Category: Leisure

The best stoner movies of all time

By Gary Bennett

The first major studio stoner movie in 1978 featured comedy duo, Cheech & Chong

This article appears in Frederick News-Post’s “72 Hours” entertainment insert, June 29, 2023.

Coming of age in the ’70s, I am embarrassed to admit that the golden age of stoner movies was the ‘90s and early ‘00s. During this modern stone(d) age, they were at their haziest, giggliest, munchiest best.

I guess it figures. We boomers are seen as reliably uptight, spotlight-seeking, job-hogging leeches living high on the government dole. Fair enough. Maybe we thought we were cool back then, but obviously not cool enough to have really good stoner movies.

But we did have Cheech and Chong, the amiable Marx Brothers of weed. They were super-cool, barely able to function, and despite not caring about anything except the next buzz, things always seemed to turn out right for them. Yet, their seminal stoner movie, Up in Smoke (1978) appears only at number eight on my top ten list, not able to supplant any of the top stoner flicks of the ‘90s and ‘00s.

On the other hand, Gen X and Millennials, those turn of the century generations, are universally derided as trophy hoarding, video game playing, chicken nugget eating, mom’s basement living, job hopping, spoiled brats. So, is it any wonder that many of the most popular movies of the day would feature pot-smoking slackers? Of course not!

Of my top ten stoner flicks, only Up in Smoke, Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982), and the granddaddy of them all, Reefer Madness (1936!) were released outside of this pineapple-y “golden” age of stoned-ness.

Even though pot smoking goes back as far as recoded history, it did not become a movement among youth in the U.S. until the jazz era of the ‘20s and ‘30s. Back then, marijuana was considered a dangerous substance, spurring law enforcement officials to push for its ban. Hence, the cautionary documentary-style movie Reefer Madness of 1936.

The counterculture hippies of the ‘60s embraced weed as never before, but it wasn’t until the ‘70s and Up in Smoke that marijuana begin to elbow its way into popular consciousness and Hollywood movies.

Don’t get me wrong. There are some movies like The Wizard of Oz that have nothing to do with marijuana (unless you think Dorothy was tripping instead of suffering from a bump on her head) but are just weird enough to be very entertaining when stoned. Just ask my late 1970s self.

But these movies – my top ten stoner flicks of all time – feature cooler than cool, don’t-give-a-damn characters. Reefer is at its chain smoking finest. It either serves as a central plot device for characters who win in spite of themselves or as an amusing distraction such as with Sean Penn’s classic character Jeff Spicoli in Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

Don’t agree with my list?  Yeah man, well, it’s heavy, but, you know, it is what it is.

10. HALF-BAKED (1998)
Dave Chapelle
This Chapelle-written vehicle captures the whacky antics of stoned friends trying to help another stoned friend who got arrested for killing a police horse by feeding it junk food.
Stoniest line: “Hey, I know this isn’t your responsibility, but mop up the rest of this sh#t and I’ll be right back.”

9. REEFER MADNESS (1936)
Dave O’Brien, Dorothy Short, Lillian Miles
Now days, this cautionary tale of the effects of drug use on America’s youth is hilarious for its earnestness. But not then. Plot focuses on innocent teens being drawn into a “reefer house” and committing a terrible crime while high.
Stoniest line: “This, I understand, can be attributed to marijuana. It causes errors in time and space.”

8. UP IN SMOKE (1978)
Cheech Marin, Tommy Chong
This first studio film aimed at tokers was a runaway hit. Comedy duo Cheech and Chong played lovable stoners who take to the road for wild misadventures including crossing the border in a van made entirely of reefer.
Stoniest line: “Man, if you had a second brain, man, it would die of loneliness.”

7. FRIDAY (1995)
Ice Cube, Chis Tucker
It’s the end of the week and Ice and Chris pass the time on the porch smoking up a heavy haze, philosophizing, avoiding Big Worm and watching the world go by.
Stoniest line: “How in the hell did you get fired on your day off?”

6. HOW HIGH (2001)
Method Man, Redman
The two rap superstars bond after discovering a new crop of weed that makes them geniuses. They go to Harvard but must live by their wits when their stash runs out.
Stoniest line: “How did I fail Women’s Studies? I love bitches!”

5. FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH (1982)
Judge Reinhold, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Sean Penn, Phoebe Cates
This one’s a bit of a stretch because it’s mostly a weed-less tale of teenage life in the California ‘burbs, but Sean Penn’s classic performance of perpetually stoned surfer dude, Jeff Spicoli, makes it more than worth watching as a stoner flick.
Stoniest line: ““All I need are some tasty waves, a cool buzz and I’m fine,” 

4. PINEAPPLE EXPRESS (2008)
James Franco, Seth Rogan
Two buddies get high on a rare type of grass – “pineapple express”, witness a murder and spend the rest of the movie trying to (hilariously) evade the bad guys.
Stoniest line: “It’s, like, the rarest. It’s almost a shame to smoke it. It’s like killing a unicorn. With, like, a bomb.”

3. HAROLD AND KUMAR GO TO WHITE CASTLE (2004)
John Cho, Kal Penn
The two pals go on a totally baked quest for the perfect little burger. Along the way they ride a cheetah and meet up with a surprisingly crude Neil Patrick Harris.
Stoniest line: “It’s a sausage fest in here, bro. Let’s get us some poontang, and then we’ll go to White Castle. . . . The ‘Doogie’ line always works on strippers!”

2. THE BIG LEBOWSKI (1998)
Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi
This comic masterpiece features an iconic performance by Jeff Bridges as the chill, bathrobe-wearing, “Dude.” When he’s not bowling, a soiled carpet throws him into seedy L.A. where he fits in well.
Stoniest line: “I bowl. I drive around. [I have] the occasional acid flashback.”

