Popular Posts

Monday, June 13, 2011

Salisbury Council Postpones Decision on “The Bricks”

The Salisbury City Council voted this evening to postpone consideration of “The Bricks” pending information from both the administration and City Attorney Paul Wilber.

The council also did not accept a grant from the state for “Disproportionate Minority Youth”.  The 2 – 2 (councilwoman Debbie Campbell was out of town on business) vote was primarily due to questions regarding the city’s long term financial obligation under this grant.

More to follow Tuesday Morning.

BREAKING NEWS: High Speed Chase in Hebron

A motorcycle, traveling at a high rate of speed down N. Main Street in Hebron was pursued by a Wicomico County Sheriff’s deputy.  The motorcycle appears to have lost control and wrecked.

Hebron fire and EMS personnel were dispatched.

More to follow ….

BREAKING NEWS: Bachmann Files To Run For President

Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann says at GOP debate that she has filed paperwork to run for president.

Rally Against Toll Hike With Eastern Shore Senator And Delegates

In response to the Maryland Transportation Authority’s proposal to massively increase Maryland’s tolls Americans for Prosperity Maryland is hosting a press conference and rally to opposition to the proposals.

“With Maryland running billion dollar plus yearly deficits and borrowing more money, now is not the time to take more money out of a struggling economy” said Deputy State Director Nick Loffer. “It is bad policy to see unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats pass a major tax hike that will discourage commerce and raise the cost of goods and services for all Marylanders.”

The Eastern Shore, especially Queen Anne’s County, will suffer a negative impact from these toll increases as the Bay Bridge is a major link to the Eastern Shore.

“Raising the cost of travel is never a good idea. Local economies and the tourist industry need every penny in this struggling economy, not a new barrier to keep Maryland’s economy from growing.”

What: Press Conference and Rally Against the Toll Hikes

When: Wednesday, June 15

Where: Kent Island High School 900 Love Point Road, Stevensville, Md.

Time: 4:45pm

With: State Senator EJ Pipkin and State Delegates Michael Smigiel, Steve Hershey, Mike McDermott, and Addie Eckhardt.

Local commuters and business owners.

Note – All Eastern Shore State Representatives have been invited.

Contact Deputy State Director Nick Loffer at 443-994-9395 or at nick@afpmaryland.com

Pollitt on Tax Hike – “It’s Just No Fair”

No, that’s not Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt’s view about hiking the Wicomico property tax rate by 5 cents; it’s his view of having his property taxes in Ocean City go up.

On September 2, 2007 the Daily Times ran a very sympathetic article (I’m so surprised) regarding a tax hike on the Pollitt family beach house. While quoting numerous members of the Pollitt clan, Rick’s response was:

”It’s just no fair”. …

I realize that Pollitt would argue that this is apples and oranges. In one sense it is. Pollitt claims that his proposed hike would only hit the average Wicomico taxpayer for the cost of “a dinner out”. Maybe, but what about those taxpayers who can’t afford that dinner out?

The Wicomico council has worked diligently to spare taxpayers that rate hike. Tomorrow, we’ll know for sure whether they have been successful. I empathize with Pollitt’s desire not to “oversee the dismantling of the Wicomico County government”. We need government, but less of it. We need core services; but we need those services delivered efficiently and in a cost effective manner. It’s in limiting government and providing those services in a cost effective manner where Pollitt has failed.

My advice to Pollitt is simple:

  • Restructure the county government; as you promised. Do so, keeping in mind that we are operating under a new paradigm.

  • Quit worrying about “getting out and about”, at least for now. You speny three years trying to sell the repeal of the revenue cap. You spent a year running for re-election. You’ve now spent most of the first few months of a second tem trying to sell a rate hike. Seems like you’ve been “out and about” quite enough for a while. If you feel the need to meet with the public, show up at a council meeting. We know that you watch the meetings on TV; just walk down the hall and turn left.

  • Start acting less like a bureaucrat and more like a businessman. If your employees can’t show up to work on time – replace them. If you have positions that are redundant – eliminate them. If you can afford to furlough employees it seems that you may have more people on the county payroll than you really need. Yes, I know that government isn’t a business. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t learn a few things from the private sector.
  • The next time Pollitt proposes a tax increase, perhaps he will remember how he felt when it was done to him.

    STICKY POST! NEW POSTS WILL SHOW UP BELOW THIS ONE UNTIL 5 PM.

    BREAKING NEWS - Wicomico Council Kow-Tows to County Exec

    The Wicomico County Council has decided to flip again and allow County Executive Rick Pollitt to keep level funding in the FY 2012 budget. The vote was:

    Gail Bartkovich, Bob Caldwell, Stevie Prettyman, and Sheree Sample-Hughes to give Pollitt’s office level funding. Bob Culver and Joe Holloway voted to cut $100.000 from the County Executive’s salary account and place in contingency until council approves his “reorganization plan”. Matt Holloway was not present, but Bartkovich noted that he was in favor of level funding.


    STICKY POST! NEW POSTS WILL SHOW UP BELOW THIS ONE UNTIL 3:30 PM.

    Is It Even Worth Going Out To Eat Any More?

    Over the weekend I asked my Wife, where would you like to eat tonight. She opened the phone book and started searching for a restaurant we hadn't been to yet and nothing seemed satisfying. To my amazement she said, how about Outback.

    Some of our loyal readers will recall, the last time we went to Outback it was a complete disaster. I thought, well, it's been at least two years, why not. Talk about a huge mistake!

    I wasn't that hungry so I decided to order a cheeseburger. I mean, how bad can you screw that up, right?

    We were conveniently seated right next to the kitchen. You know, the seats where you walk out of a restaurant and your clothes not only stink, you can feel the grease in your clothes. I didn't complain about the seating because I thought I'd give them a fair chance. Yes, there was seating available elsewhere and I made sure NOT to wear clothing that had Salisbury News advertised all over it.

    We were trying to hold a conversation but found it very difficult as a group of intoxicated people sat at the next booth talking Nascar. I can deal with that but the screaming infant that just wouldn't stop crying was starting to get on our nerves. Just as it got to the point of no return, our food finally arrived.

