SPORTS
FUN Music is ‘Easy’
The Indians get ready for a hardwood battle with the Laurel Bulldogs tonight. PAGE 3
FEBRUARY 6, 2004
GARDENING
SPORTS
Kick back and read how to beat the cold-weather blues botanically PAGE 26
for Michael Tracy White right now. PAGE 18
THE LOCAL VOICE OF YOUR COMMUNITY
Volume 1, Issue 1
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FUN Club celebrates
Girls stifled in opening round of state playoffs PAGE 52
MARCH 4, 2005
THE LOCAL VOICE OF YOUR COMMUNITY
Volume 2, Issue 9
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By Jonathan Starkey Staff Reporter
Coastal Point • ERIN QUATTROCELLI
also reportedly facilitate the installation of fire hydrants. The town has scheduled two public hearings on the topic. The first will be held tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 7 at Mariner’s Bethel Methodist Church at 9:30 a.m. The second public hearing will be held at Mariner’s Bethel, Thursday, Feb. 12 at 6:30 p.m. The church is located at the corner of Central and Atlantic Streets in Ocean View. Magill confirmed the $390 yearly fee for 40,000-gallon households and $244 for unimproved lots. The fee for 80,000-gallon households changed slightly, from $499 to
CLASS
former Christian Church lot is about 3.9 acres, but a new fire station could not fit on the 1.5 acres the town was willing to trade. The fire company is now working on its own plan to upgrade the station to deal with the area’s growth, the increase in alarms and to lessen the impact of flooding in the building. Currently the fire company prepares for rainstorms in advance by parking trucks and equipment on the west side of Route 1 to avoid potential floodwaters. “The land swap proposal did not work out and there are no hard feelings about
that,” Wilgus said. “We have a good relationship with the Town Council and we are both trying to serve the needs of the community. And if they can alleviate some of the flooding with this plan then that will be a big help.” The inflatable dam, which would be placed at the mouth of the Loop Canal, could be inflated with water pumps in 30 minutes to effectively prevent tidal surge into the canal from the Assawoman Canal, according to a the report prepared by Tim
$510. Magill hoped to address public question and comment at the hearings tomorrow and Thursday, especially questions concerning the relative cost of central water compared to water treatment systems, salt and other associated costs. Town Manager Kathy Roth said she had received 111 petitions for absentee ballots. Magill reminded area residents that only property owners (and nonproperty owners) who are registered to vote within the unserved area of Ocean View would be eligible to vote in the referendum.
See PLAN Page 2
DECEMBER 21, 2007
THE LOCAL VOICE OF YOUR COMMUNITY
Volume 6, Issue 10
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Area socked by late-season snowstorm By M. Patricia Titus News Editor
Numerous projects have been initiated and completed in South Bethany since Town Manager Melvin Cusick joined the team five years ago, and his work has not gone unnoticed. Last month, Cusick was recognized as the 2008 Town Manager of the Year by the Delaware League of Local Governments (DLLG), a statewide organization aimed to improve and assist 57 local governments through legislative advocacy at state and federal levels. “We look at things like savings and being innovative and creative,” said George Wright, executive director of DLLG. “We’re not looking at towns based on their size, but we’re observing what the managers are accomplishing based on the criteria we set up. It’s a strong competition. In a town the size of South Bethany, you can clearly see everything that has been accomplished.” The town manager role was ready and waiting for Cusick when he came aboard in South Bethany. “There was a list of projects that had been stalled when I became town manager,” he
Ocean View reviews several ordinances
By Sam Harvey Staff Reporter
That’s a lot of ordinance. Ocean View Town Council held first readings on two, continued discussion on two that were tabled at second reading last month and introduced three new ones at the March 1 town council meeting. (1) Council members approved an ordinance that would permit larger signs on parcels with two or more businesses, as a first reading. It will proceed to second reading as follows — a 24-square-foot sign for the first two businesses, and an additional 4 square feet sign for each additional business, total not to exceed 64 square feet on any single side. (2) They approved an ordinance that would restrict residential-planned communities (RPCs) in District 2 to single-family
See CUSICK Page 2
Millville voters to head to the polls Saturday
Let it snow! Coastal Point • JESSE PRYOR
RPCs only, as a first reading. (District 2 refers to the portion of town that existed before the Bear Trap annexation, and sans the Route 26 corridor.) (3) They again tabled an ordinance that would reduce developable land in subdivisions, but removing certain areas (wetlands, streets, etc.) from total acreage when making density calculations. (4) Council again tabled an ordinance that would restrict subdivisions to a maximum of 10 acres — after that, developers would have to go RPC. Once the council members receive a recommendation on (3) and (4) from the town Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Commission, they will be able to move forward to second hearing, and the final vote. (5) They introduced an ordinance that would prohibit multi-family townhouses, duplexes and garden apartments in subdivi-
