Coastal Point • Laura Walter: Kelsea Dell hopes to make a difference in her students’ lives at Selbyville MIddle School, starting with giving them ownership of their ‘textbook.’Kelsea Dell wouldn’t want to do anything else besides teach eighth-grade math at Selbyville Middle School.

“Even though it can be challenging, with the hormonal changes that goes on between sixth and eighth grade … they’re a super-cool group of kids. It’s fun,” Dell said.

After teaching her first year at SMS, she spent four at Millsboro Middle School and has come home to be named Teacher of the Year for 2015-2016 at her own alma mater.

“I wouldn’t do anything else. I graduated from this district,” Dell said. “I loved Millsboro Middle, [but] this is where I came from. … I wanted to get back home.”

Now, her former teachers are her SMS colleagues.

“That’s the good thing about this area,” she said. “It’s so small — even when you come back, in education they still remember you.”

Although she considered sports medicine as a career, Dell couldn’t escape her lifelong obsession with “playing school.” But she found her way to a bachelor’s degree from Wilmington University and a master’s degree from Marygrove College in Michigan.

“I wanted to make a difference for the kids where teachers made a difference for me, when I came through,” she said.

Dell said she hopes that someday her students still remember her.

“I wanted to make an impact.” Especially as the kids prepare for high school, she said, “You have to build relationships with children to make them believe in themselves.”

Although she’s the boss in the classroom, she said she wants students to feel they have a friend in her, too.

Dell’s classroom is all about cooperative learning.

“A lot of investigative work,” Dell said. “We give them [a lesson] where they really dig in and take ownership of the learning, rather than me standing at the front, going ‘Blah, blah, blah.’”

Students create journals that double as their own textbook. Then they take it with them to ninth grade.

As the SMS math-department chair, Dell doesn’t just teach the math curriculum — she also writes it for Indian River School District.

Also on the SMS cadre team, Dell brings district professional training to the teachers.

Dell said she was a bit shocked to win Teacher of the Year in her first year back at SMS.

“I’m super proud [to represent SMS]. It’s really humbling, in just a few short months, not just to make impact on students but [to have] faculty members [who] are supportive,” she said.

“It’s just humbling that you’re not the only one who sees the effort you do,” said Dell, working in a state of constant job review.

At the end of each day, Dell knows whether a lesson was successful or just tanked.

“One day is never the same as the next,” she said.

A major challenge is “knowing that it’s always changing and you always have to find new strategies … and ways of teaching,” Dell said.

But “you’ve got to be open” to learning more, to become a better teacher, she said.

In summer, Dell is a supervisor and server at Phillips’ Seafood when she’s not playing softball at Northside Park or hanging out with family and friends.

Now living in Ocean View, Dell still sees the people she grew up with and even teaches their children.

“I’ll probably be a Sussex Countian for life. I am absolutely OK with that.”

Dell also volunteers as an assistant softball coach at SMS.

“Coaching is super-rewarding, because you get to know kids on a way different level than in the classroom,” she said.

The best part of teaching is “watching the kids grow and learn” from September to the following June, she said. “I want to make a difference in their life.”

With the Town of Ocean View set to hold its annual municipal election to elect a resident to the District 4 council seat in April, a Candidates’ Night will be held on Thursday, March 26, at 7 p.m.

Held at town hall, the event will allow candidates to present their platforms and answer any questions posed by attending citizens. Tom Silvia, who serves as chairman of the Board of Elections, will moderate the forum.

All four District 4 candidates — Carol Bodine, Jon Debuchananne, Kent Liddle and Don Walsh — will be in attendance.

Although the election is to fill the District 4 seat on council, anyone who is registered voter in town may vote in the election.

Voter registration

The last Town election was held in 2011. Currently, there are 799 residents registered to vote in Ocean View elections.

The Town’s Code, § 54-4, stipulates that, “A person shall be required to register one time; provided, however, that if a registered voter fails to vote in two consecutive annual elections in which there is a contest, his name shall be removed from the ‘Books of Registered Voters’ and notice shall be sent to said registered voter at his last known address by first class mail advising that his name has been removed from the ‘Books of Registered Voters’ and that it will be necessary to register again in order to be eligible to vote at the annual election.”

Town Clerk Donna Schwartz said that no one has been removed from the Town’s book of registered voters for this election; however, those who are unsure if they are registered to vote should call town hall.

The deadline to register to vote is April 1, at 4 p.m. In order to qualify as, the prospective voter must be 18 or older and a citizen of the United States and have Ocean View residency for at least six months immediately preceding the election.

Ocean View town hall is located at 32 West Avenue.

Never return a casserole dish empty.

Coastal Point • Submitted : Willy and Mary Cannon (right) enjoy some laughs on the beach with their second family, John and Pat Hendrickson (left).It was a favorite line of wisdom of the late Willy Cannon, who passed away last month after a five-year battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. But as anyone who knew him can attest, the saying isn’t just about casserole, it’s about giving back as much, if not more, than you receive — which is exactly what Cannon strived for through all of his 57 years.

He donated his time by coaching Little League, teaching his friends skills such as how to navigate the drive on the beach using proper etiquette, and helping neighbors build their houses. He loaned out his truck, his tools, his surfboard and whatever else was needed. He’d offer his advice to anyone who asked, and he’d help anyone he could in any situation that they found themselves in.

“When I was 16 and almost died crashing my car into a telephone pole, I called Willy,” recalled Derek Hendrickson, who said he looked up to Willy as though he was a second father. “He said, ‘I’ll be right there.’”

“Willy could be counted on if you ever needed something,” John Hendrickson — Cannon’s brother in every aspect but blood — highlighted in his eulogy. “If he said he would be there, he would be there.”

His older sister, Susanne Anderson, summed up Willy’s dependability and love for his family in the same way, “Family, in general, was No. 1 with him,” she said. “If you needed something, you could always call him. Everybody just seemed to really warm to him, to really gravitate to him — he was just a good person to be with.”

So, five years ago, when Cannon was first diagnosed with the disease that would eventually take his life, it was finally someone else’s turn to fill up the casserole dish.

It started with friends and family, and quickly spread throughout the community, as anyone who knew Cannon, and even people who didn’t, banded together to help in any way they could. Whether it was offering rides to school or the doctor’s office, helping with projects around the house, or even coming to read to him for an hour, the community was there.

An online network was formed through “Willy’s Neighborhood” on the website at www.lotsahelpinghands.com. Some even volunteered without ever having met Cannon and only communicating with Pat Hendrickson — one of the best friends of Cannon and his wife, Mary — through email or the website, until faces were put to the names at Willy Cannon’s funeral Mass last month.

“There were a lot of people that I had never met face to face and I met at the funeral,” explained Hendrickson. “It’s a pretty amazing thing when you meet a guy who can’t speak and doesn’t really communicate very well, he can’t move and you don’t know the history on him — somehow they were able to establish a relationship with a guy they’ve never even spoken with.

“I don’t know how to fathom that, but I’m amazed with the number of people who did bond with Willy and feel as if they were the ones that were given a gift.”

At Cannon’s memorial/celebration, faces were put to names that had been selflessly helping out for years.

“The ‘Chili Lady’ became Carla,” explained Mary Cannon of the woman who was introduced at the memorial with “I’m the Chili Lady.” “This lady that just made the best chili.”

“I know I made some really neat connections,” said Hendrickson. “I got to meet people face to face that I’ve only known through emails for a long time. I think part of that is we just created an incredible community inside a community.”

After connecting with the people who had made it all possible for the last five years, over an ice cream bar and the sharing of fond memories, the impact of just how generous the community had been hit home.

“There were so many hundreds of people that were involved in all this, and they all need to know that they made it possible,” said Hendrickson. “You can’t name people, because there’s too many to name — you don’t want to leave anyone out, and I don’t think you have enough paper for it.”

It was seeing the love and support from the community highlighted on that day that showed just how much good had come out of such an awful disease over the years.

“There were so many blessings, Willy got to see his dad every week, things that didn’t happen before,” explained Mary Cannon. “He got this wonderful quality time with his dad.”

Lifelong friendships were even formed with people who hardly knew Willy before he was diagnosed, such as Bob Swenson, who spent so much time reading to Willy and coming by to check up and help out that Mary and Pat now refer to him as “Mary’s second husband,” or “Cabana Boy.”

“Bob knew Willy during those five years better than anyone,” said Mary Cannon. “He pretty much conveyed to everyone how much more he felt the volunteers got out of their visits with Willy than Willy did.

“Bob always said how he felt guilty for leaving feeling like he got more out of it — he would come to help us but then, when he left, he was like, ‘Wow, that felt good! I shouldn’t be feeling good. They should be feeling good.’”

“Willy’s journey was such a gift to all of us,” added Anderson. “It made us a more solid community and family. When you start to give, it just does something for you.

“Willy showed us the way to be courageous and brave. He showed us the way to love. He gave us those opportunities to find those things in ourselves. I think it’s really important to pay it forward in Willy’s name. I think he just really showed us how to do that.”

“Paying it forward” has been a common statement of belief for those involved in Willy’s journey — and it is an endeavor that has already started, with the donation of things including medical equipment and anything else that may take some of the financial and logistical pressure off other families suffering through the disease.

