Letters from CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 33, No. 6

Welcome Kim! Summer Sizzles Engaging Community

C R E A T I N G

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M O R E

P O S I T I V E

R E H O B O T H

July 21, 2023 Volume 33, Number 6 camprehoboth.com

inside 4 In Brief

THIS ISSUE

VOLUME 33, NUMBER 6 • JULY 21, 2023

22 The Writing Life

6 President’s View WES COMBS

8 Vice President’s View Strategic Planning LESLIE LEDOGAR

10 Meet Kim Leisey

88 Visiting View Robby’s Reboot ROBERT DOMINIC

Saying Less Might Mean More

90 CAMP Arts

CLARENCE FLUKER

LESLIE SINCLAIR & DOUG YETTER

14 CAMP News

SHARON MORGAN

20 Community News

PATTIE CINELLI

26 Words Matter

28 Health & Wellness

NANCY SAKADUSKI

Relax, Refresh,Recharge, Renew

25 CAMPsafe Serves Our Community

CAMP Rehoboth’s Executive Director

16 SUNFESTIVAL/ Sundance

84 Viva la Vacation!

Postcards from the Beach

92 Booked Solid

What Is Friend?

TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER

30 Before The Beach A Crowning Achievement MARJ SHANNON

34 The Dramatic Debut of Kelly Sheridan

103 Queer Books Monica Parr, Ron Childress, and Emilie Paternoster at the Hawaii 5-0 party. See page 52 for CAMPshots.

44 CAMP Stories

64 OUTlook

MATTY BROWN

RICH BARNETT

BETH SHOCKLEY

36 Be a Sport

46 It’s My Life

68 The Real Dirt

MARY JO TARALLO

MICHAEL THOMAS FORD

ERIC W. WAHL

38 Out & About

50 Sea Salt Table

72 View Point

ED CASTELLI

RICHARD ROSENDALL

Pimento Cheese:Summer’s Pâté

One Life to Live

Getting to Know You

Summer Corn Salad

Don’t Know Much About History ERIC PETERSON

42 Dining Out

Coho’s Market & Grill LESLIE SINCLAIR & DEBBIE WOODS

52 CAMPshots

We’re Having a Heat Wave!

56 Celebrity Interview Margaret Cho MICHAEL COOK

62 Historical Headliners

I Dream of Tina

D’ANNE WITKOWSKI

106 The Wild Kingdom TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER

110 Sea, Sand, SHOP MIKEY ROX

Vivacious Viburnums

Memories from the Waterfront

76 Celebrity Profile

ON THE COVER Kim Leisey, photo by Murray Archibald

Samantha Irby

SARAH BRICKER HUNT

80 International Day of the Cat NANCY SAKADUSKI

Dame Ethel Smyth See page 56.

Photo by Sergio Garcia

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

JULY 21, 2023

ANN APTAKER

EDITOR Marj Shannon EDITORIAL ASSOCIATE Matty Brown DESIGN AND LAYOUT Mary Beth Ramsey ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER Tricia Massella DISTRIBUTION Mark Wolf CONTRIBUTORS: Ann Aptaker, Rich Barnett, Matty Brown, Ed Castelli, Pattie Cinelli, Wes Combs, Michael Cook, Robert Dominic, Clarence Fluker, Michael Thomas Ford, Roland Forster, Sarah Bricker Hunt, Leslie Ledogar, Tricia Massella, David McDonald, Sharon Morgan, Eric Peterson, Mary Beth Ramsey, Richard Rosendall, Mikey Rox, Nancy Sakaduski, Terri Schlichenmeyer, Marj Shannon, Tara Sheldon, Beth Shockley, Leslie Sinclair, Mary Jo Tarallo, Eric Wahl, D’Anne Witkowski, Debbie Woods, Doug Yetter

Letters from CAMP Rehoboth is published 11 times per year, between February and December, 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 in any way, to imply sexual orientation or gender identity. The content of the columns are the views and opinions of the writers and may not indicate the position of CAMP Rehoboth, Inc. © 2023 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.

From the Editor

CAMP REHOBOTH

MISSION STATEMENT AND PURPOSE

BY MARJ SHANNON, EDITOR

MISSION

CAMP Rehoboth, which stands for (Creating A More Positive) Rehoboth, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit LGBTQ+ community service organization. It is the largest and only organization of its type serving the needs of LGBTQ+ people in Rehoboth, greater Sussex County, and throughout the state of Delaware.

CAMP Rehoboth is dedicated to creating a positive environment inclusive of all sexual orientations and gender identities in Rehoboth Beach and its related communities. It seeks to promote cooperation and understanding among all people as they work to build a safer community with room for all.

VISION

We create proud and safe communities where gender identity and sexual orientation are respected.

PURPOSE

Promoting the health and wellness of our community through a variety of programs including HIV testing and counseling, mental health support, fitness classes, mindfulness classes, support for LGBTQ youth, and building community and support.

Promoting artistic expressions and creative thinking, and giving aid to artists and craftspeople with an emphasis on the works of LGBTQ people.

Advocating for our community to build a safe and inclusive community through voter information, education, and registration; and analysis of issues and candidates.

Education and outreach to the larger community, including sensitivity training seminars, and printed materials to promote positive images of LGBTQ people and our allies.

Networking resources and information by publishing a newsletter, and functioning as an alternative tourist bureau and information center.

PRESIDENT Wesley Combs VICE PRESIDENT Leslie Ledogar SECRETARY Mike DeFlavia TREASURER Jenn Harpel AT-LARGE DIRECTORS Amanda Mahony Albanese, Pat Catanzariti, Lewis Dawley, Lisa Evans (non-voting), David Garrett, Teri Seaton, and Jason D. White EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR KIM LEISEY

Given the sizzle, it must be summer! Happily, along with the sizzle, it’s also brought all those things we most love about the season—sun, sand, surf, some good times at the beach….

And, here at CAMP Rehoboth, it’s also brought us our new Executive Director!

We’re excited to welcome Kim Leisey as she steps into that role. You can meet her in this issue—just see Nancy Sakaduski’s interview with Kim on page 10. And stop by the Community Center one day soon to meet her in person.

More good things about summer? Well, there’s the food: ‘tis the season for some great (quick! easy!) picnic or patio fare. Both Rich Barnett and Ed Castelli have ideas about things you might serve—pimento cheese, anyone? With a side of corn salad? Or maybe you just want to skip prep altogether and grab something from a local eatery? Leslie Sinclair and Debbie Woods have a recommendation—see “Dining Out.” Taste and nutrition aren’t the only good things about food. Sharon Morgan reminds us there are some less-obvious benefits to eating that are easily overlooked—like the stronger ties that can develop among friends or family members who dine together. Turns out those personal connections we form around the table may improve health, and increase wellbeing and happiness.

Maybe your good thing about summer is that you’re vacationing? Take a look at Pattie Cinelli’s column—she has lots of ideas that’ll help make it the relaxing getaway you’ve been longing for, vs. a stressful, chaotic mess.

If you relax with a beach read—we’ve got you covered. See “Before the Beach” for an intro to our very own local celebrity, Kariselle Snow (aka Kelly Smith). And Terri Schlichenmeyer and D’Anne Witkowski have some great LGBTQ+ book recommendations—see pages 92 and 103.

Of course, even summer is not all sun and fun; these are challenging times for our community. Both Board President Wes Combs and Board Vice President Leslie Ledogar have something to say this issue about the critical importance of safe places like CAMP Rehoboth Community Center, and of CAMP’s unwavering commitment to being the heart of our community, with room for all.

Though one room may fill quickly: CAMP Rehoboth will usher out the season in its signature style, with SUNFESTIVAL. You can read all about the shows, the auction, and the dances, starting on page 16. It’s going to be a very, very good time—you’ll want to be there. Get your tickets now (camprehoboth.com) and join us for the wonderful party that closes out this very special summer. ▼

Marj

CAMP REHOBOTH 37 Baltimore Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 tel 302-227-5620 | 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.

JULY 21, 2023

3 Letters

The Pink Party Breaks Records

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he 6 Futcher Pink Pool Party hosts want to extend a huge thanks to everyone who attended and helped make the return of their pool party fundraiser a success. “This year, we raised $14,625, beating the prior record (2019; $14,615). Everyone has helped us

Celebrating the First Pride Build

Pictured L-R: L-R: Mike Reimer, Mark Letotippe, Christian Becker, Tony Sowers, Mike DeFlavia, Rob Six, Dennis Konzelman, Patrick Bosak, Paul Weiner, Jeff Wilson

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n June 16, from 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m., Sussex County Habitat for Humanity hosted the first Pride Build in Georgetown. Volunteers from CAMP Rehoboth and the community at large worked to level the ground in preparation for sod.

The event demonstrated solidarity for the LGBTQ+ community while supporting Habitat for Humanity’s mission to create a world where everyone has a decent place to live. ▼ Pictured above L-R: Lisa Evans, Wes Combs, Kevin Gilmore, Lewis Dawley.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

AIDS Walk Delaware

O

n Saturday, September 16, AIDS Walk Delaware returns to both Grove Park, Rehoboth Beach, and Brandywine Park, Wilmington, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

This year’s theme is “Reignite the Community.” The event is one of the biggest fundraisers for AIDS Delaware and Delaware HIV Consortium, and CAMP Rehoboth is proud to once again be a sponsor. Visit camprehoboth.com for more information, including how to join the CAMP Rehoboth team.▼ Letters 4

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raise funds for CAMP Rehoboth at the 11 fundraiser pool parties we’ve held.

We’re grateful to everyone for being so generous. This being the return of the party...after claiming we were retiring it in 2019...we didn’t know what to expect.

The weather cooperated and the 550+ people who attended exceeded our expectations,” said Mike DeFlavia and Tony Sowers.

CAMP Rehoboth extends its thanks to Mike, Tony, the party committee, volunteers, and all attendees who made it a success! ▼

MEMBERS ONLY!

Dionne Warwick at Freeman Arts Pavillion

C

AMP Rehoboth is excited to partner with the Freeman Arts Pavillion to offer free tickets exclusively to rainbow members of CAMP Rehoboth for “An In-Depth Rare Evening with Ms. Dionne Warwick.”

On Wednesday, August 9, Jean Carne will be performing a musical tribute to Dionne Warwick’s greatest hits. Next, Ms. Warwick will take the stage for a conversation about her 60+ year career and her impact supporting the Black and LGBTQ+ communities.

After the conversation, attendees will be treated to a screening of her award-winning documentary film, Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over, executive produced by the Carl M. Freeman Foundation.

To register for this event, CAMP Rehoboth members should email info@camprehoboth.com for the link. To become a CAMP Rehoboth member, visit camprehoboth. com/camp-membership. ▼

ON THE COVER Kim Leisey, CAMP Rehoboth’s New Executive Director

Kim Leisey—musician (plays piano and cello), sportswoman (sails, skis, kayaks, plays pickleball), dog-lover (especially Carly, her English Labrador retriever), former motorcyclist, and cowgirl wannbe. And, oh yes! CAMP Rehoboth’s new Executive Director.

We’re so excited to have her here (can you tell?)! See page 10 for a real intro.

SPEAKOut Partnering with Milton Library

To the Editor:

C

AMP Rehoboth is proud to partner with Milton Library for an LGBTQ+ book display for the month of August. The partnership comes after The Washington Blade reported the Milton Library was asked by Sussex County to take its Pride Flag down just days before the end of Pride Month. According to the report, only American flags, Delaware flags, and Sussex County flags are permitted outside of the building as per county custom.

The Pride book display previously was up at the Rehoboth Beach Library throughout June and is organized by CAMP Rehoboth’s resident librarian, Glenn Lash. The display derives from the CAMP Rehoboth lending library; its collection of LGBTQ+ books is composed entirely of books donated by community members. ▼

DiFebo’s Drinks and Desserts

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hroughout June, DiFebo's Restaurant Group raised a total of $1,782 for CAMP Rehoboth through Pride drink and dessert specials. The fundraiser took place across DiFebo’s three locations in Rehoboth Beach, Bethany Beach, and DiFebo's Market in Bethany.

Thank you, DiFebo’s, for supporting CAMP Rehoboth and celebrating the LGBTQ+ community this Pride!

Pictured above L-R: Derrick Johnson, Megan Lundergan, Jeff Osias, Matty Brown.

TRAVELS WITH LETTERS

Clarification

I

n our June issue, Letters highlighted a wreath-laying ceremony honoring fallen women service members that was held in Rehoboth Beach over Memorial Day. Our coverage neglected to note the ceremony was conceived, sponsored, planned, and organized by a core group from the Gay Women of Rehoboth, led

by Commander (Ret) Jeanette Shimkus, US Navy. ▼ Pictured, L-R: Commander (Ret) Jeanette Shimkus, DO, MSG (Ret) Tama Viola, Colonel (Ret) Deborah Knickerbocker, Colonel (Ret) Debbie Harrington, Ed.D, and Colonel (Ret) Lisa Weidenbush.

PAMELA RULE AT MT. RUSHMORE

Thank you so much for your wonderful article on the Epworth Skatepark [May 2023].

Hardly a driving force, I was grateful just to be a part of the process that was really initiated and created by the skaters and surfers in our Epworth Church family and our Rehoboth Community. Our own Chris Clark, Dogfish Head’s owner Sam Calagione, and Senator Chris Coons, all who had sons who skated, were all part of the effort.

Profound credit needs to go to Susan Selph who really drove the fundraising train (including finding the artist creator of our wonderful posters). The community brought wooden ramps from home and set them up in the parking lot for that first celebration in 2008. We just provided the space and then watched as 125 skaters filled the area! It grew to monthly and weekly sessions when the question of permanent equipment brought out the real effort.

Evergreen came and surveyed the site, telling us if we raised $50,000 we could have a nice park. The total, at the end of all Susan’s and the Community’s efforts, was $75,000. And the park became a reality.

You are absolutely right in noting that skating is a totally inclusive participatory sport, with skaters learning from and supporting one another.

That attitude of cooperation and support earned Epworth’s Skatepark recognition from the Matthew Shepherd Foundation. We were honored to welcome Matthew’s mother to the park and know that what the Community had created was truly reflective of the best of the human spirit of cooperation.

Thank you for your beautiful article. It is so good to know that the park is alive & well. THANK YOU, JAMES!!!

– RevPat (Loughlin) Send letters to the editor (up to 300 words) to editor@camprehoboth.com JULY 21, 2023

5 Letters

President’s View

BY WESLEY COMBS

Imagining Together What’s Possible

T

his past July 10 marked the latest milestone in CAMP Rehoboth’s 32-year history: Kim Leisey stepped into the role of Executive Director. After thoughtful planning and conducting a nationwide search, Kim was selected because she has the skills CAMP Rehoboth needs to continue providing life-affirming services to people of all sexual orientations and gender identities in Sussex County and beyond.

In preparing for the search, the board recognized not only that the demographics of our area have changed, but that those needing our services range in age from seniors to elementary school.

This is on top of the physical and legal attacks that threaten constitutional rights and personal safety. We also know CAMP Rehoboth cannot be everything to all people so partnerships with external stakeholders are vital to the breadth of service offerings.

While change can be scary, it is also an opportunity to stop, reflect, and think about what’s possible.

During the interview process, we learned about Kim’s experience and quickly saw she was the right candidate for the right time. This paragraph from her bio says it best: “Whether it is teaching safety and self-protection skills, founding the LGBT faculty staff association at UMBC, designing and renovating University facilities, facilitating community development, providing health programs and services, supporting older adults in the later stages of life, or advocating for those who are marginalized and vulnerable, Kim strives to be real and thoughtful in her relationships with others. Humor and fun are a must!”

Throughout my career as a consultant, I have helped clients prepare Letters 6

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and navigate change in the midst of a strategic planning process similar to CAMP Rehoboth’s. When a new executive director joins an organization, it can have a positive impact on the strategic planning process.

Here are several ways in which the arrival of a new executive director can affect strategic planning:

practices, or structures that affect how the strategic planning process is conducted.

For example, they might encourage greater collaboration, foster innovation, or promote a more participatory decision-making approach. These cultural shifts can influence how the organization sets goals, formulates strategies, and implements the strategic plan.

1. Vision and Direction: The new executive director will bring their own vision, priorities, and leadership style to the organization. This can lead to a shift in the overall direction and goals of the organization, which will impact the strategic planning process. The new executive director may have different ideas about the organization’s mission, strategic objectives, target audience, or desired outcomes, requiring a reassessment of the existing strategic plan.

5. Implementation Strategies: The new executive director may introduce fresh ideas and innovative approaches to achieve the organization’s strategic objectives. They might advocate for new initiatives, programs, or partnerships that require adjustments to the existing strategic plan. The strategic planning process will need to accommodate these changes and incorporate the executive director’s strategies into the overall plan.

2. Stakeholder Engagement: The new executive director will likely want to engage with key stakeholders, such as board members, staff, volunteers, donors, and community members, to gain a deeper understanding of the organization’s strengths, challenges, and opportunities.

This increased stakeholder engagement can result in a more inclusive and collaborative strategic planning process, incorporating diverse perspectives and insights.

3. Organizational Assessment: The arrival of a new executive director often prompts a comprehensive assessment of the organization’s internal and external environment. This assessment may involve reviewing the current strategic plan, evaluating the organization’s performance, analyzing market trends, conducting a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis, and identifying areas for improvement. The findings from this assessment will shape the strategic planning process and inform the development of a revised or updated plan.

4. Team Dynamics and Culture: A new executive director can bring changes to the organizational culture and team dynamics. They may introduce new values,

6. Communication and Transparency: A new executive director often prioritizes effective communication and transparency as they seek to build trust and establish their leadership. They may encourage regular updates on the strategic planning process, seek input from stakeholders, and provide clear channels for feedback. This emphasis on communication ensures that the strategic plan reflects the aspirations and expectations of various stakeholders and promotes a sense of ownership and commitment.

In the coming weeks, I encourage you to visit CAMP Rehoboth and welcome Kim. Share your story with her; let her know the reason(s) why you chose to live in or visit the Nation’s Summer Capital.

While change can be scary, it is also an opportunity to stop, reflect, and think about what’s possible. I look forward to working with Kim, the board, staff, and everyone in the community as we chart an inclusive course together. ▼ Wesley Combs is CAMP Rehoboth Board President.

JULY 21, 2023

7 Letters

Vice President’s View

BY LESLIE LEDOGAR

Strategic Planning

In the Legal Rendition of the Wild, Wild West

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he CAMP Rehoboth Board’s Ad Hoc Strategic Planning Committee is wrapping up its work in collecting data that will help guide the Board in its strategic planning decisions. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court of the United States has handed down the latest in a long line of substantive due process cases in which it is effectively dismantling well-established constitutional law and principles to expressly authorize discrimination against protected classes.

Think: upholding “don’t say gay” laws and prohibitions against providing basic health care to trans people, and gutting reproductive freedoms, to mention a few.

The majority’s ruling in 303 Creative v. Elenis has unmistakably broadranging implications for the personal dignity and economic integrity of persons in all protected classes, including those of us in the LGBTQ+ community. It’s the legal equivalent of the Wild, Wild West and it’s very scary.

In 303 Creative, the majority held that a business offering to the public so-called “creative services” such as website construction, can justify refusing to provide those services to LGBTQ+ people on the ground that doing so will impair its right to free speech. Bottom line? The majority opinion expressly authorizes American business owners to hang “no LGBTQ+ people here” signs in their virtual or actual storefronts.

The plaintiff in 303 Creative justified her wish to discriminate by pointing out that there are other web design businesses where gay couples can take their business. However, as Robert Hubble pointed out in the July 1, 2023, edition of his “Today’s Edition Newsletter,” this separate-but-equal argument “betrays a profound ignorance of the injury actually inflicted…against LGBTQ+ people.” Hubble analogizes such discrimination to the refusal in the Letters 8

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1960s of some lunch counter owners to give a seat to Black customers who wanted to order a cup of coffee: …[T]he fact that the Woolworth’s store in Greensboro refused service to a single customer because of the color of his skin was the injury. It did not matter that he could buy a cup of coffee down the street or across town. The injury was the refusal to serve a customer on account of race. And it was an injury to every Black person in America, whether they entered Woolworth’s or not. Separate but equal is not equal. It is discrimination.

So, too, with the ruling in 303 Creative that a business can turn away an LGBTQ+ customer. It does not matter that the customer can go elsewhere; the injury is the refusal to serve that customer. And it is an injury to every LGBTQ+ person in America—whether they choose to patronize 303 Creative or not.

Where we go from here is a matter for strategic planning, but our very existence provides a reassuring anchor and a strong voice to our community.

In addition to very real “legal” injury, the 303 Creative decision is also an assault on the personal dignity of every LGBTQ+ person. Allowing a business to say “you’re not welcome here” is a symbolic gut punch, and an incredibly demeaning one at that. Dissenting, Justice Kagan wrote (emphasis added): Battling discrimination is like “battling the Hydra.” Whenever you defeat one form of…discrimination, another springs up in its place. Time and again, businesses and other commercial entities have claimed constitutional rights to discriminate. And time and again, this Court has courageously

stood up to those claims—until today.

Today, the Court shrinks.

Today is a sad day in American constitutional law and in the lives of LGBT[Q+] people. The Supreme Court of the United States declares that a particular kind of business, though open to the public, has a constitutional right to refuse to serve members of a protected class. The Court does so for the first time in its history. By issuing this new license to discriminate in a case brought by a company that seeks to deny same-sex couples the full and equal enjoyment of its services, the immediate, symbolic effect of the decision is to mark gays and lesbians for second-class status. In this way, the decision itself inflicts a kind of stigmatic harm, on top of any harm caused by denials of service. The opinion of the Court is, quite literally, a notice that reads: “Some services may be denied to same-sex couples.”

In front of the backdrop of 303 Creative, the ongoing and stable presence of CAMP Rehoboth Community Center as an oasis in a sea of Court-sanctioned discrimination becomes undeniably important. Where we go from here is a matter for strategic planning, but our very existence provides a reassuring anchor and a strong voice to our community. Please help the Board to strategically plan the future by filling out the community survey, a simple 10-minute act of commitment. No matter where we go from here, we must ensure that CAMP Rehoboth Community Center remains “the heart of the community, where there is room for all.” ▼ Leslie Ledogar is CAMP Rehoboth Board Vice President.

HOSTED JOURNEY

JOIN

Murray Archibald, the founder of CAMP Rehoboth, on an incredible journey in Australia & New Zealand F E B RUARY 2024

Our custom designed hosted journey starts in New Zealand when we meet our Abercrombie & Kent guide. Multi-night stays in New Zealand and Australia include Rotorua, Queenstown, Melbourne, Uluru (the Outback), and Sydney to give you both time free and amazing experiences with our professional guide (all included). Our planned itinerary includes the Hobbiton Movie Set, cultural performances, the opportunity to experience a working kiwi nursery and hatchery, Waitomo Glowworm Caves, art galleries, wine tastings, walking tours, a wildlife conservation park, a private behind the scenes tour of the Sydney Opera House and time at the world famous Bondi Beach. Awe-inspiring scenery and wildlife will provide amazing photo opportunities and memories that last forever on this unique tour! Rich in history and culture this hosted journey is sure to sell out quickly.

For more information please contact Sofia Hedman, Group Travel Manager sofia@accentontravel.com | 302-703-0115

37156 Rehoboth Ave Rehoboth Beach, DE accentontravel.com

PLENTY – OF –

FREE PARKING!

JULY 21, 2023

9 Letters

MEET KIM LEISEY

BY NANCY SAKADUSKI

Vision, Integrity, Compassion…and a Love for CAMP Rehoboth

“K

im Leisey is an executive leader with vision, integrity, and compassion,” begins the bio for Dr. Kim Leisey on the UMBC (University of Maryland, Baltimore County) website. It’s tempting to end her profile here, as that really does nail it, but perhaps you’d like to know a little more about the new executive director of CAMP Rehoboth.

HER ORIGIN STORY

Kim (she dispenses with the “Dr.” pretty quickly) was born in Dover but almost immediately moved to Massachusetts. She started getting the report cards known to every successful woman: “talks too much” and “won’t sit still.” She developed a love of music—she plays cello and piano, currently performs with the Southern Delaware Orchestra, and is a board member of Coastal Concerts.

When she got to the University of Maryland, College Park, everyone vacationed in Ocean City, Maryland, but Kim didn’t care for the scene. After graduate school, she went to Butler University in Indianapolis. “During this time period I was coming out as a lesbian,” she says.

By the time she came back to Maryland to work at UMBC, she had come out. “I learned of the gay community in Rehoboth and said, let me check this out.” She and a group of female friends would go to Rehoboth on weekends or rent a house in the off season. “It was that time when CAMP was getting started,” says Kim. “It created a feeling of, gosh, there’s a community here and it’s safe.”

She and her friends would go to the beach in the state park, to the Frogg Pond for wings, or to a tea dance.

Kim met her spouse (Kathy Solano) in the mid-90s.

They started coming to Rehoboth together. “She was ready to retire in 2020,” recalls Kim, “and this was in the middle of the pandemic. I knew I was going to be working remotely for at least a semester or two. I said let’s take a leap of faith and make the move.”

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HER VISION

How do you apply the quality of vision?

It’s how I lead myself every day. Every day I like to go in and do my work with some kind of vision about what my outcomes are going to be for the day and sometimes I meet them and sometimes I don’t, depending on what happens.

Do you already have some ideas about what your goals will be at CAMP Rehoboth?

I am really thankful for Lisa Evans, that she’s been in the interim role and has really done a great job with leading and managing the day-to-day. My initial goal is to learn the culture, the operations, the fantastic staff, the volunteers, and I also want to meet the people that support and give to CAMP Rehoboth…. I look forward to developing relationships and welcoming people in.

A lot of people are scared by the current political climate. Does CAMP have a role in ensuring that the LGBTQ+ community is protected?

We certainly are continually working with the police in Rehoboth [to protect] our facilities, staff, and people. I think this means we have to encourage people to vote...and that we educate people or partner with organizations that help educate our membership about elections…. I think ensuring that we are spending time connecting with schools, connecting with support services…and listening. Listening to what’s out there, what the experiences have been, so that we can proactively work to secure safety for everyone and/or respond if necessary. Although we are a nonprofit that focuses on creating community, and our mission is not so much political, we have the ability to help our community

become more educated and understand where they can have influence.

HER INTEGRITY

How do you include integrity in your work?

I believe in saying what you mean, meaning what you say, and living what you say.

My hope is that that means that CAMP will continue to be an organization with integrity, that people can expect that we live our values, and that there’s always an eye to the future and progress and growing and developing. And I don’t mean just growing from a number-of-people standpoint but growing as humans in the sense of learning and expanding what we know.

Is being the first woman to be the permanent executive director pressure or opportunity?

I don’t like to think of things as either/or, so I think it’s probably going to be both.

Mostly I think about it as an opportunity to have multiple perspectives in our work and how it provides services and programs. I think through my education and my work in the past I’m someone who really deeply appreciates interdisciplinary thought and so welcomes multiple perspectives and experiences because they’re all important.

You have said that “education is the foundation of a healthy democracy.”

How do you see CAMP Rehoboth reflected in that statement?

Creating a More Positive Rehoboth is about learning together and learning to be in a community together, learning from each other, our experiences, our lives.

When we shut that down, when we don’t allow that to happen, dialog and conversation can’t happen. And the learning stops. And free societies are educated

societies. And so, I see CAMP as an extension of the ability to keep learning and growing and educating ourselves and others, which feeds democracy.

HER COMPASSION

How is your position with CAMP a logical extension of what you have done in the past?

My work at every university that I’ve worked in is really about helping people to belong and find their niche so that they can thrive academically…so they can bring their whole selves to their studies and their work, and I think that’s clearly what CAMP Rehoboth is about too. It’s about helping people to be their authentic selves wherever they travel and creating a community that accepts that and supports it.

You have a BA in Hearing and Speech Science, and an MA in Audiology, so you were concerned about people being able to hear and be heard. Do you see a metaphor there for your work with CAMP? Absolutely. When I talk about caring for the most vulnerable, it’s about empowerment. It’s not doing for, it’s doing with….

I’m about ensuring that people get the skills, the confidence, the ability to speak for themselves because that’s more empowering.

Do you think that the LGBTQ+ community still isn’t being heard?

Yeah. Absolutely. There are still aspects of our lives and our large community that are not being heard and even within the community I’m not sure we totally all understand each other, and that’s work that we have to do too…learn together, Continued on page 12 JULY 21, 2023

11 Letters

MEET KIM LEISEY

Continued from page 11

understand each other, before we can expect that others will understand us.

Have you ever experienced bullying?

One day, on the playground in middle school, a female friend of mine was being bullied by a bunch of boys, and I knocked the boy down and sat on top of him and told him to never do that again.

And it never happened again…. I call myself a sheepdog. I’m someone who likes to protect.

I’m someone who really deeply appreciates interdisciplinary thought and so welcomes multiple perspectives and experiences because they’re all important.

