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Saturday, December 12, 2009

Delmar Christmas Parade Cancelled

Hi Joe,

The Delmar Christmas Parade, sponsored by the Greater Delmar Chamber of Commerce has been CANCELLED.
The forecast is for an 80-90 percent chance of heavy rain during the parade time.
The Chamber will not attempt to do another date for the parade this year.

We know there will be some disappointed people but we just do not have the funds or the resources to keep rescheduling.

Hopefully we can have a great parade in 2010.

We'd appreciate you helping us to get the word out once again.

Thank you,

Diane Johnson
Greater Delmar
Chamber of Commerce

"The Joe Albero Show"


Folks, this is by far THE BEST SHOW we've done yet. Be sure to watch the videos on the right hand side of the Blog to catch this week's Show if you don't get it on cable.

I got the final product in last night and it could be up sooner than 10:30 AM but let me assure you, you're going to truly like what we have delivered this week.

Remember, you can see it at 10:30 on WRDE Comcast Channel 9 or Mediacom Channel 99. If you're still not getting in your basic Comcast Channel 9, call me or e-mail me and I'll walk you through what you need to do to get it. It is a BASIC Channel and you get it for free. However, when they switched over to digital broadcast they changed the boxes and you need to call Comcast for a new free digital box. Again, it's FREE from Comcast. If you have Comcast, you should get channel 9. If you don't, call them and tell them you want the new digital box.

That being said, tell us your thoughts after the show airs.

UPDATE: We were having technical difficulties with today's show so we pulled it down temporarily. Once you see Show 5 up on the bottom left hand corner it will be available again. Please be patient while we make the proper corrections.

HISTOICAL COMMENTS BY GEORGE CHEVALLIER


(From the 1908 Business Supplement to the Wicomico Advertiser)


FARMERS AND PLANTERS COMPANY

FERTILIZERS, COAL, LIME, HAIR, FARM IMPLEMENTS,

SEEDS, SHINGLES, BRICKS, ETC.


Among the many big enterprises of Salisbury, there is none that stands higher in her business life or keeps in closer touch with the builders and planters of the Eastern Shore than the Farmers’ and Planters’ Company, of which Mr. Glen Perdue is manager. For many years this company has been supplying the needs of thousands of patrons and they are familiar with the requirements of every kind of soil, and of every locality. The goods handled by them are of the very best and especially adapted to the Eastern Shore. Their fertilizers are manufactured from formulas that years of experimenting have brought the best results in the products peculiar to the Peninsula, and these include “Truckers’ Mixture”, “Special Fish”, “Fish Mixture”, “General Crop Grower”, “Bone and Potash”, “Standard Mixture”, “Special Wheat”, Dry Fish, Dissolved Bone, Raw Bone Meal, High Grade Tankage, Muriate Potage, Nitrate Soda, Dissolved S.C. Rock, and Kamit. In farm implements, they are agents for the world famous Deering Harvesting Machinery, Ideal Binders, Ideal Mowers, Ideal Steel Rakes, Deering Sicle (sic) Grinders, Deering Binding Twine, Imperial Chilled Plows, Imperial Disc Harrows, Hallock Success Weeders, Tiger Corn Planters, Tiger Transplanters, Tiger Disc Harrows, Tiger Riding and Walking Cultivators, McWhorter Fertilizer Distributors, Keystone One-Horse Corn and Pea Planters, Keystone Fertilizer Distributors, Superior Single and Double Disc Drills, Superior Disc One-Horse Corn and Pea Planters. The building materials comprise Lump Lime, Texas Alum lime, Cements, plaster hair, long coat, and winter cow hair, and the company are also selling agents for the Peninsula Brick Company’s red, arch, salmon, and paving bricks. It will be seen from this partial list of specialties handled that the business conducted is very extensive. No contract is too great or too small for this company to undertake, and the trade extends throughout the Eastern Shore country, Delaware and Virginia. The business was established many years ago, and in 1898 Mr. Perdue became the sole proprietor, and under his able direction it has won a place of distinction unexcelled by any enterprise of its kind in this section of Maryland.

