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Georgetown’s newest memorial honors local World War I dead

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Coastal Point • Laura Walter: Nearly 100 years after the Great War ended, the American Legion recently dedicated this memorial in Georgetown’s Circle.Coastal Point • Laura Walter: Nearly 100 years after the Great War ended, the American Legion recently dedicated this memorial in Georgetown’s Circle.It only took 98 years. World War I ended in 1918, and this month, Georgetown’s Circle received its own memorial to honor Sussex Countians who died in the war.

There were 17 names carved into the memorial stone, sponsored by American Legion Post 8.

The Veterans Day holiday was born of Armistice Day and the Nov. 11 treaty that ended “the Great War,” a worldwide conflict unlike anything modern humanity had ever experienced.

“That’s why we are here — to celebrate the ultimate sacrifice,” said Post Commander Rowland Scott. “We come to dedicate this memorial to those who lost their lives in World War I,” some who died just days or months before the war ended.

Of the 17 men, only four were killed in action, with eight having died from disease, two from accidents and three from wounds. They came from Bridgeville, Frankford, Georgetown, Greenwood, Laurel, Lewes, Milford, Milton, Seaford and Selbyville.

“When they unveiled that, you saw a relative of yours’ name on there — it’s heartwarming,” said Helen Scott, a descendent of Pvt. Ulysses Isaacs. “And the ceremony was absolutely perfect. God gave us a beautiful day.”

The idea of the monument arose with Thelma Folke (a descendent of Cpl. Raymond Reynolds), who asked why they were previously honoring the World War II soldiers at a World War II monument.

“It’s just unbelievable. The people have been great — we collected this money in three months. It’s so hard to believe how much they have given. I don’t have words,” Folke said of the $20,000 fundraising effort.

A number of municipalities, as well as veterans’ fraternal organizations, donated anywhere from $2 to $2,000 at a time.

“One person, one dollar — it can all make a difference in the grand scheme of things. … How grateful we are that the city would come to support [this],” said Judy Lawson, memorial chairperson.

Organizers thanked local legislators, the Town of Georgetown and others who helped sponsor the stone.

“Your donations are what brought this concept to a dedication this morning,” Lawson said.

Other descendants present at the memorial’s unveiling included Laurence Burke (descendant of 1st Lt. Laurence Layton) and soloist Mariane Sylvester (descendant of Cpl. Raymond Reynolds).

Special guests included representatives of the Delaware National Guard of Georgetown and Sussex Technical High School JROTC.

“Thank God for our veterans and our military that that’s overseas now, at home and abroad,” said Scott. “I just thank everybody for their service that they’ve given. I pray for them every day.”

“If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t be where we are today,” Folke agreed.

The Vermont black granite stone is located on the easternmost curve of The Circle, a small park in the middle of downtown Georgetown.


SPORTS UPDATE: Indians to face Tower Hill for DIAA title after win in 2OT

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It was a Murphy’s Law kind of night for the Indian River High School soccer team, to say the least.

In facing No. 12 St Georges in the DIAA semi-finals on Wednesday, Nov. 16, everything that could go wrong seemed to do so during the game’s first 90-plus minutes.

The whistle blew before senior midfielder Edgardo Velasquez could set up a corner kick opportunity at the end of regulation. Senior forward Johan Cordoba hit the far post in the first OT. Senior midfielder Mac Smith missed a shot wide left; junior forward Oscar Cruz, too.

They couldn’t get a call. They couldn’t turn a chance. They couldn’t catch a break.

Until they did.

It was late in the game’s second overtime period when the Indians’ luck finally took a turn and senior forward Mikie Mochiam sent a high, winding shot from midfield down to Cordoba that he caught between two blue jerseys and redirected past the keeper for the win.

“I was in the right place at the right time,” said Cordoba of the game-winner. “I took a bad touch, but I think I compensated for it — just got the right volley of it, and it went in.”

“I thought we had it won three times in the first 10 minutes of overtime and, you know, it just didn’t happen,” said IR head coach Steve Kilby. “Going into the overtime, especially, we kind of told them, ‘It’s either get this done or be done.’ They took it to heart, and we really pinned them in.”

The semi-final victory kept the Indians alive in the tournament and earned them a bid to the upcoming DIAA state championship game, but the way it came about was somewhat unexpected for the tournament’s No. 1-seeded team.

With regulation winding down and the stalemate ongoing, they called upon Smith — who had been resting after an injury in the quarter-final game against Caravel and was not yet back to full health — to provide an offensive spark.

“It was 0-0 going into overtime. No one really thought that we’d be in that position,” Smith said. “I was just trying to go in and make a difference. I couldn’t do much. It kind of hurt, but we’ve got some good chances. We probably should have scored one in the first overtime, but we got the result, and we gotta get ready for Saturday.”

“It’s the tournament — you’re going to get everybody’s best effort,” said Kilby. “St. Georges had a great run. They knocked off two highly-seeded teams to get to us tonight.”

The Seahawks had their chances, too, and plenty of them. But the IR defense kept them off the board behind seven saves from senior goalkeeper Kevin Calles and the senior-led back four of Patrick Mochiam, Max Stong, Arturo Salas and Andrew White.

“They were quick on the ball, but we just tried to contain and keep our numbers and then play out through our midfield and counter,” said White. “Up top, it was nice, because they were holding the ball in — we were just playing to them.”

After the game, and an impassioned speech from senior Josh Timmons, Kilby addressed his squad to tell them that, while they should be proud of themselves, they shouldn’t be satisfied — yet.

There’s still one game left to go — the one game they’ve been waiting for all season.

“For this group this year, there’s only one true objective,” Kilby said. “They’ve maintained their focus and they’ve got the opportunity before them.”

“It’s been the mindset all year,” added Andrew White of the title game. “We’ve been looking forward to this game.”

The wait will be over this Saturday, when the Indians take on No. 3 Tower Hill for a chance at a second straight DIAA state championship, and a third state title for both Kilby and the senior class.

The game will get under way at 5 p.m. at Smyrna High School on Saturday, Nov. 19, with the team bus taking off from Dagsboro at 2:30 p.m.

“This is what we’ve been working for,” said Cordoba.

Game stats:

Goals: IR — J. Cordoba (1)
Assists: IR — Mikie Mochiam (1)
Saves: IR — K. Calles (7), St. Georges - J. Larry (12)

Wreaths Across America a green honor at veteran graves

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Coastal Point • File Photo: Volunteers leave wreaths at a previous Wreaths Across America effort.Coastal Point • File Photo: Volunteers leave wreaths at a previous Wreaths Across America effort.Every winter, Wreaths Across America brings color and beauty to veterans’ gravesites. But the goal isn’t holiday décor — it’s remembrance.

In all 50 states, people can donate $15 to have an evergreen wreath laid on veterans’ gravestones — locally, at Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery. People can order a wreath for a loved one, or donate toward the general mission of filling the Millsboro veterans’ cemetery with evergreen and red ribbons.

Locally, Wreaths Across America has grown by leaps and bounds in its effort to “remember, honor and teach.”

“The first year, they laid seven wreaths, and last year, they laid 700,” said co-organizer Teresa Townsend. “Phenomenal.”

Local wreaths will be placed on Saturday, Dec. 17. Volunteers lay the first batch at 10 a.m. Families can lay special-order wreaths on loved ones’ grave markers at 10:30 a.m. The dedication ceremony is at 11:30 a.m. in the chapel.

The ceremony includes wreath dedications for all seven branches of U.S. military service. There will be complimentary cookies and coffee.

One wreath will be placed below each row of the inurnment memorial wall, due to space constraints.

The Millsboro veteran cemetery is in beautiful condition, said head organizer Sally Kubicki, but the wreaths have inspired better care of other veterans’ cemeteries.

“We are trying to take care of our families. There are so many veterans that don’t have anyone anymore,” she said. “We try to make sure that they get a wreath … make sure they’re not forgotten.”

More than a decade has passed since Kubicki first witnessed the moving event and joined the Delaware effort.

“I came home and I said, ‘I’m going to get involved in this,’” Kubicki said.

She’s seen wreaths laid at Millsboro’s cemetery for husbands, wives, parents, friends and more.

This will be Kubicki’s last year as local chairperson, having dedicated endless personal effort, time and resources.

“It’s just something that is in your heart,” Kubicki said.

Kubicki’s husband was in the Air Force when they married, so the newlywed farm girl was immediately sent with him to Washington state and, later, to Puerto Rico during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Together, the Kubickis bring much leadership from military and veterans’ organizations, including VFW Post 7234 in Ocean View.

Townsend will take over as lead organizer next year.

“My grandfather fought in World War II,” noted Townsend.

Townsend’s grandparents helped raise her, and she would later fill that role as a caregiver for them. She knows how the hard memories impacted her grandfather, even in later years. She also thinks of her Navy veteran father, Marine brother and brother-in-law in the 82nd Airborne Division.

“Because of those men and so many others is why I got involved,” said Townsend, a member of American Legion Post 28 Auxiliary and legislative committee.

Townsend witnessed the Arlington National Cemetery’s wreath event in 2014.

“It was an experience,” she said. “The hairs on my arms still raise, because it was just phenomenal.”

Any tribute to the veterans is special, even just speaking their names aloud just one more time, Townsend said. “We are honoring those who fought.”

All the wreaths are sent directly to the cemetery, and when volunteers lay the evergreens, they do not move existing decorations or flowers, so they serve as additional symbols of remembrance, rather than replacing others.

