News Briefs 9/21/21

Streetscape task force meets Sept. 22

Rehoboth Beach’s Wilmington/Baltimore Avenue Streetscape Task Force will meet virtually at 9 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 22.

The agenda calls for an update on the streetscape workshop set for Wednesday, Sept. 29. Delaware Department of Transportation and Federal Highways Administration officials are expected to be at the workshop. People wishing to speak must preregister by emailing City Secretary Ann Womack, awomack@cityofrehoboth.com, at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. 

A full agenda and meeting materials are accessible at cityofrehoboth.civicweb.net. For more information, call 302-227-6181.

Two Rehoboth Beach meetings canceled

Two Rehoboth Beach meetings scheduled for Monday, Sept. 27, have been canceled. The first, set for 10 a.m., was the parks & shade tree commission. The reason given was lack of agenda items. The second, set for 2:30 p.m., was a board of adjustment hearing. According to a notice sent out by the city, it was canceled due to insufficient documentation.

Lewes Public Art Committee to meet

The Lewes Public Art Committee will meet at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 22, at city hall and via Zoom. The group will discuss the de-installations of the temporary projects in Canalfront Park and George H.P. Smith Park.

They will also discuss a community meeting regarding the role of public art, community response to this year’s projects, and an art walk planned for Wednesday, Nov. 3. Committee members will discuss plans for small winter exhibits. A link to the meeting can be found at lewes.civicweb.net. 

Lewes Subdivision Code Subcommittee meets Sept. 22

The Subdivision Code Subcommittee of the Lewes Planning Commission will meet at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 22, at city hall and via Zoom. The group will continue to discuss potential changes to subdivision and land development code. A link to the meeting can be found on the agenda at lewes.civicweb.net.

Beebe to host virtual town hall Sept. 22

Beebe Healthcare will hold a COVID-19 town hall from 5 to 6 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 22. Dr. David A. Tam, president and CEO, and Bill Chasanov, Beebe’s COVID-19 response medical director, will share updates about the latest in cases, hospitalizations and information about the COVID-19 vaccine.

To watch, simply log into Facebook and go to Beebe Healthcare’s Facebook page for the live video. Live ASL interpretation and live captioning will be available. The video will also be available on the Facebook page after the event. 

Dewey commissioners hold organizational meeting Sept. 25

Dewey Beach commissioners will hold their organizational meeting at 6 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 25, at the Lifesaving Station, 1 Dagsworthy Ave. Three new commissioners will be sworn in, and commissioners will vote to appoint the town mayor and town secretary for one-year terms each.

DelDOT installing flashing light at consortium

The Delaware Department of Transportation’s traffic construction section in conjunction with Byers Electrical will be installing a school speed-limit dynamic warning system with flashers on Sweetbriar Road at the Sussex Consortium school.

The new “when flashing” system will reinforce the current 20 mph school speed limit along Sweetbriar Road in the vicinity of the school. Work will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays starting Monday, Sept. 20, until mid-October. There will be daytime lane closures with flaggers to direct motorists.

Cape school board meets Sept. 23

The Cape Henlopen school board will meet at 6 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 23, at H.O. Brittingham Elementary.

The board will take possible action on Shields Elementary phase 2 demo and site package, state COVID-19 leave extension and a memorandum of understanding with Cape Henlopen Education Association. An update on the unit count and class size waiver will be presented.

Dewey infrastructure committee to meet

The Dewey Beach Infrastructure Committee will meet at 11 a.m., Monday, Sept. 27, at the Lifesaving Station, 1 Dagsworthy Ave.

Members will possibly vote to approve a proposal from Remington & Vernick Engineers to address drainage issues on Houston Street and to recommend acceptance by commissioners.

Another vote may be held to approve a change order for pipe cleaning at Read Avenue and to recommend acceptance by commissioners.

Milton approves seeking Magnolia Street grant

Milton Town Council has authorized Town Manager Kristy Rogers to seek $150,000 in state grant funding for the proposed bulkhead repairs and work to alleviate drainage issues on Magnolia Street.  The grant would come from the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Outdoor Recreation, Parks and Trails 2021 grants. 

The town has already received $300,000 from the state bond bill and $235,000 in DNREC grants toward the $838,000 project, which will repair the bulkhead along the Broadkill River and install better drainage systems at the Magnolia Street parking lot.

The expected cost of the project dates from 2020, and town officials believe the cost of materials will be higher by the time construction bids are received.

Sussex pays tribute to Workman, Hudson

At its Sept. 14 meeting, Sussex County Council paid tribute to former Sussex County Board of Adjustment members Brent Workman, who served from 2002 to 2021, and Jeff Hudson, who served from 1998 to 2017. Making the presentation of plaques were retired planning and zoning Director Lawrence Lank, Council President Mike Vincent and County Administrator Todd Lawson.

Creative Market gets approval from Sussex

The Creative Market in West Rehoboth has received approval from Sussex County Council for a conditional use to operate an outdoor market with off-site parking.

The market, which features local artisans, has taken place on Monday nights at 19897 Hebron Road and 19826 Central Ave.

At council’s Sept. 14 meeting, on the recommendation of District 2 Councilman Doug Hudson, the hours were extended from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week to give the organizers more options.