U.S. Must Borrow Another $5,240 Per Household Just to Fund Gov't at Through Sept. 30

President Barack Obama and congressional leaders seeking to negotiate a deal to increase the legal limit on the federal government’s debt, would need to agree to increase that debt by $615.865 billion between now and Sept. 30, just to keep the government going at current spending levels, according to the CBO’s latest estimate of the fiscal 2011 deficit and the Treasury Department’s latest accounting of the federal debt.

Given that the Census Bureau estimates there are now 117,538,000 households in the United States that means the federal government must borrow an additional $5,239.71 per American household just to maintain the current federal spending level through Sept. 30.

The $615.865 billion in new debt needed between now and Sept. 30 (the last day of fiscal 2011) will decrease only to the degree that Obama and Boehner and the other congressional leaders agree to cut near-term federal spending that is scheduled to take place between now and Sept. 30.

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Homeowner’s Association Hit By Sting of Abandoned Houses

With a sea of homes left empty by erstwhile homeowners who couldn't afford the mortgage, a number of homeowner associations around the country have are stuck having to pay for the upkeep on vacant properties lest the value of the remaining homes be harmed any further.

And these HOAs must find ways to pay for this maintenance without collecting any dues from the former tenants. That means higher dues for the remaining owners.

"There was a foreclosure unattended for such a long time with a pool so dirty it could have created a haven for West Nile virus. So we had to get a pool service to come treat it," one HOA president tells the Atlanta Journal Constitution about his organization's ordeal. Just two vacant homes in his neighborhood have cost the HOA $23K in labor and lost dues.

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Missing Dog In Delmar: UPDATE

DOG MISSING IN DELMAR MARYLAND

NEAR ADKINS AND WALLER ROAD. SINCE 7 PM LAST NIGHT.

APPROX 90 LBS., LARGE BROWN AND WHITE MIXED BREED

.

ANSWERS TO PUGZY, HE IS 12 YEARS OLD AND MOVES RATHER SLOWLY.

HE IS FRIENDLY BUT PROBABLY VERY SCARED RIGHT NOW.

IF ANYONE HAS SEEN HIM OR HAS ANY INFO

PLEASE CONTACT MARG AT 443-614-4096

NRSC Falsely Accuses Kaine of Not Supporting Drill Bill

Twenty hours after former Gov. Timothy M. Kaine applauded legislation to allow oil and natural gas drilling off the coast of Virginia, the National Republican Senatorial Committee was still accusing him of standing against the measure.

Sens. Jim Webb and Mark R. Warner, both Virginia Democrats, on Wednesday introduced the Virginia Outer Continental Shelf Energy Production Act of 2011, which would provide that half of any leasing revenues be funneled to the state for various projects.

That afternoon, Kaine and Allen sent out statements in support of the measure. Hours later, the NRSC took a swing at Kaine, suggesting he "stands to the left" of the senators by not supporting the bill.

"It's no surprise to see liberal former DNC Chairman Tim Kaine once again standing far outside the mainstream in Virginia," said NRSC spokesman Chris Bond.

Kaine spokeswoman Brandi Hoffine said: "I know these guys like to attack without regard for the truth, but this is ridiculous by even their standards. In the spirit of bipartisan cooperation, I'm happy to add them to our press list so they know what they're talking about before their next attack."

from Wesley P. Hester @ the Richmond Times-Dispatch

Md. Highway Officials Abused, Benefited From State Contracts, Audit Says

Former high-level officials in a Maryland department responsible for doling out tens of millions of dollars in transportation projects accepted money from, or later worked for, companies awarded lucrative taxpayer-funded projects, according to a state audit.

A senior manager in the State Highway Administration, who ran an out-of-state company promoting sporting events, sought money from contractors for a golf tournament before handing out public dollars to the same companies, the Maryland Office of Legislative Audits concluded.

Legislative Auditor Bruce Myers also wrote in the report that highway administration officials "did not ensure firms complied with state ethics laws regarding the hiring and subsequent involvement of former SHA employees."

According to the auditor, another SHA manager helped arrange a $16 million contract for an engineering firm, which then gave him a job just 12 days after he retired from the government post. State policy prohibits a former employee from having "direct or indirect interest" in a contract for at least one year after employment.

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Nye Will Not Seek Re-Match With Rigell

Glenn Nye, the former one-term congressman from Hampton Roads, has announced that he will not run in 2012 for the 2nd District seat he lost last year to Republican Rep. Scott Rigell.

The Democrat said he had received "many calls and messages urging me to run for Congress or other office in Virginia."

Nye works on foreign-affairs issues as a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States. He also is a member of the board of directors at Vetshouse, a nonprofit organization that serves homeless veterans in Hampton Roads.

The German Marshall Fund of the U.S. describes itself as a nonpartisan American public policy and grantmaking institution dedicated to promoting better understanding and cooperation between North America and Europe.

from Andrew Cain @ the Richmond Times-Dispatch

Does Maryland Need a BIGGER Legislature?

