Tribute to our Troops

I just recieved this from a friend. Please check it out and pass it on.

http://www.flashdemo.net/gallery/wake/index.htm

Babble on Albero--Babble on

Albero has once again ventured into the forest of misinformation and has been struck squarely in the face with every low hanging branch. Indeed his feeble mindset concerning quality reporting will not allow him the luxury of standing above the hyperbole of his equally weak minded informants and therefore he must be condemned to ever stoop beneath the facts and truth as it so surely exists.

Chief See has not taken a vacation at the taxpayer’s expense. As I have stated and have proven in the past the fire service in the United States is an ever changing, ever evolving, ever challenging prospect to the safety and security of the citizens it serves. Be it New York, Phoenix, San Francisco, Baltimore, Salisbury, or Parsonsburg. Be it total career, combination, or total volunteer department, the need for continuing education is clearly evident and the monetary cost of that education is not necessarily cheap. No one---absolutely no one can expect the training, innovations, products, or shared knowledge and experience of all those in the service to be delivered directly to the doorstep or desktop of the individuals and departments wishing to remain current in today’s world of emergency service. Above all else, this lesson is strongly reinforced by the events of 9/11, and the worldly events that have occurred in the years hence.

With that in mind it is vitally necessary for those in management of such fire, rescue and EMS services to attend seminars and conferences sponsored by professional and recognized entities committed to bring pertinent information to the leadership of these said services. These conferences and seminars must be held at a regional level and central locations in order to provide an equitable opportunity of attendace to interested parties. It is the responsibility of the organization or county government or municipality to provide entrance fees, travel expense, and accommodations to the chiefs, managers or directors of emergency services for their diligence in the attempt to provide the best possible service available to the citizen.

Such a recognized entity is the International Association of Fire Chiefs, (IAFC).
A subordinate of this organization is the Volunteer & Combination Section (VCOS) of the IAFC. Salisbury Fire Department falls squarely in the realm of VCOS, as it is a combination department. VCOS has apparently asked Chief See to serve on their committee. I see this as an honor for Chief See as the IAFC is a national organization. It is an opportunity for the voice of a local manager to be heard nationwide. It is not a position to be taken lightly.

Before I continue I will offer you this. It is a cut and paste directly from the IAFC website:

Overview
Established in 1873, the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) is a powerful network of more than 12,000 chief fire and emergency officers. Our members are the world's leading experts in fire fighting, emergency medical services, terrorism response, hazardous materials spills, natural disasters, search & rescue, and public safety legislation.
Mission
To provide leadership to career and volunteer chiefs, chief fire officers and managers of emergency service organizations throughout the international community through vision, information, education, services and representation to enhance their professionalism and capabilities.

If you are further interested in the mission, I invite you to visit this:
http://www.iafc.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1Feel free to explore the entire site.



Now I shall continue to answer Albero’s anemic pretension of Chief See’s qualifications.
Chief See came the SFD in the Mid 70’s. He was hired as a “grunt” or front line fire fighter, as we all were. His duties, included fire fighting, vehicular extrication (what’s that Albero?), general water rescue, (this was before the dive teams and special ops), limited but general hazardous material recognition and mitigation, investigating of smells and bells, (alarm activations), assisting local police agencies with resources not available to them, i.e. lights, electricity, boats and manpower, getting cats out of trees, (yes we did that) and low and behold----EMS.
As a firefighter Chief See was required to obtain and maintain a level of EMS certification that required a constant and continuing certification process. Not a one time short class and be certified for life type of education, but didactic and practical evolutions within given time limits had to be met to retain certification. Without proper certifications ones job was in jeopardy. This certification was required to be maintained by all firefighters and line officers. I cannot honestly say what the current requirement is above the rank of Assistant Chief, but I can say that failure to maintain the certification at a lower level would surely prohibit advancement to administrative status. Obviously Chief See has met that requirement.

I will personally vouch for the fact that Chief See has spent as much time in the back of an ambulance as anyone. He and I have ridden together on more occasions than I can remember, and I will say he was an excellent provider to the patients.
The last three letters of problems is in fact EMS. This is an ongoing and friendly pun within the service. Certainly note an issue of malcontent.
Where is it proven that Chief See hates volunteers? His roots are in a fine volunteer organization. His willingness to participate in the VCOS of the IAFC more than proves he is willing to promote the mission and expertise of a well-organized and efficient volunteer force.
Did Chief See have a “mare endorsed vacation”? Prove it Albero. Without a doubt Chief See was required to provide to the city a reasonable synopsis of what was to be accomplished by his attendance to the conference in question, and upon his return a comprehensive report of goals attained and a plan for implementation within the SFD was executed. Without such I doubt funds would ever have been approved in years past or be considered for the future. Please note once again—this is an ever changing service.
Did Chief See take advantage of the opportunity to indulge in some recreational beverages and camaraderie with other chiefs and officers attending the conference? Probably. So What? The National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg MD maintains a bar and lounge on campus. The logic is simply this, in a relaxed and casual atmosphere the participants of seminars are more apt to share ideas, thoughts and concepts that will be brought later to the classroom in order to share for the scrutiny and perusal of all students in order to discriminate the positives and negatives of an issue.
I have seen it many times. I have done it myself.
Now I pose this to you Albero. Where do you get off with your absurd accusations of wrongdoing under the misassumption of city-financed vacations? Can you provide financial records to prove your preposterous claims of malfeaceance?
What would you propose Chief See do with his time? Watch the news each day at noon and hope a 30 second convoluted news story from the Utah Mountains about rockslide be converted into a major training exercise for the SFD? That would be valuable, would it not?
Why don’t you do this? Take about 3 minutes of your time with your inside source to the SFD and list all of his/her qualifications as an expert to the administrative duties of Chief See. I say 3 minutes because this will give you 1 minute to listen, 1 minute to formulate, and 1 minute to write your essay. An educated guess is you will have time left over.

Today in History, USA--USSR Hotline Established

Following the October 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, in which the U.S. and U.S.S.R had come dangerously close to all-out nuclear war, John F. Kennedy becomes the first U.S. president to have a direct phone line to the Kremlin in Moscow. The tense diplomatic dialog that was engaged in during the crisis was painfully slow due the banal communication system in place. Indeed, the USSR and America were literally “On the Brink” during this crisis, which was resolved peacefully.
President Kennedy and Premier Khrushchev both signed a nuclear test-ban treaty on August 5, 1963, and mutual fears of future "misunderstandings" led to the installation of an improved communications system.


By today’s standards the system is archaic, but when implemented in 1963 was considered revolutionary and much more reliable than the regular trans-Atlantic phone call, which was routed between several countries before it reached the Kremlin.

The first U.S. president to use the new system was President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1967. He notified Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin that he was considering sending Air Force planes into the Mediterranean during the “Six Day War”.

Interrogatories?

Let me start this by saying I do not possess an intimate knowledge of the law, and have never professed as much. I do understand however that law can, and is, interpreted in many ways. Thus, we have the need for a court system and Judges to enlighten us, the uneducated, down a path of reasonable understanding.

I also understand the so-called root of all evil, money, or more accurately the lack thereof, is possibly the driving force in the final disposition of many a case. Meaning only this, what with the appellate system and the cost of lawyer fees, and time involved, I can see the one with the most toys (that is $) wins.
Eventually one of the litigates may realize funds gained will not equal or justify funds lost and that principals, pride, and time, although valuable to the ego and self esteem will not justify the debt incurred or the time wasted to bring a positive result to the issue at hand, even though the case may be strong in their favor.

Ergo---money triumphs over truth.

