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Tuesday, November 09, 2010

City Of Fruitland Repeals Sign Ordinance

The City of Fruitland repealed the new sign ordinance and reverted back to the old language. Any business that had been billed recently will not have to pay that bill. More to come tomorrow.

WWII German Prisoner of War Museum Now In Salisbury

Salisbury has, for one afternoon only, a glimpse into the past aboard the schoolbus-turned- museum now parked at the city lot across the street from the county library.


For those who don't know, Maryland housed several thousand captured German soldiers, sailors and airmen across the state in POW camps. Locally, Hurlock, Cambridge and Somerset County were camp sites. Internees were often put to work in local programs. Many returned to the
States after the war to become U.S. citizens and raise families.

In addition to the static displays of photographs, maps, charts and memorabilia, the museum's curator (also the driver) has a 2o minute audiovisual presentation.

Very interesting and educational! And it's free!

The museum will only be here this afternoon, then it's on to Cambridge and Hurlock.

Wicomico County Health Department

Salisbury, MD --- The Wicomico County Health Department is informing residents of a current investigation being conducted by The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene into a cluster of seven E. coli O157 infections.  Although there have been no deaths, three of the seven have been hospitalized.  A potential association exists with the consumption of unpasteurized Baugher’s apple cider.

In response to the investigation, Baugher’s Orchard & Farm, located in Westminster, MD, has voluntarily recalled all of its apple cider.  Consumers should not consume the recalled cider and should discard any remaining cider. 

At this time, it does not appear that any cider has been sold to establishments in our area, but residents should be aware of the potential.

A fact sheet on E. coli O157 can be found at http://edcp.org/factsheets/ecoli.cfm.

For questions, call the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene at 410-767-6490. 

Should Your Facebook Comments Get You Fired?

Imagine you've had a lousy day at work. You come home and go online. You vent about your boss.
Your Facebook comments get you fired.
 
Should this happen?
 
The National Labor Relations Board says criticism of a boss or a company is a protected activity and employers are violating the law.
 
The board has accused a company of illegally firing an employee for criticizing her supervisor on her Facebook page.
 
The ground-breaking case the NLRB is taking up involves an emergency medical technician fired by the ambulance service, American Medical Response of Connecticut, The New York Times reports.
 
"This is a fairly straightforward case under the National Labor Relations Act - whether it takes place on Facebook or at the water cooler, it was employees talking jointly about working conditions, in this case about their supervisor, and they have a right to do that," the board's acting general counsel tells The New York Times.

GO HERE to read more.

Public Invited To Attend A Day In The Forest Event

Lower Shore Land Trust invites the public to enjoy the beautiful outdoors at Hazel Outdoor Discovery Center in Eden, Maryland for A Day in the Forest on Saturday, November 13, 2010 from 10am to 1pm.

Larry Walton of Vision Forestry will teach about the value of woodlands and how a forest stewardship plan can help landowners manage their property sustainably.

Professional photographer, Cheryl Nemazie will lead a walking tour throughout the property, capturing landscapes and close-ups. Jim Rapp will share the story of the Hazel Center and help identify plants and wildlife.

Participants are encouraged to bring their cameras and take photos while enjoying the scenery.

Hot dogs and additional foods and drinks will be provided. No pre-registration is necessary,
For more information about this event, please contact Christy Hallman, Stewardship & Volunteer Coordinator of Lower Shore Land Trust at 410-641-4467.

Lower Shore Land Trust works to protect the natural heritage, rural character, and historic landscapes of Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester counties, by assisting landowners to discover, evaluate, and implement any of the available land preservation options.

Salisbury Police Department Press Releases

On November 6, 2010 at approximately 12:09 am, Officers of the Salisbury Police received a call to respond to the area of 1109 Parsons Road for the report of a possible armed robbery. Upon arrival the officers observed the below listed suspect walking away from the area of the reported robbery. The officers attempted to make contact with the suspect resulting in the suspect fleeing from the area on foot. The officers pursued the suspect and saw the suspect holding on to an object in his waistband. During the pursuit, the suspect attempted to discard a handgun which was recovered by the officers. The suspect was caught and was charged with the possession of the handgun as an adult. The suspect was not charged in relation to the reported armed robbery.

During the arrest of this suspect, a second suspect (#2) became disorderly and attempted to interfere with the arrest of suspect # 1.

ARRESTED: Marctavius Kennedy Anderson, 17 years of age
Salisbury, Maryland
CHARGES: Possession of a handgun
Underage possession of a handgun
Underage possession of ammunition
Obstructing and hindering
Resisting arrest
ARRESTED #2: Keishawn Evette Carter, 20 years of age
Salisbury, Maryland
CHARGES: Disorderly conduct
Resisting Arrest
Failure to obey a lawful order

DISPOSITION: Both released to Central Booking
CC # 201000044133

On November 6, 2010 at approximately 1:00 am, Officers of the Salisbury Police were in the area of 1105 Parsons Road to investigate a possible robbery. While attempting to locate the victims, the officers observed the below listed suspect run from the officers into an apartment in building # 1115. The officers pursued the suspect and found the magazine of a handgun near the door to the apartment. The officers made contact with the occupant of the apartment, who allowed the officers to enter and locate the suspect. The officers conducted a routine records check and found that the suspect was wanted on an outstanding Wicomico County Circuit Court Bench Warrant. The suspect was taken into custody and a check of the apartment resulted in the recovery of a handgun that matched the magazine found outside of the door. The suspect is under the age allowing for legal possession of the handgun.

