DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Why are YOUR tax dollars – and that’s what funds the Tri-County Council – being used to hold meetings at a brew pub when you have already paid for perfectly good meeting space?Violent crime in Salisbury and the Lower Eastern Shore was down significantly last year. This follows a statewide reduction. Police officials cite many possible reasons for the reduction, including better information.
BERLIN, MD - The National Trust Main Street Center has recognized Main Street Berlin as a standard for historic preservation and business friendly effort.
Berlin’s Economic and Community Development Director Michael Day said the town’s Main Street program was evaluated by Main Street Maryland on behalf of the national-level nonprofit according to 10 performance points.
“We’re a small Main Street, so we have challenges with volunteers and time constraints. But Terri Sexton of Treasure Chest is chair of Main Street Berlin and has been doing a great job,” Day said. “Our historic façades on our buildings have been pretty well received and have been a good improvement. Main Street Maryland looks to us when a new town comes along and wants to become a Main Street program. They send the town officials to us to show them an example of how to go about preparing to become one. They like how we pretended as if we were a Main Street for three years before we were designated as one.”
Some of the key points require a Main Street community to have an active board of committees; have a paid professional program manager; conduct ongoing training for staff and volunteers; exhibit a historic preservation ethic; and display commercial revitalization support for the downtown area from public and private sector groups.
ANNAPOLIS - An Anne Arundel County judge has ruled an environmental group may view records on farmers’ compliance with a state pollution law, but only after key information has been deleted.
Circuit Court Judge William C. Mulford II ordered the Maryland Department of Agriculture to redact any information identifying individual farmers from documents it is releasing concerning “nutrient management plans,” which spell out how much animal manure or chemical fertilizer is being spread on fields to grow crops.
The Assateague Coastkeeper had filed a Public Information Act request last year seeking a variety of records on Worcester County farms, including their compliance with a 1997 law requiring them to have and follow plans for limiting how much fertilizer they use so it won’t pollute the Chesapeake Bay.
The Maryland Farm Bureau went to court to block the state from releasing the information, which it argued was confidential under the law. In a July 14 order, Judge Mulford declared that the state may disclose if farmers are complying, but must redact any information that might be in the plan, including the farm’s size and what it grows.
Jane Barrett, director of the University of Maryland environmental law clinic, which represents the Worcester group, said she was still studying the order and had not decided whether to appeal.
BERLIN, MD - In mid-August, people are expected to be sampling brews at Burley Oak Brewery in Berlin.
Brewery owner Bryan Brushmiller is planning to open the business Aug. 12, after months of work.
“It’s been a long process,” he said Thursday, one day after getting approval for a beer license. “The town’s been very helpful and the county’s been great.”
“The town of Berlin is very excited about this,” said William E. Esham Jr., chairman of the Board of License Commissioners, during the board’s Wednesday meeting in Snow Hill.
The board granted Brushmiller’s request for an alcoholic beverage license allowing him to sell beer seven days a week.
“I’m pleased to tell you that this is the first time an application like this has ever been before you,” Joe Moore, Brushmiller’s attorney, told the board.
Moore presented the board with a letter of support for the brewery written by Tony Carson, Berlin’s town administrator.
Tuesday, July19, 2011, The County Commissioners along with local and state health officials gathered to dedicate the new Worcester County Dental Center in Berlin.
The dental center, which is operated by the Worcester County Health Department, opened its doors in late March and serves children residing in Worcester County who are under 21, uninsured, from low income families, or participate in the Maryland Healthy Smiles Medicaid program.
“In 2007, another wise healthy 12-year-old boy residing with his family in Prince George’s County, lost his life…because he had a toothache, a problem that could have been resolved by early intervention,” Commission President Bud Church said during the dedication ceremony. “But, his family lacked dental insurance. They lacked Medicaid. They lacked access to a health facility offering quality dental care to the most vulnerable in our community. Take away any one of these three factors and that young man might still be alive today to enjoy the summer with his friends and family.”
