You've Got To Have Balls To Play With This Harley!

There's no better past time than owning and riding a Harley. Once you're addicted you'll find that it's all the after the main purchase, (the bike) that cost you a small fortune. Today I visited my friends John and Mike Rafer of Rafer Billiards in Selbyville, DE. "Just In" is the new Harley Davidson Pool Table for a mere $5,500.00. It even includes the trademark black cloth and orange bumpers. Mention my name, you'll get a great deal!

Alessi Does It Again!

Contender Ron Alessi will stop at nothing to break all the rules, including breaking the law. It's my understanding you must file for a permit for any sign on a commercial piece of property. I wonder if the City is keeping tabs on how tall the weeds are getting on one of the biggest street corners in all of Salisbury as well? Nevertheless, is this the kind of representative the County is looking for? One that will blatantly break the law because he simply thinks he can get away with it! Keep it up Ron, this is exactly what we want you to do!!!!!!

WWTP Update

I just spoke with Dave Pushkar who heads the MDE here on the Eastern Shore. Dave has informed me that they are willing to work with the City of Salisbury on the "sludge pit" and have been willing to do so from the beginning "IF" the City is willing to put in several monitoring wells.

The City has refused to cooperate with such said wells which hightens the curiosity within the MDE that there is in fact some stalling going on and they do expect to find contamination even after the sludge pit is removed. The fact that the City has not come back with an agreement to put in these wells clearly tells the ultimate story.

One way or the other the City is in deep poop on this matter because we all know what is expected in the end. Barrie Tilghman, John Jacobs and Dave Winslow can stall all they want on this matter, there's something seriously wrong at the WWTP and the Taxpayers are ultimately going to pay the price in the end.

My thoughts on the matter are, wait till elections are over with Dunn and the rest of the crew before they move forward with truly complying with the MDE as they do NOT want this to be an issue.

Which brings me to this? I believe the County Executive Candidates should all be digging deep into this issue and demanding the Mayor answer with facts and truth so these Candidates can tackle this issue as one of the major topics in their campaign. What are they going to do about it? What are they going to do to assure this is not a major catastrophe down the road in other parts of the County?

On another note still referencing the MDE. The Salisbury Zoo has corrected the illegal pipes that were draining raw sewage into the river as well as a very important valve that will forever stop raw sewage from backing up into the Bison Exhibit again. Because they cooperated, there will be no fines from the MDE. Their main goal was to correct the problem there, NOT to take money from the Taxpayers.

A little message to Barrie Tilghman, cooperate with the MDE like the Zoo did and maybe you won't force the MDE to fine you out the ying yang? Your games with the WWTP & the MDE have cost the Taxpayers $25,000.00 so far and you can't win all your battles Barrie. I think we all know what's underneath that sludge pit liner and I don't think we're going to let this one slip away until it's completely resolved. The Daily Times can't cover it up any more and there are more readers on the Blog Sites than there are with that newspaper anyway.

Good Morning!

Another beautiful sunrise from West Ocean City overlooking Ocean City. Moday's always suck but I hope this helps get the day started right.

Daily Times Hires Color Blind Production Manager

Was it just me, or did everyone else get a black and white Comic Section today? You know they print these things way in advance, right?

Today's Wildlife Photo

Foal Rescue (click on any picture to enlarge)

I've stated this in the past and I'll state it once again. There are only a hand full of unbelievable moments and or things you can easily say were the very best moments of your life. My first would be the birth of my children, WOW!

The second in my lifetime was the experience Jennifer and I had last year traveling around the Country rescuing foals that were headed to slaughter.

So everyone is aware, the Thoroughbred Industry has a law in which you must have live contact breeding and no, (AI) artificial insemination. When a very expensive mare has her foal she goes back into heat again within 7 days. This means they separate the mother and foal usually within 48 hours and a nurse mare is brought in to take over nursing this new and very expensive foal. There's also usually an agreement that while this nurse mare foal is nursing the new foal, they allow it to breed once again with another stud there at the farm, which is usually another very expensive horse.

Ultimately the nurse mare is delivering a perfectly healthy and fine foal but that foal is actually considered a "junk foal." These foals are usually brought to slaughter as the Italians, the French and the Canadians enjoy foal meat similar to American's enjoying veal. So these foals are sold to slaughter houses and even the Garment Industry gets involved and they buy the hide. Especially a paint horse hide. They'll actually pay some $50.00 more for the colored hide and they use them for shoes and or purses.

