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WEEKEND #1, 2010

(Memorial Day Weekend)

Rehoboth Beach, Delaware


REHOBOTH OFFICIALS: TRANSGENDER MEN MUST COVER BREASTS

Rehoboth Beach lifeguards summoned police assistance late Saturday afternoon for a group of transgender men who had their breasts exposed.

The incident happened near the surf off Queen Street around 4:45 p.m. "We have like a bit of an odd problem," the lifeguard reported over the radio. "There are girls on our beach without tops," he continued. "Well there apparently they are transgender and they have female breasts and a [incomplete sentence]. We tried to tell them to put shirts on and they told us they are transgender so that it's illegal to discriminate and I just had a problem with it and that's where we're at right now," he added.

A member of the beach patrol reported the incident to a passing police officer who radioed other officers who responded to Queen Street.

The beach patrol and police insisted the group was not in compliance with city ordinances. One police source says at least two of the men have partially completed the transgender process. He said it appeared they had breast implants but still had the male sex organ.

A beach patrol official backed by four police officers convinced them to cover their breasts.

No arrests were made or citations issued.

What does the city's code have to say about indecent exposure and topless sunbathing for men and women? Click here to read the applicable statutes.


POLICE HELP EVICT DISORDERLY MOTEL GUESTS

It is among every landlord's or property manager's worst fears: A group of noisy intoxicated guests, who party to the early hours, disturb other guests and trash the accommodations.

Rehoboth Beach police helped remove four guests from the Oceanus Motel on 2nd Street around 5:40 p.m. Saturday. They were described as being highly intoxicated, urinating all over the place and passed out on the balcony.

Officers stood guard as the guests pack their belongings. Police even helped find them new accommodations -- a $220 room in the Econolodge on Coastal Highway outside Rehoboth.

The Oceanus was not the only motel to have trouble with unruly visitors. Rehoboth Beach police were called to the Atlantis Inn around 3:35 a.m. Saturday for occupants in room 418 who were disturbing other guests and refused to settle down.

Around 5 a.m. Sunday, Rehoboth Beach police were summoned to a similar complaint at the Boardwalk Plaza.


DART BUS SERVICE MARKS 20TH SUMMER WITH REHOBOTH EVENT

Around 35 people, mostly state and local officials, transportation providers and passer-bys, attended DelDOT's event on Rehoboth Avenue around 11 a.m. Thursday.

In a news release, DelDOT says DART is also launching 11 new buses into service for Resort Transit. By the height of the season, DelDOT says Resort Transit will have a total of 22 new buses operating.

DART First State operates its Resort Transit Service on seven transit routes in the resort area from Lewes to Ocean City. The service operates seven days a week through Sunday, September 19. DART is also offering its Beach Connection with service between Wilmington and Rehoboth with various stops along the way.

For more information on Resort Transit Service and the Beach Connection, please visit dartfirststate.com or call 1-800-652-DART.

Former Rehoboth Beach Commissioner Ron Paterson shows one of the new DART buses to Commissioner Stan Mills. Paterson said Monday that ridership this weekend has been impressive, with more than 3000 on Saturday and nearly 5000 on Sunday.


HOLIDAY TRAFFIC AND PARKING MESS
Police charge pedestrian with holding a parking space

Sunday was a great beach day. Beach and businesses in Rehoboth Beach were packed, along with the streets. Lifeguards kept busy especially tracking lost children and a few adults (more than 20).

During the afternoon, eastbound traffic on Rehoboth Avenue was at a crawl. But by early evening, traffic crawled in most every direction.

If you were a visitor, finding a legitimate parking space was like winning the lottery. Motorists often tied up traffic while they waited for somebody to back out of a space and that only worsened the traffic woes.

On Delaware Avenue, police issued a traffic summons to a pedestrian for holding a parking space after a heated confrontation. A seasonal officer came across the complaint around 2:25 p.m. A woman was heard screaming as he radioed his dispatcher to report the situation which was right near the boardwalk.

About 35 minutes later police were summoned to the Wilmington Trust parking lot on Rehoboth Avenue for a dispute between a tow truck driver and a "customer." Vehicles which are parked in the bank's lot after-hours are subject to tow, especially if they are in the spot reserved for ATM customers.

