Whether business-to-consumer or business-to-business, sales jobs account for a huge share of the workforce.
And with competition in sales fierce, you might think there would be plenty of analysis guiding companies and workers on how to do their very best to win and keep customers.
Not so, say sales experts Dave Stein and Steve Andersen. Most commentary on the topic focuses on one narrow aspect of the job – closing the deal.
“Point-of-sale strategies make sense for retail, although I think most customers and consumers want more from a salesperson than thinly veiled interest just to get a signed contract,” says Stein, a widely cited strategist.
“Customers want to be confident that they are doing business with organizations that understand their business and the uniqueness of their requirements,” says Andersen, president and founder of Performance Methods Inc. “A long-term, trust-based relationship proves beneficial for both parties – especially for a B2B customer. They don’t want to have to go looking for a new provider each time they require additional solutions, products and services.”
As co-authors of “Beyond the Sales Process: 12 Proven Strategies for a Customer-Driven World” (BeyondTheSalesProcess.com), Stein and Andersen offer tips to sales people for a long-term strategy in getting and keeping customers.
• Do your homework. If you’re going to connect your services to a customer’s needs, know what those needs are ahead of time, before a potential sale has even started to take shape. Don’t assume that the goals of the next CEO you speak with are the same as the last one. Do research specific to each prospect.
• Give them a reason to love you. Get to know them on a personal level. Learn about their passions and what makes them tick. Relationships matter – a lost concept among many in sales today.
• Stay engaged with your customer after your last sale and before your next. As with any relationship, customers want to know they’re appreciated and respected on a human level, not just financially. Stay in touch and try to engage with them regularly to discuss the things that matter most to them. Follow their business on social media and react to their successes.
• Leverage past successes to earn their commitment for the future. Validate the impact of what your solutions, products and services are doing for their business. As progress continues, explain to them how your will continue to create value with them in the long-term.
“As ink dries on the contract, stress levels drop for the salesperson, but it rises for the customer,” Stein says. “Keep your eye on the ball.”
Andersen says, “It all boils down to them trusting you – before, during and after the sale.”
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
How Women Can Recover After Hitting Rock Bottom
Movies from the 1980s profiled the prototypical “It Girl” – pretty, blond, wealthy, who drove luxury sports cars to high school, was liked by other girls and chased by all the boys.
Jane Zarse was that girl, and the persona continued into the ’90s, when she eventually graduated Boston University on the dean’s list and began acting in New York City and in Hollywood films.
That’s what nearly every young woman wants, right? Unfortunately for Zarse, it was a parallel image of her true self, she says. All the while, she’d been devolving into alcoholism and other self-abuses.
“My folks did very well and thought they were doing all the right things for their kids, but we never – never – spoke about our problems,” says Zarse, author of “Love and Compassion Is My Religion,” (http://tinyurl.com/z5u236t).
“It was more important to keep up appearances, especially how we appeared to ourselves. After punishing myself with substance abuse, doomed relationships and more, I’d finally hit rock bottom.”
It’s the life story for countless Americans. For Zarse, a non-romantic relationship opened her eyes, aiding her to a robust recovery and a new way of experiencing spirituality. She offers insights for those who need help recovering after hitting rock bottom.
• You can’t change or improve what you don’t acknowledge. Spirituality includes more than mental abstractions; it’s about applyingtranscendent insights into everyday life. Admitting problems, for instance, means transcending the powerful forces of pride, habit, complacency, etc. Hitting rock bottom forces you to see what you’ve been hiding for so long – that ugly, desperately addicted side of your self.
• Don’t fall for a false sense of control. When alcohol, serial dating and unsuccessful job prospects gave Zarse the sense that her life was spinning out of control, she developed an eating disorder. It gave her a false sense of security via an unhealthy expression of discipline. While recovering from rock bottom, such temptations may occur. If so, be honest that you may be grasping, once again, at something unsustainable.
• Successful relationships require kindness and respect. As the “It Girl,” Zarse received plenty of attention from men. If she wanted a relationship, she was able to find herself in one quickly. But an entitled mentality, coupled with substance abuse, fostered toxicity in her first marriage. You get back what you put into relationships.
“I remember thinking: What’s the point of quitting drinking? – I’ll still be thinking about it constantly,” Zarse says. “If you find yourself with similar thoughts, it may be time seek help. Remember, that help may come in unexpected people.”
Jane Zarse was that girl, and the persona continued into the ’90s, when she eventually graduated Boston University on the dean’s list and began acting in New York City and in Hollywood films.
That’s what nearly every young woman wants, right? Unfortunately for Zarse, it was a parallel image of her true self, she says. All the while, she’d been devolving into alcoholism and other self-abuses.
“My folks did very well and thought they were doing all the right things for their kids, but we never – never – spoke about our problems,” says Zarse, author of “Love and Compassion Is My Religion,” (http://tinyurl.com/z5u236t).
“It was more important to keep up appearances, especially how we appeared to ourselves. After punishing myself with substance abuse, doomed relationships and more, I’d finally hit rock bottom.”
It’s the life story for countless Americans. For Zarse, a non-romantic relationship opened her eyes, aiding her to a robust recovery and a new way of experiencing spirituality. She offers insights for those who need help recovering after hitting rock bottom.
• You can’t change or improve what you don’t acknowledge. Spirituality includes more than mental abstractions; it’s about applyingtranscendent insights into everyday life. Admitting problems, for instance, means transcending the powerful forces of pride, habit, complacency, etc. Hitting rock bottom forces you to see what you’ve been hiding for so long – that ugly, desperately addicted side of your self.
• Don’t fall for a false sense of control. When alcohol, serial dating and unsuccessful job prospects gave Zarse the sense that her life was spinning out of control, she developed an eating disorder. It gave her a false sense of security via an unhealthy expression of discipline. While recovering from rock bottom, such temptations may occur. If so, be honest that you may be grasping, once again, at something unsustainable.
• Successful relationships require kindness and respect. As the “It Girl,” Zarse received plenty of attention from men. If she wanted a relationship, she was able to find herself in one quickly. But an entitled mentality, coupled with substance abuse, fostered toxicity in her first marriage. You get back what you put into relationships.
“I remember thinking: What’s the point of quitting drinking? – I’ll still be thinking about it constantly,” Zarse says. “If you find yourself with similar thoughts, it may be time seek help. Remember, that help may come in unexpected people.”
Black Lives Matter Sex Scandal
Black Lives Matter has a character problem. As HeatStreet's Emily Zanotti writes:
One of the leaders of the #BlackLivesMatter movement, Charles Wade, was arrested on human trafficking and prostitution charges during an April sting operation in Maryland, according to multiple press reports. Wade, the co-founder of Operation Help (sometimes known as “Hush”) — an organization that provided clothing, food and shelter for #BlackLivesMatter activists protesting in Ferguson, Missouri — is accused of forcing a 17-year-old girl into prostitution.
The Daily Caller obtained a police report stating that Wade was picked up in a College Park police sting after cops responded to a backpage.com ad from a woman who claimed to be 23, offering sexual services at an area Howard Johnson hotel.
When police arrived and confronted the woman, who turned out to be 17, she identified Wade, who had been watching from the parking lot, as her “manager” named “CJ.” The police then arrested Wade who, according to the report, had rented the hotel room and was carrying three cell phones.
According to the police report, the woman told police that “CJ” knew she was underage and “wasn’t worried” because she’d turn 18 in a few months. She told investigators that she provided CJ with all of the money she made in her endeavors.
While #BlackLivesMatter claims to have no actual leadership, Wade has been cited numerous times as a top figure in the loose coalition of activists. His efforts in Ferguson (including ordering 40 pizzas for Baltimore protesters) received positive coverage from the Washington Post and POLITICO and he’s helped facilitate celebrity involvement in #BlackLivesMatter, working with A-listers like John Legend and wife Chrissy Tiegen (he’s also a former employee of Beyonce’s sister, Solange Knowles).
This is obviously deeply troubling. Consider Black Lives Matter's own mission statement:
Black Lives Matter is an ideological and political intervention in a world where Black lives are systematically and intentionally targeted for demise. It is an affirmation of Black folks’ contributions to this society, our humanity, and our resilience in the face of deadly oppression.
We here at AAN are unclear on the details, but we're pretty sure that forcing children into sex work contributes to their dehumanization.
Source: AAN
One of the leaders of the #BlackLivesMatter movement, Charles Wade, was arrested on human trafficking and prostitution charges during an April sting operation in Maryland, according to multiple press reports. Wade, the co-founder of Operation Help (sometimes known as “Hush”) — an organization that provided clothing, food and shelter for #BlackLivesMatter activists protesting in Ferguson, Missouri — is accused of forcing a 17-year-old girl into prostitution.
The Daily Caller obtained a police report stating that Wade was picked up in a College Park police sting after cops responded to a backpage.com ad from a woman who claimed to be 23, offering sexual services at an area Howard Johnson hotel.
When police arrived and confronted the woman, who turned out to be 17, she identified Wade, who had been watching from the parking lot, as her “manager” named “CJ.” The police then arrested Wade who, according to the report, had rented the hotel room and was carrying three cell phones.
According to the police report, the woman told police that “CJ” knew she was underage and “wasn’t worried” because she’d turn 18 in a few months. She told investigators that she provided CJ with all of the money she made in her endeavors.
While #BlackLivesMatter claims to have no actual leadership, Wade has been cited numerous times as a top figure in the loose coalition of activists. His efforts in Ferguson (including ordering 40 pizzas for Baltimore protesters) received positive coverage from the Washington Post and POLITICO and he’s helped facilitate celebrity involvement in #BlackLivesMatter, working with A-listers like John Legend and wife Chrissy Tiegen (he’s also a former employee of Beyonce’s sister, Solange Knowles).
This is obviously deeply troubling. Consider Black Lives Matter's own mission statement:
Black Lives Matter is an ideological and political intervention in a world where Black lives are systematically and intentionally targeted for demise. It is an affirmation of Black folks’ contributions to this society, our humanity, and our resilience in the face of deadly oppression.
We here at AAN are unclear on the details, but we're pretty sure that forcing children into sex work contributes to their dehumanization.
Source: AAN
Obama Shipping Transgender Illegals to THIS Red State
Amid activist calls for additional protections for transgendered migrants, the Obama administration is planning a new detention facility for illegal immigrants that would include a unit designated solely for transgender detainees, according to a new report.
Fusion reports that Immigration and Customs Enforcement has confirmed plans for a separate transgender unit within the new facility, slated to open in November in Alvarado, Texas.
“The facility is expected to house about 700 detainees, including a separate 36-bed unit for transgender individuals,” Carl Rusnok, an ICE spokesman, told Fusion.
The facility will be called the Prairieland Dention Center and provide each transgender detainee with an special detention plan “covering items such as searches, clothing options, hygiene practices, medical care, and housing assignments,” Rusnok added to Fusion.