The Worcester County Commissioners struggled Tuesday trying to decide if restaurant owners should be fined up to $500 if they are late renewing their licenses. What they decided, however, could affect all restaurant owners who do not apply for the renewal in a not yet specified number of days in advance.
Currently, restaurants that are late filing their renewal fees may be fined $50 per day after the deadline up to a maximum of $500.
Tardy applications can be problematic, Health Officer Debbie Goeller said, because of time involved in inspecting the restaurants before issuing licenses. They can also cause problems for the Liquor Control Department because alcoholic beverage licenses cannot be issued to a food service facility that does not have a license from the Health Department.
Each year, the Health Department renews 700 to 800 licenses with usually 15 to 20 being late. Renewals are not on the same date for all restaurant owners. Licenses renew just about each day of the year because they are up for renewal on the anniversary of the date they were first issued.
With temperatures soaring throughout the week, the public is invited to escape the heat by visiting any of the five Worcester County branch libraries, located in Ocean City, Ocean Pines, Berlin, Snow Hill and Pocomoke, as well as the Worcester County Recreation Center (WCRC) in Snow Hill during standard operating hours.
The WCRC is open Monday - Thursday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., closed Saturday and Sunday. Residents are invited to walk on the four-lane competitive track, register for a youth sports camp, join in a table tennis game, or simply relax on the retractable bleachers, which can comfortably accommodate up to 520 people.
The Worcester County branch library hours are as follows:
Call Recreation and Parks at 410-632-2144 or the Worcester County Library at (410) 632-2600 or visit www.worcesterlibrary.org for more information.
Worcester County Emergency Services urges residents to drink plenty of fluids, avoid alcohol and caffeine, and take frequent breaks from stressful activities to avoid becoming dehydrated and overheated, which can lead to heat stroke or heat exhaustion.
Be aware that heat stroke and heat exhaustion are both serious conditions. Heatstroke, which is characterized by a body temperature greater than 105 degrees, can develop quickly and is often accompanied by the following symptoms: dry, red skin, convulsions, disorientation, delirium and coma. Heatstroke is treated by rapidly lowering the body temperature by a cool bath or wet towels. A heatstroke victim should be kept in a cool area; emergency medical care should be obtained by dialing 911.
Heat exhaustion is a milder form of heatstroke, and symptoms may include extreme weakness, muscle cramps, nausea, and headache, vomiting or fainting. Heat exhaustion can be treated by drinking plenty of liquids and resting in a cool, shaded area.
by Mike McDermott
If “reasonable” is the term used by the Daily Times to describe a 300% toll increase for a bridge that is currently self sustaining, I do not want to know what you consider “unreasonable”.
The Bay Bridge has generated about one billion dollars in revenue since it has been open. It has been paid for time and again. The money that it generates should go towards maintenance and upkeep. This would seem “reasonable”.
The MTA does not argue that the Bay Bridge is self sustaining. Many would argue that it is far beyond self sustaining, particularly when viewed in aggregate totals over the decades.
New MTA projects, which many deemed ill advised, such as the ICC (Inner County Connecter) and the I-95 expansions require vast sums of cash. It would seem “reasonable” to let the user pay for their construction and upkeep. It is noteworthy that the proposed MTA Toll fees do not include any increases for users of the ICC.
As we slip further in the ranking of states in which to conduct business (now at 46 out of 50) , does it seem “reasonable” to raise the cost of commerce by requiring a company now paying $18 to pay $60 to move their goods across the bay? The bills for some of our major companies will be raised by hundreds of thousands of dollars.
As people struggle everyday with the job market, does it seem wise and “reasonable” to take away hundreds of dollars of discretionary spending out of the hands of those who must cross over on a daily basis? The estimated increased cost for a two income household living on the shore with a daily commute across the bay is over $900.00.
