How Many People Out There Truly Want A Skate Board Park?

As I visited yesterdays fundraising event for a new Skate Board Park, I simply needed to see the demand before I actually dug my heels in deep with serious consideration to build one locally.

So here's what I need from ALL of you. IF you're truly interested in a Skate Park, I need you to contact ALL of your Skate Board Friends and get them on here commenting and letting me know just how serious ALL of you are about this Park.

The reason being is, I am considering opening up a 13,000 square foot INDOOR SKATE BOARD/BMX PARK in the Salisbury area. However, it will depend on ALL of you. If I get the response I'm looking for, I'll move forward. If it dies out and no one is really serious, well, I'll let the City/County build you a half a$$ed Park.

I have provided a link below to a smaller Park to give you an idea of what I'm looking to possibly do. Take the TOUR and see what the inside looks like. It's bitchin!

GO HERE to see a sample of what I'm talking about. Take the tour of the Skate/BMX Park.

The Park I would be proposing would also have a Pro Shop with Bikes, Boards & Sneakers. Let's see where you go with it from here on out? I have a location already secured so spread the word and let's see if you guys/gals are for real?

Oh, for those who might get on here trying to rag on this Post, I will not ask the City/County for any financial support. This will be built at no cost to the Taxpayers. An Indoor Park will allow 24/7 access, rain or shine.

On the Eve of Pocomoke City Council Election District 3 Nothing Has Changed

It's now the eve of Pocomoke City municipal election for City Councilman in District Three. While the Tattler gave incumbent city councilman Bruce Morrison an endorsement last February, he has not had the common courtesy to respond. Common courtesy is something that the people at Pocomoke City Hall show very infrequently to the citizens.

Challenger Angela Hayes, who is being supported by Eddie Lee, President of the local NAACP and Maryland Democratic Party Central Committee member, has not responded to phone or e-mail requests concerning her platform. Ms. Hayes your silence is a deafening forecast of what you have to offer the citizens, if elected.

Once again Pocomoke Citizens are faced with the choice of an old school incumbent or another black person who is backed by black racists running on the race platform.

It does not really matter who wins the election tomorrow because City Manager Russ Blake is firmly entrenched as the longest sitting city manager in American history with 32-years going on 33-years and he is not going to leave office voluntarily.

The people of Pocomoke City are truly disenfranchised with its past history of crooked electioneering and ballot box stuffing engineered by the Boss Hogg political machine to its openly corrupt City Manager who is accountable to no one, not even the voting citizens.

It's Pocomoke...

LIVE BLOG of Tilghman's State of the City Address

We're trying a little experiment today. At 12 noon we'll begin our first "Live Blog" event - of Salisbury Mayor Barrie Tilghman's "State of the City". We all know the true state of the city, but it might be interesting to see how she'll try to spin it.

You shouldn't need to "refresh" your screen. Readers will be able to comment live (in the "CoverItLive Window), as well as read the transcript later and add your comments through the regular comment section.

Give it a try. If there aren't any technical glitches and ya'll think it's worthwhile we'll try to do more in the future.

Just Because The Mayor Says It, Is It True?

In one hour, Mayor Barrie Tilghman will give off her State of the City Address. The big question is, just because she says it, does it mean it's all true?

The Daily Times isn't going to come back tomorrow and challenge what Barrie Tilghman stated. They'll instead go back to that comfort zone where they respond by saying, we stated what the Mayor stated.

You see Folks, that's the difference between a Blog and a Newspaper. In our case, we're going to pick her words apart and perhaps even show video of her statements. Then we may back our facts up perhaps showing a completely different factual story.

So while you sit back watching PAC14 today, just remember that IF you were to question in your mind that perhaps what she's telling you is BS, it probably is.

Remember that when you read articles in the Daily Times about Richard Insley suing someone as honorable as Debbie Campbell and so forth. This is exactly why they're falling apart to the Blogs.

It's like a love/hate relationship. Soon enough the Mayor will be gone and the Daily Times will be a whole different Newspaper. At least when you come to Salisbury News you know what you're going to get. NO BS!

Our Monday Message From Congressional Candidate Andy Harris

Dear Friends,

One week remains in the 2008 General Assembly Session. During that time, we will vote on a final version of the state budget submitted by Governor Martin O'Malley. I want you to know that I oppose the current state budget. The liberal democratic leadership in Annapolis refuses to reduce wasteful government spending. Instead, they want to continue to raise taxes on Marylanders. When times get tough for working families pocketbooks, the last thing they need is the government taking more of their hard earned money.

I have voted against every tax increase and will continue to do so. I have signed a pledge that will not vote for a single net-increase in taxes.

The $1,000,000 Maryland is giving to CASA, a group that helps illegal immigrants receive drivers licenses, is just one example of the millions of dollars of waste in the budget. I put in an amendment to remove that funding for CASA, but the liberals in the Senate rejected it. Tax-payers want their money spent responsibly, sadly that will not happen with the current liberal Democratic leadership in the Governor's mansion and in the General Assembly.

I want you to know, during the next week in the State Senate and during my service in Congress, I will continue to fight for you the tax-payer.

Thanks,

Andy

How To Get From Salisbury To Ocean City In 15.3 Minutes

Just follow this truck! This time I'm not going to claim to be an expert but my GUESS would be that this guy was hitting speeds of up to 90 mph on Rt. 50 to get to the Fire in Ocean City.

Oh, he was cool all right. He had those emergency strobe lights in the front windshield AND the back windshield, letting everyone know, GET THE F OUT OF MY WAY, I'M A FIREMAN!

No, I do not believe this was an official Fire Station Vehicle. I believe this was a personal vehicle and while we pulled away from the light at the Shorebirds Stadium, he was able to get everyone out of his way eventually with his flashy lights and take off like his Wife and Children were on the roof of the burning building and he was going to get there to save them.

Mind you, some Fire Trucks passed me along the way and I was very cool with that. However, I watched them STOP at red lights before they continued through. I will check with Sheriff Lewis today to see if in fact the lights on this vehicle are even legal? Does anyone out there know if it is or not?

Dear Sam Richards & Greg Bassett

In today's Daily Slime there's a Letter To The Editor about Davis Ruark returning too early. The Daily Slime wants to make sure that the name Salisbury News and or www.sbynews.com never hits their paper because they don't want their Customers to have access to my Site.

It's all very childish and irresponsible if you ask me and let me explain why. People pay to get that paper, it's their responsibility to tell ALL of the news. Instead, they use whatever attack they can against me without directing anyone to the source of their information. The letter said, "His promised 60-day leave of absence, as reported by Joe Albero's blog on Feb. 24, ended in half that time. Albero reported Ruark's return to work March 17." I guess that's not exactly true because they use or say my personal name instead. It's kind of like always saying Greg Bassett instead of The Daily Times.

However, where you get stupid is, people will Google my name and they will immediately get to my Website, period. If you only saw all the referrals I get from Google on a daily basis, it would blow you away. It's literally hundreds per day.

Oh, as for the Davis Ruark thing. I reported the facts, unlike the Daily Slime. Oh, they may have gotten to it but it was several days later. Funny how you chose to send a Letter to the Editor instead of a simple comment on that Albero Blog? Just remember Folks. The Daily Slime is loving Joe Albero for bringing forth almost ALL of the current news and information so they can publish it the next day or a few days later. Then they slap in a few Associated Press articles, a multitude of advertising and a bill to boot.

If you want it in real time, come to Salisbury News. LOL

Insley Threatens To Sue Campbell

Let's take a good hard look at the reality of the matter at hand. In today's Daily Slime, the paper chose to kick off the new Campaign for City Council against Mrs. Debbie Campbell. Who's running? Does it actually matter?

However, let me ask all of you this? Just what was Paul Wilber doing sitting on the side of Doug Church in the first place? The City didn't need to be there, yet Barie Tilghman instructed Paul Wilber to be there with one of his side kicks too boot.

Gary Comegys with his Bubba Math stated last Monday night that the City spent $30,000.00 in representation from Wilber's Office, yet it was actually $24,000.00. However, again, what's important to me is, WHY WAS WILBER THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE?

Barrie Tilghman is attempting to sue me because I stated there were FOB's, DUH? This is the second piece of evidence proving that Barrie and Doug Church work hand in hand and he is certainly a FOB. So, SUE ME for saying so!

