Are Cell Towers Dangerous to Humans and Pets?

Studies indicate that proximity to base stations correlates with headaches, dizziness, depression and other neurobehavioral symptoms, as well as increased cancer risk. Animal studies also

image of a cell tower

indicate that these effects may be cumulative.

Newswise — No one can over engineer like an engineer. So introducing a little more caution into an existing engineering process is nothing much to ruffle feathers. A new paper published in

Environmental Research

offers insight on how to include simple precautionary approaches to siting cell towers.

Joshua Pearce is the Richard Witte Endowed Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He runs the Michigan Tech Open Sustainability Technology (MOST) Lab, which works on solar photovoltaics, 3D printing, and open source science hardware.

And there are many cell towers — and more coming — since almost everyone has a cell phone and the towers are being used for more data intensive applications. In the U.S., the Pew Research Center reports 96% of Americans own a cell phone of some kind, and smart phone ownership today has risen to 81% from 35% in 2011. Industry data reported by GSMA Intelligence estimates more than five billion people worldwide use mobile devices. All these devices work using electromagnetic waves, which expose people to low levels of radio-frequency radiation (RFR).

“The research on the health impacts of RFR is still inconclusive. But some of the preliminary data gives us reason to be concerned,” said Joshua Pearce, a professor in electrical and materials engineering from Michigan Technological University who led the study, which reviews current data on RFR and engineering solutions for placing towers. “I’m pro-tech and I’m pro-human, so I think there are ways for us to have our cell phones and minimize potential risk without waiting to find out that putting a cell tower on top of a school was a bad idea.”

Pearce and his team’s solutions focus on getting companies to rethink where to place cell towers when they do a standard “search ring” map that prioritizes potential sites based on maximizing coverage for the least cost. Assessing tower placement is not a new idea; Canada and many European countries are looking into siting guidelines that help keep particularly vulnerable populations safe, like kids and those with illnesses.

The handful of human studies reviewed in Pearce’s paper indicate that proximity to base stations correlates with headaches, dizziness, depression and other neurobehavioral symptoms, as well as increased cancer risk. Animal studies also indicate that these effects may be cumulative.

Given the current research, cell towers would be cautiously placed 500 meters, or about a third of a mile, away from schools, hospitals and lots of sleeping people in dense neighborhoods or high rises.

The challenge in the U.S., unlike in India where such setback laws are already in place, is the laws that govern cell tower siting plans in Section 704 of The Telecommunications Act of 1996 specifically eliminate “environmental effects” from consideration.

“This is a peculiar law, but saying that something is legal doesn’t make it right or cost-effective in the long run,” Pearce said. “It’s in companies’ best interests to be thoughtful about where to place cell towers; they don’t want to move towers or be held responsible down the line. These effects are inadvertent — but there are options to do it differently that can reduce potential health impacts and thus a company’s future bottom line.”

In addition to revamping search ring mapping to include a 500-meter buffer, which doesn’t impact the cost of the siting process but reduces future liability, Pearce says there are other more innovative options, like cell splitting and small cell deployment, that could also decrease RFR exposure. At the end of the day, it comes down to thinking before building.

Wise Winter Weather Tips for Your Family

When Old Man Winter comes, calling, homeowners need to keep everyone in the family – including your pets—safe. Follow these wise winter weather tips from the

Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI)

and

TurfMutt

Bring Pets Inside:

Dogs and cats should be kept inside during cold weather months. Wipe their paws and bellies after they’ve been outside, and check for ice accumulation between paw pads. If you’re using a de-icing agent, remove that salt and other agents, too.

Pick up Debris:

Before it snows, remove debris and household items from your family yard. Doormats, hoses, toys and sticks can hide under a layer of snow that could harm your snow thrower, family or pets.

Clear a Path:

Your snow thrower is a convenient way to clear your driveway and sidewalks. It also gives your pet a path to their bathroom area.

Trim Trees Carefully:

When using a chainsaw, stand with your weight on both feet, adjust your stance so you are angled away from the blade and hold the chainsaw with both hands.

Ventilate Portable Generators:

If a winter storm knocks out your power, a generator can be a life-saver, if used properly. Place the generator outside and away from windows, doors and vents that could allow carbon monoxide to come indoors.

Watch Where You Throw

: Keep kids and pets away from the equipment, and never put your hand in the chute or auger to clear a blockage. Turn the machine off and always use a clean-out tool.

JEROME BY DAVE WOLFE

ARTIST Dave Wolfe

Vol. 6 No. 25 (Dec. 8, 2019)

Editor\’s Note: Each Sunday morning we post a weekly comic strip provided by cartoonist Dave Wolfe. He’s been distributing his comics in school since 3rd grade. (click image to enlarge)

Why Do You Need to Use Practice Tests to Explore Microsoft MS-200 Exam Topics?

