Page 6 - March 2023 Issue

Should It be Our Goal for doe and her fawn stared back at me from amid the carnage as if
to say, “why?” Why, indeed. What was so important to destroy
Caroline to Someday this habitat? A sturdy chain link fence was erected, to keep the

Look Like That? pesky wildlife away, and a solar farm was planted. Well, now, I
suppose a body could write a book about that there.

by Bryan Gadow The construction crews have been busy, up around Denton.
I suppose one day the tarmac might cover every square inch
between the Choptank River and Watts Creek bridges. On
housands daily pass that nondescript patch Facebook, I read the comments: “when are they going to build
of woods near my home; surely, they pay it a Chick-Fil-A, a Cracker Barrel, an Olive Garden, a Target…”
little mind. Briers and brush tangle with a and on and on. And, I wonder: why, oh why, are these folks
mix of native trees. As I type this, January is here? What of you, dear reader? Was your family here back
about to give way to February and that acreage when Caroline was formed from chunks of Queen Anne and
Tappears particularly brown and lifeless. Could Dorchester? Or did you move here a week ago Thursday? I ask

I really be the only one who knows how special it truly is? you, what keeps you here? Is it our abundance of asphalt? Our
Oh, sure, the squirrel and rabbit are expected, and the tiny plentiful neon? Do you find yourself awake at night, yearning

birds thrashing about among the ground cover. Deer? I’ve for the sound of honking horns? Oh, I sure understand
seen families spend days back there, before moving on. Fox property rights. I most certainly don’t want you telling me

pass through, and once, a flock of turkeys. Osprey and eagle what I can and cannot do with my little slice of the American
enjoy perching on the backside of the property; on a quiet Dream. But, shouldn’t we all have a say in what we wish our
eve I can hear that old owl, but have never laid eyes on its county should look like? Years ago I had the chance to compare
splendor. Opossum, raccoon, groundhog, woodpecker, some two detailed road maps, one from the Green Garden County
snakes. Somewhere out there, even now, is a box turtle bedded and the other Prince Georges. The ratio of “open space” to

down until warmer weather. It’s a blessed day when I catch it development was almost exactly inverse. Should it be our goal
traversing my backyard. to someday look like that? Or, do we put our foot down today,
while we still can, and save this precious place? How about it,
Eight acres of absolute beauty, of God’s creation. Eight acres
woodsman: can’t you spare that tree?
of industrial property, so says the map. And it’s for sale. Ripe
for an excavator. Highway frontage. Progress! Daydreams: I
would purchase it myself, and create a trust. When they lay
me in the ground, it would become a park, named aft er my 21 Annual
st
father. Forever preserved. However, I made myself a promise
that I would never again go into debt. Not enough do I have, Delmarva
I’m afraid, to write out a bounce-proof check, and the friendly
real estate agent let me know, ‘tis all or nothing. So, I guess I Soap Box Derby
won’t be saving it. So, I pray.
for boys and girls from 7-18
My evening walks will often find me passing through
Federalsburg’s Frank Adams Industrial Park. Don’t laugh;
parts of it can be rather tranquil when the day’s hustle and Federalsburg, Saturday, June 3
bustle are through. Not long ago I watched as one of the MD 9 am
wooded parcels was cleared, about the same size as the one
in my neighborhood. What was once dense forest was soon a Practice Day is May 21. So now is the

wasteland. I stood there one afternoon, a tear in my heart, as a time to get your car together! We have
loaner cars available.
Check us out on Facebook at
Delmarva Soap Box Derby

For more information,
Bill & Son Mower Repair call Danny Philllips at
410-829-0788.

410-310-6127 Sponsored by the Preston
Automotive Group and
Federalsburg Vol. Fire Co.
21966 Dover Bridge Rd • Preston, MD

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