News Briefs 03/09/18

Dewey commissioners meeting March 10
Dewey Beach Town Council has scheduled a meeting for 9 a.m., Saturday, March 10, in the Dewey Beach Life Saving Station, 1 Dagsworthy Ave. Agenda items include a report by the town's independent auditor on the procurement practices of town departments, the hiring of a new town manager, a possible settlement in a lawsuit with former Commissioner Rich Hanewinckel and possible passage of the Fiscal Year 2019 budget that begins April 1. A full copy of the agenda is available on the message board of the life saving station, online at www.townofdeweybeach.com, and at town hall, 105 Rodney Ave.

Dewey charter review meeting set March 10
The Dewey Beach Charter and Code Review Ad Hoc Committee has scheduled a meeting for 2 p.m., Saturday, March 10, in the Dewey Beach Life Saving Station, 1 Dagsworthy Ave. The agenda calls for discussions on potential amendments to all sections of the town charter, and the roles, responsibilities and interrelationships of the mayor, town commissioners, town manager and department heads.
A full copy of the agenda is available on the message board of the life saving station, online at www.townofdeweybeach.com, and at town hall, 105 Rodney Ave.

Dewey BOA to resume Ed's Chicken case
The Dewey Beach Board of Adjustment is scheduled to resume the case of Ed's Chicken and Crabs at 6 p.m., Monday, March 12, in the Dewey Beach Life Saving Station, 1 Dagsworthy Ave. The appellant, Rusty Catts, is questioning the town's denial of a request to maintain a legal nonconforming status as a food service enterprise that is operated partly or entirely outdoors. The appellant is also questioning the town's decision to require any new structure comply with elevation requirements for structures in flood-prone areas.

The location, 2200 Coastal Highway, is the former Ed's Chicken, which burned to the ground in August 2016. The board first met and took testimony on this issue Feb. 26. A full copy of the agenda is available online at www.townofdeweybeach.com, at the life saving station, and at town hall, 105 Rodney Ave.

Wawa in Lewes reopening March 9
After being closed a month for remodeling, the Wawa on Route 1 in Lewes is scheduled to reopen at 6 a.m., Friday, March 9. During an announcement of the closing in February, Colleen Labik, Wawa representative, said new layout features will improve to advance efficiency and to support an expanded food and beverage offer. Some of the new items in this store will be handspun milkshakes and custom-made salads, she said. Labik said the Lewes store, 17663 Dartmouth Drive, first opened in May 2006.

Rezoning application on Sussex agenda March 13
Sussex County Council will meet at 10 a.m., Tuesday, March 13, in the county administration building, 2 The Circle, Georgetown. Included on the agenda is a public hearing for an application filed by LMHT LLC to rezone a 6-acre parcel along Plantation Road from AR-1, agricultural-residential, to B-1 neighborhood business district. Public hearings get underway at 1:30 p.m. The county planning and zoning commission has recommended approval of the application. See a complete agenda at www.sussexcountyde.gov.

No election for Cape Henlopen school board
Incumbent Jessica Tyndall, Cape Henlopen school board representative for area A which covers the northern end of the district, was the only candidate to file for the five-year seat. Tyndall, a Milton resident with three children, will remain on the school board. She currently serves as vice president. Tyndall was elected to the board in 2016 following a special election to fill the seat held by the late Noble Prettyman.

Forum focuses on improving racial justice March 13
Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice will host Rep. James Johnson at 7 p.m., Tuesday March 13. He will be updating the public on important legislation, recently enacted or pending, that should improve racial justice in Delaware. Also, he will advise attendees on how they can support such efforts through legislation or other means. They are also hoping to hear about any gun legislation being considered. The meeting will be held at Heritage Hall, Trinity Faith Christian Center, 15516 New Road. Lewes. For details call 302-645-5446.

Eastern Sussex Democrats to meet March 17
Delaware Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester will be the keynote speaker at the 11 a.m., Saturday, March 17 meeting of the Eastern Sussex Democrats Club. She will be joined by Rep. Valerie Longhurst in discussing winning strategies for electing Democratic candidates in Sussex County. Longhurst will also touch on legislation that she is sponsoring that guarantees equal rights for women Delawareans.
The club will also hear from one of several Democratic Party candidates for state attorney general, Tim Mullaney, who is a former Dover police officer, and former adviser to New Castle County Executive Tom Gordon.

