The public parking lot at the end of Savannah Road in Lewes. It’s all sand.

A tree blocking the eastbound lane of King’s Highway, that’s the road to Cape Henlopen High School and the District office if you’re coming from Route 1 north. School was on time, but then around 8:30 a.m., an hour after the start of the day for many schools, the automated call came from the District Office that you shouldn’t send your child to school if there was flooding in your area…little late, fellas.

Downtown Milton.

The end of Old Landing Road.

Route 1 by Five Points.

The ocean at the Indian River Inlet.

A snowplow keeping Route 1 directly north of the Indian River Inlet Bridge free of sand.

The ocean in Rehoboth Beach, Rehoboth did a good job weathering the storm so far.

A small windmill on a home in Rehoboth cranking out power like a champ.

And, the R/V Russell W. Peterson, the research vessel that Bluewater Wind launched to study the possible impact of their wind farm on avian life, has run into trouble:

From WGMD News:

The Coast Guard responded to a distress call from a research vessel off the coast of Rehoboth Beach. Authorities say two people aboard the Russell W. Peterson activated an electronic positioning radio beacon and reported that the boat was breaking up and taking on water about 14 miles off the coast. A helicopter crew from the Coast Guard air station in Atlantic City, N.J., was on the scene, and two small boats from Cape May and Ocean City were also en route. The vessel, named after a former Delaware governor active in environmental issues, was christened in Wilmington just six weeks ago and was being used by Bluewater Wind to study migratory bird routes in connection with the proposed offshore wind farm.

More to come as the tide rolls in…

I went to the Delaware Republican Party’s Convention this weekend at the Baycenter in Dewey Beach and it was quite a treat. I think the best way to give you the feeling of the Convention is with pictures and audio, and maybe a story or two…(if you see someone’s name highlighted, click on it and you’ll get their audio)….

Priscilla Rakestraw (left) and Michele Rollins.I had to put this picture on the top of the page, because it’s my favorite picture from the entire event. It’s Priscilla Rakestraw, the State’s Republican National Committeewoman, and Michele Rollins, who I would love to see run for office someday soon. (I’m pretty sure we wouldn’t see Michele Rollins turning the State’s serious pollution problems into a joke by wading out into the bay and staring at her Keds, and she’d kick butt on healthcare.)


From left to right this is Clerk of the Peace George Parish and his wife Bunny, Charlotte Hastings and her husband, 41st District Representative Greg Hastings.

Friday night I sat with a table of fine Sussex Countians, right in between Judson Bennett and Representative Ben Ewing. The picture above was the good looking side of the table. I kind of noticed that there were a lot of people wearing “Tim Smith” stickers where I was sitting. Tim Smith won the vote in Sussex County over Christine O’Donnell 44-35, but it was the Northern part of the State that gave her the endorsement to run for the Senate against Joe Biden. Pretty interesting considering O’Donnell got the majority of her write-in votes in 2006 from Sussex. O’Donnell needed 60% of the vote and she got 60.7%. Smith said he would stick to his promise to not primary O’Donnell.


41st District Representative Greg Hastings and US Senate Candidate Christine O’Donnell.

The “Draft Bill Lee” movement was successful, with Judge William Lee receiving over 80% of the vote to win the endorsement from the Delaware State Republican Party to run for Governor over Mike Protack. Judge Lee was in Orlando on vacation with members of his family, and was expected to happily accept the honor.


“Brud” Lee, speaking to the Convention after his father was endorsed by the Party to run for Governor.   

“I’m sure he’ll be as honored as I feel, personally, that his ideals and his name is thought of in such high regard by republicans.” ~ Brud Lee, son of Judge Bill Lee 

 

State Senator Charlie Copeland accepting the Party’s endorsement for Lt. Governor.

Delaware Republican State Chairman, Terry Strine, stepped down as party head after losing his National Committeeman seat the previous night to Laird Stabler by a 40-35 vote. Tom Ross, a New Castle County Republican, will be taking Strine’s place in the top spot.