Even though this was written 101 years ago, the business is still thriving and is one of the few businesses still around in 2009 performing basically the same service. The ad pictured is from the First Great Fair in Salisbury in 1909. The Fair was held on the SE corner of Pemberton Drive and Parsons Road.)

A Local Family In Need

Hi Joe,

I am writing to you because I read your blog all the time and I know you do a lot of good works and reach a lot of people with the causes you champion.

There is a family that is in need of help right now and I thought you might be able to help with getting the word out.

Here is their story:

Tommy and Beth Phillips and their two children live in Fruitland. The children are now 10 and 12. About 7 years ago their son, Dustin, was diagnosed with cancer and had to have chemotherapy, his right hand was amputated and last year he had cancer on his tongue and the doctors had to remove 1/3 of his tongue. They have long since reached the maximum lifetime medical benefits of $1,000,000.00 and as a result they have to get insurance for him through the government. The only way to get that medical insurance is if they don’t make over a certain amount of money, as a result of all this, the mother had to quit her job, initially to be the primary caregiver to the child, and also because if she works then their son will not have any medical insurance. It is a terrible Catch 22.

They have tried to make the best of the situation and she is homeschooling the children. The salary that Tommy makes is budgeted to the penny for all their bills. They don’t have any extra money for anything. Last week we found out that they are really having a hard time right now. Tommy called a friend of ours last week asking for help. He had gotten a deer but didn’t have the money to take it to the butcher but he said they really needed the food. So, my husband and our friend helped Tommy butcher it so they wouldn’t be without food. We have helped them some but their needs are too great for us to make an impact. Just in the past few months they have had their heat pump go bad, the dryer died, their stove only has 1 burner that works and he had to get tires on his truck so that he could make it to work. As a result of the chemotherapy that Dustin had his baby teeth have never fallen out so his teeth are coming in all crooked. They have to have 11 teeth pulled at $100.00 per tooth. The insurance will not cover any of that, nor will it cover any portion of the braces that he needs. They said last weekend they had $22.00 leftover after they paid their bills and they got $10.00 in food and $12.00 in gas so he could get to work. They have to take Dustin to Johns Hopkins a few days after Christmas for a checkup and they don’t have the money for gas and parking for that. The list just goes on and on. They have had to declare bankruptcy and are 3 months behind in their mortgage payments.

These are good people that have had a rough time the last 7 years as a result of all the medical issues with their son. This could happen to any of us.

Joe, it would be a huge blessing if any of your readers could help this family out. I don’t know if there is a dentist out there that may be willing to donate their
services to this family to help out. It would be wonderful if anyone else would be able to help them out by monetary donations or gift cards for gas, grocery stores, Walmart, anything at this point would be a huge help to them.

If anyone can help them out they can mail their help to : Tommy and Beth Phillips, 104 Walden Drive, Fruitland MD 21826

Thanks for sharing this with everyone Joe.

Teresa H.

Brooke Mulford Update


Hello Everyone,

First of all, thank you so much for hanging in there with us after all this time. There is still such a long way to go. Thank you also for everyone that sent cards and gifts for Brooke's 5th birthday on 11/27. She was able to enjoy 3 mini birthday parties with family and Dr. Dave & Miss Liz (honorary family at this point)! She had a good couple weeks at home and was able to gain the 3 lbs she lost during her last treatment. Part of this phase of her treatment involves taking the drug Accutane (usually prescribed for severe acne) which only comes in pill form so she had to learn how to swallow pills. She has done remarkably well (not surprising to her proud mama) and has for the past 14 days been taking 4 pills a day.

