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WEEKEND #04, 2015
Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
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POLICE BAFFLED BY ITEMS FOUND BURIED ON BEACH
Can you help solve this mystery?
A visitor contacted Rehoboth Beach police this past Monday afternoon after finding a large American flag along with a set of iron bookends or fireplace décor. The items were wrapped in a T-shirt and buried in the sand in front of the Boardwalk Plaza, says Lt. William L. Sullivan.
The flag is made from canvass, about 10 to 12 feet long.
"At this point," Lt. Sullivan says, "it is a mystery and we do not know the origin but suspect that the items may be stolen from somewhere locally but to date no one has filed a report of this nature."
He said they already checked with Ocean City which had a flag theft reported by WBOC-TV.
If you can help police solve this mystery, please call Rehoboth Beach police, 302-227-2577.
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COASTAL HIGHWAY SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS STILL COMING
Targeted completion date: June 2016
After yet another fatal bicycle accident outside Rehoboth many are asking what could have been done to prevent this tragedy. DelDOT continues to implement recommendations from the Pedestrian Safety Task Force Report released January 2014. The project consists of improvements from the Coastal Highway canal bridge at the edge of Rehoboth Beach, north for about six miles to just beyond Five Points.
On Friday, Brad Saborio, DelDOT construction group engineer, said the improvements are in progress, contracts have been awarded and they are actively making the improvements, but the state must work around the summer season.
He noted that DelDOT was prepared to make corrective work along Rehoboth Avenue in town last September and October but the business community would have been impacted. So that project, which will bring the sidewalks into ADA compliance, was postponed.
When the Coastal Highway improvements are completed in June of next year, Saborio says there will be continuous sidewalks along both sides of Coastal Highway between the canal bridge and north of Five Points along with additional street lights and pedestrian crossings. He said he did not know yet what the plans are for the "Forgotten Mile," the area south of the canal bridge to Dewey Beach.
But north of the canal bridge, currently there are only two actual crosswalks in the Rehoboth area, one at Bay Vista Road and another -- 2.5 miles north -- at the Tanger Outlets Surfside (north of John J. Williams Highway). Saborio said new crosswalks and pedestrian signals will be installed at Rehoboth Avenue-Extended, Holland Glade Road, Lighthouse Plaza, Old Landing Road and one more at Midway. They must balance good traffic flow and safe pedestrian crossings, he said.
In regard to the construction area outside of Rehoboth Beach, he said they are waiting for drainage and electrical conduit to be installed before that sidewalk work can be completed.
Friday's Cape Gazette featured a related article on Coastal Highway safety by Melissa Steele.
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REHOBOTH IN NATIONAL NEWS AS POOL DEBATE HEATS UP
As if the ocean outfall and new city hall referendum were not controversial enough, the swimming pool debate has launched Rehoboth Beach into the national spotlight.
That is WCAU-TV (NBC Philadelphia) reporter Tim Furlong live from the boardwalk Friday night. Here is his report on the pool battle. Earlier in the week, USA Today featured the News Journal article by James Fisher. Also, this ABC Radio report appeared on the WTOP-FM and WKKG-FM (Columbus, Indiana) websites.
On the Downtown Rehoboth Beach Nextdoor discussion/social media site, property owners have been expressing their views. On Friday, June 19, the city commissioners will consider adoption of the ordinance amending the regulation of swimming pools used in conjunction with vacation rentals in the residentially zoned areas.
In response, those opposed to the ordinance are calling for a Save Our Pools rally prior to the commissioners meeting, and they have formed various groups such as the Save Our Nation's Summer Capital.
OCEAN CITY POLICE LOOKING FOR MISSING STREET SIGN
Ocean City police have turned to social media in an effort to obtain more information regarding this photograph.
The message appeared Friday on the department's Twitter feed asking if anybody should recognize anyone in this photo to e-mail jjohnson@oceancitymd.gov or call the city's Tip Hotline at 410-520-5136.
Photo courtesy @OCPDMDInfo
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REHOBOTH'S LATEST COMMISSIONER CANDIDATES
By the 4:30 p.m. deadline last Monday, six candidates -- Mark Betchkal, J. Patrick Gossett, Paul Kuhns, John Meng, Richard Perry and Willis "Bill" Sargent -- had filed to run for one of two commissioner seats.
Betchkal and Meng later withdrew.
Gossett and Sargent appeared in last week's report. Here are some details on Kuhns and Perry.