Kubicki and Townsend thanked the community for their donations, as well as the local VFWs, American Legion, Knights of Columbus, Fenwick Island Lions Club, Seaford Young Marines and Perdue Farms for trucking.

The deadline for orders is Sunday, Nov. 20. People should first call Sally Kubicki at (302) 537-2885 or Teresa Townsend at (302) 945-4100. Then they can mail checks made payable to “Wreaths Across America.”

Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery is located at 26669 Patriots Way in Millsboro.

To donate a wreath in other locations, contact the national program at 1-877-385-9504 or www.WreathsAcrossAmerica.org.

Candidates bury the hatchet at Return Day celebration

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Coastal Point • Maria Counts: Above, ‘Town Crier’ Kirk Lawson reads the results of the 2016 elections. Top right, Miss Delaware Amanda Debus waves to the crowd as part of the parade.Coastal Point • Maria Counts: Above, ‘Town Crier’ Kirk Lawson reads the results of the 2016 elections. Top right, Miss Delaware Amanda Debus waves to the crowd as part of the parade.Many people flocked to Georgetown last Thursday to take part in the unique tradition known as Return Day.

Back in 1791, state law moved the Sussex County seat from Lewes to Georgetown, as the municipality was a more central location within the county. Residents would “return” to Georgetown two days following the election to hear the election results.

That tradition has been kept alive, and every two years, Sussex Countians return to Georgetown to hear the reading of the election results for the county, read by the town crier from the balcony of the Sussex County Courthouse.

This year, festivities began during the evening of Wednesday, Nov. 9, with music and a street fair around Georgetown’s Circle.

On Nov. 10, mayors of Sussex municipalities participated in a hatchet toss among seven competing mayors, which was won by Ocean View Mayor Walter Curran.

Members of the Nanticoke Indian Association performed a variety of dances, including the fancy dance and grass dance.

In another Return Day tradition, a parade was held in which elected officials and their opponents rode together in horse-drawn carriages and cars. Area marching bands and organizations also participated in the parade. Attendees were able to wave to Gov. Jack Markell, Gov.-elect John Carney, Lt. Gov.-elect Bethany Hall-Long, and others.

A surprise to many, former Delaware Gov. and U.S. Rep. Mike Castle walked the parade route with U.S. Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.).

Following the parade, Town Crier Kirk Lawson read the election results for the county, in period garb, from the courthouse balcony.

“This is a great day — this is the day that all parties get together and decide that all the politicking is done. We’re going to put it to an end, and we are going to work together as one,” said Georgetown Mayor Bill West. “Everyone has the same goal: to make this a better place.”

Debbie Jones, president of Sussex County Return Day, welcomed everyone to the event and took a moment to thank Rosalie Walls, the parade’s grand marshal, who had served as president of the organization for 27 years.

To cap the day, Billy Carrol, chairman of the Sussex County Republican Party; Mitch Crane, chairman of the Sussex County Democratic Party; Don Ayotte, chairman of the Sussex County Independent Party; and James Brittingham, chairman of the Sussex County Libertarian Party; gathered together for the ceremonial burial of the hatchet.

The four men gathered around and, each with a hand on the ceremonial hatchet, placed it in a box and buried it in sand from Lewes beach as the crowd cheered.

“I hereby declare campaign 2016 officially over,” said Master of Ceremonies Steve Hammond of WBOC-TV.

Community invited to help pack a Thanksgiving for Thousands

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While Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for what one is grateful for, not everyone is able to enjoy the holiday. Recognizing those who are in need in the community, Mountaire Farms created Thanksgiving for Thousands two decades ago, in order to provide those families the opportunity to have a happy, food-filled Thanksgiving.

Those in the community who are interested in helping to give those families a Thanksgiving meal are being invited to help pack boxes of food on Monday, Nov. 21, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“We’re going to pack 8,500 boxes this year,” said Roger Marino, Mountaire’s corporate community relations director. “In North Carolina, we do 6,000 boxes. That location is right in the heart of where all the flooding was. That’s where our plant is — right in Lumberton. So that will help a lot of people.”

Marino said people from all across Delmarva help pack the boxes, as well as individuals from Pennsylvania, Maryland and Washington, D.C.

The boxes each contain a selection of 16-ounce canned goods, including corn and beans, stuffing, and pork and beans, which they request be donated at various area grocery stores, including Hocker’s Super Center. Each box also contains a Mountaire roaster chicken, donated by the company.

“It started out collecting food… We started with about 30 boxes,” recalled Marino. “Then it evolved into putting jars and boxes out into the community for people to donate money and food, whatever we could from there. Then it evolved into a full-blown program.… We went on to develop a supermarket program, where we asked people to donate specific items — the staples for a balanced meal.”

Marino said volunteers will spend a day at various area grocery stores, requesting food donations, and whatever is needed to complete the boxes is purchased by Mountaire before its packing day.

Once those boxes have been packed, they will then be distributed to organizations within the community, which will distribute them to the individual families.

Marino said that, although Mountaire is packing 8,500 boxes in Sussex County, the need is much greater.

“There will still be people on a waiting list,” he said. “Regardless of what we may hear, whether it be politically or otherwise, things aren’t getting better. The need is greater. The need every year gets greater and greater and greater. There will be 1,000 people who will not be able to receive food for Thanksgiving or any other holiday.

“The area, for whatever reason… whether it’s growing more or times are getting tougher for people, the need is greater. I’m getting calls now from churches who haven’t participated, who are now on a standby list to see whether we can help them or not.”

Along with Thanksgiving for Thousands, Mountaire also does Thanksgiving at Christmas and Thanksgiving at Easter.

“It’s a trilogy. In my opinion, those are the three most important holidays of the year.”

During the Thanksgiving for Thousands packing event, those who attend are also invited to seek employment at Mountaire.

“We have an opening — quite a few openings — because we’re constantly growing. Every year, somebody or two, three or four will just walk right across the street, talk to our human resources department and apply.”

Marino said that every year there are also those in need who also take the time to help pack boxes.

“Many times, we will have people who are hurting that will come out and actually help us pack. There are times when people who are in the line will not tell us that they’re hurting, but other people will. We will try to help.

“And they walk away unless someone tells us, and usually they do. … They’ll do it just because they want to help others. That is an amazing outreach.”

Marino said Thanksgiving for Thousands was born out of the creed of the company’s owner, and the company will continue to reach out and work to better its community.

“It’s who we are. It’s who the company owes. Mountaire is owned by a man who is a devout Christian. That is his creed. Our creed is to be honest and fair to everyone, to provide an environment dedicated to personal and corporate growth, and you are good stewards of all the assets God has entrusted to us. That last line is very important — ‘to be good stewards of all the assets God has entrusted to us.’ It just fits in with who we are as a company.”

For those who wish to volunteer, Mountaire Farms’ warehouse is located at the corner of Hosier Street and Railroad Avenue in Selbyville. For more information about Mountaire’s community outreach programs, visit www.mountairefarms.com.

Bethany Beach looks to lobby for beach replenishment

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It’s not a beach without sand, and local coastal towns are meeting to discuss beach replenishment and possibly lobbying federal agencies for previously promised funding.

Bethany Beach Mayor Jack Gordon said at Monday’s council workshop that he planned to meet this week with South Bethany, Fenwick Island and Delaware Department of Natural Resources (DNREC) officials.

“I think it would be good if we had a concerted … effort” to ensure southern beach towns are included in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ next budget for beach replenishment, Gordon said.

U.S. Sen. Tom Carper’s office suggested that the local towns “lobby the Corps as quickly as possible to get into their funding cycle,” said Town Manager Cliff Graviet.

Graviet has drafted a letter for the mayors to consider, and perhaps sign and send. The Bethany Beach Town Council supported that action at their Nov. 14 workshop.

Mostly funded by the federal government, beach replenishment helps to build sand dunes that protect homes, businesses and infrastructure. The wide beaches also draw visitors and valuable tourism dollars. The result is a cost-benefit ratio that the town’s tout strongly in seeking federal and state funding for their beaches.

The next local nourishment project was slated for the fall of 2017, for the towns of Bethany Beach, South Bethany and Fenwick Island. However, that three-year cycle is always at the mercy of Army Corps funding (itself at the mercy of the federal budget), and some are worried that it won’t happen.

“Rehoboth and Dewey [Beaches] have replenishment. What’s happened here to us — I think this region south of the inlet needs to promote itself as much as possible, with the three towns,” Gordon said.

Those northern beaches were already scheduled for renourishment in 2016, which was lucky timing after January’s Winter Storm Jonas dragged sand away from Delaware’s Atlantic Coast.

Councilman Joseph Healy supported a united front.

“Funding is going to be a major issue over the next several years,” Healy said. “Delaware is going to attempt to do the 35 percent [match] on our end,” but the State could easily turn around and ask municipalities to start giving the State back a share of realty transfer taxes. “This isn’t about Bethany Beach. This is about the region,” he emphasized.

The discussion of the issue on Monday began with the suggestion of a beach replenishment action committee being created in the town but, for now, the council opted just to try to get those letters in the mail.

Next, Bethany Beach may propose a larger committee among the three towns. Later, there could even be coalition of coastal towns, Chambers of Commerce, legislators and other interested parties (although Gordon warned that large groups move more slowly).

Road woes

Just inland from the beach, Atlantic Avenue is already due for a full repaving, and officials believe that makes it a perfect time to also address other parking and pedestrian issues.