Not only have the unused medical supplies already made their way to a center in Philadelphia where they’ll eventually be shipped to countries including Africa, but much of Cannon’s other ALS-specific equipment has been allocated around the local community, such as like his Dynavox, used for communication, which was donated to Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury, Md., and the specialized van used to get him around, which was donated to a local family in need.

“That van was so important,” said Mary Cannon after explaining that she and Willy had decided to use some of his life insurance money to pay it off and then donate it to another family. “He really liked that idea. It helped him continue doing the things that he enjoyed — and not only enjoyed, but were so important to him. His kid’s activities ... were it.”

Even though it was still difficult to get around, the van made it possible for Willy to go to events when he could no longer walk, such as when he got to see his son Sam’s state championship soccer game.

It got him to parent nights, the prom “grand march” and even to the boardwalk and the beach, as he had always done before.

“My hope is that people will pay it forward, because I know how important it was to us and how much we needed something that was dependable,” Mary Cannon explained.

She knows firsthand just how difficult it is to not only pay for, but continually track down, new equipment to help assist with progressing symptoms — especially considering just how long it takes to get a specific item ordered. The task is typically accompanied by tracking down doctors and figuring our insurance benefits.

While an iPad donated by Mark Gibbons at Searock Contracting for Willy to use communicate with friends and family helped early on, equipment such as the Dynavox lost its usefulness within weeks, as Willy lost the use of his hands before they were able to find it, pay for it, get it shipped and learn how to use it.

“That’s probably one of the biggest challenges, is to centralize the resources for dealing with ALS,” said Pat Hendrickson. “Because, while we’re chasing all this information down, his symptoms are progressing.”

Not only did Willy Cannon donate things that helped him live with his disease, but his body will help researchers try to determine how to prevent it, as both his brain and spinal cord have been donated to Columbia University, where a specialist is seeking a link between ALS and Lyme disease.

Even though a five-year fight has ended for Willy Cannon, those affected by ALS know that a new fight is just beginning. There is research to do, there are families to help, and there are full casserole dishes to be returned.

“I don’t want Willy to have died in vain, and I don’t want this thing to have beaten him,” said Hendrickson. “Any moving forward with the ALS and Lyme disease research could be Willy’s legacy — I think that would be a very meaningful continuation.”

But, until the battle resumes in earnest, those at the forefront are taking some time — time to remember and honor Willy; time to grieve; and time to find themselves again.

“Maybe now the Cannon family can start going forward again. There’s a lot of healing to do,” Hendrickson went on. “I do wonder how the future will unfold.”

His brain and spinal cord may be at Columbia University, his medical equipment in Africa, and his ashes soon scattered in the sea — but Willy Cannon hasn’t gone anywhere. He will live on through the community that was there for the man who was always there for them. His laughter, wisdom and courage will always be with his family and friends. And they hope that, maybe, one day, someone inspired by his journey will find a cause and a cure for ALS.

Coastal Point • R. Chris Clark : Imagination Furniture founder George Meringolo, above, paints pieces of office cabinets in the shop in Dagsboro.

Imagination Furniture building upon customer creativity

She had been to all of the high-end furniture design centers. She had flipped through all of the catalogs. She had toured all of the showrooms. But Judy Wickes couldn’t find anyone who could offer her the home media center she envisioned.

Until she discovered Imagination Furniture.

“They listened to all my ideas and design concepts and turned our wall into a reality,” said Wickes. “We could not be happier with the results.”

For founder George Meringolo, it’s a story that embodies the mission of a company that he literally built with his own two hands.

“She went to all these custom-made-cabinet shops,” Meringolo said. “She called me up. I went to her house. I did some drawings. I said, ‘No problem.’”

When Wickes wanted to make a few changes to Meringolo’s designs, he again said, “No problem,” until she had the custom design that she wanted. It’s a process that Meringolo has come to expect since Imagination’s inception in 2010.

“We’re looking for that person that can’t find what they’re looking for,” he explained. “It’s a customer that’s got a very discerning taste and wants a specific item in a specific spot and can’t find it anywhere. If it’s made out of wood, we can make it.”

While their innovative designs and commitment to customer satisfaction is certainly a point of pride for the Dagsboro-based company, Imagination also focuses on using only materials made in the United States — touting “Made on the shore, not offshore,” as another strong business belief.

“It’s all coming from China, and it’s not even real wood — it’s pressed wood,” Meringolo said of imported wood products that he refuses to use. “We don’t buy any boxes from China. We make our cabinets right here.”

In fact, the only thing that the company has imported is master cabinetmaker Robbie Kenyon, who hails from across the pond, in England — although he’s lived and worked all across the United States for the past 30 years.

“He worked for another cabinet shop in the area — they laid him off. Their mistake — I hired him,” said Meringolo. “Robbie is the key to my success, [he’s] one of the main reasons we’ve grown so much.”

Since hiring Kenyon, Imagination has grown to cater to more than 200 satisfied customers, consistently needing to move to bigger spaces over the past four years.

“In 2012, I rented the space next door. I thought I’d be there forever,” Meringolo recalled. “By January, I ran out of room.”

In September 2014, Meringolo moved the operation next door, in the Country Gardens business park in Dagsboro — into a space more than double the size, to be able to keep up with the growing demand for his designs, even going as far as implementing a second shift to work on projects around the clock.

“We’re growing dramatically,” Meringolo explained after noting plans to hire three more employees. “You talk about a home-grown business — this is truly one of those businesses that started out in somebody’s garage.”

While Meringolo has been working seven days a week over the last year, he said the mission of Imagination is so fulfilling that going into work every day is a joy.

“I had a much larger business — not in this field — when we moved to Delaware,” he explained. “At that point, I had to make a decision. I’ve always been a woodworker. My dad was a builder, my brother-in-law was a master carpenter, and as a kid I’d hang around their shop and watch them make stuff. I’d always make furniture for relatives, friends.

“I am not making the money I made in my other business, but I am so much happier coming to work,” he went on. “Here, it’s a great level of satisfaction and serenity. We’re not branding a product, we’re branding a company. It’s not the piece, it’s the name.”

Imagination caters to all kinds of custom woodwork, from cabinets and custom furniture for homes and businesses to crown molding and anything else their creative customer base can think up.

“People say, ‘Is it a difficult sale?’” said Meringolo. “It’s not a sale at all. People want something, I give it to them. What am I selling?”

The shop is located in the Country Gardens business park just before the intersection of Route 20 and Route 113. Imagination can be reached by phone at (302) 541-4599, or visit their website at www.g-c-w.com, or check out their Facebook page, at www.facebook.com/
imaginationfurniture.

Selbyville Public Library Directory Kelly Kline at the town council meeting on Monday, March 16, expressed her gratitude to the Selbyville Community Club for helping put on Children’s Art Month last month, which was again deemed a success.

“I want to thank the Selbyville Community Club for putting on the Children’s Art Month,” said Kline at the meeting. “It’s been wonderful having all the artwork in the library — so many talented artists in the town, it’s really very special.”

Kline went on to publicly thank Mayor Clifton Murray and other town council members who showed up to help support the event, and to announce their involvement in the Easter Egg Hunt planned for March 28.

“We’ve joined forces with the community Easter egg hunt,” she announced. “We’ll make a really great event.”

Police department amps up drug take-back program

Selbyville Police Chief W. Scott Collins announced that, while the winter has kept things quiet for the most part, the department recently received a grant from CVS to help improve their drug take-back program.”

“We received a grant from CVS, basically due to the huge turnouts that we had for our drug take-back program,” explained Collins. “CVS had a program where they provide a long-term drop box for medical drop off. It should arrive sometime next week.”

Collins went on to explain that the new, permanent drop box will be easily accessible for residents.

“It’ll be permanently mounted in our lobby, so people can come in any time they have medications they need to get rid of,” he said.

Doyle’s to be honored as state’s oldest diner

Doyle’s restaurant, located on Route 113 in Selbyville, will be honored this Saturday, March 21, at 2 p.m. during an event open to the public.

“The dedication is for this being the oldest diner that’s been in operation in the state,” explained Town Manager Bob Dickerson. “There was no invitation sent out, but everybody is welcome to attend.”

Collins noted that local residents should expect some possible increased traffic on the highway for the event.

The next regular town council meeting is set for Monday, April 6, at 7 p.m.

Next month, Ocean View will hold its annual municipal election, and Bear Trap resident Kent Liddle hopes to serve the town as the new District 4 councilman.

“In every area we’ve lived, I’ve tried to be involved with something in the community,” said Liddle. “It’s the way my parents raised me — you need to give something back to your community. I’ve always had a great interest with kids, with eight of my own. I always thought it was important to help.”

Up until recently, Liddle served on the Town’s Planning & Zoning Commission, to which he was appointed by former Mayor Gordon Wood, at the recommendation of now-Mayor Walter Curran.

“I know Walt Curran real well. We’re good friends,” said Liddle. Serving on Planning & Zoning, he said, “You get an early vision of what’s going on in the community. It’s nice to see. The group is pretty pro-business and wants good growth.”

