DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Thursday, March 25, 2010
WBOC Flat Out Sucks
Folks, I took a break away from the computer at 5 PM to watch WBOC on channel 21. First of all, their digital signal, (for those of us without cable) has sucked for the past week.
More importantly however, is their actual reporting! They had some reporter all the way in Cambridge covering a story about a lawyer that was arrested for sex offenses. They went all the way out there and when they cut in to the reporter who claimed to have an interview, all they showed on air was the guy saying, "he's a really nice guy." THAT WAS IT!
If you hadn't noticed over the past few years, whenever I'm at a Press Conference, these guys are so afraid of their own shadows, I ask all of the questions.
The TV Station is proving to be a joke and now they want to expand to Cambridge and Easton, or as they now call it, "the mid shore." Sorry but WBOC has become a joke.
Protect Your Property Rights – Attend MDP Public Forum
On Thursday, May 6th, the Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) will be hosting a “Public Forum to Help Shape the Future of Maryland”. Translation: This is where MDP Secretary Rich Hall and his local tree hugging, Bolshevik pals get together to figure out how they are going to STEAL YOUR PROPERTY RIGHTS!
If you think I’m kidding, let me give you two quotes from the last MDP forum I attended:
“I’m sick and tired of hearing about property rights. WE gave these people the value in their land!” – Retired SU professor Harry Womack.
and
(Referring to Wicomico farmers) “They need to remember that we gave them the value in their land.” – MDP Secretary Rich Hall in a conversation with me.
This is one of several forums that MDP is hosting around the state. If you value your property rights, it would be wise to attend. If not, you may want to pick up a copy of Atlas Shrugged and get a view of your future.
Breaking News: Downtown Plaza Closed To Vehicle Traffic
Plaza Closed –Catch Basin Drain Failed
The City has closed the Downtown Plaza, as a catch basin drain in the road has failed on the N. Division St. end of the plaza. They have removed the bricks and need to have concrete work done to repair the drain. The Plaza will be closed through the weekend, and perhaps a few days longer due to the time needed to cure the concrete as well as pending weather.
The City has closed the Downtown Plaza, as a catch basin drain in the road has failed on the N. Division St. end of the plaza. They have removed the bricks and need to have concrete work done to repair the drain. The Plaza will be closed through the weekend, and perhaps a few days longer due to the time needed to cure the concrete as well as pending weather.
Wargotz Files For U.S. Senate And Explains Path To Victory
Annapolis, MD (March 25, 2010) – Queen Anne's County Commissioner Eric Wargotz, M.D. made it official Friday when he filed the papers to officially run for the U.S. Senate. Dr. Wargotz has been traveling around the state since last July meeting with voters, discussing issues and taking the State's temperature. "Voters are not just hot around the collar," Wargotz said about the voter sentiment, "they are steamed about the direction Congress is taking our country."
Wargotz filed at the State Board of Elections in Annapolis and then met with legislators and reporters at the State House in Annapolis, followed by radio interviews from Ocean City to Frederick, finishing the day with bloggers and social networking activists.
During the day, Commissioner Wargotz discussed the issues which make up the four cornerstones of his campaign: Fiscal Responsibility and the Economy, Health Care, National Security and the Chesapeake Bay.
Perhaps most importantly, he laid out his path to victory saying, "it is clear that more and more citizens of Maryland want their Senate seat back. For too long, our current Senator has voted lock-step with Senator Harry Reid of Nevada. The Constitution does not give Nevada three Senate seats and Maryland one. In addition, the latest Rasmussen poll has Barbara Mikulski dropping 12 percentage points since her vote for socialized Health Care. A majority of Marylanders are now realizing that, after 30 years in Congress, Barbara Mikulski does not represent the best interests of Maryland."
"Voters are angry and want new representation," Wargtoz said. "Voters want the private sector to create jobs, not the government; voters want health care reform, not a government takeover; voters want a cleaner Chesapeake Bay, not 30 years of lip service; voters want strong national security, not taxpayer funded defense attorneys for captured terrorists," Wargotz continued.
With the health care debate and the national economy focusing attention on federal issues, in addition to our close proximity to Washington, the campaign believes Maryland will have record voter turnout. "If voters turnout as they do in Presidential elections, we win," he said confidently.
Wargotz is the leading challenger opposing Barbara Mikulski. The Wargotz Campaign is led by a veteran Maryland team of advisors and staff as well as a statewide volunteer organization. As of the latest Federal Election Commission reporting deadline, Wargotz held a commanding lead in fundraising among Republican challengers.
Eric Wargotz, M.D., his wife Cheryl-Ann and their three children live in Queen Anne's County. Dr. Wargotz is the elected President of the Queen Anne's County Board of County Commissioners (2006) and practices medicine in Prince George's County.
Wargotz filed at the State Board of Elections in Annapolis and then met with legislators and reporters at the State House in Annapolis, followed by radio interviews from Ocean City to Frederick, finishing the day with bloggers and social networking activists.
During the day, Commissioner Wargotz discussed the issues which make up the four cornerstones of his campaign: Fiscal Responsibility and the Economy, Health Care, National Security and the Chesapeake Bay.
Perhaps most importantly, he laid out his path to victory saying, "it is clear that more and more citizens of Maryland want their Senate seat back. For too long, our current Senator has voted lock-step with Senator Harry Reid of Nevada. The Constitution does not give Nevada three Senate seats and Maryland one. In addition, the latest Rasmussen poll has Barbara Mikulski dropping 12 percentage points since her vote for socialized Health Care. A majority of Marylanders are now realizing that, after 30 years in Congress, Barbara Mikulski does not represent the best interests of Maryland."
"Voters are angry and want new representation," Wargtoz said. "Voters want the private sector to create jobs, not the government; voters want health care reform, not a government takeover; voters want a cleaner Chesapeake Bay, not 30 years of lip service; voters want strong national security, not taxpayer funded defense attorneys for captured terrorists," Wargotz continued.
With the health care debate and the national economy focusing attention on federal issues, in addition to our close proximity to Washington, the campaign believes Maryland will have record voter turnout. "If voters turnout as they do in Presidential elections, we win," he said confidently.
Wargotz is the leading challenger opposing Barbara Mikulski. The Wargotz Campaign is led by a veteran Maryland team of advisors and staff as well as a statewide volunteer organization. As of the latest Federal Election Commission reporting deadline, Wargotz held a commanding lead in fundraising among Republican challengers.
Eric Wargotz, M.D., his wife Cheryl-Ann and their three children live in Queen Anne's County. Dr. Wargotz is the elected President of the Queen Anne's County Board of County Commissioners (2006) and practices medicine in Prince George's County.
Find The Felons In Your Neighborhood
Just put in your address (at the top of the form that appears) & your neighborhood map will pop up. Every place you see a red balloon or thumb tact is the home of a convicted felon.
Just hover your mouse over an icon & not only will the name come up, but also the crime they were convicted of. Share with your friends .
Safety first.http://www.felonspy.com/search
Let Me Make Bill 254 Very Clear To ALL Of You
Yesterday Levi Willey Sr. pleaded guilty to 59 counts of sexual abuse charges. He was sentenced to 25 years in jail but Judge Newton Jackson III suspended ALL but 18 months of that sentence.
While many of you are outraged over this, allow me to explain why several of us have worked so hard to change the sex offender laws.
House Bill 254 now states, "A Court may NOT suspend ANY of the mandatory 15 year sentence." I should add, there is NO chance for parole. In another Bill related to this Bill, (which also passed) NO good time credit can be given on a sex offender.
I want to make some of these issues very clear and there's more.
I want each and every one of you to also understand that while we were successful in the House of Delegates and they did in fact pass the Bills, these Bills still must go through the State Senate to become law.
We cannot rest until we have walked these Bills through the Senate. We still need YOU to participate and contact each and every Maryland State Senator to encourage they accept and pass these Bills as written.
Should we be successful with these Bills, on Oct. 1, 2010 this will go into law and ANYONE charges with s a sex offense, (including first time offenders) will be subjected to this law and NO Judge can change it.
My Heart Breaks To See Him Cry
Hi Joe,
My son has played for Little League for the past several years and as a parent, I will be the first to tell you that he is not the best player, but his heart is in it and he always tries his best.He has never given up or wanted to stop playing. For several years, because he is not one of the better players, the league itself has held him back so as they say he would get more play time. They tried doing this again last year, keeping him on a team of 9-10 year olds when he had turned 12, I actually would not allow that and when they started to say something about his safety, I replied with something like what about the safety of the children that he will be playing with him.. that my son was ok with being held back,(but not again) but to continue to do this to a child really does something to them.
My son is not only a tall boy, he is also husky so to speak. So of course this year rolls around, and I ask as I always do if he wanted to play. We signed him up and when doing so, I ask which team he would be on.. meaning which age group. I was told that my son could try out for both the 11-12 year olds and the 13-14 year olds and then we could make a decision among myself and the coaches as where he would do best. My son also let them know that he was ok playing with the 11-12 year olds since he had actually only played with that age group for one year.. Well teams were chosen(he was placed on the 11-12) and practice begins and tonite I get a phone call from the league explaining that my son could not play for the team he was chosen for because of his age, but if he wanted to he could play for the older group, however there are already like 15 boys on the team.. which basically, my son would get no play time and sit on the bench, because in my opinion through the last few years of experience.. little league is no longer about the children playing sports, it is about winning...I just explained this to my son, and he is in his bedroom crying....he knows he is no Brooks Robinson or Cal Ripkin, but he loves to play and be with his friends...as he said to me, before going to his bedroom..Mom, why are they just telling me this now, I like my coaches and the team that I am on, if I move up..all I will do is sit on the bench because you know that is what will happen..as he walked away from me..he said I do not want to play...
What happened to the days when parents and children joined to let the kids have fun, learn a sport, be part of a team whether they win or lose...and did not discriminate because they had some players that weren't that good at the sport.? What happened to letting the kids be kids and have fun?
My Heart Breaks to See Him Cry
My son has played for Little League for the past several years and as a parent, I will be the first to tell you that he is not the best player, but his heart is in it and he always tries his best.He has never given up or wanted to stop playing. For several years, because he is not one of the better players, the league itself has held him back so as they say he would get more play time. They tried doing this again last year, keeping him on a team of 9-10 year olds when he had turned 12, I actually would not allow that and when they started to say something about his safety, I replied with something like what about the safety of the children that he will be playing with him.. that my son was ok with being held back,(but not again) but to continue to do this to a child really does something to them.
My son is not only a tall boy, he is also husky so to speak. So of course this year rolls around, and I ask as I always do if he wanted to play. We signed him up and when doing so, I ask which team he would be on.. meaning which age group. I was told that my son could try out for both the 11-12 year olds and the 13-14 year olds and then we could make a decision among myself and the coaches as where he would do best. My son also let them know that he was ok playing with the 11-12 year olds since he had actually only played with that age group for one year.. Well teams were chosen(he was placed on the 11-12) and practice begins and tonite I get a phone call from the league explaining that my son could not play for the team he was chosen for because of his age, but if he wanted to he could play for the older group, however there are already like 15 boys on the team.. which basically, my son would get no play time and sit on the bench, because in my opinion through the last few years of experience.. little league is no longer about the children playing sports, it is about winning...I just explained this to my son, and he is in his bedroom crying....he knows he is no Brooks Robinson or Cal Ripkin, but he loves to play and be with his friends...as he said to me, before going to his bedroom..Mom, why are they just telling me this now, I like my coaches and the team that I am on, if I move up..all I will do is sit on the bench because you know that is what will happen..as he walked away from me..he said I do not want to play...
What happened to the days when parents and children joined to let the kids have fun, learn a sport, be part of a team whether they win or lose...and did not discriminate because they had some players that weren't that good at the sport.? What happened to letting the kids be kids and have fun?
My Heart Breaks to See Him Cry
Everyone Wants To Know, Will Ehrlich Be Running
WBAL has this article up today, (Ehrlich Aides: "No Comment" On Campaign Announcement).Look Folks, we already told you, YES, he will be running. He'll wait until the very last minute to announce it but for some reason this is the biggest topic in politics to date in Maryland. While it may be nice to get a confirmation, popping regular stories up like this is NOT going to force Bob into making an announcement. We told you last summer, the man is going to run for Governor and that's all there is to it.