Today’s Daily Times brings back an issue that keeps raising its head at least every time Maryland must re-draw its legislative boundaries – the fact that Caroline County does not have a resident legislator.  This situation could also apply to Somerset and /or Wicomico counties depending on how the lines are drawn next year.

In theory it sounds so good – make sure that each county has at least one delegate.  Unfortunately, there are only two ways that this can happen:

• The US Supreme Court reverses itself on its “one man – one vote” decisions of the 1960’s AND the Western Shore legislators were stupid enough to go back to the old days of each county getting 1 Senator and at least 3 Delegates.  or …
• You increase the size of the House of Delegates dramatically (it already has 141 members) so that each county has at least one legislative district.

Guess what?  Neither is ever going to happen.  While the federal decisions which stopped Maryland (and other states) from having legislative districts along the same lines as the US House and Senate were wrong (How can they be unconstitutional when the Constitution explicitly calls for that type of apportionment at the Federal level?), the court is unlikely to reverse itself.  Even if it did, the legislators from the Baltimore-DC corridor are unlikely to ever go back to the days when the Eastern Shore, Southern Maryland, and Harford County controlled the legislature.

What about option 2?  First, do we REALLY want more people going to Annapolis to tax and spend us into the poor house?  Second, because of the aforementioned court decisions and the need for minority apportionment it is doubtful that you could draw lines which would GUARANTEE that counties like Caroline would have a resident delegate.

The best solution for us all is to have single member districts.  Don’t expect the legislature to go that route either.  This usually means more Republicans are elected and we all know how well that would fly.

Toll Increase Not In Shore’s Best Interest

Last month, Gov. Martin O'Malley's administration made its final proposal for a massive toll hike that will more than triple the price to cross the Bay Bridge, from $2.50 to a whopping $8. Even larger toll increases are planned for trucks.

The bridge has already fully paid for itself and its maintenance, and even generated a $10 million surplus last year. That means that these proposed new toll increases are not user fees -- they are tax hikes. I oppose these hikes because, in the midst of the worst recession since the Great Depression, they will hurt Lower Shore job creators, businesses and families.

The reason for this massive tax hike is simple: The state spends way too much on mass transit projects that lose money -- and is planning to build even more. During his re-election campaign last year, O'Malley promised to build yet another urban mass transit project around Washington, even though there never was a funding source to pay for it.

Now, with the election over, the governor wants to divide Maryland by forcing the Eastern Shore -- a place where he did not receive many votes -- to pay for urban transit projects in places where he received most of his votes.

Whether it's a toll hike or the proposed gas tax increase, those of us who drive on the Shore will be paying for riders on light rail in Washington and Baltimore who aren't paying the cost of their transportation.

The result of these toll hikes will be devastating to our economy and will destroy jobs on the Lower Shore. I've spoken to folks in the poultry industry who rely heavily on trucks that cross the Bay Bridge every day to transport grain and finished products. Ocean City businesses depend on tourists from the western shore to meet their bottom lines. Families that fill up gas tank every day need gasoline from refineries across the bay.

If we triple the amount it costs to cross the bridge, it will mean higher unemployment, higher prices on the Shore and less money in your pocket.

Although this tax hike is being proposed at the state level, Maryland does depend on the federal government for millions of dollars in transportation money. As a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I have spoken to the chairman to investigate whether options exist to prevent Maryland from raising these tolls on rural areas. Why should we send hundreds of millions of federal highway dollars to Maryland when it turns around and taxes drivers to build mass transit instead of roads?

I will continue to stand up for you even when the big spenders in Annapolis won't. On Thursday, the O'Malley administration will hold a public hearing on the toll increases at Stephen Decatur Middle School in Berlin. I urge you to participate in these hearings and have your voice heard. Thanks for the opportunity to serve you.

from Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD)

Wallops Re-Schedules Launch for Today

Officials have once again scrubbed the launch of experimental rockets from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia's Eastern Shore.

Spokesman Keith Koehler says Saturday's scheduled launch was delayed because of cloud cover at the optical site in Charlottesville and weak ionosphere activity. The launch was rescheduled until 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday.

It was the third time the launch has been delayed. Weather issues prompted previous launch attempts to be scrubbed on Wednesday and Thursday.

The rockets are part of a project to study neutral and charged particles in the ionosphere where communications and global-positioning satellites send their signals.

from the Richmond Times-Dispatch /  AP

Radtke Would Abolish Airports Authority

Tea party Republican U.S. Senate candidate Jamie Radtke has unveiled a proposal to abolish the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and give the state the option to operate the Dulles Toll Road,Washington Dulles International Airport and Reagan Washington National Airport.

Radtke said the authority's spending for the Dulles Metrorail Project "is largely funded by Virginians in Loudoun and Fairfax counties and those who use the Dulles Toll Road. Yet MWAA is not accountable to the people of the commonwealth of Virginia or their elected representatives, or for that matter to any federal agency or entity."

Radtke said that in 2006, then-Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, now a Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, gave the airports authority "unfettered power and control of the Dulles Toll Road and its revenues, without General Assembly or congressional approval, expanding MWAA's congressionally chartered role of operating and expanding Dulles International and Reagan National airports."

