In This Issue
Celebrating the Founders! CAMPout- A Long Magical Ride Read about The Big Tow
C R E A T I N G
A
M O R E
P O S I T I V E
R E H O B O T H
December 11, 2020 Volume 30, Number 13 camprehoboth.com
inside
THIS ISSUE
4 In Brief 6 CAMP Matters
46 We Remember
My Long Magical Ride FAY JACOBS
14 Who’s That? That’s CAMP!
Our Board of Directors: Dedication and Personality Plus!
Mimi Rottiers and Rehoboth Beach Commissioner Pat Coluzzi at Rehoboth Beach Holiday Farmer’s Market. See page 64.
20 CAMP Rehoboth History Project
28 Out & Proud
JAMES T. SEARS
30 LGBTQ+ YA
The “Complex”
22 More CAMP News 24 Health & Wellness Season’s Greetings!
ANITA BROCCOLINO
MARJ SHANNON
18 Intentionally Inclusive
26 It’s My Life
How 2020’s Lessons Can Shape 2021—for the Better
TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER
DAVID GARRETT
8 CAMP Out
CHRIS BEAGLE
ERIC W. WAHL
A Fortune of Reversals
MURRAY ARCHIBALD
Giving Thanks and Honoring Legacy
58 Booked Solid
44 Straight Talk
The Long Goodbye, PART 2
12 President’s View
42 The Real Dirt Return of the Patriotic Garden
5 Speak Out
10 CAMP News
VOLUME 30, NUMBER 13 • DECEMBER 11, 2020
O Christmas Tree
STEFANI DEOUL
Logan Thawley
32 Out & About You’re a Mean One, Mr. Prince ERIC PETERSON
MICHAEL THOMAS FORD
WES COMBS
A New Decade
34 Historical Headliners
American Hero: Albert D. J. Cashier
The Big Tow: An Unlikely Romance
60 Book Talk
Ellen Hart and Fay Jacobs: A Conversation FAY JACOBS
48 Dining Out 50 CAMP Critters 52 That’s Entertainment
When You’re Queer Enough to Send the Very Best
64 CAMPshots
54 Celebrity Interview
66 Q-Puzzle
ERIC PETERSON
Life (and Death) Again, through Alan Ball’s Eyes CHRIS AZZOPARDI
56 CAMP Arts
That’s All Folks! The Last CAMPshots of 2020!
ON THE COVER Celebrate!
Photo: Fidel Fernando | Unsplash.com
DOUG YETTER
ANN APTAKER
36 Community News
See page 26
Letters from CAMP Rehoboth welcomes submissions. Email editor@camprehoboth.com. Photographs must be high resolution (300 dpi). Documents should be sent as attachments in Microsoft Word®. Deadline for submissions is two weeks prior to the issue release date.
Letters 2 DECEMBER 11, 2020
PUBLISHER David Mariner EDITOR Fay Jacobs COPY EDITOR Marj Shannon DESIGN AND LAYOUT Mary Beth Ramsey ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER Tricia Massella ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT Kerry Hallett, Barb Ralph DISTRIBUTION Corky Fitzpatrick, Mark Wolf CONTRIBUTORS Barbara Antlitz, Ann Aptaker, Murray Archibald, Chris Azzopardi, Chris Beagle, Anita Broccolino, Tony Burns, Wes Combs, Stefani Deoul, Michael Thomas Ford, David Garrett, Fay Jacobs, Tricia Massella, Eric Peterson, Mary Beth Ramsey, Terri Schlichenmeyer, James T. Sears, Marj Shannon, Logan Thawley, Eric W. Wahl, Doug Yetter
Letters from CAMP Rehoboth is published 15 times per year, between February and Thanksgiving, as a program of CAMP Rehoboth Inc., a non-profit community service organization. CAMP Rehoboth seeks to create a more positive environment of cooperation and understanding among all people. Revenue generated by advertisements supports CAMP Rehoboth’s purpose as outlined in our mission statement.
The inclusion or mention of any person, group, or business in Letters from CAMP Rehoboth does not, nor is it intended to in any way, indicate sexual orientation. The content of the columns are the views and opinions of the writers and may not indicate the position of CAMP Rehoboth, Inc. © 2020 by CAMP Rehoboth, Inc. All rights reserved by CAMP Rehoboth. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission of the editor.
CAMP REHOBOTH
MISSION STATEMENT AND PURPOSE CAMP Rehoboth is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community service organization dedicated to creating a positive environment inclusive of all sexual orientations and gender identities in Rehoboth Beach and its related communities. We seek to promote cooperation and understanding among all people as we work to build a safer community with room for all. We seek to promote community well-being on all levels; to foster the development of community groups; to develop community space; to promote human and civil rights; to work against prejudice and discrimination; to lessen tensions among the community at large; and to help foster the economic growth of the area. We work toward these ends through activities such as the following:
Fundraising for other organizations,
such as AIDS service organizations, gay and lesbian community organizations, recycling programs, environmental projects, literacy training, and other ventures for the general betterment of the community.
Networking resources and information
by publishing a newsletter, and functioning as an alternative tourist bureau and information center.
Promoting artistic expressions and creative thinking,
and giving aid to artists and craftspeople with an emphasis on the works of lesbians and gay men.
Education and outreach to the larger community,
including sensitivity training seminars, and printed materials to promote positive images of gay and lesbian people and others.
Promoting political awareness to build safe and inclusive community
through voter information, education, and registration; and analysis of issues and candidates.
PRESIDENT Chris Beagle VICE PRESIDENT Leslie Sinclair SECRETARY Glen Pruitt TREASURER Natalie Moss, CPA AT-LARGE DIRECTORS Jane Blue, Wesley Combs, Mike DeFlavia, Max Dick, Linda Gregory Jack Morrison, Tara Sheldon, Kathy Wiz EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR David Mariner HEALTH & WELLNESS PROGRAM DIRECTOR Salvatore Seeley DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Anita Broccolino
The Way I See It by CAMP Rehoboth Executive Director, David Mariner
THINGS SLOW DOWN A LITTLE IN REHOBOTH BEACH AROUND NOVEMBER, OR SO I’VE HEARD. That was certainly not the case this year. As most of you know by now, there were three separate incidents last month where our community fell short of truly being a place with “Room for All.” One incident involved vandalism, another, online Zoom harassment, and another, hateful language. We reached out and spoke or met with all parties involved. Incidents of hate are on the rise across the country, according to a recent FBI report, fueled in no small part by the political landscape we find ourselves in. So while it’s not surprising that we’ve witnessed incidents close to home, it’s nevertheless deeply troubling. As usual, though, our community has come through. I am so grateful for the overwhelming community support. You made it clear that this is unacceptable in Sussex County. Addressing one of these incidents, CAMP Rehoboth was pleased to be able to bring together our friends from the Blue Moon and representatives from the Lewes Fire Department to have a difficult but necessary conversation. I also appreciate that Bill Buckaloo joined us and apologized in person for his use of derogatory language. See pages 4 and 5 for more on these disturbing incidents and reaction to them. We’ve always been here to help Create A More Positive Rehoboth, and we always will be. It’s a core value instilled by the founders of CAMP Rehoboth, Steve Elkins and Murray Archibald. I’m personally grateful to Murray for all of the assistance and guidance he has offered to me in my first year at CAMP Rehoboth. And speaking of Steve and Murray, I’m excited about a recent decision by our Board of Directors to honor them for everything they’ve built here at CAMP Rehoboth. Read all about the wonderful decision reached in Board President Chris Beagle’s column on page 12. This issue of Letters marks two big changes. First, this issue contains Murray’s last CAMPmatters column. That alone would be enough for this issue to feel like the end of an era! Murray’s column has combined LGBTQ activism and a playful love of Rehoboth, Sundance, and all things glittery for many, many years. Second, it is also the last issue of Letters with Fay Jacobs as editor. I’m grateful for everything Fay has done to keep Letters a strong and vibrant voice in our community, and excited about our plans to honor Fay by establishing a scholarship in her name. See more about this exciting program on page 10. While we owe so much gratitude to both Murray and Fay, coronavirus has robbed us of the retirement party we surely would have hosted to toast to them. Fear not, when the time is right, we will bring people together to celebrate! While both Fay and Murray are dialing back their work here at CAMP Rehoboth, they will still be around to offer guidance and support, which I truly appreciate. And I look forward to seeing Fay’s writing pop up in Letters in the future! Finally, I’m sure you feel as I do, happy to see 2020 close up shop. And, if the past month has taught me anything, it’s that we can’t take our inclusive and welcoming community for granted—our work must continue to keep us the town with Room for All. So happy holidays from us here at CAMP Rehoboth, and I’ll see you in these pages in the new year. ▼
CAMP REHOBOTH 37 Baltimore Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 tel 302-227-5620 | fax 302-227-5604 email editor@camprehoboth.com | www.camprehoboth.com CAMP Rehoboth, Inc. is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to CAMP Rehoboth are considered charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes and may be deducted to the fullest extent of the law. A copy of our exemption document is available for public inspection.
DECEMBER 11, 2020
3 Letters
Remembering Those We’ve Lost
T Together and Talking On the weekend of November 14 there were three incidents of LGBTQ/racial hatred in the Rehoboth area. A same-gendered interracial couple from Lewes had the word “Trump” burned with chemicals in five-foot letters in their front lawn; after a show at Rehoboth’s Blue Moon Restaurant, a Lewes firefighter made comments on social media using an offensive anti-LGBTQ slur; and a live Zoom presentation on LGBTQ history was “Zoombombed” by hackers spewing hateful, anti-gay, anti-Semitic, and racist language. CAMP Rehoboth reached out to all injured parties and decried the harassment. On November 24, CAMP Rehoboth hosted a meeting with top officials of the Lewes Fire Department, the firefighter involved, and colleagues from the Blue Moon. What followed was a “difficult but necessary conversation about hate language and it's harmful impacts for our community,“ said one of the attendees. Shown here attending the meeting are representatives from CAMP Rehoboth, the Lewes Fire Department, and the Blue Moon. For more on this story, see Speakout on the opposite page. ▼
he December 1, 2020 World AIDS Day Candlelight Vigil, a long tradition in Rehoboth Beach, took place outdoors and in the parking lot at Epworth Methodist Church this year. Social distancing and a broadcast of music and the reading of the names made available on car radios allowed the event to go one despite the ongoing pandemic. We must never forget. ▼
Shop! Shop! Shop! The final CAMP Rehoboth Handmade Market, this one a Holiday Edition, will be in the Community Center courtyard on Baltimore Avenue on Saturday, December 12, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Local LGBTQ artisans and their allies will set up with their wares for “shop local” purchasing. Social distancing will apply! Bundle up and come stroll through our courtyard. Foot traffic will be directed along a specific route; vendors and guests must adhere to CDC guidelines and wear masks at all times. Entry is free and open to the public! Come by, stay safe, and shop for the holidays. ▼ Letters 4 DECEMBER 11, 2020
Looking Back FEBRUARY 2000
Dreaming the World: CAMP Project Action Committee by Murray Archibald
Starting a new millennium makes it hard to not think about the future. All our lives we’ve been wondering what life would be like in the year 2000 and now it’s here. I thought that after all the Y2K media blitz I’d be over it, but I have to confess I still get a little thrill of excitement every time I write the day’s date. I look forward to experiencing Summer 2000…. Early in January, a group of about 20 people gathered to participate in the first meeting of the CAMP Rehoboth Project Action Committee. The group has been developed to be our creative planning team and is open to all members of the community who wish to participate…. Perhaps the most important thing to come out of the January meeting was an overwhelming response to the need for a gay and lesbian Community Center. From the first year of CAMP Rehoboth, one of the long-term goals has been the creation of such a center. In some ways, of course, the CAMP courtyard and office have served that purpose during the past decade, but now the needs have far outgrown the space and it’s time to talk about growing. A Community Center would allow greatly expanded services available through CAMP Rehoboth on a year-round basis, as well as provide a focus for the many projects and issues that are important to us. Editor’s note: After dreaming, planning, fundraising, building purchases, construction, and more, it was a full eight years later we had the grand opening!
SPEAKOut Editor: While Delaware Stonewall PAC can be thrilled by the progress we have made in having three members of the LGBT community elected to our State Legislature, we know our work is far from over, as we continue to struggle with homophobic and hate inspired incidents in Sussex County and elsewhere. The three incidents reported recently: the Zoom bombing with homophobic disruptions of a performance by Fay Jacobs; the vandalism at the home of a lesbian couple in Lewes, one being Charlotte King, founder of the Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice; and the anti-gay slur by the Lewes Assistant Fire Chief, prove that our work must continue. This can only be done with your help. Please help us work towards educating our neighbors in Delaware and passing legislation which will protect the LGBT community. Please consider supporting our PAC at delawarestonewall. org, or joining our Board. – Peter Schott President, Delaware Stonewall PAC Dear Editor, I would like to introduce myself, my name is Kate Wall, owner of Shorebreak Lodge restaurant on Wilmington Ave. I wanted to reach out to CAMP Rehoboth regarding the incident that took place on social media and degradation of our community members. I was just informed of the event on Friday night from a customer, as I do not spend time on Facebook and I stopped watching the news long ago. I took ownership of Shorebreak back in May of 2017 and have always welcomed the gay community. CAMP Rehoboth is the anchor of what Rehoboth Beach is today and what makes Rehoboth so special. We may not be on Baltimore Avenue, but we fully support the organization and the work of all the volunteers. Over the past four years I have become friends to many of our loyal and wonderful customers who call Rehoboth their second home. Blue Moon
is an institution for some of the best entertainment in Rehoboth. I am proud to be a part of a Gay Pride community that openly shares, and so eloquently put “Room for All.” I couldn’t imagine Rehoboth without the gay community; it would be a city with no sparkle! I want to show my support and solidarity to keep the love alive, and continue to promote the “Room for All” on Wilmington Avenue. In fragile times, we as a community need to stand together and strengthen our commitment. Let not the distance of two blocks stand in our way. Please let me know if CAMP Rehoboth plans any organized event that we can be a part of. – Kate Wall Owner, Shorebreak Lodge Restaurant Dear Editor, This is an open letter to the community. A recent derogatory social media post by a member of the Lewes Fire Department has created considerable discord and concern within the community it serves. The member’s post was inflammatory, intolerable, and is in no way a representation of department beliefs or policies. The Lewes Fire Department has been embedded within the town of Lewes and surrounding communities for 224 years, providing dedicated emergency and public service throughout. The department is proud of its long history of service and role it serves as an emergency service responding to 4,400 medical and 700 fire calls in 2019, 24 hours a day, in any weather conditions or circumstances. We are available to assist those who are in need no matter who they are or their beliefs. It is the Lewes Fire Department’s sincere hope that the actions of one will not be the portrayal of the department as a whole and that our community recognizes we continue to provide dedicated service. Sincerely, – The officers and members of the Lewes Fire Department Inc.
(Editor’s note: on November 24, 2020, CAMP Rehoboth hosted a meeting with the Lewes Fire Department to discuss the incident that occurred on November 14.) Editor: To all at CAMP Rehoboth, I would like to thank your organization for setting up a meeting and allowing me to come speak in person. I listened and took in every word spoken on everyone’s behalf. I was educated on how vital this organization is to the community and the resources that are available. Most importantly, I learned the true meaning of the word I used and the hurt I have caused Jeremy and everyone throughout the community, locally and nationally. The word affected everyone differently. It brought back a lot of bad memories of not so good times from being bullied in grade school to ride-bys with people shouting out that word in disgust. The LBGTQ community has come a long way to be respected and be part of our society. With my lack of good judgment and bad choice of words, all I have done is taken Jeremy and the community back in time. I want to again apologize for saying such a derogatory word, let alone, post it on social media. At the time, not thinking past the minute, to the grief, sadness, anger, and hate I caused. I have lived in this local community my whole life. My parents were raised here and also my kids are being raised here. My goal is to complete a sensitivity class to further educate myself and to pass information on to others. I want to regain the trust I have lost from the community which I volunteer in. I am sorry from the bottom of my heart. – William H. Buckaloo
Send letters to the editor, 300 words or fewer, to editor@camprehoboth.com
DECEMBER 11, 2020
5 Letters
CAMP Matters
The Long Goodbye PART 2
BY MURRAY ARCHIBALD
“Several times in the past few years, Steve and I have talked about the fact that CAMP Rehoboth will not be truly successful until we are able to let go of it and see it run on its own. Writing that sentence brings a sudden hot press of tears to the back of my eyes and reminds me again that every “child” has to eventually go out on his own. We’re not there yet, I know, and I don’t have to let go all at once, of course, but I do have to start sometime, even if it’s only with a few little “baby steps” from time to time.”
I
Woke Up This Morning Feeling Very Emotional. Work in progress. 12" x 12", Acrylic on Wood.
Letters 6 DECEMBER 11, 2020
wrote those words in the March 11, 2005 issue of Letters from CAMP Rehoboth. Fifteen years ago! Baby steps, indeed. At that pace, no wonder I’m still letting go after all this time. In actuality, we truly did work on a succession plan along the way, but for the remainder of the two-thousands, and halfway through the twenty-tens, we were so engrossed in the work of CAMP Rehoboth, the construction of a new building, and creating and publishing Letters from CAMP Rehoboth, we barely had time to eat and sleep, much less plan for an exit. Besides, the subject made me a little bit queasy. I wasn’t ready to let go. By the time 2015 rolled around, Steve—four years older than me—was tiring of the stress and all-night deadlines and beginning to mention the subject of retirement on a more regular basis. He complained more frequently of not feeling well.
His lymphoma was discovered by accident on a trip to the emergency room for what we thought was a hernia. At the time, his treatment appeared to go well, and he finished up his first round of chemo in April 2016. In the summer of 2017, the lymphoma came roaring back, this time in a monstrously aggressive form no amount of treatment ever really slowed down. Though his treatments grew steadily more terrible throughout the fall and winter of 2017-18, he never gave up on his belief that all would be well. I struggled on through that dark winter, working on Letters from hospital rooms in Lewes and Philadelphia. By the time he died on March 15, 2018, I was exhausted, and still trying to do the work the two of us had done for years. An impossible task in the best of times, but supported by friends and community, I pressed on through that first year without him. Wisely, I promised myself I would not make any major decisions for a year after his death. I stuck to that timeline, for the most part. Looking back on it now, I understand how deeply I was changed by Steve’s illness and death and the effort to maintain the good work we had done at CAMP Rehoboth for decades. As my self-imposed deadline arrived, time had done its work. The decision to step back from my leadership role was an easy and natural one to make. The actuality of it was harder to adjust to, but in that, too, time—and my own creativity—eased me through the transition. By the end of 2019, I had moved my office out of the community center and back to my studio, though I continued to do some limited work for CAMP Rehoboth throughout this past year. Twenty-twenty, of course, has not been at all what we expected it to be, but it has given me time. Time to heal. Time to allow my creativity to flourish. Time to be back in the studio. Time to understand—and remember—who I am.
Time to discover an unknown future—and to not be afraid of it. I will always be a founder of CAMP Rehoboth, but the time has come for me to allow it to thrive—or not—on its own. That doesn’t mean that I’m going away or that I wouldn’t consider offers to help with specific matters from time to time. Or that I won’t be willing to When faced with enormous change an occasional light change and loss, we have a bulb in the courtyard or community center. choice. Shrink back into the It does mean that I have past and hold on to what made the decision to retire my CAMPmatters column in was lost. Or celebrate all that we have been through Letters. I’ve written for Letters and look to the future for from CAMP Rehoboth for decades. The history, progwhat comes next. ress, and vision of CAMP Rehoboth is woven throughout my columns. I’ve enjoyed writing them. I know I’ve improved as a writer over the years. I’ve learned the value of working under a deadline—both as a writer and as a designer. Most of us are terrified by sudden change. We don’t have time to adjust to it. I am grateful to have been given the time to ease myself through the massive personal changes of the past three years. I’m thankful to the friends and family who gave me strength and for their patience in allowing me to heal at my own pace. When faced with enormous change and loss, we have a choice. Shrink back into the past and hold on to what was lost. Or celebrate all that we have been through and look to the future for what comes next. Almost two decades ago, I made the decision to let my art career slide in order to do the work I needed to do to make CAMP Rehoboth successful. While I never stopped being an artist, or stopped using my creative skills, I couldn’t do two fulltime jobs at the same time. Being back in my studio feels like a luxury to me. I anticipate there will be many months to come before I am satisfied enough with my new work to show it to the public. Hopefully by then, we will all be able to gather together once more. In the meantime, don’t forget my favorite themes: Persistence is half the battle. Creating a more positive world starts with ourselves. Forgiveness is divine. Love is kind. And laughter heals. In the words of Hanna-Barbera’s truly campy Snagglepuss, the time has come for me to simply say: “Heavens to Murgatroyd! Exit, stage left!” Or, “So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, goodbye.…” Oh, for Pete’s sake, “I never can say goodbye.” ▼ Murray Archibald is an artist and CAMP Rehoboth co-founder. Email Murray at murray@camprehoboth.com
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! CAMP REHOBOTH PREMIER SPONSORS
CAMP REHOBOTH SPONSOR
For information on how to become a CAMP Rehoboth Annual Sponsor, email anita@camprehoboth.com or contact Anita Broccolino at 302-227-5620.
DECEMBER 11, 2020
7 Letters
CAMP Out Fay’s Rehoboth Journal BY FAY JACOBS
My Long, Magical Ride
W
ith this issue of Letters, the magazine has ended its 30th Anniversary year. In publishing, that’s quite a run. In queer publishing, it’s a remarkable and historic run. From a four-page “newsletter” to an oft-times 120-page color magazine, the march of progress for Letters and our community has been a stunning period of growth and change. We’ve made deep and enduring connections. It will be entertaining and illuminating to see how Letters from CAMP Rehoboth proceeds in its fourth decade and what societal changes and LGBTQ issues, along with plain old fun stuff, it covers. Lots of us have been reading Letters online during this pandemic. But it’s the beautiful print version which has played such a huge role in welcoming LGBTQ visitors to town and inviting them to become part of our community. On the day last summer when I first met CAMP Rehoboth’s Operations Administrator Kerry Hallett, she told me, “We were visiting Rehoboth when I saw a copy of Letters and said to my wife, ‘Look, a gay magazine with drag queens on the cover!’ Then as I flipped through, I saw all the things going on and I said, ‘We could live here!’” And now they do. Likewise, years ago, Kathy Wiz and Muriel Hogan stopped here for lunch on their way to Myrtle Beach. They ran into Kathy Weir from CAMP Rehoboth, who showed them around, gave them Letters, and told them all about the community. Completely charmed by this gay-friendly community, they wound up spending only a day or two down South, finishing their vacation in Rehoboth and eventually moving here. I have friends on Facebook and in person who came to Rehoboth for the beach, picked up Letters, and found their community. It’s happened hundreds of times. My friend Lana Warfield once said to me, “Two things built the women’s
Letters 8 DECEMBER 11, 2020
community here—Letters and the happy hour at the old Cloud 9.” I agree. And though we miss Cloud 9 something awful, we still have Letters (and now Diegos) to keep us connected. And from what I’ve seen and experienced (before COVID!) at local venues, younger generations of queer people, men and women, are coming to town, to the beach, the bars, the restaurants, and finding this amazing community.
