Opportunity To Support Our Students And Schools

Friday, March 18
PTA Spaghetti Dinner
Westside Intermediate School

The Westside Schools PTA will have a spaghetti dinner and auction at the Intermediate School from 5:30-9 p.m. Friday, March 18. This is a fun event for the entire family. There will be lots of great baskets and items for silent auction, live auction, 50/50 and more. Tickets for the spaghetti dinner are $7 adults and $4 kids, for spaghetti with sauce and meatballs, salad, bread, drink and desserts. For tickets please contact Michelle Corbin at 443-783-4582 or dmcorbin@verizon.net. 

Highlighted Events This Week In Wicomico Schools

Thursday, March 17
Free Football Clinic with SU Head Football Coach Sherman Wood
Prince Street Elementary

Wicomico County Public Schools are pleased to announce that the last of four free football clinics for boys ages 8-13 with Sherman Wood, Salisbury University head football coach, will be held Thursday, March 17, at Prince Street Elementary. Students of Prince Street Elementary, Fruitland Primary, Fruitland Intermediate, Pinehurst Elementary and Bennett Middle were eligible to participate in the clinic at Prince Street School. Participants should arrive by 6 p.m. to sign in, and the clinic will be held 6:30-7:30 p.m. Coach Wood wants to give back to the community by providing free clinics on football techniques, including offensive and defensive drills. Wear sneakers and bring a football if you have one; no special equipment is needed. Parent/guardian or other responsible adult must be present for student to participate. The flier was available at each school, and pre-registration was required.

Saturday, March 19
Destination ImagiNation Eastern Region Tournament
Salisbury Middle School

All are invited to attend the 2011 Eastern Region Destination Imagination Tournament on Saturday, March 19, at Salisbury Middle School from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. The Awards Ceremony will begin at 3 p.m. in the Gymnasium. Admission is free.

You will see many clever solutions to this year’s challenges. Come show your support for our 37 Wicomico County elementary, middle and high school DI teams. Teams compete at the Regional Tournament to earn the right to advance to the Maryland State Tournament on April 2 at UMBC. Qualifying teams can then earn the right to advance to represent the state of Maryland at Global Finals in May at the University of Tennessee.

Destination ImagiNation ( DI ) is a student centered, technology friendly, international organization for kindergarten through college students. It teaches life skills and expands imaginations through team-based creative problem solving. Destination ImagiNation emphasizes creativity, teamwork and problem solving.

The DI Program has two components revolving around a central theme each year. The first component is Instant Challenge ( IC ). These challenges spark and quickly capture the team members’ wild imaginations as they attempt to solve a challenge on the spot. Students practice “Improv” techniques using materials and verbal responses which will enable them to handle spontaneous problem solving. Students learn creativity skills, divergent and convergent thinking skills, risk taking, time awareness, cooperation, and how to have fun with their team members along the way.

The second component is the Central Challenge ( CC ). Teams use art, technology, performance, and real world relevance as they tackle one of five different challenges each year. The team solution takes weeks and months to complete. Each challenge contains scoring elements that will be carefully judged by trained appraisers.

PUBLIC NOTICE

A CLOSED SESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL HAS BEEN SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY, MARCH 28, 2011 TO CONSULT WITH LEGAL COUNSEL/POTENTIAL LITIGATION AS PERMITTED UNDER THE ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND SECTIONS 10-508(A)(7)(8).

THE CLOSED SESSION WILL BE HELD IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS (ROOM 301) OF THE GOVERNMENT OFFICE BUILDING (125 N. DIVISION STREET) FOLLOWING THE CONCLUSION OF THE COUNCIL’S 6:00 P.M. REGULAR MEETING.

SALISBURY CITY COUNCIL AGENDA

MARCH 21, 2011

1:30 P.M.

