Author: Connie - Gadget Girl

3 Mother’s Day Brunch Suggestions

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Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 12th. It’s coming up quickly!!! Do you have brunch reservations for your favorite mom? Here are three suggestions…

Magnolia’s Seafood Bar & Grill
Located in Ocean View and known for their quality seafood and great service, Magnolia’s is a great place to take Mom on her special day!  Their Mother’s Day Brunch will be served from 10am-2pm.  Featuring an omelet station, choice meats and hot entrees, a seafood station and of course, dessert you really can’t go wrong with this local favorite!  30415 Cedar Neck Road in Ocean View – 302-539-5671 – don’t forget to make reservations ahead of time!

Baywood Greens
Baywood Greens in Millsboro will be serving their elegant Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet in both their ballroom and clubhouse restaurant.  Ballroom seatings will be at 10am, 12:30pm, and 3pm and restaurant seatings will be at 11:30am and1:30pm.  Adults are priced at $29.95, children 6-12 at $17, and kids 5 and under eat free.  Reservations are required, and payment is due at the time of reservation.  302-947-9225

The Buttery
Some have called enjoying a meal at The Buttery “the ultimate culinary experience!”  Located in historic Lewes, the inviting atmosphere of this restaurant almost requires you to bring Mom in for a rich and relaxing experience!  Their brunch is ordered a la carte and is served with fresh fruit and pastries as well as a choice of champagne, mimosa, or bloody mary.  Typically priced at $22.95/person, it is unclear on whether they will be making any adjustments especially for Mother’s Day.  If it were up to me I’d make reservations just be on the safe side!  102 2nd Street in Lewes – 302-645-7755.

Looking to buy or sell a home in Sussex County?  Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266!

Weekend Update: May 10th-12th

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If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, check out these local events:

Friday, 5/10: Lewes Lunch & Learn
Lewes Lunch & Learns run from 12pm-1pm at the Lewes Life-Saving Station at Shipcarpenter Street and the Canal.  The Lewes Historical Society will provide soft drinks, and you can bring your lunch for this month’s discussion on “The Life and Work of a Surfman in the US Life-Saving Service 1870s-1915.”  This is the last lunch & learn of the season.

Saturday, 5/11: Dewey Beach Arts Fest
Head to the corner of Dagsworthy Ave and the beach for the second annual Dewey Beach Arts Fest will feature over 60 vendors, crafters and local artists as well as live music, food, activities for kids, a silent auction, and more!  Parking and admission are free.  Arts Fest runs from 10am-5pm with a magic show at 11:30am and 1:30pm.  Rain date is Sunday, May 12th.  For more information check out this link.

Saturday, 5/11:  Lewes Fire Department Auxiliary “Fire” and Plant Sale
The Lewes Fire Department Auxiliary is holding its 2nd annual “fire sale” and Mother’s Day plant sale at Station 1 on Savannah Road from 9am-3pm.  In addition to plant there will be a variety of vendors selling gifts, crafts, candles, and more.  There will also be refreshments for sale.  For more information please contact the Auxiliary at LFDaux@gmail.com.

Saturday, 5/11:  Flowering Wonders
Head into Cape Henlopen State Park on Saturday for a class on flowering plants that will celebrate Mother Nature just in time for Mother’s Day!  The program is for anyone ages 5 and older.  The cost is $2 per person, but mothers attend for free!  For more information or to pre-register call 302-645-6852.

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County?  Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266.

Tips To Sell Your Home Faster

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If your home has been sitting on the market for longer than you’d like, or if you’d like to put your home on the market and have it sell quickly, consider that you might need to get creative!  One way to help your home sell quickly is to help it make an incredible first impression.  Some of the best ways to do this are to update things like carpeting, appliances, and wall coverings (strip wall paper, cover unique paint colors in a soothing neutral) just to name a few of the things that make a huge impression on buyers.

A good impression starts before the buyers even get in your front door.  If you want your home to sell quickly, you should start with curb appeal.  Try power washing the exterior and driveway, mulching flower beds, adding a fresh coat of paint to your door and freshening up your house number so that it’s easily visible.

You might also consider staging your home or having it professionally staged.  This includes de-cluttering, rearranging furniture, and more.  The point of staging is to attract as many potential buyers as possible by appealing to wide variety of people.  A professional stager can help your home sell more quickly by creating an inviting atmosphere that potential buyers can picture themselves in, as opposed to the personal space that they may be seeing by viewing your home as you live in it.

