STUDENTS LEAD THE WAY

Tuesday, September 2
5:00 pm @ Student Union Rotunda
with

Rep. Elijah Cummings & Rep. Donna Edwards
Frank Kratovil – 1st District Congressional Candidate

GOP ELECTED OFFICIALS ENDORSE FRANK KRATOVIL

Two Republican County Commission Presidents Say Kratovil is Best Pick to Represent the Eastern Shore

STEVENSVILLE, MD – Two elected Republican county leaders from Eastern Shore counties today announced that they are crossing party lines to endorse Frank Kratovil in the First Congressional District race. Roy Crow, President of the Kent County Board of Commissioners, and Jack Cole, President of the Caroline County Board of Commissioners, both called Kratovil the best candidate to represent the Eastern Shore in Congress.

“I trust Frank to stand up in Washington and fight for the Eastern Shore,” said Caroline County’s Jack Cole. “We may belong to different political parties, but Frank and I share the same Eastern Shore values. Frank has integrity, and to me that’s more important than partisanship.”

Cole also cited local environmental concerns as a key factor in his endorsement. “Caroline County is called the Green Garden County for a reason,” he said. “We have such rich natural beauty here, and we need to protect it. Frankly, I just don’t think it’s in the best interests of Caroline County to elect a candidate who boasts one of the worst environmental records in the entire General Assembly.”

Kratovil’s opponent, Senator Andy Harris, has the 6th worst lifetime environmental record out of 188 members of the Maryland General Asembly, according to the Maryland League of Conservation Voters.

Roy Crow of Kent County voiced similar sentiments in endorsing Kratovil. “Frank Kratovil understands the Eastern Shore,” said Crow. “He has lived here for years, raised his family here, and served the people of Queen Anne’s County effectively and honorably as State’s Attorney. I have no doubt that Frank Kratovil is the right candidate to represent us in Congress.”

“There are eight Congressional seats in Maryland,” added Crow. “At least one of them ought to be represented by someone who understands the Eastern Shore.”

“Jack and Roy are both respected public servants and Eastern Shore leaders, and I’m honored to have their support in this race,” said Kratovil in response to the endorsements. “This race isn’t about party labels. It is about bringing change to Washington so we can finally start addressing the challenges we face. Fixing our energy policy, cutting wasteful spending, cracking down on illegal immigration, and protecting the Bay will require leaders who can work across party lines to get real results.”

Kratovil, who has also been endorsed by the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition of Congressional Democrats, lives in Stevensville with his wife Kim and their four sons. He has twice been elected State’s Attorney as a Democrat in majority-Republican Queen Anne’s County.

August 28, 2008
Contact: Tim McCann

(512) 636-7011 or tmccann@kratovil.com

NEW BUSES FOR THE BAY BRIDGE

Gov. Martin O’Malley has announced that the Maryland Transit Administration is adding buses to routes that cross the Bay Bridge.

Six weekday round trips are being added to routes 922 and 950, which travel from Kent Island to Annapolis and Washington.

The move is intended to help ease congestion on the bridge while an eastbound lane remains closed for an estimated 10 weeks of emergency repairs to a barrier wall. The lane was closed Tuesday after inspectors found corrosion in the steel inside the concrete wall. A tractor trailer broke though the wall in a fatal accident Aug. 10.

O’Malley said in a statement that every driver using a bus means one less car on the bridge.

The additional bus service will provide seats for about 330 commuters each day.

Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) hosts an “AAMC Joint Pain Seminar” on Thursday, Sept. 4, from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the Kent Island Volunteer Fire Department in Chester, Md. for regional residents suffering from or interested in learning more about joint pain.  The event is free and open to the public.  Attendees can register by calling (443) 481 – 4000 or 1 (800) MD-NURSE.

The event brings a team of prominent AAMC orthopedic surgeons, physical therapists, and clinical experts directly to the public, offering education and raising awareness on all available treatment and pain management options in the battle against joint pain.

“These seminars, which AAMC has hosted in Northern Anne Arundel County, Prince George’s County, and now on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, have allowed us to provide the public with direct information relating to joint pain issues they may be experiencing,” said Michelle Kline, AAMC’s events coordinator and organizer of the seminars.  “Joint pain or a potential surgery can be scary for people.  These seminars provide answers and help put people at ease.”

Speaking topics include: “Conservative Measures for Hip & Knee Arthritis,” “Physical Therapy Options to Manage Hip & Knee Pain,” “Hip and Knee Surgery,” and “What You Should Know about Anesthesia.”  In addition, attendees will have the chance to participate in a Question & Answer session at the end of the seminar.  Questions also can be asked in advance at myachingjoints.com

Scheduled to appear are Paul King, M.D., of Anne Arundel Orthopaedic Surgeons, Marc F. Brassard, M.D., of Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Center, AAMC anesthesiologist Wong Sang Lee, M.D., and other experts in physical therapy and orthopedic treatment options.

For more information or to register for this free seminar, call (443) 481 – 4000 or 1 (800) MD-NURSE, or visit http://www.myachingjoints.com.

THREE EVENTS ON THE SHORE

Guided Tuckahoe Creek Canoe Trip

Saturday, Aug. 30 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; $6

Tuckahoe State Park, Lake Boathouse, 13070 Crouse Mill Road in Queen Anne (Caroline County)

Join park staff for a relaxing and educational guided canoe outing along Tuckahoe Creek.  Reservations required by calling 410-280-1668.

Raptor Show

Saturday, Aug. 30 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.; FREE

Pocomoke River State Park, Shad Landing Nature Center Amphitheatre

3461 Worcester Highway in Snow Hill (Worcester County)

Get up close with a raptor.  A $10 donation to “adopt a raptor” helps care and feed each bird.

Open Rock Wall at Tuckahoe’s Challenge Course

Sunday, Aug. 31 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; $5

Tuckahoe State Park, Lake Boathouse, 13070 Crouse Mill Road in Queen Anne (Caroline County)

Take part in Tuckahoe’s open rock climbing sessions, designed for both experienced climbers looking to practice as well as those who have never climbed before.

Governor O’Malley Announces Preservation Of 214 Acres Of Forest And Farm Land On The Eastern Shore

Governor Martin O’Malley announced preservation of more than 214 acres of forest and farm land in Queen Anne’s and Worcester counties through Maryland’s Rural Legacy program.

“These conservation easements protect the culture, environment, and history of our rural communities, while enabling landowners to continue to own and use their property for agricultural production and personal enjoyment,” said Governor O’Malley. “The success of Maryland’s nationally recognized Rural Legacy Program would not be possible without our partnership with local governments, land trusts and private landowners.”

In Queen Anne’s County, the board authorized $683,676 for acquisition of a 174 acre easement in the Foreman Branch Rural Legacy Area, which will protect valuable agricultural and forest lands in the Chester River watershed.

In Worcester County, the board authorized acquisition of 40 acre conservation easement in the Coastal Bays Rural Legacy Area, protecting farm and forest lands in the Chincoteague Watershed.

Since 1997, Maryland’s Rural Legacy Program has provided funding to preserve more than 58,595 acres of forest and farm land throughout the state to protect the rural character of the state’s communities from sprawl development.

Chaired by Governor O’Malley, the Board of Public Works is also comprised of Treasurer Nancy Kopp and Comptroller Peter Franchot. The Board is authorized by the General Assembly to approve major construction and consultant contracts, equipment purchases, property transactions and other procurement actions.

Maryland Expands Public Health Care Services

Governor Martin O’Malley announced that three Maryland counties and one community hospital will receive awards totaling $500,000 over the next year to increase the number of Maryland residents with access to dental health care.

Three grants, made available by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s (DHMH) DHMH, have been awarded to local health departments in Worcester, Kent and Queen Anne’s counties, and to Calvert County’s Memorial Hospital.

“Together, we have been able to expand dental care so that we don’t have another sad tragedy like that of Deamonte Driver, the 12 year-old boy who passed away last year after an infection caused by an untreated toothache,” said Governor O’Malley. “A strong public dental health safety net is critical to meet our state’s oral health needs, and these grants ensure our most vulnerable citizens get the dental care they deserve.”

The funds are designed to make dental health care available in areas of the state that have the highest need for a public dental health program. Calvert Memorial Hospital will receive $106,124, Kent and Queen Anne’s counties $248,801, and Worcester County $145,075. Each is eligible for subsequent funding for up to two more years.

“These four counties were selected because they documented that significant oral health challenges exist among their residents,” said DHMH Secretary John M. Colmers. “A ‘dental home’ will be created in these jurisdictions to provide comprehensive dental health care to their communities.”

Each county currently does not have any kind of public dental health program.

“Despite recent statewide improvements in dental health, significant dental problems still exist in Maryland, especially for people with lower incomes and lower educational levels,” said Dr. Harry Goodman, director of the DHMH Office of Oral Health. “We are hopeful that these grants will help us begin to turn the corner in addressing the dental disease problems of our neediest state residents.”

A separate $500,000 dental capital infrastructure award(s) from the department’s offices of Oral Health and Capital Planning, Budgeting and Engineering Services will be announced this fall.

KIOCC RACE

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This weekend is the Kent Island Outrigger Race, around Kent Island on Saturday. On Sunday, we are having TWO standup paddleboard dealers bringing their wares to Kent Island Yacht Club (East of Maui Annapolis and Freedom Surf Virginia Beach). There will be close to a dozen boards with paddles available for those who want to try it out (or possibly buy one), and we will have some short, fun races.

This is an excellent opportunity to try out several different boards, and get instruction and advice from some experts regarding this exciting new sport. SUP board use is exploding in Hawaii and on the West Coast, come see what all the talk is about! We will get started around 10:00 on Sunday, go to http://www.kiocc.com for directions, the Yacht Club is off Route 50 at Exit 41, right on Kent Narrows.

Taste of Kent Narrows

The 3rd Annual Taste of Kent Narrows on October 11, 2008 looks like  a fun time for the whole family. Festival-goers get to sample specialty items from local restaurants.

Artisans and crafters are  invited to set up a booth at the festival and sell their wares.  Space is available for restaurants, artisans, crafters and sponsors.  Each vendor space is $50 for a 10′ x 20′ area.

Vendors, restaurants and sponsors are listed on the website http://www.TasteofKentNarrows.org and in the event’s program.  There will be a designated children’s area with activities and live music for the whole family.  Food tastings  take place  12:00 noon to 4:00 pm and entertainment continues  until 5:00 pm at the Chesapeake Bay Exploration Center, located at  425 Piney Narrows Road, Chester, Maryand.

To receive a vendor or sponsor application, go to the website http://www.TasteOfKentNarrows.org.  For more information call Inspired Events at 410.353.2243 or send email to kratovil@atlanticbb.net.

TURTLE RELEASE

The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center released three three Kemp’s ridley sea turtle names  named Snap, Crackle and Pop at   Cape Charles on Aug 26.
The turtles were rescued last month from the cooling water intake canal of a nuclear generator station by the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine, New Jersey. They came to Virginia Beach in mid-July.