How often does this happen? I haven’t a clue.
Does it happen? Surely it does.

I have purposely refrained from commenting on the lawsuits brought against Albero by Chief Webster and Mayor Tilghman because as I have stated above I am not that familiar with law. I really do not care personally about the suits because the outcome for either party does not affect me in the least. My only interest is for entertainment purposes and because Albero has himself has seen fit to sensationalize the issues.

So, with that mind, and with no aspersions being cast, I would like to solicit the following.

In the process of a lawsuit when the plaintiffs attorney requests, demands, petitions, (or whatever the term may be), the court through interrogatory information pertaining the case at hand, how does the court determine if the said interrogatories are legitimate and where exactly is the line drawn.

Can the court reject any or all of the interrogatories?
Can a case be rejected and terminated on the merits of interrogatories?
Does the court, prior to the hearing, review interrogatory responses?

And finally---does Albero’s extensive experience sitting to the left side of a Judge warrant his absolute denial of interrogatory requests through a legitimate legal venue?

I'm just asking! Only positive, serious and civil responses will be entertained.

Today in History--Two Names, Same Battle

Confederate General Robert E. Lee defeats Union General John Pope at the Second Battle of Bull Run. Union General George McClellan's Peninsular campaign had stalled miserably earlier in the summer. President Lincoln and General-in-Chief Henry Halleck were so frustrated with McClellan’s efforts they opted to re-assign a large part of McClellan's Army of the Potomac and send it to General John Pope's newly formed Army of Virginia.

General Lee guessed that McClellan had no plans to attack Richmond, so he sent General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson north to keep an eye on Pope's force. When it became apparent the Yankees were abandoning the peninsula, Lee moved more of his force northward to defeat Pope before reinforcements arrived.

After Jackson raided a major Union supply depot at Manassas, Pope began to pursue Jackson. But he could not find the Rebel force, which was hidden in the woods around Bull Run. Pope issued contradictory orders that frustrated his troops, who marched back and forth for two days but was unable to find Jacksons troops.

By August 28, Jackson was made aware that General James Longstreet's corps was nearby. Jackson's men emerged from the woods and attacked a Union division late in the day, but the fighting ended in a standstill. On August 29, Pope attacked the rebels, the Confederates mauled the Union troops, and by August 30 Pope was forced to retreat. His army lost over 16,000 men to the Confederates' 9,000.

Thus, the second defeat to the Yankees on the same ground as the first great infantry battle of the war more than year ealier.

Known in the North as "The Second Battle of Bull Run"
and in the South as "Second Manassas"

Today in History 8/28

Today in 1861 Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, fell to Union troops. This two-day operation succeeded in closing an important outlet from Pamlico Sound for Confederate blockade-runners. The Union blockade of the South now tightened and made vital European trade more difficult. A decisive blow to the confederacy.

Schools In! & Recycling

It’s a beautiful day! SSU’s fall semester is under way. Where I live it is important to be aware of this because of the traffic, both auto and pedestrian, using and crossing the streets. Often time it is wise to plan your day around peak periods of traffic near the college and College Ave. The three public schools on College Ave & Beaglin Park Dr. also add a tremendous amount of traffic in the morning and mid afternoon.

I made my weekly stop at the recycling station today. Is it my imagination or are more folks catching on to this concept? Not only have the bins filled considerably since my last stop but also on many recent visits I shared parking and conversation with many other folks depositing recyclables.

I started recycling in earnest 6 or 7 years ago. It took a little getting used to and soon it became evident that a little planning was necessary in order to make it easier. Some Rubbermaid containers, homemade wooden crates for newspapers and a ball sisal twine and you can be pretty much set. Recycle bins are everywhere in the county and if you plan things out ahead it is always easy to make a side trip to the bin when running other errands. We recycle all we can. Glass, bi-metal, aluminum, plastic, newspaper/magazines, cardboard, and plastic grocery bags all have a separate container around this house. I used to go to the landfill or transfer station about every 7 to 10 days. Now it’s once a month and sometimes longer than that.

Once you get hang of it and have a plan to make it work it’s really easy. The best part of it is---it doesn’t cost anything to deposit recyclables and as I said before---with a little planning it’s only a side trip and a few minutes of your time.

It’s the only planet we have! Let’s make sure it stays here for our kids.

Have a great day!

Albero Visits Again

Albero's comment
Quote

"...Not for nothing Dude but don't you think you could do some good with your Blog other than simply being an anti Albero Blog?

All the years you put in the Fire Department doing good for the community and now all you do is sit there attackinge many of the Posts I put up.

The traffic on that Round-A-Bout on Naylor Mill gets far more traffic than the Fruitland one. Maybe you just need special attention on a daily basis because you're not getting it at home, I don't know?

However, why don't you consider getting off your fat lazy a$$ and get out into the community and do something with your life. Think about it old man, you can't hate everything I say & present and you have to give credit that I'm at least out there trying. Then understand the many thousands of hits I get a day verses your what, 25 to 50 hits a day?

Oh well, once a brown noser, always a brown noser!"

You are pushing the threshold again with the language Albero. I’ll let it ride this time.
Lets start at the bottom and work up.

1) I have never been a brown noser. Brown nosing is done to gain an advantage over someone, with someone. Who am I trying to get over on and with whom? I’m retired. I stand to gain nothing of significance with anyone.
2) I do plenty with my life. I am quite happy with my spouse, my volunteer time with the organizations I belong to, my son and my friends.
3) What I get at home surely beats taking pictures of horses rolling in the mud and out of focus bird photos. Now lets call that one even and keep the personal lifes out of it like you so soundly profess to do.
4) If you had really paid attention to the Fruitland roundabout you would know that it has relieved traffic considerably. The same will probably be true at Naylor Mill Rd.
5) I do more than sit here and attack you posts. I successfully point out to the rest of those reading these BLOGS the inadequacies of your feeble reporting.
6) You get thousands of hits? Prove it! I have no site meter and don’t care to have one. I have no idea how many hits I get and I don’t care.
7) I am doing some good with my BLOG. Otherwise you wouldn’t be commenting and complaining about what I say.
8) In your eyes I may be old, but I have done more good for the community in a quarter of my career than you will ever do in a lifetime trying to tear down Salisbury.

Have a nice day

Roundabout---Lessons Learned???

I am not all sure what lesson anyone has learned from the Fruitland roundabout. I will admit I had some doubts at first, and I still believe the true test will come after school gets into full swing, but I use the roundabout several times a week at all hours and as of yet I have not seen any problems. Rarely is there any backup like what used to occur with the four way stop sign. I have seen tractor trailers negotiate the roundabout with no difficulty what so ever and there is a fairly high volume of truck traffic there.

Maybe Albero can also explain just what the Teamsters will do if “God forbid they find out about it”, referring to the one proposed on Naylor Mill Rd. That is truly funny. I am sure the teamsters have nothing better to worry about than a roundabout on a back road in Smallsbury. Any driver worth his salt won’t even give this thing a second thought.

Responsible Reporting?

Albero certainly is on top of things. The “cell phone directory” hoax has been around for at least two years. Instead of verifying the information as true or false, he simply posted it as Gospel. The same is true with many of his other sources. A reader of his BLOG tried to steer him to a corrective action and Albero response was typical. It’s quoted below.

" A concerned reader sent it in and I passed it on. You do not pay to subscribe here and I do not have time to go to snopes for every single piece of information to please you........

Where is the responsibility in reporting like this?

Winner?

