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Red Net Alert!!!

Although Bill Reddish is on vacation, the controversial decision made by the County Council will bring him back to the Studio tomorrow morning between 7:30 to 7:45 a.m. to do his across the river segment referencing the decision to turn down support in the TIF for the Old Mall. It should be very interesting Folks!

Are You Looking For A Last Minute Charistmas Gift?

We have 2 males and one female available to excellent homes. Contact me directly at, alberobutzo@wmconnect.com if you're interested. Get them while the gettin is good because after this litter the prices are going way up. These puppies come from 100% Champion blood lines.

Let's Talk About Illegal Activity

Ladies & Gentlemen,

If you or I were to open a business within the City limits and or the County, you'd be subjected to certain qualifications. One of the MAIN qualifications would be PARKING! Depending on the amount of people expected to work and or visit your business, a specific guideline is set and you must meet the minimal standards.

What I'd like to know is, how in the hell did they open this Civic Center without meeting anywhere near the standards? It is illegal to operate this business and just like you and I, it should be shut down! If WE have to follow these guidelines, so should Local Government!

That being said, even SEACRETS doesn't pay $5,000,000.00 for a 5 acre parking lot! Nobody is that stupid, unless you're in Manhattan! Mr. Macke needs to wake up to reality. Now that he's opened Pandora's box, it's time certain officials come to learn of this illegal practice going on at the Civic Center.

You know what's going to really suck Folks? As soon as most of this Council is gone and the Mayor is gone, what the hell am I going to do then? There are stories like this almost every day under their leadership and once they're cleared out I'll probably be covering girls volleyball at the Fruitland Sports Center. Nevertheless, thanks for making it so easy for now Barrie.

Perhaps It Was Lynn Cathcart's Husband Who Sealed The Fate For The NO Vote?

Mr. Cathcart got up in front of the County Council as the second speaker during the public comment, (only after Debbie Campbell) and called "anyone" against the TIF was "shallow minded."

His attack against others by acting like a bully has once again failed for him. Later that evening his wife Lynn came out in a work session, (talking about Debbie Campbell) and said, "I just don't like her any more."

Last Monday evening, Terry Cohen was quoting Gary Comegys when she stated that Gary had called her a C.A.V.E. person. (Citizens Against Virtually Everything) Mike Dunn immediately gaveled Terry down and told her, "Not Here!" It was OK for Gary to call a Lady a Cave Woman but how dare Terry call him on it publicly?

The tone needs to change, the name calling needs to end and IMO, how dare the City Council try to bring into the County Council Meeting their version of the charades they subject people to in their meetings. My hope is that the County Council not stand for this kind of behavior and stick to the professional business they have brought through their own personal experience in the business world.

Might I add, it was a class act for John Cannon to open the floor to Public Comment. He didn't have to. The Council became even more educated and they were then capable of making a well balanced decision. Especially after only having 4 days to review the entire TIF!

City Is Pushing County Council To Hold A Special Session Before Year End!

Barrie Tilghman & Mike Dunn just won't give up! They are trying to push the County Council to take another vote on the TIF for the old mall property owners and they simply will not accept the decision that has been made final.

This is just my own personal opinion Folks but as depressed as Mike Dunn has been over this entire deal, could the man have some sort of steak in the package? Could the Mayor as well? After all, there is a developement called Sassafras Mike Dunn had his hands in at one time and there is a WalMart in Fruitland Barrie Tilghman had her hands on just before the sale. It's not a far fetched thought.

Also keep in mind that Barrie Tilghman and Mike Dunn have just about bankrupted the City with all their borrowing and now leasing anywhere and everywhere they can get their hands on money. Municipalities never borrow to their maximum level and the City of Salisbury has certainly done so. Well, they like to now hide that figure by doing lease deals in the attempt to make it look like they actually have more borrowing options.

Nevertheless, it's my personal belief that after their vote was cast, I even think those that said yes to it would probably turn it around and change their vote to no at this point. That is, unless Barrie has steamrolled them with her bully tactics as if she were in control of them? It was a Party Line Vote?

Ladies & Gentlemen, I'll post them again for you. Please contact your County Council Members and let them know how you feel about this matter.

jtcannon@wicomicocounty.org,
wmccain@wicomicocounty.org,
ssamplehughes@wicomicocounty.org,
sprettyman@wicomicocounty.org,
gbartkovich@wicomicocounty.org,
dmacleod@wicomicocounty.org,
jholloway@wicomicocounty.org

SuperFresh Goes Into Lock Down Mode Yesterday Because Of Gangs

The SuperFresh at College Avenue was under lock down mode at 7:00 p.m. last night because they were forewarned a Gang of some 20 thugs were heading that way, so management locked the store down before they arrived.