Source: Breitbart
Source: Breitbart
Obama's Sex Change Operation Mandate
President Obama’s Department of Health and Human Services implemented a rule change to the Affordable Care Act (a.k.a. Obamacare) last week mandating that all health providers receiving taxpayer dollars must perform sex-change operations or lose their federal funding.
The final rule states that, under Title IX, any hospital receiving funding from HHS must “treat individuals consistent with their gender identity.”
The rule provides no religious exemption. In other words, religious hospitals that receive taxpayer dollars via Medicaid or Medicare will be required to perform sex-change operations or get cut off financially. The rule change is not the only directive from the Obama administration forcing individuals to embrace the transgender agenda. Just last week, the administration sent letters to every school district in the countrymandating that they open bathrooms, locker rooms, and showers to all students, regardless of their biological sex. Meaning that under Obama’s directive, male students must be allowed to shower with female students if the former call themselves a girl.
Source: The Federalist
Source: The Federalist
The Most Important Battle of the Week: Blocking Obama’s War on the Suburbs
Imagine if vulnerable Republican incumbents, instead of curling up into a fetal position in the face of Democrat attacks, had an 80-20 issue relevant to the everyday lives of their constituents to shove down the throats of their opponents? Well, Senator Mike Lee has just granted them that opportunity with his amendment to the 2017 Transportation-HUD (Housing and Urban Development) appropriations bill, which would defund Obama’s war on the suburbs, otherwise known as the Affirmative Further Fair Housing (AFFH) rule placed into the federal register last July. Will GOP members, particularly Senators Ron Johnson, Kelly Ayotte, and Pat Toomey, take yes for an answer?
The AFFH represents the worst form of social transformation without representation and is the capstone of Obama’s effort to fundamentally transform America. It is an ad hoc federal gerrymander to force local governments to impose low-income housing in areas HUD targets for social engineering while funneling funds to left-wing community organizing groups to transfer people from the inner city into suburban neighborhoods. It represents one of the worst violations of federalism, property rights and the true ideals of equal opportunity expressed in the Declaration of Independence.
The AFFH represents the worst form of social transformation without representation and is the capstone of Obama’s effort to fundamentally transform America. It is an ad hoc federal gerrymander to force local governments to impose low-income housing in areas HUD targets for social engineering while funneling funds to left-wing community organizing groups to transfer people from the inner city into suburban neighborhoods. It represents one of the worst violations of federalism, property rights and the true ideals of equal opportunity expressed in the Declaration of Independence.
Every American has the right and opportunity to purchase property, housing or rentals in any part of the country. However, the federal government has no constitutional power to mandate the breakdown of natural settlement and development for different neighborhoods and counties in order to enrich their favored NGOs. Under the AFFH, HUD unilaterally decides that not enough individuals from a given race or ethnicity live in a particular jurisdiction. Then, in order to leverage the local government to “identify significant determinants that influence or contribute to those issues, and set forth fair housing priorities and goals to address fair housing issues and determinants,” HUD threatens to withhold community development block grants.
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Subject: Sheriff David Clarke: ‘The Only Person Safe in a Gun-Free Zone Is the Criminal’
He made this comment while referencing the horrendous May 12, 2006, sexual attack suffered by Kimberly Corban in her room on a college campus.
Clarke said:
" This brave woman voluntarily shares the story of her horrific event so that other women do not have to experience what she did. She found out when seconds mattered, the police were not a 911 call away. She also learned that the only person safe in a gun-free zone — like a college campus — is the criminal. She knows that law-abiding people have been disarmed in these gun-free zones by their government."
He paused, then looked at the audience and said, “Don’t ever let anyone tell you to outsource your safety to the government.” He added, “Defend yourself in ways [that are] more advantageous to you, then dial 911.”
More here
Union flips out over church's school pizza giveaway
It’s the mother of all food fights – church ladies versus lunch ladies.
The controversy involves a church that received permission from the Seattle School District to serve free pizza to students at three area high schools.
A union representing public school cafeteria workers in Seattle, Washington erupted with rage last week – warning that the weekly pizza giveaway could result in cafeteria layoffs. They even accused Bethany Community Church of proselytizing with pepperoni.
“We are not telling them a Bible story before they get pizza,” Youth Pastor Nick Steinloski told television station KOMO.
He also said it is about showing the kids the church cares about them.
No sermon. Just two, hot slices of cheesy goodness – and according to the kids it’s a heckuva lot better than what they would get in the school cafeteria.
To say the lunch ladies got their hairnets in a twist would be an understatement.
The International Union of Operating Engineers launched a campaign to intimidate and bully the church into submission. It was ugly even by the union’s low standards.
More here
The controversy involves a church that received permission from the Seattle School District to serve free pizza to students at three area high schools.
A union representing public school cafeteria workers in Seattle, Washington erupted with rage last week – warning that the weekly pizza giveaway could result in cafeteria layoffs. They even accused Bethany Community Church of proselytizing with pepperoni.
“We are not telling them a Bible story before they get pizza,” Youth Pastor Nick Steinloski told television station KOMO.
He also said it is about showing the kids the church cares about them.
No sermon. Just two, hot slices of cheesy goodness – and according to the kids it’s a heckuva lot better than what they would get in the school cafeteria.
To say the lunch ladies got their hairnets in a twist would be an understatement.
The International Union of Operating Engineers launched a campaign to intimidate and bully the church into submission. It was ugly even by the union’s low standards.
More here
Subject: Cleta Mitchell: DOJ Should Prosecute John Koskinen
In an interview on C-SPAN Monday, the lawyer who represents conservative groups unfairly targeted by the IRS, weighed in on an impeachment resolution Republicans have filed against the tax agency's commissioner.
