The Delaware State Police are investigating an attempted robbery of an Ocean View grocery store that occurred early Thursday evening.

Police said the incident occurred around 8:20 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26, when a male suspect entered Hocker's G&E supermarket at 30244 Cedar Neck Road and approached the 49-year-old female employee at the counter. They said the suspect demanded the clerk hand over the money in the register and implied he had a weapon. The clerk refused after alerting another store employee and the suspect then fled out the front door in an unknown direction, according to the DSP.

The suspect is described as a white man, between 6 feet, 1 inch, and 6 feet, 4 inches tall, wearing a black jacket, blue jeans and a grey mask over his face. No other physical or clothing description was available, and no surveillance photos were available.

If anyone has any information in reference to the incident they are being asked to contact the Major Crimes Unit at Troop 4 at 302-856-5850 or by utilizing the Delaware State Police Mobile Crime Tip Application available to download at:http://www.delaware.gov/apps/. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333, via the internet at www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com, or by sending an anonymous tip by text to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword "DSP."

Indian River High School recently announced its honor roll students for the second marking period in the 2014-2015 school year.

Students receiving high honors (grades 93 to 100) included:

• Seniors Margaret Allison, Evan Alvarez, Hailley Baker, Kayli Belfiore, Dylon Bellemare, Marley Belzner, Katie Boyle, Sarah Buchler, Taylor Bunting, David Chan, Rachel Custer, Lor Dabaj, Gretchen Daehn, Taite Daisey, Hannah Davis, Brittany Delp, Kasen Donald, Marissa Fox, Krystal Gonzalez, Erika Granholm, Clayton Hardy, Madison Hastings, Farris Hauck, Natalie Holmes, Alison Jennings, Jordan Johnson, Janice Knight Nieves, Thomas Litchfield, Alexandra Long, Lauren Lynch, Kristin Mancuso, Nicole Marvel, Ciera Morris, William Ransone, Zoe Richard, Alicia Satterfield, Marshall Saunders, Jack Saxton, Shawntelle Showell, Caitlyn Tharby, Jewel Tomlinson, Marina Travalini, Amanda Truitt, Zachery Turcol, Deisy Velasquez, Eddie Velasquez, Kenly Velasquez, Phoebe Walls and Alexandria Williams;

• Juniors Brooke Beam, Darren Bowden, James Brannon, Tiffany Cain, Krista Carroll, Veronica Culver, Sofia DiGirolamo, John Douds Jr., Emma Engel, Brooke Fischer, Brandon Galliher, Cameron Goff, Dylan Hudson, Kayla Huebner, Amanda Josetti, Sarah King, Sarah Kraushaar, Emily Laczkowski, Caroline Lingenfelter, Madison McCabe, Karly McCarra, Lauren McCoy, Callie McDowell, Madison Mercer, Emma Lee Merrick, Dillon Mitchell, Gunnar Moldrik, Logan Montuori, Paiton Murray, Hope Pearce, Edgar Perez, Alexander Petrillo, Jared Ryan, Tiffany Rybicki, Emiley Shuey, Hannah Shultie, Madison Thune, Natalie Tobin, Peyton Townsend, Dallas Tucker, Kylie Ucman and Melissa Woody;

• Sophomores Jared Arlett, Hanna Boyer, McKenna Burke, Shelby Cannatelli, Michael Cedeno, Joseph Ciriello II, David Clark Jr., Makenzie Collins, Ryan Ellis, Andrea Elsby, Berkleigh Fadden, Nicholas Feldman, David Fike, Margaret Ford, Gerald Foreman, Josephine Grimes, Lindsey Grow, Alexis Haden, Erin Haden, Natalie Herrera, Madison Hogsten, Brandon Horton, Zion Howard, Tysheika Hudson, Cristina Lopez, Mariayna Lovelace, Matthew Lyons, George Martin, Griffin McCormick, Hayden McWilliams, Sydney Messick, Keontae Mumford, Diana Ngo, Madelyn Parcells, Richard Parrett, Kenya Purnell, Samuel Rojas, Jessica Roman, Sara Saylor, McClain Smith, Max Stong, Paige Troublefield, Alejandra Velazques, Hannah Webb and Andrew White; and

• Freshmen Kealey Allison, Jessica Beaston, Peyton Beebe, Delaney Brannon, Mikaela Brosnahan, Jessica Bunting, Kennedy Butch, Bret Cobb, Carly Collins, Erin Cooney, Michael Corcoran, Kaleigh Cordrey, Zofia Cryzewski, Joud Dabaj, Helen Davis, Elizabeth Dill, Olivia Garvey, Hannah Gentry, Kevon Harmon, Cassidy Hoehn, Calvin James, Dahria Kalmbach, Matthew Koontz, Abigail Lathbury, Nathaniel McCabe, Ryan McCoy, Shaikeem Miller, Kelsey Murray, Trayona Nock, Maykin Nunez, Savannah Padgett, Priya Patel, Anthony Prosachik, Alexander Pszczola IV, Rita Ramirez, Gisselle Rodriguez, Jemisell Rosas, Mark Smith, Katrina Staib, Stephanie Tapia, Emily Tharby, Carly Warner, Mackenzie Webb, Samantha Whelen, Andrew White, Ishmael Willey, Benjamin Wilson, Isabel Wolfenbarger and Taylor Woodington, Jewel Yanek.

The following IRHS students received Honors for grades between 85 and 92 for the most recent marking period:

• Seniors Zaniah Allah Cousins, Jose Alvarado, Virgil Bullis III, Gwendolyn Bunting, Keaton Burke, Gabriella Castillo, Haley Cathell, Kyle Clark, Lili Cooney, John Cooper III, Kaylene Custis, Victor DeGeorge II, Ashley Donahue, Brianna Drummond, Demi Edwards, Daniel Garza, Gabriel Gottschalk, Jessica Griffith, Miracle Handy, Braden Hitch, Tashaila Holland, Joseph Howard, Shakera Jacobs, Haley Kirby, Miya Laws, Pierre LeGalliot, Stephanie Loveland, Avery McCormick, Benjamin Miskin, Renee Moore, Maria Papavasilis, Tyra Phillips, Kenneth Rishel Jr., Juan Rodriguez, Danielle Rybicki, Luis Sanchez, Bradlee Saville, Christopher Smith, Megan Smith, Autumn Somers, Seung Son, Joshua Souder, Patrick St Aubin, Spencer Sturla, Caroline Tobin, Cassondra Trate, John Velasquez, Amber Watson, Savannah West, Kyra Wright and Sarah Wylie;

• Juniors Davina Baine, Adrian Banks, Alissa Banks, Carolyn Benton, Mitchell Bolton, Eliza Bomhardt, Cordell Boyce, Aline Check Guzman, Joseph Cooper, William Cotter, Jennifer Delfin Rivera, Ana Elling, Heather Hastings, Alexander Hileman, Adam Izzo, Katelyn Jensen, Kali Kellam, Sarah Klepac, Leah Kneller, Madison Lively, Bethany Moran, McKenzie Paddock, Juana Pascual, Meghan Paulus, Brooke Roughton, Mason Sanders, Elizabeth Saylor, Carley Snyder, Riley Taylor Ely, Ian Walls, Taylor Wayland, Haylee Wells, Mary Whaley, Christian Windett, Sarah Wood and Jordan Wright;

• Sophomores Devin Bailey, Ulises Barrientos, Rachel Beers, Jordan Berrish, Bridgette Blatzheim, Dustin Blevins, Zulma Carmona, Keith Chatterton, Jorge Cruz, Octavio Cuenca, Ma’Kayla DeShields, Jennifer Dietz, Danielle Dungan, Iris Elechko, Amber Ellis, Kayla Emerson, Rory Emerson, Yecenia Estrada, John Evans III, Logan Firle, Grant Gano, Gianni Gottschalk, Desiree Hastings, Taylor Hastings, Kayla Ho, Cameron James, Chance Kamin, John Keller, Jacob Kessell, Robert Lathbury, Athena Liadakis, Joseph Linthicum, Saray Lopez, Courtney Malone, Kathleen Malone, Justin McCabe, Kiersten McCurley, Madison McGee, Jason McKenna, Mikie Mochiam, Samantha Mumford, Ivania Perez, Wade Porter, Alexis Purcell, Kyle Rayne, Tristan Richards, Jasenky Rivera, Angelina Roca, Olivia Ruberti, Lizbeth Santos, Stormy Schaub, Kenneth Schnabele, Garett Scott, Claudia Taylor, Joshua Timmons, Lexi Ucman, Kerinne Walls, Deshaye’La Waters, Callahan Weber, Chloe Webster, Katelyn Wells, Clayton West and Joelle Wojtylak; and

