Our Condolences To The Holloway Family

W.Richard "Dick" Holloway Sr.

Obituary & Life History

Walter Richard “Dick” Holloway Sr., 82, of Salisbury, died on Saturday, February 5, 2011 at his home surrounded by family and loved ones. He was born...

Walter Richard “Dick” Holloway Sr., 82, of Salisbury, died on Saturday, February 5, 2011 at his home surrounded by family and loved ones. He was born on November 10, 1928 in Salisbury, to the late Walter and Pauline Jones Holloway. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 55 years, Marianna Rounds Holloway, who passed away in 2007.

Mr. Holloway was a graduate of Wicomico Senior High School, Riverside Military Academy and Eckels College of Mortuary Science. Upon graduation, he served in the United States Army in Okinawa, Japan during the Korean conflict. He received his license to practice funeral service from the Maryland State Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers in 1954 and returned to Salisbury to join his father and grandfather in the family business, Holloway Funeral Home.
He was proud to serve local families and in 1961, he led the move of the funeral establishment from Church Street to its present location on Snow Hill Road in Salisbury. Mr. Holloway was very pleased that by 1980, his two sons joined him in the family business as fourth generation funeral directors. They purchased the former Melson Funeral Home in Pocomoke City in 1997 and completed a new funeral home on Vine Street in Pocomoke City in 2010. At the time of his death, Mr. Holloway served as Chairman of the Board of Holloway Funeral Home, P.A.

He cherished his community and remained involved up until the time of his death. He was a past president of the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce, a life member, Melvin Jones Fellow and past president of the Salisbury Lions Club, a board member of the Salisbury University Foundation, a board member of the Salisbury University radio station, WSCL, a legacy society member of the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, a member of the Salisbury Elks Lodge and a member of the Eastern Shore Scottish Rite. He was also a member of Asbury United Methodist Church.

GO HERE to read more.

SUNDAY DUI PATROLS RESULT IN DOZENS OF ARRESTS

(PIKESVILLE, MD) – Maryland state troopers arrested dozens of suspected drunk drivers and issued more than 3,000 traffic citations and warnings as part of increased patrols yesterday.

Troopers arrested 42 drunk drivers and issued 1,653 traffic citations and 1,604 warnings as part of increased patrols on Sunday, February 6, 2011. Troopers also made 22 criminal arrests and recovered two guns. Each of the 22 Maryland State Police barracks had special DUI saturation patrols assigned yesterday.

DUI arrests seemed to be spread geographically across the state. Troopers at the Easton Barrack on the Eastern Shore, JFK Memorial Highway Barrack on I-95, and the College Park Barrack on I-495 made four DUI arrests in their patrol areas. Three DUI arrests were made at the Salisbury Barrack in Wicomico County, the Golden Ring Barrack in Baltimore County, the Prince Frederick Barrack in Calvert County, and the Berlin Barrack in Worcester County.

Troopers at the Westminster Barrack handled a fatal crash late Saturday night in which one person was killed. Preliminary information does not indicate that alcohol was a factor.

Maryland Homeowner Plans To Appeal "Boarding House" Ruling

The Falls Farm Homeowners Association in Potomac, Md., informed one family it was breaking the association's rules by renting rooms in their home and operating a boarding house.

The family said it's a victim of discrimination.

Jean Huynh owns one of about 40 single-family homes in the Falls Farm subdivision. Her parents, who gave it to her and her sister in 2005, live there.

The Huynhs rented out a downstairs apartment and an upstairs bedroom, so the homeowners association got a court order in November, saying a boarding house is not permitted and that persons of African, Indian and Asian descent move in and stay for a short time.

"They're not transients," Huynh said. "This is not a boarding house. They don't stay on a weekly or monthly basis. They stay a year to two years, sometimes even extending their contract, and being very comfortable here, they've been accepted by our family as family members."

The lawyer for the homeowners association, Joseph McBride, strongly disagrees.

GO HERE to read more.

Arizona Takes Aim At Automatic Citizenship For U.S. Born-Children

Sponsors say goal is to force a court ruling that a child born in the U.S. is a citizen only if either parent is a U.S. citizen or a legal immigrant. 

Full story

Salisbury Police Department Compliance Inspections

On February 5, 2011 at approximately 9:30 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police working in conjunction with the Wicomico County Fire Marshall’s Office and Salisbury Neighborhood Housing conducted inspections of a number bars and restaurants in Salisbury to check for compliance to local laws and ordinances pertaining to alcohol enforcement. These inspections were also completed to check the establishments for compliance to fire code regulations, building integrity and operating capacities. A total of fourteen (14) such businesses were inspected.

During the inspection process, a number of violations were noted and addressed with restaurant/bar management. One location, Rosita’s, in the Goliath Center was found to be operational without the proper licensing and was made to close.

To ensure public safety, the Salisbury Police will continue to conduct these operations to assess the compliance of local bars and restaurants with all pertinent laws and regulations.

