DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Sunday, January 24, 2010
School Closed Monday & Tuesday In Wicomico County
Just in case you haven't received a phone call from the WCBOE, Students are getting off yet again for two days worth of "professional days" Monday & Tuesday.
O'Malley To Seek Sex Law Reform
But some say tough legislation on the books has been largely ignored
Gov. Martin O'Malley will announce this week that he wants lifetime supervision of violent and repeat sex offenders, part of a flood of promised reforms in the wake of the murder of an 11-year-old Eastern Shore girl. A registered sex offender is charged with abducting Sarah Foxwell, whose body was found Christmas Day.
But as the Democratic governor introduces new proposals, some lawmakers want him to explain why get-tough laws already on the books have barely been used.
Emergency legislation from 2006 called for extra supervision of certain sex offenders, ranging from three years to a lifetime. Not a single person has been subjected to that extension, despite predictions it would affect at least 475 offenders every year.
That same measure created an advisory board to recommend overhauls of the entire sex offender system and issue its findings at the end of last year. The 13-member board was to include members of the governor's cabinet and citizens appointed by him.
The board has never met, and no report was produced.
Another law, enacted Oct. 1, 2007, requires judges to order mental health evaluations of all child sexual abusers at the time of sentencing as a way to help differentiate one-time offenders from dangerous predators.
Just two such evaluations have occurred, a tiny fraction of the people convicted of sexual abuse of a minor.
"It's worse than doing nothing," Del. Luiz R.S. Simmons, a Montgomery County Democrat, said of the little-used laws. "We have created the illusion that we are moving forward, when in fact we have been moving backward. It's as if we lost our weapon. We have a legislative weapon, and we put it in a drawer somewhere and forgot about it."
Such inaction stokes citizen cynicism that is especially potent in the current political climate, said John Bambacus, a former Republican state senator and emeritus political science professor at Frostburg State University. And with a gubernatorial campaign on the horizon, people are even more sensitive to election-year promises that yield no results.
"It's indefensible. This erodes confidence in the legislative process," he said. "Sex offenders - you can't find a more serious topic. It's not the kind of issue where you can fall asleep at the switch."
Aides to the governor say that many aspects of the 2006 legislation, which had been a top agenda item for Republican former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., were simply unworkable, if not outright illegal. They argue that O'Malley has made dramatic improvements to the supervision of sex offenders even without a board report.
If O'Malley were the type of official "who needed to wait for the recommendations of a board before taking action, then the fact that the board never met could be a problem," said Joseph C. Bryce, the governor's legislative affairs chief. "But he has never been that kind of person."
Shaun Adamec, a spokesman for the governor, said that under O'Malley's watch, sex offenders are now supervised by specially trained agents and are required to receive the strictest probationary terms. Many are monitored by global positioning ankle devices, with a zero-tolerance policy for violations.
O'Malley also dedicated resources to processing thousands of DNA samples which led to more matches on the database - and the arrest of numerous sex offenders - in the first eight months of his administration than in the previous eight years, Adamec said.
Aides outlined what they saw as problems with the 2006 legislation, saying the extended supervision provision, a responsibility given to the Maryland Parole Commission, seemed to trample the sentencing authority of judges. Public safety officials were advised that part of the law is unconstitutional, Bryce said.
And the sexual offender board, overseen by the state Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, didn't have enough people with expertise in sex offender treatment, the aides said, something the agency unsuccessfully tried to fix twice with more legislation.
"When [the governor] saw something that wasn't working, he went to the legislature to get it fixed," Bryce said. "I know of no better way to say to a legislative body that a law is nonfunctional than to put a bill in to fix it. The governor should be applauded for trying to fix a well-intentioned law that didn't work and couldn't work."
As for why just two mental health evaluations have been conducted on child sex offenders, despite the 2007 law requiring judges to order them, "We've sort of wondered why, as well," said W. Lawrence Fitch, director of forensic service for the state Mental Hygiene Administration.
Fitch said half a dozen psychologists on contract with the agency are trained to perform the evaluations. The state sentencing commission told Simmons that nearly 300 people have been convicted of sexual abuse of a minor in the past three years.
"We really don't know why we're not being called," Fitch said. "We can speculate ... it's possible the bench and the bar just don't know about the law."
GO HERE to read more.
EDITORS NOTE: I'm so pleased we put enough pressure on O'Malley and the Democrats that they would look into the current laws on the books and make the necessary changes to meet the times. Clearly the Democrats knew their ways of thinking are NOT going to fly in the state of Maryland. Keep hammering them Folks, we're nowhere near done yet. I'm very proud of all of you.
Wal-Mart Cutting 10,000 Jobs At Sam’s Club
Amount is about nine percent of the staff at warehouse club retailer
NEW YORK - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said Sunday it is cutting more than 10,000 jobs at Sam's Club, representing about 9 percent of the warehouse club operator's staff, as it outsources its product-sampling department to marketing company Shopper Events and eliminates another unit.
"Our demos can be a competitive advantage and we want to take this member experience to the next level," said Sam's Club CEO Brian Cornell in a memo to staffers.
Employees were told the news at mandatory meetings on Sunday morning.
GO HERE to read more.
Impersonating Names
Folks, JT is on a major rampage along with the three followers he seems to have. They are impersonating every ones names and posting them with nasty comments.
That being said, for the time being, I'm rejecting all of the comments with names on them that are not registered names with Blogger.
I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause but I'm more confident you'll appreciate my doing so in order to keep your reputation on the Blogs clean.
Unless you're registered with Blogger, just use anonymous for the time being.
That being said, for the time being, I'm rejecting all of the comments with names on them that are not registered names with Blogger.
I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause but I'm more confident you'll appreciate my doing so in order to keep your reputation on the Blogs clean.
Unless you're registered with Blogger, just use anonymous for the time being.
A Letter To The Editor
"Audit finds $3.5M for roads," Jan. 14, and "Our View: Lessons from county audit," Jan. 21
On Jan. 14, The Daily Times reported that an audit of Wicomico County's 2009 financial statements by accounting firm PKS & Co found the following discrepancies and problems:
$3.5 million unspent road funds were mistakenly classified as not available.
A lack of oversight existed for the State Attorney's Office checking account.
