Denton, Md., is just a few miles west of the Maryland/Delaware border and, besides being the seat of Caroline County’s government, is known as the birthplace of two governors.

    One is former governor Sherman Tribbitt of Delaware, who, after being the speaker of the Delaware House of Representatives, served as governor from 1973 to 1977. He now lives in Sussex County.

    The other is Harry Hughes of Maryland, who, like Tribbitt, also was a state legislator before becoming governor from 1979 to 1987.

    The reason for mentioning the two men, both Democrats and both exceptionally fine people, is that the Maryland Route 404 bridge over the Choptank River at Denton has been named in honor of Hughes. Gov. Martin O’Malley of Maryland officiated at the ceremony Aug. 9 as signs were unveiled showing the bridge now honoring the former governor.

    And while the idea of two governors from one small town but from different states is interesting in itself, also it is worth mentioning the Choptank, associated so closely with Maryland’s part of the Delmarva Peninsula, actually begins in Kent County, west of Dover.

    The Choptank River starts in Delaware at Choptank Mills, where Tidy Island Creek and Culbreth Marsh Ditch join together. (I’ll admit I have never been to the actual source.)

    The river ends at the Chesapeake Bay with a very wide mouth between Blackwalnut Point on Tilghman Island and Cook Point, near Hudson in Dorchester County.

    As an indication of how wandering this body of water is, there are a number of small creeks from the main body of the river, including Harris Creek, Broad Creek, Irish Creek, Island Creek, La Trappe Creek, Bolingbroke Creek, Mile Creek, Kings Creek, Forge Branch and Broadway Branch. That’s just creeks on the northern shore and doesn’t include a variety of coves.

    And Delaware can lay claim to being the originator of this unusual river.

    *****

    A tough and touchy question arose recently about what the city of Dover and police department representatives had agreed to in bargaining talks.

    With full deference to the critical role of a good community police force, it seems clear to me that the city, in the interests of its citizens, can never agree that there will never be lay-offs in the police force, or in any other branch of city employees.

    The mayor and members of the city council are first and foremost bound to take whatever steps are necessary, in their considered opinions, for the good of the city as a whole.

    *****

    While I recognize and applaud the roles of community newspapers as both essential organs of information as well as valuable contributors to the lives of readers and local businesses, I also see the important role of daily newspapers to the readers they serve.

    That is why there is reason to worry about whether or not daily newspapers will survive the current competitive advertising economy. The plight of the two daily newspapers in Philadelphia is the nearby case in point.

    It wasn’t that many years ago when the original Philadelphia Bulletin (“Everybody Reads the Bulletin” was its brave but eventually hollow motto) disappeared. Now the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News are in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, with the fate of the newspapers hanging in the balance.

    As readers and as citizens and as consumers, we need good daily newspapers. The dazzling new means of communication just don’t take the place of well-written and well-edited broad sources of current information, something which daily newspapers uniquely provide.

*****

    Talking about sources of information, we do have the benefit of news on television, but unfortunately so much of it comes closer to being entertainment. Without mentioning specific “news” programs on the tube, I think you recognize what I mean.

    And as important topics are hurriedly mentioned with a comment here and there about how many seconds are left for the discussion, you realize that you are not getting a full picture — hardly!

    On occasional “breaking news,” though, television stands out. Words and photos and first-person accounts from the scene are where television shines.

    In mentioning TV, I am also moved to mention how disappointing and depressing it is to hear someone like Jay Johnson, formerly director of the U.S. Mint, shilling for gold. He used to be in charge of Fort Knox and he now counts gold as important in his financial portfolio, he says, and you should follow his lead.

    Sounds like selling his integrity to me.

*****

    For any defenders of English out there, here are a few of the instances of incorrect English that raise my hackles, which is obviously a cliché that is better to avoid.

    The first is “unique.” You hear people say that something is “very unique.” Wrong. Unique means one. No modifier is allowed.

    The second is “best,” when the choice is between two things, people or whatever. The rule is “good, better, best.” Better is between two. Best covers more than two.

    And what is often humorous, the word “reign” tends to crop up when what is meant is “rein.” The first refers to the time a king, for example, is in power. The second originally meant the leather strap or straps used to guide horses or other animals. Now it can mean taking control of a company’s operations, for example.

*****

    A stockbroker in New York calls his mother on Long Island. “Mom, it’s me.”

    “Don’t worry about not calling. If I had a stroke, probably it wouldn’t be that bad.”

    “I’m sorry.”

    “Don’t worry about not visiting me. If I were on the floor I could probably drag myself over to the phone and call for help.”

    “Mom, I’ve been terribly busy. I’m awfully sorry. But we’re coming this weekend, the whole family. Me and Margie and the kids.”

    “Margie?”

    “My wife, Margie.”

    “Your wife’s name is Hannah!”

    “Is this 516-555-4051?”

    “4052.”

    “Oh, I’m terribly sorry, Madam!”

    “You mean you’re not coming?”