"It's important for the institution of Congress to ensure that officials [who] come before them, who mislead or lie to Congress and congressional committees in testimony, I think it's really important for Congress to hold those people accountable," she said.
"Congress sent a letter when Roger Clemens … testified before the Oversight and Government Reform Committee when the Democrats had control of Congress, and he testified about the use of steroids, he said he didn't use steroids," she said.
She noted at that time California's then-Democratic Rep. Henry Waxman "sent a letter to the Justice Department, the Bush Justice Department, and said you should prosecute him because he lied, and the Department of Justice prosecuted Roger Clemens, not once but twice, because the first trial ended in a mistrial and a hung jury."
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Expert: Beware of marked-up medical equipment prices
The chances are good that consumers will not learn about the medical markup until they get stuck with the bill.
Hospital rates have been regulated for nearly 50 years in Maryland. The idea was to create accountability, but costs associated with the care and services received in a physician's office are a whole different story.
When Laurel Funk's son broke his hand, she was glad it healed quickly, but she wasn't glad when she got a medical bill that simply floored her.
"First thing I thought was, it must have been a mistake," Funk said.
She got a $300 bill for a hand splint that her son received in the doctor's office. Funk came to learn that even though the doctor is in her insurance network, the medical supplier he used is not.
"So, I was still smarting from this bill that I paid, and then my son and I got online and he said, 'Mom, this thing only costs like $38,'" Funk said.
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MS-13 members convicted of racketeering, murder charges
"Today's conviction is a satisfying conclusion to a horrific crime perpetrated by members of a violent and deadly transnational criminal gang," said Andre R. Watson, Special Agent in Charge for Baltimore's Homeland Security Investigations office. "HSI is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to disrupt and dismantle these transnational criminal organizations, both here in the homeland and around the world."All three defendants were found guilty of conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise and murder in aid of racketeering. Moreno-Aguilar and Ortiz-Orellana were each convicted of conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering. Ortiz-Orellana was also convicted of discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, and murder resulting from the brandishing/discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence. Perez-Chach was also convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by an alien and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon.
According to evidence presented at the three-week trial, from at least 2009 through October 2014, MS-13 members planned and committed murders, attempted murders, assaults, and robberies in Prince George’s, Montgomery, and Frederick Counties. Gang members also extorted brothel operators and owners of other illegal businesses and tampered with and retaliated against witnesses, among other crimes. Moreno-Aguilar and Ortiz-Orellana were members and associates of the MS-13 Sailors Locotes Salvatrucha Westside Clique and Perez-Chach was a member of the MS-13 Langley Park Salvatrucha Clique.
BREAKING: Bill to Stand Trial for Sexual Assualt
Constand was an employee at Cosby's alma mater, Temple University.
If convicted, Cosby could serve up to 10 years in prison.
American Action News has reached out the the Hillary Clinton campaign to see if they have any comment given the similar allegations surrounding her husband, Bill Clinton.
The Clinton campaign has not responded to the request.
Source: American Action News
Source: American Action News
Hillary Clinton pocketed $21.6 MILLION in two years making speeches to corporate America
Ronald Reagan was severely criticized in 1989 when, after he left office, he was paid $2 million for a couple of speeches in Japan. “The founding fathers would have been stunned that an occupant of the highest office in this land turned it into bucks,” sniffed a Columbia professor.
So what would Washington and Jefferson make of Hillary Rodham Clinton? Mandatory financial disclosures released this month show that, in just the two years from April 2013 to March 2015, the former first lady, senator and secretary of state collected $21,667,000 in “speaking fees,” not to mention the cool $5 mil she corralled as an advance for her 2014 flop book, “Hard Choices.”
Throw in the additional $26,630,000 her ex-president husband hoovered up in personal-appearance “honoraria,” and the nation can breathe a collective sigh of relief that the former first couple — who, according to Hillary, were “dead broke” when they left the White House in 2001 with some of the furniture in tow — can finally make ends meet.
No wonder Donald Trump calls her “crooked Hillary.”
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Press Release: Dr. Karen Salmon Named Next Maryland State Superintendent
State Board Selects Dr. Salmon After National Search; Term Begins July 1
The Maryland State Board of Education today selected Dr. Karen B. Salmon as the State’s next State Superintendent of Schools, effective July 1.
Dr. Salmon will begin serving as Acting Superintendent on June 1, and take the helm as State Superintendent one month later. She will succeed Interim State Superintendent Jack Smith, who earlier this year was named the next Superintendent of the Montgomery County Public Schools.
The State Board voted unanimously to elevate Dr. Salmon to the State Superintendent position, pending final contract negotiations.
"I am committed to collaborating with all of our stakeholders to ensure a world-class education for every Maryland public school student," Dr. Salmon said. "I want to build on Maryland's past accomplishments, streamline programs at the Maryland State Department of Education, and articulate a shared vision for educational excellence."
Enroll for dental discount card
CHESTERTOWN — Marylanders have the opportunity May 22 to 29 to enroll in the U.S. Dental Access program, also known as Aetna Dental, at no cost.
This special offer is being made possible by Maryland Rx Card to bring attention to their Rx Awareness Week initiative. The Maryland Rx Card is a free statewide prescription assistance program that was launched in 2009.
“It is our mission to help Marylanders. Many families are struggling with the rise of health care costs and we are thrilled to offer new programs to help them,” said John Cenerazzo, program director for Maryland Rx Card.
