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WEEKEND #01, 2017

(Memorial Day Weekend)

Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

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HOLIDAY WEEKEND WEATHER, TRAFFIC, PARKING MESS

Probably the big story this holiday weekend was the traffic. Sunday seemed to be the worst when intermittent showers sent visitors packing in the late afternoon while others continued to arrive.

Despite the rain, Rehoboth Beach police officers did attempt to direct traffic at intersections in town, but the problem was slow moving traffic on Coastal Highway. This was the Google traffic map at 5:20 p.m. on Sunday. The areas in red were spots where traffic was the worst.

Related problems included cars blocking driveways and fights over parking spaces. Rehoboth Beach police responded to the ocean block of Baltimore Avenue around 12:10 p.m. Sunday after motorists became engaged in an altercation over a parking space. No arrests reported in that incident.

This lengthy News Journal article includes tips on how to cope with Delaware summertime traffic jams.


 

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TOW RAGE ON DAY #1
Mel Craig, former Rehoboth Beach public works director, comes to rescue!

Who you gonna call when your car gets hooked in Rehoboth Beach and you don't have the cash? These two women had the answer! They had been eating dinner in the second block of Wilmington Avenue this past Friday when suddenly Coastal Towing hooked their car which had been illegally parked behind the Atlantis Inn. The tow truck driver, below right, pointed out that the sign behind him reads "GUEST PARKING ONLY."

Police responded to the Atlantis Inn around 7:50 p.m. when the women and tow truck driver got into an argument. The driver had demanded his $125 "show-up" fee in cash, but the women said they only had four credit cards which Coastal Towing would not accept. After several minutes of heated discussion, the women called Mel Craig, Rehoboth Beach's former public works director and one of their Sandalwood neighbors. He came to the rescue bringing them the cash they needed.

One of the women later said she would have let Coastal tow the car, but she had her dogs inside.


 

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CHEVY BLAZER FLIPS IN KMART PARKING LOT
Driver faces multiple charges

Delaware State Police are investigating an accident at the Rehoboth Kmart parking lot that sent one man to the hospital. The crash, involving this Chevy Blazer, was reported just before 5 p.m. last Tuesday.

Assorted bottles and other items spilled from the SUV as a tow truck driver attempted to right the vehicle.

Master Corporal Gary E. Fournier, state police spokesman, says the 20-year-old male driver has been charged with DUI, no proof of insurance and no registration in possession. The man's injuries were non-life-threatening.


 

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R.B. POLICE, EMS RESPOND TO 2 UMBRELLA STRIKES IN 20 MINUTES!

Within a 20-minute period on Friday, two beachgoers in the area of the Atlantic Sands called for help after they were injured by flying umbrellas. The first incident was reported around 11:40 a.m. when a 14-year-old girl was struck and cut in the head by the umbrella. She also reported feeling dizzy. An ambulance crew was called to the scene, but she later declined the ambulance.

She sits on the below bench while another girl holds an ice pack to her head.

Less than 20 minutes later, a woman sought help at the Rehoboth Beach Patrol HQ after she too was hit by an umbrella. The first day for the Rehoboth Beach Patrol was Saturday, so they were not yet on duty.

She too declined transport to the hospital but was evaluated by the Rehoboth Beach ambulance crew.

According to the Rehoboth Beach DEOS weather station, the wind speed was almost 8 m.p.h. during the 11 a.m. hour with a gust of 20 m.p.h. recorded at 11:55 a.m.


 

REHOBOTH TENT BAN KICKS OFF WITH NUMEROUS VERBAL WARNINGS

This past holiday weekend, Rehoboth Beach officials began soft enforcement of the new ordinance banning tents and large umbrellas. By far the busiest day for the verbal warnings was Saturday. Police have not yet released the total numbers for the weekend, but based on radio chatter, officers had warned more than 20 beachgoers of the new ordinance on Saturday.

At times, officers expressed frustration that the beach patrol was not aggressive about enforcing the ordinance, especially since some tents were being erected close to lifeguard stands. So police had to leave the boardwalk patrols to talk with beach visitors with tents.

