French Bank: Euro Collapse 'Inevitable'

The euro, already under pressure, came under renewed attack Monday as a French bank speculated that the currency union would inevitably collapse.

Meanwhile, a former chief economist of the European Central Bank warned that a bailout for member country Greece could damage the euro's credibility.

Société Générale strategist Albert Edwards warned investors that any help given to Greece merely “delays the inevitable break-up of the euro zone,” while former European Central Bank Chief Economist Otmar Issing, in a Financial Times piece, said bailing out Greece would be a “major blow” to the currency.

“The viability of the whole framework — nothing less — is at stake,” wrote Issing.

“Financial assistance for countries that violated the terms of their participation in EMU would be a major blow for the credibility of the whole framework.”

The euro could sink to $1.3483 from its $1.5144 high in November, traders told the U.K. Daily Mail.

At issue are the terms of the pact that created the euro, which requires its members to maintain an annual budget deficit no higher than 3 percent of GDP and a national debt lower than 60 percent of GDP.

Greece is expected to hit 12.5 percent deficit in 2009 and debt of 72 percent by 2010 and 2011.

GO HERE to read more.

Big Day In Hits, Big Day In Comments

We have surpassed more than 600 comments for the day, once again. Now that's participation! You have to wonder what the Daily Times is thinking as they don't get those kinds of comments in an entire week. One thing is for sure, Salisbury News has become the place to go when you want to know the real scoop.

That being said, you guys are really keeping me busy, that's for sure. Let's just put it this way. The more you participate, the more our public officials listen. Spread the word.

Remember When We All Had A Drug Problem

Sent in as a comment moments ago......


Joe,

Got this in an email and I thought it would be good when it comes to the behavior of the students in school

The other day someone at a store in our town read that a
Methamphetamine lab had been found in an old farmhouse in the adjoining county and he asked me a rhetorical question, “Why didn’t we have a drug problem when you and I were growing up?

I replied I had a drug problem when I was young: I was drug to church on Sunday morning, drug to church for weddings and funerals. I was drug to family reunions and community socials no matter the weather.

I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults. I was also drug to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents, told a lie, brought home a bad report card, did not speak with respect, spoke ill of the teacher or the preacher, or if I didn’t put forth my best effort in everything that was asked of me.

I was drug to the kitchen sink to have my mouth washed out with soap if I uttered a profanity. I was drug out to pull weeds in mom’s garden and flowerbeds and cockleburs out of dad’s fields. I was drug to the homes of family, friends and neighbors to help out some poor soul who had no one mow the yard, repair the clothesline, or chop some firewood and if my mother had ever known I took a single dime as a tip for this kindness, she would have drug me back to the woodshed.

Those drugs are still in my veins and they affect my behavior in everything I do, say or thinks. They are stronger than cocaine, crack or heroin; and if today’s children had this kind of drug problem, American would be a better place.

God bless the parents that drugged us."

Delmar Middle & High School Running 2 Hours Late Tomorrow

Delmar Middle & High School will be running two hours late tomorrow and all buses will be running in Delaware as well.

Wicomico County Schools 2 Hours Late Tomorrow

Wicomico County Schools will open their doors after a two hour delay again tomorrow.

A Comment Worthy Of A Post

I am also a County Employee (Not with the BOE) and I get paid to show up to work from 8:00 to 5:00 on 248 days (260 weekdays minus 12 holidays) in a year. Your wife works from August 13 to June 22 - approximately 10 months out of the year. That's 230 weekdays, but then when you take out all of the holidays off (ie. Winter Break, Spring Break, Thanksgiving Break, MLK Day, President's Day, Labor Day and Memorial Day-20 days total!) she actually only works 210 days out of the year! She also gets to dilly dally around on 5 days for "professional day" and attends a MSTA Conference for a day. Regardless of how she schedules her pay (10 months pay or annual pay) she gets the time off! According to the 2009-2010 Wicomico County Salary Schedule for Teachers, the lowest paid teachers receive $42,140 per year-I get paid a very similar amount with a bachelor's degree as well and I put in a lot more time over the course of a year.

