Coastal Point • RUSLANA LAMBERT A pair of bikers make their way through Bethany Beach for bike week in Ocean City, Md. last week.

Local schools pass grade
Indian River School District students continued to pace state averages, according to results from the Delaware Department of Education (DEDOE), released last week.

Ocean View plans for financial future
Discussion turned on a potential loss of Real estate transfer tax revenue, at Ocean View’s first Long-Range Financial Planning Committee (LRFPC) meeting of the fiscal 2006 budget cycle, Sept. 20.

County proceeds on Western Sussex sewer study
Sussex County Council discussed a potential $500,000 contract for a Western Sussex sewer study at the Sept. 20 council meeting — specifically, the feasibility of a regional wastewater treatment facility.

Bethany forms group to address zoning
Members of the Bethany Beach Planning Commission at their Sept. 17 meeting officially approved the formation of an ad hoc committee to work on a proposed zoning overlay system for the town.

Ocean View looks at stormwater
The Ocean View Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Commission considered three sets of plans at the Sept. 15 P&Z meeting. While they all had their quirks, stormwater issues related to a fledgling subdivision at 49 Woodland Avenue proved the central topic for discussion.

PRD grandfathering clarified in Bethany
Bethany Beach Planning Commission members agreed Sept. 17 to clarify the rules governing grandfathering of planned residential developments (PRDs) on properties less than 50,000 square feet in area.

Changes in the water for Bethany Beach
There are changes in the water for Bethany Beach, and one of those changes is coming despite a less-than-enthusiastic reception from town officials.

The Agenda

Billboard plan dead in face of opposition
They didn’t have to bring in any extra seating, but the turnout of Fenwick Island-area residents in opposition to a billboard proposed near the town was apparently enough to influence the applicant: He signed in for the hearing before the Sussex County Board of Adjustments but left before his case was heard.

Event raises thousands for hurricane relief
Hundreds of local businesses came together in the last few weeks to raise funds for relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

SSA rep explains government benefits
Local Rep. Gerald Hocker (38th District) hosted Social Security Administration’s (SSA’s) Ben Shamburger for another “town hall meeting” on Sept. 15, in the brand new auditorium of the Indian River High School.

'Blueberry wars' spark over signage
The berries are sweet, but the competition for customers has apparently turned sourer than all the lemons in a large meringue pie.

Waiting-area bars get go-ahead in Bethany
Bethany Beach Town Council members in a close vote Sept. 16 elected to strike the so-called “sunsetting” provision of the town’s recent waiting-area bar allowance.

Fenwick to weigh docks, boat lifts again
On Friday, Sept. 23, at 2:30 p.m., the Fenwick Island Town Council will hold a public hearing in the town hall to receive testimony on a proposed amendment to the town code, Chapter 160 — Zoning, Paragraph 6-b, regulations for docks and boat lifts in canals.

A novel idea
The Dennis home, just off the beaten path at the north end of Dagsboro, is ship-shape top to bottom — the lawn looks like a putting green, the driveway is freshly seal-coated. And indoors, lady-of-the-house Joyce Taylor “J.T.” Dennis has created a warm, peaceful space, in natural tones and Native American-themed sculpture and objets d’art.

Still teaching
Maybe 13 grandchildren isn’t a record, but it’s enough to justify the Parler family ranch, southwest of Ocean View. And family matriarch Anne Hemenway-Parler has worked much of that love of life on the farm into her new book, “Jan Baer and the Mystery of the Silent Circus.”

Local resturateur ventures westward
Jerry Richard, famous for his Bethany-area Big Easy restaurant (and, more recently, Outrigger’s Seafood Grille, near Fenwick) is at it again. He’s joined forces with Dagsboro resident Mike Oxbrough, and together they’re transforming the former Crabby Bill’s establishment, at 698 Main St., in downtown Dagsboro.

Addicted to beauty
There are addicts walking the streets among us. Innocent–looking folks, they could be your neighbor, or teacher, or even your mother. But the chemical they’re addicted to isn’t something you drink, or smoke or snort. It’s far more insidious. The chemical they’re addicted to is the cornerstone of plant life. They’re the chlorophyll junkies.

Indians rally for win, lose coach and player
Anything can happen when a full moon is showing, and on the eve of the full moon on Sept. 16 Indian River scored 19 unanswered points to defeat Stephen Decatur in their home opener. Big plays, a prepared defense and a punishing ground attack squelched the Bayside perennial powerhouse, but it wasn’t without a cost.

Soccer team off to hot start
The Indian River soccer program continues to excel as they sprinted past Worcester Prep 4-1 on Sept. 15 and shut out Milford 4-0 on Sept. 20 to increase their record to 4-0.

Volleyball team spiking opponents
The Lady Indians varsity volleyball team has jumped out to a hot 3-0 record as the fall season begins now in earnest. In their third match of the season, Indian River hosted Delmarva Christian on Sept. 20 and started off slowly. They lost the first game 25-17 but went on to win the next three for the overall win.

Field hockey team off to rough start
Field Hockey at Indian River has had a slow start this year. They’ve had field concerns that postponed a match against Milford on Sept 13 and have since dropped two games in a row, to Tatnall and Cape Henlopen.

Triatholon ready to help terminally ill children
Nearly a thousand triathletes will converge on Sea Colony on Sept. 24 to compete in the 22nd Make-A-Wish triathlon to benefit terminally ill children.

The judge of the field
Field Hockey at Indian River has had a slow start this year. They’ve had field concerns that postponed a match against Milford on Sept 13 and have since dropped two games in a row, to Tatnall and Cape Henlopen.

Fishing Report
Tom from Cedar Creek Tackle has reported there are lots of throw-back flounder, some bluefish and small trout being caught around the Anchorage and Brown Shoal. A few nice keeper flounder have been caught near the Red Can off the Mohawk. Along the shore, off Slaughter Beach, they are catching some fair-size trout and bluefish.