Voices From The Readers

Voices From The Readers
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A Warning To Watch For Senior Week Scam

Editor:

Spring is coming sooner than you think, even though we still have plenty of snow left on the ground. Before you know it, it will be time for Senior Week.

That’s the week that a lot of hotel and condo owners pull their yearly scam. They have signs out on their porches welcoming these victims into their trap. How do they do it? By scamming these innocent teens out of their parents hard earned money.

Every year these owners hire extra security guards to closely monitor these kids hoping and counting on them to violate a rule, therefore they have the right to evict them and the kicker is the owner gets to keep all the rent money.

Trust me, I don’t condone underage drinking. Unfortunately, it’s going to happen while these kids, for the first time, are basically on their own. In our situation, my son was with six of his friends in a condo on 64th Street. One of his friends somehow got a six pack of beer on their very first night. He was spotted by one of the four security guards, who then came knocking on the door, put their foot in the door to block it open and said if they did not all pack up and leave immediately they would call the Ocean City Police Department.

So they all got scared and left the condo. Their senior week lasted only one day and cost $4,300, which the owner kept. And I’m sure the condo was rented out again on Monday morning, waiting for their next victims.

My wife and I own a condo in Ocean City, which we rent out. We block the first two weeks of June because we don’t want kids in our place, but to rent to senior week kids with the intentions of a quick buck by evicting them is just wrong. We’ve talked to other parents in our school district and quite a few had the same outcome.

So heads up all the parents of the seniors, tell them not to fall for this trap. Have a great time, but follow the rules.

Robert Lemon

Collegeville, Pa.

Support For Term Limits

Editor:

After meeting with Delegates Mathias and Conway, I can understand how people get frustrated with government. There’s so much going on with a system that tries to be everything to everybody and has its hand in every endeavor and pocket. It’s time for term limits.

The Founding Fathers didn’t write them into the Constitution because it was understood that our representatives were citizen legislators who would return to the farm or shop after serving in office to live under and abide by the laws they had written.

It was not intended to be a life-long career and definitely not a pensioned position. Delegates Mathias and Conway speak of having term limits when they stand for election. While true in the strictest sense, incumbents enjoy a marked advantage over a non-incumbent in an election in name recognition, access to the media and fund-raising opportunities.

The current system with its seniority arrangement makes voters reluctant to vote in new faces for fear they will not be able to stand against the entrenched power elite who have been in office for 20, 30 or more years. Term limits would level the playing field and remove many of the inequities in a seniority system.

We need basic reform in other areas as well. A budget that is truly balanced without robbing Peter to pay Paul, a tax system which encourages business and individual wealth and investment, a school system that rewards innovation and voting that is both reliable and verifiable.

Gloria Moyer

Ocean Pines

Hoping Delegates Heard

Comments At Meeting

Editor:

Our state delegates have taken to the street, and – as it should be – are actually listening to their constituents.

The town hall meeting in Berlin on Saturday (Feb. 20) was well attended, informative and productive. It was a dialogue between representatives and those they represent, it was not political spin, it was not political speeches.

The overwhelming majority of those attending were members of the Worcester County Chapter of Americans for Prosperity, a local grassroots, non-partisan activist group. The questions were tough, the comments were direct, and the message was clear – too much taxing, too much spending, too much government. Remember the saying “you get what you pay for”? Well the liberal ideology mandates that “somebody else gets what you pay for”.

While the delegates listened to us, it remains to be seen if they heard us. If they vote for the O’Malley bogus budget – which is ‘funded’ by shell game financing – they will be voting in favor of massive tax hikes. Delegates Mathias and Conway, we have no more to give.

Join the AFP on March 3 in Annapolis at the budget vote – yes, you can testify. Bus transportation leaving from Ocean City, Salisbury and Cambridge will be available for a minimal fee, for details email Nick Loffer at [email protected].

The next meeting of the Worcester County Chapter of Americans for Prosperity will be Thursday, March 18, 6:30 p.m. at the Ocean Pines Community Center.

Steve Lind

Berlin

Excited For New Start

Editor:

It has only been four months since we held the ShoreCAN Volunteer Center ribbon cutting at the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore. All of us at the foundation are excited about the rebirth of ShoreCAN and the opportunity to provide another support service for nonprofit and faith-based organizations across the Lower Shore.

We are fortunate to have Jon Fitzsimmons serving as our VISTA volunteer to help with the revitalization of ShoreCAN. Jon’s energy and creativity can be seen in many of the volunteer center’s efforts since ShoreCAN was launched at the Community Foundation on Oct. 15.

In that short time, we have seen our partnering nonprofit organizations grow to over 70. The list of active volunteer opportunities has grown to over 90, active volunteers to over 90 and we have helped arrange over 140 volunteer placements. If you have not met Jon, give him a call and introduce yourself.

As excited as we are, we have to remind ourselves that none of this would be possible without you. It has been said that, “Volunteers don’t care more, they just do something about it.” By being a part of ShoreCAN, regardless of your role, you are among the people who are making ShoreCAN a success. You are also the future of this effort.

Spicer Bell

Salisbury

(The writer is president of the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, Inc.)

Alumni Complaints

Valid, Need Attention

Editor:

Although I am not acquainted with the writers of the recent letter, I commend both of them for speaking out on the many issues with the leadership and management of the Worcester Junior Senior High School Alumni Association (WJSHS). Finally, complaints will be addressed. I know Hingleton and Fowler must have witnessed what I personally experienced.

The behaviors and activities of the leaders were blatant, unethical, inappropriate, and corrupt and their actions were fully supported. These kinds of behaviors just dominated this meaningful and worthwhile organization.

I graduated from WJSHS, class of ’66, and I was once a devoted supporter of this beautiful memory of our culture, history and heritage that once beamed from the halls of this great institution. However, when I witnessed some very concerning actions and behaviors of the leaders, the same magnitude was experienced within the organization, Stephen Long Guild (SLG). The picture I paint may seem confusing; however, it reflects back some 20 years when these two entities were "one" being supported and managed under the entity of SLG.

As secretary and lifetime member of the two organizations, the WJSHS Reunion Association was the SLG’s most lucrative celebration fundraiser. This was the connection we alumni needed to hold true to our memories, culture, history and heritage. These two entities were managed and infiltrated by the same leaders and management just as it is today so to speak. However, things became so toxic that a split ensued causing a division and a "mess".  

It was a revelation when I became very concerned and fully aware of some major inappropriate actions and behaviors of procedures, mismanagement of monies, accounts, and funds that I confronted them, but I was looked upon as being an intruder. My complaints were only ignored and I stood seemingly alone fighting this lone cause.

This was a problem for me; therefore, I had to separate from the organization(s). I could only pray for change. Bottom line, I threatened to expose and was no longer welcome. What I knew and believed to be criminal in nature was in fact just that and I refused to be a part of it, but I did become part of a blacklist, if you will. I had no other alternative but to relinquish all support of both entities because of the unethical “foolishness” that was allowed to stain a wonderful memory.

Hopefully, the mirage will finally be uncovered and we will have honesty, integrity, and accountability at the forefront along with “transparency” to assure your actions prove to be appropriate.

I commend Ms. Hingleton and Ms. Fowler for their stance. Change is long overdue for the sake of accountability and the integrity of the alumni. 

Ruby S. (“Fuzzy”) Purnell

Snow Hill