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Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club Donates to Sussex County Habitat For Humanity

March 3, 2020Newsrotary

Millsboro) (February 4, 2019) — As part of its ongoing mission to change lives within the community, The Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club presented a $1,000 donation to Kevin Gilmore, Executive Director, Sussex County Habitat for Humanity, to assist in the organization’s home repair and home building programs. Funds for the donation were part of the proceeds raised at the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club’s popular golf tournament held last June at The Peninsula on the Indian River Bay.

The Sussex County Habitat for Humanity organization has built 106 homes in Sussex County since 1991, and hopes to build an additional 94 homes over the next seven years.

Gilmore pointed out that the Sussex County Habitat for Humanity organization has built or rehabbed and sold 144 homes since its founding in 1991.It has served 539 people through homeownership (187 adults and 352 children) and helped over 240 homeowners with small repairs to help them stay in their homes. In the past three years, the organization has provided one-on-one financial literacy coaching to over 600 people.

At the presentation, Gilmore noted: “Thank you to Long Neck Sunshine Rotary Club for its faithful support of the work of Sussex County Habitat for Humanity. There are two primary concerns around housing affordability in Sussex County. The first is that there is a lack of inventory and the second is that too many people are paying too much of their income on housing. One in seven households in Sussex County are paying more than 50% of their income on housing. Every dollar that is given to Habitat helps combat the affordable housing shortage by helping another family with an opportunity to build and buy a home they can afford.”

“We are very happy to be able to support the work of Habitat for Humanity with the proceeds of our annual golf tournament,” noted Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club President, John Berner. “The work they do is truly needed in our community.”

Pictured at top: Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club presents to Sussex County Habitat for Humanity. Standing left to right: Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club President, John Berner; Past President Mike Hall; and Sussex County Executive Director Kevin Gimore.

Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club Throws Monthly Birthday Parties to Celebrate the Children at the Oak Orchard Boys & Girls Club

March 3, 2020Newsrotary

(Millsboro) (February 22, 2020) — The Oak Orchard Boys and Girls Club is a happening place on any given day, but on one Friday afternoon a month, the noise level and exuberance take on a whole new dimension when Long Neck Sunrise Rotarians arrive for a “Birthday Bash” with balloons, cupcakes, juice boxes and $25 VISA gift cards for those children having birthdays within that month. As part of its mission to change lives in the greater Long Neck community, the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club has been celebrating children at the Oak Orchard Boys and Girls Club with regular birthday parties every month from September to May since the fall of 2017.

Originally part of a district grant program procured by the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club to Celebrate the Lives of Youngsters at the Oak Orchard Boys & Girls Club, the program now is being run with proceeds from the Club’s annual golf outing held in June each year at The Peninsula Golf Club. There are currently 96 children attending the programs at the Oak Orchard Boys & Girls Club who have received or will be receiving their $25 gift card and balloon. All children are treated to the cupcakes and juice boxes at each event.

“We are so grateful that the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club has been able to continue these birthday celebrations,“ noted Club Executive Director Erica Kennedy. “The children really look forward to having this special day and they love the icing.”

“Our partnership with the Oak Orchard Boys and Girls Club is an integral part of our community mission,” remarked Lucille Cavan, Chair of the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club Youth Projects Committee. “We are delighted to be able to make an impact on the lives of these young people, and even more delighted when the children recognize us outside of the Club. We truly know we are spreading the good works of Rotary.”

Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club has been working to support the youth of the Long Neck region for years. They have worked with the Boys & Girls Club on an annual MLB Pitch, Hit and Run Competition as well as the Birthday Bashes, provided dictionaries annually to the third graders attending Long Neck Elementary School and supported the annual book fair at Long Neck Elementary by supplying two free books to each child at the school.

Captions:

At Top: Olivia W. enjoys her icing as Jace S looks on!Top left:

Above Left: Khy’Jay Lucian T, Jace S, Marley W, Olivia W and Daemon D. enjoying the Birthday Bash.

