LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
The Way I See It |
by Steve Elkins, Editor |
Beginning with this issue, Letters from CAMP Rehoboth returns to its summer publishing schedule and will once again be available every other Friday from now through Labor Day weekend. As can be seen from the volume number to the left of this column, this is issue four in our 17th season of publishing this magazinethough in the early years it was more of a newsletter than a magazine. Since those early years, however, advertising in Letters has benefited both our advertisers and CAMP Rehoboth. Without the revenue generated by Letters' advertising, the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center would not be what it is todayif it existed at all. For the last ten of those 17 years, Tricia Massella has been our Advertising Sales Manager and is responsible for some of the tremendous growth in the size of the magazine during that time. As we head into our busiest time of the year, I personally would like to say thank you to Tricia for all her hard work and to all our advertisers who provide a strong foundation for our organization.
This season is especially exciting for camp rehoboth and our community because by the end of the summer we will officially break ground on Phase 2 of the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center construction. Last week we crossed another hurdle on the way to that goal when the Rehoboth Beach Board of Adjustment granted us a variance on a parking requirement that would have forced us to provide an additional 12 parking spaces to accompany the new construction. In "CAMP Matters" of this issue, Murray takes a look at the parking variance and other matters relating to the plans for the next phase of construction. I must say however, the whole experience left me feeling good about the work of CAMP Rehobotheveryone spoke highly of us, the vote was unanimous, and though there were many letters in support of our request, there were none against it. Supporting art and artists in our area has been a part of the mission of CAMP Rehoboth since its founding, and we believe that a thriving arts community is a sure sign of a creative and vibrant city life (which is why we've included gallery space in all phases of the Community Center construction). Last year Michael Muller opened Detail Gallery across the bridge on Rehoboth Avenue and this season two new galleries open their doors downtownthe Philip Morton Gallery on Baltimore Avenue, by Elegant Slumming owner Philip Livingston; and Gallery 50 on Wilmington Avenue by Jay Pastore. Gay friendly cities and thriving arts communities often go hand-in-handjust look at Provincetown, Key West, and Puerto Vallarta to name a fewand we all hope that trend will continue in Rehoboth Beach. Speaking of artistsor should I say HeARTists, as they are lovingly called around the CAMP officethe 2007 HeART of the Community art project is in its final phase and the work will be unveiled at the HeART Preview Party on May 26, from 4-6 p.m. at the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center. In a nod to the sixth anniversary of the project, co-chairs Sondra Arkin and Mary Beth Ramsey have selected Six Degrees of Separation as this year's theme. All the HeART paintings will be auctioned at the 2007 Black and White Beach Ball. The Black and White Beach Ball was begun to honor the donors to the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center Founders' Circle. Though the Founders' Circle five year campaign is now over, the Black and White Beach Ball will continue as an annual event. Unlike last year, however, we will have a limited number of tickets available for purchase by those who are not Founders' Circle members. Tickets are $100 and are available by calling the CAMP Rehoboth office. The Black and White Beach Ball is June 2, from 4-6 p.m., at the Atlantic Sands Hotel. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 17, No. 4 May 4, 2007 |