O.K.
Let me see if I got this right. A motorcyclist plays chicken with a train and at the last second decides better of the idea. So he lays the bike down on the road and he gets carted off in an ambulance. He’s a winner?
Sounds more like a lucky loser to me.

Egg ‘em on Albero.

Vicious Dogs

I see that the quest for new and stiffer laws for the disposition of vicious dogs in the county has taken on a bit of a fast track. I cannot say I disagree at all with what is trying to be accomplished. To be honest with you I didn’t realize that the current laws were so lax. I was of the opinion that when an unprovoked dog attack took place, the dog was surrendered by the owner or captured if possible and disposed of. Several years ago a neighbor’s dog bit my son. When the neighbor moved in he advised me the dog did like people. He and his family had no problem handling the dog and he would keep the dog on a chain. My son was 14 at the time and he understood perfectly not to go near the dog. The neighbor’s children often removed the dog from the chain for play. One day they did not re-chain the dog and as my son was walking back from his Grand-mom’s house the dog bit him. The bite did not break the skin but it left a terrible bruise. Needless to say, I had words with the neighbor and I notified the sheriffs department. The next day the dog was gone and I was given papers later saying it had been taken to the humane society and was euthanized.

O.K. I can see some business having dogs for protection and those dogs may be vicious. That’s their training. However dogs such as these must have competent handlers and have to be properly kenneled when not on duty. However, there is absolutely no excuse to have and maintain a vicious dog as a household pet. As part of the responsibility of dog ownership it falls to the owner properly socialize their dog to society. I understand there may varying degrees of this depending on the dog and it’s use. Many show dogs are limited in socialization because their attention must be concentrated to the show ring. Household pets, although may be aloof by nature certainly do not need to be vicious to visitors of the home.

Other issues abound as well such as dogs that are tormented, teased into violence. That can be another ball of wax altogether. This post simply refers to dogs that have not had the proper level of care in growing up and the owner's lack to properly contain the animal. The task before the county council concerning new and stricter laws is not an easy one. Many things have to be considered surrounding the circumstances of an attack. I don’t envy their job, but I hope a comprehensive set of rules can be formulated quickly.

50th Star added to the Flag

On this date in 1959, President Eisenhower signed the statehood bill that mde Hawaii our 50th state.

Today in History

Today in 1909 the first race at Indianapolis took place. The top speed for the day was 57.4 MPH. The primitive road surface was to blame for the deaths of two drivers, two mechanics, and two spectators. None the less, the annual race continues today known as the Indianapolis 500.

Also on this day in 1934 Adolf Hitler was elected first president of Germany. A milestone in the biography of the most evil monster in modern history.

Mr Cannon & The Governor

Albero has a continued attack on the Daily Times over their apparent snubbing of the visit by Governor O’Malley to the Cannon residence last week. Did it ever occur to Albero that what he considers newsworthy might not be so important to those that have far more experience than in the journalism world? I know that such incidents have happened in the past and the Daily Times opts to wait until a Sunday edition to print the story in a forum more suited to give credence to the story. Let’s face it---While it may be a milestone event to the Cannons, and I am sure it is, a governors citation is not that earth shattering. I have no idea when or if the Daily Times will publish the story. I am sure if they do Albero will claim victory in shaming them into it and remind everyone he had the skinny first.

I have know Mr. Cannon far longer than Albero has and I am aware of many of his contributions to the community. I can assure you, publicity and recognition have never been his goal for his good work. If anything I feel sure he was a trifle embarrassed buy all the attention this past week.

Maybe Albero should spend some of his millions and buy out the Daily Times from Gannett. Then he could be the reporter, photographer, editor, and distributor (his paper would never be late and his coffee stale). What a waste of good trees that would be.

International Hits

Albero has claimed record hits from “All over the Country” but has so far proved nothing. Needless to say I was mildly surprised to receive a comment from Mr. David Santos in Portugal last evening. The comment is posted under “Trustworthy Albero”

International hits on this little soapbox---WOW!

Trustworthy Albero----NOT!

Quote From Albero
".......Gentlemen, I did NOT hear this first hand, I was informed of this information and of course you SHOULD NOT TRUST ME when I share information like this, EVER!..."

What makes him think he was ever trustworthy? Has he finally turned the corner?
Apparently there are no ladies reading his BLOG. This, without a doubt, proves by his own admission he reports on weak and speculative information from others. A real reporter would investigate these allegations before printing anything. Such is his hatred for the Mayor.

Albero--Dead in the Water

Albero continues his laughable lack of knowledge concerning the fire department. For whatever reason he now attacks the marine division and the equipment at their disposal. First let me state the fire department has for it’s entire history had in its jurisdiction, protection and service over the riverfront, and ponds in and around Salisbury. Indeed I can recall times when the boats from Salisbury were called to assist other departments within the entire lower shore. A practice that continues to this day.

The marine division responsibilities are many. With the petroleum tank farms along the river west of Salisbury the marine division has the obligation of protection to the offloading racks and the barges that service the facilities. This goes beyond fire situation. The marine division must train and be prepared to mitigate any spill that may occur. This is done with the co-operation of SMAG. The marina is always a source of target hazards. Again spills, fires, and persons overboard present a constant a real threat.

Salisbury has an underwater recovery team. The marine division is often responsible for getting the team to the area where needed. While divers are down it is the operators of the watercrafts responsibility to maintain a clear area of safety on the surface.

New condominium construction along the waterfront also presents a great and real challenge to the fire department. The river effectively creates a unique problem to accessing at least one side of the building. It could very well fall to the marine division to provide this access, and if necessary egress to occupants and fire fighters alike.

In order to perform these tasks the marine division must train in many different environments in many different locations. In order to train and operate it must be mobile. To be mobile and effective it must be diverse. To accomplish all this it must have a variety of vehicles and crafts available to fill the immediate need.

Albero apparently feels the two crafts he has shown us constitutes a navy. Hardly so. The larger of two, Marine 1, is a 25-foot craft bought several years ago to replace an old steel hulled vessel that was bought used and was originally a sounding vessel used on the Mississippi River. That craft was very slow and rapid deployment was never really possible. The versatility needed for new challenges did not exist with this craft.

The current Marine 1 now is also deficient to the growing needs of the city. The fire pump on this craft is only rated for about 500 GPM. At that flow rate the firefighting capability is severely limited and the ability to supply a land-based fire engine is practically non-existent.

Marine 2 is an 18-foot inflatable craft with a 90 HP outboard designed for very rapid deployment and mobility to remote areas if needed. It is also a craft that can operate in swift water if called upon to do so. It easily can handle a 4 to 6 person crew for operations and if needed for multiple recoveries it is rated for 2400 lbs.

The “dually” Albero refers to in his first picture is a Utility Vehicle used by the fire department for any number of tasks requiring a pick-up truck. It is not assigned to the Marine Division. Using it to tow the marine crafts is only one of it’s many duties.
Additionally the Marine Division participates in Community Service. Yesterday, August 15th, Marine 1 was at Camp ESPA in Dorchester Co. If memory serves, Camp ESPA is operated by the Eastern Shore Police Association and caters to “special needs” and “at risk” kids.

Marine 1, Marine 2 & members of the marine division will be on hand September 8th for River fest in Salisbury. They will gladly offer tours of the crafts and answer any questions about their vital function within the fire department and the community. The public is cordially invited.

Salisbury is the second busiest port in the State of Maryland. Continued growth in the area and increased need for petroleum products will only increase the use of this port. As I stated before, Marine 1 is deficient to the needs placed upon it. I am reliably informed that a grant study is underway and a larger more reliable and versatile craft is the end goal. A craft that has an increased water flow capacity and a foam system suitable for sustained operation. A 30 to 40 foot craft that will exceed the current needs for the port and the city and will not be obsolete before its time.

The closest Coast Guard detachment to Salisbury is Crisfield. That’s along way away in the case of an emergency in our home waters. Therefore it falls squarely on the fire department to provide the service and protection needed for the port, marina, condominiums, errant swimmers, accidental falls overboard, and on many occasions assistance to police departments for evidence recovery.

Yes Albero, they have some pretty nice stuff. A more accurate statement is they keep their stuff pretty nice. In order to maintain an effective Marine operation the Marine Division of the Fire Department must soon upgrade. This is not because of a simple desire to have something new or bigger, but insurance ratings and liability demand it. I have also heard the words “Homeland Security” used when discussing this issue. I will say no more about that because unlike you I refuse to speculate on what I know little about. You need to stick to all your cars, camper, dogs and horses and leave the fire dept alone. You will never understand their total scope of responsibility because you do not understand what it means to be responsible. It is a growing and ever changing challenge. And just for the record Albero, that razor sharp memory of yours has failed. There was no pontoon boat ordered for river clean-up. At least not by the fire department.

Hmmm. I guess I shouldn’t have mentioned dogs and horses. After all, according to you family is off limits.

Round-up & Rant

It’s Thursday! If you do nothing else for amusement today visit duvafiles for Mr., D’s synopsis of this weeks ongoing Albero show. Scroll down to sbynews bi-weekly round up.

On another note---Does anyone know what Albero is talking about concerning the property in Shanie Shields neighborhood?

Woodstock!

Today in 1969, Woodstock begins. A massive rock festival in Bethel, New York. Woodstock drew such a large crowd the New York State Throughway was closed. So many people arrived it was impossible to control the gate and the concert was declared free to all that came. Some of the performers appearing were Joe Cocker, Jimi Hendrix, Santana, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Country Joe McDonald, & Joan Baez.

Truely a landmark event for the peace movement and the Hippie culture.

Old vs New vs Old Again

I do not intend to discuss whether Albero should or should not be inside the old mall during its demolition. The way I see it, either Albero is trespassing or the person or persons in charge of the place have allowed his admission. Regardless of the circumstances any ill befalling Albero is of his own doing and of no consequence to me.

I have to admit Albero’s photos on the inside of the old mall are quite interesting. Since I remember all the hype of “The Coming” of the mall and it’s construction and grand opening, it certainly brings back a lot of memories of my adolescent years and early adulthood. How many of you remember the signs in the far reaches of the county proclaiming “X” number of minutes to the Salisbury Mall. All those minutes were so grossly understated. I for one hoped that the mall would remain open after the Centre of Salisbury made its debut but with the anchor stores moving almost en masse to the new location the demise of the “Old Mall” was inevitable.

Salisbury---often times to big for it’s own britches, and too small to support two malls.

Is the New Mall realy new now?
Will we see this again in our lifetime? One wonders.

Today in History

The first taxicab took to the streets of New York City on this day in 1907. The taxi is named after the taximeter, a device that automatically records the distance traveled or time consumed and used to calculate the fare. The term cab originated from the cabriolet, a one-horse carriage let out for hire.

Today in 1961 marks the birth of a most prominent cold war symbol. In the dead of night Soviet troops began to set a barbed wire fence to separate the city of Berlin Germany into east and west districts. The goal was to end the mass exodus of East Berliners to the free west. Soviet guards were issued orders to shoot anyone attempting to cross the line. Sometime later the barbered wire was reinforced with a more ominous symbol of Soviet tyranny. The infamous “Berlin Wall”.

In as much the Cold War got a wee bit more chilly.

Creative News Round-up

Miss some of Albero’s rants last week? Want to see it all summed up in one post? Jump on over to duvafiles and scroll down to SBYNEWS BI- WEEKLY NEWS ROUNDUP.

Mr. D. has put in all in a nutshell guaranteed to make you smile, unless of course your Albero.

A link to duvafiles in the sidebar to left.

Angelic Albero

Instead of bring up ancient history from the court records maybe Albero would like to expose something of a more recent nature. More specifically I refer to the charges of assault, disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, and such against him.

DISTRICT COURT FOR WICOMICO COUNTY - CRIMINAL SYSTEM
Case Number: 0H00039760Tracking No:061001055566

CRIMINAL
02Location Code:03
WARRANTIssued Date:07/10/2006
Case Status: CLOSEDC
ase Disposition:TRIAL

Defendant Name:
ALBERO, JOSEPH
WHITE, CAUCASIAN, ASIATIC INDIAN, ARAB
MHeight:510Weight:200DOB:03/23/1962
38024 NORTH SPRING HILL RD.
DELMARState:DEZip Code:19940 - 0000

001Description:ASSAULT-SEC DEGREEDisposition: STETDisposition Date:01/12/2007

002Description:TRESPASS PUB AGNCY DUR HRS
STETDisposition Date:01/12/2007

003: Description:HARASS; A COURSE OF CONDUCT
STETDisposition Date:01/12/2007

004Description:DISORDERLY CONDUCTSTETDisposition Date:01/12/2007

005Description:DISTURB THE PEACESTETDisposition Date:01/12/2007

And
DISTRICT COURT FOR WICOMICO COUNTY - CIVIL SYSTEM
Case Number: 0203SP006352003
Claim Type:PEACE ORDER
District/Location Codes:
02 / 03Filing Date:07/25/2003Case Status:ACTIVE

001(JONES, KAREN) Vs:(ALBERO, JOE )

REGULAR CLAIM
Complaint Status: ACTIVE

Name:
ALBERO, JOE
Connection to Complaint:
DEFENDANT
Address:
13036 N SHORE RD
City:
OCEAN CITYState:MDZip Code:21842
Name:
JONES, KAREN
Connection to Complaint:
PLAINTIFF

FD Turf War Grossly Overstated

Lack of education again caused Albero’s brain to surge into speculation mode. Maybe Albero would like to reliably inform us what it is Delmar Fire Dept would have to fight about if a substation was built near the mall. The same situation exists there as it does on the Westside. What the city imposes taxes on it must provide service for. That’s cut and dried. Besides, several years ago the Town of Delmar annexed property all the way south to Leonard’s Mill Pond. Salisbury can’t move any further north along the Rt. 13 corridor and that area shall remain under Delmar’s fire protection.

A good reporter should look into interesting point such as demand for services after annexation according to Albero. Maybe he can find us a good reporter.

Remember this as well. There are Mutual Aid Agreements in place thought-out the county that provides automatic simultaneous coverage by two or more departments if a major alarm is struck. Response is not necessarily the issue. Maybe a good reporter could recognize this and give an accurate accounting of the real question.

I believe the term “Turf War” is grossly overstated here. The situation has been resolved and accepted by all concerned.

Nuff Said

Salisbury Fire Department,135 years of Service

The Salisbury Fire Dept held a banquet tonight at the Wicomico County Civic Center for it’s 135th anniversary. Many special people were in attendance including a long time friend of the Department Mr. Robert Cannon. Mr. Cannon has responded to the departments needs over the years more times than I care to remember. He knows most of the members by name and always has a smile and good word for everyone. I don’t think Mr. Cannon drives anymore so I am sure he is not the frequent visitor to the station he used be, but his presence at department functions is most welcome.

