It’s becomes a tradition in this space for me to look back at some of the predictions I made last year for 2010. As is often the case, I was way off base on a number of matters, but managed to hit some on the mark. Here’s a review of how I fared overall.
ON THE MONEY
— Nostradamus comes to mind when I penned that, “Major news will break regarding the Liquor Control Board’s operations and its future in 2010.” That did indeed happen, starting in early summer and continuing through this week and into 2011.
— As predicted, the Republican Party did lose the lower shore Senate seat, held by Lowell Stoltzfus for years, when Democrat Jim Mathias prevailed in a nail biter over the GOP’s Michael James.
— When Michael McDermott won a House of Delegates seat, he made me look good because I predicted this time last year that a Republican would win one of the two local district delegate posts. Democratic incumbent Norm Conway held on to the other seat.
— It was correct to predict the state would sign off on a funding commitment for the Roland E. Powell Convention Center and also accurate to say physical work would not begin in 2010.
— Handheld cell phone use while driving was banned.
— I was on the mark when I predicted Sarah Foxwell’s accused murderer would not be tried in 2010 and that the trial would be relocated off the shore. It’s planned for April in Cecil County.
— I was correct when I wrote, “Delays will continue to plague the start of the Route 50 service road project.” Although this work is still on the county radar screen, it’s tough to see at this point.
— I was correct when I said Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan would run opposed for re-election.
— For some reason, I predicted a rare blizzard would close schools for an entire week in February. The blizzard (two as a matter of fact) did in fact hit the region, but schools were not closed an entire week. I felt I was close enough to lump it into this category.
— The taxi industry was franchised in Ocean City.
WHAT WAS I THINKING?
— Ocean Downs’ new slots casino did not open in 2010. Therefore, it was not the “only site where slots are played in Maryland in 2010,” as I erroneously forecast. Two sites beat the “ocean oval” to the site.
— The County Commissioners did not okay furlough days for employees in an effort to not raise taxes.
— Two more traffic lights were not added to Route 589 in 2010. However, there is one about to be activated in advance of the Casino Ocean Downs opening.
— The General Assembly did not authorize an increase in the alcohol tax as I thought it might to address the budget deficit.
— I wrote: “Every single toll on Maryland roads will be increased, including the Chesapeake Bay Bridge fare, which will be increased from $2.50 to $3.” Nope.
— The Ocean City Mayor and Council did not, as I expected, approve a $20 million bond to overhaul the Boardwalk. It’s worth pointing out that could come next year, but the project will not cost that much.
— A traffic light was not placed at the intersection of Route 50 and Old Ocean City Road in Berlin.
— I predicted two of the seven County Commissioners would lose re-election bids in 2010. That didn’t happen – only one commissioner lost, while one opted not to run for re-election.
— It was wrong that all Ocean City Council incumbents would be re-elected. In fact, one lost in October.
— Slots did not begin operating in fraternal clubs in Worcester because the legislature did not pass the bill for the third consecutive year.
— Unleaded gasoline prices did not stay above $3 most of the year.
— The San Diego Chargers did not defeat the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl. Actually, neither team made it to the big game, which was won by the New Orleans Saints over the Indianapolis Colts.