Home Invasion On Riverside Drive

Sorry to add salt to today's wound but there was also a Home invasion on Riverside Drive (IN THE CITY) near the medical center around 6:00 PM today.

RIVERSIDE DRIVE Folks! Crime is falling into areas no one would expect and if you were at last nights meeting and listened to all of the different stories even I was unaware of you would have been completely shocked.

10 years has been enough. It's time for some new leadership or a change in attitude.

Another Stabbing in Salisbury - 2nd Today

Stabbing just occured on Baker St.

Earlier today there was an attempted murder on First St. The perpetrator, Kevin Green was arrested by SPD and is in custody at WCDC.

MAYOR IRETON SENDS LETTER ASKING CHIEF WEBSTER TO RESIGN

It has been confirmed, Mayor Ireton has in fact sent Police Chief Webster a letter asking for his resignation.

The swing vote on the Council Shanie Shields has publicly stated she will not support the Mayor's decision and Chief Webster reportedly has stated he will not step down.

My hat is tipped to Mayor Ireton for listening to the citizens and making the right decision to lie the final decision up to the City Council. Now let's see what the Council is made of. Former Mayor Tilghman is still running the City.

Shanie Shields Violates Employee Confidentiality

Tonight at 5:00 & 6:00 PM Shanie Shields will be on WBOC stating how she would vote if Chief Webster is asked by the Mayor to resign. This information was discussed in a closed session and Shanie is not allowed to discuss such issues publicly.

Big THANK YOU To The Community

BELL RINGING SLOTS AT SEARS ALMOST FILLED

Thank you to the individuals and businesses that have stepped in to fill the 4 days at Sears that became available unexpectedly.

Many thanks to John D. Hynes & Associates who has taken 9 hours of time (in addition to what they have already signed up for), Market Street Inn and St. James AME Church for taking several hours.

Thursday, December 10th, from 9 to 12:00 is still open if anyone is interested. Kettle Campaign Headquarters
410-749-RING (7464)

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR TIME!

GAS LEAK at GORDY ROAD & RT 13

SFD is on scene with more on the way.

WBI Press Release

PRESS RELEASE
INCIDENT: Theft and Theft Scheme

DATE: December 8, 2009

LOCATION: 200 Block of Long Ave, Salisbury, Maryland.

NARRATIVE: On December 7, 2009 at approximately 1645 hours, Investigators from the Wicomico Bureau of Investigation (WBI) served an arrest warrant on Peggy Gaskill, a bookkeeper for Wicomico Senior High School, for multiple counts of theft from the Wicomico County Board of Education. The arrest warrant was the result of a several month long investigation by WBI. She was arrested at home.
The investigation began in July 2009, when it was reported that amounts deposited into accounts Gaskill was responsible for did not match the amounts submitted for deposit.
An audit by a private company hired by the Wicomico County Board of Education revealed these discrepancies were in excess of $10,000 dollars.
Gaskill was charged with 8 counts of Theft over $500, 14 counts of Theft under $500, 8 counts of Theft Scheme over $500 and 9 counts of Theft Scheme under $500.
If anyone has information in reference to this investigation, please contact Wicomico Bureau of Investigation @ 410-548-4898 or Crime Solvers @ 410-548-1776

SUSPECTS*: Peggy Jean Gaskill, Mount Herman Road, Pittsville, Maryland. 60 years of age.

*include first/middle/last names, age, race, city or town of residence

CHARGES: • 8 counts of Theft over $500
• 14 counts of Theft under $500
• 8 counts of Theft Scheme over $500
• 9 counts of Theft Scheme under $500


DISPOSITION: Released from WCDC on $3000 bond


INVESTIGATING DETECTIVE TFC Chester

RELEASTING AUTHORITY Sgt. C. Wendlandt, Wicomico Sheriff’s Office Wicomico Bureau of Investigation

DATE: 12/08/09
TIME: 1100

Last Nights Rally A Success

While I was somewhat disappointed there wasn't more people in attendance, I felt from the beginning 5:00 was just too early to pull something like this off as many people just get off work at 5:00 PM. Nevertheless, many attended while Mark McIver gave out crime stats and flat out asked for Chief Webster's resignation.

The rally was peaceful as well as educational. I took the opportunity to fill everyone in on the emergency meeting that was supposed to last 1/2 hour tat went on for more than an hour and a half.

Gary Comegys simply made a fool out of himself by not looking at the budget first and recognizing there were plenty of funds available to finance the project he slipped to the Press before he provided it to the Mayor.

Mayor Ireton clearly stated that the ONLY Press that was being forced to provide their questions 24 hours in advance was the Daily Times. Everyone else could contact his Office any time they wanted but the games are over.

Ireton was calling out Joe Carmean of the Daily Times for playing childish games by laughing at the Mayor at least 11 times by having information BEFORE the Mayor even knew something was going on.

Comegys and Smith were clearly leaking information to the Times in the hopes of embarrassing Ireton and Carmean would simply laugh at Ireton. It locks like the Mayor has the last laugh because the Daily Times will be left two days in the dust by the rest of the Press.

