Rehoboth Beach Local News

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

COVID-19 Impact on the Lewes United Methodist Churches (Faith & Israel)
Presently, all physical morning and afternoon worship services, prayer worship, Bible Studies, Small Group studies, and meetings have been postponed until May 9, 2020, if not earlier. If there are any changes, we will inform you as soon as possible. It is our desire to continue being an effective church and remain connected to our church families through Worship, Studying the Word, Prayer and Giving. Faith U.M. Church Blessing Box located outside of Faith United Methodist Church, 19940 Church Street, Rehoboth, DE will be stocked with non-perishable for anyone who would like to receive a blessing. Also, Faith U.M. Church Soup Kitchen located at Faith U.M. Church Fellowship Hall, 37439 Oysters House Road, Rehoboth, DE. will be open every Tuesday, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. for carry outs only.

Blessing Box
Faith Blessing Box is located outside of Faith United Methodist Church, 19940 Church St, Rehoboth, DE. It will be stocked with non-perishable items for anyone who would like to receive a blessing.

Soup Kitchen
Faith Soup Kitchen located at Faith United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 37439 Oyster House Road, Rehoboth, DE will be open every Tuesday, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. for carry outs only.

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.