A green light did not get motorists far...

 

LADIES VS. MEN'S RESTROOM WAITING LINES, BALTIMORE AVE, SUNDAY


BROKEN REHOBOTH AVE REINOS OFFER FREE PARKING
Visitors parked for free at more than 20 prime parking spaces

Rehoboth Beach parking meter techs were especially busy on Friday and Saturday responding to complaints of broken parking meters. Despite their efforts, at least three Reino multiple-space meters failed and remained out of service through Memorial Day.

Parking meter staff allowed lucky visitors to park at those prime parking spaces for free. The three meters serve a combined total of 21 parking spots.

This is I-108 on the center island in the second block of Rehoboth Avenue. It was one of the first Reinos to be placed out of service for the weekend. It would alternate between a blank screen and one with the message "FILE ACTIVATION IN PROGRESS... DO NOT POWER OFF."

The other Rehoboth Avenue Reinos that were unable to be repaired included R-102 in front of South Moon Under and R-306 in front of Dogfish Head Restaurant & Brewery.

Many of the Reinos that do work have faint displays and some have keypads that stick, making it difficult for visitors to pay for their parking space.

An article by Jeff Montgomery concerning parking meters at the Delaware shore appeared in Friday's News Journal.


CHERYL BLACKMAN RAISING FUNDS FOR KINFOLK

Cheryl Blackman, one of Rehoboth Beach's best known personalities, is once again selling raffle tickets for KINfolk. The organization supplies computers and free Internet access to hospitalized children to keep them in touch with family, school and friends.

Look for her around town or at the Grotto Pizza on the north boardwalk.

 


PIPING PLOVER CHICKS FLEDGE IN CAPE HENLOPEN STATE PARK

The Cape Henlopen State Park had 13 piping plover chicks fledge last season and is off to a good start this year. The plovers are listed as "threatened" under the federal Endangered Species Act.

A DNREC news release says the first four piping plover chicks of the 2010 season hatched this past week on the Point. The four are from the same nest. Several more plover nests at the Point are doing well along with two oystercatcher nests.

Matthew Bailey, a DNREC wildlife biologist, says Cape Henlopen is the only place in the state where the threatened birds nest. He sends along these photos taken by Victoria Withington, one of the piping plover monitors, of the plover chicks which hatched last season.

Photos by Victoria Withington, piping plover monitor

 


OTHER NEWS:

FULL-SIZE TV FALLS ON TODDLER--- A 21-month-old boy was injured Saturday when a television fell on him. It happened around 1 p.m. at the Sanibel Village Condos outside Rehoboth. According to radio reports, he had been playing in a dresser drawer with his brother when his mother called for him. That is when the television tumbled down and struck him in the head. He suffered a bruise over his left eye and was taken to Beebe Hospital in good condition.

 

TEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED AFTER DIVE INTO O.C. SURF--- An 18-year-old man dove into the surf near 77th Street about 15 minutes before the beach patrol was on duty Monday morning. He tumbled in the surf after suffering an apparent neck/back injury and was unable to move.

The man's friends pulled him from the surf, says Capt. Butch Arbin of the Ocean City Beach Patrol. They may have saved his life but without training did not know how to stabilize his head, neck and back, Capt. Arbin added. As lifeguards arrived, he said they saw what was happening and got involved at that time.

According to a paramedic radio report, the teen had no sensation below his chest, although he was conscious during the incident. He was flown from Jolly Roger Amusement Park to a trauma center. He was the first medevac for a surf injury this season.

Capt. Arbin noted that the first rule is, do not swim without lifeguards, and the second rule is to check the water depth with your feet, not your head!

 

FEMALE JET-SKIER REPORTED OVER-DUE FOR 3RD TIME IN 2 DAYS--- One could sense the frustration in the voices of fire-rescue and DNREC officials who responded to Bay Avenue in Slaughter Beach for the third time in two days just before 6 p.m. Sunday. The DNREC dispatcher said he asked the woman's husband why he let her go out again and his response was "I wasn't here and she took it [the jet-ski] out." She was safely located for the third time. DNREC, fire crews, the state police helicopter and Coast Guard participated in the searches.

