Community Briefs 3/13/24

Cat and dog film screenings to benefit Brandywine SPCA March 16

The Rehoboth Beach Film Society’s Cinema Art Theater will present two very special events Saturday, March 16, to benefit the Brandywine Valley SPCA.  “The 2024 New York Cat Film Festival” will be screened at 2 p.m., and “The 2024 New York Dog Film Festival” will be screened  at 5 p.m.

The cat film festival is an exploration through film of fascinating felines who created a shared audience of people’s lives. The dog film festival celebrates the bonds between canines and people around the world, as seen through the work of brilliant filmmakers. It also raises awareness of the lifesaving work being done at small rescues and large shelters.

The film society will donate 10% of ticket sales to the Brandywine Valley SPCA.

Admission is $9 for film society members, $11.50 for general public and $5 for students, with student tickets only available at the box office.

For more information and to purchase tickets, go to rehobothfilm.com or visit the box office from 12 to 8 p.m., Wednesday to Friday. 

AARP theater trip reservations due March 16

AARP Chapter 5340 is sponsoring a trip set for Tuesday, April 16, to the Magic and Wonder Dinner Theater in Lancaster, Pa., a 350-seat venue. Attendees will see the brand-new variety magic show, “Imaginarium,” which includes variety, magic and illusions. All are welcome; membership is not required.

The cost includes round-trip bus transportation, lunch and the show at 2 p.m. Participants will depart at 7:30 a.m from the College Park Shopping Center near the Georgetown Walmart.

The cost of the trip is $100 payable on or before Saturday, March 16. For more information, call Pat at 302-856-2274 or Paula at 302-567-1748. Make checks payable to AARP Chapter 5340, include a telephone number and email address, and send to Treasurer Paula Norma, 24933 Betts Lane, Georgetown, DE 19947.

Genealogical society to meet March 16

The Sussex County Genealogical Society will meet at 10 a.m., Saturday, March 16, at Lewes Public Library and via Zoom. All are welcome; to request a Zoom invitation, email programs@scgsdelaware.org.

The Delaware Historical Society has been collecting and preserving materials from the First State for over 150 years. It has a rich and varied collection of books, ephemera, newspapers, serials, maps, manuscripts and photographs relating to the history of Delaware and its people.

Speaker Lee Rifenbur will discuss Holdings of the Delaware Historical Society Research Library.

For more information, go to scgsdelaware.org.

UUSD to meet March 17

The Unitarian Universalists of Southern Delaware will hold an in-person and livestreamed service at 10 a.m., Sunday, March 17, when the Rev. Sandhya Ran will speak on the politics of abundance. Her book, “Transforming Communities: How People Like You are Healing Their Neighborhoods,” focuses on concrete ways that regular people are creating positive change community by community in an era where it can feel impossible. “Rebels, Despots and Saints,” a book about ancestors and activism, came out in January 2023. For more information, go to uussd.org.

NARFE Chapter 1992 to meet March 18

NARFE Sussex Chapter 1992 will meet at 12 p.m., Monday, March 18, at the Pizza King restaurant on Stein Highway in Seaford. Federal employees, retirees and annuitants have the opportunity to learn from joining NARFE and get answers about benefits.

Nicola Pizza dining event to benefit VIA March 18

Nicola Pizza will host a dine to donate event in support of the Village Improvement Association from 5 to 9 p.m., Tuesday, March 18, at 17323 Ocean One Plaza in Lewes. A percentage of dine-in sales only will be donated to the group.

The Village Improvement Association of Rehoboth Beach is a women’s civic and charitable organization dedicated to community improvement by enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service.

For more information, go to rehobothbeachvia.org.

14th and 20th RD Republicans to meet March 19

The 14th and 20th Representative District Republican Committees will meet at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 19, at Lewes Public Library, 111 Adams Ave., Lewes. Pre-meeting mingling starts at 6 p.m.

For more information, email de14thrdgop@gmail.com.

First State Antique Tractor Club to meet March 19

The First State Antique Tractor Club will hold its regular meeting at 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 19, at the Greenwood VFW at the corner of Governors Avenue and Mill Street, Greenwood. In addition to new business, the club will be planning its annual tractor show set for June. Light refreshments will be served. The club will be accepting scholarship applications through Friday, April 5.

The club is always accepting new members. For more information and for scholarship applications, go to firststateantiquetractorclub.com or contact Maralene Givens at 302-228-2674 or maraleneg1@verizon.net.

Bayhealth clinical pastoral education to start March 20

Bayhealth is accepting applications for its spring clinical pastoral education program’s 16-week semester, which will begin Wednesday, March 20.

CPE teaches clergy and lay persons of all faiths and denominations how to best serve as spiritual care providers to patients, families and staff in hospitals and other healthcare facilities, and to the military and others in the community, such as those in places of worship, schools, prisons and homeless shelters. It also prepares chaplains for board certification.

Accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education Inc., Bayhealth’s CPE program takes place at its Sussex and Kent campuses in a safe and supportive learning environment. Bayhealth’s CPE students gain firsthand experience offering spiritual care to patients and their loved ones in a variety of specialties including oncology, cardiology, pediatrics and more.

To learn more and apply, call Bayhealth pastoral care at 302-744-6147 or go to Bayhealth.org/CPE.

Relay for Life kickoff party set March 20

Planning has begun for the 2024 Relay for Life of Sussex County. A kickoff party will be held at 6 p.m., Wednesday, March 20, at JD Shuckers restaurant in Georgetown.

The American Cancer Society event honors cancer survivors, caregivers and loved ones lost, while raising funds for ACS services that support cancer patients and fund cancer research. Relay is not an athletic event, but a meaningful, family-friendly evening of activities culminating in a beautiful sundown Luminaria Ceremony. Anyone can participate, individually or as a team group.

Relay 2024 will be held Saturday, Sept. 7, at Sandhill Fields in Georgetown.

For more information, go to relayforlife.org/sussexcode.

Look Who’s Cooking to benefit Sussex Habitat March 21

Sussex County Habitat for Humanity will present its third annual Look Who’s Cooking fundraising event from 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, March 21, at St. Jude the Apostle Parish Life Hall, 152 Tulip Drive, Lewes.

In a night of food, fun, friends and competition, community volunteer chefs will prepare treats for guests including appetizers, entrees or desserts, and attendees will vote for their favorite in each category.

To purchase tickets, go to sussexcountyhabitat.org.

Special thanks go to the Sussex County Association of Realtors for its support.

Seeking to put God’s love into action, Sussex County Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope. It offers financial literacy counseling, healthy homes projects and education on energy efficiency. Based in Georgetown, the Sussex County Habitat affiliate has now constructed 183, homes, housing 665 neighbors in need.

SBA women veterans training grant applications due March 21

The U.S. Small Business Administration  announced nonprofit organizations and private-sector firms are now eligible to compete for grants of up to $300,000 to deliver entrepreneurship training to women veterans. The application period continues through Thursday, March 21. Up to six grantees will be awarded $300,000 in total funding to operate in Women Veteran Entrepreneurship Training (SB-OVWV-24-001) with grants from the SBA’s Office of Veterans Business Development. Awards are for a base project period of 12 months, with three option periods of 12 months each. These funds will be used to educate women veterans who intend to pursue or are already engaged in business ownership. There are more than 2 million women veterans, and more than 12 million businesses owned by women in the U.S. In fiscal year 2023, more than 9,500 participants worked with SBA-backed Women Veteran Training program grantees to start or grow a business. To apply, go to grants.gov and search for opportunity number SB-OVWV-24-001. Applications not submitted via grants.gov or after the stipulated deadline will not be evaluated.