And from all of this I have 26 years of typeset memories in Letters. I’ve been writing about our notable community in this column, CAMPout, for 26 of Letters’ 30 years. The first CAMPout told how Bonnie and I cruised to Rehoboth aboard our 28-foot power boat, outrunning swarms of black flies, barely sharing the C&D Canal with a big mother tanker, and narrowly avoiding running aground (“Look, Bonnie, I can see those sea gulls’ knees!”). We arrived in Rehoboth to a greeting party waving at us from the Rehoboth Avenue bridge. This column then chronicled 1995-97 living aboard in Dewey, then trading mildew life for condo life, and in 1999 becoming Reho full-timers. I wrote of CAMP events, our careers,
LGBTQ activism, politics, health crises, Sundances, CAMP Follies, Women’s FESTs, zip-lining, travel, marriage equality, a succession of Schnauzers, kvetching about technology, and a helluva lot of fun. My columns became books, and I embarked upon a new career as a published author, touring the country for readings and book signings. Then, those readings, where people laughed at my stories, morphed into my breaking into show business at an age I might more likely break a hip. My onewoman show brought me to comedy clubs, conventions, theatres, LGBTQ community centers, and even aboard an Olivia Cruise. It was a total blast. And from all of this, I have 26 years of typeset memories in Letters. The privilege of writing CAMP Out, and being swept up, along with so many others, in the magical quarter-century of CAMP Rehoboth’s heart-filled evolution which I experienced, has meant everything to me. But this will be my last regularly scheduled column. I’m retiring as Letters editor (I mean it this time, lol), giving up deadlines and putting this CAMPout column to bed. I’ll be just another happy reader of this 30-year strong magazine. Maybe the new editor will ask me to chime in with a guest column now and then. So, keep reading Letters, cherish our sense of community, stay safe, enjoy the holiday season, and I’ll see you ‘round the CAMPus. Cheers!
Fay Jacobs has a monthly column, AprilNovember, in Delaware Beach Life Magazine, and you can subscribe to her musings at fayjacobsrb.medium.com
O LIVIA WISH ES YOU HAPPY H O LI DAYS AN D A
HAPPY NEW YEAR EXPLORE THE BRAND NEW
OLIVIA.COM
OLIVIA IS A PROUD PREMIER SPONSOR OF CAMP REHOBOTH OLIVIA.COM · (800) 631-6277 FOR SPECIAL OFFERS, MENTION “RB2020” WHEN YOU CALL DECEMBER 11, 2020
9 Letters
CAMP News Women’s FEST 2021 Is Happening! camp rehoboth
The hybrid event will take place April 22-25, in and around Rehoboth and on computer screens everywhere. According to FEST Co-Chairs Nancy Hewish and Lisa Soens, along with CAMP Rehoboth Development Director Anita-Broccolino, many precautions will be taken to safeguard the health and safety fun entertainment spring tradition of FEST participants. Women’s FEST 2021 will be a socially distanced—yet exciting!—weekend event. There will be some FEST entertainment, mostly outside in small groups, perhaps on the beach, as well as entertainment online. The famous sports programs and events, always a sell-out, will still take place with a few new additions too! It has already been established that the Golf Outing, led by Barb Thompson and Evie Simmons, will happen at the Rookery on April 22. ö
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FEST Speakers, being lined up now, will be on Facebook Live or Zoom. NOTE: There will be NO live concerts or programs at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center or the Atlantic Sands Hotel as in previous years. However, downtown Rehoboth Beach will still be busy with participation by restaurants offering specials, and perhaps outdoor entertainment. The plan for Women’s FEST is a work in progress at this point (as it always is the December before the FEST), but plan on Women’s FEST happening in an innovative, fun, and inspiring way for 2021. Want to volunteer for FEST? Email: anita@camprehoboth. com and nancy@camprehoboth.com, or call 302-227-5620 and ask to speak with Anita. Women’s FEST 2021 is something joyful and fun for everyone to look forward to. Watch this space for updates! ▼
CAMP Rehoboth Debuts Fay Jacobs LGBTQ Youth Journalism Scholarship Fund
I
n admiration for her dedication and tireless contributions over many years, the Board and staff of CAMP Rehoboth are pleased to announce the initiation of a CAMP Rehoboth Fay Jacobs LGBTQ Youth Journalism Scholarship Fund. Fay Jacobs, longtime columnist, Feature Editor, and for the last three years Editor for Letters from CAMP Rehoboth, is officially retiring this year. According to CAMP Rehoboth Development Director Anita Broccolino, “she has been and continues to be an
irreplaceable part of the fabric of our community, and a gift and light to us all.” Donations can be made online at www.camprehoboth.com/fayjacobs. Checks may be directed to the CAMP Rehoboth office or to the fund directly to the Delaware Community Foundation, 36 The Circle, Georgetown, DE 19947; if sending to Georgetown, checks should be made payable to the Delaware Community Foundation, and must have a note on the memo line “Fay Jacobs Fund.”▼
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Letters 10 DECEMBER 11, 2020
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DECEMBER 11, 2020
11 Letters
President’s View by Chris Beagle
Giving Thanks and Honoring Legacy
U
ntil the second week of March, I thought CAMP Rehoboth’s 30th anniversary celebrations would dominate our agenda this year. If only that had been the case! But, Friday, March 13th hit and life took on a completely new meaning. Facing unprecedented challenges and establishing strategies to sustain CAMP Rehoboth through the pandemic quickly became, and remained, the primary focus of nearly all our efforts through 2020. Working in concert with Executive Director David Mariner, as well as the staff, the CAMP Rehoboth Board was able to identify sources for emergency funding and find ways to adapt our services and programming following CDC and Delaware guidelines. Within the scope of the strategic plan the Board of Directors approved in 2019, we completed other important work this year. We reviewed and updated the organization’s bylaws, established a Governance Committee, and created charters to guide and direct our standing committees. A newly adopted Board member term-limits policy was also established and will take effect this year; we will see five of the current Board members depart at the end of 2020. Representing nearly 25 years of collective Board service to the organization, these valued, committed, and dedicated members are: Glen Pruitt, Kathy Wiz, Jack Morrison, Max Dick, and Linda Gregory. Each has left an indelible mark on CAMP Rehoboth and will be missed more than these words can convey. To honor their years of service, donations will be made in each of their names to organizations including PFLAG, Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice, Rehoboth Bears, CAMP Rehoboth Chorus, and Sundance. On a personal note, I extend sincere thanks to each of you for your dedication and support over these past several years. It has been an especially emotional and challenging period and I’ll cherish the many wonderful memories of working
Letters 12 DECEMBER 11, 2020
through these last several years together. The Governance Committee then undertook a thorough and thoughtful process to identify prospective Board members and, given the immense pool of qualified volunteers, this was no easy process. CAMP Rehoboth is widely recognized for its amazing volunteer support, and we are reminded of this each time we experience Board vacancies. At its last meeting in November, four new members were elected to the Board, effective January 1, 2021; these are: Pat Catanzariti, David Garrett, Leslie Ledogar, and Jason D. Mathis-White. We are excited at the prospect of working with this talented group and congratulate and welcome each of you! Features on these new members will appear in upcoming issues of Letters. Officers elected at the same meeting are: Chris Beagle (President), Wes Combs (Vice President), Natalie Moss (Treasurer), and Mike DeFlavia (Secretary). Congratulations and welcome to the Executive Committee, first-time officers Wes and Mike. I look forward to working with this team and, along with the entire Board, have great confidence in its ability to continue to lead CAMP Rehoboth at this critical time. Special thanks also to outgoing officers Glen Pruitt (Secretary) and Leslie Sinclair (Vice President). I’m personally grateful to both of you. Glen, you have raised the bar in this role. Leslie, while I’ve known from the beginning you didn’t have aspirations to serve as President in the future, I want to recognize that you were an amazing VP and I will forever be in debt to you for your ongoing support. Earlier I mentioned the 30th Anniversary celebrations that we expected to host this past year. Obviously, COVID had other plans, but I’d like to close out this column with a very important announcement. Beyond celebrating the milestone of three decades, we also had planned to honor the legacies of our founders, Steve Elkins and Murray Archibald, as a major part of the anniversary. And while it is
exceedingly disappointing to not make this a public announcement, on behalf of the Board of Directors, I am tremendously honored to announce that, at its November meeting, we unanimously approved the formal naming of the Elkins-Archibald Atrium. Otherwise known as the “big room,” it is the “heart” and major gathering place of the Community Center. Designed with windows to the skies above as its center focus, the symbolism didn’t go unnoticed as we contemplated this name. This well-deserved recognition will be part of a broader effort to honor these gentlemen whenever we are able to gather again, hopefully in 2021, and hold our signature CAMP Rehoboth events (please stay tuned!). Your passion, dedication, and career-long efforts to build and Create A More Positive Rehoboth have played a major role in why so many of us chose to make this wonderful, inclusive community our homes. In large part, this is due to your selfless and visionary leadership. Now, for as long as the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center stands as the ‘Heart of the Home’ to so many, and a pillar of the local LGBTQ population, it will be commemorated with your names on the marquee. A grateful CAMP Rehoboth community recognizes and honors you, Steve and Murray! Our pride is abounding but limited by our grief that just one of you is here to share in this moment. But Steve, you’re forever in our hearts. And to you both, thank you for being our mentors, our teachers, and especially our friends. We will carry on your legacy in all of our work in the years ahead. We love you, always. Happy Holidays! Wear your masks, and please stay well! Chris Beagle is president of the CAMP Rehoboth Board of Directors and is a realtor at Berkshire-Hathaway-Gallo Realty in Rehoboth Beach. He can be reached at christopherbeagle1@gmail.com
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www.HomesOfRehoboth.com DECEMBER 11, 2020
13 Letters
WHO’s That?... That’s CAMP! BY ANITA BROCCOLINO, CAMP REHOBOTH DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Our Board of Directors: Dedication and Personality Plus!
T
o end the year for Letters we thought it would be great to highlight a group of giving and gracious people who do a HUGE amount of work for us. In a totally volunteer capacity, and seldom acknowledged, these 12 unsung stewards work to make Rehoboth and Sussex County a welcoming and safe place for all. They give an incredible number of hours, and bring amazing passion and a wide array of both personal and professional experiences to the Board of Directors for CAMP Rehoboth. Some of them have been serving for literally dozens of years. They are leaders in the truest form of the phrase, and generous with time and monetary contributions. In my very short time with CAMP Rehoboth, I have been privy to watch them quietly work and make things happen behind the scenes, and I can say without hesitation that they are some of the most interesting, fun, sometimes quirky, accomplished, and hard-working Board members I have ever had the pleasure of working alongside. If you meet them on the street, I encourage you, during this season of giving and graciousness, to thank them for all they do in continuing to make Rehoboth and the surrounding areas a safe, equitable, and welcoming space for all. Please join us as we take a moment to peek into the WHAT and/or WHY these dozen people have been so steadfast in their support and service to the broader community through CAMP Rehoboth; their responses will also give a peek into who they are personally and professionally. We asked the Board Members: 1. What is or was your profession or line of work? 2. When and/or why did you first get involved with CAMP? 3. Do you have a message to share? Then we added a varying just-for-fun question. Letters 14 DECEMBER 11, 2020
Chris Beagle, Board President
I am a full-time realtor, with Berkshire Hathaway Gallo Realty, 10+ years. In 2006, five days after we purchased our full-time home in Rehoboth, I first got involved with CAMP Rehoboth by volunteering for Sundance. I was elected to the Board in November of 2009. On the advocacy front, along with our co-founder and former Executive Director, Steve Elkins, I am most proud of being selected to testify for Delaware’s civil union (2011) and same-sex marriage bills (2013). Steve was a mentor in so many ways and it was an honor to represent CAMP Rehoboth with him, and so many of our LGBTQ Delawareans. It continues to be an honor. On the fundraising front, I am most proud of establishing CAMP Rehoboth’s Block Party, as part of our 2015 25th anniversary celebration. It was a goal of mine, for several years, to gain city approval for an outdoor festival on Baltimore Avenue. After four years, it has grown into a major outreach and community event for all. Unfortunately, bad weather and then COVID forced us to cancel the last two years, but we are determined to bring it back with a bang and another sell-out in 2021!
You are suddenly a superhero—what superpower do you have? Captain Love! My mission would be to spread unconditional love, fairness, and equality to ALL!
Leslie Sinclair, Board Vice President/ Executive Committee
I retired in 2008 after a rewarding career with Visa USA, both in San Francisco, California and McLean, Virginia. Innovation and initiative were key at Visa, where I initiated a startup group, led a customer service department as vice president, and made individual contributions.
I first got involved with CAMP Rehoboth in 2010 when I answered a Letters ad for Volunteer on Vacation (VOV), a group using their time at the beach to enhance the community. VOV lives on today as CAMP Rehoboth Outreach Program (CROP). Organizing CROP service projects, such as trips to the Food Bank, is rewarding. CROP is one way for interested volunteers to get involved! Besides CROP, I head the Grants Committee. Our efforts have grown and contribute a significant amount to support vital programs at CAMP Rehoboth. I also enjoy helping to organize art shows in the gallery, along with a team. The arts team is arranging meaningful art shows that provide artists with an opportunity to display and sell their work. Similar to CROP, committee and teamwork are other ways to get involved.
If you joined the circus, what would your circus act be?
I would be that person spinning the plates on long sticks. The spinning plates all stay up, but it is a balancing act!
Glen Pruitt, Board Secretary/ Executive Committee
Over the past 25 years, I served in several positions in the HIV/ AIDS field in Delaware. Currently I work as a quality management consultant to the Delaware Division of Public Health for its statewide Ryan White Part B Program. My first-time volunteering at CAMP Rehoboth was in 1995 as a ticket-taker at the door for Sundance. While Sundance garners lots of attention, I think CAMP Rehoboth’s most important work takes place when it helps community members one-on-one: providing information, offering counseling or testing, acting as an advocate, connecting people with others. This quiet work is where CAMP Rehoboth really makes a difference in people’s lives.
If you could do ANYTHING for a living, what would it be?
I would be the manager or publicist for singer/actress Debby Boone.
Natalie Moss, Board Treasurer/ Executive Committee
I am a CPA and trying very hard to retire. In 1991, in one of the first issues of Letters, there was a “wish list” for volunteers. They needed a bookkeeper. I still lived in DC but came to Rehoboth almost every weekend, so I decided to help. I wanted to get involved and help to build the organization. As it turns out, 30 years later, I have been involved in all the major changes and growth in the organization. Along with the founders, Steve and Murray, we raised money, purchased buildings, renovated buildings, obtained mortgages, raised more money, and worked non-stop to build a highly respected organization providing necessary programs and guidance to the community we love.
If you could trade places with one famous person for a day, who would it be?
Oprah! I would direct her charitable giving to LGBTQ organizations with CAMP Rehoboth at the top of the list and then I’d buy an ocean view house with a heated year-round pool.
Jane Blue, Director-at-Large
I was Operations Manager at Bristol Myers Squibb’s Clinical Testing Facility. It included the business and operational aspects of organizing clinical trials and a topical skin testing program for their cosmetic company, Charles of the Ritz. In 2003 I organized a cabaret-style evening at the Sea Witch Inn which sold out and was well received. When I wanted to sell beverages, they told me to contact Steve Elkins for what was called a gathering permit and thus my love affair
with CAMP Rehoboth began! This segued me to chair the 2005 and 2006 Splash! Women’s Dance. CAMP Rehoboth helped us put this summer event together and this soiree was my entry into volunteering, meeting other like-minded people, and learning about the activities CAMP Rehoboth offered. Go to info@camprehoboth.com and volunteer and join the fun. You will not be disappointed!
If you were given a one-minute ad slot during the Super Bowl, what would you do with it?
My ad would celebrate CAMP Rehoboth and the amazing activities it brings to our community. Please check out our new brochure (which is coming to you via snail mail) describing our many services. I worked with Debbie Woods and Kathy Davison to put the very first brochure together and we all kept saying “Oh, I never knew we did this!” It will make you proud to be part of this amazing organization! So my Super Bowl ad would show the faces of those we serve and the incredible work we do.
Wes Combs, Director-at-Large
Wesley Combs is a diversity and inclusion expert consultant, executive coach, passionate social justice advocate, and nationally-recognized entrepreneur. Wes is the Founding Principal of Combs Advisory Services where he works with clients who share his values of enabling equity, equality and opportunity in the workplace and the community. I became involved with CAMP Rehoboth right from the start as a financial supporter. CAMP Rehoboth was founded to Create a More Positive Rehoboth which was essential at that time due to the anti-LGBTQ sentiment among some local residents and the police. Here we are, 30 years later, and CAMP Rehoboth is still needed to address recent anti-LGBTQ harassment and bullying in the area through LGBTQ-awareness and sensitivity training, providing counseling and support to those who are impacted and feel isolated.
You are suddenly a superhero—what superpower do you have? Flying like Superman. I have always dreamed about flying through the sky and seeing the world from up high. The freedom to explore without limits must be exhilarating.
Mike DeFlavia, Director-at-Large
I am the Vice President at a Nonprofit Fundraising Consultancy. I first got involved with CAMP Rehoboth in 2001 as a volunteer for LOVE (the big dance we would hold at the convention center over the July 4th weekend). Fittingly, years later when the LOVE Dance was retired, we turned our 6 Futcher Pool Party into a fundraiser for CAMP and, along with our hundreds—up to 700 one year—of attendees, raised close to $100k.
You are suddenly a superhero—what superpower do you have? If I were invisible for a day I would...well, I’d probably do a lot of things not fit for print. All legal though.
Max Dick, Director-at-Large
I retired and moved to Rehoboth Beach 10 years ago after teaching 7th grade science for 12 years, then owning/ operating a cemetery monument business. I got involved in CAMP Rehoboth as soon as I moved here by volunteering for events like mailing parties, condom distributions, the Sundance auction, and becoming an office CAMPcierge. I immediately began singing with the CAMP Rehoboth Chorus. Volunteering and supporting CAMP Rehoboth is a great way to meet new friends and have a sense of purpose—i.e., to advance CAMP Rehoboth’s mission of acceptance and equality to create a more positive Rehoboth. Continued on page 16 DECEMBER 11, 2020
15 Letters
WHO’s That?... That’s CAMP! Continued from page 15
If you could trade places with one famous person for a day, who would it be?
I began volunteering at CAMP after retiring seven years ago. The contribution I am most proud of is being part of the team that supported CAMP Rehoboth through the transition following Steve’s illness and passing.
For one day (and one day only) I would like to trade places with Donald Trump. I could then give a gracious concession speech, tell the nation to wear masks, and send out coronavirus relief checks to those in need.
If you joined the circus, what would your circus act be?
Linda Gregory, Director-at-Large
Tara Sheldon, Director-at-Large
I am a retired educator. I taught in grades K-12 and freshman/sophomore college students. I also worked as a guidance counselor for adult education and was the first LGBTQ case manager for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware in Sussex County. I first met Steve Elkins and Murray Archibald at Epworth United Methodist Church about 20 years ago. It wasn’t until several years later that I sought their help with starting a PFLAG Chapter here in Rehoboth Beach. I will never forget their response: “whatever you need, we will help!” It was then that I really got to know what CAMP is all about. In my opinion, CAMP Rehoboth does many wonderful things, and most people might not be aware of the breadth of their reach. To name a few: ongoing educational programs, supporting the arts, healthy living outreach, and a myriad of initiatives for the LGBTQ community and their families.
If you could do ANYTHING for a living, what would it be?
Since I am retired, if I could do ANYTHING for a living, I would like to be a secret shopper for a very high-end hotel system. I would travel the world, staying in the best hotels and checking out all of their services!
Jack Morrison, Director-at-Large
I am now retired but was with Wells Fargo through five mergers over 32 years and was an Senior Vice President and team leader in the general banking division. Letters 16 DECEMBER 11, 2020
If I joined the circus, I think it would be fun to be an acrobat.
I am a social worker by training and birthright. My father’s legacy with the YMCA was making meaningful connections within his community and creating new opportunities for youth. I have strived to follow his example in both my work and volunteer experiences. Since moving to Rehoboth, I have worked in hospice, I organize our local VegFest, and recently returned to helping people who find challenges with both organization and clutter. I discovered CAMP Families shortly after moving to Rehoboth 10 years ago. Much to my delight, all of the families had two-year-olds within months of each other! The parents got to socialize (or commiserate on lack of sleep) while our toddlers played. CAMP’s mission to “Create a More Positive” Rehoboth is central to the new THRIVE program. Many young people have the misconception that the liberties and acceptance experienced by our older LGBTQ community members extends to the youth, and sadly, it does not. Staff members Barbara Antlitz and Sal Seeley have done a phenomenal job moving the needle in the right direction by creating safe spaces and advocating for LGBTQ youth.
If you were reincarnated as a famous person, who would it be? Hellen Keller. Of all characteristics that determine one’s privileges or burdens, including race, ethnicity, gender, orientation, and class, I cannot imagine ones more challenging than being deaf and blind. To experience how she moved through her world driven by her sheer intellect, combined with fierce determi-
nation and passion for the less fortunate, would be awe-inspiring, to say the least.
Kathy Wiz, Director-at-Large
In my life before Rehoboth I was a credentialled alcoholism/substance abuse counselor (CASAC). I worked on two inpatient detox units and also in an outpatient clinic, counseling children of alcoholics. I enjoyed being a detox counselor but working with the children was my heart’s work. My wife, Muriel, and I stumbled upon CAMP Rehoboth during a 1997 visit. Kathy Weir, who worked in the office, took the time to talk to us about CAMP Rehoboth and we immediately fell in love with the organization’s mission. We never looked back. February 2018 was an especially exciting time for me when CAMP Rehoboth had its 1st Annual Black History Month Celebration. I invited the Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice to cohost with us and it was a phenomenal evening of diversity, conviviality, and the beginning of CAMP Rehoboth’s ongoing partnership with SDARJ.
If you were reincarnated as a famous person who would it be?
Reincarnation has always fascinated me, but honestly, given my druthers, I’d come back as myself, no changes, exactly as I am. But then, I’ve always wanted to sing like Whitney, cook like Ina, write like Ernest, have courage like Rosa, dance like Ginger, love like Mother Teresa, act like Meryl, and think like Albert…. I could go on! ▼ Interested in serving on a volunteer committee, in the office, or maybe evolving into a Board position? Please contact: anita@ camprehoboth.com. To make a year-end donation in support of all the work CAMP Rehoboth does, you may call us at 302-2275620, or visit camprehoboth.com and click the donate button.
