Dodo Edible Cookie Dough & Ice Cream, opening at 786 Garfield Parkway in Bethany Beach, next to DiFebo’s Market, has received final approval for its signage.
Bethany Beach Town Councilman Patrick Sheplee made the announcement while presenting the Non-Residential Review Committee’s report at the Friday, July 19, council meeting.
Signs were also approved for the new Green Island Market that will open in the Bethany Town Center.
The committee had also been made aware of a business that had put up multiple decals on its windows, in violation of Town code. The owner business was notified and the decals were removed, Sheplee said.
Concerns about shuttle buses
During the public comments portion of the July 19 meeting, resident Janie Switzer, who lives on Wellington Parkway, reported that shuttle buses are traveling down that street.
She said that during the past several years, she has talked to Town Manager Cliff Graviet and asked what the buses are allowed to do and what routes drivers may take. Depending on traffic, buses turn onto Route 1, then right onto Wellington Parkway, she said. Two weeks ago, she saw buses 20 times on the third block of Wellington Parkway, she said.
“We have a brand-new safety path, and now we are contending with these shuttle buses that are randomly, at their whim, deciding at their whim, which streets they will come down,” she said.
Graviet said the Town can regulate routes and that shuttle bus companies have been advised to stay, as much as possible, on Kent Avenue and Route 26, state roadways that are more accommodating for buses.
Graviet said enforcement hasn’t yet begun.
Bicycle safety report
While presenting the Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety Committee report to the council, Councilwoman Teresa Keil said committee members had attended the annual picnic to welcome J-1 visa students, at St. Martha’s Episcopal Church. They gave students T-shirts and talked to them about bicycle safety, since most of them use bicycles as their main form of transportation.
Committee members also participated in the Town’s Independence Day Parade.
Keil said there will be a bicycle safety checkpoint held in conjunction with DelDOT from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 8, at Pennsylvania Avenue and Wellington Parkway. Helmets will be given to cyclists and repairs made to bicycles.
Another checkpoint was planned for Thursday, July 25, she said.
Budget & Finance Committee
Councilman Jerry Morris, while presenting the Budget & Finance Committee report, said the Town’s budget is conservative “because there are things we can’t control, and we have to be careful not to anticipate too much revenue.”
He said results of the first quarter of the 2025 fiscal year “show revenues 8 percent higher than the prior year” from an increase in trash fees, parking fees and interest earnings.
Hourly parking revenue is 12 percent higher than last year.
“The weather has been hot and dry, making perfect beach days and helping us as far as revenue is concerned. FY25 revenue is projected to surpass the amount budgeted. The Town is off to a good start,” he said.
Town manager’s report
Graviet, while presenting his monthly town manager’s report to the council, said it’s safe to say the traffic light at Kent Avenue and Route 26 can be dubbed “infamous” and that he wants to make it clear the Town has nothing to do with that light.
“We get a good number of complaints, and they are justified regarding the length of time it takes for that light to change. And people cut through Bethany West on Collins because of that light,” Graviet said.
He said Bethany Beach officials have “made entreaties” to DelDOT engineers to look at the light, but that they have repeatedly said that it is in sync with lights in Ocean View.
“But lately, we think we got their attention when they came down to review the lights and their representatives sat in traffic for 40 minutes on Route 26,” he said.
DelDOT engineers have now said they will investigate the timing of the light.
“We are hoping there will be something more friendly to vehicles. I hope that is something that happens sooner rather than later,” Graviet said.
Also, he said, pedestrian beacons are DelDOT’s response when municipalities ask for traffic lights. DelDOT conducts studies and certain criteria has to be met before they will erect a new stoplight. Another flashing beacon is going to be installed on Route 1 at Ashwood, he said.
A light at Kent and Wellington has been installed but is not operational yet, he said.
Graviet said town officials also asked for more stoplights on Route 26 “because of pedestrian issues we have, especially at Treetop Lane.”
A meeting with DelDOT is planned to discuss that installation, he said.
Graviet said the Town’s new parking lot opened on July 5 “and is a huge success.” He said it was entirely full the day after the Fourth of July, has an additional 68 parking spaces and has already produced $11,000 in revenue.
Graviet also reported that the Town’s parking director, Kevin Olsewski, resigned due to illness.
“We are sad to see him go. He has been a valuable part of our team,” Graviet said, adding that Nick Imperial was hired as assistant parking director and is “a real valuable addition and a great surprise to us, and he has carried on with parking — so important for our financial status,” he said.
Agreeing, Mayor Rosemary Hardiman said Imperial is “going to do a great job. … We have been very impressed with him.”