The Finance Department was tardy in completing its financial information, there was insufficient tracking of the roads division stone supply and use of split invoices persisted in several county departments such as was used during the landfill fraud. Finance Director Pat Peterson said, "I don't think there was that many of them and didn't know which departments had engaged in the practice."
County Councilman Joe Holloway said the issues with the State Attorney's office had been going on for two years and said it's upsetting the county didn't realize it had another $3.5 million available for road funds.
The Daily Times editorial of Jan. 21 described the audit as yielding "some interesting information," while focusing mostly on the $1,630 purchase of the four trash cans, which sparked public outrage. The sudden revelation the county now has $3.5 million more to spend on roads got less attention.
As the outrage about the trash cans tapers off, will there at least be some concern for problems some of us consider far more troubling?
Jack McAllister
Salisbury
On Jan. 14, The Daily Times reported that an audit of Wicomico County's 2009 financial statements by accounting firm PKS & Co found the following discrepancies and problems:
$3.5 million unspent road funds were mistakenly classified as not available.
A lack of oversight existed for the State Attorney's Office checking account.
The Finance Department was tardy in completing its financial information, there was insufficient tracking of the roads division stone supply and use of split invoices persisted in several county departments such as was used during the landfill fraud. Finance Director Pat Peterson said, "I don't think there was that many of them and didn't know which departments had engaged in the practice."
County Councilman Joe Holloway said the issues with the State Attorney's office had been going on for two years and said it's upsetting the county didn't realize it had another $3.5 million available for road funds.
The Daily Times editorial of Jan. 21 described the audit as yielding "some interesting information," while focusing mostly on the $1,630 purchase of the four trash cans, which sparked public outrage. The sudden revelation the county now has $3.5 million more to spend on roads got less attention.
As the outrage about the trash cans tapers off, will there at least be some concern for problems some of us consider far more troubling?
Jack McAllister
Salisbury
Wicomico County Should Follow Montgomery's Lead In Waiving Maintenance of Effort
Wicomico elected officials should take heed to Montgomery County's attempt to legislatively change their Maintenance of Effort requirement.
However, unlike Montgomery's Congressional Delegation - some of our elected representatives were previously employed by the BOE - and may be unwilling to compromise.
But - do not be discouraged Wicomico officials - for there are 139 other House Delegates -(outside our territorial jurisdiction) - that may also be interested in waiving the MOE should you decide to pursue the same course of action that Montgomery County has chosen.
READ ON!
http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/HB0223.htm
However, unlike Montgomery's Congressional Delegation - some of our elected representatives were previously employed by the BOE - and may be unwilling to compromise.
But - do not be discouraged Wicomico officials - for there are 139 other House Delegates -(outside our territorial jurisdiction) - that may also be interested in waiving the MOE should you decide to pursue the same course of action that Montgomery County has chosen.
READ ON!
http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/HB0223.htm
Hoyer Asks GOP To Be 'Constructive' And Join Budget-Enforcement Agreement
In praising an agreement reached this week on statutory pay-go legislation, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) asked Republicans to back the budget enforcement effort in the Senate.
Hoyer said the deal reached between senior Democrats in Congress and the White House [note that the Republicans were still locked out of the room-- Editor] would help reduce the record budget deficit and restore fiscal discipline.
"I hope Republicans will choose to be a part of offering constructive solutions for addressing the fiscal challenges facing our nation," he said in a statement. "It has received bipartisan support in the past, and I hope that it will receive bipartisan support in the Senate and the House."
Republicans have criticized the Democrats' pay-go plan, saying that it contains too many loopholes. Some Senate Democrats, including Budget Committee chairman Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) previously criticized the House bill. Conrad, though, was part of the negotiations with the White House.
Prison Pampered?
I have a contact at the Maryland Division of Corrections who got a hold of me today concerned about a new policy handed down by the state of Maryland. Apparently inmates at ECI and Westover now will be able to hang out in their cells and practice their skills on their Play Station 2's while they serve time for rape, child molestation, murder, theft, burglary, drug dealing, or whatever crime landed them there. This is already the policy in Western Maryland. These Play Station 2's are not provided or paid for by the state but they now get to use them as part of their "rehabilitation".
You may be aware that some years ago Maryland allowed the use of DVD players for inmates and it didn't work out so well as the use of pornography was prohibited but the inmates none the less acquired porn and DVD's in the prison cells were eventually banned. Now they get to use play station 2's to pass the long days, something that is not going over well with many at the local DOC.
"While all of our standards of living are going down" my contact said; "the standard of living for those incarcerated for child molestation and drug dealing is going up."
Along with the issues and problems of prosecuting child sex offenders in this state, he went on to explain to me the "good conduct credits" many prisoners get depending on what level of sex offense they are convicted on. "Many child molesters get more good conduct credits (10 days a month reduced sentence) then someone who gets caught in possession of a joint."
There are clearly problems in our "system."
After that call, I spoke to someone else who had a different opinion. They didn't feel like it was a big deal. They felt it was more of a bi-product of staffing. Another words, too many prisoners, not enough correction officers. They felt the play station would keep the prisoners more "occupied" and gave the prison more leverage over the prisoner.
Personally, I don't really think we should be allowing prisoners who are incarcerated for such serious crimes, access to these types of luxury items.
Interestingly, Prisoners in the UK have been supplied with computer games and consoles costing thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money since 2008.
What do you think?
Interesting/Powerful
To realize
The value of a sister/brother
Ask someone
Who doesn't have one.
To realize
The value of ten years:
Ask a newly
Divorced couple.
To realize
The value of four years:
Ask a graduate.
To realize
The value of one year:
Ask a student who
Has failed a final exam.
To realize The value of nine months:
Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.
To realize
The value of one month:
Ask a mother
Who has given birth to
A premature baby.....
To realize
The value of one week:
Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.
To realize
The value of one minute:
Ask a person
Who has missed the train, bus or plane..
To realize
The value of one-second:
Ask a person
Who has survived an accident.
Time waits for no one.
Treasure every moment you have.
You will treasure it even more when
You can share it with someone special.
To realize the value of a friend or family member:
LOSE ONE.
The value of a sister/brother
Ask someone
Who doesn't have one.
