A radio interview this morning between Dan Gaffney of Rehoboth-based WGMD Radio and Republican Senate challenger Christine O’Donnell took a contentious turn this morning, and is now the subject of national attention.

From The Hill:

Republican Senate candidate Christine O’Donnell’s interview with Delaware radio host Dan Gaffney on Thursday offers a pretty good indication of why Rep. Mike Castle (R) is largely ignoring her primary challenge.

The exchange between O’Donnell and Gaffney is cringe-worthy. The radio host, who endorsed O’Donnell’s Senate bid against Joe Biden in 2006, began by confronting her about statements that she won two of the state’s counties against Biden that year.

After O’Donnell denied she never made such a claim, Gaffney played audio of O’Donnell at a campaign rally proving she did. The two then argued over whether the candidate tied Biden in one county. Listen to the audio here.

The two also sparred on whether or not O’Donnell has paid off her old campaign debts, an issue the state Republican Party and Castle supporters have raised repeatedly.

“Isn’t this what’s wrong with Washington, D.C., that we borrow money, we collect money and we don’t pay off our old debts. If I can’t expect my Senate candidate to pay off old debts…” Gaffney said.

“Dan are you kidding me?” interjected O’Donnell. “What happened? Is Castle paying you off?”

Other pundits picking up the story include Hotline On Call, Ben Smith of Politico, Dave Weigel, Taegan Goddard, Patrick Ruffini & more.

The Morning News for Thursday, September 2, 2010:

Hurricane Earl 5AM Update (LiveWeatherBlogs.com)
Delaware remains under a Tropical Storm Watch and a Hurricane Warning. (MORE)

No decision on evidence in Bradley case (CoastalSussex.com)
There is no decision yet on a motion to exclude some of the evidence found in the pedophile case against former Lewes pediatrician Earl Bradley. (MORE)

Bradley investigator testifies he was unaware of third building (DelawareOnline.com)
The lead investigator in the Earl Bradley child rape case testified Tuesday he did not know there were more than two buildings at the pediatrician’s medical office when he prepared the search warrant at the center of an evidence suppression hearing. (MORE)

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CPD PAC Endorses Seitz, Laird in Dewey Election (CoastalSussex.com)
The political action committee arm of the group Citizens to Preserve Dewey Wednesday night issued endorsements in the Dewey Beach Town Council elections, which will be held on August 25th. (MORE)

Lewes Farmers Market Voted #2 in Nation (CoastalSussex.com)
The Historic Lewes Farmer’s Market reached the top 10 in overall votes while coming in second in their category in the America’s Farmland Trust “Best Farmers Markets in America” contest, which ended Tuesday night. (MORE)

The USA’s best ice cream parlors (USA Today)
Slurping cones from wooden benches outside King’s Homemade Ice Cream in Lewes has been a Delaware beach tradition since the ’70s. (MORE)

Destination Station meets local resistance (Coast Press)
In a summer of gridlocked Saturdays and bumper-to-bumper traffic, one Rehoboth Beach commissioner is asking the state and area chamber of commerce for a time-out on a proposal that could bring more visitors to the area. (MORE)

Two honored with Order of the First State (CoastalSussex.com)
Governor Jack Markell has honored an educator and an iconic Sussex County artist with the Order of the First State. (MORE)

Carper, Kaufman, Castle Announce Federal Funding for Delaware National Guard Counterdrug Efforts, Drug Education Programming (CoastalSussex.com)
Today, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Ted Kaufman (both D-Del.) and U.S. Congressman Mike Castle (R-Del.) held a press conference at the Stern Armory in Wilmington to announce the appropriation of $300,000 for the Delaware National Guard Counterdrug Task Force to support the counterdrug efforts of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. (MORE)

Delaware releases draft plan for local efforts for cleaner Chesapeake Bay (CoastalSussex.com)
Delaware’s draft long-range plan for reducing pollutants from entering local waterways that lie within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed- was posted today on the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s (DNREC) website and made available for public review. (MORE)

SOLA3 protects Rehoboth’s freshwater lakes (Coast Press)
A distinguished nonprofit organization is continuing to protect, preserve and maintain three one-of-a-kind freshwater lakes in the area. (MORE)

Chamber recognizes lifeguard service for contribution to economy (Cape Gazette)
The Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce recognized six outstanding members of the southern Sussex County beach patrols on the Bethany Beach bandstand Aug. 10. (MORE)
National News:

• Obama Declares Emergency as Earl Heads for Eastern Seaboard
• TV Channel Hostage-Taker Shot Dead Near DC
• Middle East Peace Talks Begin in Washington
• Study: Illegal Immigrant Population Down in US
• Apple Introduces New iPods

Today’s Local Events:

• Lewes First Thursdays
• Tartan Terrors Celtic Celebration
• FILM: This is It

• For Event Details & The Full Event Calendar, Click Here.

