The Delaware beaches are packed with all kinds of activities for families with small children — whether it’s hitting the beach, playing miniature golf, splashing on water slides or getting ice cream at the boardwalk. However, many parents are looking for something off the beaten path, something educational or something that is inexpensive or even free. Delaware Seashore State Park has programs that meet all of those criteria!

This summer, park staff are offering a variety of educational programs for all ages and interests, many of which are considered suitable for children.

On Wednesdays, there will be a children’s “1-Day” Fishing Camp, where campers will learn how to seine, crab and fish. On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday afternoons, park staff will lead a “Seining the Bay” program in which participants will drag a net through the shallow waters of the bay to catch and identify marine critters.

Also held on Thursdays are “Jelly, Jelly, Jellyfish,” “Shipwrecks & Buried Treasure” and “Build & Fly a Kite.” On Friday afternoons, children are being invited to participate in a “Squid Dissection” program. Most of these programs meet at the Indian River Life-Saving Station Museum and require pre-registration.

In addition, the park offers a wide range of family programs, such as surf fishing, crabbing, clamming and beach bonfires. Those programs are just a few of the many 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.

The Delaware Department of Education this week announced the new U.S. Department of Agriculture policy for free and reduced-price meals for children unable to pay the full price for meals served under the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program and After School Snack Program. Participating schools and their administrative offices have copies of the policy that may be reviewed by any interested party.

Meal benefit forms will be sent home with a letter to families. To apply for free or reduced-price meals, families should fill out the form for their households and return it to the school. The information provided on the form will be used for the purpose of determining eligibility and may be verified at any time during the school year by program officials.

For program officials to determine eligibility, a household receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and/or Delaware Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (DE-TANF) must list the child’s name, the SNAP and/or DE-TANF case number, and provide a signature and name of the adult household member.

A household not receiving SNAP and/or DE-TANF must list: names of all household members, the amount of the gross income for each household member received last month, the income source and how often received, the signature of an adult household member and the last four digits of that adult’s social security number or the word “none” or “no Social Security number” box marked if the adult does not have a Social Security number. The meal benefit form may be submitted at any time during the school year.

Under the provisions of the free and reduced-price policy, the school nutrition services supervisor will review the form and determine eligibility. Parents or guardians dissatisfied with the ruling of the official may discuss the decision with the determining official on an informal basis. Parents or guardians wishing to make a formal appeal may make a request either orally or in writing to the administrative office for a hearing on the decision.

Children who are enrolled in Head Start or who are homeless, migrants, runaways or in foster care are eligible for free school meal benefits. In certain instances, children receiving WIC (Women, Infants & Children) benefits may also be eligible. Parents or guardians wishing to apply should follow the instructions on the form or contact their school for more information.

Households may report changes or reapply for meal benefits at any time during the school year. The information provided by the household is confidential and will be used only for purposes of determining eligibility and verifying data.

The Historic Lewes Farmers Market this week announced that it plans to open a second producer-only farmers’ market on Wednesdays at Kings Highway, across from Crooked Hammock Brewery, starting Wednesday, July 13.

The market will be open every Wednesday from 8 to 11 a.m. and will feature vendors with local produce, eggs, meats, fruit, jams and jellies, and freshly-baked breads, pastries, quiches and more.

Board President Helaine Harris said, “The HLFM has been looking for a second location to bring its quality vendors to the public mid-week for quite some time. The market spot at Crooked Hammock Way and Kings Highway has high visibility and close-by parking. We believe that this new added location is perfect for those who need to restock their kitchens with local fruits and vegetables mid-week.”

The market will also offer its SNAP (EBT/food stamps) program at the Wednesday market. To help lower economic barriers to local, healthy food, the HLFM matches up to $20 each participant each week with HLFM Bonus Bucks. SNAP participants can go to the SNAP tent at the market to pick up the bonus $20 in tokens to use at the market.

Historic Lewes Farmers Market organizers thanked Crooked Hammock Brewery for sponsoring them in their additional location.

The “big” Saturday HLFM market with 35 vendors is open every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon, with parking at Shields Elementary School and Lewes School, just off the corner of Savannah Road and Sussex Drive and a short walk to the market.

For customers not able to walk that far, there is a drop-off and pick-up entrance in the circle in front of the Fred Thomas Building next to the park. In addition, the Veggie Valet team will be at that circle with their big cart from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. to help take melons, plants and bags of produce from the market to the Shields and Lewes School parking lots for those who need the help.

There are two special programs at the Saturday market on July 9. At 9 a.m., Maureen Miller, Children’s Librarian from the Lewes Public Library will read “Tops & Bottoms” by Janet Stevens. The Story Time Tent is located near the children’s playground at the park.

At 10 a.m., Lion Gardner from Blue Moon will demonstrate a summer recipe using fresh produce from the market. Gardner worked at several restaurants before joining the crew as executive chef at the Blue Moon in 2006. Two years later, he became an owner. Blue Moon’s menu shows influences from Gardner’s travels around the world.

More information about the market is available at www.historiclewesfarmersmarket.org.

Coastal Point • Submitted: Ocean View resident Michelle Meadows will be launching her new book, ‘Super Bugs,’ at Tidepool Toys & Games in Bethany Beach during a special event on Saturday, July 9, at 11 a.m.Ocean View resident Michelle Meadows has had plenty of chances to perfect the art of the children’s book. Her eighth and most recently published book, “Super Bugs,” is designed for children and parents to enjoy, filled with vibrant illustrations of crawly creatures illustrated by Georgia-based Bill Mayer, as well as Meadows’ “bouncy” rhymes.

This weekend, Tidepool Toys & Games in Bethany Beach will be hosting Meadows for the launch of “Super Bugs” at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 9.

“The Super Bugs Book Bash” will feature a reading, a book signing, light refreshments and an insect craft. The book, which is targeted toward children 2 to 6, follows a trio of heroic Super Bugs from morning until night as they save their fellow insects from hungry frogs, falling tomatoes and other dangers.

In addition to writing, Meadows has a strong passion for kids and for family. She grew up in Washington, D.C, with her older brother, Marcus, and her parents, Geraldine and Melvin. Even from a young age, Meadows always had an interest in writing — particularly poetry, for which she was involved in a number of school clubs.

Upon finishing school in D.C., she left to go to Syracuse University and studied magazine broadcasting and graduated a semester early, with the Class of 1991, before returning to D.C. to work for The Washingtonian magazine. Soon after, she got married to her husband, Rich, and they moved to Maryland, where they lived until her son, Chase, finished high school.

Then the family decided to move to Delaware, where they have been enjoying their new home on the eastern shore for a year now, while Meadows has taken up volunteering locally and taking part in the Rehoboth Beach Writers’ Guild. Through all her moves, though, her love for writing has been a constant.

