The third annual Bethany Beach First Responders Sprinternational Triathlon-Duathlon, sponsored by Meris Properties, will be held on Sunday, Sept. 21, to benefit the Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company and first-responders in the fire and EMS service of the Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company, with options to support Autism Speaks and Share-A-Lot. Triathlon, duathlon and aquabike options will be offered.

The event will begin at 7:30 a.m. on Sept. 21. It is a USA Triathlon-sanctioned event, produced by Seashore Striders Event Productions Inc. The event will start with a point-to-point ocean swim. The transition area will be at Garfield Parkway and Atlantic Avenue in downtown Bethany Beach. The bike and run will encompass Bethany Beach, North Bethany, the Indian River Inlet Bridge and South Bethany.

The race will end on the Bethany Beach boardwalk, with an after-party catered by sponsor Bethany Blues and awards ceremony at the bandstand. There will also be a Beer Garden at Mango’s, sponsored by Mango’s and 3rd Wave Brewing Co.

Each year since its inception, the event has sold out, so athletes are being encouraged to register now; already, more than 575 athletes have registered. Athletes will have the opportunity to compete in one of three races, featuring finishing medals, and overall, first-timers, masters, Clydesdale, Athena, First Responder and age-group awards.

Events include:

• The Triathlon — A 1,000-meter (.62-mile) ocean swim, 30K (18.5-mile) bike ride and 7K (4.35-mile) run.

• The Duathlon — A 1,000-meter (.62-mile) beach run, 30K (18.5-mile) bike ride and 7K (4.35-mile) run.

• The Aquabike — A 1,000-meter (.62-mile) ocean swim and 30K (18.5-mile) bike ride, followed by less than a quarter-mile run to the finish line.

There are several clinics that will offer help to first-timers preparing for the events and those preparing for the ocean swim.

In addition to the day-of races and festivities, the Bethany Beach First Responders Sprinternational Triathlon-Duathlon-Aquabike will host a weekend-long series of events. On Friday, Sept. 19, there will be a Pre-Race Party held at the Starboard restaurant in Dewey Beach, featuring music, food and special beverage pricing.

On Saturday, Sept. 20, from 3 to 8 p.m., the Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Department will host the Packet Pick-Up and Sports Expo, which will feature multi-sport products and services and will be open to the general public.

Sponsorships are currently available, at a variety of price points. Sponsors to date include: Meris Properties, Creative Resource Group , PNC Bank, ResortQuest, Hyatt Place Dewey Beach, The Starboard, The Cottage Café, 3rd Wave Brewing Company, Bethany Beach Books, Mango’s, Bethany Blues, Baja Beach House Grill, Cycling Center of Coastal Delaware, The Dispatch, D3Corp, Delaware Wave, Rehoboth Beach Sports, Marine Homes, the Coastal Point, Peninsula Oil & Propane, Bethany Dental Associates, Wilgus Associates, Tansey-Warner Real Estate, Vita Coco and Sea Colony.

For more details, including registration information, sponsorship information, ocean swim and transition area clinics information, or to volunteer, visit www.bethanybeachtri.com.

El Centro Cultural is inviting the public to attend the 20th anniversary of Festival Hispano. This year, the community event will be held on Sunday, Aug. 10, in Millsboro. Festival Hispano starts at noon and lasts until 6 p.m. The event is free for the whole family and located at the Millsboro Little League Complex at 262 W. State Street in Millsboro.

El Centro Cultural began the event 20 years ago to highlight local talent and expose area residents to traditional music and dances from Latin America. Festival Hispano offers a day for everyone to experience music, dances and food, as well as a cultural celebration for the Hispanic immigrants who have come from many different countries to live and work in Sussex County.

Festival Hispano is made possible, in part, by grants from the Delaware Division of the Arts. In addition, Festival Hispano is made possible by the following sponsors: Atlantic General Hospital, Bayhealth Medical Center, Beebe Healthcare, Discover Bank, Division of Motor Vehicles, El Mercado Market, Harvard Business Services, La Tonalteca, M&T Bank, Perdue Farms and the Sussex County Council.

“El Centro Cultural is proud to celebrate Festival Hispano in the town of Millsboro and would like to recognize the Town of Millsboro, the Millsboro Chamber of Commerce and the Millsboro Little League for their support and commitment to Festival Hispano,” organizers said.

Festival Hispano will celebrate all countries of Latin America, with a special emphasis on Mexico this year. Citlali, a children’s dance group from Wilmington, will open the event at noon with a parade, a salute to Latin America and traditional dances. Mariachi King Kong from the Washington, D.C., area will perform at 1 p.m.

A special performance of pre-Hispanic Aztec dances will be presented by Azteca Cenzontle Cuicatl from Philadelphia at 2 p.m. Another local dance group, Baile Folklorico de Frankford, will perform folkloric dances from the state of Veracruz at 3:30 p.m. Finally, Mariachi Rey Azteca from Reading, Pa., will perform at 5 p.m.

Festival Hispano will have a designated children’s area with a moon bounce, piñatas, activities, and information from social service agencies in the Sussex County that target Hispanic families.

There will be a contest of traditional clothes from Latin American countries at 3 p.m. in the children’s area. The contest is open to anyone who wants to participate, and there will be prizes for best youth outfit, best adult outfit and best couple outfit. Also, the food vendors will be offering tacos, pupusas and aguas frescas.

For more information, visit the website at www.elcentrocultural.org.

The Matt Haley Companies recently donated $4,500 worth of new kitchen equipment and catering equipment — from spatulas to mixing bowls to chafing dishes — to the Sussex Community Correction Center in Georgetown, which offers a certificate program in the culinary arts to the offender population. Instructors and educators from Polytech’s Adult Education program have been contracted to teach the initial certificate class.

“A program similar to this one turned my life around,” said Haley, who learned the culinary arts while in a rehabilitation program. “Equipped with the right skills, determination — and help of some very supportive people — I worked my way up through the ranks in the restaurant kitchens.”

His company owns eight restaurants, a catering company, a hospitality management division and a hospitality consulting business.

The center’s certificate program runs through Sept. 26. Students are required to complete 320 hours of training, including the completion of 18 hours of remediation in math and reading, and 222 hours of practical skills and performance testing, which includes the restaurant industry’s standardized ServSafe exam. They must also complete an eight-hour internship at a local restaurant.

Enrolled students were sentenced by the courts to either the Level IV work release program or CREST, a Level IV residential treatment program that’s focused on behavior modification.

“Matt Haley was instrumental in assisting with all aspects of initiating the culinary program,” said Sgt. Sandy Dale of the Sussex Community Corrections Center. “He continues to be an active supporter, offering to volunteer his time by conducting lectures, demonstrations, and giving seminars and motivational speaking to the offender population.” Haley helped select equipment and offered suggestions to help shape the course curriculum.

With the list of needed kitchen equipment in hand, Business Office Manager Catherine Baker contacted Haley to see if he had any used equipment to donate. Haley took the list and ordered new items from his suppliers and delivered them to the facility.

“All the items delivered were excellent commercial-grade quality, with the majority being aluminum and stainless steel,” Dale said. “This massive delivery exceeded what we had ever anticipated receiving.”

