The Coastal Point encourages the exchange of ideas. Letters to the editor must be signed by the author with phone number included for purposes of verification. Please send your letters to P.O. Box 1324, Ocean View, DE 19970.

Darin J. McCann

Somehow, the birds sounded pleasant on Monday. That awful chirping noise every morning that typically causes my eyes to itch and parts of my body to shrivel up more quickly than Burt Reynolds in a tanning bed actually sounded nice to me as I awoke to start my week.

For the first time in a while, the initial placement of my bare foot on the carpet did not strike the corner of my nightstand, and I managed to get through my entire morning shower without gratuitously slathering my eyeballs with soap or forgetting to hang a towel outside the shower door. I did not confuse my deodorant with my toothpaste in a foggy Monday morning haze and there was indeed enough Charmin to squeeze on the roll.

“Hot dog,” I mumbled to myself in a rare wave of Monday morning optimism. This was to be my day.

Was ...

See, somewhere in between putting on my shoes and finding where I tossed my briefcase in celebration Friday evening, the actual day of the year washed across my thinking cap. Yes, it was indeed the eighth day of the eighth month. Symbolism of the matching numbers aside, the significance that Aug. 8 held in my soul was enough to cause those cackling birds to upset my inner workings again, and forced me to grab hold of the kitchen counter to stave off dizziness.

It was my birthday.

Someone once asked me why I became so jaded with my birthday every year. It was a day to celebrate and enjoy, he said, much like we did as children. He then asked me how I had allowed myself to lose that joy in the anniversary of my birth that I had once so relished.

The better question, I retorted, was why were we so excited as kids to turn another year older?

I get the enthusiasm for receiving presents when we’re kids. Heck, I get excited over that now. However, why, when things were so relatively simple back then, were we in such a hurry to get older?

Looking back, I remember being anxious to become a teenager, to get my work permit, to secure a driver’s license, to get into “R” movies and to hit 21 so I could enjoy my Irish whiskey in a bar, rather than smuggling a bottle of my father’s Jameson’s out of the house under my Run DMC World Tour shirt. I guess, now that I’m older, I can relay a little story to you guys about the one time we grabbed one of the bottles we thought my father had marked, filled it back to the alleged mark with Coke after we had finished imbibing and ...

But I digress.

The point, assuming there really is one in this drivel, is that when we are young we aspire to taste the forbidden fruits of those more experienced. As we age, we simply hope the fruit does not rot as it becomes more experienced.

However, that “experience” word is one that gives me pause. For all the creakiness in my knees, the extra trips to the facilities at night and the odd joy I get at watching a child fall while running around like a crazy person on the boardwalk, I often get humbled when I consider the things I’ve experienced in my lifetime, as either a participant or spectator. And, to be honest, I look forward to the things I’m sure to experience in the coming years.

See, I have seen things in my lifetime. I have seen my heart fill with the glories of love, and break with the helplesness of love lost. I have seen my weight go up, my rear drop down and my hair take a complete (and I assure you, quite unexcused) leave of absence.

I have seen the United States win gold in hockey, two space shuttles silence a world with tragedy and towers crumble to the ground, leaving a nation of mourners surrounding their rubble. I have seen Johnny Carson laugh, my beloved Orioles win the World Series and Michael Jackson ... well, I’ve seen Michael Jackson.

I have seen the “police action” in Vietnam end, Iraqi troops driven out of Kuwait and young men and women go off to a controversial current war, armed with the same courage and bravery displayed for generations by our armed forces. I have seen the Pet Rock, Cabbage Patch dolls and pogs.

I have seen this community bond together for a cause like none other in my travels, families reunite on daytime television shows and a nation torn apart at election time, a period that should unite us in the elegant and basic beauty of democracy.

I have seen Elvis sing and Elvis die, John Lennon lift us with artistry and John Lennon sink us in despair with his murder and cheese come right out of a can. And I have seen the sun set over the bay.

I can’t wait to see what happens next.

The drug problem is here

For many living close to the beach, drug arrests are simply those little items in the police wraps in the community newspaper concerning anonymous people doing incomprehensible things.

Oh, every now and then the Governor’s Task Force (GTF) or state police will make an arrest close to home, but those are seen as isolated instances, and problems for other people to worry about. Local police, too, will make drug arrests, but they’re often seen as people from “out of the area” getting pulled over with drugs in their cars.

Ask the people in Frankford about local drug problems, however, and there will be a completely different answer.

In response to a steady (and possibly, growing) drug problem in the town, residents of Frankford held a meeting on Aug. 9 at the fire hall to discuss the problems and how the community can get together and help put an end to it.

Yes, the problem is in our community. And, no, it does not seem to be getting any better.

Residents spoke of a “riot-type” situation a few months back that required the state police to send a helicopter in an attempt to quell the crowd. They also spoke on how nobody would file a complaint when the situation calmed down — a phenomenon often seen in communities where residents are afraid of drug dealers or gangs.

What needs to be lauded in this situation is the effort by several prominent people in the town to put together a plan of action to take back control of their community, as well as the gestures of the GTF and state police by sending officers to the meeting to both gather information and answer questions.