Maryland residents can choose from more than 169,000 dental practice locations nationwide through the U.S. Dental Access program. The program offers on-the-spot savings with no referrals, no waiting periods and no claims to file. In most instances, savings are 15 to 50 percent per visit. Residents show the card at the time of service and pay the discounted fee.
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This special offer is being made possible by Maryland Rx Card to bring attention to their Rx Awareness Week initiative. The Maryland Rx Card is a free statewide prescription assistance program that was launched in 2009.
“It is our mission to help Marylanders. Many families are struggling with the rise of health care costs and we are thrilled to offer new programs to help them,” said John Cenerazzo, program director for Maryland Rx Card.
Maryland residents can choose from more than 169,000 dental practice locations nationwide through the U.S. Dental Access program. The program offers on-the-spot savings with no referrals, no waiting periods and no claims to file. In most instances, savings are 15 to 50 percent per visit. Residents show the card at the time of service and pay the discounted fee.
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Cambridge Classic set for Memorial Day weekend
Twelve classes of boats featuring hydroplanes, runabouts and Jersey speed skiffs will race each afternoon from noon to 5 p.m. on the Choptank River off Cambridge’s Great Marsh Park, 1 Somerset Ave. Spectators can tour the pit area beginning at 10 a.m. Admission is free with a $5 a day charge for in/out parking.
“Since 1911 when Alfred I. DuPont and the Cambridge Yacht Club organized the first race, the Cambridge Classic has been an important part of Dorchester County’s heritage,” Amanda Fenstermaker, Dorchester’s tourism director, said. “It’s an economic driver for our region, and we expect to generate even more spectator interest by moving the 2016 event from late July to Memorial Day Weekend.”
Part of the APBA Inboard Power Boat Circuit in 2016, the Cambridge Classic fleet ranges from the classic Jersey speed skiffs turning on their sides and going airborne at 70mph to the 1,500-horsepower grand prix boats that reach speeds of 170mph and finish the five-mile course in three minutes.
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Breaking: Another Accident In Worcester County
Department of Natural Resources Outlines Fee Reductions
As part of the program, military veterans will receive free admission to Maryland State Parks on Veterans Day and half-priced admission year-round with proof of service. In addition, fourth grade students and their families will receive free admission to all state parks through the National Park Service’s Every Kid in a Park pass. Both promotions are effective immediately.
“These strategically chosen reductions are another step forward in alleviating the complicated and taxing fiscal demands that have been placed on Marylanders,” Natural Resources Secretary Mark Belton said. “We are grateful for Governor Hogan’s commitment to reducing fees and making access to our public lands more affordable.”
Additional fees that were eliminated or reduced:
- The replacement Commercial Fishing License fee has been eliminated.
- The Fisheries Scientific Collecting Permit was reduced from $25 to $10.
- The Off Road Vehicle Permit was reduced from $15 to $10.
- The Captive Reptile and Amphibian Permit was reduced from $25 to $10.
- The Falconry Permit was reduced from $25 to $10.
- The Resident Peregrine Falcon Take Permit was reduced from $25 to $10.
Breaking: Accident In Worcester County
Bishopville fire/EMS on scene, Bishopville Rd. and Rt.113. Motor vehicle crash with injuries, tractor trailer vs. SUV expect delays. Unknown injuries at this time.
Some retailers could reject Baltimore if City Council hikes minimum wage, Young says
As the International Council of Shopping Centers annual RECon convention ramped up this weekend, some of the city's top officials are here trying to lure new retail and restaurants to Baltimore.
But, they say, a movement now underway to increase the minimum wage in the city to $15 per hour could squash those efforts.
The issue and pending legislation in the City Council was front and center as negotiations opened for possible new Subways, Target stores and other mid-to-large size retailers for possible location in distressed parts of the city.
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BMX Professional Tony Hoffman to Speak on Dangers of Substance Abuse, Paths to Recovery
The human and financial toll of drug addiction is enormous. With the staggering surge in the abuse of opioids and other dangerous narcotics nationwide, it is a toll which is increasingly being felt here on the peninsula. Local hospitals saw more overdoses in the first three months of this year than in all of 2015. In a recent study, BEACON estimated that substance abuse costs the Eastern Shore economy approximately $1.12 billion per year. It is estimated that 87% of crime in Wicomico County is directly connected to those who are addicted.
Baltimore Special Ed. Teacher Charged With Human Trafficking, Prostitution
In the letter sent to parents on Friday, Chief School Supports Officer Karl Perry Sr. says that NACA Freedom & Democracy II Special Education Teacher Michael Brandon Osikomaiya was arrested and charged on May 19th.
Police say 23-year-old Osikomaiya was arrested in Baltimore County on the afternoon of May 19 after investigators learned that there was a 16-year-old girl advertising prostitution on the internet.
“An undercover officer contacted the girl and set up a meeting at a Baltimore County motel,” Baltimore County police said.
Police say Osikomaiya was allegedly her pimp.
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NR 5/23/16 Statewide Open Air and Burn Ban Information
MARYLAND OPEN AIR BURNING AND
BURN BAN QUESTIONS ANSWERED
STATEWIDE (May 23, 2016) – Marylanders are reminded of safety and jurisdictional requirements when burning outdoors. Open air burning is defined as a fire where any material is burned in the open or in a receptacle other than a furnace, incinerator, or other equipment connected to a stack or chimney. It also includes other fires such as campfires.
Alternatives to open air burning include: composting, disposal at a local landfill where the yard debris can be turned into mulch or periodic curb-side pick-up by your regular trash collector (where available).
