DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Monday, March 15, 2010
Grey Seal Found Big Mill Pond Rd, Pocomoke, Maryland
A young Male Grey seal was found on the side of Big Mill Pond road in Worcester County last night around 8pm. Worcester County deputies watched over the animal last night to insure its safety.
This morning members of the National Aquarium in Baltimore’s Marine Animal Rescue program recovered the animal, transported him to Assateague Island State Park and released him safely back into the Atlantic Ocean.
The area the seal was found is southeast of Pocomoke and is near the state line of Maryland and Virginia. The seal must have made his way from the ocean into the Chincoteague Bay and up the Swan Gut creek to where he got stuck after the water resided.
Jennifer Dittmar, a rescue team member, said the seal was a little thin but seemed to be healthy.
Photos Courtesy Of:
Lance Carroll
DNR Forestry Service
Justice's Wife Launches 'Tea Party' Group
WICOMICO YOUTH & CIVIC CENTER CLOSED ON MARCH 22ND
The WY&CC offices and box office will be closed on March 22nd. Tickets for commercial events will still be available on-line at www.wicomicociviccenter.org.
Health Care 'Home Visitation' Comes To Your House!
All voluntary, they say, but once you “volunteer” to have the oh-so-helpful folks from Social Services come in to help with your newborns, or with a number of other specified issues, will you ever be able to get rid of them?
The bill provides for federal funding and supervision for this vast expansion of government intrusion into family life. This is the Nanny State on steroids.
Is your family being “targeted” for such home visitations? Let’s see if you fit into one of these very broad categories:
* Families where Mom is not yet 21. (No mention here whether she is married or not.)
* Families where someone is a tobacco user. (Does this include the White House? Watch out, Sasha and Malia!) Does Grandpa, whom you love and have taken in, enjoy his after-dinner pipe?
* Families where children have low student achievement, developmental delays, or disabilities.
As if that list was not wide-ranging enough, here’s the net that can encompass tens of millions:
*Families with individuals who are serving or formerly served in the armed forces, including such families that have members of the armed forces who have had multiple deployments outside the United States.
Do you spank your children? You should know that HHS bureaucrats think you are an abuser.
Do you support the Second Amendment? How would you like HHS bureaucrats asking your children if you maintain firearms in the home for family protection?
Do you home school your kids? Take care. Members of Congress who have tried to abolish home schooling are big backers of this health care bill. Do you wonder why?
The White House is pulling out all the stops. One of their senior advisers told CNN’s Gloria Borger what President Obama’s people are telling wavering Democrats on Capitol Hill:
BORGER: Right. This isn't going to be subtle at all today. I think this is it. I was speaking with one senior White House adviser just before I came on the air, and he said, think of it this way. This is the last helicopter out of Saigon, OK?
Could anything be more bizarre? A senior member of the administration is comparing the President’s signature measure in Congress to the forced evacuation of the U.S. Embassy in South Vietnam in 1975.
Older Americans remember the shame and heartbreak of seeing thousands of America’s allies desperately clinging to U.S. Army helicopters as the North Vietnamese army closed in on South Vietnam’s capital city.
Rights or Wishes? The Plain, Unvarnished Facts
Moreover, there is no Santa Claus, Easter Bunny or Tooth Fairy giving them those resources.
The fact that government has no resources of its very own forces one to recognize that in order for government to give one American citizen a dollar, it must first, through intimidation, threats and coercion, confiscate that dollar from some other American.
If one person has a right to something he did not earn, of necessity it requires that another person not have a right to something that he did earn. To argue that people have a right that imposes obligations on another is an absurd concept.
A better term for new-fangled rights to health care, decent housing and food is wishes.
If we called them wishes, I would be in agreement with most other Americans for I, too, wish that everyone had adequate health care, decent housing and nutritious meals. However, if we called them human wishes, instead of human rights, there would be confusion and cognitive dissonance. The average American would cringe at the thought of government punishing one person because he refused to be pressed into making someone else's wish come true.
None of my argument is to argue against charity. Reaching into one's own pockets to assist his fellow man in need is praiseworthy and laudable. Reaching into someone else's pockets to do so is despicable and deserves condemnation."
--George Mason University Economics Professor Walter E. Williams, Ph. D.
(Source)
Could Ehrlich ‘Fix’ The State And Supply A Positive Vision?
In the next few weeks, we expect to learn the answer to the question many began asking Bob Ehrlich nearly two years ago: Is he going to run for governor again?