The new Delaware Republican Party Chairman, Tom Ross

I asked the new Party Chair if he was the fighter the Delaware Republican Party needed right now:   

“I have no problem fighting. Anyone that knows me would be glad to let you know that I’m not afraid to mix it up. But we’re going to run a very aggressive, vigorous campaign because quite frankly, in a nutshell, we’re right on the issues and the other side has broken this state.” ~ New Delaware State GOP Chair, Tom Ross 

 

4th Senatorial District Candidate Michael Fleming

And how could I not mention Michael Fleming, (aka “Michael Flemming”), who’s running for Charlie Copeland’s seat in the 4th Senatorial District? I went to college with Michael, and thankfully, people thought he was older than me. That’s really why I’m mentioning him, and he knows it.

“‘Cause I love Sussex Countians.” ~ Clerk of the Peace George Parish 

That was the quote that made the entire Convention totally worth it. 

The attending three out of six members of the Delaware Senate’s Energy and Transit Committee.

The ground rules were you had to be polite, you had five minutes, and you had to tell the committee what electric company you used at Thursday night’s Energy and Transit Committee hearing about the wind farm project that would sit 11.5 miles off of Rehoboth Beach’s shore. The Senate Chamber was standing room only, and three out of six of the committee members were in attendance. Some of the members of the General Assembly who showed up to listen to the proceedings were Representatives Gerald Hocker and John Kowalko, and Senator George Bunting.

Delmarva Power & Light President Gary Stockbridge was on hand for the Senate hearings and was glad that the public was getting a chance to comment. He’s also gotta be a little mad that a state government passed a law in 2006 telling his company who to buy power from, but state governments pass laws regulating business a lot.

(If you click on someone’s name, you’ll get their statement to the committee, or in the case of candidates or energy company representatives, the statement given to me outside of the hearings).

Governor Russ Peterson

This was the only night of hearings where the public could speak, and former Governor Russ Peterson was the first at the podium. He voiced his support for the project.

“Little states aren’t limited to doing little jobs, little states can do big jobs, too. That’s what our forefathers did when they made little Delaware the First State.” - former Governor Russ Peterson

Chad Tolman from the Sierra Club, Alan Muller from Green Delaware, bloggers Tom Noyes from Tommywonk and Nancy Willing from The Delaware Way, Lt. Governor John Carney, Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Protack, Dave Walsh from the Delaware Building and Construction Trades Council which represents 22 trade unions, and Pat Gearity, a local lawyer, were among the many people who turned out to support the offshore wind farm project.

Lt. Governor John Carney was there to show support for the project. Earlier this month Carney helped negotiate a deal where Bluewater Wind would establish a hub in Delaware that would result in jobs for the state.

Among those voicing opposition to the project were Ed Ratledge from the University of Delaware, Bernadette Winston, a Wilmington Community Center Director, a representative from the Local 1238, which includes DP & L union workers, Charles Boncelet from the University of Delaware, and private citizen Tim Bond, who cited the “lack of fairness” in a process that, among other things, wouldn’t reopen bidding so Conectiv could bid a wind farm project, too.

Charles Boncelet from the University of Delaware was there to speak out against the project.

An out of state speaker, Barbara Hill, made a compelling statement in favor of offshore wind power. The organization that she represents, Clean Power Now, is the group fighting Senator Ted Kennedy in an attempt to make Cape Cod the site of the nation’s first offshore wind farm. Hill said that she would love the competition from Delaware to see who would be first in offshore wind.

One of the interesting things I learned during the hearings was that a nuclear power plant in the north east had to shut down during the drought this past summer because they didn’t have coolant water. I never knew that could happen. And probably my favorite moment was when Sussex Countian Hal Alpiar explained to the Committee how he had to regularly wipe the soot from around his home that sits “two miles as the crow flies,” from the Indian River Power Plant, a story I’ve heard a million times from county residents.

Some of the rhetorical questions brought up by speakers to the Committee were why the Senate needed to hold hearings when the PSC held extensive hearings over the same topic just last year, why there wasn’t more competition in the process, and why the Senate would stop a process that it mandated less than two years ago.