    My Wife ordered the Alice's Spring Chicken, which is usually fail proof. Fortunately it was very good but I have to say, this is a meal that used to cost $7.49 in Outback and is now over $14.00 and the portion is about 1/2 of what they used to serve.

    Then there was my burger. What used to come in an over sized bun and a 1/2 pound was clearly smaller, (bun wise) and about 1/3 of a pound of meat. I went to lift the top bun to see if they did in fact put mayo on it and the bun was as hard as a rock, seriously. I looked at the waitress and said, this bun is as hard as a rock. She replied, oh, you didn't want it toasted? My reply, did I ask for it toasted.

    She then said, let me go get you another bun and left. While she was away I felt the bottom bun and it too was hard as a rock. When she returned with the top bun I told her the bottom one was hard as well and she said, let me get you another one. She returned with a small plate with the bun on it, expecting ME to use my hands to remove and replace the burger onto the new buns and scrape the lettuce and mayo from the other bun onto the new buns.

    I'm sure many of you have had experiences whereas you weren't satisfied and they took the entire thing back to the kitchen and fixed it to your liking but this just wasn't the case at Outback. The burger had an unusual flavor to it and I had asked that they not put any seasoning on it. I can't exactly explain what it was but as I enjoy a good burger on the grill, this meat tasted nothing like the ground beef I'm used to.

    We couldn't get the bill quick enough to b-line it out of there and quite frankly that will be the very last time I ever go back to Outback. Every one has bad experiences once in a while but Outback continues to fail to deliver, especially at the prices they're charging. My burger was around $10.00 and it sucked. We got home and immediately changed out of the greasy clothes we had on and agreed we'd never return.

    This Years First Total Eclipse

    The year's first total eclipse of the moon will last an unusually long time. But you probably won't get to see it. Wednesday's lunar eclipse will be visible for five and a half hours, but only to people in eastern Africa, central Asia, the Middle East and western Australia. The period when the Earth's shadow completely blocks the moon will last an hour and 40 minutes. NASA eclipse expert Fred Espenak at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland says the eclipse will last extra long because the moon is passing closer to the center of the Earth's shadow. It will be April 15th, 2014 before the continental U.S. will be able to see another total lunar eclipse.

    EARLY MORNING CRASH SENDS FIVE TO HOSPITAL

    On Monday, June 13, 2011, at approximately 12: 11 a.m., Ocean City Police responded to 67th Street and Coastal Highway for a multi-vehicle collision. A preliminary investigation revealed a Ford Mustang, traveling northbound on Coastal Highway, was driving recklessly and struck the front driver’s side of a Honda Accord, also traveling northbound. The impact of the collision caused the Honda to travel onto the sidewalk and strike several trees, while the Mustang also struck several trees, spun into the median and burst into flames. During the course of the collision, the Mustang also struck a Jeep Commander, causing it to lose control and travel to 68th Street, where it struck a street sign.

    In all, five individuals were transported to area hospitals for their injuries. The driver of the Jeep Commander, the driver and passenger of the Honda, and a passenger in the Mustang were transported to Peninsula Regional Medical Center (PRMC) for non-life threatening injuries. An additional passenger of the Mustang was transferred from PRMC to John Hopkins Bayview Medical Center to be treated for burns she sustained during the crash.

    The driver of the Mustang, who was later identified as Daniel Becker, 19, of Elkton, MD, was not injured. Becker was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, driving while impaired by alcohol, negligent driving, reckless driving, unsafe lane change and speeding. At the time of this release, Becker was awaiting an initial appearance in
    front of an Ocean City District Court Commissioner. The Ocean City Police Department’s Traffic Safety Unit is continuing to investigate the crash.

    VP Biden And The $14.3 Trillion Debt Limit

    Vice President Joe Biden's group of negotiators returns to the bargaining table this week. Republican and Democrats are working to bridge their ideological differences to come up with a plan to raise the $14.3 trillion debt limit. The U.S. could start defaulting on debts in early August. Negotiators are pushing for a deal, that includes major federal spending cuts, by the 4th of July. One thing lawmakers on both sides of the aisle agree on, reports The Hill, is the can cannot be kicked down the road again.

    Minority Hiring Increases On Federal Payroll

    Agencies are increasing the number of minority employees on the federal payroll. The Office of Personnel management says more than 31,000 minorities joined the federal workforce in 2010. The numbers come from OPM's annual Federal Equal Opportunity Recruitment Program Report to Congress. It shows the number of minorities exceeded 647,000. That's a 5 percent increase from 2009. Minorities made up about 34 percent of the federal workforce in 2010.

    Boonies Hits Grand Slam Home Run

    On Sunday, Boonies had an Oyster Special we advertised and as you can see, the place was absolutely packed.

    So much so, the supplier had to send out for a thousand additional Oysters because they ran out of the first batch in no time at all. They served grass fed beef as well, which was to die for.

    The entertainment was not only good, they were great! I can tell you that we arrived around 1:00 PM and didn't leave until 5:30 PM.

    The turn out was completely unexpected but once you advertise on SBYNews.com you can expect to be bombarded with people. Pictures don't lie.

    EVO Brewing was on hand with their specialty micro brewed beer and the taps were flowing like there's no tomorrow.

    Gay Judge Targeted For Same-Sex Marriage Ruling

    Vaughn Walker declared Proposition 8 an unconstitutional violation of gay Californians' civil rights

    A retired federal judge's long-term relationship with another man will be the subject of an unusual and possibly unprecedented court hearing Monday involving California's same-sex marriage ban.

    Lawyers for the sponsors of the voter-approved ban are asking the chief federal judge in San Francisco to vacate the decision issued by his predecessor last year that declared Proposition 8 an unconstitutional violation of gay Californians' civil rights.

    They maintain that former Chief District Judge Vaughn Walker should have recused himself or disclosed his relationship status before trial because he and his partner stood to personally benefit from Walker's verdict.

