News Briefs

Blues, Brews & BBQ opens The Amphitheater at Heron Ponds

The Amphitheater at Heron Ponds opens its first event fea­turing everything a blues fan could want without going to New Orleans.

“We’ll have six fantastic bands, craft beers on tap and barbecued meat that just falls off the bones,” said Gary Cottingham, event spokesman.

Performers will include Chris English, Lower Case Blues, Dr. Harmonica & Rocket 88, Heather ‘Lil’ Mama’ Hardy, Deanna Bo­gart Band and The Bullbuckers.

Award-winning foods from local favorites such as Slo and Low BBQ, Olde South BBQ and Ad­am’s Ribs will be on hand. Local brew­e ries will feature their best beers in­cluding Evo, Dogfish Head, Tall Tales, Burley Oak, and 16 Mile.

Printed T-shirts, mugs and band merchandise will be avail­able.

The Amphitheater at Heron Ponds is near Delmar just off the intersection of Route 13 and Route 54. From Route 13, turn east onto Route 54 and the event is 300 yards ahead.

Rain or shine, the gates open at 11 a.m., Saturday, June 29, music begins at noon and the event runs until late.

Admission is $10 per person at the gate. Children under 10 are admitted free with an ac­companying adult. A free beach ball goes to the first 125 people to enter. Parking is free. Patrons may bring lawn chairs. Coolers, outside food and beverages, pets, and beach umbrellas are not al­lowed on the premises. Patrons must be 21 years old and have valid ID to buy alcohol.

A portion of event proceeds will be donated to Operation We Care, an organization send­ing care packages to American troops overseas For additional information about Blues, Brews & Barbecue go to www.heronpondslive.com or visit their Facebook page.

Cape Gazette posts early deadlines

Since the Fourth of July falls on Thursday of next week, the Cape Gazette and Beach Paper are posting early deadlines for next week’s editions. The deadline for advertising in the July Fourth Beach Paper is 10 a.m., Friday, June 28.

The retail advertising dead­line in the Cape Gazette for the Friday, July 5 edition is noon, Monday, July 1; the classified advertising deadline is 11 a.m., Tuesday, July 2, as is the news release deadline. The retail and classified advertising deadlines for the Tuesday, July 9 Cape Ga­zette are noon, Wednesday, July 3. The Cape Gazette offices will be closed Thursday, July 4, and reopen Friday, July 5.

Rehoboth offices to open July 4

The Rehoboth Beach adminis­trative offices will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Thursday, July 4. Residential and commer­cial trash will be picked up.

Rehoboth retains real estate tax rate

The Rehoboth Beach commis­sioners unanimously approved keeping the existing real estate tax rate of $1.78 per $100 of as­sessed value. The city last raised the rate in 2011 from $1.55 per $100 to the current $1.78 per hundred.

Sharp, Mills nominations approved

The Rehoboth Beach commis­sioners unanimously approved the nominating petitions of can­didates Toni Sharp and Stan Mills, clearing the way for them to be sworn in as commissioners Friday, Sept. 20. Mills and Sharp ran unopposed after Commis­sioner Pat Coluzzi decided not to seek a third term. Both Mills and Sharp ran as residents.

Milton council to meet with Tidewater July 1

Milton Town Council will meet at 6:30 p.m., Monday, July 1, at the Milton Public Library. Officials from the Tidewater utility company will make a pre­sentation to council. Later on the agenda, council will discuss the sale of 6.31 acres of land on Front Street to Tidewater. Town officials will also discuss the status of the paving and signage issues in Cannery Village and a moratorium on hiring. To see the full agenda, go to milton.delaware.gov.

Sussex off two weeks; offices closed July 4

Sussex County Council is tak­ing its summer vacation and will not meet Tuesday, July 2, and Tuesday, July 9. The next regularly scheduled meeting is at 10 a.m., Tuesday, July 16, in the county administration building on The Circle in Georgetown. Sussex County offices are closed Thursday, July 4, and will reopen at 8:30 a.m., Friday, July 5.

County council awards grants to nonprofits

Sussex County Council award­ed the following councilmanic grants during its June 25 meet­ing: $1,000 to March of Dimes Delaware for The Farmer and the Chef South event and $1,000 to River Soccer Club for tourna­ment expenses. Council presents grants to nonprofit agencies stag­ing events or providing services to county residents.

Long Neck EMS Station 106 is open for business

Sussex County paramedics have moved into EMS Station 106 along Indian Mission Road near Long Neck. Only a few punch-list items need to be completed on the $478,000 project, said John Ashman, director of utility plan­ning, during the June 25 Sussex County Council meeting.

Sussex awards $4.4 million for airport work

Although the bid was 40 percent higher than estimates, Sussex County Council voted 5-0 to approve a bid of $4.4 million from George & Lynch of Dover for milling, paving and electrical work as part of the county air­port’s runway extension project. The bid award is contingent on receipt of 90 percent of fund­ing from the Federal Aviation Administration, said Jim Hickin, airport manager. The remaining 10 percent of the costs will be split between the county and state. Hickin said the price was driven up by the lack of local electrical contractors bidding as subcontractors on the project.