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

We’ve lost one of our own. And that’s never easy.

Beth Long, our office manager and one of the original six employees of the Coastal Point, has decided to step back from the hectic pace of newspaper land and step into the life of leisure with her husband and new grandchild (I’m certain her son and daughter-in-law fit in there somewhere and, to be honest, I never really heard her mention her husband at all. But I do know she wants to hang out with that beautiful granddaughter of hers ... and she really likes her dog.)

Regardless, the void Beth leaves behind is not easily measured by numbers or work that must be managed. No, no, it is a legacy of dealing with people, and her innate ability to hit just the right buttons when faced with all extremes of the human condition, that is not easily replaced.

For instance, allow me to go over one of my most fond memories of an interaction I once had with Beth:

“Hey, whatsyourname,” I began, with my standard measure of professionalism and class. “Do you mind not clipping your toenails at the front desk? Do you realize that’s the first thing people see when they come in to conduct business at our paper?”

And then, yes, I remember as if it were yesterday, she looked at me with those big eyes, dropped the pair of scissors she was using on aforementioned toenails, and spoke to me in her confident, calming manner.

“Bite me,” she said, and continued about her business as if she didn’t have a care in the world.

Good times, indeed.

Actually, that might not have happened at all. I sometimes drift off into these strange little episodes where things that didn’t really occur did in my mind, and things that actually transpired only a few short moments before ...

But I digress.

Where were we? Oh yes, Beth. How does one label one who brought so much to the table? One moment she’s handling circulation issues, the next minute she’s doing orders for office supplies, then she’s nodding her head when in conversation with Susan Argo, acting like she’s genuinely interested in something Argo had to say.

It was a constant juggling act with Beth for the past year-and-a-half, from keeping the office running smoothly to politely informing Susan Lyons that the car keys she had been tearing apart the office in search of were in her hand.

She is a true Rennaisance woman.

Now, we’re extremely pleased that Monica Fleming, previously our expert in charge of our Web site, will be filling Beth’s shoes. Monica is smart, organized and liked by everyone in the office. We’re also blessed to have Jane Johnson on board now, handling the strenuous duties of our classified pages.

But who, I submit, is going to fill my personal loss? Who is going to be able to listen to me complain about governmental decisions, the woeful summer performance of my Baltimore Orioles and the strange scales growing on my upper back?

I seriously doubt Jane will. And I’m pretty sure Monica would throw a stapler at me if I started.

Why doesn’t anybody think about the impact on me when they make these decisions? How did her family take precedence over me?

Oh. Right.

When considering her decision, I guess she’s doing what’s best for her and her family. I mean, as the first recipient of the Coastal Point retirement plan, Beth walks out of here with four thumbtacks, two cups of ice and a “Kick Me” sign, courtesy of Shaun Lambert, who never tires of sticking one on the back of Sam Harvey before he goes off to town council meetings.

Who could pass up those fortunes?

Well, I guess Beth couldn’t, and I guess I wish her well in her new adventures in life. Actually, I wish Beth many things in this new chapter of her biography:

I wish her many more conversations with Carolyn Fitz on a personal level, because I always got a kick out of seeing those two share a joke — even if it was inevitably about me.

I wish her hours of holding her granddaughter, and hours of holding her husband, Dave, after too many Maker’s Marks when he’s out with me talking about the stupid Orioles.

I wish her no more allergy problems. This is your time, Beth. You shouldn’t have to put up with that garbage anymore.

I wish her a private consultation with her hero, Dr. Phil, and an evening of enjoying her beloved Eagles finally win a Super Bowl (Note: Just one evening. I do have my breaking point.)

I wish her continued friendship with our editor, because he’s sure going to miss her.

Jazz Funeral a true blast

With Labor Day weekend comes Labor Day tradition, and there might be no greater spectacle in this community throughout the course of the year than the Bethany Beach Jazz Funeral.

For those unaware of the celebration, it is a time-honored tradition in Bethany Beach for residents and visitors to congregate on the town’s boardwalk and pay homage to the outgoing summer. The event carries the air of a traditional New Orleans jazz funeral with colorful costumes and festive music, and the participants do not necessarily “mourn” the passing of the recent summer as much as they celebrate all the good it brought.

A mock casket carrying the spirit of the summer is paraded through the crowd while onlookers let loose with their appreciation for what the season did for businesses, fun and the general quality of life for all who enjoy this community.

It’s fun.

Of course, no Bethany Beach Jazz Funeral would be complete without the town’s lifeguards celebrating their recent summer by collectively jumping into the ocean together one last time, in various levels of attire — or, lack thereof, on occasion.

The entire event is silly, ludicrous and outrageously goofy. For a town with the cultural make-up of Bethany Beach to host such an event is an oddity in itself.

However, once again, it is great fun, and a terrific way to both blow off the steam from a busy season and enjoy one last hoorah at the beach.

We encourage everyone in the area to take part in this annual event, and help make it one that will forever be part of our landscape. Like the Fourth of July parade, it is an event for the people and unique to this community.

Town council should consider history
Editor:

On Tuesday, Sept. 6, the Ocean View Town Council will consider what to do with the “Shores” house located on property at 39 Central Ave. One possibility being considered is to raze the house and replace it with a maintenance warehouse for town vehicles and heavy equipment.

This property contains a structure with historic/intrinsic value to the town. In addition, the structure is in keeping with the residential character of most of the properties located on northern Central Avenue. A maintenance facility is not suited to a residential district and seems to conflict with current Residential zoning. Further, the existence of such a facility in the midst of the Residential District may send a message to commercial interests that zoning within the Residential District is negotiable. Finally, storing its trucks, mowers and snow removal equipment next door to private homes flies in the face of those who are making the effort to operate within the town’s code.

We believe that there are alternative sites available for the warehouse and more suitable public uses can be found for the Shore’s house. For example, what about a town museum or information center? With the demise of the last chicken coop in Ocean View there are no visible hints of the town’s contribution to the nation’s agri-business. Do the folks in the cars that back–up every weekend have any idea? Do they know why Central Avenue is so narrow? Other reminders of the town’s origins — its turn of the century homes — are also quickly being lost to development.

It is not too late to preserve the history and character of Ocean View. Preserving the remaining structures and the integrity of the Residential District are first steps.

John and Ginger Hill
Ocean View

FIBP thanks community for support in efforts
Editor:

On behalf of the Fenwick Island Beach Patrol (FIBP), we would like to thank all the Fenwick businesses and individuals that graciously helped sponsor our competition team for the USLA National Lifeguard Championships in Virginia Beach, Va.

There were over 500 competitors from the United States — including Hawaii, Canada and Australia — competing in a variety of running, swimming, paddling and rowing events over a two-day period.

The Fenwick Island 4x100 soft sand relay team of Matt Lewis, Ben Gichner, Andrew Majewski and Brent Hardie had an excellent showing.

Against the best teams in the country, the FIBP blew away the competition in the preliminary round placing first and advancing to the finals. Ultimately, the FIBP placed fourth out of 42 teams and helped the Sussex County Lifesaving Association secure third place overall in team competition. Capt. Tim Ferry brought home another gold medal, winning the Master’s Beach Flags and advanced to the last round of semifinals in Open Division Beach flags.

These young men definitely represented the town of Fenwick in outstanding fashion and the generous donations made by the Fenwick community made it happen. These competitions are a way to showcase the physical skills needed every day as part of being an ocean lifeguard, and we will continue to give the town of Fenwick the professional service they have come to expect.

Capt. Tim Ferry
Matt Lewis
Ben Gichner
Andrew Majewski
Brent Hardie

Community gathering items for troops
Editor:

It is that time again — we in Bethany and the surrounding area are gathering items for our troops — 16-ounce water bottles, phone cards, small cans of meat and fruits, nuts, gum, hard candies, packages of crackers (peanut butter/cheese), all sorts of toiletries, deodorant, shampoo, soap, foot powder, sunscreen, lip balm, disposable cameras, disposable razors, insect repellant, shower shoes, Kleenex, note books, pens, pencils, small toys (to be given to the Iraqi children), handheld games, etc.

Father David Kelly has again given us space in the Father Masterson Center, St. Ann Church. Please leave phone cards with Jeannie Fleming or at the rectory office.

Keep our troops in your daily prayers. Bless them for their sacrifices, may they return home safely.

G. L. Vanderman (Gigi)
Bethany Beach

Founding member of Point calls it a career
Editor:

I would like to express my gratitude to Susan and Darin for the amazing journey I’ve been allowed to share these past 20 months. You’ve accomplished something pretty incredible and I’m thankful to have played a small part.

Susan, I can’t imagine a better boss. You wear an impossible number of hats, and wear them well. Darin, you’ve challenged me to think outside my comfort zone. You’re an amazing human being and I’m privileged to have gotten to know you.

I’ve gotten to know some incredibly talented people during my time with the paper, people I will like and respect forever. I have met so many wonderful people, stretched myself in ways I wouldn’t have thought possible and learned much about the newspaper business.

I have especially enjoyed the laughter — what a great group of people you’ve chosen to surround you. I wish the very best that life has to offer to all of you and much continued success with a great “community” newspaper.

Beth Long
Ocean View

Lions Club thankful for support with dinner
Editor:

The members of the Lord Baltimore Lions Club wish to thank the residents of the community and visitors who attended our Fried Chicken Dinner on Saturday, Aug. 13 at the Millville Fire Hall.

As you all remember, this was not a very pleasant day due to heat in excess of 100 degrees. Even with the bad weather, over 930 people attended and supported this Lions Club fund-raiser.

All monies raised through this effort is returned to our community, district and International projects such as programs for the visually impaired, scholarships for our local high school students, loans of medical equipment free of charge, support of local Girl & Boys Scouts Troops, Senior Citizens, eye examinations and screening for students in our elementary schools and many more. None of this money is used for our administrative obligations.

We also thank the Millville Fire Company for their continued support and cooperation. They, like us, are all volunteers and we appreciate their efforts and friendship.

Again, thank you all.

Bill Scott, Chairman
Fried Chicken Dinner Committee
Lord Baltimore Lions Club