Long & Foster Real Estate announced this week that the Leslie Kopp Group, based in Bethany Beach, ranked 201st out of real estate teams nationwide, based on transaction volume in 2013, as ranked by REAL Trends Inc.

Kopp, who has specialized in the sale of coastal properties since 1989, attributed her team’s success to always putting her clients’ interests first, which she explained results in many referrals from previous transactions.

In total, 13 Long & Foster teams were ranked in the survey of the nation’s top 250 sales professionals by closed volume and transaction sides for 2013. One individual sales agent was ranked in the top 250 associates nationwide based on the amount of closed transactions volume.

“These top-ranking real estate professionals are a reflection of our entire team of experts, and we offer them, as well as all our sales associates, our overwhelming congratulations for helping to make Long & Foster the real estate leader in the Mid-Atlantic and the No. 1 independent real estate company in the nation,” said Gary Scott, president of Long & Foster Real Estate.

“Our agents continue to thrive in this swiftly-evolving real estate environment, thanks to their motivation and drive, as well as the industry-leading suite of tools and technology and the unparalleled support that comes from a full-service brokerage.”

REAL Trends Inc. compiles rankings for the Top Thousand based on surveys of previous applicants, as well as 900 of the largest U.S. brokerage firms. An independent third-party verifies all submissions, and staff from REAL Trends also reviews these submissions for accuracy. Now in its eighth year, the Top Thousand features the four total lists: the top 250 individual sales agents by sales volume and transaction sides, as well as the top 250 teams by sales volume and transaction side.

For more information, visit www.LongandFoster.com.

The owner of a property on Hosier Street in Selbyville is concerned about stormwater management. With the property located between the road and Sandy Branch Creek (near Cabinetry Unlimited), he believes the nearby storm drain is leading to a broken drainage pipe on his property.

“We think part of that has collapsed in there. This is a really old culvert. Must be 100 years old,” said Bob Dickerson, town administrator. “He asked if we could address that.”

Located near the lowest point in town, that property is sometimes “deluged,” and the catch basin could stand to be larger, Dickerson said.

The Town has no right-of-way or easement, which traditionally allows the Town to legally access the pipe on that man’s property, Dickerson said.

“We don’t have an easement for that. Technically, it’s not on our property, but it’s draining water from our street,” he added.

With an easement, “You don’t own that property. You have the right to maintain it,” explained Councilmember Jay Murray.

If they’re going to the expense of repairing the pipe, Murray said, the Town might as well get an official survey and easement.

Councilman Clarence “Bud” Tingle Sr. wondered if the Town couldn’t just fix it now and deal with easements later. But even though they have a friendly property owner now, Murray said it’s safer to get a legal easement in the event of a different future property owner.

Murray suggested an “as-constructed” easement or something similar, such as an easement 5 feet on either side of the pipe.

Dickerson asked if an attorney should draw up the language, and Town Engineer Erik Retzlaff suggested that they could probably figure it out or find it themselves.

However, he noted that this probably isn’t the only spot like that in Selbyville.

Meanwhile, there’s no definitive reason why water isn’t flowing from the street to the ditch.

“We don’t know if the pipe is cracked,” Dickerson said. “We don’t know … ’til we dig some dirt up.”

In other Selbyville news:

• The council asked Mountaire’s representative how the new odor-catching equipment is working at the poultry processing plant.

“We still have odor. I’m not going to say we don’t. I think the system’s doing a better job, what we’re using now,” said Mountaire Director of Operations Jay Griffith, adding that he’s become less impressed with the old system.

He strongly encouraged the council members to call him to report issues including smells.

“Seriously — call me. It’s OK. … I can get somebody to check it at the plant. It’s no big deal.”

“It was very noticeable Saturday,” Jay Murray said.

Griffith said he found that “upsetting. We’re not even running Saturday.”

The council agreed that there’s a difference in smell with the new system. Although it’s not perfect, Griffith said, “We hope to experiment with it a little more bit. We’re not at that point yet.”

Mountaire is also looking to build a new employee wellness center, easing the burden on its Millsboro clinic.

• Selbyville police have gotten complaints about unsafe driving at the Lighthouse Road (Route 54) and Hudson Road intersection. They’ll request that Delaware Department of Transportation install new signage.

A police grant has paid for additional patrols during busy times.

Also, “If anyone sees a street sign down or light out, please call up and let [us] know. We want to get that taken care of,” said Chief W. Scott Collins.

• In water news, there are no signs of contamination in the Town’s new wells. With cleaner sourcewater, officials said the Town has halved last year’s $100,000 bill for potassium to purify the water. They also asked people to conserve water in the summer heat.

• Sussex County’s Community Development Block Grant Program has reserved about $70,000 for four Selbyville homes, Dickerson noted.

Every year, the program helps repair homes for low- to moderate-income residents of Kent and Sussex counties. Workers do projects needed to make the house habitable and bring it up to code, from removing lead paint to installing windows, roofs and handicapped-accessible ramps.

“It’s been real good for Selbyville over the years,” Dickerson said.

• E Revolution Ventures is now operating at the Selbyville Industrial Park, bringing more than 100 employees to Selbyville, according to Mayor Clifton Murray.

Besides Internet sales, the data-driven company runs Bethany Trading Company, Kites Tails & Toys and other retail shops.

Dickerson said they’re on track to hit an eight-digit sales goal this year.

“Very impressive organization,” he said.

• Selbyville Public Library’s new director, Kelly Kline, introduced herself to the council.

“Stop in, get a book. They’re free!” she quipped.

• Selbyville may need to tweak its zoning code for residential planned communities (RPCs). Originally approved by the council two years ago, the RPC code allows for more creative designs for planned housing communities. But, in a housekeeping issue, the council needs to clarify setback requirements for townhomes, versus single-family homes.

“It’s not unusual when you apply new ordinance to a project, you realize you have to tweak it,” Dickerson said.

The next town council meeting is Monday, Aug. 4, at 7 p.m.

As the summer travel season kicks into high gear, Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden warned Delawareans to be on the lookout for travel-related frauds and scams.

“Vacationers are prime targets for scammers who attempt to swindle victims out of their money or steal their personal information to commit identity theft,” said Biden. “Help protect yourself from fraud during your travels and secure your property and valuables back home while you’re away by taking a few simple precautionary measures.”

Families can help protect themselves from fraud while planning a vacation and during their travels, and guard against theft back home, by being aware of the following scams reported to law enforcement across the country:

• Travel ticket scam — Online ads, emails and other marketing schemes advertise cheap or free airline tickets on a nonexistent airline whose name sounds remarkably similar to a well-established commercial airline. In order to claim or purchase the tickets, the victim is directed to provide the “airline” with personal information that the scammer uses to commit identity theft.

•Rental scam — Vacation rental properties are advertised, commonly online, by conmen who do not actually own the properties. After a renter pays the scammer a deposit or surrenders personal information to them, they later learn that the rental property either does not exist or that the property is not owned by the scammer, who hijacked details and photos of the property for their fraudulent advertisement.

•Pizza delivery scam — Flyers for phony pizza delivery are slipped under hotel doors or handed out at travel locations, such as the beach. The advertisements direct travelers to place a delivery order by providing their credit card number, which the fraudster uses to commit theft.