You lament the days of Governor Tawes and the “gentle persuasion” in Annapolis. In those days, most members of the General Assembly were folks who signed the front of a paycheck and they understood the need for a thriving business economy. In those days, they would never have agreed to a 50% tax increase or a 300% fee increase for they new the problems it would create and the competive edge that would be lost.
I doubt seriously that Governor Tawes would sign a bill giving illegal aliens the same benefits as American citizens, or that he would be the champion of a bill promoting cross dressers and transgenders.
In fact, the last time I was in the Governor’s Signing Room at the State House, I took a long look at the grand painting of our great governor from the Eastern Shore...and I believe it was tears that I saw.
Let us take back Maryland from such “reasonable” people.
Del. Mike McDermott (R-38B) represents the people of Worcester and eastern Wicomico counties in the Maryland House of Delegates.
The Worcester County Health Department will be unable to issue birth certificates from 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 19 until 8 a.m. Wednesday, July 20 because of Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene computer system maintenance. The health department apologizes for any inconvenience and appreciates the public’s patience as the system is updated.
To find out more about this service and others, please visit
http://worcesterhealth.org or call our Snow Hill office at 410-632-1100.
All outdoor burning in Worcester County is banned for an indefinite amount of time due to drought conditions and high temperatures.
Those fire sources not included in the burn ban are proper use of gas and charcoal grills; campfires at the county’s commercial, state and federal campgrounds; permitted official Ocean City bonfires; private property recreational campfires limited to an area of two feet by three feet high; public fireworks displays; and volunteer fire company training exercises.
All existing outdoor burn permits have been rescinded as a result of the burn ban. Call (410) 632-5666.
AGENDA
WORCESTER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
July 19, 2011
9:00 AM - Meet in Commissioners’ Conference Room - Room 1103 Government Center, One West Market Street, Snow Hill, Maryland - Vote to Meet In Closed Session
9:01 - Closed Session: Discussion regarding filling critical vacant positions including Scale Operator in the Solid Waste Division of Public Works, Office Assistant III, Mediation Director/Victim and Witness Coordinator, and Assistant State’s Attorney in the State’s Attorney’s Office, and Animal Control Officer in the Sheriff’s Office; considering appointments to various County Boards and Commissions; receiving legal advice from Counsel and performing administrative functions
10:00 - Call to Order, Prayer, Pledge of Allegiance
10:01 - Report on Closed Session; Review and Approval of Minutes
10:10 - Chief Administrative Officer: Administrative Matters
10:40 - Public Hearing - Request for Critical Area Growth Allocation - Steen Property - Gum Point Road
11:00 - Legislative Session - Public Hearing: Bill 11-3 (Zoning - Large Solar Energy Facilities)
11:10 - D. Goeller: Health Department Proposed Permit Fees, Late Fees and Application Processing Times
11:30 - Chief Administrative Officer: Administrative Matters (continued - see above)
12:00 - Questions from the Press
Lunch
2:00 PM - Attend Dedication Ceremony for Worcester County Dental Center in Berlin
AGENDAS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE UNTIL THE TIME OF CONVENING
As they say in show business – “Tough crowd"; at least if you were in favor of raising the toll on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.
Pocomoke Mayor Bruce Morrison warmed up the vocal crowd by pointing out that Worcester County thrives on tourism. Down in Pocomoke, at the southern end of the county, Sysco is their biggest business. Neither would be positively impacted by the draconian toll hike proposed by the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA). Mayor Morrison then introduced his predecessor as mayor – Del. Mike McDermott (R-38B).
McDermott whipped the crowd into a near frenzy. He pointed out that the Bay Bridge was the “Cash Cow of Maryland”. Yet, the MDTA has refused, or been unable, to produce current financial data for the Bay Bridge. (Ironically, before moving forward with the toll hike proposal the MDTA merged all accounting for the state’s bridges, tunnels, and toll roads.) McDermott argued that it didn’t matter whether the MDTA wanted to raise tolls $50 or 50 cents, they needed to be able to justify it.