Paul Kuhns
Kuhns grew up in Takoma Park, Md., visiting the Rehoboth area for the first time in 1958. He has a bachelor's degree in accounting from Georgetown University and a master's in finance from Columbia University. Kuhns worked for Merrill Lynch in 1983 as an investment banker/trader dealing with municipal bonds. He purchased his current home in Rehoboth in 1987, married Anne Michele in 2000 and moved to Rehoboth Beach full-time in 2005.
Kuhns has already served as a Rehoboth Beach Commissioner (2006-2009) and as president of the Chamber of Commerce, president of the Rehoboth Beach Historical Society, and ex-officio board member of the Rehoboth Beach Film Society. He has also been a business owner/operator in downtown Rehoboth Beach since 2005 and serves currently as a member of the State Tourism Advisory Board.
Richard Perry
Perry joined Stuart | Moore in an "Of Counsel" capacity in September of 2013. Before joining the firm, Perry oversaw the operation of Hovde Capital Advisors, Hovde Private Equity Advisors and all legal matters, including compliance, involving Hovde Capital Advisors and Hovde Private Equity Advisors and their affiliates.
Perry has expertise in the areas of corporate securities and financial institution matters, including complex corporate and banking mergers, acquisitions and reorganizations, securities offerings (both public and private placements) and proxy contests. He has been lead counsel and strategist on numerous complex supervisory and non-supervisory acquisitions involving both foreign and domestic acquirers. Prior to joining the Hovde organization in 1997, he served as outside counsel while he was a partner in the law firm of Perry, Simmons & Loots, P.C. in Washington, D.C., where his area of concentration was banking, corporate and securities law.
Perry was previously in-house counsel of a large New England thrift, executive assistant to the chairman of the Federal Home Loan Bank Board (later the Office of Thrift Supervision), and partner in charge of several east coast financial institution practice groups for the national law firms of McKenna, Conner & Cuneo, Baker & Hostetler (where he also served on the D.C. Office Management Committee), and Hogan & Hartson.
Perry received his law degree from Suffolk University School of Law in Boston, Massachusetts, and his bachelor's degree from American International College in Massachusetts, where he majored in political science and earned a minor in French. Upon graduating from college, Perry was the recipient of the McGowan Award for outstanding scholastic achievement and public service. In his charitable endeavors, Perry has served as the treasurer of the Special Olympics of Massachusetts, serves on boards of the Washington Animal Rescue League and the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, actively supports and participates in numerous other civic and humanitarian organizations, and funded the construction and operation of a home for homeless children in Guatemala.
Rehoboth Beach will hold its annual municipal election on Saturday, August 8 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. To be eligible to vote on August 8, voters must have registered on or before Friday, June 12.
The city will hold a special election on June 27 for borrowing of money for the ocean outfall and the city hall projects. See the city website for details.
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NEW ART ARRIVES WITH VEGFEST
In conjunction with the Rehoboth Beach VegFest, Gallery 50 is featuring the works of artists Dana Ellyn and Scott Causey.
Ellyn, a former graphic designer and computer guru for a corporate law firm, has been active with the D.C. VegFest and that is how she was discovered here in Rehoboth Beach. She is a full-time painter and loves to paint in oil but also does acrylics.
She specializes in storytelling, commentary, politics, activism and opinion (check out her "31 Days in July" paintings). As a vegetarian and now also a vegan eater, she is a natural pick for VegFest especially given her artistic expertise, precise graphic ability and wonderful use of space and color while communicating her important message.
She is a Washingtonian but has exhibitions coming in Barcelona on Sunday followed by Provincetown, Rhode Island. But her art will remain on display at Gallery 50 through June 23.
Also exhibiting at Gallery 50 with Ellyn is Scott Causey. He follows the VegFest theme with his complex multi-kiln fired ceramic animal series. Causey jokes that he looked for the most complicated way to create a sculpture and thought how to make the process even more difficult.
Causey comes from Florida where he spends much of the time building incredibly complex ceramic sculptures. His Salamander actually consists of 10 ceramic pieces that are held together using a special epoxy. He explains his technique to visitors and that itself is complex. He is a pioneer in this kind of sculpture, which requires multiple firings and multiple segments that ultimately produce a colorful work of art such as his Salamander.
Info on the VegFest appears in DelmarvaNow.
Gallery 50 is at 50 Wilmington Avenue in downtown Rehoboth Beach. More details on the exhibition appear in the Cape Gazette.
