Rehoboth Beach Local News

Traffic Alerts and Info: Memorial Day through Labor Day avoid travel on mid mornings or early afternoons on Saturdays as this is "Moving In Day" for weekly renters, and traffic is usually very heavy.  If you must travel on Saturday, be in the downtown parking areas by 9:00am.  Avoid leaving Rehoboth Beach late Sunday afternoons, as well as early Monday mornings.  On rainy days, Route 1 is very congested due to outlet shoppers.  Be sure to exercise caution and patience during your travels on Route 1 as there are many last minute lane changes and turns made. For a live traffic update:  Listen to 1380AM on your radio or go to http://www.deldot.gov/Traffic/travel_advisory/#advisories . Live beach traffic cameras:

click here.

It's a Law!!! No texting or talking on cell phone unless a Blue-tooth device is used. Must have "hands free".

DART's Beach Connection (Route 305) began operating July 3
This route provides a relaxing ride from Wilmington to Rehoboth Beach on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays through, Monday, September 7. For information: www.DartFirstState.com or call 1-800-652-DART.

176 Campground Anniversary Celebration Cancelled for 2020

(Frankford, DE) – The Union Wesley United Methodist Church located on Powell Farm Road in Frankford, Delaware celebrated its 175th anniversary last year. It was an awesome event. It is the oldest campground in the state of Delaware and has never missed an anniversary celebration. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 176th Campground anniversary celebration will be cancelled.

Because this has been an annual event, a celebration for the 716 years in existence will be celebrated by the congregation and others in some form in July or August.

For further information, please contact Rev. Jeanel Starling pastor, Union Wesley United Methodist Church at (302) 422-9749.

Delaware's State Museums Reopening With Self-Guided Tours
“We are very excited and proud to welcome the public back to Delaware’s historical sites in a safe and deliberate manner,” said Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs Director Tim Slavin. “Our team has worked hard to design an experience for visitors that connects them to the people, places and artifacts of our shared past, while respecting the demands of the present.”

Delaware’s state museums include the John Dickinson Plantation, the Old State House and the Johnson Victrola Museum in Dover, the Zwaanendael Museum in Lewes, and the New Castle Court House Museum.

Tours will take place at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Sundays (except for the Johnson Victrola Museum.) To make a tour reservation, patrons must call the museum they wish to visit. Contact information is available here.

Self-guided tours will be 30 minutes in length and will include reference materials that can be accessed via smartphone or in single-use printed form. Due to space constraints, some museum areas will remain closed for the time being. Tour groups will be limited to four or six visitors, depending on the museum, and cloth face coverings must be worn at all times by staff, volunteers and patrons. All public museum areas will be cleaned between tour groups according to guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

https://history.delaware.gov/museums/

DART Resumes Full Bus Service Levels, Front Door Boardings and Fare Collection on Monday, June 1

DART will resume full-service levels starting Monday, June 1, with the exception of the seasonal Beach Bus services in the resort areas. Front door boardings and fare collection will also be reinstated. https://www.dartfirststate.com/

Governor Carney Releases Phase 1 Economic Reopening Guidance

Phase 1 of Delaware’s Recovery will begin June 1

https://governor.delaware.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2020/05/Delaware-Economic-Reopening-Guidance_Phase.pdf

May 12th, 2020

The City of Rehoboth Beach will open the beach and boardwalk on Friday, May 15, 2020, subject to the following mandatory limitations:

The beach and boardwalk will be opened for walking and exercise from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Exercise is defined as an activity requiring physical effort carried out to sustain health and fitness.
The boardwalk will also be open for the public to access local businesses.
When utilizing the beach and boardwalk please:

Wear a face covering.
Maintain social distancing (at least 6 feet from others).
Keep gatherings to 10 people or less.

Bikes are permitted on the boardwalk from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Leashed dog walking is allowed on the beach May 15 through May 29. Dogs are not allowed on the boardwalk.
Public restrooms will open May 15 at Rehoboth, Baltimore, and Delaware Avenues.
At this time, swimming, surfing, and loitering are not allowed.
Parking meters and permits are suspended through May 29.

For the latest updates on the City of Rehoboth Beach’s Comprehensive Action Plan in moving forward with reopening the City, please visit www.cityofrehoboth.com. For more information, please contact the Communications Department at 302-227-6181 ext. 522 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

CHILDRENS’ THEATRE CANCELS PERFORMANCES, OFFERS ONLINE FILM AND THEATRE CAMPS

It is with deep regret the we announce that the Rehoboth Summer Children’s Theatre has had to cancel all public performances for the 2020 season. Theatre and film camps will be conducted online instead. This is based on a concern for the health and safety of our patrons and staff. Also affecting the decision is the uncertainty regarding the availability of the performance and camp venues. In addition to the public performances staged at Epworth Methodist Church, RSCT usually maintains an extensive outreach tour bringing the theatre into locations throughout Kent and Sussex Counties. However, most of these venues are closed or cancelling in-house programs.