It's Hard To Believe A U.S. President Said This

"If we're fighting to reform the tax code and increase exports, the benefits cannot just translate into greater profits and bonuses for those at the top. They have to be shared by American workers, who need to know that opening markets will lift their standard of living as well as your bottom line," President Obama told the Chamber of Commerce on Monday morning.

More

2 Dogs Found Near Crown Sports Center In Fruitland: UPDATE

Found owner via your post. Thanks again

A Friend found a Corgi and a Golden Retriever running along Rt. 13 in Fruitland. If you are the owner and or know the owner please call

Does Mr. O’Malley Have A Septic Problem?

For those who are fans of country living, including the farming community, it may be worthwhile to keep a close eye on what our governor is up to with his vision to put his stamp on Smart Growth.  The O’Malley version is called PlanMaryland.

What is it exactly?  Well, as described on its beautifully formatted website, it is a program “to create a better and more sustainable future for Maryland. The state legislature created the authority for such a plan in the 1970s, but a broader recognition of the many costs of unsustainable land use has grown in recent years. This new planning process commenced with listening sessions that the Maryland Department of Planning held in 2008 and will culminate with a State Growth Plan proposal in 2011.”

The program has established 12 Planning Visions.  They are:

1. Quality of Life and Sustainability: A high quality of life is achieved through universal stewardship of the land, water, and air resulting in sustainable communities and protection of the environment.
2. Public Participation: Citizens are active partners in the planning and implementation of community initiatives and are sensitive to their responsibilities in achieving community goals.
3. Growth Areas: Growth is concentrated in existing population and business centers, growth areas adjacent to these centers, or strategically selected new centers.
4. Community Design: Compact, mixed–use, walkable design consistent with existing community character and located near available or planned transit options is encouraged to ensure efficient use of land and transportation resources and preservation and enhancement of natural systems, open spaces, recreational areas, and historical, cultural, and archeological resources.
5. Infrastructure: Growth areas have the water resources and infrastructure to accommodate population and business expansion in an orderly, efficient, and environmentally sustainable manner.
6. Transportation: A well–maintained, multi-modal transportation system facilitates the safe, convenient, affordable, and efficient movement of people, goods, and services within and between population and business centers.
7. Housing: A range of housing densities, types, and sizes provides residential options for citizens of all ages and incomes.
8. Economic Development: Economic development and natural resource–based businesses that promote employment opportunities for all income levels within the capacity of the State’s natural resources, public services, and public facilities are encouraged.
9. Environmental Protection: Land and water resources, including the Chesapeake and coastal bays, are carefully managed to restore and maintain healthy air and water, natural systems, and living resources.
10. Resource Conservation: Waterways, forests, agricultural areas, open space, natural systems, and scenic areas are conserved.
11. Stewardship: Government, business entities, and residents are responsible for the creation of sustainable communities by collaborating to balance efficient growth with resource protection.
12. Implementation: Strategies, policies, programs, and funding for growth and development, resource conservation, infrastructure, and transportation are integrated across the local, regional, state, and interstate levels to achieve these Visions.

I’ve had the opportunity to speak to a few of our local politicians who have attended a number of the planning meetings on this program.  They have been reading between the lines of such things like: “Growth is concentrated in existing population and business centers … sustainable communities and protection of the environment … to balance efficient growth with resource protection.” 

Combined with the fact that the Maryland Department of the Environment has made it reasonably clear that they have not been big fans of private septic and sewage systems, there is a fear that over a deliberate period of time the idea of having a dream home in the country or a building lot for the child of a farmer could move those ideas to the Land that Time Forgot.

Bottom line is that such an action could hurt the values of rural land lots and real estate property, rendering some parcels very hard or impossible to develop.

All we have to do is look at how our state agencies that focus on land use planning, land preservation, natural resources, and environmental protection have slowly but surely tightened the screws on the use of agricultural land and other open land.

Now many of these polices have been a good thing, but just speak to members of the agricultural community anywhere in the state and anyone who has experienced the incredible hurdles associated with just clearing a stand of trees for the construction of a house or outbuildings.  On top of that, the related costs and time delays have become incredibly expensive.

While it has not been stated outright by those who have masterfully orchestrated the progress of PlanMaryland, I say keep your eyes open and beware if you are one of those who desire to make use of your property as good land stewards, but at the same time enjoy the rights that ownership should provide.

A great resource for staying on top of state happenings is the website Center Maryland.

The author: Rocky Mackintosh, President, MacRo, Ltd., a Land and Commercial Real Estate firm based in Frederick, Maryland.  He also writes for the TheTenacle.com.

RICH COLBURN STRIKES AGAIN!

