Businesses remain open during road closures

It’s time to plan your Route 26 detour route. This winter, the major roadway will be closed in two spots, as part of the 2.5-year road-widening project.

Two bridge culverts must be replaced where Route 26 crosses water, just east of Millville Town Hall and just east of Lord Baltimore Elementary School.

The road will only close in these two spots, but it will require a 24/7 detour through Millville and Ocean View.

“Vehicles will be able to get to every business on 26. No one will be cut off … customers will be able to get up and down the road,” said Ken Cimino, project manager for AECOM. “Customers will be able to get to your shop.”

Detours for drivers and pedestrians

This year, several major intersections were improved ahead of this road closure. Several years ago, the “Detour Routes” project updated back roads to accommodate traffic.

Vehicles can access all of route 26, but they must drive around. The official Route 26 detour route (westbound) which leads from Central Avenue to Cedar Drive (for spots within the closure) or Windmill Road (for points west of the closure).

Drivers wishing to bypass construction completely to reach Bethany Beach and Coastal Highway can detour (eastward) can use the DelDOT-improved roads: Burbage Road, Windmill Road, Central Avenue, Beaver Dam (via Parker House Road) and Muddy Neck Road.

Pedestrians will get a temporary bridge crossing near the Lord Baltimore culvert.

But in Millville, pedestrians will be detoured around Windmill Road and Dukes Drive to Route 26.

The project team is also “cognizant” of Lord Baltimore’s needs, including the high number of parents who drive students.

New stoplights

Two traffic signals have been erected on Central Avenue at the intersections of Cedar Drive and Windmill Drive.

These temporary signals are meant to control the high volume of traffic during the three-month detour.

On the roads, message boards will warn drivers of the upcoming traffic change. Then the signals should be turned on, flashing for about 72 hours in advance of the road closure.

“It’ll be interesting for a couple days there” as drivers get used to the new red light, said Millville Fire Chief Doug Scott.

Meanwhile, two stop signs will be removed from Central Avenue at the Woodland Avenue intersection.

They were recently added for the Town of Millville’s Streetscape project, and they will be replaced when the Route 26 detour is over.

Until then, DelDOT decided traffic will be too slow with a signal and stop sign so close together.

Making it count

Work could continue seven days a week, and nights are an option.

“We have to pour a significant amount of concrete and we need temperatures for that,” said Mike Delp, project manager for George & Lynch. “I am bound by Jan. 5 to March 30. Whatever I can do to get that done …”

Crews hope to begin culvert work immediately, not closing the road if the project isn’t ready to begin.

They’ll try to finish early, but between weather and high water, construction will likely fill the entire three months.

There should be no electrical outages, as utilities relocations already occurred nearby.

Some sewer and pipe work may continue on Route 26, which is conducive to winter weather anyway. But additional road construction is unlikely, as all effort goes into the culvert construction.

So why close Route 26 now?

After the holidays, but before the summer season, the cold months seemed like the best time to impact traffic.

“We talked to the public, to the Chamber [of Commerce] … everyone agreed the best way to do that was to close the roadway for a very short time,” said Jill Frey, a lead designer for Century Engineering.

Two simultaneous closures seemed the better option, “rather than drag this out,” one bridge at a time over two years, Frey said.

Businesses open

The detour could be a major hassle for businesses, especially if it slips over the March 30 deadline into Easter.

“We depend on thru-traffic,” Ellen Rice told the Coastal Point. “This deeply affects me.”

Located next to the Ocean View bridge, Ellen Rice’s art gallery will be behind barricades, at a temporary dead-ended Route 26.

“The loss of business definitely impacts me a great deal. The general [road] traffic has been down this year,” she said after the first summer of roadwork.

Rice isn’t trying to share a sob story, but “People need to be aware this is happening.”

She said multiple businesses weren’t aware of the upcoming road closure.

“It is the best time, I will say this,” Rice finished. “I’m praying for good weather!”

With a mortgage and rent to pay, Rice is spreading the word as much as possible that her gallery is still open. Her email list always includes Route 26 updates.

Although signs are federally regulated, DelDOT Safety Engineer Jerry Nagyiski said he’ll ensure the small “Business Open” signs are displayed at each barricade.

Rumors abound

After a public relations nightmare on Route 54, Delaware Department of Transportation has hosted public meetings on Route 26 since long before the 4-mile project began.

Here, people to ask question and get the facts, said Cimino.

As public outreach coordinator, Ken Cimino personally responds to all questions and complaints regarding Route 26 construction. Residents and businesses can contact him at (302) 616-2621 or Kenneth.Cimino@aecom.com in Ocean View.

People should contact him. He’ll give an answer or help fix the problem.

For instance, Rice heard rumors that George & Lynch builders are projecting a five-year project. But there are financial penalties built into the contract when construction exceeds its allotted time, Frey said. Contractors are not fined for uncontrollable events, like foul weather. Scheduled to end in mid-2016, the 901-day project already has 32 weather days.

“We’re going the best we can to keep people informed,” Frey said. If you hear something, “Call Ken. He’ll answer questions.”

“Show up and give your opinion. That’s what these CAG meetings are for,” Cimino has said.

Public meetings of the Construction Advisory Group (CAG) are held every other month. The next meeting is Tuesday, Feb. 10, at 10 a.m. at Bethany Beach Town Hall.

Tonight, people worldwide will light candelabras to begin the eight-day Festival of Light. And local synagogues are inviting people to celebrate the Chanukah miracle.

“The Jewish people’s … main job was to light the darkness of the world. And Chanukah is the most significant holiday because it’s showing that power of lighting the darkness,” said Rabbi Noam Cohen.

This year, Chanukah begins at sunset on Tuesday, Dec. 16, and ends at nightfall on Wednesday, Dec. 24. It is the only Jewish holiday occurring in the second half of the month, Cohen said. As the moon wanes, “This is the time to light the darkness of the world.”

For those looking to celebrate, there is a menorah lighting on Dec. 16 at 6 p.m. at Chabad of the Eastern Shore in Ocean City, Md., located at 137th Street.

On Wednesday, the temple will host a public party at 6:30 p.m. at Pemberton Coffee House in Salisbury, Md.

Everyone is welcome, and they don’t need to bring anything.

“I ask people to probably go online, let us know they’re coming, so we know how many people to prepare for,” Cohen said.

People can submit their names by clicking the “Contact Us” section of www.chabadoceancity.com.

Chabad-Ocean City is located in the Bayside Plaza at 13709 Coastal Highway. Call (410) 250-7770 for more information. The temple will have a winter break and resume regular services in mid-January.

Dinner with Temple Bat Yam

Located inland, Temple Bat Yam is hosting a Chanukah potluck dinner and Shabbat Service on Friday, Dec. 19. Guests should bring a covered-dish item to the free dinner, which begins at 6:15 p.m.

“Everybody brings a menorah, which is my favorite part,” said organizer Joan Kessler. “We light the candles, and we say the blessing. It’s so pretty.”
The social hall is filled with light from all the families’ menorahs.
The weekly Shabbat service begins at 8 p.m., followed by coffee, tea and dessert.

“Every service we have is open to the public,” Kessler said.

