News Briefs 10/15/24
Lewes BPW discusses strategic plan
The Lewes Board of Public Works held a special meeting Oct. 7 to discuss updating its strategic plan.
Tom Panetta, BPW board president, said the way the utility handles PFAS, aka forever chemicals, and lead and copper pipes must be revised in the plan. Board members discussed reprioritizing other issues, such as environmental resiliency.
The strategic plan, which was last updated in 2019, will serve as BPW’s operational plan for the next five years. Details can be found at lewesbpwde.gov.
Overfall Preserve at Lewes planners Oct. 15
The Lewes Planning Commission will hold a public hearing at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 15, for Overfall Preserve, a 90-unit townhouse/duplex housing project on the Warrington property between Savannah Road and Kings Highway in Lewes adjacent to the Lewes-to-Georgetown Trail.
The 13-acre parcel, zoned R-5, was recently annexed into Lewes city limits.
The land is owned by Oscar H. Jr. and Thelma M. Warrington trustees. The project would be developed by Breakwater Partners LLC. Plans are to use an existing entrance shared with the planned Dutchman’s Harvest housing project with access to Savannah Road.
For more information, go to lewes.civicweb.net.
Lewes planners to meet Oct. 16
The Lewes Planning Commission will meet at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 16, at the Rollins Center.
The agenda includes discussion and possible recommendation to mayor and council on dog grooming businesses as a permitted home-based occupation.
See the full agenda and meeting link at lewes.civicweb.net.
Shipwrecks of the Eastern Seaboard program set Oct. 16
The Bethany Beach Cultural and Historical Affairs Committee will present Shipwrecks of the Eastern Seaboard at 5 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 16, at Town Hall, 214 Garfield Parkway, Bethany Beach.The program is free and open to the public.
Guest speaker Dale Clifton, director of the DiscoverSea Shipwreck Museum, will explore the maritime archaeology of local and Florida waterways and what can be learned from shipwrecks. For more than 40 years, Clifton has been researching and recovering artifacts from shipwrecks and colonial sites around the world. He said each of the thousands of artifacts he has recovered has a story to tell.
By studying these artifacts, he can present an overview of what life was like centuries ago. Based in Fenwick Island, the DiscoverSea Museum’s ever-changing exhibit expands and diversifies with the acquisitions of new artifacts as they are recovered. The event will feature a small representative display of the 10,000 artifacts housed in the museum’s collection.
African American groups to meet
The Lewes Johnnie Walker Beach Subcommittee will meet at 5 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 17, at city hall.
The agenda includes possible action regarding DE250 grant opportunities.
The Lewes African American Heritage Commission will meet at 6 p.m., also at city hall.
See full agendas and meeting links at lewes.civicweb.net.
Candidates to address RD 20 Democrats Oct. 17
The Delaware 20th Representative District Democratic Committee will hold its regular meeting at 6 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 17, at the Lewes Diner, 1201 Savannah Road, Lewes. An informal social gathering for Dutch treat dinner starts at 5 p.m.
Guest speakers will be Sen. Russ Huxtable, D-Lewes; Rep. Stell Parker-Selby, D-Milton. and Jane Greunebaum, candidate for Sussex County Council. Speakers will discuss campaign strategies for the 2024 general election.
Any registered Democrat in Delaware is welcome to participate in RD20’s social hour and business meeting.
For more information, go to rd20deldems.com. To be placed on RD20’s email list, email rd20.deldems@gmail.com.
RD20 is the local Democratic Party organization for residents of Lewes, Milton, Nassau, Pinetown, Belltown and sections of Harbeson and Georgetown.
Dewey Beach workshop set Oct. 18
Dewey Beach commissioners will hold a workshop at 1 p.m., Friday, Oct. 18 at the Lifesaving Station, 1 Dagsworthy Ave. Council will host a presentation and Q&A session with auditor Dan Kenney regarding town financial procedures. See agenda and link at townofdeweybeach.com.
Dewey commissioners to meet Oct. 18
Dewey Beach commissioners will hold their monthly meeting at 3 p.m., Friday, Oct. 18, at the Lifesaving Station, 1 Dagsworthy Ave. Commissioners will possibly vote to increase the freeboard height requirement and adopt a resolution to accept the conveyance of the Lifesaving Station property from the State of Delaware to the Town of Dewey Beach.
Other possible votes include regulating the use of tents and canopies on the beach, and amending the maximum penalty that can be levied by the alderman court. For the full agenda and meeting link, go to townofdeweybeach.com.
Rehoboth Beach to meet Oct. 18
Rehoboth Beach commissioners will meet at 2 p.m., Friday, Oct. 18, in the city hall commissioners room, 229 Rehoboth Ave.
