Local

Comings & Goings

O’Neill to practice in Portland; Skinner heads to Rome

Published

10 years ago

August 13, 2016

Peter Rosenstein

Comings & Goings, gay news, Washington Blade

The ‘Comings & Goings’ column chronicles important life changes of Blade readers.

The Comings & Goings column is about sharing the professional successes of our community. We want to recognize those landing new jobs, new clients for their business, joining boards of organizations and other achievements. Please share your successes with us at [email protected].

Daniel O’Neill

Congratulations to Dr. Daniel O’Neill, who will be practicing General Internal Medicine at the Neighborhood Health Center in Portland, Ore.

O’Neill is a primary care physician specializing in HIV and LGBT Health, who recently completed his residency training in internal medicine at both Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle and the George Washington University Hospital, in D.C. After a month of intensive medical-Spanish immersion in Guatemala this summer, he will begin practice and will serve as the anchoring internal medicine physician for the new clinic site for Portland’s underserved populations.

“Although my life has taken an unanticipated detour for now, my long-term plan remains practicing HIV medicine in the D.C. metropolitan area,” he said. “My time as a volunteer at Whitman-Walker Health and the influence of my dear friend, Peter Fox, were instrumental in the decision to pursue HIV medicine and LGBT health.”

O’Neill attended the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences after working for the Institute of Medicine. While in medical school and residency he trained under Drs. Douglas Ward, Ray Martins, both in D.C., and William Owen of San Francisco, all notable HIV primary care physicians.

While in D.C., Dan helped to co-found the HIV Working Group of the DC Center and the FUK!T condom distribution campaign with Dr. Terry Gerace. He was both a 2011 Point Foundation Scholar and National Health Service Corps Scholar (NHSC).

He added, “After completing my NHSC service obligation, I may return to D.C. to continue work in one of the local community health centers or move into private practice.”

Congratulations are also due to long-time Washingtonian Bill Skinner who recently moved with his husband Murray Jolivette from their home in Brookland to Rome. Skinner has taken the position of chief of the governing bodies office at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), a specialized agency of the United Nations first established as an international financial institution in 1977 as one of the major outcomes of the 1974 World Food Conference. IFAD is one of the three Rome-based agencies of the United Nations, with a special focus on eradicating poverty and food insecurity in remote rural areas around the world. Seventy-five percent of the world’s poorest people live in rural areas and depend on agriculture and related activities for their livelihoods.

Skinner and his team are responsible for the operations of IFAD’s executive board and governing council, in close coordination with management. Most recently he ran his own D.C.-based translation and interpretation company following his graduation from Georgetown University’s school of interpretation and translation. For the past 14 years, Skinner worked at the International Monetary Fund, most recently as chief of the English Section.

Bill Skinner

Finally, congratulations are also due to Jay Vilar who recently founded Nourish, LLC (www.nourishingdc.com). Vilar grew up attempting a variety of diets informed with misguided nutritional information, fluctuating weight and a constant lack of sustained energy. As he began to immerse himself in the science behind nutrition and the human body, rather than abiding by contradictory media messages, his life forever changed. He then created a vision for his life, to help others heal their bodies with food. He studied to become a Nutritional Therapist Practitioner and created his company Nourish, LLC. Vilar said, “I work with my clients to identify which nutrients are missing in their body then develop customized nutritional plans specific to their health goals.”

Jay Vilar

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Baltimore

Popular Mount Vernon gay bar Leon’s to temporarily close after owner’s death

Ron Singer passed away on July 7

Published

2 days ago

July 17, 2026

Baltimore Banner

Leon’s Backroom Bar in Mount Vernon. (Photo by Jessica Gallagher for the Baltimore Banner)

By WESLEY CASE | Leon’s Backroom, Baltimore’s oldest gay bar, temporarily shut down after service on Wednesday night, according to a post on the business’s Instagram page.

The announcement comes a little more than a week after the death of the Mount Vernon bar’s owner, Ron Singer, who died at 66 on July 7.

The rest of this article can be found on the Baltimore Banner’s website.

Local

Comings & Goings

New garden center offers array of products in Rehoboth

Published

2 days ago

July 17, 2026

Peter Rosenstein

Bay Laurel Home & Garden is located just outside Rehoboth on Route 1.

