Smilestones
OPEN HOUSE AT THE HELEN L. DILLER HOME
Campers, their families, alumni, and community members gathered on Saturday, May 31, to celebrate the Helen L. Diller Vacation Home for Blind Children’s annual Community Open House. Held in conjunction with Avalon’s Spring into Summer festivities, the event gave attendees the opportunity to tour the Diller Home, meet the camp director and counselors, and enjoy a classic hot dog cookout.
For many first-time campers, it was a special opportunity to meet their counselors, get comfortable with the camp environment, and for families to ask questions ahead of the summer. The day was filled with smiling faces, balloon art, face painting, and the joyful anticipation of the season to come.
Now in its 53rd season, the Diller Home officially opened for the season on June 15 and will host 16 campers each week through Aug. 9. Campers will experience the charm of a traditional summer vacation – from the feeling of waves crashing at their feet, to boat rides, beach days, and amusement park adventures – many of them for the first time.
PRE-K CLASS GRADUATES
Proud families, teachers, and friends gathered on June 10 to celebrate one of life’s sweetest milestones: Pre-K4 graduation from Avalon Stone Harbor Schools. Next year the group will move up to kindergarten at the Stone Harbor Elementary School.
From learning their ABCs and 123s to making sweet friendships, the members of this year’s Pre-K4 class were beaming with pride as they stood on stage in their graduate T-shirts marking the end of their preschool journey and the exciting beginning of kindergarten.
Congratulations to the Pre-K Class of 2025!
LOOK WHAT THE STORK BROUGHT!
LUNDEN GRACE GIUFFRE
Lunden Grace Giuffre was born to Nick and Kari Giuffre of Avalon on June 9. Born at Shore Medical Center, she weighed 8 pounds, 6 ounces and measured 21 inches long. Her grandparents include Edie Lunden, of West Chester, Pa., and Nick and Kathy Giuffre, of West Chester and Avalon, and her great-grandfather Ken Wenrich, of Lancaster, Pa. Lunden’s parents are both realtors in Avalon with Compass and can’t wait to show her all about their hometown.
Tying The Knot
WAGNER-LUBKING ENGAGEMENT
Connor Wagner and Kelley Lubking became engaged on the Stone Harbor beach on Friday, June 6. Connor is the son of Rick and Keirsten Wagner of Hilltown, Pa., and Avalon. Kelley is the daughter of Doug and Colleen Lubking of Henrico, Va. Connor is a graduate of La Salle College High School and West Chester University, where he played rugby and earned a degree in marketing and a minor in accounting. He is employed with Wagner Wealth Management in Doylestown, Pa. Kelley is a graduate of Hermitage High School in Henrico and West Chester University, where she competed on the gymnastics team and earned a degree in political science with a focus on international relations. She is employed with Synerfac Technical Staffing in New Castle, Del. They are looking forward to a fall wedding in 2026.
DEEVER-DEVICO WEDDING
Graham Deever and Maddie Devico were married on Oct. 12, 2024, in Lyons, Colo. Graham is the son of James and Tracy Deever of Avalon, and Maddie’s parents are Michelle and Jeffrey Devico of Middle Township. The wedding took place at Planet Bluegrass, a natural mountain venue situated in the Flatirons of the Rocky Mountains. The evening-before party was held in Boulder at the Bohemian Biergarten. Great Rocky Mountain fun was had by all their friends and family who traveled from all around to celebrate. The couple met while attending Middle Township High School; Graham graduated in 2011, and Maddie in 2012. Graham furthered his education at Penn State and now works as a PV systems designer in Denver. Maddie attended the University of Alabama and works in software sales in Boulder. The couple both enjoy the outdoor mountain life like snowboarding, hiking, and camping.
CLASS RELEASES DIAMONDBACK TERRAPINS
The kindergarten class at Stone Harbor Elementary had a fun and meaningful field trip to The Wetlands Institute to help release newly rehabilitated diamondback terrapins into the salt marsh on June 5.
It’s all part of a tradition that started more than 30 years ago with retired teacher Roberta Dean and her Diamondback Terrapin Turtle Project. Every year, students team up with The Wetlands Institute to give these little turtles a second chance. During terrapin nesting season, TWI staff keep an eye on local roads for turtles that have been injured by cars. If they find any eggs that are still OK, they carefully collect them, incubate them, and raise the hatchlings for a year in Stockton University’s head start program before releasing them in the spring.
The students also raise money for the cause by making, decorating, and selling turtle cookies throughout the year. This year, their donation got an extra boost thanks to a match from Sturdy Savings Bank. Before saying goodbye, the kids gave each terrapin a name and sent them off into the back bay with lots of love and well wishes, continuing the heartwarming tradition.
‘MR. P’ FEELS THE LOVE
He’s all smiles after 42 years. Aldo Palmieri is smiling from ear-to-ear at a special send-off luncheon at Avalon Elementary School on June 16. “Mr. P,” as his students refer to him, was beloved by his students during his four-plus decades at the school. He taught seventh- and eighth-grade English, reading, and history. On his next-to-last day, former Avalon Council President Nancy Hudanich, who was a member of the school board that hired him, spoke to his students about how special of an educator he was.
TIP OF THE HAT TO EML & HER HUSBAND
A moving gesture on the part of this Uncle Bill’s customer in June to commemorate her 50th anniversary of a love affair that began in that very same restaurant. To EML: Nicely done, and we’d love to hear from you here at Seven Mile Times so we can tell everyone your story.