ARRESTED: Labryant Marquell Davis, 20 years of age
Salisbury, Maryland
CHARGES: Handgun on person
Possession of a handgun by a prohibited person
Possession of ammunition by a prohibited person
Possession of a handgun by a convicted felon
Circuit Court Bench Warrant-
Wearing/carrying a firearm
DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking
CC # 201044141/201000044136

On November 5, 2010 at approximately 9:40 am, Officers of the Salisbury Police returned the below listed suspect to Maryland and served an arrest warrant on the suspect charging him with a bank robbery that occurred on November 11, 2009. Salisbury Detectives obtained the warrant following the investigation of the robbery of the PNC Bank on North Salisbury Boulevard.

ARRESTED: Jonathan James Zulinski, 34 years of age
Georgetown, Delaware
CHARGES: Armed robbery
Robbery
First and second degree assault
Reckless endangerment
DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking
CC # 201000040080

On November 7, 2010 at approximately 10:14 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police were on routine patrol in the area of Fitzwater Street and conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle operated by the below listed suspect #1 and occupied by below listed suspect # 2 for traffic violations. The officers conducted a records check of the suspects and found that suspect #2 was wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant. The officers requested a K-9 and with the assistance of the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Department conducted a check of the vehicle which yielded positive results. The officers checked the vehicle and located a bag of suspected cocaine behind the front seats.

ARRESTED #1: George Thomas Jackson, 31 years of age
Quantico, Maryland
ARRESTED #2: Conrad Hayward Snell, 30 years of age
Fruitland, Maryland
CHARGES (Both): Possession of cocaine
Possession of cds/paraphernalia
DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking
CC # 201000044345

GM Tells Mr. Goodwrench To Close His Toolbox

37-year-old service brand will be scrapped as of Feb. 1

General Motors is asking Mr. Goodwrench to pack up his toolbox.

The mechanic who served as the symbol of GM's dealer service brand for 37 years will be scrapped as of Feb. 1 in favor of "certified service" brands for each of GM's remaining four remaining nameplates, the company said Tuesday.

GO HERE to read more.

'I'm Just A Little Girl,' She Pleaded

Elizabeth Smart: Kidnapper plotted for months, then came daily rapes

Salt Lake City, Utah (CNN) -- Elizabeth Smart will continue her testimony Tuesday in the federal kidnapping trial of Brian David Mitchell.

Mitchell told Smart he wanted her from the moment he first saw her, Smart told a captivated jury Monday.

He said he planned for months how he would snatch her so she could join him and his wife in a "celestial" plural marriage, Smart testified.

"He said they had been preparing for me since he saw me," she said.

It was the fall of 2001, and he was panhandling outside a mall in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. Smart said she was with her mother and five brothers and sisters, shopping for school clothes.

"My mother gave gave him five bucks," Smart told told the jury. Mitchell was hired by her mother to fix a leaky skylight and rake leaves. Smart saw him around the house that fall but never spoke to him, she said.

Before dawn on June 2, 2002, she awoke to the sound of a man's voice and a cold sharp blade against her throat.

"I remember him saying, 'I have a knife to your neck. Don't make a sound. Get out of bed and come with me or I will kill you and your family,'" Smart testified.

He led her in her red silk pajamas up a trail into the rugged back country and over a ridge, hiking what she estimated to be three to five hours to a crude campsite. There, she said, he "sealed" her to him as his wife and raped her.

GO HERE to read more.

PUBLIC NOTICE


MEETING

In accordance with §SC2-4 of the Salisbury City Charter, a majority of the City Council have called for a Special Meeting to be held on Monday, November 15, 2010, for consideration of Ordinance No. 2131 for 2nd reading – accepting State Aid In Lieu Funds and to amend the FY11 General Fund Budget to fund the repaving of a portion of Beaglin Park Drive.

The special meeting will be held at 4:30 p.m. in Council Chambers (Room 301) of the City/County Government Office Building (125 N. Division Street).

High Court Turns Down Early Healthcare Challenge

The Supreme Court has turned down the first preliminary challenge to President Barack Obama's healthcare overhaul.

The decision Monday to reject an appeal from a former Republican state lawmaker in California was no surprise because a federal appeals court has yet to consider the case. The high court almost never reviews cases before the issues have been aired in lower courts.

Of more significance is the sign that all the justices took part in rejecting the appeal. New Justice Elena Kagan refused to say during her confirmation hearings whether she would take part in the court's deliberations over the health care law. Kagan was Obama's solicitor general before joining the court.

The court has noted Kagan's absence in more than two dozen other cases, suggesting that she voted on the healthcare appeal.     

More

Somerset Recreation And Parks

Planned Parenthood Worried About 'Dangerous Politicians'

In a letter sent to supporters by e-mail on the day after Republicans were swept in as the new majority in the House of Representatives and gained seats in the Senate, Planned Parenthood CEO Cecile Richards used the election results to press for an “emergency donation” to help fight against “dangerous politicians who oppose women's health and the right to choose.”

“Even before yesterday's election, women's health was under attack,” Richards wrote in the e-mail, which was sent on Nov. 3. “Anti-choice Republicans like Congressman Mike Pence from Indiana have introduced legislation to defund Planned Parenthood.”

“That's the frightening reality we face, and it's only going to get worse,” Richards wrote.

According to the last annual report made public by the Planned Parenthood Federation of America for Fiscal Year 2007-2008, the organization received $349.6 million in government grants and contracts.

Pence (R-Ind.) was one of 31 Republicans who ordered a report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) seeking the total amount of federal funding used by Planned Parenthood and other pro-abortion groups, including the Guttmacher Institute, the Population Council, Advocates for Youth, the International Planned Parenthood Federation and the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS).