There were several news reports last week examining the issue including this detailed article by Gannett reporters Gray Hughes, Doug Ferrar and Jeff Neiburg. Also see this related Delaware Public Media report for more info.


 

HUMMER H2 PARKED IN ROADWAY GETS TOWED

This Hummer was discovered parked several feet from the curb on Cookman Street at 3rd Street around 6:30 p.m. Sunday.

It received a ticket for parking in the roadway and was removed by Coastal Towing.


 

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THE ELLINGER GALLERY IS BAAAAAAAACK!

It was a soft launch this past holiday weekend for Ward Ellinger, Allen Jarmon and Jordan (the dog) who are reopening their gallery. The gallery had offered a variety of contemporary works and exhibitions over the years, but closed in November of 2015, only to return again this summer! Here's the gallery team with Ellinger's "Summer Play" acrylic painting.

The owners of Brick & Mortar, who had rented this same space last summer, closed because of family obligations. Their lease was assumed by Ellinger's gallery. Jarmon says they plan to take it easy and not let the gallery consume so much of their time. So look for them during peak hours. "It's great to be back and to see old friends," Ellinger says!

"Promoting the arts is an important part of CAMP Rehoboth's mission, and we are excited to be able to welcome the Ward Ellinger Gallery back to the CAMP Rehoboth Courtyard," said Steve Elkins, Executive Director of the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center.


 

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"ANGRY WATER" COMES TO THE REHOBOTH BEACH MUSEUM
Historical societies to offer tour of local life saving stations on June 8

"Our town is very resilient. We have been through a number of storms, some large, some small, but the town has always bounced back," says Nancy Alexander, director of the Rehoboth Beach Historical Society and Museum. That is the theme which runs through the latest exhibition, Angry Water, curated by Alexander, Paula Roberts and intern Lauren Thornberg.

The exhibition tells the story of a seaside village (Rehoboth area) and its volatile relationship with the ocean. It chronicles the impact storms have taken on the town, beach and boardwalk, telling the story of famous shipwrecks and demonstrating how the community reacted with the Cape Henlopen lighthouse, several life saving stations and beach replenishment and rebuilding projects. Of course, an entire case has been dedicated to the Storm of 1962.

The exhibition documents more than a dozen shipwrecks the Rehoboth area has seen starting with the Faithful Steward in 1785. The most recent shipwreck occurred in 1956 when the Black Spoonbill, owned by the late signer Burl Ives, ran aground. Are we overdue for a shipwreck? Probably not, says Alexander, who credits radar for preventing such calamities.

The exhibition will feature an actual Breeches buoy, used years ago to rescue crew members from shipwrecks. Also from the years of shipwrecks come a fascinating collection of coins, including Irish coins believed to have originated from the Faithful Steward.

Visitors will learn about how many times the boardwalk has been rebuilt because of storm damage, how "Coin Beach" got its name and the origins of the Cape Henlopen lighthouse and the local life saving stations.

"The Delaware experience has been equally famous and infamous and the museum is excited to gather these stories and history into this new exhibition," Alexander added.

The museum is at 511 Rehoboth Ave., next to the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center. During the summer, the museum is open Mondays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends. Admission is by voluntary donation. For more information, visit www.rehobothbeachmuseum.org or call (302) 227-7310.

The Rehoboth Beach and Lewes historical societies are teaming up to tell the story of life saving stations and their role in local history. On Thursday, June 8, beginning at 1 p.m., program participants will be treated to a tour of a home in downtown Lewes that was once the Rehoboth Beach life saving station, followed by a tour of the restored Lewes life saving station, situated near the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal. Space is limited to 15 participants. The cost of the tour is $12, pre-paid. Please call (302) 227-7310 to make a reservation.

Photo courtesy Rehoboth Beach Historical Society


 

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"THRILL RIDE" BY DANA ELLYN/MATT SESOW OPENS AT GALLERY 50

Gallery 50 opened its latest exhibition this past weekend featuring the works of a wife and husband artist duo from Washington, D.C., Dana Ellyn and Matt Sesow. Here they are with Ed McGann of Gallery 50.

