20070621 Westminster Eagle Week in Review

Westminster Eagle Week in Review

June 21^st, 2007

Local News

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News Briefs

By Kevin Dayhoff

City takes delivery of new diesel dump truck

Last Friday, instead of getting an early start on the weekend, many employees of the Westminster Street Department hung around the shop a few minutes after work.

They were waiting with anticipation for the expected delivery of a new, 2007 10-ton Inter...

[…]

The $125,400 truck replaces a vehicle that was 13 or 14 years old. The new truck was included in the fiscal year budget that will end June 30 and came-in $10,000 under budget, according to Larry Bloom, Westminster's superintendent of Parks, Buildings and Streets.

"We worked carefully with Bare Truck Center, used the state bidding contract, ordered it early, and saved the city money," said Bloom.

[…]

[Read full story]

Kevin E. Dayhoff

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Carroll working to save and share 'Our Barn'

I recently had the opportunity to visit Carroll County's historic Marlin K. Hoff log barn, which was built between 1785 and 1795.

Those accompanying me included Community Media Center videographers Joe Cimino and Rod Boudreaux, who are planning an educational video of the barn and its relocation t...

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These two talented artists have completed a number of great documentaries, including recent videos on the work of the Westminster Municipal Band and the Carroll County Children's Chorus.

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Who could deny the appeal of a dancing chorus line including Dave Roush, County Chief of Staff Steve Powell and Commissioner Dean Minnich singing "Our Barn" to the tune of Petula Clark's hit, "Downtown?"

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[Read full story]

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Mom is the law

Prior to six months ago, Elizabeth Duvall of Westminster could be found driving her two sons around in her minivan.

While she still drives her family around in a minivan, Duvall's driving techniques have been "tweaked" a bit after attending the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission Academy in Sykesville.

Last Friday, Duvall graduated with the academy's latest class, and was recognized as the top driver of emergency vehicles.

"They would tease me that I probably don't drive my minivan the same way," Duvall laughed of her classmates' comments.

But she added ...
[Read full story]

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Airport groups vow to continue opposition
Despite last week's approval by the Carroll's Board of County Commissioners to expand the runway at Carroll County Regional Airport, citizen groups say they will continue to oppose the issue as it enters its next phase -- a two-year environmental study.

The results of the study could still halt th...
[Read full story]

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Family that plays, stays together

Ken, Stephanie and Ryan Koons have turned their love for music into a family affair.

The husband, wife and son trio, known as Wherligig, will perform traditional Celtic and Nordic music in celebration of the Summer Solstice this Thursday, June 21, at the Carroll Arts Center in Westminster.

Initially formed in 1985, Wherligig has evolved over the years in the type of music the group plays, the instruments they use and the members who play in the band.

Ken and Stephanie have been the core of the band since its inception, and several years ago son Ryan joined them to make it a...
[Read full story]

Business Briefs

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Main Street Minute
Turn up the heat for a new summer look

It's the first week of summer vacation and the transition from spring fashions to summer flip flops has begun.

If you're looking to add some pizzazz to your summer look without venturing too far from home, just take a walking, shopping tour of Downtown West...
[Read full story]

Recreation

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Sideline View

Athletes offered a banner year in Carroll County

It wasn't long ago that Carroll County was barely a factor when it came to state high school championships.

With the significant population boom of the past 15 years and the accompanying growth of youth feeder programs throughout the county, Carroll's high school teams started to become more competitive.

County programs took another huge step during the 2006 -07 school year, as five of seven Carroll high schools won state titles.

The run began in the fall, when the Francis Scott Key boys cross country team won the Class 2A...
[Read full story]

Opinion

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Familiar face at police barrack is benefit for Carroll County
Editorial

One of the first moves for the new Maryland State Police Superintendent Terrance Sheridan was a welcome one for Carroll County.

Last week Sheridan announced that he was reinstating longtime Westminster Barrack commander Lt. Dean Richardson to that post.

Richardson has been the comman...
[Read full story]

Wolf at the Door

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It's all over but the shouting, unless there's a legal battle
When Commissioner Michael Zimmer voted against the expansion of the Carroll County airport last week, my faith in human nature was renewed. I remember clearly who was holding up his signs on election day.

Now that the expansion has been included in the airport's master plan, there's still much to ...
[Read full story]

The Passing Parade

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There's a full house in the theater of the absurd ...
And it's little wonder, what with the series of absurdities that have dominated the media lately.

On center stage -- where I fear she'll remain until she's either carried off in a straight jacket or loses her girlish figure -- is that living Barbie doll, Paris Hilton, who was born into a fortune a...
[Read full story]

Healthy Recipe
Appealing taste comes from fresh bananas

This week's recipe focuses on the good health and taste of bananas, and is provided by JaDenna Jones, Health Educator and Cessation Coordinator for the Carroll County Health Department.

Discovered by Alexander the Great on his conquest of India in 327 B.C...
[Read full story]

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20070616 Petula Clark, Commissioner Minnich, Steve Powell, and Dave Roush sing “Our Barn.”

Petula Clark, Commissioner Minnich, Steve Powell, and Dave Roush sing “Our Barn.”

Saturday evening, June 16^th, 2007

I just filed my next Westminster Eagle column and in it Commissioner Dean Minnich, commissioners’ chief of staff Steve Powell, and Dave Roush are speculated as dancing in a chorus line singing “Our Barn” to the tune of Petula Clark’s November 1964 hit, “Downtown”

Hmmm.

Well, you should have read the first draft… Enough said.

This week’s column will be on the continuing efforts to relocate the historic Marlin K. Hoff log barn to the Carroll County Farm Museum.

Meanwhile, for the younger folks reading the blog, this is Petula Clark singing her November 1964 hit, “Downtown:”

Here – you can sing along with the lyrics:

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DOWNTOWN lyrics

And for a bonus, here’s “Petula Clark - This Is My Song”

I had wanted to post “Don’t Sleep in the Subway Darling,” but came across this and liked the video better...

An intelligent comment noted, “this song was originally written for the feature film "A Countess From Hong Kong" (starring Sophia Loren & Marlon Brando), with music and lyrics by Charlie Chaplin, who produced and directed the movie as well [his final film]. This performance came from "THE HOLLYWOOD PALACE" around the time the film was first released, in January 1967.”

Oh what the heck… here’s Don’t Sleep in the Subway Darling

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20060913 KDDC Hoff Memorial Barn ceremonial groundbreaking on October 8, 2006

"The Hoff Barn"
(c) Kevin Dayhoff May 6, 2006

Hoff Memorial Barn ceremonial groundbreaking on October 8, 2006

Posted September 13^th, 2006 by Kevin Dayhoff

Invitations have recently been mailed for the ceremonial groundbreaking of the “Marlin K. Hoff Memorial Log Barn.”

On Sunday, October 8 at 2 p.m., during the annual “Fall Harvest Days” at the Carroll County Farm Museum, our agricultural history and our modern-day celebration of that history will come together for a symbolic groundbreaking ceremony for an important addition to the museum, the “Marlin K. Hoff Memorial Log Barn.”

According to the Carroll County Farm Museum web site: “Fall Harvest Days, the Farm Museum's oldest and second largest event, is held each October to celebrate the arrival of autumn. A fun day for the whole family, the two-day event features traditional autumn happenings which include apple butter making, scarecrow making workshops, threshing and shelling demonstrations, tractor and mule-pulled wagon rides, and much more.”

For more information on Fall Harvest Days, click here.

I have two pieces on the importance of this exciting project. One on KDDC and one in my regular column with the Westminster Eagle: “Hoff Log Barn is on the move to a future role recalling Carroll County's history.”

In the earlier KDDC piece on May 6^th, 2006, titled “Historic Hoff Barn Relocation and Restoration Solicitors Breakfast,” I tried to make as many folks as possible aware of this significant addition to the Carroll County Farm Museum.

“Bright and early Saturday morning, Caroline and I attended a fund raising “Solicitor’s Breakfast” for an important project to relocate and restore an historic circa 1795 old German log bank barn. Perhaps one of only two or three left in the country, the barn is to be relocated to the Carroll County Farm Museum, in Westminster, Carroll County, Maryland and restored.

“The Hoff Barn Project” is a 501(c)(3) corporation and all contributions are tax deductible. Contributions can be mailed to “The Hoff Barn Project,” P. O. Box 124, Westminster, MD 21158. For more information, e-mail me. Put the words, “The Hoff Barn Project” in the subject line.

One of the better articles about the project was written by Mary Gail Hare, a staff writer for the Baltimore Sun, on March 27, 2005.”

You can see Ms. Hare’s article in my May 6^th, 2006 KDDC post here.

In my regular column with the Westminster Eagle: “Hoff Log Barn is on the move to a future role recalling Carroll County's history,” I introduced the August 30^th, 2006 story of the Hoff Barn:

By 1798, the area of western Carroll County - between Big Pipe Creek and Westminster, had 10 brick, 13 stone and 248 log homes, according to Carol Lee's 1982 "Legacy of the Land."

It also had 218 log barns.

One of those log barns was probably what we now know as the "Hoff Log Barn," built between 1785 and 1795 in nearby New Windsor.

The Maryland Historical Trust boasts that Hoff Barn is "One of the most significant farm buildings in Carroll County."

Fast forward more than 200 years, and there are very few log barns left in Carroll County - or the nation, for that matter. Some published accounts report that there are, maybe, three log barns left in Carroll County today.

The present location of the Hoff barn is a farm that has been owned by the Hoff family since 1869.

For the past 40 years, Kathy and the late Marlin K. Hoff have operated one of the largest and most prestigious dairy operations in Maryland on this property.

Before Mr. Hoff passed away Nov. 28, 2004, he had gotten the idea from talking with fellow farmer and community leader, Melvin Baile Sr., that the barn needed to be donated and saved for future generations to appreciate.

What better place to showcase the barn, than re-locating the log structure to the Carroll County Farm Museum?”

Read the rest of my column here.

Even if you have never set foot on a farm in your life, the enjoyment of our Carroll County way of life has it roots in the Hoff Log Barn and this effort is important to you. Please make a financial contribution to help pay for this significant historical investment in our community.

For more information, contact Bob Jones at 410-848-7687 or Melvin Baile Sr. at 410-848-9589. Checks can mailed to: “Marlin K. Hoff Memorial Log Barn,” PO Box 124, Westminster, MD 21158.

Meanwhile, I’ll look forward to seeing you at the Farm Museum on October 8.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA. E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org www.thetentacle.com Westminster Eagle Opinion and Winchester Report www.thewestminstereagle.com www.kevindayhoff.com

Agriculture

Volkmann watch

Hoff Barn - Marlin K. Hoff Memorial Log Barn in Carroll Co. MD,