With the election fast approaching, the League of Women Voters of Sussex County is doing its part to make sure voters are prepared.

“We do Get Out to Vote, where we go to different areas and register people to vote, as well as tell people that, if their name has changed or their address has changed, they need to update their voter registration,” said Martha Redmond, candidate forums coordinator for the LWVSC. “We do voter reminders. We call on voting day and prior to voting day to remind people, ‘Today is the day to vote; please go out and vote.’

The league also educates voters about their polling card and where their polling location is, and can even help find rides for those who may need transportation on election day.

As part of their efforts, the league also organizes candidate forums for contested races in general elections in Sussex County.

On Monday, Oct. 24, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Lewes Public Library, a candidates’ forum will be held for Representative District 20, with Barbara Vaughan (D) and Donald Ayotte (I) participating. That evening, a forum will also be held for State Representative District 14, with incumbent Pete Schwartzkopf (D) and challenger James Demartino (R) participating.

On Tuesday, Oct. 25, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Lewes Public Library, a forum will be held for candidates Leslie Ledogar (D) and I.G. Burton (R) for County Council District 3, a seat currently held by Democrat Joan Deaver, who chose not to seek reelection.

The following week, for Senate District 20, a forum will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 1, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the South Coastal Library in Bethany Beach, with incumbent state Sen. Gerald Hocker (R) and challenger Perry Mitchell (D) participating.

“We’re a nonpartisan group that tries to do voter education and registration. We educate voters by having the candidate forums where we invite the public to come in and ask the candidates questions,” said Redmond.

During the forums, the candidates are given a brief period of time to introduce themselves and speak a little, which is followed by a question-and-answer portion in which attendees may ask the candidates questions. Then, to wrap up the evening, the candidates are given an additional few minutes to make closing remarks.

Along with forums, the league is also heavily involved in monitoring Sussex County government.

“We have an Observer Corps who consistently attends all of the county council meetings, as well as a lot of the Planning & Zoning meetings and some school board meetings,” said Redmond. “Specifically, for county council, those who attend develop a report and give it at the board meeting of the League every month, so we know what’s going on and if there are any issues we would like to speak to.

“At the end of the year, around June, we give a report to the county council, and we give both things that are positive — things we think are really good, like that they hired a county planner, which we’ve been asking for for years — as well as things they could improve upon.”

Redmond also said the league focuses on land use, especially given that Sussex County is in the process of updating its Comprehensive Plan.

With that in mind, the league is hosting a series of land-use forums, the next of which is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 16, from 7 to 9 p.m., called “The Developers’ Perspective: An Effective 2018 Comprehensive Plan”

The forum will be held in County Council Chambers in Georgetown and feature Preston Schell, CEO of Ocean Atlantic Companies; Sarah Keifer, Kent County director of planning; and Nick Hammonds of Jack Lingo Asset Management as speakers.

Redmond said the league currently has 97 members. Dues for members cost $50 per year, of which $7 returns to the local chapter. But even with so little financial support they are able to do much in fulfilling their mission.

“It’s getting people involved and participating in our democracy.”

For more information about the League of Women Voters of Sussex County, their forums and other events, visit www.sussexlwv.org.

For the second time this year, area law enforcement is offering community members the chance to dispose of prescription medications in a safe way, through the National Prescription Drug Take-Back initiative, conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Drug Enforcement Administration.

“The DEA started it,” explained Ocean View Police Department Capt. Heath Hall. “It was kind of like a beta program, to see how it was going to take. It really took off — it was a huge success.”

This year, Take-Back Day will be held on Saturday, Oct. 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. People can drop off unwanted prescription medications at the Ocean View, Dagsboro, Rehoboth and Selbyville police departments, as well as at Beebe Healthcare’s Tunnel Cancer Center on Route 24.

Hall said the department started participating in the program back in 2012 and found that a twice-a-year program still wasn’t enough.

“It was a huge success up and down the state,” he said. “The chief [Ken McLaughlin] and I got together and said, ‘We can’t just do this once or twice a year. Let’s do it year-round. We’ll have our own collection site here, maintain it, and when the DEA holds their semi-annual takeback day, we’ll turn in all those collected prescriptions at that time.’ And that’s where we are right now.”

Hall said that aside from collecting unused medications to combat the growing opioid problem plaguing the state and country, one of the main reasons for the take-back is to keep medications from being flushed down the toilet and contaminating ground water.

“Every Takeback Day, we have at least 100 pounds of prescription drugs that we’re giving these folks.”

The department started out with a decommissioned mailbox as its collection vessel but were later approached by CVS with an offer.

“Once CVS came to town, they approached us and provided us with a more professional-looking box, and that’s what we have now,” he said. “In return for CVS for providing us with this box, we provide them every quarter with the weight of what we collect, so they can keep track of how productive their program is.”

According to CVS, the Ocean View Police Department now has one of more than 500 drug-collection units placed at law-enforcement partners across the U.S., resulting in the safe disposal of more than 35 metric tons of unwanted medications.

“We went from collecting a couple boxes of pills on Takeback Day to now — through the course of collecting over six months and what we’re taking in on collection day — we’re giving them anywhere from eight to 10 boxes. It’s amazing.”

While the collection sites will take anything from cough syrup to Percocet, needles may not be disposed of in Ocean View’s drug collection box and are not accepted by the DEA.

“We can take anything that burns,” said Hall, explaining that, once all the medications are collected by the DEA, they are taken to a secure location and incinerated.

Hall said all are welcome to take part in the free program, on Saturday and throughout the year.

“You can stop in anytime, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., to drop off whatever prescriptions they want to dispose of. We encourage everybody to come out on the 22nd. You don’t have to be an Ocean View resident, either — it’s for anybody.”

The Ocean View Police Department is located at 201 Central Avenue in Ocean View. The Dagsboro Police Department is located at 22134 Main Street in Dagsboro. The Selbyville Police Department is located at 68 W. Church Street in Selbyville. For more information about the National Drug Take-Back initiative, visit www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback.

“Our nation is in the midst of an unprecedented opioid epidemic,” said Peggy Geisler, executive director of the Sussex County Health Coalition, at the Sussex County Addictions Forum held earlier this week. “More people died from drug overdoses in 2014 than any other year on record. The state sees as many as 15 overdose deaths per month.”

The forum was organized by atTAcK Addiction and Caring & Sharing of Lower Delmarva, as a way to bring together organizations and have a discussion of the heroin epidemic in Sussex County. More than 75 people attended.

“Addiction must be attacked from all sides — increased access to treatment, expanding family and community support, increased policing and a robust advocacy agenda,” she said. “Tonight is a continued call for action.”

Keynote speaker state Rep. Timothy Dukes spoke of how the opioid problem has affected the state.

“We have one overdose death every other day in the state of Delaware. That’s an alarming statistic,” he said. “I don’t know about you, but when I first heard that, it really bothered me. There are more people that die in one year in the state of Delaware from a drug overdose than die in a car accident. There are more people that die any year Delaware from a drug overdose than die of cancer. We have a real issue here that we have to attack on every side…

“It’s very alarming to me when I read that statistic of someone dying every other day and there’s not more passion about it in Legislative Hall.”

Dukes encouraged those in attendance to reach out to their legislators and tell them of the needs in Sussex County and in the state.

“But I think we all know that you cannot legislate someone to stay clean, off of drugs,” he added.

“What is real is this problem cannot be addressed by any one of us. It must be addressed by all of us,” said Michael Barbieri, director of the Delaware Division of Substance Abuse & Mental Health (DSAMH), who served on a panel discussion at the forum. “This problem is reaching every part of our lives.”

Barbieri was joined by several other panelists — state Rep. Ruth Briggs King; Kate Lott, director of nursing at NorthEast Treatment Centers’ (NET’s) Kirkwood Recovery Center; Ocean View Police Chief Ken McLaughlin; David Humes, atTacK Addiction board member; and Pauline Powell, Sussex County leader for atTacK Addiction.

Briggs King said it is important to continue to contact legislators and tell them what needs improvement, and to share any ideas about how to address the problem.

“We’re in a war, and you don’t go to war without a plan.”

Lott, herself a recovering addict, said that when she was getting clean five years ago, opioid addiction was not talked about. People didn’t know where to go for help, and the stigma surrounding addiction was much greater.

She said there is hope for recovery, citing herself as having gone from a consumer of drugs to a director of nursing at a recovery center.

“We do recover.”

McLaughlin said his department first started noticing the impact of the opioid epidemic in 2010.

“It really took us by surprise,” he said, adding that, having lived through the crack cocaine epidemic in late 1980s and early 1990s, this is far worse. “We didn’t have too many people who were dying… But the overdoses became regular… Property-related crimes, like burglaries and thefts, went up.”