Enjoy your day,

Dave Burris, Coastal Sussex Morning News

There is no decision yet on a motion to exclude some of the evidence found in the pedophile case against former Lewes pediatrician Earl Bradley.

A motion to suppress what could potentially be significant evidence was filed by defense attorneys because of alleged improprieties in the way the search warrant was handled.

Attorneys have said the search warrant executed by police did not include one of the buildings on the property, a building where video evidence was found. Bradley’s attorneys have sought to have evidence suppressed based upon that.

Arguments were heard on August 31 and September 1 in Superior Court, but no decision has been reached on the motion.

The evidence was collected during a search on Dec. 16 and Dec. 17, 2009 at Bradley’s former BayBees office on Route 1.

The former Lewes pediatrician is facing more than 500 charges of exploitation and rape involving more than 100 children. The instances are alleged to have taken place over a number of years and the case has garnered national headlines. Bradley allegedly videotaped many of the alleged abuses.

The instances prompted a spate of legislation which was quickly passed and signed into law during Delaware’s General Assembly this year. The bills were designed to head off potential abuse and prevent future problems from happening by increasing training or similar measures.

His trial is scheduled to begin on Feb. 21.

The political action committee arm of the group Citizens to Preserve Dewey Wednesday night issued endorsements in the Dewey Beach Town Council elections, which will be held on August 25th. Two seats are up in this year’s voting, and the committee has chosen to endorse incumbent Martin Seitz and newcomer Jim Laird. The third candidate in the race is Kelly Ranieri.

A portion of the CPD-PAC statement, released by email:

“We find ourselves at a critical juncture in the history of Dewey Beach. Our collective efforts to preserve the town’s 35 foot building height limit have been under constant attack by Dewey Beach Enterprises, a developer intent on forever changing the landscape of our town — by building a structure in violation of the town’s 35’ height limit. On September 25th, the most crucial election since 2007 for two town commissioners will take place. We are endorsing the two candidates who we strongly believe will best serve our town in the battle to preserve and protect Dewey Beach. If both are not elected, the Town Council could very well be under the thumb of the developers.

The two candidates the CPD PAC is endorsing are current commissioner, Marty Seitz and new candidate, Jim Laird. Both are seasoned veterans of the business world, with extensive experience in dealing with a myriad of complex issues. Commissioner Seitz, in his two years of service to the town, has been firmly behind the fight for 35 feet. Jim has also been actively involved in the efforts to preserve our height limit and has been in attendance at many of the critical town meetings. Both are endorsed by current commissioners Diane Hanson (who has another year in her term) and Marc Appelbaum, who is retiring from the Council after distinguished service.

The third candidate, Kelly Ranieri, has no record until recently of attendance at town meetings or of involvement in the fight for 35 feet, nor does she have the vast business experience of either Commissioner Seitz or Jim Laird. Additionally, since she has not responded to our requests for an interview, we have been unable to question her further on her views and her vision for the future of Dewey Beach.

With so much at stake in this year’s election, we cannot take a chance on a candidate whose motivations are unknown. The election of just one more commissioner on the side of DBE will put the balance of power in the hands of the developer. The governance of our town must remain where it belongs, with you, the citizens of Dewey Beach.

Only your votes will make this happen. Please vote in person on September 25 or vote by absentee ballot as soon as possible.”

Delaware’s draft long-range plan for reducing pollutants from entering local waterways that lie within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed– was posted today on the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s (DNREC) website and made available for public review.

Delaware’s draft Watershed Implementation Plan (Phase I) was also submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, meeting the EPA’s deadline of September 1. Delaware is among six Chesapeake Bay Watershed states – Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York – and the District of Columbia committed to a federal-state initiative to develop a pollution “diet” that will help restore the water quality of the Bay and its tidal waters by 2025, with 60 percent of the work to be completed by 2017.