Brooke was admitted to CHOP yesterday (Wed) and started the first part (IL2) of her second round of Immunotherapy this morning. So far she is tolerating it well but this is typically a pretty easy week while next week (thurs) when she starts the 2nd part of round 2 (IL2 + antibodies) is typically very difficult. Please keep her in your prayers. She hopefully gets a mini break between the 2 parts and may be discharged on Mon for about 48 hrs. If all goes well with the 2nd part she should be discharged on Mon 12/21 (hoping we make it home for Christmas)! From what I understand, most kids feel pretty cruddy for about a week after this round. It was Christmas Eve last year when her syptoms started and she felt pretty bad last Christmas day. Would love to see her feeling strong and great this year and really be able to enjoy herself. Knowing Brooke, she won't care where she is on Christmas day. She is just as happy being here at CHOP as she is at home! Either way we are just truly blessed that she is with us this Christmas. I know everyone is probably stressed at the moment and franticly trying to get ready for the holidays but try to take a deep breath and enjoy this time of year with your loved ones and remember the true meaning of Christmas
.
I will do my best to keep you posted but hoping for an uneventful week (2 uneventful weeks would be fantastic)!

Blessings,
Amy

Wicomico County Sheriff's Office Press Release

Incident: Flee and Elude / Resist Arrest
Date of Incident: 10 December 2009
Location: 800 block of Miami Avenue
Suspect: Ronnie L. Bivens, 48, Chance, MD

Narrative: On 10 December 2009
at 12:20 AM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office attempted to stop a vehicle for suspicion of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol on Naylor Mill Road. Instead of stopping, the operator, later identified as Ronnie Bivens of Chance, MD, continued without stopping. Additional Sheriff’s Office personnel attempted to also get Bivens to stop as he continued to elude law enforcement personnel. A stop stick device was deployed successfully by Sheriff’s Office personnel which caused one of the tires on Bivens’ vehicle to become deflated. Bivens managed to continue eluding in his vehicle until Miami Avenue, at which point Bivens exited his vehicle and attempted to flee on foot. WCSO personnel located Bivens hiding underneath a van parked nearby in a residential yard where Bivens did not live. Upon locating Bivens, he struggled and resisted the efforts of deputies to place him under arrest.

Based on Bivens’ actions and the observations of the deputies, Bivens was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Attempting to Flee and Elude and Resisting Arrest. Bivens was transported to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, Bivens was detained by the Commissioner in the Detention Center in lieu of $25,000.00 bond.

Charges:
Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol
Driving While Impaired by Alcohol
Attempt by Driver to Flee and Elude
Resisting Arrest

Incident: Possession of Cocaine with the Intent to Distribute
Date of Incident: 11 December 2009
Location: Airport Road, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Maurice A. Jackson, 31, Snow Hill, MD

Narrative: On 11 December at 9:43 AM
, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office stopped a vehicle operated by Maurice Jackson for speeding on Airport Road in Salisbury. During the deputy’s contact with Jackson, the deputy discovered that Jackson did not have a valid driver’s license and was extremely nervous to be in the presence of a law enforcement officer. A WCSO drug K9 team arrived and scanned the vehicle for the presence of the odor of illegal drugs, during which the K9 alerted positively to that odor. Based on the alert, the deputy searched the vehicle. During the search, the deputy located two baggies containing what the deputy instantly recognized as cocaine. The amount located was indicative that it was destined for distribution and sale.

Jackson 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, Jackson was detained by the Commissioner in the Detention Center in lieu of $20,000.00 bond

Charges:
Possession of Cocaine
Possession of Cocaine with the Intent to Distribute

GOVERNOR MARTIN O'MALLEY CONGRATULATES COLLECTIVE BANKING GROUP ON 14 YEARS OF COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE

UPPER MARLBORO, MD – Governor Martin O’Malley will offer congratulatory remarks this evening at the 14th Anniversary gala of the Collective Banking Group, a ministry whose mission is to establish covenant relationships with member churches and partnerships with financial institutions and other organizations for economic empowerment. The Collective Banking Group, Inc. (CBG) was formed in 1993 as a result of concerns raised by pastors and church members in Prince Georges County and the Metropolitan D.C. area regarding inequitable access to services provided by local banks and businesses. Since taking office, Governor O’Malley has formed partnerships with CBG to increase outreach efforts to market foreclosure assistance programs to targeted communities.