The MWAA board's decision to build an underground station at Washington Dulles International Airport and its escalating cost has led many to second-guess the decision to transfer authority of the Dulles Metrorail project to MWAA, though Kaine's decision had broad bipartisan support at the time, including that of Republican George Allen, now another Senate candidate.

"Governor Kaine continues to support the position of the local governments in Fairfax and Loudoun counties who have said this project will cost too much if built underground and urges the airport authorities to be responsive to their concerns," said Kaine spokeswoman Brandi Hoffine.

from Wesley P. Hester @ the Richmond Times-Dispatch

Officials Dedicate 26 Mile Trail Along Nanticoke River

A lazily flowing Nanticoke River made a splash of its own Saturday as state and federal officials formally commissioned a 26-mile ecotourism trail along a waterway that ranks as one of the state's most-unspoiled and biologically diverse.

Conservation, government and history groups collaborated on development of the water trail, centered on Delaware's 26-mile portion of the river, which extends an additional 37 miles through Maryland to the Chesapeake Bay. Much of the land along both sides is lightly settled, agricultural or undeveloped, with thousands of acres protected under natural or wildlife-area designations.

"Once you get around the bend here and get beyond the old DuPont plant, it's as close as we get to wilderness," said Chaz Salkin, Delaware's Division of Parks and Recreation director. "It's pretty amazing."

Delaware produced four water-tolerant maps detailing its stretch of the trail, in cooperation with the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network, National Park Service and Chesapeake Conservancy, among others. More are expected to follow as Maryland adds to its own program.

READ MORE …

AFSCME to Charge Non-Members $360 Per Year

Earlier this week we ran a post explaining that state employee union would be able to charge non-members a “fee” for all of those great “services” the union provides.  It was estimated that the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) could receive a windfall of up to $4.7 million.

Julie Bycowicz reports in the Baltimore Sun that state employees who are covered by an AFSCME contract but are non-members will be charged $360 per year.  That’s money that will be deducted directly from employees’ paychecks.

That’s America!

2.4 Million Fewer Americans Working Now Than When Obama Signed PORKULUS

There were approximately 2.4 million fewer Americans working in June 2011 than there were when President Barack Obama signed the economic stimulus bill on Feb. 17, 2009, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

According to the BLS, there were approximately 141.68 million people counted as “employed” in America back in February 2009. By June of 2011, that number had fallen to approximately 139.33 million, yielding a net reduction in jobs of approximately 2.4 million.

When the economic stimulus – the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act -- was created, Obama promised that the then-$787-billion spending package would create or save 3.5 million jobs, saying it would preserve the “American dream” for millions of people.

“We have begun the essential work of keeping the American dream alive in our time,” Obama said on Feb. 17, 2009 in a speech marking the signing of the stimulus bill.

READ MORE …

Casey Anthony Case Inspires Maryland Legislation

Stunned by the not-guilty verdicts this week in Florida's Casey Anthony murder case, Maryland Sen. Nancy Jacobs wants to make it a felony for a parent not to report the death of a child.

Jacobs said dozens of outraged constituents have contacted her and asked her to do something. The Senate minority leader said she is drafting a bill to present in the next legislative session.

She's now examining criminalizing the failure of a parent, guardian or legal caretaker to inform authorities that a child has gone missing or has died -- new crime categories that several local top prosecutors said could prove helpful to them.

A Florida jury acquitted Anthony of murder and child abuse in the death of 2-year-old Caylee, convicting her only of less-serious charges related to lying to the police. A judge today sentenced the 25-year-old to four years, the maximum sentence under the law. Because of the time she served while awaiting trial, she is set to be released July 13.

While jurors who have talked to the media said prosecutors did not present enough evidence to prove murder or abuse beyond a reasonable doubt, those involved with the case, including Anthony's defense attorneys, agree the young mother did not report her child's death in a timely manner.

READ MORE …

Super Fresh, Union Stun Retirees

Dozens of Delaware workers lost their jobs last week when two downstate SuperFresh grocery stores closed in the wake of their parent company's bankruptcy.

But the fallout didn't stop there.

Retirees of those stores -- one in Milford, the other in Dover -- received notice that they would be losing their health insurance. According to retirees of the Milford store, letters arrived June 29, just one day before they lost their health benefits. Dated June 24, the letters came from the union that represented the store's workers -- the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 27, based in Maryland.

The news of canceled coverage stunned workers and left many scrambling for replacement coverage.

"I was shocked," said Edwina Sloane, 68, who retired as a cashier from the Milford SuperFresh in 1997. Sloane said she has health coverage through Medicare, the federal government's health care program for the elderly. But she relied on her SuperFresh coverage for pricey prescription coverage.

"To begin with, I think they could have had the decency to give us more notice, if it had to happen," Sloane said.

READ MORE …

Union’s First Black Hero May Have Been a Delaware Man

The Union's first black hero of the Civil War wasn't one of the African-American soldiers of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, famously depicted in the 1989 film "Glory," but rather a merchant ship's cook born in Delaware who took up arms to prevent being sold into slavery after a Confederate raider captured his vessel.