Those planning to attend the Chanukah Potluck Dinner should contact Kessler at (410) 641-8467 to tell her what dish they’re bringing. Anything is welcome, except dairy and desserts.

Temple Bat Yam is located at 11036 Worcester Highway, Berlin, Md., near Routes 90 and 113.

Learn more at www.templebatyam-oc.org or (410) 641-4311.

Carl M. Freeman Companies is recognizing 12 months of growth at its Bayside community in West Fenwick. The nearly 1,000-acre community added builders, opened a new sales center and introduced a member-only learning experience called Bayside Institute.

Bayside sold 36 homes in 2014, adding to the 686 existing residences. To build the homes, Carl M. Freeman Companies added Schell Brothers, Echelon Custom Homes and Marnie Custom Beach Homes as partners with NVHomes to offer residents an additional eight different home designs and two villa designs.

To accommodate the new builders’ presentation facilities, Freeman opened a new Sales & Information Center near the golf club. The 1,500-square-foot sales center allows visitors to meet with builder representatives, as well as learn about the community and its amenities.

This fall, Bayside announced plans to develop an indoor pool and recreation center, as well as the grand opening of the Schell Brothers Sanibel model home and the NVHomes Cypress Point model home.

The community also introduced a new website, at www.livebayside.com, featuring images for each residential type, by builder, and links to Troon Golf, the manager of the first Jack Nicklaus Signature Course in Delaware.

Three new neighborhoods — Captain’s Cove, Sea Grass Bend and Coastal Crossing — were introduced along with the partnership of the new builders. NVHomes hosted a special “Hard Hat” Tour of its newly launched townhome model home, while Schell Brothers offered residents and homebuyers a “Behind the Wall” Tour of its model home in progress.

Current members were offered a few new things in the summer. Highlighting the community’s bay views, Bayside launched Happy Hour at The Point, featuring live music and drink specials at its Pavilion at The Point.

This summer the community also launched Bayside Institute, a life-enrichment series. Bayside Institute is a year-round program designed to enrich the lives of Bayside members, promote “me” time and encourage members to ignite an undiscovered passion in the process.

For more information about the Carl M. Freeman Companies, visit www.freemancompanies.com or call (240) 453-3000.

Coastal Point • R. Chris Clark: Cripple Creek Bridge Club member Judie Davis wraps one of the many presents purchased for the children the club has adopted for the holiday season.For more than eight years, members of the Cripple Creek Bridge Club have raised money in order to donate Christmas gifts to local needy children. Judie Davis said they work with Phillip C. Showell Elementary School to find local children in need.

“Every year they have a huge list of families who are needy,” said Davis, noting that the families are screened by social services.

The club raises money in November, through donations from club members, and later purchases gifts.

“For each child there is a list of wants and needs,” said Davis. “We do the ‘needs’ first, and then a few of the ‘wants.’”

Club member Carolyn Corrigan praised Davis and Aimee Marvel for their involvement in organizing the effort each year.

“They collect all the coupons they can find in order to get the most for our money and make the children happy with both fun and useful gifts. Then, they organize each child’s gifts on a table and pair things together so each child will have the same number of packages,” she said. “Judie and Aimee go above and beyond.”

Once the gifts are wrapped by the club members they are taken to the school, which then distributes them to the families. The club members never know what children receive the gifts, and the children never know their gifts were donated by them.

“We feel that we have so much,” said Davis of the club members’ desire to give back to the community. “This way, we get to help out a family that lives within 10 minutes of us.”

On Friday, Dec. 5, Diane Koch, assistant vice president of First Shore Federal Bank in Millville, presented a $1,000 check to Ernie Felici, president, and Shirley Price, vice president, of the Delaware Seashore Preservation Foundation.

The contribution from First Shore Federal will support the foundation’s efforts to restore Fire Control Tower III, a World War II-era structure located on the shoreline south of Dewey Beach. The newly restored tower is intended to serve as a tribute to armed forces veterans who served during the war and will honor those who continue to serve the country to this day. The check is the first payment of a pledge that First Shore Federal has made toward the Tower III capital campaign.

Upon completion of the project, the tower will provide visitors with access the open-air deck at the top of the structure and will also include a simulated power station with an interactive presentation. The electronic program will allow visitors to look up the name of a sponsored veteran and read about his/her contribution to the war effort.

“The experience promises to be educational for visitors, providing them with an appreciation of the sacrifices made for us by our veterans every day that they serve,” said organizers. “The Foundation members hope that as everyone passes Tower III on Route 1 in Dewey Beach, they will be reminded of the sacrifices of those heroes who protected our country selflessly and remember those who serve us faithfully today.”

Plans for the renovation have been completed, and the DSPF Board of Directors expects to begin construction in 2015 and open to the public in 2016. In order to meet its fundraising goal, the DSPF is reaching out to foundations, corporations, individual donors and local businesses, such as First Shore Federal.

To make a contribution to the Tower III project, send it to the Delaware Seashore Preservation Foundation at P.O. Box 981, Ocean View, DE 19970, or by visiting the website at http://savethetower.org/. For more information on the project, call (302) 537-7840.

With sunny skies and moderate temperatures, 215 people participated in Sea Colony’s 12th Turkey Trot 5K Run/Walk, held annually on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. The event, which benefits Special Olympics Delaware, has become a tradition. Certificates were presented to the first-, second- and third-place male and female winners from age groups ranging from 9-and-younger to 80-and-older.

This year’s overall winner was 12-year-old Blake Hundley of Bethany Beach, with a time of 16:58:0 minutes. Emma Barthelmess, 12, also from Bethany Beach, was the top female finisher, with a time of 20:17.4 minutes.

Eight local Special Olympics athletes participated in the run and presented a plaque of appreciation to Sea Colony. Jen Neal, fitness and activities manager, accepted the award, and said, “I’ve known many Special Olympics athletes and their families for years. We are so proud of them. We see them working out and swimming at the Freeman Fitness Center and developing athletic skills at the Tennis Center.”

Neal also noted an overwhelming response from community businesses that support the event. A complete list of sponsors is available at SeaColonyRecreation.org, under Things to Do/Special Events/Turkey Trot.

Registration information for the 2015 Turkey Trot will be posted on the website in September. Results of the race are available at SeaShoreStriders.com.

The 3rd Annual Camp Barnes Wrestling Classic will be held on Saturday, Dec. 27, at Sussex Central High School in Georgetown, with wrestling beginning at 9:30 a.m.

The deadline for mail-in registration to be received is Tuesday, Dec. 23, while online registration, at www.WrestleReg.com, will continue until Thursday, Dec. 25 at 8 p.m. Registration costs $25 for mail-in registration or $27 for online registration. Checks should be made payable to Camp Barnes Wrestling Tournament. To obtain a registration form, contact Detective Shawn Hatfield at Troop 4, (302) 856-5850, ext. 212, or via email at james.hatfield@state.de.us. The fee and registration form should be mailed to Camp Barnes Wrestling Classic, Attn: Det. Shawn Hatfield, Delaware State Police Troop 4, 23652 Shortly Rd. Georgetown, DE 19947.

No entries will be accepted after Dec. 25. There will be no walk-ins accepted and no weight changes on the day of the tournament, as brackets will be completed two days prior to the event. Weigh-ins will take place at SCHS on Dec. 26 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 27, from 6:30 to 8 a.m.

