Queer Projections at the Beacon Inn
On Saturday, October 21, from 4:00-5:30 p.m., Peninsula Gallery will host film critic Shelby Cooke at the Beacon Inn, where she will read from her new book, Queer Projections. With a nod to the upcoming Halloween holiday, the reading will feature an article about the queer zombie TV show, In the Flesh. A screening of a 20-minute trans film, Pronouns in the Bio, will follow the reading; the evening will conclude with a book signing.
Queer Projections, a new film criticism anthology, includes essays exploring the representation of queerness on screen, and ranges from the humorous to the serious, and from the personal to the philosophical. The book utilizes both classic and contemporary queer masterpieces to illustrate how sexuality and gender are portrayed through the visual arts. The book also includes the PROUD collection—a curated selection of 18 inspiring and uplifting LGBTQIA+ films and TV shows that depict the vast spectrum of queer identities and experiences.
Ms. Cooke, who is marketing manager at Peninsula Gallery, is also a founding member of Film East, a film organization based in Norwich, UK, and Delaware. Film East won the “Together” award at the 2023 BBC Make a Difference Awards and has been nominated for six British Film Society of the Year awards.
RSVPs are encouraged for the event; call 302-645-0551 or email peninsulagallery1@gmail.com. ▼
Clear Space Welcomes Joe Gfaller
And maybe you did, too?
While he will not reside locally till November, Gfaller, Clear Space Theatre Company’s new Managing Director, visited in mid-October. He took in both Clear Space’s opening performance of Young Frankenstein and the CAMP Rehoboth Block Party.
If you missed him during that visit—no worries. Gfaller, along with his husband, Kraig, and their two dogs, Sprout and Emmit, will make Rehoboth their home.
Says Gfaller, “Rehoboth is such a special place to all who call it home, both year-round and seasonally.” Joe is clearly special too; read more about him at clearspacetheatre.org. ▼
Kiwanis Club of Coastal Delaware Welcomes New Members
On September 21, the Kiwanis Club of Coastal Delaware (Kiwanis.org) welcomed Richard Garrett, Executive Director of the Children’s Beach House of Lewes; Joseph Ciarlante-Zuber, owner of Uncles, Inc. t/a Diego’s Bar; Jay Chalmers, retired real estate broker; John Potthast, retired PBS producer; and Dr. David Thomas, physical therapist, as the organization’s newest members. (All pictured above L-R)
Founded in Detroit, Michigan, in 1915, the Kiwanis Club is renowned for its charitable works, specifically service to children. A current endeavor of the Coastal Delaware Kiwanis is the Little Library Project at Lewes’s Children’s Beach House.
In addition to meeting monthly in the Lewes/Rehoboth Beach area, members and supporters recently enjoyed a sold-out fundraiser cruise aboard The Escape, along the Delaware Bay and Cape Henlopen. Upcoming fundraisers include a bus trip to Longwood Gardens (December 7) to visit the Christmas display. All are welcome to take part in this fun-filled event supporting Kiwanis. Tickets are $75.00 and are available via EventBrite.
If you are interested in membership, participating in events, or contributing to the mission of Kiwanis, contact President Russ Koewer at 215-429-4475. ▼
ACLU-DE: An Inclusive School Model
On November 2, at 6:00 p.m., ACLU-DE and the Charter School of New Castle (CSNC) will participate in a virtual panel discussion about an inclusive school model implemented at CSNC. The model, which focuses on practices aimed at achieving an inclusive school environment, increasing student engagement, and creating channels for parent collaboration and engagement, is credited with reducing suspension rates, especially among Black and brown students. Since implementing the inclusive school model, CSNC has also seen positive outcomes in students’ sense of belonging, personal academic achievements, and perceptions of teachers and school staff as allies and resources. Register for the panel discussion at bit.ly/csnc-panel. ▼