Delaware Announces Additional Hunting Opportunities in February

DOVER (Jan. 29, 2020) – DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife is promoting additional hunting opportunities in February with a second special youth waterfowl hunting day on Feb. 8, the one-day reopening of the regular snow goose hunting season Feb. 8, and the opening of the Snow Goose Conservation Order season Feb. 1.

Youth Waterfowl Hunting Day:

The one-day, special youth waterfowl hunting day Saturday, Feb. 8 is open for hunters ages 10 through 15. Normal daily waterfowl bag limits and hunting regulations apply during the special youth waterfowl hunting day, to include a limit of 25 snow geese and one Canada goose.

Youth hunters must be of sufficient physical size and strength to safely handle a firearm, and must be accompanied by a licensed adult hunter age 21 or older who cannot possess a firearm during the youth hunt. Youth hunters age 13 through 15 must have completed a hunter education course, obtained a hunter education certification card, and purchased a Delaware junior hunting license. Youth hunters age 10 through 12 must possess a license exempt number (LEN) and may have taken a hunter education course. All youth waterfowl hunters need a Delaware Harvest Information Program (HIP) number. No state or federal waterfowl stamps are required for youth hunters.

Youth waterfowl hunting is available on those state wildlife areas with a lottery drawing for a waterfowl blind. The morning lottery is held 1.5 hours before legal shooting time at Augustine, Cedar Swamp, Woodland Beach, and Assawoman, and two hours before legal shooting time at Little Creek and Ted Harvey. Those state wildlife areas that allow waterfowl hunting and do not have lotteries are also open on the youth waterfowl day. Wildlife area rules and regulations are available at

Wildlife Area Maps

Snow goose one-day hunting season:

The regular snow goose hunting season reopens for one daySaturday, Feb. 8, when adult hunters can also hunt snow geese subject to regular snow goose season bag limits and hunting regulations.

Snow Goose Conservation Order season:

The Snow Goose Conservation Order season is open Saturday, Feb. 1 through Friday, Feb. 7,

closing

for the youth waterfowl hunting day and one-day reopening of the regular snow goose season on Saturday, Feb. 8, and reopening Monday, Feb. 10 through Friday, April 10. The Snow Goose Conservation Order is a separate season open only for snow geese that occurs when Delaware’s regular waterfowl hunting seasons are closed. The Snow Goose Conservation Order is

not

open

on Sundays.

During the Snow Goose Conservation Order, liberal harvest methods are allowed to help reduce the large snow goose population that is damaging the species’ Arctic nesting grounds and local wetlands and agricultural lands in the Mid-Atlantic region where the birds overwinter. Legal shooting hours are a half-hour before sunrise to a half-hour after sunset, and there are no daily bag and possession limits. Unplugged shotguns and electronic calls are allowed. All other federal and state hunting regulations apply. If hunting on a state wildlife area where the Conservation Order is open, hunters should refer to

Wildlife Area Maps

for specific rules and regulations.

Hunters participating in the Snow Goose Conservation Order must obtain a free snow goose conservation order permit number, which must be in their possession while hunting. Hunters also are required to report their Conservation Order hunting activity and harvest success to the Division of Fish & Wildlife by Friday, May 1. Conservation Order permit numbers can be obtained and harvest reports can be submitted online at

Delaware Hunter and Trapper Registration

; hunters may also call 302-735-3600 during business hours Monday through Friday.

Conservation Order participants are also required to have a valid Delaware hunting license or license-exempt number (LEN) or a Maryland resident hunting license (unless exempt in Maryland), a 2019/2020 Delaware waterfowl stamp (unless exempt), and a Delaware Harvest Information Program (HIP) number. A federal waterfowl stamp is not required.

Hunters are reminded of the following:

Information on hunting license and Delaware waterfowl stamp requirements is available at

Delaware Licenses

Waterfowl and other migratory game bird (except crow) hunters need a Delaware Harvest Information Program (HIP) number. HIP (and LEN) numbers can be obtained at

Delaware Hunter and Trapper Registration

or by calling toll free 1-855-335-4868.

Hunters born after Jan. 1, 1967, must have a basic hunter education safety course card/number.

A federal migratory bird stamp is required for hunters age 16 and older to hunt waterfowl (except during the Snow Goose Conservation Order season).

Registered motor vehicles used to access designated wildlife areas owned or managed by the Division of Fish & Wildlife are required to display a Conservation Access Pass (CAP), with one free annual CAP available with the purchase of any Delaware hunting license.

Delaware hunting licenses, Delaware waterfowl stamps, and Conservation Access Passes can be purchased online at

Delaware Licenses

, at the license desk in DNREC’s Dover office at 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, and from hunting license agents statewide. Federal migratory bird stamps are available at U.S. Post Offices, Bombay Hook and Prime Hook national wildlife refuges, and online at

Federal duck stamps

For more information on hunting, click

2019-2020 Delaware Hunting & Trapping Guide

and

Wildlife Area Maps

. Hard copies of the guide and hunting maps are also available at the license desk in DNREC’s Dover office. More information on hunting licenses, season details, and the Conservation Access Pass is also available by calling the DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife’s Wildlife Section office at 302-739-9912.

For more information, please call 302-739-9912 or visit

www.fw.delaware.gov

Michael Hughes of Philadelphia Found Guilty of Two Robberies and Shootings

PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney William M. McSwain announced that Michael Hughes, 31, of Philadelphia, PA, was convicted today at trial of two counts of robbery which interferes with interstate commerce, and two counts of using, carrying, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence arising from two armed robbery and shooting incidents in August 2016.

In November 2017, Hughes and his co-defendant, Nashadeem Henderson, were charged in a five-count Indictment. The charges stem from Henderson’s and Hughes’s participation in an armed robbery and shooting of a marijuana dealer in the area of 2600 Allegheny Avenue in Philadelphia; and an armed robbery and shooting of a pizza deliveryman employed by Mimmo’s Pizza in the area of 3000 North Taney Street in Philadelphia. Henderson pleaded guilty prior to the trial.

“The defendants in this case had no regard for the lives of their victims – shooting at them indiscriminately, which could have easily killed them,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “Philadelphia is in the midst of a public safety crisis, with alarming rates of homicides and shootings. This crisis will not be solved by pretending that it does not exist or by coddling violent criminals. It will be solved through accountability for violent acts, and my Office is doing everything it can to investigate and aggressively prosecute violent crimes like those here.”

“Two armed robberies and two victims shot, in just five days,” said Michael T. Harpster, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “And had Hughes and his accomplice not been stopped, it’s no stretch to imagine what further mayhem they might’ve caused. It’s incredibly fortunate no one was killed by these two, so willing to use violence as a means to their criminal end. The FBI Violent Crimes Task Force will continue to investigate and bring to justice those who consider armed robbery a reasonable way to make themselves some money.”

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Philadelphia Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Amanda Reinitz and Roberta Benjamin.

Love Your Money: U.S. Spends $113.5 Million to Give Rural America High Speed Internet

In the last few weeks alone the U.S. government has spent a whopping $113.5 million to help bring

Gloucestercitynews.net graphics

high-speed broadband to several rural areas throughout the country. In some of the cases multi-million-dollar investments will provide high-speed internet service to just a few hundred households, raising serious questions about the taxpayer investment. The money flows through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) via a Trump administration program known as

ReConnect

that will ultimately dole out hundreds of millions of dollars for the cause.

The program was launched as a result of President Donald Trump’s

Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity

established in April 2017 to identify legislative, regulatory, and policy changes that could promote agriculture and prosperity in rural communities. Headed by USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue, the task force includes 22 federal agencies and local leaders typical for bureaucratic government adventures. The government officials made dozens of recommendations

outlined in a

lengthy report

that essentially asks American taxpayers for a monstrous investment. The goal is to provide rural America with world-class resources, tools and support to build robust, sustainable communities for generations to come, according to the USDA.

Key among the issues preventing this is high-speed internet availability, the task force found. It also recommends modern utilities, affordable housing, efficient transportation and reliable employment to improve quality of life as well as economic development and a better workforce. So far, most of the taxpayer investment has gone to internet, though it may not seem like the most urgent of the issues pressing rural America. This may be especially true since rural America includes around 46 million of the nation’s roughly 325 million people, according to the task force figures, which also reveal that rural America includes 72% of the nation’s land. “Rural America is home to many different racial and ethnic demographics and a wide array of economic activities,” the task force report states. “These residents live in a variety of settings, from counties bordering suburbs to remote and isolated areas.”

Is high-speed internet really so essential that the Uncle Sam must spend such huge sums of money? Does lack of broadband connectivity create a crisis? Broadband is defined by law as 10 megabits per second (Mbps) downstream and 1 Mbps upstream. The government’s initial funds “will generate private sector investment to deploy broadband infrastructure to provide high-speed internet e-Connectivity to as many rural premises as possible, including homes, community facilities for healthcare and public safety, schools, libraries, farms, ranches, factories, and other production sites,” according to the USDA. ReConnect offers unique federal financing and funding options in the form of loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to facilitate broadband deployment in the targeted areas.