SENATE BILL 153

Bill is in the Senate - First Reading Education Health and Environmental Affairs

File Code: State Government - Agencies, Offices, and OfficialsPrior Year Introduction As: SB 1058/09 - EHE

Sponsored By:

Senator Colburn

Entitled:

Reorganization of State Government - Consolidating the Department of the Environment into the Department of Natural Resources

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Synopsis:

Restructuring State government by the consolidation of the Department of the Environment into the Department of Natural Resources; abolishing the Department of the Environment by June 30, 2012; abolishing the positions of Secretary of the Environment and Deputy Secretary of the Environment by July 1, 2012; transferring all of the functions, powers, duties, equipment, assets, and liabilities of the Department of the Environment to the Department of Natural Resources; etc.

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History by Legislative and Calendar Date
Any actions occurring today are available in the proceedings and hearing schedule

Legislative date is used to record history occurring in the Chambers otherwise Calendar date is used.

Senate Action

1/24

First Reading Education Health and Environmental Affairs

1/26

Hearing 2/8 at 1:00 p.m.

House Action

No Action

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Bill indexed under the following Subjects:

Bill affects the following Statutes:

Administrative Agencies -see also- Electronic Government

Annotated Code of Maryland

Appropriations

Bonds -see also- County & Baltimore City Bonds; State Bonds.

Budget and Management, Department of

Budgets -see also- Capital Budgets

Committees and Commissions -see also- Political Committees

Environment, Department of

Fees -see also- Attys' Fees; Devt Fees & Taxes; Reimb Rates.

Hazardous and Toxic Substances -see also- Asbestos; Radiatn.

Legislative Services, Department of

Licenses -see also- Alcoholic Bev Lic; Drivers' Licenses

Natural Resources, Department of

Noise

Pollution -see also- Sediment Control

Privatization

Radiation

Refuse Disposal -see also- Recycling

Reports

Rules and Regulations

Sanitarians

Sewage

State Employees

Wells

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Natural Resources

( 1-101 , 1-102 , 1-102 , 1-104 , 1-104 , 1-104 , 1-104 , 1-104 , 1-104 )

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Documents

All documents except Roll Call Votes are displayed in PDF format:

Bill Text: First Reading, Third Reading, Enrolled

Fiscal and Policy Note: Available

Amendments: None offered

Fernando Guerrero "After Party" To Be Held At The Fountains This Year

Usually after each fight, Hal Chernoff and Fernando Guerrero host  an After Party. Most of the time you have to be invited but this time around things have changed up quite a bit.

The last party was held at Brew River. This time the party will be held at the Fountains and get this, as long as you have a ticket to the Fight, YOU'RE INVITED! There will be NO COVER CHARGE to anyone who has a ticket to the Fight.

Light food will be available and a cash bar for those interested in a drink. I have been to every After Party in Salisbury and let me assure you, this is a great time.

Be sure to get your tickets Folks as ticket sales have been very good. Rumor has it they're considering opening up additional sections because of the demand. GO HERE to order your tickets today. It makes for a great Valentine's Day Gift too. Only 11 days left!

UPDATE: It needs to be noted, you must be 21 years old to get in and there's a small charge for the food, just like the cash bar.

City Claims Health Insurance Rates Will Rise 150%

At last weeks City Council Meeting I asked how much of a reduction I would personally see on my City taxes if they removed Councilwomen Debbie Campbell and Terry Cohen from the program. As you can see above, the answer is, NOTHING!

Now, with all due respect, the answer I received is a typical democrat at work. Well, it could go this high but there's no proof whatsoever that this will happen and when.

It seems Mayor Ireton is training them well from the book of Obama and O'Malley. So if it's negligible at $20k, what will it be at 50k? Noticeable???????

I think I made an excellent point here. The taxpayers won't feel it AT ALL if they kept them on the City's Insurance. More evidence this is a personal vendetta against these two Council Members and that the former Tilghman Administration is still in charge of the City.

In closing, IF the Health Insurance is expecting to rise 150%, what is the City doing to combat such a problem for hundreds of City Employees? Better yet, what are they doing to protect the Taxpayers who foot such a bill.

Congress.org Publishes Interview With My Friend And 2012 Presidential Candidate Tom Miller

Patriot Freedom's Presidential Candidate Interview

Tom Miller is a 46 year old single dad who has been a career flight attendant for the last 23 years. Through his daily interaction with hundreds of American people from every walk of life, plus regular visits to each of our 50 States (along with many foreign countries), he believes his frugal, middle class lifestyle gives him the connection that has been missing from Washington for years. As a private citizen entering the Office of the Presidency, Miller will not be bringing an entitled or political ideology with him; instead he will be bringing morals, values and principles directly from Main Street America. Our Republic was founded and built by teachers, farmers and common citizens. Most of these individuals did not have any prior political experience, only a basic education and a love of their country. These average citizens took simple ideas based upon faith, freedom and hard work and created the greatest Nation on earth. Their successful recipe was honored for almost 150 years and the results were the most prosperous nation on earth, the largest middle class ever and the lowest tax rates in history with zero national debt. Now, after 80+ years of electing career politicians from the privileged elite, this dynamic has been destroyed and replaced with a bloated, controlling self-perpetuating bureaucracy. Tom has not worked his way up the political ladder to be chosen for this opportunity. Instead, he is stepping forward from among the people in the private sector to do the job that the career politicians are either unable or unwilling to do. As the son of a decorated WWII Marine, Tom was raised with the original recipe that brought the greatest generation through some of our countries toughest challenges. He has the skill sets, the backbone and the faith that will allow him to make the tough and unpopular permanent decisions that are being denied, neglected or only temporarily resolved today. He understands that we must sacrifice the wants of today for the needs of tomorrow in order to give the next generation an America that is stronger and more secure than was given to us.