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County?  Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-629-6693.

Reasons to Consider Refinancing

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With interest rates still low and likely to rise this year, now is a good time to refinance if you bought your home more than a couple of years ago.  Keep in mind, however, that most institutions have stringent refinancing criteria, so it may not be worth it unless you can refinance for a full 0.5% less than your current interest rate.  Refinancing your mortgage at the same terms you have currently but with a lower interest rate (ideally 0.5-1% lower) will not only lower your monthly payment immediately, saving a bundle in interest in the long run.  Another great refinancing option if you can afford a little bit of a higher monthly payment is to refinance from a 30-year loan to a 15-year loan.  Although this means paying a few hundred dollars more each month for the duration of the loa5n, it can save a huge amount of interest over the life of your loan.  Of course, refinancing is not a great option if you are not planning to stay in your current home longer than it would take you to recoup the cost of the loan, otherwise it can be a great money saving option both immediately and for the long-term.

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County?  Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266.

Spotlight On La Tonalteca

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La Tonalteca (4578 Rt 1) in Rehoboth serves up delicious tacos, fajitas, enchiladas and more alongside their famous margaritas.  With reasonably authentic lunch and dinner options including pork, chicken, beef, seafood, salads, and more La Tonalteca serves up good food with good service for reasonable prices.  In addition to the restaurant in Rehoboth, there are locations in Milford and Millsboro as well.  Not only is La Tonalteca a great place to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, it is also the place to enjoy a Mexican fiesta any time of year.

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County?  Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you — 302-644-2266.

Five Reasons to Buy Now

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If you’re in the market for a home, now is a great time to buy.  Here are five reasons why:

1.  Low Mortgage Rates.  It’s widely known that mortgage rates have been at all an all time low over the past year, but they are expected to creep up, by up to a full percentage point throughout this year, so buying before that happens is a great move.

2.  Prices Are Rising.  Just like mortgage rates, historically low home prices are a thing of the past.  Prices have appreciated over 5% in the past year and are expected to continue rising for the foreseeable future, making now a great time to buy.

3.  Insane Rents.  Rental homes on the market are renting for high prices that are continuing to rise.  For many people, buying now is a better financial decision than continuing to rent, and if you already own a home, renting it out if you’re ready to move could possible even net you a monthly profit.

4.  Good Inventory.  In many places, there are many homes on the market, leading to a larger selection and lower prices for buyers.

5.  Mortgage Regulations Are Changing.  Even though it can be tough to get a mortgage now, many experts believe that requirements will become even more stringent, making it even harder in the near future.

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County?  Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266.

Three Things To Consider Before Starting A Project

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If you’re thinking of doing any projects or renovations in your home, here are three things to consider before you begin:

1.  Budget.  This is probably the most important aspect to decide on before you begin.  Setting a budget will help you make decisions about everything else from whether to do it yourself or hire a contractor to what materials to choose.

2.  Time Frame.  Once you have a budget in mind, do research so that you can come up with a time frame within which you’d like to see different steps of the project completed.  Keep in mind that the more custom your job is, the longer it will take.  This is especially important if you are renovating a kitchen or an only bathroom, as you will need to make alternate arrangements for day-to-day activities such as cooking/eating and showering.

3.  Work Sequence.  If you’re doing the project yourself, think about the job as a whole and come up with a specific work sequence for your projects.  Sticking to a specific order can save a lot of headaches, cleanup and mistakes.  Always start at the top and work your way down.  Ceiling, walls, and finally floors to prevent damage to newly renovated areas.

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County?  Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-856-6434.

Weekend Update: May 3rd-5th

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If you’re looking for something fun or different to do this weekend, check out these local events:

All Weekend: Lewes Spring Sidewalk Sale
Merchants in the Historic Lewes Commercial District will take part in the annual Spring sidewalk sale beginning at 10am Friday, running all weekend, and ending at 5pm on Sunday.  Bargains galore are to be found!

Friday, May 3rd: Fun Friday – Fiesta!
Members of the Historic Business District in Lewes are hosting a Mexican-themed Fiesta that will take place all day on Friday.  The event will feature food, merchandise, and of course specials!

Saturday, May 4th: Milton Town-Wide Yard Sale
The town of Milton is hosting their annual spring yard sale this Saturday from 9am-12pm.  Come browse the town for treasures!  I personally know that there will be some great stuff there.  For more information, call the Chamber of Commerce at 302-684-1101.

