Coastal Point • Submitted : Members of the First State Detachment of the Marine Corps League are running around the community helping out with the Toys for Tots campaign.For anyone who has walked into a local business lately, chances are they’ve seen a Toys for Tots donation box.

“There’s a lot of need out there,” said David Kline, a member of the First State Detachment of the Marine Corps League, which organizes the annual toy drive and earlier this month placed the large collection boxes in various locations throughout the area.

“We have the toy collection boxes we put out, and we also put out cash collection boxes — you’ll see a little plastic box with our Toys for Tots logo on it. I have two Marines who have done that for quite some time,” said John Lowery, coordinator for the First State Detachment Marine Corps League.

“Several organizations have parties or events to support the program. We have local restaurants and some communities put on parties this time of year, and they either donate the proceeds or collect toys, and then we receive that from them.”

Lowery said collection boxes stay out until about the third week of December; however, they are periodically checked on and emptied by League members. The toys are then stored in a secure facility and sorted by age and gender — newborn through kids 11 and older.

“We fill all of our orders through nonprofits — schools, churches and other organizations. We don’t have the resources, because we’re a small Marine detachment, to distribute toys to individual families. We donate to those agencies, and they come and pick up the toys at our facility,” he said. “Last year, we distributed over 7,200 toys to over 4,000 children.”

The league has more than 50 toy drop-off sites at area businesses and community centers that have offered space to the cause.

“They are so generous to us. There’s just so much generosity down here. People really get into the spirit,” said Kline. “Without them, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do.”

Requests for toys are made through the detachment’s Toys for Tots website, noting the child’s age and gender, contact information and when they’d want to pick up the toys.

The detachment covers a large geographic area, including the Ocean City/Berlin, Md.-area, and lower Sussex County.

“All the members of our League help volunteer and do the work,” said Lowery.

Donated toys can vary in size, shape and value; however, items that look like weapons or gifts with food will not be distributed.

Along with toy collection, the detachment also collects monetary donations.

“We collect money throughout the year through various campaigns and then use that money to purchase toys for the current year. We also get toys through our collection boxes that we place,” he said.

Businesses have also been generous in donations, said Lowery.

“Toys R Us is a very active supporter of the Toys for Tots program. They are generous in their contribution. Every year we go shopping at Toys R Us in Salisbury and purchase several thousand dollars’ worth of toys. Jolly Roger had a Christmas in July event, where if people brought a toy to the amusement park, they got a discount on the cost of admission. That was a new thing, and they want to continue it next year.”

Everything donated is carefully tracked, noted Lowery.

“At the end of the year, we have to do an after-action report to make sure everything is accounted for. The foundation is nationwide, and they do their reporting through up to the Marine Corps Reserve.”

Toys for Tots isn’t the only community outreach in which the detachment actively participates.

“We support Toys for Tots, as well as the Semper Fi Fund, which is helping wounded veterans — mostly Marines,” said Lowery. “The thing about the Semper Fi Fund, as opposed to other veteran organizations — 96 percent of the money we collect goes directly to the veterans. It’s all volunteer — we don’t have any overhead to speak of. That’s important.”

Lowery said the detachment holds an annual golf tournament in June, which usually draws about 150 attendees, to support the Semper Fi Fund.

“We have fundraising events at the Ocean City convention center numerous times a year, five to six throughout the year, in support of Toys for Tots, the Semper Fi Fund and other veteran-related support activities.”

For veterans looking to get involved, Lowery said those who are not Marines can still be a part of the detachment.

“You can be an associate member of the Marine Corps League if you’re a veteran of any branch,” he said. “Most of us are retired. You get a point in your life where you have an opportunity to give back, and so it’s rewarding that we can give back and that the organizations we’re providing toys for is really grateful for it.”

Lowery said being a part of the Toys for Tots program is extremely rewarding and truly helps children in need during the holiday season.

“There are 4,000 kids that wouldn’t get a toy for Christmas if we didn’t do this. It’s good to know we’re supporting less-fortunate kids in our community.”

For more information on how to get involved or how to donate to Toys for Tots, visit https://ocean-view-de.toysfortots.org.

Envision Frankford is doing its part to bring the Christmas spirit to the town of Frankford and beyond.

On Saturday, Nov. 25, from 6 to 8 p.m., the community is being invited to join their neighbors and take part in a tree-lighting ceremony to kick off the holiday season.

“There was a vision all along about having community events, and certainly the park is the perfect opportunity and the perfect place for having that,” said Robbie Murray, Envision Frankford chairperson.

“Having done the fall festival for a number of years, it only made sense to do something around Christmas. We were going to have the Santa House there one night a week, and then Councilman Marty Presley suggested we have a formal tree-lighting ceremony… And for the last three years, that’s what we’ve done.”

That evening’s free event will not only feature the tree being lit, but those in attendance will be able to visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus in Santa’s house, and enjoy cookies and hot cocoa, while taking in the lights and sounds of the holiday season.

“The big event is opening night,” said Murray. “People will be singing carols together. There are kids who go up on stage to sing, or have bells to ring during ‘Jingle Bells.’ The look on their face when Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive by fire truck is certainly priceless.”

An extra-special feature of this year’s festivities is the brand-new Christmas tree, which was purchased, in part, through a donation from Chesapeake Plumbing & Heating, which recently expanded its location in the town.

“This is our first year turning on our new Christmas tree,” noted Murray. “For the last couple of years, we had the desire to purchase a commercial, artificial Christmas tree that could be used each year. The price was the factor as to why we didn’t purchase it before. But, this year, Chesapeake made a donation of $5,000 to Envision Frankford, and that put us within striking distance of being able to get the tree.

“So, with their donation and then some funds we had from other donations, we were able to purchase a 20-foot artificial tree that we are currently putting up.”

Murray said a wide spectrum of community members have attended the event in years past.

“Each of the last two years we’ve had somewhere in the neighborhood of 600 people there opening night. On Wednesday nights, we have another 200 or 300 to visit Santa Claus,” he said, noting he knows of people who came from Snow Hill, Md., for past events.

Following Saturday’s event, there will be a Christmas in the Park event each Wednesday leading up to Christmas — Nov. 29, and Dec. 6, 13 and 20, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Participating organizations include the Frankford Volunteer Fire Company and Auxiliary, the Town of Frankford, Frankford Public Library, Frankford United Methodist Church, Frankford Antioch AME Church, Frankford Presbyterian Church and The Father’s House church.

“What we’ve done for Christmas in the Park is each of those organizations take their own area in the park and become responsible for decorating that area. While we may only have a few individuals from those organizations at a meeting, when it comes time to decorate at the park and hold the event, they may have 10, 15 or even more come out and help decorate their section.”

The end result offers a chance to take in the holiday spirit, for townsfolk and visitors alike.

“I think it’s great when you look out and you see people from all across the town and neighboring communities,” Murray said. “Certainly, when you pay attention to the media, it seems out of the norm to see the community come together and celebrate together and socialize together.

“I think that is what has created the success — we have the different churches, the library, the town hall, the fire company, the fire company auxiliary — so we’re really getting a wide spectrum of people.”

According to the Town of Frankford’s website, Envision Frankford is a “cooperative committee that consists of residents, organizations, churches and businesses. Its mission is to engage all of Frankford in a commitment to do the work necessary to re-make Frankford into the community we all take great pride in.”

Murray said Christmas in the Park is one of five events the group now puts on yearly. Other events are Easter in the Park, Movies in the Park (hosted on the last Friday of June, July and August) and the Fall Festival.

“Really, it’s about teamwork and bringing the community together. Too often, we get busy in the everyday and we don’t slow down to take the time to acknowledge our neighbors, to spend time with our neighbors.”

Murray said the event is fun for the whole family and really represents the community.

“This is really about giving everyone the opportunity to come to an event that’s free, see people in the community that maybe they don’t always get a chance to talk to, and put them in a place where they’re going to have a good time, and have a fun time,” he said. “We’d love to see you. Come out, have fun and celebrate the season.”

The Sussex County Board of Adjustment voted unanimously on Nov. 20 to deny two special-use exception applications filed by Oakwood Homes. The company was seeking special-use exceptions to permit manufactured homes on two separate lots, each measuring less than .75 acres — one located on Hoot Owl Lane near Dagsboro and the other on Julie Court near Frankford.

Per county code, a manufactured home may not be placed on a lot measuring less than .75 acres; however, the company was granted the permits to place the homes by the County, in error, as both lots are less than .75 acres in size.

The applications were first discussed at the board’s Oct. 3 meeting, where more than a dozen residents of Hoot Owl Lane attended to voice their opposition to the application.

At that time, Gil Fleming of Oakwood Homes said his company had been informed that the homes had been placed on undersized lots after the County had provided his company with two separate permits to place the manufactured homes.

At the Nov. 20 meeting, Board Attorney Jamie Sharp said that, while both cases appeared to be similar, they were to be reviewed separately.

“There was some question about the standard that we need to deal with here and some of the factual things in the record. We have two cases that are factually very similar, but there are some distinctions between them,” he said.

“The biggest one was the contention raised by the opposition, was whether it met the first standard, which is that, ‘the lot is not within a major subdivision prior to the effective date of this section or is not specifically prohibited from restrictive covenant.’”

Sharp called attention to the restrictions in the covenant for the community at Hoot Owl Lane. Created in 1974 and presented to the Board by neighboring property owners during the application’s public hearing in October, the covenants reads, “No structure of a temporary character and no trailer, tent, barn, tree-house, or other similar outbuilding or structure shall be placed on any lot as shown of the aforesaid plot, at any time, either temporarily or provided…”

He also stated that it is “not entirely relevant” that the applicant was granted a permit in error, but rather, “does the use substantially affect adversely the uses of neighboring and adjacent properties.”

“In Delaware, there are few, if any, cases where a land owner will not be held responsible for knowing what the applicable land restrictions are,” he said, noting that every person is presumed to know the extent of powers and what is allowed on their properties.

“Even in exceptional cases, the court has refused to say, ‘You’ve really been burdened here,’” said Sharp, noting that the code is a document easily accessible to everyone.

Board Member John Mills said he did not believe the application met the criteria outlined by the subdivision’s restrictive covenants.

“Property values was a big concern,” he added. “We didn’t hear from the property owner, but we did hear from the opposition that noted it would have a negative effect on property values… That carried more weight with me.”

Board Member Ellen Magee said she believed the hardship was created by the applicant.