Humes, who himself has 29 years in recovery, lost his son to accidental overdose in 2012. When speaking to the investigating detective about his son’s death, Humes recalled the officer saying that if a Good Samaritan law had existed, his son would likely have been saved.

After that, Humes worked to get Senate Bill 116, the Good Samaritan law, passed through the Delaware legislature.

“I’m just a dad. I’m not anybody special,” he said.

Powell, whose son is in and out of recovery, said it is important to start drug education young. She said those at atTacK Addiction would be willing to give presentations to anyone who asks, and would love to go into schools and speak to students.

One attendee asked about police departments, including the Delaware State Police, carrying Naloxone, a drug that blocks or reverses the effects of opioid medication.

McLaughlin, whose department was the first to carry the lifesaving drug in Sussex County and one of the first to do so in the state, said it’s easy for small agencies like his to implement. He added he was fortunate that Sussex County Councilman George Cole helped the department purchase naloxone through a grant.

For other agencies, he said, there are concerns about training and about maintaining the equipment, as the naloxone nasal atomizers are temperature-sensitive.

“I believe, in talking with our police executives across the state, more agencies will move toward carrying it,” he said.

McLaughlin added that, through the Special Law Enforcement Assistance Fund, money is now being set aside for agencies that specifically wish to purchase naloxone.

Another individual asked what the State was doing to help with funding for addicts whose insurance doesn’t fully cover treatment.

“Treatment should be as long as you need it,” said Barbieri. “The State has said, if a person is denied a length of stay, to contact us and we will cover the difference… if we believe there’s an argument to continue that level of care.”

Barbieri noted that there have been providers within the state who have not done that; but without his office being informed, there is no way for them to address the issue.

“I apologize to parents or others who have been told otherwise,” he said. “Call my office… I can only fix it if I know it’s happening.”

One person asked the panel if Delaware does a 72-hour hold for addicts once they are in a rehabilitation facility.

“At this point, it would be a violation of a person’s rights, unless there’s legislation mandating it,” said Barbieri. “We would need legislation to have something like that… There are some states that do that.”

A future panel discussion is scheduled for Oct. 27, at 7 p.m. at Cab Calloway School of the Arts in Wilmington. Briggs King said that, if there was enough interest from those in Sussex who wished to attend, a bus to the site would be provided.

Volunteerism is on the downswing at fire companies across the nation, and the Roxana Volunteer Fire Company is beginning a new Cadet Program for all local children. They’ll kickstart it with an eight-week class at Millsboro Middle School.

Starting this fall, anyone ages 10 to 14 can join Roxana’s Cadet Program. The program is designed to expose kids to the world of firefighting on a regular basis, so when they come of age, they know what to expect and are excited about the role they can play. But a new daily class at Millsboro Middle School would serve as a feeder program to the Cadet Program.

The RVFC is piloting the fire cadet course at MMS, which just happened to have spare time. Every morning, students have a 40-minute “WIN” (What I Need) period. Some kids are tutored in math or reading. Kids who need more of a challenge can join seminars on steel drums, drama, science, student council and, soon, fire safety.

Starting Nov. 28, the Indian River School District will allow RVFC Fire Chief Chris Uibel to lead a course in fire safety, kitchen safety, first aid and volunteerism.

From there, students will be encouraged (but not required) to join the RVFC Cadet Program on evenings and weekends.

“What really appealed to me is there’s a whole leadership element to it, as well as what it means to be a volunteer and a leader in your school,” said Principal Renee Jerns. “They’ll talk about leadership first and what it means to devote yourself to your community.”

“These are the type of skills that create young citizens [who] are going to help their community and be dedicated to something in their lives that goes beyond the classroom,” LouAnn Hudson, IRSD director of instruction, said, “and grasp on to that kind of grit that’s going to take them through life.”

Hudson said she believes parents want more for their children than just formal education, and the program is way to foster “all these attributes we want in our young people.”

There are other leadership opportunities available, such as National Honor Society, Junior ROTC and community service clubs. But those serve a smaller segment of the student population.

The course will last for one marking period, starting Nov. 28. Uibel himself will teach it, alongside a certified MMS teacher.

The Cadet Program and MMS course should far surpass the impact of Fire Prevention Week, which is only for elementary-age children, up to age 11.

Junior members can be ages 15 or 16, after which they can be certified firefighters.

Recruitment on a grander scale

This is just one part of Operation GEM (Gaining Effective Membership), which the Roxana VFC created to recruit solid volunteers of all ages.

For County Councilman Rob Arlett (R-5th), the volunteerism issue was highlighted earlier this year, when the Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company piloted a summertime program to hire paid firefighters, just to get enough trucks and responders on the road.

But that is considered a “Band-Aid solution” to a universal problem, and it’ll only increase in price. Arlett said he wants to continue volunteer program because “it connects the community to each other and helps keep the taxes low.”

He said he discovered that fire companies generally had no system or budget to recruit and retain volunteers.

“The number of people joining the system is down, by percentages, nationwide,” Arlett said.

Traditionally, volunteer fire service was generational, Arlett said. People served because their fathers did. But volunteerism is falling as people invest more time pursuing an income, especially as the economy climbs slowly back up from the recession.

The RVFC currently has about six junior members and about 40 active members who fight fires. But that doesn’t mean they can all respond in the middle of the day, while some are at work. Multiple fire companies sometimes have trucks that get out the door with only three people aboard.

So Uibel and Arlett have worked to create a middle-school feeder program, and the Indian River School District approved it.

But the cost of Operation GEM is fairly negligible, Uibel said.

“A member is invaluable. … To buy a kid a T-shirt and a notebook is a minimal expense if they are willing to say, ‘I’m willing to get up at 4 in the morning.’”

Volunteers are truly priceless, he said, whether they’re running into a house fire or serving chicken at a fundraiser dinner.

“We are a close-knit family, said Uibel, who originally joined the RVFC as a junior member, with his friends. The company paid for all of his training, even at national fire schools. In college, he served in New Castle County. Today, knows firefighters who are paid in Maryland but still volunteer in Sussex.

People are being invited to join the fire company or auxiliary at any time. The goal is to create a proactive recruitment program for all ages but starting at the middle-school level. Kids nowadays have sports and jobs, so the goal for them is to interest them in fire service at a younger age, while volunteerism is something they consider when they get older.

And they love to be around fire equipment and first-responders, Uibel said, so the enthusiasm is already built-in.

The Cadet Program

The Cadet program is exciting, Uibel said, because kids get to see first-responders in action on a regular basis.

“We’ll get to see the firemen be firemen,” he said. “This is what you can be. This is how you can help.”

Hands-on training includes first aid, basic firefighting and, yes, sometimes washing the trucks. They could earn certifications in CPR and first aid. When it’s safe, they may be allowed on ride-alongs to witness actual emergency events. Where junior members might help with equipment, cadets will observe from a safe distance. They’ll feel the adrenaline of responding and become comfortable with an emergency scene.

They’ll also celebrate successes, such as certificate presentations or banquets, and ride on fire trucks in local parades.

Mentoring is a big portion of the program, as cadets form bonds with existing firefighters. The RVFC has eight mentors ready to go, from ages 16 to 65, from the chief to a recent junior member. That offers a growing opportunity for older members, as they become role models while reinforcing their own training.

Uibel said he wants youth to “enjoy their time here. It’s sports team, plus Cub Scouts. It’s a little bit of everything. We’re a team environment. Nobody can do the job by themselves.”

Those cadets will also help run RVFC community events, taking some responsibility and pride in their role.

As many sports parents can attest, parents often get involved when kids join an event or club. So that could help build the community around a firehouse.

“So the parents can get there and say, ‘This is something I can do.’ You don’t have to come here seven nights a week. You don’t have to stay at the firehouse, but you can come be part of this. There’s job for everybody at the fire house,” Uibel said.

Recruitment at all levels

Uibel and Arlett have other ideas they hope to put into place in the Indian River School District, though a long road for approval.

Eventually, the RVFC would like to offer a high-school curriculum. A public-safety pathway might include medical, fire, police or other criminal-justice classes. Again, students could work on qualifications to be a senior fire fighter or other responder. The RVFC could even eventually give scholarships for the graduates.

Similarly, the RVFC also envisions an adult education program. The adult community members, too, might learn first aid, fire safety and other firefighting skills.

“What we want to do is get them to naturally be part of the program — a progression, from elementary, middle, high school, so it’s a part of their life, it’s a part of the culture,” Arlett said. “And if [Sussex County is] going to remain a volunteer fire service, we have to do this. That’s why I think this is a very exciting opportunity.”