Meadows sold her first book directly to New York-based publisher Henry Holt & Company, without a literary agent. In 2005, she got an agent, Rosemary Stmola, who has represented her from her second book forward. Her book “Hibernation Station” made it on the Los Angeles Times Reading List and was a nominee for the South Carolina Picture Book Award.

While Meadows has published only fiction thus far, she said she hopes in the future to try some non-fiction. “Hibernation Station” and “Super Bugs” are fiction, but are educational nonetheless. In addition to the action-packed story, “Super Bugs” also highlights facts about several insects and spiders.

Meadows said her family inspires all of her stories. Her son was even the reason she originally got into writing children’s books.

“I’ve always loved writing, and then when I had my son, I was taking him to the library all the time and reading to him all the time, and that’s when I started writing children’s books,” she explained.

She sold her first book, “The Way the Storm Stops,” when her son was 2, having written it after rocking her son to sleep during a thunderstorm.

Her son is also the inspiration for her books about some fictional pigs. She said her son acted a lot like the piggies in her piggy books, “very energetic and cute.” She said she multiplied her son by five, and that was how the pig children in her books came to life.

In “Piggies in Pajamas,” the pigs don’t want to go to sleep, but what finally brings them to their beds is hearing a scary noise.

“I found him in my bed one night, and he said he heard something scary at the window,” she recalled of the real-life inspiration for the story.

Meadows’ writing style focuses on rhyme. In fact, all her published books have been written strictly in rhyme.

“It’s funny — that’s what I’ve had success with. I’ve written other things that don’t rhyme and sent them to my agent, but it doesn’t work,” she said. So she sticks with what she knows.

One rhyme she said she really loves is from “Super Bugs”:

Daddy longlegs, sleepy eyes.

Fireflies are on the rise.

She says she loves that rhyme because it reminds her of her childhood, running around the yard, catching fireflies with her friends.

Writing children’s books isn’t her only job, however. By day, Meadows is the writer and editor for the Food & Drug Administration’s Consumer magazine, and when she is not doing that or writing children’s books, she can be found taking ballet and jazz dance classes in Rehoboth Beach.

During the school year, she said, she really enjoys volunteering at the Boys & Girls Club in Rehoboth, helping first- and second-graders read, do homework and write. She said she loves the first grade and going to schools in the area, and is looking forward to the launch event on July 9.

“I’m really excited to be at Tidepool Toys & Games as an author,” Meadows said. “The superhero theme fits in perfectly with the playful spirit of the store.”

Lori Smyth of Tidepool Toys & Games said the store loves to host events that not only are fun, but educational as well.

“We’re thrilled to be hosting the Super Bugs launch party! The children will learn about insects while they enjoy author Michelle Meadows’ lively reading about these small, yet heroic creatures.”

Meadows has a strong passion for volunteering with children.

“I really like that because it just gets the kids excited about reading,” she said.

With her “Super Bugs” puppet (literally) on hand and rhymes in cheek, Meadows is doing her part to expand the joys of reading to the young.

Tidepool Toys and Games is located on the Bethany Beach boardwalk, at 98 Garfield Parkway, #104. The Tidepool Toys website is at www.tidepooltoys.com. Meadows’ website is at www.michellemeadows.com.

Coastal Point • Tyler Valliant: Brett Warner, director of Public Works for Bethany Beach, served as grand marshal of Bethany Beach’s annual Fourth of July Parade on Monday.On Monday, Brett Warner joined a long list of public servants and local legends proudly serving grand marshal in Bethany Beach’s annual Fourth of July Parade.

The Town’s Fourth of July Parade Committee appointed Warner with the honor in recognition of his decades of hard work and leadership with the Town’s Public Works Department.

Having moved to the area with his family in 1969, when he was just 6, Warner has a long history with the local community. According to Warner, he started working for the Town in 1977, as a 14-year-old part-time summer employee.

Back then, the town was much different and the “development boom” had yet to take off.

“That’s the big thing that’s changed around here,” Warner said. “Back then, you look at big communities like Bethany West and they only had a dozen houses. Now look at them.”

In 1982, as a young adult, Warner returned to the Public Works Department as a full-time employee. He was appointed director of Public Works in December of 1999 — a position he has held ever since. He said that, throughout his life, the only other job he ever had was working at Maureen’s Ice Cream & Desserts on Garfield Parkway.

For Warner and his crew, the Fourth of July is the pinnacle of their summer season, bringing in large crowds and requiring hours and hours of manpower. And, despite his new position of honor for the parade this year, for the most part Warner carried on just as he has for every patriotic celebration in the last 33 years.

“Every Fourth of July, my crew and I get here at 4 a.m. and start putting out the reviewing stand, getting the beaches blocked for the fireworks show and make sure all of the barricades are out for the parade,” Warner said.

On top of that, the Public Works crew still keeps up with day-to-day maintenance, includng emptying trash cans and picking up litter from the beach, sidewalks and boardwalk, because, as Warner said, “It may be the Fourth of July, but there is still all of the other stuff to do.”

During the day, Warner said, he and his crew only get to stand down when the rest of the town is otherwise occupied with the day’s festivities.

“The only time we get to relax is during the parade — so we usually get an hour or two,” he said.

Then, as soon as the parade wraps up, they’re back at it, picking up trash and breaking down what they set up earlier in the day, breaking briefly around 4 p.m. to grab a bite to eat before continuing to prep for the evening crowds.

“It’s nonstop,” Warner said. “Generally, a Fourth of July is 4 a.m. to 1 a.m., straight through.”

Thanks to a line of evening storms on Monday, there was still a bit of Independence Day madness to be had on July 5 this year, as Warner and the rest of his department continued to prepare for the fireworks display, which had been postponed from the night before.

Despite the long hours, the Public Works crew toils hard from sunup to well past sundown, making sure that everything that needs to be done gets done. Warner said he’s been known to turn into a jack-of-all-trades on the Fourth, doing everything from setting up fireworks and laying tubes down on the beach to riding shotgun through town in a fancy black Corvette convertible.

“We do whatever needs to be done to make sure everything goes off without a hitch,” he said.

However, this year, as grand marshal of the parade, Warner’s routine differed a bit from previous years — though, as he’s quick to admit, not by much.

“The only difference was that I worked until 11:30 a.m., then traded my orange work shirt for my nice Fourth of July shirt and hat that my girls picked out for me, and got in my car for the parade,” Warner said.

After that, it was business as usual.

Of being asked to serve as the parade’s grand marshal, Warner said, “It was an honor.”

“It was great,” he said. “There were a lot of people who knew me and acknowledged me along the way and other people who recognized me because I’m always out and about in town.”

