Frankford resident Rob Arlett officially filed this week to run as a District 5 candidate in the upcoming Sussex County Council election in November.

“I believe that we have a great vision for the future of the county and for the councilmanic District 5, and we want to be a part of that process,” said Arlett.

Along with owning Beach Bound Realty, Arlett has taken an active role in the community over the years. Currently, he serves as the chairman for the Republican Party in the state’s 30th Representative District. He is a past president of a homeowners Association, past chairman of the Public Policy Committee of the Sussex County Association of Realtors and had served on the board of directors with Operations SEAs the Day.

“We’ve been serving for quite some time,” said Arlett. “We’ve always had a heart to want to give and find solutions and be a help to others. That has always been a part of my life.”

During his official filing on Wednesday, July 2, Arlett was joined by his wife, Lorna, and his two sons, Justin and Jared, along with Sussex County District 4 Councilman George Cole, who announced his candidacy in June, and Lewis Briggs.

Arlett said that, as a man of faith, it has always been important to him to serve others.

“My faith is important for me and our family. That’s the way we’ve tried to live our lives and instill in our kids.”

The Arlett family moved to Sussex County in December 2005 from Virginia.

“That’s when life began for us. We moved here because it was important for us to focus on the family in a great quality-of-life area. I respect and appreciate Sussex County so much because of the quality of life and the values that are here.”

Arlett said his family moved to Delaware from Virginia after hearing about the area from friends and mentors who had purchased homes locally.

“I came here and fell in love with the low-key quality of life. In the Northern Virginia area, it’s all about the rat-race, keeping up with the Joneses — the focus was on careers and the dollar bill.

“For me, my focus has always been on my family and the quality of life as it related to the family. I chose Delaware strictly because of what it was offering. It’s something I appreciate greatly, as do others.”

That, Arlett said, is what has compelled him to run for the District 5 seat, which is currently held by Republican Vance Phillips.

“My goal is to preserve the past and plan for the future. That’s something I’m focused in on,” he said. “In ‘preserving the past,’ what I mean is conserving one’s conservative values.”

Arlett said he believes people love the county due to its low taxes, small government and having the power in the hands of the people.

“I think that’s what’s most important here in Sussex. People know that, people appreciate that, and people value that. That’s what we will continue to ensure happens — keeping those conservative values on the forefront of our way of life here.”

In planning for the future, Arlett said, there’s a lot of work to do.

“Throughout Sussex, our youth struggle here. A lot of them get in trouble. There’s not much for them to do. There are not many opportunities for them,” he said. “For me, the No. 1 is focusing in on the economic development of this area. I came here because I had a vision and a dream to be a part of this lifestyle. We know what this area has to offer because that’s why we came here.”

Arlett said that, if elected, he hopes to maintain the rights of property owners.

“I’m very familiar with property rights, as a Realtor. A big function of the Sussex County Council is land development. I’m a big believer of property rights. I think that’s something that is important.”

If elected, he also hopes to work closely with the State, to ensure that Sussex County is never an afterthought.

“We need to work hand in hand with the State. I think we need to work more directly with the State. We need to keep pressure on the State to focus in on Sussex County — not just upstate,” he said. “That’s something that is very important to me — making sure Sussex County is getting highlighted by the State when it comes to their responsibilities.”

Arlett said he agrees with a fellow District 5 candidate that the County is in need of its own Code of Ethics, above and beyond the State’s Code.

“It’s correct that, because we don’t have one, by default we follow the State’s Code of Ethics. The difference is we are the only county who does not have a county Code of Ethics,” he said, adding that some people believe there is corruption in the state, and the current code is a passive one — “meaning nothing is done unless there is a complaint.

“I’m not so sure that that’s best. Sussex County takes pride in being different than the rest of the state. Therefore, why wouldn’t anyone not want a Sussex County Code of Ethics? I think the government should be held accountable to its people. As Sussex County councilmen, we should be held accountable not to the State of Delaware, but to the people of Sussex County.

“To me, it’s common sense. I think that’s very, very important that we have that… More accountability is better than less accountability.”

District 5 spans southern Sussex County, extending from the Maryland line to the Atlantic Ocean, including the towns of Dagsboro, Delmar, Fenwick Island, Frankford, Laurel, Millsboro, Millville, Selbyville and South Bethany and nearby unincorporated areas.

“The Fifth District a microcosm of all of Delaware, and for the country, for that matter. If you think about it, the Fifth District is very diverse. It’s diverse, economically speaking — you have beachfront million-dollar properties and you have very rural homes. Geographically speaking, you have rural areas, farmland, industrial areas like Millsboro and Selbyville. Ethnically speaking, it’s a very diverse district.

“It’s very, very diverse, which is why I think I would be best representative of it, because we have a vast experience, very diverse experiences. We’re not raised with land given to us, no trust fund. We’ve had to work for everything. We have a respect for the work ethic and personal responsibility.”

Arlett was born in Newport, R.I., the son of a U.S. Navy officer and, as a result, has lived all over the country.

“We did quite a bit of traveling as a kid,” he said. “For 15 years I was in San Diego, Calif. I graduated high school in Hawaii and started college out there.”

Arlett will be running against Phillips in the September Republican primary election. Democrats Brad Connor and Bob Wheatley have both filed for the seat, as well.

“In District 5, I want to restore integrity back to the office. There have been some distractions that have been there. That, in my opinion, takes away focus from the people’s business. I come with no hidden agendas, no backgrounds that I’m ashamed of,” he said. “As a conservative Republican, I want to make sure that we win this seat and keep control of the County Council a Republican body. We already know how the State is run by the Democrats, and people are not very pleased. We want no part of that. We want to continue to be a conservative county.”

Arlett’s first campaign kickoff will be on Friday, July 4, at the Laurel Fourth of July Parade.

“We are going to reach out, meet and listen to the people,” he said. “We’re going to go out and do whatever it takes to be out in front of the people and to listen and learn from them.”

Arlett said he’s received a lot of support in his run, especially from his close family friends who are native Sussex Countians.

“I’ve had a lot of encouragement and support from many people, from locals especially. Our best friends are locals. We vacation with locals. We have been accepted by the locals.”

Arlett said he will offer a fresh perspective — one of optimism and positivity — to the council if elected.

“We are very excited about the future for Sussex County, and glad to be a part of it. It would be an honor to serve as an ambassador of the Fifth District,” he said.

Those who are interested in learning more about Arlett can visit www.robarlett.com. Arlett may be reached at (302) 462-5746 or at rob@robarlett.com.

Coastal Point • Laura Walter : Tiny Miss Delaware Emily Jenkins is all smiles.The most noticeable trait about Emily Jenkins is her charming, infectious giggle. That’s if you didn’t already see the 5-year-old’s crown and sash.

Emily will represent the state as Tiny Miss Delaware in America’s Natural Supreme Beauties National Pageant from July 25 to 27 in Louisville, Ky.

Travelling from Bethany Beach with her parents, Mike and Heather, Emily was just appointed to the state title about three weeks ago.

Emily can usually be heard giggling, but she said her favorite part of pageants is “going on stage” and, understandably, “getting crowned.” She’s been competing for about two years, often in Salisbury, Md., and her little sister is now winning crowns, too.

National contestants will be judged on evening gown, interview outfit and state wear, plus a stage question. State wear is an outfit the represents Delaware, such as a Dutch settlers outfit with tulips.

America’s Natural aims to keep it natural by forbidding makeup on young children, custom-made clothing and glitzy clothes.

Although she has competed on stage before, Emily won Tiny Miss Delaware by a simpler competition: sending an application and photo.

After driving with her family overnight to Louisville, Emily and other participants can sightsee, be recognized on the field of a Louisville Bats baseball game and enjoy national dance cruise about the historic Belle of Louisville.

For the competition, she said she loves having an “older sister” and mentor named Faith, one of Maryland’s teenage winners.

Programs for all ages include Mrs. and Modern Woman (plus-size) and boys ages 0-10. A total of 32 titles will be awarded at the national program, and prizes will be awarded to those national winners.

Already used to stages, Emily has completed her first year of ballet class, where she loves to twirl. She has also helped raise money for Millsboro’s Relay for Life and walked in Bethany Beach’s Breast Cancer Fun Run.

To help send Emily to nationals, the Jenkins family will host a fundraiser bake sale at Hocker’s grocery in Clarksville on Saturday, July 12, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

It’s a common sight along area roads: business vehicles with prominent logos and other advertising, placed in just the perfect spot to turn them into mobile billboards, intentionally or not. And it’s something that has some local officials concerned — to the point of considering banning the practice.

