News Briefs 05/10/19
Cluster ordinance on Sussex council agenda May 14
Sussex County Council will meet at 10 a.m., Tuesday, May 14, in the county administration building, 2 The Circle, Georgetown. Included on the agenda is a 10:30 a.m. public hearing on amendments to the cluster ordinance. See a complete agenda at www.sussexcountyde.gov.
Beach, Boardwalk group to meet in Rehoboth May 13
Rehoboth’s Beach and Boardwalk committee will meet at 9 a.m., Monday, May 13. The agenda calls for a walking tour of the Boardwalk, beginning at Prospect Street and going north. There are planned stops to survey renovation at the three public restrooms and a stop at Rehoboth Beach Patrol headquarters. For more information, call 302-227-6181. See the agenda at town hall or at www.cityofrehoboth.civicweb.net.
Democratic committee to meet May 16
The RD 20 Democratic Committee is featuring a panel discussion with the chiefs of police from Georgetown, Randall Hughes, Lewes, Thomas Spell, and Milton, Robert Longo. The speakers will be discussing different approaches to dealing with the opioid crisis in Sussex County and related issues such as increased crime and homelessness.
The Thursday, May 16 meeting will be at Fish On Restaurant, 17300 Village Main Blvd. Lewes, with committee members and guests gathering at 5:30 p.m. for refreshments and dinner (optional) followed at 6 p.m. by the panel discussion. The RD 20 Democratic Committee welcomes the public.
Following panel discussion, RD 20 Democratic Committee will conduct its monthly business meeting. Registered Democrats are welcome to attend. RD 20 is the local Democratic Party organization for residents in the Lewes, Milton, Belltown, Coolspring, Jimtown, Pinetown and Harbeson areas of Sussex County. For information, email rd20.deldems@gmail.com.
Lewes mayor, city council to meet May 13
Lewes Mayor and City Council will meet at 7 p.m., Monday, May 13, at city hall. Mayor Ted Becker will be sworn in for a new three-year term. Council will discuss a proposal from MERJE Design for a wayfinding signage plan for the city, amendments to the feral cat ordinance, and a policy for concessions on city land. They will also consider approval of the site development plan for a senior living facility proposed by OA Vantage Point LLC for an 8.55-acre parcel along Kings Highway. There will be a presentation regarding development of workforce housing. Council will also discuss adding a dune to Beach 1, take action on the sale of lots on Tennessee Avenue, and consider posting draft minutes for the public. For information, call city 302-645-7777.
Jennings to speak at Town Hall meeting May 14
The Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice will host State Attorney General Kathleen Jennings as guest speaker at its town hall meeting Tuesday, May 14. The open public forum will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m., at Trinity Faith Christian Center, 15516 New Road, Lewes. Jennings’ presentation, Revisions of the Delaware Criminal Code, will focus on current legislative efforts to create fairer and more equitable criminal justice and prison systems in Delaware.
Proposed reforms aim at decreasing the prison population, reducing sentences, and making it easier for offenders to reintegrate into society. While an attempt to completely overhaul the state’s criminal code was unsuccessful last year, current reform efforts come in a package of 19 separate bills. Go to www.sdarj.org for more information.
Happy hour event set May 14 at Fairfield Inn
The public is invited from 5 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 14, to attend a happy hour event called Sip. Shop. Socialize. at the Fairfield Inn by Marriott, Rehoboth. The Write Stuff Delaware is partnering with Polka Dot Powerhouse Lewes Chapter and the Fairfield Inn by Marriott Rehoboth for the event. Attendees who are curious about the Fairfield can come check out its state-of-the-art event space, lounge, and bar area.
There will be 20 local vendors, door prizes, small bites and a cash bar, plus the Fairfield’s signature cocktail for the event. For more information on the Lewes Chapter of Polka Dot Powerhouse, go to www.polkadotpowerhouse.com/link-to-chapters/165-lewes-de.
The Write Stuff Delaware is a Delaware-based grant consulting firm serving small to midsize nonprofits with grant research, writing, and support. For more information, go to www.thewritestuffdelaware.com.
Dewey Beach parking rates begin May 15
Free parking in Dewey ends May 15, when parking meters and permits go into effect from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. until Sept. 15. Visitors can purchase daily, eight-day, and weekend permits during office hours at Town Hall, 105 Rodney Ave., or 24 hours a day at the kiosk in front of Town Hall.
Parking by ParkMobile app is available on all streets, with kiosk and coin meter parking on select streets. When using the ParkMobile app or kiosk, drivers must pay for parking using their entire vehicle license plate number, including CL or PC. For information, call 302-227-6170 or go to www.townofdeweybeach.com.
Crab pots on CIB science group agenda May 10
The Delaware Center for the Inland Bays invites the public to attend the next Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee meeting Friday, May 10, from 9 a.m. to noon at the DNREC Lewes Field Facility, 901 Pilottown Road in Lewes. At this meeting, Sea Grant Coastal Ecologist Kate Fleming and University of Delaware Associate Professor Arthur Trembanis will discuss the problem of derelict crab pots in the Inland Bays.
An estimated 10-20 percent of crab traps are lost or abandoned each year for a variety of reasons, including storms and loss of buoys. The abandoned pots can create navigational hazards and continue to trap and kill various aquatic species, including crabs and terrapins. The team used a low-cost technique known as side-scan sonar to survey portions of Rehoboth Bay for derelict crab pots and monitor their condition and contents. The results of their work, and efforts to address the issue in Delaware, will be presented at the meeting.
The STAC will also discuss progress on plans to develop new mathematical models of the Inland Bays in order to make predictions about the results of pollution inputs. A draft agenda can be found at www.inlandbays.org/stac.
Blood Bank teams up with Rehoboth May 13
The Blood Bank of Delmarva will partner with the City of Rehoboth Beach for a blood drive from noon to 6 p.m., Monday, May 13, at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center. BBD Account Manager Ralph Groves is working with Krys Johnson, the city’s blood drive sponsor, to recruit donors from government, local businesses and the general public to help ensure the drive will achieve its goal to register 80 donors. To book an appointment, call 1-888-8-BLOOD-8 or go to http://bit.ly/rehobothdrive and use code CORB to schedule an appointment in Rehoboth Beach.
