Prince George’s Co. Pandemonium

ANNAPOLIS – Maryland Republican Party Chairman Audrey Scott released the following statement today in response to the assault charges filed against Democrat Councilwoman Marilynn M. Bland:

 

“Democrats have absolutely gone wild in Prince George’s County. It does not seem as if a week can go by anymore with out a Democrat in Prince George’s County either being arrested or accused of a crime. It is becoming increasingly clear that one Party rule has bred a culture of corruption and a sense of entitlement among elected Democrats in the county. Prince George's County Democrats need to remember they work for the taxpayers, however, recent behavior shows just how out-of-touch they have become.”

OC Council To Propose Wage Cuts?

Joe,

 

Hearing a rumor coming out of OC that at the council meeting tomorrow night, one of the councilman (the rumor says Hall) will propose a 5% wage cut for most employees and up to a 20% cut in management wages. That is what is going around in the rumor mill of the town employees. If it is Hall, I wonder if he is going to cut prices in his restaurant 20% since times are so hard?

Can YOU Help Us Tuesday?

Hallmark Giant open 10 to 12 and 4 to 6

 

Super Fresh College Avenue open 5 to 9

 

Walmart North - Retail Entrance - open 3 to 5 and 7 to 9

 

Hallmark Twilley Center - open 10 to 5

 

Ace Hardware - open 10 to 4

 

The above times are slots that have not been filled for Tuesday. If you can help volunteer we'd greatly appreciate it. Please call 410-749-7464.

SHOREBIRDS TO HOST COOKIES WITH CLAUS ON DECEMBER 11

Holiday Fun at Perdue Stadium From 10 am – 12 pm

Salisbury, MD – With the holiday season upon us, the Delmarva Shorebirds are excited to announce that the annual “Cookies With Claus” event will be held on Saturday, December 11 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Executive Club at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.  The event is free and open to the public.  However, the Shorebirds are encouraging all attendees to bring a new and unwrapped toy to be donated to the Toys for Tots campaign. 

Santa Claus headlines a fun and festive day at Perdue Stadium.  Families will be able to pose for pictures with Santa.  In addition, the Shorebirds will provide cookies, hot chocolate and much more.  Coloring stations will also be set up for all children. 

Sherman, the Shorebirds lovable mascot, will also be dressed for the holiday season.

“Cookies with Claus is a fantastic event that will put everyone in the holiday spirit,” said general manager Chris Bitters.  “Since the event also coincides with Toys for Tots, it serves as a perfect blend of fun and giving.”

The Shorebirds are asking that each family brings a new and unwrapped toy to Perdue Stadium to be donated to the Toys for Tots campaign.  The toys will be distributed to underprivileged children on the Eastern Shore. 

Toys for Tots has been ongoing in Wicomico County for 27 years. In 2009, over 14,000 toys were given out to over 7,000 children.  For more information about the Toys for Tots program, click here.

For more information about “Cookies with Claus”, contact the Delmarva Shorebirds at 410-219-3112.

RED KETTLE DONATIONS DOWN

"One of the Salvation Army's most recognizable fundraisers — the Red Kettle campaign —isn't performing well in its first week and representatives are pointing toward a new Giant Food policy as the reason. The National Capital Area Salvation Army reported today that the campaign — where volunteers and paid personnel stand outside shopping centers during the holidays ringing a bell to draw attention to the large red bucket next to them — has seen a $74,000 drop in donations compared to the same week last year. "

Kenya Leader: Homosexuals 'Should Be Arrested'

'We will not tolerate such behaviors in the country,' prime minister reportedly tells rally

NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya's prime minister has said that homosexuals should be arrested, according to reports.

"We will not tolerate such behaviors in the country," the BBC quoted Raila Odinga as saying. "The constitution is very clear on this issue and men or women found engaging in homosexuality will not be spared."

Africa Review reported that Odinga told a rally in Nairobi on Sunday that "if found the homosexuals should be arrested and taken to relevant authorities."

GO HERE to read more. 

Reggie Mason To Be Sworn In December 6th

Click on image to enlarge.

Council President Smith To Tape Issues & Answers Farewell

Council President Louise Smith will tape her farewell Issues and Answers message on Thursday, December 2, 2010 at 3:00 p.m. The public is invited to attend.

The press conference and taping will be held in the Council Chambers, Room 301 of the City/County Government Office Building, 125 N. Division Street.

