Ocean View News

Anyone who closed their eyes in Ocean View Town Council chambers this week, clicked their heels and repeated, “There’s no place like home; there’s no place like home,” might just have thought they had been transported back to 2006, as debate again focused on the censure of Councilman Bill Wichmann.

Ocean View officials welcomed state Rep. Gerald Hocker and Sen. George Bunting to a discussion this week on the town’s proposed charter changes. The town has been in the process of compiling proposed changes over the past year and half and, before the updated charter is proposed for passage in the Delaware General Assembly, a public hearing and input from the Senate attorney is still expected.

The Ocean View Town Council this week voted to grant the Millville Volunteer Fire Company monies from the town’s Emergency Services Enhancement Fund.

Ocean View residents Michele Steffens and Geoff Christ announced this week that they are joining forces in their campaigns to run for the two district seats in this year’s town council election, set for April 10.

On Saturday, March 6, from 4 to 8 p.m., DiFebo’s Bistro on the Green at Bear Trap Dunes will be holding a Helping Hands for Haiti fundraiser.

A coastal storm, combined with astronomical high tides and a full moon, has resulted in the National Weather Service issuing a coastal flood warning and a hazardous weather outlook for the Bethany Beach area. Minor coastal flooding during Wednesday morning’s high tide may elevate to moderate flooding on during the next high tide into Thursday.

Although snowflakes are few and far between in Delaware as of 3:30 p.m., Thursday, the National Weather Service predicts that snowfall will gradually increase over the state and continue through Thursday night into Friday. However, forecasts for accumulation have been lowered since early Thursday morning.

This week saw new developments in the case of Earl Bradley, and the pain that has been felt in the community in the wake of allegations of child sexual abuse by the Lewes pediatrician has only become more far-reaching.

For some people it takes years of schooling and maybe even post graduate education and a trip backpacking through Europe before they figure out what they want to do with their lives. Even then, some never figure it out. And yet, for others, it seems they are born knowing just what they want to do and exactly how to get there.

At an Ocean View Town Council meeting on Feb .16, Mayor Gordon Wood read correspondence from former mayor Gary Meredith, encouraging the town to rescind the censure Councilman Bill Wichmann received in July 2006, after he admittedly authorized a generator installation without council approval.

Ocean View Town Council members voted 3-1-0 on Tuesday, Feb .16 – with Councilman Richard Nippes abstaining and Councilman Perry Mitchell dissenting – to extend Ocean View Police Chief Ken McLaughlin’s contract by two years.

The Ocean View Town Council on Tuesday heard from Christine Thomas of Preservation Delaware and the National Trust, regarding the former Shores House. Thomas has been working with the Ocean View Historical Society and was following up with the council after speaking with them at their November 2009 workshop. On Feb.

The Ocean View Town Council got through most of the budget and capital improvement plan on Tuesday evening before calling it a night and starting their regular council meeting. The council plans to meet again in the next week to go over the rest of the plan before the first public hearing on the matter, set for Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 6 p.m.

The State of Emergency in Delaware was lifted at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, by Gov. Jack Markell. But even as the state works to clean up and restore services following the back-to-back snow storms of this month, another snow event is threatening. With a possible arrival of Monday evening, the next storm could drop 8 inches or more of snow unless it shifts to a more northerly track, officials said.

Delaware remains under a State of Emergency on Friday morning, Feb. 12, 2010. The State of Emergency has been in effect since 12 midnight, Feb. 10. The travel bans contained in the original State of Emergency declared by Gov. Jack Markell that prohibited travel on Delaware roadways by non-essential vehicles were lifted on Thursday. The change was effective at noon on Feb.

State of Emergency remains in effect
 
Gov. Jack Markell has ordered the driving restrictions for Kent and Sussex counties to be lifted as of 6 p.m. tonight.  However, the State of Emergency will remain in effect for the entire state until further notice.  Earlier today, the governor and emergency officials lifted driving restrictions in New Castle County.  
 

Next Thursday, Feb. 18, state Rep. Gerald Hocker (R-38th) will welcome state Sen. George Howard Bunting (D-20th) to his monthly “Coffee’s on Me,” scheduled for Thursday evening, Feb. 18, at the Bethany Beach Fire Hall, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

After recently announcing his potential run for the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by now-U.S. Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., Ocean View Town Councilman Perry Mitchell has hit the ground running. He has formed an exploratory committee consisting of local Realtors, Ocean View residents, a former Ocean View councilman and fellow Sussex County Democratic Committee members.

Despite the impending blizzard, members of eight local law enforcement agencies and fire companies, and members of the public, gathered at the Bistro at Bear Trap Dunes on Friday, Feb. 5, for the 2010 Joshua M. Freeman Valor Awards, honoring those departments and the esteemed individuals that, through them, serve the local communities.

Kent and Sussex counties are still removing disabled and abandoned vehicles from roads on their secondary and local back roads, state officials reported Thursday afternoon, noting that the vehicles have been hampering efforts to clear roads and respond to emergencies.

This weekend, World Gym in Ocean View is inviting guests to keep up with their New Year’s resolutions while getting into the Valentine’s Day spirit at the same time. At 10:30 a.m. on Saturday morning, Feb. 13, certified fitness instructor Lisa Dougherty will conduct a Valentine’s Yoga class, specially designed for couples to enjoy together.

As of 9 a.m., officials announced Thursday morning, after consultation between the Governor’s Office and state and local emergency management officials, it was decided that the State of Emergency declared by Delaware Gov. Jack Markell will remain in effect today, February 11, 2010 as will the travel ban.

[UPDATE] Due to inclement weather, all Indian River School District schools will be closed on Friday, Feb. 12. All 12-month employees will be informed of their status at a later time, officials said.

The Sussex County Emergency Operations Center late Wednesday night put out the call for additional farmers throughout the county to lend equipment and aid so fire and ambulance crews can reach residents in an emergency.

Delaware’s frigid temperatures, high winds and recent snowfalls can be difficult for the more than 40 species of wintering songbirds that share the state’s nature resources, state officials reminded the public mid-week. Their food sources – nuts, seeds and berries – are harder for these small birds to locate and reach, especially when covered with large accumulations of snow.