Coastal Point • SUSAN LYONS Makes you happy to be here, doesn't it?

Coastal Point Viewpoint 2005|09|30

LB students might see delayed move
Lord Baltimore Elementary School Students have taken up residence at the recently renamed John M. Clayton School (JMC) this year, while construction crews complete an extensive renovation project at Lord Baltimore.

South Bethany passes referendum
The results are in, and residents of South Bethany overwhelmingly supported council’s request for permission to spend up to $970,000 for a new police station and town hall. Turnout was light — much lighter than what the town typically sees for general elections, but Town Clerk Dee Burbage said they had mailed out 186 absentee ballots, and 173 came back. Another 104 people showed up at town hall to vote on Sept. 24, bringing the total to 277.

FIPD continues efforts for Gulf Coast region
When Jason Bergman returned to his regular duties with the Fenwick Island Police Department last week, he had a surprise waiting for him.

Ocean View studies radio towers
Someone is raising a 50-foot-tall ham radio tower in Ocean View, less than a block away from town hall. But while some of the neighbors have expressed concerns about its appearance, not even town hall has much say in governing amateur radio operators.

Ocean View designs business district
The Ocean View Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Commission has started work on what will eventually become a design template for the newly rezoned business district along Route 26.

County denies massive project
Sussex County Council President Finley Jones pegged it as the biggest project to appear before council since Americana Bayside, back in early 2001. Supporters waited in suspense as the Isaacs Glen project — nearly 1,600 townhouses and assisted living apartments, plus retail and office space, near Milton — came down to Jones for the tiebreaker, at the Sept. 27 council meeting.

Mixed reception for multi-family projects
Despite concessions made by applicants Gregory and Patricia White, members of the Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) voiced concerns about their proposed four-home multi-family project near St. George’s Church at Omar Road.

The Agenda

Annual fall surf-fishing tourney nears
Anglers have just a few more days to register for the Annual Fall Surf-fishing Tournament sponsored by the Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce at early-bird rates.

Fall golf tourney nearly sold out
Local golfers are already taking a swing at the rare opportunity to play the only tournament set at the brand new Bayside Resort Golf Club in its inaugural year.

Townhouse project gets preliminary approval
Dagsboro Town Council sent a controversial, 470-unit, medium-density residential project (General’s Green) back to the drawing board last month. At this month’s council meeting, Sept. 28, they waved a 318-unit, high-density townhouse project through preliminary site plan review with barely a comment from the residents.

Sierra Club tours Assawoman Canal
About a dozen kayakers and a couple canoeists, Sierra Club members and guests, toured the Assawoman Canal on Sept. 25, for what may be one of the last trips down the canopied waterway, as it exists today. Several days earlier, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) had marked trees for clearing, in preparation for the long-anticipated dredging project that will open the canal to a larger boating public — but, from some viewpoints, diminish its attractiveness to paddlers.

It's all business in Fenwick Island
It was a topsy-turvy day for those used to the normal flow of an agenda for the Fenwick Island Town Council. Mayor Peter Frederick turned the usual order of things on its head, starting off a new council initiative that emphasizes the performance of the town’s business in view of the public.

Fenwick rejects more docks, boat lifts
The people spoke, and the Fenwick Island Town Council listened, voting 5-1 not to expand allowances for docks and boat lifts on the town’s canals at their Sept. 23 meeting.

Fenwick Island codifies apartment rule
Fenwick Island’s town council accepted a series of amendments to the town code Sept. 23, codifying what has been standard practice as regards the building and operation of apartments in the town’s commercial district.

PSC forecasts Artesian rate shakeout
The state Public Service Commission (PSC) is still working through a fine detail or two, still determining how much revenue growth is fair, how much is too much, for public utility Artesian Water.

Top Cop
Ocean View Police Chief Kenneth McLaughlin recently earned Delaware League of Local Governments (DLLG) recognition, at an annual awards ceremony on Sept. 18.

Estate Planning
Local builder Dave Elechko has a sizable chunk of land near Clarksville — 15 acres or so. However, unlike many residential projects around Sussex County, Elechko’s Iris Cove will comprise two or three homes (one being his own, existing home), with possibly an additional one or two down the road.

Indians throttle Washington, 37-0
The Indian River varsity football team massacred Washington High School’s team 37-0 on Sept. 23 in a mercy-rule effort. The Indians scored early and often, and dominated both sides of the lines of scrimmage. The team was even able to make wholesale changes in the second half to get its reserves some varsity playing time.

Lady Indians come up blank again
On Tuesday, Sept. 27, the 3-2 Lady Indians volleyball team hosted the 1-4 Lady Senators of Dover in what would turn out to be Indian River’s third loss of the season, with a score of 3-1.

Central takes junior varsity battle
Sussex Central’s junior varsity football team earned the cross-town bragging rights after beating Indian River 32-6 on Sept. 19.

Shutout keeps Indians undefeated
When Sussex Central traveled to Indian River on Sept. 27, a familiar school rivalry heated up. The Indians, coming into the game, had a perfect record of 4-0 and looked to advance that record on the 1-1 Golden Knights.