Westminster and state officials cut the ribbon on downtown sidewalk retrofit project

Westminster and state officials cut the ribbon on downtown sidewalk retrofit project

Westminster and state officials joined together Tuesday morning to cut the ribbon on over 200 new disabilities-compliant sidewalk curb cuts throughout downtown Westminster

By Kevin E. Dayhoff, 

Tuesday, November 05, 2013

Westminster city officials and representatives from four Maryland state government departments gathered together Tuesday morning in front of the Westminster Recreation and Parks Family Center on Longwell Avenue to celebrate, and cut the ribbon, on an unprecedented groundbreaking $318,000 partnership that resulted in the completion of 214 new or rebuilt ADA-compliant curb ramps in the downtown area.

“What a wonderful project this is and with so many partners, said Westminster mayor Kevin Utz in prepared remarks for the occasion, after he was introduced by Mark Vernarelli, spokesperson for the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.

“With these partners 4 curb ramps were reconstructed, 64 curb ramps were modified and 164 new curb ramps were installed…” Because of this partnership, “over 200 ADA Compliant curb ramps now exist in Downtown Westminster,” explained Utz.

Utz read-off a long list of state secretaries and dignitaries who traveled from state offices in Baltimore and Annapolis for the occasion; including MD Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services Secretary Gary Maynard, Deputy Secretary J. Michael Stouffer, Public Safety Works Coordinator John Rowley, Director of Corrections Felicia Hinton, and Facility Administrator Leonard Rice.

Also present were Department of Disabilities Secretary Catherine Raggio, Deputy Secretary George Failla, Jr., and Access Maryland Director Cari Watrous as well as MD Department of Housing & Community Development: Assistant Secretary Carol Gilbert, Director of Community Programs Cindy Stone, and Project Manager Dona Sorce.

Along with Tony Romano, a representative of Romano Concrete Construction and Ronnie Townes, 21, an inmate who helped build the curbs; MD Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation Coordinator, Career and Technology Programs Ken Weeden, Field Director of Correctional Education Jack Cunning, and David Bordley were there to cut the ribbon and discuss the unprecedented city, state and private partnership.

According to information provided by the department of public safety, DPSCS, the project was “Grant-funded thanks to work by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development … The curb project is the largest project of its kind ever done by inmates in the DPSCS Public Safety Works community project initiative. The inmates learned concrete skills from Romano Concrete, a longtime and valued partner with DPSCS.”

Westminster mayor Kevin Utz was joined by Westminster Common Council president Dr. Robert Wack, council member Tony Chiavacci, city administrator Marge Wolf, public works director Jeff Glass, police chief Jeff Spaulding, , Community Programs Specialist Sandy Anderson, city engineer Mike Matov, assistant street superintendent Wayne Reifsnider and recreation and parks director Abby Gruber.

Planning for the project began in earnest after a similar, but much smaller partnership was called to Glass’ attention in the summer of 2012. “We submitted the grant application on August 27,” said Anderson. “The actual work on the sidewalks began last May.”

“I’m very pleased that what initially started as a conversation with Secretary Maynard and Secretary Skinner has become a model partnership between the City of Westminster and three state agencies – Disabilities, Public Safety and Corrections, and Housing and Community Development,” said MD Dept. of Disabilities Secretary Catherine Raggio. “As a result of this partnership, we now have sidewalks that are safer and more accessible for individuals with disabilities, seniors and others.”

“DPSCS worked with the MD Dept. of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation to secure the partnership with Romano Concrete---with whom DPSCS inmates previously worked on the Eastern Shore at Cambridge in a similar but smaller project,” according to information provided by DPSCS. “This project is the first to give inmates DLLR on-the-job certifications.”

“It’s been a great project… It’s made a big difference for (getting around) downtown,” said Glass. Wolf and Utz agreed. “Everybody was a winner,” said Wolf.

Maynard called the inmate restorative justice initiative, “groundbreaking.” “This is our largest community curb project yet,” said the DPSCS secretary. “Our inmates have built or rebuilt more than 200 curbs, getting valuable skills training from Tony Romano and his concrete tradesmen, and helping this nice town become more accessible in the process.

