LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
The Way I See It |
by Steve Elkins, Editor |
Welcome to Summer 2003! this is the Memorial Day issue of Letters from CAMP Rehoboth, and it marks the official start of the new summer season. Though Rehoboth has recently become much more of a year-round community, summer remains the "big deal" at the beach. Summer visitors arriving in town for the first time since last Labor Day weekend will notice changes right away. With the first phase of the four year Rehoboth downtown revitalization nearing completion, Rehoboth Avenue's new look is the most obvious change. The empty lot where the Renegade stood for almost a quarter century is sure to turn a few heads, as well. In what seems to have become a yearly "fruit-basket-turn-over" Rehoboth tradition, many familiar places have changed hands or moved across town. Dos Locos can now be found in the old Confettis/Manos home on Wilmington Avenue, and their old location has been renamed Burgerville. Eden Caf has been moved to the old Beach Club/Elizabeth's Pizza place on Baltimore Avenue and their old Rehoboth Avenue site is now Taste. Yum Yum is under new ownership and will now be called Caf Zeus. Dish has taken over the old Dream Caf. SOB's is in the old Patio Caf. Chilibilly's is reopening as @ the beach. The Rehoboth Beach Gayzette is now EXP Gayzette, and Ames will soon be AM and open for dancing til dawn. Here at CAMP Rehoboth, we have been busy right through the winter, and are working to make it another great summer. With an extremely successful Women's Conference behind us, we're now looking to The Black and White (and red all over) Beach Ball, Love 2003, Follies 2003, the 16th SundanceHeartbeat of the Silver Rainbow, the unveiling of the new 2003 CAMPsafe campaign, and the summer season of Letters. Our thanks to viewers of GayDelaware.com, who voted CAMP Rehoboth the best GLBT Community Service Organization; CAMPsafe, the favorite Community Education Event/Activity; and Letters, the favorite area GLBT Publication. The Best of Gay Delaware awards were announced may 9 at Delaware Pride's Foundation dinner in Wilmington. George Meldrum (see page 38) of Wilmington was awarded GLBT Leader of the Year for his continued work with AIDS Delaware, Rainbow Chorale, and Delaware Liberty Fund. The Foundation dinner was developed to bring together diverse groups within the state's GLBT community. For a complete list of award winners, see page 5. for the last two years, i've been asked to serve on the grant review panel for the Delaware Division of the Arts, and have enjoyed the chance to see first hand all the arts related programs and projects in the state. From familiar groups such as the Henlopen Theater Project and the Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Society, to the many dance, music, and visual artists in the state, there is much to enjoy. In the mission statement of CAMP Rehoboth, the organization is charged with "promoting artistic expressions and creative thinking," which we do through a number of ways, including in this publication. On Saturday, May 24, from 4-6 pm our own HeArt of the Community project will preview a collection of paintings themed "Summer Love," at the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center on Baltimore Avenue. All the paintings will be auctioned at the Black and White (and red all over) Beach Ball at the Atlantic Sands on May 31. Don't forget that the beach book is created new every year, and if you want your household to be included in this year's book, you must fill out the form (please, please print carefully!) and return it to the CAMP office. Or you can fill it out on line by visiting the CAMP Rehoboth Web site at www.camprehoboth.com. I can tell that the summer is going to be a busy and exciting one. We have many opportunities for volunteersboth ongoing and one timeso stop by the community center to sign up, or to say hello. Have a safe and happy summer 2003. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 13, No. 5, May 16, 2003 |