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WEEKEND #06, 2015

Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

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MAN PULLED FROM DEWEY SURF IN CARDIAC ARREST, DIES

Rescuers removed a man from the Dewey Beach surf Saturday evening in cardiac arrest. The incident was reported around 6:35 p.m., well after lifeguards had gone off duty for the day.

Dewey Beach lifeguards had repeatedly warned beach visitors that the ocean was extremely rough and unsafe Saturday and it was closed when guards went off duty at 5 p.m.

Dewey Beach Patrol Capt. Todd Fritchman said that a lifeguard had been assigned to check dog licenses Saturday night and he had cleared the beach because of lightning. When a call for help was received around 6:35 p.m., that guard and another off-duty guard lifting weights at the town's lifesaving station responded on an ATV to just north of Chesapeake Street. That is where they found the victim at the high-tide line and immediately began two-man CPR.

According to Robert Stuart, Sussex County EMS director, the victim had reportedly been skim-boarding when he went down in the surf and did not get back up. But Capt. Fritchman said he had heard various reports and could not confirm what the man had been doing before he was discovered in the surf.

A news release from Sgt. Clifford Dempsey, Dewey Beach police spokesman, states that the cause of death has not yet been determined but it is suspected to be a surf-related spinal injury.

The man was taken to Beebe Hospital in cardiac arrest where he was eventually pronounced dead. He is described as a white man in his 50's or 60's from California.

The Delaware Medical Examiner's Office is continuing the investigation.


 

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REHOBOTH VOTES "YES" FOR OUTFALL AND CITY HALL

In Saturday's special referendum, the majority of Rehoboth Beach property owners voted for both the proposed borrowing for the ocean outfall and city hall replacement projects. The ocean outfall won by only about three percent of the vote.

The city had a good voter turnout. Here is a photo a voter took from the afternoon.

The polls closed at 6 p.m., and Wayne Steele, Rehoboth Beach election inspector, read the results at 6:08 p.m.

Here is the voting machine register tape Steele holds:

This was a special election. The annual municipal election for the City of Rehoboth Beach will be held on Saturday, August 8, from 10 to 6 p.m.


 

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WILD BIKE CHASE THRU R.B. ENDS NEAR HENLOPEN WITH ARRESTS

Two teens led Rehoboth Beach police on a bike chase along the ocean block streets and boardwalk Saturday afternoon.

Lt. William Sullivan says from what he understands, officers had spoken with the teens around 1:30 p.m. and warned them not to ride their bikes on the boardwalk. Both complied.

But around 3:30 p.m., the teens were spotted riding on the boardwalk and were ordered to stop by a seasonal officer. Both fled, he said. Minutes later, they were both again observed on the boardwalk and ordered to stop, but fled once again, with police in pursuit.

The five-minute chase started on the north boardwalk, then ran along Maryland Avenue to First Street to Olive Avenue back to the boardwalk and ended in the area of Grenoble Place. That is where the teens tried to flee on foot but were captured by police with the assistance of lifeguards.

The 16-year-old resisted arrest causing injury to one of the officers, Lt. Sullivan says, but the adult was taken into custody without incident.

The juvenile was charged with Bikes Prohibited from the Boardwalk, Disorderly Conduct, Offensive Touching of Law Enforcement Officer and Resisting Arrest with Force (Felony). The adult male was charged with Bikes Prohibited from the Boardwalk, Disorderly Conduct and Resisting Arrest (Misdemeanor). Both teens were from Linden, Pennsylvania and were released on unsecured bond.


 

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PAST WEEK'S SCOOTER ACCIDENTS
Two scooter wrecks, two days apart, similar circumstances

This past week there were three motor scooter accidents in the Rehoboth area.

Just outside of town, on Coastal Highway, motor scooters were involved in accidents at the same intersection on both Wednesday and Friday and the circumstances are almost identical.

Around 12:50 p.m. Wednesday, a 22-year-old male scooter rider was struck in the northbound shoulder by a Porsche Panamera at Church Street.

