This newsletter is a publication of Rehoboth Beach Main Street. President: Greer Maneval. Executive Director: Dan Slagle. Newsletter Executive Editor / Communications Committee Co-Chair: Peter J. Pizzolongo. Reporters/Editors: Dan Slagle, Jerry Filbin, James Mease, Cindy Lovett, Ed Chrzanowski, Peter Beck, & Lisa Schlosser.

As the 4^th of July weekend fades into our past, and the summer gives us HAZY, HOT, and HUMID Rehoboth Beach, the Nation’s Summer Capital readies itself to receive the annual pilgrimage of vacationers from all walks of life. They come from near and far by the tens of thousands to enjoy leisurely time along the Atlantic coast. Whether their journey is for a day, a week, a month, or longer, everyone is looking forward to leisurely days passing the time away in the sun, sand, and surf of our pristine beaches—as well as enjoying summer fare here at the culinary coast and taking advantage of no-sales-tax shopping. 

Don’t forget: The RBMS Official Guide to Downtown Rehoboth Beach, available now across the city from street news boxes and hotel lobbies, will help guide everyone to new and exciting things to do while here. Be sure to pick up a copy for friends and family visiting this summer. It will provide young and old alike with ideas on where to go for fun things to do, delectable foods, and fantastic happy hours.

In this Newsletter issue we showcase several of Rehoboth Beach’s businesses as well as provide updates on some of the events occurring this summer. Be sure to take a look below at our regular Save-the-Date update for your future planning needs. But, above all, be sure to practice patience and understanding for the safety and well-being of all.  

Rehoboth Beach Main Street is delighted to announce the appointment of four new Board members, each with special skills to help deliver more for our members. The appointments, all to 3-year terms and effective immediately, were made by the Board at its June 17 meeting. Congratulations and welcome to these four new members.

Jen Carroll and her husband Allen bought their home in Rehoboth Beach in 1999 and retired here in 2008. Throughout her career, Jen specialized in retail, operating stores in Maryland and Virginia. In Rehoboth beach, she owned and operated the retail shop “Tickled Pink” and was a member of Rehoboth Beach Main Street for 13 years. As a full-time resident, Jen has been an active volunteer with Rehoboth Beach Main Street and now, as a Board Member, is the co-chair of the Organization Committee.

Jen has worked with many charities and has served on many organization boards taking active roles in coordinating large events and fundraising, including hosting the Beebe Bash to being a board member of Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, Make Wish Foundation and Living in Pink foundation. Jen is currently serving on the Beebe Medical Foundation and Big Fish Charitable Foundation boards. 

Peter Pizzolongo and his spouse Carlos Prugue have been full-time Rehoboth Beach area residents since their 2018 retirement from positions in Washington DC, following 40 years of vacationing and part-time residency in Rehoboth. As a member of the Rehoboth Beach Main Street Board, Peter will serve as the Co-Chair of the Communications Committee and Editor of the RBMS Newsletter.

Currently, Peter is President of Early Education Consulting. He has held several positions with responsibilities for teaching-staff training for government-funded, military, and private agencies. He has over 30 years’ experience as an author, training and technical assistance provider, program evaluator, Head Start and childcare agency administrator and teacher, and human services program manager. He has authored or co-authored more than 30 publications, digital programs, and other resources, including serving as co-author of Caring for Preschool Children and Ethics and the Early Childhood Educator—2^nd Edition. Peter was recently named a leader for the Child Care Exchange Leadership Initiative.

As a volunteer, Peter has been a member of the UD College of Education and Human Development Dean’s Advisory Council since 2015. He is a member of and former Vice-President of the Delaware Association for the Education of Young Children (DeAEYC) Governing Board and member of the DeAEYC COVID Task Force. Peter has been a member of the Clear Space Theatre Producer’s Circle and Development Committee since 2018. He is a member of the Rehoboth Beach Film Society and CAMP Rehoboth and was coordinator for CAMP’s Living a Positive Life: Project for People Living with HIV in 2019-2020.

