Boating Deaths Doubled in 2011

     Annapolis, Md. -- Boating deaths in Maryland last year were nearly double the average annual number.
     According to Maryland's Department of Natural Resources, from 2001 to 2010, the average number of deaths per year was about 12.7, which compares to 24 people last year.
     Most accidents, injuries and fatalities happen during the summer months when the water is warm and there are more recreational boaters. Last year's mild, warmer weather extended the boating season and could be part of the reason for the increase in boating-related deaths.
      Sgt. Art Windemuth, spokesman for the Natural Resources Police, said last year's unusually warm weather, with less distinction between seasons, contributed to the spike in fatalities.Even though the weather was mostly mild throughout the year, cold air and water temperatures still posed a danger.
    Despite the fact that boating fatalities were up last year, overall boating accidents decreased about 15 percent from 219 in 2010 to 186 in 2011.

Smaller Version of Canal Day in the Works

     Chesapeake City, Md. -- The Chesapeake City Chamber of Commerce says it will hold a "smaller, scaled-down version” of Canal Day this summer.

 According to Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Natalie Gentry, a group of citizens, chamber members, staff from Chesapeake Inn Restaurant and Marina and fire department officials met Thursday to discuss possibilities.

    The town's civic association unanimously voted Wednesday to cancel the annual Canal Day events due to decreasing attendance and rising costs.

     The event began as a way for local nonprofit organizations to raise money and has been held recently on a regular basis on the last Saturday of June.

      Chesapeake Inn owner and chamber vice president Gianmarco Martuscelli said the chamber still hopes to partner with the civic association for some of the day's activities.

     “We’re all from the same town and this is not a chamber versus civic association thing,” he said. “We understand that their chief concern was paying for the manpower for the day and we want to help with that.”

     Canal Day has been talked about in the Maryland General Assembly this year as legislators consider bills sponsored by the Department of Natural Resources to require a permit for large marine gatherings, to help pay for policing.

     By a 39-4 vote, the Senate passed their version of the bill (SB127) on March 16. State Senator E.J. Pipkin, R-Upper Shore, voted for the bill while State Senator Nancy Jacobs, R-Cecil/Harford, opposed it.

     The bill will be heard in the House Environmental Affairs Committee on April 4 at 1 p.m.