Posted on December 1, 2025
Bethany Beach Mayor Ron Calef, during the Friday, Nov. 21, town council meeting, announced that DNREC workers were expected to be in Bethany Beach this week to repair beach crossovers after storm damage to the beach and dunes in October.
“The Town has been having continuing discussions with DNREC and, as of an hour ago, DNREC said they will have equipment here … and should get at least three of the crossovers open by the Thanksgiving holiday — so thank you, DNREC,” Calef said.
“They will be harvesting sand from the beach and surf, with some possible other sources,” he noted, “and they will be beefing up the dunes, but we’re not sure how much will happen. This is a remedial repair, and a full-fledged replenishment is still in question,” he cautioned, “with federal funding being the way it is. Hopefully, our nor’easters won’t be as severe, so we’ll see how it goes.”
Town to host Center for Inland Bays speaker Dec. 5
Calef announced that Christophe Tulou, executive director of the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays, will speak at Bethany Beach Town Hall at 10 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 5, about the future of development around the bays — a matter Calef called “a critical topic which impacts us all in our fragile coastal area, not just Bethany, but all the areas of the bay watersheds.”
Calef said the meeting is important, “especially in today’s world, with so much concern about development.”
“Christophe has been involved with a lot of local groups around Sussex County — groups that are concerned about overdevelopment. He has been very involved with that and with various organizations, because it all affects the Inland Bays and the quality of our waterways and our wetlands and our aquaculture,” Calef had previously told the Coastal Point.
Council gets legislative update
Councilman Rich McHugh, while presenting the monthly legislative report, said the General Assembly is out of session, “but there have been things going on in the state.”
McHugh said lawmakers passed legislation to require a permit and completion of a free safety training program before owning a handgun. The requirement was set to become effective Nov. 16, but lobbyists filed a court action to challenge it on grounds including the Second Amendment and tried to get injunctive relief to prevent it from going into effect. The injunctive action was turned down, so it became effective on Dec. 16 but, McHugh said, the matter could still end up in federal Supreme Court.
McHugh said Gov. Matt Meyer had announced that the state will get federal funding to build a medical school in Delaware to create better access to medical care in Sussex and Kent counties. McHugh said Meyer didn’t say whether the medical school would be in Sussex or Kent counties, only that the State will have the money to build it and that state officials are working with the Thomas Jefferson Medical School — formally called the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, in Philadelphia.
McHugh called the plan “a real good development for those of us down here worried about the quality of care here in this area.”
Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety Committee report
Councilman Mickey Hinman, while presenting the monthly Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety Committee report, said committee members hosted an Oct. 23 idea-generation workshop and discussed the completion of four-way pedestrian crosswalk at the intersection of Route 1 and Garfield Parkway, as well as renovations to Central Park, including a new sidewalk.
There was also discussion about improving intersections on the south side of Garfield Parkway and about additional crosswalks on Route 26, a barrier separating bike paths from the roadway, a stoplight at Route 1 and Central Avenue, wider sidewalks on Route 26 and speed bumps.
The committee set dates for meetings in 2026, including a “learning and sharing” event on March 26 with coastal neighbors and the Bethany Beach community input meeting on Oct. 22.
Cultural & Historic Affairs Committee report
Carol Calef, while presenting the monthly Cultural & Historic Affairs Committee report, said 511 people had visited the Dinker-Irvin Museum from January until the end of October this year, compared to 479 last year.
The museum is now open under its winter hours, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.
Calef said the committee will partner with the Bethany Beach Nature Center to present Christmas at the Cottages on Dec. 13. Guests can meet Mrs. Dinker, who will share holiday stories from the early 1900s, as well as enjoy cookies and carolers. There will also be crafts for children.
Fourth of July Committee report
The 2026 Bethany Beach Fourth of July Parade will be at noon on Friday, July 3, instead of on the July 4 holiday, to avoid the heavy Saturday rental turnover crowds and traffic, committee member Rosemary Hardiman said while presenting the monthly committee report.
New members were welcomed at a recent meeting and discussed goals, including a smoother parade route, better crowd management and more parade marshals for better flow. They talked about supporting employees of downtown businesses who have to get to work during the parade and talked about alternative parking solutions that will be refined at future committee meetings.
She said the 2026 T-shirt design will be finalized at their next meeting.
Town manager’s report
Town Manager Cliff Graviet, while presenting his monthly report, thanked the council for approving the sidewalk extension near Central Park and said work was almost complete.
He said the deteriorating bulkhead will be repaired, and it will affect 30 to 40 feet of pavers on the boardwalk. It will be nearly impossible to restore the pavers to the current design. Initially, that boardwalk plaza area was designed with pavers in earthtones, not outlandish colors, because the ocean is the focal point, he said. Graviet said the final design is expected to be completed in the next week or two, and work should be accomplished in the next year.
“We have to make a decision about what that paver design will look like, quickly,” he said.
Graviet said the Town and South Coastal Library had a new idea for the annual calendar and decided on an art contest for those 6 or older, including adults. Works of art will be judged in categories, and winning works will be in the calendar, he said, adding that details will be on the Town website and pictures displayed in the town hall lobby.
Seaside Craft Show chair OK’d
The council at the Nov. 21 meeting approved the appointment of Paula Holloway as chairwoman of the Seaside Craft Show.
Mayor Calef said Holloway is a longtime homeowner in Bethany Beach and moved to town in 2015. She worked in education in the museum field for 30 years and, after moving to Bethany Beach, worked as education director of the Rehoboth Art League until she retired.
He said she will bring extensive experience to the position.
December meeting canceled
Per its usual practice, the council agreed to cancel the December council meeting, scheduled Friday, Dec. 19, because it is so close to the Christmas holiday. Mayor Calef said it was being canceled with the understanding that the council will still meet if it is deemed necessary.