1. DAZED AND CONFUSED (1993)
Jason London, Mathew McConaughey
This wonderful flick explores the last day of school in 1976 for a group of aimless Texas teens. Marijuana use is rife and plays a central role when the star quarterback bristles at the coach’s “no drugs” pledge.
Stoniest line: “Behind every good man is a woman and that woman is Martha Washington, man, and every day George would come home and she’d have a big, fat bowl waiting for him.”

Honorable Mentions:
Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure (2001), Clueless (1995), Easy Rider (1969), Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998), Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001), Superbad (2007), Super Troopers (2001), Ted (2012), This is the End (2013).

Cast of 1993’s Dazed and Confused

Solstice Playlist: Top 10 Classic Summer Songs

By Gary Bennett

This article appears in Frederick News-Post’s “72 Hours” entertainment magazine, June 11, 2023.

With apologies to Nat King Cole, those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer are here!

So, kick back in the lounger, put on that sunscreen, pour a cold one (lemonade, of course), and warm up your smart speaker. There’s nothing like a good summer song to enhance that lazy, sunny, laid-back feeling you’ve got anyway.

Here are my top 10 classic rock summer songs spanning the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s. Did I miss any of your favorites?

Listen to a few of these and I guarantee you’ll feel great. Enjoy!

10. “WALKING ON SUNSHINE”
Katrina and the Waves, 1983
Tease me if you want but this song represents pure joy for me. Makes me want to skip down the sidewalk with a big ol’ grin on my face!

“I’m walking on sunshine, whoa, oh, and don’t it feel good!”

9. “A SUMMER SONG”
Chad and Jeremy, 1964
A sweet, wistful and melodic song saying goodbye to a summer love.

“And when the rain beats against my window pane, I’ll think of summer days again, and dream of you.”


8. “HERE COMES THE SUN”
The Beatles, 1969
You’ll know this classic after the first few melodic notes from George’s six-string. George Harrison wrote it after a particularly harsh English winter.

“The smiles returning to the faces….., here comes the sun, and I say, it’s alright.”


7. “SUNSHINE ON MY SHOULDERS”
John Denver, 1974
A classic, slow, simple song sung from the heart that contemplates the magic of sunshine and wishes you peace and happiness.

“If I had a day I could give you, I’d give to you a day just like today. Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy.”

6. “BOYS OF SUMMER”
Don Henley, 1984
This Grammy award winner explores aging and losing a past love with a wink toward the national pastime.

“I can tell you, my love for you will still be strong, after the boys of summer have gone.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=672F2t5dVeY

5. “UNDER THE BOARDWALK”
The Drifters, 1964
Such a smooth, iconic and carefree song. It could easily be number one but was a little before my time. I don’t have memories of it popping up on the radio. I know many of you do, though!

“Under the boardwalk, down by the see, yeah, on a blanket with my baby, that’s where I’ll be.”

4. “SUMMER BREEZE”
Seals and Crofts, 1972
The dynamic duo of ’70s weenie-rock scored a big hit with this ode to pure day-to-day happiness in the summer of ’72.

“Summer breeze makes me feel fine, blowin’ like the jasmine in my mind.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsW8rXPcnM0

3. “IN THE SUMMERTIME”
Mungo Jerry, 1970
Has there ever been a goofier, happier, wildly carefree song than this classic from the one-hit wonderful Mungo Jerry?  Extra points for the long sideburns and strange sounds emanating from their musical jug.

“In the summertime, when the weather is hot, you can stretch up and nourish the sun.”


2. “SUMMER IN THE CITY”
Lovin’ Spoonful, 1966
John Sebastian nailed the edgy vibe of a hot and gritty urban landscape complete with spouting fire hydrants and blaring car horns. This one burst out of the radio the summer of ‘66.

“Hot town, summer in the city, back of my neck getting’ dirt and gritty. But at night, it’s a different world.”

1. “HOT FUN IN THE SUMMERTIME”
Sly and the Family Stone, 1969
The essence of cool from a great 7-piece band. The lyrics are strange but the vocals and tune are just amazing. The song meanders along, not in rush, just like the lazy summer days they sing about.

“That’s when I had most of my fun, back, hi, hi, hi, hi there, them summer days, those summer days.”

Honorable Mentions:

Bryan Adams’ “Summer of ’69,” Bananrama’s “Cruel Summer,” Beach Boys’ “Kokomo,” Jimmy Buffett’s “Margaritaville,” Chicago’s “Saturday in the Park,” Cheryl Crow’s “Soak up the Sun,” Ella Fitzgerald’s “Summertime,” Go Gos’ “Vacation,” Kid Rock’s “All Summer Long,” The Kinks’ “Sunny Afternoon,” Otis Redding’s “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay,” Spanky and Our Gang’s “Lazy Day,” War’s “Summer” and Bill Withers’ “Lovely Day.”

Confessions of an “Adopt-a-Road”-er

By Gary Bennett

Succinct analysis from Noccalula Falls Park in Alabama.

This article appears in the June 9, 2023, issue of the Frederick News-Post.

I am a volunteer with Frederick County’s Office of Highway Operations Adopt-a-Road program. I pick up litter on about a mile stretch of Crestwood Blvd. between Ballenger Creek Pike and New Design Road.

It’s one of the best and worst things I’ve ever done. It is undoubtedly a needed function and I’m proud to help. But trash is never-ending and wearing me down.

I don’t do it to be a hero, although many people honk and yell thanks to me as they drive by. I do it because all this trash truly offends me. I hate looking at it so I try to eliminate it. I know it harms the environment and animals and decreases property values. But, I’m almost ashamed to say that it is mostly aesthetics that gets me out on the highway almost every day.  

I also do it for exercise. I know that sounds crazy but my mindset is: “I’m taking daily walks anyway so why not bend over and pick up some trash while I’m at it?” All these ‘bend-overs’ approximate sit ups but accomplish a public good while I’m doing them. You can’t say that about exercising at a gym or in your basement.