In 2016 Suzie Martin and her husband, Jeff, became a full-time resident in Rehoboth Beach. After meeting at the Bottle and Cork, living throughout the country and Asia, they continued to make Rehoboth Beach a part of every summer. Suzie’s career included serving as the Congressional District Manager for Congresswoman Marge Roukema, in the Governor of Illinois’s Capitol Hill office, and as staff for Congressman Tom Evans of Delaware. The fitness and wellness industry has been a part of her life for 35 years. Currently, she teaches Pilates and the MELT Method at Forever Fit Foundation in Rehoboth Beach.

For over 3 years, Suzie has been the Chair of The Cottage and Town Awards for Rehoboth Beach Main Street and, in addition, is now the Co-Chair of the Design Committee. She is also an active volunteer with the P.E.O. Sisterhood, an international organization that provides funding for women to further their education. Currently, she is the State Chair of the Cottey College Committee and serves as the recording secretary for her local P.E.O. Chapter. Suzie’s in-laws were original founders of the Rehoboth Beach Homeowners Association. Her son Jack works for Dogfish Head and son Adam, a paralegal and IT technician, is in the process of relocating to the area, and daughter Laura lives in Maynard, Massachusetts. 

David Root brings over 25 years of business experience to Rehoboth Beach Main Street and will co-chair the Economic Vitality Committee. His focus has been in strategic management, organizational development, entrepreneurship, and knowledge in economic development. He holds a MSW from Salisbury University and a M.Ed. from Temple University. Since 2017, he has been with the University of Delaware as the Center Director for the Delaware Small Business Development Center (SBDC). He is responsible for operations of the southern Delaware office located in Georgetown. Prior to the SBDC he worked for the Delaware Economic Development Office (DEDO) as the State’s Workforce Development Representative and as Business Development Leader for DEDO in Sussex County. His career, prior to coming to Delaware, included Director of Professional Skills and Management Training at Harrisburg Area Community College and similar roles with AMP Incorporated (a fortune 500 company, now Tyco Electronics) and owned his own business.

Rehoboth Beach Main Street welcomes two new member businesses: Ocean Gallery and Somewhere Restaurant.

Ocean Gallery specializes in paintings and photographs by both local and nationally known artists. The gallery is spread out over three buildings on Wilmington Avenue. Ocean Gallery also provides custom framing. Ocean Gallery is located at 26 Wilmington Ave.

52 Baltimore Avenue has been transformed and is now open for Summer 2021! Somewhere Restaurant is a brand new re-imagining of Rehoboth’s Mug & Spoon—a blend of local coffee, creative brunch, dinner and over-the-top desserts, and innovative cocktails. Check out Somewhere’s breakfast items—including Bananas Foster French Toast!—salads, shareables and sandwiches, coffee libations, specialty lattes, cocktails, desserts, and more! For more information, go to the Somewhere website Somewhere (somewhereatthebeach.com) and follow Somewhere on Instagram @somewhererehoboth for more updates!

Rehoboth Beach Main Street also thanks Beach Essentials as a renewal business in 2021. At Beach Essentials you’ll find casuals, swim wear, and accessories for the fashion-forward male. Beach Essentials has been a part of Rehoboth Beach for 24 years and counting! Beach Essentials is located at 33 Baltimore Avenue. 

Be sure to include a visit to The Beach Life Gallery as you are out and about browsing along the Avenue. Michael and Hope Orhelein opened The Beach Life Gallery at 239 Rehoboth Avenue. This is the second gallery owned and operated by the Orheleins, who have spent decades honing their craft. The Gallery features landscapes, seascapes, and portraits, in addition to an array of wildlife among a selection of pottery and a small section dedicated to the up-and-coming artistry of the owners’ daughter, McKenzie. You will note the extraordinary attention to detail evident in the many spectacular images lining the Gallery walls. Be sure and check out this uniquely original Gallery and add it to your list of must-see destinations while in downtown Rehoboth. The Gallery is open Monday through Thursday 9:00am to 9:00pm, with a few hours break during the middle of the day, Friday and Saturday 9:00am to 9:00pm with no break, and 9:00am to 7:00pm on Sunday. For more information call 302-542-1639 or e-mail them at [email protected] or [email protected]. 