•Imposter scam — Scammers contact a hotel’s front desk and ask to be transferred to a random guest room. The scammer poses as a hotel staffer when the unsuspecting guest answers the phone, claiming that the hotel has encountered a payment problem and directing the guest to provide credit card number or personal information in order to resolve the issue.

•Social media posts — Thieves monitor social media accounts looking for postings that state when consumers will be away on travel, leaving their home empty and a target for burglary.

•The vacation arrest scam — An elderly resident receives a call or e-mail from an imposter claiming to be their grandchild on a trip out of state or in a foreign county. The scammer may report they have been arrested or mugged and pressure the resident to wire them money immediately in order to post bail or travel home.

Biden recommended people follow these tips to avoid being victimized in a vacation-related scam:

• Use only reputable travel sites and companies for booking rentals and other travel services. Thoroughly verify rental postings made on Craigslist or other social networking sites. Never provide personal information over the phone or via e-mail, and never wire money to an individual or company or send money to a P.O. box without first verifying their authenticity.

• Don’t announce your vacation on social media until after you have returned from your travels.

• Securely lock all doors and windows of your home while traveling, use timers to keep lights on at night, and ask neighbors to keep an eye on your property while you are away.

• If you are traveling far from home or for extended periods of time, notify your bank in advance about your trip to help guard against suspicious behavior on your account.

• Limit what you carry in your wallet (credit cards and other documents with personal identifying information) during your travels.

• If you receive a call from your hotel front desk seeking payment information, address the matter face-to-face with hotel staff.

• Be wary if you receive an urgent call from a family member claiming to be in trouble on vacation and needing money fast. Verify the claim with another family member and ask the caller to provide information about them or about you that only a family member would know.

• Be cautious of your belongings and personal information when traveling, no matter how close the destination is.

For more information on how to avoid summertime vacation scams, visit the Biden’s Consumer Protection Unit online at www.attorneygeneral.delaware.gov/fraud, call the Consumer Hotline at 1-800-220-5424, or e-mail consumer.protection@state.de.us.

The Delaware Center for the Inland Bays, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Division of Fish & Wildlife Enforcement Section and the Division of Parks & Recreation are seeking volunteers and boats for the 10th annual Inland Bays Cleanup. The Cleanup will start at 9 a.m. on Saturday, July 12, and end about 1 p.m.

This year, the cleanup will take place at the Massey’s Landing Public Boat Ramp at the end of Long Neck Road and concentrate on Rehoboth Bay and Indian River Bay.

Volunteers should dress to get dirty and be prepared for cooler conditions on the water, as well as wet walking conditions on land. Rubber boots are also suggested. Those who have access to lifejackets should bring one, as they are required on boats; otherwise, lifejackets will be provided. The event is not recommended for children younger than 10.

Last year’s event drew 75 volunteers who together collected more than 6,000 pounds of debris, including soda bottles and cans, tires, derelict crab pots and docking lumber. The debris filled two 30-yard dumpsters.

Volunteers are required to sign up in advance, as lunch and T-shirts will be provided. To volunteer, or for more information, contact E.J. Chalabala, Delaware Center for the Inland Bays, at (302) 226-8105 or by email at restoration@inlandbays.org.

Coastal Point • File Photo: Braden, Victoria, Katelin, Jacob and McKenzie didn’t waste any time getting into the sand during last year’s Operation SEAs the Day.Last year, community members banded together to form Operation SEAs the Day, a beach-week event for military servicemembers and veterans who are recovering from injuries sustained while serving the country, as well as for their families.

Its mission was simple: “To organize and facilitate a beach-week event … as a means of showing our appreciation for their service and sacrifice. It is our hope that such a community-based gesture of support will be comforting and help ease their transition back into civilian life.”

This year, the Warrior Beach Week will be held on Sept. 2-7, with 30 soldiers and their families set to visit Bethany Beach and enjoy a stress-free week of family fun.

Along with the 30 families, which were selected by the Wounded Warrior Project, five additional families who were part of the inaugural Warrior Beach Week in September 2013 have been selected to return as SEAs the Day alumni.

“I can’t say enough about Operation SEAs the Day,” said Bill Durham, a veteran who participated in last year’s inaugural week. This year, Durham, along with his fiancée, Mary Jayne, and service dog Annie will be returning to Bethany Beach as alumni representatives.

“I did not know anyone when I came here. I was leading a shut-in’s life, but I’m back a year later trying to volunteer and participate and help other people, because it was such a great experience,” he said.

Durham served in both the Army and Navy, and met Jayne while the two were in the Army. The two heard about Operation SEAs the Day through the Wounded Warrior Project and decided to apply for the opportunity.

A resident of Harrisonburg, Va., and a native of West Virginia, Durham had never been to Bethany Beach until last year’s Warrior Week.

“It’s beautiful here,” he said, adding that it was special to experience the community’s welcome when driving into town last year. “There were signs up welcoming the families. My fiancée did two combat tours in Iraq, as well. It was nice to come to an area that was welcoming you from the minute you’re there.

“I don’t know how far out the signs extended. I don’t know the boundaries of Bethany Beach. But I know, for miles before we got to where we were supposed to be, there were signs up welcoming the soldiers and their families.”

All of the Very Important Families (VIFs) will be staying in homes or condos donated for the week by local homeowners.

“‘Very Important Families,’ that’s what’s crucial to it, because that’s what it is — it’s the family. Operation SEAs the Day, they want to bring the families together. It’s not necessarily about the soldiers; it’s about healing the whole family,” said Durham, adding that the homeowners have been extremely generous to donate their homes to the nonprofit.

“To open your home up to people you don’t even know, and allow them to stay in your home, just on trust and goodwill of your fellow man, is kind of a rare thing today, and they had it for us. I think we all appreciated that. It was like going to stay in your family’s house.”

At the time of their arrival, each family will be presented with a welcome basket complete with various goodies and offerings of discounts/services from local retailers, entertainment venues, movie theaters, spas and salons, restaurants, fitness centers and more.

“There were numerous restaurants that had donated opportunities to go have a meal with your family. We had Giant Food donate a huge amount of groceries and goods. Each family had a welcoming bag of groceries and all the essentials that you would need for the week.

“Even if you forgot anything, when you showed up, you had everything you needed to have a wonderful time with your family, and the town of Bethany Beach and the sponsors had provided that,” he said. “It was a wonderful time because of the lovely people who are involved in the organization. It’s wonderful to have a town with people and organizations that care enough to put an organization like this together.”

To kick off the week, VFW Post 7234 will host a welcome reception and Sea Colony management has offered to host a beach bonfire and cookout.

After many events during the week, including golf, concerts, paddleboarding, boating and fishing, there will be a farewell brunch at the Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company’s fire hall.

One special memento that families received last year was a portrait on the beach.

“We have it up in our home now. Our moms and dads have it up in their houses now. It was a wonderful gift and memento to take home,” said Durham. “If you’re having a bad day or something, you can look at that portrait and remember the great time and the great people that care about you back here in Bethany Beach. It encapsulates you and takes you back to that time, to a fun time at the beach with your family.”

Durham added that one of his favorite activities during Warrior Week was when Charlie K’s held a barbecue lunch at their eatery.

