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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
November 8, 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
HOW WE SEE IT
Shelter Founder, Worker Bee Deserves Respect
Although there are certainly a number of unknowns fogging the situation, there is no question longtime Worcester County Humane Society Director Kenille Davies has the support of the local community. For the past 36 years, Davies has been the glue that has held the no-kill shelter located off Route 611 together. She has devoted about half her life to the Worcester County Humane Society. In fact, she along with a few other local animal lovers, formed the Humane Society in 1977 when it was determined a glut of stray and abandoned animals needed loving homes. Over the last couple months, Davies’ leadership abilities have been called into question. Additionally, her moral compass and ethics have also been discussed by members of the board that apparently govern over the shelter. All of this questioning and controversy came to a head at last Friday night’s shelter fundraiser at Adolfo’s when her departure from the shelter was discussed and the fact it was not her decision was broached with much passion. It was unfortunate that the situation played out as it did at the fundraising dinner. That is why this week none of the parties involved would discuss the situation with this newspaper. That’s why attorneys are now reportedly involved on both sides. With little to go on beyond some informant offerings, there was little to reveal this week as far as why Davies is being forced out of her post. It’s now a legal matter that will have its own course to chart. What we do know is Davies’ treatment has left a sour taste in the mouth of many this week. Her steady leadership of the shelter was touted by many in an online forum, and she discussed a couple years ago what leadership meant to her when she was honored with a community award called Women Leaders. “Leadership means being willing to make decisions when others won’t,” she said. “As it pertains to me, it means setting high standards for the care of the animals and enduring the criticism when others sometimes disagree with your judgments. I have to be the voice of the homeless animals and decide what is best for them and the shelter.” Davies has long been the face of the Worcester County Humane Society and in many ways has been the only constant over the years as volunteers have come and gone, interest surged and waned and donations ebbed and flowed. Davies is a jewel in this community. She has been the face of the shelter for decades and has done just about every job there is to do at the shelter, including scrubbing the surfaces and cleaning up feces. Critics and those who were behind negotiating her severance package, which admittedly appears generous from sources in the know, maintain she was disorganized in managing the facility and too lenient when it came to a number of fiscal matters, such as shelter accounts at local veterinary offices. Additionally, critics maintain in off-the-record conversations that some donations were never recorded properly and that some money may have been utilized off the books. Surely, there may be some facts that substantiate those claims and it’s possible disorganization might be the cause. What we do believe is there was no malfeasance on her behalf. It’s simply not in her character. That’s why we believe the community is right to be giving her the benefit of the doubt and expressing their support for her.
NEWS DEPARTMENT
SHAWN J. SOPER News Editor Sports Editor
ssoper@mdcoastdispatch.com
JOANNE SHRINER Staff Writer
joanne@mdcoastdispatch.com
TRAVIS BROWN Staff Writer
travis@mdcoastdispatch.com
CHRIS PARYPA Photographer
SALES DEPARTMENT
TERRI FRENCH Account Executive Entertainment Editor
terri@mdcoastdispatch.com
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Common Core: Was It State Led?
Editor: Proponents of Common Core claim that the standards are a stateled, voluntary effort and not a national standard endorsed by the federal government. However, while these standards may have started out as a state-led effort between the National Governors Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), the federal government poured significant funds into a quick establishment of the Common Core. The Race to the Top funds ($4.35 billion) and the No Child Left Behind waivers were contingent on a state’s adoption of Common Core, making a strong argument that states adopted the standards not because of the standards academic quality but because of the incentive of millions of dollars. The U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) awarded an additional $350 million to two private organizations to develop national tests that are aligned with Common Core. In the spring of 2013, the USDOE established a technical review panel whose sole purpose is to evaluate the aligned tests. With billions of federal dollars poured into their adoption, the national tests and their review, Common Core can no longer be called a “voluntary, state-led” effort. Rather, they are a national standard with strong financial ties to the federal government, driving accountability to the federal level and decreasing local control. F. Gebhart Berlin
JEANETTE DESKIEWICZ Account Executive
jeanette@mdcoastdispatch.com
MANETTE CRAMER Account Executive
manette@mdcoastdispatch.com
Weighing In On Petition Debate
Editor: Regarding the recent ads by Tony Christ and the organization of the Citizens for Ocean City, I would like to respectfully respond to the newspaper, Mr. Christ and the citizens for Ocean City. I believe Mr. Christ has made some valid statements regarding the actions taken by the council and mayor in committing the people’s money on projects, without presenting them to the registered voting citizens of the city to determine whether or not they'll accept and approve the expenditures. As Mr. Christ pointed out, we the people have a right, through referendum, to express our approval or disapproval of all large expenditures. To go against this right goes against the very basic core of our democracy. Although it would be right to allow the proper sequence of authorization to take place, the sad truth is, based on the last election, very few of the registered voters will actually vote. And those that do vote many times vote based on party affiliation or friendship and closeness to certain individuals without regard to their personal or stated positions on certain matters
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.
pertaining to taxes or spending. During the last election, we lost two council people who had the courage and principles to try to reduce the cost to the tax payers by having one of the main proponents of taxing and spending removed from office. Since that time, the Mayor and Council have authorized the spending of our money, without taxpayer authorization, on a number of projects. The first major project before the election, but not authorized by the citizens vote, was the new library. Then came the Art Center on 94th Street. A completely new building with no financial expected return. Then there was the fishing pier. A privately owned enterprise damaged by a storm. The mayor had the audacity to claim, because it was a tourist attraction, we the people should rebuild the pier. More recently, we had the purchase and placement of parking meters throughout the area. And now we have the demolition of what appeared to be a perfectly sound fire house building with a design of a new one to be built in the same location. Finally, we now have the Convention Center. At what point will the voting public finally become aware of these expenditures, done without their approval, and start to demand their right to have voice in these matters. Now, of course, we have the organization of the Citizens for Ocean SEE NEXT PAGE
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