CONFERENCE ROOM 306

GOVERNMENT OFFICE BUILDING

1:30 p.m. Follow-up discussion - policy on handling properties that cannot be sold through tax sale – Pam Oland/Paul Wilber

2:05 p.m. Maintaining grandfathered status for health insurance – Pam Oland

2:40 p.m. Ordinance authorizing school zone speed cameras – Barbara Duncan

3:15 p.m. Request to reallocate a portion of the contribution to Poplar Hill Mansion – John Pick

3:50 p.m. Amendments to Friends of Poplar Hill Mansion Bylaws – John Pick

4:25 p.m. General discussion/upcoming agendas

Wizard of Oz Announces Local Salisbury Group To Perform Roles Of Munchkins On March 23

(Salisbury, MD) The National Tour of THE WIZARD OF OZ announced that Kaleidoscope Productions from Salisbury, MD will perform the roles of “munchkins” while this beloved classic is live on stage in their hometown!

THE WIZARD OF OZ, touching down in Salisbury, MD on March 23rd, 2011, sounded the alarm to find a group of 12 local children to perform the roles of “munchkins” as part of their continuing arts education and Kaleidoscope productions answered.

This opportunity will provide the Kaleidoscope with real-life touring theatre experience. They will discover what it’s like to be part of a professional company, learn choreography by Leigh Constantine and be outfitted in the costume designs of Tim McQuillen-Wright. It’s truly a unique experience and incredible opportunity for these aspiring actors/actresses to follow their yellow brick road! The cast and alternates that will perform in the Salisbury engagement are Madison Rogers, Hailey Blumenthal, Abigail Nechay, Emily Rathkamp, Sarah Rathkamp, Hannah Siegmund, Hanna Nechay, Leah Disbennett, Katelin Beach, Zoe Sheller, Ada Dearth, James Rogers, and Rachel Bailey.

Tickets for THE WIZARD OF OZ are still on sale and start as low as $37.00 plus fees. Tickets are available online at http://www.wicomicociviccenter.org/ or at the Civic Center box office. To Charge-By-Phone, call 410-548-4911.

e Fukushima Reactor Progress Reports

The helicopters are gone now, in order to minimize the crews' exposure to radiation - NHK

Water spraying operations have been temporarily suspended and helicopters have left the area of the Fukushima Daiichi plant, NHK reports. A Tokyo police unit is set to use water cannon vehicles to continue cooling operations. The Japanese defense minister is about to give an update on how the water drops went.

The power supply to the stricken Japanese nuclear plant could partially resume in the afternoon, the Kyodo agency reports, making it possible to use some of the plant's cooling pumps.

BBC

US Charters Planes To Help Its Citizens Leave Japan

State Department authorizes voluntary evacuations of diplomats' families

Airlines scrambled to fly thousands of passengers out of Tokyo on Thursday as fears about Japan's nuclear crisis mounted and the United States joined other nations urging their citizens to consider leaving.

The U.S. authorized the first evacuations of Americans out of Japan and warned U.S. citizens to defer all non-essential travel to any part of the country as unpredictable weather and wind conditions risked spreading radioactive contamination.

The State Department said the government had chartered aircraft to help Americans leave Japan and had authorized the voluntary departure of family members of diplomatic staff in Tokyo, Nagoya and Yokohama — about 600 people.

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Japan Close With New Power Line For Nuke Plant

Nuclear plant operators trying to avoid complete reactor meltdowns said Thursday that they were close to finishing a new power line that could end Japan's crisis.

Yet,  several ominous signs have also emerged: a surge in radiation levels, unexplained white smoke and spent fuel rods that U.S. officials said might be on the verge of spewing more radioactive material.

As fear, confusion and unanswered questions swirled around the Fukushima Dai-ichi complex, and Japan suffered myriad other trials from last week's earthquake and tsunami believed to have killed more than 10,000, its emperor took the unprecedented step of directly addressing his country on camera, urging his people not to give up.

"It is important that each of us shares the difficult days that lie ahead," Akihito said Wednesday. "I pray that we will all take care of each other and overcome this tragedy."

