News Briefs 01-20-17

P&Z nomination on Sussex council agenda
Sussex County Council will meet at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 24, in the county administration building at 2 The Circle, Georgetown. Included on the agenda is the announcement of a nominee for the vacant District 3 seat on the county's planning and zoning commission. The post was vacated by I.G. Burton who was elected to the District 3 county council seat.

Sussex board tables Truitt project to Jan. 23
With one board member absent at its Jan. 9 meeting, the Sussex County Board of Adjustment tabled a vote on a special-use exception application for an assisted living facility near Rehoboth Beach. The board has placed the request on its Monday, Jan. 23 meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. James Truitt Farm LLC has plans to construct an 88-unit, three-story assisted living facility as Phase 2 of an aging-in-place community along Shuttle Road.

Sussex P&Z defers on Burton's Pond vote
Without stating a reason at its Jan. 12 meeting, the Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission deferred a vote on an application filed by Burton's Pond LLC for a 265-single-family lot subdivision on 159 acres at the intersection of Route 24 and Hollymount Road near Long Neck. If approved, the sale of the parcel would include ownership of Burton's Pond.

During a Dec. 22 public hearing, nearby residents expressed concerns with traffic on Route 24, the need for a traffic signal at the Hollymount Road intersection, lot sizes in comparison to neighboring communities and maintenance of Burton's Pond.
Dennis Schrader, the developer's attorney, said the project was first approved in 2006, but was not developed and the application expired. He said the new plan does not include an entrance off Route 24, and the community would connect to the county's central sewer system and not have its own on-site treatment facility.

The commission has 45 days to vote on an application unless the commission and applicant agree to allow for more time.

Lewes Board of Public Works meets Jan. 25
The Lewes Board of Public Works will meet at 4 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 25, at city hall. Dawn Lund, vice president of UFS, will attend the meeting to discuss rates in the water, wastewater and electric utilities and present recommendations for possible rate increases. The group will also discuss the procedure for applying for utility services for areas outside city limits, changing the time to file to run for the BPW election from two months to one month, and setting a date for a workshop on the 2017-18 budget. For more information, call the BPW office at 302-645-6228.

Milton sustainability committee to meet
Milton Economic Development Committee's Sustainability Subcommittee will meet at 10 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 21, at the Milton library for a workshop discussion of plans for 2017. The subcommittee also will meet at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 24, at the Milton library to discuss upcoming events. For more information or a full agenda, go to milton.delaware.gov or call 302-684-4110.

Sister Marches in Delaware Jan. 21

NOTE: 

Due to concerns about numbers and park regulations, it will not be possible to walk tomorrow in the Cape Henlopen State Park.  The new meeting place is Lewes beach #1 (behind the Dairy Queen) at 11 a.m.  This is a walk with friends and a chance to reflect with no speeches, shouting or protesting. 

The Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice is participating in two Sister Marches for those who can't make it to the Saturday, Jan. 21, Women's March in Washington, D.C. At 11 a.m. in Cape Henlopen State Park, participants will gather near the concession area, rain or shine. An email sent out by the alliance Jan. 17 said there will be no speeches and no shouting. The march will be a chance to enjoy the beauty of the beach and to reflect on the lessons of the lighthouse as a beacon of hope in these unique times, said the email.

A New Castle County march begins at 9 a.m. with a candlelight vigil at the Unitarian Universalists Fellowship of Newark, 420 Willa Road. The march leaves from the church at 10 a.m. and will reassemble at the church for an 11 a.m. rally. As of Jan. 18, according to the Women's March website, 616 sister marches had been organized around the world. According to the website, there are buses in Delaware registered to attend the rally in Washington, D.C. For more information on seat availability for the buses leaving from the Lewes area, contact detransportation+lewes@womensmarch.com.