“They had a bouncy house for the kids. It was wonderful. It was in the middle of the week. The families had made new friends with each other and helped support each other, and their kids were playing with each other,” he recalled.

“It’s always good to hear the laughter of children. Whatever your injury, your TBI or PTSD, missing a limb, whatever your handicap, it made you feel happy, because you heard children laughing and you were with good friends and people, having good food. It was just fantastic.”

This year, as alumni representatives, Durham and Jayne, along with the four other alumni families, will help with the week in whatever way they can.

“We have horses, and someone is donating therapeutic riding time,” said Durham. “My fiancée, one of her hobbies is photography, so she’s going to take pictures. I’m going to do everything from carry groceries to there are service dogs that come.

“Some of the soldiers have service dogs,” he explained. “Myself and my family, we’re going to babysit the service dogs a bit if the soldiers and their families would like. So they can go Jet-skiing or deep-sea fishing… We can keep their dog for them and allow them to enjoy water activities — kayaking, paddleboarding. Although one of the ladies had her service dog on a paddleboard last year...”

Durham was able to visit Bethany during the Fourth of July holiday to prepare for the September Warrior Week.

“I’m loving it. I’m getting to see some of the people I saw last year but in a different capacity. As an alumni representative, I get to talk to wonderful people and help spread the word. I’m going to some of the businesses that graciously supported us last year and continue to, and thanking them personally for their support, because it really does mean a lot,” he said, adding that he was able to enjoy some free time at the beach and hiking in the woods. “The dog’s on vacation, too. She’s enjoying time with other dogs.”

Durham said the beauty of Operation SEAs the Day was the acceptance and care that afforded the soldiers and their families the opportunity to heal in a peaceful and supportive environment.

“Obviously, we can’t take every family to the beach every year, but as they support each other, they’ll go back to their family, and family that have been in the military support them better — like a tree branching out. The roots are in Bethany Beach, but the leaves and everything will spread throughout other locations.

“All the people we met… we had individuals who were missing limbs, who had prosthesis, had scars and everything, and all the people just treated us as equals and accepted us for who we were. No one looked at any individual any differently. I think that helps the family heal.”

The weeklong respite is one that Durham said has forged many strong bonds between soldiers, their families and the local community that will only grow stronger.

“No, I didn’t know anybody, but I know a lot of people now. They’ve all been wonderful; I haven’t met a bad apple. Now I know people who live in Bethany Beach and I email them and talk to them on the phone. It was a vacation with long-lasting relationships. The other soldiers’ families who were here, my fiancée keeps in touch with the families we met here, and they support each other.

“Operation SEAs the Day may be a weeklong event but once you form those relationships and share the common experiences, it perpetuates itself into long-term bonds and a support network,” he added. “And it’ll just keep giving until we build, we hope, a big network of as much support as we can gather.”

Durham said he hopes that Operation SEAs the Day continues to give amazing support to soldiers and their families for years to come.

“My hope is that they get the same greeting that we got and leave a changed family like we did… That would be my hope,” said Durham. “I’m going to do everything in my power, and I know everyone else is also, to make sure that that happens. I want those families heal and go forth in life and do good things.”

For more information about Operation SEAs the Day, or to learn how to donate to or volunteer for the organization, visit www.operationseastheday.org or email warriorhost@operationseastheday.org.

Why should it be an insult to say someone does something “like a girl”?

Sarah Daisey Clark says it shouldn’t be, which is why she’s facilitating “Lead like a Girl,” a summer camp for girls in grades 5 to 9. Through the camp, Lead Your Way Solutions is aiming to help girls discover their personal strengths and authentic leadership style.

“Anyone can be a leader,” Clark said. “I think leadership is taking control of your own life [so girls] find strength and become advocates for themselves,” instead of seeing oneself as a victim.

Together, girls will combat challenges facing young women, such as communication in the age of social media, wellness, body image, the quest for perfection and enduring gender stereotypes.

There are two sessions — one for fifth- and sixth-graders (July 28-31) and another for seventh-, eighth- and ninth-graders (Aug. 4-7).

“Girl power” was a major theme of the 1990s, when Clark was growing up.

“People might say it was a fad, but at least it was out there and it was celebrated. It was tremendously powerful,” Clark said. “Today, you don’t see that celebration of girls’ empowerment.”

Children’s average of 10-plus hours per day of television and social media includes a lot of pretty faces, but “You don’t really see female leadership,” Clark said.

Many women will help Clark lead the conference, showcasing new ideas and role models.

When asked to name a strong female leader, Clark noted, girls “can’t think of anyone currently, because they don’t see that” in the media.

“At those ages, they’re so impressionable, but all they’re really presented with is images of femininity that are extremely negative and so stereotypical,” Clark said. “It gets to their psyche … and they start to think their looks are the most important thing, and their looks become their barometer of self-worth.”

Clark hopes to turn girls’ attention outward, help them gain a new perspective and let them see “there’s so much out there besides themselves.”

The girls will lead and collaborate during a stand-up paddleboard day at James Farm Ecological Preserve, followed by a community service project designed to point them in new directions. Between physical activity, mental health, community service and new role models, Clark said she hopes the girls will feel more empowered.

“They, hopefully, won’t be obsessing so inwardly. I think it’s really going to open up their minds,” Clark said. “We’re really trying to give them every opportunity to think outwardly.”

Some adults might think girls are too young to need to deal with some topics. But according to national studies, Clark said, women’s confidence peaks at age 9. That’s when they begin dieting, and by age 10 they are “afraid of being fat.” That’s fifth grade.

So a health specialist will participate in the camps to discuss yoga, stress-relieving tactics and other wellness issues.

After decades of “run like a girl” and “throw like a girl” being an insult, Clark said, “That’s absurd. When did something ‘like a girl’ become an insult? That made me angry. That’s not right at all. This program is going to take a stand against that.”

Clark’s ready to “reclaim that phrase, make it something really desirable, teach them leading like a girl is something to be proud of.”

She has read about males generally being much more confident than females — a “confidence gap” she hopes to reduce.

“My hope is that Lead like a Girl will be an antidote to that.”

Recently, Clark met a mother whose young daughter used to love singing — until another child mocked her, just once. Suddenly the girl became more reserved, stopped singing and wouldn’t audition for shows.

“One sting like that can set you back so much,” Clark mourned.

“I just want this program to be a safe space for girls to get together,” she said. “In this world, confidence is really everything.”

Lead Your Way Solutions is no stranger to leadership or youth programs. For 11 years, the leadership consulting company has led customized seminars for individuals and organizations. However, this female empowerment class is a pilot program, though Clark has taught entrepreneurship for local schools and studied women’s issues and leadership studies at University of Virginia.

The camps run four days each, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with a snack included. Scholarship funding is available for any girl in a federal need-based program, such as those who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches at school. Spots are filling up, and organizers are aiming for an intimate, special experience. The cost is $245 for the session (bring a friend and receive 10 percent by entering the promo code FRIEND at registration).

To learn more, contact Sarah Daisey Clark at (302) 858-6296 or sclark@leadyourwaysolutions.com.

Register online at www.leadyourwaysolutions.com/resources/calendar.

