Approved last summer by state legislators, new entrance fees are coming soon to all state wildlife areas, including the Assawoman Wildlife Area near Bethany Beach. Hunters and trappers will also see license fees jump by at least 50 percent, and some by 200 percent.

The changes begin on Saturday, July 1.

A pass will be required for all registered motor vehicles to access state wildlife areas.

In Sussex County, that includes the wildlife areas of Assawoman (including Piney Point, Okie Preserve, Muddy Neck Tract and Miller Neck Tract), Midlands, Nanticoke, Old Furnace, Marshy Hope and Prime Hook, and the industrial forest lands.

The pass is different from the Delaware State Park fees that are also charged to daily visitors and the annual passes they can also purchase for those areas.

“Hunters and trappers have paid for the majority of wildlife conservation areas and the management of public wildlife areas,” stated David Saveikis, director of the Delaware Division of Fish & Wildlife, in 2016. “To give other conservationists the opportunity to contribute to public wildlife area management, we are proposing a conservation access pass. This vehicle pass would be required for access to state wildlife areas for non-hunting purposes.”

The new conservation access pass must be purchased by non-hunters for motor vehicles accessing those public lands but is free with the purchase of most hunting passes.

The pass can be purchased starting July 1 online, at authorized license agents across the state or at the division’s licensing desk in the Richardson & Robbins Building in Dover.

Between a decline in hunting and trapping licenses and general revenue, DNREC hasn’t had enough revenue to be able to take full advantage of federal matching funding. The new revenues will help Division of Fish & Wildlife obtain federal grant money at a ratio of $3 of federal funds per $1 of State funds.

“The majority of our wildlife funding comes from hunting license sales, combined with federal grant funds generated by a surcharge on your purchase of firearms, ammunition and hunting equipment,” Saveikis stated in 2016.

The last license fee increase was in 2007. Revenue hasn’t changed much, but costs definitely have.

The new income will be used to for statewide wildlife conservation, public access facilities and for the management and maintenance of public wildlife areas owned or managed by the Division of Fish & Wildlife.

The new fees and conservation access pass will be effective on Saturday, July 1.

The new vehicles fees will be:

• $32.50 for a Delaware resident annual conservation access pass;

• $65 for a non-resident conservation access pass;

• $10 for a resident three-day conservation access pass; and

• $20 for a non-resident three-day conservation pass.

Private licensing agents may charge a $1.50 processing fee. Passes may be transferred to another vehicle of the same ownership for a $10 fee paid to the department.

Multi-day passes are for three consecutive days.

A conservation access pass isn’t required at certain spots, including educational or shooting-range facilities, designated fishing or boating access areas, part of the C&D Canal Conservation Area and lands leased from the Division.

The hunting fees will increase as follows:

• Resident hunting license from $25 to $39.50

• Resident trapping license from $3.50 to $10

• Resident buck tag and antlerless tag from $10 to $20

• Resident hunting guide license from $100 to $159.50

• Resident fur dealer from $28.75 to $50

• Non-resident hunting license from $130 to $199.50

• Non-resident guide hunting license from $300 to $475

• Non-resident trapping license from $25 to $75

• Non-resident three-day hunting license from $50 to $75

• Non-resident buck tag and antlered tag from $25 to $50

• Resident and non-resident waterfowl stamp from $9 to $15

• Non-resident fur dealers from $287.50 to $475

• breeders permit from $11.50 to $17.50

• propagating permit from $25 to $39.50.

Fishing licenses were not impacted.

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources did not return calls for comment this week.

DNREC previously estimated that the fee increases would result in $551,000 of additional revenue each year. There are approximately 17,369 hunters and 307 trappers licensed with the State of Delaware.

Details are online at www.dnrec.delaware.gov/fw/Pages/Wildlife-Program-Services-and-Funding.as.... Further maps and information are online at www.dnrec.delaware.gov/fw/Pages/Guides.aspx.

House Bill 401 was signed into law in July of 2016, during the previous legislative session. It was sponsored by state Rep. Michael Mulrooney and state Sen. Bruce Ennis, with cosponsors Rep. Ron Gray, Rep. Gerald Brady, Sen. David Sokola and Sen. Bryan Townsend.

It passed with dissent from Sen. Gerald Hocker Sr., Sen. Bryant Richardson, Sen. Colin Bonini, Rep. Rich Collins and Rep. David Wilson. (Rep. Harold Peterman was absent.)

‘Journalism can never be silent: that is its greatest virtue and its greatest fault. It must speak, and speak immediately, while the echoes of wonder, the claims of triumph and the signs of horror are still in the air.’

— Henry Anatole Grunwald

The pursuit of excellence in journalism is something for which all news organizations strive. The Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Press Association “advocates for its members through professional development, advertising networks, legislative and first amendment advocacy and other services,” and each year the association recognizes the best of the best editorial content, in print and online, produced by its members.

For the 2016 contest, the association received nearly 2,100 entries from 59 member publications among 51 categories, which were judged by the West Virginia Press Association. The contest comprises seven divisions, which group member publications into daily and non-daily print and online-only categories.

At the MDDC’s annual editorial awards luncheon on May 12, Coastal Point staffers took home six awards in a variety of categories.

“I’m proud of all of them. I always say, ‘The staff makes the paper,’ and we have a very talented, hardworking staff,” said Point Publisher Susan Lyons. “This is a community that continues to grow and evolve, and our staff works very hard to stay on top of that.”

Coastal Point Editor Darin McCann took home two awards — receiving first place in Division E for General News Story for “Inspection alleges nearly $200,000 stolen from MVFC,” the piece he wrote in May of 2016 on the Delaware Office of Auditor of Accounts’ inspection report that revealed that $ 190,433.61 had allegedly been embezzled from the fire company over a three-year time span.

“The story on the embezzlement at the Millville Volunteer Fire Company was just so sad to me,” said McCann. “Here you have an organization, built largely on the backs of volunteers willing to risk their very lives to help others, and their integrity and competence as a company was put to the test by the alleged actions of one individual.

“I think this story kind of exposed how vulnerable many of our service organizations had become over the years, and I know it really forced the leadership over there to change the entire way they do things.

“It was important to me, and every other person in our office, that we presented this from every possible angle, so it didn’t look like a ‘hatchet job’ on a beloved institution. This really was a group effort by a tremendous team of journalists and a very supportive publisher.”

Lyons praised McCann for his work, while also taking a dig at his advanced age as a journalist.

“Well, the old dog still has it in him. He hasn’t written a news story in about five years, but he’s still got it.”

McCann was also recognized for his column “McHouse of McHorrors a haven for the McFlu,” which received second place in “Local column, Feature or Humor.” The column followed McCann and his wife through a weekend of not-so-great-flu-fun, while their toddler daughter had reign over the house.

“It’s always nice to know that someone appreciates your work. Hopefully, someone got a laugh or two out of the column and it made his or her day a little better,” he said.

Point Reporter Laura Walter took home first place in the Education Reporting category for her story “District needs new schools to address overcrowding,” which reported on the need for the Indian River School District to expand.

“I felt really honored to be recognized for education news, which is fun and challenging to cover. Education directly impacts thousands of families in our area,” said Walter, adding, “Thanks to Coastal Point designer David Elliott, who helped tell this story by creating an infographic (‘How full are the schools?’) that helped readers visualize the numbers on school population.”

Both McCann and Lyons praised Walter’s work, noting she has a unique perspective as a reporter, as she is also a graduate of the school district.

“Nobody knows the Indian River School District better than Laura,” Lyons said. “We’re very fortunate to have a graduate of the school who really understands what the significant issues are to the schools and the community. She gets it and helps our readers really understand the issues.”

“It was really exciting to see Laura get recognized for that story,” said McCann. “She is an active alumnus of the school district, and she really puts her heart and soul into covering that beat. You’re not going to find a more thorough and thoughtful reporter than Laura, and to see her be recognized by her peers for her exemplary work really puts a smile on your face. She earned that one over some incredibly tough competition. This entire community is fortunate to have her reporting on our schools.”

Technical Director Shaun Lambert was also recognized for his talent behind the lens, winning two first-place awards — one for Feature Photo, of a winter wonderland, and for Photo Series, for images of the Nanticoke Indian Powwow.

“Shaun has expanded his role with the paper over the last few years and has gotten the opportunity to shoot more photos,” said Lyons. “He has a very artistic eye, and you can see that with his photos and page designs.”

“Shaun has such a good eye. The photo of snow on the beach is such an iconic one, and everyone wants to get the perfect shot. Shaun did,” said McCann.

Lambert, an Alaskan Inupiaq, said he looks forward to attending the powwow every year, and one could argue it shows in his photographs.

“When I take photos, I want to capture emotion — whether it’s the emotion showing on a person’s face or the emotion that a scene might exude. It doesn’t always happen, but that’s what I want to capture,” said Lambert. “I love going to the annual Nanticoke Indian Powwow (besides the heat, being an Eskimo and all). It’s just such an awesome experience to see the Native American dress and dances. The drumming and chants remind me of home. It’s one of my favorite events to attend every year.”

Lambert was also acknowledged with a second-place award for Page Design for “That’s Seven!” which depicted the Indian River High School boys’ soccer team’s seventh straight Henlopen South title win.

“I just do them. It happens organically as the elements are displayed on the page, design ideas present themselves.

“That sports page design was an excellent example of a reporter and page designer sharing a brain. [Point sports reporter] Tripp [Colonell] and Shaun work together a lot on that sports section, so Shaun knew exactly what he wanted to do to build a beautiful page,” said McCann.

The winners praised the entire Point staff for their dedication to bringing the best news to coastal Sussex County, noting their love of covering the community in which they live.

“I say it every year, and it rings true every time, we have a wonderful staff,” said Lambert. “They put everything they have into the work they do for the paper, and it’s an honor to work with people who care about and support our communities. It’s awesome to see some of our staff be recognized for the hard work they put in every day.”

“Obviously, you don’t set out on any story, photo or design trying to win an award,” added McCann. “It’s about informing the community to the best of our abilities, and feeling good about the work you put into it. I feel like we have a staff here that does that, week in and week out.

“It’s gratifying to see our staff earn recognition for their efforts, but there have been other stories that I feel were just as important to this community that weren’t going to win any kind of awards because they don’t translate to a judge who doesn’t live here. I’m equally proud of those stories. It’s just a real honor to get to work with the people we have here at the Point.”

It’s time for voters to make their call, as the South Bethany town council election allows them to choose this week from five candidates vying for three seats. Polls will be open Saturday, May 27, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at town hall.

The candidates are Joseph Mormando, Sharon Polansky, Timothy Saxton, Carol Stevenson and Frank Weisgerber Jr. The seats are currently held by Stevenson, Weisgerber and Wayne Schrader, who did not seek reelection.

Each of the candidates was invited to participate in the Coastal Point’s traditional question-and-answer piece, and their answers follow.

Voters must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 by election day. They must either be a town resident (physically residing in town for at least nine of the 12 months preceding election day); a freeholder (property owner or trustee for at least 90 consecutive days before election day); or the spouse of a freeholder (whether or not their name is on the deed). No more than eight people per property may vote as a “freeholder” or “spouse.”

Absentee voting is permitted. A notarized affidavit must be delivered to Town Hall by May 26 at noon, and the completed ballot received by May 27 at 3 p.m.

Details are online at www.southbethany.org, under the “Election Information” tab. More information is available by visiting town hall at 402 Evergreen Road, writing an email to townclerk@southbethany.org or calling (302) 539-3653.

(Per our editorial policy, in order to give candidates the last word, the Coastal Point will not publish letters to the editor this week regarding the May 27 election.)

Joseph Mormando

Q. How are you qualified for this position?

A. I have had a very successful business career that has spanned four decades. I have built successful companies and managed and led diverse groups of people. I am constantly looking for the most cost-effective way of getting things done.

I am direct, open and always willing to listen to opposing views to get the best answer. I have no personal agendas and look to do the best I possibly can for the owners and bill-payers of this community.

My experience includes developing plans and instituting large capital projects, always within or below budgetary constraints. I was most recently president of a national multi-facility manufacturing company where the revenue and the profits more than tripled over 15 years. I believe I can bring a stable fiscal policy to the town council and will always take responsibility for my actions. I will strive for complete transparency to the property owners as to what the town council is working on.

Q. What do you feel is South Bethany’s biggest challenge for the next two years, and how will you address it?

A. I believe within the next two years South Bethany must get its expense growth under control. There are issues that must be addressed within the guidelines of a long-range action plan that is tied to both the 2016 Comprehensive Plan and the annual budget. It must be a working, long-range tool for the council.

The council seems distracted at times by minor issues and while the 2016 Comprehensive Plan is a useful plan, it doesn’t act as a guideline with what, when and how much of the limited funds we have, will be spent over the next one, five and 10 years.

This is critical to our managing the Town’s income — 76 percent of our Town’s income comes from three sources: real estate taxes, transfer taxes and rental income. Real estate taxes we can control, although no one would prefer we raise them. Transfer taxes are cyclical and are tied to how many homes are bought in town, and this is based on the population moving in and out, because we don’t have a lot of buildable land left.

This past year had a surprising surplus in expected transfer tax revenue; unfortunately, it was necessary to cover unbudgeted expenses and led to basically a breakeven result. This sounds good, but the real question is why were we overspent?

Rental tax income is currently under attack because the State wants to impose its own 8 percent tax levy by considering our summer rentals to be under the same short-term rental guideline as a hotel room. This makes our rental properties less attractive to people looking to vacation here by now having a 16 percent rental tax on summer rentals.

The bill hasn’t made it out of committee yet and may not, but that is this year and the State budget of Delaware is currently underfunded and is looking for additional sources of revenue, so if it fails this year, it may pass sometime in the future. A good solid long-range fiscal plan gives continuity and focus to the town council, even as the members change.

Q. Why do you want to be part of South Bethany Town Council?

A. I know with my experience for managing long-term plans and being a fiscal conservative I can bring that knowledge and focus to the serious issues facing us in the coming years. True water quality improvement, sea-level rise/nuisance flooding abatement and upgrades in lighting, road repairs and municipal buildings are not being addressed with a transparent budget to fund these projects over a period of years. I know I can be an asset to town council in working to develop the action plan, and I am passionate about this town and what it has to offer, so I want to contribute in a concrete way.

Q. What else would you like to tell voters before Election Day?

A. I was a long-term summer renter before buying our home on the bayside, over 20 years. I feel I can offer different perspectives based on that experience, as well as not being a full-time resident... yet. I hope you will give me the opportunity to serve South Bethany in the future.

Please learn more about me and read my speeches and bio by visiting www.betterforsb.com.

Sharon Polansky

Q. How are you qualified for this position?

A. From the moment my family and I first walked into our South Bethany home, I knew I wanted to contribute to protecting and preserving this community we now call ours. In the many communities I have lived, I have stepped up to serve on committees, boards and in executive leadership positions in both civic and religious life. I bring thoughtful, thorough, and what-if thinking to anything I put my mind to.

To these attributes, I add a 30-year career as a strategic planner and marketing and communications professional, having helped prepare communities, organizations, companies and brands for the future. This includes thinking about competitive challenges: How can we beat our goals, minimize risk through strong planning and ensure room for creative opportunities and future growth?

I am an active member of the Planning Commission, the absolute best preparation for town council, where I have helped author our Town’s 10-year Comprehensive Plan that will guide South Bethany into the future. I also serve on the SBPOA board as the vice president for communications, helping South Bethany property owners keep abreast of town issues and events. For more details about me and my campaign, please visit www.betterforSB.com.

Q. What do you feel is South Bethany’s biggest challenge for the next two years, and how will you address it?

A. Getting our house in order. To do that, I am committed to helping town council use our Comprehensive Plan as the blueprint that outlines our game plan. The Comprehensive Plan reflects community input derived from surveying property owners, and if we are faithful to operationalizing that, we will be responsible representatives.

But the Comprehensive Plan needs some teeth, not just the governor’s approval; town council must commit to its execution, and that execution can’t happen without developing a budget that matches each recommendation in the plan so we know what we can afford to do and when. That budget needs to incorporate maintenance planning as well. Too many surprise budget requests that are not planned inevitably will catch up with us.

Each year, a review of what we set out to accomplish and what we have realized, or not, and how we might amend our plans accordingly will help keep us faithful to goals, budgets and community voices. Part of that plan is not just creating a budget but also working to build up our reserves and strengthen our revenue.

We are challenged by environmental (sea-level rise, storm surge and nuisance flooding), economic (a cyclical economy that directly impacts our revenue sources) and manmade forces (outside development encroaching on our quiet and pressuring our resources) that will impact our quality of life.

Developing a plan to prepare for these is critical, and putting away funds for the rainy days will make all the difference. These challenges will tax our resources. I will be looking for ways to save our resources and strengthen our economy by working to grow South Bethany’s attractiveness as a place to build, invest, rent and buy.

Q. Why do you want to be part of South Bethany Town Council?

A. The skill set I offer is additive. A perspective that comes from not being a full-time resident (yet), a thinking style that is naturally questioning, and a professional expertise that is built on finding solutions to challenges will contribute to making a better town council. I can jumpstart working on tomorrow to make a better South Bethany, not just for my family, but for the entire community.

Q. What else would you like to tell the voters before Election Day?

A. If elected to town council, I will seek out your opinions and look for ways to augment our communications so that I can be your voice in South Bethany. My career began as a newspaper reporter, asking questions to quickly figure out what is happening so that I could inform the community. I later worked at the Gallup organization, where I developed expertise in polling and marketing research, using public opinion to help decision-makers. I know how to do that.

I will ask. I will listen. I will act. I will share with you what is going on. I will keep www.betterforSB.com as a website where I personally will inform you about what I am doing on town council and where you can tell me what you think. I also have created a Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/betterforsb/) where I have begun posting events and news. I will look for your comments and take those with me when I am on council.

I hope you will trust me to make a better South Bethany by voting for me.

Timothy Saxton

Q. How are you qualified for this position?

A. After taking a one-year break, I am seeking a third term on the South Bethany Town Council. During my past terms, I developed my keen interest in the Town’s fiscal management practices. During the two terms served on the town council, 2009-2011 and 2014-2016, I served as the town council treasurer. Some of the major accomplishments and activities in this role were:

• With town council, established the Budget & Finance Committee;

• Developed multiple financial policies and significant revisions;

• Chaired the Budget & Finance Committee and ensured that both part time and fulltime residents, as well as members from both the east and west side of Route 1 were represented;

• Advocated for determining long term costs for any major financial expense to town;

• With the town council, delivered four fiscal-year balanced budgets without using reserves;

• Developed a method to replace town assets from the Capital Reserve, as opposed to utilizing funds from the Operating Budget. This significantly reduces the need to increase taxes and fees.

In my experience as Town treasurer, I worked to ensure that each spending vote required a full understanding of short-term and long-term costs of a proposal, the rationale being that long-term costs of any proposal will have an impact on future revenue needs of the Town. It is imperative that the town council has this knowledge prior to proposals being brought to a vote.

In addition to experience in the Town finances, I have written ordinance changes and policies. I have always listened to the homeowners during and outside of town council meeting to better understand their wills and desires and vote accordingly.

Q. What do you feel is South Bethany’s biggest challenge for the next two years, and how will you address it?

A. As the Town moves forward, there are a number of planned projects that will require significant funding in order to be completed. These projects will be in addition to the normal operating budget that is required to fund the normal business of the Town. Examples of these projects are: police building expansion, canal water improvement that could include dredging, full funding for Phase 2 of road resurfacing, lighting and establishing a beach replenishment fund contribute toward future replenishment if required by state or federal government. These large projects should be a part of mid- to long-range plans for the Town.

Planning should be performed for all projects, so that the town council is fully informed to assist with decision-making. The town council should then set priorities among the large projects that the Town is facing to determine the funding for each of these projects. As a result of the analysis, some projects may be deemed not feasible.

Once completed, the council should inform the public of this prioritization, timing and future funding needs. Public input is essential so that the town council has the priorities of the homeowners in mind when making final decisions and assure appropriate funding is available to execute priorities effectively.

Lastly, we need to have a renewed priority of canal water quality through appropriate funding to study the issue. Whether the ocean or canals, water has a large effect on all of our property values. We need to work diligently on the issue that affects both.

Q. Why do you want to be part of South Bethany Town Council?

A. After the end of my last term in May 2016, I continued to follow the activities of the new council. I observed that increased spending continued to be passed and new large Town projects had yet to be prioritized. I became concerned what the impact of this new spending and Town projects, such as police department building expansion and road resurfacing across the entire town, would have on the FY2018 budget. It became apparent that the impact led to a difficulty in balancing the town budget for the Town’s needs without going into reserves.

Due to this, I would like to join the town council to work on the prioritization of projects, setting budgets for each project and then determining if and when each project could be completed. This needs to be done in conjunction with assuring we continue to have the funds for the yearly Operating budget.

Also as water, whether the ocean or the canals, has a large impact on all of our property values, I would like to work on improving the quality of that water in our [canals] and assuring we maintain our beaches.

Q. What else would you like to tell voters before Election Day?

A. As one with a keen interest in the town finances, I believe each spending vote requires a full understanding of short-term and long-term costs of the proposal, the rationale being that long-term costs of any proposal will have an impact on future revenue needs of the Town — in other words, the potential need to increase taxes or fees.

I believe that South Bethany is a safe, relaxing environment. If elected, I will work toward ensuring that we keep it that way, and that we manage our finances wisely and prioritize the needs of the Town thoughtfully.

I ask for your vote on May 27.

Carol Stevenson

Q. How are you qualified for this position?

A. Having served on the South Bethany Town Council for two years, I believe I am qualified for a second term on council. Prior to serving on the council, I was active in the South Bethany Property Owners Association (SBPOA) and the Community Enhancement Committee of South Bethany (CEC). I learned first-hand about the concerns of property owners.

In working with the CEC, I saw how volunteers could make a difference for the community. Encouraging property owners to adopt a canal end and beautify their community gave me a perspective on the great things that can happen when citizens work together.

While a member of the town council, I had the opportunity work with other members on issues that were important to our town. Just this year we addressed concerns about excessive traffic in our town, which was very disruptive to part of the community. We formed a Traffic Committee, of which I was a part. Working with the Delaware Department of Transportation, we drafted and implemented a traffic restriction during high traffic hours during the peak tourist season.

Concerns about the feeding of feral cats creating a nuisance to property owners resulted in an ordinance that should now protect private property while ensuring that feral cats are treated humanely. We have looked at our police department building and are working to make sure it meets current regulations for public safety.

As the chairman of the Communications & Public Relations Committee, I have led a group of citizens who have worked hard to build community connections between all property owners (both full-time and part-time) and with summer visitors. Current projects include summer yoga and boot camp on the beach, a community band concert, a boat parade, a float for the July 4th Bethany Beach parade, movies on the beach and numerous potluck suppers to give our citizens the opportunity to get acquainted and to build community spirit!

Outreach to Realtors has been a critical part of our work. Each year we work to give Realtors the most current information about our town. We seek Realtor input about any issues that may affect rental income. Our goal is to maximize income for both property owners, Realtors and our town government. Rental income continues to grow, helping the Town keep property taxes low.

I have worked hard to fulfill the duties assigned me by the mayor and council. I have studied the issues before the council and voted in a manner that I believe represents the best interests of South Bethany. I believe am qualified to continue as a member of the South Bethany Town Council.

Q. What do you feel is South Bethany’s biggest challenge for the next two years, and how will you address it?

A. I believe our biggest challenge in the next two years will be to secure our future. We need to continue to protect and improve our beaches, to work on improving our waterways, and make reasonable and cost-effective improvements to our town infrastructure. We need to make sure that our town has adequate fire and police protection. As we look to the future, South Bethany must partner with other coastal towns and work together on issues that affect us all, now and in the future.

Q. Why do you want to be part of the South Bethany Town Council?

A. There is more to be done! Improving communications through new media platforms and exploring advertising our community through Delaware Tourism websites are goals to which I aspire in the next town council term. I hope we can continue to reach out to all our property owners both full- and part-time and to make sure they feel a part of our community.

Q. What else would you like to tell voters before Election Day?

A. This is a chance to make your voice heard. Please vote on May 27 and continue to let the town council know what your concerns are. Just voting, however, is not enough. Step up to the plate and volunteer for a committee or board, help out with an activity, attend a town council meeting. We are a small town with limited resources. To augment our resources, we are fortunate to have a group of residents and property owners with great experience and expertise. Together we can indeed make South Bethany the “Best Little Beach in Delaware.”

Frank Weisgerber

Q. How are you qualified for this position?

My wife and I are retired and full-time residents of South Bethany. I’m an owner who wants to give back to “The Best Little Beach in Delaware.” I’ve volunteered on numerous committees and events in South Bethany, which helps gives me insight on what the community needs are:

• Canal Water Quality Committee chair;

• Current first-term council member;

• Community Enhancement Committee;

• South Bethany Historical Society;

• South Bethany Property Owners-sponsored property-walker;

• June community Bull Roast setup/takedown volunteer;

• South Bethany Little Free Library builder;

• South Bethany July 4th float team.

Q. What do you feel is South Bethany’s biggest challenge for the next two years, and how will you address it?

A. I feel that the council’s responsibilities center around four key areas:

(1) Our beaches

(2) Our canals

(3) Our roads

(4) Our budget

With the State and federal budgets seriously considering cutbacks in future funds for beach replenishment, South Bethany needs to address how to manage this shortfall. We need to seriously prioritize what’s important to the town and budget funds appropriately to support those priorities.

Our canal waters, being man-made, have a design flaw of not providing for continuous water flow, which is creating a stagnant sediment in our canals. The canals need to be skim-dredged to clean up this sediment and then a system put in place (we’re planning oysters and floating wetlands) to filter and re-energize the oxygen.

Q. Why do you want to be part of South Bethany Town Council?

A. My knowledge of the community obtained by past involvements, plus a year’s worth of serving on council, gives me a head start on addressing South Bethany’s four key areas (beaches, canals, roads and budget).

Q. What else would you like to tell voters before Election Day?

A. South Bethany is a unique coastal community. It sits between high-activity towns Ocean City and Dewey/Rehoboth. This allows owners and visitors to enjoy the quiet peacefulness yet have a short travel to enjoy entertainment. I’m well aware of the impact this has on property values. If re-elected, I will continually do what’s best to preserve this wonderful uniqueness of our town.

Your vote would be much appreciated.

Some local elementary school parents rejoiced this week to learn that the Indian River School District isn’t canceling Spanish Immersion classes.

The school board made no movement May 22 to change the program and then approved 117 applicants’ acceptance into the 2017-2018 Spanish Immersion kindergarten class. (They do not expect all of those children to accept the offer, which is why such a large number was accepted for four classes.)

As the district anticipates budget cuts from the State, Spanish Immersion took its turn under the hot glare of consideration for potential cuts. In this case, the IRSD could have canceled the next Spanish Immersion kindergarten class to save some teaching units (meaning those students would never have immersion).

But parents, teachers and young children had come out brandishing signs and speeches. The message was clear: these students are already bilingual and better prepared for the 21st century.

“It challenges us, and aren’t we supposed to be challenged? We can’t only do the things that are simple,” said Debora Williams, an East Millsboro Elementary School third-grader. “With immersion, you can travel around the world and learn new things, because you speak the language! … I wish to be multilingual, so please, please think about it.”

Parent and John M. Clayton Elementary School teacher Irene Retzos was in tears as she described the positive influence immersion has brought to her school.

“Children of many social and ethnic backgrounds are walking down the hall and conversing, and it’s an amazing sight. The world continues to be smaller and smaller, and it’s our responsibility to make sure our children have the resources to communicate,” Retzos said.

A new cohort begins every year in kindergarten, so the first of the districts’ Spanish Immersion students are now finishing their third- and fourth-grade years at East Millsboro Elementary School and John M. Clayton Elementary School, respectively.

The children learn for half the day exclusively in Spanish and half in English. The goal is to teach children a new language by completely immersing them in it.

Parent and Selbyville Middle School teacher Matt Schifano said the children’s skills after one year is amazing.

“This program is … one of the most successful that the district can hang their hat on,” he said.

Many families didn’t get to comment, since only 30 minutes of each board meeting are dedicated to public comments. But Board Member Jim Fritz thanked those who spoke and reminded them to tell state legislators “to quit trying to balance the budget on the backs of education.”

“Call ’em. Complain loudly and continuously,” Board Member Donald Hattier agreed.

New grading system approved

Courses will get a bit tougher for Indian River High School students this fall, as the IRSD has decided to eliminate the lowest high-school course level. The “General” level courses will be removed, which leaves “College Prep,” “Honors” and “College Level” (AP/IB/AC).

That means the more basic levels of students will get a more rigorous education, though the College Prep students won’t get the same GPA bump as before.

Those changes begin with the graduating class of 2021, who begin their freshman year this autumn, so no existing high school students will see a change in GPA weighting.

Future College Prep students (now at the standard level of education) will no longer have weighted GPAs. (GPA weights aren’t changing for Honors and College Level students.)

Meanwhile, the General courses will be eliminated in favor of more rigorous coursework.

“It really doesn’t fulfill the requirements of a high school diploma anymore,” Hudson said. “For instance, a student that would go all the way through the high school track on those [General] courses wouldn’t even get through the clearinghouse to get admission to into college… It does not prepare them for any post-secondary training program or education.”

Many Delaware high schools, including Sussex Central, have already made the change. Indian River High School was one of the few remaining.

“We’ll be going to our College Prep curriculum for all our courses,” Hudson said. “There will be support for students that need support, in terms of co-taught courses, if there are students with special needs in the course or ELL [English Langue Learner] students.”

Some teachers said they were concerned that, in such an age of encouraging individualized teaching, the change will only reduce educational options.

But good teaching skills can overcome that, officials said, as teachers use differentiation and scaffolding — terms that describe the method of making a single lesson understandable for different levels of learners.

“We feel we can provide that in a supported fashion for all students and sort of come into the modern day with our peers across the state,” said Hudson.

The new policy also clarified that teachers aren’t required to give midterm exams, which will increase instruction time. Midterms historically shut regular classes down for a week for two-hour testing blocks. Plus, the week prior was devoted to test prep. And, in college, comprehensive midterms have generally been replaced by papers and unit tests, Hudson said.

Officially, the board approved these changes in the first and second reading of Policy IKA - Grading Systems.

In other school board news:

• The district’s attendance policy has changed. The biggest change is that after 10 days of parent notes, students must have a documented excuse (doctor, lawyer, court, etc.) for other absences. Previously, they could have 16 days of parent notes.

The change was included in the board’s approving the first and second readings of Policy JE - Student Attendance.

• The IRSD recently won an Educator Preparation Partnership Grant with Red Clay School District for $591,000 over three years.

• With 83 percent of the fiscal year completed, the district has spent about 83 percent of its budget, and Howard T. Ennis School has spent about 69 percent, said IRSD Finance Director Jan Steele.

The IRSD Board of Education’s next regular meeting is Monday, June 19, at 7 p.m. at Sussex Central High School.

Summer at the Delaware shore is full of fun and busy with people and activities. It’s during the “off-season” when many of the practical things get done. So, what happened while all of our summer visitors were gone, and what’s coming to a beach town near you?

Local beach towns have more sand coming in the fall

While it won’t impact beachgoers this summer, the beaches of Bethany Beach, South Bethany and Fenwick Island will get a much-anticipated replenishment starting this fall. After damage from a series of storms in the last few years, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will bring the engineered beach back to its template design, from dune to shore. The projects are expected to be completed in time for the 2018 summer season.

In the meantime, beachgoers will still have a narrow beach to contend with this summer. And while some dune crossings have seen temporary repairs, others show signs of the wear and tear they’ve seen over the last two winters.

Route 26 project completed, new signals elsewhere

After years of lane closures, construction, paving and more, the Route 26 Mainline Improvements Project has finally been completed, offering two travel lanes and a joint left-turn lane along the entire length of Route 26 from Bethany Beach through Millville. The improved roadway also includes curbs and stormwater systems, along with a bike lane and sidewalks in some locations.

With the completion of that project, some of the “back roads” that served as detours during the project have also acquired traffic signals. The once-temporary traffic signal at Central Avenue and Cedar in Ocean View has now been made permanent, while Route 17 (Roxana Road) between Clarksville and Roxana has had a new traffic signal added at the busy intersection with Burbage Road.

Improvements coming to beachfront Atlantic Avenue

Bethany Beach officials are moving ahead with long-considered improvements to the town’s beachfront road, Atlantic Avenue, starting with the south end of the street later this year.

The $1.49 million S. Atlantic Streetscape project will aim to address pedestrian and cyclist safety and flooding problems while repaving the roadway. The plan calls for a multi-use path — bicycle and pedestrian combined — on the west side of the roadway, separated from parking and traffic by a landscape buffer. It is also expected to increase the number of available parking spaces by about 15 spaces.

The council will consider the results of the project when it is completed and could move to extend it down N. Atlantic Avenue in the future.

Trolley back to one route only

For efficiency’s sake, Bethany Beach’s Town Trolley this summer has returned back to one single route encompassing many of the stops the previous pair of routes served, with service starting May 26. The trolley runs from 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, with the last pick-up on Atlantic and Garfield at 9:45 p.m. The trolley leaves location #1 on the half-hour, starting at 9:30 a.m. There may be little or no service daily 12:30 to 1 p.m. and 7 to 7:30 p.m. for driver breaks.

Passengers can flag down the trolley anywhere along the route for pick-up or discharge, except on Route 26 or Route 1. There is no pick-up or drop-off on Jefferson Bridge or Route 26. The trolley also no longer stops at the Lake Bethany entrance or the South Coastal Library. The trolley fare is 25 cents each way (the driver does not make change). The trolley map is online at http://townofbethanybeach.com/DocumentCenter/View/2036, and the trolley brochure is at http://townofbethanybeach.com/DocumentCenter/View/2035.

No smoking on South Bethany beaches

In April, South Bethany became the last coastal Delaware town to prohibit smoking on the beach. That includes traditional cigarettes, pipes, cigars, hookahs or electronic smoking devices.

Beachgoers can still enjoy other vices, though. Alcohol is still permitted on South Bethany beaches (glass containers prohibited).

Bethany Beach recycles weekly

The Town of Bethany Beach has switched from bi-weekly curbside pickup of recyclables to weekly pickup, citing increased use of the service. Pick-up is on Wednesdays for Zone 1 and on Thursdays for Zone 2.

State of the Bays shows the good and the bad

The Delaware Center for the Inland Bays (CIB) wants citizens and officials to get involved in their watershed, so they released the 2016 State of the Bays report as a broad, but understandable, look at local bay health. It’s not a terrible report, but the inland bays need some love.

For this five-year update, the CIB studied endless data to grade six major categories, from water quality to climate and human health risks. Nothing in the watershed scored above average.

The CIB called for more funding, incentives or regulation for conservation, wetlands protections, nutrient management. The public can get involved in big or little ways: picking up trash, volunteering for field studies, counting horseshoe crabs, serving on volunteer boards or more.

The report is available to the public, legislators and anyone else interested in the watershed, for use in making decisions or inspiring change in their neighborhoods.

The full report is online at www.inlandbays.org/about-the-bays/state-of-the-inland-bays-2016.

Exercise on the boardwalk and beach

Bethany Beach has again approved a slate of fitness classes on the boardwalk and beach this summer. Once again, yoga is on offer, now through three different studios (Bethany Beach Yoga Center, Ocean Vayu Yoga and DimitraYoga), on various days of the week. Bootcamp Bethany Beach is back for a third year, while Beach Pilates & Wellness Studio of South Bethany will offer Pilates classes. (Check the Town website at townofbethanybeach.com for times, locations and costs.)

New this year is the Ninja Warrior Junior Fitness Class, on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 9 a.m., for $10 per child. The kids’ workout is designed as a fun-filled hour of jumping, swinging, climbing, leaping, balancing and rolling for kids ages 7 to 13.

In South Bethany, yoga will be offered every Tuesday and Thursday from June 3 through Sept. 2, at 8 a.m. on the beach at South 3rd Street. Boot Camp on the Beach will run June 10 through Sept. 2, on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 a.m. at North 6th Street.

Fenwick Islanders can also take advantage of Pilates and bootcamp classes on the beach there, while kids can again take part in the Town’s Junior Lifeguard Program, running from the end of June through early August.

