Statement from Change Maryland Chairman Hogan

Statement from Change Maryland Chairman Larry Hogan

 on

U.S. Department of Labor State Unemployment Report

Annapolis - The U.S. Department of Labor's State Unemployment survey showed today Maryland experiencing the third largest job loss in the nation among the states.  Maryland’s decrease in employment was 11,000 and the June unemployment rate inched up to 6.9%.

The report comes on the heels of dismal reports in which Maryland led most other states in job loss going back to the Spring of this year.

The unemployment rate is climbing having risen from 6.6% in March.  Meanwhile, Virginia is holding relatively steady at 5.7% and the differential of the rates between the two states is widening to record levels.

"Something isn't working here," said Change Maryland Chairman Larry Hogan. "Now would be an excellent time to re-evaluate our tax-and-spend approach to governing and start developing policies that increase private sector job growth.  It's unacceptable to have increases in the unemployment rate month after month."

Delmarva Discovery Center Has Extended Hours

O’Malley Continues False Petty Attacks on Hogan, Change Maryland



O’Malley Continues False Petty Attacks on Hogan, Change Maryland
Annapolis - Change Maryland called on the O'Malley Administration and the State Democratic Party to regroup and attempt to actually form a coherent, rational and policy-based response to the issues raised in the organization’s report on tax migration.

Change Maryland outlined a specific, modest step for them to do so - they should actually read the report.

The Maryland Democratic Party, following the O'Malley Administration the week before, leveled another petty partisan attack yesterday on Change Maryland and it's chairman Larry Hogan, injecting class warfare talking points into a debate that has nothing to do with individual
income levels.

"It's obvious that the administration and state party still have not even read the report, " said Change Maryland Chairman Larry Hogan.
"If they had read it, they would know that the word 'millionaires' is not referenced anywhere.  They don't like what the report says, so they simply introduce a red herring. And rather than addressing the actual issue, they simply lash out with juvenile attacks on the messenger."

Using IRS data, Change Maryland analyzed migration patterns at the state and county levels. Among the findings are that Maryland's 31,000
net out-migration of residents from 2007 to 2010 was the highest in the region and seventh-highest nationally.

Business media outlet CNBC subsequently covered the Change Maryland tax report raising questions about the impact on high income households which may have confused administration and party officials accustomed to favorable press treatment.

"They are reacting to media coverage and not our report," said Hogan. "Change Maryland analyzes publicly available IRS data which the
administration should have been doing in the first place."

A previous Change Maryland report issued in May compiled General Assembly information to quantify the cumulative tax and fee hikes
imposed under the O'Malley Administration. The report is a line item accounting of 24 separate revenue increases from 2007 which remove an
additional $2.4 billion from the Maryland economy annually.  Most of these measures are regressive tax and fee increases.

"We are pulling the curtain back on this administration and simply giving the hard facts about what is really happening in Maryland, and
they don't like it," said Hogan, who also noted that none of the facts in either of the two reports have been refuted.

Meanwhile, since O'Malley's failed partisan attack on Change Maryland on July 10, the non-partisan organization has increased its membership by over 2200, reaching a total of over 16,000 Democrats, Republicans and Independents. The group is Maryland's largest and fastest growing non-partisan, grassroots citizen organization.

###


Background:

Maryland Democratic Party: The Mystery of Migratory Millionaireshttp://www.theonlinestate.com/blog/2012/07/19/the-mystery-of-the-migratory-millionaires/

Maryland Public Policy Institute:  Governor's Attack Misses the Targethttp://www.mdpolicy.org/policyblog/detail/governors-attack-misses-the-target

Change Maryland's Tax Migration Report.  (attachment)

Don't Miss The FUN TODAY!

COLE'S CAKES

205 Clarke Avenue

Pocomoke City, Maryland

GRAND OPENING BLOCK PARTY

Grand Opening, Open House, Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Saturday July 21, 2012

12pm until 2pm

 Nicole Ayres is inviting the public to sample her confections by creating a festive block-party-like atmosphere.

There will be free refreshments,

music,

and plenty of activities for children, including face-painting, cupcake-decorating, sidewalk chalk art, and a cupcake-eating contest.