At least that's the reckoning of some historians and a pair of upstate New York-based documentary producers who have included William Tillman's story in their new film on the short-but-prolific wartime record of the brig Jefferson Davis, a Southern privateer that seized several Union ships in the opening months of the war.

"He certainly ranks among the top half-dozen African-American heroes of the Civil War as far as I'm concerned," said Gerald Henig, professor emeritus of history at California State University, East Bay, in the San Francisco Bay area.

"This is a guy who falls between the cracks," said Joe Zarzynski, a retired history teacher from Wilton, N.Y., and co-producer of the documentary film released earlier this year. "We have our pantheon of heroes for the Civil War, and this guy should be there."

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Still Clouds Over Delaware’s “Sunshine Law”

Plenty of shadows remain across local governments and school districts some 35 years after passage of Delaware's Sunshine Law, one of the state's leading good-government groups concluded recently.

In a statewide audit of Freedom of Information Act compliance, the League of Women Voters of Delaware found wide variation in the time needed to answer requests for records and the completeness of responses. Though routine meeting records were widely available, only about half of the FOIA processes used by 40 different agencies were considered "user-friendly."

Several agencies asked to be given reasons for information requests, despite the law's unqualified requirement for release.

"We got the agenda and minutes and budgets pretty well, but there was a lot of resistance to salary and expense accounts," said Margaret M. McKay, FOIA project chairman for the league.

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The “Innocence Snuff Film”

Actor David Schwimmer, best known as the sad-sack Ross Geller on the hit ‘90s sitcom “Friends,” is now bemoaning the sex-saturated Hollywood business atmosphere and its corrosive effects on society, and women in particular. The first question many Hollywood critics should ask: Isn’t it curious that Schwimmer would care about this issue – after he earned a million dollars per episode on one of the most sex-obsessed sitcoms of all time?

Schwimmer granted an interview to the British newspaper the Telegraph promoting his new film”Trust,” which opened July 8. “Sex sells and unfortunately there’s this inbuilt hypocrisy in our society: we’re always talking about how inappropriate it is to see an older man with a very young girl but at the same time all our advertising is based on that,” he said.

He asserted that “both here and in the UK, we have this real emphasis on how important it is to look young and sexual, so that’s the message we’re sending our girls. Look at the biggest pop stars around at the moment: everything they do is about sex.”

Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Rihanna? Check, check, and check.

READ MORE …

Editor’s Choice – 07/10/2011

These were the five (5) best, or most important, posts for July 9th, as judged by the editors of Salisbury News.

• Historical Comment by George Chevallier 
  
• Maryland State Pension Commission Wraps Up 
  
• Re-Districting Fix Is In 
  
• Counties Close Budget Gap in Different Ways 
  
• Woman Faces Jail for Planting Vegetable Garden in Yard

Reader’s Choice – 07/10/2011

These were the most popular posts for July 9th, judged by the most approved comments.

• Today’s Survey Question - Should Major League Baseball players be banned from tossing balls into the stands?
  
• Historical Comments by George Chevallier 
  
• Maryland State Pension Commission Wraps Up 
  
• Woman Faces Jail for Planting Vegetable Garden in Yard 
  
• Delegate’s Bar Raided

REAL Unemployment Rate Rises to 16.2 Percent

The real unemployment rate rose to 16.2 percent in June, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported on Friday, marking a return to levels not seen since January 2011.

The “real” unemployment rate is technically a combination of three measures of unemployment: the unemployment rate, the number of people working part-time who want full-time work, and the number of people “marginally attached” to the workforce.

Those who have left the workforce but would still like to be employed are considered marginally attached.

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Liberals, Democrats More Likely to Disbelieve Bible

Liberals and Democrats are more likely than conservatives, moderates, Republicans and independents to believe the Bible is nothing more than a book of fables and legends made up by man, according to a new Gallup poll.

Since George Washington was inaugurated in 1789, American presidents have traditionally placed their left hand on the Bible when they take the oath of office and swear to defend the Constitution of the United States.

Uniquely, President Barack Obama took the oath of office twice. The first time, at his formal inauguration ceremony on Jan. 20, 2009, Chief Justice John Roberts made a mistake in the wording of the oath--which is prescribed by the Constitution--and Obama followed him in making the error. At thate event, Obama placed his left hand on the Bible while taking the oath. The next night at the White House, Chief Justice Roberts again administered the oath to Obama, this time wording it correctly. When Obama took the oath a second time, however, he did not place his hand on the Bible.

READ MORE ….

Camden Teen Accused of Carjacking

A 17-year-old Camden boy is charged with hitting a woman in the head and stealing her car, state police said.

It happened about 10:35 p.m. Thursday when the 53-year-old victim was leaving for work in the 600 block of Rising Sun Road in Camden, said police Officer Bruce W. Harris.

The teen approached the woman with a handgun, threatened to shoot her and demanded her car keys, Harris said.

He struck her several times in the head before taking off in her 2001 Suzuki Grand Vitara.

An anonymous source helped officers identify the teen who was arrested at his home in the first block of Lingo Drive.

He was charged with carjacking and four other offenses and committed to the Stevenson Detention Center on $57,000 bail.

from the Wilmington News Journal

Loyola Win GOP Nod to Challenge Northam

Virginia Beach businessman Benito “Ben” Loyola Jr. will challenge Sen. Ralph Northam, D-Norfolk, for the state’s 6th Senate District seat.

Loyola was nominated on the first ballot at a Republican convention Saturday in Norfolk, prevailing over Joanne Lapetina, an emergency room physician from Ocean View. A native of Cuba and a Navy veteran, Loyola last year unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination in the 2nd congressional district.

By virtue of his selection to run in the November election, Loyola becomes the 27th Republican nominee for state Senate this year. Party candidates have announced in 35 of the 40 state Senate districts, part of a targeted effort by the GOP to regain control of the Senate, where Democrats hold a 22-18 majority.

Loyola now pivots to the general election challenge of unseating Northam in the 6th District, which includes portions of Norfolk and Virginia Beach, and all of the Eastern Shore and Mathews County.

from Julian Walker @ the Virginian-Pilot

Group Fights Don’t Frighten Reboboth Beach

Crime in this summer beach resort is nothing new. There are thefts, robberies and burglaries every year as thousands upon thousands of visitors pour into the packed streets.

But this summer, police have encountered a new type of crime -- large-group fights that have broken out on or near the boardwalk, the chief symbol of the family-friendly resort town.

Police Chief Keith Banks said two group fights, both involving male juveniles, have taken place since mid-June. In the most recent brawl, taking place before a large crowd just before the Fourth of July fireworks went off, a teenager was stun-gunned by a police officer before being taken into custody. And a June 18 fight that was broken up and then reformed blocks away has been linked to gangs, he said.

"This is a little more scary, because these are young males fighting on each other, and it seems like there are no patterns," Banks said.

Some residents say they're not too concerned, however.

READ MORE …

Joke Of The Day !

Rough Times

When a woman in my office became engaged, a colleague offered her some advice. "The first ten years are the hardest," she said.

"How long have you been married?" I asked.

"Ten years," she replied.

New Sussex County House And Senate Seats Approved

Dover — A bill that will change Delaware elections for the next decade passed both chambers of the 146th General Assembly in the closing days of session. The legislation finalizes the reconfiguration of 21 Senatorial and 41 Representative districts to include a new district in the Cape Region in both houses.

Representative District 20 will move from Hockessin in northern New Castle County to Sussex County, where it will include Lewes, Milton and Harbeson. The proposal will also change House District 37 to encompass all of Georgetown, meaning the Hispanic population will rise from more than 17 percent to more than 19 percent.

Senate District 6 will move from northern New Castle County to Sussex County. The district will contain Dewey Beach, Rehoboth Beach, Henlopen Acres, Lewes and Milton. None of Sussex County’s sitting Senators live in the area that will become the new district.

The Senate also modified Republican Sen. Joe Booth’s District 19 to include a Hispanic population of more than 15 percent.

The 50-page bill, which spelled out the boundaries of House and Senate districts, passed the House on June 28. Twenty-six Democrats approved the bill; 10 Republicans voted against passage of the bill and five Republicans did not vote.

More

Drunk Drivers Face Stronger Penalties

Dover — Drunk drivers will face stiffer penalties under new Delaware legislation.

The law calls for longer prison sentences for drivers who have been convicted of Driving Under the Influence three or more times. The legislation also offers to cut those sentences in half in exchange for participation in drug and alcohol treatment and monitoring.

House Bill 168, sponsored by Rep. Helene Keeley, D-Wilmington South, and Sen. Patricia Blevins, D-Elsmere, passed unanimously through the House June 28, and passed through the Senate June 30, in a vote of 19-2.

Under the bill, second-time offenders will face stronger penalties if the second DUI occurred within 10 years of the first DUI. Formerly, penalties would have been enhanced only if the two offenses occurred within a five-year period.


More

TRAFFIC ALERT: Accident on Eastbound Side of Bay Bridge

An accident has occurred on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge on the old (eastbound) span.  One lane is closed.  The MDTA has opened an eastbound lane on the new span.

TRAFFIC ALERT: Boat Leaves Trailer West of Easton

On the eastbound side of US 50, west of Easton, a tractor-trailer hauling a boat has parted company with the boat.  The tractor-trailer AND the boat are currently off on the shoulder.  However, expect delays.

HISTORICAL COMMENTS BY GEORGE CHEVALLIER

History of Railroading in Salisbury

The first attempt at putting a railroad on the Eastern Shore was when the Eastern Shore Railroad obtained a charter in 1836. They even had money printed and the few remaining examples of this currency are extremely rare today, though some are known to exist. The Panic of 1837 scuttled the plans for the building of the railroad until the economy improved.           

           

The Delaware Railroad had reached Delmar by 1859, and the Eastern Shore Railroad brought the line to Salisbury, but the outbreak of the Civil War delayed extending the line past Salisbury until after the war ended. When the war ended, the Eastern Shore Railroad renewed their original plans and ran track to Princess Anne and then on to Somers Cove, which was then renamed Crisfield in honor of the president of the railroad, John W. Crisfield.

