Delmar DustPan

I attended the Salisbury University December 2010 Commencement at the Wicomico Civic Center this afternoon. One of my favorite people Randie Hovatter, Graphic designer extraordinaire, graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Art, Cum Laude of course. Yes, you can only believe in Miracles

The audience was only semi-ill manner (meaning I have seen and heard to worst) with hog calling and various ghetto displays during the ceremonies.

Graduation day is tough for adults. They go to the ceremony as parents. They come home as contemporaries. After twenty-two years of child-raising, they are unemployed. ~Erma Bombeck

About a hundred thousand photos were taken of the graduates

You are educated. Your certification is in your degree. You may think of it as the ticket to the good life. Let me ask you to think of an alternative. Think of it as your ticket to change the world. ~Tom Brokaw

Congratulations Randie!! Hope You Find a job.

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.
You're on your own.
And you know what you know.
You are the guy girl who'll decide where to go.
~Dr. Seuss

A blonde goes to the Delmar post office to buy stamps for her Christmas cards.
She says to the clerk, "May I have 50 Christmas stamps?"

The clerk says, "What denomination?"

The blonde says, "God help us. Has it come to this? Give me 6
Catholic, 12 Presbyterian, 10 Lutheran and 22 Baptists."

James T. Bailey, Private First Class, United States Army, Service # 33378939
333rd Field Artillery Battalion
Entered the Service from Salisbury, Maryland
Died: 18 December 1945
Tablets of the Missing at Ardennes American Cemetery, Neupre, Belgium
Awards: Purple Heart

Today in 1946 Elsmere Delaware Firemen suffered great embarrassment after their fire house burned down.

Delmar’s 2010 Christmas Parade Trophy/Plaque Winners

Main Theme: “What Christmas Means To Me

Best Float
1st The Tabernacle
2nd Cup Scout Troop 827

Best Band
1st Phyllis Wheatley Middle School Band
2nd Delmar High School Band

Best Vehicle
1st Timothy Moxey
2nd Red Line
3rd Western Riders

Best Fire Dept
1st Parsonsburg
2nd Sharptown

Most Unique Entry
St. Stephens Church

Judges Award
Delmar Middle School Band
Robert Hathaway
Lone Ranger
Western Riders

Bonus Theme “Putting Christ Back Into Christmas”

Best Float
1st Kevin Lewis
2nd Junior Pee Wee
3rd Delmar Key Club

Best Vehicle
1st My Brothers Keeper

Judges Awards
St. Stephens Chruch
Malone Stables
Tim Moxey
Delmar Key Club

The Greater Delmar Chamber of Commerce would like to thank all of our participants in this year’s parade and also thank all those who came out in support of this year’s parade!

This Sunday, December 19th, the Delmar Band Boosters are holding an All-You-Can-Eat pancake and sausage breakfast at Applebees on Rt. 13 (across from Walmart). It'll run from 8:00-10:00, Sunday morning. Tickets are only $6.00 and will be available at the door. Proceeds from this Flapjack Fundraiser will benefit the Delmar Senior Band program. Enjoy a tasty breakfast and help support our Marching Wildcats!

Cedar Tree Farms Manager Charged in Theft

Location: 15423 Coastal Highway Milton, DE

DATE and TIME: December 2003 thru November 2010

Victim(s): 58 year old Davie, Florida man
Cedar Tree Farms 15423 Coastal Highway Milton, DE

Defendant(s): Jeffrey T. Hurley-46 Milton, DE

Charge(s) and Bond Information: Theft Where the Property Value is $100,000 or More
Theft by False Pretense Over $1,000 Released on $8,000 unsecured bond

Resume:
Milton-In September of 2010 Delaware State Police began an investigation whereas the victim was Cedar Tree Farms located on Coastal Highway Milton Delaware.

Delaware State Police was contacted by a 58 year old Davie Florida resident who is the owner of Cedar Tree Farms. The victim advised State Police of accounting inaccuracies whereas Jeffrey T. Hurley set up a personal account with Mountaire Farms located in Harrington Delaware.

Hurley is alleged to have over billed materials related to the daily operations of the farm as well as obtain money from the victim to purchase materials however failed to provide appropriate receipts.

Delaware State Police additionally discovered Hurley sold commodities to Mountaire Farms which were owned by Cedar Tree Farms and retained the proceeds amounting to $95,465. All told Hurley appropriated almost $123,000 from Cedar Tree Farms from December 2003 through November of 2010. (Total including additional fraud incidents.)

Hurley was formally charged on December 3, 2010 and released on $8,000 unsecured bond. Delaware State Police are continuing their investigation into this matter.

