Betty Bingham was honored by Mayor Geoff Pugh (background), who declared her 95th birthday on July 21 as Betty Bingham Day. After the speech, Town Manager Lynne Ladner and others presented her with flowers. Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star
Activism keeps her young as she prepares to turn 95 — No matter that her official birthday wasn’t for nearly three weeks. Ocean Ridge leaders celebrated local activist and longtime town resident Betty Bingham’s 95th birthday at the July 1 Town Commission meeting with flowers, hugs and a special proclamation designating July 21 as Betty Bingham Day in town.
The nonagenarian accepted the honor with grace, smiles and humor.
“I want to thank you all,” Bingham told the commission. “As far as I’m concerned, I’m chugging along.”
Originally from Baltimore, Bingham moved to Florida in 1971, eventually settling in Ocean Ridge where she has lived for more than 40 years. She is widely considered an expert on town history, and currently serves as an appointed member of the town’s Board of Adjustment. Bingham also served on the Town Commission for 12 years and spent another five years on the Planning and Zoning Board. She spent much of her younger years in banking and as a travel agent.
Bingham acknowledged that her activism keeps her young.
“I do enjoy working and doing things around town,” she conceded.
Of the proclamation?
“I think it’s kind of cool,” she said.
Garbage contract extended through 2029 — Waste Pro will continue to be Ocean Ridge’s approved garbage hauler for the next five years, but the company’s maximum annual fee adjustment will be linked to the Consumer Price Index.
Town commissioners on July 1 unanimously agreed to renew the company’s contract through 2029 for solid waste and recycling services with a few tweaks.
Commissioners also adjusted the company’s maximum annual fee increase to 5% instead of 3% after Waste Pro officials said rising operation costs necessitated the increase to continue providing the same level of service.
Commissioners linked the maximum annual increase to the CPI after Vice Mayor Steve Coz wondered what might happen if annual inflation reached only 1%, instead of 5%. He suggested an adjustable rate to address such a scenario.
— Sallie James
Tasers coming for all police officers — Ocean Ridge police officers will all have tasers assigned to them, instead of their cruisers, after Ocean Ridge commissioners agreed to the proposal at their June 3 meeting. They unanimously approved a $176,851 contract with Axon, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, that will include 16 new tasers, more than double the current arsenal of seven.
Ocean Ridge was the only South County police department that had not assigned a taser to each officer, according to Gulf Stream Police Chief Richard Jones, who left his position as Ocean Ridge’s top cop in 2023.
— Anne Geggis
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