Dead Fish In River

Joe,

I crossed the Upper Ferry twice today. The attendant mentioned that dead fish have been floating down the river all day. He showed me some large rockfish. I guess that the dog and cat pee in Salisbury is responsible for the fish kill. (just ask the mare) I'm sure that sewer spills in Salisbury have nothing to do with it. I would not eat anything from the Wicomico River.

farm boy

Senator Harris calls for repeal of gas tax

Annapolis –Today, State Senator Andy Harris (R-7) called for a Special Session to suspend the Maryland gas tax from Memorial Day until Labor Day.

Currently, Marylanders pay 23.5¢ in state tax per gallon of gas. When combined with the federal gas tax, each Marylander pays 41.9¢ in taxes per gallon. Diesel is even higher, costing 48.7¢ per gallon in combined federal and state taxes.

With gas prices skyrocketing at alarming rates, the burden of these taxes intensifies. Analysts predict gas prices may top $4.00 a gallon this summer, while diesel is already over $4.00 per gallon!

The sole purpose of the one day Special Session will be to suspend the gas tax from Memorial Day until Labor Day. “If General Assembly took three weeks to raise taxes, we can come back one day to provide temporary gas tax relief to Maryland’s already over-taxed citizens,” said Senator Harris. “Motorists are crying out for tax relief.”

Senator McCain is calling for the suspension of the 18 cents federal gas tax from Memorial Day to Labor Day. “Combining federal and state gas tax relief will provide meaningful help for Maryland families,” Senator Harris added.

Now that the additional increase in sales tax is used to fund transportation projects, Maryland can afford to alleviate the suffering of Maryland motorists.

Wounded Warrior Project Benefit Next Friday!

The Monkey Barrel Bar and Grille will be hosting a Fundraiser benefiting the Wounded Warrior Project on Friday April 25 with 6 bands! Proceeds from the cover charge, specials, and donations will all go directly to the Project.

The Wounded Warrior Project gives financial aid to families in their time of need with rehabilitation, housing, food, child care, and transportation. Care packs for both the wounded soldiers and for their families which includes essential care items for families in transit and comfort items for the soldiers. Other programs include a Sports Project which fosters an athletic spirit to help regain their physical strength and mentality and an Outdoors Project which gets wounded Vets out to participate in nature.

WWP also has long term avenues for Vets with Peer Mentoring, Internships, and Warriors to Work which are available to all.

Doors open at 4 pm and cover is free before 7 pm, $5 with college ID and $7 without college ID. Again all cover charges goes to the Benefit. Food and drink specials will be going on all night including $8 dollar pizzas and $2.00 Coors Lights and Rails as well as a few surprises which the Owners always have.

Bands include Adam and Johnny; Pressing Strings; Skitzo Calypso; Stolen Element; and Poison Orchid.

The Monkey Barrel has a great history helping out local and national charities on a regular basis. The week before SU's Relay for Life they will be dedicating a whole week towards raising money for Relay for Life and helping to raise awareness on the fight against cancer.

For more information on The Wounded Warrior Project visit their site at -https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/

Barrie Tilghman's Budget Bait and Switch

Getting back into town I see that little has changed in the land of Barrie. Salisbury Mayor Barrie Tilghman is using the same old tricks and Gannett's Daily Times continues to accommodate her.

The taxpayers of Salisbury need to wake up to the fact that the groundwork has been laid for large tax and service fee increases. Tilghman revealed this pending scandal in Tuesday's budget address, she simply used a lot of smoke and mirrors.

The reason? Tilghman is coming up for re-election and wants to con the voters of Salisbury into another four years of economic malaise and economic subsidies to her friends. Hiking taxes and fees before an election simply won't do if Barrie OR her hand-picked replacement are to remain in power.

Remember back to a year ago. In addition to her unnecessary tax increase to feed her bureaucracy, Tilghman demanded a 10% increase in water and sewer rates. Fortunately for the ratepayers of Barrieland, Councilwoman Debbie Campbell and newly sworn-in Councilwoman Terry Cohen called the administration's bluff and embarrassed fellow council members Gary Comegys, Shanie Shields and Louise "I'll Sell My Soul for a Gavel" Smith into backing away from an increase immediately after those same three members (comprising Tilghman's "council leadership") attacked the average homeowner with a double digit property tax increase.