• Freshmen Matthew Allender Jr., Ryan Blades, Garrett Bomhardt, Julia Bomhardt, Kenneth Bullard, Tallie Callahan, Olivia Catrino, Andrew Chatterton, Albert Clark, Lauryn Cox, Oscar Cruz, Micah d’Entremont, Paul Diaz, Sierra DiVincenzo, Collin Donaway, Isabel Elvira, Amanda Evans, Danielle Fisher, Cameron Hall, Lauren Hawkins, Brianna Henry, Cole Hitch, Brooke Hoban, Donasia Hopkins, Brianna Johnson, Heidi Johnson, Thomas Koontz, Kathryn Koontz, Wyatt Kovatch, Ava Marcozzi, Brianna McGee, Elaina Miranda, Marley Mitchell, Brianna Moore, Celia Nogueras, Marbeli Ortiz, Marissa Sands, Andrew Scalard, Landon Seeney, Patrick Semmens, Gavin Smith, Camron Stengel, Sabrina Sturla, Mia Truitt, Jaden Turlington, Ryan Walter, Natalie Wells and Braydee Whitman.

If you have never fed the wild birds, now is a good time to start. It’s fun and easy and relatively inexpensive to get started. All you have to have is some wild bird seed that you sprinkle on the ground, but it’s even more fun when you add a few birdfeeders.

Starting now is good, because with it being so cold, the birds need even more food to help them stay warm. They use extra energy to try to keep their bodies warmer, so they need the extra food. Also food is scarce for them outside, so the extra food we supply them is beneficial to help keep them alive.

Another thing to think about is also that this is the time of year when outside water sources for wildlife is frozen; so supplying fresh liquid water (and keeping it refilled or defrosted) is also quite helpful at this time of year.

Different wild birds feed from different areas. They also like different kinds of seeds. For instance, blue jays love peanuts. Finches and other small song-type birds enjoy thistle seed. Woodpeckers prefer to eat insects but also love suet cakes. Birds such as doves prefer to eat their food off of the ground or from ground feeders. Many other birds prefer their feeders hung up.

If you are feeding to attract a particular type of bird, you should do some research on what food they prefer, what kind they will settle for, what kind of feeder they prefer and where they like it placed. There are thousands of different types of feeders out there, ranging in price from a few dollars to hundreds of dollars.

Wild About Birds, located on Route 26 in Ocean View, has thousands of choices, and the staff is very well trained on guiding you through the process. They carry all sorts of bird supplies and decorative bird items. They also carry various types of food. Their staff can assist you with information on which birds eat which foods and what style of feeder to use and where to place it.

The hardware departments of G&E and Hocker’s also have seed and feeders available. Fenwick Hardware is another place to purchase your feeders and feed supplies. You can also pick up feeders at some of your local discount stores, such as Dollar General, Walmart and others.

Warning: Feeding the wild birds can become quite addictive. Once you start, it’s hard to stop. Also, stopping makes it harder on the birds, because they have become accustomed to having food there and then it’s gone. They will eventually go find another source, so don’t feel that once you start you absolutely can’t stop. You can. However, you probably won’t want to stop.

Supplying a source of clean, fresh, liquid water is another plus for the birds. Remember that water freezes outside at this time of year, so check it daily and refill it often. An easy way to keep your feathered friends supplied with water at this time of year is to place a small container of water out every morning and bring yesterday’s frozen water in and allow it to defrost, then clean the container and have it ready to refill tomorrow.

Shallow plant saucers make excellent water dishes. You can place a small flat stone in the middle too. This helps to keep the dish from blowing away and also gives birds another perching place. Small shallow plastic food containers will also work. Leftover TV dinner trays will also work.

Of course, there are the larger bird baths you can buy, and they make special defrosters just for these baths. I, myself, like to use the larger birdbaths in the warmer times, and smaller dishes of water in the colder seasons, but that’s just me.

When you are shopping for your bird seed, make sure that it is fresh — especially if you are storing it in your home. Older bird seed can often have bugs in it, and when you open the bag and store it in your warm home, those ornery little bugs can wreak havoc in your home.

Depending on the size of your bird seed supply, you may need some where to store it. The best type of storage container is a stainless steel container. You should also keep your seed in their original bags inside of the stainless steel container. Use twist ties (there are probably some in your kitchen junk drawer) to secure your open bags before placing them into your storage container.

Check your feeders daily. Clean your feeders minimally monthly, but more often if needed. Clean them with warm soapy water and rinse them well and allow them to air dry. In warmer weather, you can leave them outside to be sun-bleached after cleanings.

So, head to your local store and get yourself some seed and a few feeders, then sit back and relax. It may take several days before the birds locate your feeders, but after a few days you will start to see a few birds and then the group will get larger and larger.

As you see more types of birds showing up, you can take pictures and research what their seed and feeder location preferences are, and then you can start adding to your feeder and seed selections. You will start to notice that some birds feed at the feeders and others will feed from the seeds dropped on the ground around your feeders. Do not place a ground feeder right under your hanging feeders, because that seed will become soiled from the birds above.

You can research your birds online. You can also pick up books from the library or your local bookstore to help with identification. Taking photos of your birds will aid in the process. Wild About Birds can also aid you in your identification process, and having actual photos makes it easier than you trying to describe the bird yourself.

If you really get interested in watching and identifying your birds, there are some local bird groups you can join. Many of these groups are more active in the warmer weather, but some do bird-watching year-round. Getting into contact with them now will mean you are ready when spring comes and courting and nest-building begins.

Remember, keep your feeders cleaned and filled. Make sure you buy fresh seed. And to attract more varied types of birds, supply different types of feeders and different types of seeds. And supplying clean fresh water is a real nice bonus for the birds. Other than that… Have fun!

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

If I had a nickel for every time my mother told me to stand up straight or sit up straight, I’d be rich. I’m betting most of you heard the same thing. I thought it was annoying, but years of education and experience have proven that my mom was right. Poor posture can cause many serious health issues, and it’s really a shame, because it’s something each of us can control.

I know it’s hard to believe something seemingly so insignificant could have such a devastating impact, and that’s why it’s important for you to get the facts. I want you to understand what can happen, how you can prevent problems from occurring and what you can do to get yourself and those you care about on track for a healthier outcome and a much better quality of life.

It might surprise you to learn just how much of an impact poor posture has on your health. Improper posture affects the normal performance of most critical body functions in many ways.

Misalignment interferes with the movement of gases and fluids that are an ongoing basic requirement for normal function. It can really do a number on bones, joints, muscles and ligaments, too. It limits your breathing capacity and the ability of your lungs to perform normally, which in turn also negatively affects your heart. It has a negative impact on your blood pressure, blood flow and vein and arterial health.

It can cause digestive problems because your intestines literally wind up folded up. It can cause myofascial pain and can actually cause your bones to bend and, ultimately, give way.

That’s not the whole of it, but those are just some of the long list of health problems you could be dealing with, and that’s before we even talk about issues such as stress.

Do you know what causes poor posture? There are emotional and physical causes. The technical explanation is that poor posture occurs when there’s improper musculoskeletal alignment in the neck, upper and lower back.

It makes sense doesn’t it? Our bodies perform so many functions and movements throughout a 24-hour period and that means contending with gravity, the mechanics of balance, and the stresses of physical and emotional activities.

It’s our bad habits that are the biggest troublemakers. Typical activities, such as holding a cell phone with a crunched up shoulder, carrying your purse over the same shoulder all the time, the angle we sit at when we drive, how we sit and how long we are immobile, and even long periods of standing or lying can cause poor posture.

An easy way to understand is to look at your daily routines. For example, if you’re regularly sitting in a chair at the computer, watching television or the like, how long you sit and how you sit in the chair you use is just a simple example of a routine that can have serious repercussions. Repetitive motion and overuse, even in physical activities and exercises, can cause poor posture, too.

Studies have also underscored a connection between posture and mood. In fact, studies show grief, depression and stress can lead to poor posture because people with these issues often will stay in bed longer, sit longer and engage in other habit changes that impact posture.

The other side of the coin is that a recent study by Harvard University found that people with proper posture decreased the level of the stress hormone, cortisol, by 25 percent, and that means better mental health and a positive mood.

