I spent nearly 16 years on the east and west coasts working as a journalist. During that time, I was able to work on, manage, design, and coordinate some great publications - check out some below. From Dover, Delaware to Santa Maria, California I’ve had the privilege to provide people the information they need to be a better part of their communities.
Cannabis clashes in Tepusquet provide snapshot of industry issues
From the Lee President's Award Winning Series - Green Rush in the 805?: Cannabis on the Central Coast - Looking at land use, money, science, law enforcement and education issues and cannabis
Logan B. Anderson Dec 27, 2017
Gold Rush in the 805
Part of an award-winning series by the Santa Maria Times
Remote and mountainous with sweeping views and mild temperatures year-round, one Santa Barbara County canyon has become a cannabis battleground, where residents are clashing with growers in a fight to preserve their way of life.
Located southeast of Santa Maria, Tepusquet Canyon is home to a remote community of cattle ranches, wineries and private homes on about 9,000 acres, or roughly 14 square miles. Associated with the communities of Sisquoc and Garey, the combined region is home to about 400 people.
“None of us live out there because we are normal, in the best possible way,” longtime Tepusquet Canyon resident Lil Clary said with a smile. "We like the privacy, the peace and quiet. We like not seeing our neighbors."
Fellow Tepusquet resident Renee O'Neill classifies herself as a country girl living in her version of paradise.
"Our dream has always been to get to a point in our lives that we can afford to live in a place with a lot of land and horses," she said. "We live in God's country."
Tepusquet Canyon is also the current or future home of 20 cannabis cultivators and seven manufacturers who have registered their intentions with county officials to continue or enter into the marijuana business.
Those growers are attracted to the area for many of the same reasons that residents are.
“It is all hundreds of acres of parcels. You know that you can go sit in the middle and not bother anybody,” said Bruce Watkins, a cannabis grower with operations in Tepusquet as well as grows in other parts of the state and the country.
Fellow grower Helios Dayspring, president of House of Holistics Corp., a medical marijuana delivery service in San Luis Obispo County, said the canyon represents his identity: "It's the mountains, it's the beauty -- that's California."
Growers coexist with residents and sharing the canyon has created conflicts — a microcosom of the struggle going on in unincorporated areas across the state.
Residents are concerned about a lack of resources, along with increased traffic and security issues, while cultivators are worried about restrictions on the freedom to grow their businesses where they choose.
Both have reached out to county officials through petitions and public meetings: Canyon residents want the county to restrict cannabis growers from expanding in Tepusquet, while growers want the freedom to do business without restraint.
A committee forms from crises
Though the residents of Tepusquet Canyon value their privacy, many have banded together to help preserve their homes and way of life.
The Tepusquet Crisis Committee was born a few years ago out of an effort to communicate and educate area residents about concerns relating to wildfires in the remote region. The committee was made up of a small group that relayed information and coordinated firefighting efforts.
Last year, however, when state laws relating to the adult use of cannabis changed, the group grew and took on a new mission: to restrict cannabis cultivation in their canyon.
The crisis committee now has more than 40 members, who are easy to pick out in a crowd during public meetings — they all sport purple sun visors with "Tepusquet Crisis Committee" embroidered on the front.
“We aren’t against the cannabis growers. Tepusquet is just not the right place for it,” O’Neill said, adding committee members would oppose any large-scale agricultural operation that wanted to move into the canyon.
Water is a scarce resource in the craggy canyon region, according to residents, who fear their resource will be used up by marijuana farms.
“Some residents' wells failed during the drought,” O’Neill said.
Earlier this year, Santa Barbara County leaders required current and future cannabis cultivators and manufacturers to register their locations, future intentions and inventory, which included their water plans.
Nearly 35 percent of the registered cannabis ventures planned to or currently use a private well for water. Additional wells in places like Tepusquet could feed worries about cannabis cultivators using a lot of water for their operations.
The committee's water worries are matched by their fear of fire.