Adopt-a-Road Stats

Highway Operations staff tells me that approximately 85 miles of county roads have been adopted. That means volunteers (individuals and teams) have agreed to pick up trash on their adopted roads at least four times per year and report their efforts back to the county. This sounds impressive until you consider that the county maintains over 1,300 miles of roadway. Unfortunately, we’re picking up just a drop in the bucket of the available roadway trash.

If you are so inclined, you may volunteer to adopt a stretch of road in Frederick County by contacting the Department of Highway Operations at 301-600-1564 or by emailing extremely helpful staffers Mike Ramsburg (mramsburg@frederickcountymd.gov) or Casandra Fitzpatrick (cfitzpatrick@frederickcoungtymd.gov). Both can explain the program and help you get started.

There are currently 45 teams in the program which are comprised of hundreds of volunteers. Approximately 70 percent of the teams are civic or neighborhood groups and about 20 percent are religious groups. Ten percent are families or individuals like me.

My experience

Some stretches of road are easier to pick up than others. Judging from what I’ve seen, mine is not so bad.

It helps if your road is close to a residential area. Residents, at least in fairly affluent areas, tend to pick up their own trash or not throw it in the first place. Much of my road is residential but is unfortunately bookended by two strip shopping centers with a Wawa and an Auto Zone along the way. Trash from these establishments is plentiful, to say the least.

I also have several schools nearby.  I’m not blaming all students who walk this stretch. I know many are fine, young people. But I have personally seen some go into Wawa for a drink and candy bar, finish it, and promptly throw their trash on the ground. They don’t even try to hide it. It seems second-nature to them.

When people honk to thank me, I usually don’t pay too much attention. My feeling is I’m going for a walk anyway. Why would I not pick up trash along the way?  Other times I am annoyed because I don’t want thanks, I want help. Or better yet, I want people to stop throwing their trash out. Unfortunately, I am beginning to see most people as potential trash throwers, not thankful citizens.

A few walkers I pass by when picking up trash thank me and claim to do the same thing in their own neighborhoods or in a past locale. I find this sad and funny at the same time because I’ve never, ever seen anyone bend over to pick up any trash they are walking over. Not once.

Why is this? Such a simple act could help so much.

Could it be that there is a sense of futility in picking up litter? After all, as soon as you pick up one batch a new one blows in. I frequently feel this futility.  Could it also be the old elementary school mindset that “I didn’t do it!” Most likely, people just don’t notice trash like I do, or they don’t care. I probably expect too much.

The author by his Adopt-a-Road sign in Frederick.

The psychology of littering

The psychology of littering fascinates me. And why not? I can’t figure out what could possibly motivate us to do such an antisocial thing when it is so easy to do the right thing.

Studies show that some littering is accidental – like the trash that blows out of dumpsters and garbage trucks – but most is indeed intentional.

This fact is stupefying to me. I can think of nothing simpler than bringing my trash home and throwing it in the garbage can where it belongs. It is second nature. I do this not because I am some kind of do-gooder, but because, to me, this is the simple nature of things. At the risk of sounding terribly old-fashioned, I don’t have other people shop for me, clean my house or deliver my food. Those are my jobs. And I sure don’t want other people picking up my trash for me.

According to a report done by Keep America Beautiful, people are more likely to litter when they feel “no sense of ownerships for parks, walkways, beaches, and other public spaces.” This sense of ownership, instead, is found around people’s homes and neighborhoods.

“It seems the reason people litter is not because they think it’s OK,” says Joshua Rottman, assistant professor of psychology at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. “It’s because they think it’s the easy thing to do. It’s a moral hypocrisy. People know it’s wrong, but they do it because it’s easy.”

Who are these trash throwers? (Litterbug is too cute and polite a term)

In the 1980s, the Institute for Applied Research found that people most likely to litter were 18-to 35-year-old males. Not a big surprise, right?

In more recent surveys, this finding was corroborated. Seventy-two percent of people observed in the act of deliberate littering were found to be under the age of 30. Nationally, males were found to be responsible for 72 percent of all intentional littering. 

What could be driving this young male carelessness?

Could it be a youthful disdain for authority?  A not yet fully developed brain?  The lack of consequences for this seemingly minor act of civil disobedience? The inability to trace their actions to eventually harming the environment? A sort of hopelessness to ever being a functioning part of society? Unfortunately, pinpointing the reasons for littering have proved elusive to the research.

Observations

I hate to say this but my findings are iron-clad, largely corroborated by the available research and were developed over several years of picking up trash along my stretch of highway: the lower the economic status of the area, the more trash is strewn about. There is much more trash around apartments than around single-family homes or townhouses in my area. And there’s much more around subsidized housing.

I drive around Frederick quite a bit for my part-time job. Obvious lower-income areas have much more trash than their share. Psychologists have observed that the presence of existing litter was strongly predictive of littering behavior. It’s a vicious circle—if you’re in a place that’s already got a lot of litter, you’re much more likely to litter. That’s one reason I’m out there almost every single day. I hope to make littering stand out and perpetrators feel just a little bit bad.

Of course, before people can throw out their trash, they need trash to throw.

I’ve had my hands on what seems like tons of trash, and I can tell you one of the biggest sources of trash is our old friend McDonald’s. It seems intuitive. The food at McDonald’s is among the cheapest and lowest quality available so of course the folks at the lower ends of the economic spectrum disproportionately get much of their food there and are disproportionately willing to throw the residual trash on the ground.  

In my little area I’ve got two liquor stores nearby and they are the next biggest offenders. Miniature bottles of liquor seem especially made to be thrown out. They are not very visible, consumed quickly and may not be welcome at home in the trash. I’d like to see them outlawed.

I even stopped in at one of the liquor stores on my route to ask if they would be interested in helping me pick up the trash their customers make. They looked at me like I had two heads.

Other major offending items are plastic grocery bags, napkins, fast food bags, soda cups and bottles, beer cans, cigarette packs, water bottles, Slim Jim wrappers (of all things) and candy bar wrappers.  It’s probably not a coincidence that many of these items aren’t good for you.