The GAO report, released in May, states that the combined total in federal dollars spent by those organizations from FY 2002-2009 was $967.1 million – $657.1 million of that is listed as expenditures of federal funds for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
  
More from CNS News

Tea Party Leaders Flex Newfound Muscle, Put GOP Insiders On Notice

The tea party rebels preparing to storm across the Potomac and into the marbled halls of Congress are already flexing their muscles, circulating petitions and shooting off letters advising members of Congress how to vote in an early test of their newfound Beltway influence following Tuesday's historic elections.

Much of the activism centers around grass-roots support for Minnesota GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann, who is challenging Texas GOP Rep. Jeb Hensarling for the chairmanship of the House Republican Conference, the No. 4 position in the House leadership.

Both candidates are considered tea party favorites. But Hensarling is the clear preference of the GOP establishment, which at times has appeared leery of the tea parties' growing might.

Movement conservative Richard Viguerie on Monday began circulating a petition urging GOP leaders to remain neutral in the leadership struggle between Hensarling and Bachmann. GOP Whip Eric Cantor recently endorsed Hensarling.

"Rep. Hensarling and Rep. Bachmann are both good, constitutional conservatives and they both deserve to openly compete to chair the House Republican Conference without your interference," states the petition posted on Viguerie's website, ConservativeHQ.com.

"I urge you to withdraw your endorsement of Rep. Hensarling for the House Republican Conference and allow Rep. Bachmann (or anyone else who wishes to join the race) a fair and open election process that equally respects the voice of each Republican House member."

Viguerie told Newsmax in an e-mail: "Yes, I think it's important that Michelle Bachmann be elected as the House Republican Conference Chair. All other leadership positions, including committee chairs, are controlled by [presumptive House Speaker] John Boehner and Eric Cantor -- men associated with the big-government Republicans that so angered the GOP's base and most of America.      

Here is more

Dog Show At Wicomico Civic Center Starts Tomorrow

With more than 5,000 dogs entered into this years show, you won't want to miss this event that will last throughout the weekend.

GOP Watchdogs Promise Fight Over EPA, Obamacare

There's been a lot of talk about Republican plans to subject the Obama administration to strict oversight once the new GOP House majority takes office. Most of the discussion has focused on Rep. Darrell Issa, head of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which is the main panel charged with keeping the administration in line. "I'm going to be doing a lot of investigating," says Issa.

That's true, but it's also true that some of the most intense action will be elsewhere. Two key areas on which Republicans plan to keep a close eye are Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius' implementation of the new national health care law and Environmental Protection Agency head Lisa Jackson's work to unilaterally regulate carbon emissions. Both fall under the oversight of the House Energy and Commerce Committee -- a panel so important that the famed Democratic Rottweiler Rep. Henry Waxman left the Oversight Committee to chair it -- and both will be the subject of extensive oversight next year.

It hasn't been decided who the next chairman of Energy and Commerce will be. Current ranking member Rep. Joe Barton of Texas wants the job, but Hill sources say it is likely to go instead to Michigan Rep. Fred Upton, despite the opposition of conservatives who object to some of Upton's votes on land use, the EPA budget, and TARP.     
Read more

Republican Co-Author Of Incandescent-Bulb Ban Seeks Chair Of House Energy Committee

Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) may have some explaining to do to fellow GOP colleagues as he seeks the chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, given the incoming wave of new conservatives who may not appreciate some aspects of Upton's voting record.

Upton joined with Rep. Jane Harman (D.-Calif.) in  2007 to co-author the legislation that effectively banned indoor incandescent light bulbs in the United States. In the last Congress, he an Harman teamed up again to offer new legislation that would extend the ban on incandescent bulbs to outdoor lighting also.

"In 2007, Harman and Upton introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation--which became law as part of the Energy Independence and Security Act--that bans the famously inefficient 100-watt incandescent light bulb by 2012, phases out remaining inefficient light bulbs by 2014, and requires that light bulbs be at least three times as efficient as today's 100-watt incandescent bulb by 2020," explained a 2009 press release put out by the two House members. 
More on this

HUSOCK: Reinventing Public Housing

It is easy to despair over the persistence of black poverty. The social problem that just won't go away has resisted even the election of our first black president. The depth and complexity of its causes leads, understandably, to indifference born of frustration. That makes what's going on under the aegis of the Atlanta Housing Authority (AHA) and its reformist leader, Renee Glover, so unusual - and so hopeful. Not only has Ms. Glover demolished virtually all of the city's poverty- and crime-ridden public-housing projects, but she also has initiated large-scale individual interventions in the lives of the black poor that hold the promise of actually reducing the ranks of the underclass. The immodest but appropriate name for her work: "human transformation."

The context is this. Since taking over the AHA in 1994, Ms. Glover has transformed the authority, whose nearly 50,000 tenants are more than 98 percent black. To remain a public-housing tenant - either in a new mixed-income development or in a private apartment paid for by a housing voucher - one must agree to a work requirement. It is in helping tenants fulfill that requirement that the story of human transformation has unfolded.

The troops in this war on dependency are employees of the Integral Youth and Family Project, a for-profit subsidiary of the leading private developer of complexes to replace Atlanta's projects. The employees of this sort of Peace Corps for the underclass are called "family support coordinators" (FSCs) and they are virtually all blacks in their 20s and early 30s. Some have made the journey out of public housing themselves. Kenya Tyson went from Atlanta's Harris Homes to Morehouse College and counsels families who lived in the now-demolished Harris. Teaera Raines was raised by her grandparents in Macon, Ga., after her parents succumbed to drug abuse; she went on to get a master's degree in management from Troy University.

