Parents Need To Think About Kids
Editor:
I just want to publicly announce my frustration with some
parents in the area. What kind of sensible parent brings their children to a
smoky bar?
I don’t feel right handing parents kids’ menus and crayons
and then watching their kids have a side of Marlboros with their food. What is
so wrong about eating in the non-smoking section with your kids? Are you too
selfish or lazy to walk over to the bar and satisfy your meaningless nicotine
habit? If you are that lazy and selfish, you should not have children.
Parents are supposed to guide their children and parents
aren’t doing a good job at doing that when they choose to eat with their
children in the smoking section of restaurants. You might as well just light a
cigarette up for your kids while you’re at it. Actually, you are by exposing
your children to second hand smoke. Don’t complain when they have respiratory
problems in future years. Parents who smoke around their kids miss more days of
school than those that do not smoke around their kids. Miss more days of
school? That’s really responsible parenting. Your kids miss out on important
scholastic activities because they have pneumonia, bronchitis or some other
respiratory ailment because you smoke around them. Go outside and smoke, better
yet, quit all together.
Personally, I do not think that even insurance companies
should pay for children whose parents smoke around them because it was
preventable and deliberate. It would be unfair to the child, but isn’t it
already unfair enough for them to be forced to inhale smoke? The bottom line is
– don’t smoke around your children or expose your children to second hand
smoke.
Karly Salvio
Ocean City
GOP Clubs Support ‘True Jessica’s Law’
Editor:
The National and Maryland Federations of Republican Women
have pledged themselves to the passage of full Jessica’s Laws in all 50 states.
This legislation against sexual predators is named after Jessica Lunsford, the
little girl who was abducted, sexually assaulted and murdered in Florida in
early 2005.
Sexual predator legislation was passed during the special
session of the Maryland General Assembly in 2006, but this legislation is what
I would call “Jessica’s Law Lite.”
The current proposed bills, HB 930 and SB 413, would
provide that any adult convicted of a rape or sex offense in the first, second,
or third degree against a victim under the age of 13 is not eligible for parole
while serving a mandatory minimum sentence for the offense. First-degree rapes
and sex offenses, the most severe, have a 25-year minimum sentence, and
second-degree offenses are punishable with a minimum five-year term. However,
the current proposed legislation would not make Maryland’s law a “true
Jessica’s Law” as it does not address, for instance, the fact that electronic
monitoring and supervision beyond three years is optional for the Maryland
Parole Commission.
The hearings on HB 930 and SB 413 were conducted on March
13 and 14 before the House Judiciary Committee (Delegate Joe Vallario,
chairman) and the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee (Senator Brian Frosh,
chairman). I believe it is important for the citizens of Maryland to have an
insider’s look at what occurred during these two hearings.
At the House hearing, Mark Klaas, whose daughter Polly was
kidnapped, abused and murdered, testified in support of the legislation. The
perpetrator of this heinous crime had previously received a 16-year sentence,
but he was out on parole in eight years. Three months later, he killed young
Polly. Delegate Vallario is very proud of the fact that, in Maryland, violent
felons serve 50 percent of their sentence before being paroled. Tell that to
Mark Klaas.
Many others testified at the House hearing including an
associate of Jessica Lunford’s father who had suffered at the hands of an
abusive, sadistic father; a mother of three from Montgomery County whose young
children had been molested and sodomized by their babysitter for two years
before one of the children spoke up; and a Child Service Protective Services
worker who pointedly asked the Committee: Do you think it is acceptable for a
convicted sex offender to be anywhere near a home with children? Maryland does.
Do you think it is acceptable that a paroled child sex
offender should be allowed to have visitation with the very child he or she
abused? Maryland does.
Do you think it is acceptable that a convicted sex
offender should have full parental rights if a child is conceived from a rape?
Maryland does.
Through hours of this heart-wrenching testimony, Vallario
gave the distinct impression that he was annoyed, constantly holding up his
gavel and hurrying people along in their testimony. There is serious doubt at
this time that HB 930 will make it out of Delegate Vallario’s committee. I
believe he is much more interested, as a defense attorney, in the welfare of
his wallet than in the welfare of our children.
The hearing the following day in the Senate Judicial
Proceedings Committee was enough to try one’s soul. SB 413 was listed in the
middle of the 13-item agenda, but Chairman, Senator Brian Frosh, pushed the
bill to the very end of the agenda; the committee even heard an animal cruelty
bill before a law dealing with the protection of our children from sexual
predators, The session, which began at 1 p.m., did not get to SB 413 until 6:30
p.m. As the hearing for this bill got under way, Senator Frosh got up and left
without saying a word to the people who had waited all that time to testify;
only five or six of the committee remained to hear the testimony.
Once again Mark Klass, who had traveled from California,
and Chip St. Clair, the associate of Mr. Lunford, who had traveled from
Michigan were present to testify, as were many other witnesses, some of whom
themselves were victims of child sexual abuse.
Worcester County State’s Attorney Joel Todd traveled to
Annapolis to testify before the Senate Committee and did an outstanding job,
asking that the Maryland Legislature step up to the plate on behalf of the
safety and welfare of our children.