One person on my route is so brazen they tear up their junk mail with name and address clearly visible and throw it in the median of Crestwood Blvd. in the very same spot every day. Naturally, I’ve called the sheriff’s department on this person many times. Deputies are sympathetic and try to talk with this person, but when they show up at his door, he simply refuses to answer. The deputies tell me there is nothing they can do in that case. I don’t particularly want to get this person in trouble, I just want him to stop.

Another person (or maybe the same one) disposes of a Wawa coffee cup, a Sizzli ™ package, two or three empty snack pie packages, napkins, and get this—a bottle of laxatives—every single day. I’m sympathetic but fearful. This person has some serious problems and may not be around much longer to litter. How do I know it’s the same person? The same items are in the very same spot every day. They must walk to work and gleefully eat and dispose of breakfast packaging along the way.

I do get a little humor out of this.

One time I found a shopping cart along my route so I just started pushing it and throwing my trash in there instead of the kitchen garbage bags I usually carry. I was dressed in my rattiest clothes of course, so I’m sure I must have looked homeless. Wouldn’t you know it that about that time my son drove by and honked. Later, I found out he asked my wife if I was okay.

I suppose I’ve made my corner of the earth a little better. My stretch of highway is in pretty good shape and better than most but never perfect. The truth is, before I started doing this, I was pretty much oblivious to all the trash along the highways. I suppose most people are. Now I am super-sensitive to it and it disgusts me. I guess I’ll keep doing it, but I have to say I’m a bit sorry I ever started this in the first place.

Five Facts about Littering

1. U.S. roadways accumulate over 51 billion pieces of litter per year.

2. There are an estimated 6,729 pieces of litter per roadway mile.

3. On average, there are 152 pieces of litter for every U.S. resident.

4. Litter cleanups cost the U.S. an estimated $11.5 billion annually.

5. The presence of litter in your neighborhood or community lowers property values by 7%.

Source: Roadrunner Recycling, 2022

Litter on Crestwood Blvd. in Frederick

Francis Scott Key’s lasting legacy can be seen everywhere in Frederick County

by Gary Bennett

Francis Scott Key

This article appears in the June 8, 2023, issue of the Frederick News Post’s entertainment insert “72 Hours.”

Can there be any doubt that Frederick is indelibly linked to Francis Scott Key and vice-versa?

He lies in eternal rest at Mount Olivet cemetery in Frederick, was born at Terra Rubra in then-Frederick County (now Carroll County), practiced law in Frederick and was a parishioner at All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Frederick.

Sure, he did his best work in Baltimore on that fateful night in 1812, but you must admit, he plays a decidedly second-fiddle role to Edgar Allen Poe in Charm City. But in Frederick, he’s the man!

Although Key wasn’t around 275 years ago when Frederick County was founded, the upcoming celebrations culminating in the 275th Jubilee on June 10 https://www.frederickcountymd.gov/8454/Frederick-Countys-275th-Jubilee got me thinking about Frederick’s most famous native son and the mark he left.

He didn’t become famous until some years after he penned what become our Star-Spangled Banner so it’s unlikely Frederick could ever have been “Key City.” But we did the next best thing.

I’m not sure he would be altogether pleased, but quite a few things in Frederick are named for our favorite son. My top ten are:

  1. Francis Scott Key Mall
    The mall on the south side of Frederick has seen better days, but it endures. Sears is gone but Macy’s, JC Penney and Dick’s are still around to serve our shopping needs.
  2. Francis Scott Key Hotel
    Now the Francis Scott Key Apartments, this stately hotel was a grand Frederick achievement in its day, operating successfully from 1923 until 1975 on West Patrick Street. It was the place to be.
  3. Francis Scott Key Apartments
    This historic structure and former Francis Scott Key Hotel was purchased from Homewood Retirement Center and completely refurbished in 2002 as elegant apartments in downtown Frederick. I’ve been inside; they are very nice!
  4. Frederick Keys
    Frederick’s very own minor league baseball team began play in 1989 just a long fly ball from where Key is buried. Was there ever any doubt about the Frederick team’s nickname?
  5. Scott Key Center
    This well-respected institution on Rocky Springs Road serves intellectually and developmentally disabled individuals by providing employment opportunities and community involvement.
  6. FSK Post 11
    The American Legion Post on Taney Avenue recently celebrated its 100th anniversary and has been welcoming and serving veterans from all branches of the Armed Forces since 1919.
  7. FSK Lions Club
    This venerable service club recently celebrated its 60th year of service to Frederick. They loan medical equipment, provide vision screening and help feed the hungry. Full disclosure—I’m a proud member.
  8. Key 103
    Our community radio station with the call letters WAFY plays top-40 music and supports Frederick with contests, events, and charitable donations. If only they aired the Orioles!
  9. Key Parkway
    This Frederick thoroughfare parallels the Golden Mile and provides a respite from all the traffic signals and retail establishments. It goes on for miles and serves several Frederick neighborhoods.
  10. Francis Scott Key Drive
    This winding commercial thoroughfare just south of Frederick’s downtown area features Enterprise Rent-a-Car, Econo Lodge, Sheetz, car dealerships and other small businesses.

Plenty of Frederick-area businesses have also attached themselves to Key.

They are, in no particular order: Key City Tattoo, Key Pilates, Key City Foundation, FSK Audi Lincoln Mercury, FSK Beauty and Wig Supply, Key Elements Counseling, Key Courrier, Key Environmental, Key Financial Group, Key Maritime, Key Neurology, Key Solar, Key Me, Key Visual Solutions and Key Pest Control.

Special mention goes to Keymar, MD and Francis Scott Key High School in Union Bridge, MD.  Did I miss any of your favorites?

Keyote, mascot of the Frederick Keys

Best boat ride in America: Ferrying Delaware Bay

By Gary Bennett

Cape May/Lewes Ferry maneuvering into port.

