Letters from CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 34, No. 6

Bask & Bake Sizzle & Swelter Must Be July!

C R E A T I N G

A

M O R E

P O S I T I V E

R E H O B O T H

July 19, 2024 Volume 34, Number 6 camprehoboth.com

inside 4 In Brief 6 From the Executive Director

THIS ISSUE

VOLUME 34, NUMBER 6 • JULY 19, 2024

32 Health & Wellness

90 Sea Salt Table

SHARON MORGAN

ED CASTELLI

The Pearly Whites

Preserved Peach Cobbler

KIM LEISEY, PHD

36 The Writing Life

94 Celebrity Interview

8 President’s View

MATTY BROWN

MICHAEL COOK

WESLEY COMBS

10 Vice President’s View

Born This Gay

Dannii Minogue

40 It’s My Life

98 Historical Headliners

Death Bee Not Proud

Tinseltown Twosome: Janet Gaynor and Adrian

LESLIE LEDOGAR

MICHAEL THOMAS FORD

12 CAMP News

42 Fruit of the Vine

14 SUNFESTIVAL 2024

MARY JO TARALLO

Pride Proclamation signing by the Govenor, see page 4.

46 View Point

52 Reflections

76 CAMPshots

PATTIE CINELLI

80 Celebrity Profile

NANCY SAKADUSKI

18 Pride In Progress

Embrace. Empower. Evolve.

Four Delaware Wineries

Navigating Gay-Straight Friendships RICHARD ROSENDALL

21 CAMP Library Chronicles

50 Words Matter

GLENN LASH

CLARENCE FLUKER

Beach Reads

Creating Chandeliers—and Ourselves

26 What’s New, Pussycat?

TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER

28 CAMP Stories Working the Tables RICH BARNETT

30 Beyond the Binary CATHY RION STARR

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 to the Editor (up to 300 words) are published at the discretion of the Editor on a space-available basis.

Letters may be edited for length or clarity.

Letters 2

JULY 19, 2024

54 In Praise of the Dive Bar A Haven on Earth

56 Out & About

A Voice from Stonewall

24 Straight Talk DAVID GARRETT

Celebrating Juneteenth in Montgomery

CHRISTOPHER MOORE

22 Community News Pride and Prejudice

ANN APTAKER

ERIC PETERSON

See page 62

62 OUTlook

The Kitty Whisperer BETH SHOCKLEY

66 The Real Dirt

Sowing the Seeds of Our Democracy ERIC WAHL

Pride Month in RB!

Machine Dazzle

CHRIS AZZOPARDI

82 A Prom to Make You Smile

102 Deep Inside Hollywood ROMEO SAN VICENTE

108 From Stonewall to Sussex

Navigating the Arc of Justice JAMES SEARS

113 We Remember

From Bitter to Sweet NANCY SAKADUSKI

84 One Sunday with Morrie Can We Talk?

ON THE COVER GENDERplay

An AI illustration based on paintings by Murray Archibald.

FAY JACOBS

86 CAMP Arts LESLIE SINCLAIR

88 Booked Solid TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER

74 Celebrating Drag

More Important Now Than Ever STEPHEN RASKAUSKAS

EDITOR Marj Shannon EDITORIAL ASSOCIATE Matty Brown DESIGN AND LAYOUT Mary Beth Ramsey ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER Tricia Massella DISTRIBUTION Mark Wolf CONTRIBUTORS: Ann Aptaker, Chris Azzopardi, Rich Barnett, Matty Brown, Ed Castelli, Pattie Cinelli, Wes Combs, Michael Cook, Clarence Fluker, Michael Thomas Ford, David Garrett, Fay Jacobs, Glenn Lash, Leslie Ledogar, Kim Leisey, Tricia Massella, Christopher Moore, Sharon Morgan, Eric Peterson, Mary Beth Ramsey, Stephen Raskauskas, Richard Rosendall, Nancy Sakaduski, Romeo San Vicente, Terri Schlichenmeyer, James Sears, Marj Shannon, Beth Shockley, Leslie Sinclair, Cathy Rion Starr, Mary Jo Tarallo, Eric Wahl

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. © 2024 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 is an LGBTQ+ community center determined to Create A More Positive (CAMP) environment that is inclusive of all sexual orientations and gender identities in southern Delaware and beyond. We seek to promote cooperation, understanding among all people, and well-being, as we continue our to work to build a safer community with room for all.

VISION

CAMP Rehoboth envisions communities in Southern Delaware and beyond where all LGBTQ+ people thrive.

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 magazine, and functioning as an alternative tourist bureau and information center.

‘T

is beach season for sure! Between the heat and humidity, the traffic and crowds, there’s just no mistaking it. Whether you’re browsing this as you bask on the beach, sip an umbrella drink poolside, or lounge in airconditioned comfort—thanks for taking Letters along for the read.

But maybe you’ve done all the basking and sipping and lounging you can stand, and are looking for things to do? There are lots of possibilities….

There’s a great exhibit at the CAMP Rehoboth Gallery right now, with another opening right behind it. Peter Rosenstein will talk about his new book, Born This Gay, at CAMP Rehoboth on July 25—come hear his story; it’s an inspiring one. For performing arts, Nancy Sakaduski and Fay Jacobs have a couple suggestions.

Glenn Lash recommends some beach reads.

If the outdoors is calling to you, see Community News for an upcoming bike ride.

Or take a tour of Delaware’s wineries—Mary Jo Tarallo did and found lots to love.

In other news, Cathy Rion Starr invites us to honor Nonbinary Awareness Week— and more importantly, the nonbinary folx among us. Beth Shockley and Terri Schlichenmeyer celebrate cats (International Cat Day is August 8), and Christopher Moore and Stephen Raskauskas pay homage to dive bars and International Drag Day, respectively.

Rich Barnett writes in praise of local produce, and Ed Castelli will have you putting up peaches this year just so you revisit that taste of summer, come winter. Michael Thomas Ford has bee hives again—honey! He also reminds us to savor the sweet, fleeting pleasures of our lives, lest they slip away unnoticed in the hectic swirl of current events.

Speaking of current events, many of our writers—James Sears, Leslie Ledogar, Eric Peterson, David Garrett—have important things to say about our troubling times.

You’ll find lots to think about in their pieces. Not that troubling times are unique to our era—see Pattie Cinelli’s account of celebrating Juneteenth at the Equal Justice Institute in Montgomery, Alabama.

PRESIDENT Wesley Combs VICE PRESIDENT Leslie Ledogar SECRETARY Pat Catanzariti TREASURER Polly Donaldson

A couple issues ago, I invited readers to submit six-word memoirs. I just got a new one from Maureen Hough: “We are in Shifting Sand ENERGY.” So appropriate to the beach—and to these particularly shifty sands upon which we’re standing. May we all find—and employ wisely—that ENERGY she mentions.

AT-LARGE DIRECTORS Amanda Mahony Albanese, Lewis Dawley, Mike DeFlavia, David Garrett, Jenn Harpel, Kim Leisey (non-voting), Michelle Manfredi, and Teri Seaton EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Kim Leisey

CAMP REHOBOTH 37 Baltimore Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 tel 302-227-5620 | email editor@camprehoboth.org www.camprehoboth.org

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 19, 2024

3 Letters

Thank You, Pride Partners!

C

AMP Rehoboth is grateful for the businesses that chose to partner with us during Pride Month.

Amazon donated a $500 gift card for CAMP Rehoboth to use to purchase items needed for our community center.

Bin 66 donated a portion of their wine sales from LGBTQ+ vineyard owners for the month of June.

DiFebo’s Restaurants in Rehoboth Beach and Bethany Beach created Pride Month cocktails and proceeds will be donated to CAMP Rehoboth.

LBGTQ+ Pride Community Health Update to Lt. Governor Hall-Long

O

n June 18, Josh Sheets, CAMP Rehoboth’s CAMPsafe Program Coordinator, presented to the Lieutenant Governor at the monthly Community Health Update held at the Delaware Public Archives in Dover. Since June is Pride Month, this update focused on the LGBTQ+ community in the State of Delaware. CAMP Rehoboth spoke about its HIV testing program, the various populations served throughout Sussex County, and reported on a syphilis testing program that will go live in mid-to-late July. Josh also discussed how health disparities and immigration status, sexual orientation, housing, and mental health potentially impact health outcomes.

There was a Pride Proclamation signing by the Governor immediately following the update to the Lt. Governor. CAMP Rehoboth joined Delaware State Representative Eric Morrison, Delaware State Senator Sarah McBride, Delaware State Representative DeShanna Neal, as well as members of the community from the Delaware HIV Consortium, AIDS Delaware, and Delaware Behavioral Health Consortium, among others, to honor the proclamation. ▼

AIDS Walk DE

M

ark your calendars for the annual AIDS Walk, and join CAMP Rehoboth’s team. This year’s Walk will take place on Saturday, September 21, in both Wilmington and Rehoboth Beach’s Grove Park. Presented jointly by AIDS Delaware and the Delaware HIV Consortium, the fundraiser works to advance HIV awareness, eliminate the stigma, and endorse HIV-informed community health for all Delawareans.

As a Delaware organization that provides HIV prevention services, CAMP Rehoboth will benefit from the Walk via funds and walkers who sign up for its team.

Register online at camprehoboth.org. ▼ Letters 4

JULY 19, 2024

DiFebo’s Market donated proceeds from the sales of a special Pride dessert for the month of June.

Dirty Apples Salon in Newark hosted a “Safe & Affirming Hair Cutting Event” for youth ages 10-19 on June 23. One hundred percent of all proceeds benefited CAMP Rehoboth.

Dogfish Head Brewery in Milton donated all tips from their Brewery tours for the month of June as well as the proceeds from the sales of Dogfish Head Pride t-shirts, glassware, and stickers.

Dogfish Head in Rehoboth Beach hosted two Benevolence Night events on June 5 and 19, where a portion of all sales benefited CAMP Rehoboth.

Downtown Blues partnered with CAMP Rehoboth to cater the Pride in the Courtyard celebration on June 20. They donated both the food and servers to help celebrate Pride Month.

Spark’d in the Hotel DuPont created a special cookie for Pride Month and donated $1 for each cookie sold in the month of June.

Good Vibes Tiki Cruises donated a Tiki Cruise to the CAMP Rehoboth Young Professionals group, Prism, for its monthly social event.

Taco Reho donated a percentage of the sales of their Carne Fries during the month of June. ▼

CAMP Rehoboth Awarded Funds

C

AMP Rehoboth has been awarded $200,000 in a grant from the State of Delaware. The award is part of the General Assembly’s allocation within the bond bill’s Community Reinvestment Fund, a capital grant program for local and community-based nonprofit organizations.

This award follows previous allocations of $160,000 in 2022 and $300,000 in 2023 to CAMP Rehoboth.

Funds will help to protect structural integrity, enhance safety, increase energy efficiency, and create a more positive, welcoming environment for CAMP Rehoboth’s properties.

Projected renovations include the installation of new HVAC system for CAMP Rehoboth’s atrium, new outdoor landscape lighting to provide a safer courtyard area, and another installation of solar panels which will result in cost savings.

CAMP Rehoboth thanks the State for its decision to affirm the property as a valuable resource. ▼

Block Party Registration

C

alling all vendors! Registration will open for CAMP Rehoboth’s Block Party on Friday, July 26. As CAMP Rehoboth’s largest outreach event of the year, last year’s Block Party brought in an estimated 3,000 attendees to shop art and merchandise, learn more about featured nonprofits, and enjoy the performances by musicians, actors, and drag queens.

The CAMP Rehoboth Block Party will take to the second block of Baltimore Avenue on October 20, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Stay tuned to the website and social media for more information. ▼ ⊳

BRITISH ISLES CRUISE ON VIKING NEPTUNE

CAMP Families Aboard the Cape Water Taxi

C

AMP Families is set to charter a sunset cruise aboard the Cape Water Tour on Monday, August 12, from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

CAMP Families is a network of LGBTQ+ inclusive families. The program includes families with LGBTQ+ parents, families with LGBTQ+ children, and sometimes, a little of both. Events for the program are for families who live in Rehoboth Beach and the surrounding area, as well as families who visit the beach area frequently. The group is committed to building community, supporting each other, and creating great and meaningful memories with each other here in Rehoboth Beach.

For guests 15 and older, tickets are $25; for children 14 and younger, tickets are $15. Purchase online at camprehoboth.org. ▼

Battle of the Bachelors Set for August 11

T

he annual Battle of the Bachelors will return to Aqua Bar & Grill on August 11, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Join us for a bevy of beauties, great prizes, and special surprises. The renowned Lorne Crawford will once again auction off the models.

In the Battle of the Bachelors, bachelors (and bachelorettes) compete to see who can raise the most money for CAMP Rehoboth. The funds raised directly benefit CAMP Rehoboth’s community-support programming.

Be sure to arrive early for a good spot at the venue. Or check out the fun event from the Top of the Pines.

Thank you to our host Aqua. ▼

TRAVELS WITH LETTERS

Mary Ann Cook, Teri Hobbs, Dar Kahl, Cheri Roe, Deb Barrett, Judy Raynor, Marsha Mark, Minnie Larosa, Pat Morgan, Susie Poteet, Laura Glenn, Marilyn Kates.

HIKING ON THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO Kim Nelson and Lori Simmons

⊲

CABOS SAN LUCAS, MEXICO Phillip Reich

HIMEJI CASTLE KOBE, JAPAN

Joe Filipek and Larry Richardson JULY 19, 2024

5 Letters

From the Executive Director

BY KIM LEISEY, PHD

A Pink Money Primer

I

’ll try not to ramble. There are lots of emotions swirling around with me, with us, with the world. Many experienced the NBC 4 Washington Pride Special on Rehoboth Beach as uplifting and positive (if you haven’t seen it, you need to).

We have fabulous new crosswalks on Baltimore Avenue. Our beautiful Pride flag flew above Rehoboth Beach for a full month. Toward the end of Pride month and on July 1, the Supreme Court started unleashing its decisions. As we like to say, “It was a lot.” It still is.

All of this is rattling around in my head, and I just want Delaware, especially southern Delaware, to know that we’re all darn fortunate we are here. We live here, we vacation here, we recreate here, we love here, we worship here, we work here, we volunteer here, we bring others here, and we absolutely spend money here—pink money.

Pink money? Pink money is the purchasing power of the LGBTQ+ community. Pink money is one of the fastest-growing minority segments in America. And, with Generation Z identifying as 18 percent not heterosexual, the LGBTQ+ purchasing power is going to continue to grow through and beyond 2030.

The work of so many over the past four decades, including the culture-shifting work of CAMP Rehoboth, has meant that many in the LGBTQ+ community live and vacation in southern Delaware. The economy in southern Delaware is benefiting from pink money; from the purchas-

ing power of the LGBTQ+ community.

The culture that CAMP Rehoboth helped to build means that pink money flows into real estate, restaurants, retail, hotels, and the bars of Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach, and Lewes. Other towns

Pink money is one of the fastest-growing minority segments in America. such as Milton, Millsboro, Georgetown, Laurel, Bethany Beach, and Ocean View benefit as well.

CAMP Rehoboth sponsors large events each year which welcome over

5,000 visitors to Rehoboth Beach. With these visitors comes pink money to feed the economy of southern Delaware.

Pink money philanthropy is strong.

Queer rights activists have turned into donors, giving to political campaigns and social issues. We helped to create positive change through our giving to nonprofits. This is a big election year, and politicians know there is pink money tied to potential voters.

The LGBTQ+ community needs to be aware of rainbow washing. There are those companies and organizations that like to “court” the queer community and its pink money while quietly funding causes that are anti-LGBTQ+ rights. We need to be careful who we cozy up to with our pink money.

We are a kind and giving community that has weathered a great deal to ensure our own economic well-being.

We are thankful to our business friends in southern Delaware—and throughout Delaware—who recognize the purchasing power of the LGBTQ+ community and give back to the LGBTQ+ community through their advocacy, sponsorships, donations, and partnerships. Keep it coming. Together we’ll build a southern Delaware (and beyond) where all of us thrive, in peace. ▼ Kim Leisey, PhD, is Executive Director of CAMP Rehoboth.

CAMP REHOBOTH THANKS OUR 2024 ANNUAL SPONSORS

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

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JULY 19, 2024

WAYS TO GIVE TO CAMP REHOBOTH CASH/CHECK

ONLINE GIVING

The fastest, most convenient way to make a gift to CAMP Rehoboth is to donate online at: camprehoboth.com/donate.

ERE H N SCA TE! A DON

To donate by check, please make your check payable to: CAMP Rehoboth 37 Baltimore Ave Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971

TO

PLANNED GIFTS

MATCHING GIFT

There are a number of ways you can use planned giving to build charitable giving into your life plans, even after death. Some can even help you lower your taxable income now! Consider planning ahead now and explore some of these ways for giving after life: Bequest Planned Gift Life Insurance Qualified Retirement Plan

Matching gifts are a great way to enhance your gift to CAMP Rehoboth. Please check with your company’s human resources department to determine if your company offers matching gifts.

ESTATE AND LIFE INCOME GIFTS A charitable gift from your estate is a favored method of giving that enables you to achieve your financial goals and benefit CAMP Rehoboth.

TRANSFER FROM AN IRA If you are 70 ½ years of age or older, a transfer from an IRA may be a beneficial way to support CAMP Rehoboth.

Contact our Development Manager, Laurie Thompson, at laurie@camprehoboth.com to learn more about these ways to give.

EIN # 51-0331962 © CAMP Rehoboth 2023

Give Today at camprehoboth.com JULY 19, 2024

7 Letters

President’s View

BY WESLEY COMBS

Home Sweet Home

D

espite all of the information CAMP Rehoboth communicates to its members, elected officials, and the media, too many people are still unaware of or unfamiliar with what the organization does or that its name is actually an acronym.

(CAMP stands for Create A More Positive Rehoboth, in case you did not know.)

Given my marketing background, I know communicating to a target audience what your brand stands for requires repetition via multiple channels. For this reason, I ran down a checklist of how and where the public learns about CAMP Rehoboth’s work in the community to see where we could do better:  Our website includes the mission statement, history, and description of programs and services. (By the way, have you checked out the new-and-improved site? Let us know what you think.)  On page three of Letters from CAMP Rehoboth our mission, vision, and purpose are plain as day for all to see.  At most public events, a CAMP Rehoboth spokesperson greets attendees by sharing this same information.

So, those bases are covered. It then dawned on me that perhaps the reason why there are those who can immediately tell me what CAMP Rehoboth does and why it matters is because they have personally experienced or benefitted from our programs and services. Here are our four pillars and some examples to highlight what I mean.

Health/Wellness: Got tested for HIV at one of CAMP Rehoboth’s six locations; attended a yoga or Tai Chi class in the Elkins Archibald Atrium.

Arts/Culture: Sang in the CAMP Rehoboth Chorus; attended an art exhibit featuring LGBTQ artists from across the region.

Community Building: Attended Women’s FEST, SUNFESTIVAL, or the Block Party; volunteered as a CAMPcierge, or with the CAMP Rehoboth Outreach Program (CROP) at a local nonprofit like Brandywine SPCA. Education/Advocacy: Received tax Letters 8

JULY 19, 2024

preparation assistance through our partnership with AARP; learned about end-oflife planning at a panel discussion.

When I meet someone new to CAMP Rehoboth and refer to these examples, the response often is not an “Oh, now I get it” expression. While the average person most likely can appreciate the value others receive from CAMP Rehoboth, these scenarios just did not resonate with them.

CAMP Rehoboth…has made it possible for LGBTQ people to be open, protected from discrimination, and to thrive…

Then, I reflected on the reasons why I support a nonprofit organization and simply put—its mission aligns with my personal values of enabling equity and opportunity in my community.

After hearing a personal story about the organization’s role in coming to the aid of someone in need, it gave me joy knowing others shared my passion for making a meaningful difference in people’s lives.

Now the solution to this information gap made complete sense and the answer was literally right in front of me in big, bold, capital letters: Create A More Positive Rehoboth. Over the last 33 years CAMP Rehoboth has been laser-focused on creating a positive environment for LGBTQ+ people at home, at work, and in the community. We need to tell our story in a way that anyone could relate to.

Even if someone has never stepped foot inside CAMP Rehoboth on Baltimore Avenue or attended a single event, the organization has made it possible for LGBTQ+ people to be open, protected from discrimination, and to thrive when living and visiting the greater Rehoboth Beach area. In fact, it is the reason my husband and I—along with countless others—now call area code 302 home.

As many of you know, when I started dating my now-husband, Greg Albright,

in 1989, he was in a beach house with CAMP Rehoboth co-founders Steve Elkins and Murray Archibald. I witnessed firsthand the anti-LGBTQ sentiment from the Rehoboth Beach Homeowners Association in their “Keep Rehoboth a Family Town” bumper sticker campaign.

Then it was the police department’s insensitive response to gay bashings in downtown Rehoboth Beach, followed by the city government’s refusal to issue a liquor license to The Strand, a new the LGBTQ-owned nightclub located on Rehoboth Avenue.

Thanks to the vision of Steve and Murray, they knew what to do.

STEP 1: Be visible by coming out and establish relationships to help dispel negative stereotypes about who LGBTQ+ people are.

STEP 2. Educate others by bringing awareness of the day-to-day experiences of those in our community.

STEP 3: Be a resource by providing life-affirming services not available elsewhere.

STEP 4: Advocate on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community for legal protections against harassment and discrimination.

STEP 5: Create and leverage allies to join in the fight for equal rights.

I highly recommend picking up the new book by author James Sears, Queering Rehoboth Beach: Beyond the Boardwalk, which documents this journey. He chronicles the evolution of the Nation’s Summer Capital from its origins as a Methodist meeting camp to becoming one of the most desirable places in the US for LGBTQ+ people to live.

When the next person asks why CAMP Rehoboth is important to our community, my response will be short and sweet. The reason so many people choose to live and visit here is thanks to the collective efforts of CAMP Rehoboth, which creates a more positive environment for LGBTQ+ people. Full stop. ▼ Wesley Combs is CAMP Rehoboth Board President.

COASTAL CONCERTS WORLD-CLASS

CLASSICAL MUSIC

2024-25 SEASON

Galvin Cello Quartet

...bringing together new works from diverse cultural backgrounds

October 5, 2024 7 pm Curtis On Tour: Erinys Quartet with Violist Roberto Diaz and Cellist Peter Wiley November 9, 2024 2 pm Cann Duo

Pianists Michelle and Kimberly Cann

January 11, 2025 2 pm Cuarteto Latinoamericano Mexico: A Musical Journey

February 22, 2025 2 pm Boyd Meets Girl Australian Classical Guitarist and American Cellist

March 22, 2025 7 pm “WILDCARD” CONCERT East of the River ...ancient music from the Sephardic, Middle Eastern, and American traditions

APRIL 5, 2025 7 pm

Coastal Concerts is supported in part by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division promotes Delaware arts events on www.DelawareScene.com. The engagements of The Galvin Cello Quartet and Cuarteto Latinoamericano for the 2024-2025 Season are made possible through the Special Presenters Initiative of the Mid Atlantic Arts with the support of the National Endowment of the Arts. www.coastalconcerts.org. 888.212.6458.

JULY 19, 2024

9 Letters

Vice President’s View

BY LESLIE LEDOGAR

Striving to Thrive

A

s we move from celebrating Pride month into the celebration of America’s independence from the tyranny of Great Britain and thereafter into the hazy lazy days of summer, it’s easy to get caught up in the gaiety of it all. But well-known historian of American history Heather Cox Richardson sounded the alarm in the July 4, 2024, edition of her blog Letters from an American that we must remain ever vigilant.

Richardson reports that on July 2, Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation, appeared on Steve Bannon’s webcast War Room.

There he touted the United States Supreme Court’s ruling in Donald J. Trump v. United States that gives the President of the United States absolute immunity for committing crimes while engaging in official acts. Roberts gushed, “That Supreme Court ruling yesterday on immunity is vital, and it’s vital for a lot of reasons,” adding that the nation needs a strong leader because “the radical left…has taken over our institutions. [W]e are in the process of the second American Revolution,” he said, “which will remain bloodless if the left allows it to be” (emphasis added).

Hence, Project 2025, which Roberts has described as the blueprint for a new kind of government dictated by Trump or a Trump-like figure. In January 2024, Roberts told Lulu GarciaNavarro of the New York Times that Project 2025 was designed to jump-start a right-wing takeover of the government. “[T]he Trump administration, with the best of intentions, simply got a slow start,” Roberts said. “And Heritage and our allies in Project 2025 believe that must never be repeated.”

Richardson reports that Project 2025 stands on four principles that it says the country must embrace: the U.S. must “[r]estore the family as the centerpiece of American life and protect our children”; “[d]ismantle the administrative state and return self-governance to the American people”; “[d]efend our nation’s sovereignty, borders, and bounty against global threats”; and “[s]ecure our God-given individual rights to live freely—what our Constitution calls ‘the Blessings of Liberty.’”

Richardson further reports that, “In almost

As we continue to execute on the goals set forth in our Strategic Plan... we double down on our commitment to being the heart of the community.

Letters 10

JULY 19, 2024

1,000 pages, the document explains what these policies mean for ordinary Americans.” The first principle turns out to be the most alarming to our LGBTQ+ family, because, as Richardson reports, “Restoring the family and protecting children means using ‘government power…to restore the American family.’ That, the document says, means eliminating any words associated with sexual orientation or gender identity, gender, abortion, reproductive health, or reproductive rights from any government rule, regulation, or law. Any reference to transgenderism is ‘pornography’ and must be banned.”

At CAMP Rehoboth, we celebrate diversity with an open and dedicated heart. Every day, we hear the alarm bells concerning the evisceration of our fundamental rights, but the so-called Second American Revolution is particularly frightening. That’s why our physical presence on Baltimore Avenue, in Legislative Hall, and out in the community is so critical. As CAMP’s Executive Director Kim Leisey pointed out in her June Letters column, “We stand as a visible symbol to the community at large that we are here, we are visible, and we continue to work for the LGBTQ+ community throughout southern Delaware (and beyond).”

