Friday, July 17, 2009
The Tabernacle
I had assumed the building being built on South Bi-State Boulvard would an Auto Repair and Sales Place, but now I have found out it is going to be a Church. The Tabernacle is expanding from it's old location on Old Stage Road in Delmar Delaware to the new location in Delmar, Maryland.
The current Tabernacle is being out grown due to the popularity of it's word. About two years back they were on Morris Road in Pittsville and outgrew that place, so they are a fast growing church. The Church is lead by Delmar resident Pastor Mike Rittenhouse.
Indian Names
As I said on our visit to North Carolina there was a number of places we visited that had stories about Indians, with appropriate Indian names for the individuals involved in the story. In recent weeks I have seen a couple of articles in the local papers about an alleged Eastern Shore Indian Tribe in which various people had Indian names (this is the type of Indian with a feather not a dot). Well as Politically Incorrect as it is when I see these names I am always reminded of the Indian name joke in the movie "Silkwood."
For as long as anyone could remember, an old man in an
Indian tribe had been responsible for naming the newborn
children. One of the braves began to wonder how the old man
managed to come up with the names he did; and one day the
brave summoned his courage and went to the old man and asked
him how he picked out a child's name.
The old man was silent for a while, then answered:
"I look around me at my surroundings when I learn that a
child has been born, and name that child appropriately. When
I learned of your father's birth, I heard a jackal howling
in the woods, and so named him Howling Jackal. When your
mother was born, I heard of it while standing by a running
brook, so she was named Running Brook. Now, tell me why
you want to know, Two Dogs Fucking. . . ."
For as long as anyone could remember, an old man in an
Indian tribe had been responsible for naming the newborn
children. One of the braves began to wonder how the old man
managed to come up with the names he did; and one day the
brave summoned his courage and went to the old man and asked
him how he picked out a child's name.
The old man was silent for a while, then answered:
"I look around me at my surroundings when I learn that a
child has been born, and name that child appropriately. When
I learned of your father's birth, I heard a jackal howling
in the woods, and so named him Howling Jackal. When your
mother was born, I heard of it while standing by a running
brook, so she was named Running Brook. Now, tell me why
you want to know, Two Dogs Fucking. . . ."
Golden Gate Bridge Suicides
"As I was falling, I realised there was nothing in my life that I couldn’t fix, except the fact that I’d jumped off this goddamn bridge.” A quote from a survivor.
Over at Strange Maps (on the sidebar) is a map showing suicides at the Golden Gate Bridge with the number of jumps per light post. Interesting, in a morbid kind of way. I understand every two weeks some one jumps off the Golden Gate bridge. In our area the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Delaware Memorial Bridge have about three jumpers a year. I don't know how many jump off the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (it is not that high). I would guess the the difference in number of jumps is the lack of a footpath on the Chesapeake Bay and Delaware Memorial Bridges. I don't think anyone has jumped from Suicide Bridge in 15 or so years. Since the Golden Gate Bridge opened in 1937 over 1,200 people have jumped from it. They think the number is higher due to people jumping at night (not seen) and their body being sweep away by the current. Jumpers hit the water at about seventy-five miles an hour and with a force of fifteen thousand pounds per square inch.
Over at Strange Maps (on the sidebar) is a map showing suicides at the Golden Gate Bridge with the number of jumps per light post. Interesting, in a morbid kind of way. I understand every two weeks some one jumps off the Golden Gate bridge. In our area the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Delaware Memorial Bridge have about three jumpers a year. I don't know how many jump off the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (it is not that high). I would guess the the difference in number of jumps is the lack of a footpath on the Chesapeake Bay and Delaware Memorial Bridges. I don't think anyone has jumped from Suicide Bridge in 15 or so years. Since the Golden Gate Bridge opened in 1937 over 1,200 people have jumped from it. They think the number is higher due to people jumping at night (not seen) and their body being sweep away by the current. Jumpers hit the water at about seventy-five miles an hour and with a force of fifteen thousand pounds per square inch.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Can You Say Sesquicentennial?
