Judy Mangini joined us on-air on Friday, December 05, 2008.  Judy hosts a “Cookie Exchange” every year.  Participants bake cookies, which are then shipped to our troops overseas.  She suggests others can do the same.  The care packages are sent to the following address:

Trina Gardner

at:  Cartina Hill

KBR

APO AE 09391

Judy offers that if you can bake the cookies she can also ship them.  Cookies can be dropped off at the WGMD studios during daytime business hours and Judy will pick them up before the end of the business day on Friday, December 12, 2008.  Wrap them well!  She has also recorded a Christmas CD and for a small donation you can pick up a copy at our studios.  Money raised from donations for CDs will be used to provide a Christmas for a needy Delmarva family.  Every year Judy and her husband anonymously provide for one family.  The CD is a delight.  Judy has a fine voice, recently winning a talent contest at Long Neck. 

Since arriving on Delmarva almost 15 months ago I’ve often been reminded of regional differences. For instance where I come from we speak English and you only think you do. Back in the highlands people live in homes and here people live in humes. You drive cars and we drive kurrs. You drink wawder and we drink wodder.

Some drunken wife beaters refer to me as a New Yorker and this is technically correct. I was born in the southwestern part of the state, which is the northern spine of the Appalachian range. The Alleghenies, if you will. New York City was an 8 hour drive. Cleveland, Toronto and Pittsburgh were just 3 hours at a steady clip. The closest city of any consequence was Buffalo, an hour or so to the north. Why of any consequence when it’s known for just three things? Snow, disappointing sports franchises and chicken wings. Snow can’t be exported unless on the back of an Alberta Clipper. The Bills can be exported to Toronto but we aren’t sure it’s going to be successful transplant surgery. The history of chicken wings is unique. Birthed at The Anchor Bar in 1964 this snack has conquered much of the world. With the exception, it appears, of Delmarva. You lack for any consistent efforts at pizza but we’ll leave that for another day.

This is just as much a restaurant review as it’s a chicken wing review.

Let me say that the folks at Uncle Willie’s make great fried chicken. I didn’t expect this as I thought of it only as a place for gassing up and buying a newspaper. The staff at Uncle Willie’s uses the same method for wings, however. It’s fried chicken in the shape of a chicken wing. If you want them hot you get a packet of deli hot sauce to tear open and barely cover your wings. Nothing special about prepackaged hot sauce and while I’m saying this I should note traditional chicken wings aren’t breaded. If I want breaded chicken I’ll buy Banquet at Food Lion and heat it in my oven at hume.

A good chicken wing isn’t breaded and while it requires more than a thumbnail measurement of hot sauce the wings shouldn’t be swimming in sauce soup. Sauce soup is my experience at Grotto. On Sundays Grotto offers a wing special during football games. Last year it was 5 dollars per order. While you can’t beat the price and the atmosphere of the joint is friendly let me argue good wings aren’t pulled from chicks. Good wings come from grown animals and while eating require the use of both hands. An order of wings is also one dozen and not ten or less. It isn’t a special if the wings are downsized. It’s also not a special if I can’t order it at a table while watching the Bills. Philadelphia fans have their own special foods. For Buffalo fans there are just two choices, wings or beef-on-weck. Recently I discovered you can’t order the wing special unless you’re at the bar. The restaurant has a dozen or so TVs but at the bar you get Eagles, Redskins or Ravens. At least those are the limits at the Long Neck location. So the offer should read wings on special only if you like Philly, Washington or Baltimore.

Good wings are meaty. When you bite into them the meat is white. Pink meat is meat somebody hasn’t fully cooked. Good chicken wings are crispy and the sauce is thick but adheres to the skin of the chicken. Wings may be barbecued but this is just an option for children. Many years ago I went into a restaurant and ordered some wings while watching a baseball game. I asked for them hot. The owner came out and explained he had his own recipe for garlic wings. Henry Ford once said you could get a Model T in any color as long as it was black. Buick countered with blue and green and yellow and Henry learned quickly about customer service. I ate the garlic wings. Then the owner wanted to know what I thought about his artistic creation. “If you’re planning on reinventing the wheel best to keep it round”, I replied. He wasn’t happy. He wasn’t alone.

A fellow telephoned my show a couple of weeks ago and told me I could watch the Bills at a bar at Peddler’s Village. So on Sunday I dropped in. The specials include chili and some tiny cheeseburgers. An order of wings will set you back 9 bucks. I counted 7 in my bowl. Then I had to ask for blue cheese. You don’t have blue cheese and you don’t have a chicken wing eating experience. The wings came plain but I was given a bottle of sauce I could sprinkle across them. Aw, Shucks, J.D., I’m not coming back.