Liddle moved to Bear Trap with his wife, Tina, from Downingtown, Pa., in 2010 and retired two years ago, having served as a sales executive with Mohoawk Industries, running their Mid-Atlantic region.

“I traveled down here on business,” explained Liddle. “A fellow who worked for me at the time lives in Georgetown, and he would talk about how great it was. At that point in the early ’90s, we’d take long day trips and come down to Rehoboth or make it a weekend trip to the beach. The kids loved it.

“We always wanted to find a second place, and we finally got to the point where we could afford to do it. I just happened to be down here, calling on Mary Ann’s Interiors, and she said, ‘You should look at this place called Bear Trap — it’s just getting started.’”

Liddle bought a home in Bear Trap in 2001 and has been serving on the community’s board for six years, and for the past year has been president of the Village at Bear Trap Dunes Owners Association.

“I just thought it would be something fun to do,” said Liddle of running for District 4 councilman. “I knew Bob Lawless was going off, and I thought this might be an opportunity to do something more.”

Along with his service on the community’s board, Liddle volunteers his time at the Gull House Adult Activities Center and also runs an Alzheimer’s caregiver support group in Ocean View.

“I think I spent so many years working with youth — now that I’ve gotten older, I feel like I need to work with people that are older,” said Liddle, who spent many years coaching and served as vice president of a large youth hockey program in Pennsylvania. “And there’s such a need for it. As all of the baby boomers are becoming the largest segment now, Alzheimer’s has become one of the biggest diseases in the country.”

If elected, Liddle said, he hopes to help the Town navigate through street construction, which has been an issue for a number of years.

“If I get elected, I want to follow through with the road situation we’re in. It has to do with micro-surfacing of the first phase in Bear Trap and Avon Park. We got a bad job. It wasn’t done properly, and from Day 1 I’ve been telling people it needs to be fixed, so I want to stay on top of that.

“I think the road situation is important. I want to contribute. What are they going to do in the future, so we’re spending our money wisely as a town, so we’re getting the best bang for our dollar?”

Liddle said he loves the town of Ocean View and is happy to be a part of the community.

“What don’t I like about it?” he said rhetorically. “It’s kind of like living in paradise every single day. There are wonderful people; there are always things to do. The summers are hectic but wonderful. Our fall, the shoulder season is my favorite time of year. We have great golf down here, which I enjoy doing. Everything about the area is nice.”

As for campaigning, Liddle said he plans to work his email lists and will be attending the Town’s Candidates’ Night on March 26, at 7 p.m. at town hall.

“I care about people a lot, and I’m a good listener. I’m not afraid to reach out or speak up, and I try to be fair and treat people the way I would like to be treated,” he said.

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.

Caring for a loved one with a debilitating disease can be a rewarding experience, but it can come with a great deal of stress, exhaustion and, at times, heartbreak.

“When some people come in, you can see they’re a spring ready to pop,” said Kent Liddle, the group facilitator for the Alzheimer’s caregiver support group in Ocean View. “There are a lot of people down here dealing with it that you wouldn’t know.”

“We try to do everything we can to reach out to caregivers to give them the support that they need,” said Jamie Magee, Sussex County program coordinator for the Alzheimer’s Association’s Delaware Valley Chapter. “We have found through trial and error that meeting with other people who are going through the same issues, obstacles and problems, and talking to them about how they handle it, is most helpful.”

The Ocean View group meets on the first Thursday of each month at the Coastal Leisure Cheer Senior Center at 6 p.m.

“It’s an outlet for the caregiver of an Alzheimer’s or dementia patient to get with other people who are in the same situation in their lives, and share their experiences and their frustrations, all the different emotions. It’s incredible some of the stories, how it changes their lives,” said Liddle.

“It is a wonderful facility. So many people I talk to my age know the building, but they don’t know what it’s about. They do a wonderful job.”

The meetings are free and open to the public. Currently, Liddle said, four to seven people attend the monthly meeting.

“They don’t have to talk. If they want, they can just come and observe — that’s fine. It can be an outlet for them to come and get away for an hour and a half. Even if you don’t choose to participate, you’re still around people that are in the same situation as you are.”

According to the Alzheimer’s Association’s website, “Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other intellectual abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases.”

“The statistics show there’s an increase. It’s one of the top 10 killers in the U.S. Alzheimer’s disease is sixth. It’s the only one between 2000 and 2010 that increased. The rest decreased. Alzheimer’s increased by 68 percent in that time,” said Magee. “With the baby boomers, the people born from 1946 to 1964, we started turning 65 Jan. 1, 2011, and we’ll continue turning 65 until Jan. 1, 2030, and every single day during that period of time, there are more than 10,000 boomers who turn 65.

“The statistics for Alzheimer’s is one person out of every nine that reaches the age of 65 will develop Alzheimer’s. We have about 5 million Americans right now that have Alzheimer’s, and by 2050 we’re looking at that number tripling, to about 16 million.”

“I describe Alzheimer’s as a fatal disease that you never get better from — it just progressively gets worse,” said Liddle. “As far as cancer, there’s hope that you could get better. There’s no hope with Alzheimer’s — you’ll eventually die from it.”

Magee said that, with a growing community populated by many retirees, the need for services is growing, as well.

“The problem is, we’re such a growing community, with so many people retiring here. It’s very difficult to let everyone know that we’re here,” she said.

Liddle said they would like to draw more caregivers to the group so they can receive support.

“Unfortunately, it’s a disease that requires 24-hour care,” he said. “We try and get those people aware that there’s a place they can come and share their experiences and frustrations — just to know there are other people going through the same thing. So often, people get so bogged down by it — you think you’re the only one going through it, and that’s not the case.”

“One of the first things they tell me when they go to a group is, ‘I thought I was the only one dealing with this,’” echoed Magee. “It makes them feel better just to know they’re not the only person.”

Magee said Liddle has been a great facilitator and volunteer for the organization.

“He has no connection to Alzheimer’s. He just had an experience with a person who had dementia, and it hit him with such force that he wanted to help. He’s just one of my best volunteers,” she said, noting that Liddle also volunteers for the Gull House Adult Activities Center. “He’s very interested in learning.”

“When I started, I was worried. I’ve never taken care of anyone with Alzheimer’s for a long period of time, so I don’t have a lot of experience,” said Liddle. “What I found was everyone else jumps in and shares their experiences. It’s just nice to see people interact.”

Liddle said that, for those caregivers who would be unable to attend because they do not have someone to take over care temporarily, the caregiver can bring their loved one.

“What we try to do with this particular group that’s a little different than others — if you’re in a situation where you can’t get away because you don’t have someone who can watch the person you’re caring for, you can bring them with you. We have people who will watch them and entertain them while we’re having the meeting. That’s nice. A lot of people don’t use it, but it’s there.”

Magee said those who want to get involved with the Alzheimer’s Association and volunteer may participate in the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Oct. 3 in Rehoboth Beach.

“The last two years, all of our 400 walkers raised over $100,000. That has been tremendous,” said Magee. Of the 2001 event, she said, “The first year I worked, I had worked for two weeks before the walk, and we had 75 walkers and raised $25,000, so you can see it’s quite grown.”

Magee said support is crucial for anyone dealing with dementia — be it a patient, family member, friend or caregiver. Those who are unable to attend a caregiver support group may, at any time, call the Alzheimer’s Association’s toll-free 24-hour helpline, at 1-800-272-3900.

“That number works anywhere in the U.S., and it’ll get you to the nearest office if you’re using a local phone,” said Magee. “That number is always manned by a trained professional, and it never closes. When our office closes here, the Chicago office takes over. So, on a holiday, a weekend, in the middle of the night — if a person has a problem or a crisis that they’re dealing with with someone with dementia and they need some help, they can call that number.

“Even if the person just needs to talk — if the caregiver is so overwhelmed that they need to talk, that’s the time to call.”

For more information, or to volunteer for the Alzheimer’s Association, call Jamie Magee at (302) 854-9788 or email Jamie.magee@alz.org. To contact Liddle regarding the caregiver support group, call (610) 639-2322 or email kent_liddle@yahoo.com. Registration information for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s can be found by visiting www.alz.org/delval.

The Bethany Beach Town Council will look to adopt its budget for the 2016 fiscal year this Friday, March 20, during the regular monthly council meeting. The most recent draft, which was up for public comment in a hearing on Monday, March 16, calls for $8.4 million in revenue for the Town in the fiscal year beginning April 1, with $7.7 million in operating costs and $1.4 million in capital projects expected.

Monday’s hearing was characterized by the lack of public comment, as no citizens beyond the council and town employees attended, though the hearing was extended for a few minutes to allow for any late arrivals.

Council Treasurer Jerry Dorfman noted that the draft budget had been discussed in several public meetings that had included analysis of past years’ finances. He said the Town’s “conservative approach to budgeting … has served us well. The Town remains in good financial condition.”

Under the draft budget, the Town’s General Fund revenue is projected to increase by $327,000 (about 5.8 percent) over 2015. General Fund operating costs are budgeted at $203,000 (4 percent) more than in 2015, primarily owing to increases to lifeguard staffing and conversion to new municipal software.