Delmar is turning 150, join us in our celebration. The Delmar Sesquicentennial (150 Year celebration) Program is shaping up to look like this. It will run from September 20 to September 26th
Day 1 Sunday September 20, 2009
12:00 PM Fire siren
12:00 PM Start Parade Line Up
1:00 PM Church Bells ringing from all churches
1:00 PM Parade from the High school to Mason Dixon Park
2:00 PM Opening ceremony - Mason Dixon Park
3:30 PM Pageant - Little Miss and Mr.
4:30 PM Presentation of Parade trophies
5:00 PM Softball Games
9:00 PM Fireworks - Mason Dixon Park
Day 2 Monday September 21 2009
8:30 AM Town Hall - Open House / light Refreshments
9:00 AM Official Opening - Delmar heritage Museum 100 grove Street
2:00 PM Student Bi-State Councils/ mock town meeting
7:00 PM Dance - VFW
Day 3 Tuesday September 22, 2009
8:30 AM Town Hall - Open House / light refreshments
9:00 AM Proclamation - recognizing the founders of the Town
10:00 AM re dedication of the Highball, caboose, Crossing Guard Bld.
11:00 AM Dedication - N. Pennsylvania Streetscape Project
6:00 PM Ice Cream Social - state street Park
Day 4 Wednesday September 23, 2009
8:30 AM Town Hall - Open House / light refreshments
5:00 PM Dinner/Theater - Delmar High School
Day 5 Thursday September 24, 2009
8:30 AM Town Hall - Open House / light refreshments
6:30 Pm Delmar High school open house and lite fare
Day 6 Friday September 25, 2009
8:30 AM Town Hall - Open House / light refreshments
7:00 PM Home - Football Game Delmar High school
Day 7 Saturday September 26 2009
6:00 AM Yard Sale State street Park
10:00 AM til 4:00 PM Block Party/ Car show
4:30 PM 5-2-1 Walk at the High school
6:00 PM Band play till closing ceremonies
9:00 PM Closing / lite show at the High school
Application for the Little Miss and Little Mister Sesquicentennial are available from Jolene Morris or Town Hall
The Committee is still looking for ad sponsors for the Souvenir Booklet
The price of ads are;
Full Page $100.00
1/2 Page $50.00
1/4 page $25.00
Business Card size $15.00
Contact Marlena Hodgin or Marcia Elliott, or Melanie Boltz or Doug Niblett
Contact Town Hall for a parade application
Contact Sharon Levadnuk for the Yard Sale on Sept 26th
Red Star Motor Coaches - 1945
German POWs Lunch Program in 1945
From the Democratic Messenger Newspaper, Snow Hill MD, July 1945
SEEK BETTER FOOD FOR BERLIN WAR PRISONERS
Germans Underfed
By Bettine Goodall
There must be a middle road between overfeeding German War Prisoners and starving them. Several months ago there was widespread criticism to the effect that German prisoner of war were being pampered. More specifically, that they were being fed certain foods which were unobtainable on the civilian market. At one time, these criticisms may have been valid but at the time we investigated Somerset POW camp at Westover Md., we found no evidence of coddling and so reported.
Today, however, we have evidence that certain prisoner of war working from the Berlin (Md.) POW camp are being systematically starved to death. It is not right that the prisoners should be expected to fulfill maximum contracts of hard physically labor on rations which are wholly inadequate. Naturally considering the German brutality accorded American Prisoners this may appear to be retribution. Presumably, however, the United States is abiding by Geneva Conference regulations. Willful violation of these regulations is a very serious charge. We charge the POW camp in Berlin with just such violation.
Approximately five hundred German prisoners in the area are doing heavy farm labor, working in poultry dressing plants, and in canneries. For their noon meal one day last week a group of theses prisoners were given three slices of plain bread and a cup of coffee. Obviously this is not sufficient to sustain a man engaged in manual labor, especially on a hot day. There is a great deal of red tape involved in procuring a copy of the menu of the meals served in camp. We can therefore cite conditions pertaining only to the meals that are provided the prisoners outside of camp and we empathically that this food is disproportionately scant.