Congratulations to Stuart Ortel and Scott Marker, and Dave Lyons and Rick Hardy, on the recent opening of their garden center on Route 1 in Rehoboth Beach, in the former Farmer Girl site. It is called Bay Laurel Home and Garden and debuted earlier this year. The four owners are all well known to the denizens of Rehoboth Beach.

Stuart and Scott have been active members of the Rehoboth Beach community since 1999. Stuart is a landscape architect, and has established relationships with many local folks in the building and landscape industry. When this opportunity for Bay Laurel Home & Garden presented itself, and they had the perfect team of people in place, he and Scott were committed to making it a reality. So, when Scott and Stuart introduced this opportunity to create a new garden center to Dave and Rick, they embraced the chance to cultivate a business where beautiful plants, inspiring home and garden products, and outstanding customer service come together. Dave and Rick knew about owning a business in Rehoboth as they previously owned Coho’s Market, where they discovered firsthand the value of serving their community, and the rewards of running a locally owned business.

The garden center launched with a refreshed brand identity, updated merchandising, and expanded product lines, all designed to create an inspiring and welcoming environment for your home. Bay Laurel Home & Garden offers a beautifully appointed garden center and curated home and gift shop.

The new center features a full nursery with annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, and seasonal selections; a garden center offering pottery, fountains, and garden ornamentation, and essential tools and garden supplies. It has a garden shop featuring unique indoor/outdoor furnishings and accessories, and a gift shop featuring botanical and coastal style items for home and entertaining.

Rehoboth Beach

Celebrate Pride in Rehoboth Beach this weekend

‘A vital space for community, healing, and connection’

Published

4 days ago

July 15, 2026

Thomas Weaverling

Rehoboth’s Pride festivities kick off Friday. (Washington Blade file photo by Daniel Truitt)

Pride in Rehoboth Beach is kicking off this week on Friday, July 17, with events happening throughout the weekend.

“Rehoboth Beach Pride is more than a festival — it is a vital space for community, healing, and connection,” said David Mariner, director of Sussex Pride, which organizes many of the events.

The weekend will begin with the Grand Opening & Community Preview from 1-4 p.m. on Friday, July 17, celebrating the opening of Novus Medical Services and the new Sussex Pride Community Center.

This will be followed by an Interfaith Pride Service at 6 p.m. at the Metropolitan Community Church Rehoboth to gather for healing and the affirmation of queer spirituality with Rev. Carla Christopher, chair of Sussex Pride Faith.

Members of the community are then invited to head over to join the Rehoboth Beach Bears at the Pines to have dinner, mingle, and give back to local initiatives.

End the first night of Pride in Rehoboth at Diego’s Bar & Nightclub with music by DJ Joey P from 9 p.m.-1 a.m.

Rehoboth Beach Pride Festival will take place on Saturday, July 18, 2026, from 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. inside the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center. A full list of events is available at rehobothbeachpride.org.

Roxy Overbrooke will host on the main stage as live performances take place throughout the day, featuring music from DJ MK and Tribe 9 Entertainment.

The festival will include educational workshops, community meetups, and a raffle dedicated to raising funds for unhoused LGBTQ+ youth across Delaware.

Feature workshops include panels discussing topics such as unhoused LGBTQ+ youth in Delaware, the needs of trans and non-binary youth, as well as the increase in HIV and syphilis diagnoses amid federal budget cuts, in a panel moderated by Blade Editor Kevin Naff.

Saturday night will also feature an evening comedy and entertainment show at the Convention Center presented by the Gay Women of Rehoboth. Performers will include comedians Suzanne Westen h oefer and Karen Mills as well as musician Kristen Merlin. Tickets are available at gaywomenofrehoboth.org.

The Rehoboth Beach Pride Ride will take place at 10 a.m. on Sunday, July 19, hosted by the Dykes on Bikes Rehoboth Beach Women’s Motorcycle Club, starting at Lefty’s.

Goolee’s Drag Brunch will also take place on Sunday from 12-2 p.m at Goolee’s Grille. This is a family-friendly event hosted by Regina Cox and Ruby, featuring Aurora Sterling, Michelle Leigh Sterling, Scarlet St. Cartier, and Joanna Blue. Tickets can be purchased online.

Pride in Rehoboth will conclude at 2 p.m. with the official Rehoboth Beach Pride Closing Party at Aqua Bar & Grill, celebrating the venue’s landmark 20th anniversary with DJ Biff until 7 p.m.

Due to an influx of visitors for the summer season, those coming from out-of-town are encouraged to use the Park & Ride.