Another great guest this evening was Emerson Carlisle Philips. Known to many of us simply has “Corky”. I am not exactly sure how long Corky has been with the department but it very close, and may exceed 60 years. Corky was recognized for his service tonight and received a standing ovation upon receiving a beautiful fire bell trophy. I would like to also say Corky faithfully served in the military and was very active with the VFW before his health started to decline a few years ago. Corky is also a member the Wicomico Lodge # 91 A.F. & A.M., one of the Masonic Lodges in Salisbury.

Thanks Corky for all your years of faithful service.

Guest speaker for the evening was Past Chief Larry Patin of the Huntingtown Vol. Fire & Rescue Squad. Chief Patin gave a short but inspirational talk of what takes to be a fire fighter today. Thank you Chief Patin.

Mayor vs. Albero

I am not a lawyer (thank goodness) and I do not claim to have an inherent knowledge of the law concerning the First Amendment Rights. I do understand however that as with many laws it’s interpretation is much debated. The debate here is plain. Where do First Amendment Rights end and slander begin. Certainly a public official should expect to be scrutinized more than most, but is there limit? I think so.

Albero is bound to spend a little more time sitting to the left of a judge. It’s a chair he is much more familiar with than me. By the way Albero—don’t waste your time looking me up in the Court System. I’m not there.

Fire Department Turf War?

I believe the Daily Times has certainly made this sound much worse than it is. It is quite understandable that Hebron FD would like to keep the territory in question as it could mean a source of revenue for them. On the other hand I am sure they are accepting of the fact when services are being paid for through taxation, that service is expected by those taxed.

Not wishing to reopen the argument about the new Salisbury fire stations location, I will say this expanded territory for Salisbury does indeed help justify a station on the west side.

Annexations are going to occur in all directions from the city core. Neighboring department will again loose territory and the City’s burden will increase. Mutual aid agreements are in place to ease this burden. Possibly there is way for the Salisbury Fire Department and neighboring fire departments to share in the revenue received from target areas. A plan of this sort may already be in place and it is something I am not aware of.

It is not often serious disagreements arise between fire departments in the county and the Chiefs association usually successfully mediates any problems that arise. All concerned realize the end result and ultimate goal is to serve the communities and the citizens.

Wicomico County Fire Departments excel in that endeavor.

Pseudo Bragging Rights

In typical Albero fashion, he has taken a routine course of action for the defensive role he is engaged in and attempted to turn it into some sort of victory. Tell us Albero, how does a change of venue bring Chief Webster to his knees? I honestly do not believe this surprised anyone and it is of surely no consequence to the plaintiffs.

Today in History

Today in 1977 the infamous “Son of Sam” was arrested in New York City. David Berkowitz terrorized the City of New York for over a year preying mainly on attractive women with long brown hair. Berkowitz claimed demons and a neighbor’s dog named Sam ordered him to do the killings.
And the big surprise---Berkowitz was a postal employee.


In 1981 the body of Adam Walsh was discovered. Adam had been missing for two weeks and his disappearance was national news. Two years later Henry Lee Lucas and Otis Toole were arrested for the crime.
Adams father, John Walsh, became a national spokesman against crime and went on to host the television show “America’s Most Wanted” Since the show debuted in 1988 nearly 1000 fugitives have been brought to justice. Ameica's Most Wanted airs on Friday nights on the Fox network.

Renaissance Entertainment

Looking for some great family entertainment? It’s that time of year for the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire in Manheim PA. , and the Maryland Renaissance Festival, in Crownsville MD.

I have been to both of these venues and I must say they are equally entertaining. From Salisbury the Maryland festival is an easy day trip and I promise you it is worthwhile. The Faire in Pennsylvania can be done in a day but believe me it would a loooong day. Plan for an overnighter at least. The food will be phenomenal. The shops, plays, displays, actors and shows will make your trip most memorable. Be sure to take a camera and/or a video recorder. Below are the dates for each. Want to know more? Cut and paste the addresses listed below into your browser. You can even join their mail list in order to get updates on events and happenings.



Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire
Saturdays, Sundays
and Labor Day Monday
August 11-12 through October 27-28
11:00 AM - 8:00 PM

http://www.parenfaire.com/




Maryland Renaissance Festival
August: 25, 26
September: 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, 30
October: 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21
Open from 10:00am - 7:00pm.
We open rain or shine.
For more information call: 1-800-296-7304.

http://www.rennfest.com/index.shtml

Same Ole, Same Ole, Albero Drivel

The only thing new I have seen about the surplus equipment that Albero is so infatuated with is that he offered less than what was being asked for it. Ask yourself. If you wanted $1000.00 for a piece of equipment you owned, and someone offered half that amount, would you sell it to them? Especially when you could find a suitable and productive use for it within your own scope of operation.

I think the real reason Albero is so besotted has now been exposed. He is having a temper tantrum because he did not get his way. Maybe a time out in the corner with a couple tear towels will sooth his traumatized pride.

I have made my case for the training props and it is a valid one. I shall say no more.

Today in History

The second Atomic Bomb was dropped on Nagasaki Japan on this date in 1945. Death tolls are estimated to be more than 80,000. This second bombing with atomic devices convinces Japan that continuing the war was futile and thus capitulated.

Also on this date in 1974 Richard M. Nixon left the White House aboard Marine 1 to Andrews Air Force Base for a final ride home aboard Air Force 1. Nixon is the only U.S. President ever to resign the office. Later that same day Gerald Ford was sworn in as our 38th President.

Albero plays "I Spy"

Quote from Albero:
“…..Go look at my latest two posts. You're going to be amazed at what just happened at the new Fire Station. That See & Gordy, snagged once again!”

We are supposed to be amazed at what? Amazed because a worker went down in this heat? Amazed because an ambulance was summoned? He must be referring to the equipment being moved on the flatbed trailer.

What part of outdated, old, distressed, useless, un-serviceable, un-repairable, does he not understand? The fire engine and ambulance were basically junk. This entire subject was addressed on July 22nd on this BLOG. Albero apparently has a short memory. What they will be used for now makes them an asset for years to come. Recycling this equipment as a training aid & prop makes a lot more sense than giving it away or selling it for scrap. What do you suppose a simulator cost if bought new? Far more than what is being spent on this transformation I would wager. I know for an absolute fact there is a lot of talent and imagination with in the fire department. That talent will be put to good use transforming this obsolete equipment into new and ever changing challenges for the new and veteran fire fighters. I will bet good money that when it is said and done these training props will be as good as any manufactured anywhere.

What permits were needed to move this equipment. The load is neither too wide or too tall nor too heavy. The photos Albero presented shows the pieces are properly strapped down. Does it require a permit to move this type of freight? The move was far less than a mile and to move it early before traffic became an issue was wise. The time of day does not suggest any wrongdoing.

Albero’s claim if illegality is backed up with absolutely nothing. If Albero is so certain that a law was broken, why doesn’t he cite the section from the Maryland Annotated Code that covers such an infraction? Was a traffic law broken? Is this a DOT violation? Maybe the driver of the truck forgot to use turn signal.

The plans for this to be done have been progressing for months. I doubt seriously if this little operation was even an issue with the council and if it was I am sure it was addressed long before now.

Since when does the city council have the authority to approve or disapprove an engineered project such as brackets used to move or install equipment.
Please, please tell me what is illegal about these brackets.

Maybe the council should make daily treks to the site in order to inspect the mortar used to bond the blocks and bricks.

Why such an emphasis on this being YOUR equipment. Albero makes it sound like something has been taken from the citizens. Look again! It’s not been taken away; it’s just been relocated in order to have legitimate re-birth and life.

Albero Trips Again

So tell us Albero, Where from all over the country did these fire fighters come from and what was their purpose of being at the work session? You have made a bold statement to such but then left us hanging there with no explanation or proof that it happened. From your photos I see 6 people in white uniform shirts and I recognize all of them as being from Salisbury Fire Dept. I know fire fighters, and if there were a reason for them to visit from all over the country concerning this fire station they would have most certainly been in uniform as a show of support.

That’s some real breaking news about absence of Gordy’s wedding band also. I shall certainly lose sleep over that one.

Physical fitness has been encouraged with in the fire and rescue services for quite a while. The existence of an on site facility not only makes it convenient for the members but promotes use of the equipment. I have no idea what a membership would cost at the gym across the street from the new firehouse but I would image even with a significant group discount the cost of 190 annual memberships would go a long way to purchasing and maintaining equipment in the station itself. Remember those memberships would need to be renewed annually. It’s my understanding that a liability issue also arises. It is quite questionable whether workman’s compensation would cover any employee or volunteer if they were somehow injured in a private establishment while working out with a city purchased membership. I am surprised you did not think of that since you are such a self-proclaimed workman’s compensation authority. It seems that the question does not present itself at all if the facility is department owned. Any member would also have 24-7 access to the fitness center in the station. Not so with the private owned gym. New recruits are required to pass a physical agility test. Would a private gym be willing to give up a portion of their establishment for the dept to us for a day, or even a half a day to conduct such tests? I am not 100% sure but it is my belief that the Hazardous Material and special operations teams are also require to pass annual physical tests in order to maintain certification. Again the workman’s compensation issue arises. Will the member be covered if injured during a special operation if he or she cannot provide current valid certification? The answer is a resounding NO! Let’s face this fact as well, not all the members will take advantage of the membership offered from a private gym and that too would be a great waste on money. How many memberships does the facility across the street maintain now? Can they accommodate another 190 members? What is the availability of equipment on the average? Is equipment well maintained? I know of several athletic clubs that have come and gone in this city in recent years. How long will the one across the street last? I hope they have a very long and successful life but the fact remains they could fold tomorrow. Equipment in house is there to stay.

I see no reason to be concerned with the absence of Chiefs Sees voice. His presence speaks volumes enough in that he is giving support to the work done by DC Gordy. DC Gordy is after all the project manager from the department at the direction of Chief See. It’s called delegation Albero. It’s an operational function used by military and para-military organizations to maintain a smooth flow of communication and task completion. It is not by any means passing the buck or shirking responsibility. You obviously never evolved past micro managing 101. This only proves once again you have no knowledge of the administrative or field operations of the Salisbury Fire Dept. Nada!
Your rants from left field are merely a result of casual observation and speculation. The lack of factual information contrives the warped and one sided misinformation you have mastered to present without any semblance of true reporting technique. As I stated before, you should educate yourself in such matters before commenting. Until you do---stay in the shallow end of the pool.

One more note. I was not present at the work session but what I once imagined of you has been confirmed. You can hold your head high in knowing that several people found you to be without a doubt the most annoying individual ever in their presence. With your rude remarks, rambling comments and physical presence obscuring sight and sound you have beyond a doubt made yourself #1 in their book. I leave it to the imagination to determine the appropriate adjective.

New link

I’ve added a new link to list of sites I support. Take a look at "Fire in the Hole Photography” Wayne Barrall and his photographers do an excellent job of getting up close and personal with the Fire Fighters that faithfully serve our communities. Brief story lines and fantastic photos let you know exactly how the incident played out. All of the staff there are fire fighters, which only lends to much better narrative of the events.

The site updates often so be sure to check in frequently.

Willards Vol. Fire Dept Softball Tourny

WILLARDS VOL. FIRE COMPANY 1St ANNUAL EMERGENCY SERVICES SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT
OCTOBER 12TH – 14TH @ THE WILLARDS ATHLETICS COMPLEX.

ENTRY FEE- $200.00/PER TEAM

TO REGISTER OR FOR MORE INFO CONTACT MATT McCORMICK (410)-726-1753, BRANDON WHITE (302)-858-3693, WILLARDS FIRE HOUSE (410)-835-8678 OR EMAIL: WILLARDSFIRE@YAHOO.COM

*ALL PLAYERS MUST BE AFFILIATED W/ SOME TYPE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES DEPARTMENT*

*DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 8TH, 2007*

For Details Contact: MATT McCORMICK (410)-726-1753, BRANDON WHITE (302)-858-3693, WILLARDS FIRE HOUSE (410)-835-8678 OR EMAIL: WILLARDSFIRE@YAHOO.COM

THANK YOU
Matt McCormick

The Optimist and Pessimist

A family had twin boys whose only resemblance to each other
was their looks. If one felt it was too hot, the other
thought it was too cold. If one said the TV was too loud, the
other claimed the volume needed to be turned up. Opposite in
every way, one was an eternal optimist, the other a doom &
gloom pessimist.

Just to see what would happen, on the twins' birthday their
father loaded the pessimist's room with every imaginable toy
and game. The optimist's room he loaded with horse manure.

That night the father passed by the pessimist's room and
found him sitting amid his new gifts crying bitterly.

"Why are you crying?" the father asked.

"Because my friends will be jealous, I'll have to read all
these instructions before I can do anything with this stuff,
I'll constantly need batteries, and my toys will eventually
get broken." answered the pessimist twin.

Passing the optimist twin's room, the father found him
dancing for joy in the pile of manure. "What are you so
happy about?" he asked.

To which his optimist twin replied, "There's got to be a
pony in here somewhere!"

Today in History, August 6th

Today in 1787 delegates to the Constitutional Convention begin debating the first complete draft of the proposed Constitution of the United States. This Historic event took place in Philadelphia PA.

In 1862 the ironclad C.S.S. Arkansas was blown up by it’s own crew near Baton Rouge LA. The Arkansas’s historic tenure was a mere twenty-three days. Because a broken prop shaft left the Arkansas sailing in circles the Commanding Officer elected to scuttle the craft instead of surrendering to Federal forces. The damage the Arkansas created to the U.S. Navy in its short time afloat was substantial. Admiral Farragut of the U.S. Navy was infuriated that a single ship could have wreaked so much damage in so short a time.

In 1890 the first penal execution by electric chair took place.

In 1945 the first atomic bomb was dropped at Hiroshima. The first of only two atomic blasts used to bring an end to WW II.
Its use will forever be debated and it’s use will forever strike fear in the human heart. For a chilling understanding of the atomic blast, tune in to HBO tonight @ 8:00 pm for White Light/Black Rain

Albero pops another cork!

Quote from Albero

"Nothing is etched in stone."

That's completely untrue. The Chief laid down the law and told everyone this is how it is going to be. You're making it sound as if these Volunteers knew what was coming and played a roll in NEGOTIATING such demands.

You are one sided and way off base here, period. Typical politics on the Eastern Shore. Joe, I think you just laid out who you really are and who you stand behind. It's not a Brotherhood. It's a Dictatorship!

How dare you bring in the "Brotherhood" portion in an atempt to make these men and women feel as if they jumped ship because they didn't follow what the higher up are demanding! Very Sad!

I want it VERY well known, I speak only for myself and NOT for ANY single Fire Fighter. This is MY opinion, not theirs.

August 5, 2007 10:44 AM



How dare I bring in the Brotherhood card? First of all Albero you should understand what a brotherhood is before you even think about commenting on such. You feel you are so far above everyone else that the concept of brotherhood is beyond your comprehension.
Next—Chief See did not lay down these rules or mandate this concept in any way. It came from within the volunteer organization at Station 16. There were not any "NEGOTIATIONS" or demands as you suggest. A request was made to a senior line officer and he concieved the idea--period. I suggest you return to The Watch Desk and read Mr. Cotter’s spin on the entire thing. And just so you know, I have never met Mr. Cotter and would not know him if we met face to face.

I have not made anyone feel that they have “jumped ship”. Once again I invite you to re-read some of the posts on The Watch Desk. Some who posted there have talked of leaving the department on their own if this plan is implemented.
The posts I have put up has been nothing more than a clarification of the program in order to possibly prevent that very thing from happening and to encourage participation in refining the platoon idea in order to make it work for all concerned. And let’s not forget the bottom line here. The beneficiaries of a workable system are the citizens to which the department serves. The citizens Albero---you know who I mean? The people you constantly remind us you are working for.

I certainly hope you speak only for yourself. I find it hard to believe that a majority of the Fire Fighters in Salisbury would ever ask you to speak for them. And I believe majority rules.

Your continued rants about the operations of the Salisbury Fire Department prove more and more that you know little of its operations. You should better educate yourself on such before trying to pass judgment.

My information was carefully researched---Yours is hearsay.

Additional Thoughts About S.F.D. Platoons

I would like to comment further on the proposed plan for institution of the platoon system in Salisbury Fire Department. I tried to keep the earlier post as brief as possible while at the same time I tried to present all the pertinent facts to the plan. Reading some remarks on The Watch Desk, I feel I should have included a few other thoughts as they were relayed to me.

That being simply this.
It is well realized that some questions and problems may arise with the shift times proposed. Concessions can be made. The overall goal is to provide as much staffing as possible without creating a hardship on the members of the platoon and at the same time provide a method for each member to maintain his or her good standing. It is not now, nor has it ever been an attempt to separate the wheat from the chaff. No one is trying to drive anyone away. This entire concept was developed to provide a win-win state of affairs for all concerned.
In order for the volunteer corporation to survive as a whole, the integrity of it's rules and bylaws must be preserved. The rule in question here is the 35% attendance obligation by the members. Those that feel the rules do not apply to them merely work to tear down the organization.

Now another question arises. What are the personal goals of the membership in general? Will the members band together in the true fashion of brotherhood, or will each member now consider them selves an independent entity? What was it Abraham Lincoln said? "A House Divided Cannot Stand". Instead of pre-maturely condemning the platoon plan, members should seek to improve the concept and contribute ideas and efforts to it's success. Nothing is etched in stone, but a comprehensive system needs to be in place.

A New Infatuation

Seems that Albero has found a new self-satisfying infatuation. In spite of the fact that several posting by many members of the BLOGOSHERE have cast serious shadows of doubt about the validity of Arbitron ratings and have indeed proven that he uses only the facts and figures he feels are relevant, he has decided that they are indeed now the driving force that gives his life meaning. Poor man. So terribly shallow.

Albero is way off course

Any one that has read the Watch Desk for any amount of time knows it is a den of half-truths, speculation, rumors, and scandal. Not all those that post there are litigious and it is quite easy to recognize those that aren’t by paying attention to the manner in which they present their views. I would venture to say someone new to the site and not of the a fire service background would do well to spend quite a bit time reading and understanding the issues before posting anything or forming opinions. Not so with Albero. He has again taken the word of his mole(s) within the Salisbury Fire Department and has managed to veer so far off course I doubt that a GPS from NASA could get him close to being on track. Not that he ever was anyway. His perspective of the new policy concerning the volunteers is at best clouded. Totally obscured is probably a better analysis. But again, that’s nothing new for Albero

Hearken all who gather here. A brief explanation is in order to understand the system in place for the volunteer firefighters in Salisbury.

In order to remain in good standing with in the department a member is required to maintain a 35% attendance record of meetings, drills and bell alarms. This figure is set by the volunteer organization and not by the administration. Over the years with increase in alarms, more stringent certification requirements, expanded scope of responsibility, and an extended meeting schedule it has become more difficult for members to meet the attendance requirements. It has also become more difficult for employers to release their employees from work to attend alarms or even be sympathetic to the fact that an employee may have spent several hours in the middle of the night serving the citizens. Such is the nature of an ever-growing city.

In the not distant past a new idea was hatched in order to make it easier for the volunteers to garner the 35% required to maintain good standing. That being each volunteer would be given credit for standing by at the station for a given number of hours each month. This gave each member another option to earn credit at his or her convenience. Any combination of meeting, alarms, drills, and hours committed to the station could be used to earn the required percentage. Problems arose with this plan. It was never possible to know for sure what the staffing of a station would be from day to day. Many members may choose the same period of time to be on stand-by. This would result in an over abundance of staff one day and lack of such luxury the next. Although the program is still in use, a better more comprehensive operation was needed.
One that would:
1) Improve staffing for the shifts.
2) Not create a hardship on individual member,
3) Maintain the option of choosing a time to serve.

In order accomplish this a senior officer of the volunteer division was asked to formulate such a plan. He did.

All the changes proposed were made by this senior line officer. The key word here is “proposed”. Chief See did not compose, institute or mandate any change as of yet. He probably never will, rather he will only approve or disapprove of the plan once it is carefully reviewed and presented to the membership.

How does the new plan work? It’s very simple. The current active volunteer force has been divided into 4 platoons. Each of these platoons are designated A, B, C, and D. This matches the battalion designations for the career division. Each platoon is made up of 6 to 8 members. Now—The career shifts work 24 on and 72 off. In other words the shifts work every 4th day. The new plan calls for 1 member of the volunteer platoon to work a shift of 14 hrs (5:00 pm to 7:00 am) each time that the battalion they are assigned to works. Each battalion works an average of 7 days a month. If a volunteer platoon has 6 to 8 members, this means that an each member will only be required to obligate their self at the most 2 shifts a month and more often than not only 1 shift a month. Remember this is a 14-hour shift—not a 24-hour one and it will a time period of their choosing, not the administration.

The goal is to better guarantee staffing on a regular basis when it is needed most. It also improves the member’s opportunity to earn and maintain the percentage required by the volunteer organization to stay in good standing. The members are also offered the ability to choose which of the 7 or 8 nights per month their platoon is obligated to fill. A long term goal, and I am assured this is long term, is that when membership roles increase it will be possible to not only increase staffing of a single engine, but to completely man an additional capitol piece of apparatus.

What this plan does not do. I have been assured that this plan does not in any way limit any volunteer from responding to any alarm that has been sounded. Any attempt to impose such is ludicrous. It does not limit any member from spending additional hours on shift if he or she so desires. Extra staffing is always most welcome.
Any member showing up for an alarm will be given full credit for such regardless if they are "on Shift" or not. It is simply preposterous to think otherwise. Why on earth would anyone deny credit to a volunteer for doing what they are supposed to do? Why don't you take another hard left Albero, you certainly missed the "right" on this one.


So Albero, how about you do some real reporting instead listening to some wannabe that can’t extinguish candle with a deluge gun. (Know what that is?) And your idea of a name change is stellar also. I am sure they will jump on that one and change a few hundred years of tradition across the entire country (and the whole world for that matter) because you say it is a good idea. From what I have read a good idea to you is as foreign as a china man in the Amazon.
Teams belong to sports. Firefighters belong to brotherhoods, or did you forget?

This is a big story not reported by real news organizations? I don’t think so. This is not an earth-shattering event. It is merely a proposed change of policy within the Salisbury Fire Department. It affects no one but its members.