It is clear that the Ehrlich “family” -- friends, staff and especially his wife Kendel -- is behind a rematch between him and Gov. Martin O’Malley. That was one of the factors he mentioned to me at a dinner in May 2008. But the key questions, he said then, were “Can I win and can I fix it?”
Ehrlich himself is the one holding back on the decision, calculating his chances against an incumbent Democratic governor in a heavily Democratic state. He’s made no secret that he’ll run if he thinks he can win.
But can he “fix” what he sees as the fiscal mess in Annapolis and the left-ward drift of the state? Can he and his backers be more than just the party of “no” and supply a “positive vision for Maryland,” as he advised other Republicans in October?
The next two years facing the governor elected in November will be even more daunting than what both O’Malley and Ehrlich faced in their first terms. Elected state leaders have pushed the most expensive long-term problems until after the election.
Next January, the revenue picture continues to look bleak, and all the easy budget cuts have been long done. The fiscal 2011 budget depends on a series one-time transfers of funds that may not be available again. As one legislative wag said of O’Malley, “He’s broken all the piggy banks.”
For the third year in a row, state employees will have their pay cut in the form of furloughs.
Administrators have asked lawmakers to stop cutting the staff piecemeal and to drop whole programs, rather than leaving them understaffed in many areas.
GO HERE to read more.
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STATESTAT UPDATE ON EFFORTS TO PROTECT MARYLANDERS FROM SEX OFFENDERS
GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY RELEASES STATESTAT UPDATE ON EFFORTS TO PROTECT MARYLANDERS FROM SEX OFFENDERS
ANNAPOLIS, MD (March 11, 2010) – Governor Martin O’Malley released a StateStat update today on the State’s progress to protect Maryland families from sex offenders. In a video update available online, Governor O’Malley urged Maryland citizens to call on their legislators to approve legislation to require lifetime monitoring for convicted sex offenders, expand sex offender registration criteria, and align Maryland’s laws with federal child safety regulations.
“Our highest priority in the State of Maryland – and the most sacred priority of government at every level – is the public’s safety,” said Governor O’Malley. “In our State, we’re united by our belief in the dignity of every individual and our belief that there is no such thing as a spare Marylander. The loss of even one more innocent life is unacceptable. We can pass these important reforms, but we can’t do it alone.”
In the past three years, violent crime has been driven down to its lowest levels since 1987, including the steepest three-year reduction in homicides since the 1970s and a 46 percent reduction in juvenile homicides over the same period of time. The O’Malley-Brown Administration has set a goal of reducing violent crime against women and children 25 percent by 2012.
In 2007, Governor O’Malley signed Jessica’s law to protect Maryland families from violent sex offenders. The O’Malley-Brown Administration has championed the use of emerging innovative public safety technologies like clinical polygraph examinations, computer monitoring, and GPS tracking, which is currently being used to track 231 sex offenders. Governor O’Malley also dedicated the necessary resources three years ago to close an inherited backlog of 24,000 unanalyzed and 15,000 uncollected DNA samples, and as a result the State has used DNA evidence to arrest 106 sex offenders.
Initiatives introduced this legislative session include proposals to:
Require the most serious sex offenders to be monitored by law enforcement for life, aligning Maryland with 24 other states which currently have some sort of lifetime supervision law on the books.
Align Maryland’s sex offender laws with federal notification and registration standards for sex offenders, ensuring Maryland does not become a safe haven for offenders seeking less stringent registration requirements.
Classify persons convicted of child pornography and indecent exposure to minors as sex offenders, and require that they register as such.
Require more employees at facilities that care for or supervise children to undergo criminal background checks; and
Reform the Maryland Sexual Offender Advisory Board so its members will be required to have relevant experience and expertise, and so the Board’s charge will be targeted and focused on important priorities like developing risk-assessment criteria for the supervision of offenders.
MARYLAND RECEIVES MORE THAN $2.4 MILLION THROUGH FEDERAL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT
“One of our most solemn obligations as public servants is the safety of the citizens we serve,” said Governor O’Malley. “Last year, 53 individuals died as a result of domestic violence in Maryland and, of those, 27 were killed with a firearm. Programs funded through the STOP program help us ensure that women throughout Maryland feel safe and secure. I want to thank Senator Barbara Mikulski and the leaders of our federal delegation for their work in securing these funds.”