The Roxana company also wants to bring the community in by hosting public events every month, such as summertime movie nights or kitchen safety demonstrations before the holidays. Every quarter, they will do a large-scale event, to give back to the community, starting with a Halloween Appreciation Night on Oct. 23.

An idea that spreads like wildfire

Interestingly, in strictly geographic terms, the Roxana VFC’s fire district doesn’t actually touch Millsboro Middle School. But the RVFC and five other fire companies serve the children who attend Selbyville Middle School.

So are Uibel and Arlett concerned about stepping on toes?

Not right now, said Arlett. This is just a pilot program. They want to figure out what works and what doesn’t. Roxana took the initiative to work out the kinks.

“An evolution is going to take place. If people are [concerned], it’s a good thing. It means we have succeeded in getting membership and creating a program, a system, that they want to be part of,” Uibel said. “They’re going to be interested in what we have done.”

Eventually, Uibel said, he wants to create a notebook of lessons and ideas that he could just give to other fire companies in the school district, state and country, saying, ‘Here’s how we did it.’

“We’re all in this business together,” Uibel said. “When we go to a fire, it’s not just Roxana. It’s all departments.”

Someday, future meetings could rotate to different fire halls. Or maybe fire chiefs will be recommending junior members to their neighboring companies.

Arlett said he thinks the community will be excited about this, and he hopes other fire companies jump on the bandwagon.

“Expect a fun, exciting, productive environment where they will learn to be active community members that give back their community,” Arlett said.

“This is opening the doors to show students what opportunities are out there, to volunteer and make an impact on their community, because that’s lifelong,” Hudson said.

Events for the public

A Cadet Program information night will be held Sunday, Nov. 6, at the fire hall, at 6 p.m. Families can learn about the program for kids ages 10 to 14, ask questions and register their children that night.

The Roxana Volunteer Fire Company will begin its public programs with its Halloween Appreciation Event on Sunday, Oct. 23, from 1 to 4 p.m. As a thank-you to the community, there will be no charge for admission, food or games.

The event’s costume contest has cash prizes for each age group (newborn to 2 years, 3 to 6 years, 7 to 11 years and 12 or older). Families can enjoy games for all ages, such as the straw maze, ghostly hole toss, Pin the Nose on the Jack-o-Lantern and more. People can watch demonstrations by the fire company, EMS, Delaware State Police Aviation Unit helicopter, K-9 unit and CPR with Sussex County paramedics.

The Halloween Appreciation Event will take the place of the annual Haunted Forest, which is on hiatus this year.

The Roxana Volunteer Fire Company is located at 35943 Zion Church Road. They’re online at www.roxana90.com and www.facebook.com/roxanavolunteerfirecompany. Recruitment details are available by calling (302) 436-2300 or emailing recruitment@roxana90.com.

Coastal Point • Submitted: Tushar Patel, general manager of Hertrich Toyota of Milford, presents the keys to a 2017 Toyota Camry to Sussex Technical High School's Band Director, Ian Kenney.One lucky person could be driving a brand-new 2017 Toyota Camry this December, as the Sussex Technical High School Band Program is now selling tickets for the raffle of a vehicle donated by Hertrich Toyota of Milford.

“I give all the credit to the parents,” said Band Director Ian Kenney of the Ravens Music Boosters, who have organized the raffle. “We have one band parent who knew somebody up at Hertrich in Milford and was able to say, ‘Hey, this band is taking a big trip and it’s costing them $1,600 per student. Any help you can give us would be appreciated.’ They ended up saying, ‘Well, we can give you a monetary donation, or we can get you a car to try to sell tickets to raffle off.’”

This is the first new-car raffle the band has done, said Kenney, noting that in a previous year there had been a used-car raffle.

Tickets cost $100 each and can be purchased online, by mail, during Sussex Tech home football games and at the band’s winter concert, while supplies last. Only 750 tickets are available for the raffle. The car is valued at up to $21,000.

As of last week, Kenney said, more than half the tickets have been signed out by students to sell.

“We’ve had many dozens come back already, and there’s a lot of interest.”

The winning ticket will be drawn around 8 p.m. on Dec. 21, following the Sussex Tech Band’s winter concert at the CHEER Community Center in Georgetown. The winner does not need to be present.

The raffle is the band’s primary fundraiser for the school year and will help defer the cost for students to travel to New Orleans, where they will represent Delaware during a halftime performance of more than 110 high school bands at the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Jan. 2, 2017.

In the past, the marching band has performed in Walt Disney World, the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade, at Penn State University’s Band Day and the University of Delaware’s Band Day. They traveled to Pearl Harbor in 2011 for the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, to Chicago for the McDonald’s Thanksgiving Parade, and to Indianapolis for the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500.

“The band has been all over the place,” said Kenney with a laugh. “It’s a huge motivator. With this trip is, there’s competition down there. The second day down there, the winner of that field competition will perform the pregame of the Sugar Bowl. We are going to be performing halftime, regardless, because they do a mass band performance with all the bands that are going to go down there. All the bands get on the field at the same time for halftime.

“Trips like this are great motivators. It’s a long-term goal that we can work for. They understand the visibility of this program — not just locally, but nationally. And they know that there’s tradition and a reputation and a lot to live up to there.

“When people see Sussex Tech band, people have an expectation of what they’re going to see. I think the students really strongly understand that. These trips are usually great way to do all of that.”

Kenney said that, while the school district is in an enrollment decline, Sussex Tech’s band numbers are up.

“We are up almost a dozen from this point a year ago. I think the priority for me, coming in as a teacher, was to preserve the spirit, the tradition — what makes this special to the students. ‘What do they love about this band?’” he said, adding that he had to put his touch on it as well, after taking on the position three years ago.

Sussex Tech offers students the chance to perform in marching band, jazz band, concert band, basketball pep band and, new last year, indoor color guard.

“I’m trying to give students more opportunities to perform,” said Kenney. “I want to give students the foundation that they would need to go into a college music program. That has been a priority of mine.”

Last year, five Sussex Tech students were named Delaware All-State music selections, where music students from across the state audition and only the best-of-the-best are chosen to participate and perform together.

“This year, 20 or so will audition, which is a really, really great number for All-State,” he said, adding that up to 60 Tech students are expected to audition for the All-County Band.

Although his music department doesn’t have a feeder program, as most other schools in the state do, Kenney said the program has grown to have some talented students with a passion for music.

“I know they want to be here. I know they want to come to Sussex Tech. That was a choice that they made,” he said. “I tell the students, ‘Every time you go out there, you have the potential to make an impact on someone who may make the decision to come and be a part of the program. You never know.”

To purchase raffle tickets and for a complete list of contest rules, or for more information, visit www.ravensmusicboosters.com. For more information on the Sussex Tech High School Raven Nation Marching Band, visit www.sussextechband.com or www.facebook.com/sussextechband.

Dancing in the dark was never this spooky.

Lighthouse Dance & Yoga will become a Haunted Dance House on Friday, Oct. 28, from 7 to 11 p.m.

In a unique twist to the typical haunted house, the Route 54 attraction is filled with iconic villains and characters from famous classical ballets and other shows.

“You’ll never see these characters at another haunted house,” said owner Tikiri Shapiro. “So if you want a new scare during Halloween, you should definitely check this out.”

Guests will meet creepy Harlequin dolls, “Odile” the Black Swan from “Swan Lake,” a vampire ballet headmaster, ghosts and zombies from Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”

“There will be interludes that are thrown in, where you might see some really cool dance, some spooky dance,” Shapiro said. “You might see some jazz, contemporary, ballet.”

Guests will follow a pathway to spooky scenes. People can also stop to interact with characters.

“It’s not walk-in and walk-out. You can stay there for a while,” Shapiro said.

It’s also family-friendly, so characters will adjust the creepiness by age.

Children can bring a bag to trick-or-treat, and costumes are encouraged. Adults or children wearing particularly creative or dance-themed costumes might even win a free dance class voucher.

Cash, check or charge will be accepted at the door. Admission costs $10 for adults, or $5 for college students and those 18 or younger.

Lighthouse Dance & Yoga is located at 33195 Lighthouse Road, east of Selbyville. The websites are www.lighthousedanceandyoga.com and www.facebook.com/lighthousedanceandyoga. Details are available by calling (302) 564 7611.

This week, Mark Isaacs, director University of Delaware Cooperative Extension, thanked the Sussex County Council for their financial support.

“Every penny allocated to our facility stays in Georgetown,” said Isaacs of the $79,049 the council provides in grant funding.

Isaacs said the funding goes to cooperative extension programs that include 4-H youth development, and family and consumer sciences. Monies also go to Sussex County poultry research.

“Everything is biotechnology-driven, and federal grants don’t allow us to address specific problems that our agriculture producers are dealing with. The funds the council provides allows us to use those funds, whether they be for irrigation, pest-management strategies, that we cannot get funds outside of that purview.”