"There was a long string of baggy-pants, big coated young hoodlum-looking fellows, maybe 20 or so of them, just sort of slinking along from S. Division, past Ace Hardware, then past the bell-ringer for the Salvation Army in front of the Superfresh. They bumped the bell-ringer's pot of cash, but kept moving."

Welcome to the real world of Salisbury, Barrie Tilghman & Chief Webster! People were sitting in their vehicles, (LOCKED) and holding onto their cell phones getting ready to dial 911. This is a fear NO ONE should experience with the taxes you pay in this City! It's time to rid of Dunn, Comegys, Cathcart, Tilghman, Webster and anyone else who gets in the way or making Salisbury a better place to live.

Mike Lewis, where are you?????

Perhaps You'd Like To Thanks Your County Council For Their Recent TIF Decision?

Thank them, welcome them, congratulate them, wish them a Happy Holiday, believe in them or even tell them what you don't like, it's up to you. Nevertheless, I'm sure they'd love to hear from all of you.

jtcannon@wicomicocounty.org,
wmccain@wicomicocounty.org,
ssamplehughes@wicomicocounty.org,
sprettyman@wicomicocounty.org,
gbartkovich@wicomicocounty.org,
dmacleod@wicomicocounty.org,
jholloway@wicomicocounty.org

RECENT HISTORY OF THE SALISBURY MALL, ETC. (from public records)

Nov., 1997 - Current owner purchased the Salisbury Mall (then about 50% vacant) and the vacant land between the mall and Beaglin Park Drive – total of 81 acres for $4,060,000.

Various Times - Current owner announces plans to revamp the mall (1997-1999) as a“village center” and develop the vacant land for residential usage.

Jan., 1999 - Homeowners on east side of Beaglin Park Drive (“Sun-Ayr subdivision”) agree to modify restrictions on use of vacant land to allow for the “St. Albans Commons” plan (discussed below)

March, 1999 - Salisbury City Council approves rezoning of the vacant land as the St Albans Commons PRD (after review and recommendation by the Planning and Zoning Commission). As approved there would be 243 residential units and commercial frontage (“pads”) along Mt. Hermon Road and Glen Avenue.

Oct., 1999 - Current owner sells the land on Mt. Hermon Road later developed as Eckerd Drugs (2 acres) for $600,000.

April, 2000 - Article by current City Council President Mike Dunn published in Metropolitan Magazine about the Salisbury Mall (“Our Very Own White Elephant”) stating that it is a “dilapidated building” that should be torn down.

Oct., 2001 - Jury verdict of $320,734 entered against current mall owner in lawsuit by the operator of the former grocery store located there (“Food Depot”) for damages due to leaky roof, etc. as a result of lack of maintenance.

Dec., 2001 - Year end store closing leaves mall about 90% vacant

Aug., 2002 - Current owner sells the land on Mt. Hermon Road later developed as Hebron Savings Bank (1.3 acres) for $600,000.

June, 2004 - City Council passes TIF Resolution (No. 1119) for $13.8 Million in future real estate taxes to fund owner’s costs

Nov., 2004 - Mall is now completely vacant & closed to public

June, 2005 - Current owner files application for rezoning the Salisbury Mall and vacant portion of St.Albans Commons PRD as a “PDD”

July, 2005 - City issues condemnation order on the mall building

July, 2005 - County Council approves TIF – later negotiated with owner for approximately $6 Million

Jan., 2006 - Salisbury City Council rezones the Salisbury Mall and vacant portion of St. Albans Commons PRD (all except the frontage on Mt. Hermon Road) as a “PDD” after review and recommendation by Planning & Zoning Commission.

Feb., 2006 - Local residents file appeal from “PDD” rezoning in the Circuit Court for Wicomico County

April, 2006 - Fire Chief (David See) and Fire Marshall (Edw. Torbert) advise the Mayor’s office of the safety risk due to conditions at the mall building

July, 2006 - City issues order for demolition of the mall building with six months ( by early Jan. 2007)

July, 2006 - Current owner files application for rezoning the Salisbury Mall and vacant portion of St. Albans Commons PRD as a new PRD

Sept., 2006 - Circuit Court for Wicomico County rules that the “PDD” rezoning made by the Salisbury City Council in January, 2006 was unlawful and reverses that action

Sept., 2006 - Current owner files revised application to include the bank and store fronting on Mt. Hermon Road in the new PRD

Oct., 2006 - Mayor Tilghman holds press conference and announces (with four City Council members present) that the City regards the owners’ proposed PRD plan "unacceptable".

My Very Special Holiday Gift To ALL Of You

I have been a long time shopper at my favorite store, Sam's Club. When they opened the Sam's Club in Annapolis just a couple of miles from my old home in Davidsonville, I was in my glory!

I had a Restaurant and Upscale Billiard Rooms that bought most of their supplies at Sam's and some from Sysco. Nevertheless, it was really convenient and to this day I'm glued to their way of selling products.

