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Coastal Point Viewpoint 2005.09.02

Second season arrives
September is here again, and residents around the Sussex coast can again collectively exhale, having survived the stress of another summer season. More and more so every year, however, locals are likely taking another deep breath at the end of that exhalation — as they get ready for round two.

Water and sewer get the vote
The Selbyville electorate, in a referendum Wednesday, Aug. 31, authorized town officials to borrow $2 million for sewer and water distribution projects.

Greyhound leaves town
Bethany Beach residents Monte and Cheryl Wisbrock were for many years the local contacts for Greyhound bus tickets in “downtown” Bethany Beach. They gave it up when they moved their business (Bethany & Resort Rental Service) to the Hickman Beach Plaza, just south of town.

Fenwick Island council to settle lawsuit
The Fenwick Island Town Council Friday, Aug. 26, voted to allow its insurance carrier, Scottsdale Insurance Company, to resolve the lawsuit brought by former police Maj. William Manning against the town and council members past and present.

Smith looking to keep Frankford rolling
Duncan Smith will be taking over for retiring Principal Sharon Brittingham at Frankford Elementary School this year, and he recognized his predecessors for their efforts.

Dagsboro diverts development
Dagsboro Town Council voted unanimously, in consecutive motions, to send two potential residential housing projects back to the drawing board for refinement at the Aug. 26 town council meeting.

Hocker draws a good crowd for coffee
Hocker’s Deli — not the place one might expect to find a rather substantial public meeting, but more than 30 area residents turned out for an Aug. 31 meet-your-legislator forum, hosted by Rep. Gerald Hocker (38th District).

The Agenda

Shoulder season arrives
Labor Day marks the beginning of between time bridging one summer and the next. The Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce hopes to convince out-of-towners that the September-to-May spell is not the ‘off-season.’ Rather, the chamber wants potential visitors to take the business community’s word for it: ‘shoulder.’

Sussex runners support cancer research
Local members of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training celebrated completed preparations for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half-Marathon with a kickoff party on Aug. 26.

Local gallery features Bishopville artist
Constance “Tinsel” Hughes will hold a one-woman exhibit this weekend at the Beach Cottage, Route 26 in Ocean View (83 Atlantic Ave). She specializes in local landscapes and seascapes in a traditional, realist style.

Bethany marks 20 years for Jazz funeral
Off to the beach! This trip will be to one of the great Delaware State Parks. It is close at hand (see “How do we get there” for details); only a few minutes drive south of Bethany Beach.

The Daytripper: Discovering the sea
On this trip, we are going to visit an interesting museum. It is close to home, so easy on the gas tank, pocket book (free!), and driving time. We will head south along the Coastal Highway to Fenwick Island. The museum is located in a slightly unlikely spot above Sea Shell City in Fenwick Island — the Discoveries From The Sea Museum.

Ocean View CHEER opening draws crowd
The Aug. 25 ribbon-cutting at the CHEER Coastal Leisure Center was bittersweet, as perhaps all important things are. The Mason-Dixon Post 7234 (Veterans of Foreign Wars) Color Guard hoisted the flag — the first time it had flown over the new center, on Cedar Neck Road, north of Ocean View.

Fenwick moves forward on makeover
As sand continues pumping into Fenwick Island’s beaches, the town’s streetscape has been chosen for a green makeover. The town council passed a motion Friday, Aug. 26, to approve the twofold Living Fence Project.

Capturing Bethany
The history of Bethany Beach’s topographical transformation — from sand erosion to housing explosions — may have yet to be written; however, it already has been rendered. Local artist Laura Hickman has been transposing the metamorphosis onto paper for decades.

Homebuilders land in Dagsboro
Centex Homes, one of the largest homebuilding companies in the United States, has established a new point of contact on the eastern shore — in downtown Dagsboro.

Fall gardening
Dr. William Ullman treated coastal Sussex residents to a primer on hydrology at the University of Delaware’s College of Marine Studies (CMS) on Aug. 18, with a topic perhaps especially relevant to officials moving toward final draft on sweeping new statewide water pollution regulations.

New Indians quarterback on a mission
Indian River’s three-headed fullback rotation will ensure that opposing linebackers are getting battered every play and, to counter the power game, Bunting has two speedy tailbacks to keep the defense on their heels.

Lattanzi a softball immortal
Millville resident Bob Lattanzi isn’t an average Joe. He’s competed and placed in a number of Senior Olympic Games since retiring, built his own home with the help of his eldest son, Robert Jr., laced Yankee great Whitey Ford for two hits in an army game overseas after World War II, hit two home runs off softball pitching legend Eddie Feigner and, almost a year ago to the day, was inducted into the Bristol Borough, Penn. Softball Hall of Fame.

Pop Warner teams ready for action
Who’s ready for some Pop Warner football? There are about 30 7-to-9-year-olds that have been waiting their entire lives to play organized football, and Sept. 3 will be their first chance as the Lower Sussex Pop Warner League kicks into high gear.

For the love of the game
On a warm Aug. 29 morning, 18 guys met on the old Indian River High School softball field for a little competitive play. Their intentions were to play seven full innings, but they cut the game short to five due to the heat as the Cherrystones cracked the Quahogs 11-8 for the victory in their over-70 softball league.