This body passed a law, this body implemented a law, and I call on this body to follow the law.” -Pat Gearity

After the hearing, I spoke with Jim Lanard from Bluewater Wind and he was very upbeat about the future of the wind farm project and was “moved” by all of the public support.

The next hearing will be Wednesday, February 13th at Legislative Hall, and speakers will include the Public Service Commission and the Public Advocate. If you’d like to tell the Energy and Transit Committee what you think, you can click HERE for a list of the members and how to reach them.

Is it true that a certain Recorder of Deeds is considering a run for Insurance Commissioner? From the looks of this:

I’d say yes….

Every December media outlets recap their favorite and/or biggest stories for the year. In that same tradition, I’ve decided to put up some of my favorite blog pictures of the year and 10 posts I’ve made that I feel changed the course of world history and, of course, saved all of humanity.

My Favorite Pictures of 2007

A beautiful day at Tower Road.

A Civil War Reenactment during Milton’s 200th Anniversary.

Governor Ruth Ann Minner running away from me and out of the Georgia House in Millsboro the night of the 41st District special election.

Even after his resignation from the State House for ethics issues, John Atkins’ supporters launched a failed write in campaign to send him back to Dover. His campaign signs cropped up all over the 41st.

The table where Laura Bush ate breakfast at the Royal Treat on Wilmington Avenue in Rehoboth Beach.

The Cohen brothers, they found the ill fated Rissos dolphin washed up at Tower Road.

The Rissos dolphin dying on the beach at Tower Road.

The SINKING South Side approach of the “new” Indian River Inlet bridge and the road it tried to pull down with it.

John Andretti, I met him. How cool.

The “Dic Dang” sandwich at the Corner Market Bistro in Milton.

Lighting the balloons up like lanterns during Milton’s 200th Anniversary celebration.

Joe Biden talking about Iraq at Browseabout Books on Rehoboth Avenue.

Jared Morris and Dan Gaffney having fun at the Best of Delaware celebration in Dover. (And yes, Dan always has that light shining above him, it’s the most amazing thing…).

The French invade Rehoboth Beach.

Disheveled Barbies from Washington DC spotted loitering on Columbia Avenue after their Dream House furniture was recalled.

Dr Wray and Stell Parker Selby changing seats at the Cape Henlopen School Board meeting in December after Wray resigned the Presidency.

My Favorite Posts of 2007

# Ten: Your Sussex County Council

# Neuf: The French visit Rehoboth

# Eight: The Atkins Scandal

# Seven: The Indian River Inlet Bridge

# Six: Biden at Browseabout Books

# Five: European Football

# Four: Laura Bush visits Rehoboth Beach

# Three: My interview with John Andretti

# Two: Toy Recalls

# One: The Global Warming

A view looking up the south side approach to where the new Indian River Inlet Bridge will someday stand.

No, you’re not imagining it. When you drive over the Indian River Inlet Bridge, the approach for the new bridge on the south side of the inlet is, shall we say, a little tilted. That’s because the west side of the approach is settling. The settling is also making the road that leads to the south side’s campground tilt, too.

I spoke with Darrel Cole from Deldot and he explained that judging how much settling will occur during a project like this is an “inexact science,” and that there is certainly a “settlement issue” with both the approach and the road running next to it. On October 22, work will begin to level the road, but the question is, when will work begin on the new bridge?

The road to the campground on the south side of the Indian River Inlet is settling along with the approach to what will someday be the new Indian River Inlet Bridge.

According to Cole, the state expects to announce the new bidding process for the project “within a month,” and the contract to be awarded “within a year.” Construction on the new bridge should begin shortly after that. And to answer a question that has been posed on the air a few times, whatever bridge ends up being built should work just fine with the new approaches. *Whew!*

A view from the north side to the south side. It’ll be nice to get that parking lot behind the fence back someday so we won’t have to drag our umbrellas, chairs, coolers and assorted toys for what seems like forever to get to the beach on the north side.

