dewey beach

Dangerous surf and "life-threatening" rip currents could force more swimmers out of the ocean today as Hurricane Bill continues churning northward in the Atlantic.

Punishing waves and rip currents -- swift channels that can pull swimmers out to sea -- were produced by the storm Saturday, forcing lifeguards to close or restrict swimming at many East Coast beaches including Rehoboth in Delaware and Ocean City in Maryland. And though the hurricane had dropped to a Category 1 storm by Saturday evening, the National Hurricane Center in Miami warned that Bill could bring "extremely dangerous surf and ... rip currents to parts of the U.S. East Coast" before reaching Canada.

The Lighthouse’s “Taco Toss” happy hour, with its $1 tacos, nachos and hot dogs, is the first stop for plenty of weekend warriors who call Dewey home every summer weekend.

As always, it’s an eclectic mix on the bar’s deck as the sun sets on Rehoboth Bay.

Young men wearing T-shirts like one that reads “I’d hit that” under an image of a pinata try to pick up women while taking slugs from a can of Bud Light.

It was more than a little bit hokey, but Hilary Webb's suggestion of a theme for this article, offered Saturday from behind the check-in counter at the Adams Ocean Front Motel, certainly summed up the situation.

"What are you going to call it -- 'Dewey Beach Has Gone to the Dogs?' "

It was the third and next-to-last day of the 14th annual Greyhounds Reach the Beach observance, and, indeed, it seemed that every other person here -- and, perhaps, every fourth person at Rehoboth Beach -- was leashed to at least one greyhound.

This Columbus Day weekend, Friday-Sunday, Oct. 10-12, greyhound enthusiasts from across the nation will converge on the Delaware shore to celebrate their love of this gentle and elegant breed.

Greyhounds Reach the Beach began as a gathering of a few friends in 1994 and grew to more than 3,000 greyhounds in 2005. This year, about 1,200 people and 2,000 greyhounds are expected to attend. Since its founding, other gatherings have sprouted up around the country, making it easier for folks to get their greyhound fix closer to home.

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."