The council brainstormed ways to install ADA-compliant sidewalks on a street where some driveways extend into the road. (Older houses were once built so close to the road that today, cars sometimes have to park partly in the roadway, even when parked under the house.)

“Atlantic Avenue badly needs to be repaved, the whole length of it,” Graviet said. “It’s also logical to not just improve the roadway, but the safety of it … a walkway but also a bikeway too.”

This is one of the wider avenues in town, so there is some room to work with. Graviet suggested a concept that removes permit-parking spaces but gives residents more room on their own properties.

“The biggest problem exists between 5th Street and Ocean View Parkway,” Graviet said, so he later proposed a one-way loop on those two blocks, around Pennsylvania Avenue to Atlantic Avenue.

Town Hall has designed some ideas. Meanwhile, the council asked for more mockups and video footage to show the problem.

They said they want to get individual property owners’ input, either through one-on-one meetings or public hearing.

In other Bethany Beach news:

• Bottoms up! Town Council will consider changing its alcohol code (Town Code, Chapter 217) to include language on hotels. While the 99 Sea Level restaurant has a liquor license, parent building Bethany Beach Ocean Suites does not and is attempting to obtain one.

At the Nov. 18 council meeting, the council will considerer adding language regarding hotels to the code, as well as allowing liquor to be sold there from 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. Vice-Mayor Lew Killmer said the extension of the permitted serving hours is because of the nature of hotels, which have weddings, conferences and late-night guests. All other restaurants must still stop serving at 11 p.m.

• The council will also consider on Friday a change to Town Code Chapter 475, regarding residential outdoor lighting. The proposal would say that any outdoor lighting must be shielded or blocked so as not to create a nuisance, shining no more than 0.2 foot-candles onto adjoining property.

Realistically, the issue is houses that are so close together that one family’s motion-sensor lights can wake up their neighbors, said Councilman Chuck Peterson.

Peterson said he hopes it won’t turn into a big code-enforcement issue. It does give some power to people when asking their neighbors to tone down the lights.

“It’s a last resort, like so many ‘nuisance’ ordinances,” Graviet said.

The Bethany Beach Town Council will meet Friday, Nov. 18, at 2 p.m. in town hall.

Veterans to be honored at Lighthouse Christian School

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This Friday, the students of Lighthouse Christian School will be hosting a special tribute to all the branches of the military and thanking veterans for their service to the country.

“It’s a labor of love. I just love it,” said Pat Viguie, who works at the school and has been coordinating the event for nine years.

The program will be held on Friday, Nov. 18, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at the Dagsboro Church of God. The program will feature children showing their love of country and freedom, while also expressing their appreciation for the men and women who have served and are serving in the military.

“They are trying to pay back in their own way — whether it be with songs or poems or a letter of thanks — just to let them know how much we love them, we appreciate them, and that we know without them we could not have the freedoms that exist in this great land.”

Each branch of service will be honored and represented by a service member, who will also speak briefly about their branch.

“The key this year is to honor all the branches. The big difference — usually we play a video and we have the veterans stand when they hear their signature song, like ‘Anchors Away, My Boy’ and so on. This year, instead, Miss Debbie, our music teacher, has the kids singing the songs.”

Viguie said all the students at Lighthouse Christian have been working hard to create a meaningful program for the area’s veterans.

“The plan this year is to have the kids do more of the speaking. I wanted to step out of their comfort zone and get out there, and they’ll be introducing the veterans. They are so great, our little people.”

Viguie said veterans are invited to attend the event and experience the touching tribute, which culminates in each student shaking the hand of those service members in attendance and thanking them for their service. Last year, she noted, the program was so well attended it was standing-room-only.

Immediately following the program, a luncheon buffet donated by local restaurants will be served to the veterans, their families and those who are currently serving in the military.

“You wouldn’t believe the restaurants… It’s unbelievable. They always ask, ‘What can we do for you this year?’”

It is important to take the time to honor veterans and to pass that respect down to the younger generations, said Viguie.

“It is to continue to educate the children in appreciation of the veterans that have served and the veterans who paid the ultimate price defending our freedom, and also those who are currently serving. Our heart at the school is to make sure they know this.

“You see somebody on Veterans Day, they’re wearing a hat, you go up to them, you shake their hand you look them in the eye and thank them for what they’re doing or what they’ve done — absolutely. We don’t want them to forget that. That should be part of their lifestyle as they grow.

“Our prayer would be for them to pass this on to their generation and keep it alive when they have family, and pass it on to their children and their children’s children.”

Dagsboro Church of God is located on Route 113 in Dagsboro, just south of the Route 26 intersection.

Local scouts take part in NYC Veterans Day Parade

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Special to the Coastal Point • Submitted: Members of Troops 382 and 105 marched in the New York City Veterans Day Parade on Friday, Nov. 11.Special to the Coastal Point • Submitted: Members of Troops 382 and 105 marched in the New York City Veterans Day Parade on Friday, Nov. 11.A group of 20 boys from Sussex County marched proudly in New York City’s Veterans Day parade on Friday, Nov. 11. Members of Troop 382 in Dagsboro were joined by members of Troop 105 from Long Neck for the appearance.

Vinny Tallarico, assistant scoutmaster of Troop 382 and a New York City native, said he was “tour guide” for the three-day trip. In addition to marching in the parade, along with 25,000 others, the boys visited the World War II aircraft carrier the U.S.S. Intrepid, as well as the 9/11 Museum.

While in New York, the boys camped on Staten Island, at the Camp William H. Pouch Boy Scout Camp, Tallarico said, which included cooking their own breakfast, packing lunches and cooking dinners at the campsite. Taking advantage of free subway fares and ferry tickets available to non-profit groups, the troop members were able to keep costs for the trip down to $90 per person.

Tallarico said the toughest part of the trip for the boys was the three-hour wait for the 1.4-mile parade to start, although he said that, with all the other parade participants also waiting, along with the sheer novelty of being in New York City, the boys found plenty to keep them occupied.

Although he himself lived just outside New York when the Twin Towers were struck, Tallarico said the trip to the 9/11 museum was particularly meaningful for the boys, who were too young to remember or not even born yet when the attacks on the World Trade Center occurred in 2001. The Boy Scouts on the trip are mostly between the ages of 10 and 17. Most had not been to the 9/11 memorial or museum before the trip, he said.

This was Troop 382’s second time walking in New York’s large Veterans’ Day parade. The first time was two years ago. That first trip came about because Tallarico happened to have a personal connection with the person who organized New York City’s parades, who helped him garner the troop a spot in the annual parade.

“I knew somebody,” he said. That trip, he said, “was a big hit, and we decided to make it a bi-annual event.”

Including adult chaperones, 62 people went on the trip.

The experience was valuable for the boys, who practiced their formation a bit beforehand, and who enjoyed the attention from the parade audience, Tallarico said.

“The people clapping made them feel good,” he said.

For himself, Tallarico said he enjoyed seeing service members along the parade route, often wearing hats and other clothing that identified their military connection and often the conflict in which they had served.


County holds workshop on new comp plan

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The Sussex County Council, along with members of the Sussex County Planning & Zoning Commission and County staff met earlier this week for a workshop on the County’s 2018 Comprehensive Plan.

A comprehensive plan, which is required by state law, is a long-range policy guide for decision-making regarding the future of the natural and built environment of a community.

“It’s a narrative. It’s broad ideas,” said County Planning & Zoning Manager Janelle Cornwell. “It’s big ideas of what we want to do.”

“It’s a guidance document,” said John Millen, planning and communications manager for McCormick Taylor, a firm hired by the county to help with the comp plan update.

Millen said they would be looking at trends within the county and identify how they might want to change those trends in a desirable way.

“This will all be vetted by you, the public and stakeholders… We’re going to have a lot of dialogue… because we’re not going to start a final plan until everyone is on the same page.”

Alexis Williams of McCormick Taylor said the plan will be looking as far out as 2045 to establish a set of direction for the county.

She noted that the county has seen much growth, almost on par with Kent County.

“You’re growing faster than many of your neighboring counties,” she said, adding that the county is outpacing the state of Delaware, having issued more than 10,000 building permits since 2008.

Williams noted that the County has received 89 comments on the plan so far, had 283 responses to a public survey conducted in the fall and have close to 100 people signed up to receive email updates.

Through citizen comments, the County knows that the aspects of Sussex County people love include its small-town feel, beaches, low taxes, open space and inland bays.

Williams added that topics brought up included housing, asking for the improvement of housing quality and condition, and providing more affordable housing options.

Many comments included the interest in the creation of a parks-and-recreation department within the County.

Planning & Zoning Commissioner Martin Ross said that, while parks and recreation would be a good addition, there are more pressing items he believes the County should support financially.

“There’s a lot of feel-good things and good ideas and noble things to do in this world. There’s a never-ending list of those. But we cannot forget our obligations to public safety and the roles that are critical to county government.”

“The reason people come here are for the low taxes,” added County Councilman George Cole. “A growing population demanding more services does not equate to low taxes in the future. We, as a council, for the future also have to determine what we want to take on, because everybody moving here from New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania wants something. ‘Why don’t we do this?’ ‘Why don’t we do that?’ At this rate, we haven’t provided many resources, and we’re proud of it… Be careful of going down a path that is going to be a costly path.”

Williams pointed out that many comments received said the commenters would be willing to pay more taxes for those services.

