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…

Today it took me 18 minutes and 7 light cycles to get onto Route 1 in Lewes, I was about 20 cars back to start. On Tuesday my large, plain pizza from Pizza Villa was cold when I got home because you couldn’t turn left onto Route 1 from the Midway Shopping Center. My friend almost ran out of gas stuck in traffic and trying to find a gas station they could actually turn in to.

Why?

Because the Department of Transportation has Route 1 totally screwed up from the Nassau Bridge through Rehoboth Beach. One lane, each way. Two or three or four State Police cars in every intersection. No way to turn left into shopping centers. Blocked lanes, split lanes, lanes with no lines. What’s the deal?

This is a debacle. DELDOT’s inability to manage and control the Route 1 construction project is just another example of how poorly they operate. Do I need to even mention the Indian River Inlet Bridge?

Today is the kick off of the Delaware Republican Party’s Convention at the Bay Center in Dewey Beach. I can only imagine the smiles on GOPers faces as they drive through yet another dysfunctional state project. What a shame it doesn’t look like they’ll be able to take advantage of how badly the state’s been run for so many years.

Gas is too expensive to waste idling on Route 1 all day trying to turn left. But the worst part is this construction nightmare is supposed to end on May 22, just in time for the tourist season to kick in. No traffic rest for the Eastern Sussex County weary. 

Thanks Carolyn Wicks, head of DELDOT, I look forward to the day when you’re out, I wish it was today. You, and your little governor, too.

It was a great honor to help Irish Eyes and members of the Lewes Police Department promote a fundraiser for a new working police dog for the department.  Community spirit ran high and the event raise far more than needed.  (Over $15,000 and perhaps close to $20,000.)  The dog, a replacement for the police dog that died last fall, was said to cost $8,800.

I’m now shocked at the petty, small minded and ungrateful attitude expressed by a select few Lewes Councilpersons.  Henry Evans of the Cape Gazette reports:

City Councilwoman Stephanie Tsantes said she was appalled to learn, after the fact, that an event to raise money to buy a dog for the Lewes Police Department was held at Irish Eyes in Lewes Feb. 21.
“I’m reading more about your department in the newspaper, and I’m blaming the lack of communication on you,” Tsantes told Gooch before he and Layfield explained their thinking and actions related to the successful fundraiser.
…..
Councilwoman Barbara Vaughan said she thought the police department’s lack of communication about the fundraiser “co-opted” the mayor and council’s discussion about a dog, which was particularly troubling because this fiscal year’s budget is tight.
…..
Tsantes said she was uncomfortable with the lack of information about the dog’s cost, pedigree, training facility credentials, amount of officer training time required and other ongoing costs, such as the need for an appropriate K-9 vehicle.
Tsantes questioned the city’s need for a police dog and asked Gooch and Layfield why the department isn’t obtaining a dog from the same kennel and trainer as that used by the Delaware State Police.
…

Councilmen Ted Becker and Victor Letonoff said they, too, would have preferred better communications with the police department, but they support purchase of a dog.

(Emphasis mine)
WGMD listener and outspoken Lewes guy Greg Ositko fired off this letter in response to certain members of the Lewes Council:

There’s nothing more gratifying than an assertive community effort overshadowing the ego of local liberal councilwomen with big egos.
The mission of a community effort accomplishing a remedial goal for law enforcement has taken a front running position in the Town of Lewes, and kudos’ to the Fundraisers and Police Chief ‘Beau’ Gooch – and don’t be shy Chief, they’re just two Councilwomen; they can be replaced.
As progressive Stalwarts to business and progress, I blame Tsantes and Commandant Vaughn for such a ridiculous call to order on this measure of good will; they again have shown their disenchantment of free business enterprise and community entrepreneurial spirit regarding the towns’ efforts to raise $16,000.00 for the purchase of a new police dog. Evidently Tsantes and Vaughn have more qualifications in choosing dogs and kennels where they come from than the Lewes police department.
Micromanaging is something that always has a way of getting under my skin; counterproductive and senseless egos undermining good ideals by overpowering confidence and self worth of individual and community.
These are the same ideals that liberal and democratic societies want to strip from this nation. It begins with small town government like Lewes, DE; an example of what liberalism wants locally and a vision of national democratic intent.
We should be inclined to see this as a lesson to what value and integrity you as an individual have, and our communities at large have as a right to raise money for whatever ‘common good’ reason desired.
It is with all my heart that this community, this state and states abound this great nation of ours begin to acknowledge the extreme language and rhetoric that faces us today, and become the mindset of truth about what is right and wrong in the public sector of responsible representation as small America and the USA.
I like the name “Gooch”, what do you think?

