Bethany Beach News

Town of Bethany Beach, Delaware

Population:

  • 943 (2006 Census)

Town council meetings:

  • Third Friday of the month, 7:30 p.m., town hall meeting room

Planning & Zoning meets:

  • Monthly, on the Saturday after the council meeting, 9 a.m., town hall meeting room

Elections:

  • Second Saturday of September, noon to 6 p.m., alternating slates of three and four seats, with two-year terms; mayor selected from among town residents serving on the council by the council after each election, with a one-year term

Town office:

  • 214 Garfield Parkway, open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, year-round; (302) 539-8100, fax (302) 539-8149; P.O. Box 109, Bethany Beach, DE 19930

Web site

General e-mail inquiries

Town Council 2007-2008:

  • Carol Olmstead, Mayor
  • Tony McClenny, Vice-Mayor
  • Jerry Dorfman, Secretary-Treasurer
  • J. Robert “Bob” Parsons, Council Member
  • Steve Wode, Council Member
  • Tracy Mulligan, Council Member
  • Joseph T. “Joe” Healy, Council Member

Town Manager:

  • Cliff Graviet

Town Clerk:

  • Lisa Kail

Administrative Staff:

  • JoAnna Nichols

Finance Director:

  • Janet Connery

Building Inspector:

  • John Eckrich

Public Works Director:

  • Brett Warner

Code Enforcement:

  • Barry English

P&Z Chairperson:

  • Lew Killmer

Standing committees:

  • Planning & Zoning, Board of Adjustments, Budget & Finance, Communications, Cultural and Historical Affairs, Charter and Ordinance Review, Traffic and Parking, Board of Assessment, Audit, Stormwater and Drainage, Intergovernmental Relations, Commercial Architecture Design Review

Police:

  • Michael Redmon, Chief

Town Solicitor:

  • Terence Jaywork

Emergency:

  • 911

Non-emergency police contact:

  • (302) 539-1000

Beach patrol:

  • Joseph Donnelly, Captain
  • The Beach Patrol is on duty daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day and weekends throughout September; daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; weekends and holidays 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Trash pick-up:

  • Summer Collection – May 31, 2007 through Sept. 30, 2007; Zone I (East of Rt. 1): Mon. Wed. & Fri. (in alley where applicable); Zone II (West of Rt. 1): Tues. Thurs. Sat. (at street); Commercial Dumpsters: Mon. thru Sat.; Residential Dumpsters: Mon. Wed. & Fri.
  • Winter Collection: Begins Sept. 30, 2007, and continuing through winter months; Entire Town: Mon. & Fri. (streets & alleys); Commercial Dumpsters: Mon. (Wed. as needed) & Fri.
  • Free Cleanup: April 19-30, 2007; Oct. 18-29, 2007; large trash items (furniture, appliances) will be collected at no charge during these times

Curbside recycling:

  • A townwide voluntary curbside recycling program through DSWA has been instituted beginning in 2008. Property owners may sign up through town hall. Pick-ups are weekly during the warm months and bi-weekly during colder months. A $32 annual fee is included in annual billing from the town.

Nature center offering kids a kayaking field trip

Children who have enjoyed the weekly lessons on marine life, wetlands and other fun outdoor activities at the Bethany Beach Nature Center – and those that have yet to see what the fuss is about – are being invited on a special free guided kayak tour through the inland bays on Saturday, Sept. 11.

Local artists and shoppers gearing up for yART sale

As Trudy Fox styled Marilyn Denny’s hair at Millville’s Hair Snippery recently, she said, “I’m really looking forward to showing my jewelry at the yART Sale again. You know there’s a change this year: It’ll be two days, both the Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day weekend.”

Crafter transforms homes and gardens into metal

Art has always been an irresistible expression for Sandra Webberking. The 1997 graduate of Moore College of Art and Design in Philadelphia was first intrigued by jewelry. By her sophomore year of college, however, she had ventured into sculpting and metalwork, and she hasn’t looked back since. Even now, with a business going strong for 13 years, she’s constantly finding new ideas and imaginative projects. And, on Sept. 11, she’ll return to as a featured artist for the 32nd Annual Bethany Beach Boardwalk Arts Festival, with her eye-catching creations.

