Sign up May 8 for virtual small biz bootcamp workshops

The Delaware Department of Labor’s Division of Industrial Affairs will host the 2026 Small Business Bootcamp, a free, virtual event designed to equip entrepreneurs and small business owners with the knowledge and resources needed to thrive in today’s business climate. The Bootcamp will take place through May 8, in celebration of National Small Business Week.

This year’s bootcamp will include a series of five compliance-led, on-demand virtual workshops, allowing participants to learn at their convenience while gaining critical insights into Delaware’s labor laws and workplace requirements.

Workshop topics Include: Anti-Discrimination, Wage & Hour Enforcement, Child Labor Laws, Construction Enforcement, Workers’ Compensation, and SafeDE (Workplace Safety & Health).

Each session is led by subject matter experts from the Delaware Department of Labor and is designed to help businesses stay compliant, reduce risk and build a strong foundation for growth.

Registration is now open and free to the public at tinyurl.com/2hz6v844. 

For more information, contact Kelly Jones at kelly.jones@delaware.gov.

Info session May 9 on coastal building line

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Division of Watershed Stewardship will hold a public information session  at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 9, in the Cannon Lab, Room 104, of the UD Hugh R. Sharp Campus in Lewes, regarding potential changes to the state’s coastal building line. 

The line hasn’t been changed since a topographic survey was conducted in 1979. The state created an advisory committee to provide guidance and feedback to DNREC on the development of possible amendments to the line so it reflects current shoreline conditions and future coastal change. The committee has met twice.

For more information, contact Jennifer Pongratz, at jennifer.pongratz@delaware.gov or 302-608-5502.

Letter carriers food drive to benefit local agency May 9

The National Association of Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive takes place Saturday, May 9, and the local Community Resource Center’s Food Rescue program will again be a beneficiary.

“The need is growing with each year,” said Dianne Shearon, CRC Food Rescue lead volunteer. “I can tell you that last year we gave away nearly 60,000 bags of food to our hungry clients, and our numbers show that we are on track to hand out even more in 2026. We are so grateful to the post office and to every household that participates in the annual  food donation drive.”

The public is invited to leave a donation of nonperishable food in a bag near their mailboxes May 9, and letter carriers will collect the items to benefit local food pantries.

The Community Resource Center in Rehoboth Beach helps individuals and families get to the next step of their journey toward self-sufficiency and stability. For more information, go to rehobothcommunitycenter.org.

Dewey Arts Fest returns May 9 

The Dewey Arts Festival, presented by the Dewey Business Partnership, will take place from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Saturday, May 9, on the Rusty Rudder Lighthouse Circle at Dickinson Avenue and the bay.

The event, now in its 15th year, will welcome more than 40 local artists offering everything from jewelry and ceramics to  wood, metal, fabrics and more, along with beach-themed art, dog art and dog gear. 

The event will also have an art garden featuring artwork from Rehoboth Elementary students. Dewey Beach favorite Mark Luckenbill will provide live music. 

Admission and parking are free, and the event is dog-friendly.

Redner’s accepting USO snack donations May 9-10

Hertrich Family of Automobile Dealerships is holding its ninth annual Pack the Truck USO Supply Drive, collecting donations to support active-duty military members, National Guard and reserve members, and their families through the USO. 

Donations will be accepted from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, May 9 and 10, at Redner’s Fresh Market, 24120 Zinfandel Lane, Lewes. Accepted items include cleaning supplies, paper products, coffee, energy and sports drinks, shelf-stable meals, snack foods and other single-serve items. Multipacks and cases are encouraged. 

For more information or to donate online, go to hertrichs.com/snackpack.htm or snackpackuso.com.

UUSD to meet May 10

The Unitarian Universalists of Southern Delaware will hold a service at 10 a.m., Sunday, May 10, with the topic, Using Your Superpowers. Guest speaker Allyson Rice said, “Yes, we all have very real superpowers. So how exactly do we use them as we navigate through the challenges we’re experiencing in the world every day? And what the heck does this have to do with Mother’s Day?” Rice is the author and narrator of the novel, “The Key to Circus-Mom Highway.” Learn more at uussd.org.

Lewes to hold special meeting May 11

Lewes Mayor and City Council will hold a special meeting at 5:30 p.m., Monday, May 11, at city hall.

The agenda includes a presentation and discussion of Senate Bill 23 on affordable housing from Sen. Russ Huxtable, D-Lewes.

N. Old State Road to close May 11-15

North Old State Road between Route 16 and Fleatown Road in Ellendale will be closed from Monday, May 11 through Friday, May 15 (weather permitting) for drainage pipes installation.

Motorists wanting to travel north on N. Old State Road will turn left onto Route 16, then turn right onto Route 113, then turn right onto Fleatown Road, returning to N. Old State Road. 

Motorists wanting to travel south on N. Old State Road will turn right onto Fleatown Road, then turn left onto Route 113, then turn left onto Route 16, returning to N. Old State Road.

Advocacy fair set May 16 in Lewes

Women’s March Sussex will host an Action & Advocacy Fair from 2 to 4 p.m., Saturday, May 16, at the Lewes Public Library, 111 Adams Ave., Lewes.

A variety of area organizations will have representatives on hand providing resources and opportunities for involvement. Attendees will be able to connect with groups working in areas such as local nonprofit services, social justice advocacy, voter education, environmental issues and community resources.

The fair is free and open to the public. Event organizers only ask attendees to help fight food insecurity by donating nonperishable items such as canned goods, peanut butter and cereal to be given to local food banks.

For more information, go to wms-de.org.

Bus service changes take effect May 17

Changes to DART statewide bus service will become effective Sunday, May 17. 

Delaware Transit Corporation received feedback from riders and the public through two public hearing workshops held in February, as well as website submissions. As a result of a review of comments, modifications were made to the proposal. The route-specific details can be viewed at tinyurl.com/2kydv7za.

DART’s Beach Bus services will begin Monday, May 18, operating daily with increased frequencies through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7.

DART’s Route 305 – Beach Connection will operate weekends and holidays from Saturday, May 23 through Sunday, Sept. 27.

The new route schedules are available online at dartfirststate.com; printed pocket schedules are also available.

Horses for Mental Health Campaign spotlights local group

Compassionate Hearts has been selected to participate in the 2026 Horses for Mental Health Campaign, a global initiative that raises awareness and funds programs that support mental health through the horse-human connection.

Through Courageous Hearts, based in Lincoln, the organization has served individuals and families across Delaware for 14 years, providing equine-assisted psychotherapy and learning experiences that promote healing, resilience and personal growth. This recognition places Compassionate Hearts among a select group of nonprofits worldwide demonstrating excellence in both client care and equine welfare.

“Across Delaware, we continue to see a growing need for accessible, alternative mental health supports,” said Dr. Rosemary Baughman, founder and executive director. “This campaign helps ensure more individuals and families can access these services when they need them most.”

The campaign runs through Sunday, May 31, during Mental Health Awareness Month, with all funds raised directly supporting local programming and care for both clients and horses.

To learn more, go to horsesformentalhealth.org.

Dewey kids bike parade set for July 5

Dewey in Bloom is planning to host the inaugural Red, White & Bloom Kids Bike Parade Sunday, July 5, in collaboration with the town.

“Dewey is always looking for activities to make us a more family-friendly town,” said Patrice Gancie, one of the creators of DIB. “We think it’s going to be really cute and we are excited about the response.”

The event will run from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on McKinley Avenue bayside, kicking off with a short parade for kids – or anyone else who chooses to participate.

People are encouraged to decorate their bikes, trikes, scooters, wagons and other wheeled mobiles for the parade. A limited supply of decorating materials will be available onsite before the parade.

The morning will also include a children’s planting activity, a moon bounce, face painting, a balloon artist and sweet treats.

The Delaware Department of Transportation will provide safety-themed coloring books and possibly a limited amount of bike safety gear for kids.

“We’re thinking it will have a home parade feel – very cutesy, townsy – and I think it’s going to be a lot of fun,” said Shari Goodman, a member of the DIB steering committee.

Gancie hopes the parade will become an annual Fourth of July tradition and thinks America’s 250th anniversary is the perfect opportunity to start.

DIB is in the midst of soliciting sponsors and volunteers for the event.

“The community, especially the business community, always turns out for us, so I’m sure we will be getting some enthusiastic people,” Gancie said.

Dewey Beach panel explores alternative investment firms

The Dewey Beach Finance Committee recommended commissioners issue a request for proposals to explore alternative financial advisory firms in an effort to reduce the cost the town is paying in management fees and possibly consider a less passive investment approach.

The town has had portfolios with Brown Advisory for a number of years and is paying about $73,000 in fees to the firm.

The town’s total assets are about $7.3 million.

At the committee’s May 6 meeting, committee member Zeke Przygocki said for the price they’re paying, it doesn’t seem like they’re getting as much as they could be in return.

Town council will review the committee’s recommendation at an upcoming meeting.

For a link to a recording of the committee meeting, go to townofdeweybeach.gov/events/43640.

New, curated film screenings continue 

The Rehoboth Beach Film Society announced upcoming films to be screened at the Cinema Art Theater near Lewes.

Offerings include “Godfather: Part II,” “Omaha” and “Fried Green Tomatoes.”

In the Great Art on Screen series, “Lotto and Berenson: Crossed Destinies” follows the intertwined journeys of Lorenzo Lotto, a forgotten Renaissance master, and Bernard Berenson, the Jewish American art critic who resurrected his legacy.

For details, go to rehobothfilm.com.

Rehoboth charter changes introduced 

A bill formalizing more than a dozen changes to the Rehoboth Beach charter was introduced and assigned May 6 to the Senate Elections & Government Affairs Committee. The primary sponsor of Senate Bill 306 is Sen. Russ Huxtable, D-Lewes.

Proposed charter changes include removal of the $3 million hard cap on the amount of property taxes the city can collect in favor of a percentage-based approach; the prohibition of a spouse, domestic partner or cohabitant of a serving commissioner from serving; eliminating mileage reimbursement for nonresident commissioners; increasing the maximum fine the city is allowed to issue from $500 to $2,500; adding the option for Rehoboth to adopt Sussex County property assessments for municipal tax purposes; and requiring the city to reassess property at least every five years.

The bill introduction is the next step in the process for the changes to become part of the city’s charter. 

Officials have been discussing the changes for months, approving the slate during an April 6 meeting.