Biden expected in town through to next weekend

For the third time since Father’s Day weekend, President Joe Biden is expected to be spending time at his North Shores home this coming weekend. However, unlike the previous two weekend-only visits, it appears the president will be staying through all of next week.

According to the White House Week Ahead Guidance and Press Schedule issued July 23, the president will first travel to Maine and then head south to Delaware Friday, July 28.

As of about 9:30 a.m., July 27, the White House hasn’t said what time Biden will be arriving locally or specifically how long he will be staying. However, in advance of his arrival, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a restricted flight area notice July 26 for the airspace near his North Shores home that goes into effect at 6:45 p.m., Friday, July 28, and ends at 9:15 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 6. If he does stay for the entire week, it will be Biden's longest stay at his home since becoming president.

If the president is looking for the something to do, he’ll be in town for the final two days of the Delaware State Fair, and he could ride his bike to the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk to eat watermelon Wednesday, Aug. 2, as part of the annual watermelon handout event the Mar-Del Watermelon Association holds to celebrate National Watermelon Day.

Here’s a list of security measures taken when Biden is in town:

• Gordons Pond users should expect restrictions. The park’s parking lot is just around the corner from Biden’s home and is used as a landing site for Marine One.
• If Biden decides to drive, which he’s done the previous two times this summer, motorists on Route 1 should be prepared for delays. By road, there’s really only one way to his house – southbound on Route 1, then through Rehoboth Beach. As the presidential motorcade makes its way south, police and state personnel sit at all intersections blocking traffic.
• The FAA’s temporary flight restrictions limit use of the airspace – including drones – from Dover south to Ocean City, Md.; and west to the Maryland border.
• The Coast Guard establishes security zones in the ocean area immediately in front of North Shores beach and in the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal.

Since Biden was elected president, when in town, he has attended mass at St. Edmond’s Catholic Church in Rehoboth Beach, walked on the beach near his North Shores home and gone for a few bike rides on the Gordons Pond Trail. First lady Jill Biden was spotted in downtown Rehoboth Beach the last time she was in town. If either are seen out and about, send photos to reporter Chris Flood at cflood@capegazette.com.