The public is invited to attend an EPA workshop to be held in early October to learn more and ask questions of the EPA and Delaware. In addition, DNREC is offering to meet with interested organizations before Oct. 30 to explain and review the draft. Written public comments will also be accepted through Oct. 30.

“Restoring water quality in the Chesapeake Bay and in its network of local rivers, streams, creeks and wetlands will have far-reaching benefits for Delaware’s economic and environmental health,” said Governor Jack Markell. “Delaware’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed supports thousands of jobs, generates significant economic activity and provides valuable goods and services.”

A recently released report by the University of Delaware Water Resources Agency estimates that Delaware’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed is directly or indirectly responsible for more than 47,000 jobs, contributes roughly $1 billion in annual economic activity, and provides at least $3.1 billion annually in natural goods and services – drinking water and irrigation supply, agriculture, wetlands, habitat, forests and recreation.

Almost 35 percent of Delaware lies within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and includes land in all three counties. Approximately one-half of Sussex County, about one-third of Kent County and about 10 percent of New Castle County drain into the rivers, creeks and agricultural ditches that eventually drain into the Chesapeake Bay.

The Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries are being polluted when excess nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment enter our groundwater and drain to waterways. Sources of pollution include: residential and agricultural fertilizers; stormwater runoff, which includes gas and oil from roads and parking lots; erosion and sediment; wastewater treatment plants; and manure from poultry and livestock.

“Delaware is making steady progress in meeting our 2-year milestone goals by implementing a number of key best management practices that will reduce pollutants from entering our waterways,” said Delaware Department of Natural Resources Secretary Collin P. O’Mara. “We are making significant environmental gains in land management, habitat restoration, and watershed protection – working to improve water quality in Delaware’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. In the past few years, more than 23,000 acres of cover crops (wheat, barley and rye) have been planted, 286 acres of wetlands restored, 100 acres of trees planted, and more than 2,220 acres of forest buffers installed that reduce erosion and pollutants – all in an effort to clean up our waterways.”

By September 24, EPA will announce the Chesapeake Bay Watershed’s Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) – the pollution limits for nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment for waterways within each of the watershed states. TMDL is the calculation of the maximum amount of pollution a body of water can receive and still meet federal and state water quality standards for a safe, swimmable and fishable waterway.

The Bay TMDL will require Delaware and all watershed states to significantly reduce pollutants from entering Chesapeake waterways.
Delaware Department of Agriculture Secretary Ed Kee said. “I recognize the effort and commitment of the Delaware agricultural community to be great stewards of the land and our water resources. We have a long history of utilizing best management practices (manure management, no-till methods, vegetative filter strips and buffers, cover crops, water management control structures, etc.) in our stewardship efforts. When science dictated that we needed to enhance our nutrient management efforts for not only nitrogen, but also phosphorus and sediments, the agricultural community in Delaware stepped to the plate in 2001 with the implementation of a nationally recognized nutrient management program that has had significant beneficial impact on the overall nutrient loading in our waterways. We will continue to be an active partner in the eco-restoration of the Chesapeake Bay and will continue to search for science based solutions that will benefit all.”

As part of the EPA TMDL, Delaware developed the draft Phase I WIP detailing how the state will reduce excess pollutants and implement Delaware’s portion of the pollution “diet.” The WIP was developed by a workgroup comprised of representatives from: the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control; Delaware Department of Agriculture; Delaware Nutrient Management Commission; the Delaware Farm Bureau; the Delaware Home Builders Association; Department of Transportation; Office of State Planning Coordination; County Conservation Districts; University of Delaware; U.S. Department of Agriculture agencies; U.S. Geological Survey; and other stakeholders. Eight subcommittees were formed to address: agriculture; stormwater; wastewater; land use and comprehensive plans; restoration; public lands; funding and information technology.

The state’s draft Phase I WIP includes a description of actions to achieve the reductions and maintain them into the future. This information will be used to set pollution reduction targets by geographic area and source – agriculture, urban runoff, septic systems, wastewater treatment facilities and others– for the final Phase I WIP. In addition, Delaware will have to demonstrate accountability in meeting the TMDL and improving water quality in the watershed by achieving 2-year milestone goals.

EPA will hold a public workshop on the Chesapeake TMDL and the draft Delaware Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 11 at the Owens Campus of Delaware Technical and Community College in Georgetown. The public is encouraged to attend the meeting to learn more and ask questions of EPA and Delaware.

