The Town of Millsboro is currently seeking candidates to run in the June town council election, to serve as representatives for Districts 2 and 3, and as at-large representative. The Town’s election will be held on Saturday, June 14, from 1 until 7 p.m.

Candidates must be at least 21; must have been a bona fide resident of the United States, State of Delaware and the Town for at least one year prior to the date of the election; and must not have been convicted of a felony. Additionally, those filing to run as the District 2 and 3 candidates must live within those defined districts.

District 2 Councilman Greg Hastings announced at this week’s regular council meeting that he would not be seeking reelection.

“It has been an absolute pleasure to serve the greater town of Millsboro. It has been an honor and privilege to work with my fellow councilmen and -women, as well as the administration here in the Town of Millsboro,” said Hastings. “I have had, in the last year, some personal things that have changed my focus, changed my direction, and I have come to the decision to step down.”

Town Manager Faye Lingo noted that District 2 is the area of town that is between the north side of Main Street and Route 113. As of mid-week, no residents had filed to run for the seat.

District 3 — which covers all of Millsboro west of Route 113 — is currently represented on council by Michelle Truitt, who as of mid-week was the only candidate to have filed for that seat.

Councilman Jim Petruzella has filed to retain his current position as at-large representative. Petruzella will not be running unopposed — as Joseph Brady, who had previously been elected to the council in 1995 and served as a councilman and mayor of the town for 12 years — has also filed to run for the seat.

Anyone wishing to be a candidate must file a written notice no later than 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20, at town hall. Each candidate must file a “certificate of intention” or a “statement of organization” form, which can be acquired at town hall.

“We’ve been fortunate in Millsboro to have good councilpersons,” said Lingo. “If a resident wants to serve and do some good, they’re certainly welcome.”

Millsboro Town Center is located at 322 Wilson Highway in Millsboro. For more information, call (302) 934-8171 or visit www.millsboro.org.

People have a lot of questions about local waterways and parklands, so state legislators have invited officials with the Delaware Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Control (DNREC) to give some answers on Tuesday, May 13, at 7:30 p.m. at the Millville fire hall.

State Sen. Gerald Hocker (R-20th) and Rep. Ron Gray (R-38th) said the information night began with the issue of navigational aids on White’s Creek.

“The Coast Guard was saying they were not going to maintain those,” Gray explained. “I got the most emails I had gotten out of any issue. I got 150.”

Hocker called the public response on the issue “unreal.”

The Coast Guard has more recently announced it will continue to maintain the navigational aids for at least this year. But with approximately 500 properties (and potential boaters) around White’s Creek, Gray said DNREC staff could better address people’s concerns.

“We thought we would put together an evening with all the people there to ask the right questions,” Hocker said.

Gray said he would try to get a Coast Guard representative to attend, in addition to DNREC officials.

“The folks that interface with the Coast Guard are going to be there to discuss how those aids go in” and what may happen next, Gray said.

Someone will also discuss dredging of the Inland Bays, which “I think that would improve water flow” and clean the bay, Gray said.

Delaware Division of Parks & Recreation officials will also discuss improvements to Holt’s Landing State Park’s trails and boat ramp, as well as the Assawoman Canal Trail project.

“Come out and bring lots of questions,” Gray suggested.

Frankford resident Greg Welch and the Frankford Town Council have never quite seen eye to eye, so it’s not entirely surprising that Welch, as well as some other residents, are unhappy with the Town’s proposed pension plan for its employees.

“That was a big issue in the election. We knew they were already headed in this direction,” said Welch after Monday’s town council meeting. “It’s on the agenda to be talked about in executive session. They’re changing their town charter to allow it.”

The issue was not discussed by the council during the regular meeting on May 5, and when several residents tried to bring it up, the council explained that it was not on the regular meeting’s agenda. The council did note that the issue would not be discussed until May 10.

“May 10th is when it’s going in front of the House or the Senate — it’s already passed once, apparently,” noted Welch of the related charter change. “I wrote a complaint to the Attorney General’s Office. The Attorney General’s Office wrote me back and said there was no violation because there was no proof they discussed it behind closed doors.”

Despite the ongoing disapproval from Welch and other town residents, the opponents said they felt that, at this point, there was nothing they could do to change it.

“We could never do anything about it. It’s all up to them,” Welch said of the council. “We can talk to each other and get riled up about it. They had it on the agenda tonight to discuss and possibly vote on getting this state pension plan for the Town employees. They never discussed how much it’s going to cost the Town.”

Town Clerk Terry Truitt refuted the claims that the plan had never been discussed, citing that the Town had held a public hearing in May of 2013 regarding the issue, during which State officials had gone over the options for participation.

“If the Town elected to join the State pension plan, which is sound and solvent,” Truitt emphasized, they could do it “starting out with no buy-ins for years employed — zero — or they could elect to pick any denomination they wanted, which would have cost the Town more money as the years increased,” Truitt added of the plan and the council’s decisions.

“From that point on, Greg Welch made accusations that the Town was going to do full buy-ins and was going to cost the Town well over $100,000,” she continued. “Jerry Smith even elaborated incorrect facts in his election newsletter back in January this year,” she asserted. “This was never the case.”

Truitt emphasized that one of the main reasons for the endeavor is that, currently, Frankford is the only town in the state with an active police department that does not have a pension plan.

The Delaware State Police this week were investigating a crash that injured six people — including a Fenwick Island police officer — when an allegedly drunk driver ran into a parked police car, which then impacted a third vehicle that had been pulled over because its driver was also suspected of being drunk.

According to the DSP, on May 1, around 9:45 p.m., a 33-year-old Fenwick Island police officer had conducted a traffic stop on a car being driven by a suspected drunk driver and had parked his patrol car on the shoulder of Route 1 (Coastal Highway).

The officer, they said, was seated in the driver’s seat of his patrol vehicle, while 59-year-old Shawn Moran of Wilmington — the driver of the car initially stopped by the officer — was seated in the right rear passenger’s seat of the Ford Explorer patrol vehicle. His Toyota Sequoia was parked in front of the FIPD car, with two passengers inside.

