Delaware

2 Del. beaches closed to swimmers after medical waste washes ashore, state urges caution

Published

2 years ago

September 15, 2024

2 Del. beaches closed to swimmers after medical waste washes ashore, state urges caution

At least two Delaware beaches, as well as other Delmarva beaches, closed to swimmers Sunday after medical waste washed ashore.

Dewey Beach and Fenwick Island officials made their announcements Sunday afternoon on social media and in email blasts.

When asked for information, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control spokesman Michael Globetti said his agency is investigating and “advising beachgoers to leave the beach and refrain from swimming in the ocean.”

“The source of the medical waste is still under investigation, and DNREC continues to monitor the situation closely,” Globetti said.

Ocean City, Maryland, announced its closure to ocean swimmers Sunday, and Maryland State Parks issued a statement announcing Assateague State Park’s prohibition of swimming, wading, surfing and other ocean activities. Assateague Island National Seashore, in Maryland and Virginia, issued a similar announcement.

A reporter visited Assateague State Park, Fenwick Island and Dewey beaches Sunday and observed many small pieces of plastic waste along the wrack lines.

Signs at Assateague urged visitors to wear shoes because needles had been found on the beach, and only in Assateague did the reporter find anything identifiably medical, including a syringe without a needle.

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If you find suspected medical waste on the Delaware beaches, report it immediately by calling DNREC’s Environmental Hotline at 1-800-662-8802.This is a breaking story that will be updated.

Shannon Marvel McNaught reports on southern Delaware and beyond. Reach her at smcnaught@gannett.com or on Twitter @MarvelMcNaught.

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Delaware

Fraternity brothers give back to Delaware food pantry

Published

5 hours ago

April 17, 2026

Press Room

Fraternity brothers give back to Delaware food pantry

DELAWARE, Ohio (WCMH) — A local fraternity is sticking by its core value of service, and having fun doing it.

With the help of their fellow students, teachers and sports teams, Phi Gama Delta at Ohio Wesleyan held a cereal box donation drive.

They had a goal of collecting 800 boxes for People in Need, Delaware County’s largest food pantry. To mark the occasion, organizers at the pantry and fraternity brothers set the boxes up in a line and knocked them over like dominoes.

“I think that’s such a great way to connect with people,” Zoe Borer, Capacity Building Associate at People in Need said. “Sometimes it’s very serious what we do, sometimes it’s great to be fun and that’s what today was, is showing us the fun side of how we can help our community.”

“Our goal is to do a good turn daily so every single day wake up and find something to help, help someone in the community, help someone on campus, help your mom or dad or whatever it may be,” said Phi Gama Delta brother Anthony Mordini.

People in Need serves 500 people every week with free groceries and served almost one million meals last year.

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