The General Fund Capital budget consists of several projects and totals $535,000, including $400,000 for street paving, $95,000 to replace a 16-year-old backhoe and $40,000 to purchase two large outdoor holiday trees, which the council approved late last year as an enhancement to its winter holiday season activities.

Sanitation Fund revenues are unchanged in the proposed budget, while the Sanitation Fund operating budget is increasing $12,000 (1.6 percent), with no new capital funds budgeted.

The major specific changes from prior years’ budgets include:

• A 25-cent increase in the hourly parking rate for metered parking, to $1.75 per hour, generating an estimated $190,000 in additional revenue. (The Town also charges a 50-cent fee for non-cash payment for parking at its paystations.)

• A commensurate increase in fees for daily and weekly parking permits, with visitor and construction permits costing $23 for a one-day permit, $69 for a three-day permit and $160 for a seven-day permit, generating an estimated additional $3,000 in revenue. (Property owner permits remain free for the first permit, while the cost is $35 for a second permit.)

• Outside shuttle bus operators are also seeing a similar rate increase, being charged $3,500 for the season for shuttles seating 10 or fewer people, or $7,000 for shuttles seating 11 or more, expected to generate about $6,000 in additional revenue for the Town. (The rider fee for the Town shuttle remains 25 cents.)

Dorfman noted that the parking-related fee increases were specifically targeted to increase summer-related revenues, “to make sure the ones who come here and use our beaches during the summer are the ones who pay for the costs of summer services” — calculated so that revenues generated by the summer season fully cover the costs of summer services.

“Summer season costs have increased significantly in the past few years, mainly from enhancements to lifeguard staff, to improve safety,” Town officials said in their budget summary. “Secondary reasons are improvements to bandstand performances and general cost inflation. … With this focus, we have been able to maintain a reasonable level of reserves, provide outstanding services and incur minimal debt. … While Town finances are in good condition, adjustments to revenue are recommended as needed to keep it this way.”

• A 21 percent increase in the water use fee rate, which Dorfman noted hadn’t been increased in seven years, and which is estimated to generate additional revenue of $208,000.

The proposed water rate increase, officials said, is expected to sustain the Water Fund for at least the next five years and is expected to cost most residential water users less than $55 additional per year.

According to the Town, the additional revenue is needed to cover annual increases of 3 to 4 percent in the cost to operate its water plant, including the personnel costs for three full-time workers and administrative support, water treatment chemicals, electricity and insurance.

They said that, without the increase, the Water Fund Capital Reserve would fall below the recommended minimum established by the Town’s Fund Balance Policy this year, because of the $350,000 needed to replace the media in the filter gallery of the water plant, which has not been replaced since 1992. In fact, the Town’s 2014 financial statements showed that the Water Fund experienced a small net operating loss and was expected to show a more significant operating loss for the 2015 fiscal year, which ends March 31.

The Water Fund Operating budget is increasing $82,000 (8.8 percent), mainly from insurance increases and conversion to new municipal software. The Water Fund Capital budget totals $600,000 and includes $350,000 to replace media in the filter gallery, $100,000 to improve water pipes on South Atlantic Avenue, $50,000 to construct a structure to house the mineral tank and store equipment, $50,000 for replacement of equipment if needed and $50,000 for unplanned repairs to the distribution system, as needed.

The council will consider adoption of the draft budget at its meeting on March 20 at 2 p.m. at town hall. It must adopt a budget prior to the start of the new fiscal year on April 1. Printed copies of the proposed budget are available for review in the Finance Office of Town Hall and on the Town’s website at www.townofbethanybeach.com.

A proposal to amend Sussex County Code could streamline the process for certain vendors, such as food trucks, food carts and produce wagons.

At the March 17 meeting of the Sussex County Council, County Administrator Todd Lawson presented the council with a proposal that would allow certain vendors that are currently required to apply for a conditional use of land or variance to legally operate on commercially zoned property, to avoid that lengthy and expensive process.

“It’s very important from the beginning that we are only referencing vendors operating on commercial property right now,” emphasized Lawson. “It is important to realize the vendors we are talking about are not your traditional farmer markets, produce stands, roadside stands that you see scattered across this county, selling farm goods. They’re selling legally on AR-1 property,” he said of such ventures. “We are not discussing those vendors.”

Lawson referenced a number of examples, such as the Lowe’s hotdog stand in Lewes, which went through the County’s process to get a conditional use in order to operate on that commercial property.

He also discussed Hocker’s BBQ trailer that is primarily operated in the Hocker’s Super Center parking lot in unincorporated Clarksville.

“This particular applicant went through and got approval through the conditional-use process. This barbecue trailer has a conditional use to sell their products on their property in front of their store. It cost them thousands of dollars, both in planning and engineering, and legal expenses, to get that conditional use approved, to basically sell the same product they’re selling right inside their store.”

Planning & Zoning Director Lawrence Lank said Hocker’s BBQ also had to go through the Board of Adjustment, because the trailer they sell out of is considered a “mobile home-type structure.” He added that the trailer stays on Hocker’s property, unless it goes offsite to cater an event, and is stored near the back of the store during the winter months when it is not operational.

“Currently, anyone looking to do this kind of commerce,” said Lawson, has to go through “the conditional-use process. That entails submitting an application and fee, two public hearings in front of the Commission and yourselves. As Mr. Lank mentioned, sometimes a variance… Currently, that takes months of time to get your approval.”

Lawson said that is part of the reason the proposed streamlined process was brought before the council, following discussions in August 2014, as well as comments from the public.

The proposal included criteria that would allow vendors to qualify for a permit: operating on C-1- and CR-1-zoned property only, having permission from the property owner for use, and operating for a maximum of six months.

“What it would entail is a counter review. So a person would bring their application in, and it would be reviewed by the Planning & Zoning director, and it would be at the director’s discretion if the criteria is met,” explained Lawson. “If there are concerns, we have built in what we call a ‘kick-out clause’ that would require or allow the director to require the application to go through a hearing process.”

Lawson said the hearing process would not be the same as it is now, but would instead involve a single hearing through the Board of Adjustment, which would allow for a public hearing and the application to be brought before members of the board.

Councilman George Cole said he wanted the plan to be associated with only food-related concessions.

“I’ve been to other parts of the country where you pull into these intersections and you see someone selling velvet art of Elvis and different things like that, which is pretty tacky… Then we end up looking like flea markets at every intersection,” he said. “It can get pretty much out of hand.”

Councilman Sam Wilson said he believes the council is supposed to be complaint-driven and believed the council was “going overboard on this.”

Councilman Rob Arlett said the council is trying to be proactive and be part of the solution.

“The goal here is to make Sussex County more business-friendly, streamline the process and keep it relatively less expensive, because we do want to make it a simple, simple process for our residents who want to go out and create an income and provide for their families.”

Lawson again referenced the Hocker’s BBQ trailer, stating, “The intent going back — we had a specific vendor in this presentation selling their own product, on their own property in front of their own store, and they spent thousands of dollars to be approved to do that. I would think any of you would agree that that was over-burdensome.”

Lawson said the size of the vending vehicle allowed was undetermined, as the presentation allows for an average parking spot — approximately 162 square feet — to serve as the maximum size.

“We may need to better define that, but we do think that size should matter,” he said. “We don’t want an entire fourth of a parking lot taken up by a single vendor.”

Cole suggested using State regulations as to what is permitted to drive on roads without a special permit.

Lawson said he, Lank and Assistant County Attorney Vince Robertson would take council’s comments into account and adjust their proposal, to be represented at a future date.

Banks Wines & Spirits plans to expand their parking lot, add storage and reconfigure its entrance and exit. But its neighbor is concerned about the effect on stormwater ponds.

On March 10, Banks Wines & Spirits sought preliminary site plan approval, which the Millville Town Council unanimously granted (with Councilman Steve Manieri absent).

Architect Jeff Clark of Land Tech Land Planning LLC explained the purpose for improvements to the store on the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Town Center Drive.

“During the tourist season, the entering traffic was fine. The exiting traffic,” said Clark, queued up when trying to cross traffic. “This was a problem they wanted to try and resolve. If we could somehow accomplish a new intersection that exists in the three-way intersection in the shopping center, that would be ideal.” If that happens, it would create a four-way intersection.

Banks plans to make the current entrance/exit an “enter only”; move the main service entrance and exit farther down Town Center Drive, to create a four-way intersection closer to Giant; build a new warehouse with delivery truck unloading zones; and add the cherry of providing as-needed access to the Millville Volunteer Fire Company.

“If traffic backs up, Millville Fire can access the four-way during an emergency,” Clark said.

That will also mean a slight reconfiguring of the parking lot, plus the interior retail space.

Where the water goes

But The Villas at Cedar Cove is a neighborhood of multifamily units located behind Banks and Super Giant grocery store, and homeowners’ association President Ronald Palmieri is concerned about how the expansion will affect the stormwater pond between Banks and The Villas.

He contended at the March 10 meeting that Pond #9 is owned 40 percent by The Villas homeowners, “and the community must be involved in any decision-making as it pertains thereto.”

“When they put Giant up, [the developer] needed a percentage of the pond. Somehow they took 60 percent of the pond. We’ve been paying for [40 percent],” Palmieri said.

