Delaware
DART Beach Bus back in service May 20. Plus, where to find more free beach parking
Consider these activities during your Delaware beach vacation
Are you seeking thrill? Consider these activities during your Delaware beach vacation
Whether you frequent the beach during the summer or have a few short trips to visit friends planned, paying for parking can be just as much of a headache as finding it.
While most parking areas at the Delaware beaches require payment or passes to park, some spots are offering limited free parking for whoever gets to it first.
If you want to save some cash this summer, here’s how you can enjoy free parking in Delaware beach towns.
Free parking in Dewey Beach
Dewey offers paid parking on all public streets from May 15 to Sept. 15, but free parking every Monday, excluding federal holidays, from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
For those with a handicapped placard or license plate, accessible parking is available for free in any zone. Your placard or plate serves as your permit.
Free parking in Rehoboth Beach
Paid parking by meter or permit in Rehoboth is enforced from May 15 to Sept. 15. Permits are required from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and metered spaces are required from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Free parking is available after these times.
Rehoboth requires those with handicapped permits to pay meter fees or purchase a parking permit during times when parking payment is enforced.
Free parking in Fenwick Island
Parking permits and paid spots are required from May 15 through Sept. 15 between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. in Fenwick. Free parking is available after this time.
Fenwick requires those with handicapped permits to pay meter fees or purchase a parking permit during times when parking payment is enforced.
Beach parking guide: Delaware beaches reinstate meter, permit parking on May 15. How much will it cost?
Free parking in Bethany Beach
Public parking in Bethany requires payment or a permit from May 15 to Sept. 15. Parking rates are enforced from Hollywood Street to First Street from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., and on all other streets from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Free parking is available after these times.
Bethany requires those with handicapped permits to pay meter fees or purchase a parking permit during times when parking payment is enforced.
Free parking in Lewes
Lewes enforces paid parking from May 1 to Sept. 30 at the beaches and until Oct. 14 downtown. Hourly parking costs $1.50 at metered spots downtown and $2.50 at metered spots at the beach from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Free parking is available after this time.
Lewes requires those with handicapped permits to pay meter fees or purchase a parking permit during times when parking payment is enforced.
There are several areas where free parking is available for longer periods in lots located at:
- Franklin and Schley avenues, which has electric vehicle charging stations
- Roosevelt Inlet, at the end of Cedar Avenue near the inlet
- Beebe Healthcare, off Market and Fourth streets, on evenings and weekends only
- Otis Smith Park, which has electric vehicle charging stations
- Lewes Little League, between July and March only
- The Lewes Library Trailhead
DART Beach Bus, Park & Ride
For a completely hands off experience, the Delaware Department of Transportation offers the Beach Bus shuttle service through DART, beginning May 20 and lasting through Sept. 8.
DelDOT saw a 16% increase in Beach Bus ridership from 2022 to 2023, with a whopping 242,566 passengers documented last year, the agency said, so if you haven’t tried it for yourself yet, you’re missing out.
The shuttle operates daily with increased frequencies from early morning to late at night. Exact times depend on which line passengers are aboard.
The Rehoboth Park & Ride is on 20055 Shuttle Road off of Delaware Route 1. The Lewes Transit Center is at 17616 Coastal Highway. Parking is free at both Park & Ride lots.
Upon boarding, bus fare costs $2 per trip, $4 for a daily pass, $16 for a seven-day consecutive day pass or $60 for a 30-day consecutive day pass. Student fare is $1 and reduced fare is 80 cents for those 65 years of age and older, or with a certified disability. Blind passengers ride free.
With the service’s family bargain, two adults with two children (46 inches or less) ride round trip to the beach on the 305 Beach Connection (Magenta Line) for $20 with a three-zone daily pass.
Buses stop at the beaches, lots and nearby areas including:
- Rehoboth Beach and the Rehoboth Boardwalk
- Lewes
- Long Neck
- Dewey Beach
- Bethany Beach
- South Bethany Beach
- Fenwick Island
- Ocean City, Maryland
- Millsboro
- Georgetown
Stops are also made at the outlets.
If that’s not enticing enough, all buses are air conditioned and equipped with wheelchair lifts.
Passengers can use the free DART Transit app to view bus stops, get real-time bus information and plan their trips. Payment also can be made from your phone with DART Pass mobile payment.
Deauville Beach visitor’s guide: Entry fees, annual passes announced for Deauville Beach, on sale beginning May 15
Bus passes can be purchased at DART First State Transportation stores, sales outlets, or online.
While at the beach, bus passes can be purchased from:
- Acme at 18578 Coastal Highway, #13, in Rehoboth Beach. It offers seven-day passes and Paratransit strip tickets.
- Big Oaks Campground (seasonal) at 35567 Big Oaks Lane in Rehoboth Beach. It offers seven-day passes.