I get weekends off as does she, but she get nearly 2 months off during the summer and the holidays that I do PLUS the extra days that the BOE gives the students off for those days. She may have to grade papers at night, but then at the same time they provide teachers with Planning Periods each day and the last time I checked, students get out of school at 3 and she should have about 2 extra hours each day to do the "extras" like grading papers. I too take home work, but that's just part of having a salaried career! This "above and beyond" BS doesn't cut it! Any good employee that is dedicated to their career, such as myself and your wife (as you tated), goes above and beyond-its what people who care do!

So let's break it down here...while our careers may not be the same we do get paid similar, we get paid by the same sources and we have a similar level of education. I work 50 more days than she does in a year and I don't get long extended breaks from work throughout the year. A lot of teachers do get a second job during their summer time off and can make $5,000 to $10,000 or more in additional income during that time. Me? I'm the one at work NON-STOP for the year! I'm the one that has to take furlough days while she and her co-workers got a raise this year. I'm the one who has to worry about having departmental budget cuts because the BOE can't curb frivolous spending during economic down times or any time for that matter! So what makes her so much more important? Oh that's right, she's a teacher-We have to do it for the teachers and the students! But when it hits the fan like it has been with snow removal from the roads (BTW I am NOT a roads employee) this week people are quick to blame the Roads Division for lack of effort! Try lack of money because the BOE porks it up each year and never performs the necessary cuts to rid the County's budget of some financial burdens!

I will bash the BOE and I will bash the teachers! Why? Because they are only looking out for #1 whenever it comes to sacrificing! Professional days? Please! How would your wife feel about having all five professional days during summer break? MSTA Convention could be held during the summer as well! If you all were really looking out for the children then you wouldn't be taking breaks from their education to do the things that could be done during the summer! Why not do professional days during the extend students holidays (like the Thursday before easter or the Wednesday before Easter) when students aren't in school but teachers would otherwise not have the day off if they were in any other career.

I don't want to hear and complaining from teachers OR their spouses-they have it easy enough as is! I say extend the school year into August if we have to-make the teachers actually work for their salaries!

In Case You Missed It...A Reagan Republican Aims To Take Back Maryland's First District

http://www.weeklystandard.com/articles/democrat-danger

Democrat in DangerA Reagan Republican aims to take back Maryland’s First District.

BY Emily Esfahani SmithFebruary 22, 2010, Vol. 15, No. 22

Frank Kratovil is perhaps the most vulnerable Democrat in the House of Representatives. The 41-year-old freshman won Maryland’s First Congressional District by just 1 percentage point in 2008. But it’s a district that has historically tended red, and its citizens are far less enamored of Kratovil a year later. He faced a summer of discontent over health care reform last year. One event in July garnered national attention after a protestor hung Kratovil in effigy. At a town hall in August, one of his constituents speaking about health care told him, “We don’t want your help.” The audience booed when the congressman tried to justify his support for cap and trade.

Maryland’s First District lies on the Eastern Shore, a nine-county strip of land wedged between the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay. But as a result of gerrymandering, bits of the district stretch west of the bay into the more urban Harford, Anne Arundel, and Baltimore counties. MD-1 voters sent a Republican to Congress from 1990 to 2008. In 2008, McCain won it 58 percent to 40 percent; in 2004, Bush beat Kerry by a 26-point margin. Kratovil campaigned as a Blue Dog Democrat and, with a Democratic wave nationwide, slipped through by 3,000 votes.

Today, though, it “is a totally different political environment,” says a spokesman at the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) who monitors the district, “Kratovil having completely broken his promises to be a moderate Democrat.” The Cook Political Report is already rating the race a tossup. “This is one of our top pickup opportunities in the country,” the NRCC spokesman said.

The 2010 campaign in MD-1 is a crucial test for the GOP and a bellwether of the party’s attempt to regain control of the House.

