News Briefs 09/04/20

Henlopen Acres Town Hall closed Labor Day

In observance of Labor Day, Henlopen Acres Town Hall, 104 Tidewaters, will be closed Monday, Sept. 7. For more information, contact town hall at 302-227-6411 or go to henlopenacres.delaware.gov.

Rehoboth workshop and meeting set Sept. 8

Rehoboth Beach commissioners have scheduled a virtual meeting and workshop for Tuesday, Sept. 8. The agenda calls for continued discussion on the city reopening plan and of bid results for the citywide street paving plan. Members of the public wishing to speak must preregister with City Secretary Ann Womack at least two days prior to the meeting. She can be contacted at awomack@cityofrehoboth.com. Meeting materials are accessible at cityofrehoboth.civicweb.net. For more information, call 302-227-6181.

Milton council approves trash contract

Milton Town Council unanimously approved a new three-year waste collection contract with Waste Industries to pick up the town’s trash, but balked at a proposal that would have increased the recycling schedule from biweekly to weekly because it would have added $12 to every quarterly trash bill. Waste Industries, a U.S. subsidiary of Canadian-based contractor GFL Environmental, was awarded the bid for the town’s trash service Aug. 17. Under that contract, the quarterly fee in 2020 is $56 with a weekly unit fee of $17.95, which includes biweekly recycling. But the council had requested Town Manager Kristy Rogers get a quote with weekly recycling. Rogers presented numbers at council’s Aug. 31 meeting showing that the quarterly fee would be $68, with a weekly unit fee of $21.35. Council, which has approved a 6.25 percent property tax increase for fiscal year 2021, was hesitant to raise another fee on residents and elected to continue with biweekly recycling. 

Rehoboth-Dewey chamber offers new business promo

The Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce has introduced a new campaign, Beach Fun & Bargains, targeting visitation from September through the end of the year. Beach Fun & Bargains is a listing of resort-area businesses offering fun activities, special promotions and discounts, and entertainment from September through Jan. 1, 2021, with the potential of extending through spring 2021. Businesses are invited to participate at no cost. The goal is to provide locals and visitors with a comprehensive, easy-to-use platform featuring added reasons to shop, eat, stay and play at the beach. The more businesses involved, the more reasons for visitors from near and far to join in the resort-area fun. The listings will be promoted on the chamber website, Beach-Fun.com, and Facebook, Instagram and other social media, along with media outlets and residential-area contacts. For more information on Beach Fun & Bargains, contact Abbie Kaiser at abbie@beach-fun.com or 302-227-6446, Ext. 15. 

Cresson joins Coons as digital media manager

Tacy Cresson, a Milford native and formerly an intern with the Cape Gazette, has joined the office of U.S. Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., as digital media manager with the senator’s communications team in Delaware. Cresson, recently of Wilbraham, Mass., is a graduate of Endicott College, earning a bachelor’s degree in digital media and journalism. She served as editor-in-chief for the Endicott Observer, local chapter president for the Society of Professional Journalists, and received the Myra Anne Dettelbach Communications Scholarship. Besides Cresson’s time with the Cape Gazette, she completed an internship with The American Prospect, attended The New York Times Editors Workshop, and wrote copy and created social media content at Hampshire Marketing & Media. An avid writer and photographer, her passion for photojournalism came from her late parents, Jim and Corinne Cresson. For several years, the couple operated the Long Neck-Back Bay News in Sussex County. Cresson said she inherited an eye for good photos from her father, a former Army photographer, Vietnam War veteran, and later-in-life journalist with the Cape Gazette. Due to ongoing constraints of COVID-19 and evolving needs to communicate across a digital landscape, Cresson aims to enhance constituent access to information on federal resources, programs, grants, legislative updates, and casework assistance via videos, blogs, podcasts, digital newsletters, infographics, and online streaming and social media. Tacy Cresson will work alongside Brendan Mackie, state press secretary, and can be reached at 302-573-6159 and tacy_cresson@coons.senate.gov.            

DART Paratransit resumes ticket, cash fare collection

Paratransit riders can once again pay their fare using tickets and cash. The option to be billed for trips will no longer be available. Customers are encouraged to use DART Pass, the mobile fare payment app, for a contactless payment option. The free app is available for download at the Apple Store and Google Play. In addition, the DART Transit app offers the Paratransit ETA feature, which lets paratransit customers know when their ride will be arriving; visit the Apple Store or Google Play for the free app. DART continues to limit the number of passengers allowed on each bus at any given time, based on bus seating capacity. Riders must wear face coverings when riding any DART bus, fixed route or paratransit. Those not wearing face coverings will not be allowed to board the bus. Children 12 years and under are not required to wear a face covering, nor are individuals who are unable to wear a face covering due to a medical condition; children ages 2 and under must not wear them. Practice social distancing when riding and please do not ride the bus if you are sick. For more information, go to www.DartFirstState.com or call 1-800-652-DART. 

Sussex council awards grants to nonprofits

Sussex County Council awarded the following councilmanic grants at its Aug. 11 meeting: $5,500 to West Side New Beginnings for security, trash, lighting and community center expenses; and $1,000 to Millsboro Little League for a new speaker system.

Rehoboth Beach City Hall closed Labor Day

In observance of Labor Day, Rehoboth Beach City Hall, 229 Rehoboth Ave., will be closed Monday, Sept. 7. Residential trash pickup will not be affected. For a trash collection schedule for the remainder of the year, go to  www.cityofrehoboth.com/residents/trash-recycling. As part of the city’s phased reopening to reduce the risk of community spread of COVID-19, city hall is open for appointment only. Appointments can be made by calling 302-227-4641. Appointments can also be made by email. For a list of office contact information, go to www.cityofrehoboth.com/government/departments.