McDermott noted that the Bridge had been paid for multiple times. “We don’t want to pay more for something that already takes in more than it spends.”
The crowd had groaned when McDermott explained that their tolls would go up while the tolls for the ICC would not. They reacted similarly when told that their toll dollars would go to fund infrastructure improvement in the Baltimore – DC corridor.
House Appropriations Chairman, Del. Norm Conway (D-38B) received a cool reception that turned quite rude. Conway tried to thread the needle between being supportive of the O’Malley administration and standing up for his constituents’ opposition to a toll hike.
“I want the Bay Bridge to be as strong as it can be; but listen to what the people across the state are saying.” However, Conway then offered a compromise: “Maybe these people would be willing to pay $5.”
At that point the crowd, predominately from Worcester County, began to shout “NO!” and boo Conway.
Maryland Senator Jim Mathias (D-38) was unable to attend because of his wife’s illness. He sent a spokesman to read a prepared statement . While Mathias’s statement basically acknowledged the proposed increase to be a foregone conclusion (and calling for deeper EZ Pass and commuter discounts), the crowd kept stone silent out of respect for Mrs. Mathias.
Del. Jay Jacobs (R-36) emphasized the unintended impacts on Maryland’s economy that will emerge from a toll hike. “In my district, more and more people are going to Delaware to spend their money. They raised the sales tax. More people started shopping in Delaware. They’ve just raised the alcohol tax. More people are going to Delaware to spend their money. Now they want to raise the tolls. I can promise you that where I live people will think long and hard before crossing those bridges.”
Nick Loffer of the AFP was the first person to speak who was not an elected official. Loffer noted all of the elected officials who had signed the AFP petition against the toll hikes. Notably absent were Conway and Mathias. At that point Loffer asked Conway if he wanted to sign the petition. Conway said no and the booing commenced again.
The themes behind opposition to the toll hike have changed little since the first Eastern Shore hearing on Kent Island. A massive toll hike will negatively impact tourism. It will cause many Marylanders to shop in Delaware. It will cause many Eastern Shore residents to stop shopping in Annapolis and Baltimore. It will cause the cost of our food and other consumables to rise. None of these is positive.
However, maybe a toll hike could be justified. There’s just one problem – the state can’t provide the data to do so without cooking the books.
If the nearly two hundred people who showed up for tonight’s public hearing are any indication, Lower Shore voters don’t want ANY increase in the tolls on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. That was one message our elected officials heard loud and clear.
Delegate Mike McDermott (R-38B) whipped the crowd into near frenzy with his explanation as to why we don’t need a toll increase and why Shore citizens can’t afford one. Del. Norm Conway (D-38B) tried to thread the needle; sounding like he was opposed to the toll hike but leaving the door open for a hike to $5 per round trip. Citizens would have none of that, going so far as to boo Conway.
More to come in the morning. Have a great evening.
Worcester County Bureau of Investigation
NEWS RELEASE
DATE & TIME: July 10, 2011 0400-0500
LOCATION: Frontier Town Campground , Berlin, Worcester County
CRIME: 3rd Degree Sex Offense, 4th Degree Sex Offense, 2nd degree Assault
VICTIM: 15 year old female
ACCUSED: Felix N Perez Hispanic Male, 25 yoa, 9165 Bourbon Street Apt R Laurel, MD
CHARGES: 3rd Degree Sex Offense, 4th Degree Sex Offense, 2nd degree Assault
NARRATIVE: On July 10, 2011 at approximately 0930 hours, the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office responded to Frontier town Campground on Rt611 in Berlin, MD in reference to a sexual assault.
The Worcester County Bureau of Investigations was notified and assumed the investigation.