While he gladly accepted the honor of being grand marshal and the recognition of the many years of hard work that accompanied it, Warner humbly insisted that his public works crew, who serve alongside him morning, noon and night, deserve the credit as well.

Whenever he was driving by the Millsboro Town Hall late at night and saw the light still on inside, Mayor John Thoroughgood always knew who it was.

It wasn’t the nighttime cleaning crew. It wasn’t a pair of not-so-savvy cat burglars. And it wasn’t left on by accident.

It was Town Manager Faye Lingo, still hard at work.

“So many times I drive by and the lights are still on. Nobody forgets to turn them off — it’s you,” Mayor John Thoroughgood said to Lingo in a speech after Tuesday’s council meeting.

“You’re still there — studying, or you’re preparing for DNREC or DelDOT the next day.”

As of July 29, if that light is on, it will no longer be Lingo, however, after she officially announced her retirement on Tuesday, July 5, in front of family, friends and the co-workers who she’s come to refer to as her “work family” for the better part of the last four decades.

Palpable emotion filled the room during Lingo’s farewell reception, as speeches were made by Thoroughgood and Lingo’s successor, Sheldon P. Hudson, who previously served with Lingo as the assistant town manager.

“Even though I’ve only know you for a relatively short period of time, I can say you are by far the best boss and finest job-related mentor I’ve ever had,” Hudson said in his speech. “You have consistently impressed me — not only with your knowledge and insight, but with how observant and intuitive you are.

“You’re incredibly kind, sensitive, down to earth, and humble — not to mention a whole lot of fun to be around. I look forward to coming to work in large part because I know I will get to see your smiling face and hear your great laugh when I get there.”

Before the surprise reception, and in what would be her last town council meeting, a teary-eyed Lingo recalled the day back in June of 1993 — now some 23 years ago — when she took over as town manager.

“I know I was not sure at the time if it was a good idea — it looked a little scary to me,” she said. “We all took a chance, and 23 years later I’m still here. Councils have come and gone, but I’ve been fortunate to always have a good group to work with. A town manager can’t ask for any more than that.”

After she opened gifts and received plaques and commemorations from co-workers, neighboring towns and organizations that she’s worked with over the years, the council still had one more thing left to do to honor the legacy that Lingo has left behind, officially unveiling the Faye L. Lingo Reception Hall.

“That’s beyond anybody’s dreams,” said an emotional Lingo. “I expected a plaque maybe, but certainly nothing like this. This is nothing I ever dreamt of.”

While the night was an homage to Lingo, she attributed the success of her 38 years serving the Town and 23 years as manager to her supporting cast.

“I have had good councils. That’s all there is to it. Over the years, they’ve had issues, but they’ve always worked it out.”

It’s that supporting cast that made her decision to finally retire such a difficult one — with Lingo putting off the move on a number of occasions over the last year.

“It was tough. But at some point you have to let it be somebody else’s turn,” Lingo said. “It’s just time for somebody else to take it over, and step back and see what happens.”

As for what’s next, while the light may be switching off on her professional career, she’ll be switching a new one on for retirement — enjoying some long-served R&R, along with her friends and family, while every once and a while popping in to Town Hall to say hello.

“I can enjoy doing nothing for a while,” Lingo said with a laugh. “I have certainly enjoyed my service with the Town and want to thank everyone for giving me that opportunity. I know no other job that would have allowed the experience and education that this job has given me. Such a variety has kept my days interesting.”

Former Dagsboro councilman and mayor Brad Connor this week announced his candidacy to be the Democratic Party challenger to Republican state Rep. Richard Collins in the 41st District.

Connor, a graduate of Indian River High School, attended Salisbury University before launching a career as a local radio broadcaster and his current co-ownership of a small business in Bethany Beach.

Connor’s campaign noted that, as an elected official in Dagsboro, he formed partnerships that brought a sewer system to the Dagsboro and Frankford communities. That and other municipal cooperation successes, they said, led to Connor becoming president of the Sussex County Association of Towns (SCAT) and vice president of the Delaware League of Local Governments.

“I have spent my entire professional career and government-services life working with people of all backgrounds and persuasions,” he said. “We have common needs and many common goals. I believe my approach has proven successful, while the incumbent has failed to provide for this district in his ‘my way or no way’ approach to representation,” he added, also emphasizing the importance of accessibility.

“As a small-business owner and former elected official, I have a record of providing individualized service to customers and constituents alike, and restoring the quality of service to the people of this district is one of my top priorities.”

Specifically, Connor said he will fight for adequate funding to properly address such needs as alleviating traffic problems in Millsboro and the Route 113 corridor, planning for the future medical professional and facility needs of the growing area, nurturing vital first-responder services, and providing a high-quality public education for all students.

Connor served as a Dagsboro councilman from 1987 to 2005 and mayor from 2012 to 2014.

His opponent, state Rep. Rich Collins (R-41st), won election against Democratic (and formerly Republican) incumbent John Atkins in a narrow 52.2/47.8 percent (270 votes) race in 2014, after having lost to Atkins in 2012 by an even narrower margin, 50.4 percent to 49.6 percent (69 votes).

The 41st District includes Millsboro, Dagsboro, Frankford, Selbyville and Gumboro.

The Sussex County Council will hold a special meeting on Monday, July 11, at 10 a.m. to discuss an introduced ordinance that would amend the county code regarding signage.

On Sept. 15, 2015, the council voted 4-1 to approve a moratorium on applications accepted by the Planning & Zoning office for off-premises signs. Since then, the moratorium has been extended twice. Currently, it is set to expire on Aug. 15.

The wording of the moratorium 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 movement to revise the code related to signs was spurred by concerns raised by Councilman George Cole.

Following months of working group meetings, council discussions and public hearings, an ordinance to amend the code related to signs was introduced in April. However, those involved with the working group voiced concern that the introduced ordinance was not a proper reflection of their discussions.

That sentiment was strong enough, in fact, that Clear Channel Outdoor, Geyer Signs, Hocker Signs, Jack Lingo Realtors, J.D. Sign Company, Ocean Atlantic, Phillips Signs Inc., Premier Outdoor Media LLC, Rogers Sign Co. Inc. and Timmons Outdoor Advertising hired Georgetown attorney David Hutt of Morris, James, Wilson, Halbrook & Bayard LLP, who also served on the working group, to create an alternate ordinance.

Since the presentation of the alternate ordinance, the council and County staff have been going through the ordinance item by item to review the differences between the introduced ordinance, the alternate ordinance and what was recommended by the Planning & Zoning Commission.

As the council did not meet on Tuesday, July 5, due to the holiday and will not meet Tuesday, July 12, the special meeting was scheduled in the hopes of going through all of the County staff’s questions related to signs and the recommendations of others.

For those who are unable to make the meeting, it can be viewed live on the County’s website at www.sussexcountyde.gov. Audio of the meeting will be available shortly afterward.