Isaacs also called attention to the $10,000 of that grant money that supports internships. He went on to play a video from a sophomore in the pre-veterinary program at the University of Delaware who thanked the council for their donation.

“This internship really made this young lady blossom,” he said. “She’s become an outstanding scholar with great practical experience.”

He thanked the council for their support for agriculture and for youth, adding that agriculture is the No. 1 industry in the state of Delaware.

Chicken producer and processor Allen Harim on Tuesday announced plans to invest $22 million to build a state-of-the art hatchery in Dagsboro. The new facility will have an egg-set capacity of 2.5 million eggs per week.

“Our ‘No Antibiotic Ever’ policy requires us to provide the healthiest start possible to each and every bird, and this new facility — the most technologically-advanced hatchery on Delmarva — will deliver that,” said President and CEO Joe Moran. “It will be also be more energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly.”

The new 70,000-square-foot facility will be built on the company’s 19.84-acre site on Nine Foot Road in Dagsboro. The Sussex County Council recently approved tying into the county’s sewer and water infrastructure, which will alleviate the need for on-site spray irrigation.

When the new facility is complete, the company will close two older hatcheries — one in Seaford and one in Dagsboro — and employees at both locations will be offered opportunities at the new hatchery or at other Allen Harim facilities, representatives said.

Headquartered in Seaford, Allen Harim operates a chicken processing facility in Harbeson; a breeding operation in Liberty, N.C.; a hatchery in Dagsboro; and a hatchery and feed mill in Seaford. The company employs more than 1,750 people in the United States, as well as more than 230 independent growers and 20 company farms across Delmarva.

Voters are considering approving an increase in school property taxes of 19 percent at an upcoming current-expense referendum, but with a state audit hanging over the Indian River School District, some of them want to see the final audit report before voting on the increase of 49 cents per $100 of assessed property value.

To that end, State Auditor R. Thomas Wagner Jr. announced this week that the audit report will be completed before the Tuesday, Nov. 22, referendum vote.

“Mr. Wagner wants to make sure all the information is out there prior to the referendum,” said John Fluharty of the State Auditor of Accounts’ (AOA’s) office.

Originally, there was no official timeline for the report. There is still no official release date, but Wagner did authorize compensatory time for employees working extra hours on this report.

“We’re done with most of the field work, so, hopefully, we’re going to have a draft report, hopefully, within a month [or so],” Wagner had told the Coastal Point on Sept. 20. “We’ll put it together and probably allow [IRSD] to respond to us before it becomes a public report.”

The audit/investigation began in early May, after former IRSD Chief Financial Officer Patrick Miller was placed on paid administrative leave. Miller resigned from IRSD soon thereafter.

“We’ve put a lot of work into it, and we still have a lot of work to go,” Wagner had said.

Since at least 2010, and possibly earlier, the Auditor of Accounts (AOA) has not performed a full review of the IRSD’s budget, Fluharty said. Such reviews often come when the district meets certain thresholds, such as certain levels of federal funding. The AOA may review certain parts of the operating budget, for construction audits or for the State’s broader Complete Annual Financial Report (CAFR).

As for Miller’s receiving retirement benefits, “There is no law that prevents that,” IRSD Superintended Susan Bunting said. “He’s entitled as a State of Delaware employee.”

District officials don’t know yet what the audit will reveal.

“They are not telling us anything,” said IRSD School Board President Charles Bireley.

But Bireley said he was skeptical that Miller could have stolen large amounts of money, as has been speculated by some on the basis that Miller had previously left the Brandywine School District during investigations of financial impropriety. Bireley explained IRSD’s two-part process of authorizing payments.

“I don’t know how in the world — unless he invented something — I don’t know how in the world he would get any money out of here anyway.”

However, in terms of the Nov. 22 referendum, Bunting said the IRSD would be in the same financial position, regardless of who was currently serving as its business director — Miller or his replacement — Business Director Jan Steele.

“We would be in the same situation if Patrick were sitting in Jan’s seat. We are growing faster than” the money is coming in, Bunting said.

Neither the district nor the AOA has confirmed the reason for the audit.

“We like doing these things quietly,” Wagner had said, and make the announcement “when we’re done and we have a report for the public, so there’s not speculation out there. People get into wild speculations, and we try to avoid all that.”

Coastal Point • Laura Walter: Sinkholes, suchas this one east of Railroad Avenue, are causing Selbyville officials to search for answers.No one quite knows the extent of damage in Selbyville’s newest sinkhole. Blocked off by orange tape, the hole — measuring at least) 3 feet by 5 feet — was discovered in early October. It’s just east of Railroad Avenue, between the road and the Mountaire-side railroad tracks.

Selbyville’s engineers need to figure out exactly sure what the issue is. This new hole is located above three underground pipes serving the Sandy Branch tax ditch. So the pipes could be caving in, or the soil could just be washing away between intact pipes.

“It is within the railroad’s right-of-way. We do know that,” said Town Administrator Stacey Long.

That could be a big problem if the Maryland & Delaware Railroad tracks suffer any structural instability there. Selbyville has notified the railroad but haven’t gotten a response since then, Long said.

But the Town installed the Sandy Branch culverts, which also run under Mountaire and Indian River School District property. “So there’s … a little bit of everybody involved here.”

This is the third hole in that area, but the road is still open.

Railroad Avenue started having problems in May of 2015. Under the road itself, the corrugated pipe partly rusted out, so the soil eroded, causing a small hole where the road fell in. The road was closed until it could be temporarily patched.

A third, smaller hole was also spotted in the road in October.

Town staff previously estimated that repairs could cost $500,000 for the first hole on Railroad Avenue. Selbyville has completed the engineering and passed its regulatory requirements for that repair, said engineer Jason Loar of Davis, Bowen & Friedel Inc. He said he hopes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will grant a permit by December.

Then Selbyville must figure out how to pay for it.

“We’ve got to fix that thing,” said Mayor Clifton Murray. “It’s going to be rather expensive.”

“Probably one of the biggest issues small towns face is storm drains,” said Long, who dealt with several in Dagsboro and Selbyville. “Some are so old that pipes are just failing. Public Works is keeping an eye on it.”

Sussex Conservation District staff visited Selbyville in mid-October to discuss sediment and stormwater problems.

“Their recommendation was for us to get our engineer involved where there were possible structural issues,” Long said.

They also helped with some other sinkholes Selbyville is suffering, near Phillip C. Showell Elementary School and the PNC Bank parking lot.

The Delaware State Police Major Crimes Unit this week arrested two people in connection with in an early morning home-invasion robbery near Millville on Thursday, Oct. 20.

According to police, around 1 a.m., as a 64-year-old male victim and a 19-year-old female acquaintance were sleeping in his bed, they were suddenly awoken by four suspects in the room.

The male victim was then assaulted by the suspects, police said, and then tied up before they placed a blanket over his head.

Police noted that the woman initially reported that she had been covered with a blanket and dragged into the kitchen, where she was left alone.

The suspects, they said, then removed numerous laptops and cell phones from the male victim and fled the house.

The male victim was eventually able to get free from his restraints, police said, and called 911.

He was transported to an area hospital by EMS, where he was admitted with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

According to the DSP, further investigation revealed the female acquaintance, who was identified as Lauren Melton, 19, of Millville, had allegedly pre-arranged for the robbery to occur and had allegedly been in contact with one of the suspects, who was identified as Stephen Wheeler, 22, of Dover, via text messages before and after the home invasion.

Melton was transported to Troop 4, where she was arrested for Home Invasion, Robbery 2nd, Assault 2nd and Conspiracy 2nd. She was committed to Delores J. Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution on $50,000 cash bond.

Later that day, police said, Stephen Wheeler was located by detectives at his residence in Dover, and was taken into custody and charged with Home Invasion, Robbery 2nd, Assault 2nd and Conspiracy 2nd.

He was committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $66,000 cash bond.

Other suspects involved in the incident have yet to be identified, police said, noting that the investigation is ongoing.

If anyone has any information about this incident, they are being asked to contact Detective D. Cathell at (302) 752-3793. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333, at www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com, or by sending an anonymous tip by text to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword “DSP.”

Official trick-or-treating times for most local towns are this weekend. Kids can grab a costume, flashlight and pillowcase for the sweetest night of their year.

Adults who are handing out candy are being encouraged to turn on their front-door lights and/or display pumpkins or other decorations.

• Bethany Beach — Monday, Oct. 31, 6 to 8 p.m.

• Dagsboro — Monday, Oct. 31, 6 to 8 p.m., for those 12 or younger.

• Fenwick Island — no official time.