Prisoner of war labor contributes in large measure to the relief of the critical farm labor shortage with which this area is faced, but the effectiveness of this relief is greatly curtailed by those who are responsible for seeing that the prisoners receive the proper food ration and are sadly misinterpreting this responsibility.
Simultaneously with the release of this story in today’s Democratic Messenger, telegrams protesting the situation were sent to our two Maryland United States Senators and to Congressman Dudley G. Roe. We have requested that corrective steps be taken immediately. We are hopeful that the German war prisoners will be put on a more sensible food rationing which will guarantee their maximum efficiency.
NOTE: There were Maryland Eastern Shore German POW camps at Berlin, Westover, Easton, Cambridge and Church Hill.
SEEK BETTER FOOD FOR BERLIN WAR PRISONERS
Germans Underfed
By Bettine Goodall
There must be a middle road between overfeeding German War Prisoners and starving them. Several months ago there was widespread criticism to the effect that German prisoner of war were being pampered. More specifically, that they were being fed certain foods which were unobtainable on the civilian market. At one time, these criticisms may have been valid but at the time we investigated Somerset POW camp at Westover Md., we found no evidence of coddling and so reported.
Today, however, we have evidence that certain prisoner of war working from the Berlin (Md.) POW camp are being systematically starved to death. It is not right that the prisoners should be expected to fulfill maximum contracts of hard physically labor on rations which are wholly inadequate. Naturally considering the German brutality accorded American Prisoners this may appear to be retribution. Presumably, however, the United States is abiding by Geneva Conference regulations. Willful violation of these regulations is a very serious charge. We charge the POW camp in Berlin with just such violation.
Approximately five hundred German prisoners in the area are doing heavy farm labor, working in poultry dressing plants, and in canneries. For their noon meal one day last week a group of theses prisoners were given three slices of plain bread and a cup of coffee. Obviously this is not sufficient to sustain a man engaged in manual labor, especially on a hot day. There is a great deal of red tape involved in procuring a copy of the menu of the meals served in camp. We can therefore cite conditions pertaining only to the meals that are provided the prisoners outside of camp and we empathically that this food is disproportionately scant.
Prisoner of war labor contributes in large measure to the relief of the critical farm labor shortage with which this area is faced, but the effectiveness of this relief is greatly curtailed by those who are responsible for seeing that the prisoners receive the proper food ration and are sadly misinterpreting this responsibility.
Simultaneously with the release of this story in today’s Democratic Messenger, telegrams protesting the situation were sent to our two Maryland United States Senators and to Congressman Dudley G. Roe. We have requested that corrective steps be taken immediately. We are hopeful that the German war prisoners will be put on a more sensible food rationing which will guarantee their maximum efficiency.
NOTE: There were Maryland Eastern Shore German POW camps at Berlin, Westover, Easton, Cambridge and Church Hill.
Another Development Taking Shortcuts On their Waste Water Treatment System
DNREC issues notice of $15,720 penalty assessment for wastewater violations at Pintail Pointe Development near Milton
DOVER, Del. - Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary Collin O’Mara has issued a Notice of Administrative Penalty Assessment and Secretary’s Order for groundwater discharge violations to Regent Group Property Development LLC and its property manager, Wilma Howett, who are the permit holders for the wastewater system at the Pintail Pointe housing development near Milton.
A cash penalty of $15,720 is being assessed for the violations and $2,358 in estimated costs associated with the action are included in this action. In addition to the penalty and estimated costs, DNREC has included the costs of a third- party contractor who, on two occasions, was hired to pump the system so that residents could remain in their homes.
Located on the west side of county road 258, just west of Route 1, in Sussex County, Pintail Pointe is a small development with its infrastructure in place and a few homes completed and occupied with more under construction. Its wastewater needs are served by a community onsite wastewater treatment and disposal system.
Regent Group Property Development and Ms. Howett failed to contract with a DNREC-licensed wastewater operator to operate this onsite system in accordance with the permit. This lack of maintenance caused the system to suffer neglect and become mechanically inoperable, thereby causing surfacing of wastewater effluent on the ground and into a nearby ditch. Repeated attempts by DNREC to contact the permit holders to resolve the violations were ignored.
