As an instrument-rated pilot who frequently lands at Sussex County Airport, I am wondering what impact the U of D turbine could have on radar services there. There is a radio beacon, to use a general term, known as the Waterloo VOR, which is located not too far from the turbine. It is used for instrument approaches into Georgetown in marginal weather. Dover Air Force Base provides the air traffic control and radar services for Georgetown at that point. Obviously anything that would degrade the radar capability or create false returns could be a safety issue, and this should be considered along with the sound generated by the turbine and the other questions that are now being studied. Dover’s comments on any radar problems should be solicited.

I am generally in favor of wind power and other green alternatives, and I think that it is exciting that Lewes and the U of D have the opportunity to play a part in the research and evaluation of wind turbines while the technology is still developing. This letter should not be taken as an expression of any opposition to the turbine but rather as a suggestion that the impact on radar, if any, should be added to the growing list of matters to be researched.
Roger M. Morgenthal
Smigel, Anderson & Sacks LLP
Harrisburg, Pa.

Hastings no friend to manufactured housing
I wish to respond to the previous letters from Greg Hastings, Republican running for the house seat in the 41st District. Mr. Hastings and I have crossed paths before because I am a resident in a manufactured home community. I have seen and heard him address many of the issues relating to those communities. Mr. Hastings appeared at a meeting with the two other candidates running for the 41st District seat back in 2008 and openly admitted he knew very little about manufactured housing. He has never bothered to correct that situation.

He stood up in Legislative Hall the day before that 144th session ended and made some feeble attempt to mention three bills relating to manufactured housing that he wanted to introduce. I was in attendance that day and heard him. I am not a stranger to the legislative process, so I knew full well that this was an attempt to jump on the bandwagon because a bill to allow manufactured homeowners the opportunity to purchase their communities if offered for sale, “The Right of First Offer” bill, HB504, had been passed that session, unanimously. Mr. Hastings was fully aware his “bills” would go nowhere at that point. I must also wonder how he arrived at the formation of said bills, since he never contacted any of the manufactured homeowner associations to get their input. Many of us in these communities were aware that a couple of his bills were very close to bills that Jerry Heisler, an active manufactured home park owner, was running around Legislative Hall trying to promote. Of course, the bills would not have aided manufactured homeowners or helped level the playing field surrounding the issues, as Mr. Heisler knew, and if Greg. Hastings had bothered to investigate, would have also known. But he would be able to say at a later date, See, I tried to help, vote for me. No, Mr. Hastings you have never tried to help.
You were there at a meeting when the committee on manufactured housing met with Rep. Valihura, who proceeded to use a curse word, yell at and berate the elderly representatives who were trying to work on some of the issues that affected their very homes. Rep. Valihura ended up apologizing publicly, but lost his seat anyway. I was in the room that day, also. You watched it happen and never said a word; no Mr. Hastings, you have never tried to help.

You never will, because you believe that the “free market/free enterprise” system allows any property owner the right to do anything he wants to with his land, regardless of who gets hurt in the process. Have you ever read “Takings in Plain English” by Christopher and Richard J. Roddeweig, published in 1994? It is basically a defense that supports landlords and eminent domain situations, but there is a statement in it that reads, “No one has an absolute right to use his land in a way that may harm the public health or welfare or that damages the quality of life of neighboring landowners, or the community as a whole.” Another statement says, “Property owners have a right to a reasonable return or use of their land, but the Constitution does not guarantee the most profitable use.” Perhaps you might think about that. At a ratio of 80 percent profit to 20 percent expenses, these communities have made their landlords very wealthy, and we have no problem with that, but fairness needs to be involved. We are talking about our homes and our lives, and fair is fair or not, in the issues that have developed.  And, no you have never tried to help.  Mr. Hastings you are a political game player but our memories are long (perhaps because of ages) and there are just some things we don’t forget.  You should remember that.
Dorothy Boucher
Lewes

Rehoboth Historical Society thanks everyone
I would like to thank the over 150 people who attended the second annual Rehoboth Beach Museum Watermelon Festival. Clearly, all of the attendees and especially the children thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful day and various activities created to get all of the children, as well as their parents and relatives, involved in a bit of Rehoboth history.

We applaud the generous efforts of Carol Hall and the numerous volunteers who gave their time and creativity to host such a festive occasion. We thank the following businesses for their generosity in donating watermelons and fantastic prizes for the watermelon seed-spitting and watermelon-eating contests: Arena’s, Bonkersville, Browseabout Books, Delaware National Bank, Dolle’s Candy, Food Lion, Fun for All Toys, Funland, Hamel’s Market, Holland Jewelers, Kids Cottage, Nicola Pizza, Lois and Curt Rayner, Rehoboth Toy and Kite, Rustic Acres Farm, Ryans Beach Store, Safeway, Sea Shell Shop, Sign-A-Rama, Snyder’s Candy, Super G and Tomato Sunshine.

Please save the day next year for this wonderful event put on by the Rehoboth Beach Historical Society to promote the Rehoboth Beach Museum. The next time that you are in the city, please take the opportunity to experience the history of Rehoboth at the museum.
Paul Kuhns
president
Rehoboth Beach Historical Society

Thank you from PEO Chapter L
Can you imagine the excitement our sisterhood felt when we sold over 350 tickets to our benefit concert, “Music Man to Madame Butterfly”, held Aug. 7? That evening we sold many tickets at the door. Our concert highlighted tenor Brian Cheney, son of Eileen and Tom Cheney of Lewes, soprano Theresa Eickel, and pianist Catherine Venable, both of New York City. Our PEO sisterhood proudly makes a difference in women’s lives with six philanthropies that include ownership of a two-year women’s college, Cottey College, and five programs that provide higher educational assistance through scholarships, loans and grants. On behalf of PEO Chapter L, thank you to our community for your attendance. You have helped to promote and nurture the focus of our sisterhood, and enabled us to provide many more educational opportunities for women.

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank our venue, Epworth United Methodist Church in Rehoboth, Ed Zygmonski of Impress printing, graphic design and advertising, and all those in the community who were instrumental in assisting us to put on this incredible show. We found the ad we placed in the Cape Gazette ensured our remarkable success. Individual donors may make tax-deductible gifts to the above-mentioned projects or through the P.E.O. Foundation. Further information may be found online at peointernational.org
Deborah Kerchner
president
Chapter L
Lewes

Rehoboth is such a wonderful place
On Aug. 4 my family and I went on a surrey ride through Rehoboth. I had my money in the back of a cigarette case that I put in my pocket. Sometime while we were pedaling it slipped out of my pocket. When I realized it we backtracked but could not find it. The next morning on the off chance it was turned in, I contacted the Rehoboth Police Department. It had been turned in and all of the money was still in it. I would like to thank whomever turned it in. Thank you, thank you, thank you! It had all of the money I had in the world in it and we weren’t leaving for home until Saturday.

I have always believed in the goodness and honesty of people, but this just confirms it. I don’t know the name of the person who turned it in, but you have no idea how much it meant to me. Thanks also to the Rehoboth Police Department for going to such lengths to return my property. They were so kind and professional even though I know they had to be busy with more important things. I love Rehoboth Beach and this goes to show what a wonderful place it is.
Donna Gallagher
Harrisburg, Pa.

Federal retirees’ benefits in jeopardy
What can federal employees and retirees learn from history? Today it appears that we just sit back and expect everything to be given to us. Uncle Sam won’t let us down.

Think back to the late 1970s when Congress decided to save Social Security (SS). What did they do? They decided that federal employees should be covered by SS. They also decided that anyone who previously was covered by the Civil Service Retirement System (federal employees), a similar government retirement plan, should not be entitled to a SS spousal benefit and, if they had earned SS benefits on their own, those benefits should be reduced by up to 60 percent. Therefore, a federal employee, who was not eligible to retire by 1982 lost the major portion of any previously earned SS retirement and eligibility for a spousal benefit. This legislation would have been proper and fair if it had been effective for new employees, but it hit everyone not eligible to retire within five years.

Each year, the president is charged with having a commission compare federal employee salaries with comparable commercial salaries. In the past, the results have always been that federal employee salaries were less by 10 to 20 percent. Now that President Obama has appointed the National Fiscal Responsibility and Reform Commission, the survey being circulated ignores position comparison and simply compares the average government salary to the average non-government salary. The sad part is that our members of Congress are so out of touch with life outside Washington that they believe whatever they are told. When you read so much about government benefits, where do you think the commission will start their task of fiscal responsibility and reform? What will the federal employees and retirees do? Who will look out and speak out for them?
Walt Berwick
past president
Delaware Federation of NARFE Chapters