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Wednesday, December 09, 2009

TRAFFIC ALERT - Emergency Road Closures In Sussex County


Seaford -- Due to damage from this week's rains, the Department of Transportation (DelDOT) announces that the following roads are closed effective immediately until further notice:

*Woodland Road between Butler Branch Road and Lonesome Road (Seaford)

Eastbound detour: Woodland Road to Figgs Road onto Route 20 to Woodpecker Road to Lonesome Road and back to Woodland Road

Westbound detour: Woodland Road to Lonesome Road onto Woodpecker Road
to Route 20 to Figgs Road and back to Woodland Road

*Gum Road between Hudson Road and Route 17/Roxana Road (Frankford)

Westbound detour: Gum Road to Route 17/Roxana Road onto Route 20/Zion Church Road and back to Gum Road

Eastbound detour: Gum Road to Route 20/Zion Church Road onto Route 17/Roxana Road and back to Gum Road

*Conaway Road between Route 24 and Careys Camp Road (Millsboro)

Westbound detour: Conaway Road to Careys Camp Road onto Route 24 and back to Conaway Road

Eastbound detour: Conaway Road to Route 24 onto Careys Camp Road and back to Conaway Road

Advocate of Property Tax Reform to Speak in Cambridge

LeRoy Whiteley of Marylanders for Fair Property Taxation will be guest speaker at the December 14 meeting of the Mid-Shore Chapter of Americans for Prosperity in Cambridge. Whitely will discuss MFPT's proposed legislation to bring about property tax reform through changes in the assessment and appeal process, caps on tax rates, and taxpayer education. He will also give an overview of the appeal process describing what actually takes place in the three levels of appealing and give tips on preparing for the appeal. "The property tax assessment procedures and appeals process are in desperate need of change," said Whiteley.

The topic of property tax reform is a follow-up to Mid-Shore AFP's previous meeting in which a representative of the Maryland Dept. of Assessments and Taxation provided information to property owners about Maryland's current assessment, taxation, and appeal process.

"Maryland will begin its July 2010 Fiscal Year with a shortfall of two billion dollars or more in the budget, thus counties and municipalities will receive less money from revenue sharing. It is speculated that counties will make up the shortfall in revenue from another tax source, most likely higher property taxes or some new tax," said Maureen Harper, Co-Chair of Mid-Shore AFP. "At a time of double-digit unemployment rates, increases or new taxes of any kind would be a catastrophic burden to residents and businesses."

The meeting will be held on Monday, December 14, 6:30 p.m., in the meeting room of the Dorchester County Library in Cambridge and is open to the public. For information, visit www.afpmaryland.com or call 410-221-7933.

Cigar Night At The Lagoon Bar


It's Wednesday night Cigar Night at the Fountain's Lagoon Bar at 6:30 PM tonight. We had a nice turn out last week and look forward to seeing even more people there tonight.

If you enjoy cigars and or even cigarettes, come join us, kick back and relax for a few hours. See you there.

PUBLIC NOTICE


THE CITY COUNCIL WILL CONVENE IN A CLOSED SESSION ON WEDNESDAY,
DECEMBER 9, 2009 AT 6:30 P.M. TO CONSULT WITH LEGAL COUNSEL AS
PERMITTED UNDER THE ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND SECTION
10-508(A)(7).


THE CLOSED SESSION WILL BE HELD IN CONFERENCE ROOM 306 OF THE
GOVERNMENT OFFICE BUILDING (125 N. DIVISION STREET).

Traffic Advisory

Flooded Roadway: Johnson Road, (CR 488), located in the area of Johnson Development, Seaford, is under 2 feet of water, possible road damage, DelDOT enroute to survey possible damage to the road. Released 12/09/09 at 12:20 hours

Warning to Motorists:

Currently several roadways throughout the First State, including Route 1 north in Frederica have areas where water is beginning to pond on the roadways. The Office of Highway Safety is asking motorists to drive slowly and with caution as it is often difficult to see the standing water until you are almost on it. In areas of high water do not attempt to drive through the water, instead please go around it.

Additionally, the high winds we are experiencing at this time are making driving challenging as well. Drivers of taller (high profile) vehicles such as SUV’s, trucks, and vans may find themselves pushed out of their lanes particularly when going over bridges and overpasses. The Office of Highway Safety is asking drivers to use caution and drive more slowly than normal on these structures.

Location: Rt 16 between Old State rd & Sharon rd, Ellendale, shut down ref electric pole across roadway. Motorists are asked to avoid the area.

In Sussex County reporting water hazards on secondary roadways, nothing shut down other than Rt 16 at this time.

UPDATE:

Traffic Advisory

Additional Road Closures in Sussex County:

CR 431 between 24 & 421, Millsboro,
CR 536 between 542 & 541, Seaford,
CR 392 between 387 & 17, Roxana

Released 12.09.2009 at 12:55 hours

Flooded Roadway: Johnson Road, (CR 488), located in the area of Johnson Development, Seaford, is under 2 feet of water, possible road damage, DelDOT enroute to survey possible damage to the road.

Harlem Globetrotters’ 2010 ‘Magical Memories’ World Tour


Harlem Globetrotters’ 2010 ‘Magical Memories’ World Tour to Bring High-Flying Fun-and a Lifetime of Memories to Salisbury

(Salisbury, MD)
Coming off the most successful year in the franchise’s illustrious history, with a record-breaking 62 box office records and over two million smiling fans, the iconic Harlem Globetrotters are primed to showcase their eye-popping 2010 “Magical Memories” World Tour in Salisbury on Sunday, February 21, 2010 with the wholesome family entertainment known worldwide for thrilling fans young and old and making cherished family memories.