“I want to congratulate the Collective Banking Group, its board members, its supporters, and all who are involved in this noble effort on 14 years of this great and important organization,” said Governor O’Malley. “As Marylanders we have always understood that we progress on the strength, not the weakness of our neighbors. That our greatest strength flows from our diversity, our connection to one another, and from a deeper understanding that there is more that unites us than divides us. We’re united by our belief in our shared responsibility to advance the common good.”

In 2007, Governor O’Malley successfully fought for some of the most sweeping foreclosure reforms in the nation, leading to the MDHOPE program’s counselors having aided nearly 30,000 consumers and helped more than 9,400 homeowners avoid foreclosure. Maryland’s HOPE program has been successful in attacking the foreclosure crisis from every angle. In partnership with the Maryland Bar Association, the Pro Bono Resource Center, and Civil Justice, State agencies have trained attorneys to assist Maryland homeowners through the HOPE hotline. More than 700 attorneys have volunteers to be part of the Foreclosure Prevention Pro Bono Project and are helping homeowners at workshops, assisting with individual cases, and advising nonprofit housing counseling agencies. The HOPE hotline has fielded more than 25,000 calls since being established in 2008.

“Tonight, we celebrate all of our partners and the success we have achieved together. We are especially proud of our partnerships with the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development to help ease the foreclosure crisis in our area. And our partnership with Marlo Furniture has provided extraordinary benefits to our members,” said Reverend Dr. Kerry A.Hill, CBG President. “We are grateful, as well, to our 2009 honorees for all they have done in their respective fields to promote economic empowerment among our members and in our communities.”

The State of Maryland formed a partnership with CBG in 2009 to increase outreach efforts to promote the HOPE program, leading to the distribution of thousands of “Mortgage Late? Don’t Wait!” brochures and foreclosure prevention literature every month, as well as workshops, seminars, and aid in foreclosure prevention efforts throughout Prince George’s County.

In addition to engaging the faith community on foreclosure prevention initiatives, the Governor has also reached out to faith leaders to become involved with the Partnership to End Childhood Hunger, an initiative launched by Governor O’Malley to make Maryland the first state in the nation to end childhood hunger within its borders. The Partnership will help reach children at risk of hunger in Maryland by increasing participation in highly effective but under-utilized federal food and nutrition programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps), the Summer Food Service Program, School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs and the Child and Adult Care Food Program. The Partnership will bring additional federal funds to the State of Maryland in order to increase enrollment and participation in existing programs. Recently, the Governor convened the Prince George’s County Faith-Based Hunger Summit to discuss the initiative and engage community and faith leaders to become involved.

Finally, in line with CBG’s “Economic Empowerment” mission, Governor O’Malley recently launched MBE University, which will serve as a traveling conference throughout Maryland to offer training, opportunities, and information on the tools necessary for minority or woman-owned businesses to expand, create jobs, and thrive even in difficult economic times. Maryland is home to the oldest MBE program in the nation, and it has established the highest minority- and women-owned business contracting goals in the nation at 25 percent. In addition, Maryland is one of only 15 states in the nation with MBE goals and one of only 4 states with an MBE law in statute. Maryland remains the only state in the nation to collect uniform reporting data including actual payments to MBEs.

Christmas Party

Company Memo

FROM: Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director

TO: All Employees

DATE: October 1, 2009

RE: Gala Christmas Party

I'm happy to inform you that the company Christmas Party will take place on December 23rd, starting at noon in the private function room at the Grill House. There will be a cash bar and plenty of drinks! We'll have a small band playing traditional carols... feel free to sing along. And don't be surprised if our CEO shows up dressed as Santa Claus! A Christmas tree will be lit at 1:00 PM. Exchanges of gifts among employees can be done at that time; however, no gift should be over $10.00 to make the giving of gifts easy for everyone's pockets. This gathering is only for employees!