According to information from Sgt. Richard Bratz, state police spokesman, the scooter was in the northbound bus lane when the Porsche on the southbound side made a left turn onto Church Street and struck the scooter. Northbound traffic reportedly waved the Porsche to make the turn and the scooter was in the bus lane when they collided.

The scooter rider was taken to Beebe and treated for minor injuries. The driver of the Porsche was ticketed for "Failure to Yield Right of Way."

Ironically, two days later, an almost identical accident happened at this same intersection. According to Sgt. Bratz, around 12:05 p.m. on Friday, the driver of this Nissan Rogue struck a woman riding the blue Yamaha.

The scooter was also in the bus lane of northbound Coastal Highway as the Nissan made a left turn onto Church Street from southbound Coastal Highway. Once again, northbound traffic reportedly waved the Nissan to make the turn and the scooter was in the bus lane when the collision occurred.

State police ticketed the scooter rider for driving while suspended, fictitious tags and unregistered vehicle. The driver of the Nissan Rouge was ticketed for "Failure to Yield Right of Way." The scooter rider wore a helmet and was taken to Beebe Hospital with minor injuries. Note the dented windshield in this photo.

In downtown Rehoboth Beach early Wednesday evening, Lt. William Sullivan said the 57-year-old man riding this scooter swerved to avoid a vehicle that almost struck him, causing him to fall to the pavement. No traffic charges were issued. It happened just before 5:50 p.m. on Bayard Avenue at Hickman Street. The man wore a helmet and was taken to Beebe Hospital with minor injuries.

George Panarello, a local scooter guru, blogger and owner of All Wheels Bike & Scooter Shop, says that scooters should ride in the roadway, not on the shoulder, on all highways that have a speed limit of 45 m.p.h. or less. The problem happens, he notes, when traffic is stopped on the highway, as it often is outside town, and scooters switch to the bus lane/shoulder. The scooter riders, he says, speed into the intersections where they get struck by crossing vehicles.

Panarello said there are more scooters now in the area than in years past and they are an efficient means of transportation. But safety has become a significant issue. He is recommending changes to Delaware law to address this problem.


 

REHOBOTH AVENUE DRAWBRIDGE GETS STUCK, AGAIN

The Rehoboth Avenue drawbridge was unable to completely close after opening during Monday afternoon's heat wave. The south edge became stuck a couple inches above the roadway around 2:30 p.m.

A Rehoboth Beach fire engine poured water onto the edge, trying to cool it down. But the bridge did not finally budge until a DelDOT truck rolled rapidly onto the bridge and baroooom the bridge dropped back into place. The bridge was closed to vehicle traffic for about 40 minutes, but bikes and pedestrians crossed at their own risk.

"Regarding the bridge on Rehoboth Avenue, we believe that heat was causing expansion which prevented two components from having the required clearance while the bridge was being closed," states Jim Westhoff, DelDOT spokesman. "It is operational right now, but there might be some heat-related issues in the future. We are working to make sure this doesn't happen again, but it's possible," he warns.

The rest of the moving bridges in Sussex County are all operational, he adds. They are in Lewes, Seaford, Milford and Slaughter Beach.


 

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HAMMERHEAD HYSTERIA HITS OCEAN CITY

It was an incredible week for sharking sightings in Ocean City. It started last Monday when a hammerhead shark came to shore reportedly after it spawned several pups along the Ocean City/Fenwick Island coast. That shark later died and, according to this Dispatch article, was supposedly buried in the dunes. Here is a local TV news report with children who photographed and touched the dead shark.

Ironically, two days later, yet another hammerhead captured the public's interest as it seemed to glide aimlessly along the Ocean City shoreline.

A crowd of spectators gathered wherever it went. It almost beached around 8:30 p.m. between 51st and 59th Streets as about 100 spectators watched, took photos and shot video.

The sightings touched off a slew of news reports including the European tabloids with classic headlines such as Shark washes up on beach as sunbathers run for their lives in the Mirror and this one in the Daily Mail. Amazing video also surfaced on the TV news, such as this Fox5 report and this one on ABC7.

