Coastal Point • JOHN DENNY As the leaves at this Selbyville home show, fall is now upon us.

Coastal Point Viewpoint 2005|11|04

Sierra Club contests canal go-ahead
It’s been nearly four months since Gov. Ruth Ann Minner put her signature to the fiscal 2006 Bond Bill, and in so doing, cleared the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) to move forward with dredging the Assawoman Canal.

Council expresses concern over possible loss
At the Nov. 1 town council meeting, Ocean View Town Manager Kathy Roth reported from her attendance at an Oct. 31 Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) taskforce meeting, saying she found the meeting “not real encouraging” regarding the department’s financial crunch and its impact on municipalities.

Your Town meeting set for November 4 in Fenwick
Fenwick Island Town Council Member Chris Clark and other organizers of the planned Nov. 4 Your Town follow-up meeting are hoping the second edition of the program will bring together residents, officials and interest groups from around Sussex County so a wide range of viewpoints can eventually be incorporated in the county’s next comprehensive development plan (due in 2007).

Grassroots politicos consider anti-sprawl
When two top-level state officials pay a visit to a grassroots political group in Sussex County, there’s probably something important on the agenda.

State updates Clear Zone legislation
The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) is cracking down on illegal signs placed in the medians and rights-of-way of the state’s roads under a revised version of the existing “Clear Zone” law.

County approves sewer for Millville area development
Members of the Sussex County Council unanimously approved provision of sanitary sewer for an 89-lot residential subdivision called White Creek Landing at their Nov. 1 meeting, after preliminary approvals in mid-July and Aug. 1, and on the recommendation of the county’s engineering department.

Ocean View considers new post office location plans
Ocean View Mayor Gary Meredith added a last-minute item to the Nov. 1 town council agenda, noting that he had received an unusual amount of correspondence, telephone calls and in-person comments regarding the town’s preferred location for a new post office.

The Agenda

Ocean View mulls speed-limit changes
Ocean View officials are considering reworking the town’s speed limits after receiving a request from home owners in the Village at Bear Trap Dunes to raise the speed limit in that development from 15 mph to 20 mph.

Town officials consider $4 million loan
Ocean View officials have made the first step needed to approve borrowing up to $4 million for the town’s planned new police station. At their Nov. 1 meeting, town council members held a first reading of the ordinance that would allow the loan amount — an increase from the $3 million originally considered.

Fenwick wrangles with setback wording
Fenwick Island’s recent tussle in the courts over its front yard setback requirements was behind an ordinance change proposed with a first reading at the town council’s Oct. 28 meeting.

Beach construction project nears finish
An initial delay of several weeks on the start of Fenwick Island’s beach reconstruction project may have worked to the town’s favor. Sand lost in the recent nor’easter might just get put back in place before the project is complete.

Fishing tourney supports youth and area
Is big-purse tournament fishing establishing a foothold along the Sussex coast?

Today & Tomorrow forecasts county trends
Entrepreneurs and employees, political leaders and policy-makers, average Joes and Josephines gathered at Delaware Technical & Community College (DTCC), Owens Campus, on Oct. 26 for the 12th annual Sussex County Today & Tomorrow Conference.

Popular New Year's event set to return to Fenwick
After a roaring success with the inaugural edition of the Fenwick Freeze New Year’s ocean plunge, members of the town’s Beach Committee are already planning the second annual event, with a theme of “Dive Into 2006.”

Fenwick gets serious about flooding woes
In the wake of severe tidal flooding caused by the recent nor’easter, the Fenwick Island Town Council voted unanimously (5-0, with Mayor Peter Frederick and Council Member Martha Keller absent) Oct. 28 to put a focus on the town’s flooding problems.

Water treatment en route to Dagsboro
Dagsboro town residents might be able to drink their tap water sooner than originally estimated, according to Millsboro Town Manager Faye Lingo.

Firefighters install officers for year
The Sussex County Volunteer Firemen’s Association (SCFA) held its seventh annual joint installation dinner on Oct. 25, establishing leadership for the SCFA and three affiliated fire services and bidding President Rich Toulson happy trails.

Professor markets coastal classics
Alex Isherwood has probably instructed a few high-pressure salespeople in his day, but there isn’t so much as a hint of the hard sell around his new venture in Ocean View.

Indians win conference
The Indian River High School soccer team is the new Henlopen champions, after defeating Milford 2-1 on Nov. 1.

Indians drop first of season to rival
Better lose now than later, said Indian River offensive/defensive interior lineman Phillip Townsend. Indeed, the football team lost their first game of the season, 21-9, against county rival Sussex Central on Oct. 28. The closely contested game hinged on each play, possession and, eventually, turnovers.

Volleyball team wins south, falls to CR
Indian River’s head volleyball coach, Jess Dodd, set high goals for his team this year, and they’ve achieved. They won the Southern Division in its first year of existence and improved upon last year’s losing season to notch a 11-7 record.

Lady Indians bounce back from loss
In a dash toward the finish line, the Lady Indians field hockey team lost a pivotal 6-3 game to Southern Division rival Seaford on Oct. 27 but rebounded to win their next two. That extended their record to 9-5-1 going into their season finale against Dover on Nov. 3 — a game that could determine their state tournament hopes.

Continuity breeds success
Achieving continuity on the football field isn’t an easy task — 11 players start on each side of the ball, and coordinating their movements into a cohesive unit takes time.

Love of sport helps middle school squad
The Selbyville Middle School soccer team loves the sport so much that most of head coach Neal Barch’s team play year-round through the River Soccer program or school ball. The skills developed over the years equate into an 8-0-1 record, a 4-1 win over Sussex Central Middle School on Oct. 27 and a match-up with Caesar Rodney syndicate Phifer Middle School on Nov. 3.