When Jennifer and I learned of this we immediately bought a brand new truck and a new horse trailer and started traveling to wherever these foals were located and we started buying them up by thew dozen. With Jennifer's background as a Vet. Tech. at the Salisbury Zoo for so many years, this was a perfect way to make good use of our new Ranch in Delmar. So we bought a ton of foals paying $50.00 more than the meat market would pay and we brought these little guys home.

As you can see from the pictures, they were anywhere from 1 day old to 2 months old and completely helpless. I'll tell you as well, it would cost us around $150.00 a day in mares milk formula alone just to keep these guys fed properly and healthy. It was the best money I had ever spent in my entire life!

When you see the photos of our horses, these are rescue foals. We adopted out some 35 foals last year and if we receive calls again from any of the farms we purchased from last year we'll be right back in business getting more foals. I'll close this story on this note. Although we have no proof, we believe Jim Rapp and or Employees of the Salisbury Zoo called the State of Delaware on us trying to cease what we were doing, claiming we didn't have proper health certificates to take these animals from State to State and or into the State of Delaware. If you know me well enough, I told the State to go to hell and sue me. They never did.

I have received a ton of e-mail messages asking me to please produce more horse pictures, so here they are.

More Fond Memories

Two Ways To Cool Off

Little Big Man and Ghost use the pond to cool off from all this heat. The post below is another way to cool off.

Only 4 More Months Away!

Not that long ago Ghost was wondering where the heater was.

Mike Lewis

With all this hoopla going on about the Sheriffs Race I have been trying to get together with what I felt the front runners are to get to know them better. To my great pleasure I have not only met some wonderful and new people, I am convinced that the people I have in fact met so far are extremely dedicated to their goals and they have the proper backgrounds to be in this race.

What I'm about to say is my own personal opinion but I wanted to share it with everyone to see how they felt about my idea. I have met Mike Lewis personally and I watched him recently speak at the NAACP meeting the other night. He is a VERY convincing man with a fabulous career and the state of Maryland had been very fortunate to have such a professional Trooper keeping us safe, especially in the drug enforcement area. I have come to learn in person that Mike has an almost hypnotic kind of personality, which is very rare these days. I say this in a positive fashion.

However, I tend to wonder if he isn't truly missing his calling? Mike is a NO BS kind of guy, (which I like very much) and he's actually the man they need desperately in the City of Salisbury as Chief of Police. The crime is in the City of Salisbury, (in my opinion) and they have young Officers that are in desperate need of the right kind of man that can lead these young men into becoming unbelievable Officers. So call it selfish but I really wish Mike could have been able to take over Chief Websters place rather than the County Sheriff because I personally think he'd be wasting 90% of what he's so good at.

They need to get the drugs off the street in the City folks. They need to clean up the neighborhoods where everyone knows the drugs are severe. We don't need TOUGH Sheriff's Deputies, we need TOUGH City Police Officers and Webster just isn't cutting it.

I'm NOT at all stating Mike Lewis wouldn't make a good Sheriff, so don't even go there. My point here is to simply say, what a shame the Mayor isn't begging Mike to come on board as Chief of Police for the City of Salisbury where Mike could put his gifts to great use where it actually belongs rather than only getting 10% of that action in the Sheriffs Department. This is purely selfish, I know.

Salisbury Outback

I have been a long time fan of Outback ever since they opened in the USA I'm a huge fan of their layered cheesy fries and I used to love ordering the prime rib with horse radish. Their burgers at one time were the best anywhere too. Over the last few months there's been a major change in the Salisbury Outback though.

We get together with friends once a week and we're considered one of Outback's biggest regulars. I have always felt "you can't change something you're not aware of," so whenever I have an issue with what I've ordered I let them know as politely as I can so no one spits in my food. (LOL)

Well there comes a time when enough is enough. I don't know about all of you but recently every meal is coming out with either 1/2 the portions or everything is burned. I love my prime rib rare, (Pittsburgh Style). Tonight they delivered my steak very well done and our waitress knew immediately it wasn't right. She took it back and came out with the manager and this time the steak was cooked even more so than the first time and I guess the manager was there to convince me this time they had done a better job. I simply looked at her and said, show me one portion of this steak that is rare? It had fat everywhere and get this, it wasn't more than 1/4 inch thick to boot. It should be told that I had ordered their largest 16 oz. prime rib too!

