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2006 Literature Page
2009
Press Releases & Other Stories of Interest
November 25,
2009: Hospice House Dedicated (Southern Maryland News Online)
November 4,
2009:
Ceremony honors victims' advocates
(Calvert Recorder)
October 16,
2009: North Beach Dedicates its New Boardwalk
(Southern Maryland News Online)
September,
2009: The Health Care Reform Debate:
(Southern Calvert Gazette)
August 12,
2009: Grandeur of gala does not detract
from cause (Southern Maryland News Online)
July 10,
2009: Sip a
taste of local wineries at
North Beach's Farmer's Market (Southern Maryland News Online)
June 19,
2009: Disabilities Group Honors
Delegate Kullen (Southern Maryland News Online)
June 19,
2009: Today, the Capital is Calvert
County (Southern Maryland News Online)
June 19,
2009: Holden Twins receive top honors from
Boy, Girl Scouts (Southern Maryland News Online)
June 5,
2009: Marriage over Moolah
Reporters Notebook: (Gazette.net)
April 26,
2009: A Half-Full Glass for Wineries
(Washington Post)
April 8,
2009: Kullen gets women's nod (Southern Maryland News Online)
April 8,
2009: Families gather for 5th annual fun
fest (Southern Maryland News Online)
March 6,
2009: WBAL Report: State Police Should
Keep Medevac Control (WBAL13-TV)
March 6,
2009: Reporters Notebook: (Shoe) shining
stars (Gazette.net)
February 27,
2009:
Advocates push for cancer treatment
(Southern Maryland News Online)
February 27,
2008: BGE meeting with residents on bills
(Southern Maryland News Online)
February 27,
2009: Effort to tack abortion onto
tattoo bill fails (Southern Maryland
News Online)
February 20,
2009:
Kullen Pushes BGE to Help Customers
(Washington Post - Southern
Maryland Extra)
February 19,
2009: Customers Vent Anger Over Spike in
BGE Bills (Washington Post)
February 19,
2009: CMS Students Travel to Annapolis to Lobby Legislators
(Southern Maryland News Online)
February 18,
2009: Kullen demands action from BGE
(SoMdNews.com)
February 18,
2009: Tattoo bill passes Committee
(SoMdNews.com)
February 18,
2009: Health underwriting bill to defuse
"ticking time bomb..." (IFAwebsnews.com)
February 13,
2009: Help Project ECHO Help Others
(Letter to the Editor - SoMdNews.com)
February 4,
2009: Two more years for pull-tabs?
(SoMdNews.com)
January 30,
2009: Little County dressed in big britches:
(SoMdNews.com)
January 29,
2009: Bill requires teens to obtain
parental consent for tattoo:
(Baltimore Examiner)
January 16,
2009: Economy is shadow over Assembly:
(SoMdNews.com)
January 15,
2009: Customers question sharp spike in BGE bills:
(Washington Post)
January 14,
2009: Prospects not bright for
school funding: (SoMdNews.com)
January 9,
2009: Meet the So. Md. Delegation
(SoMdNews.com)
December 31,
2008: Kick off the new year right - take the polar
plunge: (Bay Net.com)
November 25, 2009 ―
Bob Renneisen / Staff Writer:
Southern Maryland News (The Recorder)
A
substantial crowd celebrated the official grand opening and ribbon
cutting at the new Burnett-Calvert Hospice House on Sixes Road in
Prince Frederick on Saturday morning.
Lynn
Bonde, executive director of Calvert Hospice, was visibly moved as she
acknowledged the contributions of many in the crowd.
"The
hospice house is the result of years of effort on the part of so many of
you, the residents of Calvert County," she said. "Today we express
deeply heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you for bringing this
desperately needed resource from simply a dream to a reality."
Delegate Sue Kullen (D-Calvert), paid special tribute to Barbara
Burnett, who donated the 2.5 acres for the hospice house in memory of
her husband, Robbie, a Calvert Hospice patient who died in 2000.
"I
think when we get to heaven, our judgment is going to be on how well we
take care of each other and I think that, with this hospice house here,
Calvert County has a head start with all the people involved in this
effort," said Kullen. "One person especially shines through all this
today. Barb Burnett has made an astronomical gift to make this
possible." Kullen presented Burnett with a framed poem to commemorate
the occasion.
Following a rendition of "Just One Dream," by the Chesapeake Community
Chorus, Bonde paid tribute to Bob Taylor, Gary Luckett and Jay Webster
for their "relentless patience and dedication to the house."
"This
is a great day," she continued. "We are standing here because of all of
you. In 1999 at a Calvert Hospice board of directors retreat [a board
member] said, ‘What about a hospice house?' The board said that was an
important issue, an important thing to look at for the future, but not
just yet.
>> Because of limited
space, this article has been shortened. To read the complete story,
please visit
Southern
Maryland Online.
November 4, 2009 ―
Carol Harvat / Staff Writer:
Southern Maryland News (The Recorder)
The
two-fold message on domestic violence rang out repeatedly at an
honorees ceremony Thursday evening as those who have fought to gain
victims' services spoke about the accomplishments in Calvert during
the past 25 years and the work that still needs to be done.
The
woman who "paved the way for women of domestic violence to get help,"
Alice Hall, was the "2009 Award Recipient for Contributions to Women in
Need." Tracy Palmer, co-chair of the Calvert County Commission for Women
(CCCW), presented the award to Hall, who established the CCCW and wanted
a place for victims of domestic violence to go for safety and support,
Palmer said.
"It's
good to be recognized and honored, but we're not finished yet. We cannot
stop," said Hall, who was also awarded a proclamation by U.S. Sen.
Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.). Hall said she admired Mikulski and considered
her a hero when she first met her in 1976, a meeting that was the
impetus for the CCCW.
At the
candlelight vigil on the lawn of the Calvert County Circuit Court before
the reception, the message was two-fold: honoring those who had the
courage to step away from their abuser and encouraging those who have
not yet made the journey.
"We
stand here today to say ‘enough is enough,'" said Palmer, a domestic
violence survivor.
Of
those who took the step away from their abusers, Palmer said, "We are
proud of you and we honor your courage."
Then
she spoke to those still in a violent domestic relationship, saying,
"Don't relinquish the fight, you have the strength to overcome. We are
here and we will listen and help you find the way. It's a journey that
will award you more than you ever felt possible."
After
the vigil, stories of the progression of services provided for domestic
violence victims in Calvert County were told by honorees at a reception
celebrating the Crisis Intervention Center's 25 years of service, which
was originally called the Abused Person Program.
One
domestic violence victim, who used services 20 years ago, spoke about
her personal journey and the assistance she and her young daughters
received through the newly developed programs.
"Without the help of the Abused Person Program, I don't know where I'd
be today," she said after talking about how she and her daughters used
shelters and counseling services, connecting with many supportive
people.
"I'm at
peace, truly grateful for all the help," she said.
Delegate Sue Kullen (D-Calvert) announced that she was recently elected president of the
Women's Legislative Caucus.
"Domestic violence is certainly one of the priorities that we will be
working on," Kullen said.
An
honored volunteer and employee at the crisis center for 24 years, Tricia
Naron said, "Through the years, I've worked with so many clients. It
really touches me."
She
said she's been asked many times if she gets tired of the victims who
would start the process but never follow through. She said she answers
"No," stating that the average victim goes back seven times.
"The
gift is they came back to us … trusted us enough to give us a call. To
me, it's been a gift," she said of her service.
Retired
Maryland Circuit Court Judge Tom Rymer and his wife Gracie were honored
for their work on pursuing the creation of a state law that allowed a
victim to be granted a protective order that does not allow the
suspected abuser into a shared residence for a period of time. Initially
called ex parte orders, they were originally only granted for a five-day
period. The Rymers shared the story of the difficulty they had trying to
rally legislative support for a bill for domestic violence victims.
>> Because of limited
space, this article has been shortened. To read the complete story,
please visit
Southern
Maryland Online.
October 16, 2009 ―
Carol Harvat / Staff Writer:
Southern Maryland News (The Recorder)
The Town of
North Beach dedicated its recently refurbished boardwalk Tuesday
afternoon amongst dignitaries, town council members and employees
and boardwalk contractor representatives.
A $250,000
bond bill, initiated by Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike
Miller Jr., paid for a large portion of the boardwalk, a project
that was first on the town's list for projects requesting stimulus
funds, Mayor Mike Bojokles said.
Bojokles
recognized Miller (D-Calvert, Prince George's) and Del. Sue Kullen
(D- Calvert)
|
 |
|
North Beach Town
Council members, from left, Gwen Schiada, Lynda Striegel,
and Jane Hagen, Delegate Sue Kullen (D-Calvert), Mayor Mike Bojokles, Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller
Jr. (D-Calvert, Prince George's) and Dick Myers of Sen.
Barbara Mikulski's office have trouble cutting the ribbon
Tuesday at a ceremony to dedicate the refurbished boardwalk.
|
"not just for
what they've done, but for what they continue to do for
North Beach.
"The bond bill
allowed us to complete the entire project," Bojokles said. Along
with the bond bill, the town paid an additional $159,800 for the
project that began in the end of June and finished up with the
replacement of boards on Atlantic Avenue in August.
"This project
came in on budget and ahead of schedule," Bojokles said. He thanked
the contractor, Pioneer Construction of Kingsville, which replaced
rotting wooden boards with composite boards made of limestone that
have a 25-year guarantee.