- Cape Henlopen Senior Center at 11 Christian Street in Rehoboth Beach. It offers Paratransit strip tickets.
- DART First State — Lewes Transit Center at 17616 Coastal Highway in Lewes. It offers daily, seven-day and 30-day passes.
- DART First State Rehoboth Park & Ride (seasonal) at 20055 Shuttle Road in Rehoboth Beach. It offers daily, seven-day and 30-day passes.
- Lewes Senior Center at 32083 Janice Road in Lewes. It offers Senior Citizens Affordable Taxi tickets, also known as SCAT.
- United Checking Cashing at 662 North DuPont Boulevard in Milford. It offers all passes.
Got a tip or a story idea? Contact Krys’tal Griffin at kgriffin@delawareonline.com.
Delaware
Siddiq Kamara sworn in as Delaware County sheriff, turning family tragedy into push for change
MEDIA, Pa. (WPVI) — Siddiq Kamara was sworn in on Monday as the new sheriff of Delaware County, marking a milestone he said he never imagined before a family tragedy pushed him toward public service.
Kamara, who won nearly 63% of the vote in November, greeted supporters as he arrived in uniform.
“I haven’t gotten to wear a uniform like this in a long time,” he said before the ceremony.
Moments later, he reflected on the weight of the day, saying he was “just trying to let everything sink in.”
The moment became real as he took the oath of office — a role he said he could not have foreseen before August 27, 2021.
“August 2021 changed my family’s life forever,” Kamara said. That was when 8-year-old Fanta Bility, his cousin, was killed by police gunfire as she left an Academy Park High School football game.
“When I got the call that I lost my cousin, that’s a call that nobody should ever feel. And at that moment, something had to be done,” Kamara said.
Drawing on his experience as a police officer, National Guard member, and employee of the attorney general’s office, Kamara pushed for increased training within the Sharon Hill Police Department. That effort could expand statewide through legislation known as “Fanta’s Law.”
State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams said he is optimistic about the bill’s future, calling it “one of the rare cases where you have bipartisan support around this bill.”
Supporters said Kamara brings a valuable perspective as the son of Liberian immigrants.
“People see themselves in him, and it’s great to have that type of representation,” said Monica Taylor, chair of the Delaware County Council.
Anthony Moss, of Laborers’ Local 413, added, “I just think he’s going to bring a lot of things. A lot of good things.”
At 30, Kamara noted his place in history.
“I’m the youngest sheriff in America,” he said while speaking to a standing-room-only crowd inside the Delaware County Courthouse in Media.
Among those watching was his aunt, Tenneh Kromah, Fanta’s mother.
“He fought for Fanta. I’m so happy for that. To get this position, I’m so happy,” she said.
Kamara pledged to honor that responsibility.
“I’ll make this promise to you guys. I promise to serve with integrity, accountability, and to make sure everybody in Delaware County is protected and served equally,” he said.
Kamara said his faith guides him, noting that his swearing-in also marked another milestone: he is the first Muslim sheriff in Delaware County.
He said he plans to focus on improving training within the department, modernizing the office and expanding community outreach.
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Find out how Delaware high school basketball coaches name their plays
Delaware high school basketball coaches let you in on a little secret: How they come up with names for their plays.
As the winter holidays fade to memory, most Delaware schools should be heating back up.
In the Wilmington area, two Catholic schools – Archmere and Nativity Prep – have announced new leadership at their highest ranks. And in the same city this spring, the YMCA of Delaware is slated to bring its new Early Learning Academy on the East Side.
Also just ahead of the new year, Delaware Community Foundation announced open applications for some 82 scholarships. Last year, that meant more than $850,000 in aid for Delaware students.
In this weekly roundup, we’ll catch you up on these and other education stories you may have missed.
(Did we miss another good education story? Let me know: kepowers@gannett.com)
Wilmington will soon see a new YMCA Early Learning Academy
YMCA of Delaware is looking to inject more affordable child care into Delaware’s largest city.
As previously reported, the Community Education Building – or a Wilmington high-rise packed with four schools, seven nonprofits, some 1,500 students and family services – is bringing its new, 11,000-square-foot Youth Development Center next door, on Wilmington’s East Side. And thanks to this partnership, it will now include a YMCA Early Learning Academy.
Launching this spring, the academy will gear up to serve up to 100 children, according to a press release, from infancy through pre-K. Enrollment begins Jan. 5, according to the YMCA.
The academy will “focus on nurturing academic readiness, social-emotional development, and lifelong confidence during the most critical years of child development,” according to the nonprofit. All said, the goal is to ensure each child gets “a strong start.”
The overall youth center came together with well over $20 million in funding, fueling aims for athletic facilities, spaces for workforce development programs, an early learning center and more near the 1200 block of Wilson St.
