Sports
Community
Hunts
Indians win two out of three
A century of life celebrated
Egg hunts coming soon
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APRIL 4, 2025
THE LOCAL VOICE OF YOUR COMMUNITY.
IRSD to take another swing
Volume 22, Issue 14
FREE
That winning feeling
District to host another referendum June 5 By Kerin Magill Staff Reporter The Indian River School District Board of Education voted unanimously Monday, March 31, to hold a second referendum seeking to raise property taxes to help counteract budget shortfalls for the coming year. The referendum for current expense funding will be held June 5. School board members heard concerns at Monday’s sparsely attended special meeting from several staff members and parents. The meeting was scheduled following the March 20 referendum vote to discuss the district’s next steps. Two dates for a second referendum were discussed, the second being in the fall. “We need to decide tonight,” Superintendent of Schools Jay Owens told the board. Owens added that the 10,265 votes cast on March 20 represented the See REFERENDUM page 3
Botanic Gardens now open for sixth season By Susan Canfora Staff Reporter Delaware Botanic Gardens has reopened for the season with the reminder, “We are a dream, growing day by day in colors of green.” That’s the message at www.delawaregardens.org, proclaiming the beauty of the 37 acres of peaceful gardens in Dagsboro, now in their sixth season, after opening in September 2019. “The Garden is awakening as it does this time of year, coming back into spring glory with perennials coming through,” Director of Horticulture Stephen Pryce Lea told Coastal Point this week, adding it’s the perfect location for a relaxing walk
Coastal Point • Mike Stern
Members of the state-champion Indian river High School football team react as they get their first glance at their championship rings.
IR football champs get their rings, jackets from championship season By Mike Stern Staff Reporter The 2024 Indian River High varsity football team was simply outstanding during its march to the DIAA state championship. The squad’s brilliance in winning the title was matched only by the gleaming green Indians’ logo that highlights their commemorative state championship rings. The attractive circlets were distributed to and revealed by the football student athletes at a title celebration at Signatures at Bayside Resort in Selbyville on Sunday, March 23. The event seemed like more of a family reunion, which didn’t surprise Indian River football head coach Phil Townsend. “Throughout the season, the players, coaches, parents, and boosters have all molded into one big family,” said Townsend.
Raising money for commemorative rings, jackets The Green & Gold had a football season for the ages in
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2024, winning 12 of their 13 games and capturing the school’s third DIAA state title. In the aftermath of the Indians’ thrilling 47-45 victory over previously undefeated and defending state champion Tatnall in Wilmington on Nov. 30, Indians’ football booster parents and several members of the coaching staff began creating a game plan to raise the money to purchase championship rings and jackets. IRHS assistant football coach and booster club parent David Grise stressed the importance of championship rings and jackets. “They are the culmination of a successful season — visible signs of pride for one’s school and team,” said Grise, who coaches the Indians’ offensive and defensive lines, and is also the father of junior quarterback Dylan Grise and offensive lineman Austin Grise, who graduated in 2024. “These are outward expressions for the players to have in hand, to show off their hard work throughout the season. The intrinsic value will always be there for each player and coach. And for many, it gives them the opportunity to proudly boast about their school and team.” A groundswell of local support heroically emerged, and the momentum simply accelerated from that point. By early March, $30,000 had been raised, enabling the purchase of 60 circular white metal rings featuring the See CHAMPS page 7