“We call projects like these Public Safety Works ‘restorative justice’ programs, because they allow inmates who want to pay society back with a really meaningful way to do that.

“On any given day, we have more than 350 inmates out across the state of Maryland doing meaningful projects. Right now, inmates are rebuilding a skipjack on the Eastern Shore, gleaning fresh produce for the Maryland Food Bank, planting millions of oyster spat, restoring battlefields, cemeteries and playgrounds, and helping cities and non-profits with all kinds of projects they couldn’t do otherwise.

“We are very serious about this particular kind of project here in Westminster---where inmates get actual skills training from professional tradespeople. We’re having inmates trained in hazardous materials abatement and they’re taking down the old House of Correction prison in Jessup, a deconstruction that’s saving taxpayers at least five million dollars compared to the cost of demolition. It’s the only project of its kind in the country.

“These skills should serve the inmates well and give them a leg up on jobs when they get out and go home. I would love to talk to you today about how Public Safety Works might be able to help your agency or non-profit.

Maynard also elaborated upon how the partnership with the city gave the prison inmates an opportunity to learn job skills. “We may be in charge of keeping people locked up,” continued the secretary, “but what we really want is to set people free; to free them from addictions and anger issues, give them education and job skill training, and turn them into productive taxpaying citizens. After all, almost all inmates will one day be getting out.”

“We are very serious about this particular kind of project here in Westminster---where inmates get actual skills training from professional tradespeople,” remarked Maynard.

“This project, however, is about so much more than curbs and concrete,” said Utz in agreement. “With this project, the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (DLLR) provided training for the inmates. With this project the state corrections department has provided construction experience and positive community participation for the inmates. With this project the inmates have received certification from the DLLR for on the job training. With this project the inmates participated in a major community project.

“Maynard was all smiles as he thanked the city and invited city officials to talk about more opportunities for partnerships. “Thank you again for this wonderful collaborative effort, and thank you, Mayor Utz, for allowing the Dept. of Public Safety and Correctional Services to perform this important work in Westminster.”

Utz added, “At this time I’d like to personally thank the inmates for their hard work. Their work was crucial to the success of this project. Concrete lasts a long time. We hope that the experience gained from this project will last even longer. Thank you.”

http://www.scribd.com/doc/187198582/Westminster-and-state-officials-cut-the-ribbon-on-downtown-sidewalk-retrofit-project

  Westminster and state officials cut the ribbon on downtown sidewalk retrofit project by Kevin Earl Dayhoff

*****

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 Google profile: https://profiles.google.com/kevindayhoff/

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Scribd Kevin Dayhoff: http://www.scribd.com/kdayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/kevindayhoff Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff Banana Stems: http://kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/ Gizmo's: http://www.gizmosart.com/dayhoff.html

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

Flame of Hope Arrives in Carroll County June 3 2009

Flame of Hope Arrives in Carroll County!

MEDIA CONTACT:
Kelley Wallace/SOMD
PH: 410-789-6677 x117
Cell: 443-386-7965
E-mail: kwallace AT somd.org

OR

Chief Jeff Spaulding
Westminster Police Department
PH: 410-848-4646
E-mail: jspaulding AT westgov.com

Flame of Hope Arrives in Carroll County!

Carroll County Law Enforcement Officers Join Forces to Escort the Special Olympics Maryland Torch, Ensuring its Safe Passage to the 2009 SOMD Summer Games

Law Enforcement officers representing the police agencies throughout Carroll County will be out in force on Wednesday, June 3rd beginning at 8:00 AM, escorting the Special Olympics Maryland “Flame of Hope” from five (5) separate points around the county to Westminster. There they will join together and officially present the Flame of Hope in a brief ceremony at noon at City Hall. It is the duty of these Law Enforcement Torch Runners to ensure that the Flame is protected until it is delivered to the waiting hands of Special Olympics athletes on Friday, June 5th at the Opening Ceremony for the Special Olympic Maryland Summer Games held at Towson University, Towson Maryland.