The Ocean View Board of Adjustment last week approved two applications for local businesses, granting approval for additional medical offices and for a ramp for a bakery.

The board unanimously approved a special exception for 96 Atlantic Avenue (Route 26), submitted by Charles Zonko on behalf of property owners B/Z Land Inc., to create additional medical offices in the units of the commercial complex.

Public Works Director Charles McMullen said the medical offices do fit within the Town’s comprehensive plan and that the third unit in the complex is already being used as a medical office.

Zonko said that, although they had had a physician lined up to take over the offices through Atlantic General Hospital, through attrition, the physician is no longer with the healthcare provider.

“At the present time, they are not committed,” he said, adding they hope to have a replacement physician tenant within 12 months.

McMullen noted that, if approved, the offices would need to be occupied as a medical office or clinic within a year and a day of the approval or would have to reapply for the special exception.

The board approved the special use exception application with a 5-0 vote.

The board also reviewed an application for 68 Atlantic Avenue, submitted by Steven Smith, seeking a variance from the Town’s front- and side-yard setback regulations, for an attached accessory structure.

Smith told the board that the building would be used for a bakery and, per ADA requirements, a handicapped ramp would need to be installed going from the back parking lot to the front porch. The ramp would encroach into the 30-foot front and 15-foot side-yard setbacks on a parcel zoned GB-1.

Smith said the variance requested was the minimum needed to install the ramp.

The board voted 5-0 to approve the variance.

After helping the Indian River School District with financial tasks during the past few months, Jeannette “Jan” Steele will now officially take the helm as the IRSD’s new director of business. She’ll finish an eight-year tenure as chief operating officer at Delmar School District before taking on the new role in the IRSD.

Officially, Delmar had loaned Steele’s services to the IRSD while IR dealt with the sudden departure of its own chief financial officer, Patrick Miller. Now, she’s taken a job as his replacement.

Before Delmar, Steele was a financial secretary for the Sussex Technical School District.

Soon, she’ll oversee a budget of approximately $50 million, covering a district of nearly 20 schools and facilities. Delmar is a fraction of that size.

It’s a new challenge, a new school district, and it’s closer to home, Steele said.

“I’m ready for it,” Steele told the Coastal Point.

She said she expects to officially begin the job in mid-July, which is two months into a State audit of IRSD finances.

The audit was a mutual decision between the IRSD and the Delaware Auditor’s Office. But neither entity would specify what the Auditor’s Office is looking for, or whether there are concerns about money that might have been stolen or spent inappropriately.

After more than 17 years with the IRSD, Miller was placed on paid administrative leave in April. The IRSD has made no indication of the terms of his leave, or if any investigation has begun. State and federal privacy laws have prevented the district from sharing details of his altered employment status.

In May, Miller announced his retirement from the district, starting June 30. Meanwhile, the IRSD announced that it was undergoing a financial audit by the Delaware State Auditor of Accounts, R. Thomas Wagner Jr.

“The Auditor’s Office has undertaken a review of the district’s business records, and the district is cooperating fully with that review,” IRSD Spokesperson David Maull said in May.

He recently echoed the sentiment of cooperation but provided no updates.

The timeline “totally depends on the type of audit you’re doing. And what you find,” Wagner had told the Coastal Point in May.

Officially, Steele won’t be taking the same title as her predecessor.

“The head of the business office is a director-level position and is one of six director positions the district is entitled to,” Maull stated. “Therefore, we made the decision to rename the position ‘Director of Business.’ The job responsibilities will remain the same.”

The Indian River School District’s new dress code policy is using broader terms and leaving some wiggle room for the beach’s favorite footwear: flip-flops.

Footwear has been a mild cause for consternation among students. For about a decade, flip-flops had been prohibited, due to safety concerns (such as gym class activities, chemistry lab dangers or a sudden evacuation), as had bedroom slippers and improperly fastened shoes.

But, as of June 20, the IRSD Board of Education will allow principals to decide what is appropriate for their own buildings.

“Students will be required at all times to wear shoes or other appropriate footwear,” the policy still states.

But the policy no longer forbids specific shoes. Instead, “Students shall be required to follow dress standards to prevent hazards or dangers in areas such as recess, shop, labs and/or physical education class.”

That “allows each school to deem what is appropriate for the age and class taken,” stated Board Member W. Scott Collins.

“Regulations will be developed according to the level of the school (elementary, middle or high), and that will govern what is and is not allowed to be worn,” stated Assistant Superintendent Mark Steele. “As far as flip-flops, that will be up to the principal group at that level.” That means the beachy shoes could still be forbidden.

The Dress Code Policy JFCA covers students during all in-school activities, music programs, awards ceremonies and banquets.

Previous language got into specifics and, until recently, the Policy Committee had tried to pin down exactly the best way to forbid clothes with holes, and the reasoning behind it, such as promoting safety or avoiding vulgarity.

Now, they’re using broader terms, and they removed the prohibition on wearing coats, jackets or other outerwear in the classrooms.

Shirts still have to meet bottoms. But now, in broader terms, “Students are not permitted to wear clothing that is transparent, exposes the midriff/naval area, cleavage or posterior regions.”

When it comes to shorts, families have had trouble with back-to-school shopping. The old policy required shorts that fall “no more than 2 inches above the top of the kneecap.” That specific measurement has been found to be tricky to maintain in the midst of students’ growth spurts.

The new policy insists that shorts and dresses fall “at or below the mid-thigh area while the student is standing.”

Also, “clothing shall have no holes that expose skin above the kneecap,” referencing the fashion of jeans with holes in the legs.

“The Board of Education recognizes that student individual dress is primarily a parental responsibility,” the policy still states. “When the dress of an individual student constitutes a health problem, seems to be unsuitable for school wear, is a physical danger to any person, or when the student’s manner of dress or grooming could cause a disruption or disturbance, the principal shall take appropriate action to correct the situation.”

The policy still forbids headgear, tank-tops, pants with letters across the buttocks, pants drooping below the intended waistline and offensive or drug-related designs. Leggings, yoga pants and similar form-fitting bottoms are still prohibited, unless they’re treated like tights, worn with a dress or other garment that comes down to the mid-thigh.

Also, school administrators have the power to grant exceptions to the policy for a bona fide reason.

Dress Code Policy JFCA and all other district policies are online at www.irsd.net (Click “Parents and Students, then click “Policy Manual”).

Just starting with mockups, the South Bethany Police Department staff imagines having enough room to grow. In June, Chief Troy Crowson presented a proposal to double the size of the existing police building.

Located next to Town Hall, the police department is barely big enough for the roles it needs to play. The building needs to grow, for the safety of employees and visitors and for liability reasons, Crowson said.

