Bethany Beach News

Gov. Jack Markell announced at 5 p.m. on Saturday that Delaware was entering a limited state of emergency to facilitate an evacuation over a 24-hour period. Beginning at 8 p.m. Saturday night, communities within .75 miles of the coast in Sussex and Kent counties, as well as flood areas in western Sussex County, should evacuate their homes.

A coastal flood watch has been issued for Sussex County, including the beach areas, running through at least Monday afternoon. According to the National Weather Service, the evolution of Hurricane Sandy into a powerful storm currently predicted to cross the New Jersey coast Monday evening will mean at least two tide cycles of potentially moderate to major flooding.

The Delaware state climatologist and DEMA held a “bridge call” with municipal officials on Friday evening, in anticipation of the arrival of Hurricane Sandy. Officials said that the latest storm track had Sandy making landfall on the Delaware coastline around Cape Henlopen, likely sometime early Tuesday morning.

As of Friday evening, Hurricane Sandy was on track to directly hit Delaware and the Mid-Atlantic in the days ahead, based on forecasts, threatening to lash the region with up to two days’ worth of hurricane-force winds, a 10-foot-high combined surge and tide, and torrential rains that could measure as much as a foot deep in some places.

Take Saturday to prepare, advised Gov. Jack Markell, in light of expected high winds and heavy rain from Hurricane Sandy from Sunday through the early part of next week.

“It is forecasted to be a long-lasting event,” he said on Friday, noting that rain, wind and flooding likely. “The duration is what we are most concerned about.”

UPDATED Sunday, Oct. 28, 11:30 a.m.
Cancellations due to Hurricane Sandy include the following:

Both the Indian River School District and Sussex Technical School District have closed schools and offices on Monday, Oct. 29, and Tuesday, Oct. 31.

All University of Delaware classes are suspended Monday, Oct. 29, and officials were strongly encouraging students to go home.

Delaware Senate District 20 candidate Rick Eakle (D) on Friday asked his fellow Sussex County candidates in the Nov. 6 elections to put aside their political differences ahead of the anticipated arrival of Hurricane Sandy and gather to plan together ways they can help coastal residents weather the storm.

State and local emergency officials are urging residents of coastal Delaware to be alert and prepare as Hurricane Sandy tracks up the Atlantic in the coming days and poses a risk of potential severe weather, up to and including possibly making landfall in the immediate area.

The second annual Wags, Witches & Warlocks Festival will be held in downtown Bethany Beach on Sat., Oct. 27, with registration starting at 9 a.m. The rain date is Sunday, Oct. 28.

There is still no decision from the Sussex County Planning & Zoning Commission regarding the proposed Castaways Bethany LLC mixed-use project. At their Oct. 11 meeting, Commission Chairman Robert Wheatley did say that a recommendation to the county council would be forthcoming and added that it would “be fair to say we won’t come back until we are ready to act.” He explained that they have to make a recommendation within 45 days from Oct. 5, when the record closed.

As work gets ready to start on one new project in Bethany Beach, a process for another is also being determined.

A group of local knitters has been busy with their needles, hoping to be able to donate their creations to area charities in need.

The Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce held its annual Member Celebration and Awards Ceremony last week, and they honored Coastal Point publisher Susan Lyons with the Chamber’s prestigious Lighthouse Award.

The Bethany Beach Town Council kicked off its new council year with a meeting on Sept. 21, retaining the existing slate of council members and the existing council officers, including Mayor Tony McClenny, Vice Mayor Jack Gordon and Treasurer Jerry Dorfman. The officers were approved by council vote at the annual reorganizational meeting, held on Sept. 18.

Those looking for a fun girls-day-out activity can visit Lavender & Lace Antiques this weekend, for their first Tea on the Green event. On Saturday, Oct. 6, from 1 to 4 p.m., a group of five local businesswomen are teaming up to offer an afternoon of fashion and fun.

Those looking for a way to get a head start on their Christmas shopping need look no further and can even buy local while doing so on Saturday, Oct. 6, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., when the Bethany Beach Fire Company’s Ladies Auxiliary will hold its annual Artisan Festival.

Beebe Medical Center representatives on Monday afternoon notified the public that visitor IDs were being checked after a former patient allegedly threatened two physicians affiliated with the hospital through a telephone message that was left sometime during the weekend and received on Monday morning.

No decision has been made yet on the proposed rezoning for the Castaways Bethany project, as the county council deferred action this week while waiting for a recommendation from Sussex County Planning & Zoning commissioners.

On Saturday, Sept. 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., local law-enforcement agencies will be partnering with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.

Ideas offered for the final shape of a park planned for the northwest corner of the intersections of Routes 1 and 26 were varied this week, when citizens turned out in Bethany Beach to offer their opinions to town council members.