A potpourri of miscellaneous news SCRIBBLED IN A REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK

PERMIT SOUGHT: Sunoco has applied for a Costal Zone Act permit to build the sulfur-recovery unit it has promised for its Marcus Hook refinery. Said to virtually eliminate the need to burn off waste gas, the unit would produce 40 long tons of liquid sulfur a day. The Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Control said the unit will require, at a minimum, reactors, blowers, distillation columns, pumps, a tank, valves and an incinerator and new cooling tower. It would emit 214 lbs. of sulfur dioxide, 88 pounds of carbon monoxide and 41 pounds of nitrogen oxide a day. Dennis Brown, a department planner, said that would be "a great improvement over what is happening now."

A copy of the application is available to the public at the Hockessin branch of the county library system and, at Delaforum's suggestion, Brown said he will have one placed soon at the Claymont branch. A public hearing on the permit application has not yet been scheduled.

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AN END RUN?: The Claymont Renaissance steering committee was told at its meeting on Oct. 17 that McDonald's Corp. may be seeking to renovate its outlet on Philadelphia Pike at Harvey Road instead of rebuilding it. Doing over less than half of a structure is permitted without the need to seek approval under the county land use code. In this instance, it would appear to be a way to get around Department of Land Use rejection of a plan to replace the existing building with one modeled on the chain's 1950s eateries, which area residents opposed. "It looks like they are working against the community, not with it," George Lossé, president of the Claymont Community Coalition said.

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HELP WANTED: More than half of the seats on New Castle County boards and commissions are vacant or occupied by persons whose terms of office have expired. A staff report prepared for County Council shows that none of the 12 panels is at full strength. Considerable attention has been given to the fact that no one remains on the Ethics Commission following a mass resignation last summer. Virtually unnoticed outside Government Center, however, is the fact that all seven members of the Compensation Commission and five of seven on the Ambulance Advisory Board are lame ducks waiting for successors or reappointment. All totaled, there are 25 vacancies and 25 expired terms among 96 positions.

The problem is said to lie with difficulty finding qualified candidates. Most of the positions are not paid. Members of the Board of Adjustment, Board of Assessment Review and the Human Resources Advisory Board receive $50 per meeting attended and those on the Planning Board get $100 for showing up at regular meetings and $50 for special ones. The Board of Adjustment reportedly had to cancel a recent public hearing session because it was unable to muster a quorum. Council and the county executive share appointment authority. Councilman Robert Weiner has suggested that the county take out newspaper want ads soliciting applications whenever a spot languishes longer than 60 days.

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ON HOLD -- KINDA: The county is still pursuing a demolition permit to take down an old  farmhouse and outbuilding in undeveloped Jester Park off Grubb Road, but will not immediately do so if it gets one, Delaforum has learned. The Historic Review Board's automatic nine-month moratorium on granting permission has only two months remaining. Meanwhile, preservation interests have proposed that the possibly historic house be fixed up enough to allow a caretaker to live there as a steward. County Executive Thomas Gordon has ordered the Department of Special Services not to make any precipitous moves until it is determined if someone can be found. If not, a second waiting period would not be imposed.

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Federal health authorities report  that seven out of 10 seniors suffer from diarrhea. Does that mean the other three enjoy it?

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Fox Point Association is spearheading an effort to expand Fox Point State Park from its present northern limit to the mouth of Stoney Creek.

Spokesman John Yaschur told Delaforum that officials of the state Division of Parks & Recreation are amenable to spending $500,000 previously earmarked for development of the park along the Delaware River to finance an environmental cleanup and initial preparation for the long-promised second section of the park. The first section was opened in 1995. At this stage, Yaschur said, the intention is to "get a rudimentary park to the people." That would involve providing infrastructure, foot and bicycle paths, grassland, trees and perhaps a ramp for launching small open boats. He said area fire companies are interested in having an entry point to the river for their rescue craft.

The first section of the park was built on land reclaimed from the river for industrial development by the old Pennsylvania and later Penn Central Railroads. It was never used for that purpose, but the steel-mill and other waste material used for fill was contaminated enough that extensive remediation, including installation of a plastic 'cap', was necessary. Yaschur said the area designated for the second section is not in comparable condition and can be handled far less extensively. Fox Point Association, he said, is forming a community steering committee for the project in conjunction with organizations looking to complete the expansion by early in 2004.

Meanwhile, interest is growing over the possibility of extending the proposed completed park beyond the Claymont commuter railroad station to include what once were public beaches behind what is now the Citi Steel plant as an extension of the Claymont Renaissance.

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NEARLY FINISHED: Interior renovation of the Claymont Stone School lacks only installation of a kitchen and small office, attenders at the first Friends of the Claymont Stone School membership event on Oct. 9 were told. Landscaping the property on Philadelphia Pike at Darley Road is planned for next spring. Executive director Carolyn Burlew said completing restoration of the historic building, which dates to 1805, will permit a wide range of educational and community programs to be offered there. Historical consultant Riva Brown presently provides events for school children. The building was saved from being torn down by the Brandywine School District nearly eight years ago. (Go to the Stone School Web site.)