• Frankford — Saturday, Oct. 29, 4 to 6 p.m. (The Town’s Fall Festival will take place in the Town Park from noon to 4 p.m., and “Hotel Transylvania 2” will be shown there at 7 p.m.)

• Millsboro — Saturday, Oct. 29, 6 to 8 p.m., for those 12 or younger, who must be in costume. Family Night Out will take place 6 to 8 p.m. in the empty lot next to Dairy Queen, featuring Millsboro police and firefighters.

• Millville — Monday, Oct. 31, 6 to 8 p.m.

• Ocean View — Monday, Oct. 31, 6 to 8 p.m. (The Town’s Cops & Goblins festival will be held at John West Park on Sunday, Oct. 30, from 1 to 4 p.m.)

• Selbyville — Monday, Oct. 31, 6 to 8 p.m., for those 12 or younger. (The Selbyville Haunted Library will take place at the same time, recommended for those 7 or older.)

• South Bethany — no official time.

Have a safe and happy Halloween!

The Ocean View Planning & Zoning Commission this week recommended approval of a proposed ordinance that would allow the developer of the Ocean View Beach Club additional time to complete expanded recreational facilities for the community.

Commissioners held the first of three public hearings on amending Condition 7 as set by Ordinance 214 for Condominium Parcel “A” at the Ocean View Beach Club, located on Beach Club Avenue. Public Works Director Charles McMullen told the commissioners that there would be two additional public hearings before the Ocean View Town Council — one in December and one in January — before the ordinance can be voted upon.

Earlier this year, Windansea LLC, the developer of the Ocean View Beach Club, requested to amend a condition that was placed on the property when it was annexed into the town in 2007.

A condition of approval was that recreational facilities — for example, swimming pools and community buildings — should be constructed and opened to residents no later than the time of the issuance of the 60th certificate of occupancy.

McMullen said the site plan was approved; however, the recreational facilities have since been revised and increased to include not only an outdoor swimming pool but an indoor pool, tennis courts and bocce ball court.

Due to the increase in amenities, Windansea requested to change the requirement that stated that the recreational facilities — swimming pool and community buildings — had be constructed and open to use by the residents no later than the time of issuance of the 60 certificate of occupancy, extending the timeline of the requirement from 60 to 80 certificates of occupancy.

McMullen said the Town had received an email from an Ocean View Beach Club property owner who was opposed to the change, stating she had been told the outdoor pool would be ready by the summer of 2017.

Another Ocean View Beach Club resident was in attendance that evening and said she, too, objected to the application, adding that she had purchased her house based on the idea that the recreational facilities would be open for the upcoming summer season. She added that she has been paying relatively high HOA fees with that understanding, as well.

Brian McManus, vice president of construction for K. Hovnanian Homes of Delaware, said they project to have approximately 57 COs by the end of May, not including to-be-built houses.

“I want to go on record — nobody wants this clubhouse built more than we do… This buffer to go from 60 to 80 is to allow us to continue selling homes until the clubhouse is done.”

McManus said the development still projects the facilities will be constructed in the summer of 2017.

Zach Crouch of Davis, Bowen & Friedel, who also was representing the Ocean View Beach Club project, said that a $40,000 check for the building permit for the amenities had been sent to the Town.

“They’ve got a contractor that they’ve already started a contract with,” he said. “There’s no intentional delay here.”

The commission voted 5-0 to recommend that the town council approve the ordinance to amend Condition 7.

The Indian River School District has more students and local property taxes than ever before. So why are schools understaffed and why is the district hosting a current-expense referendum, to raise property taxes 49 cents per $100 in assessed value, on Nov. 22 just “to survive”?

Short answer: The money isn’t coming as fast as the students are. In some cases, the money has decreased.

The IRSD’s student enrollment is growing faster than anyone anticipated. With nearly 10,500 students, the district has grown by an average of more than 319 students annually for the last five years.

There are 2,580 more students in IR classrooms than there were in 2005.

The State of Delaware helps to pay teacher and staff salaries, which have increased with enrollment. But, otherwise, schools are getting millions of dollars less than before, said IRSD administrators.

“We have fewer funds from the State than back in 2008. … We are still down,” said Superintendent Susan Bunting.

State funding comes from many different pots of money. Money for teacher salaries has increased because the state’s 65 percent share has remained constant. But, apart from that, Bunting said, schools statewide get physically fewer State dollars than in 2008, because the State has less money to give.

“All schools had to deal with those cuts,” said IRSD Director of Business Jan Steele.

In 2011, the issue was discussed by business managers from across the state, including Steele (then at the Delmar School District).

The decrease began around 2008, when the recession hit and many were suffering its effects. The State had to pass on its losses to the local level, Bunting said.

About $53 million was cut from budgets in areas including math and reading specialists, English language education, professional development, energy costs, tax relief and more.

However, $27 million was put back within couple years, Steele said. Some districts were also allowed to create a matching tax program for math, reading and extra-time programs, but the IRSD didn’t take that route.

As far as transportation goes, the State used to fund 100 percent of busing costs. Now, districts must contribute 10 percent, which costs several hundred thousand dollars each year. That’s paid with local money.

Counties collect local school tax

Sussex County is growing steadily again, after the economic downturn put a temporary damper on the rapid growth of the early 2000s. People are moving to the area and bringing school-age children with them.

“The county grew 30 percent in 10 years. Nobody foresaw that,” said Joe Booth, IRSD supervisor of Buildings & Grounds. “The houses went up; everything got sold because of the low tax rates.”

It’s the County’s responsibility to collect school taxes. They wire the money to the State, which then forwards it to each school district, said Gina Jennings, finance director for Sussex County. There is some recourse if people don’t pay taxes.

“Eventually, we’re going to get it,” Jennings said. “We do have a collection process here. Our collection rate’s pretty high, if you look at our financial statements. It’s about 98 percent.”

To improve collections, in March, the Delaware State Legislature passed House Bill 85, allowing counties to collect school and property taxes by intercepting state tax refunds.

“My staff’s already been to training on it. It’s called the Tax Intercept Bill,” Jennings said.

When the bill was introduced in 2015, the IRSD was then owed about $2.4 million for five years worth of school tax arrears. Previously, the counties’ only recourse was to put a lien on the associated property and wait for someone to sell or refinance.

Last year, Sussex County billed $136 million total in taxes, which includes $117 million for all school taxes, including about $39 million for the IRSD. Those figures don’t include discounts or credits for seniors and the disabled. IRSD residents later saved about $2 million in property tax credits and refunds.

“If we pass the referendum, we would still have the lowest tax rate in Sussex County,” Bunting emphasized.

Each school district has a different tax rate. In the IRSD the rate is $2.578 per $100 of assessed value, which could become $3.068 per $100 of assessed value. (The next highest is Cape Henlopen School District, at $3.213.)

Any property owner can view assessments online at www.SussexCountyDE.gov (click on “Tax information” link at the bottom right).

There are tax discounts available for the disabled, senior citizens and low-income residents. For more information, contact Sussex County at (302) 855-7824.

More or less money

So, yes, local tax revenue has increased. But expenses did, too.

“The enrollment is growing by a larger percentage than the assessed value of properties,” Steele said. “Our standard expenses have increased. Salaries increase the other employee costs … — health insurance, retention costs — the State sets that rate. We don’t have any control over that.”

Local money can be spent at the schools’ discretion, but State money has rigid rules. So energy money can’t pay for playground repairs or staff training.

That means that it’s all local money that is paying for the IRSD’s safety monitors, now in their fourth year. There is no State share. In fact, in Delaware, the IRSD has led the charge in school safety by hiring 15 school safety monitors (retired law enforcement officers), several school resource officers (current police officers) and two investigators (who perform all staff background checks).

Bunting said the safety staff has been invaluable, helping respond to the slew of bomb threats earlier this year and helping schools to write emergency response plans.

But that’s a huge bite of local money.

Meanwhile, the IRSD was entitled to hire about 35 new teachers this year, based on leaps in enrollment. But the district opted to leave many of those positions empty, to spend their local dollars (35 percent of each salary) elsewhere. So, just a handful of new teachers are accommodating those 319 new students.

District leaders are also being stretched thin, since administrative positions were also left vacant, including a director, a second assistant superintendent, a principal and two assistant principals.

In addition, the State only allows school districts to project so far ahead for capital improvement projects. In 2013, construction costs (including unexpected permits, new plans and contract extensions) soared above budget, and the IRSD had to pay $3.5 million out-of-pocket with local funds.

Also, the rainy day has come for IRSD’s reserve fund, which they want to rebuild after a massive depletion this year.

To further save money this year, the IRSD slashed budgets for each school, district headquarters, athletics, the school board and more. Children are no longer travelling to the outdoor education center at Ingram Pond, which is a loss of hands-on science education.