Those in attendance at the workshop were charged with reviewing the County’s current plan and the comments received, and to decide what elements they would want continued in the future plan, what elements they did not like, and what items they would like to see addressed.

“The perception with the general public, I think, is the current land-use plan favors the developing interests of the county, because we’ve been very generous in a lot of areas,” said Cole. “I would like to see, this next land-use plan, the pendulum swings over and people who look at it and the perception would be that this favors, leans toward, supporting the people who live here, call Sussex County their domicile, they go to work, they send their kids to school… The priorities of everything we do should be geared to that element — that live and reside here.”

County officials will next meet to discuss the plan in January. The second round of public hearings will be held next spring, with final review expected to happen at the end of 2017.

For more information about the County’s Comprehensive Plan, to comment or sign up for email updates, visit www.sussexplan.com.

Grimes honored as Sussex County "Woman of Distinction"

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Coastal Point • Susan Lyons: Patti Grimes, center, was named 2016 Sussex County Woman of Distinction by the Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay at a luncheon on Wednesday, Nov. 16.Coastal Point • Susan Lyons: Patti Grimes, center, was named 2016 Sussex County Woman of Distinction by the Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay at a luncheon on Wednesday, Nov. 16.Patti Grimes, executive director of the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation and the Carl M. Freeman Foundation, wears many hats. This week, she dons one more.

Grimes has been named 2016 Sussex County Woman of Distinction by the Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay. She received the award on Wednesday, Nov. 16, during a luncheon at the Rehoboth Beach Country Club. Honorary co-chairs for the event were Delaware First Lady Carla J. Markell and Michelle Freeman; co-chairs were Sandy Taras and Twig Burton.

Grimes, who was a Girl Scout as a child growing up in Boonsboro, Md., has a grown daughter, Marisa, and said she hopes all young girls realize just how much they can change the world.

“I want them to know how valuable they are and how unique and special each person is,” she said.

Citing the three Girl Scout values of courage, confidence and character, Grimes said, “When you’re clear on that, everything else falls into place.”

A graduate of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va., Grimes said she knows well the challenges of growing up in a small town, without much money. Although she was the first in her family to graduate from college, she said she always knew her parents supported her however they could.

Grimes also recalled the support of her high school basketball coach, who took her and her best friend on college tours and “made sure I got to go to basketball camps. She was really just unbelievable. She saw potential in me.”

Asked what she thought when she was a child that she would do when she grew up, Grimes said, “I always thought that I would serve others. It’s always been a value of our family,” she said. Grimes admitted she didn’t exactly have a specific career path in mind, but said “my experiences always opened up the next big thing for me.”

In her current position with the Freeman foundation, Grimes’ work includes building and sustaining relationships with the communities that the foundations serve, while overseeing programming at the Freeman Stage at Bayside, which has hosted more than 300,000 patrons during her tenure. She also oversees the grant management and funding programs of the Carl M. Freeman Foundation.

Grimes was previously vice president of marketing and sales for the Carl M. Freeman Companies, leading its resort-area communities, including Sea Colony, The Preserve, The Cove and The Village at Bear Trap Dunes, as well as the launch of Bayside.

She currently serves as vice-chair of the board of trustees of Delaware Technical Community College and has previously served on of the boards of the United Way of Delaware, the Delaware Symphony Orchestra and the YWCA, and she was the founder of the Sussex Economic Development Action Committee (SEDAC).

Grimes also serves actively in local community associations and volunteers for the Adopt-a-Family and Adopt-A-School programs, as well as other service organizations. She has also served as president of the Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce.

Touching on the theme of empowerment of girls and women, Grimes said she wants girls, especially, to know that beauty comes from “courage, confidence and intelligence” rather than physical attributes.

Although she strives to encourage women and girls in every way she can, Grimes said she is “not a feminist.” Instead, she explained, “I’m a person who stands up for everyone.”

She said she values the community spirit in her adopted hometown of Ocean View and the surrounding area.

“That’s what living here is all about,” she said. “We are a community that cares and that comes out to help those who need help.”

Receiving the Woman of Distinction Award, Grimes said, is “very humbling, because I’m really a person who just wants to be known for the work that gets done,” not for personal gain or credit. “This award is really for everyone who serves,” she said.

The Sussex County Woman of Distinction event “celebrates a woman who has made a difference in her community, inspired others and provided a positive role model for girls and young women,” the Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay said in announcing the award.

Past honorees include Michiko Seto of Blooming Boutique and Sue Krick of the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce. According to the Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay, the Women of Distinction Celebration brings together Sussex County leaders and outstanding young women to celebrate the significant contributions made by women, and celebrates courage, confidence and character of one of Sussex County’s elite businesswomen.

The Women of Distinction program also offers leadership opportunity for teen Girl Scouts, who are invited to mix, mingle and make connections with the Sussex County business leaders and government officials at the events. Girls also serve in leadership positions that help make the event itself successful — including as greeters, leading the pledge and participating in the program.

IRSD’s referendum set for Nov. 22

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The Indian River School District is asking taxpayers to think local when it comes to funding education. The public will vote in a Nov. 22 referendum on whether to approve a 49-cent increase in the local tax rate — primarily to keep up with skyrocketing student enrollment.

Polls will be open 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 residents of the Indian River School District, at least 18 and U.S citizens. Voters must bring proof of identity and residency. They do not need to be registered voters.

Currently, IRSD residents pay $2.578 per $100 of assessed property value. The proposed increase would bring that to $3.068 per $100 of assessed value, which would still be the lowest school tax rate in Sussex County. (For Sussex County tax purposes, property values haven’t been reassessed in decades, so the assessed value of a property is generally much lower than the market value.)

The ballot itself is basically yes-or-no: “For the additional tax” or “against the additional tax.”

The school board is requesting 49 cents of tax per $100 of assessed value, based on the following breakdown:

• Student enrollment growth — 33 cents ($4,950,000 total, for 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)

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

School Board President Charles Bireley said the district asked for that amount because “We’re trying not to come back each year” to request more money of the public.

Additionally, the district needs to rebuild its reserve fund, which has recently been chipped away.

By requesting more local money in certain areas, that will free up general funds to be used at the IRSD’s discretion, said IRSD board member Jim Fritz. Schools are primarily funded through State funding and local property taxes. But the local tax rate for “current expenses” doesn’t change unless the public votes for an increase.

The IRSD’s overall tax rate has actually decreased in the last few years, since the district’s “debt service” tax is like a mortgage payment that can decrease over time and “tuition tax” varies based on students’ special academic needs.

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

Meanwhile, district has been using local funds for items that get no state funding — such as unexpected construction costs and a comprehensive school safety program, including 15 school safety monitors.

But that means the IRSD hasn’t had the money to afford the local share of the additional desks, teachers, administrators, materials and even printer paper that are warranted by the student enrollment increase.

This autumn, the budget shortfall hit hard in every school. Discretionary budgets were slashed at every IRSD school, and the now-reduced district contingency fund finally saw its rainy day.

Superintendent Susan Bunting called the referendum and requested tax increase an investment in everyone’s future, including the adults who will one day rely on services provided by today’s students.

If the referendum fails, the IRSD is allowed to try another referendum in the spring (at which point, the district may also be considering new schools, in a major capital improvement referendum). If it fails again, Bunting said she foresees the firing of 10 percent of IRSD staff, amongst other cuts.

If the referendum is successful, property owners would see the change on their 2017 Sussex County tax bill.

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

Referendum information is online at www.irsd.net/referendum. People can also ask questions via the IRSD referendum hotline, at (302) 436-1079.

Waiting in the wings

The public has had mixed reactions to the proposed tax increase. Some people want to support the schools, including County Councilman Rob Arlett. School Board member Jerry Peden Jr. said some people favor the referendum because a strong education system means higher property values, as real estate listings typically mention the school districts.

Other citizens flat-out oppose a tax increase, or they wanted more data on finances or enrollment than they had. Even the teachers’ union had misconceptions and concerns to address before Indian River Education Association (IREA) officially voted to support the referendum.

And some people are waiting to hear the results of IRSD’s financial audit by the Delaware Office of Auditor of Accounts (AOA).

The audit began in May, after IRSD’s former chief financial officer, Patrick Miller, was placed on administrative and then resigned.

IRSD administrators said they will respond to the audit at a Nov. 18 press conference “to address the state auditor’s report regarding the district’s former chief financial officer.”

State Auditor R. Thomas Wagner Jr. said there are two areas covered by audit investigations: the review of financial policies and procedures that may be problematic, and the potential for legal infractions. As of Coastal Point press time, it was not publicly known whether either area had been found to be of concern for the IRSD.

Look for more information at www.coastalpoint.com and in next week’s issue of the Coastal Point.

BREAKING NEWS: IRSD responds to state auditor report, emphasizes need for referendum passage

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The Indian River School District would still need more money to run schools effectively, said Superintendent Susan Bunting, even without questionable financial dealings that prompted a six-month investigation by Delaware’s Office of Auditor of Accounts (AOA).

The AOA rushed to release the report before IRSD’s Nov. 22 current-expense public referendum. Delaware Auditor R. Tom Wagner gave a rare press conference on Nov. 17 to release the results and get the information out, amid a cramped workweek.

Speculation has run amok since the district’s then-chief financial officer, Patrick Miller, was suddenly placed on a leave of absence, and later retired from the district, earlier this spring. The audit’s timing has made getting support for the referendum an uphill battle for the IRSD.