 Local business owners and public officials will be on hand and a number of exciting door prizes – provided by at least fourteen local downtown businesses – will be distributed.

Crisfield Mud Bog ~ Night Racing Saturday

 LATE AFTERNOON INTO THE NIGHT!

CRISFIELD MUDBOG

SATURDAY JULY 21, 2012

4410 Crisfield Highway

Crisfield, Maryland

Admission: $7.00 - children 10 and under FREE

Gates OPEN 1:00 ~ Racing 4:00

 

Announcer for the race events will be Buddy Ward!  And there's going to be plenty to talk about!

The events of Saturday's races will feature a $1,000 purse for the driver in ANY class that is CLOSEST TO 5 SECONDS! 

Video:  Wesley Ward, driver of "Git N Busy"  runs 2.67 seconds at May 2012- Crisfield Mud Bog

***All proceeds will benefit the Crisfield Elks Lodge
and the Marion Vol. Fire Dept.***

For more information and rules go to: gumborocrisfieldmudbogs.net

Any Questions call 443-235-2329 or 443 614 6585

Don't forget your driver card

And one more IMPORTANT thing to remember!

IT'S "JUNE BUGS" BIRTHDAY!! 

Be sure to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to June Bug!!

(June Bug (left), Barry Wise driver of "Short and Sassy", and two other mud bog fans!

!!!SEE YOU THERE!!!

According to Sheriff Todd Godwin, the prompt response of the sheriff's office staff led to the arrest of a suspect in the robbery of the El Crucero Convenience Store on Lankford Highway in Temperanceville.

 On Tuesday, July 17 at approximately 4:22 p.m., the Accomack County Sheriff's Office received a report from the Eastern Shore 911 Center in regards to the robbery of an undisclosed amount of money from El Crucero. Accomack County Deputies and Investigators converged on the area in search of the suspect who fled the scene by vehicle prior to deputies arrival. Through the assistance of the Accomack County Sheriff's Office Communications Division, the suspect was shortly located at his residence in Mappsville. No injury was sustained during the crime.


The suspect was identified as Donald Lee Bowen, Sr., age 44 of Mappsville. Bowen was arrested on a charge of robbery and is incarcerated in the Accomack County Jail with bond denied.


The Accomack County Sheriff's Office was assisted by the Parksley Police Department.

Source

Accomack County Sheriff's Office Needs Your Help ~ REWARD OFFERED

A recent article in the Daily Times a few days ago mentioned the grafitti that has been showing up recently in lower parts of Accomack County in Virginia.  I mentioned this a few weeks ago in a post with photos to show that this type of vandalism has seem to have taken over.  It is NOT only in the Mears, Savageville, Pungoteague areas.

This type of vandalism is in Horsey, Hallwood, Parksley, Jenkins Bridge...and it just goes on.  Sheriff Todd Godwin has released a statement concerning this and the Accomack Sheriff's Office needs your help.


Below is Sheriff Godwin's statement and photos I took in the upper Accomack County area.....but there are SO many more!

The Sheriff's Department is seeking your help in apprehending those responsible for a rash of graffiti in Accomack County. In some cases homes have been spray painted resulting in thousands of dollars in damage. The graffiti artists seem to be trying to get revenge on a Jay Floyd whom they claim has cooperated with drug enforcement authorities.

There is now a $2000 reward set up for anyone who provides information that leads to the apprehension of the vandals.

Contact the Accomack County Sheriff's Department for more information.

Grafitti was scrawled across the side and the back of the old Jenkins Bridge Post Office.This "artwork" and the word NARC on the side was done sometime around June 30.  I am so happy to report that the old building has been removed and is now on the property of Grayson Chesser. 

NARC was painted on a trailer of a local farmer.....The trailer and the land is still in use- EVERYDAY on Horsey Road.

 Photos above from the Neal Parker Road in the Hallwood area. 

Please contact the Accomack County Sheriff's Office if you have any information.

