Thursday Night is Community Night in Betterton

While the word is spreading the B-blogger didn't want any of our residents to miss out on some great opportunities to meet with your neighbors, get to know new friends  and learn about what's top of mind in our little hamlet by the Bay.  This Thursday July 18th, starting at about 6 pm, B-towners will gather at Marzella's by the Bay. The company and camaraderie is free but you do have to foot your own meal cost, a bargain at Marzella's.  Additionally you can learn the challenges of running a pizza parlor from Maureen as she recounts the trials and tribulations of running Marzella's at Ursinus College where she and Francis got their start.  If you are planning on attending please RSVP to Christa at mar.seas@gmail.com to assure that Francis and Maureen have enough food for all.  You are welcome to bring your own wine if you should choose or purchase one of Marzella's beer offerings. On your way in see if you can catch the spelling error on their sign.  If you haven't had their tossed green salad with chicken it is indeed delicious and healthy with more than enough to share with the person sitting next to you.

Click here for more information: Marzella's by the Bay

Butterflies are Back

For those in B-town especially with Butterfly Bushes , it was a grand time this weekend to catch photos of these grand and delicate creatures.  It was also time to harvest your first tomato, squash or fig thanks to the watery month of June.  Enjoy the pictures:

Betterton Day - Only Weeks Away

If you were in B-town for this 4th of July weekend you may have been visited by a representative of the Betterton Volunteer Fire Department selling those Cow Plop Tickets again!  This year the number of plots for plops is being reduced so those who purchase have a greater chance to win.  The B-Blogger has been told by an inside source that this year's odds of winning are greater than either Mega Million or Power Ball.  How would you spend the $2 K that will go to the winner? Speaking of "K" this will be the first year for the Betterton Bayside 5 K Challenge which will begin at 8:00 AM sharp.  For more information you can email bettertonday@gmail.com or call (410) 348-5678.

There was much talk this July 4th of new floats for the parade, it seems that the avenues and byways of B-town are going to get a bit competitive, lets just hope there won't be any wardrobe malfunctions.  If you're looking for ideas check out some of these pics from this weekend's Rock Hall parade.

There seems to be much speculation about the Fish Fry Vendor a long time staple and friend of Betterton Day, last year they weren't there and many residents were dismayed. Bring back the Fish Fry Vendor was certainly a topic heard by the B-Blogger this weekend and rumors have it that they'd love to be back.  So if you have an opinion on this critical option make your voice heard and contact the BVFC at (410) 348-5678.

Gardeners Rejoice !

Thanks to alerts from Annette Greene and Ann H. Bettertonians can leave their garden waste for removal as of Monday March 18th. This spring and summer will feature weekly pick-ups  (every Monday) to help all residents and guests keep their properties looking beautiful.  Remember garden waste is leaves, small branches, grasses but not garbage or large tree trunks or tree limbs. You may use recyclable bags gotten from Lowes, Home Depot, Wal-Mart and  or local garden supply stores to hold the garden debris. 

Tonight is the Night!

Friends, neighbors, relatives and all other Bettertonians, you have barraged the Blogger with your concerns and solutions over the recent incident in Town.  However, as much as I have pleaded no one would put their thoughts, no matter how well thought or not, into a comment on the Blog.  Well the time of judgement comes tonight, January 8th, 2013 as our Town Council and Mayor gather to discuss what should or shouldn't be done.  As the adage goes it is time to "Put Up or Shut Up" (excuse the vulgarity).  I would urge all who can make it to attend tonight's Town meeting at the Community Center, if you can't, pick up a phone and call your favorite Council person or the Mayor and let them know your opinion(s). Our Town leaders will and do listen to their constituents but being quiet will not resolve existing and or prevent new issues from arising.  For more information on timing of tonight's meeting go to the Town website on the Blog's link or contact Annette Green this morning!  Good Luck and God Bless- Remember the future is up to you!

