News Briefs 10/15/21

Mette replaces Hedge on Lewes BOA

Lewes Mayor and City Council has appointed attorney Luke Mette to fill out the remaining term of former board of adjustment Chair Brook Hedge, who resigned from the board in September. Council also reappointed existing board members Denise Emery and Richard Grier-Reynolds for new terms. The board’s next meeting will be Tuesday, Nov. 2, when it will consider an appeal from the Lewes Historical Society regarding the placement of the menhaden fishing net reel on its campus at the corner of Shipcarpenter Street. 

Lewes Parks and Rec meets Oct. 18

The Lewes Parks and Recreation Commission will meet at 6:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 18, at the Rollins Community Center and via Zoom. The group will consider a request from Lewes Lights to add holiday light displays in the city’s parks. A link to the meeting can be found on the agenda at lewes.civicweb.net. 

Lewes annexation subcommittee meets

The Annexation Subcommittee of the Lewes Planning Commission will meet at 1 p.m., Monday, Oct. 18, at city hall and via Zoom. The group will continue to discuss and review the city’s annexation zones. A link to the meeting can be found on the agenda at lewes.civicweb.net. 

SDARJ hosts Reimagining Policing forum Oct. 21

The Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice will present the fourth installment of its special forum on Racial Justice Through Reimagining Policing at 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 21, via Zoom.

The panel of experts includes Assistant Deputy Public Defender Misty Seemans from the Delaware Public Defender’s Office; Haneef Salaam, Smart Justice campaign manager for the Delaware American Civil Liberties Union; citizen advocate Lynn Kielhorn; James Nolan, author of numerous articles and books on reimagining policing; and Larry Wulkan, civil rights lawyer with extensive experience in police/detention cases. To register for the webinar, go to policing4.eventbrite.com or go to sdarj.org for more information.

Food & Water Watch files appeal

Food & Water Watch, on behalf of local residents, filed a legal challenge Oct. 7 to a recent zoning decision in Sussex County regarding CleanBay Renewables’ planned poultry litter recycling facility near Georgetown. The appellants argue that the Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission’s decision to sustain the company’s conditional-use permit was made unlawfully. They allege the commission not only exceeded its authority by making the decision, but also acted without proof of substantially underway construction within three years as defined in Sussex County code.

The appellants are asking the Sussex County Board of Adjustment to reverse the commission’s decision and declare the company’s permit null and void.

Sewer service extended to New Road lots

Sussex County Council voted at its Oct. 12 meeting in favor of a request to extend the county sewer system to nine lots along New Road near Lewes owned by Leslie Gay Knapp Marini, successor trustee under a revocable trust agreement of Halsey and Joan Knapp. The parcels are subject to a $6,600 sewer connection charge.

Eastern Sussex Republicans to meet

The Eastern Sussex Republican Club will meet at 7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 18, in the Manor House of the Sussex East/West development at 30769 Lewes-Georgetown Highway, Lewes. A social half-hour will precede the meeting. Guest speakers include Cape Henlopen School District Superintendent Robert Fulton and CHSD school board member Janis Hanwell. Attendees may bring questions and have positive discussions about academic test scores, masking students, mandated vaccinations, critical race theory, equity and anything else they would like answered. All concerned conservative thinkers from the Cape Region are welcome.

Dewey commissioners hold special meeting

Dewey Beach commissioners will hold a special meeting at 4 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 21, at the Lifesaving Station, 1 Dagsworthy Ave. Members will discuss and possibly vote to refer to the planning and zoning commission a proposed expansion of an existing conditional use for the property at 1818 Coastal Highway, as submitted by Steve Montgomery, authorized member of Starboard Claw Land Company LLC. A link to allow the public to watch and comment virtually is available at townofdeweybeach.com.

Sussex awards councilmanic grants

Sussex County Council presented the following councilmanic grants during its Oct. 12 meeting: $3,000 to Woodbridge High School MC-JROTC Booster Club for expenses for its Saturday, Oct. 30 Halloween 5K Run/Walk; $2,000 to Cape Henlopen Educational Foundation for its teachers grant program; $1,500 to Rehoboth Beach Historical Society for educational outreach programs; and $1,000 to Good Samaritan Aid Organization for its annual Christmas outreach program in the Laurel and Delmar areas.

RD20 Democratic Committee to meet Oct. 21

The Delaware 20th Representative District’s Democratic Committee will meet at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 21, via Zoom. Sen. Bryan Townsend, D-Newark, Senate majority leader, will discuss the redistricting process and the legislative priorities of the Senate Democratic Caucus.

A native Delawarean, Townsend was first elected to the Delaware Senate in 2012, representing the 11th Senate District. 

In 2018, the Senate Democratic Caucus elected him majority whip and in 2020, majority leader.

Any registered Democrat in Delaware is welcome to participate in RD20’s committee meeting. 

However, non-committee members must register by emailing rd20.deldems@gmail.com including legal name and street address for verification purposes.

For news about RD20’s upcoming events, go to rd20deldems.com or Delaware’s 20th RD Democratic Committee & Friends Group on Facebook. To join the contact list, email rd20.deldems@gmail.com.

RD20 is the local Democratic Party organization for residents in the Lewes, Milton, Belltown, Cool Spring, Jimtown, Pinetown and Harbeson areas of Sussex County.

DRBA police to participate in DEA take-back initiative

The Delaware River and Bay Authority Police Department will participate in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency’s 21st National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 23, at the Lewes ferry terminal. This initiative, which focuses on removing potentially dangerous drugs from the nation’s homes, provides an opportunity for the public to surrender expired, unwanted or unused pharmaceuticals and other medications to law enforcement officers for proper disposal.

Col. Richard Arroyo, DRBA Police administrator, said this DEA program addresses a vital public safety and health issue, and it is confidential. “No questions or requests for identification will be made by law enforcement personnel present,” he said. “In fact, participants will be asked to remove any personal information from bottles or packages.”

Route 16 railroad crossing work planned

Delmarva Central Railroad will be removing deteriorated railroad crossings that connect Route 16/Milton Ellendale Highway to Orchard Road. There will be shoulder closures Monday, Oct. 18, through Thursday, Oct. 21, along Route 16.

Lewes BPW meets Oct. 18

Lewes Board of Public Works will hold a capital projects workshop at 10 a.m., Monday, Oct. 18, at city hall and via Zoom. The group will discuss the five-year capital projects budget. 

A link to the meeting can be found on the agenda at lewesbpw.delaware.gov.