Coastal Point • RUSLANA LAMBERT Brenda and Brenna Billingsley, of Selbyville, take a look at some of the books available at the South Coastal Library book sale last weekend.

Coastal Point viewpoint 02.24.06

Alternative plan balances town budget in 2012
Ocean View’s Long Range Financial Planning Committee voted 6-1 on Tuesday to approve an alternative version of the proposed 2007 budget about three weeks before it will have to make a budgetary recommendation to town council.

Dagsboro planners consider height restrictions for all
Dagsboro Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Commission members reviewed no projects at the Feb. 16 commission meeting but rather devoted their evening to some of the finer points of community character and design.

Bethany committee smoothly approves $9M budget
Compared to the budget process for the 2006 fiscal year in Bethany Beach, this year’s budget process seems to be flowing with unexpected smoothness.

Ocean View officials question police station
When town officials opened the six bids to construct Ocean View’s new police station about two weeks ago, they were legitimately excited. The bids ranged from $1.9 million to $2.3 million, when they had expected a number closer to $4 million. And it seemed like a much-needed break in a financially uncertain time for the town.

Local band takes top honors at Seacrets
Well before the name of the winning band was announced and the balloons descended from the ceiling of Bob Marley Hall at Seacrets in Ocean City, Md., the crowd knew who had won: lower case blues.

Bethany planning proposals get off track
Recent Planning Commission action on several items the commission has voted to recommend to the town council has exasperated Lew Killmer.

Guest column -- Remembering radio from the 'Golden Days'
If you’re under 50, you might as well stop reading now. I’m going to talk about a subject of which you probably know little and care even less.

Donated equipment helps Frankford students
Mario Lagunes is like any other kindergartener at Frankford Elementary. He arrives to school each morning ready and willing to learn. He takes part in all of his class’ exercises, learning how to pronounce letters and words correctly and he is continually evaluated on his performance.

DNREC responds on Pepper Creek
Developers in Dagsboro are hoping to narrow rights-of-way along Pepper Creek, from as wide as 250 feet on either side of the creek, down to something more like 25 feet.

The Agenda

Towns work on alternative election legislation
Proposed state-wide changes to election rules appear to be on the way, but Bethany Beach Town Council Member Lew Killmer is working with representatives of other municipalities to ensure the changes will not adversely affect Delaware’s smaller and coastal towns.

Local citizens review management plan
The oldie-but-goodie Inland Bays Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) is getting a once-over from concerned locals affiliated with the Center for the Inland Bays (CIB).

South Bethany talks revenues for 2007
South Bethany Town Council members are squaring up the books in preparation for the 2007 fiscal year, and gathered for the first of three special meetings/budget workshops on Feb 9.

Selbyville to hold student art show in town
Last year, for the first annual Selbyville Community Club Art Show, more than 300 students turned in pieces to be judged by the club’s members. According to Lucille Creel, the art chairwoman for the club that founded the show, that participation was far above what the club expected and they could hardly handle the resulting size of the show.

Subcontractor's mistake damages home
South Bethany officials want residents to know that they did not overlook an incident of construction without a permit reported at 10 North Sixth Street. The work to be done actually had a permit — just at 10 South Sixth Street.

Bethany amends commercial moratorium
Bethany Beach Town Council members voted unanimously at their Feb. 17 meeting to amend a recently passed moratorium on commercial construction, to allow simple replacements and repairs after an administrative review by the town.

Toomey leaves, hopes for town involvement
In his time on Millville’s town council, Cliff Toomey has noticed something that has continually bothered him. At the council meetings and town workshops on proposed developments and ordinances, the appropriate town officials attend, along with members of the media, but most Millville residents are missing.

DCOG parishoner organizers women's conference
Ocean View resident Laura Hattier and the 24-Seven Youth Ministry at the Dagsboro Church of God (DCOG) will hold the second in a continuing series of “Mission Possible” women’s issues discussions on Sunday, March 5.

Art exhibit added to Bethany cultural event
Fresh on the heels of their presentation of State Archivist Russell McCabe, the Bethany Beach Cultural and Historical Affairs Committee is preparing another cultural extravaganza. On Wednesday, March 22, local author Gordon Wood is scheduled speak on the history of the Bethany Beach area. Now, his presentation will be joined by members of the Bethany Beach Watercolor Society with an exhibit of their works of art.

Ocean View girl hits the big time
Fifteen minutes of fame sure can last a lot longer when it’s captured on glossy pages.

South Bethany hammers out parking ordinances
After going back and forth on proposed parking ordinance changes in recent months, South Bethany Town Council members finally reached a consensus on the draft document at a workshop held Feb. 22.

Swamp story
Salisbury author Andy Nunez made a name for himself in the local treasure-hunter/metal detectorist crowd last year, with his “Treasures of the Eastern Shore” paperback. But he’s on a different hunt these days, working on the new “Mysteries of the Eastern Shore.”

Warhawks shut down weather, Kent
Nothing feels better than to win a football game in the snow or rain. The inclement weather can wear on players because — face it — nobody likes to be cold and wet. But to persevere against Mother Nature and in the face of the enemy is surreal feeling.

Lady Indians look to regroup, improve
It’s been a long uphill struggle for the Indian River Lady Indians this season. They’d won only one game heading into a 35-23 loss to Delmar on Feb. 21. But with such a young team, many of them are already looking forward to the next season.

Wrestling staff leads improved team
Indian River’s smooth ascension to wrestling’s elite status has been marked by two years of accomplishment since Head Coach Jeff Windish and his staff started last year. In that time, they’ve wrestled perennial powerhouse Hodgson in their first dual-meet last year and sent four wrestlers to the state tournament.

Riley earns scholarship to Swarthmore
Kathryn Riley was in one of her classes at Indian River High School on Feb. 15 when she heard from her father that she’d received a letter from Swarthmore College.

Irving helps lead team by example
Game in and game out, senior forward Travis Irving exemplifies exactly what Indian River High School Head Coach Pat Kelly wants from a basketball player: basketball awareness, tough defense and the skill to back it up.