“We wanted to get this out as soon as possible … give citizens enough time to digest it,” Wagner said.

IRSD Superintendent Susan Bunting pointed out on Nov. 18 that only “0.02 percent of the $700 million that we have been flowing through the district in the last five years” was labeled as imprudent use of funding; lacking total documentation; or that there wasn’t time to find documentation.

“We are very dedicated to spending the taxpayers’ money exactly. The referendum that we are going to on Tuesday truly has nothing to do with this situation,” Bunting emphasized. “We would be going to referendum regardless of that.

“Our revenue had been diminishing due to our increased student counts,” Bunting continued. “We’re the fastest-growing district in the state this year, and we need extra operating expenses because of our additional number of students, because of our investment in security over the last three years,” the hiring of 194 more staff in the past three years and a $3.5 million overage in construction costs above the funds provided by a 2013 referendum.

“Our revenues have been slowly declining, and we now need to replenish our operating-expense flow of monies.”

Wagner agreed that was natural timing for a school district — to build up reserves, spend them and then need a replenishment every five years or so.

Previously, IRSD’s less-thorough audits had never come back showing any issues, “So we had no reasons to suspect we had anything other than stellar performance with our financial system,” Bunting said.

Despite speculation, the report did not indicate that Miller had embezzled money specifically for his personal benefit. However, groups he is personally associated with did receive financial boons from the district during the period covered by the audit. His salary was also the highest of all IR department directors during that period, with Miller also more experience and longevity in that position.

Some items that were questionable in the auditor’s eye were ones Miller’s successor, Director of Business Jeannette “Jan” Steele, said she felt are aboveboard, including a $380 Tiffany & Co. bracelet given to Bunting in recognition of being named a 2012 national school Superintendent of the Year finalist.

Other items were cited as definite conflicts of interest that Board President Charles Bireley said he didn’t know about, such as $20,343 and $32,500 in payments to the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company and the Boys & Girls Club of Oak Orchard/Riverdale, respectively. Miller was board president of both groups.

Miller was also direct the supervisor to his sister-in-law. Although her salary was comparable to others in the same role, that does “constitute nepotism as described in opinions published by the State of Delaware’s Public Integrity Commission,” according to the audit.

Other issues cited included Miller’s alleged intimidation of staff to use their state financial system log-in information; spending of money for in-state meals; and Miller’s managing the sale of a brand-new ATV from the IRVFC to the IRSD, at a $4,565 markup.

“For the entire period of our investigation, the District lacked formal policies and procedures for any of their financial processes,” the audit report began. “Not only did the District lack appropriate oversight and internal controls to prevent and detect financial improprieties, the blind faith placed in the CFO allowed him to create an environment ripe with intimidation tactics, favoritism and nepotism.”

As for putting so much trust in one person, “That was his job,” Bunting said. “We had no indication that things were not being handled accurately, as far as finances went. He’s been working in the district for nearly 20 years. The board had established great trust in him.”

Procedural improvements were instituted in the IRSD after the July hiring of Steele as business director. The personnel director and business director will collaborate to review all district staff payroll, as it was discovered that inconsistencies resulted in some staff being underpaid. They’ll also create an administrative salary step scale, which currently only exists for all other staff. Director of Personnel Celeste Bunting called it “a welcome change.”

Moreover, Bunting had previously said administrators are becoming more knowledgeable in district and education finances. Bireley encouraged his fellow board members to attend Finance Committee meetings to continue that education.

The IRSD’s financial policies and procedures are still looking at an upgrade. Employees are already forbidden from sharing passwords but, when pressed, Bunting said employees will also be discouraged from requesting passwords.

Financial certifications have been done electronically for several years, which reduces use of facsimile signature — something which Miller had allegedly used without at least Bireley’s knowledge.

“One person cannot have too much control over operations at an agency,” said Wagner, who encourages public servants to treat the money like it’s their own lest they risk becoming careless.

Overall, in any organization, the board and the management are responsible for everything that happens, whether or not they’re aware of misdealing, Wagner advised.

As to possible penalties for the infractions found by the audit, Delaware’s Attorney General receives a copy of each auditor report. It’s up to the AG whether or not to press charges. Personally, Wagner said, he’s reported on more egregious acts that weren’t pursued in court. But his job as auditor stops when the report is done.

Meanwhile, the IRSD’s grants to the Boys & Girls Club (for tutoring, life skills, arts, fitness, staff training and more) came from a Federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) grant, parts of which are only meant for special education and services related to children with disabilities.

“We’ve had no contact with the U.S. [Department of Education],” Bunting said. “They haven’t contacted us, and we’ve been awaiting the results of this audit. We’ll be very open and honest and connect with them if we need to do so. … We will be looking at whatever we need to do.”

Finances are reviewed at monthly school board meetings, and also in-depth at Finance Committee meetings, typically held on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. Both meetings are open to the public (although guests should coordinate with IRSD for access to the locked district headquarters building on Tuesday nights).

“A year and half from now, I think Indian River will be running smooth and fine. I know [Susan Bunting] seriously wants to fix those problems. The nice thing with this situation is the problems are easily fixed.”

The audit began with several Fraud Hotline tips from the IRSD and other individuals in the community. Wagner said IRSD staff have cooperated throughout the entire audit process.

The report had its own shortcomings, such as auditor staff not having enough time to properly locate some documents. Working around state holidays, Bunting said, IRSD only had two working days to respond to the report, despite the typical 10-day response period.

Ahead of the Nov. 22 current-expense referendum, which has seen increased scrutiny alongside the audit, Bunting re-iterated the district’s need for funding.

“Our referendum is a request for partnership with the community to continue to support the outstanding education that our students have been receiving,” Bunting said. “We need more operating revenue at this point. A vote for the referendum is a vote for our students.”

Read the Nov. 25 issue of the Coastal Point newspaper, in print and online, for more details on the audit report and district response.

BBVFC rescues dog swept out to sea

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Coastal Point • Submitted : Back on dry land after his ocean rescue, Cruz sits with Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company Chief Brian Martin, owner Jeremy Pentoney, Deputy Chief Shane Truitt and Delaware Animal Services’ Capt. Reed Jones.Coastal Point • Submitted : Back on dry land after his ocean rescue, Cruz sits with Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company Chief Brian Martin, owner Jeremy Pentoney, Deputy Chief Shane Truitt and Delaware Animal Services’ Capt. Reed Jones.Bethany Beach firefighters were among those who recently rescued a dog who had been swept out to sea.

According to the Delaware Division of Public Health, the Delaware Office of Animal Welfare’s Delaware Animal Services (DAS) dispatch center received a call just after 11 a.m. on Nov. 6 about a dog that needed to be rescued from the water about a mile south of the Indian River Inlet.

While swimming, Cruz, a 4-year-old black Labrador retriever, was swept about 500 yards offshore and was unable to return to land on his own. DAS officers were immediately dispatched and requested water rescue equipment and assistance from the Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company.

Two Bethany Beach firefighters in cold-water wetsuits used a personal-watercraft device equipped for water rescues to retrieve Cruz and bring him back to shore. He was assessed by Delaware Animal Services officers, who found him to be cold and tired, but otherwise fine. Cruz was released to go home with his family.

“Cruz was very happy and lucky to be rescued from the frigid water,” said DAS Capt. Reed Jones. “Dog owners should always use caution around water. Keeping dogs on a leash and under control of their owner is critical to their safety. Luckily, Cruz’s owners contacted Delaware Animal Services, and trained rescuers were able to get to him in time.”

The OAW advised residents not to attempt to rescue animals in distress on their own, especially around cold water or ice. Animal-related emergencies can be reported to the 24-hour Delaware Animal Services hotline at (302) 255-4646.

‘Girls Just Want to Have Fun’ aims to help girls who want to go to school

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Coastal Point photos • Submitted: Girls, gather at a school in the Nepalese region of Helambu on the day the school reopened one year after being damaged by an earthquake in April 2016.Coastal Point photos • Submitted: Girls, gather at a school in the Nepalese region of Helambu on the day the school reopened one year after being damaged by an earthquake in April 2016.A “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” evening of socializing, shopping, entertainment, food and drink in Bethany Beach will benefit girls thousands of miles away who just want an education.

The irony of that is not lost on the event’s coordinators, Harriett Nettles and Sedona restaurant owner Marion Parrott.

The event, scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 1, is a fundraiser for the Helambu Education & Livelihood Project (HELP), which seeks to build schools in remote parts of Nepal. Helambu, Nettles said, is “one of the poorest and most illiterate regions of Nepal. The only way to get there is to trek from Katmandu.”

Nettles, who lives in Asheville, N.C., first traveled to Nepal as a volunteer with Children of the Earth. There, she said, she met a young man named Jimmy Lama, who was the first person in his village to graduate from secondary school and had started HELP as a way to give back to his community.

The schools’ focus is on educating girls from the region, so that they might have a better chance of avoiding a fate common to girls there.

“Women in this area are particularly vulnerable to sex trafficking,” Nettles said, “because they are uneducated, very poor and very beautiful.”

Young girls are often lured across the border into India with promises of jobs, and many end up in brothels, Nettles said. They want to help provide income for their families, but their options are limited by their lack of schooling.

“That’s why educating these girls is so important, so that they’re able to get a job and they are valuable to their family,” she said.

The “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” fundraiser will benefit scholarship funds for the Helambu schools. There is currently funding for 70 scholarships, but 350 girls apply for them each year. Nettles said she hopes to not only provide scholarships for more girls, but to make the scholarships themselves more complete.