The 77-year-old emperor expressed his own deep concern about the "unpredictable" nuclear crisis. "With the help of those involved I hope things will not get worse," he said.

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Gregory Jaczko said at a congressional hearing in Washington that all the water is gone from the spent fuel storage pond of Fukushima Dai-ichi's Unit 4 reactor, but Japanese officials denied it. Hajime Motojuku, a spokesman for plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co., said the "condition is stable" at Unit 4.

Earlier, however, another utility spokesman said officials' greatest concerns were the spent fuel pools, which lack the protective shells that reactors have.

Japanese officials raised hopes of easing the crisis, saying early Thursday that they may be close to bringing power back to the plant and restoring the reactors' cooling systems. The earthquake and tsunami knocked out power and ruined backup generators.

The new power line would revive electric-powered pumps, allowing the company to control the rising temperatures and pressure that have led to at least partial meltdowns in three reactors. The company is also trying to repair its existing disabled power line.

Tokyo Electric Power spokesman Naoki Tsunoda said the new power line to the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant is almost finished and that officials plan to try it "as soon as possible," but he could not say exactly when.

About 180 emergency workers have been working in shifts to manually pump seawater into the overheating reactors to cool them and stave off complete meltdowns. They were emerging as heroes as their sacrifices became clearer, and as they stepped into circumstances in which no radiation suit could completely protect them.

Japan's health ministry made what it described as an "unavoidable" change Wednesday, more than doubling the amount of radiation to which the workers can be legally exposed.

"I don't know any other way to say it, but this is like suicide fighters in a war," said Keiichi Nakagawa, associate professor of the Department of Radiology at the University of Tokyo Hospital.

Read more

More On The Reactors

There are two helicopters now working above Reactor 3 - NHK television. Each is capable of dropping 7.5 tonnes of water, it says.

Can see a white curtain of water dropping on the reactor from a helicopter, live on NHK TV.

It was feared yesterday that Reactor 3 might have released radioactive steam due to damage to its containment vessel.

Just saw a third load of water spraying from a chopper. Seems it was aimed at Reactor 4.

Now a 4th load has been dropped.

This is no easy task for the chopper crews. They can't afford to hover above the reactors because of the radiation so they are making the drops in passing.

These are CH-47 Chinook helicopters. Each would normally have a crew of three: pilot, co-pilot and flight engineer.

The reason Reactor 3 got the first shower is because of escaping smoke or steam, indicating water evaporating from the cooling pool, Reuters news agency notes.

And US nuclear experts believe there is no water left in Reactor 4's cooling pool, meaning radiation levels are extremely high there.

Let's recall what top US nuclear official Gregory Jaczko had to say about the risks facing the crews fighting to cool down the reactors: "It would be very difficult for emergency workers to get near the reactors. The doses they could experience would potentially be lethal doses in a very short period of time."

A lead plate is attached to the bottom of each chopper and the crew are wearing protective suits - NHK.

Eleven water cannon trucks are also on their way to the plant - NHK.

BBC

Water Being Applied To Reactors

A Tokyo police unit is preparing to use water cannon this morning to cool down Reactor 4 at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, Japanese broadcaster NHK reports. The police say they are acting at the government's request.

Japan's defence ministry has given the go-ahead for spraying water on the reactor from helicopters - Japan's Kyodo news agency

A Japanese army helicopter is now dropping water on Reactor 3-- more helicopters are on their way to dump water on the reactor.

BBC

Middletown Woman Arrested After Leaving Her Child

Location:  Valero Gas Station, 891 S. DuPont Highway, New Castle, DE

Date of Occurrence:  Wednesday, March 16, 2011 at 11:30 a.m.