Let’s take a look at some recent examples of how the money is being allocated. So far this month alone the government doled out $113.5 million to bring rural America high-speed broadband, though it’s not certain when the projects will be completed so that roughly 14% of the population can surf the internet. The first investment, for

$23 million

, will improve rural e-Connectivity for 2,643 households and 78 businesses in North Dakota. The USDA’s North Dakota Rural Development director says broadband technology is a utility as important as water, sewer and electricity. Two days later the USDA announced another

$48 million

investment to bring high-speed broadband infrastructure to 22,600 rural households in Virginia. About a week later another

$11 million

went to similar projects in Minnesota and northern Iowa that will serve 1,395 rural households and more than 100 business. “When Americans are connected to high-speed internet, productivity and prosperity skyrocket,” according to USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Censky. “This task of providing rural Americans with broadband is of the highest importance for President Trump and his Administration. We cannot leave millions of Americans out of the successes of this booming economy simply because they do not have access to the internet.”

Capping off the month were allocations of

$5.7 million

for high-speed broadband projects that will serve 489 households, 24 farms and eight businesses in Nebraska and

$18.7 million

to bring 6,300 households and 383 farms in West Virginia internet. The last disbursement, announced just two days ago, is a

$7.1 million

grant to improve e-Connectivity for 1,250 households in north central Arkansas. It may seem like a hefty price tag, but the USDA assures it’s important because it will connect residents to opportunities in education, health care and economic development.

source

Judicialwatch.org

Coast Guard medevacs man from fishing vessel 50 miles off Manasquan Inlet

MANASQUAN INLET, N.J. —(January 29, 2020)– The Coast Guard medevaced a man from a fishing vessel 50 miles off Manasquan Inlet, Thursday afternoon.

Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay watch standers received a call from the captain of the fishing vessel Enterprise requesting a MEDEVAC for a crew member experiencing severe abdominal pain.

A Coast Guard Station Manasquan Inlet 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crew was launched to assist, arrived and transferred the crew member aboard.

After the crew member\’s condition worsened, an Air Station Atlantic City MH-65 Dolphin Helicopter aircrew was launched, arrived, and medevaced the crew member to awaiting emergency medical services personnel at Atlantic City Care Regional Medical Center.

\”The Coast Guard trains everyday for events like this,\” said Petty Officer 1st Class Daniel Box, watch stander at the Sector Delaware Bay command center. \”Because of that training we were able to coordinate multiple Coast Guard assets to get the crew member medical attention as quickly as possible.\”

New Jersey Doctor Admit Roles in Health Care Fraud Scheme

TRENTON, N.J. – A doctor with offices in Washington, Hackettstown, and Succasunna, New Jersey, and his co-defendant today admitted their roles in a health care conspiracy to bill Medicare and private health insurance companies for medical services fraudulently claimed to have been provided by a licensed medical doctor, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Parminderjeet S. Sandhu, 66, of Long Valley, New Jersey, and Paramjit Singh, 62, of Ohio, each pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Peter G. Sheridan in Trenton federal court to informations charging them with conspiracy to commit health care fraud.

“Dr. Sandhu defrauded Medicare and private insurers – and, worse, put his patients at risk – by allowing those patients to be treated by Singh, a man who had lost his medical license,” U.S. Attorney Carpenito said. “Our office continues to work tirelessly to protect the integrity of federal healthcare programs and to make sure that patients do not suffer unnecessary harm from unscrupulous healthcare providers like these two defendants.”

“It\’s frightening to think that your doctor could be putting your health in the hands of someone who is practicing without a license,” FBI Newark Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie said. “Dr. Sandhu put his patients at risk while defrauding them as well as their insurers. The FBI remains committed to investing its resources to combat these types of schemes because patients have every right to expect that the care they are receiving is from a qualified medical professional who is acting in the patient\’s best interest. We urge anyone who is aware of healthcare fraud to contact us.”

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

From August 2014 through October 2017, Sandhu and Singh caused $2,211,975 to be billed to Medicare and private health insurance companies for medical services claimed to have been provided by Sandhu at Sandhu’s medical practice, Medical Care Associates Urgent Care Inc. In reality, those services were actually performed by Singh, whom Sandhu had hired to treat patients, despite knowing that Singh had lost his license to practice medicine anywhere in the United States. Sandhu issued prescriptions – including prescriptions for opioids – in Sandhu’s name for patients seen by Singh, even though Sandhu never met with the patients himself. As a result of the conspiracy, Sandhu’s medical practice was paid $1,162,253 for treatment fraudulently provided by Singh.