More importantly, many suggestions were given last night, many of which I personally firmly agree with. Here's how I see it Folks. ECI is releasing prisoners to Salisbury. Many of these prisoners come from the Baltimore area and should be shipped back to where they came from, no matter where that is.

Because they're brought to Salisbury, crime has risen to critical levels. No, I'm not a Police Chief but my God, it doesn't take a Rocket Scientists to break things down and figure the most critical parts of our problems out.

The second major issue is our children. We must create programs for our youth. Businesses should get involved and help support such programs and I'm talking about the younger kids, like 10 to 12 years old. Kids of Honor is probably one of the best mentoring programs available in the Salisbury area. I'm confident there's many more but we must get a hold of these children while they're young and show them there's more to life than Gangs and crime.

Spending hundreds of thousands of dollars TEACHING ECI prisoners, (after they are released) to train for jobs is complete and utter BS. If the City of Salisbury has to sue ECI for releasing prisoners to this area, do it. Then take good money and put it after good money by investing into our youth.

Look, (business wise) businesses are going to pay the ultimate price if they don't get involved. They can either work to better the community or they can start, (like many already have) closing their doors at 4:00 PM and lose all that additional revenue. By working with our youth, it's a win/win situation.

Since many of you were not at the meeting last night, allow me to share with you one thing that happened that I was involved with. Before the rally started, Chief Webster stood in front of the Council arrogant. He stated he'd leave when he decided it was time for him to leave. He went on to say that he loved Salisbury. He loves the residence and everything it has to offer. Once he was finished, Louise Smith asked the public to speak so I raised my hand, walked up to the podium and stated, If Chief Webster loves Salisbury so much and Salisbury is such a great place to live, why the hell doesn't he live here. Why doesn't he have to be subjected to the crime the citizens of Salisbury have to live with. The applause was deafening!

The Citizens were heard loud and clear last night. I'm confident the Mayor and Council was floored with the volume in attendance as I have never seen so many people pack the Council Chambers for ANY event as much as they did last night and I've been going to these meetings for the past 7 years.

Mayor Ireton will make his final decision and announcement tonight as to what he will do with Chief Webster but my odds say that he will ask Chief Webster for his resignation as enough is enough. NOTHING has changed and Webster cannot fight the factual figures that crime is out of control and has been ever since he came on board.

SALISBURY SHOULD HAVE A “LINE ITEM” BUDGET AND A NEW POLICE CHIEF

Bubba Comegys’ latest stunt – to spend down the City’s reserve funds for police overtime pay and a “crime prevention specialist” – is not just plain stupid. It shows why the City should adopt a detailed “line item” budget rather than the broad “program” budget that Comegys favors, in which there are only total amounts for the departments.

As Mayor Ireton has pointed out, Comegys is apparently not aware that more than $162,000 is now available in the budget for police overtime pay and the City already has several specialists in crime prevention.

Comegys has responded by his standard effort to discredit the person who cleaned his clock in this year’s election, now resorting to the kind of name calling for which Bubba is infamous. Do you recall “CAVE People”?

And there are other significant questions. For example: why does Chief Webster routinely reject the offer of Sheriff Mike Lewis for law enforcement assistance by the County Sheriff’s Department if the City’s force is undermanned? And if real crime is such a problem why is Webster wasting time on a meaningless surveillance tape that the police gave to someone over 10 years ago?

Bubba’s budget amendment scheme and behavior has made it even more apparent that Salisbury needs a different Police Chief (and one who resides here) and why Comegys should not be on the City Council. The Mayor should fire Webster, and the voters should dump Comegys in the next City election.

More to come.......

Silent Monks Singing Halleluia

A Different Christmas Poem

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.


The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.


The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear..
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.


Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.


"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..


To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.


No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.


I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.


I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.."


" So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."


Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long..
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

PLEASE, would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many
people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our
U.S service men and women for our being able to celebrate these
festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people
stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us.

LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN
30th Naval Construction Regiment
OIC, Logistics Cell One
Al Taqqadum, Iraq

How Obama Came To Plan For ‘Surge’ In Afghanistan

WASHINGTON — On the afternoon he held the eighth meeting of his Afghanistan review, President Obama arrived in the White House Situation Room ruminating about war. He had come from Arlington National Cemetery, where he had wandered among the chalky white tombstones of those who had fallen in the rugged mountains of Central Asia.

How much their sacrifice weighed on him that Veterans Day last month, he did not say. But his advisers say he was haunted by the human toll as he wrestled with what to do about the eight-year-old war. Just a month earlier, he had mentioned to them his visits to wounded soldiers at the Army hospital in Washington. “I don’t want to be going to Walter Reed for another eight years,” he said then.

The economic cost was troubling him as well after he received a private budget memo estimating that an expanded presence would cost $1 trillion over 10 years, roughly the same as his health care plan.

Now as his top military adviser ran through a slide show of options, Mr. Obama expressed frustration. He held up a chart showing how reinforcements would flow into Afghanistan over 18 months and eventually begin to pull out, a bell curve that meant American forces would be there for years to come.

“I want this pushed to the left,” he told advisers, pointing to the bell curve. In other words, the troops should be in sooner, then out sooner.

