Coastal Point • RUSLANA LAMBERT Gerry Murphy, delivering flowers for Blossoms on Valentine’s Day, presents a bouquet to Barbara Campione.

Coastal Point viewpoint 02.17.06

County approves Millville sewer financing bond
Sussex County Council authorized a $16 million bond issue to pay for the Millville Area Expansion to the Bethany Beach Sanitary Sewer District at the Feb. 14 council meeting.

More parking changes proposed in Bethany
Among a handful of parking ordinance and fee changes considered at a Feb. 13 meeting of Bethany Beach’s Traffic and Parking Committee, Town Manager Cliff Graviet proposed more uniform hours for the town’s parking meters and permits, aiming for ease in a future in which the town’s parking meter system might be automated.

South Bethany parking ordinances on table
South Bethany Town Council members continued to wrestle with planned updates to the town’s parking ordinances at their Feb. 10 meeting.

Millville centennial plans moving forward and on course
Talk of the town’s May 20 Centennial Celebration dominated Millville’s surprisingly short — about 25-minutes — town council meeting on Tuesday at Town Hall.

Power industry, state, consider cleaner energy
Anyone who’s ever used an electric drill is probably familiar with the three-jaw chuck, whether or not they knew what it was called. Closing the three jaws, or “dogs,” automatically centers and secures the drill bit, so that the bit can actually do its work (rather than just rattle around uselessly at the end of the drill).

Local man sentenced to one year
On Feb. 10, a Superior Court judge in Georgetown sentenced an Ocean View man to one year in jail, followed by a year of home confinement, after he pleaded guilty to stealing boats, motors and supplies.

Guest column
The republication of 12 Danish cartoons in the Middle East precipitated much anger and violence in Islamic countries. Actually, one of the cartoons — which depicted the Prophet Muhammad with a bomb shaped turban — was originally published months ago. Devout Muslims consider this image blasphemous. Westerners who believe in free speech and press view this unrest as misplaced. On the other hand, devout Muslims see this as an attack on their religion and some believe an attack on themselves.

Beckman joins the fray
From his time in Tucson, Ariz., to life in Montgomery County, Md., Millville resident William L. Beckman was a career educator. After earning his bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona in elementary education and his master’s degree from the same school in the same subject, Beckman taught in an Arizona school for seven years before moving to Maryland.

Sussex considers cluster density trade
Sussex County Council members returned to “cluster density trade” talks on Feb. 14, and offered the public a chance to weigh in at the St. Valentine’s Day council meeting.

The Agenda

Climatologist predicts cold, nor'easters
If you don’t like the weather just wait a minute, as the saying goes. State Climatologist Dr. David Legates is predicting that cooler temperatures — and at least a couple nor’easters — will soon remind Delawareans what they’ve been missing, after an exceptionally mild January (nearly 9 degrees above the monthly average).

Food chat to focus on Mexican cuisine
Local restaurateur Matt Haley recently returned from a trip to Mexico, and he brought back enough inspiration that he’s ready to share his Mexican experience with local food fanciers at his regular food chat, Tuesday, Feb. 21, at Booksandcoffee in Dewey Beach.

This week in Delaware history

Delaware archivist to discuss local history on Feb. 22
Sussex County native and Director of the Delaware Public Archives Russell McCabe will speak on the subject of early Delaware history at a Feb. 22 event hosted by the Bethany Beach Cultural and Historical Affairs Committee.

New art gallery to open its doors today
Jeanne Mueller has been involved with local art associations with other local artists for a long time. They attend meetings, shows and workshops together, but showing their art has never been a collective effort.

Frankford water plant set for June startup
Imagine this: fresh clean water pumped out by a brand spanking new water plant and channeled directly to your faucet.

Obituaries
Clarence E. Kiel, 78
Alan R. Thormeyer, 59
Weston B. Watson, 84

Fenwick to search for town manager
For three years, Fenwick Island Mayor Peter Frederick and Councilman Harry Haon have performed many of the administrative duties for the town.

Bethany enacts commercial moratorium
Bethany Beach has enacted a moratorium on the construction and exterior renovation of commercial structures, with a 5-0 vote on Friday, Feb. 10. (Mayor Jack Walsh and Council Member Harry Steele were absent.)

County council considers dredging of Nanticoke River
Feb. 7 was a big day for Sussex County’s economic development office, as director Steve Masten petitioned council for help in finding a site to accommodate spoils from a proposed dredging project on the Nanticoke River.

No union in sight for Bethany Beach police
It literally could not have been a closer vote when Bethany Beach Police Department officers cast their ballots in a unionization decision on Feb. 8.

Bethany Beach adds internal auditor
Bethany Beach is looking into adding another layer to its existing audit controls. The town’s Audit Committee held a meeting with accountant Craig Boyce on Thursday to consider what Boyce might do as a secondary oversight on town finances, in addition to the town’s existing auditing firm.

Casual birders count this weekend for ninth GBBC
This isn’t just President’s Day weekend — it’s also the weekend for the Ninth Annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC). And people don’t need to worry if they’re not expert birders — GBBC sponsors National Audubon Society and Cornell Lab of Ornithology will welcome participants of any age or skill level, and it’s free.

Family center highlights Millville project
Although Bob Harris — a representative from the Millville Group, the development company handling the Millville by the Sea project — noted the community’s family center was still in the preliminary-preliminary stage of planning, he said he had a good idea what it might look like when completed.

Book sale on schedule for Bethany library
Last year, the Friends of the South Coastal Library in Bethany Beach made about $7,000 from its book sale, one of the signature fundraisers for the group.

Ocean View committee to present rental tax
Real estate transfer taxes again emerged as an issue on Tuesday,Feb. 7 at Ocean View’s Long Range Financial Planning Committee meeting.

Chamber recognizes first responders
Local firefighters and police officers hardly vie for attention. Perhaps because they often find themselves dealing with tragic situations, discretion is the watchword, and it usually takes a little pushing and shoving to get them into the spotlight.

Sports specialities
Traffic in the Delaware shore area can be hectic, especially in the summer months. So Donielle Brasure decided to make life easier for her patients. No longer would they have to troop down Route 26 for physical therapy — no, life would be easier from this point on. Brasure opened up Bayside Physical Therapy on Route 54 strictly for the convenience of her patients.

Not forgotten
Since moving to the Bethany area permanently about 10 years ago, Margy Nist has noticed a collective area opinion about developers.

Student drop teacher in hoops
Almost a year ago to the day, Dover Head Basketball Coach G.R. Myers faced off for the first time in his coaching career against his mentor, Indian River High School’s Pat Kelly, and lost in convincing fashion, 97-65. But he came back a little smarter and more determined to win – doing so 68-59 this week in a fourth-quarter nail-biter against the 20th-ranked Indians.

Lady Indians nearly catch perennial titans
Every year, Dover’s girls’ basketball team is one of the best. They have the numbers and the skill. And that combination translates into a 16-4 record. But the Lady Indians of Indian River High School put the basketball titans to the test on Feb. 14 in what finished as a 63-34 losing effort for IRHS.

Indians give Hodgson all they can handle
For the second consecutive year, Indian River High School advanced to the Division II State Dual Meet Championships. Both time, they have had to wrestle No. 3 Hodgson. Not much has changed – Hodgson is still the top Division II contender and Indian River is still chasing, though they are closing the gap.

Diamond leaguers start out rough
It’s been tough sledding for both the Fenwick Island Lions and Sussex County Mustangs so far this season in the Junior Diamond Football League. Both teams were winless thus far (0-3) upon meeting each other on Feb.11, but the Lions persevered in the inclement weather to beat the Mustangs 20-6.

Warhawks bounce back with win
After getting dragged through the mud in a 61-0 beating by the mighty New Castle Saints, the Sussex County Warhawks dished out payback to the Queen Anne County Thunder on Feb. 11, beating them 9-0 the good ol’ fashioned way: running the ball, play-action passing and playing tough, don’t-give-an-inch football.