Tom, Thank you for joining us tonight at Patriot Freedom Coalition here in Rhode Island and taking the time to answer a few questions that I know are on the minds of millions of Americans.

QUESTION - Mr. Miller, Please tell the audience a little about yourself?

Answer - I am a 46 year old single dad with one child. I am the youngest of six children and have been a career flight attendant for the last 23 years. I was brought up in a middle class lifestyle and have chosen to raise my family with the same values and traditions of simplicity and family time. I have had an enjoyable life by living within my means while respecting and appreciating what I do have, rather than dwelling on what I don't have.

Question - Why are you running for President? Do you think your policies will turn this Nation around to a sound fiscal footing and restore trust in the Presidency not to play politics with the taxpayer's hard earned finances.

Answer - The USA is being destroyed from within and our elected leaders are either unable or unwilling to make the permanent decisions that are needed to save our Country. Since career politicians refuse to listen to the people or accept the direness of the State of the Union, I am exercising my Constitutional right to run for the Office of the President of the USA. I refuse to be part of the problem by allowing them to give future generations an America that is in financially worse shape and with fewer freedoms than was given to us without stepping up to face the challenges myself. I will make the bold, unpopular and permanent decisions that are needed to be made today in order to guarantee that our creditors and other Nations don't make the decisions for us tomorrow.

Our Founding Fathers did not create the Office of the Presidency with an internal promotional or educational requirement because they wanted common citizens to govern each other, not to create a ruling class. After 4-8 years in office, the President was supposed to return back to the private sector and their previous life. It was only after the creation of the career politician that our government became disconnected and unaccountable to the governed. Look atwhat was achieved with common citizens in charge of our country for the first 150 years vs. what the career politicians have done over the last 80 years. It's time to return to our Founders proven wisdom and put a common citizen back into the White House.

On 1/20/13 when I am sworn in as our 45th President, I will only have a swearing in ceremony with the Chief Justice and my family. I will cancel all of the royal black tie balls, pageantries and self adulation's that have taken place before me. I also promise that for my entire term in office, I will not authorize or attend any parties, roasts or activities (except for official State events) that have been traditionally funded by taxpayers or "donations" and limited to the elites of Washington. My actions will lead our Nation into a new era of sacrifice, selflessness, accountability and long term fiscal discipline. I understand that we are no longer spending taxpayer's money but that we are now spending our great grandchildren's money. The problems we have are enormous and yet the solutions are very simple. It will just take someone with a strong enough ideology and faith to do the job. I am that person.

GO HERE to read more.

Wood Stoves May Cause Cancer, Heart Disease

A wood-burning stove in your home may be a great source of heat during the cold winter, but new data shows that invisible particles produced by burning wood may cause cancer and heart disease, the Telegraph reported.

Wood-burning stoves are becoming more popular because of the rising price of oil, gas and electricity prices. But researchers at Copenhagen University in Denmark said that breathing in air around the stoves is the equivalent to inhaling car exhaust—with the wood particles being small enough to breathe into the deepest parts of the lungs.

"The particles that come from wood smoke can certainly cause fatal heart or lung disease. In human cells that were exposed to the particles, substantial DNA damage and mutation took place. It was comparable to the effects of particles given off by traffic," said professor Steffen Loft, of the Department of Public Health at Copenhagen University.

GO HERE to read more.

Boonies Specials

City To Unveil Groundbreaking Effort To Clean River

Mayor James Ireton, Jr. is pleased to invite the public downtown to the East Prong of the Wicomico River to highlight ground breaking efforts to clean up the river. In conjunction with the Wicomico River Project, The Salisbury Environmental Task Force and Salisbury Public Works, the mayor is pleased to announce the Wicomico River Storm Drain Netting Project.

This project involves the attachment of a netting device to the end of a storm drain outfall pipe to catch debris prior to reaching the river. In situations of major storms the netting has the ability to be released while still retaining the debris and not impeding heavy flow.

The netting device, a KriStar Nettech Gross Pollutant Trap, was supplied and installed by KriStar Enterprises, Inc. February 3, 2011. This project is made possible through a $10,000 grant through the Federal Community Development Block Grant. This project is a step in creating civic and community awareness, further beautifying the Wicomico River and encouraging eco-tourism activities. It is these and other efforts that show the City’s dedication to environmental stewardship and our commitment to the revitalization of Downtown Salisbury. If successful, the city will invest $10,000 in the netting.

