Local park projects are getting their day in the sun after the Delaware Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Control (DNREC) announced its 2015 grant awards. Across the state, DNREC’s Outdoor Recreation, Parks & Trails Program is contributing just under $1.29 million to 14 parks and trails projects.

About $259,000 has been donated to local outdoor projects in Millville, Fenwick Island and the James Farm Ecological Preserve. These are matching grants, so local organizations chip in to prove their dedication to the projects.

Statewide, projects include playgrounds for children with special needs, education pavilions, boardwalks, nature overlooks, pathways and bathroom amenities.

The Town of Fenwick Island is putting its $21,293 award to work this week. In the first week of April, they planned to install ADA-compliant playground for children ages 5 to 8.

The Town of Millville won one of the biggest grants, totaling $200,000, to purchase land for its first municipal park.

In 2015, Millville paid $800,000 for 4.9 acres of land located at 32517 Dukes Drive, a side-road connecting from Windmill Avenue to Route 26. According to DNREC, ideas for the park include two playgrounds for different age groups, a fitness trail, a small community center, community garden and a fitness challenge course and obstacle course.

James Farm Ecological Preserve won $37,500 for design, engineering and permitting work. Managed by the Center for Inland Bays, the nature preserve is in the first stages of improving parking, trails and signage in Ocean View.

These three parks are or will be open to the public. Lands purchased or developed with assistance from the program must remain public parkland in perpetuity.

“For nearly 30 years, the Outdoor Recreation, Parks & Trails grant program has [been] helping fund projects that enhance residents’ quality of life and their enjoyment of nature and recreational activities,” stated DNREC Secretary David Small.

Formerly known as the Delaware Land & Water Conservation Trust Fund, the grant program has provided more than $27 million to help local governments acquire or improve local parkland, leveraging $51 million in local and other eligible investments.

Gov. Jack Markell called the parks a good investment for recreation, health benefits and making Delaware a more attractive place to live or visit.

“Parks and trails are an essential component of the fabric of our communities, contributing to our quality of life and our appreciation of the natural world,” Markell stated.

The money is funded through the Delaware Land & Water Conservation Trust Fund.

More information about the Outdoor Recreation, Parks & Trails Program can be found online at www.destateparks.com/OutdoorRecreationGrants.

The Freeman Stage at Bayside, a program of the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, presenting diverse programming in the genres of dance, live music, theatre and children’s programming.

On Tuesday, April 5, Patti Grimes, executive director of the Freeman Foundation, gave an annual report regarding the success of the Freeman Stage to the Sussex County Council, which has supported the program with grants.

“Our purpose is creating opportunities to elevate the human spirit, and our mission is partnering to present memorable performances and inspired arts education for all. Those two words are really important for our foundation — ‘for all’ — because many people have the opportunity to see the arts, but there are many residents and children in our county that really do not have that opportunity.

“The Freeman State is a vessel for the arts for presenting a myriad of arts performances throughout the summer, and the results have been pretty staggering.”

Grimes said that, in 2015, the Stage hosted 73 events, 16 national recording artists and 56,000 patrons, “which is astounding, when you think about, in 2008, when we first started, we had 13,500.”

More than 6,000 volunteer hours were clocked, and almost 11,000 kids we were able to have an arts experience through the Freeman Stage.

“We’re very thankful for the transportation grant you all provide. Over 6,000 children are coming to the stage May 24 and 26 for Cirque-tacular,” she added. “There’ll also be study guides for these children and their teachers.”

Since its creation in 2008, Grimes said the Stage has cumulatively hosted 260,000 patrons, with ticket buyers from over 30 states, 35 national recording artists, and clocked over 21,000 volunteer hours.

Beyond ticket sales, the Freeman Stage has contributed an estimated $7.5 million into the local economy since its creation.

“The arts are alive and well in Sussex County,” said Grimes.

Ticket for the 2016 season went on sale April 4, and already performances by Huey Lewis & the News and The Band Perry are sold out.

Grimes said the nonprofit would soon be starting a capital campaign to raise money to build a larger venue, to accommodate more patrons.

“Our intention is to provide a larger venue for patrons. More to come on that. We hope to get into fundraising for that new facility — a 4,000-seat venue — down the road,” she said. “That takes money, tremendous planning, and that takes the support of the community.”

She thanked council for their support over the years and invited them to visit the stage and enjoy an arts performance.

Councilman Rob Arlett commended the organization for what they do, not only for the county, but beyond.

“You guys do such an amazing job,” he said. “It’s so very important to the community.”

Next year, Justice of the Peace Court 1—Criminal, Truancy will move out of its Frankford location. Town Councilman Marty Presley said the Town had been told the Court would not be renewing its lease, which ends in January 2017.

“Council needs to make a decision about what they’re going to do,” he said, as to whether or not the Town would look to rent the building out again or to use it as a combined town hall/police department.

The Town receives approximately $40,000 annually renting the property, and Presley said about $20,000 of that will be placed in the upcoming year’s budget.

When asked why the J.P. Court would not be renewing their lease, council members said they were told the court was consolidating operations elsewhere.

Also during the April council meeting, it was announced that the Town’s second police officer, James Joles, had resigned from the police department and moved on to the Dagsboro Police Department.

Councilman Skip Ash said Joles went to Dagsboro because they are on the State’s pension plan. He added that the Town is looking into sending Taylor Bare to the fall’s police academy, but will also have to look into a contractual stipulation obligating new hires that the Town sends to the police academy to work for Frankford for at least three years.

The council said they would not make a hiring decision until the Town’s 2017-fiscal-year budget is approved this summer.

Councilman Greg Welch also gave an update on the charter committee’s progress.

“The committee’s feeling is that there’s no urgent need to charge the charter at this time. All the immediate needs can be addressed by ordinance. Basically, just about all of them can be fulfilled by ordinance,” he said.

Welch added that the committee would continue to meet to review the charter.

Presley said he disagreed and believed a charter change would be necessary, noting the recent lawsuit by former town administrator Terry Truitt over unused leave and a now-former councilman having chosen during his term to no longer attend council meetings.

“There’s a long list of things that are problems with the charter… How many meetings did we attend when the attorney sat at the table and said, because of ambiguous language in the charter, he made everybody mad, ‘because that’s what the charter said.’ We need to take those ambiguities out of the charter.”

In other Town news:

• Presley said the Town’s audit through the State has moved into Phase II, which could take 30 to 60 days.

“They don’t give us much in the way of updates,” he said.

Presley added that he had asked that, once the audit is complete, a representative come and give a presentation to the Town regarding their findings.

• Following an executive session, the council voted unanimously to hire Cheryl Lynch as the Town’s fulltime town clerk.

The Fenwick Island Town Council has approved a change in the Town’s old 30-foot building height limit. Depending on who tells the story, the change was rushed through in five weeks, or spread over 15 months.

Either way, buildings can now be up to 2 feet higher than before.

“As long as you meet the 18 to 24 inches of freeboard above FEMA requirements [for base flood elevation], that will enable you to have a roof height increase of 18 to 24 inches,” said Building Official Pat Schuchman.

The change does not affect occupancy.

The bill’s first reading was in February, without consensus from the Charter & Ordinance Committee, and without any direct warning, apart from appearing on the agenda one week beforehand. The second reading and final ordinance passed on April 1, the date of the postponed March meeting.

However, C&O Chair Bill Weistling Jr. said, the council had discussed freeboard and height in January of 2015 but did not pass it with the FEMA floodplain mandates. C&O discussed it in January and April of that year, but council postponed discussion until the public hearing during Memorial Day weekend of 2015. Then the council decided to wait until after a public survey, and after elections.

“Based on the recommendations of the survey and the elections, council decided to go ahead and proceed with the ordinance,” Weistling said.

In fact, he’s gotten questions as to why the council delayed this long, as some people have waited to build in Fenwick until the ordinance is officially decided.