The likely GOP challenger is Andy Harris, a state senator, fiscal conservative, and tea party regular. He is also the candidate who narrowly lost to Kratovil in 2008. Kratovil won the seat thanks not just to the Democratic electoral trend but also to a messy Republican primary. Harris had challenged the incumbent, Wayne Gilchrest. Harris had a record of endorsing low taxes and restrained government spending during 12 years in the state senate, while Gilchrest had been moving further and further left over his nine terms. Republican voters, says Harris, were upset that Gilchrest had “left the mainstream of the party.” Harris won the primary by 10 percentage points—43 to 33—and Gilchrest promptly endorsed Kratovil. But that was 2008. The political mood has shifted, and Kratovil has a record. Rather than an independent-minded Blue Dog, he has voted with his party 84 percent of the time. Nor has he pursued the fiscally conservative policies the Blue Dogs favor. He voted in favor of the stimulus, is on record supporting the public option for health care—though he voted against the House version of the health care bill in the end—and endorsed cap and trade. Back in June, on the day before cap and trade was brought to a vote, The Hill reported that Kratovil was seen on the House floor “shaking his head no as Pelosi buttonholed him.” The next day, he voted for cap and trade.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee still paints him as a nonpartisan Blue Dog. “Congressman Kratovil has been an independent voice for his district. .  .  . He has focused his efforts on reining in spending and reducing the deficit, and that’s a record he’s going to stand by during this year’s campaign,” a spokesman said.

But Harris says that he’s not just running against Kratovil, but also Nancy Pelosi and her ideologically driven policies. “Kratovil sees government as a solution to our problems .  .  . but the people want Reagan-style conservatism,” he says.

Already on the campaign trail in advance of a Republican primary he is expected to win easily, Harris paints himself as a fiscal conservative first and foremost. In the state senate, he points out, he voted against every tax increase, every Democratic budget proposal, and even a few Republican ones that he found extravagant. If elected to Congress, he says he will not apply for earmarks.

Asked if his constituents may resent that another district gets the federal dollars they could have received from earmarks, Harris says, “You don’t lose projects when you move away from earmarks. You just let the normal appropriations process take place. People understand that earmarks aren’t special dollars—they are tax dollars that go to D.C. and then to the district.” In an election year where angry voters are lashing out against Washington’s borrowing and spending policies, his position on earmarks could prove popular.
Popular enough to beat Kratovil. We’ll see in November.

$260,000.00 Housing & Community Grant For Downtown Salisbury Fails

The Housing and Community Grant Urban Salisbury was trying to get to revitalize Downtown Salisbury didn't make the cut. It's been reported that there just wasn't enough money to go around.

Another pie in the sky idea to keep Urban Salisbury afloat and it worked, for now.

As I stated in the past Folks, let the property owners revitalize the Downtown area and leave GOVERNMENT out of it. They are the Investors. Maybe now every one will listen?

School Buses Were Made For Roads Like Hickory Mill Road

You see Folks, before Salisbury News arrived, you were a simple, single telephone call to the WCBOE. You made your complaint and that was the end of it. Today, we provide a whole new venue towards accountability. We create the way for everyone to finally SEE what's really going on out there and place those in charge far more accountable than ever before.

The last three or four Posts tell the truth. They tell a story the Board of Ed didn't want you to see or know. County Council Members get on PAC 14 today and thank Public Works for all their dedicated work in doing such a fine job on County Roads, yet none of them were out there doing what I was doing today, checking the roads out.

Many of these roads have never seen a County Plow. They were cleared by Farmers trying to simply help their neighbors get down the road in difficult times. Are they passable with a 4x4 vehicle, absolutely. Are they passable to a large school bus, absolutely not.

So do not buy into the roads being clear enough for your children to go to school. The pictures do not lie.

Adkins Road Is A Disaster

My guess is that there are NO students attending Wicomico County Schools on this icy road.

Rockawalkin Is Wide Open To Rt. 50

I'm not so sure what the big fuss was over Rockawalkin Road because it's NOTHING like Spring Hill Road. Nevertheless, the road is now open and far more clear than most other roads in the County.

Zero Visibility On Spring Hill Road

At times there is zero visibility on Spring Hill Road, taken just a few minutes ago. I thought Parents should get an idea of what the ride home for some kinds might be. Oh, by the way, that is a vehicle coming towards me in the last shot, you just can't see it.