The bottom line is people who have better posture live better, healthier lives because they have better function of body systems, bones, muscles and joints. They’re generally more flexible, recover from injuries faster, have fewer aches and pains, tend to have more energy, have a much better outlook on life and look younger.

You need to understand that that there is no such thing as perfect posture, because we have different body types. What is proper posture for you might not work for me.

How do you know if you have poor posture? There are some signs that can point to it. They include rounded shoulders, an abnormal jutting neck or chin, abnormal curvature in the back, hips tilting forward, and, sometimes, a pot belly.

You can experience ongoing shoulder or back pain, neck pain, headaches and jaw pain. There is a variety of potential symptoms, but these can also be signs of other significant problems, so the best course of action is to visit your medical professional and get an accurate assessment.

If your doctor tells you that you do have poor posture, most people can be treated. Once diagnosed, your doctor may offer you some suggestions for changing how you stand, sit, lift, sleep, walk and drive and how you engage in fitness activities.

It’s very likely your doctor will refer you to a physical therapist, who will conduct a thorough assessment and create a program to treat the root causes of your posture. It will likely involve a comprehensive treatment program, including a look at habitat issues, such as the ergonomics of the chair you use and your routines, to address all the issues that are contributing to your poor posture. Working with your physical therapist, you will likely be able to restore your good posture and regain your normal function.

Old habits may die hard, but your body will adapt and then your job will be to make good posture something you actively think about and maintain.

Bob Cairo is a licensed physical therapist at Tidewater Physical Therapy. He can be reached by calling (302) 537-7260.

Do video games alter our awareness of time? Does your gender affect your memory? Which is stronger: bamboo or phragmites?

These are just a few of the questions students asked for the 2015 Sussex County Science Fair.

They hit the lab, and they hit the books, and they presented their results about everything from anemones to surfwax on March 2 at Georgetown’s Delaware Technical Community College.

Top students are invited to compete at the Delaware Valley Science Fairs in Philadelphia.

The following students won awards for each grade level:

• Grade 6 — First place, Olivia Austion; second place, Elena Barton; third place, Emma Metcalfe, all of the Jefferson School;

• Grade 7 — First place, Abdullah Nouman, Jefferson School; second place, Grier Caglione, Sussex Academy; third place, Tessa McDonough, Millsboro Middle School; honorable mentions, Milan Patel and Bridget Cosgrove, Sussex Academy;

• Grade 8 — First place, Elias Timmons, Georgetown Middle School; second place, Madison Metcalfe, Jefferson School; third place, Kathryn Donati, Sussex Academy; honorable mention, Bella Leshear, Mariner Middle School;

• Grade 10 — First place, Cohen Davis, Sussex Academy; second place, Alvina AmanKwaa-Afrifa, Cape Henlopen High School; third place, Colden Fees, Sussex Academy; honorable mention, Griffin McCormick, Indian River High School

• Grade 11 — First place, Lance White, Cape Henlopen High School; second place, Mikayla Ockels, Sussex Central High School; third place, Richard Brokaw, Cape Henlopen High School.

Many students earned special awards from guest judges, including:

• AAUW Sussex County Awards: Mikayla Ockels for “Heritage Hens: Weighing in on Feed to Egg Conversion Rate”; Lance White for “Does Algae Grow in Anaerobic Digest?”; Hannah Lowe for “The Math Myth”; Erin Cannon for “Fears of the Ages”; Tessa McDonough for “Finger Prints and Tongue Shape: Are They Related?”; Elena Barton for “Does Smiling Make You Feel Better?”; Frederick Koster for “Does Angle Change the Distance When you’re Shooting an Air Cannon?”

• DNREC Awards: Emma Metcalfe for “Bacteria Bonanza”; Caleb Murphy for “Got Bigger Eggs?”; Race Caruso for “Powerful Poo”; Milan Patel for “Trashy Plants”; Sidrah Ahmer for “Can Water Float on Water?”; Kathryn Donati for “The Number of Microorganisms in Salt, Brackish and Fresh Water After a Three Layer Filtration”; Richard Brokaw for “Erosion of Local Beach Sand”; Lance White for “Does Algae Grow…?”; Mikayla Ockels for “Heritage Hens…”

• Delaware Department of Agriculture Award: Mikayla Ockels for “Heritage Hens…”

• DTCC Owens Campus Award Award: Elias Timmons for “Hydrogen Power”

• UD College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment Award: Lance White for “Does Algae Grow…?”; Kaitlin Philcox for “The Effect of Temperature on Symbiotic Anemones”; Kathryn Donati for “The Number of Microorganisms…”; Kenneth Sunnergren for “Which is Stronger: Bamboo or Phragmites”

• Center for Inland Bays Award: Lance White for “Does Algae Grow…?”; Colden Fees for “The Effect of Freshwater Mussels on the Removal of Microbeads”; Griffin McCormick for “Copper vs. Water Quality”

• ILC Dover Award: Bridget Cosgrove for “Which Brand of Surfwax is the Most Durable?”; Kathryn Marini for “At Yeast Give Me Some Sugar”; Tessa McDonough for “Finger Prints and Tongue Shape…”; Kaitlin Philcox for “The Effect of Temperature on Symbiotic Anemones”; Mikayla Ockels for “Heritage Hens…”; Alvina AmanKwaa-Afrifa for “Does Gender Have an Effect on Memory”; Race Caruso for “Powerful Poo”; Frederick Koster for “Does Angle Change…?”

• Dow Chemical Award: Mikayla Ockels for “Heritage Hens…”; Cohen Davis for “The Power of Reflection: The Effect of Reflected Light on Photovoltaic Efficiencies”; Kaitlin Philcox for “The Effect of Temperature on Symbiotic Anemones”; Tessa McDonough for “Finger Prints and Tongue Shape…”; Race Caruso for “Powerful Poo”

• Bio-Genius Award: Colden Fees for “The Effect of Freshwater Mussels…”; Mikayla Ockels for “Heritage Hens…”; Lance White for “Does Algae Grow…?”

• Bio-Genius Teacher Award: Esther Kernosh, Cape Henlopen High School

Last Friday, Mountaire Farms filed a conditional-use application with Sussex County Planning & Zoning Commission and the County Council, for a planned office facility in Millsboro.

The land, located along the center of Revel Road and the center of Wiley Branch Road in Millsboro, is owned by Grace United Methodist Church, which consented to the application.

According to the application, Mountaire plans to use 57.952 acres of the property’s 296.943 total acres for office facilities to be used by an agricultural-related industry.

On Feb. 22, at a public meeting organized by Community Opposed to Secret Transaction (COST), with the help of Maria Payan of the Socially Responsible Agricultural Project, some local residents voiced their concerns that the land would be used for a poultry processing facility.

“Mountaire is in negotiations to purchase a property for construction of a commercial office building,” said Mike Tirrell, vice-president of human resources and business services for Mountaire, at the meeting. “The property is under review for suitability for that project, and that project only. There are no new production facilities included in this project.”

Tirrell said that the facility would be used to house administrative employees from various sites, including their Selbyville and Millsboro facilities.

Interested parties may pick up copies of the application in the Planning & Zoning Office, located at 2 The Circle, in Georgetown. A date for the application to go before the commission has yet to be set.

The future of medicine was on display at the A.I. DuPont Hospital in Wilmington last Friday, in an event organized by HOSA-Future Health Professionals (formerly known as Health Occupations Students of America) that included Indian River High School seniors Krystal Gonzalez and Montanyah Hall, who presented their research on achondroplasia.

The Feb. 28 event, held on Rare & Chronic Disease Day, was designed to help raise awareness and money for research on rare diseases. The competition consists of teams of health-science students from across the state, which each presented what they had prepared regarding their designated afflictions.

“What we’re really doing is raising awareness for different rare diseases,” explained Gonzalez before the event. “We’re supposed to come up with this creative way to treat them.”

Gonzalez and Hall have partnered up to research with physicians and other health professionals and even patients with the form of dwarfism, to come up with a visual display and proposed treatment for the disease.

“There’s a lot of health complications associated with it,” said Gozalez of achondroplasia. “After we got off the phone with the doctors and the person with the disease, we sat back and thought hard about how we could potentially help.”

The girls have already gotten a lot out of the event and learning about the industry, and have been preparing by staying every day after school and even by putting on a practice presentation.

“We had a practice run in front of some judges. We stay after school almost every day to prepare; we practice our speech; we fix up our board and talk about how were going to present our treatment,” said Gonzalez. “It actually makes you think about a real-life situation and come up with a treatment that can help save someone’s life. It’s putting you out there and making you work.”

