Community Briefs 07/23/20

Recovery program meetings info available

Due to government restrictions and continuing concerns about the spread of coronavirus/COVID-19, many area facilities that host recovery program meetings have been closed indefinitely. Recovery is a challenging process, made more so during this time of limitations on face-to-face contacts and group meetings. To help those who are dealing with alcohol-related substance use issues and need support, information and resources have been made available online. For details, go to www.sussexaa.org.

Agency seeks online donations to help veterans

The Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs has an online application so donors can easily make contributions to the Delaware Veterans Trust Fund and the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Donations can be made in honor of a specific individual or cause. For more information, go to www.veteransaffairs.delaware.gov.

Penn State Day 5K set July 25 in Dewey

The 18th annual Penn State Day 5K will take place as a live event Saturday, July 25, at Northbeach in Dewey Beach. The event is part of the Ten Sisters Summer Racing Series. A virtual option is also available for the race. Precautions will be take to ensure the event adheres to Gov. John Carney’s Phase 2 guidance and all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines are followed. The event will be limited to 250 people, social distancing will be promoted, masks will be work by volunteers and runners, and a wave start will be used to spread runners out. Participants are asked to wear college colors; prizes will be available for those who do. Packet pickup and race-day registration begin at 6:30 a.m., and the race begins at 7:30 a.m. The event will benefit Dewey Beach Patrol, the Sussex Consortium and the Tyanna Foundation. For more information, go to www.races2run.com. 

Unitarian Universalists to hold musical service online July 26

The Unitarian Universalists of Southern Delaware will hold an online service at 10 a.m., Sunday, July 26, on its Facebook page. The service will highlight the voices of UUSD presented by Julie Keefer, UUSD director of music ministries, and congregational members who will share their musical and artistic talents. For more information, go to www.uussd.org.

Community day of prayer in Milford July 28

A community day of prayer with guest speakers and songs will be held from 6 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, July 28,  at Bicentennial Park, 200 NE Front St., Milford. For more information, contact the Rev. Jeanel Starling at 302-422-9749 or the Rev. Patricia Green at 302-430-3758. Everyone is welcome.

St. Peter’s hosts online Bible study Wednesdays

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Lewes will host an online Bible study from 7 to 8:15 p.m., Wednesdays. Participants will work their way through the Gospel of Matthew and explore the ways in which this Gospel forms the sense of what it means to see Jesus as the fulfillment of the hopes for the messiah. This study group is an open discussion, guided by various members of the clergy. To request the Zoom link, email kmallon@stpeterslewes.org.

St. Vincent dePaul charity accepting donations

The Society of St. Vincent dePaul is accepting donations to help community members meet basic needs such as heating oil, food, rent, electricity, medications, and bus tickets and gasoline to enable parents to get to work. Seaford’s Our Lady of Lourdes conference of the SVdP serves all the towns and unincorporated areas of western Sussex County, as well as Hurlock and Federalsburg, Md. Financial gifts can be mailed to: SVdP, P.O. Box 719, Seaford, DE 19973. Make checks payable to the Society of St. Vincent dePaul, OLL. For more information, contact Lynne Betts at at 302-265-5602.

Mariners Bethel UMC offers lunch ministry in Ocean View area

Mariners Bethel United Methodist Church is working with the Lord Baltimore Lions Club to offer an outreach ministry called Feed My Sheep, which offers a fresh-cooked lunch every Tuesday and Thursday for anyone in need in the Ocean View area. Lunch is available as either pickup or home delivery; for details and to order, call 302-539-9510.

Salisbury University awards scholarships

Salisbury University’s School of Social Work announced $70,000 in scholarships awarded. Generated from a revenue-sharing program, the awards were distributed to 40 graduate and 20 undergraduate candidates and range from $500 to $2,000. 

Local recipients include Sydney Smyk of Milton, Shelby Wright of Georgetown, Nhiya Harmon of Delmar and Alexa Lynn Shoultes of Selbyville. Scholarship recipients must be social work majors who are currently enrolled, have demonstrated financial need and have earned at least a 3.0 grade point average.

Kindergarten registration underway in Indian River district

Kindergarten registration for the 2020-21 school year is underway in Indian River School District for children who will be 5 years old on or before Monday, Aug. 31. Parents can register their child by presenting an original birth certificate, proof of immunization, proof of residency and the required district registration forms to the child’s home school. To obtain a district registration packet, go to www.irsd.net and follow the Registration link under the Parents & Students tab. Parents can search Delaware’s school locator website to see which school their child will be attending. The district will also hold a series of kindergarten registration sessions from Monday to Thursday, April 6 to 9. Parents are encouraged to call the school in advance to schedule an appointment.

Sussex Tech business students win top honors at states

Sussex Technical High School students recently won top honors at the statewide conference of Business Professionals of America, a career-technical student organization which prepares members for careers in business, finance and other related fields. Lizbeth Cortez-Galindo, a junior from Milford, won first place in payroll accounting and third place in basic office systems and procedures. Turner Lee, a senior from Seaford, and Cameron Veazey, a senior from Laurel, won second place in presentation management (team). Daniel Rubini, a sophomore from Harbeson, won second place in basic office systems and procedures. Trinity Kelso, a junior from Millsboro, won fourth place in business law and ethics. Cameron Veazey also placed in the top six for human resource management. Amith Tatineni, a sophomore from Lewes, placed in the top six for interview skills.

These winners are eligible to compete at the national BPA competition.

Sussex Tech’s business, finance and marketing career-technical area area gives students direct, hands-on experience with running in-school businesses as well as a practical grounding in soft skills like public speaking, organization and team management. Students gain a firm foundation in business topics and can complete specialties including accounting or marketing management.

Sussex Tech electronics students earn FCC ham radio licenses

Electronics students at Sussex Technical High School recently earned their federal amateur radio operator technician-class licenses, a new step along their career pathway. 

Eight sophomore students earned the Federal Communications Commission certification, which allows them to operate an amateur or “ham” radio station and communicate with other operators worldwide.

Earning their licenses were Shaun Stanton, Milford; Kenneth “Jack” Morris, Milton; Austin Drace, Seaford; Alexander Horan, Milton; Chase Horton, Millville; Jack Blatz, Laurel; Bonnie “Abby” Gerhardt, Greenwood; and Callum Neely, Selbyville.

“Amateur radio is a great entry into the world of radio frequency engineering, as well as a useful asset in emergency communications for the community,” said Sussex Tech electronics teacher Anthony Carmen, himself a licensed ham radio operator.

Volunteers from the American Radio Relay League, Sussex County Amateur Radio Emergency Services, and Sussex Amateur Radio Association assisted with training and preparing students for the licensing exam.