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Two lunch ladies named Bill at Father’s Day 5K

Beach Blast Girls Lacrosse at Cape this weekend
June 22, 2018

Lunch Lady Land - Young punk comedian Adam Sandler released his song “Lunch Lady Land” back in 1993. It was more mean than funny, but that humor flied 26 years ago. At the Father’s Day 5K June 17, I spoke with two men who don’t know each other but both of whom self-identified as lunch ladies. I mean what’s the chance? Bill Colatriano (Grand Pop) is pictured with his daughter Renee Lewandowski and grandchildren Alicia and Brandon Bill. He is also known as Mr. C (retired), and works the cafeteria at Love Creek and before that Cape High. Bill calls himself a lunch lady. Great guy. The kids love him. He lost his dog Bruno two weeks ago, and everyone loved Bruno too. The same day, runner Bill Holdsworth, who ran 20:50 to win the 55-59 age group, came over to me and said, “We share some common history. We both went to Bishop Egan High School and Bucks County Community College. Last year, I moved down here.” I chased the bait like a Snapper Blue and asked, “And what do you do down here Bill?” “I’m a lunch lady at Cape High School,” he said. I met them on a Sunday and my heart stood still. The lunch ladies told me that their names were Bill. De do- run run run- de do- run run.

Fredman on the down low - What I like about downstate Delaware is it’s impossible to underdress because someone will also be below on the fashion scale, perhaps a homemade beater shirt with a technicolor billfish jumping across a hairy back worn at preschool graduation. But I think I won at Legislative Hall June 20, addressing the House of Representatives wearing sneakers, Under Armour pants and my Seabiscuit actionwear Cape Gazette shirt. Rep. Steve Smyk summoned me to rock the microphone, so I did, even though after emceeing the state championship girls’ lacrosse banquet June 18 in the Baywood ballroom I told Susan “I’m going to hang it up.” She replied, “That’s fine ... hang what up? Why don’t you just throw it on the floor of your closet on top of that Cape Gazette shirt.”

Real recognition - Think cheerleaders, just amend the chant to “ain’t no recognition like the real recognition.” I walked into the Governor’s Office with the Cape baseball, field hockey and lacrosse teams June 20 and everyone got to shake the hand of Gov. John Carney. Back in 1980, Gov. Pete DuPont, on a tour of Cape, stopped in front of my underdressed self and said, “Hi, Fredman. How’s the track team this year?” And so when I shook the hand of John Carney and said, “Dave Frederick,” I noticed he was processing the Cape Gazette logo on my shirt but there was no “Hi, Fredman” or “I read your stuff.” In Sussex County, Delaware, you’ve got to know who the Muppets are. Carney was the quarterback of the 1973 Saint Mark’s state championship football team.

Snippets - The Phillies are in Washington this weekend for a three-game series against the Nationals, both teams with identical 39-33 records. There is no way these teams are of equal talent – the Phils have overperformed, while the Nats have underachieved. The Phillies’ closer-by-committee bullpen is getting better but still slightly on the shaky side. Fans in Philly and Washington are still not showing up for games. John Parker Jr. will be assisted by his dad John Pappy Parker, as the duo will coach the Beacon football team this fall. The Beach Blast girls’ lacrosse tournament is in town this weekend playing games at Cape and behind the Lewes School. More than 100 teams are registered to play over three days, with Friday mostly a day devoted to middle school. SoDel sponsors a boys’ lacrosse team of mostly rising ninth- and 10th-graders. They will play in a championship tournament this weekend at the DE Turf complex. Cape baseball player Austin Elliott had checked in at North Carolina to begin summer school. Many universities like their athletes to start in the summer to get acclimated and knock down a few credits. I’m assuming most Little League all-star teams have been chosen, which is never “all good” because everyone can’t make the team and people’s feelings get hurt, and that’s putting it mildly. There is a solution: Don’t have all star teams. Outside of that, the earlier the grudge gets going, the longer it will last. Go on now, git!

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