Fenwick Island

A designated public safety building is a little closer to reality in the Town of Fenwick Island, although much still needs to be decided on the issue. Mayor Audrey Serio noted that it is something the town has talked about for years, and on Monday, the town’s Public Safety Building Committee had a meeting to discuss their next steps to make it a reality.

A coastal storm, combined with astronomical high tides and a full moon, has resulted in the National Weather Service issuing a coastal flood warning and a hazardous weather outlook for the Bethany Beach area. Minor coastal flooding during Wednesday morning’s high tide may elevate to moderate flooding on during the next high tide into Thursday.

Although snowflakes are few and far between in Delaware as of 3:30 p.m., Thursday, the National Weather Service predicts that snowfall will gradually increase over the state and continue through Thursday night into Friday. However, forecasts for accumulation have been lowered since early Thursday morning.

Friends and family of Greg Forte, the Selbyville man who went missing more than two weeks ago in Fenwick Island, this week retained their hope and continued their prayers as state police and investigators searched for more clues.

This week saw new developments in the case of Earl Bradley, and the pain that has been felt in the community in the wake of allegations of child sexual abuse by the Lewes pediatrician has only become more far-reaching.

West 54 Café, one of the area’s breakfast and lunch hotspots, this Sunday is debuting their monthly art show, which will feature some of the area’s most respected and emerging artists. On Sunday, Feb. 28, the Fenwick Island coffee shop’s first free show will kick off at 5 p.m., and organizers are inviting the public to enjoy food and drinks while getting to know some of the community’s artists.

Search efforts to find a Selbyville man who went missing from a Fenwick Island condo on Feb. 9 have been scaled back, according to Delaware State Police, but friends and family remain optimistic and hopeful for his safe return. Police said 29-year-old Gregory Forte was last seen at a condo with friends on South Carolina Avenue in Fenwick Island last Tuesday night, and his family is now offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to his safe return.

Since 2000, Matteo’s Salsa Loco has been a staple for authentic Hispanic cuisine and prize-winning cocktails in Bethany Beach. But, as of this May, they’re heading south toward the border – the state border, that is – to Fenwick Island, where a larger establishment and greater proximity to Ocean City, Md., could draw in the crowd that owner Matt “Matteo” Griffin has always dreamt of.

The State of Emergency in Delaware was lifted at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, by Gov. Jack Markell. But even as the state works to clean up and restore services following the back-to-back snow storms of this month, another snow event is threatening. With a possible arrival of Monday evening, the next storm could drop 8 inches or more of snow unless it shifts to a more northerly track, officials said.

Delaware remains under a State of Emergency on Friday morning, Feb. 12, 2010. The State of Emergency has been in effect since 12 midnight, Feb. 10. The travel bans contained in the original State of Emergency declared by Gov. Jack Markell that prohibited travel on Delaware roadways by non-essential vehicles were lifted on Thursday. The change was effective at noon on Feb.

State of Emergency remains in effect
 
Gov. Jack Markell has ordered the driving restrictions for Kent and Sussex counties to be lifted as of 6 p.m. tonight.  However, the State of Emergency will remain in effect for the entire state until further notice.  Earlier today, the governor and emergency officials lifted driving restrictions in New Castle County.  
 

The Fenwick Island Environmental Committee heard from Harry Haon of the Citizens Advisory Committee for the Center for the Inland Bays on Tuesday, Feb. 9. Haon, also a member of the Fenwick Island Environmental Committee, spoke briefly on CAC activity and the status of the bays, in place of Todd Smallwood, who wasn’t at the meeting but had been expected to give a presentation. The committee expects Smallwood to give his presentation in its entirety at next month’s meeting.

Despite the impending blizzard, members of eight local law enforcement agencies and fire companies, and members of the public, gathered at the Bistro at Bear Trap Dunes on Friday, Feb. 5, for the 2010 Joshua M. Freeman Valor Awards, honoring those departments and the esteemed individuals that, through them, serve the local communities.

Kent and Sussex counties are still removing disabled and abandoned vehicles from roads on their secondary and local back roads, state officials reported Thursday afternoon, noting that the vehicles have been hampering efforts to clear roads and respond to emergencies.