“These efforts, through community development Block Grant funding from the Federal Government, along with the River Project and the Environmental Task Force, are showing the City’s commitment to the Wicomico River. With the removal of the abandoned barges in the North Prong, our beginning steps of creating a storm water utility, we move closer to revitalization of the waterway. Salisbury’s environmental stewardship is another step in our commitment to the river and ultimately, the revitalization of Downtown Salisbury,” said Mayor Ireton.

A press conference is scheduled for 1:00 p.m., February 9, 2011, at the Riverwalk Park at the intersection of Market Street & South Division Street, just adjacent Old Fire Station 16.

PUBLIC NOTICE

A CLOSED SESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL HAS BEEN SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2011 TO CONSULT WITH LEGAL COUNSEL/PENDING LITIGATION AS PERMITTED UNDER THE ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND SECTIONS 10-508(A)(7)(8).

THE CLOSED SESSION WILL BE HELD IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS (ROOM 301) OF THE GOVERNMENT OFFICE BUILDING (125 N. DIVISION STREET) FOLLOWING THE CONCLUSION OF THE COUNCIL’S 6:00 P.M. REGULAR MEETING.

City To Hold Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: Fitzwater Street Storm Drain Replacement

Mayor James Ireton, Jr. is pleased to announce the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Fitzwater Street Storm Drain Project. This project involved the replacement of a catch basin and the rerouting of flow to an existing manhole. The former catch basin did not have an outfall pipe and the area frequently experienced severe flooding.

This project is made possible through a $35,000 grant from Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), using funds allocated by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009.

The groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on March 4, 2011, at the Northside Pump Station. The pump station is located at the intersection of Fitzwater Street and Delaware Avenue.

Warning To Washington: Follow The Constitution

It's not just Montana anymore.

And folks at the Tenth Amendment Center, who monitor states' declarations of independence from the federal government's rules and regulations, suggest perhaps Washington should be paying attention.

Montana has earned fame for its legislative independence in recent years, authoring the original Firearms Freedom Act that now is law in 8 states and being considered in another 8. It also was among the first states to introduce legislation cancelling Obamacare's effects inside its borders. It even considered a plan, tabled for now, that would require federal agents to check in with the local sheriff before attempting to enforce federal laws inside his jurisdiction.

Such ideas have been ridiculed by those in government power, as well as the old established media.

"Reaching into the dusty annals of American history" is how Associated Press described nullification, the idea that at least is suggested in the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which says, "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people."

Just exactly what are those powers given to the federal government? Mostly listed in Article 1, Section 8, they include the power to tax and pay debts, provide for the common defense and general welfare of the U.S., borrow money, regulate commerce with foreign nations and "among the several states," establish a "rule of naturalization," coin money, punish counterfeiters, establish post offices and courts, declare war, raise and support armies and a navy and others.


But over the years the federal government has mandated education procedures, even though education isn't listed in the Constitution. It has established the Energy Department, even though that is not in the Constitution. There's the EPA, even though that is not in the Constitution. And many others.

And now it has decided, under the federal Obamacare health care takeover, that not purchasing health insurance is an action that can be regulated by the federal government.

The result, explains Michael Boldin, chief of the Tenth Amendment Center, is that there are so many efforts to deny Washington the authority it claims, or refuse it the compliance it expects, that his volunteer staff of several dozen workers cannot even keep up with the issues.

More here

Obama The Internet Pharaoh

The power of social media tools like Twitter and Facebook to fan the flames of upheaval along the Nile must keep potential dictators up late at night. The Mubarak government‘s ham-fisted order to cut off Egypt‘s electronic access to the outside world on Jan. 27 is a potent reminder of how deeply strongmen resent the freedom of speech the Internet embodies. Although service was restored Wednesday, Egypt‘s response to troublesome tweets is not so foreign. A number of schemes are in the works to grant U.S. leaders similar powers in the name of fairness and safety.

Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman, Connecticut Independent, introduced legislation last session that would have given a White House cyberczar Mubarak-like power to declare an emergency and issue directives to any private companies deemed to be critical by government. This unprecedented power would be granted in the name of protecting the Internet from hackers. Never mind that the slow-moving entities of the federal government are the least capable of responding to fast-paced, evolving technology threats. Never mind that companies have more of an incentive to preserve their billion-dollar investments than “9 to 5” bureaucrats with guaranteed lifetime employment. It’s worth noting that even the Egyptian government‘s clumsy censorship attempts were bypassed with proxy servers and other simple workarounds.

Nonetheless, the Obama administration remains committed to getting its hands on the private infrastructure that serves as the backbone of online discourse. On Dec. 21, President Obama’s communications czar, Julius Genachowski, issued a decree imposing “net neutrality” rules on Internet service providers, even though Congress specifically exempted the Internet from regulation by the Federal Communications Commission. A provision of the 1996 Telecommunications Act does give the agency ability to “remove barriers to infrastructure investment,” and Mr. Genachowski pounced on this to mean he could tell companies how they should run networks they built with their own money.