Above Middle: Alexandria A. gets ready to blow out a candle on her cupcake being lit by Long Neck Sunrise Rotarian Cathy Cardaneo, while fellow celebrators (from left to right) Isaiah C., Brooklyn D and Trenton P. look on

Above Right: Rotarians prepare to award gift cards and balloons to children having birthdays that month. Students seated at table: Josiah L, Tyion L, Sophia R, Lilyana C.

Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club Donates $3,100 to Local Organizations Serving Veterans

March 3, 2020Newsrotary

(Millsboro) (February 2020) — This month, the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club completed donating the fund proceeds from its fall 2019 Flags for Heroes fund raising program to local agencies serving veterans. At its February 4^th meeting, The Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club presented a $1,500 donation to Toni Bergfelder, from Home of the Brave’s Women’s Shelter. The agency has two homes located on Sharps Road outside of Milford to serve the needs of homeless men and women who served in the military. The Rotary check was earmarked for use by the women’s shelter.

At an earlier meeting, an $800 check was presented to the officers of the American Legion Post 28 to assist their work with area veterans. Another check for $800 was sent to Warriors Community Connect, formerly known as Operation Second Chance. American Legion Post 28 and Warriors Community Connect partnered with the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club in its fall Flags for Heroes Fund Raiser, and hopes are to continue this partnership to build a bigger fund raising effort to better impact the lives of local veterans.

Pictured at top: Flags for Heroes co-chairs, Fred Gibbs (left) and Sarah Cha Cha (right) present a check generated from the proceeds from our Flags for Heroes project to American Legion Post 28 Officers 3rd Vice Commander – Russell E. Bufflap (center left) and Commander Jim Beattie (center right). The $800 check will be used to assist the Legion in their work with area veterans.

Service Projects Committee Chair, Dan Reed and Club President John Berner present Toni Bergfelder of Home of the Brave II a check for $1500 to support the Home’s women shelters for Veterans.

A Community Partnership Brings Seasonal Joy & Manners for Life Program to Oak Orchard Boys and Girls Club

January 9, 2020Uncategorizedrotary

Chef Robert (Daugherty), Director of Food and Beverage at The Peninsula wanted to give back to the community that had welcomed him so warmly, and shared with a group of residents from The Peninsula the idea of providing a Thanksgiving dinner, complete with tablecloths and restaurant table settings for the Boys and Girls Club of Oak Orchard. At that meeting, Connie Little, member of the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club, seized on the idea and took it up a notch by suggesting that the Rotary Club not only help Chef Robert on the designated day, but that the Club would offer a series of manner lessons to the children over the months of October and November leading up to the big event. The Youth Committee of the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club seized on the idea, and the “Manners for Life” program was born.

This idea of a Thanksgiving dinner was not a new concept to Chef Robert, he having done similar work for the homeless in Cambridge, Massachusetts, partnering with the local Rotary Club there. He found the idea of serving the children at the Oak Orchard Boys and Girls Club as meeting his spirit of giving objectives, after assisting the club with their Great Futures Gala. The food and beverage team at the Peninsula were on board immediately as well, and the partnership was born.

Connie Little and fellow Rotarians offered a series of mini-lessons to the children at the Club over a series of 5 weeks. Prior to their start, 30 children attending the Personal Care unit offered by the Boys and Girls Club were treated to personal hygiene kits, courtesy of the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club. As part of the Manners for Life program, the Older children, part of the Smart Girls and Path to Manhood group at the Boys and Girls Club, received lessons on Manners 101, How to Be a Good Friend, and Gratitude is the Best Attitude as part of the Manners for Life program. All children attending the Oak Orchard Boys and Girls Club were offered training on Manners and Table Setting and Training on Centerpieces, Napkin Folding and Place Cards.

