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New spay and neuter program announces its first grant recipients

The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) – through its new statewide Spay and Neuter Grant Program – is awarding nearly $475,000 in grants to 14 nonprofit and governmental organizations across the state to provide low-cost spay and neuter services targeted to low income pet owners. A total of 51 applications, requesting more than $1.8 million were received.

The Spay and Neuter Grants Program was created by the General Assembly during the 2013 Legislative Session as a new program within MDA. The goal of the program is to reduce the number of cats and dogs euthanized in shelters across the state by providing competitive grants to local governments and animal welfare organizations that promote and provide spay and neuter services and education. The legislation requires the program to give priority, whenever possible, to those projects that serve low income communities and populations. All funding for this program comes from a special fee paid by pet food companies that sell product(s) in Maryland.

“The demand for these services is evident not only by the number of grant applications we received but also by the high quality of those applications,” said Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance.  “As this program provides resources to the organizations that are best able to provide spay and neuter services, we expect to see those euthanasia rates go down.”

A seven-member Spay and Neuter Advisory Board, appointed by Secretary Hance, has spent the last year developing regulations, criteria and materials for the program. The board also reviewed each application before making funding recommendations to the Secretary. In addition, a coordinator was hired to manage the program.

 

Read More Here: http://www.thebaynet.com/articles/1114/new-spay-and-neuter-program-announces-its-first-grant-recipients.html

Snow to Plaster Appalachians, New England as Cold Arrives

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A storm riding a blast of cold air will continue to unleash heavy snow on the central and southern Appalachians Saturday and will turn toward part of New England Saturday night and Sunday.

Heavy wet snow and falling trees could block some roads in parts of the Appalachians.

Even in the absence of heavy snow for the major cities, including along the I-95 corridor, gusty winds can lead to travel problems for a time. Flight delays are possible in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New York City and Boston.

Read More Here:  http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/snow-appalachians-new-england-cold/36568142

Machines flip GOP votes to Democrats in Maryland

Voting

Voting machines that switch Republican votes to Democrats are being reported in Maryland.

“When I first selected my candidate on the electronic machine, it would not put the ‘x’ on the candidate I chose — a Republican — but it would put the ‘x’ on the Democrat candidate above it,” reported Donna Hamilton.

“This happened multiple times with multiple selections. Every time my choice flipped from Republican to Democrat. Sometimes it required four or five tries to get the ‘x’ to stay on my real selection,” the Frederick, Md., resident said Thursday.

Queen Anne County Sheriff Gary Hofmann said he encountered the problem, too.

“This is happening here as well. It occurred on two candidates on my machine. I am glad I checked. Many voters have reported this here as well,” Hofmann wrote in an email Sunday evening.

 

Read More Here:  http://www.examiner.com/article/machines-flip-gop-votes-to-democrats-maryland?CID=examiner_alerts_article  

Garrett County Chamber of Commerce Receives ConventionSouth’s Annual Readers’ Choice Award

The Garrett County Chamber of Commerce was honored by the announcement that they have received a Readers’ Choice award from the publication and editors of ConventionSouth Magazine out of Gulf Shores, Alabama. ConventionSouth is a national multimedia resource for planning events in the South. The Garrett County Chamber of Commerce was selected as one of 800 nominees and one of the only 175 winners in the South.

“Over the past two years, the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce has been working on an initiative to increase group business, including meeting travel, in the Deep Creek Lake area and Garrett County, Maryland,” said Jen Durben, Group Sales & Marketing Manager. “This award is the culmination of the hard work and dedication of our area members that have provided outstanding meeting and convention services in our region. We only hope to continue to grow and thrive in this market.”

Read More Here:  http://deepcreektimes.com/news.asp