Greg Ositko

Go Greg Go!

!!UPDATE:  MORE COMMUNITY OUTRAGE

Cape Gazette Editor;
 
I was compelled to write after reading your March 7, 2008 article on the Lewes fundraiser for the new police dog.  I am honestly greatly dismayed to read, several weeks after the fact that members of city council were “appalled” to first learn of the event.  This strikes me as plain ignorance and standard political poppycock. 
 
The event was advertised in the Cape Gazette as well as extensively on WGMD radio up to and including the morning of the event.  I attended the event along with 5 other members of my family who all knew of the event prior to its happening.  Obviously, other members of the community knew of the event as well considering the time and effort put into the event, the donations generously given and the funds that were raised.
 
My family and I moved here recently from Washington DC where there was little if any sense of community no matter where you lived.  Part of the reason we settled in this area was because of the true sense of community!  It is my belief that these members were only miffed because they couldn’t attach their names to the event and therefore reap the benefits of good press.  Instead of applauding the community for reaching deep into their own pockets to come up with money so that the city wouldn’t have to, they have chosen to slap everyone down.  Instead of rallying behind one of its dedicated officers, they have decided to put him and the department on the spot.  Instead of supporting the need to replace a valiant and hard working member of the force, Iwan, they have decided to “question the need”.  This is insulting and offensive to those in the community who had only the pure desire to lend a hand for a good cause.
 
I understand the process of government and the need to go through proper channels.  However, with this event being advertised and broadcast to the community as it was, I find it extremely hard to believe that NO ONE on the council knew of the event.  Lastly, I find it seriously disheartening to learn that the council would ‘lash’ out at a community with so much integrity.
 
The council should not be appalled at the police department and the community supporting it, but at itself for its own lack of heart.
 
 
 
Sincerely,
 
Cynthia Cinnamon
Lewes, DE
 

According to the Jack Lingo Realtor website, board member/realtor Camilla Conlon “specializes in Land Development, Commercial and Residential Sales.” Nothing to see here folks….

Should the Cape Henlopen School Board get involved in the battle to rezone land owned by L.T. Associates that sits directly across from Cape Henlopen High School? The proposed 520,000 square foot Townsend Village Centre will be surrounded by hundreds of homes and has been a hot topic in Lewes, and it came up at last night’s school board meeting.

Dr. Gary Wray talked about the large numbers of e-mails he’s getting about the development and said, “I’ve gotten my door beaten down, too.” While Noble Prettyman, the only board member who attended the town meeting about the development, had traffic and safety concerns and asked what the board’s stand was on the issue.

School board member Camilla Conlon, thought the board should remain “neutral,” and took a very vocal stand on the issue. But there’s only one problem with Conlon’s assessment of the situation, she works for Jack Lingo Realty, which coincidentally, is what the “L” in “L.T. Associates” stands for….

“I’ve seen a lot of the e-mails, but I believe that when we chose to keep our school in that location, we already knew about the development anticipated for Gills Neck Road…

Frankly it will bring a lot of tax dollars here if you want to start talking about the pros and the cons, there are some upsides for our district. Shopping centers bring a lot of money and no students. So, you know, I really think we should be neutral…in my opinion as a board of education we’re in the education business not the development business….