“This project is about opportunity – creating a space where families feel supported and every child has the chance to succeed,” said Jarrett Royster, CEO of the YMCA of Delaware, in a statement.
ICYMI: New scholarships for Delaware students available
The Delaware Community Foundation has opened applications for its 2026–2027 scholarships.
From Dec. 15, 2025, to March 15, 2026, students can apply for 82 scholarships covering a wide variety of majors, backgrounds, and financial needs. For the first time, according to the foundation, that also includes funding for students pursuing trade programs. The aid is fueled by community donors.
Awards range from a single $500 payment – to one-time awards of $20,000 or four-year scholarships of $10,000 a year.
Just last year, the foundation said it awarded some $851,500 to 245 Delaware students, a 30% increase from the year before. This year they’re right back at it.
Interested students and families should check out the 2026-2027 Scholarship Compendium online.
Archmere Academy announces new head of school
Just before the holiday season hit full swing, Archmere Academy announced a new head of school to lead the historic, Catholic prep school’s next chapter.
That will be Daniel Hickey of Archmere’s own class of 1989.
Hickey will have hefty shoes to fill. According to this Dec. 16 appointment announcement, Michael Marinelli has led the Claymont institution for the last 15 years. Marinelli is looking to retire, as he told his board of trustees about two years ago, after a long stint strengthening enrollment, enhancing campus and steering a school through pandemic shutdown.
Now, after an “extensive national and international search,” the board has approved Hickey to step up, effective July 1, 2026. The next head of school already maintains “deep ties” to Archmere, according to the school, alongside experience in leadership and Catholic education.
After graduating, he headed to Dickinson College to major in English and minor in fine arts, while also playing football. English remains his passion subject to teach. Later, he worked in admissions in both Dickinson and American University, where he also earned his master’s degree in literature. He returned to Archmere in 1998 to lead, teach and coach football.
By 2006, he was wrapping up his doctorate degree in educational leadership from the University of Pennsylvania, according to Archmere, and he joined Tower Hill. There, he held various positions of leadership, including head of the Upper School. Since 2017, Hickey has been head of school at Upland Country Day School in Pennsylvania.
As Hickey said in a portion of his first written statement to the Archmere community: “I am extremely excited and deeply committed to leading Archmere into its next chapter – solidifying its reputation as one of the finest independent Catholic schools in the nation, while preserving and renewing the heritage and communion that has meant so much in my own life.”
Wilmington’s Nativity Prep School names new president
The Nativity Preparatory School – a tuition-free, Catholic middle school for boys in the heart of Wilmington – also just named its next leader.
Tony Alleyne will serve as the next president of the school, effective Jan. 5, bringing more more than 20 years of experience in education and leadership to the school in its 23rd year. The board of trustees announced the hire on Dec. 29.
“Dr. Alleyne brings a rare combination of educational excellence, visionary non-profit leadership and deep care for young people,” said Pat Blewett, chair of the board, in the announcement.
Alleyne most recently worked as the founder and executive director of Delaware College Scholars, a nonprofit promoting college access and more. That program has raised more than $10 million, according to Nativity Prep, while managing a $1.2 million organizational budget and other student supports.
Before that post, Alleyne also spent a decade at St. Andrew’s School near Middletown. The educator worked as a history teacher, coach, dorm parent, college counselor and senior admissions administrator – later rising to interim director of admissions. He has also worked in North Carolina, where his teaching career began, as well as a stint in Shanghai.
Here in Delaware, Alleyne has served on several boards, while also earning national and regional honors. The new president brings with him a doctorate in educational leadership from University of Pennsylvania, alongside a mater’s degree from Columbia University’s Klingenstein Center.
“Nativity’s belief in the dignity, brilliance, and potential of young men – especially those from communities like the one I grew up in – aligns perfectly with my own values and life’s work,” Alleyne said in a statement.
Got another education tip? Contact Kelly Powers at kepowers@usatodayco.com.
NEWARK, Del. (AP) — Christian Bliss’ 19 points helped Delaware defeat Kennesaw State 67-52 on Sunday.
Bliss also added eight rebounds and seven assists for the Fightin’ Blue Hens (5-9, 1-2 Conference USA). Tyler Houser scored 19 points while shooting 7 for 9, including 3 for 5 from beyond the arc. Justyn Fernandez had 10 points and shot 5 of 16 from the field.
Simeon Cottle led the way for the Owls (8-6, 0-3) with 16 points and seven assists. Kennesaw State also got 11 points, 10 rebounds, two steals and four blocks from Braedan Lue. Ramone Seals had 11 points.
Delaware took the lead for good with 2:43 remaining in the first half. The score was 29-22 at halftime, with Houser racking up nine points. Bliss scored 15 points in the second half to help lead the way as Delaware went on to secure a victory, outscoring Kennesaw State by eight points in the second half.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
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