“Domestic and dating violence, sexual assault and stalking are horrific problems affecting thousands of Marylanders and millions of individuals across our country,” said Senator Mikulski, an original champion of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and the Chairwoman of the Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Subcommittee (CJS), which is responsible for funding federal VAWA programs administered by the Justice Department. “The STOP Program has proven a valuable resource in the fight to curb domestic violence and sexual assault in Maryland. These funds provide victims advocacy providers, law enforcement officers, prosecutors and the courts with the most comprehensive and effective means of improving victim safety and holding offenders accountable for their crimes. I will continue my fight to put funds in the federal checkbook to fund these important programs.”
STOP VAWA is centered on the needs of victims. It encourages the development and improvement of effective law enforcement and prosecution strategies to address violent crimes against women and to enhance advocacy and victim services in cases of violent crimes against women.
In Maryland, law enforcement priorities for the funds include specialized training for officers in domestic violence, sexual assault and dating violence cases; specialized units or positions such as bilingual officers and domestic violence investigators; and implementation of policy and personnel relating to protective orders and firearms. For prosecutors, the funding provides among other services, bilingual and culturally competent staff; training in domestic violence and the appointment of prosecutors to focus full-time on domestic violence cases.
Thirty percent of STOP VAWA funds are committed to services for domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and dating violence victims. Victim service providers offer core, enhanced and culturally sensitive services to all victims, including traditionally underserved groups such as the Latino population and Asian-Pacific Islanders. Among other measures, support activities will enable victims to access crisis intervention programs, legal services, medical accompaniment, bilingual hotlines and safety planning in their own languages. The program will also provide resources to courts, enabling on-site legal representation to victims of intimate partner violence seeking court protection.
Discretionary funds are available for a number of innovative programs, including statewide lethality assessment training and fatality review teams as well as support of local coordinating councils and state coalitions
In the continuing effort to put an end to these tragedies, the O’Malley-Brown Administration led efforts to pass two bills during the 2009 legislative session that increase protection for Maryland’s victims of domestic violence and remove guns from the hands of abusers. The new legislation went into effect October 1, 2009.
Prayer For Wayne Bailey
Last week I put out a request for need (financial) for two different families. I received permission from the Lower School family this morning to share publicly the context of the need.
Wayne Bailey, SCS third grader, was recently diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma. He has been up at Johns Hopkins hospital, but is actually home for a short time before having to return. He is scheduled to begin chemotheraphy on Monday, March 22nd.
Mrs. Keim, Wayne's teacher, has been in constant contact with his mother (Heather)....and has asked if there is anything they need for us to do for them. Her answer was to "pray as we have never prayed before. We need to pray for healing, for peace, for comfort, and for wisdom and discernment for the doctors."
I agree. Please include Wayne and his family in your daily prayers.
FYI: The SCS business office is continuing to collect monetary gifts (or script cards) for both upper school and this lower school family if you feel led to help. Again, please put "Lower school family" or "Upper school family" on your envelope so that the gift is directed in the right direction.
God bless!
Sincerely,
Mr. Fox
THANK GOODNESS FOR BARAK OBAMA
He destroyed the Clinton Political Machine – Driving a stake thru the heart of Hillary’s Presidential aspirations – something no Republican was ever able to do.
Remember when a Hillary Presidency scared the daylights out of you?
He killed off the Kennedy Dynasty – No more Kennedy’s trolling Washington looking for booze and women wanting rides home. American women and Freedom are safer tonight!
He is destroying the Democratic Party before our eyes!
Dennis Moore had never lost a race – quit
Evan Bayh had never lost a race – quit
Byron Dorgan – had never lost a race – quit
Harry Reed – will be defeated in November 2010
These are just a handful of the Democrats that whose political careers Obama has destroyed! By the end of 2010 dozens more will be!
In December of 2008 the Democrats were on the rise. In the last two election cycles they had picked up 14 senate seats and 52 house seats. The press was touting the death of the Conservative Movement and the Republican Party. In one year Obama put a stop to all of this and will probably give the house, if not the senate back to the Republicans.
He has completely exposed liberals and progressives for what they are. Every Generation seems to need to relearn the lesson on why they should never actually put liberals in charge. He is bringing home the lesson very well!
Liberals tax, borrow and spend – check
Liberals won’t bring themselves to protect America – check
Liberals want to take over the economy – check
Liberals think they know what is best for everyone – check
Liberals aren’t happy till they are running YOUR life - check
Obama has brought more Americans back to Conservatism than anyone since Reagan
In One year, Obama rejuvenated the Conservative movement and brought out to the streets millions of Freedom Loving Americans
Name me one other time in your life that you saw your friends and neighbors this interested in taking back America!