The multipurpose room has too many uses to be truly useful to anyone, he argued. It’s “totally inefficient,” Crowson said of the kitchen/locker room/armory.

“We don’t eat in here because people change in here. We don’t eat in here because we have firearms and chemicals. We don’t change in here, because there’s food,” and so on.

Plus, there’s no shower, which would be nice after water rescues in South Bethany’s five miles of canals, or for officers hunkering down during three-day nor’easters.

Donated funds let the SBPD hire an architect to envision a police department expansion. The goal is to eliminate those multipurpose rooms and provide space for more efficient operations.

Crowson proposed separate rooms for evidence, the armory and for changing/showering.

Another processing room would keep perpetrators (sometimes prone to spitting or vulgar language) away from evidence, other officers or members of the public doing everyday business, such as buying parking permits. (The SBPD is not interested in lock-up cells because of liability concerns.)

A new conference room would actually have space for all police officers to train together, Crowson said.

The proposed L-shaped addition, built partially in the parking lot, isn’t meant to significantly grow the number of police officers. Only one or two new positions have been added in the last decade, Crowson said, but an expansion will give the police force room to breathe.

The cost estimate is $199,100. The police department can already use a $50,000 donation and possibly two Sussex County police grants equaling another $50,000. Otherwise, there’s not much grant money available for a municipality just adding another building, officials noted.

The discussion was just the beginning of a long process to determine what the Town needs and can afford. The police department will continue providing updates at future town council meetings.

Coastal Point • Laura Walter: This peppy homemade sign belies the rage that resident Sandi Roberts said she feels at the seeming lack of pedestrian safety in South Bethany’s Cat Hill neighborhood.South Bethany is prepared to block the road for longer than before, as Town Hall is likely to approve new and longer hours for the eastbound barricade at Black Gum Road.

The Ad-hoc Traffic Committee will recommend that the town council change the official barricade hours from the early morning to a more-useful time period of 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The council could approve that change at a July 8 meeting. It would be effective immediately but subject to ongoing traffic study. The barricade would match other traffic restrictions in town with an annual timeframe of May 15 to Sept. 15.

“It’s a good start,” said Council Member Carol Stevenson. “It’s a start.”

The current barricade prevents cars from exiting Kent Avenue eastbound onto Black Gum Drive from 7 to 8:30 a.m., Memorial Day to Labor Day. That has been in place since the early 2000s.

On July 6, reviewing traffic numbers — which almost tripled in the past month — some traffic committee members gaped at a resident’s video of July 2 traffic (likely the apex of this year) in which cars crawled steadily, but practically bumper-to-bumper, through the tight neighborhood. Almost 3,000 cars drove through the neighborhood of Cat Hill that sunny beach day.

It is a problem for the whole town, not just Cat Hill, the committee noted.

“It does affect the town. It affects the economy. It affects safety, and that’s everything,” said committee Chair John Janowski.

Speed-wise, most vehicles don’t exceed the low 20s, the committee noted.

But anywhere from 21 to 51 percent of traffic uses Cat Hill as a shortcut, according to a traffic study from Saturday of Memorial Day weekend.

That’s a number the Traffic Committee wants to reduce, and they’re discussing the whole gamut of options to mitigate traffic congestion. Those options range from long-range plans (such as sidewalks or de-annexation) to immediate ideas (a stop-sign traffic study for Canal and Tamarack Roads from July 8 to 9).

“These streets are basically neighborhood streets, and the demand that’s placed on them is more along the lines of what you would put traffic on for a connector road,” Janowski said.

Cat Hill’s citizen traffic committee previously found that 5,500 homes have been approved for the area but are yet to be built.

But Janowski said a 2006 traffic study (done just before the economy fell flat) envisioned more than 9,200 housing units, a new golf course and hundreds of thousands of square feet of new retail and office space.

“That’s mega-development,” Janowski said. “There is an issue with cut-through. Volume is large, and it’s not gonna get any less,” and it’s not South Bethany vehicles causing such heavy traffic.

He admitted that he would take the shortest distance, too, if given the option. But the advent of online mapping services, such as Google and Waze, has seen motorists starting to be directed down lesser-known roads — including tractor-trailers drivers, who likely learn their lesson after one attempt on narrow, winding Cat Hill roads.

Considering a connector road should have a capacity of 2,000 cars daily on each lane, Cat Hill is severely tipping the scales, with almost 3,000 vehicles daily on streets whose lanes are 9 or 10 feet wide and lack shoulders and sidewalks.

Since the issue was raised in the winter, the Town has brought the Delaware Department of Transportation in for several traffic counts and directional studies during peak traffic.

Additionally, three radar signs have been installed to notify drivers of their speed (one is about to be repaired). Two weight-restriction signs were added.

The town council voted months ago to bring the speed humps up-to-date, and add another one. Construction fell behind because of heavy springtime rains, which severely delayed the contractor’s schedule, according to an email sent to property owners on July 5. A-Del Construction Company could come during Fourth of July week, they said, but that requires closing the road entirely.

“Complete road closures at this time of year would cause disruption, and residents would not be able to get to their homes for the entire day, since the asphalt would have to ‘cure,’” the email read. “Also, trash service and possibly emergency service responses would be affected, which could incur liability for the Town.”

Most towns avoid such roadwork in summer for that very reason.

But the Town of Bethany Beach has come to the rescue, lending the Town a temporary speed hump for use in the vicinity of 421 Black Gum Drive, to be installed in early July.

Some residents said they are grateful and have noticed a difference already. But others are still wringing their hands.

In a letter forwarded to the Coastal Point on June 30, resident Sandi Roberts said, “It appears the council couldn’t care less about correcting the problem.”

Writing angrily that day, Roberts described an incident of a driver not sharing the road, when during a walk (against traffic) Roberts said she stopped to chat with a neighbor on the side of Canal Drive, near the Tamarack intersection. Her greyhound’s rear legs were slightly in the roadway when a “Jeep Cherokee approached and refused to swerve even a little to avoid us.” At the last second, Roberts said, she yanked the dog’s leash to whisk it out of the way of the Jeep, which she said passed only “inches” away.

“I screamed, ‘You almost hit my dog!’” Roberts recalled. “The man’s response: ... ‘Then get out of the damn road!’”

“What is it going to take to make the traffic cutting through Cat Hill your priority?” Roberts wrote. “Will it take the injury or death of someone’s pet? Will it take a child being hit? At what point will it become important enough that the mayor and the council recognize the urgency of the situation?”

Her letter followed another Town letter to residents, written June 27, describing the Traffic Committee’s mission to study the issue and make recommendations to the council. It includes the police chief, town manager, council members, homeowners and DelDOT representatives.

Fenwick Island had six candidates for its 2016 town council election — until the Town determined that two of those would-be candidates are ineligible because of property ownership technicalities.

