Selbyville News

From South Bethany to Bethany, Ocean View to Dagsboro, little Southeastern Sussex is full of artists willing and able to open up their working studios and galleries to people who are interested in seeing them in action, creating their masterpieces. This weekend, as they have for the past 18 years, artists will welcome guests to start the holiday season right after Thanksgiving.

On Oct. 30, Gov. Jack Markell announced that after much concern, it has been determined that the Charles W. Cullen Bridge, also known as the Indian River Inlet Bridge, did not sustain any structural damage during Hurricane Sandy.

After anticipating Hurricane Sandy for days in advance, expecting the worst and hoping for the best, the area was hit with winds and rain from the brunt of the storm for most of the day and into the night on Monday as she made landfall near Atlantic City, N.J. In our area, there was widespread coastal and inland flooding, downed limbs and trees, but for the most part, the state faired well as a whole.

A coastal flood warning is in effect until midnight Monday night, as the eye of Hurricane Sandy is expected to make landfall south of Atlantic City, N.J., according to National Weather Service officials. A flood watch is in effect through Tuesday afternoon. A high wind warning is in effect from 8 a.m. Monday to 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Gov. Jack Markell has ordered a Level 2 Driving Restriction begining as of 5 a.m., Monday, October 29,2012.

The Delaware National Guard is continuing to position troops and equipment as #SandyDE approaches.

The Edison Electric Institute, the association of U.S. shareholder-owned electric companies, offered the following tips for local residents ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Sandy and the anticipated related power outages:

If a severe storm is approaching:
Visit your local electric company’s Web site for the latest updates and guidance on how to prepare for storms.

High water across Route 1 north of Indian River Inlet Bridge has forced Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) to begin the process of closing Route 1 between Dewey & Bethany Beach. Please share with others who may be affected.

Gov. Jack Markell has issued a limited state of emergency and a mandatory evacuation order for flood-prone area within .75 miles of Sussex County’s coastline and major waterways, effective at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, as Hurricane Sandy continues to threaten the Mid-Atlantic region with strong winds, severe tidal flooding and torrential rains that could span Sunday to Tuesday.

Beebe Medical Center has announced Hurricane Sandy-related cancellations, including:
• All elective surgery and elective cardiac catheterizations scheduled for Monday, Oct. 29, will be canceled.
• All Beebe satellite locations, including the Beebe Health Campus and departments that operate Monday-through-Friday schedules, will be closed on Monday, Oct. 29, as well.

Gov. Jack Markell announced at 5 p.m. on Saturday that Delaware was entering a limited state of emergency to facilitate an evacuation over a 24-hour period. Beginning at 8 p.m. Saturday night, communities within .75 miles of the coast in Sussex and Kent counties, as well as flood areas in western Sussex County, should evacuate their homes.

A coastal flood watch has been issued for Sussex County, including the beach areas, running through at least Monday afternoon. According to the National Weather Service, the evolution of Hurricane Sandy into a powerful storm currently predicted to cross the New Jersey coast Monday evening will mean at least two tide cycles of potentially moderate to major flooding.

The Delaware state climatologist and DEMA held a “bridge call” with municipal officials on Friday evening, in anticipation of the arrival of Hurricane Sandy. Officials said that the latest storm track had Sandy making landfall on the Delaware coastline around Cape Henlopen, likely sometime early Tuesday morning.

As of Friday evening, Hurricane Sandy was on track to directly hit Delaware and the Mid-Atlantic in the days ahead, based on forecasts, threatening to lash the region with up to two days’ worth of hurricane-force winds, a 10-foot-high combined surge and tide, and torrential rains that could measure as much as a foot deep in some places.

Take Saturday to prepare, advised Gov. Jack Markell, in light of expected high winds and heavy rain from Hurricane Sandy from Sunday through the early part of next week.

“It is forecasted to be a long-lasting event,” he said on Friday, noting that rain, wind and flooding likely. “The duration is what we are most concerned about.”

UPDATED Sunday, Oct. 28, 11:30 a.m.
Cancellations due to Hurricane Sandy include the following:

Both the Indian River School District and Sussex Technical School District have closed schools and offices on Monday, Oct. 29, and Tuesday, Oct. 31.

All University of Delaware classes are suspended Monday, Oct. 29, and officials were strongly encouraging students to go home.

State and local emergency officials are urging residents of coastal Delaware to be alert and prepare as Hurricane Sandy tracks up the Atlantic in the coming days and poses a risk of potential severe weather, up to and including possibly making landfall in the immediate area.

Captain Mac’s Bait & Tackle shop contacted the Delaware Elections Commission early this week, reporting “belligerent, threatening” behavior from a political supporter last week, but others say the incident was blown out of proportion.

On Halloween night, even the scariest books can’t compare to a scary library. And trick-or-treaters in Selbyville will get a thrill as the Selbyville Public Library presents their annual Haunted Library on Wednesday, Oct. 31.

Those who are looking for some good old-fashioned Halloween fun prior to Wednesday night may want to visit Roots Landscaping and Garden Center in Selbyville this Saturday to take part in a free pumpkin-carving event.

After more than 60 years of screaming success, the annual Selbyville Halloween Parade is so popular that the parade route has been extended.

Johnson’s Country Market will hold their 8th annual Family Fun Day on Saturday, Oct. 20, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Several of the activities will flow into Sunday, as well, and every weekend they offer hayrides and their pallet and corn mazes.

Three generations of farmers got a visit from U.S. Sen. Tom Carper last week at Johnson’s Country Market, with an opportunity to discuss the impact the expiration of the Farm Bill will have on Delaware. On Sept. 30, current 2008 Farm Bill programs expired, reverting many laws to “depression-era agriculture policy,” according to Carper — including costly subsidies. The senator is continuing to urge leaders in the House of Representatives to take action on the 2012 Farm Bill.

What do you call someone who ensures public safety, serves the schools, plays well with others and is a go-to guy for technology questions? In Delaware these days, he’s called Police Chief of the Year, a.k.a. W. Scott Collins of the Selbyville Police Department.