So what we really need is for the existing bridge to last until the new bridge is finished. And there is good news on that front.

Today was supposed to be the day that the legislators in the districts surrounding the bridge met to find out the results of the inspection that was done a few weeks ago, but the funeral of Senator Vaughn delayed that meeting until next week.

Fortunately, State Representative Pete Schwartzkopf (D-RB), had the skinny on the bridge report. He was told that basically the bridge hasn’t gotten any worse, but he won’t know any of the details until the meeting.

And since I drive over that bridge all of the time, I’ll take any little bit of good news I can get.

Jared Morris and Dan Gaffney at the Best of Delaware celebration on July 19th in Dover.

Now you can hear WGMD Radio live on your computer. Just go HERE and click on the Listen Live button and you’ll soon be enjoying Sussex County’s number one talk radio station.

LIVE, INTERNATIONAL, AND LOVING IT!

A view of historic downtown Milton.

Once again the town of Milton has proved itself the place to be for history, art, music and even a little rum punch.

The Milton Historical Society had it’s second annual Auction and Garden Party on Saturday where you could bid on everything from rides in vintage airplanes to rare books and antiques. The best part was that it was outside on a perfectly clear and cool night, you couldn’t have asked for more…but there was….

Surfers at the Indian River Inlet were the subject of this oil painting by Karen Snoots.

At the Federal Street Gallery it was “A Celebration of the Ocean” featuring oil paintings by Karen Snoots and photography from local Sussex Countians Jim Mott and Gary Cooke, all with portions of the proceeds benefitting local non profit organizations.

You can LISTEN to Mark Carter, Chairperson of the Delaware Surfrider Foundation, one of the evening’s beneficiaries, talk about what Surfrider does in Delaware and nationally, HERE. You can listen to Mark talk about the art show in Milton that runs through September 30th HERE. And HERE Mark talks about what’s coming up for Surfrider the weekend of the 22nd.

And you can LISTEN to Karen Snoots discuss her art and what inspires her HERE.

As for the rum punch…I liked that, too….

Monday at Tower Road.

The self-pay box at the State Park, aka “The Iron Ranger.” People are supposed to get a green envelope from the post on the left, then stick the entrance fee in there, and then tear off the green tab and stick it on your windshield and put the envelope in the slot. The Rangers actually check the parking lots periodically to make sure people are paying.

Some guy ripping it on small but consistent waves Sunday afternoon at Tower Road. When he was done surfing, he picked up his board and jogged north until I lost sight of him. That’s a workout.

Self explanatory.

The surf Monday at Tower Road. The waves were breaking in the shallow water and when I pulled into the parking lot there was a surfer loading his broken board into his car.

Where the explosion occurred. You can see foam under the feet of the power company workers and to the right is what went up.

The latest word is 12:30 a.m. for residents waiting for the power to come back on in parts of Rehoboth Beach and all of Dewey Beach.

The Rehoboth Beach Police Department tells WGMD that the Rehoboth Convention Center is open as a shelter for people trying to escape the heat. They ask that you bring your own blanket and pillow, do not bring pets, and you might want to bring some non perishable food. The power is on at the Convention Center.

When I was in Rehoboth Beach tonight, taking pictures of the substation and picking up sushi at the new Cultured Pearl on Rehoboth Avenue (in the old Quillen’s Hardware building,) the power was on at the Cultured Pearl but the house directly behind it on Lake Avenue was black. According to the Rehoboth Beach Police, about “one third” of Rehoboth is without power.

Witnesses say they heard a loud explosion, and then a huge plume of black and grey smoke. Multiple fire trucks were on the scene to put out the fire.

UPDATE: The new estimate on when the power will be back on is 2:00 a.m., if you know of anyone in the Rehoboth/Dewey area with health problems that could be exacerbated by the heat, please let them know the Rehoboth Convention Center is open as a shelter.

UPDATE: The power is back on and the Convention Center has been closed as a shelter according to the Rehoboth Beach Police Department.