News Briefs 3-10-26

Park trails closing on weekdays for repairs

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced that the Junction & Breakwater Trail at Cape Henlopen State Park will be periodically closed, on weekdays only, for about three weeks starting the week of March 9.

Once its repairs are complete, the Gordons Pond Trail will close for about two weeks to repair small sections damaged by high tides. The trails will reopen to the public on weekends during this time frame.

Work on the Junction & Breakwater Trail will involve replacing fencing along the causeway, regrading the trails’ edges and resurfacing the trails with stone dust.

During the project, the trail will be inaccessible from north of the Tanger Outlets parking area to the connection in the Hawkseye community near Lewes on weekdays.

After the J&B completion, work will begin on the Gordons Pond Trail  to excavate and repair small sections damaged by high tides.

The trail will be closed north of the Gordons Pond parking area near Rehoboth Beach up to the southern limit of the elevated walkway from Herring Point on weekdays.

For more information on the trail closures and to confirm when trails are open at Cape Henlopen State Park, visit destateparks.com/find-a-trail, or check the park’s social media pages on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates.

Sussex County Council meets March 10

Sussex County Council will meet at 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 10, at the County Administration Building in Georgetown.

Council members will discuss the Sussex County Rental Program, open-space requirements, preliminary plat requirements, cluster subdivisions in growth areas and standard subdivisions in rural areas. They will also discuss the effects of updating county code on land-use applications.

At 1:30 p.m., a public hearing will be held on a rezoning application for 0.57 acres on Savannah Road near Wescoats Road.

The applicant, 1534 Savannah Road LLC, is seeking to change the zoning from AR-1, agricultural-residential, to C-2, medium commercial. According to the application, the applicant owns the adjacent property containing Atracare Mental Health and Atlantic Adult & Pediatric Medicine, and plans to add additional medical space to complement the existing operations.

A separate public hearing is planned for a fence installation business seeking a conditional use to operate a business in the AR-1 zoning district at 20601 Rust Road, Harbeson.

See the full agenda at sussexcountyde.gov.

Lewes ordinance panel meets March 11

The Lewes Ordinance Review Ad Hoc Committee will meet at 11 a.m., Wednesday, March 11, at city hall.

The agenda includes continued discussion and possible action regarding proposed revisions to Chapter 142 - Peddling and Soliciting.

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

Lewes resiliency group to meet

The Lewes Economic, Environmental and Resiliency Commission will meet at 3 p.m., Wednesday, March 11, at city hall.

The agenda includes an update on the proposed naming of the Sam Russell Preserve, including recognition of Indigenous peoples.

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

The Lewes Fourth Street Preserve Subcommittee has canceled its meeting that was set for 2 p.m. in the same location.

Cape school board sets workshop

The Cape Henlopen School District Board of Education will hold a workshop meeting at 6 p.m., Thursday, March 12, at Love Creek Elementary School.

Cape Henlopen High School theater students will offer a special presentation of “Mamma Mia!” to start the meeting.

The agenda includes an elementary literacy update, a Diligent Community presentation, and a presentation and discussion of board policies relating to assignment of students to district schools, and enrollment and release of students and student information.

The board will also discuss and possibly take action on the 2026-27 district calendar and travel policy. 

Workshop meetings are designed for in-depth, informal discussion and review of complex district issues and proposed policy changes without the pressure of taking immediate action.

The board will hold its regular monthly meeting at 6 p.m., Thursday, March 26, at Love Creek.

See the full agenda and meeting link at capehenlopenschools.com/board-of-education. 

Lewes to hold budget hearing March 13

Lewes Mayor and City Council will hold a special budget hearing at 9 a.m., Friday, March 13, at city hall.

The panel will continue its discussion of the draft budget for FY2027.

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

PFAS outreach grant applications due by March 27

For projects that will increase awareness of and outreach about PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in Delaware, the Department of Health and Social Services and the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control have reopened a grant opportunity.

Community-based organizations are encouraged to submit applications for Community Environmental Justice and Equity projects located near historic industrial and manufacturing areas, or areas known or suspected to be impacted by PFAS contamination.

Applications for grant projects must be received by 11:59 p.m., Friday, March 27.

Only Delaware organizations, individuals and local governments serving within the state of Delaware are eligible to apply. The grants, using Delaware PFAS Settlement Funds, are intended to support several projects statewide, with a focus on underserved communities.

The PFAS outreach grant opportunity, announced by DHSS last November, is funded through DHSS using the state’s PFAS Settlement Funds. 

To learn more, go to de.gov/pfas  or email pfas_grants@delaware.gov.

DNREC deadline for water-quality grant funds is April 29

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control encourages Delaware nonprofit organizations, conservation districts, community organizations and homeowners’ associations to submit project proposals to be considered for grant funds from DNREC’s Community Water Quality Improvement Grants program.

Funding for grant awards in this cycle is expected to range from $25,000 to $75,000 per project.

Projects will be reviewed by DNREC staff for funding through a competitive grant process; recommended projects will be presented to the Delaware Water Infrastructure Advisory Council. Applicants may submit up to two project proposals per grant cycle. Project guidelines and the grant application can be found at the de.gov/envfinance webpage.

Community Water Quality Improvement Grants assist in implementing projects or programs that improve water quality on developed lands with watershed improvement plans and strategies.

Programs and projects selected for these grants must demonstrate innovative and sustainable methods, techniques, and/or practices for water quality improvements, with cost-effective and measurable results.

Eligible projects may include: enhancement or restoration of water quality within an impaired watershed, community stormwater management improvements in existing developments in partnership with municipalities, and non-regulatory or voluntary plans involving pollution-control strategies, watershed-based restoration plans, whole basin management preliminary assessments, or community based stormwater permits.

Past projects that received this funding have included: a green roof installation; living shoreline installation and marsh enhancement to stop erosion; a stormwater retrofit project featuring a wetland and bioswale to manage stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces; stream bank restoration to reduce erosion and sedimentation; and green stormwater improvements Seaford.

Grant proposals should be submitted by email to NPS.grants@delaware.gov with “Community Water Quality Improvement Grants” in the subject line. Emailed proposals must be less than 10MB. All grant proposals must be received by DNREC close of business, 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 29.

Cape school board approves trips 

The Cape Henlopen School District Board of Education approved three Cape High student trips during a Feb. 26 meeting.

They were an eight-day theater department trip to the UK during spring break 2027, a nine-day culinary arts trip to Paris in summer 2027 and an eight-day Italian trip to Venice, Florence and Rome.

Find details about each trip on the board meeting agenda at go.boarddocs.com/de/cahe/board.nsf/public.