Victim:  4 year old New Castle, DE female

Defendant: Jennifer Holmwood, 28, Middletown, DE

Charges:

-Reckless Endangering

-DUI (Fifth Offense)

Resume:  

New Castle- The Delaware State Police have arrested a 28 year old Middletown woman after she left her 4 year old daughter at a New Castle gas station late this morning.

The incident occurred at approximately 11:30 a.m. this morning as Jennifer Holmwood of the 200 block of Oak Acres Drive in Middletown, pulled her vehicle into the Valero Fuel Station located in the 800 block of S. DuPont Highway in New Castle in order to get gas. Holmwood escorted her four year old daughter to a portable bathroom outside of the fuel station, and then returned to her vehicle. Holmwood then drove off in her vehicle, leaving the four year old behind. Another customer of the station saw the child alone and escorted her inside where police were then contacted.

Troopers then escorted the juvenile to Troop 9 where they attempted to obtain her parents information. As this was occurring, troopers were called to respond to Lorewood Grove Road and Ratledge Road in Middletown where Jennifer Holmwood’s vehicle had become disabled. A passing motorist, who stopped to assist Holmwood, was advised by her that she could not find her daughter. The motorist then contacted 911 and it was then that responding troopers realized that Jennifer Holmwood was the mother of the four year old female.

Jennifer Holmwood was arrested and charged with the above crimes. The four year old juvenile was turned over to family members. She was not injured.

Bail information and a photo of Jennifer Holmwood are not available at this time.

Heroic Japanese Reactor Workers On 'Suicide Mission'

Japanese workers who are “not afraid to die” are struggling to head off a nuclear disaster at the stricken Fukushima reactors in an effort some are calling a “suicide mission.”

On Wednesday, 180 workers bravely headed back to the plant to pump water onto the over-heating reactors. They have been rotating in shifts of 50 men, nicknamed the “Fukushima Fifty.”

The workers had been pulled back, but they “later headed back into the reactor for difficult and dangerous work, wearing radiation suits and gas masks or oxygen tanks that provide little protection from the invisible radiation rays bombarding their bodies,” Britain’s Daily mail reported.

A source in contact with the emergency teams told CBS they were “not afraid to die” as they fight to stave off a meltdown.

Dr. Michio Kaku, a theoretical physicist, told ABC News: “We’re very close now to the point of no return. It’s gotten worse. We’re talking about workers coming into the reactor perhaps as a suicide mission and we may have to abandon ship.”

“They have volunteered, or been assigned, to pump seawater on dangerously exposed nuclear fuel.”

David Lochbaum, a nuclear safety expert with the Union of Concerned scientists, also said the workers could be on a suicide mission. He told National Public radio that radiation levels at some locations in the reactors “would be high enough that you would receive a lethal dose in something like 16 seconds.”

And Dr. Chandon Guha, a radiation expert at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, said of the reactor workers: “These are heroes.”

Read more

The Great Pollitt Pension Mystery

Did you know that Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt will earn a pension from the taxpayers of Wicomico County? Don’t feel bad, it seems that the Wicomico County Council didn’t know either.



A question was raised at yesterday’s council meeting as to who approved Pollitt’s pension. From the convoluted answers provided by county HR director Mike Thompson to councilwomen Gail Bartkovich and Stevie Prettyman, it appears that Pollitt may have approved the pension on his own. First Thompson cited a 2003 change to the county personnel manual. When that explanation failed (there wasn’t a county executive in 2003), Thompson claimed that council had to “disapprove” any changes. Councilwoman Stevie Prettyman slapped that down by citing the county charter, which requires all personnel manual changes be APPROVED by council. After a couple other tries, we heard the word “typo” mumbled by either Thompson or County Administrator Ted Shea.

Personnally, I don’t have a huge problem with the County Executive or council members being allowed to participate in the pension plan. What I have a problem with is the Executive, or his cronies, circumventing council AND the county charter.

