Coastal Point • JONATHAN STARKEY Mark Lloyd plows a field and plants soybeans for local farmer Russell Banks.

Coastal Point viewpoint 2006.05.26

Biodiesel's popularity taking off
Indian River Marina head Gary King knew that Biodiesel wouldn’t be his most popular product right away. When he received a grant enabling him to start selling the soy-based fuel at the marina last May, he knew boaters would be hesitant to put the new product into their engines, on which they have probably spend thousands of dollars. And he was right about that.

Businesses attend Chamber's co-op meeting
More than 50 businesses from Delaware and Maryland attended the informational meeting on Tuesday about the Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce-led electric cooperative, and one business has already joined.

Biodiesel plant could help out area farmers
Russell Banks is a farmer. He is a worker in the industry that once dominated Sussex County but since has begun to succumb to development — especially in the county’s coastal region, where farm acres as far inland as Dagsboro go for more than $30,000.

South Bethany to take to the polls Saturday
There is no question: in 2006 a new councilman will join the South Bethany Town Council. Councilman Bob Cestone opted not to run for re-election this year, leaving his seat open for challengers to vie over this Saturday, May 27.

BPA students win national championship
Earlier this month, 48 teams from across the country competed in small business management competition at the Business Professionals of America’s (BPA) national championships in Orlando, Fla.

Committee recommends Fenwick town manager
After months of research and interviews with experts on municipal management, the Fenwick Island Town Manager Search Committee is nearly ready to make its recommendations to the town council. And the key element of those recommendations has been decided: the committee will indeed recommend the town hire a town manager.

Watercolor society to unveil annual exhibit
Local artists will convene for a summer exhibit again on Friday, May 26, when the Bethany Beach Watercolor Society holds its 11th annual summer exhibit at the South Coastal Library.

Sussex County announces budgetary plan
Increasing sewage fees, a group of retiring department heads and skyrocketing energy prices were the primary focus of the Bob Stickels-led Sussex County budget presentation on Tuesday.

Beebe reopens its Millville doors
For the 23rd year, the Beebe Emergency Medical Center in Millville will open to serve the local and transplant population during the busy summer season. After opening at 7 a.m. tomorrow, the Center will remain open seven days a week, 24 hours a day, until 7 a.m. on Sept. 5.

Local veteran recalls Iraq tours
Cpl. Steve Walls wasn’t naïve. When he enlisted in the Marine Corps late in 2002, he knew what he was getting himself into.

Fenwick FAR put on hold for survey
Amid continued concern from citizens about the potential impact of floor-area ratio on their properties and the division the issue has caused in the town, members of the Fenwick Island Town Council on May 19 voted unanimously (Theo Brans absent) to take the proposed FAR ordinance to a town-wide survey, while also adjusting the ordinance’s cap upward to 7,500 square feet from the original 5,500 square feet.

CBS explains vision for Sussex County
Delaware was “the First State,” incorporated into the new Union on Dec. 7, 1787. But to this day, some Americans probably couldn’t tell where that first state is located. Delaware may fly under the radar for most people, but its business-friendly tax structure makes it an ideal home base for half of the Fortune 500 companies and, most recently, a drove of salivating developers, scratching to get a piece of the Sussex County real estate pie.

Bethany Beach moves on town map project
Bethany Beach was recently given the all-clear by representatives of the Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce to take up a map project for the town. The Chamber didn’t intend to continue its own project, they were told, and wouldn’t see any conflict with Bethany Beach doing such a project. So the town was in the clear to organize its own advertising-supported map.

Bandstand concerts scrapped due to delays
Just last week, Bethany Beach officials were still hopeful that the summer’s bandstand concert schedule might come off as planned, or nearly so, despite delays with the town’s bandstand renovation project. The new bandstand was nearing completion, but the seating area remained a giant question mark.

Guest column--Americans scheduled to completely disARM in 2007
The home mortgage loan that served as the fuel for the first housing boom of the new century, the ARM or adjustable rate mortgage, will be soon turning into an arm and a leg for many homeowners.

Fenwick grants variance
Like many of its neighboring coastal towns, Fenwick Island has had problems with stormwater and drainage. With an eye toward lessening those problems, the town has long had on the books an ordinance banning impermeable surfaces inside residential setbacks, except for a single walkway, up to 3 feet wide. Preferred surface materials for other areas included stone and shells.

Skin cancer a serious concern, detectable
Barbara Jayne virtually grew up on the beach, in Long Island, N.Y. Throughout her childhood, she had her share of summer fun in the sun. She had her share of sunburns, too. When Jayne and her husband, Gary, retired, they moved to South Bethany, where once again, the beach has become integral to their lives.

Ocean View board denies assisted-living request
Members of Ocean View’s Board of Adjustment told a town couple on May 18 that they can not extend their assisted-living business in its current location at 49 West Avenue.

Marketing ABCs
Talk may be cheap, but it sure is powerful.

New store offers new clothing options
For a decade, Jessica Barbour and Sherry Christensen have worked together in Bethany Beach, selling women’s clothing. But, at the Rose Garden, they were just employees. Since early this month, they started selling clothes together once more. This time, it’s for themselves. After working for someone else for years, the pair decided to capitalize on an opportunity and open a store of their own.

This week in DE history

The Agenda

Obituaries

Marcia K. Herman-Crossland, 53
Jeffrey G. Stewart, 54
Nathan Fred Bartram, 74
James E. Thornton, 63
Joseph F. “Pop Pop” Carre, 98

Dangerous treats
Just inside the doors of Dangerously Delicious Pies in Bethany Beach, posters of James Brown, classic Coca-Cola and Johnny Mathis decorate the walls. Elvis-themed decorations sit as a backdrop to pies encased in glass and Johnny Cash’s music graces the stereo system of the store, which sits just off of the beach town’s main drag.

Horse sense
The Pyle Center is renowned for the large numbers of kids that participate in either baseball or softball each summer. But tucked away behind its gamut of fields lies another opportunity for those who might like to try something other than the traditional ball and stick sports.

Heroic rally lifts Indians
You’ve got to hand it to the Indian River baseball team; they never gave up when the chips where down, even though Brandywine held control of the state tournament opener for seven innings. But Indian River believed they could win even when some Brandywine fans were calling home on the way to the parking lot to spread the good word about their almost-win.

Lady Indians start off playoffs with a bang
The Lady Indians hit the ball hard, far and often in a 16-1 state tournament win over Concord on May 24 but none hit it better than first-team all-conference catcher Sara Powell.

Powell piles up hits, recognition
With so many great players on Indian River’s softball team over the years, it’s understandable how a player can get lost in the shuffle. But, finally, catcher Sara Powell is getting the credit she deserves.

Golfers fall to Dover in championship
One week after setting the school record for regular season wins (13), winning the Southern Division and earning a place in the conference championship, Indian River’s golf team found themselves on the proverbial long ride home for the second straight year, following a 174-185 loss to the Henlopen Champion Dover Senators at Baywood Greens in Longneck on May 19.