Salisbury News: 09/24/11

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Take A Cruise To The Greek Isles And Turkey

Hall’s Tidewater Travel, Inc.

AND

WINDSTAR CRUISES

180 Degrees from Ordinary

Invite You to Experience

The Greek Isles and Turkey:

In Praise of Splendor and History

Praise sun-bathing on black sand beaches overlooking dolphin-blue seas….dining on fresh calamari in the shadow of thousand year old ruins….the sun-baked island of Rhodes with its fragrant gardens, crooked little streets and windswept coves….the spirited nightlife of Istanbul and Athens.

The delights of the Greek Isles and breathtaking seaside resorts of Turkey compete for your attention. Delight in the pleasure of discovering an energy and earthiness found nowhere else in the world.

John and Carolyn invite you to join us on one of our favorite trips…..sailing from Istanbul to Athens on Windstar’s WINDSPIRIT on September 15 - 22, 2012.

The small, sleek yachts of Windstar are made for seeing the world quite literally from a different point of view..the relaxing luxury of your own private yacht. And the romantic adventure of exploring the world's most storied places and secluded harbors. Leave the jacket and tie at the office if you'd like. We don't want formality to get in the way of true escape.

We are inviting a small group of people to share this experience with us….and we would like you to be part of this group. Please call today……space is limited.

ITINERARY: ARRIVE DEPART
Saturday Istanbul, Turkey 5:00P
Sunday At Sea
Monday Kusadasi, Turkey 8:00A 10:00P
Tuesday Rhodes, Greece 1:00P 11:00P
Wednesday Bodrum, Turkey 8:00A 7:00P
Thursday Santorini, Greece 8:00A 9:00P
Friday Mykonos, Greece 8:00A 5:00P
Saturday Athens (Piraeus), Greece 7:00A
Category A………………$2672.60 + 300.00 (taxes) = $2972.60
Category B………………$2515.80 + 300.00 (taxes) = $2815.80
Rates are per person, based to two people in a cabin.
Airfare, gratuities, optional insurance and shore excursions are additional.
DEPOSIT: $750.00 per person due when booked
FINAL PAYMENT: June 11, 2012

John and Carolyn Hall

Hall’s Tidewater Travel, Inc.

1321A Mt.Hermon Rd.

Salisbury, MD 21804

410 749-8131

MURDER OF STATE PRISON INMATE INVESTIGATED

(CRESAPTOWN, MD) – Maryland State Police homicide investigators are continuing their investigation into the murder of a state prison inmate last night in Allegany County.

The victim is identified as Saleem N. Abdullah, 53. He was an inmate at the Western Correctional Institution in Cresaptown. A preliminary ruling today from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner indicates the victim’s manner of death was homicide and the cause of death was asphyxiation. Additional forensic tests are being conducted.

A suspect in the murder is being held, but is not being identified at this time because he has not been charged. The suspect is an inmate at the same prison.

Maryland State Police Homicide Unit investigators responded to the Western Correctional Institution last night after notification from Division of Correction officials that an inmate had been found dead in the prison. State Police homicide investigators are being assisted by investigators from the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services Internal Investigative Unit.

The preliminary investigation indicates that just before 8:30 p.m. yesterday, a correctional officer was delivering mail to cells in Housing Unit 4, which is a segregation unit at the prison. The officer approached the victim’s cell and called for him to respond to the door to collect mail. The victim did not respond, but instead, his cellmate came to the door.

The officer called for assistance and officers entered the cell to check the welfare of the victim. The victim was found lying on his bunk and was unresponsive. Officers and a nurse began immediate CPR and initiated a rescue response. The victim was transported by a Cresaptown ambulance to the Cumberland Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Maryland State Police crime scene technicians processed the victim’s cell. Investigators interviewed inmates and staff throughout last night and today.

Upon completion of the investigation, the case will be presented to the Allegany County State’s Attorney’s Office for review and the determination of criminal charges. No charges have been filed at this time. The investigation is continuing.

Questions regarding inmate sentences or related information should be directed to the Maryland Division of Correction.

Clean Up Day Volunteers Near Roadways Saturday, October 1, 2011

Dover -- The Department of Transportation (DelDOT) is pleased to announce that over 50 groups will participate in its Seventh Annual "Imagine A Litter Free Delaware" Clean Up Day set for this Saturday, October 1, 2011. Many of those registered are current Adopt-A-Highway volunteers who will be cleaning Delaware roadsides, yet several individuals, friends and family members have also made the commitment to clean neighborhoods and communities throughout the state.

Individuals interested in volunteering, should visit www.deldot.gov, and click on Hot Topics, Clean Up Delaware Day to complete the online registration form, or contact DelDOT at 302- 760-2080 or 1-800-652-5600 to request a registration form be mailed to you. Registrations must be received before Friday, September 30, 2011.

