Opinion: News and Information from HometownGlenBurnie.com

Third Floor: Lessons from lunch with Franchot

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Peter Franchot was pretty far from home on Monday. The state comptroller is a former Montgomery County legislator who took office after building a record as a social liberal during his years in the General Assembly. So it was interesting to watch Franchot in conservative Glen Burnie, chatting over l...

Gazette Readers Write

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Slots at Arundel Mills Why is it when anything is built people always say, "Not in my area?" I live across from Arundel Mills and I don't have any problems getting to where I am going. I live around Chapel Ridge Road and to get to Route 100 I make a left and three rights and I'm on...

Our Say: Council's latest impact fee idea a blow to taxpayers

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Whatever happened to the compromise the council reached in 2008, when it approved a law that would first cut impact fees in 2009, but then start raising them this year? Did council members lose their nerve - again? Councilmen Ron Dillon, Charles Ferrar, Daryl Jones and Tricia Johnson are backing a b...

Gazette Readers Write

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500

DeGrange's bill It's hard for me to understand how Sen. Ed DeGrange's legislation to identify and deport illegal immigrants in the state's prison system is going to save all those unknown "beneficial dollars?" (Maryland Gazette, Feb. 20.)Although Sen. DeGrange stated "...

Our Say: County retiree benefits a burden on future taxpayers

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500

It's an extension of Murphy's Law: If there's a way for government officials to spend money they don't have, they will eventually find it and use it. A yearly requirement for a balanced budget - as we have at the city, county and state levels - doesn't solve the problem. There ar...

Guest Column: Recognizing gay marriage is an issue of fairness

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Many of you will call Attorney General Doug Gansler's opinion that Maryland could recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states an abomination. I call it a step in the right direction. As a long-time resident of Maryland - I was raised in Glen Burnie, graduated with honors from Glen Bur...

Our Say: School board's political makeup can't be ignored

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Does a political affiliation influence how an elected official votes? Elected officials usually argue that it doesn't, yet most voters know when they are being snowed. Republicans are generally more conservative and want smaller government and less spending; Democrats support unions and are more...

Eric Hartley: Term limits bill deserves thought

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500

To be clear, James King's bill to impose term limits on state lawmakers has virtually zero chance of passing. And the reasons it has no shot might just be the best arguments for it.King, a first-term Republican delegate from Gambrills, introduced a bill to put a constitutional amendment on Novem...

Gazette Readers Write

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Mountain Road Reader's Digest once identified Mountain Road as the longest dead end road in the country! To tell you the truth, most people do not travel down a dead end road ... except those people who live there and those who have to go to school at the Chesapeake campus (Bodkin Elementary, Ch...

Editor's notebook

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500

FLY ASH - Was anyone surprised by the Maryland Department of the Environment decision to "tentatively" approve the permits for a fly ash landfill in Curtis Bay? It was pretty clear from the beginning that the agency never considered this a tough choice. The site, located just across the Ba...

Third Floor: Warnings that can't be ignored

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500

I spoke with an angry reader from Severn last week. She's been a subscriber of the Maryland Gazette for 10 years, and had just canceled the newspaper. Rob Pryor, our company's circulation director, brought me a note from the customer service representative who talked to the reader. The reaso...

Gazette Readers Write

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500

People and plows The historic amounts of snowfall this year really put our resources to the test. In December, we recorded more than 20 inches at BWI Marshall Airport in a single day.Of course, that was followed by back-to-back snowfalls of 25 and 20 inches in a single week in February. We greatly a...

Cadwalader at Large: Support the good works of the Boy Scouts

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500

This week most of you will have found plastic bags attached to your front door, mail box, or otherwise placed at your house. These are donation bags for the Boy Scouts yearly "Scouting for Food" drive. You are requested to place non-perishable food stuffs (cans, boxes, etc.) in the bag and...

Our Say: On gay marriage, Gansler does his job, Dwyer spouts off

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler has made no secret of his personal views on gay marriage. A year ago, at a state legislative hearing, he called it a "moral imperative and, logically, a historical inevitability." Nonetheless, Gansler was just doing his job last week when he releas...

Guest Column: Elected school board needed for Anne Arundel County

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Last week, the Anne Arundel County Board of Education approved another four-year term for County School Superintendent Kevin Maxwell. Dr. Maxwell elicits a strong opinion from many residents; many support him for his educational philosophies and policies, while many (myself included) scorn him for h...

If business is down, stress is up

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

When business people get together at networking events these days, the most common complaint is that everyone is working harder, but seeing less results than in past years. Business owners are now taking a more active role in running their companies and since most of them downsized their companies,...

Our Say: Legislation takes important step against gangs

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

The phrase "connect the dots" has become a cliche - and, in truth, we're usually content with a government that doesn't piece together all of the information its numerous agencies possess. Who wants the policeman who tickets us for speeding to tack on a fine for our overdue library...

Gazette Readers Write

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Petition process In response to Cristina D. Destefano's letter (Maryland Gazette, Feb. 13), I wanted my name on the petition; however, I could not find where to sign until two days before the deadline and then we had snow and I could not get there.In regards to feeling like being mislead, that i...

Editor's Notebook

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

FOUR MORE YEARS — Last week when the county school board voted unanimously to reappoint schools Superintendent Kevin M. Maxwell to a second four-year term it was a well deserved vote of confidence. Maxwell has done a good job in challenging times. His educational philosophy isn’t greatly...

Gazette Readers Write

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Artificial turf I may have missed it, but has anyone examined the sanity of our beloved county leaders lately? I believe strong evidence exists that questions their mental efficiency.For example, contrary to media reports and government press releases, this country is still in a recession, yet in th...

Editor's Desk: Mail stopped but we didn't

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

As with most industries in this county, newspapers are hurt by enormous snowfalls - such as those experienced here in the past two weeks. People huddled in their homes, unable to keep up their routines, can't get out to buy newspapers from machines or stores. Worse, from our point of view, no on...

Guest Column: Canceling GPS hurt county snow removal

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Difficulties dealing with 3 feet of snow in six days were to be expected as Anne Arundel County was pummeled with two back-to-back massive storms starting Feb. 5. All of us owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to the hundreds of plow operators who worked 12-hour shifts or longer every day for more tha...

Our Say: On budget, parties should rise above political games

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

We are disappointed that state Republicans and Democrats are battling over whether it's in their interest to come together to discuss how to resolve Maryland's $2 billion budget deficit. Isn't it obvious that they should? Democratic leaders of the House and Senate have invited Republican...

Good Deeds! Neighbors' act of kindness deserves praise

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

EDITOR'S NOTE: We reserve this space for readers to publicly say thanks to Good Samaritans. If you'd like to acknowledge a good deed, write to us in fewer than 300 words at the Maryland Gazette, P.O. Box 911, Annapolis, MD 21404 or e-mail: gazletters@mdgazette.com. During the blizzard of 201...

Gazette Readers Write

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Snow fiasco Several days after the snowstorms, my neighborhood saw its first county road crew. Because this is what neighbors have come to expect, everyone pretty much clears the road themselves. Instead of complaining, everyone just grabs a shovel a does their part.Well, on Feb. 13 a county contrac...

Gazette Readers Write

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

School's out In response to Siobhan J. Poole's letter, "School's out" (Maryland Gazette, Feb. 6), the logistics behind making the decision to close or open schools late is complex.There are many factors involved, most importantly bussing your children safely to their schools. I...

Our Say: Historic snowfall put government, neighbors to the test

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

There is an apparently indestructible urban myth that Eskimos have countless words for "snow." Actually, wrote linguist Geoffrey K. Pullum in "The Great Eskimo Vocabulary Hoax and Other Irreverent Essays on the Study of Language," Eskimos "do not have lots of different words...

Third Floor: Please, let there be school today

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

"Day 11: The kids have eaten everything in the house. They've spent unnumbered hours watching television, reading, playing computer games. We've popped popcorn in the fireplace, played in the snow, marveled at the crowded bird feeders and tried out all the games we got for Christmas. &q...

Our Say: Slots, like snow, may be a story that just won't quit

Sat, 13 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Slot machines on the ballot again? There's now a distinct possibility that it could happen in November. Oh joy.The organizers of a petition drive to overturn the County Council's decision on slots zoning say that last week, at the interim deadline for presenting half the necessary signatures...

Gazette Readers Write

Sat, 13 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Petition problems I was one of those names on the stop slots petition until about two weeks ago. I had to contact Stop Slots at Arundel Mills Mall about removing my name because they approached me with vague details about why I was asked to sign.The man who talked with me outside of the North County...