The length and the level of detail of Project 2025, and Roberts’ veiled threat that blood will be spewed if we fight back, are cataclysmically alarming. CAMP Rehoboth provides an oasis in this sea of alarm. We must all continue to come together, even as we celebrate our differences. We must all register to vote. And we must not allow the so-called Second American Revolution, which would destroy American democracy and align our country with authoritarian leaders, come to pass.

As we continue to execute on the goals set forth in our Strategic Plan, Pride in Progress. Embrace.

Empower. Evolve, we double down on our commitment to being the heart of the community.

We deserve to thrive. We do not deserve to be bullied out of existence. ▼ Leslie Ledogar is CAMP Rehoboth Board Vice President.

DO YOU

LEAK?

Do you tinkle when you laugh, sneeze, cough, or exercise?

Do you carry around extra underwear, just in case?

Do you constantly wake up at night to go to the bathroom?

Do you notice blood in your urine?

Do you feel like you need to pee, but can’t go once you try?

Do you feel pain when you start to go to the bathroom?

Do you sometimes just can’t get to the bathroom quick enough?

Is your worry starting to take over your daily life?

Brandywine Urology Consultant’s Dr. Alice Y. Wang, MD, is Fellowship trained in Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery who, depending on your symptoms, can provide a variety of treatment options ranging from lifestyle changes, minimally invasive treatments or surgical operations. Dr. Wang is accepting male and female patients in all three offices. Please contact the office today to schedule your conversation with Dr. Wang.

Brandywine Urology Consultants, Delaware’s leading urological practice, delivers comprehensive urological solutions for men and women enabling them to remain in Delaware throughout the duration of their treatment. Brandywine Urology Consultants team of Surgeons and Advanced Practice Providers specializes in urinary cancer care, reproductive and sexual health, bladder and kidney dysfunction, chronic urinary tract infections and prostate health.

Dr. Alice Y. Wang, MD

Phone (302) 652-8990 • Fax (302) 652-8646 • www.BrandywineUC.com JULY 19, 2024

11 Letters

CAMPNews Welcome, CAMP Rehoboth Staff!

Matt Castrina joins as Program Manager On June 26, Matt Castrina joined CAMP Rehoboth as its Program Manager. Matt will direct the creation, design, and implementation of CAMP Rehoboth programs, services, outreach, and resources. Matt will oversee programming across CAMP Rehoboth’s four pillars (arts, health, advocacy, and community building), ensuring programs complement the organization’s mission.

CAMP REHOBOTH: What experience do

you bring to this role?

MATT CASTRINA: For over 25 years I’ve been working in education, designing and running educational programs. All the programs centered on providing the person an environment to learn and grow in a shared community of individuals.

CR: What excites you about working with CAMP Rehoboth?

MC: The mission. CAMP Rehoboth as an LGBTQ+ community center offers something tremendously special with its focus on promoting cooperation, inclusion, well-being, and a safer community for all. That holistic approach is really powerful and needed. I am also excited to be at CAMP Rehoboth as it purposefully expands its work. Sussex County is growing and the LGBTQ+ community and CAMP are growing right along with it.

CR: In addition to HIV Testing, tell us about other programs offered at CAMP Rehoboth….

MC: We also offer additional health and wellness programs, arts and cultural programs, volunteer opportunities, and community events such as the upcoming SUNFESTIVAL. CR: Are there any new programs in store?

MC: Part of my job is to learn more about the needs of the local LGBTQ+ community and in turn work to develop programming around those needs. I am excited to consult and learn from the community about what is needed.

CR: What’s a mantra you like to live by?

MC: “Do not take each other for grantLetters 12

JULY 19, 2024

Matt Castrina and Leslie Haynes

ed.” It is a phrase I’ve found grounds and refocuses me.

CR: How long have you visited Rehoboth Beach before moving?

MC: My husband and I began to visit beginning in 2007.

CR: Favorite activities outside of work?

MC: I like to go for walks and kayak, and am excited to continue to explore the great area we live in.

Leslie Hayes joins as CAMPsafe Assistant Counselor On National HIV Testing Day (June 27), Leslie Hayes joined the CAMP Rehoboth team as a CAMPsafe Assistant CTR (counseling, testing, and referral) Counselor. In this role, Leslie will be supporting testing at CAMP Rehoboth’s satellite testing locations in Laurel, Seaford, and Georgetown, and supporting the program’s efforts in HIV prevention work.

CR: What experience do you bring to the

role?

LH: I began doing HIV counseling and testing in 1994 and have been working in HIV in various roles ever since. I’ve worked many places, including Calcutta House, the first AIDS Hospice in Philadelphia. I became a nurse in 2008 and spent the next 14 years at the Holloway Community HIV program in Georgetown.

I have a specialty certification as an AIDS-certified registered nurse.

As a gay woman, I knew that I would

lose friends to this terrible disease, and I did. Too many. I watched a whole generation of people lose their lives, partners, children, uncles, aunts, sisters, brothers… and knew that I had to do something. I remain dedicated to counseling and testing for HIV. Getting tested for HIV is the most powerful tool for preventing further infections and in the long run, the best treatment against the virus.

CR: What excites you about working with CAMP Rehoboth?

LH: Being able to help our community in any way I can.

CR: Is there still a stigma in getting tested for HIV? LH: Sadly, yes. I hope we can make this something that is just a part of general health screening for everyone and especially those who are at higher risk.

CR: What are some of your biggest passions (outside of HIV prevention work)?

LH: Photography, writing, swimming, and bicycling. I love music and really enjoy singing.

CR: Latest TV binge?

LH: Presumed Innocent. I love the cast!

CR: Current music/book obsession?

LH: Maggie Rogers is an amazing singer/ songwriter. I love mystery novels.

CR: Favorite dish?

LH: Angelina Jolie. Oh! You mean food… um…pizza.

CR: Most irrational fear?

LH: Snakes! ▼

Happy

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OLIVIA.COM · (800) 631-6277 BOOK YOUR DREAM VACATION WITH 24/7 ONLINE BOOKING JULY 19, 2024

13 Letters

SUNFESTIVAL 2024

BY NANCY SAKADUSKI

Close the Season Right:

Joe Dombrowski says you can expect “a little gay and a lot of sass.”

T

he Labor Day weekend extravaganza that is now known as SUNFESTIVAL started with a dance, and for many folks the dance is a don’t-miss way to close out the summer season. Those in the know understand that it’s also a twoday party and they wouldn’t miss either night.

From Third-Grade Clown to First-Class Comedy: Headliner Joe Dombrowski SUNFESTIVAL Night of Comedy, Saturday, August 31, 6:30 p.m.

Rehoboth Beach Convention Center There’s no better way (without risking a ride in a police car) to totally let go, release all inhibitions, and unleash howls of delight than seeing a top-rate comedian. Fortunately, that’s exactly what SUNFESTIVAL has in store for you this year with headliner Joe Dombrowski.

Was Joe Dombrowski always funny? “I think the word is hilarious,” he says. “I actually did standup comedy when I was eight years old for my third-grade talent show, which was definitely the spark of creation.” He remembers that even then comedy came naturally to him. “I knew I could do it and other people couldn’t, and I think that’s what kept me going.”

As an elementary school teacher, Joe Dombrowski ran into quite a few class clowns, but in his class, the clown was often him. That silliness led to his big break. One April Fool’s Day, he pranked his students with a bogus spelling test (sample word: blorskee: “I lost my blorskee at a carnival”). The video went viral and led to multiple appearances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Although his comedy was initially based on his teaching experiences (“glitter is the herpes of crafts”), he now talks mainly about the new things in his life. He’ll be freshly married when he arrives in Rehoboth for SUNFESTIVAL, so (as he would say) “buckle up, buttercup.”

Joe Dombrowski says you can expect “a little gay and a lot of sass.” He talks about things that have happened and his take on what the world is like. “I’m pretty much the queen of the suburbs, and I’m just holding court with the neighbors, drinking a glass of wine, and you get to hear me talk shit about all my friends. It’s very Kathy Griffin, very early Rosanne Barr (pre-conspiracy, preinsurrectionist).”

What does he think will surprise people? “I’m alarmingly good looking. No, I’m just kidding…but not.” He doesn’t consider anything off limits but says “I think at the root of it, it has to be

Letters 14

JULY 19, 2024

SUNFESTIVAL 2024

Robbie Leslie

tasteful and funny…it’s all about the presentation and the curation and the heart behind it.”

Although he loves to travel, he’s never been to Rehoboth Beach, or Delaware for that matter, but says, “I’m really excited to come down there and experience SUNFESTIVAL with everybody. I appreciate the invite and am really looking forward to it.”

Going Once, Going Twice…

Also on the August 31 Night of Comedy is the spectacular SUNFESTIVAL live auction. Up for bid this year are a trip for two to Paris at a luxury hotel, donated

by Danny Sebright, a luxury cruise by Brand G, and a week at an all-gay luxury resort in Puerto Vallarta, donated by Andy Staton and Patrick Saparito. Check the CAMP Rehoboth website for the full auction list. You just may find something to check off your bucket list.

Double Your Pleasure, Double Your Fun, Get Two DJs for the Price of One SUNFESTIVAL Night of Dance Sunday, September 1, 7:00 p.m. Rehoboth Beach Convention Center First up on the Night of Dance is legendary DJ Robbie Leslie. It would take the rest of this issue of Letters to list all his credits, but in case you need further convincing, just know that when the famous/infamous New York private club The Saint held a 40-hour marathon closing party, they chose 10 renowned disc jockeys to perform. And from among that stellar lineup, they tapped Robbie Leslie to be the closer.

Joe Gauthreaux

“SUNFESTIVAL is a happy and positive weekend that celebrates the end of summer, while doing amazing things for the longevity of our community in Rehoboth.”

One of the things Leslie is known for now is his ability to bridge the generations. “You have to keep yourself relevant to your audience and keep observing your audience,” he says. “I do a lot of retro shows, and the music I select, which is basically 70s, 80s, and 90s, is universally loved, especially disco and 80s. It’s something everybody knows, and everybody loves…even if they weren’t alive back then, they know the music. It’s timeless.”

Leslie says there’s no substitute for the dance environment. “There is a camaraderie that you just can’t duplicate at home. You can access all this music… but it’s nothing like experiencing it live and in a club. It’s a special magic that only happens when everybody is together in real time.”

He talks about the dance floor as if it’s a living organism. “It’s something you really can’t put into words, but it’s a sensitivity that successful DJs have that they can read the crowd. I think it rests mostly on this subliminal connection between the DJ and the dance floor. It’s a combination of the energy you feel, the density of the dance floor, and just an invisible, intangible vibe that a DJ can sense.”

The second DJ is another legend and returning favorite, Joe Gauthreaux.

Recognized by the circuit industry with awards, listened to by supporters, and respected by DJ peers and producers, Joe Gauthreaux has performed at clubs and parties over the last 25 years, headlining major events and circuit weekends.

Leslie says that Gauthreaux is wonderful to work with and they have great chemistry, even though their styles differ. “His set is more current and more circuit, but that’s by design. The way we’re planning this party is to have it be two distinct but very special highlights in their own right.”

One thing everyone agrees on is the jaw-drop factor of the SUNFESTIVAL dance—the excitement of walking into a completely transformed convention center—a result of the incredible creativity of the design team, Michael Fishman and Chris Beagle, whose imagination and vision made last year’s event so memorable.

“The concept always begins by considering how to make the space not look like the current space,” says Fishman.

“SUNFESTIVAL is a happy and positive weekend that celebrates the end of summer, while doing amazing things for the longevity of our community in Rehoboth.

The space needs to convey that energy and optimism for lasting memories.”

Joe Gauthreaux says, “Last year, the CAMP Rehoboth team added video to the production, which really elevates the event. We all hope to make this year’s event even more immersive and epic. I’m so excited about SUNFESTIVAL this year and playing with the incomparable Robbie Leslie again.” ▼ For festival passes and individual tickets go to: camprehoboth.org/ sunfestival.

JULY 19, 2024

15 Letters

the big summer party! labor day weekend | rehoboth beach, DE

JO

E Dom b

ro w s ki

a benefit to support camp rehoboth delaware’s largest lgbtq community center

Saturday, August 31 | 6:30 pm A Night of Comedy HEADLINER

Comedian Joe Dombrowski

Plus! Live auction Including a trip to PARIS! (Donated by Danny Sebright), a Brand g river cruise and more!

one ticket, two djs.

SCAN CODE FOR TICKETS, EVENT DETAILS, AND ACCESSIBILITY INFO www.camprehoboth.org Letters 16

JULY 19, 2024

o

au

s

e

Gauthr

e

lie

b bie Le

J

DJ

Ro

DJ

A Night of Dance

x

Sunday, September 1 | 7:00 PM

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

Sapphire Sponsors

Ruby sponsors Sondra N. Arkin

Greg Albright & Wes Combs Rodney Street Realty, LLC

Danny Sebright Andy Staton & Patrick Saparito

VIP Room Sponsor

emerald Sponsors media sponsors Joseph Bennett & Corey Andrew Charlie, Rod, Brian & Carlos Lewis Dawley & Greg Becker John Hackett & Tom Porter

Lynn Johnson Chris Lay & Mari Blackburn

Fran O’Brien, David Gifford, Chris Hughes & Ken Swarts Porter & Gordon Family

Michael Linardi & Dr. Dean Tyson

Debbie & Leslie and Diane & Jen

Evelyn Maurmeyer In Memory of Natalie Moss

Craig Schwartz & Jamie Kotchek

*As of June 28, 2024

CAMP REHOBOTH

FOR INFORMATION ON SPONSORSHIP VISIT

www.camprehoboth.org

SAVE THE DATE! SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20 11 AM-4 PM

2024

On the 2nd block of Baltimore Avenue

Vendor/Sponsor information available at CAMP Rehoboth.

For questions/inquiries contact: blockparty@camprehoboth.com JULY 19, 2024

17 Letters

CAMP REHOBOTH COMMUNITY CENTER • MEMBERSHIP

PRIDE In Progress Embrace. Empower. Evolve.

Become a Part of the Rainbow

M

embership at CAMP Rehoboth is the best way to support and encourage our mission to “Create a More Positive” community in southern Delaware and beyond. Your support ensures that CAMP Rehoboth can keep Pride In Progress to offer essential programming and services that include advocacy, arts and culture, health and wellness, and community building for the LGBTQ+ and wider community.

With a variety of levels available, there’s a color for every budget. Not a member? Please consider joining today. Already a member? We thank you! Looking to give more? Browse the higher membership levels and see if it’s time for an upgrade.

ALL RAINBOW MEMBERS RECEIVE: The satisfaction of knowing you are helping others and making a positive impact on our community!

Advance notice of ticket sales to CAMP Rehoboth events Recognition in Letters from CAMP Rehoboth Rainbow Member window cling “What’s Happening at CAMP Rehoboth” weekly email Discount on CAMP Rehoboth Event Tickets (Levels Green and above, as requested)

Letters 18

JULY 19, 2024

Why I’m a member of CAMP Rehoboth Early in my career I worked in PR and found that if I didn’t believe, I was unable to engage. I believe strongly in the mission of CAMP Rehoboth to build community without creating silos. Inequities exist that we have the power to equalize.

I believe we should support each other no matter where we are in our life’s journey. I fret. I worry.

Change is happening all around. And CAMP Rehoboth changes, too. It is my family. Sustaining membership funds help stabilize resources so that the staff can fulfill the mission. With the help of volunteers, of course, but really, we need some professionals. After all, we have grown up together.

Sondra Arkin CAMP Rehoboth member

MEMBERSHIP • CAMP REHOBOTH COMMUNITY CENTER

“Visibility creates possibility. Becoming a member of CAMP Rehoboth will bring power in numbers as we continue to build coalitions.”

WHY I JOINED CAMP REHOBOTH...

CAMP Rehoboth’s advocacy efforts are extremely important. Whether speaking out in support of Title IX as it protects queer students, or partnering to address workplace harassment, CAMP’s advocacy is critical to our present and our future.

JUDY JESIOLOWSKI

KIM LEISEY, PHD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CAMP REHOBOTH

CAMP Rehoboth can provide a safe place to help and support everyone!

I’m a member to support CAMP’s programs and services for everyone, fostering our next generation and spreading our mission across Sussex County and beyond.

MEMBERS MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO:

JANE BLUE

Facilitate LGBTQ+ Diversity and Sensitivity Training for over 100 summer cadets in Rehoboth Beach, Dewey, and DNREC Police Departments.

Celebrate local arts through monthly art gallery exhibits, three CAMP Rehoboth Chorus concerts, and seasonal theatrical performances.

Publish the monthly Letters magazine that shares positive images and stories of the LGBTQ+ and allied community.

Create connections for community members through discussion groups, financial workshops, yoga, tai chi, golf leagues, concerts, young professionals’ socials, and more!

To give back to our community by continuing the legacy of those that have fought for our rights for equality.

KASEY GONZALEZ-CRUZ

JOIN TODAY!

Join over 1,000 rainbow members to support our mission—because progress is never final.

JULY 19, 2024

19 Letters

PRIDE In Progress SCAN FOR INFO

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.org Letters 20

JULY 19, 2024

CAMP REHOBOTH MEMBERSHIP Join today to support our mission!

RAINBOW MEMBERS RECEIVE:

• Basic Membership Package - Advance ticket sales to CAMP Rehoboth events - Recognition in Letters from CAMP Rehoboth - Rainbow Member window cling(s) - Weekly “What’s Happening at CAMP” email • Discount on CAMP Rehoboth Event Tickets for Levels Green and above (as noted) • Free Health Screenings, Counseling Services, and Support Groups • Youth, Adult and Senior Programs, Services and Outreach • The satisfaction of knowing you are helping others!

PAY ANNUALLY or MONTHLY

☐ PURPLE LEVEL ☐ $2400 annual or ☐ $200 monthly

Basic + 25% ticket discount and one 1/4 page ad in Letters from CAMP Rehoboth

☐ INDIGO LEVEL

☐ $1200 annual or ☐ $100 monthly

Basic + 20% ticket discount

☐ BLUE LEVEL

☐ $900 annual or ☐ $75 monthly Basic + 15% ticket discount

☐ GREEN LEVEL

☐ $600 annual or ☐ $50 monthly Basic + 10% ticket discount

☐ YELLOW LEVEL ☐ $300 annual or ☐ $25 monthly ☐ ORANGE LEVEL ☐ $180 annual or ☐ $15 monthly ☐ RED BASIC

☐ $50 annual or

☐ YOUNG ADULT (18-25 years old) NAME

☐ Basic Dual/Family, $85 annual ☐ $25 annual PARTNER/SPOUSE NAME

ADDRESS CITY

STATE

EMAIL 1

CELL 1

EMAIL 2

CELL 2

ZIP

HOME PHONE

☐ Enclosed is my check payable to CAMP Rehoboth for the full annual amount. ☐ Please charge my Recurring Monthly or Annual Membership fee to: CREDIT CARD NUMBER

VALIDATION CODE

SIGNATURE

EXP. DATE DATE

CORPORATE MATCHING GIFT COMPANY NAME

CONTACT PERSON NAME

EMAIL

PHONE NUMBER

EXPECTED FUNDS DELIVERY DATE(s)

AMOUNT

RATHER JOIN ONLINE? Go to camprehoboth.com/membership Call 302-227-5620 or visit us at 37 Baltimore Avenue.

CAMP Library Chronicles

BY GLENN LASH

An Homage to the Beach Read “There is a temperate zone in the mind, between luxurious indolence and exacting work; and it is to this region, just between laziness and labor, that Summer reading belongs.”

- HENRY WARD BEECHER

A

s evocative as a summer place or a summer romance might be…is there anything as deliciously relaxing as a summer beach read? As a baby gay, I would always begin my travel preparations with a visit to our country’s oldest LGBTQ bookstore: Giovanni’s Room in Philadelphia.

My beach bag would often include a couple of the most recent collections of gay short stories. Usually salacious, easy to put down, and quickly consumed. Yet in June of 2003, that year’s Harry Potter tome could be found ‘neath my beach umbrella. On Poodle Beach, I went from blanket to blanket—not for what one would think! It was to compare how far along we all were in reading the darn thing.

Never feel guilty that your beach read is not necessarily weighty (gray matter wise).

Abby Camey noted in her June 15, 2023, column for Deseret News that way back in 1872, A Book for the Sea-Side suggested that summer reading be “intellectually light,” and “entertaining and easily digestible.” The haters who got to hate had their say about this in 1876. Abby uncovered this excerpt from a sermon

by Reverand T. Dewitt Talmag: “… there is more pestiferous trash read among the intelligent classes in July and August than in all the other 10 months of the year.”

Living in today’s hectic times, finding even a good halfhour to pick up a book is nigh impossible. Perhaps there is a good argument for choosing titles from the New York Times’ Best Sellers List. Relaxing? Maybe not. So if summer vacation for you, dear reader, means that it is your time to r-e-l-a-x, then by all means grab the most tawdry, romantic, and “pestiferous” works of literature you can find, plop yourself under an umbrella on the beach, and lose yourself in a beach read. ▼ JULY 19, 2024

21 Letters

CommunityNews Dance the Night Away

D

rop by the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center on Sunday, August 4, from 4:00 till 9:30 p.m., for a tropical paradise-themed evening filled with vibrant live music, light food, and exhilarating dancing. (There also will be a cash bar.) This event, benefiting Code Purple Sussex County, promises to be an unforgettable summer highlight, featuring performances by the singer/songwriter Christine Havrilla, local trio Off 24, and the rock band GirlsRoom.

Individual tickets are $25 (plus fees) and are available at eventbrite.com/e/hot-tropical-summer-night-tea-dance-fundraiser-tickets-861228937937. Or, to reserve a table for 10 for $400, contact Kim Witmer by text or call 410-353-3798.

All proceeds from the Tea Dance go directly to Code Purple Sussex County, a nonprofit organization committed to serving the most vulnerable in our community. Code Purple offers shelter during the coldest months and a range of services aimed at improving the quality of life for those facing homelessness and hardship. ▼

Riders Up!

T

he Iron Furnace Fifty Bicycle Ride returns for its 14th year on Saturday, August 24. A fun ride through the Great Pocomoke Forest and surrounding countryside, the IFF offers an adventure for riders of all ages and abilities. The 50K (32.1 miles), 50 mile, and 100K routes (62.4 miles) are designed for safe cycling on rural roads that cross no major highways.

Riders depart from and return to Furnace Town near the town of Snow Hill, Maryland.

Rest stops are fully stocked with drinks, snacks, and porta-potties, and all routes include a stop at Chesapeake Bay Farms Dairy featuring homemade ice cream. Post ride, all riders will be served lunch under the pavilion featuring fried chicken, sides, and ice-cold watermelon. Free beer will be served to those of legal age and vegetarian options will also be available.

The 2024 Iron Furnace Fifty will be limited to a maximum of 400 riders to ensure a safe riding environment and good time for all. Registration is now open at ironfurnacefifty.org. Additional information is available on the IFF website and Facebook page.

The Iron Furnace Fifty is a joint effort between the Nassawango Furnace Historic Site and the Snow Hill Rotary Club. All proceeds are used for educational purposes and to enhance the local community. ▼ Letters 22

JULY 19, 2024

John McCutcheon to Perform in Rehoboth Beach

S

easide Jewish Community will host folk music legend John McCutcheon at its third annual summer concert in coastal Delaware. McCutcheon will perform Sunday, July 21, at 7:00 p.m., at Epworth United Methodist Church on Holland Glade Road.

At the show, along with storytelling and fun, listeners will hear McCutcheon play hammered dulcimer, banjo, piano, harmonica, guitar, and more.

The late Johnny Cash referred to McCutcheon as “the most impressive multi-instrumentalist I ever heard.”

Tickets are available on the Seaside website (seasidejewishcommunity.com) and are $36 for adults and $18 for youth ages 7-17. Children 6 and under are free. All tickets are general admission. ▼

HIV/AIDS Symposium in Frederick, Maryland

S

cientists and clinicians whose discoveries have shaped the understanding of HIV disease will provide updates on the status of HIV/AIDS research and patient care and discuss approaches to overcome major remaining challenges at “HIV in 2024: Progress, Problems and Prospects,” a scientific symposium hosted by Hood College in partnership with the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research (FNL) from September 23 to 25.

The symposium will be held on Hood’s campus in Frederick, Maryland, and cover topics such as the epidemiology of HIV, vaccine and non-vaccine prevention, treatment of HIV infection, KSHV (Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus), and the HIV reservoir.

Led by FNL investigators Mary Carrington, PhD, and Jeffrey Lifson, MD, the symposium is for students, trainees, active researchers, and clinicians, including those who may not presently be engaged directly in HIV research.

The symposium will begin Monday, September 23, with a reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by a lecture by Dr. Abdool Karim. Karim is a physician, scientist, and director of the Centre for AIDS Program of Research in South Africa. The lecture is open to the public. Register in advance for this free lecture at the symposium website.

To learn more and to register for the full symposium (cost varies by registration type), go to: hood.edu/hiv-2024-progress-problems-prospects. ▼

JULY 19, 2024

23 Letters

Straight Talk

BY DAVID GARRETT

Pride and Prejudice

I

f Jane Austen were drafting her classic novel today, the characters might remain, but their personalities and actions would be radically different. The original tome, written in 1813, is described as a “book of manners,” something that is apparently lacking in today’s world. Now, it is likely that Austen would have penned Elizabeth Bennet as a lesbian. That would make for a thrilling plot twist, as Mr. Darcy courts her and asks for her hand in marriage. This premise could make for a New York Times bestseller, if any writer had the courage to develop the plot further.

There is a young man in our community who has experienced both pride and prejudice over the last few years. Carson McClung is a trans male who grew up in Lewes. He is a student at the University of Delaware, studying public policy and women and gender studies. Having recently gone to New York City on the CAMP Rehoboth bus trip, Carson is excited about the opportunities presented to him in becoming a volunteer at CAMP. There is evident pride that Carson expresses. Four years ago, at the age of 16, he began his self-discovery. His initial identification with the LGBTQ+ community commenced when he saw himself as asexual. Two years later, he made his transition to male. He describes his progression: “When I came out as trans, I first identified as nonbinary to ease into the transition from female to male, because I didn't feel comfortable identifying as male yet since it was a huge change. I came to terms with my identity as a trans man in August 2023, three months after I started testosterone and two months after I turned 19. I received top surgery in January 2024 and have legally changed my name and gender on almost all documents. Since transitioning, I feel more comfortable in my body and confident in my identity. Finding a supportive group of people and getting involved in activities that matter to me has made me proud of who I am.”