“Oakwood Homes has been in business a long time. There are limits where you can place mobile homes,” she said. “It will definitely affect the essential character of the neighborhood.”

Board Member Bruce Mears, who has been vocal about his lack of support for the application, said Oakwood Homes created a financial hardship for itself by continuing to develop the property after being informed there was an issue.

“The mobile home was still on wheels when Planning & Zoning was informed of the issue, and Oakwood Homes was informed of the issue and decided to keep on going, so they incurred more financial burden on their own. They could’ve stopped right there and solved this issue.”

He also said he found the testimony of those opposed to hold a great deal of weight.

“We had 15 people here in protest and five letters — that’s 20 people. There are 26 owners in that community. That’s 80 percent of the community that either turned up or supplied letters in opposition to this variance,” he said. “I think it’s very clear that the residents’ property value would be affected in a major way by granting this variance.”

The board voted 5-0 to deny the application for Hoot Owl Lane.

The similar special-use exception application filed by Oakwood Homes for a property on Julie Court was also denied by the board on Monday night.

“In this case, the restrictive covenant for Pine Manor Estates … says, ‘no structure of a temporary nature, and no trailer, tent, barn or similar outbuilding or structure shall be placed on any numbered lot … within the development at any time, either temporarily or permanently,” said Sharp. “That’s a little different reading than the past one, but I do think it bears some consideration from the board.”

Sharp said the restrictions for Pine Manor Estates were created in 1973.

“I’m sympathetic to the applicant because of the situation; however, in my opinion, to approve this would be wrongful,” said Mills.

“I’d like to add in, we had two ladies show up who pleaded with us not to approve it because they’re single, they bought a house, they want to maintain the value. I think the mobile home deflates their value, which gives them the hardship,” added Mears.

The board voted 5-0 to deny Oakwood Homes a special-use exception for the Julie Court property as well.

Officials from area coastal towns met recently under the auspices of the Association of Coastal Towns (ACT), focused primarily on the issue of dredging in the inland bays, Bethany Beach Mayor Jack Gordon noted at the Bethany town council’s Nov. 17 meeting.

While that’s less of an issue for Bethany than some of its neighbors, Gordon noted that ACT had initially focused on beach replenishment, “And now that we’ve got that moving along, the focus has turned toward dredging the inland bays.” He said the topic is a tough one, and that getting money for such projects is hard.

In an effort to make some headway on the issue, ACT also invited staff members of U.S. Sens. Tom Carper and Chris Coons (both D-Del.) to join them at the meeting, along with Sussex County Council members and the county administrator, Tony Pratt of DNREC and others.

“There is a lot of interest, and we are able, as a group, to get a lot more attention,” Gordon said, noting that Lewes and South Bethany, in particular, have been looking at dredging issues on their bay sides. “Some progress will be made eventually,” he concluded.

In the meantime, while the planned beach replenishment in Bethany, South Bethany and Fenwick Island is funded and was initially set to get started over the winter, Gordon acknowledged that officials from those towns have started to get a little nervous about whether the projects will be completed before the start of the summer season.

Pratt, he said last Friday, had told ACT that, as of now, the work will start in March.

“They still intend to put up fences and do whatever they’re supposed to do, and they do know it would be very difficult for them to continue the process as we get into the summer season,” Gordon said of Pratt’s response.

Additionally this week, Fenwick Island officials sought to address the concerns about the replenishment timetable by releasing a letter sent to the three town’s mayors, dated Oct. 17, from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, that assures the Towns that most of the work will be done on time, despite the later-than-anticipated start.

“Even with this start,” the letter says of the new spring start date for the dredging and beachfill portions of the project, “it is expected that [contractor] GLDD will complete the work within the 240-day period of performance. This 240-day period of performance will begin once the Notice to Proceed (NTP) is issued, which is expected by the end of October 2017.”

The Corp stated that no delays were anticipated in the installation of dune fencing, which they said they believe will be installed prior to June of 2018. However, excluded from that timetable now is the planting of dune grass in the project areas, which the Corps noted had its contract extended until April of 2019, though plans are to install it well before that.

“If construction is not completed until early Summer of 2018, the USACE Philadelphia District would ask the contract to plant the dune grass in October of 2018, which is the earliest month within the planting season.”

So it will be a grassless dune that summer visitors see in the 2018 season, but Corps officials expect the wider beaches and restored dunes to be in place early next summer.

On a side note, Gordon reported that Pratt had announced his plans to retire from DNREC as of April 1, 2018, with Mike Powell expected to be his acting replacement and possible permanent replacement.

“Big loss. He’s recognized nationwide,” Vice-Mayor Lew Killmer noted.

Projects making progress, new restaurant coming

Town Manager Cliff Graviet reported that Cultural & Historical Affairs Committee Chair Carol Olmstead had gotten the Town a definitive answer regarding handicapped access requirements for the Dinker-Irvin Cottage, which is in the process of being converted into a town museum.

“We are not required to make any adjustments or renovations to the house that would alter the historic character of home,” Graviet said, allowing the Town to leave it “as is” without having to widen doorways or deconstruct the interior to make it ADA-compliant.

He said the design for the front steps — which would be similar to other cottages built on the east side of Route 1 in the early 1900s — is under way, as well as that for a more substantial set of steps in the rear, so they can move equipment in and out.

Graviet said the Town had also confirmed that no handicapped access ramps will need to be added to the structure, due to the impact on the historic home. Adding the accessibility features would require the Town to widen both doorways, which he said “would destroy the kitchen, which exists almost as when the cottage was built.”

In lieu of ADA access, Graviet said the Town would have to provide “some sort of visual access” to the building, such as via video, pamphlets or written material. He said the Town was considering creating a video that it could provide to anyone who couldn’t access the structure itself.

Also in progress is bidding on the Atlantic Avenue redesign project, with bids to be opened Dec. 14. Graviet noted that there had been one “problematic” property where the elevation of the driveway and retaining walls had been an issue due to the pavers having been taken right up to the street.

“We’re going to be altering and bringing that down almost a foot so it intersects well with the new street,” he explained, noting that the Town was going to have to absorb the cost of that change.

Graviet also reported the permitting of construction for a new Ropewalk restaurant to be built on the north side of Garfield Parkway, west of Atlantic Avenue. He said the owners had resolved issues with the water supply and that the design complies with existing building codes. The new restaurant will seat 355 people, he said.

Ropewalk was initially opened in the area in Fenwick Island, but that location was later changed in theme and name, to Big Eye Jacks, while an Ocean City, Md., location was opened under the Ropewalk brand. Now, Bethany will have its own, larger iteration of the eatery, at the site of the former Fish Tales retail shop.

Finally, Graviet reported good news on the Central Park project. While the Town had had some issues with the Stormwater Conservation District wanting the park to be constructed under standards from 2007, he said the group had in the end permitted the newer 2013 approvals to stand.

Reverting to the older standards would have required a total redesign of the park project, he said, as it would have required a stormwater retention area of about an acre in size.

Ocean Way Estates residents ask for water

Residents of the Ocean Way Estates community west of Bethany Beach gathered at the Nov. 17 meeting to appeal to the Town to consider extending its water service to their community. Ocean Way Estates resident Linda Thompson told the council that a water line from the Town system already runs through their community on its way to Savannah’s Landing, though Graviet confirmed that only a few of the Ocean Way Estates homes receive water from Bethany Beach.

“Quite a few residents are interested in water instead of wells, due to the quality,” Thompson said, noting that they had been directed to consult the Town by Sussex County Councilman George Cole. “It’s all about quality. The cost would be no different than what we’re paying now for bottled water and softeners,” she added.

“I think, in 2017, when you’re surrounded 360 degrees by public water, to still have well water…” she lamented.

Ocean Way Estates has about 170 homes already built, with about 40 more homes in the process of being built.

Graviet noted that the Town has had some requests over the years to provide water to residents of that community, but he said he’d have to sit down with the Town’s water department to review past requests and how they were handled.

“I think there are a couple of issues that make it a little more complicated than just connecting to the service,” he said, recalling that the Town had “really looked at this” almost a decade ago.

Killmer queried whether the residents of the community would have to unanimously agree to be added to the Bethany water system. Graviet said he’d have to review that issue.

Another resident of Ocean Way Estates, saying he never has drank the water there and that it turns clothes orange, despite the fact that he rents “the best equipment … just to have water,” urged the council to consider that obtaining unanimous consent might be difficult.

“I would ask when you’re considering this that you consider the amount of people that have to sign up for this. There is a large contingency who don’t want it, but there are more people who want it than don’t. If one person holds out, or 10 people hold out, it’s not fair to everyone else.”

Graviet said he would look into the issue and get back to the community.

Also at the Nov. 17 meeting:

• Graviet reported that the Town had received about 1,060 responses to its beach tent and canopy survey, with a due date of Dec. 1 for responses. The council voted unanimously to hold a special meeting/council workshop at 10 a.m. on Dec. 12 to discuss the results and consider what moves it might want to make on the issue going forward.

• The council unanimously passed a series of changes to the Town’s stormwater and flood damage prevention ordinances that were recommended by FEMA. The changes replace a reference to “lowest floor” with “base flood elevation,” add the term “at least” in relation to the security of above-ground storage tanks, and address some minor issues and wording in the ordinance regarding accessory structures (sheds).

• The council also unanimously approved updates to its procedure and protocol manual, after an annual review.

• The council unanimously voted to cancel its December meeting, while the Planning Commission will meet in December.

• Olmstead reported that CHAC recently visited a museum in Bethel as part of its project to gather ideas for the town museum and network with other museums. They will be visiting Milford’s museum on Dec. 5.

• CHAC will also be organizing at least two “cultural evenings,” in which they hope to feature historic impersonator Patrick Mulligan as Benjamin Franklin and storyteller Ed Ockonowicz with “Tall Tales & Bald-faced Lies.”

• The group also plans to present its vision for the Dinker-Irvin Cottage soon, and has made overtures to owners of six homes that could potentially be added to its Heritage Trail of historic sites in the town, should the owners be able to provide sufficient historical information.

Coastal Point • Tyler Valliant: Volunteers filled Mountaire Farm’s Selbyville warehouse on Monday, Nov. 20, to help with the annual Thanksgiving for Thousands effort.

While temperatures on Monday may have been just above freezing, it didn’t stop hundreds of volunteers from packing into Mountaire Farms’ Selbyville warehouse to ensure 8,500 families have a real Thanksgiving meal.

