Dewey Plans Party for all Holidays

DEWEY BEACH – Town officials are planning a holiday party to promote togetherness among all religious affiliations.

“It was my mistake to call it a Christmas party at first, but I realized we have people of all religions here and they don’t all celebrate Christmas,” Mayor Dell Tush said about Saturday’s potluck dinner at the Indian River Lifesaving Station.

“We have such a small town, so it’s important for people to know one another. You put a face with a property and then we can help look after each other’s homes in the off-season.” A variety of dishes will be served, including a spiral ham, a stuffed turkey, and fruit and green salads. “I’m hoping a lot of people will be in town and able to attend,” Tush said. “It’s open to all citizens. Hopefully, we can do this every year.”

In her four-year tenure on Town Council, Tush said this is the first holiday party to take place. Three years ago she re-instituted the anniversary party, celebrating Dewey Beach’s becoming an incorporated town in 1981. “It hadn’t been celebrated since the 20th anniversary,” she said. “But everyone loved it, so we made it an annual thing again.”

So far, 25 people have committed to attend the event.

“I’m hoping for twice that, or even more,” Tush said. “Hopefully, we’ll have a crowd.” Those planning to attend should bring a covered dish, she said.

Part-time resident Joy Howell said she’s happy to be back at the beach for the holidays. “(The holiday party) is a great way of bringing people together,” she said. “It builds on our holiday decorating, which we did last weekend. People of (different affiliations) showed up to decorate our town trees and the beach fences.”

Howell said the town is still taking holiday decoration donations and would like to find a menorah to display at the Lifesaving Station.
“We want everyone to feel their holiday is represented,” she said.

BY KRISTEN SMITH • COAST PRESS STAFF WRITER • NOVEMBER 30, 2008