Attendees are asked to bring a toy or a canned food product for the ‘Toys for Tots’ program or a local food bank.
The Democratic Club of Queen Anne’s County holds its Holiday Meeting at the Fisherman’s Inn, Kent Narrows starting at 6:30 p.m. with refreshments and program starting at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 4th. The Club will offer a light fare with the normal cash bar availability. In addition, we ask that everyone PLEASE bring a non-perishable food item and/or a new toy for the “Toys for Tots” program sponsored by the U.S, Marine Corp. This year, more than ever, these organizations will need everyone’s support.
This Thanksgiving, Marylanders families are encouraged to purchase farm-fresh local turkeys from any of several Maryland turkey growers across the state. In 2007, 750,000 turkeys totaling more than 26.3 million pounds were raised in Maryland with a total value of $13.7 million. Turkeys sold directly from the farm to the consumer account for a small portion of the total production. A list of some of the Maryland farms offering to sell fresh turkeys directly to consumers can be found on the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s website at http://www.mda.state.md.us.
“Maryland farmers grow some of the freshest and best tasting turkeys in the country,” said Agriculture Secretary Roger Richardson. “Buying locally supports Maryland’s economy and will have your family coming back for more.”
This year try a deep-fried whole turkey, freeing up your oven for a traditional Maryland favorite, oyster stuffing. For an excellent wine pairing, pick up a bottle of pinot noir or dry Riesling from one of Maryland’s wineries. At this year’s Governor’s Cup Competition, hosted by the Maryland Wineries Association, Basignani Winery and Loew Vineyards had Riesling medal winners. Cove Point Winery, Dove Valley Winery, Elk Run Vineyards, and Little Ashby Vineyards all had Pinot Noir medal winners. For more information on Maryland Wines log onto http://www.marylandwine.com.
DEEP-FRIED TURKEY
From Paula Deen, Food Network
1 (10-pound) turkey
2 tablespoons House seasoning (recipe follows)
2 tablespoons of your favorite dry rub
3 to 5 gallons peanut oil
Cooks Note: To measure the amount of oil needed to fry the turkey, place turkey in fryer, add water to top of turkey, remove the turkey and the water line will indicate how much oil will be needed to fry your turkey. Having too much oil can cause a fire. The pot should not be more than 3/4 full or the oil could overflow when the turkey is added.
Wash bird inside and out, and allow to drain. Rub turkey all over with House Seasoning. Coat turkey with dry rub. Allow the bird to sit until it reaches room temperature. Heat peanut oil in a turkey fryer or a very, very large stockpot to 350 degrees F. Lower turkey into hot oil, very carefully, making sure it is fully submerged. Fry turkey for 3 minutes per pound plus 5 minutes per bird. Remove turkey from oil and drain on paper towels.
House Seasoning:
1 cup salt
1/4 cup black pepper
1/4 cup garlic powder
Mix ingredients together and store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.
OYSTER STUFFING
From the Maryland Department of Agriculture, Seafood Marketing Program
1 cup sliced celery
1 cup chopped onion
½ cup chopped red sweet pepper
½ cup butter or margarine
1 pint shucked oysters drained and halved
1 (14 oz.) package seasoned stuffing mix
2 tsp. thyme leaves, crushed
1½ cups chicken or turkey broth water
Begin by cooking the celery, red pepper, and onion in the butter until tender. Stir in the oysters and cook an additional two minutes. Place the stuffing mix into a large bowl and gradually stir in the oyster mixture and thyme. Sprinkle the broth onto the stuffing in order to moisten it and mix together. Place your stuffing in the appropriate sized turkey or casserole dish. Preheat your oven to 325º F. Cover and bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until heated through.
Filed under Agriculture, alternative, animals, aquaculture, birds, Chesapeake, Chesapeake Bay, cookbooks, cooking, Democratic Party, Eastern Shore, festival, food, history, holiday, holidays, Homegrown, wine
Governor Martin O’Malley recently announced Board of Public Works approval of preservation of over 1,072 acres of forest land on the Eastern Shore through stateside Program Open Space, including three sites that dramatically improve public access to the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, a 3,000 mile waterway tracing the 17th Century explorer’s travels through the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.
