News Briefs 6/13/25
Knit in public events set June 14
For Worldwide Knit in Public Day, members of the Sea Purls Knitting Guild will gather from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, June 14, at Georgetown Public Library, 123 W. Pine St., Georgetown. All knitters and crocheters are welcome to bring a chair, lunch and a project to sit and stitch. There will be teaching time for those who want to learn to knit.
Lewes library’s In the Loop knitting and crocheting group members will gather from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., June 14, at Mary Vessels Park, 124 W. Market St., Lewes. Visitors and residents are encouraged to stop by and say hello.
Paper-shredding event set June 14
A free paper-only shredding event is set for 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Saturday, June 14, at Lutheran Church of Our Savior, 20276 Bay Vista Road, Rehoboth Beach. Documents will be professionally and securely shredded using certified cross-cut technology and will be recycled after destruction.
St. Andrew ladies tea and luncheon set June 14
St. Andrew the Apostle Orthodox Church will host a ladies tea and luncheon at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, June 14, at 33384 MacKenzie Way off Plantation Road, Lewes. Proceeds benefit Sussex Pregnancy Care Center, Georgetown.
Offerings will include hot and iced teas, savory and sweet treats, and a presentation by experts from the Spice & Tea Exchange in Rehoboth Beach. There will be door prizes, games and a 50/50 raffle. Hats are optional.
Tickets may be purchased after church on Sunday or online at orthodoxdelmar.org/tea.
To learn more, email standrewlewes@gmail.com or call 302-645-5791.
UUSD to meet June 15
The Unitarian Universalists of Southern Delaware will hold a service at 10 a.m., Sunday, June 15, with Connection as the theme. A kickoff to summer cookout will follow the service. UUSD member Don Peterson said, “One of the great joys of faith community is the chance to connect with and know one another in meaningful ways beyond any familial, school or work connection. We are a community of all ages, backgrounds, cultures, abilities, concerns and interests. So today, for the second half of the service, we will mix it up with different activity tables and stations you can choose from. Try something new and get to know someone new right alongside you.” Learn more at uussd.org.
Lewes parks panel to meet June 16
The Lewes Parks and Recreation Commission will meet at 5 p.m., Monday, June 16, at the Rollins Center.
The panel will hear a presentation and possibly take action on a concept restoration plan for the Fourth Street Preserve.
The agenda and meeting link can be found at lewes.civicweb.net.
New Road in Lewes to close June 16
New Road in Lewes will be closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday, June 16, for removal of a hazardous tree located along New Road. Detours will be posted.
Antique tractor club to meet June 17
The First State Antique Tractor Club will meet at 7 p.m., Tuesday, June 17, at the Greenwood VFW on the corner of Governors Avenue and Mill Street, Greenwood. Light refreshments will be served. New business and upcoming events to be reviewed include plans to participate in the Delaware State Fair in July. The club is always looking for new members. Contact Maralene Givens, 302-228-2674 or maraleneg1@verizon.net, for more information.
Overfalls sets children’s fishing program June 19
The Lightship Overfalls will offer a children’s program at 10 a.m., Thursday, June 19. The program is open to children 5-13 years old, and and each child must be accompanied by an adult. Attendees will receive an introduction to fishing and learn how to fish from the public docks on the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal. Participants will learn how to bait a hook and retrieve a fish gently, along with finding out about fishing etiquette and local resources available for paddle sports, beach rentals and fishing from the Cape Henlopen State Park pier. There will also be a casting accuracy contest and a life jacket demonstration.
The event is free and no registration is required. To learn more and check for cancellations due to inclement weather, go to overfalls.org.
Good Grief Comedy Show fundraiser set June 21
DJ’s Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting suicide loss survivors in Delaware, will host a Good Grief Comedy Show fundraiser at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, June 21, at Milford Senior High School. The event is family friendly, and no alcohol will be sold or permitted. DJ’s Alliance offers peer-led support groups in Sussex and Kent counties. To learn more, email info.djsalliance@gmail.com or go to DJsAlliance.com.
