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WEEKEND #08, 2014

(Mid-Season Report)

Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

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REHOBOTH ELECTION SEASON HEATS UP
Only 26 days until Election Day!

With the Fourth of July behind us, election season in Rehoboth Beach is in full swing. Rehoboth Beach voters will go to the polls on Aug. 9 to select a mayor and two commissioners.

The campaign has been largely framed around the mayor's race and several important issues such as the new city hall complex, the waste-water outfall and financial planning.

Speaking to an enthusiast crowd of property owners Saturday night from the back porch of Comm. Lorraine Zellers' home, Mayor Cooper spoke about the challenges facing the city in the coming years.

Mayor Cooper even suggested that if there is enough interest, he would consider arranging a tour of city hall so the public can see the challenging working conditions the police and other city workers face.

The Mayor, along with incumbent Comm. Zellers and Francis "Bunky" Markert of the planning commission each addressed the crowd of about 80 people. Comm. Zellers and Markert are running for the two commissioner seats along with former commissioner Kathy McGuiness, local businessman John J. Meng III and Lawrence "Larry" G. Myslewski, a former business owner and senior corporate HR consultant.

Mayor Bruce Williams from the City of Takoma Park, Maryland, who is also a Rehoboth property owner, was a surprise guest Saturday night. That's him on the right speaking with Mayor Cooper.

Tom McGlone, who is the only person to ever challenge Mayor Cooper for a second election, says one of his biggest concerns is financial responsibility. McGlone continues to express opposition to the expense of the new city hall as well as "ocean dumping" as he calls the ocean outfall in one of his recent mailers.

McGlone, the owner of an investment planning firm, has been doing lots of grass-roots efforts registering new voters, sending out mailers and working the pavement. He says he has been doing lots of analysis too of not only the voters but also the issues. "I'm feeling pretty good... extremely optimistic" he said while on the campaign trail this past Wednesday, noting that he's been more engaged with the voters and receiving more feedback than three years ago. The biggest problem the city faces, he says, is "looming massive debit with no plan." But Mayor Cooper disagrees.

The Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce will host a mayoral debate and commissioner candidate forum on Wednesday, July 30, at 9:30 a.m. in the city hall commissioner's room. The candidates will face off once again at the Homeowners' Association's forum on Friday, July 25, at 6:30 p.m. at CAMP Rehoboth.


 

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REHOBOTH FIREFIGHTERS RESPOND TO 2 ELECTRICAL FIRES

Rehoboth Beach firefighters responded to reported electrical fires twice this past weekend. The first call was around 2:35 p.m. Saturday at 308 Swedes Street, just outside Dewey Beach. The property owner said he heard noise coming from his electrical panel. Soon the meter box, behind the green bush, was also found ablaze.

The following day, firefighters responded to the Good Earth Market, on Terrace Road at Coastal Highway after store workers noticed an electrical odor around 3:40 p.m. One source says the problem was a defective meter pan which is the device behind the electric meter.

No comment yet from Delmarva Power public affairs, but these incidents are not believed to be related.


 

SEWER STOPPAGE CLOSES DELAWARE AVENUE PUBLIC RESTROOMS

Probably the most popular public restrooms in town, the Delaware Avenue facility had trouble this past Saturday. Rehoboth Beach waste-water personnel spent hours battling a stubborn sewer problem behind these restrooms at the boardwalk.

They first came with the VAC-CON truck after a problem was reported around 11 a.m. But they returned again around 8 p.m. and had a police officer close the restrooms while they worked on the problem.

No word yet from the city what caused the stoppage.


 

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ANOTHER MOST WANTED VEHICLE TOWED!

It is that time of year when people who have received parking tickets have accumulated enough fines and charges to allow for towing of their vehicles. What was somewhat unusual about what happened this past Thursday was that the parking meter department supervisor and police came to the scene.

After much discussion, the woman returned to a clothing store and the SUV was removed by a towing company. One source said she owed the city more than $400 in unpaid fines from this year which included at least five unpaid tickets.


 

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DEWEY BEACH'S 18TH ANNUAL RUNNING OF THE BULL TRADITION

What is there to say about the annual running of the bull tradition in Dewey Beach? Some locals cringe when they think about it while visitors and others -- thousands probably -- enthusiastically embrace the tradition.