The La Brea fire, which burned more than 88,000 acres, including parts of Tepusquet Canyon in 2009, is frequently cited as an example of the dangers of marijuana cultivation, as it was determined by county fire investigators that a propane stove at an illegal cannabis plantation sparked the blaze.
Another concern is traffic, specifically large delivery trucks that could create hazards on the narrow, undivided Tepusquet Canyon Road.
Tepusquet Canyon Road, which connects Foxen Canyon Road to Highway 166, twists and turns through the area, while a few steep, unpaved roadways spiderweb through the region, connecting the large parcels of land with the rest of the world.
"We've got traffic coming up and down all day and night," O'Neill said.
Like other communities, Tepusquet Canyon residents also have concerns relating to security, odor and farming practices.
“We’ve always have been concerned over the years that someone will discover Tepusquet and we will wake up one day and it will be built up and there will be houses everywhere,” O’Neill said. “Now, we have the cannabis growers in the canyon.”
Cannabis growers want to bring new life to 'junk land'
In addition to the beauty and size of land parcels in Tepusquet Canyon, the growing conditions for marijuana are right and make good business sense.
The canyon has a microclimate of its own. On the southern end, wind and fog from the ocean work to keep the area cool and humid. The interior of the canyon, shielded from coastal winds, is warmer and drier than other parts of the canyon and the Central Coast region.
During the summer months, temperatures can climb well over 100 degrees in the interior Tepusquet areas.
“If you are looking at it from a business standpoint, it is not only stunning, but we are two and a half hours north of Los Angeles, three and a half south of the Bay area. We have a perfect agriculture microclimate — year-round temperate,” Watkins explained.
Beyond the climate and central location, land prices make the area attractive to cannabis growers.
Local real estate agency Keller Williams Coastal Valley, has a 50-plus acre parcel of land for sale for less than $200,000.
“The land in Tepusquet is cheap because by the county’s own records, it is junk land. It is unusable; they couldn’t consider any use for it,” Watkins said.
Watkins called the area “junk land” because of the terrain and due to its location that is separate from other developed areas, which makes housing and other development projects hard to complete in the area zoned for both agriculture and residential uses.
Watkins asserts that he and other growers in the region are good neighbors, offering as an example the fact that he opened his property to firefighters during this year's Alamo fire, which burned more than 28,000 acres in and around the canyon, in an effort to help. The cause of the Alamo fire is still under investigation.
Watkins believes the Tequsquet Crisis Committee's concerns originate from a fear of change. He said he's reached out to the committee on multiple occasions, offering to discuss their concerns, but hasn't received a response.
“You have to look at this industry as any real estate industry. Just like when someone wants to come in and build a hotel or build a shopping mall, or even build an extension to their house, there is always going to be some people that get upset in the local neighborhood about that,” Watkins said. “I get it. It is fear. They react to what they’ve heard, the rumors. When you leave people to their worst fears, their fears only grow worse.”
Growers in Tepusquet have been lobbying Santa Barbara County leaders not to add any new regulations to the state laws that make cannabis cultivation legal in California.
“We are really good people. We try to hire like-minded, local people and try to do right by everybody. Sometimes you just can’t please everybody,” Dayspring said.
“We are up there because, frankly, no one else can see us. We are not hiding. We are standing up publicly and saying we are up there. We are not hiding from the law. We are just not close to a school,” he added.
Board of Supervisors to settle the battle
As the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors takes up the issues related to managing the expanded use of cannabis in the county, it will have to take a close look at the snapshot that is the battle for the future of the industry in Tepusquet Canyon.
Though state laws and procedures will kick in on Jan. 1, Santa Barbara County's moratorium on new marijuana businesses will last until March, giving the board time to weigh laws dictating how cannabis growers use the land they're on, pay taxes and how much they will pay.
The future of Tepusquet Canyon hangs in the balance.
