Assembling the 12 pipers piping, nine ladies dancing, four calling birds, 10 drummers drumming, and all the rest of the Twelve Days of Christmas characters in the Cape High gym would raise a rousing holiday ruckus. That dissonant but joyful chorus would be hardly enough, however, to celebrate the many gifts that have been received by the people of Delaware's Cape Region in 2016. In the spirit of the traditional holiday song, here's a list of 12 gifts. There are certainly more, but these are enough to remind us of how blessed we are.
1. Cape Henlopen District voters approved a $48 million referendum to support - in concert with the state Department of Education - more than $100 million worth of new and renovated elementary schools in Lewes, Milton and Rehoboth Beach. That package also includes a new school for the Sussex Consortium, a highly acclaimed program that draws families with autistic children from a wide region. The referendum reinforced the area's reputation for placing high value on education.
2. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed another beach replenishment project for Rehoboth and Dewey.
3. Sam Wilson dug deep into his, and Sussex County's, agricultural heritage by voting with a majority of other Sussex Council members against the Overbrook Town Center rezoning.
4. The amazing running and outdoors culture of our Cape Region continued to provide dozens of opportunities to improve health and happiness while boosting the local economy.
5. The greater Lewes community cut the ribbon on a new public library and community center.
6. Rehoboth Beach commenced construction of its new City Hall.
7. Cape Henlopen State Park reopened its renovated fishing pier.
8. Several signalized crosswalks started functioning along Route 1, making our main street far safer.
9. Fourteen miles of sidewalks along both sides of Route 1 opened to further the safety.
10. Lewes residents completed their quest for a dog park.
11. The new trailhead and first segment of the Lewes to Georgetown rail-with-trail project opened.
12. Fort Miles Historical Association installation of its historic 16-inch cannon in its WWII museum complex.
-
Editorials are considered and written by Cape Gazette Editorial Board members, including Publisher Chris Rausch, Editor Jen Ellingsworth, News Editor Nick Roth and reporters Ron MacArthur and Chris Flood.