The order requires the permit holders to complete the following actions within 30 days of the receipt of the order:
Pump the system to prevent surfacing;
Contract with a DNREC-licensed wastewater operator to oversee daily operations of the facility;
Contract with a Class C Design Engineer to perform mechanical testing of the entire disposal system;
Contract with a DNREC Class E System Contractor to repair the system as deemed necessary; and Perform infiltration testing on the collection system.
Regent Group Property Development and Ms. Howett have 30 days to request a public hearing before the order become binding.
DOVER, Del. - Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary Collin O’Mara has issued a Notice of Administrative Penalty Assessment and Secretary’s Order for groundwater discharge violations to Regent Group Property Development LLC and its property manager, Wilma Howett, who are the permit holders for the wastewater system at the Pintail Pointe housing development near Milton.
A cash penalty of $15,720 is being assessed for the violations and $2,358 in estimated costs associated with the action are included in this action. In addition to the penalty and estimated costs, DNREC has included the costs of a third- party contractor who, on two occasions, was hired to pump the system so that residents could remain in their homes.
Located on the west side of county road 258, just west of Route 1, in Sussex County, Pintail Pointe is a small development with its infrastructure in place and a few homes completed and occupied with more under construction. Its wastewater needs are served by a community onsite wastewater treatment and disposal system.
Regent Group Property Development and Ms. Howett failed to contract with a DNREC-licensed wastewater operator to operate this onsite system in accordance with the permit. This lack of maintenance caused the system to suffer neglect and become mechanically inoperable, thereby causing surfacing of wastewater effluent on the ground and into a nearby ditch. Repeated attempts by DNREC to contact the permit holders to resolve the violations were ignored.
The order requires the permit holders to complete the following actions within 30 days of the receipt of the order:
Pump the system to prevent surfacing;
Contract with a DNREC-licensed wastewater operator to oversee daily operations of the facility;
Contract with a Class C Design Engineer to perform mechanical testing of the entire disposal system;
Contract with a DNREC Class E System Contractor to repair the system as deemed necessary; and Perform infiltration testing on the collection system.
Regent Group Property Development and Ms. Howett have 30 days to request a public hearing before the order become binding.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Delaware State Fair Starts July 23rd
It coming up on that time of year again when the Delaware State Fair opens. The dates are July 23rd to August 1st. I usually try to go each year. I think it is best to hit there early in the week but not too early, as if you wait until the end of it those 4 H Baking exhibits have a good growth of mold growing on them. The first two days and the last day is never good either as some exhibitors have not set up or they have already taken their exhibit and left.
The admission price this year is Adults (ten and older) $6, Children 9 and under free, and there are of course special discount days and pre-ordering of tickets. I always think for a family of four or five it is an expensive deal for gate admission. It also pissed me off when you would go to a show that you had brought a ticket too and they charge you gate admission fees on top of that. I understand the vendors and exhibitors working in the fair have to pay for a daily ticket the same as everyone else. In doing a quick internet search of admission prices to State Fairs, the Delaware state fair ranks as one of the less expensive. Below are a few gate admission prices for an adult;
North Carolina $7
Minnesota State Fair $11
Texas State Fair $15
Iowa State Fair $7
Indiana State Fair $8
Missouri State Fair $8
Oregon State Fair $8
Alabama State Fair $6
Alaska State Fair $10
Arizona State Fair $10
Georgia State Fair $5
New Jersey State Fair $11
The admission price this year is Adults (ten and older) $6, Children 9 and under free, and there are of course special discount days and pre-ordering of tickets. I always think for a family of four or five it is an expensive deal for gate admission. It also pissed me off when you would go to a show that you had brought a ticket too and they charge you gate admission fees on top of that. I understand the vendors and exhibitors working in the fair have to pay for a daily ticket the same as everyone else. In doing a quick internet search of admission prices to State Fairs, the Delaware state fair ranks as one of the less expensive. Below are a few gate admission prices for an adult;
North Carolina $7
Minnesota State Fair $11
Texas State Fair $15
Iowa State Fair $7
Indiana State Fair $8
Missouri State Fair $8
Oregon State Fair $8
Alabama State Fair $6
Alaska State Fair $10
Arizona State Fair $10
Georgia State Fair $5
New Jersey State Fair $11
A Day in the Garden
The Sussex County Master Gardeners will have on Saturday July 18th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m 'A Day in the Garden.' Their demonstration garden will show Accessible Gardening, Children’s Garden, Trains, Vegetable Gardening, and more. This is always a good event and it is free.