Under terms of the plea agreement, if the court accepts the plea, each defendant will be sentenced to 18 months in prison. In addition, Sandhu and Singh have each agreed to pay $1,162,253 in restitution. Sandhu has agreed to forfeiture of $829,561 and Singh has agreed to forfeiture of $332,692. Sentencing is scheduled for April 28, 2020.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ehrie; the Warren County Prosecutor\’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor James L. Pfeiffer; the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan; and the Hackettstown, Roxbury and Washington Township police departments with the investigation leading to today’s guilty pleas.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph N. Minish of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Asset Recovery and Money Laundering Unit.

How to Properly Spruce Up Your Home’s Curb Appeal

Gloucestercitynews.net(January 31, 2020)–Though it’s on the inside that counts, a properly spruced up exterior can help you boost your home’s value, your own comfort, and of course help boost the quality of your neighborhood. With luck, you might even convince your other neighbors to put effort into their own homes, so all, in all you end up living on a picture-perfect street.

You will be proud to call your house home, and when the time comes your property will sell faster and for more because of your efforts. Don’t dally, however, because the best way to spruce up your home’s curb appeal is to do it for yourself, so start today and follow this guide:

Upgrade Your Gutters

We don’t often think about our gutters. They help keep rainwater away from the sides of our house, what else do we need to know about them, right? The reality is that

keeping your gutters clean from debris is so important

, as it helps protect your foundation, stops soil from eroding, and keeps mold and mildew away from your home.

Thankfully there are options that mean you don’t have to get up on a two-story ladder and risk your safety. Instead you can opt for a covered gutter that prevents leaves and other items from falling in, but still safely manages your rainwater.

Deal with Your Exterior Wall

The exact steps you will take will depend entirely on what your wall is made of. Brick does well with being power washed to rid it of any accumulated grime. Paint needs to be washed, sanded down, and then repainted. Due to the size of the job, bringing in a professional team is definitely recommended, because when it comes to sprucing up your home,

clean exterior walls

is going to have the biggest impact.

Upgrade You Doors (and Windows)

If you aren’t happy with your home’s trimmings, then it is time to invest in them. Either paint and add decorative elements to the features you have now or replace them entirely. If you want your home to pop, for example, consider painting your window trimmings the same color as your front and garage doors.

Start Gardening, Today

Installing fully mature plants is expensive, but if you are willing to put in the work and be patient you can end up

having a stunning front and rear garden

. Add a rose wall, for example, or plant a young sapling. It won’t look its best the first year, but over time your landscaping will be stunning (and budget-friendly).

Don’t Forget Lighting

It’s not necessary to light up every inch of your property, but you will want to invest in quality lights at least for your driveway and front door. This is so that you can see clearly when dealing with keys and it helps keep you safer.

Your curb appeal adds a lot to your home but waiting to do something about it until you are ready to sell is a big waste. Start today and make the above improvements for yourself, because you deserve to be proud of where you live.

Maryland Fishing Report: Hardy Souls Not Letting Weather Keep Them From Their Favorite Past-Time

January 29, 2020

Photo by Gregg Salsi

Even though it’s winter, periodic warm spells and days when there is little wind and plenty of sunshine afford fishermen a chance to wet a line. The pre-season trout stocking program is well underway and trout management waters are being stocked every week.

January through March is the time of the year when many attend outdoor shows to view or purchase new fishing tackle, or even book that fishing trip to a dream destination. The department’s Fishing and Boating Services will have staff present at the Great American Outdoor Show in Harrisburg from Feb. 1-9 at Maryland FishHunt booth 2521 in Fishing Hall. We hope you’ll come see us!

Many anglers have questions about what is going to happen in regards to management decisions and new regulations concerning striped bass. The entire striped bass fishery of the East Coast is impacted by the need to meet conservation targets established by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. In Maryland, commercial quotas are being cut 1.8 percent and there are several proposals concerning the recreational fishery. You can follow the most recent

regulation changes and proposals

and find

up-to-date questions and answers

on the Department of Natural Resources website.

Forecast Summary: Winter 2020:

With water temperatures in the low 40s, bay fish are now in winter holding areas. With plenty of cool waters and oxygen from surface to bottom, look for concentrations of fish in some of the

remaining warm water areas.

In the main bay, warmer bottom waters — deeper than 50 feet — are located from the Bay Bridge south to near the Virginia state line, in areas with good structure and protection from strong current such as underwater points, channel edges, and bridge pilings with nearby oyster bottom and reefs. The other warm water areas to consider are near the water discharges of power plants.