Ellyn is a life-long painter who has been painting as a career since 2001. This is her third show at Gallery 50. She has painted on many subjects ranging from politics to religion, but now her biggest passion is animal rights and veganism, a timely topic given the coming Rehoboth Beach VegFest which is scheduled for June 9-11.

So much of Ellyn's art features animals. "I have learned to soften my message a bit," she says. "I think when I first started painting about this it was very hard-hitting, hard-handed, vegan messages that made people feel bad. And now I have learned to just try and express the beauty of animals and try to encourage sympathy and love of animals and make it harder to eat them," she added.

Ellyn paints using acrylic and oil but has also added hand-sewn and stitches to some of her works, and also paints on hardback book covers.

Sesow, her husband, is another full-time artist, or "painter," as he calls himself. "Our work is affordable," Sesow points out. "You do not have to come in here with $1000. You can come in here with like $100 or $40 or $30 if you want a print and you get something original!"

"Our paintings are dynamic," he observes. "They are energetic and maybe they question the normalities of contemporary art in the sense that Dana and I do not charge much money for our work.... coming from D.C., there are a lot of D.C. artists right now that charge a lot of money for their work. And we just want to make our work affordable. We want people like 'us' to hang our work. We want people like 'us' to hang a painting in their bedroom or in the bathroom, and say hey, that is an original Matt Sesow [or] that is an original Dana Ellyn. So that is what we are trying to do."

"I am trying to celebrate America," Sesow says, referring to his American flag painted on canvas. "I am for the betterment of what our Constitution stands for and what our Bill of Rights stands for... The idea of America for me is very powerful and very awesome and very excellent. I love this country. There is no other place I want to live," he adds.

But the "flag shows a lot of dripping. Like there is a lot of like almost blood coming down, or pain. And I think that is where we are going with a lot of things," he says.

Their exhibition runs through June 14. Please see the Gallery 50 website for info.

Eric Davison who brought fine arts to downtown Rehoboth Beach for years is transferring ownership of Gallery 50 this coming week to Ed McGann, the gallery's master framer and manager. Thank you Eric for all you have done for Rehoboth Beach. We will miss you!


 

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REMEMBERING THE FRIENDS WE LOST

It was a difficult start to the summer season for visitors who were dealing with the loss of such well-known friends as Joan Caggiano and Cheryl Blackman.

Joan died on May 12, but her love and legacy live on.

This was Cheryl on Friday of Memorial Day Weekend in 2010.

Here is a touching YouTube tribute Guy Abernathey created last summer from the parade honoring her.


 

FIRST WEEKEND UPDATE FOR 2017!

Thank you for your continued support. Please keep the e-mails, photos, articles, announcements and news releases coming.

Many thanks to our sponsors, photographers, contributors and WGMD Radio!

Our appreciation goes to Jim Davis of dcfire.com who creates many of our banners, year after year.

We welcome sponsors and partners for 2017. Please write or call if you have an idea or proposal!

If you spot us on the street or beach, please stop us to say "hi!"

With best wishes,

Alan (Facebook) (Twitter) (e-mail)

Dagmar, Alan's mom, (Facebook) (e-mail) (wikipedia)


 

DEWEY BEACH DEER

Photo courtesy iDewey


 

OTHER NEWS:

GUN HEIST ON GUM ROAD--- Police have been tightlipped about a burglary of a gun collection from a residence last week on Gum Road in the Frankford area. One source states that approximately 20 guns were taken along with assault rifles from one collector. Sgt. Richard Bratz, state police spokesman, would only say Sunday that this was "an active ongoing investigation."

 

TEEN CRITICALLY INJURED IN FALL WHILE WASHING MOTEL WINDOWS--- A teen is in critical but stable condition after he fell while cleaning windows at a popular north Ocean City motel. The fall was reported around 4:40 p.m. last Thursday at the Econo Lodge on 145th Street. Witnesses told police that the teen had been using a ladder and long pole to clean windows. While standing on a lower metal roof he fell to the ground. The incident is under investigation by Ocean City police and MOSH.