“They are very meager scholarships,” she noted.

Parrott first met Nettles when Nettles visited Sedona with a friend who had a home in Bethany Beach. The two women bonded over their experiences in Nepal. Parrott said she had done similar “Girls” fundraisers for years to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, in honor of a friend who died from the disease. She said she hadn’t held them for several years, but last summer, “Harriett and I were talking about the girls in Nepal,” and the idea to resurrect the fundraiser was born.

“I said, ‘I know of a way’” to raise funds for HELP, Parrott said.

Parrott’s eyes were opened to the plight of girls in Nepal when she traveled there on a trek in 2013, she said.

“I went over to climb and hike and just see the country. When I got over there, I realized how much people needed,” she said. “The simple things that we take for granted, they just don’t have.”

“We’re a privileged lot that lives down here,” Parrott said.

“People say, ‘Why are you bothering with Nepal?’ when there is so much need in this country,” Nettles said. The answer, she said, is that the need there is so great. “Need is relative, and as Americans, we are so fortunate,” she said.

Public welcome to rare look at botanic garden

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Coastal Point • Susan Lyons: From left, Peggie Ravida, Karen Dudley, Selma Tepper, Greg Tepper, Janet Point and Carol McCloud volunteered last week to get some work done at the Delaware Botanic Gardens at Pepper Creek.Coastal Point • Susan Lyons: From left, Peggie Ravida, Karen Dudley, Selma Tepper, Greg Tepper, Janet Point and Carol McCloud volunteered last week to get some work done at the Delaware Botanic Gardens at Pepper Creek.Beside a quiet country road, sunny fields stretch toward a leafy forest that hides beauties within. A 37-acre public garden is coming to Dagsboro, and the public is being invited to the groundbreaking of Delaware Botanic Gardens at Pepper Creek on Thursday, Dec. 1.

Public tours will begin at 10 a.m., focusing on the Woodlands pathways down to Pepper Creek. The ceremony will begin sometime between 11 and 11:30 a.m.

It’s been several years since the volunteer group formed to create a “world-class, inspirational, educational” public garden on Piney Neck Road, just outside of Dagsboro.

“It’s a seminal event,” said Ray Sander, board treasurer. It’s perhaps the first public opportunity to witness what’s happening behind the scenes. “They can take a tour there and see what we’ve done. … We’re moving ahead.”

People can explore the newly-cut forest pathways to the gently flowing Pepper Creek. They’ll walk inside the giant “bird nests” that Director of Horticulture Gregory Tepper made from excess brush and branches.

One day, the meadow will stand beside a pond, pavilion and wedding area. The forest will have ADA-accessible paths. The waterfront view will be designed to surprise every visitor in the woodlands.

Until then, this groundbreaking is the capstone on a great year for the Delaware Botanic Gardens. They surpassed a major fundraising goal, which triggered more grant funding. Sussex County has approved nearly all final site plans, so DBG just needs some permits. Internationally-acclaimed designer Piet Oudolf sent plans for creating the meadow, and DBG leaders are scheduling plant acquisitions from local nurseries.

“It’s just a good way to end 2016 on a nice high note,” Sander said.

Special guests for the groundbreaking will include Gov. Jack Markell, Delaware First Lady Carla Markell (chair of the DBG Advisory Board), Eleuthere du Pont of the Longwood Foundation (donors to the project) and other dignitaries.

Behind the scenes, a “dream team” of renowned design professionals are creating the garden’s master plan, including architecture firm Lake/Flato, meadow designer Oudolf and Delaware designer Rodney Robinson of RAS Landscape Architects.

The public can still help by contributing donations, becoming members or volunteering.

“We’re encouraging people to become members,” because that has a big impact, especially at the end of the tax year, Sander said. “We’d love for people to think about the botanic garden.”

Donations may be made online at www.delawaregardens.org or by check mailed to Delaware Botanic Gardens; P.O. Box 1390; Ocean View, DE 19970.

Southern Delaware Botanic Gardens Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Anyone interested in attending the groundbreaking should RSVP by emailing sherylswed@gmail.com.

The garden site is located on Piney Neck Road, about 1.5 miles from Main Street in Dagsboro.


Police continue to investigate Millsboro homicide

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The Delaware State Police this week were in the midst of investigating a homicide that occurred last week.

On Wednesday, Nov. 16, around 11:50 p.m., the Millsboro Police Department responded to a call about an unconscious man lying partially in the roadway on West Monroe and Houston streets.

Emergency medical services responded to the scene and declared the victim, Darrin T. Gibbons, 30, of Millsboro, deceased. A subsequent autopsy conducted by the Delaware Division of Forensic Science determined his cause of death to be a homicide by gunshot wound.

The Delaware State Police were contacted by Millsboro police and assumed the investigation.

According to the DSP, detectives this week were continuing conducting interviews and collecting evidence to determine the circumstances surrounding the homicide. As of Nov. 21, no suspect information was available.

Police are asking that if anyone has information in reference to the incident, they contact Detective M. Csapo at (302) 698-8427. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333, via the internet at www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com or by sending an anonymous tip by text to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword “DSP.”

Lighthouse Christian students honor veterans

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Coastal Point • Shaun M. Lambert: Kindergarteners and first-graders sing ‘My Flag’­ during Lighthouse Christian School’s Veterans Day program on Friday, Nov. 18.Coastal Point • Shaun M. Lambert: Kindergarteners and first-graders sing ‘My Flag’­ during Lighthouse Christian School’s Veterans Day program on Friday, Nov. 18.“Our veterans are very special to us. We pray our program shows them how much we care,” said second-grader Megan Brining, who opened Lighthouse Christian School’s (LCS) annual Veterans Day program with a prayer.

The program, held on Nov. 18, featured a presentation of the colors, the “Pledge of Allegiance” and seventh-grader Izzy Donihue singing “The Star Spangled Banner,” and focused on honoring all branches of the military services.

Eighth-grader Danny Williams introduced Airman 1st class Rudy Viguie, who served as F-86 crew chief in the U.S. Air Force, noting the branch was created in 1947, after President Truman signed the National Security Act.

“What did the Air Force do to me as an individual?” said Viguie. “In 1952, I was a 16-year-old kid growing up on the streets of New York City, totally unsupervised. I came from a single-parent home, basically did what I wanted. I don’t know how I stayed out of trouble.

“At age 17 — six days after I turned 17 — I went away to the Air Force and did the military thing. You know, that first day in the military, you’re a civilian; 16 weeks later, you’re a different person.”

Viguie said what has stuck with him through the years is, “Yes, sir,” “No, sir” and “No excuse, sir.”

After mechanic school, Viguie became a crew chief, at 18.

“I went to Korea for a year. Like everybody here, we are the fortunate ones — we came back. Nobody shot at me, nobody dropped bombs on me; I was fortunate. I came back, and I’ve never forgot it.”

After leaving the Air Force, Viguie worked in the aviation field and, at 81, is still working. His wife, Pat, who organized the event, noted Viguie had recently been presented with a lifetime achievement award from ALD Ltd.

Eighth-grader Alexis Birdsong introduced 1st Sgt. Waymon Harmon Jr. of the Delaware National Guard.

“The primary duty of the Army is not only to protect and defend not only the U.S. but also its interests around the world through the use of ground troops, artillery and tactical weapons,” said Birdsong. “As the oldest branch of the military, the Army protects the security of the U.S. and its resources.”

Harmon thanked the school and its students for their program.

“We always look forward to coming to your program. You do something different every year, and it’s always exciting. We really enjoy the interaction.”

Harmon, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps prior to joining the National Guard, said the Delaware National Guard dates back to 1655, when Swedish immigrants in New Castle County were asked to defend Fort Christina.

“In 1903, we were actually established as a legitimate component of the United States Army and the United States National Guard.

“The one thing I love about the Delaware National Guard is that it’s multifaceted. We do quite a bit. We’re in the states, we’re in the communities, and we can deploy overseas, as well to assist our brothers and sisters as needed.”

Harmon said the Guard has been busy since 1903, but what the branch loves the most is its interaction with the community.

“It’s awesome to wear the uniform and be a part of your community and to help make someone’s life better. … We strongly encourage those that may be looking to be productive in society that want to be a part of something great to consider us. Consider working in your community alongside fellow soldiers from all walks of life.

“I smile every day when I go to work. I’m smiling when I roll through the gate and when I leave. These are just a great bunch of folks to work with.”

Boatswain Mate 3rd Class Abraham Zepeda of the U.S. Coast Guard was introduced by seventh-grader Matt Tilghman.

“The primary assignment of the Coast Guard is to provide law-enforcement support, as well as rescue services,” said Tilghman.

Zepeda, who is stationed at the Indian River Inlet, said a lot of people don’t know what the Coast Guard does.

“We go out and save anybody who’s in distress,” he said. “I wanted to join to serve and to help save others. I wanted to get out there, do the jobs most other people wouldn’t do, and take up the challenges that most people wouldn’t dare to take.”

After his presentation, Zepeda gave the students the opportunity to ask him a few questions.

“Why do we send supplies to people?” repeated Zepeda. “A lot of times people can’t get to supplies. Maybe they’re stuck. I know in Hurricane Katrina, there were people whose homes were flooded; they couldn’t get to their cars and back to safety. The Coast Guard came out, delivered them supplies; we got them out of their homes and back to safety.”

Zepeda said it was a true honor to have been invited to the program and be in a room with so many veterans.