In addition, DNREC is offering to meet with interested organizations before Oct. 30 to explain and review the draft TMDL and WIP. To request a meeting or to provide comments on the draft plan, contact Jennifer Volk at Jennifer.Volk@state.de.us or 302-739-9939.
The final Delaware WIP is due to the EPA by November 29, 2010. EPA expects to establish the final Chesapeake Bay TMDL by December 31, 2010.

The following documents are posted at http://www.wr.dnrec.delaware.gov/Information/Pages/Chesapeake_WIP.aspx: Delaware’s draft Watershed Implementation Plan (Phase I); Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs); Delaware’s 2009-2011 Milestone Goals; Accomplishments, Initiatives and Funding to meet Delaware’s Milestone Goals; and University of Delaware Water Resources Agency’s 2010 Report on the Socioeconomic Value of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed in Delaware.

For information on EPA’s TMDL visit http://www.epa.gov/chesapeakebaytmdl/.

release from DNREC

Today, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Ted Kaufman (both D-Del.) and U.S. Congressman Mike Castle (R-Del.) held a press conference at the Stern Armory in Wilmington to announce the appropriation of $300,000 for the Delaware National Guard Counterdrug Task Force to support the counterdrug efforts of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, as well as to expand the Guard’s drug education program, “Stay on Track,” to middle schools across the state. The funding will also help community-based organizations that have requested assistance in reducing the overall demand for drugs in their areas.

“This is an excellent example of a program that costs taxpayers relatively few dollars but has a huge impact on our State,” said Sen. Carper. “Last year, this program seized over a million dollars in drug money. The funding announced today means that additional personnel can be hired to assist the Delaware National Guard and their law enforcement and educational partners to reduce demand for drugs, raise awareness through materials and projects and to provide live support to those that are battling this problem on the front lines.”

“An investment in the Delaware National Guard’s counterdrug efforts is an investment in the safety of communities across the state,” said Sen. Kaufman. “With excellent drug prevention through educational visits to Delaware middle schools, the Counterdrug Task Force plays a key role in stemming drug use among young Delawareans.”

“The $300,000 for the Counterdrug Task Force will ensure the Delaware National Guard can continue to provide the support to federal, state, and local law enforcement needed to keep drugs out of our communities. Prevention is critical to counterdrug efforts, which is why this funding, which allows the task force to reach more students through their Drug Education Program,” said Congressman Castle.

By Michael Short

Governor Jack Markell is shown with (l-r) Dr. Lynn Snyder-Mackler, Dr. Scott Mackler, Noah Snyder-Mackler and Alexander Snyder-Mackler. Photo provided courtesy of Brad Glazier

Lewis (right) received the honor from friend Jim Flood Sr.

Governor Jack Markell has honored an educator and an iconic Sussex County artist with the Order of the First State.

The Order of the First State is the highest honor for meritorious service that can be bestowed by the governor.

Artist Jack Lewis has spent decades as a fixture in art circles.  He, together with the late Howard Schroeder, are almost certainly the most famous artists in recent Sussex County history.

Lewis moved to Maine in the 1990′s, but tangible evidence of his work is everywhere in Delaware. Go to Bridgeville and you will see a large Lewis mural on the side of a store. Go to Legislative Hall and you will see Lewis murals painted in honor of the bicentennial of Delaware’s signing of the Constitution. Lewis is also known for teaching art to inmates at the Sussex Correctional Institution in Georgetown.

In a 2007 article in “Outdoor Delaware”  Joanna Wilson wrote that “reviewing (Jack’s) astonishingly prolific body of work is like traveling back through time, especially looking at the early pieces that capture many of Delaware’s now long-lost landscapes, waterfronts, farms and villages.”

“It was my great pleasure to be able to bestow this distinction upon such a deserving person, who spent so many years in Delaware sharing his wonderful gifts with his fellow Delawareans and encouraging them to appreciate the beauty of the world around them,” Markell said.

Lewis first appeared on the Delaware scene as an artist tasked with recording images from three Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camps trying to control mosquitoes in 1936.

Lewis, who was born in 1912,  received the award in late August  in Maine from long-time friends who traveled to his home to present him with the honor.

On August 31 in New Castle, Dr. Scott Mackler was also honored as a recipient. Dr. Mackler continues to teach as an associate professor in the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Medicine a decade after being diagnosed with ALS, often called Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Dr. Mackler has founded the only national organization to provide communication equipment to ALS patients in order to improve their quality of life.

That effort has raised $11 million to help other patients deal with the disease.

The organization is the Scott A. Mackler M.D. Ph.D. Assistive Technology Program. “Because of it, no patient in the region has gone without such critical technology for want of money,” according to a statement from Markell’s office.

The program loans expensive technology like remote door chimes to call for help, computers with voice output and other hands-free devices that can radically improve the life of a person with ALS.

The 11th annual Scott Mackler 5K run and walk will be held October 31 in Newark to raise money for the program. Dr. Mackler is a former marathon runner and the annual run draws more than 500 runners and has raised more than $1 million.

Mackler is currently working to unlock the secrets of a protein in the brain which could determine how susceptible humans are to drug addiction. In rats, the protein NAC-1 has been linked to how likely rats are to become addicted.

The Pennsylvania Gazette ran a feature on Dr. Mackler written by Kathryn Levy Feldman. In that story, Feldman quoted one of his children, Alex as saying “Watching him strive every day to lead a complete life against all odds makes our daily challenges seem like insignificant bumps in comparison. He and mom are constant reminders of everything that is right about the world, the ultimate fighters who take every punch and are stronger for it.”
The  2009 article went on to quote Dr. Mackler, when he said via powerpoint in a 60 Minutes interview  ”Please don’t think that I’m an inspiration because anyone could do what I’ve done.”

State approves Rehoboth CDP (Cape Gazette)
Gov. Jack Markell has given the stamp of approval on Rehoboth Beach’s 2010 comprehensive development plan. (MORE)

Delaware Senate Primary – It’s Tea Time! (Fox News)
Christine O’Donnell is not a household name. Not yet anyway. But the Tea Party Express hopes to change that with a big endorsement and financial boost Monday. (MORE)

Kaufman reflects on his short time in the U.S. Senate (Delaware Wave)
Sen. Ted Kaufman is fond of using a volleyball metaphor — it occurs time and again in profiles of the 71-year-old U.S. Senator — to describe his unlikely political career. (MORE)

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School Food Fresh From The Farm (CoastalSussex.com)
Students in the Indian River School District have a chance to feast on farm fresh food that was on the vine just hours ago. (MORE)

Ferry Celebrates Forty Millionth Passenger (CoastalSussex.com)
Mark and Mindy Whalen, traveling with their daughter Kyra, were honored as the 40 Millionth Passenger with the Cape May – Lewes Ferry. (MORE)

Del., Md. senators send Russia letter on poultry (BusinessWeek)
Thirty senators, including those from Maryland and Delaware, have called on Russia to fully honor its commitment to let U.S. poultry products into Russia. (MORE)

Delaware ready to kick off season against West Chester (WDEL)
Delaware kicks off its 2010 football season Thursday night at Delaware Stadium against its longest running rival, the West Chester Golden Rams. (MORE)

Bethany will bid farewell to summer (Delaware Coast Press)
More than 2,000 people flock to the Boardwalk every year on Labor Day to parade behind a mannequin in a coffin. (MORE)

Dance the night away (Delaware Wave)
There may not be a dance club in this city, but CAMP Rehoboth is creating one for its biggest fundraiser of the year. (MORE)

Delaware GOP begins weekly video messages (CoastalSussex.com)
Delaware Republicans have begun taking their message to the people with a weekly address. (MORE)

Clear Space Opens New Home With ‘Broadway’ (CoastalSussex.com)
Clear Space Theatre Company will begin their fall season with the latest incarnation of an audience favorite – 100 Years of Broadway III. (MORE)

Surf Fishing, Beach Driving, Edible Plants At Delaware Seashore State Park (CoastalSussex.com)
Calling all aspiring surf-fishermen! If you’ve been waiting for the chance to learn how to surf fish, but aren’t sure just where to begin, Delaware Seashore State Park has a program planned for you! (MORE)

Medigap Changes, Health Care Reform Sure to Affect Many Seniors (CoastalSussex.com)
For American seniors, their retirement years are supposed to be about relaxing, getting out, and enjoying the freedom they’ve earned. (MORE)

Kayakers Ready to “Paddle to The Park” (CoastalSussex.com)
“Paddle to the Park” Fun Fest will take place on Saturday, September 11 when The Friends of Canalfront Park, in partnership with Quest Fitness and Kayak, sponsor a fun-filled morning of kayaking, music and children’s activities. (MORE)

National News:

• Obama Says Iraq Combat Mission is Over
• Hurricane Earl Downgraded to Cat 3, Could Still Affect East Coast
• Formula to Grade Teachers’ Skills Gains In Use, And Critics
• Best Places to Work in the Federal Government
• Israel Ready to Cede Parts of Jerusalem in Peace Deal

Today’s Local Events:

• FILM: Wind Journeys (Around the World Series)
• Summer Concerts in the Park – Annapolis Bluegrass Coalition

• For Event Details & The Full Event Calendar, Click Here.

Enjoy your day,

Dave Burris, Coastal Sussex Morning News

Make no mistake that the waves are rolling in and the rip currents continue to be dangerous. But will Hurricane Earl bear down on the Delaware coast, or will it roll out to sea?

Earl was downgraded early Wednesday morning to a Category 3 storm, with sustained winds at 125 miles per hour and gusts over 150 mph.

Projection maps for the storm on Wednesday morning showed the path bending out into the Atlantic with the risk lessening for the shores of the Delaware beaches.

“The impact on Sussex County will be minimal for places more than a mile away from the beaches,” says Rob Guarino, the former FOX 29 meteorologist and founder of LiveWeatherBlogs.com. “Some wind, maybe a few showers but it’s not all that bad. The rest of the weekend looks great, Friday is the day the hurricane passes the area.”

“The biggest problem will be beach erosion and rip currents on Friday,” added Guarino. “Since the storm will move faster in forward motion I do not expect any tidal flooding from the storm. We may see some minor flooding in the usual spots but not moderate or severe.”

The Sussex County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) continues to track the progress of the storm as well.

Even without a direct hit, the storm could whip up seas with 15-foot waves well off the coast, with 4- to 7-foot waves and deadly rip currents in the surf zone, according to the EOC. Meantime, the storm could brush coastal areas of Sussex County with 35 mph winds, gusting to 45 mph, and as much as an inch of rain before quickly departing the region late Friday night.

No watches or warnings have been issued at this time. However, the Sussex County EOC again reminds the public that with the approach of this storm and the peak of the 2010 hurricane season just days away, preparation is the key to minimizing damage and preventing loss of life

“We still need to keep up our guard, because a slight westward shift of 50 or 100 miles in the track of the storm’s center could make a huge difference in terms of the effects we feel and the severity of those effects,” said Joseph Thomas, Sussex County EOC director. “It’s better to be safe than sorry.”

The Historic Lewes Farmer’s Market reached the top 10 in overall votes while coming in second in their category in the America’s Farmland Trust “Best Farmers Markets in America” contest, which ended Tuesday night.

The Lewes Market received 2,387 votes, trailing only Falls Church, Virginia (2,462 votes) in the ‘medium market’ competition, which consisted of markets with 31 to 55 vendors. In 2009, Lewes finished fourth in the medium market competition.

Market officials and volunteers mounted an intense push during the last weeks of the contest, using Facebook, email and even face-to-face promotion at the market itself.

The Rehoboth Beach market came in 11th in the medium market category with 629 votes, after finishing 20th in 2009. The Georgetown and Bethany Beach markets also received votes.

Lewes came in sixth overall among markets across all categories. They were the 12th overall vote-getter in 2009.

According to the organization, the America’s Favorite Farmers Markets™ contest is a project of the American Farmland Trust. The contest is designed to raise national awareness about the importance of supporting fresh food from local farms and farmers. Market shoppers voted to support their favorite farmers market starting June 1 until midnight on August 31, 2010. People voted for as many participating farmers markets as they chose, but only for each market once.

The winners of each category earned the title of “America’s Favorite Farmers Market” for 2010. The reward for the winning market in each category is a shipment of No Farms No Food® tote bags, along with other prizes including free printing services from igreenprint and free graphic design services from Virginia based design firm, SQN Communications. The categories were based on the number of vendors the farmers market has. The four categories were Boutique – 15 or fewer vendors, Small 16 – 30 vendors, Medium, 31 – 55 vendors, and Large, more than 56 vendors.

The contest was organized by the American Farmland Trust, which bills itself as “the leading national organization dedicated to saving America’s farm and ranch land, promoting healthy farming practices and supporting farms and farmers.”

The Historic Lewes Farmers Market is a producer-only market held each Saturday from May-October, usually on the grounds of the Lewes Historical Society. It is one of the state’s highest-grossing farmers markets.