In Fenwick Island this week, a potential ban on advertising on commercial vehicles was on the town council agenda, as issues of vehicle size, parking location, aesthetics and intent all figured into the discussion.

Councilman Bill Weistling Jr. brought the issue back to the council after consideration in the town’s Charter & Ordinance and Parking committees, noting that the intent of a possible new ordinance was to address vehicles being used solely as advertising, without prohibiting the use or presence of other vehicles.

The Charter & Ordinance Committee had supported the idea of a ban on such vehicles, he said, but had concerns they wanted addressed by the town’s police, such as how vehicles in violation of an ordinance would be identified.

“There are one or two that are obvious,” he said, “but we want to be careful.” He said one idea had been to ban advertising using larger trucks or large trailers, rather than with cars or smaller vans.

Police Chief William Boyden said this kind of ordinance can prove hard to enforce.

“Once they know there’s an ordinance, they will start moving the vehicle around,” he said of using a lack of movement to identify vehicles used solely for advertising. “We don’t want an ordinance against one or two businesses,” he emphasized.

Boyden said that, as with many town ordinances, education would likely be the focus for police.

“We would go to businesses that have vehicles that could be used as billboards and educate them,” he explained, noting that such ordinances do exist elsewhere in the country and seem to work in some places. “But I’m not sure how it would work here.”

Boyden said Delaware law-enforcement agencies have generally been limited to enforcing such laws on private property by using legal prohibitions on “abandoned” vehicles, which a truck parked long-term in one spot could be considered — at least until it was moved.

But using an ordinance to address a specific issue, he said, had in years past often been a matter of educating violators.

“We didn’t need to write tickets. We were able to go out and talk to people and explain. In the time I’ve been here, 98 percent of the time, the problem has gone away.”

Mayor Audrey Serio emphasized that the potential ordinance wasn’t intended to target any specific business but would address a situation in which, at present, “Anybody could decide to park it on their own property.”

Enforcement a concern

Boyden said problems often erupt when one owner does something “and it kind of gets away,” as more and more follow the example. A-frame or sandwich-board signs were one such case, he noted, where enforcing a ban hasn’t required issuing citations to violators.

“They know the building inspector is not here” on weekends, he offered. “But we go to them on Monday morning and explain it to them, and most of them disappear.”

Councilwoman Diane Tingle said she was concerned that when the Town might try to enforce a ban, they would be accused of improperly targeting a legitimate use.

“If we have a business with a truck parked out front, and they claim they use it two or three times a year to deliver something,” she offered as an example. “I don’t want us to have a lawsuit by somebody getting a ticket when they say they’re using it and we say it’s advertising. Anybody who has a sign is advertising,” she added, noting that some vehicles she knows are used do sit parked adjacent to the roadway over the weekend.

Boyden said he’d like to get input from the town solicitor, as well as the Delaware Department of Justice, court officials and other municipalities who may have adopted a similar ordinance.

Weistling said the town solicitor had told him that Bethany Beach was the only other local town that dealt with the issue in its code. “They said you can’t advertise, but they didn’t get into specifics,” he noted, adding that the Fenwick town solicitor had, years ago, encouraged the council not to pursue such an ordinance.

Boyden said there were also other circumstances in which the Town would have to question whether enforcement was appropriate, such as a business with a truck that has a sign on the side whose owner might go on vacation for months or be in the hospital for a long period.

“We don’t want to target them,” he said, adding that any past circumstances of concerns about advertising on vehicles had been addressed through the abandoned vehicle prohibition.

Serio questioned whether any complaints about the problem might be coming from other businesses that weren’t able to do the same thing. “What if it were a size regulation, like our ordinance on the size of other signs?”

Boyden said something like that might be much easier to pass and enforce.

“What are you going to do about vehicle wraps?” Councilman Todd Smallwood put forward.

“Are we going to stop people coming down the road?” Serio asked with a note of intentional absurdity.

Weistling suggested an ordinance might be based on the size of the vehicles.

“We have the aesthetic issue of vehicles that don’t move being used to advertise along highways,” he emphasized.

And Serio questioned using the abandoned vehicle ordinance to deal with the problem.

“If they have to be moved, they’ll move them. Every day, somebody will move them.”

Other types of ordinances considered

Council members weren’t ready this week to ask that an ordinance be drafted, but their consensus on June 27 was that wanted to have the issue explored some more, and that they don’t like the way the vehicle-based billboards look in the town. They also said they’d like to get feedback from legal experts before hammering out a draft ordinance in committee.

Tingle suggested the council also consider another way to address the specific problem.

“Why not have an ordinance that says you can’t set anything on an empty lot that advertises?” she asked, raising some concern from other council members about the impact that might have on real estate signs on unimproved properties.

Weistling also raised concerns about the practicality of using a limit on the number of signs to apply to vehicles with logos or other advertising, noting that a number of businesses that use trucks have multiple vehicles that might be kept in a parking lot at one time.

“I have mixed feelings,” Serio said. “We have great intentions, but we’ve been talking about this a long time. If we could find something to latch onto, then it would make sense,” she said of finding an angle upon which to focus such an ordinance. “I would suggest that if someone knows something we can latch onto, let Bill know,” she added of Weistling.

Business owner says issue needs to be addressed

One of the town’s business owners offered his input on the issue at the June 27 council meeting.

“I think this is a serious issue that can escalate into something much bigger,” said Tim Collins, a town resident and owner of Southern Exposure. “I’ve seen something in the last year or two that I’m becoming more and more concerned about: these vehicles out next to the highway, the size of them, the advertising.

“I know the importance of trying to get word out there that you’re in business, but this is a situation where somebody’s pointing to someone and saying, ‘They’re doing it — why can’t I do it?’ It puts the Town in a difficult situation, where there’s a question of who is legitimate with these vehicles.

“It’s not just a question of who is legitimate,” he added. “If we can establish as a community businesses that actually need a truck, then I think the solution is finding a place for that vehicle to be parked somewhere other than right on the highway. But if they’re going to be parked on commercial property, or any property, we should go to the shopping center or get something on the books where that vehicle has to be parked at the end of the center or on the side or at the back.

“We’ve got to get them out of the commercial lots. It’s becoming an eyesore, and it’s concerning to me as a business owner and as a resident,” Collins added. “You can see the proliferation. I’ve seen a few things out there that are just ridiculous. If a vehicle is needed legitimately by a business, we should make an effort to get it parked where it’s not on the highway.”

Collins noted that he feels the Town has been receptive to working with the business community, including a recent Board of Adjustment case that enabled a shopping center to modify its sign to get one of its tenant businesses on the sign.

“Having them on the highway is a problem, and I’m saying that as a business owner,” he added. “But if they have to have it, part of the approach should be let them have it — but not in the parking lots by the highway.”

“The problem is finding a way that is enforceable and it works,” said Serio.

The Department of Transportation (DelDOT) announced this week that nighttime lane closures could be expected on Route 1 from North Bethany to Fenwick Island beginning Monday, July 7, as part of a $4.4 million pavement and rehabilitation project.

American Infrastructure-Md. Inc. was awarded contract for the project, which involves replacement of crossroad pipes, milling the existing road surface, full-depth patching of existing road failures and placement of a full-width asphalt overlay. The work is expected to continue into late November.

To avoid Independence Day and summertime traffic, only nighttime lane closures will occur on Route 1 from 9 p.m. until 6 a.m., Sunday evenings until Friday mornings.

“The Sunday nights, we’re going to see how that goes, traffic-wise. If it’s causing issues, we’ll probably change the contract to Monday to Thursday nights,” said DelDOT’s Wayne Massey, area supervisor for South II Construction.

The work includes construction of a right turn lane from Route 1 southbound to Fred Hudson Road; Route 1 northbound and southbound from Fenwick Island town limits to York Road/Logan Street in South Bethany; Route 1 northbound and southbound from Fifth Street in Bethany Beach to the 3R’s beach entrance in North Bethany; Pennsylvania Avenue in Bethany Beach from Route 1 to South Bethany town limits.

The project also includes replacement of crossroad pipes on Route 1 from Fenwick town limits to York Road/Logan Street in South Bethany and Route 1 from Fifth Street in Bethany Beach to the 3R’s beach entrance in North Bethany.