One senses in the group the same spirit of pragmatic idealism that characterizes Teach for America and the KIPP Schools: the belief that people whom others have written off can be reached. Every day, the FSCs fan out in their own cars to visit three or four households relocated from the demolished projects. They give their cell-phone numbers to their "clients" and understand themselves to be on call at all times - including when the call concerns an angry boyfriend, domestic violence or where to find shelter with the kids at midnight.    
Read the rest>>

Ketzaleh: Tel Aviv Jews Will Flee To Yesha From ‘African Flood’

National Union chairman Yaakov (Ketzaleh) Katz warned a Knesset committee Monday that 100,000 African immigrants will flood Tel Aviv in the next few years.

MK Katz heads a committee on foreign workers and has previously sounded the alarm bells on the flood of refugees that threatens the character of the Jewish state. Most of the refugees previously settled in southern cities, where they began to dominate smaller towns and cities, such as Arad, and are a significant percentage of the population and the crime statistics.

Their movement to Tel Aviv will make Tel Aviv look like an African city, MK Katz told the committee. He added that the city’s Jews, many of whom consider themselves tolerant pacifists but oppose a Jewish presence in Judea and Samaria, ironically will flee to the hills of Samaria to "escape the flood."

Rabbi Menashe Zlicha of Pardes Katz, part of metropolitan Tel Aviv, said this week that thousands of Sudanese have fled the industrial hub, where they felt unwanted, and have moved into the suburb.

Last July, Interior Security Minister Yitzchak Aharonovitch informed the Cabinet that two and a half million Africans on Egyptian soil are waiting for a chance to cross the border illegally into Israel. He said that approximately 155,000 illegal foreign workers are in Israel and that 1,200 enter illegally every month,

Journalist Yisrael Eichler and former hareidi religious legislator told the government last year that “bleeding hearts” are making Israel a refuge for non-Jews and criminals.

Many European countries are closing their doors to immigrants from Asian and African countries.
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U.S. Knew for Years That Cargo Planes Were Terror Targets

Despite knowing for decades that terrorists could sneak bombs onto planes, the U.S. government and elected officials failed to close obvious security gaps, succumbing instead to heavy lobbying by the air cargo industry, which claimed that tougher screening would cost too much and take too long.

GO HERE to read more.

Gay Couples Launch Attack On U.S. Marriage Law

New lawsuits could increase pressure on Obama to act on promises to support gay rights

Joanne Pedersen tried to add her spouse to her federal health insurance on Monday. She was rejected. Again.

The problem is that while Ms. Pedersen is legally married to Ann Meitzen under Connecticut law, federal law does not recognize same-sex unions. So a health insurance matter that is all but automatic for most married people is not allowed for them under federal law.  

GO HERE to read more.

1 in 5 Drivers Will Soon Be Over 65

WASHINGTON (AP) - Remember "The Little Old Lady from Pasadena"? Baby boomers who first danced to that 1964 pop hit about a granny burning up the road in her sports car will begin turning 65 in January. Experts say keeping those drivers safe and mobile is a challenge with profound implications.

The National Transportation Safety Board is holding two-day forum beginning Tuesday to better understand the safety risks that older drivers face.

More than one in five licensed drivers will soon be 65 or older, the safety board said. Their number will nearly double, from 30 million today to about 57 million in 2030, according to the Government Accountability Office.

Smarter cars and better designed roads may help keep them stay behind the wheel longer.

GO HERE to read more.

State Auditors Seek Criminal Probe Into Possible Fraud And Misuse Of Money In Baltimore-Area Prisons

There were so many opportunities for fraud and misuse of money by workers in the Baltimore region of the state prison system that state auditors are asking the attorney general to look into possible criminal charges.

Auditors found an “almost complete lack of control and accountability” for the corrections region's working funds, uncovering included thousands of dollars in penalties for bounced checks, checking accounts out of balance by hundreds of thousands of dollars, and checks machine-signed by people who no longer worked at the department.

GO HERE to read more.

Govt Report Shows Debt Dropping, But Credit Cards Haunt You Forever

The Fed is out with its latest report on consumer credit, and it's filled with good news -- kinda sorta. While the report says that, for the seventh consecutive quarter, consumers are borrowing less and paying off more of their debt, that doesn't necessarily mean the economy is healthier. The numbers "can be a result of both tightening credit standards and voluntary changes in saving behavior," said Fed economist Donghoon Lee. So, maybe you're borrowing less because you don't want to get stuck with more debt -- or maybe it's just because nobody wants to lend you money anymore.

More »

Government Spends Millions Helping Domino's & Taco Bell Serve More Cheese

The NYT has an investigative piece on the $140 million a year organization called "Dairy Management." It recently teamed up with Domino's to develop a new line of pizzas with 40 percent more cheese, and proceeded to devise and pay for a $12 million marketing campaign, says the Times. Who is this organization? Well, it's a "marketing creation" of the US Department of Agriculture.

More »

Brooke Mulford Update


Hi Everyone,

It's that time again....Scan Week and all the "scanxiety" that goes along with it.  Brooke will have her MIBG injection, labs drawn, and her CT scan on Tues morning and then Wed morning she will have her MIBG scan followed by oncology clinic and ophthalmology.  Please pray for clear scans for Brooke!  I should know results by Wed afternoon and will try to post by Thurs evening.  Also, the boy Wayne, from Brooke’s school that also has NB is having a really tough time and could really use all the prayers he can get (and also for his family).