For full details, go to https://local.nixle.com/alert/4362150/?sub_id=32217.

Convicted dog-fighter Michael Vick, who spent 18 months in prison for charges related to dog fighting, wants a dog to bring back to his house. His parole specifically state that he is barred from owning a dog for a year-and-a-half.

Truly people with money and fame live in another world from the rest of us. I thought it was an insult to everyone when the Philadelphia Eagles hired him. Even allowing for the fact that the only thing lower, trash wise, than the Philadelphia Eagles, would be the Ravens it was still a low step even for the Eagles.

Vick says he genuinely cares about animals and "I think it would be a big step for me in the rehabilitation process," he told TheGrio.com, a website that focuses on African-American issues. "I think just to have a pet in my household and to show people that I genuinely care, and my love, and my passion for animals."

Vick asserts that he is not a crazy person or a psychopath and that his criminal behavior was merely a product of his upbringing. Lets all have a pity Michael moment.

Presidential Proclamation--Wright Brothers Day

On December 17, 1903, after years of determination and creativity, Orville and Wilbur Wright's wooden aircraft sailed the steady winds of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, and conquered the age old dream of manned flight. That day, the two brothers from Dayton, Ohio, could only imagine what we now know that those moments aloft in the North Carolina sky would send mankind on a revolutionary journey and modernize transportation. On this day, we celebrate their historic accomplishment, the limitless potential they represent, and the vision they spurred for the next generation of inventors and entrepreneurs.

The Wright brothers' monumental achievement solidified their place in history and earned them status as American and global icons. They moved aviation from a curiosity into an indispensable global industry. Self taught and relentless in their years of work and experimentation, these brothers were a shining illustration of the limitless capacity of human intellect and the resourcefulness of the American entrepreneur. As part of an era of great visionaries, Orville and Wilbur Wright helped hasten an age of discovery and great technological advancement. Their unyielding pursuit of powered flight stands as a proud example for young and curious minds eager to transform and advance the world around them.

Just as the Wright brothers' breakthrough led to a new industry that forever altered our world, a new generation of space pioneers is now following in their footsteps and setting our Nation's sights even higher. Working with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration, leaders in spaceflight are making great progress in ushering in a new commercial space industry that can help boost our economy, create new jobs, and take Americans to soaring new heights.

America's long history of technological leadership and innovation has been the product of learning and ingenuity. To maintain this tradition and propel it forward, America must empower the next generation of doers and makers. We must ensure our Nation's students receive the world class mathematics and science education they need to challenge the boundaries of human knowledge and realize tomorrow what we can only dream today. We must also ready our children to become the entrepreneurs whose tenacity and creativity will power the engine of our Nation's economy for centuries to come. On Wright Brothers Day, in remembrance of that celebrated flight, let us recommit to preparing the next generation of scientists, engineers, inventors, and entrepreneurs to create a future of promise and progress.

The Congress, by a joint resolution approved December 17, 1963, as amended (77 Stat. 402; 36 U.S.C. 143), has designated December 17 of each year as "Wright Brothers Day" and has authorized and requested the President to issue annually a proclamation inviting the people of the United States to observe that day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim December 17, 2010, as Wright Brothers Day.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventeenth day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.

BARACK OBAMA

A few Birthdays;

Keith Dennis turns - well he is getting old so I won't say how old he is today - but Happy Birthday Keith !!!

Robert Dickerson turns 43 Happy Birthday Bobby!!

Ludwig van Beethoven was baptized in a Roman Catholic service on 17 December 1770, and was probably born the previous day, 16 December altho no one is sure. So happy Birthday to Beethoven - what ever day he was born!!!

I think it was Walt Disney who said when he was reviewing his animated movie "Fantasia", "This Movie is going to make Beethoven". Poor Beethoven in name and in song has been used poorly by the movies. Classic music in TV and Movies in general has killed a number of pieces to listen to, such as the William Tell Overture, Paul Dukas – The Sorcerer's Apprentice, Modest Mussorgsky – Night on Bald Mountain, and of course Richard Wagner - RIDE OF THE VALKYRIES - when listening to it, immediately the Helicopter attack in "Apocalypse Now" comes to mind and Duvall line of "I love the smell of napalm in the morning"

In the winter of 1872 there was a series of letters printed in the New York Times proclaiming the virtues of scrapple and the deficiencies of scrapple. Here is one;

To the Editor of the New-York Times:

Let a few of your economists try the following recipe and they will find it is all it is cracked up to be: Take a calf’s left hind leg and let it hang until it will just stay hung without falling, then take it down, after cutting the bone out chop the meat into pieces about the size of a walnut, put them on the roof in a rain-storm for twenty-four hours, after which (if a cat don’t get them) boil with a pound of licorice-root, let the lot gently simmer for a few minutes and then add a paper of Lorillard’s century tobacco with a little old rye whisky, and you will have the meanest mess under the sun except scrapple.