sions. (6) In simpler matters, they introduced an ordinance that would add “public and private schools” to permitted uses in the General Business (GB) district. • Part of the Lord Baltimore Elementary School presently rests on a parcel zoned residential, where the town permits schools only as a special exception use. • Special exception uses require approval as a variance, from the town Board of Adjustment (in the county, schools require approval as conditional uses). • Variances are nonconforming, and a nonconforming structure cannot be “enlarged or altered in any way which increases its nonconformity,” according to town code. Pending renovations at Lord Baltimore would add square footage to the structure. • The town intends to re-zone the entire
FASHION FUN Our new columnist helps you look your best Page B1
FEBRUARY 12, 2010
Route 26 corridor (including the school) as GB someday soon, which is why the ordinance addresses that district, and not residential. • (As a sidebar, another part of the school rests on county land, and the town will need to annex that portion before the Ocean View P&Z can provide oversight on the entire project.) (7) And finally, council introduced an ordinance that will allow the town to enforce Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) violations regarding signage, following a complaint. Action on all of the above was by unanimous accord of the full council. Council also accepted an agreement with the Village of Bear Trap Dunes, which will make the town the “grantee” of a conserva-
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FEBRUARY 1, 2008
When the Giant superstore opened on Atlantic Avenue in Millville yesterday, it was not just new to Millville residents. Millville’s Super Giant – based on its sister company’s super Stop and Shop stores – opened as a prototype for all new Giant stores in the Virginia, Delaware, Maryland and Washington, D.C, region – the only states in which the company operates. Combining energy-efficient design with a restaurant feel, all inside a unique grocery-shopping experience, the Millville Super Giant is one of a kind, said Barry Scher, Giant Food LLC vice president of Public Affairs. “We’re delighted to unveil this new prototype design,” Scher said of the company’s 192nd store, which employs 125 area workers. “I think (the customers) are going to love it.” The “environmentally friendly Super Giant” will set an energy conservation standard in grocery stores, which use tremendous amounts of electricity because of the amount of refrigeration needed in such a store. Sensors throughout the 64,760 square foot store’s sales area will dim the lights based on the amount of daylight coming into the store at any time. The new superstore also features a geothermal heating and cooling system, a system
See GIANT Page 2
In celebration of the season and despite chilly temperatures, the Living Nativity at Mariner’s Bethel United Methodist Church in Ocean View warmed the spirits of those who made the annual pilgrimage Dec. 18 and 19.
Coastal Point • RUSLANA LAMBERT
An attendee at April 16’s Easter sunrise service on the beach in Bethany Beach returns as the sun rises. The Sunday service was hosted by Ocean View church of Christ.
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Volume 7, Issue 7
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DECEMBER 9, 2011
The Fenwick Island Town Council is weighing the pros and cons of establishing a historical committee within the town. “If we do decide on assigning a committee,” said Mayor Audrey Serio during discussions at the monthly council meeting Dec. 14, “before they started work, they’d have to have guidelines and understand what their powers are and are not.” “What happened recently in the past few weeks – and this may be the only one
SPORTS
BIZ
FUN
SPORTS
TEEN
CELEBRATION
Indians looking fast in the pool
Dairy Queen celebrates decade of service
Time to sign up for Little League!
Lady Indians come out on top
Local girl named Miss Teen Delaware
Birthday party draws a crowd
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Volume 8, Issue 49
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JANUARY 27, 2012
THE LOCAL VOICE OF YOUR COMMUNITY.
IRSD board back to business
Volume 9, Issue 4
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See BOARD page A2
Coastal Point • Shaun M. Lambert
Jarmon displayed versatility, pulling in an interception on defense during a Caravel drive before capping off another Indian River score with a 3-yard scramble — the first of his three rushing touchdowns on the day. Careless turnovers on both sides kept the offenses at bay in the second quarter, and the Indians held the advantage, 13-0, as the first half of play drew to a close. By the third quarter, the Indians were at it again, as Jarmon punctuated a 91-
yard Indian River drive with a 2-yard spin into the end zone, nudging Indian River ahead, 20-0. But, the Buccaneers started answering back, as Christopher Wickes’ 10-yard touchdown run shortened the gap. Just before the fourth quarter, Jarmon again made a dash for the end zone, putting the Indians ahead by 19. Wickes countered once more with another rush-
THE LOCAL VOICE OF YOUR COMMUNITY.
Public approves funding for new classrooms at six school buildings By Laura Walter Staff Reporter
By Monica Scott Staff Reporter
Indian River players celebrate with their fans after their 35-13 victory over Caravel on Saturday, Dec. 3, which gave the Indians their first state championship since 1988.
