Coastal Point • RUSLANA LAMBERT Either someone dropped a French fry, or the seagulls were just enjoying some nice weather in Bethany on Wednesday, Jan. 11.

Coastal Point viewpoint 01.13.06

Power plant catches up on emission violation
Local environmentalists have scrutinized the Indian River Power Plant for years, but it’s complicated. Everyone agrees the plant’s dirty — it’s a perennial favorite atop the state’s Toxic Release Index.

Cable-stay design expected for new Inlet Bridge
Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) officials advised that the Indian River Inlet Bridge would in all probability be constructed with a more familiar cable-stayed design, rather than as a less-common tied arch, at this month’s Indian River Inlet Bridge Construction Advisory Board meeting on Jan. 10.

Closer, but still no beach replenishment timetable
U.S. Rep. Mike Castle (R-Del.) brought good tidings to Bethany Beach this week, in officially announcing some $3.1 million for the planned Bethany Beach-South Bethany beach reconstruction project in the federal budget for the 2006 fiscal year.

Bank gets go-ahead from Millville council
There will soon be another new bank gracing Millville’s burgeoning financial district, if all goes according to plan.

County considers three local projects
Sussex County Council members approved two local entrepreneurs and a developer at a Baltimore Hundred-heavy council meeting, Jan. 10.

BBPD officers pursue unionization step
It’s a small-town police department in an idyllic resort town, but some Bethany Beach police officers want the benefits of unionization. They took a step toward that recently, with the signing of interest cards by at least 30 percent of the eight non-administrative-level full-time officers (ranks of patrolman, private first-class, corporal, sergeant and patrol lieutenant).

GUEST COLUMN--These geese don't lay golden eggs
Canada geese are picky about where they live. An ideal place is near the water with lots of open space, so they can spot predators before they themselves are seen. Nice open areas also provide them with take off and landing room, short grass, a plentiful food supply and enough space to assemble in large numbers.

GUEST COLUMN--Lobbying as American as apple pie
“Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely,” said Lord Acton. People tend to remember this maxim more than any other about politics. The emerging Abramoff scandal now enveloping Capitol Hill certainly reflects this maxim.

The Agenda

Millville tackles zoning request, possible ARB
At their Jan. 10 meeting, Millville Town Council members unanimously approved, 5-0, a change of zoning request from Jon and Wendy Binnix. The couple said they were requesting the change of zoning from residential to commercial for their property at 422 Atlantic Avenue in order to use the property as a satellite office for their construction business.

Federal officials visit Frankford elementary
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education Ray Simon stopped in little ol’ Frankford, Del., on Jan. 10, including local students in celebrations of the past four years’ progress under No Child Left Behind (NCLB).

Selbyville keeps the lights on in community
Residents of the Buntings Mill community in Selbyville avoided having their neighborhood’s lights turned off this holiday, thanks to the quick thinking and generosity of the town’s mayor.

Ocean View financial committee looks ahead
Ocean View’s Long-Range Financial Planning Committee (LRFPC) didn’t approve, modify or outright reject even a single line item at the Jan. 3 meeting. But in another way, the committee took a substantial step toward what will one day become this year’s (2007 fiscal year) budget.

Deadline nears for Frankford council seats
The deadline for new voter registration in the town of Frankford is approaching — new residents, or residents who’ve come of age this year, will have to stop by town hall by the close of business on Friday, Jan. 13.

IRSD mentors celebrate mentors as annual banquet
It’s National Mentoring Month, and the Indian River School District (IRSD) is once again gearing up for its annual Mentoring Banquet, scheduled for Jan. 23.

Local artists the stars
Kim Doughty, perhaps best known as the ceramicist in residence at the Melting Pot studio in Dagsboro, has assumed ownership of the coffeehouse at the corner of North Pennsylvania Avenue and Central Boulevard in downtown Bethany Beach.

ON DECK

Boys basketball
Jan. 13 @ Milford, 7:15 p.m.
Jan. 15 @ Home vs. Polytech, 7:15 p.m.

Girl’s basketball
Jan. 12 @ Home vs. Milford, 6 p.m.
Jan. 14 @ St. Thomas More, 2:30 p.m.
Jan. 17 @ Polytech, 6 p.m.
Jan. 19 @ Cape Henlopen, 6 p.m.

Wrestling
Jan. 18 @ Polytech, 6:30 p.m.

Indians continue dominance on the mat
Indian River’s wrestling team has been tested early and often this season but has prevailed. The wrestlers slugged their way through December tournaments against tough regional competition to earn second place at Indian River’s “Battle at the Beach,” sixth place at Stephen Decatur’s “War on the Shore” and ninth at AI DuPont’s Tiger Classic. And they are now pinning their conference down.

Indians move into first with win
Revenge is sweet and payback’s a…nother thing altogether. The Smyrna varsity basketball team dropped Indian River in an 80-71 season-opener conference loss, but on Jan. 10, the Indians shot down the Eagles 69-63 for sole possession of first place in the Southern Henlopen Conference.

Lady Indians notch first win
The varsity Lady Indian’s basketball team ended their season-long losing skid on Jan. 9 with a 46-43 win over Lake Forest. They nearly had two consecutive wins, but their victory was instead sandwiched with two tough conference losses, to Delmar and Smyrna.