Pocomoke City ~ "National Night Out"

NEWS RELEASE

National Night Out – August 7, 2012

POCOMOKE CITY TO JOIN CITIES NATIONWIDE FOR

“AMERICA’S NIGHT OUT AGAINST CRIME”

On Tuesday, August 7th, neighborhoods throughout Pocomoke City are being invited to join forces with thousands of Communities nationwide for the “29^th Annual National Night Out” (NNO) crime and drug prevention event. National Night Out, which is sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW) and co-sponsored locally by the City of Pocomoke and Pocomoke City Police Department, will involve over 11,000 communities from all 50 States, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases around the world. In all, over 35 million people are expected to participate in “America’s Night Out Against Crime” on August 7, 2012.

National Night Out is designed to: (1) Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; (2) Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime efforts; (3) Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police- community partnerships; and (4) Send a message to criminals letting them know neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

From 6 PM to 9 PM on Tuesday August 7, 2012, residents in neighborhoods throughout Pocomoke City and across the nation are asked to lock their doors, turn on outside lights and spend the evening outside with neighbors and POLICE. We encourage neighbors throughout Pocomoke City to hold special events such as cookouts, parades, flashlight walks, contests, youth activities and anticrime rallies.

TIME MACHINE Preview ... Accomac County's 1906 Sensation!

It was called the Red Devil. It was the first time a resident of Onancock "indulged in the luxury of owning an auto." But the sensation it created was not all favorable. Not everyone approved. Some were apprehensive. "... the trade of the village merchants fell off, because the country people were afraid to venture into town."

Much more about it in the full Washington Post article from 1906..this Sunday on The Pocomoke Public Eye!




Do you have a local memory to share with PPE readers.. such as a big snow storm, a favorite school teacher, a local happening, something of interest your parents or grandparents told you about? It can be just a line or two or more if you wish. Your name won't be used unless you ask that it be. Send to tkforppe@yahoo.com and watch for it on a future TIME MACHINE posting!

Funeral Services For FF/EMT-E David R. Chew, Jr.

From North Hampton County Emergency Services Website

It is with deepest regret the Bloxom Volunteer Fire Company and the Northampton County Department of EMS announces the line of duty death of FF/ EMT-E David Raymond Chew Jr. on July 16^{th, 2012.}

A funeral service will be held at the Metompkin Elementary School in Parksley at 1300 Friday July 20th.

Burial with full fire fighter honors will follow in the Parksley Cemetery.

Following the service, a reception will be held at the Bloxom Volunteer Fire Station.

Companies attending with apparatus are requested to contact Fred Matthews at 757-710-9533.

In loving Memory of David:

FF/EMT-E Raymond R. Chew, Jr.

Chew had been an EMT-Enhanced provider with Northampton County since June 2010. He had previously been employed by Northampton from May 2005 to June 2006. Chew made the decision to return to NCEMS saying that he realized he had a love for working in EMS and that it was here that he was most happy. "David said that the biggest part of EMS for him was the people he worked with. The concern for patients and the care shown by the providers here, gave him a sense of pride and belonging that made him feel like part of a bigger family."

That sense of family extended to the volunteer communities within Northampton County as well. According to B. Cole Bonniwell, Rescue Captain for Community Volunteer Fire and Rescue in Exmore, "David Chew was more than just an EMS provider, he was a dedicated public servant. David did more than his pay required, but that was him. You can’t teach that kind of dedication or quality, you just hope for more people like David…a true leader."

Acting Rescue Captain, Keith Brady, of Cape Charles Rescue Service where Chew was primarily stationed, mirrored this sentiment saying that, "David was a great guy. He had such a positive attitude. He was never negative about anything. His attitude and his deep faith helped to keep everyone around him positive. We are going to miss him. You just can’t replace a man like that."

Members of NCEMS, CVFC, and CCRS will be participating in the funeral services for Chew this Friday. Staff from NCEMS will be marching with members of the Bloxom VFD in the procession.

Working with David Chew was a humbling experience. "He was a well-respected member of the NCEMS family and his loss will be deeply felt by patients and co-workers alike. David was a true friend to all and he will remain in our hearts, memories, and souls for a long, long time."
http://www.northampton-ems.org/

**Governor McDonnell has ordered that all state flags fly at half staff Friday in honor of the late David R. Chew, Jr.**

Two Suspects in June Counterfeit Case Charged

On June 17, 2012, at approximately 1 a.m., Ocean City Police were in the area of 17^th Street and Philadelphia Avenue when an employee of a nearby business told officers that someone had just attempted to pass a $20 counterfeit bill.  Officers, who met with the employees and reviewed surveillance images of the incident, identified the suspect as Christopher Dale Miller, 28, of Berlin.

Christopher Dale Miller

Ocean City Police received numerous calls from businesses over the course of the investigation regarding counterfeit currency being passed. Investigators, who identified Miller from the initial incident, linked him to the additional cases involving counterfeit currency. 

In addition, detectives identified a second suspect involved as Kevin Michael McCarthy Jr., 27, of Ocean City.  In all, approximately 31 counterfeit $20 bills were recovered and eight businesses were victimized.



Kevin Michael McCarthy,Jr.

Miller and McCarthy were charged with multiple counts of issuing and manufacturing counterfeit currency and theft.  Miller was arrested and charged through a warrant on June 20, 2012.  He was seen for an initial appearance by a District Court Commissioner for and then transferred to Worcester County Jail on a $25,000 bond.  McCarthy was charged on a warrant on July 16, 2012 and has not yet been apprehended by police.
Ocean City News Release

NEW Traffic Signs On Cedar Street!!

In case you haven't noticed:   Look for new signs on Cedar Street.

Photo/Esther L. Troast

It has taken her a while. And it has taken lots of complaining, calling the police station and discussing the situation with two councilpeople, you name it, but Esther Troast has gotten the stop signs she has begged for. If you know Esther at all then you know how she is when she becomes passionate and concerned about something. She never gives up.

Esther found a sympathetic ear in Mayor Morrison so when she heard that the Pocomoke City Mayor and Council were going to discuss cameras and signs on Cedar Street she attended the meeting to give them her one last plea. The motion was in favor! Needless to say Esther was on cloud nine! And after being almost hit by an oncoming car while turning into her own driveway, relieved that something would be done.

Photo/Esther L. Troast

I don't know why a matter like this wasn't looked into right away. Doesn't matter now. The signs are there so maybe those that think they can travel at a high rate of speed up and down Cedar Street will either slow those cars down or get a nice healthy ticket.

And maybe, just maybe traffic will be slowed when school resumes in September so that students can walk safely to and from school.
　
And FYI: Don't send any nasty comments please about your feelings towards the Pocomoke City Council or question the amount of time it took to get this issue resolved. I've been trying to tell many of you that if you want to be heard you need to attend your city council meetings. 

It isn't an issue......slowing your speed IS.

Thank you Esther!

Coming Soon: Third Friday Arts Stroll ~ Downtown Pocomoke City

DOWNTOWN POCOMOKE ARTS STROLL

What: Downtown Pocomoke Third Friday Arts Stroll

The Downtown Pocomoke Association and the City of Pocomoke are proud to announce the first THIRD FRIDAY ARTS STROLL for Downtown Pocomoke. The purpose of this event is to: (1) enhance the arts scene in Pocomoke City and surrounding areas; (2) provide an opportunity for Pocomoke City residents, and other area residents, to enjoy local art and beautiful Downtown Pocomoke; (3) increase tourism in downtown Pocomoke; (4) enhance opportunities for Downtown Pocomoke businesses and attractions; (5) enhance opportunities for local artists, and (6) add to Pocomoke’s overall downtown revitalization effort.

Selected artists from the Eastern Shore will display their works in storefronts, as part of attractions, and on sidewalks for the duration of the stroll. Artists will offer their works for sale and complimentary refreshments will be served by many of the downtown businesses and attractions. Several artists will be donating their artwork for drawings throughout the evening and several are expected to demonstrate their technique, adding a "plein air" element to the event.

The Downtown Pocomoke Association and the City of Pocomoke have announced a CALL FOR ARTISTS, with a July 31, 2012 deadline. Information and forms can be provided by the contact below. We are also interested indentifying musicians who would like to contribute to the event, pro bono, either by strolling or by setting up in establishments or on the sidewalk.

