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DART Beach Bus back in service May 20. Plus, where to find more free beach parking

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DART Beach Bus back in service May 20. Plus, where to find more free beach parking


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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.  

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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 

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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.  

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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.  

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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: 

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  • 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.  

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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. 

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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.



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Delaware

ISP investigating after Delaware County Sheriff deputy shoots at vehicle

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ISP investigating after Delaware County Sheriff deputy shoots at vehicle


MUNCIE, Ind. — Indiana State Police is investigating an officer-involved shooting that took place in Muncie early Sunday morning.

According to ISP, around 12:13 a.m., officers from multiple agencies were called to an event in the area of Bunch Boulevard and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard on reports of a person shot.

A Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputy arrived at the scene and approached on foot. While the deputy was walking, he made an encounter with a vehicle and discharged his sidearm at the vehicle.

The circumstances and reason behind why the deputy fired his weapon remain under investigation.

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The gunfire struck the vehicle, but no one was injured during the course of the incident.

The ISP Criminal Investigations Division is investigating the deputy’s use of force. Once the investigation is complete, the findings will be used by the Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office for review.

The investigation remains active and ongoing; no additional information is available at the time of this article’s publication.

This is a developing story; check back for updates.

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New study finds PFAS contamination widespread throughout Delaware River Basin

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New study finds PFAS contamination widespread throughout Delaware River Basin


A new study released by the Delaware River Basin Commission says PFAS contamination remains widespread throughout the Delaware River Basin, raising continued concerns about drinking water, wildlife and long-term environmental health across Pennsylvania and neighboring states.

The report, released Wednesday, summarizes more than 20 years of research into PFAS — commonly known as “forever chemicals” because they break down extremely slowly in the environment.

The study is especially significant for Northeastern Pennsylvania because several counties either fully or partially fall within the Delaware River Basin, including Pike, Monroe, Wayne and parts of Carbon County, where many communities rely directly on Delaware Basin waterways for drinking water and recreation.

Other NEPA counties with portions connected to the basin include Lackawanna, Luzerne, Susquehanna and Wyoming counties.

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Major waterways tied to the Delaware River Basin in Northeastern Pennsylvania include the Lehigh River, Lackawaxen River, Brodhead Creek, Tobyhanna Creek and portions of the Lackawanna River watershed, along with numerous streams throughout the Pocono region.

Researchers found PFAS contamination consistently present in surface water, sediment, fish and blue crab tissue samples collected at 21 locations throughout the basin.

Officials said contamination levels increased as the Delaware River moved downstream toward Delaware Bay, suggesting ongoing pollution sources such as industrial facilities, wastewater discharges and stormwater runoff.

“Safeguarding water for over 14 million people requires science-informed management actions,” DRBC Executive Director Kristen Bowman Kavanagh said in a statement.

PFAS are used in a wide range of products because they repel water and oil. They have been linked to a variety of health concerns and environmental risks.

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The study identified different PFAS compounds in different sample types, highlighting what researchers described as the complexity of contamination throughout the river system.

“The Delaware River Basin is a global hotspot for PFAS pollution,” said DRBC Senior Chemist and Toxicologist Jeremy Conkle, who led the study.

The commission said continued monitoring will focus heavily on the tidal Delaware River and tributaries impacted by development and population density.

Officials also announced the launch of a new interactive online mapping tool that allows the public to explore PFAS contamination data across the Delaware River Basin, including local watersheds.

The tool combines information from federal and state agencies along with other organizations to provide a regional look at known contamination sites.

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The DRBC will also host a public webinar on June 15 to review the study’s findings and demonstrate the new mapping application.

The Delaware River Basin provides water resources to more than 14 million people across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and New York.



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Delaware history in News Journal May 31-June 6: royal visit, oil plea

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Delaware history in News Journal May 31-June 6: royal visit, oil plea


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  • Excerpts from The News Journal archives from May 31 to June 6 include a visit from Swedish royalty in 1926.
  • Wilmington mayor invites oil executives to consider onshore support site for offshore drilling in 1976.
  • Dover NASCAR race track plans upgrades in 2006 after 134,000 attend latest event.

The Delaware history column features excerpts from The News Journal archives including The Morning News and The Evening Journal. See the archives at delawareonline.com.