To realize
The value of ten years:
Ask a newly
Divorced couple.
To realize
The value of four years:
Ask a graduate.
To realize
The value of one year:
Ask a student who
Has failed a final exam.
To realize The value of nine months:
Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.
To realize
The value of one month:
Ask a mother
Who has given birth to
A premature baby.....
To realize
The value of one week:
Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.
To realize
The value of one minute:
Ask a person
Who has missed the train, bus or plane..
To realize
The value of one-second:
Ask a person
Who has survived an accident.
Time waits for no one.
Treasure every moment you have.
You will treasure it even more when
You can share it with someone special.
To realize the value of a friend or family member:
LOSE ONE.
The O's
Don't think this will help us this season:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bal-miguel-tejada0123,0,1968583.story
Curt Motten died (backup outfeilder for the O's in the 70s): http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bal-curt-motton-dies-0122,0,3563360.story
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bal-miguel-tejada0123,0,1968583.story
Curt Motten died (backup outfeilder for the O's in the 70s): http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bal-curt-motton-dies-0122,0,3563360.story
Chewing gum and baling wire
Our view: Gov. O'Malley's budget proposal is held together with transfers and one-time fixes, leaving significant unresolved fiscal problems in the years ahead
This article from The Baltimore Sun deserves to be posted and read in it's entirety. Governor O'Malley's solutions to his woefully poor ability to balance Maryland's budget, is to take loans from the feds, which flies in the face of the state constitution requiring a balanced the budget. You can't really balance a budget on loans. It's like taking a second mortgage on your house to pay your mortgage.
Here's the article:
To get beyond all the spin from both sides about the state budget, take a quick look at Appendix F in the back of the budget highlights book Gov. Martin O'Malley released Tuesday. That's where you find the state's general fund summary and a forecast of what is likely to happen to Maryland's finances over the next five years. It is the Rosetta Stone of state budgets.
Here's what it says this year: Governor O'Malley's spending plan would, if all goes according to plan, leave $274 million in the state's bank account at the end of fiscal 2011. That's good. It would also leave the rainy day fund alone, also a fine thing. After that, things go south -- and fast.
The Department of Budget and Management predicts that Maryland will be $1.5 billion in the hole in fiscal 2012, followed by shortfalls of $2.1 billion, $2.2 billion and $2.5 billion. Former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. complained that his predecessor left him with $4 billion in out-year deficits, and Governor O'Malley complained that Mr. Ehrlich left him with $3 billion in shortfalls. But with this spending plan, Mr. O'Malley saddles himself or his successor with an $8.3 billion problem. The governor said putting together this budget plan was painful, but it's peanuts compared to what's coming in the future if something doesn't change.
To be sure, those long-term forecasts aren't all that accurate. Governor Ehrlich's problems turned out to be less severe than expected because of the real estate boom, and Governor O'Malley's turned out to be much worse because of the recession. But there's good reason to worry that the state's projections for this year and the four after that are overly optimistic.
For starters, Governor O'Malley's budget relies on $389 million he expects to come from Washington in the form of aid for states struggling with the economic downturn. That was never a guarantee, but after Republicans secured a 41st Senate seat in Tuesday's special election in Massachusetts, giving them enough members to sustain a filibuster, that money is looking less like a safe bet. And for another thing, the governor's plan expects a 3 percent growth in tax collections in the fiscal year that starts in July and 5 percent annual increases in the four years after that. Tax revenues may not be plummeting anymore, and the advent of slot machine gambling will help Maryland's bottom line. But the weakness of the economic recovery casts doubt on how quickly tax collections will rebound.
In fairness, Governor O'Malley has gone to the Board of Public Works again and again to secure program cuts, and he offers more in this proposal. He has furloughed state employees repeatedly, eliminated some 3,500 positions -- about 400 of which were filled -- closed state hospitals, cut aid to local governments and private colleges and reduced Medicaid payments to hospitals. How is it that he still hasn't solved the problem for good?
The answer is that too many of the solutions he has employed are one-time tactics, not long-term fixes. For example, the governor saves $330 million in the fiscal 2011 budget by keeping most aid to local governments funded at the already-reduced level they are at now. But in subsequent years, that aid is expected to grow by 5.9 percent a year. He saves $78 million through continuations of employee furloughs, but that isn't a permanent solution either. He shifts money from special funds, like those dedicated to preserving open space, into the general fund and pays for those programs through the the state's capital budget, effectively borrowing money for them. Because they displace other capital projects, they won't increase the state's debt burden, but nonetheless, Maryland's debt service payments are expected to grow by hundreds of millions of dollars in the future.
Republicans are criticizing this budget as a mere bridge to tax increases after the 2010 election. Their criticism rings a bit hollow, since they have offered few concrete ideas for reducing spending and, in fact, the last budget many of them supported was Mr. Ehrlich's fiscal 2007 proposal, which included the largest single-year spending increase in decades. Still, what comes next is a fair question, and the O'Malley administration hasn't said much about finding a way to fix the structural gap in the state budget.
It will certainly be tempting for Mr. O'Malley's fellow Democrats in Maryland's General Assembly to accept the governor's accounting gimmicks and hope for the best in the 2010 election, but it should be clear to them that Maryland's current tax revenues can't support our present level of spending and won't be able to any time in the near future. It is past time to look at the state government and decide what we can live without. Every program has a constituency, but some are more deserving than others, and we elect our legislators to make those decisions. It is also past time we stopped protecting the alcohol industry and raised beer, wine and spirits taxes to reasonable levels.
In the long term, we suffer a persistent problem because of our tax structure. Income tax revenues, which make up 20 percent of the budget, are extremely sensitive to economic conditions, and the sales tax, the next biggest chunk at 12 percent, doesn't track well with economic growth because it applies almost exclusively to goods rather than services. Efforts to change that have tended to fail in the face of special interest politics, but a wholesale shift in which Maryland reduced the sales tax rate but expanded the levy to apply to all services would help free the state budget from its boom-bust cycle.
Governor O'Malley has been given an extremely difficult hand to play, and an argument can be made that his strategy of using transfers and one-time fixes is better than cutting services. But it can't last forever. Maryland's long-term budget outlook is uglier than it has ever been, and kicking the problems down the road is only going to make them worse.