           

After several profitable years, and the extension of the line to Pocomoke, the Eastern Shore Railroad failed and its lines were taken over by the New York, Philadelphia and Norfolk Railroad. By 1884, the NYP & N had extended the line down the Peninsula to Cape Charles. Its depot in Salisbury was located on the west side of the tracks between Isabella and Williams streets.

           

Another venture, the Wicomico and Pocomoke Railroad had incorporated in 1864 and completed its first line in 1868. The first terminals were at Salisbury and Berlin but eventually continued on to Ocean City. This company was eventually sold in 1888 to the Baltimore and Eastern Shore Railroad. Then the Baltimore and Eastern Shore Railroad failed financially and their assets were sold at public auction on August 29, 1894. The Baltimore, Chesapeake and Atlantic was formed by new backers who were closely allied with the Pennsylvania Railroad which acquired a controlling interest in 1902. They had a depot in Salisbury separate from the north-south line of the New York, Philadelphia and Norfolk. It was located near where the tracks cross N. Division St.

           

There were two other stops in Salisbury which are now just a faint memory. One was Fulton Station which was located just north of Rt. 50 on the east side of Mill St.. This was used mainly for the import of large purchases by the leading wholesale dealers in the area. The other was Byrd Siding which was located at the far end of W. Main St. where it connects with Nanticoke Road. This was used mainly for shipping the large quantities of produce grown locally.

           

As the use of the railroad grew, a new station was erected in 1914 to replace the two smaller ones. This was named Union Station and the first ticket agent was Rollie W. Hastings. He also sold the last ticket when the Pennsylvania Railroad discontinued passenger service in 1958. He also served Salisbury as mayor from 1950-58.

           

The structure that was Union Station is still standing and is currently owned by brothers Tom and John Knorr who also own The Red Roost in Clara, Boonie’s in Tyaskin and Sobo’s on South Division Street in Salisbury. They planned to restore and put a brew pub in the former Union Station until the impact fees from the city of Salisbury made the project unrealistic.

Today's Survey Question

Should Major League Baseball players be banned from tossing balls into the stands?

Capital Beltwway Truck Inspection Initiative Puts Dozens Out of Service

Beginning last night and continuing into the early morning hours of today, members of the Maryland State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division conducted an intense enforcement initiative targeting unsafe and overweight commercial vehicles in Prince George’s County.

Called “Operation Tailgate,” the effort targeted commercial trucks and buses traveling through Interstate 495 in Prince George’s County. Interstate 495 is one of the identified commercial vehicle high crash corridors in Maryland.

Throughout the night, troopers, truck inspectors, and K-9 units from the State Police, in conjunction with inspectors from the Maryland Department of Environment, Montgomery County Police, and Calvert County Sheriff’s Office, inspected commercial vehicle traffic. Commercial vehicles were directed off the Capital Beltway at Arena Drive, to a temporary inspection and weigh facility at Fed Ex Field.

In addition to the stationary inspection area, numerous State Police commercial vehicle teams patrolled I-495 looking for truck drivers who failed to exit onto Arena Drive as directed by signs. The patrols also conducted enforcement activities on commercial vehicles speeding or other unsafe behavior.

A total of 351 commercial vehicles were inspected. Of those, 35 vehicles were placed out-of-service due to serious equipment violations. Another 25 drivers were placed out-of-service. Twenty of those drivers were shut down because they either had a false logbook or were driving/working beyond the hours permitted by federal regulation. The other four drivers did not have the proper commercial driver’s license. One bus driver was placed out-of-service for being medically unqualified to operate a commercial vehicle.

Troopers issued 108 traffic citations and 128 warnings. Two drivers were arrested on outstanding warrants. The passenger of a commercial truck was arrested for possession of marijuana.

This focused enforcement effort is one in a series of initiatives conducted by the Maryland State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division in cooperation with allied state and local law enforcement and regulatory agencies. The purpose of the ongoing efforts is to ensure trucks, buses, and other commercial vehicles, as well as those who drive them, meet state and federal safety regulations and comply with all laws intended to promote safety on Maryland roads.

Delaware Disqualified from Leftover Federal Highway Dollars

Federal transportation officials have barred Delaware from sharing in this year's annual distribution of leftover highway aid, saying the state failed to spend more than 25 percent, or $87.9 million, of targets set under provisions of the national economic stimulus program.

Gov. Jack Markell received word of the disqualification Thursday. DelDOT Secretary Shailen Bhatt said his agency would likely have requested as much as $7.7 million in additional highway aid under the annual August lottery for unspent aid. Forty-four other states will be eligible to apply for $1 billion in leftover money.

Bhatt said agency planners were aware of the pending sanction and assumed the money would be unavailable during development of the recently approved state capital budget.

READ MORE …

Don't Forget To Visit Door 19 Today in Laurel

Re-Districting Fix Is In

Any hope Gov. Martin O’Malley would follow the lead of other progressive states and implement a fair, nonpartisan redrawing of congressional and state legislative boundaries vanished on the Fourth of July.