Now in their 84th consecutive season of touring the world, the Globetrotters’ high-flying show features some of the most extraordinary athletes and entertainers on the planet – including Big Easy Lofton and Flight Time Lang, who starred in the Emmy Award-winning CBS reality hit, “The Amazing Race;” the always hilarious Special K Daley; dribbling magician Scooter Christensen; and ball handling wizards Handles Franklin and Ant Atkinson.

Sports Illustrated praised it as “the sports equivalent of comfort food,” in its March 2009 feature article on the Globetrotters titled, Still Crazy After All These Years.

“The Harlem Globetrotters are the epitome of world-class family fun,” says Michael Kenney, the Globetrotters’ senior vice president, live event marketing. “You’ll want to get your tickets now for an experience the whole family will be talking about for years to come.”

Sponsored by Campbell Soup Company, Spalding, and America’s Best Contacts and Eyeglasses, the Harlem Globetrotters will take the court on Sunday, February 21, 2010 at the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center at 4:00 p.m. Tickets start at $21.00 plus fees and are available online at www.wicomicociviccenter.org, in person at the Civic Center Box Office (500 Glen Ave. Salisbury, MD) or by phone at 410-548-4911. Individual ticket information can also be found on the Harlem Globetrotters’ official Web site: www.harlemglobetrotters.com, as well as info on group and scout tickets.

The Globetrotters will perform nearly 270 shows in over 200 cities in 44 states, the District of Columbia, five Canadian provinces and Puerto Rico through the first week of May 2010.

The Original Harlem Globetrotters have played in 120 countries on six continents, entertaining over 130 million fans and crossing barriers between cultures, societies and people from all walks of life. The Globetrotters are one of only six teams to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. For the latest news and information about the Harlem Globetrotters, and to purchase team merchandise, visit the Globetrotters’ official Web site: www.harlemglobetrotters.com.

Today's Survey Question

Do You Support Mayor Ireton's Decision To Ask Police Chief Webster To Resign?

Traffic Advisory

Location: Rt 16 between Old State rd & Sharon rd, Ellendale, shut down ref electric pole across roadway. Motorists are asked to avoid the area.

In Sussex County reporting water hazards on secondary roadways, nothing shut down other than Rt 16 at this time.

Motorist Advisory

Warning to Motorists:

Currently several roadways throughout the First State, including Route 1 north in Frederica have areas where water is beginning to pond on the roadways. The Office of Highway Safety is asking motorists to drive slowly and with caution as it is often difficult to see the standing water until you are almost on it. In areas of high water do not attempt to drive through the water, instead please go around it.

Additionally, the high winds we are experiencing at this time are making driving challenging as well. Drivers of taller (high profile) vehicles such as SUV’s, trucks, and vans may find themselves pushed out of their lanes particularly when going over bridges and overpasses. The Office of Highway Safety is asking drivers to use caution and drive more slowly than normal on these structures.

SALISBURY’S SEWAGE PLANT LAWSUIT HITS ROUGH GOING IN BALTIMORE

A federal judge in Baltimore has dismissed a significant part of the City’s suit against the engineering firm that designed the “WWTP” that doesn’t work right. Judge Benson Legg has dismissed without prejudice Count III and Count IV, which claim that O’Brien & Gere made negligent misrepresentations and committed fraud.

He also scheduled the case for trial, if one is necessary, in mid-September 2011. That probably means that it will be another two years, at least, before the City recovers any funds from O’Brien & Gere or its insurance carrier unless there is a negotiated settlement before then.

It remains unclear, if the City wins, how much money will be received. So far the federal court has not considered if the City is bound by the provision in its contract with O’Brien & Gere that limits that firm’s liability to $1 Million, which is much less than the amount that the City has stated that it needs to make the sewage plant work properly.

As recently reported on this blog, the engineer firm is being represented by a law firm that specializes in defending claims such as those that the City has made. The City is being represented by Paul Wilber’s law firm and the firm that provides environmental law advice for the City.

The Daily Times Just Doesn't Get It


In today's "Our View" in the Daily Times, I just couldn't believe what I was reading.
"My oh my, how the dramatics were on display Monday night."
"An outdoor citizens rally at the Government Office Building -- intended to fire people up -- mercifully fizzled." LMAO! Fizzled, one thing I can assure you of is that the individual who wrote this certainly wasn't there.
"Later inside, the police chief outlined an action plan that made people wonder: Why haven't we been doing this all along?" AND??????
"A Salisbury businessman, who has been using crime statistics interpretations for seemingly political purposes, publicly called for the chief's resignation." Seemingly??????
"The council vice president told the mayor he was "sick and tired of the inaction by this administration." The Mayor just started his job. Gary has been on Council for how many years now and crime has done what during that time?????
"Oh, and the community newspaper -- almost as if "shoot the messenger" was the new public policy -- was skewered by the mayor in what appeared to be a blatant diversionary tactic." You mean like not being welcome to a Press Conference with the SPD, ouch! If Carmean stopped acting like a child and treated the Mayor with some respect it wouldn't be like this.
"It's long been observed that "people will always elect the government they deserve." Sorry, but no one deserves this much drama." Sell your Newspaper before it's too late. You just lost a ton of subscribers with your own line of DRAMA.
Rather then wining, perhaps you could spend more time offering solutions. Instead, the Daily Times is crying because they got spanked by the Mayor and rightfully so. Where's the article about the Mayor asking the Chief for his resignation????? Oh, that Reporter must have been OFF DUTY yesterday evening. The Daily Times "More Money, Less News."

Convicted Felon in the White House



Remember the party crashers? Well, everyone seems to be ignoring this guy, a felon who was also at the state dinner. This guy, who is married to a congresswoman wrote a sweet little progressive book about how to restructure the country. "We must create a national consciences that health care is a right not a commodity." He says.