HER FUN SIDE

What kind of music do you listen to?

Actually, all kinds, but mostly my playlist is 70s, 80s, and 90s pop music. And lots of classical music.

What were you like as a kid?

Probably a bit precocious. I have four older siblings and a younger sibling, so our house was always full of activity. The funny thing is, I’m an introvert. Most of my processing and my energy comes from within. Certainly, I have the skills

and abilities to be an extrovert, but it’s not my preferred way of being.

in New England, they put me on skis early and I never looked back.

Rehoboth is a dog-lovers town, so I have to ask about Carly.

Ideal campfire on the beach—who do you invite (living or dead)?

Carly is a four-year-old English Labrador retriever, and she is the most enthusiastically friendly Labrador you will ever meet, so I apologize to everyone in advance that she’s a jumper…she’s wonderful, and she loves the beach.

Hmmm. I always loved hanging out with my parents and they are both deceased, so I’d love to have them back. I lost my younger sister about six or seven years ago suddenly. I’d love to see her again.

But I think to make it interesting—I love Cher. I love Bette Midler. I’d love for Wanda Sykes to be there…. That’s a fun group.

You have a boat?

Yes. It’s a 23-foot daysailer. Sailing for me—it’s all about the journey. We never have a destination. We just sail.

What is something most people don’t know about you?

People that don’t know me well would be surprised that I had a motorcycle up until last year…and I always wanted to be a cowgirl.

Do you have a favorite book, poem, or quotation?

I have lots of favorite books, but one that I read recently was Jodi Picoult’s Mad Honey, which everyone should read, I think, especially to try to understand our trans brothers and sisters.

The poem my mom read to us a lot as kids, and I keep in every office I’ve had, is “Desiderata.”

My favorite quote is probably the end of Mary Oliver’s poem “The Summer Day” [“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”].

Do you play any sports?

Yes. Pickleball, absolutely. We kayak.... But my sport of choice is skiing. I ski better than I walk, better than I run. Growing up

HER SERIOUS SIDE

What would you like your legacy at CAMP to be?

I would like that our infrastructure is really sound because I think with a sound infrastructure, things can continue. The foundation CAMP is built on is really strong, and so I want to build on that. I would like to diversify CAMP racially and ethnically. I think what I’d like my legacy to be is that people would look back and say those were good years, it was a time when the entire community—LGBTQ+ community and allies and visitors and businesses—all said they were fun times and there was a lot of love and compassion and people felt like they belonged. ▼

Photo credit page 10: Murray Archibald Pictured page 11, L-R: Kim & Kathy with Chuck, ring bearer at nephew’s wedding; Not in the office? Check for Kim outdoors; Post-swim conversation with Carly; At the helm on the Chesapeake.

CAMP REHOBOTH THANKS OUR 2023 ANNUAL SPONSORS

For information on how to become a CAMP Rehoboth Annual Sponsor, email development@camprehoboth.com or call 302-227-5620.

Letters 12

JULY 21, 2023

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OLIVIA IS A PROUD SPONSOR OF CAMP REHOBOTH SUNFESTIVAL 2023

OLIVIA.COM · (800) 631-6277 BOOK YOUR DREAM VACATION WITH 24/7 ONLINE BOOKING JULY 21, 2023

13 Letters

CAMPNews CAMP Rehoboth Celebrates Pride

T

hroughout June, CAMP Rehoboth commemorated Pride in a myriad of ways.

Here are some highlights.

On June 5, the City of Rehoboth Beach kicked off Pride with a Pride Proclamation and celebratory Pride Flag raising.

On June 6, CAMP Rehoboth representatives were invited to Delaware Legislative Hall for the State of Delaware’s Pride Proclamation.

On Friday, June 9, Senator Tom Carper visited CAMP Rehoboth and affirmed his commitment to the LGBTQ+ community.

On Sunday, June 25, in CAMP Rehoboth’s Elkins-Archibald Atrium, the cast of Voices from Stonewall shared moments from the Stonewall uprising.

Additionally, CAMP Rehoboth extends its gratitude to all businesses that raised funds to support our mission throughout June.

These include the Lodge at Truitt Homestead, DiFebo’s Restaurant Group, Northbeach nightclub, Big Chill Restaurant Group, Urban Float, Bin 66, and Little Landmines Pet Waste Removal.

Other CAMP Rehoboth Pride-sponsored events included the Pride Film Festival, the Pride CAMP Rehoboth Handmade Market, Milton Pride, Delaware Pride, and Murray Archibald’s Mask Hysteria exhibit. Thank you to all who supported CAMP Rehoboth and the LGBTQ+ community in June and beyond! ▼ More CAMP News on page 102.

Letters 14

JULY 21, 2023

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15 Letters

SUNFESTIVAL | SUNDANCE

BY NANCY SAKADUSKI

Party Hearty!

A SUNFESTIVAL Not To Be Missed

I

f you’ve never been to a SUNFESTIVAL (formerly called Sundance), let this be the year you feel the burn and bask in the glow. It’s a Labor Day Weekend of fun, friends, and frivolity that people tend to make a habit of. An elixir comprised of the end of summer, the pride of community, and the freedom to let go, SUNFESTIVAL is uniquely ours.

It takes multiple performers, dozens of sponsors, and more than a hundred volunteers to pull it off, but each year it seems to get bigger and better. It’s impossible to capture the emotion, electricity, and exuberance of the event in print, but here goes.

A Night of Comedy, Drag, and Song PLUS a Live Auction

World-Class Laughs AND Quality Food Storage Solutions. It started as a dare— to sell Tupperware®, that flagship of conventional American homemaking, in drag. The dare was accepted, and Dixie Longate was born, took her Tupperware party on the road, and along the way became the company’s number-one sales representative in the US. True story.

Claiming to live in a trailer in Mobile, Alabama, with three kids named Wynona, Dwayne, and Absorbine Jr., Dixie is a fireball of fast talking, laugh snorting, good humor and nostalgic philosophy. Impossible not to like, but at the same time advising things like passing Jell-o shots during the church sermon, she’s Dorothy Gale grown up with a few bad influences.

First, let’s clear up a few things. “Some people get upset when they think this is just a show for ladies,” says Dixie in her high-pitched, honey-dripping voice.

“Heavens, no. This is for men that like ladies, men that like men, ladies that like ladies…adults of all ages, stripes, and sizes.

That’s the thing, because there’s nobody that doesn’t need a good quality creative food storage solution and a big ole smile on their face, and I’m here to provide.”

Dixie’s Tupperware party is also a bit Letters 16

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different from what you might be thinking.

“If you can go into a party from the 50s,” she explains, “and a bunch of women are talkin’ about plastic bowls and nothin’ else, do you think you’re gonna do that?

No! You want to get to the part where everyone’s drinkin’ and havin’ a good time and throwin’ their panties in the air. That’s the party that I want to bring.”

Some people may have seen Dixie before, but she says, “I will be bringin’ some stuff, don’t you worry. I never do the same thing twice.” She explains: “I’m going to talk about some of the things that are going on in the world, some of the current events that are happening, and I’m gonna talk about some things that are specific to Rehoboth Beach…. I’m always learning new things, meeting new people, goin’ out to the Dumpster and seeing what I can find that’s local flavor, you know what I mean.”

From America’s Got Talent to SUNFESTIVAL’S Got Talent

For Randy Roberts, it started as a dare as well. “I was in Norfolk, Virginia, and some friends said, “there’s a drag contest tomorrow night—go do it.… It was not pretty.… It got better.” Better indeed. He ended up on America’s Got Talent and appeared in the soap opera One Life to Live…as Cher.

Randy has performed in casinos, clubs, and theaters throughout the US and Europe, doing spot-on impersonations of celebrities such as Bette Midler, Joan Crawford, Carol Channing, and Cher.

His most popular character, though, is…

Randy Roberts. He describes his own character as a cross of Liza Minelli, Ann Margaret, Don Rickles, and Joan Rivers.

“I like to say Cher brings them in; Randy brings them back.”

Developing a new impersonation isn’t easy. “If I don’t enjoy doing a character, I don’t do them,” Randy says. “It has to click with me.… The challenge in the beginning is finding the character and the voice and the look, what works better, and then the joy for me is when it clicks, and I can just do it and have a good time.”

Randy has only been to Rehoboth once before. “I have no idea what to expect. I know this is a very big event for CAMP Rehoboth, and I’m so thrilled to be doing something to help them.” He’ll be bringing his new show. “I changed the songs; I changed the costumes. Randy has a bunch of new songs and costumes and monologues; the way the show is presented is different.…

I’m so looking forward to coming back.”

Going Once, Going Twice…

Ready for an exotic trip, extraordinary event, or unique experience? Then the SUNFESTIVAL Live Auction is for you! Fast paced and fun, the live auction features the dynamic Tom Protack, our new auctioneer for 2023, and will happen at the Rehoboth Beach Conven-

SUNFESTIVAL | SUNDANCE

An elixir comprised of the end of summer, the pride of community, and the freedom to let go, SUNFESTIVAL is uniquely ours. tion Center before the shows on Saturday, September 2. With a variety of offerings, there is something for everyone!

The live auction will feature a seven-night vacation in Lisbon, Portugal, including two business-class airfare tickets and a luxury hotel stay, donated by Danny Sebright, SUNFESTIVAL Diamond Sponsor. Lisbon is a gay-friendly city that has perfect weather and excellent cuisine. The old Bairro Alto quarter has gay-friendly bars and Portugal’s most popular gay sauna, Trombeta Bath. Gay beach lovers will enjoy the long, popular beach at Costa da Caparica, a 15-minute drive from Lisbon.

Also up for bid are a five-star, seven-night LGBTQ+ charter river cruise for two through Holland and Belgium (August 5-12, 2024) on the Amadeus Star (only 164 guests) through Brand g Vacations; an Olivia vacation for two at the all-inclusive, all-indulgent oceanfront Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta (October 26-November 2, 2024); and a Choose Your Own Adventure on Celebrity from Accent on Travel.

Be sure to check out the details on these and other auction items at: camprehoboth.com/sunfest2023live.

Robbie says. “I actually used to travel with my Weimaraner back then and he would sleep in the DJ booth while I worked.”

Robbie loves the synergy he has with Joe Gauthreaux, who will also be returning this year. “We have a great chemistry in the booth,” Robbie says. “I begin the party and peak the room just before he takes the helm and shifts the energy into

Robbie Leslie

A Night of Dance

Studio 54 Comes to Rehoboth. Nearly every description of DJ Producer Robbie Leslie contains the word “legend.”

Respected as one of the first-generation DJs, Robbie has performed at virtually every major venue, including The Saint, Palladium, and Studio 54, not to mention clubs in Dubai, Budapest, Berlin, Moscow, Sydney, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Toronto, St. Maarten, Punta Cana, and San Juan.

Robbie has been a major feature at Sundance/SUNFESTIVAL since the tea dance debuted in 2018. It’s “the icing on the cake of summer events for me,” he says. “I love playing this wonderful party!”

And his popularity in Rehoboth even predates that. “I’ve been playing gigs here all the way back to Cloud 9 and other clubs,”

Joe Gauthreaux

an even higher gear. The crowd loves the synergy we create.”

What can we look forward to this year?

“Look for some of the greatest and most beloved classic dance hits and anthems of the 70s, 80s, and 90s during my set.

I can’t wait to see the Rehoboth Beach crowd once again!”

Exploring Fresh Sounds While Amping Up the Energy. “I always try to give something that you can’t get anywhere else,” says Joe Gauthreaux. “If they are current seasoned professionals on the party scene, they’ve heard me at some events this summer. I plan to make my set a little bit different for SUNFESTIVAL.”

Recognized by the circuit industry with awards, listened to by supporters, and respected by other DJs and producers, Joe Gauthreaux is in a league of his own.

His performances have included the URGE Festival, Winter Party Festival, WE Party Madrid, White Party—Palm Springs, & Zurich, Song Kran Bangkok, New Year’s Rio, and Atlantis Cruises, along with club residencies in Miami, Chicago, DC, San Francisco, and Atlanta.

Joe will be bringing some new sounds.

“I’m actually working on an EP right now.”

He says he’ll probably play one of the singles at SUNFESTIVAL. “Abigail is the singer. She had a song in the 1990s, ‘Let the Joy Rise.’ We actually wrote the song together.” He adds that his performance is not about just playing songs. “It’s not like a concert…it’s a spontaneous art form,” he explains. “It’s like you’re watching a painter paint something in real time.”

Joe enjoys working with Robbie Leslie as much as Robbie enjoys working with him, likening their partnership to relay racers passing the baton. “I have so much respect and admiration for him,” Joe says of Robbie. “He plays a very classic disco sound…it allows me to pick up from there.”

Get Your Tickets Before It’s Too Late

We’re giving fair warning: SUNFESTIVAL events sell out. What good is sitting alone in your room while everyone you know is out having a ball? Get your tickets now: camprehoboth.com/events/ sunfestival-2023-fundraiser-benefitcamp-rehoboth CAMP Rehoboth is committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive environment for all participants.

If you plan on joining us for SUNFESTIVAL and have needs related to accessibility, please contact Hope@ phoenixaccessibilityteam.com.

JULY 21, 2023

17 Letters

labor day weekend | September 2–3

a benefit to support CAMP Rehoboth

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Sunday, September 3 | 7:00 PM

SCAN CODE FOR TICKETS AND ACCESSIBILITY INFO www.camprehoboth.com Letters 18

JULY 21, 2023

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Saturday, September 2 | 6:30 pm

camp rehoboth thanks our sponsors for their generous support of sunfestival * Diamond sponsors

Sapphire sponsors

Danny Seabright

Ruby sponsors

Wes Combs & Greg Albright Matthew Lukasiak Rodney Street Realty, LLC

emerald sponsors

Tom Balling & Rex Varner

Chris Hughes & Kent Swarts

In Memory of Al Bulliner

Melissa & Amanda Kaufman

Lewis Dawley & Greg Becker

Christine Lay & Mari Blackburn

John Hackett & Thomas Newton

Natalie Moss

CAMP REHOBOTH

Fran O’Brien & David Gifford

Jen Rubenstein & Diane Scobey

Porter & Gordon Family

Leslie Sinclair & Debbie Woods

Brian Powers & Chris Rinaldi

*All paid sponsors through June 30, 2023

SAVE THE DATE! SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15 11 AM-4 PM

2023

On the 2nd block of Baltimore Avenue

Vendor/Sponsor information available at CAMP Rehoboth.

For questions/inquiries contact: blockparty@camprehoboth.com JULY 21, 2023

19 Letters

CommunityNews (Re)Claiming Reproductive Justice: Anger to Action Women, trans and nonbinary people, and allies are warmly invited to share this important afternoon of learning and strategic planning that will move us beyond anger and towards justice. The event will be held August 26, 2023, 12:30-3:30 p.m., at the Unitarian Universalists of Southern Delaware church, located at 30486 Lewes Georgetown Highway, Lewes, Delaware.

Featuring Nancy Rosenstock, a feminist author and activist, as its keynote speaker, the event will focus on education, collaboration, and action planning to create change and fight for reproduc-

Prime Timers Stroll the Boardwalk

T tive justice and abortion rights. There is no fee, but registration is required at: Eventbrite.com; search for “reproductive justice” in “lewes delaware.”

Contact Joanne Saltzberg at j.saltzberg@uussd.org for more information. ▼

Pie Ladies Are Bombastic Barbies

R

ehoboth Beach’s treasured annual tradition, the Pie Ladies, returned on the Fourth of July weekend with a theme that’s also captured pop culture’s zeitgeist: “Barbie.” Similar to the popular franchise, the ladies donned various interpretations of Barbie, including racer barbie, bimbo barbie, and holiday barbie.

Without a doubt, leave it to the Pie Ladies to bring just the right amount of camp and fun to the Independence Day festivities. ▼

here are several men of the Delaware Coastal PrimeTimers who enjoy a morning boardwalk stroll. Every Tuesday and Thursday at 8:30 a.m., these gents meet at Rehoboth Avenue and traverse the entire boardwalk up and back (rain or shine). Then set off for a delicious brunch.

Delaware Coastal PrimeTimers has just celebrated its one-year anniversary and is eager to expand the activities it offers. Recently, the group enjoyed a twohour boat cruise with 50 members; the outing included various beverages and snacks on board.

To learn more about the organization and see a calendar of activities, visit delawarecoastalpt.org, find us on Facebook, or contact us by email at coastalprimetimers@gmail.com. ▼

History Book Festival

T

he seventh annual History Book Festival returns to Lewes, Delaware, on September 29, 30 and October 1 for live events with 23 distinguished authors of historical nonfiction and fiction.

Information on the presenting authors and their featured books, are available online at historybookfestival.org. ▼

Know o t s g Thin My Mom: About ey,

rn d atto e r i t e e 1. R l Estat a e R T F Agent ice r Serv e m o t 2. Cus first! comes

16712 Kings Highway, Lewes 302.645.6661

Donna Whiteside

302.381.4871 donna.whiteside@penfedrealty.com A member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates, LLC

Letters 20

JULY 21, 2023

LUNG CANCER Detect it early.

A lung cancer screening detected my cancer early, when it was most treatable. It could do the same for you.

You’re eligible for a lung cancer screening if you:

Talk with your health care provider to schedule a lung cancer screening today. If you don’t have one, a nurse navigator can help — whether you have insurance or not.

• Smoked a pack a day for 20+ years in the last 15 years; or

• Are between age 50 and 80; and

• Smoked two packs a day for 10+ years in the last 15 years.

Call 2-1-1 or scan the QR code to visit HealthyDelaware.org/Lung.

JULY 21, 2023

21 Letters

The Writing Life

BY ROLAND FORSTER AND DAVID MCDONALD

Greetings from Rehoboth Beach

W

hen we moved to Rehoboth Beach from Baltimore in 2017, we had no idea that we would become so immersed in local history.

We began volunteering at the Rehoboth Beach Museum shortly after we settled into our new home, but it never occurred to us that we would co-author a book to be published by the Rehoboth Beach Museum.

The idea for this project came about as part of a brainstorming session about commemorating the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Rehoboth Camp Meeting Association of the Methodist Episcopal Church, an event that is considered the beginning of Rehoboth Beach. Recognizing our appreciation for vintage postcards, and our work cataloging a significant postcard collection that was donated to the museum, Director Nancy Alexander approached us about writing a book featuring postcards from the museum’s collection.

At first, we were less than enthusiastic about the idea. Neither of us had any prior experience in writing or designing a book. We both had experience from our professional careers with writing business correspondence or reports, and David had written articles and book reviews for professional journals, but a book would require a level of commitment and responsibility that we weren’t sure we could accept.

As collectors of antiques and collectibles, we each have specific interest areas, but postcards are a common element in both of our personal collections. Roland in particular has an impressive collection of postcards related to Rehoboth Beach, so the book idea held some appeal for us. Then a coincidental ‘find’ at a local auction helped seal the deal: several real-photo postcards, published locally between 1905 and 1907.

That spurred us to dig deeper into the history of postcard publishing in Rehoboth Beach, a natural tie-in to the concept of a book presenting the best examples from the museum’s collection. Once we Letters 22

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were committed to the project, our goal was to develop a definitive book about Rehoboth Beach postcards and the people who created them.

From the outset, we needed to review and select cards that would be visually appealing, perhaps previously unpublished, and representative of various

If you have an interest in Rehoboth Beach history or early postcards from the area, you are sure to enjoy this book. periods in the development of Rehoboth Beach as a popular destination. Rather than present postcard images alone, we felt it important to include a narrative to identify names, dates, locations, and key events to provide a context for Rehoboth Beach during the time the postcards were issued or used. This information was gleaned from hours of research using archival resources in the museum, and from online resources, newspaper databases, and books by local and national publishers. We also realized that the information we were finding about local photographers and postcard publishers would be an important addition to the book.

For an organizational structure, we realized that the evolution of Rehoboth Beach was closely aligned with defined periods of change in the postcard industry. Picture postcards were first introduced in the US between 1900 and 1905, hitting

their greatest popularity in what is known as “The Golden Age” of postcards: 19051915. Our book includes examples from all five defined postcard ‘eras,’ beginning in 1905 up to and including cards as recent as this year, representing a period of well over 100 years!

Rehoboth was fortunate to have a family-owned business, Horn Pavilion, operating at Rehoboth Avenue and the Boardwalk soon after 1900. The Pavilion offered a range of services and amusements for visitors and quickly became the center of attraction in Rehoboth.

Among its services was a full-service photography studio, which became a source for many of the earliest postcards in the museum collection.

In another fortunate coincidence, while we were working on the book, a significant donation of postcards came to the museum from Judge James G. Horn, a descendant of the original owners of the Horn Pavilion. The donation included some of the earliest examples of Rehoboth Beach postcards.

If you have an interest in Rehoboth Beach history or early postcards from the area, you are sure to enjoy this book. It also might be a perfect solution for gift-giving. All proceeds from the sale of this book will go to support the programs and activities of the Rehoboth Beach Historical Society and Museum.▼ The book was released in late-June and is available at the Rehoboth Beach Museum Gift Shop, 511 Rehoboth Avenue, and online at rehobothbeachmuseum.org.

Roland Forster and David McDonald are both retired and have lived in Rehoboth Beach since 2017. They have been friends since 2013 and married in 2019. This is their first experience writing a book.

JOIN US FOR OUR 39TH SEASON IN REHOBOTH TRY OUR NEW MENU! Dinner 7 nights, 5:00-10:00 pm Happy Hour until 6:15 pm RESERVE YOUR TABLE: 302-227-3100 Telephone: 301-227-3100 • www.justinthymerestaurant.com 38163 Robinsons Drive • Rehoboth Beach (the corner of Hwy. 1 & Robinsons Drive)

JULY 21, 2023

23 Letters

CAMPsafe Serves Our Community

New Incentives to Know Your Status C AMP Rehoboth is offering new incentives and times for HIV testing and mpox vaccinations. Incentives include: CAMP hats, CAMP sling bags, $10 gift cards to Lori’s Oy Vey Café (located in the CAMP courtyard), and a free $10 appetizer at Aqua!

Free Condoms!

Did you know? FREE condoms are always available at CAMP Rehoboth and many other locations, including: Diego’s, Shrimpy’s, Freddie’s, The Pond, and Aqua.

Mpox Vaccine: Let’s Stop the Spread

Mpox vaccinations will be offered 7/25 and 8/22. Register at camprehoboth.com. (You can find detailed information on mpox and vaccines at cdc.gov/poxvirus/mpox.)

FREE WALK-IN HIV TESTING

Free, rapid, walk-in HIV testing and counseling is available at CAMP Rehoboth and in western Sussex County. To request a home HIV test kit, contact tara@camprehoboth.com.

CAMP Rehoboth 37 Baltimore Ave., Rehoboth Beach, DE Tel: 302-227-5620

NEW SITE! Higher Ground Outreach 12 E. Pine St., Georgetown, DE Tel: 302-470-7497

Mondays & Tuesdays............................ 12-4 PM Wednesdays & Thursdays .....................1-4 PM Fridays ...............................................9 AM-12 PM

Tuesdays.............................................10 AM-1 PM

ACE Peer Resource Center 20707 Dupont Blvd., Georgetown, DE Tel: 302-585-4963 Alternate Tuesdays.........................9 AM-12 PM 7/25, 8/8, 8/22 ACE Peer Resource Center 547 N. Bradford St., Seaford, DE Tel: 302-628-3016

NEW SITE! Laurel Library 101 E. Fourth St., Laurel, DE Tel: 302-875-3184 3rd Wednesdays (08/16)..........................1-3 PM with Tidal Health Screening 4th Fridays (07/28, 08/25)......................1-3 PM with Christiana Care Health Screening

Addiction Medical Facility 309 Bridgeville Hwy., Seaford, DE Tel: 302-629-2300

Springboard Village 411 Kimmey St., Georgetown, DE Tel: 302-253-8246

Monday, July 26...................................... 7-11 AM

Mondays.............................................10 AM-1 PM

Results in only 15 minutes!

No Hassle!

JULY 21, 2023

*Call CAMP Rehoboth to schedule an HIV test at the Laurel Center.

Thursdays................................... 9 AM-12:30 PM

KNOW YOUR STATUS! Letters 24

Laurel State Service Center 31039 N. Poplar St., Laurel, DE Tel: 302-227-5620*

GET TESTED and get a new CAMP Rehoboth hat, sling bag, or gift cards to Lori’s Cafe or Aqua!

Scan the QR Code for the most up-to-date testing hours and locations.

Reignite the community

Join us saturday, SEPTEMBER 16 Brandywine Park, Wilmington Grove Park, Rehoboth Beach Time: 9AM-12PM AIDSWalkDelaware.org

JULY 21, 2023

25 Letters

Words Matter

BY CLARENCE FLUKER

Saying Less Might Mean More

W

We might also find in that time of reflection that it may not be necessary to say anything at all.

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JULY 21, 2023

ords have power.

Silence is powerful too. Many years ago, very early in my career, while at work one of my colleagues received a call she had been dreading. Her mom called to let her know that her grandmother died. It was not unexpected. The grandmother had been grappling with a series of health issues.

Even though my colleague anticipated that she would soon have to live in a world without her strongest supporter and most gentle friend, the weight of the news was still very heavy. She broke down at her desk. She hung up the phone and cried uncontrollably. Everyone within earshot could hear her and no one immediately knew exactly what to say or to do. We were a young team and none of us had yet experienced such a grave loss. In your twenties, it is still easy to believe that everyone’s life will last forever.

Finally, I got up and walked over to her cubicle. Through her tears, our eyes met.

I nodded.

She stood up, retrieved her coat, and she and I walked out the door. In the hallway, she continued to cry. I remained quiet. As we exited the building, she continued crying. I remained quiet. We kept walking. I did not think my words could help, but I imagined my presence would.

We walked all the way to her apartment building. I stood at the door as she turned the key. She turned around and motioned for me to follow.

For the next hour—or what felt like hours—she sat on her living room sofa and I sat silently in the chair across from her. She spoke no words; she made no sounds. Tears kept trickling down her face until there were none. The room was still.

At one point I had the urge to speak but fought it. I would continue to sit quietly. I would let her break the silence whenever she was ready. That was my role to play.

Calmly, in her own time, she began to tell me stories about her grandmother.

Stories about her sense of humor; how she would share her recipes for good

food and a good life. Stories and experiences that she would cling to because new memories could not be made. I just sat there and listened. I did not interject, offer commentary, or probe. I simply listened. I understand now in a manner I could not fully appreciate then that it was a gift to listen to my colleague; to be there with her.

In the way that I learned that some of the best advice you can give a friend is your own actions, I have come to realize over the years that sometimes the best comfort you can provide a friend or partner is your quiet presence with them in tough situations. I talk a lot and I admit that it can be challenging for me to be quiet when my instinct is to offer my opinion or recount some quote I just read in a book or on Instagram when I am in the company of someone who is going through something.

We live in a society where everyone has something to say all the time. In addition, because of social media, there is what I think is an ongoing conditioning where we feel that not only must we have something to say, but we also must be the first person to say something—which does not always prove helpful or have the best result.

When we are not rushing to fill the moment and space with words, we have an opportunity to reflect and think about what we might say, and the comments are always more thoughtful. We might also find in that time of reflection that it may not be necessary to say anything at all.

There is an old proverb that asserts that speech is silver, silence is golden. ▼ Clarence J. Fluker is a public affairs and social impact strategist. Since 2008, he’s also been a contributing writer for Swerv, a lifestyle periodical celebrating African American LGBTQ+ culture and community. Follow him on Twitter: @CJFluker or Instagram: @Mr_CJFluker.

Photo: Briana Tozour on Unsplash

FREE YOURSELF FROM TOBACCO You try to quit, but there are triggers everywhere you turn. You feel lost.

Trapped. But you’re not alone.

The Delaware Quitline has helped thousands escape their addiction and get on the path to living tobacco-free. Call 1-866-409-1858 or visit QuitSupport.com for free counseling, cessation aids, and medications to help you quit for good.

JULY 21, 2023

27 Letters

health+wellness

BY SHARON MORGAN

What Is Friend?

“Sometimes me think, ‘What is Friend?’ and then me say, ‘Friend is someone to share the last cookie with.’”

– COOKIE MONSTER

W

hen I was in high school, we had two buses to accommodate those students who participated in after school activities. As someone who played sports, many an early winter night I would be on the bus, the chill of sweat permeating all of us. Walking into my family home, I would always be greeted with a hot meal, its warmth and fragrance blanketing me securely. The meals were never fancy, but they were always shared, even if it were just my Mom or Dad puttering around, asking me about my day.

History cannot be told without mentioning food. According to a 2017 Forbes article, food was the foundation of international travel routes, from wine to olive oil to spices. Food reshaped entire political systems: I give you the Boston Tea Party and the bread wars that culminated in the beheading of a French king and queen consort.