ANTI-SCRAPPLE

The latest addition of the Mockingbird (The newsletter for Double Mills) is out. As usual Stephanie Elliott has done a great job. the highlight of this quarter's edition is a round up of nightspots, taverns and bars that have been in the area over the last 100 years. To read it on line click here

It is slippery out there. From Pond's Edge north to the traffic light at the State line we past two cars off in the ditch. This white car was able to drive away thru a field while Delmar Police (I think it was Esham) got ready to handle another accident (notice the tire tracks in front of the police car leading off to the ditch). By the medical office I saw a PRMC vehicle in the ditch and three women walking away from it across a snow covered field.

and it seems to be coming down pretty good. As you recall last year on about the 18th of December we started having snowfalls and they kept up until March.

On a morning walk a couple of days ago we were having a few snow flakes and I past a young woman walking her dog that had a big shit eating grin on her face. In talking to her it turns out she had moved up from Florida and this was the first time she had seen snow. We will see if she is still smiling come February.

Naturally he is asking for RAPA scrapple.

Scrapple the other gray meat

I was looking at the internet last night at some scrapple sandwiches and from the posts read obviously everyone is not sold on this gastronomy. Here are two scrapple sandwiches that looked interesting.


This tasty treat came from Pacha Mamas describes as serving it in sandwich form with house-made aioli (fancy New York name for mayonnaise with garlic), melted Vermont white cheddar cheese, sauteed apples, chives and a fried egg on a house-made brioche bun. Sounds Good



From This is why you are fat blog described as a Scrapple Burger; Cheeseburger and 1/4 lb of scrapple, topped with bacon, ketchup, lettuce and optional ranch dip. Maybe it taste better than it looks

DSP News Release: Husband/Wife Charged with Embezzling and Filing a False Delaware Tax Return
Location: 34986 Midway Outlet Dr (Sony Outlet) Rehoboth, DE
DATE and TIME: February 2007 thru October 2009
Victim(s):
• Sony Outlet
• State of Delaware
Defendant(s):
• Kevin A. Davis-50 Frederica, DE
• Danielle R. Davis-39 Frederica, DE
Charge(s) and Bond Information:
• Theft Where the Property Value is >$50,000 but < $100,000
• 2 counts Fraud and False Statements Makes and Subscribes a False Return
• Conspiracy Second Degree
• Both released on $101,000 unsecured bond each

Resume:
Rehoboth-Delaware State Police Financial Crimes Unit Tuesday December 14, 2010 arrested a Frederica Delaware couple for Theft and Fraud charges related to an embezzlement investigation which occurred when they were employed as manager and assistant manager at the Sony Outlet Rehoboth Delaware.

The Delaware State Police during November of 2009 was contacted by the Sony Corporation regarding an embezzlement investigation spearheaded by their Asset Protection Manager. Detectives learned that Kevin A. Davis-50 and his wife Danielle R. Davis-39 both of Frederica Delaware were both employed at the Sony Outlet as managers from June 2006 and October 2006 respectively until April of 2009.

Sony Corporation after conducting an internal investigation determined that the Davis couple were purchasing Sony products over a 2 and ½ year period and then returning those items for refunds. Kevin and Danielle Davis are alleged to have purchased over $22,000 in merchandise however records indicate they returned over $50,000 in merchandise. The Sony Corporation provided Delaware State Police with detailed spread sheets of each item that was retuned.

Summation: The Davis’ retuned merchandise however were taking refunds over the amount that the item was valued at or paid for. The Davis’ made their own returns which enabled them to manipulate the prices and refund.

The Davis’ utilized their own bank cards to make the purchases and would have the refund amount credited back to their bank ATM cards.

The State of Delaware Finance Office assisted with the investigation and discovered that the Davis’ did not claim this unearned income on their State Of Delaware Tax return in 2009. As a result of this revelation the Davis’ now may now be subject to an audit by the State of Delaware.

Kevin and Danielle Davis were arrested at Delaware State Police Troop 4 and released each on $101,000 unsecured bond.