Both girls plan on careers as nurses, but for right now, they’re focused on learning about the industry and trying to raise money for the disease.

To make a donation for achondroplasia research, visit http://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1126787&supId.... To find out more about HOSA, visit www.delawarehosa.org.

Mountaire wants a police officer to be the first thing visitors see at its Selbyville and Millsboro poultry-processing plants.

The company wants extra security presence, said Mountaire’s Jay Griffith at a recent Selbyville Town Council meeting. The officer on duty will provide extra security indoors and outdoors.

“They’re getting a uniformed and trained, armed person at the front desk,” said Selbyville Police Chief W. Scott Collins.

The extra security will be in place from Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 2 a.m., and will be provided at the Selbyville plant through a contract with the Town of Selbyville. Having to fill 100 extra hours per week, Selbyville plans to hire eight to 12 part-time officers just for the Mountaire gig. They will be sworn officers, but the poultry-processing plant will be their only assignment.

Selbyville will charge Mountaire $70 per hour, which covers each officer’s paycheck, equipment, additional workman’s compensation costs and other requirements, Collins said.

The SPD already has an additional patrol car it was about to strip and sell. It also already has vests but needs to purchase some uniforms, which will vary slightly from regular patrol uniforms. One of the new employees will be in charge of scheduling for the Mountaire duties.

Delaware State Police troopers have freelanced at Mountaire recently, with the understanding that Selbyville will soon take responsibility for the additional coverage at the plant.

Mountaire already has such an arrangement at their North Carolina facilities. The arrangement will be on a trial basis for six months in Selbyville and Millsboro, said Griffith.

Coastal Point • Tripp Colonell : General Manger Nate Williams was joined by staff and Chamber members to celebrate the grand re-opening of Bethany Blues in downtown Bethany Beach last Friday night.Bethany Blues kicked-off their grand-reopening party at their Bethany Beach location last Friday night, introducing the neighborhood to their newly renovated downstairs bar area.

At the event, attendees were able to enjoy a Bethany Blues menu featuring all their old favorites in the brand new bar — now equipped with 12 TVs, 15 beers on tap and an overall more welcoming atmosphere, according to General Manager Nate Williams.

“People are blown away by it,” said Williams. “Everybody’s been very supportive of how we changed it. They feel like it’s more warm and inviting.”

In addition to more TVs and nearly tripling their draft beer selection, the restaurant took both aesthetics and functionality into account in the revamped design, replacing not only the bar itself but the booths in the bar area with high-top tables.

“The bar was kind of an island, so we pulled the bar top off, and it juts out and goes straight back. That whole back area is brand new,” explained Williams. “We knocked out a wall and got rid of booths and put in high-top tables to make it more like a pub area.”

One of the most unique features has to be the bourbon-barrel oak walls, which were once part of Maker’s Mark 46 barrels used to make the whiskey. With a reputation for one of the largest whiskey selections in town, the walls are certainly fitting. But, according to Williams, the beer selection definitely has its merits, as well.

“We had six [drafts]. We now have 15 — a lot of local stuff,” he said, citing local craft brews including Dogfish Head and 16-Mile, along with selections from breweries in Pennsylvania and Maryland. “Then we have some of the everyday beer drinker’s beer — Bud Light, Corona Light. We also put a cider on for those who may not partake in gluten, because we’ve found that’s a growing trend.”

While last Friday’s spotlight was on the revamped bar, Bethany Blues will, of course, continue to focus on food and family, Williams said, with both restaurant and bar specials throughout the off-season. The most popular specials include Wednesday’s wing night, with all of the restaurant’s signature sauces, and $5 build-your-own burgers on Thursdays. Even without football, Sunday specials will continue, as well, featuring $1 mimosas and $5 Bloody Marys.

Right now, the Bethany location is open seven days a week, opening at 4:30 p.m. on weeknights and at 11:30 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

To find out more about daily specials, check out the Bethany Blues website at www.bethanyblues.com or call the restaurant at (302) 537-8081, or go see the re-design in person, in downtown Bethany Beach, located off North Pennsylvania Avenue, between Campbell Place and Garfield Parkway.

Many Delawareans can tell you that the state bird is a blue hen and that the DuPont family played a significant role in its history; however, considerably fewer of them seem to know how a single mistake helped propel Delaware to become a major player in the poultry industry, or about the history of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the state during the Great Depression.

Last month, Bethany Beach resident Dr. Carol Psaros published her second book, “Chickens and Mosquitoes: The Art of Uncertain Times.”

“I just wanted to tell the story of how people worked together with resilient hearts to get through the Depression,” said Psaros. “I really wanted to tell the story of Delaware in the 1930s, because it was such a special time, like all periods of history.

“I don’t think any other event — other than the Du Pont family emigrating to Delaware during the French Revolution — has effected Delaware more than the development of the poultry industry initiated by Cecile Steele here in Ocean View.”

In 1923, Steele — an Ocean View housewife and small-scale poultry grower — accidentally ordered 500 chickens from a supplier, instead of her usual 50. From that single mistake, the poultry industry in Delaware was born.

“By the time the ’30s came around, Ocean View and all of Sussex County was in the throes of a great business expansion, because the family farm turned into chicken producers,” said Psaros. “A lot of them, during the Depression, in order to keep afloat — they started raising chickens en masse. It created new industries, like bag companies, seed companies, vaccination companies… companies that made crates for the chickens, later on companies that processed the chicken parts. Then the industry grew and spread across the country and is now an international industry.”

Psaros is a former Delaware educator, and former Assistant Secretary of Education for the State of Delaware, having retired in 2000. It’s her second book, as she also authored “Come Back to Bethany,” a story of three Bethany Beach families, spanning three centuries.

“Chickens and Mosquitoes: The Art of Uncertain Times” follows Jim, a Delmar man who drops out of college and joins “Roosevelt’s Tree Army” — the Civilian Conservation Corps — to survive during the Depression; and Carolyn, a young woman from Philadelphia who accepted a teaching job at the Selbyville School.

“People like my dad had to drop out of college; their lives were greatly impacted. That’s what the book is about. It’s historical fiction, based on my father’s life. The love story is a take on my parents’ life. You know, you never ask your parents — certainly in 1950 you don’t ask your parents — ‘When did you first meet?’ ‘When did you have your first kiss?’ So, I had to research using his scrapbooks and their letters.”

Psaros said that, while she was growing up, she had heard her parents mention the Great Depression, but they never went into detail about how it affected them personally.

“As a child, I always heard my parents talk about the Depression as ‘terrible times,’ and they would move on and would never explain what they meant by ‘terrible times,’” she recalled. “So, 60 years later, after I had time to grow up, work and later retire, I found my father’s two scrapbooks. He was a Delaware historian, and he saved everything, thank goodness. I just found so many interesting things.”

In her father’s scrapbooks, Psaros said, she found a slew of priceless history memorabilia, including letters, playbills, diaries, dinner menus and Army Reserve documents.

“In the 1930s, the fastest way to communicate with another person was to write a letter and put it in the post, because you could count on that letter getting there in a couple days. It was a very slow time. It was before television; it was before cell phones; it was before the 24-hour news cycle. … People didn’t even have typewriters en masse,” said Psaros.

“As it got near the end of the ’30s,” she said of her review of the documents, “I found gasoline ration cards and Selective Service cards, Seaford nylon plant records, and I just realized how much had happened in that time period and I really wanted to write about it.”

In writing the book, Psaros said she had two goals in mind.

“I wanted to tell the story of the Civilian Conservation Corps that my dad was a part of in Delaware, and I wanted to tell the story of the early poultry houses, because I’ve lived in Delaware all my life and I knew how much chickens meant to the state.”

The CCC was a public work-relief program that was in operation from 1933 to 1942 in the United States, for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, as part of the New Deal enacted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, in response to the Great Depression.

“The CCC men across the United States — they built all of our national parks. They built the parks out west. They did so many national projects that are around today, and that we’re still enjoying the results of,” explained Psaros, noting that her father didn’t speak of his time in the CCC.

“If you were in the CCC at that time, you were poor and you were hungry. Each man — it was for young men, younger than my dad. They were supposed to be 16 to 19… My dad had already been to college and finished a year but had to drop out when the stock market crashed. He was paid like all the other men; they got $30 a month for working; $25 of it was sent back to the family, and they kept $5 for themselves while they were at camp.”