FEBRUARY 1, 2013
The Millville Town Council this week “shelved” the idea of having a police study conducted. In March 2011, the council had approved spending $650 for an initial study by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), to help determine the town’s need for police coverage. At their January town council meeting they decided they would have Town Manager Debbie Botchie get a little more information. Mayor Gerry Hocker reported, on Botchie’s behalf, this week at a Jan. 23 town council workshop that the Department of Homeland Security does not do such studies, that the Institute of Public
Indian River School District residents voted on Tuesday to give students more
room to learn when they approved a twopart major capital improvement and current expense referendum. On Jan. 29, both ballot questions passed, allowing the district to fund construction of 38 additional classrooms at six school buildings and hire new teaching positions created by the large increase in district enrollment, which officials said far outpaced anticipated growth. “We want to thank the public for its
overwhelming support,” IRSD Superintendent Susan Bunting told the Coastal Point. “It’s just really warming to feel their recognition of what we’ve been able to do for the students and what we hope to do in the future.” The public approved the bond issue by 69 percent (2,695 votes of 3,934 total), allowing the district to borrow money to build 38 new classrooms at six buildings, including Phillip C. Showell
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Elementary (four rooms), Selbyville Middle (two rooms), Long Neck Elementary (eight rooms), East Millsboro Elementary (eight rooms) and North Georgetown Elementary (eight rooms) schools. The Georgetown Elementary/Georgetown Middle School complex will get eight classrooms and a new kitchen. See VOTE page A7
Route 26 Working Group discusses early action work By Laura Walter Staff Reporter
Coastal Point • R. Chris Clark
State Sen. George H. Bunting, left, and State Rep. Gerald Hocker are all smiles as they drive across the new Indian River Inlet Bridge on Friday, Jan. 20. By Maria Counts Staff Reporter After years of construction, delay and turbulent waters, the Indian River Inlet Bridge opened to traffic last Friday, with Gov. Jack Markell taking the maiden ride across its span. “The bridge that we’re going to open to traffic today is an example of why a lot of us in transportation got into transportation,” said Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) Secretary Shailen Bhatt. “It’s a signature project, and it’s something that we’ve very excited about.” Construction on the new bridge began in late 2008. The final structure was erected by Skansja Southeast under a design-build contract with DelDOT. Bridge construction was delayed briefly multiple times over the years due to weather events and the removal of the bridge’s form travelers, and reached a standstill at one point due to geotechnical errors related to the original approach embankments under the original bridge design contractor. “The testament to the team isn’t just saying you’re working as a team,” said Bob Rose, senior vice president for Skanska. “The testament is working through issues. All projects, as it’s
the nature of construction, have issues. Whether it’s a part of the design or a part of the application, it’s how you work through them that is a testament to the team, and I can’t speak highly enough about the relationship between Skanska and DelDOT and how we worked through significant issues and resolved them.” Markell, along with U.S. Sen. Tom Carper, DelDOT Project Manager Doug Robb and Bhatt attended an official opening for the bridge on Jan. 20, as a single southbound lane was rerouted onto the new bridge. Sixty Delaware businesses have been suppliers to the project, and Markell said that building a strong infrastructure in the state will help with the state’s economy. “There was a lot of business for local Delaware contractors, whether it’s restaurants, hotels or others, throughout this project. The idea behind these transportation projects… this is something that’s going to be used for a long time. We can only have a strong economy going forward if we have a strong infrastructure. When you can find these projects – which put people to work today, on things that will create jobs over the long-term – that’s really the kind of win-win that we’re foSee BRIDGE page A3
See POLICE page A5
See CHAMPS page A2
Volume 10, Issue 5
Indian River School District referendum passes by 2-1 margin
Mission accomplished M m
Following failed appeal, school board moves on
Millville tables notion of police study
See SNOW Page A2
Coastal Point • CHRIS CLARK
Coastal Point • SUSAN LYONS
It was a different kind of sunrise on Bethany Beach last Friday, Jan. 25, as snow blanketed the sand.
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By M. Patricia Titus News Editor
It’s a winter wonderland in Roxana! Well, as long as you’re not driving. Or walking. Or sitting quietly in the dark in your home after a blackout.
See PLAN Page 3
DIRT
The Indian River School District Board of Education continued with work as usual a week after the Supreme Court declined to hear the district’s appeal in the school-prayer lawsuit filed by parents of district students. In 2008, the anonymous “Doe” family sued the school, arguing that the board’s habit of holding board-led prayer (often invoking the name of Jesus) at the start of school board meetings was unconstitutional under the establishment clause of the First Amendment. Members of the public present at the meetings were not required to participate in the prayer but had generally done so. While the district has asserted that students are not required to attend the meetings, students often attend private disciplinary hearings and others frequently attend to participate in ceremonies, presentations and public
came together this past Saturday, Dec. 3, as the Indians rounded out a perfect season, finishing 12-0, with a 35-13 victory over Caravel Academy in the Delaware District II State Championship game at Delaware State University in Dover. Led by quarterback Jamie Jarmon, the Indians took it to Caravel early, with a running game anchored by Aarron Moore, who found the end zone for the first score of the game, putting the Indians ahead, 6-0 in the first quarter.
Bethany Beach planning commissioners on Jan. 19 expressed their concerns about a lack of information and clarity in the sketch plan presented to them for the proposed Mews of Bethany community. Stanley J. Walcek, the owner of the property at 501 Garfield Parkway, presented the plan with the preface that he was attempting to obtain permission from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to reclaim about 2.2 acres of his 10-acre wetland property, which is bordered by a canal, Gibson
See FENWICK Page 2
By Laura Walter Staff Reporter
All season long, Indian River’s varsity football team had been offensively dominating opponents, never allowing their counterparts to finish within 14 points of their score, while a constantly-developing defense was progressing and maturing right before first-year head coach Ray Steele. Both offense and defense, once again,
By M. Patricia Titus News Editor
Christmas gifts for gardeners
THE LOCAL VOICE OF YOUR COMMUNITY.