So what happened to the old Outback we used to know? Remember the old Bloomin Onions that were HUGE? You watch one table get cheesy fries and they're flowing over the sides and dripping on the floor on the way to the table and then you see the next order come out with next to nothing on the plate. They try to tell you they're measured and all the same, NOT! So I made a decision tonight to simply say I've had enough. Our friends enjoy the Alice Spring Chicken and I found out why their chicken was always so moist. The chicken is bought locally every day and it's simply fresh. Lately each piece of chicken has again either been burned and or there's no more moisture. Considering we've been telling them things just aren't right for quite some time now and nothing is changing, it's time to stop going to Outback.

It's a real shame to see such a great place fall apart like that but they've taken my money for the last time and I'm sick of walking out of there feeling cheated rather than full. I bring this up because I'm curious if everyone else who frequents Outback has been experiencing the same problems?

Today's Wildlife Photo

Num, Num!

Ocean City On Fire!

This photo goes out to all my old friends and neighbors in Captain's Hill in West Ocean City. Not a day goes by I don't miss the beautiful sunrises over the Bay. Then in another 30 minutes all the tourons would show up in their boats by the hundreds and screw it all up. ;-)

Flower Basket?

Shouldn't this sign say, "Sanford & Son?" Does anyone happen to have a clue what their business hours are as well because the last three times I have been by here they have not been open for business?

The Sky Is Falling!

At around 5:00 this evening a storm started rolling in and I heard within a few short minutes one farmer had an inch of rain. I just happened to catch this shot as it was rolling in.

What's More Crooked?

A). The Street Light Pole?

B). The Jaycees Sign?

C). The City of Salisbury?

D). All of the above?

Pittsville is Booming!

This is visual proof the Town of Pittsville has outgrown their own facility and have busted out the curb in order to make additional parking for City Hall. To your left will be, oh, 5 or 6 additional spaces for parking. If Paul Wilber gets his way there'll be parking meters in these spaces in no time, just like Salisbury.

Pittsville Fire Station 7 Restaurant

Out with the old and in with the new! Todd & Carol Wampler are plugging away in the hopes of having the new Restaurant open by September.

Don't miss their new website @ www.station7restaurant.com

Do you know where YOUR property line is? (Updated)

It seems everywhere I turn I see the Ron Alessi sign on State Property. Then they come mow that area, probably take away the sign and the next thing you know there's another one up on the opposite corner.

This one was taken on Rt. 50 right after the Bypass heading West. Last week it was on the same side, just across the street on the other West corner. I have driven down roads where there are no people living in homes and there were 3 Ron Alessi signs on the property on a 1/4 acre lot!

Are there laws for this? Can you post a sign on State property? I even saw his sign on a commercial property on Main Street and thought, don't you need a permit for "any" sign for commercial property in the City Limits?

Maybe I'll just keep riding around and snap picture of these illegal signs?

Maryland Department of the Environment

Sydney Blake has retired!

Another dissatisfied customer! After 30+ years with the MDE the gentleman to your left has retired. I personally want to thank Mr. Blake for his professional services. Mr. Blake didn't know me from Adam when I first called but he "immediately" came to my home to review pictures I had taken of the WWTP and called in ALL the dogs that day to make an emergency trip to the WWTP and spent three days there writing violation after violation.

When I came to learn about the illegal pipes running directly into the river at the Zoo as well as the overflow of raw sewage in the Bison exhibit and then into the river, he once again showed up that day and took care of business. I have praised these guys since day one because they did what they said they were going to do and we can all only hope they find someone just as professional as he was, but I doubt that very seriously. It is my understanding they have been trying to find a replacement for Mr. Blake for the past 3 months and have had no luck whatsoever. What do we do now?

