Teresa 'Terry' TiemanFenwick Island’s new town manager is bringing with her decades of experience. Teresa “Terry” Tieman will arrive at town hall on Jan. 23, having already won multiple awards in her five-plus years as Harrington’s city manager and 23 years as a senior city administrator in Dover.

“She’s got a really good background we’re excited about,” said Fenwick Mayor Gene Langan. “She has about 28 years of municipal government experience.”

Coming from the City of Harrington, Tieman (“TEE-man”) has a master’s degree in business administration. In Harrington, she said, her biggest impact was capital improvements to infrastructure and improved billing. Tieman won the 2015 City Manager of the Year award from the Delaware League of Local Governments.

In Dover, she did billing, collections, budgeting and new-project planning. She has also worked alongside, but not necessarily above, Harrington’s police chief.

“The chief of police here and I have had a really good working relationship. We’ve been team members. We’ve worked together to get things done,” Tieman said. “And I’m looking forward to having that in Fenwick.

She had met other town staff only during her interview but said she was looking forward to working with them and then all of town council at the Jan. 27 council meeting

After considering about 30 applicants, the town council offered Tieman the position just before Christmas. Police Chief William “Bill” Boyden has served as interim town manager since July of 2016, when Merritt Burke IV left to lead the Sussex County Association of Realtors (SCAOR) staff.

“I’m really thrilled and excited and honored to be their new town manger,” Tieman said. “I’m approachable. If they have an issue — or they have a solution — I would like to hear about it,” Tieman said.

Fenwick’s population (in the hundreds) swells to the thousands in summertime.

That also makes for water-related issues, such as beach replenishment and canal maintenance, which Fenwick’s Ad-hoc Financial Committee is researching.

“That is something I’m not used to, so I’m getting my feet wet,” Tieman joked of her wintertime hiring, before the summer bustle.

At some point, all beach towns seem to hear the complaint that they’re doing crucial business during the slow winter season “when no one is there.”

“I think there are ways to reach out to people to let them know what’s being done,” she said.

Indeed, Langan announced months ago that one of the new hire’s first tasks would be a technology audit.

“You have to use technology and be smart with it. I’ve been successful doing that here and in Dover,” to improve and make services easier, Tieman said.

“After meeting with the town council, I felt like the council is a team, and they work in a cohesive effort, and they have the best intentions for the town,” Tieman said.

Otherwise, she’s not planning any major overhaul at Town Hall.

“When I came to Harrington, I observed a lot, and then made decisions,” Tieman said. “Unless there is something I would consider an emergency — and I don’t see that in Fenwick — … I can go in there and observe and make changes where the council or I see fit.”

As an administrator, Tieman said she tries to be inclusive but also to let people do their jobs.

“The staff are your work family, so you want to include them on the decisions” so people feel more invested in the outcome, she said. “I try to be collaborative, and fair and consistent. You have to always try to look to do the right thing.”

Her impression of Fenwick Island?

“It’s a close-knit community,” she said. “I think it has a great charm, in that you see a lot of cottages and that kind of thing, which — I think it’s a family-oriented community. I know my own grandchildren visit Fenwick on a regular basis. … It’s a great place to vacation, and I think it’ll be a good place to work!”

Growing up in a small Pennsylvania town, Tieman said she was charmed by the shore after moving to Delaware.

“I love Fenwick. From the time I came to Delaware, I’ve always enjoyed visiting Fenwick as a tourist. When it became available,” she said of the post, she and her husband decided the time was ripe to move full-time into their Lewes beach house.

“I love spending time with my grandchildren. They are the best,” Tieman said. “And I like to read and go to the beach.”

She also currently serves as president of the City Manager’s Association of Delaware and interim president for Women Leading Government’s Delaware chapter.

The Delaware State Police are currently seeking information on the whereabouts of an 18-year-old Wilmington man and a 19-year-old Dover man after an incident in West Fenwick on late on Saturday, Jan. 14, in which the two allegedly burglarized an apartment and fired a gun at two teenage residents who entered the building to investigate.

Tanner McElwee, 18, of Wilmington, is being sought by state police after a burglary and shooting incident in West Fenwick on Jan. 14, 2017.: Tanner McElwee, 18, of Wilmington, is being sought by state police after a burglary and shooting incident in West Fenwick on Jan. 14, 2017.

Police have requested the public's assistance in locating Andrew Mudry, 19, of Dover, and Tanner C. McElwee, 18, of Wilmington, after a report of gunshots being fired around 10:45 p.m. on Saturday. The DSP reported that McElwee and Mudry had allegedly broken into an apartment over a garage on Signature Boulevard in the Bayside community and ransacked the interior.

The occupant of the apartment was not home at the time, police noted, but the 15-year-old brother of the occupant went to investigate and call 911, when he and a 16-year-old friend were allegedly confronted by McElwee and Mudry at the bottom of the steps to the apartment.

Andrew Mudry, 19, of Dover is being sought by police after a burglary and shooting incident in West Fenwick on Jan. 14, 2017.: Andrew Mudry is being sought by police after a burglary and shooting incident in West Fenwick on Jan. 14, 2017.

Police said it was at that time that McElwee allegedly pulled a handgun from his waistband and fired one round at the two boys, striking the exterior of the garage where they were standing. According to the DSP, the two young victims then sought cover back inside the apartment until troopers arrived, and neither was injured in the incident.

Police reported that McElwee and Mudry then fled the area in an unknown direction and were believed to possibly be driving a grey Honda Civic with a large dent on the side, with unknown registration.

The DSP noted that the pair were already wanted on numerous counts of Felony Theft, Criminal Trespass and Conspiracy, related to their alleged involvement in thefts from motor vehicles in the Smyrna, Clayton and Kenton areas dating back to at least October of 2016 and may be living at various locations throughout the state. McElwee is now facing an additional count of Burglary 1st and two counts of Reckless Endangering as a result of the incident in West Fenwick.

Police said McElwee and Mudry should be considered armed and dangerous. If anyone should come into contact with them or know their whereabouts, they are being asked to contact 911 immediately. 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.”

Coastal Point • Submitted: Glenn Layton kneels at the grave of a distant cousin, William Layton.Thousands of soldiers died in the Civil War. But those who survived also hold a special place in history. Now, the Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War hope to recognize the gravesites of every Civil War veteran buried in Delaware.

Nearly two years into their mission, the Lt. Col. David L. Stricker Camp #64 has placed nearly 200 small, star-shaped markers at veteran graves.

“We’re trying to identify every soldier in the state that fought for the state of Delaware in that war but does not have any recognition on their stone,” said volunteer Dan Cowgill. “When we find them, we place a marker.”

This November, they honored two veterans at Red Men’s Cemetery in Selbyville: William Layton (1841-1920) and Robert B. Carey (1829-1902). Both men were buried alongside their wives.

Two of Carey’s great-great-grandchildren stood proudly at his grave on Nov. 12: Bob Brines of Clarksville and Jane Colombo of Clayton.

“I remembered my grandfather talking about him,” Brines said of Robert B. Carey.

Colombo brought her children, Vincent “Vinnie” Colombo of Port Penn, and his daughters, Gianna and Ella, and Lisa Porrini of Newark, and her grandsons, Joshua, Jacob and Joseph.

“It’s definitely an honor because, obviously, we did not know Robert Carey. He was gone before any of us were born,” said Porrini. “It’s definitely an honor to place a plaque.”

Even the youngest family members (four-times- and five-times-great-grandchildren) were excited to see their relatives be honored for their place in such a major part of United States history.

Although Glenn Layton, a Stricker Camp co-founder, was personally honored to see the star-shaped flag holder installed at the grave of his distant cousin the late William Layton, he said he delights in all dedications.

“It’s just as exciting to put them on other people’s [graves]. When we did the Careys, it’s just as rewarding for me to see it happen,” Layton said. “I got a phone call last night from a lady that was 99 years old. … She wants to put a marker on her great-grandfather’s grave. It’s those kinds of things that make it worthwhile.”

Layton is still looking for more of his own ancestors’ graves, in multiple states.

Deep underground and deep in the annals of history, there are likely another several dozen veterans buried in the Selbyville cemetery alone, Cowgill said.

Internet research has helped the Stricker mission, especially with access to records of where soldiers mustered in, their pension, spouse and death information.

They’re working one cemetery at a time, to find all potential veterans and then research if those are the actual Union soldiers. They also do individual grave markers by request. People can either purchase a $15 marker themselves or request a donation.