Brooke and I were just in NJ for the weekend for the Little Smiles Stars Ball – “A Night at the Oscars” at The Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia on Saturday night.  5 kids from CHOP oncology were invited as well as several kids from other local hospitals.  The night started with us (Brooke, me, Grammy & Uncle Johnny) heading to CHOP for Brooke to get her hair and makeup done.  Then the limo picked us up to take us to the Ball.  Once there, the kids each got introduced separately and then got to walk the red carpet while signing autographs!  Let me tell you, Brooke was working the crowd!  It was too cute and she felt like a real star!  Next, all the kids were given Oscar awards.  Brooke got to dance with the Phillies Phanatic, had a private tour of the museum (which rocks by the way), loaded up on a bag full of candy, got tons of cool gifts, rode the indoor carousel, hung out with some of the fabulous nurses from CHOP and Miss Sarah(Child Life) too!  A few weeks prior they asked the “Stars” to draw a picture of what they thought the night would be like and then they framed them and auctioned them off – Brooke’s went for $350!  All in all it was one of the best nights of Brooke’s life (and mine too) and it will be a night we will never forget.  Thanks to everyone at Little Smiles and CHOP for inviting Brooke and making it such a special night!  For more information about Little Smiles and what they do see http://www.littlesmiles.org/

While we were in NJ, Rob was at Aunt Jenn and Uncle George’s in Fairfax, VA for a golf tournament that raised money for The Brooke Mulford Foundation and St. Jude’s Hospital.  Haven’t gotten to hear any of the details yet but maybe Daddy will be able to update everyone on that soon!  Thank you to everyone that was involved with the Brooke Golf Tournament!

Some other fun stuff we have gotten to do the past couple months:

Sept 26th we spent the morning in Philly with Team Brooke for the Parkway Run that benefits the Cancer Center at CHOP – Thank you to everyone that came out to run or walk and helped to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for pediatric cancer research!  After the race The Oaklyn Manor Bar in NJ donated a percentage of the profits from the afternoon sales to The Brooke Mulford Foundation.  We had a great time and great food!  Thanks to Marcie, the Manor and everyone that came out!  Not long after we left the Manor we were heading up to Long Branch NJ for the Rockin’ the Boardwalk event for Make Some Noise: Cure Kids Cancer.  Brooke was one of the honored kids at the event and we had a blast!

October brought many fun filled days including:

Brooke and I spent a fabulous weekend with old friends, Terry, Ashley & little Riley in Williamsburg, VA and at Busch Gardens.  Riley and Brooke had a blast together and were so stinkin cute!  Ashley (Riley’s mommy) was Brooke’s very first babysitter and is a fantastic mom herself now!  Brooke and I also got to have dinner one night with one of my best buds, Erin (Brooke fell in love with her and hubby Kevin) who moved to Williamsburg a few years ago!  Miss you guys!

Halloween weekend was jam packed with Halloween parties and festivals at the Nazarene Church Fri night, Trinity Sat afternoon and trick or treating in our neighborhood on Sunday!  We dressed up like the Peanuts Gang (Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Sally and Bailey as “The Great Pumpkin”!  Brooke is crazy about Snoopy which I’m thrilled about since he was always my favorite growing up!

Well, it’s getting late and we have a lot to do tomorrow to head back to NJ again.  Thank you again for your prayers for Brooke and Wayne this week and for all the little warriors out there.

God bless,

Amy

Veterans

Cross Pointe Church of the Nazarene located at 27765 Nanticoke Road in Salisbury is honoring World War II veterans during it's Sunday service on November 14 at 10:30 a.m.  If you are a World War II veteran, we invite you to be a part of our service that day.  Contact the church if you have any questions  410-742-3840.

Fruitland City Council Agenda

FRUITLAND CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2010

Council Chambers, City Hall, 401 E. Main Street, Fruitland, Maryland

The Fruitland City Council will meet in Work Session beginning at 5:30 p.m. and Regular Session beginning at 7:30 p.m.
WORK SESSION

5:30 p.m.  Review and Discussion of Sign Ordinance No. 248

STAFF MEETING
7:00 p.m.    City Council and Staff will meet to review the evening’s agenda in the conference room.
REGULAR MEETING

7:30 p.m.    Call to Order, Opening Prayer, Pledge of Allegiance
                  Adoption of Minutes, Administer Oath of Office (Police)  
                Reports: Treasurer’s, City Manager’s, Department Heads’          

7:40 p.m.    Unfinished Business:

1.  Approve paid bills ‐ Action Item.
2.  Sign Ordinance No. 248 ‐ First Reading Ordinance No. 252  
3.  Ordinance No. 247 – Dog Ordinance – Final Approval ‐ Action Item
4.  Recreation Commission Bank Account MOU  Approval and Transfer of Building Funds – Action Item
5.  New Police Building – Update
6.  Other?
  
8:15 p.m.  New Business: 

1.  City Proclamation for Municipal Government Works Month
2.  First Reading Ordinance No. 251 – Fruitland Economic Development (FrED) Ordinance 
3.  Bridge Loan for Police Station – Action Item
4.  Other?

Public Comment/General Discussion
 
Adjournment

A Letter To The Editor

Thanks to Worchester Sheriffs Deputy and MSP Trooper

On the night of Monday November 8, 2010 at about 10:00 pm my wife hit a deer with her vehicle.  She was able to get off of Rt. 50 on to Rt. 610 and pull over.  She called me and I left to help her.  When I arrived a Worchester County Deputy and a MSP trooper were with her making sure she was alright.  They were both very courteous and professional.  I neglected to get their names, but I do want to take this time to thank both of them  For not only doing their job, but going above and beyond to make sure my wife was alright.  Again I thank both of you.

GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY TO COMMEMORATE ANNIVERSARY OF PARTNERSHIP TO END CHILDHOOD HUNGER

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Martin O’Malley will commemorate the two-year anniversary of the Partnership to End Childhood Hunger, the Administration’s effort to make Maryland the first state to end childhood hunger within its borders. 