Letters 24

JULY 19, 2024

This young man—full of pride— realizes that prejudice is not far behind.

“Despite being proud of myself, I have experienced prejudice and discrimination. When I first came out as trans, I had to deal with misgendering and deadnaming and it was hard to cope. Luckily, I do not deal with this

Protests were planned and the far-right group Liberty Dogs arrived with open carry guns on their hips. anymore, but it is something cisgender people do not have to think about that trans people think about all the time.

Some family members took a while to adjust. At first, my grandparents did not accept me, as they continued to deadname and misgender me. Luckily, they do not do this anymore, but it was hard to deal with at the time.”

Tom Wheeler is another person whose pride was trampled on with prejudice. He lives in Canyon County, Idaho, and thought it would be fun to plan the area’s first Pride event ever.

But the red runs deep there, and threats

against him and the event itself poured in. As Casey Parks of the Washington Post and Elsie Carson-Holt of LGBTQ Nation report, Wheeler’s own uncle suggested that he wear a bulletproof vest to the event. He sported a pink t-shirt instead. Parks writes, “[Wheeler] attended his first Pride the year after the Supreme Court legalized samesex marriage, and it felt like a huge celebratory party. He loved the go-go dancers and the drag queens, the music and the boys.”

The prejudice Wheeler encountered leading up to the event did not include any threatened violence, but prejudice arrives many ways. Protests were planned and the far-right group Liberty Dogs arrived with open carry guns on their hips. The day proceeded with unexpected success and smiles all around. The drag queens were the last performers of the day and by that time the Liberty Dogs had headed home, or to the nearest watering hole. The finale, totally unplanned, was a marriage proposal by Billy, a man who’d grown up in Canyon County, to his partner Hunter.

(Hunter accepted.)

At the New York City Stonewall celebration on June 30, a young lady was seen wearing a t-shirt that read, “More Pride, Less Prejudice.” Yes, indeed. As Carson McClung shares, “I am grateful for organizations like CAMP Rehoboth, that provide a source of LGBTQ+ community for the people of southern Delaware.”

As the actors stated at CAMP Rehoboth’s recent theatrical performance, Voices from Stonewall, “Our presentation tonight is a renewed call to action.... Be proud, be visible, be at the ballot box!” ▼ David Garrett, a CAMP Rehoboth Board member, is a straight advocate for equality and inclusion. He is also the proud father of an adult trans daughter. Email David Garrett at davidg@camprehoboth.com.

JULY 19, 2024

25 Letters

WHAT’S NEW, PUSSYCAT?

BY TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER

International Cat Day!

I

magine your life as a mouse.

You live to eat, sleep, and reproduce. You might play sometimes or interact with your mousie friends but that’s about it—except that little “staying alive” thing. Yeah, you have to watch for predators, stereotypically, a cat.

Nearly 10,000 years, according to scientists, cats deigned to hang around with a human or two, just to see what we could give them. Around 5,000 years ago, we invited them inside which, it should be noted, was long after dogs came to our bedrooms.

That alone must’ve really ticked cats off. Seriously, they worked hard to get to humans: geneticists believe that all cats sprang (see what I did there?) from an ancient molly (a female cat), a Felis silvestris lybica which, if you’re so inclined, you can still see in Africa and the Middle East. At some point, they were split into three main groups: Panthera, or large cats that roar; the Acionyx, or the cheetah, which is a subset all its own due to its unique appearance; and the Felis, which is every other (small) cat. The bottom line is that you’d recognize them all as cats if they ran like maniacs through your house at 3:00 a.m.

So let’s say you want to get a cat. Or another cat—whichever—because cats

can be like potato chips: who has just one? Take your pick: of the domestic cats, there are up to 100 different breeds, depending on who you ask, with the domestic shorthair as the most common kind— the basic cat, if you will. And if you actually

…because cats can be like potato chips: who has just one? do want another cat, you shouldn’t have any problem there because cat gestation is a little more than two months with the average litter size of two to four kittens.

Spay and neuter, friends.

So. Back to that mouse.

Cats’ eyesight is worse than is a human’s during the day, but their range of vision is more than ours. Though cats are nearsighted, that wider range helps them to spot the movement of potential prey—and when it does, instantly, a cat will go into stalking mode, moving slowly and deliberately, able to freeze and wait until the prey is unsuspecting. At that point, the cat will unsheath its claws for the grab.

That sheathing/unsheathing, by the way, is an ability very few mammals share.

Other cool things about your cat: it can tolerate heat up to 130 degrees without breaking a sweat (yes, cats sweat). A cat can jump up to six times its height, which is how you explain a little cat on a very high shelf. And scientists now admit what generations of cat-lovers know: cats can be intelligent, social, and trainable, depending on their personality.

So here’s to cats, which are pretty awesome creatures. Kiss your kitty and while you’re there, give him a hug today.

Terri Schlichenmeyer’s second book, The Book of Facts and Trivia: American History, came out in January 2024. Watch for the third, coming soon.

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Letters 26

JULY 19, 2024

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27 Letters

CAMP Stories

BY RICH BARNETT

Working the Tables

A

s summer unfolds, nature’s bounty graces us with a medley of fresh produce, bursting with color and flavor.

You might not realize it, but our little state has a vibrant agricultural industry. According to the USDA Census on Agriculture, the market value of Delaware agricultural products sold in 2022 totaled more than $2.1 billion. Farm, nursery, and greenhouse crops made up more than $470 million of that amount. Of the state’s 2,000+ farms, about 72 percent are still family-owned.

Clearly, we have plenty of opportunities to pursue locally grown, seasonal produce here on the coast. The big question for me is where to embark on this culinary quest. Grocery stores bore me in the summer. So, do I dive into the festival of freshness at a farmers market or do I go for the zen-like calm of a roadside produce stand?

Walking into a farmers market is always an “experience.” The air is filled with the scent of flowers and baked bread. One is greeted by a symphony of cheerful chatter, bartering banter, and the occasional rogue ukulele performance. Here, every booth is a stage, and each farmer is a produce virtuoso. For example, there’s always a gal peddling herb-infused honey that promises to cure everything from insomnia to existential dread. Next to her is the ubiquitous fuzzy fellow who will explain to you in great detail the genealogy of every type of carrot he sells whether you ask him or not.

Yes, it’s charming to stroll through rows of stalls, sampling homemade jams and admiring perfectly stacked heirloom tomatoes. I don’t know about you, but I often sense an underlying aesthetic and organic snobbery at some farmers markets. Perhaps this justifies the premium pricing?

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not disparaging farmers markets. Giving them a good-humored poke, perhaps. But the truth is I very much enjoy them, and I welcome the diversity of goods. Even when I travel, I seek them out. I remember one Letters 28

JULY 19, 2024

in the south of France where against all practicalities I insisted on purchasing a five-foot, hand-carved wooden pitchfork like the ones used by farmers to harvest the lavender crop. Bringing it home was surprisingly easy because the French put a tag on it and let me check it onto my flight. Of course, this was before 9-11.

Look for a handwritten sign touting “peach seconds” or “5 for $2.”

Most of the time, though, I just want a quick stop and shop. That’s when I head to the roadside farm stand—a beacon of simplicity in a world gone mad with artisanal everything. The pace of roadside stands is leisurely. Conversation occurs but is not expected. The produce selection is refreshingly straightforward— tomatoes, corn, lima beans, peaches, watermelons. Whatever is in season.

My favorite part of the farm stand, however, is the reduced-price table. Yes child! There’s always a table or a shelf for misshapen fruits and vegetables that don’t fit conventional beauty standards.

Look for a handwritten sign touting “peach seconds” or “5 for $2.” The selection is always changing. Over time, I’ve learned the best days and times to peruse the tables, but don’t think I’m about to reveal my knowledge in print.

I will say the mood at the reduced table is always subdued. Nobody makes eye contact. Discretion is the word that comes to mind. My sense is most people perusing this table do not want anyone to know they’ll be serving imperfect vegetables to friends at their dinner party in their perfect $3 million houses. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched someone sheepishly carry their finds back to a BMW or Range Rover.

But the carrot that grew two legs and the bumpy potato taste fine. And they come with a silver lining: a drastically reduced price tag. Heck, you can walk out with a whole bag of misfit tomatoes for a few dollars. Perfect for making sauce or salsa. Sure, that cantaloupe has a dent, but it’s a dent that means you pay 75 percent less than you would for its prettier cousins piled up in the produce aisle of a grocery store.

On a more serious note, buying reduced-price produce is very eco-friendly.

You’re saving perfectly edible food from the landfill and reducing food waste.

Americans waste more than 90 billion pounds of food annually. Imagine the land, water, labor, and energy costs used to produce, process, transport, and store that food. And yet we casually discard it without much thought.

So next time you’re at a farm stand and spy a table of reduced-price produce, don’t turn up your nose. Embrace the imperfections. Hold your head high and boldly get in there and work that table. After all, perfection is overrated, and a little bruising never hurt anyone. Your tastebuds, the planet, and your wallet will thank you.

And if you happen to bump into yours truly fondling peach seconds at Fifer’s, Magees, or Tomato Sunshine, just pretend you don’t know me. Rest assured I won’t tell anyone I saw you.

Bon appétit. ▼ Rich Barnett is the author of The Discreet Charms of a Bourgeois Beach Town, and Fun with Dick and James.

Love where you live.

Live where you love!

Chris Beagle chrisbeaglegroup.com @chrisbeaglegroup M 215.262.6209 | O 302.273.4998

The Chris Beagle Group is a team of real estate licensees affiliated with Compass RE. Compass RE is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. 131 2nd Street, Lewes DE 19958

JULY 19, 2024

29 Letters

Beyond the Binary

BY CATHY RION STARR

July 14-20: Nonbinary Awareness Week

O

ne hot summer day, I paused my laps at the end of the community pool and was pulled out of my zone by some curious children.

“Are you a boy or a girl?” they asked.

“Some of both,” I responded.

“That can’t be. Which are you?” This is such a common question with kids. I love their curiosity and mourn that they don’t grow up knowing the infinite possibilities of gender available to them.

Most of us have been taught that gender has to be either/or. Boy or Girl. Man or Woman. But it doesn’t have to be this way. With my own children, we try hard not to assume anyone’s gender by their appearance but rather ask, “Are you a boy, a girl, both, or neither?” as a way of talking about gender in an age-appropriate way that goes beyond the man-woman binary.

I am genderqueer (though “nonbinary” and “trans” also work). My gender transcends clear categories, and I don’t feel comfortable in all “women’s” or “men’s” spaces. With my cropped hair and masculine clothes, I often get called “sir.” The stranger then apologizes for “mistaking” my gender, not realizing that they have actually perceived my in-between-ness in a way that makes me feel seen.

I get it: growing up in a suburb in the 80s, I had no idea that there were any options beyond girl/boy. I didn’t know any (out) gay people, let alone any of the working class butch dykes or fey gay men who were carving out pockets to be themselves outside of gender norms.

As I was coming out as queer in the San Francisco Bay Area in the early 2000s, my friends who were trans men and trans women taught me a lot about gender. But I didn’t see myself in their gender identities. I was something else: a neither/nor/ some-of-both that has flourished with a diversity of names, gender pronouns, and communities in the US mainstream only in the last decade or two.

Yet we have always been here.

Letters 30 JULY 19, 2024

Across history, there have always been gender fabulous, gender expansive, and Two-Spirit gender benders.

In this particular time we live in, we have more visibility and space to be out loud and proud as genderqueer, nonbi-

Across history, there have always been gender fabulous, gender expansive, and Two-Spirit gender benders. nary (or “enby”), gender non-conforming, and the many other names we claim for ourselves. In my workplace, we ask rather than assume pronouns and use those pronouns regularly and respectfully.

Here in Delaware, I celebrate nonbinary leaders like State Rep. DeShanna Neal and news anchor Hannah Cechini.

At the same time, attacks on trans and gender fabulous people and our families are escalating. Half of the states have passed laws that criminalize and ban access to gender-affirming care for youth. Not all nonbinary folks want to change our names, pronouns, or bodies,

but these bans are an indicator of the hatred and intolerance we face. For some, they put our very lives at risk.

We must remember Nex Benedict, the 16-year-old nonbinary student in Oklahoma who died this year after an altercation in their high school bathroom after a year of getting bullied for their gender identity.

It is on all of us to hold our schools accountable for the gender-based bullying which is too often ignored and which contributes to the disproportionate rate of mental health distress among genderqueer and trans youth.

The rhetoric of White Christian nationalist right/wrong beliefs that runs dangerously rampant throughout our country right now fuels attacks on the bodily autonomy of anyone who isn’t a White, straight, cisgender (non-trans) man.

We must remember that, in a society that seeks to control people of color by force, BIPOC trans and gender non-conforming folx are the most policed and at risk of violence. Our wholeness and safety are bound up together.

But there is another way.

We can create a world where everyone has the space and safety to be fully themselves; where those kids in the pool say, “Oh, cool! I’m mostly a girl and a little bit boy”; where everyone has a pool they can play in and doesn’t worry about bombs dropping or where they will sleep tonight or if there will be food or medical care for them tomorrow.

I can envision this world of collective care, love, beauty, joy, and respect, where each one of us plays with our gender and finds home in it. The choice is ours. Are you ready? ▼ Rev. Cathy Rion Starr (they/them) is a queer and genderqueer white Unitarian Universalist minister, parent, and community organizer.

When not working as leadership development coordinator at SideWithLove.org, Cathy loves the ocean side of Cape Henlopen, Kings ice cream, kayaking on the Broadkill, playing boardgames, and overspending at Browseabout Books.

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31 Letters

health+wellness

BY SHARON MORGAN

The Pearly Whites Fish are our friends…

E

–BRUCE, FINDING NEMO

ver since that fateful day in the summer of 1975, each year at this time our thoughts are focused on only one thing: sharks. Whether it is the real concern about water safety or the latest sharksploitation film—just in time for the Olympics, there are sharks in the Seine— this ancient marine animal captures our imagination.

Sharks have survived for over 400 million years, predating dinosaurs and even some tree species. Their adaptive capability is so great they have survived five mass extinctions, including the cataclysmic event 65 million years ago that wiped out 75 percent of all species.

This marine animal is diverse, representing over 500 species globally. Sharks inhabit tropical Pacific waters and the icy Artic waters. Some sharks are euryhaline; that is, they can survive in both salt and fresh water. One species, the epaulette, can even survive briefly on land in search of crustacean food sources. Growing up to 59 feet in length, the largest shark is the whale shark, a docile creature that feeds on small fish and plankton. Conversely, measuring only six to eight inches, the dwarf lantern shark is the smallest shark, and their petite size makes them prey for larger fish including other sharks.

The Greenland shark can live over 500 years and is thought to be the oldest living vertebrate.

Sharks are effective hunters, having an acute sixth sense to the minute changes in the electromagnetic fields of all living creatures. Lightly anchored in cartilage, not bone, sharks constantly lose their teeth catching prey and never stop growing new teeth. A shark’s behavior changes during a full moon, when they dive deeper than at any other point in the lunar cycle. The behavior appears to mimic their prey, as they dive deeper during a full moon. Not all sharks hunt in the same way. For example, angel sharks bury themselves in the seabed, waiting for unsuspecting prey. Some sharks even hunt in packs, like the broadnose Letters 32 JULY 19, 2024

sevengill sharks who do this to capture larger prey.

Despite their reputation as fierce predators, shark attacks on humans are thought to be accidental, as humans’ movement in water mimics the splashing of seals or other prey. In 2023, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History’s International Shark Attack File (ISAF), 91 confirmed shark bites occurred worldwide. Sixty-nine were unprovoked,

…shark nanobodies may provide a drug delivery system into cells and tissues that human antibodies cannot. defined as the bite occurred in the shark’s natural habitat without provocation. The remaining 22 were classified as ‘provoked’ where humans were bitten while harassing or trying to touch the shark. Ten of the 69 unprovoked attacks resulted in fatalities. ISAF reported 36 of the 69 unprovoked attacks occurred in the US, which historically leads all countries in shark bites documented. Florida led the nation and the world with unprovoked shark bites in 2023, with 44 percent and 22 percent of the cases, respectively.

Most incidents occurred while the individual was surfing/participating in other board sports or swimming/wading.

Although the thought of a shark attack is disturbing, humans can encounter

danger in many more common ways.

An estimated 99,000 people die in the US annually from a healthcare acquired infection. More than 46,000 die in auto incidents each year and over 1,000 cyclists perish. Each year, an average of 3,000 Americans die from foodborne illness and another 1,300 die from cold exposure. And if you plan to travel to Paris this summer, remember, there are about 24 fatalities in France annually from flying Champagne corks.

When it comes to interactions between sharks and humans, it may be the latter who is the predator. Sharks have long pregnancies, don’t always reproduce, and develop slower and mature later than most other fish. Hence, they face a higher risk of extinction due to human factors.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature estimates that more than one-third of all shark species are threatened with extinction. Several factors contribute to the threat, including overfishing, habitat loss, and the use of shark parts for culinary and medicinal purposes.

Over a 40-year period, starting in 1970, 31 shark and ray species declined over 70 percent due to industrial fishing. Although some of the fishing is directed at sharks for food and medicine, a vast proportion of shark fatalities is incidental to other types of fishing. Twenty-four of these species are now threatened with extinction.

Habitat destruction can also adversely impact shark populations. Sharks rely on the safety of shallow bays and estuaries to raise their pups. Over the past 50 years, approximately 20 percent of the shallow bay mangrove forests globally have been cut down for agriculture and coastal development. Redirection and damming of waterways as well as industrial pollutants adversely impact the freshwater shark populations.

Sharks are extremely important for the earth’s ecosystem. Shark ecotourism has boomed over the past few decades, with an annual global take of about $300 million, and raising awareness of conservation needs. Deep sea sharks are responsible for removing up to half of all carbon emissions trapped in water by

health+wellness

eating and scavenging dead animals on the bottom of the ocean. Were sharks not to do so, these emissions would rise to the surface.

Sharks help maintain balance among the species lower on the food chain.

They weed out the weak and sick, as well as shift their prey’s habitat, which changes the feeding strategy and diets of other species. Sharks indirectly maintain the seagrass and coral reef habitats, by preying on marine life who would overpopulate unchecked without the shark presence. Finally, by moving between deep and shallow waters, sharks enrich the latter with essential nutrients.

Sharks are being studied as well to determine what they can do to improve

human health. They are one of the few animals that produce nanobodies, small antibodies that are reproducible, more durable, and can enter other cells with relative ease. Consequently, shark nanobodies may provide a drug delivery system into cells and tissues that human antibodies cannot. A drug based on specific shark antibodies is also being investigated to treat fibrosis, which can affect the lungs, liver, and kidneys. A patch containing shark cartilage has been used for well over a decade to treat burns. Finally, a shark’s ability to survive in a low-oxygen environment is being evaluated to determine how it could improve individuals suffering from cardiovascular incidents and brain tumors.

So, this summer, as you timidly place your toes in the ocean, concerned about how the shark bites with his teeth (which he keeps pearly white), take a moment to remember that Bruce the shark is our friend. Of course, the idea of skeet shooting sharks out of a twister in the latest rendition of Sharknado does have a certain appeal.▼ Sharon A. Morgan is a retired advanced practice nurse with over 30 years of clinical and healthcare policy background.

Shark photo credit: Oleksandr Sushko on Unsplash.com

Have Some Time on Your Hands?

C

heck out the Flaming Knitters! But wait—what if you don’t knit? No worries: despite the name, you don’t have to be a knitter to be part of this fiber arts group.

Perhaps you crochet? Tat? Use a hand loom? Quilt? Embroider? Cross stitch?

Create fiber arts of any kind, wearable or hang-able; fabulous or—well—fraught?

Maybe, when it comes to fiber arts, you’re a beginner or a wannabe? Come on down—the Flaming Knitters (name compliments of a former CAMP Rehoboth staffer, at the group’s inception) are eager to meet you.

So—where, exactly, would you go to meet them? During “meter season,” the Flaming Knitters are meeting at Panera Bread on Route 1. Meetings are on

the second and fourth Monday of each month, and begin at 6:30 p.m. In September, meetings will return to CAMP Rehoboth.

Donna, the Knitters’ leader, emphasizes that the group (which includes several men—let go of that “hen party” stereotype!)—loves to gain new members. Its current size varies from about six regulars to as many as 10 or 12, depending on seasons and schedules.

If you want to try it out, just show up!

There’s no need to register ahead of time. If you want to stick with the group, they’ll collect your contact info and send you meeting reminders.

What makes this group of fiber folks unique? Donna says, “the openness and inclusiveness of the group is what makes it special. Having a safe space where we can be who we are without judgement or the need to explain anything is wonderful.” She adds that it’s also great to have help or support with projects when you hit a snag—literal or figurative!

And lest you think the group is allfiber-all-the-time, Donna notes, “The group has really morphed into a group of friends, which is really nice. In addition to enjoying fiber together, we offer friendship and support to one another. It’s great to hear about members’ vacations or special events, and also to be there to support one another through challenging times.” ▼ Youth Crisis Support: Crisis intervention services for children under 18. Parents and caregivers are connected to a crisis clinician. Available 24/7. Call 800-9694357 or text DE to 741-741.

988: Free, confidential support and resources for anyone in distress.

Available 24/7. Call 988.

Delaware Hope Line: Free coaching and support. Links to mental health, addiction, and crisis services. Available 24/7. Call 833-9-HOPEDE (833-946-7333).

LET’S STAY CONNECTED! All of CAMP Rehoboth’s programs, services, and events are listed here: camprehoboth.com/community-calendar.

Please visit the site often to ensure you have up-to-date information on what is being offered—and when. ▼ JULY 19, 2024

33 Letters

CAMPsafe Serves Our Community

CAMPsafe at Continuum 2024

J

osh Sheets, CAMPsafe Program Coordinator, attended the Continuum 2024 conference, held June 9-11 in Puerto Rico.

Continuum was organized by the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC).

Attendees included clinicians, social workers, and policy advisors from around the world.

The conference’s presentations focused on strategies and interventions to enhance the entire HIV care continuum. HIV care has evolved to be relatively low maintenance with either a once-a-day pill or a bi-monthly injection as the most popular treatment regimens. Another goal of the conference was to propose strategies to translate research findings into scalable interventions for impact. For instance, data was presented that injectable PrEP (cabotegravir, brand name Apretude) has much more efficacy than the daily pill. One of the most lofty goals of the conference was to push for ending HIV & AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

The IAPAC and Continuum conference brought a multifaceted approach to addressing HIV, and CAMP Rehoboth was proud to be represented. ▼

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Letters 34 JULY 19, 2024

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35 Letters

The Writing Life

BY MATTY BROWN

Peter Rosenstein: Born This Gay

O

n Thursday, July 25, at 5:30 p.m., CAMP Rehoboth will host an author discussion celebrating Peter Rosenstein’s Born This Gay: My life of Activism, Politics, Travel and Coming Out. Peter, a longtime columnist for the Washington Blade and Georgetown Dish, will discuss his career in politics and his journey to finding his authentic voice. Peter will be in conversation with Rehoboth Beach’s own Fay Jacobs. Register online at camprehoboth.org for the event.

Ahead of the discussion, CAMP Rehoboth talked with the author….

my mom was a community activist. I got my commitment to making life better for others from them.

I translated what I wanted to do into the political arena. I have always had a commitment to furthering civil rights, and

MATTY BROWN: What brought you to

write this memoir now?

PETER ROSENSTEIN: I have been thinking of writing this book for many years. It became important to me to share my life’s experiences with friends— and with the younger generation, to see if they can glean something from my life that can make a positive difference in theirs. As to finally completing it, I have had some health issues in the last few years and finally realized it was kind of now or never.

MB: What inspired the selection of the front cover image?

PR: The picture of Martin Luther King, Jr. and me is one I have always treasured.

My mom took that photo of us. I met him when I was a senior in high school and presented him with our school’s citizenship award. It was February 1963, the same year he gave his iconic ‘I Have a Dream’ speech. After the assembly where I presented him with the award, he took an hour to talk with me and told me, “Everyone can make a difference in the world if they want to. And they commit to it.” It is how I have lived my life from that time on.

MB: You’ve lived your life so much in service to others. How does that throughline connect the stories here?

PR: I have been into politics since I was a kid. I handed out flyers for Adlai Stevenson in 1956 as a nine-year-old. My parents were refugees from Hitler and Letters 36 JULY 19, 2024

when I worked for Bella S. Abzug (D-NY), I joined her in fighting for women’s rights.

With the Carter Administration my job was to move equality forward for the disability community. And when I came out, I added fighting for myself and the LGBTQ+ community. All these things seemed to me to go together—fighting to make all of our lives better.

MB: How do you hope your coming out story will inspire others?

PR: My story is a long one, as I didn’t come out until I was 34. It is my hope young LGBTQ+ people who read my story can realize things are different today than they were when I grew up.

We have made much progress. But many young people today still have the same fears I did. Hopefully my story will inspire some to be true to themselves, maybe at a much younger age than I was.

I also hope that in reading how I lived my life, they will see that working to make other people’s lives better can actually make your own better, too. We are all connected.

MB: How has this exercise of reflecting

on your life helped you understand how the LGBTQ+ community has progressed?

PR: When I grew up and first realized I was attracted to men, there was nowhere to go to find out what that meant. There was no internet. Ellen wasn’t out, and Will and Grace weren’t on TV. There were no shows like Fellow Travelers to watch. Today, for so many young people, that is different. They have people they can look to, and I hope I may be one of those people. Today, so much is different. I am proud I had something to do with making it different.

But I will never forget how far we still have to go. Bella S. Abzug introduced the Equality Act in Congress in 1974, and it still hasn’t passed. In 37 states you can marry on Sunday and on Monday be fired from your job and kicked out of your apartment. And with the specter of Donald Trump hanging over all of us, it is even more scary. But I am a positive person, and believe if we stick to it, we will prevail and achieve full equality.