The Stricker Camp also accepts donations from anyone wishing to fund the memorials for long-dead veterans.

“We hope people want to mark their relatives’ grave. If they donate, fine. If not, that’s alright as well,” Cowgill said. “We’ll still do it, because it’s an honor for us to do it.”

To volunteer or contribute, contact Glenn Layton or Dan Cowgill at DESoldierGraves@yahoo.com or StrickerCamp64_SUVCW@yahoo.com, or go to www.facebook.com/strickersuvcw for additional information. The group is based in Camden-Wyoming.

“If you have a Civil War soldier you know that’s buried somewhere, and you want to mark him, contact us,” Cowgill encouraged.

“Glenn has been saving a handful of dirt from every grave where we place a marker — and our intent is to plant a tree dedicated to all of the vets we locate using the dirt during planting,” Cowgill added.

There are still many markers to go. They said they also plan to notify and coordinate with the Delaware Sons of Confederate Veterans for graves that should be marked with the South’s Iron Cross instead.

A couple from Pennsylvania started 2017 with a $121.6 million prize after matching all five white balls plus the red Powerball in the Dec. 17 lottery drawing. The man and woman, who wished to remain anonymous, purchased the winning ticket at Selbyville Goose Creek, a subsidiary of Cato Gas & Goose Creek Food Stores, located at 38452 DuPont Boulevard in Selbyville.

According to Delaware Lottery officials, the man, who has been playing the Delaware Lottery since its inception in 1975, normally plays Powerball and Mega Millions when the jackpots get large. For years, they said, he has played the same numbers. He originally bought a Powerball Quick Pick ticket a long time ago and liked those numbers, they said, so he stuck with them ever since. It finally paid off.

“I figured it only takes one ticket to win,” said the man. “I went to the machine and scanned my ticket, and all these numbers came up. I have never seen that many zeroes in my life! Once reality set in, my first reaction was to cry. I walked out of the store in tears and returned to my wife, who was waiting for me in the car.”

“He came to the car and had tears on his face,” said the woman. “I didn’t know what to think at first, but then he said anxiously, ‘We are millionaires!’ I was so confused I didn’t believe him and thought he was joking, so I made him double-check the numbers on his phone, and we got the same results.”

The winners selected the $72.1 million cash option and told Delaware Lottery officials they already have big plans for their prize money.

“This is just such a great experience, and we don’t want to spend the money foolishly,” said the woman. “I have strong feelings toward education and would want to make donations to schools or other charities in the future. We’ve also had our eyes on an RV. Since we travel a lot, it would be perfect for our family.”

In addition, the man told Delaware Lottery officials it has always been a dream of his to own a hotrod, and he may get one down the road.

The drawing represents the second-highest Delaware jackpot winner on a single ticket. The highest was in 2004, when a winner of the $214.7 million jackpot took the cash option of $116.9 million.

“Winning is not going to change me,” said the woman. “I told him I don’t want us to be different because of the money. We are very blessed to win.”

The winning numbers for the Dec. 17 drawing were 01, 08, 16, 57 and 67. The Powerball number was 09. The winners claimed their prize (less 25 percent, after federal tax) at Delaware Lottery Headquarters in Dover on Friday, Jan. 13.

Coastal Point photos • Tyler Valliant: Catherine Peterson grins at her family's new Selbyville quilt shop, where she helps finish new quilts and restore old ones.Quilting may be an old art, but Catherine’s Quilting uses technology to transform the basic craft into a finished heirloom piece. Catherine and Tim Peterson just recently opened their quilt shop on Church Street in downtown Selbyville.

Quilting can be a very personal craft, whether it’s a long-term labor of love by a group of friends, or maybe one woman, perhaps given for a wedding or baby gift. Whether hand-stitched in centuries past, or by a machine today, each scrap is carefully pieced together for a grander masterpiece.

Catherine’s Quilting helps with the final steps, attaching the thick batting, which transforms a decorative sheet into a cozy blanket for the home.

“I make it easy for you. Not only is it efficient to do, my turnaround is usually less than a month,” Catherine Peterson said. “I know, some places, it’s a six-month turnaround. I wouldn’t want my quilt gone for that long. I try really hard to do it really fast.”

Standard sewing machines can’t easily handle much more than a lap blanket or baby quilt, but Catherine’s Quilting can handle large-scale projects.

“Doing that at home is really hard on a home machine. There’s not enough space. Trying to fit all that fabric under there is hard,” Peterson said. “Usually people bring in twin, king, queen… because those are the larger ones that you can’t do at home.”

Customers can choose from about 100 styles of stitching, from simple swirls to complex feathers and flowers.

“Most people want a fairly simplified but elegant pattern” based on their quilt design, Peterson said. “We talk about what they want to show off, what they want to bring out. You want it to complement it and show the strengths of the piece. … I’m there to complement them.”

The professional finishing touch lets customers enjoy more detail, so they can put “a little more heart into it,” she said.

Catherine’s Quilting uses an Innova longarm quilting system.

“It’s a computerized machine that runs with robotics,” but Peterson still threads the needle and bobbin herself. The machine automatically sews a complete row before Peterson positions it at the next block. It automatically knows when a thread breaks or stitch skips.

She stitches the final binding by hand.

Peterson said she always enjoyed sewing but was inspired by her own mother (a quilting guild founder) and quilting shows with hands-on demonstrations.

Peterson has quilted for more than 20 years, including professionally for the past six years from her home, as Cladagh Quilting. This is her first freestanding storefront.

After decades as an electronics shop, the Church Street property re-opened as the Petersons’ quilt shop in December.

“It’s been a fantastic experience,” Peterson said. “Everybody that comes — people just come in to say hello — they’ve just been so friendly. The town has been so wonderful. It’s been a really, really good experience. I’m glad I jumped into it.”

On a Clarksville farm, the Petersons are raising their own boys, some chickens, donkeys and a herd of Shetland sheep (a heritage breed whose wool Catherine Peterson hopes to someday use for yarn). The Selbyville shop opened with help from the whole family.

Of why she loves quilting, Peterson said, “It’s my therapy. … I’m also a nurse. I’ve been in critical care, ICU, for over 26 years now … and I find myself coming back to this, as I need to slow down and re-focus.”

Her goal is to retire from nursing to do quilting full-time.

Prices begin around 1.5 cents per square inch, or higher, based on complexity. People can bring their own backing or buy some there.

She also creates T-shirt quilts with the special-event shirts people collect, from local high school athletes to Harley Davidson bikers.

For the “do-it-yourself” crowd, people can rent a second longarm quilting machine — a freehand machine, allowing people to make their own designs.

“Some people want to do it themselves. They say ‘I want to say I made this quilt completely,’ but they don’t have room at home,” Peterson said. “They come in and rent it.”

Other services include repair and restoration of vintage/antique quilts.

“It stabilizes them and makes them usable again,” Peterson said.

She’s also an Innova machine retailer, for Delmarva’s diehard quilters.

The shop is open Sunday through Tuesday by appointment; Wednesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Customers can use the municipal parking at Selbyville Town Hall.

Catherine’s Quilting is located at 64 W. Church Street, Selbyville. For more information, call (302) 524-8378 or email CathsQuilting@gmail.com. The business is online at Facebook and www.CathsQuilting.com.

The Town of Frankford will not hold an annual municipal election this year, as only the incumbents for the two open seats filed to run. As of the Jan. 13 filing deadline only Council President Joanne Bacon and Councilman Greg Welch had filed.

The two will be sworn in for their new two-year terms next month, at which point the council will also hold a reorganizational meeting, to appoint council members to leadership roles.

The Frankford Town Council will next meet on Monday, Feb. 6, at 7 p.m. in the Frankford fire hall.

A couple from Pennsylvania started 2017 with a $121.6 million prize after matching all five white balls plus the red Powerball in the Dec. 17 lottery drawing. The man and woman, who wished to remain anonymous, purchased the winning ticket at Selbyville Goose Creek, a subsidiary of Cato Gas & Goose Creek Food Stores, located at 38452 DuPont Boulevard in Selbyville.

According to Delaware Lottery officials, the man, who has been playing the Delaware Lottery since its inception in 1975, normally plays Powerball and Mega Millions when the jackpots get large.

For years, they said, he has played the same numbers. He originally bought a Powerball Quick Pick ticket a long time ago and liked those numbers, they said, so he stuck with them ever since. It finally paid off.

“I figured it only takes one ticket to win,” said the man. “I went to the machine and scanned my ticket, and all these numbers came up. I have never seen that many zeroes in my life! Once reality set in, my first reaction was to cry. I walked out of the store in tears and returned to my wife, who was waiting for me in the car.”