When the history of the Obama presidency is written, that day with the chart may prove to be a turning point, the moment a young commander in chief set in motion a high-stakes gamble to turn around a losing war. By moving the bell curve to the left, Mr. Obama decided to send 30,000 troops mostly in the next six months and then begin pulling them out a year after that, betting that a quick jolt of extra forces could knock the enemy back on its heels enough for the Afghans to take over the fight.

The three-month review that led to the escalate-then-exit strategy is a case study in decision making in the Obama White House — intense, methodical, rigorous, earnest and at times deeply frustrating for nearly all involved. It was a virtual seminar in Afghanistan and Pakistan, led by a president described by one participant as something “between a college professor and a gentle cross-examiner.”

GO HERE to read more.

Bell Ringing

Joe,

Just wanted to let you know I just witnessed, to my pleasure, a group of students ringing the Salvation Army bells at the Fruitland Wal*Mart. I say kudos to UMES and their students for helping out on this project and most of them probably are not from the Eastern Shore. Why to go HAWKS.

Kratovil Visits Central Maryland Meals On Wheels

Rep Kratovil Meets with Staff at the Central Maryland Meals and Wheels Kitchen.

Rep. Kratovil Helps Kids at Chapel District Elementary in Cordova Create Holiday Greetings for the Troops.

Kratovil Highlights Local Holiday Season Service Opportunities by Visiting Central Maryland Meals on Wheels and Assisting School Children Participating in His “Holiday Cards for Our Troops” Program

Washington, DC – The House of Representatives was out of session Monday afternoon and Rep. Frank Kratovil took the opportunity to highlight a few local service opportunities for the Holiday Season.

Kratovil started the day at the Central Maryland Meals on Wheels. This particular facility serves Anne Arundel, Baltimore and Harford Counties by delivering over 750,000 meals to underserved and home bound citizens per year. Kratovil toured the facility, met with staff to discuss the challenges they face during the holiday season and year round, and helped prepare the days deliveries.

“This time of year organizations like Meals on Wheels need as much help as they can get to serve the less fortunate members of our community,” said Rep. Kratovil. “This year, given the tough economic times, I urge everyone who can afford the time to get out into your community and help brighten someone else’s holiday season.”

Rep. Kratovil also visited two First District Schools, Chapel District Elementary In Cordova and Matapeake Elementary in Stevensville, to visit with students participating in the Congressman’s First Annual “Holiday Cards for Our Troops,” initiative. Rep. Kratovil, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, helped the students create holiday greetings that he will eventually deliver to injured servicemen and women at Bethesda Naval Hospital, Walter Reed Medical Center, Perry Point Veterans Hospital, and other VA facilities throughout Maryland’s First District.

“For men and women serving overseas or recuperating away from their families here at home the holiday season can be a very difficult time of year,” said Rep. Kratovil. “For those who are sacrificing so much, even simple words of thoughtful encouragement from their community can make a huge difference and boost morale. This is also an opportunity to show students the reality of this sacrifice and teach them about the men and women who are serving our country with honor, they all seemed to enjoy the opportunity to help the men and women who protect our freedoms.”

Congressman Kratovil would also like to urge First District residents to drop off their own holiday greeting cards at any of his district offices before Friday December 11th. Cards should remain unaddressed and envelopes unsealed.

Politics In The Classroom

Mr. Albero,

Hope all is well with you and your family. Just wanted to email you about the blog concerning the teacher who showed an Obama speach and required the students to write a paragraph, etc...and now the mom is mad because she and her daughter do not like Obama...

I dont see the problem. Since, there is a right to freedom of speech (expression), then maybe the mom could have been more creative, and told her daughter the following;


Always listen to your teacher and authority, even if you don't agree or like them, or understand them (unless they are telling you to do something immoral or illegal)


Complete your classwork as requested even if you dont agree...(certainly her first priority is to do well in school)


Being an American means that everyone has a right to express themselves even if they dont agree or like the government...(which is by far better than most other countries)


Write a paragraph explaining why you do not like Obama and how viewing the video, and having to complete the assignment makes you feel, turn it in to the teacher for reviewing, you may even get extra credit for it...(this helps her daughter learn the value of expressing herself in a positive manner, gives her more practice writing, and she will feel good that she was able to express herself)

I remember having to watch all kinds of things when I went to school, and having to learn things that I knew was not true (most likely to cover up government mishaps over the years, and to try to make me feel good about being an American...) Some things like:


Christopher Columbus discovered America
Pilgrims and Indians were really good friends
Africans were uncivilized, born to be slaves
People come from Apes
No one really knows why there was a Holocaust...if it really happened
Only girls take Home Economics
Only boys take shop class

Im sure I could go on and on, and on... I cant even count how many times we had to watch various president speeches, and do reports on them. The worse was when the President was scheduled to address the nation, and the assignment was to watch the whole thing...then make a report- due the very next day. I still dont understand why, because most of the topics had nothing to do with me (as a school age child). We have US History, American History, Government, Politics, Social Studies, etc...all classes geared towards government...so, it is not new to have politics intertwined with education.

The only thing new is this era and the issues we currently face (oh, not to mention having to do hundreds of current event reports...), as well as having an African American/White president. Im not going to try to plea his case, I definitley think that less government is better...but, let's look at it for what it is. What else can it be, if we have always had politics mixed with education? We've had crappy presidents as well, but none with this much hatred attached to his name.