The camp is being hosted at The Learning Space, 35581 Atlantic Avenue, Millville. If successful, future seminars may be offered for girls and boys.

At the July 7 Millsboro Town Council meeting, Rick Davis from the engineering firm URS spoke to the council about the condition of the town’s streets.

“We physically walked every street in the town,” said Davis. “Basically, what we see throughout town is a lot of cracks, and the cracks are large.”

Davis said most of the town’s streets are middle-of-the-road, damaged street sections. He added that, throughout town, cracks were noticeable in the roads, which if left unaddressed would eventually lead to permanent failure.

“You could be one harsh winter away from having every road red,” he said of conditions that could become high-priority. “Without doing any geotechnical, work we have no idea what kind of subgrade is beneath the asphalt streets. Your flexible pavements are only as strong as what’s beneath them,” he said.

Davis said a detailed analysis through geotechnical evaluation, such as taking pavement cores, would be needed to further address the street issues. He added that addressing street repair will depend on the individual street, and the type of traffic will help determine the priority level of work on the town’s streets.

“Part of that is to look at the truck traffic and other vehicle traffic and design a section that would actually last,” he said. “Some of the other streets may be able to get away with sealer.”

He noted that the Town does have options for financing repairs, via grants from the State. Davis added that this initial report is just the beginning for the Town, which allows them to better address the issues the streets are facing.

Mayor Bob Bryan said that the council would review the information provided by URS and discuss the next step for street repairs at a future meeting.

During the meeting, the council also discussed the use of the stage in Cupola Park. Town Manager Faye Lingo said that the Town has received requests to hold weddings using the stage. She said that, due to previous council action, the stage is readied for a fee of $100 and the Town has never roped off the surrounding area for an event before.

She added that a local church group also requested to use the stage to hold a public concert, not sponsored by the Town, on Aug. 14.

“I don’t see anything wrong with it,” said Councilman Joseph Brady.

“I think we have a beautiful park, and we should allow it to be used,” agreed Councilman Tim Hodges. “We should have a process and applications, make sure we have a set of rules for them to abide by. … I think with weddings, also. In my opinion, that’s an appropriate use of the park.”

The council voted unanimously to approve ceremonies at the park, with a maximum of 200 people, with the understanding that the rest of the public has rights to use all land there, even during events, and that no alcohol may be consumed.

In other town news:

• Mike Mitchell of the Millsboro Fire Department stated that the Great Race was a great success when it drove through town on June 24.

“I think it was fantastic, to see groups that had never ever worked together before to come together and work as a group,” said Mitchell of the volunteers.

“Everybody pulled together... There were so many different groups,” added John Hall.

Hall said that Millsboro was one of the smallest towns the race stopped in over its nine-day drive and finished first for the Best Lunch Spot.

Bryan, who participated in the race, ranked fourth in his class and 20th out of 109.

“The people were just amazed,” said Bryan of his fellow drivers. “All I heard about was how good the lunch was. They were coming to me all week, telling me how much they enjoyed Millsboro.”

• Assistant Town Manager Matt Schifano said that the Town had had ongoing discussions with White Farm, which is leasing a property from the Town, regarding deer population control.

Schifano said that the Town has drafted a deer-control agreement for the property, which states that only eight potential people, whose names and phone numbers would be provided to the Town, may participate in controlled hunts on the property, with a maximum of five being able to hunt at the same time.

The agreement states that the date and time, along with the names of the people who would participate, must be sent to town hall three days prior, in writing. No permanent deer stands may be erected on the leased property.

The agreement also stipulates that the police chief, director of public works, town manager or assistant town manager can call off the hunt, if necessary.

The council unanimously approved the draft agreement by a vote of 6-0.

• Millsboro will hold a concert in Cupola Park on July 20, from 5 to 7 p.m., featuring Cathy Gorman. A rain date is scheduled for July 27. The concert is in memory of Alice Hudson.

• The Hon. Jeni Coffelt swore in District 3 Councilwoman Michelle Truitt and District-At-Large Councilman Joseph Brady at the meeting.

• The Millsboro Town Council will hold its next monthly meeting on Monday, Aug. 4, at 7 p.m. in the Town Center.

One of the West Ocean City, Md., brothers indicted last year in a multi-million-dollar cigarette smuggling ring that stored some of its contraband in a Dagsboro location pleaded guilty June 27 to enterprise corruption.

Samer Ramadan, 40, pleaded guilty to the charge, the most serious one against him, was scheduled to be sentenced to two to six years in a New York state prison on Monday, July 7.

As treasurer, Ramadan was second-in-charge in the smuggling operation that he told Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Foley was run by his brother, Basel, 43, who continues to be held without bond, according to the New York Attorney General’s Office. Basel Ramadan’s trial is expected to take place in October, but his next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 12.

When Homeland Security officers and New York authorities raided Basel Ramadan’s Oyster Harbor residence in May 2013, they found approximately $1.4 million in cash, some of which was in black trash bags. Many items, including three handguns, were removed from the house and vehicles and taken away. The vehicles were also taken away from the property.

The 303-page indictment gave details of the smuggling operation that involved purchasing cartons of cigarettes in Virginia, ostensibly to sell at Virginia businesses. That ruse permitted them to buy the cigarettes at a tax rate of 30 cents per pack. The cartons of cigarettes would be taken to storage facilities in Delaware. One of the storage facilities was in Dagsboro.

Several other people were allegedly involved in the lucrative cigarette smuggling enterprise. Adel Abuzahrieh, 43, of Brooklyn, N.Y., was the alleged transporter who drove several times weekly from Brooklyn to Dagsboro, where he exchanged tens of thousands of dollars in cash for cartons of cigarettes. Then he would take the cigarettes — approximately 20,000 cartons per week — north to New Jersey, where he would hand them over to distributors, who would take them to storage facilities in New York City.

Four additional men, called “resellers” by the New York Attorney General’s Office, would deliver the cartons to Arab markets and grocery stores in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Staten Island and Queens, where they would sell them for huge profits. Some of the cartons were sold in Schenectady and Albany.

In addition to the Ramadan brothers, 14 other alleged participants in the cigarette smuggling enterprise were indicted. Ahmad Abdelaziz, also of Brooklyn, pleaded guilty June 25 to enterprise corruption and will be sentenced to one to three years in prison Aug. 12.

Yousef Odeh, one of the alleged distributors, 53, allegedly had ties with Omar Abdel-Rahman, the blind Muslim cleric now serving a life sentence for a conspiracy to blow up New York City landmarks.

One of the alleged resellers, Muaffaq Askar, was suspected of providing weapons to Rashid Baz, who was convicted of shooting at a van carrying Yeshiva students as it crossed the Brooklyn Bridge in 1994. One student was killed in that attack.

New York Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly said last year that the association of some of the suspects in the cigarette smuggling ring with terrorists was cause for concern. Similar schemes had been used in the past to help fund terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah.

According to a 2013 press release from the Attorney General’s Office, the Ramadans allegedly deposited “more than $55 million from their untaxed cigarette sales into small financial institutions in and around Ocean City.” Then they would allegedly use that money to purchase more cigarettes to sell in their illegal enterprise. The press release stated that they generated more than $10 million in profits in the smuggling operation.

During the year-long investigation by the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Task Force and the New York City Police Department, with assistance of Homeland Security Investigations, law enforcement seized 65,000 forged New York tax stamps that had not yet been affixed to packs of cigarettes, as well as nearly 20,000 cartons of untaxed cigarettes and more than $200,000, from suspects in New York City.

All of the suspects were charged with enterprise corruption, money laundering and related tax crimes.

Basel Ramadan and Youssef Odeh of Staten Island were also indicted in October 2013 in connection with an alleged murder-for-hire plot. They were allegedly conspiring from behind bars to murder witnesses against them in the cigarette smuggling case.

“These defendants sought to kill individuals they believed to be witnesses to their crimes,” New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman stated in a press release. “This behavior is intolerable, and we are going to prosecute them to the full extent of the law. These two individuals cheated New York taxpayers out of millions of dollars in tax revenue and then tried to cover up their dangerous and lucrative smuggling operations, which hurt New York businesses, by committing the ultimate crime.”

Odeh pleaded guilty June 25 to enterprise corruption and conspiracy in the second degree (conspiracy to commit murder) and he faced sentences of two to six years in prison when he was sentenced Monday, July 7, according to the New York Attorney General’s Office.

Previously, Muaffaq Askar pleaded guilty to New York tax law 1814(a)(i), attempt to evade cigarette tax, and was sentenced to a conditional discharge, according to the Attorney General’s Office.

After placing first at the state level, rising Indian River High School seniors Lili Cooney and Katie Boyle went on to place seventh out of the entire nation at the HOSA-Future Health Professionals National Leadership Conference in Florida last week.

“It is a huge deal for Indian River,” said Cooney. “It was our first year ever competing in this competition, and we went and we won first in states, and then we won seventh in the nation.”

The 37th annual competition for HOSA, or Health Occupation Students of America, saw more than 7,000 students from across the nation — including more than 50 from Delaware. The students competed in a variety of categories, including health professions, emergency preparedness, health sciences, teamwork and leadership.

After completing their third year in the Health Professions program at Indian River, Cooney, who aspires to be a doctor, and Boyle, who aspires to be a pediatric nurse, utilized their training at the conference.

“Our first year, we do CPR and we get certified with that, and then our second year is med terminology — we learn how words are put together for the medical field,” Cooney explained of the program. “Our third year, we go out into the field and we do clinicals — we got to work with actual people.”

The girls competed in the health career display competition, in which they put together a five-minute presentation on orthopedic surgeons to present in front of the judges.

“It was friendly, but it wasn’t too friendly, because everybody was very serious about their competition,” Cooney explained.

“It opened my eyes to a new way of learning, through interacting with kids from all over the nation,” Boyle added regarding the experience.

The rest of the state of Delaware also fared well at the conference, as 18 other students placed in the top 10. The students ranged from Indian River and Sussex Central high schools, to larger technical schools, such as St. Georges, Polytech, Hogson Vo. Tech and Sussex Tech.

A vehicle traveling down Beaver Dam Road in Ocean View on July 8 failed to stop at a stop sign and ended up hitting an unoccupied home in Fairway Village.

According to Ocean View police, Timothy P. Whiston, 47, of Ocean View allegedly failed to stop his Ford F-350 pickup truck at the intersection of Beaver Dam Road and Central Avenue, skidded into the embankment across the street, hit the power pole’s guy wire, and then went airborne, traveling approximately 30 feet before landing back on the ground and driving into the side of a house.

“You can see skid marks that go right through the stop sign. You can actually follow the path of travel of the vehicle,” said OVPD Cpl. Rhys Bradshaw.

Police received a phone call from a passerby reporting the vacant vehicle around 4:40 a.m. on Tuesday.

“Someone found the car sitting here, and the driver was gone,” explained Bradshaw. “When we came out, the vehicle was cold, so we couldn’t determine the exact time that the accident happened.”

Bradshaw said the truck was in the process of being towed when Whiston reappeared at the scene, with visible bruising and lacerations on his face.

“He claims he wasn’t driving. He said someone else was driving, but he couldn’t tell us who. Through investigating the other owners of the vehicle and the other people who have access to the vehicle, nobody else had been driving. We found his cell phone in the car and his dog.”

Bradshaw said Whiston’s dog, which had been left in the vehicle, had a broken leg and internal injuries, which were being treated at a veterinary hospital.

He said police were unable to determine why the accident occurred, or if Whiston was intoxicated at the time of the incident.

“We don’t know. We didn’t have any intoxication indicators, and we had no reason to try and do a blood [test],” he said. “There’s a law in Delaware — it has to be within a four-hour window of someone walking away from a crash.”

Bradshaw said that Whiston’s truck had been totaled and the accident had caused approximately $10,000 worth of damage to the show home, located at 47 Eagle Drive. Although the car did not penetrate the home’s wall, it did cause damage to the exterior wall, gutters, yard and back porch, and inside the home, there were cracks.

Mitch Haskell, community sales manager for Fairway Village said that the accident showed the quality of the homes in Fairway Village, constructed by Insight Homes.

“It speaks to the quality of the house. It shows that we build concrete foundations and it’ll withstand this hit. Everyone knows we’re well-known for quality construction,” he said.

Whiston was charged with one count of criminal mischief over $5,000, a felony offense, as well as one count of cruelty to animals, one count of leaving the scene of a personal-injury accident, one count of failure to report a personal-injury accident, failure to stop at a stop sign, and failure to possess proof of insurance and registration for the car.

“There are warrants on file for him, but he’s in the hospital now,” said Bradshaw, noting that Whiston’s injuries were non-life-threatening.

Coastal Point • Shaun M. Lambert: The new Royal Farms in Ocean View is scheduled to hold a soft opening on Tuesday, July 14.The new Royal Farms location on Route 26 in Ocean View will open for business next week. The 24-hour gas and convenience store will have its soft opening at midnight on Tuesday, July 14, with an official ribbon-cutting on July 17 at 10 a.m.

The store will have 24-hour gas pumps and a Redbox kiosk located outside of the store, as well as various food items inside, including the chain’s fried chicken.

Ocean View Mayor Walter Curran said the store is unique in that they minimize the cost of ribbon-cuttings and instead donate money to area charities.

“They have named eight of them, starting with Mariner’s Bethel Church. The top charity gets $1,000 and the others receive $500 each,” explained Curren. “They’re already a very good neighbor.”

The new Royal Farms is located at 58 Atlantic Avenue in Ocean View.

The Ocean View Town Council this week discussed the possibility of turning Woodland Avenue Extended to West Avenue into a one-way street.

“This is an old topic being revisited,” noted Mayor Walter Curran.

Councilman Bob Lawless said the topic has been “kicked down the road” for a number of years.

“Woodland Avenue Extended is a mess. It’s difficult. It’s a blind curve, people who think a 25-mile-an-hour speed limit is a suggestion, rather than a law,” he said. “The road itself has been deteriorated, and we’ve been beating our heads against a wall, trying to get easements to correct that.”

Lawless said a solution to the problem would be to make it a one-way street.

Councilman Tom Sheeran said he was concerned that changing the two-way street to a one-way street could create issues.

“If it’s traveled at the proper speed limit, it’s not a problem,” he said. “I think we need to survey the other people on that street to find out their desires also.