Even with only night work on the schedule, residents and business owners were eyeing the project with concern this week. Coastal Delaware is popular with summertime travelers, and some businesses only have those months to make a profit.

But construction had to begin early on such a long project, Massey said.

“We have some pipe replacements and pipe repairs we have to do, and if we get started afterwards, we’re probably not going to get any of the paving done this year because of the temperatures,” he explained.

“So we’re trying to do what we can during the summer months. In that area, there’s quite a bit of traffic, but not as much as other sections of the area,” Massey added.

The project will be constricted to night work only until about Sept. 8, when daily lane closures will change to 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Night work traditionally costs more, as contractors need to light the work zone and keep open the hot mix plant. But, ultimately, DelDOT’s traffic and safety sections study the traffic and make recommendations to the project design team.

If the hours don’t quite work, DelDOT will revisit the schedule.

With all the publicity and public meetings surrounding the current improvement project on Route 26 (a 4-mile, multi-year project), some people wondered why DelDOT only provided the traditional 10-day notice for lane closures on a major highway.

“There’s not as much time put into designing it, because it’s kind of a rehab instead of a full-blown contract,” Massey said. “They’re usually fast-moving jobs and go through when we have the money.”

Pave-and-rehab contracts usually occur five or six times annually, with multiple locations, he said. That makes it a more typical project.

“We had actually been trying to get this started last year, but we had some issues getting everything together,” due to pipe-replacement permits, Massey said. Several pipes will be replaced, and the rest repaired.

“You can see where some of them have failures. We’ll excavate and repair joints,” he said. Currently, he added, “Some areas have round sinkholes that have been filled with cold mix.”

Route 1 is getting upgraded statewide. Details are online at www.deldot.gov/information/projects/sr1. Motorists are being encouraged to visit www.DelDOT.gov for construction updates and real-time travel information.

Coastal Point • Shaun M. Lambert : A procession of emergency officials and loved ones escorted Specialist Charles Mood to the Millville fire hall on Tuesday, July 2.Just before Independence Day, people lined the streets to welcome home a local firefighter and internationally traveled soldier.

People and flags waved as the Millville Volunteer Fire Company escorted Specialist Charlie Mood Jr., 28, from the Indian River Inlet to the firehouse Tuesday. His company was the last of the Delaware National Guardsmen to return from Afghanistan.

Under American flags and “Welcome Home” signs, people lined the streets from the inlet to the fire hall. Lord Baltimore Elementary School even had a small contingent, including staff and a few students.

“We didn’t know who he was, but we wanted to be part of it,” said one teacher.

“A local school supporting local people,” another man said.

“That was amazing. I loved that,” Mood said at the firehouse. “It’s good to be back.”

A Frankford resident, Mood has served with the MVFC for nearly eight years.

“I missed family. Not only my family, but my firehouse family. I missed being on trucks,” Mood said, adding that he looked forward to spending time with the family and enjoying a beer, which he couldn’t get in Afghanistan.

“This was an outpouring,” Mood said. “I love it. Small-town community, even with tourists coming down. … You’re not supposed to have emotions, but I actually teared up a little bit.”

Passing cars were still honking horns as he greeted his firehouse comrades.

“The support of the troops is key,” Mood said, from cards to care packages, which he said he dug into like “a little kid” at Christmas. Mail was wonderful, whether from a girlfriend or a stranger.

Mood’s parents were part of the motorcade, delighted to have their son home. Charles Mood Sr. had been worried about soldiers’ safety on this deployment, with U.S. troops now leaving Afghanistan.

Mood himself said it was a touchy subject.

“In 2009, 2010, we were closing the country. Now it seems we’re [opening it again],” he said.

His mother remembered when he first joined the Guard, around 2005.

“He’s changed so much,” Paula Mood said. “I wanted him to do it. It was something he wanted to do, but it was scary. I think it’s worse now [overseas],” but she could still text, telephone and Skype with him, which is more than soldiers could do 20 years ago.

“Just support the troops. They need every kind of support they can get,” Paula Mood encouraged. “They do miss home.”

She said she was grateful to MVFC, especially event organizer Gerald Brinson.

“He’s a good asset. He always has a story to tell about something,” said Brinson of Mood. Brinson said he just decided “Let’s do it” and to welcome Mood home properly.

“Our members are near and dear to our hearts, and it’s his second deployment overseas,” said Bob Powell, MVFC public information officer. “He’s put in a great deal of time for the country, and it shows with his volunteerism what he thinks of his country. …We’re excited for him.”

Mood had served in Iraq previously.

“Iraqi soldiers are very well equipped, very well trained, and Delaware soldiers helped train them,” Mood said of the nation now embroiled in a violent battle with forces looking to establish an Islamist caliphate there.

Mood said he was proud to return home with all 43 members of Detachment I, 150th Engineer Company, Horizontal Construction. They had two weeks at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst to decompress and deal with medical issues, paperwork, benefits and more.

“We were a tight family over there,” he said of the 150th, which is based in Newark. “We were all serving Delaware.”

Home a month early from their 12-month tour, the 150th’s mission was to facilitate the pull-out of U.S. troops by preparing forward operating bases (FOBs) for closure or transfer. The unit was also responsible for deconstructing FOBs, conducting inventories, sorting materials and hauling material and debris to designated areas.

The Delaware National Guard also hosted a welcome-home ceremony Tuesday morning in New Castle for the 150th before the individual troops headed home.

Night work continues on the State Route 26 Mainline Improvement Project, over 4 miles of road construction between Clarksville and Ocean View. There may be lane closures overnight from Monday night to Friday morning, 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.:

• between West Avenue and Woodland Avenue (includes the Central Avenue intersection at Fulton Bank).
• between Cedar Drive (Super Giant) and Grants Avenue.
• at the Old Mill Road intersection (Food Lion) for reconstruction.
• between Railway Road and Clubhouse Road (Millville Town Hall).

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

All lanes will remain open for minor grading activities and storm water management ponds.

Indian River High School recently announced its final honor roll for the 2013-2014 school year. Receiving High Honors for grades between 93 and 100 were:

• Seniors — Brooke Baker, Ashley Banks, Brian Baull Jr., Amanda Beam, Brianna Belfiore, Katherine Bird, Benjamin Boonin, Melanie Brandt, Jacqueline Buck, Ashlyn Calhoun, Samuel Cannon, Katherine Carpenter, Brandon Chatfield, Colby Dean, Gabrielle Dolansky, Kristen Downes, Joost Elling, Benjamin Gonski, Courtney Gray, Jocelyn Greene, Jordan Hall, Sarah Hickman, Corinne Hitch, Kathryn Ho, Michaiah Hook, Brianna Hudson, Rachel Hudson, Anamaria Impastato, Jenafer Irwin, Samuel Izzo, Jessica Joachimowski, Jackson Jorss, Racquel Joseph, Christopher Kahler, Joshua Kleinstuber, Merrick Kovatch, William McCabe, Brianna McCloskey, Kayla McGuire, Shaiann McNair, Meredith Mitchell, Leanne Murray, Ridge Murray V, Spencer Murray, Neena Oli, Darsh Patel, Brianna Petitti, Larkin Porter, Logan Robinson, Chelsea Shanahan, Karlie Smith, Cassia Steck, Victoria Stong, Jake Troublefield, Andrea Wade, Bethany Walter, Nell Weaver, Chelsea Webster, Ashleigh White, Harry Wilgus III, Anna Williams and Darian Yang;

• Juniors — Zaniah Allah Cousins, Katie Boyle, Sarah Buchler, Gabriella Castillo, David Chan, Lor Dabaj, Gretchen Daehn, Taite Daisey, Hannah Davis, Victor Degeorge, Brittany Delp, Brianna Drummond, Erika Granholm, Clayton Hardy, Madison Hastings, Farris Hauck, Natalie Holmes, Alison Jennings, Alexandra Long, Lauren Lynch, Kristin Mancuso, Ciera Morris, Huyen Nguyen, William Ransone, Juan Rodriguez, Bradlee Saville, Jack Saxton, Lou Shi, Caitlyn Tharby, Jewel Tomlinson, Deisy Velasquez and Anthony Woody;

