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Prepared and filed by St Ives Financial
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<p align="center"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>UNITED STATES<br>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</b><br>
Washington, DC  20549</font></p>
<p align="center"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>FORM 8-K</b><br>
<br>
CURRENT REPORT<br>
<br>
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the<br>
Securities Exchange Act of 1934</font></p>
<p align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 17, 2006</font></p>  <table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0">
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<td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>SANDY SPRING BANCORP, INC.</b></font></td>
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<td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</font></td>
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<br><br>
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<td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>Maryland</b></font></td>
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<td width="32%" align="center"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>000-19065</b></font></td>
<td width="2%" align="left">&nbsp;</td>
<td width="32%" align="center"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>52-1532952</b></font></td>
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<td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">(State or other jurisdiction</font></td>
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<td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">(Commission file</font></td>
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<td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">(IRS Employer</font></td>
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<td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">of incorporation)</font></td>
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<td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">number)</font></td>
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<td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">Identification No)</font></td>
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<td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">17801 Georgia Avenue, Olney, Maryland  20832</font></td>
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<td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">(Address of Principal Executive Offices)     (Zip Code)</font></td>
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<p align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (301) 774-6400</font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:</font></p>  <table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0">
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<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</font></td>
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<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td> </tr>
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<td align="left"><img src="emptybox.gif" width="12" height="12"></td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</font></td>
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<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td> </tr>
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<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</font></td>
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<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td> </tr>
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<td align="left"><img src="emptybox.gif" width="12" height="12"></td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</font></td>
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<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>Item 7.01&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Regulation FD Disclosure.</b></font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">A transcript of the Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc. earnings call, held on October 17, 2006, and &#8220;Additional Information about the Proposed Merger with Potomac&#8221; are included in the attached Exhibit 99.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>Item 9.01&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Financial Statements and Exhibits.</b></font></p>  <table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0">
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<td align="left" width="3%"><font size="2" face="serif">(a)</font></td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Financial statements of businesses acquired. Not applicable. </font></td>
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<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">(b)</font></td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Pro forma financial information. Not applicable.</font></td>
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<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">(c)</font></td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Exhibits. Exhibit 99.</font></td>
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<p align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">Signatures</font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.</font></p>  <table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0">
<tr valign="top"> <td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td colspan="2" align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">SANDY SPRING BANCORP, INC.</font></td> </tr>
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  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
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<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">By:  </font></td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif"><u>/s/ Frank H. Small&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</u></font></td>
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<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Frank H. Small</font></td> </tr>
<tr valign="top"> <td align="left"><font size="1" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
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<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Executive Vice President and</font></td> </tr>
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<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Chief Operating Officer</font></td>
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<td align="left" width="50%"><font size="2" face="serif">Dated: October 18, 2006</font></td>
<td align="left" width="3%"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
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Prepared and filed by St Ives Financial
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC  20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 17, 2006
SANDY SPRING BANCORP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Maryland
000-19065
52-1532952
(State or other jurisdiction
(Commission file
(IRS Employer
of incorporation)
number)
Identification No)
17801 Georgia Avenue, Olney, Maryland  20832
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)     (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (301) 774-6400
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 7.01   Regulation FD Disclosure.
A transcript of the Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc. earnings call, held on October 17, 2006, and "Additional Information about the Proposed Merger with Potomac" are included in the attached Exhibit 99.
Item 9.01   Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(a)
Financial statements of businesses acquired. Not applicable.
(b)
Pro forma financial information. Not applicable.
(c)
Exhibits. Exhibit 99.
Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
SANDY SPRING BANCORP, INC.
By:
/s/ Frank H. Small
Frank H. Small
Executive Vice President and
Chief Operating Officer
Dated: October 18, 2006