Wednesday, February 09, 2011

Explore Carroll: Few Md. senators undecided on gay marriage

Few Md. senators undecided on gay marriage

Sun analysis: 20 senators support bill; 24 needed for passage

By Annie Linskey and Julie Bykowicz, The Baltimore Sun

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Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/ or http://kevindayhoffart.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/ or http://www.westgov.net/ = www.kevindayhoff.org Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net Explore Carroll: www.explorecarroll.com The Tentacle: www.thetentacle.com

American Public Media Marketplace Newsletter: Analyst Whitney skips Congressional hearing on muni bonds

Who put all this spam in my Google search results? Commercial real estate rebounds

THE NUMBERS as of 12:35 P.M. EDT
DOW -15.89 Dow down

; NASDAQ -9.44 Nasdaq down

; S&P 500 -6.22 S&P 500 down

Unrest scares tourists away from Jordan, Egypt
When protests hit one nation, like Egypt, some tourists avoid the whole region. Marketplace's Alisa Roth is in Amman, Jordan and she reports that tourism revenues in that country have slumped by a quarter in recent months.Read more

Al Jazeera English to launch U.S. campaign
The cable news network based in Qatar has been broadcasting developments in Egypt around the clock. It says that millions of Americans are being deprived of the opportunity to watch the network. Read more

TODAY ON MARKETPLACE MORNING REPORT

Analyst Whitney skips Congressional hearing on muni bonds
Meredith Whitney famously predicted the collapse of several big banks in 2007. And after an ominous prediction about the municipal bond market, Whitney was called as the star witness at today's hearing on Capitol Hill. Roben Farzad of Bloomberg Business Week explains how Whitney made a name for herself, and the meaning behind her absence from today's hearing. Read more

Drought in China threatens global wheat supply
China is the world's largest producer and consumer of grain. But after severe winter droughts in the northern breadbasket region, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization warns of a global wheat shortage that will drive up the cost of foods like noodles and cereal. Rob Schmitz has more. Read more.

London, Toronto stock exchanges announce merger
Officials from the London Stock Exchange Group PLC and Toronto based TMX group Inc. announced the merger today. Bringing the two companies together will produce the second largest mining- and resource-exchange in the world. Christopher Werth explains. Read more

Commercial real estate rebounds
Compromises between landlords and tenants are helping the commercial real estate market improve.Read more

MARKETPLACE MORNING REPORT

And your MID-DAY UPDATE

Marketplace Morning Report co-hosts Jeremy Hobson and Steve Chiotakis go over all of this morning's news -- from the global impact winter drougts on Chinese wheat fields will have to House Republicans verus s the EPA. Check it out here.

TODAY ON THE MARKETPLACE TECH REPORT

Who put all this spam in my Google search results?
When you search for something on Google, are you getting dependable high quality results or are you getting cheap, flimsy, ad-bait junk sites? Read more

FROM THE BLOGS...

THE BIG BOOK: Everyday Icon

GETTING PERSONAL: Time for release from the bother

MAKIN' MONEY: New personal finance rules?

TECH REPORT: Lots of very stupid robots fighting in Afghanistan

TECH REPORT: Facebook, not Craigslist, is the red light district of the web

TUESDAY ON MARKETPLACE

To catch up on past shows listen online. To hear today's show tune in to your local broadcast.

MARKETPLACE MONEY PERSONAL FINANCE

To listen and read the rest of Marketplace Money's stories click here.

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The Tentacle - Kevin Dayhoff: Veteran Foreclosures – A National Disgrace http://tinyurl.com/4cuxb78

February 9, 2011

Veteran Foreclosures – A National Disgrace http://tinyurl.com/4cuxb78

Kevin E. Dayhoff

The Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act (SSCRA) of 1940 was passed into law just prior to World War II to provide certain legal protections for members of the military in such matters as civil actions, foreclosures, and bankruptcy caused by lengthy absences from home while on duty.

Never heard of this law? Well, you are not alone. Apparently some of the nation’s largest financial institutions – that should know the law – have never heard of it, either.

