News Briefs 01/11/19

Lewes Mayor and City Council meets Jan. 14
Lewes Mayor and City Council will meet at 7 p.m., Monday, Jan. 14, at city hall. The group will consider an ordinance to combine the historic preservation commission and the commercial architectural review commission.

Also on the agenda is the city’s recommendation to the Department of Transportation regarding the disposition of the railroad tracks within the city, possible action on a request to subdivide the former Otis Smith property on Gills Neck Road into three lots, discussion on comments to the state regarding development of the Lowder Mitchell farm and possible action on the Lewes Running Branch Multi-Use Trail Agreement with the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.

Officials will consider changing Shipcarpenter Street to two-way traffic during the Front Street closure for repaving, will discuss amendments to city code related to feral cats, and may take action on recommendations from the city’s two parking committees. To view the full agenda, go to www.ci.lewes.de.us. 

Surfgimp Foundation fundraiser set Jan. 19
Tickets are on sale for the Surfgimp Foundation’s annual Winter Beach Bash, set for 6-10 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 19, at the Rusty Rudder in Dewey Beach. Tickets are $50/person, which includes dinner prepared by Jimmy’s Grille, a four-hour premium open bar, live reggae music by Zion Reggae Band, a silent auction and a discounted room rate at the Hyatt Dewey Beach the night of the event.

Silent auction items include a 2,000-foot hang-gliding session from Virginia Hang Gliding; two entries into the 2019 Rehoboth Beach Marathon including $50 gift cards from Rehoboth Beach Running Company; one free night at Addy Sea Oceanfront Bed & Breakfast; four 2019 Dover NASCAR Sunday Race tickets; and gift cards and tickets to local attractions.

To purchase tickets go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/surfgimp/ or eventbrite.com and type in Surfgimp Foundation in the browse tab.

Milton planning and zoning to meet Jan. 15
Milton Planning and Zoning Commission will meet at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 15, at Milton library to review concept plans for Milton Elementary School. Funding for renovations to Milton elementary, 512 Federal St., was approved in a March 2016 referendum. Milton elementary students will attend the old H.O. Brittingham school while Milton elementary is under renovation. The renovations are expected to be complete by 2021.

Delaware Manufactured Home Owners Association plans Jan. 19 training seminar
The Delaware Manufactured Home Owners Association will conduct a one-day seminar for manufactured home owners living on leased land. The training session will take place from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 19, at Long Neck United Methodist Church, 32051 Long Neck Road, Millsboro.

This seminar will encompass homeowners’ rights, detail the agencies that support homeowners, explain Title 25, Chapter 70, the landlord-tenant code, arbitration and other vital legislative information pertinent to homeowners on leased land. For more information, phone 443-336-2559.

SDARJ to present Human Trafficking Forum Jan. 15
The Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice will host a forum on Human Trafficking Tuesday, Jan. 15, at 7 p.m., in Trinity Christian Church’s Heritage Hall, 15516 New Road in Lewes. Guest speaker Kate Giannone is a senior probation officer with the Department of Services for Children, Youth, and Their Families in the Division of Youth Rehabilitative Services. Having served as a probation officer for over 12 years, she is currently a member of the Serious Juvenile Offender Unit.

As a volunteer for Zoe Ministries, Giannone seeks to educate people on an alarming problem that tends to fall under the radar of the general public. Zoe Ministries is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide a home that offers physical, emotional, and spiritual healing to victims of domestic minor sex trafficking in and from Delaware.

Anyone interested in finding out more about human trafficking in Delaware or about the Alliance for Racial Justice is welcome to attend. For more information, go to www.sdarj.org.

Vincent re-elected council president
At its Jan. 8 meeting, Sussex County Council elected Mike Vincent, R-Seaford, as president and I.G. Burton, R-Lewes, as vice president. Council also reappointed J. Everett Moore as county attorney. Staff from the Moore & Rutt law firm will represent the board of adjustment, and staff from the firm of Parkowski, Guerke & Swayze will represent the planning and zoning commission as assistant county attorneys.

Sussex council presents grants to nonprofits
At its Jan. 8 meeting, Sussex County Council awarded a $500 councilmanic grant to support the City of Seaford’s Citizens Police Academy and a $1,000 youth grant to the Boy Scouts of America Del-Mar-Va Council, for its annual Sussex County Distinguished Citizens dinner.

Old Orchard rezoning on Sussex council agenda Jan. 15
Sussex County Council will meet Tuesday, Jan. 15, in the county administration building, 2 The Circle, Georgetown. Included on the agenda is discussion of a possible appointment to the planning and zoning commission, and a possible vote on a rezoning application filed by Old Orchard Ventures LLC c/o Barry Baker for a 6-acre parcel along Old Orchard Road near Lewes. See a complete agenda at www.sussexcountyde.gov.

20th RD Democratic Committee to meet Jan. 17
The guest speaker at the Thursday, Jan. 17 meeting of the RD 20 Democratic Committee will be I.G. Burton, Sussex County Council 3rd District representative. Burton will discuss his top priorities for Sussex County including managed, responsible growth, land use and economic development. The meeting will be at Irish Eyes, 105 Union St., Milton, with committee members and guests gathering at 5:30 p.m. for refreshments and optional dinner followed at 6 p.m. by Burton’s presentation. The RD 20 Democratic Committee welcomes the public.

Burton represents the Broadkill Beach, Ellendale, Lewes, Lincoln, Milford, Milton, Primehook Beach and Slaughter Beach areas. Prior to being elected to his current position in 2016, Burton served as a member of the county’s appointed Planning and Zoning Commission. Burton is a Sussex County native and lifelong resident.

Following Burton’s presentation, RD 20 Democratic Committee will conduct its monthly business meeting. Registered Democrats are welcome to attend. For further information, email 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, valuing community involvement, improving the lives of its residents, promoting the best candidates for elections, and supporting Democratic Party values. 

Eastern Sussex Democrats to meet Jan. 12
The Eastern Sussex Democratic Club will meet from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 12, at the Atlantic Sands Hotel Ballroom, Baltimore Avenue, Rehoboth Beach. Speaker of the Delaware House of Representatives Pete Schwartzkopf of the 14th Representative District will host the meeting. He will be joined by Senate Majority Whip Sen. Bryan Townsend from the 11th Senatorial District and House Majority Leader Rep. Valerie Longhurst from the 15th Representative District.

For the $25 cost of the buffet luncheon, attendees will hear a panel discussion on strategies for getting Sussex County Democrats elected, and the 2019 legislative agenda as it is currently shaping up, including how constituents can get involved in the legislative process at the state level. Attendees can also join or renew their membership at this meeting. The annual dues are $30, and all membership fees go directly to Democratic candidates and their campaigns. Outgoing Board Chair Lise Haupt said members will also elect a new board.

She summed up her legacy by saying she has focused on including as many people as possible in the club’s developmental process, and she continues to encourage ongoing and new members to  think about joining its policy meetings. “It’s a great way to get involved and to learn about what’s going on in politics in our area,” she said. To attend the January meeting, RSVP to liseshaupt@yahoo.com. Tickets will be held at the door.

Airport advisory committee to meet Jan. 23
The Delaware Coastal Airport Advisory Committee will meet at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 23, at the Sussex County Emergency Operations Center, Delaware Coastal Airport, 21911 Rudder Lane, Georgetown. The meeting is open to the public.

Dewey Beach Patrol to hold 2019 tryouts March 31, April 7, and April 14
Dewey Beach Patrol will hold tryouts for lifeguard and EMT positions Sundays, March 31, April 7, and April 14, at the Dewey Lifesaving Station, 1 Dagsworthy Ave. Testing will include a one-mile beach run, 200-meter sand sprint, 500-meter swim, rescue simulations and strength testing. Interested parties can go to www.deweybeachpatrol.com or write to DBP Capt. Todd Fritchman, 105 Rodney Ave., Dewey Beach DE 19971 to complete and submit an application.

Lewes budget meeting dates set
Lewes Mayor and City Council will work through the fiscal year 2020 budget throughout February and into March. The first meeting will begin at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 7. Meetings will continue Friday, Feb. 15; Thursday, Feb. 21; Tuesday, Feb. 26; Tuesday, March 4; and Thursday, March 14. All meetings are at 1:30 p.m., except the Feb. 26 meeting, which begins at 10 a.m.

All meetings are open to the public. Council will likely be meeting with various department heads throughout the process. For more information, call city hall at 302-645-7777.

Dewey commissioners to meet Jan. 12
Dewey Beach commissioners will hold their regular monthly meeting at 9 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 12, at the Dewey Beach Lifesaving Station. Commissioners will discuss the quarterly military surplus program inventory report, and discuss and possibly vote to video and/or audio record all board, commission and committee meetings. Commissioners will discuss Ivy on the Bay preliminary site plan submitted on behalf of Highway One Limited Partnership, and possibly schedule additional commissioners meetings in January.

Commissioners will discuss and possibly vote to allow the town to enact a 1 percent hotel tax, and to enter the State of Delaware electric aggregate buying group program. Commissioners may vote to authorize the town manager to issue an RFP for an architect/engineer to produce plans for a new town hall.

Rehoboth City Hall closed for MLK Jr. Day Jan. 22
In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Rehoboth Beach City Hall will be closed Monday, Jan. 21. There will be no residential trash pickup that day. City-wide trash pickup will be Tuesday, Jan 22. Visit cityofrehoboth.com for a trash collection calendar. For more information, contact the communications department at 302-227-6181 Ext. 522 or communications@cityofrehoboth.com.

Henlopen Acres Town Hall closed MLK Jr. Day
In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Henlopen Acres Town Hall will be closed Monday, Jan. 21. For more information call 302-227-6411.