Groups come together in Santa Maria to protest president's
immigration policies
By Logan B. Anderson
Santa Maria Times
A week after President Donald Trump issued an executive order temporarily banning travel from seven Muslim-majority countries, a large group of protesters gathered in downtown Santa Maria to rally against the 45th president’s policies and stance on immigration.
Chants of, “No ban, no wall,” and “This is what democracy looks like,” could be heard coming from protesters amid the sounds of car horns and shouts of support from vehicles passing by Friday evening in downtown Santa Maria.
The protest, called the Stand Up With Our Muslim Neighbors rally, started in Perlman Park at the northeast corner of the intersection of Broadway and Main streets. The group marched to City Hall and back before continuing their rally back at the park.
The Santa Maria Arab & Muslim Association and the North County Coalition, along with Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE) organized the gathering.
President Trump’s move to block Muslims from entering the country and talks about building a wall between the U.S. and Mexico have sparked protests around the country, including in Santa Maria.
Hasan Murshed, of the Arab & Muslim Association and event organizer, originally wanted to get a group to travel to Los Angeles to join protests there but changed his mind.
“I thought we should show our voice and stand for ourselves here in Santa Maria. I am thankful that we have a wonderful community here in Santa Maria that came together,” Murshed said.
He connected with the other groups and, in less than three days, the event came together.
“Arabs and Muslims in Santa Maria are tired of discrimination and attacks on our communities. We are here to unite with all of the other organizations to fight for injustice. As a community, we should never tolerate the exclusion of any people. We will fight to end hatred. We must stand together to make our communities thrive with openness and a willingness to overcome obstacles together,” Murshed added.
The crowd gathered at Friday evening’s rally was a diverse one. Many people from many different cultures, races, and organizations attended the rally.
“There is a lot of everyone here, which is wonderful,” said Jessie Funes, organizer of a newly formed LGBTQ group in Santa Maria.
“Everyone that is here are people that are Muslim, Arab, undocumented, documented, students, LGBT. Basically, everyone here is against the ban. No ban, no wall and equal rights -- that is the message today,” Funes said.
Connie Ford, of the Democratic Club of Santa Maria Valley and the North County Coalition, was excited to see people and groups coming together.
“We are the court of public opinion. They may have the real court, but we are going to turn the tide. Some of the things are pretty awful and very scary for so many people,” Ford said. “We are at the point where there is no way to be quiet, no way to hide. We need to be 10 feet deep with our arms locked together.”
Kate Adams said she came out Friday evening to support her neighbors.
“We are out here today in support of our Muslim friends and neighbors and against the chaos that got created by the ban that President Trump signed last Friday,” she said.
Patricia Solorio, executive director of the Central Coast Future Leaders, was excited by how many people came to participate in the rally Friday.
“We want to make sure we stand up for one another. You need to understand how powerful this is; this does not happen here. We are so excited to see so many people,” she said.
Scott Baker, whose father is Jewish and whose mother’s family can be traced back to the founding of the country, came out to fight against fascism.
“Tonight, more than anything, I am a Jewish-American whose family escaped Germany; some of them did not. I will be damned if this country that my mother’s family helped to found be turned over to a fascist who wants to ban people because of their religion,” he said.
“Immigrants make America great,” Murshed said.
Logan B. Anderson covers city government in Santa Maria for Lee Central Coast Newspapers. Follow him on Twitter: @LoganBAnderson.
http://santamariatimes.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/groups-come-together-in-santa-maria-to-protest-president-s/article_d8373521-bb51-5f78-854f-3bdd07fae28d.html
Local man wants to die with dignity
Stalled Delaware law could help others in the future
Milford Chronicle
Dec. 23, 2015
By Logan B. Anderson
The Chronicle
MILFORD — Bob Connelly is not afraid to die. Facing the end of a hard-fought battle with cancer, what he can’t bear is dying without dignity.
