News Briefs 5/16/25

GLF sets annual meeting May 17

The Greater Lewes Foundation will meet from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Saturday, May 17, at the Margaret H. Rollins Community Center, 101 Adams Ave., Lewes. Marking the 25th anniversary since its founding, the organization will celebrate achievements including major projects past and current, and its charitable funds. The agenda includes a financial report, recognization of past board members and welcoming new ones, including new Lewes Mayor Amy Marasco. Chair W. Joseph Stewart will emcee as awards are presented to Joseph M. Schell and Dennis N. Forney, who will also serve as keynote speaker. To learn more, go to greaterlewesfoundation.org.

Lewes parks panel cancels meeting

The Lewes Parks and Recreation Commission has canceled its meeting set for Monday, May 19, at the Rollins Center. The panel is next scheduled to meet in June. Lewes architecture group to meet May 19 The Lewes Historic Preservation Architectural Review Commission will hold a special meeting at 1 p.m., Monday, May 19, at city hall. The group will discussion its standards, guidelines and online application. See the agenda and meeting link at lewes.civicweb.net.

Cave Neck Road bridge to close

Cave Neck Road between Diamond Farm Road and Hudson Road will be closed from Monday, May 19, through late August for repair work to the bridge, originally built in 1913. Work will comprise installing steel sheet pile wingwalls with concrete copings at both sides on the south face of the structure. A moment slab and new guardrail will be installed along the south face of the structure to replace the existing headwall and remediate an ongoing safety issue. Minor substructure repairs are scheduled as well. Motorists traveling west on Cave Neck Road will turn left onto Hudson Road, right onto Walker Road, then right onto Diamond Farm Road to return to Cave Neck Road. Motorists traveling east on Cave Neck Road will turn right onto Diamond Farm Road, left onto Walker Road, then left onto Hudson Road to return to Cave Neck Road. For more information, go to the Delaware Department of Transportation website at deldot.gov or tune to WTMC-AM 1380.

Israel UMC Miracle Angels to raise funds May 19 at Chick-fil-A

Israel United Methodist Church announced Chick-filA will host a dine-and-donate fundraiser from 5 to 8 p.m., Monday, May 19, at 19531 Coastal Highway, Rehoboth Beach. All are welcome to enjoy food, fun and fellowship. The restaurant will donate 20% of proceeds to the Israel UMC Miracle Angels Cancer Mission in support of Beebe Oncology Services Patient Special Needs Fund. To learn more, email Betty Streett at bjnscruisers@aol.com.

Town hall to focus on hate incident prevention May 21

The Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice will hold a town hall at 6 p.m., Wednesday, May 21, at Lewes Public Library, 111 Adams Ave., Lewes. The purpose is to bring community members together to advocate for cessation of hate incidents and harassment crimes directed toward African Americans in Sussex County. Marjorie Burns, alliance chair, said, “These incidents should not be ignored or dismissed as isolated cases. SDARJ stands with the Black community to say that there should be zero tolerance for hate incidents in Sussex County.” Speakers from business, government and community organizations have been invited to talk about what they are doing to prevent these incidents from happening in the future. People will also learn what they can do if they experience or witness a hate crime or incident. Confirmed speakers include Kirk Bacon, Sussex County NAACP president; and Joseph Lawson, SDARJ executive director and Speak Out Against Hate board member.

Tree removal moratorium OK’d in Henlopen Acres

During a meeting May 12, Henlopen Acres commissioners approved a moratorium on severely cutting back, topping, damaging or removing canopy trees in the setback areas of residential lots. This moratorium shall continue until and including Thursday, July 10, 2025. The town is considering changes to its tree code. The moratorium approval gives commissioners time to evaluate possible changes and to gather information from residents. There is a public hearing on the issue set for Friday, May 23, with public comments being taken until Friday, May 30. For more information, call town hall at 302-227-6411 or go to henlopenacres.delaware. gov.

Overfalls sets May 21 dining fundraiser

To raise funds for the Overfalls Foundation, Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats will host a Beer and Benevolence night from 4 to 9 p.m., Wednesday, May 21, at 320 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach. A portion of sales proceeds will be donated to the nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and honoring the United States Lighthouse Service and the maritime history of coastal Delaware. To learn more, go to overfalls.org.

Antique tractor club to meet May 20

The First State Antique Tractor Club will meet at 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 20, at the Greenwood VFW on the corner of Governors Avenue and Mill Street, Greenwood. Light refreshments will be served. The club’s scholarship winners for 2025 will be announced. The club awards four $2,000 scholarships each June to graduating seniors interested in pursuing a college agriculture degree. The club will also review new business and upcoming events. The club is always looking for new members. Contact Maralene Givens, 302-228-2674 or maraleneg1@verizon.net, for more information.

Overfalls happy hour set May 22 in Lewes

The Overfalls Foundation will host a happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m., Thursday, May 22, at Lewes Canalfront Park. Attendees can savor a beer or a glass of wine, enjoy the opportunity to see the ship, and meet some adoptable four-legged guests from Humane Animal Partners. There is no charge to attend. Weather cancellations will be posted on the Overfalls Foundation website, overfalls.org.

LIB plant sale, flea market set May 24

Lewes in Bloom will hold a Garden Plant and Flea Market sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, May 24, at its warehouse near the water tower on Schley Avenue, Lewes. The rain date is Sunday, May 25. The sale will include native plants and pollinator plants, hanging baskets, unique tin pocket plant holders and gently used garden accessories. Raffle items include framed oil and watercolor paintings, and a cherrywood plant stand. Embossed LIB merchandise such as aprons, hats, T-shirts, sweatshirts, etc., will be available. For details, go to lewesinbloom.org and find on Facebook.

Lewes library board treasurer applications due May 31

Lewes Public Library is seeking applications for the treasurer role on its board of commissioners. The five-year term begins Tuesday, July 1. The board of commissioners is the governing board of the library, and it seeks to represent a broad spectrum of community interests and occupations. Applicants must reside within the Cape Henlopen School District. Experience in finance, budgeting, fundraising and advocacy is preferred. Board members oversee management of the library as representatives of the community, determining policies governing its operations and programs, and actively supporting library-related legislation. Regular meetings are held at 10 a.m., the fourth Monday of each month. SpeFree soil test available for corn growers cial meetings are scheduled as needed. Letters of interest and resumes should be sent to Jill DiPaolo, Lewes Public Library director, 111 Adams Ave., Lewes, DE 19958, by Saturday, May 31, or emailed to jill.dipaolo@ lib.de.us. Letters should give personal and professional history, what drives the applicant’s desire to serve the community, and information about skills candidates feel they can bring to the library. For more information, go to lewes.lib.de.us.

Strawberry fest set June 7 in Millsboro

The annual strawberry festival at the Indian River Senior Center is is set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, June 7, at 214 Irons Ave., Millsboro, rain or shine. Admission is free. Artisans will sell handmade crafts, and volunteers will assemble freshly made strawberry shortcakes for purchase. For more information, go to IndianRiverSeniorCenterDE.com or call 302-934-8839, Ext.1.

Saltwater Fly Anglers to meet June 11

The Saltwater Fly Anglers of Delaware invites fly fishermen and women of all ages and skill levels to attend its meeting at 7 p.m., Wednesday, June 11, at the Rolling Meadows Clubhouse, Lewes. Meetings continue the second Wednesday of each month through December. To learn more, go to sfaod.com.

Free soil test available for corn growers

Sussex Conservation District is offering free presidedress soil nitrogen testing to corn growers in Sussex County. SCD recommends performing a PSNT in the spring to determine the nitrogen requirements of an expected corn crop yield. Fields that have received applications of animal manure are ideally suited for PSNT. Tests measure the amount of available nitrogen in the soil to determine if additional fertilizer nitrogen is needed. The test also eliminates the uncertainty associated with using manure nitrogen. A limited number of tests are available. To schedule a PSNT within one week of planting, call 302-856-3990, Ext. 3, or email Dan Holston at daniel.holston@de.nacdnet.net.

Genealogy program held first Saturdays

Sponsored by Lewes Historical Society and the Sussex County Genealogical Society, the Genealogist in Residence program takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the first Saturday of each month in the Reading Room at the Lewes History Museum, 101 Adams Ave., Lewes. Sussex County Genealogical Society members and searchers will be available to help anyone who has questions about their family tree. Members come from different areas and can help no matter where one’s family came from. The Lewes Historical Society Archives Family Files also will be available. To learn more, go to scgsdelaware.org or historiclewes.org.

Library to announce new mascot design

Rehoboth Elementary School students were invited to participate in a campuswide competition to design and create a new mascot for the Rehoboth Beach Public Library. Using a mascot related to learning with art, music and science programs. the beach, ocean or bays, entries could represent a real creature like a fish or a horseshoe crab, or an imaginary one, such as a mermaid. A team of judges from the Rehoboth Art League will select two winners from each grade level, kindergarten through fifth grade. In early June, the 12 finalists will be reviewed by library team members, who will choose the winning mascot design. LIB plant sale, flea market set May 24 The winner will be announced at 6 p.m., Thursday, June 5. All 12 contest finalists will have their photo taken in the school lobby, receive a special handpicked book from the Rehoboth library and be honored at an evening celebration hosted by the library. The mascot contest complements the Color Our World theme of the 2025 National Summer Reading Program, which will promote hands-on learning with art, music and science programs. 

Homes sought for abandoned birds

The Delaware Department of Agriculture and the First State Animal Center will be looking for homes for thousands of bird recently found at a United States Postal Service distribution center. The USPS Delaware Processing and Distribution Center called the Department of Agriculture May 2 about an “undeliverable box of baby birds,” prompting the department to transfer the boxes of birds to First State Animal Center, officials said. Officials said the birds included chicks, turkeys, geese, quail and chukars, all shipped April 29 from Freedom Ranger Hatchery in Pennsylvania. Due to an inadequate environment for an extended period, officials said, about 4,000 birds were deceased at the time of arrival.

Officials said they contacted the Freedom Ranger Hatchery - a National Poultry Improvement Plan-certified, avian influenza, and pullorumtyphoid clean hatchery - and they are unsure of how all the birds ended up in Delaware. As many as 2,000 of these birds were labeled for delivery to Spokane, Wash. The hatchery is currently investigating this matter, officials said. In all, officials said, 10,000 birds had been meant for shipping across the country. Officials said the collaboration between the state agency and local humanity-based organization exemplifies the impact of collective action in addressing animal abandonment and neglect. By fostering partnerships and encouraging public participation, officials said, it sets a precedent for other regions to follow in their efforts to combat animal mistreatment and promote ethical animal husbandry practices.