Examining the Past of the County’s EMS With A Group of New Paramedic Candidates

I had the pleasure of talking to the current paramedic candidates’ class for Cecil County this afternoon. Soon these six young men and women will staff the county’s advanced life support units, providing emergency care for critical cases whenever the need arises. They’ve been busy studying advanced medical procedures such as how to administer IVs, use defibrillators, push drugs and intubate patients. It’s a crammed schedule full of essential life-saving knowledge and skills and as I departed this afternoon they were getting ready to study medical protocols.
The Countys first ambulance was operated by the American Legion
The county's first ambulance was operated by the Elkton American Legion.

I was there was to talk to these young providers about the history of Cecil County Emergency Services and explore the legacy of the progressive system they’ve joined. The county’s paramedic system celebrated its 20th anniversary last fall and the first group of volunteer Advanced Life Supporter Providers, capable of administering drugs and providing other treatments, started traveling the county in 1978. Through a lot of hard work and determination Cecil County has maintained a progressive role in Maryland EMS and I was pleased to explore the past of of the system with this fine group of recruits.

Celebrating a Community of Readers

dixonlibraryThe library system in Cecil County recently celebrated an important achievement. For the first time, the system circulated 1-million items. That is 10 items checked out for every single citizen in the county. To observe this major milestone, every library branch in the county celebrated with a range of special programs. One aspect involved Cecil Reads posters featuring staff, citizens, and community leaders.

Over the past ten years, I have had the opportunity to serve the system as a trustee and president of the library board as it has grown. It’s been a worthwhile community experience as we opened two new branches, increased staff to serve demands, added 21st century programming, and enhanced technology. As required by state law my term on the board will end in Nov. If you haven’t visited some of branches in Cecil County, please stop in when you’re in the area.

Delmarva Quarterly: “Walking the Beat, Walking an Era”

The summer 2009 edition of Delmarva Quarterly, an excellent regional magazine, containdelmarva-quarterly404s an article I wrote on Jesse Carmine, a police officer in Crisfield for almost half-a-century.  I’d first met the 82-year-old Mr. Carmine about five years ago when I stopped by city hall to find someone to talk to about law enforcement in the small town.  The clerk at city hall asked if I’d like to talk with the gentleman.  He’d started in police work on December 25, 1953.  Of course, I would and as we talked for hours he was so very helpful. 

Over the years I’ve discovered that someone who has worked the streets and back alleys of a small town night and day for decades, will know that place better than anyone else.  Mr. Carmine was an excellent source and I enjoyed our conversation thoroughly.  Last winter Chief Carmine passed away, but I had been fortunate to get to know him and I shared my experience in exploring a small town through the eyes of a public servent for about half-a-century.