“He came to the car and had tears on his face,” said the woman. “I didn’t know what to think at first, but then he said anxiously, ‘We are millionaires!’ I was so confused I didn’t believe him and thought he was joking, so I made him double-check the numbers on his phone, and we got the same results.”

The winners selected the $72.1 million cash option and told Delaware Lottery officials they already have big plans for their prize money.

“This is just such a great experience, and we don’t want to spend the money foolishly,” said the woman. “I have strong feelings toward education and would want to make donations to schools or other charities in the future. We’ve also had our eyes on an RV. Since we travel a lot, it would be perfect for our family.”

In addition, the man told Delaware Lottery officials it has always been a dream of his to own a hotrod, and he may get one down the road.

The drawing represents the second-highest Delaware jackpot winner on a single ticket. The highest was in 2004, when a winner of the $214.7 million jackpot took the cash option of $116.9 million.

“Winning is not going to change me,” said the woman. “I told him I don’t want us to be different because of the money. We are very blessed to win.”

The winning numbers for the Dec. 17 drawing were 01, 08, 16, 57 and 67. The Powerball number was 09. The winners claimed their prize (less 25 percent, after federal tax) at Delaware Lottery Headquarters in Dover on Friday, Jan. 13.

Coastal Point • Maria Counts: A group of Sussex County librarians got an opportunity to meet with Delaware Gov. John Carney last week. Sussex Countians had the opportunity to spend time with incoming Delaware Gov. John Carney last week, when he joined state Sen. Brian Pettyjohn for a morning coffee talk, just days before his inauguration as Delaware’s 74th governor.

“It was a privilege to serve all of you and everyone here in Delaware as the low member of Congress,” said the state’s former U.S. Congressman. “It was a very difficult six years, but working together with my colleagues on the other side of the aisle — because, as a Democrat, I was in the minority of the House — we got a lot of work done.”

During the event, the two officials answered questions posed by those in attendance, including about the State’s budget.

“For us, it’s going to be the No. 1 priority for six months, for sure,” said Carney. “We have two problems at the moment: We have revenues that have to match with our expenditures. We have revenues that are increasing at about the growth of the economy, about 2 percent. We have certain revenues we’ve relied on that are not sustainable in the long term.”

Carney said that the State has lost gambling revenue over the years due to competition in surrounding states and noted that the revenue it receives from abandoned property has been targeted.

“Delaware has been getting a ton of that money — $500 million. Some of the other states don’t like that… Both of those revenue sources are at risk and not sustainable in the long run.”

He did note, however, that the State has made significant cuts in terms of employees.

“The number of State employees, other than school district employees, has been reduced by 800. There are 800 fewer state employees today than there were eight years ago. On the school district side, there’s 2,000 more. The reason is you’ve got a growth in student population… and healthcare costs.”

Following his inauguration, Carney said he planned to take former Gov. Jack Markell’s proposed budget and show Delawareans “what it would take to close the budget gap with no cuts, all revenue, and no revenue, all cuts — and have a dialogue about what we want to spend money on.”

“‘Look — we spend money for these state services. What do you want to spend the money on?’ And then have a dialogue and work with the General Assembly to come up with a budget that balances by June 30.”

Pettyjohn said it will be a tough gap to close, though not as tough as in previous years.

“We have to go into this process in a bipartisan way, trying to figure out what we can do to not only solve the budget gap now but shore up the state finances — our spending, our revenue — so that, year after year, we’re not in the same situation.”

Education was a big topic of discussion, as Carney had previously announced that he would be nominating Indian River School District Superintendent Susan Bunting to serve as Secretary of the Delaware Department of Education.

“I’ve watched her in the Indian River School District and what they’ve done in trying to raise the student achievement of all of their kids. If you look at the test scores in that district, all their kids are performing… They do a better job than most schools, I think, across our state.

“It’s because they understand the formula. It starts with strong leadership in the principal, everybody buying in to a set of objectives and approaches on how you’re going to raise student achievement, and giving those teachers the information and tools they need to get each and every kid where they need to be.”

Every student should be prepared so they can perform meaningfully in the workplace, said Carney. Action needs to be taken to improve Delaware schools, he said, stating that he believes Bunting can make a difference statewide.

“When you boil it all down, having the best schools is really, really important. We’ve spent too much time kind of arguing about education reform and not enough time actually doing it.”

Pettyjohn said the true test will be once the students have graduated from high school and move on to whatever vocation they choose. He noted that school testing has made it difficult for certain students to succeed.

“I think we’ve been, for far too long, hyper-focused on these test scores. ‘What do these test scores mean?’ Well, anyone who has taken a test or knows anything about statistics knows you can make it show anything you want. But, at the end of the day, where the rubber hits the road is what they’re doing once they leave our state-funded education system, and that is where I want to see that success.”

Carney: Post-Labor Day school start should be up to districts

The idea of starting school after Labor Day statewide was also brought up. Carney said he believed it would be best to leave that decision up to the individual school districts.

Pettyjohn said there was a bill last legislative session that did make it through that House that sought to mandate Delaware schools start after Labor Day.

“Maryland just implemented that through executive order,” he added. “I’m interested to see what the results of that are… For me, I know a lot of the school boards don’t like that idea, because it’s the State telling the schools what to do, but when you talk to the parents, they’re saying, ‘Oh, this is great!’”

He said there are also competing arguments related to the economic impact to area businesses.

“I believe in the local control when appropriate, but I believe there are arguments on both sides, and I’m really interested to see what’s going to happen in Maryland with that.”

Representatives from Sussex County libraries were out in full force at the coffee event, and asked the two public servants how libraries play a role in their plans for the state and their districts.

“Now you don’t so much need a book as you need connectivity to information. I think the libraries have done a tremendous job in providing that kind of space in communities, in towns that enhance the quality of life,” said Carney.

Pettyjohn said libraries have done an excellent job in providing online connectivity to people who are unable to have internet access at home — something he said he hopes to address during his term.

“Many folks down in Sussex County — especially west of 113 — don’t have access to internet at home except through maybe their cell phone or a lower-speed connection,” he said, noting that Sussex County has earmarked some money to help make broadband more accessible to rural areas.

Environmental concerns — specifically related to water quality — were also discussed, with Carney saying a balance needs to be struck.

“When you talk about ag, you talk about poultry. When you talk about poultry, you know there’s poultry manure that goes along with it. Our ability to manage that manure is our biggest challenge with respect to clean water.

“We’ve made a lot of progress — the poultry industry, the individual farmers and the ag industry in our state — doing what is called ‘best management practice’ over nutrient management. We had a little bit of a tug-of-war with the EPA over that, because here in Delaware we believe we can come up with our local solutions better than those that might be imposed from the EPA office.”

Carney and Pettyjohn both said a great deal has been done within the state to improve water quality; however, it takes time to see results from those steps.

In August 2016, the Town of Frankford filed a statement of appeal with the State’s Environmental Appeals Board, following the decision of Delaware Department of Natural Resources Secretary David Small to approve well permits issued to Mountaire Farms.

The letter, dated Aug. 16, said the Town challenges DNREC’s finding that the industrial non-potable well is not in violation of Delaware Code for being “interconnected with any portion of the building’s plumbing and/or any water utility’s service connection,” as well as the failure of DNREC to revoke the permit, as “Mountaire has failed to abide by Permit #252076’s conditions, which is to ‘follow all current regulations governing well construction.’”

The appeal states that the interests of the Town have been substantially affected, as the Town provides water to its approximately 888 citizens, and that they were never informed of the permits being requested or issued.

It goes on to state that there are “severe issues and concerns with the non-potable well drilled by Mountaire … causing health concerns and quality of water concerns with backflow and cross-contamination problems — a severe health hazard for potable water usage.”

At its July 2016 meeting, the council said the decrease in usage has also caused the Town to face a $71,000 deficit, causing the Town to consider raising water rates. That increase would raise the water rate from $8.75 per 1,000 gallons to $12.68 per 1,000 gallons. There is also a monthly service rate of $3.

The hearing for the Town of Frankford’s appeal is set for Tuesday, Feb. 28, at 9 a.m. in the auditorium of the Richardson & Robbins Building in Dover. While the meeting is open to the public, public comment will not be permitted, as the board is a semi-judicial body and the format of the hearing is as a court proceeding.

The board may verbally announce their decision at the conclusion of the hearing.