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(Dec. 8, 2019)–MS-200 is one of the Microsoft recently introduced certification exams. It is designed for the messaging administrators who configure, troubleshoot, deploy, and monitor mail protection, recipients, permissions, public folders, and mail flow in both on-premises and Cloud environments. These professionals are responsible for managing messaging infrastructure, disaster recovery, hybrid configuration, hygiene, client access, migration, and high availability. The certified administrators work in partnership with the Microsoft 365 enterprise and security administrators to performa topology that will fulfill the requirements of an organization for its business.These specialists have knowledge of licensing, authentication types, and integration with the applications of Microsoft 365.

Microsoft MS-200 is part of the prerequisites for obtaining the Microsoft 365 Certified: Messaging Administrator Associate certificate. This test includes 40-60 questions with the allocated time of 120-150 minutes. It is available in English only. The exam fee is $165. If you are not in the United States, you should check the certification webpage to find out the specific fee that applies to you because it may vary from one country to another. After passing Microsoft MS-200, the candidates can proceed to take the second test to earn their certificate. The second one, Microsoft MS-201, is designed to validate the students’ skills in planning and implementing hybrid configuration & migration, managing organizational settings, and securing messaging environment. However, this certification guide will focus on the first exam, Microsoft MS-200. Let’s dive into it and its objectives.

http://www.exam-labs.com/dumps/MS-200

Microsoft MS-200 Exam: Skills Measured

The MS-200 test measures three different core skills that include management of the following areas:

Modern Messaging Infrastructure – 45-50%;

Mail Flow Topology – 35-40%;

Recipients &Devices – 15-20%.

It is crucial to mention that the associated percentage on each of the skills refers to the weight of questions that may be expected from each of the topics. This means that the objectives with higher percentages are likely to have more questions in the delivery of a particular exam. However, it is recommended that you gain mastery in all the topics to be able to achieve success in the Microsoft MS-200 certification test. To help you prepare for it, we will explore each of these objectives in detail.

Managing ModernMessagingInfrastructure

This topic takes up the bigger chunk of the skills that will be measured in the exam.Almost half of the whole test. It requires that the candidates understandthe management of databases. Therefore, they have to understand the process involved in mailbox database prerequisites planning; creating, troubleshooting, and configuring mailbox databases. The skills in managing DAG are also required. For this, the individuals must be able to create it; plan and manage DAG members and settings; manage and deploy site resilience; test datacenter and database fail-over scenario; measure Exchange services health; and troubleshoot DAG issues. The students should also understand the techniques required in client access management and implementation. This entails planning namespaces; configuring policies, URLs & virtual directories, global OWA policies, and auto-discover for Exchange. The test takers also need to know how to manage the lifecycle of the Exchange certificates and troubleshoot connectivity issues.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/certifications/exams/ms-200

Additionally, the applicants should know a thing or two about disaster recovery management. This entails planning a strategy of backup & recovery; implementing and performing backups; restoring databases, mailboxes, and servers. The skills in the management of messaging infrastructure lifecycle are also needed so you can attain the desired success in this Microsoft test. Therefore, the candidates should have competence in planning the installation of Exchange Server; installing and updating Exchange services; preparing AD for Exchange.

Managing Topology of Mail Flow

The skills you need here include planning transport pipeline, managing connectors, managing mail flow, and troubleshooting mail flow issues. Therefore,the individuals need to study up on designing mail flow with multiple sites; planning solutions for high availability mail flow. They also need to understand all about planning connectors, configuring them, as well asknow a thing or two aboutSend and Receive ones.The test takers should also know how to manage transport rules& domains. In addition to this, they need to know about the validation of outbound and inbound mail flow; monitoring of mail flow; investigation of transport logs; handling of NDRs; configuration of messaging tracking.

Managing Devices&Recipients

This topic has the least percentage, which means the questions from it are likely to be lower than the first two. However, you can’t afford to discard this subject in the course of your preparation because it might just be the deal-breaker for your success in the actual exam. Having said this, it is crucial that you prepare for it. You will be required to manage the recipient resources. This entails managing groups and mailboxes, including archive mailboxes, resource mailboxes, and mailbox permissions, as well as configuring mailbox policies. It also covers the skills in evaluating license options and managing shared mailboxes. Additionally, the candidates for Microsoft MS-200 must have competence in mobile devices management. This includes managing mobile device access and configuring mobile device mailboxes policies.

NOTE:

If you want to easily study all these topics in order to pass the exams and get your Microsoft certification, you need to find reliable sources and resources. Microsoft offers various prep tools that the students can use to prepare for the MS-200 test. You can also explore other platforms to get the necessary and relevant resources. Exam-Labs is one of the sites that offer extensive study materials to prepare for this Microsoft certification exam. They are study guides, video tutorials, practice tests, braindumps, blog articles, etc. Visit this website to know more.

Conclusion

Success in the Microsoft MS-200 exam can be ensuredif you take the time to study these topic areas in depth. The great news is that there are the relevant resources that will equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to understand all these objectives. The Microsoft Learning platform has a wide array of study materials to prepare for the test, including training with the certified instructors who will lead you through the whole course; official practice tests;study groups where you can ask questions and get answers to them. There are many resources that you can explore on Exam-Labs to get ready for this certification exam. Use them wisely and obtain the credential that will change your personal and professional life.