If you must burn, take the time to ensure that all safety and regulatory precautions have been taken. Permits may be required for all open air burning except for small recreational fires such as campfires. The permit from the Department of Natural resources is in addition to and does not substitute for a permit from the local health department. For permit information, please call your local health department, fire department or contact the Department of Natural Resources Forest Service Office at (410) 260-8531 or go online at: http://dnr2.maryland.gov/forests/Pages/wfm.aspx
Tips for open air burning:
· Don’t burn on windy days.
· Have hand tools and a ready water supply on site.
· Never leave the fire unattended.
· Clear the area around the site for a minimum of ten feet.
· Burn at a safe distance (25' or more) from your home, shed or other structures.
· Never use gasoline! Gasoline fumes can ignite and cause serious injury and possible death.
· Check your local and state regulations before burning.
Hazardous items are never allowed to be burned. Proper disposal of hazardous items such as tires, plastics, aerosol cans, oil, etc., can be disposed of through means provided by your local government.
BREAKING: Bill Cosby ordered to stand trial in sex-assault case
Source
Traffic Stop east of Woodside Nets Heroin
The incident occurred Monday May 23, 2016 around 9:30 p.m. as a trooper on patrol in the area of Woodside East observed a teal Ford Ranger fail to signal its intentions before turning northbound onto Peachtree Run from westbound Millchop Lane. A traffic stop was conducted on the truck and contact was made with the operator, identified as Robert E. Farkas, 35 of Dover, and a front seat passenger,Matthew R. Kerr, 24 of Dover. When the trooper conducted a computer inquiry into Farkas’ driver’s license, it was determined he was driving suspended and had two capiases out of Kent County courts. As Farkas was informed to exit the vehicle, Matthew Kerr exited the driver’s side and began to flee on foot. He was apprehended shortly thereafter without further incident by another trooper that arrived to assist with the traffic stop. Kerr was found to be in possession of 215 bags of heroin with a total weight of 3.225 grams and a computer inquiry revealed he had three capiases out of Kent County courts.
Upon conducting a search of Farkas, it was determined he was in possession of metal pipe commonly used to smoke crack cocaine and .32 grams of marijuana. A search of the car revealed a large fixed blade knife in the center console.
Both occupants were transported back to Troop 3 where Robert Farkas was charged with Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Driving While Suspended or Revoked, Possession of Marijuana, and other traffic related offenses. He was arraigned at JP7 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $3,900.00 bond.
Matthew Kerr was charged with Possession with Intent to Deliver Heroin, Possession of Heroin, Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon, Resisting Arrest, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was arraigned at JP7 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $24,500.00 secured bond.
PEPCO's Latest Electric Rate Increase Filing Request to PSC - Case No. 9418 - Filed April 19, 2016
PEPCO proposes what amounts to a 9% increase in electricity rates whereby the average bill will increase $15.80/month per 1000 kWH.
Click onto the very first link (see link below) - and scroll down to page 4 in the pdf document.
GO HERE
GO HERE
Artist Patrick Henry Reflects On 50-Year Career Of Eastern Shore Painting
It’s one of the many things these days that makes him flash that country mile-long smile that is as synonymous with his name as his striking paintings of some of the region’s most aesthetically pleasing places and things are.
“I guess some people just don’t get what it is that I do, and they wonder how I could possibly survive doing it for as long as I have here on the shore,” he said with a slight-chuckle. “Sometimes I wonder how it all happened too.”
Patrick Henry is a humble, God-fearing man. So much so, when he paints he listens to the Bible on CD. “Some days I listen to smooth jazz,” said Henry, “but listening to the Bible helps me keep out the negative energy that can get in the way of my work.”
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Wicomico County Executive Culver The Breast Dunker Ever
Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe under federal investigation for campaign contributions
The investigation dates to at least last year and has focused, at least in part, on whether donations to his gubernatorial campaign violated the law, the officials said.
McAuliffe wasn't notified by investigators that he is a target of the probe, according to the officials.
"The Governor will certainly cooperate with the government if he is contacted about it," said Marc Elias, attorney for McAuliffe campaign, in a statement to CNN.
As part of the probe, the officials said, investigators have scrutinized McAuliffe's time as a board member of the Clinton Global Initiative, a vehicle of the charitable foundation set up by former President Bill Clinton.
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AAA Study Finds No Scientific Basis for Drugged Driving Laws Based on THC Levels
The American Automobile Association recommends states abandon such laws in favor of testing for actual impairment.
Legal blood limits for marijuana are not an accurate way to measure whether someone was driving while impaired, and can lead to unsafe drivers going free while others are wrongfully convicted, according to a new study.
The study released Tuesday by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that drivers can have a low level of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, in their blood and be unsafe behind the wheel, while others with relatively high levels may not be a hazard.
Marijuana is not metabolized in the system in the same way as alcohol. So while a person with a blood-alcohol level of .08 or higher is considered too drunk to drive, it's not possible to say the same thing absent other evidence about a person testing at 5 nanograms per milliliter of blood of THC — the level used to find impairment by Colorado, Montana and Washington, the study found.
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Legal blood limits for marijuana are not an accurate way to measure whether someone was driving while impaired, and can lead to unsafe drivers going free while others are wrongfully convicted, according to a new study.
The study released Tuesday by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that drivers can have a low level of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, in their blood and be unsafe behind the wheel, while others with relatively high levels may not be a hazard.
Marijuana is not metabolized in the system in the same way as alcohol. So while a person with a blood-alcohol level of .08 or higher is considered too drunk to drive, it's not possible to say the same thing absent other evidence about a person testing at 5 nanograms per milliliter of blood of THC — the level used to find impairment by Colorado, Montana and Washington, the study found.
