Coastal Point • ERNIE TURPIN Joe Vavala competes in the East Coast C hampionships of skimboarding, held in Dewey Beach on August 13-14.

Local girls rolling through series
Look out, Kalamazoo, the District III Big League Softball team has won their first three games of the World Series Tournament and are two games away from the world championship.

Bethany looks to organize
Before holding its regularly scheduled monthly meeting, the Bethany Beach Town Council will gather at 7 p.m., Friday, Aug. 19, to name a mayor, vice mayor and secretary-treasurer.

84 Lumber gets the go-ahead from county to expand
It was enough. Any more than one member of Sussex County Council voting in opposition at the Aug. 16 council meeting, and 84 Lumber’s plans for expansion in Clarksville would have run aground.

Former mayor critiques town's proposal
South Bethany Town Council played two on Aug. 12, as architect Alvin French (French & Ryan) hosted a public hearing before the regular council meeting.

County postdates housing ordinance
Sussex County Council enacted an ordinance to permit multisectional manufactured homes (24 feet or wider) on private residential lots (as small as half-acre) at the Aug. 16 meeting.

Fenwick stays course with council
Municipal hall resembled law school in Fenwick Island Thursday morning, Aug. 11, as the town council listened to town attorney Tempe Steen untangle the town’s law books.

Ocean View considers public works options
Ocean View Town Council members and staff spent the latter part of an Aug. 16 workshop studying the possibility of a Department of Public Works (DPW) facility on lands near the town hall — but they couldn’t seem to make it fit.

Bethany girl gets national recognition
Athletics have always been a training ground for youngsters to learn how to conduct themselves throughout their lives. They may not always win or play as much as they like, but sports teach an important lesson: how to work as a team. Physical ability is important to having a successful team but it is also essential to have teammates with positive attitudes.

The Agenda

Community tips scales for bus drivers
That yellow school bus pulling up at the end of the block is a sight most parents take for granted, but fuel costs very nearly became just one burden too many for drivers this year.

Shining the fashion light
Jeanne Hastings, long-time resident of South Bethany, has continued to satisfy her faithful customers’ demands for interesting and fashionable clothing and accessories at her store, Lighthouse Landing, located in Fenwick Island.

Ocean View looks to spread CHEER
Age is relative — most people spend their entire lives as a senior to some and a junior to others. Either way, while Sussex County Senior Services (SCSS) started out serving the 60-plus population, the non-profit organization has long since shaved a decade, and now caters to county residents ages 50 and up.

The Daytripper: A short drive away to escape to the past
On this trip, we are going to step back in time again, much as we did for our trip to the Indian River Life Saving Station. This time, we will head south into Maryland, past Berlin and Snow Hill to the Nassawango Iron Furnace. First, we should have some background on the smelting of iron in the early 19th century.

Planners move on without Allen
The Sussex County Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Commission held its first meeting Thursday, Aug. 11, since the passing of longtime P&Z President John “Jack” Allen.

Bright Lights
Three years out of Indian River High School, and Dawn Monroe has already managed to work her way onto a nationally syndicated television series. She recently appeared front and center in not one, but two, scenes in an episode of One Tree Hill (on the WB).

Dollar deals
For the residents of coastal Delaware, Dollar Buys makes a lot of sense. One Fenwick Island couple hopes it will make a lot of cents too.

District 3 makes good showing
Winning a World Series Championship is the ultimate goal of thousands of kids in the United States. But to win in your hometown — that would be special. The Senior League Softball World Series was held at Roxana, and this year’s host team, Laurel, represented District III in hopes of improving on last year’s fifth place finish.

Florida takes world championship
Florida brought the Senior Softball Little League World Series Championship back to the good ol’ U.S. of A. on Aug. 13 by defeating Puerto Rico 1-0.

Skimboarders hit Dewey Beach for East Coast Championships
Tropical storm Irene served up a heaping plate of great surf for the pro and amateur skimboarders at the East Coast Championships in Dewey Beach, held Aug. 13-14.

Naturals take championship title
Long car rides can be exhausting, and a 13-hour journey to Lansing, Mich., can test even the most veteran of road warriors, but the Delaware Naturals over-55 softball team made the trip worth their while and won the Eastern United States softball Championship, held Aug. 9-11.

Fishing report
Tom from Cedar Creek Tackle shop says lots of nice flounder are being taken near “G” buoy and site “7” in 55-60 feet of water. No citations, but these fish are in the four-to six-pound range. Minnows, squid and peeler crab are your best baits, according to Tom. At slack tide the croakers have been thick at the Beach Ball near the Broadkill Slough.