Lately you’ve seen these chain restaurants opening in various neighborhoods and claiming to specialize in wings. The wings are meaty, well-cooked and the sauce clings to the skin. A few years ago I read where some restaurant chain bought wings at The Anchor Bar and spirited the order off to a lab for analysis, then copied the sauce. The Chinese do this with manufacturing technology. Some folks call it patent infringement. Others simply call it theft. I don’t like thieves.

Old Dom’ at The Anchor Bar intended wings to be finger food. Like popcorn or peanuts or even as I once found at a bar in Auburn, New York, smelt. In the beginning of the wing era there was no extra charge. The wings brought in the working men who then bought drinks. Some folks in these parts don’t have a clue.

Some of you listening Tuesday heard me describe the pumpkin patch photograph.  My 14-year-old daughter took this shot and hours later saw the unusual image.  I’ve had a fellow at Quinnipiac University tell me there isn’t a flaw in the lens.  It was just before noon with the sun above us and it was a very, very dry day. 

Our Lady of the Pumpkin Patch?  The Great Pumpkin?  The ghost of a country bumpkin?  Offer theories (science) or your thoughts on faith.  Would welcome the comments!

From listener and safety advocate Chuck Jackson:

 After reading your front page lead story that carried the banner headline, “Motorcycle Fatalities Soar,” I would like to offer a few observations, based on my experiences as a former EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) in Baltimore County (MD), and senior staff member at the Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. The story of eight motorcycle deaths in less than a month here in Delaware, along with data showing an alarming increase in motorcycle fatalities nationwide, makes a compelling case for anyone who has anything to do with public safety in this state to step up and support changes in Delaware’s motorcycle helmet laws.

 

I find it unconscionable that in a state known for its tough stance on highway safety, motorcyclists are required to “display” helmets, not “wear” them. In other words, a helmet must be on the bike and not the biker. It’s like having a child safety seat law that requires a child safety seat to be “displayed” in the vehicle with the child sitting next to it, not in it. Critics will argue that mandating laws for children is necessary because they are minors, and lack the maturity to think responsibly for themselves. However, when it comes to adults, they are old enough and more mature to make their own decisions. That is, until they are critically injured or killed in a crash they might have survived without permanent damage, if they had been protected.

 

In Maryland, helmets are required, and their use has been credited with saving countless lives. The motorcycles might be engineered for speed, but the human body, and more importantly, the head, isn’t. As an EMT, and Director of Public Affairs at the Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, I saw the head trauma, first hand, among critically injured patients who, some said, were not lucky enough to die. “Unlucky,” in the sense that their recovery would take months and sometimes years in rehab, and often with debilitating brain damage and other neurological head and neck injuries that disabled them or left them dysfunctional for the rest of their lives. I recall one admission of a young man who was flown in by Maryland State Police med-evac helicopter with his helmet next to him on the backboard. The helmet, removed by paramedics, was cracked by the impact of his head on a guardrail along the highway that, police said, occurred at a speed above 50 miles per hour. He was badly bruised, his bones broken, but he escaped serious head, neck and spinal cord injuries because of the helmet.

 

It is time for the citizens (taxpayers) of this great state to express their support for strengthening our helmet laws by requiring their use. This effort will face some tough opposition from the so-called “freedom riders” who insist that this is a “constitutional” issue and not one of safety. The response to that must come from the area’s fire and EMS (Emergency Medical Services) personnel who are called to rescue these victims every week. It must also come from the entire medical community, including ER doctors, trauma nurses, the rehab clinics, and other health care professionals who are often called to the bedside of critically injured motorcyclists who were riding without helmets.

 

If there is going to be meaningful, life-saving changes in our helmet laws, this effort must also have the support among our elected leaders who will be held accountable for the unnecessary and expensive carnage that will continue to occur if they do nothing to enhance safety for motorcyclists and others who share the highways with them. As a former public information officer with Maryland State Police, I feel confident that Delaware State Police would support it and aggressively enforce it, once enacted. Have you ever seen a trooper assigned to the motor (cycle) unit riding without one?