“It was strongly suggested by FEMA that we consider this,” and Fenwick was the last to do so, said Councilman Gardner Bunting. “We should have acted on this, I think, much sooner.”

But if the goal is flood protection, the new ordinance does not meet the intent, argued resident Richard Benn, calling it “a gratuitous attempt to increase buildable area.” He said the change affects 100 percent of the community, although only maybe 15 percent need it, he said.

According to the Comprehensive Plan, the community favors 30-foot, single-family homes, Benn said.

“We’ve had a lot of flooding since that plan was put together,” countered former Fenwick Island Town Councilman R. Chris Clark [now the Coastal Point’s photographer], who said a plan is a guideline, not a mandate.

But there are “holes” in this legislation, said Kevin Carouge, and some people agreed. He called the change a “springboard” for future height increases, passed without mandate from FEMA or insurance companies, and without community consensus.

Some people instead suggested an ordinance to raise lots or bulkheads, instead of houses.

“You’re changing the complexion of the whole town that we have fought for more than 40 years to maintain the way it is,” said resident Lynn Andrews.

Resident Vicki Carmean said she, and others, had already anticipated flooding and built smart, so they believed newcomers can do the same.

“I want to ask the council to slow down just a little” and reconsider the one-size-fits-all plan, Carmean said. Yes, this could alleviate some flooding problems, she said, but it may create unanticipated issues.

“We’re against an ordinance that just puts 2 feet everywhere,” Benn concluded.

Several residents supported the change, saying they would like the room for extra freeboard on their homes.

The vote was 5-2, with Council Members Julie Lee and Roy Williams opposed.

“Every member of the council is in favor of freeboard,” Lee clarified.

But “the proposed ordinance change, as it is written now, does not address sea-level rise. It does not encourage freeboard, nor does it provide relief for those that need it most on the bay side,” Lee said.

The number of properties affected contrasts with the smaller number of houses affected by the FEMA flood map changes, she noted.

She also called out Mayor Gene Langan, who has chastised Lee for writing him an open letter to the editor. That was prompted by his not responding to her emails, Lee said.

“This ordinance, to me, this has been the rock this has been the mainstay to me in Fenwick Island,” said Williams. “The way this is done — almost every house built in probably the past 10 years is up on pilings. They’ve already incorporated freeboard. … What we’re doing here is just allowing everybody to build a bigger house.”

Lee and Williams had their say, but said they didn’t fight harder, or try to incorporate the survey’s original language for new construction only.

“Well, you saw what happened when we tried to get that changed. It’s not gonna happen. It’s a done deal,” Williams said afterward.

Asked if the bill isn’t an incentive to build a safer house, Lee said, “I’ve already got a house, and I’m on 8 feet of pilings. I don’t have to change a thing. I can come right in tomorrow and raise my roof 2 feet.”

She said she’s certain many houses have more than enough freeboard, too, especially in areas where base flood level was recently lowered.

“This vote came up so quickly,” Lee said. “It just happened, so I think everyone had just resigned themselves that this was going to be a 5-2 vote, and there’s going to be another election this summer.”

Council members may only get what they want with votes of support. Three seats will be up for election in 2016. The slate of candidates favoring such a change was successful in the 2015 council election, with Lee the only candidate in opposition who was elected.

Lee suggested creating a community outreach committee “because, I felt, [based on] some of the comments that we got from the public hearing, there is common ground from the neighbors who disagree on a lot of things. I think if we can find some common ground within the community — maybe I’m idealistic — we can make some progress and move forward.”

The Selbyville Town Council met April 4 to discuss a number of items, starting with water.

Hydrant flushing is scheduled for April 18 to 22. Residents may notice a discoloration in the water as mineral deposits are shaken out of the town pipes. They may wish to avoid doing laundry during this period, but officials noted that Iron Out can help remove any orange stains from laundry.

The new Town wells have decreased the time required to flush the pipes, they noted.

“The shorter time we have to open them up, the better,” said Councilman Rick Duncan Sr.

Meanwhile, the new water plant is in the paperwork stage, as approvals and pre-construction meetings are near completion. The supplemental plant will strip chemicals from town water.

In other Selbyville news:

• The EPA awarded Selbyville’s wastewater industrial treatment report a 96 percent for 2015.

• Planning has backtracked, but then resumed at Selbyville Town Village, which is re-drawing its entire land plan. All new permits will be required. The town council unanimously approved a new partitioning of the land, so 24 of 30 acres of conditional-use commercial space will revert back to its original R-4/Residential zoning. That could create up to 50 more houses in the development.

“I’ve seen the preliminary plans they’ve got,” Councilman Jay Murray said of the new creative neighborhood designs. “It’s a much better plan. Better for them, better for the town.”

• The Old Timers Day festival will be held Saturday, June 18, hosted by the Town of Selbyville and Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce.

• Coffee with a Cop began this week, as the Selbyville Public Library invites the public to discuss public-safety issues with the Selbyville Police Department. It will repeat June 8 at 3:30 p.m., and kids can have Cookies with a Cop on May 18 at 3:30 p.m.

• The council voted to purchase two work trucks for $43,000. That figure was below budgeted costs, thanks to Delaware Rural Water Association’s program to help municipalities purchase new and discounted fleet vehicles from Ford and Dodge.

• The Annexation Committee was directed to investigate the possibility of annexing 10,000 square feet of land on Route 54 into the town. Owned by Joe Donovan and Robert Rosser, tax map and parcel number 5-33 17.00 181.00 could come into the R-4/Residential District.

• The town’s recreational fields will get an update. The local Pop Warner league has changed its name to Lower Sussex Indians Football & Cheer, said Town Administrator Michael Deal. They’ll bring fill dirt to re-level and re-seed the field. They’ll also add a layer of paint and a roof to the concession stand.

• After hearing some complaints about trash escaping the public recycling site, Mayor Clifton Murray suggested the Town ask Delaware Solid Waste Authority for more stringent site cleanups.

Despite Selbyville’s curbside recycling pickup, the council still sees the large bins as a public service for collecting cardboard, batteries, oil and other recyclables.

• Realizing they haven’t signed a written contact with Republic Services for trash hauling since 2012, the town council unanimously voted to continue contracting with the company. They’ve gotten by with telephone and email service renewals for the past few years. (“That’s the ‘Sussex County way,’” joked one council member.)

The next regular Selbyville Town Council meeting is Monday, May 2, at 7 p.m.

Coastal Point • Kerin Magill: Chris Poeschl, left, and Tony Lanuza, right, of the Brooklyn Baking Barons, take a break in their Berlin, Md., bakery. The two will appear on the ABC television show ‘The Chew’ on Friday, April 15. They are planning to appear on the morning of their national TV debut on Ocean City’s 98.1 radio station.Not long ago, Tony Lanuza and Chris Poeschl of Ocean View were living the stereotypical “struggling artist” life in New York City. But on April 15, the two men — partners in life, as well as entrepreneurship — will appear beside world-renowned chef Mario Batali on the ABC TV show “The Chew.”

Their baked goods company, “The Brooklyn Baking Barons,” produces a Honey Whiskey Cake that has made its way onto People magazine’s holiday gift guide and into homes of celebrities including Batali, who apparently now buys the cakes for celebrations with his family.

The golden palm-sized mini-cakes may be their ticket to stardom, but they actually had the humblest of beginnings. It was Poeschl’s birthday, and, according to Lanuza, finances were too tight to buy him a gift, so he offered to bake him something. Poeschl asked for “a Caribbean rum cake, but not a rum cake,” he said.

The resulting cake has been the pair’s ticket to success. That success is due in no small part to a previous visit to “The Chew” — not as guests, but as audience members, with free tickets. Wanting to take full advantage of the opportunity, the two decided to bake up some honey cakes for the hosts, as well as the crew.