Food also has a historically integral relationship to health and medicine. Beyond its elemental role of providing key nutrients, food can be used to prevent and treat disease. According to the Food is Medicine Coalition, approximately one-third of US patients enter the hospital malnourished. However, if clients received medically tailored meals, they saw significantly fewer inpatient admissions.

A recent Nature Medicine article highlights several studies supporting individually tailored diets to combat diabetes and improve overall cardiovascular function. Health providers are now using genetic footprints to use food to improve health among their clients. Just last year, the Biden administration launched a collaboration with dozens of nonprofit organizations and companies, aimed at addressing access to and affordability of healthy foods. In addition, the funded collaboration will integrate nutrition programs to empower US consumers to make healthier food choices.

Letters 28

JULY 21, 2023

Food is not only a physiological need, but an emotional need as well. According to a 2014 Frontiers in Psychology piece, infants learn early to associate soothing and social interaction with food. Intake of certain items has been associated with less depression and a sense of wellbeing.

Eating the same foods together lays a foundational trust: we are willing to put the same thing inside our bodies.

So as we resume (or exceed) the normal pace of summer fun, do something good for your health: Make a friend; share a cookie.

Food preferences are not shaped in isolation; family, friends, and cultural roots influence what and how we eat. The emotional effect of certain foods is shaped by memory—good or bad. An analysis of death row last meals showed a propensity to request foods that reflected the inmate’s cultural or regional roots.

A shared meal is more memorable and considered of higher value than one eaten alone. People who share food rate their relationships as more intimate.

Conversely, individuals who pictured their mate sharing a meal in an illicit interlude experienced more jealously than the interaction occurring without food. Infants cannot survive without being fed, an innate nurturing trait which may account for why some go without food so others can eat.

Communal eating, whether in feasts or everyday interactions, is universally human. In Feasting: The Archaeology and History of Celebrating Food, B. Hadyn argues feasting was a form of domestication, as agricultural food surpluses proved more advantage for societies than hunting/gathering. Feasting was related to the control of food production, serving as both a way to create prestige for the host and commonality within a community. R.I.M Dunbar in his article “Breaking Bread: The Functions of Social Eating,” surmises that food sharing serves three functions: 1) wider community and inter-community relationships are developed; 2) friend and family relationships are strengthened; and 3) the physiological and emotional positive effects of food sharing are reinforced.

Researchers from the University of Oxford’s Big Lunch survey suggest those that routinely eat meals together felt better about themselves and reported a wider network providing social and emotional support. Numerous other studies corroborate that the size and quality of one’s social network positively impacts one’s health, wellbeing, and happiness.

That said, a surprising number of individuals do not share meals often, although 76 percent of those surveyed acknowledged the benefits of breaking bread together.

More than two-thirds of those questioned had never shared a meal with their neighbors, 37 percent had never eaten within a community group, and 20 percent said it had been more than six months since they had shared a meal with their parents.

Nearly 85 percent of Americans plan to travel this summer, with 42 percent saying they plan to travel more than last year, according to Vacationer. And close to one-quarter of US adults plan to travel internationally. So as we resume (or exceed) the normal pace of summer fun, do something good for your health: Make a friend; share a cookie. ▼ Sharon A. Morgan is a retired advanced practice nurse with over 30 years of clinical and healthcare policy background.

health+wellness

BY TARA SHELDON

Programs & Events For more information about any of these events, please visit camprehoboth.com or call 302-227-5620.

Meetings are in-person and take place at CAMP Rehoboth unless noted otherwise. Zoom links can be found on our website or in the Monday email newsletter. Do you have a suggestion for a new program? We want to hear from you! Send any questions or ideas to tara@camprehoboth.com.

Support, Growth, and Healing Imago Workshops with Maya Kollman Coming This Fall “Leave your first session with a sense of transformation, discovery, and a clear direction on a new self-journey.”

— Maya Kollman, Master Imago Coach Keeping the Love You Find: An Imago Workshop for Singles | 9/28 To register, email tara@camprehoboth.com Getting the Love You Want: A Couples Imago Weekend | Sept 29-Oct 01 To register, visit Maya’s website: mayakollman.com Grief Support Group: 3rd Thursday 3 PM (Zoom) A safe place to share with others struggling with grief and loss. Kevin Bliss is a certified End-of-Life Coach. Email kevin@kevinblisscoaching.com or call/text at 202-607-1174.

Loss, Grief, and Bereavement: Mondays 3-4:30 PM | July 24 - Sept 11

Chair Yoga: Tuesdays 9 AM (Zoom) Erin Shivone guides you to synchronize conscious breath with mindful movement.

Men’s Yoga: Saturdays 8:45 AM Tim Rennick provides everyone the opportunity to modify or advance their practice.

Tai Chi: Tuesdays 8:30 AM | Starting Aug 15 Tai Chi Master Trainer Marianne Walch, Ph.D., the Co-Director of the Silver Lotus Training Institute, will lead this program. To register, email tara@camprehoboth.com.

PTK Delaware offers groups and a private Facebook page. Separate meeting spaces for adults and youth (ages 12-19). Visit ptkdelaware.com for more information.

YOUTHUP AND YOUNG ADULT PROGRAMS

Bi-weekly and Monthly Events Ask Your Pharmacist: 3rd Wednesdays 3 PM (Zoom) | Aug 16

Young Adult Discussion Group: 3rd Thursdays at 6 PM (Zoom) | Aug 17

Cape Pharmacy pharmacist Joli Martini, PharmD, BCGP, answers your questions about medications and side effects. Confidential. Register at camprehoboth.com.

CAMP Rehoboth Book Club: Last Mondays 5:30 PM (Zoom) | July 31

An 8-week group facilitated by Joseph Anastasio, LCSW, and Sondra Rosenfeld, a grief volunteer for 20+ years. Email turnheartlighton@gmail.com or call 410-804-6407.

Women in Circle: 1st & 3rd Sats. 10 AM— Unity Spiritual Center, Millsboro | Aug 5 & 19

Flaming Knitters: 2nd & 4th Mondays 6:30 PM | July 24, Aug 14

Women in Circle is a gathering of LGBTQ+ women. It is a welcoming, inclusive, and positive place to meet, connect, and share with other women.

Flaming Knitters is an engaging and supportive space for connecting and conversing while working on fiber-related crafts with queer- and trans-affirming peers.

Yoga and Meditation

CAMP FAMILIES

Sue McCarthy brings compassion, humor, and encouragement and weaves mindfulness, breathwork, and meditation into her classes. To register, email tara@camprehoboth.com. In-person resumes in September.

1st Thursdays: Zoom | 2nd Tuesdays: Lewes 3rd Thursdays: Wilmington

Contact YouthUp@camprehoboth.com or call 302-277-5620 to register, to get more details, or to share your ideas. We want to hear from you!

The Book Club is a queer-facilitated discussion group dedicated to reading novels about queer topics and/or books by queer authors. The July selection: Pageboy by Elliot Page.

Yoga Over 50: Monday-Sunday 8:30 AM and M-W-F 4 PM (Zoom)

PTK (Parents of Trans & Gender Expansive Kids): In-person & Zoom at 7 PM

This discussion group is for 18- to 25-yearold LGBTQ+ young adults. To register, email YouthUp@camprehoboth.com.

YouthUp Book Club: Last Thursdays at 7 PM (Zoom) | July 27 The YouthUp Book Club meets to discuss youth-selected LGBTQ+ YA books. July’s book is Wash Day Diaries. To receive a free copy of the book and to register, email YouthUp@camprehoboth.com. ▼

CAMP Families is a network of LGBTQ+ inclusive families, who are committed to building community and creating meaningful memories together. For more information or to propose a new activity, email tara@ camprehoboth.com.

Dolphin Sunset FULL MOON Cruise: Aug 1 | 7 PM

Morning Mindfulness: Tuesdays 8 AM (Zoom)

Pack a picnic dinner and come early to mingle! Register at capewatertaxi.com.

Erin Shivone leads a mindful exercise or morning meditation for 30 minutes.

Bonfire on the Beach: 08/19: 7 PM

Sunday Fun Day at Funland: Aug 6 | 7 PM JULY 21, 2023

29 Letters

Before the Beach

BY MARJ SHANNON

A Crowning Achievement

R

ecently, Letters spoke with musician, pageant winner, and reality show contestant (and Lewes, Delaware resident!) Kariselle Snow about coming out, her career, and her hopes for the future….

“It was a soft launch,” says entertainer Kariselle Snow, of her coming out experience as a teen. “I just started dating a woman, and let people figure it out. I mean—it’s not that hard to put it together….” She admits, though, that “I kind of wore it with shame till I was in my early 20s. I lived in a small town in New Jersey; it was okay to be queer, but no one talked about it. Then, when I was 23, I began going to LGBTQ+ events and gatherings and meeting people like me— and began to be out and PROUD.” The whole experience may have helped soft launch her career, too: one way she coped with feeling “different” in her teens was through comedy and entertaining people. And found she really enjoyed it—far more than she thought she would the more buttoneddown career as a lawyer she briefly considered in middle school and high school. Those thoughts swirled till she recognized that school wasn’t so much her “thing,” in which case law school…. “I mean, what was I thinking?!”

Opportunities to entertain turned up aplenty. Fresh out of college, Kariselle pursued music (an ongoing passion).

She’s also a pageant competitor (she competes as Kelly Smith); she won the 2020 Miss New Jersey United States pageant and was Miss Rehoboth Beach in 2021. She holds the title of Miss Lewes 2023 and was first runner-up in the 2023 Miss Delaware USA pageant.

She’s appeared in multiple reality shows, including Perfect Match, Netflix’s Sexy Beast (she was dressed as a panda for that one), and MTV’s Are You the One? Music is where you can find her right now: She’s a lead vocalist for the rock ‘n roll cover band Coming Alive. With bookings this summer throughout the Mid-Atlantic, she’s looking forward to a full season of entertaining. A recent Letters 30 JULY 21, 2023

highlight: the band played New Jersey Pride at Asbury Park. Says Kariselle, “My bandmates are wonderful, active allies of the community—it was a fabulous experience.” Coming Alive is appearing at Seacrets, in Ocean City, Maryland, in July and September; check their Facebook page for details.

I just think it’s so important to let young people know that being LGBTQ+ is something they can be proud of.

Asked what she found to be the most challenging among her experiences, she immediately identified pageantry. “I am a clumsy, uncoordinated kind of person; I’m kind of quirky and loud. A pageant contestant needs to be very poised and articulate, and needs to present in a certain way. For me, it took a LOT of training—about a year of it. And I was starting much later in life than many contestants, who had been competing in pageants for years.”

So, why did she pursue it? “There was so little representation of queer people in the pageant’s history—just one trans state queen [Kataluna Enriquez, 2021] and one bi state queen [Rachel Slawson, 2020]. So one reason I wanted

to compete was to show younger people a bi person being successful.”

She goes on to add, “The ‘It Gets Better’ project is a favorite of mine. I just think it’s so important to let young people know that being LGBTQ+ is something they can be proud of. And that being queer doesn’t mean they can’t also be professionally—or personally— successful. When you’re young and just recognizing you’re queer and you’re thinking, ‘what do I do now?!’, it helps to see happy, successful adults.”

If pageantry was the most difficult of her experiences to date, Kariselle notes that the reality shows have been her favorites. “I’ve loved being able to entertain ever-larger audiences. It’s a really competitive industry, and the shows require a certain set of talents or skills. You have to have an ability to shine; to make evident your love of entertaining. You have to be bold and unafraid of embarrassing yourself.”

How did Kariselle end up in Delaware? “I feel like I’ve been moving in-and-out of Delaware for three years, now! [laughs] It’s nicely located between DC and New York and, frankly, it’s always just felt like ‘home base.’ I do so many fast-paced things; I love the slower pace.

I love feeling I can just chill and enjoy the moment and recharge. I especially love the off-season; it has such a peaceful, relaxing vibe.”

As for her hopes for the future, Kariselle notes, “I’d love to travel the world. I’ve never had the opportunity to do that and would love to explore other places and cultures. But truly—I just trust in the universe. Everything I’ve experienced has found me at the right place and time. I just surrender control, keep my ‘vibrations’ high, and wait to see what comes. I believe you get from the universe what you put into it; you can attract success. So I give it my all—and can’t wait to see what comes!” ▼ Marj Shannon is editor of Letters from CAMP Rehoboth.

Join us!

Become a member today!

Support our mission.

Join with others to continue our mission of celebrating diversity and building a strong community for all.

37 Baltimore Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 | 302.227.5620 | camprehoboth.com JULY 21, 2023

31 Letters

ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE

Unveiling The Future: FOOZ FIGHTERS Foo Fighters Tribute July 30 - 7:30PM

WHO'S BAD? Michael Jackson Tribute August 13 - 8PM

Milton Theatre EDUCATION WING Launch Event

AUGUST 2 - WEDNESDAY - 6PM (FREE EVENT) We are thrilled to invite you to the exclusive announcement of our soon-to-be Education Wing! This exciting addition to our historic venue promises to provide an enhanced learning experience for our youngest performers.

DISNEY DIVAS Drag Show August 18 - 8PM

JAGGED LITTLE PILLS Alanis Morissette Tribute August 27 - 7:30PM

MARY POPPINS JR. July 28 12pm & 2pm

FINDING NEMO JR.

Aug 4 12pm & 2pm

MORE EVENTS JULY 27 - MAMA'S BLACK SHEEP: Quayside@Nite JULY 28 - CRACKIN' YOU UP: Stand-Up Comedy Special JULY 29 - FABULOUS LAUGH PACK: Magic/Comedy/Music AUG 3 - CHARLIE & THE COOLTONES: Quayside@Nite AUG 4 - THE BLUES BROTHERHOOD: Blues Brotherhood Tribute AUG 5 - PEEK-A-BOO REVUE: Neo-Burlesque Troupe AUG 6 - JANGLEBACHS: Woodstock Tribute

AUG 9 - ALL REVVED UP: Ultimate Meat Loaf Tribute AUG 10 - SPOKEY SPEAKY: Quayside@Nite AUG 11 - DEANNA FITZPATRICK: Psychic Medium AUG 12 - UNFORGETTABLE FIRE: U2 Tribute AUG 16 - NIGHTRAIN: The Guns N' Roses Experience AUG 17 - LOWER CASE BLUES: Quayside@Nite AUG 19 - BEATLEMANIA NOW!: Beatles Tribute

For more information on tickets, show details, and full events calendar go to:

www.MILTONTHEATRE.com

302.684.3038 | 110 Union St. Milton, DE Letters 32 JULY 21, 2023

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33 Letters

CAMP Theatre

BY MATTY BROWN

The Dramatic Debut of Kelly Sheridan CAMPing Up the Director’s Chair

T

his fall, CAMP Rehoboth Theatre Company (CRTC) will stage two productions: The Weir, by Conor McPherson, directed by the Company’s Artistic Director Russell Stiles; and Rain Check, by Claudia Allen, directed by new director Kelly Sheridan. Dates for The Weir are November 2-5; for Rain Check, October 5-7. Both will be performed in the Elkins-Archibald Atrium.

While CAMP Rehoboth warmly welcomes Kelly Sheridan to her new role as director of a CRTC show, she’s no stranger to the CAMP Rehoboth stage: Kelly’s acted in several CAMP Theatre productions, most recently, last fall’s 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche.

Auditions for Rain Check will be August 9 at 7:00 p.m. at CAMP Rehoboth, or by special arrangement.

MATTY BROWN: How many years has it been since you have directed a show?

KELLY SHERIDAN: Oh, my goodness.

Probably since 2000. Wow. Great return here. It’s been a while.

MB: Can you speak to what drew you to choose Rain Check as a production to direct for CAMP Rehoboth Theatre Company?

KS: I had become familiar with the playwright when I purchased a book that featured a couple of her collections. I like Rain Check because it has a very positive, happy ending with two women who reconnect after marriages and after failed relationships, and you don’t really know if these two ladies are going to make it as a couple. But it’s hopeful. I thought that it’s the sweetest story, and I think a lot of the women in our community are going to identify with and really enjoy it.

MB: You’ve been involved with CAMP Theatre for a while now. With that history, you mentioned that you were a student and friend of the late Kay Cummings. Do Letters 34 JULY 21, 2023

you have any theatre takeaways that Kay imparted that have stayed with you?”

KS: I love Kay because of her classes that we took at CAMP, and also in the plays that she directed, and I got to be in one of them [2019’s In the Wake].

She never said, “No, you’re doing it all wrong.” She was very open to different interpretations. So I kind of want to recreate her style here at CAMP because I found that very welcoming and refreshing.

MB: What excites you about directing versus acting in a production?

KS: I definitely think directing is less scary than acting. I love being on stage because I’m a natural ham, but memorizing lots of lines can be stressful. Oftentimes, I would try to memorize as much of the entire play as possible in any production. In previous performances I directed, though, I was dealing mostly with high school students and I was much younger.

So then not knowing the lines or remembering their marks could also be stressful. But I think directing more mature adults—now I’m a mature adult—I think that will be much more fun; I think we’re going to have a really good time. I know I’ll have a good time just imparting some of my wisdom, some of my comedic timing, and knowledge about theatre.

MB: What shows were foundational for you growing up and inspired you or informed your style of theatre?

KS: The first two shows I remember seeing as a little girl were Peter Pan with Sandy Duncan and Annie, and I was completely hooked. My parents always had Broadway albums in the house, so I memorized My Fair Lady; I remember having lots of alone playtime in my bedroom with those albums.

MB: What are some favorite theatre memories or roles that you’ve personally had?

KS: I think my most favorite role still has to be the last show I did, which was Red

I just really encourage any of the women in our community who have always wanted to try this, to audition.

Robin in 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche. That was just so much fun and so silly. And it was just so great hearing all the laughter.

MB: Is there anything else you’d like to add?

KS: I just really encourage any of the women in our community who have always wanted to try this, to audition. I know CAMP Rehoboth is very welcoming to people who are doing this for the first time, and they love to see new faces on the stage.

You should come on out. You never know. You might be discovered. ▼ Matty Brown is Communications Manager at CAMP Rehoboth.

DON’T MISS CAMP REHOBOTH THEATRE COMPANY’S 2023 UPCOMING PRODUCTIONS

RAINCHECK

by Claudia Allen Directed by Kelly Sheridan

October 5, 6 & 7 8:00 pm

THE WEIR

by Conor McPherson Directed by Russell Stiles

November 2, 3 & 4 - 7:30 pm November 5 - 2:00 pm 37 Baltimore Avenue Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 302-227-5620 camprehoboth.com

JULY 21, 2023

35 Letters

BE A SPORT

BY MARY JO TARALLO

Getting to Know You

Women’s FEST’s 2023 Sportswoman of the Year

E

rin Reid is a born athlete—one of those people who excels at just about any sport. She admits to being a sports junkie and certainly is an inspiration for others.

Her golf team placed first in the 18hole tournament at The Rookery during CAMP Rehoboth’s Women’s FEST. She and her pickleball partner followed up by taking the top prize in that tournament during that same weekend.

Her father inspired her love of sports.

Reid’s dad exposed her and her two sisters to tennis, basketball, miniature golf, and bowling—and that was just for starters. “I was blessed to have a supportive mom and wonderful coaches/mentors who guided me along the way,” she said.

As a youngster, she played basketball, softball, and soccer for the Boys and Girls Club. In high school, she played on the varsity basketball, softball, and tennis teams. A cherished memory for her was when her Parkdale High team won the Maryland 4A State Girls High School Basketball Championship with her younger sister as her backcourt mate.

One of her proudest accomplishments was winning a full scholarship to play basketball at Georgetown University. After college, she played adult basketball, softball, flag football, and soccer. Whew! She continued to receive awards in various sports at all levels but says that playing with “awesome teammates” and forming longtime friendships is most important to her.

Erin says her favorite sport has always been basketball. Knee issues have limited her basketball playing days, so she has moved on to golf as her “favorite sport” with pickleball a close second.

Reid spent her early years living in Berwyn Heights and Dayton, Maryland.

As an adult, she owned a rental property in Rehoboth and visited for over 30 years.

She says it was an easy decision to move to Rehoboth full-time when she retired in 2021 from Northrop Grumman Corporation after a 38-year career.

Letters 36 JULY 21, 2023

She joined Kings Creek Country Club in 2020 and played on their WPGA match play golf travel team this year. She has also played in many WPGA and DWGA golf tournaments. She belongs to First

“Believe in yourself, put in the work to succeed, and in the end make sure you are always smiling.”

State Pickleball and typically plays in a handful of local pickleball tournaments.

Her passion for sports goes beyond her playing expertise. She also believes in giving back. She coached boys and girls Travel/AAU basketball for a dozen years, served as an evaluator of women’s basketball officials for the Big East, ACC, and Big Ten Conferences for over 25 years and a few years for the WNBA. For 20 years, she hosted an annual women’s golf tournament with her sisters in Maryland after their mother died of ovarian cancer.

Participants and sponsors raised $187,000 for the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance.

She credits success at Women’s FEST to “good friends as teammates who just have fun, have each other’s backs, and as former college athletes, have a little competitive side, too,” citing her golf foursome as an example: Beth Petitte played field hockey and softball at Virginia Common-

wealth University, Lori Guitson played softball and field hockey at Bloomsburg, and Lisa Lekawa played tennis, basketball, and volleyball at West Chester.

Pickleball partner Lynn Casey played field hockey and tennis at High Point.

Playing sports is just part of the fitness mix for Reid. She goes to the gym at least four times a week and takes some group fitness classes. And works in beach walks and biking on the area’s extensive trail network.

She is a big advocate of CAMP Rehoboth and sees it as an integral part of the community. “In addition to my membership, I try to support as many events as I can,” she said.

Advice that she offers others is something she learned for herself—“Believe in yourself, put in the work to succeed, and in the end make sure you are always smiling.” To her, sports participation instills a sense of belonging, confidence, and support.

“I absolutely encourage everyone to be involved in some type of sporting activity—especially as we get older—obviously for the physical health advantages, but the social aspect is just as important,” she said. “It’s never too late to start.”

“The Rehoboth area has a robust community for all kinds of sports, but you must put yourself out there to take full advantage,” she said. “There are both organized leagues and recreational events for whatever sport you love. I have met so many wonderful people by just getting involved with the avenues that are available to all of us.” ▼ Mary Jo Tarallo is a former journalist and public relations professional for various non-profits including a ski industry trade association. She won a Gold Award for a United Way TV program starring Oprah Winfrey.

Photo L-R: Lynn Casey and Erin Reid, 2023 Womens FEST champs

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37 Letters

Out & About

BY ERIC C. PETERSON

Don’t Know Much About History

L

ast month, I had the pleasure of performing in a “docudrama” of sorts at CAMP Rehoboth called Voices from Stonewall.

Told mostly through the actual words of both protestors and police who were there when the June 1969 riots took place at the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village, it was both dramatic and educational—for me, anyway. Many in the audience didn’t learn something so much as were reminded of what they themselves had lived through 54 years ago. After both of our shows, I heard the same sentiment from multiple audience members: Kids, especially our own gay and trans youth, need to hear this.

It was another reminder of one of our greatest vulnerabilities as a community.

As much as most happy LGBTQ+ people find solace and comfort in our deep and abiding friendships with one another, it’s rare that gay and trans kids are raised by gay and trans parents. Black kids learn not only about ancestors who were enslaved, but also about Jim Crow laws and redlining from their Black parents. Jewish kids learn about the Holocaust from their Jewish parents.

Japanese-American kids learn about the internment camps during World War II and Native American kids learn about the Trail of Tears from parents who share those targeted identities.

As queer people, some of us take a natural interest in the history of our own community. But unless you’re naturally drawn to do your own research, we don’t have much intergenerational contact in the LGBTQ+ community. While there are certainly exceptions to this (more about me in a moment), most of us come out, work up the courage to visit our first gay bar (or these days, gay bowling league or gay AA meeting), meet a bunch of gay people just like ourselves (typically same race, same income level, and same age), and create a little found family.

We raise up our peers while they raise us up. We might brush up against our elders at the occasional swanky Letters 38 JULY 21, 2023

fundraiser for an LGBTQ+ charity, but the conversations are typically fleeting, full of kindness but lacking in depth.

Rarely, if ever, has a younger gay or trans person been told by an older gay or trans person to sit down, be quiet, and listen to them talk about how things used to be.

But unless you’re naturally drawn to do your own research, we don’t have much intergenerational contact in the LGBTQ+ community.

I’m a lucky outlier, in that two of the first people I came out to were a lesbian couple over 20 years my senior. One was the director of a play I was appearing in, and the other was our stage manager. They didn’t live in Rehoboth Beach full-time (yet), but as soon as the play closed they brought me to the beach and spent an entire weekend introducing me to lots of happy LGBTQ+ people who were living their very best lives.

Also, they stopped by Lambda Rising (RIP) on Baltimore Avenue to buy me a copy of Making History, an anthology of first-person LGBTQ+ historical accounts beginning in the 1920s. Almost 30 (!!) years later, they are still dear friends, and everyone who knows us refers to them as my lesbian moms.

Also, even luckier for me, these are ladies who know their history. They also sought out and nurtured relationships with their elders. Two of their dearest friends were Muriel Crawford and her wife Anyda Marchant, who wrote lesbian novels with actual happy endings under the pen name Sarah Aldredge. Muriel

and Anyda passed away in 2005 in their 90s. I’m not sure I know another gay or trans person my age who has ever met a gay or trans person over the age of 90, much less had the opportunity to sit and listen to them speak about what they’ve seen, how they’ve loved, and what they’ve learned from it all.

And just as this lack of intergenerational contact prevents our youth from knowing their history, it also prevents us (now that I’m in my 50s, I’m counting myself among the elders) from experiencing the culture as it exists today. Once, I remember a gay Baby Boomer expressing his disappointment that none of the young gay men he knew had ever heard of the 1939 film The Women, much less appreciate his exquisite line readings.

This was back in the ealy-aughts, so I asked him (gently) if I quoted some lines from Mean Girls, would he have any idea what I was talking about.

He had to admit he’d be at a loss.

Which is a shame. Both of those movies are really funny. But more than that, we have so much to learn from each other.

And so many mistakes we will surely make if we never bother to learn about ourselves. As the great Roman politician Cicero once said, “Not to know what has been transacted in former times is to be always a child.” I don’t know if he was gay or not, but he’s name-checked in “Cell Block Tango,” so…close enough. ▼ Eric Peterson is Interim Managing Editor of Amble Press, a novelist (Loyalty, Love & Vermouth), and a diversity, equity, and inclusion practitioner. In his spare time, he hosts a podcast, The Rewind Project.

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39 Letters

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41 Letters

Dining Out

BY LESLIE SINCLAIR & DEBBIE WOODS

Coho’s Market & Grill: Delicious Decisions!

O

ur latest Dining Out assignment was something different, and no less delicious! Coho’s Market & Grill at 305 Rehoboth Avenue has so many options: Eat in, eat outside on the patio festooned with market umbrellas, or take out? Breakfast sandwich, lunch sandwich, salad, or panini? Curry or regular chicken salad?

Fresh iced tea, Gaia coffee, or cocktail to go? Pick up or get delivery via Door Dash? Oh my!

Coho’s convenience and wide variety of selections definitely fill a need. The concept was the brainchild of original owners Rick Coho Hardy and Dave Lyons, who purchased the former Grub Grocery. In December 2021, they sold the market to JAM Holdings, co-owned

by Mark Hunker and Jeff McCracken.

(You know, the Eden Restaurant/JAM Bistro/Red White & Basil guys.) JAM retained the Coho’s name and kept much of the existing menu and the existing Coho’s team. This is their second summer and business is on a roll.

We visited Coho’s at noon and pulled right into the free parking. We were warmly greeted by co-owner Mark Hunker. We decided to sample three popular sandwiches made by manager Jack, who has been with the JAM organization for eight years. While we waited, Mark also provided samples of their house-made curry chicken salad, regular chicken salad, Asian noodles, and Italian pasta salad. Both chicken salads were to die for.

The noodles were adorned with a nice mild sesame dressing, and the penne salad came with sun-dried tomatoes and a flavorful Italian dressing.

Now for the sandwiches: We started with the Olive, a spinach wrap filled with house-made hummus, feta cheese, black olives, cucumber, lettuce, and roasted tomatoes, finished off with a lemon dressing. We both declared it had excellent flavor.

Next was the St. Lawrence, one of Dave and Rick’s favorites, and a Coho’s signature sandwich. This had thin-sliced rare and lean roast beef, Havarti cheese,

Letters 42 JULY 21, 2023

and horsey sauce with lettuce, tomato, and red onion on a sub roll. It was chock full of delicious roast beef. Loved the kick of the sauce too!

Lastly, we sampled one of their most popular paninis—the Cuban. Tavern ham, thin-sliced pork slow roasted in-house, Swiss cheese, pickles, and honeycup dijonnaise was served up on a pressed ciabatta. Wow, soooo good!