Instead of declaring his independence from the strictures and narrow-minded selfishness of partisan politics, O’Malley opted to continue the old, familiar Maryland Democratic game of dictating redistricting lines.

He named a five-member advisory commission that will make it appear as though O’Malley is giving this important matter a full public airing with ample opportunity for citizen input. In fact, the fix is in: Every decision made by this panel will be highly partisan and one-sided.

Bossism, with a modern twist, lives on in Maryland.

Boss O’Malley put his patronage secretary, Jeanne Hitchcock, on the commission to make sure the governor gets everything he wants. Her mission is to please her chief, not to give Republicans or independents a fair shake.

She is joined by two Democratic potentates, House Speaker Mike Busch and Senate President Mike Miller. They, too, couldn’t care less about creating a level political playing field. Their goal is to make survival a slam-dunk for incumbent Democrats while reducing the number of Republicans in the General Assembly and Maryland’s congressional delegation.

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Barry Rascovar is a State House columnist and communications consultant. His e-mail address is brascovar@hotmail.com.

 

For a deeper look into the sole “Republican” member of the commission, check out Red Maryland’s Mark Newgent.

78th Army Band to Perform at N. Division Street This Evening

The 78th Army Band will perform at the North Division Street beach stage on Saturday, July 9 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

The 78th Army Band is the musical ambassador for the 99th RSC, United States Army Reserve.  Commander of the 99th RSC is MG William D R Waff and the Command Sergeant Major is Richard Castelveter.  The band is under the direct command of the 99th RSC HHC and its commander MAJ Kevin Branch.

The 78th Army Band consists of 46 talented musicians from Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.   Band members are called upon as Army Reservists to provide entertainment for civic and military ceremonies; parades and concerts; and perform a variety of music including classical, concert, marches/patriotic, pop and jazz. The mission of the band is to furnish music whenever and wherever assigned while serving our nation and our community.

The 78th Army Band performs at numerous events, including military ceremonies, public community concerts, public parades, and school performances. In April 1998, the band was the premier band for many events in Washington, D.C., celebrating the 90th Birthday of the United States Army Reserve.  Again, in 2008, the band was the vanguard band in celebrating the Army Reserve’s 100th Anniversary, leading the 2008 national Memorial Day parade in Washington DC.

The 78th Army Band consists of different performing Groups, which include Concert Band, Stage Band, Marching/Ceremonial Band, Brass Quintet, Woodwind Quintet, Jazz Combo, Checkmate (Rock Band), Dixie Band, and Buglers.  The majority of our skilled musicians are versatile on more then one instrument, which enables the band to perform for various types of military and civic functions. The band drills one weekend per month and has 14 days of active duty per year.

The 78th Army Band is under the command of WO1 Eric Flowers and First Sergeant Timothy Pawlik.

For More Information Contact
Mr. Kim Kegerise (609)562-7710
Unit Administrator

Maryland State Pension Commission Wraps Up

The special state pensions commission wrapped up its work Thursday, recommending more possible changes in public employee retirement benefits. These included shifting half the cost of teacher pensions to local school systems and asking the attorney general to take a hard look at the legality of reducing cost-of-living adjustments for current retirees.

The seven-member Public Employees’ and Retirees’ Benefit Sustainability Commission stepped back from a flat assertion in its draft report that the changes made by the governor and legislature in April “may not have gone far enough.”

Those changes increased contributions from employees to maintain current benefits, and reduced benefits for new employees.

But member George Roche, the former chairman and CEO of the huge T. Rowe Price mutual fund group, asserted that “this commission hasn’t really done anything. …We’ve kicked the can down the road, or kicked it into somebody else’s yard.”

Roche did vote for the final commission report, despite his unhappiness.

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Counties Close Budget Gaps in Different Ways

Garrett County elected all new members to its governing body last year, but the sluggish economy that swept many incumbents out of office remains an issue.

While the Western Maryland county has fared better than most since the start of the recession, lawmakers still fell short of revenue estimates by $17 million this year.

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“Then we had a quandary,” said county administrator Monty Pagenhardt.

In the end, Garrett County commissioners approved a $73 million budget for fiscal 2012 that included 4 percent pay increases for unionized employees and $500, one-time bonuses for the rest of its work force some of which was paid for with money from the county’s reserve fund.

In total, the county borrowed $1 million from its $3.3 million reserve fund, $700,000 of which was used to fund public schools.

“We kind of borrowed from ourselves,” said Pagenhardt, who noted that the county is planning to restore the funds next year.

Each of Maryland’s 24 jurisdictions has taken a different path to closing budget gaps for fiscal 2012, which began July 1, according to Michael Sanderson, executive director of the Maryland Association of Counties.

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Laurel Yard Sale Today

Yard Sale: Sunday, July 10th 7am

On Seaford Rd. in Laurel, DE about 1 mile out of the town of Laurel going toward Seaford on the left. Lots of girls clothes & shoes (Oshkosh, Nike, Carter, Childrens Place) Sizes ranging from 4T to 10. High chair, exercise equipment, toys (wrestling rings/belts, etc) 2 tvs, household items and lots more.

