In Brief

"We had to turn many applicants away due to the lack of available tennis facilities in the local area, so securing more courts will be our primary challenge for 2005," said Rich Williams, Tournament Director for the Rehoboth Beach Open.

Prominent spokesperson for the GLBT community and ten-year professionalbaseball veteran Billy Bean will be playing in the Rehoboth Beach Open Men’s A division at 10:45 a.m. Friday, August 6 (singles) and 2:15 p.m. Saturday, August 7 (doubles) at the tournament’s primary site, Cape Henlopen High School in Lewes, Delaware. Admission is free for spectators. Complete draws and schedules are viewable from the Rehoboth Beach Open website, www.rehobothbeachtennis.org.

Tournament net income will be donated to Sussex County AIDS Council (SCAC), the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center Capital Campaign, the Federation of Gay Games, and Chicago Games Inc., host of Gay Games VII in 2006.

HIV Discrimination Victory Celebrated in Rehoboth Beach
On Friday, August 6, AIDS Action Foundation will host a victory celebration in Rehoboth Beach for gymnast Matthew Cusick who, this spring, settled an HIV discrimination lawsuit for a record $600,000 against his former employer Cirque du Soleil. Cusick’s case against Cirque du Soleil also led the Canadian-based entertainment company to change its hiring policies to include HIV positive people. Proceeds from the event will go to AIDS Action Foundation and Sussex County AIDS Council.

Female Impersonator Christopher Peterson will provide entertainment during Matt Cusick’s Victory Celebration. Peterson’s program, entitled the Eyecon’s 2004 Show, is a "one man, many women" trompe d’oeil. Cleverly changing costumes between characters on stage, Peterson uses his own highly-trained voice to belt out ballads, standards, and song parodies at perfect pitch and in total character. Among Peterson’s characters are Barbra Streisand, Eartha Kitt, Judy Garland, Liza Minelli, and Tina Turner.

The benefit will take place in the Swan Ballroom of the Atlantic Sands Hotel, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware on Friday, August, 6, 2004. The event will begin at 9:30 p.m. with an open bar of beer, wine, and cocktails. Tickets are $50 each and can be purchased online at www.aidsaction.org, or by calling 800-952-2437 and at Camp Rehoboth, 302-227-5620. Reserved tables for parties of 8-12 are also available.

MCC-Rehoboth is Moving!
The Metropolitan Community Church of Rehoboth is moving to its new worship location in the Plantations Clubhouse beginning Sunday, August 1.

For more information on MCC, or the move, call 302-645-4945.

Historical Society Seeks Nominations
Nominations are being sought for the annual Rehoboth Beach Historical Society Preservation Award which recognizes: preservation of a historic residential or commercial building; donation of a significant artifact to the Rehoboth Beach Historical Society; or service to historic preservation efforts in the Rehoboth Beach area.