News Briefs 02/28/20

The Point at Cape Henlopen State Park to close for nesting season March 1
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced The Point at Cape Henlopen State Park will close Sunday, March 1. The area includes a stretch of ocean beach and dunes, and a half-mile along the bay shoreline.

DNREC said The Point has been closed annually since 1993 for the benefit of threatened and endangered beachnesters and migratory shorebirds, including red knot, piping plovers, oystercatchers, least terns, and other species. The Point’s nesting habitat on the ocean side will reopen Tuesday, Sept. 1. The bayside beach will remain closed until Thursday, Oct. 1, for use by shorebirds migrating south for the winter. For details contact 302-645-8983.

Lewes budget meeting set March 2
Lewes Mayor and City Council will hold its fourth budget meeting for the fiscal year 2020-21 budget at 1 p.m., Monday, March 2, at city hall. They will receive a presentation from the Lewes Fire Department and discuss the budgets for the police department, lifeguards and parking enforcement. For more information, call city hall at 302-645-7777.

Lewes police review committee to meet March 2
The Lewes Police Department Review Ad-Hoc Committee will meet at 10 a.m., Monday, March 2, at city hall. The group will review the committee’s draft report to city council. For more information, call 302-645-7777.

Lewes BPW releases wastewater plant report 
The Lewes Board of Public Works has released its root cause report related to the failure of the wastewater treatment plant in December. The report can be found at www.lewesbpw.delaware.gov. BPW officials have scheduled a public meeting for 6 p.m., Friday, March 13, to discuss the report and answer questions from the public. The location of the meeting is still to be determined. For more information, call the BPW office at 302-645-6228.

Milton Town Council to meet March 2
Milton Town Council will meet at 6:30 p.m., Monday, March 2, at Milton library to discuss a resolution referring a proposed annexation to the special review committee. BBD LLC is proposing to annex 7.68 acres at the corner of Route 5 and Route 16, addressed as 100 Milton Ellendale Highway. This would be the second annexation the committee would be reviewing after the proposed annexation of the Clifton property on Route 16.

Council will hear a presentation from PKS and Company about the town’s audit and solicit nominations for the Citizen of the Year and Lifetime Volunteer awards. Developer Fernmoor Homes is requesting final approval of record plats for Phases 7, 8A and 8B of Heritage Creek, amendment of the record plat for Phase 5 and a bond reduction for Phase 5. 

In other new business, council will appoint an alternate judge to the Board of Elections, debate a sidewalk waiver from Sussex County Habitat for Humanity’s property at 417 Pine St., and rule on a request for the closure of Sand Street Saturday, Sept. 19, for the second annual Dog Days of Summer Festival.  Finally, council will vote on a resolution scheduling a public hearing on an ordinance amending the zoning code’s definition of the Marine Resources Use District. 

Milton planners to meet March 3
Milton Planning and Zoning Commission will meet at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 3, at Milton library. The commission will review the Limited Light Industrial District as spelled out in the zoning code, and review the code’s definitions of subdivision and land development.

Moose Griffith benefit set in Dewey March 5
Mark the calendar now and stop by SIRvida in Dewey Beach Thursday, March 5, between 5 and 10 p.m. A $25 ticket supports Moose Griffith, a tireless longtime restaurant industry local and Cape boys’ lacrosse supporter, and his ongoing cancer treatment. Each ticket also gives the purchaser a chance to win hourly giveaways and a weeklong vacation for six at a Hatteras getaway. For more information, advance tickets, or to donate silent auction items, contact Danielle Griffith at 302-519-4940. Tickets will also be available at the door. SIRvida is located at 1904 Coastal Highway in Dewey Beach.

Portions of Fowler Beach to close
Portions of the Fowler Beach area of Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge which include the bay beach, dunes and back-barrier portions will close beginning Sunday, March 1, for the benefit of federally and state-protected beach-nesting and migratory shorebirds, including red knot, piping plovers, oystercatchers, least terns and other species. When visiting Prime Hook NWR beaches during beach-nesting bird season, remember to obey all posted signs and barriers, keep pets at home, and remain at the water’s edge unless otherwise indicated via symbolic fencing. 

For more information, call 302-684-8419 or go to www.fws.gov/refuge/Prime_Hook/.  Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge is located just off Route 16 near Broadkill Beach at 11978 Turkle Pond Road, Milton.

Rehoboth street paving set to begin in early March
As part of its annual street paving program, Rehoboth Beach will be paving Philadelphia Street, from Scarborough Avenue to King Charles Avenue, and Third Street, from Lake Avenue to Columbia Avenue, beginning in early March. The city has contracted A-Del Construction to perform the work. Pending weather, the work is expected to be completed by the end of March. During the work, sections of the road will be closed to thru traffic but will be open to local traffic. Advance road closure signage will be erected, and signed detour routes will be provided to direct motorists around the road closure.

Personnel on-site will coordinate any driveway disruptions/closures with residents to minimize the length of closure and to ensure alternate parking arrangements are made. It is expected that closure of a driveway should not take more than half a day. The scheduled work hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, contact 302-227-6181 Ext. 522 or communications@cityofrehoboth.com.

DNREC plans climate change workshop March 3
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy will hold workshops the first week of March seeking input on development of the state’s climate action plan. The Sussex County meeting will take place from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 3, at the CHEER Community Center, 20520 Sand Hill Road, Georgetown. The workshop will provide an opportunity for the public to comment on choices the state can make to take action on climate change.