Two characters re-invent community

With big-city problems like traffic and pedestrian fatalities on the rise, some people might won­der if the best days of the Cape Region are behind us.

Then along comes Bruce Chandler. Walk­ing by the Lewes Post Office as he does every day, he took a good look at the building and decided the City of Lewes could do better.

At 100 years old this year, the building was so overgrown with trees and shrubs that most people couldn’t see its architecture. On his own, Chandler decided to change that; once he got the idea, plenty of help materialized.

Plans are now in the works for volunteers to com­pletely relandscape and refurbish the building to show off its early 20th century charm.

“As busy as everybody is, they’re taking time off from their paying jobs to work on this, to give back to the community. I think that’s cool,” said volunteer Kevin McBride, a land­scape architect.

That project alone is enough to remind us how special the people of the Cape Region can be.

Yet along comes Leonard Maull, who had an entirely different way to give back. A big man not known for an especially sunny disposi­tion, Maull could be found just about any day drinking coffee at Angler’s Marina in Lewes or operating Henlopen Bait and Tackle on Savan­nah Road.

Maull made up his mind to give back upon his death. And give back he did – in the form of cash.

That’s how it came to pass that on Aug. 17, a helicopter hovered over Angler’s Marina and Irish Eyes, raining down $10,000 in $5, $10, $20 and $50 bills, recovered by anyone who hap­pened to be there as the money floated down.

Bills drifted into the marsh and the Lewes-Re­hoboth Canal and into the hands of children, employees, customers and visitors.

Two very different people, each with a distinct style, both reinventing the concept of giving back to the community.

With characters like these in our midst, it seems safe to say there’s no problem the Cape Region can’t solve, and our best days, still, lie ahead of us.