If the referendum fails, about 10 percent of staff across the district would get pink slips, as the IRSD cut back more on employees. The student population, however, will only continue to grow, according to forecasts.

But the IRSD also has the option to host another referendum in the spring of 2017 (which is very possible, as the school board considers building several new schools to accommodate all those new children).

Public vote on Nov. 22

In the Nov. 22 current-expense referendum, the IRSD will request an additional 49 cents per $100 of assessed property value, a 16 percent increase.

If the majority of the public approves, the IRSD could add another $7.35 million to its coffers in the autumn of 2017. (About half will refill the depleted coffers, and half is “because we assume we’re going to continue to grow,” Steele said.)

The breakdown of that additional 49 cents would be:

• Student enrollment growth — 33 cents ($4,950,000 for more teachers, desks and supplies);

• School safety — 10 cents ($1,500,000 for salaries and safety improvements);

• Technology — 3 cents ($450,000);

• Textbooks — 2 cents ($300,000); and

• Student organizations — 1 cent ($150,000 for extracurriculars).

”We would like you to have all the information you need to make a very solid decision,” Bunting said to taxpayers, and the IRSD administration is hoping that voters approve the referendum.

At a series of public meetings, the referendum has met with mixed reactions. It’s gotten support from the Indian River Education Association (IREA) teachers’ union; local legislators, including County Councilman Rob Arlett; and various citizens.

Others have said they oppose any kind of tax increase, or that they support the schools but want to see an even more detailed plan of where the money will go. Still others are waiting for the results of the State Auditor’s investigation on the IRSD’s finances.

People can ask specific questions on the IRSD Referendum Hotline at (302) 436-1079. The district website, at www.irsd.net/referendum, has more information, podcasts, events schedules and frequently asked questions.

The current-expense referendum will be Tuesday, Nov. 22, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Polling places will be East Millsboro Elementary, Georgetown Elementary, Indian River High, Long Neck Elementary, Lord Baltimore Elementary and Selbyville Middle schools.

Voters must be U.S citizens, residents of the Indian River School District and at least 18. Residents can vote at any location but must bring proof of identity and residency.

Absentee voting will be allowed. People must first submit an affidavit to the Sussex County Department of Elections by Nov. 12 (paperwork available at most schools or by contacting the department). Absentee ballots must be delivered by mail by Nov. 18 or in person by Nov. 21. Details are available through the Sussex County Department of Elections at (302) 856-5367 and www.electionssc.delaware.gov (click “School Elections” at the bottom of the page).

Coastal Point • Kerin Magill: Paul and Janet Marvel, of Clarksville, who co-founded the Mason Dixon Treasure Club 40 years ago, hand out prizes after a club treasure hunt on Lewes Beach on Sunday, Oct. 23.At noon on a blustery October Sunday, Lewes Beach came to life with the electronic sounds of beeping, the clatter of stones on metal and laughter.

The Mason Dixon Treasure Club, about 20 strong, gathered for its semi-annual beach hunt. Most of the members are from Delaware, but some come from as far away as Pennsylvania. The “field” was a small section of beach, designated by flags, in which “regular” coins were buried (or “seeded,” in treasure-hunt parlance), as well as some color-coded tokens and costume jewelry that could be turned in at the end of the day for prizes.

Club Secretary Janet Marvel of Clarksville, who founded the club with her husband, Paul, 40 years ago, watched from the sidelines. Since Marvel herself seeded the field, she knows when each hunter is about to hit on one of the prizes. The secret to successful placing of “treasure” for the hunts, according to Marvel, is all in the wrist.

“You just whip it,” she said, demonstrating the necessary action.

Marvel’s husband, Paul, started selling metal detectors at his Christian book store, Gospel Lighthouse, near Millville, in 1969. At that time, he said, “9 out of 10 people didn’t know what a metal detector was.” Times have changed, and metal detecting has become a popular hobby, particularly on beaches and around historic areas.

Metal detectors have also changed in the past few decades, becoming more sensitive as technology has improved. Club member Reese Simon of Magnolia said today’s detectors can pick up the differences in metal content in various “targets.”

For example, he said, pennies from before 1982 have different composition than those after that date, going from mostly copper for the earlier pennies to mostly zinc in the later ones. Post-1982 pennies “don’t hold up as well” in salty beach weather because of the higher zinc content, he explained.

Simon, who has been treasure hunting since 1976, said he likes to hunt in historic sites, looking for relics of bygone eras.

“You never know what you’re going to find,” he said. While “bullets, buckles and buttons are what everybody wants,” he said an old comb is one of his favorite finds.

Inland areas in Delaware are still good hunting grounds for treasure hunters, Simon said.

“You can find colonial buttons, some Civil War stuff, Spanish silver,” he said, adding that Spanish silver was used as legal tender in the area till the 1850s because it was so plentiful.

“You learn a lot about history,” from treasure hunting, Simon said. Asked about the most unusual thing he’s ever found, however, Simon had a very un-historic answer.

“An unopened can of sardines, about 14 inches down,” he replied. “Somebody must have really hated sardines,” he said with a laugh.

“It’s a fascinating hobby, and it’s good exercise,” Simon said of the walking, the swinging of the detector and the frequent bending. “Good cardiovascular exercise.”

Sometimes, hunters get extremely lucky and find items much more valuable than a can of sardines. Club member Jane Austin said she once found a sapphire and diamond Vera Wang ring beneath the sand in Rehoboth Beach. At 1.8 carats total gem weight, the ring is worth about $7,500. Austin said she has tried to find its owner, with no success so far.

Simon said he has found numerous pieces of jewelry over the years and has had some success in tracking down the owners. The interesting thing about that, he said, is the reactions when he returns the item to its owners.

“Some people are extremely grateful and want to pay me something,” he said. “Some don’t even say, ‘Thank you.’”

He recalled one man, though, whose class ring he found 20 years after the man had lost it.

“He cried,” Simon said.

With about 40 dues-paying members, the Mason Dixon Treasure Club meets monthly in Milford. Members share their latest finds, and videos on treasure hunting and related subjects are shown. Yearly tallies are kept of members’ finds and, at the end of the year, awards are given based on points earned from the finds.

In addition to returning found items to their owners when possible, club members donate found eyeglasses to the Lions Club, which distributes them to those who cannot afford to purchase glasses. Often, Marvel said, club members receive requests to look for specific items, such as jewelry, wallets or cell phones.

Pull-tabs from soda cans are also collected by club members and donated to the Ronald McDonald House charity, which provides housing for families of ill children while they are hospitalized.

At the end of the Lewes Beach hunt, members made their way to the prize table, where Janet and Paul Marvel supervised the distribution of two tables’ worth of silver coins and some commemorative coin sets. The color-coded prizes matched the colors on tokens that had been “seeded” prior to the hunts.

This year, the club recognized long-time members Marty and Theressa Berdinka of Ocean View. Theressa Berdika provided prizes for the hunt, in memory of her late husband, who worked with Paul Marvel in planning the hunts for many years.

The Mason Dixon club meets on the third Wednesday of each month, except in December, when the annual club Christmas party takes precedence. Meetings begin at 7 p.m. and are held in the Milford Parks & Recreation building on Franklin Street. For more information, call Janet Marvel at (302) 539-9488.

After one year of discussion and research, South Bethany will allow floating boat ramps and docks. They unanimously voted Oct. 14 to amend the Town Code (Chapter 50, Bulkheads) to permit the installation of “Modular Floating Docking Systems,” such as floating boat ramps, floating docks and inflatable lifting docks.

In the past, floating ramps and docks were prohibited, since boats had to accelerate to get enough momentum to drive onto the platform. The resulting wake was no good.

“That ordinance was written back in 2005. The technology has changed a lot,” Planning Commission Chairperson Dick Oliver previously said.

Now, docks are submergible, boaters float on top, and the dock can re-inflate to elevate the boat.

The system must be designed with rollers, cut outs, molded ramps or other design elements that are intended to allow docking without suing the boat’s propulsion. A Town permit is required for installation.

Council took up the topic in 2015 when people began installing boatlifts that seemed too big, possibly blocking neighbors’ water views. Since then, the challenge was to write a fair ordinance that restricts high lifts in a boating community, without over-mandating, like a homeowner association.

Although Town Council decided they don’t quite have the language to control height, they can at least allow for modern docking options.

“If we don’t at least try to deal with this, a couple of years from now, people are going to say, ‘Look at this. It’s like an amusement park,’” Weisgerber said in 2015.

Ordinance 182-16 also added an appeals timeline for enforcement, and it prohibited repeat violations.

Rules are already in place for placement of docks.

South Bethany doesn’t regulate boat sizes, Code Enforcement Constable Joe Hinks had said. “They could buy a yacht and park it here, if they could fit it [in the canal].”