Fun for kids and families

The Fenwick Island Barefoot Garden Club will host Children’s Storytime in the Park at the Fenwick Island gazebo on Wednesdays, July 5, 12, 19 and 26, at 10 a.m. Along with the book readings, the children will also help with the growing of plants in the vegetable garden in the park and will be able to watch caterpillars change into butterflies, provide habitat for them and learn about protecting the environment.

Fenwick Flicks will also continue this summer, on the beach at Bayard Street. July 11 will feature “Moana,” with “Zootopia on July 25 and “Finding Dory” on Aug. 8.

Bethany Beach’s Movies on the Beach will again be shown on Monday nights off Garfield Parkway, starting around dusk. The slate of PG-rated films this summer includes “The Wild Life” on June 12, “Nine Lives” on June 19, “Monster Trucks” on June 26, “Sing” on July 3 (right after Karaoke Night on the boardwalk), “Moana” on July 10, “Finding Dory” on July 17, surfing movie “Chasing Mavericks” on July 24, “Secret Life of Pets” on July 31, “Lego Batman Movie” on Aug. 7, “The Croods” on Aug. 14, “Boss Baby” on Aug. 21 and the live-action “Beauty & the Beast” on Aug. 28.

Movies will also be shown on Bethany’s bandstand on Friday nights in September, including some PG-13 selections: “The Founder,” “The Jungle Book,” “Mrs. Doubtfire” and “La La Land.”

Musical performances are a bandstand staple, and Bethany will continue that tradition this year, kicking things off with the newly expanded Poseidon Festival, May 27 through June 1, featuring a Caribbean Carnival with steel band on May 27, the U.S. Navy Cruisers on May 28, Pirate Night (featuring the movie “Hook”) on May 30, Mermaid Night (featuring a mermaid parade and skimboarding) on May 31 and a Jimmy Buffet-themed final act on June 1.

Bandstand performances are scheduled from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with an occasional mid-week booking. Shows typically begin at 7:30 p.m. A full listing of performers is available online at http://townofbethanybeach.com/261. A special feature again this summer will be Kids’ Nights, every Wednesday in July, featuring a Carnival Night (kids’ music, magic and more), a puppet show and children’s theater productions.

South Bethany will offer its first summer concert on Monday, July 3, featuring Over Time and a chance to learn how to sing the South Bethany song. The event will be held outdoors in front of town hall, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. South Bethany’s movie nights will take place on the beach at South 3rd Street, with “The Secret Life of Pets” on July 13 and “Moana” on Aug. 3, with free popcorn and glow sticks for children.

Down on the farm(ers’ market)

The Bethany Beach Farmers Market, at the corner of Garfield Parkway and Pennsylvania Avenue, will open for its 10th season on June 11, running every Sunday morning from 8 a.m. until noon through Sept. 10.

The Fenwick Island Farmers Market will open on June 17, running on Fridays from 8 a.m. to noon, through Sept. 8, at Route 1 and Essex Street. Free parking is available in the grassy lot where the market is located.

The Farmers’ Market at Sea Colony will return on Wednesday, June 14, running through Aug. 30, every Wednesday morning from 8 a.m. to noon, on Route 1 at Sea Colony, south of Bethany Beach.

Hocker’s Supermarket now open in Salt Pond

The Hocker family over the winter took over their newly purchased space at the former Harris Teeter supermarket location in the Salt Pond Plaza, moving out of their long-running G&E Grocery farther down Cedar Neck Road and expanding into the nearly 50,000-square-foot space, adding sit-down space for customers to eat prepared foods from the store and a self-serve ice cream bar, as well as linens, sushi and Kitchen Kettle Village products.

The long-term future of the G&E Supermarket building had yet to be decided this spring, but for the foreseeable future, the family said, it will be used to prepare food for the family’s catering and food-truck business.

The existing gas tanks at G&E continue to be open, but customers who don’t pay by credit card at the pump now pay at G&E Hardware next door. There will be gas pumps at the new store, too — they’re currently in the permitting process.

The family’s deer processing service will also continue at the old store. And while the old store carried a small selection of baits, the new store’s bait offerings “for the recreational fisherman” has expanded, and they now carry 20-pound bags of ice.

Point staff reporter Laura Walter contributed to this story.

With Memorial Day arriving and bringing the start of the summer season with it, many people are searching for that perfect beach read. “Settlin’ In: Love, Death & Deception” is a compilation of short stories by Joseph Scott spanning four centuries of life on the Delmarva Peninsula.

“I’m the ninth generation of a man and his wife who moved to this area from Wales in 1675. I have somewhat of a passion for Delaware… Joe loved it, too. To write this book about these places was something he really, really loved doing,” said his wife, Priscilla.

Scott, a journalist who had written for more than 50 major magazines and newspapers, including New York magazine, McCall’s and Good Housekeeping, passed away last September, just one month after his book was published.

“When he finished the last story, he was so gratified… To get the proof of the book three weeks before he passed away was just incredible,” said Priscilla Scott, noting that when he received the book proof, she danced around their house, celebrating for the both of them. “I was just so thrilled.”

Joseph Scott’s first book, “Hello, Joe,” recounts experiences and tells the story of how he was shown the way to God and to figure out why he’s here.

Following a successful career in journalism, and a move to Sussex County, Scott became an English teacher at Delmarva Christian High School.

“When he had applied to teach at Delmarva Christian, at that point in time they didn’t have enough students to justify having a second English teacher,” recalled Priscilla Scott. Later that year, a teacher left the school to teach abroad, and the principal called Scott about the opening, asking him if he’d be interested in interviewing, along with some other candidates. Scott said yes.

“He was like, ‘I’m 59 years old. I only taught one year’ — which is true, because he was drafted to Vietnam, and after that went into journalism — ‘there’s no way they’re going to hire me.’”

However, Scott was hired and taught at the school for years, where he touched many lives.

“The reason why he got that job was because he could teach his students how to read analytically, write clearly and use vocabulary correctly and to the extent they could learn about it. He loved the word and taught all the classics,” said Priscilla Scott, noting he had to read 46 books before starting his first year of teaching at the school.

She said that, when he passed, she heard from so many of his students who had loved him. She noted one student he had was dyslexic and had had trouble in his English class; however, with the encouragement and persistence from Scott, the young man graduated at the top of his class and went on to the University of Delaware to study English.

“He never complained. He loved his kids.”

When he was 65, Scott decided he wanted to get his master’s degree in liberal arts, while also working fulltime as teacher at Delmarva Christian.

“Once a week, he would drive to Newark to take a three-hour course and drive home, and go teach the following day,” said Priscilla Scott. “He did that and finished his degree at 68.”

She said his master’s degree program was the first-time Scott had taken a course from a writing professor. The book came out of a number of short stories Scott wrote for his master’s thesis, with approval from professor David Teague.

Teague loved Scott’s stories so much, in fact, that he encouraged him to keep writing.

“Writing is what he did. He was absorbed by it,” said Priscilla Scott.

After 2014, due to illness, Scott could no longer teach in the classroom, but he continued writing his short stories.

“He would attribute everything to God, always,” said Priscilla Scott. “To see him working on the book was so amazing and such a gift to me, to see his perseverance and his use of his God-given abilities, even though he knew his body was failing and that he was never going to get better.

“To see him, despite all the physical ailments, he just kept moving forward. He never let them get in his way, he never complained. He was just an inspiration to me and to many, many people. He just kept on going.”

Scott’s book was proofread by his wife, who is a professional editor and who said that, at the time, she was nervous as to whether or not the book would appeal to a wide audience.

“Settlin’ In” is currently being sold at Bethany Beach Books, Made by Hand, Patti’s Hallmark and Browseabout Books for $15.

“I think it would make a great beach read and a great ‘souvenir’ to bring home to friends and family. That’s why I contacted the local bookstores,” said Priscilla Scott. “People love to go into book stores and wander around to see what they have. You never know. I’m not trying to become wealthy with this book, I just think it’s a wonderful read and I would like as many people as possible to enjoy reading it.”

Priscilla Scott said most of the stories came from her husband’s mind and are not based on life experiences that he had personally.

“He was so committed to write about the places on the Delmarva Peninsula because he loved it here… He would get ideas in the middle of the night, and he wouldn’t want to forget them,” she recalled, noting that he would scribble on paper towels if that was the only nearby paper at 3 a.m. “It’s kind of mindboggling to me.”

Priscilla Scott said the 19 stories are all so different that there’s something that will touch everyone.

“He had so many stories to tell. He really projected getting through life and enjoying what life has to offer.”

She also noted that those who knew Joe Scott should pay particular attention to the names of the characters in the book.

“The names of the people in the book aren’t necessarily by accident. Some of them were names of people who live here or lived here years ago. Other names in there are people Joe knew, whether it was a student, relative or whatever. Also, of course, he used the places people would be aware of here. That was fun for me to read, and my family, because they’re aware of the names and things like that.”

Priscilla Scott said she hopes readers will check out the book and enjoy it as much as Scott loved writing it.

“I just hope people have the opportunity to enjoy it, because I think that they will.”

For more information about Scott and his work, visit www.josephscottauthor.com.

Coastal Point • Shaun M. Lambert: Trip Jorss, Robert Gano, Grant Gano, Lord Baltimore Principal Pam Webb and Assistant Principal Matthew Keller pose for a photo at Gano’s Eagle Scout project at LB.Although he left Lord Baltimore Elementary school nearly 10 years ago, Indian River High School senior Grant Gano wanted to give back to his earliest alma mater.

For his Eagle Scout project through Ocean View Boy Scout Troop 281, Gano rehabilitated part of the presentation area of the school’s Environmental Learning Center.

“I went here for elementary school — this was my school growing up, and this area was never used,” said Gano. “I got the idea from that. I felt the need for the deck here.”

Gano reached out to LB Principal Pam Webb and asked her if she would like the area updated and what the school’s needs would be.

“He not only had to come up with the idea and work with adults, but he had to go before our Buildings & Grounds Committee and present his idea from start to finish, and he also had to present at our Board meeting,” said Webb. “He did a stellar job.”

For his project, Gano replaced the muddy dirt and mulched area around the benches in the outdoor classroom with decking and added a handicap-accessible ramp.

“When I was a teacher here years ago, this was utilized by many of the students. But when I returned as an admin, it had fallen apart. It was untouched and unloved for many years. So when Grant reached out and said he was interested in honoring his alma mater by doing a project, this was an area he mentioned,” said Webb.

“We came out and talked about how to make this more of an outdoor classroom again. You can see from the additions and improvements that kids can actually come out here and use it. It has been used frequently this fall and throughout as weather permitted.”

“It took two 12-hour days just for construction,” said Gano. “We did have a day where we did power-washing, a day for raking and a day for fill-dirt. Before that, we also had around 40 hours of planning and preparation — going to the school board and the Grounds Committee and getting approval.”

The time spent on the project itself was more than 77 hours total, spanning about two years — from concept and design to paperwork and construction.

“It’s great,” said LB Assistant Principal Matt Keller, who is also one of Grant’s assistant scout masters. “You see them through the project, using what the school has taught them — writing, communication skills, all those things from core areas, they get to use in a very practical way.”

The project was funded by Contractors for a Cause and also received support from McCarthy Stone, said Gano, noting the project cost approximately $2,100 to complete.

Webb said that now the area is safer for the school’s 654 students, has less flooding and is more accessible.

“We have a gardening club that comes in and works with second-graders who have utilized this space. It’s been a welcome addition, because it’s more useful being out here than being stuck inside the classroom.

“We’re so thankful that Grant spearheaded this initiative so that our kids can utilize it again, because it has been one of those little treasures that has been unused for many years. With our budget cuts with the State, we may not have the opportunity to do Ingram Pond, so this will be a way for us to still meet those science standards. Hopefully, we can do more on-campus.”

A lot of time and work also goes into being able to simply try to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout.

“You have to go through Scouter, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life and Eagle. There are seven ranks, and each rank takes at least a year,” he explained. “You have to do a scout master conference, where they go over the requirements of the rank.

“There’s a board of review where you have four or five people talking to you about your rank and make sure you’re ready to move up to the next rank. That happens for each rank, and then there’s an Eagle Scout board of review.”

