Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve to Host Research and Stewardship Symposium

In celebration of National Estuaries Week (Sept. 19 to 27), the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve (DNERR) will hold a two-day Research and Stewardship Symposium at the St. Jones and Blackbird Creek Reserves on Sept. 22 and 23. The symposium will showcase the Reserve’s mission of engaging people, applying science and protecting places.

“For those interested in learning about current research or habitat management projects, both symposium days will provide ample opportunities to view both and to engage with reserve staff,” said Lynne Pusey, DNERR training and engagement coordinator for the Delaware Department of Natural Resources (DNREC) Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy.

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180-Foot Fishing Vessel Added to Artificial Reef

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has once again expanded Delaware’s renowned artificial reef system, creating more marine habitat by sinking the Calcasieu Pass, an offshore oilfield supply vessel turned menhaden processing ship, onto Reef Site 13 following environmental remediation and approval. Also known as the Del-Jersey-Land Reef, the site is the centerpiece of the reef system – with its offshore location equidistant from ports in the three states that make up its name.

The Calcasieu Pass, 180 feet long with a 40-foot beam, will provide valuable habitat for aquatic life, along with angling and diving opportunities for outdoor recreationalists. Originally built in 1982 as an offshore supply vessel, later joining the East Coast menhaden fleet, the ship’s final repurposing is expected to buoy both economic and environmental opportunity for Delaware.

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DNREC Adopts Emergency Deer Hunting Regulations

With the initial discovery of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Delaware confirmed earlier this year, and the start of deer hunting season less than a month away, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has adopted emergency regulations to try to limit the spread of CWD and confine it to the area where it was found.

The initial identification triggered activation of the state’s CWD plan, with one of the first steps to conduct widespread sampling in the area where the initial cases were found. In July, DNREC worked with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection (APHIS) Wildlife Services and local landowners to collect and test additional deer to better understand the distribution and prevalence of CWD in the area. APHIS focused cluster sampling of 100 deer adjacent to the two initial CWD findings did not turn up any more cases of the disease.

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Community to Protest Killing of Black Teenager

Community leaders have organized two protests and marches for Saturday, August 15, and Thursday, August 20, to speak calling out for justice in the case of Kadir Skinner, the 19-year-old Black teenager who was shot in the back and killed by an officer with the Wilmington Police Department (WPD) in June.

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DNREC to Close Griffith Lake Boat Ramp in Milford Aug. 17

DNREC’s Griffith Lake boat ramp will close Aug. 17 for an extended period while the DNREC Dam Safety Program reconstructs
the spillway at the lake (above). Anglers have other options in the area for launching their boats /Delaware DNREC photo

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control will close the Griffith Lake boat ramp in Milford for the foreseeable future starting Monday, Aug. 17. The ramp and adjacent parking lot will remain closed during reconstruction of the spillway at Griffith Lake Dam under the direction of the DNREC Dam Safety Program. The project is expected to be completed by the end of December 2027.

Anglers are encouraged by the DNREC Fisheries Section to utilize the Hearns Pond boat ramp or Blairs Pond boat ramp which are the nearest alternatives for fishing in the Milford area.

For more information about the spillway reconstruction by the DNREC Dam Safety Program, visit the Griffith Lake spillway improvement project webpage.

THE HOLT FILES: PART TWO

1980s Federal UDAG Program: Did It Help Gloucester City?

William E. Cleary Sr. | CNBNews

The Urban Development Action Grant program was introduced to Gloucester City residents in 1984. People living near the marine terminal at the time were against the idea from the very start. Several public meetings hosted by the mayor and council were held beginning in 1984. At those meetings, residents spoke about why they were against the expansion of that facility. At the time the Holt Family was just beginning to build their monstrous facility.

Gloucester City News article written by William E. Cleary Sr., published October 10, 1985

That program was promoted in 1978 by President Jimmy Carter. The purpose was to help distressed cities attract private investment, create jobs, and redevelop blighted industrial or commercial areas. UDAGs were awarded competitively and required substantial private‑sector participation. HUD’s regulations describe the program’s core mission as assisting cities facing severe economic distress by stimulating economic activity needed for recovery.

The public’s objections included:

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2026 DNREC Photo Contest Winners Unveiled

Winners of the second DNREC Photo Contest were announced during Governor’s Day (July 30) at the Delaware State Fair. Left to right as shown above are contest winners and the categories for which they were cited: Vicente Pineda, People Enjoying Nature; Bill Cheadle, Watersheds: Landscapes and Waterways; Emma Serbinski, Youth; and Fred Waski, Hunting and Fishing. /Delaware DNREC photo

Winners of the 2026 DNREC Photo Contest gathered at the Delaware State Fair today to be honored by Governor Matt Meyer and the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. This year – the second for the annual contest – DNREC encouraged photographers of all ages and skills levels to submit eye-catching images they had taken of the natural world in Delaware spanning five categories: People Enjoying Nature, Watersheds: Landscapes and Waterways, Wildlife and Aquatic Life, Hunting and Fishing, and Youth Entries.

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DNREC to Host Introduction to Living Shorelines Training

Participants in a two-day Introduction to Living Shorelines training event (Sept. 22 and 23) offered by DNREC will make field trips to existing projects/Delaware DNREC photo

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control will host a two-day training event Tuesday Sept. 22 and Wednesday Sept. 23 for anyone interested in an introduction to the development process and components of living shorelines in Delaware. Presented in conjunction with the Delaware Living Shorelines Committee, the in-person training event will be held at the DNREC Field Office on Pilottown Road in Lewes, beginning at 8:30 a.m. and concluding at 4 p.m. each day.

The training focuses on the ecology behind living shorelines and implementing projects based on specific goals. On day one of the training, participants will learn about the causes and kinds of shoreline issues, define the types of living shoreline solutions, and become acquainted with the plants and animals comprising and living in shoreline habitats. Day two of the training will span techniques and applications, an introduction to living shoreline materials, designing for specific goals and a review of project permitting.

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DNREC Launches Summer Paddle Challenge

Self-service kayak rentals are available on the bayside of Delaware Seashore State Park and include a kayak, paddle and life vest. Photo by DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation.

Paddle your way through Delaware’s scenic waterways, earn prizes and discover new places to explore with two new programs coinciding with the 75th anniversary of Delaware State Parks. The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) Division of Parks and Recreation has launched Paddle Quest, a statewide paddling challenge, along with new self-service kayak rentals at Delaware Seashore State Park.

Paddle Quest encourages participants to explore Delaware State Parks by kayak, canoe or paddleboat while promoting safe boating practices. Participants must submit a picture of themselves wearing a properly fitted Personal Flotation Device at a qualifying boat launch or boat rental area and visit a minimum of two locations to qualify for prizes. All entries must be submitted to Paddle Quest by Sept. 1.

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Nextdoor’s Indefinite Ban on CNBNews Raises Serious Questions About Fairness and Transparency

William E. Cleary Sr. | CNBNews Editor

UPDATED:

Last week, Cleary’s Notebook News (CNBNews) received notice from Nextdoor Neighbor, the neighborhood‑based social media platform, that our account had been banned. The stated reason: three short snippets of press releases we posted allegedly violated their guidelines.

We immediately appealed. On Saturday, July 25, 2026, Nextdoor issued its final decision:

“Appeal not approved: Account indefinitely suspended.”

No explanation. No citation of a specific rule. No opportunity for correction. Just a permanent ban.

Local Reviewers With the Power to Silence You

Nextdoor relies on local “Reviewers” — ordinary users granted extraordinary authority — to censor posts, remove publishers, and suspend accounts. Because Nextdoor is a privately owned company, it has the legal right to remove anyone it chooses. But the way this ban was handled raises legitimate concerns about bias, personal grudges, and selective enforcement.