CNB Hunting/Fishing Delaware: Rules on using bait while hunting in Delaware

Reminder for the week:

DOVER (Dec. 6, 2019) – To achieve public compliance with laws and regulations through education and enforcement actions that help conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources and ensure safe boating and public safety, DNREC’s Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers

between Nov. 25 – Dec. 1 made 1,172 contacts with hunters, anglers, boaters, and the general public, issuing 31 citations. Officers responded to 47 complaints regarding possible violations of laws and regulations or requests to assist the public. A Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police presence continued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area and Michael N. Castle Trail.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police in the Community

On Nov. 25, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers attended a Toys for Tots donation event with DNREC Secretary Shawn Garvin, State Parks Natural Resources Police, and Environmental Crimes Natural Resources Police at the Brandywine Zoo as reported in a

DNREC press release

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Actions

Citations issued by category, with the number of charges in parentheses, included:

Wildlife Conservation:

Hunting migratory waterfowl over illegal bait (1), possession of unlawfully taken waterfowl (1), hunting migratory waterfowl without required federal waterfowl stamp (3), possess/transport unlawfully taken game – antlerless deer (6), trespass to hunt (1), and hunting on a refuge (2).

Boating & Boating Safety:

Operating a vessel with insufficient number of life jackets (1).

Public Safety:

Possession, purchase, ownership, or control of a firearm, deadly weapon, or ammunition by a person prohibited (5), possession of marijuana – civil (1)*, possession of marijuana – aggravating factor other than for personal use (1), possession of a controlled substance – tier 5 methamphetamines (1), manufacture, deliver, or possession of LSD (1), possession of human growth hormones without prescription (1), and possession of drug paraphernalia (1).

Other:

Trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (4)* and wildlife area map violation – parked in an area designated no stopping, standing, or parking (1).

Includes citation(s) issued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area.

DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife recognizes and thanks the majority of anglers, hunters, and boaters who comply with and support Delaware’s fishing, hunting, and boating laws and regulations. The Public are encouraged to report fish, wildlife, and boating violations to the Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police by calling 302-739-4580 or through the DENRP Tip app on a smartphone, which can be downloaded free of charge by searching “DENRP Tip” via the Google Play Store or the iTunes App Store. Wildlife violations may also be reported anonymously to Operation Game Theft by calling 800-292-3030, going online to

http://de.gov/ogt

, or using the DENRP Tip app. Verizon customers can connect to Operation Game Theft directly by dialing #OGT.

Are you AWARE?

Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police remind hunters that it is illegal to use bait to hunt game, except for hunting deer on privately-owned lands. Bait is defined in Delaware law as any nontoxic food material, compound, or mixture of ingredients which wildlife is able to consume.

For more information on hunting in Delaware, click on

2019-2020 Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide

.Printed copies of the Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide are available at the licensing desk in DNREC’s Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, or by calling the Division of Fish & Wildlife’s Wildlife Section at 302-739-9912. The printed guide also is available from license agents throughout the state.

FBI Seeking Person of Interest

December 4, 2019

Who May Have Information Regarding the Identity of a Child Sexual Assault Victim

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is seeking the public’s assistance with obtaining identifying information regarding an unknown female who may have critical information pertaining to the identity of a child victim in an ongoing sexual exploitation investigation. Photographs and an

informational poster

depicting the unknown individual, known only as

Jane Doe 37, are being disseminated to the public.

Initial videos of the unidentified female, Jane Doe 37, shown with a child were first recorded by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in June 2014. The EXIF data embedded within the video files also indicated that the files were produced in April 2012. In addition, audio from the animated film

The Land Before Time

can be heard in the background of the videos.

Jane Doe 37 is described as a white female with brown hair and wearing dark-framed glasses. Due to the age of the images, it is possible that the individual’s appearance may have changed over the years.

Information regarding this individual was originally released in late 2016 under a John Doe title. However, further investigation has led the FBI to determine the gender of this individual is female and not male. Therefore, this individual is now known as Jane Doe 37.

UNKNOWN INDIVIDUAL – JANE DOE 37

Anyone with information to provide should

submit a tip online

or call the FBI’s toll-free tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324). The public is reminded no charges have been filed in this case and that the pictured individual is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

This individual is being sought as part of the FBI’s Operation Rescue Me and Endangered Child Alert Program (ECAP) initiatives, both of which represent strategic partnerships between the FBI and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Operation Rescue Me focuses on utilizing clues obtained through in-depth image analysis to identify the child victims depicted in child exploitation material, while ECAP seeks national and international media exposure of unknown adults (referred to as John/Jane Does) who visibly display their faces and/or other distinguishing characteristics in association with child pornography images.

4-Year University Tuitions Jumped 34 Percent in PA and 35 Percent in NJ

The Center Square

Pennsylvania four-year public university tuition and fees went from $11,175 in 2004-05 to $14,937 in 2019-20, the 10th smallest increase among the 50 states and the District of

CNBNews image files

Columbia, the College Board said in

a new report.

That 15-year change represented a tuition and fee hike of 33.7 percent. Between the 2018-19 and the 2019-20 academic years, four-year tuition and fees in the state decreased 1 percent, according to the College Board numbers.

The analysis found that average tuition and fee amounts at four-year universities in five states dropped over the past five years when the costs are adjusted for inflation. And in nine states, those tuition costs rose by at least 15 percent over the same time period, the College Board reported.

The average out-of-state tuition and fee amounts in 10 states are more than three times that of the in-state tuition and fee numbers, according to the analysis.

—

Changes in Tuition and Fees at Public 4-Year Universities

State

2004-05

2018-19

2019-20

1-Year % Change

15-Year % Change

District of Columbia

$3,414

$8,401

$8,444

147.33%

Hawaii

$4,587

$10,997

$10,978

139.33%

Colorado

$5,057

$11,360

$11,380

125.03%

Arizona

$5,524

$11,754

$11,921

115.80%

Nevada

$3,893

$7,805

$7,953

104.29%

Louisiana

$4,787

$9,678

$9,614

-1%

100.84%

Georgia

$4,621

$8,698

$8,719

88.68%

Oklahoma

$4,789

$8,960

$8,919

86.24%

Virginia

$7,558

$13,735

$13,627

-1%

80.30%

Kentucky

$6,063

$10,909

$10,902

79.81%

Alabama

$6,109

$10,972

$10,918

78.72%

Alaska

$4,653

$7,962

$8,233

76.94%

Tennessee

$5,833

$10,158

$10,255

75.81%

California

$5,683

$10,054

$9,966

-1%

75.37%

West Virginia

$4,919

$8,445

$8,487

72.54%

Idaho

$4,865

$7,729

$7,999

64.42%

Rhode Island

$8,037

$12,793

$13,060

62.50%

Michigan

$8,526

$13,690

$13,771

61.52%

Utah

$4,435

$7,114

$7,162

61.49%

Illinois

$8,797

$14,254

$14,166

-1%

61.03%

Kansas

$5,746

$9,255

$9,196

-1%

60.04%

Connecticut

$8,583

$12,974

$13,664

59.20%

Mississippi

$5,406

$8,568

$8,596

59.01%

Oregon

$7,073

$10,800

$11,220

58.63%

New Hampshire

$10,952

$16,859

$16,916

54.46%

Florida

$4,137

$6,468

$6,352

-2%

53.54%

South Dakota

$5,890

$8,841

$8,977

52.41%

Texas

$6,875

$10,347

$10,468

52.26%

Washington

$6,657

$10,023

$10,077

51.37%

North Carolina

$4,831

$7,359

$7,281

-1%

50.71%

North Dakota

$6,240

$8,826

$9,289

48.86%

Delaware

$8,980

$12,957

$13,292

48.02%

Vermont

$11,898

$17,306

$17,474

46.87%

South Carolina

$8,956

$13,201

$13,057

-1%

45.79%

Arkansas

$6,206

$8,859

$9,033

45.55%

Massachusetts

$9,529

$13,458

$13,641

43.15%

New Mexico

$5,295

$7,256

$7,432

40.36%

Maine

$7,587

$10,396

$10,478

38.10%

Nebraska

$6,394

$8,682

$8,745

36.77%

Minnesota

$8,755

$11,740

$11,834

35.17%

New Jersey

$10,809

$14,441

$14,536

34.48%

Pennsylvania

$11,175

$15,082

$14,937

-1%

33.66%

Wisconsin

$7,069

$9,178

$9,104

-1%

28.79%

Iowa

$7,325

$9,245

$9,364

27.84%

Wyoming

$4,393

$5,498

$5,581

27.04%

New York

$6,703

$8,307

$8,434

25.82%

Indiana

$7,921

$9,659

$9,675

22.14%

Montana

$6,053

$7,230

$7,204

19.02%

Missouri

$8,039

$8,806

$9,022

12.23%

Maryland

$9,171

$10,087

$10,115

10.29%

Ohio

$11,157

$11,001

$11,330

1.55%

Source: College Board

Despite colder weather, there is plenty of fun fishing to be had in Maryland

MARYLAND FISHING REPORT:

By Keith Lockwood

Maryland Department of Natural Resources

December 4, 2019

Mike Crocetti made the trip to Tuckahoe Lake to enjoy a beautiful day and a chance to catch and release a nice chain pickerel. Photo courtesy of Mike Crocetti

There is no doubt the hand of winter is passing over Maryland. Despite colder weather, there is plenty of fun fishing to be had from the sheltered shores of the many ponds, lakes, reservoirs, creeks, and rivers throughout Maryland. The preseason stocking of trout has begun, and other fish such as chain pickerel are active and waiting for you.

