A Pajama Party and More says Impresario and Jazz Festival promoter Mel Rapelyea

Tonight's the night as the rocket shall roar off its launch pad says Dr. Mel also known as the Duke of Betterton and most recently the Impresario.  Make sure to take a nap so you can look up at the heavens and see the NASA rocket go through its stages beginning at 11:27 PM tonight.  For more insights on this event see the previous blog post.   Don't plan on getting too much sleep, however, as at 10:30 am Wilmer Park will open to kick off the Jazz Festival with the Chestertown River Arts' annual Art in the Park and at 11:30 am the "100 Voice Choir of Kent County" will entertain with gospel music.  Starting at 3:15 pm the headliners will appear including Sue Matthews and Cyrus Chestnut.  Remember to leave your animal companions at home, as pets will be restricted from Wilmer Park during the festival hours.  On Sunday, if the horns, drums and piano's have saturated your senses, go for some nature at Priapi Gardens Open from 10 am - 3 pm.  While the Jazz festival tickets are $25.00/pp, Priapi is free and their plants will all be buy one get one free. Don't forget your smart phones and or camera's and post your favorite pictures on the Blog.

The Jewel Has It's Own Diana Nyad

Cuba to Florida is an amazing accomplishment and shows how true grit, determination, and living your dream    propelled Diana Nyad through those rough and dangerous waters. See this lady at the finish line . What most people don't know is that one of the Jewel's very own Anthony McCarley of Crew's Landing just swam the English Channel at age 59.  Like Diana this was a dream come true for Anthony and one that the Blogger thinks the town should celebrate, perhaps as Guest of Honor at next year's Betterton Day!  Check out Anthony's amazing 13 hour 29 minute journey at  Anthony's Challenge. If you have ideas as to how best to recognize Anthony and his feat post it on the blog.

Fig Fest -Simply Fabulous

For the fourth year in a row the team of Palmer and Coslett have orchestrated what turned out to be another great Betterton event this past Saturday, August 31st.  Despite the fact that the event was postponed one week due to a late fig crop and harvest; neighbors, friends and family gathered at the east end of Bayside Boulevard to show off their unique fig creations and then consume all that was there.  "Figitini" anyone! Guaranteed to take your worries away and support colon health according to Palmer's daughter and creator of this cocktail.  This year's winners included Kim Kohl with a "First Place for her Fig Sliders and Best Junior Chef for yet another year, Doyle DiStefano.  When Doyle was queried as to his thoughts on success, he looked to his Dad, Brian, and Mom, Maureen.  Rumors have it that Doyle enjoys cooking as much as sports.  Both Barbara P and Wendy C attribute the success of this year's event to the tremendous support both creators got from the Betterton community.  People were there for the set-up, helped with serving food and drink, and most importantly showed up Sunday morning to help with final clean up. Barbara and Wendy believe that this event has immense potential to grow as a fun filled day for all who attend and a great way to raise dollars for the Betterton Community Development Corporation that keeps the "Jewel" glowing.  This being said both Barbara and Wendy are exhausted and really believe it is time for other Bettertonians to step up to the plate as organizers.  Planning for next year's event needs to start now says Coslett, who is more than happy to help but doesn't want to be at the lead. Barbara said the only downside to this year's event was when Tinkerbelle Coslett morphed into Cujo and attacked some friendly canines who came as the sun began its fall below the horizon.  Barbara does promise that if Tinkerbelle doesn't get some manners, then next year she will ask some of her Chilean relatives and friends for some Fig Stuffed Chihuahua  recipes.  I'd be scared Tinkerbelle, if I were you ! Barbara is not known for idle threats.

The Blogger has learned that our Waste Water Treatment Plant had one of its heaviest usage days this past Sunday. Can anyone figure out why?   If you can't go eat another fig or two.  Now enjoy the photos below by clicking on the link titled Fig Fest 2013. You will be asked to sign into Snapfish but no purchases will be required.

Fig Fest 2013

The Rockets Red Glare!

    September 6 is going to be an exciting time for all Bettertonians who can get outside at 11:27 PM.  According to reliable B- Blogger sources NASA will be launching the inaugural flight of its Minotaur V Rocket from Wallops Flight Facility in VA.   So grab your beach chairs and join neighbors and friends on our Beach to watch this historic event. The Minotaur V will carry and launch NASA's LADEE (Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment) spacecraft into an elliptical orbit around Earth.and then around the moon. The targeted launch is planned for 11:27 - 11:31 PM and should be visible to us on the Eastern Shore.

The mission represents a number of firsts, including:

• First launch of the Minotaur V configuration
• First five-stage vehicle flown by Orbital
• First Peacekeeper-based vehicle launched from Wallops Flight Facility
• First Lunar mission flown by Orbital
• First Lunar mission flown from Wallops

For more information go to Minotaur V Launch . For those who can't get out at that time you can follow it on USTREAM on your laptop, tablet or other computer.

This launch is not the only unique event that will happen this fall.  This November will align our Thanksgiving Day holiday with the start of the Jewish celebration of Chanukah. The celebration of Chanukah is based on the Hebrew calendar while Thanksgiving is determined on the Gregorian calendar. This alignment occurs about ever 100 years so this experience will be a once in a lifetime event for most people living today.  Therefore if you will be at the Thanksgiving Day meal with relatives, friends and or neighbors who are Jewish don't forget to wish them a Happy Chanukah. Don't forget to send those Chanukah greeting cards out early rather than the usual Christmas accompaniment. 

Let's Get Regular Together

The official word is out, FIG FEST 2013 is a GO!  It's only a week away so unearth your favorite fig recipe, turn on the grill or stove and get cooking!  Check out the information below.

Fig Festival

Saturday, August 31st

4:00 pm

(at the corner of Park & Bayside)

Your $5 donation benefits BCDC and gives you voting rights to
determine the best fig dish

Prizes will be awarded for the best dishes

Fabulous New Items for Purchase

• Market Baskets Stadium Blanket Drink Cozies
• Apron Boat Bags (limited supply) Stationary Cards
• Fig Chutney Fig Festival Cookbook

If you wish to enter your dish for a prize, remember to bring a label for your epicurean delight as well as a written recipe

Fig or figless – the party will go on!! If we are figless, it will be potluck

Attire: Please wear more than a fig leaf!

Heavy rain cancels the event – a little drizzle never hurt anyone

Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Barbara?

The figs they are!  As Barbara Palma , co-creator of Betterton's own Fig Fest, surveyed the town's trees and their fig production she feared for this year's Fest.  She declared "there are lots of figs but they're tiny in comparison to this year's Spring's crop and they are far from ripe!"  Palma consulted with her partner Wendell and made the executive decision to delay this year's Fig Fest by one week, so that it will now occur on Saturday August 31st.  The figs must have paid heed as suddenly they have started to ripen. (check out the photos).

For more information on Fig Fest 2014 contact Barbara at knitnteach@gmail.com.

In addition to the Figs misbehaving Kent County tomato growers are all seeing Fall Blight sacrifice their plants, with little hope for recovery.  According to Burpee's customer service personnel, there is little to do to stop this once it starts. The late tomato blight is caused by Phytophthora infestans , it has been around a long time and is the same disease that caused the Irish potato famine in the 1800. It is spread by the air, land, on infected plants and water on the leaves. Wet-looking spots start on the leaf edge and spread inward and spots soon turn black and leathery. Late blight attacks fruit and causes large, firm brown areas.

What to do: rotate the crops because the spores can live a whole year in the soil. Sanitation is very important, remove all debris from your garden bed as the fungus overwinters in the debris. Space plants farther apart to improve air circulation. Avoid overhead watering, the disease spreads in water. A mulch like straw will help prevent the spores from splashing up. Remove any infected plants by bagging them up in plastic bag, and throw out. Do not compost or throw the plant or debris in the woods as this will allow the spores to stick around. Keep your plants healthy. A fungicide may help prevent the spread; check with your county extension for recommendations in your area.

The Lizzano, Mountain Magic and Sweetheart of the Patio tomato varieties are resistant to the blight.

Marzella's or DiGiorno?

After the last post about our Thursday night community dinners the  population on Thursdays has increased tremendously.  In fact last Thursday some late comers were without food. Christa and Harry are thrilled with the numbers showing up for this great event but they really need headcounts to assure everyone has what they want.  So here are some suggestions:  If you have responded to Christa to alert her to your attendance please do so at mar.seas@gmail.com. ASAP.  Give Marzella's a call today and let them know you will be coming and what you might want for dinner tomorrow. This way if you do come a bit late your meal will still be there.  If this isn't possible then the B-Blogger would suggest that you stop on your way and pick up a DiGiorno frozen pizza and simply ask Frank or Maureen to warm it up.  Keep the crowds coming!