News Briefs 5/26/23

Lewes offices closed May 29

The City of Lewes and Lewes Board of Public Works offices will be closed Monday, May 29, in observance of the Memorial Day holiday.

Normal hours will resume Tuesday, May 30.

Lewes tree group meeting May 30

The Lewes Planning Commission Tree Ordinance Subcommittee will meet at 3 p.m., Tuesday, May 30, at the Rollins Center, to discuss protecting trees during construction projects.

See the meeting agenda and link at lewes.civicweb.net.

Work set at Bay Farm Road-School Lane

A Delaware Department of Transportation crew will be converting the two-way stop control at the intersection of Bay Farm Road and School Lane near Long Neck to an all-way-stop control with new signs and pavement markings. The work will last from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday, June 6.

Rts. 1, 16 to have new pattern May 30-31 

Motorists will experience changed traffic patterns on the Route 1 northbound lanes at the Route 16 intersection from 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 30, through midnight, Wednesday, May 31, as announced by the Delaware Department of Transportation. During the switch, motorists can expect lane closures on Route 1 northbound, and lane closures on Route 16 eastbound and westbound. After the switch, Route 1 northbound traffic will drive along the new ramp road to accommodate construction of the new grade-separated interchange. Route 1 southbound traffic will continue to be maintained along the existing roadway. Motorists are advised to expect delays.

DelDOT paying for Rookery nets

The Delaware Department of Transportation is paying $347,000 to erect nets along the 18th hole of the Rookery golf course near Milton. The project protects motorists traveling northbound along the new temporary traffic pattern at the intersection of Route 1 and Route 16 as part of the grade-separated intersection project. 

Bike lane extending into Forgotten Mile

Crews will be extending the Route 1 bus/bike/right-turn lane into the Forgotten Mile between Dewey Beach and the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal bridge, according to Speaker of the House Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach. He said the work will be done at night to minimize impacts on traffic. Work will occur over the next week or two, Schwartzkopf said. 

Sussex County offices closed May 29

Sussex County government offices will be closed Monday, May 29, in observance of Memorial Day.

Sussex council not meeting May 30

Sussex County Council will not meet Tuesday, May 30. The next regularly scheduled meeting is at 10 a.m., Tuesday, June 6, in the county administration building, 2 The Circle, Georgetown.

AG Kathy Jennings to address Dems June 7

The Eastern Sussex Democrats will meet at 5 p.m., Wednesday June 7, in the Lewes Public Library large meeting room. Registration begins at 4:30 p.m. with a buffet dinner before the presentation. The cost is $25 per person. Attendees can pay at the door, or at easternsussexdemocrats.com.

The guest speaker, Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings, will discuss her perspective on the social justice issues being addressed by the American Civil Liberties Union and how they impact the AG’s office. Eastern Sussex Democrats is an independent club focused on electing Democrats to office; advancing Democratic principles, policies and priorities that address social, racial and economic justice; and protecting the environment and conserving natural resources.

For more information, contact Kathy Hughes at easternsussexdems@gmail.com.

Lewes Juneteenth event seeks volunteers

The Lewes African-American Heritage Commission is seeking volunteers for its Juneteenth celebration from 1 to 6 p.m., Saturday, June 24, at George H.P. Smith Park.

The free event is family-friendly and will include live music, dancers and spoken-word recitals, along with food trucks and other vendors arriving at 10 a.m. African-American Heritage Commissioner the Rev. Deborah McCaffity will speak about the holiday’s origins. 

Volunteers are needed for setup, breakdown, and general duties during the event; anyone interested should call 302-645-7777 for details.

The deadline for vendors to apply is Wednesday, May 31; the application is available at ci.lewes.de.us.

Juneteenth parking modified in Lewes

The Lewes African-American Heritage Commission has arranged satellite parking and shuttle buses for its Juneteenth celebration to avoid conflicts with nearby construction.

Parking will be available at Shields Elementary, University of Delaware Lewes campus, St. George AME Church, Trinity Faith Christian Center and Friendship Baptist Church. The commission has contracted two school buses to operate from 11 a.m to 7 p.m. and shuttle people from the parking lots to George H.P. Smith Park and back. 

Hearings set for Rehoboth rezoning requests

Rehoboth Beach commissioners have set a public hearing Friday, June 16, on rezoning requests for three properties. The property owners at 1028A and 1028B Scarborough Ave. Ext. have requested their properties be rezoned from C-3 secondary commercial to R-1 residential. Rehoboth Auto Repair owners requested a zoning change for their property at 20663 Coastal Highway from C-3 commercial to C-1 commercial.

Before the rezoning requests, commissioners will conduct a public hearing on amending the Future Land Use Map within the city’s 2020 Comprehensive Development Plan.