Sports
Fun
Learning
Owen Smith patrols local beaches
Millsboro kicks off the festivities
Espada honored for teaching skills
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JULY 4, 2025
THE LOCAL VOICE OF YOUR COMMUNITY.
Volume 22, Issue 27
FREE
Community raring to go red, white and blue Fenwick to celebrate with annual bonfire By Kerin Magill Staff Reporter Fenwick Island will celebrate the Fourth of July weekend with its traditional Beach Bonfire, combining family fun with fundraising for the Fenwick Island Beach Patrol. The Beach Bonfire is scheduled for Saturday, July 5, from 7 to 10 p.m., on the beach at Bayard Street. The bonfire doubles as a fundraiser for the beach patrol’s trip to the United States Lifesaving Association’s national championship, which will be held Aug. 6 at Huntington State Beach in California. “There will be a bonfire, a silent auction,T-shirt sales, 50/50 raffle, DJ Sky Brady, games for the children with our wonderful lifeguards, and glowsticks for the children,” Beach Committee Chairperson Jacqueline Napolitano said. This year, the bonfire will feature a new activity: The Town’s DarkSky Committee will be on hand to share stargazing tips using the SkyView Free smartphone app.The committee will also have information on DarkSky, which promotes safe and environmentally-friendly nighttime lighting, according to Rose Mary Hoy, committee chair. Items or gift certificates from nearly 60 Fenwick Island businesses and organizations have been donated for the silent auction, including goodies from restaurants, clothing stores and gift shops, as well as area attractions, such as mini-golf. Lifeguard Capt. John “Ryk” Rykaczewski said last week that he has a “full staff ” of 34 lifeguards this summer — 12 of whom are rookies. He told the town council at their Friday, June 27, meeting that the squad had performed four rescues and dealt with 19 first-aid events in its first month on duty. “We’re really excited to be back,” Rykaczewski said, adding that his squad is “really skilled and motivated, and off to a great start.” Bonfire attendees should bring their own coolers and beach chairs.The rain date is Sunday, July 6, at 7 p.m.
Coastal Point • File Photo
Spectators line the streets to celebrate a previous Fourth of July Parade in Bethany Beach.
Frye leading the way of Bethany Beach parade By Susan Canfora Staff Reporter True to his humble nature, Bruce Frye is modest about being the grand marshal in Bethany Beach’s annual Fourth of July Parade on Friday — an event he helped orchestrate for years as a member of the committee that, for months, carefully plans every detail. “Well, they said it’s my turn,” Frye said, laughing. “Is it an honor? I guess so. The grand marshal sits in a convertible and waves, and there are three or four VIPs, and Miss Delaware is there. Former Sen. Tom Carper always comes. “There’s a sign on the side of the car that says you’re the grand marshal,” he noted. “I’ve been told this is the biggest event of the year for Bethany Beach and most people come to it. The committee
is great. It’s a lot of work to plan it, and everybody is a volunteer. Everybody works really hard and it all works out.” From the grand marshal’s car, there’s a lot of waving and smiling, but Frye is strictly opposed to throwing candy into the crowd. His wife was a school principal, and he said the two of them are always thinking about safety. “What happens is they try to throw candy. They miss. It falls down between two vehicles, and kids run to get the candy. And huge vehicles, like Army trucks that are in the parade — the drivers can’t see them. It can be very dangerous. I tell everybody they can give out candy if they put it in the child’s hands. We give out bike kits, to decorate your bikes. Groups give out different things,” Frye said. This year, for the first time, the parade will begin at 12:07 p.m., instead of
at noon, because the church across from Bethany Beach Town Hall — Bethany Beach Christian Church — rings its bells at noon, “And it’s a very loud speaker, so we wait until the bells are finished,” Frye said. The parade will begin on the corner of Garfield Parkway and Pennsylvania Avenue, travel south down Pennsylvania Avenue toward Cedarwood, turn left, proceed for a couple of blocks, then return. Parade T-shirts will be for sale, and fireworks are planned for dusk — but smaller ones than usual because the beach is narrow right now. The Penguin restaurant will serve free breakfast on Friday to those involved with the parade, “because they are working and they are too busy during day to contribute,” Frye said. “We, of course, give them a big tip.”