Delmar DustPan

Under cloudy skies and on wet ground the 33rd annual Delmar Day In The Park, put on by the Greater Delmar Chamber of Commerce, got under way.

The first thing you encountered was water or mud, but a sizable crowd turned out and it didn't seem to bother them.

Diane Buckley working the crowd

Maryland Commissioner Marlena Hodgins was there.

The line to the crab cakes and fries. There is a number of food vendors.

Delmar Police had a table of free stuff to give a way

My neighbor, Whitley, was there.

Boy in Bouncer

The Greater Delmar Chamber of Commerce is doing a raffle on this Print of the Old Delmar Railroad Station. $5 a ticket

The raffle Information. This raffle ticket box has been at the Wilmington Trust Bank but will be going over to the Bank of Delmarva. The print is a low number copy, I think Number 2 of 20.

I was in Snow Hill this week and could not help but notice how forlorn this place looks. Sis's Bar was an active place back in the 1980's when I worked in Snow Hill. I use to go "across the river" to it at lunch time at least three times a week to grab a sandwich and a beer. Sis was a a nice woman (Yes there was some one called Sis) and her daughter, Sharon, could put up with people as obnoxious as me and at that period in my life I truly was obnoxious. It has been out of business for a long time now.

Snow Hill itself is just one of those that town that never really grows and looks like it did in the early 1900's. Now don't get me wrong it is a pretty place. It has a built in economic cushion by being the county seat, which automatically says it will have government buildings, nonprofit companies, lawyer offices, and small lunch shops. Like downtown Salisbury much tax payer money has been wasted supporting those buildings, instead of letting nature take it course as it did at Sis's bar. Real life is cruel but when you have control of taxpayer's dollars you can stay on life support for a long time. Snow Hill has been doing it for about fifty years.

The MARKS club was founded in 1957 to promote the building and flying of radio controlled model aircraft. MARKS stand for Mid Atlantic Radio Kontrol Society. The club currently has approximately sixty-five members and maintains an AMA quality flying field on St. Lukes Road just Southeast of Fruitland, Maryland. MARKS Annual Air Show is June 7th from 1 to 5 PM. The MARKS flying field is located approximately five miles Southeast of Fruitland, MD on route 513 which, is St. Lukes Road. The address is 1918 St. Lukes Road.

The simplest to follow route to their field coming from the East or West of Salisbury is as follows:
Take Route 50 bypass South (toward Norfolk)
Continue South on bypass to the second exit- Route 513 which is St. Lukes Rd.
Go to the stop sign at the end of the exit and then turn left onto St. Lukes Rd.
Proceed on St. Lukes Rd. 4.9 miles. Look for the MARKS field sign on right.
Turn right on the first dirt road 18 yards after the sign and drive back to the field.

Club membership is open to anyone who has an interest in model aircraft building or flying. Anyone interested is welcome to attend their monthly meetings or drop by the field to talk with some experienced flyers. Each month they post a club newsletter, The MARKSMen, so that you can read about the activities of the club on an ongoing basis.

MARKS monthly club meetings are held the last Tuesday of each month with the exception of November and December. There is no scheduled meeting in November and the Club holds an annual Christmas/dinner meeting in December.

More information can be found at their website MARKS

Yes that long awaited for event of "Day in the Park" is tomorrow. Surprising The Daily Times even did an article in today's paper about "Day In The Park." It also says Diane Buckley is this year's festival chairperson. Now, it was only last year when Diane swore she was not going to be chairperson again for "Day In The Park". I think this is her eleventh year doing it. She does dearly love this event and just can not let anyone else run it, that said she does do a good job at it.

So come on out tomorrow, hopefully it will not rain (just in case it does the Rain Date is June 20th.) and buy a 50/50 ticket - it is going to be the only economic stimulus plan you are going to see.

