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Juneteenth celebration held at Sussex Family YMCA

Ayreeona Hudson, center, of The Movement Dance Squad, entertains the crowd June 16 at the Sussex Family YMCA Juneteenth celebration. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Dan Cook
June 21, 2024

The Sussex Family YMCA held its Juneteenth celebration June 16, at the facility in Rehoboth Beach, where the staff took visitors on a walk through time featuring Black performers and Black-owned businesses celebrating the theme of Black Success.

Author Tamar Johnson reads her new book, “The Great Golden Banana.”
YMCA Senior Child Care Director Shannon Downing serves as emcee for the event.
George Beattle, 3, has fun in the bounce house.
Maria Winder displays the confectionery she makes under the name of Ri’s Sweet Treats.
DJ Mikey keeps the sounds coming during the event.
Sharing a moment together are (l-r) Kathy McGuinness, Shannon Downing and Jaslynn Downing.
Membership Director Shay Almond, right, gets some Caribbean Cuisine of fried fish, mac & cheese and greens from Tolete Reid.
Jaonna Gates, left, of Gates Apothecary prepares a sale for Julianna Gomez, 10, Maria Ponce and Mateo Gomez, 8.
The Movement Dance Squad entertains the crowd at the YMCA Juneteenth celebration. Shown are (l-r) Cumoni Philips, Timia Gibbs, Jada Thomas, Myshaylah Maier, Amayah Thomas and Ayreeona Hudson.
Pausing for a picture at the event are Sen. Russ Huxtable, D-Lewes, and Nicole Freedman, YMCA Delaware executive director of government relations.

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Dan has worked for the Cape Gazette for more than 30 years as a photographer and reporter, covering high school sports and happenings around eastern Sussex County. He won a photography award from the National Newspaper Association, and numerous awards from the Maryland, Delaware, D.C. Press Association. A Delaware native, Dan graduated from Cape in 1972 and returned as a teacher and coach in the 1980s. He retired from the classroom in 2016. He was inducted into Cape High’s Legends Stadium in 2016. In his spare time, Dan enjoys spending time with his wife, two sons, grandchildren and dogs. 

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