“We’ve been doing this for 23 years — every year it gets larger and larger,” said Roger Marino, Mountaire’s corporate community relations director, of the Thanksgiving for Thousands effort. “More volunteers, more young people. So many young people come out here — some with their parents, some with their teachers, coaches. They want to be a part of this. They want to be a part of community service.”

The Thanksgiving for Thousands boxes packed by volunteers each contained a selection of 16-ounce canned goods, including corn and beans, as well as stuffing and pork-and-beans, which organizers of the effort requested be donated at various area grocery stores, including Hocker’s Super Center.

Each box also contains a Mountaire roaster chicken, donated by the company.

Once packed, the boxes are transported to three delivery sites, where they are then picked up by organizations that reach out to Mountaire earlier in the year, requesting a box for families in need.

“People talk, and the program gets larger and larger. It’s also how we find out who needs the help. It’s not just handing boxes out on the street. Every box here has an identification — a purpose and a place to go,” Marino said.

“The people who are nominating somebody, they know exactly the problem in that family. They know these people are really hurting, and they really deserve and need that box. Nothing is going to waste. That’s very important to me, and it’s satisfying to the people who are here working on this.”

The volunteers who come out year after year are what make the program, said Marino, calling attention to the staff of the Shorebirds baseball team, who have been volunteering for 14 years and the six nurses from Milford Hospital who changed shifts so they could help pack boxes.

“The great thing about Delmarva is the word ‘community’ means a lot. People move here from other areas and cannot get over the community efforts that go on here.”

The volunteers ranged in age range from school children to retirees, a showing that solidifies the idea that volunteering is something for people of all ages can enjoy.

Students pitch in

“My brother was in honor society before me, and I always remembered him getting volunteer hours and, at the time, I had no clue why. Last year, when I got inducted, we had to get volunteer hours,” said Colby Willey, a 13-year-old eighth-grader from Selbyville Middle School’s National Junior Honor Society (NJHS).

Willey was one of 36 SMS NJHS students who volunteered to help pack boxes.

“At Thanksgiving, around the holidays, when people can’t get enough food, we’re going to help pack food for them so they can have a nice holiday,” he said. “I know all my hard work is going to someone in need. It’s mind-blowing that we’re getting all this food out.”

Willey said volunteering is something that is important to him and that he was was happy to see so many people volunteering at the event.

“For our first marking period, you had to get five hours, but I got 12 because I wanted to be kind and go around and help more people,” he said. “I think it’s kind that everybody has come together to help so many people who are in need.”

Michaela Lewis of Dagsboro, also 13, who was also there with the NJHS, said this is her first year getting into volunteering.

“My sister is a Girl Scout leader, so sometimes I help her with her troop,” she said. “I like how I feel during and after volunteering. When you’re doing it, you’re having fun and helping people. After, you feel good that you actually did something.”

Going to Thanksgiving for Thousands was a bit overwhelming, Lewis said, but she said she was having a fun time.

“Everything seems kind of hectic, but I feel good about what I’m doing.”

“It’s fun! This is my first time, I didn’t know what to do at first but we got into it and started helping,” added 13-year-old NJHS member Olivia Sananikone of Selbyville. “In this area, we have to take all the plastic off of the cans and move them forward to the line” to be put in the boxes.

Sananikone also volunteers at K.P. Karate in Selbyville and has previously volunteered at the fall festival at Phillip Showell Elementary.

“It feels good just knowing that you are helping other people,” she said.

Tracy Clark — an eighth-grade special-education teacher at SMS and NJHS advisor, along with Jennifer Jerns, an eighth-grade language-arts teacher — said this is the fifth year the NJHS students from SMS have been attending.

She added that, while students do have to volunteer five hours each marking period, the time spent packing Thanksgiving boxes won’t be included for those students.

“Today is just a free day for them. They come here and experience it, see what kind of good things there are,” she said, noting the 36 students all volunteered to attend the day’s packing event.

Indian River High School had 24 Future Farmers of America students volunteer on Monday for the first time, and Sussex Technical High School’s football team, which has made the volunteer day a tradition, pitched in as well.

“As a former high school teacher, I think it’s impressive to see the Sussex Tech football team here,” said Lauren Weaver, executive director of the Bethany-Fenwick Chamber of Commerce. “I think it would be awesome to get more schools involved, because I think it’s such a reality-check. It’s definitely a learning experience.”

Chamber, community groups help out

Weaver was joined at the at the packing event by the Chamber’s staff, for the first time.

“Mountaire is a Chamber member, and we reached out. This is always a hard week to get work done, but it’s a great week to give back to the community,” she said. “It’s really impressive. The people who are here are here to work hard and here for all the right reasons. We’ve had a lot of fun, a lot of singing and chatting on the line. We’re enjoying ourselves and getting to know some other people in the community.

“I think it’s a great team-building exercise and allows us to be a part of the community that gives so much to us and allows for us to be a partner.”

Weaver said that, while the Chamber is active over the holidays, serving as a drop-off site for food and winter jackets, this is the first time she’s seen the area’s need on such a large scale.

“I’ve never seen this quantity of food in my life,” she said. “We’ve worked in food kitchens before. This is just an awesome initiative where people can make their own Thanksgiving dinner with their own families.”

The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #16 returned for its third year to help pack Thanksgiving meals, with eight members.

“It’s a good volunteer project for us to do. We do other volunteer projects, like with Special Olympics,” said FOP member Tom Maly, noting the group also just held a fundraiser for Lord Baltimore Elementary School at Cottage Café. “You feel good after doing this.”

Maly said attending the packing event really puts the need in perspective.

“I was not aware of the tremendous need in this area — not for 8,500 boxes.”

“We’re doing 8,500 boxes this year, and we could do more if we had the facility. Next year, we hope to have that and will do more,” added Marino, noting that the company plans to expand the warehouse in the coming year. “We’re going to expand this to the south, west and north. That’s news!”

Thanksgiving for Thousands is one of three packing events Mountaire holds each year, although the company regularly donates to area food kitchens and shelters. This year’s boxes will serve 49,000 people in all, said Marino.

In the next event, on Dec. 20, volunteers from the community will once again gather in the warehouse to pack Christmas dinners for families in need.

“We’ll do the same thing, only on a smaller scale. At that time, it’s for shelters, local food banks and local churches,” explained Marino. “And then we do it again at Easter. We do need help then, because it’s such a busy time that there aren’t as many people who have the time to come out and volunteer. Once they know about it, it’ll be a very good thing. We will need their help.”

Canned goods packed into those boxes box are collected from drives at area grocery stores — Giant stores in Rehoboth Beach, Long Neck and Millville; Safeway in Rehoboth Beach; Hocker’s Super Centers in Clarksville and Bethany Beach; Wal-Mart in Rehoboth Beach and Georgetown, and in Berlin, Md.; Redner’s in West and North Dover, Georgetown, Camden and Milford; and Save-A-Lot in Millsboro and Seaford.

The volunteers are what make the event and the outreach program a success, said Marino, noting they are just as much a part of it as Mountaire itself.

Those who wish to get involved in the packing should simply contact Marino, and then dress warmly, and prepare to be filled with love and hope at the event.

“I hear it every year: ‘I really feel like I did something.’ In life, when you start something, get involved in something, it becomes a part of you,” he said. “I’m so blessed to be a part of this organization, so blessed to be a part of this company, and so blessed to have my health to be able to enjoy all of this. I’ll do it as long as these feet will carry me.”

For those who may be on the fence about volunteering, Maly recommended they come out to try it just once — they won’t be sorry, he said.

“I’d recommend anybody step up to the plate and help do this. They could always use the help.”

Those interested in volunteering for future packing events may email Marino at rmarino@mountaire.com.

South Bethany Police Chief Troy Crowson swears he isn’t trying to sell anything. But he was visibly impressed with a home-security system that recently assisted with preventing a possible crime in South Bethany.

Recently, while outside of Delaware, a woman was able to use live security footage to see strangers approaching her South Bethany house — and tell them to leave.

On Nov. 15, around dusk, Crowson said, two black men approached a house on New Castle Drive. They had not been invited, and their presence triggered the outdoor security camera to begin filming. The system sent live footage to the property owner’s cell phone, and she could broadcast her voice back to the outdoor system.

“She made contact with them via her security system, advising them to leave her residence,” according to the police.

As they left, she called the SBPD, who immediately initiated a traffic stop on a blue-gray Kia leaving that road with four occupants inside. Located in the car were a Walther P22 .22 caliber handgun (reported stolen from the Dover area), more than 30 grams of suspected marijuana and several items of suspected drug paraphernalia.

A 17-year-old juvenile tried to flee the scene, police said, but he was caught and placed under arrest. The juvenile was charged with two felonies (carrying a concealed deadly weapon and receiving a stolen firearm), plus misdemeanors of criminal impersonation, resisting arrest, possession of marijuana with aggravating factor, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct. He was processed and released to the custody of his mother.

Also during the traffic stop, Anijah Waples, 18, of Rehoboth Beach was found to have warrants and was placed under arrest. After video-phoning with a judge though the SBPD, she was released. At the time, she was not charged with any counts relating to the traffic stop.

Investigation of the incident was ongoing this week, as it may relate to other crimes, Crowson said.

Why were the suspects in town?

“That’s still under investigation,” he said. “There will be other arrests made from that.”

Meanwhile, he said he was were impressed with the Ring security system’s “phenomenal” video quality, which allowed police officers to see the vehicle travel down the street, even in low-sunlight.

He said the South Bethany Police Department had also been sent a free system to test.

“Not only does it give you the ability to see people who approach your [house] and talk to them,” but it also has “great audio and video quality,” Crowson said. “I’m very impressed with this product.”

The Ocean View Town Council is considering raising some fees for next year. The council discussed the changes on Nov. 14, holding a first reading, ahead of a final vote anticipated at their Dec. 12 meeting.

One particular permit fee caused frustration among residents and some council members. Mayor Walter Curran protested the proposal for $50 permits on any renovation or repair (even for replacing identical equipment). So, the council proposed that permits not be required for any repair or renovation of less than $5,000.

However, that might not fit current law. All properties in the floodplain must have a building permit for any construction or development, according recent laws that FEMA required towns to write into their own codes.

Ocean View Administrative Official Charlie McMullen had proposed the $50 fee for all households, since FEMA requires it for some. He said it seemed more fair than requiring it only of some people. Other towns, including Fenwick Island, solved the conundrum by requiring permits for any project in the floodplain but waiving the fees if it falls under the typical value threshold.