However, Sam's has a very big secret I usually do not share with others because I like to feel I am one of the VERY FEW that know about it.

Sam's Club has a very unique way of marketing. When they're about to stop selling a product they have a special way of marking it down that no one is really aware of. When I share this with you it will make your next visit to Sam's Club much more enjoyable, let me assure you!

Sam's marks items down "below their cost" by simply ending the penny amount to one. To clarify this better, $29.91 . $109.91 $5.91. Get my drift? Any time it ends in a one, (.01) in any way, shape or form, it's below their cost. So there's no question when you purchase that item you've already bought it below their cost.

So there, I've let the cat out of the bag. Hopefully all of you forget about this in a few days so I can buy all those special buys for myself! This may not seem like much of a gift to all of you but over the years you'll see just how handy it comes in when you're shopping there.

On another note, referencing Sam's Club, Sam's has yet another VERY cool thing going for them. Sam's sells "all" of their items you'll see in their stores at auction on their website. Believe me, the deals you can get there are out of this world. For example. I bought a $2,500.00 Digital Camera there for $370.00! I have purchased telephoned there , (800 MGH) for $5.00 each! Of course there's shipping charges, so you'll have to be careful. You know those big air hockey machines that sell for $250.00+ in the store? I've seen them sell for $50.00 but IMO the freight would probably be too expensive to ship. That's what I mean by being careful in what you buy.

So there, enjoy your Holiday Gift from me and let me know down the road how much you enjoy it?

So Why Did Rick Pollitt Just Sit There During The County Council Meeting?

I received a ton of calls and e-mail messages yesterday after I had posted on the County Council Meeting. The big question was, "why did Rick Pollitt just sit there and say nothing?"

Well, Folks, that's a great question and I'd like to answer it for all of you. Rick Pollitt it not even required to be at the County Council Meeting at all. It is a County Council Legislation Session, not a County Executive one. Therefore Rick Pollitt is there as a courtesy.

Which brings me to the City Council Meetings. They too are City Council Legislative Sessions. Meaning, Barrie Tilghman doesn't belong there and she needs to simply keep her mouth shut, (with all due respect) unless she would like to sign up for public comments?

This is not a Mayoral Legislative Session, therefore Barrie Tilghman is completely out of line when she speaks out at these meetings. She is also completely out of line coaching the Council, leaving her chair and going over to Comegys and or Dunn and giving them advise while the meeting is going on.

Now, IF Mike Dunn chooses to "ask" the Mayor for advise and or an opinion, this is completely different. He may invite her to do so but with the passage of the most recent changes, one wonders if this too would be considered out of line as Mike Dunn and Council just passed a ruling they could not do this very thing.

So, Barrie needs to keep her mouth shut unless she is asked to speak. Barrie needs to keep her opinions to herself as she would be out of line and should be gaveled down just like everyone else.

Be prepared Barrie Tilghman because things are about to change in a few months and your roll as Mayor will be one in which you will be told what fine line you'll be walking down the road. The people are taking back their City and I doubt there's a whole lot you can do about it.

Perhaps you'd better serve the Public by sitting at a Bar Stool at the Market Street Inn where you could yell and say anything you want there?

Mike Dunn Tries To Control The County Council & It Backfired

You could tell by the look on the County Council faces, they weren't buying his bullshit. Mike Dunn went so far as lying to the County Council in the hopes they would simply believe it and fall for it in a very desperate attempt to get the County Council to approve the TIF on the old mall project. The Council of course dropped it like a lead balloon and I have to honestly tell you Folks, Mike Dunn has been in a very serious depression ever since. Lynn Cathcart has been so moody, it isn't funny. She was even in a work session later that evening, looked at Gary Comegys and said, "I just don't like her any more." Meaning Debbie Campbell.

Mike was in this same meeting not saying a word and staring off as if he had just renovated his entire home and now had no way to pay back the loan? Hmmmmmmmm? Unfortunately I wasn't able to capture the Mayor's look as she's been in hiding during and after. Could it be they have a steak in the whole deal?

Duh, Which Way Do I Go?

This sign at the corners of Rt 13 & Rt 54 has been down for some two weeks now. I wondered why I hadn't had any company over the past two week. How the heck could anyone arrive with a major sign like that just completely gone?

I wonder too just how many people headed North in the South lane because the divided hwy sign was missing? Or would that be, South in the North lane?

Anyhow, the Maryland SHA is in charge of this one and I wonder how many more weeks it will take to get it back up again? Would Viagra help?

Were We Sold A Bill Of Goods?

While the first photo clearly shows a more natural "log" type of setting along the river, (an example photo also shown on the Zoo's Website) the later photo is what we got.

No blame here, just curious as to what's going on?