The luncheon meeting will be held at in the Atlantic Sands Hotel's Atlantic Boardwalk Grill on the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk between Maryland Avenue and Baltimore Avenue. The club's Voter Information Table will also be open. Attendees will get help navigating the iVOTE.DE.gov website for answers to all of their voter registration questions and connecting them to their state Democratic Party district representatives. Club President Lise Haupt said, "Sussex Democrats have made it their goal to win seats at every level of Sussex County representation, from Sussex County Council to the state Senate and House of Representatives. It's time to get serious and elect more Democrats." The Eastern Sussex Democrats Club is an independent grassroots political organization that meets monthly to discuss topics and issues that are important to all people living in Sussex County. New members may join the club at this meeting; the annual dues for 2018 are $30. The luncheon buffet costs $20. Be prepared to pay with cash or check only (no credit cards). RSVP to liseshaupt@yahoo.com.

Briggs King to address Republicans March 19
Rep. Ruth Briggs King, 37th District, will speak at the Monday, March 19 meeting of the Eastern Sussex Republican Club. The meeting is held in the large meeting room of the Lewes Public Library, 111 Adams Ave., from 6 to 8 p.m., and is open to the public. Briggs King recently announced she is sponsoring a bill that would require the state's operating and capital budget, as well as the Grants in Aid Bill, to be filed at least two days before being acted on by the Delaware General Assembly. Briggs King notes that currently, funding bills sometimes get introduced late at night, and voted on just minutes later. This practice is not good governance, and a disservice to all Delawareans, she added.

Briggs King will discuss a number of issues confronting the General Assembly, and Sussex County residents. Briggs King is in her ninth year as a representative from the 37th District. She currently serves on the transportation, land use and infrastructure, veterans affairs, public safety and homeland security, health and human development, and manufactured housing committees. For further information, contact Phoebe Cottingham, president of the Eastern Sussex Republican Club, at eastsussexrepclub@icloud.com, or 571-242-0354.

RD20 Democratic Committee to meet March 15
Trinidad Navarro, Delaware's insurance commissioner, will speak at the RD20 Democratic Committee meeting Thursday, March 15, at Fish On Restaurant, 17300 Village Main Blvd., Lewes. The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. with the presentation at 6 p.m. The public is welcome. Navarro was elected in 2016 as the 26th insurance commissioner. In this role, he oversees the regulation of the Delaware Insurance Market and the department's consumer protection efforts. A lifelong Delawarean and consumer advocate, Navarro has an extensive record of public service. His presentation will focus on the state's health insurance marketplace, including the issue of access to affordable and quality healthcare. The Department of Insurance is the largest consumer protection agency in the state. It recently opened an office in Georgetown, providing Sussex County residents accessibility to speak to department personnel locally.

Following the presentation, RD20 Democratic Committee will conduct its monthly business meeting. At the meeting there will be a listening session on issues of importance to millennials and an overview of Politics 101 in District 20. All registered Democrats in the district are welcome to attend. For further information contact Kerry Thalheim at kerrythalheim@aol.com. RD 20 is the local Democratic Party organization for residents in the Lewes, Coolspring, Harbeson and Milton areas of Sussex County. RD 20 is an advocate for the common good.

Rappa to address 37th District Democrats
If new to Delaware and Sussex County, people may be finding its political subdivisions somewhat confusing. This is an opportunity to learn how House representative and Senate districts, Sussex County Council districts, and school districts fit together and overlap one another in Sussex County; and where to vote, and how all of these fit into living politically in Delaware. Paulette Rappa, originally from New Jersey, has devoted her time in Delaware as a candidate and political activist in the Democratic Party. A two-time candidate for the 37th Representative District, she has learned the ropes to understand and be able to clearly explain how all this works.

On Monday, March 12, at 6 p.m., Rappa will be presenting a workshop titled Delaware Politics 101. This informative workshop is a valuable tool to new Delaware voters who wish to have a better understanding of how they are represented on the local, county and state levels, the current political climate in the county and state; and how or where critical issues are made by elected representatives.
This event, open to the public without charge, will be held at Captain's Pizza, Nanticoke Crossing, Route 24 in Long Neck.