Now, IF Insley didn't like what Mrs. Campbell said, why didn't he just slap her with a lawsuit? Because he's too big of a pussy to do so, he just likes the attention and they'll do anything to bash Mrs. Campbell. I don't care what you do, the likes of Campbell & Cohen will lead this City in the next election. The Tilghman, Dunn, Insley, Bubba, Cathcart days are over. I believe in the next election, anything any one of those people say will be considered curious and people will be more cautious this go around.

In closing, why is Wilber rendering an opinion to the paper, period? Mr. Wilber, if you worked for me I would have fired you.

I Can Fly!

Hundreds, (maybe 400 to 500) of skaters showed up yesterday to participate in a fundraiser for a new Skate Park in Salisbury or Wicomico County.

Some critics, (very few, mind you) complained about skaters, (jerk) and tried to express there would be a very slim turn out, WRONG! I know I'm an expert at everything, (LOL) but believe it or not I used to ride Skate Boards every day in Elementary & Jr. High School. Cheap transportation! Now, were we as talented as these kids are today? Heck No! I wouldn't have dreamed of doing the things I watched these young men and women do yesterday.

I know I personally chipped in with a donation and I received a ton of phone calls from people who had recognized the large crowded parking lot at the Civic Center. I was there early on and then headed over to Ocean City and returned again on my way back.

I'll have an additional Post on this article today showing locations they'd like to see happen for their Skate Park.

Emergency Overkill

Here is an article of interest considering the posts about the helicopter use during a delmar accident that involved a police persuit.

GO HERE to see the article.

Barrie's State Of The Screwed Up City Address At High Noon

Salisbury Mayor Barrie P. Tilghman will deliver her annal "State of the City" address in a live broadcast on PAC 14 on Monday, March 31, 2008, at Noon.

In her State of the City message, Mayor Tilghman will report on the status of the City, speak to issues that are of concern to Salisbury’s taxpayers, and share her hopes for the future of the City.

The address will air from the Council Chambers, Room 301, of the City/County Government Office Building, 125 N. Division Street. The public is invited to attend.

An Important Reminder

Don't forget the dozen or so Fire Police that also responded to Ocean City to help with Traffic Control. Some stood out on Rt 50 in Ocean City and directed traffic for several Hours and they were awesome!

Bethany Beach Fire Police in attendance were:
70-30 Bill
70-37 Virginia
70-38 Chuck

Plus fire police from Selbyville and serveral other Delaware Fire Companies.

OC PD also did a great job on crowd control.

Sunday's OC Fire Responses

Here is a complete list of every fire department & unit the was mobilized for the fire. Either to the scene or transfered because of...

604 South Atlantic Ave. Dough Roller
Only 1 911 call reporting smoke from the roof area
FF-21 advised working alarm on dispatch & requested the 2nd.

Ocean City;
Chief: 51,52,53
Engines: 1,2,3,4,9,12,16
Trucks: 5,11
Rescues: 7
EMS: Paramedic 1, Paramedic 1-1, Amb. 4, 41-D

Worcester County;
Engines: 505, 604, 608, 803, 804, 906, 907, 1101, 1102
Trucks: 6,11
Rescues: 11
EMS: Paramedic 1100-A-1

On Scene: Berlin, Showell, Bishopville, Ocean Pines
Transfers: Newark

Sussex County;
Engines: 701, 702, 703, 719, 732, 742, 745, 758, 761, 763, 794, 802, 832, 844, 853, 901, 905
Trucks: 70, Quint70, 77, 80, 81, 82, 83, 86, 88, 90
Rescues: 77, 84, 87
EMS: Sussex County EMS Medic 105

On Scene: Bethany Beach, Dagsboro, Frankford, Georgetown, Lewes, Millsboro, Millville, Rehoboth Beach, Selbyville, Roxana
Transfers: Blades, Delmar, Ellendale, Gumboro, Indian River, Laurel, Milton, Seaford, Medic 105

Wicomico County;
Engines: 1, 604, 707, 801, 1103
Trucks: 14

On Scene: Parsonsburg, Pittsville, Willards
Transfers: Salisbury

Final transfers for OC stations after 9th alarm was struck;

Headquarter: Parsonsburg Rescue/Engine 604 & Georgetown Truck 77
Station 3: Indian River Engine 802 & Seaford Rescue 87
Bethany Beach Fenwick Island Station: Sussex County Medic 105

Totals Mobilized
Engines: 38
Trucks: 15
Rescues: 5
EMS: 6

Totals on Scene:
Engines: 28
Trucks: 11
Rescues: 5
EMS: 5

WOW!