“We’re in the middle of a three-year project on Route 26,” Sheeran added. “Do you want to dump all that extra traffic onto 26 during this project?”

Administrative Official Charles McMullen stated that the Delaware Department of Transportation did take the initiative to address area back roads, with the idea that during the Route 26 project, those roads would see heavier traffic.

“How many accidents have there been on that road? Do we have any statistics on that?” Sheeran asked.

“I can say it’s very limited,” said Ocean View Police Chief Ken McLaughlin of the number of collisions on the roadway. He added that there have been a few serious collisions in the past but that they were “few and far between.”

McLaughlin pointed out that the roadway also poses a danger to those who travel on bicycles.

“I’ve seen a number of near-misses coming around that turn… It can be pretty scary there,” said Curran.

“I don’t know what the answer is. Personally, I’m perplexed,” McLaughlin said, noting that the Town has been dealing with the issue since at least 2001, when he came to the town. “It’s another one of those cans that gets kicked down the road. I don’t know what the answer is. I believe there is a hazard that exists there.”

Curran said he has been contacted by a homeowners association for a community on Woodland Avenue Extended, which recommended speed bumps or changing the road to a one-way street during certain hours.

“I don’t think that’s a practical solution,” Curran said.

The council made plans to hold a public hearing and workshop in September regarding the roadway and requested that every property owner who can only access their property by traversing Woodland Avenue Extended be contacted regarding the meeting.

“They’re the ones who live on the street… I do believe they have the right and we ought to listen to what they have to say,” said Curran.

In other town news:

• McLaughlin said it has been a busy season for the police department.

“We are starting to feel some of the growth that has taken place over the last couple of years,” he said. “It’s been a busy summer for us so far — unusually large numbers of visitors to the town of Ocean View this summer, which is a good thing.”

• The Ocean View Police Department will hold a bicycle safety checkpoint at Taylor Bank in Ocean View on Friday, July 11, from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m.

In the past, said McLaughlin, approximately 100 bicyclists have participated in the checkpoints, which review bicycle safety and provides lights and reflectors to cyclists.

• Susan Kerwin and Jim LeGates were unanimously reappointed to Board of Adjustment.

The Millville Town Council has sent Millville By the Sea builders back to the drawing board after rejecting across-the-board easements for one neighborhood — a process that had already begun.

The council this week officially voted down a revised final site plan for Sand Dollar Village Phase II. Originally, to make up for small-sized lots, neighbors in Sand Dollar Village Phase II would share their lawns, each borrowing a chunk from another to create a livable yard.

“We’re not changing the property line. Homeowner A gives Homeowner B the right to use that 6-foot easement” for private enjoyment, said Doug Smith of Miller & Smith. “Both parties are fully aware of this before they go into any agreement.”

The houses are 24 feet wide, centered on 38-foot lots, meeting the Town’s 5-foot setbacks on either side. But with only about 12 feet between houses, each set of residents had two nearly useless strips of land on both sides.

But despite Millville Seaside Properties II having already sold homes with such easements in place, the Town of Millville only learned about the easements’ existence by accident, when Sussex County offices called to discuss a recently recorded Deed of Use Easement in April. The town council had approved the final site plan for Sand Dollar Village Phase II in February of 2013 without ever hearing about the proposed easements.

In June, the Millville Planning & Zoning Commission reluctantly recommended the matter be brought before the town council.

The easements for the community’s unoccupied homes have been stricken from Sussex County records for now.

“I’m sorry I have to come up before you this evening for this matter,” Smith said. In hindsight, he added, he felt they could have done the process differently. “When we’ve done these private use easements before, it wasn’t necessary to go before the board.”

“The final site plan had been approved without such easements,” Town Manager Debbie Botchie had explained after the June P&Z meeting. “Our code is very clear that all easements must be put on the site plan for review.”

The builders had interpreted Millville town code as only requiring notification for public easements. However, it was a systematic process applied to each property, rather than being initiated by individual property owners. Smith said the blanket process was done all at once for simplicity and consistency.

The town code doesn’t specifically require the purchaser (MSP II) to record such easement agreements, said Town Solicitor Seth Thompson

“It’s unfortunate how we ended up here tonight,” Thompson said. “Frankly, I think the applicant is trying to make things right” by what would really be responsibility of the sub-divider.

Millville Town Center was the original sub-divider of the land. The large Millville By the Sea community is split into neighborhoods, which are being sold in phases. Sand Dollar Village was bought by Millville Seaside Properties II (managed by Christopher Companies and Miller & Smith).

Potential buyers are educated about the easements, said Debbie Rosenstein. When buyers ask about a cottage, they get an informational packet. If they’re still interested, a salesperson physically tours a lot with them.

“We demonstrate how the entire side lot will be available for their use. We walk to the side porch, then to the alley,” so they understand how their property relates to the neighbor’s, Rosenstein said.

When a final contract is eventually signed, the buyer gets the official deed-of-use easement, which is attached to the property until the day two neighbors choose to cancel the contract, if ever.

“They wouldn’t sign the contract if they weren’t comfortable with the deed-of-use easement,” Rosenstein said.

Residents may not install permanent structures (buildings or sheds) or potentially hazardous items (barbecue grills and fire pits) in the 6.5-foot easement. However, gardens and paver patios are acceptable because they can be removed when the family moves out.

The council was concerned that disgruntled neighbors would bypass the HOA to complain about easement issues at Town Hall. But the Town would have no enforcement authority over the contract, which is what William Scott, the applicants’ attorney, recommended Town staff tell any complainers, just as police might not get involved in a civil dispute between neighbors.

“I would think it would reduce the amount of [conflict],” said Scott, since people wouldn’t be squeezing lawn chairs next to each other, and they could mow lawns on different days.

People could live better on 12 feet of lawn than two 6-foot strips, he said, explaining the rationale behind the creation of the easements. That could also increase property value.

Plenty of people rent beach homes on tight properties, “and everybody seems to coexist. They respect each other’s rights,” said Craig Hovenner of Christopher Companies and MSP II.

The homes are built to code and follow the Town’s setback requirements.

However, residents must get a building permit from Sussex County for a temporary patio. Although Millville doesn’t require a permit for that work, the Town charges tax rates based on County assessments. If the County charges the property owner and the easement benefactor, someone could pay slightly higher taxes because of her neighbor’s patio.

Hovenner said he notified the County of the easement situation in an attempt to avoid such taxation.

“That was the only proactive thing I could do,” he said.

Although the applicants weren’t aware of many, if any, such easements in Sussex County, Smith said California, Texas, Maryland and Virginia have plenty, including 300 to 400 built by Miller and Smith. A similar situation involving decks built partially on neighbors’ property does exist in the Sea Villas community in Bethany Beach, which led to the creation of a specialized zoning district there five years ago.

“Who’s insuring that 6.5 feet?” asked Mayor Gerald “Gerry” Hocker Jr.

“The owner that’s benefitting insures that 6.5 lot … provided it’s a recorded easement,” Scott said. “The home insurance you take out for your home covers that easement.” He did not mention if there is a reduction in insurance premium for the easement taken out of a property owner’s land.

Houses already sold and occupied were not part of the night’s discussion. Because the deeds had already been recorded, and the houses occupied, the Town has decided to let them be.