8 Second Test

This is VERY FAST, so be prepared. You only have 8 seconds for each question. Click the link and have fun.

GO HERE

SHANIE SHIELDS OWED AN APOLOGY!

Yesterday we posted an item that criticized Councilwoman Shields for acting improperly when she stated to the media that she would not support Mayor Ireton if he were to fire Chief Webster. We reasoned – incorrectly – that she is precluded from making that statement because the matter previously had been discussed in a closed meeting of the Salisbury City Council. Even if that occurred, Ms. Shields is not precluded from discussing her position on the matter.

We apologize to Ms. Shields for our error.

Cap-and-Tax Bad for Farmers, Rural America

We like to say that we have the safest, most abundant, most affordable food and fiber supply in the world. But this isn’t just a boastful expression, it is a reality. Our farmers and ranchers are responsible for feeding folks living in our country and throughout the world.

But, cap and tax legislation threatens that safe, abundant and affordable food and fiber supply. The agriculture industry, as we know it, will not survive under the heavy burdens of a cap and tax policy.

This week the Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research held two important hearings to learn more about the economic impact of climate change legislation. Despite the fact that the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed the Waxman-Markey climate change bill last June – a bill that I voted against—this is only the second time Members of the Agriculture Committee have had the opportunity to explore specifically the economic impact of climate change legislation on the agriculture sector.

Witnesses at the hearing included the chief economist from the U.S. Department of Agriculture as well as members of academia. They highlighted and discussed various studies that have been completed on the costs of cap and trade on the agriculture industry.

Although these studies make different assumptions or have different end results, the overwhelming conclusion from each one is that the cost to agriculture is real. Our farmers and ranchers have much to lose and very little, if anything, to gain.

GO HERE to read more.

Death Penalty For Gays? Uganda Debates Proposal

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) - Proposed legislation would impose the death penalty for some gay Ugandans, and their family and friends could face up to seven years in jail if they fail to report them to authorities. Even landlords could be imprisoned for renting to homosexuals
.
Gay rights activists say the bill, which has prompted growing international opposition, promotes hatred and could set back efforts to combat HIV/AIDS. They believe the bill is part of a continentwide backlash because Africa's gay community is becoming more vocal.

GO HERE to read more.

Traffic Advisory HIGHWATER

Locations:
North Maryland Ave, and Germay Drive, Wilmington, De
Governor Printz Blvd, in the area of Merchant Square, Wilmington, De
Marl Pitt Road and Cedar Lane, Middletown, De
Creek Road and Graves Road, Wilmington, De

Date of Occurrence: 12/9/09 8:45 am

Resume: Troopers are currently on the scene of the aforementioned areas due to reports of High Water. No roads have been closed at this time, however drivers are urged to use caution in these areas due to traffic congestion.

Drivers asked not to attempt to drive through areas with high levels of moving, or standing water.

Caption This Photo

Harris Endorsed For Congress By 26 GOP Delegates And Senators

ANDY HARRIS FOR CONGRESS ANNOUNCES ENDORSEMENT OF DISTRICT ELECTED OFFICIALS

GENERAL ASSEMBLY REPUBLICANS FROM CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT ENDORSE HARRIS' FISCAL
RESPONSIBILITY, HEALTH CARE EXPERTISE

ANNAPOLIS-Andy Harris for Congress today announced that it has received the endorsement of 26 members of
the General Assembly from Congressional District 1. The endorsements demonstrate the strong support
Dr. Harris, a State Senator, has from within the ranks in Annapolis. Dr. Harris released the following statement:

"In my time in Annapolis, I have worked with senators and delegates, Republicans and Democrats, to do what is right for Marylanders," Harris said. "I am grateful for the support of my colleagues and humbled by their willingness to back me nearly a year out from Election Day. My campaign is built around principles that most Marylanders agree on: the need for fiscal responsibility in Washington, limited government, a strong national defense, and for doctors, not politicians, to be making our health care decisions. I will continue to seek the support of every voter in the district and work with our communities to ensure a better future for Maryland."

Republican General Assembly members who are endorsing Andy Harris for Congress:

Senator Larry Haines- Baltimore/Carroll Counties
Senators Ed Reilly and Bryan Simonaire-Anne Arundel County
Senator Barry Glassman-Harford County
Senator Nancy Jacobs-Harford/Cecil Counties
Senator Richard Colburn-Caroline/Dorchester/Talbot/Wicomico Counties

Senator Lowell Stoltzfus-Somerset/Wicomico/Worcester Counties

Delegates Wade Kach, Susan Aumann, Joe Boteler, and Bill Frank-Baltimore County

Delegates J.B. Jennings, Pat McDonough, and Rick Impallaria-Baltimore/Harford County

Delegates Donna Stifler, Wayne Norman, and Susan McComas-Harford County

Delegates Ron George, Steve Schuh, Nic Kipke, James King, Don Dwyer and Tony McConkey-Anne Arundel County
Delegates Addie Eckardt, Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio-Dorchester/Caroline/Wicomico Counties

Delegate Page Elmore-Wicomico/Somerset Counties

WBI Press Release

INCIDENT: Theft and Theft Scheme
DATE: December 8, 2009
LOCATION: 200 Block of Long Ave, Salisbury, Maryland.

NARRATIVE: On December 7, 2009
at approximately 1645 hours, Investigators from the Wicomico Bureau of Investigation (WBI) served an arrest warrant on Peggy Gaskill, a bookkeeper for Wicomico Senior High School, for multiple counts of theft from the Wicomico County Board of Education. The arrest warrant was the result of a several month long investigation by WBI. She was arrested at home.

The investigation began in July 2009, when it was reported that amounts deposited into accounts Gaskill was responsible for did not match the amounts submitted for deposit.