The mayor also
unveiled a directional marker inlayed in the boardwalk with both
Miller's and Kullen's names etched in it along with the phrase
"Jewel of the Chesapeake."
The town is
creating a map for a trail system with markers to follow around town
to points of interest, Bojokles said.
"When we
create a map, this will be our first marker," he said.
"When they say
this is the ‘Jewel of the Chesapeake,' I truly believe it is,"
Kullen said, adding, "I don't have my name on anything yet."
Miller shared
some personal stories of North Beach talking about staying at Breezy
Point as a child when only the adults were allowed to venture to
North Beach.
"It was always
the hidden garden. I knew there was something special here," he
said.
Today his
grandkids and wife walk the boardwalk so he said he "knew about the
boardwalk, splintering in your feet and everything else."
At the
culmination of the ceremony, a ribbon was draped across the
boardwalk for the cutting, but after several tries, the large
ceremonial scissors could not cut the ribbon, and instead, a small
pocket knife was used to cut the ribbon.
The
Health Care Reform Debate
September,
2009 ― Guest
Writer for the September Issue of the Southern Calvert Gazette.
August 12, 2009 ―
Laura Buck / Staff Writer: Gazette.net /
Southern Maryland News (The Recorder)
|
 |
|
Jan and William Travers, owners
of Westlawn Inn in North Beach, talk with Delegate Sue
Kullen (D-Calvert) Thursday at the 28th annual Celebration
of Life Cancer Crusade Gala at the Rod ‘N' Reel in
Chesapeake Beach. |
To a stranger
observing the 28th Annual Celebration of Life Cancer
Crusade Gala on Thursday, the breezy summer event would
appear to be far and away from anything about the life
threatening disease.
This was not,
however, the case, as just about everyone who attended the gala at
Chesapeake Beach Hotel & Spa Rod 'N' Reel Restaurant had in some way
been touched by the disease, which raised money for the American
Cancer Society.
There was
Denny Murray of Dunkirk, who was, as of Thursday, 45 days free from
leukemia and kidney cancer.
"It feels
fantastic," Murray said. "It has been a blessing; it's totally
indescribable and helped not only by the fine doctors, but by the
prayers of many, many people."
Murray
explained that his sponsorship of the gala did not begin due to his
own battle with cancer, but instead because he lost his mother and
sister to the disease.
Ethel Lou
Bennett, the aunt of the gala's organizer, former Chesapeake Beach
mayor Gerald Donovan, also knew first-hand about the disease, having
lost a daughter to lung cancer.
"She lived
four years and three days, and it took her. She's in a better
place," said Bennett, who also had a spot removed from one of her
lungs, but had recently had her eight-month checkup and was doing
well.
"I didn't have
it real bad, thank goodness," she said.
Coming out to
support the cause were many of not only Calvert County, but the
state of Maryland's most prominent figures.
House Majority
Leader Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md., 5th) said that he was thrilled to
attend the event, which he has often had to miss due to Congress
being in session.
"This is one
of the biggest events in Southern Maryland; it's seen extraordinary
growth in the last 28 years," Hoyer said, adding "… I think this is
an extraordinary event that involves all the communities … Every
family in America understands cancer."
Maryland
Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert, Prince
George's) said that while the gala was "the highlight of my social
season," the event was also about quality of life and cancer
prevention.
"The key is to
make people aware," said Miller, who cited colonoscopies and
mammograms as "preventative measures [that] are out there until we
find a cure."
To Calvert
County Commissioner Barbara Stinnett (D) such a cure might not be
too out of reach.
"Lord knows
[cancer] has caused enough grief for so many people … and they've
already made so much progress," said Stinnett, who believed that
while a permanent cure may not come during her lifetime, it
hopefully will come in the lifetime of several of Thursday's
attendees.
Her colleague,
Calvert County Board of County Commissioner's President Wilson
Parran (D) said that in addition to having attended the event for
several years in the past, "I also use it as an anniversary to
donate to the American Cancer Society. And I did today."
Delegate
Sue Kullen (D-Calvert) said that she has attended the event for
nearly 20 years, frequently bringing her husband, who lost his
mother to breast cancer when he was 7 years old.
"That's very
sad for a family," said Kullen, who also said that as president of
the women's caucus of the General Assembly, women's health,
particularly breast cancer awareness, is one of its largest issues.
"There's so
much attention paid to it that it's more hopeful. There's a sense
we're getting closer to a cure," Kullen said.
>> Because of limited
space, this article has been shortened. To read the complete story,
please visit
Southern
Maryland Online. \
Twin Beach News
July 10, 2009 ―
Carol Harvat / Staff Writer: Gazette.net /
Southern Maryland News (The Recorder)
It's not a Napa
Valley tour, but this evening at North Beach's Farmer's Market,
while strolling through vendors selecting a head of lettuce, a
bundle of tomatoes and ears of corn, one can sip tastes of wine from
local wineries.
"It'll be just
a taste," a small portion of wine that people will be able to sample
for free, said Diane Burr, North Beach's events coordinator.
Starting today and through mid-October, the Friday farmer's market
will include wine tasting from all five of Calvert's wineries.
"It'll be good
fun for everybody," she said. Burr also wanted to remind people
that
the wineries will be checking identification, so be prepared to show
an I.D.
The wine
tasting was made possible through legislation, sponsored by Maryland
Senate President Thomas Mike V. Miller Jr. (D-Calvert, Prince
George's) and Delegate Sue Kullen (D-Calvert), passing in the
Maryland General Assembly this past session. Previously, there were
limits on the number of farmers' markets wineries could participate
in, but this legislation lifts the restrictions specifically for the
North Beach Farmers' Market, Burr wrote in an e-mail. Last year, the
first time the bill was submitted, it was "attached to something
controversial, so it didn't go through," Burr said. This past
session, it was separated out so it would not die through guilt by
association, and it passed becoming law on July 1, Burr explained.
The wines that
people can taste will be available for purchase at the town's local
wine shops, Bay Wine & Spirits and Coffee, Tea and Whimsey.
"All the
Calvert County wineries will be represented," said Ann Ashcraft of
her shop Coffee, Tea and Whimsey. This time of year when its warm
out people generally buy white wines, she said, but she will have a
variety on hand.
Prior to the
opening of the farmer's market, the Town of North Beach is hosting a
private wine tasting for local dignitaries and politicians in thanks
and celebration for the town's newest venture.
Even though
the wineries are still young, all five of Calvert County's wineries
have earned awards for their wines in the past several years and
continue to create new ones each season.
Perigeaux
Vineyards & Winery's award-winning wines are grown at the St.
Leonard vineyards. In 2008, the winery was recognized by the
American Wine Society with three bronze medals for its Cabernet
Sauvignon and medals for its Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc,
Chardonnay and Merlot at the Maryland Governor's Cup and
Winemaster's Choice Competitions.
Running Hare
Vineyard of Prince Frederick won silver and bronze medals for both
reds and white wines at this year's Maryland Governor's Cup Awards
and won three international awards.
"Our gold
medals are Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay," said Barbara Scarborough,
adding its dessert wine, made from grapes grown in Calvert, also won
awards.
Helped preserve commission
funding
June 19, 2009 ―
Alan Brody / Staff Writer: Gazette.net /
Southern Maryland News (The Recorder)
A statewide
developmental disabilities advocacy organization recently recognized
Delegate Sue Kullen for her leadership in the 2009
legislative session.
A
longtime special needs advocate who owns a consulting practice that
focuses on disabilities issues, Kullen (D-Calvert) received the
award from the Maryland Association of Community Services For
Persons with Developmental Disabilities Inc., at a banquet in
Columbia in late April.
Three
other lawmakers, all Democrats, were also honored at the reception.
Kullen
was particularly important in the session's waning days in
preserving an independent state-funded commission that makes
recommendations on rates paid to community health providers,
employee wages and the fiscal solvency of providers, said MACS
Executive Director Laura Howell.
MACS is
a private nonprofit group that advocates for greater support of the
developmentally disabled and their families in their own
communities.
"She
really took up the charge at the end to help save the funding for
the Community Services Reimbursement Rate Commission," said Howell.
"At a point during the legislative session when so much was going
on, she was one of the legislators who made it a priority by raising
it with the administration and key legislators because she
recognized what an important role the commission plays in
developmental disabilities services."
The
fiscal 2010 spending proposal submitted by Gov. Martin O'Malley (D)
wiped out state aid for the commission. Kullen was among several
lawmakers who lobbied administration aides and budget negotiators to
restore the $130,000 line item by splitting the cost between the
Mental Hygiene Administration and Developmental Disabilities
Administration.
"There's no way they could have sustained any major cuts this year,
so I was just trying to build a wall of protection," she said.
The
commission recently reported that one in three community health
providers has a negative operating margin, which Howell said is "a
big red flag for a system that supports 22,000 people with
developmental disabilities across Maryland."
Kullen
was also honored as the incoming president of the Women Legislators
of Maryland, which has made developmental disabilities issues its
No. 2 legislative priority for the coming year,
"I get
their issues and I'm an easy sell for what they need," said Kullen,
referring to her disabilities background, which includes 13 years
with the Arc of Southern Maryland. "They don't have a huge paid
lobbying force, but the advocacy in Annapolis is amazing among the
disabilities community."