• Sophomores — Brooke Beam, Eliza Bomhardt, Darren Bowden, James Brannon, Madalyne Brenner, Tiffany Cain, Krista Carroll, Anthony Catrino, Joseph Cooper, William Cotter, Veronica Culver, Madeline Davis, Jennifer Delfin Rivera, Sofia DiGirolamo, John Douds Jr., Garret Driscoll, Emma Engel, Brandon Galliher, Cameron Goff, Curtis Hamby, Lance Harmon, Alexander Hileman, Dylan Hudson, Kayla Huebner, Adam Izzo, Kali Kellam, Sarah King, Sarah Kraushaar, Emily Laczkowski, Caroline Lingenfelter, Nicholas Mandato, Madison McCabe, Karly McCarra, Lauren McCoy, Callie McDowell, Parris McMillan, Madison Mercer, Dillon Mitchell, Gunnar Moldrik, Logan Montuori, Bethany Moran, Hope Pearce, Brooke Roughton, Jared Ryan, Tiffany Rybicki, Elizabeth Saylor, Spencer Shipley, Emiley Shuey, Riley Taylor Ely, Madison Thune, Peyton Townsend, Kylie Ucman, Ian Walls and Mary Whaley; and

• Freshmen — Jared Arlett, Christian Benner, Nathan Bishop, Bridgette Blatzheim, Allison Bowerman, McKenna Burke, Keith Chatterton, Joseph Ciriello II, David Clark Jr., Makenzie Collins, Danielle Dungan, Ryan Ellis, Andrea Elsby, John Evans III, Berkleigh Fadden, Nicholas Feldman, Margaret Ford, Gerald Foreman, Stephanie Gil, Gianni Gottschalk, Josephine Grimes, Lindsey Grow, Alexis Haden, Erin Haden, Desiree Hastings, Natalie Herrera, Madison Hogsten, Brandon Horton, Zion Howard, Chance Kamin, John Keller, Saray Lopez, Mariayna Lovelace, Matthew Lyons, George Martin, Griffin McCormick, Madison McGee, Jason McKenna, Hayden McWilliams, Mikie Mochiam, Keontae Mumford, Samantha Mumford, Diana Ngo, Seong Oh, Madelyn Parcells, Richard Parrett, Wade Porter, Kenya Purnell, Kyle Rayne, Zane Richard, Tristan Richards, Gaibreal Rodriguez, Samuel Rojas, Sara Saylor, McClain Smith, Max Stong, Joshua Timmons, Paige Troublefield, Callahan Weber, Chloe Webster, Katelyn Wells and Andrew White.

Receiving honors for grades between 85 and 92 were:

• Seniors — Nyree Allah Cousins, Juan Aparicio, Brian Arthur II, Charles Arthur, Shirelle Baine, Carly Bartell, Timothy Beaston, Nicole Boyce, Marissa Browning, Brittany Burgard, Devin Burke, Annel Calles Valdivia, Myriah Carmean, Megan Carpenter, Andrew Chapdelaine, Kalie Cooper, Katherine Cooper, Olivia Crass, Christina Diakos, Rachel Dietz, William Dolby, Rydge Dudley, Emily Engh, Ingrid Estrada, La’Shay Evans, Jazmin Garcia, Julio Garza, Makayla Giblin, Robert Gutridge, Rontrail Handy, MaKayla Hartman, Cody Hitchens, Madison Hockman, Isabelle Huovinen, Elizabeth Johnson, Richard Johnson, Yosef Knight, Marika Kohout, William Linthicum, Daniel Martinez, Taylor McElroy, Matthew McGuigan, Alyssa McManus, Brittany Meals, Carter Michael, Michael Miller, Alexandra Myers, Nicholas Newell, Lisa Nunez, Alberto Ortiz Jr., Esmeralda Parada, Aaron Peterson, Gregory Ray, Allison Rich, Logan Richardson, Ana Rivas Cordova, Rainy Rojas, Hannah Ruberti, Reilly Scott, Richard Scrivani, Kasey Shockley, Taylor Smith, Tristan Smyth, Chelsea Steiner, Paige Stevenson, Sarah Swenson, Michael Thompson, Devin Thune, Michaela Timmons, London Tucker, Ashley Veasey, Aalayaha Waters, Paul Whaley, Shanice Whaley and Nichole Willey;

• Juniors — Margaret Allison, Hailley Baker, Kayli Belfiore, Marley Belzner, Taylor Bunting, Haley Cathell, Amber Conley, Lili Cooney, Luis Cruz, Rachel Custer, Cole Dilorenzo, Kasen Donald, Demi Edwards, Joseph Fitzpatrick, Myckenzie Gillette, Krystal Gonzalez, Tashaila Holland, Jordan Johnson, Haley Kirby, Janice Knight Nieves, Courtney Leitz, Lidia Leon, Dylan Lewis, Kei Juan Major, Nicole Marvel, Haley McManus, Benjamin Miskin, Ian Moeser, Darrick Mudry, Matthew Murphy, Maria Papavasilis, Tyra Phillips, Zoe Richard, Holden Snyder, Spencer Sturla, Amanda Truitt, Qwaterria Upshur, Eddie Velasquez, John Velasquez, Kenly Velasquez, Phoebe Walls, Savannah West, Alexandria Williams, Sarah Wylie and Binbin Zhao;

• Sophomores — Martin Alvarez, Kevonte Bailey, Davina Baine, Carolyn Benton, Hannah Blakely, Carlos Bowne, Aja Campbell, Pedro Cimarron, Logan Davis, Ana Elling, Taylor Evans, Brooke Fischer, Ariel Ganter, Madison Griffin, Donald Hattier, Casey Hitchens, Kevin Horoschak, Katelyn Jensen, Amanda Josetti, Leah Kneller, Madison Lively, Kayla McCarra, Emma Lee Merrick, Leah Morris, Paiton Murray, Juana Pascual, Edgar Perez, Nicolas Perez, Alexander Petrillo, Richard Powell, Jacob Ricci, Daniqu Robinson, Mason Sanders, Hannah Shultie, Carley Snyder, Dallas Tucker, Deshaye’La Waters, Taylor Wayland, Haylee Wells, Kayla Ruark Welsh, Samuel Wood, Melissa Woody, Jordan Wright and Kyle Yerkes; and

• Freshmen — Rachel Beers, Jordan Berrish, Rachel Burke, Cheyanne Burroughs, Michael Cedeno, Daisey Chavez Cervantes, Carlee Cooper, Johan Cordoba, Octavio Cuenca, Ma’Kayla DeShields, Iris Elechko, Kayla Emerson, Yecenia Estrada, Timmara Finney, Logan Firle, Grant Gano, Gavin Gates, Kayla Ho, Cameron James, Raymond Jenkins IV, Christopher Jones, Athena Liadakis, Benjamin Lynch, Madison Manelski, Shelby Mast, Kiersten McCurley, Jordan Mears, Jacob Miller, Darren Moore, Samuel Nitz, Jessie O’Neal, Jose Olguin, Odaliz Ortiz, Alexis Purcell, Jasenky Rivera, Angelina Roca, Olivia Ruberti, Kenneth Schnabele, Camryn Shanahan, Tymber Starr, Justin Steele, Lexi Ucman, Alejandra Velazques, Kerinne Walls, Jordan Watson and Hannah Webb.

Starting on Wednesday, July 16, the Rehoboth Beach Writers’ Guild will be running a three-week Flash Prose Class, featuring both Micro Memoir and Fiction.

The flash prose class emphasizes the writing of both essays (memoir) and short stories that are fewer than about 500 words. The goal of flash prose — a word length considered perfect for blogs and short readings, and increasingly being published in both commercial and literary magazines — is to condense experience into a quick beautiful impression.

The course, which is being held in a central Rehoboth location, will run from 10 a.m. to noon, and is being taught by Ethan Joella, who writes and publishes flash prose. Joella is also a published poet, is working on a novel and is an adjunct instructor at the University of Delaware.

“He’s an amazing teacher,” said Maribeth Fischer, the executive director of the writers guild, who was a student in Joella’s flash fiction class last summer. “He brings his knowledge of all the different genres — novel, memoir, essay, story, poem — to this class and really understands how to pare the work down to what is essential.”

In this class, participants will work on their own micro pieces, either bringing in stories or memoirs they’ve been working on and editing them down to their core or creating new pieces. By studying a range of examples and through quick exercises, “Participants will be surprised,” said Joella, “at how much they can accomplish in a short amount of space.”

The class, which runs on Wednesdays July 16, 23 and 30 from 10 a.m. to noon costs $135 for Rehoboth Beach Writers’ Guild members and $150 for non-members. To register or to inquire about the class, email contactus@rehobothbeachwritersguild.com. For more information about Ethan Joella, check out his writers page on the RBWG website at www.rehobothbeachwritersguild.com.