When: Friday, August 17, 2012, 5:30pm – 8:30pm (The deadline for artist applications is Tuesday, July 31, 2012.).

Where: Downtown Pocomoke, on Market Street near the River

Contact: For more information, please contact, Angela Manos at: 410.603.1178, or downtownpocomoke@gmail.com .

Those interested in the city’s downtown efforts in general, should also, visit: http://www.downtownpocomoke.com/ and http://www.facebook.com/pages/City-of-Pocomoke/240103122695426#

Do You Know?

Do you know where this is?

~Mar-Va Theater This Weekend~

Friday  July 20th

Saturday  July 21st

7 PM

Tickets:  $5

www.marvatheater.com 

DNR NEWS NOW: Md. Wildlife Crew Members Save Woman's Life

So many times our fire and EMS personnel are called to serve us and go unrecognized for what they do.  This article  has been forwarded to me so that all of you can see who from Pocomoke  EMS is  responsible for helping to save a womans life.

DNR NEWS NOW:

MARYLAND WILDFIRE CREW MEMBERS SAVE WOMAN'S LIFE
WHILE ON ASSIGNMENT

Maryland Wildfire Crew Members Save a Woman's Life While on Assignment
Strasburg, Va. (July 17, 2012) -
Members from a 20-person Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) wildland firefighting crew saved the life of an unresponsive motorist on July 3 while on a 14-day assignment in the George


“The heroic actions of this group in rendering emergency medical assistance aid and fighting this wildland fire are highly commendable,” said Steven W. Koehn, DNR Forestry Unit Director.


While the team was returning back to their base camp following a full day of firefighting, they came across a non-responsive woman lying on the road near the smoking car. The crew’s paramedics and emergency medical technicians administered medication to restore her breathing while other members extinguished the vehicle fire, provided traffic control and scene security. The woman was later transported by ambulance to the local hospital for further evaluation and treatment. Fire supervisors hailed the crew members as heroes at the firefighting briefing the following morning. 


“According to the information we received from the local hospital emergency room following the incident, the woman would not have lived without the emergency medical assistance the crew provided,” said Mark Beals, DNR Forest Service Crew Boss.

The men that rendered the emergency medical care are listed below:

• Eric F. Peterson, Paramedic, Anne Arundel Co. Fire Dept.; from Lusby, Calvert Co.
• Stephen E. Stanton, Paramedic, Anne Arundel Co. Fire Dept.; from Deale, Anne Arundel Co.
• Sergio O. Castillo, EMT-B, Capt. Girdle Tree VFC; Pocomoke City EMS, Snow Hill, Worchester Co.
• Mark M. Miller, EMT-B, Ass’t Chief, West Friendship VFD; from Sykesville, Carroll Co.
• Keith E. Golden, EMT-B, Lieutenant, Kensington VFD; from Glenmont, Montgomery Co.
  
  Following the roadside emergency incident, the men continued to fight wildfires in the steep and rugged landscape of George Washington and Jefferson National Forests for 10 additional days in oppressive heat.
  
  DNR Forest Service, under agreement with the U.S. Forest Service, has provided specially trained wildland firefighting personnel and equipment to assist with wildfires throughout the United States since 1974. DNR Forest Service staff has been busy this summer supporting the Nation’s wildland firefighting efforts, sending crews to Colorado, Virginia and Missouri.

 The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency
 responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to
 citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 449,000 acres of public lands
 and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries, and
 wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A
 national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural,
 historic, and cultural resources attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR
 is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the
 state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at
 www.DNR.Maryland.gov>.
 

My thanks to Carol and Rob for passing this along.

"Books Are A Blast " At Your Local Worcester County Library

"Books Are A Blast "

Tom Lilly and Beowulf T. Wonderbunny

When Beowulf T. Wonderbunny and Tom Lilly check in at your library, you can expect laughter from the front desk to the stacks! They might be showing off their collection of strange... tomes or inviting audience volunteers take over the action.

Pinky and Floyd, the World’s Fastest Bookworms, will amaze and delight as they demonstrate their speed and deliver a surprise message. Beowulf T. Wonderbunny appears in his very own bookmobile!
 