 

Chuck Jackson, Executive Director

Citizen Advocates For Safe & Efficient Travel

P.O. Box 292

Nassau, DE 19969

www.caset.org

The Beijing Olympics begin today.  Men & women from around the world will be competing in events from swimming to track and field.  While these well-trained athletes get ready to take their marks - in just another week or so - another group of well-trained athletes will literally be running for their lives - and ours.  They are taking part in a Team in Training half marathon in San Francisco - the Nike Women’s Half Marathon. 

What’s unique about these athletes - they are cancer survivors.   Now it’s time for the shameless plug.  Witih just a week left - Anita is still in need of some help to make her goal.  She’s about $1560 shy of her $7500 goal. 

Anita Lawson is a former resident of Rehoboth Beach and a former WGMD employee.  Please help in her Mission to wipe out blood cancer.  You can find out more about Anita and her run at - http://pages.teamintraining.org/sfl/nikesf08/alawson

I don’t think there’s really anyone today whose life hasn’t been affected by cancer – whether it’s a family member, friend, acquaintance or you. For some the battle is long – others very short. Some battle it with a vengeance, others not at all.

My introduction to cancer was in junior high. Jeff lived in the neighborhood we had just moved to and he had Leukemia and had been told he wouldn’t live to see 10 – he was a fighter. When I met Jeff – he was 12.

While cancer has also a part of my family, it’s a friend and former co-worker who’s now doing the fighting. Many in the WGMD’s extended family know her either as a friend, co-worker or their former account executive. She’s moved from the area now – but she needs your help.

In the nearly 10 years since I first met Anita I’ve known her to be a kind and caring friend and a determined co-worker. That determination saw her through her first battle with cancer where she beat it into remission. She’s back on the track again – literally running for her life – and others.

California, Here I Come!

The bad news last year was that my lymphoma relapsed, and it took nine rounds of chemo over seven months to get it under control again. There were side effects, and it wasn’t much fun.

But the good news now is that I’m getting stronger every day. To celebrate my recovery, I’ve started training with Team in Training to run the Nike Women’s Half Marathon in San Francisco. And, as before, I’m raising funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to help find cures- and better treatments- for these diseases.

Please make a donation to support my participation in Team In Training and help advance LLS’s mission- I know firsthand how important it is. My goal is to reach $5,000 by July 15; I’m counting on your generosity to help me get there!

I’ll keep you updated on my progress. Thanks for your support!

Anita Lawson

Yeah – I know the economy not in great shape and everyone’s cutting back – but I’m asking for your help to get Anita to her goal.

Remember – eight cancer clusters have been found in Delaware, a state with an unusually high rate of cancer. Helping Anita could just help you, a family member or a friend to find a cure. Click on the banner below – that will take you to Anita’s Team in Training site where you can find out more.

Baseball season begins tonight (that’s opposed to the two games earlier in the week between Boston & Oakland in Tokyo).  It’s going to be an interesting year - with a lot of firsts, milestones and finals.  

President Bush will throw out the first pitch tonight at the Washington National’s new home National Park (they’re playing the Atlanta Braves).  The largest baseball crowd ever (they hope) 115,300 - gathered to celebrate the LA Dodgers 50th anniversary on the left coast with the last exhibition game of their season - played at their former home - the LA Coliseum.  The folks at the Guinness World Record will determine on Monday if it’s an international world record.  

It’s been 100 years since Jack Norworth composed a song that would become known as “Take Me Out To The Ball Game” which is now a game staple during the 7th inning stretch.  And it’s been 100 years since the Chicago Cubs last won a World Series! 

Monday’s Opening Day will be the last ones for two stadiums in the same city - Yankee Stadium & Shea Stadium in New York.  This year’s All-Star game will be the 4th and last played at Yankee Stadium (2008, 1977, 1960, 1939).  

Throughout the season new milestones will be reached in batting, pitching and scoring.  New managers will get their first wins and old managers will call it a career.  Players will get their first home runs, first put outs, first strike outs, more records will fall – and likely more players will get into trouble for one thing or another.  

2008 is a fresh start for a game that’s been overshadowed by the steroid scandal and other headline-making news that has put too many black marks on what is supposed to be “America’s pastime.”  But if you’re a fan – you’ll stick it out through thick and thin – just like I root on my Mets in good years and in bad.  I just hope that September 28th takes its sweet time getting here! 

PLAY BALL!

A member of The Milton Historical Society approached me shortly before Christmas and asked me to video-tape long-time local residents for showing at the upcoming “Opening of the 1957 Time Capsule.” Being a lover of all things nostalgia and amateur film making, I agreed without bothering to check my schedule and wife.

