The following letter was sent by Tony Passaro of the Bel Air Tea Party Patriots:
AMERICANS YOU ARE BEING CALLED On TO AGAIN TO MAKE A STAND………
We are in the final days of the National Health Care Reform Debate. The Senate is debating Majority Leader Harry Reid’s health care reform bill all week —and a cloture vote, to end debate, is just around the corner. If Reid has his way, his health care reform bill will usher in the largest expansion of government in history, federalizing one-sixth of the American economy.
The time to act is now. In August we turned out to Congressional meetings throughout the country and stalled the march to OBAMA’S health care. With a final vote in the Senate imminent this is our LAST stand.
This time we press the Senate.
Freedom fighters from all across the nation are joining with Patients First, Americans ...Continue Reading
Dr. Leonard Wheeler, Vice President of the Harford County Board of Education, said at a meeting last week that racism was behind the decision by school officials not to air an address by President Barack Obama live on September 8, 2009. The speech was recorded by HCPS instead and shown days later to more than 99% of the students in attendance, according to Superintendent Robert Tomback.
Before Vice President Wheeler leveled his charge against the school system that he oversees, the controversy was addressed by other school officials, along with a number of public speakers.
Newly appointed Superintendent Tomback explained that school staff “knew from the outset” that they would not be able to air the speech live, because “we simply do not have the technological capability to do such a live broadcast”. Tomback called the lack of capability “regrettable” and continued:
Superintendent Robert Tomback reported to the Board of Education Monday night that 99.994% of Harford County Public Schools students viewed President Barack Obama’s address last week.
The students were said to have “engaged in meaningful dialogue and discussion in their classrooms on Wednesday and Thursday of last week.”
Here is a description, provided by HCPS, of the presentation made to the Board of Education during Monday’s meeting:
Received a presentation regarding the usage of the Presidential Address in Harford County Public Schools. Superintendent Robert M. Tomback reported that 99.994% of Harford County Public Schools students viewed President Barack Obama’s address and engaged in meaningful dialogue and discussion in their classrooms on Wednesday and Thursday of last week. Mrs. Linda Chamberlin and Mr. David Volrath, directors of elementary and secondary education respectively, presented information regarding instructional activities that were used to maximize the teachable moment of the address. Mr. Roger Plunkett, ...Continue Reading
Harford County Public Schools never planned to censor President Barack Obama’s September 8th address to the nation’s school children, but did not air the speech live so that plans could be made to use the speech appropriately, according to Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Roger Plunkett.
While acknowledging that communications from HCPS could have been “worded differently” to better convey the school system’s intentions, Plunkett told The Dagger that there had been a “misunderstanding” and that the President’s address was always going to be shown to all students. But he said the short time frame available for planning meaningful classroom activities, along with technology constraints, led HCPS to use recorded copies of the speech instead. Plunkett said principals were given some discretion as to the exact timing, but all students would view the speech by the close of school Thursday, except in cases where parents sent a note ...Continue Reading
The New Harford Democratic Club has issued an “Action Alert” to those parents, students, and Harford County residents who are upset with the Board of Education’s decision not to air President Barack Obama’s speech to students.
The alert advises those interested to attend a protest planned to be held Tuesday morning, just prior to Obama’s speech, outside the Harford County Public Schools administration building in Bel Air.
Here is the text of the release:
SPECIAL EVENT OF INTEREST TO MEMBERS OF THE THE NEW HARFORD DEMOCRATIC CLUB
Many parents of school-age children in Harford County Public Schools are outraged that the Board of Education will not air President Obama’s speech to students on the importance of education. The speech is slated to be live-streamed on Tuesday, September 8 at 11 a.m. A protest of parents and students will be held, starting at 10:30 a.m., outside the School Administration Bldg. on Hickory Ave. in Bel ...Continue Reading
The White House issued an advisory Wednesday that President Barack Obama will be speaking live to the nation’s school children at noon on Tuesday, September 8th in an address that can be streamed directly into the schools. The President’s speech about the importance of education was reportedly planned for weeks, but in recent days a national backlash has erupted that includes a call to boycott the schools that decide to air the speech by keeping students home on the day of the broadcast.
Locally, opponents are urging parents to keep their children home or otherwise ensure that they will not be required to see the speech or participate in the accompanying classroom activities created by the U. S. Department of Education.
At the August 11, 2009 meeting of Harford Community College’s Board of Trustees, Dr. James LaCalle announced his decision to retire from the College on June 30, 2010 when his current contract expires. Upon his retirement Dr. LaCalle will have been an employee of the College for more than 40 years.
Brad Stover, Chairman of HCC’s Board of Trustees, spoke about the College’s progress during Dr. LaCalle’s tenure: “Jim was close to retiring when he decided to apply for the presidency, and we’re glad he applied and was selected. He was the right person at the right time. From day one of Jim’s tenure as President, he had a vision of how the College could grow and he has kept the institution moving forward ever since. Jim has been a great CEO for the College and has built outstanding relationships with the community, our political leaders, employees, and students. He will ...Continue Reading
(Aberdeen, MD) – - On May 19 RTR Technologies LLC was awarded the distinguished “Small business Person of the Year” for the State of Maryland by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The award was presented by Karen G. Mills, SBA Administrator in Washington, D.C. The company was also invited to the White House to meet with the President and his staff, who honored the winners of National Small Business Week.
The SBA award recognizes outstanding small business persons throughout the country who have consistently demonstrated sustained growth, provide value added product or service offerings to their customer base, and contribute substantially to their local community. RTR Technologies was nominated for the award by Harford County Economic Development and was elected by the SBA amongst all the candidates in the State of Maryland. Prior to this award, the company was formerly recognized as “Incubator Company of the Year” during its start ...Continue Reading
While his ride never came to a stop, President-Elect Barack Obama, with Joe Biden by his side, smiled, waved and even interacted with a few people, which was good enough for the thousand or so gathered at the Edgewood train station who had waited hours in the stinging cold Saturday to catch a glimpse of the soon-to-be president aboard the train that would eventually take him to Washington D.C. for Tuesday’s inauguration.
At just about 3 p.m. Saturday, after a few toots of its horn announced its presence, the Obama Express, crawling along at about 1 mph rather than its normal 50 mph travel speed, cruised into view of the Edgewood MARC station. After enduring hours of freezing temperatures and several false alarms, the crowd grew eager and anxious as the train cars continued to crawl along.
By the time the crowd realized it was finally happening, it was already nearly over.
Witness History and Welcome President-Elect Barack Obama & Vice-President Elect Joe Biden For a Whistle-Stop in Harford County, Maryland
Baltimore is not the only location in Maryland to welcome and witness history this weekend. On Saturday, January 17, 2009 add Edgewood, MD to a very short list.
President-Elect Obama and Vice-President Elect Biden will make the Edgewood Train Station one of very few whistle-stops on their historic train trip from Philadelphia to Washington DC. You can be a part of the crowd of supporters they will greet from the back of the train.
Event Details
* The President-Elect and Vice-President Elect will greet Maryalnders (From the back of the train) at the Edgewood Train Station in Edgewood, MD – Saturday, January 17, 2009