Today in history was the Boston Tea party. In Boston, on December 16, 1773 as many as 7,000 Bostonians were at the wharf where three tea ships had docked. Eventually about 200 of those men, some dressed as Indians, would march to the ships and throw their cargo of tea in the harbor. In March 1774 Parliament passed the Intolerable Acts which among other measures closed the Port of Boston and that started the ball rolling for the American Revolution. Viva la Revolution!!

Perhaps not starting a revolution, but nevertheless starting the steps to remove a School Superintendent the Laurel School Board voted 3-2 Wednesday night against extending the contract of Superintendent John McCoy. Altho touted to have a major of community support, much like the vote for the new schools, it was a small number compared to the overall population of Laurel that showed up to support Dr. McCoy. Naturally I think he should leave for the way he handled the Bill Hitch school district embezzlement problem. I also think all the school board members should be removed for the same reason.

A blogger walks into Delmar High School.

When he entered, there was a blonde school teacher already inside who greeted him with a bright,
"T-G-I-F."

He smiled at her and replied,
"S-H-I-T."

She looked puzzled and repeated,
"T-G-I-F," more slowly.

He again answered,
"S-H-I-T."

The blonde was trying to keep it friendly, so she smiled her biggest smile, and said as sweetly as possibly,
"T-G-I-F."

The man smiled back to her and once again,
"S-H-I-T."

The exasperated blonde schoolteacher finally decided to explain.

'T-G-I-F' means 'Thank God, It's Friday.' Get it, duuhhh?"

The man answered,
"'S-H-I-T' means 'Sorry, Honey, It's Thursday'-- duuhhh.

Robbie Fulks Scrapple

The mom and pop diners 'round Allentown
Don't really have much that a fella can hold down
And the folks up 'round Philly and Bethlehem
Ain't gormet types, really, or chefly men
Now, they're God-fearin' folks in that keystone state
But their food ain't fit for a collection plate.
There's things for all kinds of people to hate
But there's one that everybody loves

Chorus:
And they call it Scrapple! Scrapple!
Corned and steamed, and hogmeat dappled
Set by the window till it's cold and hard
Sliced up thick and fried in lard
Hey what's that swimmin' in the big red pan
That's kickin' up all this mania
It's scrapple, scrapple, the pride of Pennsylvania

Well, way down yonder by the Ford Corsair
Billy's got his hands in Betty Sue's hair
Shakin' and a-steamin' up the roadmaster
We can see him but we can't see her

Well Mama's in the kitchen and she might see
"Billy better let your sister be!"
But he jumps from the Buick to the dining room
When he gets a whiff of that pig perfume

Well they call it scrapple! Scrapple!
Hearty as a t-bone, slippery as a tadpole
Any old part of the hog will do
Neck, and the nipples, and the toenails too
Hey what's that swimmin' in the big red pan
That's kickin' up all this mania
It's scrapple! Scrapple!
The pride of Pennsylvania

Well up in the pen, 'neath the big shade tree
The laziest hog you ever did see
Stiff in the joints, and slow in the head
That fat boy'd be better off dead
So grab your hammer and away we'll fly
To splatter his brains all around the sty
Then we'll be living in a world of dreams
Chuggin' down scrapple till we bust our jeans

It's scrapple! Scrapple!
Didn't bring a plate then fork you a hatful
Workin' in the field till the sun goes down
Grandma's whipped up twenty-five pounds
Hey what's that swimmin' in the big red pan
That's kickin' up all this mania?
It's scrapple! Scrapple!
The pride of Pennsylvania
It's scrapple! Scrapple!
The pride of Pennsylvania

The new lights in State Street Park look great. In spite of the fact they say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas" they are a big improvements over decorations from previous years. Lets hope they last the "season" and vandals do not destroy them.

You know what an issue I have with Chinese made goods, Anyway I've got two or three (if not more) random things to letcha's know. First I was into Tractor Supply Co (TSC) today and I swear the place is selling Chinese made goods like they were Walmart. The woman in front of me in the checkout line was buying a tractor seat with a "made in China" sticker on it. A damn tractor seat, can't the United State even make those? Now TSC use to be a place where they sold tractor parts, and a few other farm related items their niche was they were not a "Tractor Dealer" nor a "Feed and Seed" nor "Tools and Equipment" store, just a little of everything. Today the largest single area of floor square footage is devoted to "Clothing". Can I say more about what kind of store it has become. However up until a few years back the C. E. Schmidt (founder of Tractor Supply Co) brand of work clothing was mostly American made. Today I couldn't find any American made clothing in the C E Schmidt line, when I snorted in disgust I could have exhaled hard enough through nose to nearly blow boogers down the front of my shirt. Well I think Carhatt, Dickies, and Liberty are still American made.