An audit by a private company hired by the Wicomico County Board of Education revealed these discrepancies were in excess of $10,000 dollars.
Gaskill was charged with 8 counts of Theft over $500, 14 counts of Theft under $500, 8 counts of Theft Scheme over $500 and 9 counts of Theft Scheme under $500.

If anyone has information in reference to this investigation, please contact Wicomico Bureau of Investigation @ 410-548-4898 or Crime Solvers @ 410-548-1776

SUSPECTS*: Peggy Jean Gaskill, Mount Herman Road, Pittsville, Maryland. 60 years of age.

CHARGES: 8 counts of Theft over $500
14 counts of Theft under $500
8 counts of Theft Scheme over $500
9 counts of Theft Scheme under $500

DISPOSITION: Released from WCDC on $3000 bond

Eliminating Future Populations Is The Key To Controlling Climate Change

United Nations Population Fund Uses Climate Change to Promote Abortion

Eliminating future populations is the key to controlling climate change. Or at least that is the underlying logic of the State of the World Population 2009 report released last month by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Population and Climate

"Although its role is difficult to quantify amidst the many factors contributing to emissions growth," UNFPA reports, "population growth is among the factors influencing total emissions in industrialized as well as developing countries. Each additional person in a population will consume food and require housing, and ideally most will take advantage of transportation, which consumes energy, and may use fuel to heat homes and have access to electricity." It naturally follows, the report forcefully implies but adroitly manages to never state, that reducing the number of people that exist and take advantage of such modern conveniences would reduce the amount of greenhouse gases emitted.

As the Wall Street Journal so eloquently put it: "It's hard to argue with that logic: Eliminating life surely is the most expedient way to avoid the problems it brings." And that is essentially what the UNFPA is promoting in this new report- - less life equals less carbon.

The Logic: Life for Carbon

The resulting devaluation of life in this logic is truly frightening, for in order to defend its position, the report must reduce every life to a calculation of carbon emissions and financial savings. The report calculates that the prevention of 1 billion lives "might result in 1 billion to 2 billion fewer tons of carbon emissions." This simple elimination of 1 billion lives, the report continues, could equal the emissions savings of applying current "energy-efficiency techniques in all new buildings worldwide" or of "erecting 2 million 1-megawatt wind turbines to displace coal-fired power plants currently in use." But why bother with production, efficiency and invention when all you need to do is prevent 1 billion children from being born?

As UNFPA points out, when calculated "dollar-for-dollar," reducing population through investment in "family planning and girls' education" could "reduce greenhouse-gas emissions at least as much as the same investments in nuclear or wind energy." Additionally with this simple reduction in life, "the earth's atmosphere would be able to tolerate higher per-capita emissions," which means we may continue high carbon-emitting lifestyles for the minor exchange of a few billion future lives.

Although UNFPA would be aghast at such an interpretation of the report, these are the logical implications of its position. Whenever a numerical calculation of life is used to defend a public policy, any and all who value life should be incredibly wary. The slippery slope to murder for the greater good is shorter than most imagine.

UNFPA Practices

The implications of this type of logic and the power it allocates to UNFPA should give one further pause. Through this report, UNFPA has essentially written itself a golden ticket to international funding and support by presenting its programs as a solution to the most publicized issue of the day. UNFPA will use this power to bolster its position and instigate new "reproductive health services" and "family planning" programs around the world.

Wherever you stand on the climate change debate, this is a frightening prospect. For reproductive health and family planning services, as provided by UNFPA, do not simply include contraception, prenatal and birth services, but extend to abortion and sterilization. Although UNFPA is officially opposed to the use of abortion as "a method of family planning," it has utilized the stated goal of preventing "unsafe abortions" to justify distributing manual vacuum aspirators used to terminate pregnancies and abortifacient emergency contraception-a.k.a. the morning-after pill.

Coercive Abortion and Sterilization

UNFPA claims to oppose coercing women to use these reproductive services in order to reach lower population targets. The report explicitly states, "No Government or United Nations entity is suggesting to 'control' population." However, the logic of the report and UNFPA's history of aiding coercive population programs suggest that population "control" is a very real threat.

For example, UNFPA has been marked with scandal for the past decade due to mounting evidence that UNFPA was and still is complicit in the coercive abortion and sterilization programs practiced as part of China's one-child policy. Also, a Peruvian Congress report released in June 2002 tied UNFPA to the coercive sterilization campaign of ex-President Alberto Fujimori. The commission concluded that Fujimori's campaign was equivalent to genocide. There have been similar allegations of UNFPA financing and supporting coercive abortion and sterilization programs in various other countries in Latin America, including El Salvador and Mexico, among others.

A Misplaced Burden

Furthermore, the population reduction programs instigated by UNFPA in the name of lower carbon emissions would disproportionately and unfairly impact developing countries. Developed countries are considered responsible for the greatest proportion of carbon emissions, but they also have dropping fertility rates and ready access to reproductive health services that make UNFPA services unnecessary.

Most developing countries, on the other hand, have growing populations and rising GHG emission rates due to current economic development. In order to stave off this growth in emission rates, UNFPA will likely focus its efforts on reducing the population of developing countries through its reproductive health services. This policy of targeting burgeoning populations in developing countries means that while the developed world is disproportionately responsible for the substantial rise in GHG emissions over the last century, new policies would place the greatest burden for reducing carbon emissions on developing countries and individuals in no way responsible for the alleged problem.

The misplacement of this burden is not only unfair but also imperialistic. UNFPA seems to be implying an exchange: the developing world can achieve the economic prosperity of developed countries, but only at the sacrifice of huge portions of its future population.

