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Old Timer’s Day street festival returning to Selbyville

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Once upon a time, Selbyville had dirt roads, a booming railroad and the title of “Strawberry Capital of the World.”

While those things have changed, the town still celebrates its heritage at the annual Old Timer’s Day, which will be held this year on Saturday, June 18, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., hosted by the Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Selbyville.

“It’s free and fun for the family, and we want everyone to come out and enjoy themselves,” said Lauren Weaver, Chamber event manager. “There’s a lot of different things going on. … There’s really something for everybody.”

The popular car and truck show also includes tractors and emergency vehicles from 1985 and earlier. Registration for the show begins at 9 a.m., with judging on Church Street from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The day ends after the 3 p.m. awards ceremony.

The kids’ entertainment zone will offer crafts and more from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., by town hall. Kids can enjoy free pony rides (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), a moon bounce and an obstacle course.

The Selbyville Public Library will be hosting a yard sale from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Items for sale include books, CDs, VHS tapes, furniture, kitchenware, games, magazines and much more.

Live entertainment is on the main stage at town hall: The Volt—103.5 radio station from 9 to 11 a.m.; the Glass Onion Band with classic rock from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and Mid-Coast Gymnastics & Dance Studio’s performance from 2:15 to 2:45 p.m.

In the old railroad station, the Selbyville Town Museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Nearby, the Selbyville Volunteer Fire Company will give free fire truck rides from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Food, craft and other vendors will be at town hall, in the municipal lot by Salem U.M. Church and everywhere in between.

“We have a ton of venders this year,” which are either delicious, Weaver said, (Frozen Farmer ice cream, Sinfully Delicious bakery, Hotdogs for the Troops, Long Dogs, First State Catering and Mini Munch Wagon) or interesting (Slower Lower Apparel, Paws of Tomorrow, Inland Motorsports of Delaware, jewelry artists and more).

The 50/50 drawing will benefit Delaware Hospice, with a check presentation during the award ceremony.

“If you’re a car enthusiast, you’ll go crazy, because there’s so much selection here,” Deal said.

Cars are displayed in their natural environment, parked right on Church Street.

“They’re lined up on the street, not the parking lot,” Weaver said. “It’s shaded. It’s kind of the feel of Selbyville. It’s almost like a big block party.”

Awards will be given for best vehicle from each decade, Best Interior, Best Exterior, Best Car/Truck/Tractor and Best Engine Compartment. The contest also differentiates between stock and custom cars.

“It’s almost a work of art,” Weaver said of the custom designs. Meanwhile, “Some people really like the cars being kept in the original format and pristine, so kind of trying to honor and recognize those from the decades.”

The Robert Rhodes Award was created in memory of a man whose daughter still works at Selbyville Police Department. She and her mother will present the award to their favorite car.

Old Timer’s Day began as a costumed affair and a sidewalk sale.

“The merchants would have a sale, and all the merchants would dress up like people of old,” explained Town Administrator Michael Deal.

“People used to park at town hall to walk all the way downtown,” remembered Debbie McCabe, town secretary/treasurer and a former organizer of the festival.

As the business district petered out, the Town took over the springtime event and added a car show.

“It’s a tradition that’s been going on 59 years, and you’d rather not lose that tradition,” Deal said.

Public parking will be available on all side streets, municipal lots and at the Southern Delaware School of the Arts. Handicapped-accessible parking will be reserved at the PNC parking lot at Church and Main streets.

Details are online at www.business.bethany-fenwick.org/events or www.townofselbyville.com.


Agenda – June 17, 2016

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Bethany Beach

• The Bethany Beach Town Council and the Board of Assessment will meet at 1 p.m. on Friday, June 17, at town hall, at which time the at the council will sit as a Board of Revision & Appeal to hear appeals from property tax assessments and to make corrections and revisions as it deems appropriate. The annual tax assessment list is available for public inspection at the town office.

• The Bethany Beach Town Council will hold its next regular meeting on Friday, June 17, at 2 p.m. at town hall. The agenda for the meeting includes: a second reading of an ordinance amending Chapter 212, by Adding Article III regulating unmanned aircraft systems (also known as drones) in the town; and discussion, consideration and a possible vote on setting Saturday, Sept. 10, from noon to 6 p.m., as the time for the annual council election, as well as on appointments the election board and setting Monday, Sept. 19, at 10 a.m. as the time for the annual council re-organizational meeting.

• The Bethany Beach Planning Commission will meet next on Saturday, June 18, at 9 a.m. at town hall.

• Town offices will be closed on Monday, July 4, in observance of the Fourth of July holiday.

• Bethany Beach’s annual town council election is expected to take place Saturday, Sept. 10, from noon to 6 p.m. Anyone wishing to file as a candidate for the election must file a written Notice of Intention (Application for Candidacy) in the town manager’s office at town hall no later than 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 27.

• The public can view on the Town website the presentation by Oasis Design Group to the Bethany Beach Town Council, soliciting input for preliminary concept development for the features and organization of “Central Park,” at the intersection of Routes 1 and 26. The URLs for the four presentation segments are http://www.townofbethanybeach.com/mediacenter.aspx?VID=30 (and 31, 32 and 33).

• Bethany Beach’s pay-to-park season resumed May 15 and runs until Sept. 15.

• Prohibitions on dogs on the beach and boardwalk in Bethany Beach resumed on May 15.

• The regular meetings of the Bethany Beach Town Council and Planning Commission are now being broadcast, with video, over the Internet via the Town’s website at www.townofbethanybeach.com, under Live-Audio Broadcasts. Both meetings are at town hall.

South Bethany

• The South Bethany Board of Adjustment will meet Friday, June 17, for two hearings. At 1 p.m., they will hear Thomas J. Murray’s request for a variance to extend the landing platform at the top of the stairwell a maximum of 14 inches into the front setback to accommodate wheelchair accessibility, at 3 S. 6th Street. At 2 p.m., they will hear Gerald and Susan Injaian’s request for 2-foot variance into the front setback at 406 Bristol Road.

• The town council’s next workshop meeting is Thursday, June 23, at 2 p.m.

• The town council’s next regular meeting is Friday, July 8, at 7 p.m.

• The South Bethany Police Department will conduct a bicycle safety checkpoint on Wednesday, July 6, from 8 to 11 a.m. at the corner of Coastal Highway and Henlopen Drive. They will offer free bicycle lights, helmets, bicycle maps and safety information.

• Registrations are being accepted for the South Bethany Boat Parade on July 3. Email kathyj310@yahoo.com.

• There will be no 2016 town council election, as only four candidates registered for the four available seats: incumbent Mayor Pat Voveris as mayor, incumbent Councilwoman Sue Callaway, and incoming council members Don Boteler and William “Tim” Shaw.

• Recycling is picked up biweekly, continuing on Friday, June 17.

• Yard waste is picked up biweekly, continuing on Wednesday, June 22.

• Town offices will be closed on Monday, July 4, in observance of the Fourth of July holiday.

• Parking permit requirements have resumed for the summer. Permits are available at town hall.

• Prohibitions on dogs on the beach resumed on May 15 and run until Oct. 15.

• The Town of South Bethany’s website is located at www.southbethany.org.

Fenwick Island

• Candidates may now register for the town council election, scheduled for Aug. 6. Three seats are up for election, currently held by Gardner Bunting, Diane Tingle and William “Bill” Weistling Jr. Terms are two years. Details are available online and at town hall, and the filing deadline for candidates is June 22 at 4:30 p.m.

A candidate must be: a U.S. citizen; 21 or older by the election; either a bona fide resident of the town or a property owner in town; never convicted of a felony; and registered to vote in the town for at least one year prior to the election.

Eligible voters must be at least 18, and either a resident, property owner or a trust designee in the town by March 1. The voter registration deadline is June 30 in person and July 8 by mail. Details are available online and at town hall.

• The Town Council’s June meeting has been rescheduled for Friday, June 17, at 3:30 p.m. The agenda includes the Comprehensive Plan update; community branding public workshop date; 2016 Homegrown Harvest Festival; and first reading of an ordinance change to Code Chapter 116 – Article IV (Hunting).

• The town council will meet Wednesday, June 22, for the Election Board to certify election candidates.

• The Charter & Ordinance Committee will meet Tuesday, July 5 at 9:30 a.m.

• The Fenwick Island Farmers’ Market is moving to Warren’s Station, at 1406 Coastal Highway, and will be open on Mondays and Fridays, June 17 to Sept. 5, from 8 a.m. to noon.

• The annual town bonfire is set for Sunday, July 3, from 7 to 10 p.m.

• Town offices will be closed on Monday, July 4, in observance of the Fourth of July holiday.

• Parking enforcement began on May 15.

• Recycling is collected every Friday from May to September.

• The Fenwick Island town website is located at www.fenwickisland.org.

• The Town of Fenwick Island is now on Twitter, at https://twitter.com/IslandFenwick or @IslandFenwick.

Ocean View

• The Ocean View Board of Adjustment will meet Thursday, June 23, at 6 p.m.

• Town offices will be closed on Monday, July 4, in observance of the Fourth of July holiday.

• The next Concert in the Park will be held Friday, July 15, at 6 p.m. in John West Park. Local group Over Time Band will perform.

• The Town of Ocean View’s Facebook page can be found at www.facebook.com/townofoceanview.

• The Ocean View town website is located at www.oceanviewde.com.

Millsboro

• Town offices will be closed on Monday, July 4, in observance of the Fourth of July holiday.

• The Town of Millsboro will hold its monthly council meeting on Monday, July 11, at 7 p.m. at the Millsboro Town Center.

• The Millsboro town website is located at www.millsboro.org.

Millville

• The Board of Adjustment is seeking to fill one seat to complete a three-year term. Applicants must be town residents and at least 18. The Board of Adjustment addresses zoning, land use and variance issues within the town of Millville. Meetings, when needed, are held on the fourth Thursday of the month at 7 p.m., or when otherwise noticed. Interested applicants can submit a letter of intent, by June 17, to Town of Millville; 36404 Club House Rd.; Millville DE 19967. Details are available online or by calling (302) 539-0449.

• The town council’s next workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, June 28, at 7 p.m.

• Town offices will be closed on Monday, July 4, in observance of the Fourth of July holiday.

• The town council’s next regular meeting is Tuesday, July 12, at 7 p.m.

• The Millville Farmers’ Market has been canceled for 2016, due to the Route 26 road construction and last year’s low attendance. Organizers thanked the public for their continued interest and enthusiasm.