Clearly whatever they do with that intersection is going to have the safety of our students at the heart of it…Nobody that works for Deldot is not going to be thinking about the safety of our students, when they design that, and we’re going to be part of the design, you know, we’re paying for part of it and we knew that…from the get-start. So…my opinion is that we should be neutral on this because we’re not in the development business.” - Cape Henlopen School Board Member/Jack Lingo Real Estate Agent Camilla Conlon FULL AUDIO OF CONLON’S COMMENTS

Well, the board may not be “in the development business,” but Conlon sure is, and she works for the company that’s doing the developing. (And please, relying on Deldot to keep our children safe? Think about how funny that statement is the next time you drive over the Indian River Inlet Bridge).

Frankly, even though the majority of the board agreed that they should remain neutral on the development, Conlon should have removed herself from the entire discussion. But hey, if County Councilman Lynn Rogers who stands to make a bundle for his sign business off of the development isn’t recusing himself, why would Conlon? Ethics schmethics, this is Sussex County.

The intersection where an SUV collided with an ambulance.

I received an e-mail tonight from Judson Bennett and his Coastal Conservative Network that contains an all too familiar description of someone being hospitalized at Beebe Hospital in Lewes:

A friend of mine called me this a.m. and informed me that he had been hospitalized at Beebe yesterday, What was very interesting about the discussion I had with him was:
(a) for lack of any hospital rooms, he had been placed in a single room with six other patents;
(b) he noticed that other patients (not as fortunate as he) had been placed on stretchers up and down the corridors;
(c) a situation he thought Beebe was over-saturated with patients, lacked adequate in-patient facilities and, as well, was under-staffed.

Exactly. But let’s be honest, the problems go way beyond just overcrowding. Back in October, Dr. J. Ludwicki, a pediatrician who practices in Lewes and Milton, expressed his frustration over the way Sussex County newborns in distress sometimes wait 4 or more hours to get transfered to Christiana Hospital in New Castle County to receive critical life saving treatments. Most of the people I speak with in Sussex have no idea this situation even exists until something goes desperately wrong when someone around them gives birth.

As it stands now, if you have a baby in one of the County’s three hospitals and there’s a problem, you have to wait for the state’s only transport team, located at the Christiana Hospital, to come and take your baby to a higher level of emergency care. That would be either Kent General in Dover, a Level 2 facility, or Christiana, a Level 3 facility. The wait can take hours and hours….

And yes, the state has only one transport team. One. And that team could be in New Jersey transporting a baby when a baby with serious health issues is born here in Sussex. The team does have access to a helicopter, but a number of weather factors and the cost make the ambulance trip the more usual method.

Just last week I covered the terrible story of a Sussex County paramedic and two Millsboro EMTs who were stopped at an intersection off of Rt. 5 when their ambulance was hammered by an SUV. The SUV driver was dead at the scene. One of the EMTs, despite his injuries, dragged his damaged body to the side of the paramedic who had been ejected from the rear of the ambulance, and with the help of the other EMT, kept him alive until an ambulance arrived, then passed out.

Two members of the ambulance crew were in very serious condition and had to be flown to Christiana Hospital, the closest Level 1 trauma center, for critical lifesaving treatment. None of the hospitals in Sussex are over Level 3. Kent General in Dover is Level 2. It’s the same as the neonatal situation. Thankfully, the crew is home and on the mend.

And in Sussex we all know not to have a life threatening medical emergency on a Friday afternoon in August on the east side of the County. I can’t help wondering what effect the Townsend Village Centre, which will sit on one of the two main roads into Lewes, will have on the already stressed roadways around Beebe Hospital.

There’s a huge healthcare problem brewing in Sussex County, and something needs to be done about it now.

You may have heard it unofficially yesterday on some Delaware blogs, or in the News Journal and today it’s apparently more official-ish. “Coastal Conservative,” Judson Bennett, a republican from Lewes, will be running for Sussex County Council.