This portion of the Torch Run Relay is part of the Central Leg, and Torch Run volunteers from the Maryland State Police, Sykesville PD, Hampstead PD, Manchester PD, Taneytown PD, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, the McDaniel College Office of Campus Safety, Springfield Hospital Police, State Fire Marshal’s Office, Office of the State’s Attorney, Maryland Police Training Commission and Westminster PD will escort the flame through various municipalities around the County, eventually converging at McDaniel College and traveling in a unified “Final Leg” along Main Street to City Hall in Westminster. The law enforcement volunteers are raising funds in conjunction with the run by selling Torch Run T-shirts, holding events, and soliciting donations. (See end of press release for details on each of the 6 legs).

“We are proud to join our brother and sister law enforcement and correctional officers from around the world in demonstrating our support for these very special members of our community,” stated Chief Jeff Spaulding of the Westminster Police Department. “We are particularly pleased that we will be joined on each of our runs by Special Olympics athletes from right here in Carroll County. It is a great opportunity to further strengthen the long-standing relationship between law enforcement and Special Olympics that we enjoy in Maryland.” Chief Spaulding invites the community to attend a short ceremony at Westminster City Hall following the Final Leg during which the Special Olympics Athletes who participate as Torch Runners will be honored for their participation.

Statewide, the Maryland Torch Run Relay consists of four different legs – Eastern, Western, Central and Southern – and during the week of June 1st to 5th, thousands of law enforcement Torch Run volunteers will cover hundreds of miles, eventually converging on Towson where the individual flames will be united in the Final Leg Ceremony, and then officers from around the state will travel the final three (3) miles to the Summer Games Opening Ceremonies at Towson University. It is there that the “Flame of Hope” is handed off to Special Olympics athletes who have the honor of lighting the cauldron and officially declaring the 2009 SOMD Summer Games open. Carroll County will be represented by Chief Jeff Spaulding and other members of the Westminster PD in the Final Leg on Friday, June 5th.

The Maryland Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics is a year-round movement whose goal is to raise both funds and public awareness for the athletes who train and compete in Special Olympics Maryland. When it began in 1986, only a handful of officers participated, raising about $50,000. Since that time, the Maryland Torch Run has grown tremendously, including volunteer officers from nearly every law enforcement agency and correctional facility in Maryland, raising more than $3.8 million for Special Olympics Maryland in 2008 – the largest single fund raising effort for Special Olympics in the world.

For more information about the Carroll County Torch Run Relay, or to support the Torch Run Relay by purchasing a commemorative Torch Run T-shirt for $10, contact the Westminster Police Department at (410) 848-4646. For more information about Special Olympics Maryland and the 2009 Summer Games, contact Kelley Wallace at (410) 789-6677 x117 or visit http://www.somd.org/.

THE CARROLL COUNTY TORCH RUN EVENT INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING LEGS:

Sykesville Leg – Members of the Maryland State Police, Maryland Police Training Commission, Sykesville PD, and the Springfield Hospital Police. Runners/bicyclists will depart Maryland Police Training Commission Training Facility @ 8:15 AM and travel north on Route 32, Johnsville Road, west on Liberty Road to Route 97, to McDaniel College.

Hampstead/Manchester Leg – Members of the Hampstead PD, and Manchester PD. Runners and bicyclists will depart Manchester PD @ 9:00 AM and travel south on Route 27 to McDaniel College.

Taneytown Leg – Members of the Taneytown Police Department, Office of the State Fire Marshall and the Carroll County Crisis Response Team. Runners/bicyclists will depart the Taneytown Bowling Center @ 9:00 AM and travel east on Route 140 to WMC Drive to McDaniel College.

Mt. Airy Leg – Members of the Maryland State Police. Runners/bicyclists will depart Mt. Airy @ 8:00 AM and travel north on Route 27 to McDaniel College.

Union Bridge/New Windsor Leg – Members of the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office. Runners/bicyclists will depart the Union Bridge Fire Hall @ 9:00 AM and travel east through New Windsor on Route 31 to McDaniel College.