In the Aug. 6 election, voters will select three candidates from among: Gardner Bunting (incumbent), Vicki L. Carmean, Kevin Carouge and Bernard “Bernie” H. Merritt Jr.

On July 5, the town council unanimously decided that would-be candidates Charlie Hastings and Mark McFaul were ineligible because they don’t live on or directly own property in Fenwick Island. Instead, they are trustees in artificial entities that own properties in town (Hastings’ trust is invested in a house, and McFaul owns Ropewalk restaurant).

“Those people don’t own the property themselves. They own interest in the LLC,” which owns the property, said Town Solicitor Mary Schreider-Fox.

Delaware law says that an LLC is an artificial entity. People often use such entities to shield themselves from liability, possessing an interest in the LLC but not directly in the property it, in turn, owns.

The two men meet other requirements for eligibility as council candidates (being natural-born people, 21 or older and non-felons), but they’re not bona fide residents or property owners. That fact came to light only after all six nominees had been certified by the Fenwick Island Board of Election and accepted by the town council on June 22.

“Your list of candidates’ qualifications is pretty clear,” Schreider-Fox said, adding that she believes a judge would agree that McFaul and Hastings are ineligible.

The Town already has a second opinion that supports that idea, in attorney Dennis Schrader, who has taught state seminars on municipal election law.

Who owns it?

So what’s the difference between owning property through a trust and having a person’s name directly on the deed?

Artificial entities have different components, Schreider-Fox said. A trust has trustees, beneficiaries and property.

“The trustee is technically the legal owner of the property … with strings attached,” Schreider-Fox said. They hold it for the benefit of someone else: the beneficiary, who has equitable interest, not necessarily written in a deed. But that trustee is beholden to them to do what’s right, for the benefit of them and the property.

“Often the trustee and beneficiary are the same person. It’s a vehicle people use for estate planning,” Schreider-Fox said. “It’s smart planning.”

The would-be candidates could exit those trusts and put their name directly on the deeds, but that leaves them liable in other ways. In gaining the protection of a trust, trustees are limited in voting and office-holding rights.

Who can run?

Trusts would be eligible to run for office based on the second prong of eligibility: owning land. But they fail to meet the first requirement: being human. A corporation cannot run for town council, and an individual trustee could still be another artificial entity, such as a bank.

Because trusts have a right to vote in Fenwick, through a designee, Election Board Inspector Audrey Serio said, such people should have a right to run.

“You have to be a live human being to run for office. That’s your No. 1 rule,” Schreider-Fox said.

The charter trumps all, Schreider-Fox emphasized, even if a trustee already has the right to vote in Fenwick (representing the entire trust through power-of-attorney).

In 2008, Fenwick Island changed its election law, which gave trusts one vote. There might have been an assumption that trustees could hold public office, but the charter simply doesn’t say this, Schreider-Fox said.

Although she walked town council members through alternate options, Schreider-Fox was confident in her opinion. A judge might ask if the correct process was followed but, ultimately, is the person eligible?

Don’t look to the State or County for help either, Schreider-Fox said. The Delaware Attorney General and state election commissioner wouldn’t get too involved because the Town has its own charter and council to figure things out.

The State gives each municipality “the power to decide your own destiny,” but the space to solve their own problems, too, Schreider-Fox said.

Have past trustees served on council? Town Manager Merritt Burke couldn’t say for certain if they have since the 2008 change. If they did, Schreider-Fox noted, it was because volunteers were scarce enough that Fenwick hasn’t had an election until 2015, and people didn’t question property ownership enough to get lawyer involved.

The two would-be candidates still have a right to contest the finding. But, either way, the result is that the Fenwick Island Town Council may be reviewing candidate eligibility and procedures in the future.

“It was never intentional, I’m sure, to restrict who could run. I think it just happened, and no one ever paid attention to it,” Mayor Gene Langan said.

Raising the issue

The issue of candidate eligibility for trustees came to light when Council Member Julie Lee saw the list of candidates for the August council election. However, that came after the June 22 meetings that declared there were six eligible candidates.

Lee said she was hospitalized at the time and only saw the names after the town council voted to accept all six candidates. Having led the Ad-Hoc Election Committee this winter, Lee has closely studied the Fenwick Island town code and realized that McFaul could be ineligible, owning Ropewalk through “an artificial entity. He is the designated voter by power-of-attorney. That was what caused me to question his eligibility.”

She immediately notified Burke.

“I’m sorry I was not at the meeting,” Lee said. “A mistake was made, and we can now move on.”

Fenwick has no specific procedure for re-evaluating candidates, so Burke reconvened both the Board of Election and the council.

Langan emphasized that the town council had wanted the re-evaluation to be in a public meeting, not an executive session (generally reserved for discussions of pending litigation and employee matters).

Board of Election

The Board of Election had passed the buck earlier on July 5, choosing not to issue an opinion on the candidates’ eligibility. They had certified the candidates in June, but the Town charter gives them no power to revoke a person’s candidacy. They discussed the issue for an hour before unanimously voting to defer the decision to the council.

Serio said she felt the issue was too “cloudy” for the BOE to decide.

“It’s not as cloudy to me,” Faye Horner responded. “It was not done intentionally. None of us knew. … It’s a shame something like this hasn’t been done sooner, but now I think the council’s going to be making changes and clarifying this.”

BOE Member Carl McWillliams suggested the Town make a clarification “ASAP,” but any charter change needs approval from the council and the Delaware State Legislature, which doesn’t meet again until 2017.

Schreider-Fox warned against a knee-jerk reaction in immediately allowing any trustee to run. There are many kinds of artificial entities, and 100 people could be considered trustees, she said.

The election

Council terms are two years. Council Members Diane Tingle and Bill Weistling did not apply to run for re-election to their seats.

Voters must be registered at Town Hall to vote in an election. In-person registration for the August election has ended, and registration by mail ends on July 8.

Election details are available by contacting Town Hall at (302) 539-3011 or online at www.fenwickisland.delaware.gov.

Special to the Coastal Point • Submitted: Anastasia Ciolpan was described as being ‘full of enthusiasm.’A student worker from Moldova passed away earlier this week after being hit by a truck in Bethany Beach on June 26.

According to police, Anastasia Ciolpan, 20, who was residing in Ocean View for the summer, was riding her bicycle southbound on the southbound shoulder of Kent Avenue just north of Jefferson Bridge Road while Dustin L. Lowe, 23, of Frankford, was driving a 2011 Ford Escape southbound on Kent Avenue, approaching her from behind.

According to police, for unknown reasons, Lowe’s vehicle struck the bicycle from behind, knocking Ciolpan to the ground in the right lane, just east of the southbound fog line.

Lowe continued south on Kent Avenue without slowing or stopping, police said.