Now, go prove me wrong.
Chicken Manure Lawsuit Stirs Vigorous Senate Debate
The Senate’s grand march to pass Gov. Martin O'Malley's $32 billion budget Tuesday night was delayed slightly when it found a pile of alleged chicken manure in its path.
The longest and most contentious debate in a five-hour session came over an item withholding just $250,000 from the University of Maryland law school until it submitted a report on the lawsuits filed by its legal clinics.
The dispute boils down to a question over whether a pile of waste on an Eastern Shore farm came from chickens or the people of Ocean City.
Eastern Shore senators maintained the law clinics, composed mostly of law students, were unfairly targeting the huge poultry industry in their area. The school’s mostly Democratic defenders said the demanded report was a challenge to academic independence and free speech.
“I think this takes us down a very dangerous road in terms of academic freedom,” said Sen. Jamie Raskin, D-Montgomery, a constitutional law professor at American University.
For students, choosing cases to pursue “is an exercise of their academic freedom," he said, adding that the law school clinic is “basically the largest pro-bono law firm in the state.”
“This is something straight out of Communist China,” charged Sen. Jim Brochin, D-Baltimore County, a statement that drew groans from other senators.
Sen. Lowell Stoltzfus, a Lower Shore Republican on the budget committee, had stirred the pot by inserting language in the budget demanding information on all the lawsuits the clinics had filed in the last five years. He wants to know who the clients were, how much money was spent and where it came from.
“I don’t think we should be afraid of information,” Stoltzfus said. “Information doesn’t hurt.”
He and the other lawmakers from the Eastern Shore had met with O'Malley on what they considered heavy-handed environmental regulation that was hurting economic development on the Shore. They had raised the issue in an earlier meeting with Environment Secretary Shari Wilson reported in MarylandReporter.com.
Stolztfus said Shore lawmakers were concerned “particularly that the poultry industry is being harassed” and that the suits were another factor encouraging poultry magnate Jim Perdue to move his processing operations to North Carolina.
“The small family farmer cannot afford to defend themselves,” Stoltzfus said.
GO HERE to read more from Marylandreporter.com.
The longest and most contentious debate in a five-hour session came over an item withholding just $250,000 from the University of Maryland law school until it submitted a report on the lawsuits filed by its legal clinics.
The dispute boils down to a question over whether a pile of waste on an Eastern Shore farm came from chickens or the people of Ocean City.
Eastern Shore senators maintained the law clinics, composed mostly of law students, were unfairly targeting the huge poultry industry in their area. The school’s mostly Democratic defenders said the demanded report was a challenge to academic independence and free speech.
“I think this takes us down a very dangerous road in terms of academic freedom,” said Sen. Jamie Raskin, D-Montgomery, a constitutional law professor at American University.
For students, choosing cases to pursue “is an exercise of their academic freedom," he said, adding that the law school clinic is “basically the largest pro-bono law firm in the state.”
“This is something straight out of Communist China,” charged Sen. Jim Brochin, D-Baltimore County, a statement that drew groans from other senators.
Sen. Lowell Stoltzfus, a Lower Shore Republican on the budget committee, had stirred the pot by inserting language in the budget demanding information on all the lawsuits the clinics had filed in the last five years. He wants to know who the clients were, how much money was spent and where it came from.
“I don’t think we should be afraid of information,” Stoltzfus said. “Information doesn’t hurt.”
He and the other lawmakers from the Eastern Shore had met with O'Malley on what they considered heavy-handed environmental regulation that was hurting economic development on the Shore. They had raised the issue in an earlier meeting with Environment Secretary Shari Wilson reported in MarylandReporter.com.
Stolztfus said Shore lawmakers were concerned “particularly that the poultry industry is being harassed” and that the suits were another factor encouraging poultry magnate Jim Perdue to move his processing operations to North Carolina.
“The small family farmer cannot afford to defend themselves,” Stoltzfus said.
GO HERE to read more from Marylandreporter.com.
Lawmakers Concerned As Health-Care Overhaul Foes Resort To Violence
The pitched battle over health care has unleashed a rash of vandalism and attacks directed at politicians, with at least 10 House Democrats reporting death threats or incidents of harassment or vandalism at their district offices over the past week.
More than 100 House Democrats met behind closed doors Wednesday afternoon with representatives of the FBI and the U.S. Capitol Police. The lawmakers voiced what one senior aide who was present described as "serious concern" about their security in Washington and in their home districts when they return this weekend for the spring recess.
Usually only the congressional leadership has regular personal protection from the Capitol Police. But at least 10 lawmakers have been offered increased protection by law enforcement agencies, said House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.).
Asked whether members are endangered, Hoyer said: "Yes. [There are] very serious incidents that have occurred."
Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Terrance Gainer e-mailed senators and staffers Wednesday telling them to "remain vigilant." Gainer, a former Capitol Police chief, said in an interview that the warning was meant to "assuage people's fears."
But House Democrats say they are unnerved.
GO HERE to read more.
More than 100 House Democrats met behind closed doors Wednesday afternoon with representatives of the FBI and the U.S. Capitol Police. The lawmakers voiced what one senior aide who was present described as "serious concern" about their security in Washington and in their home districts when they return this weekend for the spring recess.
Usually only the congressional leadership has regular personal protection from the Capitol Police. But at least 10 lawmakers have been offered increased protection by law enforcement agencies, said House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.).
Asked whether members are endangered, Hoyer said: "Yes. [There are] very serious incidents that have occurred."
Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Terrance Gainer e-mailed senators and staffers Wednesday telling them to "remain vigilant." Gainer, a former Capitol Police chief, said in an interview that the warning was meant to "assuage people's fears."
But House Democrats say they are unnerved.
GO HERE to read more.
Joe Vallario Steps Out Of Chambers As Sex Offender Victims Testify
Joe Vallario leaves the room.
Earlier this month Salisbury News provided this article on Joe Vallario, Joe Vallario Set To Kill Child Predator Laws With No Committee Vote.
Just as everyone was set to testify, Joe Vallario got up and left the room. Mind you, even though his goal was to "kill" Bill 254 & 963, these Bills passed just moments before this testimony began. Was he upset?
In the mean time, Delegate Jim Mathias invited Sheriff Mike Lewis, Mrs. Tracey Powell and Mrs. Charity Holley to testify on new legislation yet again towards sex offender. Sheriff Lewis asked for additional restrictions on Maryland Driver's Licenses that allows Officers to recognize sex offenders by a code on their driver's license.
If an Officer pulls a sex offender over who happens to be in an area in which a crime had just occurred, this would help Officers to recognize this person as a possible suspect. It also allows a red flag if they pull someone over who has a child inside their vehicle and they're a registered sex offender.
Mrs. Holley was abducted at 9 years old and tortured. She is a survivor who testified in support of new legislation on "Civil Commitment". This would force sex offenders to go in front of a panel/doctors after they have served their time and be evaluated before they are considered to be released.
The testimony provided Tuesday afternoon was emotional and quite frankly, hard to believe these kinds of things could happen in this world. Mrs. Holley's predator is set to be released some time late this year and while I'll not get into the details of what happened to her, (simply put) it scarred her physically to a point she could never have children.
While it was just too difficult at that time for Mrs. Powell to testify, her presence made a huge difference on behalf of Sarah Foxwell. Mr. Vallario did finally return towards the very end of their testimony but quite frankly I thought the man was rude. He kept asking Mrs. Powell, (three times) do you have anything further to add.
It has been reported that the President of the Maryland Senate Mike Miller has asked Mr. Vallario not to run again as well as Speaker Mike Bush. We're told his reply was, I'll run again if I fell like running again. Clearly the man is not welcome any more and we're also told a former Maryland State Trooper may be running against him this time and has a fantastic chance to take his seat.
In closing, I think ALL of you should be very proud of Mrs. Powell and Sheriff Lewis for attending this meeting to testify in support of more strict laws against sexual predators. As for Mrs. Holley, what a wonderful, sweet woman. She has adopted a child and has moved on with her life and God Bless her for taking the time to step in and help support new legislation with her testimony.
Social Security Payout To Exceed Pay-In This Year
Payments have risen more than expected during the downturn, official says
The bursting of the real estate bubble and the ensuing recession have hammered jobs, home prices and now Social Security.
This year, the system will pay out more in benefits than it receives in payroll taxes, an important threshold it was not expected to cross until at least 2016, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
Stephen C. Goss, chief actuary of the Social Security Administration, said that while the Congressional projection would probably be borne out, the change would have no effect on benefits in 2010 and retirees would keep receiving their checks as usual.
GO HERE to read more.
The bursting of the real estate bubble and the ensuing recession have hammered jobs, home prices and now Social Security.
This year, the system will pay out more in benefits than it receives in payroll taxes, an important threshold it was not expected to cross until at least 2016, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
Stephen C. Goss, chief actuary of the Social Security Administration, said that while the Congressional projection would probably be borne out, the change would have no effect on benefits in 2010 and retirees would keep receiving their checks as usual.
GO HERE to read more.
Salisbury News Viewers Get A 15% Discount To The Showtime Boxing Event With Fernando Guerrero
Because of our good working relationship with team Guerrero, Salisbury News is happy to be able to offer discounted tickets to the Fernando Guerrero Showtime fight on April 16, at the Wicomico Civic Center. Starts Friday, March 26th and ends midnight April 1st.!
Click on image to enlarge. Folks, we are honored to work so close with Team Guerrero and participate in this discount program. Do not miss this opportunity and take advantage of such discounts. Show your support and come enjoy a fantastic evening with friends and family. Discounts start tomorrow morning.
Click on image to enlarge. Folks, we are honored to work so close with Team Guerrero and participate in this discount program. Do not miss this opportunity and take advantage of such discounts. Show your support and come enjoy a fantastic evening with friends and family. Discounts start tomorrow morning.
A Point Of No Return?
by Thomas Sowell
Yes (41 %)
No (38 %)
Not sure (21 %)
With the passage of the legislation allowing the federal government to take control of the medical care system of the United States, a major turning point has been reached in the dismantling of the values and institutions of America.
Even the massive transfer of crucial decisions from millions of doctors and patients to Washington bureaucrats and advisory panels-- as momentous as that is-- does not measure the full impact of this largely unread and certainly unscrutinized legislation.
If the current legislation does not entail the transmission of all our individual medical records to Washington, it will take only an administrative regulation or, at most, an Executive Order of the President, to do that.
With politicians now having not only access to our most confidential records, and having the power of granting or withholding medical care needed to sustain ourselves or our loved ones, how many people will be bold enough to criticize our public servants, who will in fact have become our public masters?
Despite whatever "firewalls" or "lockboxes" there may be to shield our medical records from prying political eyes, nothing is as inevitable as leaks in Washington. Does anyone still remember the hundreds of confidential FBI files that were "accidentally" delivered to the White House during Bill Clinton's administration?
Even before that, J. Edgar Hoover's extensive confidential FBI files on numerous Washington power holders made him someone who could not be fired by any President of the United States, much less by any Attorney General, who was nominally his boss.
The corrupt manner in which this massive legislation was rammed through Congress, without any of the committee hearings or extended debates that most landmark legislation has had, has provided a roadmap for pushing through more such sweeping legislation in utter defiance of what the public wants.
Too many critics of the Obama administration have assumed that its arrogant disregard of the voting public will spell political suicide for Congressional Democrats and for the President himself. But that is far from certain.
True, President Obama's approval numbers in the polls have fallen below 50 percent, and that of Congress is down around 10 percent. But nobody votes for Congress as a whole, and the President will not be on the ballot until 2012.
They say that, in politics, overnight is a lifetime. Just last month, it was said that the election of Scott Brown to the Senate from Massachusetts doomed the health care bill. Now some of the same people are saying that passing the health care bill will doom the administration and the Democrats' control of Congress. As an old song said, "It ain't necessarily so."
The voters will have had no experience with the actual, concrete effect of the government takeover of medical care at the time of either the 2010 Congressional elections or the 2012 Presidential elections. All they will have will be conflicting rhetoric-- and you can depend on the mainstream media to go along with the rhetoric of those who passed this medical care bill.
The ruthless and corrupt way this bill was forced through Congress on a party-line vote, and in defiance of public opinion, provides a road map for how other "historic" changes can be imposed by Obama, Pelosi and Reid.
What will it matter if Obama's current approval rating is below 50 percent among the current voting public, if he can ram through new legislation to create millions of new voters by granting citizenship to illegal immigrants? That can be enough to make him a two-term President, who can appoint enough Supreme Court justices to rubber-stamp further extensions of his power.
When all these newly minted citizens are rounded up on election night by ethnic organization activists and labor union supporters of the administration, that may be enough to salvage the Democrats' control of Congress as well.
The last opportunity that current American citizens may have to determine who will control Congress may well be the election in November of this year. Off-year elections don't usually bring out as many voters as Presidential election years. But the 2010 election may be the last chance to halt the dismantling of America. It can be the point of no return.
Yes (41 %)
No (38 %)
Not sure (21 %)
With the passage of the legislation allowing the federal government to take control of the medical care system of the United States, a major turning point has been reached in the dismantling of the values and institutions of America.
Even the massive transfer of crucial decisions from millions of doctors and patients to Washington bureaucrats and advisory panels-- as momentous as that is-- does not measure the full impact of this largely unread and certainly unscrutinized legislation.
If the current legislation does not entail the transmission of all our individual medical records to Washington, it will take only an administrative regulation or, at most, an Executive Order of the President, to do that.
With politicians now having not only access to our most confidential records, and having the power of granting or withholding medical care needed to sustain ourselves or our loved ones, how many people will be bold enough to criticize our public servants, who will in fact have become our public masters?
Despite whatever "firewalls" or "lockboxes" there may be to shield our medical records from prying political eyes, nothing is as inevitable as leaks in Washington. Does anyone still remember the hundreds of confidential FBI files that were "accidentally" delivered to the White House during Bill Clinton's administration?
Even before that, J. Edgar Hoover's extensive confidential FBI files on numerous Washington power holders made him someone who could not be fired by any President of the United States, much less by any Attorney General, who was nominally his boss.
The corrupt manner in which this massive legislation was rammed through Congress, without any of the committee hearings or extended debates that most landmark legislation has had, has provided a roadmap for pushing through more such sweeping legislation in utter defiance of what the public wants.
Too many critics of the Obama administration have assumed that its arrogant disregard of the voting public will spell political suicide for Congressional Democrats and for the President himself. But that is far from certain.
True, President Obama's approval numbers in the polls have fallen below 50 percent, and that of Congress is down around 10 percent. But nobody votes for Congress as a whole, and the President will not be on the ballot until 2012.
They say that, in politics, overnight is a lifetime. Just last month, it was said that the election of Scott Brown to the Senate from Massachusetts doomed the health care bill. Now some of the same people are saying that passing the health care bill will doom the administration and the Democrats' control of Congress. As an old song said, "It ain't necessarily so."
The voters will have had no experience with the actual, concrete effect of the government takeover of medical care at the time of either the 2010 Congressional elections or the 2012 Presidential elections. All they will have will be conflicting rhetoric-- and you can depend on the mainstream media to go along with the rhetoric of those who passed this medical care bill.
The ruthless and corrupt way this bill was forced through Congress on a party-line vote, and in defiance of public opinion, provides a road map for how other "historic" changes can be imposed by Obama, Pelosi and Reid.
What will it matter if Obama's current approval rating is below 50 percent among the current voting public, if he can ram through new legislation to create millions of new voters by granting citizenship to illegal immigrants? That can be enough to make him a two-term President, who can appoint enough Supreme Court justices to rubber-stamp further extensions of his power.
When all these newly minted citizens are rounded up on election night by ethnic organization activists and labor union supporters of the administration, that may be enough to salvage the Democrats' control of Congress as well.
The last opportunity that current American citizens may have to determine who will control Congress may well be the election in November of this year. Off-year elections don't usually bring out as many voters as Presidential election years. But the 2010 election may be the last chance to halt the dismantling of America. It can be the point of no return.
Cross Country Trash Cleanup In Salisbury Now
Editor’s Note: To date, we’ve picked up 98 bags of trash. We’re currently based in Salisbury for a week, and we’ll be pulling together clean-ups in the area. Please see our tour page for the latest, and feel free to call us for last minute confirmation.
By Amy Dewan
Seeing off Pick Up America this weekend was more than exciting. After burning sage on the Atlantic coast, we set off on our journey. So many people came out to support the Pick Up Artists, and it was amazing to see the community come together so well.
Picking up trash was an interesting experience — far more interesting than I would have imagined. There were countless cigarette butts, but besides that, much of the trash fell into some categories, and all of the trash told a story. For example; we found a huge amount of McDonald’s bags, although the first McDonalds nearby was more than a few miles away.
GO HERE to see more.
By Amy Dewan
Seeing off Pick Up America this weekend was more than exciting. After burning sage on the Atlantic coast, we set off on our journey. So many people came out to support the Pick Up Artists, and it was amazing to see the community come together so well.
Picking up trash was an interesting experience — far more interesting than I would have imagined. There were countless cigarette butts, but besides that, much of the trash fell into some categories, and all of the trash told a story. For example; we found a huge amount of McDonald’s bags, although the first McDonalds nearby was more than a few miles away.
GO HERE to see more.
Quote Of The Day
"Every so often, I read something written by other people that I wish I had written.
For instance, Thomas Paine observed over two centuries ago: 'To argue with a man who has renounced the use and authority of reason, is like administering medicine to the dead.'
In 21 words, Paine perfectly summed up the frustration faced by a conservative every time he attempts to debate an issue with a liberal."
--columnist Burt Prelutsky
For instance, Thomas Paine observed over two centuries ago: 'To argue with a man who has renounced the use and authority of reason, is like administering medicine to the dead.'
In 21 words, Paine perfectly summed up the frustration faced by a conservative every time he attempts to debate an issue with a liberal."
--columnist Burt Prelutsky
THE STIMULUS AT WORK
Some have said that the stimulus hasn't saved any jobs, but here is a case where at least one job was saved. Oregon State University Athletic Director Bob DeCarolis was considering firing their basketball coach, Craig Robinson, after an 8-11 start (2-5 in the Pac 10 conference).
When word of this reached Washington , Undersecretary of Education Martha Kanter was
dispatched to Corvallis with $17 million in stimulus money for the university. Craig Robinson's job is safe for this year. For those of you unfamiliar with Coach Robinson, he just so happens to be Michelle Obama's brother. Just a coincidence I'm
sure!
When word of this reached Washington , Undersecretary of Education Martha Kanter was
dispatched to Corvallis with $17 million in stimulus money for the university. Craig Robinson's job is safe for this year. For those of you unfamiliar with Coach Robinson, he just so happens to be Michelle Obama's brother. Just a coincidence I'm
sure!
GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY ANNOUNCES HEALTH CARE REFORM COUNCIL
Council to ensure efficiency in implementing health care expansion, cost control measures
Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, DHMH Secretary John M. Colmers to co-chair Council
ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Martin O’Malley unveiled an Executive Order today outside the Emergency Room at Anne Arundel Medical Center, where the Governor outlined ways in which federal health care reform, signed by President Obama yesterday, will impact families in Maryland. The Executive Order creates the Maryland Health Care Reform Coordinating Council to advise the administration on policies and procedures to implement the recent and future federal health care reform legislation as efficiently and effectively as possible. As states assume the critical role of implementing multiple aspects of health care reform, the Council will make policy recommendations and offer implementation strategies to keep Maryland among the leading states in expanding quality, affordable health care while reducing waste and controlling costs.
“Over the last three years, we’ve acted as One Maryland to expand access to quality, affordable health care to more than 160,000 Marylanders, 78,500 of which are children. These federal reforms will build on our progress,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “Thanks to our Congressional delegation and the President Obama’s leadership, we will help even more families. The Health Care Reform Coordinating Council will immediately begin the work to ensure our State leads the nation in delivering even more health care to Maryland children and families.”
Maryland is already a national model for controlling health care costs under Maryland’s unique “all-payer” hospital rate setting system. Under Governor O’Malley’s leadership, Maryland has extended health care coverage to 161,000 Marylanders, 78,500 of which are children, under the Working Families and Small Business Health Coverage Act. The Maryland Health Care Reform Coordinating Council will assist the executive and legislative branches of state government with the delivery of health care reforms from the federal level to the homes and businesses of Main Street Maryland.
“Because of President Obama's leadership, we have taken a giant step forward to improve the quality of health care and to control costs,” said Lt. Governor Anthony Brown. “States like Maryland will play a critical role in implementing health care reform and so our work is just beginning. I am honored that Governor O’Malley has asked me to lead this effort in Maryland alongside Secretary Colmers. I am confident that we will provide a national model for other states to follow as we continue to expand and improve our health care system in Maryland.”
“We in Maryland can’t wait to roll up our sleeves and get down to the business of reforming our health care system,” said John M. Colmers, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. “The creation of this council is an important first step to ensuring Maryland is a leader in developing the most efficient and effective implementation of health care reforms in the nation.”
In many ways, the reforms signed by President Obama yesterday build upon progress already made in Maryland over the last three years. Maryland law already allows young adults to remain on their families’ health plan until age 25. Federal reforms extend this to age 26. Governor O’Malley championed an innovative program called the Maryland Health Insurance Partnership in 2008, which partners state government with health insurers and small businesses to lower premiums and expand health care to more Marylanders. Federal reforms signed yesterday extend federal tax credits to small businesses to achieve this goal.
In addition, under the O’Malley-Brown Administration, Maryland has strengthened the safety net for the hardest hit families by expanding Medicaid programs to cover families up to 116 percent of the poverty level. Federal reforms extend Medicaid to families up to 130 percent of federal poverty levels.
In 2008, Governor O’Malley and Lt. Governor Brown launched a highly successful public-private partnership that ensures no Maryland senior is forced to choose between putting food on the table and purchasing the prescription drugs they need. The federal legislation closes this so-called “donut hole” for all American seniors.
Finally, the O’Malley-Brown Administration, in addition to expanding dental benefits for low-income children and mental health services for returning veterans, has championed initiatives through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to promote wellness and prevention, thus reducing overall health care costs. The federal reforms make similar investments in long-term care, wellness programs, and prevention initiatives.
See a signed copy of today’s Executive Order here.
Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, DHMH Secretary John M. Colmers to co-chair Council
ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Martin O’Malley unveiled an Executive Order today outside the Emergency Room at Anne Arundel Medical Center, where the Governor outlined ways in which federal health care reform, signed by President Obama yesterday, will impact families in Maryland. The Executive Order creates the Maryland Health Care Reform Coordinating Council to advise the administration on policies and procedures to implement the recent and future federal health care reform legislation as efficiently and effectively as possible. As states assume the critical role of implementing multiple aspects of health care reform, the Council will make policy recommendations and offer implementation strategies to keep Maryland among the leading states in expanding quality, affordable health care while reducing waste and controlling costs.
“Over the last three years, we’ve acted as One Maryland to expand access to quality, affordable health care to more than 160,000 Marylanders, 78,500 of which are children. These federal reforms will build on our progress,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “Thanks to our Congressional delegation and the President Obama’s leadership, we will help even more families. The Health Care Reform Coordinating Council will immediately begin the work to ensure our State leads the nation in delivering even more health care to Maryland children and families.”
Maryland is already a national model for controlling health care costs under Maryland’s unique “all-payer” hospital rate setting system. Under Governor O’Malley’s leadership, Maryland has extended health care coverage to 161,000 Marylanders, 78,500 of which are children, under the Working Families and Small Business Health Coverage Act. The Maryland Health Care Reform Coordinating Council will assist the executive and legislative branches of state government with the delivery of health care reforms from the federal level to the homes and businesses of Main Street Maryland.
“Because of President Obama's leadership, we have taken a giant step forward to improve the quality of health care and to control costs,” said Lt. Governor Anthony Brown. “States like Maryland will play a critical role in implementing health care reform and so our work is just beginning. I am honored that Governor O’Malley has asked me to lead this effort in Maryland alongside Secretary Colmers. I am confident that we will provide a national model for other states to follow as we continue to expand and improve our health care system in Maryland.”
“We in Maryland can’t wait to roll up our sleeves and get down to the business of reforming our health care system,” said John M. Colmers, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. “The creation of this council is an important first step to ensuring Maryland is a leader in developing the most efficient and effective implementation of health care reforms in the nation.”
In many ways, the reforms signed by President Obama yesterday build upon progress already made in Maryland over the last three years. Maryland law already allows young adults to remain on their families’ health plan until age 25. Federal reforms extend this to age 26. Governor O’Malley championed an innovative program called the Maryland Health Insurance Partnership in 2008, which partners state government with health insurers and small businesses to lower premiums and expand health care to more Marylanders. Federal reforms signed yesterday extend federal tax credits to small businesses to achieve this goal.
In addition, under the O’Malley-Brown Administration, Maryland has strengthened the safety net for the hardest hit families by expanding Medicaid programs to cover families up to 116 percent of the poverty level. Federal reforms extend Medicaid to families up to 130 percent of federal poverty levels.
In 2008, Governor O’Malley and Lt. Governor Brown launched a highly successful public-private partnership that ensures no Maryland senior is forced to choose between putting food on the table and purchasing the prescription drugs they need. The federal legislation closes this so-called “donut hole” for all American seniors.
Finally, the O’Malley-Brown Administration, in addition to expanding dental benefits for low-income children and mental health services for returning veterans, has championed initiatives through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to promote wellness and prevention, thus reducing overall health care costs. The federal reforms make similar investments in long-term care, wellness programs, and prevention initiatives.
See a signed copy of today’s Executive Order here.
Another 'Great' Salisbury Claim To Fame
Real Estate 2010 2010 2009 2006
MONEY Magazine: Latest forecasts and projections for the nation's largest metro areas
1 Hanford, CA -25.9%
2 Miami, FL -22.5%
3 Fort Lauderdale, FL -21.3%
4 West Palm Beach, FL -18.5%
4 Phoenix, AZ -18.5%
6 Las Vegas, NV -15.4%
7 Tampa, FL -13.8%
8 Pensacola, FL -13.6%
9 Gainesville, FL -13.4%
9 Suffolk, NY -13.4%
11 New York, NY -12.9%
12 Ocean City, NJ -11.8%
12 Bethesda, MD -11.8%
14 Deltona, FL -11.1%
15 Washington, DC -10.7%
16 Atlantic City, NJ -10.0%
16 Naples, FL -10.0%
18 Fort Walton Beach, FL -9.9%
19 Edison, NJ -9.8%
19 Minneapolis, MN -9.8%
21 Orlando, FL -9.0%
22 Prescott, AZ -8.6%
23 Los Angeles, CA -8.1%
24 Salisbury, MD -7.8%
25 Jacksonville, FL -7.5%
Is this a good time to buy a home in Salisbury?
Source
MONEY Magazine: Latest forecasts and projections for the nation's largest metro areas
1 Hanford, CA -25.9%
2 Miami, FL -22.5%
3 Fort Lauderdale, FL -21.3%
4 West Palm Beach, FL -18.5%
4 Phoenix, AZ -18.5%
6 Las Vegas, NV -15.4%
7 Tampa, FL -13.8%
8 Pensacola, FL -13.6%
9 Gainesville, FL -13.4%
9 Suffolk, NY -13.4%
11 New York, NY -12.9%
12 Ocean City, NJ -11.8%
12 Bethesda, MD -11.8%
14 Deltona, FL -11.1%
15 Washington, DC -10.7%
16 Atlantic City, NJ -10.0%
16 Naples, FL -10.0%
18 Fort Walton Beach, FL -9.9%
19 Edison, NJ -9.8%
19 Minneapolis, MN -9.8%
21 Orlando, FL -9.0%
22 Prescott, AZ -8.6%
23 Los Angeles, CA -8.1%
24 Salisbury, MD -7.8%
25 Jacksonville, FL -7.5%
Is this a good time to buy a home in Salisbury?
Source
Stop The Health Care Take Over In Maryland!
On the heels of a federal government takeover of our health care system, the Maryland Senate Finance Committee blocked the opportunity for Maryland taxpayers to be protected from national health care mandates. By a vote of 6-5, the committee voted down SB 397, a constitutional amendment that allows citizens to make their own health care decisions. Two Democrats crossed party lines to vote “YES” with all three Republicans on the committee.
However, the deciding votes were Sen. Kathy Klausmeier (D-Baltimore Co) and Sen. Thomas “Mac” Middleton (D-Charles Co). They both voted “NO” and blocked this important piece of legislation from reaching the Senate floor for debate.
The Health Care Freedom Act, sponsored by Sens. Pipkin (R-Cecil), Jacobs (R-Harford) and Mooney (R-Frederick), would give citizens the opportunity to assert their rights and liberties by allowing the taxpayer, not the government, to make health care choices. Further it would allow Maryland’s Attorney General to step in and protect us from any fines or penalties the Federal Government may impose.
Virginia already enacted a similar law and Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli plans to file suit in federal court to protect the citizens of the Commonwealth. Eleven other Attorney Generals will be filing suit, including neighboring Pennsylvania, against the unprecedented power grab. HERE IS HOW YOU CAN HELP…
Call and email Sens. Klausmeier and Middleton with the following message: “I am a member of Americans for Prosperity. I am asking that you reconsider your vote on SB397 – the Health Care Freedom Act – and allow it to reach the Senate floor for debate. With the federal government taking over our health care, I want the ability to opt out of this plan. Only I should be able to choose my health care plan – NOT the government. Please change your vote. Vote “YES” on SB397. Thank you for your time.”
Sen. Kathy Klausmeier 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3620; katherine.klausmeier@senate.state.md.us
Sen. Thomas “Mac” Middleton 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3616; thomas.mclain.middleton@senate.state.md.us
Let’s hold our elected officials accountable. If we can change this vote, it is one more step to stopping the government take over of our health care and preserving our cherished freedoms. Thank you for your time!
Special Registration Day For Kindergarten And Prekindergarten
Special Registration Day for Kindergarten and Prekindergarten
Wicomico Schools with Primary Grades
The first day to register children for prekindergarten and kindergarten for the 2010-2011 school year in Wicomico County Public Schools will be Thursday, March 25. On that day, Wicomico County elementary schools with primary grades will begin enrolling children who will start prekindergarten or kindergarten next year, and children not in public kindergarten who will be enrolled in the first grade for the 2010-2011 school year.
Parents or guardians will need to bring immunization records (please see a doctor or the health department to ensure that the child’s vaccination record is complete), birth certificate and proof of residency for each child. Income verification is needed for prekindergarten registration ONLY.
The flier on prekindergarten/kindergarten registration and the table of state vaccination requirements may be downloaded from the Wicomico County Public Schools Web site at www.wcboe.org, under Quick Links.
Registration takes place at each Wicomico school that serves primary grades (prekindergarten through grade 2), from 9 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Exceptions are: Beaver Run Elementary, 9 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m.; Delmar Elementary, 8:15-11:15 a.m. and 12:15-3:15 p.m.; Willards Elementary, 8:15-11:15 a.m., 12:15-3:15 p.m. and 5-7 p.m.; Fruitland Primary, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Westside Primary, 9-11:30 a.m. and 1-3 p.m.; and Prince Street Elementary, 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Schools will register children every day after the March 25 opening day.
The next school year will begin Aug. 30, 2010. The approved calendar for the 2010-2011 may be viewed and downloaded from the Board home page at www.wcboe.org, under Quick Links.
Call 410-677-4580 for any additional information, including early entrance into prekindergarten or kindergarten. The Board policy on early admission to kindergarten and prekindergarten is on the web site at www.wcboe.org; Look for Board of Education in Quick Links and click to go to Policies.
Kindergarten is mandatory for all 5-year-old Maryland children unless the parents or guardians have completed a Kindergarten-Level of Maturity Waiver Form. Forms are available at the schools or the Board website. Completed forms should be forwarded to the attention of Mrs. Susan Jones, Director of Elementary Education. Children must be 5 years old by Sept. 1, 2010.
Prekindergarten is not mandatory, and is offered to qualified children who will be 4 by Sept. 1, 2010. Maryland and Delmar, Del., neighborhood children who come from low-income or at-risk situations, have prior participation in Head Start or who experience challenges like emergency or health problems, limited English proficiency, homelessness, or other home or family circumstances, will be given priority admission to prekindergarten. Children may also be recommended for the program by government or court referral. Parents or guardians whose child does not meet those criteria can put the child’s name on a waiting list, which will be used to fill any remaining slots. Documentation must be submitted prior to a child’s acceptance into the program.
Wicomico Schools with Primary Grades
The first day to register children for prekindergarten and kindergarten for the 2010-2011 school year in Wicomico County Public Schools will be Thursday, March 25. On that day, Wicomico County elementary schools with primary grades will begin enrolling children who will start prekindergarten or kindergarten next year, and children not in public kindergarten who will be enrolled in the first grade for the 2010-2011 school year.
Parents or guardians will need to bring immunization records (please see a doctor or the health department to ensure that the child’s vaccination record is complete), birth certificate and proof of residency for each child. Income verification is needed for prekindergarten registration ONLY.
The flier on prekindergarten/kindergarten registration and the table of state vaccination requirements may be downloaded from the Wicomico County Public Schools Web site at www.wcboe.org, under Quick Links.
Registration takes place at each Wicomico school that serves primary grades (prekindergarten through grade 2), from 9 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Exceptions are: Beaver Run Elementary, 9 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m.; Delmar Elementary, 8:15-11:15 a.m. and 12:15-3:15 p.m.; Willards Elementary, 8:15-11:15 a.m., 12:15-3:15 p.m. and 5-7 p.m.; Fruitland Primary, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Westside Primary, 9-11:30 a.m. and 1-3 p.m.; and Prince Street Elementary, 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Schools will register children every day after the March 25 opening day.
The next school year will begin Aug. 30, 2010. The approved calendar for the 2010-2011 may be viewed and downloaded from the Board home page at www.wcboe.org, under Quick Links.
Call 410-677-4580 for any additional information, including early entrance into prekindergarten or kindergarten. The Board policy on early admission to kindergarten and prekindergarten is on the web site at www.wcboe.org; Look for Board of Education in Quick Links and click to go to Policies.
Kindergarten is mandatory for all 5-year-old Maryland children unless the parents or guardians have completed a Kindergarten-Level of Maturity Waiver Form. Forms are available at the schools or the Board website. Completed forms should be forwarded to the attention of Mrs. Susan Jones, Director of Elementary Education. Children must be 5 years old by Sept. 1, 2010.
Prekindergarten is not mandatory, and is offered to qualified children who will be 4 by Sept. 1, 2010. Maryland and Delmar, Del., neighborhood children who come from low-income or at-risk situations, have prior participation in Head Start or who experience challenges like emergency or health problems, limited English proficiency, homelessness, or other home or family circumstances, will be given priority admission to prekindergarten. Children may also be recommended for the program by government or court referral. Parents or guardians whose child does not meet those criteria can put the child’s name on a waiting list, which will be used to fill any remaining slots. Documentation must be submitted prior to a child’s acceptance into the program.
Rutledge For US Senate 2010
FORREST Hill, Maryland- The Rutledge for U.S. Senate Campaign is encouraged by the prospect that Bob Ehrlich will seek the Republican nomination for Governor. Jim Rutledge believes Maryland’s Republican Party must provide a strong leadership team to reform government and restore fiscal accountability. Liberal Democrats have mortgaged our financial future and turned their back on the Constitution.
Rutledge said, “The time is now for Marylanders to stand up and get behind leaders who are willing to fight against higher taxes and big government.” The Rutledge Campaign believes America is at a cross road where the people have to decide how much government they want in their lives. Democrats like Barbara Mikulski from Annapolis to Washington have usurped their authority to create bigger government. To insure real change in Maryland and across the Nation every citizen must stand up and become a Patriot.