This article appears in the May 11, 2023, edition of the Frederick News Post’s “72 Hours” insert.

If you are looking for a fun weekend excursion that combines small town strolling with an “ocean” cruise to get you there, you can do no better than booking a ride on the Cape May/Lewes Ferry across Delaware Bay and exploring the charming, historic town of Cape May, New Jersey.

Technically, you won’t be cruising on the ocean, but you’ll be very close. Your route across Delaware Bay borders the Atlantic Ocean but in the more protected waters of the bay and closer to shore. Cruising on a smaller vessel across calmer waters provides several advantages. 

Advantages of small-scale cruising

You’ll get the same sense of carefree, wind-in-your hair adventure but without the multi-day or week-long time commitment that an Atlantic Ocean cruise up or down the East coast will cost you. You’ll get the same sense of wonder and personal insignificance (a good thing) that comes when you can see nothing but water. You’ll have smaller crowds and a lack of scheduled activities that so many of us crave. You’ll definitely feel like you’re not missing anything.

These are just a few of the reasons the Cape May/Lewes Ferry has earned its reputation as the “best boat ride in America.” This is a phrase they proudly use in their branding, and I believe it.

As an added bonus, you’ll also be able to take your car along for the trip!

There will be no need for expensive air fares or rental cars before or after this cruise. The Cape May/Lewes Ferry is an essential route from Virginia, Maryland and points South up the East coast to New York and New England. Thousands of workers and day-trippers use the ferry every day on one of its many roundtrips. It beats I-95 and the New Jersey Turnpike by a country mile. I’ll never take either of these clogged routes again to New York City or beyond.

About the ferry

The Cape May/Lewes Ferry is actually three ferries that take passengers and their vehicles (if they wish) from the village of Lewes, Delaware at the mouth of Delaware Bay to the town of Cape May, New Jersey on that little peninsula that sticks out like a human appendix on the southern shore of New Jersey. And back again, of course.

Reservations are required. I recommend making them months in advance. The ferry is very popular but it does run about 10 round trips from sun up to sun down every single day. Prices can vary depending on the season and your type of vehicle, but the average price is around $50-$60 for a round trip. There are modest discounts for seniors, children, AAA members, the military and first responders. Well behaved pets are allowed, too.

You can book your tickets and gather more information at https://www.cmlf.com/.

My wife and I have taken this cruise a few times, and each time has been absolutely delightful. Of course, it helps if you can cruise during the summer months so you can stand outside, do your best hands-free pose on the Titanic bow, Jack and Rose style, and feel the cooling ocean and bay breezes rushing by. From this vantage point, the sense of speed and covering huge chunks of territory is quite palpable.

The cruise across Delaware Bay itself takes only about an hour and a half to cover the 17 or so nautical miles from terminal to terminal, pending bay conditions. But you also need to figure in the time it takes to get to the terminal and waiting for your ship to come in, so to speak.

From Frederick, the departure terminal at Lewes, Delaware is a pleasant three-hour car ride, across the Chesapeake Bay and along the flat lands of Maryland’s Eastern shore and Delaware to Lewes. You literally can’t miss Lewes unless you drive your car into the bay. (If you do, you’ve gone too far.)

Boarding

Once you get to the terminal in Lewes, you’ll be glad to know they have the boarding process down to a science.

Nevertheless, I recommend you get to the terminal an hour or so before your appointed departure time so you can prepare to board and enjoy the many amenities. Be sure to watch a ferry or two come in to get a feel for the choreography. It helps to build anticipation too! The terminals in Cape May and Lewes are both charming and functional, complete with restaurants, gift shops, historical information, play areas for the kids, pleasant walking areas, occasional outdoor entertainment and wonderful breezes.

The ferry terminal at Cape May is imposing but you’ll have no trouble.

First, you’ll drive up to the toll booth, present your reservation and be issued a ticket. Then you’ll be directed to the staging area where you’ll queue up in numbered lanes according to your arrival time and other factors such as vehicle size. Next, you can depart your vehicle and enjoy the amenities or stay with your car. I highly recommend you leave your vehicle behind and head for the terminal for all the fun.

Finally, about 20 minutes prior to boarding, you’ll be called back to your vehicle to prepare to board. Once on the ferry, you’ll be directed to park “nose to tail” with other vehicles on the lower deck, depart your vehicle and head upstairs to enjoy your cruise.

Size doesn’t matter

Don’t worry about the size of your vehicle. The ferry can accommodate vehicles as large as RVs, tour buses and even large tractor trailers carrying interstate cargo. Your heavy-duty pick-up or plus-size SUV will only engender yawns from the helpful staff. Bikes and motorcycles are welcome, too.

Having your vehicle along is handy if you plan to venture up to Atlantic City for gambling or a show or points further North, but it’s not necessary. The ferry drops you off just a short walk from historic Cape May along the Cape May Canal. Shuttles are also available.

During our last trip, we headed up to Atlantic City to see Boz Scaggs in concert for my wife’s birthday, but we saw many folks with just their bicycles along for cycling around Cape May, and many others who had nothing with them but their smiles. They obviously planned to walk around Cape May and return to Lewes on a later cruise. We even saw some unaccompanied teenagers dressed for a day at the beach.

On the ferry

On board, you will enjoy snacks and light fare from the grab and go areas and beer, wine, cocktails and soft drinks from the outdoor Lido bars.

Numerous first-come, first-served indoor and outdoor seating options abound, but I highly recommend standing for your hour and a half voyage outside, (if you can and weather-permitting) so you can easily move around the vessel to enjoy different sightseeing vantage points. You’ll enjoy spotting far away lighthouses, picturesque harbors, bobbing buoys, strange-looking seabirds, and humongous ocean-going vessels.

Ellen Bennett enjoying ocean spay and bay breezes.

If you’re lucky you might even spot dolphins or whales playing in the sun or the ominous fin of a shark protruding from the water. The vessels are safe and smooth-sailing, but you’ll still want to hold onto the railings as you cut swiftly through the water.

Cape May

Cape May, New Jersey is known for its stunning homes that go back to the Victorian era, charming, walkable streets and pristine beaches on Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. It has the distinction of being the oldest seaside resort in America. Be sure to visit the Cape May Lighthouse and the World War II Lookout Tower on Cape May Point and the Fisherman’s Memorial on Cape May Harbor.

Lewes

Lewes, Delaware is a small but growing town that was one of the earliest founded towns in America.  It is home to amazing views of the Atlantic Ocean and numerous waterfront dining establishment. It is well worth getting up early to watch the sun come up in the East over the Atlantic.

Neil Berg and his merry band of performers revive the psychedelic ’60s for a night

By Gary Bennett

Neil Berg and his Broadway cast

This article appears in the April 20, 2023, edition of Frederick News-Post’s “72 Hours” magazine.

Relive the powerhouse music that shaped a generation with Neil Berg’s The 60’s: Peace, Love & Rock N’ Roll, rolling into Frederick’s Weinberg Center on April 21 at 8:00 pm. Tickets are still available.

Composer/producer/arranger/musician Neil Berg returns to Frederick with his new production that takes us on a musical trip to the stormy, counterculture 60’s. Berg and his talented troupe of musicians last wowed Frederick audiences in October 2021 with his show 50 Years of Rock N’ Roll.

In this new production, Berg recounts the 60’s through music and stories, culminating with a celebration of the historic Woodstock concert in 1969. If you didn’t make it to Woodstock like me (I was only 12) but remember all the wonderful music wafting down the hall from your big sister’s jukebox, you’ll not want to miss this rollicking evening.

Berg is privy to many behind-the-scenes stories from Woodstock due to his personal friendship with Michael Lang, the original organizer and producer of the iconic event.  

“Michael brought me into his New York City office about 15 years ago to discuss the possibility of writing a Broadway musical about Woodstock—stories about unknown artists like Bert Sommer, who was in the Broadway musical Hair, and who was a solo artist at Woodstock and got the first standing ovation.”

That idea morphed into The 60’s: Peace, Love & Rock N’ Roll when Berg realized there are many more stories to tell and music to play that had nothing to do with Woodstock. Berg is not shy about sharing these tales.

Berg promises we’ll hear the story of Joni Mitchell’s song Woodstock, and her relationship to Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, who were famously playing only their second concert ever in public. We’ll learn about the famous bands that were invited to play, but did not. We’ll hear about Carlos Santana playing his entire Woodstock set tripping on LSD given to him by Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead.

And don’t forget the music! Berg and his merry band of Broadway performers will cover the music of Woodstock acts Richie Havens, Country Joe McDonald, The Band, Canned Heat, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Jefferson Airplane, Santana, Sly and the Family Stone, The Who, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Joe Cocker.  (Lineup is subject to change.)

A who’s who of 60’s rockers who did not perform at Woodstock will be covered too: Bob Dylan, Four Seasons, Beach Boys, Beatles, Rolling Stones, James Brown, Tom Jones, Aretha Franklin, Monkees, Neil Diamond, Cream, Mamas and the Papas, Otis Redding, Doors, Shirelles, Tina Turner, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Led Zeppelin and more.

For everyone who wanted to be at Woodstock but wasn’t, The 60’s: Peace, Love and Rock N’ Roll will make you feel like you are there.

Legendary band Three Dog Night at the Weinberg Center

By Gary Bennett

Three Dog Night

This article appears in the Frederick News Post’s “72 Hours” magazine, April 13, 2023.

Frederick welcomes another icon of ‘70s classic rock to the Weinberg Center when Three Dog Night visits on Sunday, April 16 at 6 pm. Along with recent visits from Gordon Lightfoot, The Temptations, Spinners and America, an evening of music from Three Dog Night promises to take we aging baby boomers back to our teens and 20s. Tickets are still available at https://weinbergcenter.org/.

Thinking back to the ‘70s, it seems that Three Dog Night was always on the radio. Their music didn’t have the hard-diving focus of other ‘70s rock bands like The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Black Sabbath or even Kiss. And they sure didn’t have the thoughtful lyrics and musicality of The Eagles, The Who, Chicago or Queen. They fit somewhere in the pleasant middle with other pop-oriented bands like The Guess Who and Doobie Brothers.

They were certainly commercially successful. From 1969 to 1974 they racked up 21 Billboard top 40 hits including three number ones. No other group was as successful during that span. If you came of age in the ‘70s and listened to the radio at all, chances are very good you will recognize most of Three Dog Night’s hits. Among the favorites sure to be played on April 16 are the three number ones: Mama Told Me Not to Come (#1 in 1970), Joy to the World (#1 in 1971) and Black and White (#1 in 1972). 

Mama Told Me Not to Come tells the funny story of the strangest party “there could ever be.” Joy to the World is a simple song espousing the pure joy of being alive. It is known for its strange opening line “Jeremiah was a bullfrog.” Black and White is a socially-responsible song celebrating the end of racial segregation in schools.

Other top hits include my personal favorite Shambala (#3 in 1973), which uses a solid groove to tell the story of a mystical place where love and kindness abound, The Show Must Go On (#3 in 1974), An Old Fashioned Love Song (#4 in 1971), Easy to be Hard (#4 in 1969), One (#5 in 1969), Never Been to Spain (#5 in 1971), Liar (#7 in 1971) and Eli’s Coming (#10 in 1969).

One of the main appeals of Three Dog Night is that each of their songs sound so different. This is because, like the Beatles before them, they decided to feature all three lead singers pretty much equally among their songs. Lead singers Danny Hutton, Chuck Negron and Cory Wells (also the founders of Three Dog Night) had three very different voices and singing styles. Today, only Hutton remains. In 1985, Negron suffered a relapse into drug addiction and was fired from the group. Wells died in 2015 at age 74.  

Unlike most of the rock bands of the ‘70s, Three Dog Night did not write their own songs. They left that work to others. This was not unusual in the music business prior to the arrival of the Beatles in the ‘60s. Instead, Three Dog Night became masters at picking out songs that were right for them and commercially appealing. They were responsible for introducing the world to many up and coming songwriters that are well known today: Randy Newman (Mama Told Me Not to Come), Paul Williams (An Old Fashioned Love Song), and Hoyt Axton (Joy to the World, Never Been to Spain).

There has always been some controversy on what Three Dog Night’s name actually means. Some believe Danny Hutton’s girlfriend suggested the name after reading about aboriginal Australians who on particularly cold nights slept with three dogs to keep warm instead of one or two. An arranger at Warner Brothers disputes this and says he came up with the name. Either way, the phrase has become part of the American lexicon to describe an especially cold night.

Hopefully, Danny Hutton will clear this up once and for all when he visits Frederick on April 6.

Cuddle Up for Some Rainy Day Songs

By Gary Bennett

This article appears in the Frederick News Post’s 72 Hours magazine, April 13, 2023.

I love a rainy day, and just like Eddie Rabbitt, a rainy night even more. April showers that gently tap, tap, tap on your window pane is one of the great joys in life, and like most things, music makes it even better.

Here are my top 10 classic rainy-day songs that are sure to brighten your day, figuratively speaking, of course. Rain is a handy metaphor for lost love, hard times, and every now and then, surprising happiness.  These songs don’t disappoint.

Can you add to this list?      

10. Here Comes the Rain Again                             Eurythmics

Poppy, syncopated and wistful.  Extra points for the beginning that brings to mind actual raindrops. 

“Falling on my head like a memory, falling on my head like a new emotion.”

9. I Made It Through the Rain                                Barry Manilow

The king of syrupy pop writes movingly about tough times and how to overcome them.

“And found myself respected, by the others who, got rained on too, and made it through.”

8. Who’ll Stop the Rain                                            CCR

First of two Credence Clearwater Revival classics about rain.  How’d they do that? A true rocker with a cool groove.

“Long as I remember, rain been coming down, clouds of mystery pouring, confusion on the ground.”

7. It Never Rains in Southern California               Albert Hammond

Achingly sad song about making a devastatingly poor life choice.

“Got onboard a westbound 747, didn’t think before deciding what to. Don’t tell ‘em how you found me, don’t tell ‘em how you found me, give me a break, give me a break.”

6. I Wish It Would Rain Down                                Phil Collins

A slow, moody and beautiful song about lost love that’s never coming back with the painful knowledge that you caused it.

“You said you didn’t need me in your life, I guess you were right.”

5. Rain                                                                         Beatles

A cooler-than-you, slow jam love letter to actual precipitation by the greatest band of all time. Extra points for being an actual Beatles music video!

“I can show you, when it starts to rain, everything’s the same, I can show you.”

4. Rhythm of the Rain                                              Cascades

A 60’s classic about lost love that starts with a bang — a thunderclap and actual rain. A happy tune that belies the subject.

“Listen to the rhythm of the falling rain, telling me just what a fool I’ve been.”

3. Rainy Days and Mondays                          Carpenters

This quintessentially sad rainy-day song is a painful cry for help from such a beautiful voice.

“What I’ve got they used to call the blues, nothing is really wrong, feeling like I don’t belong, walking around, some kind of lonely clown.”

  • 2. Have You Ever Seen the Rain                  CCR

A cosmic metaphor for things that aren’t quite what they seem.  Classic guitar work with John Fogarty lending his unmistakable whiskey-rock voice.

“Someone told me long ago, there’s a calm before the storm, I know, it’s been coming for some time.”

  1. Rainy Night in Georgia                              Brook Benton

This obscure artist hit it out of the park in 1970 with this hauntingly beautiful, soulful ballad about nothing going right.  The best rainy-day song ever, IMHO!

“Hoverin’ by my suitcase, trying to find a warm place to spend the night, heavy rain fallin’, seems I hear your voice callin’, and I think it’s raining all over the world.”

Honorable Mention

Singing in the Rain                                          Gene Kelly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swloMVFALXw

Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head           BJ Thomas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sySlY1XKlhM

I Love a Rainy Night                                        Eddie Rabbitt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MG0e8_foDmU

Early Morning Rain                                         Gordon Lightfoot
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pqttl9aWm0

Rainy Day People                                            Gordon Lightfoot
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2Sb1gtzmsc

Alabama Rain                                                  Jim Croce
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kio002YGGUE

Mandolin Rain                                                 Bruce Hornsby
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDgOwX72fLI

The Rain, the Park and Other Things          Cowsills
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCqg-vhiBAc

Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again          Fortunes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aO1LbkuPfqo

Another Rainy Day in New York City Chicago
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZPO8MMW0_A

Riders on the Storm                                       Doors
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJZTgynPGT8

Stormy                                                              Classics IV
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18Sua_QTDs0

Lightnin’ Strikes                                              Lou Christie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyRqdzF8swY

When it’s time for the driving talk

By Gary Bennett

Taking the keys from an older loved one can come at any time.

This article appears in the April 2023 edition of “Prime Time” in the Frederick News Post

My father-in-law thought he was a pretty good driver. After all, he’d been on the road for over 60 years. Well into his 80s, Pop chugged off from Cumberland every Monday morning to volunteer at a Baptist church camp on South Mountain in Frederick County. Sure, there were some minor fender benders along the way and few other close calls, but nothing serious.

Then one day he had a very serious accident near Boonsboro that injured him and totaled two cars. Thankfully the other driver was not badly hurt. No one was found at fault because witnesses provided differing accounts. After a lengthy hospital stay and some rehab, we came to learn that Pop was having difficulty turning his head to check blind spots. His slowing reflexes also made it difficult to react to changing traffic conditions and to move his foot from accelerator to brake quickly.