Obama won the presidency. Someone voted him in there, and let's face it, at the end of the day, he is still the president, and still a polititcian (not a saint or miracle worker).

What is her mom going to do when this child reaches Middle and High School and starts taking some of the classes I previously mentioned? What, is she not going to do the work, take an "F", just because she does not agree or like the president?

What's wrong with freedom of expression? What's wrong with having a positive outlet for disagreements and opinions? It does not have to be all or nothing.

Well, if we could not disagree or express ourselves...we would not have this blog...and I for one love being able to comment, read other's comments, and receive information (even if I dont agree with or like some of the content). It's great to be an American...even if our government falls short of our expectations sometimes, and no matter who is President.

Sorry so long, but with the 126 comments on this topic, there was no room for anymore...Thanks for reading, not expecting a reply, but I know you probably read this, so thank you...

Today's Nature Photo By Scott Phoebus

" Lake Placid N.Y."

Reid Compares Opponents Of Health Care Reform To Supporters Of Slavery

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid took his GOP-blasting rhetoric to a new level Monday, comparing Republicans who oppose health care reform to lawmakers who clung to the institution of slavery more than a century ago.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid took his GOP-blasting rhetoric to a new level Monday, comparing Republicans who oppose health care reform to lawmakers who clung to the institution of slavery more than a century ago.

The Nevada Democrat, in a sweeping set of accusations on the Senate floor, also compared health care foes to those who opposed women's suffrage and the civil rights movement -- even though it was Sen. Strom Thurmond, then a Democrat, who unsuccessfully tried to filibuster the Civil Rights Act of 1957 and it was Republicans who led the charge against slavery.

GO HERE to read more.

The Good Guys

Protection For Home

If you don't have a gun, here's a more humane
way to wreck someone’s
evil plans for you.


Did you know this? I didn't. I never really thought of it
before.

I guess I can get rid of the baseball bat.


Wasp Spray
A friend who is a receptionist in a church in a high risk area was
concerned about someone coming into the office on Monday to rob them
when they were counting the collection. She asked the local police
department about using pepper spray and they recommended to her that
she get a can of wasp spray instead.

The wasp spray, they told her, can shoot up to twenty feet away and is
a lot more accurate, while with the pepper
spray, they have to get too close to you and could overpower you. The
wasp spray temporarily blinds an attacker until they get to the
hospital for an antidote. She keeps a can on her desk in the office
and it doesn't attract attention from people like a can of pepper
spray would. She also keeps one nearby at home for home protection.
Thought this was interesting and might be of use.

On the heels of a break in and beating that left an elderly woman in
Toledo dead, self defense experts have a tip that could save
your life.

Val Glinka teaches self-defense to students at
Sylvania Southview High School. For decades, he's suggested putting a
can of wasp and hornet spray near your door or bed.

Glinka says, "This is better than anything I can teach them."

Glinka considers it inexpensive, easy to find, and more effective than
mace or pepper spray. The cans typically shoot 20 to 30 feet; so
if someone tries to break into your home, Glinka says "spray the
culprit in the eyes". It's a tip he's given to students for
decades.

It's also one he wants everyone to hear. If you're looking for
protection, Glinka says look to the spray.

"That's going to give you a chance to call the police; maybe get
out."

Maybe even save a life.

Please share this with all the people in your life

Jewelry Store Robber Arrested

Location: Khalsa Jewelers, 36508 Seaside Outlet Dr, Tanger Outlets, Rehoboth, Beach, DE

Date of Occurrence: April 26, 2009 at approximately 6:45 p.m. / Arrested December 7, 2009

Defendant: Marvin Mencia, 22, Egg Harbor City, NJ

Resume:

State troopers arrested a 22 year-old New Jersey man for his involvement in an April 2009 jewelry store robbery.

Troopers arrested Mencia today after he was already incarcerated for a bank robbery which occurred on August 31, 2009. The bank robbery occurred at the Artisan’s Bank located at 1124 Pulaski Hwy, Bear.

Mencia allegedly entered Khalsa Jewelers back in April under the ruse of being a customer. He displayed a revolver and forced an employee to empty jewelry valued over $160,000 into a rolling suitcase. He then forced the employee into the bathroom and fled the store. Evidence found at the scene implicated Mencia in the crime. He was charged with Robbery 1st, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony and Aggravated Menacing. Bail was set at $166,500.00 secured.

No one was injured in the jewelry store robbery.

THE CUCKOO'S NEXT VISITS COPENHAGEN

One of my all-time favorite novels is Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, later made into an Oscar-winning film. Set in an institution for psychological patients, Cuckoo's Nest was a cautionary tale about all institutions-schools, churches, businesses, government bureaucracies, etc., it dramatized the horrors of what can happen when those in charge hijack an institution and place their own ambitions and lust for power, prestige, and control above the welfare of the very people whom the institution was created to help.

The United Nations fits the cuckoo's nest paradigm perfectly. It is ostensibly dedicated to some of mankind's loftiest ideals. The U.N. Declaration of Human Rights affirms: "Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security of person." "No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest." "No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property." "Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion," etc.