    First Post-Shooting Photos of Rep. Giffords Released


    Multisource political news, world news, and entertainment news analysis by Newsy.com
    Two photographs of a smiling Rep. Gabby Giffords were posted to her Facebook page. Doctors remain optimistic about her recovery.

    The Best Dear Abby Ever

    Dear Abby,
    My husband has a long record of money problems.  He runs up huge credit-card bills and at the end of the month.
    If I try to pay them off, he shouts at me, saying I am stealing his money.  He says pay the minimum and let our kids worry about the rest, ….….but already we can hardly keep up with the interest.  Also he has been so arrogant and abusive toward our neighbors that most of them no longer speak to us. 
    The few that do are an odd bunch, to whom he has been giving a lot of expensive gifts, running up our bills even more.  Also, he has gotten religious.
    One week he hangs out with Catholics and the next with people who say the Pope is the Anti-Christ, and the next he's with Muslims. 
    Finally, the last straw.  He's demanding that before anyone can be in the same room with him, they must sign a loyalty oath. 
    It's just so horribly creepy!  Can you help?
    Signed, 
    Lost in DC
    -------------------------------------------------- -
    Dear Lost: 
    Stop whining, Michelle. 
    You get to live in the White House for free, travel the world, and have others pay for everything for you.  You can divorce the jerk any time you want. 
    The rest of us are stuck with the SOB for two more years! 
    Signed, 
    Abby

    A Reader’s Guide To The (Still Coming) Sarah Palin Emails

    Before Sarah Palin became a political pundit, reality TV star and household name, she did a whole lot of things in Alaska that raised eyebrows once she became a vice presidential nominee. Reporters began exploring some of those things at the time and filing public records requests to more fully explore her record.
    Now, three years later, and after much wrangling with the State of Alaska, we’re finally getting 24,199 pages of emails from Sarah Palin’s time as governor. They’re going to be released—on paper—this afternoon.

    Here's some quick background on the emails and suggestions on what to look for. We’re also going to be updating this post, highlighting interesting nuggets, if any, that people come across.

    So… where are these emails from?

    The emails are from the beginning of 2007 to September 2008. That covers most—but not all—of Palin’s tenure, which was from December 2006 to when she resigned in mid-2009.

    ProPublica filed a public records request for the emails in fall 2008 and teamed up with Mother Jones and msnbc.com when we realized they had done the same. The state ultimately got enough requests that it lumped all of them together, and after many deadline extensions—Alaska state agencies are supposed to get 10 days to fulfill a request, but they can request extensions—it’s releasing the documents today.

    Why are they only being released now?

    For starters, Sarah Palin didn’t abide by transparency best-practices.

    More

    Families Still Stream To Food Banks, And Budget Cuts Could Kill That Lifeline

    AFL-CIO Community Services Director Will Fischer writes about the continuing need for community food banks and how this vital service for families in need faces the threat of budget cuts on the local, state and federal levels.

    Over the past month, it seems that the news of a natural disaster striking a different area of the country has been a nightly occurrence. Whether a tornado or a flood, disaster announcements seem to be as much a part of the news as the wars or the economy. But what about those disasters that aren’t covered by the news and are happening around kitchen tables every night?

    Last week on a trip to Pittsburgh, I volunteered with the newly formed Pennsylvania Wants to Work—an organization that advocates for the needs of unemployed and underemployed workers and brings them together around community volunteer activities and community service.

    On this particular day, after a meeting with AFL-CIO Community Service Liaison, Joe Delale, I was told the group would be volunteering at the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank (GPCFB).

    This would not be a normal day of volunteering.

    Approximately 45 minutes before the doors were to open for the second shift, a slow, steady stream of folks began to arrive outside the doors. They streamed in like so many Pittsburghers had done for so many years at shift changes at now-gone plants and mills. They arrived both in groups and as individuals—carrying with them children, boxes and carts for their food. As opening time approached, the crowd grew and grew, just as the storm clouds overhead had grown and gotten darker.

    More

    Rep. Rohrabacker Asks Iraq To Pay US Back For Iraq War; Iraqi Spokesman Asks Him To Leave

    Yesterday in Baghdad, while on a congressional delegation visit, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) said that Iraq should repay the United States for the war there that President Bush started in 2003 (some estimates have put total war costs at around $3 trillion when all is said and done). “We would hope that some consideration be given to repaying the United States some of the mega-dollars that we have spent here in the last eight years,” Rohrabacher said. One day prior in Doha, Rohrabacher withdrew his support for the Libyan rebels because, according to the California congressman, they said they would not repay the U.S. for its costs in the air campaign there.

    It turns out that the Iraqis didn’t appreciate Rohrabacher’s comments all that much and in fact, Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh has asked Rohrabacher to leave Iraq. “We called the US embassy yesterday and we told them to ask the congressmen to leave Iraq,” he told AFP, adding, “We don’t want them here. What they said was inappropriate.” Reuters has more:

    “Those people are not welcome in Iraq. They are raising a controversial issue which influences the strategic relation between us and the United States,” he said.

    “They are asking for compensation for the war and we are not committed to pay anything to any of the people who participated in the invasion of Iraq,” he told Reuters.

    Yesterday, Rohrabacher said that he had told Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in a meeting that Iraq should repay the U.S. but Iraqi government officials said “his congressional delegation had not raised the issue in a meeting” with Maliki.

    Tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians have died as a result of Bush’s war. Perhaps Rohrabacher doesn’t think that’s quite enough. But Rohrabacker’s rhetoric is not only embarrassing, it endangers American lives there. One American source serving in Iraq told ThinkProgress, “This is the type of rhetoric that creates violence against the troops. It’s a poster for the Sadr crowd, and everyone else, that we are occupiers, not liberators [and] here for their oil money.”

    Source

    TRAFFIC ALERT - Bridge Painting Will Require The Closure Of Front Street

    Seaford -- The Department of Transportation (DelDOT) has scheduled painting of the bridge over the Nanticoke River along Front Street in Seaford. The bridge will be closed beginning on Monday, June 20 and ending on Sunday, July 24.

    The project includes the removal of the existing paint material and priming/recoating with a lead-free paint on the steel bridge. The contractor for these improvements is Marinis Brothers, Inc. of New Castle, Delaware.

