Rehoboth Beach Adopts Waste and Recycling Service Changes 

At its meeting November 19, the Rehoboth Beach Board of Commissioners adopted operational changes that will impact residential waste, recycling, and yard waste services. 
Commissioners amended the definition of waste container such that all containers for trash, recyclables, and yard waste must be made of reusable, rigid plastic and have a metal bar that makes them compatible with the tipper mechanism on city refuse trucks. This change becomes effective July 1, 2022. Residents may purchase tippable waste containers from hardware stores, or 95-gallon, logoed containers are available from the City of Rehoboth Beach. In the future, the city will offer smaller waste containers as well. 

Operational changes, effective January 1, include: 
→ ending twice-a-week pickup at the end of October rather than the end of November; however, the city will provide refuse pickup on the Friday after Thanksgiving 
→ scheduling yard waste pickup on every other Wednesday (rather than on the first, third, and fifth Wednesdays) to coincide with every-other-week recycling pickup 
→ consolidating seasonal weekly loose leaf service so that pickup takes place on the south side of Rehoboth on Thursdays and the north side on Fridays. ▼ 

Volunteers Plant 1,000 Bald Cypress Trees in the Great Cypress Swamp

A large-scale reforestation project is taking root in southern Sussex County near the Maryland border thanks to a cooperative effort between Delaware Wild Lands (DWL) and the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays (Center). 

The 80-acre Long Field project site sits within DWL’s 10,600-acre Great Cypress Swamp. DWL completed the wetlands restoration with other project partners and then teamed up with the Center to plant trees throughout the 80-acre Long Field.

Days before Thanksgiving, a total of 44 volunteers joined DWL and Center staff to show their appreciation for Delaware’s natural resources by planting 1,000 bald cypress tree seedlings. 
“The preservation and restoration of native forests, particularly near water, is one of the most cost-effective ways to remove nutrient pollution from surface and groundwater that enters the Inland Bays,” says Zach Garmoe, Center Science Technician.

“As the largest freshwater wetland and contiguous forest on the Delmarva Peninsula, DWL’s Great Cypress Swamp plays a critical role in protecting water quality, air quality, and wildlife habitat throughout the region. The important work completed by these volunteers will have an impact for now and years to come,” said Kate Hackett, DWL Executive Director. ▼ 

Surf Bagel Joins SoDel Family

This month, Surf Bagel officially joined the SoDel Concepts family. The booming breakfast spot was acquired by SoDel, the restaurant group that also boasts Bluecoast, Fish On, Lupo Italian, Matt’s Fish Camp, Thompson Island, and more. ▼

Community Unity Dinner

On Sunday, December 5, Rehoboth Beach Main Street hosted this year’s Community Unity Dinner at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center. CAMP Rehoboth provided dessert and carols courtesy of the CAMP Rehoboth Chorus. The event truly ushered in the holiday spirit and festivities, as families, friends, and neighbors all came together to celebrate being together. After the past two years, what a joy that was! ▼

(L-R) Citizen of the Year Nick Caggiano Sr. (founder of Nicola’s Pizza), Jen Burton, Chair of the Community Unity Dinner, Dan Slagle, Executive Director, Rehoboth Beach Main Street.