The Commerce Department continues to push the idea of an Internet passport that centralizes credentials for online purchases and “anonymous” Web commentary. Although the proposal is designed to replace the dozens of passwords used every day with a single “trusted” credential, administration officials insist that the National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace is not the online equivalent of a national ID card. They even point to a Frequently Asked Questions section on the department’s website that says this voluntary program is nothing like a national ID card.

More here

City To Hold Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: Beaglin Park Dam Upgrade

Mayor James Ireton, Jr. is pleased to announce the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Beaglin Park Dam Upgrade Project. This project includes the installation of sheet piling to increase the capacity of the dam to withstand flood events larger than the 50% probable maximum flood. The dam, built in 1976, is upstream of approximately 240 commercial and residential buildings, 22 roads, and the Salisbury Zoo. The dam is classified as high hazard by the Maryland Department of the Environment.

This project is made possible through a $49,999 grant from Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), using funds allocated by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009.

The ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on February 24, 2011, at the Beaglin Park Dam. The dam is located at the intersection of Beaglin Park Drive and South Park Drive.

Just A Little Snow Later This Week?

The current info from weather models is indicating that significant precipitation is now less likely for our area.

The low pressure system that would bring any snow should track further out to sea, rather than moving up the coast, so we may be dodging it again.

There will still be a bit of a cold blast, but with the new track it, too, should be brief, and it may be followed by a nice warming trend.

You're not disappointed, are you? :-)

Subsidized Phone Service

The federal government spends more than $4 billion a year to subsidize phone service in rural areas. Now it is considering ways to give those areas high-speed Internet access. The Federal Communications Commission is set to vote tomorrow on details for a plan that would transform the Universal Service Fund to pay for broadband. That fund was originally set up to ensure that all Americans have access to a basic telephone line. But FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski says that the Internet is fast replacing the telephone as today's essential communications service. New FCC rules could also mean cable companies would begin collecting from the program.

AOL Buying Huffington Post For $315M

(AP) - Online company AOL Inc. is buying online news hub Huffington Post in a $315 million deal that represents a bold bet on the future of online news.

The acquisition announced early Monday puts a high-profile exclamation mark on a series of acquisitions and strategic moves engineered by AOL CEO Tim Armstrong in an effort to reshape a fallen Internet icon. AOL was once the king of dial-up online access known for its ubiquitous CD-ROMs and "You've got mail" greeting in its inboxes.

Perhaps just as important as picking up a news site and ranks as one of the top 10 current events and global news sites, AOL will be adding Huffington Post co-founder and media star Arianna Huffington to its management team as part of the deal.

After the acquisition closes later this year, Huffington will be put in charge of AOL's growing array of content, which includes popular technology sites Endgadget and TechCrunch, local news sites Patch.com and online mapping service Mapquest.

GO HERE to read more.

O'Malley Proposing Greater Fines For Maryland Drivers

WASHINGTON - Facing a huge budget gap, Maryland is looking for creative ways to raise money, including charging drivers more when they get pulled over.
 
In fact, under a proposal from Gov. Martin O'Malley, you could be paying off a ticket for three years.
 
Part of O'Malley's budget proposal would charge drivers who pick up more than five points on their license in a two-year span $100 per point, per year for three years.
 
Since reckless driving carries a penalty of six points, that would add $300 to a ticket, on top of the fine.
 
Getting caught going 20 mph over the speed limit on a highway adds five points to your license. So do that twice, and you'll owe an extra $1,500.
 
The plan is similar to the the bad driving fees Virginia imposed on its residents in 2007. After an uproar, Virginia's law was quickly repealed, and the fees were refunded.
 
Maryland's General Assembly has to approve the proposal before it takes effect.

Source

New Health Care Funding Assessments Could eopardize $1 Billion In Medicaid Funds

About $1 billion in federal Medicaid assistance could be jeopardized as the Health Services Cost Review Commission implements the statewide medical cost increase included in Gov. Martin O’Malley’s fiscal 2012 budget, raising an additional $331 million in state funds.

Continue Reading...

Delawareans Racked Up Most Debt

Delawareans lead the nation in average consumer debt, according to a new report. Misplaced sense of state pride? (A lot of credit card companies are headquartered in Delaware because of the state's relaxed attitude towards usury and their low taxes). Whatever the reason, $20,233 is the average per-person consumer debt load in Delaware, and the next 9 states aren't that far behind:

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Lawsuit: Mets Owners Made $300 Million In "Fictitious Profits" From Madoff Ponzi Scheme

Since the 2008 revelation that Bernie Madoff's wildly profitable investment business was all just smoke and mirrors, the owners of the New York Mets have claimed they were one of the victims of the Ponzi scheme. However, a newly unsealed lawsuit says that the Mets owners not only ignored warnings that Madoff was too good to be true, but that they made hundreds of millions off the scheme.