    The detour route will be clearly posted for motorists and pedestrians.

    Motorists should drive with caution, slow down in work zones, and never enter a roadway that has been blocked with barriers or cones.

    Today's Survey Question

     
    Are you traveling for a vacation this summer?

    WaPo Reporter – Reagan Was the “Quintessential Leader”

    Del Quentin Wilber, a Washington Post reporter and author of Rawhide Down: The Near Assassination of Ronald Reagan, says that after studying Reagan’s character and the actions Reagan took when his life was in imminent danger, he came to the conclusion that the 40th president of the United States was “the quintessential leader.”

    I found him to be kind of the quintessential leader,” Wilber said in an interview with CNSNews.com’s Online With Terry Jeffrey. “I found that the portrayal of him in the media at the time and even today as someone who just read what was put in front of him like a script was not true.”

    READ MORE …

    Political Inertia

    MPPI’s Gabriel Michael argues the pro’s and con’s of tax credits and their impact on economic activity.

    Inertia goes a long way in politics. Entitlement programs, once established, can be incredibly difficult to reform or repeal – consider the current debate over Medicare, or earlier attempts to reform Social Security during the Bush administration. But inertia isn't limited to entitlements – it also runs rampant throughout the tax code. Tax credits established years ago often escape the scrutiny of the legislature, even well after they have outlived their usefulness. Because such credits are not perceived as a direct expenditure, they less frequently become targets of spending cuts.

    Yet the distinction is illusory. There may be philosophical reasons to prefer tax credits to direct expenditures, but the effect on the state's bottom line is the same: a tax credit is financially indistinguishable from a direct payment of the same amount. In fact, in economics, public policy and public finance, tax credits are often referred to as “tax expenditures.”

    READ MORE …

    Canada Pipeline Critical to U.S. Energy Security

    Wanted: More domestic energy production and crude oil from Canada.

    That’s the gist of a new ad campaign sponsored by the American Petroleum Institute, a group that represents more than 470 oil and natural gas companies.

    Jack Gerard, president and CEO of the American Petroleum Institute, says if the U.S. develops its own oil and natural gas resources and imports more oil from Canada, the country could meet 92 percent of its liquid fuels needs by 2030, compared with 62 percent today.

    “Let me repeat that once again for emphasis,” Gerard told reporters during a conference call on Wednesday. “The analysis we’re releasing today will be part of our rollout, and the (ad) campaign shows that the U.S. could meet 92 percent of our liquid fuel demand by 2030.”

    READ MORE …

    Rabies Clinic in Snow Hill–June 15th

    The Worcester County Health Department, along with Worcester County Animal Control, have added three additional rabies vaccination clinics to those already held in the County in an effort to assist citizens in keeping their pets’ rabies vaccinations up-to-date.

    Scheduled clinics will be held from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the following locations:

    • Wednesday, June 15, 2011, Worcester County Animal Control, Timmons Rd (Off Rt. 113), Snow Hill, MD

    Reminders for rabies clinics:

    • Cost:  $5 per pet for Worcester County residents and $10 per pet for out-of-county residents.  Please bring your driver’s license, rabies vaccination certificate, utility or other bill that has your name and address on it to verify Worcester County residency.
    • If this is not the pet’s first rabies vaccination, written proof of the previous shot (rabies vaccination certificate) must be provided in order to receive a three-year booster shot. Otherwise, the vaccination will expire in one year.  
    • To receive a vaccination, dogs must be on a leash under the control of an adult, and cats and ferrets must be in a carrier or box with air holes.

    Maryland law requires that cats, dogs and ferrets are adequately vaccinated against rabies by 4 months of age and that those vaccinations are to be kept current.  Rabies continues to be a threat in Worcester County and was laboratory confirmed in raccoons, foxes, groundhogs, and cats.  Since January 1, 2011 there have been 6 confirmed rabid animals in Worcester County and there were 26 confirmed animals in 2010. For more information about protecting against rabies or the scheduled clinics in Worcester County, visit www.worcesterhealth.org, or you may call 410-641-9559.

    Please report all animal bites or other contact and exposure to wild animals to the Worcester County Health Department at 410-352-3234 or 410-641-9559. If an incident occurs after normal business hours, contact your local law enforcement or the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office at 410-632-1111.

    Imagine …

    This post isn’t to proselytize about abortion.  I just came across this video and thought that it was interesting, moving, and thought provoking.

    Imagine

    I hope that you enjoy it, think about it, and take it in the spirit with which it was intended.

    Delaware Dem Donor Pleads Guilty

    In case you haven’t figured it out, I like alliteration.

    It’s a “Who’s Who” of Delaware Democrats. From VP Joe Biden down, Delaware Dems have been the recipients of Chris Tigani’s largesse. Of course, Tigani has received some quo for his quid – just ask former governor Ruth Ann Minner about that sweetheart land deal Tigani benefited from up near Milford.

    Well, it all came to a screeching halt last week as Tigani pleaded guilty to multiple counts of federal income tax evasion and violations of federal elections laws. But wait … I thought the Democrats were the party of the little guy.

    READ MORE …

    Then you can read about Joe’s son Beau having to recuse himself from the state portion of the investigation. Like father like son I guess. or … Maybe Beau knows.

    READ MORE …

    H/T – DelawarePolitics.net

    Democrat Senator Stands With Petition Drive

    Opponents of the petition drive to force the MD DREAM Act to referendum would have you believe that it’s only a bunch of Republicans, and right wing Republicans at that, who are signing the petitions.  Sadly for them, nothing could be further from the truth.

    It appears that at least 50% of those signing the petitions are Democrats.  There are even Democrat legislators backing the drive.  One such legislator is Maryland Sen. James Brochin (D-42) of Baltimore County.

    Perhaps we should ask where Jim Mathias and Norm Conway are on this issue.

    Watch this video from FOX45 in Baltimore.

    H/T – Cecil Calvert

    LIVE BLOG EVENT – Tuesday, June 14 – Wicomico County Council

    Join us Tuesday, June 14th, as SbyNEWS hosts another LIVE BLOG EVENT.