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DECEMBER 11, 2020
17 Letters
Intentionally Inclusive
BY WESLEY COMBS
How 2020’s Lessons Can Shape 2021—for the Better
A
re we there yet? Has 2020 finally ended? This is a sentiment I hear all the time, especially in social media posts where someone I know has suffered another loss of some kind: a relative or beloved family pet who passed away, getting laid off, or contracting COVID. As we get ready to make resolutions for 2021, the past year showed that navigating uncharted waters is possible when we know what fuels our souls and makes us happy. Taking care of yourself: The year 2020 has taken its toll on our health even for those fortunate enough to stay virus-free. Say hello to the “Quarantine 15.” The stress of living through a pandemic caused us to increase alcohol consumption and to binge-eat comfort food (fill in the blank for your vice of choice...mine was chocolate). One study showed that alcohol consumption among American adults increased by 14 percent and a Nielsen survey revealed that alcohol sales at the beginning of the pandemic in March rose 54 percent compared to a year ago. The demand for stress-reducing fitness activities skyrocketed yet public health mandates forced the closure of gyms. Fighting the battle of the bulge was possible but it took commitment and innovation. We soon saw fitness instructors offering their cardio, yoga, and spinning classes for free via Zoom. They recognized that staying healthy was an essential weapon to combat COVID-19. Yet, their own survival required thinking outside the box to earn a living. When the weather got warmer, I saw instructor-led yoga classes of more than 20 socially-distanced people on the beach in Dewey. Instead of shutting down completely due to limits on indoor class sizes, this teacher realized that moving the class outdoors did not violate the restrictions and more importantly provided a safe way for eager students to find peace in a chaotic world. For me personally, that meant asking my personal training gym to offer virtual sessions that included weights, cardio,
Letters 18 DECEMBER 11, 2020
and stretching from the comfort of my home office/workout room. Even though the space limited what activities I could do, it allowed me to do something instead of nothing. Connecting with others: While Zoom became the latest four-letter word in our vocabulary we loved to hate, it perhaps was responsible for saving countless lives. Almost immediately, Zoom became a lifeline for everyone sheltering in place around the world, enabling family and friends to find comfort from others via a virtual shoulder to cry on or a contactless hug when it was most needed. It created an instantaneous and low-cost way to stay connected in a multitude of ways.
In some ways, transitioning service delivery to an online platform allowed CAMP Rehoboth to reach an even broader audience than would have been possible in the preCOVID operating model. Without Zoom, it is safe to say that the economy would have completely come to a screeching halt. Instead, most businesses, nonprofits, and governments were able to stay afloat by adapting to a new normal of conducting commerce and delivering services remotely. This was certainly the case right here at CAMP Rehoboth. In only a few weeks, CAMP Rehoboth was able to pivot to virtual-only meetings which enabled members of our community to receive support via its Men’s Discussion Group, Women’s Coffee Chat, LGBTQ+ Youth Circle, and Tai Chi classes. In some ways, transitioning service delivery to an online platform allowed CAMP Rehoboth to reach an even broader audience than would have been possible in the pre-COVID operating model. Even when the vaccine makes COVID
less of a worry, having to drive to CAMP Rehoboth’s downtown location will likely not be a barrier to benefiting from the center’s many services. Values matter: When we look back at 2020, 10 or 20 years from now, this is what many of us will say: “Remember when...we never left our homes for months on end? …my son/mother/aunt/ spouse contracted COVID and passed away alone because regulations prohibited visits to loved ones critically ill in the hospital? …millions of people were furloughed or laid off?” In each of these cases, life as we knew it changed in an instant. For some, the physical and emotional isolation due to home confinement made them wonder if living in a city was detrimental to their overall health and well-being. Others, who helplessly witnessed the unexpected and tragic loss of someone close to them, were forced to reflect on their current journey and if they were truly happy. Finally, a sudden job loss in today’s evolving marketplace allowed some to redefine what work might look like moving forward. As an executive coach, I help clients create an intentional focus on making an impact in a way that is fulfilling and aligns with their values. Navigating the pandemic has changed all the rules. Employers understand that flexibility is required to operate in today’s ever-changing environment. Once you understand what you need to be happy at work (e.g., a different role; additional responsibility), let your employer know and explain why it is important to you. One thing 2020 has taught us is that living your best life has never been more important. ▼ Wesley Combs, a CAMP Rehoboth Board member, is a diversity and inclusion expert, executive coach, and a passionate social justice advocate. He is the founding principal of Combs Advisory Services where he works with clients who share his values of enabling equity, equality, and opportunity in the workplace and the community.
DECEMBER 11, 2020
19 Letters
REHOBOTH HISTORY PROJECT
BY JAMES T. SEARS, PhD
The “Complex”
I
n 1988, what was to be the crowning achievement of the Blue Moon restaurateur duo, Joyce Felton and Victor Pisapia, instead became a turning point in the “Battle for Rehoboth.” This is a saga of confrontations and celebrations: historic police raids and arrests; hastily enacted ordinances and a watershed referendum; spring and fall follies, double-strand pearl parties, and lavender balls; and standing room-only meetings attended by angry citizens. It was groundbreaking: an entertainment complex featuring a European cabaret-bistro, a splashy 1950s diner, and a second floor Studio 54-style nightclub. It was audacious: a 600-person “neo-disco inferno” in the heart of Rehoboth’s business district. It was glittering: state-of-the-art lighting effects designed by Richard Erskine, a veteran of NYC’s infamous Saint discotheque, and imported New York DJs pounding out the beat as mirrored balls spun and spandex fabrics ruffled against back walls. It was worrisome: the long-dreaded homosexual tsunami washing a “family town” into the ocean of olden days. It was innovative: the first floor West Side Cafe featured Friday night drag karaoke emceed by Gladys Kravitz with a twist: wannabe singers first entered the backroom to choose a wardrobe matching their performer-persona. It was flashy: the Surfside Diner, replete with juke box, original 1950s booths and countertops, and sassy waitstaff chewing bubble gum, sitting with customers—“Hi, doll. How ya doin’?”—announcing blue plate specials, and occasionally performing dance routines on the sparkling black and white tiled floor. It was a bacchanalia of uninhibited desire: shirtless men shimmying on speakers, along with “boys in briefs dancing on banquettes above the sunken dance floor.” It was shocking: a New Year’s Eve party “invitation of a half-naked man laying on satin sheet” riled one Whale reader who declared the town was “turning into a house of ill repute.” It was late night: Baltimore, DC, and
Letters 20 DECEMBER 11, 2020
Philly twinkly-clad men formed lines stretching down Rehoboth Avenue awaiting the doors of midnight to open. It was early morning: as dawn approached and the festivities ended, “a hunk clad only in a Tarzan loin cloth” searched for his car; a couple, sporting cowboy boots and go-go-shorts, strolled toward Bayard Avenue; “three men dressed in combat boots, ripped shirts, and dog collars, waited patiently in line at the Cosmic Bakery.” It was infuriating: one writer to the Whale queried, “Who will control Rehoboth—God-fearing decent people or Satan’s puppets?” It was exclusive: A-List gays investing $10,000 or more skipped the lines by flashing their membership cards, and enjoyed the smartly furnished VIP lounge, overlooking the cavernous dance floor, with feathers painted on walls by local artist Murray Archibald. It was notorious: Rehoboth’s only pre-dawn summer raid by 60 state and local police netted just six arrests on drug charges from among the hundreds on the dance floor (35 of whom were undercover cops). It was glamorous: Paige Phillips, the legendary lesbian-adored bartender, danced with John, her betrothed, in an Oscar de la Renta silk jacket with matching lipstick and an exquisite black satin dress to the applause of hundreds of her admirers attired in Hugo Bass, Ralph Lauren, or casual chic. It was death by a thousand cuts: a building permit moratorium; hundreds of off-street parking spaces required; petitions and protests against a liquor license; a city ban on nightclubs and tap rooms; a state law granting greater local authority over liquor permitting; reduced decibel levels for outside noise which then was simply changed to the subjective standard of “offending a reasonable person”; restricted entertainment or music on restaurant patio decks; all music (including TVs) banned in commercial areas after 9 p.m…. It was smoke and mirrors: were the erstwhile opponents really bothered by
noise and parking, or fear of homosexuals, or perhaps, business competition—or one masking another? It was angelic: at the back bar (sans alcohol) Letters editor Jim Bahr, wearing iridescent wings and a leather harness, served mineral and spring waters. It was rock of ages: Thursday nights the upstairs “Rock Lobster” teen club was reserved for the MTV-dressed crowd dancing to the techno pop Pet Boys and heavy metalists Def Leppard, while Sunday mornings were set aside for MCC churchgoers singing traditional Christian hymns. It was intimidating: manager Steve Elkins arrested 24 hours after a new noise ordinance was passed but not yet in effect; Police Chief Creig Doyle’s “zero tolerance policy” requiring officers to enforce “jaywalking, rowdy behavior, sidewalk shouting and laughing after 2300 hours”—but only on the second block of Baltimore Avenue. It was celebratory: the first Sundance kicked-off and raised $6,400 for AIDS groups. There, too, were the Greg Myers Dance Company “Shades of Grey” benefit, the performance of four former Miss Gay Americas, and the July 4th Glitter Ball Extravaganza. It was fractious: one house owned by the couple leading the opposition was paint-bombed while a gay homeowner reported his rainbow flag burnt to a crisp. It was calamitous: wreckage of friendships, financial carnage, and a historical building demolished. It was The Strand Complex. It divided progressive residents from their conservative neighbors as well as closeted homosexuals from their Queeras-Folk contemporaries. It was—and is—a Rehoboth Beach story that nearly no one recounts the same. It was complex, from its lavish 1988 premier to its bulldozed demise seven years later. ▼ James Sears is the author of many books on LGBTQ history and culture; his forthcoming book is Beyond the Boardwalk: Queering the History of Rehoboth Beach. Sears currently is completing the book, but is still looking for remembrances and stories. Anyone interested should contact him through CAMP Rehoboth at 302-227-5620.
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DECEMBER 11, 2020
21 Letters
More CAMP News Enjoy CAMP Rehoboth’s Open Mic Nights Check out CAMP Rehoboth Community Center’s Facebook page. First Fridays (7-8 p.m.) feature singers from CAMP Chorus. Third Fridays (6-8 p.m.) are hosted by CAMP Rehoboth Operations Administrator and musician Kerry Hallett, with lots of musical talent. ▼
Andrea Nardello + Virtual Open Mic! December’s Virtual Open Mic is pleased to welcome a featured performance by NPR Slingshot Emerging Artist to Know Andrea Nardello on Friday, December 18. The Philly singer songwriter has garnered favorable comparisons to Melissa Etheridge and Shawn Colvin for melding pop songwriting smarts with a confessional and literate songwriting style. Nardello recently won a contest and had the opportunity to sing with Brandi Carlile at Carlile’s all women’s festival in Mexico and was then named a top “Emerging Artist To Know” by NPR. Andrea will perform a 30 minute set at 6 p.m. to kick things off, then others are welcome to perform. Audience members should watch via Facebook Live on CAMP Rehoboth’s Facebook page, and those interested in performing should join via Zoom: http://bit.ly/CAMPvirtualopenmic. ▼ Letters 22 DECEMBER 11, 2020
Year-End Fundraising: CAMP Rehoboth Needs You!
C
AMP Rehoboth, just like non-profits everywhere, is in the midst of its annual end-of-year fundraising campaign. Executive Director David Mariner says, “We know that many nonprofits will be asking for your donations this month, and we hope you will consider sustaining the work that CAMP Rehoboth does every day with an end-of-year gift.” CAMP Rehoboth remains a powerful and unifying voice in our community, and in these times of pandemic and political upheaval CAMP Rehoboth’s work is needed more than ever. “We are indeed living through challenging times,” Mariner notes. “Our community witnessed evidence of this with three separate incidents in recent weeks. On top of this, a global pandemic has left many of us struggling, isolated, and lonely. In big and small ways every day, CAMP Rehoboth is working hard to build community—connecting people even in these disconnected times.” CAMP Rehoboth continues its
work to make the community safe and welcoming for all by supporting those affected by violence and by advocating for LGBTQ rights. CAMP Rehoboth is the only full-service LGBTQ community center in Delaware and the eastern shore of Maryland, providing a large array of health and wellness programs for all ages. Mariner says, “We are so very thankful for the amazing community we live in. We are appreciative for all that each of you gives by donating your time, your talents, your resources, and your financial gifts to CAMP Rehoboth. On behalf of our Board members, staff, our incredible volunteers, and everyone at CAMP Rehoboth, we thank you for your involvement and continued support.” Tax-deductible donations may be made directly at camprehoboth.com or by mailing or dropping off donations at the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center, 37 Baltimore Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware 19971. ▼
— DID YOU KNOW? — • The CAMP Rehoboth Community Center’s health, wellness, advocacy, and arts programming serves over 37,000 individuals per year. • CAMP Rehoboth provided sensitivity training sessions to over 460 individuals on LGBTQ issues to local law enforcement, state park rangers, middle and high school administrative staff, and staff/clinicians at Beebe Healthcare and Bayhealth in 2019 alone. • CAMP Rehoboth proudly partners with the AARP, Rehoboth Art League, Beebe Healthcare, American Lung Association-Delaware, Sussex County Health Coalition, Bayhealth, Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition, Big Brothers Big Sisters Delaware, Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence, University of Delaware Cooperative Extension, and Delaware Department of Health and Social Services. • Over 700 people annually participate
in our programs and discussion groups for folks 55+. These include programs and talks on diverse topics, art classes with the Rehoboth Art League, free tax preparation services sponsored by AARP, and 19+ ongoing discussion groups such as: Parents of Trans Kids (PTK) group, HIV support group, women’s discussion group, men’s discussion group, dealing with depression, grief groups, AA meetings, and more. • A total of 983 individuals participated in all health events. These included flu shots and health screenings in partnership with Beebe Healthcare. • CAMP Rehoboth held 13 ongoing and seven new health and wellness sessions in 2019 alone, serving all age groups. Sessions included: yoga, tai chi, mindfulness, smoking cessation (through a grant from the American Lung AssociationDelaware), and more. ▼
REALTY GROUP Allen Jarmon
317 Rehoboth Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 Cell: 302-745-5122 | Office: 302-227-4800 x3018 Fax: 302-227-2115 | Email: ajarmon@remax.net www.allenjarmon.com
NEW LISTING!
GRANDE AT CANAL POINTE Located a short bike ride or walk to downtown Rehoboth Beach (without crossing the highway) this home features hardwood floors in all living areas, upgraded kitchen with stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops, gas cooktop and double electric wall ovens. 3 BR (including primary bedroom and bath) and 2 baths on the main level as well as a den/office. Open floor plan in the living area and a stone raised hearth gas fireplace. 10 foot ceilings in main living areas. Tons of windows and light! A glass enclosed 3 season room and patio with outdoor fireplace top it off. Primary bedroom features tray ceiling and tiled shower in the bath. All vanities have granite countertops. What can make it better? How about leased solar panels for reduced electric bills and what probably is the longest driveway in the community, so your friends and family have plenty of parking! Great rental potential (over $25K) but current owner never rented. Act now and make this wonderful home yours! $750,000
DECEMBER 11, 2020
23 Letters
health+wellness
By Marj Shannon
Season’s Greetings!
F
resh off a COVID-reconfigured Thanksgiving, I now find myself working to reimagine Christmas. I do this even as I continue to revel in some of last month’s most thanks-inducing moments. The prospect of sanity in the White House and a coronavirus vaccine in 2021 served up some hope along with the pumpkin pie at my table. Trust me: my one dinner guest and I celebrated those milestones. Of course, how my December holidays—and probably yours, too—roll out will depend somewhat on people’s Thanksgiving decisions. By the time this issue is published, the COVID-related impact of those decisions will be apparent: case counts will be climbing (or not); hospitalizations and deaths will track accordingly. I’ll watch those counts closely, hoping they don’t climb high enough that—in the interests of safety—I have to live an even more constrained life than I already do. But even if counts remain on the low side, my immediate future still will be COVID-centric. No vaccine is going to arrive swiftly enough that I’ll be able to enjoy my usual Christmas pursuits this year; for me, there will be no in-person concerts or plays or performances or get-togethers with multiple friends and family. Hence the reimagining. And, somewhat to my surprise, I’m finding that restructuring Christmas is proving to be easier than Thanksgiving. Given I’m someone who enjoys her traditions, at first I wondered why that was the case. But upon reflection, I realized my Christmas traditions already had been in flux for the past several years. Why? All the usual reasons you hear: the “kids” (and even the grandkids) have outgrown Santa; we have less interest in (or perhaps, less capacity for) the ambitious decorating we once undertook. Maybe our priorities changed, leading us to travel more or spend less. Perhaps family members or friends with whom we celebrated are no longer with us. Long before COVID demanded I come up with new ways to celebrate, I’d already abandoned the fresh-cut tree and the gilded branches suspended from the ceiling. I reduced cookie production by half some years ago, and last year
moved the holiday storage boxes to shelves I can access from a six-foot (v. 12-foot) ladder. But it’s not all about “less.” I’ve also added a few things. I usually (though not this year!) host Christmas brunch for my family-of-choice. I’d already added some online concerts and performances to my usual round of in-person ones; this year, all my holiday entertainment will be virtual. I already have a few performances cued up, selected from among countless options. The challenge lies in the choosing. And yet there are, even in this year—when a virus prevails and little will be the same—a few holiday constants. One of those, for me, is the arrival of the snow geese. For the two decades I’ve lived near the shore, their arrival has been an unmistakable sign that the holidays are near. Invariably, as I see them sparkle across our skies for the first time each fall, I feel a surge of joy and anticipation. It’s the autumnal equivalent of the delight I take in each spring’s first bobbing crocus or dazzling forsythia. This year, I’ve discovered my response is not dependent upon a sighting: I first knew they’d arrived when their faint, raucous calls drifted down to me as they streamed by, high above a late-night, deserted parking lot where I stood in stillness, listening intently. And although the night sky afforded me not even a glimpse of their arrival—let alone the spectacle of a sun-spangled multitude—I was nonetheless overwhelmed by a surge of joy. May you too find joy in this difficult season, even if the cues you rely upon are similarly distant and unseen. And may you find that the faint calls you strain to hear in the darkness are proof enough to trigger that joy till another day’s light delivers more tangible evidence to your eyes. Hold on: 2021 is coming; is very nearly here. ▼
Invariably, as I see them sparkle across our skies for the first time each fall, I feel a surge of joy and anticipation.
Letters 24 DECEMBER 11, 2020
Marj Shannon is an epidemiologist and wordsmith who has devoted her life to minutiae. She reports that yes, the devils are in the details. Photo by Dana Critchlow on unsplash.com.
Classes & Events—All Coming to You via Zoom NEW CLASS! WHAT DO YOU DO ONCE YOU’RE DONE? A 10-week group starting January 13 1:00 p.m. Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom. us/meeting/register/tZApfuyrrzwpGdaRgv6CEgi15S13mWzlFUcG We will have a dynamic conversation about the life transitions of retirement and aging. During our 10 weekly sessions, we will share support and new perspectives as we investigate the importance of renewing or redefining purpose. NEW CLASS! NATURE BEYOND THE BINARY (ONLINE) Monday, January 18, 2021 | 6:30 p.m. Register in advance for this meeting: https://forms.gle/mxqp8NKXKrjkdh556 Plants and animals offer up many different ways of being, becoming, and living. From intersex worms to flowers that transition sex overnight, nature is non-binary! During this inclusive virtual workshop, explore the history and science of gender expression and definition. Learn about and celebrate the diversity found throughout nature. In this program, participants will set community guidelines for a safe, honest discussion; learn what nature teaches us about gender; and participate in small-group breakout sessions to discuss concepts and take-aways This program is open to anyone who is looking to explore nature in an environment that is representative of all identities and expressions. Led by non-binary nature enthusiast Nat Carreno, this interactive online program will offer unique insights into the diversity of biological expression in the natural world. NOTE: The program will be supported by Arboretum education staff, who will host the Zoom session, share the impetus of this program and its connection to the Arboretum’s mission, and facilitate discussion in one of the breakout rooms. The program is free and advanced registration required with limited space.
MORNING MINDFULNESS Tuesdays | 8:00 a.m. Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom. us/meeting/register/tZAkcOmoqTIuH91Bja40U06Wuy8vIwnyOkj7 Start your Tuesday’s off with Erin and CAMP Rehoboth. Erin will lead us through a mindful exercise or morning meditation for 30 minutes.
Women in Circle is a gathering of lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and feminine of center women. The circle is welcoming, inclusive, and a positive place to meet, connect, and share with other women. Each week a different topic opens the circle to discuss, learn, and support one other. Become a part of the growing community of the Women in Circle.
CHAIR YOGA Tuesdays | 9:00 a.m. Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom. us/meeting/register/tZMrce-urDkrHtbP3sR4-J9vdSBtmKWQMdHT
LGBTQ BOOK CLUB December 28 | 5:30 p.m. Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom. us/meeting/register/tZYvd-6orDsvGtw2naGKzHTmRYcr8Zf_Xt6F
Everyone can access the health benefits of yoga in this Chair Yoga class with Erin. She’ll guide you to synchronize conscious breath and mindful movement. The sequence of poses is designed to energize and strengthen as well as relax and lengthen muscles. Reduce anxiety and stress, improve circulation, protect joints, builds strength and balance and support your overall well-being. MEN’S DISCUSSION GROUP 2nd/4th Wednesdays Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom. us/meeting/register/tZItd-GhqT8oEtLnNRbi1Q9U2_My_WQV7bw6 The Men’s Discussion Group is a safe and nurturing space to start conversations important to our community. We celebrate who we are, we promote respect and understanding, and we accept each other’s differences with intention to build a more connected community. This discussion group is a safe space for gay, bisexual, transgender, and masculine of center men to talk issues, values, and matters that make up our life, free from stigma and judgments. WOMEN IN CIRCLE 1st/3rd Saturdays | 10:00 a.m. Register: https://us02web.zoom. us/meeting/register/tZUlcOuqpjsuH9R3Y7-CeFWWcAEySf6dq02X
For more information about our book club and our book club selections, email: Salvatore@camprehoboth.com CAMP REHOBOTH LGBTQ+ YOUTH DISCUSSION GROUP Thursdays in December | 6:30 p.m. For ZOOM meeting ID and password contact Barbara at bantlitz@ camprehoboth.com CAMP Rehoboth’s LGBTQ+ Youth Discussion Group is a safe and nurturing space to start conversations important to our community. We celebrate who we are, we promote respect and understanding, and we accept each other’s differences with the intention to build a more connected community. This discussion group is a safe space for LGBTQ+ youth to talk about issues, values, and matters that make up our life, free from stigma and judgments. Please be mindful these meetings are specifically open to youth ages 11-19. ▼
HEALTH & WELLNESS PROGRAM DIRECTOR Salvatore Seeley HIV CTR COUNSELORS Jerry Filbin, Alan Spiegelman THRIVE YOUTH COORDINATOR Barbara Antlitz
DECEMBER 11, 2020
25 Letters
It’s My Life
BY MICHAEL THOMAS FORD
O Christmas Tree
W
e moved into this house just after the new year, and so did not celebrate the holidays here. Nor did we put up a tree in our temporary place last year, as we didn’t have the room. But now we do, and so a tree was procured and went up a couple of weeks ago. I dragged the 12 huge boxes of decorations out of storage, and for the first time Cubby got to experience the depths of my ornament obsession. I’d warned him about it. And he’d seen the boxes when we moved them. Still, I don’t think he was entirely prepared to find that each ornament was swaddled in tissue paper inside its own acid-free cardboard box. Or that each box was labelled with the ornament’s name and identifying number. Or that there was a binder containing a list of everything in the boxes. It got worse as the boxes were opened. “Welcome back, Girl Under Tree,” I said, unwrapping an ornament of a girl appearing to balance the bottom part of a Christmas tree atop her head. “Where’s your sister?” “Sister?” Cubby said. “She has a sister?” I searched for and found a box labelled “Curly Golden-Haired Angel,” and took out its slumbering inhabitant. “See?” I said, holding it up. “It’s the same mold, only they painted the tree part gold to be the angel’s hair. They did that with a lot of molds back in the day.” “This is going to take a while, isn’t it?” Cubby said, eyeing the remaining boxes. It did. Each ornament in the collection has a story, especially the ones that I’ve had handmade by various artists. The Krampus riding a goat and carrying two frightened children in his sack was made for me while I was living with a friend in Texas, which required telling the story of how that year we had to drag the entire decorated tree across the carpet after the roof sprung a leak. The soft sculpture Bette Davis (complete with fur coat and cigarette holder) and Eleanor Roosevelt came from a little old Letters 26 DECEMBER 11, 2020
lady in Maine whose ornaments of historic American figures hung on the White House tree when the Obamas were the occupants. The snowman with the red ribbon on his chest is “Frosty Cares,” one of the early AIDS charity ornaments by famed designer Christopher Radko.
The soft sculpture Bette Davis (complete with fur coat and cigarette holder) and Eleanor Roosevelt came from a little old lady in Maine whose ornaments of historic American figures hung on the White House tree when the Obamas were the occupants. There are hundreds of ornaments in the collection. Most I’ve picked up on eBay over the past 20 years, often from shops that were going out of business or, more usually, from people whose mothers or grandmothers had passed and left behind boxes of ornaments that nobody wanted. Often, the sellers had no idea what they were selling, and certainly had no idea of the history behind them. I buy them not only because they’re beautiful little pieces of glass art, but also because of their stories. “Why would someone make an ornament of a boy holding a penny in his butt cheeks?” Cubby asked.
“That one is called ‘Set for Life,’” I explained. “He’s a Geldscheisser. It means gold pooper. He’s a good luck symbol. It’s a German thing. Now, let me tell you about this pickle.” I love these weird little things. I love that our tree is covered with ornaments that people look at and ask questions about. And I love the newer ones that we added this season, each one chosen because it represents some part of our past year: a figure of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, six carved wooden birds that depict the ones we most frequently see in our back yard, a needle-felted raccoon to represent the mascot and history of our village, a Santa wearing a face mask. Also going on the tree this year is a not-terribly-attractive snowflake made out of strips cut from tin cans. I got it in 1975, when my parents took me to an event held by the publishers of Ranger Rick nature magazine. Ranger Rick, a raccoon, was there himself, and somewhere there’s a photo of me standing with him. I thought the ornament was lost when my mother left my father 30 years ago and took it with her. But my sister found it recently in a box of my mother’s things, and now I have it again. Hanging it on the tree is both a way to remember a day I enjoyed and to perhaps make some peace with my mother, with whom I had a difficult relationship. I’ve moved the boxes of ornaments many times. They’ve travelled across the country twice, been carried in and out of basements and storage units and attics. Miraculously, not one has been broken. Now, finally, they’re home. Looking at the decorated tree, I see more than bits of glass, cloth, and wood. I see branches filled with memories. ▼ Michael Thomas Ford is a much-published Lambda Literary award-winning author. Visit Michael at michaelthomasford.com Photo by Reuben Teo on unsplash.com.
to your care. Get in, get seen, get better. No appointment needed. beebehealthcare.org/walkincare Our family doctors are accepting new patients. Call today! 302-645-3332 beebehealthcare.org Oncology Services BH_CommittedLetters_01.indd 1
PM DECEMBER 11, 20209/10/20 27 3:58 Letters
Out & Proud
BY STEFANI DEOUL
A New Decade
T
oday marks more than my last column for 2020. For starters, if you’re like me, you’re probably thinking “good riddance.” Regardless of where we live, we can all agree it’s been a year of enormous turmoil. So here’s to 2021. And not only are we ushering in a new year, but we’re also ushering in a new decade (and if we’re all lucky, a new era!). A new decade? I feel the eyebrow lift, hear the question. Yes. A new decade. Although many people, myself included, celebrated 2020 as the dawn of a new decade, they may be as relieved as I was to learn it was not. The year 2021 is the beginning. Which begs the question, who’s to blame for our collective confusion? Believe it or not, according to the Farmer’s Almanac, it all goes back to a guy named, I kid you not, “Dennis the Short,” aka Dionysius Exiguus. Dennis the Short is credited with having been the first to suggest counting the passage of years from the date of the birth of Jesus Christ, aka Anno Domini (Latin for Year of Our Lord) or, AD. While there’s a lot of hemming and hawing about Dionysius’ calculations regarding the year Christ was born, those calculations really have no bearing when it comes to our calendar. Dennis the Short determined Christ dated to 525 AD, and that was that. Well, it was until 731 AD, when a Northumbrian monk named Bede, aka the Venerable Bede, popularized the Dennis the Short “Anno Domini” in Anglo-Saxon England, and then extended the counting of years to include those before the birth of Christ, establishing the BC era. And right here is the moment it got ugly. Bede did not account for the year zero. So, 1 AD was not preceded by a zero, but by 1 BC. Now anyone who’s ever lived in a high rise with the floors going directly Letters 28 DECEMBER 11, 2020
from 12 to 14, or lives in a place with a lobby on floor zero, knows exactly why this is a mathematical conundrum—of the arguable kind. And you don’t need to heed Short Dennis’s or Venerable Bede’s take on this. After all, their thinking is rather “old school” to put it mildly. But for a more modern interpretation, the US Naval Observatory, the agency that maintains the country’s master clock, actually tackled this question in 1999 as people debated when the new millennium would begin.
Now anyone who’s ever lived in a high rise with the floors going directly from 12 to 14, or lives in a place with a lobby on floor zero, knows exactly why this is a mathematical conundrum. According to the astronomical dating system measuring time, the observatory stated that the new millennium would begin on January 1, 2001. Ergo, 2021 would be the start of a new decade. Right? Well…what about all those other calendars? The JewishIslamic-Hindu, etc. And what about common language? We say “if you can remember the 60s.…” We don’t say “If you can remember the 60s plus 1970….” We do, however, say time is an illusion. So Konstantin Bikos, lead editor of TimeandDate.com, confirms, unlike the fights that have been going on for decades, centuries and millennia, that
decades always start with years ending in 1. Those time spans are typically referred to as numbered entities counted up from the year 1 AD, as in the “21st century” or the “third millennium.” So you know what? Let’s forget about whether or not to usher in a new decade. Let’s look at 2021 and join our collective confusion together and fervently hope that it ushers in the dawn of a new era. And let this be an era of kindness. An era of hope. An era of peace. An era of prosperity. An era of health. An era in which no one goes to bed hungry. Let’s hope for an era in which we believe we are better standing together, than we are standing apart. And to our local lad made good, President-elect Biden, this will be your era to give us the kick-off. Personally, I think jump-starting your era with Kamala Harris is the best kind of proof that we once again can recapture our optimistic best. As Joe Biden said, standing on stage at the only drive-in/tail-gate bigger than a night out at our own Dover International, “it is time for our better angels to prevail.” New Millenia. New Era. Either way, as we head into Christmas-HanukkahKwanza-New Year and so much more, Joe’s right. And, if I may be so bold, he’s wrong. It is not time simply for our better angels to prevail. It’s time for our best. See you in 2021 for the dawn of a new era! ▼ Stefani Deoul is a television producer and author of the award-winning YA mystery series Sid Rubin Silicon Alley Adventures, with On a LARP, Zero Sum Game, and Say Her Name.
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29 Letters
LGBTQ+ YA Column
THRIVE for the New Year CAMP Rehoboth THRIVE Youth invites YOU to: Practice kindness with YOUrself and your neighbors and wear your mask. It makes a big difference. Wearing a mask is more than protecting yourself or obeying the current social standards. Wearing a mask and limiting the spread of COVID-19 is to keep others safe: your family,
your friends, your coworkers, and even the strangers you pass by on the street. Some people stay blind to the seriousness of COVID and completely ignore the benefits of face coverings and proper social distancing. If everyone were aware and stuck to the current rules even after the many months of quarantine, COVID cases would go down. Wearing a mask means that we can all return to a normal life much sooner. Wearing a mask means our friends and family will be safe. Wearing a mask means that soon, no one will have to worry about COVID-19. ▼ Artwork by Logan Thawley, a senior at Sussex Tech High School.
BARBARA ANTLITZ, CAMP REHOBOTH YOUTH COORDINATOR, works with Genders & Sexualities Alliances (GSAs) in middle and high schools in Kent and Sussex Counties, and with other groups supporting LGBTQ+ youth. Barbara can be reached by email at bantlitz@camprehoboth.com.
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Cool It! Welcome to the Dog Days Seasons in The Sun
2019 10 July 26, 29, Number Volume oboth.com campreh
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C R E A T I N G ment That’s Entertain A Passion for Play Taking Dance Tradition for a Twirl
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31 Letters
Out & About
BY ERIC C. PETERSON
You’re a Mean One, Mr. Prince
‘T
is the season for those seemingly holiday-related things that seem verboten outside the window between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day: molasses cookies, decorated trees indoors, tolerating your racist uncle, or Bing Crosby’s “Let it Snow” (despite the fact that it typically snows more in February than December, but no matter). Recently, this list includes Netflix’s The Crown, a beautifully dressed drama about the British Commonwealth’s royal family that appears most years in December. This year, Christmas came early, as it were: season four dropped well before Thanksgiving, allowing viewers a fictionalized peek inside the palace walls during the rise and fall of Margaret Thatcher’s premiership and the beginnings of the Prince of Wales’ unhappy marriage to Lady Diana Spencer. Filled to the brim with beautiful sets, period details, and Helena Bonham Carter, one can’t help but feel sophisticated and urbane watching these royal goings-on. On the other hand, some viewers have wondered how Princes William and Harry might feel about how their parents are depicted this season, and whether it’s ethical to binge episode after scandalous and delectable episode. Many of the actors in the series defend the show (and themselves) by noting that the series is an adaptation and shouldn’t be taken as a history lesson. And, they should tell that to everyone on my Facebook feed who have been posting, since season four was released, some variation of, “Good morning to absolutely everyone except Prince Charles.” As for me, I guzzled the fourth season down like so much eggnog in less than a week after it appeared, and did not lose a wink of sleep. Firstly, and most observably, the show is a monster hit. Whether I decide to watch will not stop the show from existing. Letters 32 DECEMBER 11, 2020
I hope for their sakes that Britain’s young princes have decided to binge The Queen’s Gambit instead (which, though the title might suggest otherwise, is about a Kentuckian orphan with a drug problem, and as far away from their lives as The Crown is from mine). But William and Harry’s viewing habits are out of my control, and I’m not going to deny myself the finest soap opera of my generation in the misguided hope that the richest unemployed people in the world won’t watch either. More importantly, I believe The Crown is important. I meant it when I called it a soap opera, and it does contain those sudsy elements that make it fascinating and addictive. However, what makes it a significant work of art lies just under the surface: in addition to being an epic melodrama about the overprivileged, it’s also the best argument against a monarchy I’ve ever seen. Take the principal villain of season four, the whiny, emotionally abusive Prince of Wales. If one recalls season three, just a year ago, Charles was then not only tolerable but sympathetic. He was a young man who dreamed of being an actor and marrying the well-born girl he loved. But she wasn’t considered a suitable future Queen of England, and he was forbidden from any kind of work that distracted from his birthright. Wearing epilates, waving from limousines, and delivering wooden, empty speeches were all he’d be allowed to do. His later behavior is certainly deplorable, but can it be argued that his descent into villainy was caused by anything other than the dictates of his miserable family? Or take Thatcher. For most of season four she lays waste to British society without the least bit of interference from Britain’s leader-in-name-only, the Queen. When Elizabeth does decide to do the least she could possibly do in sanctioning apartheid-era South Africa, all her machinations must be so subtle as to be quite nearly ineffectual. An entire episode of the show was thereby
dedicated to educating its viewership on how toothless and powerless the titular crown truly is.
But William and Harry’s viewing habits are out of my control, and I’m not going to deny myself the finest soap opera of my generation in the misguided hope that the richest unemployed people in the world won’t watch either. But the best argument probably lay in episode seven, focusing on Princess Margaret’s depression (caused by the lack of attention paid her as her sister’s heirs come of age) and subsequent discovery of a pair of mentally challenged cousins, who were long ago proclaimed dead and cruelly hidden in an asylum. The reason given for this atrocious behavior is that their mere existence erodes confidence in this or any monarchy—a family that is destined to “rule” simply because of the all-toohuman genes they inherit from the royals before them. In short, devouring The Crown makes a few things crystal clear. Olivia Colman can do no wrong. It is foolish to hunt stag in your kitten heels. Hugs can be incredibly powerful gestures. And finally, Meghan Markle is absolutely correct: the monarchy is so 20th-century. ▼ Eric Peterson is a writer and teacher. He co-hosts a podcast about old movies—visit rewindpod.com to learn more.
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DECEMBER 11, 2020
33 Letters
HISTORICAL HEADLINERS
BY ANN APTAKER
American Hero: Albert D. J. Cashier
O
n December 25, 1843, in Clogherhead, County Louth, Ireland, Sallie and Patrick Hodgers were blessed with that most beautiful of Christmas gifts, the birth of their child. They named the child Jennie Irene. The name did not suit. We don’t know exactly when Jennie Irene Hodgers took the name Albert D. J. Cashier, or when the youngster stowed away on a ship bound for America, but we do know that on August 6, 1862, a 19-year-old Albert D. J. Cashier enlisted in the 95th Illinois Infantry to fight with the Union army in the American Civil War. Cashier was not the only soldier born biologically female but living as male to fight in the war. Historical accounts note over 200 such soldiers. After the war, some of them retained their male identities; others returned to lives as women. But I find Albert Cashier’s life to be a particularly poignant one. At a time when surgical procedures to transition were unavailable, or indeed even comprehended, for Cashier to live as what we now recognize as a trans life was a remarkable accomplishment. It was, in fact, a heroic one. The 95th Illinois Infantry saw plenty of action in the Civil War. They were part of the siege of Vicksburg under General Ulysses S. Grant. Cashier distinguished himself in this effort by risking his life to conduct reconnaissance of Vicksburg’s defenses. He was captured, but through luck and bravery he was able to escape and bring the information back to Grant. His heroism in the reconnoiter proved crucial to Grant’s eventual victory at Vicksburg. After Grant’s promotion to the command of the full Union army, the 95th Illinois served under General Nathaniel Banks, seeing action at Nashville, Franklin, and other battles. Cashier’s gender was never questioned. Though he was smaller than most soldiers, so were any number of young recruits, often mere boys. Cashier’s size was therefore unremarkable among the vast numbers of men.
Letters 34 DECEMBER 11, 2020
According to various later accounts, one of the ways he hid his biological identity was by wearing red long johns which camouflaged his menopausal blood. Any blood in the wash water mixed with the blood of injured soldiers. The regiment’s laundry detail was none the wiser.
At the conclusion of the war Cashier was mustered out of the army in August of 1865. It’s then that Cashier’s life takes on poignancy in addition to his already evident courage. He returned to Illinois, where for over 40 years he earned his living doing various odd jobs for neighbors and elsewhere around the state. Throughout, he maintained his identity as male. In 1911, at the age of 68, while working for Illinois State Senator Ira Lish, Cashier suffered a broken leg when he was struck by the senator’s car. The break was serious, and the medical technology of the time was not able to restore Cashier’s leg to full use. He was now unable to work, but as a Civil War veteran he was given a military pension and granted admittance to the Soldiers and Sailors House in Quincy, Illinois. His new life of inactivity, and
the increasing difficulty of hiding his biological identity from the caregiving staff, caused Cashier’s mood to suffer and his mental state to decline. In March of 1914 he was transferred to Watertown State Hospital for the Insane. The invasive practices of the era’s mental institutions finally revealed Cashier’s female physical form and genitalia. He was forced to wear female clothing. Adding to this indignity, he was investigated for what was considered the fraud of impersonating a male in the army in order to obtain the veterans’ benefits offered at the time. His military pension was revoked. But as veterans then and now know, the bravery and sacrifice given in service to one’s country, especially under the fire of war, are not to be cavalierly dismissed. Veterans who served with Cashier attested to his Civil War service, his daring at Vicksburg. Thus in 1915, Cashier’s standing as a veteran was reinstated, his military pension restored. The strain of the ordeal, together with his decreasing health as a result of the badly healed broken leg, finally took its toll on the infirm 72-year-old, and on October 10, 1915, Albert D. J. Cashier died. He was buried at Sunny Slope Cemetery as he would have wished: as a man, a veteran of the Civil War, buried in uniform and with full military honors. For 55 years, the tombstone marking Cashier’s grave read, ALBERT D. J. CASHIER CO G 95TH ILL INF. But in 1970, a second tombstone was placed behind the first, this one adding BORN JENNIE HODGERS. We’ll really never know how Albert Cashier felt about that, but we can guess. Rest in peace and dignity, Albert D. J. Cashier, an American hero. ▼ Ann Aptaker’s series featuring dapper lesbian art thief and smuggler Cantor Gold has won Lambda Literary and Goldie Awards. In addition to writing crime fiction, Ann is an adjunct professor of art and art history at New York Institute of Technology.
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DECEMBER 11, 2020
35 Letters
CommunityNews Virtual Programs from Delaware Museums to Light Up the Holidays
T
he Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs will present several virtual programs in December 2020. These programs are free and open to the public. Wreathmaking Saturday, December 12, 1 p.m.: Learn about “Season’s Greetings Wreath Making in New Castle.” This virtual presentation from the New Castle Court House Museum will feature members of the Arasapha Garden Club making some of their famous wreaths and garlands, displayed every year in Old New Castle during the holiday season. Participants will also learn about the club’s history and engage in a question-and-answer session with club members. Program streamed live via Zoom (registration required on the museum’s Facebook page, or at 302-323-4453). Who was Elizabeth Battell? Wednesday, December 16, 3 p.m.: You can have “A Conversation with Elizabeth Battell.” It’s a virtual living-history program from Dover’s Old State House in which historic-site interpreter Susan Emory portrays Mrs. Elizabeth Battell, proprietrix of the Golden Fleece Tavern
where Delaware representatives ratified the US Constitution on December 7, 1787. The program will be streamed live via Zoom. Registration required by calling 302-744-5054. Historic Dining Friday, December 18, 6 p.m.: Check out “Seasons Eatings: A Taste of Holiday Dinners in the 1920s.” This is a virtual program from Dover’s Johnson Victrola Museum. It examines the savory, sweet, and odd holiday dishes of the past. Accompanied by 78-rpm recordings of holiday-related music played on authentic Victor Talking Machines, museum staff will also taste-test foods from real 1920s cookbooks. The program is streamed live via Zoom. Registration required at 302-739-3262. It’s Peachy! Saturday, December 19, at 3:30 p.m.: Learn about “Preserving More than Peaches: Capturing Canning History Through Cooking.” Exploring Delaware’s canning history, this virtual cooking lesson comes complete with old recipes. The program is streamed live via Zoom from the Zwaanendael Museum in Lewes. Register at 302-645-1148.▼
Browseabout Has Private Shopping Hours Nervous about shopping in large groups? Browseabout on Rehoboth Avenue is offering private shopping hours. The store will stay open an extra hour Sunday through Thursday nights for small group, private shopping by appointment. Shoppers from a household COVID bubble, a book club, or work family can have the store to themselves. Browseabout will offer personalized service, free gift wrapping, and surprises. Call the store at 302-226-2665 for more information and to reserve a special shopping experience. ▼
Rehoboth Beach Main Street Says “Shop Small!”
S
hopping at local small businesses helps protect the economic health of downtown Rehoboth Beach. Most downtown restaurants and merchants are offering gift cards for holiday shoppers. Gift cards make great gifts and stocking stuffers. Shop local: money spent with local businesses stays local. Help downtown restaurants and merchants survive the time of COVID. ▼
Letters 36 DECEMBER 11, 2020
Pet Portraits on Tap at Aqua Bar & Grill
V
isit Aqua Grill with your pet on Saturday, December 12, from noon to 4 p.m. Pets get a photo with Mrs. Claus (and her naughty elves) and pet parents have the opportunity to bring donations of pet food, supplies, and toys to benefit the Brandywine Valley SPCA. It’s photo time at Aqua Grill, 57 Baltimore Avenue in downtown Rehoboth. You’ve heard of drag queen story time, but this is drag queen photo time. “Say cheese treats!” ▼
FENWICK ISLAND
DECEMBER 11, 2020
37 Letters
Letters 38 DECEMBER 11, 2020
DECEMBER 11, 2020
39 Letters
CAMP REHOBOTH BEACH GUIDE BEACH AREA LODGING
CALL IN ADVANCE
services may be disrupted by COVID-19
Visit the Business Partner Directory on the CAMP Rehoboth website to find links to these area businesses in BOLD. The Guide includes: Food and Wine, Shopping, Lodging, and Services—all at camprehoboth.com.
