It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Milton Historical Society gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Milton, DE is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
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“Here's what I posted on Google and Facebook: Life would have been a lot harder without Always Best Care in my life, I have COPD and I am on oxygen full time at level 4 so doing daily chores are out question without my caregiver Ricci Anthony who has been taking tremendous care of me for 3 years this August 2022 and I thank God everyday for him. Every time he arrives he immediately says Hi checks in with me to see how I am doing. As well as, every time he departs I thank him for all that he does for me and I tell him I love him Ricci replies in same likeness. Ricci and I are incredible friends, it’s closer to a dad and son relationship. We’re both strong Christian me. As for Chelsea who does Intake and is the Schedules for Always Best Care equally an amazing individual. Don’t let her young age fool you on the contrary she is a powerhouse. She’s highly a professional, she’s industrious, highly intelligent, she’s a great friend and you can always depend on her to be in support for you. Always Best Care is always best care.”
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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Milton Memorial Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Sydney's Restaurant & Lounge or visit Milton S. Hershey Mansion, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Milton, DE, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Milton, DE understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Milton, DE 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
Milton’s mayoral election sees the incumbent and vice mayor facing off.Milton’s vice mayor Lee Revis Plank wasn’t always planning on running for mayor. She says she and mayor John Collier work well as a team.It was looking like Collier was going to run unopposed, and that is when Revis Plank decided to put her name in the hat.“If there are not two or more candidates, then there is no election. If there's no election, there are no votes. If there are no votes, you have no voice. And if you have no ...
Milton’s mayoral election sees the incumbent and vice mayor facing off.
Milton’s vice mayor Lee Revis Plank wasn’t always planning on running for mayor. She says she and mayor John Collier work well as a team.
It was looking like Collier was going to run unopposed, and that is when Revis Plank decided to put her name in the hat.
“If there are not two or more candidates, then there is no election. If there's no election, there are no votes. If there are no votes, you have no voice. And if you have no voice, then democracy doesn't work well,” Revis Plank said.
She added her priorities as mayor would largely be the same as her priorities as vice mayor. That includes ensuring the town has a sense of financial stability.
Collier said he’s not quite sure what choice the vice mayor offers, especially when it comes to local issues.
“The thing that I find interesting is she and I have almost an identical voting record on all these matters.”
Revis Plank agreed that the two are similar candidates.
“I think the basic issue here is that we both care passionately about the Town of Milton… I think that one of the things that I might be marginally better at is communicating and collaborating with all of the people that are on council, John tends to be a little bit more reserved in his approach, and so that communication might be the only thing that I think is really different,” Revis Plank said.
Collier said he’s running on the acronym “CARES,” which stands for creating a community that remains affordable, resilient, economically stable and safe.
“When I was elected, I made three promises: And that was to ensure the future, respect our heritage and that I was done kicking the can down the road and delaying and deferring on much-needed work, and I have delivered those three promises,” Collier said.
Revis Plank and Collier agree that resiliency is a vital part of developing Milton.
Revis Plank commissioned a study on the impact sea level rise will have on the town, which is fairly close to the coast and on a tidal river. That study served as the basis for a $5 million award from the federal government to continue work on flooding in the town, according to Revis Plank.
“If you take care of the river, if you have a good, solid river with clear water and the vegetation and fish and wildlife that are supposed to be there, then you can build on that,” Revis Plank said.
Revis Plank said that lays the groundwork for tourism sites like river walks, hiking trails and fishing spots.
Collier emphasized the importance of resiliency work as well.
“We haven't had a major flooding event since 1962, but if you look around this country in the last four or five years, I've lost count of the number of 1000-year storm events that have occurred in various locations,” Collier said, pointing to the Carolinas after Hurricane Helene.
Both candidates also support affordable housing efforts in the town. Collier said that’s one issue he could take a lot of credit for. He found individuals who looked into the issue, including holding presentations by Habitat for Humanity, the Milford Housing Development Corporation and the Sussex County Economic Development Action Committee.
That group created advisory opinions for the mayor and town council.
“I'm very pleased it was well received by the town council. The people that worked on it are very proud of their work,” Collier said.
Revis Plank said affordable housing is too big a problem for the town to handle alone.
“From Milton's point of view, we have to be very careful in that there are limited funds… I think that that means that we need to really be assertive in reaching out to county council and starting a collaborative approach,” Revis Plank said.
She added a collaboration between state and county legislators opens up opportunities for the town.
Election Day in Milton is Saturday, March 1.
MILTON, Del. - A website that was created by a couple living in Milton to deter people from speeding in front of their house has been shut down.In place of recordings of drivers and paragraphs of discontent with said drivers is a message from Joel and Kelly DeMott on the webpage. That message now speaks to their hope for future talks regarding safety within the town and says the decision to close the site comes from discussions with Milton Mayor J...
MILTON, Del. - A website that was created by a couple living in Milton to deter people from speeding in front of their house has been shut down.