The DSP reported that Heath Clifford McDermott of Bel Air, Md., had then struck the left rear of the FIPD vehicle with his Nissan Maxima, and the impact caused the patrol vehicle to lurch forward and strike the rear of Moran’s parked Sequoia. The Maxima continued northbound and overturned onto its roof, they said, trapping McDermott and a 48-year-old female passenger inside.

Upon his extrication from the vehicle, a State Police helicopter flew McDermott from the scene to Christiana Medical Center, where he was admitted with non-life-threatening injuries. His 48-year-old female passenger was transported by EMS to Beebe Medical Center, where she was also treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

The Fenwick Island police officer and Moran were both transported by EMS to Beebe, where they were treated for non-life-threatening injuries and released. The 58-year-old and 60-year-old male passengers in Moran’s parked Sequoia were also removed from the scene by EMS and transported to Beebe Medical Center, where they, too, were treated for non-life-threatening injuries and released.

Master Cpl. Gary Fournier, public information officer for the Delaware State Police, said that the DSP had investigated the incident, at least in part, because it occurred just outside of the Fenwick Island Police Department’s jurisdiction.

“A lot of times, our division will handle other department’s crashes — especially when there’s injury involved. It’s just standard practice,” he explained. “Probably, if it was minor, they may have handled their own internal investigation. But most of the times, they’ll request us to come out and evaluate a crash, especially a departmental crash.”

Fournier added that the investigation of the incident had been conducted routinely, as a standard crash investigation, despite the police involvement.

“We’ll go out and take measurements, and all that we normally do on a personal injury crash investigation,” he said. “Obviously, we’re looking at all avenues of what occurred.”

Fournier said McDermott had been arrested and charged with one count of Driving Under the Influence and five counts of Vehicular Assault in the Second Degree upon his release from the hospital on May 4. The investigation by the Fenwick Island Police Department into the suspected DUI involving Moran was ongoing early this week.

Coastal Highway north of Fenwick Island was closed for approximately one and a half hours as the crash was investigated and cleared.

This is one traffic light people are happy to see: Lord Baltimore Elementary School once again has flashing yellow lights in the school zone, alerting drivers to the 20 mph speed limit during pick-up and drop-off periods.

“The school was very adamant about having the flashers back in place, so that’s what we did,” said Delaware Department of Transportation’s Denny Hehman.

More than a year ago, utility companies began moving lines and pipes to prepare for the expansion of Route 26. In conjunction with the changes, the DelDOT removed the overhead string of lights that flashed daily in front of the school during student drop-off and pick-up.

They were replaced with a simple square sign that read “20 mph when children present.” However, the text was small, and state Sen. Gerald Hocker (R-20th) said residents falsely believed it was an Ocean View police “speed trap” (It was not.) Plus, he said, it was difficult to tell if children were actually present at any given time — especially since the main entrance is slightly hidden from the road.

Although DelDOT representatives said such signs are becoming common in Delaware, Hocker they aren’t clear.

After encouraging DelDOT to replace the flashing lights, he said he was happy to hear they had been returned in early May. Flashers catch people’s attention, he said, and police know when to enforce 20 mph.

“We’re pretty happy that it’s back out there,” said David Maull, Indian River School District spokesperson, who noticed the lights earlier that day. “It’s been a while.”

Lord Baltimore staff can switch the flashers on with a key. The lights stay on for one hour, then automatically turn off.

“If somebody wants the flasher to last longer than an hour, then they’ll need to go back and turn it on again,” Hehman said.

“With the school being on a major road … we think it’s going to provide a much safer school zone,” Maull said.

District 4 Sussex County Councilman George Cole will run again in November’s election.

“I intend to run for county council. There were a lot of people thinking I wasn’t going to run,” he noted. “I made a decision to file in the near future.”

Cole, who was originally elected to the seat in 1986, and has served for 28 consecutive years.

“I like the job. I’ve done it for quite a while, and I enjoy the position,” he said. “I think I’ve been very effective.”

Cole said that there are still a few issues the county is dealing with that have made him want to continue to serve on the council.

“I feel there are some issues now that my being there is important. There are still outstanding issues that we need to address.”

If elected, Cole said he hopes to work on revising the County’s campground ordinance.

“The industry has changed, and our ordinances are probably 40 years old, and we need to address those,” he said.

He added that the County has been dealing with general infrastructure issues related to density, which he also hopes to address.

“Recently, the wetlands were a big topic with the State,” said Cole, noting that a committee was set up to brainstorm suggestions. “Part of the recommendation was to provide incentives to encourage people to protect their wetlands.

“One of the solutions I heard was to give bonus densities to developers so they’ll protect their wetlands. I don’t think giving density bonuses is the answer to preserving wetlands — especially when, in many parts of the county, we’re almost maxed-out with what infrastructure we have here... We have pockets of problems.”

Cole said he has discussed the idea of a carrying-capacity study with his fellow council members and hopes to bring it for a vote soon.

“I’m going to propose, in the very near future — and I’ve been talking to council people one-on-one, trying to get the support — to get a carrying-capacity study,” he explained. “We would have to hire some consultants, identify certain areas of this county that are under intense pressure from population with the year-round residents, second-home owners and the tourists. I would like to work on that.”

The study, said Cole, would not be used to create specific ordinances or regulations, but rather as an additional tool to allow the council to be better informed when making decisions.

“It takes a while to get things done in government, and county council is no different. Sometimes it takes a while to convince other council people that there is a problem and then move it forward to a study.

“The study wouldn’t have any regulations attached to it,” he noted. “Many times, some of the council — and I agree with them — think that additional regulations have a negative impact on the county. We don’t want to do anything that would have additional regulations or ordinances. It would give us a good tool to be able to make decisions better.”

Cole said he’s pleased with what he’s been able to accomplish while serving on the council, including this week’s unanimous vote regarding height limitations for buildings within county jurisdiction.