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Survey: 32% Of You Are Mooching WiFi From A Neighbor

In spite of growing concerns about online security breaches, a new survey claims that nearly one-third of us are still piggybacking on our neighbors' unencrypted WiFi.

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NFL Teams See iPads As Playbooks Of The Future

Though the NFL is technologically advanced enough to feature high-definition instant replay and in-helmet communications systems, it's still antiquated enough to feature old-fashioned paper playbooks. Thanks to tablet computers — namely the iPad — that could change.

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Dems: Obama Broke Pledge To Force Banks To Help Homeowners

Candidate Obama pledged to support real change in bankruptcy laws to help foundering homeowners. But when it came time to fight for the measure, he didn’t show up. Some Democrats now say his administration actually undermined it behind the scenes.

 

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Lab-Grown Meat To Solve World Hunger?

Multisource political news, world news, and entertainment news analysis by Newsy.com

A South Carolina scientist believes lab-grown meat will help world hunger as well as environment.

Egypt Through The Rearview Mirror

One of the rituals associated with being a staffer for the president of the United States or a cabinet officer is briefing your boss to be prepared to answer any question the press is likely to ask.

Lots of smart people participate in these briefings. And if some upstart reporter asks a question no one anticipated, staffers have egg on their faces, big time.

That's what occurred to me as I listened to our top government officials, from the president on down, delivering their shaky, unconvincing and intentionally neutral responses to the most powerful calls for political change in Egypt's history.

It was as if the notion of change had been invented yesterday and came as a complete surprise to the White House.

This in itself is pretty weird in a government that expends endless energy developing contingency plans for every eventuality imaginable to thinking people.

But evidently there was no "Plan B" for the Democracy Contingency. Judging by the administration's anemic responses, the possibility that demands for freedom of speech and assembly, a free press and economic opportunity would ever develop to a point where they would have to be seriously addressed never occurred to our leaders.

I find this astonishing. It is not as if the dictatorial and cruel policies and practices of Hosni Mubarak's security apparatus were new or unknown to official Washington. They have been a big part of the Egyptian political landscape for 30 years!

Occasionally, our government has even been obliged to respond publicly to some particularly egregious transgression of somebody's human rights in the Land of the Pharaohs.

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Default Rate Of Repayment On For-Profit College Loans Hits 25 Percent

About one-quarter of students who borrowed federal loans to attend for-profit colleges defaulted on their loan this year, up from an estimated 21 percent in December 2009. According to an Education Department report to be published Friday, most students defaulted within three years of starting repayment. As The Washington Post reports, the default rate for public colleges has risen about 1 percent, to an 11 percent default rate; the rate for private nonprofit colleges is about 8 percent, up from 7 percent in the previous report. The Obama is considering new regulations to help ensure students in for-profit colleges find “gainful employment,” but many for-profit schooling companies have vigorously opposed the idea.

Global Food Prices Skyrocket

Global food prices have risen for the seventh month in a row and are likely to continue rising, according to a reported from the United Nations. Unpredictable weather plans have been a significant cause of the rise, reported The New York Times. In Australia, rains damaged much of the country’s wheat crop and led to a 100 percent increase in the price of American wheat in the last year. Meanwhile, countries like China and India are consuming more meat and grain as their wealth increases.

JP Morgan “Complicit” In Madoff Fraud

The legitimacy of Bernard L. Madoff’s investment business was in doubt by senior executives at JPMorgan Chase more than 18 months before Madoff’s Ponzi scheme collapsed, reported The New York Times News Service, but the company continued to do business with him. According to internal bank documents made public in a lawsuit unsealed Thursday, despite warnings from a high-level risk management officer, the bank allowed Madoff to move billions of dollars of investors’ cash in and out of his accounts with the bank up until the day of his arrest in December 2008. Meanwhile, the bank had withdrawn the majority of its $276 million it has invested in Madoff-linked hedge funds, leaving only $35 million.

America's Happy Talk Media: No Jobs Is Good News!

The propagandists in the corporate media are scratching their heads trying to figure out how to paint a rosy picture using the shockingly bad employment news out of the Labor Department today.

Here’s the raw data:

The official unemployment rate fell from 9.4% to 9.0%, when the prediction had been that it was going to move up slightly to 9.5%

The number of new jobs added was a net 36,000, the lowest increase since last September, when the economy was still losing jobs.

Here are some of the media quotes:

Associated Press: “The unemployment rate dropped sharply last month to 9 percent, based on a government survey that found that more than a half-million people found work.”

MSNBC: “The U.S. labor market slowed sharply last month, generating just 36,000 net new jobs, the fewest in four months, as winter storms depressed payrolls growth. Still, the unemployment rate dropped sharply to 9 percent, the lowest level in nearly two years.”

Fox News: “Economic growth is gaining momentum, with factories busy and service firms expanding, but one critical area still lags: job creation.”

Hoops were being jumped through here to try to make something terrible look good.