This year there is no proposed rate increase. Instead, Tilghman plans on funding deficits in the Water and Sewer Enterprise Fund by dipping into the surplus - to the tune of over $4 million. If a double digit increase was so necessary last year, why is it suddenly OK to dip into the surplus in consecutive years?

The answer is a simple one. No politician likes to raise taxes (or water rates) right before an election. Tilghman is counting on the voters forgetting about last year's tax increase. History has proven her right to date. We will have to see if Salisbury voters remain so forgetful, and forgiving.

cross posted at Delmarva Dealings

Technorati Tags: Maryland, Salisbury, politics, Salisbury politics, fiscal policy, taxation, Barrie Tilghman, Debbie Campbell, Terry Cohen, Gary Comegys, Louise Smith, Shanie Shields

The Daily Times Is Playing Games With You

Oh, they're slick alright. One minute the new Fire Station is a $10,000,000.00 project. Then when that's not popular any more they change it to an $8,000,000.00 project. As if that's not bad enough, then they stand there and tell you that they saved the taxpayers money by staying 3% under budget.

OK Idiots, 3% of what figure? Oh, I know, it's 3% of the $10,000,000.00 price tag, now isn't that convenient! Today they announced they saved the taxpayers $300,000.00, "despite many features being added to the project."

OK, let's talk about those many features. Flat screen tv's. Special phone systems and computer systems. Furnishings for each and every room and office. The list goes on and on.

HOWEVER, what's NOT mentioned is yet another MAJOR SCAM by Chief See and Deputy Chief Gordy!!! As SOME of you know, the Salisbury Fire Department has ordered a new Ladder Truck at the cost of $1,200,000.00! Somewhere along the way they have mentioned another Fire Truck they want to order. Now, let me explain something to ALL of you. Remember when I did that walk through in the new Fire Station and Gordy stated they were getting ALL brand new equipment? He wasn't lying!

The Salisbury Fire Department will be ordering 5 Brand New Fire Trucks, not just a Ladder Truck! These guys just can't stop spending Folks! It is so out of control it isn't funny! The word on the street is they are doing so because one of the manufacturers has filed Chapter 11 and they're afraid they won't be able to get parts quickly, SO THEY MUST BUY ALL BRAND NEW EQUIPMENT!

Talk about a crock of sh!t! I had been speaking to other Fire Departments about this issue and they assured me that not only would they fully expect someone to buy out this company should they go completely belly up, they'll be manufacturing parts at a premium and loving life when they do so.

Other Fire Departments were telling me that when all these other companies are ordering $500,000.00 Trucks, they're ordering the same truck at a cost of $300,000.00 instead! Why, because they aren't ordering ANY bells and whistles because times are tight right now and that's just the way it is.

Other municipalities have a separate fund for ordering such vehicles and have millions saved into that account in which they never tap into. The account was set up to make sure the funds were always there should they need a new piece of equipment. Isn't that a noble idea?

In the end it's all about "FEATURES," right Chief? It's also about how the Daily Times brings you what the GOB wants you to hear and NOT the actual facts. Did the Daily Times know about the 5 new Fire Trucks? Nope! Will they ever say anything about it? NOPE!

So will your taxes be going up? YES! Are YOU going to stop these people from spending? NOPE!

An Extremely Rare Scene At Thrashers

OK, how many of you can actually admit they have been to Thrashers and didn't see a line? I lived in Ocean City for many years and this was a scene I had never witnessed.

Nevertheless, they're open, the boardwalk is open with many of their Shops open as well. With temperatures like we're supposed to experience this weekend, Ocean City could be a hopping place to be, after visiting Pork in the Park!

Downtown Water Main Vavle Blows

On Monday night there was no water and services in the GOB based on this valve bursting. Many of these pipes were put into place in the 1930's and this is part of the infrastructure the Mayor was talking about getting old in her recent Press Conference.