Erica Kennedy, Oak Orchard Boys and Girls Club Directory noted: “We welcome new and informative programming into the Boys and Girls Club that will assist our youth with practicing responsible and social performance. And we appreciate our partnership with the Rotary Club and Chef Robert on this very special endeavor.”

On November 26, 2019, Chef Robert and his team arrived at the Oak Orchard Boys and Girls Club with a complete Thanksgiving dinner featuring 60 pounds of turkey, two hams, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, salad, and yes, apple and pumpkin pie for dessert. The meal had been pre-cooked at The Peninsula by the food team there and Long Neck Sunrise Rotarians helped with table set up and service. The food, table service and linens were donated, with Peninsula vendors Sysco Food Service, Keany Produce and Capitol Linen donating the lion’s share of the approximate $400 in cost. 108 children were served and take-home meals were also prepared. The children enjoyed every last morsel.

“As providers in the food industry, we received gratuities all the time from our patrons,” remarked Chef Robert. “This dinner was our opportunity to give back. The Rotary team was instrumental in helping us serve the children. The entire event was a three-team effort.”

“The Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club views our mission to make a difference in our community by serving its youth, adults and business. We have had a longtime partnership with the Oak Orchard Boys and Girls Club, providing monthly birthday parties and sponsoring a Pitch, Hit and Run tournament in the Spring,” stated Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club John Berner. “Extending this partnership to inaugurate our Manners for Life program and include Chef Robert and his team from the Peninsula was a wonderful way for us to continue to change lives.”

Pictured From Left to Right: Hygiene kits for boys and girls were donated by the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club; Connie Little (standing) with assistance from Lynn Henry (right) leads a program on centerpieces.; Lucille Cavan (center) with assistance from Cathy Cardaneo (left) leads a Manners for Life program; Children enjoying their Thanksgiving meal.

Pictured from left to right: Children from Oak Orchard Boys and Girls Club enjoying their dinner; Oak Orchard Boys and Girls Club attendee, Kalani Ellis, with her Thanksgiving dinner; Long Neck Sunrise Rotarian Mike Hall serves lemonade.

Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club’s Flags for Heroes Program Raises $3,200 to Benefit Local Veterans

November 7, 2019Newsrotary

Oak Orchard Riverdale American Legion Post 28 and
Warrior Community Connect partner with the club to raise funds

The Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club joined with the Oak Orchard Riverdale American Legion Post 28 and the Warrior Community Connect (WCC) organization to sell flags in its Flags for Heroes program, proceeds of which will go to support the veteran causes of Post 28 and WCC. $3,200 was raised by selling 64 flags at $50 each, via a two-month fund raising effort capped off by a Flags for Heroes fund raiser on October 25, 2019 at the American Legion Post 28, 31768 Legion Rd, Millsboro, DE 19966.

Rotarians setting up the club banner before the flag display The Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club has sponsored a Flags for Heroes program since 2015, displaying sponsored flags on the grounds of the American Legion Post 28 during the weeks leading up to Veteran’s Day. In 2018 the club was able to obtain 50 sponsors of flags. This year’s total of 64 was a respectable increase and hopes are that the momentum will continue into future years. Joining with the American Legion Post 28 and President John Berner draping the US flag on a speaking veteran Warrior Community Connect is the first time the Rotary Club has entered into such a partnership to meet its fund-raising objectives, all proceeds of which will benefit veterans in need.

“This was the first time we tried to do a fund-raising endeavor with other partners and we were very pleased with what we were able to accomplish in a short period of time with the three organizations Legion, Rotary and Wounded Warrior Connect leaders pulling together to host the event and sell the flags,” notes Long Neck Sunrise Rotarian Fred Gibbs, co-chairman of this year’s Flag for Heroes project. “We expect the event to get better and better.”