Joanne M. Gum, president for the Delmar Board of Education is the 2010 recipient of the Delaware School Boards Association Distinguished Service Award.

Gum has been a member of the Delmar BOE for 10 years, and she has served as the president of the board for the past three years, and previously as the vice president of the local board.

Read more here

Ten Days To Christmas and you are just sitting there reading this blog - Snap Out Of It and get to shopping - the Chinese need us

A few Comments on Christmas Shopping

One Size DOES NOT fit all.

Is a Cubic zirconia a "real" stone?

Why do female Jewelry saleswomen always wear low cut blouses - what are they selling?

Sussex County renews dog control contract, keeps license fees unchanged for 2011

Georgetown, Del., Dec. 14, 2010: Sussex County is throwing dog owners a bone this holiday season, keeping animal control services and licensing fees the same for 2011.

County Council, at its Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010, meeting, renewed the County’s annual contract for dog control services with Kent County SPCA/Delaware Animal Care & Control. The organization, as it did this year, will continue to investigate complaints, retrieve unleashed dogs and inspect kennel operations on behalf of the County.

Under terms of the contract renewal, Sussex County will pay Kent County SPCA/Delaware Animal Care & Control $669,231 – slightly less than this year’s total -- for its services in 2011.

Meantime, dog licenses for next year will be available beginning Jan. 1, and must be obtained for the calendar year by March 1 for dogs 6 months or older. For spayed and neutered dogs, the annual cost will remain $10; for non-spayed and unneutered dogs, the cost will stay at $15 yearly. Dogs must be current on their rabies vaccinations at the time the license is obtained. Fees will be waived for seeing-eye, lead or guide dogs and those that have previously served in a branch of the U.S. military.

Licenses are available in one-, two- and three-year increments, and are valid through Dec. 31 of the expiration year. Owners who fail to comply with the County’s licensing requirements face an initial $50 fine, with a maximum fine of $100 for repeat offenses within a 12-month period.

Applications can be made online or in person. Visit www.sussexcountyde.gov and click on the “Buy Your Dog License Today” link on the lower right side of the main page, or stop by the County Administrative Offices building, 2 The Circle, in Georgetown, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For questions about dog control services and licensing requirements, call (302) 855-7380.

From The Daily Times
DELMAR — Delaware police authorities are investigating the apparent disappearance of 23-year-old Whitney L. Bennett of Delmar who was last seen a week ago on Camden Avenue in Fruitland.

Family members reported Bennett missing on Dec. 9, telling police they last saw her Dec. 3, according to the Delaware State Police.
Police said Bennett and an acquaintance also were reportedly seen Dec. 4 about 7 a.m. in the 400 block of Camden in Fruitland.

Bennett is a 5-foot-1 white female with blonde hair, and weighs 110 pounds. Her left leg is tattooed with flowers and the name "Whitney" is inked onto an arm.

Anyone with information regarding Bennett's whereabouts should contact Delaware State Police at 302-337-1091 ext. 0 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP.

Glenn Miller, one of the foremost bandleaders (Glenn Miller Orchestra) of the 1930's and 40's, disappeared today in 1944. At the age 0f 40, on December 15, 1944 Major Miller was to fly to Paris to play for the troops. He boarded a plane

(a UC-64A Single engine Norseman) with the Pilot: Flight Officer John Morgan, and another Passenger: Lt. Col. Norman Baessell. The plane departed Abbotts Ripton, Twinwood Field, England at 1355 hours and disappeared over the English Channel. All three men were declared missing. The plane was never recovered. The disappearance of Miller's aircraft may have been caused by bad weather. However, records also suggest that bombs, jettisoned by Allied bombers returning from an aborted mission, may have inadvertently struck the plane, other reports suggests he was on a secret mission (he spoke German) and died in Paris from a heart attack. Not quite as many theories as for Amelia Earhart on his disappearance but there are a number.

Over at Stars and Stripes there is an article on Lt. Col. Terrence Lakin an Army physician who refused deployment to Afghanistan earlier this year because he believes Barack Obama cannot legally be president because, as all "birthers" know, he was born in another country.

Lakin, will face up to 18 months in prison and dismissal from the service after pleading guilty Tuesday to charges of refusing his immediate commanders’ order.

As we know the State of Hawaii has received so many requests regarding Obama's birth certificate that they signed into law a bill that would allow Hawaii to ignore repeated requests for President Obama's birth certificate.

Sounds like a conspiracy to me.