Admission for spectators costs $5 for adults or $3 for students, with children 5 or younger admitted free of charge.

National Federation Rules (modified) will govern the tournament. All periods will be 1-1-1, and OT will be 1 min SV followed by NHF Rules. Headgear and singlet are recommended. Proof of age must be available, if challenged. The director has the right to combine weight classes. Division ages are as of Dec. 27 and no varsity experience. Wrestlers may compete in more than one division but must fill out a separate form and must be ready to wrestle when called.

Divisions and weight classes in the double-elimination tournament are:

• Tot (6 and younger) — 40, 45, 50, 55, 60 and 65 HWT (maximum is 85);

• Bantam (7-8) — 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75 and 90 HWT (maximum is 115);

• Midget (9-10) — 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90 and 100 HWT (maximum is 130);

• Junior (11-12) — 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 91, 98, 105, 115 and 125 140 HWT (maximum is 185); and

• Intermediate (13-14) — 77, 84, 91, 98, 105, 112, 119, 126, 133, 140, 148, 158 and 170 HWT (maximum is 235).

Trophies will be presented for first-, second- and third-place wrestlers, with medals presented to those finishing in fourth place.

For more information, contact Detective John Messick at John.Messick@state.de.us or (302) 542-7119.

Camp Barnes was originally designed to provide the children who were unable to attend summer camp an opportunity to experience life at a summer youth camp. It has remained basically unchanged, providing Delaware children with outdoor experiences for more than 60 years.

The summer camp is an overnight residential camp run by the Delaware State Police and is open to children between the ages of 10 and 13 at no cost to the camper or family. Camp Barnes accommodates 60 campers per week for six weeks. The camp is in session from early July through August. All children are eligible to attend, regardless of family income.

Camp Barnes has on its grounds an outdoor initiative course with 17 different initiative and team-building elements. Some of the activities campers participate in throughout the week include swimming in an Olympic-size pool, kayaking in Miller’s Creek, arts and crafts, nature walks and talent shows. Campers also participate in a scaled down version of the Olympics and demonstrations by the DSP K-9 unit.

Camp Barnes has a staff of 12 counselors, two cooks, a kitchen assistant and a nurse. Counselors are required to submit to a criminal background check, as well as an interview. There is also a state trooper on grounds at all times when the camp is in session. For more information, visit the website at www.campbarnes.net.

Members of the Sussex County Association of Realtors (SCAOR) recently announced their new board of directors for the 2015 calendar year. The incoming directors of the association were named during the organization’s annual banquet on Friday, Dec. 5, this year held at the Sussex Pines Country Club in Georgetown.

Taking the reins of Sussex County’s real estate trade association for the upcoming year is Fred Dean, a Realtor with Lewes-based Remax Associates and also husband of 2010 SCAOR President Judy Dean.

“I am very excited about this opportunity, and I definitely think we have a strong team moving forward,” said Dean, following remarks made to members on Dec. 5. “I thank (2014 SCAOR President) Brad Riedle for tutoring me this last year, and I thank my wife for supporting me after she experienced the same thing a few years ago. This much is for sure — we know what we’re in for.”

Dean takes over the leadership position in SCAOR from Riedle, a coastal Realtor who saw the organization through a year that featured slow and steady growth in southern Delaware’s real estate markets, SCAOR representatives said.

While not as vibrant as in 2012 and 2013, they noted, the local real estate market continues to rebound from the challenging economic climate experienced a few years ago, and all indications are for strong numbers again when the 2014 end of year data is released by the association in early January, they said.

“This last year has been a great experience and I have no doubt that I’m leaving the Association in very capable hands with a member of the ‘Dean Team,’ “ said Riedle, who will remain as president through the remainder of the calendar year. “I think we’ve had a pretty good year in 2014, and I look forward to greater success and continued growth in the new year.”

Dean was inducted by Waiman Lee, a Hong Kong native who lives in New Jersey with his wife and two children. Lee works in the field of information technology and met Dean in the 1980s after hiring his firm for a project. Their professional relationship has lasted the better part of three decades.

“I really appreciate that my good friend Waiman was the one who first introduced me as president of this great organization,” said Dean. “I am very lucky to be able to call him my friend, and I feel very fortunate that he drove down here from New Jersey to do me this honor.”

Members of SCAOR’s new board of directors will officially begin their duties with the organization on Jan. 1, 2015, and will continue in their new roles until the final calendar day of 2015. The complete board of directors for 2015 is as follows:

• President — Fred Dean, Remax Associates, Lewes;

• President-Elect — Debbie Brittingham, Southern Delaware Realty, Laurel;

• 1st Vice President — Tim Riale, Riale Realty, Harbeson;

• 2nd Vice President — Chris Lind, Indian River Land Co., Millsboro;

• Treasurer — Susan Giove, Mann & Sons, Rehoboth Beach;

• Past President — Brad Riedle, Coldwell Banker Resort Realty, Rehoboth Beach; and

• Directors — Bill Lucks, Sperry Van Ness, Rehoboth Beach; Bill Ferreri, Bay Coast Realty, Rehoboth Beach; Andrew Ratner, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, Rehoboth Beach; Graves Carey, Carey Realty Group, Lewes; Bill Davis, Remax Associates, Lewes; and Nora Martin, Remax Realty, Rehoboth Beach.

The responsibilities and objectives of SCAOR’s board of directors are focused on promoting real estate and home ownership in Delaware’s southernmost county, but members of the board are also expected to promote and maintain high standards of conduct in the real estate profession, safeguard and advance the interests of those involved in the real estate profession and unite those engaged in real estate on local, state and national levels, among other duties.

The Sussex County Association of Realtors was chartered in 1949. To read more about issues related to Sussex County’s real estate industry, visit SCAOR’s website at www.scaor.com.

The Fort Miles Historical Association on Friday, Dec. 12, honored volunteers, a state lawmaker and board members for their contributions to the World War II fort, at its first Bunker Busters Awards Dinner in Lewes.

“A team effort won World War II. We honor a team effort tonight,” said Dr. Gary D. Wray, FMHA president. “The Bunker Busters invest sweat equity to turn (the fort) into a great World War II museum.”

The event was attended by nearly 100 FMHA members, state officials and supporters of the fort in Cape Henlopen State Park, including 19 members of the Bunker Busters group that volunteers two days a week on projects that include restoring Battery 519 to its World War II appearance.

Wray, who noted that Fort Miles volunteers contribute more than 1,000 hours of their time annually, also acknowledged state parks staff and the FMHA board.

“We’d be nowhere without the parks people. Without the parks people, our people couldn’t move,” he said. “The third part of the team is the FMHA board. Without the support of the FMHA board working hand-in-glove, we couldn’t get anything done.”

Board member John Roberts, who leads the Bunker Busters, explained that the group was being honored for its collective work.

“This is a ‘we’ effort. This award is for the group as a whole. No one gets it — the team gets it,” Roberts said before 19 individual Bunker Busters were given Fort Miles challenge coins as an appreciation.

Wray said the fourth aspect of the team needed to transform the fort into a World War II museum is the Delaware legislature, and he thanked state Sen. Robert L. Venables Sr. for helping the fort acquire state funding.

