Thoughts From The Publisher’s Deck

Thoughts From The Publisher’s Deck
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There is obvious irony, as well as humor, in the fact a first-year Ocean City cop was charged with driving while intoxicated after attending a Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) party in Delaware. It goes without saying cops should not be drinking and driving. When it does happen, the contradiction is extraordinary. They are supposed to understand all too well the dangers associated with it and should know better. As they should be, when it comes to matters like this, cops are held to a higher standard Cops should not be one night busting people for speeding and then jump in their own vehicles and drive with reckless abandon. The same goes with drinking and driving. Excuse the cliché, but they should practice what they preach. However, one point that needs to be made here is the Ocean City Police Department did a commendable job of handling this situation. Rather than waiting for the press to break the news of the cop’s charge, the police released a press release detailing the incident, explained how disappointed the police force and the FOP were as a result and announced the disciplinary action taken. Releasing the information was an excellent way of handling what’s obviously a black eye, albeit a temporary one, on the department. Dismissing the man from his duties with the department was also the proper way to handle the situation.

It seems strange to say, but there are some polite thieves roaming the streets of Berlin at night. Within the last month, my vehicle’s ashtray, which I use as a chain drawer, has been emptied by some desperate creatures of the night twice. The change bandits have also hit up my neighbors’ vehicles. Although there’s the obvious violation of having some lowlife stealing from us, it’s been remarkable to observe the strange manner in which it’s done. In my case, the ashtray was removed, the spare change pilfered, the ashtray placed back where it belongs neatly and the door closed. It was obvious the console and the glove compartment had been sorted through, but all the items were returned including an old Barnes & Noble gift certificate. In another case, the criminal left behind a car wash token before taking off with all the change from another vehicle. The police have been made aware of the incidents and are looking for any information on the culprits. In the meantime, roll them up and lock them up Berlin. It has not been Mayberry of late.

You just have to love the Santa letters from local children. You can find dozens on page 1B, thanks to the first graders of Showell Elementary School and teacher JoAnne Donovan, who organized the effort. They are short and sincere and, in some cases, inquisitive. Some of our favorites were:

— Grace Schwendeman: “How is Mrs. Claus doing? And how is Dancer and Prancer? Santa, please get me a Hannah Montana bus with a Miley doll. I hope that nobody gets sick.”

— Isabel Emand: “I wish for a donkey and I am full of Christmas spirit and I love getting snuggled up with my family and playing in the snow. And on Christmas I go to sleep very early.”

— Kai McGovern: “How is Rudolph? What kind of cookies do you like? How are the elves? I would like a teddy bear.”

— David Cherry: “How are your elves doing? How are your reindeer? I have been good. Can I please have a toy airplane?”

— Jordan Ferguson: “I have been good. Are the reindeer doing good? I bet they are.”

— Jessica Wynne: “How are you doing? I like you and your reindeer. Thank you.”

— Julia Miller: “Have the reindeer been good? I hope they are. Are you doing well? I hope you are. You are nice for bringing us presents.”

— Sarah Hyatt: “I am going to love what you get me and thank you for the presents because you are so nice and I like your reindeer.”

Merry Christmas!

About The Author: Steven Green

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The writer has been with The Dispatch in various capacities since 1995, including serving as editor and publisher since 2004. His previous titles were managing editor, staff writer, sports editor, sales account manager and copy editor. Growing up in Salisbury before moving to Berlin, Green graduated from Worcester Preparatory School in 1993 and graduated from Loyola University Baltimore in 1997 with degrees in Communications (journalism concentration) and Political Science.