In place of recordings of drivers and paragraphs of discontent with said drivers is a message from Joel and Kelly DeMott on the webpage. That message now speaks to their hope for future talks regarding safety within the town and says the decision to close the site comes from discussions with Milton Mayor John Collier.
"At no point were we asked or pressured to take it down. However, after careful thought, I suggested taking the site offline as a way to reduce tensions and allow for more productive discussions about road safety in our community," said Joel and Kelly DeMott.
MJ Ostinato, who lives nearby, thinks deleting the website was the right move.
"I have heard comments that 'I'm never coming to your town again' because everybody's yelling and mad at each other," said Ostinato. "I think in one way, what she has done is create one central enemy for everybody to gripe about and not necessarily reduce speeding."
Other neighbors, like George Bryant, think the website was a useful tool.
"It's safer for the whole neighborhood because the speeding, and the elderly people you have and the kids up the road, so I don't see anything wrong with it," said Bryant. "I think there needs to be more consistency with law enforcement in this area."
On Monday, CoastTV News reported on the creation of the website as a way for the DeMott's to take the speeding and noise on Atlantic Street into their own hands. The speed limit on Atlantic Street is 25 mph but that wasn't slow enough to prevent their pet from being hit.
"I guess it was about a month ago, we came out and our kitten had got out," DeMott explained. "The cat got out and the next morning we found her with her head smashed in right here. That was pretty much it for me."
However, after CoastTV's initial report, several messages were received about the discontent for the cameras at the DeMott's property. Milton local and administrator of Facebook page Simply Milton, Threasa Brittingham, said in a statement to CoastTV that speeding only appears to be an issue for the webpage creators.
"Milton doesn't have traffic problems - I cannot fathom how one can speed approaching a stop sign."
The couple's solution prior to creating the website was to park their cars on the road to slow down drivers and force them to navigate around them on the narrow roadway.
At Monday's Milton Council meeting, the town is expected to discuss making Atlantic Street a no parking zone from Chestnut Street to the town boundary. That meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Milton Library.
The Sussex County town of Milton will hold an election Saturday.Residents will vote for a mayor and two Town Council members, with winners serving a three-year term. Candidates for mayor include incumbent John Collier and current Vice-Mayor Lee Revis-Plank. Candidates for the Town Council include incumbent Tom Arkinson, Robert Gray and Alan Pongratz.Miltonians can vote at the Milton Fire Department between 8 a.m. and 6 p....
The Sussex County town of Milton will hold an election Saturday.
Residents will vote for a mayor and two Town Council members, with winners serving a three-year term. Candidates for mayor include incumbent John Collier and current Vice-Mayor Lee Revis-Plank. Candidates for the Town Council include incumbent Tom Arkinson, Robert Gray and Alan Pongratz.
Miltonians can vote at the Milton Fire Department between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Here are the candidate profiles, drawn from a provided questionnaire. Responses have been edited for style.
Age: 71
What qualifies you for this position?
What are the top three issues in your town and how do you propose to handle them?
Age: 76
What qualifies you for this position?
In addition to the four years I’ve served on Milton Town Council (two of which were as vice mayor) and four years on the Town’s Historic Preservation Commission, I’ve served on the Board of Delaware Preservation, on the Board and as interim executive director for the Milton Historical Society. I served for 47 years in two Fortune 100 companies (DuPont and Bank of America), where I retired as a vice president. I have demonstrated the skills required for a mayor, for example, project management, listening, communicating, collaborating, technical knowledge, financial budgeting/forecasting.
My undergrad degree is in psychology and my master's degree is in leadership. … I spent many years in various leadership positions. This is another leadership position. I’m ready and equipped to succeed!
What are the top three issues in your town and how do you propose to handle them?
I’m confident that my knowledge, skills, abilities, and experiences have prepared me to perform the work required of the town mayor, and I look forward to making progress along these lines over the next three years!
Age: 74
What qualifies you for this position?
I have decided to run to continue serving in the council position that I currently hold. I have served for 1½ years ... and if re-elected I will hit the ground running from the moment I am sworn in. I realize in my time on the council, that with my previous experiences as a teacher and my work with various non-profit community organizations, I do bring to the table the skills along with an objective and reasonable point of view to get the job done. I don’t have an axe to grind or an agenda to push, just the desire to do what is best for Milton and its people.
What are the top three issues in your town and how do you propose to handle them?
Age: 63
What qualifies you for this position?
Prior to relocating to Milton, I resided in the Town of Greenwood for 30 years, where I served as the water and sewer commissioner for 12 years. My role was working and providing guidance to many infrastructure projects throughout the town, as well as serving with fellow council members to address constituents’ concerns. My wife Jennifer and I have been residents of Cannery Village for 14 years, and I am currently serving my second term on our HOA board and am a board member of the Milton Historical Society.
What are the top three issues in your town and how do you propose to handle them?
Age: 72
What qualifies you for this position?