Jim Rutledge thinks that the governments’ role in our lives should be limited. Barbara Mikulski has consistently sided with big government by choosing to expand the role of the federal government in our lives. In the midst of a bad economy, businesses need government to reduce taxes and eliminate barriers that restrict growth. Mandating more cost and more regulations will continue to slow job growth and send existing jobs overseas. Barbara Mikulski has spent decades helping to raise our taxes and create a larger bureaucracy in Washington. In response to the liberal legislative agenda Jim Rutledge said, “It is like the magazine subscription you did not order-they keep sending them anyway along with the bill.”
Jim Rutledge urges Marylanders to take action and join him in this cause to end the tax and spend practices of Barbara Mikulski.
Rutledge said, “The time is now for Marylanders to stand up and get behind leaders who are willing to fight against higher taxes and big government.” The Rutledge Campaign believes America is at a cross road where the people have to decide how much government they want in their lives. Democrats like Barbara Mikulski from Annapolis to Washington have usurped their authority to create bigger government. To insure real change in Maryland and across the Nation every citizen must stand up and become a Patriot.
Jim Rutledge thinks that the governments’ role in our lives should be limited. Barbara Mikulski has consistently sided with big government by choosing to expand the role of the federal government in our lives. In the midst of a bad economy, businesses need government to reduce taxes and eliminate barriers that restrict growth. Mandating more cost and more regulations will continue to slow job growth and send existing jobs overseas. Barbara Mikulski has spent decades helping to raise our taxes and create a larger bureaucracy in Washington. In response to the liberal legislative agenda Jim Rutledge said, “It is like the magazine subscription you did not order-they keep sending them anyway along with the bill.”
Jim Rutledge urges Marylanders to take action and join him in this cause to end the tax and spend practices of Barbara Mikulski.
3rd Annual Technology Media Festival
3rd annual Technology Media Festival
North Salisbury Elementary
Students and teachers will showcase their best work in technology media at the 3rd annual Technology Media Festival at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 25, at North Salisbury Elementary. Close to 500 students from 13 schools submitted more than 100 entries. At the Technology Media Festival, the entries will be on display for the community to see from 6-7 p.m., and winners will be announced starting at 7 p.m.
North Salisbury Elementary
Students and teachers will showcase their best work in technology media at the 3rd annual Technology Media Festival at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 25, at North Salisbury Elementary. Close to 500 students from 13 schools submitted more than 100 entries. At the Technology Media Festival, the entries will be on display for the community to see from 6-7 p.m., and winners will be announced starting at 7 p.m.
I'm Told This Aired On Fox?
Keep those guns handy... May need them sooner rather than later.
http://shock.military.com/Shock/videos.do?displayContent=185279&page=1
http://shock.military.com/Shock/videos.do?displayContent=185279&page=1
AFP Urges Senators To Reconsider Health Care Bill
AFP-Maryland urges Sens. Klausmeier and Middleton to reconsider vote on health care bill
- Health Care Freedom Act could protect citizens from government mandate –
ANNAPOLIS – The Maryland chapter of Americans for Prosperity is urging state Sens. Kathy Klausmeier (D-Baltimore County) and Thomas “Mac” Middleton (D-Charles County) to reconsider their vote on SB397, the Health Care Freedom Act (HCFA). The Senate Finance Committee, which Middleton chairs, voted 6-5 to block the bill from reaching the Senate floor for debate. Two Democrats joined three Republicans in support of the bill. However, Klausmeier and Middleton stopped its passage by voting “NO”. The HCFA would give Marylanders protection from federal government mandates to purchase health insurance.
“According to their committee vote, Sens. Klausmeier and Middleton don’t believe in giving Maryland citizens a choice when it comes to their health care,” stated Maryland state director Dave Schwartz. “On the heels of a federal government takeover of our health care, this bill could give Marylanders protection from unwanted and unnecessary mandates. The committee should reconvene, and Klausmeier and Middleton should vote to allow this bill to be publicly debated on the Senate floor.”
The Health Care Freedom Act, modeled after bills that passed in both Virginia and Arizona, would be implemented as a constitutional amendment to be placed on the ballot in November for voter approval. It was introduced and co-sponsored by Sens. E.J. Pipkin (R-Cecil), Nancy Jacobs (R-Harford), and Alex Mooney (R-Frederick) and received bi-partisan support in the Finance Committee.
- Health Care Freedom Act could protect citizens from government mandate –
ANNAPOLIS – The Maryland chapter of Americans for Prosperity is urging state Sens. Kathy Klausmeier (D-Baltimore County) and Thomas “Mac” Middleton (D-Charles County) to reconsider their vote on SB397, the Health Care Freedom Act (HCFA). The Senate Finance Committee, which Middleton chairs, voted 6-5 to block the bill from reaching the Senate floor for debate. Two Democrats joined three Republicans in support of the bill. However, Klausmeier and Middleton stopped its passage by voting “NO”. The HCFA would give Marylanders protection from federal government mandates to purchase health insurance.
“According to their committee vote, Sens. Klausmeier and Middleton don’t believe in giving Maryland citizens a choice when it comes to their health care,” stated Maryland state director Dave Schwartz. “On the heels of a federal government takeover of our health care, this bill could give Marylanders protection from unwanted and unnecessary mandates. The committee should reconvene, and Klausmeier and Middleton should vote to allow this bill to be publicly debated on the Senate floor.”
The Health Care Freedom Act, modeled after bills that passed in both Virginia and Arizona, would be implemented as a constitutional amendment to be placed on the ballot in November for voter approval. It was introduced and co-sponsored by Sens. E.J. Pipkin (R-Cecil), Nancy Jacobs (R-Harford), and Alex Mooney (R-Frederick) and received bi-partisan support in the Finance Committee.
An Idea Whose Time Has Come
For too long we have been too complacent about the workings of Congress. Many citizens had no idea that members of Congress could retire with the same pay after only one term, that they didn't pay into Social Security, that they specifically exempted themselves from many of the laws they have passed (such as being exempt from any fear of prosecution for sexual harassment) while ordinary citizens must live under those laws. The latest is to exempt themselves from the Healthcare Reform that is being considered...in all of its forms. Somehow, that doesn't seem logical. We do not have an elite that is above the law. I truly don't care if they are Democrat, Republican, Independent or whatever. The self-serving must stop. This is a good way to do that. It is an idea whose time has come.
Have each person contact a minimum of Twenty people on their Address list, in turn ask each of those to do likewise..
In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message. This is one proposal that really should be passed around.
Proposed 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution:
"Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and/or Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and/or Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States ".
Have each person contact a minimum of Twenty people on their Address list, in turn ask each of those to do likewise..
In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message. This is one proposal that really should be passed around.
Proposed 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution:
"Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and/or Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and/or Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States ".
Toyota Corrects Media Reports
1. Toyota Corrects Reports about Pedal Replacement Policy
Some news accounts have misinterpreted a letter sent recently by Toyota to dealers regarding an improved parts ordering process for accelerator pedals. These reports suggest inaccurately that this process improvement represents a change in Toyota’s recall policies.
In response, the company released a statement on Tuesday noting that: “Toyota is confident that the remedies it has announced to address sticking accelerator pedals and floor mat entrapment represent a comprehensive solution to these issues. However, if a customer is not satisfied with the modification to his or her repaired accelerator pedal, dealers will replace it at no charge.”
The statement also noted that this policy was included when Toyota initially filed with NHTSA in November regarding floor mat entrapment issue and in February regarding the sticking accelerator pedal issue. It is also contained in the official owners letters for those recalls.
To view this statement and other information on the recalls, please click on http://pressroom.toyota.com/pr/tms/toyota/toyota-consumer-safety-advisory-102572.aspx
2. Addressing False Claims Regarding a 2002 Technical Service Bulletin
Toyota today addressed false claims included in a report by CNN regarding a Technical Service Bulletin issued by Toyota for some Camry vehicles in 2002. Plaintiffs’ attorneys involved in litigation against Toyota as well as other advocates have attempted to infer that this Bulletin proves that Toyota knew of issues with vehicle electronics that could cause unintended acceleration, and that the company and NHTSA conspired to keep this information from the public. Both claims are patently false.
The facts, as presented in a statement that Toyota released on Tuesday, show that the Technical Service Bulletin in question was issued to “remedy a vehicle drivability issue that some Camry owners were experiencing at speeds between 38 and 42 MPH at light throttle.” This condition, strictly related to a function of the transmission torque converter, manifested as a “flat spot” during acceleration and created a slight rocking motion, or surge, while holding steady throttle at the specific speed window.
This issue was in no way related to any kind of sustained acceleration or unintended acceleration and was addressed with updated software for the Electronic Control Module. Drivability issues related to momentary “surges” are not unique to Toyota, and every major auto manufacturer has published Technical Service Bulletins to address this issue in their vehicles.
Furthermore, claims that the 2002 Toyota Technical Service Bulletin is a secret internal document that has not been made public are simply wrong, as are allegations that Toyota and NHTSA kept this document from the public eye. To the contrary, this Technical Service Bulletin was publicly available through Toyota at https://techinfo.toyota.com/ as well as through a number of independent and government internet sites.
To read Toyota’s full statement on the matter, please click on
http://pressroom.toyota.com/pr/tms/toyota-addresses-false-claims-155779.aspx
A detailed analysis of the CNN report (“Debunking CNN’s Latest Attack on Toyota”) from auto website Jalopnik is available at
http://jalopnik.com/5500275/debunking-cnns-latest-attack-on-toyota?skyline=true&s=i
3. Columnist Criticizes Media for Uncritical Look at Complaints About Toyotas
Under the headline “Toyota, Flying Saucers and Bigfoot” Tuesday, Forbes columnist Jerry Flint took members of the media to task Tuesday for accepting as real the claims of runaway Toyotas “without serious questioning.”
Flint also shared a few of his thoughts about why so many new complaints are being filed and what the long-term impact may be on Toyota. In addition to drivers putting their foot on the wrong pedal and “dreams of the big payoff” from a lawsuit, Flint suggested that people’s feet may simply be getting bigger. “Maybe these bigger feet overlap” the brake and gas pedals, he said. As for how all this will impact Toyota, Flint said the company “might spend more money on lawyers over the next few years than on developing fuel-stingy engines.”
To read the entire column, click on
http://www.forbes.com/2010/03/23/toyota-autos-brakes-business-backseat-safety.html
Some news accounts have misinterpreted a letter sent recently by Toyota to dealers regarding an improved parts ordering process for accelerator pedals. These reports suggest inaccurately that this process improvement represents a change in Toyota’s recall policies.
In response, the company released a statement on Tuesday noting that: “Toyota is confident that the remedies it has announced to address sticking accelerator pedals and floor mat entrapment represent a comprehensive solution to these issues. However, if a customer is not satisfied with the modification to his or her repaired accelerator pedal, dealers will replace it at no charge.”
The statement also noted that this policy was included when Toyota initially filed with NHTSA in November regarding floor mat entrapment issue and in February regarding the sticking accelerator pedal issue. It is also contained in the official owners letters for those recalls.
To view this statement and other information on the recalls, please click on http://pressroom.toyota.com/pr/tms/toyota/toyota-consumer-safety-advisory-102572.aspx
2. Addressing False Claims Regarding a 2002 Technical Service Bulletin
Toyota today addressed false claims included in a report by CNN regarding a Technical Service Bulletin issued by Toyota for some Camry vehicles in 2002. Plaintiffs’ attorneys involved in litigation against Toyota as well as other advocates have attempted to infer that this Bulletin proves that Toyota knew of issues with vehicle electronics that could cause unintended acceleration, and that the company and NHTSA conspired to keep this information from the public. Both claims are patently false.
The facts, as presented in a statement that Toyota released on Tuesday, show that the Technical Service Bulletin in question was issued to “remedy a vehicle drivability issue that some Camry owners were experiencing at speeds between 38 and 42 MPH at light throttle.” This condition, strictly related to a function of the transmission torque converter, manifested as a “flat spot” during acceleration and created a slight rocking motion, or surge, while holding steady throttle at the specific speed window.