GOVERNOR O’MALLEY, CONGRESSMAN CUMMINGS TESTIFY ON FORECLOSURE MEDIATION BILL

Bill to Increase Protections for Maryland’s Homeowners

ANNAPOLIS, MD (February 16, 2010) – Testifying before members of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee and the House Environmental Matters Committee, Governor Martin O’Malley and Congressman Elijah Cummings, today called for the passage of a foreclosure mediation bill that protects Maryland homeowners. In his 2010 legislative package, Governor O’Malley has introduced the emergency legislation that would give every Maryland family facing foreclosure the legal right to mediation with the lender seeking the foreclosure.

“I receive letters every day from Marylanders trying to make ends meet, as we work through this national economic downturn. Working together, and through the hard work and persistence of non-profit housing counselors and pro bono lawyers, many homes in Maryland have been saved. But too many of our fellow citizens continue to be put out on the street. Our work must continue,” said Governor O’Malley.

“The legislation the Committee considers today is designed to empower fellow Marylanders, putting them on a more equal footing with mortgage companies,” the Governor said in his testimony today. “It is designed to give borrowers the information they need at an early stage, as well as the right to have access to their lenders when they feel they are unfairly being denied a loan modification or other loss mitigation options.”

Governor O’Malley’s legislation heard today aims to give every Maryland family facing foreclosure the legal right to mediation with the lender seeking the foreclosure. Building on the O’Malley-Brown Administration’s bold reforms of the foreclosure process and timelines in 2007, the Administration remains committed to ensuring that those homeowners who are eligible for loan modifications are able to obtain them, and that others can pursue alternatives to avoid foreclosure or lessen its harmful impact. Borrowers who may be eligible for loan modifications to save their homes but find themselves facing foreclosure anyway should be afforded the opportunity to talk directly with their lenders to find a resolution before their homes are sold. This bill gives Maryland families the right to a foreclosure mediation process upon filing of foreclosure proceedings. It requires lenders/servicers to use the 45 day period prior to the filing of the foreclosure action more productively to achieve loan modifications where possible by requiring the Notice to include a loss mitigation application and other information helpful to the homeowner to prevent the loss of their home.

“During my 14 years in Congress, I have found that no issue has created more heartache in our communities than the current foreclosure crisis,” said Cummings. “It is not the job losses, nor the loss of retirement income, nor the damage to our economy that has hurt people the most. Because it represents the American Dream; a safe place for their family to grow and thrive, it is the loss of their home that has been the biggest catastrophe for many families through Maryland and the nation.

“We have never faltered in the belief that our country will survive this economic downturn, and the sun will come out. But so many people are asking themselves, when the storm does pass, who will have my job? Who will be living in my home? I am proud to support the Governor’s bill because it is the kind of creative policy-making that we need to weather this storm.”

During recent months, Congressman Cummings has hosted two foreclosure prevention workshops for area residents, will host a third next week, and has become a nationally leading voice on the issue of homeownership protection and foreclosure prevention. Cummings also introduced legislation to fund short-term bridge loans that unemployed homeowners to stay current on their mortgages while they get back on their feet. Working with others in the House, Cummings was able to secure three billion dollars in the recently passed House financial services regulatory reform bill to fund bridge loans.

In the past three years, Governor O’Malley signed into law what the Washington Post called some of the most “sweeping” legislation in America to combat foreclosure; the O’Malley-Brown Administration has reached agreements with multiple mortgage servicing companies to create a streamlined and transparent loss mitigation process; and through Judge Bell, 981 pro bono attorneys have been recruited to assist vulnerable families. Through the HOPE network, non-profit counselors – supported by state government – have assisted more than 35,000 Marylanders. In 2009 alone, DLLR secured $2.9 million in refunds from financial institutions for consumers. Through these reforms and by working together, more than 9,800 Maryland homes have been saved, and foreclosure events have reduced by 23 percent.

Dr. Fredericksen Rode The Short Bus In His Youth

All of them are snowy and icy. Dee, Dee, Deeee!

Burglary Arrest WCBI

LOCATION: Worcester County
CRIME: Theft under $1,000.00
VICTIM: (Shielded)
ACCUSED: Juvenile – age 17 Berlin, Maryland

NARRATIVE:

On February 16, 2010 Worcester County Bureau of Investigations (W.C.B.I.) completed a 4 month investigation and arrested a Juvenile from the Glenn Riddle community in Berlin for several vehicle break-ins.