Wednesday, July 18 at 10:00 Ocean City Branch
Thursday, July 19 at 10:00 Snow Hill Branch,
at 2:00 Pocomoke Branch

State Flags To Fly At Half Mast On Friday

Governor McDonnell has ordered that all state flags fly at half staff Friday in honor of the late David Chew who died answering a rescue call Monday. Chew was a member of the Bloxom Fire Company, a paid EMT in Northampton, and pastor at Hallwood Methodist Church.

Members of the church and the fire department gathered at their respective places Monday night to remember their friend and pastor.

United Methodist District Superintendent Rev. Tammy Estep and Pastor Alex Joiner led a service of prayer and rememberence at Hallwood Methodist. Although Chew had only been pastor at the church for three weeks members had known him through his many community activities. Chew was honored for his life of service to others through his work and his service through the church. Chew formerly pastored at Greenbackville and Sign Post United Methodist churches.

Members of the Bloxom Fire Co. gathered at the firehouse in Bloxom to remember their friend and fellow member.

A funeral service for Chew will be conducted Friday at 1:00 PM at Metompkin Elementary School.

Source:

Crisfield Mudbog This Saturday

MUD RACING AT NIGHT !

CRISFIELD MUDBOG

SATURDAY  JULY 21, 2012

4410 Crisfield Highway

Crisfield, Maryland

Gates open at 1:00 PM

Races begin at 4:00 PM

Admission: $7.00 - children 10 and under FREE

All proceeds will benefit the Crisfield Elks Lodge

 and the Marion Vol. Fire Dept. 

Here's what's planned for the racing day!

The CLOSEST TO 5.000 SECONDS WINS $1,000 !!

Classes from Street to Unlimited

This is a 150 ft.  FLAT bog pit

NO HILLS

Timing Light System

For more information and rules go to:  gumborocrisfieldmudbogs.net

Any Questions call 443-235-2329 or 443 614 6585

Maryland offers online driver's license renewals

GLEN BURNIE, Md. -

Maryland residents in their 20s or 30s may now be eligible to renew driver's licenses online or at self-service kiosks.

The Motor Vehicle Administration said Monday it is implementing the first of two phases for a new process to streamline driver's license renewals. The new service uses the most recent photograph of the driver and will require an office visit on the next renewal to update the image.    

The first phase is for drivers aged 21 to 39 because drivers under 40 are exempt from the state's vision screening requirement. The second phase will accommodate the vision test for driver's license holders who are 40 or older. It will be implemented later.

Renewal licenses are initially valid for five years. They will eventually be lengthened for up to eight years.
Online: http://www.mva.maryland.gov/index.html

Read more: http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/19038598/maryland-offers-online-drivers-license-renewals?clienttype=printable#ixzz20ueSxdLF

CYPRESS PARK TOMORROW!!

A Prehistoric Concert For ALL Ages !

DinoRock Presents "Dinosaur  Babies"

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

2:00 P.M.

At the STAGE in CYPRESS PARK

Funded by Eastern Shore Regional Library

Crisfield Mudbog This Saturday

The mudbog we have all been waiting for will be held this weekend in Crisfield, Maryland!

~NIGHT RACE~

Information for the event  will be posted today!

Kenny Birch Gets 5 Years On Plea Agreement



2010 Surveillance photo



By Connie Morrison

He started off facing a maximum penalty of life in prison, but thanks to a plea agreement in Accomack County Circuit Court, Kenneth Corneal Birch Jr. received 10 years in the state penitentiary, with 5 years suspended, for the August 2010 robbery of the Corner Mart in Oak Hall.


According to testimony, Mr. Birch entered the store brandishing a knife and demanding money. After leaving with the contents of the till, the victim provided a description of the responsible party, along with a photo taken from video surveillance. Police asked the public for assistance in identifying the perpetrator based on his clothing, and those efforts produced Mr. Birch as a suspect. Further investigation showed a pickup Mr. Birch possessed matched the description provided by the victim.


When confronted with the evidence, Mr. Birch reportedly said that if Gary Agar would work a deal with him, he would be willing to talk about the robbery. In the end, that is what happened: he pled guilty and received a 10-year sentence, with 5 years suspended.

