Fenwick Island

Since 2006, Aquatic Marine LLC has been providing lifeguard and beach services to the shores of North Bethany and other locations throughout the area. With Sussex County’s continuing development, opportunities for Aquatic Marine have been expanding. One of owner Mike Jandzen’s recent additions has been the Sunridge pool at the Bayside community, and as their second pool prepares for its opening, Jandzen has been keeping busy.

Coastal flood warning for Delaware beaches, until 6 p.m. EDT, Sat., Aug. 29
Issued by the national weather service, Philadelphia, Pa., 8:50 a.m. EDT, Sat., Aug. 29
... High risk of rip currents...

A Small Craft Advisory is now in effect until 8 a.m. on Sunday.

Tropical Storm Danny is forecast to cause waves to increase on the coastal waters of Delaware and New Jersey. Waves are expected to reach 6 to 9 feet on Saturday, before they begin to subside slowly on Sunday.

Sussex County EOC warns Hurricane Bill could cause rough surf, strong rip currents

Warning issued by the National Weather Service, Philadelphia, Pa.
6:11 a.m. EDT, Friday, Aug. 21, 2009:

Fenwick Island Beach Patrol (FIBP) members knew that defending their title earned at last year’s United States Lifeguard Association (USLA) national competition wasn’t going to come easy when they traveled earlier this month to Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. But FIBP, along with three other patrols in Sussex County, definitely proved that they were among the best in the nation, with impressive finishes in a wide range of competitions and a fourth-place overall finish.

What do a bowling ball, a shopping cart and thousands of cigarette butts have in common? Why, they were all items picked up in last year’s Coastal Clean-up, of course!

There’s nothing that can boost self-esteem quite like being able to juggle swords or flaming objects.

This weekend, the Fenwick Island Yacht Club will host the fourth annual Fenwick Island Boat Parade, as participants take to the water and decorate their vessels to make a splash with the judges and viewers alike.

The Natural Resources Defense Council has issued its 2009 report, “Testing the Waters,” listing Delaware beaches as first in beachwater quality.

On Tuesday, July 28, just after 8 a.m., an inspection port on a silo at the NRG-owned Indian River Generating Station (power plant) near Millsboro malfunctioned while employees were performing routine maintenance, allowing fly ash to escape while it was being loaded onto a truck for disposal.

Fenwick Island’s town council and residents heard from Councilwoman Vicki Carmean on the issue of public safety last week, at their monthly council meeting.

Starting on Saturday, Aug. 1, and continuing for an entire week, Fenwick Island will be turning back the clock for an eight-day celebration of the beach town’s heritage. The first-ever Old Fenwick Island Days will take place from Aug. 1 through Aug.8, to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the Fenwick Island Lighthouse. Visitors and residents are welcome to relive the past through photographs, historic tours and exclusive presentations, with a festival in the park wrapping things up on Saturday, Aug. 8.

Around 8:15 on Tuesday morning, July 28, while employees at the Indian River Indian River Generating Station near Millsboro were performing routine maintenance on an ash silo, an inspection port on the silo failed, causing ash to land on the concrete floor, NRG officials said Tuesday. Some ash, which they said is a nonhazardous byproduct of coal-powered generation, created a cloud for a time.

The Freeman Stage at Bayside in Fenwick Island has already played host to a multitude of shows and performances this season, and this weekend is sure impress, yet again. On Friday, July 24, and Saturday, July 25, from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m., the Freeman Foundation will present the Second Annual Arts and Jazz Festival, highlighting some of the area’s most talented visual and musical artists. The free event, open to the public, will feature artwork from local painters, ceramic artists and photographers, and soothing jazz music from four bands.

For generations, local farm families have been staples throughout the area’s agricultural community, providing residents and visitors alike with some of the freshest products and produce in the region. While names such as Johnson, Parsons, Bennett, Megee and Hudson have served as mainstays of Sussex County’s farming scene for centuries, it’s the younger generations who will be carrying on the tradition for years to come.