    Time:  10 AM

    Place:  A computer near you.

    What:  The Wicomico County Council will debate and adopt (or possibly REFUSE to adopt, as they did last year) the county budget for FY 2012.

    If you can’t come out to the hearing, tune in on PAC-14 and follow the meeting at SbyNEWS with our always insightful play by play.

    Don’t forget; you get to participate as well.  Comments are live.  Just remember, the same rules apply.  Because we experienced technical difficulties during our last LIVE BLOG EVENT, we will be tied in to a back-up network in case the GOB’s wi-fi fails again.

    Live Blogging software courtesy of CoverItLive.com

    Who’s the REAL Hypocrite?

    On Saturday, the Daily Times editorial page “Jeered” the Wicomico County Council for what it termed “inconsistency”:

    The Wicomico County Council has spent a good deal of time picking apart the county executive's proposed budget to find more cuts and avoid raising the property tax rate by the amount allowable under the revenue cap. Yet its hypocritical members failed to take a logical step that would save property owners from increased tax bills resulting from rising assessments. County Executive Rick Pollitt asked the council to lower the Homestead Tax Credit from 10 percent to zero, which would have effectively frozen property values until ownership changed hands. Instead, expressing concern over loss of revenue to the county, the rate was lowered to 5 percent. In another stunning example of hypocrisy, the Republican-majority council opted for government intrusion when it authorized use of speed cameras in school zones. If speeding is a problem, it's worth the time and effort to patrol and ticket motorists on a more personal basis.

    While I have to admit that I am not in agreement with the Wicomico Council regarding the Homestead Tax Credit or speed cameras, I think their decision hardly makes them hypocrites.  If anyone is hypocritical on this it would be Pollitt and the DT.

    Regarding speed cameras, there has been no secret among the Republican majority of council that the speed camera bill is about REVENUE, rather than child safety.  In fact, when the council first voted the measure down (much to the dismay of the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office) several councilmembers stated publicly that they would be more supportive of the measure IF Pollitt and Sheriff Mike Lewis had been more forthcoming over the fact that this bill is more about money than safety.

    Regarding the Homestead Tax Credit, where is they hypocrisy.  The DT’s argument is similar to a rabid Republican who is ALWAYS claiming that cutting taxes is the answer to every national ill.  For some reason, they never want answer what happens when the tax rate hits 0%.

    The council has worked diligently to cut Pollitt’s proposed tax rate hike.  Pollitt and the DT are adamantly opposed to their efforts.  Why is the council’s refusal to cut future revenue hypocritical?  It’s not.

    We can agree to disagree.  However, it is ironic that it is the DT, rather than SbyNEWS, that has been the leading name caller during this budget process.  Perhaps they would be willing to take the same advice that I have been offering SbyNEWS publisher Joe Albero over the last several years…

    Take a deep breath, relax, and ask yourself if you REALLY need to say that.  Albero has been improving over time.  We can’t say that about the Daily Times over the last month.

    DREAM Act on 2012 Ballot Could Buoy GOP at Polls

    If a petition to overturn the Maryland Dream Act makes it to the ballot in 2012, referendum leaders may have more to gain than just a repeal of the law.

    Republicans who have backed the petition drive and political observers say the chance to vote on the law that gives in-state college tuition to illegal immigrants could turn out a number of conservative voters who otherwise might stay home, given the likelihood of a President Barack Obama win in Maryland.

    GOP faithful don’t stand a chance of winning the presidency in Maryland, but very likely could overturn the Dream Act and possibly put a dent in some typically Democratic congressional districts, said Todd Eberly, a political science professor at St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

    READ MORE …

    Maryland’s Own Anthony Weiner?

    Twitter-addicted political junkies got a surprise last night when State Sen. Catherine Pugh's account published the following:

    @PughforMayor: Mmm mmm good looking men here (@ Martin's West w/ 4 others) http://4sq.com/mHPlKY

    Pugh, a candidate for mayor who was attending the Associated Black Charities gala, says she did not send the tweet-- and she did not even have her phone with her.

    "I don't know why anyone would want to do that to me," she said. "It's not even my kind of terminology. I don't speak that way."

    The tweet was sent using Foursquare, an app that allows users to record their location. That means whoever sent the tweet had to have been logged into Pugh's Foursquare account and been at or near Martin's West.

    READ MORE …

    Heat Safety Tips for Workers

    Tri-county residents who work outdoors may be exposed to extreme heat this summer.

    Health officials from Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester counties warn that farmers, construction workers, beach and pool lifeguards, and others who work outside should be especially cautious as the temperatures rise.

    Heat stress can result in heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps or heat rashes. Heat can also increase the risk of injuries in workers because it may result in sweaty palms, fogged-up safety goggles and dizziness.

    Workers are at greater risk of heat stress if they are 65 or older, overweight, have heart disease or high blood pressure or take medications that may be affected by extreme heat.

    Prevention of heat stress in workers is critical.

    Recommendations for workers:

    Workers should avoid exposure to extreme heat, sun exposure, and high humidity when possible. When these exposures cannot be avoided, workers should take the following steps to prevent heat stress:

    • Wear light-colored, loose-fitting, breathable clothing such as cotton. Avoid non-breathing synthetic clothing.

    • Gradually build up to heavy work.

    • Schedule heavy work during the coolest parts of day.

    • Take more breaks in extreme heat and humidity. Take breaks in the shade or a cool area when possible.

    • Drink water frequently. Drink enough water that you never become thirsty.

    • Avoid drinks with caffeine, alcohol, and large amounts of sugar.

    • Be aware that protective clothing or personal protective equipment may increase the risk of heat stress. Monitor your physical condition and that of your coworkers.

    Recommendations for employers:

    • Schedule maintenance and repair jobs in hot areas for cooler months.

    • Schedule hot jobs for the cooler part of the day.

    • Acclimatize workers by exposing them for progressively longer periods to hot work environments.

    • Reduce the physical demands of workers.

    • Use relief workers or assign extra workers for physically demanding jobs.

    • Provide cool water or liquids to workers.

      • Avoid drinks with caffeine, alcohol, or large amounts of sugar.

    • Provide rest periods with water breaks.

    • Provide cool areas for use during break periods.

    • Monitor workers who are at risk of heat stress.

    • Provide heat stress training that includes information about:

      • Worker risk

      • Prevention

      • Symptoms

      • The importance of monitoring yourself and coworkers for symptoms

      • Treatment

      • Personal protective equipment

    For more information about heat safety, visit:

    For information about your county, call your local health department:

    • Somerset: 443-523-1700

    • Wicomico: 410-334-3480

    • Worcester: 410-632-1100

    Wicomico Council to Vote on Budget Tomorrow

    AGENDA

    COUNTY COUNCIL OF WICOMICO COUNTY, MD

    Room 301, Government Office Building, Salisbury, Maryland

    LEGISLATIVE SESSION 2011-12

    June 14, 2011 10:00 a.m.

    10:00 a.m. Gail M. Bartkovich, President

    Call meeting to order

    Opening Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance

    10:05 a.m. Matthew E. Creamer: Council Administrator:

    Resolution 76-2011-Institute a temporary ban on any outdoor burning in Wicomico County, Maryland

    10:10 a.m. Edgar A. Baker, Jr., County Attorney:

    Adoption: Legislative Bill 2011-04-Budget and Appropriation Bill

    10:30 a.m. Public Comments-Please limit all public comments to five minutes or less; any presented material may be submitted to Council members-Please include eight copies

    10:40 a.m. Council Comments

    10:45 a.m. Council President’s Comments

    10:50 a.m. Closed Work Session:

    Internal Audit-Audit discussion

    Cardin’s “MediScare” Tactics

    Last week, Maryland Public Policy Institute fellow and Wicomico resident Marc Kilmer penned an op-ed decrying the tactics of Maryland’s own senator – Ben Cardin - in the current debate over fiscal policy and entitlement reform.  We highly recommend that you give it a read.

    READ MORE …

    Is O’Malley Falling Behind on Re-Districting?

    The highly anticipated process that will shape the political futures of dozens of current and would-be elected officials is not yet visible to the public.

    A general redistricting timeline outlined on the General Assembly website indicates that the Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Committee would be formed in April or May and that the panel would conduct public hearings beginning in late spring.

    But as of Thursday, a redistricting committee had not been appointed, and it remains unclear whether one will be established for the redrawing of congressional boundaries, a process that will be conducted separately from legislative redistricting because the 2012 primary election will be held in April in Maryland.

    There are no statutory requirements for creating an advisory commission or holding public hearings for the congressional reapportionment plan. The state constitution mandates public hearings only for the legislative redistricting plan, which will be introduced on the first day of the 2012 General Assembly session.

    READ MORE …

    Worcester County Promises Open Liquor Market Is On the Way

    Already facing questions about their takeover of the Liquor Control Board (LCB) despite not actually assuming control until July 1, the Worcester County Commissioners defended their policies and promises Tuesday at a public hearing.

    “We feel that we were somewhat mislead,” said Shawn Harman, owner of Fish Tales restaurant in Ocean City.

    Harman spoke on behalf of the Worcester Alliance for Fair Markets (WAFM), a collection of liquor licensees formed earlier this year in an attempt to have the LCB abolished after the board was found guilty of several trade infractions.

    Instead of abolition, however, the commissioners decided to bring the pseudo-government LCB organization under direct county control, a decision that many still consider controversial.

    “I don’t believe anyone up here wants to be involved in the liquor business,” said Commission President Bud Church.

    The question of whether or not a public government should insert itself into a private industry has been hotly debated in Worcester for many years. Even before the commission decided to absorb the agency, the LCB was still something of a county organization, though it operated independently.

    READ MORE …

    Obama – “Recovery Is Going To Take Time”

    Twenty-eight months ago—on Feb. 13, 2009--Congress passed a $787-billion economic stimulus law and sent it to President Barack Obama who signed it while declaring it would create or save 3.5 million jobs.

    This Saturday, in his weekly address, President Obama pointed to his predecessors for causing problems in the economy and indicated a full recovery would not come soon.

    “I wish I could tell you there was a quick fix to our economic problems,” Obama said. “But the truth is, we didn’t get into this mess overnight, and we won’t get out of it overnight. It’s going to take time.”

    READ MORE …

    Coastal Bays to Celebrate 15 Years of Conservation Work

    The Coastal Bays Program will celebrate its 15th year of conservation work and release the 2010 Coastal Bays report card on Jun 17 at 4:30 PM at Fager’s Island on 60th Street in Ocean City.  The party is open to the public.

    Ex-BART Officer Johannes Mehserle Released After 11 Months In Prison

    Unarmed black man was fatally shot at an Oakland train station in 2009

    A white former San Francisco Bay area transit officer convicted of the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man on an Oakland train station platform was released from jail early Monday after serving 11 months of a two-year sentence, officials said.

    Johannes Mehserle was set free from a Los Angeles County jail, where he served his time after his attention-getting trial was moved to Southern California, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department spokesman Steve Whitmore said.

    More

    Norfolk Police Officer Charged with Selling Drugs

    A Norfolk police officer has been charged with 11 drug-related felonies in Virginia Beach, according to court records.

    Officer Kristen Wayne Harris was arrested Thursday in Virginia Beach. He was charged with 10 counts of manufacturing or selling steroids or illegal stimulants and one count of selling or distributing marijuana.

    He also faces misdemeanor charges of selling or intending to sell drug paraphernalia, and assisting an individual in unlawfully procuring a prescription drug, court records show.

    He is scheduled to appear in Virginia Beach General District Court for an arraignment Tuesday morning.

    READ MORE …

    Should the Atlantic Sturgeon Be Listed Under the Endangered Species Act?

    Getting to know Atlantic sturgeon isn't easy.

    Case in point: watermen netted a 6-foot, 200-pound spawning female in the James River in April. Thinking it would move toward Richmond to lay its eggs, scientists placed a tracking device in the fish.