Conclusion

By incorporating the current concern over climate change to support its practices, UNFPA has found a new validation for advancing its policies and practices around the world, promoting the short-sighted, mistaken belief that new life is a burden rather than a blessing to humanity. By supporting the premise that the value of any life can be reduced to a simple economic or chemical calculation, UNFPA is now advancing the very philosophy the UN was founded to prevent. This logic threatens the life of every human being, born and unborn alike.

Man Arrested For Throwing Tomatoes At Sarah Palin

Today's Wildlife Photo By Scott Phoebus


Awesome Christmas Lights

GO HERE to watch the video.

Woman Arrested For Sexual Assault On A Child


Location: Saunders Road, Millsboro, Sussex County, DE

Date of Occurrence: September 2009 to November 2009

Defendant: Tabitha J. Hritz, 18, Millsboro

Resume:

Delaware State Police have arrested an 18 year-old woman for sexual assaulting a 10 year-old boy.

Troopers arrested Hritz late last evening and charged her with the sexual assault of a 10 year-old. The incident was reported to state police last month when the victim was talking to a counselor about his poor performance in school. It was discovered that Hritz sexually assaulted the boy at his home.

Hritz was in a relationship with the victim’s father when the assaults occurred.

Troopers collected evidence and charged Hritz with 18 counts of Rape 1st and 1 count of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child. She was committed to WCI in default of $95,000 cash bond.

Boxer Pups For Sale




AKC Boxer Pups, 1st Shots and Wormed, Tails and Dew Claws. Raised In House With Children. Will hold for Christmas With Deposit. $400.00
Two Males and One White Female
Please call 410-835-0134

Firearm Death Rate

An interesting letter in the Australian Shooter Magazine, which I quote:

"If you consider that there has been an average of 160,000 troops in the Iraq theater of operations during the past 22 months, and a total of 2112 deaths, that gives a firearm death rate of 60 per 100,000 soldiers.

The firearm death rate in Washington, DC is 80.6 per 100,000 for the same period..

That means you are about 25 per cent more likely to be shot and killed in the US capital, which has some of the strictest gun control laws in the US, than you are in Iraq.

Conclusion: The US should pull out of Washington.

Chicago Politics Gone Global

The UN Copenhagen climate talks are in disarray today after developing countries reacted furiously to leaked documents that show world leaders will next week be asked to sign an agreement that hands more power to rich countries and sidelines the UN's role in all future climate change negotiations.

The so-called Danish text, a secret draft agreement worked on by a group of individuals known as "the circle of commitment" – but understood to include the UK, US and Denmark – has only been shown to a handful of countries since it was finalised this week.

The document was described last night by one senior diplomat as "a very dangerous document for developing countries. It is a fundamental reworking of the UN balance of obligations. It is to be superimposed without discussion on the talks".

"It is being done in secret. Clearly the intention is to get [Barack] Obama and the leaders of other rich countries to muscle it through when they arrive next week. It effectively is the end of the UN process," said one diplomat, who asked to remain nameless.

More..

Cost-Benefit Analysis Of Jobs Stimulus


Hopefully any new plan will have a better ROI than the current stimulus package. Economic analyst Ed Yardeni runs the numbers:

The Obama Administration is touting that their stimulus program has saved or created 640,329 jobs since it was enacted back in February through the end of October. This number is updated and posted on the Administration’s recovery.gov web site. That amounts to $246,436 per job based on the $157.8bn that has been awarded so far! Total compensation earned by the average payroll employee during October, on an annualized basis, was $59,867. If the government had simply used the funds awarded so far to pay for a year’s worth of labor, that would have paid for 2.6mn jobs!


James Pethokoukis is the money and politics columnist/blogger for Reuters Breakingviews. Previously, he was the economics columnist for U.S. News & World Report where he wrote the monthly Capital Commerce magazine column. Pethokoukis was also the managing editor of the magazine’s Money & Business section. He has written for many publications including the New York Times, the American, USA Today, Investor’s Business Daily, and TCS Daily. Pethokoukis is also an official CNBC contributor and appears frequently on that network’s Kudlow & Company, Power Lunch, and The Call shows. In addition, he has appeared numerous times on MSNBC, Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, CNN, and Nightly Business Report on PBS. A 1989 graduate of Northwestern University where he double majored in Soviet politics and American history and a 1991 graduate of the Medill School of Journalism, Pethokoukis is a 2002 Jeopardy! champion.james.pethokoukis@thomsonreuter s.com

Source

Stolen Bike Recovered


On December 7, 2009 Officers from the Fruitland Police recovered the above pictured Bicycle on Pine Street. The bike is a Diamondback Outlook with a cable lock still attached below the seat. Pictured below is a hand stamp serial number and a photo of a bike shop sticker from Middletown CT. It is believed that the bike was a new purchase from the Pedal Power bike store.

The juvenile in possession of this bike advised that she was told it had been placed in a dumpster at the Mcdonald’s restaurant on South Salisbury blvd. The juvenile stated that McDonald’s employees assisted her in removing the bike from the dumpster and she then rode the bike back home to Fruitland. At her home the mother recognized the bike as stolen property and contacted the Police. The Fruitland Police Department is seeking information on the owner of the bike. Anyone with information is requested to contact the Fruitland Police Department.



COUNTY RETAINS FAVORABLE BOND RATING AND CONDUCTS SUCCESSFUL BOND SALE


Wicomico County Executive Richard M. Pollitt, Jr. announced today that, despite the current challenging economic climate, Wicomico County has retained its favorable bond rating with the three key Wall Street ratings agency and, as a result of this, conducted a successful bond sale on December 1, 2009. Mr. Pollitt issued the following statement on the positive financial news.

“I am pleased to announce that my administration has received a large vote of confidence from Wall Street financial experts. Despite the extremely difficult economic times, Wicomico County has retained its favorable ratings with all three rating agencies – Moody’s Investors Service, Fitch Ratings and Standard & Poor’s. Bond investors also confirmed this confidence by buying Wicomico County bonds at highly favorable rates on December 1, 2009.

