WOW! The NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) has rated Rehoboth and Dewey Beach as two of the top cleanest beach water sites in the country! This is an amazing honor, especially wonderful since only four beaches nationwide earned the honor.

Consideration for the award is based on five factors: water quality in 2010; water quality overall for the past 3 years; frequency of testing; issuing advisories and posting closings (if needed).

The locals take a great deal of care to keep the beaches safe, clean and fun. In fact, Prudential Gallo holds an annual beach-cleanup day, where this past May I rolled up my sleeves, along with members of The Lee Ann Wilkinson Group, to do our part. It's a rewarding experience.

And the news gets better! For 3 consecutive years, we’ve had the cleanest beach water in the US. The EPA reports on beaches nationwide. Find out all about your beach here. The Natural Resources Defense Council’s website provides a quick look at Americas most popular beaches and their five-factor ratings.  The ‘Best and Worst Beach Water Quality’ article can be found here.

So, as we (quickly) approach the 4^th of July, I wish your family nothing but fun in the sun on Lewes and Rehoboth Beach.

All the best,

Lee Ann

Sussex County's First National Historic landmark is the Overfalls Lightship! Woo-hoo. Check out the complete article here

The Sussex County Delaware demographics are here! The county just released the June stats and they are pretty interesting: Did you know that in 2010, 42% of home owners in Sussex County own their home outright (no mortgage). Kudos to them!

Additionally, the sales volume of homes in the county has risen in the past year. The report points toward stabilization in Sussex. Check out the full Sussex County Demographics report.

Best,

Lee Ann

Welcome Summer

Well, Memorial Day has passed and our little town is in full-swing.  Today, May 31^st, happens to be the first day of 'Lewes' Summer Concert Series;’ an outdoor concert each week. Check out the line-up for both Rehoboth and Lewes' concerts here. Enjoy, be safe and have fun! I'm sure I'll see you around town :)

Lee Ann

NEW DATE!  NEW DATE!    We're having a public Open House at The Villages of Five Points on June 4th from 12-3pm. Five homes/townhomes will be open for viewing and we'd love to see you there! For directions or detials, please call (302) 645-6664

See you there!

-Lee Ann

The 2010 Mid-Atlantic Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival will be held at the Lewes Historical Society Complex on Saturday June 26th from 10 am to 4 pm and Sunday June 27th from 11 am to 4 pm. The Mid-Atlantic Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival now has advance gate passes available for sale at Sand n Stones at 112 Front Street in Lewes. Passes are $5 and are good for both days of the show as well as allow admission to the speaker series that take place each day; passes will enable the bearer to avoid the lines to enter the events. On Saturday June 26, the speakers will be presenting at St. Peter’s Church Hall at Second & Mulberry Streets and on Sunday at the Zwaanendael Museum at Kings Highway and Savannah Road. The line-up includes: Saturday, June 26, St. Peter’s 11:00 – Faye Stocum, archaeologist, glass from the Roosevelt Inlet Shipwreck off Lewes 1:00 – Deacon Ritterbush – aka “Dr. Beachcomb” – Collecting Sea Glass 2:00 – Pam George – Shipwrecks of Delaware Sunday, June 27 Zwaanendael Museum 11:00 – Judith Roales, Lighthouse Lens & How They Work 1:00 – James Diehl, A History of Sussex County Members of the Sussex County Antique Bottle Club will be hand to help identify shards and their possible bottles of origin. A shard exhibit and identification session will be held in the Midway School House on the Historic Complex where over 30 sea glass vendors will be hand to display their wares and expertise in combing the beaches searching out these vanishing treasures. In October 2008 Lewes hosted the North American Sea Glass Festival attracting over 5,000 visitors to the event. The great sea glass artists will be joined by other coastal artists including decoy carvers and other waterfowl artists. This event will also feature a great line-up of speakers, sea glass shard competitions and other fun activities. Admission is $5.00 per person; a wrist band will be issued allowing entrance both days; the wristband is now available at Sand n Stones on Front Street in Lewes.

A Taste of Lewes, sponsored by the Friends of the Lewes Canalfront Park will be held on Sunday June 6th, 2010 from noon to 3 p.m at the Virden Retreat Center off Pilottown Road. For ticket information, call 302-645-2795 or email, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Join us at the Lewes Garden Tour on Saturday June 19th, 2010 from 10 am to 5 pm. In addition to the tours, vendors will have tables next to Zwaanandael Museum at the corner of Savannah Road and Kings Highway (in downtown Lewes, Delaware) . Tickets for the tour can be purchased in advance from the Chamber of Commerce.

This year’s theme is a “Taste of Luau” and will feature chefs and food from 20 area restaurants. Hawaiian dress is encouraged. Tickets are $35 per person and are on sale now . Tickets may be purchased at Community Bank Delaware, Lewes Chamber of Commerce, Café Azafran, Canalfront Park Office or by calling 302-645-2795.

The 19th Annual Lewes Garden Tour will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, June 20, with self-guided tours of eight private gardens in the historic seaport town of Lewes.Complementary activities include a garden market with vendors specializing in garden-related retail items, free lectures on gardening-related topics, musical entertainment by Foot Light Productions and a food tent with items from Kupchick’s Corner Market in Zwaanendael Park, and working artists and quilters in the gardens. Richard Koogle, director of operations for Lilypons Water Gardens in Buckeystown, Md., will demonstrate how to install a water garden. Tickets can be purchased in advance beginning Memorial Day weekend at the Lewes Chamber of Commerce, 120 Kings Highway in the Fisher-Martin House. Advance tickets are $15; tickets cost $20 on the day of the tour. To order in advance, call the Lewes Chamber of Commerce weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and reserve tickets using Visa or Master Card. Tickets can be picked up at the chamber office after 9 a.m. on the day of the tour or in advance during chamber hours. For details call 302-645-8073 or toll free 877-465-3937, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.leweschamber.com

Visit the Beach & Indulge... A fantastic week devoted to fine dining, fine wine, fun food , good music and a roster of restaurant specials you won't believe. Downtown Rehoboth puts out the welcome mat for this once-a-year dining out celebration at Rehoboth's legendary culinary hot spots. Specials include 3-course $20 or $30 prix-fixe meals at more than 20 eateries in the Restaurant Capital of Delaware! No matter your culinary favorites or what’s in your wallet, there are treats for your palate. Call 302-227-2772 or visit www.downtownrehoboth.com for more information.

Concerts start at 7 PM. Don't forget to bring a chair or blanket (and some bug spray) Here's the schedule: May 26th - Buddy Holly Tribute - Rock & Roll June 2 - Honeycombs - 50-60s Pop June 9 - Barry & Michelle - Light Pop June 16 - Flashpoint - Variety June 23 - Navy Commoddres - Variety June 30 - 287th NG Band - Concert Band July 7 - Chesapeake Brass - Brass Band July 14 - Annapolis Bluegrass Coaltion - Bluegrass July 21 - Copper Sky - Light Jazz/ Folk July 28 - Milford Community Band - Concert Band Aug 4 - Zydeco A-Go-Go - Creole & Cajun Aug 11 - Tydewater - Country Aug 18 - Navy Sea Chanters - Choral Aug 25 - Dirty Kitchen Bluegrass- American Roos, Bluegrass Aug 28 - Vinyl Shockley - Pop, R&B