Page 42 The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch November 29, 2013 The Dispatch Forever In Memory Of Our Founder, Dick Lohmeyer (May 25, 1927-May 5, 2005) The Dispatch, Serving Greater Ocean City Since 1984, Is Published By Maryland Coast Dispatch Inc. Weekly On Friday Mornings MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 467 Berlin, Md. 21811 PHYSICAL ADDRESS: 10012 Old Ocean City Blvd. Berlin, Md. 21811 PHONE: 410-641-4561 FAX: 410-641-0966 WEBSITES: www.mdcoastdispatch.com www.facebook.com/thedispatchoc J. STEVEN GREEN Publisher/Editor editor@mdcoastdispatch.com HOW WE SEE IT Faith Only Way To Overcome Random Tragedy As a result of Tuesday’s tragic and appalling fatal fire, tremendous grief surely put a damper on many Thanksgiving celebrations last night. While we did not personally know Rev. David Dingwall, we have learned a tremendous amount about him over the last couple days and it’s impossible not to feel a sense of tremendous loss. How else can anyone feel? Dingwall was a husband, father, community leader, a volunteer, a recreational soccer coach and spiritual leader and advisor. Along with that sense of loss, there is a great irony in this week’s fire, as there was a fire earlier this month on the St. Paul’s by the Sea Episcopal Church grounds that Dingwall addressed recently. Resident Kelley Keyes Bjorkland shared with us this week a post by Dingwall about that fire and what it would mean for the church and its parishioners if it was worse than it turned out. “Sometime last weekend there was a fire here at the church. From what we have learned from the police and the Fire Marshall’s office, it seems that someone set a fire in a plastic bucket … most likely in an attempt to keep warm on a cold November night. Unfortunately, they placed the bucket on the porch outside the office door and it burned a fairly large hole in the deck. The hole is less than a foot from the wooden wall of the old rectory … and we are extremely lucky that the entire building: offices, church and potentially even Dewees Hall, weren’t completely destroyed by fire. “I know that we are all grateful that only minimal damage was done … but I want you to imagine that that is not what happened. Imagine that the flames from the bucket had set the wall on fire … that in short order the office building was completely engulfed in flames, that the church itself was consumed by fire and that by early last Sunday morning all that was left was the smoldering wreckage of what once was the campus of Saint Paul’s By-The-Sea. Can you imagine how you might feel?” That message rings disturbingly familiar to what we saw this week and his words bring even more sentimentality into this emotionallycharged reality. Dingwall was a man of God, obviously, but his charisma and eloquence with his message is what stood out to many this week and will not be forgotten by those fortunate enough to be married by him, have a loved one laid to rest by him, his church members and family and by many who didn’t know him. The fact he was a “brother in Christ” as the Episcopal Diocese of Easton put it this week, makes his untimely and cruel death even more disturbing. The Bible reminds us often not to question God’s way, but there are times in particular heartache that it’s inevitable to wonder why and how. In other words, to question in the heart and mind how this could be so. To remember, understand and accept all things happen for a reason under God’s will and his plan will help with the grieving in the long run, but in the meantime it’s okay to hurt and shed tears for this is a tremendous and unfair loss for the entire community. It’s a show of respect to the deceased and the life he led. This week was a test of faith, no question, and Dingwall would be the first to remind us all we must continue to believe even in the darkest hours. NEWS DEPARTMENT SHAWN J. SOPER News Editor Sports Editor ssoper@mdcoastdispatch.com JOANNE SHRINER Staff Writer joanne@mdcoastdispatch.com TRAVIS BROWN Staff Writer travis@mdcoastdispatch.com CHRIS PARYPA Photographer SALES DEPARTMENT TERRI FRENCH Account Executive Entertainment Editor terri@mdcoastdispatch.com LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Concerns Now Turn To Shelter Animals Editor: For my mom, Kenille Davies, the way she is leaving her position with the Worcester County/Ocean City Humane Society is hardly fitting. She has dedicated over 37 years to the organization she co-founded and has served our community and our areas homeless, neglected, abused animals with great leadership and compassion. As she leaves, I ask everyone to look past