Praise-worship concert set June 22 at Israel UMC
Israel United Methodist Church, under the leadership of the Rev. Marjorie Belmont, will host its young adults 54th anniversary praise-worship music concert during the service at 10 a.m., Sunday, June 22, at 20230 Plantation Road, Lewes. We've Got to Give Him the Praise is the theme. Special guests include The Kings Voices, Voce Del Rey, consisting of three singers from the First Millsboro Seventh Day Adventist Church. Come as you are. To learn more, email Betty Streett at bjnscruisers@aol.com.
Specialty crops grant applications due June 24
The Delaware Department of Agriculture is accepting proposals for the 2025 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program through 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 24, at de.gov/scbg. The federal Farm Bill is allotting approximately $340,000 through a competitive grant process to fund innovative projects supporting specialty crops, and creating new and better markets for the Delaware specialty crop industry. Specialty crops include fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, nursery crops and floriculture. Projects should benefit the specialty crop industry and provide a positive impact with measurable outcomes. Grants are available between $5,000 and $75,000 for projects lasting one to three years.
Agricultural producers, nonprofit organizations, government entities, for-profit companies and educational institutions based in Delaware or with a business or academic affiliation based in the state are eligible to apply. Applications requesting funding for field crops such as corn, soybeans or animal agriculture do not qualify. The grant evaluation team will review submissions with selected projects included in the Delaware State Plan for USDA’s review and final approval. To learn more, email Sheree Nichols at DDAMarketing@delaware.gov.
Gazette posts early holiday deadlines
Due to the Independence Day holiday and U.S. Postal Service delivery requirements, Cape Gazette editorial and advertising deadlines will be moved ahead.
To be considered for publication in the Friday, July 4 edition of the Cape Gazette, editorial submissions must be emailed to newsroom@capegazette.com by 10 a.m., Friday, June 27. Classified and retail advertising deadlines for the Friday, July 4 edition will be noon, Friday, June 27.
American Legion seeks Nov. 22 craft fair vendors
American Legion Auxiliary Unit 28 will host its annual holiday craft fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 22, at 31768 Legion Road, Millsboro. Space will be limited to 30 registered artisan vendors, offering creative works and handcrafted items. To reserve a space, call Karen at 240-475-1598. To learn more, go to alpost28.com.
DNREC reopens Ingrams Pond ramp
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced June 9 the reopening of the Ingrams Pond boat ramp near Millsboro following a four-month construction project to improve the facility.
Upgrades by the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife include a new ramp, installation of a new courtesy dock, expansion of an existing parking lot to accommodate boat trailers and car spaces, and other site amenities.
For more information, call the DNREC Fisheries Section at 302-739-9914.
Draper Media to acquire six radio stations from Forever Media
Draper Media has entered into a purchase agreement to acquire five radio stations from Forever Media. The transaction includes WDEL AM & FM and WSTW-FM in Wilmington; WXCY-FM in Havre de Grace, Md.; and WCEI-FM and WINX FM serving Maryland’s Mid-Shore region.
“We’re excited to add these stations, each with a long history of serving their local communities, to our company,” said Molly Draper Russell, CEO of Draper Holdings Business Trust, parent company of Draper Media. “Our family’s history of service through free over-the-air broadcasting goes back nearly 60 years. The addition of these stations fits perfectly into our late founder, my father, Thomas H. Draper’s motto that it is our moral obligation to serve our audience and advertising partners.”
“We are proud of the legacy these stations have built in their communities and grateful to our dedicated teams who have served listeners with passion and professionalism,” said Lynn Deppen, president of Forever Media. “We are confident that Draper Media shares our commitment to local broadcasting and will continue to provide outstanding service to audiences and advertisers alike as these stations enter an exciting new chapter.”
With this acquisition, Draper Media will expand its portfolio to include these respected stations, further strengthening its commitment to delivering high-quality news, entertainment and community-focused programming. Draper Media operates WBOC-TV, FOX21, WRDE-TV, Telemundo Delmarva, Antenna TV, My Cozi TV, the DSN Sports Network, WBOC-FM, WRDE-FM, WTDK-FM, WGBG-FM, WZBH-FM, WAAI-FM and digital division.
The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2025, subject to approval by the Federal Communications Commission. Forever Media is represented by broker Michael J. Bergner of Bergner and Co.
FAA honors Ocean Aviation Flight Academy founder
The Federal Aviation Administration recently presented Michael Freed, founder of Ocean Aviation Flight Academy, with the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award, the agency’s highest honor for certified pilots.
With locations in Georgetown and Ocean City, Md., Ocean Aviation is a certified Part 141 flight school.
The award recognizes pilots who have demonstrated professionalism, skill and aviation expertise by maintaining safe operations for 50 or more consecutive years without accidents or violations.
Over the course of five decades, Freed has built a legacy rooted in safety, discipline and excellence. As both a pilot and educator, he has made safety the cornerstone of his work, training hundreds of future aviators with that same philosophy.
“This award is deeply meaningful to me, not just as a pilot, but as someone who has spent a lifetime committed to excellence and safety in aviation,” said Freed. “Safety isn’t optional in aviation; it’s everything. I’ve always believed that if you train with purpose and fly with discipline, you can achieve great things. I’m proud of the careers we’ve helped launch and the legacy we continue to build at Ocean Aviation.”
Freeman Arts pilots music education initiative
Freeman Arts Pavilion, a program of the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation, announced its new arts education initiative designed to give students access to a quality instrument and enriched curriculum resources through the ukulele. In partnership with Salisbury University music education professor Louise Anderson, who specializes in music education and integrating ukuleles into the curriculum, the pilot school for the initiative is Buckingham Elementary in Berlin, Md. Freeman Arts Pavilion will provide a classroom set of ukuleles along with teaching tools and support tailored to elementary music introduction. The instruments and curriculum will be in place for at least five years at Buckingham with the hope of expanding to additional schools across Delmarva. To learn more, go to freemanarts.org.
High 5 Hospitality raises $127K for local causes
High 5 Hospitality announced it has contributed $127,000 back to local communities through recent charitable campaigns held at its Jersey Mike’s and Buffalo Wild Wings locations. During Jersey Mike’s Month of Giving in March, H5H-owned locations, along with franchise partners in Milford, raised $100,000 for SL24: Sean’s House, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting youth mental health and suicide prevention.
During the Buffalo Wild Wings Team Up for Kids campaign last fall, H5H-owned locations collected nearly $27,000, now being distributed to community partners including: Boys & Girls Club of Milford, Food Bank of Delaware, Sussex Consortium, Bikers Without Borders, Air Mobility Command Museum, Read Aloud Delaware and Special Olympics Delaware.
“Being a good community partner is at the heart of everything we do,” said Bobby Pancake, CEO of High 5 Hospitality. “Whether it’s supporting youth mental health, food security or education, or honoring our veterans, our team is deeply committed to giving back in ways that truly make a meaningful difference.”
Manufactured Housing Scholarship Awards announced
The First State Manufactured Housing Association announced three recipients of the 2025-26 Manufactured Housing Scholarship Award. Each recipient has been awarded $2,500, totaling $7,500 in scholarships for this cycle.
Recipients are Jordan Curry of Milford, Milford High School Class of 2024. A standout scholar and athlete, Curry is currently attending Delaware State University, where he is majoring in physical education and playing football. He concluded his DSU freshman year on the president’s list with a 4.0 GPA.
Carly Favoroso of Milton is a Class of 2025 graduate of Cape Henlopen High School. She has maintained honor roll status in all honors-level courses while actively participating in numerous extracurricular activities. Favoroso will attend East Carolina University to pursue a bachelor of fine arts degree in acting with minors in dance and public relations.
Luke Hitchens of Dagsboro is a Class of 2025 graduate of Indian River High School. An accomplished student-athlete, Hitchens maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout high school and served as captain of his state championship-winning football team. Hitchens will attend Wilmington University to study finance and play Division II men’s lacrosse.