This issue was in no way related to any kind of sustained acceleration or unintended acceleration and was addressed with updated software for the Electronic Control Module. Drivability issues related to momentary “surges” are not unique to Toyota, and every major auto manufacturer has published Technical Service Bulletins to address this issue in their vehicles.
Furthermore, claims that the 2002 Toyota Technical Service Bulletin is a secret internal document that has not been made public are simply wrong, as are allegations that Toyota and NHTSA kept this document from the public eye. To the contrary, this Technical Service Bulletin was publicly available through Toyota at https://techinfo.toyota.com/ as well as through a number of independent and government internet sites.
To read Toyota’s full statement on the matter, please click on
http://pressroom.toyota.com/pr/tms/toyota-addresses-false-claims-155779.aspx
A detailed analysis of the CNN report (“Debunking CNN’s Latest Attack on Toyota”) from auto website Jalopnik is available at
http://jalopnik.com/5500275/debunking-cnns-latest-attack-on-toyota?skyline=true&s=i
3. Columnist Criticizes Media for Uncritical Look at Complaints About Toyotas
Under the headline “Toyota, Flying Saucers and Bigfoot” Tuesday, Forbes columnist Jerry Flint took members of the media to task Tuesday for accepting as real the claims of runaway Toyotas “without serious questioning.”
Flint also shared a few of his thoughts about why so many new complaints are being filed and what the long-term impact may be on Toyota. In addition to drivers putting their foot on the wrong pedal and “dreams of the big payoff” from a lawsuit, Flint suggested that people’s feet may simply be getting bigger. “Maybe these bigger feet overlap” the brake and gas pedals, he said. As for how all this will impact Toyota, Flint said the company “might spend more money on lawyers over the next few years than on developing fuel-stingy engines.”
To read the entire column, click on
http://www.forbes.com/2010/03/23/toyota-autos-brakes-business-backseat-safety.html
Adult Softball Leagues Available For Players Of All Ages
Registration is Now Open for Women’s Softball, Coed Softball and 40 & Over Softball
(Salisbury, MD) Wicomico Recreation, Parks & Tourism is accepting registrations for women’s softball, coed softball, and 40 & over softball players for the spring season. Information for each program is listed below.
Women’s Slow Pitch Softball
The Women’s League is for female players ages 15 years and older who enjoy the game of softball. The season will consist of 18 regular season games and league playoffs. Games are played on Monday and Wednesday evenings at the Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex and other Wicomico County surrounding fields. The registration deadline for Women’s Softball is Friday, April 16.
Coed Softball
The Coed League is for men and women ages 16 years and older. Regular season action includes 10 regular season games and league playoffs. The league will consist of a competitive division and a non-competitive division (male players bat opposite-handed). Games will be played on Sunday afternoons/evenings at the Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex and other Wicomico County fields. The registration deadline for the Coed League is Friday, April 16.
40 & Over Softball
The 40 & Over softball league is open to any softball player age 40 years and older who wants to continue playing ball. The league will take place one evening per week and the season will consist of 10 regular season games from June to August. The first league meeting will take place on Wednesday, April 7 at 7 pm at the Civic Center.
For more information and prices contact Steve Miller at 410-548-4900 ext. 105 or email smiller@wicomicocounty.org.
(Salisbury, MD) Wicomico Recreation, Parks & Tourism is accepting registrations for women’s softball, coed softball, and 40 & over softball players for the spring season. Information for each program is listed below.
Women’s Slow Pitch Softball
The Women’s League is for female players ages 15 years and older who enjoy the game of softball. The season will consist of 18 regular season games and league playoffs. Games are played on Monday and Wednesday evenings at the Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex and other Wicomico County surrounding fields. The registration deadline for Women’s Softball is Friday, April 16.
Coed Softball
The Coed League is for men and women ages 16 years and older. Regular season action includes 10 regular season games and league playoffs. The league will consist of a competitive division and a non-competitive division (male players bat opposite-handed). Games will be played on Sunday afternoons/evenings at the Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex and other Wicomico County fields. The registration deadline for the Coed League is Friday, April 16.
40 & Over Softball
The 40 & Over softball league is open to any softball player age 40 years and older who wants to continue playing ball. The league will take place one evening per week and the season will consist of 10 regular season games from June to August. The first league meeting will take place on Wednesday, April 7 at 7 pm at the Civic Center.
For more information and prices contact Steve Miller at 410-548-4900 ext. 105 or email smiller@wicomicocounty.org.
Republican Women Of Wicomico
Republican Women of Wicomico
Please Join Us: The 1st Wednesday each Month 11:30am @ Brew River
Reservations: 443-859-8814
Next Meeting: April 7, 2010 11:30am @ Brew River
You Said You Want to Make a Difference So Just Do It.
Get Involved and MAKE A DIFFERENCE........
WE NEED YOU
WE NEED YOU
MSP Press Release
DATE & TIME: 3/24/10, 2341 hrs.
LOCATION: E/B Rte 50 @ Naylor St.
CRIME:
1. Fleeing/Eluding
2. Driving on Suspended License
3. Numerous other related traffic offenses
ACCUSED: Kasheem Deshon Purnell, Honeysuckle Rd., Berlin, MD
BRIEF RESUME: On the above date and time, a trooper from the Salisbury Barrack attempted to stop a vehicle after they almost collided with his patrol vehicle. Once the trooper initiated his emergency equipment the vehicle fled and led police throughout the Church St/Naylor St. area. After approximately one mile the driver of the vehicle stopped and fled on foot where he was subsequently apprehended without incident. Purnell was charged with numerous traffic related citations, and taken before a district court commissioner.
LOCATION: E/B Rte 50 @ Naylor St.
CRIME:
1. Fleeing/Eluding
2. Driving on Suspended License
3. Numerous other related traffic offenses
ACCUSED: Kasheem Deshon Purnell, Honeysuckle Rd., Berlin, MD
BRIEF RESUME: On the above date and time, a trooper from the Salisbury Barrack attempted to stop a vehicle after they almost collided with his patrol vehicle. Once the trooper initiated his emergency equipment the vehicle fled and led police throughout the Church St/Naylor St. area. After approximately one mile the driver of the vehicle stopped and fled on foot where he was subsequently apprehended without incident. Purnell was charged with numerous traffic related citations, and taken before a district court commissioner.
St. Pat's Champs
Ocean City - The Upper 90 Soccer Academy Premier '96 Boys captured the 2010 St. Patrick's Day Tournament with a 6-4 win over Adrenaline SC (Baltimore) at Ocean City's Northside Park. The team went 6-0, outscoring their opponents 35-9 in defeating Talbot FC (Easton), FC Barcalona '97 (Abingdon), Impact FC (Forest Hill), FC Barcalona '96 (Baltimore) and Delmar SC (Delmar). Team members are: Remy Haynes, Liam Baker, Nathan Harding, Sunny Aroh, Joel Goldsborough, Tyler Angelo, Nick White, Bobby Thompson, Seth Cabecerias, Jared King, Luis Cruz and Connor Truitt. The team is coached by Steve McGee and managed by Bob Thompson.
Can You Help?
Dear friends:
I know a family, single mother of 4 children, 3 of them under the age of 12, who is in desperate need of 4 good, new or used tires for her car. She cannot afford to buy them at this time because she has to move to a new apartment in the next few days. The size tire is P215-55-R16. This would be a blessing for this family, whose mother is disabled. Thank you for your response to this need. Gail Phillips
Spiritlady06@gmail.com
I know a family, single mother of 4 children, 3 of them under the age of 12, who is in desperate need of 4 good, new or used tires for her car. She cannot afford to buy them at this time because she has to move to a new apartment in the next few days. The size tire is P215-55-R16. This would be a blessing for this family, whose mother is disabled. Thank you for your response to this need. Gail Phillips
Spiritlady06@gmail.com
Highlighted Events This Week And Next Week In Wicomico Schools
Thursday, March 25
Special Registration Day for Kindergarten and Prekindergarten
Wicomico Schools with Primary Grades
The first day to register children for prekindergarten and kindergarten for the 2010-2011 school year in Wicomico County Public Schools will be Thursday, March 25. On that day, Wicomico County elementary schools with primary grades will begin enrolling children who will start prekindergarten or kindergarten next year, and children not in public kindergarten who will be enrolled in the first grade for the 2010-2011 school year.
Parents or guardians will need to bring immunization records (please see a doctor or the health department to ensure that the child's vaccination record is complete), birth certificate and proof of residency for each child. Income verification is needed for prekindergarten registration ONLY.
The flier on prekindergarten/kindergarten registration and the table of state vaccination requirements may be downloaded from the Wicomico County Public Schools Web site at www.wcboe.org, under Quick Links.
Registration takes place at each Wicomico school that serves primary grades (prekindergarten through grade 2), from 9 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Exceptions are: Beaver Run Elementary, 9 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m.; Delmar Elementary, 8:15-11:15 a.m. and 12:15-3:15 p.m.; Willards Elementary, 8:15-11:15 a.m., 12:15-3:15 p.m. and 5-7 p.m.; Fruitland Primary, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Westside Primary, 9-11:30 a.m. and 1-3 p.m.; and Prince Street Elementary, 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Schools will register children every day after the March 25 opening day.
The next school year will begin Aug. 30, 2010. The approved calendar for the 2010-2011 may be viewed and downloaded from the Board home page at www.wcboe.org, under Quick Links.
Call 410-677-4580 for any additional information, including early entrance into prekindergarten or kindergarten. The Board policy on early admission to kindergarten and prekindergarten is on the web site at www.wcboe.org; Look for Board of Education in Quick Links and click to go to Policies.
Kindergarten is mandatory for all 5-year-old Maryland children unless the parents or guardians have completed a Kindergarten-Level of Maturity Waiver Form. Forms are available at the schools or the Board website. Completed forms should be forwarded to the attention of Mrs. Susan Jones, Director of Elementary Education. Children must be 5 years old by Sept. 1, 2010.
Prekindergarten is not mandatory, and is offered to qualified children who will be 4 by Sept. 1, 2010. Maryland and Delmar, Del., neighborhood children who come from low-income or at-risk situations, have prior participation in Head Start or who experience challenges like emergency or health problems, limited English proficiency, homelessness, or other home or family circumstances, will be given priority admission to prekindergarten. Children may also be recommended for the program by government or court referral. Parents or guardians whose child does not meet those criteria can put the child's name on a waiting list, which will be used to fill any remaining slots. Documentation must be submitted prior to a child's acceptance into the program.
Thursday, March 25
3rd annual Technology Media Festival
North Salisbury Elementary
Students and teachers will showcase their best work in technology media at the 3rd annual Technology Media Festival at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 25, at North Salisbury Elementary. Close to 500 students from 13 schools submitted more than 100 entries. At the Technology Media Festival, the entries will be on display for the community to see from 6-7 p.m., and winners will be announced starting at 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 27
Wicomico County Reading Rally
Salisbury Middle
The 9th annual Wicomico County Reading Rally will be held at Salisbury Middle School from 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, March 27. Middle school teams have read and discussed Reading Rally books, and now it's time for the teams to compete for literary bragging rights based on the seven novels they have read this year. For more information contact Ellen Burton at eburton@wcboe.org or 410-677-5171.
Wednesday, March 31-Monday, April 5
Spring Holidays
Schools closed
Wicomico Schools will close at the regular time on Tuesday, March 30, and will be closed for students Wednesday, March 31-Monday, April 5, for the Spring Holidays. The Central Office and schools will be closed Friday, April 2, and Monday, April 5. Schools and Central Office will reopen Tuesday, April 6.
Please note: The approved Spring Holiday dates are not affected by makeup days.
Students and parents/guardians should note the following changes in the 2009-10 school calendar:
April 13: End of 3rd marking period (originally scheduled for March 30)
April 14: Beginning of 4th marking period (originally scheduled for April 6)
April 21: Report cards distributed (originally scheduled for April 13)
May 3: School day with dismissal two hours early (originally scheduled as a professional day for teachers)
May 14: Mid-term reports distributed (originally scheduled for May 7)
June 9-11: Regular school days (originally scheduled as early dismissal days)
June 14 and 15: Regular school days (added as makeup days due to inclement weather closings)
June 16, 17 and 18: School days with dismissal two hours early (added as makeup days due to inclement weather closings). June 18 is the last day of school for students.