 

COUPLE REPORTED MISSING ON KAYAKS FOUND HOUR LATER--- Another water search got underway around 9:25 p.m. Sunday off Taft Avenue in Cape Windsor, west of Fenwick Island. A couple of kayakers supposedly launched from Harpoon Hanna's about 90 minutes earlier and were reported missing. But the couple was safely located around 10:20 p.m. The state police helicopter, Ocean City and Bethany Beach fire departments assisted Roxana firefighters with the search.

 

EARLY MORNING O.C. FIRE ALARMS--- There were only two late-night alarm bell calls to report since Thursday. An audible fire alarm sounded at the Wild Dunes Condo on 39th Street around 4 a.m. Thursday. Firefighters said a resident told them they had trouble the past three days and the alarm panel showed "16 troubles." The fire dispatcher later found an advisory note from the alarm company stating that the "panel was fried" and they expected to have it repaired in a couple days.

The fire alarm sounded at the 9400 Ocean Highway Condo around 12:20 a.m. Monday. Arriving firefighters reported that the high-rise condo was in the process of being evacuated when they arrived. A faulty detector in the lobby elevator appeared to be responsible for the problem. The alarm system also automatically placed the high-rise condo's elevators out of service.

 

WOMAN REFUSED TO TAKE AMBULANCE TO HOSPITAL WITHOUT HER DOGS--- A 44-year-old woman sought medical assistance just before 2 p.m. Thursday at the Lewes & Rehoboth Fire Station 3 on John J. Williams Hwy. She was complaining of various medical problems, not feeling right, weakness, and right-side facial numbness.

The EMS personnel were going to take her to Beebe Hospital, but she refused to leave her two small dogs which she had with her. The ambulance crew radioed the Beebe Hospital emergency room asking if they have any protocol for patients with pets.

"We don't offer services to watch people's dogs while they are being seen in the emergency department," the nurse radioed back. The woman declined medical transport to the hospital, but only after a paramedic further evaluated her condition. They did consider calling the SPCA.

 

COASTAL HIGHWAY ACCIDENTS WITH INJURY

From Milford through Ocean City, it has been a challenging weekend navigating on the roadways, especially crowded Coastal Highway.

Thursday 5:45 p.m. --- A 53-year-old female moped rider was injured in a crash with a car near the Rehoboth Cracker Barrel. The woman wore no helmet. She was in the bus lane when a vehicle turned in front of her between 10 and 15 m.p.h. She impacted the side of the vehicle causing minimal damage, and cuts and bruises to herself. She was taken to Beebe Hospital.

Friday 1:15 p.m. --- A crash in the southbound lanes at 123rd Street closed the roadway and injured five people, none seriously. At one point, the southbound lanes were completely blocked.

Friday 2:30 p.m. --- A 15-year-old Milford girl was struck and killed crossing the road at the Milford Bypass and Northeast 10th Street. Traffic was diverted off Route 1 while police investigated. Read more on the WGMD Website.

 

SERIOUS MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS--- A motorcyclist lost control and ran off the roadway at Seahawk Rd and Mary Rd near Berlin around 7:45 p.m. Sunday. He was flown to a trauma center with serious but not life threatening injuries.

One motorcyclist rear-ended another around 1:25 a.m. Monday on Baltimore Avenue at 26th Street in Ocean City. Both were injured. A 30-year-old male was flown to a trauma center. He was complaining of having no feeling in his lower body. The biker who was rear-ended, a 23-year-old male, suffered injuries to his lower back and was taken to the hospital by ground.


NEWS RELEASES / NEWS REPORTS:

MAN TIRED OF WALKING, STEALS BIKE (West OC, Thursday)

POLICE NAB DRUGGIES IN 4 SEPARATE TRAFFIC STOPS (W OC area)

TEEN ARRESTED FOR ROBBERY AT REHOBOTH WALMART (Friday)

WOMAN CHARGED WITH ATTEMPT MURDER (Long Neck, Friday)

DRUNK DRIVER RUNS WILD THROUGH OCEAN CITY (Saturday, 12:15 a.m.)

CIGARETTE IGNITES WOMAN'S CLOTHING IN NURSING HOME GAZEBO (Lewes, 5:25 a.m. Saturday) ---- [photos]

INTERESTING NEWS RELEASE


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