• The Millville town website is located at www.millville.delaware.gov.

Frankford

• Envision Frankford will be hosting its first movie night in Frankford Town Park on June 24, featuring “The Incredibles.” The movie nights are free and open to the public, with the gates to the park opening at 7 p.m. Children’s activities will take place from 7 to 7:30 p.m., with an educational program beginning at 7:30 p.m. The movies are expected to begin at 8 p.m.

• A second public hearing on the proposed 2017-fiscal-year budget will be held on Thursday, June 23, at 7 p.m. in the Frankford Fire Company dining hall.

• Town offices will be closed on Monday, July 4, in observance of the Fourth of July holiday.

• Curbside recycling is picked up every other Tuesday, continuing June 28.

• The Town of Frankford website is located at www.frankfordde.us.

Selbyville

• Town offices will be closed on Monday, July 4, in observance of the Fourth of July holiday.

• The town council’s next regular meeting has been rescheduled to Monday, July 11, at 7 p.m.

• Curbside recycling is collected every other Wednesday, continuing June 22.

• The Town website is at www.TownOfSelbyville.com.

Dagsboro

• The town council will meet Monday, June 20, at 6 p.m., at Bethel United Methodist Church. The agenda includes: executive session regarding sale of property on Vines Creek Road; outdoor/overnight storage and sales displays; location of commercial dumpsters throughout town; consideration of temporary Sales Permit fee for applications on condemned properties; Town Center Zoning District commercial signs and a previously recommended 5-year compliance requirement; FY2017 Town Budgets; consideration of removal of Planning & Zoning member; Change of Use request for Charles Moon Plumbing Office & Shop at 33214 Main Street; approval of Pre-Approved Vendor List for FY2017; a proposed ordinance to adopt conditional-use zoning classifications in all zoning districts defined in Chapter 275; and consideration of setting a public hearing on amending Code Chapter 238-7(B)(22) regarding timing of completion of subdivision streets.

• The Town can now accept credit cards payments from citizens online. Instructions are on the Town website.

• Town offices will be closed on Monday, July 4, in observance of the Fourth of July holiday.

• There will be no town council election this year. All three incumbents re-filed for their seats, with no challengers.

• The Town of Dagsboro website is at www.townofdagsboro.com.

Indian River School District

• The IRSD Board of Education will meet Monday, June 20, at 7 p.m. at Sussex Central High School.

• The district website is at www.irsd.net.

Sussex County

• The Sussex County Board of Adjustment will meet on Monday, June 20, at 7 p.m.

• The Sussex County Council will next meet on Tuesday, June 21, at 10 a.m.

• The Sussex County Planning & Zoning Commission will meet on Thursday, June 23, at 6 p.m.

• County offices will be closed on Monday, July 4, in observance of the Fourth of July holiday.

• Agendas, minutes and audio, as well as live streaming of all County meetings, may be found online at www.sussexcountyde.gov.

State of Delaware

• DelDOT’s reconstruction of the intersection of Route 26 and Powell Farm/Omar Roads has been largely completed, with a new traffic signal at the intersection converted to full stop-and-go operation. Traffic accessing Omar Road at the intersection must turn onto Powell Farm Road briefly in order to proceed onto or off of Route 26 at the light.

• Continuing work on the Route 26 Mainline Improvements Project, DelDOT has now ended daytime lane closures for the summer, returning to only utilizing overnight lane closures, though lane shifts and brief lane closures for project logistics can still be expected during the day. Motorists are being encouraged to use detour routes to avoid delays when lane closures are in place. Manholes in the project area have been raised to meet the height of the upcoming paving, so motorists should take extra care when driving over them.

Overall, the 4-mile-long project includes the reconstruction of Route 26 (Atlantic Avenue) from Clarksville to the Assawoman Canal and will widen the existing two-lane roadway to include two 11-foot travel lanes with 5-foot shoulder/bike lanes and a 12-foot wide continuous shared center left-turn lane. Construction is expected to be largely complete mid-summer and completed by the fall. George & Lynch is building the 4-plus-mile project from Assawoman Canal in Bethany Beach to St. George’s U.M. Church in Clarksville.

Regular Route 26 project meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 10 a.m. at Bethany Beach Town Hall. The public is being encouraged to attend or to get email updates from DelDOT via the project page for the Route 26 project at www.deldot.gov. For additional Route 26 project information or concerns, residents and businesses can contact Ken Cimino at (302) 616-2621, or Kenneth.cimino@aecom.com or at 17 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 2, in Ocean View.

Community invited to 24-hour prayer vigil at Mariner's Bethel

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“Lots and lots of prayer is going out to the community this weekend,” said Linda Gundersen, a member of Mariner’s Bethel United Methodist Church, which will be holding a 24-hour prayer vigil this weekend.

Led by the Revs. David Humphrey and Woody Wilson, the church has adopted an outreach vision of no unaddressed human need in a 12-mile radius from Mariner’s and beyond. As part of that, it has enacted a nine-week campaign called “Momentum.”

“One of the biggest things we wanted Momentum to do was to make people more aware of the needs in the community; and us, as people of prayer, we need to reach out. We need to be able to see. That’s a big deal, going to the grocery line or anything you’re doing, to be able to see the people around you and to reach out to them if you think they may need it,” said Linda Gundersen, who is leading a 24-hour prayer vigil as part of an effort to support Momentum.

Beginning on Saturday, June 17, community members are welcome to pray from 7:30 p.m. to midnight at the church. From midnight to 8 a.m., participants will be praying at home. They’ll resume at the church from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

During the prayer time at the church on Saturday, there will be a variety of prayer options and programs offered.

From 7:30 to 8 p.m., there will be an opening praise and worship in the Sanctuary, followed by prayer for the future of Mariner’s, Momentum and its congregation, from 8 p.m. to midnight. During that time, there will be prayer ministers available for personal prayer in Mariner’s Prayer Room. From 8 to 11 p.m., youth prayer activities will be held in the social hall.

From 10 to 11 p.m., a soaking prayer will be held. A soaking prayer is spending time with God — either by sitting or lying in an attitude of stillness — while soft worship music plays in the background. Those who participate are welcome to bring a mat if they would like to lie down, while the church will also have towels available.

Overnight, from midnight to 8 a.m., those who wish to continue the vigil are being invited to pray at home for the needs of the community.

“Overnight, we’re having people pray at home. If they need the materials emailed to them, we can do that,” added Gundersen.

Then, on Saturday, June 18, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mariner’s social hall will be transformed into a labyrinth.

“People will be able to walk the labyrinth. If you’ve never done one, hospitals and churches all over the world have invested in putting labyrinths in because they’ve really shown and demonstrated they have great meditation and healing power when you practice. It allows you to think about your path with God and think about your path in life.

“You can start out carrying something in — a problem or a need — and you leave it in the center for God, and you walk out empty-handed and freed from that. There’s all sorts of things to use a labyrinth for, and it’s something a family can do together if they want to.”

Throughout the day, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., prayer ministers will also be available for personal prayer in the prayer room, while the sanctuary will be open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. to pray and to “Be still and know that I am God.” It also includes two hours of soaking prayer, at 8 a.m. and at 1 p.m. Taize music will play in the sanctuary at 9 a.m., with a guided meditation held at noon.

“Earlier in the day, we have a focus on bringing yourself more centered to God. Bring your mat in, and you can lie on the floor of the sanctuary and listen to beautiful music and just soak in the Holy Spirit,” said Gundersen. “We have meditation that’s going to be a little later in the day, at noon, that allows people to think about who they are in Christ. It’s a guided meditation.”

From 2 to 7 p.m., the sanctuary will be open so that people can pray for healing for the church, the congregation, the community, the people of the world and the Earth.

“All during this time, anyone who comes in, we have a big basket of prayer cards that the community has filled out. We’ve been calling the community, we’ve been asking our congregation to reach out beyond who they know at Mariner’s, give them prayer cards, ask for their concerns and bring those concerns to us,” Gundersen explained. “As people come in to pray, they go into the basket, they pull out a bunch of the cards, and that’s one of the things they meditate on during that hour.”

From 4 to 6 p.m., a special two hours of prayer will be held for all emergency responders in the 12-mile radius.

“What we’ve done is gone to all the police and fire stations, the Coast Guard and National Guard, and left flyers and prayer cards so they can give us the prayer concerns. One of our prayer captains, Diane Donahue, she comes from an emergency-responder family and tradition, so that was really in her heart, and she did a great job with that.”

All those attending will be given a small scripture book made specifically for the vigil.

“The past year, we looked at all the prayer cards that had ever been submitted to our congregation and came up with this long list of things — cancer, disease, addiction, poverty, all these different kinds of concerns,” Gundersen said. “This wonderful woman, Brooke Good, took that list and turned it on its head and created posters that are all the needs we have in response to those. So, hope, peace, protection, vision, salvation, courage, strength, forgiveness, trust.

“We made posters that are covering the whole sanctuary, and when you walk in the door you’ll get that little scripture booklet that has all of this beautiful encouraging scripture that’s based upon the needs of people.”

Although this is the first year Mariner’s Bethel will be holding the 24-hour prayer vigil, Gundersen said they have already received a “very positive response” from community members who have learned about it.

“There’re great gifts from both sides. I’ve had people come up to me who have never approached someone and now they’re noticing people in need,” she said. “Someone was sitting at the Beebe Express, getting their blood drawn, and they noticed someone sitting in the corner and walked over to them and happened to have their prayer cards in their purse. They asked if they needed prayer, gave them the card. The person filled it out and brought it in.”

As part of the Momentum campaign, Gundersen said the Mariner’s Bethel congregation hopes to expand its ministries.

“We hope in the next three years to build a new ministry building that will include a focus on some of our biggest ministries related to the community,” she said. “It’s a very joyous thing that we’re doing, looking at this new building. Right now, our current social hall has limited capacity. We want to be able to expand our outreach to people who are facing poverty and food crises.

“We have a ministry called Feed My Sheep that feeds 40 to 60 people a week. We want to be able to expand some of these things. We would love to help with the homeless situation every winter. Right now, in our current capacity, we can’t do that.”

Gundersen said Mariner’s Bethel is active in the community in which it prays because that simply follows Christ.