Saturday, May 4th: Library Book Sale
Friends of the Lewes Public Library will hold their spring book sale from 9am-3pm on Saturday at the Lewes Library.  For more information, check out www.leweslibrary.org.

Saturday, May 4th: 18th Annual British Motorcar Show
The Lewes Chamber of Commerce and the British Car Club of Delaware will host the annual Lewes British Motorcar Show on Saturday from 11am-3pm.  The show will feature a wide array of interesting and classic British vehicles.  Admission is $3 and kids 12 and under are free.  To register a car you need the registration form which can be found here, as well as a $15 fee in advance or $25 the day of the show.

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County?  Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266.

Keep Up Curb Appeal

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Whether you’re putting your home on the market or just looking to enjoy your home’s curb appeal yourself, there is more to it than just landscaping your property and maintaining your lawn.  To really up your curb appeal be sure to maintain your home’s paint and siding by periodically checking for damage, mold growth, or peeling paint and fixing it.  In addition, you should regularly check your roof and gutters for damage and debris as well.  Keep windows and doors clean and fix any broken screens and shutters to prevent eyesores.  Finally, clean up your driveway and sidewalks by weeding the cracks, sealing any cracks, and keeping them clean.  By maintaining your home’s curb appeal you will cut down on the possibility of any of these problems becoming more dangerous or expensive to fix later on down the road, which is well worth the time and effort now.

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County?  Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-629-6693.

Take Advantage of Your Home Inspection

After you’ve found your dream home comes the scary part… inspection!  Home inspections are meant to educate the buyer about the home they are interested in and ultimately give them piece of mind about the decision they make.  Inspections are scary because they are not intended to uncover every nitty gritty detail about the house, so even a home that passes inspection with flying colors still might have an issue that was undetected.  Home inspectors are not always able to pinpoint specific problems, but they are trained to examine the details of a home and determine if there might be any serious underlying issues.  At the very least, a home inspector should be able to suggest that you get the expert opinion of a plumber, electrician, or other specialized contractor if they feel there might be a problem.  When the home you love is being inspected, you should keep in mind that there are many problems that are fairly easy and cost efficient to take care of – these types of issues can even be bargaining chips in your negotiations with the seller.  There are several key problems, however, that can be a matter of safety.  If your inspector reports any of the following issues, you definitely want to keep in mind that these can be very costly and time consuming to fix.  Here are the issues that might cause you to reconsider the house, or at least reconsider how much you are willing to pay for it, considering you will most likely have costly repairs to make:

  • Foundation problems
  • Roof problems
  • Structural problems
  • Moisture issues (pooled water, wet basement, moisture in crawl spaces, improper drainage, etc.)
  • Mold issues (usually caused by moisture issues)
  • Fire, carbon monoxide, and/or safety hazards
  • Electrical hazards

In addition to finding out whether or not the home is plagued with any big problems like these, you should also be sure to find out how old the roof is, how old the furnace and water heater are and the condition they are in, whether or not the routine maintenance of the house appears to have been kept up, and whether or not the home’s exterior has proper drainage, which is especially important if the home has a basement.

Thinking of buying or selling a home?  Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266.

Spotlight On Mariachi Restaurant in Rehoboth

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A lot of the restaurants that I highlight serve American and/or seafood dishes or creative twists on those cuisines, so today I want to highlight a different type of cuisine… latin!  I love latin food, and Mariachi (14 Wilmington Ave) in Rehoboth serves up some of the best Cuban, Mexican, Portuguese, and Spanish food around!  Delicious!!!  Locally owned, Mariachi serves up flavorful food, delicious desserts, and happy hour Monday through Friday.  Their fresh, homemade salsa is delicious, as are the enchiladas and margaritas.  Prices are fair, the service is great, and you really can’t go wrong no matter what you order.  Definitely worth a try if you like latin cuisine!

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County?  Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266.

5 Quick Kitchen Updates

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Freshen your kitchen with one of these relatively quick and easy updates:

1.  Open it up.  Add some open shelving, which can be as simple as removing the doors from a few cabinets and show off your colorful, collective, or otherwise interesting or beautiful dishes.

2.  Go glamorous.  Add a beautiful or interesting chandelier over an island or kitchen table too add some architectural interest to the room.

3.  Add some red.  The color red is known to enhance the sense of smell, sensitize the taste buds, and stimulate appetite.  If your kitchen is neutral, add a splash of this appealing color to the room’s palate.

4.  Organize.  Fit your silverware drawer with dividers, add a pot rack, and fit disorganized cabinets with wire shelving to clear the clutter and keep things neat.

