rehoboth beach

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.

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.

Click Here to see America's 10 Best Boardwalks (by Forbes.com)

9th position - Rehoboth Beach, Delaware: "Lots of family-oriented arcades here. Beachcombers can test their skills at Virtual Fun Arcade & Playland, Surfside Arcade, Funland Amusement Park and Doll

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.

The sagging U.S economy has sparked changes at businesses in Rehoboth Beach as business owners work to give customers more bang for the buck.

At the forefront of this is Fusion, at 50 Wilmington Ave. The restaurant has lowered the price of all its menu items to $20 or less.

Bill Karrow, executive chef and proprietor of Fusion said, “Let’s face it, it costs 75 or 80 bucks to fill your tank up. That hurts. So we’ve made a conscious decision to keep all our entrees under $20. And it’s been working very well.”