Additionally, some other fees could increase in the town, such as Planning & Zoning site plan reviews ($850 to $1,000); site plan modifications ($0 to $750); Board of Adjustment appeals ($550 to $750); BOA variance applications ($550 to $750); and permits for fences, sidewalks, driveways, demolitions and moving structures through town.

Some fees could decrease, including BOA special-exception applications ($1,000 to $750);

Resident Liz Reynolds said she believes that excessive fees would discourage business in town. She said several contractors refused to build her a sundeck because they didn’t want to work in Ocean View.

However, it could become easier for the council to change fee schedules in the future, so unpopular prices can be changed more quickly. The council wants to change the code so that future fee schedules will be changed by resolution, not by ordinance. Currently, every ordinance requires two readings before it can be enacted. In contrast, a resolution could be enacted immediately.

“We’re on a deadline here. Once we get this approved, every single item can be changed, added or subtracted without an ordinance change,” Curran said of the draft fee schedule.

In other Ocean View Town Council news:

• The council hopes to save about $225,000 in the next five years by piggybacking off of Sussex County’s property tax invoices, rather than contracting with a company that has historically performed a “less-than-stellar job,” Curran said. The Town would still rely on internal property value assessments, but the collections would be handled by the County, at no cost. Officially, the council passed the first reading of the ordinance to amend Code Chapter 5.

• Narrow roads are cause for concern when street parking conflicts with emergency vehicle access. Resident Burt Reynolds pointed out that Fairway Village roads don’t seem to be as wide as town code requires. But that isn’t uncommon, said town staff, especially when many housing developments were approved before the code was updated.

The solution rests at Town Hall. McMullen said the town manager may require “No parking” signs to be placed along the street, but only after the Town takes over a development’s roads. However, Reynolds was discussing a neighborhood street that is not intended to become a public road, in which case the Town can only suggest that the developer install “No parking” signs.

• In light of recent shootings at church congregations elsewhere in the country, Ocean View Police Chief Kenneth McLaughlin briefly discussed church safety. He said emergency safety plans have been long established at Mariner’s Bethel United Methodist Church and Ocean View Church of Christ.

Meanwhile, he said, the Ocean View Police Department is receiving complaints “almost daily about fraudulent activities,” especially regarding social media and digital accounts.

• Zoning can be a tricky issue when a property is too tiny to fit all the building and parking requirements that Ocean View has for businesses.

Property owners Tim Rhodes and Tim Tribbitt sent the council a letter requesting guidance on what the Town would allow them to build on their quarter-acre lot at 100 Atlantic Avenue. The former Bell telephone building is nonconforming, and the small property could be difficult to develop under town code.

But if the Town doesn’t offer any options for potential zoning, it might be considered a public taking, in which case the Town would have to reimburse the property owners, McMullen said. After debating a possible zoning path to help, council members finally asked that the owners provide a more specific suggestion of what kind of business they might like to open there.

• While the Cops & Goblins Halloween festival was canceled due to weather, the Town is planning to save the supplies and consider some prepaid services as a down-payment for next year.

• Only halfway through the fiscal year, Ocean View has already collected more than the budgeted annual real estate transfer tax. The additional income will be devoted to savings for sidewalks, streets, future capital repairs and the emergency fund, officials said.

The Ocean View Town Council’s next regular meeting is Dec. 12 at 7 p.m.

Sunny and relatively mild weather over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend blessed not only beach visitors but also local shopkeepers who ushered in the holiday season on a high note.

Owners of local retail businesses said the emphasis on “Small Business Saturday” definitely gave them a boost even bigger than Black Friday — the traditional highlight of the shopping year.

Amanda Zirn, manager of Bethany Beach Books on Garfield Parkway, said that, this year, the store saw “our best Small Business Saturday ever. It really kicked all the other Small Business Saturdays to the curb,” she said. “We had a line most of the day,” she added.

On that day, the store offered special tote bags for $5, which included coupons for a number of local businesses. The store received 100 of the bags from American Express as part of the Shop Small promotion, and they were very popular with customers, who were coming in asking for them before the weekend, Zirn said.

Proceeds from the sale of the bags were donated to a local domestic-violence shelter, she said.

Bethany Beach Books was busy on both Friday and Saturday, according to Zirn, who has been with the store for 11 years. She said she feels that the mild weather so far this season has helped to boost sales throughout the post-summer weeks known as the “shoulder season.”

Zirn also said her store has seen an increase in weekday foot-traffic in the past two off-seasons, which she attributes to the addition of the Bethany Beach Ocean Suites hotel to the boardwalk.

“I’ve tried to keep us well-stocked — way more than before,” she said. In the spirit of the deal-seekers on the Thanksgiving weekend, Bethany Beach Books offered a storewide sale through which “the more you buy, the more you save,” Zirn said.

Lori Smyth, owner of Tidepool Toys & Games — which has locations on the boardwalk in Bethany Beach and in Fenwick Island — said, “We always focus on Small Business Saturday” during the holiday weekend. “As a small specialty toy store, shopping local is the message we want to get out.”

Tidepool Toys hosted a Calico Critters tea party featuring the popular line of toys, with the idea that parents and grandparents could shop while the children participated in the party, Smyth said.

“The weather was perfect that day,” she said. “Lots of people were out.” Smyth said she had hoped to do at least as well as the store did last Thanksgiving weekend, and, “We actually did a little better,” she said, “so I’m happy with that.”

At Seaside Country Store in Fenwick Island, owner Amy Vickers said the weekend was a good way to end the store’s 48th season — although for her store, sales have been impacted since Internet shopping has gained popularity.

While Smyth said Tidepool Toys’ holiday shoppers seemed to be “a mix of locals and visitors,” Vickers said Seaside Country Store seemed to see more local shoppers. She said locals tend to come in every year for the store’s Thanksgiving weekend sales on food items. Since the store closes for the winter after the Thanksgiving weekend, “They like to come in and get the bargains,” Vickers said.

Vickers, who was in the store doing inventory this week, said she tries to “keep the displays really nice,” because she feels that “people come in for the entertainment of shopping” in a well-decorated brick-and-mortar store — something they don’t experience with the internet. “They come in for the familiar faces” as well, she said, and many customers like to chat with longtime staff members each year.

Still, Vickers said, she wants to spend some time trying to meet the challenges that increased internet shopping bring to small family-owned businesses like hers.

“Customer service — that’s what makes people come in,” she said, with simple services, such as gift-wrapping and “walking packages out to the car for them” being features that set small businesses apart.

Vickers agreed with Smyth that good weather tends to help sales during the off-season, while rainy weather tends to bring in more customers during the summer, because visitors then are looking for something to do when they can’t be on the beach.

While Seaside Country Store is closed for the season, Smyth said she is looking forward to the coming pre-holiday shopping season at Tidepool Toys and has planned some special activities for shoppers. This Saturday, for example, the store will host a special “Frozen” party with activities relating to the popular Disney movie.

“We’ll be open every day through New Year’s,” Smyth said.

The Indian River School District has a vacancy on the board this week. Douglas Hudson bid farewell to the Board of Education as he prepares to move to a new home outside his representative district, District 5, in the Selbyville area..

Hudson sent the board a letter of resignation, which Board President Charles Bireley read at the Nov. 27 board meeting.

“I appreciate the opportunities I have been given in my time on the board. I wish you and the board continued success in the future.”

District 5 covers the southwest corner of the district, including Selbyville, Gumboro and parts of Frankford.

Interested in serving the community, Hudson first ran for school board unopposed in 2011 and won his seat again in 2014 (the terms increased from three to five years during that time). With his interest in the school district and background in construction and with Delmarva Power, he said he wanted to serve, particularly for buildings and grounds.

“I got to meet a lot of teachers,” Hudson said of his six years on the board. “We have some of the greatest teachers and administrators in this district. I got to know them on a personal level. Everybody is just so dedicated to the education of the students.”

He said he’s proud of the district’s implementing full-day kindergarten and passing several referendums during his time in office.

On a personal note, Hudson said he was proud to issue a diploma to his youngest son at graduation. Hudson has seen three children through the district, and now his grandkids are working their way up, too.

“It’s a great school system,” he said.

As for the future school board, “I just hope they continue to build on what we have put in place. I think they’ve got a great foundation,” he said. “Of course, nothing’s perfect — this board, my hat’s off to ’em, they work together. Even if we don’t agree, we come out of there at the end of the night as friends. … They all do it for the interests of the kids.”

With his children grown, Hudson joked that he’s tired of cutting grass on a bigger property, so he’s happily downsizing to a new home near Clarksville.

“I’ve enjoyed meeting people in the district, and I hope I have served the public well, especially my district. I tried to be active with my people in the district.”

He said he hopes to continue public service in some capacity in the future.

The IRSD has begun advertising for a replacement to finish his term for the school year through June 30, 2018. Interested candidates should contact Board President Charles Bireley at (302) 539-9043 or 57lakers@mchsi.com. The deadline is Friday, Dec. 22. The seat would be up for general election again in the spring of 2018.

The Office of the State Fire Marshal this week was investigating a mobile home fire in Millville on Monday, Nov. 27, that may have resulted in a death.
Special to the Coastal Point • Submitted by the Millville Volunteer Fire Company: Firefighters discovered a body in a mobile home after a fire in Millville on Monday, Nov. 27.
The fire, on Club House Road near Route 26, was reported just after 1 p.m. on Monday, according to Assistant State Fire Marshal Michael G. Chionchio. When volunteers from the Millville Volunteer Fire Company arrived on the scene, the mobile home was engulfed in flames.

Upon entering the burning structure, firefighters found the body of a person who had not yet been officially identified as of the Coastal Point’s press deadline on Wednesday. The victim’s body has since been transferred to the custody of the state Division of Forensic Services for an autopsy.

Response to the blaze was challenging, MVFC representatives said, because the mobile home was set back off the roadway, with no paved access to the structure.

The mobile home was completely destroyed in the fire, with damages to the structure listed at $10,000. Officials with the Office of the State Fire Marshal were on the scene later in the week, searching for clues as to the cause of the fire, which remains under investigation.

“There’s quite a bit of damage there,” Chionchio said, adding that it makes the investigation a matter of examining evidence, finding clues and returning to the property once again to attempt to piece it all together.

“We’re not going to stop until we figure it all out,” Chionchio said.

Although neighbors said they thought they heard an explosion around the time the fire started, Chionchio said investigators have found “no indication of an explosion” in what is left of the mobile home.

No other injuries were sustained in the fire. In addition to Millville firefighters and officials from the state fire marshal’s and medical examiner’s offices, fire crews from the Bethany Beach and Frankford fire companies responded, as well as Sussex County paramedics and a Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company ambulance.

Coastal Point • Laura Walter: Sheila Warrington and others this week encouraged the Indian River School Board to voice its opposition to proposed state Regulation 225, which is intended to expand anti-discrimination protections for students. However, Warrington argues that the proposed amendment would remove parents’ rights to be informed.

The Indian River School District’s school board and superintendent are voicing their opposition to a proposed state regulation that was meant to protect at-risk students. They said they fear the anti-discrimination policy exposes the IRSD to heavy risk of litigation and possible construction expenses to accommodate changes.

The school board unanimously voted at their Nov. 27 meeting to send a formal statement of disapproval of amendments to Regulation 225 in a letter to the governor and Department of Education by the State’s Dec. 4 deadline. Superintendent Mark Steele is to sign that letter as well.

“Whether it goes into effect is beyond our control, and if it goes into effect, we will follow the law,” said Board President Charles Bireley. “There are some significant concerns with the amendment as currently drafted, because it will expose the public schools to potential ligation, expenses and tangible construction costs.

“Many support and disagree with the regulation for a variety of reasons, but these financial issues must be sorted out first before the regulation proceeds any further,” he said.

This summer, after a similar order stalled in the Delaware General Assembly, Gov. John Carney personally ordered the Delaware Department of Education to draft regulations that prohibit discrimination for all public schoolchildren on the basis of any legally protected characteristic, including race and gender identity.

“It is critical that all schools in Delaware be welcoming, inclusive places where students and staff members alike can flourish. Every student should be able to learn, achieve and grow without unlawful discrimination,” Carney’s memo said.

The proposed regulation prohibits discrimination based on “race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, disability, age, gender identity or expression or other characteristic protected by state or federal law.”

The seven-page document would replace the current one-paragraph Regulation 225, which generally prohibits discrimination in any program receiving DOE funds or approval. Regulations carry the same weight as a law, so schools would have to adopt their own anti-discrimination policies (with much mandatory language) before the 2018-2019 school year.

IRSD board members and some parents objected most strongly to where the regulation specifically protects students based on race or gender identity, and the autonomy students may be given in that area. Under the changes, students enrolled in Delaware public schools could self-identify their gender and race.

The proposed regulations say, “A school may request permission from the parent or legal guardian of a minor student” before a student’s preferred name, gender or race is accepted. But first, “the school should consult and work closely with the student to assess the degree to which, if any, the parent or legal guardian is aware of the protected characteristic and is supportive of the student, and the school shall take into consideration the safety, health and well-being of the student in deciding whether to request permission from the parent or legal guardian.”

The letter

The board unanimously voted on Nov. 27 to send the letter (with Board Member W. Scott Collins absent and District 5 representative Doug Hudson having officially submitted his resignation, due to moving outside that district).

Because schools couldn’t scrutinize “whether the self-identified gender is legitimate or based on clinical consultation or treatment,” the IRSD board members said, they feared that “this could lead to significant school safety violation, should a student who is not transgender use this premise in order to gain access to private areas within the school.”

The policy, they said, could also put schools in “direct conflict with students and their parents,” which they said would hinder IRSD’s mission to build trust with families and the public.

The draft regulation allows students in Delaware access to bathrooms and locker rooms based on their gender identify. But other laws surrounding the issue have yet to be clearly resolved in the court system.

All of these situations could put IRSD in the target of a lawsuit, officials said.

Additionally, they said, most of IRSD’s bathrooms and locker rooms were “built to serve multiple people of the same sex, so private space is nearly nonexistent,” which could mean construction costs if the district opted to build additional bathrooms.

They also said they felt the State’s mandatory policy language would overshadow “reasonable local input.”

“The Indian River School District maintains that this issue should be resolved through legislation and not through the regulatory process in order to protect all students in the district process,” the letter concludes. “Therefore, the board and administration do not support Regulation 225.”

Steele said there has been little support for the revised regulation among the Southern state legislators, school administrators or the Delaware School Boards Association.

The parents

The proposed regulation got a hostile response from some district parents. Dozens of community members had organized before the board meeting on Monday to wear matching red shirts in opposition to Regulation 225. Almost all of them said the amendment reduces parental rights.

“We’re not against a community or person for their choice they made,” said Linda Schroeder. “We’re against that the fact that …the Department of Education wants to take away our rights away as a parent, not knowing these things that are detrimental to our children and giving the authority to someone else.”

“This is not a hate or gay/lesbian issue,” said Sharon Chrzanowski, but she later added, “We cannot normalize gender dysphoria [or appease] a small number of delusional kids and groups with imaginary genitals and skin color.”

“No one should be so open-minded that they willingly give their parental rights to the government,” said Chrzanowski. “Parents do not have to agree with all the choices that their children make, and they are there to guide them, not the government. How can a school employee decide if a parent is supportive enough of a child crossdressing? This sets a very dangerous precedent for more rights to be taken from parents.”

“I personally will invest my time, my money and my name to join the impending lawsuit against the State of Delaware,” said Kay Fox, a mother of five.

Parent Todd Mumford suggested the policy would create secrecy between parents and children, which he said is how sexual predators and human traffickers prey on victims. Other people suggested that girls who have experienced rape or molestation could be troubled to see students they perceive as male enter a ladies’ restroom.

Allowed to speak beyond his three-minute time limit, Larry Mayo thanked the board for the letter and went on to suggest filing articles of impeachment against the governor and Board of Education, if only to send a message to the State.

Conversely, Ken Currie argued that the regulations “are inadequate, and they don’t go far enough. … Here’s what the problem of these kids are: suicide five times the national average. This is serious. This is not about gender pronouns. That’s not going to do much for them at all. They are a group at risk. … Do we really think that 225 is going to get at heart of suicide five times the national average?”

Meanwhile, he argued that teachers should be teaching, not having to counsel kids through major issues.

“They’re children in need. Some may say it’s by their choice, or chance or accident. I don’t care. They’re children in need,” Currie said.

Although they all offered “yes” votes on sending the letter of opposition, none of the board members spoke any further on the topic for the benefit of the audience. Later, Board Member Rodney Layfield touted the overall safety of the schools, and Board Member Donald Hattier agreed when Larry Mayo said, “Regulations should be subordinate to the legislation.”

School board meetings rarely have a high public attendance unless there is a hot-topic issue. Steele thanked everyone for attending and being involved.

The last word

The deadline for public comment is Monday, Dec. 4. After public comments, DOE Secretary Susan Bunting will make the final decision on the proposed regulation. Although she could approve it as early as January, Steele said, “The timeline has been pushed back. There has been quite a bit of opposition to this.”

Full details about the governor’s memo, proposed regulation, meeting minutes and feedback are online at www.doe.k12.de.us/antidiscrimination.

The November Monthly Register of Regulations is posted online at http://regulations.delaware.gov/services/register.shtml.

Public comments may be submitted until Monday, Dec. 4:

• Email comments to DOEregulations.comment@doe.k12.de.us.

• Mail comments to Delaware Department of Education; RE: 225 Prohibition of Discrimination; 401 Federal St., Ste. 2; Dover, DE 19901.

On Tuesday, Nov. 28, the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) ordered closure of an unpermitted body art establishment operating out of a barbershop in Selbyville.

In addition to procedures occuring without a permit and being entirely unregulated, DPH staff were unable to confirm that proper sanitary precautions were used. DPH Health Systems Protection staff closed not only the body art establishment, in which tattooing and body piercing activities were taking place without a permit, but also the B & B Barber Shop, located at 5 West Church Street, Unit 203, for grossly unsanitary conditions.

DPH encourages customers who may have received tattooing or other body art services at this location to contact their health care provider for evaluation for diseases such as hepatitis and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that may have been transmitted through unsterile equipment. Customers should tell a doctor about receiving a tattoo or piercing from the unregulated establishment, when it occurred and any symptoms since the visit.

When in doubt, DPH recommends seeking testing for HIV and hepatitis. It is possible to carry these viruses for years without knowing it, due to lack of symptoms. Even if the virus cannot be traced to the closed tattoo parlor, knowing one’s HIV and hepatitis status can help begin treatment and prevent further spread of these viruses.
The unregulated tattoo parlor kept no client records and, as a result, DPH cannot follow the normal protocol of contacting individuals by letter to urge them to seek medical testing. DPH is trying to spread the word by press releases, social media, medical providers and local community leaders.

Delawareans served by the illegal operation can also contact the DPH Communicable Disease Bureau at (302) 744-1050 if they have questions about potential transmission risks.

“No one should ever seek body art services from an unpermitted business,” said DPH Director Karyl Rattay. “Establishments regulated by DPH are inspected and must meet requirements for sanitation, proper disposal of needles, use of gloves and many other items. HIV and hepatitis can all too easily be transmitted if proper precautions are not taken. Before getting any kind of body art done, people should always insist on seeing the DPH permit, which is required to be posted in an obvious place.”

DPH learned about the illegal establishment from an anonymous complaint. At this time, it is not known how many customers were served or how long the operation was in business. The investigation is ongoing.
In addition, HSP staff have contacted the Division of Professional Regulation’s Board of Cosmetology regarding the closure of the barbershop to determine if staff are certified to provide barbering services.

Gifts and games will overflow at the Mason Dixon VFW Auxiliary’s holiday children’s party. Children are being invited to share the fun on Dec. 10, from 2 to 4 p.m.

“You don’t have to be members. We open it up to all children in the community,” said organizer Connie Weber.

The free party is planned each year for kids 12 or younger, at VFW Post 7234 in Ocean View.

There will be games, crafts, face-painting, a balloon artist and a cupcake-decorating station. Kids can snack on chicken nuggets, cookies, chips, pretzels, carrots, grapes and more. They’ll make their own holiday ornaments and make beaded zipper tags.

“It’s free. It’s just a fun afternoon for the kids,” said Weber. “Every child has a chance to sit on Santa Claus’s lap.”

Each child also gets a goodie bag and gifts, including Beanie Babies and travel cups.

The event is completely free. Parents don’t have to bring anything. They often just relax and hang out, watch or chat in the atrium.

“We pretty much take care of everything. The parents can sit back, and the kids just have fun for two hours,” Weber said.

The VFW hosts three holiday parties each year for children — a tradition that began at least 20 years ago, said Weber, who helps fund the event by selling ice cream at weekly bingo nights all year long.

Families have made it their own tradition, too.