In practice, though, the U.N. welcomes, legitimizes, and empowers regimes that systematically trample those rights. U.N. officials readily betray the welfare and liberty of billions of individuals in their pursuit of world government. With cynical irony, the UN extends the voting privilege to regimes that would never permit an honest, democratic vote in their own countries. Also, because the major obstacle to global government is a strong, sovereign United States, U.N. delegates from illiberal regimes routinely gang up to vote against our interests.

Why would any American want to strengthen the UN? Some individuals crave the unprecedented powers that a worldwide government would have. Others pathologically hate liberal democracy, free markets, and limits on government power, and so despise American sovereignty. Most pro-U.N. Americans, to give them the benefit of the doubt, are idealists who believe that the way to establish peace on earth is to do away with nation-states. No nation-states, no wars, right? Not so.

It amazes me that the same people who loathe private-sector business monopolies believe that a global monopoly of governmental power would be benign. When Stalin consolidated hegemony over the 15 republics that constituted the Soviet Union, there was no more war in the conventional sense, but the Soviet Union remained an exceedingly violent place. The government warred against its own people, but the disarmed populace couldn't fight back. The death toll was enormous.

Those who believe that a one-world government would produce peace on earth should google "R. J. Rummel and democide." They will learn that wars have killed far fewer people than have strong governments. Competition in business serves consumer welfare far better than monopoly, and so does political competition. The 20th century featured lab-like experiments proving this: East and West Germany, North and South Korea, China vs. Taiwan and Hong Kong, east of the Iron Curtain and west of it - in all cases people voted with their feet to leave countries where there was a deadly monopoly of political power to live where politicians competed for the citizens' approval.

This week the UN is pursuing all 3 of its nefarious goals trashing the rights of individuals, pushing for global governance, and knocking the U.S. down a few pegs-at the "climate change" meeting in Copenhagen.

UN Goal #1: The highest estimate of the estimated costs of a global cap & trade regime that I have seen was not from a global-warming skeptic, but the U.N.'s own figure of $552 trillion during the 21st century. Since global GDP today is around $65 trillion, the UN is talking about sacrificing nearly a decade's worth of wealth in the name of combating climate change. Since the most lethal environment for humans is poverty, the U.N.'s call to reduce wealth by that unfathomable amount would cause tens of millions of unnecessary deaths -- a gargantuan genocide or democide -- and the violation of the most fundamental human right of all, life.

UN Goal #2: Preliminary language composed in advance of the Copenhagen confab calls for creation of a new UN body, "the Conference of the Parties (COP)." COP needs sweeping powers, because "the way society is structured will need to change fundamentally." Such "change" won't be cheap, so the UN seeks a "massive scaling up of financial resources" to fund COP.

Surprise! The UN wants to levy taxes! This is huge, because if the U.N. ever gains the power to tax sovereign nations, national sovereignty will be in mortal jeopardy, and the era of one-world government will draw near.

UN Goal #3: The climate change claque seeks to penalize rich countries -- especially the US -- for our prosperity. According to Friends of the Earth, "A climate change response must have at its heart a redistribution of wealth and resources." President Obama emphatically believes this. He wants to redistribute American wealth abroad. He doesn't understand that rich countries became rich by embracing the principles of private property and free enterprise, while poor countries shunned that same road to prosperity. The U.S. didn't get rich by taking wealth from poor countries, and what poor countries need to prosper is not transfers of US wealth, but to adopt the right values and policies.

Thankfully, it doesn't appear that the Copenhagen meeting will produce a CO2 emissions control agreement against a backdrop of global cooling, the climategate scandal, and economic weakness. Nevertheless, what the U.N. insiders and Obama are plotting there is monstrous. This week, the cuckoo's nest is in Copenhagen. END

Mark Hendrickson, Ph.D. teaches economics at Grove City College and is Fellow for Economic and Social Policy with the College's Center for Vision & Values.

Page Printed from:

http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/12/the_cuckoos_nest_visits_copenh.html at December 07, 2009 - 07:37:58 AM EST
--

Santa Will Arrive Wednesday December 9th!

Santa's Hours 6pm -9pm

Wed Dec 9th
Friday Dec 11th
Sat Dec 12th
Sun Dec 13th
Wed Dec 16th

Friday Dec 18 THRU
Wed Dec 23rd

All times and dates are weather permitting.

The lights are on every night weahter permitting from 6-9pm.

Everyone is welcome to get out and walk around the yards to look at the display and visit Santa on the nights listed above. Don't forget your cameras to take pictures with Santa!

Location

Parker Place
Pittsville, Md

From Salisbury take Rt 50 East. Turn left at the first Pittsville exit. Main street ext. Follow Main street across Old OC road. Turn left on the next road to the left. Parker Street.
The next road on the left is Parker Place.

From Ocean City Take Rt 50 West and turn right at the Chevron station RT 353. Turn left onto Railroad Ave (between Station 7 restaurant and PNC Bank. Follow Railroad to the end and make a right onto Parker Street. and almost an immediate left onto Parker Place

Wicomico County Sheriff's Office Press Releases

Incident: Child Neglect
Date of Incident: 4 December 2009
Location: 1000 block of East Road, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Yolanda S. Spates, 21, Salisbury, MD

Narrative: On 4 December 2009 at 4:40 PM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office responded to the report of a 4 year old child walking along side the roadway in the 1000 block of West Road. Upon the arrival of the deputy, he observed that the child was completely unattended. During the time with the child, the child also complained to the deputy how cold the child was. The deputy managed to locate an apartment where the child lived and discovered the child’s mother, Yolanda Spates, inside asleep.