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Medical experts warn of ‘dormant butt syndrome’
Ohio State University researchers are warning of a new ailment they call “Dormant Butt Syndrome.”
“It basically refers to the gluteus-maximus — or the glute muscles — just not functioning as efficiently as they should,” says Dr. Chris Kolba, a physical therapist at Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center.
Kolba says the muscles in your behind are meant to support the rest of you and be a shock absorber. But when those muscles are too weak, the rest of your body tries to pick up the slack, which can cause back, hip and even knee pain.
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Illinois High School Refuses to Let Marine Walk for Graduation In Uniform
An Illinois high school has come under fire after officials refused to let a graduate, who is also a U.S. Marine, walk across the stage Thursday in her blues.
Marine Corps Pvt. Megan Howerton technically finished up her studies at McHenry West High School early in order to start her career as a Marine, WLS-TV reported. But when she returned to the school to join her classmates at graduation, she wasn’t allowed to walk with her class.
"Megan has always been very determined to do what's right, and I think she felt that the military was a calling for her," Grace Rodriguez, McHenry West graduate, told WLS-TV.
The school said its decision to refuse Howerton to walk for graduation because she wore her blues instead of the traditional cap and gown.
"The district and administration in no way looked to prevent the participation of this graduate or any graduate who has chosen to serve our nation,” the school said in a statement. "Rather, the administration communicated in advance via letter, senior meeting, and practice, all the protocols expected of graduates, including attire. In some past cases, active-duty students elected to wear their gowns over top of their military uniforms, with their military hats, which was allowed.
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Marine Corps Pvt. Megan Howerton technically finished up her studies at McHenry West High School early in order to start her career as a Marine, WLS-TV reported. But when she returned to the school to join her classmates at graduation, she wasn’t allowed to walk with her class.
"Megan has always been very determined to do what's right, and I think she felt that the military was a calling for her," Grace Rodriguez, McHenry West graduate, told WLS-TV.
The school said its decision to refuse Howerton to walk for graduation because she wore her blues instead of the traditional cap and gown.
"The district and administration in no way looked to prevent the participation of this graduate or any graduate who has chosen to serve our nation,” the school said in a statement. "Rather, the administration communicated in advance via letter, senior meeting, and practice, all the protocols expected of graduates, including attire. In some past cases, active-duty students elected to wear their gowns over top of their military uniforms, with their military hats, which was allowed.
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Dick Morris: Bill Clinton Wrong on Poland and Hungary
Former president Bill Clinton's outrageous statement that Poland and Hungary have decided that democracy "is too much trouble" and want to embrace "authoritarian" and "Putin-style leadership" to keep the "foreigners out," is totally inaccurate and reflects a European Union-centric view of the Continent that is, itself, inimical to democracy.
The truth is that both of these nations are vibrant multi-party democracies that value, above all, their freedom and their right to vote. The peoples of both countries have suffered mightily losing vast proportions of their population in wars to become free. Excluding Jews sent to the camps, Poland lost 2.7 million of its citizens in World War II. Hungary suffered 3,000 deaths in its 1956 revolution and 200,000 of its people fled the country, a considerable sacrifice for freedom that Bill Clinton should not have minimized.
To say that they find democracy "too much trouble" belies their regular schedule of free, contested, high turnout elections that often result in peaceful and orderly changes in government.
What Poland and Hungary do want – and Hillary and Bill are about to find out that Americans do to – is to control Muslim in-migration so that the problems of terrorism, crime, and the infiltration of Sharia Law do not come to haunt their two nations as they now do the rest of Western Europe.
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The truth is that both of these nations are vibrant multi-party democracies that value, above all, their freedom and their right to vote. The peoples of both countries have suffered mightily losing vast proportions of their population in wars to become free. Excluding Jews sent to the camps, Poland lost 2.7 million of its citizens in World War II. Hungary suffered 3,000 deaths in its 1956 revolution and 200,000 of its people fled the country, a considerable sacrifice for freedom that Bill Clinton should not have minimized.
To say that they find democracy "too much trouble" belies their regular schedule of free, contested, high turnout elections that often result in peaceful and orderly changes in government.
What Poland and Hungary do want – and Hillary and Bill are about to find out that Americans do to – is to control Muslim in-migration so that the problems of terrorism, crime, and the infiltration of Sharia Law do not come to haunt their two nations as they now do the rest of Western Europe.
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NOI 5-20-16 Somerset Dwelling Fire Somers Cove
NOTICE OF INVESTIGATION
Date: 5/20/16
Time: 10:09 p.m.
Location / Address: 179 Somers Cove, Crisfield, Somerset Co.
Type of Incident: Fire
Description of Structure / Property: Two story wood frame multi-unit dwelling
Owner / Occupants: City of Crisfield (Owner) / Taverra Campbell (Occupant)
Injuries or Deaths: None
Estimated $ Loss: Structure: $20,000.00 Contents: $5,000.00
Smoke Alarm Status: Present, unknown if activated
Fire Alarm / Sprinkler Status: Fire alarm present and activated / Sprinkler – n/a
Arrests(s): None
Primary Responding Fire Department: Crisfield
# of Alarms: 1 # Of Firefighters: 15
Time to Control: 15 mins.
Discovered By: Neighbor
Area of Origin: Kitchen
Preliminary Cause: Accidental, unattended cooking
Additional Information: The occupant was displaced as a result of the fire and is being assisted by the Red Cross.
The World's Largest Solar Plant just Torched Itself
A small fire was reported yesterday morning at the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System (ISEGS) in California, forcing a temporary shutdown of the facility. It’s now running at a third of its capacity (a second tower is down due to scheduled maintenance), and it’s not immediately clear when the damaged tower will restart. It’s also unclear how the incident will impact California’s electricity supply.