“There’s a certain group that I see every time, so they must be having a good time if they’re coming back!” Weber said.

Located along the Indian River Bay, the entire post is decorated for Christmas. Families can also take pictures with holiday backgrounds, including images of wooden soldiers and large gift packages. Mason Dixon VFW Post 7234 is located at 29265 Marshy Hope Way, Ocean View.

Coastal Point photos • Submitted: Scott Gordon delivers supplies to Puerto Ricans affected by Hurricane Maria. His non-profit, Kite4Water, is currently fundraising to return to Puerto Rico.Imagine having the family home flooded by a hurricane, losing transportation and power, and having to ration food. Now, imagine trying to survive all that while also having no access to clean drinking water.

“There’s a global water crisis going on — probably a billion people around the world who don’t have access to clean water,” said Bethany Beach native and Indian River High School alumna Scott Gordon, one of the co-founders of Kite4Water, a group of kite-surfers who have joined together to “collaborate with NGOs around the world to focus on sanitation and clean-water projects.”

Gordon went on a humanitarian mission to Puerto Rico from Oct. 13 to Nov. 1 after hearing of the destruction there following Hurricane Maria.

“As far as how things appeared when I first got to the island… It looks like a bomb was dropped,” he said. “Everything is devastated. A lot of people’s houses survived, but they’re missing part of their roof, or something like that. It seemed like every single house was affected in some way.

“Power lines are down everywhere, and then we get into the communities and you get the sense of urgency and desperation. People don’t have what they need. People with kids or people who are caring for their bedridden grandparents… It was heavy, to say the least. It was very heavy.”

Gordon was able to travel to Puerto Rico due to a large donation from the company Meggle.

“I was only supposed to be there one week, but somebody donated the flight. They bought me a one-way flight to Puerto Rico, and I got caught up in the first couple of days working, and I didn’t book my flight out right away and ended up staying for three weeks.

“Originally, the guys at Meggle were going to ship water down there, but after discovering the price for containers and shipping costs, they decided that donating this money to us was the better option. And they didn’t want to donate to an organization like the Red Cross, where a large percentage goes to administrative fees.”

The Sawyer water filters from Kite4Water were shipped to Puerto Rico prior to Gordon’s arrival, although the group usually take the filters in luggage on their flights.

“Then the work began — training the team, getting the strategic plan together, and then we went out into the field,” he said. “Jeff, my partner, knows a lot of business leaders, and a lot of people who care and want to help.

“In the case of Puerto Rico, we connected with a group that was already mobilizing. It was a group of local Puerto Ricans — they know their country, they know their people well and how to get the job done. They were planning to go up into the mountain and distribute supplies, and we introduced the water-filter aspect. It’s the same thing we did in Nepal, Mexico, Fiji…

“The key to sustainability is working with leaders in each community. We don’t just drive in and drop off filters. We drive in, talk to members of the community, talk to the leaders of the community and work with them.”

Gordon said he was hesitant, at first, about his trip to the commonwealth.

“To be honest, I was kind of scared at first, because the whole economy of the island is devastated. Tensions are high, people are desperate, crime was definitely on the rise... And there was the fear of getting sick or getting an infection,” he said.

“You just keep hearing what bad shape all the hospitals are in, and I was thinking to myself, ‘Man — if I get cut while I’m in the field and it gets infected, I’ll be in big trouble.’

“In Nepal, where we were sending the filters was way, way, way, way up in the mountains — hours and hours away from any town or city where there’s a hospital. The regions we work in have access to fresh water, but it’s contaminated biologically with bacteria…”

Once in Puerto Rico, Gordon was able to purchase cleaning and hygiene supplies, as well as bottled water to take to those affected by the hurricane.

“I drove around San Juan for half a day, because each store would only let you buy two cases of water — that’s it. So, I would drive around from store to store, picking up as much bottled water as I could, and then drive it out to these remote areas — because there’s literally no bottled water in the stores out there.”

Access to clean water is imperative, said Gordon — a fact that many who have unfettered access to it may not think about.

“Not only is it about drinking-water — most people should know that within three to five days, you’ll die without drinking water. The level of desperation is really high in times when there’s no access to safe water.

“In Puerto Rico, we’re driving to Utuado one day, and there’s a car parked in the middle the street on one of these mountainous roads and they’re collecting water from a small stream on the side of the road. We stopped to ask them if they’re using this water to flush their toilets or to clean themselves, or drinking it. They said all of the above…

“On that particular day, we didn’t have any water filters, but we had some bottled water, so we gave it to them.”

“As far as needing water for hygiene purposes — that’s really important. It’s what keeps people from getting sick. It’s not only about trying to save people’s lives, but it’s also about preventative care when it comes to clean, safe water.”

Though he worked out of San Juan, he was able to travel to more remote areas outside of the city center.

“We did a lot of our work up in the mountains. We tried to get to the most remote places we were capable of getting to,” he recalled. “We were going house to house… The people we were bringing supplies and water filters to were receiving virtually no aid — maybe a little bit of bottled water or maybe a little bit of food... It blew my mind.

“I saw the government, FEMA, military, in town centers, delivering some food and some water… You’d see a military truck pull up with a tank of water, but the issue there is … there’s not enough for a municipality of 45,000 people. One 500-gallon tank of water isn’t going to serve the entire municipality.

“From what I saw, the aid relief was only going to the town centers,” Gordon said. “For one, it wasn’t enough, and, two, you had to be the lucky person who happened to be in the town center when the military came in distributing meals in the town center. That same day, we drove 30 minutes outside of Camuy, and people were getting nothing.”

He noted that many of the homes they visited housed large families, including bedridden elderly adults and adult handicapped children.

“Up in the mountains, these people have no help. There was one woman who broke down crying when we brought her water and a few supplies. She had received nothing for over a month but a little bit of bottled water. She had a three-year old mentally-handicapped daughter, so life before the hurricane was hard enough. She had nothing to eat but eggs and a little bit of pumpkin that she was rationing.

“These people have spent their last dollar on rebuilding their homes, finding what supplies they can, because most people lost everything… Up in the mountains, a lot of the stores run out — they don’t even have bottled water. The situation is still desperate. They’re still in crisis mode, and they will be in some areas for the next six months to a year. Some of the people we went to visit hadn’t had electric or water since Irma.”

Filters allow people to create clean water where there is none

Gordon said the beauty of the Sawyer water filters is not only in their simplicity, but in how efficient they are — and at a low price.

“We’re following the footsteps of hundreds of other NGOs that work with Sawyer filters. It’s all about the price point and what you get for it. Typically, the filters sell for $50 retail — we get $30 wholesale. In the situation we’re in now, with all the different natural disasters all over the world, Sawyer has dropped the price by another 60 percent,” he said.

“So, for $12, we were getting Sawyer filters, and then you have to get a 5-gallon plastic bucket or a faucet adaptor, which is $5 to $8. For that price, you’re getting, on average, 290 gallons of filtered water per day. You can’t even buy that much bottled for that price.”

According to Sawyer’s website, the filters are “small, portable, easy-to-use, reliable and inexpensive, and can last a decade without needing to be replaced.” The proprietary water filters are composed of tiny U-shaped micro-tubes that allow water to enter into their core through tiny micro-pores. The high number of those tiny tubes and their surface area allows the filter to have one of the fastest flow rates in the world. The high flow rate eliminates the need to store water, reducing the possibility of water contamination after the filtration process.

Gordon said they can simply fill suitcases with the filters, travel to an area in need and then set up them up.

“When you get in-country or in the region where you’re distributing, you usually buy the 5-gallon plastic buckets or larger… You simply drill a hole in the bottom of the bucket, attach the filter,” he explained. “The bucket serves as a water reservoir for the contaminated water. It’s gravity filtration. Basically, you put the bucket outside and the filter hangs from the bottom, and gravity does all the work.”

Gordon said the filters are rated at a 1-million-gallon lifespan, but he believes they can last even longer.

“They just made the filters able to withstand backwash after backwash after backwash, which makes them last so long. A $12 filter plus a $5 bucket, and the cost of distribution — that’s it. It’s one of the most advanced water filters in the world that you can teach someone to use in about five minutes.”

Once all the supplies are gathered, Gordon said, they train groups on how to use the filters, so they can, in turn, teach others and troubleshoot any problems they may come across.

“We like to say one filter will provide 100 people with clean water for five years. The technology has been around for eight years, and pretty much all of them are still out there, still functioning,” he said.

“As far as how long they last… we don’t know. It’s new technology. The goal for sustainability is setting up the local contacts and being able to check in, and giving our contact information so if something goes wrong with a filter, we can figure out how to fix it.”

Gordon, who was in the San Francisco Bay area for the last four years, had started his own kiteboarding school on the West Coast, where he met his future Kite4Water co-founder, Jeff Kafka.

“I started networking with local businesses to see how I can make a positive impact on the local community,” he said. “I discovered a much larger non-profit organization working in the surf industry, working with the Sawyer hollow-fiber membrane filters, and I was inspired by them… Then I met my partner, and we decided to go for it.”

The non-profit was founded in 2015 and has offered support in varying parts of the world in need of access to clean water.

“We only respond in areas that have been hit by natural disasters. We’re not first-responders at this time — though, in Puerto Rico, it felt we were first-responders, even though we were there three weeks after Maria hit. We focus on regions of the world devastated by natural disasters. So, in Nepal, there was the earthquake of 2015 — they’re still recovering from that. Cyclone Winston that devastated Fiji…”

Through their work, filters have been delivered to places including Mexico, Nicaragua and Nepal.

“We were working with a group called Volunteer Initiative Nepal. They were working in sanitation and wash projects, which is basically hygiene and hygiene education. They were building toilets and septic systems, and we were able to provide them with close to 100 filters,” said Gordon.

“We did our own trip to Fiji, partnering with another NGO out there — Give Clean Water. They have a much larger project going on with water filters. They actually had thousands of filters donated from the manufacturer.

“When I was in Fiji personally delivering filters, there were lots of schools, different buildings, people’s homes — still missing roofs. UNICEF had large tents set up at a lot of these schools. They had water tanks, so they had access to water but no water filtration. Then, a lot of areas where we went, in the more remote parts on the main island, many people lived without electricity or running water.”

Although Kite4Water is a small group now, Gordon said they hope to grow, with the generous support of businesses and private donors.

“In the nonprofit world, it’s all about trust, and we’ve worked really hard over the last two years to gain people’s trust and to show people we mean business. We want to work efficiently and put pretty much all of the money toward the project.

