SUSSEX
COUNTY LAND TRUST GEARS UP FOR TWO LARGEST
FUNDRAISERS OF THE YEAR
Taryn Burris, Carly Miller,
and Lori Schell
Formed in December of 2001, the Sussex
County Land Trust (SCLT) has just celebrated its third
anniversary and is looking forward to an ambitious land
preservation and education plan for 2005. To continue
raising awareness, funding ongoing conservation needs and
completing the restoration of the Wolfe House, the SCLT is
planning two fundraising events for the spring of 2005. The
2nd Annual 5K Run/Walk Race for Open Space will be held the
morning of March 19 on the Junction and Breakwater Trail,
located between Rehoboth Beach and Lewes on Wolfe Neck Road.
On the evening of April 16th, the Baycenter at Ruddertowne
in Dewey Beach will be host to the annual Sussex County Land
Trust Ball.
Many of last year’s corporate sponsors have returned for
both events, including Carl M. Freeman Communities, Duffield
Associates & Merestone, The Peninsula on the Indian River
Bay, Caldera Properties, Villages of Five Points and Frank
Robino Associates. In addition, Schell Brothers has agreed
to be one of the Ball sponsors at this year’s event. Due to
the positive response and support of the local business
community, underwriting opportunities have been expanded to
include room for a few more sponsorship opportunities.
“Assistance from the community in terms of sponsorship will
allow us to give 100% of our ticket proceeds and race
registration to the land trust,” says Wendy Baker, president
& CEO of the SCLT.
Baker and her co-chairs of both the SCLT Ball and the Race
for Open Space, Christine Strauss and John Snow, have been
busy preparing for the events since last year. They have
been thrilled with the number of new volunteers and the
excitement they have brought to the planning process.
Committee chairs include: Carly Miller, Decorations; Heather
Gray, Silent and Live Auction; Kelly Sylvester,
Entertainment and Roger Reed, Registration just to name a
few. “It’s been wonderful to receive an outpouring of
support from this community in donating time and money to
land preservation in Sussex County,” says Baker.
In addition to both events, the SCLT will recognize the
efforts of individuals throughout the county by honoring a
local individual with Sussex County’s second “Steward of the
Land” award. Nominees should have demonstrated a strong
commitment to preserving land and open space in Sussex
County in the past year. The recipient will be announced the
evening of the Ball.
Please contact Wendy Baker
(wobaker@sclandtrust.org) at 302-227-0287 with
any questions on the SCLT Ball, nominations for Steward of
the Land, or sponsorship questions.
Please contact Tim Bamforth
(tbamforth@prodigy.net) of the Seashore Striders
(www.seashorestriders.com)
at 302-644-8952 to register for the Race for Open Space to
be held on 3/19/05.
Rock On!
Largest Rockfish of the Season So Far – 48.6 lbs
Caught at Indian River Marina on October 18, 2004
Congratulations to Matt Kistler and
Dave Worrell who caught this 46.8 lb Rockfish on Monday,
October 18, 2004. The fish was weighed at Hook ‘em &
Cook ‘em at the Indian River Marina south of Dewey
Beach. This bodes well for the fishermen in this
weekend’s First Annual Rocktober Fishing Tournament &
Festival at the Marina. Over $24,000 in prize money is
available to participants in the tournament as well as
fun for the whole family each day of the festival. The
festival opens at 4 pm on Friday, October 22 and
concludes on Sunday afternoon, October 24. From the live
music each day to the delicious food to the educational
aquatic programs, there is something for everyone this
weekend at the Rocktober Fishing Tournament & Festival.
Please call 302-645-5944 for a detailed schedule of
events at the Festival.
Rocktober
Fishing Tournament and Festival Promises
Something for Everyone
[REHOBOTH BEACH—October 12] The
inaugural Rocktober Fishing Tournament and Festival will
be held at the Indian River Marina from Friday, October
22 through Sunday, October 24, with funds raised donated
directly to the Horsey Family Youth Foundation and the
Sussex County Land Trust. Free live concerts will be
performed all three days at Tournament headquarters at
the marina, located within Delaware Seashore State Park.
Anglers, visitors, and spectators are all welcome to
participate in the tournament festivities throughout the
weekend. The three-day festival will feature a variety
of activities, from viewing the official weigh-ins and
educational marina events to munching on local seafood
and enjoying the regional bands under the big tent.
Friday afternoon events will be kicked off by one of the
Eastern Shore’s favorite bands, Randy Lee Ashcraft and
the Saltwater Cowboys. Labeling their brand of music
“beach country”, they play a variety of music including
“a bit of Buffett, a gallon of Gill, and a sprinkle of
Skynyrd,” according to band members. The result is
funky, folksy, funny, beachy and feel-good music for the
whole family. The show is scheduled to start at 4:00pm.