    It disappeared, presumably with its eggs intact, a day later.

    "Some fish will do that, especially sturgeon," said Greg Garman, a Virginia Commonwealth University professor who studies the dinosaur-like fish.

    Once common in the Chesapeake Bay and other East Coast estuaries, Atlantic sturgeon levels are thought to be a fraction of what they were when settlers arrived in Jamestown more than 400 years ago — victims of overfishing, loss of habitat, pollution and ship strikes.

    Conservation groups want the fish listed under the Endangered Species Act. But researchers and multiple state agencies oppose the effort. They favor a less strict designation, which they say will allow them to continue their research and prompt fewer restrictions on commercial fisheries.

    READ MORE …

    34th Annual Sussex County Prayer Breakfast Tommorrow

    Tickets are now on sale for the 34th annual Sussex County  Prayer Breakfast, to be held Tuesday, June 14,  2011, with Pastor Bob Carey of Delmarva Teen Challenge as this year’s featured guest speaker. The theme of this year’s event will be ‘Changing One Life at a Time.’

    Pastor Carey, of Seaford, Del.,  is  executive director of Delmarva Teen Challenge, a program that provides second chances to young men affected by drugs, alcohol and other social ills by introducing  them  to a personal relationship with God. Pastor Carey, who once had a promising corporate career, will  discuss his own personal transformation through  the Teen Challenge program and how it saved him from a life of alcohol abuse, bringing him peace and to a new life of ministry.

    Teen Challenge participants have a chance to rebuild their lives through education, counseling, and spiritual guidance designed to turn them away from a life of temptation and toward one that builds hope, strengthen families and supports communities. Since its first center opened in New York in 1960, the Teen Challenge program has grown to more than 400 centers worldwide.

    Pastor  Carey is a graduate of the Central Bible College  – Detroit Campus, where he completed his ministers’ certification with the Assemblies of God. He began his full-time ministry in 1994 at Life Challenge of Southeastern Michigan, where he eventually served as assistant to the executive director.  He joined Delmarva Teen Challenge as executive director in 2008.

    Joining  Pastor Carey as this year’s musical entertainment will be ‘The Reminders’,  with their  eclectic mix of original and familiar gospel music, as well as the Teen Challenge Praise Team and vocalist Greg Fuller.

    The Sussex County Prayer Breakfast is held each year to bring citizens and community leaders together for a morning of ministry, music, and personal reflection. The event is attended by business professionals, community leaders, and various representatives of local, County, State and federal governments.

    This year’s breakfast is once again hosted by the Sussex County Council. Ticket sales and community sponsorships from individuals, organizations and businesses – not County funding – pay for this annual event. Again this year, former County Councilman Dale R. Dukes is volunteering his time to coordinate the breakfast.

    The breakfast will begin at 6:45 a.m.  June 14 at Crossroad Community Church, Del. Route 404 and State Forest Road, west of Georgetown.  The ministry and music portion of the program will begin promptly at 7:30 a.m.

    Tickets are $15 per person, or $110 per table of eight, and will be available on a first-come-first-served basis.

    For tickets or more information, call (302) 855-7743 or (302) 875-7551.

    Group to Retire Thousands of Flags on Flag Day

    Faded, tattered and worn, nearly 3,000 American flags, collected by American Legion Post 273, will be formally retired on Flag Day in Poquoson.

    Unable to retire flags last year due to bad weather, the group stored flags in garages, houses and storage areas, waiting for Tuesday, Flag Day 2011. A drop box in front of the Poquoson Library is regularly checked by members of the post. Donations from other veterans' organizations in York County, including the Disabled American Veterans and Veterans of Foreign Wars, contributed to the growing collection. Damaged flags from schools, neighborhoods and churches also added to the count.

    "It almost becomes an obsession for some of us to make sure the flag is properly cared for," said Post 273 Commander Raymond Yannello. He has considered asking the City's waste department to pull flags out of garbage if they spot them during a pickup.

    READ MORE …

    Why this article?  I thought it was interesting.  Flag Day is tomorrow.  I also lived in Poquoson during my last two years of high school + college.  It’s great to see our veterans caring about our nation’s flag. - GAH

    Fatal OC Accident: UPDATE

    Approx 1:30 - 2:00 AM. 2 young people racing on Coastal Hwy. Collision near 67th St resulting in car bursting in flames. There are thought to be 2 casualties.

    UPDATE: While we sometimes depend on information coming in from outside sources, there was no fatality in this accident. We will publish the official OC Press Release at 2:30 PM today.

    Mayoral Candidate Supports Vouchers in Public Schools

    Mayoral candidate and former city planning director Otis Rolley III has vowed to offer private school vouchers to students zoned to attend failing middle schools and says he would lobby to restore mayoral control to the city school system.

    "Our future is directly tied to the success or failure of our schools," Rolley said in an interview. He is slated to unveil his education plan across from school headquarters on North Avenue on Monday.

      Rolley, whose eldest daughter is a third-grade student at Roland Park Elementary School, believes better schools would keep more families in Baltimore and persuade others to move to the city.

      READ MORE …

      Man Struck By Lightning While on Fishing Pier

      A 29-year-old man was in cardiac arrest after being struck by lightning on the fishing pier at Fort Smallwood Park in Pasadena, Anne Arundel fire officials said Sunday.

      Witnesses called an ambulance after the man was found unconscious after they heard a clap of thunder on Sunday afternoon. He was given CPR and was transported to Maryland Shock Trauma.

      Fire officials did not have information about the man's condition.

      from the Baltimore Sun

      Pawlenty Not Running for “Comedian-In-Chief”

      Tim Pawlenty may be nice, but he's not willing to be anybody's fool. So says the former Minnesota governor and 2012 presidential candidate, who blasted claims by Fox News' Bill O'Reilly that he is too "vanilla" to be president.  

      "Is he playing the race card on me?" Pawlenty jokingly asked on "Fox News Sunday" before getting serious. 

      "I'm not running for comedian- in-chief, or entertainer-in-chief. If people want that, they should go to the ball park or Broadway play or a Las Vegas show. ... Being strong is not the same as being loud. ... So, if you want the clown-in-chief, vote for somebody else. That's not me."