“We were allowing 60-foot buildings, and nobody was aware of it. We got an ordinance introduced, Planning & Zoning approved it with a 3-2 margin, but then county council voted yesterday to approve it 4-0, with one absent,” he said. “We unanimously supported to go to the 42 feet, which is traditionally what everyone thought it was. Now we have it clearly worded.”

Cole said he enjoys serving Sussex County and the open communication between all elected officials.

“In Delaware, we’re unique, because we’re so small. Everybody kind of knows everybody on a first-name basis. The ease of talking to other levels of your government is much easier in a state like Delaware,” he said.

“It’s easy for us to get things done, to take issues and move them up for state government. Anyone of us can call our federal representatives and get a phone call back. I dare say, if you’re in a state like North Carolina, that has 100 counties, you don’t have that kind of contact and personal relationships with elected officials.”

Cole’s father, Charlie, was elected to the council in 1974, when the Sussex County Council was first established, and served on it for three terms. His mother, Kitty, was appointed to the position in 1985, after her husband’s passing.

“She finished out his term. In the meantime, I thought, ‘I bet my father would really like to see one of his sons get involved, because he really liked local politics,” said Cole, noting that his father has served on the State Board of Elections and Rehoboth Town Council. “He was always active and enjoyed county council. So I decided to run, and won in 1986 and have been there ever since.”

He added that he grew up living in Seaford and summering in Rehoboth Beach.

“I’ve had exposure all across the county. My parents were both from Georgetown. It’s difficult for me to go to any part of the county and not know people,” he said. “Those are the things that I think really help when it comes to land use. These are not Republican/Democrat issues. That kind of familiarity with the eastern and western part of the county has been very helpful in coming to the conclusions in regard to land use.

“I don’t think I have an agenda,” he emphasized. “I have a vision. I think the rural areas should remain rural, and I think the coastal areas should stick to a low profile, so we don’t end up looking like Ocean City [Md.] or New Jersey.”

A graduate of the University of Delaware, Cole and his wife, Jerri, live near Ocean View and are the parents of six children.

Cole said he believes he is currently the longest-serving Republican elected official in the state of Delaware.

“It’s been enjoyable,” he said. “The county council is a nice fit.”

Cole will be running against William Carroll in the Republican primary on Sept. 9. Democrat Shirley Price has also filed to run for the District 4 seat.

District 4 covers the areas around the Inland Bays, including communities in and near Bethany Beach, Dewey Beach, Long Neck, Henlopen Acres, Millville, Oak Orchard, Ocean View and Rehoboth Beach.

Although he hadn’t yet officially filed as of mid-week, Cole said he will do so by the July 8 deadline, with plans to kick off his campaign after Labor Day.

“My hopes are to come back and address some of these other issues that are facing the county,” he said.

The State Route 26 Mainline Improvement Project continues with no closures. Look for flaggers on Route 26. Motorists may see lane closures from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in several areas on Route 26:

• between Powell Farm Road and Route 17 for underground utility relocation.
• between Railway Road and Old Mill Road to install a storm drain system.
• shoulder between Town Road and Assawoman Canal for sewer force main relocation.
• on Central Avenue at Route 26 for signal work (May 13 and 14).
• on West Avenue at Route 26 for signal work.

Detours are not required for this. Traffic will alternate, as directed by flaggers. Motorists should drive with caution, slow down in work zones, and never enter a roadway that has been blocked with barriers or cones.

Meanwhile, there will be no lane closures for excavation of storm water management pond near Irons Lane, or for other overhead utility work.

Rhythmic Circus, which has quickly risen from an underground percussive-dance phenomenon to an innovative live performance company known for transforming their tap shoes into instruments of rhythm, will be making their way back to the Freeman Stage at Bayside in “Rhythmic Circus: Feet Don’t Fail Me Now,” on Saturday, May 24 at 7 p.m. The admission for the show is free, but patrons should bring their own chairs.

In addition to the public performance on May 24, 3,500 local school children will be attending performances of “Feet Don’t Fail Me Now” earlier in the week as part of the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation’s educational outreach program.

“Infusing their unpredictable blend of hard-hitting tap, high-spirited humor and finger-snapping tunes, Rhythmic Circus satisfies their ‘rhythmic appetite’ on everything from sand to folding chairs. Tapping their way from one musical genre to the next, employing everything from funk to beatbox to salsa to unravel their tale; this unforgettable show is guaranteed to leave audiences of all generations amazed with its unique ‘you have to see it to believe it’ quality!” organizers described.

“As Feet Don’t Fail Me Now continues in its pursuit to win over audiences everywhere, it remains true to its mission to provide inspirational experiences for all age groups and cultural backgrounds through a sensational blend of theater, music and dance.”

“‘Feet Don’t Fail Me Now’ is the perfect offering for our local families and visitors over the Memorial Day weekend,” said Patti Grimes, executive director of the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation. “We think that this high-energy arts experience by Rhythmic Circus is an exciting way to kick off our seventh summer season of contemporary and classic performances at the Freeman Stage.”

Rhythmic Circus is a troupe of 11 artists with beginnings at a small theater in Northeast Minneapolis. While touring to more than 90 cities worldwide over the last several years, the performances of Rhythmic Circus have been marked by their production’s rave reviews, sold-out engagements and numerous awards, which include: two Sage Awards for Outstanding Ensemble and Performance, the “Spirit of the Fringe” Award, two Upper Midwest Emmys, and being named “Best Dance Performance” by the City Pages.

Regular weekly performances at the Freeman Stage will commence on June 20, with a performance by the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, who will be joined by The Vallely Brothers Duo, and approximately 100 students from John M. Clayton Elementary School will take the stage.

The Freeman Stage is a program of the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation, which partners to present memorable performances and provide inspired arts education for all. The program is made possible, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency dedicated to nurturing and supporting the arts in Delaware, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts.