The book also explores Jim’s friendship with Delaware artist Jack Lewis and includes prints of his artwork.

“Jack Lewis and my dad were friends — they both worked at the CCC together at Camp 1224 in Lewes. They had a lifelong friendship, so I used the art of Jack Lewis to kind of frame the book,” she said.

The story also discusses the DuPont nylon plant in Seaford, where Psaros grew up.

“Since I was from Seaford, I worked in the story of the nylon plant and its part in the World War II effort. It talks about the beginnings of the plant, which were important for the war effort and for nylon production in the state of Delaware.”

While writing the book, Psaros said, one of the most interesting aspects of the state’s history she learned about was the story of the Indian River playgrounds.

“Those sites along the inland bays — Oak Orchard, Riverdale, Clarks Beach, Rosedale Beach — it just was such a magical place in the ’30s. That was the place to be — not the beach,” she said. “Rosedale Beach, which was a resort for black people where they brought in Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong — all the big jazz names played there. It’s something that disappeared… It’s not there anymore, because the Storm of ’62 took out all of those places, unfortunately.”

Psaros said that, in its prime, Oak Orchard had a pier, a dance hall, a carousel, a bathhouse, docks and restaurants.”

“Nothing is constant except change.”

The book is available at Bethany Beach Books, and Psaros said it will eventually be available at Biblion Books in Lewes and Browseabout Books in Rehoboth.

She said it took about a year to write the book, which she described as a “labor of love.”

“I certainly learned a lot about Delaware — I learned about the CCC camps. With the help of people here in Ocean View, I learned about what that might have been like to be in a poultry house at that time. I learned more about the art of Jack Lewis by looking at his paintings, going to some workshops and talking to his daughters.”

She said she hopes readers enjoy her book and learning about some of the things that make Delaware unique.

“It’s a love story about a man and a woman, and also a story about Delaware. It’s a book for anybody who loves Delaware and wants to know more about it.”

For those who do not live in the area, but would like to read “Chickens and Mosquitoes: The Art of Uncertain Times,” a copy may be ordered by visiting www.bethanybeachbooks.com/signed-local-interest/chickens-and-mosquitoes. Psaros can be reached by emailing ckpsaros@aol.com.

Delaware State Police officers may be more visible in Millville, now that the town council has decided to hire additional patrols for 16 hours per week.

“In light of what’s been happening around the town, with home invasions and whatnot, … the idea is to contract with Delaware State Police … to patrol our developments, the businesses, give us visibility,” said Town Manager Debbie Botchie.

“We did this about five years ago,” hiring police to patrol 24 to 36 hours per week, Botchie said. “At that time, we were receiving about $5,000 in interest on accounts we had at the bank. That’s no longer the case. However, we do have a police fund with about $457,000.”

“We still have moneys left over from our grants from Sussex County and an additional $5,000 for municipalities that don’t have a police department but contract with the state police,” she added.

The DSP charges about $84 per hour for troopers who freelance for municipalities. Typically, four-hour shifts are posted online so that any DSP can claim them.

Botchie and DSP will create the official schedule for the patrols. If there are any incidents, the Town receives a report and any collected fines.

“As far as I know, we have not had any violent crime in Millville. Things have happened outside of corporate limits,” Botchie said. “We have had DUIs, [but] I am more concerned about the criminal things.”

A longer shift allows officers to really cruise around town and individual neighborhoods, suggested Councilman Harry Kent, citing his own community watch experience.

Millville already hires an officer to help with its farmers’ markets, long weekends and other events. Botchie said she believes it brings “a little more peace of mind” to residents, business owners and property owners.

“That’s one of the things we specified they do — check the businesses,” Mayor Gerry Hocker Jr. said.

Pensions approved for some employees

Pension benefits are coming to part-time Millville employees.

In an effort to encourage longevity, the Town will match employee pension contributions for any part-time employee who has completed one year, or 1,000 hours, of continuous service.

Currently, Millville has one part-time employee with five years of experience. Part-timers are not offered healthcare through the Town.

In the new fiscal year, regular employees will also be switched from a simple IRA to a 403(b), which is like the government version of the 401(k).

Designing a new town building

The council in January unanimously approved a $106,942 contract for the design of a second Town municipal building, plus other services. Architectural design, permitting and soil testing will be done George, Miles & Buhr LLC. The project consists of a new 40-by-50-foot, two-story building that connects to the existing Town Hall.

The first floor would hold four garage bays, including an enclosed wash bay; two secure interview rooms (not holding cells) for the Delaware State Police; a repair shop and Town storage.

The second floor would be open “flex space” to be used as a mini troop office, space for police training, two bunk rooms, two full bathrooms and a kitchenette.

“They come very highly recommended … for municipal work. They have a very good reputation,” Botchie said of GMB.

Thus far, the Town has only sketched some building ideas with DSP’s suggestions. GMB will flush out those ideas.

Bidding was not required because the contract is for professional services, not actual construction.

Town Solicitor Seth Thompson said he wasn’t fond of some of the contract’s little details, such as a prohibition on the Town suing for more than the cost of the project; or if Millville lost a potential lawsuit, it must reimburse the contractor’s legal fees, but if the contractor lost, it would not pay Millville’s.

In other Millville news:

• The speed limit on Cedar Drive is being reduced from 35 to 30 mph.

• Two restaurants are coming to Millville this spring: Hooked Up, a raw bar and public house in the Millville Town Center, and Surf Taco, on Route 26 near Lord Baltimore Elementary School.

• Millville was lauded during its audit for the 2014 fiscal year.

“The Town had a great year, fiscally and operationally,” said Herb Geary of the TGM Group. “The Town has no debt and plenty of cash in the bank. Congratulations on another great year.”

But with such a large chunk of money, “The hard part is to collateralize and insure it,” Geary warned. The Town has 400 percent of revenue over its expenditures (most towns have 15 to 20 percent, Geary said. Millville earned the highest ranking that TGM Group can give a local government.

The Town of Ocean View will hold its municipal election next month, and Avon Park resident Don Walsh has added his name to the ballot.

“I’ve been wanting to get involved and have pretty much been going to every meeting every month to see what’s going on,” he said.

Walsh is hoping to serve as District 4 councilman, replacing Councilman Bob Lawless, who will have reached his term limit in April.

“I want to be involved in the community,” Walsh said of his decision to run.

Walsh, who has a bachelor’s degree in marketing and business administration from Temple University, has been working in the food industry since he was 18 and is currently the store manager for the Food Lion in Berlin, Md.

With his experience in business, including budgeting and community relations, Walsh said he would bring a new and different insight to council.

“I’m also working… Most people are retired, so maybe I can give some insight to the working class in the area, as well. I’m seeing this area really grow, and I want to be a part of that.”

Walsh had been appointed to the Town’s Board of Elections but has had to step down, according to Town policy, in order to run for the council seat. He also sits on the board of Avon Park.

“It’s good to have people involved who have the best interest for the area. I think we now have that in the council and in the leadership for a while… but it wasn’t always that way, years ago,” said Wash, adding that he hopes, if elected to the council, to help continue a positive trend in Town leadership. “The most recent years have been very positive, and I want to be a part of that.”

Walsh said he also hopes to encourage more small businesses to open in Ocean View, to help draw more visitors to the town.

“I see continued growth, such as the CVS and the Royal Farms, in the right area within the town limits. I see some more opportunity to grow town business. I think we need to have some more destinations to Ocean View. A lot of people talk in this area about Bethany and not necessarily as much as about Ocean View, as far as a destination.”

Originally from Philadelphia, Pa., Walsh and his family purchased an investment property in the town eight years and later decided to relocate to the area fulltime.

“We really enjoy it down here,” he said. “I find it to be quiet. It’s much more peaceful, and obviously it’s three miles to the beach.”

He and his family discovered the area about 18 years ago, when instead of vacationing in New Jersey, they traveled to Delaware.

“Our neighbors at the time — somebody went online and found Sea Colony, and I’d never heard of it. We decided to come down, and we actually came for a few years.”

Of campaigning, Walsh said he was unsure as to how much he would be doing but that he’s already started speaking to his neighbors.

“I’ll be knocking on some doors — especially my neighbors,” he said.

Walsh said it is important to him to give back to his community, which is why he and his wife, Ruth, volunteer at the VFW, where they are members due to their son’s service in Iraq.

“As the opportunity presents itself, I really like to give back to the community. That’s what it’s all about.”

Walsh said he would be happy to serve the Town and hopes, if elected to the council, to make a positive impact on the community.