MB: Why did Fay Jacobs make sense as a conversation partner for your discussion on July 25?

PR: Three reasons: 1) Fay is a good friend; 2) Fay edited my book and knows it inside and out; and 3) Fay herself is an amazing writer, and raconteur, so she is the perfect person. I am thankful and honored she agreed to do this.

MB: Where can readers get a copy of Born This Gay? PR: It is available at Browseabout Books in Rehoboth and on Amazon. One favor I ask: if you read the book and like it, please put a review on Amazon. It makes a difference.▼ Born This Gay: My life of Activism, Politics, Travel and Coming Out is available at Browseabout Books in Rehoboth and on Amazon.

Matty Brown is the Communications Manager at CAMP Rehoboth.

JULY 19, 2024

37 Letters

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Letters 38 JULY 19, 2024

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39 Letters

It’s My Life

BY MICHAEL THOMAS FORD

Death Bee Not Proud

W

e have bees again.

After the last bees—all three hives of them—decided to leave on a cool November day two years ago, I didn’t replace them. But a month or so ago my friend Patricia, the local bee whisperer, called and said, “Get your suit on. We’re going to go get some bees out of a basement.”

So now I have bees again. And that first swarm was followed by two more, so I have lots of bees. And new bees in summertime means making gallons and gallons of sugar water to feed them, so that they can build the hives up for winter. All of which means I’ve been spending a lot of time with the bees.

Every time I go into the hives, I look for the queens. There’s one in each hive, of course, and making sure they’re doing their jobs is part of the inspection process. Frames filled with eggs and larvae mean the colony is growing.

Queen bees live an average of two to three years, sometimes as long as five.

Often, beekeepers mark their queens with a colored dot. This both makes her easy to identify in a mass of thousands of bees and indicates how old she is. Various colors correspond to the last digit in a year. So, for instance, a green dot on a queen tells you that she was born in a year ending in either 4 or 9.

Only one of my queens is currently marked, with a green dot for 2024, and she’s relatively easy to spot. The other two, currently unmarked, are more difficult to locate, and I always worry that I’ll somehow dislodge them or that they’ll crawl onto the edge of a box just as I’m setting it down and get crushed.

The accidental crushing of bees is, for me, the worst part about beekeeping. No matter how careful you are, a few bees always meet their ends when you go into the hives. They get under boxes. They crawl all over the place.

And if you move slowly, trying to avoid them, then even more of them appear.

The trick is quick, decisive movements, knowing that you’ll inevitably lose a few Letters 40 JULY 19, 2024

bees but avoid killing more.

It's particularly distressing to me because bees have such short lives. Where queens can live for years, workers get only six weeks (in summer) to six months (in winter) and drones only about 60 days.

This means the oldest of my new hives is almost at the point where all the bees originally in the colony are dead.

I’m aware that so many things are as beautiful and wonderful as they are precisely because they don’t last forever.

I suspect bees don’t think in these terms, but my human brain often wonders what it’s like to be the queen of a colony in which you’re forever outliving your children. Once, while hanging out with a bunch of horror writer friends, we discussed whether we would ever want to be vampires. “Absolutely not,” one said.

“Imagine watching everyone you ever loved or cared about dying while you keep living?”

Ignoring the part where you could, theoretically, turn everyone you loved into vampires too, the question is a provocative one. This summer has been a lovely one, but it’s also one in which I see our two dogs showing their age (both are 15) and in which more than one friend has either died or discovered the condition that will likely bring about their end. Our 96-year-old neighbor is in hospice, and

this week marks the third anniversary of my sister Nancy’s death from cancer. And, of course, I’m aging myself and deeply aware of the passage of time.

There are times when I look at my dogs and wish I could have them with me forever. There are times when I struggle with the knowledge that there simply isn’t enough time left for me to do all the things that I want to do, and that more and more I’m forced to choose what to pursue and what to cross off the big to-do list. Often, I resent having to make these choices, and often I’m angry at myself for having wasted time on other things that now seem insignificant.

At the same time, I’m aware that so many things are as beautiful and wonderful as they are precisely because they don’t last forever. I used to complain that the flowers in the garden lasted only a few weeks, sometimes only days, instead of for the whole spring and summer. Now, I wait for each one to arrive and enjoy it while it’s here. And I try to do the same thing with special occasions, and the seasons, and even with people. Instead of thinking how sad it will be when they’re over, or gone, I think about how wonderful they are right now.

As I said, I don’t imagine bees think about these things. They’re too focused on survival and keeping the hive going.

They don’t have the luxury of remembering the past or being sad about how brief their lives are. Although I like to think about some of them discussing it and saying, “Hey, at least we’re not luna moths. They only live a week and don’t even have mouths. Now get out there and bring back some pollen.”

In the meantime, they’re a reminder to me that life is a constant cycle of beginnings and endings, and that the important thing is to make the most of the time we get. And to get out of the way when someone sets down a heavy box. ▼ Michael Thomas Ford is a much-published Lambda Literary award-winning author. Visit Michael at michaelthomasford.com.

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JULY 19, 2024

41 Letters

FRUIT of the Vine

BY MARY JO TARALLO

Four Delaware Wineries

I

n 1983, a show called Sundays in the Park with George opened on Broadway. Stephan Sondheim composed the music. You don’t need to know anyone named George or see a Broadway show to enjoy “music in the park” at Delaware’s first winery— Nassau Valley Vineyards (nassauvalley. com)—between 12:00 and 3:00 p.m. for the weekly Farmer’s Market. It takes place on Sundays from mid-May to the end of October. More than 20 vendors set-up each week.

Visitors can stock up on lettuce, tomatoes, jams, honey, Japanese vegetables, gourmet ice cream, French delicacies, and crafts while enjoying tunes by local musicians and perhaps sip a glass of wine or sample the winery’s sangria.

Chairs are available in a shady sycamore tree grove next to the Farmer’s Market, but guests also are invited to bring their own. Dogs are not allowed.

Peggy Raley-Ward runs the business on what was her family’s farm, just west of the town of Lewes. After a stint with Les Amis du Vin International and The Friends of Wine magazine, she thought it was time to stop writing about wines and start making them. She and her dad, Bob Raley, founded the winery in 1987.

Letters 42 JULY 19, 2024

Raley-Ward was instrumental in writing the Delaware legislation that enabled the establishment of farm wineries, and helped push it through the Delaware General Assembly in 1991.

Raley-Ward was instrumental in writing the Delaware legislation that enabled the establishment of farm wineries…

Wine tastings are available every day, April to December, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. A sampling of six choices costs $12.

The winery is closed on Monday during the winter months. Self-guided tours of the winery and grounds are available (free) during operating hours. The museum chronicles the 8,000-year-old history of wine and how a vineyard grows now.

Nassau Vineyards celebrates its 32nd harvest in October.

Frankford, Delaware might not be Napa Valley, but the Salted Vines Vineyard & Winery (saltedvines.com) is like a little slice of Napa in Sussex Country. How did owners Adrian and Jessica Mobilia wind up here?

Says Adrian, “I met Jessica at the wedding of a mutual friend in 2007.” He lived in Erie, Pennsylvania, at the time and she hailed from Kansas. “We started dating.

When it came time to get married, she said she wasn’t moving to Erie because it snowed there. So, I moved to the beach in late 2008.”

Mobilia first opened Fenwick Wine Cellars on leased property in 2010 to see if the market could support a winery. In 2015, he purchased a 26-acre farm. When his six-year lease was up, Fenwick Wine Cellars closed and Salted Vines Vineyard & Winery took to the stage less than a year later. Mobilia credits long hot summers and sandy soil for making Delaware an ideal place for a winery.

The main building includes a tasting

room and a large, covered patio, with service in the bar and outdoor areas.

“Signature Tastings” take place at specific times daily and are held at the bar in the winery’s tasting room. The Salted Vines Vino Experience takes place on Saturdays and Sundays in the new barrel room and requires reservations. Vino Club membership includes benefits such as discounts on orders, two complimentary wine flights, and special club-only events.

Salted Vines is a music haven. The unCORKED and unWINED Concert Series runs from May through September and highlights regional bands. There is a charge for the concerts, but weekend music programs are free. Groovin’ Fridays start at 5:00 p.m.; Saturday’s Acoustic Vibes and Strummin’ Sunday both start at 1:00 p.m. Several special events take place from April through December. One can even stomp grapes at the Grapetober Fest in October.

How did Salted Vines get its name?

The staff brainstormed names, and they came up with about 20 choices. “The name I picked won,” Mobilia said. “I went home that night, and my wife asked me which name won. I told her ‘R.I.P. Tide Vineyard and Winery.’ There is an old family cemetery on the property, so the name was a play on words. My wife said, ‘We aren’t doing that, it will be Salted Vines Vineyard & Winery.’”

Twin Branch (twinbranchwinery.com) may be the new kid on the winery block, but the Milton property has a history of providing alcoholic beverages to the public dating back to the late 60s when blue laws prevailed. A woman named Bernice Harmon lived in a house that is now the foundation of the current tasting room.

According to the owner, Totum Farms’ Shauna Thompson, during the blue law years in the 60s, Harmon would buy beer and alcohol so people could come to her house and purchase libations. Thompson says that when Twin Branch became a reality, the basement was lowered, and the roof was raised. The current basement serves as storage for the wine.

The tucked-away parcel of land near

Photos: facing page, Nassau Valley; above L, Harvest Ridge; Above R, top, Salted Vines; bottom, Twin Branch. Credit: Mary Jo Tarallo

the Shamrock golf course is six feet above sea level, making it an ideal location for growing grapes. The two branches of streams that border the property inspired the name. The first grapes were planted in 2013. The winery now has about 4,500 vines.

Getting to the tasting room entrance feels like a trip down the Yellow Brick Road of Wizard of Oz fame, especially in the summer when tall corn stalks line the long, crushed shell driveway. One almost expects the Tin Man to pop out in front of the car.

Getting to the tasting room entrance feels like a trip down the Yellow Brick Road…

The tasting room’s interior is crisp and modern with a cozy living room feel and an inviting fireplace, perfect for chilly-day tastings. The wine menu offers selections with interesting names: 2019 Whitney Chardonnay, 2019 TBW Chardonnay, 2017 Gratitude Rosé, 2018 Blaize Pinot Noir, 2017 Peace Out Merlot, and 2017 Envy Chambourcin. A limited food menu also is available.

Music plays on Saturdays and Sundays. Matt Lafferty is a frequent performer

and his wife, Tenley, serves up tastings.

The owners have growth plans. The current corn hole game and lawn bowling will be enhanced with a stage for musicians and fire pits for cooking. The patio outside the Twin Branch tasting room is a good option for gathering when the weather cooperates. Twin Branch is dog friendly, too.

The property spans about 27 acres which have been in Thompson’s family for a long time. The winery was a long time coming, Thompson says—about 20 years.

There is a sign behind the wine tasting bar at Harvest Ridge (harvestridgewinery. com) that reads “Wine is Bottled Poetry.”

No doubt most wine lovers would agree.

Owner Chuck Nunan managed to turn a hobby into a full-blown business. He first started making wine in his basement in 1995, to rave reviews. In 2010, enroute to his son’s wedding in South Carolina, Nunan visited a winery and a love affair began. His wife, Chris, had purchased land in 2005 in Marydel, Delaware, where the family intended to have a family farm. Instead, it became a winery. The original name of the farm was Harvest Ridge, so the family retained it for the winery. The winery opened to the public on November 1, 2013.

Harvest Ridge sits within a vast agricultural area of Kent County. One building looks like a barn; a second building

looks like a country story, reflecting this rural swath of Kent County. The winery’s property spans the border of two states—Delaware and Maryland—and is on the historic Mason-Dixon line. It is 16 miles southwest of Dover Air Force Base, and just about the same distance from Historic Dover, making it a convenient location for a multi-day trip to the region. Hours are 12:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Friday and Saturday; 12:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Sunday through Thursday.

Wines include six whites and a rosé, seven reds, and six sweet wines. Harvest Ridge also produces a hard cider, Rebel Seed.

Whether you’re an oenophile, a locavore, a music lover, a cider aficionado—or all the above—Delaware’s vineyards and wineries have something for you. Enjoy checking them out! ▼ 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.

JULY 19, 2024

43 Letters

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Letters 44 JULY 19, 2024

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45 Letters

View Point

BY RICHARD J. ROSENDALL

Navigating Gay-Straight Friendships True Intimacy Isn’t Only Sexual

I

walked through the crowd at DC’s Capital Pride on June 8 as groups were lining up to set off on the Pride parade. Walking down a crowded side street, I saw one of the loveliest men in town, a straight ally. He greeted me warmly, hugged me, and kissed me on the cheek. I thought happily, how times have changed!

Despite the risk we now face of legal setbacks from a right-wing Supreme Court, the greater social and cultural acceptance LGBTQ+ people have won is largely beyond the reach of politicians and judges. Changed expectations are hard to erase.

Generational change is not the same everywhere. Cities attract people who take diversity more in stride. Urban/rural divides open us to wedge politics. We have more work to do to help people see that differences are not a threat.

Something I have experienced more frequently in recent years is straight men who enjoy the company of gay men, and even flirt with them. They are not interested sexually, but neither are they threatened in any way. I find it refreshing.

I have had straight neighbors like that. One was a mix of Anglo and Asian.

He is the kind of person who lights up any room he is in. Normally in the morning he darted down the back stairs; but if I was leaving for work at the same time, he rode down the elevator with me, because he found me amusing. Once he said he had a sore shoulder from a sports injury, and I said I gave a very soothing massage. He laughed in a way that melted me into the floor, but that was as far as it went. One winter evening he and his girlfriend joined me on our building’s roof to observe a lunar eclipse.

After he moved to Virginia to live with his girlfriend, I encountered them at the annual high-heel race on 17th Street in Washington the week before Halloween, which draws large and diverse crowds.

There is a prominent Washingtonian Letters 46 JULY 19, 2024

with whom I feel a close friendship, as distinct from a professional one. He is straight and happily married, but then I myself am in a committed relationship.

The public figure and I have a lot in

Every conversation with an attractive, friendly person doesn’t involve thoughts of sexual conquest. common on policy matters, but we are also simpatico at a personal level. As time passes, I increasingly meet him more as a friend and confidante than an advocate.

Every conversation with an attractive, friendly person doesn’t involve thoughts of sexual conquest. The mix of affection and desire varies from case to case.

Respect that grows with understanding increases the comfort level, as does a sense of humor.

I have a dear friend with whom I lost touch decades ago when he moved to another city. We reconnected a few years back via the LinkedIn networking

site. He and I were very close in our late 20s. We felt a natural connection. There was love between us, but I also desired him, which he could not reciprocate. Our mutual bond proved stronger than our difference.

Once over lunch he told me that his fiancée did not want children, though he very much did. After joking that he might as well marry me in that case, I told him he needed to find a woman who wanted children. Which he did. It is good to be in touch again. His auburn hair has gone white, but our feelings remain.

As the social space grows in which we can navigate our differences, safety increases. In private encounters we don’t think of an entire community looking over our shoulders; yet to some extent, each of us carries an invisible crowd with us.

With certain close straight friends, it almost feels as if we had a torrid sexual affair and then became friends.

The 1930 song “Georgia On My Mind,” by Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorell, has these lines: “Other arms reach out to me, Other eyes smile tenderly, Still in peaceful dreams I see The road leads back to you.”

Those lyrics come to mind as I think of my partner overseas. Loneliness can make fools of us. But having given my heart to someone, I am less beset by the restlessness that preoccupied me in my youth.

Thinking of the man who has proven his love for me in countless moments of grace, I realize I am already home. How blessed I am when a sweet straight friend, with a chaste kiss, shows he gets that. ▼ Richard J. Rosendall is a writer and activist at rrosendall@me.com.

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47 Letters

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Letters 48 JULY 19, 2024

JULY 19, 2024

49 Letters

Words Matter

BY CLARENCE FLUKER

Creating Chandeliers—and Ourselves

I

t was a beautiful day to be invited over for lunch. I was honored by the invitation. The people at the table were all dynamic and interesting.

Some of the guests at this luncheon were poets, others had published novels, and a few of them not only use words to express themselves, but also painting, sculpture, and virtual reality. These were very bright people and the conversations they were having reflected that.

Yet, I was distracted. In between bites of food and nodding my head to show that I was engaged and listening, I kept looking up. Above the table was a beautiful chandelier.

I don’t know if it was one-of-a-kind or if it’s something that can be easily found at furniture and fixture stores in beach towns. It was covered in seashells of all sizes. There had to be hundreds of them placed beautifully together surrounding the steel frame. They weren’t all the same size, and they varied in texture.

Just that morning I’d been walking along the beach and picking up shells myself, admiring their natural exquisiteness.

Now, I was looking up in amazement at what someone had constructed from many shells.

Not only was this fixture a wonderful way to decorate the home and provide additional light for whoever was gathered and would gather under it to share meals, stories, and laughter, it symbolized something else to me. It reminded me of our ability to refashion ourselves.

That we can take seemingly ordinary objects and turn them into extraordinary things. Perspective and creativity are important.

A few days before the lunch, I ran into a young man I’d not seen in a couple of summers. He is incredibly handsome and kindhearted. You notice when he’s not around. We were chatting and there was something in me that wanted to share an observation with him, but I didn’t know how he’d receive what I had to say.

I hesitated in sharing and as we continued to talk, the thought kept nagging Letters 50 JULY 19, 2024

at me. Finally, I asked if it would be okay for me to tell him what was on my heart.

He had no idea what I was about to tell him, but he gave me permission. I drew closer to him, leaned in, and looked him in the eye and expressed that I could see the difference in him.

He was just as bright as the light bouncing from the shells and it made me beam.

While we were not friends, and I had no idea of any real details of his life during the couple of years since we’d last seen each other on vacation, I could tell there was something different about him. That he’d changed. He looked as though he’d matured. He carried himself with more grace. His level of confidence felt both settled and new. He also still looked great, but in a varied form.

I expressed all that to him and said that as someone a bit older than him, I knew that had likely come at some

price and I was proud of him for getting through it. I was nervous to tell him all of that. I didn’t know how he’d respond at that moment. He could have been offended or called me crazy. Neither of those scenarios played out.

Instead, he gave me the biggest hug.

In fact, he thanked me for recognizing his ongoing metamorphosis and acknowledging what I saw and felt. He confirmed that he’d not been around so much over the last couple of years because life had thrown him several unexpected twists and turns, but he persevered, and times were better now and so was he. His smile made me smile.

He appreciated the validation and that someone saw his growth and how he’d taken a series of life’s good moments, challenges, and all the experiences in between to refashion himself into the person that he now was. A beautiful tapestry, just like the chandelier I was looking at during lunch.

Serendipitously, a little further along into the lunch party, the same young man who I was now connecting in my mind with the chandelier above me entered.

He was just as bright as the light bouncing from the shells and it made me beam.

It is wonderful to be able to take seashells, and other found objects, and with perspective and creativity, turn them into new things with purpose and power. It is of equal wonder and joy that when we collect our own life experiences and find new and undiscovered pieces within, we too can create greater versions of ourselves. ▼ Clarence J. Fluker is a public affairs and social impact strategist. Follow him on X (formerly known as Twitter): @CJFluker or Instagram: @Mr_CJFluker

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All material presented herein is intended for information purposes only. While this information is believed to be correct, it is represented subject to errors, omissions, changes or withdrawal without notice. If your property is currently listed with a real estate broker, please disregard this offer. It is not to solicit the offerings of other real estate brokers. We cooperate with them fully.

JULY 19, 2024

51 Letters

Reflections

BY PATTIE CINELLI

Celebrating Juneteenth in Montgomery

T

he dense air felt like weights attached to my limbs. The hot breeze gave a bit of relief, although the intensity of the sun dictated my pace.

I lumbered one foot in front of the other, sending my gaze from one piece of art to the next, reading accounts of suffering, of searching for lost family, and of grief from men and women who long ago passed. I was walking the path that wove through the 17 acres of Freedom Monument Sculpture Park, the newest site of the Equal Justice Institute (EJI) in Montgomery, Alabama. Ten million men, women, and children who were kidnapped, chained, tortured, and separated from family and everything familiar finally are being remembered, recognized, and honored.

Last month I celebrated Juneteenth with about 70 Delawareans at the EJI. We were among the 1,200 visitors from around the world who joined in celebrating. The group was diverse in age, race, and nationality. We participated in festivities that included the dedication of the newest Legacy site, panel discussions, tours of the other two sites, and a concert featuring music of Wynton Marsalis, Lizz Wright, and Samara Joy, interwoven with stories of love and hope from guests.

The Equal Justice Institute was founded in 1989 by Milton native Bryan Stevenson, whose best-selling book, Just Mercy, was made into a movie of the same name.

Since that time Stevenson has freed or reduced the sentences of more than 100 prisoners on death row. EJI provides legal representation to people who have been illegally convicted, unfairly sentenced, or abused in state jails and prisons. In 2018, EJI opened the Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, an intense documentation of the most active era of racial terror lynchings from 1877 to 1950.

The Park, which sits above the Alabama River and alongside train tracks, celebrates the courage and resilience of Black people enslaved in America.

As I strolled the winding path, I read the Letters 52 JULY 19, 2024

stories on terracotta life-size placards of those formerly enslaved. As I studied the sculptures of men, women, and children enslaved, I was transported back to a time when humans traveled in chains on boats or on trains to Montgomery, then sold in the marketplace to the highest bidder.

I felt amazed, in awe, and deeply respectful of the fortitude and steadfastness of enslaved people.

At the end of the Park, standing 43 feet tall and 155 feet long, the National Monument to Freedom honors nearly five million formerly enslaved Black people and their tens of millions descendants.

The huge wall is inscribed with thousands of surnames of those who, for the first time in history, could record their family names in the 1870 census—the first after Emancipation.

Black people visiting searched for their names on the wall. When my friend found both his mother’s and father’s names he felt “exhilarated.” Others, when they found the names they sought, cried.

Particularly haunting for me was the exhibit of the last whipping post still standing in Georgetown, Delaware, until 2020.

Four years ago, I was deeply affected by the movie Just Mercy. I had never heard of EJI nor of Bryan Stevenson. I was thrilled he grew up in Milton. As I settled

into my new life at the beach, I especially enjoyed the talents of Christy Taylor & Friends. Taylor, a music teacher and professor at the University of Delaware, showcased her students and fellow musicians at her performances. She is Stevenson’s sister, and the reason I visited EJI. I expected to feel somber, sad, and depressed walking through Legacy Sites.

Instead, I felt amazed, in awe, and deeply respectful of the fortitude and steadfastness of enslaved people. Many ‘ah ha’ moments snuck into my thoughts. One in particular was when I spoke to the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

Taylor and Stevenson are descendants of enslaved people. “My great-grandfather and great-grandmother found a way to love and learned to persevere in the midst of sorrow,” said Stevenson. “The strength and power of enslaved people is something to celebrate.” Stevenson believes America is in the era of truth and justice. “We are still not free yet,” he explained. “The key is if we will move forward. We must push back against the belief that Black people are not as good as White people. It’s the era of truth telling.”

It’s been weeks, yet I still have not fully digested all that I learned on my trip.

Many of my daydreams, random thoughts, and conversations focus on the work at EJI. My friend Sarah Gilmour is pursuing a senior trip to EJI next year for students of Delaware’s Pathways to Success. She’s putting into practice what we discovered.

Knowledge is power. As American actor Leslie Odom Jr. who spoke to us about his role in the 2023 remake of the play Purlie Victorious said, “Whatever we want in the world we have to be it and see it in ourselves.” ▼ For information: eji.org.

Pattie Cinelli is a journalist who focuses on non-traditional ways to stay healthy and get well. Email Pattie Cinelli at fitmiss44@aol.com L-R: Ruth Ann Curley, Sarah Gilmour, Bryan Stevenson, Pattie Cinelli. Photo courtesy of the author.

MARTY IS PROUDLY ENDORSED BY

Proud to be the only candidate endorsed by Delaware Stonewall PAC for RD-14, Marty Rendon is ready to hit the ground running on behalf of our community in Dover.

Delaware Stonewall PAC

Chair of the Delaware Human and Civil Rights Commission Legislative Committee Ready to be a strong voice for all members of the LGBTQ+ community in the General Assembly Committed to fight any efforts to limit or remove rights and protections for all who call Delaware home

Learn more at MartyRendon.com!

VOTE MARTY RENDON FOR RD-14 ON SEPTEMBER 10TH!

JULY 19, 2024

53 Letters

In Praise of the Dive Bar

BY CHRISTOPHER MOORE

A Haven on Earth DIVE BAR PLAYLIST — ARETHA FRANKLIN — “Ain’t No Way” — MUNA — “I Know a Place” — BO DIDDLEY — “Who Do You Love” — ROY ORBISON — “I Drove All Night” — BEYONCÉ — “Texas Hold ‘Em” — BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN — “My Hometown” — GLADYS KNIGHT AND THE PIPS — “If I Were Your Woman” — PAULA COLE — “Where Have All the Cowboys Gone” — ORVILLE PECK — “Born This Way” — REBA MCINTYRE — “Fancy” — WHITESNAKE — “Here I Go Again” — LINKIN PARK — “In the End” — SHANIA TWAIN — “Man, I Feel Like a Woman” — ALANA MYLES “Black Velvet” — JOHN LEGEND, FEATURING ESTELLE — “No Other Love” — VAN HALEN — “Dance the Night Away” — STEVIE NICKS — “Edge of Seventeen” — SHAKIRA — “Underneath Your Clothes” — KYLIE MINOGUE — “Dancing” — SHAWN COLVIN — “Dead of the Night” Letters 54 JULY 19, 2024

D

ive bars exist as unique spaces within our cultural landscape, and often are overlooked or dismissed by those who favor manufactured, social media-ready aesthetics. These bars survive nonetheless, with their unassuming facades, ragged interiors, and flourishes which recall a world less obsessed with pretense and posturing. With National Dive Bar Day on July 7, it’s important to honor these sanctuaries, where one can exist as-is, beverage in hand, thriving under the glow of a neon light.

