The distance between Ocean City and Donegal, Northern Ireland is approximately 3,229 miles. It’s the distance a bottle — containing a handwritten note from an Ocean City boy and two, $1 bills — covered over the course of three years.The story is incredible. Then 11-year-old Sasha Yonyak was on a boat during the summer of… Read more »
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan held a couple press conferences this week, and concerns before each gathering were whether Hogan would follow a few other states with reinstituting a mask mandate for indoor places. Hogan did announce a new requirement for facial coverings in all state buildings, but he was clear he will not be extending… Read more »
It’s that time of year to offer some predictions for what will make news in the year ahead. Worcester County Public Schools will not go virtual next week, as some expected might happen due to rising positivity metrics. Saturday mail service will be dropped by the U.S. Postal Service to reduce expenses. Democrat Peter Franchot… Read more »
It’s that time of year to reflect on how wise, or unwise in many cases, I was with my predictions for 2021 in this space last year.Right On The Money Fortunately, it was the right call to predict the year would not include any government-required stay-at-home orders in Maryland. COVID-19 vaccinations did become readily available… Read more »
There are currently nine Superintendent of Schools vacancies in Maryland school systems. Most of these have been through announced retirements, including in Wicomico County and the most recent being in Frederick County this week where an embattled superintendent opted to retire days after being put on an administrative leave after a justice probe found mistreatment… Read more »
The Maryland State Board of Education moved a lot faster than expected this week outlining the “off ramp” options for school systems hoping to go mask optional. Though the speed of the process was surprising, the emergency resolution still requires legislative approval. The mask mandate remains in effect until February or until the legislative committee… Read more »
The conversation about masking in public schools at this week’s Maryland State Board of Education meeting was reflective of the general sentiments of society today. Nobody wants to wear a mask but currently they are needed until the protocols established by the authoritative bodies – like Maryland Department of Health and OSHA – are relaxed… Read more »
A sports book could be up and running at Ocean Downs Casino soon after the new year. Gov. Larry Hogan said last week he was optimistic about “getting sports betting underway as quickly as possible in time for the NFL playoffs and the Super Bowl.” Approximately 67% of Marylanders supported a referendum in 2020 to… Read more »
It’s beneficial to reflect back in time to see how far we have come. One year ago this week, I was standing on the sidelines of a soccer tournament in northern Delaware when parents received the automated call from the school system informing virtual learning was to take place through the end of the year… Read more »
Delaware appears more apt than Maryland to do away with mask mandates in public schools. This week Delaware Gov. John Carney said he would extend his requirement public and private school students wear masks until Feb. 8, 2022. However, Carney hinted it might not be extended beyond that if vaccination rates among youth hit acceptable… Read more »