The garden is behind the Sussex County Extension Office, which is located at 16483 County Seat Highway, Route 9, west of Georgetown, Delaware (east of Laurel). Look for the Blue & Gold Tent in the Sussex County Demonstration Garden immediately behind the office building. Bring a brown bag lunch and eat in their shaded picnic grove.
The garden is behind the Sussex County Extension Office, which is located at 16483 County Seat Highway, Route 9, west of Georgetown, Delaware (east of Laurel). Look for the Blue & Gold Tent in the Sussex County Demonstration Garden immediately behind the office building. Bring a brown bag lunch and eat in their shaded picnic grove.
Sentenced To Death and Still Waiting
I was looking over the Delaware death row inmates and wondering why they are still alive. Look at these dates when they were sentenced;
Jermaine Marlow Wright, Offense: Murder 1st (2 Counts), Sentenced to Death: 10/29/1992
Fatally shot liquor store clerk Phillip Seifert, an amputee, during a 1991 Wilmington robbery.
Robert A. Gattis, Offense: Murder 1st, Sentenced to Death: 10/29/1992
Gattis was convicted in October 1992 of first degree murder in the shooting death of Shirley Y. Slay, 27, his former girlfriend. Gattis admitted shooting Slay once between the eyes on May 10, 1990 but said the gun went off accidentally.
Robert W. Jackson, III, Offense: Murder 1st, Sentenced to Death: 04/28/1993
Killed Elizabeth Girardi of Hockessin by repeatedly striking her with an ax during a theft.
Jack F. Outten, Jr., Offense: Murder 1st, Sentenced to Death: 04/30/1993
Along with cousins Steven and Nelson Shelton, robbed and killed 64-year old Wilson Mannon after a night of drinking. Nelson Shelton was executed on March 17, 1995. Steven Shelton was also sentenced to death.
Steven W. Shelton, Offense: Murder 1st, Sentenced to Death: 04/30/1993
Along with brother Nelson Shelton and cousin Jack Outten, robbed and killed 64-year old Wilson Mannon after a night of drinking. Nelson Shelton was executed on March 17, 1995. Jack Outten was also sentenced to death.
Craig A. Zebroski, Offense: Murder 1st, Sentenced to Death: 08/18/1997
Killed Joseph S. Hammond of New Castle, a 59-year old gas station attendant, during a botched robbery attempt in April 1996.
Adam W. Norcross, Offense: Murder 1st, Sentenced to Death: 10/03/2001
Norcross and co-defendant Ralph E. Swan broke into the home of and shot to death Kenton resident Kenneth Warren on November 4, 1996.
Ralph E. Swan, Offense: Murder 1st, Sentenced to Death: 10/03/2001
Swan and co-defendant Adam W. Norcross broke into the home of and shot to death Kenton resident Kenneth Warren on November 4, 1996.
