News Briefs 4/12/22

Sussex County offices closed April 15

Sussex County government offices will be closed Friday, April 15, in observance of Good Friday. They will reopen at 8:30 a.m., Monday, April 18.

Broadband webinar offered to public

Sen. Brian Pettyjohn, R-Georgetown, will host a broadband webinar for the public at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday,  April 12. Panelists will include representatives from the Delaware Department of Technology and Information who will be available to answer questions about the state’s efforts to expand hard-wired broadband internet infrastructure.

The webinar will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom, YouTube, and Facebook. Zoom registration is required for those who wish to ask questions. The YouTube and Facebook livestreams will be view-only.

In September, Gov. John Carney announced a $110 million investment to make Delaware the first state to make hard-wired broadband internet access available to every home and business.

The funds were made available through the American Rescue Plan Act, which was passed and enacted in March 2021.

Mitchell's Corner on Sussex P&Z agenda

Sussex County Planning & Zoning Commission will meet at 5 p.m., Thursday, April 14, in the county administration building, 2 The Circle, Georgetown. Included on the agenda are reviews of the following site plans: preliminary plan for Blessing Greenhouse and Compost Facility, Draper Road near Milford; multiple buildings in three phases and revised plan for Ocean Park, intersection of Cedar Grove Road and Plantation Road near Lewes; 37,700 square feet of commercial space and a 7,700- square-foot restaurant. Under old business, the commission could vote on these applications: two rezonings, a subdivision and conditional use for Mitchell's Corner (Henlopen Properties LLC), Kings Highway-Gills Neck Road intersection, Lewes, 267 multi-family units and office space; The Woods at Burton's Pond extended, south side of Chapel Road near Lewes, 19 additional single-family home lots; Harper's Glen, north side of Route 16 near Milton, 33 single-family home lots; and American Storage of Delaware LLC, west side of Route 24, Long Neck, two rezonings and two conditional uses for 140-unit apartment complex and storage facility. A public hearing is scheduled for a subdivision application for Four Winds Farm, east side of Shingle Point Road near Georgetown, 336 single-family home lots on 169 acres.

See a complete agenda and meeting materials at sussexcountyde.gov. 

Meetings are in person, live-streamed at sussexcountyde.gov/council-chamber-broadcast and by phone by calling 302-394-5036 using code 570176.

Lewes  to consider annexation April 14

Lewes Mayor and City Council will meet at 6 p.m., Thursday, April 14, at the Rollins Community Center to consider annexation of the Donovan-Smith manufactured home park.

The park comprises more than 100 homes on a 21.6-acre parcel off Donovan Road. A link to the meeting can be found on the agenda at lewes.civicweb.net.

EPA to hold Q&A’s on  Superfund proposal

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will hold two question-and-answer sessions on a proposal to add the sites of two former dry cleaners in Georgetown to the list of federal Superfund sites.

The first session will be by phone Thursday, April 14 from 6 to 7 p.m. The second session will be held at Georgetown library, 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 20.

The EPA is proposing to add the locations of the former Georgetown Dry Cleaners and Thoro-Kleen Dry Cleaners on Railroad Avenue to be part of the Superfund’s national priorities list, which would make them eligible for remedial cleanup action paid for by the federal Superfund program.

The area would be known as the Georgetown North Groundwater site.

For the phone-in meeting, those interested can call 484 352-3221 and use conference ID: 307589259#.

Questions can be submitted in advance to Angela Ithier, EPA Community Involvement Coordinator, 215-814-5248, ithier.angela@epa.gov

More information about the proposal can be found at: www.epa.gov/superfund/georgetowngroundwater.

Acres Town Hall closed Good Friday

In observance of Good Friday, Henlopen Acres Town Hall, 104 Tidewaters, will be closed Friday, April 15. For more information, call 302-227-6411.

Sussex donates $25K to Good Ole Boys

Sussex County Council has provided major support for the Good Ole Boy Foundation’s efforts to find housing for 13 displaced families from a Jan. 27 fire that destroyed The Rigbie apartment complex in downtown Laurel. Council voted 5-0 to donate $25,000 in contingency funds to the foundation, a volunteer organization based in Sussex County.

“That night, they were there with a school bus to take 55 people to the Laurel fire station and then to hotel rooms,” said Council President Mike Vincent.

He said the foundation has mounted a fundraiser to provide permanent housing for all of the families.  “They were spending $6,000 to $7,000 a week for hotel rooms and transitional housing,” Vincent said. “This what Sussex County is all about – neighbors helping neighbors in their time of need. The Good Ole Boys are a shining star.”

Sussex council awards nonprofit grants

Sussex County Council awarded the following councilmanic grants during its April 5 meeting: $1,000 to Delaware Community Foundation on behalf of Georgetown-Millsboro Rotary Club for the Flags for Heroes project; and $2,500 to Developing Artist Collaboration for the West Rehoboth Legacy Project.

Penny party at Milton Fire Department

The Milton Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary will host its annual penny party at 7 p.m., Thursday, April 14, at the Milton Fire Department, 116 Front St. Doors will open at 6 p.m. The entry fee for tickets is $3. Attendees should bring their pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters and dollars to play this great family tradition game. All ages are welcome. Items are available for ages 1 to 99. Refreshments will be offered. To learn more, ask any member, or call or text 302-745-1642.

Thunderbird Club to gather April 13

The Delaware Thunderbird Club will meet at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 13, at the Clubhouse at Baywood. The club is seeking new members who enjoy going to car shows, and showing and cruising in their cars. Participants drive to places of interest within a 45-minute to a one-hour drive. To learn more, email mjhobman@gmail.com or call 717-468-7338.

Rehoboth City Hall closed Good Friday

In observance of Good Friday, Rehoboth Beach City Hall, 229 Rehoboth Ave., will be closed Friday, April 15. Residential trash pickup will not be affected.

For more information, contact the communications department at 302-227-6181, Ext. 522 or communications@cityofrehoboth.com.