The Sport Fisheries Advisory Commission recently created an annual recreational fisheries achievement award, to be given once a year. This is a great opportunity to recognize someone you know who goes that extra distance to volunteer their services to help with the promotion and conservation of our recreational fisheries resources in Maryland. For more information and to nominate someone, find everything you need on the

Department of Natural Resources website

Forecast Summary: Dec. 4 – Dec. 10:

As we approach the end of striped bass season in mid-December, Chesapeake Bay temperatures continue to drop. The cool weather has reduced the water temperature of upper Bay mainstem and rivers to the mid 40s, and from Annapolis south to the Virginia state line to the upper 40s. This cooling will continue through the next week. Warmest waters continue to be found in the bottom quarter of the water column from the mouth of the Patuxent River down to the Virginia state line.

Anglers should focus on

prime habitat areas

for larger concentrations of baitfish and hungry gamefish as they migrate to their winter holding areas. As always, make sure to focus on moving water periods for best results.

Expect

normal flows from most of Maryland’s rivers and streams

until early next week when they will begin to rise as a result of the rains beginning Monday and Tuesday. There will be above average tidal currents Sunday through Tuesday as a result of the upcoming full moon Dec. 12.

Bay surface salinities

are largely back to normal conditions.

Expect normal water clarity in Maryland Bay waters most of the week with potentially reduced water clarity early next week from predicted rains. To see the latest water clarity conditions, check

Eyes on the Bay Satellite Maps.

For the

full weekly fishing conditions summary

and more detailed and up-to-date fishing conditions in your area of the bay, be sure to check out

Click Before You Cast

. You can now get regular updates on Maryland’s waters and the creatures that call them home sent to your inbox with our new Eyes on the Bay newsletter.

Upper Chesapeake Bay

Photo by Matthew Blanchet

Water temperatures in the lower Susquehanna River are in the low 40s now, and striped bass fishing has just about come to a halt. Fishing for a mix of channel, flathead, and blue catfish has been good for those seeking some fishing action. Yellow perch are also moving into the tidal rivers and creeks. Fresh cut bait of any kind will catch the catfish, and minnows and small lures fished close to the bottom work well for yellow perch.

It has been slim pickings for those trolling or jigging the channel edges. The deep channel edges off Podickory Point and the mouth of the Magothy River are two popular places to fish. Most anglers are pulling umbrella rigs with a bucktail dressed with a sassy shad as a trailer, behind heavy inline weights to get them close to the bottom where fish are suspended. Those jigging are targeting the same areas plus the deeper sections of the Bay Bridge rock piles, piers, and concrete abutments. Many have switched to heavier jigs in order to reach the depths where the striped bass are suspended.

Colder water is causing striped bass to slow their metabolism down, and they often stop feeding do so only sparingly as water temperatures drop into the low 40s. They tend to be holding in the depths of the channels, where they are finding slightly warmer water temperatures. It is not uncommon to find them stacked up and unwilling to strike a jig or trolled lure. In fact, when jigging over a concentration of fish, you may find you snag as many as actually take a jig.

White perch are offering good fishing when you can find them suspended over hard bottom in the deeper areas of the Bay. The rock piles at the Bay Bridge are a good place to look for large white perch, using a heavy jig or sinker with a dropper fly or two when using a sinker.

Middle Bay

Photo by Travis Long

Fishing for striped bass is focused on targeting the deeper channel edges by jigging or trolling. Popular places to fish are the east side of the shipping channel near Buoy 83, down to the False Channel at the mouth of the Choptank River. It takes a lot of weight to get down to the fish so heavy inline weights are required when trolling. Umbrella rigs are the most popular item being trolled this week, usually with a Storm Shad type trailer or a bucktail dressed with a sassy shad in chartreuse or white.

Jigging is a fall tradition and there is still some action to be had along the shipping channel edges on both sides of the middle Bay. Many anglers have moved up to ¾-ounce and 1-ounce jig heads adorned with skirts and soft plastics up to 10 or longer in shades of pearl, chartreuse, and white, often dipped in red-colored garlic scent. Much of the action is occurring at 30 feet or deeper, and it can be fickle.

White perch offer a fun diversion and once they are found suspended close to the bottom can offer plenty of action. Some of the traditional places to look include holes off Kent Island, the mouth of Eastern Bay, and the mouths of the Choptank, Little Choptank, Severn, and West rivers. A metal jig with a dropper fly above or a bottom rig baited with pieces of bloodworm work well.

Lower Bay

Angelina Watts holds up a beautiful speckled trout caught while fishing with her dad. Photo by Rich Watts

Some of the best and most consistent striped bass fishing in Maryland waters is found here. The waters around the Point Lookout area are just a little warmer than farther north. The striped bass are suspended close to the bottom at depths of 30 feet to 40 feet along the major channel edges.

The shipping channel edges along the west side of the Bay and the mouth of the Patuxent and Potomac rivers are excellent places to find striped bass, and even a speckled trout now and then. The east side of the shipping channel near the HS Buoy and south past Buoy 72 are also good places to jig or troll.

Most are jigging with ¾-ounce to 1-ounce skirted jigs with 8-inch to 10-inch soft plastics in shades of chartreuse, pearl with sparkles, and white. Those that are trolling are using umbrella rigs behind heavy inline weights to get close to the depths where the fish are holding. Various Storm type shads and bucktails dressed with sassy shads are popular trailing lures.

Those seeking out a little different fishing fun are probing the depths near the mouths of several tidal rivers. Large white perch are being found in about 40 feet of water in the lower Patuxent River. Fishing with a two-hook bottom rig baited with pieces of bloodworm is a favored way to fish for them. Similar action is found near the mouth of the Nanticoke River and Tangier Sound. Yellow perch are providing an increasing amount of fishing opportunities in many of the tidal rivers and can be caught by fishing small minnows or casting small lures close to the bottom.

Freshwater Fishing

Trout stocking has begun once again providing additional incentive for anglers to fish during these colder months. Thousands of trout were stocked in the Delayed Harvest section of the Youghiogheny and the put-and-take waters of Blair Valley and Greenbrier lakes this week. Be sure to check the

trout stocking site

; better yet, sign up for the email news service to receive notice of trout stockings.

Julian Tsal holds up a nice largemouth bass caught in a small pond. Photo by Eric Packard

Colder water temperatures in the upper Potomac River have forced smallmouth bass to lie in some of the deeper holes in the river. Fishing with live minnows or crayfish close to the bottom can be a good tactic to entice some of these large smallmouth bass to pick up a bait. Working jigs and tubes slow and close to the bottom can also work, but the bite will be very subtle. Walleye tend to do well in the colder water and are active in many of the deeper holes and current breaks.

Walleye are also a favorite fish to target at Deep Creek Lake along its steep rocky edges. Casting small crankbaits and diving jerk baits during the early morning or late evening hours from shore offers good opportunity. Drifting live minnows is another good way to catch them along with large yellow perch. The lower Susquehanna River also has a population of walleye in what are considered tidal waters.

Largemouth bass are feeling the cold and have retreated to the deeper waters at the base of drop-offs. Fishing slowly with blade lures, jigs and grubs close to the bottom is a good tactic. The pickup will be very subtle, so watch for the slightest movement in the line. On sunny days they may be found in shallower areas seeking a little warmth from the sun, lipless crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits can be good choices to fish.

Crappie are schooled up near deep structure and will be holding there. Bridge piers, sunken wood, fallen treetops and marina docks are great places to look for them. Fishing a minnow or small jig close to structure can pay off in a nice catch of good-eating crappie.

Chain pickerel love cold water and they are widely spread throughout Maryland’s small ponds, larger reservoirs, and tidal waters. They will be oriented near any kind of structure they can find, patiently waiting there to ambush anything that might swim by. Often the largest chain pickerel will be found out in more open and deeper water, sitting tight to structure.

Despite cooling waters, catfish are active this week and can provide plenty of fun fishing in a variety of situations. Bank fishing can be a comfortable pastime during these colder times along the tidal rivers. The tidal Potomac, Patuxent, and Nanticoke rivers contain large numbers of blue catfish, which make for fine eating. Channel catfish can be found in most every tidal river of the Chesapeake Bay as well as the upper Potomac River and a few select reservoirs such as Piney Run in Carroll County. Flathead catfish are numerous in the Conowingo Dam Pool and can grow to some very large sizes there. Smaller flathead catfish can be found in the lower Susquehanna River and the upper Potomac. Fresh cut bait is one of the more popular baits for all three species, clam snouts work well and some have good luck with pieces of chicken breast, livers or gizzards.

Northern snakeheads are feeling the chill and the loss of the thick grass where they lurk during the warmer months. They can now be found in more open waters, and covering those areas with chatterbaits or popping corks and bobbers with a large minnow trailing is an excellent tactic. Sunny afternoons often cause northern snakeheads to be more active. The tidal Potomac and feeder creeks, the Patuxent River, the Nanticoke, Little Choptank, and the tidal creeks of lower Dorchester County are good places to find them.

Atlantic Ocean and Coastal Bays

Photo courtesy of Steve Doctor

Coastal fishermen continue their wait for migrating striped bass from more northern waters, and there is some indication that we may be getting closer to that event. These large striped bass are following the southern migration of menhaden, schools of which are being spotted off the beaches of Maryland. Striped bass will follow the food so it is hoped they are not far behind.

There is some striped bass action at the inlet and Route 50 Bridge area providing some action for those working jigs. Most are below the 28-inch minimum but they offer some fun fishing opportunities. Tautog are present along the rocks and bulkhead areas inside the inlet and can be caught on sand fleas or pieces of green crab. A few keepers are being caught but the abundant smaller fish are providing plenty of fun.