“We’re trying to raise a large amount of money so we can go back with more filters. I’ve been communicating with a bunch of grassroots groups down there who can help in distributing the filters, just like the first group we worked with there,” he said. “We’ve distributed close to 1,500 filters, with an impact of close to 50,000 people, with very limited funds.”

“We’re looking to have our own Kite4Water team go back with enough funds so that we can have large 4-by-4 trucks and all the resources we need to go to even farther remote areas,” he said. “Right now, the best way is, we’re looking for large businesses to sponsor our work. We are a 501(C)(3) charity, so all donations are a tax write-off.”

Gordon said donations can be made directly to Kite4Water or may be purchased directly through Sawyer with Kite4Water selected as the benefactor, and the filters will be shipped to them.

“We want people to understand that the money is going directly to the work. All of our administrators are volunteer. Staff only gets paid for working directly on projects,” he said.

Gordon, who is now back living in the area, said getting involved in providing water filters to areas in need was an eye-opening experience, and he hopes more people and organizations will get involved, and help the cause.

“It definitely changed me… We were going house to house, asking if they needed anything, and they’re like, ‘Yeah,’ and they just have a little bit of water. When you were going house to house, you could see the desperation on people’s faces, wondering, ‘Are they going to come to my house?’

“For the most part,” he said, “life is beautiful out there. And then you have these typhoid red-zones — a major issue usually because of human fecal matter in the water supply. These people are getting their water from streams which would normally be fairly clean, but with improper sanitation and sewage, a lot of the runoff ends up in their water supply… It’s a crisis.”

For more information regarding Kite4Water or to donate to the organization, visit www.Kite4Water.org.

Q: What do you get when you cross a magician with a musician?

A: A fun and frolicsome musical event called “Top of the World,” set to premiere at the Dickens Parlour Theatre in Millville on Thursday, Dec. 7.

The musical is a collaboration between magician and theater owner Richard Bloch, and musician, music instructor and composer Eric Tsavdar. Bloch said he has been kicking around lyrics for the project for about two years, but Tsavdar said he has only been involved since June, when Bloch first shared his lyrics with him.

With the curtain about to go up on the first presentation of “Top of the World,” each man praised the other’s contribution to the play. Bloch called Tsavdar — whose day-job is band director at Selbyville Middle School — “a genius.”

When Bloch first shared his initial lyrics with Tsavdar, he said, he was astounded when, after a few weeks, Tsavdar brought him a CD with all the songs, in all the characters, with Tsavdar’s own voice.

“He’s just dazzling,” Bloch said. In the ensuing weeks, Tsavdar said, the two added more songs and developed the plot and characters further.

The resulting show features 12 actors — four main characters and eight young “elves.” The actors, Bloch said, “including myself, the narrator” range in age from 14 to 74. The basic storyline, without giving too much away, is that a “bad magician” attempts to stop Christmas from happening. (Spoiler alert: Additional “elves” will be recruited from the audience.)

“There’s lots of magic,” Bloch said, including some disappearing characters. “There’s good guys, there’s bad guys, there’s a happy ending. What more could you want?” he asked.

“It’s going to be absolutely stunning,” Bloch said. He praised Tsavdar’s musical talents effusively, adding that, when he sat and watched a recent rehearsal, when he heard the final song, “I had tears in my eyes, it was so beautiful.”

The music also got two thumbs up from Bloch’s 5-year-old grandson, whose mother told Bloch that, after he listened to the music, he was still singing it the next day.

The production is being called a “stage reading,” because the actors will have their scripts in-hand, and costumes and sets are minimal, Bloch said. The instrumental parts are pre-recorded, partly due to the limitations of the size of the Dickens stage, and partly because of the short time between the musical’s inception and the show’s debut.

Bloch said he hopes to see “Top of the World” grow in future years into a full-fledged production with a live orchestra and a bigger stage.

For Tsavdar, who first worked with Bloch at Dickens last year when his own musical, “Under,” was staged there, it is a thrill just to see the show come to fruition. He praised the lyrics that Bloch started with, saying that, as a composer, having the lyrics already written “makes your life a whole lot easier.

“Six months is not a lot of time to write a musical,” he said. He added that he had literally written a song for “Top of the World” at the beginning of this week. He said he’s not sure that one will make it into the final production, but he’s fine with that.

“It’s a lot of work, but it’s a labor of love,” Tsavdar said. “Nothing means more to me than writing music and seeing other people play it.”

He said he is excited for the debut of “Top of the World” because he, like Bloch, thinks it will be a hit and hopes that it will be seen beyond the Millville theater’s stage.

“I really want to see where it goes,” he said.

The four main characters in “Top of the World” are: Michael Vernon as Santa, Alonzo Dixon as Louie, Tim Hale as Malefacto and Drew Colegrove as Murray.

“Top of the World” will be presented at the Dickens Parlour Theatre at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 7; 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 8, 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 10, 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 16, and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 17. Tickets cost $10 for children or $20 for adults, and are available by calling the theater at (302) 829-1071 or on the theater’s website at www.DPTmagic.com.

The Town of Ocean View has a direct line to that jolly fellow in the red suit and has invited Santa Claus to visit town hall this weekend to light the Town’s Christmas tree.

On Saturday, Saturday, Dec. 9, from 3 to 5 p.m., the Town of Ocean View will host its annual Holiday in the Park event, offering free family fun to help kick off the holiday season in John West Park.

“It’s just been a tradition of the town ever since I’ve been here,” said Town Manager Dianne Vogel, noting that they’ve changed the event up in recent years.

This year, Santa Claus will arrive at town hall via fire truck, thanks to the Millville Volunteer Fire Company. The family-centered event will also have face-painting and a balloon artist available for the little ones in attendance. Kids will also have the opportunity to write letters to Santa.

Vogel said refreshments will be served — cookies with punch or hot chocolate, depending on the day’s weather.

At 5 o’clock, everyone will move outside to watch Santa help light the Town’s Christmas tree, before returning inside to sing carols.

“There will be some of our council members leading the carols, like Carol Bodine, and Bob Lawless, one of our former council members. Last year, Mayor Curran participated. There are a number of different people participating in the carols and leading them.”

While the weather forecast may seem gray for the day, Vogel said not to worry — people can enjoy the day’s events inside and out of the elements.

“It’s important to note all activities will be inside, with the exception of the tree-lighting ceremony,” she said. “We’ll be doing the caroling indoors. For people who may be hesitant because they think we are going to be outside… There’s no reason for people to worry about rain or snow. They’ll be warm and toasty, and be able to enjoy the event, whatever the weather.”

The completely free event will take place following the Ocean View Historical Society’s Coastal Christmas, which runs at the historic complex (across the park) from noon to 3 p.m. Vogel said it’s a great opportunity for families to enjoy both events.

“We always hope people will come out and enjoy it,” she said. “It’s an opportunity for people to come out and meet their neighbors and enjoy the holidays, or kick off the holidays.”

This weekend, community members have the chance to travel back in time — to 1860 — and see what life was like then during the holiday season, thanks to the Ocean View Historical Society.

On Saturday, Dec. 9, from noon to 3 p.m., the Ocean View Historical Society will host its 1860 Coastal Christmas at its historical complex on Central Avenue.

“This is our fourth year,” said OVHS President Barbara Slavin of the event. “It’s good exposure for us. We’re trying to increase our profile… The more people who know we’re here, the better.”

The complex — which features the Tunnell-West House, furnished with period furniture and artifacts; an 1800s outhouse; the town’s first post office, built in 1889; and an exact replica of Cecile Steele’s first chicken house — will be open to the public, free of charge, and decorated for the season.

“We’re calling it a ‘Coastal Christmas,’ because we want to use what they would’ve been able to use back in the 1800s,” Slavin explained. “We’ve decorated the tree — an old-timey cedar tree — with seashells. We have a tree outside that we’ve decorated with popcorn and cranberry.

“Then we made several wreaths out of natural foliage that grows in the area — especially holly, because holly wreaths were made here in the early part of the last century and used as a business. If anyone would like to make a wreath, we’ll have some extra greenery so that if they do want one, we can help them create one similar to what we have.”

Families are being encouraged to bring children, as they can take a walk back in time and learn some history.

“If children come — which we encourage — we have some crafts for them to make a coastal ornament,” she added.

To add to the festive atmosphere, Len Wolek will be playing his mandola. Refreshments, including homemade cookies and warm homemade cider, will be served.

“We have a donation of a Thomas Nast Christmas print that we had framed, and that will be on display,” Slavin noted.

New to the event this year is a Civil War renactor, who took part in a reenactment the society hosted back in June.

“He volunteered to come back and help us out for this event. His main intent is to look like a Civil War soldier coming home for the holidays. Ironically, Mr. Tunnell did have two sons who were in the Civil War.

“I think the Civil War soldier will be a neat addition, because people can ask him questions. He actually performs as a soldier, talking about the war. He won’t talk as if he’s current-day.”

The society is always looking for members to join the organization and help preserve history. Currently, they are working on building Hall’s Store, a replica of one of the area’s general stores, built in 1820, to serve as their visitors’ center, as well as to revamp the Evans-West house, which will serve as the future Coastal Towns Museum.

“We’re not charging for this event but would certainly like to accept donations,” she said.

Slavin noted that the Town of Ocean View will be hosting their holiday event the same day, from 3 to 5 p.m. at town hall, just across John West Park, so families can enjoy both events back-to-back.

“We do hope to see lots of children and lots of families come through,” she said. “If you haven’t been to the historical complex, now is a good opportunity, because you’ll see it in its Christmas spirits.”

The event is free, with parking at Town lots surrounding John West Park. For more information, call or email Carol Psaros at ckpsaros@aol.com or (302) 539-5653. For more information on the Ocean View Historical Society or to become a member, visit www.ovhistoricalsociety.org. The Tunnell-West House is located at 39 Central Avenue in Ocean View.

Coastal Point • Tyler Valliant: A Selbyville barbershop was shut down last week for allegedly performing piercings and tattoos, possibly also operating without a barbershop license, and alleged grossly unsanitary conditions.State health officials said they really don’t know just how many people may have potentially been exposed to alleged unsanitary conditions at a Selbyville barbershop that was also allegedly illegally performing tattooing and body-piercing.

On Nov. 28, the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) ordered closure of the B&B Barber Shop, located at 5 West Church Street, Unit 203, in downtown Selbyville. The shop was ordered to stop performing body-art activities, which were allegedly occurring without a permit, but also to close the barbershop operation for what officials called “grossly unsanitary conditions.”