5.  Add an artful touch.  Tile a backsplash for a simple, relatively inexpensive custom touch.  To keep costs down choose a simple tile and throw in just a few accents.

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County?  Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266.

3 Brilliant Storage Solutions

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Consider these professional storage tips to declutter your home:

1.  Sliding drawers.  Add shelves on rollers to any deep, difficult to access storage space, such as a linen closet.

2.  Divide and declutter.  Set up busy drawers like nightstand drawers and junk drawers with compartments to keep things organized.

3.  Mobile office.  To help tame clutter keep your office mobile.  A cart with wheels allows you to move about and work wherever you want, but it also limits the amount of clutter you can stow, keeping you organized and clutter-free.

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County?  Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-629-6693.

Weekend Update: April 26th-28th

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If you’re looking for something fun or different to do this weekend, check out these events:

Thursday, April 25th-Sunday, April 28th:  Delaware Birding Weekend
Delaware’s annual birding weekend celebrates the spring migration of many species of local birds.  With more than 400 species recorded in the Delmarva Peninsula and a variety of environments there are many opportunities for rare sightings.  The weekend boasts many field trips by boat trips, paddling treks, and food expeditions.  For a complete schedule of events, registration, and more information, check out this link.

Saturday, April 27th: Flower & Art Festival
Head down to the East Coast Garden Center (30366 Cordrey Road) in Millsboro for a fun family day including food, face painting, spring plants, local artists, and more!  The festival runs from 8am-5pm with a cooking class, “Cooking With Herbs,” at 11am.

Saturday, April 27th:  Queen’s Day
Celebrate the Dutch monarchy with Queen’s Day at the Zwaanendael Museum.  The celebration runs from 10am-4:30pm on Saturday.  For more information call 302-645-1148.

Saturday, April 27th: Chili Cookoff
Head into Rusty Rudder (Dickinson Street ant Hwy 1) in Dewey Beach and sample chilis from over thirty vendors who compete for Best Chili and Best Decorated Booth awards.  This event is delicious and free for all ages!

Saturday, April 27th:  Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra Finale Concert
Come out to Mariner’s Bethel United Methodist Church (81 Central Ave. at the corner of Route 26) for the season finale concert featuring guest artists playing the classics.  For more information or tickets, call 888-846-8600.

Sunday, April 28th:  Vintage Baseball Game
The Lewes Historical Society is the proud home of the Lewes Vintage Base Ball Club, which enjoys our national pastime with a few twists on contemporary rules.  The game begins at 1pm and will played at the University of Delaware Lewes campus at 700 Pilottown Road.

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County?  Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266.

Garage Sale Tips: Finding Bargains

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Yesterday I talked about tips for hosting a successful garage sale, but if shopping for bargains is more your style consider these tips.  First, be selective.  Even though a dollar here and there doesn’t seem like much it can add up quickly, so unless you want your home to become cluttered with other people’s stuff, be discerning about what you buy.  Don’t feel obligated to buy just because you’re there, and choose things that you know you will definitely use.  Second, shop with a supply of small bills and change – single dollars and quarters are best for scoring bargains and making change quickly and easily.  Last, consider a drive-by.  After you’ve done your research on which sales you are going to hit up, drive by to see if they are as advertised.  If not, don’t hesitate to move on… just because you’re hunting bargains doesn’t mean you need to waste your time.  Enjoy bargain hunting during this garage sale season!

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County?  Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-856-6434.

Garage Sale Tips

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‘Tis the season of garage sale-ing!  Garage sales are an awesome way to get rid of clutter around your house when you are preparing to sell, but you can also use them to raise money for a good cause, or just because.  No matter why you’re planning a garage sale, start by collecting items to sell.  The best thing to do is methodically go through each room of your home and put anything unused in a box to sell later.  Once you’ve got your goods for sale, put a price on everything, or if you want to save time, price it when you put it in the box.  Once you’re ready to sell you need to advertise.  The best way to do this is to place a free ad through craigslist.  Post your ad a few days before the sale and keep it bumped.  Include the address, times, and a list of items for sale.  You can also call your local newspaper and ask about ad space, but often it is too expensive to be worth it.  In addition to your ads, create several signs with large bold letters that advertise your sale.  For best results stick to the basics – the words “Garage Sale”, address, date & time.  You can even advertise your sale through your personal Facebook and Twitter account and other social media sites.  Ask your friends to share the info for even greater word-of-mouth!  For the best success make sure to set up your display neatly and in an area that is easy to find.  If you live in a difficult to find neighborhood, consider teaming up with a friend in a better location or purchasing a spot at a community sale.  Price everything, but be sure you don’t overprice it.  Garage sale pricing is significantly below retail value.  Your goal should be to earn a few bucks on something you would otherwise throw away or give away, not to recoup the price you paid for an item, even if it is still brand new.  Finally, consider teaming up with your friends or neighbors for a neighborhood-wide yard sale.  This will generate more traffic and create better success.  And don’t forget, the purpose of a garage sale is to clear clutter, so as soon as the sale is over box up anything that’s left and donate it to a local thrift store or non-profit organization.  Many will gladly take your leftovers and even give you a donation receipt that you can use as a tax write-off next year.

