Local News

Bethany Beach Town Council members were set this week to discuss and potentially vote on a series of proposed zoning amendments that have been met with opposition from some property owners in the town. The council has on its May 17 agenda all but one of the amendments, opting to not yet put up for a vote what might be the most controversial element of the package — the proposed rezoning of two residential-zoned parcels to commercial zoning in a nod to their existing and proposed uses.

Developer Jack Burbage was reaching out this week to offer what he says is a more accurate picture — literally and figuratively — of the hotel project he’s trying to bring to downtown Bethany Beach, where it would replace the longtime Bethany Arms Motel.

This Saturday, the first annual Wounded Warrior Paddle Race will be held at the Ocean View VFW Post #7234, hosted by the House of David Foundation.

Lord Baltimore Elementary School Principal Dr. Janet Hickman will not be returning to the school for the 2013-2014 school year. Instead, she will be taking over as administrator of Early Learning for the Indian River School District.

With many area residents noticing an increase in the deer population, the issue of population control — not just how to control it, but also whether it is really needed — has become a topic of conversation of late. Discussion has already begun in Ocean View as to whether a controlled hunt is the answer.

The sixth annual AARP Artisans Fair will be held Memorial Day weekend at Lord Baltimore Elementary School, two miles west of Coastal Highway on Saturday, May 25, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Throughout American history, there have been a number of ships named for the state of Delaware. The Continental Congress commissioned the first ship to bear that name in 1775. The Delaware had a creditable record of service during the Revolutionary War, until the British Navy compelled it to “strike its colors” (surrender) after a confrontation against overwhelming odds.

The Indian River High School girls’ soccer team enjoyed a 6-0 win over Sussex Central on May 14, thanks to an early lead.

Indian River High School’s baseball team ended their season May 14 with the most storied situation: bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the seventh.

Whether they are golfers or not, people can support Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition through the Dunes Pink Classic Golf Tournament, rolling through Ocean View on Monday, June 3.

On May 21, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., a rain garden “how-to” will be held at the Millsboro Civic Center.

On Friday, May 17, from 6 to 11 p.m. a pig pickin’, steamed shrimp and cold beer fundraiser will be held to benefit local firefighters Matt and Kristen Gajdos, whose twins were born in February, 14 weeks premature.

Last week, the Bethany-Fenwick Chamber of Commerce announced that Kristie Maravalli would become its new director of membership.

Lt. Gov. Matt Denn and John Hulse from the Delaware Department of Education were at John M. Clayton Elementary School near Frankford this week, celebrating with the school their National Distinguished Title I Award and their state Recognition School award.

Two Millsboro candidates are competing for one seat on Indian River School District’s Board of Education, in District 3, centered in the Millsboro/Long Neck area. Challenger Paulette Rappa and appointed incumbent Leolga Wright this week responded to a series of questions from the Coastal Point designed to elicit their views on issues affecting the district. The winning candidate will serve a five-year term, beginning July 1.

The Millsboro Town Council met this week to discuss whether or not to allow Millsboro resident and state Rep. John Atkins to have a produce stand in town.

Students are serving their community with the Junior Red Cross Club at Southern Delaware School of the Arts. The middle-school club teaches kids about outreach, preparedness and fundraising to help the American Red Cross fulfill its humanitarian mission.

The 25th annual CROP Walk will be held this Saturday in Bethany Beach, starting at the bandstand at 11 a.m. The event will kick off with the Nautical Sounds providing entertainment. The actual walk starts at noon, and afterwards there will be refreshments offered at Bethany Beach Christian Church downtown.

The Law Office of Susan Weidman has opened up a third location, in Rehoboth Beach. They opened in mid-March in the State Farm Insurance building, in the same plaza as Nage and Outlet Liquors.

Indian River High School’s lacrosse team lost their early foothold against Delmar on May 7, but their 15-6 loss was an improvement on their 16-2 loss earlier this season.

Indian River High School this week became only the second school to defeat Polytech in girls’ soccer, on a score of 3-2, and the first to do it on the Panthers’ home turf.

Despite Tuesday’s blustery weather, on May 7 the Indian River High School track-and-field team saw many familiar faces at Sussex Tech’s hyper-local tri-meet, also featuring IR and Sussex Central.

Those looking for a thoughtful Mother’s Day gift need look no further. Gardeners by the Sea is holding a special Mother’s Day sale of baby hydrangeas on Saturday, May 11.

Made by Hand International Cooperative will be celebrating World Fair Trade Day on Saturday, May 11, at their store in the York Beach Mall in South Bethany, from noon to 5 p.m.

Exactly six months after Hurricane Sandy scrubbed the East Coast, replacing basements and roadways with floodwater and debris, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is poised to rebuild Delaware’s Atlantic shoreline.

There’s good news for Delaware regarding the cancer mortality rate: the states’ ranking has fallen again and it currently sits at 14th in the nation. While that might not sound great in a country with 50 states, it is better than the No. 2 ranking it had in the 1990s. In last year’s report covering the years 2003-2007, Delaware ranked 12th. In this year’s report — the most comprehensive data report in the state, covering the years 2005-2009 — Delaware ranked 14th in the nation.

This year marks the 31st year that the Hocker family has organized the Springtime Jamboree, an event created by local businessman —and now state senator — Gerald Hocker to help raise money for the Lower Sussex Little League.

Last week, the Delaware Attorney General’s office announced that an investigation of Bethany Beach Police Department Lt. Richard Haden by its Criminal Investigations Unit had resulted in his arrest.

The Delaware State Police this week were investigating a shots-fired complaint that occurred on Friday, April 26, in the parking lot of the VFW just south of Millsboro.