Helicopter Decision Questioned
Editor:
(The following was addressed to Ocean City Councilman Doug Cymek.)
I noted in today’s issue of The Dispatch newspaper that you voted in opposition to the motion by Councilman Joe Hall to "forward fund", the costs of obtaining, mounting and maintaining a surplus Army Huey helicopter through the Ocean City Aviation Association (OCAA).
I was not present at the meeting so I must rely on The Dispatch article for my knowledge of this matter. Some time ago, I corresponded with Councilman Joe Hall concerning the OCAA and its role in the city’s operation of the Ocean City Airport. I pointed out that I have found it difficult to determine the membership of the OCAA and its standing vis a vis the Ocean City Airport, a tax supported activity of the city. In the cited article in The Dispatch, testimony at the council meeting was given by Tom Oneto and Coleman Bunting. I question the council’s rationale for so quickly responding to their request not only to obtain the copter, but more importantly to use tax funds to "forward fund", with no consideration of repayment. I respectfully request reconsideration of the council action in this matter, unless you find the city has suddenly discovered a pot of gold not previously known about.
The question of location of such a display also is interesting. The city has an Armed Services Memorial at Northside Park, a large parking lot at the city-owned public safety lot on Coastal Highway, etc. if a public display is called for. Been to Bethany Beach lately to see their copter on the highway at the National Guard Base.
Thank you for your interest in this matter.
Joe Moran
Ocean City
Support Appreciated
Editor:
The 30th Annual Worcester County Humane Society dinner was held on Thursday, Nov. 11 at the Captain’s Gallery II Restaurant. This event captured an early Thanksgiving spirit thanks to all in attendance.
The following volunteers and businesses made the evening extra special: Hannah Adkins, Donnie Berkey, The Breakers Hotel (Brenda Bennett, Darrian Day, Julie Gibbs and Helen Yannetta), BJ’s on the Water, Captains Galley II, Carrabbas Italian Grill, The Clarion Resort Fontainebleau Hotel, DeNovo’s Trattoria, Desserts by Rita, Donald’s Duck Shoppe, Shea Dowling, The Greene Turtle, Jenna, Jessie & Mindi Lupiwok, Marina Deck, Mione’s Pizza, Paws & Claws, Quiet Storm Surf Shop, Seacrets, Selbyville Pet & Garden Center, The Shark on the Harbor, Southside Deli, Bev Sweitzer, Courtney West, The Wine Rack, and Mary Yenney.
This fundraising event is held every autumn. All proceeds benefit the Humane Society’s animal shelter on Eagle’s Nest Road. The facility solely operates on donations. Our mailing address is W.C.H.S. PO Box 48, Berlin, Md. 21811. The shelter phone number is 410-213-0146. Visiting hours are 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday thru Saturday. The shelter is closed to the public on Wednesday and Sunday. If you would like to give a donation or volunteer your time, please contact us.
Thank you to everyone who supported this important "Evening For The Animals".
Barbara Waldych
Ocean City
Special Holiday For Some
Editor:
I would like to commend the members of the Worcester County Bar Association who generously donated to the Bar’s annual Thanksgiving Fund.
With the help of Dave Smith and crew from the Ocean Plaza Superfresh, we were able to provide a Thanksgiving turkey, potatoes, stuffing, vegetables and cranberry sauce to 317 less fortunate families here in Worcester County.
It is truly an honor and a blessing that our members stand ready to step up and help those in need and for that we should all be proud and thankful.
David C. Gaskill
Ocean City
(The writer is a member of the Worcester County Bar Association’s Committee On Charitable Endeavors.)
Oglesby’s Reflections
Editor:
Today, the Board of Elections tallied the final few ballots and certified the election results for the Worcester County States Attorney race. With that certification, I am the State’s Attorney Elect and it is now appropriate for me to reflect on the extraordinary journey that began many years ago.