This article from The Baltimore Sun deserves to be posted and read in it's entirety. Governor O'Malley's solutions to his woefully poor ability to balance Maryland's budget, is to take loans from the feds, which flies in the face of the state constitution requiring a balanced the budget. You can't really balance a budget on loans. It's like taking a second mortgage on your house to pay your mortgage.Here's the article:
To get beyond all the spin from both sides about the state budget, take a quick look at Appendix F in the back of the budget highlights book Gov. Martin O'Malley released Tuesday. That's where you find the state's general fund summary and a forecast of what is likely to happen to Maryland's finances over the next five years. It is the Rosetta Stone of state budgets.
Here's what it says this year: Governor O'Malley's spending plan would, if all goes according to plan, leave $274 million in the state's bank account at the end of fiscal 2011. That's good. It would also leave the rainy day fund alone, also a fine thing. After that, things go south -- and fast.
The Department of Budget and Management predicts that Maryland will be $1.5 billion in the hole in fiscal 2012, followed by shortfalls of $2.1 billion, $2.2 billion and $2.5 billion. Former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. complained that his predecessor left him with $4 billion in out-year deficits, and Governor O'Malley complained that Mr. Ehrlich left him with $3 billion in shortfalls. But with this spending plan, Mr. O'Malley saddles himself or his successor with an $8.3 billion problem. The governor said putting together this budget plan was painful, but it's peanuts compared to what's coming in the future if something doesn't change.
To be sure, those long-term forecasts aren't all that accurate. Governor Ehrlich's problems turned out to be less severe than expected because of the real estate boom, and Governor O'Malley's turned out to be much worse because of the recession. But there's good reason to worry that the state's projections for this year and the four after that are overly optimistic.
For starters, Governor O'Malley's budget relies on $389 million he expects to come from Washington in the form of aid for states struggling with the economic downturn. That was never a guarantee, but after Republicans secured a 41st Senate seat in Tuesday's special election in Massachusetts, giving them enough members to sustain a filibuster, that money is looking less like a safe bet. And for another thing, the governor's plan expects a 3 percent growth in tax collections in the fiscal year that starts in July and 5 percent annual increases in the four years after that. Tax revenues may not be plummeting anymore, and the advent of slot machine gambling will help Maryland's bottom line. But the weakness of the economic recovery casts doubt on how quickly tax collections will rebound.
In fairness, Governor O'Malley has gone to the Board of Public Works again and again to secure program cuts, and he offers more in this proposal. He has furloughed state employees repeatedly, eliminated some 3,500 positions -- about 400 of which were filled -- closed state hospitals, cut aid to local governments and private colleges and reduced Medicaid payments to hospitals. How is it that he still hasn't solved the problem for good?
The answer is that too many of the solutions he has employed are one-time tactics, not long-term fixes. For example, the governor saves $330 million in the fiscal 2011 budget by keeping most aid to local governments funded at the already-reduced level they are at now. But in subsequent years, that aid is expected to grow by 5.9 percent a year. He saves $78 million through continuations of employee furloughs, but that isn't a permanent solution either. He shifts money from special funds, like those dedicated to preserving open space, into the general fund and pays for those programs through the the state's capital budget, effectively borrowing money for them. Because they displace other capital projects, they won't increase the state's debt burden, but nonetheless, Maryland's debt service payments are expected to grow by hundreds of millions of dollars in the future.
Republicans are criticizing this budget as a mere bridge to tax increases after the 2010 election. Their criticism rings a bit hollow, since they have offered few concrete ideas for reducing spending and, in fact, the last budget many of them supported was Mr. Ehrlich's fiscal 2007 proposal, which included the largest single-year spending increase in decades. Still, what comes next is a fair question, and the O'Malley administration hasn't said much about finding a way to fix the structural gap in the state budget.
It will certainly be tempting for Mr. O'Malley's fellow Democrats in Maryland's General Assembly to accept the governor's accounting gimmicks and hope for the best in the 2010 election, but it should be clear to them that Maryland's current tax revenues can't support our present level of spending and won't be able to any time in the near future. It is past time to look at the state government and decide what we can live without. Every program has a constituency, but some are more deserving than others, and we elect our legislators to make those decisions. It is also past time we stopped protecting the alcohol industry and raised beer, wine and spirits taxes to reasonable levels.
In the long term, we suffer a persistent problem because of our tax structure. Income tax revenues, which make up 20 percent of the budget, are extremely sensitive to economic conditions, and the sales tax, the next biggest chunk at 12 percent, doesn't track well with economic growth because it applies almost exclusively to goods rather than services. Efforts to change that have tended to fail in the face of special interest politics, but a wholesale shift in which Maryland reduced the sales tax rate but expanded the levy to apply to all services would help free the state budget from its boom-bust cycle.
Governor O'Malley has been given an extremely difficult hand to play, and an argument can be made that his strategy of using transfers and one-time fixes is better than cutting services. But it can't last forever. Maryland's long-term budget outlook is uglier than it has ever been, and kicking the problems down the road is only going to make them worse.
MSP Press Release
DATE & TIME: 01-22-10 1947
LOCATION: East Wicomico County Willards area.
CASE NUMBER: 10-54-000662
CRIME: Domestic Assault
VICTIM: Anthony Paul Ignatius Leto, Ashley Lauren Lewis
Accused: 1. Brian Keith Cooper
BRIEF RESUME: On 01-22-10 at 1947 hours Tpr. Dudiak was distpatched to the area of Powellville Rd. in Willards, for a alleged Domestic Assault in progress . The victims stated that the accused struck Leto in the head as well as under the arm and right leg with a 2x4 piece of lumber. Lewis was also allegedly struck with the piece of lumber on her left leg. Both victims suffered minor injuries but refused medical treatment. Brian Keith Cooper was arrested and charged with Assault Second Degree and Reckless Endangerment.
MSP Press Release
DATE & TIME: January 22, 2010 2329 hours
LOCATION: Goddard Pkwy at Naylor Mill Rd Salisbury, Wicomico Co., MD.
CASE NUMBER: 10-54-000668
CHARGES: 1. CDS Possession of Marijuana
2. Possession of CDS Paraphernelia
Victim : State of Maryland
Suspects: Wallace, Kristy Renee/Bevins, Shawn Dustin/ one male juvenile
BRIEF RESUME: On 01/22/2010 Tpr J. Dudiak of the Maryland State Police was patrolling in the area of Naylor Mill Rd and Goddard Pkwy Salisbury MD when he conducted a traffic stop on a silver Chevrolet Cobalt bearing MD temporary registration 10785L. Upon contact with the driver, identified as Kristy Renee Wallace, I detected a strong odor of alcoholic beverage to be coming from the interior of the vehicle. TFC K Secrist made contact with the front passenger identified as Shawn Dustin Bevins, and detected the distinct strong odor of Marijuana coming from the interior of the vehicle. Probable cause search was conducted on the vehicle and the three occupants. During the search there was Marijuana seized, and subsequent searches revealed crack cocaine and a handgun being found. All three occupants were charged with CDS Possession of Marijuana and Possession of CDS Paraphernalia. This case remains open with investigation continuing.
Upcoming Opportunities To Support Our Schools
Friday, Jan. 22
End of 2nd Marking Period
The 2nd marking period ends on Friday, Jan. 22. Reports cards will be sent home with students Monday, Feb. 1.
Saturday, Jan. 23
STEM Saturday "Game Maker," the second in a year-long series of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Saturday events designed to provide extended learning opportunities in the STEM fields while generating students' interests in these disciplines. "Game Maker," an introduction to programming, creating characters and objects in a virtual environment much like modern animated film or video graphics, will run from 10 a.m.-noon Jan. 23 at Salisbury Middle School. The program is open to all Wicomico students in grades 6-8. There is no charge but advance registration is required. To register contact Gretchen Boggs at gboggs@wcboe.org or at 410-677-5149. Upcoming topics include: Building Bridges to the Future (exploring basic engineering principles of shape, materials and forces to design a structurally sound bridge), 10 a.m.-noon Feb. 13 at Salisbury Middle; There's No Place Like Home (exploring habitats and endangered species), 10 a.m.-noon March 13 at the Salisbury Zoo; and Learning Science Through Research (a trip to Horn Point Environmental Research Lab in Cambridge; participants become lab scientists for a day using ocean science to explore basic scientific principles), 9 a.m.-2 p.m. April 10, students depart from and return to Salisbury Middle.
Through Friday, Jan. 29
Teacher of the Year Nominations
Nominations for 2010-2011 Wicomico Teacher of the Year will be accepted until Jan. 29. Anyone in the community is invited to seek recognition for a current Wicomico teacher who has taught full-time for at least five years. Nomination forms will be sent home with students. They are also available in schools, at the Board of Education Office, at the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce, and on line at www.wcboe.org. Semifinalists for the Wicomico award will be interviewed by a blue ribbon panel of judges (March 4-5). On March 18, during the Teacher of the Year Banquet at Salisbury University Commons, the finalists at the primary, intermediate, middle and high school levels will be named, and the new Wicomico Teacher of the Year will be announced. For more information, please call Karen Leimann, coordinator of the Teacher of the Year Program, at 410-677-4462, or e-mail her at kleimann@wcboe.org.
Monday, Jan. 25-Tuesday, Jan. 26
Professional Days
Schools will be closed for students Jan. 25-26 so that teachers and other staff members may receive professional development. The Central Office will be open both days.
Monday, Jan. 25-Thursday, Jan. 28
Registration for Evening High School
Building E, Wicomico High School
Registration for Evening High School spring semester will take place starting Monday, Jan. 25, in Building E of Wicomico High School. Registration will be held from 4-7 p.m. Jan. 25, 26 and 28, and from 4-6 p.m. Jan. 27. Students wishing to enroll in Evening High School should bring birth certificate, Social Security card, proof of residency (any utility bill or rent/mortgage statement), and transcript (from last school attended). Students who attend another Wicomico County high school during the day and who wish to attend Evening High School at night must bring in the blue form, which must be completed by the guidance counselor. 410-677-4537.
Tuesday, Jan. 26, 7:30 a.m.
Board of Education Work Session
Board of Education Office
The Board of Education will meet in a work session at the Board of Education Office, Mt. Hermon Road and Long Avenue, Salisbury. The Board is scheduled to receive a redistricting proposal. The meeting will begin at 7:30 a.m. Work sessions are open to the public but are not occasions for public comment or participation.
Tuesday, Jan. 26
TAD Students Showcase Historical Documentaries on Veterans
North Salisbury Elementary School
Students in the TAD (Thinking and Doing) Program in Wicomico intermediate schools will have an open house from 1-2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26, to welcome and thank the veterans who star in the historical documentaries the students created in TAD class. Over the past several months, students researched American wars and conflicts, chose a veteran to interview, and edited the interview in Movie Maker. Each veteran will receive a copy of the documentary in which the veteran appears. Students developed research and communication skills while preserving a veteran?s story for the veteran, his family, and the community. 410-677-5807.
North Salisbury Elementary
Tuesday, Jan. 26, from 4-6 p.m.
Superintendent's Open Door Session
Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Fredericksen will hold a Superintendent's Open Door Session from 4-6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26 (new date; rescheduled from Jan. 20 due to conflict with state meeting), in the Administrative Conference Room of the Board of Education Building, Mt. Hermon Road and Long Avenue, Salisbury. Open Door Sessions provide the opportunity for people to meet one-on-one with the superintendent. People may express concerns, offer comment, or ask questions on any issue involving Wicomico schools. No appointment is needed. Open Door Sessions will also be held from 4-6 p.m. on these additional dates: Feb. 24, March 24, April 21 and May 26. 410-677-4495.
Tuesday, Jan. 26
Mentoring Links Workshop
Greater Salisbury Building
A Mentoring Links Workshop on Understanding Today's Youth, with David Miller of the Urban Leadership Institute, will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26, in the 2nd floor meeting room of the Great Salisbury Building. Earlier that day, as part of National Mentoring Month, the Wicomico Mentoring Project will also hold a Mentor Roundtable. This informal discussion (3rd Floor Meeting Room, Greater Salisbury Building, 5-6 p.m.) will be an opportunity for mentors to share their experiences. Both events are open to Wicomico mentors. 410-677-4423.