Editor’s Choice – 07/09/2011

These were the five (5) best, or most important, posts for July 8th, as judged by the editors of Salisbury News.

• Time To Ax Public Programs That Don't Yield Results
  
• Want To Make More Than A Banker? Become A Farmer!
  
• Webb, Warner Introduce Offshore Drilling Bill
  
• MD DREAM Act Petition Has Enough Valid Signatures
  
• MoCo BOE Delays Vote on County’s First Charter School

Reader’s Choice – 07/09/2011

These were the most popular posts for July 8th, judged by the most approved comments.

• Today's Survey Question – Do You Write In Cursive or Do You Print?
  
• When America Went Crazy
  
• Shanie Shields – I Want Somebody With A Gun
  
• Casey Anthony Trial Juror No. 3, Jennifer Ford, ‘On The Record’
  
• Allen Family Foods Seeks Executive Bonuses

New Hours for Worcester Transfer Stations

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:

• Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday - 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
• Wednesday – closed
• Sunday – 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.

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.

Study Calls “State Center” Project a $127 Million Handout

The first part of the public-private partnership State Center project in Baltimore represents a $127 million giveaway of taxpayer dollars with more on the way, according to a new report from the Maryland Public Policy Institute and the Maryland Tax Education Foundation.

The massive $1.5 billion project, which will occupy more than eight city blocks, is planned to provide more than 1 million square feet of office space – much of it for state agencies – a parking garage, retail stores, and a grocery store.

After the Board of Public Works approved financing for the first phase of the project, a group of downtown Baltimore property owners filed a lawsuit to stop it. The property owners claimed that procurement laws were ignored, and questioned the cost to the public. The project is currently on hold as the legal process goes on.

The study released on Thursday concentrates on the project’s cost to taxpayers. The massive project is planned in five phases. For the first phase,  the study states that taxpayers are subsidizing $127 million in development costs.

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GOP to Pick Challenger for Northam Senate Seat

Questions about the Republican candidates in Virginia's 6th Senate District contest are bubbling up as GOP delegates prepare to select the party's nominee Saturday.

Joanne Lapetina, an emergency room physician, and Ben Loyola, a Navy veteran and small-business owner, are trying to secure the right to challenge incumbent Sen. Ralph Northam, D-Norfolk. Delegates selected through party units will choose the nominee at a convention beginning at 1 p.m. at Masonic Lodge No. 1, 7001 Granby St.

Both candidates have similar conservative political beliefs, and now their campaigns are dealing with ancillary issues that include where they reside.

Each had to address whether they live in the district, which includes portions of Norfolk, a sliver of Virginia Beach, and all of the Eastern Shore and Mathews County.

Lapetina bills herself as an Ocean View native with deep roots in Norfolk, though some have noted her husband works for state government in the Richmond area and her children attend school there. She works for a Norfolk hospital and the family usually spends weekends together in Norfolk, according to her campaign.

Until recently, she was registered to vote in Richmond, though a spokeswoman said she typically cast absentee ballots because of her work schedule.

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Don't Forget Your Local Farmers Market Today In Downtown Salisbury

Woman Faces Jail for Planting Vegetable Garden in Yard

A Michigan resident is facing up to 93 days in jail for planting a vegetable garden in her front yard, MyFoxDetroit.com reports.

Julie Bass, of Oak Park, Michigan was first given a warning followed by a ticket and now she is being charged with a misdemeanor for her simple front-yard garden.

"I think it's sad that the City of Oak Park that's already strapped for cash is paying a lot of money to have a prosecutor bothering us," Bass told FOX 2's Alexis Wiley.

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Take the “Five in July” Park Pledge

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. 

Delegate’s Bar Raided

Baltimore County police raided Minnick's Restaurant in Dundalk, owned by Del. Joseph J. "Sonny" Minnick, and seized five electronic gaming devices, according to a police spokeswoman.

Police removed the machines from the bar at 7100 Sollers Point Road on June 29, acting on a complaint received by the liquor board, police spokeswoman Detective Cathy Batton confirmed. She said no charges have been filed.

Michael Mohler, chief administrator for the Board of Liquor License Commissioners, said the agency received an anonymous complaint that the bar "has been paying off on poker machines and has been for years."

from Jessica Anderson @ the Baltimore Sun

Worcester Emergency Planning Committee Meeting

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.

Former First Lady Betty Ford Dies at 93

Former first lady Betty Ford has died at age 93, the director of the Ford Museum and Library says.

Ford died Friday at the Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, California.

Betty Ford was the wife of former president Gerald Ford. She married Mr. Ford two weeks before he was elected to his first term in Congress. Gerald Ford died in December 2006, after undergoing surgery for an undisclosed ailment in April 2007.

Betty Ford served as First Lady of the United States from 1974 to 1977. During her time in the White House, Ford was an outspoken advocate of women's rights -- encouraging the appointment of more women to senior government posts, supporting the U.N. International Women's Year in 1975, and supporting passage of the Equal Rights Amendment.

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