“I find council to be the real interesting piece, because it gives different facets of people that live in the community, and you have your meeting, and there’re different challenges. It’s nice to come to decisions and make future investments in the community.”

The municipal election in the Town of Ocean View will be held Saturday, April 11, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at town hall.

Town council elections are approaching in South Bethany, so candidate and voter registration has begun. Three positions are up for voting in the 2015 election, scheduled for May 23. Terms are for two years. Those council seats are currently held by Tony Caputo, Jim Gross and Al Rae.

Candidate applications are due Wednesday, April 8, at 4:30 p.m. Forms are available at Town Hall, at 402 Evergreen Road, or may be requested by e-mail (townhall@southbethany.org) or by calling (302) 539-3653.

Town council candidates must be at least 21, a U.S. citizen and never convicted of a felony or crime of moral turpitude. They must also be qualified and registered to vote in the municipal election. Candidates must be either a resident, a freeholder (for 90 consecutive days immediately prior the election) or a freeholder’s spouse.

A resident is “any natural person who has been physically residing within the corporate limits of the Town for at least nine months, consecutively or non-consecutively, of the 12-month period immediately preceding the date of the election and who is physically residing within the Town on the date of the election.”

A freeholder is “any natural person who holds title of record either in his/her own name or as trustee to a fee-simple estate or a life estate in and to real property located within the corporate limits of the Town.”

The spouse of a freeholder may vote, whether his or her name is on the deed or not.

Absentee ballots are available at Town Hall for any resident unable to vote at Town Hall on election day. Residents must file the written affidavit with the Town by noon on May 22. After receipt of the affidavit, the absentee ballot will be mailed. Both forms may be completed together at Town Hall.

The Delaware State Police are asking for the public’s help in locating a suspect in the attempted robbery of Hocker’s G&E Supermarket that occurred early last Thursday evening.

Police said the incident occurred around 8:20 p.m. on Feb. 26, when a male suspect entered the supermarket on Cedar Neck Road and approached a 49-year-old female employee at the counter.

According to Master Cpl. Gary Fournier, public information officer for the Delaware State Police, the suspect demanded the clerk hand over the money in the register and implied he had a weapon. The clerk refused, alerting another store employee, and the suspect then fled out the front door in an unknown direction.

Hocker’s Vice President Gerry Hocker said mid-week that he couldn’t comment on the details of the incident, as the investigation was still ongoing.

“The fortunate thing is that no one got hurt. Our employees — everyone was safe, and certainly the suspect didn’t get hurt. With situations like that, you never know how they could end up. In our situation, everyone was lucky — no one was hurt, and the person did not get away with anything.”

Hocker thanked local and state law enforcement agencies for their prompt response on the evening of the incident.

“Police were there within minutes,” he said. “I thank all the town police. The night of the incident, I think most police officers in our area were there within minutes. It was certainly a group effort to try and apprehend the person that night. I do thank all the area town police who responded for assistance, and likewise state police. I certainly commend everyone for their efforts.”

According to Hocker, this was the second attempted robbery at the deli and grocery store, the first having been Oct. 1 of last year. In October, the robber did leave the store with money but was apprehended within three hours.

“Hopefully, they will catch this individual,” he added of last Thursday’s incident.

The suspect was described as a white man between 6 feet, 1 inch tall and 6 feet, 4 inches tall, wearing a black jacket, blue jeans and a grey mask over his face. Fournier said no other physical or clothing description was available. No surveillance images were available to the media.

If anyone has any information regarding the incident, they are being asked to contact the Major Crimes Unit at Troop 4 at (302) 856-5850 or by utilizing the Delaware State Police Mobile Crime Tip Application available to download at www.delaware.gov/apps/. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333, via the internet at www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com or by sending an anonymous tip by text to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword “DSP.”

The Town of Frankford will be looking to hire two part-time police officers, on temporary loan from the Selbyville and Dagsboro departments. Currently, the Town does not have any officers on its own police force.

The Frankford Police Department comprised two officers; however, in December 2014 former Police Chief William Dudley retired, then Officer Nate Hudson left the department in February to join the South Bethany Police Department.

At the Town Council’s monthly meeting on March 2, the council voted 4-0, with Councilman Jesse Truitt absent at voting time, to temporarily hire two part-time officers to cover the town until they are able to hire permanent full-time replacements. The officers would work a total of 20 hours each.

“I just want to get two police officers here to cover us until we get a police chief,” said Councilman Charles Shelton, following the vote, adding that he hopes they start providing the town coverage as soon as possible.

Monday was also the deadline for applications for the vacant chief of police position. Shelton said the Town had received a total of eight applications.

“We’ll start the process of starting to bring the applicants in to get a police chief,” said Shelton. “We want to make sure we get the right person for the job.”

“I hope when you all look at the applications, you look at them all fairly and do a good, thorough investigation… We need a good police officer here,” said resident Skip Ash, who serves on the Town’s police committee. “I hope we move quick. There’s a lot of cars riding the road quick in the mornings and other things going on.”

At the March 2 meeting, Council President Joanne Bacon also announced that Town Solicitor Dennis Schrader would not be representing the Town in the upcoming year.

“Mr. Schrader will not be acting as council to the Town for the coming year,” she said.

Schrader, who had served as the Town’s solicitor since 1997, submitted a letter to Bacon stating he would not be seeking reappointment as its legal advisor.

“I have enjoyed representing the Town, as I have met some very good and interesting people in Frankford, all of whom have a vision of what is in the Town’s best interest,” wrote Schrader. “In recent years, controversy has dominated Frankford, and given the election results and your opportunity for new beginnings in the Town, I think it is appropriate that I do not seek reappointment as the Town’s attorney.

“In doing so, I believe it will give you and the Council the opportunity to move forward with a new attorney with a fresh set of eyes, focused on your plans for Frankford’s future.”

Bacon said the Town will be looking for another attorney and will use Schrader’s help and expertise in seeking new legal counsel.

In his letter, Schrader gave Bacon his “best wishes for a harmonious and prosperous Frankford.”

Potential Charter changes discussed

Also at Monday’s meeting, the town council discussed reviewing and potentially changing the Town Charter.

Following two complaints to the Town’s Board of Elections regarding election practices, in their Jan. 31 decision, the Board recommended the council consider changing the charter.

“The Board recommends to the Town Council that Section 5 of the Charter be amended to establish the date of the general election as the second Saturday in March; establish the filing deadline for candidates; establish the State Voter Registration system in lieu of the current Town system; reaffirm the appointment by the Town Council of a Board of Elections for a term of three years and of Election Officers; and to specifically authorize the use of absentee ballots.”

From that, a proposed charter amendment was drafted, which, if approved by council, would change the Town’s Charter in accordance with the recommendations of the Board.

“It’s very disrespectful of what a Charter is to have it show up in this forum, without any discussion,” said resident Greg Welch, who was one of the residents who submitted a complaint to the Board. “I see several things here that are going to cause even more problems.”

Welch said the decisions made regarding the charter must be made by council.

“These things are just being passed in front of you like the advertising dates were last time, that didn’t exist in the Charter. They weren’t discussed, they weren’t talked about of our council as of yet…

“There’s a whole lot still wrong, and it’s because it’s not discussed. Town legislation is supposed to come from the Town. It’s always been handed down… It seems like it’s coming from the State and the Town’s attorney.”

Truitt asked Welch if he had registered to vote in the Town, as Welch has lodged a number of complaints regarding his eligibility to vote and run in Town elections.

“I am registered to vote in the State. I have registered to vote several times,” he said of his past problems with the town’s voter registration process.

“I’ll bring a card here to the next meeting. In front of these people, you can sign it and turn it in,” said Truitt.

Welch said he would not sign the card because it asks for personal information, such as one’s Social Security number.

“All that barking, and you don’t even play by the rules yourself,” said Truitt.

Resident Jerry Smith, who also previously submitted a complaint to the Board, said he was concerned that not all the members of the council were familiar with the draft document.

“This is what has happened before,” he said. “I don’t think a simple council member up there would have voted in the last Charter change had they known that there was no Board of Election established in the Charter, as required by law.”

Resident Marty Presley asked if it would be more prudent to do a comprehensive review of the Town’s Charter, as opposed to making changes as issues present themselves.

“I think the whole thing needs to be looked at… I think this is a good start, but I think there’s a lot of other things and other ideas that need to be incorporated.”

Resident Liz Carpenter said she believes that, when it comes to any potential changes to the Town’s Charter, it should be a requirement to solicit input from the Town’s residents.