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County?  Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266.

Spotlight on Café Sole in Rehoboth Beach

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Café Sole (44 Baltimore Ave.) in Rehoboth Beach was voted one of the best restaurants in Sussex County by Delaware Today last year.  With Key West flavor and a cozy beach décor, Café Sole serves up one of the best crab cake sandwiches around, and the regular crab cake is delicious too.  The pork tenderloin is also a flavorful favorite.  With a full lunch menu and great specials, stop in Wednesday-Sunday for lunch from 11am-3pm or dinner from 5:30pm-10pm.

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County?  Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266.

Five Tools You Definitely Need In Your Toolbox

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Whether you’re a die-hard do-it-yourselfer or you just tackle a project occasionally, here are five tools you definitely need in your arsenal:

1.  Multi-bit Screwdriver.  A screwdriver with interchangeable bits will tackle pretty much any job you will encounter and is a definite necessity in every homeowner’s tool kit.

2.  Cordless Drill.  Second only to the interchangeable screw driver in usefulness, the cordless drill is a versatile and necessary part of any tool kit.

3.  Tape Measure.  A tape measure is the first tool you use in many projects, but you don’t just need any tape measure.  A quality tape measure is worth its price in the time it saves with improved accuracy.

4.  Quality Level.  A weighted level/straight edge is a definite must for all kind of projects from hanging photos to heavy repairs, and a magnetic level can be even more useful.

5.  All Purpose Saw.  There are many options for a small, power saw, so you just need to find a versatile one that you are comfortable with and learn to use it.

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County?  Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266.

Three Reasons to List Your Home Now

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If you’re thinking of selling, this is the perfect time to list your home for many reasons.  Here are three:

1.  Demand is up.  Nationally, the number of houses on the market has been dropping consistently over the past year.  When inventory is down, like now, buyers have less options, making it a seller’s market.  If you have a nice home in good condition, it is likely your home will show well among the competition.

2.  Prices are stabilizing.  After years of low and dropping home prices, home prices are on the rise across the country, making it a perfect time to list your home if you need to sell.

3.  Serious buyers lead to quick sales.  With mortgage rates still low, but mortgage qualifications tight, lenders are cautious about who they are pre-approving.  This means that a buyer with a pre-approval letter in hand is serious, and serious buyer will offer more quickly than those who are “just looking.”

If you’re thinking of listing your home, give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and let us put our expertise to work to help you – 302-856-6434.

Weekend Update: April 19th-21st

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If you’re looking for something difference to do this weekend, check out these local events:

Friday, 4/19-Saturday, 4/20: Dewey Beach Popfest
This free event is open to anyone ages 21 and older.  This annual music fest features PowerPop, Alternative Pop, and BritPop bands from all over on four stages on two nights.  For a complete list of performers and full schedule, check out this link.

Saturday, 4/20: The REBEL Baroque Ensemble
This instrumental quartet will present period selections from 17th and 18th century composers such as Vivaldi, Corelli, Telemann, Boyce and more.  The concert will take place at the Bethel United Methodist Church (129 W. Fourth Street) in Lewes beginning at 8pm.  For more info or to purchase tickets check out this link.

Saturday, 4/20:  Dutch American Friendship Day
Celebrate Dutch American Friendship Day at the Zwaanendael Museum from 10am-4:30pm.  For more info call 302-645-1148.

Sunday, 4/21:  Vintage Baseball Game
The Lewes Historical Society is the proud home of the Lewes Vintage Base Ball Club, which enjoys our national pastime with a few twists on contemporary rules.  They game begins at 1pm and will played at the University of Delaware Lewes campus at 700 Pilottown Road.

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County?  Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266.