Rehoboth Beach Local News

DART HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
New Year’s Eve, Tuesday, December 31, 2019 - DART paratransit service will operate regular weekday service. DART bus routes in New Castle, Kent and Sussex Counties will operate regular weekday service. Please reference the specific printed schedule or online schedules at www.DartFirstState.com. SEPTA Wilmington/Newark Line train will operate regular weekday service.

New Year’s Day, Wednesday, January 1, 2020 - DART statewide services, both fixed route and paratransit, will not operate. SEPTA Wilmington/Newark Line train service will operate on a Sunday schedule. Visit www.septa.org.

DELDOT TRAFFIC ALERT: ROUTE 1 NORTHBOUND BRIDGES OVER LEWES-REHOBOTH CANAL
DelDOT announces to motorists that the work on Route 1 Southbound portion of the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal Bridge between Bay Vista Road and Canal Road, Rehoboth will begin on Thursday, January 2, 2020. The southbound bridge lanes will be redirected onto the northbound bridge on Route 1 with two northbound lanes and one southbound lane available. Due to the impacts of the work required to switch traffic, motorists should anticipate delays.

This project milestone marks the halfway point for completion of the rehabilitation for the entire Lewes-Rehoboth Canal span. Once traffic is switched, contractors will perform in-kind structural repairs to the Southbound span identical to the work that was completed on the Northbound span that started back in late September.

The Department anticipates the repairs to the Southbound span to complete in early spring, with lane closures on both spans to follow for preparation of the final riding surface, with project completion before the upcoming 2020 summer season. For additional information on this project is available here https://deldot.gov/projects/index.shtml?dc=details&projectNumber=T201407602

The Sussex Gardeners Decorate the Zwaanendael Museum
Beginning on Dec. 4, 2019 and continuing through the month of December, the Zwaanendael Museum, located at 102 Kings Highway in Lewes, Del., will be decorated for the holidays based on the theme “Here We Go a Caroling.” Decorations will be provided by the Sussex Gardeners, a Rehoboth Beach-based garden group that will utilize plant material and holiday objects to illustrate the songs “Here We Come a Wassailing,” “The Holly and the Ivy,” “Jolly Old St. Nicholas,” “Let It Snow,” “Silver Bells” and “Winter Wonderland.”

The decorations will also be featured in two special programs—“Hospitality Night,” which will be held on Thursday, Dec. 5 from 5 to 8 p.m.; and “Tour Zwaanendael Museum,” which will be held on Saturday, Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Presented in conjunction with the Lewes Chamber of Commerce’s 2019 Lewes Merchants' Hospitality Night “Hospitality Night” will present a warm and inviting evening in which luminarias will light the walkway to the museum, and activities will include historical interpreters, demonstrations, music and seasonal refreshments.

The second program, “Tour Zwaanendael Museum,” held in conjunction with the Lewes Historical Society’s Christmas Tour of Lewes, will provide visitors with an opportunity to explore this historic museum which showcases the Lewes-area’s maritime, military and social history.

The 25 coolest towns in America: 2019   Our own Rehoboth Beach made the list.
Each of these 25 towns, all with populations under 100,000, offers something special and has come into its own as a destination of late. Whether you’re looking for untamed wilderness or sandy beaches, deep history or provocative art, craft cocktails or cheap beer, these are the 25 coolest small towns in the US to visit next year. Read about it here:

https://matadornetwork.com/read/25-coolest-towns-america-2019/?fbclid=IwAR05Kf2lKZXObOZuZVbsngwWr9hWfkmXkcafRzZjpTQSNJ2zFoC7FmJev1k

Rehoboth Beach Museum’s Exhibit of the Winning Photos of the 13th Annual Delaware Beach Life Magazine’s Photography Contest Opens

An exhibit of the winning photos of this year’s Delaware Beach Life Photo Contest opened at the Museum Saturday, November 9, 2019 and will run through March 31, 2020.

This exhibit features award-winning photographs chosen from among more than 200 entries. These images capture the many forms of life on Coastal Delaware. “Several of the entries provided unusual views of commonplace scenes, which elevated them to winning status,” said Terry Plowman, the magazine’s editor and publisher.

Beginning November 1, the Museum is open Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is by donation. The Museum is located at 511 Rehoboth Avenue just past the canal bridge, and next to the Visitor Center. Parking is available and the Museum is handicap accessible.

For information about Museum Memberships and future events, please call 302-227-7310 or visit our website at www.rehobothbeachmuseum.org.

Kids Catch-all Fishing Tournament has been recognized as one of the best kids fishing tournaments in the United States
FishingBooker, the US’s largest platform for booking fishing trips, has made a list of the best kids fishing tournaments in the entire country. Kids Catch-all Fishing Tournament has been recognized as one of the best ones!

Nothing is as rewarding as seeing your kid pull up their first fish. The joy you share at that moment, the pride you and your kid both feel, is what often sparks a lifelong love of angling. Still, your youngster can only learn so much from you (no matter how good of an angler you are). This is where the kids' fishing tournaments come in. These events are an ideal opportunity for your children to have fun and develop their skills, as well as make new friends. https://fishingbooker.com/blog/kids-fishing-tournaments-in-the-us/

Good news! Two DART Beach Bus Routes - Routes 201 and 204 - now run year-round. They will operate every 30 minutes, Monday through Saturday, from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Route 201 provides service from the Lewes Park & Ride lot, along DE Route 1 corridor to Tanger Outlets, Rehoboth Park & Ride and Rehoboth Boardwalk. Route 204 operates between the Lewes Park & Ride and Downtown Lewes, including the Cape May-Lewes Ferry Terminal. Free parking will now be offered at both the Lewes and Rehoboth Park & Rides. In addition, the following Sussex County services (Routes 206, 212 and 215) provide Saturday service year round.

Read more here for information about fares and how to connect with the services:  https://www.dartfirststate.com/dtc.ejs?command=PublicDTCPressReleaseDisplay&id=7309

Rehoboth Beach Museum's Call for Volunteers
Members of the public who are looking for volunteer opportunities are encouraged to contact the Rehoboth Beach Historical Society. Volunteer opportunities include greeting visitors, working with the archives, and completing research on objects in the permanent collection. The museum offers a relaxed working atmosphere and is handicap accessible. Volunteers can work for a few hours a month or a regular weekly schedule. Those interested are encouraged to call (302) 227-7310 and ask for the museum director, Nancy Alexander.

WE’RE WINNERS AGAIN!
 The City of Rehoboth Beach has received two new awards and recognitions – “Top 10 Family Beaches” from Family Vacation Critic and  “11 Mid-Atlantic Small Towns that Will Charm Your Socks Off” from www.WhereTraveler.com.

U.S. Lighthouse Society's Passport Stamps for Fourteen Foot Bank Lighthouse and the Lewes Life-Saving Station are Available at The Lewes Historical Society
The Lewes Historical Society is excited to now offer passports and stamps for the U.S. Lighthouse Society’s Passport Program.  Lighthouse Passports are available at The Lewes Historical Society’s Zwaanendael Club Museum Store for $15.00.  The Lewes Historical Society stamp locations for Fourteen Foot Bank Lighthouse and the Lewes Life-Saving Station include the Cannonball House Maritime Museum at 118 Front Street, Ryves Holt House at 218 Second Street, and the Zwannendael Club Museum Store at 302 Savannah Road, all located in Lewes, Delaware. For more information about the U.S. Lighthouse Society, visit www.uslhs.org.  To learn more about The Lewes Historical Society, visit www.HistoricLewes.org.

Rehoboth Beach Ranked #2 in "Happiest Seaside Towns in America"
Coastal Living magazine ranks Rehoboth Beach second in it's contest. Many who live, work and visit here agree! By the way, #1 was Stuart, Florida.

Lewes Historical Society Joins Delaware Library Catalog, Receives Grant to Update Website
The Lewes Historical Society is adding its library collections to the Delaware Library Catalog thanks to the efforts of Society collections volunteer Barbara Nonnemaker who is entering close to 4,000 records from the Society's in-house database.  The Society expects to add select records from its archives to the Delaware Heritage Collection as well. The Lewes Historical Society's library and archives are available to use free of charge and by appointment.  Access to parts of the collection are available at www.historiclewes.org.  The Delaware Library Catalog is searchable at lib.de.us  to explore our library collection as well as libraries across Delaware. If you are interested in donating historical materials to the collection or scheduling a research visit, please contact the Society at 302-645-7670 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Additionally, the Society has recently been awarded a grant from the Jessie Ball duPont Fund of Jacksonille, Florida to improve access to all its collections via its own website.

Delaware State Parks Tops in Nation
The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association, announced Delaware Natural Resources and Environmental Division of Parks and Recreation has won the 2016 National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management in the state parks system category. Amenities include Cape Henlopen State Park and Delaware Seashore State Park, a water-park, Brandywine Zoo, two golf courses, two marinas and a Civil War fort, among others. Also the Gordons' Pond trail in Sussex County.

The City of Rehoboth Beach smoking ban is in effect.
The smoking ban includes the beach (except for up to 20 areas on the beach designated as smoking permitted areas which will be clearly marked), the Boardwalk, the Bandstand Plaza, City parks, and the street ends adjoining the Boardwalk. Signage is in place to delineate the designated smoking areas. The approved ordinance can be read by clicking here.

Rehoboth Beach beach video
To see what you are missing, click here.