While the anglers are competing for the $6,000 purse for
the largest rockfish on the water, there will be a
variety of activities on dry land. Continuing at noon on
Saturday, the Marina will be home to a traveling Big
Fish Grill of Rehoboth Beach serving up some of their
famous seafood. Visitors will be able to take part in
casting demonstrations by the Saltwater Fly Fishermen of
Delmarva, board some of the hottest fishing boats on the
market or view the two custom motorcycles, The Brimstone
and The Wicked, being raffled off by the Horsey Family
Youth Foundation.
Once again, the music will begin Saturday afternoon at
4:00pm with HyJinx playing the blend of music that made
them one of the Bottle and Cork’s favorite bands this
summer. Regulars on the fishing tournament schedule,
HyJinx performed in July at the Mid-Atlantic $500,000 at
the Canyon Club in New Jersey, combining a variety of
crowd-pleasing covers from the 80’s and 90’s.
Another of Dewey Beach’s well-loved musical acts will
bring back the days of summer this Sunday morning at the
tournament. Beginning at 10:00am, Doug Segree, a
mid-Atlantic music scene mainstay, will perform his
original melodic brand of music live at the festival.
Along with the events mentioned above, the Starboard of
Dewey Beach will also be mixing their famous Bloody
Marys for early morning visitors. All proceeds
throughout the weekend will be donated to two local
charities, the Horsey Family Youth Foundation and the
Sussex County Land Trust. Many local businesses have
generously sponsored this event, including the two
Captain level sponsors, The Big Fish Grill and Schell
Brothers, and event organizers are looking forward to a
fun-filled weekend benefiting a good cause.
For further info, including registration forms for the
fishing tournament or directions, please call
302.645.594 or visit
www.rocktoberfishing.org
First Annual
Rocktober Fishing Tournament & Festival
To Be Held This Fall
INDIAN RIVER INLET—August 1, 2004¬¬–
With over $24,000 in prize money, the three-day
Rocktober Fishing Tournament and Festival to be held on
October 22-24, 2004, promises to bring excitement to the
start of the fall Striped Bass fishing season. Indian
River Marina, located on the north side of the Inlet
five miles south of Dewey Beach, will serve as the
Tournament headquarters. The marina has undergone
extensive renovations over the past year and will be
host to live music, food, and fun throughout the
tournament. All proceeds raised through the event will
be donated to two local charitable organizations, the
Horsey Family Youth Foundation and the Sussex County
Land Trust.
The Striped Bass, locally known as Rockfish, is one of
area anglers’ favorite fish to pursue in the fall and a
$6,000 cash prize will be awarded to the angler catching
the largest rockfish. Additional cash payouts will be
made in the rockfish category as well as in the yellow
fin tuna and flounder divisions. The payouts will be
based on the number of boats registering for the
tournament with a maximum of 175 boats allowed. All
registered captains will be able to leave from their
home ports or trailer to one of the many boat ramps in
Sussex County. All fish must then be weighed in at the
official Tournament scale at the Indian River Marina
with spectators on shore will add to the fun.
While the fishing will begin at daybreak on Friday,
October 22, festivities under the tent will kick into
high gear that afternoon. A wide assortment of seafood,
sandwiches, raw bar, and po’boys will be available,
local celebrities will be pouring frothy beverages at
the beer truck and entertainment and a running
commentary will be provided by an on-site radio station.
Saturday’s planned events will include additional
vendors, live bands and a crab feast. The Starboard will
be at the Marina Sunday morning with their world famous
Bloody Mary’s, breakfast and music all day. The
tournament portion will end with lines out of the water
at 3:00pm Sunday afternoon and the prizes awarded
immediately following.
The Tournament is receiving strong support from members
of the local and regional communities. Big Fish Grill of
Rehoboth Beach has generously provided top level Captain
Sponsorship with The Cape Gazette and The Beach Paper,
WBOC, Comcast Cable, Hartford Insurance Group, the Rusty
Rudder and Crabbers Cove, and Starboard all graciously
giving time, money and donations to support the
tournament and the charities. These two local charities
are thrilled to be planning the Rocktober Fishing
Tournament and if all goes well, plan to continue this
event for years to come. “We feel that the tournament
will provide a great outlet for people to support a good
cause while enjoying fishing, live music, and all sorts
of activities over the weekend,” said Wendy O. Baker,
president of the Sussex County Land Trust. “We’ve been
putting a lot of time and effort into the planning to
make it as successful and fun as possible for the whole
community.”
For more information and sponsorship opportunities,
please call 302-645-5944.
CORPORATE
SPONSORSHIPS SOLD OUT FOR SUSSEX COUNTY LAND TRUST BALL
AND 5K RACE FOR OPEN SPACE
Local Events to Celebrate Earth Day on
March 20, 2004
The corporate sponsorship
opportunities for the upcoming Sussex County Land Trust
Ball as well as the associated 5K Race for Open Space
have been completely sold out thanks to the generosity
of local Sussex County business owners. Both events will
be held on Saturday, March 20, 2004. The 5K Race for
Open Space will start at 9 am on the new bike trail
between Rehoboth and Lewes, the Junction and Breakwater
Trail, starting from the Wolfe Neck Road parking lot off
of Route One. Later that evening, the inaugural Sussex
County Land Trust Ball will be held at the Atlantic
Sands Hotel in Rehoboth Beach. “We are so grateful for
the community support we have received in regards to the
upcoming Land Trust Ball and Race,” said Wendy Baker,
president of the organization. “This is first year that
our organization has held a fundraiser of this size and
we are absolutely thrilled by the level of support we
have received from the community.”