In February 2014, Mr. Connelly was diagnosed with colon cancer. He and doctors sprang to action immediately and thought they won the fight. But a few months later, they learned the battle wasn’t over and he was going to lose. Now he is fighting for time. With that time, Mr. Connelly wants to restart a conversation in the First State that began in May when Rep. Paul S. Baumbach, D-Newark, introduced HB 150, an act relating to “death with dignity.” HB 150, if enacted, would bring a “physician aid in dying,” option to terminally ill residents of Delaware.
“It started out in my colon. We caught it early. Surgery. Given a diagnosis of cancer free. Four months later it was in my liver. I had some procedures done; they were successful. A week later, it was in my spine and my ribs, hips, my arms. It is in my bones now. It’s going everywhere. It’s going fast,” Mr. Connelly said.
His cancer is now terminal.
“A month ago, they gave me four to six months,” he said. The husband and father, Vietnam veteran and former professional firefighter, plans on beating those odds, “But I don’t know by how much. I don’t know if it is going to go much beyond that.”
It is not an easy fight.
He describes his pain as, “increasing pretty steadily.” “My worst fear is being a skeleton on the couch watching TV. With no sense of dignity. No sense of humanity. I can’t bear that,” Mr. Connelly said. “I have lived too long, and have too good a life to go out like that.”
A few months ago, he learned of Rep. Baumbach’s efforts with HB 150.
“I don’t think this is going to happen fast enough to help me. But I have spent my entire life helping people,” he said.
The reality of HB 150, as it could pertain to Mr. Connelly, is it will not happen in time to help him. After being introduced, Rep. Baumbach’s bill was tabled by the House Health & Human Development Committee.
The bill was never given the chance to be discussed on the House floor or got close to be voted on. Rep. Baumbach’s bill also has no co-sponsors.
“It is a critical issue. I would love to have this option available for people in Bob’s condition as a choice. I recognize that the vast majority of people do not want that choice and it is fine,” Rep. Baumbach told the Milford Chronicle.
“I would like to go out helping people. If I can tell my story and induce more than one representative to take a look at this and consider it, I would be very proud. I am already not afraid of dying. I have had a great life. I have been married to the same woman for 47 years. My kids are great. I am not afraid of dying it’s the process of dying,” he said.
“From a policy perspective, we have a wonderful example which is Oregon. We can see what works best. We can separate the hype. We can really find the reality. The reality is that only two percent of people that pass away in Oregon use it. So 98 percent don’t chose to go that path. Many of those that get the prescription, never take it,” Rep. Baumbach said.
Rep. Baumbach said he feels he put enough safeguards in his bill, using examples like Oregon, to get his legislation passed.
Mr. Connelly agrees, “I have read this bill as carefully as I can read it. I see nothing in here to be afraid of. There are enough safeguards to protect people from themselves.”
According to Rep. Baumbach, Delaware ranked at the bottom in a recent study of how states provide end-of-life care. Though he wants HB150 to be enacted, he is now focusing on improving end-of-life care in Delaware.
“I’ve been working on a second approach, which is working on an End-of-Life Advisory Council. This is something that Maryland has had for a number of years now. It is one that has a broad cross section. It has the medical community, the faith community, the disability community a lot of different stakeholders there. They have helped come up with recommendations that have gone to the governor, the health department and the legislature,” he said.
One area the council can work on is the issue of hospice and palliative care.
“We have pockets in Delaware where we know that is done well but there are vast sections that are not served. One of the things we want to do is make sure that this high level of palliative and hospice care is available throughout the state. It’s probably going to take a lot, fi ve to 10 years,” he said.
He has been working with health officials to create this council and hopes to have it enacted in law by June 30, 2016.
“The End-of-Life Advisory Council is not a backdoor to get a ‘Death with Dignity’ bill passed,” said Rep. Baumbach.
Mr. Connelly’s message to Rep. Baumbach is, “Don’t give up.”