Sixth-grader Chance Hocker introduced Sgt. Ret. Jim Lafferty of the U.S. Marine Corps.

“It was established in the Continental Congress in November 1775. The primary function of the Marine Corps is to act as an assault force to patrol beaches and prepare the land for landing forces of the United States Navy.”

“This is my first time here, but I’m coming back,” said Lafferty. “When I look and see the patriotism here and hear the songs they sing about the flag… I know now the country is in good hands.”

Lafferty graduated from high school at 17 and didn’t know what he was going to do with his life.

“One night at dinner, I informed my parents I was going to join the military. Well, that ruined the dinner. There was no dessert that night,” he recalled.

After speaking to one of his cousins who was a Marine, Lafferty said he knew he wanted to serve his country as a Marine.

“There was something unique about him and his approach, and the way he spoke about the Marine Corps. There was a certain element of pride that he had. He was so happy to share with someone about the Corps,” he said, noting that the Corps seemed more like a brotherhood than a branch of the service.

At 18, Lafferty joined the Marine Corps and “woke up” in Parris Island.

“It was more mental than physical,” he said of his training there. “They take people from every walk of life, all over the country and mold them into a unit. You lose your individuality but you end up becoming a team.”

Sixth-grader Elie Christenbury introduced Petty Officer 2nd Class Richard Rothenhoefer of the U.S. Navy.

“[The Navy] is primarily assigned the duty of maintaining and assuring freedom on the open seas,” she said, adding that it was created through the Continental Congress in 1775.

Rothenhoefer said he was a member of the Navy from 1965 to 1969, as a hospital corpsman and petty officer. At that time, Rothenhoefer said, men were either being drafted or enlisting in the branch of their choice.

“I had already gone to school for X-ray technology and was working as an X-ray technician at a civilian hospital. I felt the Navy would allow me to continue my career in medicine while serving my country.”

While working at the Philadelphia Naval Hospital, working as a hospital corpsman and X-ray technician, Rothenhoefer met his wife, Sue. After they were married, he was transferred to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.

“Our daughter Lynn was born there and was 2 months old when I left for Vietnam.

“You know, it’s funny — I joined the Navy thinking I’d be on a ship, but the Navy decided my sea duty would not be on a ship but on an island in Vietnam. In May 1968, I went to Vietnam to be one of the many Navy corpsmen assigned to a special combined action patrol made up of eight to 10 Marines and about 20 Vietnamese Popular Force soldiers and me.

“The Marines had nicknamed me ‘Doc.’ My job was to provide medical care to the Marines and Vietnamese soldiers. We lived in the village with the Vietnamese people. We ate with them and held sick-hall days for them.”

Rothenhoefer said they hoped to gain the trust of the Vietnamese people in order for them to share secrets with the U.S.

“It was hard being away from my family, especially my little girl, but God was good to me and brought me home safely.”

LCS teacher Laura Ennis, with her son Henry, a first-grader, spoke of her father, the late Sgt. 1st Class James Podlas of the 101st Airborne Army, who is interred at Arlington National Cemetery.

“This hallowed ground holds the remains of our nation’s most valuable resources — our soldiers. This sacred ground is not for sale or for purchase. Each spot is earned by the courage and the loyalty of the men and women who serve these United States of America.”

Ennis said her father left his home and boyhood behind to serve his nation during the Vietnam War.

“While others sought to criticize and protest, my father chose to defend and protect. My father returned home from war as a different person.

“At this time in history, our Vietnam veterans were not afforded a hero’s welcome that they so rightly deserved. Instead, the nation seemed to ignore their valor and swept their sacrifices under the rug.”

Podlas passed away on July 4, 2016. He was interred in Arlington National Cemetery last month.

“My father has received a hero’s welcome at last,” said Ennis. “I am proud to be the daughter of a Vietnam veteran. My son Henry and I are honored to be standing here today with everyone who has served, past and present. Our veterans are truly the fabric of our democracy.”

Following the presentations, the event included the White Table POW/MIA Remembrance ceremony, in which a table is set, symbolizing those missing and lost in the country’s wars.

Terri Menoche, director of LCS, thanked the veteran and active-duty servicemen and -women who attended the program for their service.

“That’s why we’re trying to train up generations to never forget that freedom does not come free. There is a cost. And it is an amazing cost that you and many of your fellow comrades have paid — a tremendous price… And many of the family members. There’s a tremendous sacrifice.”

Following the program, all the servicemen and -women were asked to line the front of the sanctuary and, one by one, each student and civilian in attendance shook the hand of the veterans and thanked them for their service.

“The nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave,” said Menoche.

“What a great event! It’s an inspiration. I wish all the schools would take advantage of this and join in the patriotism of this country,” said Harmon following the program. “It would be so cool to instill that patriotism back into the public school system. The love of the country that you feel here is awesome. It brings out all the branches of the service. The spirit and enthusiasm they have here is definitely awesome.”

BREAKING NEWS: IRSD referendum fails by 20 votes

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On the local level, every vote counts. On Tuesday, Nov. 22, the Indian River School District’s current-expense referendum was defeated by a margin of just 20 votes.

On Wednesday morning, the Sussex County Department of Elections’ unofficial results were 3,321 in favor and 3,341 against. (That was a decrease from the IRSD’s unofficial Tuesday-night count of 3,351 against. The Department of Elections will release the certified results within 16 days.)

“While disappointed, we respect the wishes of our public and the workings of the democratic process,” IRSD Superintendent Susan Bunting said on Tuesday night. “In the coming weeks, we will go back to the drawing board to re-evaluate our needs and formulate strategies to accommodate our rapid growth in student enrollment.”

The proposed 49-cent increase (per $100 of assessed Sussex County property taxes) would raise about $7.35 million in the 2017 tax cycle. Money was proposed to fund student enrollment growth (desks, supplies and new teacher salaries), school safety, technology, textbooks and extracurricular student organizations.

Public support varied among the six polling places, from 40 percent approval rate at Long Neck Elementary to 54 percent approval at East Millsboro Elementary. (Those numbers have not yet been confirmed by the Department of Elections.)

Now, for district officials, it’s time to analyze the numbers and try again.

“Right now, it looks like — particularly in the Long Neck area — we need to do some more work,” Bunting said.

And they can try again. School districts may go to referendum twice per fiscal year. They just need to give the Department of Elections 60 days’ notice.

“The Board of Education will consider many options, including the possibility of another referendum in 2017,” most likely in late January or early February, Bunting said.

The next school board meeting is Monday, Nov. 28, at 7 p.m. at Indian River High School.

If the district cannot get the votes, proposed budget cuts could include the reduction of about 10 percent of staff, or about 150 employees.

The slim voting margin (0.3 percent) could be considered good or bad for the district. On one hand, it’s a bitterly close loss. On the other hand, they only need to convince a small number of people to go out and support the referendum to swing the results to success.

The voter turnout (6,662 voters) was approximately 150 more people than participated in the IRSD’s last referendum. In January of 2013, the public approved both a bond issue to build new classrooms and a new kitchen, and a current-expense issue to provide materials and salaries for those classrooms, by 69 percent and 66 percent, respectively.

Currently, schools are packing in an average of about 320 additional students annually, for the last five years. Those kids need resources, Bunting has said.

In the last two months, the district has already gained about 100 more students from the official Sept. 30 count, meaning they’ve now surpassed 10,500 total students.

“I think [voters] really need to think about the numbers, because … we continue to grow,” Bunting said.

“They’ll, hopefully, realize that need impacts our teachers and make sure that our students have the public support with the extra operating expenses. I’ve said it over and over again,” Bunting added. “Their vote [outcome] today was not for the students — the referendum is for the benefit of the students and their education.”

The referendum was hindered by the issues involved in the district audit released five days prior by Delaware Office of Auditor of Accounts (AOA), which found misuse of funds, poor oversight, nepotism and other faults within IRSD’s finances — some issues attributed to the former chief financial officer.

Although he noted the timing was unfortunate, State Auditor R. Thomas Wagner Jr. said he wanted voters to have the facts when going to the polls. Rumors have buzzed about the district’s finances since April, when the IRSD’s former CFO, Patrick Miller, was placed on leave, then resigned, and IRSD officials and other individuals contacted the AOA for an official review.

Due to ongoing investigations, Bunting said she could not comment on any potential lawsuits or reparations of funds — or who is doing the investigating.

“Our audits have come back clean every time we were audited. So this was an issue that was a bit of a surprise to us,” she said. “We’ve already begin putting in some new practices — with a new business director, you always put in new practices” to address the auditor’s concerns.

“We thank the public for its past support of our schools,” Bunting said, “and assure residents that we remain committed to providing their children with the best education possible.”

The future is still bright at Miken

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Coastal Point • Darin McCann: Mike Cummings, center, with sons Sean and Patrick, look toward the future with Miken Builders.Coastal Point • Darin McCann: Mike Cummings, center, with sons Sean and Patrick, look toward the future with Miken Builders.There was a look of pride on the face of Mike Cummings as he sat in his conference room earlier this week.

The driving force and CEO of Miken Builders in Millville was enjoying the fact that his company was celebrating 30 years of doing business, and that their spinoff, BetterLiving of Delmarva, was in its eighth year of constructing sunrooms, porch enclosures and awnings.