Grant support is also provided by the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, the Carl M. Freeman Foundation, the Sussex County Council and the State of Delaware. For more information on this season’s events at the Freeman Stage, call (302) 436-3015 or visit www.freemanstage.org.

Coastal Point • Submitted: The annual Artisans Fair will be held at Lord Baltimore Elementary School this year and will feature all kinds of arts and crafts, including this piece, ‘Welcome to the Jungle,’ fabric wall art by Janice Itzel.Now in its seventh year, the annual Artisans Fair is back and bigger than ever this Memorial Day weekend, at Lord Baltimore Elementary School in Ocean View.

Located at Millville Fire Hall for its first five years, the event eventually called for more space, which is when it was moved to LB.

“We moved because they have a larger venue, and we were kind of outgrowing the fire hall,” explained fair coordinator Ione Phillips.

As always, the Memorial Day weekend fundraiser will feature various homemade arts and crafts, including woodwork, glasswork, pottery, carvings, photography, jewelry and other forms of art.

Phillips noted that some of the fair’s featured items will include Ikebana pottery by Jeff Stambaugh, jewelry by Marcia Cupschalk, ceramic fish by Herb Consolvo and fabric wall hangings by Janice Itzel.

“We wanted to have a high-level craft show,” explained Phillips of the original idea. “We wanted handmade stuff, and we wanted quality artisans. One of our members had done something similar when she lived elsewhere. We tried it, and it’s been very successful.”

Attendees can enjoy lunch on the grounds, provided by Mac’s Catering, and join in on the charity auction and exceptionally large bake sale — which, along with the artisans’ sales, will raise money for local students for college.

After initially providing two Indian River High School students with scholarships in its first year, the event growth to also provide four Del Tech students each year with scholarships — two from any concentration and two specifically from the nursing program.

While a Del Tech committee selects the students to receive scholarships based on the Artisans Fair committee’s criteria, they have their own criteria in selecting Indian River students for the scholarships, which basically comes down to academics, community involvement and an essay about how the money will help them in their future career path.

“One of the things we do we look for is well-rounded students with a 3.0 grade point average or higher,” said Phillips after noting that students selected don’t necessarily have to be flawless academically. “We do get a lot of high-achieving students that apply. [It] doesn’t have to be the top students. A lot of times, we look at a student that maybe they didn’t do too well as a freshman but maybe they’ve improved.”

Phillips went on to note that students who work, do community service and play sports are also something they look for, and she recalled IR football standout Kees Elling as one of the past scholarship recipients.

The fair will be held on Saturday, May 24, at Lord Baltimore Elementary School in Ocean View, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, contact Ione Phillips at (302) 539-2172.

Those looking to get down this weekend can boogie over to American Legion Auxiliary Post #24 on Sunday, May 18, to “Party Like it’s 1969.”

“We were playing the jukebox, and everyone was singing along with it. I said, ‘You know — we’ve done the ’50s, we’ve done the Western. Let’s try the ’60s, ’70s, do Motown and all that,’” recalled Emma McHugh, president of the auxiliary.

“Terry Atkins, our jukebox queen, works with me a lot. We just thought we’d try to come up with something different. Every time we have a party, we try to come up with a theme that might make people feel like coming.”

The party will run from 2 to 5 p.m., with music, a themed trivia competition hosted by DJs JR and Marie, dancing and more. Members and their guests who are 21 or older are being encouraged to wear their coolest “hippy” attire and bring their pet rocks.

The cost to attend is $7 per person and includes access to a home-prepared buffet.

“The buffet will include fried chicken and a lot of homemade dishes,” said McHugh.

The auxiliary has been selling raffle tickets at various locations in the community, including Hocker’s, Giant and Reflections Beauty Salon, and the winner will be chosen that night.

“Darlene Murphy handmade a quilt with all the service-members’ pictures on it. We’re going to raffle that off. We’re trying to hit $1,000 or more,” McHugh explained.

McHugh said that Post #24 holds numerous events like this throughout the year to raise money for the American Legion, to help support veterans and the community.

“We try to help the community, as well as the veterans,” she noted. “That’s the main reason why we have these things.”

She said that, each year, they donate money to facilities such as Home of the Brave and Fisher House, which support homeless veterans in Delaware.

“They are now building a place for the women veterans, and we’re going to support that,” she said. “All of our money either goes to the community or to a veteran.”

McHugh said some of the money raised on Sunday will be donated to the Dagsboro Volunteer Fire Department. The rest will go back to veterans.

“The post itself — we have medical supplies, like if a veteran needs a hospital bed,” she explained. “The veterans, as you see ‘Wounded Warriors’ on TV, they need so many things. We like to help and support the veterans who need it, because many of them are hurt, whether it’s mentally or physically. Our whole point is to help the veterans who have served us.”

McHugh said that, although Post #24 may be smaller than some other area posts, they still do all they can to benefit the community they serve.

“We’re small but mighty, we always say.”

McHugh said the auxiliary is looking to publish a cookbook as its next big fundraising effort.

“We’re taking about making a cookbook that we can sell — all homemade things from our buffets. We have a lot of good recipes.”

Of the community support, McHugh said everyone has been “marvelous,” and she hopes community members will enjoy Sunday’s event.

“People are really behind us,” she said. “We hope to have a great crowd and a fun time.”

The American Legion Post 24 is located at 28181 Nine Foot Road, in Dagsboro. For more information, call (302) 735-6685 or (302) 537-1117.

Coastal Point • File Photo: The cast of a previous Indian River High School ‘Movie Magic’ show dons masks for ‘Masquerade.’Indian River High School is ready to put on a show and, this time, students looked to the “silver screen” for inspiration. In fact, the IRHS Music Department has two shows planned in the next weeks — the “Movie Magic” Stage Band show May 16 and 17, and the IR Band and Chorus Concert on May 20.

The Stage Band features IR’s top musicians and singers. Past audiences have even asked Music Director Mark Marvel, “Are you sure those are children?” because they’re so talented, he said.