Photo courtesy Kristen Latham (via Steve Montgomery)

Starboard owner, Steve "Monty" Montgomery, called the event, which benefits the Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company, a "total success," noting they raised $5000 for the firefighters.

He said "We surely had record attendance thanks not only to the beautiful weather but possibly the national publicity when E! TV listed the Starboard's Bull Run as one of the top ten things to do on their summer bucket list in America a few weeks back."

Regardless, Montgomery says, the coordination and implementation of the annual event went without incident, noting that Delaware State troopers were on hand to assist, along with the fire department and Sussex County EMS.

He noted that Dewey Beach Commissioner Anna Legates along with Senator Ernie Lopez and Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf were in attendance to help with the ceremonial start to this year's run. A crowd of thousands departed the Starboard parking lot at 2 p.m., jogged up to the beach along with the mascots from the Washington Nationals and the Starboard's own Bull (two people in a bull costume).

They gathered at the dunes on Houston Street where lifeguards had set up cones for all to stay within as they ran along the ocean line only to return via New Orleans Street back to the Starboard or any other businesses in Dewey they may have chosen, Montgomery adds.

No bulls were injured this weekend, however, ambulances did take a couple patients to Beebe Hospital with minor injuries and others were treated on the scene.

Traffic on southbound Coastal Highway backed up outside of town and crawled as it approached the Starboard where probably thousands of patrons remained throughout the day.

"As far as I know," says Mayor Diane Hanson, "it went smoothly and we've put in many regulations on expansion of premises events that help along with voluntary actions on the part of the Starboard such as having volunteer monitors along the route to assure there is no littering or other inappropriate behavior."

"It was truly a fun-filled, silly and laughable event as usual which drew hoards of crowds lining the streets of Dewey to watch," Montgomery said. "This is exactly the type of event many people leave their 'real worlds' for... to come to the beach and enjoy themselves with good people, a little fun, and lots of laughs!"

This event also included the 3rd annual KIDS Bull Run. Montgomery credits Kelly Ranieri of the Dewey Business Partnership with running "an amazing show for a couple of hundred kids and their families on the beach at New Orleans Street. We had the Bull, the National's Mascots, free bottled water, and free kids Bull Run T-shirts for all."

"It's just awesome," he said, "to see a town where local businesses give back the way Alley Oop and the Starboard did [Saturday] morning to work towards a well-rounded vacation spot here in Dewey. [Saturday] was a perfect example of how Dewey has changed into a place for families, while at the same time still offers all the great nightlife that has made this town famous for decades."

Read more about the event in this Daily Times article.

Photo courtesy Kristen Latham (via Steve Montgomery)


 

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SUPERMOON GETS SUPER RECOGNITION

Saturday's supermoon had to be the weekend's most photographed event.

Hundreds of people along the beach and boardwalk held up their cell phones trying to snap images of the pinkish-colored supermoon, while others simply gazed.

See this CBS New York article for details on the supermoon.


 

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REHOBOTH BEACH MUSEUM HOSTS ACOUSTIC JAM II

For a blast from the past don't miss the Rehoboth Beach Museum's re-creation (year two) of Acoustic Jam Night, the locally famous open stage held at The Front Page Restaurant and Bar from 1984 through 1993. This year's event will be this Wednesday, 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., at the Rehoboth Beach Museum.

The museum hosted this event last July in conjunction with the "Beach Eats" exhibition of historic restaurant memorabilia.

"We were the go-to place for so many restaurant employees. Folks would come in after hours and have a beverage or two and listen to live local music," said Terry Plowman, former owner of The Front Page and now Delaware Beach Life editor and publisher. Plowman will once again emcee Acoustic Jam Night and promises to perform!

The duo that helped launch the event in 1984, Rim and Kathy Vining, plan to travel from Virginia again this year to join the fun. Over the 10 years of Acoustic Jam Night hundreds of amateur and professional musicians performed for an enthusiastic crowd every Tuesday and on Saturday in the off season.

Original players from the Front Page era will return including: Bill Robertson, Steve Wilson and Mike Long, all members of the house band that accompanied many of the performers. Other probable players include the Vining's brother, Stuart and singing partner, Amy Felker, Walt Hetfield, music teacher at Rehoboth Elementary, Cliff Hillis, John Remy, Bill Richardson and Ron Carey.