As of 9 a.m., officials announced Thursday morning, after consultation between the Governor’s Office and state and local emergency management officials, it was decided that the State of Emergency declared by Delaware Gov. Jack Markell will remain in effect today, February 11, 2010 as will the travel ban.

[UPDATE] Due to inclement weather, all Indian River School District schools will be closed on Friday, Feb. 12. All 12-month employees will be informed of their status at a later time, officials said.

The Sussex County Emergency Operations Center late Wednesday night put out the call for additional farmers throughout the county to lend equipment and aid so fire and ambulance crews can reach residents in an emergency.

Delaware’s frigid temperatures, high winds and recent snowfalls can be difficult for the more than 40 species of wintering songbirds that share the state’s nature resources, state officials reminded the public mid-week. Their food sources – nuts, seeds and berries – are harder for these small birds to locate and reach, especially when covered with large accumulations of snow.

State officials sent out an urgent message about 6:45 p.m. on Wednesday, noting that presently there are stranded and abandoned vehicles that are blocking some roads in Sussex County to the point that ambulances cannot proceed to make emergency runs. These disabled vehicles must be moved immediately in order for responders to carry out life-safety responsibilities.

A brief storm update from state officials as of 2:35 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 10:

• Delmarva Power crews in Sussex County have temporarily suspended operations due to visibility problems.

Gov. Jack Markell declared a State of Emergency covering the entire state of Delaware effective at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, with all non-emergency vehicles ordered off the roads.

State officials were reporting nearly 14,000 electric customers still without power – mostly in Sussex County – on Monday morning, as crews from Delmarva Power and Delaware Electric Cooperative struggled to reach and repair outages from last weekend’s blizzard. Shelters in both counties remained open for those needing shelter due to a lack of power or heat.

With the National Weather Service reporting snow totals of 20 to 25 inches with drifts in Sussex County, 25 inches in New Castle County and 22 inches in Kent County from this weekend’s blizzard, a State of Emergency remained in effect at 9 a.m. on Sunday morning.

Snow from this weekend’s blizzard had begun to taper off around 8 p.m. on Saturday night, leaving much of the state paralyzed and snowbound, and tens of thousands without power, with as many as 39,000 homes and businesses left in the dark at peak impact from the storm.

A winter storm warning is in effect in the area until 7 p.m. on Saturday evening. Light to moderate snow with embedded areas of heavy snow near the Atlantic coast was occurring across the area late this afternoon, adding about 6 inches of snow in Selbyville over the course of several hours and causing whiteout conditions in some areas.

With snow totals statewide topping 15 inches in some locations and more than 8 inches of snow in the local area, Delaware emergency officials on Saturday morning were reminding the public of the State of Emergency currently in force and the requirement that they stay off roads until further notice. Only emergency vehicles are permitted on the roads in Delaware as of 9 a.m. Saturday.

Snow is beginning to accumulate, the plows are out, and residents everywhere are settling in for a long weekend, state officials reported Friday evening as blizzard conditions hit Delaware. As of 9:30 p.m. on Friday Delaware State Police reported that there had been one injury accident and 15 crashes that involved property damage.

State of Emergency declared for state as of 8 p.m., vehicles ordered off roads as of 10 p.m.

Gov. Jack Markell declared a State of Emergency covering the entire state of Delaware effective at 8 p.m. Friday, with vehicles ordered off the roads as of 10 p.m.

The National Weather Service in Mount Holly has issued a blizzard warning, which is in effect from 4 p.m. Friday to 7 p.m. Saturday. The previous winter storm watch is no longer in effect.

A storm system developing over the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday will pass off the Carolina coast Friday night and then continue to the northeast on Saturday.

The Fenwick Island Town Council met on Monday, Feb. 1, to discuss the possibility of allowing beach equipment rentals on the town’s beaches. They decided on Monday to ask the opinion of Town Solicitor Tempe Steen on the notion’s viability and planned to have another special meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 10, at 10 a.m., followed by an executive session.