CLICK FOR THE GATE COMBINATIONS
Pickleball, Basketball & Other Sports
At its upcoming 11/16/24 meeting, the Board will be hearing a presentation by Bob Unetich, who is a pickleball player and consultant on sound issues surrounding such courts. Further information on this topic is available at THIS LINK.
In October, a Board email introduced the issue of noise in the community caused by pickleball, basketball, and similar activities, and invited community members to submit comments to the Board on the concept. Because the request for comments did NOT state that they would be published to the community, they have not. Several of the respondents have since given their permission to publish on our website; several have not. Rest assured that both the “OK to publish” and “no permission granted” groups have submitted comments ranging all the way from “ban them all” to “why is this being discussed?”
Please consider your neighbors when playing pickleball and basketball. We all come to Middlesex Beach for the quiet, relaxation and peacefulness of the community. The noise created by playing pickleball or basketball may be interfering with your neighbor’s enjoyment of their property. Any proposed draft rules will be communicated to all members and there will be an opportunity for comment before the board considers whether to implement a rule and the details of the rule.
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO OUR BYLAWS:
The Bylaws of the Middlesex Beach Association, Inc. give direction for how our Board of Directors conducts business, and for the governance of the community. The Bylaws, which were last revised 2009 (just prior to the enactment of Delaware’s DUCIOA legislation), are being updated to comply with current Delaware law and to clarify some procedures. There are no drastic changes being considered, and a draft will be circulated to the community for comment prior to the Board voting on their approval. The Board met in Executive Session on December 2 to discuss the current draft language.
BEACH SIDE PARKING:
bicycles, full sized vehicles, and everything in between (golf carts and LSV’s)
There are more and more golf carts and LSV’s (Low Speed Vehicles) being operated to get members, their families and their guests to and from the beach. On the other hand, parallel parking spaces along Dune Rd are all marked for use by, and sized for, SUV-sized vehicles. CLICK HERE for more information on this topic.
Directory Cover Photo Contest
Every year, MBA holds a contest to determine the photo which will grace the cover of the upcoming printed Directory. We ask that each person submit a maximum of three (3) photos for the contest. Please remember that we can’t show faces of children directly. Photos may be submitted by email to photos@middlesexbeach.org. Please use as high a resolution as possible. Some photos may not be useable for printing if the resolution is not high enough. MBA retains the rights to crop any received photos. Make sure your photos are included in the contest! The deadline to submit photos is January 5, 2025.
2024-25 BOARD MEETING SCHEDULE
The MBA Board generally meets monthly. We are thrilled that Nally Homes, located in our Commercial District, and their landlord Kathy Dryden, have agreed to allow us to use their conference room. Next open meeting: Saturday, December 14, 9:30 am. The usual ZOOM access will be provided to the community. Click HERE for further information.
MBA Organizational Chart | MBA Terms and Conditions of Website Use
For further information regarding MBA meetings or events, please contact the Board of Directors.
Board Elections
End of Summer Community Meeting was held on August 31 at the Ocean View Presbyterian Church. There were four announced candidates for the four Board seats up for election. Bob Wood received 102 votes; Kerry Hall 101 votes; Barbara Friedman 98 votes; Alan Lescht 93 votes; Steve Larsen 1 vote.
At the subsequent Board Organizational Meeting, the following officers were elected: President: Dave Wiecking; Vice-President: Margie Cyr; Treasurer: Bob Wood; Secretary: Kate Mounteer.
2024-25 TRASH SCHEDULE
Click HERE for a copy of the 2024-25 Trash and Recycling pickup schedule. This schedule includes Yard Waste pickup every other Wednesday through October. Yard Waste for this pickup must be properly prepared: either put such waste in paper bags or tied with cotton string into bundles no more than 4’ long.
SPRING 2024 LANDSCAPING SURVEY
On March 31, 2024, MBA emailed a Landscaping Survey to the Primary Property Owner for each property. Click HERE for further information.
2024 Happy Hours
Click for pictures from the May 4, 2024 Happy Hour held at the 4 Errett Road home of David Burgess and Kate Mounteer, the June 15, 2024 Happy Hour at the 26 Short home of Wendy and John Thiede, the July 20, 2024 Happy Hour held at the 3 Addy road home of CoryAnn and Kevin Clarke and the August 16, 2024 Happy Hour held at the 29 Dune Rd home of Michelle and Jeffrey Rivest.
Covenants Amendment
After surveying the community, the Board determined that 60% of the Membership was in favor of a restriction on the sale of marijuana and marijuana-related products in our Commercial District. Covenants language was drafted, approved by our attorney, and subsequently approved by over 60% of our membership. The documents were filed in Georgetown, DE on Friday, August 30, 2024. The new language can be found in section 7.10 (k) of our Covenants.
Updates on Drainage
- Current Middlesex Beach Drainage Schematic
- Sussex Conservation Stormwater information | Homeowner’s guide to Stormwater management | Past SCD presentations
Internal Drainage (updated 10/1/24):
In the spring of 2024, MBA contracted with Harry Caswell to blow debris out of all our driveway culverts and other underground piping. While this work cleared debris from many portions of the drainage system, it also revealed some rusting steel culverts that will need to be replaced in the near future.
While some are scattered throughout the community, most of these are along Evergreen Road. For that reason this street will be the site of our next big drainage project. Click HERE for further information, which admittedly is rather bare-bones at this time. As plans develop further, we will share the details with the affected properties.
External Drainage (updated 10/1/24):
Based on input from DelDOT, DNREC has completed a second survey of the ditching and drainage areas along Kent Avenue and has used that information to come up with a modified plan, particularly at the most “downstream” part of the system (where the ditches drain into the Assawoman Canal just south of the Kent Avenue bridge). Because some of the work is on non-DelDOT property, easements will need to be negotiated with several private property owners. Click HERE for further information.
Some outside links of interest
- Bethany Beach firefly proposed to be added to the Endangered Species Act list
- 9/24/24 Bureau of Ocean Energy Management public hearing in Ocean City
- Ocean City Webpage re proposed offshore wind projects
- South Bethany webpage re proposed offshore wind projects
- Bureau of Ocean Energy Management page on proposed MD offshore wind project
- DNREC’s Economic Analysis for Shoreline Management
- DE Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) official talks flood zones, funding (Coastal Point article)
- Delaware Inland Bays and Delaware Bay Coast Coastal Storm Risk Management Feasibility (Back Bay) Study Put On Hold
- South Bethany Tide Chart (via tideschart.com) | Indian River Tide Chart (via tide-forecast.com)