“The conservation of these properties on the Eastern Shore will safeguard wildlife habitat, protect the water quality of the Chesapeake Bay, and provide for sustainable forestry,” Governor O’Malley said. “In addition, they offer remarkable opportunities for our citizens to enjoy the unspoiled beauty of one of the region’s most important natural resources.”
The 11 properties in Caroline, Dorchester, Somerset and Wicomico counties are high priority conservation acquisitions under Maryland’s new Program Open Space Stateside Targeting System. The ecologically based targeting approach was developed last year under Governor O’Malley’s BayStat I, nitiative to ensure the state is protecting the most strategically important landscapes to provide a lasting legacy for future generations.
The state will be purchasing the properties at below fair market value for $2.5 million, thanks to a $695,000 gift from The Conservation Fund.
“Preserving these properties safeguards wildlife habitat, protects the water quality of the Chesapeake Bay, provides for sustainable forestry and allows water access for public recreation,” said Bill Crouch, Maryland Representative for The Conservation Fund. “We are proud to partner with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources on this remarkable conservation opportunity that will benefit the people ─ and wildlife ─ of Maryland.”
“Conserving land and improving public access to the bay are high priorities of the Friends of the John Smith Chesapeake Trail,” said Charles Stek, chairman of the nonprofit group. “I commend the members and staff of the Board of Public Works and Department of Natural Resources for taking this important step to achieve those goals.”
The three properties adjacent to the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail are:
McMichael Tract in Wicomico County; including more than 64 acres bordering Quantico Creek, which drains into the Quantico River. This section of Quantico Creek is fairly broad and deep and would be able to accommodate a variety of small crafts. Quantico is considered one of the prettiest creeks in Maryland. Furthermore, broad uplands in portions of the tract make this site suitable for primitive camping.
Evans Tract in Somerset County; more than 50 acres bordering Monie Creek, which drains into the Chesapeake Bay and has existing access for boats and kayaks and is suitable for primitive camping.
Lee-Jones Tract in Dorchester County; more than 57 acres straddling Corsey Creek, which drains into the Chesapeake Bay and is best suited for kayak and canoeing and primitive camping.
Since 2007, Governor O’Malley and the BPW have preserved more than 8,807 acres of natural areas for public recreation and watershed and wildlife protection across Maryland. Since 1969, Program Open Space has provided funding for acquisition of 326,280 acres for open space and recreation areas. The money comes from a percentage of the real estate transfer tax and is used for local and state parks throughout Maryland. Most Maryland residents live within 15 minutes of an open space or recreational area funded by Program Open Space.
The three-member Board of Public Works, chaired by Governor O’Malley, is comprised of Treasurer Nancy Kopp and Comptroller Peter Franchot. The BPW is authorized by the General Assembly to approve major construction and consultant contracts, equipment purchases, property transactions and other procurement actions.
Filed under Bay Bridge, Caroline, Chesapeake, Chesapeake Bay, conservation, Delmarva, Democratic Party, Democrats, Dorchester, Eastern Shore, Education, environment, history, improvements, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Open Space, Preservation, quality of life, renovations, Somerset, State Park, Wicomico
Governor Martin O’Malley commended the support and leadership of Maryland’s Congressional Delegation today and thanked Department of Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez for the federal fishery disaster declaration for the Chesapeake Bay blue crab.
“We are grateful to Senators Mikulski and Cardin, and our congressional delegation for their leadership in working with the Department of Commerce to secure this critical designation for Maryland’s watermen. Maryland’s blue crab and the traditional fishing industry that it supports face difficult times and the federal funding accompanying the disaster designation will help to preserve the infrastructure of Maryland’s hallmark blue crab fishery, and ensure an active fishery for the future.
This declaration not only helps restore the blue crab population, but it also ensures that the livelihood of our State’s watermen continues to be sustained. While we work with the industry on the State level to rebuild stocks and restructure the fishery, this federal action will help sustain the livelihoods of Maryland’s watermen, whose work is so vital to Maryland’s economy.”
