THURSDAY, JUlY 30, 2009
vol. 14 No. 15
News FERRY - Plans are advancing for the Woodland Ferry Festival, scheduled for September. Page 3 CARNIVAL - Are 1,000 gallons of oysters and more than 800 dozen soft-shelled crabs enough to satisfy cravings at the Sharptown carnival? Page 4 BUSINESS - Sussex will participate in a new program that will lend millions in bonds to businesses expanding or adding jobs, Page 6 PAY PER VIEW - A Delaware Attorney General rules the county can charge residents to see emails. Page 8 POLICE - Two fatal accidents, a fraud scheme and arrests for bringing contraband into a prison are elements of the Police Journal. Page 10 HOMECOMING - Finally, the time has come for an important announcement from Lynn Parks. Page 11 BREAK-INS - Series of commercial break-ins frustrating for local business owners. Page 12 AFRAM - Seaford’s annual AFRAM Festival is not just for African-Americans. Page 13 HOUSING - The Real Estate Association invites the public to learn about a new law. Page 47
Sports JUNIOR LEAGUE - The Nanticoke Junior League baseball team competed in the state tournament last week in Georgetown. Page 24 SWIM tEAMS - The SSA and SGCC swim teams were in action recently. Results and photos begin on page 24.
Index Auto Alley Bulletin BoArd Business ChurCh ClAssifieds eduCAtion finAl Word GAs lines Gourmet heAlth
31 16 6 20 32 35, 39 47 39 14 40
letters lynn PArks movies oBituAries PAt murPhy PeoPle PoliCe JournAl Puzzles sPorts tides
46 11 7 22 19 38 10 42 24 7
50 cents
Promoters say film making bill would help Delaware economy By Lynn R. Parks
W
hen “Dead Poets Society,” the Oscar-winning film starring Robin Williams, was filmed at St. Andrew’s School near Middletown in 1989, it brought with it more than 100 jobs and contributed more than $6 million to the state’s economy. It is that kind of economic success that Brian Sowards and Chris Stout with the Delaware Film Initiative would like to replicate. Sowards and Stout both lobbied for House Bill 250, which would have allowed the state to offer loan guarantees for banks on film projects. In return, 80 percent of the film would have to be shot in Delaware. HB 250, based on a similar program in New Mexico that has generated 10,000 jobs and more than $2 billion in investment in the state, was introduced in the House but did not come to the floor for a vote before
the end of the legislative session. But Sowards, who is also vice president of the Delaware Film Company, is not discouraged. “The bill will be presented again in January” at the start of the new legislative session, said Sowards. “There is a growing coalition for this. Every month, we hear from more people who say, ‘This really makes sense. ” Delaware has “incredibly diverse locations” to offer filmmakers, he said, beaches, 200-year-old towns including Old New Castle, farms, Wilmington’s metropolitan area and suburbs. In addition, he said, because it is a small state, getting permits to shoot in locations would be “a lot easier” than in larger states. In turn, he said, the film production industry would mean jobs for the state. About 80 percent of a film’s budget goes to pay personnel, he Continued to page three
Council told citizens will regret Seaford closed pool By Lynn R. Parks
Kathleen Taylor of Seaford told the city council Tuesday night that its decision to permanently close the community pool was wrong. The council voted during its April 28 meeting to close the 30-year-old pool, citing increasing costs and declining attendance. “Could no alternative be found other than closing the pool?” Taylor asked. “I think there must be a way of reopening and keeping the pool open for our citizens and especially for our children.” But city council members defended their vote. City manager Dolores Slatcher showed a series of pictures of problems at the pool that need correcting. Primary among them, she said, is the diving board base, which
is rusty. “I haven’t checked to see how much it would cost to replace the diving board, but the last time we did it it cost multiple thousands of dollars,” she said. Other problems include a faulty roof, siding that is falling off and missing tiles on the baby pool. Slatcher was unable to give an estimate of how much money it would take to fix up the pool. Taylor, who has arthritis and said that she swims every day, was in Florida when the council voted to close the pool. She just returned to Seaford this month and when she learned that the community pool was closed, she joined the Seaford Golf and Country Club. But that option is not available for Continued to page 45
Special Election Monday, Aug. 3
Four candidates are competing for the state Senate seat in the 19th District that was held by the late Thurman Adams Jr. They are Polly Adams Mervine, Thurman’s daughter, state Rep. Joe Booth, Matthew A. Opaliski and Gwendolyn Jones. Democrat Mervine said there are multiple issues that need to be explored, including a balanced budget and strong financial management without higher taxes. She favors a smaller, better organized state government. State Rep. Joe Booth, R-37th, owner and operator of Thoro-Kleen Dry Cleaning Inc., has served on the town council, as Georgetown’s mayor and on the Indian River School Board. Gwendolyn Jones of the Libertarian Party is a supporter of individual rights and, as a long time small business owner, said she will work to promote free-market entrepreneurship. Matthew A. Opaliski of Greenwood has been involved in politics at many levels. He said he’s ready “to shake things up and I look forward to doing just that if I’m fortunate enough to be elected.” Only those in Senate District 19 will be voting in the Special Election. Visit http://pollingplace.delaware.gov/ to find out if you will be voting and where. Election hours are 7 a.m to 8 p.m.