Barak Obama woke up these Great Americans. Power to the people, who will take back their country!
Again, I want say thank you Barak Hussein Obama!
DC Bus Trip, Stop The Govt. Takeover Of Health Care Tomorrow, Tuesday March 16th
Some elected politicians still don't get it, but more importantly there are many "on the fence" votes in Congress that need to hear from you and can be pushed to vote no on the Big Govt. takeover of your health care.
It's seems our congressman, Frank Kratovil may be flip flopping. To see this story click here.
Tomorrow Americans for Prosperity will be sponsoring a Bus to DC for a rally at 10am outside of the Senate offices and a visit to our Congressman all for $10. Including lunch.
We need to let our voices be heard and let our Congressman that he needs to vote no again on the health care legislation.
Contact Tom Cook, apatriotforever@gmail.com to reserve your bus seat.
The bus will be leaving The Steer Inn on Racetrack Road at 5:30am
Leaving Boscovs at 6:05 at the Mall in Salisbury
Leaving the Old K-Mart Parking lot in Cambridge on Rt. 50 at 6:35
We need your support! Hope to see you on the Bus!
AFP-Maryland Launches Statewide Tax Day TEA Party Website
ANNAPOLIS – The Maryland chapter of Americans for Prosperity has launched a website to help direct thousands of citizens to local TEA parties around the state, as well as connect potential activists with TEA party organizers. Last year Marylanders from Oakland to Ocean City attended tax day TEA parties to protest the rapid expansion of government. This year, a larger turnout will be expected at the 12 TEA parties planned in Maryland.
“MarylandTaxDayTEAParty.com is a way for the public to connect with organizers around the state,” stated AFP-Maryland state director Dave Schwartz. “With state budget deficits as far as the eye can see and the possibility of a government take over of our health care system, we expect large crowds on the week of April 15th. We hope our elected officials will be listening to our simple message: big government is not the solution, it is the problem.”
Many of the organizers are emphasizing state and local issues along with their disdain for federal government growth. The website encourages activists to contact their local elected officials to demand that they oppose Gov. O’Malley’s budget. By crafting a budget that is held together with ‘chewing gum and baling wire,’ Gov. O’Malley has created an $8.3 billion structural deficit and shown complete contempt for Maryland taxpayers.
Website Address: www.MarylandTaxDayTEAParty.com
Emergency! DC Bus Trip, Stop the Govt. Takeover of Health Care Tomorrow, Tuesday March 16th
Some elected politicians still don't get it, but more importantly there are many "on the fence" votes in Congress that need to hear from you and can be pushed to vote no on the Big Govt. takeover of your health care.
Tomorrow Americans for Prosperity will be sponsoring a Bus to DC for a rally at 10am outside of the Senate offices and a visit to our Congressman all for $10. Including lunch.
We need to let our voices be heard and let our Congressman that he needs to vote no again on the health care legislation.
The bus will be leaving The Steer Inn on Racetrack Road at 5:30am
Leaving Boscovs at 6:05 at the Mall in Salisbury Leaving the Old K-Mart Parking lot in Cambridge on Rt. 50 at 6:35.
