Millsboro

Delaware’s Department of Transportation has announced that beginning this evening, Wednesday, Nov. 2, there will be a shift in traffic patterns on Route 1 just north of the Indian River Inlet Bridge. The shift will be implemented to ensure continued road safety due to dune erosion adjacent to the northbound lanes, they said.

Both the northbound and southbound lanes of Route 1, near the Indian River Inlet will close at approximately 9 p.m. tonight, due to high storm tides, report  officials from the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT).

In a chemical-laden world – from the cosmetics women wear and the chemicals in dry cleaning to the more obvious pollutants, such as smoke stacks and cigarettes – it is easy to get exposed to something dangerous. What’s not as easy is knowing if and/or when that something could lead to serious and lasting side-effects, or even disease.

Delaware State Police detectives this week were investigating a home invasion-style robbery that occurred Oct. 20 near Millsboro.

On Monday, Oct. 31, the Greater Millsboro Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with the Millsboro Police Department, will be holding Family Night Out.

On Sunday, Oct. 23, the Greater Millsboro Chamber of Commerce will host the Little Miss Millsboro Pageant from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Millsboro Town Hall. Chamber Coordinator Amy Simmons said that the town has been holding the pageant for more than 20 years, allowing young girls from the 19966 and 19939 area codes to compete.

Tha-thump. Tha-Thump. Tha-Thump.

It’s getting a lot harder for people driving across the Indian River Inlet Bridge to see through the gap between north and south sides of the new bridge as they drive past, with the time for the final concrete pour of the project nearing and just 10 feet of space remaining between the two cantilevered portions of the bridge deck.

Fall is upon us, and East Coast Garden Center in Millsboro is ready to kick off the season in style. This Saturday, Oct. 1, the garden center will host their fifth annual Harvest Festival, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., featuring a slew of activities to welcome the arrival of autumn.

State Police this week were seeking suspects in a Sept. 13 Lewes-area burglary, including two Millsboro-area residents. Police were looking for 33-year-old Melissa Kabino and 27-year-old Byron Martin, who were among five suspects in the robbery.

Sept. 10 and 11 will mark the 34th annual Nanticoke Indian Powwow, at which nearly 600 members of the Nanticoke Indian tribe and other Native American tribes will share their culture and heritage with each other and the public.

Karen Apostolico has always had an appreciation for yesterday’s treasures. After retiring to Millsboro from Wilmington four years ago, she has finally brought her passion to fruition, having opened Caroline’s Cottage in early June. The old house-turned-shop, located downtown, on Main Street, combines an artistic mix of vintage and contemporary pieces, including clothes, furniture, art, jewelry, ceramics and much more.

Coastal Delaware began its recovery from Hurricane Irene as torrential rains and gale-force winds cleared on Sunday morning, dealing generally with localized flooding and power outages, as well as downed trees and broken limbs – a considerably lesser impact than had been feared from the first hurricane to hit the state in recorded history.

The Millsboro Lions Club will hold a tribute to 9-11 on Sunday, Sept. 11, at 3 p.m. to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001. It will be held in the Independence development, in their clubhouse, located on George Washington Avenue in Millsboro (at Route 5 and Harmon Hill Road).

Coastal Delaware began its recovery from Hurricane Irene on Sunday, dealing with localized flooding and power outages, as well as downed trees and broken limbs. Gov. Jack Markell lifted a travel ban and evacuation orders for at-risk areas as of 11 a.m. on Aug. 28, advising caution for those who did choose to travel.

From Ocean View Police Chief Ken McLaughlin (7 a.m. Sunday):

At this time, no damage to property has been reported in Ocean View.  Power outage remains east of West Avenue in Ocean View and throughout Bethany Beach.

From Ocean View Police Department (11:45 p.m.):

Over the past hour, winds and rain subsided.  Police patrols were initiated and all roadways in town are reported to be open.  Power is still out on the east side of West Avenue and in Bethany Beach.  Many trees have fallen, however, at this time there has been no report of damage.

Level 2 driving restrictions will be in place in Sussex County starting at 6 p.m.; then in Kent County starting from 8 p.m.; and in New Castle County starting from 10 p.m. This means that non-emergency travel will be prohibited.   Those who are evacuating from flooding or flood-prone areas, including to shelters, are exempt.
 

Indian River Inlet Bridge closing, conditions deteriorating as Irene approaches

As conditions across Delmarva have started to deteriorate with the approach of Hurricane Irene, the Delaware Department of Transportation has announced that the Indian River Inlet Bridge could be closed as early as 3 p.m. on Saturday but would definitely be closed by 4 p.m.

Hurricane Irene begins making its way into Sussex County
Those evacuating at-risk areas should be out; conditions will worsen quickly as day progresses

The National Weather Service has issued a Hurricane Warning and Flood Watch for the area, as Hurricane Irene comes ashore and heads toward Delmarva. The storm has been downgraded to a Category 1 storm, but it remains near Category 2 strength, with winds near 100 mph.

The evacuation of Sussex County’s most vulnerable areas continued Friday evening as Hurricane Irene, now slightly weaker but still a very dangerous storm, remained on a collision course with the eastern United States, including Sussex County and the rest of Delaware.

Delaware Gov. Jack Markell has declared a mandatory evacuation for much of the Coastal Point readership area. Everyone in towns including Fenwick Island, Bethany Beach, North Bethany, Dewey Beach, Rehoboth Beach, Lewes, Long Neck, Oak Orchard, and Broadkill, Primehook and Slaughter beaches is being required to evacuate prior to 9 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 27.

As of a final update from state emergency officials for Thursday night, the projected path of Hurricane Irene continued to place the powerful storm slightly to the east of Delaware’s Atlantic Coast, however, emergency management officials and their partners were advising the public to take precautions and to be prepared to enact their household and business emergency plans as it moves closer.

Delaware Gov. Jack Markell issued an evacuation order for visitors in Sussex County on Thursday evening as the most significant tropical threat to the region in years continued its march toward the East Coast, expected to bring with it hurricane-force winds, catastrophic tidal flooding and torrential rains throughout much of the weekend.

Due to the impending and potentially very dangerous Hurricane Irene, all those who planned to visit Delaware the weekend of Aug. 26-28 are being urged to postpone plans immediately. Gov. Jack Markell and emergency management officials stated mid-day Thursday that weather conditions will not allow safe travel and lodging in the beach areas and possibly throughout other areas of the state.

Route 113 will get some improvements after all, according to the Delaware Department of Transportation. That announcement came this week, after Sussex County legislators and DelDOT Secretary Shailen Bhatt met recently to discuss future improvements to the U.S. Route 113 corridor.

This Sunday, Aug. 21, El Centro Cultural will host the 17 Annual Festival Hispano at the Millsboro Little League Complex from noon until 6 p.m., as a celebration of Hispanic culture and community.

Jake’s Wayback Burgers is gearing up for its 4th Annual Chowdown Showdown Burger Eatin’ Contest on Aug. 12 at Frawley Stadium in Wilmington, Del.

“It’s a tradition they’re trying to build through the franchise, but at the same time they’re keeping it local to the original store,” said Michael Wolfe, the manager of the Millsboro location.