However, Town of Millville records differ on the matter.

“Our records indicate that Millville Town Center owns [the pond]. However, there is an agreement between their homeowner association and Capano [Management Company] that Capano maintains 60 percent [and The Villas maintains 40 percent], but nothing is land ownership,” Town Manager Debbie Botchie said.

Sharing stormwater maintenance responsibilities is “fairly common,” noted Seth Thompson, town solicitor.

“None of the stormwater from this site currently goes into Pond #9, adjacent the site, and there won’t be any,” Clark said.

Palmieri said he felt it would truly end up there anyway.

“I may sound cavalier … but we’re put to the test by [the Sussex Conservation District],” Clark said.

Town Hall, the State and County will review copies of the grading plans for the Banks project.

Palmieri said a recent rainstorm had flooded the Giant parking lot and prevented residents from driving home. He said Route 26 construction is not helping, either.

“We’re not contributing a drop to your pond,” Clark said, calling that rainstorm a “freak storm” that dropped many inches in a few hours. “No one could afford to design at that level.”

Town Engineer Kyle Gulbronson of URS agreed that it was practically a 100-year storm event.

“We want to be friendly [neighbors],” said resident Ronald Lips, but “the major expense of our community is pond management. I’m the treasurer. We can’t afford a major expense because of [bad water management].”

“We’re not trying to be malicious,” Palmieri agreed. “I’m responsible for all 68 homeowners. After I had an issue with the tax-ditch,” he said of a time when the water flow was obstructed by a fallen tree on someone else’s property, that he was told that “everything that touches our property is our responsibility, too.”

Banks has proposed filling in an old ditch that Clark said two government agencies made no claim to.

“Sussex Conservation asked us to put catch basins directly over the pipe,” Clark said. “When you meter these storm events, the folks down street — their peak flows are all coming after the storm’s been going on for a while. DNREC wants us to release our water first. Mathematically, it helps the flow of Pond #9.”

“The council’s going to make sure state agencies do their job and stormwater is handled properly,” Thompson said.

Mayor Gerald “Gerry” Hocker Jr. asked about the fire company access.

“What’s going to stop it being a throughway for some of the members or someone wanting to cut through?” Hocker asked, especially if the property is ever sold.

Banks has already recommended that MVFC install a cattle gate or similar barrier, which would prevent trespassing, to be opened only in an emergency, Clark said. “We told them that would be on them to do it. We’re not going to pay.”

Banks’ proposal bypassed Planning & Zoning because, when the application was submitted, the town engineer and P&Z have a certain number of days to review it. But P&Z was unexpectedly without quorum for its scheduled meeting.

So, to stay on schedule, the site plan went straight to the Town Council. If neither board had reviewed it in a timely manner, Botchie said, the site plans could be automatically approved.

First look at the budget

Botchie on March 10 also reviewed the 2016-fiscal-year draft budget. The draft included no municipal street aid from the State, because Gov. Jack Markell will likely propose to decrease that statewide, from $5 to $3 million, she said.

Local government agencies are “all writing letters to not allow that to happen,” she said. “Honestly, it doesn’t affect Millville the way affects neighboring towns, because they own roads [at great cost]. We want to back our neighbors on this.”

Millville does not own any roads, but typically receives $4,000 for its street lights, based on its 544 residents.

“We are in good shape, but we’re supporting our neighbors on that,” she added.

On the subject of police protection, at the current rate of hiring Delaware State Police for 12 hours weekly, Millville will pay $61,000 for that police coverage. However, the Town should be eligible again for the $12,500 Sussex County grant for municipalities that contract with the DSP and have a neighborhood watch.

“That’s far less than putting our own cop on the street,” Botchie said.

“I think it’s been worth the money, because people are feeling there’s somebody out there really checking on them,” Kent said.

So far, Millville has only experienced traffic violations and a few complaint calls, but nothing criminal.

Millville still has a $457,000 police fund, which is continually boosted by 10 percent of its transfer tax revenues.

The Town will pay for the Great Pumpkin Festival this year, Botchie said, and will not seek contributions.

“We’ve been saving money for this,” specifically $79,000 collected from 5 percent of transfer tax revenues. “We’re in good shape, so thank you for doing that for the community,” Botchie told the council.

The Holiday Market cost has increased from $500 to $1,300, to pay for children’s activities and for church clean-up, as a thank you.

Engineering fees will increase, since “We still have many hours left to review our Town Code,” she said.

In other Millville news:

• The council gave nonconforming businesses a little wiggle room to expand, by unanimously passing Ordinance 15-02, which amended Town Code (Chapter 155, Article VIII, Section 155-37.A). This did not apply to Banks, Botchie noted.

Typically, no existing structure that is considered “nonconforming” may be altered without coming into conformity with code. However, within the C1-Commercial District, “any commercial use and structure which existed and was permitted on May 13, 1992, but is now nonconforming may be extended or enlarged on one occasion during its permitted nonconformity, provided that the extension or enlargement does not exceed 50 percent of the gross floor area existing on May 13, 1992.”

That might apply to any C1 structure that was already permitted by the County on May 13, 1992, when the Town’s first zoning ordinance was enacted.

This “allows a one-time expansion or right to expand, provided it’s no bigger than 50 percent of the area … and the extension can’t violate some other zoning, like the setback,” Thompson said.

So if the County had approved the building, the business can expand once and still be legally “non-conforming.”

“They’ll still be subject to the usual process, like submitting a site plan,” Thompson clarified for a resident.

• Councilmembers Susan Brewer, Robert “Bob” Gordon and Harry Kent were sworn in for two-year terms.

• Town council leadership positions were elected, but unchanged for 2015: Hocker remains mayor, while other leadership positions remain with Deputy Mayor Gordon, Treasurer Kent and Secretary Maneri.

The next regular Millville Town Council meeting is Tuesday, April 14, at 7 p.m.

Eric Bodenweiser, 56, of Georgetown pled no contest on March 18 to two counts of third-degree unlawful sexual contact in Sussex County Superior Court.

In 2012, while he was campaigning as a candidate for the Delaware state senate, a Sussex County grand jury indicted Bodenweiser on 113 total counts, including 39 counts of Unlawful Sexual Intercourse First Degree and 74 counts of Unlawful Sexual Contact Second Degree. Those charges were eventually reduced to 14 total counts, and for the jury deliberations, the charges were reduced again.

In June 2014, a mistrial was declared in the case following nearly two weeks of testimony. The crimes allegedly took place in October 1987 and August 1990 — starting, the alleged victim said, when he was 10 years old.

In the end, the jury had been tasked with deciding if Bodenweiser was innocent or guilty of 10 counts of first-degree unlawful sexual intercourse and five counts of second-degree unlawful sexual contact. The jury had the option of convicting Bodenweiser on third-degree unlawful sexual intercourse charges instead of first-degree. That lesser charge carries a two- to 25-year jail sentence instead of 20-years-to-life.

As a result of the plea on Wednesday morning, secured by Deputy Attorneys General David Hume and John Donahue, Bodenweiser will be classified as a sex offender.

“I’m glad that this has finally come to an end and I can finally move forward and get on with my life,” said the victim following the announcement of the plea.

Bodenweiser’s sentencing is scheduled to take place May 22, in Sussex County Superior Court. For each count of third-degree unlawful sexual contact, Bodenweiser could face one year of prison time and a $1,500 fine.

Bodenweiser’s attorney, Joe Hurley, could not be reached for comment by Coastal Point’s Wednesday news deadline.

Morning commute may be impacted by lane closures

The recent mandatory detours along Route 26 are almost over, as the current phase of the project is right on schedule to reopen the road by Tuesday, March 31.

Coastal Point • R. Chris Clark : Project Engineer Ken Cimino said earlier this week that the two road closures on Route 26 due to construction should be re-opened by the end of the month.Vehicles have followed a 24/7 detour through Millville and Ocean View since Jan. 5. Contractor George & Lynch closed the road in two spots (where it crosses water) to replace bridge culverts next to Millville Town Hall and Lord Baltimore Elementary School.

“Everything is moving along. The bridge in Millville, as of today, is ready to paved,” said Project Engineer Ken Cimino on Tuesday. The bridge in Ocean View, he said, “should be ready for paving early next week. We will be open by March 31.”

He denied rumors that the project is behind schedule, even with a snowy winter.

Some daily commuters have almost gotten used to the detour, while newcomers have gotten turned around, calculating whether their destination was “in or out” of the detour zone. Business owners are just counting down the time until the detour ends.

But, overall, the culverts held “No surprises. Everything just went along like clockwork,” Cimino said. “Once they got the sheet piling in, it was just like Legos” to install the pre-cast materials.

The work is part of the Delaware Department of Transportation’s 2.5-year road improvement project that will add a center turn lane and other improvements on Route 26 from Clarksville to Bethany Beach.

Morning lane closures are allowed

Although Route 26 will be fully accessible, lane closures have been extended into the morning commute.

As of March 16, lane closures are allowed 24 hours per day. For the next two months, DelDOT gave the project permission to close lanes Monday to Friday from 6 to 9 a.m.

Although flaggers could be directing traffic daily, currently George & Lynch is only closing lanes on weekdays, about 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“We are concentrating the work,” said Cimino, “to allow the contractor to work a little more continuously.”

Crews can get an early start each day, without having to backfill the entire section just for three hours of traffic.

Cimino said lanes of traffic that include school buses may get preferential treatment.

The traffic schedule will change again on May 15. During the summer season, DelDOT must maintain two lanes of traffic most of the time (except on weeknights).

Drivers “still might want to consider using the detour routes now that they’re familiar with them, especially while we’re out there in the mornings,” Cimino said.

Currently, flaggers allow alternating lanes of traffic through the work zone. Motorists should still anticipate lane closures on areas of Route 26:

• Between Irons Lane and Route 17 (installation of sanitary sewer force mains)

• Between Old Mill Road and Dukes Drive (installation of new drainage pipe/inlets)

• Between Woodland Avenue and West Avenue (test pit excavation for underground utility relocations)

• Between Old School Lane and Grants Avenue (installation of new drainage pipe/inlets).

“This push is to get out of the business district, so the businesses don’t have the same hardship this summer that they had last summer,” he said. “We’re trying to be more business-friendly.”

Many businesses, big and small, experienced lower sales in the past few months, he said. As public outreach coordinator, Cimino still meets with business owners and residents at their request. He’s heard plenty of frustration, he said, but aims to give people the correct information.

“I think everybody is just [thinking], ‘We’re gonna get through it, and you can see the light at the end of the tunnel.’”

This summer, he also plans to give weekly updates to local Realtors, “so it’s easier for our vacationers to get to Ocean View and Millville.”

Cimino personally responds to all questions and complaints regarding Route 26 construction. Residents and businesses can call (302) 616-2621 in Ocean View or join his weekly email list by contacting Kenneth.Cimino@aecom.com.

The Quiet Resorts Charitable Foundation (QRCF) announced this week that the fourth annual Bunny Palooza! will be held on Saturday, April 4, starting at 8:30 a.m., with the 10K run kicking off at 8:30 and the 5K run/walk at 9:30 a.m., both at Parkwood Avenue and Atlantic Avenue in downtown Bethany Beach, ending on the Bethany Beach boardwalk.

The runs will be chip-timed events by Races2Run and Nova, featuring real-time results posted on large-screen monitors. Bunny Palooza! features winners named in overall, runner-up, masters and age-group awards, and a post-race party at Mango’s, on the boardwalk and Garfield Parkway in Bethany Beach, with beer provided by 3rd Wave Brewing Company and music by D.J. Bump.

Finishers in the 10K will receive finisher medals. Runners who register by March 17 are guaranteed a technical shirt. Registration for the Bunny Palooza! 10K Run costs $40, while registration for the Bunny Palooza! 5K costs $30.

Online registration is open until April 1. Race packets may be picked up at Mango’s on April 3, from noon to 4 p.m.; on-site registration will be available if the race has not sold out. Registration for Bunny Palooza! as a participant can be done at Bunnypaloozarun.com.

“We are so excited to jump start the spring race season with this popular race for a great cause — the Quiet Resorts Charitable Foundation, or QRCF! This race is sure to sell out again this year, so I hope everyone registers early,” said Race Chair Brigit Taylor.

On race day, the public is also being invited to Palooza!Plaza, featuring family-friendly entertainment on the boardwalk before and during the race. Palooza!Plaza features D.J. Bump, face-painting and other surprises.

“Bunny Palooza! offers something for everyone. For runners and their families, visitors and residents, the festival-like atmosphere is sure to be entertaining,” said Taylor.

Proceeds from Bunny Palooza! 5K and 10K run benefit the individuals, groups, clubs and organizations that are served by the QRCF

“Events such as Bunny Palooza, our Hair of the Dog Run and Caribbean Christmas help us fund two $8,000 scholarships annually to local students and both major and minor grants to area non-profits. We are grateful for the extraordinary community support that helps us to do good work in the Quiet Resorts,” said QRCF President Steve Alexander.

“We have awarded more than $550,000 in our 14-year history. In fact, thus far in 2015, we have already granted $5,000 each to this past year’s major beneficiaries: South Coastal, Frankford, and Selbyville libraries, along with $1,000 to the Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company.”

“The QRCF is also excited to announce that we are currently accepting applications for our annual college scholarship program — an opportunity for an area senior to receive an $8,000 four-year scholarship commitment to help a worthy student get ahead in college, and a $1,000 arts scholarship to a local junior or graduating senior,” said Alexander.

For more information, local students can find more information or apply online at www.qrcf.org. The deadline for this year’s scholarships is April 8.

Bunny Palooza! is currently seeking volunteers; for more information, call (302) 537-QRCF (7723) or visit Bunnypaloozarun.com.

The QRCF thanked its our sponsors to date: Bethany Beach Books, Mango’s, Scott & Shuman, Jeff Baxter Mortgage Team, Steve Alexander, Evergreene Homes, Third Wave Brewing Company, Tidepool Toys, Coastal Point, Carl Freeman Foundation, Red Sapphire Consulting, Brandywine Senior Living, Tidewater Physical Therapy, ResortQuest, McDonalds Bethany Beach, Giant, D.J. Bump, DiFebo’s, Mio Fratello, Cottage Café, Bethany Blues, The Jetty Café, Sedona, Phillips Crab House, Bluecoast, Mind Body & Sole, Allison Stine, Pepsi, UPS Store, and Rehoboth Beach Sports.

Sponsorships for the event offer promotional opportunities for businesses and provide funds for QRCF grants and scholarships. Sponsorships are fully tax-deductible; a few opportunities are still available. Sponsorship and portions of the registration fees may be tax-deductible.

Fresh off the success of last year’s 25th anniversary event, the Ocean to Bay Bike Tour returns this April 17 and 18 with some new twists and turns for what has become a staple for local and regional cyclists.

Coastal Point • FILE PHOTO:
A pair of cyclists ride during the 16th annual Ocean-to-Bay Bike Tour.After making some improvements to the course last year, Race Director Lauren Weaver, event and member relations manager of the Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce, and Bethany Beach’s Coastal Spokes Club have added another rest stop to the 30-mile course, extending the track to 36 miles.

“[Coastal Spokes] changed up the whole course to make it more attractive for cyclists,” Weaver explained. “They switched up all the paths. Everyone’s really getting the most out of their experience.”

The longer track will now consist of a 27-mile opt-out, for those who choose to take it, and was designed to offer more scenic views.

“It’s really great. We have excellent marking, thanks to Coastal Spokes,” Weaver explained. “They do all the markings. It’s real clear, easy to follow. It’s looking out at Holt’s Landing, the Indian River Bay, Derrickson’s Creek [and] Hemp Hills.”

As always, the race will also feature 50-miler and metric-century courses, and proceeds will go to benefit the Quiet Resorts Charitable Foundation — an organization that provides financial aid, resources and other assistance in support of both local students and other programs.

“I think it’s really important for the future of our area,” said Weaver of supporting the QRCF. “There’s never a wrong investment when you invest in the future of education.”

With more than 1,500 cyclists already registered, Weaver predicted that 2015 will record the event’s best turnout to date.

“I think it’s gonna be the biggest one yet,” she said. “It’s always weather-contingent, but I really think we’ll get a great showing this year.”

Another new feature for this year’s PNC Bank-sponsored race will be the addition of a third rest stop, which will include favorites from local businesses, including McCabe’s, Birch Street Café and Capriotti’s. Each participant will even receive an official “Ocean to Bay Breeze,” fresh-concocted juice from One Coastal in Fenwick.

After the race, it’s on to the after-party, which will go to 3 p.m. and feature music from Monkey Paw Duo, featuring Adam Ask and Mike Gibbons. There will also be music provided by D.J. Paidrig at packet pickup, which will be held on Friday, April 17, from noon until 8 p.m. in the PNC Bank parking lot in Bethany Beach. For cyclists just getting into town, local shops, including Fenwick Islander and Bicycle Connection, will be at packet pickup to help with any last-minute cycling needs or equipment.

Registration is still open at
www.thequietresorts.com, and discounts are being offered for participants who sign up before April 1. Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Lauren Weaver at the Chamber (302) 539-2100. Local businesses that would like to be featured in this year’s race brochure, which will include discounts and offers to local restaurants and retail shops, can also contact Weaver to have their business included.

Racers and local businesses alike can also use the hashtag #oceantobay with all their race preparation photos, or weekend specials and offers for cyclists, whether it’s on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/The-Quiet-Resorts, on Twitter and Instagram @QuietResorts.

“A thing of beauty is a joy forever: It’s loveliness increases; it will never Pass into nothingness.”

Those are the words of the English poet John Keats, and the artists at Gallery One are inviting the public to visit the gallery to see how its artists have interpreted the theme “A Thing of Beauty.”

Five of the artists have chosen the beauty of the blossom as their theme for April.

Lesley McCaskill’s watercolor was inspired by a birthday bouquet she got from her sister. As the white lily buds opened, a pattern of dots of rich alizarin crimson was revealed on each petal. That was her inspiration for “A Gift, Speckles of Rose.”