From Judson Bennett via his “Coastal Conservative Network:”

Press Release:

Retired Delaware River Pilot and former Lewes City Councilman, Judson Bennett, who ran for the 3rd District Sussex County Council Seat in 2004, and lost by only 3 votes to incumbent Lynn Rogers, with 17,500 people voting, has announced he will be running again in 2008. Bennett says, “he felt he had to let his political intentions be known now for the benefit of his many supporters, since he will be away for a significant period of time in March and April.” Bennett has informed all concerned, “that although he and his wife are going to the Florida Keys for a couple of months for a much needed rest and vacation where his wife will be recovering from surgery, he will be prepared to officially announce his candidacy in May, and indeed hit the ground running with a well organized and fully prepared campaign upon his return.”

Bennett is championing HB 239, known as the Adequate Public Facilities Bill, which would, among other things, require developers to ante up for things like future schools and roads.

When I spoke with Bennett this morning, he said that an Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance for Sussex County would be part of his campaign platform, saying, “I prefer county control over state control.”

“I prefer county control over state control.” - Judson Bennett

Bennett will possibly be running against incumbent Milton businessman, Lynn Rogers, who beat Bennett by an amazing three votes in the last election.

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

The new seating arrangements for the Cape Henlopen School Board. (From left to right: Coveleski, Wray, Brittingham, Stone, Parker Selby, Redden, Conlon, Prettyman)

Ms. Stell Parker Selby in her new, maybe temporary position as Cape Henlopen School Board President.

As earlier reported, Cape Henlopen School Board President, Gary Wray, has resigned his leadership position, and Board Vice President Stell Parker Selby will be taking that seat until a new President is chosen.

“Remember that we are elected to serve our school community. That is my motto.” - Acting Cape Henlopen School Board President Stell Parker Selby AUDIO

Outspoken Board member, Noble Prettyman, called on Dr. Wray to resign last month after a particularly contentious meeting citing ethics violations:

“Dr. Wray’s actions last night give me no choice but to ask that he be removed as president of the school board,” Prettyman said during an interview Friday, Nov. 9. “As parents spoke, he put his glasses on his head and rolled his eyes in a degrading way. It is unacceptable behavior, and I absolutely feel he cannot be allowed to be the board’s president any longer.”

In addition to inappropriate behavior to Cape’s parents and taxpayers, Prettyman said, Wray’s conduct in taking unilateral action, violating the trust of the taxpayers and soliciting unilateral action by the Stone violated the ethical requirements for board members.

After Wray’s resignation Thursday night, Prettyman had this to say:

“I know he did the right thing, because it’s not about Dr. Wray.” - Board member Noble Prettyman AUDIO

 

Cape Henlopen Educational Foundation Mini grant Award Winners were on hand last night to tell parents, teachers, board members and the public how they are spending their grant money in the classroom. Milton Elementary School second grade teacher Jackie Shockley tells the crowd how she spends the money she received:

“I use the grant money to purchase sound systems for all of the second grade classrooms…to help at risk kids.” - Second Grade Teacher Jackie Shockley AUDIO

Last October a young criminal broke into the home of a 72 year old Lewes woman, tried to rape her, failed, smashed her in the head with a hammer a few times, robbed her then made her drive him to Rehoboth Beach. Well, the nasty pig who allegedly committed that heinous crime was caught by police with the help of a Cape Henlopen School District teacher, Bob Maull.

“I called Bob and he was there in seconds….As soon as he looked at it he told me who these people were.” - Lewes Police Detective John Miller AUDIO

The alleged hammer weilding, attempted rapist, Devonaire Augustus Jones of Milton, was also identified as one of two young men who allegedly broke into the home of a Milton woman last January and raped her at gunpoint. Maull identified Jones and another man, Robbie Robinson, also of Milton, in that crime, too.

Way to go Mr. Maull!

From left to right: Dr. Ed Seibert, Superintendent George Stone, acting Board President Parker Selby.

Cape Henlopen Business Director, Dr. Ed Seibert, was recognized last night for his years of hard work for the Cape Henlopen School District. Seibert, who filed a complaint of “retaliation” against Superintendent George Stone this month with the School Board, was all smiles as Dr. Stone and Acting President Stell Parker Selby honored his hard work.

“…for six years and four months of outstanding service to the Cape Henlopen School District.” - Superintendent George Stone reading Dr. Seibert’s plaque AUDIO

The historic Milton Theatre on Union Street in downtown Milton.

On January 12th, the Cape Henlopen School Board is invited to attend the opening of a time capsule from 1958. The event is open to the public and will take place at the historic Milton Theatre.

Holy teacher shortage, Batman! HO Brittingham Elementary School only has TWO 4th grade teachers. And, yes, this is the same school that had 12 out of the 14 violent felonies committed by students in the district last year.

Why the shortage? Well, apparently one 4th grade teacher requested to be sent back to 1st grade, and the open 4th grade position wasn’t filled, sound familiar?

While giving their presentation on the “H.O. Brittingham Elementary School Improvement Report,” 4th grade teacher Tracey van Rees took the opportunity to ask for…no, not another teacher…but an after school math program for at risk students.

Just thought I’d mention that little tidbit…it’s kind of funny since the district doesn’t seem to be hiring. See above.

Sarah Ross, a Cape Henlopen School Distrit teacher and a member of the Cape Henlopen Education Association, addressed the Board Thursday night about teachers “drowning” in paperwork from federal, state and local regulations and initiatives passed without input from teachers. Delaware State Education Association President Barbara Groff, attended the Board meeting Thursday night to show support for the Cape teachers and voice her concerns:

“They have more to do then they can possibly accomplish.” - Barbara Groff, President, Delaware State Education Association AUDIO

Groff also said that teachers around the state are, “worried about their Cape counterparts.”

Even though other board members seemed to share his doubts, Pete Coveleski was the only “no” vote on the Cape Henlopen School District’s new “Bullying Prevention Policy,” saying it would be “folly to approve this as written.” Coveleski’s reason for voting “no” is that the policy is written too broadly:

“They policy as it’s written now is really open to interpretation.” - Board member Pete Coveleski AUDIO

The School Board can re examine the policy at a future meeting.

All of your Cape School Board coverage located in one convenient, easy to swallow blog post!

Superintendent George Stone and School Board President Dr. Wray.

It’s so hard to decide where to start with Thursday night’s meeting…but let’s start with the fun stuff….

A few meetings ago, board member Noble Prettyman thrilled his fellow board members and the audience of teachers, administrators, parents and press with the announcement that developer Darin Lockwood was donating 30 acres of land to Cape that butts up to H.O. Brittingham Elementary School in beautiful Milton, Delaware.

At Thursday night’s meeting, Dr. Wray asked the board if anyone had heard from Lockwood about the 30 acres and the answer was, “We haven’t heard a word back.” Well, Georgia Leonhart from the Cape Gazette had a smile on her face because she knew that developer Darin Lockwood didn’t own the land he so generously donated:

Lockwood does not yet, and may never, own the 30 acres.

“He [Lockwood] doesn’t own the land, I can tell you that; in no way, shape or form,” said Gerald Reynolds, who added that he owns the land with his brother-in-law, Willard Workman.

Lockwood also doesn’t own an additional 107 acres proposed to be included in Elizabethtown, effectively putting development of the high-density residential community on the back burner, said a Realtor representing the owners of the property.

You’ve gotta love it.

The white brick addition to Milton Elementary School. It looks better now, the fences are out and there are shrubs planted in front of it.

Throwing a bone to tired and worried Milton Elementary School parents, the board voted to not mess with the color of the bricks on the new addition to the school. Parent Sharon Davis, who made a plea last month to leave the bricks alone and let the kids move into the space and start learning, made her case again to the board at the beginning of the meeting:

“What you have in front of you is a list of items that are still desperately needed in each of the new classrooms to enhance the comfort and educational experience of every child. Unfortunately, if the decision is made tonight to spend additional monies to replace the brick on the outside, these items will not be able to be purchased.

The white brick on the outside of the addition is a “decorating mistake,” one that was approved by the School Board at the implementation of the project. That was the time to make color changes; not now when the school budget is suffering, and these items are still needed to complete new classrooms INSIDE.” - Parent Sharon Davis

Some of the items on the list were bookcases, area carpets, and cork strips to hang the Sound Spelling Cards from.

Little brick section in front of the elementary school where someone tested some kind of fix other than tearing the bricks down.

The cost of replacing the bricks was well over $100,000 and the cost of staining the bricks a red brick color would have cost over $10,000.

The parents of many Milton Elementary School children would like to thank the board for giving them this one win, (though they would still appreciate smaller 4th grade class sizes so their kids grow up smart enough to know how to balance a budget without cutting desperately needed staff).

The field may have been christened by the Cape Henlopen High School soccer team last Tuesday night, but the big night for the new “Legends Stadium” was supposed to be Friday night’s Homecoming football game against Sussex Central.

Unfortunately it was cancelled due to the weather, moved to Saturday, then cancelled due to the weather. The next Homecoming attempt will be Sunday the 28th at 2:30 p.m. and the game will be broadcast by WGMD 92.7 FM.

Cape Principal John Yore spoke at the school board meeting Thursday night and wanted to let fans know that it’s going to be muddy for the game and there’s a “bit of a walk” to the field. If you’re going you’ll want to enter the stadium from the gymnasium and the agriculture building side. Handicapped parking is accessible from the Savannah Road entrance and the 9th grade campus will have parking and a shuttle going back and forth to the field. You can also park at the Administration building on King’s Highway or the high school parking lot also off of King’s Highway. Just don’t park on the circle.

Sussex County Delaware does not have the luxury of a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Photo courtesy of BMS

If he isn’t at an activity with his children, Dr. Jay Ludwicki can be found at the Pediatric and Adolescent Center in Lewes, Delaware. I had the opportunity to speak with him a few weeks ago on the sidelines of a soccer field about a troubling problem in Sussex County, the length of time a newborn in distress has to wait for emergency transportation.

As it stands now, if you have a baby in one of the County’s three hospitals and there’s a problem, you have to wait for the state’s only transport team, located at the Christiana Hospital, to come and take your baby to a higher level of emergency care. That would be either Kent General in Dover, a Level 2 facility, or Christiana, a Level 3 facility. The wait can take hours and hours.

“We are at the other end of the state and what I’ve dreamt of seeing is that instead of having transport centered from Wilmington that we would have transport possibly centered out of Kent…” - Dr. Jay Ludwicki audio

And yes, the state has only one transport team. One. And that team could be in New Jersey transporting a baby when a baby with serious health issues is born here in Sussex. The team does have access to a helicopter, but a number of weather factors and the cost make the ambulance trip the more usual method. audio

While the baby waits to be transported out of Sussex County and to a higher level of emergency care, the hospital staff will “use a bag and mask” to keep air in their little lungs.

Dr. Ludwicki would like to see the transport team centered at Kent General Hospital in Dover to lessen the wait. He’d also like to see neonatal nurses at Kent General who can come to Sussex to assist with the baby, and even neonatal nurses on staff in the more “remote” County hospitals who could deliver drugs like surfactin to the newborn. This kind of fast, emergency care can mean a lot.

“There are babies you give immediate care to and they turn around very quickly and you might not even need to transport them in the first place if that care is given.” - Dr. Jay Ludwicki audio

But with an anticipated “17% increase in women of their maternity years” here in the County over the next 10 years, Sussex could someday see its own Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and Dr. Ludwicki can dream about other things….