That said, this trick / “oversight” will wind up costing Pollitt 4 – 8 years of pension benefits - depending on how you look at things and assuming that council is willing to grant the executive a pension after all. The Maryland constitution forbids altering an elected official’s compensation during his / her term of office. IF council wishes to grant him pension benefits, AND acts during this term, they can’t take effect until the next term – which begins in 2014.

City/MDE Partnership On "Linens" Building Moves Forward

Salisbury Mayor James Ireton, Jr. is pleased to announce that the Maryland Department of the Environment will be on site twice in the coming week at the "Linens of the Week" property on Anne Street in the Church Street neighborhood in Salisbury.

MDE will be on site Friday, March 18
th to first coordinate with Miss Utility and mark the areas where they will dig. Then March 22nd they will retrieve soil samples from different areas on the property.

GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY PRESENTS FEDERAL PRIORITIES TO MARYLAND’S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION

WASHINGTON, DC (March 16, 2011) – Governor Martin O’Malley joined by members of the Executive Cabinet travelled to Capitol Hill today to formally present Maryland’s 2011 federal priorities to the State’s Congressional delegation.  Hosted by Senator Barbara Mikulski, Chair of the Maryland Delegation, and attended by the full Maryland Congressional delegation, Governor O’Malley presented priorities that create jobs and opportunity, protect the public’s safety, advance environmental sustainability, protect the health of all Marylanders, and help rebuild Maryland’s infrastructure.

“To make our children winners in the fight for our economic future, we must make the tough choices to spur innovation and create and save jobs, while improving public safety, public education and our quality of life,” said Governor O’Malley.  “Together with our federal partners, we can advance these initiatives and be a winner in this new economy.”

Governor O’Malley outlined the state’s federal priorities to reflect the Administration’s 15 strategic goals.  The goals were created during the O’Malley-Brown Administration’s first term to improve the quality of life in Maryland.  They are broadly categorized in four key areas – creating opportunity, security, sustainability and health, reflecting the challenges and opportunities we face as a state in the 21^st Century and in the new economy.

“These are tough times – Marylanders are stretched and strained. I want them to know I’m on their side, and so is the rest of the Maryland delegation,” Senator Mikulski said. “We have to make smart decisions to keep our innovation economy moving. We need to fight for jobs today and train our workforce for the jobs of tomorrow. I’m proud to work with Governor O’Malley to meet the day-to-day needs of Maryland and the long-term needs of our nation.”

The Governor highlighted specific areas for federal action, including:

Creating Jobs & Opportunity

Governor O’Malley outlined a number of important initiatives related to job creation and expanding opportunity, including the multi-year reauthorization of surface transportation programs that focus on transit-oriented development, improving passenger, and commuter and freight rail infrastructure.

In addition, Governor O’Malley urged support for President Obama’s call to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act in order to leverage record state investments in the education of our children, and supplement the reforms laid out in Maryland’s Race to the Top Award.

Governor O’Malley also proposed the creation of competitive grants through the Workforce Investment Act for the innovation economy, preparing workers for high-growth, high-demand industries such as cyber security and biotechnology and investment in BRAC related projects and jobs.

Additionally, the Governor asked members to protect federal agencies that provide research grants and support federal programs and initiatives that spur innovation such as the America COMPETES Act and the Obama Administration’s Startup America.

Advancing Public Safety & Homeland Security

Governor O’Malley urged the maintenance of funding for the Byrne-JAG program, which will help achieve the Administration’s goal of reducing violent crime by 20% by 2012 and reducing violent crime against women and children by 25% by 2012.

In addition, Governor O’Malley urged the maintenance of funding levels for Maryland’s share of key Homeland Security Grant Programs so the state may continue to make progress on becoming a national leader in homeland security and preparedness.

Advancing Environmental Sustainability

Governor O’Malley outlined three legislative priorities to advance the Administration’s many sustainability-related goals.  Passage of the Chesapeake Clean Water and Ecosystem Restoration Act would help ensure that Bay restoration efforts remain a high priority for the EPA and that the watershed states are held accountable for successful implementation of their plans to achieve the pollution reduction targets.  To achieve the Administration’s goal of restoring the health of the Chesapeake Bay by 2020, the Governor urged support for critically needed nitrogen reduction technology for the Blue Plains Wastewater Treatment Plant.

