President Biden expected to be in town beginning Jan. 19

For the first time in more than two months, it appears President Joe Biden will be spending some time at his North Shores home.

According to the White House Week Ahead Guidance and Press Schedule issued Jan. 15, the only thing Biden has on his schedule for Friday, Jan. 19, is a bipartisan meeting with mayors attending the U.S. Conference of Mayors Winter Meeting at the White House.

However, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a flight restriction notice late Jan. 17 that goes into effect at 6 p.m., Friday, Jan. 19, and ends at 11:15 a.m., Monday, Jan. 22. The only time the FAA issues these notices is when the president will be in town.

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

• Gordons Pond users could see 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 did a few times this past 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.

Biden typically doesn’t do too much when he’s in town for these long weekends – a bike ride on the Gordons Pond Trail, a walk on the beach, mass at St. Edmond Catholic Church. However, the president and first lady Dr. Jill Biden ate at Egg in Rehoboth in October and at Matt’s Fish Camp outside of Lewes in August. So keep your eyes peeled, and send photos to reporter Chris Flood at cflood@capegazette.com.