Milton E. Taylor, Offense: Murder 1st, Sentenced to Death: 07/06/2001
Luis G. Cabrera, Murder 1st (2 Counts),Sentenced to Death: 03/14/2002
Luis E. Reyes, Offense: Murder 1st (2 Counts), Sentenced to Death: 03/14/2002
Gary W. Ploof, Offense: Murder 1st, Sentenced to Death: 08/22/2003
Juan J. Ortiz, Offense: Murder 1st, Sentenced to Death: 09/26/2003
Chauncy S. Starling, Offense: Murder 1st (2 Counts), Sentenced to Death: 06/10/2004
Michael R. Manley, Offense: Murder 1st, Sentenced to Death: 02/03/2006
David D. Stevenson, Offense: Murder 1st, Sentenced to Death: 02/03/2006
Ambrose L. Sykes, Offense: Murder 1st, Sentenced to Death: 09/20/2006
Lamont L. Norman, Offense: Murder 1st, Sentenced to Death: 09/28/2007
James E. Cooke, Jr.,Offense: Murder 1st, Sentenced to Death: 06/06/2007
Shannon M. Johnson, Offense: Murder 1st, Sentenced to Death: 09/05/2008
Not only have they been sitting there for a while, it usually was from two to five years before they had a trial.
Since 1992 only 14 Delaware inmates have been put to death. The last being Brian D. Steckel in 2005
Jermaine Marlow Wright, Offense: Murder 1st (2 Counts), Sentenced to Death: 10/29/1992
Fatally shot liquor store clerk Phillip Seifert, an amputee, during a 1991 Wilmington robbery.
Robert A. Gattis, Offense: Murder 1st, Sentenced to Death: 10/29/1992
Gattis was convicted in October 1992 of first degree murder in the shooting death of Shirley Y. Slay, 27, his former girlfriend. Gattis admitted shooting Slay once between the eyes on May 10, 1990 but said the gun went off accidentally.
Robert W. Jackson, III, Offense: Murder 1st, Sentenced to Death: 04/28/1993
Killed Elizabeth Girardi of Hockessin by repeatedly striking her with an ax during a theft.
Jack F. Outten, Jr., Offense: Murder 1st, Sentenced to Death: 04/30/1993
Along with cousins Steven and Nelson Shelton, robbed and killed 64-year old Wilson Mannon after a night of drinking. Nelson Shelton was executed on March 17, 1995. Steven Shelton was also sentenced to death.
Steven W. Shelton, Offense: Murder 1st, Sentenced to Death: 04/30/1993
Along with brother Nelson Shelton and cousin Jack Outten, robbed and killed 64-year old Wilson Mannon after a night of drinking. Nelson Shelton was executed on March 17, 1995. Jack Outten was also sentenced to death.
Craig A. Zebroski, Offense: Murder 1st, Sentenced to Death: 08/18/1997
Killed Joseph S. Hammond of New Castle, a 59-year old gas station attendant, during a botched robbery attempt in April 1996.
Adam W. Norcross, Offense: Murder 1st, Sentenced to Death: 10/03/2001
Norcross and co-defendant Ralph E. Swan broke into the home of and shot to death Kenton resident Kenneth Warren on November 4, 1996.
Ralph E. Swan, Offense: Murder 1st, Sentenced to Death: 10/03/2001
Swan and co-defendant Adam W. Norcross broke into the home of and shot to death Kenton resident Kenneth Warren on November 4, 1996.
Milton E. Taylor, Offense: Murder 1st, Sentenced to Death: 07/06/2001
Luis G. Cabrera, Murder 1st (2 Counts),Sentenced to Death: 03/14/2002
Luis E. Reyes, Offense: Murder 1st (2 Counts), Sentenced to Death: 03/14/2002
Gary W. Ploof, Offense: Murder 1st, Sentenced to Death: 08/22/2003
Juan J. Ortiz, Offense: Murder 1st, Sentenced to Death: 09/26/2003
Chauncy S. Starling, Offense: Murder 1st (2 Counts), Sentenced to Death: 06/10/2004
Michael R. Manley, Offense: Murder 1st, Sentenced to Death: 02/03/2006
David D. Stevenson, Offense: Murder 1st, Sentenced to Death: 02/03/2006
Ambrose L. Sykes, Offense: Murder 1st, Sentenced to Death: 09/20/2006
Lamont L. Norman, Offense: Murder 1st, Sentenced to Death: 09/28/2007
James E. Cooke, Jr.,Offense: Murder 1st, Sentenced to Death: 06/06/2007
Shannon M. Johnson, Offense: Murder 1st, Sentenced to Death: 09/05/2008
Not only have they been sitting there for a while, it usually was from two to five years before they had a trial.