“This is what Christ’s mission was about. It was about reaching out to other people. We need to look around ourselves and see as Christ saw and hear as Christ heard, and be aware and reach out and help. If you look at the New Testament and you look at Christ’s mission, that’s what it was all about: healing people, reaching out, meeting their needs, feeding the poor, healing the sick, teaching.

“That’s why we try to do that with all our different ministries. Whether it’s teaching and caring for younger kids through Vacation Bible School or the Feed My Sheep program on Thursdays, giving people free food and feeding their soul at the same time... These are critical missions for healing people and healing the community.”

While the church takes action through its ministries, Gundersen said it is important to remember to pray.

“Medical studies and everything else show that prayer really does make a difference in lives.”

Anyone who wishes to participate in the vigil is being invited to do so and is encouraged, said Gundersen, to pray for the community and the world.

“Please feel welcome to come. We welcome everybody, and we believe you will experience rest in God and peace, and be able to contribute to a healthier community.

“What we’ve tried to do is make this a really open and loving opportunity for people to experience prayer in different ways. And to experience God’s love.”

Mariner’s Bethel United Methodist Church is located at 81 Central Avenue in Ocean View. For more information about the 24-hour prayer vigil, contact the church at (302) 539-9510.

Plans well under way for Bethany's annual Fourth of July event

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The Bethany Beach Fourth of July Parade Committee is in the process of planning the 33rd annual event and is seeking participants. The event will take place on Monday, July 4.

The 2016 theme is “Celebrate Your Right to Vote.” The committee is looking for businesses and organizations to enter and compete for a variety of prizes.

“Now is the time to start building, before the busy season hits. Families are also encouraged to participate,” the committee member said.

Guidelines can be found on the Town’s website at www.townofbethanybeach.com, under Activities, Fourth of July. There is no pre-registration. Floats and bikes may be entered the day of the parade from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at the registration desks, with floats at Route 1 and Central Avenue; and bikes at the Christian Church grounds. (Bike decorating kits will be distributed while supplies last.)

The official Bethany Beach Fourth of July Parade T-shirts will be on sale from 9 a.m. to noon on the day of the parade and from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the bandstand concerts leading up to the Fourth of July.

The annual Firecracker 5K Run/3K Walk will be held on Sunday, June 26, at 8 a.m. at the bandstand. Online registration is now open. Entry forms will also be available at the T-shirt sales tables and in Town Hall. For details, visit http://bethanybeach5k.com/.

The parade will begin at noon at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Garfield Parkway and take its traditional 2-mile route through town. In addition to the floats and bikes, it will feature seven marching bands and seven entertainment groups on trucks.

New this year is the Downtowners Fancy Brigade (Mummers band) from Philadelphia and the 1st Delaware Regiment Fife & Drum Corps. (There is always room for more marching bands.) In order to eliminate gaps in the parade, there will be no performances in front of the viewing stand.

There will be no horseshoe-throwing contest this year.

The award ceremony will take place on the bandstand at 7:15 p.m. Judging will take place before the parade begins. Brett Warner will be the grand marshal, in honor of his years of service as the Town’s public works director.

The Air National Guard Band of the Northeast will bring its concert and rock bands to provide the evening entertainment on the bandstand.

The Parade Committee is looking for young adults to lead the parade by carrying the banner, which can count toward community service hours. The committee also needs volunteers for marshal positions. To volunteer or get more information, contact Events Director Julie Malewski, at (302) 539-8725.

Since the success of the parade depends heavily on the availability of police, EMTs and bands, there is no rain date. For more information, visit the Town’s website at www.townofbethanybeach.com.

Camp Barnes Benefit Stock Car Race set

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The 44th Annual Camp Barnes Benefit Stock Car Race will be held at the Delaware International Speedway on Tuesday, June 21. Gates will open at 4 p.m., with racing action beginning at 7 p.m. The rain date is scheduled for Wednesday, June 22. The Delaware International Speedway is located on Route 13, north of the Delaware/Maryland line.

This year’s event will feature competitors throughout the Northeast dirt motorsports areas. Drivers from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and Delaware will compete for prize money of more than $35,000. Big Block Modifieds, Super Late Models, AC Delco PSC Modifieds, Crate Late Model, Modified Lites, Little Lincoln and Delmarva Chargers and Trucks will compete in more than 100 laps of feature racing in their respective classes.

This year, there will be a 30-lap feature, with Big Block and Small Block Modifieds racing for $3,000 that will go to the first-place finisher. The top five Small Block finishers will receive an additional bonus.

Several activities and displays will be on hand, including the Delaware State Police Aviation unit, K9 demonstration, Smart 911 and a silent auction to win a surf-fishing rod and Yeti cooler.

In addition, local band Front Page News will be playing live from 5 to 7 p.m., and the Metal Shop of Delmar will be putting on a monster truck show at intermission.

Tickets to the event are available at the speedway’s ticket booth on the night of the event. Spectator’s tickets cost $20, and pit tickets cost $30. Children younger than 10 accompanied by parent or guardian will be admitted free of charge to spectator seating.

Camp Barnes originally opened in 1948 and was named in recognition of Col. Herbert Barnes. The camp is located next to the Assawoman Wildlife Area on Miller Creek near Bethany Beach.

For six weeks in the summer, each week, 70 children ages 10-13 attend Camp Barnes with no financial burden on their parents. They participate in outdoor activities and are taught leadership and teamwork skills.

For additional information, call Jeff Hudson at (302) 381-3000 or jeff.hudson@state.de.us.

County planning director Lank to retire after 47 years

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Sussex County’s planning director has a new plan under development — retirement, after nearly a half-century of public service. County Planning & Zoning Director Lawrence B. Lank will retire Dec. 1 from the position he has held since 1985, overseeing a staff of nearly a dozen employees in one of the County’s highest-profile departments.

Planning & Zoning, among other duties, oversees land use in unincorporated parts of Sussex County and supports the County Council, Planning & Zoning Commission and Board of Adjustment as development applications work through the rezoning, subdivision, conditional-use and variance processes.

“I want to thank all the past and present employees I’ve worked with. They’ve been family to me, just as I hope I have been like family to them,” said Lank, who, at 47 years and two months of service, is the longest-tenured employee in the history of County government in the modern era. “I’ll miss them all, and I’ll miss the work, because I’ve really enjoyed working with the public.”

A native of Seaford, Lank began his service with Sussex County as a draftsman in 1969 — the year after Delaware shifted land-use authority to the counties, creating the need for a local zoning code and a department dedicated to implementation of the rules and regulations governing development. Since then, he has risen through the ranks, to planning technician, then assistant planning director and finally planning director, the post he has held now for 31 years.

During his tenure, Lank has seen Sussex County transition from a mostly rural farming community and seasonal vacation destination to a second home for retirees and others drawn to the county. In that time, the County has gone through the process of drafting and implementing at least six comprehensive planning documents and reviewed thousands of land-use applications for housing, commercial and industrial projects.

Lank said his successes as director would not have been possible without the vision of the county council members and county administrators, as well as the support of the county’s legal community, building professionals and dedicated staff he has led in a career that spans six decades — the 1960s through the 2010s.

“Everyone is a little different, but they’ve all been easy to work with. And the public had been great to work with, too,” Lank said. “Many times, people have come in to the office upset or not understanding the process. It’s always been my goal to send them out, hopefully, with a smile and having a better understanding of the process.”

After his unprecedented run of public service, Lank said he plans to enjoy his retirement by golfing and working on projects around the house, for starters.

“It’s a vacation he has certainly earned, no question,” County Administrator Todd F. Lawson said. “I jokingly refer to Lawrence as the ‘dean of Sussex County,’ but that title is very fitting, because it reflects his many years of service and the kind of respect and esteem he has earned in a lifetime career. He’s earned every bit of it.”

County Council President Michael H. Vincent said the County has been exceedingly fortunate over the years to have Lank for his vast, almost encyclopedic, knowledge of the County zoning code, and for his guidance in steering County Council and Planning & Zoning Commission members through the oftentimes delicate land-use process.

“Lawrence Lank knows zoning like no one else in this county. He’s literally helped write the book,” Vincent said. “It is an understatement to say Mr. Lank has been an asset to this County. It does not begin to capture just how critical he, his knowledge and his dedication have been to the County all these years. We will miss him greatly, but we thank him for his service and wish him all the best in this well-deserved next chapter of life,” Vincent added.

Lawson said he plans to work with the County Council to have the position filled by this fall, ahead of Lank’s last day on the job.

Ocean View drainage project nears its completion

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Ocean View Public Works Director Charles McMullen told the town council on Tuesday that Phase I of the Country Village drainage project is all but complete, save for roadway repairs. He said those repairs would take place in about two to three weeks, allowing the road some time to settle.

Country Village resident Warren Eastburn has been vocal with the Town regarding his concerns related to the project and said on June 14 that he believes that using pipe instead of swales would better address drainage issues in the community. Eastburn has sent the council a number of letters, called the Town, spoken at council meetings and presented the council with a petition from his neighbors requesting the swales be replaced with pipes.

Mayor Walter Curran noted he had been able to attend a homeowner’s association meeting to hear residents’ concerns, with fellow councilman Frank Twardzik and Police Chief Ken McLaughlin, after conferring with Town staff and engineer Alan Kercher. In his opinion, said Curran, the project is doing what it was intended to do.

“I think the project as it is now is adequate. I personally don’t think it warrants the Town spending any more money.”

Twardzik noted that things in Country Village look better since the completion of Phase I.

“I, like you, am hesitant to spend tax dollars,” he said. “Was there any consideration given to homeowners covering partial cost?”

“Not that I’m aware of,” responded McMullen.

He added that he believes the Town has done its best due diligence regarding the project.

“I don’t think we’re going to please everyone all the time. I think we do what we can try to do to move the water. I can’t tell you how many complaints I get on a regular basis about drainage… They’ve tried to design something here that will try to carry the water away. Will some water sit sometimes? Absolutely. But it’s designed to move the water. I don’t see it being significantly problematic.”

Councilwoman Carol Bodine said the council could be “opening a can of worms” if it agrees to put in pipes there before other communities.

Curran also brought up the idea of the Town maintaining the swales, which he said is an unreasonable expectation from the homeowners.

“That is not the Town’s obligation,” he said.

Eastman, who was in attendance, told the council the project created an unsafe walking environment in the neighborhood and will prevent the installation of sidewalks in the future, and that he believes it has devalued the neighborhood.

It also created a 3:1 slope with the installation of the swale on his property, which prevents his riding mower from cutting the grass. Due to medical reasons, said Eastman, he is not allowed to use a push mower.

“I’m looking for the Town to mow and maintain that,” he said. “It’s something created by the Town… and I shouldn’t be expected to do that or pay for that.”

Curran said the Town will not take responsibility for mowing Eastman’s lawn.

“As an entity, we won’t take on those types of personal jobs. I think it sets a terrible precedent,” he responded. “It’s not like the Town did it to disadvantage you or give you a hard time or give you grief. It just turned out that way. I — personally — I don’t accept that the Town created the situation. The Town got the swales and the drainage ditches to where they needed to be so the entire drainage project worked.”

The council did not take a vote to amend the drainage project, as they were in agreement to stay with the planned design of Phase I.

In other Town news:

• Town Manager Dianne Vogel reported that the Town’s Homecoming Festival in May was successful, with beautiful weather and substantial attendance. However, she recommended that the council consider eliminating the event from its 2017 calendar.

“This event requires several months of planning,” said Vogel, adding that she and Town Clerk Donna Schwartz start working on the event in January.

“This year, the Town lost two sponsors, two food vendors, the help of the St. George Men’s group who in the past have provided the tents, tables and chairs, and the Boy Scouts did not participate.

“My recommendation for next year is to eliminate this event from our community events and perhaps consider using the allocated funds to host more Concerts in the Park, put it toward Cops & Goblins, add other events the Town wishes to host. That way, other people in the community can enjoy a summer of events, rather than one afternoon in the park.”

Vogel said approximately $12,000 goes into the Homecoming event, with $2,300 covering labor for staff working overtime hours.

“It really puts a burden on the Town’s staff,” agreed Curran. “This thing started with the historical society, and then they kind of stepped back and the Town took it over. But it is truly a historical-society type of event. I completely concur with Dianne on this. I think we’re better off to get more bang for our buck and I think we’ll involve more townspeople by doing more concert events.”

Curran said the Town could still host a smaller artisans or crafts fair, just not on the scale of Homecoming.

“To me, it’s simply not worth the money or the effort,” he said. “I’m absolutely convinced we’re better off having three or four Concerts in the Park.”

Twardzik said he agreed with Vogel and Curran’s statements.

Vogel said a decision did not have to be made by council that night and it would be discussed by the end of the year.

• Ocean View Police Capt. Heath Hall gave the monthly police update and noted that the department has been busy with community policing initiatives. In May, the department participated in the Homecoming Festival, Special Olympics events, Mariner’s church festival, Lord Baltimore’s Artisan’s Fair and Lord Baltimore’s Spring Fling.

Twardzik, a retired Pennsylvania state trooper, commended the department, noting that, for the month of May, it only logged one burglary and one case of criminal mischief.

“To me, this is a direct result of proactive patrols. There are a number of studies out there that determine that when that patrol car goes down a neighborhood street, that actually decreases the number of crimes… [Criminals] stay away from this town. I’ve heard that a number of times.”

He also called attention to May’s other numbers: 11 medical assists, 22 resident checks and 30 welfare checks.

“I, for one, with my 27 years’ experience, want to say, ‘Thank you’ to Capt. Hall and Chief McLaughlin. You’re doing an outstanding job.”

Ground broken on new Millville police partnership building

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Coastal Point • Shaun M. Lambert: Dignitaries gathered on Friday, June 10, to break ground on Millville’s future police building.Coastal Point • Shaun M. Lambert: Dignitaries gathered on Friday, June 10, to break ground on Millville’s future police building.Golden shovels glowed with sunshine at the groundbreaking for Millville’s future police building last Friday, as the Town of Millville begins building a town hall addition that will serve as a Delaware State Police outpost.

Construction should be done in about seven months, Mayor Robert “Bob” Gordon told the assembled crowd on June 10, which included members of the Town of Millville staff and town council, DSP, designers GMB, builders Harkins Contracting Company, representatives of the Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce and more.

The Town of Millville’s goal was to get more police presence in Millville, which doesn’t have its own law-enforcement force, unlike some other nearby towns. The building will give the DSP a landing spot to help them cover the surrounding unincorporated areas of Sussex County.

After the last town hall upgrade about five years ago, the DSP was invited to use the second floor of the new space as a landing space or command center, if needed.

Now, Millville’s own staff is increasing, and they’ll have room to move upstairs, as the DSP moves into the addition next door.

The two-story addition will include interview rooms, training space, a kitchenette, car-washing bays and more. It will attach to town hall via a two-story glass lobby. The current town garage will be demolished to make room, and the new garage will have room for patrol cars and Millville’s future public works equipment.

Police can also access the building during major emergencies, such as a nor’easter.

“It’s for the Delaware State Police to bring more presence in to the town of Millville, so we had to go through a lot of security protocol,” said Morgan Helfrich, GMB vice president and senior project architect. “It’s quite a lot of security measures to keep it separate from town hall.”

GMB also designed the fire response system with an automatic Won-Door sliding fire door — one of their first in the area.

“This project has been in our minds for over two years. We knew we were going to have to expand,” said Town Manager Debbie Botchie.

If Millville ever develops its own police force, the DSP will be comfortable relinquishing that space to Millville, officials said.

“This whole project is for the current needs of Millville, and the future,” Botchie said.

The construction contract for the project was approved at $1,107,871.


County officials discuss impacts of potential state legislation

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At the Sussex County Council’s regular meeting on June 14, County Administrator Todd Lawson updated the council on legislative happenings he said might impact the County.

House Bill 396, or the Bring New Jobs to Delaware Act, would impacts all three counties, said Lawson, by allowing each county to enact an expedited review process for land-use projects.

It applies to new office, manufacturing and industrial uses, and excludes new residential projects and commercial/retail projects.

Lawson said the bill would call for a quicker review process for both the County’s review process and the state’s process — equating to a nine-month total timeframe.

As it reads, the “County may charge a one-time expedited review process fee of up to $20,000 in addition to its other plan review charges, of which up to $5,000 may be given to state agencies to defray their costs.”

“We don’t have a backlog currently. We’re in pretty good in our standard review,” said Lawson. “We don’t have a multiyear backlog.”

Lawson said he would keep the council apprised of the bill’s progress.

State Rep. Paul Baumbach has approached the State’s three counties to discuss possible legislation related to the reassessment of mobile homes every five years.

“Rep. Baumbach is concerned about the counties following current state code as it relates to the reassessment of mobile homes,” explained Lawson. “The current state code … requires mobile homes to be reassessed every five years.”

Lawson said that, while New Castle County does perform reassessments, they do not do so as the code is currently written.

“I do believe he has intentions to introduce very soon,” Lawson added of the related legislation.

Sussex County is unique, said Lawson, in that it has 25,000 mobile homes.

“If we were mandated to do this, how would we possibly go out and visit 25,000 in a certain period of time?” asked Lawson. “It would be a herculean effort.”

He also called attention to the fact that the bill calls for reassessment for only one specific class of homes.

Chris Keeler, director of assessment, told the council the County treats mobile homes the same as it does every other class of home. He said the average assessment for a mobile home is approximately $9,250, which equates annual tax bill of about $400, of which the schools portion is $360, with $40 going to the County.

Lawson said both Sussex and Kent county officials raised concerns related to the draft legislation during their initial conference call with Baumbach and officials from each of the state’s three counties.

“I don’t know what the purpose is. We already tax the mobile home unit itself…” said Councilwoman Joan Deaver. “We already have a problem with affordable housing in this county.”

Deaver asked what the impetus for the potential draft legislation was. Lawson said Baumbach would have to respond, but that he believes it boils down to the idea that the state law should be followed as it was written.

He added that no fiscal note was attached, and if it were to move forward, the County would have to discuss the expense that would be incurred to take on the reassessment efforts.

Councilman Rob Arlett said he would think that the council would never agree to solely paying for the reassessment, as the State receives 86 percent of the proceeds.

Arlett also pointed out that the mobile homes would be getting reassessed; however, the land the homes sit on would not.

Signage moratorium extended to Aug. 15

Also during Tuesday’s meeting, the council voted 4-0 to extend its current signage moratorium, which was set to expire June 15.

Originally passed on Sept. 15, 2015, the ordinance states that the Sussex County Council “views the placement of off-premise signs as an important public-safety issue” and believes that “the recent proliferation of off-premise signs has a detrimental effect on the safety and welfare of the citizens of Sussex County.”

The moratorium directs the Sussex County Planning & Zoning Office to decline applications for special-use exceptions for off-premise signs from the date of adoption to Aug. 15. It also allowed for the moratorium to be “extended, modified or terminated at any time by a majority vote” of the council. This is the second time the moratorium has been extended.

“As it stands right now, that would give us six meetings scheduled currently for this county council,” said Lawson of the Aug. 15 date.

Arlett requested that the item be placed on each week’s agenda, to ensure the council can “knock it out.”

“We don’t want to hold businesses up… If we’re going to do it, I would hope we would do it right the first time,” added Council President Michael Vincent.

The County had originally planned to continue its sign ordinance discussions on Tuesday; however, Councilman George Cole was unexpectedly absent. Therefore, the council requested to defer discussions.

“I have a big problem with him not being here, since he asked for this,” said Deaver.

Arlett said waiting out of respect for their fellow council member would be appropriate and apologized to those in attendance who were there for the sign discussions.

League of Women Voters gives annual report

B.R. Breen, a member of Observer Corps of the League of Women Voters of Sussex County, presented the group’s annual report to the council.

“The annual report to the council is developed by compiling the major issues and concerns noted during the past year as viewed by Observers and as they relate to positions of the League of Women Voters,” said Breen, adding that Observers have been able to attend 100 percent of council meetings in the past year.

In discussing planning, the report stated a need for an improved transportation system, noting the county is at a critical point due to rapid development.

“We note that the process for approving time extensions for expiring land-use applications was changed to allow for short term, case-by-case approvals, as opposed to blanket approvals, which had been used in the past,” added Breen. “Under this new approval process, a July 1, 2016, deadline was imposed, at which time applicants would need to meet specific criteria related to completion of the projects.

“We urge vigilance of the Council and Planning & Zoning Commission to ensure that applicants meet all stated criteria.”

Concerns were also raised related to land-use matters and the amount of information provided for projects under consideration.

“It is difficult for the public to ascertain the nature of the project unless additional descriptive detail is provided.”

The report also called for the council to adhere to its published agendas, as there were meetings in the last year during which lengthy executive sessions caused attendees to wait an extended period of time for any additional council action.

“We feel that this type of scheduling is unfair to the public and does not conform to the spirit of open government.”

The report praised County staff for their “professionalism in handling the duties of their positions.”

Breen said the Observer Corps would be continuing its activities this year. “We share with you the goal of ensuring good government for the citizens of Sussex County.”

The Sussex County Council will meet on Tuesday, June 21, at 10 a.m., at 1 The Circle in Georgetown.

Bethany resident recalls town’s journey through history

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Coastal Point • Tyler Valliant: Margaret Young has considered Bethany Beach her home since she was 1 year old and has watched the area change extensively over her time there.Coastal Point • Tyler Valliant: Margaret Young has considered Bethany Beach her home since she was 1 year old and has watched the area change extensively over her time there.Bethany Beach has been a home to Margaret Young since she was just 1 year old, when she joined her family in their annual summer treks south from upstate Delaware and southern Pennsylvania.

For the first few years, they stayed at the old Atlantic Apartments; then they moved closer to the beach, into their first of two homes on Second Street. In 1983, as her family expanded, they settled into a house in Bethany West, where Young still lives today with her dog Nacho.

When she was little, she said, they only came down for a week or two at a time. But after a few years, her family started coming down to the beach for a month or more, and Young settled into the rhythm of summer life at the beach.

On those mid-1900s summer days, Young said that, just like today, “Everybody went to the beach with their friends all day long, and you went to the boardwalk with your friends at night.”

However, back then, she said, there were only a few beaches and a significantly smaller lifeguard force.

“When I was growing up, there weren’t very many lifeguards — and you knew them all. At that time, there were only five beaches with lifeguards.

Smiling, she ticked them away on her fingers, one by one: “Main beach (now known as Garfield), Middle Beach, the South End, Second Street and the North End.”

Ultimately, it was the infamous storm of 1962 that began to change the face of Bethany Beach toward the town that today’s visitors know and love.

“People who don’t live here think it was a hurricane,” Young said. “It wasn’t a hurricane; it was a nor’easter. And it lasted for a couple days — it lasted through four high tides. After that, we had no boardwalk and almost no buildings on the boardwalk.”

When all was said and done for that storm, Young’s Second Street home was flooded with about 3 feet of water, but, she said, the only thing they lost was their upholstered furniture in the living room. The rest of the town wasn’t so lucky.

“It took out the bowling alley. It took out the Seaside Inn. It took out any houses that were up there. It took out Holiday House.”

Some homes and businesses were rebuilt, but many just sold the land and left, laying the foundation for a new era at the beach.

But some things — like the town’s community driven charm and spirit — remained unscathed.

Young recalls a night that, while forever etched in American history books for different reasons, sticks in her mind as a time when neighbors and strangers alike gathered together in community.

It was Aug. 9, 1974, and word had trickled out from Washington, D.C., that, in the wake of the Watergate scandal, President Nixon planned to resign from office via a televised speech.

“In that day and age, not many houses had cable TV — especially the rental properties, because it was so expensive,” Young said.

Her family, since they stayed down all summer, was one of a few exceptions.

“We had people coming up to us all day long, saying, ‘Could we stop in your house?’”

By the time Nixon was ready to deliver his resignation address, Young said, “You would not believe — we had wall-to-wall people in our living room. It was like making lifelong friends in one evening. All these people — half of which I never saw before in my life.”

Young and her husband decided to make a permanent move to the beach in 1997, after he retired and their youngest son finished school.

“Everybody was in place, if you know what I mean. That’s when we made the move.”

Over the next few years, she started settling into the local community, serving on the board of the Bethany Beach Landowners Association and the pastoral council of Saint Ann’s Catholic Church — to which she has belonged since its establishment — and as part of the Bethany Beach Historical Society, later becoming involved in the Bethany Beach Farmers’ Market, too.

She said that she’s most proud of the way she convinced the council to officially commemorate U.S. Navy Ensign Henry Clay Drexler, who was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor after he perished fighting a fire aboard the U.S.S. Trenton in 1924.

Drexler’s family lived in the historic Drexler Cottage, on the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Campbell Place in downtown Bethany Beach. A plaque was installed at the Loop Canal Park flower garden in his memory.

Amongst locals, Young is most prominently known for her time on the Bethany Beach Town Council and her efforts to preserve town history on the Cultural & Historical Affairs Committee.

While on the council, Young fought hard for the issues that mattered to her.

“I know what I believe in,” she said. “I know what I’m for and against.”

Watermen, public: Bay not ready for full-scale aquaculture

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It’s up for the Delaware Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Control (DNREC) to decide, but many stakeholders have said that conversation needs to continue before aquaculture begins full-time in Little Assawoman Bay.

At a June 8 public hearing in Millville, the public commented on the next step in commercial shellfish aquaculture for Delaware’s Inland Bays. The Wetlands & Subaqueous Lands Section is considering the Statewide Activity Approval (SAA) to allow an expedited permitting process for aquaculture in the Little Assawoman Bay, Rehoboth Bay and Indian River Bay.

The state legislature passed the initial shellfish aquaculture bill in 2013, seeing a chance to create economic growth and help clean the bays (as oysters are believed to filter excess nutrients). DNREC was instructed to write regulations and pick development sites (442 one-acre sites originally).

After the regulations passed, public outcry caused DNREC to remove about 100 sites from the SAA expedited process, including Beach Cove and parts of the Little Assawoman Bay.

But that doesn’t forbid aquaculture in those zones. Watermen could still request permits. So several people requested the final step in officially forbidding aquaculture in those zones.

Many people said they wanted DNREC to create an advisory committee. Residents and local business representatives said they felt left out during the first half of the aquaculture talks. In the past year, watermen said they, too, have felt ignored.

“If you’re gonna get something done, you have to get everyone involved,” said clammer Steve Friend.

“Several thousand residents were left out of the public process,” said Diane Maddex, a resident representing the Coalition for Little Assawoman Bay, which itself represents eight communities on both sides of the bay. “Numerous concerns about the impact … remain to be resolved.”

“For those of us lucky enough to live along the inland bays, it is our responsibility to protect the inland bays,” said Sally Ford of the Seatowne community, describing her initial “shock” at discovering the industrial activity that she said seems inconsistent with DNREC’s mandate to protect natural habitat.

Joann Hess said she had safety concerns. The Assawoman shallows are perfect for novice kayakers, away from waves and large boats, he said, and forcing them to paddle deeper, around shellfish sites, would be akin to putting novice skiers on a triple-black-diamond course.

“I don’t care how many poles you have, that child or that elderly person is hitting it,” said Hess, a mother of three.

“When I first heard about this, I tried really hard to find the pros in it,” Hess said. “I think the water quality needs to be improved. I don’t think aquaculture can do it. … I haven’t found one conclusive study that oyster farming will clean up water in the inland bays.”

Also calling herself “pro-business,” Hess said, “I believe in allowing commercial fishermen to fish and to do this, but where they’re proposing to do it, there’s no evidence it’ll be successful in 18 inches to 2 feet of water,” where shellfish could freeze, she said.

If there’s proof of success, “Let’s do it,” said Hess. Otherwise, why risk the tourism industry for a small impact from aquaculture?

Some urged officials to consider the garbage hauled from the bay after Hurricane Sandy, and then imagine if the shellfish cages washed up on top of that.

“It’s not gonna help the environment any more than it’s gonna hurt it,” especially when the one site is right in the middle of the geese migration grounds, said lifetime resident Ethan Kleinstuber.

Many people said DNREC hasn’t met its own guidelines for vetting such a program, in several areas: environmental impacts; turbidity and surface water quality; air quality, such as noise and odors; recreational uses; and public access.

“They didn’t know about the recreational activities because they didn’t ask us, the only low-impact [business on the bay],” said Jenifer Adams-Mitchell, longtime owner of Coastal Kayak. “Thank goodness tourists don’t have such a hard time finding us.”

“This application does not even meet the same criteria Seatowne met for private docks and wetlands restoration,” said resident Fred Wetzelberger.

He also scorned the potential noise and visual pollution from aquaculture, as well as the erosion from motorboat wakes, which he said would “continue the degradation of our 20 feet of privately-owned wetlands” and restoration project.

The fishermen

Even commercial fishermen said they had concerns with the Little Assawoman. That is the only place DNREC will allow clam cages, which is inconvenient to Steve Friend, a lifetime local currently harvesting wild clams in the Rehoboth Bay.

“I know what it is to be out there in the cold,” said Friend, describing the hoops watermen will jump through, between bonding and surveying, to get cages in the water.

He wants to farm, he said, but he wants DNREC to road-test aquaculture on just a few sites before rolling it out elsewhere.

“DNREC has got a long ways to go with getting this right,” Friend said. “You people really don’t realize what we have to go to just to start. I’ve got $60,000 tied up, and … I haven’t made a penny.”

Some people said they had a hard time accepting the 10-foot PVC markers required for each corner of each acre of aquaculture site. It’s a far cry from what people imagined after the Center for the Inland Bays’ small-scale dockside oyster-growing program, they said.

Dennis Klinzing brought his own visual aid, a 10-foot-long pole, 6 inches in diameter, insisting “172 of these PVC pipes should not be driven into subaqueous lands.”

Floating markers and other alternatives were suggested.

Interested in shellfishing, E.J. Chalabala suggested the 20-foot navigation lanes between each acre be eliminated completely. In response to a photo someone had found on the internet of a PVC-strewn shellfishing ground, Chalabala said, “I certainly wouldn’t have all those poles in the ground.”

Also, with some aquaculture sites being removed from the SAA process, “I would like to see that comparable acreage put back somewhere. You can’t have [those] acres taken off and not put back,” said Chalabala.

The politicians and the CIB

State Sen. Gerald Hocker Sr. (R-Ocean View) said he still thinks a Delaware oyster industry would be great. But there are kinks to comb out, such as limiting the Little Assawoman to clamming only.

Hocker has asked DNREC to take 60 days to redo the SAA to better reflect public concerns. If the regulations aren’t changed, Hocker said he has drafted a law forbidding PVC markers in the aquaculture zone. But legislating against DNREC won’t be a pleasant route, he acknowledged.

“I will fight to make sure all the concerns I’ve been working on since the bill passed are corrected,” Hocker said, adding that it would have been easier if legislators had heard public complaints during legislative committee hearings.