Wednesday, Jan. 27
WCCPTAs Reflections Art Reception
Parkside High School Auditorium
The annual Wicomico County Council of PTAs Reflections Art Reception will take place starting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27, in the Parkside High School Auditorium. An awards ceremony for winners in this annual art program will begin at 6:30 p.m. Invitations will be mailed to all students whose Reflections entries were submitted to the WCCPTAs. Everyone is welcome to attend to see the wonderful work done by students on the theme of Beauty is ... . For information please contact your PTA president or call Patti Iott at 410-546-5615.
Wednesday, Jan. 27
Evening High School Graduation
Beaver Run Elementary
The Evening High School winter graduation will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27, at Beaver Run Elementary School. Graduates of Evening High School receive a Maryland diploma.
Opportunities to Support Our Schools
Friday, Jan. 22
PTA Skate Night
West Salisbury Elementary School
The West Salisbury PTA will host a Family Skate Night at Skate Land from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 22. Light snacks will be available for purchase. Cost is $3 per person. Come one, come all, to a Family Fun Night and help the PTA continue to grow at West Salisbury. 410-677-5816.
Friday, Jan. 29
Comedy Hypnotist
Mardela High School
The Junior Class at Mardela Middle and High School will present a unique comedy experience to local audiences. The school will feature Jason Linett, a nationally known comedy hypnotist, presenting one fund-raising show at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29, at the school.
"The hypnosis show combines the fun of audience participation with the incredible abilities of the mind," says Linett, who lives in Alexandria, Va. "It's the ultimate reality show." Audiences can expect to see willing volunteers rapidly induced into a hypnotic trance and then given funny suggestions. "I don't embarrass the volunteers, and I don?t even let them embarrass themselves." Some of Linett's favorite suggestions during the show include turning himself invisible and turning volunteers into celebrity impersonators. Linett has performed at schools, comedy venues, and corporate events across the country.
Linett is a Certified Hypnotist with the National Guild of Hypnotists, the largest hypnotherapy organization in the world. He is also the author of nearly a dozen self-help audio hypnosis programs ranging from weight loss to smoking cessation. More information can be found at www.MagicForTheMind.com. ;
The clean, family-comedy show will be presented in the cafeteria of Mardela Middle and High School, located at 24940 Delmar Road in Mardela Springs, MD. Tickets are on sale now and will be available at the event for $10. Call 410-677-5142 for more details, or buy tickets online at www.MardelaFundraiser.com.
Saturday, Jan. 30
Parkside Sports Boosters 3rd annual Bingo
Salisbury Moose Lodge
The Parkside Sports Boosters will present the 3rd annual Bingo at the Salisbury Moose Lodge. Doors open 5:30 p.m., games begin 7 p.m. Food and drinks will be sold. The evening, with Longaberger baskets and Vera Bradley bags, will feature 20 games, four special games, two special raffles, a Chinese raffle and a 50/50 raffle. All proceeds benefit Parkside athletic teams. Tickets $20 in advance, $25 at door, must be 18 or older to attend. For information or tickets: 443-235-1718 or KPELOT@wcboe.org.
Coupon Booklets for Local RestaurantsBenefitting Kindness of Strangers Fund LORA (Local Owners Restaurant Association) coupon booklets are now being sold, with proceeds going to the Kindness of Strangers Fund. Kindness of Strangers (KOS) is a fund established to assist families in purchasing therapeutic/adaptive equipment for their children with special needs ages birth-21. The coupon booklets are $25, and $20 of that amount goes into the KOS fund. Five dollars goes to Junior Achievement, which printed the booklet. The booklet is worth more than $200 with locally owned restaurants such as Market Street, Sobo's, Breaktime, Red Roost, Boonies, Adam's and others. Use all the coupons and your name will be entered to win cash prizes which will be drawn at Pork in the Park. This is a great way to help others. Call Lori Thompson at 410-677-5250 or e-mail her at lthompso@wcboe.org to purchase a booklet. Available NowKids of Honor Gift CardsViva Espresso If you eat/drink at Viva Espresso coffee shop on College Avenue, please consider buying a gift card to use for your purchases. Viva Espresso now has a Kids of Honor branded gift card for sale there. You just buy it at face value and use it for your purchases. Nancy Dix, owner of Viva Espresso, donates a portion of all sales to Kids of Honor - a win/win situation! You can re-load the card when it gets low or runs out. The cards also make great gifts for dog/cat sitters, birthdays, holidays, get well gifts, mail-carriers, etc.
Saturday, Feb. 20
Flapjack Fund-raiser at Applebee's
Wicomico Mentoring Project
Support the Wicomico Mentoring Project at an all-you-can-eat Applebee's Flapjack Fund-raiser Breakfast from 8-10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 20. Tickets are $7 per person (half-price for children 5 and under) for flapjacks, sausage and beverage. The breakfast will be held at the North Salisbury Applebee's. For tickets please contact Lisa Nowak at 410-677-4423 or lnowak@wcboe.org.
Saturday, March 20
Longaberger Basket and Vera Bradley Bingo
Salisbury Middle School
More details to come!
Upcoming Events
Monday, Feb. 1
Report cards from the 2nd Marking Period sent home
Feb. 12-14 and Feb. 19-21
JMB?s 12th annual Rock & Roll Revival
Wicomico High School Auditorium
Tickets are on sale now for this showcase of Clipper talent. Students sing, dance, play instruments, and work in many areas behind the scenes to put on this highly successful show, which this year will be on the Wicomico High School Auditorium stage due to the construction at Bennett. Show directors are Christie and Larry Wersen, and all proceeds benefit the JMB PTSA. Shows will be at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, Saturday, Feb. 13, Friday, Feb. 19, and Saturday, Feb. 20, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14, and Sunday, Feb. 21. Tickets are $15 and are on sale now at the PNC Bank at Beaglin Park Drive and Snow Hill Road. Tickets may also be purchased at the old Daily Times building on Carroll Street between 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays. To learn more about Rock & Roll Revival, go to http://www.wcboe.org/schools/jmb/ and click on the shortcut. 410-677-5141.