Farmers’ markets throughout the area have been helping local growers get their product to the people in a very direct way, but as Bethany Beach’s farmers’ market is demonstrating, it’s not just the general public who choose the local produce and goods offered at the markets. Restaurants throughout the region rely heavily on the breads, fruit, vegetables and other products from local producers to help assemble their menus, and at Bethany’s farmers’ market, cooking demonstrations have been sharing the benefits of bringing local flavor right into the kitchen, at home and at area restaurants.

For nearly two decades, the Beach & Bay Cottage Tour has been benefitting the Friends of the South Coastal Library (FOSCL), which has, in turn, served as a crucial element of the library’s tremendous expansion and recent reopening. The South Coastal Library and Joshua M. Freeman Cultural Center celebrated its grand reopening this past May, thanks to community funded events and a capital campaign headed by FOSCL.

With the Rehoboth Bay as the backdrop, state and local officials accepted a check from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the amount of $19.2 million on Thursday, July 2. The money, provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, will help to finance wastewater projects – many in Sussex County – which, in turn, will support the health and welfare of the area’s citizens, as well as the environment. It will also bring about 450 much-needed jobs to the area.

Like many people who receive an anonymous gift, Lynne Emminizer has a need to let people know what it means to her.

Produce is undoubtedly the core of the merchandise at local farmers’ markets, but John Sapienza is proving that there’s plenty more to buy there. The chef and restaurant proprietor has been in the food industry for 25 years, and he exerts his “shop local” mind frame to the fullest. That is precisely why Sap’s Pudding has become an instant classic at the Fenwick Island Farmers’ Market.

In 1838, Charles Dickens penned his second novel, popularly known as “Oliver Twist.” Written originally as a socio-economic criticism, the story of Oliver was the first written featuring a child protagonist and is perhaps one of Dickens’ most famous tales. Various movie and stage adaptations have been created throughout the years, and on July 16 and 17, Clear Space Productions and The Freeman Stage at Bayside will be presenting the timeless tale, in musical fashion, with “Oliver.”

After much discussion, the Fenwick Island Town Council this week voted down on a first reading a sanitation ordinance that would have required commercial Dumpsters in the town be screened with fencing.

Fourth of July festivities at the Freeman Summer Stage at Bayside will kick off at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 2, and Friday, July 3, with two performances of the Olney Theatre’s musical “Ain’t Misbehavin” and a special free concert by the Dirty Sock Funtime Band on Saturday, July 4, at 10 a.m.

Topping last year’s award-winning performance at the United States Lifeguarding Association’s Nationals competition in Manhattan Beach, Calif., is a challenge for the Fenwick Island squad, headed by 20-year captain Tim Ferry, but that’s not stopping them from trying. As the lifeguards of the Fenwick Island Beach Patrol (FIBP) get into the summer season, they’re taking their Friday-morning training from the beach to strengthen themselves at World Gym in Ocean View.

On Tuesday, June 16, the Fenwick Island Board of Elections announced nominees for four town council seats with terms of 2009 through 2011. Three of the four incumbents up for election – Vicky Carmean, Todd Smallwood and current Mayor Audrey Serio – registered to run for re-election, while Councilman Chris Clark did not file to run again.

The Fenwick Island area’s newest dining experience is all that, and then some. In fact, owner Jimmy Kraft has welcomed twins John and Randy Fels as managers, to transform it into the ultimate triple threat: restaurant, bar and seafood market. Combine those with a great view and affordable pricing, and you have Beach Daze.

Next week kicks off another season of the Bethany Beach and Fenwick Island farmers’ markets, and judging by last year’s success, this summer should be a promising one. Ellen McGee of McGee Farms is hoping that a new location and an additional market day during the week will help bring in even more business to the Fenwick market.

To promote more attendance at their meetings, the Fenwick Island Environmental Committee will meet in the evening next month. Their July meeting will be held on July 8 at 7 p.m.

Assembling the new Indian River Inlet Bridge is a daunting task. But for a handful of local workers, the undertaking is a sigh of relief in a struggling economy.

Weather permitting; the Mosquito Control Section of the State of Delaware is planning insecticide application during daylight hours on Wednesday, June 10, and Thursday, June 11, 2009.