By Ryan Saxton Staff Reporter
Bethany Wetlands development plan all wet in initial review
bly hang onto a little bit of the past so we can become unique in understanding where the town is,” Carmean added. There were a number of specifications for the potential group that others expressed at last Friday’s meeting. “I’d like to make sure that responsibilities encompass the entire town, commercial and residential,” said Council Member Chris Clark. “As far as guidelines of authority, the committee should report directly to the planning commission. One of the first things they should
BIZ
Paramedic funding a concern for county
See FUNDING Page A4
value in the town, or if it possesses distinct characteristics from the styles of architecture and structure that were used.” “I happen to love history,” said Council Member Vicki Carmean, who was also in support of establishing the new organization, “and there are a lot of people who don’t want change and want things to stay the same. But some of these buildings that made Fenwick so special so many years ago are being torn down for new structures. “To an extent, I understand why these changes are occurring, but we can proba-
Page A11
After taking a beating f rom last weekend’s blizzard that dumped as much as 15.6 inches of snow on the area and piled it high with strong winds, early this week residents of coastal Delaware were preparing for the onslaught of a second major winter storm in less than a week – this one a nor’easter expected to bring even more snow and strong winds. State emergency officials advised on Monday, Feb. 8, that residents and business owners begin clearing accumulated snow off roofs – particularly flat ones – as well as from trees and around vents and gutters, to prevent the additional accumulation of heavy, wet snow from causing roofs to collapse, trees to fall on power lines, and snowmelt and air to be blocked from needed movement. An official snowfall total in Selbyville reached 15.6 inches late on Saturday, rising in just a few hours from about 10 inches after a brief pause in the heavy snowfall mid-day on Saturday. The nor’easter was expected to begin impacting the area on Tuesday afternoon as the Coastal Point went to press
Reductions in state funding for paramedics are of increasing concern for county officials as the cost of the programs and needed expansion of service have only risen while county coffers have gotten leaner with less real estate transfer tax to fund the programs. Sussex County Council President Vance Phillips, at the council’s Tuesday, Feb. 9, meeting, said he would be proposing that the State of Delaware either reconfigure its paramedic funding formulas from a 70/30 county/state split to a 50/50 split or consider changing transfer tax formulas from the current 50/50 split to a 70/30 county/state split, giving the counties the bulk of the
we have in town – but the owner of an aged house in the area is willing to put the money into it himself to restore it to its original state, and open it up to tourists,” said Council Member Bill Weistling, one of the initial advocates of creating the historical committee. “It’s a unique situation, where setting up a historic committee to come in and take a look at places like this may be beneficial to the town.” “We can at least start to distinguish parameters for this committee,” added Weistling, “things like determining how old the house should be, whether it has special character of historical or aesthetic
From customer to owner
State Champs!
Nor’easter expected to add to problems
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Page A16
State hammered by rare blizzard
Volume 5, Issue 5
By M. Patricia Titus News Editor
Fenwick Island hopes to capture town’s history
By Ryan Saxton Staff Reporter
Indians, fans rejoice in title
Teaching you to train your dog
THE LOCAL VOICE OF YOUR COMMUNITY
Longtime Coastal Leisure CHEER Center Director Sheree Stephens is no longer working at the Ocean View senior center, after being arrested at the center Jan. 11 on theft and other charges and led away from her workplace in handcuffs by state police. Stephens was charged with felony theft and falsifying business records after she allegedly stole funds and removed business Stephens records from the local senior center. On Friday, Jan. 11, state troopers were dispatched to the CHEER Senior Center on Cedar Neck Road to investigate a reported internal theft. Upon arrival, police said, troopers contacted several administrators who were there to complete an annual audit. Auditors told police numerous irregularities were found and several business records were missing. The auditors identified the center’s director, Sheree R. Stephens, 50, of Ocean View, as the suspect. An examination of business records revealed more than $7,000 in missing funds, police said. Cpl. Wes Barnett, public information officer for the Delaware State Police, said a consent search of Stephens’ vehicle revealed many of
SPORTS
BIZ
Habitat for Humanity opens its own new home Page A25
Builders show many ways to save the world PAGE 25
weather,foes on the hardwood PAGE 46
CHEER center director fired, arrested
Coastal Point • RUSLANA LAMBERT
By Jonathan Starkey Staff Reporter
See TOWN Page 4
By M. Patricia Titus News Editor
Mother Nature got in a last blast of winter as the calendar rounded into March this week, dumping an estimated 3 to 4 inches of snow on the area and hitting coastal Delaware with strong winds and temperatures well below freezing. Indian River School District officials canceled school and student activities both Monday and Tuesday, March 2 and 3, while Delaware Tech’s Georgetown campus also canceled classes. State and regional officials asked motorists to avoid travel and to take care on the road if they did venture out. Nonetheless, numerous accidents and other weather-related problems were reported early this week. Upstate, near Middletown, a Brinks armored car flipped over Monday morning on Route 1, when the operator lost control due to the poor road conditions. State police in Sussex County reported responding to a total four personal-injury accidents, 106 property-damage accidents and 73 disabled vehicles through Tuesday afternoon, as a result of the weather. None of the crashes resulted in serious injuries, they said. The snowstorm caused numerous power outages in southern Delaware and on the eastern shore of Maryland. Delmarva Power called in linemen assistance from its Newark, Del., headquarters, as well as a handful of contract linemen, to help with power restoration as a peak of about 4,230 customers in Maryland and 34 customers in Sussex County were left without power. High winds, snow and ice on power lines and equipment, trees on power lines, and downed power lines and poles were all factors that caused the power outages, according to Delmarva Power. Restoration efforts were hampered by the bitter cold, extensive tree removal work, equipment repair and limited access on some roads that are icy and snow-covered, they said. DelDOT crews continued to clear the roadways of ice and snow as late as Tuesday afternoon, as the strong winds blew snow back over previously cleared roads where it later refroze. Mariners were also advised to take care during the nor’easter, as the heavy winds brought a gale warning along the Delaware coast from Lewes to Fenwick Island.