At Melissa’s B&B, 36 Delaware Ave...............................................302-227-7504 Atlantic Sands Hotel, Boardwalk & Baltimore Ave.........................302-227-2511 Atlantis Inn, 154 Rehoboth Ave.....................................................302-227-9446 Breakers Hotel, 105 2nd St & Baltimore Ave.................................302-227-6688 Canalside Inn, 34 6th St.................................................................866-412-2625 Rehoboth Guest House, 40 Maryland Ave.....................................302-227-4117 Sea ‘n Stars Guest Suites, 44 Delaware Ave.................................302-226-2742 Summer Place Hotel, 1st St & Olive Ave........................................302-226-0766 The Shore Inn, 37239 Rehoboth Ave Ext.......................................302-227-8487
LEWES FOOD & DRINK Go Brit, 18388 Coastal Hwy...........................................................302-644-2250 Harbour Waterfront Dining, 134 West Market St...........................302-200-9522 Matt’s Fish Camp, 34401 Tenley Ct...............................................302-644-2267
OTHER AREA FOOD & DRINK Bluecoast Seafood, 1111 Hwy One, Bethany................................302-539-7111 Catch 54, 54 Madison Ave, Fenwick..............................................302-436-8600 Matt’s Fish Camp, 28635 Coastal Hwy, Bethany...........................302-539-2267
SERVICES AT THE BEACH BUILDING/CLEANING/REMODELING/LANDSCAPING
REHOBOTH RETAIL SHOPS Atlantic Jewelry, 313 S. Boardwalk...............................................302-226-0675 Browseabout Books, 133 Rehoboth Ave.......................................302-226-2665 Gallery 50, 50 Wilmington Ave......................................................302-227-2050 New Wave Spas, 20660 Coastal Hwy............................................302-227-8484 Ocean Boulevard Furniture, 19803 Hebron Rd.............................302-645-2626 One Day At A Time Gifts, 46-B Baltimore Ave................................302-212-5632 Unfinished Business, Rt. 1 behind Panera Bread..........................302-645-8700
REHOBOTH FOOD & DRINK 1776 Steakhouse, Midway Shopping Center................................302-645-9355 Back Porch Café, 59 Rehoboth Ave...............................................302-227-3674 Blue Moon, 35 Baltimore Ave........................................................302-227-6515 Café Azafran, 18 Baltimore Ave.....................................................302-227-8100 Café Papillon, Penny Lane Mall......................................................302-227-7568 Diego’s Bar Nightclub, 37298 Rehoboth Ave................................302-227-1023 Dos Locos, 208 Rehoboth Ave............................................. 302-227-3353 Go Fish, 24 Rehoboth Ave..............................................................302-226-1044 Goolee’s Grille, 11 South 1st St.....................................................302-227-7653 Iguana Grill, 52 Baltimore Ave.......................................................302-727-5273 Just In Thyme, 38163 Robinsons Dr..............................................302-227-3100 Lori’s Café, 39 Baltimore Ave.........................................................302-226-3066 Loves Liquors, LLC, 305c Rehoboth Ave........................................302-227-6966 Lupo Italian Kitchen, 247 Rehoboth Ave.......................................302-226-2240 Penny Lane Liquors, 42 Rehoboth Ave..........................................302-567-5245 Purple Parrot Grill, 134 Rehoboth Ave...........................................302-226-1139 Rigby’s, 404 Rehoboth Ave............................................................302-227-6080 Shorebreak Lodge, 10 Wilmington Ave.........................................302-227-1007 The Pines, 56 Baltimore Avenue....................................................302-567-2726 The Pond, First & Rehoboth Ave....................................................302-227-2234
Letters 40 DECEMBER 11, 2020
A.G. Renovations ...........................................................................302-947-4096 Country Life Homes, 34882 Picnic Basket Ct................................302-231-5001 Randall-Douglas.............................................................................302-245-1439 Ron’s Repairs..................................................................................302-727-3591
CHURCHES/SYNAGOGUES
All Saints’ Episcopal, 18 Olive Ave.................................................302-227-7202 Epworth UMC, 19285 Holland Glade Rd.......................................302-227-7743 Grace of God Lutheran, ELCA, 20689 Shoppes at Long Neck.......302-947-1044 M.C.C. of Rehoboth, 19369 Plantation Rd.....................................302-645-4945 Seaside Jewish Community, 18970 Holland Glade Rd..................302-226-8977 St. Peter’s Episcopal, 2nd & Market Sts, Lewes.............................302-645-8479 Unitarian Universalist, 30486 Lewes-G’Town Hwy........................302-313-5838 Unity of Rehoboth, 98 Rudder Rd, Millsboro.................................717-579-2612 Westminster Presbyterian, 301 King Charles Ave.........................302-227-2109
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
AARP of Delaware (age 50+)..........................................................866-227-7441 ACLU of DE—Lesbian & Gay Civil Rights Project............................302-654-3966 CAMP Rehoboth Chorus—Program of CAMP Rehoboth................302-227-5620 CAMP Rehoboth—LGBTQ Community Service Org........................302-227-5620 CAMP Rehoboth Families—LGBTQ parents connect......................302-227-5620 CAMP Rehoboth Parents of Transgender & Gender Non-conforming Children............................................302-227-5620 Cape Henlopen Senior Center—Rehoboth (age 50+)....................302-227-2055 CHEER Centers of Sussex County (age 50+)..................................302-515-3040 Delaware Aging & Disability Resource Center...............................800-223-9074 Delaware Human Relations Commission Housing & public accommodation............................................877-544-8626 Delaware Information Line............................................................................2-1-1 Delaware Pride—Community events, annual Pride Festival..........302-265-3020 Delaware Transgender Resources—transdelaware.net, delawarelgbtq@gmail.com Delaware Transgender Support.....................................................302-402-3033
Gay/Lesbian Alcoholics Anonymous—add’l schedules..................302-856-6452 Saturdays 6 pm: Epworth UMC, 19285 Holland Glade Rd (step meeting) Saturdays 7:30 pm: All Saints’ Church, 18 Olive Ave (step meeting) Tuesdays noon: St. Peter’s Church, 211 Mulberry St, Lewes (step meeting) Thursdays noon: CAMP Rehoboth, 37 Baltimore Ave (open discussion) Sundays 9 am: CAMP Rehoboth, 37 Baltimore Ave (open discussion) Tuesdays 8 pm: CAMP Rehoboth, 37 Baltimore Ave (Young Persons) Gay Men’s Discussion Group—Program of CAMP Rehoboth.........302-227-5620 Lesbian Support Group—Program of CAMP Rehoboth..................302-227-5620 Lewes Senior Activity Center (age 50+).........................................302-645-9293 LGBTQ Student Union—University of DE, Newark.........................302-831-8066 Meals on Wheels Lewes-Rehoboth................................................302-645-7449 PFLAG-Rehoboth—2nd Tuesdays, Public Library, 111 Adams Ave, Lewes............................................................302-841-1339 SLAA and SAA—Thursdays, 7:30 pm, All Saints’ Church 18 Olive Ave ............................................................................302-745-7929 Social Security Administration—Lewes office................................800-772-1213 TransLiance of DE—Rehoboth—4th Tuesdays at 7 pm, MCC of Rehoboth; contact: TransLiance@gmail.com
Christiana Care LGBTQ Health Initiatives.......................................302-733-1227 Delaware HIV Consortium - Statewide..........................................302-654-5471 Delaware Hospice..........................................................................800-838-9800 Delaware Total Foot & Ankle Center.................................... 302-297-8431 National Alliance on Mental Illness of DE (NAMI)...........................302-427-0787 Rehoboth Beach Dental, 19643 Blue Bird Ln....................... 302-226-0300 Steven B. Wright, D.M.D., 18912 J.J. Williams Hwy............. 302-645-6671 The Aesthetic Center......................................................................302-827-2125
COUNSELING/THERAPY/LIFE COACH
MASSAGE THERAPY/FITNESS
Jewish Family Services........................................................ 302-478-9411 Karen Abato, ATR-BC, LPAT, Licensed Art Psychotherapist... 302-232-5330 Kevin J. Bliss, Personal/Professional Coaching.............................302-754-1954 Time to Heal Counseling & Consulting, Lewes ............................302-574-6954
ENTERTAINMENT
Jazz SEAduction music, Valerie McNickol............................ 302-381-6707
ERRANDS/PERSONAL NEEDS
INSURANCE
Eric Blondin, State Farm...................................................... 302-644-3276 George Bunting, State Farm................................................ 302-227-3891 Jeanine O’Donnell, State Farm............................................ 302-645-7283
LEGAL/ACCOUNTING/TRUST SERVICES
Lawson Firm, 402 Rehoboth Ave...................................................302-226-3700 Steven Falcone CPA, Taxes & Planning..........................................302-644-8634
LOCKSMITHS
Rock Lock/Robin Rohr/Your Community Locksmith.......................302-386-9166 Midway Fitness & Racquetball, Midway Center.............................302-645-0407 One Spirit Massage, 169 Rehoboth Ave........................................302-226-3552 Rehoboth Massage/Alignment.......................................................302-727-8428
OUTDOOR LIGHTING
Allure Outdoor Lighting, allureoutdoorlighting.com......................302-226-2532
PET RETAIL
Alternative Lifestyle Services.........................................................302-727-2050
Critter Beach, 156 Rehoboth Ave..................................................302-226-2690 Pet Portraits by Monique................................................................717-650-4626
EVENT PLANNING/CATERING
PET SERVICES
Big Fish Catering................................................................. 302-226-5500 Flair................................................................................................302-930-0709 Palate Bistro & Catering.................................................................302-249-8489 Plate Catering.................................................................................302-644-1200
FINANCIAL SERVICES
Bell Rock Capital, 19606 Coastal Hwy..........................................302-227-7608 Black Diamond Financial Solutions,19409 Plantation Rd..............302-265-2236 Community Pride Financial............................................................302-227-2939 County Bank, 19927 Shuttle Rd.......................................... 302-226-9800 Jenn Harpel, Morgan Stanley.........................................................302-644-6620
FLORISTS
Bayberry Florist..............................................................................302-227-5725 Windsor’s Florist, 20326 Coastal Hwy...........................................302-227-9481
FUNERAL SERVICES
Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium................................ 302-645-9520
HAIR SALONS/TATTOO & PIERCING
Beach Cuts, 214 Rehoboth Ave...........................................302-226-ROBB Gregory Meyers Hair Studio, 20245 Bay Vista Rd & Rt 1..............302-727-5331 Stephan & Co Salon & Spa, 19266 Coastal Hwy................... 302-260-9478
HEALTH-RELATED
AIDS Delaware – Kent & Sussex Counties.....................................302-226-3519 AIDS Delaware – New Castle County............................................302-652-6776 AIDS Hotline – Delaware statewide...............................................800-422-0429 Brandywine Urology Consultants...................................................302-824-7039 Beebe Healthcare, 26744 J.J. Williams Hwy.................................302-645-3300 CAMPsafe AIDS education & prevention program of CAMP Rehoboth .......................................................................................................302-227-5620 Christiana Care HIV Wellness Clinic ..............................................302-933-3420
Brandywine Valley SPCA, 22918 Dupont Blvd, G’twn.......... 302-856-6361 Delaware Humane Association, 18675 Coastal Hwy........... 302-200-7159 Parsell Pet Crematorium, 16961 Kings Hwy, Lewes............ 302-645-7445
REAL ESTATE
Allen Jarmon, RE/MAX, 317 Rehoboth Ave...................................302-227-4800 Bill Peiffer, Patterson Schwartz, 18958 Coastal Hwy....................302-703-6987 Chris Beagle, Berkshire Hathaway, 37230 Rehoboth Ave............302-227-6101 Debbie Reed Team, 319 Rehoboth Ave.........................................800-263-5648 Donna Whiteside, Berkshire Hathaway, 16712 Kings Hwy...........302-381-4871 Eric Atkins, Patterson-Schwartz, 18958 Coastal Hwy...................302-727-1456 Hugh Fuller, Realtor........................................................................302-745-1866 John Black, Patterson Schwartz, 18958 Coastal Hwy...................302-703-6987 Lana Warfield, Berkshire Hathaway, 37230 Rehoboth Ave...........302-227-6101 Lee Ann Wilkinson Group, 16698 Kings Hwy....................... 302-645-6664 Lingo Realty, 246 Rehoboth Ave....................................................302-227-3883 McGuiness Group, 246 Rehoboth Ave...........................................302-227-3883 Randy Mason/Shirley Kalvinsky, Lingo Realty................................302-227-3883 Sea Bova Associates, 20250 Coastal Hwy........................... 302-227-1222 Troy Roberts, Mann & Sons, 414 Rehoboth Ave............................302-228-7422
TRAVEL & TRANSPORTATION
Accent On Travel, 37156 Rehoboth Ave.............................. 302-278-6100 CHEER Transportation (age 50+)....................................................302-856-4909 ITN Southern Delaware (age 60+ or disabled)...............................302-448-8486 Jolly Trolley Shuttle from Rehoboth Ave & Boardwalk...................302-644-0400 Olivia Travel...........................................................800-631-6277 ext. 696
POPULAR LGBTQ BEACHES
Poodle Beach, south end of the Rehoboth Boardwalk Cape Henlopen State Park, Ocean Dr north to Cape Henlopen State Park. Daily parking rate in effect March-November
DECEMBER 11, 2020
41 Letters
The REAL DIRT
BY ERIC W. WAHL
Return of the Patriotic Garden
I
’ve never been one to fly a flag on my red and orange in autumn. A three-season porch or in my garden. However, living shrub? Yes, please. Other plants with bluish through the New Hope that was 2008 tints can be found in the juniper family which and struggling to survive while the Empire are evergreen, as well as hostas, which are Struck Back in 2016, we can all be joyful in perfect for the shady garden. the coming year with the Return of the GarBeebalm has gorgeous reds in its den. My hope is so renewed in the ideals and repertoire, as does cardinal flower. However, principles that bind us together as a nation, both these flowers can easily self-seed so give that I may just fly Old Glory 1-20-21 (OMG it’s a them space. The leaves of photinia emerge palindrome too!) as red and then turn Or at the very least, I green. Even grasses can will plan a garden full of play the game. Some I think I prefer perennials and red, white, and blue. My shrubs for my patriotic garden. varieties of switch grass mother always planted a (Panicum virgatum) have It will take some proper planning reddish tips. palette of patriotic colors in her flowerboxes on the to have all three colors blooming If you are looking front porch. By July 4th, for a white-blooming around the same time. they spilled over the edge shrub for summer, look and filled the space with no further than oak-leaf color, proudly framing the flag that waved hydrangea. Its white spikes appear above from the porch column. In addition, dad built the large leaves and look good all summer. the flower boxes crafted in his workshop. I They will fade to pink as the season lingers. still have his patterns for the boxes which The leaves will turn shades of red and purple will hopefully be adorning a porch of my own in October and November. If herbaceous someday. flowers are more your desire, try ‘David’ Mom usually went with vibrant red Phlox. This phlox grows on single stems and geraniums, soft blue paint brushes (ageratum), is a crisp white. and white cascading petunias. Some years And don’t forget the winter! The red were different though. Since the front porch berries of winterberry and American holly will faced east and only received morning sun, contrast well with a fresh coat of powdery it could also be a host for impatiens or snow or morning frost. Junipers can lend a other part-sun loving flowers. Ivy or another hand again in the blues department. Or stick cascading plant usually joined the mix. with the berries theme and plant a native I think I prefer perennials and shrubs for bayberry, viburnum, or Eastern red cedar for my patriotic garden. It will take some proper their blue fruits. planning to have all three colors blooming So many choices; I have my work cut out around the same time. Make sure to check for me. I hope you do as well, because now is the dates and growing conditions—do your the perfect time to start planning your garden research! For spring, try red azaleas for a for next year. And as you sit in that garden background shrub. These can be coupled enjoying the fruits of your labor, we can all with the white bottlebrush flowers of dwarf take a collective sigh and look to the future fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenia). Add in for better times—truly realizing that hindsight Baptisia ‘Midnight Prairieblues’ ™ and you may is indeed 2020. have to sing “America the Beautiful.” Stay safe and let’s garden together. ▼ For summer it may be a bit harder since cooler colors like blue are not as ubiquitous. Eric W. Wahl is a landscape architect, artist, and However, some plants have bluish shades president of the Delaware Native Plant Society. in their leaves. Blue Mist, a variety of the fothergilla previously mentioned, has slightly Photo credits, top to bottom: A.B., Osman Rana, and Patrick Hendry from Unsplash.com bluish leaves. It also turns brilliant shades of
Letters 42 DECEMBER 11, 2020
Life is GREAT at the Beach!
Contact your LOCAL Real Estate Expert
Eric Atkins REALTOR®
Cell: 302-727-1456 Office: 302-703-6987 Email: eatkins@psre.com Licensed in Delaware
DEBeachHome.com
DECEMBER 11, 2020
43 Letters
Straight Talk
BY DAVID GARRETT
A Fortune of Reversals
A
s the outgoing president plans for life after four years in office, Donald Trump will face a “Reversal of Fortune.” While very different than the Claus von Bulow movie of the same name, Trump’s version will have just as much intrigue. There are myriad ways in which his reversal of fortune will unfold. No longer will the US taxpayers subsidize his golf outings. The halls of the White House will soon be Trump-less, both for the president as well as his nepotistic family members. Air Force One will chart flight paths that do not end at Mar-a-Lago. Perhaps the most significant reversal of fortune for ex-President Trump will be the opportunity for Inspectors General to initiate lawsuits naming him as defendant. No longer under the pseudoprotection of the Justice Department, he can be held accountable for his past sins. The question remains as to whether the American public will have the resolve to pursue such, or whether a vocal GOP will permit it to develop. Rather than explore the reversal of fortune for our ex-president, it seems a worthy exercise to ruminate on the fortune of reversals. Incoming President Joe Biden will begin his term on January 20, 2021. One of the hallmarks of any new person in the office of the presidency is what actions are taken during the first 100 days. Joe Biden will be faced with the task of a fortune of reversals of policies enacted by Trump during his term. Anti-LGBTQ Executive Orders will be high on the list of reversals. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has composed a “Blueprint for Positive Change,” a 24-page document listing 85 recommendations on which the BidenHarris team could act. Among the top 10 issues is the ban on transgender persons serving in the military. The prohibitive Executive Order came in the summer of 2017. Fifty-six retired generals and admirals signed a letter opposing the ban. It read, in part, that the ban “would cause significant
Letters 44 DECEMBER 11, 2020
disruptions, deprive the military of mission-critical talent and compromise the integrity of transgender troops who would be forced to live a lie, as well as non-transgender peers who would be forced to choose between reporting their comrades or disobeying policy.” Another key reversal that Presidentelect Biden could initiate is Trump’s nonimplementation of the Supreme Court ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County. This ruling, from June 15, 2020, found that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity is illegal in employment situations. The basis for this finding is that “sex,” as defined in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 includes these protections. While choosing to ignore the ruling, Trump directed its non-enforcement. The protections granted by the
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has composed a “Blueprint for Positive Change,” a 24-page document listing 85 recommendations on which the Biden-Harris team could act. Affordable Care Act, Section 1557, state that such protections cover sexual orientation and gender identity. However, on June 12, 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services issued a statement that “[HHS] finalized a rule under Section 1557 of the [ACA] that maintains vigorous enforcement of federal civil rights law on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age and sex, and restores the rule of law by revising certain provisions that go beyond the plain meaning of the
law as enacted by Congress.” In typical Trump double-speak, a declaration stripping rights away from the LGBTQ community was cast in selfaggrandizing terms. “HHS respects the dignity of every human being, and as we have shown in our response to the pandemic, we vigorously protect and enforce the civil rights of all to the fullest extent permitted by our laws as passed by Congress. We are unwavering in our commitment to enforcing civil rights in healthcare.” One Trump loyalist who has survived constant criticism of her policies and rulings on behalf of an anti-LGBTQ administration is Betsy DeVos. She has never been involved with public education in any form, and has turned education in the United States on its head. President-elect Joe Biden and his new Education Secretary will devote time and resources to undo her directives. Among these include DeVos’s guidance to school districts to ignore requests by transgender students to use bathroom facilities according to gender identity, along with use of their preferred names and pronouns. Lastly, federal funding must end for private schools and universities that discriminate against LGBTQ students. Under DeVos, the barn door has long been open for flagrant offenses of an otherwise affirming policy. Beginning January 20, 2021, there will be a reversal of fortune for exPresident Donald Trump. There will also be a fortune of reversals to which the Biden-Harris White House will devote themselves. The list is long. We all wait to see what is done in the first 100 days and beyond. ▼ David Garrett is a straight advocate for equality and inclusion. He is also the proud father of an adult trans daughter. Email David Garrett at dlgarrett4rb@gmail.com.