Depicting flowers fresh from her summer garden and just dropped into an antique vase, Peggy Warfield painted the overflowing blossoms in a loose abstract style. She calls her acrylic painting “Garden Glories.”

Aubre Duncan saw an arrangement of hanging lanterns overflowing with colorful flowers and used that as the subject of her large watercolor, “A Delicate Balance.”

Both Pat Riordan and Dale Sheldon saw tulips and felt welcomed to spring after a long cold winter. Riordan’s “Tiptoe Through the Tulips” offers a soft watercolor background with a row of sprightly red-orange tulips. Sheldon’s canvas is filled with a variety of bobbing tulips. Her acrylic is titled “Spring Flowers.”

“If there were a beauty contest for fruit, pears would win hands down.” Two luscious green pears hang from a branch in Joyce Condry’s acrylic “Beauty Queens.” A view of the water and marshes at sunset from her parent’s home is Laura Hickman’s pastel “Sunset on White’s Creek.”

Venice is alive with beauty, according to Sonia Hunt. She loves the color of the sky, the color of the buildings and the canals with their bridges, reflections and ever present gondolas. Her pen-and-ink and watercolor is called “Venice.”

That is a sampling of the work to be seen this month at Gallery One. The public is being invited to view these pieces and more work by each of the gallery artists, as well as to visit the display of fine art by local artisans who specialize in pottery, jewelry, blown glass, weaving and wood artwork.

Gallery One is always staffed by one of the artists and is open daily, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit Gallery One’s website at www.galleryonede.com for more information and the opportunity to sign up for monthly e-blasts, or call the gallery at (302) 537-5055. The Gallery is located at 32 Atlantic Avenue (Route 26) in Ocean View.

Coastal Point • R. Chris Clark : Krista Carroll prepares for the spotlight at this weekend’­s IRHS?Variety Show.Teens are running the show at Indian River High School’s Variety Show, for one weekend only, March 27 and 28.

“We hope to continue to maintain that high level” of performance that the community is used to “and provide nice entertainment for the public,” said IRHS Music Director Nathan Mohler.

The musicians are getting creative, with a drum line, sax quartet and rocking Bruno Mars finale. There’s even an acoustic cover of Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy.”

The lineup ranges from music to stage routines, including a comedy game show. Musical renditions include a variety of genres: country (Aaron Lewis), R&B (Whitney Houston), pop rock (One Republic), Christian music and more.

Most of the acts have live accompaniment from a 27-piece pit band.

“We have a very good variety,” Mohler said.

The student performers also decided what they wanted to put on stage, choosing their own songs and acts.

“I’ve always felt, in the music world, a performer’s gonna get more out of it [based on] what they put in,” Mohler said. “If they’re doing what they want, they’re gonna care more about it… harbor that same passion and intensity.”

The lighting, sound and stage crews are all-student run, with just a parent to help oversee things.

“It is a student-run performance. You will not hear me,” Mohler said. “You are coming out to see the kids’ efforts.”

This year, Mohler moved the pit band onstage, so all performers will share the spotlight. He compared it to a talk show, where the audience sees the band the whole time. Adding fluidity to the show, the pit band will play performers off the stage as emcees announce the next act.

Two students are emceeing the whole show.

“[They’re] very colorful, energetic people, so they’re gonna do a great job,” Mohler said.

Tickets cost $5 per person. There are about two dozen acts.

“All that money goes to support the music program,” Mohler said. “I believe the music program provides a lot of opportunities to students who wouldn’t otherwise get them.”

One such opportunity is the annual band trip. More than 100 students will travel to Walt Disney World this April to march in a Magic Kingdom parade.

“We get to perform for someone other than friends and family,” expanding their audience to thousands of Disney visitors, Mohler said.

The IRHS Variety Show is Friday and Saturday, March 27 and 28, at 6:30 p.m. in the IRHS auditorium. (Doors open at 6 p.m.) IRHS is located at 29772 Armory Road in Dagsboro.

Grab a basket, as Selbyville is getting a jump-start on Easter egg hunting this year. Most of the local egg hunts will be on the Easter Bunny’s traditional big weekend, but Selbyville is starting early.

The free Selbyville Community Easter Egg Hunt will be held Saturday, March 28, at the public park on Park Street (across from the Selbyville Volunteer Fire Company’s fire hall).

Registration begins at 10 a.m. The hunt for children 5 or younger starts at 10:45 a.m. The hunt for children in grades 1 to 5 starts at 11 a.m.

This year’s hunt began with River Wesleyan Church, which invited partners and sponsors to help out.

“I feel like you can do so much more when you come together with other people … power in numbers,” said organizer Megan Bunting, director of the River Kids children’s ministry.

Children up to grade 5 will scavenge for 6,000 Easter eggs, which hold candy and special prizes, such as gift certificates for bowling or the movies.

Besides the hunt, children can enjoy face painting, crafts and free snacks, including doughnuts and popcorn.

Families can also check out a River Wesleyan skit about the original meaning of Easter, (although Bunting said no one is pressured, if they prefer a secul

ar experience).

“The library joined with us, which is really great. I wanted to do something for the kids that’s free and fun, and just bring some joy to the community,” she said. “We’ve had a lot of support from the community already.”

Bunting said she hopes the egg hunt becomes a town tradition that families look forward to each year.

Parking is available at the Selbyville Fire Hall, located across Main Street from the park. Organizers ask that minors be accompanied by an adult.

The rain date will be Saturday, April 4.

Next month, Ocean View will hold its annual municipal election, selecting someone to hold the District 4 council seat, which is currently held by Councilman Bob Lawless, who is term-limited. The election has four contenders, and Fairway Village resident Jon Debuchananne is one of the four who hope to win the seat.

“I was convinced by a bunch of people at the gym I go to,” said Debuchananne of his decision to run. “I have time, and I thought it would be interesting. I’ve got plenty of time… I thought, ‘Why not?’”

Debuchananne was born in Tennessee and grew up in Maryland, and has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education, as well as a degree in business.

He worked as mortgage banker for several banks over the years and moved to Ocean View four years ago.

“I had been here on vacation. It was a compromise of sorts. I wanted to go south, but I have family in Maryland, so I chose Ocean View,” he explained. “I love being away from the Washington, D.C., area. I love the pace of life and what it has to offer — the beach and the other amenities. It’s a nice, laidback place to retire and relax. It’s close enough to the Maryland area, where my children and grandchildren live.”

Having owned his own business for a number of years, as well as serving on a number of homeowners associations, Debuchananne said he has the background and experience to serve the town well.

He said that, if he is elected, he would focus on keeping Ocean View as it is.

“One of my pet peeves, in a way, is people leave a place, and, for example, come here. Then they want to change here into what they just left. I like it the way it is, so I’d like to keep it the way it is. Why try to change this back to what you just left?” he asked. “I moved here, as a lot of people do, because of the taxes. That’s one of the reasons why I want to keep it the way it is.”

Debuchananne said he would be happy to serve his neighbors as their new councilman just as much as he enjoys living in the town.

“I’ve met a lot of people. There’s a lot of different people from different backgrounds, and that makes it fun and interesting,” he said. “It’s great. I’m very happy.”

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

Just weeks before new flood maps were to be enacted in South Bethany, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has agreed to wind back the clock. FEMA has rescinded the “final determination” that previously raised the base flood elevation (BFE) for oceanfront homes in the town, at the Town’s urging and under pressure from Delaware’s Congressional delegation.

BFE is the elevation to which floodwaters are expected to rise during a 100-year flood. For years, Ocean Drive had a BFE of 12 feet. Houses had to be built starting no lower than that elevation or pay high flood-insurance premiums.

FEMA considered lowering several South Bethany zones (most notably Ocean Drive to VE-10) during a large-scale rewrite of Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) in August of 2013. However, a councilmember’s “inquiry” about the lightened restrictions caused FEMA to actually up the BFE, to 13 feet instead of 10.

Public outcry has encouraged FEMA to start the official process again.

“Right now, it’s going to be the 12-foot map in place until this process is resolved,” noted Town Solicitor D. Barrett Edwards IV.

“When the new Sussex County maps come out on March 16 … South Bethany’s maps are basically going to be unchanged. They’ll be the same maps they’ve had since 2005,” Edwards said.

Very soon thereafter, FEMA will issue a new proposed preliminary FIRM for South Bethany, which will likely include the unpopular September numbers.

Mounting an appeal

This spring, FEMA will also schedule a community outreach meeting for property owners.

“They’re going to meet with residents. They’re going to explain the changes. This is the chance for any resident to speak to FEMA,” Edwards said.

FEMA will publish two public notices about the maps in the local newspaper, and that’s an important milestone in the process.

“That starts the clock ticking on a 90-day appeal period,” Edwards said.

That marks the property owners’ chance to strike, “for any owner or lessee of real property within the community who believes their property rights to be adversely affected by the proposed determination,” FEMA officials wrote.

Appellants must get expert analysis to prove FEMA could measure the risk more accurately.

They will first submit appeals to the Town of South Bethany. The Town will then forward the appeal to FEMA but also itself “has the opportunity to weigh in and decide whether they think the appeal has merit,” Edwards said. “If the Town decides it’s ‘with merit,’ the Town has the power to file an appeal on behalf of the property owner.”