“I expect (HB 150) to be dormant through June 30 and wither on the vine at that point. I do expect to bring it back in January of 2017. I want to keep the conversation going and expanded and hopefully have support expanded,” Rep. Baumbach said.
Mr. Connelly has worked for many years helping people and the community in many ways. He has helped build and guide the Riverfront Theatre and Second Street Players to be a go-to destination in downtown Milford. He and his wife, Rosemary have worked to promote the arts in our area as well. He said his motivation has always been to help others.
“Two years in the Army. Three months in Vietnam, I came back healthy, fortunately. Twenty-five years as a professional firefighter. I realized, just recently, what that means is that I was there to help people minutes after they needed help. I spent my whole life doing that. After that I became a high school teacher. I helped kids learn to take photographs and build their self-esteem,” Mr. Connelly said.
He hopes his story can help this issue move forward somehow.
“I’m stuck with this horrible dilemma of knowing I am going to die. It is going to be a painful death, a crippling death. It is in my spine,” Mr. Connelly said. “That is not death with dignity.”
Note: Unfortunately, Mr. Connelly lost his battle with cancer shortly after this piece was published.
By Logan B. Anderson
Sussex County Profile
Dogfish Head Brewing & Eats opened in Rehoboth Beach in 1995, now more than 20 years later, what started as an idea to brew “off-centered ales for off-centered people,” has turned into an on-point investment here in Sussex County.
Founder and President Sam A. Calagione has taken his plan to bring original beer, food and entertainment to Rehoboth Beach, Del. far and wide.
“Dogfish Head has become more and more successful in large part because of the business climate in Delaware, not in spite of it,” said Mr. Calagione. “From partnering with Delaware’s Division of Tourism to help move forward on a plan to identify Delaware breweries and wineries as tourism destinations, to working with scientists and professors at the University of Delaware to create ‘Delaware Native Ale,’ to having extremely responsive government officials — we are proud to be a Delaware business and proud to send millions of six packs out coast to coast every year. Each six pack bears a map of Coastal Delaware on its base and we invite beer lovers in the cities within a day’s drive to hop in a car or cab (Uber or old school) and follow the map to visit us.”
Adding to its original brewpub, alehouses in Maryland and Virginia, an inn in Lewes, and 20 styles of beer shipped coast-to-coast, Dogfish Head recently announced the opening of a new restaurant, Chesapeake & Maine in Rehoboth, and the launch of a new scratch-made line of spirits.
Dogfish Head started 2016 working to open Chesapeake & Maine at 316 Rehoboth Ave. in downtown Rehoboth Beach. The seafood restaurant inspired by Mr. Calagione’s summers spent in Dogfish Head, Maine and the local connection to the Chesapeake Bay region is scheduled to open its doors in February.
Chesapeake & Maine’s menu will feature a unique take on classic New England dishes like Maine lobster Bolognese as well as items loved by many on Delmarva.
“We’re excited to combine our love for our two favorite maritime regions in the world into one restaurant concept,” Mr. Calagione said.
The new venture will also spotlight Mr. Calagione’s new spirits line also produced in Sussex County.
Dogfish Head Distilling Co. developed in the same place its well-known beers were born.
“We’ve been distilling off-centered spirits on a very small scale out of our Rehoboth brewpub since 2002,” Mr. Calagione said. “As I travel, one request I hear over and over from passionate beer consumers is, ‘When are you going to step up the spirits program and take Dogfish Head’s off-centered approach to a wider audience?’”
Dogfish Head made investments in its Milton-based campus to include two 500-gallon copper stripping stills and a 250-gallon copper vodka column.
The first spirits to pour from the Dogfish Head Distilling Co. are called Analog Vodka, Compelling Gin and Whole Leaf Gin.
Dogfish Head Analog Vodka (80 proof): Made with 100 percent brewers malt and a proprietary “Doggie” yeast, Analog Vodka embodies the core of Dogfish Head’s 20- year commitment to quality and creativity. It’s crisp, with a viscous sweetness of caramelized sugar and malted barley with a cleansing minerality, a sipping vodka for whiskey drinkers.
Dogfish Head Compelling Gin (88 proof): Distilled using the peel and flesh of citrus and a long list of culinary ingredients stolen from the brewpub kitchen, Compelling Gin is bright and citrusy, with a crisp juniper snap and lingering cinnamon warmth, a culinary-inspired gin.
Dogfish Head Whole Leaf Gin (90 proof): Like Dogfish Head’s signature line of continually hopped IPAs, Whole Leaf Gin continually doses whole leaf hops into each step of the gin distillation process. The result is an earthy gin, with a drying coolness, yet bursting with floral hop goodness, the IPA of spirits.
Other spirits including rum and whiskey are on the horizon.
The new spirits line started to hit shelves in November 2015.
“We love doing business in Delaware. That’s why we’ve invested north of 60 million dollars over the last three years in our Sussex County facilities and hired dozens of co-workers in the same period,” said Mr. Calagione.
“We at Dogfish Head are confident Delaware is headed in the right direction and we are inspired by fellow entrepreneurs like Ami Ray who opened The Backyard restaurant in Milton and the Buccini Brothers who invest so much in the future of Wilmington, proving we can each do our part to keep the momentum going and growing. Together, we are heavy,” Mr. Calagione said.
For more information on Dogfish Head visit www.dogfish.com.
By Logan B. Anderson
MILFORD – The Chronicle Sessions is a new project sponsored by milfordchronicle.net, harringtonjournal.com and sussexcountypost.com and their affiliate newspapers, which was created to shine a light on to local artists and into community journalism.
Each “session” we invite a local musician, band, group, performing artists, along with our viewers into our office for a brief conversation and a performance.
The show is shot with one camera and is hosted by Managing Editor Logan B. Anderson.
The Chronicle Sessions is a way for viewers to experience what local reporters do when they interview local performing artists.
For the first session, viewers will meet Hooverville, a classic rock band based in Delaware that has performed in many venues throughout Delmarva.
The band’s name invokes a history that can be felt in their music.
They are made up by Danny Beck, lead guitar and vocals; Al Cook, on bass; James Marquardt, rhythm guitar and vocals and John “Taco” Wroten, on drums.
For more information about the band and its schedule, visit https://www.facebook.com/Hoovervillemusic or e-mail Hoovervilebookings@gmail.com.
Check out the Chronicle Sessions, hear how the band got together and learn the history behind its name plus here some good music performed and filmed in downtown Milford at the newspapers’ office– 37A N. Walnut Street, Milford, De.
Any band, group, musician or other performing artist that wants to be featured in an upcoming episode of the Chronicle Sessions, should e-mail mc@newszap.com.
Managing Editor Logan B. Anderson can be reached at landerson@newszap.com. Follow @LoganBAnderson on Twitter.
Charitable gambling group says thanks
Milford Chronicle
September 28, 2015
By Logan B. Anderson
Milford Chronicle
MILFORD – Nov. 11, 2012 is a day fraternal orders, veterans’ organizations and clubs that supplemented their income with video lottery (slot) machines won’t forget.
That was the day they received notice from the state of Delaware that any “slot machine” like gambling outside of the three recognized casinos in the First State was illegal.
“This was a challenging time,” said Milford Moose Family Center 2316’s Jim Lofland.
It meant potential closure for some clubs in the state but the greater impact was on the charitable giving that combined exceeds $1 million annually throughout the region.
“We went to the state and said you can’t do this. There is no back fill for what we do,” said Russ Hall, veterans’ organizations representative.
The clubs, which includes the Moose, Elks, Eagles, VFWs, American Legions, and others, support their communities in ways many still aren’t aware of. Beyond scholarships and supporting local events and causes, many organizations help needy families and people with everything from home access and food, to utility bills and wheelchairs.
To address the issue the state turned to the Advisory Council on Charitable Gaming (ACCG). The coalition is made up of state officials and representatives of veteran, fraternal and service organizations that employ electric slot machines — called video lottery machines in the First State — to support their operations which include charitable community giving.
After nearly three years of discussions – some of them heated – a compromise was found and charitable gaming has returned to those Delaware organizations. A reporting system was created and much of the money earned is turned over to the state, but at least the revenue stream as returned.
On Sunday at Milford Moose Family Center 2316, members of the coalition invited politicians and others that helped them along the way to say thank you.
Delaware’s Secretary of Finance Tom Cook and Director of the State’s Lottery System Vernon Kirk, along with State Representatives Harvey Kenton and Jack Peterman were on hand to help the group celebrate.
“It opened a lot of eyes to the commitment and effect that you have on your communities,” Sec. Cook said on Sunday at the picnic.
Many of the organizations said they were their own worst enemy because they don’t tell their story as often as they should and many, including some of their own membership, still don’t know what they do to help those in need.
By Logan B. Anderson
MILFORD – During a special meeting Monday evening, June 29, Milford City Council accepted the resignation of City Manager Hans Medlarz, effective July 1.
Mr. Medlarz had only been in the job for a little more than six months.
When asked if there was one thing that led to his resignation, Mr. Medlarz said, “that would be a really unfair statement.”
He continued, “I enjoyed my time here. I think there are great opportunities for the city of Milford. It really takes a unified approach between council and management. I think the mayor will lead us there.”
Milford Mayor Bryan W. Shupe acknowledged that the sudden change in city leadership may be alarming to some residents and city stakeholders.
“I think it is natural for people to be concerned. When you see a top level (person) resigning. What I can say to them is that I’ve seen this happen throughout Milford history. Milford does a good job of picking itself up by the bootstraps. Not only for council, but I think the people of Milford do a great job of giving positive support that is needed. I think the same thing will happen here,” Mayor Shupe said. “We do have a lot of support from our residents, but we do have a lot of support throughout the state that do want to see Milford succeed; and quite frankly need Milford to succeed for Delaware to continue to grow.”
Mayor Shupe also acknowledged the loss the city may feel when Mr. Medlarz leaves his position later this week. Prior to coming to Milford, Mr. Medlarz spent many years working in Kent County Delaware government.
“He did a lot to get our infrastructure on task and see the challenges coming toward us,” he said.
Mayor Shupe said some of the challenges facing the city are related to growth and infrastructure.
In the meantime, Milford Finance Director Jeff Portman will step up to be the interim city manager.
“Jeff Portman is going to take over as city manager. I think he is a great choice. He has had 25 years in the city with finance but also understands what the projects (the city) has, and understands the challenges,” Mayor Shupe said. “In addition to Jeff, it is going to take a concerted effort of everyone in the city.”
The city has already contracted some recruitment firms to fill the vacant position. The city has given the firms three months to find a replacement.
Mayor Shupe said the search will be conducted locally and nationally.
Until then, the city may receive some support from someone that has extensive knowledge of the workings of the city of Milford.“During that period, Mr. Portman asked if former City Manager Richard Carmean would volunteer to help during that time,” Mayor Shupe said.
The Mayor indicated that Mr. Carmean has agreed to help if needed.
“I think the biggest thing to get out there is that we will work with the employees and we will work with the residents to let them know what is going on and keep them informed to let them know that we are moving in a positive direction,” Mayor Shupe said.
When asked about his future plans, Mr. Medlarz said that they would not be in local government.
Community ‘ripped’ apart by pending loss of principal and missing superintendent: Lake board quiet through criticism
The (Harrington) Journal
April 24, 2015
By Logan B. Anderson
HARRINGTON – Though the Lake Forest School Board’s April 23 meeting literally started with cheers, it was mostly filled by jeers directed at the leaders of the Felton-based school district.
