Lewes meeting room dedicated to Bonnie Osler

Bonnie Osler knew that Lewes had outgrown city council chambers and needed a bigger meeting space.

She had an idea. As a member of council in 2016, she was the driving force in the city retaining the east wing of the former Lewes Public Library to give mayor and city council and the city’s commissions and committees the room they needed.

So, it was fitting Oct. 9, the city dedicated the room in the Margaret H. Rollins Community Center as the Bonnie Osler Meeting Room.

Mayor Amy Marasco and city council also proclaimed Oct. 9 as Bonnie Osler Day.

“In these walls and windows, this is where democracy happens. It’s a place to share ideas; although, it’s not always a place of harmony, that’s for sure. It’s a room where we might disagree, but where we find a common path forward,” Marasco said.

Osler died in 2024. She served on city council from 2012-21, holding the positions of deputy mayor and ex officio to the Lewes Planning Commission, among many others.

Osler is credited with modernizing the city’s finance committee, which she chaired.

One of her most visible projects was the yellow flags that were installed at high-volume corners so people could carry them to stop motorists from speeding by. A photo of Osler holding one of those flags was shown on the screens during the dedication ceremony.

But Osler is most remembered for serving the community with grace, humor and an open heart.

Brook Hedge, Osler’s spouse, said she also had a vision for the city.

“She saw that this was no longer Al Stango’s Lewes and that growth was coming, growth that we could not foresee because we couldn’t control it,” Hedge said.

Lewes City Manager Ellen Lorraine McCabe, who worked with Osler when she was finance manager, said she remembers Osler for being a tireless advocate for city employees.

“Bonnie wanted to ensure that employees left ahead of peak holiday traffic that would be arriving to our community. This was a meaningful gesture that reflected her deep compassion and respect for city employees and their families,” McCabe said.

A plaque recognizing the Bonnie Osler Meeting Room was hung after the ceremony. A banner was hung outside.

The first public meeting scheduled for the newly named space is the Lewes Planning Commission at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 15.