Thoughts From The Publisher’s Desk

Former Ocean City Councilman Vince Gisriel said yesterday he does not plan on being involved in the ground effort to secure signatures to place funding the performing arts building before voters. The petition effort is being led by Ocean City Taxpayers For Social Justice spokesman Tony Christ.
“I am still not a part of that group at all … I am not out carrying the petition. I’m not circulating it, but I was asked to help draw a petition up on the performing arts center that might pass muster,” Gisriel said. “I made it clear from the outset that I didn’t have the time to be as involved in this one as I did last summer’s parking meter petition. That was very labor intensive. I spent every day of the 40 days out on the streets, and I enjoyed it and it needed to be done. I would like to be more involved in this one, but I just can’t devote that much time again to that kind of a drive.”
Once concerns were raised petitioners might struggle to score signatures against the entire bond, which includes $2 million for a largely favored beach patrol project, Gisriel furthered that on Wednesday he asked to draft a revised petition to carve out the performing arts center from the $12 million bond ordinance. He said Solicitor Guy Ayres approved that petition and that will be the issue petitioners will likely be trying to get before voters. However, he admitted he was not entirely clear on which petition — the one for the entire bond ordinance or the one just on the performing arts building — will be addressed before voters.
“Guy approved both — the petition on the whole ordinance and the petition on just part of the ordinance, the performing arts. That’s the only one I was involved in — the one that addressed the performing arts center. To my knowledge, that’s the one that will be taken door to door, but that’s for the group to decide,” Gisriel said. “I have the energy but I just don’t have the time to devote to do it even though I support the initiative.”
To get on the ballot, petitioners have until Nov. 20 to secure a little more than 1,200 signatures. Without Gisriel, who has been involved in “a half dozen” successful petition drives, I don’t think that number will be reached.

The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office recently announced the retirement of K-9 Dino and the addition of K-9 Karma. It was interesting to review the career K-9 Dino had with the department. Dino has reportedly developed a condition that limits his breathing and affects his ability to serve and protect. Whether it’s a person or an animal, it’s always sad to hear passion is being curtailed by the body. Hopefully, Dino will get some time to rest and relax with lots of treats in the future.
In the announcement, the Sheriff’s Office reported Dino seized nearly 2,000 grams of pot (70 ounces), 780 grams of cocaine (24 ounces), 244 Ecstasy pills, three guns, 26 grams of heroin and more than $600,000 in currency. That’s a job well done and Karma has some big paws to fill.