News Briefs

Sussex County Council meeting on July 30

Sussex County Council will meet Tuesday, July 30, at 10 a.m. in the county administra­tion building on The Circle in Georgetown. On the agenda is discussion of a possible ordi­nance to deal with excessive dog barking. See a complete agenda at sussexcountyde.gov.

Gordons Pond beach reopens with piping plovers fledged

A half-mile portion of ocean shoreline at Cape Henlopen State Park’s Gordons Pond opened July 25. The shoreline was closed to vehicles and pedestrians May 21 to protect nesting piping plovers, which are listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act, and other beach nesting birds from disturbance during their breeding period.

During the 2013 nesting sea­son, one pair of piping plovers nested at Gordons Pond. As many as three pairs have nested there in past years. This year’s nesting pair produced two chicks. Other species that also nested at Gordons Pond this season were American oyster­catchers and least terns, both species that are on Delaware’s endangered species list.

A rare plant species that is also regularly found at Gordons Pond is seabeach amaranth, which is listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act. Seabeach amaranth grows in the same kinds of habitat where piping plovers nest and usually sprouts in late July in Delaware. This season, amaranth has already been found at Gor­dons Pond. Each year, the ocean shoreline beach at Gordons Pond reopens when the last beach­nesting bird has fledged there. The dunes and interdunal areas at Gordons Pond remain closed to the public to protect seabeach amaranth plants and other rare species and plant communities.

Bridge inspection will require Rt. 1 lane, shoulder closure

The Route 1 bridge over Dela­ware Coastline Railroad between Nassau Road and Phillip Way, Nassau, north of Five Points, Lewes, will be inspected from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday, July 30, requiring lane and shoul­der closings. The rain date is Wednesday, July 30, during the same time frame. DelDOT’s Bridge Management Section will first close the right lane and shoulder on Route 1 southbound for inspection. Crews will then close the right lane and shoul­der northbound on Route 1 to complete the inspection of the bridge. Motorists should use caution for the safety of bridge inspectors and for lane shifts on Route 1.

Lyons, Jamison to retain Acres seats

Henlopen Acres commis­sioners David Lyons and Frank Jamison will return for new three-year terms since they were the only ones to file to run.

Lyons will be serving his third term, while Jamison will be en­tering his second. Lyons ran as a resident commissioner, Jamison a nonresident. Town charter dictates the majority of com­missioners must be residents, so at least one commissioner this year would have been a resident. Lyons is currently serving as the town treasurer. Lyons and Jamison will be sworn in at the town’s organizational meeting, 10 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 3.

Abby Adams investiture set in Sussex July 26

The Court of Common Pleas for the State of Delaware will sit in special session Friday, July 26, at 2 p.m. for the investiture of the Hon­orable Abby Adams as a commissioner. The investiture ceremony will be held in Courtroom One of the Sussex County Courthouse, The Circle, Georgetown.

Chief Judge Alex J. Smalls will preside over the special session. Delaware Supreme Court Justice Randy J. Holland will administer the oath of office and offer remarks.

Superior Court Judge Paul R. Wallace will also offer remarks. A reception will follow in the first-floor Jury Orientation Room.