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O'Malley Plans To Nominate Brother As Md. Democratic Party Chief

By John Wagner, The Washington PostMaryland Gov. Martin O'Malley is planning to nominate his younger brother and longtime political confidant, Peter O'Malley, as the next chairman of the Maryland Democratic Party, according to party sources.  

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Chris Christie vs. Martin O'Malley

By David Catanese, PoliticoMaryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, is striking back at New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie for accusing him of not knowing what he's talking about.  

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Food Stamp Rolls Reach Historic Levels

By Pamela M. Prah, Stateline Staff Writer

More Americans than ever before are getting federal help to buy groceries. Which state is seeing caseloads grow the fastest? You might be surprised to find out.  

 

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Ethics Panel Criticizes Arundel Public Safety Workers For Campaign Ads

By Nicole Fuller, The Sun (Baltimore)

Anne Arundel County police officers and firefighters who used what appeared to be official vehicles and insignias in pro-slots campaign advertisements acted improperly, though they broke no laws, according to the county Ethics Commission.  

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Crushed By Medicaid Costs, States Expand Managed Care

By Christine Vestal, Stateline Staff Writer
It’s been 20 years since states began moving children and pregnant women over to the managed care model, with its fixed costs and more coordinated care. Now, states are finding that expanding managed care to new populations is one of the biggest levers they have to squeeze savings out of Medicaid.  

 

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Hotel Tax Hike Overcomes Alliance Of Conservative, Liberal Delegates

By Larry Carson, The Sun (Baltimore)The old dictum that politics makes for strange bedfellows was rarely clearer than in the vote among Howard County's state delegates approving the Ulman administration's bill boosting local hotel room taxes from 5 percent to 7 percent.  

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Maryland 'Stronger,' O'Malley Tells Lawmakers

By Julie Bykowicz, The Sun (Baltimore)The state has grown "stronger" in the past year, Gov. Martin O'Malley told lawmakers Thursday — and he credited advances in public education and a focus on innovation with helping to spur economic recovery. Read More

Indian River Inlet Bridge Roadway Approach Contract Awarded

Dover -- The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) announces that Dover-based contractor George & Lynch, Inc. has been awarded the Roadway Approach and Bridge Demolition Contract for the Indian River Inlet Bridge.

Dennis Dinger, President of George & Lynch noted, "George & Lynch is pleased to be the low bidder for the final stages of construction of the new Indian River Inlet Bridge. It is rewarding for our company to be in a position to provide jobs for our local employees during the coming construction season. It is also interesting to note that George & Lynch provided construction services to open the original inlet in the 1930's, so it seems fitting that we finish up this new bridge project for our state. We look forward to getting started!"

George & Lynch was recently awarded the $11,625,940 project which will build the roadway approaches for the new Indian River Inlet Bridge and demolish the existing Indian River Inlet Bridge. This work will occur in three phases as outlined below:

Phase I
-The work will occur March-May 2011, with a new traffic pattern in place by Memorial Day Weekend 2011.
-The contractor will perform median work between the Route 1 northbound and southbound lanes as they construct temporary crossovers to establish a new traffic pattern to allow for construction of the roadway approaches.
-The new traffic pattern will place Route 1 northbound and southbound traffic (one lane in each direction) on the existing northbound lanes of Route 1.
-The Route 1 southbound lanes will be used exclusively for pedestrians and cyclists during construction. Directional signage and message boards will be posted accordingly.
-The current speed limit of 35 mph throughout work zone will remain in effect.

Phase II
-Phase II is expected to begin by Memorial Day 2011 and continue into December 2011.
-Construction of the new Route 1 north and south bridge approaches will be done using a lightweight concrete fill that weighs less than traditional soil embankment material. The amount of fill needed for this area was also reduced because the design of the new bridge incorporated traditional bridge approach spans which take the place of soil embankments.
-These approaches will ultimately provide a connection from the existing roadway to the new Indian River Inlet Bridge which, weather permitting, will be open to traffic by the end of December 2011.

Phase III
-Phase III of the contract is expected to begin in early 2012.
-For approximately the first six months of 2012, the traffic pattern will continue to be one lane each direction as the contractor completes permanent access roadways to the park under the bridge, restores other local roadway connections and turn lanes.
-Motorists, bicycles and pedestrians will utilize the new bridge and roadway approaches to cross the inlet.
-This phase also includes the demolition of the existing Indian River Inlet Bridge.
-The existing bridge will not be imploded or exploded due to the proximity of marine life and the occupied highway. Concrete portions of bridge will be dismantled using jackhammers and other heavy equipment, and will then be transported and deposited to a reef site. Structural steel from the bridge will be salvaged and recycled by the contractor.

The 740-calendar day project is expected to be completed in mid-2013. At that time, a separate contract will be initiated to allow for improvements to be made within the Delaware Seashore State Park which will beautify and improve the area around the new bridge and approaches. Improvements will include new parking lots, sidewalks, a bathhouse and new and improved campground facilities.