Wednesday, March 3
Children's Book Author Visit
Salisbury University
The Eastern Shore Regional Library, in partnership with Salisbury University and the public libraries of the Eastern Shore, present An Evening with Laura Vaccaro Seeger starting at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 3, in the Great Hall of Holloway Hall at Salisbury University. She is the author of the Caldecott Honor book "First the Egg" and the critically acclaimed "Dog and Bear" series. There will be a presentation and discussion, followed by a book signing and reception. This event is free and open to the public. Contact Rachael Vilmar of the Eastern Shore Regional Library at rachael@esrl.org or 410-251-9073 for information.
End of 2nd Marking Period
The 2nd marking period ends on Friday, Jan. 22. Reports cards will be sent home with students Monday, Feb. 1.
Saturday, Jan. 23
STEM Saturday "Game Maker," the second in a year-long series of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Saturday events designed to provide extended learning opportunities in the STEM fields while generating students' interests in these disciplines. "Game Maker," an introduction to programming, creating characters and objects in a virtual environment much like modern animated film or video graphics, will run from 10 a.m.-noon Jan. 23 at Salisbury Middle School. The program is open to all Wicomico students in grades 6-8. There is no charge but advance registration is required. To register contact Gretchen Boggs at gboggs@wcboe.org or at 410-677-5149. Upcoming topics include: Building Bridges to the Future (exploring basic engineering principles of shape, materials and forces to design a structurally sound bridge), 10 a.m.-noon Feb. 13 at Salisbury Middle; There's No Place Like Home (exploring habitats and endangered species), 10 a.m.-noon March 13 at the Salisbury Zoo; and Learning Science Through Research (a trip to Horn Point Environmental Research Lab in Cambridge; participants become lab scientists for a day using ocean science to explore basic scientific principles), 9 a.m.-2 p.m. April 10, students depart from and return to Salisbury Middle.
Through Friday, Jan. 29
Teacher of the Year Nominations
Nominations for 2010-2011 Wicomico Teacher of the Year will be accepted until Jan. 29. Anyone in the community is invited to seek recognition for a current Wicomico teacher who has taught full-time for at least five years. Nomination forms will be sent home with students. They are also available in schools, at the Board of Education Office, at the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce, and on line at www.wcboe.org. Semifinalists for the Wicomico award will be interviewed by a blue ribbon panel of judges (March 4-5). On March 18, during the Teacher of the Year Banquet at Salisbury University Commons, the finalists at the primary, intermediate, middle and high school levels will be named, and the new Wicomico Teacher of the Year will be announced. For more information, please call Karen Leimann, coordinator of the Teacher of the Year Program, at 410-677-4462, or e-mail her at kleimann@wcboe.org.
Monday, Jan. 25-Tuesday, Jan. 26
Professional Days
Schools will be closed for students Jan. 25-26 so that teachers and other staff members may receive professional development. The Central Office will be open both days.
Monday, Jan. 25-Thursday, Jan. 28
Registration for Evening High School
Building E, Wicomico High School
Registration for Evening High School spring semester will take place starting Monday, Jan. 25, in Building E of Wicomico High School. Registration will be held from 4-7 p.m. Jan. 25, 26 and 28, and from 4-6 p.m. Jan. 27. Students wishing to enroll in Evening High School should bring birth certificate, Social Security card, proof of residency (any utility bill or rent/mortgage statement), and transcript (from last school attended). Students who attend another Wicomico County high school during the day and who wish to attend Evening High School at night must bring in the blue form, which must be completed by the guidance counselor. 410-677-4537.
Tuesday, Jan. 26, 7:30 a.m.
Board of Education Work Session
Board of Education Office
The Board of Education will meet in a work session at the Board of Education Office, Mt. Hermon Road and Long Avenue, Salisbury. The Board is scheduled to receive a redistricting proposal. The meeting will begin at 7:30 a.m. Work sessions are open to the public but are not occasions for public comment or participation.
Tuesday, Jan. 26
TAD Students Showcase Historical Documentaries on Veterans
North Salisbury Elementary School
Students in the TAD (Thinking and Doing) Program in Wicomico intermediate schools will have an open house from 1-2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26, to welcome and thank the veterans who star in the historical documentaries the students created in TAD class. Over the past several months, students researched American wars and conflicts, chose a veteran to interview, and edited the interview in Movie Maker. Each veteran will receive a copy of the documentary in which the veteran appears. Students developed research and communication skills while preserving a veteran?s story for the veteran, his family, and the community. 410-677-5807.
North Salisbury Elementary
Tuesday, Jan. 26, from 4-6 p.m.
Superintendent's Open Door Session
Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Fredericksen will hold a Superintendent's Open Door Session from 4-6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26 (new date; rescheduled from Jan. 20 due to conflict with state meeting), in the Administrative Conference Room of the Board of Education Building, Mt. Hermon Road and Long Avenue, Salisbury. Open Door Sessions provide the opportunity for people to meet one-on-one with the superintendent. People may express concerns, offer comment, or ask questions on any issue involving Wicomico schools. No appointment is needed. Open Door Sessions will also be held from 4-6 p.m. on these additional dates: Feb. 24, March 24, April 21 and May 26. 410-677-4495.
Tuesday, Jan. 26
Mentoring Links Workshop
Greater Salisbury Building
A Mentoring Links Workshop on Understanding Today's Youth, with David Miller of the Urban Leadership Institute, will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26, in the 2nd floor meeting room of the Great Salisbury Building. Earlier that day, as part of National Mentoring Month, the Wicomico Mentoring Project will also hold a Mentor Roundtable. This informal discussion (3rd Floor Meeting Room, Greater Salisbury Building, 5-6 p.m.) will be an opportunity for mentors to share their experiences. Both events are open to Wicomico mentors. 410-677-4423.
Wednesday, Jan. 27
WCCPTAs Reflections Art Reception
Parkside High School Auditorium
The annual Wicomico County Council of PTAs Reflections Art Reception will take place starting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27, in the Parkside High School Auditorium. An awards ceremony for winners in this annual art program will begin at 6:30 p.m. Invitations will be mailed to all students whose Reflections entries were submitted to the WCCPTAs. Everyone is welcome to attend to see the wonderful work done by students on the theme of Beauty is ... . For information please contact your PTA president or call Patti Iott at 410-546-5615.
