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Callow makes mark at Special Olympics
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JULY 24, 2026
THE LOCAL VOICE OF YOUR COMMUNITY.
Volume 23, Issue 30
FREE
Corps: Inlet jetty repairs will aid navigation By Laura Walter Staff Reporter Barrier islands come and go, as tides and sand drift naturally. Even when locations like the Indian River Inlet are “hardened” with a bridge and jetties, the tide keeps pulling at the soil and structures there. Over the decades, about 400 feet of the Indian River Inlet’s north jetty has slipped into the ocean. So this month,
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced that repairs are coming in the spring of 2027. “The project will restore the visible portion of the jetty to its original height, … widen its footprint to the north for stability and extend it approximately 100 feet oceanward,” explained Steve Rochette, public affairs officer for the Corps. More of the structural work will occur underwater, sloping up to the
rocks that people see above the surface. Starting about 250 feet east of the bridge, the overall jetty structure will be reinforced oceanward for about 1,000 feet (approximately the length of the south jetty structure). The rubble mound structure will be repaired with large rocks, marine mattresses (a heavyduty grid filled with stone) and more. This maintenance “will reduce the permeability of the structure (i.e. sand getting through),” Rochette added.
“While this repair work may help with beach erosion concerns on the north side, that is not the primary purpose of the jetties. The primary purpose is to stabilize the navigation channel” for commercial, recreational and U.S. Coast Guard use. Millions of gallons of water rush through the inlet each day between the
See JETTY page A5
Millville to host ‘Ready, Set, Bike’ on Aug. 5 By Kerin Magill Staff Reporter Cyclists young and old are being invited to a bicycle safety event that Millville officials are hoping will help prevent accidents, such as the one that resulted in a fatality earlier this summer. “Ready, Set, Ride” — a free educational event sponsored by the Town of Millville and Sussex Cyclists, is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 5, from 9 a.m. to noon at Evans Park. Those who attend a 30-minute bike safety presentation will be eligible to receive free bike helmets and lights, while supplies last. Town Manager Eileen Scerra announced the event at the June 14 meeting of the Millville Town Council. “I’m super-excited about this,” Scerra See BIKES page A3
Special to the Coastal Point • Marian Dowling
‘I want a bucket of boardwalk fries this big!’
Bethany parade to be part of Founders’ Day celebration By Susan Canfora Staff Reporter Despite disappointment that Bethany Beach’s annual Fourth of July Parade was canceled due to extreme heat, the parade will be part of a Founders’ Day celebration on Labor Day weekend, when, “Every day, we will see something good, unusual and
entertaining,”Town Manager Cliff Graviet told the Bethany Beach Town Council at their July 17 meeting. The parade will be at noon on Sunday, Sept. 6, and bands will also perform, including the pop-rock band Love Seed Mama Jump, 1980s band The Jimmies and a tribute to Elvis Presley. “Our Independence Day Parade, be-
cause of a very unusual condition that was related to heat, was moved to Labor Day weekend. We are calling that our Founders’ Day weekend,” Graviet said, adding that the rescheduled Fourth of July Parade will allow residents and guests to continue to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States. Graviet, also while presenting his
monthly town manager’s report, joined Mayor Ron Calef in thanking town employees for their hard work during other Fourth of July events, including concerts and fireworks. “Special thanks to Public Works.They put in, under very sweltering conditions, a See BETHANY page A4