Gano has been in Boy Scouts for seven years and is the first one in his family to receive the rank of Eagle.

“When my dad was growing up, his dad was a scout master. My dad made it to Life, which is the rank before Eagle, so I had this ambition to beat him,” he said.

“His grandfathers on both sides were scout masters, and neither obtained Eagle. So he’s the first one in our family to make this,” said Gano’s father, Rob. “I’m very proud of what he’s accomplished here and also very happy that he could do something for the school that he graduated from. I’ve seen Grant grow a lot during this process.”

“It was a good project and a worthwhile project that I think the community is going to enjoy for many years.”

Gano, 18, who will graduate from Indian River High School on May 31, plans to study civil Engineering at the University of Delaware

Boy Scouts is a fun extracurricular activity, said Gano, one that teaches life skills but also gives young men the opportunity for adventure — including a 15-mile canoe trip, zip-lining, snowboarding, skiing and a lot of camping.

“It’s really worth it. It’s hard work achieving Eagle Scout, but in the long run it will help you with your life — the skills you learn and also the friends you get to acquire.

“When I first got into Boy Scouts, I was really shy. I went in by myself. I skipped Cub Scouts. I didn’t really have many friends and didn’t really talk to many people. It gave me a sociability and friends that I have today.

“Throughout the entire process, from each merit badge I’ve earned, I’ve learned new skills in outdoors, and also in life, that’s helped me.”

Gano thanked his family for their support throughout the process, as well as his his troop and mentors — and one in particular, Trip Jorss.

“He helped me through the whole thing — with construction, because he’s a contractor also.”

“Everything was great. It was a hard project to think about and design. It took many meetings here just so he could realize what had to be done, what should be done. A lot of communications, a lot of phone calls,” added Jorss.

“I suggested, but Grant followed through with everything. It was a really good project. It was a lot of fun, and I was glad to be involved in it.”

Webb said she hopes Gano’s project will encourage others in the community to give back to the school as well.

“It warms your heart, because your validating that the teachers here made a difference in the lives of a student, for them to put that blood, sweat and tears into such a lengthy project. It wasn’t just a little thing. To me, this was a huge project, a huge undertaking, and he had a lot of community support,” she said.

“We appreciate him taking LB on as his Eagle Scout project. The whole Boy Scout organization was a pleasure to work with. It was just a wonderful experience.

“I think, with Grant’s initiative, it has piqued an interest again. So we would love to have any community support or interest, because there’s a lot of work left to do.”

Keller said the project was a great example of what can happen if a school positively impacts a student.

“It was an interesting way for someone who’s in Scouts and an alumnus of the school to be able to give something back. That’s one of the big things about the Eagle Scout projects: be of service to your community.

“One of the things Mr. Steele always talks about,” he said of IRHS Superintendent Mark Steele, “is bringing the schools and the community back together. This is a small example of that, but it’s also I think shows how powerful that can be.

“We have a member of the community who’s also an alumnus, and bringing that together has given all of the children here a new learning space. It’s great to see the impact the boys have had on their community. It’s easy to pay attention to maybe pay attention to people who aren’t always making the best decisions. I think it’s important to notice when we have students, young members of our community, who are making the right decisions, to hold them up.”

Gano said he’s pleased with what he was able to accomplish through his Eagle Scout project and hopes the space will be useful to future generations.

“It’s an amazing feeling. It’s great giving back to the community and also my school that helped me through first through fifth grade,” said Gano. “We did our best to make sure it’s durable and lasts. I hope they maintain it and it will be here for a long time so that a couple of generations of kids can come and use this.”

This weekend, visitors and residents will have the unique opportunity to tour a local workshop where antique trunks are restored. The Ocean View Historical Society will host a History Mix on Saturday, June 3, at 1 p.m. at Norman Justice’s workshop on Cedar Neck Road.

“Norman Justice is a local treasure who has spoken at previous Ocean View Historical Society public lectures about life in Ocean View in the early days,” said Carol Psaros of the Ocean View Historical Society.

“Norman is not only a master craftsman who restores heirloom trunks, he is a skilled holly wreath-maker whose wreaths were greatly prized in these parts when the Christmas wreath-making was one of Sussex County’s biggest industries.”

Those who attend the event will be able to view his collection of trunks and hear Justice talk about the history behind some of them.

“Norman Justice will select several types of heirloom trunks from his collection (which is stacked to the ceiling in his workshop) and talk about their historical and social significance,” said Psaros, noting that one trunk is lined with old newspaper that lists the names of slaves.

The event is limited to 40 participants, and as of mid-week about 20 people had registered. Those who attend will have the chance to ask questions, as well as enjoy light refreshments.

“Although the workshop is focused on trunks, participants will have an opportunity to informally ask Mr. Justice questions about his local knowledge, which is extensive. Craftsman Justice is 95 years old, and most of them have been spent in Ocean View.”

Attendance costs $5 for OVHS members or $15 for non-members. Registration is required.

This is the third History Mix the society has offered at various locations in and around Ocean View.

“The first was ‘Chicken Chatter’ at the Café on 26, which was the family home of Cecile and Wilmer Steele, the Ocean View farmwife credited with starting the international broiler industry. The second History Mix was held at Perucci’s Classic Italian Restaurant, where local historian Grace Wolfe and others talked about the many uses of that historic building and its surrounds over the years.”

Psaros said holding such events is important, as it helps educate people on the history of the area.

“There is no substitute for first-hand accounting of the past. Norman Justice has lived almost a century, and his stories about life in Sussex County during the early 1900s, throughout the Depression and two world wars, is priceless. The Ocean View Historical Society’s mission is to locate, share and save such knowledge.”

Those who wish to register for the event must contact Psaros at ckpsaros@aol.com or (302) 539-5653 to register in advance. A rain date is set for Monday, June 5.

Most beach towns don’t want anyone to feed the seagulls, since the birds will harass humans for more food. Now, in South Bethany, people may no longer feed stray and feral cats.

Residents originally complained that some properties appeared to be a haven for feral felines. That means more cats running around town, potentially carrying germs, carrying dead birds, tracking across back yards and sometimes taking up residence inside houses that were otherwise closed up for winter.

After months of debate among those who love, hate or are completely indifferent toward cats, the South Bethany Town Council has now passed rules to prohibit the feeding of wild mammals and stray cats; ban the importation of feral or stray cats into town; and promote local trap-, neuter-and-return (TNR) programs.

“Feeding wild mammals, feral cats or stray cats anywhere in the Town of South Bethany is prohibited … even when the provider claims they did not intend the food to be consumed … [when a] reasonable person would have known that the food could be consumed at least in part by wild mammals, feral cats or stray cats,” the ordinance states.

Stray and feral cats intended to be adopted out may not be imported into town, unless the strays are kept indoors. People may not maintain property “that is offensive, annoying or dangerous to the public health … because of the number, type, variety, density or location of the animals on the property.”

Penalties are $100 for the first offense, which increases by $100 for each subsequent offense, not to exceed $500, plus court costs.

“We have a feral cat ordinance,” Mayor Pat Voveris finally said on May 12, after the unanimous vote on Ordinance 187-17.

Councilman Wayne Schrader led the drafting of the ordinance. The town council carefully picked around earlier drafts that suggested a process for the Town to remove cats. They abandoned that idea early on, partly due to the expense of humanely relocating cats and the public outcry.

Instead, the public is being encouraged to call local nonprofit cat trapping programs.

Nancy Lord reminded the crowd that trap-neuter-vaccinate-return programs are “scientifically proven to be more effective than removing cats from an area or euthanizing them. It’s called a ‘vacuum effect,’” she said of what happens when cats are simply removed and not returned. “Other cats will move into the area and take up that same space.”

Coastal Cats and the Cats Around Town Society (CATS) have a mission reduce the overall population of feral cats in southeast Sussex County. Kittens taken in during their work are often adopted out, and feral adult cats are neutered to prevent more reproduction.

Coastal Point • Tyler Valliant: Head chef Celaso Morales, left, owner Jeff Hamer, second from right, and Director of Operations Briana Roviske gather with the crew during their opening-night celebration last Thursday, May 25.It’s what Jeff Hamer, president and founder of the Fins Hospitality Group, likes to refer to as “being the rising tide.”

The long-time restaurateur has built his success directly around that of his “Fins family,” ever since his days of launching his very first venture in Rehoboth Beach.

“That’s why we like to say, ‘It’s the rising tide,’” Hamer explained. “If we can provide good-paying jobs, we can lift the people up around us, then the community just becomes stronger. [Our employees] all have families, homes in the areas, mortgages, their kids are in school — they have a stake in the community.

“That’s really been our blessing — it’s not about me when people say they love Fins,” Hamer continued. “It’s the employees. They’re the ones that do it. I come up with the ideas and kind of paint broad strokes, and they’re the ones that make it happen. They make Fins, they really do.”

While Hamer’s vision has come a long way since its early beginnings — now including four Fins locations spanning from Rehoboth to Berlin, Md., Claws Seafood House in Rehoboth and Big Oyster Brewing Co., which set to debut its new brew pub in Lewes later this month — the group’s “be the rising tide” philosophy has remained the same.

That was the case when the newest addition to the Fins family opened its doors last week, ready to embrace their new home in the Bethany Beach area with Fins Ale House & Raw Bar.

“My wife, Kim, and I actually take our morning walk in Bethany now,” said Hamer of his new daily routine after dropping off his kids at the bus stop en route to Worcester Preparatory School in Berlin. “It’s really just a great community. Everyone is really nice. It’s quiet. There’s plenty of nature trails here. It’s just its own little beautiful place in Delaware.”

After taking over the former location of Burnzy’s Bar & Grille in the Marketplace at Sea Colony, Fins Bethany will aim to stay true to its roots while offering some unique additions specific to the new location.

“We wanted to make sure that we brought in some veteran staff that represent our brand the way that we know they can,” said Director of Operations Briana Rovinske.

“We still have our ‘Build Your Own’ Fresh Fish Board — you could come into Fins seven nights a week and have a different meal every night just off of the fresh fish board — but then our chefs have come in with a lot of fresh ideas and a lot of new menu items that we’re very excited about.”

Menu staples and signature specials

Longtime members of the Fins family, including Rovinske, head chef Celaso Morales and executive chef Max Sopinskyy, have teamed up to create the location’s signature dishes to go along with the ever-changing menu of nightly specials.

So far, the new dishes, such as the Grilled Shellfish Combo — featuring baby lobster tail, shrimp, scallops and chorizo — have become fast fan favorites.

“We want to give people different options. We keep it fresh for the customers and keep it fresh for us, too,” said Morales of his culinary vision. “I’m very excited to be here in Bethany. I want to show people what we can do.”

The menu also includes an array of seafood specialties, ranging from the Fins’ Shellfish Pasta, Spanish Seafood Paella and Balsamic Glazed Salmon to some of the usual seafood suspects, including fish-and-chips, both fried shrimp and fried oyster dinner platters, and jumbo crabcakes.

While the seafood choices continue onto the sandwich menu to feature the Fins’ Lobster Roll, fish tacos, buffalo shrimp and fried oyster po’ boys, and more, there’s also plenty of sandwich and entrée choices for land-lovers, with dishes such as Chicken Marsala or center-cut filet mignon, honey bourbon chicken sandwich, half-pound burger and a full menu of soups and salads.

As always, one of the most popular draws has been the Fins raw bar, offering up freshly shucked selections of oysters, clams and signature shooters cocktails to go along with steamed oyster, clam, shrimp, mussels and combo options as well.

Favorites on the appetizer menu included Fins’ tuna nachos with fresh ahi tuna, house-made guacamole and honey-wasabi aioli; chorizo cheese fries; Fins’ Homemade Crab Dip; flash-fried calamari, oysters and lobster tails; and fried green tomatoes, just to name a few.

Big Oyster brews and more on tap

No matter the menu selection, the Fins team is well equipped to recommend something from the newly revamped wine list for pairing, or one of the local brews from their draft rotation.

There was something on tap for everyone during opening weekend, with selections from Fins’ Big Oyster Brewing Company, such as the Solar Power Belgian blonde Witbier, fruit-forward hopped POW! (as in “right in the kisser”) and traditional throwback Bonnethead Pale Ale.

When the new 15-barrel, 80-seat brew pub launches in Lewes, Big Oyster brews in cans will be available as well.

As for the rising tide, even with the new ventures on the horizon, Hamer and his team are ready to establish themselves as part of their new community in Bethany, the same way they always have before — whether it’s through creating new jobs that can one day become careers or donating to the Fisher House and other military organizations, as they do with their north locations, and “Make a Difference Monday” fundraisers, as they do in Berlin.

“Each community is different and has its own needs. That’s always an important part of our mission is to give back,” said Hamer. “We feel like the more ventures we get into, the more jobs we can provide the community. A lot of our general managers now started off as bus-people or dishwashers. Everybody works their way up.

“We’re a family. People stick around for a long time. We offer plenty of opportunity for growth, and we like to promote from within — that’s one of our philosophies,” added Rovinske. “‘Fins fam for life.’ That’s the motto.”

Fins Ale House & Raw Bar is located at 33544 Market Place, south of Bethany Beach. The restaurant is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner and will stay open year-round. For more information, visit their website at www.finsrawbar.com or their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/finsalehousebethany, or call the restaurant at (302) 539-3467.

Coastal Point • Kerin Magill: Members of the Salt Air Gardeners recently began a landscaping project at the Indian River Life Saving Station.When Indian River Life Saving Station site manager Laura Scharle got back work recently after a day away, it looked as if garden fairies had made a stop there.

Landscaping around the museum and historic site had been spruced up — plants added, mulch raked in, beds cleaned up.

In reality, the “fairies” were members of the Salt Air Gardeners, a recently formed group of “lifelong learners” who were looking for a community project. In their quest, they contacted the Inland Bays Garden Center in Ocean View, where they learned that the Lifesaving Station’s grounds were in need of some attention.

Based in the Bay Forest community, the group (don’t call them a “club” — they prefer to be referred to as an “organization” or just by their name) is nearly 50 members strong, despite only having been in existence for a few months.

After consulting with Inland Bays Garden Center owner Cheryl Rehrig, the group set about figuring out what was needed and where. Plants for the site needed to be selected carefully.

“They need to be not only native to coastal Delaware, but, essentially, to our dune ecosystem,” Scharle said.

As such, the plants need to be drought-resistant and salt-tolerant, in addition to being native to the area. With guidance from Rehrig, plants were selected to fill in gaps in the landscaping at the station.

“We wanted to reuse what’s already here,” said Libby Bishop, co-chair of the Life Saving Station committee.

Scharle said she was approached by the Salt Air Gardeners after she had sought help from other groups for quite a while.

“This was mind-boggling, to get it done so fast,” Bishop said. She credited the speedy work to the gardeners themselves, whom she described as a “hard-working, creative, passionate group.”

Salt Air Gardeners Treasurer Oksana Hoey said the group began as “five crazy people” who wanted to serve the community while expanding their gardening knowledge, and the Life Saving Station was a perfect fit. “We have a whole lot of ‘lifelong learners’” in the group, said group President Lois McNamara.

“We knew they were a little overwhelmed, when we came to the site” to get an idea of the scope of the project, Bishop said.

Scharle said the project points to the importance of volunteers in maintaining state parks properties. At the Life Saving Station, “It is really a challenge for our staff to upkeep” the existing landscaping, much less add to it, Scharle said. “It’s really amazing how much work gets done by volunteers” in the state parks, she added.

When she arrived at the Life Saving Station after the Salt Air Gardeners had their first workday there, Scharle said, “I could not believe how much they accomplished.”

The materials and plants used in the project are jointly funded by the Salt Air Gardeners and by the state parks. The group is planning more visits to continue filling in the landscaping, as well as maintain it.

Coastal Point • Shaun M. Lambert : The cast of ‘Sex Please We’re Sixty’ was ready to put on BART’s final show at the Dickens Parlour Theatre before their summer hiatus.Opening night is already sold out for the Bethany Area Repertory Theatre’s final production at the Dickens Parlour Theatre in Millville before their summer hiatus.

Director Rusty Hesse’s adaptation of the “saucy senior-scandal” originally written by Michael and Susan Parker, “Sex Please, We’re Sixty,” will feature plenty of laughs on the subjects of menopausal hot flashes, the age well past the age of sexual pinnacles and little blue pills being “popped like M&Ms.”

“It’s a laugh-a-minute kind of production,” said four-year BART veteran Jeff Martini, who will portray aging-lothario protagonist Bud “The Stud” Davis in the production after helping put on “Sex Please, We’re Sixty” in Arizona with the Sun City Grand Theatre Co. this past winter.

“It’s got some very interesting differences,” Martini continued, comparing the two adaptations. “These light-hearted comedies have really resonated with our audiences at BART over the years. It’s a terrific way to end the season.”

The story’s plot will center around “Bud the Stud,” who’s been spending his golden years hanging around the fictional Rose Cottage Bed & Breakfast, oozing his signature silver-tongued charm to the inn’s steady rotation of female passers-through, under the ego-derived delusion that it’s him and him alone that they’re all coming to see.

Of course, what would a story be without conflict? — with plenty of it stemming from the back-and-forth between Bud and the inn’s youthful, yet surprisingly prim-and-proper, proprietor, Mrs. Stancliffe, played by BART newcomer Audrey Fisher-Killen.

Things really heat up when three new guests of the inn, played by Susan McCoy, Barbara Ratcliff and Emily Abbot, are introduced to Bud, just after Bud is introduced to some new and highly-experimental pharmaceutical aid from his retired-chemist pal, played by Anthony Chiffolo — his “Venusia” pills being not exactly kosher when it comes to official FDA approval.

The British-style farce and promise of hilarity ensues from there, with Bud lusting after and juggling his courtship of the inn’s various guests while rushing in and out of rooms in the frantic style of the gang from “Scooby Doo,” as Bud and his Love Doctor pal eventually come to find out some hard truths about the error of their ways.

“You just have to see it to believe it,” said Martini of the fun. “This is a farce, so all of the stereotypes are just played out over the top.”

Heading into their opening performance after rehearsing for the past two months, Martini said that the mix of past BART favorites and newcomers has panned out to an ideal comedic cast.

“It’s a fun and really terrific cast, even outside of the play,” he said. “One of my favorite things about doing this is working with a group of people over a period of time and being able to put together a production that everyone is excited about. This group has just been a joy to work with.”

As of mid-week tickets had already sold out for opening night on Thursday, June 1, but they were still available for shows on Friday, June 2, and Saturday June 3, as well as three more shows the following weekend, spanning from Thursday, June 8, through Saturday, June 10.

As for next fall, BART and Dickens already have big plans for future performances, as well as for their “20-by-20” initiative, with aims of providing 20 scholarships to local students who plan on pursuing theater and the arts in college.

After awarding three scholarships last spring and three more scholarships to seniors at Sussex Central and Indian River High School just last month, the joint venture between BART and Dickens is still planning to provide two more scholarships before the end of the school year with proceeds from their latest performance.

“It’s a five-year plan, and we’re almost halfway there — so very proud of that,” said Martini. “We have some really big plans for growth in the future. Anyone who has any interest, whether they have experience or not, is certainly encouraged to reach out to us, because there’s a lot of opportunities.”

For a full list of performances or for tickets, visit www.dptmagic.com or call Dickens Parlour Theatre at (302) 829-1071. To get involved with BART in the future, contact the theater company at BARTinBethany@gmail.com or visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BARTinBethany.

Dickens Parlour Theatre is located at 35715 Atlantic Avenue in Millville.

The Town’s Traffic Committee is wrapping up its mission to improve safety and speeding in South Bethany’s Cat Hill neighborhood.

More than a year ago, they were instructed to research ideas to address traffic volume, traffic speed and pedestrian safety in a residential neighborhood that is increasingly used as a beach-traffic artery.

Recently, they crunched the data to rate the top 12 traffic control measures for the town.

Their top alternative was to create a pedestrian walkway separated from the roadway. Next were a traffic barricade (permanent and seasonal); a new road behind town hall; and more, down to gated access (which they said they believe is permitted if public access to the road remains elsewhere in the neighborhood).

The list was loosely based on impact versus price. However, many of the projects will require more studies, on property ownership, right-of-way, engineering and so forth. The Traffic Committee didn’t have the engineering expertise to identify every potential cost associated with any given project.

They rated each project based on impact to traffic volume, speed, pedestrian and bike safety, parking, cost and more. In price, projects range from several thousand dollars to $500,000.

These are just concepts, not a comprehensive review.

“These are planning-level [ideas]. There was no science involved, besides us discussing the data we were able to collect,” said John Janowski, committee chair.

Some projects would require surveys or right-of-way studies. Once engineering begins on any project, the town council will get a better idea of cost and impact.

The problem is simple: As the year-round and vacationing population increases in Sussex County, more people are discovering South Bethany’s tiny roads can be an effective shortcut to the beach. It’s the only inland beach route in the area between Routes 26 and 54.

“This is a regional issue,” said Janowski. “There’s just a limited east-west capacity.”

But that means more traffic and faster speeds on the South Bethany roads, which has alarmed the quiet, pedestrian-focused Cat Hill neighborhood.

Since residents raised their ongoing concerns in late 2015, the council has formed the Traffic Committee and approved the following measures:

• Barricade hours were adjusted, using traffic data, to prevent vehicles from entering Black Gum Drive from Kent Avenue, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., May 15 to Sept. 15.

• A three-way stop was installed at Tamarack Drive and Canal Road.

• One new speed hump was installed.

• All speed humps were augmented to be more effective.

• Speed signs were installed to make drivers more cognizant.

• Road striping was added to visually narrow the lane, to make drivers more cognizant.

• The Delaware Department of Transportation was enlisted to perform traffic studies.

• South Bethany Police Department officers are continuously collecting traffic data, including speed and volume.

The traffic-calming measures have worked to improve the situation. Average speeds are often lower than the 20 mph posted speed limit.

But there is no silver-bullet solution that will please everyone. While many residents advocated for more effective barricade hours (which the council extended last summer), others are asking for exceptions (such as a residents-only pass to go through the barricade).

The council will seek public input and make decisions in the future. Councilwoman Sue Callaway said she was displeased that another pedestrian striping configuration was proposed when new painting was just done at the request of the citizens. Mayor Pat Voveris said that idea was originally favored by citizens, not DelDOT.

The council also budgeted $2,500 for survey work behind town hall but must give approval later if they decide to actually spend it.

Wondering about a pathway behind town hall, town officials have approached the neighboring private development of Middlesex Beach about the boundaries between the two entities. The inquiry doesn’t appear to have been taken well.

“Right now, Middlesex has chained it off as if it’s theirs, and it’s not usable,” Voveris reported of the pathway.

The Traffic Committee will begin writing their official report this summer. Otherwise, their committee work is done, and traffic will likely move under the purview of the Planning Commission.

The Traffic Committee has posted details and traffic data online at www.southbethany.org/pdf_trafficcommittee.php.

The Ocean View Planning & Zoning Commission last week voted to recommend a number of proposed code amendments to the town council.

The commission voted unanimously to recommend an ordinance to town council that would amend the Ocean View Land Use & Development Code by adding “Woodworking Shops” as “Special Exceptions” in GB-1 and GB-2 General Business Districts.

Jeff Clark of Land Tech Land Planning told the commission he has a client who has started the process of trying to get to build a commercial woodworking shop.

“What I would like for you to consider is this, the way this is written is as a special exception,” said Clark. “If someone who wants to build a woodworking shop has to go to the Board of Adjustment, pay $550 to say, ‘I want to build a woodworking shop as defined in your code’ and then go through the process…

“I would propose you would consider making some permitted use — if you have a woodworking shop that keeps this definition. If you step outside of this definition and do something more exotic or noisy… Of course, you may go to the Board of Adjustment, because that’s really going to impact the neighbors.”

Town Solicitor Dennis Schrader noted that a woodworking shop is permissible in a residential zone, as a “home-based operation,” with the condition that there can be no more than one non-resident employee.

Clark said he was concerned with the length of the process to amend the code and hoped that the commission would recommend a change to the council.

“I think the special exception is simply just an added level of protection to this Town and its citizens,” said Public Works Director Charles McMullen. “I don’t think that it’s that much of an imposition to the applicant in that issue. It’s simply a meeting before the Board of Adjustment, and then the next step would be before the Planning & Zoning Commission.”