Knowing my involvement with the event, Maria Evans (Editor, TalkOfDelmarva.com, the Blog) asked me to “cover” the event for you, the BLOG readers. Again, I agreed without checking my available time.

In this time, much has happened in Milton… so here it is:

The Time Capsule Opening

When I arrived at the Milton Theatre it was already standing room only! Every seat in the place was taken and folks were milling about in the common area. There was a certain energy and excitement about the crowd. There were folks who had lived their entire lives in the area and people who had recently moved in.

Mayor Don Post did a surprisingly great job as Master of Ceremonies for the event. I saw him to be entertaining and well-spoken on the stage working without a script and dealing with some technical issues.

The announcement was made that they were about to remove the concrete top to the capsule and the standing crowd proceeded out the door to watch. Those with seats tended to stay where they were, eying the size of the crowd who had already gone out to surround the small box.

Not long after, the wooden crate which was inside the outer capsule was carried into the Milton Theater. As it passed people craned their necks to get a glimpse of the contents.

I raised my camera as high as I could getting two shots off as it passed, this one shows what would come to disappoint many in the audience..

Water Damage! Sadly, water had found its way into the capsule during its 50 year slumber, damaging much of the contents.

The good and bad news was that most of the documentation placed in the capsule was redundant! Items such as the High School Yearbook and Sesquicentennial Brochures, posters and even the banner had already been preserved by members of the community and were in better shape than the contents of the capsule!

Local business woman and member of the Milton Historical Society Ellen Passman took the stage and began a lengthy dissertation in “50’s speak” which garnered many laughs.

During the event they showed my 15 minute film of interviews about life in Milton in the 50’s by many local residents which was also a crowd pleaser.

After the show we celebrated with a reception. In all it was a great time to reflect on Milton’s past with an eye to the future as young and old shook hands and got to know each other better to the sounds of 50’s music.

Heard this morning on the WGMD Dan Gaffney morning show - “Dover” by John Flynn of Hockessin

Hear it again - John Flynn - MySpace

John Flynn website

Here are the lyrics -

Dover                                    By John Flynn

 Elijah was a sergeant, 42 years old
from Mesa Arizona, Elijah won’t grow old
Patrick was with C Troop, Second Armored Cav
His buddies all remember how Patrick loved to laugh
Seth was from East Brunswick, just a newly wed
Somewhere in New Jersey a young widow bows her head
Daniel was from Boston shipped out from Fort Bragg
His mother got back Daniel with a folded flag  

Chorus:
Oh big airplane bring’em down easy
Out of the Delaware skies
Oh big airplane Dover is waiting
to welcome the  heroes you fly… home

William was in Anbar, combat engineer
1^st Marine Division, William isn’t here
Alan rebuilt bridges for Battalion B
Next to cause of death they wrote the letters I E D
Gussie was a scrub nurse hailing from Fort Bliss
Gussie had a spirit this world’s gonna miss
Jeremiah’s son cries on his mamma’s knee
There was no armor plating on his dad’s humvee

Chorus 

Scrubbed wooden pallets with white straps cinched over
Long boxes of flag draped aluminum
The C-5 is crowded when it lands in Dover
The honor guard boards and makes room again

Making straight for Nineveh, just like Jonah’s whale
Holy truth you swallow, overseas you sail
Precious is the cargo sacred was the gift
offered in the sandstorm from which your wings lift
Those who would pay homage can’t watch you set down
Behind barbed wire sentries miles from their town
No one breathes to question this silent parade
Except for the anguished loved ones left to say

© 2005 Flying Stone Music

This is a Scotish aire partially written by the poet Robert Burns, but not published until after his death. “Auld Lang Syne” means ‘old long ago’ or ‘the good old days’ and is sung at midnight in nearly every English-speaking country to ring in the New Year.  Because the song is generally sung about once a year, the melody is more recognizable than the words - which usually are sung incorrectly past the first line or two. 

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?

CHORUS
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup!
And surely I’ll buy mine!
And we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand my trusty friend!
And give us a hand o’ thine!
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

While to us the song is one that represents beginnings - in some Far Eastern countries and Hungary - it represents endings or farewells and is sung at graduations or funerals!  It also represents endings and farewells in Brazil, Portugal, France and several other European countries.  

The melody we are familiar with may or may not be what was originally intended by Burns, but it’s what was made popular by band leader Guy Lombardo who actually had the song released as a single in 1947. 

Happy New Year!  May 2008 be everything you want it to be.