He was proud of the fact that his average employee has worked with Miken for more than 10 years, that he has worked with Contractors for a Cause for nearly 20 years and was actively involved in the construction of Justin’s Beach House — the respite home in Bethany Beach for families affected by cancer. And he was most certainly proud of the two young men who shared the conference-room table with him.

Patrick is the sales manager at BetterLiving, and Sean is a project manager for Miken. They are both well-versed in the ways of Miken and know that each project they take on must live up to the high standards long-attributed to the company.

They are also Mike Cummings’ sons.

“We’re here preparing for the future of Miken’s management,” said a smiling Mike Cummings. “I enjoy the business more than ever now, working with them, and it really gives me peace of mind seeing how they’ve grown up and taken to responsibility. We’re in good hands with them.”

Cummings started the family business as a 26-year-old in 1986 in Wilmington. He and his wife, Kathy, bought their first home in this area in 1989 and decided to relocate Miken to the beach in 1993. His daughter, Katie, is now married and living in South Carolina — working in the medical field, just as Kathy Cummings has done in her career.

They maintained an office in Wilmington until “five or six years ago,” according to Mike Cummings.

And things have changed.

“There was a time when we were probably doing 70 percent commercial work and 30 percent residential,” said Mike Cummings. “Now, we’re probably at 80 percent residential, though we do still do some commercial projects for local people.” He cited the Bethany Boathouse restaurant and GiggleBugs Early Learning Center in Millsboro as some recent examples of their work.

And the reputation of quality work at Miken is only a benefit to the sons as the company goes forward.

“It’s a great situation,” explained Patrick Cummings, talking about BetterLiving. “The reputation of our work has already been established through Miken. We hold ourselves accountable to that higher standard, and now it is our job to build that reputation further down the road.”

“It really is,” added Sean Cummings. “And now, as we move forward, we are keeping an eye on the trends in the building world. It’s our job to identify those trends, figure out what our customers really want and make that happen. People can see our homes and projects and know it is a Miken job.”

BetterLiving has seen substantial growth in its relatively-short history as well. According to Mike Cummings, the company’s first year saw them employ one work crew, and they brought in approximately $300,000. BetterLiving employed three crews this past year and billed out more than $1 million.

“We’re always learning things we can do better, but we’ve come a long way since the start,” said Patrick Cummings.

He said that the majority of their customers spend the majority of their time at home in rooms built by BetterLiving and that the company only uses materials made in the United States. He also suggested that a 50-year warranty on their work — one that can be transferred to a new homeowner — is a major plus to their customers.

Both branches of Miken face different kinds of challenges building in the area, as opposed to other places, because of the basic elements.

“Up north, there are trees or other buildings to block a lot of the wind, but here you just get salt water and high winds really hitting homes and businesses,” explained Mike Cummings. “You have to take that into account in your building.”

They also have to take into account that they are often building homes or sunrooms for people who see this as a second home and aren’t within an easy drive to meet or observe the status of a project.

“[Customers] are often surprised when I tell them we can be available over the weekend,” said Sean Cummings. “But, you have to answer your phone at any time. You have to be there for the customer every step of the way. It builds trust.”

Miken also uses a Basecamp site, where customers can monitor the progress of their homes online. If a customer has a question, that query automatically goes to everyone on the job, from electricians to drywallers to superintendents to the Cummings family. Someone will be able to answer that question quickly. It’s a changing time, and the company appears to be embracing that change.

As for the future of Miken?

“We’re going to be in good hands,” said Mike. “These two are the future here, and there are a lot of good, experienced people we have on staff. I feel real good about where we’re going.”

Sea Colony median to become stormwater wetland

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Coastal Point • Google Maps: Officials from the Center for the Inland Bays say the stormwater wetland that will replace the slip ramp of Pennsylvania Avenue will reduce polluting runoff, while officials with the Delaware Department of Transportation hope it will improve pedestrian safety as well.Coastal Point • Google Maps: Officials from the Center for the Inland Bays say the stormwater wetland that will replace the slip ramp of Pennsylvania Avenue will reduce polluting runoff, while officials with the Delaware Department of Transportation hope it will improve pedestrian safety as well.Wetlands are coming to the highway between Bethany Beach and South Bethany, for the good of Mother Nature and pedestrians.

Sea Colony’s Route 1 intersection will likely be reconfigured in 2018 to allow for a small stormwater wetlands project just east of the highway.

Northbound traffic currently splits near the Sea Colony traffic signal. Cars either curve left on the highway or shoot down a right-hand fork to Pennsylvania Avenue and downtown Bethany.

“We’re going to take that slip ramp of Pennsylvania Avenue out,” said Marianne Walch of the Center for the Inland Bays, “so that, instead of just coming off at full speed off the highway into Bethany there, people will have to turn right at the light.”

Although the intersection will change, the overall traffic configuration won’t. Those same cars would drive to the traffic signal and turn hard right.

The slip ramp wouldn’t be destroyed completely. A 10-foot lane of asphalt would remain for cyclists and pedestrians. And the grassy, triangular median would expand into a new stormwater pond and wetland area that will treat drainage from Coastal Highway and parts of Sea Colony.

“It’s going to be more of a constructed wetland, so there will be some open water and some wetland plants that will help treat the water,” said Walch, the CIB’s Science & Restoration coordinator.

The CIB helped to coordinate the project because stormwater runoff is poisoning local bodies of water. When rainwater washes off the land or highway, it carries all of the chemicals, oil, fertilizer, bacteria and other nutrients with it. Those wash into storm drains that, in this case, lead to South Bethany’s Anchorage Canal. Those “nutrients” aren’t so nutritious for the bays, causing algae blooms and reducing oxygen for other aquatic life.

But native plants thrive on nitrogen and phosphorus, and they can at least trap petroleum products that would otherwise flow into the water. During heavy rainstorms, water could accumulate in the wetlands and filter slowly through the earth. An overflow pipe would carry any excess water toward Anchorage Canal.

Currently, South Bethany canals get most of the highway stormwater from Sea Colony, Middlesex Beach and southernmost parts of Bethany Beach.

“That water comes down toward us, goes underground through the sewer systems, dumps into our forebay” at Anchorage Canal, said South Bethany Town Councilman Frank Weisgerber. “That [wetland] they’re going to build will capture all that, and it’ll absorb it. And if it gets too heavy, it’ll rise up, but it’ll be filtered.”

Meanwhile, most of the South Bethany canals are suffering from pollution and poor circulation.

“It’s going to be an attractive project. It’s going to enhance the aesthetics of the area, pedestrian safety, biker safety, and do some significant improvements to the stormwater,” Walch said. “So it’s going to be a win-win for the community.”

Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) officials have said they the safety benefits to pedestrians, whose current Pennsylvania Avenue crosswalk is directly in the path of traffic exiting Route 1 at 35 mph.

DelDOT approved $120,000 for the design through their Transportation Alternatives Program. (“That means we cleared a big hurdle,” Weisgerber said.) But that’s a long process, starting with land surveys, traffic studies and more. Construction would begin after that, likely in 2018. Project design is by Rummel Klepper & Kahl (RK&K), headquartered in Baltimore.

The overall project could cost around $750,000 total, with contributions from Sea Colony (20 percent) and the CIB. Bethany Beach and Middlesex Beach have also been consulted.

“They’ve got us all involved to make sure one town doesn’t say, ‘Well, you didn’t consult with us,’” Weisgerber said. “Sea Colony is very interested in getting this done, because they’ve had a lot of close calls” with pedestrians.

Sea Colony leaders see many positive impacts: Beautification of “an otherwise plain median,” plus “cleaner water for Assawoman Bay, which is big deal, and thus a healthier environment, and an aesthetic enhancement to the general area,” said Tom Olson, association management for Resort Quest and Sea Colony. “All of these cooperative initiatives reflect a desire to protect the environment and improve pedestrian safety.”

“One of the main purposes is to treat stormwater before it gets to the canal, so it’ll be a drainage pond,” said Todd Pryor, planner for DelDOT’s Transportation Alternatives Program. “This one’ll be planted with native plants and such, so it’s going to be a good project. That’s just my opinion. I like doing what we can to improve the environment.”

The project fit into DelDOT’s acceptable activities, so they moved forward.

Responsibility for pond maintenance and other details will be decided later in the project.

This is the last major project in multi-year plan to reduce pollution entering the Anchorage Canal (officially the “Conceptual Pollution and Stormwater Control Strategy for the Anchorage Canal Drainage Area”).

“The CIB and the communities down there worked together to develop a watershed plan for the Anchorage [area] … over the last five, six years,” Walch said.

They’ve sought grants to help fund other projects along Route 1, such as bio-retention areas and infiltration trenches — all designed to more naturally filter water. The idea originated with South Bethany’s Canal Water Quality Committee, which approached the CIB and others for help.

“We were doing this as a demonstration of what a community can do with other organizations. We use [South Bethany] as an example all the time,” Walch said.

When neighborhoods have community support and partner with the CIB, they can accomplish more for their surrounding habitat. The CIB partners with citizens for many projects, including the Your Creek program, helping people care for their smaller, local waterways.

In 2016, despite contrary results elsewhere, the Anchorage Canal saw improvements in dissolved oxygen levels and bacteria count (perhaps due to rain garden impact and a recent forebay cleanout).

Meanwhile, the Sea Colony wetland is the only environmental project of its kind currently under way under DelDOT’s Transportation Alternatives Program. Other pedestrian-safety projects include a Route 54 sidewalk (still in design phase), Streetscapes, First State Trails & Pathways and Safe Routes to School.

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