While the shows won’t be “live and on stage”, RSCT will be very active throughout the summer. Our outstanding staff of instructors has created dynamic, interactive virtual camps in theatre and film for ages 5-14. The company will also be working with area libraries, providing steaming content to replace the live performances that were originally scheduled. For the public at large, videos of previous performances will rotate on the RSCT website throughout the summer.

“We have weathered many storms in the 38 previous seasons”, says company co-founder, Steve Seyfried. “We will get through this one too, and return even stronger for season # 40!” Information on the film and theatre camps, as well as special programming can be found at www.rehobothchildrenstheater.org.

Streaming Films
Rehoboth Beach Film Society is inviting moviegoers to enjoy its Cinema Art Theater from the comfort of their own homes with its Virtual Theatre. Available at www.rehobothfilm.com,  users may choose from a variety of features to screen on their devices while sheltering in place. Cost is $8 to $12.

The Rehoboth Beach Film Society receives a portion of each registration

April 9th, 2020

The City of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, was named a 2019 Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation in honor of its commitment to effective urban forest management.

The community also received a Tree City USA Growth Award for demonstrating environmental improvement and a higher level of tree care.

Rehoboth Beach achieved Tree City USA recognition by meeting the program’s four requirements: a tree board or department, a tree-care ordinance, an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.

The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters.

“Tree City USA communities see the positive effects of an urban forest firsthand,” said Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation. “The trees being planted and cared for by Rehoboth Beach are ensuring that generations to come will enjoy a better quality of life. Additionally, participation in this program brings residents together and creates a sense of civic pride, whether it’s through volunteer engagement or public education.”

If ever there was a time for trees, now is that time. Communities worldwide are facing issues with air quality, water resources, personal health and well-being, energy use, and protection from extreme heat and flooding. The Arbor Day Foundation recently launched the Time for Trees initiative to address these issues, with unprecedented goals of planting 100 million trees in forests and communities and inspiring 5 million tree planters by 2022. With Tree City USA recognition, the City has demonstrated a commitment to effective urban forest management and doing its part to help address these challenges for City residents now and in the future.

More information on the program is available at www.arborday.org/TreeCityUSA. 

March 28th, 2020
All residents of the City of Rehoboth Beach have been urged to shelter in place, to stay at home and not leave your houses unless absolutely necessary as confirmed cases of the disease continue to rise daily. As reported just a few hours ago by the Delaware Division of Public Health there have been 214 total laboratory-confirmed cases in the state since March 11 and 59 of these are from Sussex County. The total number of positive cases represents a cumulative total since the pandemic began.

We continue to urge all second homeowners in the City to heed warnings and ask everyone to think of your neighbors and your families, and to protect your own health by sheltering in your primary homes. This is a pandemic. In a small community like ours, hospitals do not have the beds and staff for the growing number of COVID-19 cases that could affect our City. Please consider the impacts of potentially and unknowingly being a carrier of the virus and possibly infecting others. Please consider coming to your second home when circumstances improve. Our primary goal is public safety for all! Nothing is more important at this time than doing everything we can to ‘flatten the curve’ and slow the spread of COVID-19 so that our health care system is not overwhelmed.

Rest assured Mayor Kuhns is in communication with Governor Carney often. The Commissioners monitor all contact regularly and are frequently in touch with the Mayor and me. Should other emergency measures be warranted we will inform you immediately. We have been able to use electronic signboards to transmit messages advising the public of closures and the police department now has an emergency message they are broadcasting on the Boardwalk and beach to keep people from exercising themselves and their dogs.

Please understand that your City Government is operating within the State of Emergency. Although it is the weekend, we continue to work off-site and emergency responders throughout the City are working 24/7 with one goal-to keep you all safe and informed. We are trying very hard to provide clear and concise information. Please contact us by email to allow time to answer your questions and please check the City’s website at cityofrehoboth.com frequently as messages are added often.

We must be united, vigilant and stick together. We will get through these trying times.

All residents living within the City of Rehoboth Beach limits are encouraged to visit the City of Rehoboth Beach CodeRED self-enrollment site to enroll additional contact information including cell phone numbers, text, and email addresses.

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 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

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.

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.