To appreciate the power of a dive bar requires a level of respect for how imperfect they often are. There’s usually a worn wooden bar, covered in scratches, gashes, stickers, and graffiti. To belly-up to such a bar is to become one with its history, where countless drinks spilled from cheap, plastic cups, where secrets were told, and where hearts leapt or broke, depending on the scene. These dive bars are home to mismatched furniture, a pay phone, signs with goofy sayings, ashtrays, and local treasures. It’s a bonus when there’s a working vintage jukebox, playing anything from Bo Diddley to Reba McIntyre to Linkin Park. In these bars, every detail matters.

Location also matters. In big cities, dive bars may be tucked into alleys, or on backstreets within neighborhoods where the rent is lower and the vibe is hard to describe. In small towns, they might exist inconspicuously along a main street, between vacant storefronts which seem frozen in time. Then there’s the strip mall dive bar, sharing a wall with a laundromat or a smoke shop. The windows may be tinted, and the subtle thump of bass greets folks walking past. There are also the bars in the middle of nowhere, which are hard to find on GPS—let alone a map. Simply finding these establishments is reason enough for a round of libations.

Dive bars often have a cast of characters, with many stories to tell. This includes workers who know their patrons by heart. They know drink orders, payment preferences, and take-out orders. They

anticipate needs, know the right questions to ask, and when to call time when the rowdiness sets in.

The characters who patronize these watering holes are equally important. They have a preferred stool. They know when their pals will be there. They also know when to tell a story.

The strangers who happen upon these bars by circumstance play an important role as well. Their temporary existence fills the cracks. The sum of this cast creates a mosaic representing all walks of life, who come together, united by the shared desire for human connection, and respite from the noise of the outside world.

This mosaic of individuals may also include creatives who know dive bars can serve as an incubator for inspiration.

Musicians may find their stage, performing for intimate audiences who appreciate the rawness of live music without the sheen of commercialism. Writers may find inspiration amidst the hum of conversation and rattling glasses. Thinkers may find solace in dark corners where their ideas flow freely and opinions are debated for hours.

Dive bars may also be safe spaces.

In an era marked by the relentless homogenization of urban, suburban, and rural spaces, dive bars remind us of the value of authenticity and individuality.

In towns which have become tourist destinations, they serve as a place to gather for locals who tire of the ebb and flow of strangers who fill their streets, hotels, and restaurants. In St. Petersburg, Florida, the Drunken Clam fits the bill. In a sea of overly-manicured restaurants, cocktail bars, and breweries, it is about as bare bones as it gets, and it’s wonderful. In Rehoboth Beach, the Purple Parrot, with all its resort town charm, is still very much the place it was decades ago, and it’s not unusual to see it packed with locals even on the busiest summer night. For queer folks, bars like Bike Stop in Philadelphia, Missie B’s in Kansas City, or The Bullet in Hollywood, have long been havens for the LGBTQ+ community. Their energy is unchanged, even while their contemporaries bend

to consumerism and become venues for bachelorette parties and drag brunches.

Dive bars, however, are more than an aesthetic, an address, or case study in humanity. Dive bars represent something not so easy to find in 2024: something original and unfiltered. They evoke nostalgia and memories of a time when life was less chaotic. For some, these bars serve as a link to the past; a reminder of adventures, milestones, and some moments which are pure cringe. These memories may be paired with a jukebox playing a favorite song, a bartender pouring a familiar drink, or the choir of heavenly laughter bouncing from a drop ceiling. These memories have the power to transcend time and space.

They also have the power to stop you in your tracks, leading to a knowing smile

or a welling of tears.

In an era marked by the relentless homogenization of urban, suburban, and rural spaces, dive bars remind us of the value of authenticity and individuality. They resist the pressures of commercialization and remain resolute in their commitment to preserve a unique way of life. This defiance against conformity allows them to celebrate their flaws and imperfections with pride, honoring the richness of this human experience in all its messy splendor. ▼ Christopher Moore is Interim Executive Director of AIDS Delaware. He loves NPR, naughty jokes, and a man who lives in Toronto.

Email him at moore.cc@gmail.com.

Continued on page 56 JULY 19, 2024

55 Letters

Out & About

BY ERIC C. PETERSON

A Voice from Stonewall

L

ast month, to round out Pride Month, I was honored to share the stage at CAMP Rehoboth with Gwen Osborne and Matty Brown in CAMP Rehoboth’s third production of Voices from Stonewall by Michael Gilles and Fay Jacobs. The lights were run

by Larry Rosen, who I’ve known for over a decade, and the production was directed

by Fay, who I’ve known for a quarter century. (And if you’re not jealous about both things…you should be.)

We sold out both houses, but if you didn’t have a chance to see the show, Voices from Stonewall is a staged reading for three or four actors. It begins by explaining what life was like before the rebellion, when being gay was categorized as a mental illness by the American Psychiatric Association and gay activism was practiced by a mere handful of brave souls. It then provides a beat-by-beat re-enactment of the riot, from the police raid that happened three days before to the death of Judy Garland to the fateful Friday night when police decided to raid the Stonewall Inn without warning anyone ahead of time.

Acting out the riot in real time, using the actual words of people who were there, was a visceral and frankly exhausting experience, but before doing this show there was so little of the riot that I understood. What I learned was how chaotic and unplanned it was, how scary it got, and that the bravest among us were the ones who were also the most vulnerable—homeless gay youth, trans people, butch lesbians…. The show then details life on Christopher Street in the days after the rebellion, and the impact that Stonewall had on our culture.

This year, it was especially fun to let the audience know what was happening in real time. In Friday night’s show, I announced the opening of a Visitors’ Center across the street from the Stonewall Inn, a historic first for the National Park Service. And on Saturday, I told the crowd that the Letters 56 JULY 19, 2024

Christopher Street stop on the New York subway would now be known as the “Christropher Street/Stonewall” station.

And each night, we concluded the show with a call to action.

Matty told the audience to “Be proud.”

Gwen told the audience to “Be visible.”

I told the audience to “Be at the ballot box.”

After the show, it was fun to reconnect with CAMP Rehoboth leaders and other friends I hadn’t seen for a while.

I finally got to meet Executive Director Kim Leisey and Deputy Director Mark McDaniels, and say hello to lots of folks I didn’t know, all of whom were either smiling or wiping away a tear.

…the giants upon whose shoulders we stand as LGBTQ people didn’t make change happen by being nice and nonthreatening.

But unlike most shows I’ve been involved with, what lingers is not the sense of fun we had in rehearsals and over post-show drinks at Aqua (although that was really, really fun) but the sense of obligation I was left with.

Just like Hamilton, with its diverse cast and hip-hop lyrics, taught me that the Founding Fathers of this country were a bunch of scrappy revolutionaries and radicals, Voices from Stonewall reminded me that the giants upon whose shoulders we stand as LGBTQ people didn’t make change happen by being nice and non-threatening.

Whether they could know how historic their backlash would be, they did it by refusing, finally, to turn the other cheek. They acted out. They literally spit in the face of their oppressors. They threw punches, and then they threw

bricks. As recounted in the show, one butch lesbian uprooted a parking meter and used it as a battering ram after the police locked themselves in the Stonewall to escape the escalating mob.

I was born a year and a half after the Stonewall rebellion (if you’re doing the math, that makes me 53 years old). When I was two years old, homosexuality was removed from the APA’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. I was six when Harvey Milk won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. I was 11 when Wisconsin became the first state to outlaw discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, and I was 16 (and still in the closet) when hundreds of thousands of activists marched on Washington to demand a humane response from their government to the AIDS crisis.

By the time I reached adulthood and finally came out, the world was a much friendlier place to gay people than when I was born. Others did that work. And I’m grateful, but my gratitude doesn’t mean much unless I pick up the torch and keep fighting. And given the recent actions of the Supreme Court and a brutal election season in full swing, it’s not hard to see that we have a long fight ahead of us. Not only for us, but for the next generation of queer kids who can’t yet pick up a brick. ▼ Eric Peterson is Interim Managing Editor of Amble Press, a novelist (Loyalty, Love & Vermouth), and a diversity, equity, and inclusion practitioner. Follow Eric on Threads at @red7eric.

Claire SNYDER-HALL Democrat for De State HouSe - rD 14 I AM RUNNING to be the first woman – and the first lesbian – to represent RD 14 in the General Assembly, as well as the entire LGBTQ+ community because many of us live in places that do not have supportive representatives.

Fortunately, RD 14 has always been Democratic, and I will

continue to support many of the issues former Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf championed: PETE LGBTQ+ Equality ✔ Right to Choose ✔ Vote by Mail ✔ Minimum Wage ✔ Gun Safety ✔

CLAIRE ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

302-569-9205

Claire for Delaware

clairefordelaware@gmail.com

@claire4delaware

clairefordelaware.com

@claire4delaware

PAID FOR BY FRIENDS FOR CLAIRE FOR DELAWARE

Please vote Claire Snyder-Hall on September 10th.

JULY 19, 2024

57 Letters

Letters 58 JULY 19, 2024

JULY 19, 2024

59 Letters

CAMP REHOBOTH BEACH GUIDE BEACH AREA LODGING Atlantic Sands Hotel, Boardwalk & Baltimore Ave.........................302-227-2511 Atlantic View Hotel, Ocean Front 2 Clayton St, Dewey.................302-227-3878 Atlantis Inn, 154 Rehoboth Ave.....................................................302-227-9446 Beach View Hotel, 6 Wilmington Ave.............................................302-227-2999 Breakers Hotel, 105 2nd St & Baltimore Ave.................................302-227-6688 Canalside Inn, 34 6th St.................................................................302-226-2006 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 Avenue Inn & Spa, 33 Wilmington Ave....................................302-226-2900

LEWES FOOD & DRINK

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 Atlantic Jewelry, 313 South Boardwalk.........................................302-226-0675 New Wave Spas, 20660 Coastal Hwy............................................302-227-8484 Stuart Kingston Gallery, 19470 Coastal Hwy.................................302-227-2524 Unfinished Business, 18389 Olde Coach Rd.................................302-645-8700

ART GALLERIES | MUSEUMS Biggs Museum of American Art, thebiggsmuseum.org Gallery 50, 50 Wilmington Ave......................................................302-227-2050 Peninsula Gallery, 502 E Savannah Rd..........................................302-645-0551 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 Chesapeake & Maine, 316 Rehoboth Ave.....................................302-226-3600 Coho’s Market & Grill, 305 Rehoboth Ave......................................302-227-2646 Diego’s Bar Nightclub, 37298 Rehoboth Ave................................302-227-1023 Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats 320 Rehoboth Ave.......................302-226-2739 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

Letters 60 JULY 19, 2024

Go Brit, 18388 Coastal Hwy...........................................................302-644-2250 Harbour Waterfront Dining, 134 West Market St...........................302-200-9522 Matt’s Fish Camp, 34401 Tenley Ct...............................................302-644-2267

OTHER AREA FOOD & DRINK Bluecoast Seafood, 30904 Coastal Hwy, Bethany........................302-539-7111 Catch 54, 38931 Madison Ave, Selbyville.....................................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, 35603 South St............................................................ 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, 26089 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.................................302-945-5253 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............................302-654-5326 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 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.....2-1-1Delaware Pride—Community events, annual Pride Festival..................................................................................302-265-3020 Lewes Senior Activity Center (age 50+).........................................302-645-9293 Meals on Wheels Lewes-Rehoboth................................................302-645-7449 PFLAG-Rehoboth—3rd Tuesdays, Public Library, 111 Adams Ave, Lewes Social Security Administration—Georgetown office......................800-772-1213

COUNSELING/THERAPY/LIFE COACH

Jewish Family Services........................................................ 302-478-9411 Kevin J. Bliss, Personal/Professional Coaching.............................302-754-1954 Nancy Commisso, LCSW, Therapeutic Services.............................703-598-2938 Time to Heal Counseling & Consulting, Lewes ............................302-574-6954

ELECTRICIANS

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

FINANCIAL SERVICES

County Bank, 19927 Shuttle Rd.......................................... 302-226-9800 Jenn Harpel, Morgan Stanley.........................................................302-644-6620

FLORISTS

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.....................................302-733-3113 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....................... 302-226-7960 Maplewood Dental Associates, 18912 J.J. Williams Hwy..... 302-645-6671

REAL ESTATE

Allen Jarmon, NextHome Tomorrow Realty...................................302-745-5122 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...........302-236-2430 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...................................................... 302-645-7283 Jeanine O’Donnell, State Farm............................................ 302-644-3276

LEGAL/ACCOUNTING/TRUST SERVICES

PWW Law LLC, 1519 Savannah Rd, Lewes................................... 302-628-4140 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

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

JULY 19, 2024

61 Letters

OUTlook

BY BETH SHOCKLEY

The Kitty Whisperer

A

ugust 8 should be on every cat lover’s calendar. It’s International Cat Day, set aside for us to properly worship—er, celebrate—our furry feline friends. I’ve never needed a special day to express my appreciation for kitties. I try to do that every day at home; I also volunteer at a cat rescue.

It’s something I’d always wanted to do, so it’s one of the first things I did when I retired.

I’m officially a Cat Whisperer at Purrfect Haven Cat Rescue in Dover. At their adoption center, located in the north Dover PetSmart, I let the kitties come out of their enclosures, pet them, give them kisses if they want, hold them if they want, and play with toys with them. I visually inspect each one and observe their behavior. All of this, along with the traditional care the cats receive twice a day (feeding, cleaning enclosures, etc.) help to make sure they are healthy and well socialized for adoption.

Taking care of kitties is one of the most therapeutic antidepressants I’ve ever known. When I get back from “whispering” with an average 10 kitties, I feel so good; so happy. The cats and their foibles and antics—I just can’t be in a bad mood after a visit. Almost without exception, it’s instant joy. What’s not to love, unless you’re not into small felines.

There are moments. Sick kitties are attended to right away, of course—they are removed from the center and cared for and fostered until they’re well. My biggest challenge is usually getting the little stinkers back into their enclosures. They just know when it’s time, and some like to hide in a few inaccessible (to me) spots—like behind the back corner of the cat

Taking care of kitties is oneof the most therapeutic antidepressants I’ve ever known.

trees. I shamelessly lure them with treats to get them to come out, get a hand hold when necessary, and guide them quickly back in.

Sometimes, they’ll just walk right back into their enclosures all by themselves. Other times, they leave little souvenirs on my hands that need Neosporin. I make sure every cat or kitten is OK. If they seem “off,” either physically or behaviorally, my job is to let the other volunteers know.

Hollyhock and Honeysuckle, two young cats, were adopted last week—and that’s the best feeling in the world. They’d been in the center for a few weeks. No kitties stay too long at the center. If they aren’t adopted, they go back into foster homes.

I love getting the joyful emails and photos when the kitties find their forever homes. “Milo was adopted today. He joins another young cat in the family.”

Purrfect Haven almost always encourages adoptions of companions, which generally help mitigate boredom, stress, and other behavior issues.

I really enjoy the days there are only a few cats— say, no more than six. It means that a bunch of kitties have been adopted. This week alone, there were three adoptions. That left just four kitties on my Monday.

Two were new to the center, and I had plenty of time to observe them, make sure they were OK physically, and not too stressed. I had time to see how they interact with each other—who’s aggressive or who needs encouragement to play.

Francesca, one of my current favorites, likes to mostly stay in her enclosure—but with the door wide open so she can step out when she feels like it. She likes to look down on the action in the rest of the room, plus she gets lots of petting and love.

I’ve fallen in love with so many kitties over the last couple of years—Fiona, Louisa, Gibbs, Milo. I don’t have a type, or a favorite color. I love the boys as much as the girls. In fact, there are three boys here with me at home who all just turned 11. They are, not surprisingly, Purrfect Haven alumni. Ryder, Ranger and Rhett are now Pi, Charlie and JoJo. So, I guess I’ve come full circle.

Helping kitties be their best so they can find their forever homes is one way to mark International Cat Day. There are as many ways to celebrate as there are kitties and the people who love them. Find out for yourself at the Dover PetSmart, at purrfecthavencatrescue. org, or at your local cat rescue. ▼ Beth Shockley is a retired senior writer/editor living in Dover with her wife and furbabies.

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Letters 64 JULY 19, 2024

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JULY 19, 2024

65 Letters

The REAL DIRT

BY ERIC W. WAHL

Sowing the Seeds of Our Democracy

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ardening and garden design has evolved throughout the generations. From the first designed foursquare patterns in Persian gardens meant to be paradise on earth, to the venerated cloister gardens found in monasteries that were surrounded by ornate walkways and high walls, to Italian villas and French parterre gardens that many times used shrubbery as hedges enclosing the garden. All these early gardens promoted focusing oneself inward for reflection and contemplation. They blocked off views to the outside as they were for meant for personal and intimate experiences.

Then along comes the story of us.

We can thank two of our founding fathers for a change in perspective when it comes to gardening and garden design.

Yes, you will see similar elements in their gardens when compared to the past.

However, there is one wonderful distinction: the captured views outward from the garden; the idea of the boundless and limitless opportunities awaiting us looking out over the vast, fruitful landscapes of our new country.

Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, two iconic figures of American history, were not only leaders in the fight for independence but also avid horticulturists with a deep passion for gardening.

Their gardens at Monticello and Mount Vernon, respectively, reflect their personalities, interests, and contributions to early American agriculture. These gardens were not just places of beauty but also centers for experimentation, innovation, and self-sufficiency.

Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, located in Virginia, is renowned for its extensive and diverse gardens. Jefferson viewed gardening as a means to improve agriculture in America and as a scientific pursuit. He meticulously documented his gardening efforts in his “Garden Book,” where he recorded planting dates, weather patterns, and the success or failure of various crops.

The layout of Monticello’s gardens Letters 66 JULY 19, 2024

reflected Jefferson’s innovative approach.

The terrace garden was divided into squares, each dedicated to different crops, including flowers and ornamentals.

This systematic arrangement allowed Jefferson to experiment with crop rotation and companion planting, which were advanced agricultural techniques for his time. Additionally, Monticello overlooked a grand landscape beyond its boundaries, demonstrating Jefferson’s appreciation for beauty and aesthetics in all facets of garden design.

Thomas Jefferson and George Washington… [were] avid horticulturists with a deep passion for gardening.

George Washington’s Mount Vernon, on the other hand, embodied a different yet equally impressive approach to gardening. Washington’s primary focus was on practical agriculture and improving the productivity of his estate. Like Jefferson, Washington kept detailed records of his agricultural practices, experimenting with crop rotation, composting, and innovative farming equipment.

Mount Vernon’s gardens were divided into four main areas: the Upper Garden, the Lower Garden, the Fruit Garden and Nursery, and the Botanical Garden. Each area served a specific purpose, reflecting Washington’s pragmatic approach. The Upper Garden, for instance, was both ornamental and functional, featuring a mix of vegetables, flowers, and hedges arranged in a formal pattern.

The Lower Garden was primarily used for growing a wide variety of vegetables, which were essential for feeding the estate’s enslaved peoples, family, and guests. Washington was particularly interested in improving the yield and quality of his crops, and he experimented with

different soil treatments and crop varieties to achieve this goal.

The Fruit Garden and Nursery at Mount Vernon showcased Washington’s interest in fruit cultivation and plant propagation. He grew apples, pears, cherries, and other fruits, experimenting with grafting techniques to improve the quality and diversity of his orchards.

This garden also served as a nursery for propagating plants, reflecting Washington’s forward-thinking approach to estate management and self-sufficiency.

Washington’s Botanical Garden, though smaller, was an area for experimentation and acclimatization of exotic plants. Like Jefferson, Washington was keen to introduce new plant species to America, and his Botanical Garden featured plants obtained from around the world.

Mount Vernon’s location, also in Virginia, is paramount. It overlooks the Potomac River and the viewshed from the estate is stunning and significant. So much so that zoning ordinances have been adopted to limit development which results in preserving this view for future generations. This is sometimes referred to as the “borrowed landscape.” This outward focus reflects the principles that Washington held for our bourgeoning nation: hope, opportunity, independence.

The gardens of Thomas Jefferson and George Washington were more than just picturesque landscapes; they were also embodiments of the Enlightenment principles of experimentation, innovation, and self-sufficiency. Jefferson and Washington set the stage for the development of modern American gardening and farming techniques. Their gardens continue to inspire and educate, reminding us of the profound connection between the land and the leaders who helped shape a nation.

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

JULY 19, 2024

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73 Letters

Celebrating Drag

BY STEPHEN RASKAUSKAS

Drag: More Important Now Than Ever

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rag is beautiful. Drag is fun.

Drag is political. Drag is under attack.

Chances are, if you’re reading this, you’re already a supporter of the drag community, or may be a member yourself. At the risk of preaching to the choir, there’s no better time to review a little bit of herstory and actionable steps we can take to support the drag community.

Especially considering July 16 was International Drag Day! DRAG IS A PART OF US ⊲ Drag isn’t just part of LGBTQ+ culture, it’s an important part of human culture. Throughout history, drag communities have existed in nearly all corners of the globe.

Drag, simply, is adopting the appearance and behavior associated with a different gender, often for performance, entertainment, or self-expression. This typically involves exaggerated costumes, makeup, and personas that highlight and play with gender norms and stereotypes.

Mentions of drag date back to the most ancient myths in diverse world cultures. Much of the classic drama you studied in school wouldn’t exist without drag artists, from the ancient Greek plays to Shakespeare’s. Outside the western canon of art and entertainment, too, drag has been essential to countless traditions, from kabuki to Chinese opera—the list goes on.

That’s because drag is a part of us.

It’s natural. And today, it’s more popular than ever.

When many people think of drag, they think of drag queens. But any subversion of gender through self-presentation is a form of drag. As our definitions of gender identity become more expansive, so too do our ideas about drag. In the past, drag relied primarily on subverting gender binaries. As we realize that gender binaries are more imagined than real, drag artists today can dream up entire new worlds of self-expression.

ATTACKS ON THE DRAG COMMUNITY ⊲ Drag has become increasingly mainstream, in part because of the interLetters 74 JULY 19, 2024

national reality TV franchise created by RuPaul. But not everyone is a fan. In fact, today, the drag community faces more attacks than ever.

As we realize that gender binaries are more imagined than real, drag artists today can dream up entire new worlds of self-expression.

In particular, various states across the US have proposed or enacted laws that specifically target drag performances.

These laws often categorize drag shows as adult entertainment, restricting where and when they can take place. Some laws even aim to ban drag performances in public spaces, which can severely limit the visibility and accessibility of drag culture—and ultimately takes money out of the pockets of artists who need it.

Fueling legislative attempts to restrict the rights of drag artists are an increasing number of anti-drag demonstrations in recent years. The Institute for Strategic Dialogue reported more than 200 instances of anti-drag mobilization in the US between June 2022 and May 2023.

THE POWER OF DRAG ⊲ Drag has a long history of being intertwined with LGBTQ+ activism. From the Stonewall riots, where drag queens and other members of the LGBTQ+ community fought back against police raids, to contemporary Pride parades and protests, drag performers have often been at the forefront of the fight for LGBTQ+ rights.

Many drag performers use their platforms to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and social justice. Through performances, public appearances, and social media, they can raise awareness about issues such as discrimination, violence against LGBTQ+ individuals, and the need for equality.

In societies where rigid gender norms are enforced and LGBTQ+ identities are

marginalized, drag can serve as a form of cultural resistance. By boldly expressing themselves in ways that defy societal expectations, drag performers resist cultural hegemony and assert their right to exist and be visible.

And in any society, drag can foster a sense of community and solidarity among marginalized groups. Drag shows and events often create safe spaces where individuals can express themselves freely and connect with others who share similar experiences and struggles.

WHAT YOU CAN DO ⊲ The easiest way to support drag artists is with dollars and cents! Show up to gigs. Tip well— even if the artists aren’t as polished as some of your favorite celebrities with decades of experience and millions of dollars. True grassroots support is putting money directly into someone’s hand.

One of the other most essential ways you can create change is through activism at the local and federal level.

To stay on top of all anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, including bills targeting the drag community, visit aclu.org/legislative-attacks-on-lgbtq-rights-2024.

Even if you don’t currently reside in an area with anti-LGBTQ+ bills on the docket, you can still create conversations with your networks, or lobby at the national level to create change. After all, the LGBTQ+ community at large still does not have equal rights and protection under the law.

Drag is more popular and powerful than ever—but we need to protect our rights to self-expression and the incredible potential drag has to create change.

Whether you’re writing to state senators or tipping extra at your local drag bunch, do what you can to keep this essential human art alive and thriving. ▼ Stephen Raskauskas is a Sussex County native who has produced content for radio, TV, digital, and print.

JULY 19, 2024

75 Letters

CAMPshots

SCENES FROM REHOBOTH BEACH

Pride Month in RB! CAMP Rehoboth Pride in the Courtyard, Rainbow Crosswalk Dedication, On the Road Again with the CAMP Rehoboth Chorus, Margarita Crawl, Pride Film Festival and More!

THIS PAGE (left to right) 1 ) at Pride in the CAMP

Rehoboth Courtyard: PJ Reid, Lynne Reid, Derrick Johnson, Mary Beth Ramsey, Judy Rolfe, Sondra Arkin, Chad Stover, Mike Ryan, Bruce Clayton, Jon Kaplan, Murray Archibald, Michael Beigay, Tony Burns, Kerry Hallet, Matty Brown, Chris Rouchard, Jasmine McCoy-Hadnot, Carlos Rojas, Darrion Sprueill.

OPPOSITE PAGE 2) at Pride in the CAMP Rehoboth

Courtyard: Debbie Woods, Leslie Sinclair, Gray Bailey, Basil Gilroy, Andrew Douglas, Mark Eubanks, Doug Sellers, Jim Mease, Rick Buske, Shawn McHugh, Barb Ralph, Jim King; 3) at CAMP Rehoboth Chorus Summer Concert: Vicki Gordy-Stith, Doug Yetter, Gwendolyn Miller, David Scuccimarra, David Streit, Alicia Mickenberg, Leroy David, Toni Barrett, Sherri McGee, Kris Aulenbach.

