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Delmarva Christian Schools welcomed Dr. Ben and Candy Carson to speak to its kindergarten to fifth-grade students Sept. 22. Carson read from his children's book, "Why America Matters," and discussed the nation's founding values with students.

"We are deeply grateful to Dr. Ben and Candy Carson for visiting Delmarva Christian and sharing a message on truth, liberty, community and faith. Dr. Carson's visit resonated profoundly with our young students and has left an indelible mark on our school community, reminding us all of the importance of these core values in our lives," said Matt Kwiatkowski, DCS head of schools.

Members of Sussex County Council and the Sussex County Planning & Zoning Commission attended a workshop Sept. 21 to review land-use policies in county code – most related to subdivision development – for possible changes.

The workshop included discussions and information on perimeter buffers, forest preservation, open space, code updates, accessory buildings and single- and double-wide manufactured homes, managed meadows and interconnectivity between parcels.

“This is step one of many steps,” said County Administrator Todd Lawson, who served a presenter.

Most of the discussion centered around forest preservation and perimeter buffers, which are two hot-button issues among residents and grassroots groups.

Council and commissioners are sure to discuss the issues further in future meetings and possibly draft new or amended ordinances.

Sussex County Council has an opportunity to save taxpayers millions of dollars.

The Delaware coastal cities of Rehoboth and Lewes stand at an infrastructure crossroads. They are no longer just summer getaways; they are year-round destinations. This growth, while economically beneficial, brings with it traffic congestion, posing safety risks and hindering daily travel. Addressing this is paramount. I propose a solution that combines well-thought-out road modifications with dynamic traffic control using networked traffic lights or smart traffic lights.

Road modifications, currently in the pipeline, should provide longer-term relief, while a strategically designed smart traffic system could provide benefits in the nearer term. Working together, they should help bring about the congestion relief we all desire.

At its core, dynamic traffic control is an adaptive system able to change traffic-light timing to better match the desired traffic flow. Unlike traditional traffic lights that operate on fixed timers, smart traffic lights leverage local knowledge supplemented by real-time data from sensors, cameras and other sources to make informed decisions about traffic-light timings and sequences.

During peak travel times, such as weekend traffic surges, the system can throttle or accelerate traffic by adjusting light timings. This means longer green lights on main arteries during high-traffic periods and shorter ones during off-peak hours.

The Lewes Public Library, ACLU Delaware, Browseabout Books and Groome Church will host a series of special events for national Banned Books Week, Sunday to Saturday, Oct. 1 to 7, with the theme Let Freedom Read: We Love Banned Books. Events include a mural unveiling, topical discussion, original performance and interactive book tournament.

“In a free society, there should not be banned books at all, yet efforts to ban books and the teaching of so-called controversial topics are on the rise across the nation,” said Mike Brickner, ACLU Delaware executive director. In 2022, the American Library Association documented a record-high number of attempts to ban books and a nearly 40% increase in the number of titles challenged over 2021. “By committing to read a banned book, each of us can stand against efforts to silence those who speak truth to power and tell stories that may make some uncomfortable," said Brickner.

Beginning Monday, Oct. 2, community members are invited to show their appreciation for banned books by voting for their favorite titles in the library’s inaugural tournament of banned books. The week-long March Madness-style competition will include banned and challenged book titles in four categories: Adults, classics, teens and children. Daily voting will be available online or in person at the library, and the winning banned book will be announced Friday, Oct. 6.