May 15th, 2012
No Internet, No T.V., Aha!! Yes, to Talk Radio, WGMD 92.7, The Talk of Delmarva, Noise Ordinances, Dewey Beach, Delaware, Ocean City, Maryland
“In 1981, Harry Wilson, proprietor of Dewey Beach Surf and Sport, created and wrote the slogan “Dewey Beach, A Way of Life”. It is a motto for this coastal community known as a playground for the young and the more matured; water sports, beach, bay, restaurants, bars, music venues.
Many will tell you that their experiences in Dewey have been memorable. You live or vacation in Dewey, then you know what to expect.
Are we in jeopardy of not being able to have fun?
Where am I going with this? Not having television or internet until today, at first, I said to my husband; I guess we will have to talk. What a novel idea? And, that’s what we did, besides also reading.
Then, I remembered that my radio was still operable. So, as I turned to talk radio, WGMD 92.7 FM; The Talk of Delmarva. I started paying attention and enjoying myself.
The subject? Noise ordinances for Dewey Beach, Delaware and Ocean City, Maryland.
Besides other ordinances already in place, the town of Dewey Beach is considering lowering the noise decibels from 80 to 70 during the day and from 75 to 60 at night.
Please check www.townofdewey.com.
At 10:00 p.m. is when Dewey starts to wake up. Well, if they do pass this ordinance your washing machine might be just as loud. Listening to music at those decibels…no fun!!
Listeners were calling in, including the man giving the decibels for the washing machine. Another one called to say that a resident complained because his garden hose was making too much noise as he was mixing cement. No mentioned of other noises louder than the garden hose on the same street.
Who are these people? 30 years ago when people moved here, including myself, we loved it for the way it was and still, hopefully, will stay. It is a relaxed atmosphere. It seems that the new influx of residents, are trying to turn these towns to behave and work just like what they left behind.
Ocean City, Maryland
South of the Delaware Beaches, you will find Ocean City, Maryland, already with plenty of ordinances. Their noise ordinances are reaching “higher” levels.
Among noise ordinances, they have added singing and whistling at a distance of 50 feet. Jail time of 3 months and/or $500. What?????
A listener called stating that he was a few years ago on the Ocean City Boardwalk, playing his harmonica. A policeman told him to stop playing it, which he did. Then, he kept on walking and some people asked him to play it. He did. Pretty soon police came; arrested him, spent the night in jail. A month later his case was dismissed.
As he played a bit on the radio last night you could tell why people wanted to listen to him play more.
Please visit http://www.oceancitymd.gov/police/media and scroll down to the noise ordinance.
I had to laugh when a listener mentioned that if you were jailed for whistling and they asked you “what are you here for?” And, you said whistling….scaaaary!!
As another season approaches the Delaware and Maryland Beaches…..all I have to say is “Relax, You Are At The Beach”.
Talk to you later…
Tags: Delaware Beaches, Maryland, Noise ordinances, noise ordinances for Dewey Beach, Noise ordinances for Ocean City, Ocean City, Sussex County