According to Delaware Code Title 7 § 6007, the Environmental Appeals Board consists of seven Delaware residents appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate.

The Richardson and Robbins building is located at 89 Kings Highway in Dover.

When the phone at the town hall in Nichols, S.C. rings, callers hear a message about how “normal town operations have been suspended” until further notice. A female voice instructs callers how best to reach the town’s officials in the meantime, ending her message with a reminder to residents that “We are Nichols strong.”

The tiny town, population 400, sitting 120 miles southeast of the state’s capital city of Columbia, was decimated in the early morning hours of Oct. 10, 2016, when floodwaters stemming from Hurricane Matthew rolled through, swelling the Lumber River to 20 feet above normal.

More than three months later, the town is still struggling to get back on its feet. Many residents have not been able to return to their homes; all 22 of the town’s businesses were flooded. Almost all 261 homes in Nichols were deemed uninhabitable. A toxic soup of water, fuel, fertilizer and sewage settled in homes for more than a week before the waters began to recede. Then, black mold took hold of the structures in the town.

As in many small towns, the heartbeat of Nichols is its volunteer fire company — particularly in the face of disaster. But after Hurricane Matthew, the Nichols Fire Department’s two engines were buried in mud. Air tanks — crucial equipment in a fire — floated away on the swollen river.

Delaware, which has been spared a major hit by a hurricane for decades, once again dodged the wrath of Matthew. Upon hearing of the needs in South Carolina, one upstate department rolled into action to help its southern brethren. Wilmington Manor Fire Department decided to donate a 1987 Pierce Arrow fire engine, completely outfitted and ready to be put into action.

“It was a reserve engine that laid around and laid around,” said Wilmington Manor Fire Chief Stephen Maichle. “We decided we needed to do something with this engine to help somebody,” Maichle said.

Through connections between fire companies in Delaware, members of the Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company learned of the fire engine donation and jumped on the bandwagon to help. As it turns out, the Bethany department had just received 80 new air packs, thanks to a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant they had received.

“They were outdated, but still better than what a lot of companies have,” Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company Chief Brian Martin said.

So, in December, when the members of the Wilmington Manor company rolled south with the “new” engine for Nichols, they made a stop in Bethany Beach, where they picked up 10 air packs for the Nichols firefighters.

Along with donations of additional equipment, such as hoses, from some other Delaware fire departments, Martin said, “We pretty much got [the Nichols fire department] back up and running, which is good.”

For 48-year-old Nick Serratore, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) provides stability. He gets the reassurance that, someday, his emergency costs will be manageable. He has a high risk of colon cancer but visits the doctor for preventative maintenance, trying to avoid hospital stays.

“I don’t want to be someone who gets something later on. I’m trying to prevent anything from happening. One of them is colon cancer. My father died from colon cancer in 2006,” Serratore said Jan. 13 at an ACA event at Nanticoke Health Services. “I need this healthcare to prevent this from happening. I don’t want to go through what my father did. It was very painful.”

Millions of Americans face uncertainty after Congress voted recently to begin dismantling the Affordable Care Act. Delaware’s delegation, all Democrats, are in the minority in trying to protect a system that has helped people gain proper health services, but has been faced criticism for increasing costs that haven’t quite stabilized for some people or insurers.

As a self-employed artist, Serratore’s income fluctuates every month.

“I’m the kind of person that benefits greatly from Affordable Care Act,” he said. “It’s a safety net guaranteeing me full care at a reasonable price. And preventive care is much cheaper than providing emergency care at the hospital.”

“What we face right now, with the repeal of the Affordable Care Act without actually knowing what we’re gong to replace it with, is like the firemen on ground telling people to jump,” U.S. Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) said Jan. 13. “They don’t have a safety net. ‘So, maybe, by the time you hit the ground, we’ll have it in place.’ … I think it’s very foolish.”

“Nearly 20 million more Americans — including 38,000 Delawareans — have gained access to high-quality, comprehensive healthcare coverage since 2010,” Carper, U.S. Sen. Chris Coons and U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (all D-Del.) wrote in a recent op-ed.

As part of the ACA, millions of people gained coverage under the Medicare expansion for low-income and poverty-level families. Delaware and 30 other states expanded Medicaid eligibility through the ACA but now risk losing that funding again.

“The state’s uninsured rate dropped has dropped to an historic low of 5.9 percent as a result of the ACA, which included Medicaid expansion,” according to Carper and Coons.

Under the ACA, young people could stay on their parents’ plans until age 26, and patients couldn’t be denied healthcare for pre-existing conditions.

In the realm of healthcare, the pendulum is swinging from sick-care toward wellness- and preventive-care, said Brian Olson, CEO of La Red.

“La Red health centers were formed to help vulnerable communities access care, and a large number of our patients at the poverty-level or slightly above the federal poverty level,” said Olson. “And these individuals who fall into the expansion area would not be able to afford [premiums].”

La Red is now seeing patients who had been uninsured for decades. Those patients have been able to start addressing chronic problems, such as diabetes and hypertension, that they may not have sought care for in the past. La Red has also helped some, including Serratore, shop around for insurance and find the most affordable plan.

But with the looming threat of an ACA repeal, some patients have already stopped paying their healthcare premiums, Olson said. The uncertainty over the program’s future could cause them to lose healthcare even sooner, as a result.

“I fear many of them will end up using the emergency room again, which is not the appropriate use for emergency-room centers,” Olson said. “The health and lives of our citizens are much more important than political debate.”

Congress’s budget resolution to begin the dismantling of ACA passed almost completely down party lines in both the Senate (51-48) and in the House (227-198), where Republicans hold a majority in both bodies and, soon, without the threat of a presidential veto.

During the actual Senate vote, Carper and Coons both spoke against the repeal, despite the presiding officer’s trying to maintain order, insisting that debate is not permitted during a vote.

“I voted against the repeal on behalf of ‘the least of these,’” Carper said during the event in Seaford, referencing a Bible quote about serving people in need. “I think that what Republicans, Democrats, persons of faith, Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, whatever — I think we have a moral obligation to ‘the least of these’ in our society.”

Over the decades, healthcare plans have been proposed by Republicans and Democrats, Carper said.

“Is it perfect? No!” Carper acknowledged.

For instance, premium costs have increased. Carper said that’s because insurance companies originally charged less to stay competitive but now are getting a better idea of new program costs. He said taking subsidies away from companies that lost money is like removing the training wheels from a bike too soon.

“The ACA is possibly the best thing to happen to healthcare in my lifetime,” said Chuck Creswell of Bivalve, Md. “It expanded the availability to millions of people that never would have had that option.”

Now in his 80s and on Medicare, he was fortunate to always have healthcare from his job in the medical technology industry. Having gotten medical attention in Japan and Australia, he joked that those countries didn’t even have a facility to accept payments, since they had universal healthcare.

“We can’t let this [repeal] happen! I don’t know what we can do, except what’s going on here is at least a start,” he said of the event. “I couldn’t not come out.”

“Every advanced country on earth has a philosophy that medical care is a right, not part of business,” said Frank DeFranzo of Rehoboth Beach. “But in this country, everything has to have a profit. Medical care, in my view, should not be a profit-making organization. They’re raising all the rates because they’re not making enough money.”

The government doesn’t need to meddle in everything, DeFranzo said, but he believes life would be simpler if all Americans were on Medicare.

A veteran and retired social studies teacher, DeFranzo is covered by a mutual insurance company, where extra profits go to the members, not stockholders.

“Not everything has to be a business,” said DeFranzo, adding that he believes a full repeal is unnecessary to fix the ACA’s flaws.

“It was not a perfect bill … but certainly we have made significant strides in health in America,” said Steven Rose, president and CEO of Nanticoke Health Services. He described how hospitals are responsible for better patient experience and outcomes.

“We need the leadership in the White House. We need President-Elect [Donald] Trump to understand, if he’s going to make changes, that’s OK, but we need to think it through,” Rose said. “We need to be thoughtful about what we achieve.”

“It’s too good to repeal, and Congress should work together to fix the problems without hurting people like us,” Serratore said.

“Please reach out to your senators and representatives, and let them know your concerns,” Rose said.

Delaware’s Congressional delegation can be reached by phone, mail or online:

• U.S. Sen. Chris Coons at (202) 224-5042 or www.coons.senate.gov;

• U.S. Sen. Tom Carper at (202) 224-2441 or www.carper.senate.gov;

• U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester at (202) 225-4165 or www.bluntrochester.house.gov.