South Coastal Library hosts annual book sale

The Friends of the South Coastal Library will host its largest book sale ever on Thursday, Aug. 19, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; on Friday, Aug. 20, from 1 to 5 p.m., and on Saturday, Aug. 21, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The sale will be held in the meeting room of the library, at 43 Kent Avenue in Bethany Beach.

Bethany Jazz Funeral to step off Sept. 6

The Southern Delaware resort area’s most unusual celebration takes place in the “Quiet Resort” of Bethany Beach on Labor Day, and everyone is invited, according to Carolyn Bacon and Marie Wright, the assistant chairpersons of this year’s Bethany Beach Jazz Funeral events.

Coe’s photography is for the birds

One glance at Geoff Coe’s wildlife gallery, and it’s easy to see why the Philadelphia native dropped his geology career for one in photography. Now a Florida resident, he can indulge himself in the ornithological specimens in which he specializes.

Ellen Rice Gallery event to benefit wounded U.S. soldiers this Saturday

The Ellen Rice Gallery is hosting the second of two Saturday events this weekend aimed at raising funds for a program that helps devastatingly disfigured U.S. soldiers who were injured in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Bestselling author to sign at South Coastal Library

New York Times bestselling author Laura Lippman will be making an appearance at the South Coastal Library for a discussion, reading and book signing for her book “I’d Know You Anywhere,” on Tuesday, Aug. 17, at 6 p.m.— the very day her latest book is being released.

FOSCL to hold ‘biggest’ book sale

The South Coastal Library will be holding its “highly sought-after” three-day book sale this coming week, Aug. 19- 21.

Bethany to honor visitors from French sister city

The Town of Bethany Beach will be holding a special concert on the bandstand Thursday, Aug. 19, at 7 p.m., to welcome honorary guests Gabriel Daube, mayor of Périers, France, and his wife.

It’s a family affair

Bob and Mary Wood started vacationing at the Delaware beaches in 1966, and 44 years later, they are still coming back.

Peterson withdraws from campaign

Bethany Beach Town Council candidate Chuck Peterson announced on Aug. 2 that he was withdrawing from his campaign to run for a town council seat. The move reduces the field of candidates who are running to just four – the same as the number of seats available – eliminating the need for a council election in Bethany Beach this year.

BBVFC holding Kids’ Night

On Wednesday, Aug. 11, from 6 to 8 p.m., the Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company will hold its last “Kid’s Night at the Firehouse” for the summer of 2010.

Registration open for Coastal Cleanup volunteers

Online volunteer registration is now open for the 25th annual Delaware Coastal Cleanup, to be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 25. Sponsored by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), the cleanup spans the First State’s 97-mile eastern coastline and includes river and ocean shorelines, as well as wetland and watershed areas.

Frankford water plant set to go online soon

After years of concern, confusion, controversy, effort and, finally, construction, Frankford’s new water plant is about to come online. At the Aug. 2 meeting of the town council, Councilman Jesse Truitt said the town was on schedule to turn on the new water plant sometime between Aug. 16 and 20. At that time, the town’s water will start coming from the new plant.

Bethany tradition shares traits with NOLA’s

It is well known that the purpose of a New Orleans jazz funeral is to mourn and then celebrate the life of the “dearly departed.” So how does the Jazz Funeral celebrated each Labor Day in Bethany Beach compare with the original?

Bethany, S. Bethany get $8M for coastline repair

On Wednesday, July 28, U.S. Sens. Tom Carper and Ted Kaufman (both D-Del.) and Rep. Mike Castle (R-Del.) announced that $8.172 million in federal funding would be provided to repair the Bethany Beach and South Bethany coastline following damage from the nor’easter and Hurricane Ida in November 2009.

Evening of guitars set for Bethany Beach

In the spirit of Andres Segovia and Charlie Byrd, Larry Snitzler, classical guitarist, and Rick Whitehead, jazz guitarist, will combine their talents in the second concert of the summer season presented by Concerts at the Beach. The program will feature Latin American, classical and jazz standards, and the concert will be held in St.

Police: Please practice prudence while peddling

Summertime is in full swing, and many have been heading to the shore for a relaxing getaway and time with family and friends. But the increased number of vacationers inevitably leads to higher volume of traffic on the roadways.