Perhaps bordering towns should take a good look at this situation, and devise their own plans of action.

Association wants beach as a top priority
Editor:

We appreciate Coastal Point’s coverage of issues of importance to those of us living in the area and to those who visit our beaches and towns. Your last two issues reported on the beach replenishment project for Bethany and South Bethany. This issue is important for all who live, work, and play here. We must have beaches that are accessible and usable. Unfortunately, at high tides, that is not always the case. We need our beaches replenished as soon as possible. It’s good for our communities.

I am writing on behalf of the members of the Bethany Beach Landowners Association (BBLA). We commend the efforts of all those folks who are working on getting the monies needed to ensure the beaches are fully replenished, from the Congressional delegation, the governor and her staff and those at the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, the respective town councils and staff, Realtors and other businesses, and many individuals. But, we do not have the money yet and there are no guarantees that we will get the necessary funding. We need folks to get involved.

For those readers who want to help and have a computer, please go to the Town of Bethany Beach’s Web site at www.townofbethanybeach.com and go to the “Beach Replenishment Update.” Follow the prompts to send a letter to your senators and representatives. It is important to do it now because a joint committee will meet next month and they will decide whether to appropriate some of the funds needed for this project. Please don’t put this off. If you need assistance, wish to help or have any questions, we are happy to respond. Just contact me at bbla@Bethany-Beach.net.                     

Please keep up the good work in keeping all of us informed about the beach replenishment project and other issues that affect every one of us.

Paul Denault, president
Bethany Beach Landowners Association

County council members should resign
Editor:

Last week your reporter Sam Harvey wrote an article on the latest meeting of the Sussex County Council. In his news report, Mr. Harvey indicated that the council gave $100,000 to fund a basketball tournament. And whom did the council bestow these precious taxpayer funds to? None other than Rich Collins — yes, the same Rich Collins that runs a secret organization known as the Positive Growth Alliance (PGA). Mr. Collins refers to anyone who opposed rampant development as “socialists.” The PGA opposes government intervention as “unconstitutional” when government attempts to prevent pollution. The PGA claims to be the last bastion of free market capitalism. Yet, Mr. Collins runs hat in hand to the County Council, and cashes in his chips for $100,000.

We all know that the PGA has a vice grip on the members of the council, but this brazen gift from “Boss” Dukes and company represents repayment of years of financial support from PGA members to elected officials in Sussex County. The five members of the council should be forced by the citizens of Sussex to resign in disgrace. The $100,000 gift to Mr. Collins would better have been used to support the infrastructure needs of the citizens of Sussex. Council members thumb their noses at the voters with gerrymandered districts and poke them in the eye with sweetheart gifts to their most loyal supporters.

Mr. Collins should have passed the hat to his wealthy developers and land barons. Each of the 400-plus members of his private pro-pollution club could easily have written a check for a modest $250 to Mr. Collins’ basketball tournament. The PGA is sponsoring a lavish fundraising golf tournament at Baywood Golf and Country Club in September. Mr. Collins boasts that contributors to his golf junket will have time to meet with “movers and shakers” in the political structure of Sussex County. Those funds will go into the PGA’s war chest to buy votes and suppress the truth.

The cycle of corruption begins with PGA members making campaign contributions to elected officials. Those officials then sit in judgment of large new developments with no infrastructure to support the expansive growth in Sussex. The cycle continues with developers and contractors buying goods and services from interest owned by those same elected officials. Is this a third world dictatorship?

The next time you are in desperate need of government services, don’t call the town, county or state agency. Call Rich Collins (302-644-3579) at the PGA. If he is not available, ask for Tony Soprano.

Dennis P. Cleary
Bethany Beach

Local boy scouts thank those who helped
Editor:

Members of Boy Scout Troop 281 from Ocean View have successfully completed a 50 mile canoe/hike trek on the Upper Delaware River in New York state. We would like to thank Camp Barnes for the use of the camp last fall for a warm-up trip. We would also like to thank Edwin Lieb of Downingtown, Penn. for help with transportation in the spring and Mary and Willie Cannon, Bill and Donna Lord, Dale and Kelly Lozier and Steve and Jan Seitz for lending us canoes for several weeks. All had a fun and wet time.

Kenneth A. Lieb
Outdoors Chairman
Troop 281, Ocean View

Sussex Democrats thanked for donation
Editor:

I am writing to express appreciation to the Sussex County Democratic Party for donating a computer to the West Rehoboth Community Land Trust, to help me with managing the trust’s projects, which are intended to help preserve affordable housing in West Rehoboth, and to improve the quality of life of the community’s residents. West Rehoboth is a low-income community surrounded by high-priced developments that threaten to disrupt the community and force out long-time residents.

The computer was provided by Ms. Lynne Betts of Seaford, who is vice chair of the Sussex County Democratic Committee. Mr. Robert Horner, of the computer services company ABM Computing, donated his time to inspect and recondition the computer.

I would like to encourage other people who may have used computer equipment that is in good condition — or that can be reconditioned at reasonable cost — to consider donating that equipment to people and organizations that can use it.

Shirley Paynter
Rehoboth