Fishing for sea bass and tautog continues to be good this week at the various nearshore and offshore wreck and reef sites. Limit catches of sea bass are common with a mix of porgies, flounder, and bluefish occurring at times. Captains report that some sites are covered up with spiny dogfish, so pulling up anchor and moving to another fishing location may be necessary.

Those heading out to the canyons to fish deep for swordfish and bigeye tuna continue to have good results and some impressive fish are being brought back to the docks. Deep drop fishing for tilefish can also offer some late season fishing.

“Many of the most highly publicized events of my presidency are not nearly as memorable or significant in my life as fishing with my daddy.”

— Jimmy Carter

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.

This report is now available on your Amazon Echo device — just ask Alexa to “open Maryland Fishing Report.”

Tips on Finding Professional Help with Your Debt

Gloucestercitynews.net (Dec. 6, 2019)–As soon as you take out a loan, you are in debt. The risk of defaulting and ruining your credit and even your life will be there until the last penny is paid off. A job loss, a death or an injury in your family – all of these tragedies can mean you go from having a great credit score and savings to being penniless with creditors banging at your door.

Finding a

debt specialist

to help you deal with your debt is key, and so is learning what to do in the future to improve your credit and to avoid future crises with debt collectors.

A Specialist Who Has Been There

One of the biggest issues with asking for help with debt is a sense of shame. Not being able to pay your dues causes many people distress. They tend to hide the extent of their debts from friends and family because they don’t want anyone to know just how much they feel they’ve failed.

Seeking out professional aid poses similar challenges. Many people don’t want to hire a lawyer because they don’t want the judgement, when in reality, that isn’t the case.

You can doubly ensure that you have found the perfect person for your case by reading up on the person in question. If they know personally what it is like to be in debt, then they can provide you with the compassion and answers you are looking for.

Never underestimate how important it is to have a specialist that has either been in your shoes or has seen it happen to a loved one. When you need

debt lawsuit related help

you need it from someone who is passionate about helping you and who sees you as someone just down on their luck.

A Specialist with Years of Experience

When seeking out help, finding someone who has been there and is compassionate towards your case is important, but regardless of how compassionate they are, you also want to ensure they have the experience to back it up.

Ask about their history and what their toughest cases were when interviewing them or when researching them. This can help assure you that your choice of specialist knows what they are doing and what they are talking about.

Go Through the Pros and Cons of All Your Options

Though it may not feel like it, you have a lot of options when it comes to dealing with your debt. Immediately opting for bankruptcy is not the only way, nor is it often the best way. You can

consolidate your debts

, negotiate a settlement deal concerning your loan or even renegotiate your repayments.

The key is to get help as soon as a problem emerges. It will give you more option in terms of negotiation, especially if you were issued a lawsuit.

With a specialist or lawyer, you can know the steps to take and your options in full. Having all the pieces on the board is so important when dealing with your debt, so don’t run from it. Instead, find the perfect specialist who can go through all the pros and cons of your options in a compassionate and caring manner.

image courtesy of unsplash

Young Missouri Girl Receives New Liver and Kidney

This Month She Celebrates a Big Birthday a Few Days before Santa’s Arrival

December 4, 2019

—

December is the month when many focus on gifts. For one Missouri transplant family, December is the month to celebrate the ultimate gift —

the gift of life

. This family’s beautiful girl will be celebrating her ninth birthday later this month right before this

family celebrates Christmas. Then on December 31st the Lemires will ring in the New Year by remembering their post-transplant homecoming two years. These December celebrations are made possible by another family, complete strangers, who chose to donate their child’s liver and kidney during the most difficult of circumstances.

Cara and Rich Lemire are no strangers to loss nor to big gifts — especially ones that are life-saving. When they found out in 2010 they were pregnant with a daughter they would name Vivian (which means full of life), they were excited and anxious. Four years earlier, they had lost their first child to Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease (ARPKD). The condition caused their first baby’s kidneys and liver to swell and take up space the lungs needed to grow properly. Cara and Rich were completely unaware of her condition before her birth and they only had two days with their daughter, Renee, before she passed. They allowed themselves time to grieve before considering another pregnancy, but with support from their medical team they decided to try again.

According to Cara, “Once we were pregnant again we were thrilled, but we struggled to let ourselves feel we could ‘get ready’ for her. We had walked this journey before and worried it would lead to the same heartbreaking place. Vivian’s early ultrasounds showed no sign of ARPKD and we felt encouraged about not experiencing a recurrence.”

ARPKD is a rare inherited childhood condition where the development of the kidneys and liver is abnormal. Over time either of these organs may fail. Even though ARPKD is rare, it is one of the most common kidney problems to affect young children. It is estimated that 1 in 20,000 babies is born with ARPKD; both boys and girls are affected equally. The condition often causes serious problems after birth.

At Cara’s 32-week pregnancy check, an ultrasound showed that Baby Vivian’s kidneys were enlarged with cysts and her amniotic fluid was dangerously low. The Lemires were devastated when they were told the baby also had ARPKD. “It was a crushing moment, but we were determined to give Vivian the best chance we could at survival,” Cara said.

