January 24, 2014
Page 43
The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
Between The Lines
By Publisher/Editor Steve Green
School closings for weather can be tricky business, and this week put
those decisions in the spotlight once again.
This is a passionate issue for many because it affects work routines
and causes heartburn for many for kid coverage on the home front, par-
ticularly if both parents hold full-time jobs. Additionally, with Worcester
and Wicomico counties now exceeding their budgeted closure days,
schools will now be open deeper into June, and nobody is a fan of that.
Although hindsight works in obvious fashion and armchair quarter-
backing is always predictable, there really is no other conclusion than it
was premature to close local schools for the day on Tuesday. A weather
forecast full of doom and gloom is simply not enough to base the deci-
sion on. Schools should have been open on Tuesday as there was major
uncertainty as to when exactly the area would start to get the storm's ef-
fects. The answer turned out to be around 4:30 p.m. in Berlin. Roads were
fine till about 7 p.m. The better call would have been to have school and
cancel after-school activities.
For Worcester County Public Schools, the decision to close on Tues-
day was announced around 6 a.m., about eight hours before the rain start-
ed and 10 hours before the first snow flake fell in Berlin. Worcester was
not alone though as neighboring Wicomico also shuttered in premature
fashion. Yes it's better to be safe than sorry, but objective minds agree
Tuesday was a blown call.
Wednesday's closure was an obvious decision once the storm actual-
ly began. The call came about 8 p.m. in Worcester. The roads were a mess
for most of Wednesday, resulting in schools being closed on Thursday as
well. That was a solid decision as well, as road conditions were poor prior
to sundown on Wednesday and only got worse as the night went on. For
Wicomico, the Thursday decision came around 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
One hour later, Worcester made the same call. Schools were expected to
be closed on Friday as well since it was a planned half day and students
are off Monday.
Worcester County Supervisor of Maintenance and Operations and
Pupil Transportation Steve Price knows he is on the hot seat with these
decisions, but he seems to be okay with that. He specifically addressed
Tuesday's pre-storm decision at the Board of Education meeting on the
same day and reiterated safety is paramount when weighing the deci-
sions.
"It's a long, involved process," he said. "As for today [Tuesday], the
big concern is we would get everybody in school and start the day, then
turn around a couple hours later and send everyone back home."
Superintendent Jerry Wilson added, "If the storm doesn't materialize
as expected, we often take some criticism. As far as Tuesday goes, the
thing to remember is we'll have buses with kids still out there at 4 p.m.
and 5 p.m. It's not always the regular school hours that lead to a deci-
sion."
It was interesting to hear this week that the state task force convened
to study whether to mandate all school systems in Maryland start after
Labor Day will soon issue a recommendation to the governor.
Officials said last week the task force will be advising the state change
to a post-Labor Day school start, despite the objections of nearly every
school system superintendent in the state.
While I support this change for a variety of reasons, most of which are
tradition based and economically driven, I got to thinking about it this
week after receiving all those calls informing schools would be closed
due to the weather.
Some critics of this week's school closings took to social media to air
their worries over school being closed and the fact the school year will be
extended later into June as a result. That will undoubtedly have to happen
now, but it's worth remembering that's going to be inevitable if schools
have to start after Labor Day anyway. There are so many days that can be
cut during the school year.
L
ETTERS
T
O
T
HE
E
DITOR
Stickers Send
Wrong Message
You can tell a lot about people by
the stickers adorned to their vehi-
cles. You can see which football
team is the household favorite, how
well the driver's child does in
school, political and religious beliefs
and even where they live. On the
latter note, a sticker we have spot-
ted in increasing and disturbing fre-
quencies reads, "FU I Live Here."
This elitist attitude in an area de-
pendent entirely on the fact it's a va-
cation destination is appalling. We
understand there are times when
tourists can be a tad difficult on the
nerves for a variety of reasons, but
it's a healthier approach to not dwell
on that inevitability of living in a re-
sort area and be thankful they come
here in the first place.
Tourism means everything to this
area and its associated impact trick-
les down to nearly every segment of
society. In one way or another,
every single household in this area
benefits from the fact people
choose to vacation here and spend
their disposable income in this re-
gion. Stickers like this stink of enti-
tlement and an inability to see the
big picture because they take for
granted people will continue to va-
cation in a place where they are not
welcomed by some.
To be certain, those sporting
these stickers are in the minority.
Most of us are aware nearly all local
livelihoods weigh heavily on the out-
side dollars coming into our econo-
my.Let's take a look at some key
data as proof. The top 10 employer
list in Ocean City is led by the Har-
rison Group, a hotel and restaurant
company based in Ocean City, at
900 employees, or 3.3 percent of
the entire county workforce. The top
10 employers in Ocean City employ
3,907 people in various capacities,
or 14 percent of the entire county
workforce, according to Ocean Ci-
ty's Comprehensive Financial Re-
port. Ten years ago, the city's top
10 employers represented 12 per-
cent of the workforce, confirming
Ocean City's importance in the mar-
ketplace is only increasing.
These jobs are vital and thou-
sands of families are dependent on
being employed. Without a viable
tourism base, these jobs would not
exist. Its importance cannot be un-
derstated. Even farmers benefit
from tourists because without the in-
flated property value base that's
driven by Ocean City's prime real
estate, taxes would be much higher
on the land they live off of and on.
While in a store recently selling
these stickers ($2.99 apiece), we in-
quired why they would carry them
and presented our rant. The answer
was if it sells we carry it. That's a
myopic approach, and we certainly
hope the demand for them sub-
sides. It's the wrong message to
send to the visitors who are so criti-
cal to the entire economy.
The Maryland Coast Dispatch (USPS
#015125) is an official and legal newspa-
per for Worcester County. Periodical
postage paid at Berlin, Maryland, and
additional mailing offices.. The Mary-
land Coast Dispatch, 10012 Old Ocean
City Blvd., Berlin, Md. 21811, is pub-
lished 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 lo-
cated at Route 346 and Graham Avenue,
Berlin, Maryland.
The Dispatch
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
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
JEANETTE DESKIEWICZ
Account Executive
jeanette@mdcoastdispatch.com
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
H
OW
W
E
S
EE
I
T
Smart Meter Concerns
Editor:
Delmarva Power has recently
mailed a letter informing property
owners that the utility company
plans to replace traditional electric
meters with Smart Meters through-
out their service area. However, in
that recent letter, Delmarva Power
failed to inform customers that the
Maryland Public Service Commis-
sion (PSC) issued an Order that al-
lows customers to Opt-Out of the
installation of the Smart Meter, at
least on an interim basis. I feel this
is a disservice to the customers of
Delmarva Power, and I have written
to the PSC to express that concern.
The PSC issued an Order in May
of 2012, followed by a supplemental
Order in January of 2013, allowing
for the interim Opt-Out. The PSC
apparently wants additional infor-
mation regarding Permanent Opt-
Out and its associated costs to cus-
tomers. They also want information
on Radio Frequency ( RF)-free
meters and near RF-free meters, as
well as installing Smart Meters
away from housing structures, such
as in rear yards, and all associated
costs.There are a number of serious
concerns that have been raised by
opponents to the installation of
Smart Meters. They include wide-
spread wireless radiation being
emitted throughout neighborhoods
and communities; potential adverse
effects on over three dozen identi-
fied medical conditions and issues;
interference with pacemakers, de-
fibrillators and baby monitors; priva-
SEE PAGE 45