Among the items: new knives, including 10 chef knives and 10 offset utility knives; roasting pans, stockpots and colanders; mixing bowls and salad bowls; sheet trays; cutting boards and hotel pans; measuring cups and spoons; and ladles, whisks, tongs, slotted serving spoons an scrapers. Even an egg-slicer was in the mix.

“We donated the tools that will help them prepare a catered meal,” said Scott Kammerer, chief of operations for Rehoboth Beach-based Matt Haley Companies.

The company has also offered staff to teach the offenders and offer insight into the industry.

“Some of the people in the program might help us with our catered events,” Kammerer said. The Matt Haley Companies employs about five people in work-release programs each year to work in its restaurants’ kitchen.

“There were people in my life who gave me the chance to succeed; they believed in me,” said Haley, who received the James Beard Foundation’s 2014 Humanitarian of the Year Award. “I’m determined to do the same thing for others.”

On Saturday, Aug. 9, the Historic Lewes Farmers Market will open at the Lewes Historical Society Complex, 110 Shipcarpenter Street at the corner of West 3rd and Shipcarpenter streets in Lewes, from 8 a.m. to noon, featuring the 8th Annual HLFM Tomato Festival.

HLFM vendors will have an array of local tomatoes, in addition to a multitude of other fresh, local fruits and vegetables, meat, fish, chicken, freshly-laid eggs, baked goods, milk, yogurt, ice cream, plants, herbs and fresh flowers for the table. There will also be tomato pie, tomato basil sauce, tomato jam, tomato chutney, tomato hot pepper jelly, tomato basic soup, tomato tarts and other tomato-based offerings.

Patrons will have the opportunity to taste more than 40 different varieties of ripe, juicy Delmarva tomatoes, including many heirlooms. Tasting will be held at various vendors’ tents.

The Great Tomato Recipe Contest will run from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Contestants have submitted their recipes and will bring to the market their entries in three contest categories: Appetizers/Soups, Entrees (Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner) and Desserts/Drinks. Prizes to be awarded include: a $100 gift certificate to the market as first grand prize, with $75 and $50 gift certificates for second- and third-place winners.

Judging will be done by five local chefs: Bill Clifton (Henlopen City Oyster House), Aaron Berg (The Buttery), Ian Crandall (Kindle), Jay Caputo (Espuma Restaurant & Martini Bar, Rose & Crown and Water Ice Shack) and Denise Clemons (Cape Gazette food editor). Winners will be announced when judging completes, shortly after 11 a.m.

The winner of the game to guess the number of cherry tomatoes in a jar will receive an official HLFM T-shirt and a “No Farms—No Food” baseball cap.

For young tomato lovers, Maureen Miller from the Lewes Public Library will be reading “I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato” by Lauren Child during the Children’s Reading Hour in the School House at 9 a.m. Children will be treated to face painting beginning at 9:30 a.m., and the market’s version of cornhole — Tomato Hole — as well.

The HLFM is encouraging market patrons to wear red to celebrate this year’s crop of tomatoes and the Historic Lewes Farmers Market Tomato Festival.

The Market continues to process SNAP (EBT Food Stamps). To help lower economic barriers to local, healthy food, the HLFM will match up to $10 with HLFM Bonus Bucks. SNAP participants are encouraged to go to the SNAP Information Tent at the Market to redeem the Bonus Bucks incentive.

More information about the market is available at www.historiclewesfarmersmarket.org.

As FOSCL wraps up another Beach & Bay Cottage Tour, not a step is being missed in gearing up for the group’s Summer Book Sale, Aug. 14-16.

A summer staple of Bethany Beach documented as the “Annual Book Sale” in the 1998 FOSCL newsletter, the event continues to be one that many visitors consider when scheduling their vacation, noted Theo Loppatto, FOSCL Book Sale Committee and FOSCL publicity chair. All proceeds of the event go to the library, to enhance and improve its services and programs to the community.

The book sale kicks off on Thursday, Aug. 14, at 10 a.m. at the South Coastal Library. The sale takes place Thursday, Aug. 14, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday, Aug. 15, from 1 to 5 p.m.; and Saturday, Aug. 16, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Unique to this fundraiser is its green character, Loppatto said. The materials on sale are donations from the community, and the sale itself is produced and directed by volunteer members of the community the library serves, both full-time residents and summer-only residents and visitors.

“Furthermore, it is not uncommon to see a particular book or other material donated, purchased, re-donated and repurchased; and the green cycle continues,” she said. “The dedicated cadre of volunteers look forward to their stint at the book sale as an opportunity to visit with friends and see neighbors as they move through the sale,” she added.

“Many of the book sale volunteers have been working the sale for years and have their own area of expertise. For example, among our set-up crew, there are volunteers who for years have set up a particular area of the sale room, be it bestsellers, non-fiction, children’s materials, DVDs and CDs, or paperbacks,” said Loppatto. “They know the materials and the most effective way to display them.”

She described the production for the sale itself as being like a finely tuned ballet.

“The Friends of South Coastal Book Sale Committee sets up tables and places signage throughout the room early the day prior to sale,” Loppatto said. “At 10 that same day, a dedicated group of volunteers arrives with trucks and hand trolleys to physically move the merchandise from its storage facility into the library. After they finish, another group of volunteers comes to unpack and arrange the materials in the sale room.

“This process reverses itself at the end of the sale,” she noted. “During the three days of the August sale, another wonderful group of volunteers serve as cashiers and customer service assistants to ensure customer satisfaction.

“This year’s sale promises to be full of wonderful materials judging by donations that continue to come to the library and are accepted up to and throughout the sale,” Loppatto said. “There may even be a few surprise sale events!”

Nancy Powichroski Sherman, author of Sandy Shorts, will appear at Bethany Beach Books, at 99 Garfield Parkway in Bethany Beach, on Aug. 18 at 6:30 p.m. to sign books, answer questions and talk about her inspirations for the stories in the book. The stories are set in Bethany Beach, Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach and other coastal towns and reference local restaurants, beaches, bars, stores and other familiar locations.

“Surprisingly, the cottage is exactly as Dana, our coworker, had described it — a yellow-shingled house with intense blue wooden shutters and a wide front porch with a small balcony above it — a classic Bethany Beach cottage, and less than two blocks from the boardwalk,” begins “That Kind of Girl,” one of two stories in Sandy Shorts that are set in Bethany Beach.

Through a mix-up, the women have rented the Bethany Beach cottage for the same week that a pair of men — friends of Dana’s ex-husband — have rented it. The resulting confusion yields humor, romance and fun.

Nancy Powichroski Sherman is an award-winning author who has already written some beach reads. Two of her stories were chosen for “The Beach House,” a book of beach reads set in Rehoboth. The stories in “Sandy Shorts” that are set in Bethany Beach mention the boardwalk, Bethany Beach Books, Mango’s, the Artful Bean and other local spots.

“Bethany Beach is a great backdrop for a beach read,” said Sherman. “On the surface, it is a quiet little town, but there is so much happening here.”

The cover of the book features an illustration by local artist Patti Shreeve, whose work often appears in Delaware Beach Life and other publications. It is designed to capture the spirit of the book, and the title’s play on words, with two pairs of beach shorts capturing a summer breeze on a clothesline. The drawing continues on the back of the book, where a towel on the same clothesline serves as a backdrop for information about the book.

“Sandy Shorts” is available at Bethany Beach Books in Bethany Beach and at independent bookstores in other coastal towns. For more information, visit the publishing company’s website at www.catandmousepress.com or its Facebook page, www.facebook.com/catandmousepress.

Cat & Mouse Press announced on Aug. 4 the winners of the 2014 Rehoboth Beach Reads Short Story Contest. The contest sought beach reads set in Rehoboth that fit the theme “The Boardwalk.” The 25 stories selected will appear in a book that the company will publish later this year.

The book resulting from last year’s contest, “The Beach House,” has been a bestseller at Browseabout Books in Rehoboth, which is the contest sponsor and the only bookstore outlet for the Rehoboth Beach Reads books.

“Locals and visitors alike enjoy reading the stories, which mention many local streets, restaurants, hotels and activities,” Cat & Mouse Press representatives noted.

The first-place winner for the 2014 contest is Joseph Crossen of Dover, who also had a story in “The Beach House.” The story he submitted this year, “The Case of the Artist’s Stain,” is a tale that brings legendary detective Sherlock Holmes to Rehoboth. Crossen received the $500 cash prize sponsored by Browseabout.

Second prize went to Tiffany Schultz for her story “The Keepers,” in which fans of a home makeover show learn what in life is worth keeping. Third prize was given to Dennis Lawson for his story “No Business at the Beach.” Area residents may remember that Lawson’s noir story from “The Beach House,” “Fair Warning,” was made into a radio drama, which aired on Delmarva Public Radio and can be listened to online at http://delmarvapublicradio.net/post/delmarva-today-writers-edition-13.

The six judges for the Rehoboth Beach Reads contest each chose a story that they felt deserved special merit. Authors whose stories won judge’s awards include: Sandy Donnelly, Jen Epler, Matthew Hastings, Chris Jacobsen, Keith Phillips and Renay Regardie.

Other writers whose stories were selected for “The Boardwalk” include: Terri Clifton, Bob Davis, Heather Lynne Davis, Robin Glanden, Kimberly Gray, Elizabeth Harner, Cathy Heller, Mary Ann Hillier, Margaret Kirby, Trish Kocher, Bruce Krug, Emily Littleton, Nancy Michelson, Russell Reece, Judy Shandler and David Strauss.

Judges for the 2014 contest were Rich Barnett, Sarah Barnett (no relation to Rich), Lisa Graff, Kristen Gramer, Alex Colevas and Ramona DeFelice Long.

The Rehoboth Beach Reads Short Story Contest invites writers to submit short pieces of fiction or nonfiction that are “entertaining, interesting, humorous, or just plain fun.” Each story must incorporate the year’s theme and also have a strong connection to Rehoboth Beach. A panel of judges selects the best entries, which are published in a paperback book. “The Boardwalk” will be available for sale at Browseabout Books later this year.

The most recent book from Cat & Mouse Press is “Sandy Shorts,” a book by Nancy Powichroski Sherman that features beach reads set in Bethany Beach, Dewey, Lewes, Rehoboth, Ocean City, and other coastal towns.

For more information on the contest and on books published by Cat & Mouse Press, visit the company’s website at www.catandmousepress.com and follow its Facebook page, www.facebook.com/catandmousepress.

The 36th Annual Sandcastle Contest was held on Saturday, Aug. 2, at Fisherman’s Beach in Rehoboth Beach.

Winners in the Top 10 Judge’s Favorites — Adult (15 & older) included:

• “Card Sharks” — David DeVitra, Justin Chimies and Emily Chimies;

• “Dark & Stormy Knight” — Andy West;

• “Turtle Walker” — Eric Bollinger, Glenda Roberts, Beverly Brown, Ashley Roberts, Sadie Bishop, John Webb and Amanda Roberts;

• “Stuck” — Reese Brittingham and Eddy Seger;

• “Think Outside the Sandbox” — by Sandscapers, Kathryn Allen, Karlie Allen, Kayla Allen, Aubrey Miller and Jacob Miller;

• “Roast Busters” — Lynn Williams, Heather Williams, Krista Williams and John Boyer;

• “It’s A Jungle Out There” — Sheri Miller, Brenda Harvey, Greg Miller, Christine Miller, Rita Sharp, Ariella Sharp, Mary Ann Hoffecker, Scott Hoffecker, Alex Jacobs, Steve Borchelt, Cindi Borchelt, Joseph Cremi, Gary Stultz, Sue Stultz, Troy Hartman, Lisa Hartman, Kim Parish, Ashley Parish, Cheyenne Peet, Jeff Jacobs, Brent Miller, Jessica Thomas and Pam Osborne;

• “Just Chill” — Robert Hedden, Sava Hedden and Allisen Hedden;

• “Putin on the Blitz” — David O’Brien, Shai Segall, Patricia Joo, Dewan Clay and Devon Clay; and

• “Test Your Smoke Detector” — Larry Murray, Cassandra Murray and Miranda Murray.

Winners in the Top 10 Judge’s Favorite — Child (7-14) included:

“Mermaid Mack” — Ella Niedelman, Hailey Smith, Ian Smith and Mackenzie McVay;

• “The Dead Want Their Treasure Back” — Trevor Tiffany;

• “Sphinx” — Emma Whalen and Audrey Whalen;

• “Bowl of Fruit” — Grace Conway and Abbie Conway;

• “King Tut & Sarcophagus” — Raymond Menoni and Reece Menoni;

• “Turtle with Grass” — Sydney Wilson;

• “Anchor’s Away” — Price Lindsay and Mikaylah;

• “Dragons and Egg” — Grace Gunther;

• “Island Life” — Grant Unterreiner and Tucker Pfiffer; and

• “Live Mermaid” — Maddison Hachl.

The winner in the Judge’s Favorite — Business Division was L.C. Homes.

The People’s Choice Awards went to “It’s A Jungle Out There” in the Adult category and “Anchor’s Away” in the Child category.

“The Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce would like to thank all of the participants, spectators and volunteers who collaborated to make a successful day of fun in the sun and sand!” organizers said.

“Thank you to Darrell O’ Connor for leading the Community Sculpture build and sand castle building demonstrations! Thank you to the judges Jennifer Carper, Katie Handy, Jacob Golden, Gwen Osborne, Christi Tapert and Christina Wolfe.

“The Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce would also like to thank the City of Rehoboth Beach, Rehoboth Beach Police Department, Rehoboth Beach Patrol, all of the local area businesses who sponsored and donated prizes for the 36th Annual Sandcastle Contest, without whom we could not produce this day of fun in the sun and sand! The Chamber greatly appreciates their continued support.”

Businesses that donated prizes included: Bethany Blues—Lewes, Bike To Go, Candy Kitchen Shoppes, Cold Stone Creamery, Dolle’s Candyland, Fire Mountain Golf, Fisher’s Popcorn, Funland, Grotto Pizza, Jersey Mike’s Subs, Jiffy Lube, Jungle Jim’s Inc., Kilwin’s Rehoboth Avenue, McDonald’s, Odysea, Philly Pretzel Factory, Rehoboth Beach Museum, Rehoboth Toy & Kite Co., Rita’s Water Ice in Dewey Beach, Ryan’s, Thrashers French Fries and White Water Mountain.

