November 15, 2013 The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch Page 43 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR FROM PAGE 42 As the article described, the event was a huge success again this year. There was a lot of fun had by all but I need to make one crucial clarification. The article stated that SonRise Church put on the entire event and that is not only incorrect but impossible. As a pastor in this community, and the president of the Berlin Area Ministries United, I am very thankful for the partnership and cooperation we enjoy among many of the churches of this community. The spirit of unity and purpose among this group is very strong and is a great blessing to me personally. I wanted to make sure that all the partners were acknowledged because it takes a lot of resources and people to provide such a huge event. I also want to help anyone in our community who does not have a church home to find one and any of these churches would be a great option. The Annual Harvest Fair is a totally free event to bless and serve our community and it is the result of a tremendous group of leaders and churches that desire to honor God and serve our community for God’s glory not our own. The churches and ministries of this community that contributed money and/or volunteers to make the event such a success are Berlin First Baptist, Buckingham Presbyterian, Solid Rock Ministry, Crossway Church, Holy Trinity, Lighthouse Church of God, Worship Center, The River, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, St. Paul’s Episcopal and Shirley Grace Pregnancy Center. In addition to these churches and ministries, there were also many businesses and other organizations that helped and contributed: Berlin Fire Department, Berlin Ice Company, Elliott’s Hardware, Giant Food, Herr’s, Higgins Crabhouse, Home Depot Workshop, Lighthouse Counseling, Ocean City Fire Department, Pepsi Cola, Showell Fire Department, Waterman’s Seafood, Worcester County Sherriff’s Office and the Berlin Police Department. SonRise wanted to make sure that all the partners were acknowledged and to say publically how much we appreciate their friendships and cooperation in caring for this community. For more information about any of these churches, visit www.berlinchurches.com. Daryl McCready Berlin (The writer is the lead pastor at SonRise Church and president of Berlin Area Ministries United.) develop the area Ocean City would still be a dirt road. This project if done in the 60's would make perfect sense. Second, supporters continually state that the food tax, based on its present contribution and expected continued growth, should be adequate to handle the expensive of this bond. Because of this, there should be no concern about the possibility of the bond, due to lack of funds, falling on the taxpayers. Third, there is an expected continued growth in visitor participation that will help fund this expenditure. Now let me interject here what I see wrong, or overlooked, in the above analysis. All of the above arguments depend on an increased participation and use by people coming into the area drawn in by this new addition to the Convention Center. However, what they fail to take into account in all of their analysis is the ever-increasing debt this nation is faced with today. A debt, while I sit and write this letter, continues to increase. I think everyone is aware that the U.S. dollar is about to lose its status as the world currency to be used in all international transactions. If, or when, this happens, America will experience an inflationary period the likes of which none of us have ever experienced or seen. It's only a matter of time before this happens. There is no getting away from it or solving it under the present conditions of which I'm sure all of you understand. If you're not willing to accept or believe this possibility, there's a name for this condition. It's called: Normalcy Bias. We're all guilty of falling into this concept or condition. It's natural. If you're not aware of this concept, I suggest you look it up to understand what it can cause an individual to do. What will be the result if the dollar fails due to the debt? An inflationary period that will be so high people will not be able to afford to pay for the cost to travel. This town will be financially hurt. So what is the solution to cope with this possibility? For starters, it would be wise not to start any major expansion projects that are dependent on participation of visitors. It only makes good sense to hold back now because of the present financial condition the nation is faced with today. It would be best, after paying for the cost of the continued town operation, to put the remaining money into a none backed dollar investment. We have to control the normalcy bias that causes us not to face the reality of the financial crisis that's about to befall our country. I hope you will have the good sense to make the right decision on this present expenditure and hold back until we, as a nation, find our way out of the financial crisis our government has placed upon our nation. Paul St. Andre Ocean City Between The Lines By Publisher/Editor Steve Green It appears concerns over Common Core-associated curriculum changes in public schools across Maryland have led some parents to pull their kids out of local public schools and enroll them in private institutions. Through