In 1905 J. D. Mills open his meat market and grocery store in Delmar. By 1928 he was still in business and had expanded into makings Mills and Company scrapple. His kitchen operation was described as having a 125 gallon pot in which a thousand pounds of meat could be cooked at one time. He had a capacity for 4,000 pounds of scrapple a day. The stirring of the meat was done by electric paddles and the meat was cooked using steam. He had delivery trucks on the road making daily deliveries.
Mills operated at Elizabeth and Second Street and by the 1940's his business was gone.

Today is the day! Over 120 Delmar High School Seniors will graduate. I guess looking at the weather it may be safe to say Graduation will be in the High School Gym instead of out on the Football field. Congratulation Graduates!!

Well if everything goes to schedule, tonight, at 6 PM Sussex Tech should have their graduation. Some that will be graduating from Sussex Tech are from Delmar. I understand theses are the individuals from Delmar; Nicholas Alberti, Christopher Littleton, Timothy Martin, Dustin Reese, Brian Saunders, and Taryn Townsend.

Good Luck Graduates!!

June, a month when you would think it is safe and you don't have to go to school plays, concerts etc. But there is always one last hurrah before school is out and this year it was the Wicomico Middle School Play. A harbinger of the way the play would go, was shortly after leaving home the sky broke loose.

Couldn't see anything and high winds bounced my van around.

Now I do not have high expectations for Middle Schools plays. The players are developing their skills and there is rarely anything related to lights or scenery. The success of the play is greatly determined by the directors and the audience is mostly parents and relatives attend the plays. I am sure the parents pray their child will not literally break a leg nor throw up on stage. I don't pretend to know a lot about plays but I do know if I like it or not. Wi Middle did a three play thing tonight. The first was "Behind The Screams" Now I know hours and hours go into the production of these plays but "Behind the Screams" was really bad, even for Middle school. It is a rambling story that I never did figure out. The Players spoke too fast and in low voices so you couldn't hear them. They really need a sound system. The one person who did stand out in this play, in a good way, was Jenny Rogers.

Behind The Screams

The second play was "Three Doors To Death" a mystery with audience participation. The first five minutes were done in the dark, which clues you in on the way things will go. The stage lights shone on the middle of the stage and the players stayed in the shadows. I don't know if it was planned that way or just poor directing. I will say that again Jenny Rogers stood out in this play and Lena Habig.

Three Doors To Death


Otto Jester, Jenny Rogers and Emma Hutchinson

The Third Play; "Seven Wives For Dracula" some what saved the night's production. There seem to be more direction and the players stayed in the lights.

"Seven Wives For Dracula"

A number of players did really great in this play. Myleah Lofland and Sherrie Shatney were exceptional. They played two sisters. They are physically about the same size and when they walked they walked in locked step. They invoked a reminiscent of the twin girls in "The Shining".

Lisa and Louise Burns from "The Shining"

Of course Colin Dennis gave a stellar performance as Dracula. Again Lena Habig did well playing the part of Jonathan, she seems to be a versatile person. Emma Hutchinson did well playing the lovely Lucy. Kailey Heath performed well as the Countess and Matthew Diaz played the crazy Renfield well.


The brides of Dracula

Yes Wicomico Middle will give another production of these three plays Thursday Night.

The morning started out with a lot of activity up town. I think they were suppose to be done by May 17th, so they are beyond their contract. Loads of sand and pallets of bricks have arrived.


It is interesting the first place the bricks were put down was in front of the old Avenue theater.

the memorial bricks are being spaced out down the sidewalk.

I called the Sussex County Board of Elections this morning and received the "unofficial" results of the School Board Referendum vote yesterday. It is 63 votes for the referendum and one against it. So 64 people decided the direction of the Delmar school district. I think the Board of Elections waits about a week until they publish the "Official" vote.

Today, June 3, in 1987 Will Sampson died of post-operative kidney failure and pre-operative malnutrition problems. He was 53 years old. Sampson was a 6 ft 5 in tall American Indian and he did a little of everything in his life; dropped out of school in the 9th grade, artist, construction worker, oil field worker, linesman, enlisted in the Navy, rodeo rider at age 14, heavy drinker, fathered nine kids, he crammed a lot into 53 years. He is one of those people you have to appreciate the film work he did instead of his personal life style.