Event sponsors included: Delaware Today; WBOC, Great Scott Broadcasting, L.C. Homes; Sussex County Federal Credit Union; County Bank; Atlantic Liquors & the Crosswinds Motel; Delmarva Power; Tanger Outlets; 7-Eleven; Clear Space Theatre Company; Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, Gallo Realty; Affinity Energy Management; Fulton Bank, Delaware Division; Grand Rental Station; Jake’s Seafood House; Jiffy Lube Lewes; PNC Bank; and WSFS.

Additional sponsors included: Atlantic Sands Hotel & Conference Center, Bella Mia Hair Boutique, Big Fish Grill & Seafood Market, CNC Solar, Dos Locos, Friends of the Rehoboth Beach Public Library, Lighthouse Ministries, Nuttle Lumber, Rehoboth Beach Boys & Girls Club, Rehoboth Beach Public Library and Star of the Sea Condominium.

For more information, call the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce at (302) 227 — 6446 or visit the Chamber website at www.beach-fun.com.

For one weekend only, Sept. 4-7, the Dickens Parlour Theatre will host Neil Simon’s comedy “The Sunshine Boys,” which celebrates the best in classic sketch comedy, with beloved characters from the Vaudeville era.

An evening of conversation and performance will include a live reading featuring veteran performers Bob Fitch, Rich Bloch, David Kovac, Lisandra Tena and friends.

In “The Sunshine Boys,” Al and Willie, as “Lewis and Clark,” were top-billed stars for more than 40 years. Now they aren’t even speaking. When CBS requests them for a “History of Comedy” retrospective, a grudging reunion brings the two famous performers back together, along with a flood of memories, miseries and laughs.

Bob Fitch is an award-winning actor who has appeared in more than 25 original Broadway shows. Rich Bloch is an actor, magician, writer and the founder of Dickens Parlour Theatre. David Kovac is one of Chicago busiest entertainers, having “honed characterization and comic timing to perfection,” according to The Chicago Sun-Times. Lisandra Tena was named one of the “Top 5 emerging artists to watch” by the Chicago Tribune, and her recent appearances include a reoccurring role on the television show “Chicago PD.”

Tickets to the show, which will start at 7 p.m. each night, cost $25 per person. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.dptmagic.com

Kayak eco-tour offers inside look at marshes, history
of Delaware
Seashore State Park

Delaware Seashore State Park is offering kayak eco-tours through the salt marshes of Rehoboth Bay this summer. In addition to learning ecology of the Inland Bays, participants will get a taste of local history along the way.

Tours will be offered Tuesdays through Fridays at 9:30 a.m. until Aug. 15. Participants will meet at Savages Ditch Road, where they will launch their kayaks into a section of Rehoboth Bay known as “Station Cove.” Along the way, park interpreters will discuss the history behind the name, as well as identify the birds, plants and marine life that call the salt marsh home.

The fee for the program is $35 per person, and participants must be at least 13. Close-toe shoes, drinking water and sun protection are a must! Pre-registration is required, as space is limited. For more information or to pre-register, call the Indian River Life-Saving Station at (302) 227-6991 or visit destateparks.com.

District adds 16 minutes to school day

Beginning with the 2014-2015 school year, the Indian River School District will implement a tiered transportation system that will create new daily starting and ending times for several district schools. In addition, the length of the school day will be extended by 16 minutes to compensate for possible weather-related cancelations, the district announced this week.

The Indian River Board of Education approved the new tiered transportation system on June 16 and the extended school day on July 28.

Under the new plan, district schools will be divided into “First Start” and “Second Start” categories, with different starting and ending times for each group.

The school day for First Start schools will run from 7:45 a.m. until 2:46 p.m. Buses will arrive between 7:25 and 7:30 a.m. and begin departing between 2:51 and 2:54 p.m.

Schools in the First Start group are Sussex Central High School, Indian River High School, Georgetown Middle School, Millsboro Middle School, Selbyville Middle School, Phillip C. Showell Elementary School, North Georgetown Elementary School and East Millsboro Elementary School.

The school day for Second Start schools will run from 8:35 a.m. until 3:36 p.m. Buses will arrive between 8:15 and 8:20 a.m. and begin departing between 3:41 and 3:44 p.m.

Schools in the Second Start group are Georgetown Elementary School, the Kindergarten Center at Georgetown Elementary, Lord Baltimore Elementary School, Long Neck Elementary School and John M. Clayton Elementary School.

Special schools in the district will have separate starting and ending times. Those times are as follows: Howard T. Ennis School, 8 a.m. to 3:06 p.m.; G.W. Carver Academy, 8:25 a.m. to 2:46 p.m.; and Southern Delaware School of the Arts, 8 a.m. to 2:41 p.m.

All district schools will have a standard school day of seven hours. District officials said parents should disregard the starting and ending times that were previously published in July, as they did not reflect the extended school day.

“The district’s rapidly-growing student enrollment and the implementation of full-day kindergarten have impacted the transportation system in recent years,” officials said. “Implementing the tiered system and creating unified starting and ending times will allow buses to serve more than one school. It will also reduce bus overcrowding and allow for student growth at all schools.”

The system will reduce the number of elementary students on a single bus to 50 to 55. The number of secondary students on a bus will be reduced to 38 to 44. In addition, early bus drop-offs at Indian River High School will be discontinued, and students from Selbyville Middle School and Phillip C. Showell Elementary School will no longer share buses. All district high schools and middle schools will also have early start times, like most secondary schools in Delaware.

In addition, officials said, extending the school day by 16 minutes may allow the district to compensate for weather-related cancellations without adding days to the end of the school year. The extra minutes, they said, will provide flexibility in determining make-up days related to weather closings or other changes to the school calendar. There were nine weather cancellations in 2013-2014.

The changes will take effect when the 2014-2015 school year begins on Tuesday, Sept. 2.

Claddagh Pub owner Mike Clarke is not Irish. He doesn’t serve Irish food. He doesn’t really even like Irish food. However, when he went to open up his first bar/restaurant in 1995, he could think of no better concept than an Irish pub.

Coastal Point photos • R. Chris Clark : A crabcake from Claddagh on the Shore.“We always tell people it’s Irish hospitality with great American food,” Clarke explained. “We never got into Irish food. You never hear Ireland associated with great food, so I took the concept of the Irish hospitality and made a great Irish pub with American food.”

For the lifelong soccer fan with a passion for the sport and the restaurant industry, an Irish pub seemed like the perfect business opportunity.

“We’re a big soccer bar — soccer’s my passion,” Clarke explained, after noting that not only do his bars show English Premiere League games, but the NFL Sunday Ticket, as well — offering specials for both, including $4 Bloody Mary’s and mimosas every Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

After 21 years of success with Claddagh’s Canton-based location, Clarke decided to bring that concept to the beach, recently opening Claddagh on the Shore in Fenwick Island, at the former location of House of Welsh.

After a complete renovation of the entire building, Claddagh on the Shore now features a brand new dining room and bar setting, with wide open windows and a bright atmosphere to go along with their walls of televisions for sporting events and music selection. They also feature live music, which Clarke said is part of trying to create a lively atmosphere.

“We want an exciting pub. We don’t want a sleepy bar,” he said. “We do play good music. We’re always thinking about what music we’re playing. In Baltimore, we do very, very well until 2 a.m. every night of the week, and we’re trying to bring that same energy down here.”

