Mosquito Spraying

It's been a particularly buggy year. Part due to an unusually mild winter and part due to once a day trash pick up. Regardless of the reason, it's difficult to go inside when in a matter of moments you're scratching. Bug bites are not only annoying, but can carry health concerns. Aggressive scratching, especially by little ones, can create an infected area and West Nile continues to be a reoccurring threat this year. There has been one West Nile death in Maryland this year and 13 cases of which one was in Anne Arundel County. The fleet of spray trucks have dwindled over the years as well as money to fund the program. This year there are 240 communities on the spray list and 200 communities who are sitting on the wait list. Selby was on the spray list many years ago, but due to a change of board members and an address mixup, we did not submit the yearly paperwork to put us back on the list. Once off the list, a community must go back and sit on the wait list. For now, get rid of any standing water and use bug sprays.

The Capital Article 4 September 2012

Kids And Too Much Salt

When it comes to health concerns, adults and children can keep each other company. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has come out with findings that kids take in as much sodium as adults. In a study done in 2003 – 08 with 6,200 8 to 18-year-olds, 15% either had high blood pressure or slightly elevated blood pressure. Risks of high blood pressure double among the kids who ate the most salt and that risk triples among those who are overweight or obese. Studies have shown that childhood elevated blood pressure can lead to high blood pressure in adulthood as well as premature heart disease.

The Capital Article 18 September 2012

Do It Yourself Tattoos

The legal age to get a tattoo without parent permission is 18. So where are teens getting them? There's been a birth of in-house tattoo parlors and their requirements are virtually null. State and county law require tattoo parlors to follow certain precautions to prevent blood-borne diseases, but those requirements aren't enforced on individual artists or those who are aspiring to be one. Staff infections, hepatitis B and C and AIDS are among the serious illnesses that those seeking tattoos are exposing themselves to. With tattoo equipment available on the Internet and in the malls, it seems anyone can be a tattoo artist. It is strongly encouraged to only patronize reputable tattoo parlors who practice clean and sterile procedures and who don gloves and take the health side of tattooing seriously.

The Capital Article 17 September 2012

Risks and Precautions of Tattoos

Pit Bulls

Maryland courts have ruled that not only are pit bulls "inherently dangerous", but landlords can now be held liable for incidents involving pit bulls. The Humane Society of United States (HSUS) has launched a helpline to help landlords and renters who own pit bulls. Maryland is the first state to enforce third-party liability for a specific dog breed. In Maryland pitbull rescue, Jasmine's House, closed it's adoptions to renters, but since the Court amended the ruling to include only purebreed pit bulls, they've opened back up to renters. The HSUS is urging pit owners to get breed documentation for their dogs as well as a behavioral assessment. Renters should also introduce their pit bulls to their landlords to establish that the dogs are not a threat. The Anne Arundel County SPCA claims about a quarter of their dogs are pit bulls or pitbull mixes and they've deemed September Pit Bull Appreciation month with all pit bulls 50% off.

650 US cities have enacted breed-specific laws. The actual term "pitbull" refers mainly to the American Pit Bull Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier as well as crosses between the two. In the 90s, the American Bully was created.

17 September 2012 Capital Article

Jasmine's House

To learn more about Pit Bulls

Anne Arundel County SPCA

Selby Community Yard Sale

Selby is having various yard sales throughout the community on Saturday, April 21. Participating homes can be found on our website www.selbyonthebay.org along with a street map and general description of items being sold. If you would like to participate, then email your home address and item description to SelbyBay@gmail.com to be added to the list. Feel free to print out the house list to promote your neighbors!

2nd Annual Seahawk Saturday

South River Youth Athletics (SRYA) will be hosting their 2nd Annual Seahawk Saturday on Saturday, April 21. This is a great day for all of the SRYA families as well as the community that SRYA serves. There will be various vendors, food, activities, raffles and several games throughout the day. The fun begins at 9am at the South River High School complex. Swing by and enjoy some time with the SRYA!

Central Elementary Tiger Trot

Central Elementary is hosting their 7th Annual Tiger Trot on Saturday, April 28. This is Central's biggest fundraiser and the kids really benefit. The first Tiger Trot raised enough money to purchase a rock wall for the gym.

