News Briefs 08/17/18

Rehoboth law oversight committee to meet Aug. 22
The Rehoboth Beach Law Oversight Committee has scheduled a meeting for 9 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 22, in the commissioners room of city hall, 229 Rehoboth Ave. The agenda calls for a presentation from tree industry professionals about the city’s tree ordinance. There will also be a discussion about issues in the zoning code.

For more information call 302-227-6181. A full copy of the agenda can be found at city hall or online at www.cityofrehoboth.civicweb.net.

Dewey board appoints election officials
Dewey Beach town commissioners voted at the monthly town council meeting Aug. 10 to reappoint Bob Day, Sally Read and Kay Sullivan as election officials for the 2018 Dewey Beach municipal election Saturday, Sept. 15.

Old Orchard Road projects under review
Two projects on the east side of Old Orchard Road in Lewes are under state review as part of the Office of State Planning Coordination’s Preliminary Land Use Service. The site plan is under review for Tranquility at Breakwater, a proposed three-story, 75,000-square-foot assisted-living facility on a seven-acre parcel. State agencies are reviewing a proposed rezoning from AR-1, agricultural-residential, to C-2, medium commercial, for Orchard Plaza, a proposed 110,000-square-foot commercial office complex on six acres that would have connection to the adjacent Tranquility at Breakwater facility.

State officials are also reviewing a proposed rezoning from AR-1 to C-3, heavy commercial, for a 10-acre parcel on the north side of Holland Glade Road behind the existing Tanger Seaside outlets near Rehoboth Beach. See more information at www.stateplanning.delaware.gov/plus/projects/2018/index.shtml.

Sussex grant applications available
Applications for the Sussex County fiscal year 2019 human services grant program are being accepted.  The program provides grants to county-wide nonprofit agencies that enhance health and human services, which contribute to a safe, healthy and self-sufficient community. The grants assist organizations with funding for programs or capital purchases.
Application forms are available on the county’s website at www.sussexcountyde.gov. The deadline is Friday, Sept. 28.

Sussex wins 16th award for financial reporting
Sussex County has garnered its 16th consecutive award for outstanding auditing and budgeting practices from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. The county received a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the 2017 comprehensive annual financial report.  The document includes the annual audit, showing assets, liabilities, equity, revenues and expenses.

It also contains information about county demographics and the local economy. That information helps those reviewing the report – such as investors – to better gauge the county’s financial condition, said spokesman Chip Guy. “Sussex County works diligently to observe and achieve the highest standards when it comes to its financial duties,” said County Finance Director Gina Jennings. “We are pleased to once again earn this distinction, which is a product of the county’s continual commitment to excellent fiscal management.”

Lewes byway on Sussex council agenda Aug. 21
Sussex County Council will meet at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 21, in the county administration building, 2 The Circle, Georgetown.  Included on the agenda is a presentation on the Historic Lewes Byway by Russ Tatman. See a complete agenda at www.sussexcountyde.gov.

Lewes business district parking group to meet Aug. 20
The Lewes Business District Parking Committee will meet at 8:30 a.m., Monday, Aug. 20, at city hall.
The group will discuss concerns related to parking in downtown residential areas, possible parking meter replacement and possible expansion of parking meters. For more information, call city hall at 302-645-7777.

Lewes beach parking committee to meet Aug. 20
The Lewes Beach Parking Committee will meet at 5 p.m., Monday, Aug. 20, at city hall. Following several weeks of meetings and community input, the group will begin discussing all ideas to improve the congestion, parking problems and environmental issues on Lewes Beach and work toward recommendations to city council.  
For more information, call city hall at 302-645-7777.

SDARJ, ACLU to host meeting Aug. 20
The Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice is teaming with the American Civil Liberties Union of Delaware to host a special meeting at 7 p.m., Monday, Aug. 20, in the Trinity Church Heritage Hall on New Road in Lewes.
Kathleen MacRae, ACLU of Delaware executive director, will speak about the current status of efforts to end the policy of separating families at the U.S. border by immigration authorities as well as the status of those already separated. For more information, go to swww.darj.org.

Sweetbriar Road rail crossing to close Aug. 20-24
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.

Minos Conaway rail crossing removal set Aug. 27-31
Delaware Coastline Railroad will be removing a rail crossing on Minos Conaway Road between Route 1 and Route 9 near Lewes. Road closure will be from 5 a.m., Monday, Aug. 27, until 11:59 p.m., Friday, Aug. 31.

Detour routes are as follows:
Northbound: Minos Conaway Road onto Route 9 to Route 1 and return to Minos Conaway Road;
southbound: Minos Conaway Road to Route 1 onto Route 9 and back to Minos Conaway Road. Detour signage will be posted.

Ryan to sign book on Gettysburg Aug. 18
Author Tom Ryan will be presenting and signing copies of his book, “Spies, Scouts, and Secrets in the Gettysburg Campaign: How the Critical Role of Intelligence Impacted the Outcome of Lee’s Invasion of the North, June-July 1863,” Saturday, Aug. 18, from 9 to 11 a.m., at Browseabout Books, 133 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach.  As intelligence experts have long asserted, “Information in regard to the enemy is the indispensable basis of all military plans.”

Ryan is the former president of the Central Delaware Civil War Round Table, and is a longtime member of the Gettysburg Foundation and the Civil War Trust. He has published more than 125 articles and book reviews on Civil War subjects, many dealing with intelligence operations, and writes a weekly column.