This is the Labor Day issue of Letters from CAMP Rehoboth, and the last one of the 2018 summer season. Beginning in September, Letters returns to a monthly publication schedule—so watch for the next issue on Friday, September 21. This issue is all about Sundance 2018: Rainbow XXXI—In the Name of Love, our largest fundraiser of the year, and it should contain just about all the information anyone would ever need to know about Sundance. Go to the CAMP Rehoboth office for more information or to purchase tickets or purchase tickets online. ▽
Sundance is an extraordinary event, made possible by the extraordinary efforts of a great many extraordinary people. Sundance depends on hundreds of volunteers to create, produce, and execute it; hundreds more individual and business auction donors; and more than 470 (and still counting) Individual Hosts, Supporters, and Sponsors. Our Host/Sponsor list is printed in this issue, and following the event all the volunteers and auction donors will be listed and thanked as well. ▽
Congratulations to newly elected City Commissioners Dick Byrne and Pat Coluzzi. We look forward to working with them. A word of thanks, as well, to both of them and to candidate Gary Glass for participating in the recent Letters from CAMP Rehoboth Candidate Forum and the Candidate Forum here at the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center sponsored by the RB Homeowners Association and CAMP Rehoboth. ▽
CAMP Rehoboth announced in the previous issue that the Delaware Division of the Arts (DDOA) had awarded the organization another arts grant to help provide funding for its art programing, including: art exhibitions, theatre arts, Women’s FEST, the CAMP Rehoboth Chorus, and creative arts programming for the 55+ population. On August 9, the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center was the site of an amazing exhibition that included work by several of the DDOA 2018 Fellowship winners. The first half of the reception took place in the CAMP Rehoboth Gallery; the second half occurred in the performance space, and included readings, photos, and a short film. As I explained in my opening comments for the performance portion of the event, the arts have been a part of the CAMP Rehoboth vision and mission from the start. We are grateful to the DDOA for support for these programs, and to all who work to make them a success. A special word of thanks goes to CAMP Rehoboth Board Vice-President Leslie Sinclair for her work on both the Grants Committee and the Arts Team. ▽
The first CAMP Rehoboth Bachelor Auction took place in 1996 at the Blue Moon, and continued there for more than ten years. After a short break, it returned, this time to Aqua, where it has found a home ever since. In recent years, Chris Beagle has chaired the event, and the addition of Sundance auctioneer Lorne Crawford cranked up the energy and the fun. The tradition continued on Sunday, August 12, and so did the fun. The 2018 CAMP Rehoboth Bachelor Auction raised more than $23,000 for CAMP Rehoboth, and we are grateful to everyone who made that possible. Congratulations Chris and Lorne! ▽
I have lived in downtown Rehoboth Beach for almost three decades now, and I love it in every season. Some locals complain about the crowds in the summertime, but without those crowds we wouldn’t be much of a beach resort—and most of us would never have come here in the first place. I love the busyness of the summertime and the quiet of the winter, though it is not as quiet as it was when we first moved to town. Over the years the shoulder seasons have certainly expanded, and festivals abound almost all year long now. Coming up this fall: Bear Weekend, the CAMP Rehoboth Block Party, Jazz Festival, Sea Witch, and the Rehoboth Beach Film Festival—plus, all kinds of art and theater events and activities. ▽
As a quick reminder—vendor forms for the CAMP Rehoboth Baltimore Avenue Block Party are available at CAMP Rehoboth. Block Party has quickly become a beloved Rehoboth event. It’s hard to pass up a beautiful fall street fair. Join us on Sunday afternoon, October 14. ▽