News Briefs 03-23-17

Claws sets fundraiser for victims March 30
Claws Seafood House, 167 Rehoboth Ave. in downtown Rehoboth Beach, will reopen its doors for the 2017 season Thursday, March 30, at 3 p.m. Coupled with the celebratory reopening will be a benefit for the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center Victims Fund. Owner of Claws, Jeff Hamer, will be donating 100 percent of all sales directly to the victims fund to help support all those affected by this unfortunate tragedy.

Correctional officers from across the state of Delaware will be in attendance. In addition to Claws’ happy hour specials, there will also be a team oyster-shucking competition with various participants from other local establishments. The competition will begin at 5 p.m., after which a Raw Oyster Eating Competition will commence. The eating competition is open to the public and there is a $5 registration fee. For more information on the event go to “Claws Seafood House” on Facebook.

Carper to address Lewes foundation April 8
Curious about what is happening in the nation’s capital these days? On Saturday, April 8, Sen. Tom Carper will be in Lewes as the keynote speaker for the Greater Lewes Foundation to provide A Washington Update. The 17th annual meeting of the GLF will also feature Community Service awards to Rachel Grier-Reynolds and Warren Golde, and a special presentation by the Mispillion Children’s Chorus, a fund of the GLF. The meeting will begin at 10:30 a.m. in the large assembly room of the Lewes Public Library. Because seating is limited, interested attendees should call 302-644-0107 to reserve their places.

 
Dewey Board of Adjustment to meet
The Dewey Beach Board of Adjustment has scheduled a meeting for 6 p.m., Monday, March 27, in the Dewey Beach Life Saving Station, 1 Dagsworthy Ave. The board is meeting because an application has been submitted for 13 New Orleans St. to allow for variances in front-yard setbacks and the expansion of a nonconforming building. A copy of the application is available for inspection at Dewey Beach Town Hall, 105 Rodney Ave.

Fowler Beach areas to close March 27
Portions of the Fowler Beach area of Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge which include the bay beach, dunes and back-barrier portions will close beginning Monday, March 27, for the benefit of federally and state protected beach-nesting and migratory shorebirds, including red knot, piping plovers, oystercatchers, least terns and other species. When visiting Prime Hook NWR beaches during beach-nesting bird season, remember to obey all posted signs and barriers, keep  pets at home, and remain at the water’s edge unless otherwise indicated via symbolic fencing.

• Open areas at Fowler Beach are for wildlife-dependent recreation and active surf fishing only
• Dog walking is prohibited
• Prime Hook is a carry-in/carry-out National Wildlife Refuge - place all litter in trash receptacles
• These areas are subject to change and/or modification at any time
• The beach nesting habitat will reopen Oct. 1 for full use by wildlife dependent visitors.

For more information, call 302-684-8419 or go to www.fws.gov/refuge/Prime_Hook.  Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge is located just off Route 16 near Broadkill Beach at 11978 Turkle Pond Road, Milton.

SDARJ book group to meet March 28
The Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice’s Book Group will screen “Black America Since MLK and Still I Rise,” in three parts, March 28, April 25 and May 23, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., at the Lewes library. Discussion will follow each showing.

This four-hour film, a PBS program hosted by Henry Louis Gates Jr., looks at the last five decades of African-American history, and explores the tremendous gains and persistent challenges of these years. SDARJ is a nonpartisan, charitable, and secular organization that educates, informs and advocates for racial justice, equality, and fair opportunity. Everyone is encouraged to join SDARJ - membership is free - by signing up for email bulletins at www.sdarj.org. or facebook.com/sdarjde.

 
Prescribed burning at Prime Hook begins
Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Zone Fire Staff, local fire departments, and the Delaware Forest Service, has begun a landscape burning program at the refuge. This year’s plan includes a total of nearly 400 acres of successional field(s) and will take place from the week of March 20 through April 15 contingent upon optimal burn conditions. The purposes for this year’s burn will be to set back succession to early stages to benefit grassland-dwelling birds, counteract against undesired non-native plant species and remove accumulated wildland hazardous fuels as anticipated in the refuge’s Comprehensive Conservation Plan.

The use of prescribed fire is an effective and cost-efficient method to accomplish these objectives. Trained prescribed burning specialists will conduct the burns. Weather conditions such as rainfall and wind speed and direction will determine when the burning will occur. Prime Hook Refuge’s website will be updated frequently to inform the public regarding daily plans. The Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge consists of over 10,144 acres of marsh, forest and uplands along the Delaware Bay between Slaughter Beach and Broadkill Beach, east of Milton. For more information, call 302-684-8419 or go to www.fws.gov/refuge/Prime_Hook/.

Wood recycler withdraws application
After a negative recommendation from Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission, Delaware Animal Products LLC has withdrawn its application to rezone a 13-acre parcel along Redden Road in Bridgeville from limited industrial district to light industrial district to operate a wood recycling business. The application was removed prior to a March 14 county council public hearing.  The commission recommended council reject the application based on testimony from residents that the noise from the chipper used in the operation was disrupting the surrounding area, including T.S. Smith & Sons farm.