If you want to see some unbelievable photos of the fire at Dough Rollers in Ocean City, GO HERE!

A Friend Sent In These Additional Photos Of OC Fire

Nationwide Truckers Strike?

I just heard something about a nationwide truckers strike to begin at 8:00 a.m. on 4/3/08. This strike is to be held in order to get the attention of the federal and state govts. and to get them to suspend federal and state fuel taxes. I checked out this site

http://www.americanfuelconsumersmovement.com/.

Has anyone else heard about this? As I looked into it, I saw that it got a lot of media coverage down south but I haven't heard anything about it here.

If this is true..we'd better get our groceries in a hurry!

Mr. Gibbs

The Gentleman on the left is none other than Mr. Billy Gibbs, Owner of Dough Rollers. Both my Son and Step Son worked and lived above this Dough Rollers for several years. One of our kids still works for Dough Rollers, as a matter of fact.

The Gibbs have always been wonderful to our children as well as thousands of others. Keith, their General Manager and Partner of this location also treated our kids very well over the years. It's a sad sight to see this building burn like it did.

While speaking to others on the scene, many were saying just how important it is to sprinkler these buildings, if possible. God Forbid this were to happen during the heart of the season and kids are living upstairs. We're all very fortunate this wasn't the case.

More Ocean City Fire Photos

This was an 8 alarm fire using more than 10,000 gallons a minute of water to put it out! I spoke with Fire Chief Laramore who was on his way back from the Philly Airport when the calls started coming in and unofficially he had heard the fire may have started between the two buildings but couldn't be sure. He was on the scene about an hour after it started and told me only one Firefighter was slightly injured by getting something in his eye. I was told by an eye witness that they believed it started in an upstairs apartment on the back up the Playland building?

Considering the winds are as strong as they are in Ocean City today, this is a perfect example of old buildings, high winds and the large volume of apparatuses needed to contain and control such a fire. Great work, all of you!

Ocean City Dough Rollers/Playland Fire

As I'm still pulling in details, here are some preliminary photos I thought everyone might enjoy seeing, many more to come.

Some are saying it started at Playland, some are saying it started upstairs in the apartments above Dough Rollers, Billy Gibbs, (Owner of Dough Rollers) stated there was no one living upstairs but I just got an inside report that there was a young lady and a friend allegedly living up there.

I don't care who you are, I don't think anyone is going to deliver any better pictures than what I'm delivering. Also, watch 47 WMDT News tonight as they were first on the scene and got some great footage.

More to come..........

Breaking News! Massive Fire in Ocean City

Joe is on the Scene now of a major fire in Ocean City. I'm told it's very near Trimpers and that every fire company from Bishopville to Pittsville has been called in. I just heard the Parsonsburg siren but they may have been toned out to cover another jurisdiction.....I don't know. Joe will have pictures soon. Wish them all well!

TODAY IS THE BIG DAY!

Ladies & Gentlemen, if you don't have anything to do today, please come out and support this Group. Even if it means dropping by and making a donation, please consider it. At least they're doing everything they can to raise money, unlike so many other groups, (like to Zoo and SFD) who want to Taxpayers to pay for it all. A Skate Park is needed in Salisbury and I hope people realize the efforts being made here to make it become a reality?

The event starts at 1:00 PM.

The City Can Find Money For A Dog Park But Not Shumaker Pond?

If you listened in on the link I provided the other day for the audio of Monday night's Council Meeting, even though Debbie Campbell & Terry Cohen did everything in their powers to break up one large resolution to include funding for that Pond, the City admits they had $3,270.00 for partially funding a Dog Park? It makes no sense, does it? Who made that decision to come up with those funds?

The House That Salisbury Taxpayers Paid For

At the last meeting of the Salisbury City Council one item on the agenda was appropriating more money for Salisbury City Attorney Paul Wilber. Small wonder. Wilber has a new $700,000 house to pay for.

While ordinary citizens and business owners have been forced to pay a tax increase, at least one Salisbury resident has benefited from Salisbury Mayor Barrie Tilghman's mismanagement of the city's finances. While the ordinary Salisbury taxpayer can't view Wilber's work due to his practice of stamping "Privileged and Confidential" on almost everything short of toilet paper, Tilghman and her "council leadership" of Louise Smith, Gary Comegys and Shanie Shields seem sufficiently pleased with his work. It is my understanding that SAPOA, the city's slumlord guild, is also extremely happy with Wilber's work and plan on inducting him into their Hall of Fame.

Has the ordinary taxpayer received value for their money? Let's see... Wilber drafted a rezoning for the developers of the old mall that was challenged by a group of retirees and homemakers. Wilber's legal prowess was so great that they managed to have it overturned. Recently another ordinance crafted by Wilber was before the courts. This time the stated that he had no choice but to find for the city... because Wilber's ordinance was crafted to benefit the slumlords rather than the citizens that he supposed to serve.

If I am not mistaken, Wilber received an increase in his hourly rate in the last budget. Now the Mayor and her serfs on city council want to pay him even more. Of course Wilber needs that money to pay for his new house. Tilghman realizes that its hard to find a man willing to twist the law in order to allow Tilghman and her new "Dream Team" to continue abusing the citizens of Salisbury. They need to keep him happy.

I hope that Wilber shows his gratitude by inviting everyone who paid for his house over for a little soirée. And don't forget, if you ever need a place to crash ... YOU PAID FOR IT.

cross posted at Delmarva Dealings

Technorati Tags: Maryland, Salisbury, politics, Salisbury politics, fiscal policy, taxation, Barrie Tilghman, Louise Smith, Gary Comegys, Shanie Shields, Paul Wilber

One Year Ago Today

What's wrong with this picture? Oh, this should be good!

3 Years Ago Today

It was 3 years ago today my Wife and I were returning from a very long journey reaching out to the Nurse Mare Foal Industry purchasing as many foals as we could buy that were actually being slaughtered. That's right, the Canadians, French and Italians eat Foal Meat like we eat Veal.

We felt this was wrong, so we bought all the equipment needed to travel across the United States to purchase these foals from Nurse Mare Farms, bring them home and do everything we could to bring them back to health. Many were in horrible condition and we very quickly learned just how little many of these Farms couldn't care less about these babies.

We converted our Barn for Foals, created new paddock areas for their exclusive living requirements and spent a small fortune rescuing these animals time and time again. We even traveled all the way to Kentucky for 15 Foals and when we arrived the owner had them is such horrible conditions, we knew they wouldn't survive the trip back home and we weren't paying for animals that were certain to die. We came all the way back with absolutely nothing.

It was very sad to see but the rewards were by far the most rewarding experience, (besides the birth of our children) I have ever experienced. Years ago when we first introduced these pictures we had hits of around 50 people a day. Today were in the many thousands per day and if you're interested in seeing more of these babies, let me know? I have incredible pictures of our experience.

Delmar Fire Department Is Smokin

Yesterday the Delmar Fire Department went door to door throughout the community giving away smoke detectors like there's no tomorrow.

The Fire Chief told me they had handed out more than 100 Smoke Detectors and he couldn't even count how many batteries that were dead and replaced by the Fire Department. He was saddened by the amount of homes they entered with FAMILIES, (small children) and not one single Smoke Detector!

I didn't get the chance to ask but I will follow up today and find out just how many of these properties were rental units? It's a sad day when so many people are that stupid that they don't even have a Smoke Detector in their homes. Considering the Fire Department gives them out free and small children are so educated in School about such matters, this is ridiculous. IMO, this is also why every town and city across America should have laws allowing an inspection for such and fines to those who do not have them.

Gannett Publications Continues To Take A Dive

Gannett Co Inc(GCI)28.54 -0.37 -1.28%
Open: 29.10 High: 29.11 Low: 28.01

Previous Close: 28.91 Volume: 2,969,119

After Hours: 27.71 -0.83 / -2.91% Vol. 1,800

Eastern Time

Buryvoter Delivers Today's Wildlife Photo

Are Auto Commercials Driving You Nuts Too?