Our CEO will make a special announcement at that time!

Merry Christmas to you and your family,

Patty

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Company Memo

FROM: Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director

TO: All Employees

DATE: October 2, 2009

RE: Gala Holiday Party

In no way was yesterday's memo intended to exclude our Jewish employees. We recognize that Hanukkah is an important holiday, which often coincides with Christmas, though unfortunately not this year. However, from now on, we're calling it our "Holiday Party." The same policy applies to any other employees who are not Christians and to those still celebrating Reconciliation Day. There will be no Christmas tree and no Christmas carols will be sung. We will have other types of music for your enjoyment.

Happy now?

Happy Holidays to you and your family,

Patty

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Company Memo

FROM: Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director

TO: All Employees

DATE: October 3, 2009

RE: Holiday Party

Regarding the note I received from a member of Alcoholics Anonymous requesting a non-drinking table, you didn't sign your name. I'm happy to accommodate this request, but if I put a sign on a table that reads, "AA Only", you wouldn't be anonymous anymore. How am I supposed to handle this?

Somebody?

And sorry, but forget about the gift exchange, no gifts are allowed since the union members feel that $10.00 is too much money and the executives believe $10.00 is a little chintzy.

REMEMBER: NO GIFTS EXCHANGE WILL BE ALLOWED.

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Company Memo

FROM: Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director

To: All Employees

DATE: October 4, 2009

RE: Generic Holiday Party

What a diverse group we are! I had no idea that December 20th begins the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which forbids eating and drinking during daylight hours. There goes the party! Seriously, we can appreciate how a luncheon at this time of year does not accommodate our Muslim employees' beliefs. Perhaps the Grill House can hold off on serving your meal until the end of the party or else package everything for you to take it home in little foil doggy baggy. Will that work?

Meanwhile, I've arranged for members of Weight Watchers to sit farthest from the dessert buffet, and pregnant women will get the table closest to the restrooms.

Gays are allowed to sit with each other. Lesbians do not have to sit with Gay men, each group will have their own table. Yes, there will be flower arrangement for the Gay men's table.

To the person asking permission to cross dress, the Grill House asks that no cross-dressing be allowed, apparently because of concerns about confusion in the restrooms. Sorry.

We will have booster seats for short people.

Low-fat food will be available for those on a diet.

I am sorry to report that we cannot control the amount of salt used in the food. The Grill House suggests that people with high blood pressure taste a bite first.

There will be fresh "low sugar" fruits as dessert for diabetics, but the restaurant cannot supply "no sugar" desserts. Sorry!

Did I miss anything?!?!?

Patty

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Company Memo

FROM: Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director

TO: All F*%^ing Employees

DATE: October 5, 2009

RE: The F*%^ing Holiday Party

I've had it with you vegetarian pricks!!! We're going to keep this party at the Grill House whether you like it or not, so you can sit quietly at the table furthest from the "grill of death," as you so quaintly put it, and you'll get your f*%^ing salad bar, including organic tomatoes. But you know, tomatoes have feelings, too. They scream when you slice them. I've heard them scream. I'm hearing them scream right NOW!

The rest of you f*%^ing wierdos can kiss my *ss. I hope you all have a rotten holiday!

Drive drunk and die,

The B*tch from H*ll!!!

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Company Memo

FROM: Joan Bishop, Acting Human Resources Director

DATE: October 6, 2009

RE: Patty Lewis and Holiday Party

I'm sure I speak for all of us in wishing Patty Lewis a speedy recovery and I'll continue to forward your cards to her.

In the meantime, management has decided to cancel our Holiday Party and give everyone the afternoon of the 23rd off with full pay.

Happy Holidays!

Joan