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LILY, RESCUED SEAL, RETURNED TO OCEAN
Lily, the gray seal pup that the MERR Institute rescued in Bethany on Easter weekend, has made a full recovery at the National Aquarium in Baltimore. She was returned to the ocean this past week, says Suzanne Thurman, MERR's executive director.
Lily had come ashore in Bethany Beach on Saturday, April 4. "As we began monitoring her," Thurman says, "we noticed that her jaw seemed to be broken. The MERR stranding team rescued Lily that afternoon, and took her back to our facility in Lewes where we were able to give her veterinary treatment to stabilize her, and ease her pain."
The Baltimore Aquarium had space and agreed to take her for rehabilitation. So Lily and Thurman drove to Baltimore on the morning of Easter Sunday. Lily made excellent progress under the Aquarium's expert care, Thurman says, learning to forage for food and receiving the veterinary care she needed to recover.
Her broken jaw was able to heal on its own without surgical intervention, aiding her in making a speedier recovery. She was given a clean bill of health and readied for release, which took place this past week in Assateague.
"These are the outcomes we always hope for," Thurman adds, "and thanks to the many people from MERR, the local community and the National Aquarium, Lily is healthy and happy back in her ocean home."
Here are more details with video from DelmarvaNow.
Photo courtesy MERR Institute
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FAMILY TIME STARTS THIS WEEK IN DEWEY
Bonfires and movies return to the beach in Dewey
Dewey Beach movie season opens tonight, June 15, with An American Tail. The movies will continue each Monday through August 24 starting around 8:30 p.m. on the beach at Dagsworthy Avenue. The schedule is on the Chamber of Commerce website.
The Dewey Business Partnership 5th annual Kids' Beach Party kicks off the Wednesday night bonfires starting this Wednesday, June 17 at 6:30 p.m. Activities will include games, face painting, dj, singing, dancing, fun with mascots, free snacks and refreshments plus many other surprises! The party will be immediately followed by the first Wednesday bonfire of the season.
Bonfires continue on Wednesday nights starting at 7:30 p.m. through September 2.
Parking is free in Dewey Beach on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Notice of cancellation will be posted at the Dewey Beach Life Saving Station Bulletin Board.
Photo courtesy Carolyn Watson (via RB-DBCC)
Please click below to see the exciting beach clocks ...
CHARGING UP DELAWARE
Electric vehicle charging stations coming soon
to R.B.
Rehoboth Beach has partnered with the University of Delaware and DNREC in "Charging Up Delaware," a program with the goal of establishing a state-wide network of electric vehicle charging stations, and locally, to provide two charging stations near the north end of the Boardwalk, in Mariner's Park.
The electricity, says Comm. Stan Mills, will be free at least the first year although the parking meters will be in effect during the meter season. The electrical service has been upgraded in that area specifically for the new charging stations. The pedestals that hold the charging stations are installed. It appears the next steps are for the charging stations to be mounted to the pedestals, electronics installed for Wifi capability to monitor consumption data and installation of parking signage. "I am hopeful that the charging stations will be online within several weeks," Comm. Mills adds.
Read more at pluginsites.org
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JERSEY LIGHTS FROM REHOBOTH BEACH ON CLEAR NIGHT
ASSATEAGUE THIS PAST SATURDAY
Photos courtesy Marc Sinofsky via Robert Gilbert
OTHER NEWS:
REHOBOTH MOTEL SCAMMED OUT OF $1000 IN YET ANOTHER DELMARVA POWER SCAM--- Rehoboth Beach police are investigating a fraud involving a Delmarva Power electric bill scam at a motel reported this past Friday. The victim, says Lt. William L. Sullivan, "received a call from someone identifying themselves as Delmarva Power and were advised that unless immediate payment was received, the power would be disconnected. The suspect was able to get the victim to send a MoneyGram in the amount of $1003.95. Unfortunately, after contacting the actual Delmarva Power they realized that it was a fraud."
The money was wired via MoneyGram and placed on a card and could not be recalled or canceled, Lt. Sullivan noted. A second business in town was also contacted and they were aware of the scam and did not fall victim. "We urge all businesses to be aware of these types of scams. The local electric providers will never call with a request to wire money or purchase gift cards for payment. All of the local electric providers will send you a notice of outstanding balances. It is always a good practice to call your provider directly via a number already listed to verify any past-due amounts," Lt. Sullivan adds.
$140,000 IN JEWELRY MISSING FROM REHOBOTH'S STUART KINGSTON--- Rehoboth Beach police are investigating a complaint of several high-value pieces of jewelry missing from the Stuart Kingston Gallery vault, a total value of approximately $140,000. The theft, says Lt. William L. Sullivan, occurred sometime in the last three to four weeks and was reported this past Thursday. He said there were no signs of forced entry into the business or the vault.