Brother, Can You Spare A Time?

I want to thank all of the individuals, groups and businesses for stepping up early this season to ring the bell for so many Families in need this year.

With your help we can continue to keep this campaign an all Volunteer event. In the coming days you will see things slow down post wise on Salisbury News as I will be filling in many of the open slots that aren't filled. The more Volunteers we get, the more Posts you'll see on Salisbury News.

If you'd like to volunteer, please call 410-749-7464.

No Loitering In Front Of Main Library

WHAT:  No Loitering policy goes into effect

WHO:  Wicomico Public Library customers

WHEN: Beginning December 1st

WHERE: Main Library  

SALISBURY, MD – November 29, 2010 – Effective December 1, 2010 a “No Loitering” policy will be in effect outside the Main Library in Downtown Salisbury.   The amendment to the Library’s “Customer Rules of Conduct” was approved by the Library Board of Trustees at its October 12 meeting and specifically prohibits “Smoking, blocking the entrance, including the sidewalk, solicitation and loitering.”

“The increasing number of people who ‘hang out’ near the Library entrance at all hours has led to increased complaints of smoking, profanity, solicitation and congestion,” said Library Director Tom Hehman.  “A number of people have even said they no longer come to the library for that reason. The new policy is designed to keep the Main Library free and open to all who would use it, and everyone is welcome inside.”

Wicomico Public Library has its main facility in downtown Salisbury and two small branches in the Centre at Salisbury and Pittsville, a computer access station in Bivalve, and a bookmobile.  The library offers free Internet access, a variety of classes and events, as well as materials for loan including popular music CDs and DVD titles.  Computer use, classes and events are free and open to the public.

Obama To Announce Pay Freeze For Federal Workers

President Obama will announce a pay freeze for federal workers in a statement today, NBC's Savannah Guthrie reports.

The two-year pay freeze for civilian federal employees will save $2 billion during the rest of the current fiscal year and almost $30 billion over the next five years, the White House said Monday.

There are about 2.65 million civilian employees of the executive branch, per the Washington Post. That's about 8.4 federal workers per 1,000 American citizens.

GO HERE to read more.

Safe Streets Input Session

I wanted to remind you that a third opportunity to comment on the Safe Streets draft legislative package (http://www.ci.salisbury.md.us/Default.aspx?tabid=643)  is this Tuesday in the Council Chambers with doors opening at 6:00.

Lucky’s Fashionable Guide To Online Holiday Shopping

Discover 15 smart sites to please everyone on your Christmas list Looking for unique, fun gifts? Lucky magazine shares secrets to shopping for the perfect presents for everyone on your holiday list: GO HERE to view.

Living Small Looms Large Amid Real Estate Bust

Demand for diminutive houses rises among young and retiring Boomers GRATON, Calif. — As Americans downsize in the aftermath of a colossal real estate bust, at least one tiny corner of the housing market appears to be thriving. To save money or simplify their lives, a small but growing number of Americans are buying or building homes that could fit inside many people's living rooms, according to entrepreneurs in the small house industry. GO HERE to read more.

Big Sis’ Street Scanners Target Of FOIA Request

The Electronic Privacy Information Center is demanding that Big Sis spill the beans on street scanners as part of a FOIA request that seeks to unveil the truth behind Homeland Security’s hundreds of roaming backscatter devices that are now radiating Americans in their homes and vehicles at internal checkpoints in the name of “safety”. As we reported earlier this year, as the national outrage surrounding the TSA’s use of naked body scanners at airports simmered, the feds had already purchased hundreds of x-ray scanners mounted in vans that were being used to randomly scan vehicles, passengers and homes in complete violation of the 4th amendment and with wanton disregard for any health consequences. “EPIC cited previous DHS testing of body scanners on New Jersey’s PATH trains and the development of street-roaming backscatter vans. EPIC has also filed a lawsuit to suspend body scanner program. EPIC has called the devices “invasive, ineffective, and unlawful,” states the press release. WSBTV reported on once instance of the mobile scanners being used to check trucks for explosive devices at an internal checkpoint set up by Homeland Security, the Department of Transportation, and the TSA. Officials admitted there was no specific threat that justified the checkpoint, and although it was labeled a “counter-terror operation,” the scans were also being conducted in the name of “safety”. Despite polls showing the majority of Americans oppose the use of body scanners in airports, many travelers are unaware of the fact that the TSA and Big Sis are now roaming neighborhoods and highways with the same invasive technology. GO HERE to read more.

