Kevin Earl Dayhoff Art One-half Banana Stems

Kevin Earl Dayhoff Art One-half Banana Stems - www.kevindayhoff.com Address: PO Box 124, Westminster MD 21158 410-259-6403 kevindayhoff@gmail.com Runner, writer, artist, fire & police chaplain Mindless ramblings of a runner, journalist & artist: Travel, art, artists, authors, books, newspapers, media, writers and writing, journalists and journalism, reporters and reporting, technology, music, culture, opera... National & International politics www.kevindayhoff.net For community: www.kevindayhoff.org For art, technology, writing, & travel: www.kevindayhoff.com

Showing posts with label Carroll Co Schools. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Carroll Co Schools. Show all posts

Thursday, July 04, 2013

Kevin Dayhoff reading at Friendship Valley for Dr. Seuss day



Kevin Dayhoff reading at Friendship Valley for Dr. Seuss day


March 4, 2013

Kevin Dayhoff reading to elementary school children at Friendship Valley Elementary School in Westminster, Carroll County MD, for the GFWC Westminster Woman’s Club annual Dr. Seuss reading day event on March 4, 2013...

This is always so much fun and I look forward to it every year. Reading with the children is always an adventure and always lots of fun. 

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Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Kevin Dayhoff Eagle Archive Mike Eaton inspired a love of Carroll living



In a 2009 edition of the Historical Society of Carroll County publication, Carroll Courier, there is a picture dated March 1, 1950, of 5-year old Sally Adams with her cocker spaniel, Ricky, in front of Hoffman's Inn, 216 E. Main St., Westminster.

The photo accompanied a first-hand personal account of life on East Main Street and at Hoffman's Inn, from 1945 to 1961. The property is now known as Historical Society's gift shop, the Shop at Cockey's.

Early history of the property, which dates back to the 1820s, is complicated and reads like a Victorian soap opera. Nevertheless, it's where a great deal of the planning and creation of Carroll County took place. After the county was formed, Cockey's served for many years as part of the seat of county government.

"In 1922 Frank and Mary Hoffman bought the building and it became Hoffman's Inn and Boarding House. It was inherited by their daughter and operated by Thelma Hoffman until 1969."


William Granville "Mike" Eaton lived on the third floor of Hoffman's Inn for many years. Eaton came to Westminster in 1926 to attend then-Western Maryland College, now McDaniel, where he graduated in 1930. It was in that year that he began his teaching career at Elmer A. Wolfe High School in Union Bridge… http://www.baltimoresun.com/explore/carroll/neighborhoods/westminster/ph-ce-eagle-archive-0317-20130313,0,5153633.story




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Google profile: https://profiles.google.com/kevindayhoff/ “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Upcoming national political conventions are sure to be entertaining

Upcoming national political conventions are sure to be entertaining

By Kevin Dayhoff, August 12, 2012


One may look upon the Republican National Convention, in Tampa Florida on August 27-30 and the upcoming Democrat National Convention which will take place in Charlotte North Carolina September 3-6, as the Olympics of political contests for Americans - - or the full employment act for pundits and political journalists.

Today’s presidential nomination process is very different from the early days of the Republic when the two major parties, the “Federalists” and the “Democrat-Republicans” – the forerunner of the today’s Democrat Party; determined their respective presidential nominees by a “caucus” made-up of members of Congress or state legislatures. This process prevailed through 1828.

The first national political convention of what we now know as the two major political parties; was held by the Democrat Party in Baltimore May 21 and 23, 1832.

According to a brief history of the Maryland Democratic Party written by Carroll County historian, and former Maryland Secretary of State, John T. Willis., it “was held at the Atheneum (and Warfield’s Church) … located on the southwest corner of St. Paul and Lexington Streets. Twelve delegates from each county and six delegates from Baltimore City were invited to attend.” 

“In the 19th century, difficulties of travel led to the selection of centrally located cities as convention sites. Baltimore, located midway along the Atlantic seaboard, was a favorite choice in early years,” says the Washington Congressional Research Service.

From 1832 to 1872, eight of the twelve Democrat Party national conventions were held in Baltimore. Considering that two of the main routes to Baltimore from all points west travel through Carroll County, an historian’s imagination can run wild as to what national political figures may have passed through Carroll County in those days.

What we now know as the Republican Party essentially began in 1854 and replaced the Whig Party, which had replaced the much earlier Federalist Party.

It would be an understatement to suggest that the events that will take place in Tampa later in the month are quite different from the first Republican National Convention, June 17 to 19, 1856.

That convention was attended by 600 delegates and 100 news reporters, who had ample room to move in the 1200 seat Musical Fund Hall, near 8th and Locust Street in Philadelphia.

The Musical Fund Hall still stands. In 1980 developers saved the long neglected building from demolition and turned it into an apartment house.

The Republican Party was in its infancy, having been organized only two years earlier in at a meeting in Ripon, Wisconsin from a mishmash of anti-slavery Democrats, the remnants of the Whig Party, abolitionists, and “Free-Soilers.”

The original driving force of the party was to fight the “Kansas-Nebraska Act,” which had opened new United States territories to slavery in spite of the “Missouri Compromise of 1820.”

Originally the party was a single-issue consortium of citizens who were adamantly opposed to slavery. Although, many of the tenets of the party, that remain in place today; economic development, education, limited government with an emphasis on individual freedoms and a personal responsibility for one’s future fate, were ancillary issues gluing together a volatile mix of groups and individuals dedicated to abolishing slavery at any cost.

According to the “Independence Hall Association” in Philadelphia; the key plank was firm opposition to the extension of slavery. "It is the duty of Congress to prohibit in the territories those twin relics of barbarism, polygamy, and slavery.”

Many historians consider the very first national Republic get together to be an informal “convention” in Pittsburg, earlier that year on February 22 and 23rd. The purpose of that meeting was to organize the June 1856 convention, which went to nominate John C. Fremont, from California, to be Republican presidential candidate and William Dayton from New Jersey to be the vice presidential candidate.

As the Olympics draw to a close and the end of the summer looms on the horizon, you can be sure that the upcoming Republican and Democrat National Conventions are sure to provide some great end of summer entertainment.

Sort of like the upcoming season 12 of American Idol of Fox TV meets the Oracle of Delphi from Greek mythology with a twist of Survivor thrown-in for some reality.

Only the convention reality shows are carefully scripted; minutely choreographed and in the end, after certain folks have been voted off the island, everyone comes together to sing about a great and wonderful future under either the Republican or the Democrat nominee for president… Or something like that - anyway… Whatever.

#######




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Google profile: https://profiles.google.com/kevindayhoff/ “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10

Monday, May 16, 2011

Democratic Advocate, May 16, 1924 The Second Annual Carroll County High School Eisteddfod

Eisteddfod Wonderful - 330 Pupils, Represented 10 High School.

Audience of 1500 Pack Alumni Hall.

Westminster Leads In Points

The Second Annual High School Eisteddfod, or inter-scholastic music contest, which was held in Alumni Hall Western Maryland College, Friday night, May 9th, was a marked success with 330 pupils, representing ten schools, participating.

The contest idea in music dates far back in the history of the art, with the Meistersingers as an early notable example, and the Welsch Eisteddfod as the best perpetuation of the old custom, but the adoption of the music performance contest in this country, and particularly among schools, has been of comparatively recent date.

Westminster again carried off the honors with a score of 484 points out of a possible 600; Union Bridge ranked second with 433 points, and Hampstead third, scoring 424 points.

The Orchestra number, which was the first event of the evening, was won by Westminster playing "Apple Blossoms" by Roberts and directed by Miss Annette Fillmore.  Democratic Advocate, May 16, 1924.

[19240516 Eisteddfod Wonderful Demo Advo] 


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Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Carroll County MD Public Schools to close one-hour early today shar.es/XFTJo

Carroll County Public Schools to close one-hour early today

By Kevin Dayhoff  shar.es/XFTJo 

Posted 1/11/11 Kevin Dayhoff Explore Carroll: Carroll County Public Schools to close one-hour early today http://www.explorecarroll.com/news/5065/carroll-county-public-schools-close-one-hour-early-today/

Carroll County Public Schools announced at 10:20 this morning that it will close Carroll County schools one-hour early today.  All afternoon and evening activities are canceled and there will be no afternoon Pre-K because of expected inclement weather later this afternoon in the Carroll County area.

Various weather reports indicate that the Carroll County area could possibly see an accumulation of three to five inches beginning jst around the time folks will start heading home from work.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a “Winter Weather Advisory” for the Carroll, Frederick, Howard, Baltimore County area.  According to the NWS, “Low pressure off the Carolina coast will strengthen and quickly move northward up the Eastern Seaboard.  The wintry mix of precipitation associated with this storm will continue to progress northward along the East Coast…”

According to weatherbug.com, later this evening two major storm systems will combine “to form a classic coastal storm” along the east coast.  “An area of low pressure, the same one responsible for heavy snow and freezing rain across the Southeast, has pushed off the Georgia coast, and is starting to march northeastward toward the North Carolina Outer Banks.  Meanwhile, a second area of low pressure is chugging eastward through the Ohio Valley, bringing along another plume of snow from the Mid-Mississippi Valley to the Midwest.”

Frank Roylance, who writes about “Maryland Weather” in the Baltimore Sun notes, “NWS forecasters expect temperatures to hold in the lower 30s, so the event is likely to remain all-snow…. 

“Central and Southern Maryland should expect 3 to 5 inches of snow tonight, with the heaviest amounts close to the Chesapeake Bay, falling off to the west and south.”

Emergencyemail.org reports that a winter storm watch now in effect from Tuesday afternoon through late Tuesday night with the potential for five or more inches of snow.

The snow is predicted to develop during the late afternoon or early evening on Tuesday and continue through Tuesday night with temperatures in the lower 30s and dip to the 20s Tuesday night and northwest winds five to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph later in the evening.

A winter storm watch, according to emergencyemail.com, means “there is a potential for significant snow accumulations that may impact travel.”

The weather predictions of snow in the Carroll County area come on the heels of last Saturday morning’s light dusting of snow that triggered the snow emergency plan for the Carroll County area for several hours in the morning, but for the most part, only amounted to being a nuisance.

According to a Westminster street department employee, the road crews for Westminster city reported for work around 4 a.m. and easily got the light dusting under control.

At approximately 9 o’clock Saturday morning, the main roads at the intersection of Liberty and Main Street at the railroad tracks made for a picturesque winter-in-Westminster scene, but otherwise, the streets were in good shape for driving. 

(Photo by Kevin Dayhoff January 8, 2011.)



shar.es/XFTJo  Kevin Dayhoff Explore Carroll: Carroll County Public Schools to close one-hour early today.  http://twitpic.com/3p5ot7


*****

Thursday, February 05, 2009

Carroll County Public Schools Foundation Chocolate Ball

Carroll County Public Schools Foundation Chocolate Ball

CCPS Foundation Home

THE CARROLL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS EDUCATION FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES ITS FIRST ANNUAL
Saturday, February 14th, 2009 - 7:30 to 11pm at the Westminster Riding Club

Highlights of the evening will include an chef's chocolate dessert contest, a student art gallery, chocolate martinis, a silent auction, special keepsakes and many surprises!

VIP Reception from 7-8pm will include hors d’oeuvres, reserved seating and guests Jamie Costello (ABC’s Good Morning Maryland) and Dr. Chuck Ecker, CCPS Superintendent.

$75 per person—$100 VIP per person
Sponsorship opportunities also available!

All proceeds benefit the students of Carroll County Public Schools.

For more information or to purchase tickets, please call Andie at 410-751-3098 or email her at ajluchi AT k12.carr.org.


Carroll County Public Schools EDUCATION FOUNDATION
125 N. Court Street Westminster, MD 21157 (410) 751-3098
All Rights Reserved Copyright 2007-2008 ©

Need Directions? Have Questions?

http://www.ccpsfoundation.org/

CCPS Foundation Home
Annual Reports
Board of Trustees
Donors List
Foundation Awards
Foundation Documents
Frequently Asked Questions
Grantors, Sponsors, and Partnerships
Help the Foundation
Honors and Memorials
Mission and Vision
Photo Galleries
Upcoming Events

Board of Trustees
CCPS EDUCATION FOUNDATIONBOARD OF TRUSTEES
Mrs. Teresa Asher - Owner, Dream Dinners Eldersburg
Mr. Anthony Chiavacci - President, Kojak Graphic Communications, Inc.
Mr. Phil Cornblatt - Principal, Reznick Group, PC
Mr. Chuck Faunce - Director of Business Valuation & Litigation Support Services, RSM McGladrey
Mr. Todd Frager - CFO, Spectrum K12 School Solutions
Mrs. Virginia Harrison - Chair, Carroll County Human Relations Commission
Mr. Andrew Heck - Senior Vice President, PNC Business Banking
Mr. Robert Long - Board Chair - General Manager, Heritage of Westminster
Mrs. Nancy McCormick - Economic Development Director City of Taneytown
Mr. Douglas Myers - President & CEO, Asbury Foundation
Ms. Patricia Richardson - Publisher, Carroll County Times
Mr. Christian Roemer - Assistant Principal, East Middle School
Dr. Phil Ruzbarsky - President, Airpark Primary Care
Mr. Paul Scholz - Division Chief, Department of Health & Mental Hygiene
Mrs. Carolyn Scott - Former Member, Board of Education of Carroll County
Mrs. Marlene Titus - Manager, Miller Small Business Resource Center, Carroll Community College
Mrs. Jean Wasmer - School Community Volunteer
Ms. Elizabeth Welliver - Student, Winters Mill High School


Ex Officio Members:
Mr. Gary Bauer - Member, Board of Education of Carroll County
Dr. Charles Ecker - CCPS Superintendent of Schools
Ms. Carey Gaddis - CCPS Supervisor of Community and Media Relations
Ms. Robin Kable - CCPS Coordinator of Business & Community Partnerships

20090214 CCPS Foundation Chocolate Ball
SDOSM 20090204
Kevin Dayhoff www.kevindayhoff.net http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/
Kevin Dayhoff Art http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/

Friday, October 31, 2008

Carroll County Times Newspapers In Education Fundraiser November 6 2008

Carroll County Times Newspapers In Education Fundraiser November 6 2008

Friday, October 31, 2008 by Kevin Dayhoff

I used the Newspapers in Education curriculum for a “Community Learning Center” after school program I taught for students at risk in 2007.

I taught students to collage their own newspaper by using the print editions of the Carroll County Times.

Don’t tell the students but they did not know that they were being taught remedial reading in the process.

In the past I have supported the program by donating art for the annual auction fundraiser – which this year will be held on November 6th, 2008. See below for more details.

Yesterday, I dropped off art for my contribution for this year.

For more information, call 410-857-8554 and ask for Gwen Welty and tell her that I asked you to call…

This community initiative by the Carroll County is worthy of your support:

Each year the Times holds several major fundraisers to support the NIE program. The largest is the annual Newspapers in Education Holiday Auction in the fall. Gift certificate block sales may be held throughout the year.

Newspapers in Education Holiday Auction

Newspapers in Education Holiday Auction
Thursday, November 6, 2008

B and D Auctions (formerly O'Farrell's Auctions)
435 Sullivan Road
Westminster, MD 21157

Preview and silent auction begins at 5 p.m. Live auction begins at 6 p.m.Hundreds of items and gift certificates will be on the block to benefit local students. Refreshments will be available. Click here to preview a list of auction items.

For information on how to donate to the auction, contact the NIE coordinator at 410-857-8554 or gwen.welty@carrollcountytimes.com.

Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express and checks payable to Community Foundation of Carroll County/NIE will be accepted. For more information contact the NIE Coordinator at 410-857-8554 or gwen.welty@carrollcountytimes.com.

20081031 CCT NIE Fundraiser Nov 6 2008

http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/info/nie/fundraisers/

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

20080512 West Middle School to celebrate its 50th anniversary


Westminster West Middle School to celebrate its 50th anniversary

By Kevin Dayhoff May 12, 2008

This Saturday, West Middle School, 60 Monroe Street in Westminster, will celebrate its 50th anniversary from 10 a.m. to 12 noon.

Currently one of nine middle schools in the county for grades six through eight, it was originally built in 1958 alongside the William Winchester Elementary School on a 24-acre portion of the old Albaugh and Babylon farm.

When it was first constructed it was named the Westminster Junior High School and it housed grades seven through nine.

This Saturday the festivities will include 1950s food refreshments, videos and interviews and an antique car show. If you are one of the more than 20,000 students who attended either the middle or junior high school there, this is a wonderful time to revisit. The event is open to the public.

For more information please call the school at 410-751-3661 or go the school’s 50th anniversary web site at: www.carrollk12.org/wml/anniversary.htm.

Kevin Dayhoff can be reached at: kdayhoff@carr.org

####

Saturday, April 05, 2008

20080402 Westminster Eagle articles by Kevin Dayhoff and Heidi Schroeder on Carroll County Board of Education Jeff Morse’s resignation

Westminster Eagle articles by Kevin Dayhoff and Heidi Schroeder on Carroll County Board of Education Jeff Morse’s resignation:

Jeff Morse incident is a lost opportunity by Kevin E. Dayhoff

April 2, 2008

Over the past few weeks it was revealed that Carroll County Board of Education member Jeff Morse used a racial slur while describing a rock formation during a review of construction at the new Manchester Valley High School.

The incident ultimately led to Mr. Morse resigning from his position with ...

[Read full story]


School board eyes options after Morse resignation By Heidi Schroeder Friday, April 04

The chair of the Carroll County Human Relations Commission said this week that while Board of Education member Jeffrey Morse's recent use of a racial slur was "stupid" and "insensitive," she was sorry that the incident ended with his resignation on March 26.

"It was a stupid thing to do, it was an... [Read full story]



Jeff Morse incident is a lost opportunity by Kevin E. Dayhoff

April 2, 2008

Over the past few weeks it was revealed that Carroll County Board of Education member Jeff Morse used a racial slur while describing a rock formation during a review of construction at the new Manchester Valley High School.

The incident ultimately led to Mr. Morse resigning from his position with the school board last week.

The events have brought up a fair amount of talk about the history of race relations in Carroll County.

One of the topics in subsequent community discussion has been the persistent rumor of Ku Klux Klan activity in Carroll County -- an urban legend which is not supported by history.

Some confusion regarding the KKK in our county may stem from a instance in August 1998 in which a KKK rally was held in Carroll County, Virginia -- not here in Maryland. A Klan member was subsequently prosecuted for burning a cross.

The case went all the way to the Supreme Court, Virginia v. Black, where the decision was overturned. The white defendant's attorney, by the way, was David P. Baugh, an African-American.

This brings to mind Supreme Court Justice Hugo Lafayette Black, whose enduring legacy is his steadfast advocacy for equal rights.

Justice Black figured prominently in three landmark cases involving civil rights issues: Chambers v. Florida, 1940; Gideon v. Wainwright, 1963; and Betts v. Brady, a 1942 case which involved the right to legal counsel (that case did originate in Carroll County).

Justice Black had been nominated to the Supreme Court in 1937. His confirmation was difficult after allegations surfaced that he was a former Ku Klux Klan member (a fact which Justice Black admitted in a famous speech in October 1937 after he was confirmed).

The work of civil rights in our nation would have suffered a serious setback if Justice Black had been denied a seat on the Supreme Court.

One advantage we have in living in Carroll is that it is still small enough to hold our leadership to high standards.

So it was that after Mr. Morse offended and hurt our friends and neighbors with his remark that the community demanded that he be held accountable.

Mr. Morse made a terrible mistake, for which he apologized and then put action to words. He resigned last Wednesday, but the following evening he attended a Carroll County NAACP meeting with Superintendent Dr. Charles Ecker and school board President Cynthia Foley.

Mr. Morse's remark comes at a time when folks are beginning to realize that while we may not have "KKK running around," we just may have very polite prejudice -- and we need to talk about it.

Yet, many folks are reluctant to talk about race for fear of making a mistake and being branded a racist. After all, "No good deed goes unpunished" is the motto of many community activists in Carroll County.

Nevertheless, the Carroll County NAACP is working hard to facilitate meaningful conversation about racial relations in Carroll County.

Please do not confuse the local NAACP chapter with the national NAACP's Baltimore chapter, which seemingly finds racists hiding in every difficult moment.

When the national and Baltimore chapters wanted to brand Carroll County racist as a result of the Bowling Brook incident, it was the Carroll chapter who stood up for our county.

And so it was true that the Carroll County NAACP chapter did NOT call for Mr. Morse's resignation -- and for good reasons.

Nelson Mandela said it best. To not forgive is the same as us taking poison ... and then waiting for our enemies to die.

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that," observed Martin Luther King Jr. "Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. ... (T)oughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction."

By many accounts Mr. Morse is not a racist. He has just received a crash course in sensitivity and, if he had remained on the board, all indications were that Mr. Morse would have taken the lessons learned and put them to work for all of us.

Now, we will never know.

In light of Mr. Morse's resignation it is hard to find a win-win in this difficult series of events. One thing that we have learned is that the Carroll County NAACP is part of the solution.

Hopefully, we can also learn that good folks make mistakes. And if we bestow such dire consequences to good folks, what are we going to do when we are faced with a real racist in our community?

I'm just asking.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster. E-mail him at kdayhoff@carr.org.

####



School board eyes options after Morse resignation

04/02/08 By Heidi Schroeder

The chair of the Carroll County Human Relations Commission said this week that while Board of Education member Jeffrey Morse's recent use of a racial slur was "stupid" and "insensitive," she was sorry that the incident ended with his resignation on March 26.

"It was a stupid thing to do, it was an insensitive thing to do, he should never have said it," said Virginia Harrison, chair of the Human Relations Commission, of the comment, but added, "but I just felt like ... as a community we should have been able to resolve the issue."

Morse submitted his resignation following the school board's March 26 meeting.

The resignation followed an apology to the board last week for making an "inappropriate comment" during a tour of the under-construction Manchester Valley High School. The school board did not reveal what the statement was, but acknowledged that someone on that tour had lodged a complaint, which led to a board review.

In a statement from the school board, officials noted Morse's apology to those on the tour and to citizen groups, including the NAACP and Human Relations Commission, but said that after hearing citizen comments on the issue at the board meeting, Morse determined it was in the best interest of the board to resign.

Carroll County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Charles Ecker said that at the March 26 meeting, six or seven residents requested to speak. After those comments -- of which Ecker said some were in favor of Morse's resignation and some were opposed -- the board met in closed session and accepted Morse's resignation.

Harrison said she was sad that the situation reached that conclusion.

"I was very sorry that he resigned, because I felt that it was something that could have been resolved," Harrison said.

She was among those to whom Morse apologized following the comment, and Harrison said that his willingness to meet with community leaders and discuss his comment was "courageous."

Morse had been selected by Gov. Martin O'Malley from a field of 22 applications to join the board in May 2007 following Thomas Hiltz's resignation.

In the event of a vacancy -- such as Hiltz's -- the governor is responsible for appointing a new representative to the vacant post.

However, given the proximity of the November election -- when voters will elect candidates for Morse's former seat and the seat currently held by board president Cynthia Foley -- Ecker said he plans to propose to Gov. Martin O'Malley that the board operate with four members until the election occurs.

####

Thursday, April 03, 2008

20080402 Westminster Eagle articles by Kevin Dayhoff and Heidi Schroeder on Carroll County Board of Education Jeff Morse’s resignation

20080402 Westminster Eagle articles by Kevin Dayhoff and Heidi Schroeder on Carroll County Board of Education Jeff Morse’s resignation

Westminster Eagle articles by Kevin Dayhoff and Heidi Schroeder on Carroll County Board of Education Jeff Morse’s resignation:

Jeff Morse incident is a lost opportunity by Kevin E. Dayhoff

April 2, 2008

Over the past few weeks it was revealed that Carroll County Board of Education member Jeff Morse used a racial slur while describing a rock formation during a review of construction at the new Manchester Valley High School.

The incident ultimately led to Mr. Morse resigning from his position with ...

[Read full story]


School board eyes options after Morse resignation By Heidi Schroeder Friday, April 04

The chair of the Carroll County Human Relations Commission said this week that while Board of Education member Jeffrey Morse's recent use of a racial slur was "stupid" and "insensitive," she was sorry that the incident ended with his resignation on March 26.

"It was a stupid thing to do, it was an... [Read full story]



Jeff Morse incident is a lost opportunity by Kevin E. Dayhoff

April 2, 2008

Over the past few weeks it was revealed that Carroll County Board of Education member Jeff Morse used a racial slur while describing a rock formation during a review of construction at the new Manchester Valley High School.

The incident ultimately led to Mr. Morse resigning from his position with the school board last week.

The events have brought up a fair amount of talk about the history of race relations in Carroll County.

One of the topics in subsequent community discussion has been the persistent rumor of Ku Klux Klan activity in Carroll County -- an urban legend which is not supported by history.

Some confusion regarding the KKK in our county may stem from a instance in August 1998 in which a KKK rally was held in Carroll County, Virginia -- not here in Maryland. A Klan member was subsequently prosecuted for burning a cross.

The case went all the way to the Supreme Court, Virginia v. Black, where the decision was overturned. The white defendant's attorney, by the way, was David P. Baugh, an African-American.

This brings to mind Supreme Court Justice Hugo Lafayette Black, whose enduring legacy is his steadfast advocacy for equal rights.

Justice Black figured prominently in three landmark cases involving civil rights issues: Chambers v. Florida, 1940; Gideon v. Wainwright, 1963; and Betts v. Brady, a 1942 case which involved the right to legal counsel (that case did originate in Carroll County).

Justice Black had been nominated to the Supreme Court in 1937. His confirmation was difficult after allegations surfaced that he was a former Ku Klux Klan member (a fact which Justice Black admitted in a famous speech in October 1937 after he was confirmed).

The work of civil rights in our nation would have suffered a serious setback if Justice Black had been denied a seat on the Supreme Court.

One advantage we have in living in Carroll is that it is still small enough to hold our leadership to high standards.

So it was that after Mr. Morse offended and hurt our friends and neighbors with his remark that the community demanded that he be held accountable.

Mr. Morse made a terrible mistake, for which he apologized and then put action to words. He resigned last Wednesday, but the following evening he attended a Carroll County NAACP meeting with Superintendent Dr. Charles Ecker and school board President Cynthia Foley.

Mr. Morse's remark comes at a time when folks are beginning to realize that while we may not have "KKK running around," we just may have very polite prejudice -- and we need to talk about it.

Yet, many folks are reluctant to talk about race for fear of making a mistake and being branded a racist. After all, "No good deed goes unpunished" is the motto of many community activists in Carroll County.

Nevertheless, the Carroll County NAACP is working hard to facilitate meaningful conversation about racial relations in Carroll County.

Please do not confuse the local NAACP chapter with the national NAACP's Baltimore chapter, which seemingly finds racists hiding in every difficult moment.

When the national and Baltimore chapters wanted to brand Carroll County racist as a result of the Bowling Brook incident, it was the Carroll chapter who stood up for our county.

And so it was true that the Carroll County NAACP chapter did NOT call for Mr. Morse's resignation -- and for good reasons.

Nelson Mandela said it best. To not forgive is the same as us taking poison ... and then waiting for our enemies to die.

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that," observed Martin Luther King Jr. "Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. ... (T)oughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction."

By many accounts Mr. Morse is not a racist. He has just received a crash course in sensitivity and, if he had remained on the board, all indications were that Mr. Morse would have taken the lessons learned and put them to work for all of us.

Now, we will never know.

In light of Mr. Morse's resignation it is hard to find a win-win in this difficult series of events. One thing that we have learned is that the Carroll County NAACP is part of the solution.

Hopefully, we can also learn that good folks make mistakes. And if we bestow such dire consequences to good folks, what are we going to do when we are faced with a real racist in our community?

I'm just asking.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster. E-mail him at kdayhoff@carr.org.

####



School board eyes options after Morse resignation

04/02/08 By Heidi Schroeder

The chair of the Carroll County Human Relations Commission said this week that while Board of Education member Jeffrey Morse's recent use of a racial slur was "stupid" and "insensitive," she was sorry that the incident ended with his resignation on March 26.

"It was a stupid thing to do, it was an insensitive thing to do, he should never have said it," said Virginia Harrison, chair of the Human Relations Commission, of the comment, but added, "but I just felt like ... as a community we should have been able to resolve the issue."

Morse submitted his resignation following the school board's March 26 meeting.

The resignation followed an apology to the board last week for making an "inappropriate comment" during a tour of the under-construction Manchester Valley High School. The school board did not reveal what the statement was, but acknowledged that someone on that tour had lodged a complaint, which led to a board review.

In a statement from the school board, officials noted Morse's apology to those on the tour and to citizen groups, including the NAACP and Human Relations Commission, but said that after hearing citizen comments on the issue at the board meeting, Morse determined it was in the best interest of the board to resign.

Carroll County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Charles Ecker said that at the March 26 meeting, six or seven residents requested to speak. After those comments -- of which Ecker said some were in favor of Morse's resignation and some were opposed -- the board met in closed session and accepted Morse's resignation.

Harrison said she was sad that the situation reached that conclusion.

"I was very sorry that he resigned, because I felt that it was something that could have been resolved," Harrison said.

She was among those to whom Morse apologized following the comment, and Harrison said that his willingness to meet with community leaders and discuss his comment was "courageous."

Morse had been selected by Gov. Martin O'Malley from a field of 22 applications to join the board in May 2007 following Thomas Hiltz's resignation.

In the event of a vacancy -- such as Hiltz's -- the governor is responsible for appointing a new representative to the vacant post.

However, given the proximity of the November election -- when voters will elect candidates for Morse's former seat and the seat currently held by board president Cynthia Foley -- Ecker said he plans to propose to Gov. Martin O'Malley that the board operate with four members until the election occurs.

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NBH

20080402 Westminster Eagle articles by Kevin Dayhoff and Heidi Schroeder on Carroll County Board of Education Jeff Morse’s resignation

20080402 Westminster Eagle articles by Kevin Dayhoff and Heidi Schroeder on Carroll County Board of Education Jeff Morse’s resignation

Westminster Eagle articles by Kevin Dayhoff and Heidi Schroeder on Carroll County Board of Education Jeff Morse’s resignation:

Jeff Morse incident is a lost opportunity by Kevin E. Dayhoff

April 2, 2008

Over the past few weeks it was revealed that Carroll County Board of Education member Jeff Morse used a racial slur while describing a rock formation during a review of construction at the new Manchester Valley High School.

The incident ultimately led to Mr. Morse resigning from his position with ...

[Read full story]


School board eyes options after Morse resignation By Heidi Schroeder Friday, April 04

The chair of the Carroll County Human Relations Commission said this week that while Board of Education member Jeffrey Morse's recent use of a racial slur was "stupid" and "insensitive," she was sorry that the incident ended with his resignation on March 26.

"It was a stupid thing to do, it was an... [Read full story]



Jeff Morse incident is a lost opportunity by Kevin E. Dayhoff

April 2, 2008

Over the past few weeks it was revealed that Carroll County Board of Education member Jeff Morse used a racial slur while describing a rock formation during a review of construction at the new Manchester Valley High School.

The incident ultimately led to Mr. Morse resigning from his position with the school board last week.

The events have brought up a fair amount of talk about the history of race relations in Carroll County.

One of the topics in subsequent community discussion has been the persistent rumor of Ku Klux Klan activity in Carroll County -- an urban legend which is not supported by history.

Some confusion regarding the KKK in our county may stem from a instance in August 1998 in which a KKK rally was held in Carroll County, Virginia -- not here in Maryland. A Klan member was subsequently prosecuted for burning a cross.

The case went all the way to the Supreme Court, Virginia v. Black, where the decision was overturned. The white defendant's attorney, by the way, was David P. Baugh, an African-American.

This brings to mind Supreme Court Justice Hugo Lafayette Black, whose enduring legacy is his steadfast advocacy for equal rights.

Justice Black figured prominently in three landmark cases involving civil rights issues: Chambers v. Florida, 1940; Gideon v. Wainwright, 1963; and Betts v. Brady, a 1942 case which involved the right to legal counsel (that case did originate in Carroll County).

Justice Black had been nominated to the Supreme Court in 1937. His confirmation was difficult after allegations surfaced that he was a former Ku Klux Klan member (a fact which Justice Black admitted in a famous speech in October 1937 after he was confirmed).

The work of civil rights in our nation would have suffered a serious setback if Justice Black had been denied a seat on the Supreme Court.

One advantage we have in living in Carroll is that it is still small enough to hold our leadership to high standards.

So it was that after Mr. Morse offended and hurt our friends and neighbors with his remark that the community demanded that he be held accountable.

Mr. Morse made a terrible mistake, for which he apologized and then put action to words. He resigned last Wednesday, but the following evening he attended a Carroll County NAACP meeting with Superintendent Dr. Charles Ecker and school board President Cynthia Foley.

Mr. Morse's remark comes at a time when folks are beginning to realize that while we may not have "KKK running around," we just may have very polite prejudice -- and we need to talk about it.

Yet, many folks are reluctant to talk about race for fear of making a mistake and being branded a racist. After all, "No good deed goes unpunished" is the motto of many community activists in Carroll County.

Nevertheless, the Carroll County NAACP is working hard to facilitate meaningful conversation about racial relations in Carroll County.

Please do not confuse the local NAACP chapter with the national NAACP's Baltimore chapter, which seemingly finds racists hiding in every difficult moment.

When the national and Baltimore chapters wanted to brand Carroll County racist as a result of the Bowling Brook incident, it was the Carroll chapter who stood up for our county.

And so it was true that the Carroll County NAACP chapter did NOT call for Mr. Morse's resignation -- and for good reasons.

Nelson Mandela said it best. To not forgive is the same as us taking poison ... and then waiting for our enemies to die.

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that," observed Martin Luther King Jr. "Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. ... (T)oughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction."

By many accounts Mr. Morse is not a racist. He has just received a crash course in sensitivity and, if he had remained on the board, all indications were that Mr. Morse would have taken the lessons learned and put them to work for all of us.

Now, we will never know.

In light of Mr. Morse's resignation it is hard to find a win-win in this difficult series of events. One thing that we have learned is that the Carroll County NAACP is part of the solution.

Hopefully, we can also learn that good folks make mistakes. And if we bestow such dire consequences to good folks, what are we going to do when we are faced with a real racist in our community?

I'm just asking.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster. E-mail him at kdayhoff@carr.org.

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School board eyes options after Morse resignation

04/02/08 By Heidi Schroeder

The chair of the Carroll County Human Relations Commission said this week that while Board of Education member Jeffrey Morse's recent use of a racial slur was "stupid" and "insensitive," she was sorry that the incident ended with his resignation on March 26.

"It was a stupid thing to do, it was an insensitive thing to do, he should never have said it," said Virginia Harrison, chair of the Human Relations Commission, of the comment, but added, "but I just felt like ... as a community we should have been able to resolve the issue."

Morse submitted his resignation following the school board's March 26 meeting.

The resignation followed an apology to the board last week for making an "inappropriate comment" during a tour of the under-construction Manchester Valley High School. The school board did not reveal what the statement was, but acknowledged that someone on that tour had lodged a complaint, which led to a board review.

In a statement from the school board, officials noted Morse's apology to those on the tour and to citizen groups, including the NAACP and Human Relations Commission, but said that after hearing citizen comments on the issue at the board meeting, Morse determined it was in the best interest of the board to resign.

Carroll County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Charles Ecker said that at the March 26 meeting, six or seven residents requested to speak. After those comments -- of which Ecker said some were in favor of Morse's resignation and some were opposed -- the board met in closed session and accepted Morse's resignation.

Harrison said she was sad that the situation reached that conclusion.

"I was very sorry that he resigned, because I felt that it was something that could have been resolved," Harrison said.

She was among those to whom Morse apologized following the comment, and Harrison said that his willingness to meet with community leaders and discuss his comment was "courageous."

Morse had been selected by Gov. Martin O'Malley from a field of 22 applications to join the board in May 2007 following Thomas Hiltz's resignation.

In the event of a vacancy -- such as Hiltz's -- the governor is responsible for appointing a new representative to the vacant post.

However, given the proximity of the November election -- when voters will elect candidates for Morse's former seat and the seat currently held by board president Cynthia Foley -- Ecker said he plans to propose to Gov. Martin O'Malley that the board operate with four members until the election occurs.

####

NBH