While the Fenwick location won’t be able to stay open until 2 a.m., they will be offering late-night Happy Hour every night and stay open until 1 a.m. — featuring $4 Fireball shots and $2 Natural Light cans. They also offer a regular daily Happy Hour with half-price bottles of wine, as well as fresh-squeezed crushes, homemade sangria, and beer and food specials.

Coastal Point photos • R. Chris Clark : Nina Zannino shows off Claddah on the Shore’s award winning crab cakes and signature hot wings.Clarke, who sold fine wines for years, said that an impressive wine selection has become a staple of Claddagh.

“Every wine is hand-picked. We have a tremendous wine list,” he noted. “Part of the battle is people walk in to an Irish-named place and they’re thinking Guinness and beer, but we’re very serious about our wines.”

Claddagh is also very serious about their Irish Rack of Lamb, which is one of their signature dishes and has garnered attention from chef Bobby Flay and been featured on the Food Network.

“It’s a New Zealand lamb rack, bone in, done in an Irish whiskey demi-glace, and it’s phenomenal it really is,” Clarke described of the dish.

Other menu items include Claddagh’s award-winning colossal lump crabcakes, their prime rib and what Clarke says are some of the best wings around.

“Our crabcakes are all colossal jumbo lump. They are the real deal — there’s no filler in them,” he said. “What’s unique about Claddaugh though, is that this is the same bar that you’re gonna get maybe the best wings on the East Coast. When you hear that from people from Buffalo, you know you’ve made it.”

While Claddagh is now establishing roots in the area during their first Fenwick Island summer, Clarke said he really plans to build relationships with the locals in the off-season. He also said that, in addition to NFL and EPL specials this fall, they’ll also be offering a price-sensitive feature each night, with specials including prime rib night and crabcake night.

“I plan to build relationships in the fall — that’s when I plan on growing roots in this town,” he said, noting that they also like to cater holiday parties for other restaurants. “That’s such a large part of our business in Baltimore. We want to do the same thing down here.”

Claddagh on the Shore is located at 1106 Coastal Highway in Fenwick Island and is open from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. every day. To find out more, visit www.facebook.com/CladdaghShore/info or give them a call at (302) 537-4200.

Online volunteer registration is now open for the 28th annual Delaware Coastal Cleanup, to be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 20. Sponsored by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Control, the cleanup spans the First State’s 97-mile eastern coastline and includes river and ocean shorelines, as well as wetland and watershed areas.

This year, nearly 50 sites in New Castle, Kent and Sussex counties are targeted for volunteers to scour and make cleaner.

Volunteers are being strongly encouraged to pre-register on the DNREC website to ensure enough supplies are packed for each site. To pre-register, go to www.dnrec.delaware.gov/CoastalCleanup. Pre-registration will close on Monday, Sept. 9, at the close of business.

At last year’s Coastal Cleanup, 1,900 volunteers from civic organizations, youth groups, businesses and families collected 4 tons of trash from nearly 50 sites along Delaware’s shorelines and tributaries. Almost half of that trash — mostly aluminum cans and plastic bottles — was recycled.

The more unusual finds included a hockey puck, toothbrush, headphones, door, box springs, showerhead, bar stool, guitar pick, sock, gloves, electric razor, license plate, fake cigarette, mailbox, lawn chairs, carpet, roadway sign and a couch cushion.

Delaware’s cleanup is part of the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup, the world’s largest annual clearing of trash from coastlines and lakes by volunteers. Hundreds of thousands of people all over the world help each year to rid the environment of marine debris and collect detailed information on the types and quantities of refuse they find.

The information is recorded on data cards and forwarded to the Center for Marine Conservation, which compiles data for all of the cleanups held in the country and around the world. The information helps identify the source of the debris and focus efforts on eliminating or reducing it.

For more information about the Ocean Conservancy and the International Coastal Cleanup, visit www.oceanconservancy.org. For more information about the Delaware Coastal Cleanup, call Joanna Wilson, Delaware Coastal Cleanup coordinator, at (302) 739-9902.

Joined by elected officials, law-enforcement officers, first-responders, non-profit leaders and families who have lost loved ones to drug overdoses, Gov. Jack Markell recently signed legislation authorizing law-enforcement officers to carry Naloxone, a prescription drug that counteracts the effects of opioid-related overdoses.

House Bill 388, sponsored by Rep. Mike Barbieri (D-Newark) and Sens. Bethany Hall-Long (D-Middletown) and Karen Peterson (D-Stanton), allows peace officers who have completed a Delaware Health & Social Services-approved training course to receive, carry and administer the drug Naloxone, and provides immunity to officers who administer the drug in good faith. Under HB 388, a “peace officer” is any public officer authorized to make arrests in criminal cases.

“By equipping law-enforcement officers with an important tool to prevent deadly overdoses, we can help reduce the toll that heroin and other dangerous opiates are taking on our state,” said Markell. “This simple piece of legislation has the potential to save lives.”

At the signing event held at the New Castle County Public Safety Building, Barbieri thanked the governor for his focus on addiction and for making changes in the treatment system.

“We need to keep individuals who are suffering from addiction alive so they can enter recovery,” said Barbieri, adding that the wider access to Naloxone also helps “to protect the public generally.”

During the last week of the legislative session, Markell signed a companion bill to the legislation. Senate Bill 219 allows family, friends and members of the community to buy Naloxone after they have been trained by the Department of Health & Social Services.

“This builds on our efforts to make this life-saving drug available to friends and family members of people who are addicted to this destructive drug,” said Hall-Long, who also sponsored SB 219. “By expanding access and training, we can save even more lives.”

The new laws reinforce previous efforts to combat prescription drug abuse, which kills more Delawareans every year than traffic accidents, officials noted.

“As we know, Delaware is battling a serious heroin problem, and putting this drug in the hands of properly trained police will save lives,” said Peterson. “I hope that people saved by Naloxone will recognize their good fortune and take the steps needed to put their lives on a new path.”

The Clear Space Theatre Company of Rehoboth Beach has announced that author Del Shores — creator of their summer hit, “Sordid Lives” and sometimes called “the grand master of Southern lowlife sensibilities” — will be appearing at the theater on Friday, Sept. 5, and Saturday, Sept. 6. Shores’ appearance is sponsored by Atlantic Sands Hotel & Conference Center.

On Friday evening, the production of “Sordid Lives” will feature a pre-show reception with hors d’oeuvres catered by Hobo’s, complimentary wine and beer, champagne and desserts at intermission and a question-and-answer session after the show. Tickets for the Friday performance of “Sordid Lives,” including the reception, cost $50.

On Saturday evening, Shores will present his one-man show “My Sordid Best” at 10 p.m., following that evening’s performance of “Sordid Lives.”

“The censors will be absent, the language will be crude, the stories will be raw, and if you are offended, that’s your choice!” Shores warned. Separate tickets are required for the show and post-show. Tickets for Shores’ special Saturday evening presentation of “My Sordid Best” cost $25.

“I am excited that we could partner with the Atlantic Sands Hotel to bring well-known playwright Del Shores to our audience at Clear Space Theatre in Rehoboth Beach,” said Wesley Paulson, executive director of Clear Space Theatre. “We offer a question-and-answer session one evening during the run of each production, but this is the first time we have been honored to have a playwright participate with our audience.”