At that point, they were baking the cakes in the kitchen of a New York restaurant and “selling hundreds of desserts per week,” Poeschl said.

The honey cake was such a big hit on the set that co-host and Iron Chef Michael Symon tweeted its praises. “When [Symon] says, ‘That’s my best sweet bite of the year,’ you’re like, Ohhhhhh!” Poeschl said, raising his arms in the air for emphasis.

Soon after, the cakes were on a holiday favorites list compiled for People by food blogger, cookbook author and Food Network show star Ree Drummond, also known as “the Pioneer Woman.” At that point, both men knew their tiny New York kitchen was not going to allow them to keep up with demand for their cakes.

Through a fortuitous series of events, including a family wedding, Lanuza and Poeschl became aware of the availability of bakery space in Berlin, Md. Lanuza had grown up coming to the Ocean View area every summer, working at local eateries such as DiFebo’s and Maureen’s Ice Cream as a teen, so he was familiar with the area.

They moved into their 5,000-square-foot space, which is 10 times the space they had in New York, just as the holiday rush hit — a good thing, because, at the height of the holidays, they were filling several hundred orders a day — 3,000 orders in two weeks, according to Lanuza. “I’m very proud to say that we made it through,” Poeschl said.

The two have used the relative calm of the post-holiday months to come up with a few more tasty treats to market, including a limoncello poppy seed cake and a cinnamon-roll Caribbean rum cake.

They have also perfected their signature packing — which includes vacuum-sealing the cakes to keep them fresh and retain their mouthwatering moistness — to the point where they now ship cakes overseas.

Although April 15 will be their national television debut in the United States, they have already appeared on a New York morning talk show and a Japanese TV show. That, they both agreed, was surreal — especially when the only words they understood once the show was finalized in Japanese were “Honey Whiskey Cakes.” It was one of those experiences, Lanuza said, where you ask yourself later, “Did that really happen?”

While their focus has been getting their mail-order business running smoothly, now that they have a home base near the Maryland and Delaware coast, the Brooklyn Baking Barons are very interested in expanding their presence in local restaurants. A holiday trial in DiFebo’s in Bethany Beach was successful, and the pair hopes to expand on that.

“There is such a thriving food scene down here” — one which they fully intend to be a part of Poeschl said.

“Everybody asks us all the time, ‘You moved from Brooklyn to Ocean View?’” Lanuza said.

The two are finding the area to be a good fit for them, and a definite boost for their ability to function as a company. In the city, Poeschl said, “Small tasks take so much longer. Being here really allows us to focus and not be distracted by the crippling anxiety of New York City.”

Even though Poeschl, 27, and Lanuza, 28, have spent much of their adult lives in New York, both grew up in small towns — Poeschl outside Dayton, Ohio, and Lanuza in central Pennsylvania.

Neither has formal training in culinary arts, but Poeschl said that, when he was much younger, he thought he wanted to be a chef when he grew up.

“My earliest memories are of standing on a chair in the kitchen, peeling potatoes with my mom,” he said.

“I went to school for theater and French, and now I make cakes for a living,” he said. “But I have zero regrets. I love it, every single day.”

After their appearance on “The Chew” airs (ABC-TV, locally at 1 p.m. April 15), more good things could happen for Lanuza and Poeschl — a producer told them after the show was taped in February to “expect a phone call” — and they said they can’t wait to find out what that all means.

They already have an incredible story, which Lanuza succinctly sums up: “In a year and a half, we went from two guys who were unemployed to being on a national TV show.”

“We’re building our own little empire out of sugar and butter,” he said.

Coastal Point • R. Chris Clark: ‘Rock and Roll Over’ by KISS spins on ‘Vintage & Vinyl Night’ at the Dogfish Head Bewery in Milton.The countdown to Record Store Day is on.

While the national event will see more than 400 independently-owned vinyl shops celebrating across the country, Hooked Up in Millville will be the place to be for beer buffs and fans of local music this Saturday, April 16.

The ale house and raw bar is teaming up with Dogfish Head — the official beer of Record Store Day and a native Delaware brewery — to promote the event and local businesses with live music, giveaways and special Dogfish releases on draft.

“We’re really excited,” said Hooked Up General Manager Joe Botchie. “This is our way of supporting local mom-and-pop music stores.”

"Hooked Up was an obvious choice to play host to one of our Record Store Day parties. The great local following and live music made it a perfect match,” said Dogfish’s Matt Funk. "Music has always been a huge part of what we do. One of our mantras is ‘Analog beer for the digital age.’ Just like Guinness has St. Patrick's Day and Corona owns Cinco de Mayo, we now have our own holiday to celebrate, and it’s the one we are most excited about.”

The restaurant and brewery have linked up for events including “Tap Takeover” and “Pint Night” in the past, but the latest collaboration was just as much a “no brainer” as pairing beer and music to celebrate the occasion. In fact, Dogfish is even planning to feature their appropriately named "Beer To Drink Music To," which was just released on March 1.

The Belgian-style Tripel is all about honoring the LP, brewed with orange peel, peppercorn and candi sugar, to go along with songs including “Orange Crush” by REM, “Sgt. Pepper” by the Beatles and “Sugar On My Tongue” by the Talking Heads.

A mango and apricot IPA tagged “Romantic Chemistry,” with a tropical jam-like scent, is also scheduled to headline the day, with two more yet-to-be-named Dogfish barley pops and “Randall the Enamel Animal” on deck.

“It’s really cool,” said Botchie of the “Randall” — Dogfish’s beer-infusion mechanism. “It’s portable, so they actually hook it up directly to the tap line. The beer pours through it and infuses in the tank, so when you pour it, it’s running through all those flavors.”

Past concoctions include Knob Creek-soaked wood chips and expresso beans with Dogfish Punkin Ale, but Botchie said that, on Record Store Day, Randall rooters can look forward to a new recipe to get them in the groove.

Of course, beer won’t be the only thing on tap, with live music by Muskrat Lightning — the new official “house band” for Hooked Up, comprising three members of the group G-13 — scheduled to go on from 2 to 6 p.m.

“They’re playing old-school rock — what your mom and dad grew up listening to on vinyl,” said Botchie of the setlist. “They have a really good following. They’re just a fun band.”

Local radio personality J.J. Roth from 98.1-FM will be in attendance, with a live feed of the festivities, and giveaways will include Dogfish merchandise like the official Dogfish record crate, commemorative glassware, coasters and more.

Part of the proceeds will be going toward some of the local music shops that the day is meant to celebrate, but Botchie said that, mostly, the occasion will be about kicking back and enjoying the show.

“I’m just looking forward to it. It should just be a really fun event to have people come out and support local business,” he said. “It’s kind of what we’re all about here. I definitely think it’s gonna be just a nice, relaxed atmosphere with people that are enjoying craft beer and good live music.”

The countdown to Record Store Day will wind down when the event gets underway on Saturday, April 16, from 2 to 6 p.m. at Hooked Up Ale House in Millville.

What would it cost to clean Delaware’s waters?

State Sen. Bryan Townsend said an extra $100 million per year would be nice. But Delaware’s Clean Water Task Force is approaching a more realistic recommendation of $20 million per year to start problem-solving.

A clean-water fee could be one of many suggestions that the Clean Water & Flood Abatement Task Force makes in its final report, due April 30.

As a task force co-chair, Townsend explained the potential proposal to the Inland Bays Foundation on March 8.

“We have the cleanest beaches on the East Coast. We do not have the cleanest inland bays,” said IBF President Nancy Cabrera-Santos. “It’s because we’re a farm state.”

Delaware needs to mitigate the impact of storm water runoff and outdated septic systems, she said.

It’s also a moral issue, said Townsend

Elected in 2012, Townsend (D-Newark) said he learned that more than 90 percent of Delaware waterways are impaired.

“We have the technology to fix this issue. We just need the political will. That was spring of 2014. There was no immediate action” after election season, Townsend said. “It should be a no-brainer that we clean up our waterways.”

In 2015, the Delaware General Assembly created the task force to recommend potential funding ideas to improve water quality and alleviate flooding in Delaware.

“At the end of the day, this is going to involve more funding,” because the State hasn’t moved lately to augment the slump in federal funding.

One funding proposal is a three-tiered system: perhaps $45 per household, $100 per small business and $500 per big business.

Of course, those are just recommendations. The General Assembly must introduce and pass any fee or tax increases.

Are the perpetrators water pollution paying for the damage they caused? Not completely, Townsend said. Some pollution-causing companies are long gone. Some still provide good jobs to Delaware citizens.

The idea was a compromise, also, as the agricultural community was very vocal during the meetings. Yes, fertilizers might have caused much of the problem, too, but they also provided jobs, so how does anyone decide appropriate reparations?

As a result, the committee is just looking at a flat fee for everyone going forward, rather than looking back.

“We acknowledged that the only way to make movement now … is to take a broader approach … to have cleaner water up and down Delaware,” Townsend said. “I understand the incompleteness of that. I see the environmental injustice in that.”

But what about the people who can’t afford an extra $45 per year? Hopefully, those communities will benefit from grants to improve their water, Townsend said.

“I come from an area of Delaware where the educational system is deeply, deeply fractured,” and public referenda don’t get far. “Sometimes, by pooling people’s resources, you can have a better outcome.”

The Kent and Sussex county economies especially rely on clean water, while New Castle County may be paying more than they get, “but it still stays within the state to help drive the ultimate Delaware economy,” Townsend said.

“That also helps places where local elected officials are less likely to vote for this issue,” Townsend said. He said he hoped they realize the agricultural community has been more receptive to the proposed fee structure.

Citizens are being strongly encouraged to contact their elected officials if they have an opinion on something. Officials won’t know if an idea is popular or unpopular unless they hear feedback.

One woman in the audience was willing to pay such a fee but said she couldn’t stomach it until the State tells industrial companies to stop dumping.

The task force isn’t part of the State’s environmental enforcement system, although Townsend said he’d be willing to propose another task force to focus on the enforcement issue.

It’s not a perfect system, but Delaware will get farther by working together, he said.

The final report’s deadline was extended by three months, to April 30.

Flooding hasn’t gotten as much of the task force’s attention as Townsend had hoped, he said, simply because there wasn’t time.

The Clean Water Task Force has a webpage at www.cleanwaterdelaware.org, which includes a members list and meeting calendar.

A lifelong Delawarean, Townsend is running for the position of the state’s U.S. Congressman this fall.

The Inland Bays Foundation meets again Tuesday, April 12, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Bethany Beach Town Hall.

Their special guest will be Chief Natosha Carmine, the first female chief of the Nanticoke Indian Tribe. She’ll discuss Nanticoke history and its close association with the Indian River.

More information is online at www.inlandbaysfoundation.org.

Traffic is clogging a neighborhood in western South Bethany, and according to Cat Hill residents, they feel increasingly unsafe living on the narrow roads that have become a shortcut to the beach.

That’s why the South Bethany Town Council will discuss a traffic committee and a new speed hump at the April 8 council meeting, at 7 p.m.

Mayor Pat Voveris will propose creation a Cat Hill traffic committee composed of several council members, Cat Hill residents, other western South Bethany residents, the police chief and town manager, plus a DelDOT staffer who’s agreed to attend when invited.

“Now, it’s a matter of having a formalized process … where people sit around a table,” rather than debate details at council meetings, Voveris said. “I think we’re headed toward a good conversation.”

She’s also started a list of topics for discussions with DelDOT. The committee would take it from there.

The committee discussions could alleviate the public-relations issue that arose at recent meetings.

Residents have seen the problem, and they want answers now. Traffic volume and speed can seem dangerous in the pedestrian-heavy neighborhood that lacks sidewalks. It could only get worse, as thousands of new homes are slated for construction just west of town. Cat Hill is an increasingly common shortcut for beach-bound drivers aiming to avoid the intersection of Routes 1 and 26.

Council members have recognized the problem, but they want an official study for the best plan of action. They’re held accountable by the owners and residents of 1,400 properties across town, Voveris said. “This has to be sold to the whole community,” based on professional data.

Traffic studies have been scheduled for the first week of April, last week of June and first week of July.

But some residents said they think that will take too long.

“We’re asking for something concrete this summer,” said resident Margaret Jacobs on March 11.

“It doesn’t feel like you guys are our advocates,” George Rosenburg said on March 24. “Yes, we do need data, but we also need people on the town council and the police to be out there advocating for our safety.”

Tempers have flared into raised voices and swearing among some residents, and Voveris has had to constantly tap the gavel to maintain order during council meetings.

“We want to make an informed decision … not because you come to the meeting and pick on us,” said Voveris, who, at the residents’ request, had squeezed the traffic issue into an already lengthy budget meeting on March 24. “We really are trying to be as responsive as possible,” she added.

The residents had formed a committee to bring the topic before the council, and they’ve asked repeatedly to be part of the everyday discussion, not just at council updates. Voveris originally wanted to wait for the data before beginning that dialog, but Council Members Tim Saxton and Wayne Schrader had backed up the residents who wanted “a seat at the table” now.

Some residents requested immediate installation of features that could slow traffic, such as stop signs, more speed humps, painted lines and more enforcement.

“The first three things on this list are being addressed,” Councilwoman Sue Callaway said on March 11, referring to a list of ideas, ranging from modest to extreme, from radar signs to de-annexation from town, so residents could decide their own rules.

With professional traffic planners coming to help, Callaway asked what other remedy is too pressing to wait for official data.

“We’ve got data. … The real problem is people find our shortcut more desirable than any other,” said resident Dennis Roberts.

The residents counted 12,000 vehicles passing through in November, so Roberts said he could only assume that 40,000 will pass in July.

“Something’s gotta be done, because it’s getting worse every summer,” Roberts said. “My solution is to make it as inconvenient as possible, to keep people from riding through our quiet little neighborhood.”

Residents who didn’t want DelDOT’s summertime study suggested installing a stop sign immediately, to slow traffic down, and study that instead.

But South Bethany could be held liable for installing a stop sign that doesn’t meet state requirements, Crowson said.

The council has relied heavily on DelDOT’s instruction on the matter, partly they receive State funding for roads. That’s why the Town’s road can’t become privatized, the council has argued. Moving too hastily or independently could put the Town at risk.

Actions for improvement

The Town recently ordered several electronic radar signs, aimed at encouraging drivers to be more aware of their own speeding habits. Extra electronic data recorders will collect traffic data 24/7, to help South Bethany build its own body of data.

They’ve agreed to augment or replace Cat Hill speed humps that don’t meet DelDOT standards, with DelDOT approval in April.

They’re also considering adding a speed hump near 420 and 421 Black Gum Drive. Residents said that is a popular idea, based on their own research. But the town council will vote April 8 to send an official survey to the 47 affected residents nearby.

Voveris told the Coastal Point that DelDOT requires a 15 percent response rate for such a survey to be considered (although that detail is not mentioned in the DelDOT flyer that the council reviewed). Within that response, a two-thirds majority must approve the new traffic feature for it to be built. By that logic, if only eight residents respond, new speed humps could be approved with six votes.

A permanent road sign always forbids Kent Avenue traffic from entering Black Gum Drive from 7 to 8:30 a.m. But residents lambasted the suggestion that the existing movable barricade be removed to ensure accuracy in the traffic studies, saying the barricade is vital to their safety. The council voted, 4-3, to leave the barricade in place (with opposition from Callaway, Voveris and Councilwoman Carol Stevenson).

Meanwhile, Stevenson said she was looking for any ideas to improve pedestrian safety, from building sidewalks to moving trashcans away from the road. She also gave a plug for the Assawoman Canal Trail as a safe walking path.

Crossing the highway

Pedestrian highway crossings are unsafe, too, said longtime resident Willis Hoch.

“People — they’re walking in the middle of the highway. They put their hand up. They think they have the authority to stop the traffic, Hoch said.

“If there’s somebody engaged in the crosswalk,” that pedestrian has the right-of-way and cars must stop, Police Chief Troy Crowson clarified. However, pedestrians must wait to cross if they approach a crosswalk when cars are coming. “If they’re standing at the side, waiting, [vehicles] don’t have to stop.”

“I think there’s a lot of confusion, state to state… There’ll be one lane stopped, and the other will go forward. We haven’t had a fatality yet, but we’re dangerously close,” Crowson said.

“Your concern is mirrored across the state,” said Crowson, after 35 pedestrian deaths in 2015.

Hoch suggested posting signs with crossing rules at each intersection. The Town will ask for DelDOT’s advice when they perform the April traffic studies. Both entities have shared responsibility for signage, based on location.

The Delaware Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) reported Friday that four Millsboro men and a Georgetown man have been charged with the theft of $641,000 from Millsboro American Legion Post 28 between July of 2012 and January of 2015.

According to DGE officials, the five men — along with a sixth man, who has since died — were officers of Post 28 at the time of the thefts and allegedly wrote and signed numerous checks made out to cash, cashed the checks at local banks and did not return the funds to or use them for the post’s business.

The suspected embezzlement was reported to DGE in January and, after a three-month investigation into the alleged felony theft, charges were filed April 7 against the five men.

Samuel Mauger, 65, of Millsboro was charged with two felony counts of Theft over $100,000 ($376,660 total). James Gallagher, 65, of Millsboro was charged with two felony counts of Theft over $1,500.00 ($13,000 total). Edward Mazewski, 69, of Millsboro was charged with two felony counts of Theft over $1,500 ($20,000 total). Michael Rooney, 66, of Georgetown was charged with two felony counts of Theft over $1,500 ($13,000 total). Charles Nimmericher, 53, of Millsboro was charged with a misdemeanor count of Theft under 1,500 ($400 total).

All five of the living suspects were arraigned and released pending a later court date. The sixth suspect was identified for allegedly stealing $218,040 in funds, but his name was not released by the DGE.

Local residents and visitors can go to Northside Park in Ocean City, Md., with their canine companions on April 21 to meet other members of the Ocean City doggie community.

Doggie Mingle is designed as an opportunity for families who love to get out and about with their dog, new owners working on socialization skills and even for dog owners who are single and looking for someone who also has a furry companion.

The event will be held on Thursday, April 21, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Northside Park West Lagoon Field, located on 125th Street and the Bay in Ocean City. Dog owners of all ages are welcome. The cost is $10 per dog, which includes a doggie keepsake, light refreshments and lots of space to mingle.

Those attending should plant to keep their dogs on their leashes. In the event of inclement weather, Doggie Mingle will be canceled. For more information contact Anna Duffey at (410) 250-0125 or email her at aduffey@oceancitymd.gov.

Cocktails on the Ocean, a fundraiser for the Delaware Botanic Gardens at Pepper Creek, will take place April 30 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the oceanfront home of Chuck Coltman in North Bethany.

The event will offer the chance to talk with Delaware Botanic Gardens leaders, to toast the emerging garden and visit with other supporters of the project while enjoying seaside breezes. Hors d’oeuvres will be provided by Taste Events and Executive Chef Matt Cornelius.

Tickets cost $100 per guest, and purchase requests must be received by April 20. To purchase tickets using a credit card, go to www.delawaregardens.org/
new-events. To pay by mail, send a check, payable to the Delaware Botanic Gardens, to P.O. Box 1390, Ocean View, DE 19930. Ticket purchasers will receive confirmation, and anyone who does not receive confirmation within several days of purchase should email kellyjsheridan@gmail.com.

The Delaware Botanic Gardens has estimated that payments received in excess of $40 per person are deductible in
accordance with IRS regulations. The tax receipt will serve as confirmation of the reservation.

The Ride to the Tide to benefit Special Olympics Delaware is a police-escorted motorcycle ride — no stops at traffic lights — that will take place on Sunday, April 17.

Departure is 11:30 a.m. from Rommel Harley-Davidson in Smyrna, where bikers will begin arriving as early as 8:30 a.m. to enjoy pre-event festivities and camaraderie. The 55-mile ride ends at Jake’s Seafood House in Rehoboth Beach, where participants are treated to lunch compliments of Jake’s.

The 10th annual ride is sponsored by Delmarva Power and organized by the Delaware Blue Knights Chapter 1. The event is supported by Delaware’s Law Enforcement for Special Olympics Delaware, Jake’s Seafood House, Delmarva Broadcasting Company, WBOC-TV 16 and Fox 21 Delmarva.

“When the Blue Knights approached us with the idea of the ride several years ago, we realized it was an opportunity to reach out to a group who we believed would embrace an event that involved their passion for riding motorcycles,” said Ann Grunert, executive director of Special Olympics Delaware. “They’ve not only embraced it, but what we’ve come to realize is that their true passion for participating is to support the 4,000 athletes who compete year-round in Special Olympics.”

A record 954 bikers and 353 passengers raised $43,000 in 2015. The event has raised more than $183,500 total.

A map of the route is available at www.
sode.org/fundraisers/ride-to-the-tide.

Coastal Point • Submitted: Kimberly Grimes, co-owner of Made By Hand, holds a copy of her first novel, ‘The Amazon Heist.’The idea for “The Amazon Heist” came to Kimberly Grimes in the middle of the night, in the middle of the rainforest, in Peru. Grimes is the co-owner, with her husband, Marco Hernandez, of Made By Hand, the fair-trade store in York Beach Mall in South Bethany. This year marks the store’s 20th anniversary.

“It was our last evening there after 10 years of bringing undergraduate students for their January study-abroad semester,” said Grimes, who until recently also taught anthropology at the University of Delaware.

“Marco and I were sitting outside our palm-thatched hut in the hum of darkness, quietly chatting. I mentioned my regret that I hadn’t written my own detailed field notes to show the changes we had witnessed. But, as their professor, I was too busy helping the students conduct their own research to think about mine.”

“We went to bed, and a couple of hours later I woke up, immediately awake, having dreamt the whole outline for my book! I sat with my flashlight tucked under my chin and wrote it all down. I even heard the English voices of my favorite actors, Maggie Smith and Judi Dench, take on the characters of the two sisters who are tourists that comprise a big part of the plot. Crazy as it sounds, it was like they were channeling the story to me!”

“The Amazon Heist” is Grimes’ first work of fiction. Although the actual adventure story about a diamond mine is made up, the description of the changing ecosystem is real, the people are ethnographically true, and the relationship between the professor and her husband in the book is semi-autobiographical. (Although it was across a crowded plaza in Guadalajara, Mexico, not Oaxaca, where the real-life Kimberly and Marco met and fell in love at first sight!)

Indeed, it was Hernandez who selected the name Bob Marquez to be “his” character. Roberto Marquez is Hernandez’s favorite Andean musician.

“I had only written non-fiction before,” said Grimes. “Using fiction, I thought I could bring my love and knowledge of the Amazon and its peoples to a wider audience. They might learn something while still being entertained by the story.”

Grimes’ interest in anthropology started in her seventh-grade social studies class. She was fortunate enough to have one of those few wonderful teachers capable of making a lifelong impact.

“My class project was about indigenous people living in Northwest Canada and Alaska. I got hooked learning about their culture, symbols and way of life. I knew then that I wanted to study anthropology in college and become a teacher, like my father and both my grandparents.”

Grimes got her bachelor’s degree at Wake Forrest, her master’s at the University of South Carolina and her doctorate at the University of Arizona, known to be a power house of anthropology in the United States.

Grimes and Hernandez married while she was still studying in Arizona, and that was where they decided to become involved in the fair-trade movement. They also realized that, in Arizona, neither of them had local family, and close family connections were vital to them both.

“We decided to move to Fenwick Island, where much of my family resides and where I spent every summer as a child. Then we could spend our vacation time with Marco’s family in Mexico,” said Grimes.

By coincidence, the York Beach Mall that her grandfather had built decades earlier, using cinderblocks to keep it from blowing away in storms, was being remodeled. Grimes and her sister Rebecca Mais took the two southern-most storefronts and, since 1996, Made By Hand and McCabe’s Gourmet Market have stood side by side. One delights residents and tourists with unusual, colorful and worthy gifts and clothing, and the other provides tasty treats and gourmet sandwiches.

Grimes noted that she could not help promoting the concept of fair trade in “The Amazon Heist.” So, when one of the students explains to the sisters that they are learning about international trade, it is followed by an example of why fair trade is needed. The professor berates a tourist for shamelessly trying to undercut the price of an already reasonable handwoven basket.

“It happens all the time,” said Grimes. “These people are so poor and their work is amazing, yet some wealthy tourists don’t think about the amount of time, skill and expertise used to create their handicrafts and offer them insulting prices. It’s just not fair.”

And baskets are one of the ways that Grimes weaves fact with fiction in her novel. In one corner of Made By Hand is a display of the very baskets she references in the book, along with a photo of the actual women artisans whose lives she mentions in telling her story.

“The Amazon Heist” is a good read. It combines an adventure story that ends with an unexpected twist, characters with whom one connects and a setting that makes one yearn to visit. Each chapter begins with a simple drawing elegantly depicting an aspect of Amazon life. For those in the area who have been delighted by Marco Hernandez’s musicianship, we now learn he is also a talented artist.

As always, Grimes is first an anthropologist and second a teacher. In her writing, she entertains, teaches and influences thinking about the global impact of the man-made, life-endangering changes being inflicted on the region. She will be signing her book and answering questions at the Fair Trade Day celebration at Made By Hand on Saturday, May 14.

“The Amazon Heist” is available for purchase at Made By Hand, Bethany Beach Books, Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com (paperback and Kindle formats) and Apple’s iBooks store.

Gallery One in Ocean View recently announced that its April show, “Touchy Feely,” will be open to the public through May 3.

“The artistic creative process generally begins with an idea. It may be a feeling, emotional response, or just the delight and feel of a texture. The artists from Gallery One invite you to view their unique response to April’s theme, ‘Touchy, Feely.’”

Artist Jeanne Mueller said, “The original touchy, feely is Mother Nature. I love the texture of the trees, the grass — both lawn and ornamental — flowers and even the things I can’t touch… like the clouds. The various textures of nature are wonderful to see and to feel.” Her oil “Nice Day for a Kayak Ride” describes a perfect day on the water.

“Textures,” a watercolor by Sonia Hunt, depicts a rocky stream with contrasting textures and colors. Lesley McCaskill’s watercolor “Spring Rain” abstracts the effects of rain “and the woven, delicate sticks of a birds nest on a leafless tree.” “Under the Palms,” a watercolor by Cheryl Wisbrock, envisions “lying under tropical palm trees. It seems as if I can reach and touch the rustling fronds. Their textures create a soothing lullaby as they dance in the warm breeze.”

“Breaking Surf,” an acrylic by artist Dale Sheldon, visualizes “the many layers of water reflecting different textures — some smooth and glass-like, others showing great turbulence. Breaking waves and the contrasting shoreline of pebbles and shells form a delight of light, color, texture and movement. “

The textures of animals are another favorite subject. “What better example of texture than this pig who was more than happy to pose. He was particularly happy with his hairstyle and his clean smooth nose,” said Laura Hickman of her pastel “Study in Texture.” Pat Riordan’s acrylic “Bunny” captures the softness of its fur contrasting with delicate flowers.

The exhibit runs through May 3, and additionally, the Artisan Room features textiles, hand-blown glass, pottery, glass jewelry and wood pieces by local artists. Gallery One is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is always staffed by one of the artists.

For more information, visit Gallery One’s website at www.GalleryOneDe.com) or call (302) 537-5055. The gallery is located at 32 Atlantic Avenue (Route 26) in Ocean View.

Coastal Point • Laura Walter: The Sussex County Junior Honor Choir performed at Woodbridge Middle School on Friday, April 7.Sussex County has upped the ante for music education, as the Sussex County Junior Honor Choir returned to the stage for 2016.

This year, about 80 students represented Selbyville, Millsboro, Georgetown, Seaford, Beacon, Mariner and Woodbridge middle schools, as well as Sussex Academy and Southern Delaware School of the Arts.

Singers are hand-selected based on behavior, enthusiasm and willingness to learn new music.

“It makes me proud,” said Selbyville Middle School teacher Eric Tsavdar. “[It takes] self-discipline and drive to be part of the program. It gives them the opportunity to sing with a more advanced group.”

They performed April 7 at Woodbridge Middle School, under guest conductor LeeAnn Masters of Harford County, Md., (a teacher and professional musician for more than 40 years) and accompanist Jerry Biri.

Working with a guest conductor ups the ante for these seventh- and eighth-graders, said SDSA teacher Denise Adkins.

“Just being able to sight-read, and also being able to blend and not stand out” are several skills the students develop.

“It takes responsibility,” since the five rehearsals move at a faster pace, said SDSA eighth-grader Grace Kerr.

They’re performing music that is generally more challenging than in their home schools, said Amber Schaeffer, SDSA eighth-grader. “You definitely have to work on it by yourself at home.”

Many of the singers participated last year, so they had their heads in the game and knew what to expect, said Georgetown Middle School teacher Laura Carey.

Their sound quality has really improved, Carey said. “They’re not as timid. They know what the end product is.”

“It really increases our program at our own schools. They’re used to a more professional rehearsal,” and they’ll bring that attitude back to their home choirs, said Beacon Middle School teacher Juleeann Schlitter. Former All-State singers bring that same professionalism down to the county level.

County chorus is considered an excellent launching pad for promising young singers. It’s a growing experience for those who aren’t ready for the state level. Plus, middle-schoolers don’t have an audition process, which can be stressful enough to discourage participation.

During rehearsal, Bob Lewis’s sixth-graders watched from the back of the auditorium.

“It’s a great resource,” the Woodbridge Middle School teacher said. “I’ve got my own chorus back here … looking forward to what is possible.”

“It reminds them that ‘Kids your age are capable of this,’” Tsavdar said. “We have athletes up there … a wide demographic/cross-section of different populations.”

Of the seven songs, many singers favored “Come In from the Firefly Darkness” by Amy Feldman Bernon. Gospel carried the grand finale, “How Can I Keep from Singing” by Greg Gilpin.

The choir program restarted last spring after a more than 20-year gap, as local teachers lamented the lack of a choral equivalent to county band.

“I think our county is growing in the arts department, and this is showing that,” Carey said.

“We have really talented and dedicated musicians in this county,” Schlitter said, and they can definitely hold their own at the state level.

All the teachers thanked their local schools and communities for their support.

The Sussex County Music Educators Association organizes the honors program. They hope to restart the high school program next year.

Earth Day is a 46-year tradition designed to show Mother Earth some love.

People can plan an eco-friendly project of their own (plant a tree and turn off a light bulb), but local towns and groups are also hosting Earth Day events all month, including the Bethany Beach Nature Center, in Fenwick Island, at the Indian River Life-Saving Station, in Millsboro and in South Bethany.

The events range from planting good stuff to throwing away bad stuff, or just taking a moment to appreciate the local ecosystem.

Bethany Beach festival

Bethany Beach Nature Center will host its Fifth Annual Earth Day Festival on Saturday, April 16.

The family-friendly event is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., rain or shine, at the Nature Center at 807 Garfield Parkway, next to Grotto Pizza on Route 26.

Special displays include Liz and her Raptors, the Fish Mobile with interactive exhibits, Eric Energy and his Science Spectacular Show, plus the regular nature trail, science displays and playground.

Kids should dress for the weather and bring a few dollars for snacks.

Fenwick Island cleanup

Fenwick is joining the Earth Day lineup this year with a town cleanup. Volunteers will meet at Town Hall on Friday, April 22, at 9 a.m.

Cleanup equipment will be provided, but guests should dress for the weather. Breakfast refreshments will be provided beforehand at Town Hall.

The first 50 participants will receive a commemorative tumbler. Afterward, volunteers can win drawings for door prizes.

The event is hosted by the Environmental Committee of Fenwick Island.

Indian River Life-Saving Station events

Delaware State Parks is digging into Earth Day, as the Indian River Life-Saving Station hosts events all day Saturday, April 23, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Children get to participate in a beach cleanup, followed by an “upcycling” craft.

Meanwhile, a park naturalist will teach adults about coastal native plants and lead them in planting and “sprucing up” the flower beds around the museum. People can bring gardening gloves if they’d like.

Families can come out for the full day, or just a few hours. Volunteers should dress to get dirty, bring water to drink and wear sunscreen.

The rain date is April 30. The Life-Saving Station is located on Route 1, north of the Indian River Inlet Bridge.

For more information or to pre-register, people should contact Volunteer Coordinator Lee Temby at Lee.temby@state.de.us or (302) 227-6991.

Pre-registration is being strongly encouraged, since programs are first-come, first-served.

Millsboro’s blessing of the river

The Indian River has flowed through Millsboro memory for centuries. To honor and inspire a cleaner river, resident Dotty LeCates has planned a Blessing of the River on Friday, April 22, at 10 a.m.

The public and local dignitaries will gather at Cupola Park, including state legislators, the town’s mayor and representatives of the Inland Bays Foundation and Delaware Center for Inland Bays.

The one-hour event includes guest speakers and a tree planting by the Millsboro Garden Club, as well as coffee and cookies.

“I live on the river. We can no longer eat the fish. We can’t swim the river. We can no longer boat [because of silting],” Lecates said.

“It’s time to start taking care of our rivers,” she added. “This is just like a football game. This is the kickoff.”

She also called the event “an opportunity to start celebrating and honoring the Native Americans,” the original people of the river, said Lecates. “I have a real fondness for our native brothers and sisters. … They live on the north side of the river. I live on the south side.”

South Bethany garden planting

South Bethany aims for eco-friendly beautification by planting a garden each year. The Fourth Annual Earth Day Celebration there is Tuesday, April 19, at 9 a.m.

Guests should wear gardening attire and bring gloves and a shovel to the Route 1 canal end between Henlopen Drive and Brandywine Drive. Public Works will till the land and provide the plants.

People can park on either side-road, but not the highway. The event should last about 90 minutes.

“Earth Day is about giving back to the earth,” said Sue Callaway, head of South Bethany’s Community Enhancement Committee, which sponsored the project as a way to reduce stormwater runoff and make South Bethany more attractive.

“It gives us an opportunity to feature the [Adopt-A-Canal End] program, and it shows the Town’s commitment and CEC’s commitment to doing this,” Callaway said. “The part that I love is we get volunteers and community members involved, and they feel like they can take part in improving South Bethany.”

They also take ownership and pride in their town.

“We find that really true of people that are down here, … they feel really strongly about South Bethany and they really like it,” said Callaway.

Cinderalla, Snow White, Elsa, Anna, Tinkerbell and a boatload of pirates! Millville United Methodist Church and the Millville Town Hall played host to the Get Well Gabby Foundation’s fundraiser, “Princesses, Pirates and Pancakes,” on Saturday, April 9. Children ran around dressed as pirates and princesses, while chowing down on pancakes and sausage at the church.


Coastal Point photos • Shaun M. Lambert

Meanwhile, town hall played host to a multitude of games and activities catered to the children. The booths included a ring toss, wand decoration, a treasure hunt in the sand and a prize booth where children could turn in the tickets they won playing games for things like stickers.

Get Well Gabby

The Get Well Gabby Foundation was created in 2012, named after 5-year-old Gabriella “Gabby” Vogel. Gabby had a “spunky spirit” and an appreciation of princesses, swinging on swings, wearing sparkly shoes and the color pink. According to Gabby’s parents, John and Carolynn Vogel, she wanted to grow up to be a doctor-ballerina.

She had just started attending pre-kindergarten when she started having problems with her balance during her gymnastics class.

That led to her being diagnosed with diffuse intra-pontine glioma (DIPG), an aggressive tumor located on the brain stem. Gabby spent just three months at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, fighting the “aggressively explosive” tumor that had infiltrated much of her brain.

According to Carolynn Vogel, most patients can make it from nine to 18 months with aggressive treatment. The only known treatment for DIPG is radiation therapy, and no medical advances have been made for this type of cancer in more than 30 years.

“It’s an extremely rare tumor, as well as not treatable, at all. They can try to prolong life, but there is nothing more they can do.”

After Gabby passed on Sept. 11, 2011, the Vogels decided that they needed a change in their life and moved to Ocean View in November of 2011. Shortly after moving to the area, they decided they would help raise funds and awareness for childhood cancer, and they started the foundation.

The foundation has pledged to raise $125,000 over five years for the Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Children’s Hospital. The foundation has already raised $98,000 toward that goal and is now in its fifth year.

“The money we’ve given them has built a playroom on the oncology floor in the new hospital and is dedicated in the memory of our daughter Gabby and was funded by the foundation. We’ve also helped fund a project for a piece of software that will help with the diagnosis and treatment for children there at A.I. duPont,” said Carolynn Vogel.

“In addition to the pledge to A.I. duPont, we have also helped fund individual children and their families. One of the children, Stormi Grim, has been battling a brain tumor since 2012. We were able to give her family some funding for something that they needed.”

Stormi attended the Princesses, Pirates & Pancakes event, enjoying the food, and then the games at town hall. She was diagnosed with medulloblastoma on May 21, 2012, and had surgery on May 25 of that same year.

Before Stormi had been diagnosed with medulloblastoma, she was in a car accident with her dad, who covered up her car seat during the crash, giving his own life to save hers. She is now being raised by her grandmother, great-grandmother, her cousin “Uncle Bobby Ervin” and, before he passed last month, her great-grandfather.

Her cancer returned in November of 2013, and the doctors resorted to stem cell and bone marrow treatment. She’s been cancer-free ever since. The doctors have given her a survival rate of 22 to 40 percent.

“After all this, she is still smiling. That is what keeps us all going. Her smile and positivity,” said her “Uncle Bobby.”

The foundation gives the families financial assistance for whatever they might need, “A Gift from Gabby.” Some families need help paying bills or gas money.

“Some families don’t even know what they need at the moment. It’s a world you don’t want to ever have to enter. There are times you don’t even know what you need, and when people are trying to offer help, you don’t even know what to ask for,” said Vogel.

Gifts from Gabby don’t always end up being money. They’ve helped families by giving them things they need. In one case, the foundation found out about a boy in Georgetown, Lenny, who was heading to Brazil to see the World Cup through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The family didn’t have any suitcases to make the trip, so the Get Well Gabby Foundation stepped in and made sure the family had everything they needed to make the trip possible.

“We help kids in Delaware, focusing on Southern Delaware, but the good news is there aren’t that many children in Southern Delaware that need our help. The population is such that you don’t have a lot of children getting cancer down here, so we also help in Eastern Pennsylvania, where we used to live.

