Page 42 The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch October 4, 2013 The Dispatch Forever In Memory Of Our Founder, Dick Lohmeyer (May 25, 1927-May 5, 2005) The Dispatch, Serving Greater Ocean City Since 1984, Is Published By Maryland Coast Dispatch Inc. Weekly On Friday Mornings MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 467 Berlin, Md. 21811 PHYSICAL ADDRESS: 10012 Old Ocean City Blvd. Berlin, Md. 21811 PHONE: 410-641-4561 FAX: 410-641-0966 WEBSITES: www.mdcoastdispatch.com www.facebook.com/thedispatchoc J. STEVEN GREEN Publisher/Editor editor@mdcoastdispatch.com LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Why Common Core Should Aggravate Editor: You should be furious about the new national curriculum, Common Core State Standards (CCSS), being implemented this year. Let’s ignore the fact that Common Core standards are developmentally inappropriate for young children, or that Common Core amounts to a disservice to our students; it puts them at least two years behind their peers in high-performing countries and leaves them ill-prepared for authentic college or university course work. I won’t even talk about how students will now be tracked from preschool through college and into the workforce. You should be furious about Common Core because you have just lost control over your schools. CCSS were written by unaccountable, unelected “experts.” Not educators, parents, or local school boards. CCSS are copyrighted, and therefore cannot be changed or altered. States are only allowed to add up to 15 percent content to the curriculum, but that extra 15 percent won’t be included on the PARCC (assessment) test. Thanks to Maryland’s recent Education Reform Act, 20 percent of a teacher’s performance rating will be based on their school’s PARCC test average. It’s doubtful that teachers, whose performance is partly determined by their students test grades, will spend much time on the added material. Maryland’s Race To The Top (RTTT) application references a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the Worcester County School district, along with 21 others in Maryland, ensuring their commitment to all aspects of Common Core. Maryland’s RTTT application was dated May 30, 2010. The Maryland State Board of Education voted unanimously on May 22, 2010 to endorse the standards, even though the official CCSS were not released until June 2, 2010. Our local and state boards of education committed our county and our state to Common Core be-fore the standards were even released. What happened to our voice? What happens if parents or teachers determine that some aspect of Common Core isn’t working or they have an issue or concern with the curriculum? There will be no one to call. Not the local school principal, the superintendent, county school board, the state superintendent, legislators, or the governor. No one in the state has the power to change any standard. So who does have control over Common Core standards and the ability to revise them if they aren’t working? CCSS are owned and copyrighted by The National Governors Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). These are both nongovernmental organizations that are not subject to the Freedom of Information Act. Parents will have no way of knowing the identities and positions of the people in charge of the standards their children are being taught. Why has so much power and control over our education system been put into the hands of an anonymous few? Why should you be furious about Common Core? Because Common Core is education without representation. Laura Dover Pocomoke City community-approved plans for the appearance of the new Yacht Club? Who’s in charge here? What happened to promises to make the Board more responsive and responsible? The Board must answer these questions and take back control of the operation of Ocean Pines. Board members must be fiscally responsible leaders and decision makers while abiding by all the governing documents for the operation of a home owners association provided by the Maryland Homeowners Association Act and Ocean Pines. The hired general manager should not be making determinations on spending beyond those necessary for the everyday running of the community. This isn’t River City but we have our own Professor Harold Hill selling us a band with seventy-six trombones. Gloria Moyer Ocean Pines Disturbed By Article Editor: Your coverage of the fatal accident on Route 50 in West Ocean City on Sept. 20 was well-written and informative; in fact, so informative that I have to question why your reporter felt it necessary to include Jerold Sharoff's legal troubles, especially now that Mr. Sharoff is no longer able to address both the charges and the information included in your reportage. The Sharoff family is