New leadership,but still the same great doughnuts PAGE 16
See IRSD Page 5
A look back at Indian River’s hoops season PAGE 46
THE LOCAL VOICE OF YOUR COMMUNITY
Volume 4, Issue 51
GREEN
SPORTS Indians battle
BIZ
Sugary fairytales and gingerbread delights PAGE 18
New Giant lives up to ‘Super’ name
Coastal Point • SAM HARVEY
Looking west from the Indian River Inlet, a brilliant sunset paints the sky. That, or Sam Harvey spilled jelly on the lens again.
SPORTS
By Ryan Saxton Staff Reporter
See MILLVILLE Page 2
See TOWN Page 2
Solar thoughts go through Fenwick officials’minds PAGE 25
South Bethany’s Cusick named Delaware’s Town Manager of the Year
Millville will hold its annual municipal elections this Saturday, March 7, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Voting will be conducted in the Town Hall Meeting Room at 11 Club House Road. All residents of Millville age 18 and older are eligible to cast a vote, which will determine which three candidates of the four who have filed to run for council this year will fill the three open seats on council. Incumbents Donald Minyon and Richard Thomas are running alongside hopefuls Joseph Calvarese and Michael Jeffers. Those elected to council will hold their position until March of 2011. Anyone wishing to vote is asked to bring proof of identity and address. A state-issued Minyon
Police Chief Ken McLaughlin presented the monthly report. He reported 91 calls for service, two less than last month but still busy. He also said he and two members of the council had been talking with an architect about plans for the new police department building. The council discussed four ordinances in all. Probably the most far-reaching ordinance adopted the land use plan update. Town solicitor Dennis Schrader pointed out that the council had seen the document sev-
GREEN
Indian River High School students show off popular prom fashion. PAGE 30
By Kevin Roberts Special to the Coastal Point
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New information emerged this week on the legal woes of the Indian River School Board. Not only is the board now facing another lawsuit, but an enforced silencein the original case regarding religious issues in the district was lifted, revealing some of the terms of a proposed settlement that the board rejected in late February. On the first count, the board’s insurance company, Utica Insurance, has filed suit – essentially because the board denied the settlement offer in the Dobrich/”Doe” case, a settlement that, according to an attorney close to the case and a school board member, came with unacceptable conditions. The sealed suit filed last week by the insurer would require that the board pay back to the company legal fees accumulated after the board denied the offered settlement on Feb. 27. School Board President Charles Bireley and Board Member Donald Hattier said that the insuranceagency-appointed attorneys – John Cafferky and John Balaguer – told the board to accept the settlement offer.
Rain in downtown Bethany Beach often leaves fire fighters singing the blues concerning flooding. A plan to use an inflatable rubber dam could alleviate the problems, according to an engineering firm and one councilman. “Last August, when some big thunderstorms came through, we had about 20 calls to respond to and when we came back the station had about 8 inches of water in it.” The fire station has been flooded so frequently that the fire company considered moving to higher ground west of Route 1. But last month the Town Council nixed a proposal of swapping a portion of its recently purchased Christian Church property (on the northwest corner of the routes 1 and 26 intersection) for the fire company’s land on Hollywood Street. The
Ocean View prepares for water referendum
MARCH 6, 2009
Volume 3, Issue 16
FUN
to stay undefeated — did they? PAGE 54
IRSD facing second suit over prayer case
By Thomas Melville Contributing Writer
The Ocean View Town Council moved quickly through readings of new ordinances and a conditional use issue before coming to Councilman Eric Magill’s update on the proposed town water system and preparations for the non-binding referendum Feb. 21, from noon to 5 p.m. The plan would provide central water to Ocean View residents who currently have their own wells and would bring town water to unimproved lots. Central water would
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THE LOCAL VOICE OF YOUR COMMUNITY
SPORTS IR hoops aims
Bethany’s Sea Crest carries on tradition of unique offerings PAGE 16
New steakhouse planned for Millville
Easter sunrise renewal
APRIL 21, 2006
BIZ
BIZ
Civil rights activists talks to local students PAGE 25
PAGE 70
Rejected settlement stipulations would restrict district’s use of religious designations
New dam could keep town, fire station dry
By Sam Harvey Staff Reporter
A&E
Lady Indians excel on field
Local boy returns with a pair of businesses PAGE 10
Drip dry An inflatable rubber dam might sound like something Kramer would devise in an episode of “Seinfeld,” but it could be the real-life answer to the town’s flooding problems, which have swamped residents, businesses and the fire station especially hard for the past 10 years, according to a recent report from an engineering firm. For Michael Wilgus, president of the Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company, any help the town can provide to stem the severe flooding at the fire station on Hollywood Street is appreciated. “I don’t know why, but it seems that there has been a lot more flooding in the area in the past 10 years then ever before,” said Wilgus, who grew up in Bethany Beach and has been a fire company volunteer for 23 years.