“Movie Magic” is a review of top songs from decades of film, leading from the DeLorean of “Back to the Future” to the bow of the Titanic.

The show swings from the poignant “Somewhere” from West Side Story to the bawdy “Master of the House” from “Les Misérables.”

Students also sing “Rainbow Connection” (with puppets), “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend” (with Marilyn Monroe) and the lively “I Wanna Be Like You” with apes from “The Jungle Book.”

“The audience is going to go [crazy]” for Liza Minelli’s “New York, New York,” Marvel said.

Act II will kick off with the ubiquitous “Happy” from “Despicable Me,” leading to a finale Marvel said he is certain will impress.

Students put hundreds of hours into the show, rehearsing and building set pieces, Marvel said. “They live, eat and breathe it.”

He does, too. As IRHS’s only music teacher, Marvel has been writing and arranging music almost daily since Easter to prepare for the show.

“It’s a passion of mine,” he said. “It’s tons of work, but it’s always spectacular.”

The special show is also a new challenge designed to help students to become stronger performers. Even Marvel — usually rocking on lead guitar — has grown as a musician after years of writing and directing the shows.

B.J. Baull will play John Belushi’s character in a Blues Brothers tribute. But the senior baritone said his favorite song might be the orchestrations in Adele’s “Skyfall.”

“I think it’s a lot of fun to do, give back to the community,” Baull said of the show, “give them music everyone’s heard.”

“The band and chorus do a lot for the community,” from marching in parades to playing at every football game, Marvel said. And this is the community’s chance to support the students and see them blow the roof off the building.

“Movie Magic” tickets can be purchased at the door, at $5 for students, $7 for adults and $10 for a two-night pass. All proceeds all benefit the IRHS Music Department, for equipment, instruments and more.

The music will continues Tuesday, May 20, with the annual Band and Chorus spring concert at 7 p.m. The free show culminates with a special arrangement of the “Armed Forces Salute,” which includes theme songs from each branch of the military. During that section, U.S. veterans will be asked to stand and be recognized for their respective branches.

“We would love to honor local vets. It has a special place in my heart, because my dad, who is 88, served on a destroyer escort in World War II,” Marvel said. “Nothing means more to him than his time in the service.”

Snacks and refreshments will be available at both shows.

“We’re very, very fortunate that the administration and [IRSD] Central Office support band and chorus in this building and all over the district,” Marvel said. In a time where some arts programs are losing time and funding, he added, “I’m lucky to still have 110 kids, and they play well.”

Marvel has directed music for decades, and he’s felt fortunate to build a musical career with students beyond the classroom.

He thanked his bandmates in Over Time, a classic and modern rock band. This summer marks the 10th anniversary of a band he began with three students, which today includes his two sons and three others. Their summer season begins with a performance at the Fat Tuna in Millville on Friday, May 23, from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

For more information on the shows, call Mark Marvel at (302) 539-7008.

Tidepool Toys & Games, “the neighborhood toy store at the beach,” recently celebrated its grand opening at its new Fenwick Island shop with a ribbon-cutting and a day of activities.

Owners Sandy and Lori Smyth created the motto ““Toys with a Porpoise,” which they said reflects their goal to have quality toys that have strong play value and bring a smile to children’s faces. They said they use their experience as parents to decide what products to offer in their stores. Tidepool Toys & Games does have kites and beach toys, but they are not a standard beach store. Customers will find a wide variety of specialty toys, games, puzzles and crafts.

“Tidepool Toys & Games have quickly grown into a favorite for people of all ages on the boardwalk of Bethany Beach,” said Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kristie Maravalli. “Now, tourists and residents in Fenwick Island will be able to enjoy the toys and games that Tidepool has to offer.”

The Fenwick Island location is at 100 Coastal Highway, Store #6. The Bethany Beach store can be found on the boardwalk, just south of the bandstand. Both locations are open from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., with extended evening hours on Fridays and Saturday. For more information, visit the web site at www.tidepooltoys.com.

Coastal Point • Laura Walter: The employees at Coastal Maytag pose with an inflatable Maytag man.Coastal Maytag wants to be the best of both worlds: a local Ocean View shop that can answer any question and the seller of a major-name in appliances for over 100 years.

“This business started as the only place to buy Maytag,” Stan Clark said.

That includes washing machines, dryers, microwaves, ranges, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, icemakers, wine storage and more.

Whirlpool acquired the Maytag brand, so Coastal Maytag offers those brands, plus Kitchen Aid and Amana.

“We really try to teach the consumers how to use them, instead of just dropping it off — unlike some box stores,” said owner Karen Clark.

“And we come with it,” said her husband, Stan.

“Our sales staff is very knowledgeable,” added Karen Clark.

Coastal Maytag has everything to keep those appliances running smoothly, from oven cleaner and water filters to in-home repairs.

Technicians are available 24 hours a day from May to October, which Karen Clark said is useful to anybody, especially Realtors who want to keep their vacationers happy during appliance emergencies.

“Our techs and [sales staff] get praised constantly,” she said, amazed by their years of experience.

“They’re great. They’re the reason people like us,” Stan Clark added.

She said they’ve received next to no negative feedback and, even then, the customer was glad to get a quick response.

“It’s a team. We treat people like we’d like to be treated,” Stan Clark said. “Our guys have the power to make it right.”

“It’s local, and you’ll get good service,” said Sally Swayze of Bethany Beach, one of many repeat customers. “The service is just wonderful, … prompt and efficient.”

She had just purchased a new range, adding to past purchases of a microwave, fridge and dishwasher. Swayze returns for the comfortable, uncluttered showroom and “the people.”

“You all meet me where I am. No one’s trying to sell me what I can’t buy reasonably.”

Reconditioned appliances are often reasonable alternatives. They are pre-owned, but fully inspected and repaired.

“We go through them like hotcakes,” Karen Clark said.

It’s a popular option for vacation rental properties that get a lot of wear and tear.

