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Rehoboth Beach Main Street hosts Community Unity Dinner

Nicola co-founder Nick Caggiano Sr. recognized as 2021 Citizen of the Year
Rehoboth Beach Main Street hosted its annual Community Unity Dinner Dec. 4, during which Nicola Pizza co-founder Nick Caggiano Sr. was recognized as the 2021 Citizen of the Year. Caggiano, left, is shown with RBMS Executive Director Dan Slagle. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTOS
Chris Flood
December 8, 2021

Story Location:
Rehoboth Beach Convention Center
229 Rehoboth Avenue
Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
United States

Hundreds of people turned out Dec. 5 for Rehoboth Beach Main Street’s annual Community Unity Dinner at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center. Nicola Pizza co-founder Nick Caggiano Sr. was honored as the 2021 Citizen of the Year.

Caggiano briefly addressed the cheering crowd. He thanked family, friends, customers, and his late wife and co-founder Joan for making 50 years of Nicola Pizza possible. Rehoboth has been a great place to have a business, he said.

Caggiano made his living as a pizza maker, but he’s also a business owner and never misses an opportunity to promote the company, which he did by saying the new location isn’t too far away. Nicola announced last summer it would be moving to Ocean One Plaza off Route 1 in Lewes. It’s just a hop, skip and a jump away, he said of the project that’s currently under construction.

Except for a brief hiatus, the Community Unity Dinner has been a Rehoboth Beach Main Street fundraiser since 1994. This year, Sazio and Big Fish Charitable Foundation provided the pasta meal. Many other downtown restaurants donated the salads, wine and beer, bread and butter, and desserts. Santa and Mrs. Claus made their appearance at the event, and there was a craft table for kids.

For more information on Rehoboth Beach Main Street, call 302-227-2772 or go to downtownrb.com.

The Rehoboth Beach Convention Center was full of people enjoying the holiday spirit.
City officials serve food at the dinner. Pictured behind the table are (l-r) Commissioner Tim Bennett, Commissioner Patrick Gossett and City Manager Sharon Lynn.
Members of the Village Improvement Association helped clean the tables after folks were done eating. Shown are (l-r) Marsha Burd, Cathy Hutchinson, Maribeth Dockety, Pat Jurewicz, VIA President Ann Sebastian, Karen Adams, Sherry Wilson and Carole Baker.
The CAMP Rehoboth Chorus Ensemble sings the holiday tunes everyone loves.
Sea Shell Shop owner Patty Derrick founded the event in 1994. The business provided a pile of free frisbees for the kids.
Vienna Mento, 7, and brother Vito Mento, 9, write letters for Santa.
Daniel Gomezbell, 3, gets his treats while the getting is good.
Nick Caggiano Sr.’s daughter Camille Caggiano congratulates her dad for all the success he’s had over 50 years of business in Rehoboth Beach.
The man of the hour, Nick Caggiano Sr., shows off his spaghetti-and-meatball-themed award.
Cape Henlopen High School Jazz Band members greeted guests as they walked in. Pictured are (l-r) Conor Wiedmann, Elliott Bastian, Branden Groll and Marcus Gromofski.
Rehoboth Beach Mayor Stan MIlls presents Nick Caggioano Sr. with a tribute from Sussex County Council.
There were many attendees sporting seasonal attire, but Jon Edwards and Meghan Carroll took the prize for most dressed for the occasion.
Rehoboth Beach Main Street members and Community Unity Dinner co-organizers Jenny Burton, left, and Jen Carroll hug while thanking all the volunteers and businesses that contributed to the success of the event.

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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.

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