Shores has written, directed and produced across studio and independent film, network and cable television, as well as theater. In addition to the stage, film and television versions of “Sordid Lives,” his works include “Daddy’s Dyin’ (Who’s Got The Will?)” starring Beau Bridges, Tess Harper, Judge Reinhold, Keith Carradine and Beverly D’Angelo, “Southern Baptist Sissies,” and “The Trials And Tribulations Of A Trailer Trash Housewife.”

He has written and produced for many shows, including “Dharma and” Greg and the last three seasons of the Showtime series “Queer as Folk.” He also wrote, directed and produced the Showtime movie “The Wilde Girls,” starring Olivia Newton-John and Swoosie Kurtz.

Shores has also won or been nominated for GLAAD, NAACP, Ovation, Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, L.A. Weekly and Backstage Garland awards for writing, directing and producing. He has Lifetime Achievement awards from L.A. Weekly and FilmOut San Diego, and is the 2013 recipient of the Stanley Kramer Emerging Filmmaker Award.

The Clear Space Theatre Company summer repertory season also includes “The Full Monty,” “Oliver!” and “The Best of the Rest of Christopher Peterson’s Eyecons.” All tickets are available through the Clear Space box office at (302) 227-2270 or online at www.ClearSpaceTheatre.org.

The Lord Baltimore Women’s Club will hold their annual fashion show on Wednesday, Oct. 8, at Baywood Greens. Jones New York in Rehoboth Beach will showcase their clothes. The theme for this year is “Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, What’s the Fashion for the fall?”

Tickets cost $30 and are on sale now. Ticket requests should be sent to Pat Nitzsche at 37495 Seaside Drive, Ocean View, DE 19970. Tables seat 10 and only 220 tickets are available. Checks should be made out to Lord Baltimore Women’s Club (LBWC), indicating a meal choice of either: (1) a cup of chicken tortellini soup and half an oven-roasted turkey wrap, or (2) Roasted red pepper, mushroom and cheddar quiche with side salad. Dessert for both choices is apple crisp.

All profits will go to the LBWC high school scholarship fund, as well as supplementing three elementary schools. This year, $5,000 was awarded in scholarships to four Indian River High School graduating seniors, and the group also supplied three elementary schools with supplies, mentors and readers.

Fans of the NBC show “Crossbones” can spot one of the show’s stars in Ocean City this month, as El Galeón Andalucía — a replica of the 16th century ships that Spanish explorers sailed on to discover Florida and much of the New World — is docked at 3rd and 4th streets on the bay in the Maryland beach town and open for tours every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Visitors can travel back in time 500 years when they board the El Galeon Andalucia and experience first-hand what it was like to sail the open ocean in the 16th century, with public exhibits and vendors also on offer. The ship will be open to visitors through Sept. 1, with general admission tickets available online and at the dock, and express VIP tickets available online only.

Express VIP tickets are good for priority boarding on the day and time period they are purchased for (between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and between 2 and 6 p.m.), and complimentary use of an audio guide headset is included for the price of $18 for those 13 or older and $11 for children ages 6 to 12 (additional ticket fees apply).

General admission tickets are good for access at any time on the day they are purchased for and include standard boarding of El Galeon, at $16 for those 13 or older and $10 for children ages 6 to 12. Purchase of general admission tickets online will save buyers 25 percent, at $12 and $7, respectively.

In addition, for one evening only, on Aug. 29, El Galeón Andalucía will be open to the public for a Party with the Pirates VIP event. Appetizers, soft drinks, beer and wine will be served during this chance for the public to experience El Galeón in the evening and enjoy the sunset onboard. Attendees will be able to meet the captain and crew and hear in their own words what it is like to sail on El Galeón, learning about the vessel and its history from the perspective of those who sail on it.

Tickets to the VIP reception, which runs from 7 to 9 p.m. on Aug. 29, cost $75.

To purchase tickets online or for more information on the ship and its visit to Ocean City, visit www.tallshipevent.com.

DNREC’s Division of Energy and Climate and the state’s Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU) recently announced the Aug. 4 launch of the Joint Green Energy Program, with the intention of increasing small-scale photovoltaic installations in Delaware through the state’s Green Energy Fund.

Other Green Energy Fund-related incentives and grant applications were being revised to become effective on the same date, officials said.

The Green Energy Fund is designed to help Delaware homeowners, businesses and non-profit organizations in the Delmarva Power & Light (DPL) service territory meet their energy needs in a more sustainable way through the installation of renewable energy systems, including solar photovoltaic, solar water heating, geothermal and wind.

Funding for the program is collected via a public benefit charge on DPL customer utility bills. Since 1999, the Green Energy Fund has supported more than 1,500 renewable energy projects in Delaware and helped Delaware emerge as a national leader in solar energy, contributing to a 30-fold increase in new solar capacity since 2008, officials said.

The Joint Green Energy Program is a partnership between DNREC and the Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU), designed to put more small-scale photovoltaic (PV) installations in Delaware. While the DNREC Green Energy Program and the SEU Solar Renewable Energy Credit (SREC) program are independent, the joint program will benefit solar PV system owners by removing SREC price uncertainty while also reducing system pay-back time, officials said.

The joint program also streamlines the application process by allowing applicants to apply for both the grant program and for SRECs by using a single online application portal.

The SEU is committing $1.5 million of Delaware’s Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) funds on an annual basis for two years to fund the SREC portion of the Joint Green Energy Program. SEU-RGGI funds will be used to buy SRECs in a single upfront payment of $0.45/watt, in exchange for the first 20 years of SRECs produced by the system. The SEU SREC program is open to all Delaware-sited systems less than or equal to 50 kW in size, regardless of the customer’s electric provider.

Also as of Aug. 4, the Joint Green Energy Program has expanded incentives for geothermal and solar water heating projects. The SEU is committing $1 million for two years to offer grants up to $200,000 for commercial and non-profit geothermal and solar water heating projects sited in Delaware.

Effective the same date, all Green Energy Fund grant applications for DPL customers and applications for the SEU SREC purchase program must be submitted online through the www.GreenGrantDelaware.com website. A webinar held Friday, Aug. 1, was designed to answer any questions with the website, as well as changes to the program.

(The Green Energy Program grant application process for Delaware Electric Cooperative and the Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation customers will not change; however, these customers are eligible to apply for the SEU’s SREC program through the www.GreenGrantDelaware.com website.)

For more information on the Green Energy Fund, current incentives and program rules, visit the Delaware Division of Energy & Climate’s Green Energy Program website at http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/energy/services/GreenEnergy.

Coastal Point • Maria Counts: Counselor William Gale of Choices First in Dover will now be offering his services in the Bethany area on Monday mornings. Gale has more than 20 years of clinical experience.There’s a new doctor in town. William Gale, a lifelong educator and psychologist, recently started offering his services in south coastal Delaware in the hopes of helping more people.

“What initially drew me to the field was education,” he said. “When I was teaching, I was never just a teacher-teacher. I had the empathy and the compassion. I found that it’s tending to the student. “

Gale was born and raised in Rehoboth Beach, as one of six children. Although he moved north in adulthood, he still has family in the area.

“I still drive by our house on Munson Street,” he said with a smile.

Gale is a licensed professional counselor of mental health with 20 years of clinical experience in the behavioral health field. He has worked with diverse populations in the delivery of psychotherapy.

Having had his practice in Dover, Gale recently decided to start offering his services in Bethany Beach on Monday mornings.

“I’m down in the area Monday mornings, but I hope to be treating all day on Mondays in the near future.”

Gale holds a master’s degree in counseling from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. His focus is on using a varied of modalities to treat behavioral and mental health. He also holds certification in treating drug and alcohol addiction.

Gale grew up in Rehoboth Beach and was a lifeguard in the area. In 1962, he voluntarily joined the Army. Following his service, he used his G.I. Bill to attend Delaware State University, where he received his undergraduate degree in education and psychology.

In 1978, Gale joined the Air Force Reserves, and stayed in for 21 years as a human relations specialist, teaching classes on sensitivity training, sexual harassment prevention and more.

“I would investigate complaints of sexual harassment, allegations of discrimination, and I would go to different Air Force bases,” he explained.

He also worked for the Cesar Rodney School District as a teacher and principal.

“I also coached football,” noted Gale. “Then I went on to get my master’s in counseling and became a crisis counselor… Once I received my master’s, I worked for Delaware Guidance — an outpatient treatment facility for children, adolescents and families.”

After five years at Delaware Guidance, Gale went on to receive his drug and alcohol certification.

“I worked for Kent County Counseling Service, outpatient treatment facility specific to drug and alcohol abuse and addiction,” he said, noting he offered individual and group treatment at the facility, which also had a methadone clinic. “I stayed in that for a long time.”

Gals said that, although he has no personal addiction history, he has always been interested in drug and addiction treatment.

“I’ve seen it in so many patients — a lot of times it’ll start with an injury. Then it gets into an unfortunate dependence on it. It’s sad there are so many kids affected,” he said. “I just felt it was an area where there’s a lot of suffering.”

Gale said he has experience with treating patients with medications, including Suboxone, and said it can be appropriate when necessary.

“I’m not an advocate of medication; however, there are times when medication is absolutely essential. Sometimes it’s short term.”

He then went on to work at Middletown Counseling in Middletown.

“Then, a gal by the name of Sandy Knauer said, ‘Gee, Bill — I really like how you do treatment. I just think you’d be a valuable asset in the practice.’”

While there, Gale decided to open his own practice, Choices First in Dover.

“It just took off,” he said. “I really bring to the community a résumé of experience.”

Those who wish to see Gale must set up an appointment and complete a HIPPA-compliant patient information packet.

“The first session is initial assessment,” explained Gale, adding that his goal is to make his patients feel safe and comfortable in sessions. “There’s some inherent anxiety coming into a situation like this, so I try to be sensitive to that. If they’re not comfortable with me, that prevents them from trusting me. You’ve got to have trust — it’s no different than going to a medical doctor. If they trust, they’re more willing to open up and share.”

A deep level of mutual respect must be attained, according to Gale, in order for treatment to be successful.

“I don’t care what they come in with, they’re still precious. They’re still worth respecting. To establish that makes them feel worthy. Just that in itself is therapeutic to some extent.”

Gale offers individual, family, couples and premarital counseling, as well as mental health and drug abuse treatment. He added that he will do scriptural counseling if requested by a client.

“I have a passion for it,” he said of counseling.

Gale said that his ultimate goal is to help those in need who are suffering in some way.

“When they leave, when treatment is over, my goal is that they say to themselves that they feel relief as far as suffering, that they have got what they came in for. That’s crucial.”

Gale said he will work with patients with almost any type of insurance and go out of his way to help those who do not have insurance.

Having been raised to help people through the example of his parents, Gale said he loves working in psychology, simply to help those in need.

“It’s a blessing… It’s a gift. I love what I do. How could I not, if I help relieve suffering?”

For more information on Gale, or to set up an appointment, visit choicesfirstllc.com, or call (302) 233-4178. Gale may also be reached via email, at wgale@choicesfirstllc.com.

Delaware is again among the states leading the nation in solar energy — ranked seventh per capita for cumulative solar installations, according to a report released this week by Environment America Research & Policy Center, “Lighting the Way: The Top Ten States that Helped Drive America’s Solar Energy Boom in 2013.”

The report attributed Delaware’s leadership, energy legislation, strong public policies and innovative financing options for the solar boom in the state.

“Encouraging solar power is the right thing to do for the environment and our economy,” said Gov. Jack Markell. “We are aggressively working toward a clean energy future in Delaware, demonstrating we can have both a strong economy and a healthy environment. That means creating a robust market for solar and other clean energy systems, creating clean energy jobs, expanding our solar industry and improving air quality.”

According to the report, solar energy has tripled nationwide between 2011 and 2013. The price of solar energy is falling rapidly, and more and more Americans are reaping the benefits of solar’s clean, sustainable, locally-generated power.

Since December 2008, the state’s solar capacity has grown from 2 megawatts to 59 megawatts. During that time, 1,600 solar energy systems have been installed on government buildings, businesses, schools and homes in Delaware. In the past 12 months alone, Delaware has installed 256 solar systems totaling nearly 11 megawatts.

“Working closely with the local solar industry, Delaware has emerged as a national leader in solar energy by adopting progressive policies and programs that have led to a 29-fold increase in new solar installations since 2008,” said DNREC Secretary David Small. “Delaware’s commitment to solar energy is paying dividends in terms of cleaner energy, lower costs and new jobs for Delawareans.”

In the report, Delaware was cited with other states for cutting-edge energy legislation and policies that are among the most aggressive in the country. Delaware’s Renewable Portfolio Standard, which requires that 25 percent of the state’s electricity is to come from renewable energy sources by 2025, and the solar carve-out of 3.5 percent from solar by 2025, are creating vigorous markets for solar energy officials said.

The state’s net metering and interconnection policies, which allow customers to sell excess solar power back to the grid, are considered among the most progressive in the country, they noted. Though Markell’s Executive Order 18, state government is leading by example by procuring 1 percent of its electricity procurement from in-state solar energy, while bringing down the overall cost of power for state agencies.

Officials also noted that Delaware has been innovative in the use of Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) by utilities to meet their obligation to obtain a portion of their electricity from solar power. Working closely with the State’s Renewable Energy Task Force and Delmarva Power and Light, Delaware’s Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU) has helped create a stable market for new solar power projects in Delaware by conducting auctions for long term SREC contracts on behalf of Delmarva Power, they said. Delmarva Power buys most of its SRECs through this long-term contracting mechanism, which makes it easier to finance new projects of all sizes.

As a result of competition and market efficiencies, installation costs and corresponding SREC prices have fallen sharply over the last two years, which means much lower compliance costs for ratepayers.

“These policies and programs are helping Delawareans take advantage of the 30 percent federal investment tax credit for solar PV installations on residential and commercial properties.”

Environment America’s report recognized Delaware as offering financial incentives that are encouraging businesses and homeowners to “go solar.” Since 2002 Delaware’s Green Energy Program has funded almost $17 million in solar rebates for systems for homeowners, small businesses, schools and non-profit agencies.

Also this week, DNREC, in conjunction with the SEU, launched a new Joint Green Energy Program in which the SEU will contribute $1.5 million annually for two years to purchase SRECs up front from the installation of residential solar systems. The SEU’s purchasing of SRECs is expected to have a stabilizing effect on SREC values, which in turn is expected to have a positive impact on the solar community in Delaware.

