dewey beach

Hospital officials and lifeguards say strong surf produced more serious surf-related injuries last week than any other week in recent years.

In one day, the Rehoboth Beach Patrol reported six spinal injuries. This past week, emergency room physician Dr. Kevin Bristowe said Beebe Medical Center saw several broken necks, numerous ankle fractures and dislocated shoulders and clavical fractures.

Beachgoers and fishermen alike are noticing the unseasonably cold water temperatures that weather professionals attribute to a phenomena known as upwelling.

"Current water temperatures are very close to their July normal values of 73 F. However, a week ago water temperatures were 10 degrees colder," said Meteorologist Gary Szatkowski of the National Weather Service.

"South to southwest surface winds during the summer actually push the warm water temperatures at the surface offshore. Colder water from deeper in the ocean comes to the surface, resulting in cold water temperatures in the surf zone," he said.

Maria Kuzmina heard tales of Delaware back in her native Russia.

She thought the beaches sounded beautiful, the nightlife thrilling, and she was excited to be so close to New York City and Washington -- places she was familiar with only on television.

But mostly, it was the siren call of money to be made working on the boardwalk and in the outlet stores at Rehoboth Beach that prompted her to come to the United States this summer on a J-1 cultural exchange visa.

As more gas stations throughout Delaware crept toward the dreaded $4 a gallon figure, fewer travelers took to the roads over the Memorial Day weekend.

The state's busiest highways -- Del. 1 and I-95 -- both showed a large dropoff in the number of cars passing through toll plazas, according to numbers released Wednesday by the state Department of Transportation.

Memorial Day weekend traffic on Del. 1 was down 10 percent, or 65,000 vehicles, from last year. The state collected the figures from the two toll plazas on Del. 1 from Thursday to Tuesday.

This summer, the magic word for bars and clubs at the beach is "outdoors." From Rehoboth Beach to Ocean City, the night life is moving to poolside cabanas, outdoor tiki bars and waterfront cantinas.

Rehoboth Beach

Aqua Grill on Baltimore Avenue will be holding serious parties this summer. After an off-season makeover, the restaurant reopens this weekend as a warm-up for Memorial Day's blowout. Sponsored by PlanetOut, the three-day party features appearances by singer and performer Randy Thompson from Key West, Fla.

Despite otherwise dismal news in real estate, Realtors along the coastline say this year the options for last-minute vacationers are better than ever.

With new development throughout the beaches, Jack Lingo Realty Rental Manager Jo-Ann Bacher said many owners of investment properties are eager to rent.

"(Summer rentals are) shaping up really well," Bacher said. "Even at this late date there are still lots of properties to choose from."

Opportunities for a new life and a better future were set into motion for Sussex County in 2007.

Conjoined twins celebrated their first birthday apart and wind farms promised a plan to provide clean energy to Delaware residents.

Beach dunes will be replenished from nature's wear and beach-goers may have an opportunity to breathe in fresh air with a possible smoking ban. Not without some controversy, of course.

There is a dividing line cutting Delaware's resort coast almost in half -- the Indian River Inlet.

Keeping those two halves connected is a bridge the Delaware Department of Transportation is working to replace. But shifting soils, cost overruns and close inspections by legislators are complicating and extending the effort.

The Indian River Inlet Bridge is not just used by tourists traveling between beaches, but also for home and business deliveries, emergency and law enforcement agencies and commuter traffic.

A few years ago, Alex Pires made an offer that topped $1 million trying to get the Rolling Stones to play in Dewey Beach.

It was a long shot, but Pires, a partner in the Highway One LP that owns beach hot spots including the Bottle & Cork and the Rusty Rudder, tried his best to get close to the legendary band.

Earlier this week, Pires got his wish, but not in the way he envisioned.

The Rolling Stones, along with a host of other artists including the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Toby Keith, Willie Nelson, Sting and Elton John, are suing Highway One through Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI), an organization that collects licensing fees on behalf of songwriters, composers and music publishers.

This weekend, Oct. 5-7, thousands of greyhounds will visit Dewey Beach and Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, for the 13th annual Greyhounds Reach the Beach weekend. For attendees -who come from all over the country and even abroad - the weekend is equal parts education, networking, socializing and enjoying the local flavors.

For area residents, the weekend offers an opportunity to meet some of these gentle dogs. In fact, several curious visitors - having learned about the breed at Dewey Beach - have gone on to adopt greyhounds of their own.