Sussex Academy Showcases Student Art and Music
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Sussex Academy hosted a showcase of the arts May 19, with various installations of student artwork on display followed by a band and choral concert.
The art show, curated by high school visual arts teacher Rebecca Frankum, included myriad pieces from a year’s worth of studies, from acrylic painting and collage, to monoprints and block prints, and embroidery to photography.
The concert, led by band director Michael Marotta and choral director Christopher Decker, featured the middle and high school bands and choirs, and the high school symphonic and jazz bands.
“It was an exciting night for the students,” Marotta said. “They played and sang beautifully! We also want to wish the band and choir seniors the best of luck next year: Abby Tatman, Oliver Graves, Gio Porfido, Chase Reynolds and Evan Spanos.”"
DNREC Holds First Community Meeting on CWD Detection in Delaware Deer Herd
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Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control | Division of Fish and Wildlife | Newsroom | Date Posted: Monday, May 4, 2026
The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) will hold the first community meeting about the recent detection of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Delaware’s white-tailed deer at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 13 at the Baldcypress Nature Center at Trap Pond State Park in Laurel. For anyone unable to attend the in-person meeting, a virtual option is available on the DNREC meeting calendar.
The community meeting is one of the first steps in Delaware’s Response Plan for CWD in the state’s deer herd. DNREC invites the public to attend and get more information about CWD, ask questions, understand the state’s next steps and learn how the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife’s surveillance for the disease will affect the upcoming hunting seasons. Daily entrance fees for Trap Pond State Park will be waived between 6 and 8 p.m. for those attending the CWD community meeting.
DNREC will hold additional meetings to provide more information for deer hunters and processors over the coming months. CWD will also be a topic on the agenda at the next Advisory Council on Wildlife and Freshwater Fish Meeting, to be held on June 2 at the Little Creek Hunter Education Building (3018 Bayside Drive, Dover, Del.). The council meeting and all CWD community meetings going forward also will offer a virtual option for attending.
DNREC recently announced the state’s first positive test for CWD after it was confirmed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory (USDA NVSL). The detection was from a hunter-harvested deer sampled in Delaware as part of routine surveillance. A second deer sampled during the 2025-2026 season in the state tested presumptive positive at the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System and is awaiting confirmation by the USDA NVSL.
With the state’s first case of CWD confirmed and a second case now a strong possibility, DNREC will continue its longstanding surveillance program of Delaware’s white-tailed deer herd to better understand the extent of the disease and monitor its spread. More information, including the state response plan, a map of the management area and public guidance about CWD is available at the de.gov/cwd webpage.
About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities, and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife conserves and manages Delaware’s fish and wildlife and their habitats, and provides fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing and boating access on more than 75,000 acres of public land owned or managed by the Division of Fish and Wildlife. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube or LinkedIn.
Media Contacts: Michael Globetti, [email protected]; Nikki Lavoie, [email protected]
Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.
Here you can subscribe to future news updates.
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control | Division of Fish and Wildlife | Newsroom | Date Posted: Monday, May 4, 2026
The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) will hold the first community meeting about the recent detection of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Delaware’s white-tailed deer at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 13 at the Baldcypress Nature Center at Trap Pond State Park in Laurel. For anyone unable to attend the in-person meeting, a virtual option is available on the DNREC meeting calendar.
The community meeting is one of the first steps in Delaware’s Response Plan for CWD in the state’s deer herd. DNREC invites the public to attend and get more information about CWD, ask questions, understand the state’s next steps and learn how the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife’s surveillance for the disease will affect the upcoming hunting seasons. Daily entrance fees for Trap Pond State Park will be waived between 6 and 8 p.m. for those attending the CWD community meeting.
DNREC will hold additional meetings to provide more information for deer hunters and processors over the coming months. CWD will also be a topic on the agenda at the next Advisory Council on Wildlife and Freshwater Fish Meeting, to be held on June 2 at the Little Creek Hunter Education Building (3018 Bayside Drive, Dover, Del.). The council meeting and all CWD community meetings going forward also will offer a virtual option for attending.
DNREC recently announced the state’s first positive test for CWD after it was confirmed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory (USDA NVSL). The detection was from a hunter-harvested deer sampled in Delaware as part of routine surveillance. A second deer sampled during the 2025-2026 season in the state tested presumptive positive at the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System and is awaiting confirmation by the USDA NVSL.
With the state’s first case of CWD confirmed and a second case now a strong possibility, DNREC will continue its longstanding surveillance program of Delaware’s white-tailed deer herd to better understand the extent of the disease and monitor its spread. More information, including the state response plan, a map of the management area and public guidance about CWD is available at the de.gov/cwd webpage.
About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities, and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife conserves and manages Delaware’s fish and wildlife and their habitats, and provides fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing and boating access on more than 75,000 acres of public land owned or managed by the Division of Fish and Wildlife. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube or LinkedIn.
Media Contacts: Michael Globetti, [email protected]; Nikki Lavoie, [email protected]
Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.
Here you can subscribe to future news updates.
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Free Water Family Fest & Native Plant Sale Set for May 2 in Ocean View
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Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control | Division of Watershed Stewardship | Date Posted: Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Families can choose native plants for the landscape, learn about environmental topics and “touch-a-boat” at Water Family Fest
/Delaware DNREC photo
Annual Community Event to be Held at James Farm Ecological Preserve in Ocean View
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and the Center for the Inland Bays (CIB) are partnering again to host Water Family Fest and Native Plant Sale. The family-friendly, free admission event will be held at James Farm Ecological Preserve from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, May 2. James Farm is located at 30048 Cedar Neck Road, Ocean View, Del.
Since 2019, Water Family Fest highlights the work done by the DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship and CIB to benefit Delaware’s natural resources and environment – including managing and monitoring wetlands, improving water quality, engaging community members, and overseeing, protecting and enhancing recreational shorelines and other natural resources.
Water Family Fest visitors can enjoy exhibits from more than 35 nature-based organizations and non-profits while participating in outdoor recreational and educational fun activities. Exhibitors offer a variety of environmental topics to explore, including shellfish, buffers, beaches, wetlands, beekeeping, local authors, rain gardens and native plants, which will be sold at the event by local plant nurseries. Family and children’s activities such as crafts, nature games, animal identification and microscopes are other attractions for the event.
For the third year, Water Family Fest will include a “touch-a-boat” area, a kid-friendly experience where families can view from up close and board several DNREC boats used in field work. An airboat from the Division of Fish and Wildlife, a shallow-drive boat and a large Shoreline and Waterway Management Section boat, and a wetland field work boat from the Division of Watershed Stewardship are all expected at the event.
Food vendors in attendance include Grotto Pizza, Kristina’s Kitchen and Dogfish Head. Homestead Bluegrass Band will provide musical entertainment on the event’s main stage. Plant nurseries from across the area are participating in the festival including Inland Bays Garden Center, Tributaries, and East View Farms. Additionally, the Brandywine Valley SPCA is attending with adoptable dogs and information about their organization. Sponsors of the event are the Bethany Beach Landowners Association, Bethany Tennis Club, and Sussex Conservation District. For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Bryan Ochs with the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays.
Water Family Fest and Native Plant Sale is a rain or shine event. Parking for attendees is located across the street from the Preserve’s main entrance. Overflow parking will be available at G&E Hardware (30264 Cedar Neck Rd, Ocean View).
More information about the Water Family Fest and Native Plant Sale can be found on the de.gov/waterfamilyfest webpage.
About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship develops and implements innovative watershed assessment, monitoring and implementation activities. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X, or LinkedIn.
Media Contacts: Alyssa Imprescia, [email protected]; Michael Globetti, [email protected]
Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.
Here you can subscribe to future news updates.
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control | Division of Watershed Stewardship | Date Posted: Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Families can choose native plants for the landscape, learn about environmental topics and “touch-a-boat” at Water Family Fest
/Delaware DNREC photo
Annual Community Event to be Held at James Farm Ecological Preserve in Ocean View
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and the Center for the Inland Bays (CIB) are partnering again to host Water Family Fest and Native Plant Sale. The family-friendly, free admission event will be held at James Farm Ecological Preserve from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, May 2. James Farm is located at 30048 Cedar Neck Road, Ocean View, Del.
Since 2019, Water Family Fest highlights the work done by the DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship and CIB to benefit Delaware’s natural resources and environment – including managing and monitoring wetlands, improving water quality, engaging community members, and overseeing, protecting and enhancing recreational shorelines and other natural resources.
Water Family Fest visitors can enjoy exhibits from more than 35 nature-based organizations and non-profits while participating in outdoor recreational and educational fun activities. Exhibitors offer a variety of environmental topics to explore, including shellfish, buffers, beaches, wetlands, beekeeping, local authors, rain gardens and native plants, which will be sold at the event by local plant nurseries. Family and children’s activities such as crafts, nature games, animal identification and microscopes are other attractions for the event.
For the third year, Water Family Fest will include a “touch-a-boat” area, a kid-friendly experience where families can view from up close and board several DNREC boats used in field work. An airboat from the Division of Fish and Wildlife, a shallow-drive boat and a large Shoreline and Waterway Management Section boat, and a wetland field work boat from the Division of Watershed Stewardship are all expected at the event.
Food vendors in attendance include Grotto Pizza, Kristina’s Kitchen and Dogfish Head. Homestead Bluegrass Band will provide musical entertainment on the event’s main stage. Plant nurseries from across the area are participating in the festival including Inland Bays Garden Center, Tributaries, and East View Farms. Additionally, the Brandywine Valley SPCA is attending with adoptable dogs and information about their organization. Sponsors of the event are the Bethany Beach Landowners Association, Bethany Tennis Club, and Sussex Conservation District. For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Bryan Ochs with the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays.
Water Family Fest and Native Plant Sale is a rain or shine event. Parking for attendees is located across the street from the Preserve’s main entrance. Overflow parking will be available at G&E Hardware (30264 Cedar Neck Rd, Ocean View).
More information about the Water Family Fest and Native Plant Sale can be found on the de.gov/waterfamilyfest webpage.
About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship develops and implements innovative watershed assessment, monitoring and implementation activities. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X, or LinkedIn.
Media Contacts: Alyssa Imprescia, [email protected]; Michael Globetti, [email protected]
Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.
Here you can subscribe to future news updates.
Delaware's Governor
State Agencies
Elected Officials
General Assembly
Delaware Courts
State Employees
Cities & Towns
Delaware State Code
State Regulations
Business First Steps
Phone Directory
Locations Directory
Public Meetings
Voting & Elections
Transparency
Delaware Marketplace
Tax Center
Personal Income Tax
Privacy Policy
Weather & Travel
Contact Us
Corporations
Franchise Tax
Gross Receipts Tax
Withholding Tax
Delaware Topics
Help Center
Mobile Apps
E-mail / Text Alerts
Social Media
Built by the Government Information Center
©MMXXVI Delaware.gov"