Are Ocean City paramedics making $100,000? Maybe they do with plenty of overtime but certainly not as a base salary. Did See and Gordy screw up with poor management? Not on this issue. It was conceived from within the volunteer leadership. Chief See did not in any way mandate this change.
Lost revenue from fund raising? Why don’t you tell us all you know about the millions of dollars in fund raising done by the Salisbury Fire Department Albero? This should be interesting. By the way Albero, I promise you my source for this information is far more reliable than yours. I did go the horse’s mouth and it wasn’t Chief See or DC Gordy. The horse’s mouth to which I refer is the sole author of this plan. Certainly not a mole that aligned himself with you in order to gain some sort of notoriety by riding on your coattail

Credibility in reporting news

At 1835 hrs this date (know what time that converts to Albero?) it was posted on “The Watch desk” that Chief See had initiated a policy change relating to volunteer obligations and response. At 1955 hrs, a mere 1 hour and 20 minutes later, Albero has deemed this major breaking news.

Granted, as of yet Albero has passed no opinion on the subject but again in typical Albero fashion he has taken one side of the story and run with it. Did he attend the meeting when this policy change was presented? Has he interviewed Chief See to determine the validity of the post? Has he confirmed any thing from anyone except what he has read from another site?

I am certainly not taking sides on this issue myself. I am simply stating that Albero has not provided anything that can be considered as newsworthy or credible at this point. Something he accuses The Daily Times of constantly.

Radio Rating & Uprisings

I wonder how many “functioning brain cells” Albero has if he thinks it’s impossible to read through his smoke on this one. Of course WJWL, a Spanish speaking station has a higher rating than WICO. Spanish speaking competition does not exist and the local Spanish speaking population has no other station to listen to. Also the format of these two stations should be considered. WJWL is listed as “Spanish/misc. WICO is listed as news/talk. No comparison there. Of the three news/talk formats listed, WICO is second. That’s a far cry from Albero’s assessment. I haven’t listened to WJWL but I would guess they play a lot of music as well as having other items of interest directed to the Spanish speaking population.

Albero continues this post with reference to the 14% tax increase and the 10% water increase recently imposed by the city. He believes the citizens should “rise up and revolt”. In what form should this revolt manifest itself? A recall petition? Let history everywhere speak for that one. Traditionally they accomplish little. On the local level the most recent recall petition headed up by Ms. Brenda Cox exemplifies that destiny. Perhaps the citizens should storm the GOB with pitchforks and torches. Burning the city officials at the stake should surely get the attention of the FOBs and the peasants in general.

By no means am I against the efforts to change the status quo if I the citizens feel they have been wronged. I am merely stating that the legal means to do so is limited and is at it's best time consuming and more often than not futile. Even at the very basic level there is also some financial obligation that must be borne by someone. Not everyone is as wealthy as Albero claims to be, and although he is willing to spend lots of moolah to sue every opposing opinion to his, I see no such forthcoming offer to finance any legal moves to change the city government.

As of yet I haven’t found any “Lines to read between”.

I just see wispy smoke and dirty mirrors.

today in History

Today in 1861 the U.S. Congress passed the first Income Tax in order raise revenue for the war now at hand. It has been debated that the future intent was to abolish the tax as soon as the war had been paid for.

I guess we are still paying for those muskets.

Also on this day in 1876 Jack McCall in a saloon in Deadwood South Dakota murdered Wild Bill Hickok. Wild Bill was playing poker at the time and was allegedly holding a black pair of 8’s and a black pair of Aces when he died. A hand known ever since as “The Dead Mans Hand”.

Wild Bill was 39 years old.
McCall was later hanged for the iniquity.

Out Scooped Again!

Back on July 30th Albero posted a picture of graffiti in Salisbury followed by photos of some new sidewalks in Delmar. Reading the captions Albero has insinuated that Delmar is somehow free of the social problems in Salisbury. Hop on over to “Delmar Dustpan” and scroll down through yesterdays post.

It appears that Howard has out scooped Albero in his own back yard!

The link to “Delmar Dustpan” is on the side bar to the left. Howard does a great job with the going ons in Delmar. Albero could take a few lessons from him.

Unwanted immigration is nothing new

The Pope and Ah Peh
About a century or two ago, the Pope decided that all the Chinese
had to leave Italy. Naturally there was a big uproar from the Chinese
community.

So the Pope made a deal. He would have a religious debate with a
member of the Chinese community. If the Chinese win, they could stay. If the
Pope wins, the Chinese would leave.

The Chinese realized that they had no other choice. So they picked
a middle-aged man named Ah Peh to represent them.

Ah Peh asked for one condition to be added to the debate. "To make
it more interesting", he said, "neither side would be allowed to talk".

The Pope agreed. The day of the great debate came. Ah Peh and the
Pope sat opposite each other for a full minute.

Then the Pope raised his hand and showed three fingers. Ah Peh
looked back at him and raised one finger. The Pope waved his fingers in a
circle around his head. Ah Peh pointed to the ground at where he sat.

The Pope pulled out a loaf and a glass of wine. Ah Peh pull out an
apple.

The Pope stood up and said: "I give up. This man is too good. The
Chinese can stay."

An hour later, the cardinals were all around The Pope asking him
what happened?. The Pope said, "first I held up three fingers to
represent the holy trinity. He responded by holding up one finger to remind me
that there was still one God common to both our religions."

"Then I waved my finger around me to show him that God was all
around us."
He responded by pointing to the ground and showing that God was
also right here with us."

"I pulled out the wine and loaf to show that God absolves all sin.
He showed me an apple to remind us of the original sin. He had an
answer for everything.

What could I do?"
Meanwhile, the Chinese community had crowded around Ah Peh. "What
happened?" they asked.

Well," said Ah Peh,
(1) "First he indicated to me that all Chinese had 3
days to get out of here. I replied to him get lost and not one of
us was leaving.

(2) " "Then he pointed that this whole city would be
cleared of Chinese. I showed him that we are staying right here."
"Yes, and then???" asked the crowd.

(3) "I don't know", said Ah Peh, "He took out his
lunch, and I took out mine !!!!!!!!!"

Fire Dept. Softball Tournys

This is one of the many softball tournaments taking place this summer. I have heard that Salisbury & Willards will each a tourny soon. As soon I can get the dates I'll post them for you. Lots of fun for the family here folks. Come on out and cheer for your favorite team and support the men and women that serve us so faithfully.

FRUITLAND VOL. FIRE COMPANY 3RD ANNUAL EMERGENCY SERVICES SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT
AUGUST 17TH – 19TH @ THE FRUITLAND REDMAN’S SOFTBALL COMPLEX.

ENTRY FEE- $200.00/PER TEAM

TO REGISTER OR FOR MORE INFO CONTACT DAVE ELLIOTT FOR DETAILS!!! (410)-726-8994 OR EMAIL: ELLIOTTSTA3@YAHOO.COM

*ALL PLAYERS MUST BE AFFILIATED W/ SOME TYPE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES DEPARTMENT*

*DEADLINE IS AUGUST 3RD, 2007*

For Details Contact: Dave Elliott at 410-726-8994 or Elliottsta3@yahoo.com

Whipping a dead horse---again.

Reporting on new items of interest is news.
Reporting facts is news.
Having a personal vendetta against someone is not.

Albero has expressed his dislike for John Robinson’s radio program many times in the past. Why then must he continually try and defame the man in his endeavors to continue his show? If Albero finds the show boring or dull than why does he continue to listen to it? What is his goal in the constant derogatory posts he places on the show? It is of no interest to rest of us that Albero dislikes the program. Even the newspaper editors limit opinions to a single post. Even the papers Albero likes.