We are extremely doubtful that this legislation will get
out of the Senate committee either. However, the Republican Women’s
organizations are not going to back down on this issue. We are asking everyone
to call Delegate Vallario at 1-800-492-7122, ext.3488, and Senator Frosh at 1-800-492-7122,
ext. 3124. Please, inundate them with phone calls to get this legislation out
to the entire General Assembly. We believe that if this happens the General
Assembly will pass the legislation and we will have the beginnings of a
“super-sized” Jessica’s Law in Maryland.
You might also tell these two elected officials that their
arrogance, rudeness, and discourtesy will not be tolerated by the citizens of
Maryland. There is no reason these advocates for our children should have been
treated in such a cavalier manner, and that you object to these elected
officials becoming enablers for child sexual predators.
Roseann Bridgman
Berlin
Community Church Help Appreciated
Editor:
Now that a year has passed, the Mississippi Gulf Coast is
seeing the fruits of the labor provided by the many generous people who have
tirelessly assisted in our recovery and rebuilding efforts.
We would like to thank all of the members of the Community
Church who have given of their time, hearts and hands.
We would also like to thank the countless others from the
Berlin area who also gave of themselves to aid in our recovery. Words can’t
begin to express our appreciation.
As we continue to rebuild our coastal communities, we are
inspired by the ongoing commitment of so many people around the country, such
as Berlin. Because of this kindness, Berlin has a permanent place in our
hearts.
If members of your community would like to see how we’re
progressing, please visit our website at www.gulfcoast.org. Thank you again for
all the hope you provided.
Stephen B. Richer
(The writer is the executive Director of the Mississippi
Gulfcoast Convention & Visitors Bureau.)
Be Sure To Let Voice Be Heard In New Vote
Editor:
Mr. Duffy made a statement in reference to a new
referendum that included not only the new figure to build the new community
center if it passed but intended to also include the amount it would cost each
resident if it failed.
This is the same arrogance and intimidation displayed by
this board from the outset. To even consider putting ‘X’ amount of money each
resident would have to pay out of their pockets if they voted no and it failed
would be unacceptable simply because they refused to have another referendum to
increase the amount they could spend.
Lets do it right this time. Do not include the amount
because of mistakes made, do not have an unattended ballot box and do have a
balanced committee consisting of members for and against the community center
after printing they should stuff and mail the ballots. They should also pick up
the ballots from the post office and count them. Do not allow a third party to
get involved. However you feel, please vote.
Jerome W. Marshall
Berlin
Support Appreciated
Editor:
Quota International of Ocean City would like to thank all
who supported our Basket Bingo on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2007.
Specifically we wish to thank the following companies and
individuals who contributed directly to our success: Ayres, Jenkins, Gordy
& Almand P.A., E.S. Gregory and Associates, Gaby, Jason and JD Windsor,
Good Times, Grace Construction, Home Fittings, Marshall’s, Oasis Car Wash,
Ocean Bay Survey’s Inc., Paws & Claws, Permit Inc., LLC, Stephen Decatur
High School Principal and Administration and Superior Signs.
Most of all we are grateful to those who attended so that
we can continue our efforts to support high school scholarships, local citizens
with hearing problems and disadvantaged women and children.
Nancy Jones
Ocean City
Merchants Recognized
Editor:
Over the past few weeks, Team Wildcats of Ocean City has been
collecting prizes for a silent auction that took place this past Saturday at
Outback Steak House in West Ocean City.
The following merchants of the Ocean City area contributed
prizes to help us raise money for the American Cancer Society. JRS, Pizza Hut,
Tequila Mockingbird, The Wharf, Coldstone Ice Cream, Donaway Furniture, Robyn
Larwood of Coastal Caregivers Food Lion of North Ocean City, the Island Cafe,
Golds Gym, Ocean City Health Club, The Ocean City Florist, Old Pro Golf,
Watermans Restaurant, The Ocean Downs, River Run Golf Course and ski lift
tickets provided by Paul Burton.
We would also like to thank everyone who participated in
the auction. Because of you, lives are saved.
Tammy Johnson
Why Add A New Law?
Editor:
We have many laws to follow today. Why do we need another
to ban smoking wherever. I have been around 84 years (almost) and smoking has
been around longer than that.
I grew up in a home where Grandpop smoked his pipe (Prince
Albert), chewed his Brown Mule, that was his choice. He lived until 74 and died
because of a hernia. I went to the corner store to purchase his tobacco (I was
not 18). My wife of many years smoked. I also smoked until about 30 years ago.
Quit dead on. My friend whom I had known for years and was around her most of
the time did make it 73 years and did die because of her smoking. Yet, you read
that children who never had a cigarette die of cancer. Yet, they claim cancer
is the major cause of death due to smoking. How about automobile accidents,
murder and other causes that bring death?
Now, to get to my writing about this Smoking Ban. Let the
individual choose. If they don’t want to be around the smoke of cigarettes,
don’t patronize the public places that do. Go elsewhere.
The bars and restaurants or other businesses that do
permit smoking where people gather to enjoy themselves and be with friends and
workers.
We have enough laws prohibiting what we do with our lives.
Let each individual decide for themselves.
As for Delegate Jim Mathias wanting to talk to everyone, I
wish he lived as many years as I have enjoyed.
And in ending let us choose the way we want to live our
lives. God is to judge this.
Arthur “Otts” Trabert
Salisbury