News Briefs 4/27/21

Fair housing webinar set April 29

Pathways to Success will sponsor a free virtual town hall to discuss fair housing issues from 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, April 29. To register, go to pathways-2-success.org/events. The purpose is to raise awareness about the continued presence of housing discrimination and how people can work to fix it. Topics include the importance of the Fair Housing Act, Delaware’s Landlord & Tenant Code, housing legislation and policy, and housing advocacy. For details, email dscott@pathways-2-success.org.

Milton BoA meeting canceled

Milton Board of Adjustment has canceled its Tuesday, April 27 meeting due to a lack of agenda items. The board is next scheduled to meet Tuesday, May 25.

Milton traffic committee to meet

The Milton Traffic Calming Advisory Ad Hoc Committee will meet at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 28, at the Cannery Village clubhouse to discuss current traffic measures and large truck traffic. The committee will also discuss the intersection at Wharton Street and Chestnut Street, and the progress of a traffic survey sent to town property owners.

Lewes Public Art Committee to meet

The Lewes Public Art Committee will meet virtually at 6 p.m., Tuesday, April 27. The group will discuss the “Unbounded II” project in Canalfront Parking, including a report on installation, feedback from the public and a publicity plan going forward. Also on the agenda is a discussion on an Art in Bloom proposal to place mosaic art pieces in the Canalfront Park butterfly garden and the George H.P. Smith Park pollinator garden. 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 virtually at 11 a.m., Thursday, April 29. The group will continue to discuss the city’s annexation zones. A link to the  meeting can be found at lewes.civicweb.net. 

Lewes Floodplain Subcommittee meets

The Floodplain Subcommittee of the Lewes Planning Commission will meet virtually at 11 a.m., Friday, April 30. The group will continue to discuss items related to floodplain management. A link to the  meeting can be found at lewes.civicweb.net. 

Rehoboth supports recommendations

During a commissioner meeting April 16, Rehoboth Beach commissioners unanimously supported a list of recommendations presented by a task force looking at ways to overhaul the streetscape of Wilmington and Baltimore avenues. Primarily, there was one recommended action, to continue investigating the most practical way to bury utilities to the fullest extent possible. The task force also recommended proceeding with the design without a traffic study, not including one-way streets, and not pursuing low vehicle-access zones, except possibly at the end of the avenues near the Boardwalk. The task force will meet again Wednesday, May 26, when the consultant is supposed to present streetscape options.

Route 9 closing in Georgetown May 1

As part of the Georgetown East Gateway improvements project, Route 9/East Market Street/Lewes-Georgetown Highway will be closed for intersection work. Improvements will consist of realignment of Sand Hill Road and Airport Road to intersect with Route 9 at an improved angle. The road between Sand Hill Road and Rogers Lane will be closed for approximately three weeks from 6 a.m., Saturday, May 1, until 10 p.m., Friday, May 21. Detour routes: Eastbound: Route 9 to Sand Hill Road onto Burton Road to Gravel Hill Road and return to Route 9. Westbound: Route 9 to Park Avenue to South Bedford Street and return to Route 9.

Sussex council awards councilmanic grants

At its April 13 meeting, Sussex County Council awarded the following councilmanic grants: $1,500 to Village Improvement Association in Rehoboth Beach for snow fence replacement along beach dunes; $1,000 to Rehoboth Beach Main Street to defray leasing costs for wall barriers to create safe zones for outdoor sidewalk dining and retail; $2,000 to Fraternal Order of Police, Sussex County Lodge 2, for programs supporting disadvantaged youth, needy families, police officers and veterans; $500 to Stronger After Cancer for personal training for cancer survivors; $2,000 to Camp Arrowhead Diocesan Council for construction of a new dining hall and community center; and $2,000 to Griffin House shelter to help with costs of food, furniture, medical transportation, COVID-19 test kits and educational materials.

Ørsted awards grant for Inland Bays

Ørsted, the Danish developer of the Skipjack Wind Farm, announced April 8 it has awarded a $50,000 grant to the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays. According to a press release, the grant will support five of the center’s programs – lessons in nature initiatives at James Farm Ecological Preserve; the annual horseshoe crab survey; shellfish restoration; the center’s efforts to preserve open space in the Inland Bays watershed; and the Decked Out! fundraiser. “Ørsted’s support of the center is extraordinary and demonstrates their deep commitment to protecting and restoring our coastal environment,” said Chris Bason, Center for the Inland Bays executive director, in a prepared statement. “Our organizations share the vision of a world powered by renewable energy as it is essential to preserving our waters, our wildlife, and our way of life on the coast.”

Milton water bid approved

Milton Town Council unanimously approved a $1.5 million bid from Maryland-based contractor ECM Corporation to construct water main upgrades in three areas of town.

The project will replace water mains on Atlantic Street and Atlantic Avenue, and on Chestnut Street between Front Street and Coulter Street. 

Milton voters approved borrowing $1.6 million from the state Water Infrastructure Advisory Council for the project, with 100 percent loan forgiveness once the project is completed. The town is responsible for $16,700 in interest payments during the length of construction, which is estimated to be around six months. 

The referendum passed with nearly 100 percent of the votes in favor, 341-4.

Women Who Care to meet April 29

The Founders Circle of 100 Women Who Care Southern Delaware will meet from 12 to 2 p.m., Thursday, April 29, at Fish On in Lewes. Members will select a local nonprofit to support this quarter and bundle their donation checks for presentation to the charity. All are welcome to learn about the nonprofit work being done in the local community and boost their favorite nonprofit. Fish On will donate the private room fee and 10 percent of attendees’ food and beverage revenue to the selected charity. 

Attending by Zoom is also possible. To RSVP or for more information, email 100womencaresd@gmail.com or call Jeri at 302-233-6897. 

The website 100whocarealliance.org has background on this coalition of more than 700 giving circles worldwide.