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77 Letters

SCENES FROM REHOBOTH BEACH

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(Continued from page77) THIS PAGE (left to right) 1) at Rehoboth Beach Margarita Crawl: Rusty Mize, Craig Steenberg, David Hernandez, Joe Marra (Summer House), Al Torres, Steve Schaeffer (Sunny Bay Café), Mit Patel, Jordan Macronan (Dos Locos), Grace Buffington, Alan Ix (Claws), Chris Chandler, Adam Marcinidyi (Purple Parrot), Mylinda Henkle, Dick Byrne, Barbara Moyer (Mariachi), Jaclynn Strack, Sabrina Johnson (Rehoboth Ale House), Chris Coppla, William Bowling, Chris Berg, Joe Sterner, Terry Kistler, RB Commissioner Edward Chrzanowski (Sirocco), Jen Cranberry, Adrienne Hawes, Angela Egge, Erika Gerace (Freddie’s Beach Bar).

OPPOSITE PAGE: 2 at Rehoboth Beach Margarita Crawl: Jim Betts, Sam Sweeney, Mike Venanzi, Scott Collins (Above the Dunes), Tom Johnson, Jill Shull (Blackwall Hitch), Cliff Santini, Ray Marchin, Richard Ambrose (Aqua), Chris Hare, Kelly Barber, Randy Haney (Blue Moon), Tom Young, Matthew Merrill (DiFebo’s); 3) at Peninsula Gallery: Sydney McGinley, Jacalyn Beam, Greg Mack, Gail Mack; 4) at RB Rainbow Crosswalk Dedication: RB City Manager Taylour Tedder, Murray Archibald, RB Commissioner Patrick Gossett, RB Commissioner Bunky Markert, RB Mayor Stan Mills, RB Commissioner Tim Bennett, Wes Combs, Kim Leisey, Dick Bryne, Leslie Ledogar, Carol Bresler, Carolyn Billinghurst, Peter Pizzolongo, DE State Senator Russ Huxtable, Jerry Filbin, Joe Gfaller, Kathy McGuinness, Dana Paskins.

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79 Letters

Celebrity Profile

BY CHRIS AZZOPARDI

Machine Dazzle

Transforming Our Collective Garbage into Queer Joy

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he dildo sitting upright on the tabletop next to me looks like if it attacked me, I wouldn’t stand a chance. I don’t necessarily feel like I have to keep an eye on it, but I also can’t help it—it’s just that big. Later, it appears smaller and less aggressive, even artfully elegant; that’s because this time, it is inside a giant coiled vessel hanging from the ceiling of an evolving installation at the Irving Stenn Jr. Family Gallery inside the University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA).

But when I initially came face to head with it, it was still in Machine Dazzle’s modest-sized studio. That’s where I met with the New York-based artist, internationally lauded for his special ability to maximize his resources for conceptual purposes, turning the most random objects into stunningly wearable sculptures. “More is more,” he told Artnet News in 2020.

As he sits among an assortment of everyday household items he’s picked out of trash recovered from the Huron River and waste management facilities in Michigan, it’s impossible to imagine how all these materials will be incorporated into his ambitious project, titled Ouroboros, described in press materials as “a maximalist wonderland inspired by the ancient symbol of a snake consuming its own tail.”

“What do you think that black thing is?” Machine asks me, pointing to the opposite side of the room. I try but fail to identify the distorted and reshaped black plastic—once flimsy flowerpots, he tells me. Some of this trash Machine has handpicked straight from local bodies of water and recycling and garbage bins; some of it has come from dorms and residences on the U-M campus.

The plastic pieces on the floor, walls, and tables in his studio haven’t coalesced just yet except inside the expansive universe of Machine’s mind. It’s anyone’s guess at this point exactly how he will work all of this stuff into his first major museum commission and debut Letters 80 JULY 19, 2024

“You inspire us all to be bigger, better versions of ourselves, and see the fabulous in everything.”

Photo by Neil Kagerer

exhibition in the Midwest, a project that began with site visits in October 2022 and made its museum debut in March.

Like us, Ouroboros was always intended to change and grow over time, through three phases, the last occurring during Pride Month in June. So, how exactly will all of this be assembled into something meaningful?

On the day of our interview, just a couple of weeks before the initial installation, Machine shares his surprisingly relatable vision with me before the big base structure even enters the 1,200-square-foot Irving Stenn space.

He explains how Ouroboros, if you’re looking at it with a degree of existential dread, is really a physical representation of a renewal process that reshapes some kind of current state. What a coffee container can be. What a Kirkland olive oil bottle might be morphed into. What our country could become. And the part we play in all of this.

“I mean, this is plastic,” he continues.

“And so if you are a human and you’re alive, you’re participating in this never-ending cycle; it’s inevitable. I was just inspired by the objects. I started melting them or cutting them up or doing something, transforming them. Once it’s in the

sculpture, it’s like I have to make all of the objects and then I have to put them all together. It’s a whole process.” The past is the plastic and the present is Ouroboros itself; the future is also Ouroboros.

If you think of the trash as humankind, which Machine does (“The garbage is us,” he says), then you could think of Ouroboros as a pioneering pursuit that broadens horizons to the uncharted realms of possibility. “Humankind is forever changing the earth’s surface and everything about it.”

At 51, Machine has gone through enough of his own life cycles to be at least somewhat pessimistic about the future.

As a kid, he transformed his own dislike for other young people into self-produced isolation. Born Matthew Flower in 1972 in rural Pennsylvania, he transformed his name too, at least for the stage. Before moving to New York City in the late 1990s and joining the group The Dazzle Dancers as a drag performer and costume designer, he always had a fascination for objects, going all the way back to his formative years growing up in Texas. At six, he felt “not like the other boys,” and preferred looking for rocks and leaves by himself versus engaging with his peers.

Continued on page 110

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JULY 19, 2024 Letters 5/6/248111:56 AM

A Prom to Make You Smile

BY NANCY SAKADUSKI

From Bitter to Sweet

C

“The show depicts living in queerness in two different ways.

You have Emma, who is more established in her queerness….

And then you have Alyssa, who is still in the closet….”

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lear Space Theatre Managing Director Joe Gfaller (the “G” is silent) says one of their summer musicals, The Prom, has an important and beautiful message, “but it’s not like going to a play that tastes like Brussels sprouts.” (Not that there’s anything wrong with Brussels sprouts, he hastens to add.) “I think people will be really pleasantly surprised by how much fun they have at this show.”

So, let’s start with the bitter. The show is based on an incident in 2010.

Constance McMillen, a senior at Itawamba Agricultural High School in Fulton, Mississippi, wanted to put on a tuxedo and take her girlfriend to their senior prom. The school board jumped in and banned her from attending. After McMillen challenged the board’s decision, they cancelled the prom altogether.

McMillen and the ACLU sued her school district, and a federal court found the district guilty of violating McMillen’s First Amendment rights. The board eventually

allowed McMillen to attend the prom, but only seven students showed up. A group of parents quietly organized a separate prom for the other students, making sure to keep the location secret.

Now for the sweet: The Prom was inspired by that ugly conflict, but the characters are fictional, and the story is more complex (and fun), involving four eccentric Broadway stars in desperate need of a new stage. They hear about the trouble at a small-town prom and make it their mission to shine a spotlight on the issue (and themselves). The result is a big, brassy, musical comedy that delights young and old.

The couple at the heart of the story, Emma and Alyssa, are played at Clear Space Theatre by Julia Sturla and Tiffany Beckford, two young but exceptionally talented and experienced actors who adeptly transport the audience from heartbreak to joy.

These are not stock characters. As Tiffany explains, “The show depicts living in queerness in two different ways.

You have Emma, who is more established in her queerness and knows and is more comfortable with who she is and in expressing that. And then you have Alyssa, who is still in the closet and is learning how to go about that and how to express who she is.”

Julia says of her character, Emma, “She’s very comfortable with herself, but it’s everybody else that has an issue with her.” As she developed the role, Julia understood her responsibility. “You have to honor her as a person. She’s not just a character.”

The people surrounding these two display a range of attitudes, prejudices, and emotions. Although some express hatred, Julia says, “Something that’s so beautiful about the show, is that the character that Scott [Taylor-Cole] plays, named Trent, brings awareness to all these young people by showing them [how to] love thy neighbor.” Tiffany says the show fosters empathy by “putting yourself in the shoes of these characters who are dealing with these terrible things.”

“It will make you smile, and it will make you leave with a full heart.”

The Prom was chosen as part of Clear Space’s commitment to providing diverse programming. “It’s critical for us to be that big tent,” says Gfaller, “and to serve the entire region in thoughtful ways.” He points to culturally specific stories such as recent shows A Raisin in the Sun and The Bodyguard, as well as casting choices such as including a same-sex couple in Estella Scrooge and having an interracial couple as the leads in The Prom. “We’re always working to create a level of representation around programming,” he says, “regardless of what the text might require. That’s a very conscious choice we’re making to ensure we’re being consistently inclusive across all parts of our community.”

Clear Space also provides opportunities for actors of all ages. “What’s lovely about The Prom,” says Gfaller, “is that there are a number of young people from our arts institute who are part of the ensemble for the production.

So, in addition to the professional cast, we’re able to bring these really talented pre-professional young people into the show.” He notes that it also provides authenticity when you have young characters played by age-appropriate actors.

Julia was 10 when she started at Clear Space. “My first show was Xanadu [she still remembers her one line].

“Now I’m almost 21, and all these kids.…

They’re so professional. They’re so good at what they do. They’re extremely talented and extremely hard working….

They carry themselves as professionals.”

It’s only Tiffany’s second summer at Clear Space. “It’s great, but it’s tough at first because the schedule, especially if you’re working all three shows in the summer, is crazy.” Those actors spend 12.5 hours a day, six days a week, in the theater.

Gfaller is proud of the direction Clear Space is taking. “For me, coming into the role as recently as I have (in the last six months), I really see Clear Space as continuing to evolve to become a regional anchor for the best quality and the best diversity of live theater for not just coastal Delaware, but for Delmarva and the Mid-Atlantic.” Recent packed houses and enthusiastic audiences suggest the goal is attainable.

Tiffany says that she doesn’t want The Prom to just be the season’s “gay show.” “I think it’s a show for everyone.

You don’t need to identify as queer to enjoy it. It can benefit anyone who comes to see it, whether you be younger or older, straight or queer. Whatever you’re going through, there’s something in it for everyone, because while the main journey with Emma and Alyssa is to be together…it’s a show for everyone to see and enjoy.”

Julia adds, “It’s a very warm, loving show that accepts all, even people who were the issue to begin with, who were the bullies—it accepts them in the end and that’s a big deal…. It can open people’s eyes to something that they’ve never experienced and can cause them to empathize with another human being.”

“The story is very important, and it’s done in such a beautiful way,” says Tiffany. “While there are also lighthearted, funny, silly moments in between, I feel like you get a full platter of every experience.… It will make you smile, and it will make you leave with a full heart.”

The Prom runs from July 3-August 27 at Clear Space Theatre on Baltimore Avenue in Rehoboth. For more information or to buy tickets, go to: clearspacetheatre.org/shows/theprom/.

Nancy Sakaduski is an award-winning writer and editor who owns Cat & Mouse Press in Lewes, Delaware.

Photos: opposite page, Tiffany Beckford (Alyssa) and Julia Sturla (Emma) sing “Dance with You.” This page, left: Tiffany Beckford (Alyssa); above: Julia Sturla (Emma) and Tiffany Beckford (Alyssa) in the foreground dance with the ensemble during the number “You Happened.”

Photos by Deny Howeth.

JULY 19, 2024

83 Letters

One Sunday with Morrie

BY FAY JACOBS

Can We Talk?

A Chat with Production Stage Manager James (Fitz) Fitzsimmons and Theatre Legend Len Cariou

A

n award-winning actor, known for his original starring performance in Sweeney Todd and A Little Night Music, plus his current role on TV’s Blue Bloods, is coming to town.

Not only will the treasured actor Len Cariou be here, production stage manager James Fitzsimmons, a Lewes resident when he’s not backstage on Broadway, has convinced the famed actor and the acclaimed actors in the play Tuesdays with Morrie to come to Rehoboth as well.

FJ: I saw that production and loved it.

FAY JACOBS: Well, this is fabulous, Fitz.

…the play Tuesdays with Morrie [comes] to Rehoboth…

How did you get involved in this show?

JAMES FITZSIMMONS: For me, Tuesdays with Morrie has been a joyful surprise.

Len called me asking to recommend someone to stage manage and I was not working so I thought, “Well, why not me?!” The New York City space was a stunning Gilded Age Chapel in Gramercy Park and it couldn’t get better with Len, Chris Domig, the other leading actor, and our director, Erwin Mass.

To be in that room watching Len work—he’s just brilliant. I’ve been fortunate to do three plays with him at varying points of my career. The whole journey with this show fed my soul. It’s such a simple, beautiful production about two people in need of each other at this time of their lives.

FJ: Okay, but bringing the production to Rehoboth for two performances? How’d you do it?

FITZ: I asked Chris and Len if they’d consider coming to Rehoboth to do a benefit performance for the Rebecca Luker Theatrical Partnership, which I founded. Rebecca Luker was a wonderful Broadway leading lady who passed away from the disease ALS, as does the character of Morrie in the play.

The actors are both so wonderfully kind that they said yes. But also, Len had been here before, over 20 years ago when we did Ancestral Voices for the Henlopen Theatre project.

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What was it like for you working with Len again on this production?

FITZ: Len is a legend, so he doesn’t suffer fools easily—but he’s also got a brilliant, ribald sense of humor. He’s so giving onstage and off. He and his wife, Heather, are kind, funny, and fun loving… and have great taste in wine to boot!

Why don’t you talk to him and welcome him back to Rehoboth?

[That’s all I had to hear! So, I called Len at his New Jerey home for a chat.]

FJ: Hello, Len—Mr. Cariou. I’m a huge

fan and so happy you will be coming to Rehoboth with the show. Can you tell me what the experience of doing Tuesdays with Morrie Off-Broadway in New York has been like for you?

LEN CARIOU: It’s been amazing. We had a lengthy rehearsal period because we lost our original venue. Chris and I have a great relationship. We connected and worked so well together. It’s an intense experience doing a two-person play.

When Mitch Albom, the author of the original book came to see us, he told us it was the closest to the real events—the real thing—that he’d ever seen. That was very moving.

FJ: What’s it like dying on stage every night?

LEN: It’s great because you get to come back!

FJ: Lots of people know you from Blue Bloods on television. How do you feel now that Blue Bloods will be ending?

LEN: Oh, I just finished filming my last performance last night. I’m going to miss the actors and the writers very much. It was a unique show, with an extraordinary fan base. I’m going to miss it very much.

FJ: I know this is at least your second

trip to Rehoboth. I saw you in the early 2000s in Ancestral Voices with the Henlopen Theatre project.

LEN: Well, that was a while ago! How about that. I’m certainly looking forward to being back for this show.

FJ: Before I go, because I’m such a fan girl, I have to ask you what it was like working on Sweeney Todd with Angela Lansbury?

LEN: Oh…working with Angie was just wonderful. We got along like a house on fire! We were friends until the end.

FJ: Thanks for sharing that…and I cannot wait to see you in Tuesdays with Morrie.

Thanks so much for chatting about it.

LEN: You are most welcome. See you soon at the show!

FJ: (to Fitz) You were right—he’s a delight to talk to. I’m so excited about seeing the show. What’s your feeling about the upcoming event.?

FITZ: Chris and his wife, Janelle—who run Sea Dog Theatre Company—are just as kind and giving and earnest…. I think that lack of cynicism was the hardest part for my jaded self to accept. In this industry you can forget that there are people who still do this for all the right reasons…. Hence why I think it’s so important to come to Rehoboth. To honor Rebecca, but also to have so many people experience what I got to enjoy.

I’m the lucky one…as will be everyone who gets to see this show!! ▼ Tuesdays with Morrie will be at Clear Space Theatre Company in Rehoboth on July 28 at 2:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Fay Jacobs is the author of six published books and tours with her one-woman sit-down comedy show, Aging Gracelessly.

JULY 19, 2024

85 Letters

arts+entertainment

By LESLIE SINCLAIR

SPOTLIGHT ON THE

arts

CAMP Rehoboth Puts Art at the Heart of Our Community Making the Cut Through July 31, 2024

IMAGES

Above: Blanche Lazzell

by Mark Harris Left: Another Point of View

by Bill Evaul Above right: A Brisk Sail

by Fred Dylla

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y the time you read this, the reception for Making the Cut will have already occurred, but there is still time to see the exhibition featuring this unique art form before it closes on July 31.

The Delaware White-line Woodcut Guild, a group of local artists, has revived the white-line woodcut technique—a unique marriage of woodcarving and watercolors.

In white-line woodcut, artists carve an entire image on a single woodblock, then, unlike other forms of woodcuts, separate each part of the image with carved lines of varying widths. They then paint each section and press the paper onto the block to transfer the image. The block can be reused to create different versions of the print depending on colors, paper choice, nuanced application of paint, and the degree of pressure during the transfer.

Lewes artist and Guild founder Fred Dylla learned the white-line woodcut techniques from Bill Evaul, a Provincetown artist who resurrected interest in this art form via workshops and exhibits across the Northeast over the past 40 years. Fred, in turn, taught all the members of the Guild through his classes at the Rehoboth Art League and Lewes Public Library, with new members joining each year.

Both Dylla and Evaul have works on display, along with a variety of pieces by other Guild members. In Blanche Lazzell, Mark Harris demonstrates how one woodblock can be used to create four different works with variations.

These works pay tribute to Lazzell, an American modernist printmaker and a member of the pioneering woodblock print society known as the Provincetown Printers. She was known for her devotion to the technique and the influence of abstraction and Cubism in her work. ▼

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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arts+entertainment Award Winners XXIV

August 3 to September 9, 2024 | Reception: August 8, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

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AMP Rehoboth is honored to once again be selected as the Sussex County venue for a show featuring the work of the 2024 Delaware Division of the Arts Award Winners.

In 2024, the Division received work samples from 149 Delaware choreographers, composers, musicians, writers, and folk, media, and visual artists. The work samples were reviewed by out-ofstate arts professionals who considered the demonstrated creativity and skill in each artist’s respective art form. Seventeen artists were awarded fellowships.

Lori Crawford, an established artist

in the interdisciplinary field of visual arts, channels her emotions creatively, particularly concerning climate change.

Crawford’s works incorporate two art forms—photography and painting— viewed as diptychs with photographs overlaying acrylic paintings, revealing that climate concerns can no longer be ignored or denied.

Victor Letonoff, an established professional in creative nonfiction, resides in Lewes. Letonoff’s route to nonfiction took a different path. Starting out as a sculptor and blacksmith, he later became a police officer. Surprisingly, he found that his career as a police officer

was a great precursor to his writing.

Says Letonoff, “I approach my writing as I once did sculpture, cleaning it up, cleaning it up, cleaning it up, until I can see the final form.”

Julieta Zavala, an emerging artist in folk art, uses unconventional materials to create garments that combine her cultural roots and social trends. Born and raised in Mexico City before moving to Delaware, Zavala is known for her imaginative and creative approach to design and is dedicated to using unconventional and sustainable materials to create one-of-a-kind pieces that reflect the artistic side of fashion.

She notes that “Creativity, imagination, and perspective are my most essential skills in my design process.”

The August 8 reception will provide a chance to meet the artists and congratulate them on their achievements.

There will be an opportunity to view the visual arts and enjoy performances and readings by the literary winners. ▼ Exhibitions can be viewed at the CAMP Rehoboth Gallery, Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Stop by between 9:00 and 10:00 a.m. to beat the meters!

Leslie Sinclair is a member of the Delaware State Arts Council and a passionate leader of CAMP Rehoboth’s visual arts programs.

IMAGES

Left: A Maryland Pier at Sunset by Lori Crawford Above: Market Dress by Julieta Zavala JULY 19, 2024

87 Letters

arts+entertainment

BY TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER

BOOKED SOLID On Bette Midler: An Opinionated Guide by Kevin Winkler c.2024, Oxford University Press $29.99, 232 pages Superb.

That word’s appropriate in this situation. Fantastic, that’s another. Transcendent or celestial, if you’re of that mind, or perhaps anointed. There are many adjectives you can use for a performer who transports you, one who sings to your soul.

Sensational, breathtaking, outstanding, or—as in the new book On Bette Midler by Kevin Winkler—another, better word may be more suitable.

Born in Hawaii a few months after the end of World War II, Bette Midler was named after film star Bette Davis. It was a perhaps auspicious start: despite a minor disparity (Midler’s mother thought the movie star’s first name was pronounced “Bet”), young Midler seemed at a young age to want to follow in her almost-namesake’s footsteps. By age 11, she’d won accolades and prizes for her performances and she “yearned to be a serious actor....” As soon as she could, she headed for New York to seize her career.

Alas, her “unconventional” looks didn’t help win the roles she wanted. But she was undeterred. Unafraid of small venues and smaller gigs, she “just blossomed” in New York City. Eventually, she landed at the Improv on 44th Street; the owner there helped her negotiate some minor work. Another man became her manager and secured a job for her at the

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Cool It! Welcome to the Dog Days Seasons in The Sun

Local Heroes RB Candidate Forum (We Could Be) Heroes I N G

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ainment That’s Entert for Play A Passion Tradition Taking Dance for a Twirl

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Continental, a New York bath house strictly for gay men.

She was hired for eight summer nights, Friday and Saturdays only, for fifty bucks a night.

Almost immediately, her authenticity, her raunchy language, and her ability to relate to her audience made her beloved in the gay community. Midler’s tenure at the Continental expanded and, though legend points to a longer time, she worked at the bath house for just over two years before moving on and up, to television, recording studios, movies, and into fans’ hearts. Still, asks Winkler, “Did it really matter what stage she was on? She touched audiences wherever she performed.”

In his earliest words—and, in fact, in his subtitle—author Kevin Winkler reminds readers that On Bette Midler is a book that’s “highly opinionated, filled with personal contemplations….” He is, in other words, a super-fan, but that status doesn’t mar this book: Winkler restrains his love of his subject, and he doesn’t gush. Whew.

That will be a relief to readers who wish to relish in their own fervor, although you’ll be glad for Winkler’s comprehensive timeline and his wide, wide look at Midler’s career.

Those things come after a long and fascinating biography that starts in 1970, takes us back to 1945, and then pulls us forward through movies, television appearances, stage performances, and songs you might remember—with appearances from Barbra Streisand, Barry Manilow, and Cher. It’s a fun trip, part confidential, part charming, part nostalgic, and very affectionate.

Despite that this is a “personal” book, it’s great for readers who weren’t around during Midler’s earliest career. If you were and you’re a fan, reading it is like communing with someone who appreciates Midler like you do. Find On Bette Midler. You’ll find it divine. ▼

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August 9, 2019 Volume 29, Number 11 camprehoboth.com

Advertising in Letters from CAMP Rehoboth pays off.

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Letters 88 JULY 19, 2024

ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE LEGALLY BLONDE: The Musical

PLAYING NOW THROUGH AUGUST 4

BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE MUSICAL

Kennedy Center Bus Tour August 7 - 3:30PM

SAIL ON

The Beach Boys Tribute

August 14 - 7:30PM

With a burst of humor, a touch of glamour, and a whole lot of girl power... this musical extravaganza will have you singing, dancing, and laughing

in pink!

DISNEY DRAG DIVAS Hosted by Magnolia Applebottom

August 16 - 8PM

PIANO ROCK THROUGH THE AGES

With Josh Christina & The Revivals

August 21 - 7:30PM

MORE EVENTS

JULY 25 - AL FRANTIC BAND: Quayside@Nite JULY 26 - LION KING JR: Children’s Summer Camp Shows AUG 1 - CHRISTINE HAVRILLA DUO: Quayside@Nite AUG 2 - MATILDA JR: CHildren’s Summer Camp Shows AUG 8 - LOWER CASE BLUES: Quayside@Nite AUG 8 - JANGLEBACHS: Woodstock Tribute AUG 9 - END OF SUMMER LAUGHTER: Stand-Up Comedy AUG 10 - SEPARATE WAYS: Tribute To Journey AUG 11 - KNOW RETURN: Tribute To Kansas

AUG 15 - CHARLIE & THE COOLTONES: Quayisde@Nite AUG 15 - AMISH OUTLAWS AUG 17 - BEGINNINGS: A Celebration Of The Music Of Chicago AUG 18 - JOHNNY FOLSOM 4 - Johnny Cash Tribute AUG 22 - MAMA’S BLACK SHEEP: Quayside@Nite AUG 22 - GET POISON’D - Tribute To Poison AUG 23 - FLYING IVORIES: Dueling Pianos AUG 24 & 25 - WHO’S BAD - Michael Jackson Tribute AUG 28 - MAMMA MIA!: Kennedy Center Bus Trip

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

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302.684.3038 | 110 Union St. Milton, DE

JULY 19, 2024

89 Letters

The Sea Salt Table

BY ED CASTELLI

Preserved Peach Cobbler

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t’s raining at the beach. Now what?

Head to a local farmers market!

They’re overflowing with fresh produce and much, much more.

We often explore inland when the weather isn’t great. And we always leave time to stop at farmers markets.

Sometimes we even make them our main destination.

We’re lucky in southern Delaware because the resorts are minutes from the quiet, rural areas of the state. Head west and you’re quickly on two-lane country roads, surrounded by lush farmlands. Many of these farms have brick-and-mortar stands or supply their neighboring stores.

Both at home and at the beach, we love farm stands and markets. They’re the ultimate in the “shop local, shop small” movement. And they’re just plain happy places, where folks congregate and friends catch up.

You’ll find lovingly made baked goods like cinnamon rolls and pot pies. And locally preserved bounty like canned peaches and tomato sauces. Now is the time to stockpile for next winter, when you know you’ll be jonesing for the flavors of summer.

Some of our favorite haunts include The Brush Factory on Kings, Bennett Orchards, and Parsons Farms Produce.

You can shop entire meals from meats, cheeses, eggs, and veggies to desserts.

I encourage you to patronize these stores all year long for events like pickyour-own bushels, flower arranging clinics, harvest festivals (including pumpkin towers!), and Christmas open houses.

