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Winter’s Chill
I must admit that for me the arrival of
winter is never a cause for much celebration. Brisk temperatures and
snow do nothing but remind me of how much I prefer the warmer months.
It’s not that I don’t enjoy winter
activities…I’m a big fan of sitting by the fire or sleeping in a
warm, comfy bed. I can even appreciate the cold outdoors…especially
from the vantage point of a nice, toasty hot tub. I just don’t like
the feeling of discomfort that comes from getting excessively cold.
Without a doubt, I was never meant for winter activities like skiing,
sledding or skating—give me a cozy ski lodge any day!
Since early December, the resort area has
been experiencing an extended string of cold, breezy days and periodic
snowfalls. While the snow added a refreshing new look to the region, it
often discouraged all but the most determined individuals from enjoying
the out-of-doors. I must confess, for all my complaining, even I have
made an occasional effort to bundle up and get outdoors to enjoy the
special beauty offered by the winter landscape. While I doubt this will
ever become a favorite personal pastime, I must admit it was well worth
the effort!
Out with the Old…in with the New
The end of the calendar year is always a
favorite time for me. I really enjoy the busy holiday season spending
time with friends and family. I always like to save vacation to make the
most of the season. This year was no exception. I was especially
fortunate to get much of December off. Amid all the festivities, the
highlight of my holidays was a trip my partner, Bob, and I took to
Paris. Our friends Matt Carey and Frank Sterner joined us there. Matt
and Frank are “Rehoboth locals” who had just recently moved to the
Netherlands. The trip was a great opportunity to re-connect with good
friends in a very special place.
The week was filled with the requisite
tours of major attractions including the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum and
the Palace of Versailles. Although I enjoyed each of these attractions,
my favorite activity was simply sitting and talking in Paris cafes while
watching people wander by on the streets. Of course, no vacation would
be complete without shopping. I got to indulge my personal obsession
with collecting compact discs by exploring every music store I could
find. Bob indulged his latest hobby, collecting Japanese tetsubins (iron
teapots), at the massive Paris Flea Market. While he didn’t buy any,
he got the opportunity to see quite a few exquisite examples of the
antique iron teapots. Of course, this just served to “fan the
flames” of his enthusiasm. I’m afraid I can see a lot of teapots in
our future!
Park Updates
With Paris just a fond memory, it’s
been back to work for me. The winter months are always a hectic time for
everyone in Delaware State Parks. In many ways, this is our most
important time of year. We take this time to assess the past year and
plan the necessary changes for the coming season. The preparations we
make during the winter months ensure our success in meeting visitors
needs in the coming summer months.
It appears that 2003 will be an
especially challenging time for the Division. Tight budgets throughout
state government means our staff will need to work extra hard to keep
our parks functioning smoothly. Not only are financial resources tight,
but a “freeze” on filling open fulltime positions has left a
significant number of vacancies throughout the Division. While this
creates many challenges, I am confident our dedicated staff will
continue to go the extra distance to provide quality service to our park
visitors.
At Cape Henlopen, progress continues to
be made on several important projects. At the Gordons Pond parking lot,
“phase I” landscaping was completed this past autumn. Bids will soon
be solicited for “phase II” landscaping which is anticipated this
spring. The “phase II” project involves planting all “open”
areas with various varieties of native shrubs, trees and plants
including 40,000 American beachgrass plants. The final landscaping
should really set off the renovated parking area.
Another project at Gordons Pond will be
the construction of a picnic pavilion at the north end of the parking
lot. The pavilion will have a similar design to the one located at the
fishing pier on the Lewes side of the park. This new structure will
likely go out to bid in the next couple of months. If necessary,
construction may be delayed until autumn to avoid impacting summer use
of the parking area.
The final “major” project at Cape
Henlopen is “phase I” construction of the Junction and Breakwater
Trail. This trail will ultimately connect Lewes and Rehoboth on the west
side of the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal. At this time, the Division hopes to
award the bid for the project in late February. Hopefully, construction
will begin in the spring with completion in autumn. Stay tuned for
future updates on this important project.
Valentine’s Day
I always look forward to the arrival of
February 14—Valentine’s Day. No matter who we are, we all have
special people—partners, friends or family—in our lives. While we
shouldn’t need a special day to remind us how important these people
are, it is a nice opportunity to acknowledge what they mean to us. In
honor of the holiday, here’s my personal list of the best
“romantic” spots in our beach parks:
• The Point of Cape Henlopen.
Unquestionably one of the most scenic and photographed locations in
Delaware. The parking lot offers spectacular views of the Delaware Bay
and nearby lighthouses. Views of sunsets on the bay are especially
beautiful! Those of you who are hardy might want to “bundle up” and
take a hike around the Point before it closes on March 1 to accommodate
the arrival of nesting shorebirds.
• Towers Road Bay at Delaware Seashore State Park. A quiet
bayside parking area located just south of Dewey Beach off Route 1. The
parking area features incredible views of the Rehoboth Bay at sunset!
• Gordons Pond Trail Observation Platform. Located at Cape
Henlopen State Park, this facility offers scenic views of the pond and
the nearby ocean. This is a great site to observe waterfowl and
shorebirds.
• Sunrise over the Atlantic from any ocean-side area. Simply
spectacular!
• Fishing Pier at Cape Henlopen. Located on the Delaware Bay,
this pier gives amazing views of the Point of the Cape and the inner
breakwater.
Why not check out one of these great
places with your special someone? You won’t regret it!
For more information about upcoming
programs and activities, check out our website at www.destateparks.com.
And if you have any questions or suggestions for future topics, please
e-mail me at stephen.schilly@state.de.us
Nature’s Best Bets
If you are looking for fun winter
activities, some “best bets” at Cape Henlopen Nature Center include:
Predators Of The Sea •
Saturday, Feb. 15, 1 p.m. Orcas, sharks and barracudas, oh my!
Whelks, jellyfish, crabs and a whole host of other less fearsome
creatures are predators of the sea as well. Explore what it means to be
a predator and learn about some of the interesting marine predators that
inhabit the waters around Cape Henlopen.
Last Call • Saturday, Feb. 22, 10
a.m. Take a last hike around the Point of the Cape before it is
closed in preparation for the arrival of piping plovers and other beach
nesting birds.
Jacob Jones: The Man, The Ships, And
The Tragedies • Sunday, Feb. 23, 1 p.m. Jacob
Jones, Delaware native and American naval hero, was the namesake of two
ill-fated destroyers that met their ends at the hands of German U-boats
during World Wars I and II. The second ship lies on the ocean floor just
50 miles off the coast of Delaware. Join us to learn about this
intriguing Delawarean and the ships that bore his name.
For more information on these and other
park programs, contact the Seaside Nature Center at 302-645-6852.
Stephen Schilly is Park Operations
Administrator Delaware Division of Parks and Recreation. He may be
reached at sschilly@state.de.us.
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