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A clean sweep for Lewes on Community Service Day

Council, employees, neighbors hit the streets for fall spruce-up
Lewes Board of Public Works Assistant General Manager Sharon Sexton sweeps along the curb on Second Street during Community Service Day Oct. 3. Citizens joined members of city council and city employees on several community projects around town. BILL SHULL PHOTOS
Bill Shull
October 13, 2025

Al Grossi picked up a broom and went to work cleaning up Second Street.

The recent transplant from Philadelphia wanted to get involved on Lewes Community Service Day, which was held Oct. 3.

“We just moved here and want to become more a part of the community,” he said.

The second annual Community Service Day brought volunteers together with members of city council, city staff and Board of Public Works employees to give the town a fall spruce-up.

“I think it’s a good example for people to see us work together, and there’s work to be done,” said Mayor Amy Marasco. “Second Street is cleaning storm drains, litter, sweeping the street. We’ve got teams all over the city.”

City Councilman Tim Ritzert and BPW General Manager Robin Davis were among the teams that tackled those drains and swept up along the curbs.

Over on Bay Avenue, Police Chief Tom Spell joined city maintenance workers to sweep and grind up debris, and trim tree branches that were hanging in the right-of-way.

Lewes Beach Patrol Capt. Strohm Edwards grabbed a blower to clean off mobi-mats on Savannah Beach.

Councilwoman Trina Brown-Hicks joined volunteers to clean up trash on Savannah Road.

“I think it’s an opportunity to give back to a community that is already thriving and offers such a wonderful venue for walks and various activities,” said Brigette Valesey, who volunteered for the first time.

After their work was complete, everyone gathered for lunch at American Legion Post 17, a thank-you for jobs well done.

 

Councilwoman Trina Brown-Hicks, left, and Brigitte Valesey pick up debris along Savannah Road.
Councilman Tim Ritzert, center, gives instructions to the volunteers who help clean up Second Street.
Janet Reeves, Lewes assistant city manager, guides Cory Castagnaro, from the city’s maintenance department, who is trimming branches in the right-of-way on Bay Avenue.
Lewes Beach Patrol Capt. Strohm Edwards blows sand off a mobi-mat at Savannah Beach.
One crew works to spruce Bay Avenue.
Lewes Mayor Amy Marasco sweeps up debris on Second Street. Marasco said Community Service Day is a great opportunity to bring together city staff, Board of Public Works employees and volunteers.
Councilman Tim Ritzert, left, and Lewes of Board of Public Works General Manager Robin Davis clean up Second Street.
Police Chief Tom Spell picks up a rake and helps spruce up Bay Avenue.
Sharon Sexton, Lewes Board of Public Works assistant general manager, left, and Al Grossi, a new Lewes resident, are part of the team that works on Second Street.
City of Lewes and Board of Public Works employees are joined by citizen volunteers for a group photo outside the city maintenance building on Schley Avenue, before fanning out for community service projects across the city.

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Bill Shull has been covering Lewes for the Cape Gazette since 2023. He comes to the world of print journalism after 40 years in TV news. Bill has worked in his hometown of Philadelphia, as well as Atlanta and Washington, D.C. He came to Lewes in 2014 to help launch WRDE-TV. Bill served as WRDE’s news director for more than eight years, working in Lewes and Milton. He is a 1986 graduate of Penn State University. Bill is an avid aviation and wildlife photographer, and a big Penn State football, Eagles, Phillies and PGA Tour golf fan. Bill, his wife Jill and their rescue cat, Lucky, live in Rehoboth Beach.

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