Debbie Campbell's Letter

Growth planning must be accessible to residents
It is obvious from testimony, polls, letters and conversations that most Salisbury residents are dissatisfied with growth management and many recent decisions regarding development. Their reasons are also obvious. Increasing numbers of residents are also dissatisfied with the process by which planning occurs and zoning is done.
Many residents feel this process takes place in secret until decisions have been made and announced — in part because there is little media coverage. By then, it’s too late to participate in a meaningful manner. Those who do participate are often displeased by what they experience and feel developers are usually favored at the expense of the public.
One reason for this is the difficulty the average person faces to participate, which begins with obtaining adequate information in a timely and convenient manner. It is surprising so little information is made available on the Internet.
Starting as soon as possible, each meeting agenda, as well as staff reports, recommendations and other significant material, should be posted on the city Web site at the earliest possible time. Details about specific requests for zoning action should be posted shortly after receipt. Other jurisdictions already do this. It is an easy way to make information readily available to the public so the process will be more transparent.
Another factor that has resulted in criticism is the manner in which those who participate are often received and sometimes treated. Since becoming a member of the Salisbury City Council, I have come to appreciate the basis for that criticism, and hope it will cease immediately.The primary reason the public is dissatisfied is the nature of growth and development that has been approved in recent years. After several decades that resulted in overcrowded roads and schools, a number of larger projects have been proposed and, in some cases, approved with little or no consideration of impact on existing neighborhoods, subsidies such as TIFs or quality of life.Additional regulation, such as required by HB 1141, will do little to change the situation unless more attention is paid to residents and growth is better managed, so existing neighborhoods are protected and residents are not harmed by new development. In Salisbury, the mayor recently indicated her administration is working on a revision of the city’s comprehensive plan. The first step should be to ask residents about what they desire. Hopefully, in the next several weeks the City Council will conduct a public hearing so residents can speak directly to the council before a draft plan is prepared.Once drafted, there should be additional hearings before the council takes action.

Deborah CampbellSalisbury

Who's Who?

The only two local politicians I saw there last night were Stevie & Shanie. I don't think they were there for the free soft drinks and cookies either.



By the way, the guy on the left, that isn't Shanie. LOL!

Racial Profiling

When the NAACP asked, for those of you candidates who believe there is racial profiling towards African Americans and the Mexican Communities please stand up......... Mr. Lowe from the other table also stood up. The rest did not.

Meet ALL your Sheriff Candidates

In order, Major Doris Schonbrunner, Mike Lewis. www.majordoris4sheriff.com
www.mikelewis4sheriff.com
www.wayneloweforsheriff.com
www.roberts4sheriff.com
www.southforsheriff.com


These are the only websites available. One of the candidates didn't even have a brochure and or any information there. In my opinion however, this is how to inform the community so everyone can make a sound and informative decision. The most imprtant thing here is that everyone needs to VOTE!

Sheriff Candidates

Mr. Lowe, Mr. South, Mr. Pusey, Mr. Daugherty & Mr. Roberts.

The Most Honorable People In The County!

7-27-06
Naacp forum tonight at 6:30 PM. Location is: Mills Memorial Baptist Temple 1323 Jersey Road.

From left to right.
States Attorney Davis Ruark, Judge Beckstead & Major Doris Schonbunner, (candidate for Wicomico County Sheriff)

Today's Wildlife Photo

Thank You City of Salisbury!

If you'd like to enjoy a car just like this one contact Kevin Tracy, (attorney at law) at 301-982-1003 like Jennifer did. Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!

Now all she needs to do is find that retirement home she's always dremed of the the cycle will be complete.

Fox News

This is the kind of land the animals in the Zoo deserve. I captured these pictures in Delmar.

Magical

Soar like an Eagle

The Kodak Moment!

If there was ever a favorite moment or a favorite shot I have "ever" taken in my life, this is it! I took this shot from my pier at my home in Ocean City. It actually made the front cover of the Ocean City Today Newspaper and ticked off quite a few fisherman along the way. (LOL)
Click on the picture to enlarge it, it's worth it!

Designated "No Smoking" area

When I forwarded this photo to Barrie Tilghman, this was her reply.

"Joe: He is standing in a designated "No Smoking" area which is away from the main areas where visitors to the Zoo usually visit. Barrie Tilghman"

As Carlos Mancia would say, Dee, Dee, Dee! Excuse me Barrie but isn't this also the Main Office for the Salisbury Zoo, which butts right up to Ben's Red Swings?

Crosswalks, Sidewalks, who needs them any more?