      In an interview heavy on policy specifics, Pawlenty also proved false charges that he won't take the fight to President Obama in a 2012 presidential race. Targeting a few jabs at the president, Pawlenty also tossed out a couple proverbial body slams at frontrunner GOP candidate Mitt Romney over the former Massachusetts governor's health care policies.

      READ MORE …

      Constituents Call for Weiner to Resign Immediately

      Foes and supporters of embattled Rep. Anthony Weiner yelled at each other in front of the New York Democrat's district office on Sunday as congressional leaders called on Weiner to resign amid a sexting scandal.

      "He's not fit to be our congressman," said Jim Scott, 61, one of about two dozen constituents who rallied in front of Weiner's office in the Kew Gardens section of Queens. "People are sick of him, especially his attitude."

      Weiner said Saturday that instead of resigning over the scandal, he was seeking professional treatment and asking for a leave of absence from Congress.

      READ MORE …

      Twin Quakes Rock Christchurch, NZ

      A pair of earthquakes struck within 90 minutes of each near Christchurch, New Zealand, on Monday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported, reviving vivid memories of a deadly quake that killed more than 150 people in February.

      "It was quite an exciting ride," Christchurch Police Acting Inspector Murray Hurst told CNN after the first quake, adding that there was some damage caused by the quake and a few injuries that were not life-threatening.

      Police evacuated sections of the city's central business district after reports of a possible gas leak, police said. Several bridges in the city was closed as a precaution.

      The first quake -- a magnitude 5.2 -- was centered 9 kilometers (5 miles) east-southeast of Christchurch at a depth of 11 kilometers (6.8 miles), according to USGS.

      The second quake -- a more powerful 6.0 -- hit about 13 kilometers (8 miles) north-northeast of the city at a depth of 9 kilometers (5.6 miles).

      The quakes came nearly four months after a 6.3-magnitude temblor struck the same area, killing more than 180 people.

      from CNN

      7 of 10 Deadliest Days for Teens Occur During Summer

      With deadly traffic crashes peaking for teens during the summer months of June, July and August, AAA urges parents of teens to increase their focus on safety during the school-free months ahead. Summer is the deadliest time of year for teen drivers and passengers with seven of the top 10 deadliest days of the year occurring between the Memorial Day and Labor Day holidays, according to an analysis of crash data completed by AAA.

      “Parents should not underestimate the critical role they play in keeping their teens safe, especially during these high-risk months,” said Jim Lardear, director of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “Life feels more care-free when school’s out and teens have more opportunities to drive or ride in cars late at night with other teens – a deadly mix. With the majority of the most dangerous days falling during the traditional summer vacation months, parents must realize that there is no summer break from safety and be vigilant about remaining involved and enforcing rules with their teens.”

      READ MORE …

      Tea Party Movement Continues to Grow

      FreedomWorks is adding 500 to 2,000 members a day to its network of like-minded Tea Party activists. Those activists will provide an army of volunteers for a presidential candidate who supports their small-government goals, say FreedomWorks’ staffers.

      Despite its expanding network, the D.C.-based libertarian group isn’t claiming to be a leader of the Tea party movement. The movement has no national leadership, but “I think we have credibility with a majority of Tea Partiers,” said FreedomWorks’ CEO Matt Kibbe.

      These days, Tea Party activists are focused on state and local issues, such as school choice legislation in Pennsylvania, Kibbe said. They’re not looking to mount another massive D.C. march, such as the 9/12 protest in 2009, in part because the movement has already proved its influence during the 2010 election, he said.

      READ MORE …

      Amtrak Train Breaks Down in Maryland

      An Amtrak train headed from Richmond to Boston broke down northeast of Baltimore on Sunday, leaving 451 passengers sweltering without air conditioning for more than an hour until a replacement train arrived, a railroad spokeswoman said.

      Train No. 88, which left Richmond at 8:35 a.m. and picked up passengers in Washington at 11:25 a.m., became disabled shortly after 1:30 p.m. in Perryville, Md., about halfway between Baltimore and Wilmington, Del., spokeswoman Danielle Hunter said. She said the train’s engine developed a mechanical problem. Without power, the train’s air conditioning system shut down, Hunter said.

      Passengers were not allowed off the train for safety reasons, she said. She said the replacement train arrived shortly before 3 p.m.

      from Paul Duggan @ the Washington Post

      “Gay Girl” Blog is Hoax

      A new post on the "A Gay Girl in Damascus" blog that has been reported to belong to a Syrian-American woman claimed Sunday that her dramatic story is, in fact, a hoax.

      In a post entitled "Apology to readers," author "Tom MacMaster" said he is the sole person responsible for material on the site. The writer signed off from Istanbul, Turkey.

      "I never expected this level of attention," MacMaster wrote. "While the narrative voice may have been fictional, the facts on this blog are true and not misleading as to the situation on the ground."

      All previous posts, which began appearing in February, had been attributed either to "Amina Abdallah," the outspoken Syrian-American woman, or her cousin, "Rania Ismail."

      Abdallah was reported on the blog to have been abducted last week and her alleged disappearance prompted online campaigns demanding her release.

      READ MORE …

      Slain Student Was Congressman’s Nephew

      The Old Dominion University student who was fatally shot last week in his off-campus house in Norfolk was the nephew of U.S. Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.), the congressman said in a statement late Sunday.

      Christopher Cummings, 20, whose family lives in the Woodbridge area, was a junior at ODU and was studying criminal justice.

      “Christopher was an amazing young man who was loved and admired by so many people who had the honor of knowing him,” the congressman said. “An exceptional student with a 3.5 GPA, he had ambitious plans for his future after graduating from Old Dominion.”

      Cummings said he and his family “ remain in shock over the news of the random shooting.”

      Police in Norfolk have said they had no suspect in the Friday shooting and knew of no motive. A roommate of Christopher Cummings was shot in the incident, and Cummings said his family’s prayers were with him.

      He urged the community to help the police in their investigation.

      from Martin Weil @ the Washington Post