Share: 

Rehoboth Beach community gathers in the spirit of unity

Mariah Calagione named Citizen of the Year; Jerry Filbin honored as champion
Rehoboth Beach Main Street hosted its 31st annual Community Unity Dinner Dec. 7. Asher Thompson tells Santa what he wants for Christmas with the help of mom Janine Thompson. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTOS
Chris Flood
December 13, 2025

Rehoboth Beach Main Street hosted its 31st annual Community Unity Dinner Dec. 7 at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center.

Hundreds of people turned out for the event, which featured an all-you-can-eat pasta dinner complete with rolls, salad, desserts and an ice cream bar. City commissioners, city staff, local elected officials and Village Improvement Association members helped serve food and clean up tables.

As part of the dinner, RBMS handed out two awards – Dogfish Head co-founder Mariah Calagione was named Citizen of the Year and RBMS Board member Jerry Filbin received the Champion Award.

In addition to the food and awards, Santa and Mrs. Claus paid a visit, and there were performances by the Sussex Dance Academy, the Cape Jazz Band, the CAMP Rehoboth Chorus, Epworth children’s choir and Kara Bourdreau from Main Street.

Except for a brief hiatus, the Community Unity Dinner has been a Rehoboth Beach Main Street fundraiser since 1994. For more information on Rehoboth Beach Main Street, call 302-227-2772 or go to downtownrb.com.

 

Dogfish Head co-founder Mariah Calagione was named as 2025 Citizen of the Year by Rehoboth Beach Main Street. Shown are (l-r) RBMS board member Jen Carroll, Calagione, RBMS member Carolyn Diefenderfer and RBMS President Suzie Martin.
RBMS Board member Jerry Filbin received the Champion Award for 2025. Shown are (l-r) RBMS board member Jen Carroll, Filbin, RBMS board member Peter Pizzolongo, RBMS President Suzie Martin, RBMS member Kara Bourdreau and RBMS member Carolyn Diefenderfer.
RBMS board member Jen Carroll receives a lifetime achievement award, in the form of a high heel, for all the work she’s put into the Community Unity Dinner.
Epworth preschool students perform at the dinner. They may have received the loudest applause of the night.
Brenda Milbourne helps Aimias Woods, right, and Bryson Hareing get some toppings for their ice cream.
The Alliance Singers of the CAMP Rehoboth chorus perform a number of holiday-themed songs.
Large inflatables greet folks in attendance.
A handful of Sussex Dance Academy students perform a short piece of “The Nutcracker.”
Village Improvement Association volunteers Diane Baerveldt, left, and Virginia Anderson hand out desserts.
Volunteering at the event are (l-r) Assistant City Manager Evan Miller, Police Chief Keith Banks and Mayor Stan Mills.
Twins Juliette and JoJo Miller get some help picking out toys from grandmother Tina Hearn.
Hundreds of people attend the annual event at the convention center.

Most Popular

Chris Flood has been working for the Cape Gazette since early 2014. He currently covers Rehoboth Beach and Henlopen Acres, but has also covered Dewey Beach and the state government. He covers environmental stories, business stories and random stories on subjects he finds interesting, and he also writes a column called Choppin’ Wood that runs every other week. He’s a graduate of the University of Maine and the Landing School of Boat Building & Design.

Most Popular