Earlier this year, the O’Malley/Brown Administration coordinated historic action with Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine to rebuild the Chesapeake Bay’s beleaguered blue crab population by reducing the harvest of ecologically valuable female blue crabs by 34 percent in 2008. In May 2008, Governors O’Malley and Kaine requested a disaster assistance evaluation from NOAA‘s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) for Chesapeake Bay watermen and women who have suffered economic hardships due to the extremely low and unstable blue crab abundance. Finding that due to adverse environmental conditions including habitat loss, water quality decline, an overabundance of native and non-native predators, and decimation of key blue crab prey, economic losses to the region’s blue crab fishing industry have accumulated over the last decade, the U.S. Department of Commerce today declared a state of disaster for the fishery.
Transportation officials are looking at removing toll booths from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and adding high tech testing to annual inspections.
The changes are being considered as motorists endure multi-mile backups so workers can repair the older eastbound span where hidden deterioration was discovered after a tractor-trailer ran through the barrier Aug. 10.
Regular inspections are visual and could not have detected the corroded steel components found by radar and ultrasound probes ordered after the fatal accident.
“We are clearly going to revisit and work with the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Highway [Administration] to see if we should do more non-destructive testing,” said Geoffrey Kohlberg, chief engineer for the Maryland Transportation Authority which operates and maintains the bridge.
Such testing is more expensive, Kohlberg said, but “as far as the authority is concerned, money is not the issue. We are going to do what’s needed ….”
For example, Kohlberg said, ground-penetrating radar tests recently conducted could be done on all the concrete, but he said it makes sense to figure out how to get a reasonable sample – perhaps 5 percent distributed across the spans with different spots checked each year.
But Sen. E.J. Pipkin said he has lost confidence in the agency’s ability to determine what tests are needed.
“If that concrete had not fallen into the Bay they would not have found the corrosion,” said Pipkin (R-Dist. 36) of Stevensville, who has called for the state to begin making plans for another bridge and for a full independent inspection of the bridge.
“This is a significant warning shot — there are no excuses not to take this to the absolute best level,” Pipkin said.
Kohlberg said the authority has checked 700, about half, of the bolts in the 56-year-old eastbound span and found corrosion in 150.
As for ending manual toll collection, and the traffic kinks it causes, that was on the table before the accident, authority spokeswoman Cheryl M. Sparks said.
The move would require motorists to buy an electronic E-Z Pass and place it in their vehicle where it can be read by sensors at toll facilities.
E-Z Pass is used in 12 states and motorists can use their pass at any E-Z Pass facility.
With “open road” or boothless tolling, motorists crossing the bridge without an E-Z pass would have their license plate photographed, said James Crawford, executive director of the E-Z Pass Interagency Group. Using the photograph, the state would send a bill.
Infrequent or one-time users can also pre-register and get billed a lower rate, but administrative and mailing costs are added to the toll for travelers without an E-Z Pass, Crawford said.
Open road tolling is planned for the Intercounty Connector, linking Gaithersburg and Laurel. It also is being used or planned for parts of the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Port Authority facilities in New York and New Jersey, Crawford said.
At the Bay Bridge, traffic flow improves about 22 percent when tolls are not taken.
“If you have statistics that show [that] why not require [removing tolls]” when back-ups are bad, asked Del. Michael D. Smigiel Sr. (R-Dist. 36) of Elkton, who, with Pipkin, left the Republican National Convention early to meet with Queen Anne’s County and state officials about the bridge.
Smigiel has also requested specifics about the ability of bridge barriers to withstand a crash.
“I want to know if we are making bad choices,” he said.
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
The Club holds its monthly membership meeting at the Fisherman’s Inn at the Kent Narrows on September 4. Refreshments begin at 6:30 P.M. with the meeting to start at 7. Come and get the latest information from the Democratic Convention from those who attended.
If anyone is interested in learning more about our club or you wish to become a member, please feel free to stop by. The Queen Anne’s County Young Democrats Club is now forming. For information, contact nvenuto@atlanticbb.net or see us at the meeting.
Filed under Democratic Party, Democrats, Eastern Shore, kent island, Kent Narrows, politics
Word On The Shore 