Flags were posted on Saturday, October 26, 2019 by members of the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club. The impressive flag display can be viewed at the corner of John J Williams Highway and 31768 Legion Road on the front lawn of the American Legion Post 28 property. It will be on display through November 16. Those who purchased flags can find the flag for their hero by using the numbers posted with the flags which are keyed to a sign of heroes and sponsors posted at the display.

Photo Captions:

Top – Long Neck Sunrise Club Rotarians put the finishing touches on this year’s Flag for Heroes display by posting the program identification banner.

Middle – Long Neck Sunrise Club President, John Berner, drapes a comforting flag on the shoulder of Warrior Community Connect program veteran, Alex Pabon, while his wife Sylvia looks on. (Standing left – Walt Ellenberger, President, Warrior Community Connect.

Bottom – American Legion Post 28 Commander, Jim Beattie stands with Long Neck Sunrise Club Rotarian Flags for Heroes co-chairs, Fred Gibbs and Sarah Cha-Cha, along with Warrior Community Connect President, Walt Ellenberger.

Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club Donates To Literacy Delaware To Support Expansion Into Sussex County

October 18, 2019Newsrotary

Lack of basic literacy and English skills is a growing problem that many adults in Sussex County must deal with on a daily basis. Recognizing this problem, the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary club donated $1500 to Literacy Delaware on October 2, 2019 at the Lewes Library in support of their efforts to improve literacy and English skills of adults in the community. This donation is in keeping with the Club’s mission to provide a safety net to help the residents of the local community.

Poor literacy and English skills impact all aspects of family life including education, family life, employability, job skills, health and financial literacy especially with the immigrant population. Literacy Delaware is currently offering English as a Second Language (ESL) programs in the Frankford and Selbyville libraries. The donation will be used to expand their presence throughout the county, wherever their services are needed. It will help defray costs of instructional materials, tutor training, resource books, teaching supplies, and assessment fees.

Cynthia Shermeyer, Executive Director of Literacy Delaware, said “The Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club truly walks the walk on the 3rd Avenue of Service. Their support of Literacy Delaware continues their tradition of serving the needs in order to improve the quality of life for those in their local community.”

“The Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club looks forward to working with Literacy Delaware in improving the quality of life in our local community,” said Mark Moscowitz, Treasurer. “Their model for delivering English-as-a-Second Language instruction is very effective so anything we can do to help them reach those in need will benefit everyone.”Literacy Delaware’s trained volunteer tutors provide targeted instruction to adults with low literacy or English language skills. Literacy Delaware assists adult learners to realize their potential as confident, self-sufficient and productive employees, family members and contributors to their communities.”

Literacy Delaware can be contacted at admin@literacydelaware.org or visit literacydelaware.org to learn more.

Pictured: Mark Moscowitz, Treasurer, Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club presenting the donation to Cynthia Shermeyer, Executive Director, Literacy Delaware.

Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club’s 10th Annual Charity Golf Tournament Raises $24,000 to Support Local and Rotary International Initiatives

July 15, 2019Newsrotary

It was a hot but beautiful day at The Peninsula on The Indian River Bay for The Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club’s 10th Annual Charity Golf Outing on Thursday, June 7, 2018. Predicted showers held off for a few sprinkles as the last foursome was finishing their hole. This signature event is the club’s main fund-raising function, where all proceeds are used to support:

Rotary’s Global Polio Eradication Initiative
Habitat for Humanity – Sussex County
Oak Orchard Boys and Girls Club
Long Neck Area Youth Programs and Organizations
The Greater Long Neck Community with Projects and Programs to FosterGrowth and Improve Its Quality of Life

This year the tournament is projected to net approximately $24,000 from the event sponsors and 116 golfers.

The tournament included a $5,000 putting contest sponsored by Eric Blondin of State Farm Insurance. Long Neck Surnise Rotary Club incoming President, John Berner, won the initial $180 putting prize but failed by a fraction of an inch on the putt to win his share of the $5,000. First Place Team with a score of 57 for the scramble-style tournament play included Steve Grossman/Chris Mancini, Austin Auen, Dan Vanda and Lisa Grossman. This team represented Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club and therefore also won the Traveling Trophy for the Number One Rotary Team.