100 years ago, The Evening Journal, June 1, 1926

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Cordial welcome given Swedish royalty

Thousands of Wilmingtonians yesterday afternoon greeted Crown Prince Gustavus Adolphus and his wife, Princess Louise Alexandra, of Sweden, who were guests of the city. …

The royal party arrived on a special train at French Street Station and were greeted by a reception committee headed by Mayor Forrest. …

The crowd waiting at the station for a glimpse of the couple was so great that it had to be held back by ropes and guards.

When the Princess alighted from the train she was presented with a bouquet by Mrs. Christopher L. Ward, a member of the reception committee. …

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The royal visitors were escorted to waiting automobiles to begin their hasty trip to Old Swedes Church. …

During the trip, the Mayor pointed out the Old Town Hall, the public buildings which were decorated with the American flag and the flag of Sweden, and the William P. Bancroft School.

A crowd estimated at 3,000 persons greeted the city’s guests at the church. The royal couple entered by walking through the cemetery and a lane of Boy Scouts bearing American and Swedish flags. …

Near the entrance, the Prince and Princess were greeted by the Rev. Dr. Frederick M. Kirkus, rector of Trinity P.E. Church. …

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Inside, they were met by Bishop Philip Cook of the Episcopal Diocese of Delaware. …

A silver plaque was presented to the Prince bearing an engraving of Old Swedes Church and an inscription commemorating the royal couple’s visit. The plaque’s frame is made of wood from the old church. …

Prince Gustavus offered thanks for the warm welcome.

“I am deeply moved by being here at this church and to stand in the place where the first Swedes in this country offered their worship,” he said. “This day I shall always remember and the memory will always be pleasant.”

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Also from 100 years ago, The Evening Journal, June 1, 1926

Holiday automobile traffic heavy

An average of 12 cars a minute passed Station No. 2 of the State Police on the duPont Boulevard and the Glasgow-Elkton Road during a 12-hour check-up on Memorial Day yesterday.

In all, 9,101 cars passed the State Police station, according to Superintendent C.C. Reynolds of the State Police.

This was the heaviest traffic State Police have had to handle since last July 5, when 9,221 cars were counted in a 12-hour check-up….

Although there were several accidents, none were serious.

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State Police kept the heavy volume of traffic moving fast. On the Philadelphia Pike, the officers speeded up traffic by having slow-moving vehicles pull to one side at times, allowing faster cars to move ahead.

50 years ago, The Morning News, June 3, 1976

Mayor’s overtures may bring oilmen to Delaware

Mayor Thomas C. Maloney will try to convince visiting oilmen today that Wilmington and its port should be the onshore headquarters for offshore oil and gas development.

Maloney has organized a two-day show-and-tell for the American Petroleum Institutes’ Atlantic Offshore Committee, a group touring the East Coast looking for potential onshore support sites.

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Maloney’s invitation is one of the few direct Delaware overtures to the oil industry, which generally considers the state unfriendly. That attitude stems, in part, from Delaware’s Coastal Zone law banning refineries, superports and pipelines along the state’s shores.

Although the oil companies like Delaware because of the natural deepwater in the Delaware Bay and its proximity to where future drilling may occur, most oil industry representatives say there are enough other states actively soliciting onshore development. …

When the chairman of the committee heard of Maloney’s invitation, he wrote to other members, urging them to take a “hard look” at Wilmington.

Offshore oil drilling has been a controversy in Delaware for about five years. The Interior Department expects to hold a lease sale this summer for ocean bottom land 50 to 100 miles off the coasts of New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.

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20 years ago, The News Journal, June 5, 2006

Kenseth tames Dover’s ‘Monster Mile’ before planned changes

The scene was a familiar one after the NASCAR Nextel Cup series race at Dover International Speedway on Sunday.

Sunburned fans filed down from the grandstands, coolers in tow, heading back to their cars. The driver crews hustled their machinery back to the haulers.

And Matt Kenseth, who won the Neighborhood Excellence 400 presented by Bank of America, celebrated in victory lane. …

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An estimated crowd of 134,000 fans included Rocky and Gloria Chase of Cape May, N.J., who got married in the infield before the race with the Kent County Clerk of the Peace performing the ceremony. …

But nothing will be the same at Dover now that the speedway is about to undergo a five-year improvement that track officials dubbed “The Monster Makeover.”

Changes will include more parking, an outdoor concert area, improved concession areas and more skyboxes. All of it is being done to appeal to a younger demographic while not alienating hard-core fans who have supported the sport for years.

Reach reporter Ben Mace at rmace@gannett.com.

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