Will Sampson is one of those memorable characters that came from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and I again remember him in The Outlaw Josey Wales . "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" is a film that had more character actors than any other that I can think of at the moment. Maybe It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World would exceed it. Christopher Lloyd, Danny DeVito, Scatman Crothers, Vincent Schiavelli, and the list goes on were in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest.

On June 2nd, 1953 Princess Elizabeth had her coronation to be Queen. She had formally proclaimed herself Queen in February 1952, immediately after the death of her father, George VI. But the public had to wait for over a year for her actual coronation. This really big royal events required months of planning and on June 2nd 27-year-old Queen Elizabeth II was formally crowned monarch of the United Kingdom

The day of the event the RAF flew recordings on film of the television broadcast to Canada in three stages during the day. Remember there were no satellites. Called "Operation Pony Express" the films were flown across the Atlantic in three Canberra jet bombers which left London Airport at 1:30, 3:15 and 6:20 pm. Each Canberra took a little over five hours to reach its destination and at 4:15 pm, local time, a full telerecording of the BBC Television Program was broadcast by television stations.

This event stands out in my mind because in 1953 I was a student at Prince Street Elementary school. Either on June 2 (Tuesday) or maybe June 3rd we were march down to the auditorium and there a small (maybe 9 inch) black and white TV was setup - on which a few hundred students and teachers sit in the auditorium and watched the coronation. Reception was crap and you had all the effects of poor reception, static and rolling frames common to TV's of the time. But we all saw an amazing event.

I have been asked to post something on the Friends of NRA Banquet to be held this weekend at the VFW in Delmar. I think Salisbury Soapbox has more information on it than I do so I will merely put a link thru to his post on the Event.

There is today from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM a chance to vote on a referendum in the Delmar School District. The referendum is to move $450,000 from the debt service account to the operating account. The money in the operating account is to go for energy costs, maintenance contract costs, materials, supplies, contractual services etc. I can only take the school at their word that the money will be used for that and not increase employee pay to make up for the 8% pay cut. Supposedly the debt service account has too much money in it and I ASSUME that is from the decreasing interest rates on their bonds and loans. The school advertised an informational meeting on this subject for last week but I had another meeting to go to so I don't know anything about it. I certainly have not seen newspaper coverage of the subject. Delmar needs it's own newspaper, the Laurel Star just doesn't do it anymore and The Daily Times never did cover Delmar. Perhaps a reader would like to comment on the referendum. Your only choice is to vote for it or against it - not a real taxing choice, you can probably flip a coin and vote based on the outcome of the coin. My estimate is that out of the possible 2,000 plus voters less than 100 will vote on this referendum.

The June Delmar Delaware Council meeting was held tonight. Delaware Councilman Glen "Woody" Payne was missing, again. The meeting was over with by 7:30. My usual disclaimer is I am not part of the council and what I write is my personal views, not the minutes, of the meetings. It is also just the parts I want to comment on or write about. If you want to know the real story go to the meeting. This is the last individual meeting for the two towns. In July they will go back to one Joint Council Meeting.

There really was not much to comment on tonight. There was a discussion where they would like to have the fireworks for the 150 years celebration. The Delaware side of town prefers the High School Grounds. Maryland Mayor Niblett prefers the Mason Dixon Park.


A collapsed sewer line in the down town streetscape area was discussed.

Anyone who wants to apply for the open position on the Delmar Library Board of Directors should submit an application to the library by June 15th. Applications can be picked up at the library.

The Delmar Day in the Park was discussed. It is this Saturday. It was mentioned that Saturn of Salisbury (really Delmar) had been a big sponsor of Day in The Park and since they have closed it has reduced the funding for the event.