Many people from the Lake Forest community came to the meeting seeking answers from the board. They demanded the district leaders share their reasons for not renewing Lake Forest East Elementary School Principal Susan M. Piavis’ contract, they wanted to know where their Superintendent, Dr. Jason Conway, was and to know exactly who was in charge.
The Lake Forest School Board meeting, held at W.T. Chipman Middle School in Harrington, began in the school’s cafeteria with the board recognizing the accomplishments of two middle school student groups; the FFA and the cheerleading squad. Each brought home impressive awards from recent competitions. After the awards were handed out and congratulations given, the cheerleaders showed off their award-winning skills.
The Lake Forest School Board may have been inspired by the energy their cheerleaders showed during the routine because then they went on the move. They got up and went to a room adjacent to the cafeteria, where the meeting started, to continue their agenda.
Danny Aguilar, school board president, recognized that many members of the audience in the cafeteria were there to address the board during the public comment portion of the meeting. He invited those people to stay in the cafeteria because the board planned to come back. About 50 minutes later, they did come back before leaving again.
While in the cafeteria for the second time, the board was questioned about recent personnel decisions. In December, the board voted not to renew Lake Forest East Elementary School Principal Susan M. Piavis’ contract.
“You have ripped this community apart,” Reginald D. Millner, father of a Lake Forest East student, told the board of education Thursday evening. “When I needed someone to talk to Mrs. Piavis was there. If you want to get rid of her for her track record, get rid of her for that. Does somebody have a personal vendetta? That is all I can think of.”
“You are going to go back home and back to your lives, what about our children? What is going to happen to them? What is the reason,” Mr. Millner added.
The board of education left the cafeteria to continue its meeting in a room next door. The audience wishing to address the board was invited to wait until the board returned. Many did.
Janet White, town clerk/treasurer for the town of Frederica, stood and gave her support for Mrs. Piavis saying that the town and the elementary school’s administration had a good working relationship.
A representative of the Frederica Fire Company, a teacher at Lake Forest East, a grandmother of a students there, and a few mothers joined their voices to the chorus of people asking the board for answers about the future of their principal.
“I know this is not going to be an answer that you want to hear, but this is a personnel issue. It is something that we are just not able to speak publicly about. Rest assured, I have lived in Frederica for 20 years. I respect everything that you say,” Board President Aguilar said. “I know you are looking for answers we just can’t discuss the details of it.”
No one stood up to support the board’s decision to not renew Mrs. Piavis’ contract.
Linda Chick, local business leader and supporter of the Lake Forest Community Education Fund, stood to ask where Superintendent Conway was.
“There have been so many rumors around the community. There hasn’t been anything in the newspaper, on the website or Facebook. I hope that there is information forthcoming. It doesn’t look good for the school board for the way this appears this is being conducted or for Dr. Conway. It puts a cloud over everybody. I hope that we will get some answers,” Mrs. Chick said.
Melinda Troutman, mother and member of the Lake Forest East Elementary School’s parent teacher organization, echoed Mrs. Chick’s concern about the district’s apparent lack of communication. She then asked, “Who is in charge.”
Mr. Aguilar replied by explaining that the district communicates with its website – www.lf.k12.de.us – and anyone looking for information about the school board should go to the website and read the minutes of their previous meetings.
He then explained that while Dr. Conway is not around, Christine daCosta, district business manager, was in charge of operations for the district; Dr. Brenda Wynder, curriculum administrator, was in charge of education and that Dr. Tammy Croce, personnel director, was in charge of human resources.
He added that the board would add the administration chart to the district’s website.
After the public comments were done, the board again got up and went back into the room adjacent to the cafeteria. A few of the audience members followed but most went home. When the meeting reconvened, the board continued with its printed and posted agenda which included a report from Mr. Aguilar and Dr. Conway. Mr. Aguilar said he was going to skip his report because, “you have heard enough from me already.” And skipped over Dr. Conway’s report as if it wasn’t on the agenda.
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