Just last Thursday, The New York Times carried a front-page story involving an Iraq veteran who lost his home through foreclosure.

What is particularly upsetting about the story is that it is alleged that the servicemember had his home taken away from him in violation of a law intended to protect active military personnel from creditors, according to The Times. “(A)gents of Deutsche Bank foreclosed on his small Michigan house, forcing Sergeant Hurley’s wife, Brandie, and her two young children to move out and find shelter elsewhere…”

The Iraq and Afghanistan wars have seen our nation utilize a large number of reservists and National Guard men and women in uniform. The deployments have often caused financial hardships, especially when military personnel find themselves trying to make ends meet on military pay that is far less than what they make in their civilian lives.

The New York Times article notes: “Even though some of the nation’s military families have been sending their breadwinners into war zones for almost a decade, some of the nation’s biggest lenders are still fumbling one the basic elements of this law — its foreclosure protections.”

And last week USA Today carried an article by Gregg Zoroya, “20,000 military members, vets faced foreclosure in 2010,” which began with the chilling news that “…veterans, active-duty troops and reservists who took out special government-backed mortgages lost their homes last year — the highest number since 2003.”

According to various disturbing media reports, the “rate of foreclosure filings in 2010 among 163 Zip Codes located near military bases rose 32% over 2008, according to RealtyTrac, a foreclosure research firm. This compares with a 2010 increase in foreclosures filings nationally of 23% over 2008... http://www.thetentacle.com/ShowArticle.cfm?mydocid=4219

The Tentacle - Kevin Dayhoff: Veteran Foreclosures – A National Disgrace http://tinyurl.com/4cuxb78

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Tuesday, February 08, 2011

The Westminster Fire Department held it 132 annual Banquet on Saturday January 29, 2011

Some of the officers and members of the board of directors for 2011 for the Westminster Fire Department include, from left to right: Chaplain Kevin Dayhoff, Treasurer Robert Ruby, First Vice President Todd Whitson, Board member at large Jeff Ausherman, Second Vice President Kristen Boyer, President Robert Cumberland, and Chief James Bangerd III.

The Westminster Fire Department held it 132 annual Banquet on Saturday January 29, 2011 at John Street Quarters in Westminster. At the annual awards ceremony, recognition was given for various accomplishments by members of the department, including top fire suppression responders, and top 15 Fire/EMS Responders. In addition to a review of the 2010 activities and statistics of the company; the Westminster Volunteer Fire Company Juniors announced a $1,000.00 donation to the department to be put towards an anticipated new engine…

Westminster Fire Engine & Hose Co., No. 1

“Volunteering Today for Your Tomorrow”

P.O. Box 357 28 John St. Westminster, Md 21158 410-848-1800 Fax: 410-848-3407

The Westminster Fire Department held it 132 annual Banquet on Saturday January 29, 2011

The Westminster Fire Department held it 132 annual Banquet on Saturday January 29, 2011 at John Street Quarters. The evening started with a fine meal followed by presentation of awards for the Top Responder. The following members received awards for the TOP Suppression Responders:

1. John Bangerd 522 responds 6. Bryan VanFossen 345 responds

2. James Starry 448 responds 7. Jason Bangerd 340 responds

3. Michael Vosburg 427 responds 8. Jon Haddad & Jeremy Price 328 responds

4. Marques Price 389 responds 9. Shane Holmes 299 responds

5. Josh Evans 365 responds 10. James Bangerd III 273 responds

The following members received awards for being the top 15 Fire/EMS Responders:

Fire EMS Total Fire EMS Total

1. John Bangerd 522 123 645 responds 9 Bryon VanFossen 345 6 351 responds

2. Marques Price 389 81 470 responds 10 Jon Haddad 328 5 333 responds

3. Michael Vosburgh 427 31 458 responds 11 Jared Davis 179 145 324 responds

4. James Starry 448 0 448 responds 12 Shane Holmes 299 4 303 responds

5. Jeremy Price 328 58 386 responds 13 Chris Staley 252 37 289 responds

6. Josh Evans 365 9 374 responds 14 James Bangerd III 273 5 278 responds

7. Jason Bangerd 340 23 363 responds 15 Matt Crise 207 65 272 responds

8 Jason Tyler 246 107 353 responds

The following members received awards for their total hours of service to the department in training, attending meetings, helping with fire prevention activities and responding to calls. John Bangerd, Jeremy Price, Jared Davis, and Michael Vosburgh.

The following members received the President’s award Jamie Petry and Bob Ruby.

The Officers and Board of Directors for 2011 for the Westminster Fire Department are: President Robert Cumberland, First Vice President Todd Whitson, Second Vice President Kristen Boyer, Secretary Jamie Petry, Treasurer Robert Ruby, Chief James Bangerd III, Board member at large Jeff Ausherman and Marvin Hollinger.

The other elected Officers to the Department are: Assistant Chief James Starry, Ambulance Captain Jason Tyler, Captain James Falise, Jr., Marshall Michael Garber, Assistant Marshall Kenny Carlisle, Chaplain Kevin Dayhoff, Historian James Brown, and Assistant Historian James Eckard.

The Fire Police Officers for 2011 are: Chief Kenny Carlisle, Assistant Chief Michael Garber, Captain Robert Ruby and their training Officer is Milton Zepp.

The Officers and Members of the Westminster Fire Department want to thank the Citizens, the County Commissioners, the Mayor, City Administrator, and City Council for their conditional support of the volunteers and career staff of the Westminster Fire Department.

20110129 Officers and Brd of Directors for 2011 WFD

20110201 sdosm Cumberland Banquet Westminster Fire Engine

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Keymar resident wins $2,500 grant for Agriculture Center

Keymar resident wins $2,500 grant for Agriculture Center

By Carrie Ann Knauer, Times Staff Writer

A representative from agricultural biotechnology company Monsanto will be at the Carroll County Agriculture Center annual meeting tonight to present a $2,500 grant to the board.

Barbara Watt, of Keymar, whose family operates a dairy farm, was chosen as the county's winner in the Monsanto Fund's America's Farmers Grow Communities program. In the contest, the Monsanto Fund chose one winner from each of 1,200 eligible counties and rewarded a $2,500 grant to the charity or organization of that winner's choice...
http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/news/local/keymar-resident-wins-grant-for-agriculture-center/article_50cda186-3340-11e0-897c-001cc4c002e0.html

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Monday, February 07, 2011

McDaniel College to hold Martin Luther King event

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2011/02/mcdaniel-college-to-hold-martin-luther.html Labels: Colleges McDaniel, People King Martin Luther

Please try to support Mahlia in this event:

Subject: Upcoming Event Reminder - On Tuesday, February 8th, McDaniel College will host a community celebration in recognition of Black History Month. Participants will gather at 5:45 p.m. on campus at the Ward Memorial Arch and then will march down Main Street to the Carroll Arts Center (CAC).

After a brief 6:30 p.m. reception in the lobby of the arts center, guests will travel “The Road to Freedom,” taking “a journey toward peace” and equality, through a multi-media presentation on CAC’s stage by Philadelphia-based Key Arts Productions. For a preview of this moving production, visit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-8AJW7j5zk&feature=related.

Dear campus and community leaders,

Did you know that, had he not been assassinated, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would have been speaking on the campus of Western Maryland College in mid-April 1968? What message would he have shared with us? What climate or relationships on our campus and in our community would he have witnessed and would Dr. King have addressed? How would Dr. King’s message be relevant in our lives today? Who were and are some of our very own local champions of peace, unity, justice, and equality?

It is with great excitement that I write to share with you a wonderful opportunity for us to join together the memories of where we’ve been as a community and the journey to where we are today. On Tuesday, February 8th, McDaniel College will host a community celebration in recognition of Black History Month. Participants will gather at 5:45 p.m. on campus at the Ward Memorial Arch and then will march down Main Street to the Carroll Arts Center (CAC). With candlelight and song, we hope to join together – across racial, political, denominational, and other differences – as a community that continues in its commitment to the enduring journey towards justice and respect for all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-8AJW7j5zk&feature=related.

We hope that you will join us on February 8th for this very special and symbolic "March from the Arch". Bring your families. Bring your friends. Bring friends that you haven’t met yet. Bring your songs. Bring your stories. At a time when so much divides us in our nation and world, your voice and steps towards justice can truly make a difference.

For more information, contact the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs at 410-857-2791 or odma@mcdaniel.edu. This event is free and open to the public.

Peace and blessings,

Mahlia

20110208 sdosm McDaniel College to hold Martin Luther King event

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US Armed Services Legal Assistance SCRA forms and information

Updated: February 9, 2011:

http://www.thetentacle.com/ShowArticle.cfm?mydocid=4219 February 9, 2011, “Veteran Foreclosures – A National Disgrace,” Kevin E. Dayhoff

Never heard of this law? Well, you are not alone. Apparently some of the nation’s largest financial institutions – that should know the law – have never heard of it, either… http://www.thetentacle.com/ShowArticle.cfm?mydocid=4219

Readers may find more information on the current version of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act on the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development website here: http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/about/hudvet/library/scra.cfm

The only official Department of Defense Service Members Civil Relief Act (SCRA) website: https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/scra/scraHome.do

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Retrieved February 7, 2011 http://www.military.com/benefits/legal-matters/scra/frequently-asked-questions

“SCRA Frequently Asked Questions” on Military.com’s website: http://www.military.com/benefits/legal-matters/scra/frequently-asked-questions

Here are frequently asked questions and answers on some rights and benefits available under the Servicemember's Civil Relief Act (SCRA). This information is for personnel in the Active Duty and Reserves or National Guard who are activated to serve on active duty… http://www.military.com/benefits/legal-matters/scra/frequently-asked-questions

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http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/27/business/27foreclose.html

January 26, 2011 A Reservist in a New War, Against Foreclosure By DIANA B. HENRIQUES

While Sgt. James B. Hurley was away at war, he lost a heartbreaking battle at home.

In violation of a law intended to protect active military personnel from creditors, agents of Deutsche Bank foreclosed on his small Michigan house, forcing Sergeant Hurley’s wife, Brandie, and her two young children to move out and find shelter elsewhere.

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Military.com: Bank Overcharged Troops for Mortgages

January 18, 2011 http://www.military.com/news/article/bank-overcharged-troops-for-mortgages.html

Military.com | by Bryant Jordan

A Marine who refused to roll over when mortgage giant JP Morgan-Chase imposed too high an interest rate on his loan and repeatedly pressed him for payments he'd already made has won a victory for thousands of military families including his own.

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http://mediahooker1.blogspot.com/2011/02/veteran-foreclosures-national-disgrace.html

http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/sns-ap-us-stress-map,0,4491095.story

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Retrieved February 7, 2011 http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2011/02/us-armed-services-legal-assistance-scra.html

http://legalassistance.law.af.mil/content/content.php?qrylvl=3&lvl1id=1&lvl1folder=yes&lvl2id=11&lvl2folder=yes

Mon, 7 Feb 2011

Legal Assistance Information

Legal Assistance Information. The information provided through this Web site is for educational and general information purposes only. It is not legal advice. We recommend that you do not make legal decisions without speaking to a lawyer. Individuals eligible for military legal assistance use the Legal Services Locator to find the nearest legal assistance office.

Armed Forces Legal Assistance

Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA)

Primer

SCRA Fact Sheet: Brief description of SCRA protections. Posted: 03 Sep 2008 | Size: 31 KB

Authorities: Federal Statutes

SCRA Text: Public Law 108-189; 50 U.S.C. App. §§ 501-596. Posted: 03 Sep 2008 | Size: 106 KB

References/Links About the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act: General information on SCRA; SCRA Pocket Guide (USCG MLCP); Text of the SCRA.

SCRA Handout (LAMP): Questions and answers about SCRA (NC State Bar, Legal Assistance for Military Personnel).