The Tiger Trot consists of 2 races: the 1 Mile Fun Run and the 5K. Awards are given to the top runners in each selected age group. The Navy Sprint football team has helped out Central for the past couple years. They're always a great help and the kids love them!

If you'd like to register for the Tiger Trot and get in on all the fun, then visit www.mycentralpta.org.

Saying Goodbye To An American Icon

The "world's oldest teenager" died at 82 on Wednesday, April 18 after a massive heart attack. Dick Clark was a face recognized by many generations, but today's generation knows him best as the host of "Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year's Eve".

Dick Clark had an amazing career. He witnessed the birth of many great artists especially R&B acts like Ike and Tina Turner, Smokey Robinson and The Miracles and Stevie Wonder. "American Bandstand" was among the  first to have desegregated seating and black and white artists performing on the same stage. It was one of network TV's longest running series and ran from 1957 to 1987. Dick Clark was one of the few personalities to have three shows airing on three different networks and he was inducted into the Rock-N-Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.

Today, Dick Clark is known as the host of "Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year's Eve". He has been the host since 1975 and continued through the 2012 New Year missing only 2005 when complications from a stroke prevented his appearance. Regis Philbin filled in for Mr. Clark that year. 2006 brought Dick Clark back in a limited capacity and as a mentor. Ryan Seacrest hopped in the co-pilot's seat and got ready for a ride.

We all have great memories of man who is a true American icon. Thanks Dick Clark for all the great music you brought our way. You'll be missed.

Discovery's Final Flight

Photo contributed by Selby resident,  Nick DiMauro

The space shuttle Discovery took a victory lap...or two...over DC and Virginia on April 17, 2012. The 27 year old shuttle got a lift from a Boeing 727 and was escorted by a T-38. The shuttle arrived over Rossyln, Va at 9:55am and began many laps to allow folks to say goodbye. The 727 flew at an altitude of around 1500 feet and at some areas flew as low as 300 feet. The piggybacked duo flew for several hours over spectators and congested highways before a flawless landing at Dulles International at 11:00am.

The Discovery was the last shuttle in NASA's space shuttle program. Despite the tragedies of the Challenger in 1983 and the Columbia in 2003, the shuttle program was highly successful. Discovery worked for 27 years and visited space 39 times. In 2004, President Bush ordered NASA to end it's shuttle program by 2010. President Obama extended that deadline to 2011.

The Discovery will now make it's home at the Smithsonian's Steve F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va. It will replace the Enterprise which is a shuttle prototype. The Enterprise will be moved to New York City.

Brush Fire Spreads Through Holiday Point

Shortly before 2pm on Sunday, April 15 calls started coming in concerning a brush fire in Selby. Not long after, crews were battling a 4-alarm blaze.

The fire seemed to have started in the marsh area between Winding Road and Holiday Point Marina. This area is accessible through a small foot trail off Winding Road and is popular with the neighborhood kids. Due to the extreme dryness and lack of rain, the fire got huge and spread quickly. The Bonnani family watched as the flames rapidly consumed grass and trees and came too close for comfort to their backyard. Friends and neighbors helped the Bonnanis carry important things from their home in case their worst fears came true. The fire twisted and turned in unusual patterns and in some places came right up to the road. Holiday Point Marina was put on the spot as the fire quickly headed towards the boat yard. The heat melted the plastic covering of a tent used to shelter a boat as it was being repaired and severely blistered several other boats. The heat and flames also ignited a small shed used to store flammables and completely destroyed the neighboring sailboat. A few folks at the marina later that evening said they were very fortunate that the winds suddenly changed direction and spared the marina.

94 fire department personnel, 40 land based units and 2 fire boats tirelessly worked for several hours and finally were able to quench the flames. Several fire trucks remained afterwards to completely saturate the area to prevent flare-ups. I'm told one fire worker was medi-vaced out after being near the shed explosion. This report has not been confirmed. Popular rumor has the cause of the blaze being linked to a group of young adults smoking cigarettes back on the trail off Winding Road. Weather alerts have been posted all week with brush fire warnings.

Pictures have been posted on the Selby website: www.selbyonthebay.org