Miss Delaware Teen and Miss Delaware, USA pageant

The Miss Delaware USA & Miss Delaware Teen USA pageant was held on Nov 28th and 29th, 2009 at the Sheraton Dover Hotel. There were over 50 contestants for Miss Teen and 23 for Miss Delaware.  The philosophy for the Miss Delaware USA & Miss Delaware Teen USA program is not about encouraging young women to "win" a pageant, but to encourage young women to develop life skills that will ultimately help them win in life by being their personal best in everything they do.

  I attended the pageant with a number of my pageant sisters including Maureen, Shana, Catherine, and Carrie.  Also in attendance were Miss Delaware, America 2010, the newly crowned Miss Rehoboth Beach, America 2010 and Miss Mid-Atlantic 2010 and their director Mr. Chris Saltalamacchio (Mr DE 2008).

Congratulations to Julie Citro for winning the crown and title of Miss Delaware, USA 2010 and to Ashley Diliberto, Miss Delaware Teen USA 2010.

Miss Rehoboth Beach and Miss Mid-Atlantic pageant

On Saturday Nov 7, 2009, after finishing at the punkin chunkin, my wonderful husband and I headed from Seaford to Rehoboth Beach for the Miss Mid-Atlantic and Miss Rehoboth Beach pageants (Can you believe there hasn't been a Miss Rehoboth Beach for 9 years???).  All of the contestants were beautiful and talented.  There were special performances by Miss Kent County 2009 (Julia Fuller), Miss Mid-Atlantic 2009, and Miss Delaware, America 2009 (Heather Lehman). The night was truly entertaining.....and i even won a gown from the silent auction!

Congratulations to Marcie Smith, Miss Rehoboth Beach 2010. She is the first Miss Rehoboth Beach in nine years! Also, congratulations to Shaila Gillis who is Miss Mid-Atlantic 2010. Veronica Townsend is the new Miss Mis-Atlantic's Outstanding Teen for 2010 and Ashley Tiedgen is the first ever Miss Rehoboth's Outstanding Teen

2009 Punkin Chunkin and Miss Punkin Chunkin Pageant

The 25th annual Punkin Chunkin was held in Seaford, Delaware on Nov 5th, 6th, and 7th. It began with a few men discussing a physics class at Salsibury University where they were trying to see how far a pumpkin could be thrown.  Each man thought that they could build something that would fling or "chunk" a pumpkin the farthest.  A bet was made, a contest was formed, and a tradition began.  It started in a small field with a few people and has grown to a world renown event.

This years event drew more than 20,000 people and grossed more than $100,000 in ticket sales and associated revenues. A total of 72 teams competed. Sennett said that more than $70,000 of that will be distributed in scholarships to a variety of community organizations.

This year saw the 2nd annual "Miss Punkin Chunkin Pageant"...run by Mrs Delaware 2009 (Marci McNair).  I was asked to assist backstage getting the contestants ready and then to crown all of the wonderful winners.  I was accompanied by my wonderful pageant sisters Angie Hionis-Bell (Mrs New Castle County) and Catherine Simon (Mrs. Mid-State).  It was a wonderful day and all of the contestants had alot of fun.  Most exciting was that every contestant was awarded a pumpkin crown!

2009 Sea Witch Festival

On Saturday Oct 24th.....I walked in the Sea Witch Festival Parade in Rehoboth Beach.  As this was a costume parade, I was dressed as the "Witchy Pageant Queen".  Although it was pouring rain in Wilmington and Dover, the clouds parted and the sun came out for a few hours in Rehoboth......enabling the parade to continue as scheduled.

Despite the sun and warm temperature, it was very windy that day.  I was asked to assist in getting one of the 3 LARGE balloons down the street.  It made for a very interesting walk....I was sure that i was going to lift off and blow away a few times.  My son DJ was there also (with the spray painted red hair) and he helped me to keep the balloon under control.  What a fun day it was!

Dover Diabetes Walk

The 2nd Annual Dover - Volunteer Walk to Cure Diabetes was held on October 11th, 2009 at the Dover International Raceway. This was a wonderful event and a fun day for the whole family.  I helped out with registration and donation collections....along with Diane Smith (Mrs. Dover), Catherine Simon (Mrs. Mid-State), and Ellen England (Mrs. Pike Creek).  Heather Lehman (Miss Delaware America 2009) even stopped by to sing the national anthem.


The fundraiser was held to raise money towards moving research from the laboratory bench to the patient's bedside, translating scientific advances into longer, healthier lives for those with diabetes. The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) is moving closer to their goal ... a cure for diabetes and its complications.

Delaware Stroke Conference

I was asked to be a guest speaker at the Delaware

Stroke Initiative (DSI) Ninth Annual Conference on stroke

management on Saturday Oct 3, 2009. At the conference I

presented current strategies for stroke prevention and treatment.

It was an honor and wonderful opportunity to spread the word

about healthy lifestyle changesto reduce risk of cardiovascular

disease and stroke.

Eleganza Fashion Show Fundraiser - Oct 2, 2009

I was honored to be invited to model clothing at the Eleganza Fashion Show on Oct 2, 2009 at the Greenville Country Club to benefit Child Inc.  I was accompanied by Andrew Knopf (Mr DE 2009), Chris Saltalamacchio (Mr DE 2008), Heather Lehman (Miss Delaware, America 2009), Marci McNair (Mrs Delaware, USA 2009), Angie Hionis-Bell (Mrs New Castle County, US 2010), Ellen England (Mrs Pike Creek, US 2010), and Siouxzanne Moore (Mrs Delaware, America 2002).

Wilmington Heart Walk - 2009

On Sunday Sept 13th, I joined thousands of Delaware residents as they participated in the American Heart Association's 19th annual Start! Wilmington Heart Walk at Dravo Plaza.

A sedentary lifestyle is one of the leading risk factors for heart disease, and heart disease is the number one killer in Delaware and in the country.
Start! is the American Heart Association's groundbreaking movement that calls on all Americans and their employers to create a culture of physical activity and health to live longer, heart-healthy lives through walking.

The 2009 Start! Wilmington Heart Walk was a non-competitive 3-mile walk to raise awareness and raise funds to support the American Heart Association's mission to build healthier lives free of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Nationwide, the American Heart Association's Heart Walk raises more than $72 million and these funds are dedicated to supporting research and educational programs that save lives from the country's No. 1 and No. 3 killers, heart disease and stroke!

This is very near and dear to my heart, having lost my father to cardiovascular disease 20 years ago.....and dedicating my life to fighting heart disease and stroke. I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to Angie Hionis-Bell (Mrs. New Castle County), Catherine Simon (Mrs Mid-State) and Trisha Tarantino (Ms Delaware, USA 2009) for all of your help and for walking with me!

Presentation at Tender Loving Kare (TLK) in Smyrna, DE; June 19,2009

In June, I was invited by my best friend, Melissa Schulte, to do a presentation about manners and bullying at the TLK summer camp. I was honored to have Mrs. Delaware US 2009, Marci Mc Nair, Mrs New Castle County 2010, Angie Hionis-Bell, and Mrs Dover 2009, Maurene Bullock and Maurene's daughter the Tri-State Cinderalla Teen in attendance.