DECEMBER 11, 2020
45 Letters
WE REMEMBER
Nancy (Pat) Hansen
N
ancy “Pat” Hansen, 88, of Rehoboth Beach, passed away October 13, 2020. She was born in Beaver, Pennsylvania to Nels Adolf and Florence Aileen Hansen. She was known as Nancy to family and Pat to friends. Pat was a graduate of Slippery Rock University and served in the Army for 22 years as a physical therapist. In addition to being stationed at Walter Reed, she served at many hospitals around the world allowing her to become fluent in German. Since moving to Rehoboth Beach she volunteered with many local organizations, including CAMP Rehoboth, and was a member of Epworth United Methodist Church. She was full of spunk and lived life to the fullest. She could often be found tooling around downtown Rehoboth in her beloved BMW convertible. She was also a writer, taking classes locally and working on her memoirs from her military career. She loved to travel, read, paint, play games, and build jigsaw puzzles, as well as spend time with friends. In addition to her parents, Pat was predeceased by her sister Barbara Hansen Johnson, brother Nels Robert Hansen, and nephew Frederick Chris Johnson. She is survived by her partner Barbara Rowe, nieces Cheryl Hansen and Nancy Coughlin, nephew David Johnson, cousins Dwight Honecker and Marilyn Powell, greatniece Colleen Coughlin, and great-nephews Connor Coughlin and Zachary Johnson. A big thank you to neighbors Henley, Bob (aka “Popsy”) and Margee, and friend Joyce. For the safety of family and friends there will be a service held at a future date when she is laid to rest at Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Millsboro, Delaware with military honors. Inquiries may be forwarded to njcough@gmail.com. ▼
Letters 46 DECEMBER 11, 2020
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DECEMBER 11, 2020
47 Letters
Dining Out
BY FAY JACOBS
Happy Holiday Dining! 6 P.M. Well, thanks to the continuing COVID precautions we must all take, this writer is once again waiting for curbside pick-up. In fact, I’m on deadline, pounding this out on my iPhone keyboard while I wait for my seafood supper from the fantastic Blue Coast to be brought to my car. While dining in our glorious restaurants is permitted now, those of us of a certain age are staying home to dine. But we are patronizing our restaurants in droves, taking advantage of their curbside pickup and carry-out options. Whether we drive to pick up dinner or use a delivery service, we are committed to helping our local restaurants stay alive while we try to do the same for ourselves. Therefore, here I sit at Blue Coast. Wait! Here comes my order in a handy shopping bag. I’m off to home, where I will continue this report right after dinner. 7:30 P.M. Wow, that was delicious. Blue Coast does it again. And again. Since I’m a regular I can tell you about more than just tonight’s menu. I’ve sampled many other selections. This evening I had the Blackened Mahi over mashed potatoes and it was a treat, while Bonnie chose the Lobster Toast: twin baby lobster tails, with ancho butter atop milkbread toast. Decadent. But if you are nutty for shrimp, try the Shrimp Fry entrée. Lightly crusted and fried, the large shrimp are served with crisp (even after transporting) seasoned fries, and slaw. These shrimp are truly tastier than the average Eastern Shore fried shrimp platters. Oh, and to start our shrimp feast we had the Steamed Shrimp Dumplings with warm ponzu broth and pea shoots. Other appetizers include killer Deviled Eggs, with mustard cream, a scrapple chip, a green apple chip, and smoked curry dust. First time I’ve ever enjoyed scrapple. The waffle-cut fries with crab, white cheddar fondu, and Old Bay seasoning are legendary, as is the Buttermilk Fried Calamari. Letters 48 DECEMBER 11, 2020
Spectacular entrees include Blackened Tuna, and Shrimp and Grits. And the Crawfish Gumbo is spicy, rich, and memorable. Seriously, you can’t go wrong. And they tell you after you call when your food will be ready and they always get it right within a minute or two. And then there’s Michy’s. Friends introduced us to take-out from this gem in the Weis Shopping Center (it used to
Remember all the local restaurants we visited to ask them to donate to Women’s FEST or Sundance or other nonprofits? And remember how generous they always were? be a Food Lion) off Coastal Highway. On a dark and stormy night recently, we brought carry-out to our friend’s house and had a food orgy. From the Golden and Red Beet Salad, Hearts of Romain Caesar, and Chardonnay Poached Pear Salad, to the Pan-Seared Chicken Milanese, Seabass Barramundi, and Rigatoni Bolognese, it was gourmet all the way, carefully packaged for carryout and a true epicurean delight. I understand that in addition to their regular menu, they post weekend specials mid-week. I vote for Michy’s on an upcoming cold December evening. And, of course, as many good Jewish (and non-Jewish) diners do, we religiously (lol) frequent Wilmington Avenue’s Confucius on Christmas Eve. Even though we cannot dine-in this year (they are only doing carry-out anyway) we wouldn’t miss this annual ritual. Start off with their pan-fried Pork
Dumplings or the Scallion Pancake with Smoked Salmon (my very favorite appetizer). I love so many of their entrees I’d go over my word limit here recommending them all. But I wouldn’t miss the Crispy Halibut in honeyvinegar sauce, Crispy Walnut Shrimp and Scallops, Orange-flavored Beef, or General Tso’s Chicken. There are so many fine dishes to choose from I’ve just touched the surface. In fact, I’ve almost forgotten to talk about my favorite, Mai Fun Singapore Style noodles—curry with a kick. Another place for festive take-out food this season is the Purple Parrot. The reliably enormous and delicious Infamous Mumbo Jumbo burger rocks, and their Fried Clam Strips are the best around. But believe it or not, the Parrot’s Saturday Special of Pork Schnitzel and Fries is comparable to many a gourmet German restaurant I’ve frequented. The Parrot does it right and it’s a specialty. Of course, their comfort food surely is comforting—Chili, Maryland Crab Soup, Triple Decker Reuben, Cuban Wrap, and so much more. So, here’s the deal. Remember all the local restaurants we visited to ask them to donate to Women’s FEST or Sundance or other non-profits? And remember how generous they always were? Well now it’s time for us to give back by going back, again and again, for take-out or dine-in this winter. COVID’s been tough on our restaurant industry in Sussex County and it’s time to help them out. It’s in our own best interest along with theirs. See you at curbside, my friends. ▼
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49 Letters
CAMPCritters
— BEAR — This adorable dog, a relative newcomer to town, lives in the area with his canine sister Tootsie and his moms Kathy and Jackie. His best friend is Lexi from Rehoboth Beach Yacht and Country Club.
FUN FACT Bear hates windshield wipers and, from the front seat of the car, viciously attacks them at will.
Interested in having your critter featured in Letters? Send a high resolution picture (300 dpi) along with its name and one fun fact to editor@camprehoboth.com.
Letters 50 DECEMBER 11, 2020
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51 Letters
That’s Entertainment
BY ERIC C. PETERSON
When You’re Queer Enough to Send the Very Best
I
f a pandemic, murder hornets, Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death, and a president who refuses to concede an election he clearly lost weren’t bad enough, 2020 has now brought us another calamity—though admittedly less consequential than the ones listed above: gay paint-bynumbers holiday romantic comedies. I have not watched most of these, nor will I. The previews alone left me stupider than I was before I hit “play.” The undisputed leader in the genre of tinsel-covered gooey melodrama, the Hallmark Channel, produced The Christmas House this year, featuring one of my crushes from my teenage closeted years, Treat Williams, alongside two identical, broad-shouldered, V-neck sweater-wearing, white (of course) men with impossibly tweezed eyebrows as our romantic heroes. Another, Dashing in December, featured two more indistinguishable, generically handsome white men as our romantic heroes: one a city slicker with pretentious taste in wine labels and a country boy who advises the urban cowboy he loves that “sometimes, you’ve just got to figure out how to farm the pastures where you live.” (Hint: he wants you to personally plow his fields, Chad.) Lifetime’s entry this year is The Christmas Set-Up, featuring Fran Drescher’s newly pulled back visage and a pair of adorable gay (Caucasian) clones who find love surrounded by twinkling lights and Christmas balls. Finally, Clea DuVall (an actor best known for her performance in But I’m a Cheerleader) made her directorial debut with The Happiest Season, on the Hulu network. Featuring Kristin Stewart, Mackenzie Davis, Dan Levy, Aubrey Plaza, Victor Garber, and Mary Steenburgen, this one is similar to the others in that it’s very Christmas-y and very white, but different in that this one is about a pair of lesbian lovebirds, and features a trailer that made the film look downright appealing. So this one, I decided to watch. And by and large, it was enjoyable. The instigating event was a little probLetters 52 DECEMBER 11, 2020
lematic. In a fit of romantic pique, Harper (Davis) invites her girlfriend Abby (Stewart) home for the holidays, while neglecting to tell her that her parents are politically ambitious conservatives who have no idea that their daughter is a lesbian. She tells her this ON THE DRIVE to whatever little all-American suburb they’re traveling to.
If the queer holidaythemed romantic comedy is to become as permanent a fixture in our end-ofyear cultural lives as eggnog and pumpkinspiced anything, it’s an undeniable sign of progress. Then, of course, you meet the family. Steenburgen and Garber are the parents, who seem…ordinary and, y’know, FINE. Harper’s sisters are another story: one is somewhat lacking in social skills, while the other is an uptight mother of sullen twins who does everything perfectly. Whether or not Abby will be accepted and, dare we ask, loved, by this new family who aren’t yet aware that they’re meeting anyone more significant than a roommate seems to be the crux of the conflict. Will they like her? Will she like them? And, of course, will her girlfriend ever come out so that they no longer have to steal furtive kisses on the sly whenever they’re alone? But then, the movie takes a turn. Aubrey Plaza (who is marvelous, and easily the highlight of the film) shows up as Riley, Harper’s ex. I naturally suspected that Riley would soon prove to be some romantic competition for Abby, as the potential for old flames to be rekindled.
Later, it seemed that Riley might be more a threat to Harper, as she and Abby prove that they have real screen chemistry together (more, if we’re honest, than the two leads). But, as it turns out, Riley presents an entirely different sort of challenge for our sapphic protagonists. Without giving too much away, Riley is more and more attractive and Harper is less and less appealing as the film goes on—and while Riley has no designs on splitting up our (happy?) couple, I found myself wishing that Abby and Riley would run off together anyway. For most of the film, I found myself rooting against the inevitable happy ending. What turned me back around was the performance of Dan Levy (Schitt’s Creek) as the “best friend.” In most romantic comedies, this role is a thankless and bland sounding board for our protagonist, with an occasional sassy quip to justify the character’s existence. In this story, the sassy gay confidante matters to the plot, and his advice to Abby is one of the most touching moments of TV I’ve seen in a long time. In the hands of a weaker actor, the words as written might have been preachy and oversentimental, but Levy sells it beautifully. If the queer holiday-themed romantic comedy is to become as permanent a fixture in our end-of-year cultural lives as eggnog and pumpkin-spiced anything, it’s an undeniable sign of progress. And if syrupy soaps are your cinematic comfort food, it’s nice to consume it in a flavor you recognize, and it’s good for your straight neighbors to expand their palate a tad. I can’t promise I’ll imbibe overmuch, but will joyfully admit that The Happiest Season made my season a smidgen happier. Have a happy and safe holiday, all. ▼ Eric Peterson is a writer and teacher. He co-hosts a podcast about old movies—visit rewindpod.com to learn more.
Giving back is my way of saying “Thank you.” George Bunting Jr, Agent 19716 Sea Air Ave #1 Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 Bus: 302-227-3891 george@gbunting.com
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DECEMBER 11, 2020
53 Letters
Celebrity Interview
BY CHRIS AZZOPARDI
Life (and Death) Again, through Alan Ball’s Eyes
F
ew know their way around a funeral scene like master of mortality Alan Ball, writer-director of his crowning jewel of a series, Six Feet Under (2001- 2005). At the center were the Fishers, who owned a funeral home. And as one of the first gay leads to be featured as a fully developed character on TV, David Fisher was groundbreaking. Ball, who also created True Blood and wrote American Beauty, returns to the emotional, gay-inclusive, funeral-encompassing family drama with Uncle Frank, which he wrote and directed. It’s now on Amazon Prime. There’s a will reading, a family dinner-table scene and a funeral in Uncle Frank, which instantly took me back to Six Feet Under. Did filming Uncle Frank bring you back too? I know the day we shot that funeral scene in the cemetery I had this amazing sense of déjà vu. Actually, I took a picture and posted it on my Instagram page. The theme of unfinished business recurs in your work. Is that something you are conscious of while developing it? Yeah, absolutely. Frank never got to confront his father. And the genesis of Uncle Frank was when I came out of the closet to my mother 30 years ago and she said, “Well, I blame your father because I believe he was that way too.” But he was already dead. So, I never got to have a conversation with my dad to find out if that was true. There’s real frustration in that. But unless you’re a person who just goes through life in every experience you have making sure you’ve said everything you need to say to the people you need to say it to, there’s going to be unfinished business. That’s just a part of life. Was Uncle Frank you imagining what life could have been like for your dad? Knowing what my mom said about my dad and also knowing that when he was a very young man he had, as my mom put it, “a real, real close friend” who drowned and whose body he accompanied on a train back to Asheville, North Carolina, it is a sort of, “What if?” I admire that the movie portrays a gay couple, Frank and Wally, who are middle-aged and neither of them die. Their relationship is loving and supportive. And in the end, you know they’re going to be all right. Within the scope of LGBTQ films, that is a refreshing narrative arc. It’s true. Yeah, it was important to me that Frank and Wally stay together because you are used to especially middle-aged gay men, when you see stories about them, usually somebody’s gotta die. I think of Brokeback Mountain, I think of A Single Man. These movies are great, but there is this implicit, “Well, somebody’s gotta die; they can’t be happy.” It was the same way in Six Feet Under. The writers kept pushing for me to break David and Keith up and I wouldn’t do it because I wanted to depict a relationship where they stayed together. Letters 54 DECEMBER 11, 2020
Photo: Amazon Studios
Your own partner, Peter Macdissi, who appears in much of your work, plays Frank’s partner, Wally. What has it been like to work with Peter all these years? It’s been really edifying for me to be with somebody who’s from a completely different culture and a completely different background than my own. It just forces me to open my eyes and see things from a different perspective. One of the reasons I wanted Wally to be from Saudi Arabia, to be a Muslim—and there are people who are Muslim and gay and they don’t tell their parents but they still have relationships with their parents and they’re very close—is it’s such a different mindset than our Western life. Did any of Frank’s relationship with Wally come from your own relationship with Peter? I don’t do that consciously, but I’m sure it just shows up in there. I mean, he’s not Wally. That was definitely a performance. And he’s not Muslim. He was raised Catholic. And he’s not Saudi Arabian; he’s Lebanese. Frank and Wally are not a depiction of me and Peter in any way, but I’m sure there are little elements and details that show up in there. I know some of your own real-life experiences inspired scenes in Six Feet Under, so I’m always curious how much of your own life ends up in your work. When Frank comes out to his brother and his brother says, “I just have two words for you: no problem,” that’s what my brother said to me. It just had to go into the script. ▼ As editor of Q Syndicate, the LGBTQ wire service, Chris Azzopardi has interviewed a multitude of superstars, including Cher, Meryl Streep, Mariah Carey, and Beyoncé. His work has also appeared in the New York Times, Vanity Fair, GQ, and Billboard. Reach him via Twitter @ chrisazzopardi.
DECEMBER 11, 2020
55 Letters
arts+entertainment
BY DOUG YETTER
SPOTLIGHT ON THE
arts
CAMP Rehoboth Puts Art at the Heart of Our Community
Hindsight
T
Pacem in Terris
his year, 2020, may have been the worst year in memory, but we’ve been forced to envision the arts in a completely new way. I’m still going to harbor a gigantic grudge for taking everything I live for out of my life. CAMP Rehoboth Chorus had three concerts on the books. We only got to do one of the three. Clear Space figured out how to keep patrons, cast, and crew at a safe social distance and remain one of only a handful of theaters in the country able to stay open. Art galleries limited capacity or opened by appointment only. Technophobes (like moi) have begun to master at least the rudiments of editing virtual art experiences. It’s been a tough year for everyone, but hopefully we’ll start to see some normalcy return to our lives as 2020 fades in the rearview.
Were this a normal year, hundreds of good folk would gather indoors and sing a full-throated, “Peace on the earth, goodwill to all!” But…2020. Here at CAMP Rehoboth we’re rejoicing with new angels—over 300 young artists (ages five to 18) from 27 Delaware schools and community organizations answered the questions: “What is your vision of a peaceful world?” and “What does peace mean to you?” by creating art. And those angels’ beautiful, original, and inspiring works are showcased in the juried Pacem in Terris traveling peace exhibition—on display in the CAMP Rehoboth Community Room— December 17, 2020 to January 31, 2021. Schedule an appointment for a small group or individual tour to see CAMP Rehoboth exhibitions by emailing artshow@camprehoboth.com.
Winter Solstice Craft Salon
Never Look Back
CAMP Rehoboth continues to support our local artful artisans by offering to display and sell their crafty creations. The salon officially opens Saturday, December 12 (11 a.m.-3 p.m. ) and features high-quality original and unique fine arts and crafts, including fiber art, paintings, assemblage, stained glass, ceramics, jewelry, and more. To further assist your holiday shopping, the salon co-exists with the Handmade Market in the Courtyard. Through December 31.
Crab Pendant by Jeffery Todd Moore
Letters 56 DECEMBER 11, 2020
As we bid 2020 farewell, the CAMP Rehoboth Arts Team (Edward Alban, Kerry Hallett, Jane Knaus, Lois Powell, Leslie Sinclair, and Patricia Stiles) have busied themselves planning the 2021 season by creating a vision where diversity is embraced, differences are respected, and hatred and prejudice are rejected. We continue to honor and recognize local artists, work toward equity and inclusion in our artist representation, and place new emphasis on themes that increase understanding and build unity. Stay tuned as we ring in a New Year of art!. ▼ Above, top to bottom: Assemblage 3 by Deb Rolig, and Rooster by Yona Zucker.
arts+entertainment GALLERIES & MUSEUMS CAMP Rehoboth Gallery (37 Baltimore Avenue; 302-2275620; camprehoboth.com) features Winter Solstice Craft Salon and Pacem in Terris traveling peace exhibit. (See listing elsewhere in this column.)
SeanCorey Art Gallery (CAMP Rehoboth Courtyard; 39 Baltimore Avenue, 302-396-1013) is now open in the CAMP Rehoboth courtyard. A portion of their sales will go to CAMP Rehoboth and AIDS Delaware. ▼
Gallery 50 (50 Wilmington Avenue; 302-227-2050; gallery50art.com) features original paintings, jewelry, glass, sculpture, ceramics, and mixed media. The gallery will not be holding special exhibits or events until further notice.
All the Rage by Don Rubin at Peninsula Gallery.
PERFORMING ARTS
as well as several films available for streaming. See website for information.
CAMP Rehoboth Open Mic Nights (CAMP Rehoboth Community Center Facebook page—under “videos”) First Fridays (7-8pm) are hosted by moi, and feature singers from CAMP Rehoboth Chorus. Third Fridays (6-8pm) are hosted by CAMP Rehoboth Operations Administrator and musician Kerry Hallett, with lots of talented folks. Watch live or when you have a bit of extra time.
Clear Space Theatre Company (20 Baltimore Avenue; 302-227-2270; ClearSpaceTheatre.org) presents Elf—The Musical as their holiday offering—through December 20. They list all COVID-19 precautions on their website, and remain one of the few theaters in operation in the country.
The Milton Theater (110 Union Street, Milton; 302-684-3038; miltontCapital Ringers (PO Box 35, heatre.com) has reduced Lewes; capitalringers.org) their seating capacity to 30 have released their virtual percent to ensure adequate holiday handbell concert, social distancing. Their “Tidings of Comfort and Joy.” offerings in December: 12: See website for details. Lower Case Blues; 18: Ho! Ho! Ho! Comedy Show; 19: Cinema Art Theater (17701 Nutcracker Express Ballet; Dartmouth Drive, Lewes; 31: F*ck 2020 New Year’s Eve 302-313-4032; rehobothfilm. Party with Mona Lotts. Check com) has CDC guidelines in their website for details and effect and reduced seating capacity for in-person viewing, 2021 schedule.
Peninsula Gallery (520 E. Savannah Road, Lewes; 302-645-0551; peninsula-gallery.com) presents Small Jewels 17—works limited in size and price for the holidays. Preview the show on their website. Rehoboth Art League (12 Dodds Lane, Henlopen Acres; 302-227-8408; rehobothartleague.org) is taking a break for the holidays. Visit the website for upcoming exhibitions and extensive class offerings. Moon Looking Over by Diane Gray, Winter Solstice Craft Salon.
Bamboo with Magnolias by Corey Wheatley at SeanCorey Gallery.
Doug is the Artistic Director for CAMP Rehoboth Chorus, Director of Music Ministries at Epworth UMC, and co-founder and Artistic Director emeritus of the Clear Space Theater Company. Contact Doug at dougyetter@gmail.com if you want to add your events to the calendar. Check out CAMP Arts on our website at camprehoboth. com for links to all the listed theatres, galleries and museums.
This program is supported, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division promotes Delaware arts events on www.DelawareScene.com.
DECEMBER 11, 2020
57 Letters
arts+entertainment
by Terri Schlichenmeyer
BOOKED SOLID The Big Tow: An Unlikely Romance by Ann McMan c.2020, Bywater Books $17.95/ higher in Canada 340 pages Two wheels hooked. That was your vehicle: two wheels on the ground, the other two in the air, safely attached to a bar hooked on both ends to a big truck. Oh, how you hate shredded tires, check-engine lights, busted radiators, dead batteries, and the guy with the rig, but in the new book The Big Tow, by Ann McMan, a wired starter isn’t the only thing that’s hot. Vera “Nick” Nicholson had put in her time. After six years at Turner, Witherspoon, Anders, and Tyler, Attorneys at Law, Nick thought she might’ve achieved partner, but no. Instead, because she was the firm’s only “brown” employee and because senior partners figured “floor-scraping assignments” would be “second nature” to her, that’s what she got—like, for instance, the latest case, a stolen car. Nick didn’t know jack about stolen cars. She had no contacts there in North Carolina to ask for help. And that’s how she ended up at National Recovery Bureau, a back-lot repo business run by a chain-smoking, no-nonsense older woman with zero patience, and a guy named Fast Eddie. For $500, they helped Nick find the car. When Fast Eddie enticed her with 10 Gs in cash for “profit sharing,” that was a big surprise. So was the offer of a part-time job from NRB. And so was the co-worker NRB assigned to Nick, a gorgeous blonde named Frankie. She had a killer body and enough imagination to figure out how
to complete the toughest cases. Meanwhile, Nick used her imagination to think about Frankie’s killer body. Despite the danger and the hassle, working for NRB did have its benefits: the money was great and the company was even better, and Nick cautiously allowed herself to fall in love. She and Frankie were becoming more than just partners at work; they were a couple that happened to work together, and they did a good job. But there was something off about Fast Eddie…. Despite that it leans a bit toward wordiness and could have used maybe one less caper, The Big Tow is a true delight—but not for the reasons you might think. Author Ann McMan’s two main characters are certainly likable: Nick is one of those people you want in your corner, and Frankie seems like someone you’d have drinks with. The real appeal of this book, though, lies in the world surrounding these two. The dispatcher at NRB and Nick’s gay roommate are spit-out-your-coffee funny, and you must read this book to learn who Carol Jenkins is. There are dotty mothers, wise fathers, a goth girl at a funeral home, and a Yoda-type butcher who speaks in hints. Though he’s really basically a caricature, even Fast Eddie is someone you’ll look for as you’re reading this book. This is the kind of story that, if it happened to you, you’d get plenty of mileage out of it at your next party. It’s got romance, action, humor, and theft—how can you go wrong? Start The Big Tow and you’ll be hooked. ▼ Terri Schlichenmeyer has been reading since she was three years old and never goes anywhere without a book. Always Overbooked, she lives on a hill in Wisconsin with two dogs and 15,000 books.
Terri Schlichenmeyer’s Booked Solid Gift Giving Guide
T
he holidays this year are going to be, well, unique. And here’s the good news: books are easy to wrap, easy to box, and easy to ship. Why not try one of these great books for that person who can’t make it to your table this holiday season? For the person who craves a thriller, These Violent Delights by Micah Nemerever is the gift to give. It’s a novel of two young men who meet at college and soon become obsessed with one another in different ways. But one is cruel, the other is fearful, and you know this ain’t good.... The person on your gift list who loves drag will love The Cockettes:
Letters 58 DECEMBER 11, 2020
Acid Drag & Sexual Anarchy from the archives of Fayette Hauser. It’s a lavishly-illustrated 50-year anniversary look at drag and the counterculture, and it’s absolutely for grown-ups. If your giftee is a die-hard, conference-attending, never-miss-an-appearance fan, then wrap up Conventionally Yours by Annabeth Albert. It’s the story of a road trip, two fierce hate-fests, one romance, and two fanboys, but who’s the biggest? Wrap it up with Date Me, Bryson Keller by Kevin van Whye for double the love. Fans of biographies will want to unwrap Mama’s Boy by Dustin Lance Black. Black, a screenwriter and activist,
tells the story of his childhood, having been raised by a single mother who suffered a lifetime of almost-insurmountable issues, and how they came to terms with everything they’d endured together. Another great memoir, Later: My Life at the Edge of the World by Paul Lisicky, is the story of finding a place to settle down, and watching an epidemic as it changes that newly-beloved place. The starwatcher on your list will love Inside the Hollywood Closet: A Book of Quotes by Boze Hadleigh. It’s a who’s who and a what-was-what that looks back at who said what about life as a gay star, and it’s fun! ▼
DECEMBER 11, 2020
59 Letters
Book Talk
BY FAY JACOBS
Ellen Hart and Fay Jacobs: A Conversation
L
GBTQ writers Ellen Hart and Fay Jacobs are two scribes at the same stage in their careers. Ellen has written what is possibly the last of 26 Jane Lawless mysteries (even winning the prestigious Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Award for them) and Fay Jacobs is wrapping up 26 years of her CAMPout column in this issue. They chatted recently about having fewer deadlines and more time for other projects.
book contract and said she would keep the offer open indefinitely. But I think it’s time. I don’t have the same fire to write that I used to, and frankly, I’d like to spend some time reading, relaxing, not having a deadline looming. The idea that I’ve written my last story about Jane and Cordelia truly hurts, but I believe I sent them off into the world with a last book that puts them, mainly, in a good place. But I guess it’s never say never.
FAY: Hey, Ellen, rumor has it In a Midnight Wood may be the last Jane Lawless story. In this Letters issue I’m also ending a series. It’s time to give up the deadline pressure, but I have mixed emotions. What’s gone into your decision to retire Jane Lawless, and can you tell us your feelings about that? How do you say goodbye?
FAY: I feel that way too. Maybe the new Letters editor will want a guest column from me occasionally. But now I can do other projects and re-read my favorite Jane Lawless books. How did you come up with the character? Was it based on your former profession as a chef? Have you ever done any sleuthing yourself?
ELLEN: It was a very difficult decision for me, too. I mean, I can write another book. My editor has offered me a two-
ELLEN: In the mid-eighties, I began to think I’d like to try writing a novel. I loved mysteries, so I wrote about 200 pages before I realized I had no idea what I was doing. Then, I spent one winter reading PD James novels, taking them apart and trying to understand how she paced, created characters, set scenes, used foreshadowing, plotted. I condensed each chapter into what happened, what characters were involved, what new information was conveyed. I began writing again the following fall, with an idea which evolved from my job at the time—kitchen manager at the Delta Gamma sorority. I set the book there because I knew it so well. My partner and I had just gone to the local “Take Back the Night” march and noticed a sorority member wearing a lavender sash, meaning she was a lesbian. I knew she wasn’t out at the sorority house, so an idea began to take shape. And I was off and running. (And no, I’ve never done any real sleuthing myself.) FAY: The character of Jane Lawless’s best friend, Cordelia Thorn, is a brash,
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brassy, melodramatic, and humorous character. How’d she evolve? ELLEN: Cordelia was initially meant to be, shall we say, the salt in the book. But rather quickly I came to see that she was more important than that. For one thing, my editor said things like, “We haven’t seen Cordelia for a couple of chapters. Don’t you think it would be good to include her?” I got the point. One of the things that always draws me to people is a sense of humor. You’ve done stand-up, sit-down (I love that), and written humor. I don’t think the average person realizes how hard it is to write humor. Where did the humorous way you look at the world come from? Who were your influences? FAY: My father always said, “Nothing is so bad if it’s worth the story you can tell.” He was my inspiration to see things humorously. I learned from Erma Bombeck, playwright Neil Simon, Jerry Seinfeld, and in her early stand-up, Rosie O’Donnell. Also, a lot of my early writing, about feeling “other,” coming out, discrimination Bonnie and I faced, had me writing humorously about it, rather than letting us be damaged by it. When I started my column, I never thought I’d break out of Rehoboth, but I did, and not just for queer readers. It’s been a lovely and unexpected surprise. When you started to write about a lesbian restaurant owner who solves mysteries, did you expect your books to break out into mainstream readership? Did you worry that your LGBTQ content would limit you? ELLEN: Boy, I hear you on that score. I assumed the lesbian main character would limit the appeal, though I did believe, from the outset, that anyone who liked mysteries could enjoy my book, unless they were homophobic. Continued on page 62
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Book Talk Continued from page 60
The fact that Jane was gay was one part of the book, but like Jane herself, certainly not the totality. She lived in the larger world. She was successful. She wasn’t part of some scary subculture. That’s probably why your books appeal, too. You write about everyday frustrations and funny stories that appeal to everyone. In fact, in addition to writing you’ve had multiple careers. I’ve always loved musical theater. What drew you to theater? I’d love to hear your thoughts on directing—what that was like? FAY: My love for musicals came from my parents taking me to Broadway in the 1960s Golden Era of musicals. For me, the theatre was a great place to hide before I came out as gay. In directing, I could express all the emotions I was swallowing in my personal life. Of course, later, when I came out, I could put all of my emotions into it—and my directing philosophy was simple—I wanted the audience to laugh, have a good time, and get involved up to their eyeballs. I love directing, collaborating with talented actors, working together on the project. I still dabble.
I’m deeply delighted that this was the first time a grandmaster award was given to an openly queer writer. That was sweet indeed. Of course, my biggest shock was the success of telling my stories in a onewoman show. I toured for five years until COVID brought the curtain down. But it was all a huge surprise. What surprised you in your career? ELLEN: Pretty much everything! I’ve met and had the chance to talk to people I couldn’t have dreamed of before. I traveled all over the country, not on Letters 62 DECEMBER 11, 2020
my own dime. I enjoyed the promotion of my novels far more than I ever expected. My writing opened up an opportunity to teach, which I have loved. And the writing itself, the way it opened the world to me, was by far the biggest gift. The majority of my close friends have come through writing. FAY: I’ve made many wonderful friends as well. In New Orleans we were both inducted into the Saints & Sinners Hall of Fame—along with writers like Dorothy Allison, Felice Picano, and Katherine Forrest. I remain completely intimidated! (But loved going out for gumbo with everyone!) Do you know that the first-ever public reading I did was with you in Provincetown? I was terrified. Once you laughed at one of my jokes, I almost relaxed. Since then you’ve been so generous to me with advice and we’ve become friends (you’re practically a godmother to my dog Windsor!). I loved when you came to Rehoboth for our Women’s FEST. And we’ve had one deadline after another together. How has that been? ELLEN: On the slightly negative side, the pace of writing was occasionally a problem. Commercial speed in NYC is a book a year. For many years I was writing a series both for Ballantine/ Random House, and St. Martin’s/ Minotaur. It felt like writing with a gun to my head. But most of the things about my career have been overwhelmingly positive. FAY: Including your 2017 Grand Master Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America. What did this mean to you personally, especially winning for a career of writing about a lesbian sleuth? ELLEN: The honor stunned me, and still does. For years, I would look at the list of people named a MWA Grandmaster and count how many I had read—how much those writers had taught me. The idea that I’d ever be on that list myself never crossed my mind. The fact that the premier mystery organization in the
Ellen Hart
country would grant me that honor means everything to me. I’m deeply delighted that this was the first time a grandmaster award was given to an openly queer writer. That was sweet indeed. What’s been the sweetest for you? FAY: Well, the last quarter-century! The gift of writing for our community has meant so much to me. Despite a successful pre-Rehoboth career, the column, which turned into books, which turned into my show Aging Gracelessly, was a whole new career I never expected. And ending my column is bitter-sweet. But now it’s time to pass along the privilege of having ink (or pixels) and a byline to others. I’m both relieved and sad to say goodbye. ELLEN: Me, as well, with Jane Lawless. FAY: But here’s to our next projects! ELLEN: Absolutely! And kiss Windsor for me. ▼ You can order Ellen Hart’s and buy Fay Jacobs’ books from the shelves or online at Browseabout Books (buy local!) or find them at BywaterBooks.com or Amazon.com.
Don’t let the gossiping neighborhood antics throw you off course. It doesn’t matter what happens in the next house. Behind closed doors, you should practice good habits all of the time, use a condom and water-based lube every time. Tune in to Health. Sponsored by CAMPsafe. © 2006 CAMP Rehoboth, Inc. Photography by Judy Rolfe. For more information, call CAMP Rehoboth at 302-227-5620, the Delaware HIV/STD Hotline at 1-800-422-0429 or the CDC National AIDS Hotline (English) 1-800-CDC-INFO. Funding provided through a contract with Delaware Health and Social Services Division of Public Health. CAMPsafe is a program of CAMP Rehoboth.
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CAMPshots
SCENES FROM REHOBOTH BEACH That’s All Folks! The Last CAMPshots of 2020! A Safe and Happy Holidays to All! THIS PAGE 1) Sean Hueber, Corey Wheatley, Anita Broccolino, Evelyn Maurmeyer, Natalie Moss, Robb Mapou, Gia Paskins, Aaron Paskins, Gina Paskins, David Carder, Nancy Hewish, Deb Knickerbocker, Geri Dibiase, and Kate McQueen at CAMP Rehoboth Handmade Market and Gallery. 2) Ginger Breneman, Trinity Coleman, Tom Durso, Tim Colfer, Jamie Romano, and Garret Faulkner at Purple Parrot. 3) Carol Boyd-Heron and Tony Boyd-Heron at Peninsula Gallery.
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OPPOSITE PAGE 4) Joe Crawford, Joe Sterner, Terry Kistler, Chris Berg, Derek Thomas, Brian Shook, and Bill Clark at Sazio’s. 5) Darryl Ciarlante, Joe Zuber, Karen Hugues, Cathy McCallister, Cindy Knotts, Theresa Ann Crivelli, Angela Murray, Mary Capp, Carol Grubb, Gus Biaz, Angie Cristancho, and Lisa Dillon at Diego’s. 6) Mimi Rottiers, RB Commissioner Pat Coluzzi, Lori Kline, Tony Burns, Shelby Lankfort, Joe Scott, Ronald Mangano, and Anthony Delacruz at Rehoboth Beach Holiday Farmer’s Market. 7) Gene Pantano, Carl Preate, and Barbara Land at Rehoboth Art League Holiday Fair. 8) David Gonce, Leslie Fazio, Tucker Harrington, Lowell Scott, Chris Jimenez, David Ayorale, and Pamala Stanley at The Pines. 9) Dan Kyle, Marvin Miller, Justin Lennon, Kevin McDuffie, Josh Burdge, Bruce Namerow, and Andrew Herren at Aqua. 10) Fred Slagle and Scott Beadle at Blue Moon. Photos by Murray Archibald and Tony Burns.
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65 Letters
Q Puzzle Kellyoke
Solution on Page 76 ACROSS 1 Shakespeare’s foot, but not his 12 inches 5 Old Queens location 9 “Livin’ La ___ Loca” 13 It’s sold in bars 14 Loads 15 Dry as a bone 16 Like a Peter Lorre film 17 Incur, as debts 18 WKRP actress Anderson 19 Kelly’s song about “what doesn’t kill you...” 21 Airport area 23 Game with "Skip" cards 24 Kelly’s song about “There’s a wolf that preys...” 26 Bewitched actor Dick 30 Floor covering 31 “Well, Did You ___” 32 Steinem’s “___ Playboy Bunny” 34 Charlotte of Facts of Life 37 Kelly’s song about selfsufficiency 41 AOL, e.g. 42 Bearing 43 Give a lot of mouth 44 Successful pitch 45 Novelist Brown 48 Kelly’s song about the negative side 52 Wheel tooth 53 AARP concern
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Kelly of Kellyoke Kopay’s team One who screws around Sophie B. Hawkins’ “As ___ Me Down” LA Dodger, for one Style some hair, in Hairspray Re or so They have boughs for bows Match parts, to Navratilova Tale of adventure
DOWN 1 Charged particles 2 Loads 3 Golda of Israel 4 Queens and others 5 Andrew of Melrose Place 6 Painter Matisse 7 La mer, essentially 8 Appreciation display on Broadway 9 Addams Family ____ 10 Subtle sarcasm 11 Dog from Down Under 12 “...farewell, auf Wiedersehen, ___” 14 About one percent of air 20 U-turn from SSW 22 Phantom’s opera instrument 25 Cloth merchant
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Sweet opening? Hertz competitor Sound like Harvey Fierstein Made neat Bentley of American Beauty Paper amount Tales of the City’s Madrigal Novel conclusion Successful cross-dresser’s boast? “Wide open” Impersonator of males They go down Empathetic phrase Hard top? Kaye of Hans Christian Anderson Able to bend over Continue to get The Advocate Ostentatious display More, to a minimalist Fruit flavor for gin Stallion’s supper No, in Moscow Sandra, in a Grease song
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Letters 70 DECEMBER 11, 2020
Sherry Baxter & Robin O'Neil Karen Beck Beebe Medical Foundation* Mike Behringer & Nelson Correa Sheryl Bender & Doreen DiLorenzo* George Benes & Michael Mallee X Suzanne Bennethum & Deborah Smith Norman Bennett & Marco Morales Joel Berelson & Charles Maples* Lisa Beske Christine Bielenda & Karen Feuchtenberger* Thomas Biesiadny X Deb Bievenour & Susan Shollenberger Lorraine Biros Cathin Bishop & Laura Simon X Jason Blachek Ann Black & Kaye Wachsmuth X Carol Blair* Eric Blondin - State Farm Insurance Rehoboth Beach X Jacquelyn Blue X Rev. Dr. Tom Bohache & Tom Laughingwolf Simmons X Annabelle Boire Carl Bomberger & Mike Rhoads Robin Bond & Leanna Johannes* Bob Bonitati X Joy Boone & Marina Simmers X Randall Borgerson X Sheri & Carl Borrin Pete Borsari X Laura Borsdorf X Darice Bowles & Gerry Sue Davis* David & Donna Bowman X Deni Boyer & Loretta Imbrogono Beth Bozman Jim Brady & Mike Hays X Victor Branham & Mark Clark Kelly Brennan & Susan McVey William Briganti & Gary Moore John & Bud Broda-Knudsen Debora Brooke * Cathy Brown Kevin Brown X Lyn Brown & Winsome Boyd Tina Brown Diane Bruce & Annie Sorvillo* Marilyn Bryant Al Bulliner X Belinda Buras & Linda Simeone Geoffrey Burkhart & Bruce Williams* Carol L. Burnett X Rob Burns & Cris Hamer* Timothy B. Bush X Randy Butt & Emerson Bramble* James Byrnes X Chris Cahill X Robertine Cale Ingrid Callmann & Karen Askins* Leslie Calman & Jane Gruenebaum* Michele Campisi & Julie A. Slick X Matt Carey X Jim Carlo X Justine Carpenter X Shirley Carpenter & Mary Coldren X John Carr & Billy Cox* Lisa Carrol & Deb Dubois X Marianna Carson & Laura Bobo Alice Casey Jo Cason & Peggy Neidlinger Teresa Cason & Lynda Schepler X Linda Chaney & Irene Lawlor* Helen Chang & Pat Avery Dr. Harvey J. Chasser X Mike Chateauneuf X Anthony Chiffolo & Rusty Hesse*
Dan Childers & Ted Hernandez* Tom Childers & John Hall X Sandra Chinchilla & Michelle Holmes X Curt Christensen & Ellen Heald* Billy J. Christian X Dennis Chupella & Rob White X Norma K. Clark X Barbara Clipper Amy Clouse & Betty Long X Carolyn Cole & Sandy McDevitt X Stuart Comstock-Gay X Inez Conover X Bill Cooley & Ken Watkins DVM X Josh Cooper & Steve Rathburn Jeffery A. Coover X Michael Cornell X Lois Corson & Mary Murdoch X Mary Costa & Kris Nygaard Becky & Tom Craft X Wendy Cramer & Carolyn Baranowski* Theresa-Ann Crivelli & Angela Murray Robert Crocetti X Bill Cross & David McCall X Donald Crowl* Richard Culver Mark Cunningham & Ken Tattersall X Howard Cyr & Lynn Ashley* Ellen Dahl Susan Daily Charles Daniels William T. Darley X Jeff Davidson & Steve Yahn Marsha Davis & Bev Lesher X Kathy Davison & Ruth Dickerson X Scott & Donna de Kuyper Hotel Blue* Frederick Dean & Steven Swierzy X Linda Dean & Donna Whiteside* Penny Lee Dean Scott Dechen & James Maino Michael Decker X Michael DeGraffenreid Susan Deise & Jerri Budzinski Bernie Delia X Frank Dell'Aquila X Claire Dente & Leslie Campo* Karen DeSantis & Carol Brice* Nancy DeToma & Meg Smith David DeVargas & Steven Champion X Barbara Devenport & Susan Brinsfield Carolyn DeVito Dawn Devries Henry & Marcia DeWitt X Geri Dibiase Photography* Julie Dickson X Richard Dietz Phyllis Dillinger Mary Dipietro & Wendy Schadt* Deb Dobransky & Ketty Bennett* Arthur Dochterman X David & Lizann Dockety X Peg Dolan & Mary McDevitt X Debbie & Karen Dorris* Kathryn Downs Frances Doyle X Paul Dradransky X Michael Driscoll & Ben McOmber X Susan Dube & Diana Patterson* Deanna Duby & Carol Bruce Barry Dunkin Brenda Dunn & Karen Anderson Deborah Duran Gregory DuRoss
Gene Dvornick X Sue Early X Frank Echols & Robert Robinson Eden Restaurant X Gail Elliott & Bea Hickey Pamela Elliott W. Kay Ellis Susan Farr & Joanne Pozzo Rene Fechter & Cynthia Smith Larry & Ro Fedorka Karen Ferguson Virginia Fessler & Chris Patton Jayne & Ro Fetterman* Irene & Edward Fick* Allen Fred Fielding X Joe Filipek & Larry Richardson X Mark Finkelstein & Michael Zeik X Paul Finn & Joseph Porporino Rick Fischer X Barbara Fischetti & Janet Thoden Gary Fisher & Josh Bushey* Chuck Flanagan & George Whitehouse X David Flohr & Steven Kuschuck* Paul Florentino & Chris Pedersen X Anthony Forrest & Glyn Edwards Roland Forster & David McDonald Beebe Frazer X Phil Fretz X Billiemichelle & Evelyn Friel* Neil Frock & Bob Harrison* Marilyn Fuller & Teresa Marigliano June Rose Futcher Lorraine Gaasche & Jill Mayer* Frank Gainer & Ramon Santos* Lynn Gaites & Faye Koslow X Nina Galerstein* Marcia Gallo & Ann Cammett Jerry Gallucci & Conrad Welch Marilyn Gamble & Joan Morgan Karen Gantz & Jeanie Geist Kathryn Gantz & Kathryn Gehret Don Gardiner X Cheri Garnet & Cynthia Arno Mindy Gasthalter* Wilson Gates X Charles George & Dennis Rivard X Tracey Gersh & Amy Johnson Gary Gillard X Jordan Gipple & Paul Weppner* Ron Glick & Tien Pham* Karen Glooch X Ronald Gluck Jane Godfrey* Randall Godwin X Jackie Goff & Mary Vogt X Dave Gold & In Memory of James Yiaski X Robert Gold X Mel Goldberg Suzanne Goldstein & Dana Greenwald X Milton Gordon & Bill Hromnak X Teresa Gordy & Barb Ford X Dan Goren & Peter Robinson X Anita Gossett & Ronnie Smith* Amy Grace & Karen Blood* Lisa & Raymond Graff* Charles Graham Paul R. Grant & Marc Watrel* Linda Gregory Harvey Grider Kenneth Grier* Richard Grifasi X Joseph Gritz X Jeffrey Groenheide Wendy Grooms & Barbara Fishel X Carol Gross X Continued on page 72
BEEBE HEALTHCARE,
The Next Generation of Care Beebe Healthcare has become the premier healthcare facility in Sussex County, serving a thriving beach and vacation resort area and a growing year-round population.
For a complete listing of all Beebe job openings, please visit our website
www.beebehealthcare.org
Attracting and retaining the best healthcare professionals is Beebe Healthcare’s top priority. We offer an excellent patient-focused environment, exciting career opportunities, and leading-edge technology with supportive, progressive leadership. Joining Beebe Healthcare means joining an exciting healthcare team that is deeply committed to the community. Our customer-service focus is recognized on a daily basis through our patient satisfaction surveys. Our clinical expertise strives to surpass patient expectations. A variety of work/pay options are designed to meet the needs of team members, including: • Flexible schedules and shifts available based on the needs of the department • Full-time/comprehensive benefits • Part-time/pro-rated benefits • Per diem incentive plan • Competitive shift differential Join us now to take advantage of our excellent benefits and compensation package. Beebe Healthcare is committed to hiring qualified professionals who provide the best patient care in the region.