When the baby’s heart muscles began to show signs of hypertension, the doctors determined they could not wait any longer and Vivian was delivered a few days before Christmas 2010. The baby’s lungs had some underdevelopment but she was able to breathe with minimal assistance. Vivian’s next challenge was severe hypertension and renal failure with kidneys that were estimated to be the size of adult kidneys in her tiny body.

At two weeks old, Vivian had her first kidney removed and began dialysis 24 hours a day. Four weeks later Vivian had her second kidney removed. The Lemires had to travel 40 minutes from their O’Fallon, Missouri, home to Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis four days a week for Vivian’s hemodialysis. Each session was four hours long. Vivian spent 278 days of her first year of life inpatient enduring several surgeries, battling infections and treating complications of her compromised immune system. Vivian’s medical care made it nearly impossible for both Cara and Rich to keep their full-time jobs; therefore, Rich decided to step back from his career to manage Vivian’s medical schedule of appointments, treatments, specialists, back-and-forth commutes and many more of her complicated medical demands.

Cara and Rich knew Vivian would need a dual life-saving transplant (kidney and liver) for long-term survival. At the start of 2012, while in the midst of Vivian’s hemodialysis sessions and appointments, a transplant social worker suggested Cara and Rich reach out to the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) to learn more about fundraising for transplant-related expenses. On January 31

, Cara called COTA’s 800 number and completed COTA’s Patient Agreement the very next day.

COTA uniquely understands that parents who care for a child or young adult before, during and after a life-saving transplant have enough to deal with, so COTA’s model shifts the responsibility for fundraising to a community team of trained volunteers. COTA is a 501(c)3 charity so all contributions to COTA are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law, and COTA funds are available for a lifetime of transplant-related expenses.

On March 8, 2012, a COTA fundraising specialist travelled to the Lemire’s hometown to train the volunteers for the COTA campaign in honor of Vivian L. This group of family members and friends, i.e. COTA Miracle Makers, quickly got to work organizing fundraisers to help with mounting transplant-related expenses. Numerous COTA fundraisers were held and the team surpassed its $60,000 goal in a short amount of time.

When Vivian was 2½, the transplant team at Cardinal Glennon officially listed her for a dual kidney and liver transplant. Cara and Rich were anxious but were excited to continue their family’s transplant journey. However the wait became lengthy and Vivian’s case became more complicated as she grew. Cara and Rich were eventually told by the Cardinal Glennon transplant team they were no longer able to perform the life-saving dual transplant Vivian needed.

“We will never forget the moment our nephrologist, whose guidance we trusted, told us if Vivian were her child, she would take her to Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford,” Cara said. Soon after that recommendation, the Lemires flew to Palo Alto, California — more than 2,000 miles away from their Missouri home. Cara says at their very first meeting ‘everything clicked.’ The Lucile Packard transplant team agreed that, when the time came for Vivian’s dual transplant, the Lemire family would need to temporarily relocate to California and start her transplant treatment plan.

In August 2017 after two years of being listed and a near match, the Lemires finally got The Call for both a kidney and liver match for Vivian in California. Cara remembers feeling like their bags were in their hands before they even hung up the phone. It was indeed the call they had been waiting for since the day Vivian was born. On August 9, 2017, Vivian received a kidney and liver transplant and her second chance at life. Cara and Rich received the greatest gift imaginable.

The dual organ transplant went well but required a longer recovery time for Vivian, which meant the family would be in California for an extended period of time. Cara took a leave from her job and the family was able to stay in the Ronald McDonald House very close to Lucile Packard. “With our home and jobs halfway across the country, COTA eased the financial burden and enabled us to be at Vivian’s side during her transplant and lengthy recovery,” they said.

On December 31

, four and a half months after her life-saving dual kidney and liver transplant, Vivian and her parents were able to return home to Missouri. It was indeed a positive way to step into the New Year and their new post-transplant life.

“Even before Vivian was born, we knew a transplant was likely in our family’s future. When it became clear the best outcome of Vivian’s transplant would be achieved at a transplant center more than 2,000 miles away from our home, we also knew we were going to need help to make everything work financially. With home and jobs halfway across the country, COTA eased the financial burden and enabled us to be at Vivian’s side before and after transplant. It is a tremendous gift to know COTA is here for our family now and will be …

for a lifetime

,” said Cara and Rich.

Today Vivian is enrolled in elementary school, which she loves and where she is thriving. She loves dancing, singing and participating in any type of music. Vivian is thrilled to be making new friends at school. This Christmas will likely be full of celebration and joy for the Lemires as they enjoy the holidays in their own home. Vivian is indeed a gift for Cara and Rich who went from wondering when The Call would come to now watching their beautiful daughter enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes of the season. They will indeed remember their special donor angel this holiday season as well.

Merry Christmas Lemire Family from your COTA Family!

For more information about the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA),

or to find a COTA family in your area, please email

kim@cota.org

COTA Kid Vivian Lemire

Kidney and Liver Transplant Recipient