The Way I See It
by Steve Elkins
Now that Memorial Day weekend has come and gone, Summer CAMP 2010 is officially under way—and we all have high expectations for another great season! Here on Baltimore Avenue, judging from the lines waiting to get into Aqua and the Moon, the crowds are here in full force and ready for a good time. One of the encouraging signs of a healthy community is the growing number of young beach houses coming together for the summer season. With them come great new energy and creativity—and the future of Rehoboth. Welcome CAMPers!
The terrible environmental tragedy unfolding in the Gulf of Mexico reminds us just how fragile our coastlines can be, and how important it is that we care for and protect them from pollution in whatever form it occurs. Our Delaware State Park rangers work hard to protect and preserve our environment, and I always enjoy leading diversity training for them. This year that training will take place on June 9.
The Rehoboth Beach Guide (under the “at the beach” button) on the CAMP Rehoboth website provides an easy way to find information on local restaurants, bars, B&Bs, shopping, and services. This season, CAMP Rehoboth is launching a new element of our membership program called Business Partnerships. The partnerships come with a number of benefits including links on our website, a place to post weekend happenings, and listing on an annual summer business map (available in 2011). For information about CAMP Rehoboth Business Partnerships contact me or Tricia Massella.
In the last few years, the Rehoboth Beach gallery collective Mosaic has reshaped the downtown art scene. MOSAIC’s second Saturday art walk Destination Art, takes place every month (from 6-9 p.m. in the summer). For a list of what’s happening at MOSAIC and other arts related events and activities see Doug Yetter’s CAMParts column in the th issue. For easy links to all the MOSAIC member galleries, see CAMParts in the latest issue of Letters online.
Add the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center to your next walking art tour, and stop in to see Pride Art 2010, a collection of works by area artists celebrating, honoring, and supporting the talent and diversity of our Delaware LGBT family. The exhibition runs through June 23, with a mid-run reception on June 12 from 5-8 p.m.
Everyone on our mailing list should, by now, have received information about becoming a Host or Sponsor of Love 2010. Hosts and Sponsors make a huge difference to the success of any event, so please consider supporting Love this year. To make it easy, sign up on the CAMP Rehoboth website at camprehoboth.com. For those not on our mailing list, you can sign up for that on our website as well (find it under the “about us” button). To keep up with the latest CAMP notes, “like us” on Facebook at facebook.com/camprehoboth.communitycenter.
For years now, our CAMPsafe program has supplied tens of thousands of condom packets to the Rehoboth community—plus provided HIV and other STD testing, counseling, and education. Under the direction of Sal Seeley the program has continued to grow and provide much needed services to the area. A key slogan of CAMPsafe has long been “have fun, play safe,” and there’s no better time to remember that than at the beginning of the summer season. Be it safe sex, sunscreen, or swimming with a lifeguard nearby, have a safe and happy summer.
The CAMP Rehoboth office is open daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and other activities and events are going on around the clock. Stop by to say hello, enjoy the WiFi in the CAMP Rehoboth Courtyard, or just to relax with friends. The Courtyard and Community Center are open and welcoming to all.