News Briefs

Rehoboth city hall progress topic May 17

The Rehoboth Beach commis­sioners will hear a presentation and hold discussion on the prog­ress of the City Hall Master Plan Task Force, including a discussion of funding at the com­missioners’ 7 p.m., Friday, May 17 meeting in the city commis­sioners’ room. The task force has been working on forming schematic plans for a potential new city hall and is now looking to the commissioners for an OK on whether to continue its work.

A permit of compliance hear­ing will be held for Avenue Inn Hotel Lobby Bar, 33 Wilmington Ave., a new restaurant with a patio. Ken Simpler of Avenue Associates LLC has requested the permit.

The commissioners will con­sider adoption of a new Freedom of Information Act policy for the city, as well as set fees for providing copies of city records requested under FOIA.

Mayor Sam Cooper will pro­vide an update on the status of the wastewater ocean outfall. Commissioner Stan Mills will give reports on the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association’s activities and the installation of uniform way-find­ing signs along the Boardwalk.

Cape school board election set May 14

Incumbent Noble Pretty­man will face newcomer Alisha Broughton May 14, when resi­dents cast votes for the 5-year board seat held by Prettyman.

Polls will open at 10 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. at Rehoboth Ele­mentary School, Cape Henlopen High School and Mariner Middle School.

Milton historical committee to meet

The Milton Historical Preser­vation Committee will meet at 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 14, at the Milton Public Library. Members will consider an application to replace 17 windows and remove siding at the home located at 309 Union St. The group will also discuss an application from Sus­sex County Council to modify the exterior of the Milton Public Library. For more information, call town hall at 302-684-4110.

Milton council to host town hall meeting

Milton Town Council has re­served a room in the Milton Public Library from 1 to 3:30 p.m., Saturday, May 18, to host a town hall style meeting.

The meeting is an opportunity for residents to voice their opin­ions, concerns and expectations for the town to council. At the end of the meeting, Mayor Mar­ion Jones and council members will discuss the next step. For more information, go to www.milton.delaware.gov or call town hall at 302-684-4100.

Cape to hold meetings on elementary plans

The Cape Henlopen school board will hold a couple of community meetings to pres­ent building options for new elementary schools and gather public input. The meetings will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, May 20, at Beacon Middle School and at 6 p.m., Tuesday, May 21, at Mariner Middle School.

Sussex council awards grants to nonprofits

Sussex County Council award­ed the following councilmanic grants during its April 30 meet­ing: $1,000 to Trap Pond Partners for its Healthy Kids Day; $264.95 to Sussex Technical High School for its fall sports poster; $750 to Town of Georgetown for the Sat­urday, May 18, Spring into Spring Festival; $1,000 to Georgetown Boys and Girls Club to support its first golf tournament; $200 for American Legion Auxiliary Unit 28’s poppy program for veterans; $1,000 to Ducks Un­limited for its annual Greenwing Day for children; $400 to Gators men’s softball team for tourna­ment expenses; $500 to CHEER for Wheels for Meals classic car show on Saturday, June 29, at the Georgetown CHEER Center; and $1,000 to Sussex Cyclists for its safety program.

Council presents grants to nonprofit agencies, or­ganizations and teams providing services and programs to county residents.

Piping plover nesting season off to a good start with three nests

Unseasonably cool weather aside, the piping plover nesting season has gotten off to a note­worthy start with three nests spotted last week on the Point at Cape Henlopen State Park. A pair of piping plovers also has been seen at Gordons Pond, but they don’t appear to have set up a territory there yet.

As many as nine piping plovers have been sighted at one time out on the tidal flats on the bay side of the Point, and it is expected that more pairs and their nests will reveal themselves in the near future. In other beachnester bird news, two American oyster­catcher nests were found on the Point last week. Unfortunately, both nests were too close to the high tide line and have either succumbed to flooding or were taken by predators.

To date there has been no sign of beachnester bird activity at Delaware Seashore State Park.

For more information on beachnesting birds and moni­toring efforts, contact wildlife biologist Matthew Bailey at 302-382-4151 or email matthew.bailey@state.de.us.