8 - CAPE GAZETTE, Friday, August 1- August 7, 1997
Letters
Continued from page 6
er I don't think it's a coincidence
the owner doesn't live on Pilot-
town Road. I believe he might
have built differently if his kids
grew up running past the canal.
I'd bet he thinks he put up an at-
tractive, secured compound.
Which he did. The question is,
does the neighborhood want these
commercial compounds? This is
where we live 12 months a year.
Or maybe he would disagree with
my opinion altogether. Does this
mean that bur new neighbor is a
bad person? Does this mean that
something nefarious is afoot in
City Hall? Absolutely not. The
only conclusion necessary or rele-
vant is that we need a more con-
cise law. Regardless of where you
stand on the issue, the law is tenta-
tive at best. The city needs a more
concise ruling so that their mis-
sion is' clear. This will also help to
remove any neighborly disputes.
We don't need to ridicule each
other to make positive changes.
We just need to find out how the
majority feels and act on it.
A brief and painless moratorium
on gazebos so that an open dialog
can be established on a zoning
matter is a good thing. It's down-
right sensible in that it takes the
pressure off both sides so that the
issue can be discussed rationally.
In fact, good points can be made
on either side of this argument so
it is imperative the debate be ra-
tional. This might even serve as a
spark to resolve the whole canal
issue (for better or for worse). By
the way, I do live on Pilottown
Road. I live in a home which
many years ago had one-third of
its canal land taken under duress
by the Town of Lewes. This does
not change my mind on the 'open
space and R1 zoning' laws and
what they were intended to do.
J. Scott de Kuyper
Lewes
Beware pitfalls
of jet skis
My daughter was in a jet ski ac-
cident on the Fourth of July. God
was looking after her and she
came through with relatively mi-
nor injuries, but it could have been
a lot worse:
It seems with jet skis that if you
leave off the gas, you lose the
ability to steer. Not at all like dri-
ving a car. This is a powerful and
dangerous machine. I had no idea
how dangerous. Please take a
course to ride safely.
Edith Page McClure
Lewes
In response to Hate
Crime Bill comment
I feel compelled to respond to a
statement made by Meredith
Hunter, president of PFLAG (Par-
ents, Families and Friends of Les-
bians and Gays) during a ceremo-
ny to sign Delaware's new hate
crime bill. She said, "We thank
you for acknowledging that sexual
orientation is as unchangeable a
characteristic as your race, color,
disability or national origin," in
the July 18 edition of the Cape
Gazette.
Is homosexuality genetically
determined and therefore as un-
changeable as one's race or skin
color? Many Americans believe it
is. Why? Because this theory had
been widely promoted to project
homosexual behavior in a more
positive light. How can society
say that a certain set of behaviors
is wrong or immoral if the orienta-
tion to do them is inborn and can-
not be changed?
Taking a look at another issue
that is not as emotionally charged
as homosexuality gives another
perspective. Researchers have
found a genetic link to encourage
the adolescent son of an alcoholic
to give in to the desire to drink
heavily and become an alcoholic.
A genetic orientation does not au-
tomatically translate into the be-
havioral result of that orientation,
nor does it make the behavior ac-
ceptable and moral. The son of an
alcoholic can abstain from alcohol
and thus avoid all the unhealthy
consequences of alcoholism.
The fact is that homosexuality
has not been proven to be exclu-
sively genetic in origin. Yes, there
have been several studies that the
media has put forth as proof, but
they are not exclusive by any
means. One example is a 1991
study by Dr. Simon LeVay. He
examined 41 brains of cadavers,
specifically looking at a group of
neurons in the hypothalamus- He
reported that homosexuality is in-
born because this area of the hy-
pothalamus was larger in homo-
sexual men. However, there were
as many as six flaws in this study
that significantly compromised
the results and hardly made them
conclusive,
Many people cite twin studies
as evidence. In another 1991
study, Michael Bailey of North-
western and Richard Pillard of
Boston University School of Med-
icine compared sets of identical
male twins with at least one ho-
mosexual in each set. Only in 52
percent of sets were both twins
homosexual. That means 48 per-
cent of these identical twins who
have very similar genetic make-up
were not homosexual. This indi-
cates that something other than
genetics must be involved in caus-
ing homosexuality.
A recent two year study by Dr.
Joseph Nicolosi of the National
Association for the Research and
Therapy of Homosexuality gives
strong proof that sexual orienta-
tion can be altered significantly in
many cases, Ninety-nine percent
of the participants said that thera-
py to change homosexuality can
be valuable and effective and 82
percent of psychotherapists sur-
veyed said they believe therapy
can help change unwanted homo-
sexuality.
The best evidence to support
that homosexuals can change is
the real-life testimonials of people
who have changed and now lead a
happy, healthy, heterosexual life.
Every month the news letter of
Exodus International (North
America), an umbrella organiza-
tion of ex-gay groups, publishes
the life story of a man or woman
who has indeed changed and left
behind a lifestyle that left them
empty and depressed. Some
would say these people are de-
ceiving themselves and have not
really changed. Reading one of
these life stories and hearing the
transformation from alcohol,
drugs and empty relationships to
in some cases being happily mar-
ried with several children may
change some minds. Most ex-gays
say that it was/is not always easy,
but that it is more than worth it!
This letter will evoke many
strong feelings among the people
in the area who adamantly dis-
agree with this opinion. However,
the other point if view needs to be
heard so that people can have in-
telligent and open discussion of
the facts. Openly discussing two
sides of an issue is healthy, right?
Sincerely and respectfully,
Nancy S. Ewing
Milton
Hats off to Kramedas
My hat is off to Kathy
Kramedas-McGuinnes and Anne
Made Burnell, the powers behind
Rehoboth Beach Main Street.
They brought our community to-
gether for the biggest event we
have experienced in over a decade
- fireworks for our Independence
Day celebration. As a token of our
appreciation, let us all, commer-
cial and others, get behind them
for next year's celebration.
Sheridan Besosa
Rehoboth Beach
Casa thankspost offices
Casa San Francisco would like
to thank all the individuals who
supported the Bethany Beach,
Harbeson, Lewes, Rehoboth
Beach and Milton Post Offices'
recent food drive. We received so
many non-perishable food items
for our emergency food pantry
that we were able to restock our
shelves.
Thanks to all who contributed.
Marian Bau,
Director
Casa San Francisco
Rehoboth city
crew is great
The following letter was sent to
Rehoboth Beach City Manager
Greg Ferrese with a copy submit-
ted to the Cape Gazette for:publi-
cation.
On a Saturday morning two
weeks ago, a female mallard and
her eight very young ducklings
went walking. At the corner of
Oak Avenue and Second Street,
she led them across the storm
drain, and plop, plop, plop, three
of the babies fell through the iron
grate. The mother began squawk-
ing, and the fallen babies began
squeaking.
We weren't able to lift the storm
drain cover. With little hope of
reaching the city manager's office
on a Saturday, I called anyway
and the phone was answered. I ex-
plained the non-human emer-
gency, expecting the person to tell
me that there were no city workers
available for this sort of a problem
on a Saturday.
The city manager's office per-
son said, "Let me see if I can get
B.J." When B.J. arrived five min-
utes later, another two chicks had
fallen down into the sewer. B.J.
tried to lift the cover, and then,
went to get a tool to pry up the
gate. Many neighbors went to
their garages to find crowbars and
crab nets to rescue the babies.
The grate was opened and four
chicks were scooped out with crab
nets. The fifth chick had wandered
into the sewer pipe, but finally, by
making noise on one side of the
street, we drove him to the catch
basin and rescued him also. When
the last one was returned, the
mother and chicks immediately
marched across Oak Avenue to-
wards the lake. She knew how
many babies she had and waited
'til she had them all!
Many thanks to B.J., and to the
city for being so responsive to a
little environmental preservation
event in Rehoboth!
Ann Gaffney
Rehohoth
Vote in election
This is a reminder directed to all
registered voters of the City of
Rehoboth Beach. The annual city
elections takes place on Saturday,
Aug. 9, 1997 in the Convention
Center between the hours of 10
a.m. and 6 p.m.
• There are three very worthy
candidates vying for the two open
seats on the Board of Commis-
sioners. The term for each seat is
three years,
Please mark this important date
on your calendar and be sure to
cast your vote on Saturday, Aug.
9, 1997. Thank you.
Evelyn Dick Thoronghgood
Rehoboth Beach
Thanks to Atlantic
Sands and staff
Mega thanks to Katie Cahill,
general manager, and Dave Ack-
erman, sales director, of Atlantic
Sands for the super July 6
fundraiser they hosted for the Re-
hoboth Beach Library's Capital
Campaign. A special thanks to all
the Atlantic Sands' employees
who donated their personal time
on behalf of this fundraiser and to
Gene Lankford and the Messrs.
• Flickingers who donated all the
expenses. Also thanks to those
merchants who gave items for the
silent auction.
Katie and Dave's recognition
that the library's Capital Cam-
paign to renovate and expand the
present library building needed
encouragement and support from
the business community is appre-
ciated deeply. With support like
theirs, we know that a larger and
better equipped library for the
21st century will become reality
for the Rehoboth Beach commu-
nity. Libraries' services are free to
everyone, thus benefiting every-
one., Thanks again for a job well
clone ! !
The Library Board of
Trustees and Staff
LHS Craft Fair a success
The Lewes Historical Society
Craft Fair on Saturday, July 12,
was a tremendous success. We
would like to take this opportunity
to thank the many individuals and
businesses who played such a vi-
tal part in making the craft show
the stellar event that it was.
Special thanks go to Lloyd's
IGA, La Rosa Negra, Kupchick's,
Cinnamon Falls, Bayside Bake
Shoppe, The Buttery, Taste of
Heaven, The Rose and Crown,
The Roadhouse, and Dunkin'
Donuts for their delicious contri-
butions. We also thank the local
media, The Coast Press, The Cape
Gazette, The Delaware State
News, The News Journal and
WBOC for their excellent cover-
age of the event.
We extend a special thank you
to all of the Lewes Historical So-
ciety members and volunteers
who gave so freely of their time
and energy to make the day run
smoothly. A big thank you to you
all. Successes such as this would
not be possible without the com-
munity spirit exhibited by all of
the people and businesses men-
tioned here.
Carolyn Lester
chairperson
Steve Rodgers
Lou Braithwaite
Lewes Historical Society
Craft Fair
Hooray for Smiley!
I am forwarding a letter the Re-
hoboth Beach-Dewey Beach
Chamber of Commerce received
from a grateful family who was
spared a parking ticket when one
of our "Smiley Program" quarters
found its way into their meter.
As you may have heard, the
Chamber of Commerce imple-
mented a new program this sea-
son, where Chamber representa-
tives sporadically feed meters that
are about to expire, with a quarter
and "buy some more time" for one
of our visitors. A small coin enve-
lope is placed on the windshield
of the car explaining the program,
and if the driver feels so inclined,
can contribute a quarter back to
the "Smiley Fund."
The "Smiley Program" has been
an incredibly successful "visitor-
friendly" project, and the Cham-
ber is proud to be associated with
it. Of course, responses back from
recipients such as the Mushinski
family make it all the more worth-
while. I thought your readers
might be interested!
Carol A. Everhart,
executive director
Rehoboth Beach-Dewey
Beach Chamber of Commerce
Thank you for "buying" us
more time on the meter on our re-
cent trip to your beach (6/25/97).
We had taken a day trip to show
our 19-month old daughter the
ocean and beach and had been so
busy on the boardwalk that we
forgot the meter. It was a nice sur-
prise to find your gift and not a
ticket, as we had anticipated.
Thanks again.
Jon, Tara, Taylor Mushinski
Boyertown, Pa.