We will begin our weekly reports again in March. However, for those hearty cold water anglers, all water conditions maps, plots and satellite pics will be continuously updated and posted. So for detailed and up-to-date fishing conditions in your area of the bay, continue to check out

Click Before You Cast

To better understand the monthly movements and habitat preferences of your favorite fish, check out our new feature,

Chesapeake Creature Conditions

Upper Chesapeake Bay

David Brown holds up a pair of yellow perch caught in the lower Susquehanna River. Photo courtesy of David Brown

The lower Susquehanna River has been offering some good fishing for blue catfish near the railroad bridge in about 40 feet of water. Most of the blue catfish being caught are in the 4-pound to 8-pound size range, which make for good eating. Fresh cut baits of gizzard shad are the most popular bait choice. Channel catfish can also be found in the same areas.

Large flathead catfish may be encountered at the Conowingo Dam pool, using stout surfcasting outfits and casting into the turbine wash with chunks of gizzard shad on a large heavy jig head or a bottom rig. Snags are common and using a dropper line or lighter line from a three-way to your sinker can help save some rig-tying headaches.

Yellow perch are providing some good fishing and excellent eating this month. The deep hole out in front of Perryville Condominiums is a great place to fish for them. Most use a dropper rig with enough sinker to hold bottom — the droppers can be small plastic jigs or minnows, which tend to be the most successful offering.

The tidal rivers in the upper bay also offer good fishing for yellow perch. They can be found holding in the middle to upper sections of the rivers, in some of the deeper holes. Minnows or grass shrimp on a dropper rig is usually the best bet in deeper and more open waters. Casting out on a small jig head and working slowly along the bottom works best where waters are shallower and more confined. The Northeast, Bush, Magothy, and Chester are all good yellow perch rivers to explore. The yellow perch

ishing location map on our website can help guide you to yellow perch fishing locations throughout Maryland’s portion of the Chesapeake.

Those looking for some catch-and-release action with striped bass are finding some at the Bay Bridge this week. The striped bass are deep and holding close to the rock piles and concrete abutments. They can often be seen stacked like cordwood close to the bottom. Jigging is the best way to get to them and one will have to get up close and personal since they are not moving. It is not uncommon to foul-hook them even with a single-hook plastic jig.

Middle Bay

Eric Packard holds up a nice chain pickerel from Smithville Lake on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Photo by Eric Packard

Most of the fishing activity in the middle bay has focused on the yellow perch entering the middle to upper sections of the tidal rivers. The yellow perch are generally holding in the deeper sections of the rivers and can be caught on live minnows fished close to the bottom. Casting beetle spins and small Gulp jigs into the channel areas in the upper regions of the tidal rivers is also a great way to fish for yellow perch. The Choptank, Tuckahoe, and Severn rivers are good places to look for them.

Chain pickerel are very active and can provide a lot of fun in most all of the region’s tidal rivers. They will attack most any kind of lure, often violently, and can inhale smaller lures with treble hooks which can lead to gill damage and mortality. Replacing treble hooks with single hooks and flattening barbs is always a good idea.

Channel and white catfish are active despite the cold water temperatures and can offer some fun fishing from a small boat or a river bank. Most any kind of fresh cut bait works well as does chicken liver, hearts, and breast. Shoreline fishing can be especially relaxing this time of the year. A sunny sheltered location and a good forked stick and seat go a long way to enjoying a peaceful winter’s day. It always pays to put out a lighter rod rigged with small minnows, since yellow perch can often be found in the same areas at the same time.

Lower Bay

Stephen Griffin holds up a beauty before slipping her back into the bay. Photo courtesy of Travis Long

The lower bay had an amazing catch-and-release fishery for large striped bass during the second week of January that will be talked about for months to come. Those that enjoy giving that extra effort to be out on the water during these cold months, on days that are a little more forgiving to small boat anglers, can cash in big time.

Around mid-January, a large school of striped bass in the neighborhood or 40 inches or larger showed up and those that were there kicked off 2020 with some exciting fishing. Large soft plastic jigs on half-ounce to 1-ounce jig heads depending on current and drift conditions worked best. Images being replayed in angler’s memories will encourage them to keep scouting for further catch-and-release opportunities in the coming weeks — best of luck to you all.

Fishing for yellow perch and blue catfish offer many a chance to get out in a small boat or a sheltered shoreline this time of the year. The yellow perch are steadily moving up the tidal rivers and can be found in deep water anywhere from the middle regions of the tidal rivers to the upper sections. Those fishing the middle regions of the rivers are fishing deep with bait where the perch are holding. Small minnows or grass shrimp on a dropper rig is often a good bet. In the upper sections of the tidal rivers, the yellow perch will be holding in some of the deeper holes and channels waiting for warmer water to move further. Small minnows or grass shrimp on a bottom rig is a good choice. Lip hooking a minnow with a split shot about two feet in front is a great way to search for yellow perch as it is slowly retrieved along the bottom. Crappie and chain pickerel may also have a second look at your minnow. The Nanticoke, Wicomico, Pocomoke, and various tributaries to the Potomac are excellent places to look for yellow perch.

Blue catfish offer plenty of fishing in the tidal Potomac, Nanticoke, and Patuxent rivers this time of the year. The Fort Washington area tends to be the center of it all in the tidal Potomac, and the marina there has a good boat ramp. The deep channels are the place to look for the catfish this time of the year. Stout tackle, plenty of fresh cut bait such as gizzard shad, and a large ice chest are the tools of the trade. The 3-pound to 8-pound catfish make for the best eating; the meat is mild tasting and they freeze well. You will also earn a gold star in the fisheries conservation club since they are an invasive species and population expansion is out of control. They now make up about 80% of the fish biomass in Virginia’s James River, which is where this all started.

Freshwater Fishing

Bryan Sysko is all smiles with this rainbow trout he caught in the Patapsco River recently. One can’t help but notice those rosy cheeks — it must have been cold that day. Photo by Bryan Sysko

The pre-season stocking of trout is well underway for 2020, as many trout management waters are being stocked with generous amounts of fat and healthy fish. Hatchery staff have been working hard to provide the highest quality trout possible, and every stocking has a few trophy trout that can go 6 to 10 pounds each.

Trout fishing offers some excellent opportunities to get out of the house and enjoy time outdoors. Trout management waters are spread from the Eastern Shore to the far western regions. They range from convenient community ponds to spectacular mountain rivers. You can fish as simply as using a bobber and bait from a chair on a grass bank of a community pond. Or you can go completely outfitted in waders and casting a nymph with a fly rod in the fast moving waters of a special trout management river. One can check the

trout stocking website

to see the latest updates.

Those who dream of hard water conditions at Deep Creek Lake have not been fulfilled so far this year, but there is still February. In the meantime, there is excellent fishing for crappie near the bridge piers and steep drop-offs. Minnows or small marabou jigs under a slip bobber tend to be the most popular way to fish for them. Walleye are also active and can be caught near steep rocky drop-offs by drifting minnows. Soft plastic grubs are a good choice for largemouth and smallmouth bass in deep water at the base of drop-offs. They are holding close to the bottom and lure pickups will be subtle. Northern pike and chain pickerel are active and can be caught on a variety of lures. The pike tend to be stationed at the mouths of large coves and the pickerel near sunken structure along the shorelines.

Walleye and smallmouth bass can be found in the upper Potomac River in deep water near underwater ledges,; grubs and small crankbaits offer good options to catch them. Farther down the river the Dickerson Power Plant warm water discharge has always been a favorite winter fishing spot for a variety of fish species. Our biologist Mark Toms reports that the plant is now on a power generation schedule, where it is only running when additional power is needed.

Largemouth bass are holding in relatively deep water wherever they can find it, whether they are in a small farm pond, reservoir, or tidal river. Soft plastic jigs such as grubs with as light a jig head as possible are a good tactic when worked close to the bottom of drop-offs. If you’re fishing from a boat, blade lures work very well this time of the year. If it is a sunny day, largemouth may move to exposed shallower waters where the sun has a chance to warm the waters slightly during the afternoon.

Northern snakeheads are rather inactive during the cold winter months but warm sunny days can spur them into activity. Large minnows under a bobber is perhaps the best way to fish for them during the cold months.

Chain pickerel love the cold and are very active in the many ponds, lakes, and tidal rivers spread across Maryland. Small to medium-sized chain pickerel can be found near sunken wood along shorelines; the lunkers tend to be in more open water near structure.

Atlantic Ocean and Coastal Bays

Photo by Monty Hawkins

The Ocean City fishing community lost a dear friend. The passing of Larry Jock in early January hit everyone hard since it was so unexpected; Larry was too young to go and he will be dearly missed.

The best show in the Ocean City region this winter is the good tautog fishing at the offshore wreck and reef sites. Charter and party boats have to pick their weather this time of the year but when the wind lays down some great catches of tautog are occurring.

