News Briefs 08/10/18

Sweetbriar Road rail crossing to close
Sweetbriar Road will be closed at the railroad crossing just north of Route 9 beginning at 5 a.m., Monday, Aug. 20 and continuing through 11:59 p.m., Friday, Aug. 24, as crews continue to remove the decommissioned railroad. Northbound detours take motorists west on Route 9 to Hudson Road to Cave Neck Road and back to Sweetbriar Road. Southbound motorists will be directed to Hudson Road, then to Route 9, where they can reconnect with Sweetbriar Road. Detour signage will be posted.

38th District Republicans to meet
The 38th District Republican Club will host a covered dish event from 5 to 8 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 11, at Roxana Fire Hall on Zion Church Road, Roxana. Current political candidates expected to attend include Rob Arlett, Kevin Christophel, Ron Gray, Douglas Hudson, Robert Lee, Peggy Marshall Thomas, Lee Murphy, George Parish, John Rieley, Ken Simpler, James Spadola, Gene Truono and others. Dinner will begin at 5:30, and the meeting will begin at 6 p.m.; candidates will be able to offer remarks to attendees. For more information, call Diane at 302-539-3313, email info@38thdrcp.com or go to www.38thdrcp.com.

Rehoboth election Saturday, Aug. 11
The Rehoboth election for 2018 will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 11, in the convention center, 229 Rehoboth Ave. There are three candidates for two 3-year seats – former Commissioner Pat Coluzzi, and newcomers Richard Byrne and Gary Glass. Commissioners Patrick Gossett and Jay Lagree are not running for re-election. Any qualified voter may request an absentee ballot to vote by filing a written affidavit no later than noon, Friday, Aug. 10. For more information on the election, refer to the city charter, available online at www.cityofrehoboth.com, or contact Donna Moore at 302-227-6181, Ext. 108.

Rehoboth Boardwalk committee to meet
The Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk & Beach Committee will meet at 9 a.m., Monday, Aug. 13, in the commissioners room of city hall, 229 Rehoboth Ave. The agenda includes a continued discussion on foot showers, public restrooms and changing rooms. Trash collection on the beach and Boardwalk will also be discussed. For more information, call 302-227-6181. A full copy of the agenda can be found at town hall or online at www.cityofrehoboth.civicweb.net.

Rehoboth parking committee to meet
The Rehoboth Beach Parking Committee will meet at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 15, in the commissioners room of city hall, 229 Rehoboth Ave. The agenda calls for committee recommendations for length of meters, feeding the meters, varying costs and lengths of meters by area, permit seasons, permit times, permit costs and more parking-related issues. For more information, call 302-227-6181. A full copy of the agenda can be found at town hall or online at www.cityofrehoboth.civicweb.net.

Rehoboth needs an evergreen for Christmas
Rehoboth Beach is looking for a 35- to 40-foot evergreen tree for its annual Tree Lighting and Sing-Along at the Bandstand on Rehoboth Avenue. This year the event will take place Friday, Nov. 23. The city is looking for a tree, ideally a spruce or Douglas fir, from between the areas of Bethany Beach and Broadkill Beach. Arrangements will be made by the city to have it taken down and transported. The donor will receive special recognition during the tree-lighting celebration. For more information or to donate, call the city's communications department at 302-227-6181, Ext. 522 or email communications@cityofrehoboth.com.

Rehoboth announces annual paving program
During a commissioner workshop Aug. 6, Rehoboth City Manager Sharon Lynn announced the city's paving schedule for the upcoming fall and winter seasons.

The following locations have been identified for paving from September 2018 to March 2019 – Park Avenue, from 4th Street to 3rd Street; Hickman Street, from Stockley Street to Country Club Drive; Lee Street, from State Road to School Lane; 2nd Street, from Lake Avenue to Oak Avenue; 2nd Street, from Oak Avenue to Henlopen Avenue; and 2nd Street, from Rehoboth Avenue to Maryland Avenue.

Property owners of streets selected for maintenance will be notified by a letter providing the date, duration and construction activity to be performed. Also included will be any specific information including roadway parking restrictions or minor access restrictions. For more information, contact the communications department at 302-227-6181, Ext. 522 or communications@cityofrehoboth.com.

Lifeguard hours change Aug. 20 at park beaches
Hours and locations for lifeguarded ocean swimming beaches in DNREC's Division of Parks & Recreation's state parks will change as of Monday, Aug. 20, when Delaware Seashore State Park's Tower Road beach will be unguarded during the week, but will remain guarded on weekends including Labor Day.

From Monday, Aug. 27 to Friday, Aug. 31, Fenwick Island State Park's Fenwick Lot beach will be unguarded, but weekends will remain guarded including Labor Day. All other state park guarded swimming beaches, including the main beach at Cape Henlopen State Park and the South Indian River Inlet side of Delaware Seashore State Park, will be guarded every day through Labor Day with limited staff. Smaller or limited swimming areas will be available through Labor Day.
Lifeguard hours will remain 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Reductions in hours are due to season-long staffing shortages, and as a result of lifeguards returning to high school, college, and school sports camps. For more information, call the Division of Parks & Recreation Operations Section at 302-739-9200.

36th RD Democrats to meet Aug. 20 in Milford
The next 36th Representative District Democrats meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m., Monday, Aug. 20, at Arena's Restaurant in Milford. Committees will report on fundraising, outreach efforts and current legislative issues. An RD Committee brainstorming session will finalize plans for the Thursday, Aug. 23 barbecue at Causey Mansion. All registered Democrats in the Sussex County 36th RD are encouraged to attend, and current members may bring friends.

Milton Finance Committee to meet
Milton Finance Committee will meet at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 14, at Milton library to discuss the town's budget for fiscal year 2019. The committee will also discuss the town's purchasing policy.

Milton Preservation Commission to meet
The Milton Historic Preservation Commission will meet at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 14, at Milton library, to review proposed new regulations pertaining to the Delaware historic preservation tax credit program. The commission will also hear a request from Castle Windows on behalf of Donald Voth, 105 Atlantic St., to replace windows. Another request is from Frank and Edna Filemyr, 208 Federal St., to build a prefabricated storage building.

Lewes City Council meeting set Aug. 13
Lewes Mayor and City Council will meet at 6 p.m., Monday, Aug. 13, at city hall. The evening will open with a public hearing seeking input on the possible addition of residential planned communities to the annexation mix zone of city code. The item will be considered at the regular monthly meeting beginning at 7 p.m. Also on the agenda is a presentation from Deepwater Wind regarding its plans to build a wind farm off the coast of Delaware.

Council will consider a request to change the zoning of property at the corner of Savannah Road and Cape Henlopen Drive from general commercial to R-3, residential beach. The owner has plans to develop the parcels into five residential lots. The group will form an annexation committee to consider an annexation request for 33.64 acres of land on New Road, known as the Brittingham farm.

Council will also hear a request to fund the cost of the Savannah Circle paving project, consider sending a letter to Sussex County Council regarding the comprehensive plan update, and consider amendments to the noise ordinance regarding construction. To view the full agenda, go to www.ci.lewes.de.us.

Greater Lewes Foundation has grants
The annual grant cycle for the Greater Lewes Foundation has begun. Nonprofit organizations that support the GLF mission to maintain and improve the quality of life in the Greater Lewes region may submit proposals to the Foundation by Sept. 30. Applications will be reviewed by the foundation board of directors at GLF's October meeting, and grants will be announced soon after.

The Greater Lewes Foundation typically makes grants in the $500-$1,000 range to nonprofit organizations in the 19958 ZIP code area, and others that serve Lewes-area residents. Applicants should provide the following information in proposals of two or three pages: Organization contact person; brief description of need to be met; specific amount of money requested; how grant money will be used; other prospective sources of funding; list of board of directors members; and proof of 501c3 if applicable.
Grant proposals can be sent to Greater Lewes Foundation as an email attachment, at admin@horizonphilanthropic.com.

Aug. 14 workshop to address water projects
The Inland Bays Foundation will present a workshop on water infrastructure projects at 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 14, at the South Coastal Library, 43 Kent Ave., Bethany Beach. Sussex County engineer Hans Medlarz, vice chair of the Delaware Water Infrastructure Advisory Council, will present the 2018 list of priority water projects for Sussex County and their funding by the county and state. There will be a question-and-answer period following the presentation. For details, email Frances Hart, FIHart46@gmail.com.

Delaware Water Advisory Council meets
The Delaware Water Infrastructure Advisory Council will meet at 9 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 15, in Conference Room 220, Kent County Administrative Complex, 555 S. Bay Road, Dover. More information about the meeting, including the agenda, is at https://publicmeetings.delaware.gov/Meeting/56440. For more information, go to the Water Infrastructure Advisory Council webpage on the DNREC website.

Milton approves street paving bids
Milton approved bids for street paving projects at Orchard and Front streets. Both bids were won by Jerry's Paving of Milford. Orchard Street, a side street between Union and Mulberry streets, will be repaved; Jerry's bid $19,000 for the project. Repaving will also be done on Federal Street near the Milton Fire Department building, a contract Jerry's won with a $24,000 bid. Both projects were funded with community transportation funds provided by Rep. Steve Smyk, R-Milton.