 

WOMAN TAKEN TO BEEBE AFTER PIT BULL ATTACK--- A 63-year-old woman suffered wounds to her calf/leg after being bitten by a pit bull around 11:30 a.m. on Saturday. The attack was reported in the 26100 block of Tuskany Drive in Kingston Ridge which is in the Millsboro area. She was taken to Beebe Hospital by ambulance.

 

DEATH INVESTIGATION AT O.C. STOWAWAY GRAND--- Ocean City police are investigating the death of a 33-year-old woman who was found in a Stowaway Grand hotel room around 5:40 p.m. Sunday. "Investigating officers do not believe anything to be suspicious currently and did not make any mention of finding any evidence of drug use," says Lindsay Richard, police spokeswoman. She said the police are waiting to receive the results from the medical examiner.

 

NEWSCASTER VEHICLE ESCORTED FROM REHOBOTH BOARDWALK--- City officials sounded somewhat surprised Friday when they found a news vehicle on the boardwalk at Baltimore Avenue around 9:50 a.m. The reporter was on the beach conducting interviews when police ordered the newscaster to remove the vehicle from the boardwalk.


 

NEWS RELEASES / NEWS REPORTS:

'A little break': Long weekend summer getaways gaining popularity (Baltimore Sun)

Beachgoers can avoid traffic with apps and buses

Coastal Delaware Restaurant Week to run June 4-9

Top summer beach house destinations for families (Rehoboth picked by TripAdvisor)

5 US beaches (Rehoboth included) flying under the radar

Rehoboth, Dewey, Lewes beach guide (WTOP)

Great White Sharks surface near Jersey shore and Delaware --- click here for shark tracker map

What should lifeguards do during a shark attack?

Medical marijuana dispensary opens in Lewes

Governor Carney, DNREC Secretary Garvin announce renovations at Cape Henlopen State Park

DNREC reports nine piping plover pairs incubating nests at Cape Henlopen's Point and Fowler Beach

Ribbon-cutting for Lewes Transit Center

Acme celebrates grand reopening of Rehoboth (Lewes area?) store

Ups and downs par for the course for golf industry (mentions Lewes and Rehoboth courses)

Rehoboth a top place for a beach house, says TripAdvisor

DNREC secretary's order approves issuance of permits for construction and operation of Rehoboth Beach outfall

Rehoboth Beach adds a trash valet service (deadline to enroll is May 31)

Rehoboth police arrest Wilmington man for beating girlfriend (10 p.m. Friday)

Dolle's 90th anniversary (Michael Sprouse goes inside)

New Dogfish pub, a homage to past, present, future

Funland unveils Superflip 360

Delmarva Pets: Local entrepreneur opens 'Pet Wants' store in Rehoboth Beach

Rehoboth Beach vlog: first vlog ever!

From Dewey Beach to Wall Street, 'Fearless Girl' makes worldwide impact

Couple arrested after they try to take Resort Patrol guard's gun near Dewey (3 a.m. Monday)

Firefighters battle house trailer fire on Suburban Blvd. in Angola area (3 p.m. Sunday)

Woman seriously injured in single-car crash on Arrowhead Road in Angola area (noon, Sunday)

Tree knocks out power in Angola

Long Neck Strong group: Crime problem not quick fix, even after multiple meetings

Boat fire at Shorts Marine Storage Yard on Long Neck Road (5 p.m. Monday)

Delaware loses offshore wind farms to Maryland

Md. Dept. of the Environment releases annual Healthy Beaches Progress Report

MSP Trooper Injured in Crash with Intoxicated Driver (Saturday, West O.C.)

Ocean City police arrest 7 in human trafficking operation

Ocean City Beach Patrol employs teachers

O.C. Mayor: 'Something needs to change' after 'unacceptable' week

Ocean City business owner fined for selling out-of-state cigarettes

Ocean City police investigate fatal pedestrian collision (previous weekend)

Eyewitness shares account of fatal pedestrian accident; driver faces 2 felony charges

Local agencies still waiting for Maryland's legal opinion on "topless freedom" debate

Memorial Day Weekend lines outside of Seacrets!

Assateague Beach Patrol earns lifesaving certification


 

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