Coastal Point • SAM HARVEY The live Nativity scene put on by Mariner's Bethel United Methodist Church along Route 26 on Wednesday, Dec. 21, captured the essence of the Christmas holiday.

Coastal Point Viewpoint 2005.12.23

Changes on horizon
Bethany Beach may soon tackle the aesthetics of the town’s commercial district with the same kind of attention it has recently given to the looks of its residential areas — and it’s not a moment too soon, as some of the town’s landmark commercial locations consider major renovations and changes in use.

Dagsboro moves forward with reorganization
It took a stutter-step or two, but Dagsboro Town Council successfully reformulated itself at the Dec. 19 council meeting, following an upset election earlier this month.

Fenwick denies conservation tax break
Fenwick Island Town Council considered a request from the South Schulz Wetlands Association at the Dec. 16 council meeting, but decided against supporting wetlands conservation via tax relief.

Ocean View wants to design Route 26 specs
Ocean View’s hopes neatly parallel Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) plans, as far as bike lanes and sidewalks along Route 26. But there’s more to building a pretty Main Street than curbs and striping.

Fenwick committee discusses flags, event
It was a light agenda for the Fenwick Island Commercial Liaison Committee (CLC) at their Dec. 15 meeting.

Guest column
News stories are screaming that President Bush had authorized the National Security Agency (NSA) for national security reasons to monitor American citizen phone calls and e-mails for terrorist activity.

Bethany renews beach lobbying contract
Bethany Beach Town Council members voted quickly and unanimously Dec. 16 to renew the town’s contract with beach renourishment consultants and lobbying firm Marlowe & Co.

Ocean View hears opposition to church project
Ocean View Church of Christ representatives recently introduced plans to raze an older auditorium/Sunday school and construct a new building, to house a “gymnasium and office/classroom space,” but the project has encountered some vocal opposition from neighboring residents.

Coastal area focus of county P&Z meeting
It was an agenda heavy with coastal Sussex County projects for the county’s Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) on Dec. 15. So heavy, in fact, that commissioners commented at the start of the evening, “This is Rodney Smith night,” referring to the commission.

Bethany planners dispense zoning proposals
After putting forward a series of proposed zoning changes from its Zoning Ad-Hoc Committee (ZAC) in recent weeks, Bethany Beach Planning Commission members were left with the decision of what to do with some lingering loose ends from the committee’s work.

Council favors two-lane Streetscape plan
If the predominant message of those commenting at the Dec. 10 special meeting regarding Bethany Beach’s proposed Streetscape plan for Garfield Parkway was, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” council members didn’t agree that things weren’t broken.

A Christmas to remember
Parishioners at St. Matthew’s By-the-Sea United Methodist in Fenwick Island will welcome a newcomer this Christmas Day — a young lad, and to his parents a miracle who had arrived even as their hopes grew dim.

Whirl Away
Here’s a unique gift idea — zip yourself and your sweetheart, at about 100 mph, to dinner at a nice restaurant along Maryland’s Eastern Shore, or down on Tangier Island (Va.). And do it without breaking any speed limits — or even fighting traffic, for that matter.

Grapplers start out strong
Indian River wrestling continued their hot start to the season by defeating Dover 45-32 in their first conference match and placing second behind New Jersey’s Howell High School at their first annual Battle at the Beach tournament on Dec. 16 and 17.

Indians overcome, run streak to three
Good teams find a way to win and Indian River’s varsity basketball team is no different. The Indians notched their second and third consecutive wins by beating Woodbrige 82-76 on Dec. 16 and Nandua 51-48 on Dec. 20 — despite a lack of continuity on the court.

Lady Indians look to turn things around
The Lady Indians’ varsity basketball team is still on the outside looking in. Losses to Woodbridge and Nandua pushed Indian River to a 0-3 record. But you won’t see them hanging their heads or feeling sorry for themselves. Now is the time to improve and make a move into the winners’ bracket.