Governor will cut ribbon at
hospital, visit park and host meeting
June 19, 2009 ―
Alan Brody / Staff Writer:
Southern Maryland News (The Recorder)
The state capital
temporarily shifts to Calvert County today as the O'Malley
administration continues its Capital for a Day program with a series
of events and meetings designed to underscore local priorities and
challenges.
|
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|
Gov. Martin
O'Malley (far right) was in Calvert County for a prayer
brunch Friday morning at the North Beach Volunteer Fire
Department. O'Malley gave a proclamation to the Rev. Robert
Hahn to honor Hahn's initiative "End Hunger in Calvert
County." Delegate Kullen and Board of Commissioner President
Parran look on. (photo:
Carrie Lovejoy) |
Unlike past Capital for a Day locales in which the
administration has descended on a specific town or
municipality, today's program will be spread out
throughout the county.
Gov.
Martin O'Malley (D) will begin his visit in Chesapeake Beach, where
he will be joined by Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr.
(D-Calvert, Prince George's) at a prayer breakfast with area clergy
members.
Afterwards, O'Malley will head to Calvert Memorial Hospital and take
part in the official ribbon cutting for the newly-opened Calvert
Medical Arts Center, a 75,000 square-foot facility adjacent to the
hospital that houses physical therapy and medical imaging centers,
an information technology data center and several medical
specialists' offices. It will also eventually be home to breast and
neuroscience centers.
From
there, the governor will tour Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum in
St. Leonard, the state-funded archaeology museum that is the site of
the largest naval battle in Maryland history, the 1814 Battle of St.
Leonard Creek.
State
secretaries and agency heads will then gather at the museum for the
Cabinet meeting that is a staple of the Capital for a Day series.
The meetings, although usually light on business, provide a snapshot
of each department's initiatives and give local elected leaders an
opportunity to outline its programs and appeal for state assistance
in areas of need.
"The
governor always says that our capacity for progress can't be
contained to the walls of the State House and therefore neither
should our state capital, so it makes sense to bring our Cabinet
outside the state capital," said Shaun Adamec, a spokesman for
O'Malley.
After
his gubernatorial activities are completed, O'Malley will head to
St. Mary's City and headline the River Concert Series with his
Celtic-influenced rock band, O'Malley's March.
While
the governor makes his way through Calvert, other state leaders will
visit different venues with their local counterparts.
State
schools superintendent Nancy S. Grasmick will tour Windy Hill
Elementary School in Owings with County Commissioner Susan Shaw (R)
and Calvert County public schools Superintendent Jack Smith; state
Business and Economic Development Secretary Christian S. Johansson
will tour Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant with county economic
development Director Linda S. Vassallo; and higher education
Secretary James E. Lyons Sr. will join College of Southern Maryland
President Bradley M. Gottfried on a tour of the Prince Frederick
campus and the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory in Solomons, which
is part of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental
Studies.
"These
events are really important not only for the areas that we visit,
but for the administration itself to get out into the areas and to
really learn and hear from the local officials about the issues that
are talked about and debated and are on the minds of local residents
across the state," Adamec said.
The
visit will be a homecoming, of sorts, for O'Malley's newest Cabinet
member: Agriculture Secretary Earl F. "Buddy" Hance, sworn in last
month, is a Port Republic resident and a fourth-generation Southern
Maryland farmer.
Today
is O'Malley's second visit to Calvert in less than a week. On
Sunday, he joined U.S. House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.,
5th), former Democratic state senator Bernie Fowler and other state
and local luminaries for the 31st annual Patuxent River Wade-In.
That
shows a commitment to one of the state's fastest-growing counties
and the issues it faces, said Del. Sue Kullen (D-Calvert), who
praised the governor's efforts to clean up the Patuxent River and
Chesapeake Bay.
Kullen
also hopes O'Malley will gain a better understanding of the
challenges Calvert and rural areas face in recruiting and retaining
physicians. She also hopes he will learn about the county's
development pressures and the need to invest in local jobs and
infrastructure. "Just being able to walk in the shoes of the local
people hopefully will bring about a sensitivity to our local needs,"
she said.
June 19, 2009 ―
Southern Maryland News (The Recorder)
On Sunday, April 19, Sean Holden of Huntingtown's Boy Scout Troop
903 received his Eagle Scout Award, while Ritamarie, his twin sister
from Girl Scout Troop 1013, received her Gold Award, Girl Scouting's
top award, in a dual ceremony at St. Nicholas Lutheran Church in
Huntingtown.
The
twin achievement ceremony was believed to be the first in Calvert
County history, as related by Linda Kelley, a member of the Calvert
County Board of County Commissioners, "I have been doing this for
the past 15 years and I have never seen anything like this before.
I've seen four boys get their Eagles, brothers getting Eagle,
sisters getting Gold, but never a brother and sister receiving Eagle
and
|
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Sean and Ritamarie Holden
receive top honors from the
Boy and Girl Scouts.
|
|
Gold at
the same time. History is being made here, today, and
I'm proud to be a part of it."
Delegate Sue Kullen (D-Calvert), herself a former Girl Scout,
stated that the twins' achievements should make their community
proud, as well as their parents.
Kullen
wore her own Girl Scout pin and presented both Sean and Ritamarie
citations from the Maryland General Assembly. Kelley presented both
of them proclamations from the Calvert County Board of County
Commissioners and presented each scout a Calvert County flag.
Both
scouts were required to complete a service project in the community
on their road to achieving their top awards. Sean's project was
performed at St. Nicholas Lutheran Church on Plum Point Road in
Huntingtown. Sean carved out a 1,320-foot meditation trail, covered
by wood chips, through the woods adjacent to the church. He also
weatherized an existing pavilion and picnic tables adjacent to the
trail used for summer bible school and other church activities.
Ritamarie's service project was conducted at the Calvert Nursing
Center in Prince Frederick, which involved teaching its residents
how to play the Wii gaming system as a means to improve physical,
mental and psychosocial well-being for each resident. The primary
method of instruction was "one on one" training and direct
supervision so that residents would be able to use the device on
their own once Ritamarie had finished teaching.
Sean
and Ritamarie are seniors at Huntingtown High School and are the son
and daughter of Scott and Geeta Holden of Huntingtown. Both Sean and
Ritamarie will be attending Catholic University in the fall.
June 5, 2009 ―
Reporters Notebook: Alan Brody: Gazette.net
Marriage over moolah
In
Calvert County, Sue Kullen's birthday has been cause for celebration
… but not this year.
Ever
since being appointed in 2004, Kullen has held a fundraiser to
coincide with her May 18 birthday. This year, however, the big day
came and went without a word.
Kullen
had chosen her hubby over hobnobbing. The Kullens celebrated their
25th wedding anniversary May 12 with an out-of-town trip, and there
was no time to squeeze in the birthday bash, Kullen reported this
week in an e-mail to supporters.
"Steve
is a wonderful guy and I needed to put him first for a change!" she
wrote. "He helps me more than anyone will know."
Kullen
plans to make up for it with some kind of fall festivity.
April 26, 2009 ―
Christy Goodman, Washington Post
Staff Writer (The Washington Post)
A special license
allowing all wineries in Maryland to serve food, offer wine samples
without a fee and hold special events was rejected by the 2009
General Assembly. But lawmakers did allow Calvert County wineries to
begin having stands at some farmers markets and special events.
Regulations
governing state wineries vary from county to county. There are
different rules, for example, about being open on Sundays or serving
a full bottle vs. a sample of wine.
The Class W series
of bills considered by the legislature would have created a set of
statewide rules, ideally eliminating some of the confusion about
regulations, state wine industry officials said.
"It is hard for a
small business to create a business model under the current law. Too
many things are left up to interpretation," Kevin Atticks, executive
director of the Maryland Wineries Association, said during a visit
Thursday to Friday's Creek Winery in Owings with state Comptroller
Peter Franchot and others.
Billy Peacock,
winemaker at Prince Frederick's Running Hare Vineyards, said
confusion about regulations has held back his winery.
"A lot of the rules
we have now are really restrictive," he said. "The Class W would
have opened it up to actually make a living."
Franchot and others
said vineyard owners, tourism officials and others should push for a
bill in next year's session that would change some of the "medieval"
approaches to the alcohol industry in Maryland. Franchot, whose
office oversees the state's alcohol industry, said wineries and
vineyards create jobs and boost tourism. The wine industry "could
grow exponentially if we let it," Franchot said.
Regulations
governing the alcohol industry focus on manufacturers, retailers and
wholesalers but not wineries. Among other things, not being able to
ship wines within Maryland creates problems for wineries, said Frank
Cleary Jr., an owner of Friday's Creek.
The 2009 General
Assembly did, however, pass legislation permitting beer, wine and
spirits tastings at some farmers markets and special events in
Southern Maryland.
"The purpose of the
bill to sell at farmers markets is to give a local business a shot
at making it. The more opportunity to make sales, the better,"
Delegate Sue P. Kullen (D-Calvert) said.
April 8, 2009 ―
Alan Brody: Gazette.net /
Southern Maryland News (The Recorder)
ANNAPOLIS –
Delegate Sue Kullen was elected last week by her female colleagues
to be the next president of the Women Legislators of Maryland, the
oldest such caucus in the nation.
The
59-member group meets regularly during the 90-day General Assembly
session to set legislative priorities, take positions on bills
impacting women and to promote a variety of issues, including child
care, women's health and domestic violence.
Kullen
(D-Calvert), whose term will begin sometime after the end of the
legislative session April 13, called the elevation to president an
honor given the caucus' significance in the quest for bringing
women's issues to the fore at the State House. "It's nice to assume
a leadership position with such a historic organization." She
currently serves as president-elect.
