Beau Biden ran for attorney general on a campaign promise to go after child predators. File this one under be-careful-what-you-wish-for. Biden has been confronted with the ultimate nightmare of a case — the prosecution of a Sussex County pediatrician accused of preying on his own patients. There was no doubt Biden had his eye on the Senate campaign. Once Bradley turned into Public Enemy No. 1 in December, however, it was politically impossible for Biden to talk about the Senate.

"Expando," crafted with a hand-picked cast of all-star contributors ranging from Graham Nash to Dwight Yoakam to the Band's Garth Hudson to (wha...?) Kid Rock, shows some flashes of cool, classic rock and folk, but all too often has the same plasticized-country-rock feel that still causes testy debate between rock fans about the Eagles' place in the pantheon.

From the Day-Glo harmony of the Beach Boys to the violent tremolo of the opening notes to Dick Dale's "Misirlou," something about surf music just stirs the soul. Florida-based group Surfer Blood mix a little indie-rock angst in amongst the waves on "Astro Coast," putting together a  sunny record that occasionally wanders into a darker undertow.

Every once in awhile something happens that restores my faith in humanity. Today such an event happened. Sussex County Council persons, Joan Deaver (D-Rehoboth), George Cole (R-Ocean View), and Mike Vincent (R) denied the controversial Lingo-Townsend zoning law change (3-2) that would have definitely compromised the City of Lewes. Councilmen Vance Phillips (R-Laurel) and Sam Wilson (R-Georgetown) voted for the project which was expected. The swing vote was Mike Vincent (R-Seaford), who was expected to vote yes, but he went the other way.

A welcome-back for the Countian's newest reporter, Rachel Swick; a nice, big parking lot to help the Georgetown chamber host the 2011 Delmarva Chicken Festival, and some more of your photo submissions!

During last week's "pre-file" day in the House of Representatives, Rep. Joseph Miro (R-Pike Creek Valley) introduced legislation which would ban the use of cell phones while driving.

In Stephen King's "Under the Dome," Chester's Mill, Maine, is suddenly transformed into a cruel version of an ant farm - or maybe, more accurately, a miniature "Lord of the Flies" - when an invisible, impenetrable dome slaps down over the whole town.

Rep. John Atkins plans to introduce legislation he hopes will make Delaware the toughest place in the nation for a high-risk, repeat sex offender to live (click here to read the proposal).

Click the link above for the Countian's RSS Feed list, all of the best national and world news sources available!

Click the link above for our weekly editorial feature, "3 Things We Want to See This Week": A two-week clean streak for the DUI Tree, more people like Georgetown's William Gibbs and more Countian Reader Advisory Board members.

Led by Italians Stefano Bertozzi and Massimo Eusebio, Banda Olifante joins musicians from all over the world and combines clarinet, saxophone, tuba, horns, accordion and percussion into a swirling mix of the classic and modern, whipping up some heady songs in the process.

From all of us at the Sussex Countian, here's wishing everyone the happiest of holidays. Stay safe, stay warm and hope for some snow! (But just a little. Maybe a slight dusting... that would be better than the rain they're forecasting). Click here to send us your holiday photos for the Dec. 30 issue of the Countian! Click the link above for a gallery of Christmas photos and a special holiday message from the staff.

It’s clear that 2009 was a busy year here in Sussex County. It was a year full of challenges and tough choices, but one in which those obstacles were overcome. As it draws to a close, it’s only natural to reflect on the year gone by.

For a young married couple who has fed their piggy bank on a regular basis over the course of many years, there is no feeling like the one you get the first time you walk into a new home, a home that you now own, that you worked so hard for. As a country and as an industry, we must remember that feeling and do everything in our collective power to provide it to more and more prospective homebuyers across Sussex County, across Delaware and across the United States of America.