Thursday, April 1, 4-7 p.m.
College Savings Plan of Maryland Night
Salisbury University
Need help saving for college? The College Savings Plans of Maryland will be at Salisbury University on Thursday, April 1, 4-7 p.m. in Nanticoke Room A of the Guerrieri University Center to help answer questions. Parents, grandparents, and friends can come out anytime during the event to talk with agency staff and get help completing Prepaid College Trust enrollment on the spot. Maryland has two Section 529 plans that offer a Maryland State income deduction. Anyone who visits the College Savings Plans of Maryland at their local event will receive a free gift. For further information or directions to this events please contact Maribel Adia at 443-769-1034 or madia@collegesavingsmd.org.
Opportunities to Support Our Schools
Saturday, March 27
Horizons Arts & Dance Showcase
Wicomico High School Auditorium
The 2010 Horizons Arts & Dance Showcase will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 27, in the Wicomico High School Auditorium. This event benefits Horizons at The Salisbury School (www.salisburyhorizons.org), a program that aims to educate and inspire elementary-aged students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and provides them with a wide array of academic, social and recreational opportunities. Featured Showcase performers include the cast of A Pirate's Life, JMB Rock & Roll Revival, Feet of Fire, Prince Street Pride Steppers, All Shook Up, Dancenter, Eastern Shore Ballet Theatre, and Salisbury Studio of Dance. Chinese auction. Refreshments will be available. Dessert and coffee bar provided by Common Grounds Coffee Shop. Sponsors are the Wicomico County Board of Education, The Salisbury School, Otway & Russo Law, and CFS Retirement & Tax Solutions. Tickets are $10 adults, $5 children. 410-742-4464, ext. 109.
Now Open
A+ Garden Centre
Parkside CTE
The A+ Garden Centre at Parkside High School CTE is now open, with student-grown plants for sale in a garden centre operated by students. It will be open from 8:30-11 a.m. and 12:30-2 p.m. weekdays on regular school days. Check with the garden centre for what's available. 410-341-8746.
Sat. April 10
Wicomico High School Band Boosters Car Show
The Wicomico High School Band Boosters will host an open car show for all antique and special interest cars, trucks, tractors and motorcycles. Registration is $8 in advance or $10 the day of the show. The show will be held from from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. with awards beginning at 2:30 p.m. There will be a Top 20 and a Band's Choice and Director's Choice. For information contact Buck Burton at bburton@wcboe.org.
Friday, April 16
Junior Achievement 24th annual Golf Tournament
Green Hill Yacht & Country Club
The 24th annual Junior Achievement Golf Tournament will be held at Green Hill Yacht & Country Club Friday, April 16, with registration beginning at noon. This is the organization's largest fund-raiser of the year, and money raised by the tournament helps to purchase teaching materials for financial literacy programs that reach more than 5,000 youth across the Eastern Shore. Teams of four may register for $400 through April 1; the cost is $500 after April 1. Single players may also register. The tournament is sponsored by Delmarva Power. Contact Junior Achievement at 410-742-8112 or juniorachievement@comcast.net.
Saturday, April 24
Scavenger Hunt and Car & Motorcycle Show
Pittsville PTA, at Willards Elementary (new location)
The first Pittsville PTA Scavenger Hunt and Car & Motorcycle Show will be held at the Willards Elementary School (new location) on Saturday, April 24. The schedule includes: 9-10 a.m. registration for bike scavenger hunt, which will be from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; 9-10:30 a.m. registration for vehicle scavenger hunt, which will be from 10:30 a.m.-noon; 9-11 a.m. registration for car and motorcycle show; 1 p.m. last chance to vote for Kiss the Pig Contest plus judging for bike show and live auction; 1:30 p.m. judging for car show; 2 p.m. awards presentation and Kiss the Pigs. Refreshments by the Powellville Fire Co., Pittsville Ladies Auxiliary and Whitey's BBQ will be available for purchase. For more information contact Mindy West at 410-835-2234 or mstwest@hotmail.com.
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.
Upcoming Events
April 8-10
Children's and Young Adult Literature Festival
Salisbury University
The annual Children?s and Young Adult Literature Festival at Salisbury University will highlight outstanding authors and books and will engage many Wicomico schoolchildren in learning about literature. The festival begins on Thursday, April 8, with the Environmental Literature Festival from 6-9 p.m. with author Michael Buckley (The Sisters Grimm series, NERDS series) presenting at 6 p.m. and signing at 7 p.m., along with winners of the Green Earth Book Awards. At 7 p.m., winners of the 2010 Eastern Shore Young Authors and High School Young Authors contests will be honored, followed by a presentation by author Peter Gould.
On Friday, April 9, from 9-9:50 a.m., author Eileen Spinelli and illustrator Anne Kennedy ("Miss Fox's Class Goes Green") will meet with Pemberton Elementary kindergartners and the public for a Q&A session. From 10-10:50 a.m., author S. Terrill French ("Operation Redwood") will meet with Pinehurst Elementary fourth-graders and the public. From 1-1:50 p.m., author Marfe Ferguson Delano ("Earth in the Hot Seat," "Genius: A Photobiography of Albert Einstein") will meet with Salisbury Middle and Mardela Middle students and the public.
The festival will continue on Saturday, April 10, with a community day at Barnes & Noble with collaboration by the Ward Museum. This event from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. will include book signings by Green Book Award winners, and information provided by environmental organizations. All events are free and open to the public. For the latest information, please call 410-543-6509. http://faculty.salisbury.edu/~elbond/childlitfestival.html.
Friday, April 9
Warriors' Challenge
Mardela Middle and High School
Have any plans yet for April 9? Please make plans to participate or help out with Mardela's Warriors' Challenge sporting competition. Specific details will be forthcoming but for now all you need to know is that the Mardela Middle and High PTA is sponsoring this competition on Friday, April 9, from 6 - 8 p.m. in the gym. Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12, and teachers will compete in fun and zany games to see who walks out of the MMHS gym that evening being able to say that they survived the Warriors' Challenge. 410-677-5142.
Saturday, April 10
Destination ImagiNation (DI) State Tournament
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
The 2010 Maryland DI State Tournament will be held Saturday, April 10, at University of Maryland, Baltimore County in Catonsville, and 17 teams from Wicomico County Public Schools have qualified to participate. Teams will be competing to win a spot at the Global Finals in Tennessee. Last year Wicomico County sent 5 qualifying teams to this international event.
Destination ImagiNation (DI) is a student centered, technology friendly, international organization for kindergarten through college students. It teaches life skills and expands imaginations through team-based creative problem solving. Destination ImagiNation emphasizes creativity, teamwork and problem solving.
The DI Program has two components revolving around a central theme each year. The first component is Instant Challenge (IC). These challenges spark and quickly capture the team members' wild imaginations as they attempt to solve a challenge on the spot. Students practice improv techniques using materials and verbal responses which will enable them to handle spontaneous problem solving. Students learn creativity skills, divergent and convergent thinking skills, risk taking, time awareness, cooperation, and how to have fun with their team members along the way.
The second component is the Central Challenge (CC). Teams use art, technology, performance, and real world relevance as they tackle one of five different challenges each year. The team solution takes weeks and months to complete. Each challenge contains scoring elements that will be carefully judged by trained appraisers.
Saturday, April 10
Eastern Shore Reading Council Literacy Fair
The Centre at Salisbury
The Eastern Shore Reading Council will hold its annual Literacy Fair at the Centre at Salisbury Saturday, April 10, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Schools, organizations and others will have booths highlighting literacy. To sign up as an exhibitor, contact Otto Jester at ojester@wcboe.org or call 410-422-3577 and leave a message.
Saturday, April 10
Parkside Concert Choir Competes at Annapolis Heritage Festival
Annapolis
The Concert Choir of Parkside High School will perform at some very exciting venues this spring. On Saturday, April 10, the group will compete against 13 other choral groups at the Annapolis Heritage Festival at Annapolis Area Christian School. The Concert Choir will perform three adjudicated selections (the same pieces that will be used for the Eastern Shore Choral Directors Association District Festival on March 25.) The choir will also have lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe in the Inner Harbor of Baltimore and the evening will be completed with a dinner, show, and awards ceremony at Medieval Times in Annapolis. Choir director Sarah McCabe, 410-677-5143.
Saturday, April 10
STEM Saturday
Learning Science Through Research at Horn Point Learning Science Through Research (a trip to Horn Point Environmental Research Lab in Cambridge: Middle-school 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. To register contact Gretchen Boggs at gboggs@wcboe.org or at 410-677-5149.
Tuesday, April 13, 1:30 p.m.
Board of Education Monthly Meeting
Board of Education Office
The monthly meeting of the Wicomico County Board of Education will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 13, in the Board of Education Office. 410-677-4561.
Wednesday, April 14
Parkside Concert Choir Sings National Anthem
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
The Concert Choir of Parkside High School submitted an audition CD to the Baltimore Orioles and has been chosen to sing the National Anthem at the start of the game at 1:45 p.m. Wednesday, April 14. Many parents and other family members will be joining the choir at Oriole Park at Camden Yards for this incredible experience. Choir director Sarah McCabe, 410-677-5143.
Tuesday, April 20Board of Education Awards & Recognitions NightWicomico Middle School The next Wicomico County Board of Education Awards & Recognitions Night of the 2009-10 school year will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 20, at Wicomico Middle School to honor outstanding students, teachers, administrators, schools, programs and community partners.
April 21-May 11
MSA Science Testing for Grades 5 and 8
The testing window for Maryland School Assessment (MSA) Science will begin April 21 and run until May 11. The MSA Science test is taken by students in grades 5 and 8.
Thursday, May 27
Wicomico County Math 24 Game Tournament
Salisbury University Commons
The annual Math 24 Game Tournament for Wicomico elementary and middle students will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 27, in the Commons at Salisbury University. (This event was originally scheduled for May 20.)
Special Registration Day for Kindergarten and Prekindergarten
Wicomico Schools with Primary Grades
The first day to register children for prekindergarten and kindergarten for the 2010-2011 school year in Wicomico County Public Schools will be Thursday, March 25. On that day, Wicomico County elementary schools with primary grades will begin enrolling children who will start prekindergarten or kindergarten next year, and children not in public kindergarten who will be enrolled in the first grade for the 2010-2011 school year.
Parents or guardians will need to bring immunization records (please see a doctor or the health department to ensure that the child's vaccination record is complete), birth certificate and proof of residency for each child. Income verification is needed for prekindergarten registration ONLY.
The flier on prekindergarten/kindergarten registration and the table of state vaccination requirements may be downloaded from the Wicomico County Public Schools Web site at www.wcboe.org, under Quick Links.
Registration takes place at each Wicomico school that serves primary grades (prekindergarten through grade 2), from 9 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Exceptions are: Beaver Run Elementary, 9 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m.; Delmar Elementary, 8:15-11:15 a.m. and 12:15-3:15 p.m.; Willards Elementary, 8:15-11:15 a.m., 12:15-3:15 p.m. and 5-7 p.m.; Fruitland Primary, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Westside Primary, 9-11:30 a.m. and 1-3 p.m.; and Prince Street Elementary, 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Schools will register children every day after the March 25 opening day.
The next school year will begin Aug. 30, 2010. The approved calendar for the 2010-2011 may be viewed and downloaded from the Board home page at www.wcboe.org, under Quick Links.
Call 410-677-4580 for any additional information, including early entrance into prekindergarten or kindergarten. The Board policy on early admission to kindergarten and prekindergarten is on the web site at www.wcboe.org; Look for Board of Education in Quick Links and click to go to Policies.
Kindergarten is mandatory for all 5-year-old Maryland children unless the parents or guardians have completed a Kindergarten-Level of Maturity Waiver Form. Forms are available at the schools or the Board website. Completed forms should be forwarded to the attention of Mrs. Susan Jones, Director of Elementary Education. Children must be 5 years old by Sept. 1, 2010.