The agenda includes a public hearing on the definition of trailers and where they can be stored, a discussion on ordinances related to the role of the building official, continued discussion on basements, and possible awarding of a contract for city hall cleaning in the amount of $128,544.
A full agenda, meeting materials and a livestream are accessible at cityofrehoboth.civicweb.net. Only in-person attendees may make comments. For more information, contact the city at 302-227-6181 or information@cityofrehoboth.com.
Dining with Diabetes sessions to start Oct. 23
The University of Delaware Cooperative Extension will host Dining with Diabetes, a five-session workshop, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Wednesdays, Oct. 23, Oct. 30, Nov. 6 and Nov 23, with a reunion Feb. 5, at Sussex County Extension Office, Carvel Center, 16483 County Seat Highway, Georgetown.
Designed for people with diabetes and their families, and open to anyone with or without diabetes, the series includes diabetes education, cooking demonstrations and tasting of healthy foods. Attending all sessions is recommended. Participants will learn strategies to manage their diabetes through meal planning, food selection, portion control and label reading. The fee for the series is $50.
To register, go to udel.edu/0012359 and click on the Dining With Diabetes section in the middle of the page. For more information, contact Kimi Moore at 302-730-4000 or kamoore@udel.edu.
Pet loss support group to meet Oct. 24
HealTree offers a pet loss support group on the fourth Thursday of each month, with the next meeting from 12 to 1 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 24, at 1632 Savannah Road, Suite 9, Lewes.
The group provides a safe and compassionate space for those grieving the loss of a beloved pet. Attendees will be guided by Catrina Stiller, LPCMH-NCC, HealTree owner and founder, as they share experiences, honor their pets, and find solace in the company of others who understand their journey.
Early voting sites to open Oct. 25
The Delaware Department of Elections recently announced the 2024 general election early voting sites and schedule.
Delaware registered voters may vote in person at any early voting site in their county of residence during the 10-day early voting period prior to Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5. Early voting for the general election will begin Friday, Oct. 25.
Early voting sites in each county will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 24 through Tuesday, Oct. 29; and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 30 through Sunday, Nov. 3. To see a complete list of locations, go to de.gov/votinglocations.
In Sussex County, early voting sites are:
• American Legion Post 28, 31768 Legion Road, Millsboro
• Department of Elections Warehouse, 542 S. Bedford St., Georgetown
• Department of Elections Warehouse, 200 Allen St., Seaford
• Ellendale Fire Hall, 302 Main St., Ellendale
• Laurel Fire Hall, 205 W. 10th St., Laurel
• Margaret H. Rollins Community Center, 101 Adams Ave., Lewes
• Midway Early Voting Site, 18585 Coastal Hwy., Rehoboth Beach
• Millville Community Center, 32517 Dukes Drive, Millville
• Roxana Fire Hall, 35943 Zion Church Road, Frankford.
More information is available at de.gov/gen, or by calling 302-739-4277.
Sea Witch closures, parking restrictions
The Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce’s annual Sea Witch Festival will take place Friday to Sunday, Oct. 25 to 27, and there will be several event-related road closures.
Rehoboth Avenue will be closed to all traffic from 2 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 28, until about 4 p.m., Saturday, when fencing is removed after the costume parade.
Posted signage indicates prohibited parking areas on Rehoboth Avenue. In general, parking on Rehoboth Avenue is not recommended; attendees should use adjacent side streets for parking.
Drivers may cross Rehoboth Avenue prior to 9:30 a.m. Saturday using First and Second streets.
State Road, Sussex Street and Fourth Street will be closed Saturday morning for the parade lineup.
Parking will be restricted on Scarborough Avenue.
Five Points Working Group to meet Oct. 28
The Five Points Working Group will meet at 6 p.m., Monday, Oct. 28, at Cape Henlopen High School in Lewes. The meeting is also viewable via Zoom. The topic will be Route 1 congestion management and traffic operations.
The group will also receive updates on ongoing construction projects in the area and discuss the Route 1 low-stress bikeway study. For more information, including a Zoom link, go to https://publicinput.com/t6338#tab-46909.
Work underway on New Road in Lewes
The Delaware Department of Transportation recently announced lane and road closures on New Road and Forecastle Road through the end of November so Chesapeake Utilities can install/relocate a gas line.
Through Saturday, Nov. 30, New Road eastbound will be closed between Creekside Drive and Park Road. A detour route will be marked.
Through Saturday, Nov. 30, Forecastle Road will be closed in both directions. Motorists who want to access New Road from Forecastle Road will take Lightship Lane to Captains Circle.