June 1 7 PM Delmar Del Mayor and council meeting

June 2 special election to vote for or against referendum to transfer $450,000, Delmar School District

June 2 3 PM Sussex county Council Meeting Georgetown

June 3 6 PM Parks and Rec Meeting Town hall

June 4 6 PM Sussex Technical High school Graduation

June 5 7 PM Delmar High School Senior Graduation

June 6th Sat. 10am - 6pm at State Street Park - Delmar, DE, Food, crafts, attractions, games, raffles, live entertainment and more! Sponsored by the Greater Delmar Chamber of Commerce

June 8 Monday 10 AM Middle School Grad. School auditorium

June 8 7 PM Delmar MD Mayor and Commission Meeting Note there will be a public reading of the Delmar Police Dept Labor Code.

June 9 3 PM Sussex county Council Meeting Georgetown

June 11 6 PM Sussex county Planning And Zoning Meeting Georgetown

June 14 Flag Day

June 16 3 PM Sussex county Council Meeting Georgetown

June 17 3 PM Sussex county Planning And Zoning Meeting Georgetown

June 18 7 PM Delmar Planning and Zoning Meeting

June 20 – 21 Dover Air Force Base Open House

June 20 the Hidden garden of Lewes garden tour from 10am to 5 pm tickets $20.

June 21 Father’s Day

June 22 6:30 PM Delmar Utility Meeting
June 22 7 PM Delmar Joint Council Meeting

June 23 3 PM Sussex county Council Meeting Georgetown

June 23 Delmar School District Board meeting

June 25 6 PM Sussex county Planning And Zoning Meeting Georgetown

June 30 3 PM Sussex county Council Meeting Georgetown

Okay just a couple of comments on Jerome Ersland. Jerome Ersland is a pharmacist in Oklahoma City and works at Reliable Discount Pharmacy. On May 28, two people in ski masks entered the drug store and pulled guns on Ersland to rob the store. Ersland pulled out a gun and shot one of them (who later turned out to be 16-year-old Antwun Parker) in the head and chased the second holdup person into the parking lot where the second person, 14 year old Jevontia Ingram, made his escape. Ersland than went back in the drugstore and pumped another five bullets into Antwun Parker.

Ersland, 57, is a former Air Force lieutenant colonel and is a disabled veteran of the Gulf War. He is currently free on $100,00 bond. Needless to say, since the shooting, there has been a combination outrage and admiration of Ersland. I am one who admire the man. If Antwun Parker had lived from the initial shot in the head the court system would have him serve about three years in jail. Ersland did Oklahoma a favor and got rid of a piece of trash, it is only a shame he did not kill the 14 year old piece of shit also. Both Antun and Jevontia are the outcome of a juvenile court system that does not work. I have no doubt they have been in trouble with the law since they were nine years old and they were still out on the street. Yet the general public is preyed on by these people while the overpaid judges goes home to their security covered homes.

I was told a story, the other day, about Drug Court in Wicomico County. It seems a 19-year old, yes he was black, went to drug court to explain why he was not doing the community service he was sentenced to do. He said before when he was given community service in the juvenile courts system he was never expected to actually do it. The judge had him handcuffed and sent off to do thirty days. The poor man was crying as they lead him out to jail still not understanding why he was going jail.

Today in 1962 Peerless (Bucky) Townsend (age 20), Leon Green (age 22) and Hugh Donald Thomas went inside a full 90 ft diameter, 40 ft tall soybean tank at Perdue's to watch for possible fire while another worker welded a piece of conveyor atop the tank. None were wearing safety harnesses and were standing on top of the soybeans. A conveyor started pulling beans from the tank while they were inside, creating a whirlpool type action inside the tank and it sucked two of the men; Townsend and Green, into the center and they suffocated. Green was sucked in when he tried to save Townsend. It took nine hours to recover the bodies from the 253,000 bushel tank. Leon Green was from Delmar and Peerless Townsend was from Salisbury.

I remember Peerless Townsend from High school, a group of us from the same high school graduating class had enlisted into the Air Force in the fall of 1961, and we all knew him so it came as a shock to us when we heard about it as Peerless was one of the first people we knew from High School who died.