“We’re the ones — and you, too — we have to live under this. I would think we would have the right as citizens here to give feedback on proposed changes.”

Recently-elected Councilwoman Velicia Melson motioned that the council table consideration of the draft until the Town has a comprehensive review of its Charter.

“I don’t want to go back six months or a year from now, and propose another amendment to the Charter. I’d rather do a comprehensive review and try to capture everything at once.”

The council voted 5-0 to table the draft and develop a committee, headed by Melson, to review the Charter.

In other Town news:

• The council voted unanimously to use the $10,000 Sussex County 2015 Economic Development & Infrastructure Grant for the Town’s water tower. Recently, the town’s water customers have been having rust-colored water, due to issues with the water department’s decant tank. Truitt said that, in order to fix the problem, the Town would have to do a slow flow of its fire hydrants over the next few days, weather permitting.

• Shelton swore in Bacon and Melson to their seats on council, after the two won the Town’s municipal election on Feb. 7.

Planning your dream beach wedding? We're here to help.The love of your life has just kneeled on one knee and asked for your hand in marriage… But now what?
Many dream of having a beach wedding, where the vastness of the sea mirrors their love for one and other, but the logistics of planning can be difficult.
Enter Delaware Seaside Bride. With a website — DelawareSeasideBride.com — and yearly print magazine that will launch March 6, 2015, Delaware Seaside Bride will be your guide to planning your dream day, surrounded by the beauty of the Delaware beaches.

“We wanted to develop a site where a bride could do some ‘one-stop’ shopping in terms of finding all the vendors she would need for her wedding at the Delaware beaches,” explained Susan Lyons, publisher of the Coastal Point newspaper and DelawareSeasideBride.com.
“It’s an exciting and overwhelming time, all at once. We just hope we can provide her a little help and ‘introduce’ her to some of the amazing talent we have in this area. There’s really nothing like this locally, so we see it as filling a need.”
In speaking to brides and brides-to-be, we found there was a need for those who want to take their vows in the South Coastal Delaware area.
“A list of available local vendors, with average price or price range, so brides can find the best vendor for their budget,” would be helpful, said Elizabeth Reichert of Milton, who will be getting married this May. “All of the wedding websites/magazines group Coastal Delaware with the rest of Delaware and Philadelphia. Vendors in Philadelphia are not very practical for Coastal Delaware brides.”
“I think having a Delaware-specific website will help brides narrow down their options much more quickly since everything will be on one location, rather than 10 different magazines or websites,” added Bayard resident Samantha Torrijos, who got married in 2012 at Towers Beach.
Destination weddings have become more and more popular in recent years, and the Delaware beaches have joined in that booming popularity. However, destination weddings can be even more difficult to plan, as the task of finding photographers, caterers, DJs and other vendors can be a challenge — particularly in an area that often gets lost in the shuffle on the national wedding sites.
“Most of the publications I used were all of Delaware or larger. Most of my searching was done individually… i.e., ‘photographers near Bethany Beach,’ ‘wedding cakes in Delaware,’ etc.,” said Courtney Repman, a Pennsylvania resident who got married at Baywood Greens this past September.
“During the whole planning process, I didn’t see a single source I could go to… There are all these websites out there, like TheKnot.com, but a lot of them were for the Wilmington area. There wasn’t a one-stop-shop kind of place for the beach area.”
“The biggest part was knowing all the different regulations for each beach,” added Kelsey Miller, a Pennsylvania resident who got married last October in Bethany Beach.
Delaware Seaside Bride will be an ever-evolving site, featuring timely articles created by the staff, offering ideas and suggestions for that special day, along with tips and photographs from those who frequent the page — truly making it a site that never grows stale and one that constantly offers fresh content.
The site will host stories and ideas on everything leading up to the big day — including area towns’ rules for beach weddings, where and when to get a marriage license, suggestions for signature drinks and more. We will also carry the couple through those things that need to be handled after the wedding, such as changing names and starting that joint bank account.
There will also be a glossy print edition of Delaware Seaside Bride, which will be published this summer. It will serve as an excellent coffee table-style book that can be used as a frame of reference throughout the planning process, as well as offering tips, ideas and suggestions to make the big day as memorable as can be.
“We’re excited about this new venture,” said Editor Darin McCann. “We hope that in creating this resource for local and out of town couples, we can help make planning their wedding a breeze, so they can enjoy the experience and the beauty of our Delaware beaches.”
DelawareSeasideBride.com will go live online on March 6, 2015. If you would like to advertise your services on the site or in the magazine, call Susan Mutz at (302) 539-1788 or email her at susan.mutz@delawareseasidebride.com. If you have suggestions for story ideas, call Maria Counts at the same number, or email her at maria.counts@delawareseasidebride.com.

The Town of Millville is building momentum with weekly farmers’ markets and annual festivals. But after years of squeezing such events into the town hall parking lot and private property nearby, Millville might finally get its own parkland.

The corporate owners of Millville By the Sea community are willing to donate two acres along Route 17, the town council announced in January. In August of 2014, the Town had published an official notice seeking landowners who might be interested in donating two or more acres of property to the Town. In September, Miller & Smith Vice President Chuck Ellison signed the letter announcing MBTS’s intent.

“We’re working out logistics, like signing an agreement,” said Town Solicitor Seth Thompson, who will prepare a draft for an upcoming council meeting.

With more room, Millville wouldn’t have to contain its farmers’ markets to the town hall parking lot or depend on the Millville Volunteer Fire Company’s land for bigger festivals.

But while the Town figures out logistics, Town Manager Debbie Botchie is already brainstorming big things.

She said she envisions a two-acre “Market Greene” that could host farmers’ markets, the Great Pumpkin Festival and more.

An indoor pavilion could house events year-round, including the December Holiday Market.

Live music could be performed at the outdoor bandstand, and a playground, parking lot, concessions and restrooms would make things easier for families using the facilities.

This is just the first draft of ideas, but Botchie said grant opportunities are available.

“We’ve been extra-conservative, because we want to go back into the community,” Botchie said, in terms of the Town’s spending and savings.

After tweaking the Town/MBTS agreement, Millville must plan how to arrange the amenities on a plot still surrounded by MBTS lots.

Building standards

for MBTS

Also this week, the town council laid down some big-picture rules for MBTS.

The council approved a revised Schematic Master Plan and Development Performance Standards (DPS) for the community.

“We feel the DPS will provide regulatory control and protections the Town will need, while allowing the developer to adjust to economic changes,” wrote the Town Planning & Zoning Commission after a more-than-two-hour meeting at which it approved the document.

“This is what council would look to at the next subdivision application,” Thompson said. “‘What are the requirements?’ It has to go along with the master plan … make sure they’re complying with the zoning,” said Thompson.

The goal was “to develop a set of standards that guides the development of MBTS, but also provides the flexibility to adapt to the changing times,” Ellison told the council. “So you could review plans and say, ‘Yes, this new plan does meet our standards.’ … You have the right level of control, but also flexibility.”

“But the good thing is we’ve got seven years of history behind us. We know what works well, what doesn’t work well,” said Town Engineer Kyle Gulbronson of URS.

Town code allows Millville to create standards for the community but previously they were done individually for every phase. The new standards will last for the duration of development.

“We are going to be here for some time. That’s why it’s important to have master plans and performance standards,” Ellison said.

The original Schematic Master Plan for MBTS was approved in February of 2006. Since then, the Town has seen many modifications, including a change in developers, revisions to phases, adjustments to economic changes and trends in housing products.

The schematic works akin to a zoning ordinance, so any future developer who may work on MBTS would still be required to follow those rules. The performance standards would apply throughout that process.

The new Master Plan has blank spots on Route 17, Powell Farm Road and Burbage Road. Rather than try to anticipate exactly what to build in 10 years, they’ll fill in the map with subdivision plans as the time comes.

The pages show what has been done (neighborhoods, amenities, community center); the traffic network for bikes, vehicles and pedestrians; and what may come (such as the Beebe Healthcare property, which is no longer owned by Millville Town Center, but whose potential future development could be crucial to MBTS).

Ellison discussed some of the changes. Residential density remains the same, he said, but open space drops slightly because the size of the property decreased.

He gave an example of the Town’s controlled flexibility.

“What things are really important? Having side yard is important. … Lot size was not important,” Ellison said. “We don’t have any specific lot size, but must have 20 feet of driveway and 7-foot minimum side yard.

Councilmembers agreed that the move was overdue and commended the draft-writing team.