Forms

Notice of Cancellation of Motor Vehicle Lease: Notice of Cancellation of Motor Vehicle Lease from lessee to lessor, including Odometer Disclosure Statement. Posted: 03 Sep 2008 | Size: 49 KB

Request for Interest Rate Adjustment: Sample Letter regarding servicemember's request for interest rate adjustment under SCRA. Posted: 03 Sep 2008 | Size: 11 KB

SCRA - 6% Cap on Loan Interest: General information / requirements and Sample Letter Posted: 03 Sep 2008 | Size: 14 KB

SCRA Checklist: Some SCRA protections apply to reservists and guardsmen called to active duty. Other SCRA protections apply to servicemembers who have always been on active duty while some protections apply to military dependents. This checklist will assist legal practitioners in ascertaining if specific protections apply to you. Posted: 03 Sep 2008 | Size: 23 KB

SCRA Lease Termination and Sample Letter: Sample letter regarding servicemember's request to terminate a lease under the SCRA Posted: 03 Sep 2008 | Size: 24 KB

SCRA Notification: This notification includes a list of primary SCRA protections. It may be executed by servicemembers to show that they have been notified about SCRA protections. Posted: 03 Sep 2008 | Size: 22 KB

SCRA Standard Real Property Termination Form: Information on the SCRA Lease Termination and Sample Letter Posted: 03 Sep 2008 | Size: 112 KB

Servicemember's request for stay of proceedings: Sample letter regarding servicemember's request for stay of judicial proceedings under SCRA. Posted: 03 Sep 2008 | Size: 11 KB

Related: 20080000 Servicemembers Civil Relief Act PDF

File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - Quick View

President Bush has signed the “Servicemembers Civil Relief Act,” new ... Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. Public Law 108-189 50 U.S.C. App. §§501–596... www.standingupforillinois.org/pdf/homefront/SCRA.pdf

http://www.standingupforillinois.org/pdf/homefront/SCRA.pdf

http://legalassistance.law.af.mil/content/content.php?qrylvl=3&lvl1id=1&lvl1folder=yes&lvl2id=11&lvl2folder=yes

Retrieved February 7, 2011

Also see: “SCRA Frequently Asked Questions” on Military.com’s website: http://www.military.com/benefits/legal-matters/scra/frequently-asked-questions

Click below for more information on:

Judicial Proceedings

Installment Contracts

Insurance Protection

Termination of Lease

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20110207 US Armed Services Legal Assistance SCRA info

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US veterans hit hard by housing crisis

veterans hit hard by housing crisis: Veterans and soldiers are on the frontline of the US housing crisis.

Sat Feb 5, 2011 2:54PM http://www.presstv.ir/detail/163760.html

Rhonda Pence, Press TV, Washington

More than 20,000 veterans, active-duty troops and reservists who took out special government-backed mortgages last year lost their homes.

It's the highest number since 2003.

Foreclosures near military bases increased more than 30 percent in the last two years, and that is nearly 10 percent higher than the national foreclosure rate, according to RealtyTrac.

Experts say the housing crisis is hitting military families particularly hard because of transfers, loss of civilian jobs left behind by reservists, and multiple deployments… http://www.presstv.ir/detail/163760.html

20110205 Press TV US veterans hit hard by housing crisis

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Keymar farmer wins $2,500 for Carroll County MD Agriculture Center

News Briefs Posted 2/06/11 http://www.explorecarroll.com/news/5142/county-farmer-wins-2500-agriculture-center/

KEYMAR -- Barb Watt, of Keymar, has been selected as a winner in America's Farmers Grow Communities program, which gives farmers the opportunity to win $2,500 for a local nonprofit organization.

Watt has designated Carroll County Agriculture Center, in Westminster, to receive the award, and will take part in a ceremony at the ag center Tuesday, Feb. 8.

The donations are available through the Monsanto Fund, which expects to give more than $3 million in communities through the nationwide program.

The America's Farmers Grow Communities program is designed to highlight the contributions farmers make to society. To see a full list of winners, go to www.growcommunities.com.

Follow explorecarroll.com on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/explorecarroll

Explore Carroll: Keymar farmer wins $2,500 for Carroll Co MD Agriculture Center http://t.co/wK5gHE6

20110206 sdsom ExpCar Keymar farmer wins 2500 for Ag Cntr

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