Department biologists have been studying the tautog populations off Ocean City for many years now, and one of the things they’ve focused on is how old the fish are at various lengths. Based on data from 2015 thru 2018 it takes approximately 5 to 8 years for a tautog to reach 16 inches.

Some of the seasons and regulations have been made public for several species of interest.

2020 Summer Flounder:

Jan. 1 thru Dec. 31, 16.5 inch minimum, 4 fish per day.

2020 Sea Bass:

May 15 thru Dec. 31, 12.5 inch minimum, 15 fish per day.

2020 Tautog:

Jan. 7 thru May 15, 16-inch minimum, 4 fish per day.

Closed May 16 thru June 30.

July 1 thru Oct. 31, 2 fish per day.

Nov. 1 thru Dec. 31, 4 fish per day.

2020 Bluefish:

Effective Feb. 1:

Private boat or fishing from shore, 3 fish per day.

Charter boat, 5 fish per day.

2020 Shortfin Mako:

Effective Jan. 27:

Male 71-inch minimum fork length, female 83-inch minimum fork length.

“In every species of fish I’ve angled for, it is the ones that have got away that thrill me the most, the ones that keep fresh in my memory. So I say it is good to lose fish. If we didn’t, much of the thrill of angling would be gone.”– Ray Bergman.

Maryland Fishing Report

is written and compiled by Keith Lockwood,

Maryland Department of Natural Resources

fisheries biologist.

Click Before You Cast is written by Tidewater Ecosystem Assessment Director Tom Parham.

Quick and Easy Ways to Make Your Home More Eco-Friendly

Gloucestercitynews.net (January 31, 2020)–People are thinking a lot more about their carbon footprint these days, the idea of making your home eco-friendlier is not new, but it is becoming essential. From those who want to reduce their

image unsplash.com

environmental impact to those that are preparing their home to sell, being more environmentally conscious is more popular than ever. Make the right eco-friendly changes to your home, and you can even add value to your property, meaning that you can advance up the property ladder even faster. If you\’re looking for ways to make cost-effective changes to your carbon footprint, here are some of the greenest ways to make your home eco-friendlier.

Water Waste

As one of the more expensive utility bills, it always pays to be smarter about your water use. When it comes to being environmentally aware, most people look at electricity consumption, but your use of water is just as vital. Think about the many ways that you can save water, starting with making repairs on any leaking pipes or

a dripping faucet

. Consider installing a showerhead that comes with a low-flow option, and you can save thousands of liters of water every year.

Get Hot and Stay Cool

Temperature is where a lot of people fail when it comes to their carbon footprint. Relaxing at home if it’s too cold or too hot can be very frustrating, so it’s always tempting to play with the air-con or heating system to get the right temperature

to relax in. Check your air-conditioning system and your furnace, making sure to

make a note of your SEER and AFUE

. These two measurements will give you a much clearer idea of your energy efficiency and can have a large bearing on your utility bills.

Always Insulate

One of the most effective ways to use less energy is to need less. Insulated walls and attics prevent cooled or heated air from escaping outside, meaning that you aren’t going to be wasting your energy by constantly adjusting the temperature. You can even go beyond traditional materials by investing in more

eco-friendly materials for your insulation

. Sheep\’s wool and cotton are common options for greener insulation, but there are many materials to consider if you want to improve your insulation and remain environmentally conscious.

Eco-Aware Lighting

Most people have already looked at energy-efficient light bulbs, but if you haven’t researched them lately, then you might be amazed by the drop in prices. While the cost of energy-saving light bulbs used to be quite prohibitive, modern options are much more wallet-friendly. Remember, you don’t have to swap every lightbulb immediately. Buy one or two energy-efficient bulbs every payday and replace your older lightbulbs with the newer bulbs as needed. Take your time, and you’ll soon have all of the

environmentally friendly lighting

that you’ll need.

Turning your home int0 somewhere more eco-friendly doesn’t have to mean huge disruption or costs. Often, it is the small changes to your home that will have the most impact. Whether you\’re putting your property on the market or you want to reduce your carbon footprint, these quick and easy eco-friendly tips could save you a fortune and boost the asking price of your home.

Parks in Pennsylvania Face $500M Deficit

By Dave Fidlin |

The Center Square

HARRISBURG PA–Rising costs and stagnant income is leaving Pennsylvania’s 121 parks with a projected deficit of about $500 million to address ongoing maintenance needs, a state official revealed recently.

Paul Zeph, head planner of the Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks, went before members of the House Tourism Committee on Jan. 15 and discussed the

Parks for All

plan, which was recently refreshed after last going under the microscope in 1992.