DEWEY POLICE MAKE ARREST IN TOWN'S FIRST/ONLY VEHICLE THEFT FOR 2015--- Dewey Beach police have arrested a 49-year-old man after he had stolen a 2006 Honda Accord in the town, removed several items of value and abandoned the car a block from where it was stolen. Sgt. Clifford Dempsey says the auto theft was reported this past Wednesday on West Street and the Honda was later found on Chicago Street. But a skim-board, skateboard, among other items, he says, were taken. Police were able to recover some evidence including fingerprints from the Honda. But the big break in the case came on Thursday, when the suspect, identified by police as Marc Black, wrote a stolen check out in his name and cashed it at a local PNC Bank. Police obtained evidence from the bank and connected it to Black.
Dewey and state police conducted a stakeout Friday night at Black's residence in Long Neck. They eventually spotted Black in a vehicle and that is when police conducted a felony stop. Black was in possession of heroin and drug paraphernalia, says Sgt. Dempsey, and black appeared to have been impaired by drugs. After obtaining arrest and search warrants, police found all of the stolen property inside Black's residence. Black has been charged with theft and burglary by Dewey Beach and faces additional charges from the state police for the drugs. He is being held on $16,000 bond. Vehicle thefts are rare in Dewey Beach, Sgt. Dempsey noted. In this particular case, the victim had left his keys in the car.
FIRST COUNTERFEIT BILL OF SEASON FOR REHOBOTH--- This past Monday, Rehoboth Beach police investigated their first report of counterfeit currency for the 2015 summer season. The counterfeit note, says Det. R. Tyler Whitman, was a $20 bill and was passed at a local restaurant and discovered later in the afternoon. "Please advise local businesses and customers to be mindful of what to look for when making transactions, making sure the paper feels consistent with other dollar bills, all of the markings on the bill are sharp and not blurred and the serial numbers are all evenly spaced," Det. Whitman warns. Other tips on identifying counterfeit money, he adds, can be found on the Secret Service website.
HANDGUN MISSING POSSIBLY FROM VEHICLE--- Rehoboth Beach police are investigating a stolen Glock 17, 9 m.m. handgun, that was reported by a resident in the 300 block of Hickman Street on Thursday. The handgun, says Lt. William L. Sullivan, had not been seen since September, 2014. The victim's deceased husband regularly kept the handgun in his vehicle and often left the vehicle unsecured, he said. The victim also traveled between Rehoboth and Florida. There were no signs of forced entry and nothing inside appeared to be disturbed. The handgun description and serial number, Lt. Sullivan added, have been placed into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) computer system.
NEWS RELEASES / NEWS REPORTS:
Fire ants found in shipment of palm trees in Sussex
DNREC project aimed at reducing environmental impacts continues around Lewes Public Boat Ramp
Lewes Fire Department unveils new Station 2
Police officers run through Lewes on Special Olympics Torch Run
Police seek witnesses to fatal motorcycle accident at Cape Henlopen State Park (Thursday)
State police investigate robbery outside Rehoboth Saturday morning (related to this May 26 robbery?)
Mario Brossi of Rehoboth Beach named Switzerland's new Honorary Consul in Delaware
Touring the Rehoboth Beach Museum
Dagsboro man and Rehoboth man each arrested after road rage incident in Rehoboth Beach (June 7)
Rehoboth man victim of apparent drowning (Tuesday, South Shore Marina)
New Bethany Beach video cameras on boardwalk, east, west, north and south with better video
Bethany Beach grill fire threatening house, Saturday on Half Moon Dr.
Woman killed in crash near Millsboro on Mount Joy Road (Monday)
Toddler nearly drowns in pool near Millsboro (Saturday)
Ocean City shooting investigated; victim not cooperating with police (Wednesday)
Corvette driver facing fines of nearly $1,000 after May burnout
Hot Rod Harry Huntsman faces dozens of tickets; raising legal fees on Go Fund Me
Hagerstown teen arrested for Ocean City armed robbery
Police investigate balcony fall in Ocean City
Berlin, business looking for troubled road accord
Firefly Music Festival approaches; more than 90,000 expected (EXPECT TRAFFIC DELAYS ON SHORE)
WV teen charged with handgun possession in Ocean City
Breeches Buoy rescue re-enactment (June 20)
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