Putting out the blaze was not easy task, either. Firefighters were forced to climb 300 feet up a boiler tower to get to the scene. Officials said the fire was located about two-thirds up the tower. Workers at the plant actually managed to subdue the flames by the time firefighters reached the spot, and it was officially extinguished about 20 minutes after it started.
Located on 4,000 acres of public land in the Mojave Desert, the sprawling concentrated solar thermal plant is equipped with 173,500 heliostats—each with two mirrors—that focus sunlight on boilers located on top of three 459-foot towers. The tremendous heat created by the concentrated solar power produces steam that drives turbines to produce electricity. The plant, the largest of its kind in the world, features a gross capacity of 392 megawatts, enough to power 140,000 homes. Each of the computer-controlled solar-reflecting mirrors is about the size of a garage door.
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NOI 5/21/16 Wicomico Dwelling Fire Delaware Avenue
NOTICE OF INVESTIGATION
Date: 05/21/2016
Time: 11:49 p.m.
Location / Address: 137 Delaware Avenue, Salisbury, Wicomico Co.
Type of Incident: Fire
Description of Structure / Property: Duplex two story wood framed single family home
Owner / Occupants: Deejahnea Scott, Unique Coles, Demonte Hunt
Injuries or Deaths: None
Estimated $ Loss: Structure: $50,000.00 Contents: $20,000.00
Smoke Alarm Status: Present, activated
Fire Alarm / Sprinkler Status: n/a
Arrests(s): None
Primary Responding Fire Department: Salisbury Fire Department Station 16
# of Alarms: 1 # Of Firefighters: 22
Time to Control: 1 hour
Discovered By: Neighbor
Area of Origin: Living room
Preliminary Cause: Under Investigation
Additional Information: Anyone with information is asked to please contact the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office at (410) 713-3780.
White House Watch: Trump 42%, Clinton 37%
Donald Trump has now grown his lead over Hillary Clinton in Rasmussen Reports’ first weekly White House Watch survey.
Trump earns 42% support to Clinton’s 37% when Likely U.S. Voters are asked whom they would vote for if the presidential election were held today. But Rasmussen Reports’ latest national telephone survey finds that 13% prefer some other candidate, while seven percent (7%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
At the beginning of this month, Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, posted a statistically insignificant 41% to 39% lead over Clinton who is still expected to win the Democratic presidential nomination. Fifteen percent (15%) favored someone else, and five percent (5%) were undecided.
Rasmussen Reports will update the Clinton-Trump White House Watch matchup numbers every Thursday morning from now until Election Day in November.
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Trump earns 42% support to Clinton’s 37% when Likely U.S. Voters are asked whom they would vote for if the presidential election were held today. But Rasmussen Reports’ latest national telephone survey finds that 13% prefer some other candidate, while seven percent (7%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
At the beginning of this month, Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, posted a statistically insignificant 41% to 39% lead over Clinton who is still expected to win the Democratic presidential nomination. Fifteen percent (15%) favored someone else, and five percent (5%) were undecided.
Rasmussen Reports will update the Clinton-Trump White House Watch matchup numbers every Thursday morning from now until Election Day in November.
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RACIAL HOAXES: WHO'S REALLY THE VICTIM?
Marcus Owens, a black 19-year-old University of Iowa student, posted a picture of his bruised face and chipped tooth, claiming he was violently attacked by a group of whites for no reason.
The story went viral. Predictably, black students protested, demanding “justice” and an end to “racism.” They called out the University of Iowa (even though the incident occurred off campus). Law enforcement launched a major investigation. The media descended on Iowa City to get to the bottom of this awful “hate crime.”
Everything unraveled when surveillance video of the altercation revealed the truth.
The video showed that the black “victim” was actually the aggressor – shoving and punching people outside a bar. Owens instigated a brawl that left him bloody. But he lied so he wouldn’t get in trouble. He claimed whites hurled racial epithets and attacked him for being black.
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Google Patent Glues Pedestrians to Self-Driving Cars
Google on Thursday had a fresh US patent for a sticky coating that could be applied to self-driving cars so pedestrians stick instead of bouncing off when hit.
The patent describes a layer of adhesive on a car’s hood, front bumper and possibly front side panels sealed with a coating that, when broken, would bare a gluey surface akin to fly paper modified to catch humans.
“Upon impact with a pedestrian, the coating is broken exposing the adhesive layer,” read patent paperwork dated May 17 and listing the applicant as Google.
“The adhesive bonds the pedestrian to the vehicle so that the pedestrian remains with the vehicle until it stops, and is not thrown from the vehicle, thereby preventing a secondary impact between the pedestrian and the road surface or other object.”
Google reasoned in the patent application that pedestrians hit by cars typically suffer further injury by being knocked or hurled to the pavement or other objects.
More here
The patent describes a layer of adhesive on a car’s hood, front bumper and possibly front side panels sealed with a coating that, when broken, would bare a gluey surface akin to fly paper modified to catch humans.
“Upon impact with a pedestrian, the coating is broken exposing the adhesive layer,” read patent paperwork dated May 17 and listing the applicant as Google.
“The adhesive bonds the pedestrian to the vehicle so that the pedestrian remains with the vehicle until it stops, and is not thrown from the vehicle, thereby preventing a secondary impact between the pedestrian and the road surface or other object.”
Google reasoned in the patent application that pedestrians hit by cars typically suffer further injury by being knocked or hurled to the pavement or other objects.
More here