SPORTS
BIZ
100 years of service PAGE 25
Delaware Department of Transportation officials, community leaders and state legislators gathered in Millville on Jan. 29 for the second Route 26 Working Group meeting ahead of construction of the Route 26 Mainline Improvements project. Even DelDOT Secretary Shailen Bhatt attended. Having just navigated snowy Kent County roads and icy Sussex County highways to get to the meeting, the group got to work, planning the details of a three-year project that may impact every facet of local life. DelDOT plans to advertise for bids on the project in the summer, choose a contractor and begin roadwork in the fall to widen the road, adding turn lanes, shoulders and sidewalks. But preparatory work actually began several years ago, with the Route 26 Detour Routes project to prepare back
Special to the Coastal Point • Mike Hulick
The Addy Sea is a majestic sight when snow blankets the beach — or, really, when snow is nowhere near the beach.
See PROJECT page A2
Bethany officials recommend removing hurdles for project By M. Patricia Titus News Editor Bethany Beach officials are moving expediently on a request from developer Jack Burbage to clear the way over some zoning hurdles that could keep him from transforming the Bethany Arms motel into a beachfront Marriott or Hilton hotel.
Planning Commissioners on Jan. 9 discussed a range of items, at the request of the town council earlier that week, that would increase the potential density for the four parcels he tentatively plans to buy, ensure all four are properly zoned for use as a hotel and set new standards for modern hotel rooms in the town. Following up on his visit with council members at their workshop on Jan. 4,
Burbage offered commissioners a little more concrete idea of what could be the future design for his hotel, with the first of two rough sketch plans he asked to make the best use of the property as a flagship hotel with at least 100 units, complete with spa and conference center. Burbage said the first design he had received from his pair of architectural firms included about 100 units — in a
combination of suites and single rooms — with a parking space for each and some to spare, as well as retail and restaurant space, a large meeting room with a capacity of up to 160 people and two smaller meeting rooms, each with a capacity of 30 people. “I think we need more suites, being See BETHANY page A4
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The Coastal Point guide to the 2022 Senior League Softball World Series • August 4, 2022
Hocker’s New sales now found in the Point!
MAY 2, 2014
Drugs Part three of our look at heroin in our community Page 18
THE LOCAL VOICE OF YOUR COMMUNITY.
Time and money saved on Central Avenue construction work By Laura Walter Staff Reporter Road crews were recently surprised to find underground pipes in a different place than expected — and that’s a good thing when it came to one area of Route 26. The State Route 26 Mainline Improvement Project was supposed to close Central Avenue at the Route 26 intersection for four to six weeks to relocate sewer pipes in preparation for stormwater management improvements. “We’re relocating the existing sewer See WORK page 4
School board gets good news on school construction By Laura Walter Staff Reporter After some delay and “jumping through hoops” to get various permits, the Indian River School District made some concrete progress this month. More than a year since the February 2013 referendum was approved, the IRSD finally opened bids this month to find itself $49,000 under budget to renovate three school buildings. “This is kind of a happy day for us,” said John Eckrich, supervisor of transportation and buildings and grounds for the district, at the April 29 school board meeting. With a $5.76 million budget for Long Neck, North Georgetown and See IRSD page 2
Lineup change “Kitchen Casino” will now debut local chef Lisa DiFebo Osias on Monday, May 12, a change from the originally anticipated April 28 air date. The episode “Fear & Searing” premieres at 9 p.m. on the Food Network, with guest judges Gavin Kaysen and Aliya LeeKong.