My extensive work in community planning and budgeting has given me the experience that qualifies me for this position. As an assistant attorney general for the State of Maryland, I gained a wide breadth of knowledge and experience in governmental affairs and transportation issues. This has been through my work with various boards of county commissioners, planning commissions and boards of appeals. I served on the Calvert County Board of Education for 12 years, four of which I was president, and managed a budget in excess of $150,000,000, which I believe gives me the necessary background to work with Milton’s budget. I served as chair of my then-hometown of Chesapeake Beach's planning commission working to redraft its comprehensive plan. Finally, since moving to Milton, I have been active with the current town council by serving on Milton’s board of adjustments and workplace affordable housing committee. On a personal level and Milton resident, I am currently the president of my HOA, the Chestnut Crossing Owner’ Association
What are the top three issues in your town and how do you propose to handle them?
1. Fiscal stability: As the budgetary documents relied upon by the town for its 2025 budget indicate, the town has a “structural deficit.'' This means that unless something changes, the town will experience a deficit which will only get larger as time progresses. Unless the town either increases income or decreases its spending, the town’s reserve funds will be fully expended by fiscal year 2027. Residential development does not pay for itself, therefore relying on an increased tax base of residential development does not resolve this problem. In order to increase the revenue of the town, clean commercial development must increase while maintaining the historical nature of the town. This can occur in the town center area of the town provided that any commercial development there honors the architectural nature of the town Center. It can occur along the Route 16 corridor if planned well, or it can occur in any area that may be annexed into the town by requiring the annexed area to include a commercial office park.
2. Comprehensive plan: The current comprehensive plan was redrafted in 2018 with some minor revisions in 2023. The next major redrafting of the comprehensive plan must occur by 2028. The length of time to rewrite the 2028 plan takes two to three years, so that process will begin shortly. The comprehensive plan must be based on the input of the residents of the town as to what their vision of the town will be in the next 10 to 15 years. The input to achieve this vision takes more than a general survey of the opinions of the residents. There must be an active reach out to the community in the form of focus groups and dialogue with the residents in the town as to what the residents, businesses, interest groups and communities so as to get as much input as possible to form the basis of the new plan.
3. Transparency: As I have campaigned, I was constantly questioned as to what was happening with the town government and what the rational was for the many actions by the town. The residents with whom I have spoken stated that they feel that they have not been heard and that their opinions have not been honored. There needs to be complete transparency of all of the actions by the town government so that the residents of the town feel informed and that the residents have had an input into both the policy decisions of the town and implementation of those policies. Active involvement of the town residents must be encouraged in all town meetings, including all council and committee meetings. Notice of these meetings must be made widely published and participation must be encouraged.
Under the name Skipjack Offshore Energy LLC, Danish-based power company Ørsted has purchased a 64-acre piece of property near Harbeson for $5.2 million.Located at the intersection of Walker and Diamond Farm roads, the piece of property encompasses the open field from Diamond Farm Road to the Anthem development. According to Sussex County sales records the sale was finalized Jan. 31.Ørsted’s offshore wind competitor US Wind has been in the news recently as that company makes its way through the federal, state...
Under the name Skipjack Offshore Energy LLC, Danish-based power company Ørsted has purchased a 64-acre piece of property near Harbeson for $5.2 million.
Located at the intersection of Walker and Diamond Farm roads, the piece of property encompasses the open field from Diamond Farm Road to the Anthem development. According to Sussex County sales records the sale was finalized Jan. 31.
Ørsted’s offshore wind competitor US Wind has been in the news recently as that company makes its way through the federal, state and county approval process, but this is the first time there’s been an Ørsted development locally in more than a year.
Ørsted has the development rights for an offshore wind farm on two federal lease sites in federal ocean waters off the coast of Delaware. Combined, the contiguous sites stretch from Rehoboth Beach south to Bethany Beach, and if fully built out, could produce 966 megawatts.
In January 2024, Ørsted announced it was still moving forward with development plans for the project, but withdrawing from a deal with the Maryland Public Service Commission to find better terms.
Maddy Cronin, Ørsted spokesperson, said Feb. 19 the company entered into an agreement in October 2023 to purchase this property. The agreement was struck prior to the company’s decision to reposition and, pursuant to that agreement, the transaction was finalized this month, she said.
Ørsted is advancing development of Skipjack Wind and is monitoring offshore wind procurement opportunities in the region, said Cronin.
Ørsted declined to comment on the future use of the land. However, the property is close to a Delmarva Power substation off Route 9 in Harbeson. As part of its construction and operations plan submitted to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, US Wind had this substation as one of three substations that could be used to connect its offshore wind farm to the power grid on land. Ultimately, US Wind chose to pursue that land-based connection near a substation at the Indian River power plant in Dagsboro. The third substation connection option in the US Wind plan is near Milford.
Ørsted also declined to comment on what local ocean dune the offshore cables would go under on their way to any substation connection. In the US Wind application, the cables for the Harbeson option go under the dune near Tower Road.
Chip Guy, Sussex County spokesperson, said nothing had been filed with the county’s building and zoning department as of Feb. 20.
In 2023, the state’s Preliminary Land Use Service reviewed a proposed subdivision on the property. At the time, the plan called for 128 single-family home lots. The project did not come to fruition.
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