And don’t miss our quintessential stop, Story Hill Farm in Frankford. Their setting is nothing short of idyllic, with a lane that winds you through some of their pollinator meadows and heritage livestock. Then, the clouds part and the sun shines on their gorgeous farm house.

But it’s the specialty store that draws you in. It’s country glam at its best with Letters 90

JULY 19, 2024

STEPS

 Place a stick of unsalted butter in a glass 8x8 baking pan. Set the pan in your oven and preheat to 350°.

 Gently mix the following in a medium bowl • 1 cup flour • 1 cup sugar • 1 cup milk • 2 tsp baking powder • ½ tsp salt

When the butter is melted,

remove the pan from the oven. Pour the batter over the butter, but do NOT mix the two together.

Top the batter with 2 cups of

canned, sliced peaches that have been well drained. Sprinkle with cinnamon to taste.

Bake for 40 minutes or until

You can shop entire meals from meats, cheeses, eggs, and veggies to desserts. everything from local wares to upscale gifts. Even a feed and seed section.

And trust me, we’ve tried it all. Flavored coffees, broccoli quiche, fig jam, spiced pretzels, scented candles, and one of my favs, fennel & thyme salt. I even sport one of their comfy t-shirts. And check out the super cute trucker hats.

This month, in honor of our southern Delaware farms, I’m highlighting my Canned Peach Cobbler. Like a dump cake, this recipe is easy. But it doesn’t involve a box mix full of too much sugar and ingredients you can’t pronounce.

Let’s get started, shall we?

nicely browned. Serve warm or at room temperature, by itself or topped with whipped cream, or alongside ice cream.

TIPS • Bake this a little on the long side because this cake is notoriously moist.

• Swap in other preserved fruit as desired. My husband loves this with canned pears.

• You can also add a small amount of raisins, cranberries, or fresh blueberries. ▼ 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.

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91 Letters

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JULY 19, 2024

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93 Letters

Celebrity Interview

BY MICHAEL COOK

Dannii Minogue

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annii Minogue might be known as dance floor queen and an LGBTQ icon, but on the revolutionary new Hulu show I Kissed a Boy, Minogue is serving as Cupid as well. Meeting with just one kiss might seem like a challenge, but Minogue is on hand to help the boys navigate the process—and learn a bit about themselves along the way.

MICHAEL COOK: Reality television has

dating shows galore but I Kissed a Boy stands out on its own. What made you want to be a part of it?

DANNII MINOGUE: This show has already made history—it is the first ever gay dating show for the UK and it is now being seen around the world. I love this show because it has heartwarming stories from boys looking for love from all over the UK. This is not your cookie-cutter reality casting; we see a broad selection of boys from different

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backgrounds, and it is refreshing to see different body shapes celebrated.

MC: I Kissed a Boy showcases so many deep and personal stories, from discussion on body image and dating in the gay world. What is something that surprised you the most about some of the stories you heard?

DM: From religious and cultural backgrounds that do not accept gays, to inner-homophobia, to hometowns that have no gay scene—there are so many stories that floored me, as they are real and said with such honesty. I also loved seeing the boys give each other confidence to celebrate themselves. It was an incredible experience seeing all the boys together, and how they can talk so openly about anything when they feel safe and uninhibited, with no pressure to explain themselves to anyone.

MC: We just celebrated Pride Month, and you are part of something that is going to be considered landmark television—what makes you most proud about being part of it?

DM: I am so proud that the show is both entertaining and educational. It will serve as a great education for anyone watching and it helps prompt incredible conversations that may not have come up otherwise. I know I have had many conversations with my gay friends since we have watched the series, and those conversations wouldn’t have happened without this. The show is so special as so many people finally feel seen, without anything being sensationalized.

MC: You are truly what many would consider a gay icon; what does getting that kind of love and recognition from the LGBTQ community mean?

DM: It is an absolute honor to hear that!

I love how I have been accepted and supported by the community for so many years. From my first performance at G.A.Y. in London, way back in the day—I was the first artist to ever perform there—and I treasure the history I have with the community from Australia to the UK, and now in America.

DANNI MINOGUE’S PRIDE PLAYLIST Jessie Ware: “Free Yourself” Chappell Roan: “Red Wine Supernova” Loreen: “Tattoo” Ariana Grande: “yes, and?”

Ditonellapiaga: “Disco (I Love It)” RuPaul: “Supermodel (You Better Work)” Tegan and Sara: “Closer” Bananarama: “Venus” Sophie Ellis Bextor: “Murder On The Dancefloor” Madonna: “Hung Up” Adam Lambert/Sigala: “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)” Cher: “Believe” Perrie: “Forget About Us” Agnes: “Selfmade” Kylie Minogue: “Padam Padam” ABBA: “Dancing Queen” I Kissed a Boy is streaming on Hulu Follow Dannii Minogue on Instagram: instagram.com/ danniiminogue/?hl=en##

6 Wilmington Avenue Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 302 227 2999 rehobothbeachview.com

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photo: Tanalee Youngblood

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SeaboardHospitality.com MC: What was the one moment in your

Amazing things happen when you know, feel, and say out loud that you are ready for love.

career when you realized you had crossed over into gay icon territory?

DM: I don’t remember a moment and I still am floored if anyone says I am! I have just loved doing things big and small, for and with the LGBTQIA+ community.

MC: You were the official Cupid of sorts on I Kissed a Boy; what are some dating words to live by that you can share with the boys out there reading this?

DM: Be yourself—come as you are with an open heart and wear it on your sleeve.

Amazing things happen when you know, feel, and say out loud that you are ready for love.

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 of Hulu.

JULY 19, 2024

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2024.01 - Letters.pdf 1 1/23/2024 11:39:52 AM

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97 Letters

Historical Headliners

BY ANN APTAKER

Tinseltown Twosome: Janet Gaynor and Adrian

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here are all forms of love in our diverse community.

Generally, relationships have been defined as same-sex unions, though with today’s expanding definitions of gender, the traditionally identified unions of female/ female and male/male are becoming only two of many types of romantic units.

What’s not usually expected in the LGBTQ+ spectrum is a pairing of a cisgendered male and a cisgendered female living what appear to be heteronormative lives. But those outward appearances can be illusory, and who knows better how to create illusions than the practitioners of illusion who live and work in Tinseltown—better known as Hollywood?

Which brings us to a remarkable couple, the celebrated costume and fashion designer Adrian and his Academy Award winning actress wife, Janet Gaynor. While Adrian’s homosexuality was well known among the Hollywood set, Gaynor’s lesbianism/bisexuality was merely whispered about.

It was somewhat easier for Adrian to act openly on his sexual and romantic desires for men (or at least as openly as the 1920s and 30s would tolerate) than it was for Gaynor. In fact, Adrian’s homosexuality was almost expected, since so many men in the fashion and costume design industries were gay. Adrian fell in with the gay male fashion and theatrical costume design crowd as a student when he transferred from the New York School for Fine and Applied Arts (now Parsons School of Design) to the school’s Paris branch in 1920. Paris afforded him not only introduction to the latest developments in modern art and design, but gay highlife in all its flamboyance.

It was also in Paris that Adrian’s talent blossomed, and he was hired by Irving Berlin to create the costumes for Berlin’s Music Box Review. The assignment brought Adrian back to the US, where he soon found success creating costumes for various Broadway shows.

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Hollywood noticed. In 1924, Adrian was hired by box-office heartthrob Rudolph Valentino and his wife, the exotic Natasha Rambova, to create costumes for their film The Hooded Falcon. He went on to create gowns for some of Hollywood’s greatest stars, including Greta Garbo, Katherine Hepburn, Jean Harlow, and Joan Crawford. His most famous

His most famous design, however, is a pair of shoes which have achieved the status of legend: Judy Garland’s ruby slippers in 1939’s The Wizard of Oz. design, however, is a pair of shoes which have achieved the status of legend: Judy Garland’s ruby slippers in 1939’s The Wizard of Oz. Meanwhile, he was very much the Gay Man About Town, often seen in the company of attractive young men.

And what of Janet Gaynor? She began her film career in 1924 as an extra in silent films and shorts, but in 1926 she was cast in a supporting role in Fox Studio’s feature film The Johnstown Flood.

By 1927, Gaynor had become a major star, appearing in hit films 7th Heaven,

Street Angel, and Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans. In 1929, Gaynor became the first recipient of the newly-established Academy Award, winning three Best Actress statuettes for those 1927 films.

In 1937, Gaynor won her next Academy Award for what many consider her most famous role: Esther Blodgett/Vicki Lester in the original A Star is Born.

As one of Hollywood’s important female stars, it was imperative that Gaynor maintain the acceptable image of a glamorous woman romantically involved with men. The reality was somewhat different. She was part of Hollywood’s underground lesbian/bisexual circuit, with affairs whispered about with actresses Margaret Lindsay and Mary Martin.

But the pressure to maintain the hetero image led Gaynor into what were then called lavender marriages: meaning a gay male and lesbian female marry for convenience. The first marriage was to script writer and assistant director Jesse Lydell Peck. They divorced in 1932. It was not long after that Gaynor met Adrian.

They were married in 1939 and remained married until Adrian’s death of a sudden heart attack in 1959.

The longevity of their union implies something more than mere convenience.

Though both partners continued their same sex affairs, the couple seemed to genuinely care for each other. When interviewed by journalists, they always appeared at ease with each other and insisted they were happily married. The marriage produced a son, Robin Gaynor Adrian.

These days, we like to think that we are the generation expanding LGBTQ+ definitions. If Tinseltown’s past royalty could still talk, maybe they’d say: “Been there, done that.” ▼ Ann Aptaker is the author of short stories and the Lambda & three-time Goldie award winning Cantor Gold series. Her latest book, A Crime of Secrets, was released in July 2023.

JULY 19, 2024

99 Letters

Q Puzzle Pride Month Meme

Solution on Page 116 ACROSS 1 Woolf wrote about one of her own 5 Show Boat bundle 9 The Seven-Year Itch costar with Monroe 14 Enchanted Disney girl 15 Singer Dobkin 16 Man’s man 17 Food thickening agent 18 Blow to the buttocks 19 Lesbos and Man 20 Start of a Pride Month meme 23 Skye of Say Anything 24 Eagles on the wing 28 Testicular?

31 Having no play 33 Bay ___ (San Francisco and environs) 34 Periodical boners 36 More of the meme 38 Neighbor of Isr. 39 Word before Creed or Council 41 Jack of Flower Drum Song 42 More of the meme 45 Sober partner 47 Defender of rts.

48 Noisy fireworks 50 “Heeeere’s Johnny!” announcer 53 Out and then some 54 Suffix in scandal names 55 End of the meme

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60 Madras title 62 Ward of Once and Again 63 Slightly 64 Poetry muse 65 Crude cartel 66 “Here it is!”

67 You may have it when you eat fruits 68 One on Bernstein’s staff?

69 Command to a canine DOWN 1 Paper amount 2 Poet Broumas 3 Big name in oil 4 Tennis great Navratilova 5 Place to wash up 6 Having the candles, roses, and wine in place, e.g.

7 Neeson of Kinsey 8 Tee Corinne’s image 9 Madonna title role 10 Item for 3 men in a tub 11 Wing for Julia Morgan 12 Writer Harper 13 Some O.C.S. grads 21 Singer/songwriter Axton 22 Part of “NIMBY” 25 Rubber for your mistakes 26 Get ready to shoot off again 27 Hangouts for Natalie Barney 28 Bear market order 29 Family diagram

30 Crystal balls, e.g.

32 Nuts and bolts 35 Not digital 37 Fruit juice of the Greek gods 40 How the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus may sing 43 Ewe said it!

44 Crane of Sleepy Hollow 46 Gay rodeo ropes 48 Rosa Bonheur’s mixing board 49 Wipe out 50 1956 Heston role 51 Bewitched aunt 52 Taj ___ 56 Tow job 57 Colorado, to Cocteau 58 Frida Kahlo’s zip 59 World War II turning point 61 Suffix that changes Juan’s gender

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101 Letters

Deep Inside Hollywood Kristen Stewart to Star in Sally Ride Biopic

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risten Stewart is the kind of movie star who can turn chameleon character actor anytime she chooses. She’s played real-life people as unalike as Princess Diana, Jean Seberg, and Joan Jett, and next she’ll take on the role of pioneering astronaut Sally Ride in The Challenger for her first TV series starring role. From screenwriter and show runner Maggie Cohn (Narcos: Mexico), it’s the story of the first American woman—and first queer person—to fly on the space shuttle in 1983. Tragedy struck the Challenger three years later, though, when it exploded on its ascent, and Ride became part of the presidential commission to investigate the disaster, eventually identifying the structural flaws of the craft, earning her legacy as a real American hero. Kyra Sedgwick’s production company is behind the project, and it looks like it will eventually wind up at Amazon.

In the world of famous-person biopics, Stewart’s turning into not only the go-to choice, but the rare actor who can get her chosen projects the green light needed to build lasting art.▼

Kate Winslet Reteams with Todd Haynes for Trust

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he last time Kate Winslet and acclaimed May December filmmaker Todd Haynes worked together, they brought 2011’s expansive, stunning, longform Mildred Pierce to HBO. Now they’ll collaborate again on Trust, a limited series based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning 2023 novel from Hernan Diaz. Set in the 1920s, a man builds a huge fortune on Wall Street and loses his wife in the process. Years later, he finds himself desperate to maintain the secrets he’s accumulated in the face of a biographer out to reveal them all. Seemingly tailor-made for Haynes’ brand of storytelling, the narrative weaves together various competing perspectives and versions of the truth. So far, Winslet is the only cast member attached (she’s also a producer) but Haynes’ projects always attract top-tier talent. More news to come on this one. ▼

Romeo San Vicente can’t get you out of his head.

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BY ROMEO SAN VICENTE

Broadway Beckons Dolly, Netflix Courts Kylie

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ho never slows down?

Dolly Parton, that’s who.

Not content to disrupt the boxed cake mix industry and reintroduce vintage banana flavor to American palates, she’s finally taking her turn on Broadway by producing her own bio-musical, for which she’ll write songs and co-write the book. It’s coming in 2026, it’s called Hello, I’m Dolly (clever…) and will star someone who can simultaneously remind you of and make you forget its creator. Who that will be is currently a mystery. Stay tuned. And while you’re waiting, word is that Netflix is getting into business with global pop princess Kylie Minogue for a documentary about her life. No real details on this one yet, but it seems that the queer fan favorite, after decades of cult status in the United States, is poised to become more recognizable than ever before. Longtime fans are already hyperventilating. ▼

Queer Casting Call: Colman Domingo, Kate McKinnon, and Murray Bartlett

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e love it when queer performers are cast as heterosexuals, and that seems to be what’s happening with recent role assignments for Colman Domingo, Kate McKinnon and Murray Bartlett. Domingo—Oscar-nominated for Rustin—has taken a part in the upcoming limited series remake of the 1981 comedy film The Four Seasons, about straight couples who vacation together. The original starred Carol Burnett and Alan Alda. This one has Tina Fey and Steve Carell. Will Domingo be part of a queer or lessthan-queer couple? No one’s talking yet. Meanwhile Kate McKinnon has joined Andy Samberg, Olivia Colman, and Benedict Cumberbatch for The Roses, a reimagining of the 1989 black comedy The War of The Roses, another one about battling straight lovers. And Emmy winner Murray Bartlett (White Lotus) will play husband to Amy Adams in At the Sea, a new drama from Kornel Mundruczó and Kata Wéber (Pieces of a Woman). All three projects are currently in production, with no release dates yet. Anticipation! ▼

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SCENES FROM REHOBOTH BEACH

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(Continued from page 79) THIS PAGE (left to right) 1) at Diego’s: Magnolia Applebottom, Chuck Watson, Jared Brooks, Judi Brooks, Joe Zuber, Darryl Ciarlante, Cathy Picard, Catherine DeVillada, Paul Gibbs, Dale Aultman, Aual Patel, John Bator, Attala Young, Mary Young, Drew Felz, John Rivard, Dan Ferrucci; 2) Queering Rehoboth Beach Discussion at CAMP Rehoboth: Fay Jacobs, Murray Archibald, Joyce Felton, Kim Leisey, James Sears.

OPPOSITE PAGE 3) at CAMP Rehoboth Women’s Golf League at American Classic: Susan Shollenberger, Cheryl Landry, Jackie Sullivan, Lisa Mosley, Carolyn Cole, Sherri Richman, Barbara Lewis, Nan Mantino, Joanie Murphy, Beave, Renate Costner; 4) Beebe Bash Fundraiser for Beebe Healthcare Medical Foundation: Allan Doonan, Jim Stefanello, Patrick Carroll, Bonnie Mann, Melissa Clink, Tracy Rossetto, Curt Leciejewski, Candy Ramelli, Donnie Ramelli, Tom Protack, Eli Lynn, Kim Lynn, Doug Lynn, George Toma, Sean Flanigan, Melissa Stamper; 5) at Theo’s Restaurant: Kent Swarts, Filip Gorecki, Chris Hughes, Matt McGregor, Gina McGregor.

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(Continued from page 105) THIS PAGE (left to right) 1) at Poodle Beach: Jeff DeCesar, Stephanie Curson, Alex Thomloudis, Todd Fritzer, Chris Terrone, Michael Caventy, Kevin Bray, Brian Mendoza, David Gonce, Tony Zacchei, Jacob Anthony, Michael Siletta: 2) Clear Space Theatre’s Tony Pary at The Pines: Jayson Tobias, Tiffany Beckford, Quinn Gomoa, Will Coffey, Caetano de Sa, Megan Nehrbas, David Button, Sandra Skidmore, Dianne Shawley, David Gifford, Chris Hughes, Kent Swarts, Fran O’Brien. 3) at RB Museum Diorama Reception: Alex Papajohn, RB Commissioner Edward Chrzanowski, Cindy Lovett, Tony Burns; 4) at DE State Senator Sarah McBride Reception: Wes Combs, DE State Senator Sarah McBride, Joe Steiner, David Briton.

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OPPOSITE PAGE: 5) at Pride Film Festival at the Cinema Art Theater: Mauricio Pita, Jim Fall, Christopher Cunetto, Kathy Solano, Kim Leisey, Jerry Hofer, Paul Nye, Jim Madgey, Maggie Ottato, Ted Bywalski; 6) at RB Museum Those Who Led the Way Panel Discussion: Cindy Lovett, DE State Representative Stell Parker Selby, Marge Lafond, Heidi Nasstrong Evans, Robert Thompson; 7) at Blue Moon: Dan Foskey, Glenn Fornoff, Juan Perez, Wander Figueror; 8) at Gallery 50: Marcia Reed, David Pickrell; 9) at Aqua: Lawrence Firson, Jacqui Francis, Charlie Jones, Aqjab Ari Bruton-Barrett, Ah Bashir, Moe Elkhatib, Gary Seiden, Vince Kellit, Franklin Greener, Troy Hendrickson, Keir Llewellyn, Richard Cahill, Chris Cahill.▼

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107 Letters

FROM STONEWALL TO SUSSEX

BY JAMES SEARS

Navigating the Arc of Justice

W

e have just celebrated both the Stonewall Rebellion and also our nation’s founding through a kaleidoscopic set of events. But should we not be preparing?

Since Donald Trump descended into American politics, hate crimes have increased by 24 percent. These attacks have targeted family planning clinics, queer bars, drag queen story hours, and trans and gender non-conforming people as well as religious groups, especially those of the Jewish faith. These attackers, like those of January 6, were fed from a MAGA menu of falsehoods, fears, and fantasies.

Policing the body politic is well underway. Between 2022 and 2024, at least 750 bills aimed at the LGBTQ+ community were introduced in 35 states.

State legislatures also have dusted off century-old abortion laws, the Republican Congress has endorsed a national abortion ban, and the Supreme Court is rapidly moving us along its dystopian road to perdition.

As we navigate this bleak terrain, what are our moral responsibilities? How might queer history inform our actions?

Stonewall radicals’ message, “Out of the Closets, Into the Streets,” sparked Gay Liberation Fronts in 36 states that transformed public awareness—and generated conservative backlash—nationwide and in Rehoboth. The effectiveness of direct action coupled with conventional tactics became apparent.

Mainstream national organizations painted a mural of humanity on the interminable wall of heterodoxy distancing degeneracy from decency. As in other civil rights struggles, in this brief but critical moment, radicals had roused assimilationists, intensifying the struggle.

Today, there is a legislative revival of the Save Our Children campaign of the 1970s—in substance and spirit. Then, anti-discrimination laws fell like dominos.

Dumbfounded by this retrogression but not dispirited, 70s queer activists were galvanized. The rejection of California’s

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Proposition 6 crippled this anti-sexualist momentum; three weeks later Harvey Milk was assassinated. More queers were mobilized; the White Night riots ensued. The next year, at least 75,000 people marched on Washington.

During the first decades of AIDS, sexual minority and HIV groups proliferated in response to the abject failure of the government. During this age of madness and malaise, the situation required direct action. A new iteration of queer radicalism emerged when the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP) confronted those deemed complicit.

Hannah Arendt famously observed that one can do evil without being evil.

Meanwhile, Rehoboth’s gay leaders launched Sundance, entering the public square with respect for those holding different views and a willingness to engage in earnest dialogue. Over time, local attitudes gradually changed—as did those in the nation. For activists, it appeared that the “arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”

Historically, violence has often been a factor in this bending when our moral universe and notions of justice become bifurcated. Unitarian minister Theodore Parker had originally penned an earlier version of this quotation in his 1853 sermon published seven years before the onset of America’s first Civil War. During this era of brother fighting brother and communities divided, blood-stained battlefields were our only common ground.

Bending occurs most fully when those divided by deeply held convictions enter the public square with mutual respect, a willingness to listen, and an openness to new information and understanding. This was the legacy of CAMP Rehoboth.

A generation later, the public

square—along with a shared moral universe and notion of justice—has shrunk.

Many judges, legislators, and governors vigorously pursue the Christian Nationalist agenda to bend back this arc, returning us to the era of backroom abortions, state-defined heterosexual marriage, anti-miscegenation laws, internment camps, and a deregulated state. This is apparent from the Supreme Court decisions of this term. Now, a phalanx of self-anointed vigilantes for Christ are poised to unsheathe their swords of righteousness to institute Project 2025 on Day One of Trump’s second term.

Hannah Arendt famously observed that one can do evil without being evil.

We do evil by acting justly as individuals yet benefiting from social injustice. We do evil by ignoring our slow-boil into fascism. We do evil by clinging to an illusion of normalcy. Perhaps, the Day One dictatorship promised by Trump will be forestalled by his loss in this fall’s elections. Perhaps, a Biden victory will not result in a repeat of January 6—or worse. Perhaps our moral universe will bend more toward justice. Perhaps not.

Following this year’s Stonewall and Fourth of July events it is time for preparation. We should collaborate with other groups in the battle for hearts and minds in rural Delaware—as our forebearers did in Rehoboth. Yet, we can also prepare for direct action, as was done during the eras of Stonewall and the AIDS crisis. Using conventional tactics and employing direct action, we can bend the arc of justice. ▼ Dr. James Sears is an historian and educator.

His latest book, Queering Rehoboth Beach, has recently been published by Temple University Press.

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Celebrity Profile Continued from page 80

“I grew up in pretty conservative places, and my parents were fairly conservative and from a very small town, and they didn’t know what to do with me,” he recalls. “But they knew. My father admitted to me after my mother died, ‘I knew you were gay since you were two years old.’ But I think he was probably afraid to encourage it based on maybe his own homophobia.”

Possibilities began to emerge for Machine on family visits to a whole generation’s ultimate hangout: the mall.

Growing up, there wasn’t a community of TikTok creators to help him on his path to self-discovery. No computers, even. And definitely no cell phones.

“Here we are at JCPenney, here we are at Sears, and I was aware of fashion,” he says. “I had instincts that I couldn’t act on because we didn’t have the money, and my parents were not comfortable buying certain things for me. I would always just be like, ‘Wow, that’s what I want to do. I want to do my hair like that, or I would love to wear that.’”

Weeks after Machine tells me about his suppressed past, I’m watching him, someone who finally did do his hair “like that” (and then some), onstage during the opening day of Ouroboros, as he speaks at the Michigan Theater for his Penny Stamps Speaker Series talk. In delightful socks, a glittery headdress resembling that of a Vegas showgirl, and a silver-painted dress made from a tarp, his manifestation of self is as spectacularly alive and defiant as what I see during the unveiling of the installation inside the Irving Stenn Jr. Family Gallery just hours later.

“I definitely have a lot of suppressed anger,” he tells me in his studio. “And what I’m trying to do is transform it into queer joy. That manifests in costume, music, and sculpture. I’m turning it into something else because there’s nothing I can really do. I can vote. But I’m only one person.”

During the public viewing of the first phase of Ouroboros in March, the UMMA deputy director of public experience and learning, Jim Leija, gave opening remarks that reflected on just how long the idea of bringing Machine’s work to the museum had been percolating. Back Letters 110

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“You inspire us all to be bigger, better versions of ourselves, and see the fabulous in everything.” in 2016, Leija said, he met Machine across campus in the basement of the Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre, where Machine was making what Leija described as “a human-sized macrame bikini type thing,” an experience he, as an onlooker, said was “wild, wonderful, and joyful.”

That garment was being made for performing artist Taylor Mac’s Pulitzer Prize-nominated A 24-Decade History of Popular Music.

Said Leija, “I never forgot that week of watching Machine work and his incredible spirit, creativity, and craftsmanship, and his amazing, mischievous sense of humor.

Being able to do this project together has truly been such a special privilege and a dream come true. To be in Machine’s universe is to be in a universe governed by endless possibilities.” Looking at Machine that night, he added, “You inspire us all to be bigger, better versions of ourselves, and see the fabulous in everything.”

Somehow, seeing everyday garbage morphed into sculpture is weirdly reassuring in a way that is life-affirming.

It tells me that nearly everything we are looking at now, be it the instant coffee

container on Machine’s studio floor or the bans on gender-affirming healthcare for trans youth that seem never-ending in our modern era, is ephemeral. The effects on kids and climate change may be horrifying in this moment and in the future too, but even political and social change has similar malleable properties as a Sprite bottle that now looks like a gorgeous piece of blown glass.