Charles Marvel traveled the world in the 1940s as a sailor in the U.S. Navy. He says, however, that he had to come home to Sussex County to find his bride. Now 70 years on, the Dagsboro couple looked back on those days fondly, and bit surprised at how fast time has flown.

“I was a sailor, visiting ports,” he said. “I saw a lot of women.”

By 1947, Marvel had settled back into life in Delaware, getting a job at the Roland Scott clothing store in Selbyville. One day, he recalled, “A friend said, ‘Let’s go around to this little greasy spoon’” for lunch.

There, he saw her — a 17-year-old waitress named Irene.

“Of all the women I’d seen in the world, she was the prettiest,” he said.

Apparently, the feeling was mutual, as Irene Evans had been watching the young man from across the restaurant that day and on subsequent afternoons when “his friend, John Howard, would bring him in.” She figured from his graying temples, however, that he might be a bit too old for her. It turned out that he had just inherited prematurely gray hair. He was all of 20 years old.

Their first date was a movie at the Avenue movie theater in Rehoboth Beach, although neither remembers what movie was playing. On Christmas Day 1947, the two were married in a small ceremony in a Rehoboth Beach church. There’s no traditional “wedding photo” of the pair — they took each other’s picture while perched on a stone wall next to the ocean.

Asked why they chose Christmas Day for their wedding, Irene Marvel said simply, “We had no money, there was nothing else to do, and he had the day off.”

For the couple’s 70th anniversary, the Marvels’ sons — Mark and Dana — recently gave them a trip to Sight & Sound Theater in Lancaster, Pa., to see the theater’s presentation of the Biblical story of Samson. This time, they had their picture taken together, in front of a Christmas tree at the theater.

The Marvels still live in the house they built in the 1940s, on the farm that has been in Charles’ family for generations. Some of the wood used to build the house’s frame came from trees on the property. They recalled that the construction took quite a while, because in the post-war years, “It was hard to get anything.” They lived in the house for six months before the electricity was installed.

Today, the house is filled with visual reminders of the lives of the Marvel family. In the “cave,” as Irene calls her husband’s den, the walls are covered with photos telling the family’s story — from Charles’ Navy days to son Mark’s high-school musical group to their five grandchildren.

Irene’s collection of thimbles from around the world is stored in neat groupings around the house, and Charles’ woodcarving prowess is showcased in some of the ducks he has carved. Irene pointed out her favorite — the duck’s head is curved back and tucked into intricately carved feathers.

Although Irene is 87 and Charles will turn 91 on Valentine’s Day, the couple continues to stay busy in the community.

Irene volunteers at the Atlantic Community Thrift Store (ACTS) in Millville at least two days a week, “Sometimes three, if they need me,” she said. She has volunteered at the thrift store for 25 year and said she keeps going back because “I like the people, and you feel like you’re helping somebody.” And, she added, “It’s where I go for entertainment.”

Both agreed that one of the keys to their long, happy marriage is that they both have always had things to do outside the home. Although they were quite young when they married, Irene had “grown up early,” since she and her younger sister were raised mostly by their father, who worked on tugboats in Philadelphia, so she had to learn to cook and take care of the house.

When she and Charles met, she and her sister — who was still in school — had moved to Sussex County, where her father had many relatives. The two lived in a rented room, by themselves, but had the support of family if they needed it, she recalled.

“I was 17 going on 21,” she said.

Upon marrying and moving to the Marvel family farm, Irene recalled, her new husband had to adjust to her “city” ways of cooking, and she, for her part, learned to cook what he liked.

“I don’t think he’d ever seen a brussels sprout.” At the farm, she said, “They ate what they grew.”

The farm is still a busy place, with both sons, as well as grandson Jordan, living on the property. The Marvels and their much-loved dog Bandit live in the house where they raised their boys — where Mark, longtime Indian River High School band director, learned to love music from his mandolin-playing mom and his trumpet-playing dad; and Dana, longtime carpenter for Hickman Brothers Construction, honed his craft alongside his father.

When initially contacted by the Coastal Point, Irene Marvel confessed she was a bit perplexed as to why anyone would think their 70th anniversary was worthy of coverage.

“It’s no big deal,” she said.

The Marvels both said they feel the key to their long marriage is that they view it as a 50-50 partnership. But they both acknowledge the impact of God in their lives and in their marriage. Longtime (actually, lifelong, in Charles’ case) members of St. George’s United Methodist Church in Clarksville, their parting words were: “It takes three to make a marriage,” referring to their faith. “Make sure you put that in there.”

The Indian River School District will not have a school board election this spring. This time, it’s none because there aren’t enough candidates — it’s because none of the seats are even up for election.

As of 2013, the IRSD was the last school district in the state with three-year terms. After the Delaware State Legislature approved an increase to five-year terms (as was already the case in every other district), the district began staggering term lengths, working its way up to five years for all seats, with the goal of having an election every year.

The 2018 election will include seats currently held by Rodney Layfield (District 2—North Millsboro, South Georgetown) and Leolga Wright (District 3—North Dagsboro, South Millsboro).

Four seats will follow in 2019, and four more in 2020.

Typically, towns or boards cancel elections if the incumbents have no challengers. But this is a rare case in which no terms are expiring.

School board candidate information for other districts can be found online at www.electionssc.delaware.gov, by selecting “2016 School Board Member Filings.”

The Dagsboro Town Council appears set to approve planned renovations at the National Guard facility in Dagsboro.

The plans include expanding parking and equipment service facilities, installing a security fence to meet “buffer standards” for surrounding residential areas, upgrades to current water tanks and tearing down the existing maintenance facility, while still keeping the same “footprint” and basic function, in order to modernize the building.

According to Jeff Harman, a civil engineer from the Becker Morgan Group, the National Guard is aiming to fast-track the project and hopes to receive final approval from the council in time to move forward next month.

The council did voice some concerns about aesthetics during discussions at their regularly scheduled council meeting on Monday, Jan. 23, and suggested the implementation of a sidewalk for future use, in addition to making the fence barrier more visually pleasing.

Harman was receptive to the suggestions and was set to relay them to the National Guard before turning around plans to be considered by the Town’s Planning & Zoning Commission on Wednesday, Feb. 15, so that the council could consider final approval for the plans at their meeting on Monday, Feb. 27.

“It’s going to match the readiness center, in terms of being a brick building,” explained Harman of the upgraded facility. “It will, hopefully, have a nicer aesthetic.”

Smoking could be torched on town grounds

While no official action has yet been taken, the council this week also discussed the possibility of banning smoking on municipal property, including Dagsboro Town Hall and the police station, and extending to parks and playgrounds as well. Vehicles under Town ownership could also be subject to the potential ban.

At the meeting, several members of the council shared personal stories of loved ones being affected by smoking, leading them to the decision to take the next steps in the process.

“I’m all in favor of putting every obstacle possible in a person’s way who chooses to smoke,” said Councilman Bill Chandler after sharing with the council his story of witnessing the effects of smoking leading to lung cancer in his own life.

Several residents in attendance offered support for the proposal, and the council was prepared to advertise a vote on the issue.

The next regularly scheduled town council meeting will be on Monday, Feb. 27, at 6 p.m.

Matthew J. Robinson of the Delaware Sports Commission spoke before the Sussex County Council this week regarding the success of Slam Dunk to the Beach Tournament.

“Really, why I’m here today is, one, to thank, and, two, share on the success of the tournament,” said Robinson at the council’s Jan. 24 meeting. “I think it’s been a great example of cooperation.”

The basketball tournament was held for its third consecutive year in December 2016, at Cape Henlopen High School, after an 11-year hiatus.

Robinson said the Delaware Sports Commission is charged with looking to bring sport events to the state for proposes of economic development.

Identified as one of the elite high-school tournaments in the country, 80 percent of attendees are from Delaware, with more than 1,2000 fans attending over the three-day tournament.

Robinson said more than 75 percent of visitors to the area for the tournament left with a favorable impression of Sussex County, with 85 percent of those event visitors dining out at least once while in the area. More than 50 percent of attendees from outside the area spent at least one night in hotel.

Social media played a large role in the event, said Robinson, noting that, this year, the tournament received 2.6 million impressions on the hashtag #SlamDunkDE.

Robinson said the event has had a twofold impact — bringing national recognition and economic impact in Sussex County, while providing an event that Sussex County is proud of.

He also thanked the county council for their continued financial support of the tournament.

“Speaking for me personally, I’m very pleased at what you guys have done in the last three years,” said Council President Michael Vincent.

Councilman George Cole said that numerous legislators from local, county and state levels attended the tournament, which is good for the event.