Since 1992 only 14 Delaware inmates have been put to death. The last being Brian D. Steckel in 2005
Wayne Boney and Jock Rutmeyer - Someone Is looking for you
The Delmar High School Class of 1959 is in the process of planning their 50th. Class reunion and have lost contact with 2 classmates. If anyone has any information on the whereabouts of Wayne Boney or Joseph ( Jock ) Rutmeyer, could they please contact peggymorris@comcast.net. Thanks!
It's Joe Turkel Birthday
Joe Turkel, actor, was born today (1927). I best remember him as being Lloyd, the Bartender, in "The Shining" and his excellent performance in helping Jack put to rest his long struggle with sobriety by getting him good and sloshed. God, a good bartender is hard to find. So drink up to Joe Turkel and give him a rousing Happy Birthday!!
Jack ... "Hi Lloyd! Been away! Now I'm back."
Joe Turkel as Lloyd ... "Good evening, Mr. Torrence. It's good to see you."
Jack ... "It's good to be back Lloyd."
Jack Nicholson as Jack Torrance ... "Here's to five miserable months on the wagon, and all of the irrepairable harm it's caused me."
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Vive la France!
The French understand liberty and sending messages to it's government so much better than the United States. In spite of the economy and social condition of the United States on the Fourth of July we Americans simply went to watch fireworks under government control conditions. Our forefathers who founded this country would have barfed at what controlled government puppets we have become and thought - what a waste of their blood.
The French, on the other hand, who are experiencing the same problems we have - on their Bastille Day (celebrating the anniversary of the start of the French Revolution when the Bastille prison was stormed in 1789), burnt over 300 cars today and had riots all over France sending their messages loud and clear to the French government. Now violence on the eve of Bastille Day and bastille Day has become a tradition in France but perhaps the United States is in need of a little of that tradition.
Vive la France!
Vacation Bible School Time
As you drive around the area you can see on the church marquees that it is Vacation Bible School (VBS) time again. I think everyone has been to a Vacation Bible School at one time or another. My main memory of VBS was drinking Hawaiian punch and eating those little store bought ring cookies.
Talk about a money maker - not for the church - but for what I consider the niche market suppliers of Vacation Bible School material. It is always a surprise and shock how much the materials used in Vacation Bible School cost the church and for a small church it can be hard to put a VBS on due to the expense of the material and the shortage of volunteers. Of course this is too a large degree the churches fault. They do not have to go with the theme oriented VBS material that is sold and seems to be the most expensive part of the program. They can just stick to making those witness bracelets and sugar cube crosses, serve a few snacks, and have a little music and Bible study thrown in, with a wrap up on the last night with a hot dog party. Frankly I don't think the kids that attend them care one way or another. Not infrequently they are there because the parents figured it was cheap summer daycare. Vacation Bible School is another event that is part of small town community life - may it live on forever.
June Rogers has a Birthday Party - 1953
From the July 10, 1953 Bi-State Weekly
June Rogers and her birthday party at Trap Pond. Click to enlarge
Edge Effect: The Border Name Place
Over at Reflections on Delmarva Past there is a post on a book about border towns. Mike Dixon talks about the "Edge Effect: The Border Name Place", a book by Robert D. Temple. The book is about 80 towns that are on state borders including Delmar, Marydel, Mardela Springs, Pen Mar and Sylmar. At $35 for a paperback copy at Amazon it looks like this will call for a visit to a library to read it.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Something New
On my way back from the Police Commission I drove down Pennsylvania Avenue. Besides the fake brick walkway they are adding there is a new stop sign at Pennsylvania and Grove, on Pennsylvania.
The Delmar Police Commission Meeting - July
It was a quiet and quick Police Commission meeting. All were present except the Police Chief. Among the items discussed;
There has not been that many disturbances at the new Skateboard Park and Basketball court. There is still some complaints from people on Spruce street about it.
