BETHEL

Our Town is Turning 225 Years Old

2020 will be a great year for the Town of Bethel as it celebrates its 225th year of incorporation. The Town would like to invite any residents who wish to participate in planning for this occasion to join in the fun! Please call the Town office or let any council member know you are interested.

Call 8-1-1 Before You Dig

Delmarva Power reports: Over the last few years, we have seen a rise in the number of third party dig-ins, striking underground electrical lines which is an obvious safety and reliability issue. 

To solve this issue, call 8-1-1 before you dig. Refer to this document when you are getting ready to dig for more information: DPL_811_Factsheet

You can also report street light and outages on the Delmarva Power website. Once you get to the website, you can search by the 10-digit pole coordinate number and then you click on the light icon to report it out.  

Delmarva Power Online Streetlight Reporting Tool

https://delmarva.streetlightoutages.com/map/default.html

Historic Preservation Tax Credit: Would This Program Help YOU?

Please review the attached documents for more information regarding the Historical Preservation Tax Credit program. This tax credit does not apply to only historical preservation of the town’s homes but also items like roofs, heating and cooling systems, and restoration of character such as porch add-ons! There are qualifications, but it is worth checking into to see if you and  your home could benefit from this program.

guidelines-state-fed-1 historic-tax-credits websites-resources

historic-tax-credits

websites-resources

Residential Surveillance Needed

Dear Residents,

The Council Members of Bethel are well aware that our town is not untouched by the issues of today. They would like to do all they can to eliminate as much troubles as possible. They are asking for your help.

If you see anything suspicious, please write down the details and submit them to Martha Hawkins at betheltownclerk@gmail.com or in person at the Town Office. Notes such as the time of day, the make and model of vehicles, license plate numbers, descriptions of the individuals, etc.  However, please do not approach individuals on your own.

The members of council would like to make this town as safe as possible for it’s residents. Thank you for your assistance.

Mom, Did You Know I Almost Drowned?

I learn a lot about my children when we weed the garden together.  This chore is conducive to conversation. So when my daughter asked me, “Mom, did you know I almost drowned one time?” I was ready to hear all about it.  She proceeded to tell me that she was doing “bobs” in the pool with her two cousins. She bobbed down but this particular time, she couldn’t get back up above water. She opened her mouth to call for help and swallowed a mouthful of water. To her, it seemed like a long time, but she was able to get one foot and one hand on the bottom of the pool and push herself hard enough to get back  up.  Once she was on top again, her cousins asked her what happened. They saw her go down but didn’t see her come back up.

Now, my daughter had three seasons of swim lessons at the local YMCA. My husband was also a lifeguard for a few years, so he had diligently taught them pool safety. We supervise all pool activities. Yet I was still unaware that this event had occurred.  It only takes a second for a life-changing event to occur, so the Town of Bethel would like to encourage you to please practice pool safety this swimming season.

Even if you don’t have children, little ones can sometimes escape the watchful eyes of their caregivers and do so very quickly! Make sure that your pool is always inaccessible to little ones.  Then, enjoy your pool and make great memories with your family and friends.

Sussex County Swimming Pool Code

Home Swimming Pool Safety Tips from the American Red Cross

Concerned about Zika?

Homeowners can help to guard against Zika and other mosquito-borne illnesses. DNREC has posted a short Youtube video that is very informative. Take time to watch the video and implement the suggestions included here.

FOIA Requests

FOIA requests may now be made directly from our website. Look for the “Contact Us” tab on the navigation menu; then select “FOIA Request Form” from the drop-down menu.  You can also download a PDF form to submit your request in writing as well as view any related applicable fees.