The commission did not alter the proposed ordinance and voted unanimously to recommend its approval to the town council as written.

The commission also reviewed an ordinance to amend the Ocean View Land Use & Development Code by adding “Wildlife Education Centers” as special exceptions in GB-2 and GB-2 General Business Districts.

The proposed amendment was drafted after Josh Mueller of Barn Hill Preserve — a business that offers educational animal programs while focusing on conservation education for diverse audiences — contacted the Town about potentially opening a new location within Ocean View, adjacent to the Salted Rim restaurant.

“I think what everyone has to understand here is… Do we want to recommend that something of this nature be permitted as a special exception in the GB-1 district, which is everything along State Route 26? Do we want to say it should be included in the GB-2 District, which is anything outside of the area of the main portion of the town?” said McMullen.

Schrader added that the primary purpose of a “wildlife education center” is education, not to serve as a zoo.

“It’s not intended to be a petting zoo. There are educational programs that must be associated with the operation of the business. The other thing I’d like to point out to you is we don’t know what necessarily will be the proposed animals — spiders, fish, snakes… But the intent is to keep them confined in an enclosed building in order to have the educational opportunities presented. Secondly, there is to be a fence around it.”

He added that such facilities would also need to comply with state and federal regulations, as well as those of the town.

The commission unanimously voted to recommend the amended ordinance for town council’s approval.

Also at the May 23 meeting:

• The commission voted unanimously to recommend an ordinance amending the official Zoning Map of the Town of Ocean View by re-designating enumerated parcels in accordance with the 2015 Comprehensive Land Use Plan.

• Kent Liddle, who had previously served on the commission, was sworn in for his return to the commission, which will hold its reorganizational meeting next month.

• The Ocean View Board of Adjustment also met on May 23 and unanimously voted to approve an application submitted by Chris Dominic and Barbara Calkins, related to their home on Hudson Avenue. The couple purchased the 1895 home in the 1990s and have been spending their time improving it over the years.

• At the meeting, the board said farewell to Vice-Chair Jim LeGates.

“I would like to thank him for his service to the Town, his honest interpretation of the Code, his ability to inquire and ask questions that were pertinent in order to make sure that the relief being provided to people was justified,” said McMullen. “I wish him the best in his move back to ‘the other side,’ as I like to call it. We’ll miss him.”

“I’ve enjoyed it,” said Legates. “It was an honor to serve the community… We leave with mixed feelings but will be back visiting with friends and family.”

Special to the Coastal Point • Submitted: A new Howard T. Ennis School for students with special needs could be located north of Millsboro, as shown in this Preliminary Land Use Service (PLUS) application.The wheels are rolling for a new Howard T. Ennis School building. The State of Delaware appears to like the idea of building a new facility for the special-needs school.

Indian River School District officials said they are encouraged by state-level discussions to transfer a piece of Stockley Center land to build a replacement Ennis School in Georgetown.

Although Ennis is managed by the IRSD, the school serves all Sussex Countians who have significant cognitive delays, up to age 21.

Currently, it’s a tight squeeze for Ennis’s 140 students, plus special staff and medical equipment. Sometimes they can barely fit in the narrow hallways of the old building.

The district needs to rebuild the 47-year-old school completely, without disrupting the students’ education.

As proposed, the new 80,542-square-foot Ennis school would be built on 61 agricultural acres currently held by the state-managed Stockley Center. It is on the southwest corner of Patriots Way and Avenue of Honor (Parcel 133-7.00-8.00), across the street from the Stockley Center, which provides training, healthcare, family services and residential services for people with developmental disabilities.

The IRSD proposed the land transfer, which would save it big money on real estate costs.

Meanwhile, the State pays 100 percent for construction of special schools, so unlike traditional school construction projects, this estimated $44.7-million project doesn’t require public referendum, because the district wouldn’t be contributing local funds.

Although the IRSD hasn’t seen anything in writing, administrators said they have been encouraged by recent meetings with Delaware’s Preliminary Land Use Service (PLUS).

“We met with the PLUS Committee in Dover, and they’re the ones that approve the land that you can build the building on. We’re waiting for their letter of approval,” said IRSD Superintendent Mark Steele.

It seems a perfect fit, officials have said. The land in question was meant to serve the public good. It’s considered “out of play” by the State — meaning it should be developed for a public purpose, such as a school, not private housing or retail.

The idea has gotten a warm response from the Delaware Department of Education and Department of Health & Social Services. They and the IRSD would work with the Delaware Office of Management & Budget to transfer the land to the school district. Then, the typical building brainstorming begins: design, traffic management, soil testing, utilities and more.

“We have not gotten anything in writing, but are awaiting approval,” said to IRSD Director of Business Jan Steele. “We also have to wait and see if the State puts the funding in the Bond Bill. I haven’t seen a copy of the proposed Bond Bill from Gov. [John] Carney. Our conversation with OMB was that we would ask for planning funding for this next year, and construction would begin the following year.”

Fearn-Clendaniel Architects Inc. were hired to review Ennis and found the 46-year-old building to be drastically lacking.

“Conditions are less than ideal,” stated the report. “Ceilings are low, corridors are narrow, and bathrooms are inadequate. … Every area of the site and building is undersized to support the student population and program requirements.”

That’s bad for a regular student population, but a critical fault for Ennis’s special population.

“Every available space within the school is overfilled with materials, tools and equipment,” the report stated. “The existing school building is radically undersized for the mission it must house.”

Plus, new playground equipment won’t be installed until they have path forward. After all, the equipment would just have to be ripped out again if/when the school moves.

Because the current Ennis land originally came from the neighboring Delaware Technical Community College, it would return to the college when no longer used for Ennis.

Currently located at 20346 Ennis Road, Ennis is the only IRSD school located west of Route 113. In its new location, it would become the southern neighbor of Sussex Central High School, which is located at 26026 Patriots Way. SCHS is located on a large parcel, upon which IRSD officials envision future middle and elementary school buildings.

Howard T. Ennis isn’t the only school too small for its own good.

In 2016, the State approved IRSD to pursue four capital construction projects: a replacement Howard T. Ennis, an additional elementary school; an additional middle school; and building additions at Sussex Central High School. But in a mad dash to balance the budget for the coming school year, the IRSD Board of Education hasn’t engaged in public discussion of the latter three projects, which would all require local funds and a public referendum.

The ocean water temperature may still be in the very low 60s, but things are heating up on the Bethany Beach boardwalk this weekend, as the Town hosts its annual Seaside Craft Show on Saturday, June 3, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sponsored by the Bethany Beach Cultural & Historical Affairs Committee, the juried show features more than 100 crafters this year, including some who are new to the show, according to Bethany Beach Entertainment Director Julie Malewski. “They come from all over. It’s a nationwide thing,” Malewski said of the show’s vendors.

Among the treasures awaiting shoppers on the boardwalk and on Garfield Parkway and Parkwood Street are jewelry, pottery, home décor, glass work, paintings, photography, wood work, metal work, quilts, clothing, leather work, candles and more.

The musical duo Notes on the Beach will perform from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the bandstand. Jeff Cooper and Glenn Pearson, friends and professional musicians for more than 40 years, met in high school, formed a band and later attended Peabody Conservatory. Cooper focused on musical theater, while Pearson concentrated on piano performance.

Cooper has played bass at the Kennedy Center, National and Ford’s theaters, Wolf Trap and on Broadway — most recently for “Evita” with Ricky Martin. Pearson has performed at the White House, the vice president’s residence, the Kennedy Center and the Smithsonian, as well as countless embassies, galleries and private homes.

Weather forecasts for Saturday were for temperatures in the mid-70s and rain-free, so organizers are hoping the show will go on, but in the event that cancelation is necessary, it will be announced on the town website at www.townofbethanybeach.com. There will be no rain date if the show is canceled. (Vendors can also check the web site for their booth location, listed by category, Malewski said.)

If nothing else, South Atlantic Avenue in Bethany Beach — the south end of the town’s easternmost north-south street, running along the beach block — is in need of repaving. And it’s due for that work, already scheduled to get some attention in the Town’s 2018 street paving plan.

But while they’re at it, the Town is now planning to take even better advantage of the down-time and money for that repaving project by doing a full Streetscape project there, aiming to improve drainage and the water mains, provide better access to pedestrian facilities and ensure better safety by re-engineering the roadway and its environs.

A key feature of the project is a multi-use path on the east side of the road that is separated from the parking and travel areas of the road. It will provide both room for pedestrians and a bicycle lane, behind the safety of a landscaped buffer of groundcover plants and with room for the doors of parked cars to be opened for ingress and egress without endangering pedestrians’ knees or cyclists’ balance.

There will be an additional sidewalk on the west side of the roadway for more pedestrians to walk along the roadway — which is something town officials hope people will do, rather than walking down the street, at risk from drivers, as is often the case today.

In addition to the path and repaving, the project involves paving the existing stone shoulders for improved use as parking. The elimination of the haphazard parking areas that exist there in favor of ordered spaces is expected to increase the number of parking spaces in the area by around 15 spaces — a side benefit of the layout, rather than an impetus for the project.

Additionally, the project will re-grade the roads to improve the flow of stormwater and redirect it to the vegetated areas, where it will better infiltrate the ground, rather than ponding and flooding.

At the May 19 town council meeting, engineers said the exact dimensions and locations of the Streetscape features were still under discussion, but the estimated cost of the project is $1.49 million, including the necessary relocation of some utility poles.

While town officials and engineers emphasized the safety improvements from the plan, the design drawings concerned resident Nancy Gray, who said she felt it would be even more difficult for residents of the east side of the street to safely back onto the roadway with the multi-use path and landscape buffer between their homes and the parked cars.

She particularly questioned the “beautification” elements of the drawings, which included flower boxes, as not only being unneeded but posing an additional challenge for drivers.

But Town Manager Cliff Graviet clarified that the drawings were only loosely representational and didn’t accurately reflect the details of that landscape buffer.

“Those plants — that area will be alongside car doors, and they will be essentially groundcover,” he explained. “They’re not there for aesthetic purposes but as a way to … help absorb the water and help us overcome some of the permitting issues” involved in the project, he said.

Graviet said he felt the change would provide more of an “open vista” for residents backing out of their driveways than it does now.

“You will have more of an opportunity to see pedestrians … than you do now. You will have a 9-foot and a 3-foot stretch to see people coming on both sides of the street. … Right now, there are no usable sidewalks, so the pedestrians and cyclists were in the street. Now they have a place to go that they didn’t before,” he said.

Engineers acknowledged that the resulting travel lanes may be a little narrower than they are now, “but not significantly,” and they emphasized that they will meet the existing standards for a travel lane.

Of the landscaping specifically, Graviet emphasized, “They’re not going to be planters. They’re going to be low-growth plantings, so you can open a car door and the door will go over it. We don’t want them opening their car doors into people.”

Councilman Jerry Morris noted that South Atlantic Avenue’s “deteriorating conditions” mean that it does require being repaved “as soon as practical.” The project, he said, presents improved safety, compliance with ADA regulations and enhanced drainage.

“Given the severity of these problems, it would seem ill-advised and poor use of municipal funds if we just repaved it without correcting the problems we have.”

The council unanimously approved the project on May 19, with construction to take place later this year. That will give the council time to consider whether the results make them want to expand the project to North Atlantic Avenue, which has even more residential properties.

“From my office’s perspective,” Graviet said, “we want to see how this proceeds and what the outcome is.” He said the council could review the project over the winter and consider how they want to proceed with North Atlantic after that.

“That part needs repairing, so it is something we need to consider very early on,” Mayor Jack Gordon said.

“I’m hoping that the South Atlantic project will be such an enhancement that people on North Atlantic will say, ‘We want that on our side.’ I hope it works out as everybody wants and we get all these families off the street … which always worries me,” said Vice-Mayor Lew Killmer.

Funding from the project will come from a combination of existing reserves, Municipal Street Aid funding from the State and the Town’s existing street-paving budget for the 2018 fiscal year. The capital reserves are at $5.17 million total, Morris noted, which is $1.527 million more than the recommended amount for the reserves and “more than enough to complete” the project. But rather than pull all of that money from the reserves, the Town will also use $107,000 in MSA funding and $100,000 from the paving budget.

Council members also unanimously approved the proposed funding on May 19.

Bethany helps fund additional firefighters

The council on May 19 also voted unanimously to provide some additional funding to the Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company, to fund some paid firefighters for the summer. Citing changes in demographics and reduced volunteerism, the BBVFC has come to the town, and its neighbors in their fire district, for a second summer, asking for funding to ensure that there are enough qualified firefighters to answer the call during the busy summer season.

Last summer, Fenwick Island, South Bethany and Bethany Beach, along with Sea Colony, provided the requested $42,824 for four additional firefighters from May through August. Bethany’s per-capita share of that cost was $16,659. But Gordon said the BBVFC ended up not needing all of that funding, carrying over $10,188 for this year.

With “little additional progress made over the past year in finding a long-term solution” to the manpower issue, the fire company came back to the towns and Sea Colony this year, with a request for $28,556, including the carryover from last summer. The resulting $18,367.50 needed by the fire company is again being split according to the number of properties in each community. Bethany’s share is $7,181.

Gordon said they plan to continue work with the fire company on finding a solution to the manpower problem, but with public safety on the line “at our busiest time of year, that makes this a prudent course of action to take.”

Councilman Joe Healy asked whether the town had a financial statement from the fire company, saying that the “one piece of paper” he’d seen was “out of context” and that he would like to see how the funding tied into other financials.

Graviet noted that while the ambulance funding group reviews the related financial documents in great detail, they had not, that he was aware of, yet asked for financial data from the fire company.

“If we proceed down this course, I’m sure there will be a review of the fire company’s books in great detail,” he said.

He emphasized that of the 32 volunteer fire companies in Delaware, 31 of them are generally able to provide funding for both fire and ambulance service through donations, fees and state funding. The BBVFC, he said, takes all of that funding and puts it solely into the firefighting end of its operation, while the ambulance service is currently being funded solely by the three towns and Sea Colony.

“It’s the only one like that in the state,” he said. “As we move forward with the fire company, you need to keep that in mind.”

One member of the fire company pleaded with the council to “seriously consider the amount of money you’re talking about relative to the amount of public safety it affords,” noting the “logistics nightmare” of trying to deal with even a small fire during the busy summer months.

Dog ordinance updated for ADA

On May 19, the council also held a first reading of a change to its code regarding dogs, in an effort to make the code consistent with the ADA. The changes define “service animals” as per the ADA, which means it excludes non-canine service animals and so-called “comfort animals” from being exempted from leash laws and prohibitions for dogs on the beach, for example.

Councilwoman Rosemary Hardiman noted that the “running at large” law in the town would now have a specific exemption for service animals to be without a leash or harness, so long as they are under control but only when a leash or harness would interfere with their duties as service animals.

She pointed out that Killmer had suggested additional explanation in the updated definition of a service animal, to explain that comfort dogs, while allowed on airplanes per the FAA, do not qualify for exemptions under ADA guidelines.

The new code also specifies that dogs performing functions for law enforcement or as service animals would not be included in the Town’s prohibition on dogs on the beach and boardwalk from May 15 to Sept. 30 each year.

The council also supported determining citizen interest in possibly annexing the Town’s Public Works maintenance yard and the Delaware National Guard training site directly north of existing town limits.

Gordon said he had broached the idea in January of 2016 and had received a positive response from the National Guard, but that he was told last spring that the Guard had not yet made a final decision.

More recently, the Town got an inquiry from the Delaware Attorney General’s Office as to the status of the idea. The Nation Guard has since expressed an interest in receiving a proposal on that front, Gordon said, adding that it “would be a somewhat extended and complicated process, involving staff time and legal costs.”

Also on May 19:

• Graviet reminded townsfolk that the town trolley is back to a single trolley route this summer. They have also introduced a trolley tracking system that can be pulled up on a computer or smartphone.

“People would spend a long time waiting for a trolley,” he said. “This should take care of that.”

The Town planned to send out a mailing in the coming week or so that will detail the new route and directions on how to access the tracking system, as well as information on bicycle safety, beach safety, the bandstand schedule and a book on storm preparedness.

He also reported that parking enforcement officers are using new handheld parking units this summer that give them immediate access to data from the ParkMobile parking payment system, as well as to snap a picture of a parking infraction when the see it and attach it to the ticket in the parking system.

Graviet also reported meeting with the Town’s engineering consultant on concerns about traffic volume and speeding. He said they were due back in the coming weeks to offer recommendations for improvements or a whether the issues need to be addressed at all.

• Graviet said a redundant aerator system and a new mini-aerator to be installed at the Town’s water plant are expected to bring the water PH in the system back to around its preferred 7.5 to 7.6 level, which is needed due to naturally occurring carbonic acid in the water. An aerator installed in 2008 recently failed, but Graviet said the redundant system has managed to keep the PH level around 7.3 to 7.5.

He said the Town will not re-contract with the company that installed the aerator, which had asked about $90,000 to make the repair, but would instead revisit the issue in the off-season to see if they can’t do the repairs in house, with a local contractor, given the investment it has already made in the aerator.

• Addressing an issue that’s been dragging around since this spring, Graviet said, wryly, “I can’t be certain, but I believe at some point in the near future, the Dinker Cottage will be moved.” Multiple delays have pushed back the historic home’s move to a nearby piece of Town property for use as a museum.

On May 27, residents and property owners chose a path forward in the 2017 South Bethany Town Council election, and it’s a path they’ve been on before. They elected former councilman Timothy Saxton and incumbents Frank Weisgerber Jr. and Carol Stevenson back onto the dais.

With 277 votes, Timothy Saxton will take the spot vacated by Wayne Schrader. Saxton returns for his third non-consecutive term, having served in 2009-2011 and 2014-2016.

Frank Weisgerber Jr. (268 votes) and Carol Stevenson (233 votes) are finishing up their first term by keeping their respective council seats.

Challengers Sharon Polansky (199 votes) and Joseph Mormando (186 votes) didn’t make the cut in their first South Bethany race but put up a solid fight.

The three winners will be sworn in for new two-year terms at the town council organizational meeting on Saturday, June 3, at 10 a.m. They’ll also vote on council policies, procedures and schedules, including a proposal to change the time of regular town council meetings from Fridays at 7 p.m. to Fridays at 2 p.m.

The good news is the towns were willing to donate money. The bad news is that they had to.

Like most Delaware fire companies, the Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company has been struggling to live up to its name. Young volunteers have less free time and can’t afford to live at the beach, so the BBVFC has again this year requested local funding for one additional paid firefighter for the summer, from about Memorial Day to Labor Day.

This year, they needed about $28,557 total, minus about $10,100 left over from last year.

So they requested $18,368 from the four biggest entities in their district: Bethany Beach, South Bethany, Fenwick Island and the Sea Colony development. (It mirrors their regular ambulance program, which has fulltime staff, paid by a partnership and contributions from the four communities.)

Their requested amount was about 57 percent less than last summer, when Sea Colony and Bethany Beach made five-digit contributions but the amount needed turned out to be less than anticipated.

Requested contributions for the summer of 2017 were calculated based on the number of properties in each town:

• Bethany Beach, 39 percent, for $7,181;

• Sea Colony, 31 percent, for $5,600;

• South Bethany, 19 percent, for $3,545;

• Fenwick Island, 11 percent, for $2,057.

All four entities approved the full amount requested, but “They did make known that they are concerned about funding in the future and committing to ongoing funding without the County or State stepping in to get a recurring source of funding,” said Fire Chief Brian Martin.

Representatives of the four communities have also said they want everyone else in the fire district to pay their fair share.

All of the little beach developments along Route 1 that aren’t in the municipalities or Sea Colony are always encouraged to contribute to the ambulance service, but most don’t. Individuals in the unincorporated areas of the service district can also register for the ambulance subscription and get the same no-extra-cost ambulance service as the so-called Big Four, but not all do.

And that’s separate from the fire company funding, which is done entirely through grants and individual donations. Everyone in the fire district gets fire and ambulance service in an emergency, regardless of whether they’ve helped fund the BBVFC’s operations.

To address the larger funding problem, Martin said the Sussex County Volunteer Firefighters Association started a committee in January, with state lawmakers, fire service representatives, town representatives and County representatives.

“We’re really hoping someday in the future we can get some type of additional funding mechanism, like a tax or levy, so people in our community can help fund it,” Martin said.

“We just want to make sure that we have firefighters in our stations,” Martin said. But when taxes are involved, “It’s very political. I’ve actually been working on this for almost two years now. There’s very little forward movement because there’s red tape.”

The County would need State approval to levy a fire tax, as they do with school district funding.

But “They don’t want to appear to be raising taxes. That’s putting it in a nutshell,” said Richard Mais, Fenwick Island Town Council member and a BBVFC member.

“In order for Sussex County to take that action, it has to be approved by the state legislature, and they are getting a lot of feedback against it,” said Gardner Bunting, also a Fenwick council member and BBVFC life member.

Many Delaware transplants may assume that fire service is already included in their taxes, since many areas outside the state fund fire and ambulance services directly through taxes, and some even have a full slate of full-time paid staff. But some Delaware fire companies are afraid that assessing a tax would reduce public donations.

Right now, if everyone refused to donate, Mais said, they will have to eventually expect a slower response time as demand exceeds the fire companies’ resources. Already, firefighters have noted the difficulty of even getting to fires as quickly as they’d like in the summer, due to traffic.

South Bethany Mayor Pat Voveris said she expects some government action before next spring, when the fire company is likely to ask for funding again.

“It’s a dilemma,” Voveris said. “As I told [state Sen.] Gerald Hocker, do we have to have a house burn down? Do we have to have a tragedy?”

The public can also help.

In Fenwick, Buzz Henifin suggested it’s time “for all of us to pick up pen and paper and write to the people who make the laws” to request a more equitable system.

And the South Bethany Property Owners Association made its own $1,000 donation to the fire company.

Local fire companies are all in the same boat of needing more community support. People can learn more and volunteer by visiting their local fire company’s website.

“There’s certainly no reason for anybody to be alarmed, but we’re trying to look forward and say, ‘We’re having problems finding volunteers.’ We’re trying to get more people before there’s a big problem,” Martin said.

In 2016, the BBVFC responded to 414 total fire calls, 220 of which were from May to August. Meanwhile, its EMS responded to 847 medical calls and attended 191 fire calls, for a total of 1,050.

The paid position has worked well in helping to provide additional resources in previous summers, so they continued with the fulltime positions this summer to make up for the ongoing shortfall in volunteers.

Usually, four employees (cross-trained in fire and EMS) are already at the station 24 hours daily, two at night and two during daytime.

This third employee will be added to the nighttime shift, 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. The new summer position is actually staffed by a series of part-time employees, at $14.75 per hour.

“It gives us more flexibility with fire calls, and it also helps with second calls for ambulance,” Martin said.

Coastal Point • Submitted: A barrel high-top table is featured in the kitchen of this downtown Bethany home.(Editor’s note: This is the sixth in a series of previews of the homes that will be on display during the 26th Annual Beach & Bay Cottage Tour, to be held July 26-27 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

As former proprietors in Sea Colony, the owners of this downtown Bethany home had many fond memories of family vacations in Bethany when their children were young. After several years’ absence, they were ready to return to build new memories in Bethany with their three adult kids.

Their long search for a lot within walking distance of the beach and with enough space for a pool was finally successful. Overlooking the town’s iconic “totem pole,” their new 3,200-square-foot home is close enough to the ocean to be dubbed “Bethany Breeze.”

The heated backyard pool, adjacent to the fully-outfitted family pub, is embellished with custom tile work and is guarded by a friendly mermaid. The interior décor is a blend of traditional and contemporary coastal styles, accented with tropical artistic touches from the wife, a graphic artist. Her goal was to create an oasis of calm with shades of coastal blue to soothe her busy family when they escape the stresses of the family business back in Virginia. They now look forward to creating new memories in the town they loved so long ago.

This is just one of the properties that will be open to those who purchase tickets for the 26th Annual Beach & Bay Cottage Tour.

Tickets, priced at $30, may be purchased at the South Coastal Library or through the Cottage Tour’s website at www.beachandbaycottagetour.com. The Cottage Tour is sponsored by the Friends of the South Coastal Library, and proceeds directly benefit the library’s operations.