I am usually late in keeping up with Baldamore brawls, but I understand one of the latest is about Denise Whiting, owner of Café Hon in Baltimore, trademarking the word "hon" As we know the words "Hon" and Baldamer Merlin goes together, as in "Welcome to Baltimore Maryland Hon". Ms Whiting decided to apply for a trademark on the word "Hon." And sure enough trademark Serial Number 78889029 was issued to Cafe Hon for the word as a service mark. The “Hon” trademark was expanded to cover paper goods and clothing.

Baltimorons are in an uproar.

My friend and fellow blogger, Dick Dykes of The Balloon Man, is in Kent General Hospital. Should you feel like dropping him a card his address is Dick Dykes, Room 110, Kent General Hospital, 640 South State St, Dover, DE 19901

Picked Up from WMDT 47 NEWS -
Police are looking for the public's help. Twenty-three-year-old Whitney Bennett has been missing since December 3rd.

Police say she was last seen around the 400 block of Camden Avenue in Fruitland. She is from Delmar, Delaware. If you have any information on Whitney's whereabouts, call Delaware State Police at 302-739-5901.

Over at "Reflections On Delmarva Past" there is a good night photo of Salisbury after WWII

The Delmar Daily is saying There is someone who hangs out in Delmar that is impersonating a police officer.

My neighbor, who runs a shop at Laurel Junction (Bargains Bills) Flea market, said she is moving her shop to another location at Laurel Junction the first of the year. The shop, Magic Memories, is having a moving sale with 75% to 25% off.

Alan Hale Sr , supporting actor who worked as the sidekick in Errol Flynn movies, is better know to us as the father of Alan Hale Jr, the "skipper" on the popular sitcom Gilligan's Island. Alan Hale, Sr. died in 1950 following a liver ailment and viral infection, not lung cancer.

December 14, 1905 - A three-masted American schooner, the Pendleton Sisters, 798 tons, carrying lumber wrecked at Metomkin Island, Virginia during a Nor'Easter

NEWS RELEASE: Inmate Death – James C. Eskridge

An inmate at the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center (JTVCC) near Smyrna died Sunday, December 12, following a lengthy illness. James C. Eskridge, 56, (DOB 10/09/1954) died in Kent General Hospital at 1:10 a.m.

Eskridge, of Delmar, DE, was serving a Life sentence for Kidnapping 1st and Criminal Mischief. His sentence effective date was 12/21/1978.

Eskridge’s body has been turned over to the State Medical Examiner’s Office, as is standard procedure.

Foul play is not suspected.

The Delmar Fire Department will host its annual "Breakfast With Santa" on Saturday December 18th from 8 to 11 AM at the fire hall. The breakfast is FREE - wonder if they will have scrapple sandwiches?

Sussex Tech will have their winter chorus concert on Wednesday, Dec 15, 2010 6:30pm - 9pm in the Sanctuary at Epworth United Methodist Church 19285 Holland Glade Road, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971

On Thursday, December 16, 2010 the Delmar Planning & Zoning Commission will meet at the Delmar Town Hall for their regularly scheduled meeting at 7:00 pm. The items on the Agenda;
• Ryder Truck Rental, Inc. - Used Car Sales at 8693 Bi-State Blvd.
• Demetrius Davis- 100 W. State Street- Grandfather Duplex

The High School Chorus Concert will be presented Thursday, December 16th at 7pm in the school auditorium.

From the North County times (serving North San Diego) is an article about November the Marines record first suicide-free month since 2007 . Through November, 35 Marines have killed themselves this year, compared with a record 52 suicides among its 202,000 troops in 2009. That was up from 42 in 2008, 33 in 2007 and 26 in 2006, according to service statistics

On the 13th of December, 1937 the 6th and the 116th Divisions of the Japanese Army enter the Nanking (Nanjing) the former capital of the Republic of China. For six weeks afterward the citizens of Nanking were murdered and raped by the Japanese. During this period, hundreds of thousands of Chinese civilians and disarmed soldiers were murdered and 20,000 plus women were raped by soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army.

After the Japanese army entered the city their first task was to eliminate any threat from the 90,000 Chinese soldiers who surrendered. Since in Japanese terms surrender was not an accepted end to a battle they begin to get rid of the 90,000 Chinese by using some for bayonet practice, then they proceeded to machine gun some, burn some alive and had a decapitation contest to see who cut the most heads off.


From there they proceeded to gang-raped any woman they could find, then stabbed to death with bayonets or shot them so they could never bear witness.

and force them in to the "comfort women" (ianfu) system which forced young Chinese women to become slave-prostitutes. Of interest to me was a settlement of a lawsuit on behalf of Korean Comfort Women in which the money did not go to the individual women who were forced into brothels but instead given to a the Asian Women's Fund. The Korean Government does not work any better than our's. One of the ironies of Japanese military brothel system was that part of the reason the system was introduced was to prevent Japanese soldiers from committing rape.