At the conclusion of the investigation, the deputy placed Spates under arrest and transported her to the Central Booking Unit where she was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, Spates was detained in the Detention Center by the Commissioner in lieu of $50,000.00 bond.

Charges: Desertion of a Minor Child

Incident: Child Neglect
Date of Incident: 5 December 2009
Location: 200 block of Eden Street, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Michael R. Travis, 25, Salisbury, MD

Narrative: On 5 December 2009 at 1:05 AM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office responded to a complaint of unattended children. Upon the arrival of the deputy, she was met bet a 6 year of age child who invited the deputy inside the residence. The caretaker was discovered passed out inside the residence, apparently induced by a substantial consumption of alcohol. Also discovered was a one year old asleep in the house that the caretaker was supposed to be watching. Further investigation revealed another child, a 7 year old, had gone outside in an attempt to locate assistance within the neighborhood. When the deputy located that child, the deputy observed that the child was walking around outside in the rain.

The caretaker, Michael Travis, was placed under arrest and transported to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, Travis was detained by the Commissioner in the Detention Center in lieu of $20,000.00 bond.

Charges: Reckless Endangerment
Contribute to the Condition of a Child

Incident: Assault
Date of Incident: 6 December 2009
Location: 1200 block of Nokomis Avenue, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Aeron Khalil Neemar

Narrative: On 6 December 2009 at 2:19 PM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office responded to investigate an altercation that occurred inside a residence in the 1200 block of Nokomis Avenue. Upon arrival, the resident there stated she had become involved in a physical altercation the father of her children, Aeron Neemar, earlier in the day. The victim stated that Neemar punched her in the face and then punched her flat screen television which shattered the screen.

The deputy saw injuries on the victim that corroborated her account. Neemar had left the residence prior to the arrival of the deputy so an arrest warrant was obtained and Neemar was subsequently located and arrested. Neemar was processed at the Central Booking Unit and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, Neemar was detained in the Detention Center by the Commissioner in lieu of $15,000.00 bond.

Charges:
Assault 2nd degree
Malicious Destruction of Property

Wicomico County Public School System Conserves Dollars In Current Difficult Budget Times

As challenging financial times continue for the community, the state, the country and the world, the Wicomico County Public School System is carefully conserving dollars in this year's budget and looking for ways to cut costs for next year's budget to ensure that Wicomico County students will still receive the high-quality education they deserve.

While operating on a balanced budget, the school system has already identified $3.1 million in budget savings for the current year, money that could be set aside for future years when the financial picture may be just as difficult if not more difficult. Looking ahead to the Fiscal 2011 budget (for July 1, 2010-June 30, 2011), the school system has developed a multi-tier plan to reduce the budget by $6.4 million in anticipation of our County government not being able to meet the Maintenance of Effort level needed for the school system to receive new state dollars. The County can provide $185,000 less for 2010-11 and still meet Maintenance of Effort due to the funding formula.

"It is a challenging time. We are responding to it as best we can," said Dr. John Fredericksen, superintendent of schools. "Our goal is to survive this economic difficulty while continuing to provide quality educational services for our students. It is our job to create the conditions for their success, regardless of the financial challenges."

Challenges in This Year's Budget (Fiscal 2010, from July 1, 2009-June 30, 2010)

This budget year has been a challenging one:

• The Maryland Attorney General's Office finally approved the school system's Maintenance of Effort (MOE) plan, enabling the school system to utilize approximately $4.1 million in new state and federal funding this year. The MOE plan called for the Board to pay our County government $2 million from the Board's School Construction Fund. These funds had been accumulated over the past 3 years in an effort to address the long list of deferred capital projects such as roof replacements and HVAC upgrades. However with the $2 million check recently given to the county, this leaves only $2.1 million in the entire account. "We hate to see the account depleted as the list of deferred capital projects continues to grow and postpones the date when all schools will have modern HVAC and proper technology, but we had no choice in order to be able to leverage the state and federal dollars," stated Dr. Fredericksen.

• The Wicomico County Council has denied transfers of budgeted funds when the Board of Education has sought to transfer funds between categories to hire people to do jobs needed to serve students even though it does not increase the bottom line budget.

• The superintendent has instituted a hiring freeze. When a position becomes vacant during this budget year, the superintendent must approve filling that position. Dr. Fredericksen said he will evaluate each position to determine whether it must be filled or whether it could remain vacant. "We are not using furlough days, lay-offs, or reduced hours and/or pay at this time," he said. "If this changes, we will discuss it with the Board of Education, employee groups, and other appropriate people."

• The superintendent has instructed all budget managers to save as much cash as possible in light of pending budget reductions that the school system anticipates facing from the county, state and federal levels in the coming years. While the school system is operating with a balanced budget this year, the superintendent and his staff have already identified $3.1 million in budget savings which include:

 $1.3 million saved by withholding funding approved in this year's budget for the Board's other post-employment benefits trust, GASB 45, retiree health care plan. This plan is adequately funded at this time, but funding will be needed in the future.

