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MAY 26, 2023
THE LOCAL VOICE OF YOUR COMMUNITY.
IRSD allocates $2.8M to return phonics to prominence
Volume 20, Issue 21
FREE
LB hosting arts, patriotism events
By Mike Smith Staff Reporter The Indian River School District passed a $2.8 million budget allocation on Monday night, May 22, to improve “the science of reading” and return phonics to the front row of teaching methodology in IRSD schools. The funding will include $2 million in ESSER (Elementary & Secondary School Emergency Relief ) funds originally approved during the pandemic in 2020-2021 through the Delaware Department of Education. The new program is called Core Knowledge Language Arts, or CKLA, to replace and update the Elementary Language Arts, or ELA program, that has been administered for the past seven years in the schools. The school district has more than $12 million of this ESSER money remaining for 2023-2024. The updated reading education program, coming in
By Susan Canfora Staff Reporter
See IRSD page A3
Former Fenwick DQ building demolished, to become Surf Bagel By Kerin Magill Staff Reporter An iconic Fenwick Island building, which has been in a state of partial demolition for about a year, has been torn down this week in preparation for a new building on the property. With the demolition of the former Dairy Queen building on Coastal Highway, plans for a new building are being finalized. Property owner Joseph Balsamo Jr. said it will house a new Surf Bagel restaurant. “The tenant is going to be Surf Bagel,” Balsamo said this week. Plans for the building are “about 90 percent done,” he said, adding that he See BUILDING page A7
Coastal Point • Darin J. McCann
Above, volunteers helped erect an array of flags outside of Lord Baltimore Elementary School on Tuesday, May 23, in preparation for this weekend’s Memorial Day celebration. Top right, Selbyville artist Carol Gentes will show her art this weekend, like her ‘Octopus’ painting.
Two events are planned Memorial Day weekend at Lord Baltimore Elementary School in Ocean View — one for those with an artistic manner and the other to pay tribute to the country’s heroes. The South Coastal Delaware AARP Scholarship Committee’s Artisans Fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 27, and feature items including those made of clay, paintings and jewelry by more than 60 artisans. Six farmers’ market vendors will be there from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. There is no admission charge, and parking is free. That day, in memory of fallen soldiers and first-responders, the Southern Sussex Rotary Club will also present Flags for Heroes, in conjunction with the national Rotary program. About 100 flags have been erected at both Lord Baltimore and at Blades HVAC in Dagsboro. They will remain up until about one week after Memorial Day. During a patriotic program at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 27, they will also be saluted. Ocean View Police Chief Kenneth McLaughlin will be guest speaker for that event, talking about the meaning of Memorial Day and how it also relates to first-responders. Boy Scouts will present the colors. The Indian River High School Band will play patriotic songs. The national anthem will be sung, the “Pledge of Allegiance” said and the names of all honorees read by dignitaries including state Rep. Ron Gray. “Memorial Day, historically and predominantly, has been to memorialize See EVENTS page A4