Your February Wrap Up 💌

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Delaware:
Fri., February 17 - Sun., February 19: Rehoboth African American Film Festival
Fri., February 17: Sea Glass Pendant Craft at South Coastal Public Library
Fri., February 17: Italian Cheese Tasting & Demo: Florence at DiFebo's Market
Tues., February 21: Reception for Ignite the Light Black History Month Art Show
Tues., February 21: Bird Walk at Cape Henlopen State Park
Thurs., February 23: Voices of Power at Wilmington Library - R apper Slick Rick
Fri., February 24 - Sun., February 26: Hockessin Art Festival
Sat., February 25: African American History Walking Tour of Lewes
Sat., February 25: Spending Black Matters Market Place
Sat., February 25: The Evolution of Black Recorded Music in Dover
Thurs., March 9: Look Who's Cooking Sussex County Challenge (ft. Sandra!)

Ocean City, MD:
Sat., February 18: Introductory Pottery Class for the Empty Bowl Project
Sat., February 25: Musical Revue: Broadway Love Songs at OC Center for the Arts
Wed., March 2 - Sun., March 5: 7th Annual OC Film Festival
Sat., March 11: OC St. Patrick's Day Parade & Festival

Want to be featured next month? Click the link below to share the best local meal you had in 2022!

Best Local Meal

When observing and celebrating Black History Month this year and every single day, it's important to consider how this history has unfolded locally. In an exhibit from the Zwaanendael Museum titled "Segregated Sands," Delaware's segregated beaches during the Jim Crow era are highlighted, giving us 21st-century Delawareans a look into the not-so-distant past. By exploring the website, you can click through the New Castle, Kent, and Sussex County beaches which were either designated locations for Black beach-goers or beaches that had specific days for when Black beach-goers could visit. Take some time this month to acknowledge how our beautiful beaches should be discussed during Black History Month as we know it today.

Home Warranty 101: Your Guide to Home Warranties
by Shirley Martin

Purchasing a home is one of the biggest investments you will ever make. To protect your investment, you might want to consider a home warranty. Think of the home warranty as a safety net that protects you against the high cost of appliance repairs. If you’ve purchased an older home, it’s a protection you shouldn’t go without. Sandra Sells the Shore shares why.

Three Scenic Trails Surrounding Georgetown to Visit
Only in DE

With a population of 6,400, Georgetown is a local favorite among Delawareans for its small town charm and proximity to plenty of beautiful nature trails. Once you're able to leave Georgetown's unique collection of antique shops and historical sites, make your way over to Gordons Pond Trail in Rehoboth Beach, the Seaside Nature Center in Lewes, and Redden Forest State Loop in Georgetown. Each of these trails offers a serene atmosphere that is sure to impact the rest of your day (if you're hiking in the morning), with a couple of them also offering waterside views along the way. Read the full article here and make the most out of your next local hiking adventure!

Adoptable Local Dog & Cat
Worcester County Humane Society

Moo
Adult Pitbull Terrier
Adopt Me!

Velveeta/Charlie Brown
Adult Norwegian Forest Cat
Adopt Me!

Here's your daily proof that people are good: A man in Ocean View was forced to surrender his dog to the Humane Society due to a long hospital stay, but once a nurse in the hospital heard about this, she immediately went to the shelter and adopted his dog. Now, the nurse brings the dog in daily to visit the man and will return him to his loving arms as soon as he's released from the hospital! How's that for a good news story?

What Experts Are Saying About the 2023 Housing Market
from Keeping Current Matters

If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home soon, you probably want to know what you can expect from the housing market this year. In 2022, the market underwent a major shift as economic uncertainty and higher mortgage rates reduced buyer demand, slowed the pace of home sales, and moderated home prices. But what about 2023?

Featured Testimonial

Scott T.

"Wow! What a great personality. Very much put me at ease… She really knows what she is doing. Highly recommended."

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35948 Haven Drive, #D106 Rehoboth Beach
Featured Listing from Betsy Perry

$340,000

Welcome to this recently renovated 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom first floor condo in the sought after community of Beachaven, on the east side of Route 1. This condo was updated 3 years ago and features a new kitchen, new heat pump and new LVP floors in the main living areas. Fully furnished and ready for you to enjoy the open floor plan with an attached screened in porch. The porch has a door that opens onto the large grassy community area and is just steps away from the community pool. Close to outlet shopping, plenty of amazing restaurants, and just a few miles from downtown Rehoboth Beach, Lewes, Gordon’s Pond, and the Breakwater Trail, this condo and its appealing location has it all!