Recognizing that both eco-tourism and adventure tourism are booming trends, with many travelers seeking out opportunities to participate in nature-based activities while traveling, Southern Delaware Tourism is working to make sure visitors and potential visitors are aware of all the outdoor adventure opportunities and outlets available in Sussex County.

The tourism office is launching an advertising campaign called, “Land, water or air. More reasons to get out there!” The campaign focuses on the variety of outdoor experiences available in Sussex County, from golf and cycling to paddling and skydiving, and will appear digitally on travel websites, as well as in the Baltimore’s The Sun and Recreation News, among other publications.

“For 30 percent of the U.S. population, Southern Delaware is a nearby ‘faraway’ outdoor paradise. It is and has always been a unique selling point for Sussex County,” said Scott Thomas, executive director of Southern Delaware Tourism.

Additionally, Southern Delaware Tourism recently assisted in composing Delaware House Resolution 39, which recognizes and highlights the unique outdoor recreational attractions and activities available in Delaware. The resolution recommends “everyone take the time to explore Delaware’s natural wonders — sandy beaches, coastal forests, nature preserves and waterways — and choose ‘from adventures mild or wild.’”

Southern Delaware Tourism also recently hosted a group of visiting travel journalists from four states and the District of Columbia on an outdoor adventure-themed familiarization tour. The group represented a variety of publications, including Recreation News and Coastal Living, and has already begun sharing their Southern Delaware adventures and experiences with readers of various publications throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

For more information, call Southern Delaware Tourism at (302) 856-1818 or visit their website at www.VisitSouthernDelaware.com.

KINfolk provides laptop computers and Internet access to children who are hospitalized or homebound, with the aim of keeping sick children connected to those who love and support them at a time when they need it most. KINfolks’ Ninth Annual Wine Tasting & Art Auction will take place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, July 16, at the Cordrey Center, 30366 Cordrey Road in Millsboro. Admission costs $30.

A live and silent auction, wine and food highlight will the evening. Among those donating art this year are Ellen Rice, Kevin Fleming, Doris Ingram, Laura Hickman, Nancy Katz, Jack Wiberg, Gerilyn Gordon Gaskill, Ruth Valva and Marvin Carney, to name a few.

In addition, Dave Wilson’s live auction will include: from longtime supporter Holland Jewelers, a ladies’ nine-diamond cluster 14-karat gold filigree ring, a one-week stay in a condo on Lewes beach and an up-close private magic show for 14 at the Dickens Parlor Theatre in Millville. There will also be a large selection of silent auction items from local merchants and artisans, as well as a sampling of domestic wines from Teller Wines.

Blooming Boutique is also donating a certificate for a silver (Troll) bracelet with clasp, valued at $72, to the first 225 ticket purchasers.

The following restaurants will contribute signature appetizers to create a fabulous selection of finger foods: 1776 Steakhouse, Annabella’s Italian Restaurant & Bakery, Bethany Blues, Go Fish, the Cultured Pearl, Big Fish Market, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Edible Arrangements, Bob Evans, Touch of Italy, Lazy Susan’s, The Point Coffee House, Creative Crumbs, J.D. Shuckers Seafood & Raw Bar, Mariachi’s, Rehoboth Ale House, Summer House, Delaware Distilling Co., Starboard, Fractured Prune, Dos Locos and the Greene Turtle.

KINfolk organizers thanked sponsors Jane Brady, Blooming Boutique, Berkshire-Hathaway Home Services/Gallo Realty, Grotto Pizza, Holt Paper, Community Bank of Delaware, Jack Lingo Realtors, Lewes Realty, Hugh Leahy Jr., Erin Martin-RE/Max, George Bunting Jr., Collier’s Trim Shop and Penn-Del Lock.

Contact Kathy at (302) 645-6971 for information or tickets, or learn more at www.KINfolkKids.org.

The 25th Annual Greek Festival will be held on July 11, 12, 13 and 14 at Ocean City’s Roland Powell Convention Center, at 41th Street and Coastal Highway. Organizers said the Greek Festival has added a Monday to the festival to accommodate people arriving in the area during the week.

This year’s festival promises Greek delicacies including Greek entrees pastitsio, lemon chicken, moussaka, lamb shank, spanakopita and tiropita (spinach pie and cheese pie), dolmathes (stuffed grape leaves) and more. Picky eaters love the top-selling gyros, organizers noted.

The St. George Greek Orthodox Church Ladies Philoptochos (Friends of the Poor) booth is where all the pastries, including the baklava, can be found.

Some festivalgoers stock their freezers with food from the event, organizers noted. All menu items are served daily beginning at noon and are available for eat-in or carry-out.

Festivalgoers can have lunch and then shop at the vendor booths for jewelry, art, music, clothing, imports and more.

After 5 p.m. nightly, the festival will offer the sounds of the live Greek band Golden Flame. Others can enjoy the music and the live Greek folk dance floor show.

The “Best Odds in Town” raffle gives ticket-holders a 1 in 100 chance to win $5,000 — enough for a Greek island vacation. Other raffles include prizes of either a new motor-scooter or $1,000. The drawings are July 14 at 8 p.m., and ticketholders need not be present to win.

The festival hours are: Friday and Saturday from noon to 11 p.m., and Sunday and Monday from noon and 9 p.m. Admission from noon to 4 p.m. daily costs $2 per person 14 or older. After 4 p.m., admission for those 14 or older costs $3. Those younger than 14 will be admitted free of charge when accompanying an adult. Locals can also enter the festival free daily, between noon and 4 p.m. by showing a driver’s license with a local address. Parking is free, and the air-conditioned hall is handicap accessible.

All proceeds go to support the Ministries of St. George Greek Orthodox Church.

For more information, visit www.stgeorgebythesea.org, call (410) 524-0990 or email stgeorgeoc@gmail.com.

With the summer season in full swing, it is important to take the time to be extra cautious when traveling on area roads, for the safety of motorists, pedestrians and cyclists alike.

After a number of crashes in the area last year involving cyclists and pedestrians, at least one such accident has already been added to the tally for 2014.

On Saturday, June 21, around 10 a.m., a 55-year-old Wilmington man was bicycling southbound in the bicycle lane of Route 1, just north of Sunrise Court, while Dawn L. Davis, 42, of Georgetown, was driving her car southbound on Route 1, just north of Sunrise Court, preparing to make a right turn.

As the car began making the right turn, Davis failed to see the bicyclist and struck him on the left side with the front right bumper of her car.

Davis was uninjured in the collision and was cited for inattentive driving. The cyclist, who was wearing a helmet and reflective clothing, was transported to Beebe Healthcare in Lewes, where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and released.

That Wilmington man was lucky when compared to some of last year’s accident victims, as several of them died. So, this season, officials are emphasizing the importance of attentive driving and knowing the rules of the road.

“If we see a pedestrian violating pedestrian laws, we’ll stop them, bring it to their attention, and give them a pedestrian flashlight,” said Fenwick Island Police Chief William Boyden, referencing state law that requires pedestrians to carry an illuminated flashlight when walking along roadways at night.

“We try not to make it hard for the bicyclists; we’d rather educate them. When you have someone on vacation here, riding their bicycle for morning exercise, and they blow through a stop sign, we’d rather stop them and bring it to their attention than issue a ticket.”

Every year, the Fenwick Island Police Department works in conjunction with the Office of Highway Safety and Delaware Bicycle Safety Council to hold a bicycle safety checkpoint in town. This year, the checkpoint will be held on July 15, from 8 to 11 a.m.

“This is probably our fifth year. We’ll have a pavilion set up where we’ll be handing out brochures, helmets. Sometimes they hand out reflective armbands, flashlights.”

Boyden said the checkpoints are always held in the summer months, in an effort to try to educate as many people as possible regarding how to safely traverse the area’s roadways.

“Our biggest problem is just pedestrians and bicyclists not following the rules. It’s a big problem with the foreign students, because the rules in Europe and former Soviet republics are totally different than they are in the United States,” he explained. “On Coastal Highway and on Bunting Avenue, there are markings clearly on the roadway telling pedestrians where to walk and markings clearly showing bicycles where to ride.

“That’s one of our biggest problems — the bicyclists going on the wrong side of the road and the pedestrians walking wherever they want to. They just walk right out. They don’t use crosswalks. We have some people who have had a few things to drink and decided, instead of driving, which we appreciate, they will walk out into the roadway.”

Boyden also recommends that those out on the roads during the evening hours wear bright-colored clothing, avoiding black or brown.

“It’s education,” said Boyden of the checkpoints, which can draw a couple hundred people. “They’ve been very successful.”

Bethany Beach resident Bob Parsons, who is a certified instructor for the League of American Bicyclists, assists with a bicycle safety course for Sea Colony employees. Parsons also loans out bicycles of his own to foreign students through Mariner’s Bethel United Methodist Church’s Assist Bike Commuters Program.

Last year, the program loaned out 93 bicycles, and it has loaned out more than already 70 this year. In order to use one of the program’s bikes for the summer season, Parsons noted, taking his bicycle safety course is mandatory.

“Last year, one boy and three girls refused to take my course. They said they didn’t need to because they’ve ridden bicycles all their lives,” he recalled. “There’s no guarantee that if you’ve been riding all your life, that you’ve been riding safely.”

During his course, Parsons reviews Delaware law and the rules of the road for bicycles.

“Under Delaware law, bikes are treated just like vehicles,” he said. “I made up this poem, ‘Ride on the right, use your lights at night, lock ’em up tight.’ If you follow those, it really cuts down on the accident exposure.”

Parsons added that it’s important to be predictable and conspicuous when traveling on a bike.

“Those two together can help keep people from getting hurt.”

Parsons noted that a simple way employers can help keep their employees safe on their bikes is by purchasing a small air compressor and extension cord, to ensure bike tires are properly inflated or can be replaced on-site.

During the courses, bicyclists are also instructed as to what back roads are advisable to travel on, appropriate footwear, “Don’t go barefoot. Don’t wear flip-flops,” and more.

Other topics covered include how to communicate with drivers and how to properly signal and turn.

‘We’ll even teach them how to ride, if they want to learn,” he added.

As for bicyclists wanting to cross the road when not being at a proper intersection, Parsons said he understands the desire to go, but reminds travelers that it’s illegal.

“It’s illegal and unsafe,” he said. “If they don’t want to wait, I understand, but you just have to wait.”

Parsons added that he was thankful for the community support the program has received.

“For my bicycle program, I’ve been very fortunate to work with the State. The Town of Bethany gives varying levels of support to the program that I operate,” he noted. “There are a couple of people who live here who have volunteered to subsidize helmets. A couple bought lights.”

He added that he’s grateful to Mariner’s, which provides him space and small budget, along with Bethany Bike Shop.

“They have been very good about teaching me how to do things. I get a preferred-customer price on the parts that I buy,” he said. “It’s really nice that we have people who are willing to donate, and we would be very willing to accept more donations.”

When the Army of the Potomac, under the command of Maj. Gen. George G. Meade, gained its first victory on the battlefield against Gen. Robert E. Lee at Gettysburg in early July 1863, the people of the North and the authorities in Washington were jubilant.

Meade’s assignment from President Abraham Lincoln now was “the literal or substantial destruction of Lee’s army” — which was retreating toward the Potomac River under the cover of a heavy rainstorm. (See Coastal Point, June 27, 2014.)

Meade, however, had obstacles to overcome. He had been elevated to army command three days prior to the battle, Union casualties were substantial as a result of the fighting, he needed to resupply and shift his logistical base, and was also responsible for the defense of Washington, and expected that Lee would be intent on avenging his defeat at Gettysburg.

On July 4, military railroad supervisor Brig. Gen. Hermann Haupt, learning that Meade had decided not to pursue Lee immediately, expressed concern to General-in-Chief Henry W. Halleck in Washington:

“I fear that while Meade rests to refresh his men and collect supplies, Lee will be off so far that he cannot intercept him. A good force [placed] on the line of the Potomac to prevent Lee from crossing would, I think, insure his destruction.”

In his congratulatory message to his troops after the victory at Gettysburg, Meade sparked Lincoln’s anxiety about his intentions. Meade expressed the “task not yet accomplished” is “to drive from our soil every vestige of the presence of the invader.” Lincoln did not equate “destroying Lee’s army” with driving it away.

While the rest of his forces recuperated, Meade sent part of his cavalry to “operate on the enemy’s rear and flanks.” Curiously, he did not identify a specific objective for this movement.

Meade also sent his chief engineer, Maj. Gen. Gouverneur Warren, along with Maj. Gen. John Sedgwick’s Sixth Corps, to reconnoiter Lee’s army as it withdrew toward Fairfield, west of Gettysburg. His instructions were “not … to bring on an engagement” with the enemy.

When Meade learned about a wagon train bearing thousands of enemy wounded toward the Potomac River, he acted more aggressively, by sending Brig. Gen. John Buford’s cavalry division in pursuit. Lee had assigned Brig. Gen. John D. Imboden to conduct a 17-mile-long “vast procession of misery,” as William G. Williams labeled it, to safety back to Virginia.

Buford’s efforts would come to naught, however. Imboden’s much smaller force outmaneuvered their pursuers long enough for Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart’s cavalry to arrive and chase off the Union attackers, thereby saving the wagon train from capture.

Meade got under way from Gettysburg in pursuit of Lee on July 6, at the same time the Rebels, with a two-day head start, began arriving in Hagerstown, Md. To Lee’s misfortune, however, the rain-swollen Potomac blocked him from crossing the river to safer ground.

The Union army, meanwhile, made progress slowly; not arriving in the vicinity of Hagerstown/Williamsport until July 11 — five days to travel some 50 miles. Earlier, Meade asserted, “I will use my utmost efforts to push forward this army,” but equivocated that his intentions were to “adopt such measures … to insure success, even though these may be deemed tardy.”

Meade notified Halleck, “I wish … to moderate the expectations of those who … may expect too much.” Halleck assured Meade he was not “expressing any dissatisfaction.” His “only fear now is that the enemy may escape by crossing the river.”

Those who were monitoring Meade’s pursuit of Lee, both friends and enemies, appeared to be concluding that the Union commander was not wholeheartedly engaged in this enterprise. Lee observed that, thus far, “nothing but occasional skirmishing occurred.” In other words, Meade was not applying pressure on the Rebel position around Hagerstown.

By July 11, the entire Union army approached within five miles of the enemy. Lee and his engineers had laid out defensive positions stretching nine miles from the Potomac north to Hagerstown, and his men were entrenching and building fortifications to repel a Union assault.

In Washington, Halleck sent reinforcements to Meade’s army. Lincoln anticipated Meade’s attack with the intent to destroy Lee’s army. In “Roads from Gettysburg,” John W. Schildt quoted a Union officer, “If they could defeat Lee, it might mean the end of the Rebellion.”

The stage was set for a renewal of the battle that took place at Gettysburg. Meade’s decision making in this impending confrontation would shape his reputation far into the future.

(Note: Unless otherwise noted, quoted references from War of the Rebellion Official Records.)

Bethany Beach resident Thomas J. Ryan is the author of “Essays on Delaware during the Civil War: A Political, Military and Social Perspective” (available at Bethany Beach Books or from his website at www.tomryan-civilwar.com). Contact him at pennmardel@mchsi.com.

In its June/July 2014 issue, National Geographic Traveler, a travel magazine with a readership of 9 million, selected Bethany Beach as one of seven beaches nationwide where “the essential beach experience endures.” Bethany is the only beach between Massachusetts and North Carolina to be recognized.

Author Bruce Schoenfeld, in enumerating his selection criteria, wrote, “A great beach town must have shores that are spacious, picturesque, relatively uncrowded and clean. Beyond that, its local culture not only has to service tourism but also transcend it. The town must have a prettiness about it that makes even a stroll to the grocery store an occasion for delight. Finally, it has to be timeless, meaning that, though restaurants come and go and shops get sold, the contours and vistas around them remain recognizable through generations.”

Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kristie Maravalli said she is delighted but not surprised that Bethany appears among Schoenfeld’s selected beaches.

“This accolade from National Geographic is a wonderful distinction for our community. But it’s no surprise to anyone in the Quiet Resorts that Bethany Beach is recognized as a quintessential American beach town. Bethany’s beautiful 5-Star beaches and our active, friendly community of residents and businesses create a small-town, beach-town feel that makes Bethany unique.”

The slideshow of National Geographic Traveler’s selected beach towns is online at: http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/american-beach-towns-photos-....