Once registration is complete, DelDOT and those who registered will be concentrating on the task at hand - - cleaning up Delaware. Each year, DelDOT removes approximately 425 tons of litter from roadsides. So, this special day is very much needed.

"This is a time when we ask everyone to think about how littering impacts the quality of life in our state. It's a time to consider how we can individually make a difference in maintaining the beauty and safety of our local roadways," stated Secretary of Transportation Shailen Bhatt.

Motorists should stay alert on Saturday, October 1 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. for groups of people removing litter from roadsides. All participants will be wearing brightly colored safety vests so they can be seen, but motorists should still proceed with caution. Participants will be on both main roads and rural roads, as well as in local neighborhoods and communities.

Should inclement weather occur, participants will be out on Sunday, October 2, 2011, the designated rain date.

Ex-judge Gets 17.5 Years In "Kids For Cash" Case

(AP)

SCRANTON, Pa. — A former chief county judge who took part in a massive kickback scheme involving for-profit juvenile detention centers was sentenced Friday to 17 1/2 years in prison.

Appearing in a federal courtroom in Scranton, former Luzerne County President Judge Michael Conahan, 59, apologized to the incarcerated youths, the legal community and the public.

"The system is not corrupt," he said. "I was corrupt."

To the children sent to a pair of facilities from which he received kickbacks, Conahan offered a direct apology.

Click on image to enlarge.

Ala. Town's Criminals Get Choice: Jail Or Church

(CBS/AP)

BAY MINETTE, Ala. - Authorities say non-violent offenders in southern Alabama will have a new choice: Go to jail, or go to church every Sunday for a year.

CBS News affiliate WKRG-TV in Mobile reports that Operation Restore Our Community begins next week.

The city judge in Bay Minette will let misdemeanor offenders choose to work off their sentences in jail and pay a fine; or go to church every Sunday for a year.

If offenders select church, they'll be allowed to pick the place of worship but must check in weekly with the pastor and police.

GOVERNOR O’MALLEY ANNOUNCES FIVE APPOINTMENTS TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF BALTIMORE CITY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Martin O’Malley announced five appointments to the Baltimore City Community College (BCCC) Board of Trustees. The appointees are Dr. Rosemary Gillett-Karam, Jay Hutchins, Esq., Pamela Paulk, Craig Anthony Thompson, Esq. and Maria Harris Tildon, Esq. BCCC is governed by the Board of Trustees. Appointed by the Governor with Senate advice and consent, the Board consists of nine members. Eight serve six-year terms; a student member serves a one-year term.

“Our greatest asset in this innovation economy is the talents, skills, ingenuity, creativity, and education of our people,” said Governor O’Malley. “Nearly half of new economy jobs will require a level of skills training that fall somewhere in between a high school diploma and a four-year degree. I am confident that these new appointees will work to ensure that Baltimore City Community College students attain the skills, knowledge and training they need to secure good paying jobs to succeed and prosper.”

“I would like to thank Governor O’Malley for making these important appointments to the Baltimore City Community College Board of Trustees,” said Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. “The Governor chose individuals who are eminently-qualified, well respected, and dedicated to strengthening our Community College. For the people of Baltimore, BCCC plays a vital role by providing educational opportunities that will help them adapt to our changing economy. I know that these new Trustees will guide BCCC in a direction that best serves its students and our community.”

Background on the appointees:

Rosemary Gillett-Karam, Ph.D., is professor and program director of the School of Education and Urban Studies for the Department of Advanced Studies at Morgan State University. She previously served as President of Louisburg College in North Carolina. She earned her Ph.D. in Educational Administration and Higher Education Administration from the University of Texas at Austin.

Jay Hutchins, Esq., is vice president of policy development and government relations for the Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC). Prior to joining the GBC, he served as director of legislative and regulatory affairs for the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. He was a Presidential appointee to the United States Peace Corps during the Clinton Administration. Hutchins received his B.A. in Political Science and Public Administration from Winston-Salem State University and his J.D. from Howard University School of Law.

Pamela Paulk is vice president of human resources for The Johns Hopkins Hospital. Prior to her current position at Johns Hopkins, she served as a consultant and managed teams of reengineering consultants at major medical centers throughout the United States. She is also an associate faculty member at Johns Hopkins University, where she teaches master’s level courses in Human Resources. Ms. Paulk earned a B.S. in Biology and Psychology and a Master of Social Work from Florida State University, and an MBA Johns Hopkins University.

Craig Anthony Thompson, Esq., is an attorney at Venable, LLP. He also serves as adjunct professor and lecturer for the University of Maryland, College Park. Mr. Thompson writes a monthly column for the Daily Record and is the author of a series of children’s books on African American history. He earned his J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law.

Maria Harris Tildon, Esq., is senior vice president of Public Policy and Community Affairs at CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS) where she has also served as vice president of corporate communications and senior vice-president of external affairs. Prior to joining BCBS, Ms. Tildon served as deputy director of the Office of Public Affairs and other executive positions at the U.S. Department of Commerce. She earned a B.A. in International Relations from Boston University and her J.D. from American University, Washington School of Law.

Educators Say Obama Plan Relieves Stress

More creative lessons likely with waivers, they say

It didn't matter whether they worked at a small city elementary school or a large, suburban middle school.

Educators said Friday that President Obama's decision to lift the increasingly rigorous targets of the No Child Left Behind law would mean less pressure and a greater freedom to be creative in their classes.

But, they also said they wouldn't want to undo what the law seems to have ingrained in the current generation of educators: the idea that even struggling students should be expected to succeed.

At a White House news conference, Obama announced that he was taking the unusual step of bypassing Congress to effectively rewrite the nine-year-old law that set the goal of having all children proficient in math and reading by 2014. His plan would allow states to apply for waivers from the law's targets.

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Why It's Better To Need Less Than Have More

Pulling in a monster paycheck that's so big you're embarrassed to tell your friends is not necessarily a sign that you're rich. Living expenses and other budgetary commitments can shrink a large income down to size, making some bogged-down "rich" people relatively less wealthy than middle-classers who make smart plays.

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Facebook Reveals Who Doesn't Want to Be Your Friend Anymore

Want to find out who defriended you on Facebook? Yep. There’s an app for that.

Facebook made headlines and heads turn this week with yet another design overhaul. The biggest change this go-around is the introduction of the Timeline, which shows any and all activity of a user in chronological order. That exposes an unusual bit of information: Users will be able to see who has removed them from their friend list, according to technology blog Buzz Feed.

“Sounds like a troublemaker,” wrote one commentor on the FoxNews.com SciTech Facebook page

The new design doesn’t go live until September 29th, but people have figured out a simple means for enabling the beta version.

Sperm Donor Discovers He's Responsible For 70+ Kids

WASHINGTON - A man who donated sperm in the D.C. area a decade ago recently discovered he is the father to more than 70 children.

"When I was in law school, I was a sperm donor, and I donated anonymously for like three years," says Ben, who donated at the Fairfax Cryobank and told his story in a documentary that airs for the first time next week.

When a man donates sperm, he's given an identifying number so his name can remain anonymous.

But not long ago, Ben decided to post his donor number on the Donor Sibling Registry, a website that helps people connect with their biological relatives.

"To date, I know of around 70 kids," Ben says.

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Rejected Plus-Size Contest Winner Won Public’s Support

The fashion industry’s issue with plus-size models just got... well, a bit heavier.

American Apparel publicly rejected the winner of their “Next Big Thing” plus-size model contest. When the cheeky retailer, famous for their provocative ad campaigns, announced in August what they none too subtly termed the “Next BIG Thing,” they said the event’s purpose was to find new “fresh faces” with “curvaceous bods” for a “bootylicious photo shoot” to model their newest XL pants.

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Obama Administration Set To Ban Asthma Inhalers Over Environmental Concerns

Remember how Obama recently waived new ozone regulations at the EPA because they were too costly? Well, it seems that the Obama administration would rather make people with Asthma cough up money than let them make a surely inconsequential contribution to depleting the ozone layer:

Asthma patients who rely on over-the-counter inhalers will need to switch to prescription-only alternatives as part of the federal government's latest attempt to protect the Earth's atmosphere.
The Food and Drug Administration said Thursday patients who use the epinephrine inhalers to treat mild asthma will need to switch by Dec. 31 to other types that do not contain chlorofluorocarbons, an aerosol substance once found in a variety of spray products.
The action is part of an agreement signed by the U.S. and other nations to stop using substances that deplete the ozone layer, a region in the atmosphere that helps block harmful ultraviolet rays from the Sun.
But the switch to a greener inhaler will cost consumers more. Epinephrine inhalers are available via online retailers for around $20, whereas the alternatives, which contain the drug albuterol, range from $30 to $60.

The Atlantic's Megan McArdle, an asthma sufferer, noted a while back that when consumers are forced to use environmentally friendly products they are almost always worse:

Source

Casey Anthony To Pay Twice As Much For Caylee Search

Judge adds $119,000 after sheriff's office provided new cost data

ORLANDO, Fla. — A Florida judge on Friday increased the reimbursement costs Casey Anthony must pay to investigators for searching for her missing 2-year-old daughter three years ago.

Judge Belvin Perry added another $119,000 to the bill she owes four law enforcement agencies in central Florida, bringing the total to more than $217,000. That's still short of the $500,000 prosecutors were seeking.

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