Coastal Maytag also performs many house calls to clean outside dryer vents. Dryer lint collects into a big fire hazard, especially in the dryness of winter. Karen Clark recommends cleanings every two years.

Karen Clark has owned the 13-year-old shop since October of 2013. Having known and helped the previous owners for years, Clark now runs the Coastal Maytag with help from her husband and daughter.

“I knew what this business could be,” she said. “It could be so much more than it was.”

The Clarks freshened up the showroom, aiming for clean, well lit and intimate. Visitors can help themselves to a cup of coffee and enjoy special shopping deals for Maytag Month in May.

Coastal Maytag also contributes to local charity organizations and events. Karen Clark said she is excited to do Pass the Plate, in which people donate money to receive a special platter. They can bake a dish of cookies, then give it to someone with cancer, who then pays the gift forward. People can even follow the plate online, to see where it has travelled.

“We want to get more involved in the community,” she said.

“Because the community supports us,” added her husband.

Coastal Maytag is open at 30459 Cedar Neck Road in Ocean View from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, closing at 3 p.m. on Saturdays. For more information, call (302) 537-2688 or visit www.coastalmaytag.com.

A recent increase in helicopter activity in Bethany Beach and the surrounding areas is actually a result of an upcoming deployment of Delaware National Guardsmen.

Lt. Col. Len Gratteri, spokesperson for the state Guard, said that Detachment 1 F Company 1/126th Aviation Delaware National Guard Black Hawk Helicopter Unit, which performs medevac missions, has been preparing for an upcoming deployment.

“They’re doing a two-week training mission, working out of the Bethany Beach training site. They have an upcoming deployment in June where they’ll be going over to the Afghanistan theater, scheduled for a year deployment,” he explained. “They’re doing some final training before they leave.”

Gratteri said that there will be increased activity in the area as a result, with training typically running from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

“They’ll be doing rescue operation training,” he said. “It’s all in support of their upcoming deployment.”

For updates on the Delaware National Guard, visit www.facebook.com/delawarenationalguard.

The Greater Millsboro Chamber of Commerce is set to test the spelling acumen of local teams, with its team spelling bee competition, set for June 12.

“When I was president, I was looking for a new event. I looked around at many other Chambers around the country, and that was one that caught my eye,” explained Mitch Rogers, a member of the Chamber.

On June 12, from 7 to 9 p.m., at the Millsboro Town Center, teams of four will compete against each other to show off their spelling prowess. The cost per team is $100 or $25 per person. Teams may comprise family, friends or co-workers. Those who wish to compete must register for the event by May 27.

Spellers who are shy need not fear, as the groups of four work together, seated at a table. Each team will have 30 seconds to produce the correctly spelled word on paper before holding it up for judging.

“The teams work together at a table to come up with one spelling to submit,” Rogers explained.

“When you hear ‘spelling bee,’ you think back to elementary school or middle school, when you had to stand in front of a microphone and were scared to death,” said Amy Simmons, the Chamber’s executive director. “This is not how that goes. It’s fun.”

Rogers said the words competitors will be asked to spell will come from a secret list he has compiled.

“The words come from a list I developed,” said Rogers, who will also be the evening’s moderator. “In essence, what the secret list is is groups of words of similar difficulty. We’ll do up to four words per level of difficulty.”

All teams with the correct spelling will advance to the next round. However, teams that do not spell a word correctly can buy back into the competition for $5, until only two teams remain.

“I would like to see educators — whether it’s teachers or other facility or even school districts. I’d like to see competition among industry, like banks,” said Rogers, noting that civic groups, such as the Red Hat Ladies and garden clubs would be welcome.

“We’d love to see people coordinate what they’re wearing — have team T-shirts or wear red hats. That would be fantastic… with some cheerleaders in the audience dressed similarly with noisemakers or whatever. I think it would be great to get involvement beyond those competing.”

Spectators are welcome to watch the competition, for a $2 admission fee. Those who attend can enjoy desserts and wine, as well as have the chance to win some door prizes and a 50/50 raffle.

“Last time, we did some honey giveaways. We’re going to do that again this year for the participants, and door prizes for the spectators.”

Along with spectators, there will be a special guest fluttering about the town center.

“Our mascot is back. McBuzz, our mascot, will be buzzing about,” he said.

The overall winner of the competition will receive the coveted “Bee” trophy and bragging rights.

The Chamber held its first Bee in 2011, with three teams competing. The winning word was “ophthalmology.”

“I think it was received well,” Rogers said. “But we were disappointed with the lack of teams.”

Rogers said he believes spelling is an important aspect of one’s education and is excited to have those in the community showcase their spelling abilities.

“I’m excited. This is something I have wanted to do. I always deemed myself to be a pretty good speller. When I was in fifth grade, I came in second. I remember the girl who won won a pink Cadillac, which was more fitting to her than me,” he said with a laugh.

“I think it’s something that’s very important that I’m not sure younger adults or school-aged children get. I think it’s, for me, pride in back-to-basics. If we could have a math competition, I think that would be cool, too.”

The event supports the Chamber’s scholarship fund, which offers high school seniors who live in the 19966 and 19939 ZIP codes the chance to receive one of two $1,000 scholarships.

“Our scholarship is more need-based. We tend to help those who have the need,” explained Rogers, adding that college is expensive these days, even with scholarships.

Rogers and Simmons said they hope the Bee is well attended and the community enjoys the festivities.

“I hope the community will embrace it and that some businesses will get together and have fun with it,” said Simmons.

“I hope we have a lot of fun and showcase the excellent spellers that we have in the surrounding community,” added Rogers.

For more information or to register, call (302) 934-6777, email info@millsborochamber.com or visit www.millsborochamber.com.

Master Gardener to share tips on home composting

Now that spring is finally in the air, many people are flocking outdoors to enjoy the beautiful weather and get their hands dirty in their gardens. In anticipation of the season, the South Coastal Library is offering a composting workshop on Tuesday, May 20, from 2 to 3 p.m.