Coho’s offers items from other JAM restaurants, such as mac & cheese or key lime pie from Eden, edamame guacamole or short ribs from JAM Bistro…

What else does Coho’s offer? A super-friendly staff—Allyson, Sidney, Ella, and others who were busy in the kitchen. There was great teamwork and camaraderie.

Coho’s also offers breakfast sandwiches including the Kent Bennie—two eggs, grilled ham, tomato and hollandaise on a ciabatta; the Pine Reach—creamy avocado toast topped with pico de gallo, and lox and bagel. They also have healthy fruit bowls, yogurt, and a daily quiche.

From the grill there’s a Philly cheese steak made with beef or chicken, an Impossible Burger, or tuna melt. Additional signature sandwiches include a turkey

club, BLT, crowd favorite curry chicken salad with cashews and golden raisins, and a specialty called the Delaware, Coho’s take on an Italian hoagie.

And what else from the press? Next time we will try the Brooklyn panini with prosciutto, pepperoni, sopressata, and more. Sounds yummy! And there are more enticing selections.

If you’re looking for prepared foods to go, we should note that Coho’s offers items from other JAM restaurants, such as mac & cheese or key lime pie from Eden, edamame guacamole or short ribs from JAM Bistro, and fresh pastas and sauces from Red White & Basil.

Coho’s also offers a selection of specialty cocktails like strawberry lemonade from Fifer Farm’s strawberry-infused vodka, and the peach margarita with Bennett Farm’s peach-infused tequila.

(We refrained since it was only noon!) You can get assorted wines and beers as well, and fresh-brewed specialty coffees by Gaia. (You can buy Gaia by the bag and freshly ground in the store.) We can testify it’s delicious!

We haven’t mentioned the deli section! Salads, seafood, other prepared foods, Boars Head cold cuts, cheese spreads by DeBruno Brothers, and gourmet cheeses, charcuterie items, and assorted beverages are all here.

There are lots of Delicious Decisions to make. Coho’s has everything you need whether you’re having last-minute hunger pangs, you’re on your way to the beach, or you’re hosting an impromptu party.

Coho’s caters, too, for those parties that allow more planning.

Watch for daily specials and keep in mind Meatloaf Mondays and Pot Pie Fridays, available off-season. For convenience, order ahead online at cohosmarket.com or call 302-227-2646 (COHO). ▼ Leslie Sinclair and her wife Debbie Woods are longtime fans of the Rehoboth Beach dining and entertainment scene and have been fulltime residents since 2009.

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43 Letters

CAMP Stories

BY RICH BARNETT

Pimento Cheese: Summer’s Pâté

T

here’s a lot to love about summer, but let’s be honest, one of the best things is the food. Over the years, I’ve written in this column about many I like, including watermelons, fried chicken, sweet corn, peaches, and potato salad. Today I want to pay homage to another of my summertime favorites: pimento cheese. Or, as we say in the South, puh-mennah cheese.

At its essence, pimento cheese is a simple recipe of grated sharp cheddar cheese, mayonnaise, and diced red pimento peppers. It’s an incredibly versatile spread. It can be fancy when made into dainty tea sandwiches—bread crusts removed, of course. It can be casual when served with Ritz crackers. It can be retro when spread on celery sticks.

Pimento cheese is perfect for summer picnics, garden parties, barbecues, a day at the beach, and even when a troupe of drag queens descend upon one’s house to deliver apple pies over the 4th of July weekend….

Those of you who hail from the South are probably salivating right now. Other readers are probably wrinkling their noses or scratching their heads about this ubiquitous Southern specialty. Yet despite the glorious reputation of pimento cheese in the South, it’s quite surprising to learn that the roots of this delicious cheese spread are north of the Mason-Dixon Line.

What? Lawd, child, clutch those pearls!

Here’s the story as best as I can discern it. New York farmers back in the 1870s started making a soft Neufchâtel style cheese that eventually evolved into what we refer to today as cream cheese.

Around the same time, Spain began exporting canned pimento peppers to the US. Good Housekeeping magazine is believed to have put these two products together into the first pimento cheese recipe in 1908. Food manufacturers in the Midwest soon began producing this version of pimento cheese for grocery store shelves.

By the 1920s, a domestic pimento pepper industry was thriving in Georgia Letters 44 JULY 21, 2023

as an alternative to expensive Spanish imports and this helped increase the popularity of pimento cheese nationwide.

During the Depression, Southerners began replacing cream cheese with cheaper “rat cheese,” a name for the cheddar cheese sold at country stores, and “hoop cheese,” a homemade concoction where

Pimento cheese is perfect… even when a troupe of drag queens descend upon one’s house to deliver apple pies over the 4th of July weekend…. cooks drained cottage cheese, added pimento peppers, and then molded the flavored curds into semi-firm hoops. Mayonnaise was used to bind these cheeses with the pimento peppers.

The orange cheddar cheese version won the day. As it spread across the South like kudzu, it became an affordable staple, including for millions of workers in the textile industry. In the anti-union South, workers had to eat quickly on breaks. By the late 1940s, pimento cheese sandwiches, sold by small companies and later in vending machines, became popular for lunch.

And speaking of lunch, a husband and wife named Hodges and Ola Hern-

don began selling homemade pimento cheese on white bread sandwiches for a quarter apiece to guests at the Master’s Golf Tournament in Augusta, Georgia. It’s an ongoing tradition at the tournament, though the sandwiches are now made on-site, and the price has increased to a hefty $1.50. Golf patrons purchase it more than any other sandwich on the menu.

For the next 60 years pimento cheese remained a quiet mainstay at Southern picnics, cookouts, funeral receptions, and church socials. In 2003, the Southern Foodways Alliance announced a Pimento Cheese Invitational. The Alliance’s mission is to document, study, and celebrate the diverse food cultures of the changing American South.

The Invitational drew 350 responses and put pimento cheese on the emerging foodie map. It became trendy and celebrity chefs and hip young restauranteurs jumped onto the pimento cheese express. Chef Bobby Flay uses it to top grilled hamburgers. Southern chef Carla Hall melts pimento cheese into a béchamel sauce and ladles it over French fries.

Even renowned food author Ina Gartner has a recipe that adds in cream cheese, onion, garlic, and sriracha.

Personally, I prefer my pimento cheese on the classic side. And I must admit I usually buy it pre-made, but only if it is manufactured in the Carolinas. Sometimes I’ll mix in chopped jalapeno-stuffed olives to spice things up a bit. When I want it wetter, I’ll add extra mayo. All this to say my philosophy is you can season it anyway you like so long as you start with the holy trinity of cheddar, mayonnaise, and pimento.

So, give pimento cheese a try this summer. Pair it with a cold Pinot Gris or Grüner Veltliner. And if you pour it over French fries, please by all means send me a picture! Bon appétit. ▼ Rich Barnett is the author of The Discreet Charms of a Bourgeois Beach Town, and Fun with Dick and James.

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45 Letters

It’s My Life

BY MICHAEL THOMAS FORD

One Life to Live

“W

hat’s the matter?”

I’m sitting on the couch. Cubby, who is walking past on his way to the kitchen, looks at me suspiciously.

“Nothing,” I say.

He waits.

“I was just thinking how cool it would be if we had an oyster farm on an island in Maine,” I say.

Cubby sighs. “Not again.”

This is uncalled for. I have never suggested an oyster farm before. I might, however, have suggested that it would be fun to have a ramen restaurant. Or a B&B. Or an alpaca farm. I might possibly have also suggested that maybe we could learn to make artisanal cheeses, or grow mushrooms to sell at farmers markets, or become potters.

“I don’t do anything interesting!” I say.

“You write books,” he reminds me. “A lot of people would love to make a living writing books.”

I snort. “Books. Whatever. Anybody can write books.”

“No, they cannot,” he says reasonably.

“It’s just putting words together,” I continue. I am not ready to let go of the oyster farm just yet.

“What brought it on this time?” Cubby asks.

“I was watching a series about restaurants in unusual places,” I tell him.

(It’s Restaurants at the End of the World, hosted by chef Kristen Kish, should you want to become obsessed too.)

“And someone had an oyster farm in Maine?”

“Not just an oyster farm. A restaurant.

In a barn. And goats. And they grow their own produce. And there are chickens.

During the summer they have weekly dinners in the barn and guests come on a ferry. It would be perfect.”

“Mmm hmm,” Cubby says, and heads for the kitchen.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I shout after him.

I know what it means. It means that tomorrow I will find something else to do Letters 46 JULY 21, 2023

that sounds amazing. Raising heritage breed hogs. Buying an old lighthouse and turning it into an art gallery. Moving to Vermont and opening a store selling vintage Christmas decorations. There are endless options.

I’m just saying that sometimes I wonder what it would be like to do something else.

I do not dislike my life. I actually love it. And I know none of these other things would be the dream lives I envision them being. In fact, I know people who do many of these things. Including the oyster farm. I have a friend whose family owned one while she was growing up. “I still haven’t gotten the smell out of my hair,” she says when I mention how great I think that must have been. “And it’s been 30 years.”

Still, whenever I see a show or read an article about someone doing something that seems interesting, I want to do that thing too. A few weeks ago, I was obsessed with Tom Brown, a retired chemical engineer who now devotes his life to seeking out and preserving rare species of apples. Before that I wanted to buy an old movie theater in a dusty desert town (I saw an article online about one for sale) and show Close Encounters of the Third Kind (my favorite movie) every Saturday night. And don’t get me started on how many times I’ve driven through a place and thought, “This would be the perfect location for a coffee shop/ bookstore.”

One of the great things about writing books is that you can create characters who do the things you yourself might want to do. And when you write about their lives, you have a legitimate excuse for learning about these things too. You can take classes. Visit places. Have the

experiences you fantasize about. And as long as it all ends up in a book, you can even write a lot of it off as business expenses.

Often, this satisfies the “What would it be like to?” cravings. But not always. All I’ve ever done for work is write books.

Again, I know a whole lot of people who would like to do the same thing. And I’m really not complaining. I’m just saying that sometimes I wonder what it would be like to do something else.

I’ll be 55 in a few months, and I’ve been writing full-time for more than 30 years. There are still a lot of books I want to write, more than I likely have remaining time to get done. Still, I sometimes think about the friend who decided to open a bakery at 60. And the one who left the lawyering world to raise some kind of beautiful Icelandic sheep and spin yarn from their wool.

I recently mentioned to a friend in our village with whom I’m planning an upcoming community event that I wish we had more local venues for live music. His eyes lit up. “Funny you should say that,” he said. “I’ve been thinking the same thing.” He paused dramatically. “And I might know just the place we could do it.”

Ten minutes later, standing in the junk-filled, neglected space he’d found, he was describing where the stage would go. “And the bar would go along that wall,” he said.

I didn’t need the hard sell. In my head I was already thinking about artists I’d love to have come play at our nonexistent venue. I could hear the music, see the room filled with people, smell the locally produced beers pouring from the taps.

Then I had an idea.

I turned to my friend, who saw the glint of madness in my eyes and paused. “This might sound crazy,” I said. “But hear me out. What would you think about Ohioraised oysters?” ▼ Michael Thomas Ford is a much-published Lambda Literary award-winning author. Visit Michael at michaelthomasford.com.

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47 Letters

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49 Letters

The Sea Salt Table

BY ED CASTELLI

Summer Corn Salad

I

was in a foul mood the other day. As in, I couldn’t stand my own company.

I’m not sure what put me there. Come to think of it, I’m not sure what got me out. But it went on for a long time.

I know when I’m in an especially bad mood because my vice-like weakness for mental eyerolls takes holds. Oh, you’re having problems connecting to the same meeting 20 of us miraculously joined without issue? Eyeroll. This checkout line is closed? Eyeroll. You’re giving away a free puppy with every carwash? Eyeroll.

Bad moods are rare for me. I’m a pretty happy-go-lucky guy. As the song in West Side Story goes, I feel pretty and witty and gay. Most of the time.

But we Castelli’s tend to be quiet creatures. I like being with my husband because we’re best friends. That, or maybe after 28 years he’s just figured out how to navigate me. Spouses excluded, we like our own company best. Until we don’t. Like me the other day.

So what triggered such a downturn?

Maybe it was just the general state of the world, or ugly partisan politics, or polar bears precariously balancing on shrinking icebergs? The 24/7 news cycle certainly doesn’t help.

Or maybe it’s just my age, and the fact that my tolerance for BS is going the way of my brain-to-mouth filter. Or in the case

of these articles, brain-to-keyboard. My poor editor.

Regardless, I do know what can get me to a sun-shiny place of rainbows and fairy dust: cooking. The act of cooking always puts my mood back on its rails.

Even the cleanup.

It’s sweet and crispy, and a refreshing side to hot grilled dishes.

If our dog didn’t get us up at the crack of dawn, I’ve often thought I could be Meryl Streep’s character in the movie It’s Complicated, making a chocolate croissant in the wee hours after midnight.

Just laughing and rolling dough. OK, her character was high. But still, that could be me.

This month I’m featuring a dish that brightens my mood just reading the recipe card—my Summer Corn Salad. It represents the height of the season and beach-bound days. And it features a local Delaware staple, corn straight from the fields!

Let’s get started, shall we?

STEPS

 Cut the kernels off 3 to 4 ears of corn. Toss in a large bowl with:

• 1 medium cucumber, diced • 1 pint of grape tomatoes, cut in half • 1 cup of chickpeas, rinsed and drained • ½ cup crumbled feta cheese • ¼ cup minced red onion • 2 garlic cloves, smashed • Zest of one lime; plus the juice of 2 limes • 3 Tbls. extra virgin olive oil • 2 to 3 Tbls. minced fresh cilantro • Salt & pepper to taste

 Cover and refrigerate for a few hours to meld the flavors, stirring occasionally. Serve cold with a slotted spoon.

TIPS • Yes, the corn is not cooked. Trust me, you’ll love it. It’s sweet and crispy, and a refreshing side to hot grilled dishes. Be sure to cut close to the cob, getting all the corn’s “milk.” You can even run the blunt edge of your knife up and down the cob to gather the creamy good stuff.

• I’ve seen similar salads where folks add a small amount of mayonnaise to give it an even creamier consistency. Have at it.

• This is an easy recipe to make your own in many ways. Swap black beans for the chickpeas. Add parsley instead of cilantro. Maybe even some avocado just before serving.

Let me know how you make out! ▼ Ed and his husband Jerry split their time between homes near Harrisburg Pennsylvania and Bethany Beach. Ed builds websites to pay the bills but loves to cook, garden, hike, and dote on their dog Atticus. Recipe requests and feedback welcome: ed@seasalttable.com.

Letters 50 JULY 21, 2023

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51 Letters

CAMPshots

SCENES FROM REHOBOTH BEACH

We're Having a Heat Wave!

Delaware Pride, Mask Hysteria, Bad Hair Day Anniversary, Pink Pool Party, Beebe Foundation Pride Event and More Summer 2023.

THIS PAGE (left to right) 1) at CAMP Rehoboth: Frank

DiPompo, Matt Rice, Jeremy Clark, Charles Bounds, Bryan Gearin, Jeff Davies, John Offidani, Artez West, Terry Isler, Bernie James, Latez Hudson, Shawn Evans, Joe Petrone, Magnolia Applebottom, Miss Mann, Michael MaLoon, Michael Dick, Steve Trousell, Scott Beadle; 2) at Rehoboth Art League: Nick Serratore, Rose Murray, Rick Holt.

OPPOSITE PAGE 3) at Murray Archibald’s Mask Hysteria Art Reception at CAMP Rehoboth: Murray Archibald, Tony Burns, Marcia Maldeis, RB Mayor Stan Mills, Ward Ellinger, Allen Jarmon, Anita Broccolino, Sondra Arkin, Mary Beth Ramsey, Steve Hayes, Nick Parish, Grant Oines, Victor Madrigal, Louisa Watrel, Lisa Evans, Jane Blue; 4) at Flag Day Celebration: David Lasher, Larry Pennington.

More CAMPshots page 54.

1

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2

3

4 JULY 21, 2023

53 Letters

SCENES FROM REHOBOTH BEACH

1

(Continued from page 53 THIS PAGE (left to right) 1) at Bad Hair Day 30th Anniversary Celebration: Wendy Eaby, Drexel Davison, Bruce Clayton, Sandra Skidmore, Matthew Trone, Bobby Carolan, Meghan Gardner, Marvin Miller, Susan Wigley, Cathy Davies Harman, Kimberly Grim, Kelly Phillips, Bob Stransky, Marilyn Bryant, RB Mayor Stan Mills, Dale Sheldon, Sidney Artz, Pat Coluzzi; 2) at The Pond: Denise Page, Tracie Shimkus, Tammy LaDuca, Karen Laitman, Andrea Miller.

OPPOSITE PAGE: 3) at The Pink Party: Michelle Manfredi, Kasey Gonzalez-Cruz, Robb Mapou, Matty Brown, Chris Beagle, Eric Engelhart, Leslie Sinclair, Debbie Woods, Jennifer Rubenstein, Diane Scobey, Scott Weich, Robert Simpson, Lucas Ricardo, Geoff Jackson, Paul Frene, Dominic Mannello, Scott Silber, Brad Moorres, Al Drulis, Tom Newton, Tim Murray, Ken Geissler, Joe Matassino, John Hackett, Ryan Bos, Charles Wilcher, Lou Panos, John LaVoie; 4) at The Pines: Brian Johnston, Varla Jean Merman.

24 Letters 54 JULY 21, 2023

(More CAMPshots page 122)

Pink Party!

3

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55 Letters

Celebrity Interview

BY MICHAEL COOK

Margaret Cho

Her Brand New Tour & the Possibility of a Fire Island Sequel

W

hether it’s starring in her own sitcom, touring the globe as a stand-up comedian, or starring in a big screen romantic rom-com, there’s very little that Margaret Cho has not done. As she hits the road for her Live & Livid stand-up tour, Cho is beyond aware that her comedy and advocacy is important now more than ever. I sat down to chat with this famed funny lady and we discussed how her stand-up has changed in today’s world, the impact of the beloved Joan Rivers on her own career, and the possibility of a Fire Island sequel….

MICHAEL COOK: Margaret, you are hitting the road with your Live & Livid comedy tour! In a world where standup comedy can be, to put it mildly, polarizing. How has stand-up comedy changed for you?

MARGARET CHO: I think you have to be more thoughtful about what you are talking about and what the intention is behind it. I think often though, if we are really authentic in our truth, it is going to balance out. The thing is, we are just trying to look to make language, culture, and society more fair…some of us. Others of course are trying to make it more unfair with the ban on drag shows and anti-trans legislation; they’re trying to police identity, which is really offensive.

I think that the rise of that and this neo-nazism that is going on, this facism that is emerging—that has always been there; it has always been a part of America. It has now become really mainstream, which is horrifying. I think you have to be more thoughtful about what words you use, the history of those words, and what you are really trying to get across. I actually think comedians should always have done that anyway, so I think that it’s a benefit. I think it is going to make the art form better.

COOK; Do you think that the attempts at banning drag and the general attacks on queer people nationwide is the thing Letters 56 JULY 21, 2023

I see that my work was meaningful and that it had value and it has a legacy. right now that you are the most “Livid” about?

CHO: Yes. It’s between that and the conservative embrace of firearms. Like, why do we need guns, why?! If you really believe that much in “pro-life” and you are really “pro-life,” you would allow trans children to have gender affirming care. Because that is the primary cause of suicidal ideation, the feeling of not feeling right in your body and not allowing people to be who they are; you’re killing people. It’s not a pro-life argument.

If you’re going to jail women who have had abortions, it’s not a pro-life argument.

If you have the death penalty for people who have had abortions, that’s not prolife. I want to put “dummy” on the end of everything about it; it’s literally the only response.

COOK; Is there a point in your life that you looked around and said to yourself “I’m funny as hell….”

CHO: I have not done that yet. I think what it is, is that people who actually are funny don’t really know that they are still.

There’s kind of a thing that we’re just being ourselves and other people can interpret it as being funny. I look at it as just trying to cope; a sense of humor is just kind of a coping mechanism. So if you have a well-defined one, you’re not noticing it as particularly any sort of talent

or whatever, you are just trying to cope with whatever is going on; I think most comedians are that way. I don’t think we acknowledge or understand what it means to be funny, it’s just an aspect of our coping mechanism.

COOK; Fire Island was an absolute sensation last year. Not only was the cast of the film spectacular, but it truly redefined what a “summer romantic comedy” was. What was the experience like for you?

CHO: We had a great time; we laughed so much. We partied, we had the best cast, the best crew, and the best director. Everybody there was just so down to have an incredible experience.

For me, it was like a gay summer camp.

It was also like being in the woods with my children, they’re all my babies. We loved it.

COOK; Do you think that there is space for a sequel or a spin-off of the film?

CHO: I want sequel, I want prequel, I want a whole cinematic universe. I think we definitely have to shoot a million. I want movies about every single character.

Like Star Wars, I want movies about every single person in this landscape, because I think that their stories should be told, they’re so rich. Joel (Kim-Booster) wrote such a beautiful script and these charac-

I think what I love is all of the counter-protests that are trying to shield children from all of these nazis trying to attack the drag queen story hours.

ters have so much life that I want to know about and I want to follow them all. I think that it definitely has so much potential for so many stories, and I am pushing for that.

COOK; You mentioned all of your babies, and I think that was such an important statement. When you look around and you see Bowen Yang, Joel Kim-Booster, Awkwafina, and you realize that you laid so much of the groundwork for them, that must be truly remarkable for you.

CHO: Oh, it’s my greatest achievement. To inspire those incredible artists, and Ally Wong of course. She is like my prize fighter, she is fighting everything and going for it and doing so much. All of their achievements are my achievements, and I am just so proud.

COOK; Having that kind of an influence over an entire generation of such talented performers truly must be a spectacular feeling….

CHO: It’s the best. I see that my work was meaningful and that it had value and it has a legacy. I think that every good hag wants a legacy (laughs). Every hag needs a legacy, that’s all that she wanted; and I am carrying on the legacy of Wayland Flowers and Madame.

COOK; I feel that Wayland Flowers and Madame don’t get nearly enough current reference in today’s pop culture landscape.…

CHO: (Laughs) And I think that is something that is really misguided because we need to look at the coded Hollywood queerness. Hollywood of the 80s was so queer, but not openly so. Madame is the ultimate; let’s look to the 80s for all of the queerness, like the music shows like Solid Gold. Madame was a commentator on Solid Gold.

COOK; Solid Gold and shows like that are part of the origin story for so many of us, myself included.

CHO: Absolutely. That is kind of how a lot of us understood that we were gay, during the dance sequences (laughs)! I love it.

COOK; I just read about Ron, your new project with John Cameron Mitchell. This

is truly a passion project for you, is that fair to say?

CHO: Yes. It is based on a song that I wrote, “Ron’s Got A DUI.” It was written and Leslie Jordan was actually the star of the music video. Then we started developing the film over the past few years, and then unfortunately we lost Leslie.

John is so great, a wonderful person to step in and reinterpret this idea of who this character would be. John and I have a long history of many shows, many different things.

I used to do my Off-Broadway show a block away from Hedwig (John Cameron Mitchell played the title character in the premiere of the Tony Award-winning Hedwig and the Angry Inch). So I would finish my show and I would go to his show, so I have seen the second act of Hedwig and the Angry Inch a thousand times at least, also in many different countries, different casts, different interpretations of that. I love John and I am really looking forward to doing this with him.

COOK; We spoke about you being a mentor to so many, but you spoke about the dearly missed and eternally beloved entertainment icon Joan Rivers being such a mentor to you. What do you think

is one of the biggest lessons that you took from Joan Rivers?

CHO: I think that you can really combine the elegant with the crass. She created the blueprint for crass elegance; she was so classy but she was so crass.

For me, that is the best way to live because you are inhabiting all spaces, you know? That feeling of everything, she was everything. And that aging is not something to be feared, it is something to enjoy. She really set that into motion for me, that idea.

COOK; How do we as a community push back on so much of the horrible rhetoric coming directly towards our community right now and truly make a difference?

CHO: I think what I love is all of the counter-protests that are trying to shield children from all of these nazis trying to attack the drag queen story hours. That to me, I think all of the counter-activism that is going to protect our community and really joining in on it. Whether it is communicating and sharing your thoughts on it on social media, it’s about talking about what is happening in our community and uniting every aspect of who we are as a community to fight this. I think when we can let go of our infighting—which is very frequent…there is a lot of infighting within the queer community, even if we can use the word “queer.” There are a lot of aspects to that. When we can unite against the larger problem of homophobia, we are really doing something good. ▼ Follow Margaret Cho on Instagram: instagram.com/margaret_cho/?hl=en Michael Cook has been a part-time resident of Rehoboth Beach for over a decade. He is currently a contributor to Instinct Magazine, World of Wonder’s WOW Report, and South Florida Gay News.

Photos: Courtesy Sergio Garcia

JULY 21, 2023

57 Letters

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JULY 21, 2023

59 Letters

CAMP REHOBOTH BEACH GUIDE BEACH AREA LODGING 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

Visit the Beach Guide 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.

REHOBOTH RETAIL SHOPS New Wave Spas, 20660 Coastal Hwy............................................302-227-8484 Unfinished Business, Rt. 1 behind Panera Bread..........................302-645-8700

REHOBOTH ART | GALLERIES | MUSEUMS Caroline Huff, Fine Artist ...................................................www.carolinehuff.com Gallery 50, 50 Wilmington Ave......................................................302-227-2050 Philip Morton Gallery, 47 Baltimore Ave........................................302-727-0905 Rehoboth Art League, 12 Dodds Ln...............................................302-227-8408 Rehoboth Beach Museum, 511 Rehoboth Ave..............................302-227-7310

REHOBOTH FOOD & DRINK 1776 Steakhouse, Midway Shopping Center................................302-645-9355 Aqua, 57 Baltimore Ave................................................................ 302-226-9001 Back Porch Café, 59 Rehoboth Ave...............................................302-227-3674 Blue Moon, 35 Baltimore Ave........................................................302-227-6515 Café Azafrán, 18 Baltimore Ave.....................................................302-227-8100 Café Papillon, Penny Lane Mall......................................................302-227-7568 Coho’s Market & Grill, 305 Rehoboth Ave......................................302-227-2646 Diego’s Bar Nightclub, 37298 Rehoboth Ave................................302-227-1023 Dos Locos, 208 Rehoboth Ave.......................................................302-227-3353 Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant, 3 South First St.......................302-527-1400 Go Fish, 24 Rehoboth Ave..............................................................302-226-1044 Goolee’s Grille, 11 South 1st St.....................................................302-227-7653 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 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

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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

A.G. Renovations ...........................................................................302-947-4096 bsd, 18412 The Narrow Rd, Lewes...................................... 302-684-8588

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. George’s Episcopal, 20271 Beaver Dam Rd, Harbeson......302-227-7202 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) 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—3rd Tuesdays, Public Library, 111 Adams Ave, Lewes 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

COUNSELING/THERAPY/LIFE COACH

Jewish Family Services........................................................ 302-478-9411 Karen Abato, LPC - Licensed Professional Counselor........... 302-500-3691 Kevin J. Bliss, Personal/Professional Coaching.............................302-754-1954 Time to Heal Counseling & Consulting, Lewes ............................302-574-6954

LEGAL/ACCOUNTING/TRUST SERVICES

Lawson Firm, 402 Rehoboth Ave...................................................302-226-3700 PWW Law LLC, 1519 Savannah Rd, Lewes................................... 302-703-6993 Steven Falcone CPA, Taxes & Planning..........................................302-644-8634

MASSAGE THERAPY/FITNESS

Midway Fitness & Racquetball, Midway Center.............................302-645-0407 One Spirit Massage, 169 Rehoboth Ave........................................302-226-3552 Reiki CENTRAL, thecentralfirm.com...............................................302-408-0878

PEST CONTROL

Activ Pest Solutions, 16803 New Rd, Lewes................................ 302-645-1502

PET RETAIL

Critter Beach, 156 Rehoboth Ave..................................................302-226-2690 Pet Portraits by Monique................................................................717-650-4626

PET SERVICES

Silver Electric..................................................................................302-227-1107

Brandywine Valley SPCA, 22918 Dupont Blvd, G’twn.......... 302-856-6361 Humane Animal Partners (formerly Delaware Humane Association & Delaware SPCA).......................................................... 302-200-7159 Little Landmines Pet Waste Removal. littlelandmines.com.......... 302-521-3983 Parsell Pet Crematorium, 16961 Kings Hwy, Lewes............ 302-645-7445

EVENT PLANNING/CATERING

REAL ESTATE

ELECTRICIANS

Plate Catering.................................................................................302-644-1200

FINANCIAL SERVICES

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 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

Allen Jarmon, NextHome Tomorrow Realty...................................302-745-5122 Bill Peiffer, Patterson Schwartz, 18958 Coastal Hwy....................302-703-6987 Chris Beagle, Compass..................................................................302-273-4998 Donna Whiteside, Berkshire Hathaway, 16712 Kings Hwy...........302-381-4871 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 McWilliams Ballard, Kevin McDuffie.................................. kmcduffie@mcwb.com McWilliams Ballard, Justin Orr.....................................................jorr@mcwb.com Randy Mason/Shirley Kalvinsky, Lingo Realty................................302-227-3883 Sea Bova Associates, 20250 Coastal Hwy........................... 302-227-1222 The Joe Maggio Group, 37169 Rehoboth Ave Ext., #11....... 302-226-3770 Troy Roberts, Mann & Sons, 414 Rehoboth Ave............................302-228-7422

RETIREMENT LIVING/SENIOR CARE FACILITIES

Springpoint Choice, 17028 Cadbury Cir, Lewes............................302-313-6658 The Lodge at Truitt Homestead, 36233 Farm Ln.................. 302-232-6372

TRAVEL & TRANSPORTATION

Accent On Travel, 37156 Rehoboth Ave.............................. 302-278-6100 CHEER Transportation (age 50+)....................................................302-856-4909 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.