However, all of the remaining 12 lots are considered to be in violation.

The people speak

Frances Deering owns one such cottage.

“It was my choice. If I didn’t like the idea of the concept, I never would have bought it,” Deering said. “Everybody likes something different.”

She said her neighbors enjoy the simple concept of caring for the front, one side and back of the house.

“I like the concept of it. It’s very private, versus the single-family home,” she said. “If [renters] do something that I find offensive … I have a dialog with my neighbor. If I don’t, I go to the HOA. … It’s the owner’s responsibility.”

It might not appeal to all, but it does appeal to some, Smith said, and the builders, he said, took “every possibly precaution” to make it work.

Councilman Steve Maneri spoke on the issue as a resident, having stepped down from his council seat. He was concerned that the “injustice” at Sand Dollar Village would set a precedent for other builders to build on such tiny lots.

He also said people’s property taxes shouldn’t be raised one penny because of a neighbor’s improvement.

Five others spoke against the matter. Several were concerned about the HOA, which oversees no other easements and would possibly need a homeowner vote to manage it effectively.

P&Z Chairman Bob Linett repeated his disappointment about the problem, in light of Miller & Smith’s otherwise good dialog with the Town.

“Certainly the process we went though was not transparent. … At the end of the day, I hope you will agree there was a misunderstanding. We thought the language applied to public easements,” Hovenner said. “This was not intended to be sneaky… I can honestly say it was [planned] this way.”

Vote of rejection

The motion to accept a revised site plan with the easements was reluctantly seconded, for purpose of discussion. But the council unanimously rejected the idea, though they voted with a minimum quorum of three members, as one council seat remains empty and Maneri recused himself.

“I feel this is going to be a problem going forward. I hear them say the HOA’s going to be involved. I don’t see that happening,” Councilman Harry Kent said, having asked perhaps the most questions that night. “In the meantime, the Town of Millville’s going to be dragged into this.”

Councilman Bob Gordon agreed.

“Who’s going to maintain it? Who’s going to sit there and police it? I think it’s got more issues regarding the future than it does solutions for right now.”

“The product looks good. I’m sure it fits good within the community,” Hocker said. “But it’s so new, I just think the Town needs better data for the future. … Prove to the Town that this can work,” he said. “Once the Town were to approve it, Millville sets the tone for the future.”

In other news from the Town of Millville, the Millville Farmers Market continues every Thursday morning, while workshops July 17 and Aug. 14 will offer free blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol screenings with Beebe Healthcare. An Aug. 21 workshop will focus on composting, water conservations and low-maintenance landscaping with Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control representatives.

The Millville Town Council will meet next for a July 22 workshop, at 7 p.m.

Last Monday’s regularly scheduled Frankford Town Council meeting was all but regular, with an appearance by Town Solicitor Dennis Schrader and Council President Jesse Truitt announcing he would be stepping down from council.

“I’ve just been doing it for 24 years. It’s time for someone else to learn how to do it,” said Truitt in response to a question as to why he was stepping down. “I’m gonna finish out my term.”

Truitt’s decision comes after a hectic couple of months for the town council as they have moved to implement a pension program for Town employees — one of whom is Truitt’s wife, Town Clerk Terry Truitt.

Throughout the process, some residents have accused the Truitts of nepotism on different issues. Schrader offered his legal opinion during the July 7 meeting to clear up one of those concerns. Some residents had expressed concerns that, when the related town charter change was voted upon by the council, it wasn’t done legally, because they only had two votes, with Jesse Truitt abstaining since the vote would impact his wife, Terry.

“If you have a quorum, it’s the majority of the quorum,” explained Schrader of the legality of the matter. “Somewhere out there, there’s some misunderstanding of how the charter gets changed.” He went on to note that no final decision on the matter of the pension plan has yet been made.

After the content of the meeting shifted to be more like an open forum, Schrader reminded the residents that the regularly scheduled meeting of the council is a public meeting, not a public hearing and that residents were not permitted to go over their allotted three-minute time restriction for asking questions.

“This is a public hearing. This is not a public meeting,” said Schrader, struggling to maintain order.

While discussion continued amongst residents unsatisfied with the answers they’d been given, the council decided to table the decision of whether or not council Vice President Joanne Bacon would step in as president. Councilman Charles Shelton motioned that Bacon take over at the council meeting.

“I think that since the president stepped down, the vice president should step in,” Shelton suggested. “That’s my vote. We might not have enough to vote here in August.”

“I agree with Charles,” added Secretary/Treasurer Cheryl Workman. “I think the next person in line should be Joanne.”

Despite her fellow council members’ views on the matter, Bacon asserted that she would like to think about the decision.

“I, myself, would like a little bit more time to review before I accept it,” said Bacon. “If I’m not given that time, then I would decline.”

Councilwoman Pam Davis was not present at the July 7 meeting.

The next regularly scheduled town council meeting will be on Monday, Aug. 4, at 7 p.m.

Emergency roadwork will close one lane of Route 26 on early Saturday morning, July 12.

From midnight to 7 a.m., traffic will alternate between Railway Road and Clubhouse Road in Millville. Follow flaggers and drive carefully.

Emergency roadwork is due to the heavy rains that the area has received during the previous three nights. Roadwork will not typically occur on Friday nights in summer.

Regular lane closures July 14 to 18

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 for a new drainage system.
• at the Old Mill Road intersection (Food Lion) for reconstruction.
• between Railway Road and Clubhouse Road (Millville Town Hall) for a new drainage system.

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.

Lt. Gov. Matt Denn, chairman, of the Delaware Criminal Justice Council announced this week that the group unanimously confirmed the appointment of Sussex County resident Christian L. Kervick as its executive director.

Kervick, who had been serving as acting executive director, was already leading the statewide criminal justice planning agency after former director Drewry N. Fennell took a position as policy advisor to Gov. Jack Markell in March 2014.

The Delaware Criminal Justice Council is an independent agency committed to leading the criminal justice system through a collaborative approach that calls upon the experience and creativity of the council, all components of the criminal justice system and the community. As the state administering agency, the Criminal Justice Council plans, implements and administers more than $30 million of state and federal criminal justice dollars.

In announcing the appointment, Denn said, “Chris Kervick has worked for the CJC for over 16 years, including two stints as acting executive director. During that time, he has gained the confidence and trust of the CJC members, the federal government and the organizations with whom we work because of his integrity and work ethic.

“He has been a great steward of the federal grant dollars that the CJC is trusted with. The board members were thrilled to have the opportunity to select him unanimously as executive director.”

During his career with the Criminal Justice Council, Kervick has served as deputy director under the two previous executive directors as well as acting executive director. Among his many roles at the council, he has also served as director of programming and juvenile justice specialist.

Kervick is also a member of the Board of Directors of the National Criminal Justice Association and has chaired the Northeast Region of the NCJA for the past three years, giving Delaware a voice at the national level of criminal justice policy development.

CJC Board Vice Chair the Hon. Chandlee Johnson Kuhn, chief judge of the Family Court, noted of Kervick, “As the juvenile justice specialist, Chris was recognized at the national level with the Coalition for Juvenile Justice 2010 Tony Gobar Outstanding National Juvenile Justice Specialist award.