some basic research, I have been able to learn that over the last month about 15 public school students in Worcester and Wicomico county public schools have left their schools and subsequently been entered into private institutions. Obviously, that’s a small percentage compared to the more than 20,000 students enrolled in the two school systems combined, but it’s still noteworthy and confirms how adamantly opposed some people are to the new curriculum changes. Two months into the school year, abrupt student changes are unusual. Although they prefer to put their concerns behind them with the school change, two parents I spoke with this week said they were advised by their teachers to make the school change after they broached Common Core concerns, specifically the standardized tests and what is perceived to be a higher dependence on them. In fact, one teacher in Wicomico County told me she would enroll her kids in private school because of Common Core if it was an option from an affordability standpoint. Of course, not everyone despises the curriculum change, and the Worcester County Board of Education is on record in believing Common Core and the associated new standards have been intensively vetted and will benefit teachers and students in the long run. Whether that’s true will be debated for months to come, but a survey recently conducted by the Maryland State Education Association confirms major concerns within the classroom. Of the 745 teachers surveyed, only 9 percent believe their school has the technological or physical capacity to administer the new standardized, computer-based testing that comes with Common Core. Furthermore, 86 percent believe significant challenges remain to understanding and implementing Common Core standards. There’s no question Common Core implementation is causing major headaches for teachers, students and parents. It’s not unlike the No Child Left Behind brouhaha, but it’s the ultimate statement when parents pull their kids from public schools they like that are funded by their own tax dollars in favor of hefty tuitions at private schools where they don’t have to be burdened with the major changes. Back in January of this year, a Slurpee bet was made between Tony Christ, spokesman for the Ocean City Taxpayers for Social Justice group and leader of the current performing arts center petition, and Ocean City Council President Lloyd Martin, the owner and operator of a 7-Eleven store in north Ocean City. “On Jan. 10, 2013, I made a bet with Lloyd Martin, president of the council, that Ocean City’s “AA” credit rating would be downgraded this year. Loser buys the winner a Slurpee. Let me tell you why Lloyd will be buying me that Slurpee,” Christ wrote in a letter to the editor. “Businesses are closing [Olive Tree] or leaving [La Hacienda Restaurant] due to the poor business environment in Ocean City. Looking up and down the town of Ocean City, you can see vacant rental spaces and view sparse new businesses. Why? Excessive taxes. Assessments have increased over 200% since 2003 [$3.6 billion to $10.4 billion], while property values are only up about 30% over the last decade. This is a staggering tax increase. … Also crippling Ocean City business is the unending barrage of laws, rules, ordinances, fines, fees and occupancy taxes instituted over the years. … this Council is spending money as if the rating agencies won’t notice. What side of the bet would you take?” It was learned this week that Christ owes Martin a Slurpee. Fitch Ratings held the town’s rating of AA- stable for its $12.7 million bond, which includes the performing arts center, the subject of a current petition drive being led by Christ. In its report, Fitch called Ocean City’s economic outlook “stable.” It said, “The town has a fund balance to handle potential revenue shortfalls and cash flows for the peak employment in the summer season and for emergencies. During the fiscal year, the town council evaluated economic conditions and weather-related risks that the town could be exposed to and prudently changed the policy of 12 percent of general fund expenditures to 15 percent. As of the year-end at June 30, the town met and exceeded the policy.” Regarding the petition, the signature deadline is Nov. 20. Expectations are the petition will not meet the required 1,200-plus threshold, but we will find out for certain next week. How much it will cost to add surveillance cameras to the Boardwalk will soon be known as the city has issued an advertisement for bids, “for the construction of Boardwalk Network Camera Installation.” Bids will be opened next month. In an interview in August, new Police Chief Ross Buzzuro said the system will be an active one monitored by police constantly and will go a long way toward allowing authorities to keep a better handle on the entire Boardwalk. The chief said the video cameras will act, “as a force multiplier so we can have those additional eyes that can give us assistance and place them in strategic places based on our data from previous incidents. That will help maximize our defense and maximize public safety.” Hold Off Expansion Editor: After reading the staff writers’ articles in The Dispatch and Ocean City Today, I would like to state my personal thoughts regarding the Convention Center project. First, reference is made in both articles that if Ocean City hadn't taken a chance back in the ’60s to