Peninsula Dental Millsboro recently announced that orthodontist Robert Park, DMD, has joined the practice. A graduate of Harvard School of Dental Medicine and trained in orthodontics at Case Western Reserve University, Park brings orthodontic treatment for children and adults to Millsboro. He offers traditional braces, clear Invisalign orthodontics, retainers and the Damon System.

Children with Medicaid, adults and children with traditional insurance coverage for orthodontics and self-pay patients are accepted. Extended pay arrangements are also available.

Peninsula Dental Millsboro is a group dental practice offering all facets of general dentistry, and also provides all levels of dental sedation, including conscious sedation and general anesthesia for patients with special needs, pre-cooperative children, patients with dental anxiety and medically compromised individuals.

Have you been in a pet store lately? Have you seen how many different kinds of treats there are for dogs these days? How do you decide which ones are right for your dog?

First off, there are no right treats for every dog. What works for one dog may not work with another. So, how do you decide which ones to try?

Let’s look at the different kinds of treats in generalized groups. There are quick edible treats, longer edible treats, real bones (edible, but not usually completely eaten), chew-only treats, toys that dispense edible treats…

First, the quick edible treats. These are items like biscuits, liver treats, jerky treats and more — any item that is small, pretty easy to chew up and is made from completely edible material. These type items are often used for training or just a simple reward treat. Some people even use them sprinkled in with their dog’s daily meals. These are also the treats generally used in treat-dispensing toys. Your dog’s kibble can also be used as treats.

Next are the slowly edible treats. Many of these items are made from other animals’ parts, including pig, cow and lamb ears. There are regular and flavored rawhide, bully sticks, tendons, straps, puffed pig ears, pressed rawhide, hooves, tracheas and more. These types of items are completely edible but are definitely not designed for all dogs.

This is where the rawhide scares came from. It is not because these items are not safe — it is because people didn’t know their own animals and because often these treats were left with an unattended/unmonitored pet. Some dogs will chew them until they become mushy/slimy and then chew off a large chunk and ingest it. This large item swells even more when it becomes wet, which can cause a large blockage inside of the animal. However, not all dogs are the same. Some dogs chew them into tiny pieces that they swallow.

Dogs should be monitored while chewing treats, especially if it is a new item to the dog, or if the dog has shown problems with similar types of items in the past. Aggressive chewers, young puppies and overly excited chewers are more prone to these types of accidents; however, it can happen to any dog. If your dog is showing signs of a problem, take the item away from the dog and do not use similar types of treats in the future.

I admit that I do leave some of these types of treats with my dogs unmonitored, and even though they have never had problems/issues with them in the past, there is a chance of a problem in the future. I would never leave them with a new style of treat though. And I would not leave a new dog with a treat without first monitoring it with similar treats several times.

Most of these treats will last the average dog several hours of chewing pleasure. They are great to give to dogs when you have company and want the dog to be otherwise occupied, or if you need to get some stuff done around the house and don’t wish to be “supervised” by your faithful companion.

Next: the bones. First rule: Never give your dog any cooked bones. Cooked bones can splinter and cut your dog’s internal organs, resulting in bleeding and surgery. You can buy bones of many different types of animals, including beef cows, venison, bison, lamb and more.

I personally like raw meaty bones that we used to call “soup bones,” which I purchase at the grocery store or butcher. A few pet stores carry them, and so do some grocery stores. Some grocery stores (Hocker’s for one) will even cut these bones to your specified size. The problem with these bones is they are raw and still have pieces of meat attached to them, thus the raw meat can stain your carpet and furniture.

You can buy smoked bones at most pet stores and a few grocery stores. These bones can stain some carpets and furniture also. Both of these types of bones are often great for long-lasting chew treats for your dog.

Antlers can be included in the bone section. Deer and moose antlers are readily available for sale at your local pet stores. They are completely natural, and many dogs love them. Make sure, with bones or antlers, you always buy a size that is appropriate for your dog. For example, do not buy a small antler for your Great Dane. If you buy too small of a chew treat for your dog, your dog can swallow it and cause a blockage resulting in emergency surgery.

This goes for all types of treats. Always buy a size appropriate treat for your dog. I know all too well that the larger the item, the higher the price. (Bloodhounds are considered giant breeds and they weigh about 120 pounds, so they need large treats.) However, if you have to have surgery performed on your pet, it costs a lot more and it could result in death. Why take the chance?

There are also items like Kongs, toy puzzles, treat-dispensing toys and more. Some of these items can be given to your dog while you want them to be occupied, either while you are out or just when you want your own time. Kongs and similar types of items can be filled with items and either used fresh or frozen and then given to your pet. They are long-lasting and help to keep your dog occupied sometimes for several hours.

Treat -dispensing toys can also be given to your dog for long-lasting pleasure. Some people even feed their dogs meals from these toys. They fill the toy with the dog’s measured amount of kibble and then the dog must “play with the toy” to receive its food. This stimulates the dog’s mind and exercises the dog physically, thus making the dog a calmer dog than it was before. It can also keep the dog occupied for anywhere from minutes to hours, depending on the toy and the dog.

Other items you can use as treats for your pet can come right out of your fridge or freezer. Frozen mixed vegetables, carrots, squash, green beans, zucchini, small pieces of cheese occasionally, small pieces of cooked chicken or turkey, cooked lean ground beef and more —these are all healthy and natural and good for your pet. The vegetables can also be mixed into your pet’s regular meals, and you can reduce part of their regular food, thus helping with weight loss.

Most dogs love these items and they are healthy and natural and more pure, and less chance of recalls and dangerous items for your pet. Some people will actually put a small bowl of defrosted mixed vegetables out daily for their dog. I do not recommend using canned vegetables; however, if you do, always rinse them to reduce the salt. Also, when you cook stuff for your pet, do not use seasonings and salt.

A few last things to consider when buying your dog treats: Always read the label. Read the ingredients and pay attention to them. I recommend you avoid items with sugar and other sweeteners, especially if high on the ingredient list. Occasionally, it is OK to give your pet a little bit of sweetness, but it should not be on a daily basis. Treats should be healthy, not just “garbage ingredients.”

I also recommend you avoid items made in China. In my personal opinion, there have been too many recalls of items made in China. I personally avoid all of them anymore. Why take a chance of killing my pet from a treat simply because it is a little cheaper? (Cheaper often means lower-quality ingredients and less control over monitoring the production of the products.) Some of the recalls have been for antibiotics in the treat, foreign objects in the treats and more.

Additionally, always wash your hands after handling your pet’s food or treats.

Giving your pets treats is fun for us and them, but care should be taken in how many and what we give them. Consider how much you have given to your pet in treats each day and adjust their regular food in accordance with that. Some days you may be giving your pet more treats than others, like when doing training classes. On those days, reduce your pet’s regular meal accordingly.

If you have questions, stop by your local independently owned pet store. (I support buying local.) Ask them questions. Explain what you are looking for. Tell them about your dog and your lifestyle. Let them know about your individual dog’s personality, such as if it is excitable, an aggressive chewer, puppy, older dog, skinny dog, fat dog, indoor dog, outside-only dog, etc.

Explain if your want a small reward treat or a long-term occupier treat. Tell them if you want American-made and -sourced treats only, etc. Also, advise them of any food allergies or sensitivities your dog may have. The more information you give them, the better they can advise you on selecting the perfect treat for your dog.

Cheryl Loveland is a dog groomer, pet-sitter, dog trainer and fosterer for many unwanted animals. She does rescue work for all types of animals and has owned or fostered most types of domestic animals and many wild ones. She currently resides with her bloodhound, which she has shown in conformation and is currently training for search-and-rescue work. Also residing with her are a bichon frisée, two cats and two birds. She welcomes comments, questions and suggestions for future articles at countryservice@comcast.net. Remember, she is not an expert: she offers her opinions and suggestions from her experience and research.

Coastal Point • Laura Walter: Filip Siladjev makes a crêpe on one of the round griddles. Crêpes & Crazes offers many fillings and can cater to anyone’s desired taste.Fenwick Island has gotten a little French with the new Crêpes & Crazes, located on Coastal Highway.

Crêpes are large, thin pancakes that originated in France (also available gluten-free), but which are making the transition to tasty beach food. Like a blank canvas, they can be covered in any kind of topping.

But first, they’re made right before customers’ eyes, on wide, round griddles.

“If you’re not hungry before you walk in, you’re hungry after you walk in, because you can smell it,” said owner Sherry Perzinski.

Strawberry Fields is the top-seller at Crêpes & Crazes, featuring berries, cream cheese, crushed pretzels and drizzles of vanilla sauce. Apple Perfection is a homey treat, with gooey apples caramel and cinnamon, topped with honey and powdered sugar.