The council will next meet on Tuesday, Jan. 31, at 10 a.m.

The Sussex County Advisory Committee on Aging & Adults with Physical Disabilities met this week and provided to those in attendance a brief update as to what services a number of area organizations provide.

Christine Santy, COP case manager for Easter Seals, noted that the nonprofit organization provides services to help children and adults with disabilities and/or special needs, as well as support to their families.

Santy said she also hopes to provide resources to people who are caregivers, no matter what kind of resources they’re looking for.

Easter Seals offers a respite program, in which eligible participants are able to receive $250, and up to $500 for those with dementia, through the Delaware Lifespan grant. Santy said that, while the application is online, she would gladly help anyone apply.

Jamie Magee, Sussex County branch coordinator for the Delaware Valley Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, said they offer a similar respite grant, through which caregivers may receive up to $500. She noted that it is means-based.

Linda Forte, community relations coordinator for Easter Seals, said their adult day program has grown over the years, and recently, the Georgetown location added an adult memory program.

“With this kind of care and attention specifically, they’re responding,” she said. “It’s awesome. If anyone ever wants to see it, come down. It continues to grow.”

Magee said that, three years ago, a Memory Café was created at the Ocean View Coastal CHEER center, for Alzheimer’s patients and their care partners; however, all the participants have since passed away.

She said that if anyone with dementia or their care partner is interested in finding a support group to contact her, so the program can start up again.

For those looking to have better communication with dementia patients, Magee said there is a free program, “Effective Communication Strategies,” at Brandywine Living at Fenwick Island on Feb. 15 at 5 p.m.

Anthony DelFranco of CHEER said his organization has partnered with La Red to provide a skilled medical person at four different centers — Long Neck, Ocean View, Milton and Greenwood.

“It will be a paid position, a registered nurse,” said DelFranco, noting that, while the schedule has yet to be finalized, they hope to begin offering the service in March.

A medical professional, he said, will be at each of those facilities one day each a week.

Barbie McDaniel of Delaware Hospice told the group that they are still the only non-profit hospice in the state.

“Regardless of family or patients’ ability to pay, we care for them the same way we would for anyone else.”

McDaniel said they are seeing an increase in the number of people who don’t have insurance. She added that Delaware Hospice offers a number of free programs.

“Our Transitions program is a free, non-clinical program for anyone who has a serious illness and needs to get connected with people like Easter Seals, or the Alzheimer’s Association, or go to an adult daycare. There are so many resources in our community that patients and families don’t realize they have at their disposal. … So our Transitions coordinator for Sussex meets with families, finds out what their needs are.”

Delaware Hospice now offers a palliative program, for patients still seeking treatment but who are in and out of the hospital. Partnering with doctors in the community, nurse practitioners can do home visits and will then report back to the doctor and give recommendations.

“We collaborate and find a good care plan for that patient. We also have a social worker attached with that so they can start talking about advance healthcare directives and planning for what’s coming next… Just provide a lot of support.”

McDaniel said Delaware Hospice is one of three hospices in the country to offer palliative care in the home. Delaware Hospice also offers child bereavement programs and adult bereavement programs.

“We’re all going to need hospice care in our life, so the more we can educate the community, the better off we’re going to be.”

The next Sussex County Advisory Committee on Aging & Adults with Physical Disabilities will be held Monday, March 20, at 10 a.m. at the Greenwood CHEER Center.

“Totally open to the public, and we encourage you to come,” said Committee Chairperson Ruth Beideman. “We also want to know about your concerns and needs.”

Delaware Health & Social Services’ “Guide to Services” can be found online at www.dhss.delaware.gov/dsaapd/files/aging_and_disabilities_guide.pdf.

The Town of Ocean View held a special workshop this week to review and discuss a 2016 employee compensation survey.

“We all want to do the right thing. We all want to take care of our employees, because I do think they’re exceptional,” said Mayor Walter Curran. “By the same token, we have a budget that we have to create.”

In 2012, the Town hired Hendricks & Associates Inc. to prepare a classification and compensation study to develop methods of compensating employees and create a 14-grade salary structure.

In 2014, the Town council approved and adopted an updated salary survey, which provided two separate salary range tables to eliminate confusion regarding employees who work 2,080 hours per year versus employees who work 2,280 hours per year.

On Jan. 24, the council reviewed Hendricks’ updated compensation survey, issued in November of last year. In all, 10 municipalities were surveyed, including Bethany Beach, Millsboro and Rehoboth Beach.

In his letter to the Town, Charles Hendricks wrote that the Town is still vulnerable to attrition.

“As the salary/midpoint ratio shows, employees make on average 10 percent less than market midpoint levels, which leaves them vulnerable to being hired away by the competition. This would be disastrous for such a small town that has virtually no back-up for the institutional memory that would be lost if this happens. With this in mind, I would recommend a salary budget increase of 7 to 6 percent if affordable.”

Town Manager Dianne Vogel said that the Town has approximately $12,000 left in the year’s budget with which to make salary adjustments.

“It won’t do much,” she said. “I think it’s the general sense of the department heads that maybe we don’t do anything with that $12,000. I don’t know; we’re not here to decide that this evening.”

Vogel said a 6 percent increase across the board, based on current salaries, would result in an $88,800 increase in salaries for the 2018 fiscal year, and over five years, the financial impact would be $470,000. She noted that not everyone would receive the increase if the Town chose to adjust salaries.

“What I see is… It tells me that we’re underpaying our employees, period. I think we should always look at what’s fair for the employees,” said Councilman Frank Twardzik. “Our employees are our most valuable asset.”

Twardzik said the Ocean View Police Department is one of the Town’s greatest assets, noting its recognition nationally, as well as the Town being rated the second-safest community in the state of Delaware by SafeWise.

“I want to do what’s right for the Town and what’s right for the Town employees,” he said.

Twardzik said he is willing to do whatever it takes and wouldn’t be opposed to changing things such as the Emergency Services Enhancement Funding Program or cutting back on concerts in the park in order to find the money to compensate employees.

Vogel noted that the Emergency Services Enhancement Funding Program money would not be something the council could use unless the related ordinance was revisited. She added that five contracts have already been awarded for the 2017 concerts in the park.

Councilwoman Carol Bodine said the council also needs to look at employee compensation in terms of future employees.

“We also need to think about, if someone leaves us, we want to attract the best of the best.”

“Eventually, someone has to do something,” added Councilman Tom Maly. “[Our employees] are our best asset. We should spend money on our best asset.”

Twardzik said Ocean View is a wealthy town that will continue to grow.

“If we look hard enough and work hard enough, I think we can come up with the funds,” he said.

He added that, if need be, a tax increase could be discussed.

“I know there are some people in this town that, any increase, however small, is tough for them. But I would say the vast majority — and I do mean the vast majority — of this town has comfortable pockets. A minor tax increase would not hurt them at all.”

Curran said the council should take a pause before considering a tax increase, noting he is “philosophically opposed to taxing to tax.”

Twardzik asked for honest comments from the department heads.

Public Works Director Charles McMullen agreed that raises should not be given without performance reviews, stating that employees need incentive to continue to do good work.

“Maybe you want to take a range of numbers,” he said, noting that an across-the-board increase might not be necessary.

OVPD Chief Ken McLaughlin said the need for increases to get employees up to competitive salaries had been ignored in the past, stating that he has one employee who would need a 32 percent increase in salary to be paid at a competitive rate.

“I just want to be fair to our people,” said McLaughlin. “There’s been a lot of promises to our folks in the past that have not been kept. I think it’s counterproductive… All I ask is that they get a fair salary.”

McLaughlin also recommended that the Town hold a meeting with all employees to discuss compensation, so that they can get information from the Town first-hand and ask questions.

Vogel again said the Town would not give a 6 percent raise across-the-board to employees.

“That needs to be based on years of service. What that ends up with, in the end, is perhaps someone getting a 10-percent raise and someone else getting a 3-percent adjustment. As long as the pool of money doesn’t exceed what is ultimately approved by council, those percentages are going to differ.”

The council agreed that they would like to see the 6 percent increase in salaries in the model for the budget drafts for the upcoming fiscal year.

“Our salaries may be average, but our people are above-average,” said Twardzik.

At Tuesday’s meeting, the council also reviewed a benefits survey, which was conducted last year, with 24 participating municipalities.

Staff recommended an increase in vacation leave, based on years of service. Vogel said the Town appeared to be behind in accruals with shorter bands of service.

