Biden expected to be in town over Presidents’ Day weekend

President Joe Biden is expected to spend Presidents’ Day weekend at his home in North Shores. This will be the second time this year Biden has spent time at his beach house about a mile north of Rehoboth Beach. 

According to the White House Week Ahead Guidance and Press Schedule issued Feb. 11, the president will be arriving in the area Friday, Feb. 16, following a press conference in East Palestine, Ohio.

As of press deadline Feb. 15, 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 Feb. 14 that goes into effect at 8:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 16, and ends at 10:45 a.m., Monday, Feb. 19.

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, 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. More often than not, it’s limited to a bike ride on the Gordons Pond Trail, a walk on the beach or mass at St. Edmond Catholic Church. However, the president and first lady Dr. Jill Biden do get out – they’ve eaten at Egg in Rehoboth Beach twice in recent visits and, in August, they ate at Matt’s Fish Camp outside of Lewes before seeing a movie at Movies at Midway. So keep your eyes peeled, and send photos to reporter Chris Flood at cflood@capegazette.com.