“We’ve had Master Gardeners come in and talk before about different aspects of gardening, like planting, drought-resistant plants, how to put your gardens to bed in the winter,” explained Library Director Sue Keefe. “This seemed like the next natural thing. Composting is a good way to feed the plants, and it also preserves water a bit, which down here is a legitimate concern.”

“I was hoping this would be a good fit for the time of year, also,” added Assistant Director Barbara Litzau, who plans the adult programs at the library. “People are getting more veggies from their garden, and you have some of the parts of the vegetables that you don’t use.”

For Tuesday’s workshop, Master Gardener Carol Kinsley will explain how to compile compost, which is decomposed organic matter, such as food waste and leaves, to be used to enrich a garden’s soil.

Kinsley is a graduate of the Master Gardener’s Class of 2011 and a member of the Spade & Trowel Garden Club of Seaford. She is a journalist and has worked for American Farm publications, such as the Delmarva Farmer, for 34 years. She is editor of the Mid-Atlantic Grower for commercial horticulture and, through her small business, Kinsley Communications, writes for a number of other publications.

At the presentation, Kingsley will speak about how anyone can compost at home and will take questions.

“She’ll have a presentation and is also going to bring some materials. She said it can get a little messy,” said Litzau with a laugh. “She’ll give the steps of what goes into composting and will give a live demonstration, as well as a PowerPoint.”

The Master Gardener Program is run under the University of Delaware’s Cooperative Extension, to train volunteers to help Delaware home gardeners learn more about propagating, planting, pruning and composting, among other skills. To become a Master Gardener, applicants must complete an intensive training program and contribute 45 hours of volunteer service.

“The people who come and do our Master Gardener workshops, usually we have very good turnouts for them,” said Litzau, adding that the programs can have anywhere from 20 to 40 attendees on average. “With the Master Gardeners, we really do get a good turnout.”

Litzau said she works with Lisa Arni, local Master Gardener and founder of Gardeners by the Sea to create the workshops and find Master Gardeners to give the presentations.

“I tell her the idea I’ve come up with, to see if someone from the Master Gardeners would do such a program, and then she contacts that person. I called up and said, ‘Well, I’m thinking about this,’” Litzau said. “She helps me find a fit of what I think might be a good idea.”

Litzau said that the library has numerous books on gardening and that the Delaware Library’s catalogue also has nooks pertaining to composting.

Keefe said she hopes the workshop will be well attended and help everyone get into the gardening spirit.

“We hope people get something out of it. We’re always glad when we put something out there that people can learn something and actually use it. That’s like gold for us.”

Admission is free, and registration is not required. For more information, call (302) 539-5231 or visit www.southcoastal.lib.de.us. The South Coastal Library is located at 43 Kent Avenue in Bethany Beach.

Attention country music fans: The Dirt Road Outlawz will be holding a special concert at the Millsboro Town Center on Aug. 16.

“We were thinking about something to prep a month ahead of time for the Millsboro Country Festival that’s coming up in September,” said Amy Simmons, executive director of the Greater Millsboro Chamber of Commerce. “We haven’t had a concert in here. We just thought it was something different to have.”

The bring-your-own-beer concert will be held from 7 to 11 p.m., with tickets costing $10 each. Attendees may also enjoy soft drinks and pretzel snacks at the Saturday-evening concert.

Simmons said she believes the concert will be a hit, as many community members are fans of the band.

“A lot of the people in this area like them. Sometimes some of the places they go get filled quickly, and not everyone gets to go see their show,” she said. “So if people wanted to see them, they would definitely get the chance to see them.”

But, Simmons said, the Chamber will only be selling 200 tickets to the concert.

“We’ve sold quite a few tickets so far,” she noted, adding that tickets are going fast.

The Millsboro Country Festival was created last year as a signature event, to replace the town’s former Big Thursday festivities. The daylong festivities include live music, food and a car show.

The Dirt Road Outlawz also performed at last year’s festival.

“They were really well received last year,” said Simmons. “They will be performing again this year. It should be a fun time.”

For more information or to purchase tickets for the Aug. 16 concert, call the Greater Millsboro Chamber of Commerce, at (302) 934-6777.

The Delaware Center for the Inland Bays (CIB) will host a public workshop on Thursday, May 22, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the South Coastal Library in Bethany Beach, to solicit community input on the development of a Master Plan for the James Farm Ecological Preserve (JFEP).

Those in attendance will be asked to comment and provide their ideas as to how the James Farm could be improved and best-managed for recreation and education in the future. Light refreshments will be provided.

Located on Cedar Neck Road near Ocean View, 1.3 miles north of the intersection with Fred Hudson Road, James Farm is a 150-acre natural preserve donated to Sussex County in 1992. It was given by Mary Lighthipe, a descendant of the James family, who farmed it for several generations, and her wish was that the land be used for recreation and environmental education. The Delaware Center for the Inland Bays has managed the property since 1998.

Attendees to the workshop will learn about the work that the Center for the Inland Bays has done to restore ecosystems and provide recreational and educational amenities at James Farm. Participants will also be presented with the preliminary planning concepts for addressing education and recreation needs at the JFEP, including trails, parking, interpretive signage, safety and storage.

In recent years, CIB representatives noted, visitation has grown dramatically. In 2013, there were 10,000 visits to James Farm. With the population of Sussex County projected to increase by 35 percent by 2030, the CIB, they said, recognized that a master plan would be needed to accommodate the growing number of visitors while protecting the ecology of the James Farm Ecological Preserve.

After inviting proposals and meeting with prospective consultants, the CIB contracted with Oasis Design, a landscape architecture and master planning firm from Baltimore, to lead the process of producing the master plan. The firm has recently developed plans for Delaware Seashore State Park and the Thompson Island Nature Preserve.

The James Farm hosts a variety of important native ecosystems, including saltmarsh, maritime forest, warm-season grassland, and emergent and forested freshwater wetlands.