INSURANCE

Eric Blondin, State Farm...................................................... 302-644-3276 George Bunting, State Farm................................................ 302-227-3891 Jeanine O’Donnell, State Farm............................................ 302-645-7283

JULY 21, 2023

61 Letters

Historical Headliners

BY ANN APTAKER

Say It with Music: Dame Ethel Smyth

S

o there you are, a woman of extraordinary musical talent during the Victorian Age, but in 1880 the influential American music critic George Upton writes a book titled Woman in Music in which he states that women fail as composers due to lack of innate ability, too many overt emotions, and that women are unable “to endure the discouragements of the composer.” Well, what do you do?

If you’re Ethel Smyth you go on to compose six operas, two sets of lieder, assorted works for chamber orchestras, numerous songs for vocals and piano accompaniment, a choral symphony, two orchestral symphonies, a mass, and become the first female composer awarded a Damehood by the British Crown.

Hah! Take that, George Upton!

And while she was composing that body of work, Dame Ethel found the time to be active in the British Suffragette movement. Oh, and did I mention that between 1910 and 1940 she also published 10 books of prose?

Like they say, if you want something done, give it to a busy woman.

Born Ethel Mary Smyth in 1858 in an area of Kent that today is incorporated as a borough of London, Smyth evinced an interest in music early in her youth. Her father, however, a Brigadier in the army, wasn’t keen on the idea of his daughter pursuing what was traditionally a man’s career.

Nevertheless, by age 17, Smyth’s determination to pursue a life in music overcame her father’s objections, and she began studying in earnest. After introductory classes in England, Smyth attended the prestigious Leipzig Conservatory. While in Germany, she was befriended by such influential composers and musicians as Clara Schumann and Johannes Brahms and was mentored by the likes of Grieg and Tchaikovsky.

Tchaikovsky was particularly impressed with Smyth and wrote glowingly of her talents as a composer.

Returning to England, she dedicatLetters 62 JULY 21, 2023

ed herself to her music. She made her debut as a composer in 1890 with her Serenade in D as part of the Crystal Palace Concerts. In 1893, her Mass in D was enthusiastically received, gaining Smyth entry into the highest circles of the British music scene.

Though she made it quite clear that marriage was out of the question, and that she treasured her independence, Smyth was known to have indulged in several affairs.

Between 1893 and 1910, Smyth composed a series of operas. They were performed in various venues in Europe, especially in Germany and eventually in England and even in North America. And though Smyth’s reputation as a composer had been secured, it was still difficult for her to have her operas produced.

Classical music’s male-dominated world was still resistant to the idea of female composers, despite widespread acknowledgement of Smyth’s talent.

This male attitude did not in any way stop—or even slow—Smyth’s output of music. It not only strengthened her commitment to her art, it strengthened her commitment to the Suffragette movement and its attendant struggle for women’s political rights. In 1910, Smyth composed “The March of Women,” which the Women’s Social and Political Union adopted as their anthem.

This busy and determined woman was by no means a stern and spinsterish wallflower. Quite the contrary. Though she made it quite clear that marriage was out of the question, and that she treasured her independence, Smyth was known to have indulged in several affairs. Most were with women; only one was with a man, Henry Bennett Brewster, a long-distance relationship that was perhaps unconsummated. In a letter to Bennett dated 1892, Smyth wrote, “I wonder why it is so much easier for me to love my own sex more passionately than yours. I can’t make it out, for I am a very healthy-minded person.” Well into her senior years, at age 71, Smyth even fell in love with Virginia Woolf! Though Woolf didn’t reciprocate Smyth’s romantic feelings, the two women remained good friends.

After Smyth’s death in 1944, her music fell out of favor; performances were few and far between. As of late, however, there is renewed interest in her compositions, with increasing performances in the UK, Europe, and the United States.

Her contribution to women’s art and rights has been immortalized by inclusion in Judy Chicago’s monumental Feminist work, The Dinner Party, permanently housed in its own gallery in The Brooklyn Museum.

All in all, Dame Ethel Smyth’s life was not only musical but truly magnificent. ▼ Ann Aptaker is the author of short stories and the Lambda & Goldie award winning Cantor Gold series. Her new book, A Crime of Secrets, was released July 4, 2023.

JULY 21, 2023

63 Letters

OUTlook

BY BETH SHOCKLEY

I Dream of Tina

O

ne. Singular. Sensation. That, from the Broadway musical A Chorus Line, is what I think of when I remember Tina Turner, who died in late May. She meant so much to so many, and I’m among the millions of fans who mourn her passing. She felt like a friend. It’s hard when you reach the age where you begin losing icons who defined your coming of age.

I remember first hearing her when her version of the Al Green classic, “Let’s Stay Together,” was released in November of 1983. I really liked it, but when “What’s Love Got to Do with It” hit the charts in 1984, I bought the album, Private Dancer, and wore it out.

That concert tour was a must-see, of course, and I did that year, at age 24. She owned the stage, a mesmerizing performer who set my world on fire.

Everyone was on their feet for the whole show. She was full of “swagger, sensuality, gravelly vocals and unstoppable energy” to borrow a quote from the many I’ve seen. Of the countless concerts I’ve been to over the years, this one remains the very best.

Tina Turner became the Queen of Rock and Roll at age 42. She sold nearly 200 million records, won 12 Grammys, was twice inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and was a 2005 Kennedy Center Honoree. She sold more concert tickets than any other performer in history.

In 1976, she left her abusive husband and success behind with nothing but her name, 36 cents and a gas credit card. She rebooted her career and became a beloved, international star.

About three days after her death, I dreamed of her. Or should I more accurately say she came to me in a dream? Who knows? In the dream, I was on assignment to interview her and she was coming to my apartment. I was frantically cleaning my ratty place and had noisy neighbors who were wasted in the backyard and blasting music. One man came through my back door and was perusing my refrigerator, so I slammed a folding metal chair against his back, commanded him to leave and he did. I called the police to explain the situation.

I headed to the parking lot to meet her and there she was, with a limo and two large bodyguards.

She radiated such an aura of kindness and peace;

She radiated such an aura of kindness and peace; she was gracious and kind.

Letters 64 JULY 21, 2023

she was gracious and kind. I introduced myself and explained about the neighbors. She told her bodyguards to look into it. Then the police arrived and they went completely gaga over the fact that Tina Turner was there. Suddenly, a food delivery from Capriotti’s arrived. She had ordered us all a footlong sub!

So, Tina and I went back into my apartment and sat at the table with the bodyguards and started eating. She was so friendly; it was just like we had been friends for years. We laughed and joked and were having a good time. No more noisy neighbors.

I remembered I was supposed to be doing a formal interview. But this camaraderie felt more important. She asked about my life and I began to share some of the more traumatic bits. Like I said, there was a connection—I trusted her. Then she started talking to me about her Buddhist faith. At that point, I could feel the dream starting to fade and I tried so hard to get it back, but I woke up fully.

I was left feeling encircled in warmth and love.

I wish I had stayed asleep long enough to hear a key message from Tina Turner. But maybe I had.

Maybe the message was what I got—warmth, caring, and love. That’s what I felt after her concert and after my dream. Maybe she’s visiting all of her millions of fans in their dreams. I’d like to think so. What exists in this world and beyond easily transcends what we know—or think we know.

I’ve been listening to Tina on and off since she died. I’ve shed a few tears. But she left me with several special gifts. The gifts of seeing her perform live, her musical legacy, of her friendship and warmth—and even part of a Capriotti’s sub! I never told Tina I wasn’t crazy about Capriotti’s. After all, it’s the thought that counts. ▼ Beth Shockley is a retired senior writer/editor living in Dover with her wife and furbabies.

JULY 21, 2023

65 Letters

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JULY 21, 2023

67 Letters

The REAL DIRT

BY ERIC W. WAHL

Vivacious Viburnums

I

f someone were to ask me to pick one shrub that is a must-have in the garden and the most multi-purpose, it would have to be a viburnum.

Viburnums are a group of plants that include over 150 species.

The most obvious one to choose for our area is the arrowwood viburnum or Viburnum dentatum. This native, deciduous shrub has opposite, simple leaves with toothed edges. Their bluish fruit are known as drupes, a single seed surrounded by a fleshy layer. The arrowwood viburnum is known for its straight stems that historically were used for arrow shafts by Native Americans.

Arrowwood viburnum blooms in spring (great for pollinators) and provides lovely three-season interest to your gardens. Their summer fruit is attractive as well, and the fall color can be a mix of yellow, orange, red, or purple. Recent data suggest that this viburnum is superior for providing nutrient-rich food for migrating birds.

This makes the arrowwood viburnum the best multi-purpose shrub in the landscape, especially since we live in

This multi-purpose shrub can add interest to your gardens for three seasons out of the year. the Atlantic Flyway, a literal highway for migrating birds. Some birds even use it for protection and nesting. In addition, caterpillars of several species of butterfly and moths enjoy this viburnum.

When placing arrowwood viburnum in the garden, keep in mind that they like full-sun to partial-shade, and prefer moist to wet soils. They grow rather fast and can reach up to 10 feet in the right conditions. Arrowwood viburnum can be pruned to keep its shape, and there are multiple cultivars available, like “Blue Muffin,” which are advertised as a more compact specimens.

Letters 68 JULY 21, 2023

Some species of viburnum have wonderful smelling flowers, such as the Korean spice viburnum or Viburnum carlesii. This viburnum has large clusters of pinkish flowers that have a wonderful spicy scent. They produce red drupes that turn blackish in autumn. They also have an attractive red-purple coloring in the fall that lends itself to being another three-season shrub.

Plant Korean spice viburnum near places that you and your visitors frequently walk by or relax in, so you can enjoy the aroma wafting in the springtime air. They like full-sun to partial-shade and can reach an average of six feet in height; they are slow-growing compared to other viburnums. This viburnum does not like wet soils, so keep it in a well-drained area.

Let’s end with evergreen viburnum, which are not as common as the deciduous species. The leatherleaf viburnum, or Viburnum rhytidophyllum, is a large shrub that has very coarse, leathery leaves. They have a bluish-green color and are deeply veined. If we experience long periods of temperatures below 32 degrees, they tend to droop and look sad, but they should bounce back the

following growing season.

Leatherleaf viburnum blooms in spring with fragrant white flowers producing bluish drupes that turn black in fall. They can tolerate shade, but bloom best in full sun. This viburnum can grow rather large if given the opportunity—up to 15 feet tall and wide.

Place these viburnums in places that call for a visual screen or buffer. A side yard next to a nosey neighbor, or around structures that you want to mask—like trash bins or pool equipment sheds.

They also take well to pruning if they seem to be getting out of hand.

I encourage you to try your hand at growing viburnums. This multi-purpose shrub can add interest to your gardens for three seasons out of the year. And you’ll be providing much-needed habitat and food resources for our native pollinators and wildlife, not to mention enjoying the special qualities of these vivacious viburnums yourself.

Be well, and let’s garden together. ▼ Eric W. Wahl is Landscape Architect at Pennoni Associates, and President of the Delaware Native Plant Society.

JULY 21, 2023

69 Letters

Letters 70 JULY 21, 2023

JULY 21, 2023

71 Letters

View Point

BY RICHARD J. ROSENDALL

Memories from the Waterfront

I

Journeys Not Taken; New Ones Beckoning

sometimes get a Trumpish feeling when I clean out my email junk folder. I check it daily lest a message end up there that shouldn’t. But like the former president not wanting to let go of his boxes of mementos, I glance wistfully over the promises of free iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, a 15-inch penis, and a huge lawsuit settlement over bad talcum or Camp Lejeune water I never used.

Of course those and other offers intercepted by my email security are mostly phishing scams.

It would be particularly egregious if I fell for them, considering my background in computer security.

When I worked for the federal government, we had to repeat our security awareness training after former CIA Director John Deutch was found to have top-secret information on an internet-connected home computer.

Suffice it to say that my boxes of memories contain no national secrets—partly because I followed the rules, and partly because I never had a high-level clearance.

Politicians and their appointees are always getting civil servants in trouble. I was 18 when Richard Nixon resigned as president. I started college that fall, and my history professor wore a LOSE button mocking President Ford’s WIN button (for “Whip Inflation Now”) because he was mad over Ford pardoning Nixon.

I forget what LOSE stood for.

On the other hand, I distinctly remember an older student who was kind to me, a fellow member of a musical ensemble who eventually became a lawyer for a Trump casino. He told me at a reunion that if I ever visited Atlantic City, he would introduce me to the boss.

I never made that visit. If I had, it would have had more to do with an old crush on my fellow alum than a desire to meet a vulgar, self-promoting New York businessman.

Straight guys I have loved could be a topic for a memoir. But the challenges of the present occupy me, and there is a man who loves me whom I intend to marry.

That oversimplifies things a bit, because four decades ago there was a straight fellow who loved

...the challenges of the present occupy me, and there is a man who loves me whom I intend to marry.

Letters 72 JULY 21, 2023

me in his way. We developed a strong rapport.

He simply did not share my desire. That mismatch impeded a close friendship, because—as he told me one night as we walked along the old DC waterfront after dinner—he was afraid of what his other friends would think. A few years later he moved to another city, and we didn’t reconnect until decades later when I found him on a professional networking site.

He liked my latest essay. He is looking forward to being a grandfather. His auburn hair has turned white, but he has the same piercing eyes.

That’s what the boxes of our memories contain, as much as objects that hold meaning for us but that others would just throw away.

My old friend has lived well, and I still have feelings for him that I have felt for few people in this world. One balmy day soon I will go down to the new waterfront for lunch and think of journeys not taken as I look at the boats in the marina. Nearby will be the spot where he said on that long-ago night, with a note of surprise, “You’re stronger than me,” after I told him about dealing with unrequited feelings that were still largely taboo. I was determined not to let my love be defeated by the world, and it still blooms.

Most of us find the strength we need. I say that to the LGBTQ+ refugees in Kenya whom I help, for whom I advocate with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, after they are forced to flee homophobic and transphobic violence in their home countries. As I write, one of my refugee clients is on his resettlement flight to Iceland. Some of my clients call me Daddy, stemming from respect for their elders. They are estranged from their own fathers. It’s a chance to exercise my long-unused paternal instincts.

At the same time, my thoughts go to my fiancé, who was also displaced until his heart found a home in me. He is in mourning for a beloved uncle who died in Tennessee. As my East African clients increasingly lead new lives in places from Reykjavík to Vancouver to Oakland to Philadelphia, I have my own life to attend to. My man needs me, and I need him. New work calls, new journeys beckon. The boxes can wait. ▼ Richard J. Rosendall is a writer and activist at rrosendall@ me.com.

JULY 21, 2023

73 Letters

Q Puzzle Bros

Solution on Page 116 ACROSS 1 World of Ulrichs 5 Israeli author Oz 9 The Bells ___ Mary’s 13 What there oughta be 14 Root of homosexuality, some say 15 Magazine section 16 Part of a name in espionage 17 At Wit’s End author Bombeck 18 Former Gov Davis 19 Start of a quote from by Bobby in the movie Bros 22 “Fabu!” to straights 23 Deep crack in Mother Earth 25 DC summer clock setting 26 Susie of lesbian erotica 30 Some dam govt project 31 Jethrene Bodine’s mother 32 The folks over there 33 He played Bobby in the movie Bros 37 Like many Mae West quotes 38 Tapir feature 39 Suffix for Siam, if you please 40 Top partner 42 Grounded fast flier 45 Take down the tent 47 Port in the land of samurai 49 End of the quote 53 Hunter and namesakes 54 “___ do anything better than you”

55 Give a lot of mouth 56 Toward shelter 57 Grant in the cinematic field 58 New Yorker cartoonist Peter 59 Ingrid’s Casablanca role 60 Where the last ferry leaves 61 Song featured in Beetlejuice DOWN 1 Polynesian woman 2 Tickled pink 3 Gay rodeo item 4 Fruit peel in a drink 5 The African Queen author 6 Griffin of game shows 7 Janis Joplin’s “Down ___” 8 Engine type 9 Phantom Erik’s instrument 10 John of Dynasty 11 Spend the night 12 Word that may follow “boy” 20 Nash’s prize 21 Enjoy Nick Malgieri 24 Locale for Brando’s Apocalypse Now 27 Amy of the Indigo Girls 28 Legal conclusion beginning 29 Flash from Liberace’s outfit 31 Carry on 32 Stuff for a blow job?

33 Glenn Burke’s sport 34 Rocks in a freezer 35 Whisper sweet nothings 36 Specialty of Wanda Sykes 37 Hip color after spanking

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75 Letters

Celebrity Profile

BY SARAH BRICKER HUNT

Go Ahead, Fangirl Over Samantha Irby Like We Are

A

s I tore through a used library copy of Samantha Irby’s 2017 bestselling collection of essays, We Are Never Meeting in Real Life, in one sitting, I felt a kinship with the readers who came before me. The ones who collectively adorned the well-worn paperback with chocolate smears, left behind a series of coffee mug rings on the back cover, and who had dog-eared the corners of dozens of pages, no doubt to quickly find the passages they, too, felt compelled to read aloud to their unwitting life partners or passive pets. Before I’d finished, I’d ordered the others, Meaty and Wow, No Thank You, and pre-ordered Irby’s latest collection, Quietly Hostile, which came out in May. Somehow, I’d missed Irby’s rise to the top of the humor memoir genre, perhaps distracted by things like the Trump era, a pandemic, and warily considering what these new Nazis are all about. I asked her forgiveness while expressing my thinly disguised new fangirl energy during a recent Zoom call, where Irby joined me from the Kalamazoo home she shares with her wife.

“Listen,” Irby begins, “I have incredibly low self-esteem and a massive ego somehow. So, be a fangirl if you like, and I won’t tell. I’m always kind of surprised when someone says, ‘Oh, I like this thing that you wrote,’ but then I’m, like, flooded with gratitude because sometimes it feels like you’re writing into the void.”

“Plus,” she adds, “I’m not gonna read reviews ever. I’m never gonna read anything anyone says about me online if I can help it. So it is really nice to hear from a real person with a voice and a verifiable identity. You like the book; you just made my day.”

Even as a newbie to Irby’s work, it seems reductive to reference it in one of the ways other outlets have: selfLetters 76 JULY 21, 2023

deprecating, vulnerable, scatological (rude—also, maybe true) or, especially cringeworthy, a “writer and comedy juggernaut.” Can a person even be a juggernaut? I do know that if pressed—if

Where other authors might hold back or couch their nonfiction confessionals in vague, guarded observations, Irby goes for it. some dude caught me in an alley and demanded at knifepoint that I describe Samantha Irby in three words or less— one of those words would not be juggernaut. They’d be closer to “Honest.

Hilarious. Survivor.” And I would maybe add “painfully so” ahead of each of these.

Because what Irby does on the printed page looks easy, but her breezy vibe belies a labor of love (and a fight against intense chronic procrastination, Irby tells me). Where other authors might hold back or couch their nonfiction confessionals in vague, guarded observations, Irby goes for it.

If she’s going to explain the real, literally messy details about living with chronic conditions like ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease (and she is), she’s going there. It might involve cleaning up after herself in socially vulnerable situations or a focus on what it’s like to get a colonoscopy at the hands of a good-looking doctor. It could involve adult diapers.

She’s also going to share the visceral pain of growing up with an alcoholic sometimes-dad and becoming a caretaker at age 11 for a chronically ill mother and share all-too-familiar dating stories about the series of men who disappointed her before she found her person.

Writing is therapy for Irby, a cathartic exercise in trauma-informed recovery.

“I work so much shit out in the writing,” she says. “And then I’m like, ‘Hmm, didn’t think about how I’m also working this out for an audience’—but by then, it’s too late and I’m like, ‘Well, we may as well just go through this together.’”

The approach has garnered the author a fiercely loyal fanbase on one hand and the kind of internet gold we take for granted in 2023 on the other—for example, a critical review on Good Reads written by Mary (a middleaged white woman whose profile pic is encircled by a red feather boa): “What we have here, ladies and gentlemen,” Mary writes, “is an enraged black lady who had a lousy childhood, and has grappled with severe depression, isolation, racism and obesity all her life.

It’s a perfect set-up for humor! Not.” It’s not a stretch to imagine why Irby isn’t

Lately, some of the internet thinks Irby is responsible for the things they hate about the new Sex and the City reboot, And Just Like That....

devoting much energy to reading what the internet thinks.

Lately, some of the internet thinks Irby is responsible for the things they hate about the new Sex and the City reboot, And Just Like That.... Irby sat in the (virtual) writers’ room for the show, an experience she said was a “joy—no, really. But, also, viewers get so mad and somehow, it’s all my fault.” (Since our interview, the Writers Guild of America, which includes television writers, has gone on strike—Irby has publicly stated that she fully supports the Guild and stands in solidarity with the cause.)

In reality, of course, writers’ rooms include multiple voices, and in the case of a show like And Just Like That...,” there’s an overarching vision to be considered—in this case, it’s the vision of executive producer Michael Patrick King (“This show is his first born,” Irby explains).

Irby also worked on the animated 2019 Netflix series, Tuca & Bertie, featuring Tiffany Haddish and Ali Wong, and on Hulu’s Shrill, starring SNL alum Aidy Bryant. For Shrill, Irby lived in Los Angeles for two months, a “f***ing dream, but also I had to live in Los Angeles for two months. I was feeling unsettled and discombobulated, but it was cool to be there for work. Still—I’m not thin and blonde and I don’t fit the stereotype, I don’t look like Hollywood, but I had trust in my brain. I knew I could write a script; I knew I could make a Netflix executive laugh. I was pretty confident in that stuff.”

Irby’s love of TV comes up frequently throughout her memoir writing. Like so many Gen X and older Millennials, she grew up at a time when something was almost always on in the background.

Growing up, she remembers watching sitcoms like Mr. Belvedere, Gimme a Break!, and Family Ties.

Even now, she says, she returns to certain “comfort shows” that play in the background of her everyday life. “I

don’t even have to be watching it,” she says. “I just kind of like the drone in the background, and I have to have it on even if I’m not actively watching TV. I like to put on some sports or news or anything with a live person and just kind of have them narrating what I’m doing even though they’re not saying what I’m doing. TV is like my pal. Let me cuddle up with my TV.” Now that Irby has peeled back the curtain and has an intimate knowledge of how the TV sausage is made, her perspective has changed a bit. “It’s the little shit,” she begins. “Like, where the cameras are behind a person who’s talking, but their lips don’t match with what they’re saying. I know it’s because this was the best shot of the person who’s listening, but now that’s bugging me. It takes me out of it a little bit—not to be too melodramatic, but it’s like, there’s no mystery now, right?”

Los Angeles, and even Irby’s hometown of Chicago, are vastly different from her current, quieter life in Kalamazoo. “It’s funny—when the street outside is quiet, it kind of feels like I Am Legend, where’s there’s no one but me and a couple animals and some zombie hunter operations...but it’s good. I’m not built for city life anymore.”

Laughing, she adds, “Any excuse to stay in the middle of the country where it’s flat is fine with me.”

Though Irby says she still calls Chicago home, being there at this stage in her life feels stressful. “I thought I’d feel more stressed here [in Kalamazoo], but it is much more stressful to have to fight for parking spots. And I don’t have to worry about pickpockets. I’m not, every time I go outside, playing a game of chicken. It’s slower, easier, better.”

Irby’s tumultuous young adult years in Chicago, as outlined in her essays about that time, stand in stark contrast to daily life now. “What do I do here? Well. I take the dog to his expensive daycare three

times a week. I cook meals sometimes because I have guilt for being a writer who’s been home while my wife was out being a social worker. I do have a few friends here.... I go to the library...the bookstore. Um, these things all sound very boring.”

Boring, though, doesn’t mean “bad.”

In fact, she tends to prefer boring over the alleged excitement of fame.

Irby’s latest book, Quietly Hostile, focuses on the often-uncomfortable duality of regular life tinged with the experience of being famous, or at least the kind of edge fame typically afforded to writers. Irby isn’t as likely to be recognized in a grocery store as a wellknown actor, but she still has to attend social gatherings and events that smack of Hollywood from time to time, and she is more frequently accused of wielding power in ways she actually doesn’t.

“It’s been weird to absorb people’s ideas of what my career is like versus the reality,” she reflects. “And sometimes, they over-inflate it by accusing me of things in the show that I could never have done because I’m the last person on the call sheet.”

“I have been lucky in that people have enjoyed my work, but Hollywood is unpredictable. What’s not unpredictable is books. If they keep buying my stupid ass books, I’m happy.” ▼ Sarah Bricker Hunt, a proud Eastern Michigan University alum and the managing editor for Pride Source Media Group, believes in the power of intentional journalism focused on people building their communities through everyday acts of love and service.

Photo: Lori Morgan Gottschling.

JULY 21, 2023

77 Letters

There’s No Place Like Home

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JULY 21, 2023

79 Letters

August 8: International Day of the Cat

BY NANCY SAKADUSKI

Lesbians and Cats It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single woman in possession of a cat, must be in want of a wife.

W

ell, maybe not universally, but it does seem as though lesbians and cats are a thing. The connection has been analyzed in everything from scholarly publications that toss around terms like “anthropocentrism” and “heteropatriarchy” to books such as Cats (And Their Dykes) and The Lesbian Sex Haiku Book. On Instagram, #lesbiansandcats boasts more than 2,000 posts, while #gaymenanddogs has a mere 94 and #straightpeopleandgoldfish has zero.

There was even a scientific survey that produced extensive lesbian/cat data, including—fasten your seatbelt—the following: Cat owners are more likely than dog owners to be vegan (6 percent), identify as hard femme (7.5 percent) be trans (which includes nonbinary people; 28 percent), be queer-identified (29.5 percent), have an undercut (20 percent), not remove any body hair (11 percent), have long nails (8.6 percent), use menstrual cups (29 percent), have complete confidence in their sewing abilities (48 percent), read their horoscopes regularly (23.4 percent), be an unaffiliated atheist (25 percent), do at least some witchcraft (23 percent), have gone to a women’s college (7 percent) and to prefer non-monogamy (22.4 percent). (I would like to have been at the meeting where they selected the survey questions.)

In 2019, Stony Brook University doctoral student Rachel Corbman curated an exhibit, The Wide World of Lesbian Cats, 1970-Today, which was shown at the LGBTQ Community Center in Manhattan. The somewhat misleadingly titled exhibit showcased cat memes in lesbian, feminist, and queer print and digital culture from the 1970s to 2019.

Corbman provided one possible explanation for the lesbians and cats thing: “Cats are connected with deviant forms of femininity like witches, spinsters, and lesbians. So when you see cats come up, Letters 80 JULY 21, 2023

the pejorative assumptions are kind of reclaimed in a way.”

Shoney Sien, author of the aforementioned Cats (And Their Dykes), offered another view: “The independence of cats is one of the main parallels between cats and lesbians—women who simply in being lesbians declare themselves untamed at least in some small way.” Sien’s co-editor, Irene Reti, explains “There is something between cats and women that is not based on domination or condescending adoration. Cat is telling us about independent grace, beauty born of self-respect and pride.”

• Lesbians look upon the cat as a soulmate, an animal with a similar spirit and mentality.

• Cats have strict boundaries.

• Cats seem to know when you’re all alone or just need a hug. They also know when you want to be left alone (for the most part).

And in case your mind went there, the use of a certain slang word to refer to both a cat and a part of the female anatomy doesn’t explain it either. The word “puss” has been a term for cat since the 16th century.

Clearly this is a complicated issue that requires considerable additional research.

In the meantime, let’s go to some authoritative sources for their insights: “A cat is an itch that scratches you.” - Saturday Night Live “commercial” for Whiskers R We, starring a lesbian cat rescuer named Barbara DeDrew (Kate McKinnon).

On Instagram, #lesbiansandcats boasts more than 2,000 posts, while #gaymenanddogs has a mere 94 and #straightpeopleandgoldfish has zero.

