Jim and Jed Host Mayor Pete
On May 21, longtime Rehoboth Beach summer residents Jim D’Orta and Jed Ross hosted an event for Democratic Presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg at their Georgetown, DC home. “The evening was wonderful,” Peter Rosenstein reported. “Mayor Pete spoke really well and took the time to answer questions and mingle with the crowd. All felt it was a huge success and that we were in the presence of a future President.” ▼
Summer Kickoff— The Blade at The Moon
On Friday May 17, the Washington Blade returned to the Blue Moon for their 12th Summer Kick-off Party. The Human Rights Campaign’s National Press Secretary, Sarah McBride, was the guest speaker. ▼
2020 CAMP Rehoboth Riverboat Cruise
While CAMPers are still swapping Africa stories from this year’s recent excursion, space is filling up for the spectacular 2020 Portugal Riverboat Cruise. Managed by CAMP Rehoboth Annual Premier Sponsor Accent on Travel, and hosted by CAMP Rehoboth Co-founder Murray Archibald, the trip is sure to be beautiful and fun. Space is limited, email to get a brochure today! ▼
Travels with Letters
St. Lucia Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas
Front: Cathie Aschiero, Debbie Johnson, back: Sandy Sommerfield, Cindy Scott, Karen Dorris, Deb Dorris
Volunteers Build a Tower of Support
Peas and Thank You—VegFest 2019
Rehoboth Beach VegFest was held at Epworth United Methodist Church during the beautiful weekend of May 17. The festival, organized by VegRehoboth, celebrated and promoted healthy, sustainable, and compassionate living. The successful event inspired healthy living, found homes for several shelter dogs, and served up delicious plant-based meals enjoyed by all. CAMP Rehoboth’s CROP volunteers were on hand all weekend, assisting with the film Friday night, working on set up and take down, and staffing the information tent during the festival. ▼
Summer Saturday HIV and STI Testing
FREE testing, no appointment needed!
Just walk into CAMP Rehoboth on designated Saturdays between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and get tested. Next test dates: June 8 and 22. ▼
A Jolly Brunch for Founders’ Circle
The CAMP Rehoboth Founders’ Circle rainbow wall honors the people who stepped up over a decade ago to make the new CAMP Rehoboth Community Center building a reality. The May 19 Founders’ Circle Brunch was a reunion for those supporters and a time to say thanks. “The people in this room made it all possible!” CAMP Rehoboth Co-founder Murray Archibald reminded the crowd at the brunch. After brunch, there was dessert and art at the Community Center—and a ride in the newest Jolly Trolley! ▼
Speak OUT
Butts in the Beds
Dear Smokers,
It looks like summer is finally here, so many of us will now be out enjoying the weather and the CAMP Rehoboth courtyard of our community center.
As a former smoker, I know how difficult it can be to kick the habit and I also know how annoyingly self-righteous ex-smokers can be, so I’m not going to try and convince you to quit.
I am going to share some information you may not be aware of: There is a team of committed volunteers who tend the garden beds and planters around CAMP Rehoboth’s courtyard. We’re known as the Rainbow Thumb Club.
Every day one of us shows up to water, weed, and trim no matter what the weather. We do this even when it is 90 degrees outside and we would prefer to be inside enjoying the AC. We do it because we love our community center and want to keep it beautiful.
And every day we find ourselves picking cigarette butts out of our landscaping beds and off our sidewalks, sometimes within inches of the strategically placed cigarette disposal receptacles.
Why is this?
I know it is a small minority of smokers who are responsible for this, but all of you need to be aware that this behavior is not just unsightly, it’s dangerous!
A few years ago a butt was tossed into a garden bed at an office building on Route 24. The mulch caught fire and the building burned to the ground. I’m sure this wasn’t intentional, but I don’t think any of you would want to see the same accident happen to our wonderful community center.
I would like to tell you to just stop smoking, but I’m not your mother. Instead, I will share with you what I was taught while in the Air Force, a maneuver called field stripping: you remove the left over tobacco and place the filter in your pocket for later disposal. Safe and simple!
So please, dear smoker, the next time you finish a cigarette in the courtyard, pause for a moment before crushing the butt on the sidewalk or tossing it into our garden beds. Think about the possibility of fire as well as the CAMP Rehoboth volunteers who will need to pick up after you the next day.
Thank you.
–Linda Defeo
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