Our Say: Blizzard of '10: A piece of history we really dug

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

History was made last weekend. Or, to be more exact, was dumped on our heads. And our sidewalks. And our driveways. And our cars. What seems likely to be remembered as the Blizzard of 2010 swept into the area on Friday and flattened the county under at least 24.8 inches of snow, according to the con...

Gazette Readers Write

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Scott Brown Deaf: They cannot hear the shrill voices of the discontented masses fed up with big government, big taxes, big brother, big spending, big waste, big entitlements, big political machines.Dumb: They do not understand that their policies, programs and politics favoring terrorists, illegals,...

Third Floor: Storm numbers are piling up

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

The numbers are starting to pile up like the snow all along our roadsides. So here's a quick look at some figures being generated about this storm to help you figure out the meaning of all this winter weather - or the lack of it. Inches of snow that fell last weekend: 28 inches.Snow total from D...

Guest Column: You're never too young to be heart smart

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

February is Heart Disease Awareness Month, which means it's time for us all to get checked for heart disease. Do you think you're too young to care? Think again. In 1993, a doctor in Glen Burnie accidently discovered that I had a rare heart condition. He'd found a hole in my aortic bicus...

Gazette Readers Write

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

School's out 5:20 a.m.: School's Out Alert, a free service unless you subscribe to text messages, alerts me that Anne Arundel County Public Schools are opening two hours late. An e-mail alert that I can read at my leisure.5:40 a.m.: My telephone rings. It is someone from Dr. Kevin Maxwell...

Editor's Notebook

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

A BAD IDEA - Talk about nipping it in the bud. The ink was barely dry on a recommendation that 8 acres in Pasadena between routes 100 and 10 be considered as a possible site for a juvenile detention facility when Donald W. DeVore, state juvenile services secretary, said the idea was dead.DeVore cite...

Eric Hartley: An island of blue in Severn

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

In Severn's Precinct 18, this is what people think of Republicans: "I just think Republicans are snooty," Kyra Nichols said. "They're all for the rich.""Bush scared me," Tonja Younger said. "I didn't want any more Republicans in there. (Hurricane) Katri...

Cadwalader at Large: Slots parlor more trouble than it's worth

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

The slots parlor at Arundel Mills mall is a bad idea - no redeeming features beyond a short term boost in jobs to build the monstrosity. It is a short-sighted venture designed by a greedy developer and authorized by a know-nothing County Council unable to see beyond their next election.I have closel...

Third Floor: Jobless numbers don't tell whole story

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Here are two numbers you should keep in mind when you think about the local economy. 10,000.5,000.The county lost 10,000 jobs last year.The unemployment line grew by 5,000 in that same period.When I first read Sean Patrick Norris' story on those bleak numbers for Saturday's paper, I found my...

Editor's Notebook

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

NEW JUDGES - Gov. Martin O'Malley, drawing on a list from a nominating commission, has appointed two highly qualified local lawyers to the Circuit Court bench. Laura S. Kiessling clerked for the chief judge of the county Circuit Court before joining the State's Attorney's Office in 1991....

Gazette Readers Write

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Unemployment fund After reading Staff Writer Elisha Sauer's article concerning the unemployment fund (Maryland Gazette, Jan. 23) and as the owner of a small business in Anne Arundel County (Craters & Freighters in Millersville) that employes six people, I felt that I should share the notice...

Gazette Readers Write

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Punk kids I'm not sure why I'm bothering to write this e-mail because the parents of the kids who should read this, probably can't - read, that is.Would the parents of the punks that assaulted two boys from the Old Mill High School track team please take charge of your kids? Or better ye...

Our Say: Gambling bandwagon rolls merrily along

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0500

It's bad form to say we told you so. But, folks, we told you so. We said repeatedly that once the state allowed slot machines, there would soon be pressure for blackjack, poker and assorted other table games. Slots proponents said we were conjuring up bogeymen and that there was no master plan t...

Gazette Letters

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Victimless crimes? According to Karl Stoffel, Gilbert Arenas' and Plaxico Buress' gun crimes are victimless (Maryland Gazette, Jan. 13).Mr. Stoffel is misguided however, because we, the law abiding citizens of Maryland and the United States are the victims.