Four corporate sponsorship levels were established for
the two events and supporters include The Carl M.
Freeman Communities (Platinum Sponsor); Atlantic Sands
Hotel and Conference Center, Duffield Associates,
Merestone Consultants, The Peninsula on the Indian River
Bay, and Caldera Properties (Gold Sponsors); Java Beach
Bagel Company and Villages of Five Points (Silver
Sponsors). Many additional companies have purchased
tables at the ball as Bronze Sponsors which has led to a
complete sell out for the evening’s festivities at the
Atlantic Sands. “We are looking forward to a wonderful
weekend of events,” said Baker. “One of our main goals
as an organization this year is to raise awareness of
the Sussex County Land Trust within the community and
these activities will give us an opportunity to
spotlight our mission and progress over the past two
years as well as our plans going forward.”
Registration for the 5K Race for Open Space will open at
9 am on the morning of Saturday, March 20. The parking
lot on Wolfe Neck Road will be used as the information
and registration area with plenty of parking available
there as well as along the road. WaWa has generously
agreed to donate snacks for the race and the first 100
pre-registered participants will receive a long sleeve
T-Shirt. Awards will be given to the Overall and Masters
Champions and the top three finishers in each age group.
The entrance fee for the race is $15 for
Pre-registration and $20 for Race Day Registration.
Please contact Wendy Baker
(wobaker@sclandtrust.org) at 302-227-0287 with any
questions on the SCLT Ball, nominations, or sponsorship
questions.
Please contact Tim Bamforth
(tbamforth@prodigy.net) of the Seashore Striders (www.seashorestriders.com)
at 302-644-8952 to register for the Race for Open Space.
SUSSEX COUNTY
LAND TRUST PLANS
WEEKEND OF EVENTS IN MARCH
INCLUDES INAUGURAL FUNDRAISING BALL AND
5K RACE FOR OPEN SPACE
Formed in December of 2001, the
Sussex County Land Trust (SCLT) has just celebrated its
second anniversary and is looking forward to an
ambitious land preservation and education plan for 2004.
To continue raising awareness and funds for the county’s
ongoing conservation needs, the SCLT is planning two
events for Saturday, March 20, 2004. The first annual 5K
Run/Walk Race for Open Space will be held that morning
on the new bike trail between Rehoboth and Lewes, the
Junction and Breakwater Trail, starting from the Wolfe
Neck Road parking lot off of Route One. Later that
evening, the inaugural Sussex County Land Trust Ball
will be held at the Atlantic Sands Hotel in Rehoboth
Beach.
“Our next steps as an organization are to continue to
promote awareness of our preservation goals as well as
to develop a comprehensive stewardship program within
the Sussex County Land Trust,” says Wendy Baker,
president & CEO of the SCLT. “We have received so much
positive feedback and support already from the community
and realize that this is a cause which is important to
so many residents – and visitors – to our area. Hosting
the 5K Race and the Ball on March 20 will help us
further raise both awareness and funds for the Land
Trust.”
The SCLT planning committee is also accepting corporate
or individual sponsorships for the race and the ball.
“There are sponsorship opportunities for both events
that weekend,” says Baker. “Assistance from the
community in terms of sponsorship will allow us to give
100% of our ticket proceeds to the land trust.” Java
Beach Bagel Company of Rehoboth Beach, owned by Jeff
Hamer, Charlie Helmer, and Tom Brennan, was the first
corporate sponsor and has underwritten the coffee,
expresso and dessert bar for the night of the ball.
The date of March 20 was chosen for the events as it is
the official International Earth Day for 2004. Earth Day
is on the March Spring Equinox each year and represents
Nature’s Day all over the world. In addition to both
events that day, the SCLT is also accepting nominations
from the community for Sussex County’s “Steward of the
Land” award. Nominees should have demonstrated a strong
commitment to preserving land and open space in Sussex
County. All nominations should be sent to Wendy Baker
either via e-mail to
wobaker@sclandtrust.org or phone at 302-227-0287.
Please contact Wendy Baker
(wobaker@sclandtrust.org) at 302-227-0287 with any
questions on the SCLT Ball, nominations, or sponsorship
questions.
Please contact Tim Bamforth
(tbamforth@prodigy.net) of the Seashore Striders (www.seashorestriders.com)
at 302-644-8952 to register for the Race for Open Space.
P.O. Box 763, Rehoboth
Beach, DE 19971 | Phone: 302.227.0287
| Fax: 302.227.2326 | wobaker@sclandtrust.org