The JFEP is part of a network of protected coastal lands, including Fresh Pond State Park and Delaware Seashore State Park. The parks provide some of the last large contiguous natural areas in the rapidly developing coastal area.

The Delaware Center for the Inland Bays is a non-profit organization established in 1994 to promote the wise use and enhancement of the Inland Bays and its watershed. With its many partners, the CIB conducts public outreach and education, develops and implements restoration projects, encourages scientific inquiry and sponsors research. For more information, call Sally Boswell at (302) 226-8105, or email at outreach@inlandbays.org or go to our website at www.inlandbays.org.

Food safety topped the list of reasons for the Selbyville Board of Adjustment to recommend on May 8 approval for Mountaire to install a massive new cooling unit.

Valued at around $6 million, the cooling unit could decrease the temperature inside the poultry processing building — one of many buildings at the Hosier Street facility — from 85 degrees to 50 degrees. Some Mountaire work areas are already chilled, but more is needed in order to meet the needs of the company’s customers.

“We have had customers visit our facility. They are [increasingly] requiring” their suppliers to cut and process meat in a refrigerated facility,” said Mike Tirrell, Mountaire vice president of human resources and business services.

Cool air will also be a dehumidifier, as raw meat liquid can evaporate, condense on the metal and then drip back down, even onto product.

“Food safety is just a huge issue in today’s world,” Tirrell said, noting it would also create a “definitely more comfortable environment for employees.”

Condensation from the cooling unit will flow to the regular waste treatment center.

Mayor Clifton Murray asked about noise.

Mountaire attorney Mark Dunkle showed paperwork from a sound engineer estimating that the sound should “add zero” noise before it’s halfway to the fence.

“I think it’s a necessity for health reasons,” said Councilman Clarence “Bud” Tingle Jr., calling it a “cut-and-dry” project. “I think, eventually, these guys will be forced to do it anyway.”

“I don’t see where it adds traffic or problems to the town,” Murray added.

“I think safety and reduction of the possibility of contamination … overrides everyone’s thinking,” said Selbyville Town Solicitor Mary Schrider-Fox, noting that the project meets other building requirements.

Much of the equipment will be located on the ground, for ease of maintenance and to ease the roof load. Despite the Town’s 35-foot building height maximum, the air conditioning’s condensation unit would be 20.5 feet on top of a 21-foot building. But Town Code didn’t provide clear guidance on whether the unit is considered a part of the structure or an accessory item, despite being permanently attached.

Dunkle said Mountaire had interpreted that the unit and other affixtures, such as antennas, are “equipment,” not structure.

Ultimately, the BOA decided that the height is still shorter than surrounding factory buildings, and it would not change character of the neighborhood. They wrote a 42-foot height limit into the agreement, for the benefit of future building inspectors.

The Selbyville Town Council may vote on the matter at their June 2 meeting.

The BOA, rather than Planning & Zoning Commission, handled the request because the factory was built before Selbyville had commercial zoning laws. Without guidelines for factories, and with Mountaire technically “grandfathered” in as non-conforming, the Selbyville BOA has to consider any adjustments to the premises.

Future Mountaire projects may include building an employee wellness center and demolishing an old building for an employee parking lot, representatives said.

Frankford resident Orvin Strickler has filed as a candidate for District 5 in the upcoming Sussex County Council election.

“I’m disappointed in our economy. Our debt is huge, and it’s on the local level, too. I think I could be effective.”

Strickler, a real estate agent with Long & Foster, also recently worked for Johnny’s Pizza in Ocean City, Md., and said he helped improve the business’ revenue.

“The other day, a lady said to me, ‘How can a guy making pizza know anything about government?’ I know a lot about government.”

According to Strickler, people have been urging him to become involved in government since 2005.

“I’ve been really frustrated — when you hear things, you think, ‘How could they have done this? Why would they do that?’”

Although he has never served in a governmental capacity before, Strickler said he is eager to do so.

“Since October, I’ve been going to every county meeting and town meeting I can get to. I’m always out going to these meetings. My feet are wet. I’m ready to go.”

Strickler said that, if elected, he hopes to encourage the growth of small businesses in the county.

“Think of all the people around here who are eligible for government funding to start businesses. Anybody could do it. That would be a great way to create more jobs down here,” he said. “I really want to work with young kids coming up. Start a small business; start with 15 people. You get a couple people doing that, that’s a lot of jobs. More than we have now.”

As a conservative constitutionalist and Republican, Strickler said he is ready to serve the constituents of District 5.

“I’m anxious and driven. I really think I could run aspects of government as a business,” he said. “I’m not one of these guys driving around in a fancy car. I don’t live in a mansion. I just have my head in the right direction, and I have time to put into this.”

Strickler said he has yet to push his campaign into high gear, but he has talked to a number of District 5 residents and has been offered support.

“Vickie York said she supports my campaign,” he said. “‘Orvin, whatever I can do — knock on doors or answer phones.’ I’m getting a lot of that.”

Strickler grew up in Littlestown, Pa., and joined the U.S. Air Force after completing high school. He was stationed in Germany for six years, working in life support, and received a degree in chemistry from the University of Maryland’s European division.

“I always wanted to be in the Air Force since I was a little kid,” he said. “It was great.”

When he returned to the States, Strickler became a wine steward. Having lived in Baltimore for more than a decade as a small business owner, he eventually moved to Ocean City, Md.

Now living in Frankford, Strickler said he enjoys the peaceful lifestyle of Sussex County.

“My life is rich. I do aquatic physical therapy for hunting dogs — I take them out in the bay and swim them. I love my life here. I love Sussex County. I can swim my dogs anywhere around here; there’s water everywhere. I like this John Denver life here.”

Strickler is one of four candidates for the District 5 seat. Last month, incumbent Vance Phillips announced he would run for reelection. Dagsboro Mayor Brad Connor and current Sussex County Planning Commission Chairman Bob Wheatley have said they would seek the Democratic Party nomination. The primaries are scheduled to be held on Sept. 9. The general election for the county council seat is Nov. 4.