“It was published, just like every other one,” Hocker said of the legislation’s public notice. “I’m sorry that you didn’t know about it. … It was advertised. I wish you were there.”

Steve Callanen said he was still frustrated about the seeming lack of public notification, from Center for Inland Bays exploratory team to DNREC’s own wintertime public meetings, held in Lewes, about 20 miles from Bethany Beach.

“I don’t think it was intentional that a lot of the information came out in winter, when a lot of folks weren’t here,” said state Rep. Ron Gray (R-Selbyville). “We worked with communities to reduce a lot of [the proposed aquaculture zones] in size.”

Gray said he believes the people will be heard, and he invited anyone with concerns to continue contacting him.

Chalabala said some of the CIB’s initial meetings weren’t broadcast to the public in order to get the bill written and work done.

Last to speak was Chris Bason, executive director of the CIB itself.

“We need the opportunity for aquaculturists to get out in the bays. … Aquaculture is a great way to get the nutrients that are in the water out of there,” he said, as well as to provide wildlife habitat.

“For reasons that we don’t understand — the science is not behind this — DNREC limited hard-clam aquaculture to Little Assawoman Bay,” Bason said. “We showed that it should be in all the bays … to give aquaculturists the most chance to get started in a very expensive business.”

According to Bason, experts say that shellfishing plots should be more spread out, not bunched together in one or two sites per bay. He said he hopes DNREC will offer more variety and give young Delawareans the chance to get jobs on the water, providing local seafood.

He said the SAA does meet requirements of the Comprehensive Conservation & Management Plan (CCMP) for Delaware’s Inland Bays.

Delaware aquaculture information is online at www.dnrec.delaware.gov/fw/Fisheries/Pages/ShellfishAquaculture.aspx.

Bethany drone law up for vote on Friday

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At their meeting on Friday, June 17, the Bethany Beach Town Council will consider new rules restricting the operation of unmanned aircraft — drones — within town limits, which could make it among the first municipalities in the state to adopt such measures.

Ahead of an expected council vote on new Article III of Chapter 212 of the town code, the council has already discussed the issue several times, including at workshops and at the measure’s first reading in May.

Councilwoman Rosemary Hardiman noted at the council’s May 20 meeting, when the proposed ordinance was introduced, that in the latest FAA forecast report for 2016-2020, hobbyist drone purchases were expected to increase from 1.9 million in 2016 to 4.3 million by 2020. The same report has commercial drone purchases increasing from 600,000 in 2016 to 2.7 million in 2020.

“They’re associated with a number of problems,” Hardiman said, including dangerous encounters with commercial aircraft, as well as privacy issues. She noted reports of drones hovering over beachgoers, as well as a New Year’s Eve incident in which an unknown drone hovered over crowds attending the town’s first midnight “beach ball drop.”

Some bystanders that night assumed it was the Town’s own “mobile aerial camera,” which was purchased in 2014 with the intention to use it for video and still images of “summer fun in Bethany Beach,” as well as of flooding and storm damage, for the Town’s website. That included Mayor Jack Gordon, who recalled his experience in March.

“There must have been 500 people on Hollywood. And I saw this green drone flying over. I didn’t think the Town was going to be looking at doing that,” he said. “And then I found out it wasn’t the Town. I have no idea who was flying a drone over 500 people. If it had fallen out of the sky, who knows who’s liable?”

That incident, along with other concerns and a general proliferation of the unmanned aerial devices, has led the Bethany Beach Town Council to propose restrictions on the operation of drones within town limits.

“They can be inherently dangerous to the public health, welfare, privacy and safety, and the Town finds it necessary to be proactive by issuing this ordinance,” Hardiman explained in May.

As currently proposed, the new Article III permits hobby or recreational use of drones in the town, so long as certain rules are followed. It also allows the commercial use of drones, provided those and other rules are followed, and provided the operator obtains permission from the Town for each day’s use.

The law would prohibit flying an unmanned aircraft:

• directly over any person who is not involved in its operation, without their permission;

• over property that the operator does not own, without the property owner’s consent (and subject to any restrictions the owner places on its operation when they do permit it);

• at an altitude higher than 400 feet above ground level;

• outside the visual line of sight of the operator, using their natural vision (no binoculars, first-person goggles or magnifying devices);

• in a manner that interferes with, or fails to give way to, any manned aircraft;

• between dusk and dawn;

• whenever weather conditions impair the operator’s ability to operate the craft safely;

• over any outdoor assembly, place of worship, police station, public right-of-way, beach, boardwalk, boardwalk plaza, waterway, public thoroughfare or land zoned MORE (Municipal, Open space, Recreational & Educational);

• within 50 feet of the Town’s water plant or within 25 feet of any electric distribution facility or of any overhead wire, cable, conveyor or similar equipment … or along any public way within the town, without the facility or equipment owner’s consent, and subject to any restrictions that the facility or equipment owner may place on such operation;

• for the purpose of conducting surveillance, unless expressly permitted by law;

• while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs;

• that is equipped with a firearm or other weapon;

• with intent to use the aircraft or anything attached to it to cause harm to persons or property;

• in a reckless or careless manner; or

• in violation of any federal or state law.

Additionally, commercial drone operators must get a permit from the Town’s code compliance officer, which will require proof of FAA registration for the craft and a specific identifier for it, as well as FAA Certificates of Waiver (COA). The permits will be issued on a daily basis and require the day, date, location and purpose of the proposed flight and will be valid for 24 hours from issuance.

The council had previously discussed the use of drones for commercial purposes in the town, noting that Realtors might use one to get an overhead view of a property they’re selling and would generally have the property owner’s permission for that. Now, they would also have to meet FAA registration guidelines and obtain a permit from the Town.

Drone pilots caught in violation of these rules would be subject to having their drone impounded until any administrative hearing was held and, if found guilty, hit with a $20 charge assessed for each day that the drone was in storage with the Town.

Drone operators urged to be cautious

The rules for flying a drone in Bethany Beach go hand-in-hand with many of the recommended rules of flight for the craft, such as these from registrationfordrones.com:

• Fly no higher than 400 feet and remain below any surrounding obstacles when possible.

• Fly within visual line of sight.

• Remain well clear of and do not interfere with manned aircraft operations, and you must see and avoid other aircraft and obstacles at all times.

• Do not fly near emergency response efforts, like fires.

• Do not fly for payment or commercial purpose.

• Do not fly over groups of people.

• Do not fly over stadiums and sports events.

• Do not be careless or reckless with your unmanned aircraft — you could be fined for endangering people or other aircraft.

• Do not use a drone to gather, store or collect evidence of any type.

• Do not fly over unprotected persons or moving vehicles, and remain at least 25 feet away from individuals and vulnerable property.

• Do not fly near or over sensitive infrastructures, such as power stations, water treatment facilities, correctional facilities, heavily traveled roadways, government facilities, etc.

• Contact the airport or control tower before flying within five miles of an airport.

• Do not fly in adverse weather conditions, such as in high winds or reduced visibility.

• Do not fly under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

While state legislators have discussed setting formal rules for drones in Delaware, they haven’t yet moved to institute such rules, opting to wait until the FAA’s new mandatory registration system for drones weighing between .55 and 50 pounds, was put into place and for finalization of related rules on the federal level.

But the use of drones on all Delaware State Park lands is restricted and illegal without proper authorization. State park regulations specifically prohibit the use of radio-controlled model aircraft or flying machines, including hobby drones, except in park areas that have been designated for them.

Park regulations do permit organized activities — which include flying of drones — at the discretion of the director of the Division of Parks & Recreation.

“Delaware State Parks believes that, in the best interest of wildlife and other park users, the flying of hobby drones is a recreational activity that must be properly managed,” said Parks Director Ray Bivens in March. “In our management of drones, we would encourage hobbyists to come to us in an organized way with detailed plans of their group activity.”

He cited an International Drone Day event on March 29 at Brandywine Creek State Parks as having met criteria as an organized recreational activity that would be allowed within the state park system.

“We are attuned to what’s going on with hobby drones across the country and how often they’ve been in the news of late,” Parks Enforcement Chief Wayne Kline said. “The flying of unmanned aircraft now presents enforcement challenges at national parks, ranging from harassment of wildlife, filming of unaware park visitors and even personal injury as a result of crash landings.

“So as we acknowledge that drones are becoming more and more popular for recreational use, including in Delaware, we also restate our intent to enforce regulations restricting their use in Delaware State Parks.”

“Restrictions on drone use should not imply that DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation or Delaware State Parks are “anti-drone,” Bivens said in March, noting that Drone Day organizers worked closely with park leadership to plan and issue a permit for the event. “In fact, we would encourage the public to come learn more about this new emerging technology.”

State officials have also cautioned drone flyers to take into account the liability they assume when they fly the craft and urged them to get insurance that would address mishaps.

“Drones can crash due to faulty and inappropriate operation, mechanical defects and component failure. Losses and damages could involve bodily injury to humans and animals, as well as buildings and other structures,” officials with the Delaware Insurance Commissioner’s Office said in December 2015, when the FAA registration deadline was announced.

“Obtaining insurance for your drone for personal use isn’t difficult,” they advised. “Using a private drone as a hobby is generally covered under a homeowner’s insurance policy (subject to a deductible) which typically covers radio-controlled model aircraft. This also applies to a renter’s insurance policy.

“Look at the contents section of your policy, or talk to your agent to see if your drone will be covered if it is lost, stolen or damaged. If your drone falls onto your car, damage to your car may be covered if you have a comprehensive coverage auto policy.

“If your drone crashes into a person or someone else’s vehicle, the accident is your responsibility. If you have a homeowners or renter’s policy, generally the policy will cover liability for an accident caused by your drone. Check with your agent or insurer to verify your policy contains this important coverage.”

They also urged drone pilots to acknowledge privacy concerns.

“Beyond intentional surveillance, drones may also unintentionally capture images during routine and unrelated flights. As a drone owner, remain mindful of privacy concerns. Insurers are developing policies to cover these liability exposures, so keep in touch with your insurer to make sure your use remains covered.”

BBVFC adapting, growing with new programs

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When the Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company saw a shortfall of volunteers coming down the pike, they created a single 24/7 paid firefighter position. Just for this summer, they have one paid employee present 24 hours a day, from May 1 to Sept. 30, using only their part-time staff.

“It’s working out fantastic. It’s made a big difference in our response, and it’s been just a real big help,” said Fire Chief Brian Martin. “We’re using part-time staff just to fill the summer months, until we can turn this into a more of a long-term program.”