I am both grateful and sincerely humbled by the incredible encouragement and support the campaign received from the many volunteers who gave their time, energy and resources on the promise that their hard work and dedication would help usher in a new era of accountability in Worcester County. There are many who have supported my candidacy for over eight years. These individuals and their unwavering faith in my ability were the pillars of strength for my campaign.
We knew when we began this campaign that the road toward achieving our goals would be crowded with contention. What now remains of political partisanship must be placed aside. Mr. Todd has spent 25 years serving the people of Worcester County and rightfully deserves our praise and appreciation. His hard work has helped pave the way for the future we must now build together. The time for new ideas, new directions, and bold initiatives has arrived. To the voters of Worcester County who were not yet ready to cast their votes for me in this election, I promise to spend the next four years dedicating myself to the unwavering principles of fairness and justice so that I may earn your trust. To the voters who elected me, thank you for your confidence in my ability to protect the values which have helped shape our great community. With the trust and confidence of law enforcement, there has never been a better time to serve Worcester County. With your continued prayers and support, the Office of the State’s Attorney will protect the present and safeguard the future by bringing accountability to our community.
Beau H. Oglesby
Ocean Pines
Thanks For Clinic Help
Editor:
Now that the 2010 rabies clinics have concluded in Worcester County, I wanted to take the opportunity to thank all those who worked to make these clinics a success. Seven clinics were held this year in response to the elevated rabies cases in wild animals with 1,135 pets vaccinated.
I would like to thank staff of the Worcester County Animal Control, Health Department, and Sheriff’s Office for their continued efforts in manning the clinics. I’d also like to thank the Ocean City Animal Control and Ocean City Police Department for helping with a new clinic in their town this year. Thanks also to the fire companies of Bishopville, Stockton, Showell, Pocomoke and Ocean City, and the Ocean Pines Association for allowing us to use their facilities. I especially thank the veterinarians, Dr. William Schultz, Dr. Samir Hafez and Dr. John Maniatty, for working with us to vaccinate the animals.
Successful clinics require significant advance planning along with tremendous cooperation and hard work among all involved. I appreciate and applaud these efforts.
Debbie Goeller
(The writer is the Worcester County Health Officer.)
Equal Pay Equal Work
Editor:
Women make this country run. We are business leaders, entrepreneurs, politicians, mothers and more. Yet we still earn just 77 cents for every dollar our male counterpart makes. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act was necessary to keep the courthouse door open for victims of pay discrimination, but we need the Paycheck Fairness Act to stop discrimination from happening in the workplace in the first place. By giving new teeth and a much-needed update to the Equal Pay Act of 1963, this bill will help empower women to negotiate for equal pay, create strong incentives for employers to obey the law, and strengthen enforcement efforts. I was so proud to lead the fight to ensure that we righted the wrong of a Supreme Court decision where Lilly Ledbetter, on behalf of American women everywhere, sued to be sure that she could get equal pay for equal or comparable work. The Paycheck Fairness Act picks up where the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act left off. The Paycheck Fairness Act improves the remedies available for victims of discrimination and keeps employers from retaliating against employees who share pay information. It also increases education and training about wage discrimination so people know when they are being discriminated against and what they can do about it. Times are changing. More women are in the workplace now than ever before. Women are also more likely to be the sole or primary source of income in households. When the Equal Pay Act was passed in 1963, women earned merely 59 cents on every dollar earned by men. In the 47 years since then, we’ve come up to about 77 cents for every dollar that men make. It took us 47 years to get an 18-cent raise. A wage gap is not the way to improve the health of a family or the health of our community. We need to make sure that the family budget is based on people being able to get paid for what they do, make work worth it and make compensation fair. Earlier this week, I proudly cast my vote to end debate and move forward to a final vote on The Paycheck Fairness Act. We fell short on that vote by just two votes. I am very frustrated that a few Senators held up the Paycheck Fairness Act with a filibuster. This is an important bill that affects women, children and families. We need to reform the Senate, but we also need to reform the filibuster. This fight is far from over. You can count on me to continue working to level the playing field for women in the workplace.
U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski