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!