In all, they’re using about 40 to 45 employees who are all dual-certified in EMS and fire. Anyone who isn’t air-pack certified can still jump on the ambulance, trading places with an EMT who takes the fire call. That doesn’t affect pay, because both are still paid their regular rates.

“It allows us to be much more flexible in our staffing. It almost guarantees us that we have a driver for the [fire] apparatus,” Martin said.

“Guys and girls, they come from all across the county,” paid a $14 hourly rate for 12- or 24-hour shifts.

The move was necessary because volunteerism is dwindling, especially in a resort town where most young adults can’t afford coastal real estate. And heavy traffic or distance can prevent other volunteers from responding in a timely manner. Sometimes, the BBVFC only averages three people per truck, depending on the call.

So Bethany is willing to pay.

The summer program is a short-term idea, but the BBVFC is working with local legislators on long-term solutions.

That could mean creating a fire district, similar to a school district, where all residents pay their fair share. It might also rely less on donations.

On a grander scale, it appears that Delaware State Legislature must grant Sussex County the power to create fire districts. So this funding mechanism needs approval from a lot of politicians, people and fire companies, even if south coastal Delaware is the only fire district created.

“We’re working on trying to get support from other local fire companies,” said Martin, and they’ve met with leaders in Sussex County Volunteer Firefighter’s Association.

“They’re very supportive as well. So, soon — probably sometime mid-summer — we’ll be making the presentation to the full county association, and then asking for their support with legislation,” Martin said. “We appreciate everybody’s support as we move forward with legislation.”

Sea Colony slightly short

To fund this sudden need, the BBVFC piggybacked off its ambulance program, which has fulltime paid staff as part of a partnership between the major four communities in the fire district: Bethany Beach, South Bethany, Fenwick Island and the Sea Colony development.

Currently, those four communities charge residents a mandatory $53 annually for the BBVFC’s regular ambulance subscription (an optional program for citizens in other private developments), which means households don’t have to pay out-of-pocket for emergency ambulance service, which can cost more than $700 per trip.

This summer, the new full-time fire position costs $42,824, and the BBVFC requested contributions based on town populations:

• Bethany Beach — 2,800 properties or 38.9 percent, at $16,659;

• Sea Colony — 2,202 properties or 30.6 percent, at $13,104;

• South Bethany — 1,390 properties or 19.3 percent, at $8,265;

• Fenwick Island — 810 properties 11.2 percent, at $4,796.

There was no private contribution.

But Sea Colony only agreed to pay 77 percent of their requested share — $10,000 — instead of the more than $13,000 share requested by the BBVFC. That vote came from the Board of Directors serving the Sea Colony Recreation Association (the equivalent of a homeowner’s association).

“There are a good 20 to 25 percent of the community that don’t support the effort, by which we mean the areas that are unincorporated,” said Tom Olson of the association management for Resort Quest and Sea Colony.

“The board’s intent is to ... try and address some of the needs that the fire company has, but also bring to light the fact that the unincorporated areas are not supporting this process and they need to,” he said.

When asked why Sea Colony’s board only agreed to $10,000, Olson said, “I don’t know that the $13,000 number was officially cast in stone.”

“We were happy with that,” responded Martin on behalf of the fire company. “I’m not exactly sure why they come up with that number. We didn’t make an issue of it.”

Olson also emphasized the importance of finding a permanent funding structure for Bethany’s emergency services in the future.

Sea Colony already pays “over $116,000 for ambulance service as part of the ‘Big Four,’ and obviously we do it to support that life-saving safety that’s being offered,” Olson said. “We’re happy to do that.”

The SCRA board consists of seven property owners within Sea Colony.

“The fire company itself is a group of really dedicated men and women that the community should be proud to support,” Olson said. “It’s critical that they provide such an important service to the community. I think it’s important that all the folks that benefit from this service continue support the [fire company].”

To make up the difference, Sussex County Council might step up to bat for $4,000.

Councilmen George Cole (R-District 4) and Rob Arlett (R-District 5) have verbally agreed to contribute $1,000 apiece for the next two years from their councilmanic funds. They still need an official vote of the council to approve a grant from their individual discretionary budgets.

It’s a “Band-Aid fix” in a bigger, countywide discussion about the future of fire staffing, said Arlett, who’s been working with the fire company.

He said it’s not just a matter of money.

“We are a volunteer fire service in the state of Delaware. The question is ‘What are we doing as a state to recruit and obtain volunteers?’” Arlett said. “I really believe we are at a crossroads in many ways.”

A new method of volunteering?

Traditionally, volunteer fire service runs in families, through kids and grandkids. But volunteerism is falling as people invest more time pursuing an income.

So Arlett and another fire company in his district (he won’t say which one until later this summer) are creating a volunteer recruitment pilot program.

“We anticipate doing some new things that’ve never been done before [for recruitment and retention],” Arlett said.

He’s asked fire companies, “‘What system do you have, what programs do you have in place to generate volunteers?’ … The answer I’ve seen thus far is ‘none.’ It’s just something they’ve got to learn,” Arlett explained.

“We do some very basic recruiting,” Martin said. “We have a display sign outside. We’ve also pushed it at all the presentations we’ve given. … Unfortunately, in the Bethany Beach fire district, there’s not a lot of year-round residents who are able to, or have the time to, volunteer. So we’re sort of limited,” he said, but they’re still trying.

So what about future funding?

“I think you have to do both,” said Arlett. “The volunteers want to continue to be volunteers. … These are independent fire companies. These are private organizations. Before we agree to give you more funding, there has to be more accountability. … I think we have to ensure we are doing all we can to receive, recruit and retain volunteers.”

That means new and creative ideas.

“The paid service is a last resort” after trying to rescue the volunteerism legacy.

Arlett said he hopes the pilot program will begin by late summer, then spread through the county and state.

“So many people don’t understand that our fire companies are volunteer, especially the transplants,” said Arlett, speaking of his own initial ignorance. “We have nothing but volunteer fire service, and community involvement is critical for their success.”

BREAKING NEWS: Police seek suspects in robbery of Ocean View package store

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Delaware State Police troopers are investigating the robbery of Hickman’s Package Store late on Monday evening.

Police said the incident occurred around 10:10 p.m. Monday, June 20, when two male suspects entered the package store, located at 30447 Cedar Neck Road, with at least one subject armed with an unknown type of handgun.

According to the DSP, they approached a female employee at the counter and demanded cash, and the clerk complied and turned over an undisclosed amount of currency. Police said the suspects then fled the business in an unknown direction. The female employee was uninjured in the incident, they noted.

The suspects were described as white males between 5 feet, 8 inches and 5 feet, 10 inches tall, wearing all dark-colored clothing and dark-colored masks over their faces.

If anyone has any information about the incident they are being asked to contact Detective R. Truitt at (302) 752-3813. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333, via the internet at www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com, or by sending an anonymous tip by text to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword “DSP.”

Bethany Beach Jazz Funeral set for Sept. 5

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While the 2016 summer resort season is just getting started, plans are in the works to celebrate the end of the summer season. Locals and summer residents will celebrate the end of the Bethany Beach summer resort season with their annual Bethany Beach Jazz Funeral, to be held on Labor Day Monday, Sept. 5, around 5:30 p.m.

The Jazz Funeral is a designed to be a lighthearted celebration that allows all those who attend to participate and become part of a “just for fun” boardwalk parade. The 2016 Bethany Beach Jazz Funeral is a “Labor Day Farewell to Summer” parade and celebration held on the Bethany boardwalk that is free to the public, according to Carolyn Bacon and Marie Wright, the assistant chairpersons of this year’s Jazz Funeral events.

Highlights of the event can be viewed at www.jazz-funeral.com.

At the Jazz Funeral, spectators go to the boardwalk on Labor Day and can join the funeral procession of mourners. Mourners will carry a casket with a mannequin representing “Summer of 2016” from the north end of the boardwalk to its final resting place at the bandstand. Music will be provided by the combined efforts of three Dixieland jazz bands, according to Bacon.

“The Bethany Beach Jazz Funeral is comparable to the jazz funerals that are held in New Orleans that celebrate the lives of those who have passed away,” Bacon said. “In Bethany Beach, the Jazz Funeral is celebrated each Labor Day to mark the passing of the summer resort season in Delaware’s Quiet Resorts.”

Part of the Jazz Funeral festivities will be a series of brief reflections and recollections by Bethany residents after the procession arrives at the bandstand. This year’s end-of-the-summer remarks will highlight the lighter side of resort living in the Quiet Resorts, according to Wright.

“The Bethany Beach Jazz Funeral is now in its 31st year, and from the very beginning our event was designed to be a ‘fun’ event,” Wright said. “We want to celebrate the dedication and the hard work performed by our visiting summer locals and our true local family members who live, work and raise their families in the Quiet Resorts. We want to take the opportunity to celebrate the lighter side of enjoying the summer in our resort areas.”

This year’s Bethany Beach Jazz Funeral Silent Auction is on Friday, Sept. 2, beginning at 3:15 p.m. at Bethany Blues, at 6 North Pennsylvania Avenue in Bethany Beach. The beneficiary for funds raised at the silent auction is to be named soon.

Anyone who wishes to volunteer to help out with the Bethany Beach Jazz Funeral or the Silent Auction is being asked to email jazzfuneral@comcast.net, call to leave a message at (302) 537-1585 or drop a line to P.O. Box 505, Bethany Beach, DE 19930. An overview of the event can be viewed at jazz-funeral.com.


Commercial waterman faces charges for conch violations

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DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police arrested a commercial waterman June 3 for nearly 300 fishing violations — most of them for illegal taking of knobbed conch — after boarding his vessel for a no-wake violation near the Lewes public boat ramp on May 31.

Shawn P. Moore, 40, of Georgetown, was charged with 289 counts of possession of undersized knobbed conch measuring less than the legal size limit of 5 inches in length, plus four counts of unlawful method of take for summer flounder, four counts of possession of unlawfully taken fish, and one count each of no commercial license in possession while fishing and failure to observe a slow-no-wake zone.

Moore pleaded not guilty to all charges at Justice of the Peace Court 3 in Georgetown and was released on a $15,400 unsecured bond, pending a later appearance in the Sussex County Court of Common Pleas.

Fish & Wildlife police noted that Moore had previously been convicted of 30 counts of possession of undersized knobbed conch in 2015, making the latest undersize-conch charges second offenses and environmental misdemeanors, carrying fines of up to $500 per charge if he is found guilty.