Founded
in 1972, the Women Legislators of Maryland came into existence as
women were beginning to make political gains nationally but still
facing roadblocks in male-dominated state capitals. Over the years,
the caucus has grown in numbers and successfully advocated for
legislation to reduce poverty, expand access to affordable health
care, strengthen domestic violence laws and pursue equal rights for
women.
In the
coming year, Kullen said the caucus will look to crack down on the
practice of marriage brokerage, which arranges marriage contracts.
Critics said the businesses can be a facade
for prostitution rings.
Currently, 31 percent of Maryland state lawmakers are women, which
ranks ninth in the country.
Outgoing caucus president Del. Karen S. Montgomery (D-Montgomery)
said Kullen is more than deserving of the leadership role because of
her advocacy for women's issues and the disabilities community
during her more than four years as a delegate.
"Her
really dedicated hard work and willingness to work with others and
compromise in many areas brought her to the top of the list," she
said.
Chesapeake Beach event
attracts politicos, Dora and kids
April 8, 2009 ―
Laura Buck, Staff Writer (The Recorder)
It was a sunny day both outside and indoors at the Beach Family Fun
Fest held last Saturday at Beach Elementary School in Chesapeake
Beach.
The
event was one of two activities held for the fifth year in a row as
part of the United Way of Calvert County's Success By 6 program,
which, according Jennifer Stailey, director of initiatives for the
organization, "focuses on school readiness and shows parents tips
and activities that they can do to get kids ready for school."
|
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Dora, the Explorer and
Delegate Sue Kullen
participate in the Beach
Family Fun Fest at Beach
Elementary School
|
|
She
said the event, targeted primarily at children ages
birth to 5, was also an opportunity for parents to
receive pre-kindergarten registration information for
the Calvert County school system and that she was
thrilled by the turnout of both families and sponsor
organizations.
"This
is the largest participating number of organizations and agencies
we've ever had," Stailey said of sponsors that included large
businesses, such as Target and Safeway, and local establishments,
such as Educate & Celebrate and Calvert Memorial Hospital, both of
which are in Prince Frederick.
The
Calvert Crusade for Children exhibited at the event and the
organization's vice president Guffrie Smith said that events like
the fun fest are vital to the crusade's mission.
"Kids,
by the time they're 5 years old, they've developed 80 percent of
what they're going to be in life … [developing these assets] creates
the foundation for everything that is to come," said Smith, a
retired Calvert County principal who was recently appointed to the
Maryland State Board of Education.
Del.
Sue Kullen (D-Calvert) also joined Dora the Explorer and magician
Wild Willy Woo Woo, at the fun fest, to which she said she is not a
stranger.
"I've
been to this event several times as a guest reader and it's always
fun. I love being with the kids and sharing the joy of reading,"
said Kullen before telling the story of "Olivia" by Ian Falconer.
Chesapeake Beach resident Michelle Banaszak attended the event with
her husband and 5-year-old twin daughters, Claire and Elsa, who said
they enjoyed the games and the food respectively.
"They
will be in kindergarten in the fall and I thought it would be good,
fun activity," said Banaszak, who added that she is currently
deciding whether her daughters will attend Beach Elementary or
Cardinal Hickey Academy in Owings next fall.
Windy
Hill Elementary School student Laura Phelps, 9, was also at the fun
fest, to which she said she had been in the past. She said her
favorite part was "probably seeing the mad scientist. We actually
got to make a bouncy ball that bounces really high."
Jahanah
Jones, 6, made rounds at the event with her cousin Janae Sullivan,
11, and the Windy Hill Elementary student said that a highlight for
her was "making a pirate hat and taking pictures with Dora."
Janae,
who attends Plum Point Middle School, said she enjoyed making a
bracelet out of pipe cleaners.
Rachel
Zartler of Chesapeake Beach used the opportunity to open savings
accounts for her two elementary school aged sons and said she was
impressed by the number of organizations that were involved in the
function.
"All of
these local establishments are helping the community but the kids
are giving back as they grow up," she said.
The
second fun fest will be April 25 at Patuxent Elementary School in
Lusby.
Report Gives Recommendations, Outlines
Costs - Friday March 6 evening news.
|
 |
Delegate Sue Kullen is
interviewed for WBAL11-TV
News: Click on the image
to go to the news broadcast
of March 6, 2009.
|
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ANNAPOLIS, Md.
-- A State
House task force report obtained by WBAL TV 11 News on the Maryland
State Police Medevac unit supports state police maintaining control of
the program.
The draft also
recommends the state adopt national safety standards. Emergency
Management Service workers and firefighters from across the state
recently rallied outside the State House in support of continued state
police control.
"Well, we would rather
things stay the way they are. Like I said, if it ain't broke, there's no
need to fix it," said Lou Jonske of the Joppa Magnolia Volunteer Fire
Department.
The draft comes from a
procurement workgroup that is a subcommittee of a 14-member task force
appointed by House Speaker Michael Busch to assess the Medevac system
and make recommendations.
The draft endorses
hiring co-pilots, but the report doesn't cite that cost. Some told 11
News they believe a co-pilot may have prevented last September's fatal
Medevac crash that killed four of the five people on board.
"It's a reasonable way
of upgrading the system, making us even better," said task force member
Delegate Sue Kullen, D-Prince George's and Calvert counties.
The draft supports
replacing the state's aging fleet with three new aircraft next year,
even though the governor's budget only has money for two. The new ones
would have more safety features.
"Terrain awareness
equipment, night vision -- we are going to support all of those things
in the RFP," said task force subcommittee Chairman Delegate Guy Guzzone,
D-Howard County.
The draft recommends
the state get Part 135 and Commission of Accreditation of Medical
Transport Services certification. The report estimated that Part 135 --
putting the unit under tighter Federal Aviation Administration scrutiny
like private aircraft -- would initially cost $415,000, but ongoing
costs would exceed $600,000.
CAMTS certification
requires two paramedics per flight. The draft estimated that cost at
$2.3 million a year.
Commercial Medevac
services are lobbying legislators to consider a public-private
partnership in which private companies would lease aircraft and pilots
to the state, saving taxpayers millions of dollars and allowing police
to focus on law enforcement, homeland security and rescue missions.
But the draft report
cautioned against that, predicting fewer flights in more rural areas,
which may not be commercially profitable.
Sen. E.J. Pipkin,
R-Eastern Shore, is spearheading a bill to overhaul the Medevac system.
He said the issue is not about privatization.
The task force meets
Monday (3/9) to finalize its recommendations. A bill to completely
overall the Medevac system will be heard Wednesday.
See the Friday, March 6th television report:
David
Collins Reports
March 6, 2009 ―
Alan Brody: Gazette.net /
Southern Maryland News (The Recorder)
The economy
may be in the dumps, but business has been swift at the
shoeshine stand in the State House since it reopened
last year.
|
 |
Sue Kullen and Sally Jameson
relax while getting their
shoes shined by Joseph Shaw
at the always-happening
shoeshine booth at the State
House in Annapolis.
|
|
Politicians,
lobbyists, legislative staffers and others often
frequent the kiosk operated by Joseph Shaw and Dino
Wright.
Sue Kullen
and Sally Jameson took a turn having their pumps
polished following Tuesday's session. It's rare that two
women are together on the stand; Shaw said he's only had
it happen one other time.
"The women
are taking over," Kullen told several male lawmakers who
stopped by to chat.
Fellow pols
took note of the high-heeled duo.
"This is an
equal-opportunity stand," Mike Vaughn said.
"Does he
give you half price since it's such a small shoe?" Jim
Proctor asked Jameson, who wears a size 7.
February 27, 2009 ―
Carol Harvat, Staff Writer: Southern Maryland News Online
Everyone deserves the
right to cancer treatment after being diagnosed
regardless of their socioeconomic status.
That's the stance that
several Maryland legislators and advocates have taken
and on Wednesday they convened in Annapolis to solicit
support for a cancer treatment bill.
HB 181 and SB 487, titled
the Maryland Cancer Treatment Program, would provide
cancer treatment to qualifying uninsured Marylanders
under the federal poverty level during the first year
after being diagnosed. The program will reimburse
providers at the rates established for the Maryland
Medical Assistance Program.
As a three-time cancer
survivor, Elaine Koogler said she knows the costs of
cancer treatment and believes everyone should have the
right to it. Koogler, of Prince Frederick, said she had
to rely on the federal program, COBRA Insurance, which
was signed into law in 1986, and ensured continuing
health coverage at group rates after she was laid off
five years ago. A third of her unemployment check went
to cover her health insurance through COBRA, she said.
"I have to have insurance.
If I let it lapse it might be problematic," she said,
adding insurance providers normally do not cover
pre-existing conditions. And, by law, a diagnosis of
cancer can be considered a pre-existing condition up to
10 years, she said. Koogler, an avid cancer treatment
advocate for years, testified before the Maryland Senate
Finance Committee on Wednesday.
"They were very, very
receptive," she said. Those testifying gave moving
stories, Koogler said.
Some critics say the bill
and supporters are paving the way to socialized
medicine.
"No, we're not," she said.
The bill supports access to cancer care for those who
cannot afford it and do not have insurance, she said.
"America is one of the
wealthiest nations … Yet, we rank way down in health
care," Koogler said. Calvert County is one of the
wealthiest counties, but some people diagnosed with
cancer here do not have access to cancer treatment, she
said. If people are able to receive treatment early it
will actually save money for the health care system and
all who pay health insurance, she said. It's the
advanced stages of cancer treatment that are the
costliest, she added.
Del. Shirley
Nathan-Pulliam (D-Baltimore County), a nurse for nearly
50 years, originated the bill in the House. The bill, in
its third year, remains in committee as of Thursday
morning.
"I don't have cancer and
no family members do," Nathan-Pulliam said. But, "to not
have insurance with cancer is a death sentence,
literally."
"With both bills, [Senate
and House] she has been there testifying. Those are her
babies," Koogler said of Nathan-Pulliam.
A second cancer
treatment-related bill allowing mastectomy patients to
stay in the hospital up to 48 hours after surgery passed
through the second reader on the floor on Wednesday and
it will come up one more time before the final vote,
said Nathan-Pulliam's aid on Thursday morning.
The
bill gives the decision to doctors, not an insurance
company, Del. Sue Kullen (D-Calvert) said.
>> Because of limited
space, this article has been shortened. To read the complete story,
please visit
Southern
Maryland Online.
February 27, 2009 ―
Carol Harvat, Staff Writer: Southern Maryland News Online
Large utility bills have
enraged many Twin Beach residents recently and
Chesapeake Beach Mayor Bruce Wahl addressed the issue at
the town's council meeting last Thursday, Feb. 19.
In the mayor's report,
Wahl recapped the Feb. 14 meeting that "turned unruly"
and drew an estimated 250 citizens to hear what
Baltimore, Gas & Electric had to say about high energy
bills. The previous Thursday, BGE notified the town and
agreed to set aside four days to bring 12
representatives to the Beaches to talk with individuals
by appointment about their bills, Wahl said. They will
have laptops and review each bill with the customer, he
said.
"It's a good faith effort
on their part, we'll see what comes next," Wahl said.
When Delegae Sue
Kullen (D- Calvert) heard about BGE's proposal she
said, "I'm pleased they're making an effort and need
to."
Representatives will call
and schedule meetings with those who requested reviews
of their bills at the Valentine's Day meeting and Town
Clerk Michelle Jenkins said if other residents would
like to set up appointment times they should contact her
and she will help connect them with a BGE
representative.
February 27, 2009 ―
Douglas Tallman & Alan Brody, Staff Writers: Southern Maryland News
Online
ANNAPOLIS —
A bill that would force minors to get their parents'
permission for a tattoo or body piercings has survived a
Republican attempt to tack on a controversial provision.
The chamber
debated 40 minutes last week whether to allow a vote on the amendment,
which would have required parental consent for an abortion, a political
lightning rod for Democrats in moderate and conservative districts. In
the end, it was deemed a violation of a House rule that states
amendments cannot change the purpose of the original bill, which
requires parents to provide written consent in front of someone who
would tattoo, brand or pierce a minor. That judgment was upheld by a
near-party-line vote of 101-39.
"If they
want to vote on that kind of issue, they should submit a bill and go
through the committee process," said House Parliamentarian Kathleen M.
Dumais (D-Montgomery)
But
Republicans initially disputed the ruling that prevented Democrats from
having to cast a vote on abortion, one of the most politically thorny
issues debated in the General Assembly. "Why don't they just take the
vote on the merits and let people vote their consciences?" House
Minority Leader Anthony J. O'Donnell (R-Calvert, St. Mary's) said last
Thursday.
Republicans
anticipated a fight over the amendment, seeking a ruling from Assistant
Attorney General Kathryn M. Rowe that the amendment did not violate a
provision in the Maryland Constitution that legislation must be limited
to a single subject.
But Dumais
said her ruling was more about preserving the legislature's committee
structure, which requires bills and amendments to be vetted by lawmakers
with specialized knowledge of a topic before being presented to the full
chamber. "When you think about it, very few amendments get put on a bill
on the floor," she said.
House
parliamentarian Dumais said she had only ruled amendments out of order
three or four times. The GOP withdrew any remaining opposition on Friday
and the full House voted 136-0 on Tuesday in favor of the bill.
That
pleases Delegate Sue Kullen (D-Calvert), the bill's sponsor, who
worked with Republican Calvert County State's Attorney Laura L.
Martin to draft the proposal that aims to curtail so-called "tattoo
parties" that have grown in popularity.
Violators
could face a misdemeanor charge and a $300 fine for the first offense,
$1,000 for the second offense if it occurs within two years of the
initial violation, and $3,000 for any subsequent breach.
"A tattoo
artist will think twice before not doing due diligence in getting
parental consent," Kullen said. "Any law-abiding tattoo artist should
not have a problem with this bill."
Kullen Pushes BGE to Help Customers
February 20, 2009 ―
Washington Post: Southern Maryland Notebook
Delegate Sue Kullen
(D-Calvert) has sent a letter to Baltimore Gas & Electric and the
Maryland Public Service Commission to complain about a spike in
customers' bills this winter. The commission is holding hearings this
week to address customers' complaints.
|
 |
|
Del. Sue
Kullen is pressing BGE and the Public Service Commission to
respond to complaints of high bills. |
The letter follows a contentious town
hall-style meeting held Feb. 14 for the utility's customers and
company officials.
"I hope that you walked away with the
distinctive knowledge that much more needs to be done with customer
service in Calvert County," she said in the letter, dated Feb. 16. "Much
more has to be done to restore the public confidence in BGE."
More than 100 Chesapeake Beach and North
Beach residents requested investigations after the meeting, and Kullen
said she expects customers to be able to speak to someone in person or
on the phone.
Kullen asked for specifics about meter
readings, such as how many have been recorded this winter and how they
are calculated. She suggested that a software problem might have led
customers to receive bills that jumped by half or doubled.
"I am quite frankly tired of the issues
and will again make a plea that BGE recognize or the Public Service
Commission recommend that these 8,000 customers are better served
through another electric provider. As one person so eloquently said on
Saturday, we are tired of being treated like the 'red-headed stepchild'
of BGE," Kullen said in the letter.
BGE representatives
should have reviewed and checked all of the meters in Chesapeake Beach
and North Beach by the end of the week, said Bonnie L. Johansen,
a BGE government relations representative. Those customers, who should
have received a call before their meters were checked, will receive a
call next week to review any findings, Johansen said.
Customers Vent Anger Over Spike in
BGE Bills
Utility Says Cold Weather, Heat Pumps Drove Costs
February 19, 2009 ―
Christy Goodman, Washington Post Staff Writer
One
woman said she has been choosing between paying her
electric bill and paying rent. Another had tears in her
eyes as she said she could not afford to pay her power
bill by next Thursday, when Baltimore Gas & Electric
said it would cut off service. Several other people were
just plain furious.
More than 250 people packed the
Chesapeake Beach Town Hall on Saturday morning to complain to BGE
representatives about electric bills that in some cases have tripled
this winter.
"I know it has been a tough winter so
far," said Robert Oberle, a BGE customer relations representative.
He said that cold weather and overworked heat pumps were primarily
driving up homeowners' bills.
Oberle said that temperatures were 9
percent lower between November and January, compared with the same
period a year ago. He said that in colder weather, heat pumps in
homes use an auxiliary heater in the system, pulling twice as much
electricity as the pumps normally would. Heating a home represents
about 45 percent of a bill, he said.
But the audience angrily cut him off
with boos, catcalls and personal stories. BGE employees were unable
to finish their presentation.
"The customer service spiel is
infuriating. It is insulting. These people are angry. These people
are upset because this is criminal," said Roger Otchere, 42, of
Breezy Point, who said he is facing a $2,200 electric bill for one
month.
One man in the crowd said that his
home normally uses 700 to 1,100 kilowatt hours a month. When he
turned his heat off, he said, the usage shot to 4,200 to 4,700.
John Ortenzo said his bill went from
$317 to $384 after he took down his Christmas lights and cut down on
other electricity use at his Chesapeake Beach home.
The thermostat in Mary Miller's empty
North Beach cottage is set at 55 degrees, but the bill for one month
was $567, she said. The bill for her 6,200-square-foot home in
Rockville, powered by Pepco, is less than half that for the cottage,
she said.
Overall, BGE has tested about 2,000
meters this winter, said Mark Case, a senior vice president for the
company's regulatory affairs, in an interview. Of those, few were
found to have recording problems, he said.
"Our sampling of customers has shown
the usage can double when [outside temperatures are] under 30
degrees," Case said. Older heating systems are not as efficient as
newer ones, and all systems should be regularly checked by qualified
technicians, he said.
"The homeowner has a responsibility to
keep their systems in good working condition," Case said.
Many at the meeting said that the
rates were unfair. But Case said data submitted by area electric
companies to Maryland's Public Service Commission show that BGE
rates are consistent.
According to that data, the average
bill for 1,000 kilowatt hours used by a BGE customer between
November and January was $154.55. A Pepco customer's average bill
for that period was $149.17, and a Southern Maryland Electric
Cooperative bill was $215.74.
The Public Service Commission has
scheduled a hearing for Feb. 26 to investigate complaints filed by
customers of the utilities.
State Delegate Sue Kullen
(D-Calvert) said that she would file a letter requesting further
investigations of BGE's customer relations and billing systems.
Several residents said they called the
phone number on their bill seeking an investigation, only to get a
form a letter that, said Daren Dinkfeld of Chesapeake Beach,
essentially said: "The meter was right. We were right. You were
wrong. Pay your bill." He said that customers are at a disadvantage
in fighting the company.
