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Beach Ball Blast
Gabby learned an important thing at the Rehoboth Beach Museum’s 6th annual Beach Ball fundraiser at Kings Creek Country Club—everybody knows everybody when it comes to beach livin’. I followed Nancy Alexander—who is in her fourth year as director of the museum—around all night in hopes of getting some intel on the whos and whats of coastal life, but every time I got a chance to open my mouth, she was greeting yet another friend with a warm “hello!” and a laugh.
Someone who did stop Nancy in her tracks—Rehoboth Mayor Sam Cooper waxing nostalgic about Rehoboth Beach history. “My mother’s best friend, Margaret, she was a Ewing … she lived on the corner of First Street and Wilmington Avenue,” Cooper told Nancy. “And her father was the train engineer. He drove the train between Lewes and Rehoboth.” At that, Nancy’s eyes lit up. “I’d love to get her in [to the museum] to talk about that, that’s fantastic!” she said. Nancy pointed out Emmalane Ewing, dressed in shimmery sea-foam green, who was sharing a laugh and a toast with Peggy and Harvey Waltersdorf across the room. “I’m not sure of the relation, but that one is sassy,” she said of Emmalane. “I love that about her.”
Speaking of sassy, my eyes were drawn to Lizann and Dave Dockety, kickin’ it with Delaware Beach Life publisher Terry Plowman. The Docketys were dressed pretty darned snappy in lots of happy color. The trio was talking—what else—surfing. “He’s a legend,” Lizann whispered, pointing at her Hawaiian-shirt clad husband who blushed as pink as a design on his shirt.
I had a sneaking suspicion that many of the well-executed looks I saw could be attributed to one duo only—Trey and Marcia Kraus, the geniuses behind Carltons in Rehoboth. I found Trey, clad in a breezy blue shirt; and Marcia, with a gorgeous puka-shell necklace, browsing the auction items. Trey told me that he didn’t get enough time on the beach this summer. Oh, you poor thing, Trey. Marcia said they were having a lovely time at the event, although it was bittersweet as the summer season was close to ending. I hear that, sister—regardless of where you live in the First State, that is a sentiment on which we can all agree.
