Remember HB 5 and SB 121?  Read the liberal Mr. Cohen and draw some conclusions:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/03/AR2009080302222.html

Sarah Brady dropped me two poison pen emails.  Mrs. Brady is the wife of former Reagan Press Secretary Jim Brady.  She’s also a gun confiscation advocate and you probably don’t need an explanation for her position.  More than a year has passed since I last heard from her.  During the Delaware Presidential Primary she called my program when Patrick Kennedy was an on-air guest.  “Hi, Patrick”, she giggled.  Then she didn’t have anything else to say. 

The emails arrived at my work account late Saturday morning.  One was addressed only to me and the second was addressed to me, my coworkers and managers.  She demands my show move to overnights and she says the demographics of our region have changed and we need more enlightened talk show hosts.  I wrote a polite reply and suggested she get back to enjoying her retirement. 

The woman claims she rarely listens but can cite all sorts of things I’ve said offending her. 

First, I’ve been a broadcaster for 25 years.  People who make such claims are lying.  They tune in everyday for their regular dose of righteous indignation.  Two, the demographics along a narrow stretch of beach have changed.  The rest of the region is about the same as it has been for 300 years, exceptions being paved roads and electricity.  Three, Michael Savage came to national prominence broadcasting a local show in San Francisco.  He wasn’t fired or moved to overnights for needling the loons on the left.  In fact, his ratings soared.  Fourth, since I arrived the afternoon drive slot has become so popular (in a numbers sense) the station’s entire ratings have nearly doubled.  If you figure the weak kneed on the left don’t admit to hearing me then you can extrapolate an even larger audience. 

Fifth, I’m not a conservative but primarily a libertarian.  While I admire Pat Buchanan I gravitate politically in the direction of Ron Paul, however.  If this country can’t survive as a Republic I sure as heck wouldn’t choose a socialist to run the show.  Number six, a program director in Raleigh called me a “Rush” impersonator some two summers ago.  While it would be nice to be making Rush money if I had been a Bush basher would the man have called me an “Air America” Impersonator?  Opinion leaders don’t reside in the center and I’m paid to be an opinion leader.  My opinions aren’t moderate and certainly not left-of-center.  Read the map of where I was raised and how my parents raised me. 

Seventh, Sarah Brady self identified in her first email as a “moderate”.  The word, from my perspective, is synonymous with “wimp”.  I concur the woman is anything but wimpy.  In fact she’s a clear and present danger from the vantage of our Constitution.  No moderates are campaigning to expunge the Second Amendment.  It’s number two and not 18 or 23 for a reason.  It’s number two because the brilliant people drafting the document recognized the value of self defense.  There are 305 million American citizens.  An overwhelming majority didn’t shoot anyone else over the holiday weekend.  Many more blew fingers off with fireworks, drowned or got loaded and slammed a car into someone else.  Even far greater numbers instead sought to have someone else kill their own children growing inside mommy’s tummy.  Yet Mrs. Brady chooses to lobby for my silence.  I pray to God I’ve a voice until he calls me home.

Who was the man who used to walk up and down the Rehoboth Boardwalk and shout “REPENT” !?  Callers remember him from the 70’s, do you?

I just received this e-mail about this interesting town character:

Dan, my husband and I listen to your program everyday — starting at 5:30 a.m., and enjoy hearing what has happened in our area during the night and for the latest news and topics that you and your listeners offer.  Yesterday one of the topics was the boardwalk ministries in Rehoboth.  One of your listeners called and mentioned an old fellow who, years ago, used to walk the streets and boardwalk in Rehoboth proclaiming the coming of our Lord and calling for everyone to “Repent”.  At the time I thought how wonderful that he had the Holy boldness to proclaim our Lord!  And he did this for several years.

 

Then, one day during the summer, my first husband [who passed away in '78 with leukemia], our son and I were at the old Blue Hen Mall in Dover.  It was early evening and we were returning to our car when we saw this older, raggedy black man, who was carrying his usual walking stick.  We recognized him at once as the man we had seen many times before on the boardwalk in Rehoboth.  Then something happened that I will never forget — it is etched permanently in my mind.  There were two young men in their early twenties who had a large boxer dog on a leash.  The dog was barking at the old man and straining at his leash.  The men unleashed the dog and told him to “sic” the old man.  The dog started running across the parking lot, bent, to all appearances, upon tearing the old man up.  This is the wonderful and unforgettable part:  The old man turned around when he heard the dog, who at this point was racing toward him.  He stopped, stood still, pointed his finger at the dog, and shouted at him, “Jesus,” “Jesus,” “Jesus.”  The dog stopped, stood still for a moment, and retreated to his owners as quickly as he had come.  There is power in the name of Jesus!  Glory to God!

 

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.