“We have been very, very blessed in Sussex County to have Sen. Venables,” Wray said, adding that Venables added an appropriation of $155,000 to the state bond bill after he learned that the fort had used private donations to bring a 16-inch U.S.S. Missouri gun barrel from Virginia to Fort Miles.

“Sen. Venables has been the real deal for years and years,” said Wray, presenting the 21st District Democrat and former chairman of the Senate bond committee a plaque honoring his “many years of distinguished service to the citizens of Delaware and for his constant and important support for the vision and mission of the Fort Miles Historical Association.”

“I’m glad I could be in a position to help out,” Venables said, then told the crowd his father helped build Fort Miles and that he was stationed there as a member of the Delaware National Guard.

Venables, who served in the Delaware Senate from 1989 to 2014, said he wished he could help the fort obtain more state funding.

“My plan was we would continue to do that. Maybe I’m a little sorry I’m not going to be there,” he said, which drew a response of “So are we” from an audience member.

“I hope Sussex County is looked after” in future bond appropriations, Venables added.

Board member Frank Ali — who with board member Bev Dalecki planned the dinner held at Irish Eyes Pub & Restaurant — presented plaques to Bob Fellows, Brian Lindsay and Jack Goins for their service on the FMHA board.

Board member Joseph Kosaveach presented recognition awards to former board Secretary Ted George; former board Treasurer Harry Winn; and Charles “Chazz” Salkin, who led Delaware’s parks division for 21 years before retiring last year.

The first Lee Jennings Memorial Award was presented by the FMHA board to Wray, by Jennings’ wife, Linda. Lee Jennings, historian for the Delaware Division of Parks & Recreation, and Wray began the association in 2003 to restore Fort Miles.

“We wouldn’t be here without Lee. Lee was the visionary,” Wray said of Jennings, who died at age 57, in March 2010. “Lee’s with us all the time.”

Wray detailed the next steps for FMHA and its volunteers, including using a $245,000 Longwood grant to construct a facilities building with bathrooms.

“We can do a lot and stretch that $245,000 with the talent we have” in the Bunker Busters, he said, adding that he expects FMHA to break ground for the building in spring or summer 2015.

The association has the money for the first stage of moving the Missouri gun barrel to its permanent home overlooking the ocean and pointing at Cape May, N.J., at what will be the front of the planned museum building, Wray said.

“It’s going to be one spectacular sight to see. Really, really beautiful,” he said.

The ultimate goal of the FMHA is to operate “the best World War II museum in a World War II facility in the United States,” Wray said.

Students interested in applying for several special programs in the Indian River School District for the 2015-2016 school year are required to submit state school choice applications and district supplemental forms, officials reminded students and their parents this week.

Students who wish to enroll in Sussex Central High School’s International Baccalaureate program or Indian River High School’s STEM pathway must submit school choice applications by Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015, at 4 p.m. A Delaware Standard Application for Educational Options and an Indian River School District Choice Student Supplemental Information Form must be submitted. The forms are available on the district website at irsd.net.

Applications and forms should be mailed to Indian River School District, Attn: School Choice, 31 Hosier Street, Selbyville, DE 19975.

Additionally, prospective Indian River High School students must submit a STEM pathway application prior to Jan. 29. Applications are available at indianriverhighschool.com. Prospective Sussex Central High School students must complete an International Baccalaureate application during the spring application period (March 23 to April 27).

For more information, contact Brice Reed or Kelly De Leon at Sussex Central High School at (302) 934-3166 or Mark Sewell at Indian River High School at (302) 732-1500.

Choice applications are also being received from parents who wish to enroll their children in Spanish immersion programs at John M. Clayton and East Millsboro elementary schools in 2015-2016. Only students entering kindergarten in 2015-2016 will be considered for acceptance into the program next year.

Parents who are interested in having their child considered for Spanish immersion kindergarten classes are required to submit state school choice applications and district supplemental forms. Parents need not adhere to the Jan. 14, 2015 deadline, as there will be a separate Spanish immersion program application deadline of May 8, 2015.

For more information on the immersion program, contact Char Hopkins, JMC principal, at (302) 732-3808; Kelly Dorman, East Millsboro principal, at (302) 934-3222 or Audrey Carey, Supervisor of Elementary Instruction, at (302) 436-1000.

The Eating Rehoboth and Eating Lewes Food Tours were recognized this week by Southern Delaware Tourism with the organization’s 2014 tourism award. The award recognized an individual or organization that has made an outstanding and significant contribution to the enrichment of tourism in Sussex County in the year prior to October 2014.

Bob Yesbek, Deb Griffin and Paul Cullen were on hand to accept the award for their business, which offers walking tours designed to help participants “discover incredible sights and tastes … [and] find out why the Rehoboth area is one of the nation’s fastest growing culinary hot spots.”

“We all have a bunch of things that we do, but we all come together to do these tours because we love it,” said Yesbek. “I thank Southern Delaware Tourism so much for selecting us to be this award winner.”

Scott Thomas, executive director of Southern Delaware Tourism, noted that 2014 marks the organization’s 25th anniversary.

“Southern Delaware beaches are just the beginning. Our five-star cleanest-water-in-the-ocean beaches — they always have been and always will be our tourist anchor,” he said, adding that tourism goes beyond the county’s beaches, including local heritage trails, tax-free shopping and more.”

According to Scott, tourism within the county generates $850 million in revenue annually, second only to the county’s agriculture industry in economic impact.

Other nominees for the award included Millville’s Dickens Parlour Theatre, where “visiting magicians entertain crowds of visitors and locals of all ages with astonishing illusions and feats of world-class magic.” RehobothFoodie.com, Gordons Pond Trail and Vanderwende Farm Creamery were also nominated.

“All of this year’s nominees are very deserving of the award, as they provide wonderful experiences for our visitors and help make Sussex County, Del., such a special place,” said Thomas.

The Town of Frankford will hold its annual election on Feb. 7, with voters to fill two seats, currently held by Council President Joanne Bacon and Secretary/Treasurer Cheryl Workman.

Those who wish to vote must register by Wednesday, Dec. 31, at town hall. If a resident has not voted in two consecutive Town elections they must re-register. Those who are unsure if they are registered to vote should contact town hall.

Town Administrator Terry Truitt said the Town currently has approximately 126 residents registered to vote; however, that figure may change during the voter registration period.

The election will be held between 1 and 4 p.m. on Feb. 7, at town hall. Those who go to cast their vote in February must remember to take with them a proof of identification and address, such as a current State of Delaware driver’s license or ID card and a current utility bill, bank statement, credit card statement, a paycheck, or another type of bill or statement.

The Town’s 2013 election was canceled. In 2012 Councilmen Jesse Truitt and Charles Shelton were reelected, with a total of 61 and 58 votes, respectively.

Those elected will serve a two-term term on council. Truitt said that, at the March 2015 monthly meeting, the council will reorganize and select council members’ positions.

Those interested in running in the election must be at least 18, must have resided in the Town for at least one year immediately preceding the date of the election, must be a qualified voter in the Town of Frankford and must not have been convicted of a felony.

