CAPE GAZETrE, Friday, June 7 - June 13, 1996 - 15
Rehoboth Art League hires O'Brien as executive director
Rehoboth
Art League
President
Marcia Mar-
vel said this
week that
Nancy
O'Brien of
Alexandria,
Virginia has
accepted the O'BRIEN
position of
executive director for the Re-
hoboth Art League.
O'Brien was offered the job,
and accepted, following a meeting
of the Art League's board of di-
rectors on Saturday, May 18. She
is expected to assume her new po-
sition about July 1, 1996.
"Speaking on behalf of the
board of directors," said Marvel,
"we are very happy with the selec-
tion of Nancy O'Brien. She
comes with great skills and
knowledge and we're looking for-
ward to having her as our next ex-
ecutive director."
Dennis Forney, chairman of the
search committee for the new di-
rector, said there were more than
180 applicants for the position
which was left vacant upon the
resignation of former director
Charles Palmer several months
ago. Other members of the search
committee included Marvel, Ann
Horsey, Jeff Seemans, Ted Scott,
Edilu Nehrbas, and Susan
Townsend. Susan Steele, curator
of Rehoboth Art League, worked
with the committee during inter-
views of the finalist candidates.
O'Brien is leaving her position
as director of donor relations at
American University in Washing-
Bike path through Cape
Park may become reality
By Michael Short
After six and a half years, Rep.
John Schroeder's (D-Lewes) idea
for a bike path through Cape Hen-
lopen State Park may become a
reality. Mark Chura, the manager
of the Department of Natural Re-
sources and Environmental Con-
trol's planning, preservation and
development section, said the idea
was discussed at an informal
Greenways meeting last week.
Schroeder raised that idea sev-
eral years ago and was criticized
by people who said such a path
could cause environmental dam-
age to the park. Parks officials
have instead concentrated on de-
veloping a possible path along an
abandoned railroad line between
Lewes and Rehoboth.
But Chura said the state is now
looking at both options. Nothing
is etched in stone. But Chura said
that possible plans for a five to
seven mile long pedestrian and
bike path through the park be-
tween the Lewes entrance and
Gordon's Pond were discussed.
Also discussed was the route
along the abandoned rail line,
which would run roughly from the
bridge over Rt. 9 to the former
Shaw Park area, now known as
the Grove in Rehoboth Beach. In
addition, Chura said an overhaul
of the existing trails was discussed
in an effort to eliminate parallel
trails and other problems within
Cape Henlopen State Park.
Each of the trail ideas has merit.
The trail through the park has the
advantage of being on state land,
although critics worry about
whether it would hurt the environ-
ment. The rail line is not through
the state park, but the former rail-
road has reverted back to private
property which means that a num-
ber of landowners must be negoti-
ated with. Chura said that the state
believes it can minimize the envi-
ronmental impact of a trail be-
tween the Lewes entrance and
Gordon's Pond by building on old
roads and trails, some of them dat-
ing back to the time of Fort Miles.
Minimizing the impact would be a
pre-requisite of the work, Chura
said. "This [the trail through the
park] is a project that can be
built," he said.
Ultimately, what Chura envi-
sions is a potential system of trails
for pedestrians, joggers and bicy-
clists which incorporates both of
the new trail elements as well as a
bike path built earlier this year be-
tween the park entrance near
Lewes and the Atlantic Ocean.
Specifically, Chura said that
Delaware hopes to initiate an ef-
fort this year to more closely look
at the feasibility, cost, right of
way and other issues associated
with the rail line route.
He also hopes that the permits,
cost figures and other information
canbe obtained for the route with-
in the park, portions of which
could be built later this year, Chu-
ra said. There is an application
pending for funding to help pay
the cost of the rail line route.
DelDOT
Continued from page 14
been a familiar complaint for
County Council and Stickels.
But while the transportation
plan emphasizes improving exist-
ing roads, it doesn't ignore grow-
ing problems. The plan lists 20 ar-
eas of Sussex County which are
expected to be problems. They in-
clude U.S. 9 east of Five Points,
Route 404 west of Bridgeville,
Route 1 south of Route 16, Route
1 near Rehoboth Beach, U.S. 113
near Georgetown, Route 404 west
of Georgetown, Route 1 south of
Dewey Beach and near Indian
River Inlet and Route 24 east of
Millsboro.
ton D.C. to join Rehoboth Art
League.
She has a Bachelor's Degree in
Fine Arts from the College of
William and Mary with a concen-
tration in museum studies and ed-
ucation and a Master's Degree in
Communication from American
University.
"I am fortunate to have the op-
portunity to build upon the suc-
cess Charles Palmer has achieved
in making Rehoboth Art League
the premier organization for the
arts in Sussex County," said
O'Brien. "The Rehoboth Art
League represents the best a cre-
ative community can offer - artis-
tic and educational excellence that
reflects the unique qualities of the
region."
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