In November of 2008, Governor Martin O’Malley established the Partnership to End Childhood Hunger in Maryland with Share our Strength and the Governor’s Office for Children. Maryland developed a partnership that includes community groups, activists and food programs to catch children at risk of hunger, and ensure they have nutritious food where they live, learn and play.  Governor O’Malley is the first Governor in the nation to commit to ending childhood hunger by 2015 and has placed Childhood Hunger as one of his 15 strategic goals

Last year, nearly 207,000 children in Maryland were determined to be food insecure.  The Governor’s efforts are focused on five core strategies, which can be found here.

Coming Up Soon On The Wicomico School Calendar

Sunday, Nov. 14-Saturday, Nov. 20
American Education Week
All Wicomico County Public Schools

Schools will welcome hundreds of parents, grandparents and other guests during this year's celebration of American Education Week. This annual spotlight on public education has as its theme "Great Public Schools: A Basic Right and Our Responsibility." At the beginning of November, every student will receive a letter to bring home outlining new visitor procedures for American Education Week. The student’s family must fill out and return to the school office by Nov. 10 the Approved Visitor Form listing the people who will be allowed to visit the student at school. For the safety of all students and staff, no one who is not identified in advance as an approved visitor will be allowed to visit classrooms. For more information about American Education Week, please check with your student's school.

Monday, Nov. 15
Family CSI Night
Salisbury Middle School

On Nov. 15, Salisbury Middle will have a PTA Visitation and Family CSI Night. PTA classroom visitation will occur from 4:30-5:30 p.m., with dinner being served by our PTA from 5:30-6 p.m. Our CSI activities will run from 6-7:30 p.m. These activities will consist of two crimes scenes that students and their families can take part in solving. We will have the local police department, archaeologists and representatives of other CSI-related careers discussing what they do in the field. Last year’s second CSI night brought out some 300 students, parents and guardians to investigate a crime scene. Students solve the CSI riddle using math, science, reading, writing, problem-solving, teamwork and lab analysis skills. 410-677-5149.

Tuesday, Nov. 16, 1:42 p.m.
“Let’s Move” Workout Event
Salisbury Middle School

At 1:42 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 16, students at Salisbury Middle School will join students around the country in “Let’s Move,” an event from First Lady Michelle Obama’s campaign to keep kids active. Students at SMS will do a choreographed flash workout routine that will be televised. 410-677-5149.

Tuesday, Nov. 16
Board of Education Awards & Recognitions Night
Westside Intermediate School

The first Wicomico County Board of Education Awards & Recognitions Night of the 2010-11 school year will be held at 7 p.m. Nov. 16 at Westside Intermediate School to honor outstanding students, teachers, administrators, schools, programs and community partners. 410-677-4561.

Wednesday, Nov. 17
Superintendent’s Open Door Session
Board of Education Office

A Superintendent’s Open Door Session will take place Wednesday, Nov. 17, from 4-6 p.m., in the Administrative Conference Room at the Board of Education Office. The Open Door Sessions are opportunities to meet one-on-one with Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Fredericksen to discuss any issue, idea or concern. No appointments are made: Anyone interested in meeting with the superintendent should come to the Board office that day and sign in. Other Superintendent Open Door Sessions for this year are scheduled for: Dec. 15, Jan. 19, Feb. 23, March 23, April 27 and May 25. 410-677-4495.

Saturday, Nov. 20
Annual Longaberger Basket and Vera Bradley Bag Ultimate Bingo
James M. Bennett High School

James M. Bennett High School will hold its Annual Longaberger Basket and Vera Bradley Bag Ultimate Bingo Nov. 20 to benefit the JMB student athletic teams. The event will be in the JMB Cafeteria. Doors and kitchen will open at 5 p.m. and games will begin at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $20; must be 18 or older to play. In addition to 20 games of regular Bingo (you win, you pick your prize; each prize contains gift certificates from local businesses and there will be all-new Vera Bradley bags), there will be a Chinese and Silent Auction, 50/50 raffle, door prizes, concessions for sale, and the JMB Treasure Chest. JMB is also remembering others during the holiday season and asks attendees to bring canned or nonperishable items; for each item brought, the person will receive a special raffle ticket towards a chance at winning a special prize. All items donated will be given to the Maryland Food Bank. For more information or to purchase tickets, please contact Terry Blagus at 443-614-0875 or 410-677-5125 or tblagus@wcboe.org, or Kathy Elliott at 410-430-9172 or kelliott@wcboe.org.

Saturday, Nov. 27
JMB Open House
James M. Bennett High School

An open house at the new James M. Bennett High School will be held from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 27. Refreshments will be provided in the cafeteria, students will provide guided tours, complimentary programs will be handed out with photos and information on the new building, and JMB yearbooks from previous years will be available for sale. The school will have key chains for sale for $10 that incorporate pieces of the gym floor from old JMB, for those looking for a souvenir from the school. 410-677-5141.

Friday, Dec. 10
Heroes Night
Fruitland Schools

The Fruitland Schools PTA will host a Heroes Night for students and families on Friday, Dec. 10, to honor and remember the heroes of 9/11 and to meet the heroes who serve in the community every day. Guests will include Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis, longtime State’s Attorney Davis Ruark, Fruitland Police Chief Mike Phillips, Ernest Leatherbury of the Maryland State Police, the Fruitland Volunteer Fire Department, and a man who reported to the Pentagon to help on the day after 9/11. Other guests for the program who have a connection to 9/11 or are in public service are being sought. If you would like to participate in the Fruitland School PTA Heroes Night on Dec. 10, please contact coordinator Sheila Nichols at 410-334-6450, 443-735-2058, or nichols1011@verizon.net.