Lights, Cameras and Speed Bumps - A View for 2013

Well with over 490 views on the Blogger's posting of our recent stabbing in Betterton, it is a surprise that not one viewer has posted their thoughts and or possible solutions. So you should all know that this posting is a request for feedback. There is way to much wisdom and insight within the minds of Betterton to let this go.  Is it time for a change? Do we let bygones be bygones? City Council will only take action if they hear from us and our Blog is an opportunity to share thoughts and get things moving. Silence is not an option whether you're a resident of Kent County or just a property owner or renter.

From what the blogger has learned from sources in town, once again a big thanks to our volunteer fire department who got to the scene of the crime and got the right medical care in the right time, THANK YOU!. The Kent County Sheriff's office did respond but it took some time.  The latter is understandable in that there are limited resources that need to be shared throughout the county, so an hour's wait is not inconceivable, but this doesn't bring comfort to the victim of a crime especially when physically harmed.  So what is the answer? Is this stabbing and the unexpected home invasions and thefts in 2012 the beginning of Betterton's downfall? What options need be considered and where will the resources come from?  While Congress has managed to "put a hold on" our nation's fall from the fiscal cliff, I don't see them coming to the rescue of Betterton.  So here is the B-Blogger's perspective, not a solution but rather an initiation of comment and feedback that will set the priority of this as an issue for our City Council and Mayor in 2013.

First, we need to be realistic that we cannot expect to receive a "rapid response" from our County Sheriff's office, there aren't enough men and women on their force to respond within minutes to a 911 call and the resources needed to make this an option aren't coming either.

Second, what about the Jewel's resources, one thought is the money that we pay out to the Sheriff's office to provide on site speed control.  Personally, I don't see value in having to pay for off duty members of the Sheriff's department to hand out speed violations on a Monday afternoon.  The Blogger has heard from several residents about an over zealousness to ticket Bettertonians rather than having a police car combing the streets of Betterton on Friday and Saturday nights from 11 pm - 4 am. Perhaps the dollars spent could be more wisely used to install speed bumps if the wisdom of our Town's leadership feels that speeding is a critical issue.  The B-Blogger has heard that, in the past, there has been objection to speed bumps in that they cause issues with snow plowing our roads, however, there are millions of speed bumps in shopping centers, local communities and public spaces where snow fall is a much larger problem and they seem to manage well with speed bumps

Third is the increased use of lights and cameras.  Today's technologies have created a host of cameras that can record in bright light as well as night time.  While the B-Blogger has been told that traffic cams are illegal in Maryland except within a school zone, cameras on commercial residences, the community center, the Methodist Church and private homes are certainly within the realm of possibility.  In fact the B-Blogger was told by law enforcement that camera's can be an immense help in fighting crime and burglary as a picture is worth a million in solving crimes.  Perhaps our Town leaders could negotiate a reasonable cost so that residents whether full-time or part-time could  purchase and install cameras and lights on and in their homes.  B & H photography  (www.bhphotovideo.com) would certainly be a first stop as one of the largest and most economical sources for cameras according to Consumer Reports. Let's also not forget about the large number of cell phone cameras owned by the community residents and discussing their role.  Additionally there are "Medic Alert" devices that individuals, especially those living by themselves and or with issues of health can utilize to rapidly alert a group of people to critical situations such as robberies, medical alerts etc.

Fourth is the potential for the Town Council to create a committee of volunteers to develop a cost effective plan within a 90 day period to address security and safety within our Jewel.  This committee could hold several Town meetings, on weekends to attract the largest audiences, which could bring in security experts to discuss effective options and address questions and concerns.  The Town Council could then implement any necessary regulatory changes and or updates to bylaws that were needed to move forward with the committee's recommendations. The committee as well as Town Council would need to commit to action and not create a committee for the sake of a committee.

Fifth, the Town could once again try to implement a Town Watch using local volunteers.

Finally, every viewer of this post should submit a comment as to how they feel and what their thoughts are for action.  Posts will be made public as long as they contain no foul language and are constructive.  If you see a problem, verbalize it and then offer possible solutions.  If we all contribute, empathize and compromise we will find effective solutions.

The rest is up to you!   Happy New Year!

A Last Minute Snow

 As Bettertonian's prepared to welcome the New Year, Mother Nature gave the Jewel its last snowfall.  Enjoy the pictures that follow: