Rehoboth Beach Local News

Children’s Book About Lewes Wins Delaware Press Association Award
The Lost Locket of Lewes, written by Ilona E. Holland,Ed.D., illustrated by Judy Love wins first place in children’s book -- fiction category, Delaware Press Association Communications Contest 2019.   The Lewes Historical Society is proud to announce that its publication, The Lost Locket of Lewes, won the first place award in children’s fiction from the Delaware Press Association. In this beautifully illustrated book, readers join Virginia and Rodney as they discover a world in Lewes that spans two centuries. Through its unique blend of fiction and nonfiction, readers are introduced to life in Lewes in 1893. Kings Ice Cream was a fish market then and Biblion a men’s clothing shop. Leah Burton, the daughter of Dr. Rodney Burton, helps the twins solve the mystery of the locket. Author Ilona Holland drew inspiration for the story from an actual locket owned by the Lewes Historical Society. The keepsake containing a lock of hair and a photograph was found on Lewes Beach after the Great Blizzard of March 1888. No one knows how it ended up on the beach or who once owned it. After researching the Journals of the Lewes Historical Society and interviewing Hazel Brittingham and Mike DiPaolo, Dr. Holland created this original story for all ages. Since the book’s release in September 2018, Ilona has visited many area schools to share both the book and the creative process of writing historical fiction. Children respond with enthusiasm and keen interest as they learn about life in Lewes in 1893 and engage with the mystery and humor of the story.

The Lost Locket of Lewes is available at the Lewes History Museum Store and from their online shop, as well as at KidsKetch in Lewes and Browseabout Books in Rehoboth.

Rehoboth Beach Museum Initiates Storytelling Past and Present
Rehoboth Beach, DE—Local storyteller and author Ed Okonowitz will launch a new storytelling program at the Rehoboth Beach Museum on Thursday, March 21, 2019, at 2 PM. Throughout the spring, the Museum will feature both prominent storytellers as well as “open mike” type of events where the public will be invited to share stories on a specific theme.
At the first event of the series on March 21, Mr. Okonowitz will discuss “Storytelling from Brandywine to the Bay” where he will weave in tales of history, humor, romance, and mystery, all set in familiar sites between the headwater of the Brandywine and the banks of the Delaware Bay. The audience will learn about the region’s rich history through yarns, folk-tales, and historical and contemporary pieces.
To initiate the new storytelling program at the Museum, Mr. Okonowitz will also discuss the art of telling a good story, and how to build to a suspenseful,well-constructed story that will hold an audience’s attention.
In April, the Museum will begin a monthly program, “What’s Your Story?” where members of the public will be invited to come in and tell their own stories on a specific theme. Museum Director Nancy Alexander said, “Before television, radio and social media, a common form of entertainment was storytelling. Storytellers are the custodians of early history. A storyteller tells from memory rather than reading from a book. It is this tradition that we hope to recreate at the Rehoboth Museum.”
Ed Okonowitz is experienced in the art of creating stories to entertain and inform. A Delaware native, he presents storytelling programs throughout the Mid-Atlantic region at conventions, libraries, private and public events, and in schools and colleges. He retired from the University of Delaware where he taught as an editor, and for many years he taught courses in folklore, storytelling, talk radio, and feature writing. This program is funded by the Delaware Humanities Forum.
Space may be limited so reservations are required. Please call (302) 227-7310 to insure your space. The program is free for members. A $5 donation is suggested for non-members. The Museum is located at 511 Rehoboth Avenue. There is free parking and the museum is handicap accessible. For information on upcoming programs, visit our website www.rehobothbeachmuseum.org.

Flight of the Phoenix to Raise Funds for Teenage Burn Survivors
The mythical bird, the Phoenix, was identified in many cultures including Greek, Egyptian, Judaism, and Christianity. The Phoenix was reincarnated and rose with a brilliant shine. This example can be compared with experiences that children, teens, firefighters and wounded warriors experience following their devastating, disfiguring and potentially disabling encounter with severe burns, yet rebound from their positive experiences at a special camp.

The Adaptive Sports Center located in Crested Butte, CO enhances the quality of life for people with disabilities through exceptional outdoor adventure activities. One activity is The Roger Pepper Adventure Camp for Teenage Burn Survivors. There are survivors from the local region who have attended the facility. The camp will be the recipient of the proceeds raised at the Inaugural Flight of the Phoenix 5K run and walk on April 27th. Attendees will also learn more about fire prevention, precaution, and protection.

Gary’s Dewey Beach Grill located at 2000 Delaware 1, Dewey Beach, DE 19971, is hosting the events. The 5K run and 1 Mile Non-Competitive Walk will be Saturday April 27th. Bring the entire family. The run and walk will begin at 10:00 AM followed by a fun festival of food, beer for those age 21 and over, music, kids’ games, as well as the programs offered by the state firefighters. There’s something for everyone. www.races2run.com/beach-races-2 .

Races2Run and Highway One Companies Announce the 17th Summer Series
For the 17 th year the Highway One Companies and Races2Run are sponsoring 10 walk/runs from May 27th until September 7th at well-known establishments in Dewey Beach. Awards are given at each race including gift cards for winners. Other awards go to top 3 winners in five-year age categories from 9 to 80 and to top walkers. Visit http://www.races2run.com/dewey-beach-series for details for each of the Ten Sisters events and to register early and get a discount. If you complete all 9 events (Dewey Color Run not mandatory) there are special series-end awards.

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.