Source:

Rest In Peace Bloxom Firefighter David R. Chew, Jr.

A Firefighter lost in the line of duty not only deeply saddens a family and friends but the surrounding communities as well.  It strikes the core of every firefighter for miles. 

Firefighter David R. Chew, Jr. of Parksley  and member of  the Bloxom Vol. Fire Company lost his life in the line of duty this morning  on Nelsonia Road while responding to an emergency in Gargatha, Va.

David is also a medic with the Northampton County Emergency Medical Service along with  rescue lieutenant and member of Bloxom Fire  Volunteer Fire Company's board of directors.  He had just become the new pastor for Hallwood  United Methodist Church.

His many years of  dedicated and unselfish service to the communities will never be forgotten.

Our  thoughts and prayers go out to his family, many friends  and to all the firefighters that so proudly served with him. 

Grand Opening Block Party!

So, here is where you need to be this weekend... Cole's Cakes Grand Opening Block Party!

Bring the kids. This is a party! Details attached.

TONS of great prizes, kids' activities and complimentary sweets!

NASA Rocket Launch from Virginia

Photo/Wikipedia

NASA Rocket Launch from Virginia Scheduled July 21

NASA will launch an inflatable aeroshell/heat shield technology demonstrator on a Black Brant XI sounding rocket July 21 from the agency’s launch range at the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

NASA researchers are working to develop a new kind of lightweight inflatable spacecraft outer shell to slow and protect vehicles as they blaze through the atmosphere at hypersonic speeds.

Based on the approved range schedule, the rocket is set for launch between 6 and 8 a.m. EDT. The backup launch days are July 22 - 24.

The Inflatable Reentry Vehicle Experiment (IRVE-3), developed at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., will be flown on a suborbital flight test ride on a three-stage launch vehicle. Approximately 20 minutes after launch, the test article is projected to splash down in the Atlantic Ocean approximately 100 miles east of Cape Hatteras, NC.

The rocket launch may be visible to residents in the Wallops and southern Chesapeake Bay region.

The NASA Visitor Center at Wallops will open at 4:30 a.m. on launch day for viewing the launch.

The launch will be webcast beginning at 5 a.m. on launch day at: http://sites.wff.nasa.gov/webcast and http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nasa-wallops

Launch status can be followed on launch day on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/NASA_Wallops and Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/NASAWFF

Launch status also is available on the Wallops launch status line at 757-824-2050.

Further information on the IRVE-3 is available at: http://www.nasa.gov/hiad

Nationwide Voluntary Recall On Dog Food

Nature’s Variety has initiated a voluntary recall of its Prairie Beef Meal & Barley Medley Kibble for Dogs due to an off-odor smell that may develop over time. This product is not contaminated in any way, but some products are not remaining fresh for the shelf life of the product.

Reed Howlett, Nature’s Variety CEO, stated, “At Nature’s Variety, we make every effort to ensure that all of our products meet the highest quality standards. We’ve found that some bags of Prairie Beef Meal & Barley Medley Kibble for Dogs have an off-odor smell. To be sure that our consumers only receive the freshest and highest quality product possible, we have decided to voluntarily recall all Prairie Beef Meal & Barley Medley Kibble for Dogs from the marketplace.”

The products impacted are listed below:

• UPC# 7 69949 60420 4 – Prairie Beef Meal & Barley Medley Kibble for Dogs 5 lb
• UPC# 7 69949 60425 9 – Prairie Beef Meal & Barley Medley Kibble for Dogs 15 lb• UPC# 7 69949 60430 3 – Prairie Beef Meal & Barley Medley Kibble for Dogs 30 lb• UPC# 7 69949 60432 7 – Prairie Beef Meal & Barley Medley Kibble for Dogs 3 oz sample

No other Nature's Variety products are affected.

Consumers who have purchased one of the above products can obtain a full refund or exchange it for a different variety by either returning the product in its original packaging or bringing a proof of purchase back to their retailer.

Consumers with additional questions can call our Consumer Relations team at at 888.519.7387. Or, consumers can click here to email Nature's Variety directly.

SOURCE: