Ellendale civic association honors citizens

The Ellendale Community Civic Improvement Association celebrated 30 years of “Serving the Community Today for a Better Tomorrow,” at Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church Fellowship Hall in Ellendale.

About 100 people attended the Feb. 19 event.

The group that would become Ellendale Community Civic Improvement Association first met Oct. 21, 1980, to seek solutions to the Ellendale area’s problems: poor housing, inferior roads, lack of recreation and community facilities, and lack of a tutoring program.

The association formally organized and incorporated in 1981.

Association President Harold Truxon said concerns the community had three decades ago still exist; the list has now expanded to include health concerns. Truxon said Ellendale has one of the highest cancer rates in the state, noting Sussex County has the state’s highest diabetes rate, and Ellendale tops the list for the highest rate of diabetes among black women. Truxon said in the 1990s, the association fought a long battle to get a central sewer system in Ellendale. The town won its effort to gain a modern, centralized sewer system, but still lacks drinkable water, he said.

“There are 287 homes in the community with water that has high nitrate levels. Some people can’t drink the water today,” Truxon said.

He said Ellendale recently received an email from Sen. Tom Carper’s office about $94 million in federal money available for municipal drinking water improvement.

“We wanted $3.5 million for water. We found out Seaford, Laurel and Rehoboth were waiting for the money. They got it,” he said.

Truxon said even more recently there was an announcement of $16 million from the federal government available for municipal drinking water improvements.

“But they’ve got it lined up for different communities that really don’t need it. We want to find out why Ellendale is being left out,” he said.

He said the association is also seeking to help Slaughter Neck, where there are 45 homes that have undrinkable water.

He said the town sought to determine the status of a building that once housed a state-operated drug and alcohol detoxification unit. Truxon said the town asked appropriate state offices about the building. “They got a letter saying the detox center had been sold to a private individual. How can this happen?” he said. Truxon said the building would have been an excellent place for the medical center the town has long sought.

Truxon credited the late Sen. Thurman Adams Jr. with helping the association get started. “When we first opened up we couldn’t get anything done. But Sen. Adams, he opened the doors for us,” Truxon said.

Adams died in 2009, and Truxon said the town is reaching out to people who would help Ellendale fulfill its next priority.

“We’re going for the water,” he said.

This year’s Ellendale Community Civic Improvement Association award winners have long been standouts in the Cape Region. Awards are presented in recognition of outstanding, dedicated service and commitment to the community. This years honorees are:

• Frederick Bowden, a Cape Henlopen High School graduate, during summers in the early 1990s, worked for the City of Rehoboth Beach on a trash truck. He is president of transportation for Philadelphia Pentecostal Holiness Church in Ellendale. Bowden has been employed by Delaware State Police for 17 years. He lives in Camden.

• William “Bill” Collick, a University of Delaware graduate, has the most football coaching wins in the history of Delaware State University, formerly Delaware State College. Collick is known for his efforts on behalf of many charitable organizations. He is dean of students and football coach at Cape Henlopen High School. He lives in Milton.

• Jane Hovington is known for her love of children and willingness to help everyone. With husband Ron, she has been a foster parent for numerous black children for more than 20 years. She is project director of Shechinah Empowerment Center, an educational cooperative organization. Hovington lives in Georgetown.

• Andrea Miller is a graduate of the Art Institute of Philadelphia. Her family and colleagues describe her as a caring person with special fondness and love for young people. She directs Sacred Movement Liturgical Arts Dance Ministry at Mt. Zion A.M. E. Church. Miller lives in Harrington.

• Raymond White Sr. is known as Mr. Fix-It because of his mechanical skills and versatility. A graduate of Milford High School, White worked 21 years for Dentsply Caulk as a compounder and mechanic. White is generous with his time, helping those in need with whatever they need. He lives in Ellendale.