Looking for a beach-break frosty refreshment? Look no further than 47B Rehoboth Avenue for Rita’s Italian Ice and Frozen Custard! Here is a real cool-down menu (https://www.ritasfranchises.com/stores/store.cfm?store=4618&p=menu) featuring flavored ices, frozen custards, gelati, misto shakes (a blend of ices and frozen custard), sugar-free ices, frozen custard cookie sandwiches, and more! Rita’s also caters picnics, parties, and corporate events. Rita’s is a favorite on Rehoboth Avenue for a cool-down treat.

For a unique New Orleans vibe right here in Downtown Rehoboth Beach – Check out Theo's Steakhouse at 44 Baltimore Avenue (https://theossteakhouse.com/). Sole Owner Chris Agharabi opened Theo's in Rehoboth Beach on June 13, 2020, to provide a casual hot spot offering elevated, high-quality dining. Attire from jackets to flip-flops is welcome as one enjoys a meal on the dog-friendly patio or indoors. “The local fan base has really welcomed us,” said Manager Emily Traylor. No wonder, as Theo's provides innovative food dishes, from steak to seafood to burgers, that take advantage of available local sourcing. Theo's also has a lovely wine list that features the only Delaware inventory of the famous 2018 Shafer TD-9 wine from Napa Valley's Stags Leap District (https://shafervineyards.com/wine/index.ph). Voted “Best of Coastal Style 2020” for Steakhouse, Bartender and Date Night, Theo's is yet another fine dining experience to add to your list of favorite Downtown Rehoboth Beach restaurants.

For food and entertainment, it’s hard to beat the Rehoboth Ale House at 15 Wilmington Ave. RAH features an amazing assortment of regional brews (https://rehobothalehouse.com/downtown-craft-beer-cocktails-beverages-menu/) and a great menu with choices of appetizers, sandwiches, flatbreads, shares, salads, and entrees at great prices (https://rehobothalehouse.com/downtown-food-menu/). But wait! There’s more! Please check out the August events schedule (https://rehobothalehouse.com/events/month/2021-08/) with over a dozen groups and individual artists performing. RAH is on the Wilmington Ave. beach block—close and convenient for all of downtown. 

For the safety and well-being of everyone, Rehoboth Beach Main Street is humbly promoting patience and understanding. When you go into a restaurant or retail business, please stay calm. Many downtown merchants are experiencing staffing issues, and current staff associates are constantly working long hours and double shifts. Most business owners are still having hiring challenges, and they ask for patience while they increase staffing. Many of the downtown restaurants & retail stores are hiring for all positions!

Be part of the inaugural team and help promote Downtown Businesses and Rehoboth Beach history! For more information, or to sign up for training, please contact Bob Suppies at [email protected] or call 302-864-7778.

The Rehoboth Beach Main Street Design Committee is promoting the Cottage and Town Awards for 2021. The awards will recognize residential and commercial property owners who contribute to the “charm and beauty and history of Rehoboth Beach through architectural and landscape architectural renovation, restoration, and preservation.” Formal announcement of the competition for this year's awards is expected on August 18, with nominations due on September 1. For more information, contact RBMS Executive Director Dan Slagle at 302-227-2772, [email protected]. (Photo courtesy of the Cape Gazette.)

The Rehoboth in Bloom folks don’t give up easily!! We have rescheduled our Oldies Dance for Friday, November 19, 2021, at City Hall, so save the date! We plan to dance the night away!! Check out future issues of this newsletter and the RBMS website for information on the Oldies Dance.

Rehoboth in Bloom is meeting on August 11 at 1:00 at Grove Park for the 2021-2022 Planning Meeting. The agenda is quite large, including funding, projects, flowers, and ideas for off season–fall, holiday, winter, and spring. While we are currently filled up for volunteer spots, we will definitely need more for 2022 when the Pedestrian Planters get moved to their permanent locations at (as yet undetermined) storefronts and places around town. Join us if you would like and get your name on the list: Contact Cindy Lovett at [email protected].

From our gorgeous hotels, quaint shops, serene spas, and lovely galleries, along with many fabulous restaurants and exciting entertainment options, there is bound to be the perfect job for you. Visit our brand-new “Opportunities Page” on the RBMS website to explore the many businesses that have jobs available, with “Who to Contact” information. Please note these job opportunities will be posted on our Opportunities Page for August only, unless RBMS is otherwise notified in writing by the Rehoboth Beach business by August 31st.

