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So.-OS0000:
Surfriders oppose Cape
Park groin project
The following letter was sent to
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
with a copy submitted to the Cape
Gazette for publication.
We, the members of the
Delaware Chapter of the Surfrider
Foundation are strongly opposed
to the proposed rehabilitation and
extension of the groin located at
the south end of Cape Henlopen
State Park.
The groin is designed to inter-
rupt and trap the 16ngIbore flow
of sand from south to north for the
protection of vate homes locat-
ed on the ocean atNorth Shores.
The sand builds up on the south
side of the groin (updrift accre-
tion) at the expense of the north
side (downdrift erosion). This
groin 'steals' sand from one end
of the beach that would normally
be deposited on the other end of
the beach. There is no net change
in the total beach sand supply due
to the presence of a groin. The
groin merely transfers erosion
from one place to another place
further down the beach (down-
drift), in this case, Cape Henlopen
State Park.
Since the groin has been built at
the south end of Cape Henlopen
State Park, the downdrift erosion
has begun and is clearly evident
by the surf washing to and beyond
the World War II Towers located
just north of the groin. Not only
has the existing groin endangered
the life expectancy of these two
towers but also the integrity of
Gordon's Pond. In addition, the
additional 79 linear feet of the
'North Shores groin will only
cause more erosion to the north,
thereby affecting local habitat, in-
cluding but not limited to large
numbers of ducks, geese, osprey
and other migratory birds that
flock to Gordon's Pond every
Year as well as the Ghost Crab and
the piping plover. :
Once the first groin has been
built, the downdrift property,
Cape Henlopen State Park, must
protect its beach by building its
own groins and the beach then be-
comes lined with groins from
North Shores to the tip of Cape
Henlopen. These groins create a
domino effect known as erosion
waves. These waves are curves in
the shoreline that will be formed
northward of the initial groins. A
series of groins causes a current
flow configuration called a ceil.
These currents create a beach
shape called a fillet beach on the
updrift side of the groin. Fillet
beaches and erosion waves from
groins have several negative im-
pacts: they create currents next to
the rocks, causing swimming haz-
ards, and the deflect the longshore
current seaward, causing erosion
over miles of downdrifi shoreline.
The history of the Cape Hen-
Iopen Lighthouse should be proof
enough that extending the exist-
ing groin at North Shores will on-
ly have a negative impact on our
precious and sensitive state park.
The extended groin may save the
multimillion dollar homes in
North Shores but when the storm
surge and surf come directly on
shore, the beach will be swept
away just as it was in March
1962. Keep in mind there used to
be a row of homes seaward of
Ocean Drive just north of the
Henlopen Hotel.
There is only one permanent so-
Owned formerly by the Ernest Riley family, this house at
the end of Mulberry Street will soon fall to a demolition crew.
Barefootin'
Continued from page 7
"Lavinia did housework for a
number of pilots in town and
Latin worked for Hilly when he
owned the liquor store. I remem-
ber their place because a woman
used to come over one day a week
to do hair for women in the neigh-
borhood. My mother would go
there I called Lavinia aunt as a
sign of respect. There was no one
else in town who did hair. It was
a busy part of town on the days
she came."
Ordinary people livingordinary
lives. It wasn't as quiet in that
part of town as it is now. Not as
many kids running around, not as
many mothers sticking their heads
out screen doors and hollering for
their children and husbands to
come in for dinner.
It's curious to drive down to the
end of that dead-end street, now
overgrown and about to be dozed.
For a moment you can imagine a
different time and different peo-
ple.
It also confirms that there is re-
ally nothing constant but change
and that life goes on.
lution - retreat.
The temporary solution is
beach replenishment.
Natural will always prevail!
Nick Carter
Chairman
Delaware Chapter
Surfrider Foundation
CapeDistrict Teacher
of Year says thanks
I am proud to be a part of our
kindergarten staff, Rehoboth
schools and the Cape Henlopen
School District. I am especially
pleased to represent our district as
Teacher of the Year. What an hon-
or!
A special thank you goes to
many people who share in my
success. I create ideas, implement
programs and facilitate learning. I
could not do it without the follow-
ing
• parents who prepare children
for school each day, help with
homework and volunteer to help
with class projects;
• a PTO that willingly funds-
projects for our children;
• administrators and staff who
encourage and share in my ideas;
• business and community lead-
ers who continually support our
schools. I have always received
an excited "yes" when I approach
them for donations;
• my kindergarten children that
bring to school awareness, enthu-
siasm and a desire for learning;
• my parents, husband, chil-
dren, grandchildren and friends
who contribute to my success;
• Janet Graviet, my paraprofes-
sional, who makes a difference
each day for children in our Class
and Betty Wilson, a volunteer
who has played the piano each
Tuesday for my children; and
• district administrators who
have supported me and allowed
me to be creative in developing
programs for young children.
I thank you all and Cape Hen-
Iopen School District for giving
me this wonderful opportunity.
You are the greatest!
Roxanue Nelson
Rehoboth Elementary
No one understands
Sussex like John Burris
I have known John Burris since
he was a little boy on Lewes
Beach. He and his brothers and
sister were raised in a Christian
household, which taught him the
highest moral and ethical stan-
dards. Growing up, John was al-
ways a kind person who cared
about other people, and he still
does today. This is why John will
make a great governor.