On-course competitions include Four “Holes in One“ sponsored by Terry Megee of Megee Motors with no winners this year. The day was capped by a gourmet dinner at the Peninsula. Next year’s tournament is scheduled for June 11, 2020.

photo of first place winners — Pictured left to right: First Place Team and Traveling Rotary Team from Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club left to right: Steve Grossman, Austin Auen, Dan Vanda and Lisa Grossman.

Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club Inducts New Officers and Board for 2019-20

July 5, 2019Newsrotary

During a special evening meeting held at The Clubhouse at The Peninsula, The Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club inducted a new slate of officers and board to serve the club for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2019 with Assistant District Governor, Carlene Roche officiating.

Assuming the role of President will be John Berner. Joining him will be Past President, Mike Hall; Treasurer, Mark Moscowitz; Secretary, Cathy Cardaneo; President Elect, Lucille Cavan; and President Nominee, Dan Reed; all residents of Millsboro.

The 2018-19 additional board slate sworn in were Membership Chair – Paulette Rappa; Rotary Foundation Chair, Fred Gibbs; Youth Services Committee Chair, Lucille Cavan; Public Image and Marketing Services Chair, Sharon Marshall. Still to be determined are Business & Community Connections and Service Projects Chairs.

During the evening’s festivities, three transferring members were welcomed to the club: Steve Grossman, Austin Auen and Sarah Cha Cha. Steve Grossman was also awarded a Paul Harris +8 in the Paul Harris Society by Dr. Susan Giove, Charter Member of the Rehoboth Sunrise Rotary Club and former District Governor. Outgoing President Mike Hall reviewed highlights of the club’s accomplishments for the prior year including the outstanding results of the Charity Golf Outing and the club’s work serving area youth. New President John Berner highlighted the goal to become the premier business organization serving the local Long Neck community.

Photo of swearing in of officers for 2019-2020 — Carlene Roche swears in the new officers and board of the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club.
Standing from left to right: Carlene Roche, Sharon Marshall – Public Image / Marketing Services, Dan Reed – President Nominee, Cathy Cardaneo – Secretary, Mark Moscowitz – Treasurer, Lucille Cavan – President Elect, John Berner – President, Mike Hall – Past President

Steve Grossman receiving his Paul Harris +8 pin — Former District Governor, Dr. Susan Giove with Steve Grossman who has just received the Paul Harris +8 Award of the Paul Harris Society.

Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club Collaborates with Rehoboth’s Browseabout Books for its Rotary Reads District Grant

May 22, 2019Newsrotary

It all started with a simple idea in 2018 from Tracey Gross. Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club member. She asked if the club would consider supporting a project to give each child at Long Neck Elementary two free books during the school’s Spring book fair week. Because the club has a strong youth service focus, her idea was met with great enthusiasm and club members sprang to action to gather gently used books and forge a relationship with Browseabout Books to purchase a few titles to fill in the gaps. Over 1600 books were distributed in May of 2018 by Rotarians manning special display tables in the corridor outside the school library during Book Fair Week.

The project was so successful that Club president at the time, Paulette Rappa, discussed the idea of the club applying for a Rotary District 7630 Grant to allow more substantial purchases of books to serve the ~800 student population and to also provide students in the 4th and 5th grade with two novels to help them hone their reading skills. The idea that all children, regardless of socio-economic status, should have access to books, crystallized the project activity for this district grant. “Rotary Reads” combines Rotary’s goal of strengthening the capacity of communities and supports basic education and literacy by providing equal access to books for all children. It was also felt that because the Long Neck Rotary Club was already touching 3rd graders with free dictionaries (funded by the club through its golf tournament proceeds), the selection of 4th and 5th graders allows these students to have a continuum of contact with Rotary Club members so they could build a better understanding of how Rotarians care and support communities. Paulette prepared a grant and one was awarded to the club for this 2018-19 Rotary year as the Rotary Reads grant.