It's not often I agree with the Mayor but how can you argue the fact that things are getting old and one can only expect the worst down the road and or in the near future.

It's kind of like the Salisbury Zoo. Many of the animals there are aging and they too will start dying off and their inventory will drop dramatically in the next few years.

So what does this mean for all of you? It means, someone is going to have to pay for it! Let me also add, just what has the Mayor done for the City of Salisbury to drive more people into the City and want to live here? You see, that's what it's going to take. So since there's only 25% of you that are eligible to vote, (since 75% of the properties are rentals) it's easier to make the entire City rentals, remove the voters and raise taxes. Then no one will care, no one will vote and the Mayor will have their way any time they want it. Salisbury becomes one big business, the rental business.

In the mean time, anyone who thinks they're threatening this Mayor about moving, she couldn't care less. The more of you that move, the easier it is to stay in Office.

In the mean time, pray accidents like this don't happen too often because the Mayor will use this against the taxpayers like there's no tomorrow. Then contact the proper authorities about them holding meetings in a building illegally. No water and sewer, no meetings.

OCVFC PRESS RELEASE

The Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company (OCVFC) and the Mayor & City Council have reached a tentative agreement regarding the future of fire service. This agreement is scheduled to be ratified Monday April 21, whereby the Mayor & City Council will appoint current OCVFC Chief, Chris Larmore, to the position of Fire Chief overseeing the OCVFC, the career paramedic firefighters, and the Fire Marshall's office. OCVFC members were given the details of this proposed agreement at their regular business meeting, and voted unanimously to support the direction and recommendations contained therein. The OCVFC, its administrative leadership, and Chief Larmore enthusiastically look forward to establishing an outstanding relationship with the Mayor & City Council, City Manager Dennis Dare, the career paramedic firefighters, and the Fire Marshall's office to build a world class combination department to serve our citizens and visitors.

Complaints about paint at two schools

Two people have expressed concerns this week about the conditions of our schools AND potential health issues these conditions could bring about for our children. There are in fact two separate situations which currently exist at two different schools that bring about these concerns. Both relate to paint. They are as follows:

1) Some time ago this person was picking up their daughter from Fruitland Primary on South Division Street and people were power washing the breeze way in front of the school. Yellow paint was blowing all over the place. They asked one of the COUNTY workers if they were going to sweep up the paint chips and they indicated they would. According to this person, it's been more a month and the water puddles and grassy area in front of the school are saturated with big and little chips of this yellow paint. The grass has been cut twice and the paint chips are still there. It is not known to this person whether or not it is lead based paint but are still concerned that it is not good for it to just be sitting around were little kids can pick it up. Let alone how bad it is for the birds and animals that may ingest it.

2) I was contacted by a friend who recently attended a chorus concert which was held in the gymnasium at the East Salisbury School. He advised that when he entered the gym he noticed the the condition of the paint on the walls was absolutely unacceptable. He stated that the paint was peeling off of the walls in approx. one square foot sections in one area and took pictures with his camera phone so that everyone could see what he was concerned about. Someone once said a picture paints a thousand words so here you go.

The concerns of the person making the first complaint revolved around health and the environment. The second person was more particularly pissed at the way the schools are being permitted to deteriorate. Both, in my opinion, are valid.

Although I haven't made any inquiries to the schools about the aforementioned issues, I intend to do so. It's not my intent to point the finger of blame at anyone but I will be contacting Tom Field to get some answers.

I would like to make a few points at this time.

I don't know the ages of these two buildings but I do know that some school buildings in Wicomico County are quite old.

It was common practice to use lead based paint on the interior of buildings constructed prior to 1950.

It was common practice to use lead based paint on the exterior of buildings constructed prior to 1978.

Lead paint in good condition is NOT a hazard - it is the degradation (such as chipping, peeling, and exposing it to a situation likely to cause friction and subsequently turning it to dust) of lead paint that is the hazard.

While children age 6 and under, as well as pregnant women, are at the highest risk of developing health problems, anyone at any age can become lead poisoned. Lead is a heavy metal which, when ingested, remains in the blood at detectable levels for about 45 days. After that it migrates to the bone marrow where it has a half life of about 30 years. Although lead poisoning symptoms are very similar to symptoms of the flu, permanent severe damage can occur to the central nervous system.

Short of a chemical test of the paint Or an x-ray fluorescent test, one must operate under the presumption that the paint used on buildings built within the parameters listed above, contains lead.

The laws relating to lead paint and the requirements by law to comply with the Lead Paint Risk Reduction Standard apply to rental properties and daycare facilities. I'm not sure if these laws apply to schools.....but that's not important. If a school contains lead paint and the paint is chipping and peeling, a lead hazard to the students exists. As long as that hazard exists, there is a risk that a child could become lead poisoned. One would think that any risk such as this (which is easily remedied) would be eliminated.

The people left behind....

Rhonda Parks

The human remains discovered recently in a Somerset County yard have not been positively identified however it is speculated that it may be Rhonda Parks, who has been missing since 2006. I just cannot imagine the agony her loved ones must be enduring, just waiting to see if indeed she has been located.I don't know what would be worse-having someone confirm your daughter is deceased or not knowing anything at all. As long as a body is not found, you can always hang on to some hope that they are still alive. Yet at the same time, knowing what happened to them, and being able to give them a proper Christian burial would be a sad comfort. I am keeping the Parks family in my prayers and at the same time, I wanted to give a mention to some of the other people who are still missing in Somserset County, so that no one forgets they are still out there somewhere, dead or alive, and their families deserve closure so that they can heal.

James Clark Creighton

James Clark Creighton-missing since December 2000-last seen near Bowland Hill on the outskirts of Princess Anne. DOB 9/19/1958 Mr.Creighton has AIDS, a history of drug abuse and has surgical pins in right foot. At the time of his disappearance he was working a steady job and taking Ambien, a sleep medication.He is 6'2 and was 190 lbs when last seen. Foul play is suspected and he may have been taken by force. Contact Wicomico County Combined Task Force Sgt. George Nelson 443-260-3734 with info.

Stuart Garrison

Stuart Raymond Garrison-missing since May 2002-last seen leaving his home on Box Iron Rd in Crisfield, MD,walking on foot. DOB 1960 Mr. Garrison was unemployed and involved in the drug trade at one time but was cleaning up when he vanished.He is 5'9 and was 110 lbs when last seen. Foul play is suspected. contact MSP at 410-290-0050 x 130 with info.

Thomas Borum

Thomas Wilson Borum-missing since January 2000-last seen near Route 13 and Mt. Vernon Rd. intersection just shortly after being discovered missing from his room at nearby Manokin Manor nursing home at 2am. DOB 1913 Mr. Borum was last seen wearing only pajamas and is presumed dead due to exposure but no remains have ever been found and he was declared legally dead later in 2000. He was 5'9 and weighed 151 lbs when last seen. Remains unsolved. Contact Princess Anne Police Department 410-651-1822 with info.

Jacob Webster

Jacob Wesley Webster-missing since June 2006 from Princess Anne, MD. DOB 1/27/1940 Mr.Webster has a limp and a brace on his right leg.He is 5'8 and weighed 190 lbs when last seen.Contact MSP at 410-651-3101 with info.

Gordon Nelson Sr.

Gordon Lee Nelson Sr.-missing since October 2007 from Crisfield,MD.DOB 12/24/1949 No other details.Contact Sgt. Luedtke at the Crisfield Police Department, at 410-968-1323 with info.

I hope I did not leave anyone out-I used what sources were available and if I left someone off the list please let me know.Let's keep the loved ones left behind in our thoughts and remember if you have ANY information about either of these missing persons it is your duty as a human to report it.

SPD Press Release

On April 14, 2008 at approximately 4:21 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police Department received a call to respond to the Macy’s Department Store at the Centre at Salisbury for the report of a suspicious subject. Upon arrival, the officer learned from a victim that the below listed suspect had been observed by the victim hiding himself in the store dressing room and observing another victim while the victim tried on clothes. The suspect was then detained by store employees and mall security.

