For all its contributions to American society -- it was the first state to ratify the Constitution, it was the site of a pivotal event in rock 'n' roll history, and it's the proud birthplace of both nylon and Valerie Bertinelli -- Delaware these days is known mostly for two things: beaches and tax-free shopping.

Maybe a third, according to Mariela Gomes: It ain't Jersey.

"It's not like other places," Gomes says of Rehoboth, the beach-lover's haven where she and a dozen swim-suited and flip-flopped family members and friends were spending a day. "It's not New Jersey, where you get rude teenagers. This is family. It's clean, it's close to home." (She's from Smyrna, about 50 miles north.)

This year’s Punkin Chunkin includes new activities, events and opportunities. The Delaware Lottery is offering a new e-game and prize-pack drawing, the first Punkin Chunkin pageant is poised to start a new tradition and 400 drivers will have a chance to park on the infield.

It's the perfect time of year to trade the chilly air for a comfortable seat in a heated movie theater. And that's exactly what organizers of the annual Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Society hope area cinema-enthusiasts do this weekend.

The Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival -- an annual event that brings more than 100 independent films to the Movies at Midway -- is scheduled to kick off Wednesday, Nov. 5.

The beaches may have experienced unseasonably warm weather over the last few weeks, but the chill is starting to set in. And as temperatures fall, so do hopes of participating in warm-weather activities.

But the end of summer doesn't have to mean the end of fun. Sports enthusiasts all over Delaware are beginning to daydream about the Poconos or Vermont, where a fresh coat of powder may equal a perfect day of snowboarding or skiing.

When you consider taking in performances from Joe Piscopo, Charlie Thomas' Drifters and The Neville Brothers, you may anticipate quite a drive. But that's not the case.

Every year, the Rehoboth Beach Autumn Jazz Festival, to be held through Sunday, brings some of the biggest names and all-time favorites to the Delaware coast. In the past, performers including Queen Latifa, James Ingram and Al Green have taken the stage.

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.

Oktoberfest is a centuries-old celebration in Germany that lasts about two weeks near the end of September and into October. The celebration first began with serving several types of Oktoberfestbiers, or beers, back in 1818 and ended with a horse race.

Since then, countries and states across the globe have adapted their own version of the event, and Rehoboth is no different. This year, several area bars and restaurants will join the festivities, offering special German dishes and drink specials during the event.

A collaborative effort between Sussex Cyclists and state transportation officials is helping to save the lives of those who cycle along the Route 1 corridor.

For the past three years, under the hot sun, giving up Saturday mornings and even at night, volunteers, including those from Sussex Cyclists, and Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) staff have manned bicycle safety checkpoints.

With plans well under way to begin reconstruction of Rehoboth Beach's aging boardwalk, the city's boardwalk committee will reconvene Tuesday to discuss further measures to assure the future of the popular tourist destination.

Recent talk has centered on the potential decking materials that will be used to create the new boardwalk. According to Stan Mills, chairman of the committee, much of the boardwalk is almost half a century old.