Bike Run


The first transitional housing program for the Eastern Shore of Maryland
Serving our rural veteran community
Sunday Nov. 14, 2010
Rain or Shine
Registration 9:30 am – 11:00 am ~ last bike in 3:00pm
Salisbury Eagles –107 Alexander Ave. Salisbury, Md 410-749-1981

Cash Prizes: $100.00 Best Poker Hand – donated by:
Wulff’s Complete Import Car Care
$50.00 2nd Place Hand – donated by:
Peninsula Total Car Care
$25.00 3rd Place Hand – donated by:
Bent or Broken Small Engine Repair

Registration for the poker run is 20.00 per rider / 10.00 per passenger this includes poker hand,
lunch at the end of the ride pin for first 100 entrants

Poplar Hill Mansion Roaring Twenties Party

Sat., November 13, 2010 7-10

Get out your flapper beads, feather boas, and Tommy guns and join us for a night of Puttin on the Ritz. Poplar Hill Mansion invites you to step back in time to the days of bootleg booze, flappers, and gangsters! On Sat. Nov. 13th, 2010 from 7-10 don your twenties rags, and join us at the “Poplar Hill Speakeasy” for an evening of fun, food, dance and music on the “victrola”. Special Guest, dance instructor Pam Wood from Ballroom Made Simple, will be there to teach all of you Flaming Youths and Flappers the newest dance craze, the Charleston line dance. Maybe you’ll win a prize in the Charleston contest! Sample our own bathtub gin punch, best in the county, and show your knowledge of twenties trivia questions. Remember, no G-men allowed! Knock three times for entrance or give the secret password, “Gold Digger”. Entrance fee is $15.00, Reservations required in order for us to provide enough Hooch. Donations of non-perishable goods to our food bank are greatly appreciated.

The Friends of Poplar Hill Mansion is a 501 ( c ) (3), dedicated to the preservation of this fine Federal Home, the oldest in Salisbury, 1795-1805. Funds raised go toward historic restoration and upkeep. Want to be a part of it all? Please consider joining the Friends of Poplar Hill Mansion with annual donation beginning at the $25.00 level. Come enjoy a free tour on the first and third Sunday of every month from 1-4, with private, candlelight and children’s tours by reservation for a small fee. Please call Nancy Marasco at 410-749-1776 for reservations and information. Check out our website, http://www.poplarhillmansion.org/ for other fun events!

Four Years Ago Today


One Year Ago Today

It was one year ago today we completed our own Studio at 300 W. Main Street.

Highlighted Events This Week In Wicomico Schools

Monday, Nov. 8
Start of 2nd Marking Period
Report cards for 1st Marking Period distributed Nov. 15

Monday, Nov. 8
Veterans Day Program
Mardela Middle and High School

Mardela Middle and High School and the Mardela Middle and High PTA will hold a Veterans Day program at 7 p.m. Nov. 8 to honor all veterans. The evening will feature guest speakers, presentations and light refreshments. 410-677-5142.

Nov. 8-12
Maryland School Psychology Week

Wicomico Schools will join in the statewide observance of the week of Nov. 8-12 as Maryland School Psychology Week. Every day, in all of Maryland’s public schools, school psychologists help to address individual student learning needs and differences, children’s social-emotional development, family-school collaboration issues, and a myriad of academic skills across all grade levels, learning styles and content areas. School psychologists are among the most unique professionals in school systems, as their skills work to bridge learning, social and emotional performance. They use different strategies to support student needs and to improve school-wide and system-wide supports. To this end, they serve on Student Support Teams, Positive Behavioral Support Teams and IEP teams, to name a few of their collaborative rolls.

Nov. 8-12, Dec. 6-10
One Man Band Curtis Blues and The History of Acoustic Delta Blues: The Roots of Rock and Hip Hop
Wicomico elementary and middle schools

Blues preservationist and one man band Curtis Blues is a talented musician and educator whose performances keep the tradition of acoustic Delta blues alive, and demonstrate for students the roots of modern rock and hip hop music. Curtis has been playing Delta blues since he was 14 years old, when he was exposed to some of the last living Delta blues masters at folk festivals. Curtis has recorded two critically acclaimed CDs and performs at blues festivals and schools in an effort to pass this precious music down to the next generation. This show demonstrates the origins of modern popular rock, country, and hip hop music from the Mississippi Delta in the 1920's to 1940's. Tracing rhythms from work songs, Curtis invites students to help demonstrate infectious blues rhythms. Curtis Blues plays a one-string Diddley Bow, a handmade box guitar, and an African gourd banjo, as well as 1928 style metal resonator guitars and wood guitars along with his harmonica, foot drum, and cymbals. By taking his instruments into the audience for a closer look, this presentation makes African American and musical history come alive for students.

Monday, Nov. 8: Prince Street (AM), Willards (1:15 p.m.)
Tuesday, Nov. 9: Beaver Run Elementary (9:15 and 10:15 a.m.), Westside Intermediate (1 and 2 p.m.)
Wednesday, Nov. 10: Westside Primary (9:30 a.m.), Charles H. Chipman Elementary (1 and 2 p.m.)
Thursday, Nov. 11: East Salisbury Elementary (9:15 a.m.) and East Salisbury/Judy Center (10:15 a.m.), Pemberton Elementary (1 and 2 p.m.)
Friday, Nov. 12: Delmar Elementary (8:30 and 9:30 a.m.), Pinehurst Elementary 1:30 p.m.

Additional Curtis Blues school shows are scheduled for the week of Dec. 6-10.