More than 100 residents filled out
cards Saturday requesting investigations in which they would be able
to speak with a representative from the Baltimore-based utility. BGE
officials promised to look into each complaint.
BGE said it has special payment
programs and offers price markdowns on several energy-efficient
appliances. Officials also said the company is working on a campaign
to educate residents about saving energy and is expanding services
to help customers manage usage.
BGE provides service for about 8,000
customers in the northeastern part of Calvert County. About 142,000
customers in the three southern Maryland counties and Prince
George's County are served by the Southern Maryland Electric
Cooperative.
Along with Kullen, state Senate
President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert) also attended the
meeting and promised to make sure BGE investigates each complaint.
"I have the
ability to get the BGE bigwigs in Annapolis," Miller said.
LA PLATA, Md. (Feb. 19, 2009) -- As Maryland lawmakers
grapple with tough economic times, more than three dozen
students from the College of Southern Maryland advocated
for community colleges directly with their legislators
during the annual Student Advocacy Day, Feb. 11, in
Annapolis. The day produced a record turnout of
community college students from across the state as more
than 300 students talked with legislators on the status
of state funding.
CSM’s contingency of 38 students representing
campuses in Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties met
with members of the Southern Maryland delegation to
personalize the impact of community colleges, and to ask
for their support to increase funding to community
colleges.
 |
|
Delegates Sue
Kullen (Calvert County - front center) and Murray D. Levy
(Charles County - back center) met with College of Southern
Maryland students attending Student Advocacy Day Feb. 11 in
Annapolis. From left, front row, Lauren DeHanus, Jacqui
Houchins, Brooke Martin; second row, Kristi Tewell, Kullen,
Camila Figuerao; third row, Chay Hebron, Cliffton Thomas,
Megan Perillo, Maritza Casarrubias, Jamie Adams, Chelsey
Dusang; back row, Diane Payne, Jennifer Haines, CSM
Athletics Coordinator Tim Murphy, Levy, CSM Director of
Student Life and Athletics Michelle Ruble, Richy Washington
and Shane Douglas. (Submitted photo)
|
Suzanne Davis
of Lexington Park attends classes at CSM’s Leonardtown Campus and is
a member of CSM’s chapter of the National Society of Leadership and
Success, Sigma Alpha Pi. She wanted to participate in showing
support for the college that helped her regain her confidence and
sense of purpose after several desperate years.
“At 37 I had a heart attack. I worked menial jobs but couldn’t pay
the bills. I had no job, no car and I filed for bankruptcy,” she
told State Sen. and Senate Finance Committee Chair Thomas “Mac”
Middleton of Charles County.
The Maryland Department of Rehabilitative Services (DORS) pointed
Davis to CSM where, she said, she met now Director of Student
Services Regina Bowman-Goldring who helped her get started. Davis
enrolled in 2006, made the dean’s list her first semester and will
graduate this June. Davis has applied to St. Mary’s College of
Maryland among other four-year schools.
“Without the generosity and support of CSM I could not have regained
my confidence,” Davis told Middleton.
During the morning kick-off to Student Advocacy Day Middleton told
students from around the state “community colleges were slighted
this year,” but that the governor did the best he could in these
tough economic times. It was a message that was repeated throughout
the day.
Lt. Governor Anthony Brown told students, faculty and community
college presidents that it was “critical for the Federal Stimulus
Package to pass, to get dollars to states,” adding that Governor
Martin O’Malley wants to restore community college funding.
>> Because of limited
space, this article has been shortened. To read the complete story,
please visit
Southern
Maryland Online.
Kullen demands action from BGE
February 18, 2009 ― Alan Brody, Staff
Writer: The Recorder - www.somdnews.com
ANNAPOLIS – The lackluster response from Baltimore Gas &
Electric to frequent customer complaints in North Beach
and Chesapeake Beach has riled state lawmakers,
particularly after a Saturday morning meeting did little
to quell the frustration.
More
than 100 people jammed Chesapeake Beach Town Hall for a presentation by
BGE officials in response to complaints of soaring utility bills, poor
customer service and frequent outages. The company has about 8,000
customers in Calvert County.
And
although it was Valentine's Day, there was little love in the air.
"I was
very disappointed in BGE's response to the meeting," Delegate Sue
Kullen (D-Calvert) said on Tuesday. "They didn't correctly
anticipate the anger in the community. I think their poor response
speaks to the tone deafness of the customer service in Calvert County."
Senate
President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., a Chesapeake Beach resident who
also attended the meeting, said subsequent conversations with BGE
representatives have yielded some positive news.
The
company pledged to send 12 personnel to the communities to meet
individually with ratepayers who have lodged complaints, discuss
programs that are available for low-income households, and explain to
customers how to read their meters so they can monitor their electricity
usage, said Miller (D-Calvert, Prince George's).
"They're going to identify any and all problems that exist and attempt
to remedy them," he said on Tuesday.
Kullen, however, is at her breaking point and sent a sharply-worded
letter to BGE on Monday alleging that the company was not prepared for
the dissatisfaction of residents at the meeting and has handled the
customer response poorly.
"Considering the volume of complaints received, I think BGE should have
sent their A-Team," Kullen wrote in her letter to Bonnie L. Johansen, a
government relations liaison for Constellation Energy Group, BGE's
parent company. She noted that Chesapeake Beach Mayor Bruce A. Wahl had
to repeatedly play peacemaker and calm the angry crowd.
Calls
to BGE's communications office were not returned by press time Tuesday.
North
Beach Town Council Member Lyn Striegel said last month that her December
utility bill was $200 higher than normal, even though she was out of
town for two weeks of the month. A number of local residents reported
bills 50 percent greater than usual or more. Slightly colder
temperatures in December might account for higher bills, BGE spokeswoman
Linda Foy said last month.
"There
are a lot of variables as to why a bill will go up or down," she said,
listing thermostats, insulation of windows, faulty furnaces and water
heaters as potential factors.
Kullen's letter also listed several major issues that BGE needs to
address, including individual meetings in a timely manner with all
persons who requested investigations into high utility bills. She said
there needs to be more direct customer service with ratepayers, rather
than recorded messages and form letters, and a full description of
cost-savings programs that customers can take advantage of.
Many
of the complaints Kullen has received point to a 50 percent or 100
percent increase in kilowatt usage, which she said suggests a software
glitch.
The
state Public Service Commission is scheduled to hear testimony on the
high volume of complaints on Feb. 26.
"Much
more has to be done to restore the public confidence in BGE," Kullen
wrote. "I am quite frankly tired of the issues and will again make a
plea that BGE recognize or the Public Service Commission recommend that
these 8,000 customers are better served through another electric
provider. As one person so eloquently said on Saturday, we are tired of
being treated like the ‘red-headed stepchild' of BGE."
Tattoo bill passes committee
February 18, 2009 ―
Capital Watch : Alan Brody, Staff
Writer: The Recorder - www.somdnews.com
A bill
requiring parental consent for a minor to get a tattoo
or body piercing has cleared a major hurdle by passing
the House Judiciary Committee, a notoriously tough panel
whose support is not easily won.
Previous efforts to require parental consent, dating to the late 1990s,
have failed.
If the
bill passes, a parent or legal guardian would have to provide written
consent in the presence of a tattoo artist or the individual performing
the body piercing.
Ear
piercing would be exempt.
Violators could face a misdemeanor charge and a $300 fine for the first
offense, $1,000 for the second offense if it occurs within two years of
the initial violation, and $3,000 for any subsequent breach.
"We
have some very upset parents when kids come home with tattoos when some
friend gave permission and not the parent," said Del. Sue Kullen
(D-Calvert), who worked with Calvert County State's Attorney Laura
Martin on the legislation.
The
committee amended the legislation to make it a civil offense, rather
than a criminal offense, which caused the Maryland Coalition of
Professional Tattooists & Body Piercers to drop its opposition.
"We
just didn't think it should be criminalized," said lobbyist Bruce
Bereano, who represents the group in Annapolis. "We think it should be a
civil matter."
The
National Conference of State Legislatures reports that 38 states have
similar statutes in law.
All of
them prohibit body piercing of minors without parental or guardian
consent, while 28 forbid tattooing of minors. The other 10 states outlaw
tattooing of minors, regardless of parental consent.
Currently, the state health department can only send an inspector to
ensure that health regulations are followed at a business when a
complaint is filed, but no criminal action can be taken. Tattoo artists
and body piercers need not be licensed in Maryland.
Health underwriting bill to defuse
‘ticking time bombs,’ Maryland insurance commissioner says
February 18, 2009 ―
Keith L. Martin: IFAwebnews.com
A proposed bill by Maryland legislators
would require health insurers to resolve all open issues on a policy
application during underwriting, to be able to later rescind that
policy.
House Bill 235, sponsored by five state
delegates, would clarify a position by the Maryland Insurance
Administration that if application issues are not resolved prior to
issuing the policy, then that cannot be held against the consumer,
according to a statement from the MIA.
“A person failing to answer a question …is dramatically different than a
situation where a person answers no and the answer is yes,” Insurance
Commissioner Ralph S. Tyler told
IFAwebnews.com. “If you have misrepresented, the insurer should be
able to rescind the policy, but this puts the burden on the carrier to
do their due diligence at underwriting and not let unresolved issues be
ticking time bombs in the future.”
Tyler added that the MIA feels the bill reflects “a fair consumer
protection method,” requiring the insurer to do its due diligence at the
underwriting stage.
The bill is sponsored by Del. Shawn Tarrant (D-Baltimore City), Del.
Eric Bromwell (D-Baltimore Co.), Delegate Sue Kullen (D-Calvert),
Del. Veronica Turner (D-Prince George’s), and Del. Rick Weldon
(I-Frederick and Washington).
When the bill was unveiled in January, Tarrant told Capital News Service
that putting the burden of evidence on insurers for proving the
existence of disqualifying conditions protects consumers from loopholes
in their policies.
“This way, we can make sure that people who have coverage keep their
coverage,” Tarrant said.
Help project ECHO help others
February 13, 2009 ―
Letter to the Editor by Delegate Sue Kullen (27A) - www.somdnews.com
I want
to encourage all people in Calvert County to respond to
the plea made by Project ECHO last week. Please help in
anyway you can. These times are tough and a lot more
families are relying on the homeless shelter and their
transitional housing program for help.
Project ECHO is feeling the pressure of meeting the tremendous need in
these extraordinary times. Who among us could turn down a family in
need?
Project ECHO does the everyday work of supporting our families in need.
They come face-to-face with the people who need this temporary help.
Won't you please help them to do their jobs?
I am
always so proud to represent Calvert County in the Maryland State House
and I am very uplifted by the "take care of our own" spirit that is
alive and well in Calvert County.
Even
though times are hard please do what you can to help our shelter. As
you appreciate your warm home and sustaining meals please do not forget
our brothers and sisters in need.
Please
contact Project ECHO at 410-257-0003 or
projectecho@comcast.net to
see how you can help.
Del.
Sue Kullen (D), Prince Frederick
Publisher note: The writer is a member
of the Maryland General Assembly, representing Calvert County.
Two more years for pull-tabs?
Gambling might have new life in Chesapeake Beach
Alan Brody, Staff
Writer: The Recorder - www.somdnews.com
Gambling might have new life in Chesapeake Beach.
Two
lawmakers have introduced legislation that would allow certain
establishments in Anne Arundel and Calvert counties to continue
operating so-called "instant bingo" machines past the July 1, 2009,
deadline that the General Assembly put in place last year.
As
currently drafted, the two-year extension would impact only Rod ‘N' Reel
Restaurant and Traders Seafood Steak and Ale, which are the only
businesses in Chesapeake Beach that can still legally operate the
gambling machines. The extension would also apply to three bingo parlors
in Anne Arundel County.
Legislators banned the terminals last year under saying they could
siphon money from legalized slot machines that voters approved in last
November's referendum. But since slots won't come online until at least
2011, bill supporters said the instant bingo machines won't pose a
threat to state revenues and they generate much-needed local revenue in
the meantime.
"Two
years will give us an idea of what the slots competition is like in Anne
Arundel and then at that time, we'll be able to make the policy argument
of the continued exemption of Anne Arundel and Calvert," said Calvert
County Delegation Chairwoman Del. Sue Kullen (D), who is sponsoring the
bill with Anne Arundel County delegation Chairwoman Del. Mary Ann Love
(D).
Rumors are circulating about an effort to amend the bill to include
several other Chesapeake Beach establishments: Abner's Crab House, the
American Legion and Crooked I Sports Bar and Grill, none of which had
the bingo machines long enough to avoid the state ban.
Last
year's ban was fueled in part by a wave of electronic bingo terminals
that popped up in bars and taverns in St. Mary's County. Nonprofit
groups leased the machines and received a portion of the proceeds, but
lawmakers were concerned that there was no state regulation of gaming
revenues.
"Legitimate businesses in Anne Arundel and Calvert [counties] just got
caught up in the illegal businesses last year and it's just
unfortunate," Kullen said.
Little county dressed in big britches
January 30, 2009
― Alan Brody,
Staff Writer: The Recorder - www.somdnews.com
ANNAPOLIS — The general theory in the state capital is
that larger counties curry the most influence.
But
Calvert County, one of the smallest jurisdictions in the state, is the
exception that disproves the rule.
Only
Baltimore City has a smaller land mass than Calvert's 215 square miles,
but all six lawmakers who represent the county hold positions of
authority, a rare distinction for a single delegation.
It
all starts with Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., who has
served in the legislature since 1971 and is in his 23rd year at the helm
of the chamber.
"It's the age of Aquarius," quipped Miller (D-Calvert, Prince George's),
who did not represent Calvert until after the 1992 redistricting.
But
Miller is just one piece of the puzzle; Calvert is well represented
throughout the leadership ranks.
Sen.
Roy P. Dyson, whose district includes the southern half of the county,
is in his third year as vice chairman of the Education Health and
Environmental Affairs Committee. Dels. Joseph F. Vallario Jr. and James
E. Proctor Jr., whose district includes the northern tip of Calvert,
each have plum posts. Vallario has chaired the House Judiciary Committee
since 1993 and Proctor is in his third year as vice chairman on the
powerful House Appropriations Committee.
House Minority Leader Anthony J. O'Donnell anchors the 36-member
Republican caucus and Delegate Sue Kullen serves as one of two
chief deputy majority whips.
Collectively, they comprise a potent team that can look out for the
county's interests and flex their muscles to deliver the goods, be it
for local aid, Chesapeake Bay programs or agriculture preservation.
Miller has exerted his influence from the rostrum in previous years by
preserving $6 million in electric deregulation money for Calvert and by
bringing local legislation to a vote in the waning minutes of the 90-day
session.
"For
years, it was almost like Louis Goldstein carrying it alone and over
time people have come together and helped fill the void," Miller said of
the longtime state comptroller who was the county's chief advocate in
Annapolis for more than five decades until his death in 1998.
(The article was shortened for
space – if you’d like to see the entire article,
visit
Southern Maryland News online).
Bill requires teens to obtain
parental consent to get tattoo
January 29, 2009
― Jason Flanagan, Staff Writer:
The Baltimore Examiner
Tattoo parlors could face stiff fines under a proposal
that punishes those who tattoo or pierce minors without
a parent's permission.
The law requires
parental consent, usually through a signed form, for a minor to receive
a tattoo or body piercing.
But if someone
violates the law by not requiring or verifying the parental consent, all
that can be done is for the Maryland Department of Health and Mental
Hygiene to inspect the tattoo shop for health violations, said
Delegate Sue Kullen, D-Calvert.
"That's just not
good enough," Kullen said, after telling of cases in Calvert County
where minors forged their parents' signature to acquire large tattoos.
Under Kullen's
proposal, tattoo artists and those who perform body piercings without
parental consent would face a $300 fine for the first offense, $1,000
for the second offense and $3,000 for the third offense.
Del. Michael
Smigiel, R-Eastern Shore, said he was concerned about military service
members on leave in Maryland being subjected to the bill, as Smigiel
said he got a tattoo at the age of 17 as a newly enlisted Marine.
Similar
legislation in the 1990s failed.
Economy is shadow over Assembly
January 16, 2009
― Alan Brody,
Staff Writer: The Recorder - www.somdnews.com
ANNAPOLIS — State legislators got a taste of the dire
economy on the opening day of the General Assembly
session as Gov. Martin O'Malley announced plans to lay
off up to 1,000 state employees in the coming months.
The
news came several hours before the legislature convened on Wednesday and
cast an even darker cloud over what many expect will be a gloomy 90-day
session dominated by deliberations on how to fill a nearly $2 billion
shortfall for the fiscal year that begins July 1.
"We
know we've got to make the train run at the end of the session and keep
it running for another year," said Del. John L. Bohanan Jr. (D-St.
Mary's).
Concern
over the budget dampened the usually jubilant atmosphere that
accompanies the start of the session as state leaders acknowledged the
hard work that lies ahead.
The
governor's proposal to lay off between 500 and 1,000 state workers comes
on the heels of a plan announced last month to furlough 67,000 state
employees for up to five days by June 30.
And
that might not be the worst of it.
Lawmakers will consider hundreds of millions of dollars in cuts to
programs that are usually considered untouchable, but will be targeted
in the current budget morass. Education might be the only area that sees
an increase in government spending, O'Malley told reporters on Tuesday.
"All of
those cuts will be painful and there will be very few things that will
be spared from some spending reduction," he said. "Most other things, if
we can level fund some of these priorities, that's about the best we can
do in these difficult times."
In
separate remarks to the House and Senate on Wednesday, O'Malley
expressed optimism that Maryland will emerge from the recession faster
than other states and that constituents are counting on them to resolve
the fiscal crisis.
"It may
sound strange given the tough budget ahead of us, but I have never felt
more energized, more committed, more hopeful and more optimistic about
the future and about the importance of the job that we have to do," he
said.
Some
lawmakers echoed the positive outlook on a day consisting largely of
ceremonial business and hobnobbing at the numerous receptions around the
State House.
"These
are difficult times, but nothing that anyone hasn't overcome in the
past," said Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert,
Prince George's), who was elected to his 23rd year as head of the
chamber. "We're going to persevere."
Part of
that optimism hinges on the federal government providing aid to states
grappling with large deficits.
"Right
now, the whole country is counting on hope from Washington," said Sen.
Roy P. Dyson, who furnished a copy of a letter to Barack Obama's
transition team calling for federal assistance for military base
realignment programs. Maryland is anticipating tens of thousands of new
residents in the next few years as more than 45,000 jobs are added
largely at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Harford County and Fort George G.
Meade in Anne Arundel County.
But as
help from the incoming administration and Congress remains in question,
the mood among some lawmakers was less sanguine.