With Ouroboros, there’s hope in all of Machine’s dazzle—that the past may be the past, but something old can always be made into something new. ▼ Chris Azzopardi is the Editorial Director of Pride Source Media Group and Q Syndicate, the national LGBTQ+ wire service. He has interviewed a multitude of superstars, including Cher, Meryl Streep, Mariah Carey, and Beyoncé. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, Vanity Fair, GQ, and Billboard. Reach him via Twitter @ chrisazzopardi.

Photo above: Ouroboros.

Photo credit:Christopher Ankney

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111 Letters

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JULY 19, 2024

WE REMEMBER Mark Pavusik

M

ark Pavusik, 72, of Lewes, passed peacefully at home on June 6, 2024, surrounded by his husband and family, after a long battle with cancer.

Mark was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Joseph and Virginia Pavusik, who preceded him in death.

Mark graduated from Cumberland Valley High School in 1970. He was an apprentice union carpenter after graduation.

He then worked doing what he loved best—selling cars. Mark worked at Sutliff Chevrolet in Harrisburg and was their top salesperson. A skilled entrepreneur, Mark then opened his own car lot, P & S

Motors in Newberrytown, Pennsylvania.

Then, he opened a car lot in Steelton, Pennsylvania, Heritage Motors, which he owned for many years. After moving to the Lewes/Rehoboth area, Mark worked at Lewes Auto Mall.

He loved camping with his husband and his family. He also loved canoeing and cooking. Mark’s memory will continue to bring comfort to those who knew and loved him.

Mark is survived by his husband of 10 years, Donald Krzyzkowski. He is survived also by his son, Michael Westwick (Stephanie) of Virginia, and his granddaughter, Kennedy; his brother, Steve Pavusik (Candy) of Duncannon,

Joie Rake

J

oie H. Rake, 84, of Palm Harbor, Florida, formerly of Rehoboth Beach, passed away peacefully on May 28, 2024, with her beloved wife, Nan Flesher, by her side.

Joie worked as a nurse in a variety of medical settings, including York Hospital and White Rose Hospice, both in Pennsylvania.

Her empathy and compassion made her a valued employee.

After retiring in 2005, she and Nan moved to Delaware to be closer to the beach. Both Joie and Nan were frequent and enthusiastic volunteers for CAMP Rehoboth. Joie was one of the original members of CAMP Rehoboth’s Volunteers on Vacation crew, and she continued to volunteer after it became the CAMP Rehoboth Outreach Program (CROP). She also volunteered in the CAMP office and for the annual Broadwalk on the Boardwalk. In 2017, Joie and Nan moved to Florida to spend more time with Joie’s daughters.

Joie loved animals and volunteered for several animal rescue organizations in both Delaware and Florida. Her adventurous spirit was evident in her travels and hobbies, especially photography. The love of everything Disney, especially Mickey Mouse, resulted in over 50 visits to Disney World. She left a positive impact on the people she knew and will be greatly missed.

She is survived by her wife, Nan Flesher, and two daughters, Karen Macauley of St. Petersburg, Florida, and Susan McNutt of Pinellas Park, Florida. In addition, she has three grandchildren: Cody McNutt and Tyler McNutt of Newark, Delaware, and Kelli Macauley of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Celebration of Life services were held in Palm Harbor, Florida, on June 8, and York, Pennsylvania, on June 20. Joie and her family would appreciate any memorial donations being made to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary (bestfriends.org) or a local animal sanctuary. ▼

Pennsylvania; his sisters, Irene Pomeroy (late husband Harry), Becky Ash (LeRoy), and Kathleen Sanderson (Larry); and many extended family and friends. He will be very much missed by his two beloved dogs, Miko and Kody.

A Celebration of Life was held June 22 in Lewes; an additional Celebration of Life was held June 29 in Steelton, Pennsylvania.

Memorial contributions can be made to Delaware Hospice, delawarehospice. org/donate; or Tunnell Cancer Center, beebehealthcare.org/donate.

Visit Mark’s Life Memorial webpage at parsellfuneralhomes.com. ▼

Terry Gorlich

T

erry L. (Harvath) Gorlich passed away peacefully Tuesday, June 11, 2024, at her home in Milton. She was born in Dover to Frank Harvath and Fay (Cole) Harvath and raised in Smyrna. She attended John Bassett Moore High School, graduating in 1968. She continued her education at Delaware State College.

Terry dedicated her career to public service, working for the State of Delaware for over 40 years in various positions and departments, including the Budget Office, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, and the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT). Her roles culminated in serving as the assistant chief of Fiscal and Policy Analysis, and later as the Director of Public Relations and legislative liaison for DelDOT. In these roles, she worked directly with the public and state legislators to understand and address their concerns.

After retiring, Terry moved to Sussex County to be closer to the beach, where she enjoyed gardening, cars, pets, and the wonderful off-season Rehoboth Beach specials.

Most importantly, she cherished spending time with her children and grandchildren. She was a cherished mother and grandmother.

Terry is survived by her two sons, Jason Gorlich and Andrew Gorlich; as well as her four grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life was held June 20. Online condolences may be shared with the family at shortfuneralservicesandcremation.com.

Donations in Terry’s memory may be made to Children and Families First, cffde.org; Humane Animal Partners, humaneanimalpartners.org; or CAMP Rehoboth, camprehoboth.org. ▼

JULY 19, 2024

113 Letters

WE REMEMBER Susan Clare Isaacs

S

usan “Sue” Clare Isaacs, 79, of Summerfield, Florida, and formerly of Rehoboth Beach, passed away peacefully the morning of Friday, June 14, 2024, at her home.

She was born in Milford, daughter of Lawrence P. Isaacs and Vivian Shute Lombardo of Lincoln. She graduated from Milford High School in 1963.

Following her high school graduation, Sue worked in Maryland in the medical field for several years, which inspired her to attend Howard University in Washington, DC. She graduated as valedictorian with a Bachelor of Science degree and became one of the first physician assistants in the area. She ended her 35-year medical career in the Rehoboth Beach area in a private practice.

Joining the bone marrow donor registry and being a successful match, Sue became a cherished member of the Baxter family in Texas. Debbie, the recipient

of Sue’s bone marrow, lived for 22 years following the procedure. Sue and Debbie walked Debbie‘s daughter, Devon, down the aisle on her wedding day.

Sue loved traveling, golfing, painting, and volunteering. Broadway shows, the beach, hiking and biking on the many trails in the area, and star gazing were among her favorite activities. She also treasured the joy and happiness her many dogs gave her over the years and loved spending time with her extended family and friends.

A special achievement for Sue was earning her private pilot’s license and flying friends and family over Sussex County. Having grown up on a farm with her sisters and a lot of her cousins, she maintained deep family connections.

Family get-togethers were always very large gatherings and fun times.

A few years ago, Sue joined family members in presenting a land donation

Harvey Grider

H

arvey C. Grider, 71, of Rehoboth Beach, formerly of Washington, DC, died Monday, May 27, 2024, at Cooper University Hospital, Camden, New Jersey.

Harvey was born September 11, 1952, in Ivyland, Pennsylvania.

He received his Bachelor of Science degree with honors from Temple University.

Harvey worked for the chief administrative officer in one of the support offices at the House of Representatives as a resource coordinator in Washington DC. For the last 10 years, Harvey volunteered three to five days a week with Meals on Wheels. He would make holidays special for the families by delivering an extra treat.

As a youth, Harvey played the violin. He was an avid Phillies and Eagles fan but had a special passion for the Washington Commanders (formerly, the Redskins). Harvey was a history buff and enjoyed trivia. He loved to travel, but most of all, Harvey cherished his friendships and spending time together.

He was the son of the late Harry B. and Mary E. Grider Sr., and brother of the late Harry B. Grider Jr. Survivors include his loving cousins and many loyal, close, and caring friends.

Services were held June 8 in Media, Pennsylvania, with interment at Mt. Hope Cemetery. Condolences can be shared at msbfh.com.

Memorial donations may be made in Harvey’s name to Meals on Wheels Lewes-Rehoboth, 32409 Lewes Georgetown Highway, Lewes, Delaware 19958. ▼ Letters 114

JULY 19, 2024

to Abbott’s Mill Nature Center of Delaware, near the Isaacs’ farmland. It is a legacy she was very proud of, as it represented her love of nature’s beauty and its wildlife and helped to protect both.

Sue is dearly missed by her partner, Cathy Luchetta. She is survived also by her sister, Kay I. (James) Greene of Lincoln; her nephew, Ben Tebbens, and her nephew-in-law, Kevin Twilley, and their families; and many friends.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her sister, Beth Isaacs, and her niece, Bonnie Tebbens Twilley.

A celebration of Sue’s life will take place at 2:00 p.m., Friday, September 27, at Milford Community Cemetery, Milford. For condolences, visit rogersfhmilford.com.

Donations can be given to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, 5001 Angel Canyon Road, Kanab, Utah 84741. ▼

Richard Snell

R

ichard Russell Snell, 78, of Rehoboth Beach, passed away peacefully in his sleep, at home, on Friday, June 7, 2024.

He was born at Jamaica Hospital, Jamaica, New York, May 7, 1946, to Virginia (Cinquemani) Snell and David Harrison Snell.

Richard was preceded in death by his partner of over 54 years, Stephen Janosik.

He graduated from New Hyde Park Memorial High School.

Richard was drafted into the US Army and served for two years. After leaving the Army, he attended Long Island University, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in business.

Richard’s career path started with working for George F. Stummer Bakery in Brooklyn. He furthered his education and worked on his master’s in business at night. Richard then received a job with Davis Polk & Wardwell as a purchasing manager and worked there for 25 years.

After retiring, he moved to Rehoboth Beach. Richard dabbled in real estate and then worked for Lowe’s.

He is survived by David Snell of Mount Airy, Maryland, Wayne Snell of Port Jefferson Station, New York, and Virginia Snell Turner of Pinellas, Florida; his beloved dog, Willie; and his current partner, Brian Townes.

He will be greatly missed.

Visit Richard’s Life Memorial webpage at parsellfuneralhomes.com. ▼

WE REMEMBER Kenneth John Johnson

K

enneth John Johnson, 84, of Rehoboth Beach, formerly of Wilmington, died peacefully at home Monday, May 27, 2024. He was born January 4, 1940, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, son of Edward Henry Johnson and Kathryn M. (Johnston) Johnson.

Ken attended Franklin & Marshall College, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in English literature. He was also president of his fraternity, Delta Sigma Phi. One of Ken’s proudest achievements was successfully challenging the national organization’s policy on minority membership. Ken furthered his education at Wesley Theological Seminary, where he became an ordained Methodist deacon, and at Howard University School of Social Work, where he graduated with the highest distinction.

In 1968, Ken married Marjorie Crooks; their daughter, Cara Michelle, was born in 1971 in Wilmington.

Ken worked at Wilmington Child Guidance Center (later known as Delaware Guidance Services) from 1971 till 1993, also maintaining a small private practice.

From 1993-98, he continued his private practice full-time. In 1998, Ken returned to

Delaware Guidance, which had opened a new clinic in Rehoboth Beach.

In 2003, Ken attempted to retire, but soon after, he was seeing private clients and facilitating support groups for cancer survivors. Initially asked to temporarily fill the role of Minister of Caring at Epworth United Methodist Church, Ken served in that role for seven years.

Ken was passionate about the arts. He studied piano for 12 years and continued to play piano through much of his life.

Equally important was his love of theater; he appeared in countless high school and college productions. He loved Broadway shows and going to movies and film festivals. Ken was a voracious reader with eclectic tastes. Words fascinated him, and he was sure to complete a crossword puzzle daily, along with playing Wordle, Quordle, and Connections daily.

Ken’s love of dogs was unconditional.

Throughout the years, he found true companionship from Spunky, Milo, Chloe, and his faithful companion of 15 years, Dudley.

Ken took great pride in his gardens; he was so grateful for the friends who took care of his gardens when he was no longer able to do so. Ken also enjoyed

cooking and hosting dinners; he was especially known for his Christmas fudge.

Of all of life’s gifts, Ken treasured friendships the most. He wanted to express special gratitude to Pat Loughlin, Linda and Howie Gregory, Beth Nevill and Karen Kreiser, Gail Stenger, Tom Popovich, Fred Gentry, Freida Morgan, and Jon Worthington for always being there.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents; his sister-in-law, Nancy Johnson; and many cherished friends who enriched his life, notably Helen Mullarkey, Tom Daughtry, and Mark Palmer.

He is survived by his daughter, Cara J. Stanard (Scott) of Wilmington; his grandsons, Gregory of Los Angeles, California, and Benjamin of Wilmington; his brother, Edward T. Johnson of Vero Beach, Florida; his former wife, Marjorie C. Johnson of Wilmington; and his nieces and nephew.

Memorial donations may be made to one of Ken’s favorite nonprofits: The Wilmington Children’s Chorus, wilmingtonchildrenschorus.org; or Miriam’s Table, miriamstable.org.

At Ken’s request, there will be no funeral service. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. ▼

of Oceania, and Southeast Asia. Jim volunteered to serve a tour of duty in Vietnam, where he was part of the Air Force Intelligence Team. Jim continued his career with the Air Force Intelligence Team upon return to the States, working in the Office of the Inspector General and then the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Jim left the Air Force when he met his life partner and spouse, John Young. After a brief period as a legal administrator, he spent the remainder of his career in leadership positions within the commercial real estate industry in Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.

In 1980, Jim and John purchased and renovated a historic farm in Colesville, Maryland, where they were considered legendary hosts for numerous charitable

events—their annual Halloween balls are still talked about today. In 2000, Jim joined the Rehoboth Beach community and became an active member of Epworth United Methodist Church, where he was especially passionate about and involved in the youth ministries. Jim enjoyed cooking, gardening, and national and international travel with his spouse and their dear friends.

Jim is survived by his husband, John Young; sister, Laura Oswald; niece, Laura Matthews (nee Oswald, husband James, and great-niece Darian); sister-in-law, Theresa Corbin (nee Young, husband Andre, and nephew Samuel); as well as numerous friends and extended family.

A memorial service was held June 6.

Jim’s virtual guestbook may be signed at parsellfuneralhomes.com. ▼

James E. Jasch

J

ames E. Jasch, known as Jim to everyone who knew him for longer than 10 minutes, passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of Wednesday, May 29, 2024.

Jim was born on October 9, 1946, to Laura F. Jasch (nee Curran) and Bruno G. Jasch in Philadelphia. He attended Saint Joseph’s University, where he served many years as student body president/ leader, graduating with a degree in English literature. While in college during the turbulent ‘60s, Jim was an active member and leader of Saint Joseph’s ROTC Program.

Upon graduation, Jim joined the Air Force as a captain. As an Air Force squadron commander, he embarked upon a military career that would take him to all 50 states, Europe, the continent

JULY 19, 2024

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camprehoboth.com/volunteers to register as a volunteer and to sign up for available opportunities.

THANK YOU

ACCESSIBILITY

Hope Vella

CAMP REHOBOTH CHORUS - USHERS

Logan Farro Jane Knaus Lois Powell Leslie Sinclair Patricia Stiles Debbie Woods

Kris Aulenbach Deb Bricker Yvonne Cipressi Bob Croker Lisa Cummings Cheri Garnet Peg Hughes Bonnie Kirkland Leslie Ledogar Kathleen Lehmann Sherri McGee Valerie McNickol Lori Rocheleau Carol Scileppi

CAMP ADMIN

CAMPCIERGES

ADVOCACY TEAM

Daniel Bruner David Garrett Leslie Ledogar Sherri McGee ARTS TEAM

Sherri McGee CAMP DATABASE

Sondra Arkin

CAMP LIBRARY

Glenn Lash

CAMP MAINTENANCE

Carol Brice Eric Korpon

Joe Benshetler Barbara Breault Ken Currier Adam Emel-Firestone Jim Mease Kim Nelson Pamela Rule Mitchell Shahade Patricia Stiles Russell Stiles Joe Vescio

CAMPSAFE CONDOM STUFFING PARTY

Max Dick Richard Dietz Mark Eubanks Richard Gamble Claire Ippoliti Paul Lindsey Jim Mease Shawn McHugh Marce McCollumMartin Doug Sellers Dave Walker

CHORUS LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE

Bill Fuchs Dianna Johnston Carolyn Laurenzo Judy Olsen Gloria Richards Dave Scuccimarra Travis Stevens CROP AT NATIONAL TRAILS DAY

Dick Hospital E.J. Kenyon Sharon Morgan Joe Vescio

Cathy Brown Yvonne Cipressi Tara Evans Jill Masterman Marce McCollumMartin Tammy Mundie Cara Radosevich Holly West

CAMPSHOTS PHOTO VOLUNTEERS

DELAWARE PRIDE FESTIVAL

CAMPSAFE HIV TESTING AND COUNSELING

G Michael Beigay Tony Burns

Jim King Mark Vilandry

to all the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center Volunteers for the period: June 1-July 5, 2024

DEVELOPMENT TEAM

Jane Blue Pat Catanzariti Wes Combs Mike DeFlavia Amanda Mahony Albanese

DOGFISH HEAD MILTON BREWERY TOURS

Debbie Cali Rachel Summers

LETTERS DISTRIBUTION TEAM

Glenn Lash Jim Mease

LETTERS MAILING TEAM

Nancy Hewish Grant Kingswell Vicki Martina Stephen Palmer Linda Yingst

PRIDE FILM FESTIVAL

Lillian Berenberg Meredith Brumbaugh Lissa Dulany Susan Goudy PRIDE IN THE COURTYARD

Bruce Clayton Mark Eubanks Jim King Jim Mease Barb Ralph Doug Sellers

VOICES FROM STONEWALL

G Michael Beigay Bruce Clayton Marce McCollumMartin Kim Nelson Barb Ralph Larry Rosen Lori Simmons VOLUNTEER DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

RAINBOW THUMB CLUB

Chris Bowers Carol Brice Linda DeFeo Richard Dietz Patty DiModugno Monica Fleishmann Mitchell Shahade Rachel Summers

Madelyn Jablon Marce McCollumMartin Jim Mease Kim Nelson Rina Pellegrini John Michael Sophos Joe Vescio

LETTERS PROOFING

Barb Ralph

JULY 19, 2024

117 Letters

AD INDEX Activ Pest Solutions................................................96 AG Renovations......................................................29 AIDS Walk Delaware 2024.....................................23 All Saints’ Church & St. George’s Chapel...............63 Aqua Bar & Grill......................................................99 Atlantic Jewelry......................................................31 Beebe Healthcare..................................................39 Beebe Medical Foundation....................................35 Brandywine Urology Consultants...........................11 Café Azafrán...........................................................63 CAMP Rehoboth Annual Sponsors...........................6 CAMP Rehoboth Block Party Save The Date..........17 CAMP Rehoboth Development /Charitable Distribution.......................................................... 100 CAMP Rehoboth Development Ways To Give..........7 CAMP Rehoboth Letters Subscription................. 117 CAMP Rehoboth Membership................................20 CAMP Rehoboth Membership Sign Up..................21 CAMP Rehoboth SUNFESTIVAL....................... 16, 17 Campaign for Marty Rendon..................................53 CAMPsafe...............................................................34 Caroline Huff, Artist................................................25 Chris Beagle Group, Realtors.................................29 Claire For Delaware...............................................57 Clear Space Theatre...............................................85 Coastal Concerts......................................................9 Coho’s Market & Grill..............................................57 Collins Podiatry......................................................47

Letters 118 MAY 17, 2024

County Bank...........................................................38 Debbie Reed Team, Realty Group..........................47 Delaware Community Foundation...................... 112 Delaware Hospice..................................................81 Delaware Prime Timers..........................................44 Diego’s Bar Nightclub ................................67-73, 75 Dogfish Head.........................................................64 Donna Whiteside, Realtor......................................26 Evergreene Homes at Atlantic East........................65 Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant...................... 119 Gay Women of Rehoboth.......................................41 go fish go brit.........................................................25 Historic Lewes Farmers Market.............................44 Hugh Fuller, Realtor................................................58 Humane Animal Partners Delaware.................... 118 Jack Lingo, Real Estate....................................... 103 Jenn Harpel, Morgan Stanley.................................29 John Black, Realtor................................................93 Jolly Trolley......................................................... 116 Lee Ann Wilkinson Group, Realtors..................... 101 Lori’s Café..............................................................92 Loves Liquors.........................................................47 Maplewood Dental Associates...............................29 MCC of Rehoboth................................................ 111 MCC of Rehoboth, Keyboard Player Wanted.........64 McWillams Ballard Real Estate...............................51 MERR Institute........................................................38 Milton Theatre........................................................89

New Wave Spas......................................................48 Olivia Travel............................................................13 Purple Parrot..........................................................59 PWW Law................................................................81 Randy Mason/Shirley Kalvinsky, Realtors..............91 Rehoboth Art League.............................................41 Rehoboth Beach Bears........................................ 109 Rehoboth Beach Dental.........................................38 Rehoboth Beach Museum Beach Ball....................45 Rehoboth Guest House..........................................49 Rigby’s Bar & Grill...................................................97 Saved Souls Animal Rescue...................................53 Sea Bova Associates, Realtors............................ 120 Seaboard Hospitality..............................................95 State Farm - Jeanine O’Donnell/Eric Blondin.........41 Stuart Kingston Gallery..........................................27 Sussex Family YMCA..............................................92 The Joe Maggio Group, Realtors...........................41 The Lodge at Truitt Homestead..............................96 Troy Roberts, Realtor..............................................25 True Blue Jazz........................................................37 Unfinished Business...............................................63 Village Volunteers..................................................53 Volunteer Opportunities...................................... 117 Volunteer Thank You........................................... 117 Vote Kathy McGuiness...........................................55 Windsor’s Flowers............................................... 116 Zane Jones, Realtor ..............................................48

J

21 ST Y L U

LOVE FEST

HAPPY “HIPPIE” HOUR SPECIALS FUN, GIVEAWAYS AND ICLUSION COSTUME CONTEST, $100 GIFT CARD PRIZE

2PM-8PM

WWW.FREDDIESBEACHBARREHOBOTH.COM JULY 19, 2024

119 Letters

LINDA BOVA

BRIDGET BAUER

BROKER-ABR®

ASSOC. BROKER-REALTOR®

CELL

CELL

302-542-4197

302-245-0577

CAMELOT MEADOWS Rehoboth. Carport. Furnished.

Remodeled 1978 2BR/2BA. 1,150 sq. ft. Shed. Community pool & just 3.5 miles to beach. $159,000 (2065160)

$485/mt. includes water & sewer.

Lot Rent $825/mt.

SILVER VIEW FARM Rehoboth. 2010 3BR/2BA + Fla. room for 1,456 sq. ft.

Shed. Outdoor shower.

Across from the pool & 3 miles to bch. $259,900

REHOBOTH BAY - Rehoboth.

Water viewx of White Oak Creek out to the Bay. 1986 3BR/2BA w/VinylTech porch.

Pool. Marina. 6.5 miles to beach. $209,000 (2064280)

ANGOLA BEACH - Lewes.

Remodeled 1973 4BR/2BA. Water views from front deck.

Shed. Marina/pool community is 10 miles to the beach. $189,900 (2055630) Lot Rent

POT-NETS COVESIDE - Long Neck. Water views of the Bay. Remodeled 1984 3BR/2BA - 1,300 sq. ft. 3 decks & VinylTech porch. So many amenities! $199,900

Lot Rent $819/mt.

$734/mt. includes water & sewer

(2065910) Lot Rent $1,105/mt.

(2061456) Lot Rent $699/mt. includes water & sewer.

T R UIT T’ S MID W A Y – Rehoboth Beach. Remodeled 1972 3BR/2BA. High-end finishes throughout! 4 miles to the beach. $535,000

COLONIAL EAST - Rehoboth Beach. Remodeled 2005 3BR/2BA doublewide. Shed w/elec. Community pool. 4 miles to Rehoboth & Lewes beaches. $150,000 (2052192)

CAMELOT MEADOWS Rehoboth. 1980 2BR/1.5BA with 4-season sunroom for 1,300 sq. ft. Storage shed.

Community pool & just 3.5 miles to beach. $115,000

Lot Rent $903/mt.

SEA AIR - Rehoboth.

1982 3BR/2BA. Parking for 3 vehicles. Porch, patio, shed & outdoor shower.

Community pool & 3 miles to beach. $144,900 (2050802)

Lot Rent $644/mt includes water.

(2063384) Lot Rent $716/mt.

SUSSEX EAST - Lewes.

1994 2BR/2BA doublewide with a den. Needs work. Stone patio & VinylTech porch. Shed.

Indoor community pool & 6 miles to beach. $99,000

CAMELOT MEADOWS - Rehoboth. 2003 3BR/2BA Champion doublewide w/ screened porch. Furnished - Turnkey. Community pool.

4 miles to beach. $169,900

CAMELOT MEADOWS - Rehoboth. 1977 14’x70’ 2BR/1BA w/3-season porch.

Adorable. Furnished. Patio.

Shed. Community pool. 4 miles to beach. $119,000

SHAWN’S HIDEAWAY Millsboro. Remodeled 1973 3BR/1BA. 1,100 sq. ft.

Turnkey. Wrap-around deck.

Shed. Marina community. $137,000 (2059222) Lot Rent

(2062264) Theresa Cappuccino cell 609-515-5820

SUSSEX EAST - Lewes.

1988 2BR/2BA. Split bedroom plan. Enclosed porch + open deck. Shed.

Indoor community pool & 6 miles to beach. $99,900 (2065874) Lot Rent $605/mt.

(2065888) Lot Rent $937/mt.

(2064776) Lot Rent $688/mt.

(2063618) Lot Rent $677/mt.

ANGOLA BEACH - Lewes.

2019 3BR/2BA. Screened porch & open deck. Fenced yard. Community pools, marina.

10 miles to bch. $214,500

(2056218) Lot Rent $784/mt. includes water & sewer.

ANGOLA BEACH - Lewes.

Remodeled 1985 3BR/2BA. Pretty kitchen w/SS & quartz counters. Shed. 10 miles to bch. Marina/pool. $163,000

(2063606) Lot Rent $731/mt.

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

7/9/2024