He requested that people not wait and submit their appeals on Day 89.

After FEMA resolves any appeals, it will issue a new Notice of Final Determination (as it did in September of 2014). Six months later, the new maps could be enacted (perhaps around summer of 2016, if everything proceeds smoothly, Edwards estimated).

However, FEMA experts may need months or even a year to study the appeals, which would stretch the timeline.

If people still aren’t happy, the matter could potentially go to a federal district court.

“Truthfully, I thought they were just going to tell us to pack sand, and it is what it is. … The fact that they gave us a 90-day window — it’s at least something. … Let the process run its course,” Edwards said. “The purpose of this process is to get the correct result. I don’t know if that’s 13, 10, 9 [feet].”

Mayor Pat Voveris noted that there are other changes, but Ocean Drive is the distinguishing characteristic on these maps.

Rumbling from Ocean Drive

Residents are still smarting from the fallout of Councilman George Junkin’s “inquiry” to FEMA, in which he wrote, “The Town of South Bethany has two concerns … that the oceanfront homes should be VE-12, not VE-10. The second is that an area at the south end just west of Ocean Dr. should be AO-2, not AE-7.”

He included photos of storm damage, elevation data and comments from Delaware Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Control.

However, the letter authored and sent by Junkin was not signed by the mayor, town engineer or an attorney.

Junkin is a proponent of storm-surge and sea-level-rise preparedness, which is why he asked about FEMA’s reasons for lowering the BFE. However, FEMA took that inquiry to be an appeal, and residents only read about the resulting increase in the Town newsletter.

“We were not involved in any way as property owners,” said Robin Greenhall, Ocean Drive resident. “We were not informed, to the best of my knowledge … until one of the residents stumbled upon the information.

“I don’t see where it was damaging to the Town in any way for the FEMA BFE to take effect. For property owners, it would mean flood insurance rates are lower,” Greenhall said.

Greenhall’s home was built in 2014, the top of her bottom floor resting at 13 feet, 2 inches. She said she wasn’t part of the decision to build above the 12-foot minimum.

“I just relied on the contractors and engineers to build our home,” she explained, stating that they had had constant discussions with the Town, DNREC and others involved. “There’s a lot of strict guidelines. I just left it up to the experts to work that out.”

But she’s still upset about losing that attractive VE-10 designation.

Even if houses are grandfathered in at their current height, homeowners can face a loss of potential insurance savings.

“There’s a big difference, being 3 feet above [BFE]. Otherwise it’s just 2 inches,” she said.

Plus, if she were buying a home, she would think twice about buying one that was technically built at less than FEMA requirements.

She also noted that Junkin did not encourage FEMA to consider the newly installed sand dunes.

Answering other questions about the issue, Voveris said flood insurance was increasing anyway, though South Bethany is working with FEMA and U.S. legislators to slightly ease that burden.

But as long as people build to the current code, she said, she didn’t see why they should pay exorbitant fees.

FEMA’s not supposed to be self-serving, but as an agency is charged with protecting people who live in vulnerable areas, Voveris said.

“We can appeal, and we can object … but they are the final determination,” Voveris said.

“We may have another storm and they’ll change it again,” she added. “Living on the ocean, it’s a privilege; but you run a huge risk.”

Some residents were upset that they could end up paying more, despite having relatively little damage, compared with more disaster-prone areas of the U.S.

“We have never replaced a board. We have never placed a claim,” said resident Susan Brune of Ocean Drive.

“You’re very lucky,” Voveris said.

But the higher the structure, the better, said bayside resident Joel Danshes.

“The changes FEMA’s proposing are actually good for the community, because it’s raising building standards, … so you’re not flooded in the event of an emergency. Is that right?” asked Danshes.

“That’s a matter of opinion,” Edwards said. “The higher a house is built, the less likely [it is] to have flooding, so that is a good thing, yes.”

Residents and property owners can visit www.southbethany.org/bboard to find a “FEMA Mapping Update.”

In other South Bethany news:

• The Charter & Ordinance Committee is taking a strict look at wood-burning fire pits. Discussion was to continue at the town council’s workshop on Thursday, March 26, at 5 p.m.

• At no cost to the Town, Delmarva Power has said it is willing to replace 12 streetlights around the Cat Hill area of town. However, council tabled discussion of the issue until they get a few more details, including potential costs of moving the lights closer to the road, away from house windows.

As the current lamps show a variety of styles, ages and levels of disrepair, Callaway called this a good chance for residents to test a new lamp style. The Community Enhancement Committee recommended a wrought-iron style, similar to that used in Rehoboth Beach.

With new LED bulbs, the cost could increase by about $5 per lamp, per month.

Gross wanted more details before voting, including exact costs, lamp design and overall community desires.

• The police department’s newest hire, Nathan Hudson, has already completed training and is on the road. Meanwhile, its other recent hire, Megan Loulou, has begun her training at the Delaware State Police Academy.

• South Bethany’s dunes were included as part of DNREC’s dune grass planting this year.

Two Sussex County Council members stopped to chat with the Shore Democrats on March 18. George Cole and Rob Arlett talked about development, as well as County services, at the group’s lunch meeting at NorthEast Seafood Kitchen in Ocean View.

• Some people were concerned about allowing new developments (including a proposed shopping center between Lewes and Milton) when, they said, adequate roads haven’t been laid to get there.

“We have a high-density agricultural zoning,” Cole said simply, which farmers fought to keep long ago.

“These are the four things I will look at in all decisions,” Arlett said denoting: property rights (“I believe if you own a property you should have a say.”); the current zoning designation; impact to the surrounding community and quality of life; and environmental impact.

• In economic development, the emphasis has been on housing, Cole said. He personally opposes “monster developments,” he said, citing Sea Colony, which he said hire a fleet of contractors from outside the area. He said he prefers single-family projects, where local plumbers and builders are hired. For instance, he said, he had approved of Salt Pond but opposed plenty of other developments.

As for new industrial parks, “We can’t dangle tax benefits, because we have the lowest tax rate east of the Mississippi … so it’s hard to get big companies to relocate” for benefits besides quality of life, good work force and community-college training, Cole said.

• “Public safety is our No. 1 role,” Arlett said.

There is no Sussex County police force, which Cole had voted against when the topic once arose. But the council augments the Delaware State Police budget by at least $2 million, for 44 additional troopers deployed across the county.

Perhaps the area needs more services, suggested moderator Ray Sander.

Then go pay for that, Cole said. Services can be purchased, such as additional security or waste disposal. Or tell the Delaware state legislators, he added.

“If we put more money on the table, could we get more troopers?” Sander asked.

“They are at additional staff now,” so if they need more, they haven’t asked, Cole said.

“Sussex County is very rural. You are not going to see police as much as we’re used to seeing them [where we relocated from],” Arlett said.

The DSP prioritizes calls. A robbery will always get immediate attention, but a smashed mailbox might take a few hours.

• Their views on alternative energy, such as the once-proposed offshore wind farm?

“The proposals to put windmills in the ocean — what a joke,” Cole said bluntly. “I think it was a way to make people feel good,” especially as oceanfront residents didn’t want to see turbines so-many-miles off the coast.

When he had asked if wind energy would reduce power rates, he heard that a small percentage of costs would be impacted, but building costs would outweigh that, he said.

It’s not a county issue, Arlett argued, but if the market demands it, alternative energy will be successful, he said.

“I’m a free-market guy,” Arlett said.

• In terms of poor Internet service and pricey propane, what can the county council do to encourage competition?

The County’s new fiber optic line is a start, Arlett said. When council asked how quickly neighboring areas would get access, they were given the same answer: “It all gets back to free market and demand.”

Cole quipped that one fiber-optics manager has a house in Bethany Beach, so he believes “It’s coming.”

• “I think that most people who work here can’t afford to live here,” another Shore Democrats member said.

“It has been that way for many years” in an area with such affluence and growth, Cole said. “I think there’s some very affordable housing … because the market has come down.”

Washington, D.C., is the same way, Arlett said. Plenty of people work inside the Beltway and travel to the suburbs. That’s a personal choice, too.

Meanwhile, western Sussex is still struggling with the economy more than the east, Arlett added. Jobs brought many people to the shore, and the County Council provides incentives for developers of affordable housing, such as increased density. But if a developer suggested a low-income community next to Salt Pond, for instance, Cole said, area residents would likely fight it.

• Any nonprofit applying for a council discretionary fund grant can send a letter to the council, they noted.

“There’s all these organizations that do a good job. The County doesn’t want to duplicate these services,” rather to supplement them, Cole said.

• Decrepit and condemned properties are a concern in many areas. Arlett said he liked giving the fire companies use of the structures, but he said state law only allows companies two planned burnings per year.

For further code enforcement, “The new constable is proactive,” Arlett said. “There are a lot more conversations about cleaning up.”

• One Shore Democrats member pointed out that, during council debate, a lawyer had verbally attacked Councilwoman Joan Deaver, which they found disturbing.

“I remember that,” Arlett said. “Joan would say, ‘I can take care of myself.’”

(“And she can,” others agreed.)

“But there needs to be a level of professionalism and respect,” Arlett emphasized.