“Another bicyclist was riding with her and witnessed the crash. A passerby called 911,” said MCpl. Gary Fournier, public information officer for the Delaware State Police.

Ciolpan was initially transported by EMS to Beebe Healthcare, where she was stabilized before being flown by Lifenet to Christiana Medical Center, where she had been admitted in critical condition prior to succumbing to her injuries.

Police said Ciolpan was not wearing a helmet, nor did she have a light affixed to her bicycle at the time of the collision; however, her bicycle did have the appropriate reflectors. In Delaware, Delaware cyclists must have a front headlight on their bicycles when riding at night. They are required by law to wear a bicycle helmet only if they are 18 or younger.

Pedestrian, cyclist safety an ongoing concern

Fournier said it is important to be cautious when traveling on the road, especially during the summer months, with the increased traffic.

“Troopers remind pedestrians to use caution and safety when walking on or near roadways. If you must cross a roadway utilize appropriate cross walks and make sure to look left, then right, then left again before proceeding. When walking near a roadway, always make yourself visible to drivers by wearing bright/light-colored clothing and reflective materials. Pedestrians that are walking at night must carry a flashlight for added safety.”

Fournier said, as DSP does every year, that they encourage all travelers to obey the rules of the road, which means drivers and bicyclists are expected to observe traffic rules, such as stop signs and red lights, and never ride against the flow of traffic.

“Visibility can be an issue for bicyclists in the dark, so take steps to ensure that motorists can see you. Adding white front lights and red back lights to your bike, plus reflective tape or clothing, can also help make you more visible in the dark.

“It is against Delaware law to operate a bicycle at night without a front headlight. And remember, visibility isn’t just an issue late at night — cloudy days and early mornings can impair motorists’ ability to see bicyclists on the road, too.”

Fournier said the DSP Collision Reconstruction Unit was continuing their investigation into the incident mid-week and charges were expected to be forthcoming.

Ciolpan had been employed at the Blue Crab in downtown Bethany Beach for about six weeks.

“It’s not an exaggeration after the fact — she was doing an awesome job. She was full of enthusiasm; she was a natural leader,” said Blue Crab owner Tim Haley. “We’re going to miss her here more than I can possibly even say.”

Haley said Ciolan, who was studying design at university, was working in the restaurant’s kitchen and had taken on a leadership role.

“She was just fantastic, full of energy, full of charisma. She was always doing her best, and we loved having her here,” he said, adding, “The group working here has become very close, and they’ve pulled together with this, and they’re helping each other through it.”

The only daughter among five siblings, Ciolan was the second child in that family whose life was lost as a result of a car accident. Haley said one of Ciolan’s family members — her brother Michael — was able to fly in Friday night to see her before she passed.

“She had just become an aunt. Her brother who’s here had just had a baby, and she was running around as proud as could be,” Haley said.

To help Ciolan’s family with any costs associated with the tragedy, Haley and his wife have set up a GoFundMe page, which in less than a day raised nearly $5,000 of the initial $10,000 goal.

Haley said Ciolan’s family made the generous decision to donate her organs through Gift of Life — an incredible gift from an incredible person taken too soon.

“She was an incredible young lady, and we’re going to miss her more than we can even say.”

For more information on the GoFundMe page for Ciolan, or to donate, visit www.gofundme.com/fundforanastasia.

The line of spectators stretched across the parking lot at the Freeman Stage as a light rain fell on Sunday night. Folks talked amongst themselves as the line grew, the clock ticking closer to the 7:30 p.m. start time for the show by The Band Perry.

A volunteer wearing a blue Bayside rain poncho walked the length of the line, telling those just joining the line that, once they entered the venue, they would not be allowed to leave and re-enter during the show. Spectators were also informed that umbrellas would not be allowed into the concert, but that spectators were welcome to check them at the gate if they wanted to keep them while they waited in line.

Although fans were initially told they would be allowed to enter at 6:30 p.m. — 30 minutes later than the usual opening time — the line was still growing at 7 p.m. There were no signs of heightened security at the venue, as a lone Delaware State Police trooper was seen standing by the entrance to the concert area and the normal concert staff members milled around as one would expect before a concert.

Spectators with “Sponsor” identification lanyards around their necks waited with the rest of the crowd, as absolutely no one was allowed into the venue.

Gene Morris of Upper Chichester, Pa., who has attended numerous concerts at the Freeman Stage, said he arrived at the venue around 6:30 p.m. and joined what he said was, at that point, “a pretty short line.

“Since the gates usually open at 6, we asked one of the volunteers what was going on. She said The Band Perry wasn’t allowing the gates to open, which seemed odd,” Morris said.

The crowd first learned that the concert would be canceled due to “safety concerns” about 7:15 p.m., 15 minutes before opening act and Sussex County native Melissa Alesi was due to take the stage.

“It started to rain fairly heavily, but everybody in line was still in a good mood. When the announcement came, most people just turned and quietly walked away,” Morris said. “No outrage; it was a mellow crowd. Because the announcement was pretty vague, we just figured the band didn’t want to play in the rain.”

Morris said he thought the concerns cited at the time “seemed pretty weak, since the show was billed as rain-or-shine.”

Word filtered out through the ensuing hours that there had, in fact, been a genuine security threat prior to the concert.

“That night, I saw some details on social media, and you can understand why it was postponed. It was disappointing, but what can you do? Best to take the safe route,” Morris said.

Tickets to the show can be exchanged for the rescheduled Aug. 17 show, according to Freeman representatives. Refunds will also be available for those not using their tickets for Aug. 17.

Coastal Point • Submitted: Surveillance video shows the two suspects entering the Bayside welcome center.The Freeman Stage at Bayside canceled a scheduled musical performance Sunday night following heightened safety concerns.

According to police, on Sunday, July 3, two men entered the Bayside community’s welcome center in West Fenwick and made “alarming” statements to an employee at the desk.

“After this news was brought to our attention, we met with local and state authorities, as well as artist management, to make the best decision for the safety of all,” Freeman Stage representatives explained on the venue’s Facebook page.

MCpl. Gary Fournier of the Delaware State Police said that all threats are taken very seriously by law enforcement.

“Due to heightened security concerns and for the safety of the public, we take every threat seriously and pursue the statements with a thorough investigation,” he said.

As a result, due to the heightened security concerns and for the safety of the public, The Band Perry, which was scheduled to perform at the Freeman Stage at Bayside later that evening, postponed the concert.

“We’re going to continue to keep safety as our No. 1 priority for all of our patrons and our artists, which is what we’ve always done,” said Alyson Cunningham, a spokeswoman for the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation, which operates the Freeman Stage.

“In light of the recent events in Orlando, we took steps a couple of weeks ago to increase our security measures at Freeman Stage. Those measures were in place on Sunday and will continue to be in place moving forward during performances at the stage.”

