Bethesda Actually

Just wanted to share these with y’all:

8am -9:30 is our first Breakfast tweet for People who follow me on Twitter. Free Bagels and coffee for fellow tweeters. Its also 11-11 and Veterans Day. A pickle for a nickle for all Veterans that show a military ID from any year in the service.

Friends some wonderful news to share– Uptown Deli is now open and the food is well worth the wait! We tried the bagel/cream cheese and lox yesterday and it was wonderful. Bethesda Actually encourages all our readers to head over to visit Howard “The Deli Maven” Wasserman, say hi and sample some of his goodies!

Their address:
Uptown Deli
7905 Norfolk Ave
Bethesda MD 20814
301-961-5787

Friends, we just wanted to pass on some information on the wonderful working taking place at Studio Neptune in the Peripoint Building on Wilson Lane. Please find below a short write up from our friend Elyse describing the work she is leading at the Studio:

If you offer someone a place to be visually creative, then beauty, honesty, confidence, drama and humor will manifest through our most primitive language: art. For the past twenty years, Studio Neptune has welcomed highly artistic students into its vibrant fine art program. In this inclusive and inspiring environment, artistic potential is consistently revealed.

Through unique projects and quality materials, traditional artistic techniques are applied and practiced while original thought prevails. Our winter session of classes for children ages 6-14 begins November 29. Brand new classes for age 5 begin in January.

Two exciting classes for adults, Armchair Architect and Shoe Therapy are also offered in the winter months. Please visit us at www.studioneptune.com 

studio neptune, a creativity resource, 5001 Wilson Lane, Bethesda, Md. 20814, 301-718-0809 www.studioneptune.com

Check it out:

I just wanted to let you know that the featured deal today in The Washington Post’s Capitol Dish restaurant deals newsletter is for American Tap Room in Bethesda. You can purchase a $25 worth of $50 in food at the restaurant, but you have to buy by the end of the day Thursday! You can let your readers know to sign up for the deal by going to www.thecapitoldish.com

No huge surprises in Maryland with the Gov and Senator winning reelection, Chris Van Hollen getting reelected to Congress from a district that includes Bethesda. You can see detailed results — here.

Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley coasted to reelection last night easily besting Ehrlich 56-42. Interesting to note that Mont. County was the key to victory 68-31.

Worth reading the whole Post article but this local snip was interesting from a Bethesda standpoint:

“…..in the campaign, Ehrlich said he hoped to make inroads in Montgomery County, which is home to many Republican and independent voters despite its reputation as a Democratic bastion. Ehrlich set a goal of becoming the first GOP candidate for governor to crack 40 percent in the jurisdiction since 1994.

Returns show Ehrlich falling far short, with O’Malley outpolling him in Montgomery, 68 to 31 percent. Ehrlich’s performance in Montgomery lagged the 38 percent he received in 2002 and the 37 percent he received in 2006.”

Friends — hope this is useful!

THE BIG BALLOT QUESTIONS

Here’s a quick rundown of the FOUR questions you will see on your election ballot if you vote in Bethesda.  Question A is specific to Montgomery County Ballots. Questions 1-3 are statewide.  We’ve included a copy of the initiative as you will see it on the ballot along with a brief summary of the arguments “for” and “against”— as best we can decipher them and, we’ve included a few extra facts that might be handy.  Feel free to add your own comments.

The Four Questions Are:

• Question A: Should there be an ambulance fee in Montgomery County?
• Question 1: Should Maryland have a convention to change its constitution?  
• Question 2: Should jury trials be allowed only in civil cases when the amount in question is more than $15,000, instead of more than $10,000, the current minimum?
• Question 3: Should Baltimore City’s orphans’ court judges be required to be lawyers?

Montgomery County Question:

Question A: Should there be an ambulance fee in Montgomery County?

As you will see it on the ballot:

Question A

Referendum on Law Enacted by the County Council
Emergency Medical Services Transport Fee

Shall the Act to require the collection of an emergency medical services transport (ambulance) fee from: (1) County residents to the extent of the resident’s insurance coverage; and (2) non-County residents subject to a hardship waiver become law?

Arguments “for” an ambulance fee: The county needs the revenue that this amendment would generate. Other counties report that they have not seen a marked decline the use of 911 as a result of ambulance fees.

Arguments “against” an ambulance fee: The fee would discourage some from calling 911; For “core government functions – police, fire, rescue – there should be no barriers”.  Once the fee is in place the incentive to increase it or do away with limiting protections will increase.

Extra information: “hardship waiver” would cover those earning three times the federal poverty guideline or less. That’s $32,490 for an individual, or $66,150 for a family of four. (according to a Washington post article on the issue: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/21/AR2010102106801_2.html )

Statewide Questions

Question 1: Should Maryland have a convention to change its constitution? 

As you will see it on the ballot:

Question 1
Constitutional Amendment Question as you will see it on the ballot:

(Senate Bill 26, Chapter 9 of the 2010 Legislative Session)
Maryland Constitutional Convention

Should a constitutional convention be called for the purpose of changing the Maryland Constitution?

Under Article XIV, Section 2 of the Maryland Constitution the General Assembly is required to ask the voters every 20 years whether a constitutional convention should be called for the purpose of altering the Maryland Constitution.

Arguments “for” a Constitutional Convention: The constitution should be modernized. There are issues not currently addressed by the constitution that Maryland may want to address. Two issues that would require an amendment: Marriage definition; The addition of term limits.

Arguments “against” a Constitutional Convention: No need and it would cost money. If there is a convention it would be open ended. Any section could be changed as the entire constitution would be up for meddling in one shot. Better to have issues brought up for referendum one at a time as it will be more contained.

Extra Information: A vote for a constitutional convention would be a vote for launching a process to revise the state constitution. Maryland state lawmakers are only required to put the option of a constitutional convention question on the ballot once every 20 years. Washington Post had a fun article on the topic back in July and an interactive link to allow folks to try their hand at amending the existing constitution: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/annapolis/2010/07/how_would_you_change_the_maryl.html?sid=ST2010070501348