“The county has sold ‘Build America Bonds’ in the amount of $16,465,000 for Bennett High School construction, architectural and engineering work related to Bennett Middle School, and for the Allied Health Building at Wor-Wic Community College. The interest on Build America Bonds is subsidized by the federal government at 35%, making the subsidized interest rate on these bonds to be 3.54%. The County also refinanced its 2001outstanding bond issue totaling $ 3,790,000 at an interest rate of 2.49 %. This refinancing is expected to save the County about $236,000 in interest costs over twelve years.

“In retaining the County's A2 rating, Moody’s cited a strong record of conservative fiscal management and a willingness to make cuts to balance the budget. Moody’s said that the county has a ‘manageable debt burden.’ Despite recent healthy financial operations, they believe the recessionary economy will place unique budgetary pressure on an already constrained budget.

“In its A+/Stable rating release, Fitch Ratings noted a moderate debt burden, solid reserve levels, and a stable employment base. They also cited the revenue cap’s impact on property tax revenue, and deterioration in the County's financial flexibility due to the broad recessionary environment.

“In its rationale for Wicomico’s AA-/Stable rating; Standard & Poor’s cited the County’s diversified economy rooted in agriculture, a healthy and stable property tax base, sound financial performance, conservative management practices, and a low debt burden. They also noted the Executive’s proactive stance to address mid-year cuts in state funding and declining income tax revenues. The County's financial management practices are rated ‘good’ under S&P's methodology.”

GOVERNOR O’MALLEY TO REVIEW PANEL RECOMMENDATIONS TO STRENGTHEN SMALL BUSINESS

Governor will formally accept Small Business Task Force recommendations; Host live Small Business Town Hall at Baltimore’s Blue Sky Factory

ANNAPOLIS, MD
– Governor Martin O’Malley will join members of the Governor’s Task Force on Small Business on Wednesday, December 9 at 2:30 p.m. at Blue Sky Factory in Baltimore to officially accept the panel’s recommendations to strengthen small businesses and create jobs in Maryland. The Task Force, which the Governor convened in August, was charged with developing 3-5 recommendations on how to solve the issues most critically impacting Maryland’s small businesses, including access to capital, procurement, regulatory, sustainability, and workforce concerns.

Following the Task Force meeting, the Governor will join local small business owners and host his first online Small Business Town Hall live from Baltimore’s tech entrepreneur Blue Sky Factory, beginning at 3:00 p.m. Questions for the Governor may be submitted by visiting www.choosemaryland.org

GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY ANNOUNCES CLEAN ENERGY PROJECTS TO SPUR ECONOMIC GROWTH, PROMOTE SUSTAINABILITY

First-of-its-kind contracts will spur a suite of large-scale renewable energy projects

ANNAPOLIS, MD
– Governor Martin O’Malley, in partnership with the University System of Maryland, today announced the results of the Generating Clean Horizons initiative to spur large-scale, commercial renewable energy projects that will provide electricity to Maryland. The Governor announced the issuance of awards in response to an innovative competition for the supply of clean energy to the State, offering long-term power purchase agreements to a suite of clean energy developers that can place a portfolio of renewable power on the grid before 2014, create green jobs, and promote a more sustainable energy future.

“Our State is a leader in clean energy, and the results of this initiative demonstrate Maryland’s commitment to the clean energy technologies of today as significant building blocks towards a smart, green and growing Maryland,” remarked Governor O’Malley. “With the combined resources of strategic public and private partnerships, we will continue to bring more green jobs to our communities, use public resources more efficiently, and lead by example for other States.”

The University System of Maryland’s Board of Regents and the Department of General Services recently approved the award of four renewable energy projects which will produce over 20 percent of the institutions and state agencies annual electric needs. The contracts will also further the State’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint 25 percent by 2020.

The awards will be made to US WindForce for a 55 MW on-shore wind energy project, Constellation for a 13 MW solar project in Central Maryland, and BlueWater Wind for up to 55 MW of wind energy as an extension to the proposed Delaware off-shore wind project. A separate award under a small business provision will be made to Synergics for 10 MW as part of its Roth Rock development in Western Maryland.

“This is a significant step under our Environmental Sustainability Initiative,” noted University System of Maryland Chancellor William “Brit” Kirwan, “which reflects our commitment to carbon reduction through a 20-year agreement for the purchase of renewable energy."

Generating Clean Horizons, in addition to numerous statewide energy efficiency projects, is another step toward achieving the ambitious energy goals established by the O’Malley-Brown Administration. Last year, Governor O’Malley successfully championed the EmPOWER Maryland Act, which aims to reduce energy consumption 15 percent by 2015, and more than doubled Maryland’s renewable portfolio standard to require that electric suppliers purchase 20 percent of their power from clean energy sources by 2022.

“This demonstrates the seriousness of Maryland’s commitment to embrace clean energy from multiple technology sources,” noted MEA Director Malcolm Woolf. “We have leveraged the state’s own electricity needs with clean energy developers’ desire for long term contracts which will help deployment in this credit strapped economic climate. The tremendous level of interest from public and private entities demonstrates that Marylanders can and will remain the leading state for greener solutions with predictable pricing to meet our energy challenges.”

“Having the Generating Clean Horizons portfolio will add to the resources available to state government to continue its progress utilizing renewable power,” said Alvin C. Collins, Secretary of the Maryland Department of General Services. “It is a very desirable outcome.”

Maryland will offer access to these renewable energy contracts to county, university and municipal partners who may seek to benefit from these new commercial renewable energy projects.