Anyone wishing to file as a candidate for the February election must file a written Notice of Intention at the Frankford Town Hall no later than 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 6, 2015.

Frankford Town Hall is located at 5 Main Street and may be reached by calling (302) 732-9424. To acquire voter registration and the certificate of intention to run for council forms, visit www.frankfordde.us/default.aspx?PageId=3.

The Department of Transportation (DelDOT) this week alerted motorists that the removal and replacement of a crossroad pipe will close Substation Road between Burbage Road and Beaver Dam Road in the Ocean View area until 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 23. Weather could postpone the closure to Wednesday, Dec. 24, at 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 31.

The detour route for the closure will use Substation Road onto Burbage Road to Windmill Drive onto Central Avenue to Beaver Dam Road and return to Substation Road for southbound traffic and the reverse for northbound traffic.

DelDOT officials explained that crossroad pipe replacements replace old deteriorated pipes that carry water from one side of the road to the other. Most of the time, they are corrugated metal pipes that have rusted through and have holes in them, they said.

Once they get holes in them, they said, the fill dirt that supports the road can be lost. That can create a sinkhole in the road and can actually cause the pipe to collapse if it is not replaced. Sometimes they carry streams and tax ditches, and sometimes roadway drainage ditches. DelDOT replaces them with reinforced concrete pipes or HDPE (or plastic) pipes.

Coastal Point • File Photo : Mariner’s Bethel United Methodist Church offers an annual Blue Christmas service to help bring people together who might be missing a loved one, or just need the support of others, during the holiday season.Although the holiday season is viewed as a joyous time for many, there are some in the community who are dealing with difficult situations and losses in their lives. For those who may need comfort during this time of year, Mariner’s Bethel United Methodist Church offers a service of comfort and hope.

“The service is for the lost, lonely, grieving and overwhelmed,” explained Rev. Kay Lanasa, who organizes the annual service. “When people come, all they do is sit. They don’t have to sing or respond to a reading. It’s a very silent service.”

The service will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 23, the eve of Christmas Eve, beginning at 7 p.m. in the church’s sanctuary.

Lanasa brought the service to Mariner’s eight years ago, having held similar services in churches where she preached in Virginia, when she saw there was a local need.

“There are people who are not happy at Christmas. There are people that are dealing with all kinds of stuff. The reason we do it is that not everybody is happy at Christmas, so let’s speak to those people,” she said.

Those attending the service are being invited to bring a framed photograph of a loved one they wish to remember, which will be placed on tables in the sanctuary.

“It’s going to be a lot of remembering those who are maybe not with us this year,” she said. “Everybody will be given a little tealight as they come in, so they’ll have a light they can put in front of their picture. If they don’t bring one, we’ll have cards they can write a name on that can be placed up on the table. It’s very prayerful.”

At every Blue Christmas service, a speaker has shared their story with those in attendance, in the hope of sharing comfort.

“That’s our main theme — light and hope,” said Lanasa. “The emphasis is the light that Christ brings, the hope of a future.”

This year, Christine Hewlett, a member of Mariner’s and one-time attendee of the service, will speak.

“She’s going to be sharing about hope. She’s a dynamic person,” said Lanasa of Hewlett.

“I attended the service myself four years ago, a couple weeks before my husband died of cancer. It really ministered to me,” said Hewlett. “That year, a woman got up and spoke about losing her husband to cancer.”

Hewlett who has dealt with much loss in her life, including the death of her husband and being chronically ill for 20 years, said the service really changed her life.

“I had a lot to grieve about,” she said. “It was the first message I had heard from the Christian community acknowledging the depth of despair in the world. That is what you really need. You need to be with people who understand.

“It just really communicated God’s love to me. When you go through great difficulties, you feel more and more alone. In reality, many people are suffering greatly, but they may not be in your circle of friends.

“Since that time, my relationship with the Lord has given me so much hope,” Hewlett added. “It really felt like it was supernatural, being able to overcome my grief, because it was such a sad situation. Even though I’ve suffered a lot, there are a lot of people in the world who have suffered a lot more.”

Hewlett said that, for those dealing with difficult times, the service shows that it’s OK to not be joyful during the holiday season.

“The purpose of the service is to have a safe place to grieve at Christmas, because Christmas is a time of joy and merrymaking. For those of us going through something tough, because our hearts are heavy, it kind of makes it worse.”

“It’s a place they can go and not have to be overwhelmed by all the glitter of Christmas. It’s not morbid; It’s just a silent service,” Lanasa added.

Lanasa said she herself has dealt with the loss of her 99-year-old aunt earlier this year.

“People need that. There are people who are hurting. They come to church, and they’re all nice and they’re all smiling, but every family has something they’re dealing with… It’s just the way it is.”

When the service first came to Mariner’s, Lanasa said, a widower donated a white Christmas tree in his wife’s memory, specifically for the service. Eight years later, Lanasa said, she will be donating a new tree, in memory of her aunt.

All members in the community are welcome to attend the service, which lasts approximately 45 minutes, said Lanasa, and they will not be disturbed during the service. The Mariner’s prayer team will be on hand to offer comfort to those who need it.

For the second year, local resident Olivia Crass, who is currently studying music at Shenandoah University, will culminate the service through song.

“It’s beautiful,” said Lanasa of Crass’ singing.

Both Lanasa and Hewlett said they hope those who attend Tuesday’s service are able to garner hope during a time when hope may be hard to find.

“I just want to share with the people who come a window into where I’ve been and where things can go for them,” Hewlett said.

“My hope is in the gospel and in the promise of Heaven — that this life is not all there is. I still continue to have daily migraines… If I were just to look at how things are built out in this life, I think I would have a hard time accepting things. It’s really comforting to me that this is a prologue that this is not all there is.”

Mariner’s Bethel is located at 81 Central Avenue and Route 26 in Ocean View. For more information, call (302) 539-9510.

Coastal Point • Laura Walter : The emergency response team of the Southern Delaware School of the Arts may have saved the life of their coworker, Glen Timmons (center-left) during heart failure. When her coworker hit the ground during the Nov. 12 lunch hour, Wendy Webb’s training and quick thinking may have saved a life.

It was lunchtime at the Southern Delaware School of the Arts when chief custodian Glen Timmons collapsed in the cafeteria.

His heart had stopped.

“Everyone heard a loud bang, and he was down on the ground,” said Principal Neil Beahan. “Wendy Webb was there very quickly.”

She and other staff members had trained for situations like this. The SDSA response team assembled immediately.

“Glen was not responsive, so we shocked him and did some compressions,” Beahan said. “Slowly and surely, Mr. Glen came back to us, and by the time the paramedics arrived, he was a lot more coherent.”

“We do AED drills every year for a purpose, and it’s to make these kind of situations reactive,” Beahan said. “And it worked perfectly.”

“When we do these drills in practice … you’ve got to take it seriously,” Timmons said. “This was the first drill of the year, and I was just in the right place at the right time.”

Webb and the entire response team were honored with the Above & Beyond Award from the Indian River School Board.

“He’ll be back to work on Monday,” Beahan said. “The most amazing thing is that he was up talking to me later that day.”

Beahan was very proud of his team.

“They did in essence save the life of one of our staff members,” said Superintendent Susan Bunting. “They are all to be credited with bringing Mr. Glen to us this evening.”

