Bethany Beach News

Sea Colony Tennis Center, located just south of Bethany Beach, has announced it will host a trio of United States Tennis Association- (USTA-) sponsored tournaments in April and May.

By M. Patricia Titus
With its history firmly rooted in the presence of church groups in the resort town, modern-day Bethany Beach is now having to consider how much of a break it wants to give to religious groups when it comes to town fees.

The citizens of Bethany Beach will get a chance to weigh in on a proposal to redevelop the Bethany Arms Motel into a flagship hotel when the town council holds a public hearing on Friday, March 15, at 4 p.m., to hear comment on six proposed changes to town code that would be needed to let the project go forward.

Last week, the Delaware Supreme Court heard an appeal filed by New Cingular Wireless PCS to allow erection of an AT&T cell phone tower on property just south of Bethany Beach.

Last summer, Bethany Dental Associates welcomed dentist Matt Baran into their practice as their newest general dentist. Baran completed his undergraduate degree at Bucknell University and graduated from Temple University, where he did his dental training, and completed his residency at York Hospital in June of last year.

Officials with the National Weather Service are now predicting that a winter storm will impact the area between Wednesday and Thursday, March 6 and 7. According to the NWS on Tuesday:

Melissa King of Bethany Beach — who had been crowned Miss Delaware Teen USA 2013 in November — resigned her crown this week, after a sexually-explicit video that allegedly included her surfaced on the Internet, according to Gawker.com and various online media outlets.

Bethany Beach Christian Church is currently hosting a three-part workshop series on racism awareness. The public is being invited to join in the discussion and learn more on the remaining two Monday-night sessions, continuing March 4 and 11, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

They perform CPR. They investigate rape cases. They use kayaks to check on residents during hurricanes and floods. They also write grants and keep up with administrative needs, cover shifts, and go above and beyond their call of duty.

The warm-hearted can beat the winter blues this Saturday, Feb. 23 — all for a good cause — by attending the Tropical Icebreaker at Mango’s to support Justin’s Beach House. For $35 ahead of time or $40 at the door, participants can enjoy a Jimmy Buffet-style evening of music, with casual dress and a buffet dinner.

The Millsboro Chamber of Commerce has been working with Affinity Energy Management to offer their Chamber members the opportunity to lower their energy costs through participation in a large electricity-buying group.

The Barefoot Gardeners are always ready to help a garden in need — an attitude that led to the group’s Feb. 9 donation to Justin’s Beach House.

On Friday, Feb. 8, the Indian River Life Saving Station will be offering a unique way to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Delaware Department of Transportation officials, community leaders and state legislators gathered in Millville on Jan. 29 for the second Route 26 Working Group meeting ahead of construction of the Route 26 Mainline Improvements project. Even DelDOT Secretary Shailen Bhatt attended.

Bethany Beach officials are moving expediently on a request from developer Jack Burbage to clear the way over some zoning hurdles that could keep him from transforming the Bethany Arms motel into a beachfront Marriott or Hilton hotel.

Bethany Beach will be adding a third trolley to its fleet of summertime transportation this summer, with the approval by the town council this week of a contract to purchase the third trolley for $166,917. The third trolley isn’t planned for use simultaneously with the existing two trolleys, but it will help keep two trolleys in service at all times.

Addressing issues raised in a Board of Adjustments hearing last month, Bethany Beach Planning Commission members on Jan. 9 worked to develop an improved definition of an “accessory structure,” aiming to make it entirely clear in the town code what constitutes an attached garage and what does not.

Melissa King, a 2012 Indian River High School graduate who lives in the Bethany Beach area, was recently crowned Miss Delaware Teen USA 2013. King will represent Delaware in the Miss Teen USA contest in July, with her platform of “Finding the Balance.”

A high wind warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for 7 p.m. Wednesday evening to 4 a.m. Thursday. Winds are predicted to be from the south at 25 to 35 mph, with gusts up to 55 mph.

The strongest winds are expected between 10 p.m. Wednesday and 4 a.m. Thursday, just ahead of a cold front crossing Delaware and southern New Jersey.

The Indian River School District's public referendum meeting originally scheduled for Jan. 24 has been postponed due to inclemenent weather. It has been rescheduled for Monday, Jan. 28, at 7 p.m. at East Millsboro Elementary School.

District officials will give a presentation outlining the various referendum initiatives and the public will have the opportunity to ask questions.