“Chris’ experience and passion for the criminal justice system in Delaware is unparalleled. I look forward to working with him and his team in addressing the serious problems facing our communities, especially in the area of juvenile violence prevention.”

On his appointment, Kervick said, “The criminal justice system is currently facing several complex issues. I am honored to serve as executive director of the Criminal Justice Council and look forward to working with our Council to implement effective programs that will improve our system, provide appropriate services to our neighbors in need and to increase the overall safety of the citizen’s in our state.”

Kervick holds a master’s degree in criminal justice from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, Pa.

Beginning in 2003, the Highway One Group each summer has sponsored a series of runs and walks in Dewey Beach. On Saturday, July 26, starting at 8 a.m., Races2Run will present the 100th run. It will also be a historic day for runners and Hall of Famers Jerry Denny, Jerry McNesby and Jules Woodall, who have run every one of the 100 races.

As part of the Ten Sisters of Dewey Beach Summer Running & Walking Series 2014, the 13th Northbeach 5K, Pump & Run and College Day will start and end at Northbeach restaurant, located at 125 McKinley Street (on the bay) in Dewey Beach.

“This run is the annual opportunity to bring your college buds, your friends, family, beach house members and have fun. Warm up with the Pump and Run followed by the 5K Run/Walk. The morning ends with the great post-race party and, ‘just like your college days,’ includes beer for those over 21,” organizers said.

Races2Run, with the sponsorship of the Highway One Group, offers the series of runs each summer. All courses are USATF certified, with chip timing. Entrants receives a gender-specific tech shirt, giveaways and awards to overall male and female, masters male and female, top three in five-year age categories from 9 and younger to 80 and older, and top male and female walkers.

“Wayne and Barb Kursh, race directors, invite Penn State and all college supporters in the area to come to the Northbeach restaurant and see how much fun you will have with your old friends and new friends while visiting Dewey Beach. Plus you never know what celebrity may show up!”

Parking is free in Dewey on race day, until 11 a.m.

Registration is available online for this and other 10 Sisters of Dewey Beach races, at www.races2run.com and at Rehoboth Running Company, and will open at 7 a.m. on day of the race. The cost is $20 in advance and $25 on race day. The race begins at 8 a.m. sharp.

Individuals who complete all Ten Sisters running events this season receive special awards. For additional information about registration, or for team entries, contact Barb@races2run.com.

Special to the Coastal Point • Caroline Donovan: Rachel Hudson looks for a fly ball in a game against Laurel on Monday, July 14.The road back to the Big League Softball World Series certainly offers its fair share of potential speed bumps for the Millsboro team. Obstacles to overcome include balancing time between work and softball, frequent doubleheaders and Laurel pitcher Reagan Green.

However, after trading wins in Monday’s doubleheader against Laurel at the Pyle Center in Roxana, the team finds themselves with a 4-2 advantage in the 12-game series that will decide which area team represents host District III at the World Series next month, right there at the Pyle Center.

“I think we’re looking good,” said Millsboro coach Monroe ‘Monnie’ Hudson. “Defensively, we’re good. Pitching, we’re good. We just gotta string the hits together, and this game we just couldn’t connect the hits.”

Despite not being able to put together their best hitting performance against Green in the first game, the team bounced back for the win in the late game that evening. Hudson said that hitting had not been a problem so far in the season — even when facing Green.

“Usually, it’s a fairly close game, with the exception of the first game the other night We went out and really hit the ball hard,” he explained of the game that included two home runs and a grand slam. “Usually, we’re playing for one or two, and sometimes it comes down to small ball. Reagan is always on. She’s a great pitcher, but we can hit her. We just gotta make the adjustments at the plate.”

Of course, Laurel isn’t the only team in the series with their strength lying in their pitching. The Millsboro own bullpen includes Indian River High School All-State selection Rachel Hudson and Sussex Central’s Shelby Wilkins and Mykala Steele.

“That’s definitely an advantage,” said Monnie Hudson. “It is good to change the pitchers up and let the team see something different.”

“It gives me a break,” added Rachel Hudson, who is coming off a high-school season in which she pitched most games through their entirety. “I think I’m way more relaxed — especially hitting — so I don’t have to always be stressed out. I can just relax, focus on my hitting one game and then the next game focus on my pitching.”

One of the prime examples of balancing a full-time work schedule with World Series aspirations is shortstop Karlie Smith, who returned directly from a lifeguard competition in Dewey Beach on Monday, as a member of the Fenwick Island Beach Patrol, to make it to the Pyle Center for the late game.

“When you’re playing softball, you’re taking off days from work. And when you’re working, you’re taking off days from softball,” she explained. “I think we all do a really good job of balancing it, because we all know that softball is all of our main focuses. Right now, we’re just doing everything we can to keep winning games.”

No matter the outcome of the 12-game series, for the players off to college next season, facing a high level of competition will only make them more prepared to compete at the collegiate level.

“I think the girls that are heading off the college — this is definitely gonna make them better, it’s good for them,” Coach Hudson said.

“That’s the reason why a lot of us play,” added Smith. “To face the best competition in the area.”

Coastal Point • Laura Walter: Children have planted this garden in May, in partnership with the Selbyville Public Library, and continue to maintain it.For once, kids are being encouraged to get dirty, and the Selbyville Public Library is leading the way.

The Selbyville Children’s Garden was planted in May by about 12 children in the library’s summer reading program. Now, every Tuesday at 4 p.m., children can attend the reading program — but they can help take care of their garden all week long. That means pulling weeds and watering the many plants.

“They love it,” said children’s librarian Ronshell “Shelly” Purnell.

They’re growing tomatoes, peppers, radish, cucumbers, squash, basil, parsley, cantaloupes and more. A line of sunflowers along the side of the library building is expected to reach 7 feet tall.

The veggies will be used in the teens’ Chop Challenge cooking program. They’ve even made a few dollars selling vegetables in the library.

“The parents say, ‘How do you get kids to come out and play in dirt and we can’t get ’em to clean their rooms?’” Purnell laughed. “It’s all about putting fun in little stuff like this.”

The 37th Annual Nanticoke Indian Association Powwow will be held Saturday, Sept. 6, and Sunday, Sept. 7, at the powwow grounds east of Millsboro.

The grounds will open at 10 a.m. on Sept. 6, with Grand Entry at noon. A second dance session will be held at 4 p.m., with grounds closing for the day at 7 p.m. On Sept. 7, the Worship Service will begin at 10 a.m., with Grand Entry at 1 p.m. Dancing, storytelling and more will be held throughout the afternoon before the grounds close at 5 p.m.

The powwow will include American Indian drummers and singers, representatives of more than 40 tribes visiting from across Indian Country, authentic Indian art and craft vendors, Nanticoke Indian Museum tours, the Sunday-morning Worship Service, Native American foods and more.

The powwow grounds are located at 26800 John J. Williams Highway, in the middle of a wooded area off Route 24 (John J. Williams Highway) about 8 miles east of Millsboro. Signs will be posted along Route 24 between Routes 113 and 1.

For more information, call the Nanticoke Indian Center at (302) 945-3400, e-mail info@nanticokeindians.org or visit them online on their website at nanticokeindians.org.