Seventy-three years after the Imperial Japanese Army stormed the Chinese metropolis of Nanking and massacred an estimated 260,000 civilians, survivors and their descendants still wait for justice – and for a full acknowledgment of the crimes. The Japanese government has provided neither. To this day the Japanese government has refused to apologize for these and other World War II atrocities, and a significant sector of Japanese society denies that they took place at all.

Given China's increased economy and military clout I think in the future some comment will be issued by the Japanese government.

When you read about the Nanking massacre you can only think that an atomic bomb should have been dropped on Tokyo before they were allowed to surrender.

a volvo ad

Last Will and Testament of John Ames - 13 December 1791 - Transcribed by Gail M. Walczyk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the name of God Amen I John Ames of Accomack County and Colony of Virginia being Sick and low but of perfect Senses having it in consideration that it is for all men for to die thought it suitable to settle these my affairs on the this side of the Grave, and this my Temporal estate which it hath Pealsed God to enue me with which I Will require to be in manner & form following First of all I give my soul to God who gave it to me hoping that at the resurrection of the Dead it shall enter into eternal Glory with the blessed in Jesus Christ and my body unto the dust from whence it came to be buried in a Christian manner and all my Just and Lawful debts to be paid

Secondly I lend to Elizabeth Ames all my Land and negroes that I am now possest, with and I gave hur all my Crop and She to hold all my land and negroes until Babel Ames Comes to the age of twenty years Ould and She is to pay all my just and lawful debts

Thirdly I gave to my Brother Babel Ames my land when he arrives at the age of Twenty years ould I gave now at this time to him my mare Cold Strumpet and bridle and saddle and my gun and all my Clothes that is made and them that is to make

Forthly my will is that all the rest of my Estate Should be Divided Between my two Sisters Nancy Kellum and Elizabeth Ames and I appoint Elizabeth Ames and Babel Ames my Brother my Executor to this my last will and testament where unto I have Set my hand and seal this the thirteenth Day of December anno domini one thousand Seven hundred and ninety one

John Ames

Teste

Thomas Bayly
Laban Johnson
Richard Mears

Source:

_____. Accomack County Wills &c 1788-1794; p. 617.

Yes when growing up my family had one.

The Delmar Police Department has many safety tips that can apply to the holidays at their website. Take a look. They cover Safety at the ATM, Vacation, Vehicles, Driving and teaching children safety. I had asked the Police department if there were any tips for the Christmas season but have not yet received a reply. The Town of Delmar has a policy of not responding to bloggers altho sometimes, using the tips I picked up at the Dale Carnegie Course, I can receive an answer from them on an innocuous request. Again use common sense when shopping and displaying items in your home.

There are still a few Delmar Sesquicentennial items such as Tee Shirts and booklets at town hall. I think both items are being offered for $3.50 each. An inexpensive gift for perhaps someone who use to live in Delmar and have moved away, or to use as a stocking stuffer. Share the joy with them.

I looked at the Delmar Fire Department web site this morning to see if I could find some Christmas safety tips but only found in their "Safety & Health Newsletter" section tips on "Hurricane Preparedness & Safety Tips". So off to other sites;

Trees
When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label "Fire Resistant." Although this label does not mean the tree won't catch fire, it does indicate the tree will resist burning and should extinguish quickly.

When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree is green; needles are hard to pull from branches and when bent between your fingers, needles do not break. The trunk butt of a fresh tree is sticky with resin, and when tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles.

When setting up a tree at home, place it away from fireplaces and radiators. Because heated rooms dry live trees out rapidly, be sure to keep the stand filled with water. Place the tree out of the way of traffic and do not block doorways.

Lights
Indoors or outside, use only lights that have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory, which indicates conformance with safety standards.

Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections, and throw out damaged sets.

Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension cord.

Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could be electrocuted.

Fasten outdoor lights securely to trees, house walls, or other firm supports to protect the lights from wind damage. Use only insulated staples, not nails or tacks, to hold strings in place. Or, run strings of lights through hooks (available at hardware stores).

Turn off all lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could short out and start a fire.

For added electric-shock protection, plug outdoor electric lights and decorations into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs). Portable outdoor GFCIs can be purchased where electrical supplies are sold. GFCIs can be installed permanently to household circuits by a qualified electrician.