Full Listing

Warm Hands
Featured Fundraiser

United Help Ukraine, a charitable non-profit 501(c)(3) organization started in 2014, is seeking help this winter season to keep Ukrainians warm through donations that will be used to purchase hand warmers and other materials. In March of last year, we released a special Ukraine support edition of our newsletter in hopes of making our loyal audience aware of the conditions for Ukrainian citizens as well as ways in which they might be able to help. Almost a year later, we hope to keep that support going. To donate directly to United Help Ukraine's fundraiser visit their website, and to purchase warmers from their Amazon wishlist click here.

The Homestead Bed & Breakfast
Featured Local Business

The Homestead Bed & Breakfast is a beautiful local getaway spot that is ready to host you and your family. Owners Joe and David had a second home in Southern Delaware for 10 years before they decided to sell their internet marketing company and make an even bigger change. With David's educational background in hotel/restaurant management and the experience within the hotel business in his early 20s, the two of them always thought it'd be nice to own a bed and breakfast somewhere near retirement. However, they figured there was no time like the present and were glad they didn't hesitate because of the hard work that goes into running this specific business. Joe and David had their eyes on the property they purchased prior to sealing the deal, and when bringing this house to life, they had a few main needs in mind: creating a place their guests would enjoy, making a space that acts not only as a home for guests but also as their home, and making sure their property stands out in the community. What better way for them to stand out than to host guests at the yellow farm house with purple shutters on the corner?

Market Downturn Pushes Record Number of Investors Away
by Jonathan Ponciano

The number of homes scooped up by investors fell at a record pace last quarter amid higher mortgage rates and forecasts calling for substantial declines in home prices—further clouding the outlook for real estate investing but a positive development for potential home buyers looking to reap the benefits of falling housing prices.

Watch Wild Horses Roam at Assateague Island
Only in MD

As an Eastern Shore resident, it's impossible to never have at least heard about Assateague Island and its wild horses. Many of us visit the state park as children to see these beautiful animals in their unique natural habitat, but it's more than worth a revisit when we get older. Once you're there, you might see the horses grazing in the distance or, if you're lucky, you'll see them wandering the shore right alongside you and your peers. Beyond the horses, the park is a stunning piece of Maryland wildlife and nature, but the horses make it what it is. Just make sure not to feed or touch them no matter how close they get. And if you want to stay for longer, the park offers unique campsites. For more information, visit Assateague's official website!

Bluecoast Seafood Grill Rehoboth
Featured Local Restaurant

Described on their website as a "hip take on the local seafood house," Bluecoast Rehoboth is guaranteed to serve delicious food with a warm, modern atmosphere. Local seafood is served in simple ways that allow for its natural flavor of the Delaware beaches to shine through each bite. Enjoy classic dishes with a modern twist like Seafood Gumbo or Shrimp & Grits in their stunning interior dining areas (featured above) or outside on their spacious patio featuring a fire pit, bar, and stage for small acoustic shows by local artists. Bluecoast Rehoboth is the second Bluecoast Seafood Grill and Raw Bar, based on the flagship restaurant in Bethany Beach, and it's sure to meet your taste expectations no matter which location you visit. For more information and a full menu, head over to their website or Facebook.

*Click here to read about several restaurants that are transitioning in and around Ocean City!*

Forget Open Shelving - It's Now Trendy to Hide Kitchenware
by Melissa Dittmann Tracey

Over recent years, a big kitchen trend was to open up the cabinets—or actually remove them—to expose the dishes and glasses. Well, that didn’t last long. Instead, one of the most popular kitchen trends for 2023 is all about “hidden storage,” according to Fixr.com’s Kitchen Trends 2023(link is external) report.

Marian Dowling
Featured Local Photographer

This month's featured photographer is Marian Dowling, an Ocean View-based photographer who loves capturing the beauty of the local beaches and landscapes. In the past few years, she's taken an interest in birds and nature photography, and in November she was able to snap some photos of the total lunar eclipse. You may have also seen her images featured in the Coastal Point! She thinks of photography as her way to get outside and enjoy nature. Dowling often sets up at local craft fairs and will be at the Lord Baltimore craft fair on May 27th with notecards, prints, and canvases! Be sure to stop by her table and check out her photography on Facebook.

"And just like that, January is over. It always feels like the quickest month to me and this year was no exception. I hope it was a good month for all of you and that the coming months follow suit. I'm in the beginning of my last semester as a college student, so I'll be hoping this year takes its sweet time in passing."

Martina Rexrode, Content Curator & Editor

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