grieving; trying to make sense of the loss of their loved one so suddenly, tragically and more than anything else, senselessly. I didn't know Mr. Sharoff, and I don't know his family, so I can only imagine how they must feel. By bringing into your article information that is now moot, you took the focus off the real criminal element – the driver of the full-size, red Ford F-150 pickup who struck Mr. Sharoff, fled the scene of the accident not knowing the extent of Mr. Sharoff's injuries, and, as of this letter, has failed to come forward to acknowledge what he/she has done. My condolences to the Sharoff family. Gail Schuler Ocean City NEWS DEPARTMENT SHAWN J. SOPER News Editor Sports Editor ssoper@mdcoastdispatch.com Stand By Your Pan Editor: How often has the doorbell rung or a child interrupted you while you were cooking, causing you to forget about the chicken you left sizzling on the stove – until smoke filled the house? If this scenario or a similar one sounds familiar to you, you may want to think about it a little more because it’s likely that you, a friend or family member has run the risk of having a dangerous fire. As a Fire Safety Inspector for the Ocean City Fire Department, Office of the Fire Marshal, I often talk to people about the ways they can stay safe in their homes or businesses. Too often, we have that talk after they’ve suffered a damaging fire. It’s my hope that people reading this article won’t have to learn the hard way. If I could give just one fire warning, I’d say, “Keep an eye on what you fry.” Why? Because cooking is the leading cause of home fires, according to the non-profit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The latest statistics from NFPA say U.S. Fire Departments responded to an estimated annual average of 156,600 cooking-related fires between 2007 and 2011. We’re joining forces with NFPA and thousands of other fire departments across North America to commemorate Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 6-12, “Prevent Kitchen Fires." The theme reminds us that leaving cooking unattended and other unsafe kitchen practices are a recipe for disaster. Often when we’re called to a cooking-related fire, the residents tell us they only left the kitchen for a few minutes. Sadly, that’s all it takes for a dangerous fire to start. The bottom line is that there’s really no safe period of time for the cook to step away from a hot stove. A few key points to remember: Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you must leave the room even for a short period of time, turn off the SEE NEXT PAGE JOANNE SHRINER Staff Writer joanne@mdcoastdispatch.com TRAVIS BROWN Staff Writer travis@mdcoastdispatch.com SALES DEPARTMENT TERRI FRENCH Account Executive Entertainment Editor terri@mdcoastdispatch.com JEANETTE DESKIEWICZ Account Executive jeanette@mdcoastdispatch.com Partners Thanked Editor: We, the Banquet Committee of the Germantown Heritage School, Berlin Maryland, would like to thank our community partners for an outstandingly successful banquet held on Sept. 14. You are the reason we succeed. Special thanks to Berlin Mayor Gee Williams and Town Council, Worcester County Tourism Department and Director Lisa Challenger, Senator James Mathias Jr. and Thom Gulyas and ACE printing for all of your support. Thank you to Dr. Clara L. Small, our speaker and to the support staff, Henrys’ Catering, every ticket holder, and community member, the Germantown Heritage School Banquet would not have been an overwhelming success without each of you again we say thank you. Gabriel Purnell (The writer is the chair of the banquet committee.) MANETTE CRAMER Account Executive manette@mdcoastdispatch.com ART DEPARTMENT CINDY WARD Art Director art@mdcoastdispatch.com JENNIFER T. O’BRIEN Graphic Artist COLE GIBSON Graphic Artist Webmaster BUSINESS OFFICE PAMELA GREEN Bookkeeper Classifieds Manager classifieds@mdcoastdispatch.com The Maryland Coast Dispatch (USPS #015125) is an official and legal newspaper for Worcester County. Periodical postage paid at Berlin, Maryland, and additional mailing offices.. The Maryland Coast Dispatch, 10012 Old Ocean City Blvd., Berlin, Md. 21811, is published weekly on Friday mornings, 52 weeks a year. Subscription rates are $75 per year, $55 for six months. POSTMASTER: Please send change of address to Maryland Coast Dispatch, P.O. Box 467, Berlin, Maryland 21811. Maryland Coast Dispatch offices are located at Route 346 and Graham Avenue, Berlin, Maryland. Board Losing Authority Editor: Why is the Ocean Pines Board permitting its governing and fiscal authority to be usurped? Why has the general manager been allowed to make change orders beyond his authority? Why, after making such changes, has his authority been raised from $15,000 to $40,000? Why is he being allowed to change