Many people who have only recently discovered this page are surprised to learn that I’ve been doing this for five years. Even though it’s been a lot of work it’s something I’ve always enjoyed even during all those years of obscurity.
Things are different now.
While there’s still plenty to write about, and I had actually already started doing some research for a story I was going to write today, I’m starting to wonder if it’s smart to be so visibly in the way of this thing of theirs.
I mentioned a few weeks ago that I wasn’t going to spend another four years doing this. And I’ve made no secret of the fact that when I think about the future, it’s Hampton Beach, New Hampshire that I think about more than Belmar. Regular readers know that I visit there once or twice a year and every time I go I fall more in love with the place.
Of course I love Belmar too and have no regrets for the twenty-two years I’ve been here and for fighting for what I believe would have been a better future for our town. But I’m seriously starting to question whether it’s worth the worries you understand I must have and whether it’s really my fight anymore.
So I am going to take a few weeks off to see what life is like without writing on the blog every day and then I’ll decide what to do from there.
Thanks for reading and thanks for all the kind words and wonderful comments.
30 Comments
I want to be the first to say thank you. You will be missed.
I agree with you wholeheatly, unfortunately you cannot convince people who have emotional political views to change unless it affects them Personally! Thank you for your time and effort to bring things to light.
I really appreciate your site. You put a lot of hard work into it. When I’m away and can’t be at meeting I love watching the video and getting updates. Rest and I do hope you keep this site. I for one want to thank you for your hard work.
I will miss you, Dave.
Dave thank you for all you have done and for the amount of time and effort and the will you’ve taken to inform Belmar residents and voters of what’s at stake in their town. Sadly not enough people that claim to also love Belmar came out to make a change. To allow an election to be taken over by one establishment with everything to gain is obscene. In just a few minutes I was able to locate some of the challenged voters on social media and could certainly question their residency in Belmar. Very sad… but I don’t blame you for wanting and needing to take a break even if a permanent one. Thank you again for sharing your very ensightful thoughts and knowledge with everyone who wanted to hear it. God Bless.
My friends who have read your blog will miss the access to the information you have provided and the opportunity to express their thoughts and opinions. Hurrah for free speech! It is indeed unfortunate for Belmar that the majority of votes seem to have been for the party, not for the individual, otherwise who could have thoughtfully read what you have provided and still voted as they did for the democrat candidate. It was written somewhere that the people get the leaders they deserve, and in this case, I cry for Belmar. Take a good rest, Dave, but do not let the scoundrels “run you out of town” – yes, you love New Hampshire and wish you well whatever you decide.
*insightful (sorry for the error)
“Say it isn’t so Joe” I can’t help but feel that you’ll be back and ready to go once you see what they are upto in boro hall now that they have won. Remember that we beat them on the NO vote and it took alot of people that cared, those same people should support us if really needed.
I understand where you’re coming from.
If you do decide not to continue we all
Understand why. We hope you miss all of us and will stay. Have a nice vacation.
Worse than you know…
Opinions are one thing, having the information is another. Case in point
even though there are fewer meetings, if you need to read the approved minutes,
you will have to OPRA request them. Going to Belmar.com the last minutes posted are from August 5th. I for one, am researching how to maintain the assemblance of needed information to voters-going forward. Any ideas?
Ted, if you’ll tape the meetings I’ll put them up here. I’ll even loan you my camera.
My audio isn’t good – what was the ordinance that was approved with 2 votes last night?
2014-18, which repealed 2014-01
Well here is a fine example of every thing that might work out of this mess. Who is he going to blame what on now that Jim is gone?
At this point we should all be happy to watch him hang himself. Or which other member of the council will he sacrifice? Love it. This is the best part of all.
I’m heading back to my planet . This earth stinks
Thank you to Admin, for doing the thankless job of running this website. It takes a great deal of work,courage and fortitude to do what you do. Thank you, so much for your daily elucidation as to what’s going on in our Town. Without your hard work many of us, myself included would surely be in the dark. As you stated, Perhaps it is unwise to stick your neck out and be so visible for a majority of residents who don’t appreciate it anyway. If they demand high taxes and corruption, let them have it. Several residents who have had the audacity to question some things, have been threatened. Some you are probably not even aware of. Whether you are red or blue this type of behavior should be condemned by everyone as just plain un-American. There is a lot of money to be made and paid and I don’t think they will tolerate you getting in the way of it.
A few comments — I don;t agree with anything you write, but I will defend to the death your right to share your thoughts, one-sided as I may think they are. Whether in the majority or minority, dialogue is important. As for comment 16, I LOVE when people make accusations and bold statements ANONYMOUSLY. That takes a lot of courage. Comment #13 – Tulip “We should all be happy to watch him hang himself.” I don’t know about you, but when someone I didn;t vote for wins, I don;t want them to fail. I don’t want a President, or Governor, or even a mayor to fail because I didn;t vote for him. I want my town, state and country to THRIVE. I’d be thrilled if someone I didn;t vote for proved me wrong and accomplished things I didn;t think they could. I must be NUTS! You are basically admitting that you would like to keep things from getting better so the Mayor will fail. Wow, you must really love Belmar. And on that topic, as for comment 5 – Cathi. So it’s as simple as that, huh? If we vote for your guy, we love Belmar. If we vote for the other guy, we don’t love Belmar. Do you really how childish that sounds? How do you expect there to be any moving forward and working together when you think people who don’t agree with you don’t love their town? You say “To allow an election to be taken over by one establishment with everything to gain is obscene.” So tell me, if Jim Bean won and Mike won and the rest of the council went Republican the next three years, would THAT be obscene? I’m sure you have some twisted reason why that would be just fine. Maybe more people didn;t vote for Bean because they’ve seen how unprepared and often clueless he appeared at council meetings. You can’t just say “I wanna be Mayor.” You have to demonstrate that you have the knowledge and skills to do the job. The election is over. You can whine and moan about it, or you can move on and try to make it all work.
Thank You Dave for all your time and efforts on behalf of Belmar residents.
Community service at it’s best.
Good Luck in whatever the future may hold for you Karen and family.
There’s little left to say that hasn’t been said. I am a newcomer to the site – having discovered it only after my own personal frustrations after the self-interest, narrow-sightedness and conflicts of interest in Belmar left me frustrated and concerned – with nowhere to turn. It was liberating to find Common Sense and know I hadn’t lost my way … this community I came to call home, had. We haven’t been here 22 years – only since the tremendous turnaround we witnessed Ken Pringle manage while we embraced our little slice of heaven with a small bungalow by the shore. We couldn’t sell our house and move here year-round fast enough. Our haste has cost us dearly – emotionally – and soon, financially. We too have talked about selling. We won’t be seeing you in New Hampshire though as the beach beacons!! Thank you for you unending and passionate commitment. All i can say in closing … is don’t give them your power.
#17- Richard, if you do not believe that this election was won by the efforts of one establishment in town, just watch. See who benefits most from the Mayor being re-elected.
RICHARD DEAKINS…Maybe that person wants Matt to fail because of what he is doing and wants to do.
I can’t believe i’m getting engaged in this sophomoric dialogue but seriously Richard Deakins – this man has poured his heart and soul into the blog for the good of this community for years. If you have nothing nice to say – or are not here to support him right now – go visit Matt Doherty’s Facebook. You’ll have a much better time there and frankly – your comments will be more welcome. As for the rest of you – the election is over – let’s support the Admin shall we? He shared a very personal, emotional post. Not the time for grieving a misplaced election.
People, I just want to say, can we all get along? Can we get along? ~Rodney King
Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. ~Lord Acton
Let us see what happens during the next four years in Belmar.
We need Wards, being a certain element in town is able to control the election process.
just like this little town of 6,000 people.
http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info/parkcouncil/index.cfm
Wow, thanks for finding that!
Look you don’t need to OPRA the minutes.
http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info/speciallegminutes.cfm
So, Annie, this isn’t about dialouge at all, is it? You just want people here who agree with you, right. And you just want people in town who agree with you, right? That’s not the way it works here in America. Sorry.
To 27 – how about living in a town for 66 yrs. and watching what has happened to a small town that has imploded with a way of living that isn’t conducive to the populace and they are forced to accept the spending and life style and can not do anything about it? Someone is making a lot of money on services that tax payers are paying for and are not happy about the just get over it isn’t working any more. Śo please forgive me if I do not accept your rationale.
Now we’re talking. But let’s get specific. What is the “way of living” you are referring to? And what life style are you talking about? What services are you paying for that you’re not happy with? Not generalities. Specifics. Thanks.
Richard. go scratch. Find someone who actually cares what you’re blabbing off about.
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