It's not often I watch TV but when I do it sickens me to see all the commercials. Today I have been subjected to more car sale commercials than I have ever seen in my life.

Tell them you want the Car Show Rebate! What Car Show? When we were manufacturing lamps last week, we were listening to 92.5 FM and were also subjected to what seemed like 20 million local car dealership commercials telling us now is the time to buy.

The ONLY thing I could see people doing is downsizing and quite frankly, that's what many friends of mine have been doing. One friend told me it would be cheaper for him to park his big 4x4 truck and only pull it out when needed and actually purchase a 4 cylinder truck to ride around in. He stated the payments would be cheaper than paying for the gas in the other truck and it makes sense.

So how and why Car Dealers think everyone is so desperate to go out and buy all these Lincoln's because they've never sold them for less, BS! I hope these SOB's all go belly up and the market really gets competitive, like the Real Estate Market!

Go to Lowes and don't make a payment for 6 months on anything over $250.00. Go to Johnny Janosiks and buy furniture and don't make a payment for one year! Join the Lincoln Signature Event and drive away without any money down, just sign on the dotted line.

Oh, don't forget to use Attorney Paul Wilber while he buys his $700,000.00 home in the same economy? Yeah, things that make you go, hmmmmmmm!

How many more people are going to have to pay for the sins of the Pocomoke City Government with their lives?

The tragic deaths of Delia Bailey and her daughter who were struck down while crossing the Route 13 in Pocomoke City has angered and infuriated residents.

Pocomoke City Maryland has long been known for its 'Boss Hogg' form of government where one man who was never elected has run the city into the ground over the past 32-years.

This weekend a young mother and her child paid for the sins of a corrupt city government with their lives by merely walking across the highway to get home.

The Pocomoke City Government has never planned ahead and prior to Mike McDemotts election as Mayor three years ago, would not change light bulbs unless they got a grant from somewhere.

P-City has more low income or subsidized welfare housing units than any other part of Worcester County and is home to an open air drug market that has operated openly under the protection of the City Government for over 20-years... All because the citizens vote for city officials don't mean a thing because of the longest sitting city manager in the USA doing anything he has wanted with no accountability to anyone, not even the voters.

There is zero pedestrian planning in Pocomoke City which requires property owners to build and maintain their sidewalks on a very random & totally inconsistent basis. When commercial development started coming to town across Interstate Hwy 13, or in the form of welfare projects, the city fathers were more interested in self dealing than in being public servants and making the developers give back or pay for infrastructure. So there is none, no sidewalks on the main footpaths to our schools, no safe pedestrian crossing for Route 13 no sidewalks on the main pedestrian routes.. not a freaking thing thanks to Russ Blake, City Manager and King of Pocomokes one man rule Boss Hogg Political system.

All of the major grocery stores that were once located within the 'traditional' city limits were put out of business once Wal-Mart came to town and now people who need (or want) to walk must take their life into their hands to cross a busy interstate highway with no pedestrian traffic controls.

There was no cross walk markings until my wife Stephanie Burke made it her personal mission to get a cross walk installed at the main intersection, where incidentally 8-people were sacrificed to the traffic Gods before the City was blessed with a traffic signal.

They may say its the State, but when a local government demands (I mean demands) something and makes it a public health & safety issue, which should be their business then it can be done.

The people are sick and tired of Pocomoke being famous for crack cocaine and crooked politicians.

This is the start of a campaign for not only safe crossing at multiple locations across the Route 13 it should be a citywide effort to improve pedestrian safety.

There is a grass roots effort organically coming together to contact the Highway Dept, the County Commissioners, Delegates, Senators, Congressman and the Governor to help provide the basic municipal services that a non-corrupt, duly elected government that is responsive to the needs of its citizens should have planned for and built years ago.

Please comment with suggestions and lets get a unified message to send to Annapolis.
At the risk of sounding like the dead horse calvalry people need to realize that nothing in Pocomoke will change until the 'Boss Hogg' form of one-man-rule has ended.

How many more people are going to have to pay for the sins of the Pocomoke City Government with their lives?