In his testimony to the House panel, Zeph touched on a number of issues related to state parks, but the one piece of insight that garnered the most attention was the anticipated shortfall. When Parks for All was last updated, Zeph pointed out budgetary deficits at the time hovered around $100 million.

“We’re scratching our heads on how to go forward,” Zeph said. “We may have to shut down some facilities, we may have to make some parks a little more remote. We’re not sure, but we are identifying that we have a need.”

In 2017, the Bureau of State Parks conducted a survey, which yielded about 14,000 responses, and Zeph said he thought the feedback could serve as an important guide in how to proceed.

Pennsylvania residents have long enjoyed visiting state parks for free – the thinking, Zeph said, being the cost is covered through taxes – and there was minimal support for imposing an admission cost at this point.

Another middle-of-the-road scenario, calling for scaling down amenities at some of the state’s lesser used parks and giving them more of a rustic designation could also be on the table.

“There was some mild support for that,” Zeph said.

Several committee members weighed in on the issue. State Rep. Dan Moul, R-Gettysburg, questioned if at least one of the state’s larger parks could have a ramped up, amenity-rich emphasis on tourism that would extend beyond the park system’s current traditional base of day-trippers.

“We do have some state parks that have big enough lakes,” Moul said. “There’s a way we could bring more people into the commonwealth and have them spend money.”

But Zeph said such a scenario could lead to unforeseen circumstances. Other states, he said, have encountered financial losses in the long run for similar proposals.

“The bigger you get, the more the commonwealth winds up paying for these kinds of facilities,” Zeph said.

State Rep. Mark Longietti, D-Hermitage, said he was concerned with the rising deficit of parks maintenance. With inflation taken into account, Longietti said he is concerned the figure will only rise in the years ahead.

“It’s frustrating. It’s a conundrum,” Zeph said in response, pointing out there are no easy answers to the questions.

As for the survey itself, Zeph said there was one aspect of the responses that jumped out at him as the results were tabulated.

“I was surprised by the uniformity of responses,” he said. “By and large, people seem pretty happy with the system.”

Further discussion of the deficit and other aspects of the Parks for All plan is anticipated as 2020 gets underway.

“We need to mine a little deeper on some of these questions,” Zeph said. “We do have more work to do. This isn’t the end. But this has given us a good starting point.”

published here with permission of The Center Square

How to Encourage Your Kids to Brush Every Day

Gloucestercitynews.net (January 31, 2020)–Getting a good bedtime routine going can make it easier to get your kids to sleep. Therefore, it’s important to teach them to do things like put on their own pajamas and read a book. The problem is, when it comes to tooth brushing, many kids are reluctant to do it and may spend ages messing around and generally not doing what you ask. If your kids are refusing to brush, here are some ways to encourage them to get into good habits.

Find Out What They Dislike About Brushing

image unsplash.com

While sometimes a refusal to brush is simply laziness — or wanting to do something more fun — there can be a number of reasons why kids hate brushing their teeth. Some kids dislike the feel of brushing their teeth, but this can be helped if you brush for them until they’re older. Other kids hate the taste of toothpaste, so you could remedy this by making your own paste and utilizing different techniques to see if that makes your child happier.

Let Them Choose a Toothbrush

You wouldn’t want someone to pick out a toothbrush for you, so let your child have some input. It’s important to get a toothbrush with a head that’s small enough for their mouth, otherwise, they’ll struggle to get in the corners. An electric toothbrush can also make things more fun for them. According to Method Dental,

electric toothbrushes have a number of advantages

and can be good for kids.

Use a Reward Chart

If you’ve had success using the reward chart method with your child, then add toothbrushing to their daily goals so they can earn stars or smiley faces. Once they’ve collected enough, you can reward them with a non-sugary treat. And as they get older, the chart should be used to record their brushing every night before bed.

Use an App

The modern form of a reward chart, apps can be a good way to encourage children to pick up good habits, as well as ensuring they learn the right technique. There are many

toothbrushing apps for kids

that can be downloaded for free on the app store or Google Play. These apps will generally show a cute cartoon that ensures your child brushes correctly and for the recommended amount of time.

Take Them to the Dentist

If nagging doesn’t work, try taking the kids to a child-friendly dentist who can talk to them about brushing their teeth. Kids often don’t care if their teeth look a little yellow or if their breath smells, but the fear of having cavities or missing teeth might be enough to get them to brush more often.

From the first moment your child’s baby teeth come through, it’s important to teach them oral hygiene skills that’ll turn into good habits for life. While brushing your teeth isn’t the most exciting thing your kids can do, if you make a game out of it and reward them for remembering to brush, they are more likely to do it.