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Inlet bridge to close briefly overnight, May 1 By Laura Walter Staff Reporter Drivers could expect to face a slight delay when heading over the Charles W. Cullen Bridge at the Indian River Inlet on the night of Thursday, May 1. Weather pending, the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) planned to have intermittent bridge closures for 15-minute intervals from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. (overnight from May 1 to May 2) for diagnostic load testing. The entire bridge was to be closed to traffic at those times. But emergency response vehicles will always have access, officials said early this week. According to DelDOT, diagnostic load testing involves driving pre-weighed trucks across the bridge. Staff from the University of Delaware helps record measurements as the test vehicle passes. The resulting data points to many properties that affect the bridge’s actual load-carrying capacity. It also creates an accurate structural model of the bridge that can be used in the final bridge rating, measured on the Bridge Rating and Analysis of Structural Systems (BRASS) program. The May 1 testing was to be the first bi-annual load test since DelDOT took the initial measurements when the new bridge was completed and opened to traffic in January of 2012. Night work is being done to avoid the heavy daytime traffic volume, officials noted. “Nothing is wrong with the bridge,” emphasized Sandy Roumillat, DelDOT chief of community relations. “This is a scheduled test to help us monitor and better understand the performance of the bridge.” This month, Transystems inspectors are also performing
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Indian River swimmers hit the pool
Bling and friendly service
Welcoming home the new dog
Indians grab seven medals at HAC meet
Remembering Beebe’s first AfricanAmerican nurse
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JANUARY 16, 2015 JANUARY
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Bethany council gets a peek at proposed Central Park
By Maria Counts Staff Reporter
A possible future vision for Bethany Beach’s proposed “Central Park” was unveiled last week, as the Bethany Beach Town Council heard from Oasis Design Group’s Scott Scarfone at their Feb. 12 council workshop. Scarfone’s presentation showed the latest design ideas for the park that is planned to be constructed on the former Christian Chuch/Neff properties, on
By M. Patricia Titus News Editor
South Bethany residents want safety, not a shortcut
park property. Scarfone said other possible elements that could be incorporated were lighting and a “gateway” signage monument that could serve as a focal point for those driving past the park on Route 1, letting them know with a strong visual that they were in Bethany Beach. Using a diagram depicting existing vegetation, including some mature trees, Scarfone described the proposed design as creating a series of “rooms,” such as the large open lawn space, a smaller
lawn space on the opposite side of the pavilion and a more secluded “reading garden” in the northwest corner. The resulting “hallways,” Scarfone said, led to the design for pathways, as well as entry/exit points for the park and related crosswalks. A service driveway would allow the Town access off Route 26, next to the existing pump building. “Plaza” gateway areas would be constructed at the Route
A winter wonderland
Residents of Cat Hill love their idyllic beach lifestyle. With winding roads, the South Bethany neighborhood feels very off-the-beaten-path. There are no sidewalks, so people walk their dogs, jog and bicycle in the narrow streets. And those pedestrians share the road with sometimes 20,000 cars a month, Cat Hill resident and former mayor Jay Headman told the town council on Feb. 12. Cat Hill is a popular shortcut for beach traffic looking to avoid the Route 26/Route 1 intersection. Drivers often shortcut from Kent Avenue to the highway using Black Gum Drive, Cattail Road, Tamarack Drive, Canal Drive, Russell Road and Evergreen Road. Despite the secluded feel, “It is one of the most major intersections in our town today,” Headman said. “Things have changed dramatically
See FLU page 3
School district to host public forum for sex-ed curriculum By Laura Walter Staff Reporter Although the Indian River School District has finished the first leg of the sex-education marathon by drafting a new high school curriculum, the next hurdle looms, with a public forum. Fulfilling a promise made to the public by district officials, the forum is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 22, at 7 p.m. at Millsboro Middle School. The public is welcome to attend. “District officials will give a brief presentation about the high school health curriculum before accepting questions and public comments,” IRSD officials announced this week. “This is an opportunity for us to show the
See PARK page 4
See SAFETY page 3
By Maria Counts Staff Reporter
Snow geese enjoy our sunsets just as much as the rest of us.
Am
The Town of Ocean View will hold a public hearing and workshop on its 2017-fiscal-year operating and capital budgets on Tuesday, Feb. 23, with the public hearing beginning at 5:30 p.m.,
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Indians prepped for playoff run
Local church lets the stars shine
Indian River High School hosts ‘Romeo’
Indians dominate Sussex Academy
Local women gets to ‘Make a Deal’
If you hadn’t heard, we got some snow
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FEBRUARY 17, 2017
Bethany looking at ‘overdue’ improvements to Atlantic Avenue
Atlantic Avenue is one of Bethany Beach’s most-used streets. In fact, the town’s easternmost north-south street tops all roadways in the state for pedestrian traffic density during the busy summer season. It’s also overdue for paving, for updates for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance, for upgrades to the water-service connections below it and for improvements to address flooding issues, as well as lacking a “hospitable” sidewalk along much of its length. Town Manager Cliff Graviet at the town council’s Feb. 13 workshop told the council that the road today is “almost a perfect storm of maintenance and other issues” and has for years been at the top of the Town’s list for repaving, as well as the other updates that were addressed in a presentation by Kercher Engineering last spring. That presentation focused on a concept for revamping the roadway, with two travel lanes, a 2-foot buffer between See ATLANTIC page A2
as well as a vehicle for an additional police officer. Funds have been set aside for street maintenance and to address ADA noncompliance issues, as well as make improvements to John West Park. “There’s a lot of money going out and not a lot coming in,” said Council-
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JANUARY 12, 2018
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Volume 15, Issue 2
man Bill Olsen at the council’s Feb. 9 monthly council meeting. Town Manager Dianne Vogel said the Town’s proposed 2017-fiscal-year revenue looks different from the current year’s budget. She noted that building
The Frankford Town Council at a special meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 14, approved a settlement with the Delaware Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Control that centers on the Town adding fluoride to its water supply. The council approved the settlement in hopes of moving forward following a lengthy battle with DNREC and with Mountaire Farms over the construction of an on-site well at the Mountaire feed processing facility inside town limits. The construction of that well effectively took Mountaire off of the Town’s water
See BUDGET page 7
See FRANKFORD page A2
Numerous emergency-services personnel were recognized for their contribution to the community last week at the Joshua M. Freeman Valor Awards. The Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce hosted the 13th annual awards ceremony on Feb. 10 to honor the outstanding police officers, paramedics, EMTs and firefighters who help keep local communities safe yearround, and to recognize their service and dedication to the community. “‘Valor is a demonstration of boldness and bravery in the face of adversity or danger. It is also the stability not of legs and arms but of courage and soul,’” said Chris Garland, senior vice president of development with Carl M. Freeman Companies, who told those in attendance he had looked up the definition of the word “valor” prior to attending the ceremony. “I truly believe all the gentlemen and ladies in this room exhibit that, especially our first-responders.”