Snyder-Hall steps down from Common Cause
Common Cause Delaware announced Jan. 17 that program director Claire Snyder-Hall would be stepping down, effective Jan. 18.
A press release from the CCDE said Snyder-Hall, hired in February 2015, was moving to Florida to be closer with family. Snyder-Hall is being replaced by Jennifer A. Hill, who comes to CCDE after serving for five years as director of Constituent Relations under former Gov. Jack Markell for the past five years.

Common Cause Delaware is a state chapter of national Common Cause, a nonpartisan grassroots organization with over 700,000 members, dedicated to upholding the core values of American democracy. According to the release, as the new legislative session begins in Dover, CCDE will continue working to implement the campaign finance reforms, establish independent redistricting reform to end partisan gerrymandering in Delaware and strengthen voting rights, ethics laws and government transparency.

Lewes Parks and Rec meets Jan. 23
Lewes Parks and Recreation Commission will meet at 7 p.m., Monday, Jan. 23, at city hall. The group will discuss the parks and recreation budget for fiscal year 2018, beginning April 1. Commissioners will also discuss a request for proposal for the city's landscaping and lawn maintenance for fiscal year 2019. For more information, call city hall at 302-645-7777.

Sussex Village Network sessions planned
Retiring in Sussex County is great, but being far away from family and friends when help is needed can be a challenge. Plan ahead. A one-hour session will educate on the Village movement, communities without walls, that help adults 50-plus live safely and independently at home. Sussex Village Network provides volunteer help with some basic household tasks and transportation, and the services of a professional care manager when they are needed at a very affordable price. Whether interested in membership, have a friend or family member in need, or are thinking about volunteering, plan to attend. Sessions are scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 26, at 11 a.m., and Tuesday, Jan. 31, at 2 p.m. Contact Joanne Saltzberg, volunteer coordinator, at 302-827-6040, Ext. 402, or jsaltzberg@jfsdelaware.org. For more information go to www.brandywinevillagenetwork.org. The Sussex Village Network is a project of Jewish Family Services of Delaware, 20684 John J. Williams Hwy., Lewes.

Sussex Republican Women to meet Jan. 25
The Sussex County Republican Women's Club is holding their January luncheon meeting at Kings Creek Country Club in Rehoboth Wednesday, Jan. 25, at 11 a.m. For required reservations, contact Linda: 302-430-0329 or jlrehm@aol.com no later than Jan. 22. Cost of the luncheon is $23. The GOP women have extended an invitation to Republican candidate John Marino from Senate District 10 to speaK, give his views on Delaware's future, and how he hopes to advance conservative Republican issues. Marino is hoping to win the seat left vacant when Sen. Bethany Hall-Long was elected Delaware's new lieutenant governor.
For additional information go to www.SCRWC.NET.

Learn to navigate senior services in Sussex
The Sussex County Advisory Committee on Aging & Adults with Physical Disabilities will host a presentation by CarePatrol Delaware, a free senior housing placement service that helps families find and sort independent living, assisted living, memory care and in-home care options. The meeting will be held at 10 a.m., Monday, Jan. 23, at the County Administrative Offices West Complex, 22215 N. DuPont Blvd. in Georgetown. Gary and Amy Feger, certified senior advisors, will describe how they assist families to tour and select potential placement options to help them navigate the often-difficult decision-making process. The Sussex County Advisory Committee on Aging & Adults with Physical Disabilities is an 11-member panel established by the Sussex County Council to be an advocate for programs and policies that benefit older and disabled residents. For more information, go to www.sussexcountyde.gov/boards-committees.

Briggs King coffee hour set Jan. 21
State Rep. Ruth Briggs King, R-Georgetown, is inviting constituents of the 37th District to join her for coffee and conversation to discuss issues that may be on their mind Saturday, Jan. 21, between 9 and 10 a.m. at the new JD Shuckers, 21710 Roth Ave., Georgetown. Residents are invited to stop by to ask Briggs King a question they may have or to share with her any concerns about the district or state government. The coffee and danishes will be Briggs King's treat.