House height increases for all

All houses have a little more room to comfortably build.

Town Council unanimously amended the zoning code to increase the maximum height of houses by one foot. Houses may now be 33 feet (or 35 feet above BFE when 2 feet of freeboard are included), but no higher than 48 feet as measured by North American Vertical Datum (NAVD), due to variations in the elevation of Ocean Drive.

House elevations may now be measured from either the center line of the road or the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) in the AE and AO Zones, at the property owner’s discretion.

Ordinance 184-16 follows on the heels of a similar law that passed in May, which only covered houses in the VE zone, nearer to the beachfront.

Miken Builders had originally suggested the change because they thought houses need about 33 feet for a good design. That would ensure some equality, so everyone can get 8-foot ceilings, which is considered a comfortable standard.

Sussex County Return Day is a one-of-a-kind tradition that Delawareans should experience at least once in their lifetime.

The event, to be held on Thursday, Nov. 10, is a unique way to celebrate the end of the election season.

“The reason why it’s called Return Day is, years ago it would take a couple of days at least to count the ballots,” explained Rosalie Betts Walls, former President of Return Day. “The county seat where they would count the ballots was in Lewes.

“There were 10 commissioners that got together and decided that Lewes was too far to travel for the people who lived on the western side of the county, like Seaford and Greenwood, so they decided to move the county seat from Lewes to Georgetown. When they moved it, everyone started coming to Georgetown to cast their ballot. Then they would return two days later to hear the returns.”

Return Day Festivities will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 10, with arts, crafts and food vendors set up at the Circle in Georgetown. The Mayors’ Hatchet Toss will be held at 9 a.m. at the Old Courthouse. The Return Day parade will begin at 1:30 p.m., starting at Sussex Central Middle School to West Market Street to King Street to East Pine Street and back to the school. Immediately following the parade, ceremonies will be held on the Circle.

As it was done when Return Day was started, (which some say could’ve been as early as 1792), Delawareans gather in Georgetown to hear the towncrier announce the election results from the courthouse balcony.

“Before they had modern vehicles to come by, they used horses and carriages, oxcarts, bicycles… They came however they could. Some of them would spend the night and others would wait and come back on the Thursday following elections. Return Day is always on the even years, on the Thursday after election day.”

“We try to have something that’s going to appeal to all age groups,” said Walls, noting the ceremonial burying of the hatchet has been a time-honored tradition.

“That’s buried in sand brought from Lewes, which was the first county seat. That’s supposed to get rid of all the bad things they’ve said about each other during the election,” said Walls.

The evening before Return Day, on Nov. 9, a street party is held with live music and a cornhole tournament. The Jones Boys, Big Hat No Cattle and The Funsters. National bluegrass act and 2016 IBMA male vocalist of the year nominee Danny Paisley & The Southern Grass will also be playing on the Circle.

Food vendors and cold brews from the Georgetown-Ellendale VFW Post 2931 beer wagon will be on tap beginning at 5 p.m. Free ox roast sandwiches will be served Wednesday and Thursdays to those who attend.

Walls said the unique tradition is one not to be missed, and one she is proud to have been a part of since 1972.

“It’s such a unique tradition. In the year 2000, then-Senator Joseph Biden got us inducted into the Library of Congress in Washington,” she said, adding, “During this time I’ve met so many people… I certainly would not have had that opportunity to branch out and meet so many different people of all walks of life.”

For more information about Return Day, visit www.returnday.com.

Handicapped parking is minimal near the Fenwick Island’s Town beaches. So on Oct. 28, Town Councilmember Gardner Bunting proposed that they add one handicapped-accessible spot on each street end.

Police Chief Bill Boyden said the town has had several threats from lawyers because of the limited parking, despite this being a federally-funded beach.

The council also noted the increase of beach wheelchairs and the motorized side-by-side vehicle, which help people access the beach.

Charter & Ordinance Committee will research the idea. They’ll also consider whether to require handicapped vehicles to still get a parking permit (some towns do, and others don’t).

In the flood plain? More permits required

Building Official Pat Schuchman reminded the public that any maintenance done in the flood plain is required to have a building permit.

Typically, when doing home maintenance, people only buy building permits if their project exceeds $1,000 in value.

However, any home in the floodplain must apply for a permit, even for low-cost projects. Fortunately, the permit is free.

This applies to “Any [project] that would require a permit if it was over $1,000,” Schuchman said. “So if you’re replacing something in your bathroom or kitchen … we have to issue a permit.”

For example, she said renovations, but not painting, would require a permit.

“This is not just a Fenwick Island requirement,” she said. “This is a FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] requirement.”

In other Fenwick Island Town Council news:

• Town Council tabled the discussion of voter qualifications, since the town solicitor has not reviewed the new language.

• Committees were announced for the 2016 to 2017 year, including the chairpersons for each committee: Audit (Gardner Bunting), Beach (Rebecca McWilliams), Budget (G. Bunting), ad hoc Financial (R. Mais), Building (no chair) Business Development (Tim Collins), Charter and Ordinance (Bill Weistling), ad hoc Election (Julie Lee), Emergency Management & Infrastructure (G. Bunting), Environmental (Mary Ellen Langan), Technology (Gene Langan), Board of Adjustment (no chair), Board of Elections (Audrey Serio, inspector) and Planning Commission (Winnie Lewis).

• Businesses might want to take a closer look at the fences surrounding their property.

The first reading was unanimously approved on changes to Chapter 160 (Zoning). In commercial zones, businesses would be required to erect a rear fence between their property and residential properties. If a fence exists, it may stay, but if the residential owner wants to remove their fence, the commercial owner must erect a new fence. This would only apply to new construction or substantial improvements.

• Bathrooms are on the rise. Council unanimously approved (Gene Langan absent) the first reading to a change of Chapter 160 (Zoning). Instead of the four bathroom maximum, houses would be permitted a total of six bathrooms, which must include at least on half-bathroom (with no bathtub or shower).

The Town Code has other measurements to control the size of houses, like Floor Area Ratio (FAR), said C&O Chairperson Bill Weistling.

• The Turkey Trot returns on Nov. 24 at 8 a.m. for an untimed 2.2-mile walk and run on Lewes Street. All are welcome, including leashed pets. Festive costumes are encouraged. Participation is free, but donations are encouraged to an American Cancer Society fundraiser. Parking will be allowed at Warren’s Station, the Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce and the Pottery Place, which is serving coffee, hot chocolate and oatmeal afterward. Commemorative T-shirts will be $20.

• The Fenwick Island Community Holiday Event was approved for Dec. 2, with Christmas caroling, lights at the park, tree lighting, potluck hors d’oeuvres and donations to the local food pantry.

• The annual audit is ongoing and will likely be ready in December. Treasurer Gardner Bunting noted that there was an issue with Realty Transfer Tax fund, which can only receive money from certain transfers.

So when the Town was reimbursed for projects that were originally paid with RTT money, the repayment could only go in to the general fund, which looks artificially inflated.

“The bills we not paid from where they should have been paid,” Bunting said. “Part of this was due to authorization that was signed, but it should not have come from that account … We’re correcting that.”

• The Town Manager search continues. The first batch of interviews was completed, and there were about 40 applicants total.

• A new police car (and baby) has arrived to Fenwick Island Police Department, Chief Bill Boyden reported.

• Julie Lee thanked Town staff for attending her first two Town Talks. The next meeting will be on a Saturday to discuss streets, drainage and more. “I’m enjoying having the opportunity to meet with the community,” she said.

• The first reading was approved for changes to Chapter 120 (Property Maintenance), which would require Building Official approval on any changes to the approved drainage plan during construction or after issuance of a Certificate of Compliance.

• Branding of the town has died in the water. The Business Development Committee has tabled the issue until anyone raises the topic again.

“We didn’t feel it was the time to do it. And we will find out about any other strings that may be attached,” Bunting said.

With a member of the business committee (Tim Collins) now leading the committee, Gardner hopes more business owners will become more active.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease, and the dark streets get the light.

After the 2015 South Bethany Community Survey revealed that more people want streetlights, the Town Council has begun researching locations.

Canal Drive had the most requests for service, so that’s being addressed first. Lights will be installed based on public response.

“It’s up to the community to decide what they want,” said Councilmember Sue Callaway.

The Town is sending surveys to households on and around Canal Drive to determine their support, due in mid-November.

“It’s heavily used, lots of walkers, lots of bikers, … and it’s very dark,” Callaway said.

A total of nine new lamps (including two replacements) are proposed on Canal Drive, at each cross street.

Bulbs would be the lowest possible wattage, and small shields would block light from reflecting back into nearby homes.