Resident Richard Shoobridge wished neighborhood residents were kept in the loop with changes. In Sand Dollar Village, for example, he said, another road was supposed to come in for bicycle safety.

Thompson said there is a proposed bike path nearby.

When asked what’s next, Ellison said developers are continuing Summerwind Village (around 84 lots) and Lakeside village (about 45 lots). That will be a few years in the making. There was no specific decision on what will follow. Ellison said he expects to present the next submissions to the Town in early summer.

The town council had ceased to accept subdivision plans until these documents were approved, which they were, in a 4-0-1 vote, with Councilman Steve Maneri recusing himself.

Gulbronson estimated that the Town/developer committee has been drafting the documents for nearly two years.

“I think it was needed. The world as we knew it has changed. I think the revised master plan does good job,” he said.

Sussex County’s computers are about to get a turbo boost on the information superhighway, and that will mean faster network and Internet speeds — not just for government operations, but potentially for other consumers in the Georgetown area.

The county council, at its March 10 meeting, awarded a five-year contract to Reston, Va.-based Broad Valley Micro Fiber Networks Inc. to install a high-speed “fiber ring” in Georgetown that will increase the local government’s network connection speeds by as much as 100 times — up to 10 gigabits per second — at four facilities. It also will provide redundancy to better ensure a constant network connection for those County facilities.

The new fiber-optic line will connect the County Administrative Offices building on The Circle, the West Complex along Dupont Boulevard, and the Records Management Center and Emergency Operations Center at the Sussex County Airport.

The underground line will be laid in a loop fashion, as opposed to a single line connecting each building, encircling the facilities to give them a two-way path to send and receive data over the County’s secured network.

Right now, the older single-line feeds that serve County facilities are susceptible to downtime whenever an interruption in service occurs anywhere along those lines. With the “fiber ring,” if an outage occurs somewhere on the loop, data will redirect on the loop to reach its destination.

Eventually, other consumers — businesses and residents alike — along the route of the fiber-optic ring could connect and pay for service, giving them state-of-the-art, high-speed access, County officials said.

“With this project, the County is virtually limitless in its ability to connect our facilities to each other and to the rest of the world,” said County Administrator Todd F. Lawson. “That’s great news from an operational standpoint, allowing us to consolidate our computer systems and transfer data at the fastest speeds possible.

“But it’s even better news for our economy here in Sussex County, as this ‘fiber ring’ will give businesses and other consumers along the route another option for broadband access, and could lead to an expanded network across Sussex County down the road,” Lawson said. “That’s critical for Sussex County to be competitive in attracting and retaining employers that depend on a constant, high-speed connection to do business.”

Under the contract, the County will pay Broad Valley approximately $100,000 annually for the service. Broad Valley will design, build and maintain the line, and Sussex County will lease space on the “fiber ring” for monthly service. Broad Valley, in the meantime, may lease remaining space on the fiber-optic line to other customers along or near its path.

Broad Valley was selected from three potential vendors and was the lowest bidder on the project. The new “fiber ring” will replace some older, existing connections and service the County currently utilizes for its computer networks and Internet access.

The upgrade will enable the County’s network to operate at peak performance, allowing for bandwidth-intensive technologies, such as video conferencing and faster backup of terabytes of data, said Thomas Glenn, director of the County’s Information Technology department.

“It benefits the County not only because it provides faster speeds for our operations, but it gives these County facilities redundancy and resiliency that is critical to ensuring a constant, reliable connection for the flow of information,” Glenn said.

“We are pleased to partner with the Sussex County Council, which has shown great initiative in finding ways to improve broadband infrastructure in its communities,” said Peter D. Aquino, chairman, president and CEO of Broad Valley. “Looking ahead, as we make investments in constructing the Georgetown fiber network, we expect to leverage our fiber backbone to serve other customers throughout the area.”

Construction on the fiber ring is expected to begin this spring and be complete by the fall.

Coastal Point • R. Chris Clark : Ira Mensh's imported Italian rotating brick oven can cook a pizza at 850 degrees, bringing a new spin on local pizza.For pizza chef Ira Mensh, it’s all about the heat. And the ingredients. And, of course, the customer. But mostly, it’s about the brand new imported Italian rotating brick oven that is used to cook almost everything on the menu at his new pizzeria, Supremo, on Route 54.

“My pizza oven is the only one [of its kind] in the area,” explained Mensh. “I cook at 850 degrees — that’s the difference.”

With that kind of heat, Mensh can cook a pie in around three minutes, and up to 200 of them in an hour.

“It’s all about the temperature,” said Mensh, describing the oven as new technology with an old-school taste. “Most pizza places are conveyer belts. They cook about 500 degrees — 600 max if they’re lucky. Other brick ovens use wood. With my oven, with the spinning base of it, there’s never a cold spot.”

After the pizza is finished cooking, it goes on a special tray designed to let the steam out so the crust stays crispy. The process is so efficient that Supremo does everything to order — typically waiting until customers arrive to toss in their pie.

“I like to see when they’re coming. I like showing them. It’s a little more of a show,” explained Mensh. “It’s fresh. Reheated, it’s not the same. Even if I were to reheat a slice, it would take three minutes in one of those regular ovens.”

Mensh has been around Italian cuisine throughout his life, getting his start during college at a fine-dining restaurant in Washington, D.C., before moving on to study the art with a three-time national award-winning pizza chef. It’s that same cuisine that he’s bringing to Fenwick Island and Selbyville — just at an affordable price and in a casual carry-out atmosphere.

“I’m doing the same stuff, but with paper plates,” he explained. “I’ll have specials during the week for locals.”

But pizza isn’t the only thing that Supremo offers, even though most of their menu is cooked using the rotating oven — including brick oven wings and Mensh’s signature fresh eggplant entrée.

“Everything I do is out of that oven,” he explained. “Every day, I do hand-cut steaks, I do fresh chicken. All my ingredients are fresh — spinach, eggplants, mushrooms. It’s all in the product.”

Exhibiting his “all in the product” philosophy, Supremo even gets the rolls for their hand-cut cheesesteak subs fresh daily from Philadelphia.

“They last for a day. There’s no preservatives in them,” he explained. “If you’re from Philadelphia, that’s the roll.”

Supremo even has an answer to some of the other traditional pizza sides, such as breadsticks and cheese-bread, offering traditional Italian focaccia bread topped with olive oil and garlic and served with marinara sauce. Like the pizza, the side dish is made to order and ready in less than three minutes.

For patrons in search of healthy options, the shop also offers a wide variety of entrées and salads, including a caprese salad made with fresh mozzarella and tomato. There are even some items for customers with a sweet tooth, such as Supremo’s fresh-made chocolate chip cookies and homemade cannoli.

“I’m just trying to be a little bit different, but with paper plates,” Mensh said, summing up the concept of taking traditional Italian cuisine and catering it to the local area in a casual atmosphere. “People want fresh ingredients — pick out what you want; you can chose the ingredients, as opposed to the pre-made stuff.”

While Mensh said that he expects to primarily do carry-out orders, there is restaurant seating, and delivery is available up and down Route 54, from Coastal Highway to Selbyville on the west end. Located in the same shopping center as Scotty’s Bayside Tavern, Supremo will even deliver right to the bar.

The shop is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily but expects to extend hours during the summer season. They’re located at 36666 Bluewater Run in Selbyville, right on Route 54. To place an order for carry-out or delivery, call (302) 564-7656.

Tickets are now on sale for the 24th Annual Beach & Bay Cottage Tour, to be held July 22 and 23, from 9:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at the South Coastal Library or through the Cottage Tour’s website at www.beachandbaycottagetour.com. The Cottage Tour is sponsored by the Friends of the South Coastal Library, and proceeds directly benefit the library’s operations.

“We are very excited about this year’s line-up of homes,” said Kathy Green, Cottage Tour chair, “and making tickets available now will ensure our patrons the opportunity to enjoy the tour.”

Tickets cost $30, and the number of tickets is limited.

A variety of homes will again be on display for tour patrons. The Homeowner’s Cocktail Reception to honor those who open their homes for the tour will be held Thursday, July 16, from 5 to 7 p.m. Donors of $150 or more will receive an invitation in June to the party.

“The Cottage Tour is a highlight of summer on the Delaware shore,” said Green, “and we know that our patrons will be thrilled with the homes that they are going to see.”

Although some tickets may be available in July at selected area merchants, “It’s best to reserve your ticket now,” encouraged Green.