 $425,000 saved by reducing expenditures on supplies and materials by 7 percent. The money saved would have been used for materials of instruction for the classroom, supplies for repair, small equipment, computer software, testing supplies, and media center books and periodicals.

 $626,000 saved from various contracted services, including $200,000 saved by putting on hold several systemic renovation projects that include the planned repair/renovation of the Wicomico Middle elevator; auditorium lighting upgrades for the high schools and track lighting for the Beaver Run Elementary stage; relocating 11 portable classroom buildings that would otherwise be available for use at other schools upon the completion of the new James M. Bennett High, blacktop resurfacing, scaling and paving reduced by 10 percent over the prior year's level. In other contracted services, the funds budgeted for a curriculum audit by an outside consultant would not be spent; the school system would attempt to use in-house personnel to conduct the audit.

 $143,000 saved by cutting the conferences and meetings budget by 33 percent and restricting all out-of-state travel.

 $388,000 saved from capital outlay, which would result in the delay of planned repairs and renovations to the Parkside High track; reduce the amount of technology upgrades (items such as school security cameras and interactive whiteboards); delay ADA-compliance upgrades at Delmar Elementary, Mardela Middle and High, Pittsville Elementary and Middle, and West Salisbury Elementary; defer parking lot improvements at Fruitland Primary and Fruitland Intermediate; and delay the planned replacement of network servers and network switches.

Looking Ahead to Next Year (Fiscal 2011) Budget

The budget for Fiscal 2011 (for the budget year July 1, 2010-June 30, 2011) is already being drafted, with the first public budget input session planned for January. Even though the school system is only in the early stages of preparing the Fiscal 2011 budget, a number of key financial factors have already become clear.

The County Executive and the Wicomico County Council have informed the Superintendent and the Board of Education that the county intends to reduce its funding for the school system by $5 million next year, and therefore not meet the maintenance of effort level needed to receive additional state funding. The County Executive and County Council have also advised the school system to anticipate an additional cut in funding of $2.5 million for Fiscal 2012 and an additional $2 million for Fiscal 2013. The school system and the county will work together to lobby the Maryland General Assembly for a change in the maintenance of effort requirement whereby we may continue to take advantage of whatever increases in state and federal dollars may be available.

The State of Maryland has supported school systems with significant levels of funding over the past 7 years, primarily as a result of the Thornton funding initiative, but the amount of state aid for education is likely to be reduced in future budgets (starting in Fiscal 2011), based upon projections released by state sources. "The State of Maryland has a significant structural budget deficit, on the order of $1.8 billion, and we can anticipate that school systems, while to date have escaped from the state budget axe, will most likely begin to feel the pinch from state cuts in FY 2011 and ensuing years,” said Dr. Fredericksen.

The Federal government has provided economic stimulus funding for 2009-10 and 2010-11. That funding is limited to specific areas and initiatives - special education, Title I and Food Services. Currently, this funding source is set to end after two years and likely will not be available after the budget year for July 2011-June 2012.

In anticipation of receiving approximately $5 million less from the county than in the current year, as well as reduced state and federal funding due to a decrease in enrollment and students qualifying for Free and Reduced Meals, the school system is identifying ways to achieve $6.4 million in total reductions. Reductions could include:

• Using the 70 or more Early Notification Program (ENP) retirements coming in June to prevent layoffs. ENP was intended to ensure that veteran teachers stayed with the school system until retirement and that enough notice was given to Human Resources to aid in recruitment, while also saving money by hiring new teachers to replace the retiring veteran teachers. However, it appears that the school system may not be able to afford to fill half of these positions that will be vacated as a result of the ENP retirements. This will mean reorganizing and requiring those who are left to carry a heavier load. This will be the time to think about tasks that "we've always done" to see if any of them can be dropped. The school system will focus its efforts on direct student services, with classroom instruction being the priority. "While we know that support services allow the teacher and others to focus on the student, the school system must adjust at this time," Dr. Fredericksen said.

• Re-examining many programs to decide whether they should continue. These programs include, but are not limited to, the Magnet centers, Year Round Education at Delmar Elementary, the Beyond the Limits ropes course, and professional development coaches.

"For Fiscal 2011, we will try to have as much in the way of reductions on the table as we can so that when we find out exactly how much state aid we are going to get, we will be more than adequately prepared to balance expenditures with whatever revenue we will be getting," Dr. Fredericksen said. "Our overriding goal will be protecting the classroom. A child only gets one chance to experience their PreK-12th grade education. It's our job to make that experience in our schools the best that it can be."

Bookkeeping Irregularities Investigated

Peggy Gaskill, a bookkeeper at Wicomico High School, was terminated in June 2009 for inappropriate behavior and failure to comply with Wicomico County Board of Education procedures.

Discrepancies in school accounts that were under her control were reported to the Wicomico County Board of Education’s Finance Department, which conducted an internal investigation. An independent certified public accounting firm, TGM Group, LLC, was immediately contracted to perform an “Agreed-Upon Procedures” audit of the school’s books and records.