Salisbury Holds Tree Lighting Ceremony

Friday night a smaller than usual crowd gathered at the GOB for their tree lighting ceremony and an early visit from Santa.
I've been there several times in the past when the weather was much colder. Speculating why the crowd was smaller, well, it could be a multitude of reasons. All I can tell you is, most of the people in attendance had a child there singing or participating in the pre lighting show.

I'm sure many people had truly hoped things would be much different morale wise in the City after electing a new Mayor. Perhaps it just takes time.

After seeing this crowd, I didn't make the effort to attend the lighting in the Park the following evening.

Many made remarks about how tiny the tree is and they're right. I'd say it was no more than double the size of a regular tree you'd have in your home. Many also remarked about how the tree across Rt. 50 at the Church, (already light up) would have made for a much better tree. To look at the base stand that holds up the tree, the trunk of the current tree left at least 90% of the stand empty.

Nevertheless, it's the symbol of the season that counts. A smaller tree means less lights and a lower electric bill. Maybe they can use the savings to hire another Police Officer.

Rhetoric Aside, Dems Tops With Special Interests

Democrats raised far more money from political action committees this past election than Republicans did, even counting the new "Super PACs" President Obama claimed were giving the GOP a corporate-funded unfair advantage.

Final campaign finance figures from the Federal Election Commission have come in, and they show a very different picture from the one painted by Obama and most of the media. The Democrats' advantage in money from traditional PACs was just about 10 times the size of the Republicans' advantage from the new Super PACs.

The Obama line -- special interests, upset about the Democrats' tough reforms, favored the GOP -- got plenty play this cycle, and fit neatly into many journalists' prejudices. But the truth is more complicated. Both parties are probably equally cozy with special interests.

PAC giving is a good measure of corporate political leanings, and by any measure, PACs gave more to Democratic candidates. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, traditional PACs -- which are limited to $10,000 to each candidate -- gave $220 million to Democratic House and Senate candidates this cycle, compared with $153 million to Republicans.

Some of the Democrats' PAC advantage stems from PACs' tendency to mostly fund incumbents -- and Democrats had a lot more of those. But even adjusting for Democrats' numerical advantage, you get a similar story: The average House Democrat running for re-election raised $677,409 from PACs, compared with $530,492 for the average Republican. On the Senate side, Democrats enjoyed a narrower advantage: $1.85 million to $1.61 million on average.

Again, these numbers can be explained in part by the incumbent bias -- almost no Republican incumbents faced tough re-elections, and so they may have been less aggressive in fundraising. The data don't prove that the Democrats are "the party of special interests," but they certainly undermine the standard claim to the contrary. And drilling down, there's more data like this.                            

Read more here

Today's Survey Question

Will you shop online on Cyber Monday?

Your Paycheck Is About To Shrink

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Are you ready to give up $30 a month?

That's what may come out of your paycheck if -- as expected -- the Making Work Pay tax credit expires at the end of the year.

The credit was enacted last year as part of the Recovery Act to put more cash in people's pockets. For the past two years, it has boosted paychecks by up to $400 for single filers and $800 for joint filers by reducing the tax withheld and giving a credit for that amount. That's $33 or $67 a month.

Single taxpayers who make $75,000 or less and couples earning under $150,000 are eligible for the full credit, while higher earners can receive partial credit. More than 90% of working Americans have been helped by the tax break.

Now they will feel the pain when the credit goes away.

GO HERE to read more.

More Corruption Probed Within Pr. George's Co. Police

It seems the three Prince George's County officers named in a federal corruption probe are just the tip of the iceberg.

According to police officials and internal records, at least 46 officers are either currently suspended or assigned to administrative duties because of violations or misconducts.

The Washington Post reported that dozens of officers are accused of crimes ranging from driving while intoxicated to assault and drug possession.

Investigators believe at least 19 of these officers committed a crime, and at least 10 of the suspended officers have also been charged in court.

At least nine of the officers are suspected of sexual assault and theft, and at least seven officers are in trouble because of an allegation of excessive use of force.

Police Chief Robert Hylton said there are grumblings within the department because of the recent crackdown on officer behavior, but he said, "I'm not backing down from this whatsoever."

Source