The sign at that location, located in the Church Street Station shopping center, reads “Boris Barbershop.”

“In this case, the observations included evidence of a rodent infestation, improper disposal of sharps and other conditions that could contribute to transmission of disease,” said Jamie Mack, a DPH policy lead and technical advisor.

“The biggest concern in this and other body-art establishments is sterilization and cleaning of equipment. Failure to use either disposable or properly sterilized reusable equipment increases the risk for transmission of disease.”

DPH staff said they received an anonymous complaint about a week before conducting an inspection of the shop on Nov. 28, which is when they found evidence, they said, of unpermitted body-art activities.

Any customers who may have received tattooing or other body-art services at the shop are being encouraged to contact their doctors for evaluation of any disease that may have been transmitted through unsterile equipment.

“When in doubt, DPH recommends seeking testing for HIV and hepatitis. It is possible to carry these viruses for years without knowing it, due to lack of symptoms. And even if the virus cannot be traced to the closed tattoo parlor, knowing one’s HIV and hepatitis status can help get treatment and prevent further spread of these viruses,” according to DPH.

“Tell the doctor about receiving a tattoo or piercing from the unregulated establishment, when it occurred and any symptoms since the visit.”

Because the alleged unregulated tattoo parlor kept no client records, DPH staff said, they will have a tough time contacting past customers to urge them to seek medical testing, which would be the typical procedure in such situations. Instead, they’re trying to spread the word by news outlets, social media, medical providers and community leaders.

Coincidently, DPH made the announcement of the shop’s closure on World AIDS Day, which raises awareness for victims of the potentially deadly disease that is caused by HIV.

“No one should ever seek body-art services from an unpermitted business,” stated DPH Director Karyl Rattay. “Establishments regulated by DPH are inspected and must meet requirements for sanitation, proper disposal of needles, use of gloves and many other items. HIV and hepatitis can all too easily be transmitted if proper precautions are not taken.

“Before getting any kind of body art done, people should always insist on seeing the DPH permit, which is required to be posted in an obvious place.”

Delawareans served by the operation can also contact the DPH Communicable Disease Bureau at (302) 744-1050 if they have questions about potential transmission risks.

Investigation was ongoing in the case this week. When a shop doesn’t even have a permit, its operators lack an appeal route. Instead, DPH orders immediate closure. The body-art establishment must remain closed until it applies for and receives proper permits, licenses and other approvals.

Before a body-art establishment opens, it must have plumbing, electrical and fire marshal approvals. Then, the Health Systems Protection Section (HSP) inspects for compliance to the body-art regulations, including equipment disposal, sanitation of work zones, ventilation, spacing and screening for each station.

Meanwhile, “The facility and the individuals performing barbering would need to be permitted and/or licensed by the Division of Professional Regulation,” Mack said.

However, the DPR website does not list a permitted cosmetology license for a “B&B” or “Boris” barbershop.

The person in charge of the business at the time of the DPH visit was Jose Colon, officials said, adding that he received information on getting proper permits for both the body-art and barbering operations.

“The entire establishment must be thoroughly cleaned, sanitized and inspected prior to any operations at this facility,” DPH stated in a Dec. 1 letter to Colon.

Since Dec. 1, “Representatives from B&B have contacted our Office of Engineering concerning submission of plans for the body-art establishment,” Mack stated.

Coastal Point • Tyler Valliant: Bethany Beach kicked off its Weekend Wonderland events this past Saturday, Dec. 2, and will continue for the next two weeks.

Having kicked off the holiday season in style with its tree-lighting ceremony and Holiday Happenings event last weekend, Weekend Wonderland fun continues in Bethany Beach for the next two Saturdays.

Many Bethany Beach businesses will be open on Dec. 9 and Dec. 16, with special activities abounding to put shoppers in a festive holiday mood, according to Lauren Weaver, executive director of the Bethany-Fenwick Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the events, along with the Town of Bethany Beach and the town’s downtown business group.

One unique activity the whole family can participate in — and potentially win prizes from area businesses — is the Elf on the Shelf Scavenger Hunt.

Participating businesses will provide bingo cards to shoppers. Each participating shop will also have an Elf displayed somewhere in their establishment. Anyone who finds the Elf will receive a sticker for their special bingo card. When the stickers add up to “bingo,” the cardholder can enter for a chance to win a prize. Winners will be announced on the Bethany Beach bandstand at 5 p.m. on Dec. 9.

Those who fill all 20 spaces on the card will be eligible to enter the grand prize drawing, the winner of which will be announced on Saturday, Dec. 16. The game has already proven popular with holiday shoppers, Weaver said.

“We took more cards out” to the businesses on Monday, after the first Weekend Wonderland activities last weekend, she said.

This weekend, shoppers are being invited to bring cookies to be send to military service members. Donations can be placed in 8-inch-by-8-inch boxes or in large zip-top bags, Weaver said. Cookies for the troops will be accepted on Friday, Dec. 8, and Saturday, Dec. 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Su Casa, 101 Garfield Parkway, Bethany Beach.

Caroling on the bandstand next to the enormous holiday tree now towering over the boardwalk will bring each of the special Saturdays to a festive close.

Special events scheduled for Weekend Wonderland are:

Saturday, Dec. 9

•11 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Photos and cocoa with Santa at the Bethany

Fine Arts Gallery, 106 Garfield Pkwy., Bethany Beach;

•Noon to 5 p.m. — Holiday House at Tidepool Toys & Games, with wine and cheese available for adult shoppers;

• 3-5 p.m. — Screening of “The Batman Lego Movie” at South Coastal Library, 43 Kent Ave., Bethany Beach; and

•5-6 p.m. — Caroling at the bandstand with the Indian River High School Chorus.

Saturday, Dec. 16

• 1-1:30 p.m. — Grinch storytime at Tidepool Toys & Games on the boardwalk;

•3-5 p.m. — Santa at Bethany Blues, 6 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Bethany Beach; and

• 5-6 p.m. — Caroling at the bandstand with Southern Delaware School of the Arts Show Choir.

Participating businesses will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days.

For more information on Weekend Wonderland, call the Bethany-Fenwick Chamber at (302) 539-2100.

This past summer, a group of five families in The Point at Bayside got together to plan a neighborhood party with one mission — to support the efforts of Toys for Tots.

“I’m from New Jersey, and my husband and I had been giving this as a different style of party from a Jersey shore community,” said Stephanie Hensal, one of the neighbors who organized the July 23 neighborhood party. “Everybody was like, ‘Oh, come for cocktails.’ And we were like, ‘If you’re going to come drink all my booze, why not make it an event?’’

The neighbors threw together the “Christmas in July”-themed party in six weeks and were able to collect hundreds of toys to donate to the mission.

“When the Marines came to pick up the toys, they were stunned. It was a pretty good haul,” said Hensal. “Big toys, little toys, all ages covered. We had basketballs, soccer balls, Matchbox cars, puzzles and dolls… Everything.”

“These kids are going to have the best Christmas,” added Beverly Englert, one of the neighbors who helped plan the event.

In all, 70 invitations were delivered to neighbors, with more than 100 people attending.

“Some of the most fun we had was ringing doorbells and dropping off invitations,” said Hensal.

“We didn’t expect that response, especially for the first time. We didn’t know what we were getting,” added Englert. “It really was a great way to meet your neighbors. Even if they couldn’t make it, a lot of them still dropped a toy off. It just spoke to how they loved the cause.”

Those who attended were served Caribbean rice, chicken skewers, pulled chicken and pulled pork sandwiches, red and green ice pops, punch, Christmas cookies from a bakery in Brooklyn, and more.

“We really went with the Christmas theme — it was kind of fun,” said Hensal.

Attendees were also encouraged to wear their Christmas-in-July best (which had many showing up in Santa hats) and all were given a lei upon arrival.

“Most of the men had on Christmas Hawaiian shirts, to keep with the beach theme. People went all out. It was a great event,” said Hensal.

Englert said five families had T-shirts made to wear with their Santa logo.

The event was made possible, in large part, they noted, by donations from the business community, including the neighbors of The Point, Schell Brothers, Harris Teeter, Bayside Liquors, Vogue on 54, the Carl M. Freeman Companies, the Toy Corner, Sposato Landscape Co. and Atlantic Source.

“Atlantic Source gave us the use of his food truck, which was a huge help. That’s what we used to keep the food warm and/or cold,” said Englert, adding that Sposato loaned the neighbors live trees to decorate.

Games, including volleyball and cornhole, were planned for the event; however, an unexpected rainstorm rolled in, and the festivities moved into the Schell model in the neighborhood. Despite the poor weather, the two said it did not dampen the event.

“It didn’t deter from the event, which was wonderful. People still came out. That model was packed. The whole lower level was full of toys,” Englert said.

The party was also a great way to meet their neighbors and make new friends, they said.

“We’ve made some wonderful friends,” said Englert, “definitely continued friendships with wonderful neighbors.”

Englert and Hensal said that, while it took work and planning, they encourage other communities and individuals to consider following The Point’s lead and using summertime get-togethers as a way to support Toys for Tots.

“Most people at Christmas don’t give as much as they can, because they have so many things to give to,” said Hensal. “I always look back on things like that and say, ‘If you can raise awareness in the off-season for something that’s a holiday thing, it’s wonderful, because people can and do give more.”

Having a backyard barbecue? Ask people to bring a toy or two instead of a side dish. Having a block party? Encourage all the neighbors to bring a toy for donation. Dinner party? Swap out the hostess gift for a toy.

“It could be as small as you want it to be, or as big as you want it to be. It doesn’t have to be that creative. Just bring a toy to your backyard barbecue,” said Hensal. “Throw up some Christmas lights, we all have them!”

The U.S. Marine Corps — the group behind Toys for Tots — has even taken notice of the idea of fundraising in the summer months.

“The Marines have even seen it, because they have distribution trucks for pick-up on July 25. It used to be you had to store the toys until November for them to come pick them up,” said Hensal.

Englert said the first event was such a success, the neighbors plan to continue and host the party annually.

“We had a lot of fun doing it,” she said. “It was a great way for the community to come together as well. That was a wonderful time. People got to come together for Toys for Tots, and they were happy to do it.

“It was a lot of work, but it was worth it. It’s a great cause, and I feel good knowing those kids are going to have a great Christmas. And that’s what it’s all about.”

For more information on Toys for Tots and how to support the organization, visit www.toysfortots.org.