Tuesday, Nov. 9
9th annual Tri-County College Fair
University of Maryland Eastern Shore

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore's 9th annual Tri-County College Fair will be held from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 9 in the William P. Hytche Athletic Center. Recruiters from more than 100 colleges, universities and the Armed Services are slated to attend. High schools in the tri-county area as well as Philadelphia, New Jersey and the District of Columbia will be sending 1,500 students to the event. Junior and senior high school students, their parents and counselors can pick up literature and discuss educational opportunities with participating institutions. More than 90 colleges representing a variety of niches in higher education will participate. Specialty institutions such as Johnson & Wales University (hotel and restaurant management), the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics and the West Virginia Institute of Technology have responded along with military institutions such as the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and the Valley Forge Military College. Religious-based colleges attending are Messiah College, Methodist University and Moravian College. Some of the private colleges represented will be High Point University, Hood College, McDaniel College, Southern Vermont, Saint Augustine’s College and Washington College. Among the public institutions participating include Frostburg State University, Salisbury University, Shepherd University, Towson State University, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, West Chester University, West Virginia University and UMES. Check with your high school guidance office for information on the event. More information on the fair is also available by calling 410-651-6411, or by e-mail at tyoung@umes.edu.

Tuesday, Nov. 9
Car Seat Safety Check
Big Lots, Fruitland

Big Lots in Fruitland will host a free Car Seat Safety Check by Safe Kids Lower Shore Maryland from 3-5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 9. No appointment needed. A certified technician will check to make sure your car seat or car seats are correctly installed. Why come out? Eight out of 10 car seats are installed incorrectly, and would not protect the child as well as designed in case of an accident.

Tuesday, Nov. 9, 5-7 p.m.
American Culinary Federation Contemporary Entree' Competition
Parkside High School Culinary Arts

On Tuesday, Nov. 9, Christopher Allen Tanner, CEC, WCC, CHE will present a seminar for students on "American Culinary Federation (ACF) Contemporary Entree' Competition" at Parkside High School from 5-7 p.m. Mr. Tanner is an ACF approved judge and is currently a Chef-Instructor at Schenectady County Community College in New York. Current students in the Parkside Culinary Arts program are invited to attend. Students will be able to see how a professional chef prepares for competition, proper sanitation, how to use time wisely, and proper plating technique. Other competition topics will also be discussed. For the high school students this type of exposure will enable them to better prepare for their SkillsUSA competitions later in the school year, said Tony Hilligoss, Culinary Arts instructor. This is the first time this event has been held at Parkside High School. Local chefs from the area will also be in attendance and will give the opportunity for future culinarians to make contacts in the industry. This event will also help students prepare for the ACF Competition which will take place at the Worcester Technical High School Nov. 20. 410-677-5144.

Tuesday, Nov. 9, at 7 p.m.
Board of Education Monthly Meeting
Board of Education Office

The Wicomico County Board of Education will hold its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 9, in the auditorium of the Board of Education Office in Salisbury. The agenda for the meeting is posted at http://www.wcboe.org/boe/meetings.php. 410-677-4561.

Wednesday, Nov. 10, at 9 a.m.
Veterans Day Assembly
Northwestern Elementary School

In honor of Veterans Day, Northwestern Elementary School students will attend an assembly honoring past and present members of our Armed Forces. The assembly is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 10 at 9 a.m. The assembly will begin with a formal outside presentation of the colors. Students will then come indoors to be led in a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and a group of students will sing the Star Spangled Banner and other patriotic songs. The students will honor those who have fought and are fighting for our freedom and the freedom of others. Veterans from our local American Legion posts will be in attendance to share education information about their service and will be honored and acknowledged for their sacrifice for our country. We will also have equipment on display from our local National Guard. Northwestern families are encouraged to attend. Any veterans in attendance will also be invited to visit the classroom of their child or grandchild afterwards for further small group discussions. 410-677-5808.

Thursday, Nov. 11, at 9:15 a.m.
Veterans Day Ceremony
North Salisbury Elementary School

North Salisbury Elementary School will host a Veterans Day Celebration on Thursday, Nov. 11 at 9:15 a.m. This program will honor men and women who have served our country, including those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom. Students are preparing for the ceremony by researching America's wars and writing handwritten invitations to a veteran in the community. Several students will take part in the program with special readings, songs, poetry, and a PowerPoint to honor all branches of the military. The school has hosted this annual celebration of Veterans Day since 2001. 410-677-5807.

Thursday, Nov. 11, at 10 a.m.
Flag Donation/Flag Ceremony
Choices Program

Representatives of the VFW will be at the Choices Program on Adventist Drive in Salisbury at 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 11 for a flag ceremony. The VFW donated $500 to Choices for the purchase of flags and Veterans Day materials. On Nov. 11, the VFW will be at the school to perform a flag ceremony for students and staff and to raise the flag on the Choices flagpole. 410-677-5220.

Saturday, Nov. 13
STEM Saturday
Salisbury Middle School

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) Saturday classes will be offered throughout the 2010-11 school year for students in grades 4/5 and 6/7/8. The next STEM Saturday will be held at Salisbury Middle School from 10 a.m.-noon on Saturday, Nov. 13, with students in grades 4-5 exploring “The Science Behind Winning” and middle schoolers working on “Robotics.” The elementary offerings are new to the STEM Saturdays schedule this year. Anyone interested in attending a STEM Saturday event must pre-register, and early registration is recommended as the courses fill up early. STEM Saturdays will also be held Jan. 15, Green Keepers: Going Green to Preserve Our World (elementary) and The Bug Detective (middle), both at Salisbury Middle; Feb. 12, The Magic of Chemistry (elementary) and Out of Sight: Bringing Astronomy Down to Earth (middle), both at Salisbury Middle; March 12, Flying Wild: Bird Science and Conservation (elementary) at Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art; Fossils of the Chesapeake: A Hands-On Exploration (middle) at Parkside High; and April 9, The Bug Detective (elementary) and The Science Behind Winning (middle), both at Salisbury Middle. For a detailed schedule and registration form, visit http://www.wcboe.org/news/510. For information contact Gretchen Boggs at 410-677-5149 or gboggs@wcboe.org.