Local News

While recent weeks have been filled with feedback and commentary from Bethany Beach citizens regarding proposed zoning amendments, council members at their May 17 council meeting adopted all but one of the amendments unanimously, and with little additional comment from those present at the meeting.

Late last week, 16 members of an alleged “criminal ring” — including brothers Basel Ramadan, 42, and Samir Ramadan 40, both of Ocean City, Md. — were indicted in New York, with a total of 244 charges related to enterprise corruption, money laundering and related tax crimes.

Selbyville officials reported at the May 6 town council meeting that new bike racks have been installed in the town.

With the arrival of another summer season in the area’s resort towns also come a number of changes, both from the winter months and from how visitors to the area may remember things being last summer.

he end is near for Route 26 lane closures, but further away than was planned and many had hoped. The Delaware Department of Transportation has now given utilities and road crews permission to continue closing lanes on Atlantic Avenue until June 30. The original end date for the work was May 15.

This election season, three Millsboro residents have thrown their hats into the ring to serve as commissioner from District 1 on the town council. Joseph Brady has decided to challenge incumbent Tim Hodges and candidate Bill Howlett for the position.

Ocean View will hold its first Concert in the Park of the season on Friday, June 14, from 6 to 8 p.m. Overtime will perform in John West Park, in celebration of Flag Day.

Joined by legislators and community advocates on the steps inside Legislative Hall, Gov. Jack Markell on May 7 signed legislation to allow same-sex couples to marry, making Delaware the 11th state in the country to legalize same-sex marriage. Just minutes prior to the signing, House Bill 75 had passed in the Senate by a vote of 12 to 9. It had passed the House of Representatives last month by a vote of 23 to 18.

Ocean View officials met last week to discuss a license and easement agreement between the Town and a property owner.

Bethany Beach officials last week continued their discussion of proposed breaks for non-profits on building fees the Town charges, tailoring their previous workshop discussion down to a few ideas that could become town policy.

Little Pink Houses of Hope will be coming to the Bethany Beach area for the second year this summer, from June 1 to 8. The organization matches up women and families who are going through breast cancer with beach houses, for a week of relaxation and retreat.

In this declining economy, many businesses have felt the pinch. Many industries are reporting losses, but there is one industry that has continued to see growth — and that is the pet industry. True, there have been some decreases; however, the industry overall has continued to see increases. In fact, the pet industry has continued to diversify and add new businesses.

Like the old gray mare, Memorial Day ain’t what it used to be. History tells us that more than two dozen towns claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day. With so many separate beginnings — including evidence that organized women’s groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War — each town contributed to the movement that culminated with Gen. John A. Logan giving his official proclamation in 1868.

The Town of Bethany Beach, with the help of the officers and members of VFW Post 7234 in Ocean View, will host a Memorial Day service on Monday, May 27, at noon at the boardwalk bandstand.

Operation SEAs the DAY is still looking for homeowners who would like to donate their beach homes for a week of rest and relaxation for wounded veterans affiliated with the USO Metropolitan Washington and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, and their immediate families, for the week of Sept. 3-8.

Artists from across the country are coming to Bethany Beach boardwalk to showcase their skills at the annual Bethany Beach Seaside Craft Show on Saturday, June 1. Now in its ninth year, the juried fine crafts show pairs its artwork and craftsmanship with a beautiful seascape from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine. Artists submit an application in the wintertime, and more than 100 craftspeople were accepted to display their work in the June sunshine this year.

Earlier this week, Sussex County officials presented their proposed $117.7 million budget for the 2014 fiscal year. The proposed budget is down by approximately 3 percent, or $3.4 million, from the current year’s $121.1 million budget.

The Millsboro Farmers’ Market will begin its third year on Wednesday, May 29, in the town’s Cupola Park.

Two years ago, Oak Orchard American Legion Post 28 held a car show during which they welcomed a pair of New Jersey men, Mark Niemczyk, 66, and Thomas Scalgione, 41, who were driving around the country in a specially-themed truck and said they were collecting money to donate to 9/11 victims’ families and related charities.

Bethany Beach officials this week were looking forward to the completion of the first phase of the town’s Streetscape project, which was held over a week or so longer than originally hoped, due to weather delays and the belated discovery of water pipes that weren’t where they were supposed to be.
Town Manager Cliff Graviet said at the town council meeting on Friday, May 17, that while the project was originally supposed to have been completed by May 15, the contractor on the project had promised him just a half-hour prior to the meeting that they would finally be done by May 22.

The Coastal Point cleaned up this past week at the annual awards conference of the Maryland, Delaware, D.C. Press Association Inc. (MDDC) which recognizes outstanding work in all aspects of news publication in the region. The independent weekly newspaper brought home a total of 41 awards including five Best in Show awards and sweeping six categories completely.

It was Indian versus Indian on May 16 as Indian River High School lacrosse team members faced each other in the first annual Green & Gold Game — the future alumni game.

On Wednesday morning, Indian River High School got the news that its 13-5 softball team was headed for the state tournament. One of four Henlopen Conference teams to host their first game, the 8th-seed Indians will face 9th-seed St. Georges on Saturday, May 25, at 1 p.m.

Indian River High School’s girls’ tennis team has made a tradition of winning the Henlopen Conference Southern Division, now earning the trophy for the fourth consecutive year.

Registration closed this week, several days early, for the annual Justin’s Beach House Memorial Day Weekend 5K Run/3K Walk. As of Tuesday morning, 810 people had registered for the Saturday morning race, which takes off at 7:30 a.m. on May 25 in downtown Bethany Beach.

At least 10 Indian River High School seniors are preparing to continue sports in college, and some are getting scholarships in return.

Indian River’s 10-5 girls’ soccer team hit the road Wednesday night, after Coastal Point’s press deadline, to face Caravel Academy in the first round of state tournament.

The Fat Tuna Grill is gearing up for the 2013 summer season and their new management, Karen Diakos and Ramiro Herrera, is ready to see what summer has in store. The Millville restaurant has been under new management since December, so they have some had time assess the long-running operation and get it ready for the summer season.

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.