During an interview of the 15 year old victim, it was learned the suspect had entered the camper where the victim was sleeping at around 4:00 am. She further advised the suspect had inappropriately touched the victim’s genitals area against her will and refused to stop.
An interview was conducted with the suspect, who indicated he was extremely intoxicated, only remembers touching the victim on her rear end.
During the interview, the suspect stated to the investigator, that he was illegally here in the United States. The Department of Homeland Security was notified of the suspect’s status.
Suspect was taken before a District Court Commissioner and was held on $25,000.00 unsecured bond.
Starting July 1, 2011, new hours of operation went into effect at the Berlin, Pocomoke and Snow Hill Transfer Stations in Worcester County.
The standard operating hours are as follows:
While the operating hours at the transfer stations have changed, the services available to homeowners have not. Any resident with a valid homeowner transfer station permit may take household trash, yard waste and recyclables to the Berlin and Pocomoke transfer stations during standard operating hours. Household trash and recyclables may also be brought to the transfer station in Snow Hill; however,yard waste is not accepted at this location.
The central landfill in Newark is open to the public six days per week as follows and closed on Sundays:
Homeowners with permits - Monday through Saturday from 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Commercial haulers and other cash customers – 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
For more information, contact Ron Taylor, Recycling Manager, at (410) 632-3177.
July is Parks and Recreation Month. As County Commissioners, we recognize that parks and recreation areas play a fundamental role in the health and well-being of our community. So, with that in mind, we challenge area residents to take the National Parks and Recreation Month challenge, Take the Five in July Park Pledge.
Take the five Fridays, five Saturdays and five Sundays this month to create healthy weekend habits by getting outdoors and exploring the parks, trails, playgrounds and natural areas at your Worcester County Parks. You’ll be amazed to discover the wonders awaiting you at the 13 parks and recreation areas nestled between the northernmost and southernmost tips of the county.
Worcester County Recreation and Parks acquired its first park, John Walter Smith Park in Snow Hill, in 1974. Newtown Park and Showell Park followed in 1975 and 1976.
The park system continued to grow by leaps and bounds with the Isle of Wight Park and Stockton Park coming online in 1985 and 1988. However, the greatest park growth occurred in the 1990s. In 1990, Bishopville Park was established, followed by the Northern Worcester Athletic Complex in 1992. In 1993, the Herring Creek Nature Park opened, and in 1995 the Newark Park was developed. The Whaleyville Park opened in 1999, and in 2003, the Homer Gudlesky Park opened.
In 2006, the county received Greys Creek Nature Park and in 2009 received the Girdletree Park. These two parks are in the developmental stages and not yet open to the public.
What can you expect to find at Worcester County parks? While each of the parks offers diverse recreational opportunities, combined they offer playgrounds, pavilions,fishing, crabbing, canoe and kayak launches, lighted multi-purpose fields,dugouts, and softball fields along with hours upon hours of recreational and leisure time.
Visit your local Worcester County parks with family and friends to have fun, engage in great outdoor activities and keep fit. For more information regarding Worcester County Recreation & Parks programs and parks, call 410-632-2144.
The Worcester County Local Emergency Planning Committee will meet on Thursday, July 28, at 9 a.m. The meeting will take place in the Emergency Operations Center, located on the lower level of the Worcester County Government Center in Snow Hill.
The featured speakers will be Lisa Dunaway and Roger Minner from the Department of Homeland Security, and they will address Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS).
The Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) is designed to aid local emergency planners and responders to better prepare for chemical emergencies. The LEPC membership is required by federal law to have, at a minimum, members of local police, fire, public health, transportation and environmental agencies, as well as representatives of facilities subject to emergency planning guidelines. LEPC members develop and annually review the county’s emergency response plan and provide information regarding various chemicals to county residents.
The Worcester County LEPC meets quarterly on the fourth Thursday in January, April, July and October. All meetings are open to the public. For more information, contact the Worcester County Department of Emergency Services at 410-632-1311.
