Lincoln Re-Enactor Heightens The Columns' Civil War Tribute
By Wayne Witkowski
The Pike County Dispatch

MILFORD -- He had a speaking engagement on April 14 at the Dingmans Ferry-Delaware Township Historical Society and another one this past Saturday with the Pike County Historical Society at The Columns.
And on Tuesday this week, he made a cameo appearance for host Jimmy Fallon's 10th anniversary celebration on the Tonight Show.

Lou Del Bianco of Port Chester, N.Y. has portrayed Abraham Lincoln for many thousands of school kids and history buffs for some 30 years. And he delivered a convincing performance of the famed Gettysburg Address as re-enactors of the Pennsylvania 142nd Regiment, which staged a Civil War era encampment, and the New York Zouave Regiment, a brigade of men wearing red uniforms who had served as firefighters before enlisting in the Northern army during the Civil War from 1861-65, stood at attention.
DelBianco captured Lincoln's physical characteristics all the way to his 6-feet, 4-inch height, the same as his subject, with the gaunt, bearded face and deep, measured tones in his voice. Wearing the characteristic long dark coat and big to;p hat, he delivered the relative brief historic address of Nov. 19, 1863 that drew cheers from the gathering toward the end as he said, "that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
"He got old on the job," quipped DelBianco afterward

"He really knows a lot about Lincoln but he didn't know the Lincoln flag was at The Columns," said Tim Singleton, head of the Dingmans Ferry-Delaware Township Historical Society, referring to the flag draped around him when he was assassinated..
DelBianco actually evolved from professional actor to re-enactor in his career.
"My height worked against me" he said as it held him back at times from getting work in the theatrical field. "Then I realized I am the same height as Lincoln," a historical figure that always intrigued him.
So he immersed himself in the historical legend and lore of the 16th president of the U.S. and the tallest ever during a time when people were generally shorter in height than now, although George Washington, at 6-1, was not far behind in stature.
When he was asked about Americans regarding Lincoln as the greatest president, he replied with a smile, "He ended slavery and united the country. What's better than that?"

Local Summer Leagues Urged To Enforce Stewardship Of Ballfields

By Wayne Witkowski

DINGMANS FERRY -- Proper caretaking of the Delaware Township playing fields for Little League baseball and three adult softball leagues dominated discussion during the township Board of Supervisors' workshop prior to its regular meeting on Wednesday last week.
Township Roadmaster Richard Bailo and the Department of Public Works continued to clean up litter at the fields last year and it has become a daunting task.
Dingman-Delaware Little League's lagging numbers of the past have had a large turnaround. "I don't know why but the league has grown exponentially the last couple of years," said Mike Zaucha, league president the past six years.
The program is up to 29 teams with the addition of two Tiny T's teams for 3-year-olds to experience the fun of the game. Add to that eight T-ball teams for 5-6-year-olds, six Rookie League teams for 6-8-year-olds, five Minor League teams for youngsters ages 8-12, three Major League softball teams for girls ages 8-12 and two Junior/Senior teams for 13-16-year-olds. Even the numbers of registrants for the Challenger special needs program may increase it to three teams.
"We're trying to push our All-Star teams," said Zaucha of the select players who begin practicing in mid-June for tournament play over the summer.
Supervisors approved the league requests for Dingman-Delaware Little League games from April 1-July 20 from 5-8 p.m. during the regular meeting. They also approved the Little League parade on April 19 from 6-8 p.m. at the meeting.
They also spent half of the hour-long workshop talking about stewardship of the fields with more players and teams.
There's also the Pike County Women's Softball League using fields on Sundays from 3:30-8 p.m. and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:15-9 p.m. from June 2-Aug. 11 and the Couples Fall Softball League on Sundays from Aug. 18-Nov. 17 from noon to 6 p.m., all of which were approved by the board at the meeting. There also is a Men's Softball League.
Use more dumpsters was one suggestion so garbage receptacles don't overflow.
"I know we can all do things better to make it better," said Zaucha. He said some of the porta potties were flushed out once a month and that might need to be done more often.
"It's all about working together," said Supervisor Joe Dunne.
Zaucha also said some of the fences surrounding the fields needs to be fixed for safety reasons.
"You have to put this on a list in July and August so I can put it in the budget," said Supervisor Rick Koehler. "We did not know about this until Dec. 6, which is when we were finishing up the budget (for 2024)."
Supervisors also want assurances from all of the adult leagues that they will have some members on the teams take charge in cleaning up after games.
Also at the meeting, supervisors passed a motion to award the Akenac Park Culvert Replacement Project to Columbia Excavating LLC in the amount of $121,040.00 as per the township engineer’s recommendation. It includes replacing a bridge over the culvert.
They approved first quarter 2024 funding for Delaware Township Volunteer Ambulance Corp. in accordance with the Pike County EMS grant program in the amount of $107,500 to be reimbursed to the township when EMS taxes are received.
Supervisors also passed a motion to pay the fourth quarter tax distribution of $3,856.84 to the Delaware Township Volunteer Fire Company.
They adopted Resolution No. 2024-01 regarding township fees, which Board of Supervisors Chairman John Henderson said are all increasing.
Payment to Theurkauf Design & Planning Invoice dated Dec. 29, 2023 for $1,045.01 for work on the comprehensive plan update was approved. They said the comprehensive plan was submitted to the county for a 30-day review.
Also approved was a price quote from Main Stream Industries Inc. in the amount of $3,039 for signs and traffic cones.
A proposal from Aquatic Environment Consultants Inc. for Akenac Park lake management for $3,675 was approved.
Cynthia Mazza was appointed to fill the vacancy on the township Planning Commission for a term expiring Dec. 31, 2026.
An application for license to operate a junkyard for 21st Century Restoration and Sales Inc. located at 1756 Route 739 was approved.
Municipal hall use request by Gambetta Ballet on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. January through May 2024 and September through December 2024 was approved as well as Akenac Park use request by Gambetta Ballet on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June through August this year.
The Milford Valley Quilters Guild were granted their request to use the municipal hall on Jan. 25 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a quilt workshop.
Wild Acres Lake Property Owners Association was approved use of the municipal hall for meetings fro 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the third Saturday of each month, on Feb. 1 and Feb. 8 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., on June 8 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on Oct. 5 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
A use request by Pike County Conservation District for Wilson Hill Pond on June 24 from 6-8 p.m. for a twilight pond walk was approved.

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