In addition, Governor O’Malley encouraged extending incentives to attract offshore wind development to waters off Maryland’s coast, an initiative the Governor is also pursuing on the state level.

Advancing the Health of Marylanders

The Governor requested maintenance of funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program at the level of $5.1 billion recognizing the impact of the economy and high costs of all sources of energy on vulnerable households.  

The Governor’s full presentation to the delegation can be viewed here.

A complete list of priorities the Governor submitted to the Delegation is available here.

BREAKING: Four New York Times Reporters Missing In Libya

It has been reported that 4 New York Times Journalists have been missing since yesterday in Libya. They do not know if they were together or not. More to come.....

Massive Online Pedophile Ring Busted By Cops

Five Americans are among 184 people arrested so far; 230 abused children, some as young as seven, have been taken to safety

An Internet pedophile ring with up to 70,000 members — thought to be the world's largest —has been uncovered by police, a security official said Wednesday.

The European police agency Europol said in a statement that "Operation Rescue" had identified 670 suspects and that 230 abused children in 30 countries had been taken to safety. More children are expected to be found, Europol said.

It said that so far 184 people had been arrested and investigations in some countries were continuing. Most of those detained are suspected of direct involvement in sexually abusing children.

They include teachers, police officers and scout leaders, AP reported. One Spaniard who worked at summer youth camps is suspected of abusing some 100 children over five years.

Europol director Rob Wainwright said Wednesday the ring, which communicated using an Internet forum, was was "probably the largest online pedophile network in the world."

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'Slow-Moving Nightmare' Unfolds At Japan Nuclear Plant

European Union's energy chief says nuke plant is 'effectively out of control'

TOKYO — Japan's nuclear crisis appeared to be spinning out of control on Wednesday after workers withdrew briefly from a stricken power plant because of surging radiation levels and a helicopter failed to drop water on the most troubled reactor.

In a sign of desperation, crews planned to try to cool spent nuclear fuel at one of the facility's reactors with water cannons, normally used to quell riots.

Early in the day, another fire broke out at the earthquake-crippled facility, which has sent low levels of radiation wafting into Tokyo, triggering fear in the capital and international alarm.

Japan's government said radiation levels outside the plant's gates were stable but appealed to private companies to help deliver supplies to tens of thousands of people evacuated from around the complex.

"People would not be in immediate danger if they went outside with these levels. I want people to understand this," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano told a televised news conference, referring to people living outside an 18-mile exclusion zone. Some 140,000 people inside the zone have been told to stay indoors.

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A Message From Chuck Campbell

Wandering the hospital hallways. YIPEEEEE. A little winded in this picture right after the patient olympics where I cleaned up in the IV pole races!

NPR On GOP’s Chopping Block On Thursday

National Public Radio will face public scrutiny again on Thursday as House Republicans are set to eliminate the publicly-funded radio network’s taxpayer subsidies. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, a Virginia Republican, will bring a standalone bill that completely defunds NPR to the floor Thursday afternoon. Congressman Doug Lamborn, Colorado Republican, is cosponsoring the bill, HR 1076.

A spokeswoman for Cantor told The Daily Caller that the reasoning behind bringing this defunding bill forward when HR 1, the long-term Continuing Resolution that would fund the government through the end of this fiscal year,  is because it defunds the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. NPR receives federal funding from other agencies and government sources and she said HR 1076 would cut those off.

GOP calls for cutting the flow of tax dollars into NPR renewed last week after conservative James O’Keefe released footage showing senior NPR executives bashing conservatives, saying Jewish people “obviously” control America’s newspapers and admitting that NPR would survive without the taxpayer money.

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