Here are some other explanations that have been offered: • Cats and lesbians both love cuddling and company.

• Cats take as much pride in their appearance as lesbians.

• Both are extremely loyal.

• Both have sharp claws and will use them if necessary.

• Cats unpredictably either show complete disdain for you or want all your love and attention.

• Cats are nonchalant, savor independence, and defy outside expectations.

“It’s a well-known fact that you can’t call yourself a lesbian unless you possess a cat—or, rather, for cats call no one mistress, a cat possesses you.” - Patricia Roth Schwartz.

“A charming two-story house, good martinis and a good dinner with French Wine…a wife, and books and a Siamese cat.” – Patricia Highsmith on what she always dreamt of having in life.

“Do you know who mostly owns cats?

Women. Queers. Not all women, and not all queers, obviously, but go on, I dare you—try being queer and hating cats and looking online for dates.” - Krista Burton.▼ Nancy (Day) Sakaduski is an award-winning writer and editor who owns Cat & Mouse Press in Lewes, Delaware.

Photo: “Squinch” (Hug a Dyke), Lesbian Herstory Archives

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83 Letters

VIVA LA VACATION!

BY PATTIE CINELLI

Relax, Refresh, Recharge, Renew

S

ummertime is when people pack a suitcase and take a car, a bus, a train, or a plane to release 50 weeks of stress in two weeks or less. It’s time for a vacation.

I haven’t taken a vacation for years.

Because I owned a business and a dog, getting away required lots of money and planning. I recognized that taking a vacation would cause me more anxiety than staying home would, but I also knew how important taking time off was for my health and well-being. I designed my day-to-day routine with pockets of breaks and stress-free activities so I didn’t feel as if I needed to get away in order to rest and relax.

Now, friends come to my house for their vacation. When they are visiting, I can shift into vacation-mode as well.

To avoid crowds, I prefer taking them to our northern beaches along the bay; we frequent Broadkill, Bowers, or Fowler Beach. If I want to hike, I choose Trapp Pond instead of the more popular Cape Henlopen. A day trip to Winterthur or a closer drive to the Delaware Botanic Gardens can give my guests and me enough of an environmental change to snap me out of the day-to-day stress of home and work life.

Studies have shown that taking time off can have physical and mental health benefits. People who take vacations have lower levels of stress, less risk of heart disease, a better outlook on life, and more motivation to achieve goals. These benefits surely tip the scale in favor of taking a break from your daily routine.

Research shows that even the planning of a vacation can boost your happiness.

Some people experience an elevated mood up to eight weeks before the trip.

Vacations are perfect times to enjoy new experiences. They’re a good time to break no-longer-useful habits and inaugurate new ones. They’re also a great time to be open to meeting new people and exploring.

But not all trips turn out to be stressreleasing. Vacations can become adventures that makes you sick, more Letters 84 JULY 21, 2023

tired, and several pounds heavier than you were at their start. Just remember: a vacation doesn’t have to mean eating and drinking your way to relaxation. You don’t have to throw your good habits out the window in order to have a good time. A little planning, mindfulness, and reflection can make your next vacation the best ever, no matter where you go, what you do, or who travels with you.

A little planning, mindfulness, and reflection can make your next vacation the best ever, no matter where you go, what you do, or who travels with you.

SOME TIPS: • Leave your expectations at home.

Expecting something specific to happen only sets you up for disappointment.

Instead, be open to new ways of thinking and feeling.

• Take slow, deep breaths anytime anxiety starts. Conscious breathing can help revitalize you, calm you, and balance you.

• Start meditating. Most days, just 5-20 minutes of sitting quietly is enough to lower blood pressure and restore your energy.

• Give yourself a foot massage. One of the best ways to quickly and easily

ground yourself is to rub oil or your favorite lotion onto your feet before you go to sleep. (I do it every night.)

• Practice conscious consumption.

Sometimes our eyes are bigger than our stomachs. Order what you will eat. If you want to taste, grab a spoonful, not a plateful.

• Turn off the news, social media, and alarm clocks.

• Get quality sleep. Sleep until you wake up, then take your time getting out of bed.

• Drink plenty of water. Eight glasses a day is not enough to stay hydrated if you are outside in the sun and/or if you are drinking alcohol. My rule of thumb is to always carry an insulated water bottle.

• Get moving. My clients often complained to me that on vacation they didn’t exercise—but vacations can be good time to try something new. When I visited my friend in southern California, I went to a class that used inversion tables.

It was different working my abdominals upside down, but it was effective. While you may not want to head to a gym on vacation, you can walk—along the beach, through a new town, through a museum— anywhere that gets your blood flowing and body working.

• Finally, chill. Stay cool. Unfamiliar territory, travel delays, traffic, and being together 24/7 can create or exacerbate stress levels if you let them. Remember we all have the power to have a fun, relaxing time on vacation if we choose.

Stuff happens. Nothing’s perfect. Staying calm is within our control.

Even though I haven’t recently traveled, I embrace the joy of traveling. As a relatively recent Delaware transplant, exploring my new home state gives me the thrill of discovering new places, meeting new people, and learning new things. ▼ Pattie Cinelli is an entrepreneur and a journalist. She focuses on non-traditional ways to stay healthy, get fit, and be well. Please email her with questions or column suggestions at: fitmiss44@aol.com.

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JULY 21, 2023

85 Letters

Letters 86 JULY 21, 2023

rehoboth museum ad 28-02_Layout 1 3/30/2018 2:11 PM Page 1

JULY 21, 2023

87 Letters

Visiting View

BY ROBERT DOMINIC

Robby’s Reboot

G

reetings Letters readers, Robby from Brooklyn here, officially writing to you from his new home base in Oakland Park, Florida. Well, not an official home base, but home base for the time being.

The move itself just did not go smoothly. It was a bit like me—my movements, my mannerisms, my expressions and—well, just about everything else in my life—messy, chaotic, jagged, rough. Maybe if I were a teenager today I would get tested for these characteristics, but being a kid from the 80s, we keep going and don’t need to name it. It’s part of who I am; who I always have been. What makes me, me…but as I age it does seem to be getting more extreme vs less, and these traits seem to have crept into the way my life just runs now.

Everything gets worse as we get older— eyesight, hearing, memory…. And my personality traits also seem to get worse.

Medications sometimes work and sometimes don’t. And, frankly, sometimes they make me…well, not me.

Moving at a rapid pace, as this Italian New Yorker tends to do, coupled with a touch of messiness, is a disastrous combination. Most notably with electronics. Things break easily around me. Or I break things easily. I break lots of phones and every now and then a laptop. I’m the friend always sending you a new phone number as a result of this breaking habit.

I’ve rolled the dice sooooooo many times and now am—well, screwed. In a sort of good way, in that I get to buy a new laptop and phone and get a new 954 number, but in a bad way in that I am locked out of almost every app, email, and social account you can think of. And without access to my accounts, I am lost. Lost, lost, lost. No GPS to even help.

And I know this is 100 percent my fault, and I will need to make a real commitment to change.

But there are also some “you have got to be kidding me” moments in all of this as well. I bought my new phone last Tuesday, and I called one of my besties, Frank, and figured out how to get into Instagram and send messages to friends with my new number.

Well, I woke up Wednesday morning and I did

Florida Robby is taking shape and ready to start flying.

Florida Robby needs to buy more summer clothes.

Letters 88 JULY 21, 2023

not have one text message from anyone I sent my number to. I am not conceited, (no comments please) but that just doesn’t jibe. Going back into the store—in the July Florida heat no less—turns out that the actual 954 number I have is registered to an iPhone but I am/was on an Android (another reason I should have bought an iPhone instead lol).

So the messages were being sent as imessages, and just hanging out in dead airspace somewhere. iSpace, if you will.

But again, the blame is on me and the solution is on me as well. I need to take better care of things, including myself. It feels more and more like a rebirth down here instead of a move.

Much to do in these coming days, from doing something superficial and fun like finding a new gay gym to something important like finding a new gay doctor. Fun—joining an intramural team. Important— setting up the first “Gays Against Guns: South Florida” meeting.

Florida Robby is taking shape and ready to start flying. Florida Robby needs to buy more summer clothes. Apparently, for a gay man, my tank top wardrobe is surprisingly lacking, according to other gay men (lol). Even though in the real non-gay world my tank top wardrobe is probably ginormous.

But first things first: new laptop. My roommate/ friend has a BJ’s membership (no comments please) and we can order one online and pick it up right at the store. I love the ease and efficiency of suburban life. Hopefully that can translate into my real life.

And as I reboot my new computer, I also will be rebooting my life. Everything is new and everything is changing. A perfect chance to start fresh and tweak the parts of my life that might need some tweaking. No one is perfect. And no one is without imperfect characteristics.

But, not to worry folks—this is not a massive overhaul. Just a little TLC medicine if you will. It took me a long time to love myself. And I still love myself.

I’m still going to be extra. Just extra careful. Extra careful with my things and myself. And my new tank top collection. ▼ Robert Dominic is a freelance writer/blogger who recently moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is proud to be one small blue dot in a very red state. He writes for numerous publications including Instinct magazine and his own blog, “The Gays of our Lives” (gaysofourlives.net).

246 Rehoboth Avenue Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971

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89 Letters

arts+entertainment

BY DOUG YETTER AND LESLIE SINCLAIR

SPOTLIGHT ON THE

arts

CAMP Rehoboth Puts Art at the Heart of Our Community

Pride Month may be over, but CAMP Rehoboth celebrates the arts and the talent of artists all summer long. Take time to come in out of the sun to see the art and be inspired and enlightened!

The Beauty Around Us through Color, Shape, and Shadow, One-Woman Show by Renata Price

T

he CAMP Rehoboth Gallery features Renata Price’s glorious one-woman show—on display through the end of July. A bowl of cherries makes you want to reach and grab one, her vivid florals are exquisite, and landscapes pique the imagination.

Stop by the CAMP Rehoboth Gallery, Monday-Friday, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Artist’s reception: Saturday, July 22 (4:00-6:00 p.m.). ▼

IMAGES (Left, top to bottom): Reflections; Elegance by Renata Price

Award Winners XXIII Exhibition

C

AMP Rehoboth is honored to host a traveling show featuring the work of the 2023 Delaware Division of the Arts Award Winners— August 10-September 8, with an Opening Reception August 10 (6:00-8:00 p.m.).

This year’s exhibition includes multiple mediums, writing samples, performance art, mixed media, fiber art, oil and acrylic paintings, photography, and sculpture.

The 17 artists represented were selected from 118 Delaware choreographers, composers, musicians, writers, media, and visual artists. Their work was reviewed by out-of-state arts professionals who considered the demonstrated creativity and skill in each artist’s respective art form. Fellowships were awarded in the following artist categories: two Masters, seven Established, and eight Emerging.

One of the featured artists includes photographer B. Proud, who over the past 13 years has increasingly and passionately been focused on documenting and celebrating the LGBTQ+ community—specifically on transgender and gender nonconforming couples and families nationwide.

Plan to attend the Opening Reception where we congratulate the artists and hear from them during the program.▼ Image above: Rosie & Kit by B. Proud

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 DelawareScene.com.

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JULY 21, 2023

arts+entertainment

artist SPOTLIGHT | CHRISTOPHER DECKER O

ne of our summer delights is the Clear Space Theatre Company’s summer rep season. I had the pleasure of interviewing one of their creative talents—the delightful Christopher Decker.

DOUG YETTER: When did you become

interested in theatre and where did you receive your training?

CHRISTOPHER DECKER: I’ve been interested in performing for as long as I can remember. As a young boy, my mother would take me to her church choir rehearsals—by age four I was singing along with the contemporary choir. I got the theatre bug in fifth grade after performing in my first musical, Godspell. I received a vocal scholarship in high school and studied voice with private vocal coaches. I also briefly studied musical theatre at the Catholic University of America.

DY: How long have you been with Clear Space?

CD: I started with their Musical Theatre Summer Intensive—Guys and Dolls—in 2011 and returned almost every summer. I came back professionally at the end of 2019—right before COVID struck.

DY: What shows are you in this summer?

CD: Jesus Christ Superstar, playing the role of Jesus, as well as my oneman Gay Cabaret—Just the Tip—playing select Fridays and Saturdays all summer long.

DY: How did Just the Tip evolve?

CD: It started a year or two ago. I’ve frequently been told I was too flamboyant—that no one would believe me as a straight man—and they were right.

Most of the roles I would love to play are female. After seeing amazing queer performers living their truth and unapologetically being themselves, I wanted to create a show where I could be, say, or SING whatever I wanted. I have a life story that is funny and entertaining— while belting my face off.

DY: Favorite roles?

CD: That’s like asking to pick a favorite child! Frank N’ Furter in Rocky Horror—one of my first adult roles where I was unapologetically gay. Sey-

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

CAMP Theater—Auditions!

Auditions for The Weir, directed by Russell Stiles, will be August 7, 8, and 9 at 7:00 p.m. at CAMP Rehoboth.

Auditions for Rain Check, directed by Kelly Sheridan, will be August 9 at 7:00 p.m. at CAMP Rehoboth, or by special arrangement.

Please see camprehoboth.com for more information.

mour in Little Shop of Horrors—a dream role of mine. As a little kid watching the movie, pretending to be all the roles….

Who am I kidding? I wanted to be Audrey…but Seymour was so much fun!

DY: You’re also costuming the shows?

CD: I designed Kinky Boots and SpongeBob the Musical. Monster shows to create and build, but I love adding sparkle and flare to costumes.

We had three weeks to get these shows up and on their feet, and create costumes and have them fitted and ready to go. I didn’t see my bed much for the month of June.

DY: Define success.

CD: Never accepting a limit. I’ve hit many roadblocks in life—my health, personal relationships with family and others, battling my own internal struggles…. Not allowing those things to define me and to keep going. That’s my success.

DY: Anything else?

CD: Come see my one-man show— Just the Tip—at Clear Space. And be the reason someone smiles today.

For a complete listing of shows, visit clearspacetheatre.org. ▼ Doug Yetter is the Artistic & Musical Director for CAMP Rehoboth Chorus and Director of Music Ministries at Epworth United Methodist Church. You can reach him at dougyetter@ gmail.com.

UPCOMING CALL FOR ARTISTS

THE BEARS ART SHOW

The call for artists for this September group show will be issued in August. Watch the CAMP Rehoboth website.

JULY 21, 2023

91 Letters

arts+entertainment

by Terri Schlichenmeyer

BOOKED SOLID Big Gay Wedding by Byron Lane c. 2023, Holt. $26.99, 336 pages Few things are cast in stone.

Which means that you’ve usually got time to change your mind. Do a little research, listen to other voices, get educated, think about things, and pivot. No one will criticize; you may, in fact, be commended for your new open-mindedness. As in the new book Big Gay Wedding, by Byron Lane, you might like the new outlook, too.

Chrissy Durang, “Farmer Mom” and owner of the Polite Society Ranch near New Orleans, checked two things off a list in her notebook: The school bus filled with noisy children arrived for their tour of the ranch, check. Barnett should be arriving later, check.

Thirty-four-year-old Barnett was the light in Chrissy’s world—her son, her only child, the near-exact image of his late father. She was excited for his homecoming; surely, Barnett was flying from California to tell her he was ready to take over the ranch now, take care of the animals, take care of her.

Instead, not long after he arrived, Barnett dropped a bombshell about “The Big Thing” that they never discussed: he was engaged. To be married. To another man. And he wanted to do it there in Mader, at Polite Society Ranch.

Chrissy could think of a million things she didn’t like about Barnett’s intended, Ezra, and they all went into her notebook.

Hair a mess, check. Controlling, check. Butt-kisser, check.

Dream-killer, check. And yet, Barnett loved Ezra. It’d been a long time since Chrissy had seen her son this happy.

She talked to her priest about the situation, but he disap-

pointed her in a terrible way. It was clear that her father-in-law, Paw-Paw, was supportive of Barnett and Ezra, which was no surprise; Barnett was always Paw-Paw’s favorite. Chrissy didn’t have many friends in her small Louisiana town, but she was absolutely sure of three things: nobody would approve of any sort of gay nuptials, Ezra’s family was downright weird, and everybody in Mader would blame her for what was about to happen....

At face value, the story inside Big Gay Wedding seems awfully familiar: homophobic mom, gay son, wedding, Kumbaya moment, the end. Keep thinking that, though, and you’ll miss one truly wonderful novel.

From the paraprosdokian sentences to the Misfit Toys cast of characters, author Byron Lane takes readers from a deep dive into a box of tissues to a good snorting belly laugh, often in the same paragraph. So many unexpected, delightful things occur inside this story, in fact, that you may become disappointed when something conventional occurs.

Which it does, often enough.

Gay bashing, protesters, haters, misunderstandings, it’sa-phase thinking, all the bad old tropes show up in this story, alas. Still, readers will be happy to know that they’re dealt with properly, just as you’d expect from a prissy mother, an alcoholic society matron, two men wildly in love, a light-fingered grandfather, and a dying sheep named Elaine.

Summer is always a time for weddings, and it’s a great time to enjoy this sweet, funny, excellent novel. Simply, Big Gay Wedding rocks. ▼ Terri Schlichenmeyer’s second book, The Big Book of American Facts, comes out this fall. Her first (Big Book of Facts) is available now in bookstores.

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Vince Nikolov PA R T N E R

INTER IOR DESIGN FUR NISHINGS LIGHTING ACCESSOR IES

DESIGN CENTER OF R EHOB OTH

37545 ATL ANTIC AVE , REHOBOTH • 302-227-9341 • REHOBOTHINTERIORS.COM Letters 92

JULY 21, 2023

3 Move-in Ready Homes Close to Town Why wait for a home to be built?

Mulberry Knoll Contemporary with Open Floor Plan 3BR, 3BA, 60ft Screened Porch and Private Setting

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The Seasons Single Family Home 4BR, 3.5 BA Stunning Primary Suite, Porches, Patio, Family Room, Fireplace

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The Seasons Carriage Home 4BR, 4.5 BA Large BRs each with Ensuite BAs, Screened Porch, Fireplace

$698,900 Shirley Kalvinsky

Randy Mason

Cell: (302) 236-4254

Cell: (302) 236-1142

Shirley@jacklingo.com

Randy@jacklingo.com

246 Rehoboth Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, DE 302-227-3883(office) JULY 21, 2023

93 Letters

OUR SUPPORTERS MAKE IT HAPPEN PURPLE LEVEL Greg Albright & Wes Combs X Sondra N. Arkin X Aaron, Heather, Gia & Joe Book* Catherine & Katie Brennan Carol Bresler & Carolyn Billinghurst X Pat Catanzariti & Carole Ramos* Lee Chrostowski & Annne Tinen* Edward Joseph Chrzanowski * Skip Dye & Steven King* David Grossman & Jeremy Graboyes William Himelright & David Carter Deborah Hrab Judy & Carole Jesiolowski James W. Johnson & Matthew H. Shepard* Kim Leisey & Kathy Solano Chris Rinaldi & Brian Powers X Jennifer Rubenstein & Diane Scobey X Danny Sebright Gary Seiden & Ah Bashir X Leslie Sinclair & Debbie Woods X Diane Sweeney* William E. Cross Foundation, Arthur Brisker, Director Karen Zajick & Jennifer Weeks

INDIGO LEVEL Terry Albarella Murray Archibald & In Memory of Steve Elkins X Alex Benjamin & Pete Grover* Jane Blue & Louisa Watrel X Deborah Bosick Joe Brannen & John Klomp X Tom Brown X Deb Chase & Terry Barrera Richard Coss & Mike Hull* Elbert Leroy Dage Lou Fiore & Jim Burke* Richard Gamble & Paul Lindsey* Perry Gottlieb & Tim White* James Graham & David Dusek Wendy Grooms & Barbara Fishel X Fred Harke - In Memory of Robert Rougeau X Holly Horn & Kathleen Garrity X Bernadette & Michele HumphreyNicol Melissa & Amanda Kaufman X Maureen Keenan & Teri Dunbar X Jerry Kennedy & Robert Quinones X Russell Koerwer & Stephen Schreiber X Roger Kramer* Susan Kutliroff & Barbara Snyder* Julie Landrio Christine Lay X Curtis J. Leciejewski, DDS, PA X Thom Morris & Jim Slusher* Natalie Moss & Evelyn Maurmeyer X Rick Mowery & Joe Conn X Tom Negran & Marc Anthony Worosilo X David Nelson & William McManus X John Newton & Mowry Spencer X

Letters 94

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Mark Niehaus & Brooks Honeycutt X Jennifer Noel Jeanine O’Donnell - State Farm* Gwen Osborne & Katie Handy X Porter-Gordon Family* Deborah Qualey & Karen Gustafson X Lori & Renee Rocheleau Mark Roush & Dave Banick* Mark Schweizer & Robert Voelker Frank Surprenant, DDS & Chris Wisner X Susan Tobin & Cathy Martinson* Terry Vick* Michael Welborn & Angel Welborne Mel W. & Linda Lee M. Weller

BLUE LEVEL Ronald Bass & George Robbins X Tim & Meredith Birrittella Chris Bowers* Karen Brause & Kim Sheaffer* Tony Burns X Beth Cohen & Fran Sneider X Coleen Collins & Berdi Price X Donna Davis & Gail Jackson X Rebecca & Natalia Evans Connie Fox & Donna Adair* Irene & Lou Katz* Nancy & Tora Kennedy* Paul & Anne Michele Kuhns* Chris Rouchard X Michael Shaffer & Benjamin Wilson X Mary Spencer & Kathy Lingo* Lucinda Treat

GREEN LEVEL Marge Amodei* Sharon Bembry & Lois Powell* Andrew Benson & Santookh Singh Teresa Bolduc & Kim McGeown* David Bower* David W. Briggs & John F. Benton X Charlie Browne & Rod Cook X Barry Bugg* Cheryl Buxton* Jay Campbell & Sam Cipoletti Jay Chalmers & John Potthast X Paul Christensen & Dennis Morgan* Stephen Corona* Lewis & Greg Dawley-Becker* Mike DeFlavia & Tony Sowers* Marianne DeLorenzo & Linda Van de Wiele* Max Dick* Diane Dragositz Peggy & Evie Englebert Kathy & Corky Fitzpatrick X Cynthia Flynn & Deirdre Boyle X Roland Forster & David McDonald* Bill Fuchs & Gerry Beaulieu* Lisa Gilley Richard Green & Asi Ohana X Bob Gurwin & John Rourke Wesley Hacker & David Block*

John Hackett & Tom Newton* David Hagelin & Andy Brangenberg* Jo Hamilton & Donna Voigt* Jenn Harpel & Katie Rickards* Steve Hoult & Rick Bane X Anthony Incalcatera & James Buswold Jocelyn Kaplan & Idalie Adams - In Memory of Adeline Kaplan X Deborah Kennedy & Beth Yocum* Eric Korpon & Steven Haber* Leslie Ledogar & Marilyn Hewitt* John J. MacDonald & Douglas James Bob Mancuso & Doug Murray Katherine Martin James Mease & Philip Vehslage* Susan Morrison* Dennis Neason & Steve Bendyna* Kim Nelson & Lori Simmons X Fran O’Brien & David Gifford* Kim Parks & Sharon Denny Keith Petrack & Michael Fetchko* Anne Pikolas & Jean Charles X Gail Purcell & Sandy Kraft* Bill Rayman & Frank King* Marty Rendon & John Cianciosi* Kim Rutherford & Dalit Eyal Douglas Sellers & Mark Eubanks* Sheila Sferrella & Cindy Wedel Scott Shaughnessy * Joseph Steele & Chris Leady David Streit & Scott Button* Laurie Thompson Anne Tracy & Mary Gilligan* Kathy Wiz & Muriel Hogan X Jon Worthington & Bryan Houlette X

YELLOW LEVEL Keith Anderson & Peter Bish X Dale Aultman & Paul Gibbs X Shannon & Sarah Avery* Pamela Baker & Diane Dixson* Linda Balatti & Shirley Gilmer X Mike Ballinger & in Memory of Martin Thomas* Miriam Barton* Chris Beagle & Eric Engelhart* Tom Beall Barbara Beavers & Kathy Carrell John Bell Sherry Berman & Deb Hamilton X Abby Bernstein & Karen Frank X Michael Boyle & Greg Murphy X Mary Ann Brewer Daniel Bruner & Tim Beymer David Carder* Kate Cauley & Pat Newcomb* Bob Chambers* Jim Chupella & Jim Wigand* Dottie Cirelli & Myrna Kelley X Steve Clayton & Brad Lentz* Gary Colangelo & Gerald Duvall X Nancy Commisso* Thomas Conway & Thoth Weeda* Billy Cox & John Carr* Drexel Davison - Bad Hair Day?* Fred DiBartolo & Steve Wood X

CAMP REHOBOTH MEMBERSHIP 2023 Maureen Dolan & Karen McGavin* Polly Donaldson Albert Drulis & Scott Silber* Sandy Duncan & Maddy Ewald* Ann Evans* Karen Faber & Lisa Balestrini Faber* Alice Fagans & Ruth Ann Mattingly* Lisa Fernandez & Allison Lindon Cecily Fisher & Loretta Higgins Monica Fleischmann & Lona Crist X John Flournoy & Jim Chrobot Gary Gajewski - In Memory of Dr. John A. Boscia* Susan Goudy* Ken Green & Joe Kearney* Robert Henthorne & Roger Bolduc Theodore Hickman Carol Holland - Holland Jewelers X Terry Hollinger & Mike May* Caroline Huff & Brenda Robertson* Nan Hunter & Chai Feldblum Philip Johnson* Dee Dee Jones & Julie Blake Frank Jump & Vincenzo Aiosa* Marilyn Kates & Laura Glenn* Leigh Ann Kidd Andy Kite & Karl Martin Jay Kottoff & Mark Matey* Myra Kramer & John Hammett* Greg Kubiak* Edmund LeFevre & Keith Wiggs X Greg Lehne Judy Lettes & Sandra Sue Monica Lewis & Ann Zimmerman* David Lindeman & Andrew Phipps Frank Liptak & Joe Schnetzka* John Mackerey & Donald Filicetti* Patricia Magee & Anita Pettitt X Jill Masterman & Tammy Jackson* Tony Mazzarella* Howard Menaker & Patrick Gossett X Ray Michener & Tom Carlson* Bob Morris & James Weygandt Sandy Neverett & Pam Cranston X Pat Nickols* Paul Nye & Jerry Hofer Donna Ohle & Susan Gaggiotti X Maggie Ottato X Dotti Outland & Diane Mead X Peninsula Gallery - Tony & Carol Boyd-Heron* Joanne Picone & Kathy Bostedo* Frank Pirhalla Stephen Pleskach X Jim Pressler X Lisa Rabigi & Bea Vuocolo* Gene Roe X Thomas Rose & Thomas Sechowicz X Lucien Rossignol & Tom Harris* Mark Saunders & Bob Thoman* Sheryl Schulte & Jeanne LaVigne* Teri Seaton Troy Senter & Stacey Chan* Polly Smale & In Memory of Charlotte Reid* David Smith & Kenn Williams

Susan Soderberg & Terri King X John Michael Sophos & Miss Dot Sophos* Diane Sozio & Patricia Hutchinson* Matthew Stensrud & Michael Cohen* Michael Strait & Tim O’Bar Lenny Stumpf & John B. Pitchford* Kaye Sullivan Brett Svensson & Bill Quinn - Dust Doctors LLC* Thrasher’s French Fries* Lana Warfield & Pamela Notarangelo X Elizabeth Way & Dorothy Dougherty* Michael Weinert X Walter Welsh & Martin Thomas William Wheatley* Steven Wunder & Rod Hastie Jean Sutliff Young* Joanne Yurik* Larry Zeigler X John Zingo & Rick Johnson*

ORANGE LEVEL Ria Allman James Apistolas & Christopher Galanty* Gwen Atwell & Marla Hoon* Romulus Barba & Dean Yanchulis* Paul Barbera & Joseph Nolan James Beal & In Memory of David Van Patter Susan Becker & Mary Ellen Wivel Janet Blaustein & Dona Garofano Kathy Board & Jackie Maddalena Boland Family - In Memory of Michael J. Kelly* Richard Bost & Thomas Moore* Linda Bova & Bridget Bauer - The Sea Bova Associates* Theo Braver William Briganti & Gary Moore* Anita Broccolino - In Memory of Cathy Fisher Randy Butt & Emerson Bramble* Ronald Butt & Steve Cannon* Community Bank Delaware* Mark Conheady* Lois Cortese & Jill Stokes X Kay Creech & Sharon Still* Theresa-Ann Crivelli & Angela Murray* Lydia Croce Kenneth Currier & Mike Tyler X John D'Amico* Kathy Davison & Ruth Dickerson X Linda DeFeo X Anthony Delacruz & Ronald Mangano J. Lynne Dement & Lisa J. Snyder* Donna Dolce* Kevin Doss & Arie Venema* Arlyce Dubbin & Kathleen Heintz* Lissa Dulany Brenda Dunn & Karen Anderson* Susan Eig & Ellen Schiff X Jeanne Embich* Continued on page 96

5 New Construction Homes on the Bike Path near the Drawbridge Expandable to 5BR 4BA

Seaside Court

Enclave of 5 Homes on Rehoboth Avenue Extended 4BR, 3BA, Fireplace, Full Basement w/8’ Ceiling

From $1,325,000 Shirley Kalvinsky

Cell: (302) 236-4254 Shirley@jacklingo.com

Randy Mason

Cell: (302) 236-1142 Randy@jacklingo.com

246 Rehoboth Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, DE 302-227-3883(office)

Diversity is Beautiful!