“To our friends and fans in Delaware — Due to heightened security concerns, and for the safety of our fans, the show has been rescheduled for August 17,” the band wrote on Twitter. “While we are sad we don’t get to see you tonight, we love you and consider your wellbeing and security our top priority. We’ll see you soon.”

Local singer and songwriter Melissa Alesi was scheduled to open for the band that night and was warming up when she was told of the cancelation.

“The atmosphere was calm and organized, and no one knew anything of a security threat until it was announced,” she said. “I found out just a moment before the public announcement. I was warming up back stage and was told by [Freeman Foundation Executive Director] Patti Grimes that the show would be postponed until Aug. 17.

“In today’s society, you can’t be too careful, and whatever the outcome of the investigation, I completely support their decision to put everyone’s safety first and reschedule the event.”

Following the cancelation, the DSP sent out press releases that included security images of the two men.

According to police, one of the two subjects, Dzmitry N. Papou, 35, of Selbyville, after seeing images of himself in the local news and on social media, contacted troopers and then turned himself in at DSP Troop 4 in Georgetown on Monday evening.

Papou was charged with one count of Terroristic Threatening (a felony) and was later released on $20,000 unsecured bond and a no-contact order with Bayside. If convicted, said Fournier, for a first offense, Papou faces a fine of not less than $1,000 to $2,500 and/or a jail sentence of up to two years.

The second suspect has been identified but has not been arrested. Fournier said that, as the incident is under an ongoing and active investigation, additional details would not be released at this time.

Fournier noted that Bayside contracts DSP troopers for security for events throughout the summer months and will continue to do so.

As for the rescheduled performance, it will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 17, at 7:30 p.m. Ticket holders for the canceled show can use those tickets for the Aug. 17 performance or request a refund or exchange by July 15. Ticket sales will resume on Tuesday, July 19, at 9 a.m.

Alesi said she is excited to have the opportunity to open for The Band Perry in a venue so close to where she grew up.

“I feel so privileged and honored to open for The Band Perry on Aug. 17. It’s’ going to be fun show! And I am excited to have Zach Coffman of the Stims Duo join me on percussion. We are very much looking forward to it!”

The Delaware State Police this week were investigating the death of a Lewes volunteer firefighter, Tim McClanahan, 46, of Lewes, after he reportedly fell from a DSP helicopter during a training exercise at Delaware Coastal Airport in Georgetown.

According to the DSP, about 6:45 p.m. on Monday, July 11, the Delaware State Police Aviation Unit was conducting a routine training exercise at the airport with the Delaware Air Rescue Team (DART), which comprises volunteer firefighters throughout the state and troopers assigned to the Aviation Unit.

Police said that during the training exercise a pilot and trooper medic were on board, along with the two volunteer firefighters. As one of the firefighters stepped out onto the skid of the helicopter, they said, he fell from an undetermined height onto a grassy area below the aircraft.

The DSP reported that the helicopter then landed, and the trooper medic and volunteer firefighter on board, as well as nearby volunteer firefighters, rushed over to the fallen victim and immediately rendered medical assistance.

Sussex County paramedics and emergency medical services responded to the scene and transported McClanahan to Beebe Healthcare, where he was pronounced dead.

Police said mid-week that the investigation was in the early stages and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will be the lead investigative agency, with the assistance of the Delaware State Police.

On Thursday, Aug. 18, at 6 p.m., the Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with Presenting Sponsor Hocker’s BBQ, will present the 2016 Lifeguard Award Celebration with a beach barbecue and bonfire. The annual event honors the men and women of the local lifeguard patrols, including those in Bethany Beach, Delaware Seashore State Park, Fenwick Island, Middlesex Beach, North Bethany Beach, Sea Colony and South Bethany.

The celebration will kick off with food provided by Hocker’s BBQ, served under the shade of a tent provided by Signature Sponsor Coastal Tented Events. The evening will also offer socializing, music and games, along with a bonfire and s’mores.

Awards will be distributed, and one member from each of the seven patrols will be named the 2016 “Lifeguards of the Year” as voted by their fellow lifeguards and selected by their captains. The Chamber will also present a check for $500 to the Towns of Bethany Beach, Fenwick Island and South Bethany to help fund continued lifeguard service on the weekends after Labor Day, the traditional end of lifeguard season.

Additionally, each guard will attend the event for free, because of Patrol Sponsors Atlantic Shoals, Bethany Banks Wine & Spirits, Creative Concepts, Custom Mechanical, Sea Colony Recreation Association and Wilgus Associates.
For more information, call (302) 539-2100 or visit thequietresorts.com.

Researchers have known for some time that children who experience abuse and neglect will continue to be negatively affected — even as adults. On the evening of Wednesday, July 6, members of the Millville Fire Department and the Millville EMT Department gathered together as part of an initiative from Delaware-based non-profit Children & Families First to grow awareness of “ACEs,” which stands for “adverse childhood experiences.”

Laura Rimmer, development coordinator for Children & Families First, presented “Adverse Childhood Experiences: Nature, Nurture, Neurons & Next Steps.” Rimmer spoke on the Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) study showing direct links between adverse childhood experiences and chronic disease, mental illness, violence, substance abuse and shortened lifespan.

Attendees at the presentation expressed shock over not only the 20 years off a person’s lifespan that can result from a higher ACEs score, but also the prevalence of ACEs throughout all communities and economic brackets.

“The goal of these presentations is not only to expand awareness of childhood trauma, but to show the community that it’s possible to prevent and overcome these experiences,” stated Rimmer, “In working with families, you see clearly that what may have previously viewed as a discipline issue is the child reacting to an incarcerated parent, a child who is hungry or a child who is being neglected and abused.”

Children & Families First is a statewide organization offering free programs throughout Delaware, with campuses in Wilmington, Hockessin, Dover, Georgetown and Seaford. Their agency vision is: “Communities where children are nurtured, healthy and safe; individuals are valued; and families are strong and self-sufficient.”

Through programs that span mental health, healthcare, education and social services, and working together to support families through major life phases, Children & Families First strives to be a source of prevention, change and multi-generational impact.

“What I hope is that after this presentation the attendees feel more empowered on how we can change these dire numbers, how we can work together to better understand and help these children,” stated Rimmer, “and that our mutual commitment to prevention and trauma informed care will change destinies now and well into future generations.

“I was very grateful for the opportunity to present to the Millville Fire and EMS departments, and I applaud their willingness to learn more about the topic proving their commitment to protecting the health and safety of the communities they serve.”

Children & Families First will continue to organize ACEs awareness presentations for the community. For more information on scheduling a presentation for an organization, business or group, contact Laura Rimmer at Laura.Rimmer@cffde.org or call (302) 604-6277.