Besides being kindhearted.
John is extremely bright and un-
derstands how to deal with prob-
lems realistically. He will do what
is fight for Delaware because he
understands the needs of all
Delawareans. I.,always knew that
he was destined for greatness. I
am certain he Will prevail in the
election and lead Delaware suc-
cessfully into the 21 st century.
As a senior citizen, and a long
term Lewes Beach resident, I
have wimessext first-hand the un-
desirable changes that have taken
place over the last 50 years. I un-
derstand how important it is to
protect Lewes and Sussex County
from any more of this ill-con-
ceived, poorly planned growth on
Route 1.
DelDOT has been allowed to
become an arrogant, autonomous
kingdom that answers to no one.
The current government in
Delaware has allowed our state
highway department to get out of
control. Knowing John Burris as I
do, I am certain that when he be-
comes governor, he will be in
charge of his own organization,
and then DelDOT will have to an-
swer to him. Contrary to some of
the absurd letters I have read in
the papers lately, nobody has a
better understanding of Sussex
County than John Burris. I sup-
port John Burris for governor of
Delaware because he is the
brightest, most experienced can-
didate. He will get the job done,
not only for Sussex County, but
for our entire state.
Alma Bennett
Lewes
Flag Day tribute
Wednesday, June 14 is Flag
Day. I am enclosing this poem
with the fervent hope that your
newspaper will print it. The au-
thor is unknown, which is unfor-
tunate, as it was very well written.
It would be appropriate as patriot-
ism and respect for the flag is di-
minishing.
"HELLO, REMEMBER ME?
Some people Call me Old Glory.
Others call me the Star Spangled
Banner, but whatever they call
me, I am your Flag. The Flag of
the United States of America.
Something has been bothering
me, so I thought I might talk it
over with you, because it is about
you and me.
I remember that some time ago,
people lined up on bOth sides of
the street to watch the parade and
naturally, I was leading every pa-
rade., proudly waving in the
breeze. When your daddy saw me
coming, he immediately removed
his hat and placed it against his
heart, remember? And you, I re-
member you standing there
straight as a soldier. You didn't
have a hat, but you were giving
the right salute. Remember little
sister, not to be outdone, was
saluting the same as you, with her
right hand over her heart. Re-
member?
What happened? I'm still the
same old flag. Oh, I may have a
few more stars since you were a
boy. A lot more blood has been
shed since those parades of long
ago.
But now I don't feel as proud as
I used to. When I came down your
street y.ou just stood there with
your hands in your pockets. I may
get a small glance and then you
look away. Then I see children
running around and
shouting...they don't seem to
know who I am...I saw one man
take his hat off, then look around.
He didn't see anybody else with
theirs off so he quickly put his
back on. Is it a sin to be patriotic
anymore? Have you forgotten
what I stand for and where I've
been? ...Anzio, Guadacanal, Ko-
rea and Vietnam. Take a look at
the Memorial Honor Rolls some-
time, of those who never came
back to keep the Republic free.
One nation under God. When you
salute me, you are actually salut-
ing them. Well, it won't be long
until I'll be coming down your
street again. So when you see me,
stand straight, place your right
hand over your heart and I'll
salute you by waving back. And
I'll know tbat...you remem-
bered!"
Mervin Ward
Lewes
Outgoing LMS prexy
thanks educators
My seven year association as a
parent, volunteer and former PTA
president at Lewes Middle School
will come to an end at the close of
this school year ............
After much focused,intensiVe
and analytical reflectionIrea,,, .-
ized that I would be reiili
calling attention to a few :6V
many staff members Who
to shape myaititudes and opin-
ions relative to the experiences
my children have had while stu-
dents at Lewes Middle School. I
would also like to acknowledge
the part played by both the school
and the district administrations
since they, under the aegis of the
school board, have been responsi-
ble for the evaluation and reten-
tion of teachers of this caliber.
Some, but not all of these edu-
cators readily come to mind.
Those do include Dr. Marvin
Morris, Ron Kahn, Gil Hense,
Dusty Shockley, Ann Maull, Bill
Sturmfelz, Nick Foery, Angela
Dunmore and Carla Rousak. Still
others, such as Keri Paransak and
Ty Sponseilor are no longer on
staff at LMS but their influence,
as well as that of the aforemen-
tioned, will no doubt remain
imbedded in the minds of my own
children as well as additional
young people.
My own inability to recall other
significant staff members should
not preclude their inclusion in this
group. Close and frequent obser-
vation by administrators and oth-
ers should serve to compensate
for any memory lapses on my part
by filling any omissions.
Meaningful discussions by stu-
dents and their parents might also
help to identify teachers who
were overlooked but worthy of in-
clusion.
Collectively, these teachers
share the power through their be-
haviors and skills to insure that
Lewes Middle School's "attitude"
toward children will be a constant
well into the future. Their contin-
ued and uninterrupted tenure
could guarantee that the reputa-
tion of Lewes Middle School will
prevail even after it moves into
the anxiously anticipated new
school facility.
Nick A. Cofrancesco
Lewes