Knobbed conch, also known as whelk, are Delaware’s fourth largest commercial fishery, with recent harvests estimated around 500,000 pounds annually. Most are exported to the European or Asian market and used to make fritters, chowders and salads. Commercial size limits are 5 inches in length, or 3 inches in width at the whorl. Commercial watermen are permitted to possess five undersized conch by incidental catch per 60 pounds.

About 90 percent of the knobbed conch are harvested by dredging, with the dredge season from Jan. 15 through June 15. Channeled whelk also are harvested in Delaware, typically by pot. Egg cases of both species — consisting of long, light tan-colored chains of compartments about nickel- to quarter-size — are a common find along Delaware’s beaches.

Civil War Profiles: If you are planning a trip to Gettysburg…

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It is often said that, once you go to the Gettysburg National Military Park in south central Pennsylvania, you are likely to return again and again. The bloodiest battle of the Civil War took place there, and the battlefield radiates an aura that for many people is unforgettable!


The upcoming month of July is an excellent time to go to Gettysburg, because it is the anniversary of the three-day battle and the horrendous aftermath.

Upon arrival, the recommended first stop is the imposing National Park Service Museum & Visitor Center, which includes the Gettysburg Cyclorama, depicting the essential culmination of the battle called Pickett’s Charge.

For a reasonable fee at the Visitor Center, you will view an introductory motion picture about Gettysburg battlefield and enjoy a narrated description of the magnificently restored cyclorama. The exhibits in the museum cover a wide range of subject matter, including separate areas devoted to the three days of battle — with explanatory films about each one.

Do not miss the opportunity to have your picture taken while sitting on a bench next to a life-sized statue of Abraham Lincoln just outside the entrance to the Visitor Center.

Once out on the battlefield, choices are to drive from point to point using a complimentary map, or follow a designated route employing recorded narration (available at the gift shop in the Visitor Center). During the summer months, park rangers also lead free tours of segments of the battlefield.

Licensed battlefield guides are available for a fee, to drive along with you around the park while explaining how the battle unfolded. Check at the Visitor Center if you choose this option.

One of the most popular places on the battlefield — especially for families with young children — is Devil’s Den, a rocky outcrop that youngsters love to climb and pretend they are soldiers engaged in mortal combat. Almost as popular is Little Round Top, a hill with a wide-ranging vista of the battlefield between Cemetery Ridge and Seminary Ridge about a mile to the west — as well as a view of South Mountain in the distance.

Most people enjoy spending time at the National Cemetery, where President Abraham Lincoln gave what became known as the Gettysburg Address. The cemetery setting is serene and picturesque, a place where a weary visitor can rest and contemplate the fate of some 3,500 Union soldiers buried there, as well as Lincoln’s enduring sentiment “that these dead shall not have died in vain.”

Across Taneytown Road from the National Cemetery is a monument dedicated to the Union and Confederate soldiers from the State of Delaware who fought there. The monument contains rosters of the 1st and 2nd Delaware Regiments, the only Delaware units engaged at Gettysburg. See http://gettysburg.stonesentinels.com/union-monuments/delaware/state-of-d....

Plan to stop by the Gettysburg Seminary Ridge Museum on the grounds of the Lutheran Theological Seminary. The museum is housed in a building that served as a hospital for both Union and Confederate troops. Also, it is the location from which Union Brig. Gen. John Buford observed the oncoming Confederate troops on July 1, the opening day of the battle.

Some three miles from the National Park is East Cavalry Battlefield, which is well worth the short drive. It was here that Confederate Maj. Gen. Jeb Stuart’s cavalry attack was brought to a halt by Union Brig. Gen. George Armstrong Custer leading a charge.

In order to obtain more information for your trip to the Gettysburg battlefield, go to the National Park website at https://www.nps.gov/gett/planyourvisit/visitorcenters.htm. You can learn about lodging and restaurants at http://www.destinationgettysburg.com/index.asp.

Thomas J. Ryan is the author of “Spies, Scouts & Secrets in the Gettysburg Campaign” (winner of the Bachelder-Coddington Literary Award for 2015), available at Bethany Beach Books and Browseabout Books in Rehoboth. Contact him at pennmardel@mchsi.com, or visit his website at www.tomryan-civilwar.com.

International students gather for welcome picnic

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Coastal Point photo • Shaun M. Lambert: Students from all over the world enjoy each other’s company during the annual international students picnic at St. Martha’s Episcopal Church in Bethany Beach on Tuesday, June 21.

Braving Tuesday night’s thunder-and-lightning extravaganza, international students gathered at St. Martha’s Episcopal Church in Bethany Beach for their annual welcome picnic. The students — all of whom are living and working in the Bethany Beach area this summer — enjoyed a buffet of American food and had a chance to get to know each other and members of the local community.

When it began 10 years ago, organizer Martha Fields said, the picnic was intended to combat stories of international students coming to southern Delaware and not being treated well. Fields said that now the picnic and continuing outreach efforts work to create “a positive influence” for the international students and a “positive impression of the United States” for them to take home.

Starting off on the right foot, Fields said, the evening literally opened doors to a housing placement with a church member for one student and, for another, a chance to put her 11 years of musical training to use on the church piano and organ.

Throughout the summer, organizer Bill Gay said, St. Martha’s — in conjunction with local businesses including Resort Quest and the local Chambers of Commerce, churches, police departments, hospitals, fire departments and security agencies — will work to keep the students safe and well cared-for.

Gay also said that, over the next few months, there will be three English language labs where students will have the opportunity to accomplish what many describe as a driving force behind traveling to the United States: improving their English.

It was also a unique opportunity for the picnic volunteers, Gay said, because as students filled their plates with traditional “American” food, including hot dogs, pasta salad and brownies, they had the chance to explain what all of the dishes were.

Kristina Petrosian, a student from Kaliningrad, Russia, said, “My favorite thing is the potatoes with all of the cheese. They’re so good!”

The students themselves represent a wide range of countries, with many coming from Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Russia and Kazakhstan.

Local businesses rely on the international students during the busy summer months, and picnic attendees are already hard at work across the town and beyond, with positions at stores and restaurants including Baja Grill, Bethany Surf Shop, The Penguin and Bethany Trading Company.

After spending a few weeks in Bethany Beach — or for some returning students, months — many said their first impression of American culture was that everyone they meet has been kind, friendly and willing to help.

They also said that the efforts of St. Martha’s and the local community to secure reliable housing and free bicycles for their use has been incredibly helpful as they settle into summer schedules.

One Bulgarian student, Parashkev, said that the biggest difference he noticed between the United States and his home country is the size and scarcity of grocery stores.

“Here, you have Giant and Food Lion,” he said. “But in my country, there are a lot of small stores, and they are everywhere.”

After spending the summer at the beach, most students plan to use the rest of their time stateside to travel throughout North America. Top destinations included American hotspots such as New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and Niagra Falls.

Aside from traveling and practicing their English skills, most students say that they’re looking forward to living at the beach and making new American friends.

As the area rolls into the thick of the summer season, the community at large has the chance to follow St. Martha’s lead in welcoming the international students who constitute such a large part of the community from May to September.

Learn to fish and crab at Delaware Seashore State Park

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Some of the most popular things to do in Delaware Seashore State Park are surf-fishing, crabbing and clamming, but many people who did not grow up along the coast are curious about these popular pastimes but just aren’t sure how to get started.

The staff of Delaware Seashore State Park will be offering three programs on a weekly basis this summer, starting June 15: Crabbing 101, Clamming 101 and Surf Fishing 101.

Crabbing will take place on Wednesday afternoons at 2:30 p.m. The fee for that program is $6 per person, the minimum age is 5, and pre-registration is required.

Clamming 101 will take place at Holts Landing State Park on Thursday afternoons at 2 p.m. The fee for that program is $6 per person, the minimum age is 8, and pre-registration is required.

The Surf Fishing 101 program is a slightly abbreviated version of the park’s popular “Introduction to Surf Fishing” program that is offered in the spring and fall. It is more geared toward families and will only introduce participants to the species of fishes that are typically caught during the summer months. The fee for that program is $15 per person, the minimum age is 10, and pre-registration is also required.

These programs are just a few of the educational programs offered by Delaware Seashore State Park. For a full calendar of programs, visit destateparks.com. For more information or to register for these or other programs, call the Indian River Life-Saving Station at (302) 227-6991.

Barefoot Gardeners flower show to bloom Saturday

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The Barefoot Gardeners are all about sharing their passion with others, and this weekend is no exception. The group is putting its best leaves forward in its second annual Small Standard Flower Show to be held Saturday, June 25, at the Brandywine Senior Living complex west of Fenwick Island.

The show, titled “Coasting Along,” will be held from noon to 3 p.m. It will feature items from members that will be judged in four categories by representatives from the Delaware Federation of Garden Clubs, according to show chairperson Karen Dudley. The judges will be evaluating entries ranging from potted house plants to cut flower arrangements, Dudley said.

Residents at Brandywine are also being invited to bring their potted house plants for the public to enjoy.

In addition, the Barefoot Gardeners will host an educational exhibit on the progress of the Delaware Botanic Gardens at Pepper Creek, where many club members have been volunteering in a variety of capacities and recently planted a tree that will be part of the botanic gardens’ landscape for years to come.

The Dagsboro project involves a 37-acre plot leased from the Sussex County Land Trust along Piney Neck Road, where organizers plan a world-class garden and educational facility.

A new feature for the Barefoot Gardeners’ show this year is a photo exhibit, where entrants can share favorite images of plants for the public’s enjoyment.

The Barefoot Gardeners were formed 12 years ago, according to Dudley. Now with 55 members, most of whom live in the Fenwick Island area, the group is active in a number of community projects, including Justin’s Beach House, a beach house for use by cancer patients and their families; the Fenwick Island Lighthouse; the Operation SEAs the Day event for veterans and their families; and, of course, the Delaware Botanic Gardens.

Members’ interests are quite varied, Dudley said.

“We have people who just putter around in their yards, people who like to do house plants, some who are interested in cacti and succulents,” she said.

In addition to the flower show, the Barefoot Gardeners hold two fundraisers each year, the largest being their May plant sale.

A shuttle will be available at the Harris Teeter grocery store on Route 54 to bring guests to the Brandywine facility, Dudley said. Admission to the flower show is free. For more information, email ltwilley@comcast.net.

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