Savory crêpes make a meal out of the popular pizza crêpe, teriyaki chicken, Lasagna Supreme, Cheesesteak Lovers and Veggie Volcano. BBQ Chicken has Sweet Baby Ray’s sauce, cheese and bacon. Breakfast Bonanza features egg, bacon or sausage, onions, peppers and tomatoes.

People can get almost any filling, from fruit, Nutella or peanut butter to chicken, tuna and ham salads. Spinach salad is coming soon, with walnuts and strawberries.

Get a scoop of ice cream, or milkshakes, malteds, floats and more. Or add piping hot waffle sticks to create a new version of an ice cream sundae.

“We have regular customers, and that’s also a good sign,” said manager Filip Siladjev.

“One woman is working her way down the entire menu,” Perzinski added.

What’s the secret to making a good crêpe?

“Just practice,” said Siladjev, who’s made a hundred or two already.

“He does it like a work of art,” Perzinski said. “Everything is fresh. We buy the ingredients every single day. … The number of strawberries we go through in a day was amazing.”

Two D.C. vacationers popped in recently to purchase four crêpes, covered in caramel, bananas and more.

“We just drove by. I love crêpes, bananas, Nutella. So we decided to swing in,” said Maryana Townsend.

“You guys might have a nice niche here,” said her husband, Kevin.

Crêpes & Crazes has been open for about a month. With her daughters growing up, owner Perzinski transformed her empty-nest syndrome into entrepreneurship. She grew up vacationing at the beach, and seeing no crêpe place in Fenwick now, she dove in.

“It’s very nice. People are wonderful. The town itself is fantastic, family-oriented,” she said.

As for the name — half of the shop is devoted crêpes, while the other half features “crazes.” People can watch the crêpes freshly made in front of them, or shop around the goodies on the other side while they wait.

“A craze is a fad or any type of art,” Perzinski explained. “I try to go for handmade or artistic, anything you’re not going to find anywhere else.”

Amish-made quilts are among the pieces and cover the shop’s walls, each unique and handmade.

“It’s just amazing that someone takes this much time to do something by hand,” Perzinski said. “You don’t find it anywhere else. It’s meticulous.”

The Pennsylvania quilts are priced according to the amount of work put into them.

Other gifts and figurines also line the walls. There’s even a stuffed toy pig, looking fabulous as she models scarves and shawls.

“A whole lot of people come in and get a picture with Delilah,” Perzinski said of the bovine model.

“Great food, great gifts, great place,” said Perzinski of the aim for the shop, “and we hope that’s what they think of it. Come with a happy face.”

Hungry customers can call ahead with pre-orders at (302) 537-1313.

Crêpes & Crazes is open daily, from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. It’s located at 1204 Coastal Highway, on the bay side.

Coastal Point • R. Chris Clark: Carlie Roberts, right, recently took over One Coastal and has brought a whole way of preparing food in the restaurant. They display the ingredients for all to see, using fresh vegetables and fruits, and catering to those with specific food allergies or requests.Bethany native, Indian River High School alumnus and new owner of One Coastal restaurant Carlie Roberts knows food — and food service. Not only has she worked in the industry both locally and beyond for 18 years, but she’s also studied the cuisine of other cultures in her various travels.

Last Friday, July 4, however, Roberts got the chance to bring some of those concepts back home with the grand re-opening of One Coastal — a dine-in or carry-out restaurant located just as the name suggests: at 1 Coastal Highway, just north of the Maryland and Delaware border in Fenwick Island.

Not only does the restaurant and bar serve breakfast, lunch and dinner with a full menu of fresh coastal cuisine, but it also offers homemade ice cream and fresh, made-to-order smoothies and juices.

“We see what’s fresh and see how we can use it,” Roberts said of the concept. “You can pick and choose what you want. We want everybody to see what we’re doing and to feel like they’re a part of it, they’re not just a spectator.”

Serving all three meals daily, Roberts has ensured that, no matter what the time of day, there is always a healthy option catered to those with certain dietary restrictions — whether it be gluten-free, lactose-free or vegetarian.

“A lot of people are dairy-free now. A lot of people are gluten-free. A lot of people have allergies. So we feel like we have something for everybody,” she explained. “If you don’t see it on the menu and we’re capable of making it, we absolutely will, and we’re able to do that because we’re keeping things simple.”

While gluten-intolerant diners may be delighted to see gluten-free crabcakes on the menu, gluten lovers will appreciate Roberts’ signature Banana Bread French Toast — made fresh in-house daily and topped with fresh fruit.

“Every morning I make homemade banana bread,” she described. “It’s literally the fresh banana bread that comes out of the oven that day, sliced, battered, cooked on a griddle, served with homemade whipped cream, a sprinkle of cinnamon and some real maple syrup.”

Other breakfast options include breakfast wraps and sandwiches, fresh fruit and yogurt, pancakes and homemade biscuits — all, of course, accompanied by the offerings from the juice and smoothie bar. For lunch, One Coastal offers fresh, authentic paninis available for either dine-in or carry-out, for patrons looking for a quick bite to bring back to the beach.

“We’re trying to be heavy into carry-out. Our ticket times are really quick,” Roberts said after noting the intended convenience for beachgoers. “We’ve got everything prepped and ready for ya — come in, order, grab a juice or a smoothie while you wait, hang out at the bar, and you’ll be back to the beach in 10, 15 minutes.”

Dinner starts at 5 p.m., with a full menu, full service and a full bar — again with healthy and fresh options for everyone. The bar also offers Happy Hour daily, with specials including $2 Natural Lights and $5 fresh-squeezed orange or grapefruit crushes. And, for dessert, Roberts offers not only her homemade ice cream, but her various other homemade creations nightly.

Roberts knows, though, that just offering fresh, quality products won’t ensure success, so she has made sure to hire a friendly, local staff who know the meaning of customer service and are capable of demonstrating that to the community in which she grew up.

“Fenwick is definitely close to my heart,” she said, having noted her years as a Fenwick lifeguard and experience working at local restaurants. “I feel like there’s a good sense of community here — it’s a lot of fun to come to work, and I love bringing that kind of environment to all of the people who are coming in the door.”

One Coastal is located at 1 Coastal Highway in Fenwick Island. They serve a full menu from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., with light fare served from 9 to 10 p.m. Call in carry-out orders at (302) 537-4790 or check them out on Facebook and Instagram.

“Southern Delaware’s incredible growth as a culinary destination has led to the area becoming known throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond as the Culinary Coast,” noted representatives of Southern Delaware Tourism. Now, in order to encourage vacationers, culinary tourists and savvy local foodies to explore the many dining options available throughout Sussex County, Southern Delaware Tourism has updated and expanded the culinary section of its website.

The website’s new format is designed to be more intuitive and uses new logos to create four “culinary adventures,” including Local Catch, Coffee House Retreats, Flavors from Abroad and Small Town Comfort, and is designed to make searching for dining options a snap, allowing web visitors to view a selection of eateries based upon location and/or type of cuisine.

Addresses, contact information, and any web and social media links for each restaurant are included in the search results.

View the website updates at www.visitsoutherndelaware.com/culinary-coast.

Lauren Nuttle, doctor of physical therapy at Aquacare Physical Therapy, has completed the first portion of the Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner (CCRP), “Introduction to Canine Rehabilitation,” Aquacare announced this week.

Aquacare Physical Therapy in Millville is now offering canine rehabilitation, a specialized approach to rehabilitation of “man’s best friend,” to the lower Eastern Shore.

Nuttle has nine years of experience as a licensed physical therapist and has been a dog owner and dog lover for her entire life. She watched as her labra-doodle Lexi began to struggle to get up and greet her each evening as she returned home from work.

Knowing that she had the knowledge base to treat such problems in her human patients Nuttle began searching for a program that would allow her to have the same impact in her dog, as well as other canines.

Under Nuttle’s guidance, Aquacare will offer canine rehabilitation, including manual therapy, such as joint mobilization, soft-tissue massage and passive range of motion. Therapeutic exercise, neuromuscular re-education and owner education is provided to allow pets to safely return to their previous level of function following injury or surgical procedures.

Initial evaluation costs $75, with each subsequent session at $50. Clients can pre-pay for 10 sessions to get 10 percent off. For more information, stop by the clinic in the Millville Town Center or call (302) 539-3110.