Musicians John Remy and Walt Hetfield on stage jammin' at Rehoboth Beach Museum during last year's Acoustic Jam Night, below.

The event is limited to 100 reservations. The cost is $10 and must be paid prior to the event. The event was sold out last year so make your reservation early. Call the museum 302-227-7310. The museum is at 511 Rehoboth Avenue next to the visitor center. Parking is available and the museum is handicapped accessible.

Photo courtesy Rehoboth Beach Historical Society


 

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OCEAN CITY BEACH PATROL TRAIN WITH COAST GUARD

The Thursday before last, Capt. Butch Arbin of the Ocean City Beach Patrol said all of OCBP rookies had a chance to practice with the Coast Guard's 47-foot rescue boat.

"We actually train with the Coast Guard so they know how to pick someone out of the water and our personnel have all practiced that," he said.

This Baltimore Sun article talks about last weekend's rescues including one involving the Coast Guard and the beach patrol at the Inlet.

Photo courtesy Kristin Joson, O.C.B.P.


 

"SETH DA HIGHWAY DANCER" STRUCK BY TRUCK

Seth Bratten, better known as "Seth Da Highway Dancer," had been noticeably missing from Coastal Highway this past week after he was struck by a truck on Monday.

More details are in the News Journal and Cape Gazette.

He was charged for failing to yield to a vehicle.

You can follow his progress on his Facebook page.


 

KINFOLK SEEKING YOUR SUPPORT THIS WEDNESDAY

KINFolk is a unique local organization that provides laptop computers and Internet access to children who are hospitalized or homebound. KINFolk helps keep them connected to those who love and support them at a time when they need it most.

KINFolk's 9th Annual Wine Tasting & Art Auction is scheduled for this Wednesday from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Cordrey Center at 30366 Cordrey Road in Millsboro. Admission is $30.

Artists who have donated artwork in past years include Abraxas, Kevin Fleming, Anne Hanna, Betty Showell, Ellen Rice, Ed Cook, Ruth Valva, Elaine Simmerman, Marvin Carney and Marjorie Weiss to name a few.

As you browse the silent auction items, there will be a selection of wines chosen by Teller Wines and food from many of the area's best known restaurants.

Shown are KINfolk celebrity pourers: Tony Mongello, Marvin Carney and Kevin Fleming (left to right).

Contact Kathy McNamara at 302-645-6971 for information, tickets or sponsorship opportunities or www.KINfolkKids.org.

Photo courtesy Kathy McNamara


 

OTHER NEWS:

WBOC BLAMED FOR CONFUSING VIRAL DEWEY STORY ON JAILS ON WHEELS--- "A simple suggestion has gone viral," says Dewey Beach Mayor Diane Hanson. "The Public Safety Committee motion," she said "was to ask the commissioners to approve the Chief of Police 'looking into the idea of Portable Detention Units' -- not necessarily acquiring them and not calling them jails on wheels. We need to evaluate need, practicality, and cost before any decision is made on this," she added. Here is one of the stories from WBOC.com.

WOMAN STRUCK, INJURED BY FLYING UMBRELLA--- A 72-year-old woman suffered a bruise to her head after she had gotten struck by a fly-away umbrella this past Tuesday. It happened on the beach near the Henlopen in Rehoboth just before 5 p.m. She was taken to Beebe Hospital by ambulance.

TUESDAY IS LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN DEWEY BEACH--- The town's annual municipal election will be on Sept. 20. The deadline to register to vote is this Tuesday. Eligible persons may register at the town hall until 5 p.m. For details on voter eligibility, how to register or to see a list of currently registered voters see the town website or call 302-227-6363 or 877-227-6331 or e-mail the Board of Elections at ElectDB@verizon.net.


 

NEWS RELEASES / NEWS REPORTS:

Most popular U.S. beaches (The Daily Beast) [REHOBOTH BEACH #1; OCEAN CITY #3]

Piping plovers weather wild weekend at Cape Henlopen State Park

Dilemma for Delaware beaches' renowned water quality

Beach towns welcoming more visitors with pets

Bridge over troubled waters -- The Star Democrat (Easton, Maryland) [beach traffic and politics]


 

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