Vogel recommended that the Town continue to allow employees to carry over accumulated leave of six weeks — 240 hours for non-police personnel and 252 hours for sworn officers.

It was also recommended that sick leave for Town personnel be increased from four hours per month to eight for non-police personnel and 12 hours per month for sworn officers.

The council will review a resolution to make the recommended changes at its Feb. 14 council meeting.

Bethany Beach’s history will be getting some attention in the coming summer season, as the Town’s Cultural & Historical Affairs Committee (CHAC) prepares for the opening of the historical Dinker Cottage as a museum, which is anticipated to happen in the coming months.

At the Jan. 20 town council meeting, CHAC Chairwoman Carol Olmstead reported that the committee had most recently reviewed an updated brochure for the Heritage Trail — a self-guided walking tour of historical locations in the town — and was expecting the next edition to include the Dinker Cottage, once it is moved to its new location on the former Maryland Avenue Extended.

At the same meeting, Town Manager Cliff Graviet’s report to the council noted that progress had been slow on the relocation, with the Town having to deal with the county approval and permitting processes for the sewer line at the cottage’s new location, which had needed to be moved. Graviet reported that the sewer line is now done, with a final inspection having taken place on Jan. 18 and finding no issues with the installation.

Mayor Jack Gordon reported that plans were to grade the property as soon as soil conditions were dry enough and that, depending on weather and ground conditions, the Town expects to see the structure-moving contractor on-site within three to four weeks.

“I think we’re getting pretty close now,” Gordon said.

With that milestone on the near horizon, Olmstead said CHAC is now seeking volunteers to serve as docents in the museum. She noted that the Town had had a docent program some years ago that was offered only on weekends.

“We didn’t find that during summer people were choosing to come off the beach and go to the museum instead,” she acknowledged. “As we look forward to the Dinker Cottage being moved” in the next few months, “docents will be a central part of that plan,” she said, adding that the committee hopes to have the docent program ready to go when the Dinker Cottage opens as a museum.

With the Dinker Cottage set to be added to the Heritage Trail, Olmstead also reported that the bronze markers placed at historical locations identified in the brochure are set to be re-installed on new 3.5-foot-tall posts.

She said that when the markers were originally installed, eight to 10 years ago, they had been placed on posts much closer to the ground that had proven to make it difficult for visitors to read the markers themselves. The new, taller posts are expected to help make them more accessible for those seeking the historical information and walking along the trail.

Olmstead said the committee also recently voted to expand its criteria for structures that are considered historical within the town. She said they had discovered that the National Park Service identifies structures that are 50 years old or older that have not been significantly altered as eligible to be considered historical places.

“We decided when we first started marking these houses that they had to be built before 1930,” she explained. Now, the committee will consider homes built up until 1949 as historical, as long as they have not been significantly altered and continue to represent the early cottages of Bethany Beach.

Finally, Olmstead announced that the committee is seeking six or seven families to play host to visitors from France as the Town prepares to celebrate Periers Day on July 27. The annual event honors the “twinning” of the towns of Bethany Beach and Periers, France, and has in recent years included French- and World War II-themed entertainment.

Olmstead said they are expecting about a dozen visitors from France for three or four days starting around July 22 and are seeking about a half-dozen local families to host them. The host families should be able to speak French, she said, though most of the visitors will likely speak at least some English. She noted that Gordon and his wife, Joan, were the first family to volunteer as hosts this year. Anyone interested in serving as a host should contact Olmstead or Town Hall.

Projects, future expenses under review

The relocation of the Dinker Cottage isn’t the only project the Town has under way or on the horizon. Graviet’s report at the Jan. 20 meeting also noted that work is under way on the new mineral pond at the Town’s water plant.

He noted that some of the existing trees that have recently been put on the property to serve as a buffer for neighbors will have to be removed, but he said new plantings will be put in after the pond and work at the water plant are done.

“There will be some good landscaping going in that will make it very attractive for you,” Gordon told the water plant’s neighbors.

Graviet’s report also included an update on the Town’s Blackwater property near Clarksville, stating that the site plan for the new steel building is being prepared and submitted to DelDOT for its approval for the entry off the road, as well as to the Conservation District for drainage approval.

“Nothing is simple and quick,” Gordon said in giving the report, adding that the Town was “keeping its fingers crossed” that it can get started soon on the storage facility for its trolleys and more. A concrete pad is to be laid as soon as possible, with the steel to be delivered late in February.

With a number of other pending projects for the Town, Graviet also asked the council in his report to prepare to decide how and when to fund each of them.

He reported having received a rendering of improvements planned for Atlantic Avenue from contractor Kercher Engineering and said that it appeared that doing the southern portion first would create fewer problems and immediately serve the larger populations of people coming downtown from the south end of town.

Graviet asked if the council felt the Town should proceed with the plans. If so, he said, the staff would present funding options for discussion at a future meeting.

Among the projects currently planned is “Central Park,” with Graviet noting that about $100,000 in funding is expected to be needed to develop the plans so that they are ready for bid and/or in-house construction. He said he had asked design firm Oasis not to include the planned pergola or pavilion in the initial plans, in an effort to reduce initial costs, but that the Town could decide later on the design and location for those elements.

“We will try to do as much as we can with the Town maintenance staff,” Gordon reported on Graviet’s behalf, noting that the in-house effort would help make the project less expensive than it would otherwise be. Currently, the Public Works staff is performing its regular off-season cleaning of drainage swales throughout the town, including in the Bethany West area, he noted.

Graviet also warned the council in his report that the staff may ask them to purchase a new trolley in the near future, with staff already working on a service history for the three existing trolleys and their ridership numbers. If the council believes a new trolley is needed, that would be an expense of about $140,000 that would need to be addressed.

Graviet suggested that the council consider the issue and plan to discuss it and other projects, including the Atlantic Avenue project, at a February workshop.

Asked about a prior suggestion to consider a jeep and tram-trailer system in place of another new trolley, Gordon said that the combination had been determined to be impractical for safety reasons, and that consideration had fallen back on getting another trolley as the existing ones continue to require considerable maintenance and repair.

Councilman Joseph Healy referenced his arrival on the scene in Dewey Beach last fall, shortly after the Jolly Trolley, which was carrying wedding guests at the time, had its tram-trailer overturn on Route 1, injuring a dozen riders. Vice-Mayor Lew Killmer also noted that he believed a jeep/trailer combination would require two Town employees — one to drive and another to man the tram — which would increase operating costs.

Finally, Graviet reported that the Town’s parking department had been looking for ways to make it more operationally efficient and had targeted the labor-intensive residential parking permit process for one immediate change.

Graviet said the Town will now automatically mail out one residential parking permit in an initial mailing to property owners, eliminating a second mailing to about 900 property owners who only request one permit. Those wanting additional permits beyond that permit can contact Town Hall to request them. Previously, the Town sent out information on the parking permits in one mailing before sending permits in a second mailing.

Town getting involved in beach issues with ACT, ASBPA

Councilman Bruce Frye reported on Jan. 20 that a delegation from the Town plans to attend the Feb. 28 American Shore & Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA) gathering in Washington, D.C., in support of federal funding for beach preservation. During the annual meeting, local officials typically meet with the state’s Congressional delegation to request their efforts on behalf of federal funding for local projects.

Healy noted that he had recently attended the first meeting of the East Coast chapter of ASBPA, which covers areas from Delaware to Georgia, and would present a written report to the council for their next regular meeting.

“I found it interesting to know how much help we get from DNREC, as opposed to other states, where so much is done internally with the towns,” he said.

Killmer asked whether the regional group could help with the efforts to obtain funding, and Healy said he wasn’t sure how much clout the newly-formed group has at present.

Noting that the Town is in the process of getting the Association of Coastal Towns group running again, specifically to address such issues, Killmer said of ASBPA’s regional group, “The beauty of that organization is that it is multiple states talking and not just one. If we all get together … that’s a lot of coast, a lot of states with more representatives than we have. It’s another voice and another level of speaking to Congress about funding this.” He also urged coordination with any regional group representing states farther to the north.

First readings held on alcohol code, more

At the Jan. 20 council meeting, the council heard first readings of three proposed ordinances.

The first ordinance would add a section regarding hotels to the existing town code on the sale of alcoholic beverages. Killmer noted that the town previously did not have a hotel that served alcoholic beverages and that he had borrowed sections from state code to ensure the Town’s regulations mirror the state ones.

He pointed out that the Bethany Beach Ocean Suites and 99 Sea Level restaurant are separate entities, and that while the restaurant already serves alcohol, the hotel itself could apply for a license to sell alcoholic beverages — something that currently isn’t addressed in the town code.

The second proposed ordinance would extend permitted construction hours in the town on Saturdays between Oct. 1 and May 30, from 8 a.m. to noon, to 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Killmer noted that the off-season typically includes more inclement weather, less daylight and a considerable number of official holidays that limit the construction time available to contractors.

“People are anxious to move in” as soon as they can, he said, “but may not be able to” due to those limiting factors. With a four-hour limit on Saturdays, he said, “Many contractors feel it’s not worth their while to work on Saturday.”

The extended hours on Saturday would only be during the off-season, providing contractors with the ability to work a full eight-hour day, if they so choose.

Finally, Councilwoman Rosemary Hardiman introduced for a first reading an ordinance addressing residential outdoor lighting, which she said had stemmed from complaints from some residents that light — especially from security and other outdoor fixtures — from neighbors’ properties was interfering with their enjoyment of their own properties and constituted a nuisance.

The ordinance, which would apply to all residential zones in the town, aims to regulate the light while also ensuring it remains adequate for visibility and safety, she said. As a result, light would be required to be shielded so that it remains within property lines and avoids spilling over onto neighboring properties.

At the property line, light would be limited to 0.2 foot-candles, to be measured by light meter and enforced by the Town’s code enforcement officer. Fines for violations would range between $25 and $100, she said, but, “We hope it would serve to give neighbors something to point to so that if they do have a problem, they can go to their neighbors, rather than having to go to code enforcement.”

Healy asked about whether the restrictions applied to holiday lighting. Hardiman said the Charter & Ordinance Review Committee had decided not to be specific there, as holiday lighting is generally minimal. But, she said, extreme lighting, such as spotlights, would be covered under the ordinance, while still allowing people to put up a typical holiday light display.

She also noted that the ordinance does not apply to businesses, as it doesn’t pertain to the Town’s commercial district, where existing guidelines from the non-residential guidelines already include a higher level of lighting that is permitted for commercial areas.

Each of the three proposed ordinances will have a second reading and possible vote on adoption at the February council meeting.

Also on Jan. 20:

• Resident Larry Fischel offered his compliments to the Town’s road crews for their efforts during “the little dusting” of snow on Jan. 14, calling them “as good as the people in Syracuse in getting roads cleared quickly, and they kept them cleared.”

• Frye reported that the Fourth of July Parade Committee had decided on the theme for the 2017 parade: “Celebrate Bethany Beach.” He said they had picked a design for the fund-raising T-shirt and had also decided to crack down on parade participants throwing items from floats and other vehicles.

“We recognized throwing items from floats is a danger,” he said. “Our policy is to prohibit it, but it hasn’t been well-enforced.”

In the future, he said, the ban will be actively enforced, using expanded communication with parade participants that will include marshals talking to people on individual floats.

• Graviet offered his thanks to the council, volunteers and Town staff for their help with numerous holiday events during the 2016-2017 holiday season.

Nearly two years have passed since the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) abandoned the unpopular plan for a Route 113 bypass for Millsboro south to Selbyville. Instead, they now plan to widen the existing highway and build a new road connecting Route 113 to Route 24.

Bolstered by a more positive public response to the new concept, DelDOT has now officially named the “Modified Yellow Alternative” as its Recommended Preferred Alternative.

They’ve also written a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) to analyze the project’s impact on surrounding homes, wildlife, historical properties and areas where accidents are more common.

The public may comment on the SDEIS at a public hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 7, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Millsboro Civic Center at 322 Wilson Highway. (The weather date is Thursday, Feb. 9.)

Written public comments are due by Tuesday, Feb. 28. People should mail their comments to DelDOT Public Relations; P.O. Box 778; Dover, DE 19903 or email dotpr@state.de.us.

On Feb. 7, people can review the maps and display boards with project information; ask questions and interact with DelDOT staff; and provide testimony to a stenographer. From 6 to 8 p.m., people can also provide public testimony before officials (in order of sign up).

The location is accessible to those with disabilities. Anyone having special needs or requiring special aid, such as an interpreter for the hearing impaired, should contact DelDOT by phone or mail one week in advance.

For more assistance, contact DelDOT Public Relations at (302) 760-2080 or dotpr@state.de.us.

Project details

Under the new Recommended Preferred Alternative, DelDOT has proposed widening about 2.8 miles of U.S. Route 113 in Millsboro from four to six lanes, running from Betts Pond to the Route 20/113 intersection. According to the plan, the existing grass median would provide most of the land for the widening project. Route 113 would keep its four traffic signals but lose the six unsignalized crossovers.

The plan also includes a bypass for the Route 24/113 intersection, and based on public feedback in 2015, DelDOT has adjusted the proposed Route 24 connector to reduce impacts to nearby properties.

“The new two-lane SR 24 Connector will tie into a realigned segment of SR 20 (Hardscrabble Road) west of U.S. 113 and cross U.S. 113 about 300 feet north of the existing intersection with SR 20 at a new grade separated intersection.”

It would cross narrower parts of Betts Pond, then “tie into existing SR 24 about 2.3 miles east of U.S. 113, which is about one mile east of the existing SR 24 crossing near Millsboro Pond.”

The updated SDEIS also deletes all of the originally proposed project elements south of the Route 20/Route 113 intersection, south of Millsboro.

Impact statements are required for any proposed road project using federal funds. DelDOT and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) use input from public comment, state and federal agencies, engineering studies and environmental analyses.

After February, public and regulatory comments will be evaluated to complete the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), either before or simultaneously with a Record of Decision (ROD). The ROD will officially identify the best course of action.

Changes to the map, to the landscape

The SDEIS has included changes to the Millsboro-South area since the original DEIS was published in 2013, favoring a 16.5-mile bypass. But the public’s overwhelming opposition pushed DelDOT to reconsider that proposal, in favor of the current, less-invasive plans.

Compared to the originally recommended Blue Route, the Modified Yellow Alternative is estimated to cost $116 million maximum, versus $839 million. It would cause a fraction of the original impact to wetlands, streams, prime farmland and forest. Most importantly, for some people, the relocations required have decreased substantially — for residential properties (52 to 0), business properties (10 to 2) and agricultural properties (9 to 2).

This and more information is found in the 107-page SDEIS.

The project’s new stated purpose is to “preserve mobility for local residents and businesses while providing highway improvements that reduce congestion, decrease frequency and severity of accidents and accommodate anticipated growth in local, seasonal and through traffic.”

“The original purpose of the U.S. 113 North/South Study was to establish a continuous, limited- access facility through Sussex County from the Maryland/Delaware state line to SR 1 near the Dover Air Force Base, thereby completing a limited-access corridor throughout the State of Delaware,” the SDEIS states.

In the Millsboro-South area, DelDOT once preferred the “Blue Route,” which resembled the freeways found in Kent and New Castle counties that whisk traffic swiftly around smaller towns. The new highway would have followed a similar route as the new connector, starting north of Millsboro, but wrapping around Millsboro, as well as Dagsboro and Frankford, before reconnecting to the existing Route 113 in Selbyville. However, the public argued against a new highway’s impact on the environment, small-town businesses, homes and farms.

Find a copy

The SDEIS can be downloaded online at www.deldot.gov/information/projects/us113. The “Millsboro-South Area Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement” is halfway down the webpage.

People may request a free CD of the SDEIS by calling DelDOT Public Relations at (302) 760-2080.

The SDEIS can be viewed at the following locations:

• Millsboro Public Library, Millsboro Town Hall, Dagsboro Town Hall, Frankford Public Library, Frankford Town Hall, Selbyville Public Library and Selbyville Town Hall.

• DelDOT South District Admin. Building; 23697 Dupont Blvd.; Georgetown, DE 19947

• DelDOT; 800 Bay Rd.; Dover, DE 19903

• FHWA; Del. Division; 1201 College Park Dr., Ste. 102; Dover, DE 19904.

Election season is gearing up in the area’s small towns, and the Millville Town Council has three seats up for election on March 4.

Interested candidates must register with Town Hall by Friday, Feb. 3, at 4:30 p.m. They must submit proof of residency, a completed application and a $100 filing fee. Applications are available at Town Hall or online at www.millville.delaware.gov.

Eligible candidates must be 21 or older; a bona fide resident of the United States and of Delaware; and a resident of the Town of Millville for at least 90 days before the election.

The seats up for election are currently held by Susan Brewer, Mayor Bob Gordon and Steve Small.