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Garland noted that first-responders were “near and dear” to Josh Freeman’s heart, as he had served as a Green Beret in the U.S. Army. “In our community, our first-responders sacrifice their own time and safety in order to protect the lives of others. When the time comes for us to call on those individuals, each one makes a conscious decision to step forward for our protection and safety.” It was such a decision made by Sgt. Charles “Chuck” Scharp of the Bethany Beach Police Department that earned him the 2017 Overall Valor Award for his heroic efforts to save a young boy from drowning. In October, Scharp was the only officer on duty when dispatch received a call from Bethany Beach Public Works employee Sean Ely, who had been flagged down by the mother of an 11-year-old boy who was drowning in the surf. The young boy was caught in a rip current, and Ely reported he could see him going under the water. Scharp immediately responded, preparing for the worst. At that point, Ely, sensing the child would not be able to stay afloat independently for much longer, himself went into the water to assist. See VALOR page A4
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Coastal Point • Shaun M. Lambert
Bethany off icer wins top award for rescue of drowning boy By Maria Counts Staff Reporter
Coastal Point • Shaun M. Lambert
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Bethany Beach Police Department Sgt. Charles ‘Chuck’ Sharp, center, was recognized as the 2017 Overall Valor Award recipient at the Joshua M. Freeman Valor Awards. Sharpe is flanked by Chris Garland, left, senior vice president of development with Carl M. Freeman Companies, and Kristie Maravalli, right, executive director of the Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce.
By Kerin Magill Staff Reporter
Monday morning’s snowfall might have caught a few of us off guard (mainly our pig-headed editor), but it did indeed create a picturesque landscape in Bethany Beach. For more photos, turn to page 26.
followed by the workshop at 6 p.m. Currently, in the draft capital budget, funds have been set aside for workout equipment in the locker rooms for the police department, security enhancements for the second floor of the Wallace A. Melson Municipal Building and a new vehicle for the compliance officer,
THE LOCAL VOICE OF YOUR COMMUNITY.
Local heroes honored for valor
By M. Patricia Titus Managing Editor
Frankford gets $60K water grant in exchange for fluoridation
Ocean View to hold public hearing/workshop on budget
Coastal Point • R. Chris Clark
See IRSD page 2
the northwest corner of the intersection of Routes 26 and 1, with public comment to-date now taken into account. The park’s proposed design features elements that the council has specifically asked be present, including walking paths, gardens, open lawn, an open pavilion and benches, as well as a limited amount of parking on the north side of the park on Central Boulevard, “earth sculpting” or mounding to add visual interest, and natural screening of the homes along the west side of the
By Laura Walter Staff Reporter
Having ‘the Talk’
Coastal Point • R. Chris Clark
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Influenza: Nothing to cough at With the influenza A (H3N2) viruses sickening many people around the country, medical professionals have been urging community members to get their flu shots this year. “I recommend everyone get a flu shot,” said Dr. Nicole Alu, a family physician with Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Laurel, Del. “I think it’s the best protection.” According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, seasonal flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by flu viruses. Approximately 5 to 20 percent of U.S. residents get the flu each year. “Compared to the last several years, this has been a very busy flu season, and I think difficult,” said Alu, noting it can be challenging to treat the public with the high influx of patients wanting to see their physicians. On Jan. 12, Delaware Public Health Division Director Dr. Karyl Rattay released a statement noting that Delaware has had unusually high numbers of lab-confirmed flu cases and deaths this season. “To date, Delaware has 1,340 lab-confirmed cases and 11 deaths; both numbers are signifi-
Work is a near-constant sight at the Charles W. Cullen Bridge at the Indian River Inlet. DelSee BRIDGE page 5 DOT has announced 15-minute closures on the bridge overnight from May 1 to May 2.
FEBRUARY 19, 2016
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