Are the Skateboard restrictions in Rehoboth Beach too stringent? Another season starts.. another series of violations occurs.. (see photo :below: courtesy of the henney report, http://www.henney.com/)

So basically the city ordinance states “No skateboards anywhere in, around, or near the city or Rehoboth are to be ridden, viewed, stared at, or smelt.” So, the fine isn’t wallet busting..

[Any person violating any of the provisions of this article shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined for the first offense not less than $15 nor more than $25, and for a second or subsequent offense shall be fined not less than $25 and shall pay the costs of prosecution. [Amended 4-21-2003 by Ord. No. 0503-3]

But are they really that bad? Is it the danger? The Sound? The element? Do they scuff up the fancy Rehoboth sandscaping?

I think that it does make the city a little less family friendly.. but, I understand wanted to keep the city safe and sound… or safe from sound??

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to ride or operate any skateboard on and/or over any sidewalk adjoining any street, any street in the City of Rehoboth Beach from May 15 until September 15 of any year.

B. It shall be unlawful for any person to ride or operate any skateboard or scooter on and/or over the bandstand or any public structures throughout the entire year. The term “public structures” shall, in addition to its ordinary meaning, include but not be limited to the city’s benches, plaques, memorials and steps.

C. It shall be unlawful for any person to ride or operate any skateboard on, under and/or over the Boardwalk or any of the Boardwalk pavilions throughout the entire year.

Is there no way skaters and regular folk can get along? I’ve seen plenty of worse things in Rehoboth than a dirty skater kid. Although, they’re a little too full of themselves for me. (that last statement has nothing to do with the fact that I’ve never been coordinated enough to shred the pavement.)

Seems to me, before the city of Rehoboth Beach increases their parking rates it might be a good idea to reconsider the system we have. Yes, the meters…at least on the Avenue…are new so why didn’t they at least install the same type used up at the Convention Center instead of those which eat up change every three hours? Last year, there were a number of problems with meters not functioning at all or malfunctioning. At varying times throughout the season several meters would not take change feed. Calls were made and it took some time to rectify the situation…one call I made, myself, and was told to look out for a meter man/woman, report it to him/her. Apart from the fact that there didn’t seem too many visible, if one is an employee there is little opportunity to hang out on the median, waiting for someone to appear during a normal round. Leave a note on the windshield? How many beach-goers have access to paper and pen in their swim trunks/bikini?

There are the change machines. Quirky at best when they arbitrarily refuse to accept a $5 or $1 bill. Businesses have enough problems with people asking to buy quarters which, believe it or not, isn’t too practical for most simply because of the probability needing to then find quarters for themselves should they accommodate parkers needs. There is no sign indicating change machines on the median side of the machine booth…that’s evidenced by the number of people who, when apologetically refused quarters in a store they then ask where they are supposed to find them, then.

Then again, while it would ’disfigure’ the curbs on the sidewalks, why weren’t the parking spaces numbered there instead of on the roadside, behind parked vehicles? Take a day of just standing watching people feed their meters…can’t tell you how often most of us have been asked, “But how do I know what my number is…or which meter I’m supposed to park at?” Fortunately, most businesses have employees willing to go “show and tell” but this has caused more confusion than the powers that be would seem to think. Couldn’t tell you how often I’ve gone out to plug my meter at the appointed time, only to find some poor soul has already done so…no doubt believing they were plugging their own. And there is nothing I can do to amend this, myself.

Raise the fees if you must…even though the majority will not be happy with it…but maybe spend some of the projected increase on fine-tuning the system to make it more visitor friendly?

The hottest topic in recent days has been the murder near Rehoboth Beach. We are told by police that last Friday in broad daylight, two armed thugs enter a home in the upscale Stable Farms development, and shoot to death the homeowner, 45 year old Paula Grossi. Two witnesses were in the home at the time, Paula’s son and a female friend. The two claim the killers “bound them” and ransacked the house before leaving. Police tell us, that after freeing themselves 911 was called and the police responded at 12:52 pm. State Police Sgt. Joshua Bushweller admits to WGMD some interesting facts, or lack of facts depending on your point of view.

1. No vehicle was seen or identified by anyone

2. Something was taken from the Grossi home, but police refuse to say what.

3. The story does not sound suspicious to the police at this time, and the story and description of the two assailants is being taken very seriously.

4. A somewhat detailed description has been released but no artist sketch of the suspects is available at this time. (four days later)

5. Suspect number one is described as white male 20-25, 5’ 7”, 160-170 lbs., black facial hair (unshaven). Wearing a wool hat, hooded jacket and white gloves.

6. Suspect number two is described as a white male about 40, 5’6”, 200 lbs with a small tattoo under his left eye. Wearing black overalls, brown construction boots, and dark gloves.

Police haven’t said what kind of tattoo under the eye. I wonder if it was a black teardrop? WGMD has also learned that the victim, Paula Grossi, cared for her two and a half year old grandson, and petitioned in Family Court for guardianship of the boy from her daughter Trisha Grossi. This petition was filed last June.

Speculation and unease abound over this very rare/unusual crime. Rare for here, and unusual that two total strangers enter and commit murder. (Perhaps these guys are only strangers to the witnesses. Did Paula know her killer?) Why would killers shoot this woman, and leave two witnesses? Why did the killers bind the two witnesses? What would lure these guys into the house; did she keep a lot of money around? (There is some talk of a safe in the house) Do the police really believe the witnesses story or are they just playing along to catch information from another suspect?

Many good State Police are working this case; I wish them all the best of luck in solving this. We don’t need another unsolved mystery around here.

Click this link to hear the latest from the police on WGMD.com

The buzz I hear in the Sussex County retail business community seems very positive about profits in the fourth quarter of 2006. I was therefore surprised and disappointed to read such a doom and gloom report in the local Cape Gazette:

 

Further reading reveals the source of the negative report; a clerk, a manager and two small shop owners. Using a total of four small stores out of hundreds in the Cape region, to make such sweeping negative business conclusions is irresponsible reporting at best. A better headline would read, “Four Local Shops Fail to Compete”, or something of this nature. Molly should broaden her horizons and circulate among the positive crowd, next time she wants to report on business. Bonnie Ladd would be a good person to talk with next time; she sent me this e-mail:

Good morning Dan!!!As for the business sales…I work in the City Of Rehoboth and I spoke with a lot of the business owners in town. Comments I heard from them was that it felt like July…they loved it. Tom @ Wooden Indian said that he couldn’t keep Godiva Chocolate on the shelves….so that blows the small items out the window!! Many people said that the after X-Mas sales were great and that they were selling a lot of sale items. I know I traveled Rt 1 and the Outlets were PACKED!!! Jewelry was selling at Elegant Slumming, they were busy & I even made a purchase there. I think over all the businesses were not complaining as much as the article states. Have a Great Day Dan and Happy New Year!!!

I’m seeing a loophole in the recent “No Limit Texas Hold Em” poker tournaments the Delaware Legislature recently approved. A loophole that could mean a new casinos in Delaware. These “poker” events are now allowed in Delaware for charitable fundraising under very “strict” rules. One of the rules placed on sponsoring charities is:

Ҥ 1827. Limitations of Texas Hold’em Poker tournaments.
No sponsoring organization shall conduct more than 4 No Limit Texas Hold’em Poker tournaments per year with each tournament by the sponsoring organization to be held at least 75 days apart. Texas Hold’em Poker tournaments shall not commence prior to 1:30 p.m. and shall be limited to 6 consecutive hours. (75 Del. Laws, c. 117, § 1.)”

The idea of waiting 75 days was to prevent a new “casino” from opening in a town near you.

Along comes a retired doctor, and a retired pharmacist in Rehoboth Beach forming a group called the Delaware Fundraising Charity Inc. They call themselves an “umbrella” charity organization. This Sunday they will have a poker tourney for American Cancer Society, and next Sunday another tourney for Knights of Columbus. Both events held at the Atlantic Sands, downtown Rehoboth’s casino hotel apparently. This group claims they would like to produce a new tourney every week. The Delaware Gaming Board says the 75 day wait between events does not apply because the Delaware Fundraising Charity Inc. is a “third party vendor” and the applications for the event are under the name of the charities and not DFC Inc. Fifty percent of the proceeds are promised to the charity…the other 50 % will be to cover expenses. Let’s crunch some numbers:

It costs $150 to enter. 180 people can play, for a potential of $ 27,000. Maximum prize award is $8,000, leaving us with $19,000. 50% to the charity leaves $9,500 for the day to cover “expenses”, not counting drinks, food, etc. Hey, the Sands may be giving the room for free, in exchange for selling the booze.

The point is, according to the Gaming Commision this group, or any other group can do this every day, as long as a new charity is involved. Anyone want to open up a casino?

Once upon a time, a skating rink manager, and video store owner pled guilty to 17 felonies involving the sexual abuse of five young boys ages 13 to 15. He met some of his victims while managing a miniature golf course. He pled guilty to 11 counts of first degree deviant sexual assault, five counts of sodomy, and one count of felony theft by deceit. Three of his young victims told police they were molested more than 60 times. He would shower his little targets with cash and gifts, such as concert tickets and a radio…..he also showed them pornographic movies. His sentence of 10 years in 1988 was much less than the 25 years prosecutors wanted. Authorities pointed out during the case that this man was charged with similar sexual abuse of young boys prior, in 1981.

Today, he owns Snyders Candy Shop on Rehoboth Avenue.

Mr. Jeff Balk, you are invited to respond if you wish.

Yes, regular listeners, the same Jeff Balk of EXP Magazine fame.