In Brief
News and Notes
CROP Volunteers Help Families—and Beaches—in Need
It was another hard-working and very rewarding day at the Food Bank on May 4. A team of eight CROP (CAMP Rehoboth Outreach Program) volunteers returned to the Food Bank of Delaware in Milford. Over four pallets were completed with boxes of nutritious food items for families in need all over Delaware. That's more than 300 boxes! As an added bonus, Senator Tom Carper happened to be visiting at the same time and saw first-hand the good work that CAMP Rehoboth does to serve the community. He knows CAMP Rehoboth well, and he greeted everyone and expressed his appreciation.
National Trails Day was Saturday, June 5, and a CROP team helped the Friends of Cape Henlopen State Park beautify the beach. On a gorgeous hot and sunny day, 14 volunteers walked each way on the main beach starting from the bathhouse and collected at least 40 pounds of trash and debris. Kudos to all who participated! ▼
Celebrate Milton Pride 2021 at the Milton Theatre
CAMP Rehoboth is proud to be a sponsor of Milton Pride 2021, and there’s all kinds of great entertainment happening at the historic theater this month. June 18: Laugh with Julia Scotti, a nationally headlining comedian, former teacher, author, speaker, and woman of transgender experience. June 20: From Stonewall to Now: A Special Evening of Drag at the Milton Theatre. It’s a night of comedy, costumes, glamour, and FUN with your hostess, Mona Lotts, and her cast of world-class drag queens from right here on Delmarva! June 25: See if Kelly Smith, out and proud Miss Rehoboth Beach (learn more here), takes home the crown at the 2021 Miss Delaware Pageant. June 26: The Judy & Barbra Show! Summer Orlando is Judy Garland and Barbra Joan Streets and is Barbra Streisand. Summer and Babs have taken this sold-out show all over New England, NYC, and Florida, and now—on the road across the US. Milton Theatre: 110 Union Street, Milton, Delaware; 302-684-3038; MiltonTheatre.com. ▼
Two New Faces at CAMP Rehoboth!
Welcome, Patricia Clear!
We welcome Patricia Clear to the CAMPSafe program. From Philadelphia, Patricia joins our staff as an HIV Testing Counselor. After graduating from Peirce College in Philly, Patricia forged a background in crisis management. “I’m excited to work with CAMP Rehoboth because I wanted to continue to serve diverse communities in Delaware,” she says. You can find her at various sites across Sussex County, including the A.C.E. Peer Resource Center in Georgetown and Seaford, the Laurel State Service Center, and the Addiction Medical Facility in Seaford. Say hi to Patricia! ▼
Welcome, Julian Harbaugh!
CAMP Rehoboth’s Health & Wellness Program is pleased to welcome Julian Harbaugh (they/them) as a new part-time Youth Peer Leader. They will be working alongside our Youth Coordinator, Barbara Antlitz, supporting our YOUTH Up program activities. Julian is a recent UD political science graduate who came to CAMP Rehoboth through their interest in LGBTQ+ community organizing and the invitation of friends. “My hope is to encourage the leadership of my fellow youth, help build intergenerational community support, and foster connections between different perspectives. LGBTQ+ people exist at every intersection of identity—we all have so much to learn from each other,” says Julian. Welcome, Julian! Read Julian’s YA column here. ▼
A Celebration of Life with Pride
In honor and memory of local artist Lee Wayne Mills, CAMP Rehoboth is hosting a new summer exhibit and sale of his works in the CAMP Rehoboth Gallery and Elkins-Archibald Atrium during June. For more info, visit our website or email artshow@camprehoboth.com. We also profile the artist and his works in this issue in CAMP Arts on page 84.
SPEAKOut
Dear Editor,
The Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice strongly supports HB75, a constitutional amendment that will allow the legislature to enact common sense, secure, absentee and early voting provisions. The legislation passed convincingly in the 2019-20 legislative session and is on the ready list to be voted on in the current session.
The Delaware Constitution currently restricts the number of reasons that a voter can vote absentee—and seeking to avoid exposure to the coronavirus is not included as a legitimate reason. The Delaware Constitution is prescriptive: instead of just permitting absentee voting, the Constitution defines the limited circumstances under which absentee voting is permitted: military service, business or occupation, illness, or vacation.
Delaware’s use of emergency absentee and early voting processes in 2020 due to Covid proves that they are secure and useful. There were no abuses, no fraud, no problems. The process allowed all people to vote in a manner consistent with their lives; something that polls open for only part of the day on a Tuesday do not allow.
Look at the facts. Turnout in our state for President in 2020 was 68.8%; in 2018, 65.6%; and in 2012, 65%. Permissive absentee and early voting did not distort or challenge our very competent election administration system.
Importantly, older people, those working with long commutes, those having child or multiple generational care challenges/responsibilities, multiple jobs, mobility issues, health care or business owners or first responders who work 12-or-more-hour shifts, or those who for any other reason want to ensure that nothing keeps them from voting will have a choice that legislation will provide. There is no partisan tinge to these normal issues of life.
Many of the obstacles created by in-person voting requirements (time off from work, transportation, healthcare, etc.) disproportionately impact people of color. No excuse absentee voting will help these communities.
During the 2019-2020 legislative session, the amendment passed with bipartisan majorities in both chambers. No facts have changed, Delaware’s 2020 experience supports it passing again, and a national controversy that does not touch Delaware should not change the result.
The Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice urges the General Assembly to pass this especially important Constitutional Amendment. Delaware should be proud that, at a time when other states are seeking to suppress the right to vote, it is seeking to expand that right.
Charlotte King, Chair and Founder
Clara S. Licata, Thomas Irvine
Co-Chairs, Legislative-Advocacy Committee
Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice
Editors note: At press time, it seems prospects are dimming for passage of the bill.
Send letters to the editor, 300 words or less, to editor@camprehoboth.com