Even after all this, he was determined to return to the road, and he did, for a time. Much to our surprise, no authorities like the police, MVA or insurance company came for his keys. His daughters tried to talk him into giving up driving voluntarily, but he would not hear of it. Pop lived in a rural area with family far away and little to no public transportation options. Fiercely independent, he couldn’t imagine life without a car or asking neighbors for help.

Increasingly worried for his and others’ safety and unable to sway him, the daughters did what loving children do all over the country every day—they simply took away his keys.

In retrospect, this was not the thing to do. He was mad as a hornet, uncharacteristically so, and surprisingly resourceful. Pop simply got a ride to the dealership with title in hand and got another set of keys made. He continued driving but now with a mistrust of family that I’m not sure ever completely healed.

Our story is not unique. This scenario plays out across the country every day. For families everywhere, when to prevent an aging loved one from driving and possibly injuring themselves or others is a vexing issue.

For older adults, giving up the car keys means giving up independence and freedom of movement. They can no longer run to the hardware store on a whim or to that favorite restaurant for a quick bite. In their minds, they become beholden to others. They might become socially isolated. No one wants that for a loved one.  

For my father-in-law, the answer came in the form of a hired companion and helper who was willing to take him where he wanted to go, when he wanted to go there. It helped that he liked this person and that she was doing her job, not doling out charity. It also helped that this gentle, giving man came to see that he could now donate his car to a someone more in need than him.

Of course, not every far-away family has the resources to hire a companion for their elderly loved one. That is why it is imperative to look for driving danger signs, research the alternative resources available and plan to have “the talk” long before it is needed.

Older Driver Danger Signs

First, ask neighbors if they have witnessed any issues with your loved one’s driving. Many scrapes and bumps can come from parking in one’s own driveway or garage.

Next, check for any driving citations or insurance notices that may have come in the mail.

Also be sure to check the car over every time you visit for new bumps, dents and scratches.

Above all, if possible, take a ride with your loved one to see for yourself how they drive.

  • Do they seem tentative or anxious, especially at night or in the rain?
  • Are they able to go the speed limit and not too fast or slow?
  • Do they make sudden turns or lane shifts?
  • Are they seeing and following road signs?
  • Do they forget where they are going or take a long and circuitous route getting there? 
  • Do they have trouble turning their head or lifting their feet?
  • Can they stay in their lane?
  • Are they leaving ample space between themselves and other cars?
  • Do they have trouble with straight-in parking?

If you witness some of these actions on the same trip or one or two over many trips, it may be time for the talk.

Planning for the “Talk”

Even if your loved one is driving well right now, it doesn’t hurt to do your research and make plans for when they aren’t. If you’re one of the lucky ones, your loved one may give up driving on their own, especially after an accident or near miss. But, if you’re like most of us, you’ll have to make a strong but compassionate case for them to give up driving. It also doesn’t hurt to present some attractive options to take its place.

  • Introduce the driving conversation gradually over time so your loved one knows it is a concern.
  • Avoid confrontation and be positive and supportive. Try to find a solution together.
  • Gently remind them other drivers’ well-being and safety is at stake, not just your loved one’s.
  • Learn about your loved one’s overall transportation needs. You may be surprised to find that their use of the car is minor and manageable.
  • Remind your loved one how expensive it is to keep a car, and without it, how all that saved money can be used for other transportation options.
  • Understand the available community resources. Even if public transportation is scarce, there could be non-profits and religious or community organizations that will transport your loved one free of charge or for a nominal cost you could pay ahead of time.
  • Check with loved one’s friends, neighbors and colleagues to see if they would be willing to help or know of someone who could.
  • Check with the local senior services agency for no- and low-cost options.
  • If resources allow, hire a helper who can also be a driver. This doesn’t have to be an all-day thing. This person could come for just a few hours a day to help with appointments and errands.
  • Help your loved one learn to use a ridesharing app or how to call a cab.
  • Take advantage of drug, meal and grocery delivery.

Self-awareness is Key

If your loved one is still a decent driver and they are willing, you can help them take steps to minimize risks and improve their driving.

  • Ensure they have regular check-ups to test sight, hearing, muscle flexibility and mental acuity—all things needed for safe driving.
  • Remind them they shouldn’t drive if their medicine warns about operating heavy machinery.
  • Have them avoid driving at night or in bad weather if that is an issue.
  • Ask them to drive in the right lane at all times unless preparing to turn left.
  • Emphasize they should be able to drive the legal speed limit and avoid going too fast or too slow.
  • Make sure they know where they are going and their preferred route to get there before they head out.
  • Ask them to be a persistent, unapologetic turn signal user. This easy but underutilized act lets other drivers know their intentions.
  • Ask them to avoid driving during the morning and evening rush hours or at dawn or dusk when the sun may be in their eyes.
  • Space is their friend. Ask them to not crowd or tailgate. Space allows for minor errors to stay minor and not become critical.

Work to Improve

None of us are too old or experienced to improve our driving skills. Show them how and where they can work to improve. You may find they will welcome this help if it keeps them driving longer.

  • Ask them to assess their own driving skills. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has an online tool to help.
  • Ask them to get help from trusted organizations. The American Automobile Association (AAA), American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) offer driver safety courses geared to older Americans.
  • Keep it local and personal by contacting organizations in Frederick that can help with in-person, older driver improvement. Rehabilitation of Frederick https://www.rehabilitationoffrederick.com and Baker Driving Rehab https://www.bakerrehabgroup.com/2014/03/baker-driving-rehabilitation/ are two respected local firms that can help.
Worried Senior Male Driver Looking Through Car Windscreen

Gary Bennett is retired and spends his days providing daycare to grandchildren, volunteering, writing, and driving all around Frederick three days a week delivering prescriptions and observing drivers.