EOE | 424 Savannah Rd, Lewes, DE 19958 | www.facebook.com/beebecareers DECEMBER 11, 2020
71 Letters
Continued from page 70
James Gross X Paula Grubbs X Helene Guilfoy X Bill Gunning & Joe Greoski X Bob Gurwin & John Rourke Marie & Ken Haag* Jay Haddock & Hector Torres* Gerard M. Haley & George D. Zahner X Cynthia Hall X Siobhan Halmos & Beth McLean* Mark Hare & Mike Newman X Frederick Harke X Kelley Harp X David Harrer & Floyd Kanagy* Tanya Harris Pat Harte & Nancy Sigman Mary Hartman & Laurie Nelson Jeff Haslow X Janece Hausch* John & Mary Havrilla* John Hawkins & Silvia Ritchie Nancy Hawpe Daniel F.C. Hayes* Gail Hecky* Brook Hedge & Bonnie Osler Leslie Hegamaster & Jerry Stansberry* Linda Heisner X Mary Helms & George Beckerman* Steve & Maria Hendricks David Herchik & Richard Looman X Fred Hertrich X Howard Hicks & Stephen Carey X Barbara Hines & Nancy Froome X Howard C. Hines, MD X Janel Hino & Patricia Ann Scully X Connie Holdridge* Robert Holloran & Ed Davis* Brad Holsinger & Ed Moore Mod Cottage* Chris Holt & Emory Bevill X Mary Anne Hoopes & Dianna Johnston James T. Hopkins X Elaine Horan & Debbie Sciallo X Kenneth Horn James Hospital & Jack Faker* Robert Hotes X Corey Houlihan & Karen Abato Carol Huckabee Peggy Ann Hughes Ron Hughes & Ben Cross Ellan Hylton Batya Hyman & Belinda Cross* Thomas Ingold X Sue Isaacs* Chris Israel & John Stassi X Debbie Isser & Fran Leibowitz Geoffrey Jackson & Will Delany X Fay Jacobs & Bonnie Quesenberry X Sharon Janis X Steve Janosik & Rich Snell X Robert Jasinski* Sue Jernberg & Chris Hunt Susan Jimenez & Cathy Benson X Donna A. Johnson* Dorsey Johnson & Kay Jernigan* Ken Johnson X Randi Johnson Tara Johnson Jim Johnston Richard Jolly & Charles Ingersoll X D. J. Jones Dee Dee Jones & Julie Blake Gay Jones & Barb Bartels Glenn Jones X
Rob Jones Sue Jones & Dottie Stackhouse Tom Jones X JoEllen Jordan Nola Joyce & Brenda Eich Frank Jump & Vincenzo Aiosa Wayne Juneau X Mick Kaczorowski X Bob Kaplan & Jeff Davis X Daphne Kaplan & Steve Scheffer Sharon Kaplan & Pamela Everett* Kevin P. Kaporch X Denise Karas & Katherine Bishop Amylynn Karnbach - One Day At A Time Gifts, LLC Peter Karsner X Anne Kazak & Chris Coburn X Peter Keeble & Tom Best Margaret Keefe* Alan Keffer* Donald Kelly* John Kelly & Randy Sutphin X Michael J. Kelly X John Kennedy Kate Kent Hunter Kesmodel X Ned Kesmodel & Matt Gaffney X Marge Keyes & Julie Arenstein X Spencer Kingswell X Daniel Kinsella* Frank Klemens & Barry Brown Jane Knaus & Cindy Myers Stephen Kopp John Kort & Hung Lai* Robert Kovalcik & Bob Howard X Myra Kramer & John Hammett* Marcia Kratz Karen Kreiser & Beth Nevill* Kevin W. LaBarge X Peter Lanzaro & Frank Bodsford X Dr. Mathilda Laschenski & Dr. Kathleen Heacock X Ruth Lauver & Judy Wetzel* Kate Lavelle X Charlie Lee X Jon Leeking & Dieulifete Jean* Sherry Leichman & Keith Snyder Mary Lenney* Jen Leonard & Claire McCracken Chris & Mary Leslie Marsha Levine & Susan Hamadock X Barbara Lilien* Bill Lipsett & Eric Bolda* Duwayne Litz & Steve Triglia X Eleanor Lloyd & Celeste Beaupre Robert E. Long X Cynthia Lowe & Rae von Doehren Debbie Lupton Diane Lusk X P. Michael Lutz* Donna Lynch Minda Lynch Becky Lyons & Ebie Hamrick X Wendy Maclay & Sheree Davis* Christopher Magaha* Joe Maggio X Loretta Mahan* Bernadette Maher & Cheryl Tarlecky Jack Maher X Nancy Maihoff X Eddie Major X Bruce Majors X Harvey Manchester X Kate Mangione & Gayle Parker Brian Mann Domenic Mannello X Stephanie Manos & Reber Whitner X
Letters 72 DECEMBER 11, 2020
Robb Mapou & Mike Zufall Anyda Marchant X Charles Marino & Alan Berman* Diane Markey & Randi Snader* Harold Marmon & Robert Hill* Ann Martin Bill Martin & Scott Freber* Michele Martin Norma Martin X Linda Martinak Nan Martino* James Mastoris & Edward Chamberlain X Joe Matassino & Tim Murray Nancy Mathis Jason Darion & Jason A. Mathis-White John Matthews & Nick Polcini* Jonathan Mattner & Chad Rinker Eric Matuszak X Lewis Maurer Donna McCabe & Mac Ignacio X Debbie McCall & Cyndi Brooks Sean McDonald Mary McElhone & Nancy Kaiser X Thomas McGlone X Jeffrey McGuire Alexis McKenzie Ellen McKeon & Kay Cummings Joe McMahon X Jeanne Ann McManus & Robin Robertson Joseph McNally & Terry Jones X Charlotte McNaughton Chuck McSweeney & Michael Clay X Jim & Bruce McVey-Back* Mary Medlock & Susan Russell Buck Melton X John Messick X Alicia Mickenberg & Kathleen Fitzgerald Jamie Middelton* Dr. Phyllis J. Mihalas X Melissa Milar* Alicia Miller & Shawn Noel* Bruce R. Miller & Dean D. LaVigne X Frank Miller X Marilyn K. Miller & Candice Zientek Todd A. Miller & Michele Frame X Chris & Joann Miller-Marcin Stan Mills & Marcia Maldeis X Andrea Monetti & Karen Petermann* Sue Monismith X Jamie Moore Teri Moore & Barb Kulbaba* Beverly Morgan & Sandra Fluck Mary Morgan & Beth Fitton X Meg Morgan & Susan Lynham X Pearl Morris* Richard Morris Andrew K. Moss & Richard Blevins X Donna Mulder & Denise Delesio* Brent Mundt X Robbin Murray & De Raynes* Cynthia Myers Marc Nasberg & Howard R. Nelson X Keith Neale X Cindy Necaise & Debbie Cole X Lee Ann Nelson X Darrell Netherton & Robert Wheeler X James Newkirk & Leon Wilkowsky* Janet Newkirk X J. E. Newton, Jr. Charitable Trust X Arletta Nicholl & Mary Anderson Konrad Noebel, MCAT, LMT & Brian Cox*
Chuck Oakes & Robert Dellanoce* Susan O'Brien James O'Dell X Dan O'Flaherty & Mario Flores* James O'Malley X Richard O'Malley X Lisa Orem & Debby Armstrong* Missy Orlando & Patty Violini X Jeffrey & Lisa Osias X Kathy Osterholm Randy Overbaugh X Sharon Owens & Doreen Halbruner Sally Packard & Dinah Reath X Denise Page Bud Palmer X Stephen Pape & Jerry Clark Carol Patterson & Carol Hughes* Tim Patterson & Harvey Sharpe X Peggy Paul X Wesley & Connie Paulson* Patricia Pawling & Jennifer Butz* Lucille & Dan Payne Michelle Peeling & Wendy Adams* Beverly Peltz* Roy Perdue X Al Perez & Gary Kraft Susan Petersen & Luz Cruz Eric Peterson X Bruce Pfeufer X PFLAG-Rehoboth Beach Peggy Phillips & Norma McGrady* Frank Pileggi & Jon Blackman X Arleen Pinkos Janice Pinto & Lori Swift* Terry Plowman X Jo Pokorny* Claire Pompei & Dolores Yurkovic* Mary Lu Pool Jeanne Posner & Noreen Tomaino Roni Posner X Sue Potts & Karen Kohn X Renata Price & Yona Zucker* Timothy Price & Gerard Sealy X Glen C. Pruitt* Sarajane Quinn* Elaine Raksis & Maxine Klane* Barb Ralph X Rob Ramoy X Bob & Mary Beth Ramsey X Linda Rancourt & M. Sue Sandmeyer* Lewis Rathbone* Carole Redman Janet Redman X Carolyn Redmon & Nancy Allen* Randy Reed X Rehoboth Art League* Laura Reich & Deb Zabinski Peter S. Reichertz X Ken Reilly & Tony Ghigi X Virginia Reime & Gene Tadlock Jeff Reinhart & Jack Miller* Don Reppy Thomas Resh & Jeffrey Meyers X Judith Retchin & Elyse Wander X Deborah Reuter & Deborah Bea* Sarah Reznek & Babette Pennay Gloria Richards Sandie Riddell & Eileen Siner* Marion Ridley & Mark Lundy X John Riley Joel Robbins & Michael Linder X Sandra Robbins X William Robbins & Gary Ralph Sandy Roberts X Rob Robertson & Carlos Taylor X Teri & Amy Robinson-Guy Craig Rocklin X Tim Rodden & Randy Clayton X
John & Susan Roehmer* Jeanne Rogers* Roy Rollins X Lauren Romig X Debbie Ronemus & Peggy Sander* Ed Rose & Sandra Robbins X Peter Rosenstein X Deborah & Charles Ross X Larry L. Ross X Ellen & Terry Roth Perreault X Ski Rowland & Gary Mosher X Joan Rubenstein X Herbert Russell Mary K. Ryan Kelly Sabol & Erin Reid Steve Sage & Thom Swiger X Chris Sailer & Min Mancini Joe & Nancy Sakaduski* Margaret Salamon Cindy Sanders & Donna Smith* Sanford & Doris Slavin Foundation X Linda Santi Richard Scalenghe & Thomas Panetta Lynn Scherer & Natalie Ireland Kim Schilpp* Michael Schlechter & Kevin Sharp X Lisa Schlosser & Sherri Brown Kirk Schneck Holly Schneider & Linda Haake Jaime Schneider & Glenn Randall X Peter Schott & Jeffrey Davis* Linda Schulte Carol Schwartz X Craig Schwartz & William Pullen X Mona Schwartz & Joanne Tramposch* Rich Schwarz & Bill Sarvey* Carol Scileppi & Valerie McNickol John Scotti & Greg Landers David Scuccimarra & Dorothy Fedorka* Clifton C. Seale & Charles A. Gilmore* Nancy Bradley Seibert* Shirley Semple* Marj Shannon* Dale Sheldon & Pat Coluzzi X Tara Sheldon Kelly Sheridan & Debra Quinton David Sherman X George Shevlin & Jack Suwanlert* Davis Short & Beverly Castner Cathy Sieber & Brenda Kriegel Frank Silverio X Marc Silverman & John Campbell* Terry Simon & Marcia Kass Brian Sims Joanne Sinsheimer & Margaret Beatty* Joy Sirianni & Chris Snell Sandra Skidmore & Jonathan Handy X Ken Skrzesz X Carol Smith* Cheryl Smith Harlan Joe Smith & Dustin Abshire* Peg Smith* Robert Smith Rosanne Smith & Brenda Butterfield* Sam & Anita Smulyan Tina Snapp Sandra Sommerfield & Cindy Scott X Sandy Souder - Unity of Rehoboth Beach* Lynda Sowbel Continued on page 75
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DECEMBER 11, 2020
73 Letters
S R A E Y T A E R G 6 G N I T A CELEBR
MERRY CHRISTMAS
HAPPY HANUKKAH ...and Seasons Greetings to all
THANK YOU to our Sponsors. And to all have a happy & healthy New Year!
Letters 74 DECEMBER 11, 2020
Continued from page 72
Jim Spellman X Lorraine Stanish & Beverly Miller* Christy Steer X Frank Sterner X Lisa Stewart X Libby Stiff & Bea Wagner X Allison Stine & Pete Jamieson Terry Stinson* Tracy Stith & Laura McCarthy Dr. Frederick C. Stoner * Michael Stover* Christine Strauss X Lois Strauss X Kaye Sullivan Terrence Sullivan Jill Sungenis & Nicole Bano Frank Surprenant, DDS & Chris Wisner X David Svatos & Chris McMackin John Swift & Ron Bowman X Melanie Szvitich Gail Tannenbaum & Wendy Walker* Ronald Tate & Jacob Schiavo X Micaela Tedford X Richard Thibodeau Dave Thomas X The Hon. Henry E. Thomas IV & John-Kevin Litschgi X Thomas Tibbetts X David Tiburzio Otto F. Tidwell X Cassandra Toroian X Manny Tortosa X Anne Tracy & Mary Gilligan Cheryll & Bill Trefzger Patricia Truitt Abby Tschoepe & Pat Dunn* Angela Turcotte Ed Turner & Steve Baker X Judy Twell & Cheri Himmelheber Bruce Uliss X Thomas Urban & Marc Samuels* Donna Valla Debra Van Dyke* Jennifer Varone V. James Villareale & Dale Ebert* Gail Vitale & Carmen Garrett Beverly Vogt & Waneeta Mack X Darlene Waddell & Cindy Campbell Patrick Wadsworth & Mike Converse X Eric Wahl Marianne Walch X David Wall & Robert Houck* Kenneth E. Walz & Robert G. Ward, Jr. X Garold Wampler X Michael E. Ward X Barbara Warden* Robert Warmkessel X Jack Warren* Sharyn Warwick X Ellen Watkins X Troy Watson & Dennis Wolfgang* Mark Weaver Debbie Webber & Terry McQuaid Lisa Weidenbush & Judy Stout Kathy Weir & Lynn Finaldi* West Side New Beginnings Karin Westermann Carl R. Wetzel X Liz Wheeler & Ruth Morse X Steve White & Wayne Williamson X Thomas White & Robert Freeman X Kurt Wibbens Phil & Stephanie Wikes Keith Wilkinson X
Edward Williams Jim Williams* Rich Williams X Donna L. Wilson & Laurie R. Levin X Stephanie Wingert & Carla Avery David Wolanski Max Wolf X Carol Woodcock & Carol Lewis* Robert B. Wright X Robert T. Wright & Jack Lim Marjorie Wuestner & Catherine Balsley* Janet Yabroff Mary Yasson Alexander G. Yearley X James E. Yiaski X Linda Yingst* Vickie York X John Zakreski* Cherie Zeigler & Barbara Brimer James Zeigler & In Memory of Sam Deetz* Carol Zelenkowski* Keith Zembower Phyllis Zwarych & Sheila Chlanda*
X Founders’ Circle 10+ years * Members five years or more Names in bold are new or upgraded members as of November 24, 2020 Founders’ Circle designation has been added to our Membership roster. Please send kudos, questions, or listing updates to membership@camprehoboth.com.
CAMP REHOBOTH MEMBERSHIP Join today to support our mission! RAINBOW MEMBERS GET: • • • • • •
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DECEMBER 11, 2020
75 Letters
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July 26, 2019 Volume 29, Number 10 campreho both.com
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Send your check for $40 to CAMP Rehoboth, 37 Baltimore Ave., Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971. If you prefer to use your Visa, MasterCard or American Express call 302-227-5620.
thank you to all the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center volunteers for the period: November 1 - 29, 2020
CAMP BREAKING BARRIERS/BREAKING THE SOUND BARRIER EXHIBIT OPENING
Barbara Antlitz Boden Sandstrom Leslie Sinclair Patricia Stiles Debbie Woods
CAMP COMMUNITY CENTER
Jeff Buhrman David Carder Max Dick Doreen DiLorenzo Ann Evans Corky Fitzpatrick Kathy Fitzpatrick Jim Mease Natalie Moss Sandra Skidmore Alan Spiegelman Patricia Stiles Russell Stiles
CAMP HANDMADE MARKET
Linda DeFeo Max Dick Mark Eubanks Jim Mease Doug Sellers
CAMP HOLIDAY DECORATIONS
Barb Ralph Sandra Skidmore
Please visit camprehoboth.com/volunteers to register as a volunteer and to sign up for available opportunities.
CAMP MAINTENANCE
Eric Korpon
CAMP WALK-UP FLU CLINIC
Chris Beagle Angela McConnell
CROP EVENT AT THE DELAWARE FOOD BANK
Diane Mead Jim Mease Beverly Miller Dottie Outland Scott Shaughnessy Leslie Sinclair Debbie Woods
GRANTS COMMITTEE
Kate Cauley Kay Cummings Maureen Krieger Rebecca Moscoso Lois Powell Leslie Sinclair
HEALTH & WELLNESS COMMITTEE
Batya Hyman Rebecca Moscoso Marj Shannon
LETTERS MAILING TEAM
Andy Brangenberg David Carder David Hagelin Nancy Hewish Grant Kingswell
Vickie Martina Stephen Palmer Fran Sneider Russell Stiles Linda Yingst MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
Jane Blue Ann Evans Rich Grate Pat Newcomb Glen Pruitt Debbie Woods MUSIC COMMITTEE
Teresa Bolduc Matt Brown Diane Bruce Linda DeFeo Irene Fick Dan Foskey Bill Fuchs Dianne Johnston Ruth Lamothe Barb Ralph Dave Scuccimarra Tracey Seabolt Gail Tannenbaum
Monica Fleischmann Carolyn Ortwein Diane Scobey Frank Shockley Evie Simmons Barb Thompson Margaret Tobin Elva Weininger SOCIAL MEDIA
Matty Brown Ken Horn Lyndon Johnson VOLUNTEER DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Dusty Abshire Pat Catanzariti Robert Fleming Jaye Laszcynski Jim Mease Michael Safina Leslie Sinclair Devon Singer John Michael Sophos Angie Strano
RAINBOW THUMB CLUB
Chris Bowers Carol Brice Anita Budd Linda DeFeo Karen DeSantis Patricia DiModugno
DECEMBER 11, 2020
77 Letters
AD INDEX 1776 Steakhouse........................................................ 29 AG Renovations........................................................... 73 Allen Jarmon, Realtor.................................................. 23 Bayberry Flowers........................................................ 30 Beagle Real Estate Group........................................... 21 Beebe Healthcare....................................................... 27 Beebe Healthcare Career Opportunities.................... 71 Brandywine Urology Consultants................................ 19 Breakthru Beverage.................................................... 61 Café Azafran................................................................ 43 CAMP Rehoboth Annual Premier Sponsors...................7 CAMP Rehoboth Letters Subscription......................... 77 CAMP Rehoboth Year End Giving Campaign.............. 67 CAMPsafe.................................................................... 63 Caroline Huff, Artist..................................................... 13 Cat and Mouse Publishing.......................................... 66 Clear Space Theatre.................................................... 59 Community Pride Financial Advisors........................... 35 County Bank................................................................ 29 Delaware Beach Life................................................... 31 Delaware Hospice....................................................... 69 Delaware Humane Association .................................. 47 Dogfish Head.............................................................. 55 Donna Whiteside, Realtor........................................... 10
W I N E
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Eric Atkins, Realtor...................................................... 43 Fifh Avenue Jewelers.................................................. 17 General Dentistry........................................................ 30 God’s Greyts Senior Greyhounds................................ 69 Harbour Waterfront Dining.......................................... 33 Hugh Fuller, Realtor..................................................... 38 Immanuel Shelter........................................................ 53 Insight Homes ............................................................ 49 Jack Lingo, Real Estate............................................... 45 Jenn Harpel, Morgan Stanley...................................... 17 Jolly Trolley................................................................. 17 Just In Thyme Restaurant............................................ 13 Lana Warfield, Realtor................................................. 35 Lee Ann Wilkinson Group, Realtors............................. 29 Lori’s Café................................................................... 63 Loves Liquors.............................................................. 78 MERR Institute............................................................. 43 Midway Fitness & Racquetball.................................... 79 New Wave Spas........................................................... 50 Olivia Travel....................................................................9 One Spirit Massage..................................................... 21 PFLAG.......................................................................... 73 Purple Parrot............................................................... 39 Randall-Douglas.......................................................... 35
S P I R I T S
Randy Mason/Shirley Kalvinsky, Realtors................... 13 Rehoboth Beach Bears................................................ 74 Rehoboth Beach Dental.............................................. 21 Rehoboth Beach Museum........................................... 76 Rehoboth Guest House............................................... 73 Rehoboth Massage & Alignment................................. 66 Saved Souls Animal Rescue........................................ 69 Sea Bova Associates, Realtors.................................... 80 SoDel Concepts........................................................... 37 Springpoint Choice...................................................... 51 State Farm - George Bunting...................................... 53 State Farm - Jeanine O’Donnell/Eric Blondin.............. 33 Sussex Family YMCA................................................... 73 The Lawson Firm......................................................... 53 Time to Heal Counseling & Consulting....................... 11 Troy Roberts, Realtor................................................... 33 Unfinished Business.................................................... 17 Village Volunteers....................................................... 46 Volunteer Opportunities.............................................. 77 Volunteer Thank You................................................... 77 Windsor’s Flowers....................................................... 69
•
B E E R
SAFE WALK-UP, BIKE-UP, DRIVE-UP PICK UP.
TELEPHONE: 302.227.6966 W W W. L O V E S L I Q U O R S . C O M 305c REHOBOTH AVE & 4TH ST REHOBOTH BEACH, DE 19971 THE ONLY DOWNTOWN LIQUOR STORE WITH FREE 15 MINUTE PARKING (ADJACENT TO COHO’S MARKET & GRILL AND THE CULTURED PEARL RESTAURANT) Letters78 LovesDECEMBER AD.indd 1 Letters 11, 2020
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ALSO TRY OUR 7-DAY FREE PASS COVID-19 UPDATE:
We are checking temperatures of all members and staff We have oxygen sensors and we disinfect the gym Personal Trainers will travel to your home
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THE BEST RESORT WEB SITE:
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ANGOLA ESTATES - Lewes. 2007 doublewide 3BR/2BA w/ den/office. 1,750 sq. ft. Shed. Marina community w/2 pools, playgrounds & more. 10 miles to the boardwalk. $149,900
BEAVER DAM - Harbeson. Unique! 2BR/2.5BA farmhouse. 2BR/1BA studio apt. w/1-car garage. Detached 3-bay garage/ pole barn. 1.26-acres. Well & Septic. Approx. $20k/yr rental income. $350,000 (163948)
(169728) Lot Rent $575/mt.
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Hardwood floors in the main living areas & bedrooms; tile floors in the kitchen & baths. Community laundry room w/storage closets for each Unit. Excellent rental history of approx. $40,000/yr, so it’s a solid investment opportunity. $688,000 (142462)
COLONIAL EAST - Rehoboth. 2006 3BR/2BA home has a great front porch. Open floor plan. Furnished. Olympic-size pool and just 4 miles to beach. $89,000 (NEW) Lot Rent $560/mt.
HOLLY OAKS - Lewes. New Construction w/Spring Delivery. 3BR/2BA 1,560sf home. Bamboo floors. Granite & SS appliances in kit. 12’x16’ deck. 0.45 acres. Mid-$300k (similar home shown)
WHISPERING PINES - Lewes. 1985 3BR/2BA w/ large screened porch. Living room opens to galley kit & dinette area. Furnished. Pool. 5 miles to beach. $39,500
SILVER VIEW FARM Rehoboth. 1981 2BR/1BA. Great sunroom addition built in 2007. Furnished. Stack W&D. Shed w/elec. 3 miles to the boardwalk. Pool. $49,900
(171320) Lot Rent $583/mt.
(173700) Lot Rent $581/mt.
SUSSEX EAST - Lewes. 1987 2BR/2BA w/family room addition. Partially furn. Shed. 55+ community. Indoor pool. 6 miles to the beach. Needs TLC. $45,000 (173774) Lot
ROUTE 5 - Milton. 0.76-acres. Lot #2 Harbeson Rd near Rust Rd. Valid site eval. or public sewer hook-up. No builder tie-in. Quick access to Rt. 9 & 11 miles to beach. $55,000 (1001565654)
*A/C
WHISPERING PINES - Lewes. 1986 3BR/1BA w/ 4-season addition. Nicely updated interior. Remodeled bath. Furnished. Pool. Just 5 miles to beach. $39,500
SILVER VIEW FARM Rehoboth. 1983 3BR/2BA Fully remodeled & new roof. Split bedroom plan. Kitchen island. Pool & just 3 miles to the boardwalk. $79,900
(171320) Lot Rent $583/mt.
Rent $564/mt.
SUSSEX EAST - Lewes. 1994 doublewide 2BR/2BA w/ den & BIG screened porch. Shed. 55+ community w/ indoor pool. 6 miles to the beach. $65,000 (169728) Lot
Rent $564/mt.
(169054) Lot Rent $581/mt.
LOVE CREEK PARK Lewes. 1973 2BR/1BA home in marina community. Cute interior. Big back bedroom. Enclosed porch. Furnished. Handicap ramp. $25,000 (171832) Lot Rent $581/mt.
20250 Coastal Highway - Suite 3, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 OFFICE
– 302-227-1222
– RealEstate@SEABOVA.com
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