The Carl M. Freeman Companies this week announced the official opening of CVS/pharmacy at Bayside Marketplace, located at the southwest corner of Route 54 and Americana Parkway, across from Bayside Marketplace. The 13,281-square-foot store opened Oct. 26 and offers pharmacy service, health, beauty and personal-care offerings, general merchandise, food and digital photo services.

“The store is the culmination of two years of working diligently with the Delaware Department of Transportation and Sussex County to include left-turn access off Route 54,” according to Chris Garland, senior vice president of development with Carl M. Freeman Companies. “Our deal with CVS was dependent on that access, which makes the store well-situated to serve our Selbyville community,” he added.

Freeman Companies also announced this week that it is in negotiations regarding the adjacent land parcel, which they said will accommodate a fast-service restaurant of approximately 4,500 square feet. That deal is expected to close by the end of the year, they said.

For more information about Carl M. Freeman Companies, visit www.freemancompanies.com or call (240) 453-3000.

Delaware State Parks will sponsor free, guided hikes in nine state parks on New Year’s Day as part of America’s State Parks First Day Hikes initiative.

The hikes offer individuals and families an opportunity to begin the New Year by connecting with the outdoors on Jan. 1 at a state park close to home, officials said.

On Jan. 1 of this year, 642 participants hiked more than 1,500 miles at nine different state parks. Parks staff and volunteers will lead the 2015 hikes, which average one to two miles or longer, depending on the park. Details about hike locations, difficulty, length, terrain and tips regarding proper clothing are listed on the America’s State Parks website. Visit naspd.org ordestateparks.com/firstday to find the First Day Hike nearest you.

First Day Hikes originated more than 20 years ago, at the Blue Hills Reservation in Milton, Mass., to promote both healthy lifestyles throughout the year and year-round recreation at state parks. Last year marked the first time all 50 state park systems participated.

“DNREC’s Division of Parks and Recreation is committed to promoting outdoor recreation in state parks as a way to address obesity, especially among children,” officials said. “Getting kids outside and unplugged from video games and other electronic media creates a unique connection with nature that promotes physical and mental well-being, and encourages creativity and stewardship of our shared resources.”

Indian River High School this week announced its honor roll students for the most recent marking period in the 2014-2015 school year. Among the students receiving high honors were:

• Seniors Margaret Allison, Hailley Baker, Kayli Belfiore, Dylon Bellemare, Taylor Billinger, Katie Boyle, Sarah Buchler, Virgil Bullis III, Taylor Bunting, David Chan, Lor Dabaj, Taite Daisey, Hannah Davis, Victor Degeorge, Brittany Delp, Kasen Donald, Marissa Fox, Daniel Garza, Erika Granholm, Madison Hastings, Farris Hauck, Tashaila Holland, Alison Jennings, Jordan Johnson, Thomas Litchfield, Alexandra Long, Lauren Lynch, Nicole Marvel, Ciera Morris, Darrick Mudry, Maria Papavasilis, William Ransone, Zoe Richard, Marshall Saunders, Jack Saxton, Courtney Shartzer, Margaret Stoots, Spencer Sturla, Caitlyn Tharby, Jewel Tomlinson, Marina Travalini, Amanda Truitt, Zachery Turcol, Deisy Velasquez, Eddie Velasquez, John Velasquez and Phoebe Walls;

• Juniors Brooke Beam, Darren Bowden, Spencer Boyce, James Brannon, Krista Carroll, Joseph Cooper, Veronica Culver, Sofia DiGirolamo, John Douds Jr., Emma Engel, Brooke Fischer, Brandon Galliher, Cameron Goff, Dylan Hudson, Kayla Huebner, Amanda Josetti, Kali Kellam, Sarah King, Sarah Klepac, Sarah Kraushaar, Caroline Lingenfelter, Madison McCabe, Lauren McCoy, Callie McDowell, Madison Mercer, Paige Millis, Dillon Mitchell, Gunnar Moldrik, Logan Montuori, Tykeria Nicholson, Meghan Paulus, Hope Pearce, Jared Ryan, Elizabeth Saylor, Emiley Shuey, Natalie Tobin, Peyton Townsend, Dallas Tucker, Kylie Ucman, Taylor Wayland, Mary Whaley, Sarah Wood, Melissa Woody and Kyle Yerkes;

• Sophomores Jared Arlett, Ulises Barrientos, Rachel Beers, Jordan Berrish, Hanna Boyer, McKenna Burke, Shelby Cannatelli, Michael Cedeno, Joseph Ciriello II, David Clark Jr., Makenzie Collins, Ryan Ellis, Andrea Elsby, John Evans III, Berkleigh Fadden, Nicholas Feldman, David Fike, Josephine Grimes, Lindsey Grow, Alexis Haden, Erin Haden, Madison Hogsten, Brandon Horton, Zion Howard, John Keller, Robert Lathbury, Cristina Lopez, Mariayna Lovelace, Matthew Lyons, George Martin, Griffin McCormick, Jason McKenna, Hayden McWilliams, Sydney Messick, Keontae Mumford, Samantha Mumford, Diana Ngo, Seong Oh, Richard Parrett, Kenya Purnell, Kyle Rayne, Jasenky Rivera, Samuel Rojas, Jessica Roman, Sara Saylor, McClain Smith, Max Stong, Paige Troublefield, Alejandra Velazques, Chloe Webster and Andrew White; and

• Freshmen Jessica Beaston, Peyton Beebe, Julia Bomhardt, Delaney Brannon, Mikaela Brosnahan, Jessica Bunting, Kennedy Butch, Tallie Callahan, Bret Cobb, Carly Collins, Erin Cooney, Michael Corcoran, Kaleigh Cordrey, Oscar Cruz, Zofia Cryzewski, Micah d’Entremont, Joud Dabaj, Helen Davis, Paul Diaz, Elizabeth Dill, Sierra DiVincenzo, Carlos Escalante, Olivia Garvey, Hannah Gentry, Jacob Gilliar, Cameron Hall, Cassidy Hoehn, Calvin James, Brianna Johnson, Dahria Kalmbach, Kathryn Koontz, Matthew Koontz, Thomas Koontz, Abigail Lathbury, Nathaniel McCabe, Ryan McCoy, Elaina Miranda, Marley Mitchell, Kelsey Murray, Trayona Nock, Marbeli Ortiz, Savannah Padgett, Priya Patel, Anthony Prosachik, Alexander Pszczola IV, Rita Ramirez, Jessica Rodriguez, Jemisell Rosas, Gavin Smith, Mark Smith, Katrina Staib, Sabrina Sturla, Stephanie Tapia, Emily Tharby, Mackenzie Webb, Samantha Whelen, Andrew White, Braydee Whitman, Ishmael Willey, Benjamin Wilson, Isabel Wolfenbarger, Taylor Woodington, Jewel Yanek and Jocelyn Ynastrilla.