“When we encounter other children that are fighting cancer, of course it brings everything back to forefront of what we went through with our daughter. We really do enjoy the events that we do. It’s like a feeling in your chest when we go to the hospital and give them that money. It’s this overwhelming feeling that our daughter helped us do this. We just want to try to do whatever we can for these kids,” said Vogel.

The proceeds from the Princesses, Pirates & Pancakes event are going to be donated to the Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, toward the pledge the Vogels made back in 2012.

The foundation’s next fundraising event will be the Second Annual Skim a Thon at Tower Road in Dewey Beach. For more information about the foundation or their events, visit their website at www.getwellgabby.org or send mail to the Get Well Gabby Foundation, P.O. Box 555, Ocean View, DE 19970.

Coastal Point • R. Chris Clark: The cast of ‘An Affair to Forget’ is all laughs during rehearsals on Thursday, April 7. The show is set to premiere at the Dickens Parlour Theatre in Millville on Thursday, April 21.You’ve seen them at Thanksgiving, and on Christmas.

But on Thursday, April 21, the fireworks will really start to fly when the Tomlinsons and the Fenwicks get together for a Fourth of July wedding and the third and final installment of local playwright Bob Davis’ trilogy, with “An Affair to Forget.”

“It’s a wedding with a twist at the end,” said Davis, noting the Murphy’s Law luster sparked when the trilogy’s two protagonists’ families get together. “Whatever can go wrong goes wrong.”

“It’s the dysfunctional family antics going on,” added director Veronica Bona. “When I first got the script, by the fourth line I was already laughing so hard I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to direct. It’s just absolutely hilarious.”

While the story is set to take place at the Tomlinson’s ritzy Hampstead, R.I., estate on one of the hottest days of the year, audience members are being cordially invited to witness the nutty nuptials by way of the intimate stage at Dickens Parlour Theatre.

Both Davis and Bona are hoping that the unique venue will have theatergoers feeling like they’re actually part of the ceremony, which will feature some conflict-spurring Swedish customs amongst all the vindictive matriarchy and secret romance.

“It’s a small theater, and it’s so close to the stage, it just kind of makes everyone feel like they’re a part of it,” Bona explained. “Now that we’ve got a wedding, the wedding guests are going to be sitting out in the audience. That’s what we want — we want them to have a good time and laugh.”

“These are actually real Swedish traditions,” added Davis. “They are wacko. But it’s really what they do.”

The comedy production is the latest from Davis and the Bethany Area Repertory Theatre (BART), and the directorial debut for Bona, following the group’s record-shattering attendance and financial success for performances of “A Tiny Little Secret” in February.

A seasoned BART veteran, Bona has gone from running the lights to running the show, with experience ranging from stagecraft all the way to acting. While she’s only been acting for three years, she’s by no means a stranger to the stage.

“My mother had a dance school all my life, so I was teaching and we did recitals,” she said of her early experience in the arts. “Acting was just something that I always wanted to do, always. Three years ago, I auditioned. Somebody told me about a play down here. It was the first of the trilogy.”

Like many involved with BART, Bona rose through the ranks until she was ready to take the next step, approaching Davis one day and letting him know that she was ready for the director’s chair.

“I looked at him and I said, ‘You can ask me to direct a play,’” she recalled. “I’ve done everything. I’ve done the back of the stage. I’ve done the sound booth and the lighting. Directing is a new experience. It’s scary, but it’s exciting all at the same time. It’s a lot of fun.”

While the new venture has, of course, presented its fair share of challenges, Bona said things have been made easier thanks to assistant director Rusty Hesse — another BART vet with more than 50 shows’ worth of experience in the theater mecca of New York City.

Other BART returners include Ruthie Paramore as Aunt Agnes, Mike Mall as Uncle Charlie, Emily Abbott as Festiva the maid, and fresh off her own directional debut in “A Tiny Little Secret,” Oksana Farber as Mrs. Fenwick.

Tickets are on sale now at www.dptmagic.com, with six chances to watch, from Thursday, April 21, through Saturday, April 30. However, with the growing popularity of the local theater, those RSVP’ing to the wedding are being advised to get their tickets early, due to the chance that the show would sell out.

“We’re getting good support from the community,” Davis said of BART’s momentum. “The word is out.”

For more information on the show, visit www.dptmagic.com or call Dickens Parlour Theatre at (302) 829-1071. The theatre is located at 35715 Atlantic Avenue (Route 26) in Millville. For more on BART, check out their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/
BARTinBethany.

Coastal Point • R. Chris Clark: Ferdinand Comolli takes a look at the Wall of Honor at Fort Miles. Comolli will soon join those names at a historical celebration to be held at the fort on Saturday, April 30.Just inside the 10-foot-thick walls of Battery 519 at Fort Miles, the sounds of activity bounce up and down the 440-foot-long hallway. On this particular day, a Thursday afternoon, a small but dedicated group of volunteers is at work on ongoing projects as part of the restoration of the World War II coastal protector, located inside Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes.

The voices of the “Bunker Busters,” as they are known, echo through the halls of the underground bunker, mixing with the sounds of clanging metal and power tools.

It might sound a bit different from the activities that took place in the fort nearly 75 years ago, but if you close your eyes, you can imagine the sounds made by the 2,200 soldiers who were stationed there at the height of the second World War.

The fort’s historic past will be brought to life on Saturday, April 30, during “Delaware Goes to War: Victory in Europe” a “living history” event sponsored by Cape Henlopen State Park. As part of the day’s activities, Bethany Beach resident Ferdinand Comolli will join those whose service is memorialized on the fort’s Wall of Honor.

Comolli flew 73 missions over Germany as a fighter pilot, receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross for his bravery during one particular mission.

Although in his 90s and frail due to illness, Comolli recently toured the fort in advance of the April 30 event. While he trained for a time at Dover Air Force Base and has lived in Bethany Beach for many years, Comolli said he had never previously visited the fort. He was invited for a tour by Fort Miles Historical Association Secretary Michael Dunkes.

Comolli smiled as he got a chance to “fire” the 12-inch gun housed in Battery 519 and asked plenty of questions about the fort’s history and the origins of the guns that are to be housed in an artillery park now under construction on the grounds.

Visitors during the April 30 event can see the in-progress construction of an outdoor display that will gather in one location the fort’s big guns, including the 16-inch barrel that was on the U.S.S. Missouri the day the Japanese surrendered on that ship to end the war, in August 1945.

The gun barrel will be assembled, along with other parts, to form a display that will point across the bay to Cape May, N.J., when the artillery park is completed in June

“That’s the centerpiece,” said Gary Wray, president of the Fort Miles Historical Association. “That 16-inch gun is the focal point of the artillery park. We can’t wait for that to be complete,” Wray added.

Another highlight of the April 30 event will be a recreation by historians wearing U.S. and German uniforms of the surrender of German submarine U-858 in 1945 at what is now the Cape Henlopen fishing pier.

Throughout the special day, visitors can tour Battery 519 for a reduced price of $3 and see what the Bunker Busters have accomplished to restore the underground bunker that houses a 12-inch gun.

Comolli plans to be present for the Wall of Honor ceremony at 3 p.m. and will be in the fort’s media room for questions following the showing of a video telling the story of his experiences as a fighter pilot.

“This is a very important part of our Delaware Goes to War event,” Wray said of the Wall of Honor ceremony. “Every year, we honor those who have served our country in the military, and those whose families want them to be remembered,” Wray said. “It’s a lasting tribute to their loved ones.”

“This annual event reminds our guests of the importance of Fort Miles defending against German surface ships during World War II. Those ships were a very real threat at the beginning of the war, and Fort Miles was in a vital location to protect important industries in Wilmington and Philadelphia,” Wray said.

“Delaware Goes to War” begins at 10 a.m. and will include firing demonstrations of the fort’s 3-inch guns, children’s games, lectures and a band playing 1940s music. The FMHA gift shop will be open, with new merchandise, and food will be for sale.