Wednesday, Jan. 27
Evening High School Graduation
Beaver Run Elementary
The Evening High School winter graduation will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27, at Beaver Run Elementary School. Graduates of Evening High School receive a Maryland diploma.
Opportunities to Support Our Schools
Friday, Jan. 22
PTA Skate Night
West Salisbury Elementary School
The West Salisbury PTA will host a Family Skate Night at Skate Land from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 22. Light snacks will be available for purchase. Cost is $3 per person. Come one, come all, to a Family Fun Night and help the PTA continue to grow at West Salisbury. 410-677-5816.
Friday, Jan. 29
Comedy Hypnotist
Mardela High School
The Junior Class at Mardela Middle and High School will present a unique comedy experience to local audiences. The school will feature Jason Linett, a nationally known comedy hypnotist, presenting one fund-raising show at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29, at the school.
"The hypnosis show combines the fun of audience participation with the incredible abilities of the mind," says Linett, who lives in Alexandria, Va. "It's the ultimate reality show." Audiences can expect to see willing volunteers rapidly induced into a hypnotic trance and then given funny suggestions. "I don't embarrass the volunteers, and I don?t even let them embarrass themselves." Some of Linett's favorite suggestions during the show include turning himself invisible and turning volunteers into celebrity impersonators. Linett has performed at schools, comedy venues, and corporate events across the country.
Linett is a Certified Hypnotist with the National Guild of Hypnotists, the largest hypnotherapy organization in the world. He is also the author of nearly a dozen self-help audio hypnosis programs ranging from weight loss to smoking cessation. More information can be found at www.MagicForTheMind.com. ;
The clean, family-comedy show will be presented in the cafeteria of Mardela Middle and High School, located at 24940 Delmar Road in Mardela Springs, MD. Tickets are on sale now and will be available at the event for $10. Call 410-677-5142 for more details, or buy tickets online at www.MardelaFundraiser.com.
Saturday, Jan. 30
Parkside Sports Boosters 3rd annual Bingo
Salisbury Moose Lodge
The Parkside Sports Boosters will present the 3rd annual Bingo at the Salisbury Moose Lodge. Doors open 5:30 p.m., games begin 7 p.m. Food and drinks will be sold. The evening, with Longaberger baskets and Vera Bradley bags, will feature 20 games, four special games, two special raffles, a Chinese raffle and a 50/50 raffle. All proceeds benefit Parkside athletic teams. Tickets $20 in advance, $25 at door, must be 18 or older to attend. For information or tickets: 443-235-1718 or KPELOT@wcboe.org.
Coupon Booklets for Local RestaurantsBenefitting Kindness of Strangers Fund LORA (Local Owners Restaurant Association) coupon booklets are now being sold, with proceeds going to the Kindness of Strangers Fund. Kindness of Strangers (KOS) is a fund established to assist families in purchasing therapeutic/adaptive equipment for their children with special needs ages birth-21. The coupon booklets are $25, and $20 of that amount goes into the KOS fund. Five dollars goes to Junior Achievement, which printed the booklet. The booklet is worth more than $200 with locally owned restaurants such as Market Street, Sobo's, Breaktime, Red Roost, Boonies, Adam's and others. Use all the coupons and your name will be entered to win cash prizes which will be drawn at Pork in the Park. This is a great way to help others. Call Lori Thompson at 410-677-5250 or e-mail her at lthompso@wcboe.org to purchase a booklet. Available NowKids of Honor Gift CardsViva Espresso If you eat/drink at Viva Espresso coffee shop on College Avenue, please consider buying a gift card to use for your purchases. Viva Espresso now has a Kids of Honor branded gift card for sale there. You just buy it at face value and use it for your purchases. Nancy Dix, owner of Viva Espresso, donates a portion of all sales to Kids of Honor - a win/win situation! You can re-load the card when it gets low or runs out. The cards also make great gifts for dog/cat sitters, birthdays, holidays, get well gifts, mail-carriers, etc.
Saturday, Feb. 20
Flapjack Fund-raiser at Applebee's
Wicomico Mentoring Project
Support the Wicomico Mentoring Project at an all-you-can-eat Applebee's Flapjack Fund-raiser Breakfast from 8-10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 20. Tickets are $7 per person (half-price for children 5 and under) for flapjacks, sausage and beverage. The breakfast will be held at the North Salisbury Applebee's. For tickets please contact Lisa Nowak at 410-677-4423 or lnowak@wcboe.org.
Saturday, March 20
Longaberger Basket and Vera Bradley Bingo
Salisbury Middle School
More details to come!
Upcoming Events
Monday, Feb. 1
Report cards from the 2nd Marking Period sent home
Feb. 12-14 and Feb. 19-21
JMB?s 12th annual Rock & Roll Revival
Wicomico High School Auditorium
Tickets are on sale now for this showcase of Clipper talent. Students sing, dance, play instruments, and work in many areas behind the scenes to put on this highly successful show, which this year will be on the Wicomico High School Auditorium stage due to the construction at Bennett. Show directors are Christie and Larry Wersen, and all proceeds benefit the JMB PTSA. Shows will be at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, Saturday, Feb. 13, Friday, Feb. 19, and Saturday, Feb. 20, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14, and Sunday, Feb. 21. Tickets are $15 and are on sale now at the PNC Bank at Beaglin Park Drive and Snow Hill Road. Tickets may also be purchased at the old Daily Times building on Carroll Street between 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays. To learn more about Rock & Roll Revival, go to http://www.wcboe.org/schools/jmb/ and click on the shortcut. 410-677-5141.
Wednesday, March 3
Children's Book Author Visit
Salisbury University
The Eastern Shore Regional Library, in partnership with Salisbury University and the public libraries of the Eastern Shore, present An Evening with Laura Vaccaro Seeger starting at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 3, in the Great Hall of Holloway Hall at Salisbury University. She is the author of the Caldecott Honor book "First the Egg" and the critically acclaimed "Dog and Bear" series. There will be a presentation and discussion, followed by a book signing and reception. This event is free and open to the public. Contact Rachael Vilmar of the Eastern Shore Regional Library at rachael@esrl.org or 410-251-9073 for information.