ARRESTED: Lester Cruz-Contreras, 20 years of age Cambridge, Maryland

CHARGES:
Visual Surveillance in a private place
Visual Surveillance without consent
Disorderly conduct

DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking CC # 200800013002

Pork In The Park Updates

Salisbury Maryland’s Annual Pork in the Park Festival is Right around the Corner!

Top performers to compete in this Kansas City Barbecue Society Sanctioned Festival

(Salisbury, MD) Wicomico County is looking forward to welcoming you to the fifth annual Pork in the Park Bar-B-Que and Beer Festival to be held at Winterplace Park in Salisbury, MD on April 18-20, 2008. This event has grown in leaps and bounds and now hosts over 84 BBQ competitor teams. Many very accomplished teams will be filling up the rooster, and we are excited to host the 2007 overall top ranked team—Cool Smoke.

Based out of Richmond Virginia, Cool Smoke is fairly new to the world of barbecue competition, having entered their first competition in 2004. Teammate Tuffy Stone, owner of the upscale catering company Sharper Palate (Richmond, VA) was drawn to barbeque and later competition when searching for a new culinary challenge. When recalling his first attempts cooking with a wood burning pit, Stone reminisces, “It was a humbling and exciting experience. Learning to cook with nothing but a wood fire is one of the greatest learning challenges I have faced in the kitchen.”

Stone partnered with Kendall Lamp and George Stone to create Cool Smoke and the trio began on the BBQ circuit at the 2004 KCBS contest in Lynchburg, VA. We are pleased to welcome Cool Smoke back to Pork in the Park, and excited to see how they and the other competitors will perform in this year’s competition.

The festival is three days of great events with entertainment for the whole family. Each competitor team will spend the weekend slicing, seasoning and sizzling chicken, pork and beef in hopes that their cooking earns them a portion of the $17,000 in cash prizes and invaluable bragging rights. Their fate lies in the hand of a team of professionally trained, Kansas City Barbeque Society professional judges. Judging is done in many categories including whole hog, beef, chicken, pork, ribs, anything butt and a special Perdue chicken category.

As part of one of the nation’s largest festivals of this kind, attendees will enjoy live blues entertainment, a variety of cold beverages, motorcycle and classic car displays, arts and crafts. Scrumptious barbecue—some of it cooked by competitors themselves—and other festival food will be available for sale. Additionally, a selection of amusement rides will be on hand for kids.

The festival is open from 4pm to 10pm on Friday, 10am to 10pm on Saturday and 11am to 5pm on Sunday. The Pork in the Park National Bar-B-Que Cook-Off is sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society and sponsored by Wicomico County Recreation, Parks and Tourism as well as Delmarva Power, Clear Channel Outdoor, Clear Channel Radio, Comcast Spotlight, Farmer’s Bank of Willards, French’s, Harley Davidson of Ocean City, Holt Paper Company, Pepsi, Perdue, Saturn of Salisbury and WMDT 47.

For more information and a complete entertainment line-up please visit www.PorkinthePark.org or call 410-548-4914.

“Electrical Inspection Program” Goes Belly-Up

Miracles really do never cease, even if they don’t happen every day.

Buried in Barrie Tilghman’s just released “Mayor’s Budget Message” is the following: “This budget reflects my recommendation to the City Council that we do not pursue assumption of the Electrical Inspection Program within the City limits.” That comment appears on page viii.

Recall that before Councilwoman Campbell became involved in this potential fiasco last fall, the Mayor’s minions had scheduled a meeting to tell electrical contractors that they would have to use City personnel for inspections and how the system would work. What nobody told them, but they soon realized, was that the Mayor had devised the scheme to raise City revenue.

It’s uncertain whether any significant sum would be generated, but the system would have caused havoc or worse and forced electrical contractors and the public to rely on City bureaucrats, not a pleasant scenario.

And, once again, it’s well deserved kudos to Debbie Campbell from all concerned, except the administration of the City of Salisbury.