In his story, “Historic wanderings around Middletown: An academy, a church and a mill,” writer Gene Pisasale explores some important links to the past that will be of interest to local residents.

The Bethesda United Methodist Church has a long history in the heart of the Middletown community. Writer John Chambless explores how the church is celebrating its 200th anniversary this year. During that time, there has been a line of more than 70 pastors who have led the congregation. Chambless talks to the current pastor John Hornberger about the church’s past and its future.

Thanks to the dedication and vision of individuals and organizations, generations of Middletown, Odessa and Townsend families have strolled the 72-acre grounds of the Historic Odessa Foundation that include the Colonial Revival Secret Garden adjacent to the Corbit-Sharp House, where they are swept up in the beauty of the heirloom plants and the soft breezes that come from the Appoquinimink River. The photo essay in this issue focuses on Odessa’s magical place of history, matrimony and happiness.

The subjects of the Q & A are Crystal and Steven Ashby of Crystal’s Comfort Food. Middletown Life recently caught up with Crystal and Steven to learn about their influences, their flavors and the special guests they would like to see around that dinner table.

It’s all fun and games at Camp Adventureland, the entertainment venue that brings a summer camp themed spot offering entertaining choices for customers wanting to test their physical or analytical skills. Camp Adventureland offers everything from escape rooms to ladder ball to axe throwing for guests.

In “Fabricating their future,” writer Ken Mammarella offers a look at some of the capstone projects that seniors in the Appoquinimink School District have undertaken this year.

For the past several decades, Zoar United Methodist Episcopal Church has stood vacant and neglected, but through the work of a committed organization, Friends of Zoar, the old church is on the precipice of a rebirth. The objective of Friends of Zoar is simple: To raise funding to support restoration of the church, the adjacent social hall and kitchen, the surrounding grounds, and to engage the general public in interpretive programming.

The stories in this issue, we hope, reveal not only Middletown’s glorious past, but its tremendous future as well. We hope you enjoy these stories, and we always welcome comments and suggestions for stories to highlight in a future issue of Middletown Life.