36 - CAPE GAZETTE, Friday, May 2 - May 8, 2003
State Fire Marshal's ()ffice and bar owners promote safety
By Jim Cresson
State Fire Marshal Willard E
Preston III met with about two
dozen nightclub owners, April 28,
to update tbem on the need to
maintain strict adherence to their
occupancy limits this season.
"In the wake of recent over-
crowding tragedies in Rhode Is-
land and Chicago, we feel it is im-
perative that all club owners pay
close attention to the size of their
crowds this summer," said Pre-
ston.
"We don't want to have an ad-
versarial role with club owners,
rather we want to work with them
and help prevent trouble. This is
very important work. Safety is our
top priority."
Preston informed owners that
state fire mar-
shals would
begin inspec-
tions in the
very near fu-
ture, before the
big crowds ar-
rive in late
May. "We are
explaining PRESTON
what roles
we'll play to help the bar owners
and what they must do to comply
with what we want of them.
Hopefully, we'll have another safe
season at the beach. Our agents
will be on the scene making their
rounds in great force this year, and
the owners have been notified of
that."
The preseason sitdowns with
Daniel Russell joins
Edward Jones f'Lrm in Lewes
The financial services firm Ed-
ward Jones has hired Daniel Rus-
sell as the investment representa-
tive to open Edward Jones' first
branch office in Bethany Beach.
"We're very proud to have
Daniel on board as we become
part of the Bethany Beach com-
munity," said John Bachmann,
managing partner of Edward
Jones. "He brings a level of com-
mitment and enthusiasm that is
certain to benefit his clients."
Russell said he is excited to be
opening a new office for a firm
that has built a reputation on serv-
ing individual investors. "Edward
Jones is the largest financial serv-
ices firm in the nation in terms of
offices, but it maintains its com-
mitment to individuals," Russell
said.
"I have been impressed with the
interest the firm's headquarters in
St. Louis [Mo.] has shown in this
new office. Bethany Beach, and
the investors who live here, are
very important to the firm, and I
really like
that."
Prior to join-
ing Edward
Jones, Russell
was a financial
adviser at Mer-
rill Lynch. He
graduated,
from Washing- RUSSELL
ton College irl
1992. "I'm eager to become ac-
quainted with all the people of
Bethany Beach," he said, "and I
am looking forward to settling
down here and becoming an ac-
tive member of the community."
The largest firm in the nation in
terms of branch offices, Edward
Jones currently has more than
8,700 offices in the United States
and through its affiliates in Cana-
da and the United Kingdom.
Plans call for expansion to 10,000
offices by 2003.
For more information, Visit the
Edward Jones website at www.ed-
ward jones.com.
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owners have occurred during the
past several springs. The owners
who have attended those meetings,
say they are helpful. They also say
they agree with the fire marshal's
concerns.
"We like these sessions," said
Gary Canon, owner of Gary's Surf
& Spray in Dewey Beach.
"This is good information," said
Richard Robinson, owner of Mc-
Shea's in Dewey. "It helps us all
be prepared."
For his part, Preston said the
deaths of 99 people in a Rhode Is-
land club fire and 20 more in a
Chicago club fire this winter
• "scared the heck out of me. I
could see that happening in a
Delaware bar."
Chief Deputy Fire Marshal
Richard Ward talked about how
people are now more conscious of
safety when they go to a bar.
"People still want to drink and
party, but they want to make sure
they are able to be safe and get out
of the bar and go home."
Preston and Ward told bar own-
ers that their agents Will check
their establishments for various
codes. If something needs correct-
ing, they will help the club owner
make on-the-spot improvements.
"We are not out there to make life
tough," said Ward. "We are out
there to make it safe."
Inspections will be made
statewide, as well as at the beach,
said Preston.
Preston also encouraged all bar
owners to make sure they have ad-
equate sprinkler systems working
in their establishments. "Imagine
your bar on a crowded night and a
fire breaks out," said Preston. "If
there are no sprinkler systems, the
people have less than a minute to
get out or there are going to be
deaths. None of us want that."
He also asked them to brief
their staffs to the need for safety.
He explained how crowd-control
staff at the Rhode Island club ran
out of the burning building rather
than stay at their posts and direct
people out.
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