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Summer Memories
It never ceases to amaze me how quickly
time passes. It feels like summer has just begun and yet here we are
getting ready to celebrate another Labor Day! Maybe it’s just that
I’m getting older…they say time flies with age. I hope that’s not
it…I mean, I don’t feel old! Well, whatever the reason, it seems
like it is arriving faster than usual this year.
Labor Day is always somewhat bittersweet
for me. While we all enjoy having another long weekend of sun and fun,
it’s hard to ignore that the holiday signals the traditional end of
the beach season. For summer residents, the next few weeks will be
focused on packing up and returning home. It won’t be long before tans
start to fade and all that’s left are fond memories of sun-filled days
on the beach and fun-filled nights at the bars and local parties.
It’s easy to understand why people
dread the end of summer. After all, it means leaving a wonderful place
like Rehoboth Beach! Where else can you find such a diverse, accepting
community with so many amenities to offer? It’s for that very reason
that many summer residents eventually choose to move here.
Of course, many year-round residents view
Labor Day a bit differently. For us, the holiday brings a return to the
quieter community we love. While we appreciate the importance of
tourists to the economy, it is nice to “reclaim” our town! After
several months of traffic jams, long lines, and wall-to-wall sunbathers,
now comes the time locals can really enjoy the resort. It’s no secret
that some of the best beach days are in September and October. I am
definitely looking forward to the next couple of months and I already
have my place on the beach staked out!
My partner, Bob, and I have had a very
busy summer. It’s been a year since we moved into our new home and we
continue to do all sorts of projects in a never-ending quest to create
the perfect residence. Sandalwood is a wonderfully diverse neighborhood
with straight, gay, and lesbian families. From the start, our neighbors
welcomed us with open arms and made us feel a part of the community.
They have become close friends and a part of our extended family. It is
neighborhoods and people like this that make Rehoboth such a special
place.
The highlight of the summer has been the
addition of a second Welsh terrier to our family.
Sketches has definitely been a challenge.
I don’t think Bob and I were entirely prepared for the demands of a
pup. When we acquired our first terrier, Scribbles, she was four years
old, calm, loving, and, best of all, house-trained. Her new
“brother,” on the other hand, is a perpetual whirlwind. He is very
loving but incredibly demanding. Like most “kids,” Sketches wants
undivided attention at all times, which wouldn’t be too bad if that
was all he needed.
Unfortunately, as a kennel-raised pup, he
didn’t arrive house-trained. Since day one, he has attempted to mark
every inch of the house as his own. To fight back, we installed a
childproof door to limit his attacks to the more easily cleaned kitchen
and laundry room.
The fenced-in yard was the next recipient
of Sketches’ assaults. Every plant in the yard became the victim of
his systematic mission of “seek and destroy.” To make matters worse,
he not only “marks” inanimate objects but also took to periodically
marking Scribbles. Of course, Sketches is an “equal opportunity”
marking machine. His inexperience in lifting his leg means he frequently
marks himself! After two months of settling in and frequent baths for
both dogs, the problem appears to be subsiding. Sketches has become a
much-loved member of the family, and Bob and I have learned a great deal
more patience in “child” rearing!
Summer 2002 will go down in the books as
a great success for Delaware State Parks. Week after week of hot, sunny
weather resulted in large crowds at all our facilities. This was
especially true at the beach parks. Virtually every weekend saw parking
areas filled to capacity as people hunted down the perfect stretch of
sandy beach. But despite near-record crowds, there were few significant
problems.
The new parking lot at Gordons Pond
started the season still under construction, which caused some confusion
and frustration. Most visitors made the best of the situation, however,
and park staff greatly appreciated their cooperation as we worked
through the problems. Once the parking lot was striped, things improved
and the landscaping that is planned for this autumn will add the
finishing touches.
This is a good time to acknowledge the
hardworking staff who make the parks run so smoothly. The Division of
Parks and Recreation hires approximately 500 seasonal employees annually
and it is these dedicated individuals who do much of the hands-on work
necessary to keep the parks functioning during the summer months.
Without their assistance, there is no way the full-time staff could meet
the demands of 4,000,000 visitors. 
I also would like to extend a special
“thanks” to the lifeguards. These men and women must go through
rigorous training to qualify to become members of the special team that
guards our ocean swimming areas, and every day they hone the skills
necessary to ensure the safety of our beach visitors. Their efforts have
resulted in an excellent safety record for this season.
With a successful summer almost behind
us, I want to thank Camp Rehoboth for giving me the opportunity to write
this column. I hope all Letters readers share my feeling that they have
helped open the lines of communication between the gay community and
Delaware State Parks. Without question, things operated more smoothly at
Gordons Pond. Visitors appeared to have a better understanding of how
the Division operates and there didn’t seem to be the mistrust of
previous years on the part of both park staff and visitors.
Part of the credit for breaking down
barriers goes to the sensitivity training CAMP Rehoboth offered to park
enforcement staff. Hopefully, we will continue to build on this effort.
Certainly, all state parks staff must understand the needs of the
diverse populations we serve. This type of training is an important tool
to help us to do our jobs even better.
Beach Update
The approaching end of summer means state park beaches will soon be
unguarded. Labor Day, September 2, is the last day lifeguards will be on
duty. We recognize that good weather and warm waters will lure people
into the surf in the weeks to come, but please do not take unnecessary
risks. Never swim alone…use the “buddy system.” Your health and
safety are important to us!
Park
entrance fees remain in effect on a daily basis until October 31,
another good reason to remember to buy an annual pass next year. For
more information about park rules and regulations, programs, and
activities, check out the state parks website at www.destateparks.com.
And if you have any questions or suggestions for future topics, please
e-mail me at stephen.schilly@state.de.us.
Or look for me at the beach enjoying the last golden moments of summer!
Stephen Schilly is Park
Operations Administrator Delaware Division of Parks and Recreation.
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