O’MALLEY FAMILY TO HOST HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE

Events Planned for the Public and State Employees

ANNAPOLIS, MD (December 8, 2009)
– Every year, Governor Martin O’Malley and First Lady Katie O’Malley host a holiday open house at Government House for the members of the public and state employees. This year, two events will be held that include holiday entertainment provided by choirs from throughout the State of Maryland, holiday cookies, hot apple cider and, an annual favorite – the Arbutus Volunteer Fire Company Christmas Train Garden.

The holiday open houses will be held this week for State employees and members of the public: The Holiday Open House for State Employees will be held on Thursday, December 10, 2009 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., and the Holiday Open House for the Public will be held this Saturday, December 12, 2009 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Entertainment for the State Employee Holiday Open House includes:

The Chapel Hill Music Sensations (from Perry Hall, Baltimore County); and
The Seneca Valley High School Chamber Choir (from Germantown, Montgomery County).

Entertainment for the Public Holiday Open House includes:

The Star Spangled Chorus of the Dundalk Sweet Adelines International (from Dundalk, Baltimore County);
The Watkins Mill High School Chamber Singers (from Gaithersburg, Montgomery County); and
The European Academy of Music and Art, Inc. (from Silver Spring, Montgomery County).

“It really is a tremendous privilege for Martin and me to welcome Maryland families and state employees to our third Holiday Open House. Government House is open for tours throughout the year, but these holiday open houses, with local choirs from across Maryland, really do capture the spirit of the season,” said First Lady Katie O’Malley. “We hope families throughout Maryland can share in the holiday season with us.”

“The holidays are a time for all of us to come together and celebrate that which is really important: our friends, our family, and community,” said Governor O’Malley. “Katie and I welcome you to our home, and look forward to celebrating the holiday season with all Marylanders. May the joy of the holiday season strengthen all of our communities and families in our One Maryland.”

Last week, the O’Malley family kicked off the holiday season by visiting Butler’s Orchard, a Maryland family farm, to cut their own fresh, local tree for the holidays. The O’Malley family encourages all Marylanders to buy their Christmas tree from a locally owned farm.

About the entertainment:

The Chapel Hill Music Sensations is an auditioned vocal fifth grade singing group of students from Chapel Hill Elementary School in Perry Hall, Maryland. Each week these students devote ninety minutes of their own after school time in musical study. In addition to weekly practice sessions, the Sensations frequently perform at school, community and state events. These opportunities have provided an enriching choral repertoire for these fifth graders. A byproduct of the group is that each child gains an enhancement of their interpersonal skills as well. As performers, the students gain an appreciation for what it means to develop poise and appreciate their role in front of and with varied audiences.

These students have had the opportunity to perform at Government House, assisted living centers, Baltimore County Waterfront Festival, WJZ Manic Monday, Blast Games, Armed Forces Day at Aberdeen Proving Ground and Ripken Stadium during the school year.

The Seneca Valley High School Chamber Choir of Germantown, MD, is a highly select group of 20 students who have excelled in voice, music theory, and performance. Each member successfully completed a rigorous audition that included vocal performance, tonal memory, rhythmic sight reading and melodic sight reading. The choir consistently and successfully performs the highest level of music and prides itself on outstanding performances for the community as well as local, state and national festivals.

The SVHS Chamber Choir has been an integral part of the Germantown and Seneca Valley community for many years. Under the direction of Michelle A. Searle, the choir has received superior ratings at county and state festivals as well as won awards at national competitions. The choir travels extensively during the school year, especially during the month of December in which they partake in their annual Winter Tour.

The Star Spangled Chorus of the Dundalk Sweet Adelines International from Dundalk was founded fifty years ago. The chorus has won many regional competitions and has placed second and third in International Competition. The chorus sings a cappella four part harmony, barbershop style. It is an energetic group who has encouraged young women to join with them in perpetuating this art form. The Star Spangled Chorus is proud of its young quartets. The Chorus is honored to share in this holiday celebration.

The Watkins Mill High School Chamber Singers is the premier choral ensemble of Watkins Mill High School in Gaithersburg, Maryland and consists of 10th, 11th, and 12th graders. They have received superior ratings at district, state, and regional choral festivals and competitions. Specializing in a cappella singing, this ensemble has sung in languages from Latin to Norwegian and music from the Renaissance to Contemporary periods.

Each year this ensemble tours the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area. They perform at local malls, book stores, historic sites, and retirement homes. In addition, they have performed at NIH Children’s Inn, the Kennedy Center, the Washington National Cathedral and the White House. In 2003, the Chamber Singers were selected by the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC as one of the top high school performing ensembles in the metropolitan area and performed on the Millennium Stage. Most recently, the Chamber Singers were selected by the Washington Chorus at the Side By Side choir for 2004.

The European Academy of Music and Art, Inc., (EAMA, Inc.) was established in 1991 by Dr. Bella Eugenia Oster in Silver Spring, Maryland. The school bases on European teaching method and high standards at the international level for instrumental performance. EAMA, Inc., specializes mostly on piano performance and develops other instrumental departments such as strings, winds, theory and history, composition, etc. The school focuses on the intellectual development of children through piano performance and training students’ ability to perform in public with exciting repertoire consisting of pieces at high level of difficulty. The school is affiliated with the International Associations for Musically Gifted Children, Inc. (IAMGCI) which helps children, ages 3 to 18, as well as adult students to participate in most advanced internationally recognized program from Pre-K through 12th grade.

Through a unique teaching method of Dr. Oster, her students have maintained very high international achievements of piano performance and have been recorded on numerous CDs, have been profiled on International and National TV programs, magazines and newspapers. A large number of her students have been winners in international, national and state competitions. They have performed in The White House, The State Department, The Pentagon, The U.S. Capitol, The United Nations, numerous Embassies in Washington D.C., The World Bank, Carnegie Hall, New York, The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C, Lincoln Center, Strathmore, Maryland, many International Congress and Forums, Harvard University, Columbia University, Georgetown University, and many other colleges and universities, hospitals and medical centers, children organizations, retirement community, and other venues.

The Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department’s Christmas Train Garden has been a part of the Government House Holiday Open House tradition since ____. The Christmas garden is a tradition that German immigrants brought to Maryland in the form of small scenes built under their Christmas trees by the adults and older children of the family. The gardens took on various forms, with some families building nativity scenes, while others used a scene with a miniature house, barn, and typically out of scale animals. Each family’s garden was very different, reflecting the things that were most important to them. Many of these German immigrants found employment as fire fighters. They carried their traditions into the firehouses, putting up a Christmas tree with a garden. As the popularity of these gardens grew, so did their complexities, growing to include many buildings, and moving trains. Today, many include very intricate animations. The Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department is located n Southwestern Boulevard in Arbutus, Baltimore County.

Reckless Endangering 1st



Location: Coverdale Road, Seaford, De

Date of Occurrence: December, 07, 2009 at approximately 7:40 pm

Victims: 1 year old boy, and an 8 year old boy

Defendants:
Sherita Stanley, 40, Seaford, De
Alton Jones, 57, Seaford, De

Resume: Yesterday evening Troopers from Troop 5 responded to Coverdale Road in Seaford Delaware to check on the welfare of two children that were believed to be unsupervised, in a residence. Upon the Troopers arrival they were guided to a small 10x10 garage that was converted into a room on the rear of the home. Once the Trooper opened the garage he observed the room to be full of smoke from a Kerosene heater operating in the room. The Trooper also observed a 1 year old boy unconscious, in the garage. The Trooper quickly removed the child from the room, and immediately rendered first aid. The child then began to breathe, and was flown to University of Maryland Hospital for further treatment.

Further investigating revealed that Sherita Stanly the mother of the 1 year old, and Alton Jones, father of the 1 year old boy, had left the child in the residence, unsupervised, for several hours. It was also revealed that Sherita Stanly, and Alton Jones had asked an 8 year old boy, also located in the residence, to watch over their child while they left the home.

Sherita Stanly and Alton Jones were both located and placed in custody for Reckless Endangering 1st, Endangering Welfare of child, Conspiracy, and Reckless Endangering 2nd. Both defendants were arraigned on all charges, and committed to Sussex Correction Institute in lieu of $11,000.00 secured bond each.

The 1 year old boy is currently in stable condition at University of Maryland Hospital. The 8 year old boy was not injured during the incident.

Wicomico County Sheriff's Office Press Releases


Incident: Burglary
Date of Incident: 2 December 2009
Location: 4300 block of Tyaskin Nanticoke Road, Tyaskin, MD
Suspect: Cody L. Bradshaw, 23, Pittsville, MD

Narrative: On 3 December 2009
at 1:08 PM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office began an investigation into a residential burglary that occurred in the 4300 block of Tyaskin Nanticoke Road. Stolen in the burglary was a substantial amount of jewelry. During the investigation, the stolen jewelry was discovered at a local pawn shop and through an investigation it was discovered that Cody Bradshaw had pawned the jewelry. Later that same day, the deputy located Bradshaw and discovered additional jewelry inside his vehicle. The deputy placed Bradshaw under arrest for the burglary and theft of the jewelry. Post arrest, the deputy discovered that Bradshaw was in possession of what the deputy recognized as Heroin.

Bradshaw was transported to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, Bradshaw was detained by the Commissioner in the Detention Center by the Commissioner in lieu of $50,000.00 bond

Charges:
Burglary 1st degree
Theft
Possession of Heroin

Incident: Possession of CDS
Date of Incident: 8 December 2009
Location: 800 block of Booth Street, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Neshon R. Downing, 20, Salisbury, MD

Narrative: On 8 December 2009
at 4:22 PM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 800 block of Booth Street for the report of suspicious subjects behind a building. Upon arrival, the deputy observed two subjects who immediately tried to walk away from the area upon the arrival of the uniformed deputy. As the deputy approached the subjects, one placed his hands inside his coat pocket and continued to walk away from the deputy. When the deputy asked this subject to stop and speak with him and to also remove his hands from his pocket, the subject spoke belligerently towards the deputy. Upon detaining this subject, later identified as Neshon Downing, the deputy located a substantial amount of prescription pills that were not prescribed to Downing. Additionally, the deputy located two marijuana smoking devices that still contained the remnants of burnt marijuana and a concealed box cutter.

Downing was placed under arrest and transported to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, Downing was detained by the Commissioner in the Detention Center in lieu of $5,000.00 bond.

Charges:
Possession of Marijuana
Possession of a Controlled dangerous Substance (3 counts)
Carrying a Dangerous Weapon

Incident: Possession of Marijuana
Date of Incident: 8 December 2009
Location: 2500 block of N. Salisbury Blvd., Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Shanyale N. Nelson, 25, Salisbury, MD

Narrative: On 8 December 2009
at 10:17 PM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office pulled into the parking lot of the Shell gas station in the 2500 block of N. Salisbury Blvd and observed an unattended and running vehicle left in front of the establishment. The deputy made contact with the operator, Shanyale Nelson upon her exit from the store and informed her of the law that against leaving an unattended vehicle running. While speaking to Nelson, the deputy observed what the deputy recognized as a marijuana cigarette in plain view inside the passenger compartment of Nelson’s vehicle. Upon searching Nelson’s vehicle, the deputy located additional marijuana cigarettes.

The deputy placed Nelson under arrest and transported her to the Central Booking Unit where she was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, Nelson was released on Personal Recognizance by the Commissioner.

Charges:
Possession of Marijuana
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia