WEEKEND #8, 2020
(Mid-Season Report)
Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
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R.B. POLICE ENCOURAGE FACE MASK COMPLIANCE WITH BOARDWALK
CHECKPOINTS
Several visitors receive citations for refusing
to comply
Rehoboth Beach police have been enforcing the face-covering requirements
this past week with periodic boardwalk checkpoints.
On Sunday, Police Chief Keith Banks said the officers have so far issued
29 $100 civil citations. Police have made it clear that they are not out to
get anybody, but are simply trying to encourage compliance with local and
state Covid orders. Police and lifeguards have distributed more than 16,500
free face masks as of Friday, Chief Banks said.
But some visitors become argumentative or refuse to cooperate, like the 47-year-old
man here in the white shirt. He became, as one officer said, "a little
bit disorderly" and was issued a citation this past Saturday after police
established a checkpoint off Brooklyn Avenue.
Last Monday, the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce
had sent this
letter to the mayor and commissioners concerning the city's requirement
that visitors wear masks on the beach. The following day, the city modified
the requirement and issued this news
release. More info is in the Cape
Gazette.
Please click below to see the exciting beach clocks ...
http://www.beachclocks.com/
THOUSANDS TESTED IN REHOBOTH-DEWEY FOR COVID
More lifeguards among those testing positive
About 1,200 people were tested last Tuesday in the Rehoboth Beach city hall
parking lot according to Jennifer Brestel from the Division of Public Health.
Those results were not available as of Friday. But she did say that of the
4,166 tests completed in Dewey and Rehoboth the previous week, 264 came back
positive (6.34 percent).
"The goal was to increase access to testing in the beach area and provide
a gauge of the infection rates in that area," Brestel said.
As of this past Friday, Police Chief Keith Banks says 15 Rehoboth Beach
Patrol lifeguards have tested positive for Covid. Four of the guards
who have been out were scheduled to return this past Saturday or today. After
quarantining the required time period, Chief Banks says, each employee must
have two negative test results prior to returning to work. The city hired
55 guards this year.
He said as of Friday, no Rehoboth Beach police officers have tested positive
for Covid.
Reached by phone on Friday, Bethany Beach Patrol Capt. Joe Donnelly
confirmed about 18 of his lifeguards tested positive for Covid. But he noted
that the Covid cases were diagnosed earlier in Bethany than at other beach
patrols, so he anticipates most of his staff returning to work as soon as
today.
Ocean City Beach Patrol Capt. Butch Arbin says his patrol has had
three Covid cases, all from off-duty exposure. "Each staff member is
required to complete a daily wellness check prior to beginning work and I
do an audit each day to make sure we have 100 percent compliance," he
said.
One advantage in Ocean City, Capt. Arbin points out, is that his guards only
sit one per stand, and when they switch, the policy has been that they do
not linger, they switch and keep moving. Also interesting is that he said
OCBP has more staff this year than the patrol has had for many years, with
more than 200 members.
Coastal Delaware's premier lifestyle magazine ...
A look inside: Delaware Beach Life
July 2020 issue
FUNLAND RIDES ARE NOW OPEN FOR 59th SEASON!
The big surprise early last week was that Funland announced
that it had created a plan for reopening its rides which opened to visitors
this past Friday. "It is so nice to have the rides open again and to
see our customers having fun," says Christopher Darr, Funland
personnel manager!
"Our new online ride reservation system has been great and our customers
have adapted well to such a major change," he pointed out. "As we
walk the floor during a FUN PASS group it is really amazing how few customers
are in each group. There are no lines and plenty of room to spread out because
we are under 15 percent capacity," he added.
As people think about booking a FUN PASS to enjoy the rides, there are several
key points to remember, Darr says:
-
Please visit the
Funland website
www.funlandrehoboth.com
in advance to book a two-hour FUN PASS prior to arrival. FUN PASS times
are currently 4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.-9:15 p.m.
-
Because of the limited capacity in the park,
everyone who enters the park for a FUN PASS group must have paid for a wristband.
This includes non-riders who would like to be in the park with their group
but not ride.
-
All customers over the age of three must wear
a face covering while in the park. Because of the direct threat of Covid-19,
this is one of the best ways to protect customers and staff. If you do not
feel as though you are able to wear a mask, they ask that you do not visit
Funland this year.