We embrace Diversity and Inclusion for All!

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NMLSR ID 410450 JULY 21, 2023

95 Letters

Continued from page 94

Eddie Engles Robin Esham Maureen Ewadinger* Ellen Feinberg & Lesley Rogan X Paul Finn & Joseph Porporino* Barbara Fitzpatrick & Denise Centinaro Keven Fitzsimmons & Jeff Stroud X Deb Fox & Deb Bonneau Charles Gable Ron Glick & Tien Pham* William Gluth & Channing Daniel* Ed Gmoch* Mike Gordy & Ed Brubaker* Gail Gormley* Joe Gottschall & Scott Woody* Deborah Grant & Carol Loewen* Robert Grant & Chris Cossette Renee Guillory & Melissa Vila-Guillory Siobhan Halmos & Beth McLean* Pat Harte & Nancy Sigman* Tracey & Erica Hellman Bill Hillegeist X Sharon Hoffer Cindy & Wilma Holt Vance Hudgins & Denny Marcotte* Janet Idema & Patricia Higgins* Anne Kazak & Chris Coburn X Kathleen Kelly & Jeff Van Siclen Maryl Kerley X Ned Kesmodel & Matt Gaffney X Bonnie Kirkland & Wanda Bair X Rob & Jean Krapf X Robin Kroft & Elina Toole Barbara Lang & Diane Grillo* Mary Jo & Rachel Lauer Jim Lesko* Robert & Yen Ling Chip Logan Duncan MacLellan & Glenn Reighart* Susan Macy Amanda Mahony & Alex Albanese Robb Mapou & Mike Zufall* Marsha Mark & Judy Raynor* James Mastoris & Edward Chamberlain X Michael & Stephan Maybroda* Marcia McCollum Kathy & Steve McGuiness* Sherril Moon & Louise Montgomery* Margaret Moore & Sheree Mixell X Carol Morris & Ann Abel Lisa Mosley Judy Olsen & Joanne Kempton X Sandra Oropel & Linda Frese* Carolyn Ortwein & Ann Barry* Rutland Paal & Robert Mittleman* Sandra Pace & Barbara Passikoff X Stephen Pape & Jerry Clark* Steve Parker* Ellen Passman X Marilyn Pate & Dorothy Smith* Patricia Pawling & Jennifer Butz* Rina Pellegrini Deena Pers X Grace Pesikey & Janet Urdahl* Russ Phipps & Stephen Jacobs* Peter Pizzolongo & Carlos Prugue* Jay Raksin* Susan Reinagel & Dawn Henderson* Pat Renninger & Tammy Plumley X

Letters 96

JULY 21, 2023

Judy Rosenstein & Elva Weininger X Deborah & Charles Ross X Michael Safina & Tim Bean Katherine Sams* Richard Sargent* Gary Schell & Jim DiRago Laurie Schneider & Margie Ripalda* Carol Scileppi & Valerie McNickol* Craig Sencindiver & Gary Alexander* Tara Sheldon* Frank Shockley & Arthur Henry* Cathy Sieber & Brenda Kriegel* Carol Sieger & Maggie Guardino Anita Smulyan Tina Snapp & Susan Leathery* Christine Stanley & Joyce Rocko* Greig Stewart & Jake Hudson* Robert Stoltzfus & Gerald Warhola* Sandra Sullivan & Lorie Seaman* Terrence Sullivan Trudie Thompson James Vernicek & Jeff Dailey* Joseph Vescio Tama Viola* Don Wainwright & Tom Jamison* Patricia Walker Bryan Warner & Mike Nonemaker Don Wessel Ralph Wiest & Anthony Peraine* Daryle Williams & Steven Fretwell* Lynne Wilmer & Jeannie Marsh Terri Windlan Melanie Wolfe & Monica Niccolai Robert T. Wright & Jack Lim* Sherri Wright & Dick Byrne* Janet & Ron Yabroff Niki Zaldivar & Cecil McNeil X Helaine Zinaman & Roselyn Abitbol X

RED LEVEL Guy Abernathey X Dale Adams Debra Adrian Jim Affonco X Mark Aguirre & Wayne Gleason X Nancy Ahluwalla Bill Alldredge X Chris Allison Stephani Allison & Judith Gorra X Katherine Alteneder Alan Anderson X Daniel Anderson & Greg Melanson Andrea Andrus & Maggie Shaw X Peter Antolini X Patricia Antonisse X Cynthia Arno Diane Athanas Josh Bach & Edward Ginley Kathleen Bailey X Christine A. Baker John Baker & Richard Latham X Ruth Ball & Mary Ellen Jankowski* Sarah Barnett Curtiss Barrows X Barbara Bastow & Margaret McHale John Batchelor X Karen Beck* Beebe Medical Foundation* Mike Behringer & Nelson Correa* Michael Beigay Alex Belano George Benes & Michael Mallee X Suzanne Bennethum &

Deborah Smith* Jeri Berc X John Berdini X Joel Berelson & Charles Maples* Lisa Beske - In Loving Memory of Steve Elkins* Christine Bielenda & Karen Feuchtenberger* Thomas Biesiadny X Deb Bievenour & Susan Shollenberger* Beatrice Birman & Mary Malgoire Lorraine Biros* Cathin Bishop & Laura Simon X 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 Pete Borsari X Laura Borsdorf X Nancy Bouse & Norma Morrison X David & Donna Bowman X Deni Boyer & Loretta Imbrogono* Brian Boyle & Larry Gee X Beth Bozman* Jim Brady & Mike Hays X Kelly Brennan & Susan McVey* Susan Brinsfield & Barbara Devenport Laurie Bronstein Kevin Brown X Lyn Brown & Winsome Boyd* Matthew Brown Al Bulliner X Belinda Buras & Linda Simeone* Geoffrey Burkhart & Bruce Williams* Carol L. Burnett X Timothy B. Bush X Sherry Butler James Byrnes X Chris & Richard Cahill X Robertine Cale* Debbie Cali & Maddie Cunningham* Ingrid Callmann & Karen Askins* Leslie Calman & Jane Gruenebaum* Pat Campagna & Debra Sansoucie Terri Campbell & Victoria Smith Michele Campisi & Julie A. Slick X Joe Canter Matt Carey X Jim Carlo X Justine Carpenter X Shirley Carpenter & Mary Coldren X Deborah Carroll & Jill Steiner Teresa Cason & Lynda Schepler X Sara Cavendish & Wendy Bunce X Denis Chandler & Sebastion DiMauro Linda Chaney & Irene Lawlor* Helen Chang & Pat Avery* Dr. Harvey J. Chasser X Mike Chateauneuf X 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 Rob Cline Amy Clouse & Betty Long X Julie Cockley Anne Cole & Sandy Freeman 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 X Mary Costa & Kris Nygaard* Becky & Tom Craft X Robert Crocetti X Bill Cross & David McCall X Madeline Cunningham & Linda Matulaitis Mark Cunningham & Ken Tattersall X Rich Custer Howard Cyr & Lynn Ashley* Ellen Dahl* William T. Darley X Carol Davidson Denise Davis & Jeanne Bilanin Jeremiah Davis Marsha Davis & Bev Lesher X Patricia Davis Frederick Dean & Steven Swierzy X Scott Dechen & James Maino* Michael Decker & Arley Jaimes X Michael DeGraffenreid Ann DeLazaro & Annette Potemski Bernie Delia X Frank Dell’Aquila X Tracy Denton & Brenda Welsh Karen DeSantis & Carol Brice* Nancy DeToma & Meg Smith* David DeVargas & Steven Champion X Henry & Marcia DeWitt X Romy Diaz & Dennis Bann Julie Dickson X Phyllis Dillinger Tony DiMichele & Jeff Smith* Mary Dipietro & Wendy Schadt* Deb Dobransky & Ketty Bennett* Arthur Dochterman X David & Lizann Dockety X Peg Dolan & Mary McDevitt X Millie Donnell Frances Doyle X Paul Dradransky X Michael Driscoll & Ben McOmber X Susan Dube & Diana Patterson* Barry Dunkin* Deborah Duran Gene Dvornick X John Eckardt Eden Restaurant X Richard Egler Gail Elliott & Bea Hickey* Pamela Elliott* W. Kay Ellis* LeAnn Erickson & Julie Rasmussen Lisa Evans & Joann Gusdanovic John Farley & Dennis Wilson X Dent Farr & Erick Lowe* Susan Farr & Joanne Pozzo*

Jane Farrell Rene Fechter Larry & Ro Fedorka* Karen Ferguson* Mark Fernstrom Virginia Fessler * Jayne Fetterman* Irene & Edward Fick* Louise Fickel & Robin Mullican Ben Ficks & Bob Angell Allen Fred Fielding X Jerry Filbin* Mark Finkelstein & Michael Zeik X Rick Fischer X Barbara Fischetti & Janet Thoden Gary Fisher & Josh Bushey* Chuck Flanagan X Paul Florentino & Chris Pedersen X Sandra Fluck & Bev Pasquarella* Bill Ford Mary Ford & Judy Hedrick X Beebe Frazer X Jon Frazier Phil Fretz X Neil Frock & Bob Harrison* Susan Furman Cathy Gaiser Lynn Gaites & Faye Koslow X Nina Galerstein* Marcia Gallo & Ann Cammett Jerry Gallucci & Conrad Welch* Karen Gantz & Jeanie Geist* Kathryn Gantz & Kathryn Gehret Don Gardiner X Alexis Gardner Annette Gardner Peter Garneau & Dennis Rodriguez Cheri Garnet Mindy Gasthalter* Wilson Gates X Charles George & Dennis Rivard X Tracey Gersh & Amy Johnson Gary Gillard X Edward Ginley Joan Glass X Angela & Cheryl Glodowske Karen Glooch X Jane Godfrey* Randall Godwin X Jackie Goff & Mary Vogt X Dave Gold & In Memory of James Yiaski X Robert Gold X Suzanne Goldstein & Dana Greenwald X Milton Gordon & Bill Hromnak X Teresa Gordy & Barb Ford X Dan Goren & Peter Robinson X Anita Gossett & Ronnie Smith* Robert Gotwalt & Norman Jones Bill Graff & Jeff Schuck* Lisa & Raymond Graff* Paul R. Grant & Marc Watrel* Joe Greenhall & Tom Klingler Harvey Grider Richard Grifasi X John Grillone & Paul Schlear Jr. X Joseph Gritz X Carol Gross X James Gross X Richard & Frances Grote* Paula Grubbs X Helene Guilfoy X Continued on page 98

C O A S T A L

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JULY 21, 2023

97 Letters

Continued from page 33

Bill Gunning & Joe Greoski X Mary Gunning* Jay Haddock & Hector Torres* Gerard M. Haley & George D. Zahner X Cynthia Hall X Roberta Hamer Mark Hare & Mike Newman X Kelley Harp X David Harrer & Floyd Kanagy* Thomas F. Harris II Mary Hartman & Laurie Nelson Jeff Haslow X Janece Hausch* John & Mary Havrilla* Christine & Brooke Havrilla-Downes Nancy Hawpe Daniel F.C. Hayes* Ceil Hearn & Liv Ault Gail Hecky* Barb & Len Hedges-Goetti Leslie Hegamaster* Linda Heisner X David Herchik & Richard Looman X Fred Hertrich X Howard Hicks & Stephen Carey X Helen Hilderbrandt Barbara Hines & Nancy Froome X Howard C. Hines, MD X Karen & Mickey Hinman Janel Hino & Patricia Ann Scully X Mary Hoban Derrick Hodge David Hogue Harris Holden X Connie Holdridge* Christine Holloran Robert Holloran & Ed Davis* James & Edna Holsinger Chris Holt & Emory Bevill X Mollyne Honor & Shelley Garfield* Larry Hooker X Mary Anne Hoopes & Dianna Johnston* James T. Hopkins X Elaine Horan & Debbie Sciallo X Frank Hornstein & Mark Henckel X James Hospital & Jack Fraker* Robert Hotes X Corey Houlihan & Karen Abato Ellan Hylton Batya Hyman & Belinda Cross* Thomas Ingold X Claire Ippoliti X Chris Israel & John Stassi X Debbie Isser & Fran Leibowitz* Geoffrey Jackson & Will Delany X Fay Jacobs & Bonnie Quesenberry X Sharon Janis X Steve Janosik X Kathy Jantzen & Debi Cunn Allen Jarmon & Ward Ellinger X Robert Jasinski* Susan Jimenez & Cathy Benson X Donna A. Johnson* Ken Johnson X Randi Johnson Jim Johnston* Richard Jolly & Charles Ingersoll X D. J. Jones* Gay Jones & Barb Bartels Glenn Jones X

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JULY 21, 2023

Sandra Jones* Tom Jones X Beth Joselow Wayne Juneau X Mick Kaczorowski X Darleen Kahl & Susan Poteet* Bob Kaplan & Jeff Davis X Daphne Kaplan & Steve Scheffer* Sharon Kaplan & Pamela Everett* Kevin P. Kaporch X Amylynn Karnbach - One Day At A Time Gifts, LLC* Dawn Kasow Jennifer & Michaele Kayes Peter Keeble & Tom Best* Mark Kehoe X Donald Kelly* Michael J. Kelly X John Kennedy* Hunter Kesmodel X Laurie Kessler & Jennifer Ierardi Tom Ketterman Marge Keyes & Julie Arenstein X Charlotte King Jim King Spencer Kingswell X Jane Knaus & Cindy Myers* Karen Konkel Stephen Kopp* John Kort & Hung Lai* Robert Kovalcik & Bob Howard X Marcia Kratz* Karen Kreiser & Beth Nevill* Kevin W. LaBarge X Beth Lake Cheryl Landry & Lisa Corrado Peter Lanzaro & Frank Bodsford X Gail Larabee Dr. Mathilda Laschenski & Dr. Kathleen Heacock X Ruth Lauver & Judy Wetzel* Kate Lavelle X Jim Lawrence & Bob Palandrani Carol Lazzara & Sheila Maden* Charlie Lee X Tara Leek Jon Leeking & Dieulifete Jean* Monica Lehman & Cathy Amberman Lisa Lekawa Charles & Matthew Lentz Jen Leonard & Claire McCracken* Marsha Levine & Susan Hamadock X Arlene & Ginny Levy-Balmforth Barbara Lilien* Alexander Lincoln Cindy Lins & Diane Milam Jamie Lipinski & Lisa Lintecum Duwayne Litz X Eleanor Lloyd & Celeste Beaupre* Robert E. Long X Cynthia Lowe & Rae von Doehren* Debbie Lupton & Ramona Dobbs* Diane Lusk X Donna Lynch Becky Lyons & Ebie Hamrick X Tina Maddox & Susan Green Joe Maggio X Bernadette Maher & Cheryl Tarlecky* Jack Maher X Barbara Mahoney Nancy Maihoff X Eddie Major X

Bruce Majors X Scott Mallan & E.B Easter Harvey Manchester X Domenic Mannello X Stephanie Manos & Reber Whitner X Anyda Marchant X Kathi Marek & Mary Seminara Diane Markey & Randi Snader* Harold Marmon & Robert Hill* Shelly Marsh Norma Martin X Marie Martinucci* John Matthews & Nick Polcini* Eric Matuszak X Linda Mazie & Terry Koff Donna McCabe & Mac Ignacio X Edward McCord Kathleen McCormick & Elizabeth Fish X Mary McElhone & Nancy Kaiser X Sherri McGee & Kris Aulenbach Thomas McGlone X Kathleen McGrath Joe McMahon X Jeanne Ann McManus & Robin Robertson Anita McMullin Joseph McNally & Terry Jones X Charlotte McNaughton Chuck McSweeney & Michael Clay X Jim & Bruce McVey-Back* 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 Gene Miller & Jane Godfrey Marilyn K. Miller & Candice Zientek* Marvin Miller & Dan Kyle X Robin Miller Shelly Miller Todd A. Miller & Michele Frame X Doreen Millon Lee Wayne Mills X Stan Mills & Marcia Maldeis X Linda Miniscalco & Jeanne Drake* Martha Monell Andrea Monetti & Karen Petermann* Sue Monismith X Teri Moore & Barb Kulbaba* Mary Morgan & Beth Fitton X Meg Morgan & Susan Lynham X Richard Morgante & Edward McHale* Maryellen Morris Pearl Morris* Richard Morris Jack Morrison & Bob Dobbs* Barry Moshinski & Robert Ponzini Andrew K. Moss & Richard Blevins X Brent Mundt X Mary Murdoch X Joanie Murphy Marie Murray & Deb Ward X Robert Murray Cynthia Myers* Marc Nasberg & Howard R. Nelson X

Noelle Navarro Keith Neale X Cindy Necaise & Debbie Cole X Lee Ann Nelson X Darrell Netherton & Robert Wheeler X James Newkirk & Leon Wilkowsky* Janet Newkirk X Arletta Nicholl & Mary Anderson* Scott Nickle Konrad Noebel, MCAT, LMT & Brian Cox* Teri Noel* Terry O’Bryan & Jack Musser James O’Dell X 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 Richie Pagnotta X Bud Palmer X Fran Panzo & Karen Groething Diane Pasatieri Emilie Paternoster & Monica Parr X Carol Patterson & Carol Hughes* Tim Patterson & Harvey Sharpe X Lucille & Dan Payne* Michelle Peeling & Wendy Adams* Beverly Peltz* Roy Perdue X Al Perez & Gary Kraft* Colleen Perry & Jane Kuhfuss* Susan Petersen & Luz Cruz Don Peterson & Jeff Richman X Eric Peterson X Elizabeth Petitte & Erin Reid Bruce Pfeufer X PFLAG-Rehoboth Beach* Frank Pileggi & Jon Blackman X Arleen Pinkos* Terry Plowman X Jo Pokorny* Mary Lu Pool Trudy Portewig & Luanne Schinzel Linda Porto & Linda Tobin Roni Posner X Sue Potts & Karen Kohn X Pat Powell* Renata Price & Yona Zucker* Timothy Price & Gerard Sealy X Sam Profeta X Sarajane Quinn* Jean Rabian & Ralph Hackett X Joie Rake & Nan Flesher X Elaine Raksis & Maxine Klane* Barb Ralph X Rob Ramoy X Bob & Mary Beth Ramsey X Linda Rancourt & M. Sue Sandmeyer* Lewis Rathbone* Julie Rathman & Sandra Eagles Nancy Ratner James Raynor & John Kolonko Carole Redman Janet Redman X Carolyn Redmon & Nancy Allen* Randy Reed X Rehoboth Art League*

Peter S. Reichertz X Ken Reilly & Tony Ghigi X Virginia Reime & Gene Tadlock* Jeff Reinhart & Jack Miller* Thomas Resh & Jeffrey Meyers X Judith Retchin & Elyse Wander X Deborah Reuter & Deborah Bea* Sarah Reznek & Babette Pennay Sandie Riddell & Eileen Siner* Patricia Ridge Marion Ridley & Mark Lundy X Ronica Ridley-Martin & John Martin Linda Rikard & Mary Jo Tarallo Keith & John Riley-Spillane X Heather & Cathy Rion Starr 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* Chris Rogahn Jeanne Rogers* Roy Rollins X Lauren Romig X Debbie Ronemus & Peggy Sander* Ed Rose & Sandra Robbins X Michael Rose & David Le Sage Peter Rosenstein X Larry L. Ross X Mary Rossettini & Kathleen Taylor Ellen & Terry Roth Perreault X Barb Rowe X Ski Rowland & Gary Mosher X Joan Rubenstein X Herbert Russell* Kelly Sabol* Steve Sage & Thom Swiger X Joe & Nancy Sakaduski* Margaret Salamon* Sanford & Doris Slavin Foundation X Richard Scalenghe & Thomas Panetta* Kim Schilpp* Michael Schlechter & Kevin Sharp X James Schmidt & Carl Horosz Rosemarie Schmidt & Carolyn Horn X Sharon Schmitt* Holly Schneider & Linda Haake* Jaime Schneider & Glenn Randall X Peter Schott & Jeffrey Davis* Carol Schwartz X Craig Schwartz & William Pullen X Diane Schwarz Diane Scobey X John Scotti & Greg Landers* David Scuccimarra & Dorothy Fedorka* Shirley Semple* Joann Seppelt Marj Shannon & Carla Burton* Dale Sheldon & Pat Coluzzi X Banner Sheppard & Marlin Hubler Kelly Sheridan & Debra Quinton* David Sherman X George Shevlin & Jack Suwanlert* William Shively & TD Stanger Davis Short & Beverly Castner Frank Silverio X Continued on page 101

TAKE PRIDE IN HOME OWNERSHIP! SUPPORTING LOVE, EQUALITY & THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY

JULY 21, 2023

99 Letters

jacklingo.com

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Coastal Delaware Sales & Rentals

REHOBOTH BEACH

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Letters 100

JULY 21, 2023

LEWES

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MILLSBORO

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Continued from page 98

Marc Silverman & John Campbell* Joanne Sinsheimer & Margaret Beatty* Ken Skrzesz X Jeffrey Slavin X Anne Smith & Lisa Taylor Carol Smith* Harlan Joe Smith & Dustin Abshire* Leonard Smith X Rosanne Smith & Brenda Butterfield* Rich Snell X Sandra Sommerfield & Cindy Scott X Dee Speck & Linda Kauffman X Jim Spellman X Lorraine Stanish & Beverly Miller* Christy Steer X Frank Sterner X Diane Stetina Shelley Stevens & Joanne Locke Lisa Stewart X Libby Stiff & Bea Wagner X Russell & Patricia Stiles* Allison Stine & Pete Jamieson* Terry Stinson* Caroline Stites & Elizabeth Coit X Tracy Stith & Laura McCarthy Dr. Frederick C. Stoner * Michael Stover* Christine Strauss X Lois Strauss X Jackie Sullivan & Sharon Padbury John Swift & Ron Bowman X Stephen Szymanski Susan & Jill Taylor Micaela Tedford X David Thomas & David Tiburzio X The Hon. Henry E. Thomas IV & John-Kevin Litschgi X Barb Thompson X Thomas Tibbetts X Otto F. Tidwell X Cassandra Toroian X Manny Tortosa X Steve Touzell & Marshall Scott Beadle Cheryll & Bill Trefzger* Steve Triglia X Roz Troupin & Mary Harris X Patricia Truitt* Matt Turlinski & Jerry Sipes X Ed Turner & Steve Baker X Judy Twell & Cheri Himmelheber* Charles Tyrell Bruce Uliss X Michael Utasi Debra Van Dyke* Jennifer Varone* V. James Villareale - & In Memory of Dale Ebert* Beverly Vogt & Waneeta Mack X Patrick Wadsworth & Mike Converse X Scott Wagner & John Sohonage* Eric Wahl & Eric Coverdale* Marianne Walch X Jennifer Walker & Mary Ann Veitch X Paula Walker & Gayle Dumonceaux David Wall & Robert Houck* Valerie Walters Kenneth E. Walz & Robert G. Ward, Jr. X

Garold Wampler X Michael E. Ward X Sharyn Warwick X Ellen Watkins X Troy Watson & Dennis Wolfgang* Debbie Webber & Terry McQuaid* West Side New Beginnings Donna West Patricia West Carl R. Wetzel X Liz Wheeler & Ruth Morse X Steve White X Thomas White & Robert Freeman X Phil & Stephanie Wikes* Steven Wildasin Keith Wilkinson X Diane & Ken Williams Jim Williams* Rich Williams X Kelly Williamson & J Ellis Donna L. Wilson & Laurie R. Levin X Lynn Wilson* Sue Wilson David Wolanski* Max Wolf X Carol Woodcock & Carol Lewis* Cody Woodfin & Rich Morgan Robert B. Wright X Alexander G. Yearley X James E. Yiaski X Linda Yingst* Vickie York X Kay Young James Zeigler & In Memory of Sam Deetz* Lisa Zimmerman X Karl Zoric & Mark Pipkin X

CAMP REHOBOTH MEMBERSHIP Join today to support our mission!

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X Founders’ Circle 10+ years * Members five years or more Names in bold are new or upgraded members as of July 9, 2023 Founders’ Circle designation has been added to our Membership roster. Please send kudos, questions, or listing updates to membership@camprehoboth.com.

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JULY 21, 2023

101 Letters

More CAMPNews Get Vaccinated!

M

issed the mpox vaccine clinic on June 27? Then, good news: CAMP Rehoboth is offering mpox vaccinations again Tuesday, July 25, and on Tuesday, August 22. Registration is requested at camprehoboth.com.

CDC issued a summer advisory about mpox, noting that outbreaks could increase as people gather for festivals and other events with high potential for skin-to-skin contact or increased sexual activity.

Common early onset symptoms for mpox may resemble that of the common cold or of the coronavirus. These can include fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, headaches and backaches, exhaustion, or respiratory symptoms like sore throat, nasal congestion, or cough.

CAMP Rehoboth encourages all to be safe and to take advantage of this free community resource. Plus, each individual vaccinated will receive their choice of a CAMP Rehoboth custom-made hat, CAMP sling bags, $10 gift cards to Lori’s Oy Vey Café (located in CAMP Rehoboth Courtyard), or a $10 appetizer at Aqua. ▼

Tai Chi Returns to CAMP Rehoboth

S

tarting August 15, CAMP Rehoboth will offer Beat-the-Meter Tai Chi with Master Trainer Marianne Walch, PhD, the Co-Director of the Silver Lotus Training Institute. To register, email tara@camprehoboth.com.

Tai Chi is a mind-body practice designed to cultivate life force energy, or “Qi.” Consisting of fluid, gentle movements that are relaxed and slow in tempo, it is a powerfully holistic approach to better health. ▼

CROP Combs the Beach!

C

AMP Rehoboth Outreach Program (CROP) volunteers woke to a very chilly morning on June 3 as they joined other volunteers with Friends of Cape Henlopen to clear trash on Cape Henlopen’s trails and beach again this year as part of National Trails Day. The cold, strong winds and pounding surf did not deter the hardy CROP team from completing its assigned area. Volunteers were rewarded with a delicious lunch prepared by the Village Improvement Association.

Everyone enjoyed another CROP experience, along with meeting and talking with members of the Cape Henlopen Friends group. Friends’ President John Bracco said, “We appreciate the efforts of CAMP Rehoboth in helping preserve Cape Henlopen State Park.” Special thanks to Kay Ellis for leading the CROP team as it contributed to another great job in the community! ▼

CROP Ushers in a Summer Concert!

I

n mid-June, CAMP Rehoboth Outreach Program (CROP) volunteer teams assisted with ushering at the CAMP Rehoboth Chorus’s summer concert, “Out for the Summer.” After the first night, they dispensed with their usual vests and bow ties and followed the Chorus’s lead with festive beach attire. The evening performances and Sunday matinee were another huge success for the Chorus—CAMP Rehoboth’s singing ambassadors! ▼

Catching Up with Radio Rehoboth

C

AMP Rehoboth is excited to partner with Radio Rehoboth for news every other Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. for Jeff Balk’s Morning Daybreak program. In conversation with Balk, CAMP Rehoboth’s Matty Brown will bring the latest CAMP updates to listeners, including upcoming events, programs, initiatives, and advocacy news. Tune in to 99.1 FM or listen online at radiorehoboth.com. ▼

Letters 102

JULY 21, 2023

NEW QUEER TITLES

BY D’ANNE WITKOWSKI

Read Them Before They Are Banned

I

n an era when books by or about LGBTQ+ people are being taken off library shelves and banned in grade schools, there’s never been a more important time to support queer literature. Remember: Representation not only matters, it saves lives. LGBTQ+ people will not be erased, as the pages of these books prove.

FICTION

The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw A mermaid, a prince, and a plague doctor all walk into a bar. Actually, it’s not a bar but a village of bloodthirsty children. Author Cassandra Khaw’s wildly original novel is a dark fairy tale that defies easy explanation.

Part nightmare, part romance, Khaw crafts this story with poetic prose and an eye for the macabre.

The Adult by Bronwyn Fischer A college freshman.

An older woman. An affair.

Bronwyn Fischer’s The Adult is a beautifully written novel about what it means to find yourself as a young person and whether finding yourself is even really possible when you’re consumed by a relationship with someone older and, presumably, wiser than you.