Board staff contacted the Wicomico Bureau of Investigation and provided a copy of the final report issued by TGM Group, LLC. At that point, the investigation was in the hands of the Sheriff’s Department and the State’s Attorney’s Office. The Board is cooperating fully with the investigation.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. John E. Fredericksen said Monday, “We take our fiscal responsibility seriously. When there are allegations of wrongdoing, we take every step to investigate the matter and take action appropriate to any wrongdoing.”

TRAFFIC ADVISORY

Location: Interstate 95, north bound the Route 1 exit.

Date of Occurrence: 12/8/05, 9:30 am

Resume: Troopers are currently on the scene of a motor vehicle accident on Interstate 95 north bound in the area of Route 1, injuries are not reported. This accident involved a tractor trailer that spilled its contents along the highway, causing the multiple lanes of Interstate 95 to be shut down for a short time. As of 7:30 only the left lane of Interstate 95 north bound, at Route 1 has been opened for traffic.

Once the debris is removed from the roadway all lane will be reopened. Expect heavy traffic in this are during the morning commute.

STATE POLICE TARGET DRUGGED DRIVERS WITH NEW IN-HOUSE BLOOD TESTING PROGRAM

Maryland State Police Superintendent Colonel Terrence B. Sheridan will be joined by law enforcement officials, state and federal highway officials, and prosecutors to announce a new drugged driver blood testing program that will assist police departments and state’s attorneys across the State. Drivers under the influence of both illegal and prescription drugs continue to be a menace on Maryland roads.

Blood sample analysis from drugged drivers has previously been a challenge for police departments and prosecutors since it had to be done at a commercial laboratory. Colonel Sheridan will announce Maryland’s remedy to this challenge as part of State Police awareness and enforcement efforts during National Impaired Driving Prevention month as proclaimed by President Barack Obama.

PLEASE NOTE: Earlier in the day, officials will gather in Annapolis with the families of those killed in drunk and drugged driving crashes in Maryland this year. This State Police event is a perfect opportunity to show efforts that are being made to reduce these tragedies in Maryland.

After remarks by police and prosecutors, media will be taken to the Toxicology Unit to see the blood testing equipment in operation. The process will be explained by the head of the testing program, Dr. Ross Lowe.

WHAT: DRUGGED DRIVER BLOOD TESTING PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT

WHEN: WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2009 1:30 P.M.

WHERE: MARYLAND STATE POLICE
FORENSIC SCIENCES LABORATORY
221 MILFORD MILL ROAD
PIKESVILLE, MD 21208

Greens' Real Target: U.S. Economy

Economy: The 16,000 delegates to the two-week-long orgy of self-flagellation known as the Copenhagen Climate Conference want to shrink global output of CO2 not because of hard science, but out of envy.

Even as Climate-gate suggests that sham science lies behind global warming, delegates are swarming into the Scandinavian city to push for steep cuts in carbon dioxide output by industrialized nations.

We'll let others comment on the hypocrisy of those who, while trying to force the rest of us into an ever-smaller carbon footprint, will employ more than 1,200 limousines and 140 private jets while producing 880 pounds of CO2 per attendee at their conference.

Or the even-worse hypocrisy of Rajendra Pachauri, the U.N.'s global warming guru, who in one 19-month period flew 443,243 miles — including trips to have dinner at Washington's Brookings Institution and one memorable overnighter to attend a cricket match — but now wants the rest of us to be forced into a "carbon allowance."

What goes little commented on, however, is the reason for the vehemence of these calls for CO2 sacrifice on the part of the U.S.: a desire to take our economy down.

Having decisively lost the great debate between capitalism and socialism, the only way the global warming socialists can do this is by imposing restrictions on U.S. output in response to the ginned-up "emergency" of global warming.

The dynamics of this can be readily seen in the chart (above right). It shows that, contrary to what you might have heard, America's share of the world economy has remained remarkably stable over 40 years. The same can't be said for the European Union's.

As recently as 2000, in its Lisbon Declaration, the EU asserted it would "leapfrog" the U.S. in productivity and output by 2010. By the time of its midterm review in 2005, however, the chest-thumping was over. It was clear the EU wasn't "leapfrogging" the U.S. — or even staying up with it. Instead, its share of world output was falling at an even faster rate.

From about 36% of world GDP in 1969, the EU today accounts for roughly 27% of the world's $47.9 trillion in output. That's just a tad higher than the U.S., though the EU has 80 million more people.

In just a few years, it will be eclipsed by Asia as a world economic power — thanks mainly to the booming economies of China and India. The U.S. will remain No. 1 or No. 2 for decades to come, based on just about any forecast you choose.

2009 Delmar High Football Championship Parade

2009 Delmar High Football Championship Parade @ Yahoo! Video

Woman Rushed To Hospital From Woods’ Home

WINDERMERE, Fla. - A woman was transported to hospital from Tiger Woods' Florida home after firefighters responded to a medical call early Tuesday, NBC News reported.

According to Orlando-based WESH, the adult female was taken from the $2.6 million masnion "on advanced life support" after firefighters received a call at 2:36 a.m.

A radio log showed an adult female was transported to Health Central Hospital, WESH reported.

GO HERE to read more.