Coastal Point • RUSLANA LAMBERT Carlie Gownley, of Annapolis, Md., swings into action in Bethany Beach.

Coastal Point viewpoint 2006.06.30

Service cuts probable for CHEER center
Senior services could be cut in Sussex County because of level funding at the state and CHEER’s rising costs. State officials told CHEER to expect $1.07 million in grants and aid for its nutrition program from the 2007 fiscal-year state budget (which must be passed by today) — the same amount the senior services non-profit organization received last year.

Board to consider fire company tower
The Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company has a nice new (and dry) fire hall, a new ladder truck and a new, fortified communications center where members can safely monitor calls in case of a widespread emergency. But they’re still having problems communicating — with their members.

IRSD School Board approves prayer policy items
Indian River School Board voted on Tuesday to revise policies regarding prayer at graduation and religion in schools. The policies were originally adopted on Oct. 19, 2004, after hearing complaints from a local Jewish family.

Council passes fine, fee ordinances
Sussex County Council voted to approve a pair of ordinances Tuesday morning, raising a set of fees and fines in about a half of an hour. The five-man council disagreed on raising the fee for building code violation appeals hearings but voted unanimously to raise the fine for starting construction without appropriate permitting from the county.

Sheriff Reed answers censure letter
A letter sent by Sussex County Sheriff Robert Reed to County Administrator Bob Stickels on June 23 was read into the record at Tuesday’s Sussex County Council meeting, rebutting a June 13 letter sent by Georgetown Chief of Police William Topping.

Agents try incentives to boost real estate market
On Cedar Drive in Ocean View behind Lord Baltimore Elementary School, there is a two-story home for sale with central water and sewer. The flyer for the home’s listing reads “Limited Offer Buy this Home, Get a Buick LaCrosse at Settlement.”

Fenwick to start fun with annual bonfire
As neighboring Bethany Beach and Ocean View gear up to celebrate the Fourth of July with parades, Fenwick Island is taking the holiday festivities to its wide and sandy shores, with the fourth Annual Fenwick Island Town Bonfire, set to take place on Saturday, July 1, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Canal pollution strategy considered
With ongoing concerns over pollution and algal blooms in South Bethany’s canals, planned dredging of the canals this fall and early research into a possible tidal pump system to increase water flow in the canals, it was time for some expert input on the situation from the non-profit Center for the Inland Bays.

Fenwick incumbents opt out of election
Fenwick Island citizens were in for something of a shocker when the names of the candidates for the town council’s Aug. 5 election were revealed. None of the three incumbents whose terms are set to expire threw their hats back into the ring.

Bear Trap parade establishes identity
More than 200 people participated in the community-based Bear Trap Fourth of July parade last year, and that number is expected to grow on Tuesday. Starting at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, the fourth annual Bear Trap parade won’t even last an hour and will not try to compete with the Bethany Beach affair, which has transformed into a gigantic occasion in the last decade.

New traditions to debut at Bethany Fourth
The Bethany Beach Fourth of July Parade has entertained residents and visitors from far and wide for more than two decades. But the 22nd edition of the event, set for Tuesday, July 4 at noon, promises to be more entertaining than ever before.

Pro Talk
This month our interview is with Jeffery Strzelczyk, corporate vice president, financial adviser, UBS Financial Services Inc.

Bethany band-stand ready to rock-n-roll
It’s been a long row to hoe for Bethany Beach Entertainment Coordinator Gloria Farrar and other town officials.

Fireworks shows can be safe, fun
The skies over coastal Delaware will light up over the holiday weekend with a variety of pyrotechnics displays.

Local realtor prepares for charity walk
Competition may be intense among real estate professionals in the resort area, but one longtime Realtor is finding out that a worthy cause unites even the fiercest rivals.

Town's police generator causes controversy
Officials from Kelly Generator and Equipment Inc. (KGE) who recently inspected the installation of the 130-kilowatt generator at the temporary Ocean View Police Station reported that the generator is not mean for temporary use and should be installed on a concrete slab or another “suitable surface.”

Fenwick Island council enacts FAR limits
As time ticks down to the end of a commercial construction moratorium on Aug. 9, members of the Bethany Beach committee charged with creating new guidelines for architecture in the town’s commercial districts are working to finalize those guidelines.

Castle visits CIB; discusses challenges
Inside the Center for the Inland Bays’ (CIB) environmentally-friendly new building at the Indian River Inlet on Friday, Rep. Mike Castle (R-Del.) announced his dedication to the environment and the center, which promotes, restores and researches the Little Assawoman, Rehoboth and Indian River Bays.

Marketing ABCs
For some businesses, a marketing budget is an afterthought, an “extra” that they might spring for if there’s money remaining after meeting their fixed budget needs. Others view marketing as damage control — to be used only in an emergency. And then there are those businesses that constantly question the need to spend money on marketing altogether.

Season of ticks
“We counted 142 ticks on Mopsy,” said Dr. John Maniatty of the Ocean City Animal Hospital. Mopsy is our 12-pound shi-tzu. My husband and I had another six ticks between us. All resulted from what we thought had been a pleasant walk near the freshwater pond off Hickman Road in Ocean View.

Obituaries

Richard R. ‘Doc’ Tapman, 70
John Drummond, 88

'Kid-friendly'
There are a few constants in this community. Coastal real estate is a strong local investment, traffic picks up a bit in the summer and Shelley Roberts is selling kites and hammocks in Fenwick Island.

New American
Ruth McNeill had been in the United States for more than 30 years when she answered a call from federal officials in med-February. After procrastinating for years but eventually passing the 10-question test she called “basic,” the German-born woman traveled to Philadelphia, following the call to receive her U.S. citizenship.

Mother Nature leaves her mark
A slow-moving front — nearly a tropical depression — has dumped immeasurable amounts of rain on the Delmarva Peninsula in the past week. And though folks in Western Sussex County have shouldered the brunt of the storm, others — including the American Legion baseball league — have felt at least a little of the pinch as well.

NSA ups the ante for softball players
The National Softball Association has deep roots in Delaware. It offers girls as young as 7 the opportunity to play softball at a high level of competition, and the results speak for themselves.

Brock passing along his know-how
Todd Brock’s seven-year road through professional baseball’s Minor League system has finally come to end, but it has also signaled a new beginning as well. He’s played baseball in nearly every state, and even abroad, but rather than play for the Independent League St. Paul Saints, he’s come home to teach business education at Sussex Central High School and to pass along his knowledge of the game.

Central players join up with Post 28
The Sussex Central-Indian River rivalry runs deep in all sports. If neither team has won a game all year, a win over their rival will balance out the losing season. There could be a competitive crocheting match between the two schools and there would still likely be a arge crowd there to support their team.