Through the federal Energy Efficiency Community Block Grant program, 15 of the state’s towns, including Newport, Bowers Beach and Ellendale, installed solar power systems on their municipal buildings.

The Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation, a wholesale electric utility, and its nine member municipalities, have collectively invested in Delaware’s largest PV facilities — the Milford Solar Farm, generating more than 13 megawatts, and the 10-megawatt Dover Sun Park. Wilmington, Dover, and Kent and New Castle county governments have installed solar power on their office and public works facilities.

The City of Newark currently has a 230 kW, 900-panel solar array under construction on a 3.91-acre former Brownfields site, which is expected to go online by this fall and produce enough electricity to power approximately 26 to 36 homes, depending on the season.

Newark’s behind-the-meter renewable power source will serve the city’s residents by reducing peak power demand, lowering the wholesale cost of power, generating solar renewable energy credits, bringing locally produced green energy to the city’s electric users, and reducing the city’s carbon footprint. In addition, construction will be handled by Solair, a Delaware company.

Another large solar project, the Delaware Electric Cooperative’s Bruce A. Henry Solar Energy Farm near Georgetown, was completed last summer. The $14 million, 20-acre facility uses 16,000 solar panels to produce 4 megawatts of energy, enough to power 500 rural Sussex homes. Estimates call for the solar farm to prevent more than 12 million pounds of carbon dioxide from being released into the air during its first year of operation — the equivalent of taking more than 1,200 cars off the road. The facility has the option to expand to 40 acres, with the ability to produce power for 1,000 homes.

More good news about solar energy in Delaware appears in the Solar Energy Power Association’s June report, “Solar Market Comes of Age in 2013.” SEPA, which is the solar community’s national organization, has ranked the cities of Milford and Dover first and seventh, respectively, in the nation for public power cumulative solar watts per customer. In addition, under investor-owned utilities and cooperatives, Milford continues to lead the nation.

SEPA’s report also recognized the City of Lewes as 10th in the nation for solar penetration, as well as naming the Delaware Electric Cooperative in the top 10 in four solar-related categories.

The AlexandersAfter 65 years of marriage, John and Betty Alexander were still a team, ever in love with each other and with Fenwick Island. Passing away in July, within six days of each other, the Alexanders were even memorialized with a rare double obituary, published in the Coastal Point on July 18.

Summering for decades on Oyster Bay Drive, Elizabeth “Betty” Alexander, 86, and John “Jerry” Alexander, 87, seemed to attract life.

“The love of their lives was Fenwick Island,” said their daughter, Carolyn Wheale of North Carolina. “I would say most of their friends are down in Fenwick. The whole family’s been meeting there and going there for 50 years, just about.”

The Alexanders were always the first to greet new neighbors.

“Every afternoon, they had their own little happy hour on the back porch,” said neighbor Sally Craig.

“They were in their 70s when we first met them, but they were two of the most widely wholly alive individuals that I’ve ever met,” said neighbor Cheryl Himmelfarb. “A highlight of our beach weekend would be happy hour with John and Betty.”

Even though they were in their 30s, Himmelfarb and her now-husband, Paul, said the Alexanders “were fun. They had wonderful stories and were such wonderful people. … They were just sharp and funny and fun.”

“They were so young at heart,” Sally Craig said. “You’d never know they were 82, 87.”

“They loved it when new neighbors would come and they were a young family with kids,” Wheale said. Even this year, in assisted living, “Mom tended to stay in her room and befriended all the staff in their 20s and 30s. And they loved her.”

Claiming one of the earlier houses on the former West Virginia Drive (costing about $35,000 in 1975) the Alexanders originally had a clear view of the Fenwick Island Lighthouse from their back porch.

But the population grew, and the Alexanders welcomed their neighbors with open arms.

“We grew up knowing a lot of their children and their children’s children,” Wheale said.

Wheale said her own son worked in town.

“They were still so much in love after all these years. John was so devoted to her,” said Craig, who remembers seeing John take care of Betty in her wheelchair after she developed Parkinson’s disease: “He’d walk her down the street and back — just so devoted.”

“My father was taking care of my mother for [several] years,” Wheale said. “They wanted to stay in their home. They’re very independent. … He was really dedicated to taking care of her.”

After years spent living in Maryland, they downsized, keeping a condo near medical centers in Annapolis, Md., a summer house in Fenwick and a home in Naples, Fla.

“They made many friends in all those places,” Wheale said.

After marrying in 1949 and raising two children (Wheale and John “Jack” Alexander of Mt. Airy, Md.) Betty became a legal secretary, then executive secretary to the director of the EPA for many years.

John was in the U.S. Army, then became a bank examiner for the U.S. Treasury.

“I understand he was the last one hired who did not go to college,” Wheale said. “He had such good skills they hired him as a bank examiner, [and he] worked his way up in the bank.”

Elected executive vice president of American National Bank of Maryland, he retired as senior vice president of First National Bank of Baltimore (now M&T bank).

They were proud of their work, but they loved to travel, possibly because they weren’t able to travel when they were little. So the Alexanders filled their passports with stamps from Japan, Mexico, most of Europe and their beloved tropics.

“My mother’s face lit up when she talked about traveling,” Wheale said. “She just sat and thought how she never dreamed she’d be in a place like this, just seeing different cultures and seeing history.”

Although he took up golf at age 71 and was known for bicycling through Fenwick regularly, John’s own health issues eventually caught up to him.

This spring, when John no longer had the energy to care for Betty, she moved into Sunrise of Annapolis assisted living, and he was back at home in the condo across the street. John moved into Betty’s suite a few months later.

“She passed away peacefully … and when my father realized she had passed away, he said that it was his time, too,” Wheale said. “They passed away within six days of each other.”

The Alexanders were cared for in their last weeks by Wheale, her husband, Duncan, her brother, Jack, and his wife, Lynn.

“He took care of himself,” Wheale said of her father. “But when you get old and your immunity breaks down,” there’s a limit, she said. “It was very fortunate he was in no pain. We made sure he was comfortable. He didn’t linger. … They received last rites, and they both let go when it was time.

“We were all, of course, very sad, because they were great parents, always there for us,” Wheale said. “I was humbled by the number of friends that wrote to us, sent food, surrounded us with love.”

Betty passed away peacefully on July 2, and John followed on July 8.

“My father was very faithful to my mom and faithful to their children. They had a very, very wonderful life,” Wheale said. “They were always the last couple standing to dance. They loved to dance.

“It was so sad, and yet I can look back on their lives and see a lot of good stuff,” Wheale said, from children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to loving friends and neighbors.

Himmelfarb remembered them as “two very special people who had clearly such a strong love for one another.”

“They will be greatly missed. And even all summer … there’s a void without them. It’s not the same. But we have many wonderful, wonderful memories.”

As both got older, Wheale said, the Fenwick neighbors were always prepared in case of a medical emergency.

“That’s what kind of street it was,” she said.

“Fenwick’s magical. We will probably return for years to come,” Wheale said. “There aren’t many beaches that are like Fenwick.

There will be a visitation and memorial service held for Betty and John Alexander on Sunday, Aug. 10, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Lasting Tributes Cremation & Funeral Care at 814 Bestgate Road in Annapolis, Md. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Hospice of the Chesapeake; 90 Ritchie Hwy.; Pasadena, MD 21122. Condolences may be sent online at www.LastingTributesFuneralCare.com.