We are asking any downtown Rehoboth business with a position(s) available to email us a 2- to 3-sentence job description and include all contact information, i.e., owner/managers name, email address, and phone number; a link to the business’ website is optional. (Note: Rehoboth Beach Main Street will not be responsible for the accuracy of the information provided.)

The annual 5K racing event will kick things off beginning on Sunday August 29^th, and the festivities will culminate with two concerts at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center featuring a return appearance of the Skivvies on Friday night, September 3. The Skivvies are singer/actor musicians who perform stripped-down arrangements while also stripping down to their underwear. They will be performing with special guests Randy Harrison (Justin Taylor from Queer as Folk fame) and Diana Huey, who played Ariel in the national tour of Disney’s The Little Mermaid and Kim in Miss Saigon. This will be followed by the next live convention center performance on September 4^th: an appearance by Tony Award winning Jennifer Holiday, a member of the original Broadway cast of Dreamgirls.

Look for more information about Sun Festival 2021 events in Letters from CAMP Rehoboth magazine as well as at the CAMP website.  Tickets can be purchased online and will range from $35 to $500.

Get ready for a Fall full of beer and bratwurst in Rehoboth Beach as we celebrate our first Oktoberfest! Join #canalsideinn and @rehobothbeachmainstreet on September 25th, 2021, from 2:00pm–7:00pm at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center. Enjoy some of the best craft beer and food in Rehoboth. Rehoboth Beach Main Street is thrilled to partner with Canalside Inn to bring this joyful celebration of Bavarian culture to #downtownrehoboth. Visit https://www.eventbrite.com/.../oktoberfest-presented-by... to grab your tickets now.

Are you a local business interested in setting up a booth at Oktoberfest? Be a part of a new Rehoboth Beach tradition! Get the details by emailing: [email protected]. 

Looking for things to do in downtown Rehoboth Beach? The City’s Parks and Recreation Department has a full slate of events for the summer, including Arts and Crafts (for children 2–12 years old) in Grove Park on Mondays and Wednesdays, Walking and Jogging Club on Tuesdays, Magic Shows in Grove Park on Thursday mornings, kite-making workshops, and an environmental education program for all ages at Silver Lake. The City also has tennis and pickleball courts available for rental at Deauville Beach and volleyball at Hickman St. and the Boardwalk. There is also a children’s fishing pier at N. 1^st St and 2^nd St. For more information see the City Parks and Recreation web page at https://www.cityofrehoboth.com/visitors/parks-and-recreation/summer-recreation-activities. 

Don’t forget the Cape Henlopen Senior Center on Christian Street! Summer activities include a Balance and Exercise Class on Mondays and an Arthritis Exercise Class on Wednesdays. The Art Group and Model Building Club also meet on Mondays, as does the Line-Dancing Class. Knitting and Quilting workshops are on Wednesdays, and the Fitness Room is open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. For these and more CHSC programs see their website at https://www.capehenlopenseniorcenter.org/activities or call for more information at 302-227- 2055. 

The YMCA is also busy this summer with fitness programs and extras, such as summer camp and child care, as well as a once-per-month Parents Night Out program. On the first Friday of each month, enjoy an evening out while your children spend time at the Y. Kids will enjoy fun activities while being supervised by the Y’s trained staff in a safe and healthy environment. Registration is required. The Y is located on Church Street just outside of the City. For more information on Y Programs please see their website at https://www.ymcade.org/locations/sussex-ymca/ or call 302-296-9622.

Paul began working on his intricately detailed diorama five years ago. As a longtime native of Sussex County, who spent his childhood playing on the shores of the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal, he became fascinated by the history of the railroad. “I became obsessed by the history of Rehoboth Beach,” explains Paul. By utilizing various resources such as the Delaware Archives, the Harrington Historical Society, the Rehoboth Beach Historical Society, and even newspaper.com, he collected photos, maps, insurance documents, and a host of other documents to design his project.

To schedule an appointment to see the project, which is currently on display at the Rehoboth Beach Main Street office, contact Paul Lovett at [email protected]. To learn more about the project, as well as view interesting videos about elements of the project, check out www.goldenageofrehoboth.com.

RBMS is pleased to announce the kick-off of a new Rehoboth Beach project in conjunction with Wreaths Across America. Each December, on National Wreaths Across America Day, the national organization carries out coordinated wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as at more than 2,100 additional locations in all 50 states. The mission is to remember our fallen US veterans, honor those who serve, and teach our children the value of freedom.

Through the leadership of RBMS Board and Rehoboth Beach Homeowners Association (RBHA) Board member, Steve Curson, and with the help of (RBMS Communications Committee) Lisa Schlosser, the RBMS Design Committee will initiate a local project affiliated with Wreaths Across America. Locally, the project was brought to RBMS’ attention after a visit by Cindy Lovett, RBMS Board member and Rehoboth in Bloom Chair, with Doug Poore of the Harrington Historical Society.

This year’s wreath-laying ceremony will be on December 18, 2021. As we get closer to this date, we will need more help in getting the word out to the public through social media. Look for information on our Wreaths Across America project in future issues of this newsletter and the RBMS website.

CAMP Rehoboth is thrilled to be bringing the sultry and sweet voice of SUEDE to the Beach for this benefit fundraiser and thanks SUEDE for her generosity in so many ways!! And Epworth United Methodist is a great venue, where every seat allows you to feel close to the performer.

From June to October, join the Rehoboth Beach Library on the third Friday evening of every month to hear live performances from local singers and bands. The August Sunsets Live Music Series concert will feature the return of Bryan & the Barn Owls! Bryan Scar has performed at the library several times as part of the Sunsets Live Music Series. He is an Americana artist who has been entertaining folks from the coastal waters of Delaware to the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. His sound is a mix of John Denver, Jim Croce, and Johnny Cash. Accolades thus far include multiple appearances on Delmarva Life/local radio stations, four studio albums, and an endorsement by Teton Guitars.

The Rehoboth Beach Bandstand Summer Concert Series takes place every year from mid-June through Labor Day Weekend and has been providing FREE entertainment for Rehoboth Beach and its visitors since 1963! Each year, over 40 bands are selected to perform in an open-air concert venue just steps from the beach. The goal of the Rehoboth Beach Bandstand is to provide entertainment through music, movies, variety acts, and other local, regional, and national performances. All concerts are sponsored by the City of Rehoboth Beach.

48^th ANNUAL OUTDOOR FINE ART & FINE CRAFT SHOW

The Rehoboth Art League’s signature summer event, the Outdoor Show, returns to the historic Henlopen Acres campus in 2021. More than 100 artists and artisans from around the county will display and sell their fine art and fine crafts amidst the Rehoboth Art League’s 3.5+ acre wooded campus, just blocks from the busy downtown Rehoboth Avenue in Coastal Delaware. The annual Outdoor Show is a juried event yielding exceptional work, and many of the artists actively enjoy demonstrating their creativity during each day of the show. 

https://www.seashorestriders.com/race-schedule

Clear Space Theatre productions run through the month of August. Performances of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert; Sound of Music; and Mamma Mia are at 7:30pm, Monday through Saturday, and Saturday matinees at 2:00pm. Eyecons 2021 with Christopher Peterson is performed on Saturdays and Sundays through the month of August, and the Children’s Theatre performances are held on Saturday mornings. See the Clear Space Theatre website for the schedule of performances and to purchase tickets.

In order to provide the safest seating possible for patrons, Clear Space is selling tables only. Four-person and two-person tables are available. Seating is limited to 100 people instead of the normal 192.  Face masks are still requested. No food or drink is allowed inside the theatre.

If you have a large tree on your property that you’d love to see as a focal point of the Rehoboth Beach holiday celebration, please contact Communications Specialist Lynne Coan at [email protected] or 302-227-6181, ext. 522. Spruce and Douglas fir trees make great Christmas trees, but any nicely shaped evergreen tree will do the job.

In the July 2021 issue of this newsletter we included a picture that we published with permission from the source, the Cape Gazette, but neglected to cite the source. We thank the Cape Gazette for allowing us to use their image.