Students receiving honors for the most recent marking period were:

• Seniors Zaniah Allah Cousins, Joseph Alvarado, Evan Alvarez, Cassidy Baker, Marley Belzner, Briten Blades, Zachry Brinker, Noelle Brown, Gwendolyn Bunting, Keaton Burke, Emily Campbell, Gabriella Castillo, Haley Cathell, Vincent Catrino, Kyle Clark, Lili Cooney, John Cooper, Luis Cruz, Rachel Custer, Kaylene Custis, Gretchen Daehn, Robert Delp, Ashley Donahue, Brianna Drummond, Demi Edwards, Hugo Gomez, Krystal Gonzalez, Gabriel Gottschalk, Jessica Griffith, Josue Gutierrez, Shaquille Hall, Miracle Handy, Clayton Hardy, Asia Harmon, Logan Hearn, Braden Hitch, Natalie Holmes, Joseph Howard, Shakera Jacobs, Haley Kirby, Janice Knight Nieves, Gabriella Kohr, Miya Laws, Dylan Lewis, Elizabeth Lopez, Kei Juan Major, Kristin Mancuso, Avery McCormick, Haley McManus, Benjamin Miskin, Renee Moore, Maria Nunez, Marisella Nunez, Kenneth Rishel Jr., Juan Rodriguez, Kathryn Russell, Danielle Rybicki, Alicia Satterfield, Bradlee Saville, Shawntelle Showell, Christopher Smith, Holden Snyder, Autumn Somers, Seung Son, Patrick St Aubin, Caroline Tobin, Kenly Velasquez, Conner Warner, Amber Watson, Noah West, Kevin White, Kyra Wright and Sarah Wylie.

• Juniors Kevonte Bailey, Davina Baine, Alissa Banks, Carolyn Benton, Itzayana Beranza, Hannah Blakely, Mitchell Bolton, Eliza Bomhardt, Cordell Boyce, Madalyne Brenner, Tiffany Cain, Anthony Catrino, Aline Check Guzman, William Cotter, Madison Cox, Jennifer Delfin Rivera, Garret Driscoll, Ana Elling, Jake Elliott, Madison Griffin, Lance Harmon, Alexander Hileman, Adam Izzo, Leah Kneller, Samuel Krim, Emily Laczkowski, Todd Larsen, Madison Lively, Karly McCarra, Kayla McCarra, Emma Lee Merrick, Bethany Moran, Paiton Murray, Ky’Lesha Neal, Lydia Nitz, Samuel Palmer, Juana Pascual, Edgar Perez, Alexander Petrillo, Brooke Roughton, Tiffany Rybicki, Mason Sanders, Hannah Shultie, Roy Smith, Carley Snyder, Riley Taylor Ely, Madison Thune, Ian Walls, Haylee Wells, Kayla Ruark Welsh, Katherine Whaley, Jordan Wright and Kaya Ziskay;

• Sophomores Devin Bailey, Christian Benner, Nathan Bishop, Bridgette Blatzheim, Dustin Blevins, Allison Bowerman, Rachel Burke, Brianna Chatfield, Johan Cordoba, Octavio Cuenca, Jennifer Dietz, Cierra Dolby, Danielle Dungan, Amber Ellis, Rory Emerson, Yecenia Estrada, Anthony Falcone, Logan Firle, Gerald Foreman, Grant Gano, Stephanie Gil, Gianni Gottschalk, Desiree Hastings, Taylor Hastings, Tysheika Hudson, Cameron James, Chance Kamin, Jacob Kessell, Athena Liadakis, Joseph Linthicum, Saray Lopez, Courtney Malone, Kathleen Malone, Madison Manelski, Kiersten McCurley, Joseph McDowell, Madison McGee, Jordan Mears, Mikie Mochiam, Patrick Mochiam, Samantha Mushrush, Samuel Nitz, Jose Olguin, Madelyn Parcells, Alexis Purcell, Zane Richard, Tristan Richards, Angelina Roca, Gaibreal Rodriguez, Lizbeth Santos, Stormy Schaub, Kenneth Schnabele, Garett Scott, Camryn Shanahan, Justin Steele, Joshua Timmons, Oceana Travalini, Lexi Ucman, Kerinne Walls, Hannah Webb, Callahan Weber, Katelyn Wells and Clayton West; and

• Freshmen Matthew Allender Jr., Kealey Allison, Ella Baull, Ryan Blades, Garrett Bomhardt, Leah Brasure, Kenneth Bullard, Pedro Cabanzo, Adam Carpenter, Olivia Catrino, Andrew Chatterton, Albert Clark, Lauryn Cox, Joseph D’Orazio, Collin Donaway, Isabel Elvira, Sharon Granados, Kevon Harmon, Brianna Henry, Cole Hitch, Brooke Hoban, David Holland, Donasia Hopkins, Shannon Hubscher, Heidi Johnson, Dustin Kamin, Jonathan Kohr, Wyatt Kovatch, Ashley Lecates, Connor Maestas, Ava Marcozzi, Brianna McGee, Shaikeem Miller, Brianna Moore, Celia Nogueras, Mya Parks, Cher Robinson, Zachary Rock, Jasmine Rodriguez, Marissa Sands, Bethany Satterfield, Andrew Scalard, Landon Seeney, Anija Singletary, Camron Stengel, Mia Truitt, Cortez Tull, Jaden Turlington, David Vickers, Ryan Walter, Carly Warner, Tylor Weaver, Natalie Wells and Damya Williams.

The Sussex County Council this week was given a presentation by Chris Keeler, the County’s director of assessment, at the request of outgoing Councilman Vance Phillips, in response to a petition by a number of poultry growers who said they were concerned about the cost of their County property taxes.

Keeler told the council that poultry houses ¬constructed since 1974 — the year of the County’s most recent property reassessment — are assessed at $1.75 per square foot. Comparatively, Kent County assesses at $2.95 per square foot and New Castle County assesses at $5 per square foot.

Keeler said Sussex County determines total assessed value for taxes by first multiplying the square footage by $1.75 and then only uses 98 percent of the calculated value to determine appraised value, rounding down to the nearest whole number. He said the total assessed value for determining taxes is half of the appraised value.

He noted that Kent County in its tax calculation uses 60 percent of the calculated value to determine assessed value.

He added that a recent building permit taken out for three poultry houses on Seashore Highway near Bridgeville had an estimated value of $324,000, with a County assessment of just $69,450.

“It appears if you’re a chicken, you’re better off in Sussex County,” said Councilman George Cole following the presentation.

Phillips asked Keeler what happens to the value of a poultry house once it is no longer in use. Keeler said an assessor would go to the property to determine if a reduction would be warranted, depending on the condition of the building.

Councilwoman Joan Deaver said she felt there was a “little elephant” in the room.

“I want to make sure it benefits local folks. We have a lot of foreign folks coming in buying up chicken plants, and so on and so forth,” she said. “Is there any way to be sure that it is local people that are getting the benefit of that, and not North Korea?” (The Harim Group, which owns poultry company Allen Harim, is based in South Korea.)

“I don’t think we have a separate tax for people who are foreign-owned companies,” said Council President Michael Vincent.

“Any assessments have to be consistent across-the-board,” added County Solicitor J. Everett Moore. “We have to adhere to those established guidelines set in ’74.”

Laurel farmer Charlie Hudson, who owns three poultry houses, said his grievance was with the formula used.