We need your support! Hope to see you on the Bus! Sincerely, Americans for Prosperity Wicomico CountyAmericans for Prosperity Maryland
Some elected politicians still don't get it, but more importantly there are many "on the fence" votes in Congress that need to hear from you and can be pushed to vote no on the Big Govt. takeover of your health care. Tomorrow Americans for Prosperity will be sponsoring a Bus to DC for a rally at 10am outside of the Senate offices and a visit to our Congressman all for $10. Including lunch. We need to let our voices be heard and let our Congressman that he needs to vote no again on the health care legislation. The bus will be leaving The Steer Inn on Racetrack Road at 5:30am Leaving Boscovs at 6:05 at the Mall in Salisbury Leaving the Old K-Mart Parking lot in Cambridge on Rt. 50 at 6:35. |
We need your support! Hope to see you on the Bus! Sincerely, Americans for Prosperity Wicomico County Americans for Prosperity Maryland |
A message to all members of Tea Party Patriots
Please check the link for more information and up to date vote count in the House on the healthcare bill. We are limited in the amount of information we can send out in messages. We ask you to come to D.C. if possible. If you cannot come to D.C. visit your representative's local offices and phone, fax or visit the targeted Democrats in your state. This Tuesday, March 16th Join us in Washington DC for a special day of (non-violent) political action. We are partnering with FreedomWorks for this event. We will begin a dramatic march from the East Capitol Lawn to the congressional office buildings. The march will begin at 9:15a.m., so try to be there early. We want to have a huge crowd march with us. Invite all of yoiu firends to join us. ACTION ITEMS 1. We need everyone to visit their prospective representative in congress . 2. We need everyone to visit the targeted blue dog democrats. 3. Bring handwirtten letters, stating who you are, what you want and why you want it. In no uncertain terms state VOTE NO on this HealthCare bill. Handwritten letters carry a lot of weight. 4. When entering the office of a representative, FIRST, ask to speak with your representative. If he or she is not available THEN SECONDLY, ask for the Chief of Staff or HealthCare Advisor or Assistant to the Representative. The goal is to speak to someone in the office besides the receptionist. 5. If you have been lobbying before in Washington, DC , please lend a hand to others that have not been there before. Remember your representatives are just people. |
Shore Stop Robbery, Felton, DE
Location: Shore Stop-8359 South DuPont Highway, Felton, DEDate of Occurrence: Tuesday, 3/2/10, at approximately 12:30 am
Suspect: Michael E. Green - 21 of Four Acre Drive, Felton
Pending Charges:
Robbery 1st
Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
Terroristic Threatening
Resume: State Police have arrest warrants on file and is seeking the public’s help in locating Michael E. Green in reference to the Robbery that occurred at the Canterbury Shore Stop. Callers may remain anonymous. Tips may also be forwarded to law enforcement through tip lines maintained by Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-333 3 or on line at www.tipsubmit.com.
Excessive Rain Causes Flooding On Delmarva
As you can see from the local images from above, excessive rain fall has caused issues for both residents and farmers. We have seen nothing but rain for several months and many farmers couldn't even get out to collect last years final crops. The ground has been just too wet and many farmers got stuck in fields with their equipment.
I know I have experiences flooding on my own property, even after enlarging ponds and installing storm water management. To think that "April showers bring May flowers" is in the future, will the farmers ever get a break?
Neighborhood Congress Pimping for Pollitt
Did you know that the Wicomico Neighborhood Congress is pimping for the re-election of Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt? Well, they are.
Last Saturday, the Campaign to Repeal the Revenue Cap and Raise Your Taxes (aka – Re-Elect Rick Pollitt) hosted a fundraiser at the Pittsville Fire House. A few days before, I received this email from the Wicomico Neighborhood Congress:
Good morning Congress!
Attached above, kindly find our invitation to join County Executive Rick Pollitt and friends on Saturday afternoon, March 13th 2010, for a traditional Beef ‘n’ Dumplings dinner as Rick kicks off his re-election campaign as our first county executive. The dinner will be held at the Pittsville Fire Hall from 5PM to 8PM and will feature live music, great food and stimulating fellowship. Rick’s friends are asking for a donation of $30.00 to help defray the cost of the dinner and begin building a campaign treasury that will carry them through to Election Day.
We would like to ask everyone to come out and support Rick in his re-election efforts. As you know, the Wicomico Neighborhood Congress was Rick’s vision, over three years ago, of bringing together a coalition of neighborhood leaders. The Congress has been Rick’s means of reaching into the very heart of our county to determine the problems facing our neighborhoods. He see’s and reads every e-mail communication that is sent out to the “Congress” and appreciates your dedication and the leadership you are giving; reaching out and gathering together for the preservation and betterment of our neighborhoods and community in Wicomico County.
Please join us for this fun and supportive evening for Rick. Please RSVP by calling Connie Strott at 410-430-3112 so that they’ll know “how many dumplin’s to fix.
See you on Saturday!
Cindy Pilchard
Wicomico Neighborhood Congress
Chairman
To be fair, Cindy Pilchard isn’t violating any laws by doing this. I can even hear my pal Mike Pretl giving me hell now because I opposed his plan to turn the WNC into a 501-c3 grassroots lobby. (Such an email would be a gross violation of several laws IF the WNC was an incorporated 501-c3, but I still stand by my opposition)
IF Pilchard had simply sent out a personal email, I don’t think I would be as bothered by this. Unfortunately, she didn’t. Now we will be forced to scrutinize the motives behind every action taken by the WNC. Sadly, the WNC now appears to be an adjunct of the Wicomico Democrat Central Committee rather than what it intended to be.
Shame on Ms. Pilchard and SHAME on Rick Pollitt.