LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
The Way I See It |
Commentary by Steve Elkins, Editor |
And so it begins... Happy 1998. This is the first issue of the 1998 LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth. It is also the beginning of the eighth year of our organization and publication and we find ourselves facing many questions about growth and direction. As you will hear from Michael Cover, the director of CAMPsafe, (see page 6) we are already embarking on new ventures and looking forward to an exciting year. The year certainly started out exciting for Dan, Greg and Helen, owners of Manos Restaurant, though Im sure thats not the word they would choose. As you probably know by now the restaurant was damaged, and their living quarters above the restaurant destroyed, by fire on the morning of New Years Eve. As a show of our support there will be an "Out of the Ashes" benefit party at Cloud 9 Restaurant, Sunday, February 8, from 2 - 5 p.m. A cash donation will be requested at the door with Cloud 9 providing hors doeuvres and happy hour prices at the bar. Im sure it will be standing room only because I know from experience how this community supports one another in our times of need. Speaking of community, its very interesting to hear about the concepts being developed to give downtown Rehoboth a vision for the future. All year, city officials and civic leaders will be working to complete the plans to make the city a more beautiful and exciting place. While nothing has been finalized I hear talk of disappearing power lines, shade trees without the tops cut out of them, new traffic and parking patterns on Rehoboth Avenue, a new bandstand with a different focus, a theme to hold it all together, and even creation of new real estate for the city. Since my partner Murray is on the steering committee, I know its more than just rumorthough hes quick to point out that everything takes time. "The important thing," he says,"is that we have a vision of where we are going." Jim Snyder, owner of The Studio Gallery on Baltimore Avenue has been doing his best to bring a little color to the grey of winter. His opening reception for Rachel Bullocks mixed media works was a festive occasion and he promises another this month that will feature the erotic works of artists Kurt Brugel and John Minka. For more information about upcoming events, Jim can be reached at (302) 227-2996. We were all sad to see Peter Antolini close his fabulous Gourmet By The Sea on Baltimore Avenue a few weeks ago. However, like everything Peter does it was done with great style. His "dollar day sale gave new meaning to the words. Murray came home loaded with so many bags he could hardly walk, and insisted that everyone in Rehoboth had jammed inside to strip the shelves of every last bit of delicious merchandise. Im sure well have more than a few experimental dinners these next few weeks. Bon appetit? No one knows exactly where this new year will take us. I do know that there will be a SUNDANCE, and a LOVE, and a PRIDE, and big holiday weekends, and beautiful summer days. I do know that I will grow another year closer to being fair game for AARP. I know that as I sit behind my desk at CAMP Rehoboth I will see a great many people who come bearing news and greetings and ideas and visions and love. I also know that I will see a few too many sunrises as I work frantically to get this paper to the printer on time. I know some things will never change, and paradoxically, that everything will change. Yes, I know too, that there will be surprises along the way, and tears, and laughter. No, no one really knows where this new year will take us, but I hope and pray that it is a good one for all of us. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 8, No. 1, February 6, 1998. |