In September 2018, Tracey Gross and fellow club member, Sharon Marshall, reached out to Alex Colevas, Children’s Buyer and Event Coordinator at Browseabout Books on Rehoboth Avenue, to work out a plan to purchase age appropriate books for the children attending Long Neck Elementary School. In addition, Alex was asked to investigate what novels for the 4^th and 5^th grade students could be purchased economically within the grant award. Browseabout Books has been a fixture of the Rehoboth Beach community since its founding in 1975 by owners Steve and Barbara Crane, now joined by managing partner Susan Kehoe.

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Although Browseabout Books helps other local school districts with book acquisitions, according to Alex, this is the first project where they have procured competitively priced books for a large-scale project and passed them along at cost. “Helping to locate age appropriate books for the children of our community is certainly part of my job,” remarked Alex. “But getting those titles into the hands of children who might not otherwise have the option to purchase them is hopefully a huge step in helping to create life-long readers.”

The wheels were set in motion and Alex alerted Tracey and Sharon of titles that came on sale that would be appropriate purchases for the book fair, and what titles might work best for the 4th and 5th grade reading project. After reviewing a list of titles with Long Neck Elementary teachers, the titles chosen for 5th grade were Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan and Newberry Award winner, Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry. 4th grade titles selected were The BFG by Roald Dahl and The Boy Who Ran for President by Dan Gutman.

From May 3-10, 2019, Long Neck Sunrise Rotarians once again manned tables in the corridor outside the school library of Long Neck Elementary, helping children select two free books from the table. Children from pre-K through 5th grade browsed eagerly to find the perfect choice. All in all, over 1500 books were provided to the 767 students attending Long Neck Elementary during the Book Fair, 891 purchased this year from Browseabout Books and the remainder from prior purchases and gently used books obtained throughout the community. An additional 274 novels were given to the students in Grades 4 and 256 to the students in Grade 5 in separate assembly presentations on May 21, 2019.

“Our vision at Long Neck Elementary is to develop a community that inspires leaders,” noted Clara Conn, Principal of Long Neck Elementary School. “The Long Neck Rotary Club has had a positive impact in supporting our vision. Their continuous work and support have set a model for our students in developing as leaders. The students see first-hand how leadership within the community can make a difference and our student leaders enjoy seeing the Rotary Club members involved with our school. The Club’s generosity is not only appreciated, but again demonstrates the leadership and character traits all students need to be an active citizen in their community.”

“Our club has a history of working with youth in the greater Long Neck area,” commented Tracey Gross, chairperson of the Youth Committee of Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club. “As a parent of school age children, I am extremely gratified that our organization is so dedicated in helping all children in the area, regardless of background. There is nothing better than a good book to stimulate the mind of a child. We are so grateful to be able to work with Browseabout Books to make this happen.”

Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club Donates $1000 to Home of the Brave Women’s Shelter

May 4, 2019Newsrotary

As part of its mission to serve the local community, The Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club presented a $1,000 donation to Beth McGinn, Chairman for Home of the Brave at the club’s morning meeting on April 23, 2019 at the Ocean Grill II. Long Neck. The check was earmarked to assist the work of Home of the Brave’s Women’s Shelter.

Home of the Brave is one of the organizations supported annually by the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club, funded by the proceeds of its annual Flag for Heroes program held each fall, with flags displayed at American Legion Post 28 during the period surrounding Veteran’s Day.

On receiving the check, Beth remarked: “I want to give a huge thank you to the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary for their generous donation to HOBII female veterans’ facility! You Rock!”

Photo of check presentation — Home of the Brave Chairman, Beth McGinn (left) received check from Mike Hall, President, Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club.