There was a complaint of a hooker working around one of the parks
There has been at least three reported incidents this year of trucks hauling chicken parts and chicken waste thru town that have had their cargo splash out on to Richardson's car lot (Car City) and the street. A brief discussion followed as to how they might handle it.
Commissioner Carrie Williams said four or five kids about the age of eight to twelve years old were vandalizing houses in her neighborhood. Usually they are active in the evening thru the week and she thinks the older ones might be doing drugs in one of the vacant houses.
I complained about the new McDonalds not having a stop sign at their exit. People leaving McDonald pull out into the street between McDonalds and WaWa with out stopping.
There has not been that many disturbances at the new Skateboard Park and Basketball court. There is still some complaints from people on Spruce street about it.
There was a complaint of a hooker working around one of the parks
There has been at least three reported incidents this year of trucks hauling chicken parts and chicken waste thru town that have had their cargo splash out on to Richardson's car lot (Car City) and the street. A brief discussion followed as to how they might handle it.
Commissioner Carrie Williams said four or five kids about the age of eight to twelve years old were vandalizing houses in her neighborhood. Usually they are active in the evening thru the week and she thinks the older ones might be doing drugs in one of the vacant houses.
I complained about the new McDonalds not having a stop sign at their exit. People leaving McDonald pull out into the street between McDonalds and WaWa with out stopping.
The Delmar Police Commission Meeting
As a reminder the Delmar Police Commission will hold their quarterly meeting tonight at 6:30 PM at Town Hall. If you have a police question this would be a good meeting to attend.
Oliver Evans, Delaware Inventor and Engineer
Today in 1805, out of Oliver Evans workshop in Philadelphia, a machine that looked like it came off the set of 'Mad Max' rolled out. It was Oliver Evan's 'Oructor Amphibolos,' an Amphibious Dredge. Evans had received a contract from Philadelphia to built a dredge to remove mud from around the Philadelphia docks. At this time he was already well known for his high pressured steam engines so he designed a five horsepower steam engine that he put on a 15 ton scow. The scow had wheels mounted to it and it became self driven. His workshop was a mile and half from the Schuykill River so he drove the machine to the river than sailed it under steam power sixteen miles to the docks in Philadelphia where he dredged mud. The 'Oructor Amphibolos,' which is Latin for "Amphibious Dredge." was the first overland vehicle in the U.S. and the first amphibian vehicle anywhere in the world.
So who was Oliver Evans? Oliver Evans was born in Newport, Delaware, September 13, 1755, son of Charles and Ann Stalcop Evans, a good Welsh family. He claimed over 80 inventions for which he was responsible. Apprenticed to a wheelwright he was a self taught inventor and by age 22 he had invented a machine to form teeth for textile cards, later he would invent a steam carriage, the Orukter Amphibolos, a central hot-air heating system, a solar boiler, a vapor-compression refrigeration cycle, a process for making millstones, a machine gun, a gas-lighting system, a way to raise sunken ships, a self-oiling shaft bearing, a gearshift for his steam carriage, a kneading machine for bread dough, and a perpetual baking oven. He even devised a way to heat mill buildings, using the exhaust of his high-pressure steam engines.
It is hard say if he is best known for his high pressured steam engines or his automated flour mills. His two brothers and him went into the flour-milling business. While working at the flour mill, he invented the grain elevator, conveyor, drill, hopper boy, and descender. These inventions essentially automated the flour-milling process to the point that the mill could be run by one person. In the late 1780s the legislatures of Maryland and Pennsylvania granted Evans the exclusive rightto the application of these improvements, and the U.S. Congress granted Evans U.S. patents for his flour-milling inventions in 1790. His was only the third patent granted by the U.S. government. His flour mill operation is in part still operational at the Greenbank Mill in Wilmington Delaware.
Oliver Evans died in New York City, April 15, 1819. He was honored in World War II by having the United States liberty ship 'SS Oliver Evans' named in his honor. New Castle County Delaware honors him by having a historical Markers at the intersection of Market Street and Augustine Avenue in Newport, Delaware. A good article on Evans is in American Heritage.
Oliver Evans, Delaware Inventor and Engineer.