the events that forced her to make her decision and remember her for what she accomplished over her tenure as director of the organization. Remember how many lost pets she has reunited with frantic owners. How many homeless, neglected and abused animals she has rescued and given a safe haven, where they received medical care, a warm bed, meals and unconditional love they would have never known. Remember how many animals found forever loving homes with adoptive families and became valued, loved members of the family. Think of all of the animals that were deemed “unadoptable” due to physical or behavioral problems that were given second chances and ended up becoming someone’s cherished pet. Those pets that never get adopted had a place to call home at the shelter where they lived a life filled with the love they never would have gotten. Remember all of the food that was given out and medical care paid for, for people who loved their pets but couldn’t afford it. This is what Kenille Davies has done over the years because of her love of the animals. She was the driving force behind the success of the humane society. As many shelters open and close, especially “no-kill” shelters, the Worcester County/Ocean City Humane Society has endured and thrived. She had strong support from the community, businesses and a legion of volunteers who helped make the shelter a success. This is quite an accomplishment considering they received little support from the county or the Town of Ocean City. Her love of animals has spanned her lifetime. My sisters and I grew up having this love instilled in us at an early age. We always had a house full of animals, most rescued by mom. I remember very well the organizational meetings held around our dining room table back in the ’70s between her, Katie Jenkins and a handful of others. I watched this dream become a reality as the first shelter opened in a barn at the Ocean City Airport. There are countless stories of Kenille and her group going out under the cover of darkness with the sheriff to rescue neglected and abused horses, dogs and cats. Sometimes it was done against the advice of law enforcement but done anyway for the good of the animal. It was always interesting to hear from a friend who was a police officer, “hey, I have to arrest your mom.” I remember a new car my dad bought for her, having the leather seats chewed to shreds while she searched for the owner of a found dog. It was nothing to find her picking up a hit deer from the side of the road and there is a story of her knee deep in water in a ditch gathering up injured chickens. It is just what she did. Mom sacrificed a lot to make sure the shelter carried out its mission. There were delayed Christmas mornings, late Thanksgiving dinners and a lot of family functions she got to when she could after she finished her work at the shelter. But everyone understood. It’s what made her tick and fueled her passion. There was nothing she didn’t do at the shelter from scrubbing kennels and litter pans to working the Sunfest booth, to attending fundraisers and community events. She leaves a strong community organization that is that way due to her love and commitment. Despite all of the claims made, the shelter is not in dire financial straits and what was done by her and the leadership of the shelter was to keep the place open and operating. Plain and simple. To the Weingards, who claim to be longtime and active supporters of the shelter, I say, you don’t know the first thing about Kenille Davies or what goes on at the shelter on a daily basis. If you did, you would never be doing or saying what you are. I have never met you or seen you at the shelter and I am there a SEE NEXT PAGE JEANETTE DESKIEWICZ Account Executive jeanette@mdcoastdispatch.com MANETTE CRAMER Account Executive manette@mdcoastdispatch.com ART DEPARTMENT CINDY WARD Art Director art@mdcoastdispatch.com JENNIFER T. O’BRIEN Graphic Artist COLE GIBSON Graphic Artist Webmaster BUSINESS OFFICE PAMELA GREEN Bookkeeper Classifieds Manager classifieds@mdcoastdispatch.com The Maryland Coast Dispatch (USPS #015125) is an official and legal newspaper for Worcester County. Periodical postage paid at Berlin, Maryland, and additional mailing offices.. The Maryland Coast Dispatch, 10012 Old Ocean City Blvd., Berlin, Md. 21811, is published weekly on Friday mornings, 52 weeks a year. Subscription rates are $75 per year, $55 for six months. POSTMASTER: Please send change of address to Maryland Coast Dispatch, P.O. Box 467, Berlin, Maryland 21811. Maryland Coast Dispatch offices are located at Route 346 and Graham Avenue, Berlin, Maryland.