-
All guests will be asked to use hand sanitizer
before entering each ride entrance.
The Jungle of Fun and the SIM Rider will remain closed for the 2020 season
because of physical distancing challenges. For details on how to book and
more general information please visit the Funland
website.
"Over the last two days," Darr says, "we have enjoyed talking
with those who visited the park. We have received overwhelmingly positive
feedback and continue to be humbled by the support and encouragement."
Funland's boardwalk games are currently open 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. each
day! See this WHYY-TV
story for more.
Photos courtesy Christopher Darr
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MAN DIES AFTER FALL FROM O.C. HOTEL BALCONY
Ocean City police are investigating after a 22-year-old man was critically
injured and later died after a fall from the third floor of the Econo Lodge
on 29th Street in Ocean City. It happened just before 3 a.m. Sunday. A state
police helicopter flew him to a trauma center in Baltimore where he later
died.
Photo courtesy Cesar
Campos, Campos Media
FAY FLOODS RESORTS ON FRIDAY BUT GOOD WEEKEND OTHERWISE
Tropical
Storm Fay blew past the Delmarva beaches Friday morning dumping 5.5 inches
of rain on Rehoboth, most of which came between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. According
to the boardwalk DEOS
weather station, peak wind gusts close to 40 m.p.h. were recorded at 7:40
a.m. and 8:45 a.m.
Flooding was reported at the usual locations before becoming more widespread.
Public works and highway crews kept the storm drains flowing. This is Coastal
Highway at Read Street in Dewey Beach.
Photo courtesy Comm. David Moskowitz
Rehoboth Beach crews even conducted routine trash collection in the heavy
downpour!
More storm photos are in the Cape
Gazette.
DEWEY BEACH STORM CLOUDS
Last Monday afternoon, Kris Reilly
captured this
incredible video of clouds as they flew over Dewey Beach.
Image courtesy Kris
Reilly
Welcome to The Starboard!
https://thestarboard.com/
BEAUTIFYING REHOBOTH ONE PLANTER AT A TIME
Now in its second year, the Rehoboth in Bloom project, with its
45 volunteers, has been doing its part to add to the city's beauty. Every
Tuesday morning, the volunteers divide into five teams and take to the streets
to maintain the 52 self-watering EarthPlanters.
Cindy Lovett, founder of the project that operates under the Rehoboth Main
Street Design Committee, says these self-watering planters are what made the
project doable. They only have to fill the 23-gallon reservoir once a week.
The planters can be found on Baltimore, Rehoboth and Wilmington Avenues.
Because of Rehoboth in Bloom's popularity, more folks have volunteered
this summer. A new team is maintaining a "Farm Market" garden at
Grove Park and a seventh team is maintaining three gardens at the
end of streets that meet the boardwalk.
Rehoboth in Bloom is entirely self-funded and is looking for sponsors
for its planters. Sponsors who contribute $350/$450/$550 receive a plaque
on the planter, dedicated to them, a loved one or business.
Please contact Lovett for details: info@pdlovett.com
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REHOBOTH BEACH CANDIDATE UPDATES
While last Wednesday's Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce
online candidate forum was helpful
highlighting the issues impacting Rehoboth, it was more difficult to determine
how the candidates differ in their positions.
As of Sunday evening, the forum, which has been posted
on YouTube only, had around 150 views.
Topics covered included the Covid crisis, the comprehensive development plan,
proposed Wilmington and Baltimore Avenues streetscape, economic development
and quality of life, beach replenishment, increasing revenue, boardwalk safety
at night, and of course, parking.
The CAMP/RBHA annual candidate forum will be online next Saturday, July 18,
at 11 a.m. The link to the forum will be posted on the CAMP
Rehoboth website. Questions for the candidates may also be submitted through
the CAMP
website. The candidates will participate from their homes and will not
be at the CAMP Community Center as originally planned.
The Washington Blade ran this
article last Tuesday on the two mayoral candidates. Detailed info on the
candidates is in Friday's Cape
Gazette.
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK
Sunset from Cruisin'
Tikis Rehoboth Bay by David Koster, PortraitsInTheSand.com...
Fishing at Gordon's Pond by Rick Tananis...
A rare albino squirrel in Rehoboth by Lynne Bowman...
Need help with roofing or siding? Give Brad Houston a call...
Call or visit gfedaleroof.com for
a free estimate.
OTHER NEWS:
MERR NEWS--- Suzanne Thurman from the MERR
Institute says MERR investigated a deceased loggerhead sea turtle at Gordon's
Pond and a deceased dolphin also in the Cape Henlopen State Park. No cause
of death was determined in either case. The annual dolphin count is scheduled
for next Saturday, July 18.
BOOM LIFT BURSTS INTO FLAMES, KNOCKS OUT POWER TO 690 CUSTOMERS---
Around 10:15 a.m. this past Wednesday, a 31-year-old Rehoboth man operating
a rented boom lift (High Lift) to cut a tree contacted the overhead power
lines on Robinson Drive outside Rehoboth. The lift struck the primary power
lines and started a fire, says MCpl. Melissa Jaffe, police spokeswoman. He
was able to get down safely from the lift. The damage resulted in an outage
impacting 690 customers until repairs could be completed, says Timothy Stokes,
Delmarva Power spokesman, and an investigation into the incident
is ongoing. Photos are on the RBVFC
website.
HOUSE CATCHES ON FIRE OUTSIDE REHOBOTH--- Several fire companies
responded to Fleming Circle in the Keys of Marsh Harbor around 6:20 p.m. this
past Saturday for a house fire. Firefighters found fire throughout most of
the home. Photos are on the RBVFC
website.
MAN FIRES GUN FROM DEWEY HOTEL DURING DISPUTE--- Dewey Beach
police responded to the Bay Resort on Sunday around 1:35 a.m. after
a man reportedly fired a shot from a handgun during an argument. When police
arrived, they saw a group of four men on the balcony who appeared to be passing
around a handgun. That is when Dewey officers called for Rehoboth and state
police to assist. Officers safely made entry into the hotel and to the third
floor where they eventually took the man into custody. Sgt. Clifford Dempsey,
police spokesman, says the gunshot was apparently the result of an argument.
There were no injuries.
MAN SUFFERS SERIOUS SURF INJURY ON ASSATEAGUE--- A 41-year-old
man suffered serious injuries while surfing off Assateague Island before noon
this past Saturday. He complained of tingling in his arms and legs and was
flown to a trauma center on a state police helicopter.
NEWS RELEASES / NEWS REPORTS:
Automatically
move Gmail messages from Promotions to Primary tab
Delaware
among 14 states added to Pennsylvania's recommended self-quarantine list
Carney
takes issues with Delaware being put on states' quarantine lists
Ferry
foot traffic resumes but Delaware on quarantine list
Which mask is best
to stop spread of Coronavirus?
Fiery
crash on Coastal Highway at Argos Corner sends 4 to hospital (Saturday, 11:35
p.m.)
DelDOT
plans to replace New Road bridge in 2024
Lewes
mayor snaps back at Doo-Dah claim
Lewes,
BPW begin negotiations to end feud
Sussex,
Lewes, BPW officials to purchase Jones Farm
Lewes
to hold public hearing on wetlands buffer
Lewes
flooded with absentee ballots
Lewes
election set for this Saturday, July 18
Grotto
Pizza celebrates 60 years
CAMP
Rehoboth celebrates 30 years with photo series
Face
masks flopped on the Fourth of July in Rehoboth Beach
Don't
want to wear a mask? In some places, it could cost you.
Rehoboth
man reflects on co-producing 'Hamilton' movie
Ocean
Gallery's Joe Kroart featured in new documentary
Short-term
renters frustrated with lack of flexibility on cancellations (Rehoboth)
Clear Space's
Rehoboth Avenue theater takes step forward
City
of Rehoboth Beach modifies face covering requirement
Running of the Bull 2020 announcement
Bethany
adopts mask requirement, parking changes to slow Covid spread
Ørsted
no longer interested in Fenwick Island State Park
OC
Air Show rescheduled to Aug. 15-16
2
Ocean City bars close doors after staffers test positive for Covid
3
more Ocean City restaurants close temporarily after employees test positive
for Covid
More
Ocean City restaurants shut down as staffers test positive for Covid
West
Ocean City Hooters to close permanently due to Covid
Dolphins
swimming in Ocean City caught on camera by Natural Resources Police
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