Letters to the Editor
Chautauqua Tent Shows answers ridiculous
I know they don't read them, but their answers are ridiculous. I emailed Tom Carper and John Carney about the movie on World War II heroes of Southern Delaware that was shown at the Chautauqua Tent Show. I told them it was a very moving and wonderful tribute to our heroes here in Southern Delaware. The answer I got back from John Carney was "thank you for your interest in Egypt" - enough said! Now, John Carney was even in attendance one evening - too bad it wasn't during the Vanishing Voices movie! Can't wait to hear what Tom says.
The Chautauqua Tent Shows were absolutely wonderful and we enjoyed each and every performance and thank everyone who spent so much time putting this wonderful program together. All who missed these wonderful five days missed a lot.
Carol Anderson
Lewes
Thanks for support on razing buildings
I would like to express my appreciation for the countless responses I have received personally relative to a recent letter I posted with the Cape Gazette. What I failed to say in that letter is that we do not know what happened to our grandchild in Dr. Bradley's office in the first months of her life. Prior to being abandoned by her teenage mother who had separated herself from her parents, we were not present during those visits. Not knowing is an unspeakable agony for my daughter, son-in-law, ourselves and the paternal great-grandmother that will never be assuaged. To date, there has not been an opportunity for a face down that I am seeking with Bradley. I have faith that it will come.
The bulldog in me will never give up until it does.
Life changed early on for our child in a positive way relative to a guardianship appointment through the court system. From that day forward there was never an opportunity for Bradley to abuse. It is our consolation if there can be any consolation to any family!
For the past six years, our child has resided in all facets of life in a safe harbor, and the center of our collective village of love and protection. Thanks be to God for that opportunity.
It is my understanding there may be new property owners of the Bradley property. If that is the case, new owners please hear me well: Regardless of what new facade you might incorporate relative to this property (if this be your thinking), our community will never support or patronize any prospective business with one board of the old structures incorporated.
Bring what housed unspeakable evil down! Clear the earth! Then, keeping your community in mind, build something that reflects what Lewes and its residents have stood for for hundreds of years - and stand for today!
Pastor Maxine McWhorter Ungerbuehler
lifetime resident of the state of Delaware
proud community member of Lewes
Sen. Simpson has sold us homeowners out
The following letter was sent to Sen. Gary Simpson, R-Milford, with a copy submitted to the Cape Gazette for publication.
Once more, the politics of greed won out and you voted to protect the wealthy manufactured home park owners, rather than the thousands of people who live in these parks, with your negative vote of SB97.
It is my belief that you were elected to serve the people in your district, not the handful of park owners. It is the populace that must elect you, not your favored handful. It is very possible that if you have future political aspirations you will not be able to achieve them, as you have lost the votes of the people. Perhaps you do not understand the types of people who move into these parks. Some do, as it is all they can afford. Some do, as living in a manufactured home is comfortable, easier to maintain than a traditional home. Others do, as it affords them a comfortable home in which to live out retirement.
Most people in my manufactured home park, Rehoboth Bay Community, cannot pull up stakes and move. A fixed income dictates that you cannot do this. I would like to know the thinking process you went through to vote against a bill that would protect these homeowners from the rampant greed of the owners. I have a friend who has had a place in this park since 1992. Her land rent has increased over 300 percent in that time period.
She started with $150 per month, and is now up to $608. I have lived here two years, and already my rent has increased by $40, almost a 10 percent increase. There are already signs of an exodus here, as people can no longer afford the steep rents. We have close to 10 percent of the homes here for sale.
Land and home values have plummeted, in case you have not noticed, and for us to be forced to pay more and more rent is not justifiable. For an elected offical to capriciously vote against protecting the homeowners covered by the provisions of SB97 is callous, indefensible, and worthy of a very close scrutiny. You sold us out.
Terry Conroy
Rehoboth Bay Community
Rehoboth Beach
Simpson admonished for vote on SB97
The following letter was sent to Sen. Gary Simpson, R-Milford, with a copy submitted to the Cape Gazette for publication.
My name is Barbara Geibel. I am president of the Rehoboth Bay Tenants Association, Rehoboth Bay Community, on Old Landing Road. I was present at Legislative Hall when the votes were taken on SB97, rent justification. I was extremely disappointed with your decision to vote no on SB97. I have informed our members, some 280 strong, about your decision so you may be hearing from them very soon.
With so many manufactured home communities (MHCs) in your district, I just don't understand why you voted no. Please enlighten me on your decision to vote no. Do you not understand the economics of this situation? I pay $562 a month land rent. Ten years ago it was $285. That is $8 shy of a 100 percent increase in 10 years. How do you justify voting against this bill with those kind of statistics? Believe it or not, Rehoboth Bay is one of the better MHCs. The average rent in this community is around $500 per month times 12 months, which equals $6,600 a year times 518 homes, which equals $3,418,800 per year for the landowner. I will say, and I am being generous, that with six employees plus one that is part time on weekends there is $200,000 in wages. Our budget for maintenance and upkeep is probably around $300,000. Do the math sir. Even if wages and upkeep were $1,000,000 a year the landowner would have a profit of over $2,000,000 a year. Pretty nice, isn't it?
Holding the line on rent would put more money in the pockets of your constituents in District 18 to buy more goods and services, go out to dinner, buy new appliances, fix up their homes, etc. This is trickle-down economics. More money to business, more taxes to the state. Isn't this the republican way? Obviously, you and the other Republicans who voted no don't think so. I am a registered Republican, and I am ashamed to admit it. I am hoping that if this bill comes to the floor in the future, you will reconsider your decision to vote no. I would greatly appreciate a reply that I can share with my members.
Barbara Geibel
president
Rehoboth Bay Tenants Association
Golf classic at Cripple Creek a success
The Quiet Resorts Charitable Foundation held its annual Golf Classic fundraiser at Cripple Creek Country Club June 2. The weather was beautiful and we had a great turnout of golfers and volunteers. All in all, the tournament was a resounding success. Its proceeds will go directly to fund $16,000 in college scholarships and over $25,000 in grants to organizations within the Bethany-Fenwick area this year.
The success of this event is attributed to the contributions of area businesses, residents and organizations that sponsored the tournament and generously donated monies, prizes, food, beverages, advertising and their time, making it the best tournament in the region.
Of course, without our golfers, who not only played but generously participated in games on the course, there would be no tournament, so a special thanks is extended to them as well.
It is not possible to name everyone involved, but we are sincerely grateful to each of you; thank you for supporting our mission to improve the quality of life in the Quiet Resorts.
Brent Poffenberger
Cheryl Wisbrock
event co-chairs
Quiet Resorts Charitable Foundation
Lewes Garden Tour a blooming success
The Lewes Chamber of Commerce would like to thank all of the numerous volunteers and members who helped with this year’s Lewes Garden Tour, our 21st. Mother Nature provided the perfect weather to tour the beautiful hidden gardens. We especially are grateful to our event committee chaired by Carolyn Marshall. The chamber is indebted to the owners of this year’s tour gardens: Jamie and Eugene Williams, Brent Myers, Suenell and Darrell Steele, Dario and Elaine Prieto, Manya Kelly Greif, Betty Ann McNeil, Kevin and Marion Moore and Hugh and Kathleen Leahy for their willingness to participate.
Long before the flowers are in bloom, the hardworking veteran members of the garden tour committee begin the preparations. Carolyn Marshall began selecting the tour gardens within days of last year’s garden tour, and she annually hosts the garden owners’ and committee’s thank-you breakfast. Her committee members are Brenda Brady, Betty Grunder, Anne and Jack Schulze, Tony Boyd-Heron, Barbara Petterson, Pat Henry, Ted Becker and Jay Reamer. We would like to thank the city of Lewes for allowing us to use Zwaanendael Park for the garden market vendors, the city’s street department and the Lewes Police Department (especially the bicycle patrol) for their assistance on the day of the tour, providing a safe walking environment for tour-goers and others visiting the garden market. The chamber is very appreciative of the time donated by our guest lecturers - Valery Cordrey, John Feliciani and Brenda Brady. Our thanks to the artists who were painting in some of the gardens - Barbara Lloyd, Carol Gray, Steve Rogers, Lesley McCaskill, Libby Zando and Linda Dickey; to the quilters who were demonstrating their craft in the gardens - Johanna Barbati, Florence Gray, Dee Deal, Denise Laux, Marsha Friend, Pat Morrissy, Linda Bruce, Joan Behrle, Anita Barthelson, Sally Poultney, Heather Poultney, Sue Wimmer, Sandra Friant and June Foster; to Southern Delaware Tourism for partial funding of the event. This event is fortunate to have enormous community-based volunteer support in addition to the event committee. More than 120 volunteers participated in numerous facets of the tour, including serving as greeters in the tour gardens, setting up tables and chairs for the food tent and van service from chamber members, Beebe Medical Center, Irish Eyes Pub & Restaurant, Prudential Gallo Realtors and the Jolly Trolley. We also are very grateful to the following chamber members who provided additional support for the effort: Sign*A*Rama for updating the signs; Dean Design for program design; Chautauqua for the use of their tent; and Inn at Canal Square for help with the garden owners’ and committee breakfast. We had additional assistance selling the tickets from the Rehoboth Beach Museum and Windsor’s Flowers in Rehoboth and The Inn at Canal Square, The Stepping Stone, Trader’s Jewelry & Gift Shop and Windsor’s Plant Outlet in Lewes.
Betsy Reamer
executive director
Lewes Chamber of Commerce
Thanks for beef and beer fundraiser support
On June 15 a Beef and Beer Fundraiser was held for the Jarrett and Reed Ford Trust Fund. Jarrett and Reed Ford are the sons of the late Robbie "Ducky" Ford. The night was filled with a live auction, silent auction food, and music. It was amazing to see friends, family and members of the community come together for a great cause. Amazingly we raised just under $12,000! Our family would like to thank the following businesses that donated to this cause. In-town Lewes and Lewes-area businesses include Deanna's/Piccolino, P.U.P.S, Aqua Marine, Kids' Ketch, Ruddo's Golf, Auto Gallery, Jungle Jim's, Seacost Salon, Bonkersville, Annabella's Italian Restauraunt, Capriotti's, Deli 88, Grotto Pizza, Irish Eyes, Lazy Susan's, Best Equipment, Shore Electric, Anchorage Motel, Eddie Shockley & Friends Band, and Tom Tom. Businesses outside of the Lewes area that donated include Atlantic Auction Co., Fisher's Popcorn, artist John Donato, R.J. Studios Photography, Smokin D'z BBQ, Bank's Liquors in Ocean View, Eagle's Nest Campground and artist Ames Belote.
We know there are so many friends and family who donated time and energy and we really appreciate it. We will never be able to thank you enough. A special thank you goes to Chris, Bonnie and Christy Shockley of Frankford (family of Robbie) who initiated this event and made it come together. If you are a business and we have forgotten to name you, please accept our sincere apologies. We look forward to putting something together again for next year and we hope to see everyone there!
Carri Davis (for the Ford and Shockley families)
Lewes
Cape French exchange trip a success
On April 7 our group of 22 Cape Henlopen High School students and four chaperones began our fourth French exchange trip to our sister city, Vitré in Brittany, and Paris, France. We had a wonderful six-day stay with host families, experiencing French life and seeing the sites in Brittany. We ended the trip in Paris, where we visited some of the most historically and culturally relevant places in the world. Our students represented their families, their school and their country exceptionally well, and made memories and connections to last a lifetime. I would like to thank the Cape families and businesses who make the program possible through their continued support. The Cape Henlopen Educational Foundation (CHEF) again sponsored the trip, as well as Bad Hair Day salon in Rehoboth. A special thanks goes to Gary Papp, proprietor of Essential Chef, who provided us with a delicious French-inspired celebratory dinner June 1, and a generous donation to the program. We look forward to furthering the bonds of friendship and cultural exchange when we welcome the French group in October.
Holly Criswell
Cape teacher and
French exchange program director