"We're
already in quicksand up to our eyeballs," said Del. John F. Wood Jr.,
who began his 23rd session in Annapolis. "You'll get something out of
the stimulus package, but you've got to stand on your own two feet. You
can't just wait for somebody to [provide a] hand out. I just think that
we have to be very prudent in what we do here."
He had
reason to be apprehensive about the drastic steps lawmakers could face
in the coming weeks. Sales tax revenues continued to sag in December and
lawmakers are expecting more grim news when the next revenue estimates
are released in March.
"It
used to be that we were taking in $1 and spending $1.25," said Wood
(D-St. Mary's, Charles). "Now we're taking in 75 cents and spending
$1.25."
That
means some difficult budget cuts will have to be made after Gov. Martin
O'Malley submits his fiscal 2010 budget early next week. Even cherished
programs like public safety, health care and the environment are on the
chopping block this year.
"It's
tough to make these kind of decisions, but there are no choices," said
Del. Sue Kullen (D-Calvert), adding that any proposal to increase taxes
is almost certainly dead on arrival.
Much of
the partisanship that has colored Annapolis in recent years was absent
on opening day, perhaps acknowledging the need for greater collaboration
during a time of fiscal turmoil.
As
O'Malley and other Democratic leaders said they would reach across the
aisle and seek opportunities to work with the heavily outnumbered GOP,
Republicans also struck a conciliatory tone.
"If
we're invited to the table, we're going to work with you," House
Minority Leader Anthony J. O'Donnell (R-Calvert, St. Mary's) told
O'Malley on Tuesday
County
leaders understand that they too will be called upon to share in some of
the budget-cutting burden, but wasted little time reminding legislators
that local economies are also being hit hard by the national recession.
One
much-talked about action would shift the cost of teacher pensions to the
counties, saving the state roughly $600 million but leaving counties
with no way to pay for the program without increasing property taxes.
"These
are challenging times, but our expectation is an appreciation that the
counties are going through some fiscal challenges also and that has to
be factored in as the state looks to solve its budget," said Calvert
County Commissioners' President Wilson Parran (D), who was recently
installed as president of the Maryland Association of Counties.
Customers Question Sharp Spike in BGE Bills
Calvert Officials Seek Response from Utility
January 15, 2009
― By Christy
Goodman, Washington Post Staff Writer
Betty Cawthorne said she received an "obnoxious" $600 electric bill from
Baltimore Gas & Electric about 10 years ago, but nothing prepared her
for the most recent bill of $915.
"This about knocked my
socks off," said Cawthorne, 75, who keeps the thermostats in her North
Beach home set at 65 degrees.
Apparently, Cawthorne
is not alone.
A number of
Calvert County residents are
complaining about December bills from the Baltimore-based utility, which
serves a small slice of the county. County Commissioner
Barbara A. Stinnett (D-At Large)
is calling for a town hall meeting and has asked BGE to send a
representative to hear from residents whose bills have doubled or
tripled since November.
"I'm really perturbed about it. More than perturbed. My bill
increased by more than $200," said Stinnett, who lives in Owings. "What
I'm hearing from others is just outrageous."
Cawthorne said her
December bill was $775 more than her November bill. The company said she
used about 6,000 kilowatt hours in December, compared with 850 in
November.
Kathryn and John
Kallinikos of North Beach said they received a December bill for
$958.15.
"I'm like, 'What the
tarnation are they talking about?' I thought my husband was going to
have a heart attack when he saw it," said Kathryn Kallinikos, whose
kilowatt usage increased from 2,803 in November to 6,470 in December, a
130 percent increase. The December bill reflected an increase of 2,000
kilowatts used compared with usage in December 2007.
"This is the first time
in three years that I have been at this house that we have seen a jump
like this. I could understand $50 or maybe $100, but to go up like this?
No way," Kallinikos said.
North Beach Town
Council member Lynda Striegel, a lawyer, said that her office received a
December bill that was $100 higher than November's -- but that the
office had been closed for two weeks in December.
"There seems to be
something very wrong here," she said.
Striegel has also
requested an investigation by BGE. A BGE spokeswoman had no explanation
for the higher bills.
"We certainly encourage
any customer who has a question with their bill to contact us, and we'll
look into it for them," Linda Foy said. "In general, when a customer
notices an increase in their bill, many times it goes back to an
increase in usage or colder than normal temperatures in the winter or
hotter than normal temperatures in summer. . . . It could be something
as simple as an appliance malfunctioning."
Foy said BGE officials
were looking into the complaints. "At this point, we've not found
anything out of the ordinary with these accounts," she said in an
e-mail.
About 142,000 utility
customers in the three southern Maryland counties and
Prince George's County are served
by the
Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative.
BGE provides service for fewer than 8,000 customers in the northeastern
part of Calvert.
State Del.
Sue Kullen (D-Calvert), who has
pushed for SMECO to serve northeastern Calvert, said her office had
received at least one complaint about BGE's December bills. She urged
customers to contact her office with complaints.
"We'll definitely hold
their feet to the fire," Kullen said.
Prospects not bright for
school funding
January 14, 2009
― Jesse Yeatman,
Staff Writer: The Enterprise - www.somdnews.com
Teacher union
representatives peppered state politicians with
questions Saturday morning, trying to find answers about
the state budget crisis, funding private schools and
ongoing union issues.
The
education union members, from both Calvert and St. Mary's public school
associations, reformatted their annual legislative breakfast this year
to include a panel discussion on four topics.
Funding, or the lack of it, was on everyone's plate as the teachers and
support staff representatives pleaded to at least keep state aid to
public schools level this year and the state senators and delegates told
of the tough economic times — a nearly $2 billion state budget deficit
and the need for cuts throughout the budget.
Still,
in front of a room of public educators, each elected official said that
education should remain a priority in Maryland and all but promised
funding would not fall below last year's level.
 |
|
Delegate Sue
Kullen (D-Calvert), left, Sen. Roy Dyson (D-St. Mary's,
Calvert, Charles) and Del. John Bohanan (D-St. Mary's)
listen to questions from St. Mary's and Calvert school union
representatives Saturday morning during a legislative
breakfast at the J.T. Daugherty Center in Lexington Park.
The educators were concerned about school funding and
several ongoing union issues.
|
While
Del. John Bohanan (D-St. Mary's) blamed the state's current deficit in
part on the large increases over the last several years to public
education via the Thornton Act, he said it is "a commitment we have to
keep."
"Backward movement is unconscionable," said Anna Laughlin, Education
Association of St. Mary's County legislative committee co-chair. She
said that the Maryland State Teachers Association last year supported
the slot machine referendum, with some reluctance, because it would save
education funding in Maryland.
A cut
to education could mean teacher shortages, larger class sizes,
deteriorating buildings and more hardships on schools. She told the
legislators not to "ask children of Maryland to put their futures on
hold."
"It is
my hope in the next couple of legislative sessions that we don't go
back," Delegate Sue Kullen (D-Calvert) said.
Del.
John F. Wood Jr. warned that increases in funding aren't in the works
for this session, which began Jan. 14. "You tell us where we are going
to get the money," Wood (D-St. Mary's, Charles) said.
(The article was shortened for
space – if you’d like to see the entire article,
visit
Southern Maryland News online).
Meet the Southern Maryland Delegation
January 9, 2009 - Southern Maryland Newspapers On-line
Delegate Sue Kullen (Calvert County: District
27B)
Party: Democrat
Age: 48
Occupation: Disabilities consultant
Residence: Port Republic
Key
committee assignments:
Member,
House Health and Government Affairs; Chief Deputy Majority Whip; vice
chair, Southern Maryland Delegation; chair, Calvert County Delegation;
President-elect, Women Legislators of Maryland
Key
issues: Health care, mental health/disabilities, environment
Annapolis phone number: 301-858-3231
E-mail:
sue.kullen@house.state.md.us
Kullen
has slowly worked her way up the leadership ladder since being appointed
to fill a vacancy in 2004.
She was
new to politics at the time, but has since developed into a stout public
servant.
Kullen
was rewarded last year with a leadership position for beating back a
strong GOP challenge in 2006.
And
she's not averse to sponsoring legislation, taking the lead on 21 bills
in 2008 and 15 the previous year, on issues ranging from health care to
aquaculture to animal care and beyond.
Expect
more of the same in 2009 when some of Kullen's no-cost or inexpensive
policy initiatives may get a closer look because of the economic
dilemma.
She
represents District 27B, which extends from northern Calvert County down
through Prince Frederick.
Kick Off the New Year Right, Take the Polar
Plunge
Dec 31, 2008
― Bay Net.com
Kick off the
New Year with a big splash and an invigorating swim in the
Chesapeake Bay!
Even if you’re not brave enough to strip down to
your Speedos on January 1 and run into the 40 degree waters, come on
out to the North Beach Public Beach for this annual spectacle.
Hundreds of people of all
ages, including Mayor Michael Bojokles, did it last year as hundreds
of others, bundled up in coats, watched!
The fun begins at 1 p.m., on New Year’s Day with a new attraction:
Karaoke at the bandstand on Bay Avenue between 3rd and 5th Streets
in the Town of North Beach.
The Polar Bear Swim itself takes place at 2 p.m. Delegate Sue
Kullen plans to be on hand serving up her famous chili to all
the chilly folks.
To help everyone stay warm, there will also be a bonfire on the
beach for roasting marshmallows, plus hot chocolate and warm apple
cider available.
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