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Rotarians raise funds for Can-Do Playground

Alex Pires of Highway One makes a $25,000 donation to the Can-Do playground. Shown are (l-r) Pires, his wife Diane Cooley and Jack Riddle, president of Community Bank Delaware. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Dan Cook
October 5, 2025

Nicola Pizza was packed with Rotarians and friends Sept. 29, as they supported the funding of a new Rotary Can-Do playground at Coolspring Road on Route 9 outside Lewes. 

Seven Rotary Clubs are partnering with Sussex County Land Trust to build a 1-acre playground designed for special needs children and adults. Nicola Pizza donated 20% of all sales that evening to the cause.

Highlights included Alex Pires of Highway One making a $25,000 donation and Tyler Stetz of Community Bank Delaware making a $10,000 donation.

Dignitaries at the event included Dale Kerns, Rotary district governor; Sara Bluhm, executive director of Sussex Land Trust; and Amy Marasco, mayor of Lewes.  

This event was the launch of the public outreach to support the goal of raising $850,000 to build a playground to serve the 8,000 special needs children in Sussex County.

With this event, Rotary has raised $285,000 toward the goal.

Complete information on the Sussex Rotary Can-Do playground can be found at www.candohudson.org.

 

Tyler Stetz of Community Bank Delaware presents a check for $10,000 to Jack Riddle, president of Community Bank Delaware and Lewes-Rehoboth Rotary Club member.
Nicola Pizza donated 20% of all sales Sept. 29 to support the Can-Do playground. Shown are (l-r) Jack Riddle, president of Community Bank Delaware and Lewes-Rehoboth Rotary Club member; Nicola Pizza owner Nick Caggiano Jr.; and Alex Pires of Highway One.
Pete Booker of the Lewes-Rehoboth Rotary Club welcomes the crowd to the event and gives information about the Can-Do playground project.
Lewes-Rehoboth Rotary Club member David Keller and his wife Kathy enjoy dinner at the event.
Celebrating the Can-Do playground night are (l-r) Jack Riddle, president of Community Bank Delaware; Sussex County Land Trust Executive Director Sara Bluhm; District Gov. Dale Kerns; and Pete Booker of the Lewes-Rehoboth Rotary Club.
Rotary District Governor Dale Kerns speaks highly of the local Rotary Club and how nice the playground will be in Sussex County.
Jack Riddle, president of Community Bank Delaware and Rotarian with the Lewes-Rehoboth Club, tells the crowd about the fundraising effort for the project.
Lisa Groom of the Lewes-Rehoboth Rotary Club enjoys a moment with her husband Dennis.
Sussex County Land Trust Executive Director Sara Bluhm speaks to the attendees with her daughter Joey.
Sara Bluhm, left, executive director of Sussex Land Trust, receives a thank you from Janine Fitzgerald of the Lewes-Rehoboth Rotary Club.
Enjoying the evening’s event are Lewes-Rehoboth Rotary Past President Gail F. Dejmal, left, and Rotarian Pat Campbell-White.
It was a great night out for the whole family as Nicola Pizza donated 20% of all profits to the Can-Do Playground Fund.
Community Bank Delaware’s Staci Niblett, left, and Chris Benjamin smile for the camera.
Enjoying dinner are (l-r) Community Bank Delaware Vice President Brandon Perdue, son Colton and wife Melissa.

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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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