Detectives were able to get a search and seizure warrant for a residence in Glen Riddle and seized several stolen cell phones from the residence. A Blackberry cell phone was one of the items that were seized from the juvenile’s bedroom. Detectives were able to discover that the Blackberry cell phone came from a vehicle break-in back in October 20, 2009. In which 8 unlocked cars had been ransacked and items stolen.

The juvenile has been charged with 5 counts of theft under $1,000.00, Theft Scheme, and Rogue and Vagabond.

Going...Going....GONE! SOLD to the Taxpayer!

Today in a predictable yet unbelievable move, the Wicomico County Council voted to approve the purchase of parking space for the Wicomico County Civic Center. The land is located across the street from the Civic Center on Glenn Avenue and is widely known as the "old mall". In the worse economy in 80 years, the council approved the purchase of the over-assessed, condemned property at $300,000 per acre for a total of 1.5 million dollars for 5 acres. This does not include the actual parking lot.

County Executive, Rick Pollictt's plan to use state funding to purchase this land proved to be successful for his agenda today, but will it be successful for the tax payers pocketbooks in the future? It certainly doesn't seem to be a fiscally wise move for our county. The purchase, which many consider to be a largely political move, may not pay dividends to those who voted for it.

John Cannon broke from the republicans and voted yes for the purchase, breaking the 3 to 4 vote, while Prettyman, Holloway, and Bartkovich voted against it due to the high price tag. The democrats and Cannon felt it was a good investment, especially since it was funded through Maryland's "Open Space" grants, which is of course "free" money.

So, the Civic Center will soon own a new piece of land that we the tax payers, will have to figure out how to pay for turning it into a function parking lot for a dog show. That is, unless the state decides to take the funding back due to deep holes in the state budget.

Is it just me..... or does any of this make sense to you?

School Make Up Days

Mr. Joe,

An idea came to my mind, the kids are already at school, hold days longer. Instead of getting out at 3:00pm stay till 7:00pm or later. You save the cost in fuel for busses and the schools are already warm and ready. Winners all around. Or it could be done later when it warms up and daylight is later. I'm sure there's many reasons why not, but I had to ask. Thanks for your community service.

County Council Passes The Purchase Of Old Mall Property

In a 4 to 3 vote, Wicomico County voted to move forward with the purchase on the 5 acre parcel of land at the old mall. That being said, it is what it is and my guess is that things will change quite a bit face wise in the next election on the County Council.

Now, let me move on to something that bothered me to no end. Look, when Public Works started discussing the snow removal in the County, while I truly appreciate their efforts, barely mentioning the fact that the Farmers played a role in snow removal was simply disgusting to me personally.

If I were in their shoes, I would have thanked the Farmers far more than the Public Works Staff and let me tell you why. The Farmers were NOT compensated a single PENNY for ALL of the work they did.

I know of certain Farmers that cleared, (are you ready) 5 MILES of roadway on their own. I know of another Farmer that spent hours upon hours on one snow drift. Mind you, they were only able to make way in one direction but at least it was passable.

So, for what it's worth Mr. & Mrs Farmer, I truly Thank You from the bottom of my heart. YOU are the backbone of the Eastern Shore and you clearly proved these past few weeks that without you the Eastern Shore would be completely crippled. I should also add, there were several Contractors who had equipment who were also out there helping out.

Let me also add, this was ALL done at their own risks! If a piece of equipment failed, blew up, went off the road, this was their own loss/expense. So the mere fact that Wicomico County patted their own people on the back and didn't recognize these Farmers and Contractors like they should have simply disgusts me. Shame on ALL of them!

Pictures I Personally Took This Morning In Wicomico County

I don't care what anyone says, these pictures just don't lie. The nay sayers are trying to call Fredericksen's decision a success, I disagree. These are the exact images I firmly believe Mr. Fredericksen needed to see BEFORE he made such a decision. Delmar, Maryland is a complete disaster. We have seen photos from Salisbury and other parts of Wicomico County. How anyone could sit back and pat themselves on the back because there have allegedly been no accidents is just plain foolish and IMHO very immature. As we used to say in Pool, "You Can't Beat Luck." In this case we're talking about children's lives and I for one would have never taken the risk. Not after seeing these images. How about you?

Funny, Hillarious, CommieTunes