“We have people in the area that have other businesses that are taxed by their profit, not by what they have as far as buildings,” he said. “You can have a poultry house and actually go broke, so you’re not making money on it but you’re still paying taxes on it… Just because you have a poultry house doesn’t guarantee you’re going to make money.”

Cole asked Hudson what specifically was upsetting with regard to the County’s formula.

“What other business do you know that if you don’t make money you still have to pay taxes?” Hudson responded.

“Ever had rental property?” Cole quipped. He clarified that the County does not assess taxes based on profits or lack of profits, but solely on the assessed value of the real estate held, and he suggested that perhaps their concerns should be taken to the State.

Also on Dec. 16, the council discussed the County’s employee healthcare plans. In the next few months, the County will be working with an independent agency to review its healthcare options for the May 1 effective date for all plans.

“This is a very costly expense, and I think it’s very important that we look into other options for us for the health insurance,” said County Finance Director Gina Jennings.

Currently, the County has a self-insurance plan, administered by third-party health management company Integra. Insurance Buyers’ Council Inc. will be undertaking a comprehensive review of the health insurance plan, and Jennings said the County will be looking for both fully-funded and self-insured options.

“The objectives of the process are to conduct a comprehensive review of the County’s benefit program, including cost, benefit levels, level of services, funding method and provider discounts,” said Jennings, adding that the County also wishes to maintain a high level of employee satisfaction.

The study will take approximately three months to complete, with the County soliciting bids for health insurance in January 2015, for possible selection in March.

One controversial novel will remain on bookshelves at a local high school after students and adults spoke in favor of retaining access to “The Miseducation of Cameron Post” and against censorship.

Sussex Central High School had suddenly removed the novel from library bookshelves, student Bryce Molnar had reported at the November meeting of Indian River School Board.

“The book was taken from the Sussex Central library and not replaced. There was no explanation,” Molnar had said.

“The appeal was dropped, so the book will remain on the shelf,” Superintendent Susan Bunting said this week.

The Young Adult novel has won multiple book awards for its portrayal of a teenager learning about her own sexuality and homosexuality. The book also includes drug use and strong language.

The content led to a controversial decision in the Cape Henlopen School District earlier this year to remove the book from its summer reading list, with some asking for its removal on the basis of the profanity it contained but others arguing that its depiction of homosexuality was really what had been found objectionable. That district later dropped its entire summer reading list after supporters of the book rallied for its reinstatement.

Bunting said that, in the Indian River School District, a citizen’s complaint had activated a special IRSD committee “to review the book and determine its suitability for placement in high school libraries. In November, the committee recommended that the book remain in our libraries. The superintendent upheld the committee’s findings. The complainant has appealed this decision,” so the appeal hearing was scheduled for Dec. 17.

The “Cameron Post” controversy is not new for the National Coalition Against Censorship, American Civil Liberties Union of Delaware, and other organizations, which recently sent IRSD a public letter. They called for the reinstatement of the book to Sussex Central High School’s library.

“‘Cameron Post’ was removed from library shelves after the Board’s president filed a formal complaint regarding the book’s profanity. Though a review committee voted to restore the book to shelves, with the superintendent accepting those recommendations, the president has appealed this decision. The matter will be discussed at a board meeting on Monday,” the letter said.

However, the matter was discussed behind closed doors Dec. 17. Board President Charles Bireley would not directly speak as to how the appeal might be related to personnel or litigation, which are typically the only reasons for public decision-making bodies to go into closed executive session.

That didn’t stop the vocal public from getting involved.

Charlie Megginson spoke as the president of SCHS’s Gay-Straight Alliance.

“We’re offended when we hear some of our board members feel that we aren’t capable to think for ourselves. We’re offended that some individuals would force their lifestyle into our education for what they claim is the preservation of society,” Megginson said. “If the preservation of society is maintaining a record of censorship, ignorance to opposing opinions and complete lack of regard for the needs of society, that’s not a society which I want to preserve.”

Although not speaking from his position as student council president, Megginson said that position has shown him many student opinions.

“My generation of students is capable, inquisitive and intelligent. They want to learn,” Megginson said.

Above his own religious and conservative beliefs, Megginson cited his “unquestionable respect” for the U.S. Constitution and “our right to draw our own conclusions without intervention from the government.”

He saw removal of the book as censoring education for the world’s future leaders, which he said is “un-American.”

“Don’t tell us what is right and what is wrong, and don’t tell us that we’re incompetent to think on our own,” he said.

Some adults had another view.

“Protecting the constitutional rights of children is very important, but there are parental rights that need your protection and attention,” said Maria Johnson, a community member, mentor and para-educator also serving on the Health Curriculum Sub-Committee, which has recently seen its own controversies over the issue of homosexuality as part of the district’s forthcoming sex-ed curriculum.

“The community would hope you would protect against special-interest group agendas that threaten to drive the IRSD curriculum and school reading material,” she said. “There are very sexually explicit themes and profanity” in the novel, she emphasized. “So I just thank you again for protecting the children and families of the Indian River School District.”

The book is actually recommended for students in grades 9 and 10, when teenagers are already well-developed, said Bethany Beach’s Margie Cyr, chair of the Delaware Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom Committee.

“I believe there are lesbians who attend Indian River High School. I believe there are some who experiment with drugs. … I believe there are students who are struggling with religious issues, and I believe there are some times when the students use the big F-word,” said Cyr.

“There is a portion of your student body that is interested enough and mature enough, and it would be helpful for them to learn that there are others who find growing up equally as challenging as Cameron does.”

She reminded the board that they hire librarians and educators who are trained to choose materials for library shelves.

In other Indian River School Board news:

• As the district works to write its new sex-education program for health class, several residents also spoke in favor of comprehensive sex-ed.

“Does sexual education belong in the home and not in the school? I say no. I believe it’s as essential a part of healthy living as nutrition,” said Leonard Bohman of Millsboro.

“Religious judgment has no place in a school classroom or a counselor’s office,” he said, addressing those who believe information about various sexual orientations should not be taught, due to religious beliefs. “Biblical expertise or lack of it should be entirely irrelevant to governing public schools,” said Bohman, who has a doctorate in theology.

• With no one to introduce the topic, the school board nearly skipped over a discussion of school board scheduling. The school board had received a suggestion that its executive sessions be held before public meetings.

Currently, the private meetings can lag late into the night, with public decisions resulting from the closed sessions coming well after most of the public has left. But the deadline might encourage concise decision-making, especially at an earlier hour, it was argued.

It was suggested that the executive session could begin early, and the public session could be held an hour later than usual, and the board could return to executive session if work remains unfinished when the public meeting is due to start.

Discussion of the issue will continue in January.

• During his student government report, Megginson asked the district to take advantage of students’ expertise. When the board or district are making decisions, student council representatives could provide insight to decisions that will affect them, he said.

SCHS students have been active and giving this year. The GSA and Kick Butts Generation sent care three care packages to alumni soldiers overseas. The SCHS food drive and giving tree were successful, too, Megginson reported.

“We all feel it is important for the community to see that [student groups] are involved outside the school,” he said.

The next school board meeting is set for Monday, Jan. 26, 2015, at 7 p.m. at Indian River High School. The Health Curriculum sub-committee meeting has been rescheduled for Jan. 8 at 4 p.m.