The Community Enhancement Committee has been working on this issue for several years. But lighting tends to be controversial. Some people don’t want light pollution streaming in their windows at night. Other people, including the police department, prefer well-lit streets to read street signs and walk or bicycle at night.

Any property owner can request streetlights. The Town will send a letter to nearby properties, and make a decision based on public feedback.

That’s how it worked for residents on West 9th Street. This spring, resident Mike Matera followed petitioned Town Council a street lamp on his road. His neighbors responded favorably to the subsequent survey, and the lamp was installed.

In the western Cat Hill neighborhood, a number of lights were replaced in 2015. The same style of lamppost would be used elsewhere in town.

At about $16 per light, per month, the increased electric costs are about $200 per light, annually, Callaway said. Delmarva Power pays for light itself, and the Town pays electric. Any installation costs may vary, depending whether the lights need electric power sources.

Cat Hill’s three-way stop discussed

Town Council voted to approve a three-way controlled intersection at Canal Drive and Tamarack Drive. Some residents have been fighting for this as a method to slow down traffic in the Cat Hill neighborhood.

Even in the busy season of July, the traffic studies showed that the intersection did not warrant more stop signs.

“It’s a very cut-and-dry study. If it does not meet the warrant ... then there’s no recommendation for a stop sign, for a controlled intersection,” said Traffic Committee Chairperson John Janowski. “However, since then, DelDOT has reconsidered their position.”

DelDOT now endorses two additional stop signs at the current T-intersection. It’s “part a trial program they’ve set up recently, where they’re going out to half a dozen intersections, mostly within subdivisions,” Janowski said. South Bethany may be the only public road that is participating.

This will be monitored for one year, said Mayor Pat Voveris. If there are no issues, then South Bethany will have met its warrant for a three-way stop. DelDOT and the Town will listen for public feed back and consider traffic accidents there.

Earlier this autumn, Voveris announced that state legislators Ron Gray and Gerald Hocker agreed to help fund the project from their road improvement funds. However, South Bethany was first aiming to bring the price down from the original $30,000 proposal.

Other recent projects included improving and increasing the number of speed humps; installing electric speed notification signs; and adjusting hours of the barricade that prevents Kent Avenue traffic from entering Black Gum Drive in summer.

Although Town council approved it for 2016, Charter and Code Committee will draft an official ordinance to make the barricade even more official.

By the way, the Town has the authority to enact a barricade, Voveris said. The Town Charter allows that “Council can create an ordinance to control traffic,” said Committee Member George Junkin.

Council also discussed the possibility of installing a larger or more prominent barricade sign.

Committee membership was changed to just include three property owners: John Janowski, Mike Trentadue and Dave Wilson (a fresh set of eyes from the Planning Commission). Town Manager Cusick will participate as a non-voting member.

The change came because it’s difficult to wrangle a quorum when the committee was larger. Meetings will still be open to the public.

In other South Bethany news:

• South Bethany Police Department has a new employees, Cpl. John “Brooks” Jenney. A seasoned officer, he brings years of experience, especially in drug and DUI enforcement. Jenney said law enforcement runs in his family.

• Having missed four council meetings, Don Boteler’s position was briefly up for discussion, but his fellow councilmembers voted quickly and unanimously to take no action.

“‘When a member has accumulated a total of four absences from regular town council meetings or workshops in the past 12 months, the council shall meet with that member and determine what actions, such as requesting resignation from council, to pursue,’” Callaway read. “So we do have a councilmember who has four absences … We knew ahead of time there would be three absences when he came on council, and very unfortunately, he had to assist [with a family situation].”

• Around 70 percent of the public supported a smoking ban on the beach, according to the 2015 Community Survey. The Charter and Code Committee will draft an ordinance to create a smoking ban on the beach and walkways.

• The annual financial audit earned another positive review of Fiscal Year 2016.

“I did think that the town came out very well financially this year,” said Tom Sombar of Sombar & Company, congratulating the Town Council and staff for “keeping control of costs and making good decisions.”

• Mediacom gets a lot of flack for cable and internet service, so Councilmember Wayne Schrader will set up a meeting to pass those complaints forward and request better service.

• Town Council approved employment contract amendments for the town manager and police chief. Although it was a housekeeping item to clarify the contract length, some council members were concerned about the automatic contract renewal. But Voveris said she and the Town solicitor thought it cleaner to just do amendment, rather than change terms of the contracts. Voveris said she’ll be mayor when the renewals come up, so she’ll do the due diligence of renegotiating the contracts then.

• Feral cats are a problem, Schrader said. Although beloved by some citizens, wild cats have been known to break into, and wreck, uninhabited homes during winter, plus bother people dining outside. Schrader will brainstorm any actions, if any, Town Council could legally take to reduce the problem, like finding homes or discouraging the public from feeding feral animals.

• Linda Lewis was appointed to the Planning Commission.

Town Council’s next regular meeting is Friday, Nov. 18, at 7 p.m.

There may be some wiggle room for taxpayers. Sussex County and the State of Delaware offer property tax discounts for the disabled, senior citizen and low-income residents.

Their Sussex County property must be their primary residence.

There are four type of tax assistance programs: one statewide school tax credit for senior citizens (regardless of income), plus three Sussex County low-income programs for individuals, disabled individuals and elderly residents.

The State exemption is as follows:

• State Senior Citizen School Property Tax Credit (Application due by April 30): Age 65 or older by June 30; must be Delaware resident for at least three years; the law does not prevent more than one person from claiming a credit for the same property, with credits based on share in the property ownership; previous property tax bills must be paid to qualify for the next discount; State application is online.

However, the County applications have so many nuances that citizens are encouraged to call Sussex County Assessment Division for personalized instructions. (Depending on the situation, people might be asked to show tax forms, bank statements or other paperwork.)

For County exemptions, applicants must be residents of the property for the preceding five years. Other requirements are as follows:

• Exemption for Disabled (Jan. 1 to April 30 filing date): Must be totally disabled; income other than Social Security cannot exceed $6,000 ($7,500 if married); and exemption applies to taxable assessments up to $12,500 for school and county property taxes.

• Exemption for Residents Over 65 (Jan. 1 to April 30 filing date): Age 65 years by April 30; income other than Social Security cannot exceed $6,000 ($7,500 if married); and exemption applies to taxable assessments up to $12,500 for school and county property taxes.

• Sussex County Property Tax Subsidy (July 1 to Sept. 30 filing date): Annual income cannot exceed $15,800 ($20,000 if married);; liquid assets or real estate, other than home, must be less than $15,000; and property owner must re-apply each year; and exemption applies to first $16,000 of taxable assessments and to county portion of tax only.

Exemptions are not transferable if the property is sold, and residents must re-file from their new address.

Find out for yourself

Taxes are mailed out in August and must be paid by Sept. 30.

Any property owner can view tax assessments online at www.SussexCountyDE.gov (click on “Tax information” link at the bottom right).

For information or applications, please contact Sussex County Assessment Division; PO Box 589; Georgetown, DE 19947, or telephone (302) 855-7824.

Details are online at www.sussexcountyde.gov/tax-assistance-programs.

The County also offers help for sewer and water hook-ups or service. Details are online at www.sussexcountyde.gov/sewer-and-water-assistance-programs.

Delaware State code also allows municipalities to offer senior citizen tax breaks. People can inquire if their local Town Halls participate.

A look at IRSD taxes

“Of what is sent out, 86 percent is school taxes,” said Gina Jennings, Sussex County finance director.

Last year, Sussex County billed $136 million for total taxes, which includes $117 million for all school taxes, including about $39 million for IRSD, Jennings said. Last year, IRSD taxpayers saved at least $2 million dollars in property tax discount programs.

Each of the school districts charges its residents a different rate for school taxes. Some rates don’t change, except by public referendum, like current expense. Other rates change every year, like capital improvement expenses (similar to paying down a mortgage) and tuition rates (based on enrollment in specialized programs, such as for deaf or autistic students).

Indian River School District’s rate is the lowest of Sussex County’s regular seven school districts (not including Sussex Tech’s rate of 33.65 cents, which all Sussex Countians pay), and would remain such if the current expense referendum passes on Nov. 22

IRSD’s rate is $2.578 per $100 of assessed value. The proposed increase would be by 49 cents.

IRSD, Delmar, Laurel and Woodbridge school districts also have a flat capitation rate per adult, in IRSD ($12 per adult), Woodbridge ($8.82), Delmar ($13) and Laurel ($24.30).

Otherwise, the other tax rates are the same for all residents: county tax ($0.3983), library ($0.0467).

It’s the County’s responsibility to collect school taxes. They wire the money to the State, which is then forwarded to each school district, said Jennings.

“I would assume it all goes to the school because it’s their rate … We bill based on that rate,” she said.