lodge, where a picnic lunch will be served. Prizes will be awarded to all participants. Call 655-2111 or 1-888-777-3925 toll free from Kent or Sussex County to sign up as a navigator. Transportation is available.

Saturday, October 20: AMISH FARMLANDS TOUR, 12-3 p.m. Guide will take us through the beautiful Amish countryside in all its fall splendor. We will follow the backroads to a real working Amish farm with bakeshop. We will also stop at the Intercourse Canning Company and have a complimentary wine tasting at the Mount Hope Winery. We will visit the Amish Country Homestead, back in the country, completely surrounded by real Amish farms, the only Lancaster County Amish house tour designated a “Heritage Site”, because of its authenticity and the interpretation of the guides. Then finish a full day with an early dinner at Plain and Fancy, family style, all-you-can-eat Pennsylvania Dutch specialties! $30.50 adult, $18.75 ages 4-12 due September 15. An additional $1 per person gratuity for the guide is suggested on the day of the trip.

Sunday, October 28: (NCC) MCCARTER THEATRE at Princeton University presents “Tartuffe”, the French classic by Moliere. Tartuffe is the epitome of a houseguest from hell. Under a cloak of piety, he works his way into Orgon’s household and tries to run off with the family’s fortune and beautiful daughter. Everyone but Orgon sees through Tartuffe’s pose, but is it too late to save them from ruin? Moliere’s most popular play, “Tartuffe” spins religious hypocrisy into high comedy, complete with an anti-hero you love to hate. 12:30 p.m. Sensory Seminar. 2 p.m. show includes headsets for description for the visually impaired. $10. Bring lunch to eat on the van. Dinner on the way home at the Princetonian Diner.

Saturday, November 3: Trip to WHEATON VILLAGE in Cumberland County in Millville, New Jersey. Newly renamed Wheaton Arts. Experience world class glass art created in the Glass Studio. Tour the Museum of American Glass with its notable collection. Walk through the craft studios where skilled artists are at work. Explore South Jersey’s rich cultural traditions in the Down Jersey Folklife Center. Browse through the finest selection of handcrafted gift items in the wonderful museum stores. (Get a start on unique Christmas gifts!) 1 p.m. tour. Bring lunch to eat in the van. Dinner at the Paper Waiter Restaurant nearby. Surf & Turf Buffet includes: crabs, u-peel shrimp, chef’s specialty seafood dish, pasta station, carved prime rib, vegetable, salad bar, soup, and dessert table. $35 for the entire trip, includes tour, dinner, unlimited refills on beverages, tax, and gratuity.

Saturday, November 10: 8 p.m. WILMINGTON DRAMA LEAGUE presents the mystery “Murder by the Book”, a light-hearted and inventive thriller that unfolds with a series of macabre twists. A thriller writer indulges in vitriolic word duels with his estranged wife until she shoots him. An amateur detective, from the next flat, attempts to solve the murder before calling the police. More deadly games are in store when the corpse rises and the tables are turned more than once for the victim and the killers. 7:30 Sensory Seminar. Special price $8 tickets. Dinner before the show at the Golden Dove Restaurant.

Sunday, November 18: DUTCH APPLE DINNER THEATRE presents a holiday classic, Irving Berlin?s “White Christmas”, a heart-warming musical based on the beloved movie which starred Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, and Rosemary Clooney. Veterans Bob and Phil are a successful song and dance team when they meet a sister duo and follow them to a Vermont lodge to see their holiday act. When they discover that it is owned by their old General who has fallen on hard times, they decide to bail the guy out and put on a show. The memorable Irving Berlin score features “Blue Skies”, “Sisters”, “Count Your Blessings”, and the favorite “White Christmas”. 11:45 a.m. buffet, 1:15 p.m. show. $41 due November 1.

DAB CANCELLATION POLICY

For activities where DAB is required to purchase tickets in advance, you may be required to pay for your ticket if you cancel your reservation. The following is our policy regarding refunds and cancellations.

When payment is required in advance, such as for dinner theaters, you will get a refund if you cancel before the payment deadline. If you cancel after this date, we can only issue a refund if we find someone to take your place. The earlier you let us know, the more likely the chances of finding a replacement.

For events where DAB has had to pay for tickets in advance but you have not been asked to prepay, such as McCarter Theatre, you will be responsible for the cost of the ticket if you cancel less than 24 hours prior to the performance unless someone on the waiting list takes your place.

We will make every effort to find a replacement, but this cannot be guaranteed. There will be no exceptions to this policy, including illness.

BINGO

Bingo at Landis Lodge will resume Thursday, September 13. Anyone able to use large print or braille bingo cards is welcome to attend. We play on the second Thursday of the month from 7 to 9:15 p.m. There is no charge, and some transportation in New Castle County is available. Call 655-2111 to let us know you wish to attend.

ARTS & CRAFTS

The New Castle County craft class will resume on Tuesday, September 11. Classes are from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. There is no charge, and transportation is available. Call 655-2111 to let us know you wish to attend.

We again plan to offer an Arts & Crafts class for our Kent and Sussex County clients. Transportation and location details still need to be determined. Please call the DAB office at 1-888-777-3925 if you are interested in participating in this activity.

MUSIC APPRECIATION CLASS

DAB will again offer a class in music appreciation in New Castle County if there is sufficient interest. The class meets at Landis Lodge on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. Please call our office at 655-2111 if you are interested in participating in this activity.

DAB STORE NEWS

The DAB Store is now carrying the Eschenbach Max TV and the Max Detail glasses. Both models offer 2.1X magnification mounted in light weight frames. Each lens can be individually focused. Max TV is useful for viewing TV or viewing events 10 feet or more away. The Max Detail has a working distance of 16 inches and is useful for viewing a computer screen, reading the newspaper, or performing other tasks at this nearer distance. The DAB Store also now stocks OTT floor lamps in both 18 watt and 24 watt models. Call 655-2111 or 1-888-777-3925 toll free from Kent or Sussex County for pricing and more information.

The DAB Store is operated as a service to Delaware’s blind and visually impaired community. All products are sold at cost and can be mailed upon receipt of your payment. The DAB Store is located at 800 West Street in Wilmington. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Our staff is very knowledgeable and can assist you in finding items to help you.

TRANSPORTATION: (NCC) If you need help in obtaining transportation for medical appointments, you can call Debbie Shattuck at 798-4830 for assistance.

The DAB Newsletter is also available in braille and on cassette tape. Call 655-2111 if you would like your newsletter in either of these formats.