By Thursday, the hammerhead was last reported in one of the bays west of Ocean City.

Photos courtesy Joe Bradley and Mary Guthrie-Pugh


 

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REHOBOTH BEACH PUBLIC ALERT SYSTEM SURPRISES SOME VISITORS

When thunderstorms rapidly approached Rehoboth Beach Tuesday evening, some people in town were baffled, even shocked, when the city-wide alerting system sounded. The Whelen alerting system is located on this pole next to the firehouse.

Police Chief Keith Banks says the system is intended for use during severe or sudden events that require immediate public action. A 9-1-1 dispatcher, he says, is required to check with the police chief prior to activating the system.

This past Tuesday, the wobbling siren sounded for more than two minutes followed by about 30 seconds of silence before this pre-recorded message was transmitted. For future reference, this recording is of the actual Whelen alert from Tuesday and should not be confused with the firehouse siren. The wobbling Whelen alert is followed by one of several pre-recorded messages.

Chief Banks said the city does not intend to alarm anybody, but the department will continue to use the system for situations that require immediate public action, such as fast-approaching severe weather conditions.

The Whelen system allows the city to notify people quickly, he added, especially if they do not have access to their cell phones or e-mail. For less urgent notifications, he recommends people subscribe to the city's CodeRed emergency notification message system.


 

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POLITICKING STARTING ALREADY IN REHOBOTH

Usually it starts after July 4, but Richard Perry, candidate for Rehoboth Beach commissioner, got off to an early start for campaign season at Dr. Nancy Mondero and Mary Ann Bruno's charming home in Rehoboth's Pines this past Saturday. Potential voters, left and right, Nancy and Dagmar, were among those listening to his positions.

Perry says he has been focused on overly aggressively zoning. He has been concerned with what he calls an overreaction to a small vocal minority with regard to the recent swimming pool debate. The silent majority is no longer silent, Perry said. If elected, he said he plans to use logical, thoughtful approaches to solving the city's problems.

He offers 40 years of expertise as an attorney in finance and intends to bring a sense of balance to Rehoboth. Perry was featured in this June 22 Washington Blade article.

Dr. Mondero, on the far left, by the way, is Rehoboth's first gynecologist. We are delighted to have her and Mary Ann here.


 

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MORE LIFEGUARD STAND MISCHIEF

This DBP lifeguard stand was discovered on the beach shack at Swedes Street around 5:40 a.m. Thursday.

Around 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday, public works crews in Rehoboth Beach reported all lifeguard stands tipped over between Baltimore and Henlopen, in the "Olive Section."

Photo courtesy Tony Crivella


 

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SNYDER'S CANDY PICKED AS STATE'S #1 MAIL-ORDER FOODS

Jeff Balk, owner of Snyder's Candy and webmaster of VisitRehoboth explains how he was selected by Rachael Ray's magazine as Delaware's best mail-order foods.

Back in December, Balk says, the Food Network Magazine featured Snyder's Candy saltwater taffy as the best confection in the State of Delaware. "I'm thinking this caught the attention of Rachael Ray and her staff as they contacted me in April asking for samples of our taffy," he says.

"This coincided with the introduction of our new Rehoboth Beach full-color taffy box," he noted. Balk says he sent the "Everyday with Rachael Ray" staff samples of his taffy and his only proof of the then-future box. "I was thrilled to later receive confirmation that we had been picked by Rachael Ray and her staff as the Best Mail-Order Food in the State of Delaware," he said.

The magazine hit newsstands and home subscribers the first week of this month and he says his online sales for Snyder's Saltwater taffy have been great as he has shipped taffy to as far as California.


 

CHECK OUT THE NEW ARTWORK AT THE ELLINGER GALLERY!
by Dagmar Kirchner Henney

 

What makes one think and design so regular, methodical works of art? Is this the beginning of a unique new genre? Ward's refreshing, colorful approach is a departure from the traditional landscapes, still lifes and portraits we see from other artists.

The viewer often wonders what the artist is trying to convey. So, if Ward is not around, he has started leaving notes explaining his works. Shown above is "LIFE," one of his latest works.

It is acrylic on canvas. Please visit his wonderful gallery and see his works -- and much more -- for yourself.

Our lives do seem to pass in defined modules and squares. We love you Ward!

The Ward Ellinger Gallery is in the courtyard adjacent to CAMP Rehoboth.


 

REFLECTIONS ON REHOBOTH AVENUE

 


 

OTHER NEWS:

EXCHANGE STUDENT INJURED IN MINOR BIKE ACCIDENT--- A Russian-speaking exchange student was injured around 5 p.m. Tuesday in a bicycle accident on Garfield Parkway near the Bethany Beach police station. She was bumped by a vehicle at low speed and taken to Beebe Hospital with minor injuries.

 

3 RESCUED FROM JOLLY ROGER ROLLER COASTER AS STORM APPROACHES--- As thunderstorms arrived at the shore Tuesday evening, Ocean City firefighters responded for two customers and an employee stranded in a single roller coaster car at the popular amusement park on 29th Street. It was reported around 8:45 p.m. and the rescue was completed by 9:05 p.m. Rescuers used a fire department bucket truck to lower the people from the car.

 

DEWEY BEACH PATROL PROACTIVE ON PREDATOR FISH--- Lifeguards in Dewey Beach call them "bait balls," schools of fish such as menhaden that may attract predators such as bluefish or even sharks. So when guards spot such fish in the swim zone, as was the case this past Thursday morning, Capt. Todd Fritchman explains, they clear the area of swimmers until the school has past.

 

DRUNK MAN DUNKS GIRL INTO HOTEL POOL, GETS ARRESTED--- Rehoboth Beach police arrested an intoxicated man who, for reasons unknown, says Lt. William Sullivan, dunked a 6-year-old girl he did not know into a hotel pool around 1 p.m. Thursday, causing her and her mother alarm. Lt. Sullivan said he was arrested for Reckless Endangering 2nd Degree, Offensive Touching and Disorderly Conduct. He was committed to Sussex Correctional Institution in default of bond. Although this complaint did not involve any sexual-related touching or a sex offender, Lt. Sullivan notes that out-of-state sex offenders are required to register with the police department when they come to stay in town for vacation.

 

YET ANOTHER BALCONY FALL IN OCEAN CITY--- It has happened yet again. Another person has jumped or fallen from an Ocean City balcony. This time it happened around 9:30 p.m. Sunday from the 5th floor of the Plim Plaza Hotel on North 1st Street. The 18-year-old male was alert and somewhat combative when paramedics took him to the 3rd Street ball field where he was flown by helicopter to a trauma center.

 

MEN FLEE POLICE AFTER STEALING STOP SIGN--- A Rehoboth Beach police officer on patrol around 2 a.m. Saturday just happened to come across two to four men who had just stolen a stop sign from Third Street and Oak Avenue. The men were in the wooded area at Columbia Avenue and Third Street when she noticed them pass. They were able to escape but dropped the stop sign as they fled.


 

NEWS RELEASES / NEWS REPORTS:

A brief history of beach traffic in the DC area

Drug Recognition Experts (DREs) on patrol in Delaware

How did the chicken cross the road? Carefully!

DNREC highlights Delaware's new mosquito spray notification system during National Mosquito Control Awareness Week

Sussex unveils Delaware Coastal Airport

Rehoboth board grants Dogfish Head variance

On second try, Dogfish gets the go-ahead

Rehoboth's Funland gets its own app

Funland in your hand? There's an app for that

Commemorative bricks for sale in Rehoboth

Judge: Rehoboth Bay beach property fight one of 'nastiest'

Rusty Rudder addresses noise

Party Crashers program labeled a success

9-year-old pedestrian struck in Fenwick expected to recover from accident


 

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