Prekindergarten is not mandatory, and is offered to qualified children who will be 4 by Sept. 1, 2010. Maryland and Delmar, Del., neighborhood children who come from low-income or at-risk situations, have prior participation in Head Start or who experience challenges like emergency or health problems, limited English proficiency, homelessness, or other home or family circumstances, will be given priority admission to prekindergarten. Children may also be recommended for the program by government or court referral. Parents or guardians whose child does not meet those criteria can put the child's name on a waiting list, which will be used to fill any remaining slots. Documentation must be submitted prior to a child's acceptance into the program.
Thursday, March 25
3rd annual Technology Media Festival
North Salisbury Elementary
Students and teachers will showcase their best work in technology media at the 3rd annual Technology Media Festival at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 25, at North Salisbury Elementary. Close to 500 students from 13 schools submitted more than 100 entries. At the Technology Media Festival, the entries will be on display for the community to see from 6-7 p.m., and winners will be announced starting at 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 27
Wicomico County Reading Rally
Salisbury Middle
The 9th annual Wicomico County Reading Rally will be held at Salisbury Middle School from 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, March 27. Middle school teams have read and discussed Reading Rally books, and now it's time for the teams to compete for literary bragging rights based on the seven novels they have read this year. For more information contact Ellen Burton at eburton@wcboe.org or 410-677-5171.
Wednesday, March 31-Monday, April 5
Spring Holidays
Schools closed
Wicomico Schools will close at the regular time on Tuesday, March 30, and will be closed for students Wednesday, March 31-Monday, April 5, for the Spring Holidays. The Central Office and schools will be closed Friday, April 2, and Monday, April 5. Schools and Central Office will reopen Tuesday, April 6.
Please note: The approved Spring Holiday dates are not affected by makeup days.
Students and parents/guardians should note the following changes in the 2009-10 school calendar:
April 13: End of 3rd marking period (originally scheduled for March 30)
April 14: Beginning of 4th marking period (originally scheduled for April 6)
April 21: Report cards distributed (originally scheduled for April 13)
May 3: School day with dismissal two hours early (originally scheduled as a professional day for teachers)
May 14: Mid-term reports distributed (originally scheduled for May 7)
June 9-11: Regular school days (originally scheduled as early dismissal days)
June 14 and 15: Regular school days (added as makeup days due to inclement weather closings)
June 16, 17 and 18: School days with dismissal two hours early (added as makeup days due to inclement weather closings). June 18 is the last day of school for students.
Thursday, April 1, 4-7 p.m.
College Savings Plan of Maryland Night
Salisbury University
Need help saving for college? The College Savings Plans of Maryland will be at Salisbury University on Thursday, April 1, 4-7 p.m. in Nanticoke Room A of the Guerrieri University Center to help answer questions. Parents, grandparents, and friends can come out anytime during the event to talk with agency staff and get help completing Prepaid College Trust enrollment on the spot. Maryland has two Section 529 plans that offer a Maryland State income deduction. Anyone who visits the College Savings Plans of Maryland at their local event will receive a free gift. For further information or directions to this events please contact Maribel Adia at 443-769-1034 or madia@collegesavingsmd.org.
Opportunities to Support Our Schools
Saturday, March 27
Horizons Arts & Dance Showcase
Wicomico High School Auditorium
The 2010 Horizons Arts & Dance Showcase will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 27, in the Wicomico High School Auditorium. This event benefits Horizons at The Salisbury School (www.salisburyhorizons.org), a program that aims to educate and inspire elementary-aged students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and provides them with a wide array of academic, social and recreational opportunities. Featured Showcase performers include the cast of A Pirate's Life, JMB Rock & Roll Revival, Feet of Fire, Prince Street Pride Steppers, All Shook Up, Dancenter, Eastern Shore Ballet Theatre, and Salisbury Studio of Dance. Chinese auction. Refreshments will be available. Dessert and coffee bar provided by Common Grounds Coffee Shop. Sponsors are the Wicomico County Board of Education, The Salisbury School, Otway & Russo Law, and CFS Retirement & Tax Solutions. Tickets are $10 adults, $5 children. 410-742-4464, ext. 109.
Now Open
A+ Garden Centre
Parkside CTE
The A+ Garden Centre at Parkside High School CTE is now open, with student-grown plants for sale in a garden centre operated by students. It will be open from 8:30-11 a.m. and 12:30-2 p.m. weekdays on regular school days. Check with the garden centre for what's available. 410-341-8746.
Sat. April 10
Wicomico High School Band Boosters Car Show
The Wicomico High School Band Boosters will host an open car show for all antique and special interest cars, trucks, tractors and motorcycles. Registration is $8 in advance or $10 the day of the show. The show will be held from from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. with awards beginning at 2:30 p.m. There will be a Top 20 and a Band's Choice and Director's Choice. For information contact Buck Burton at bburton@wcboe.org.
Friday, April 16
Junior Achievement 24th annual Golf Tournament
Green Hill Yacht & Country Club
The 24th annual Junior Achievement Golf Tournament will be held at Green Hill Yacht & Country Club Friday, April 16, with registration beginning at noon. This is the organization's largest fund-raiser of the year, and money raised by the tournament helps to purchase teaching materials for financial literacy programs that reach more than 5,000 youth across the Eastern Shore. Teams of four may register for $400 through April 1; the cost is $500 after April 1. Single players may also register. The tournament is sponsored by Delmarva Power. Contact Junior Achievement at 410-742-8112 or juniorachievement@comcast.net.
Saturday, April 24
Scavenger Hunt and Car & Motorcycle Show
Pittsville PTA, at Willards Elementary (new location)
The first Pittsville PTA Scavenger Hunt and Car & Motorcycle Show will be held at the Willards Elementary School (new location) on Saturday, April 24. The schedule includes: 9-10 a.m. registration for bike scavenger hunt, which will be from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; 9-10:30 a.m. registration for vehicle scavenger hunt, which will be from 10:30 a.m.-noon; 9-11 a.m. registration for car and motorcycle show; 1 p.m. last chance to vote for Kiss the Pig Contest plus judging for bike show and live auction; 1:30 p.m. judging for car show; 2 p.m. awards presentation and Kiss the Pigs. Refreshments by the Powellville Fire Co., Pittsville Ladies Auxiliary and Whitey's BBQ will be available for purchase. For more information contact Mindy West at 410-835-2234 or mstwest@hotmail.com.
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.
Upcoming Events
April 8-10
Children's and Young Adult Literature Festival
Salisbury University
The annual Children?s and Young Adult Literature Festival at Salisbury University will highlight outstanding authors and books and will engage many Wicomico schoolchildren in learning about literature. The festival begins on Thursday, April 8, with the Environmental Literature Festival from 6-9 p.m. with author Michael Buckley (The Sisters Grimm series, NERDS series) presenting at 6 p.m. and signing at 7 p.m., along with winners of the Green Earth Book Awards. At 7 p.m., winners of the 2010 Eastern Shore Young Authors and High School Young Authors contests will be honored, followed by a presentation by author Peter Gould.
On Friday, April 9, from 9-9:50 a.m., author Eileen Spinelli and illustrator Anne Kennedy ("Miss Fox's Class Goes Green") will meet with Pemberton Elementary kindergartners and the public for a Q&A session. From 10-10:50 a.m., author S. Terrill French ("Operation Redwood") will meet with Pinehurst Elementary fourth-graders and the public. From 1-1:50 p.m., author Marfe Ferguson Delano ("Earth in the Hot Seat," "Genius: A Photobiography of Albert Einstein") will meet with Salisbury Middle and Mardela Middle students and the public.
The festival will continue on Saturday, April 10, with a community day at Barnes & Noble with collaboration by the Ward Museum. This event from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. will include book signings by Green Book Award winners, and information provided by environmental organizations. All events are free and open to the public. For the latest information, please call 410-543-6509. http://faculty.salisbury.edu/~elbond/childlitfestival.html.
Friday, April 9
Warriors' Challenge
Mardela Middle and High School
Have any plans yet for April 9? Please make plans to participate or help out with Mardela's Warriors' Challenge sporting competition. Specific details will be forthcoming but for now all you need to know is that the Mardela Middle and High PTA is sponsoring this competition on Friday, April 9, from 6 - 8 p.m. in the gym. Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12, and teachers will compete in fun and zany games to see who walks out of the MMHS gym that evening being able to say that they survived the Warriors' Challenge. 410-677-5142.
Saturday, April 10
Destination ImagiNation (DI) State Tournament
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
The 2010 Maryland DI State Tournament will be held Saturday, April 10, at University of Maryland, Baltimore County in Catonsville, and 17 teams from Wicomico County Public Schools have qualified to participate. Teams will be competing to win a spot at the Global Finals in Tennessee. Last year Wicomico County sent 5 qualifying teams to this international event.
Destination ImagiNation (DI) is a student centered, technology friendly, international organization for kindergarten through college students. It teaches life skills and expands imaginations through team-based creative problem solving. Destination ImagiNation emphasizes creativity, teamwork and problem solving.
The DI Program has two components revolving around a central theme each year. The first component is Instant Challenge (IC). These challenges spark and quickly capture the team members' wild imaginations as they attempt to solve a challenge on the spot. Students practice improv techniques using materials and verbal responses which will enable them to handle spontaneous problem solving. Students learn creativity skills, divergent and convergent thinking skills, risk taking, time awareness, cooperation, and how to have fun with their team members along the way.
The second component is the Central Challenge (CC). Teams use art, technology, performance, and real world relevance as they tackle one of five different challenges each year. The team solution takes weeks and months to complete. Each challenge contains scoring elements that will be carefully judged by trained appraisers.
Saturday, April 10
Eastern Shore Reading Council Literacy Fair
The Centre at Salisbury
The Eastern Shore Reading Council will hold its annual Literacy Fair at the Centre at Salisbury Saturday, April 10, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Schools, organizations and others will have booths highlighting literacy. To sign up as an exhibitor, contact Otto Jester at ojester@wcboe.org or call 410-422-3577 and leave a message.
Saturday, April 10
Parkside Concert Choir Competes at Annapolis Heritage Festival
Annapolis
The Concert Choir of Parkside High School will perform at some very exciting venues this spring. On Saturday, April 10, the group will compete against 13 other choral groups at the Annapolis Heritage Festival at Annapolis Area Christian School. The Concert Choir will perform three adjudicated selections (the same pieces that will be used for the Eastern Shore Choral Directors Association District Festival on March 25.) The choir will also have lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe in the Inner Harbor of Baltimore and the evening will be completed with a dinner, show, and awards ceremony at Medieval Times in Annapolis. Choir director Sarah McCabe, 410-677-5143.
Saturday, April 10
STEM Saturday
Learning Science Through Research at Horn Point Learning Science Through Research (a trip to Horn Point Environmental Research Lab in Cambridge: Middle-school 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. To register contact Gretchen Boggs at gboggs@wcboe.org or at 410-677-5149.
Tuesday, April 13, 1:30 p.m.
Board of Education Monthly Meeting
Board of Education Office
The monthly meeting of the Wicomico County Board of Education will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 13, in the Board of Education Office. 410-677-4561.
Wednesday, April 14
Parkside Concert Choir Sings National Anthem
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
The Concert Choir of Parkside High School submitted an audition CD to the Baltimore Orioles and has been chosen to sing the National Anthem at the start of the game at 1:45 p.m. Wednesday, April 14. Many parents and other family members will be joining the choir at Oriole Park at Camden Yards for this incredible experience. Choir director Sarah McCabe, 410-677-5143.
Tuesday, April 20Board of Education Awards & Recognitions NightWicomico Middle School The next Wicomico County Board of Education Awards & Recognitions Night of the 2009-10 school year will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 20, at Wicomico Middle School to honor outstanding students, teachers, administrators, schools, programs and community partners.
April 21-May 11
MSA Science Testing for Grades 5 and 8
The testing window for Maryland School Assessment (MSA) Science will begin April 21 and run until May 11. The MSA Science test is taken by students in grades 5 and 8.
Thursday, May 27
Wicomico County Math 24 Game Tournament
Salisbury University Commons
The annual Math 24 Game Tournament for Wicomico elementary and middle students will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 27, in the Commons at Salisbury University. (This event was originally scheduled for May 20.)