Confidence by Rafael Frumkin A novel about a couple of gay scalawags who con the rich? Yes, please. After meeting at a juvenile delinquent boot camp, Orson and Ezra become partners in a life of crime. When they embark on the biggest scam of their career, targeting unfulfilled rich

people, things don’t exactly go as planned. Written in an engaging voice, Confidence is a book about how it pays to be morally bankrupt. Or does it?

NON-FICTION

Hi Honey, I’m Homo by Matt Baume You can learn a lot about cultural attitudes toward LGBTQ+ people by watching TV. Decades of it, in fact. And if you’re thinking, “Well who has the time for that?” worry not. Matt Baume has you covered. Hi Honey, I’m Homo examines how the fight for LGBTQ+ equality has been reflected through TV history.

From All in the Family to Soap to The Golden Girls to Modern Family, Baume illustrates how sitcoms shaped and continue to shape the way people see LGBTQ+ people and how LGBTQ+ people see themselves.

We See Each Other: A Black, Trans Journey Through TV and Film by Tre’vell Anderson If you start every morning with the What a Day podcast, then you already know that Black trans journalist Tre’vell Anderson is engaging, hilarious, and smart as hell.

In We See Each Other, Anderson traces both a personal and on-screen history of transgender visibility through movies and TV shows like Some Like

It Hot, Boys Don’t Cry, and RuPaul’s Drag Race. This is an absolute must-read.

We Set the Night on Fire: Igniting the Gay Revolution

by Martha Shelley During this time of intense backlash against LGBTQ+ rights, it’s wise to turn to the activists who were on the forefront of this movement to remember our history and how far we’ve come. We Set the Night on Fire recounts lesbian founder of the Gay Liberation Front Martha Shelley’s story of fighting for equality. It’s a personal history that cannot be separated from the history of the larger Civil Rights Movement.

May this book inspire more LGBTQ+ people and allies to take to the streets and fight for our lives.

MEMOIR

Boy Wander by Jobert E. Abueva In University of Michigan alum Jobert Abueva’s memoir, he navigates multiple identities as he grows up. A star student at a Catholic boys school in Tokyo and, after school, a call boy for rich foreign men. A child born in Manila and coming of age in Kathmandu and Bangkok before moving to the US in the peak Reagan 1980s. A young man craving his family’s love and acceptance but afraid to be fully honest. Abueva’s road to self-acceptance was not an easy one, and this memoir is not always an easy one to read, but Abueva’s honesty makes it ultimately rewarding.

Pageboy by Elliot Page They say celebrities have no private lives, and to some extent, with

paparazzi around every corner, that’s true. But one’s interior life is a whole different story, and for Elliot Page, that life was very different from the public life on display after Juno brought Page wide acclaim and stardom.

Pageboy tells the story of Page refusing to be crushed

by Hollywood’s demands and society’s expectations and deciding to live his truth.

Tweakerworld: A Memoir by Jason Yamas How does one accidentally become one of San Francisco’s biggest crystal meth dealers? You start with Beanie Babies. OK, not exactly. But like a lot of Yamas’s life—past, present and future—it’s complicated. Tweakerworld explores Yamas’s history of addiction, from Adderall to meth, his career as a filmmaker, gay culture, his relationships with his family and boyfriends, and his often drug-fueled sex life. Tweakerworld is brutally honest and beautifully told. ▼ D’Anne Witkowski is a writer living in Michigan with her wife and son. She has been writing about LGBTQ+ politics for nearly two decades. Follow her on Twitter @ MamaDWitkowski.

JULY 21, 2023

103 Letters

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

1211006

Letters 104

JULY 21, 2023

We’re all in this together.

State Farm® has a long tradition of being there. That’s one reason why I’m proud to support Camp Rehoboth.

Get to a better State®.

State Farm, Bloomington, IL

JULY 21, 2023

105 Letters

THE WILD KINGDOM

BY TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER

So—What’s for Dinner?

S

o, let’s say you’re a loincloth-clad, hard-bodied human on a mesa a few hundred thousand years ago. You’re hot, you’re heading toward camp with other hard-bodied humans, and you’re hungry. It doesn’t take a lot of imagination to know that getting chow was going to take some mad skills, from catch to kill to cook because, with no access to Door Dash, you had to DIY dinner back then. It would have been a pain, for sure, but just be glad you’re a human....

Once your belly’s full, you might wonder what other creatures eat when they’re on a mesa and it’s mealtime. We can start with the lowly insect, many of which are omnivores—meaning that they’re not choosy about what’s on their plate. Depending on where they are in their life cycle, an insect might eat plants, nectar, seeds, wood, fecal matter, garbage, corpses, or other living creatures—including one another, if a meal so presents itself.

Or how about that rabbit you so diligently chased across the mesa? Saturday morning cartoons would have you believing that rabbits dine on carrots and clover and dance around flowers, right?

That’s mostly true (rabbits are really lousy

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dancers) but rabbits also have a distasteful (sorry!)—but entirely necessary—habit: they regularly dine on their own fecal pel-

[Civet cats’] favorite thing of all is palm juice. Especially fermented palm juice, which gets the civet cat good and drunk and makes it fall from trees… lets. They do it because their chambered little stomachs can’t absorb all the nutrients they eat on the first pass, so those nutrients are excreted. The rabbit gets the good stuff the second time around.

All these weird eating habits must be messing with your hard-bodied, loincloth-wearing, mesa-running prehistoric mind, huh? You might, therefore, ask: what kind of animal eats normal things that aren’t disgusting?

Basically, not very many that you’d have regular contact with. Your cave pets, both canine and feline, likely eat scraps and meat parts that you’d never consume. Grazing animals such as goats and horses eat a certain amount of dirt while foraging—up to 30 percent of each bite, if you’re a sheep. Even a good number

of the creatures you might see in the air have omnivorous diets that include unappetizing things like slugs, bugs, grubs, worms, and small animals—whole or just their blood.

Depending on where your mesa was, you might have spotted a civet cat, an animal that is found in Africa and Asia and is a distant relative somewhere between our domestic feline and the raccoon. To be honest, civet cats don’t make good vittles but their dining habits are noteworthy: most of the time, they eat birds and scorpions and small prey, but their favorite thing of all is palm juice. Especially fermented palm juice, which gets the civet cat good and drunk and makes it fall from trees which is probably hilariously funny to everyone but the civet cat.

By the way, if you want to know how humans consume civet cat parts, look it up.

Bon appetit! ▼ Terri Schlichenmeyer’s second book, The Big Book of American Facts, comes out this fall.

Her first (Big Book of Facts) is available now in bookstores.

ALL

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5 7 B A L T I M O RE AVE , RE H O BOT H BEA CH , DELAWA RE. PHO NE:(302 ) 2 26 - 9 0 0 1 JULY 21, 2023

107 Letters

Advisor to philanthropists.

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delcf.org/daf Letters 108

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EVERYONE PLAYS AT THE YMCA FALL BASKETBALL & SOCCER LEAGUE REGISTRATION OPENS JULY 10TH! Sign up online at www.ymcade.org/programs.

Sussex Family YMCA 20080 Church Street, Rehoboth, DE 19971 Financial assistance is available.

50th Annual Outdoor Fine Art and Fine Craft Show August 5-6 & August 12-13 The Rehoboth Art League's signature summer event returns to our historic Henlopen Acres campus in 2023. More than 100 artists and artisans will display and sell their fine art and fine crafts amidst our 3.5+ acre wooded campus.

JULY 21, 2023

109 Letters

Sea, Sand, Shop!

BY MIKEY ROX

Best Dressed at the Beach Swimwear isn’t just for summer anymore. Suit up all year ‘round—in the hot tub, hot springs, or on a hot poolside date in these every-occasion bottoms that’re screamin’ for a splash.

Kenny Flowers Club Cartagenas

Caribbean senses meet Colombian expressions on the Club Cartagena mid-length swim trunks by Kenny Flowers, a solid vibe for poppin’ bottles in the cabana or breakin’ hearts on the beach. $50, KennyFlowers.com.

Fair Harbor Blue Paisley Bungalows As an on-trend print, paisley comes and goes—but timing is perfect for the Persian-pattern to make a comeback during summer 2023, thanks to Fair Harbor’s stonewashed, sun-faded offering, which look just as stylish shirtless as they do dressed-up in demure denim button-downs or plain piqué polos. $68, FairHarborClothing.com.

Black Grillo Swim Briefs You don’t need to book a flight to Rio to embrace the region’s signature sunga-style swim briefs—compassionately designed to be breathable up front and form-fitting in the back—and Brazil-based Black Grillo has you (barely) covered with its selection of mini and classic cuts in solid, floral, geometric, and metallic colorways to keep your thighs out while the sky’s out. $30$35, Shop.BlackGrillo.com.

Infamous Swim Amalfi Board Shorts

Swishy-wristed sun bums will wanna squeeze them lemons when they catch a glimpse of your beach bod in Infamous Swim’s Hank board shorts in its tantalizing Amalfi prints. $79, InfamousSwim.com.

Chubbies’ Apex Swimmers Your thighs and round guys stay tight and taut in Chubbies’ Apex Swimmers thanks to the built-in, antichafe mesh boxer-brief liner, available in a pastel-predator print and 13 other wild styles in 4-, 5.5- and 7-inch lengths. $80, ChubbiesShorts.com.

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Patrick T Cooper Be Cools

Pop art meets la playa in Patrick T Cooper’s mesh-lined, extra-light Be Cool trunks that’re bursting with enough color and Cubist-collage influence to make Picasso proud. $50, PatrickTCooper.com.

Saxx ‘Bite Me’ Oh Buoys According to the New York Post, “Women are debating whether the ubiquitous fish in men’s profile pics on dating apps symbolize a catch—or toxic bass-culinity.” Ask queer men and it’s unanimous: Reel us in, daddies. Do your own luring in Saxx’s Bite Me lined trunks, featuring a quick-dry shell in a gumball shade, full elastic waist, and the brand’s signature BallPark Pouch to keep your boys cool, confident, and just a

lil’ slippery when wet. $70, SaxxUnderwear.com.

Orttu Julien Shorts A quality vacay cover-up can’t be discounted, especially if you’re splashing in your Speedo before hitting the casino, and Orttu’s Julien shorts in a hibiscus-and-palm print are relaxed and playful even when your chips (and inhibitions) are down. $145, Orttu.com Speedo Melbourne Escape Brief

Surf’s up in Speedo’s Melbourne Escape Brief—featuring an external drawstring for a secure fit and CREORA HighClo chlorine-resistant fabric with Endurabrite for long-lasting color—equally suited for dips and dives by the docks or Down Under. $45, US.Speedo.com.▼ Mikey Rox is an award-winning journalist and LGBTQ lifestyle expert whose work has been published in more than 100 outlets across the world. Connect with Mikey on Instagram @ mikeyroxtravels

At The Lodges of Coastal Delaware, we respect, honor and celebrate the individuality of every resident and team member. Here, we believe that a lifestyle community is a place to live, belong, and enjoy 'Life. Your Way.' The Lodge at Truitt Homestead is proud to be the first SAGECare Certified senior lifestyle community in Delaware, treating each resident with dignity and respect while catering to the unique needs of seniors in the LGBTQ+ community.

Opening late summer 2023, The Lodge at Historic Lewes will be home to the same exceptional and inclusive lifestyle, offering vibrant assisted living and groundbreaking The Compass Memory Care™.

Start your journey to “Lodge Life” today by calling 844-493-9888.

LEWES & REHOBOTH BEACH, DE | WWW.LODGELIFEDE.COM | 844-493-9888

Where Fresh Fo od Is rooted In Comm ommunIty At the Historic Lewes Farmers Market you’ll find heirloom tomatoes, honey, freshly-laid eggs, local sweet corn, lettuces, juicy peaches, and best of all – community.

SATURDAY MARKET

George H.P. Smith Park Johnson & Dupont Avenues, Lewes, DE Saturdays • 8am-Noon • May 6-Septemer 30, 2023 Lewes Elementary School Parking Lot 820 Savannah Road, Lewes, DE • Saturdays 9am-Noon • October 7-November 18, 2023

WEDNESDAY MARKET AT CROOKED HAMMOCK BREWERY

37707 Crooked Hammock Way, Lewes, DE Wednesdays • 8am–11:30am • June 7–September 6, 2023 www.HistoricLewesFarmersMarket.org info@HistoricLewesFarmersMarket.org • 302.644.1436 Market accepts SNAP/EBT, and FMNP-WIC, SFMNP coupons.

JULY 21, 2023

111 Letters

SCENES FROM REHOBOTH BEACH

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2 (Continued from page 55) THIS PAGE (left to right) 1) at Louie Luau: Stephen Strasser, Steve Groeninger, Monica Parr, Emilie Paternoster, John Bratton, Eric Rothermel, Kathy Wiz, Muriel Hogan, Fay Jacobs, Glen Pruitt, Linda Busche, Murray Archibald, Ben Stern, Mary Beth Ramsey, Mark Rebholz; 2) at Summer Solstice Luau at Lodge at Truitt Homestead: Dominic Mannello, Brian Barber, Scott Braithwaite, Chris Beagle, Wes Combs, Eric Engelhart, Greg Albright, Lisa Evans.

OPPOSITE PAGE: 3) at Beebe Foundation’s Pride Party: Kay Young, Andy Staton, Patrick Saparito, Tom Protack, DE Speaker of the House Pete Schwartzkopf, Tim Hot, Donna Shifflett, Justin Schooly, Joe Petrone, Kimberly Casey, Shawn Evans, Craig Scindiver, Gary Alexander, Robert Patlan; 4) at CAMP Rehoboth Chorus Summer Concert at Epworth: Doug Yetter, David Scuccimarra, Tracey Seabolt, Joe Vescio, Ron Bass, George Robbins; 5) at Pride Festival at Cinema Art Theater: Mowry Spencer, John Newton, Allen Stafford, David Cristy, Mike Davitt, Peter Schott, Ellen Feinberg, Leslie Rogan; 6) at Gallery 50: Bruce Clayton, Patrick Starr, Pat Whitehead, Mike Whitehead, Ed McGann, Dale McGann.▼ (More CAMPshots page 114) Letters 112

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SCENES FROM REHOBOTH BEACH

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4 (Continued from page 113) THIS PAGE (left to right) 1) at Delaware Pride: Aura DuBoyz, DE State Senator Russ Huxtable, Dakota, Kenneth David, Scarlet Masters, Jim King; 2) at Blue Moon: Tim Ragan, Charles Esham, Terry Kistler, Chris Berg; 3) at Oliver Whitby Opening Reception: RB Commissioner Elect Don Preston, Frank Torres, Donny Hallowell, Debra Hallowell, Bryan Mack, Wayne Hanby, Hetty Hertrich, Rick Pryor; 4) at Back Porch Café: Vincent Harrison, Denise Harrison; 5) at Rehoboth Beach Museum Reception for Postcards Book Release: Roland Forster, David McDonald, Nancy Alexander, David Mann, Hal Dukes.

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OPPOSITE PAGE 6) at Rehoboth Beach Museum Reception for Postcards Book Release: Terry Plowman, Sam Cooper, George Stakais, Patrick Pastor, Alex Papajohn, Jill Wright; 7) at Diego’s: Charles Bounds, Jeremy Clark, Terry Isler, Jeremy Bernstein, Chris Kitchen, Stephen Antonio, Jason Bradley, Steven Oliver, Shannon Reed, Alonza Parker, Anthony Carl, Brad Thomas, William Morris, Michael Flanagan, Morgan Blanch; 8) at The Pines: Richard Raver, Jeff Raver, Dorothy Raver, Mat Gulick, Chrissy Dormon, David Gonce, Giovanni Eiziny, Bradley Gregerson, George Toma, Harry Hammond, Marc Chase; 9) at Aqua: Helen Chamberlin, Amy Tootle, Michael Eisinger, Todd Seigel, Danny Haile, Mike Lutz, Josh Levi, Timmie Cash, Bruce Clayton, Adam Kantorski, Conrad Booker. ▼

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windsor's 28-02_windsor's 14-15.qxd 3/30/2018 2:26 PM Page 1

Fourth-Page-V

CROSSWORD PUZZLE SOLUTION (puzzle on page 74)

“WHERE FLOWERS SPEAK A BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE” FLORIST SHOP • GREENHOUSES 20326 Coastal Highway • Rehoboth Beach, DE (Next to Arena’s Café)

302-227-9481

Advertising in Letters from CAMP Rehoboth pays off.

Call Tricia Massella at 302-227-5620 or email tricia@camprehoboth.com for more information!

Letters 116

JULY 21, 2023

Subscribe today.

CAMP Rehoboth Volunteer Opportunities SUNFESTIVAL

Don’t miss a thing.

11 issues of LETTERS from CAMP Rehoboth by first class mail.

Join the festivities this Labor Day weekend and volunteer for SUNFESTIVAL 2023! Help is needed for registration, décor, set-up, breakdown, auction spotters, and more.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES MEETING Any and all volunteers, especially those new to CAMP Rehoboth, are encouraged to join the Volunteer Opportunities Meeting on Wednesday, August 2, at 6:00 p.m. in the Elkins-Archibald Atrium. There will be a spotlight on the needs for SUNFESTIVAL!

CROP: CAMP REHOBOTH OUTREACH PROGRAM YOUR NAME

The CAMP Rehoboth Outreach Program (CROP) is constantly working to cultivate community and strengthen relationships and the connections among us all. Check the site for monthly volunteer opportunities.

PARTNER’S NAME ( IF APPLICABLE)

CAMPSHOTS PHOTOGRAPHERS Shoot CAMPshots for Letters! Use your camera or iPhone, or the CAMP Rehoboth office camera. More guidelines will be shared with volunteers.

STREET MAILING ADDRESS

Sign up at camprehoboth.com/volunteers.

CITY, STATE, ZIP

☐ YES ☐ NO PHONE

IS THIS A RENEWAL?

Send your check for $50 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.

Your volunteer efforts benefit you and others.

Please visit camprehoboth.com/volunteers to register as a volunteer and to sign up for available opportunities.

thank you BOARDWALK TO END GUN VIOLENCE Lissa Dulany Susan Taylor

CAMP ARTS TEAM Logan Farro Jane Knaus Lois Powell Leslie Sinclair Patricia Stiles Debbie Woods CAMP DATABASE Sondra Arkin CAMP LIBRARY Glenn Lash CAMP MAINTENANCE Carol Brice Eric Korpon CAMPCIERGES Joe Benshelter Barbara Breault Ken Currier

Bob Grant Jim Mease Mike Merena Kim Nelson Patricia Stiles Russell Stiles Joe Vescio

CAMPSAFE CONDOM STUFFING PARTIES Tim Birrittella Mark Eubanks Todd Hacker Bob Horne Claire Ippoliti Jim King Shawn McHugh Barry Moshinski Doug Sellers Joe Vescio CAMPSAFE HIV TESTING AND COUNSELING Tom Chaplin E.J. Kenyon Mike Merena Sharon Morgan

Alan Spiegelman Joe Vescio CAMPSHOTS PHOTO VOLUNTEERS Jason Bradley Tony Burns Paul Frene David Garrett Alonza Parker

CHORUS LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE Bill Fuchs Dianna Johnston Judy Olsen Dave Scuccimarra Sandra Skidmore CROP AT NATIONAL TRAILS DAY Theo Braver Yvonne Cipressi Karen DeSantis Kay Ellis Karen Folger

Kathy Gantz Kate Gehret Jill Masterman Beverly Miller Lorraine Stanish

CROP USHERS, CAMP REHOBOTH CHORUS CONCERT Karen Anderson Celeste Beaupre Mary Jo Douglas Brenda Dunn Bob Horne Patti Magee Linda Miniscalco Mary Molsky Leslie Sinclair John Michael Sophos Lorraine Stanish Debbie Woods DELAWARE PRIDE Jim King Karen Laitman Andrea Miller

to all the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center Volunteers for the period: June 2 - July 7, 2023

GRANTS COMMITTEE Leslie Calman Kate Cauley David Garrett John Roane Leslie Sinclair LETTERS DISTRIBUTION TEAM Todd Hacker Glenn Lash Jim Mease LETTERS MAILING TEAM Nancy Hewish Grant Kingswell Vicki Martina Stephen Palmer Russell Stiles Linda Yingst MEMBERSHIP TEAM Jane Blue Ann Evans

MILTON PRIDE Robertine Cale Abby Graham Amanda Neeff Deb Small Susan Taylor THE PINK PARTY Chris Beagle Eric Engelhart Michael Fetchko Paul Frene Kasey GonzalezCruz Michelle Manfredi Robb Mapou Keith Petrack Jim Schmidt Hannah Simone Margaret Tobin PRIDE FILM FESTIVAL Lillian Berenberg Meredith Brumbaugh Susan Taylor

PRIDE HANDMADE MARKET Bob Croker Lissa Dulany Mark Eubanks Bob Horne Glenn Lash Jim Mease Doug Sellers Leslie Sinclair Joe Vescio Debbie Woods VOICES FROM STONEWALL Chris Cossette Lisa Cummings Lissa Dulany Mark Eubanks Robert Grant Kim Nelson

Doug Sellers Lori Simmons VOLUNTEER DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Jim Mease Kim Nelson Rina Pellegrini Leslie Sinclair John Michael Sophos Debbie Woods

JULY 21, 2023

117 Letters

AD INDEX Accent On Travel........................................................ 9 Activ Pest Solutions..................................................82 AG Renovations........................................................79 AIDS Walk 2023.......................................................25 All Saints Church....................................................109 Aqua Bar & Grill......................................................107 Atlantic Jewelry........................................................15 Atlantic View Hotel...................................................74 Beach View Hotel.....................................................89 Beebe Healthcare....................................................48 Black Standard Poodles...........................................81 Bodhi Kitchen...........................................................85 Brandywine Urology Consultants............................... 7 Brandywine Valley SPCA..........................................41 bsd............................................................................45 Café Azafrán.............................................................87 CAMP Rehoboth Annual Sponsors...........................12 CAMP Rehoboth Block Party Save The Date............19 CAMP Rehoboth Letters Subscription....................117 CAMP Rehoboth Membership..................................31 CAMP Rehoboth SUNFESTIVAL..........................18, 19 CAMP Theatre..........................................................35 CAMPsafe.................................................................24 Caroline Huff, Artist..................................................39 Chris Beagle Group, Realtors...................................39 ChristianaCare Seeking Gender Therapist..............81 Clear Space Theatre.................................................83 Coho’s Market & Grill................................................43 Collins Podiatry......................................................104 Country Lawn Care.................................................118 County Bank.............................................................95

DE Div of Public Health, Cancer Screening..............21 DE Div of Public Health, Quitline..............................27 Delaware Community Foundation.........................108 Delaware Hospice....................................................82 Design Center of Rehoboth......................................92 Diego’s Bar Nightclub...............65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71 Dogfish Head...........................................................73 Donna Whiteside, Realtor........................................20 Fifth Avenue Jewelers..............................................87 Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant.........................119 Gay Women of Rehoboth.........................................37 go fish go brit...........................................................33 Historic Lewes Farmers Market.............................111 Hugh Fuller, Realtor..................................................58 Humane Animal Partners Delaware.........................40 Jack Lingo, Real Estate..........................................100 James Warren, Realtor.............................................47 Jenn Harpel, Morgan Stanley...................................23 Jolly Trolley..............................................................49 Just In Thyme Restaurant.........................................23 Lee Ann Wilkinson Group, Realtors..........................99 Little Landmines Pet Waste Removal.....................104 Lori’s Café................................................................79 Loves Liquors...........................................................33 Maplewood Dental Associates.................................79 McWilliams Ballard Real Estate................................97 MERR Institute..........................................................43 Milton Theatre..........................................................32 New Wave Spas........................................................49 Oliver Whitby............................................................51 Olivia Travel..............................................................13

Purple Parrot............................................................59 PWW Law..................................................................47 Randy Mason/Shirley Kalvinsky, Realtors..........93, 95 Rehoboth Art League.............................................109 Rehoboth Beach Bears.............................................86 Rehoboth Beach Dental...........................................33 Rehoboth Beach Museum........................................87 Rehoboth Guest House............................................49 Rigby’s Bar & Grill...................................................105 Saved Souls Animal Rescue.....................................79 Sea Bova Associates, Realtors...............................120 Springpoint Choice...................................................78 State Farm - George Bunting.................................104 State Farm - Jeanine O’Donnell/Eric Blondin...........37 Sussex Family YMCA..............................................109 The Joe Maggio Group, Realtors.............................37 The Lodge at Truitt Homestead..............................111 The Moorings at Lewes............................................81 The Pines..................................................................63 Time to Heal Counseling & Consulting..................106 Troy Roberts, Realtor................................................23 True Blue Jazz..........................................................75 Unfinished Business.................................................49 Vickie York, Realtor..................................................43 Village Volunteers....................................................37 Volunteer Opportunities.........................................117 Volunteer Thank You..............................................117 Windsor’s Flowers..................................................116 Zane Jones, Realtor.................................................89

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Letters 118 JULY 21, 2023

JULY 21, 2023

119 Letters

LINDA BOVA

BRIDGET BAUER

BROKER-ABR®

ASSOC. BROKER-REALTOR®

CELL

CELL

302-542-4197

ANGOLA BEACH - Lewes.

“Like new” 2016 3BR/2BA home is 980sf. 8’ x 8’ Shed.

Community pools, marina & just 10 miles to beach. Call for Price (New) Lot Rent

$725/mt. includes water & sewer

VILL. OF COOL BRANCH - Seaford. Remodeled 1999 3BR/2BA home is 1,456sf.

Front & rear decks. Shed.

Community pool & catchn-release pond. $139,000 (2042950) Lot Rent $526/mt.

302-245-0577

SEA AIR - Rehoboth.

2013 RV w/main BR & 2 sleep sofas (sleeps 6). Big LV. Nice kitchen. Dinette area.

Full bath. Community pool & 3 miles to beach. $47,500 (2042576) Seasonal 4/15-11/15

SUSSEX STREET - Milton. New Construction – Ready Now! This is an absolutely stunning 4BR/4.5BA home that’s so close to all the resort area has to offer. Wonderful for year-round living, as a vacation home, or an Airbnb. 3,280 sq. ft. & each bedroom is en Suite. Features wide-plank white oak floors on the main level.

Beautiful kitchen has premium Calabria quartz countertops, wet bar & GE Café appliances. 1stfloor bedroom suite. Upstairs family room. Sunroom, patio & privacy fencing.

No HOA. 6 miles to beach. $425,000 (2038314)

(2041516) Lot Rent $905/mt.

(2044252) Lot Rent $526/mt.

OAKWOOD VILLAGE - Lewes. New Construction. 4BR/2BA home is 1,877sq. ft. on a ¼-acre lot that backs up to a wooded buffer. Bamboo floors in the main living area. Cathedral ceilings in the Great Room. Kitchen has granite countertops, stainless steel appliances & tile backsplash. Dining area.

Split bedroom plan. BIG mud room with storage closet & laundry room.

Large 12’ x 17’ deck. 2-car garage with attic access.

Community pool & 8 miles to the Lewes beach, 10 miles to the boardwalk. $489,900 (2041926)

SUSSEX EAST - Lewes.

2000 3BR/2BA w/den. 1,568sf home recently remodeled.

Next to State Park bike trail.

Indoor community pool. 6 miles to beach. Call for Price (New) Lot Rent $569/mt.

SUSSEX WEST - Lewes.

2002 3BR/2BA. 1,454sf home w/1-car oversize garage on corner lot. Large deck.

Indoor community pool & 6 miles to beach. $175,000

VILL. OF COOL BRANCH - Seaford. Remodeled 1997 3BR/2BA home is 984sf.

Front & rear decks.

Community pool & catchn-release pond. $129,000

SILVER VIEW FARM Rehoboth. 1983 2BR/2BA. Gas FP. Eat-in kitchen.

Split BR plan. Patio & shed. Community pool & 3 miles to beach. $85,000 (2040774) Lot Rent $646/mt.

COLONIAL EAST - Rehoboth Beach. 1978 3BR/2BA doublewide. Split BR plan. Extra parking. Shed. Community pool. Just 4 miles to the beach. $115,000 (2039994)

Lot Rent $563/mt.

LOCHWOOD - Lewes.

New Construction. 3BR/2BA 1,634sf home. Luxury vinyl plank flooring. Gas FP. Granite & SS appliances in kitchen.

0.23 ac. $479,900 (2027444)

Call Theresa 609-515-5820

SEA AIR - Rehoboth.

2020 Champion 3BR/2BA doublewide home is on a corner lot. This home has exquisite finishes! $325,000 (2027444) Lot Rent $689/mt.

Call Luz 302-260-2080

20250 Coastal Highway - Suite 3, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971  302-227-1222 office www.SEABOVA.com 

EMAIL – RealEstate@SEABOVA.com

Office Independently Owned & Operated by SBA, Inc. Prices, promotions & availability subject to change without notice. *A/C Active/Under Contract -- Accepting Back-Up Offers