Decorations
Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials to trim a tree. Choose tinsel or artificial icicles of plastic or nonleaded metals. Leaded materials are hazardous if ingested by children.

Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other evergreens. Always use non-flammable holders, and place candles where they will not be knocked down.

In homes with small children, take special care to avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable, keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children to avoid the child swallowing or inhaling small pieces, and avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food that may tempt a child to eat them.

Wear gloves to avoid eye and skin irritation while decorating with spun glass "angel hair." Follow container directions carefully to avoid lung irritation while decorating with artificial snow sprays.

Fireplaces
Use care with "fire salts," which produce colored flames when thrown on wood fires. They contain heavy metals that can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation and vomiting if eaten. Keep them away from children.

Do not burn wrapping papers in the fireplace. A flash fire may result as wrappings ignite suddenly and burn intensely.

And Howard's own comment; Use Your Common sense, if it looks dangerous or if you think there is a remote chance of something going wrong don't use it. As someone who is still recovering from a fire believe me you don't want to go thru one.

$1.98 and you supplied the potato

Postcard from maybe the 1920's

I see in the Sunday paper there is a short write up about "The Dale Carnegie Course: Effective Communications and Human Relations" being offered in Salisbury starting in January. Now as I recall the Dale Carnegie courses are franchised out to different groups that put them on. This franchisee is Brescook, Inc. Back about 1982 I took the course and I will say of all the training and academic courses I have taken in my lifetime the Dale Carnegie course stood out head and shoulders over all the rest. Now it could just be the course fit with what was going on in my life at the time but it is a very positive course and I would recommend it to everyone. You are probably saying, "Howard one of the keystone slogan of Dale Carnegie is of How to Win Friends and Influence People, and with your direct talk you are probably friendless and couldn't influence anyone even if you offered them a five dollar bill." True, but just think what I must have been like before I took the course. Trust me there was a big improvement. Back when I took the course it was about $500, now I am sure it is about $1,500.

Delmar Elementary School will have their PTA Meeting and Fourth Grade chorus Holiday program on Monday, December 13th at 6:30 PM. This year’s holiday (we have to be politically correct) program is "Jingle All the Way." Mr. Lambertson, Ms Wood and Mrs. Belcher have been working with the fourth grade chorus members on songs and scripts. Given the limitation of the school facility and the number of parents, grandparents and family friends who want to attend the program, it would be best to arrive early in order to reserve a seat.

In Delmar we have learned if you want a large turnout to an event you invite and schedule the Elementary school chorus in the event. Not only is the chorus large, you can count on at least 6 relatives showing up for every child in the chorus.

Blue Christmas is not just an Elvis Presley Christmas Song, for many people, and we have all been there at one time or another, the season of Christmas is more a time of struggle or heartache than a time of celebration. Relentlessly joyous musical refrains fill the air and every greeting and every song reminds the grief-stricken of how unhappy life is at this moment, reminding you of what you have lost or never had. The anguish of broken relationships, the insecurity of unemployment, the weariness of ill health, the pain of isolation, the loss of a family member, the loss of a beloved family pet – all of these can contribute to feeling “blue,” depressed, or discouraged at a time when it seems as if everyone in the world around us is celebrating.

For those reasons, some churches have begun to recognize that carols, celebrations of Christmas, and children’s pageants do not meet everyone’s needs. To fill this gap those churches offer a Blue Christmas service, a Service of Solace or Longest Night. This celebration is placed on or near December 21st, which is the longest night of the year. Following this date, daylight and hope seems to be returning for more and more of each day. People who are not having a very merry Christmas and friends who support them are invited to come and sit with one another in an opportunity to acknowledge their brokenness or loss and explore the hope of the Christmas season through scripture, music, and quiet pray.

Regretfully I know of no church in this area holding a "Blue Christmas" service so if you are one of those people who are having grief in the Christmas Season my heart goes out to you.


Isaiah 40
"Comfort, comfort my people," says our God. "Encourage the people
of Jerusalem and tell them that their time of suffering is ended. with
whom will you compare me? Who is my equal?" asks the Holy One. "Look
up to the heavens!

Who made the stars, if not the One who leads them out like an army,
calling each one by its own name? So mighty is God's power and
strength that not one fails to answer. Israel, why then do you
complain that our God does not know your troubles or care if you
suffer injustice? Our God, the everlasting God, the creator of the
farthest parts of the earth, never grows tired or weary. No one can
fathom the depths of God's understanding. God gives power to the faint
and strength to the powerless. Even youths become exhausted and young
ones give up. but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their
strength. They shall mount up with wings as eagles they shall run and
not be weary. They shall walk and not faint."