Final Leg – Includes all participating law enforcement agencies in Carroll County (see above) to include members of the McDaniel College Department of Campus Safety, Office of the State’s Attorney and Westminster Police Department. Runners/bicyclists will depart McDaniel College @ noon and travel east along Main Street to City Hall where a Torch Run welcoming ceremony and celebration will take place.

# # #

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Kevin Dayhoff Art: www.kevindayhoffart.com
Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: www.westgov.net
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Olympians receive a special gift of warmth By Katie V. Jones

Olympians receive a special gift of warmth

Westminster-based Hugs and Stiches knits its way into community's hearts By Katie V. Jones Posted www.explorecarroll.com 2/18/09

When Sandi Schneider was 8, she awoke on Christmas morning to find her home's front hallway filled with toys and presents for her and her two brothers.

The gifts had not come from her family, but from complete strangers.

"My mother died when I was very young just before Christmas," Schneider explains of her childhood in Pittsburgh.

"My family grew up so poor," she said. "We had nothing."

While at the time she didn't think anything of it, today she is overwhelmed with the generosity that a local organization showered upon her family.

Today, Schneider is "warm and well fed" and wants nothing but to help others — just as she was helped those many years ago.

"I have just always wanted to do something to give back to the community," said Schneider, explaining the main purpose behind, Hugs and Stitches, an organization she helped create.

The local group provides knitted and crocheted items for Shepherd's Staff and other organizations. This month marks the weekly group's fourth anniversary.

"We typically knit between 800 to 1,000 scarves, 300 to 400 hats and about 100 pairs of mittens for Shepherd's Staff," Schneider said, adding with a chuckle, "We have only one little old lady who does mittens."

While Shepherd's Staff is the group's biggest project, Hugs and Stitches creates various items for other organizations and groups.

Recently, members made more than two dozen maroon and white scarves for Carroll County's Special Olympics team in preparation for the Olympians' ski trip.

"I thought it was fantastic, I thought it was wonderful they did this," said Karen Koenigsberg, whose daughter, Stephanie Carpegna, is a member of the ski team and a recipient of a scarf.

"This is the first year they've done it (for the team)," Koenigsberg added.

Every Tuesday evening about a dozen of the group's 20-plus members gather to knit or crochet items for the group's charities.

"Any yarn you take has to be made into one of our programs," Schneider said of the group's simple rules. "Anything made at our group (meeting) has to go to the group's programs."

Schneider provides all the yarn, though the group does accept donations. Members bring their own hooks and needles.

The charity recipients aren't the only ones who benefit from the sessions, however.

"We get benefits, too," said Rosalie Duncan, who has been a member almost from the start. "I like the camaraderie and the opportunity to learn different stitches and patterns."

Schneider noted that the group is not "a teaching group," but she acknowledges that members do "show and tell" what they've done over the week.

"One girl makes so much it is beyond words," Schneider said. "They're just a great bunch of girls in their mid-20s to late-80s, every age group you could possibly want -- but you would never know there was any age difference."

Even members who can't come every week often send in their completed items with someone.

"I have met some nice people," Duncan said. "We enjoy the giving part of it and helping some body else, and also enjoy the learning part and having a good time. It's a win-win situation."

"I'm just thrilled," Schneider said of her group. "They are all just so dedicated. They're there every week and turn in as much as they can."

For more information on Hugs and Stitches, contact Sandi Schneider at 410-848-8860 or e-mail crafter359@aol.com.

http://www.explorecarroll.com/news/2352/olympians-receive-special-gift-warmth/

20090218 Olympians receive a special gift of warmth by KJones
Kevin Dayhoff www.kevindayhoff.net http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/
Kevin Dayhoff Art http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/

20080602 Media Release 2008 Carroll County Torch Run

June 2^nd, 2008

Flame of Hope Arrives in Carroll County!

Carroll County Law Enforcement Officers Join Forces to Escort the Special Olympics Maryland Torch, Ensuring its Safe Passage to the 2008 SOMD Summer Games

Law Enforcement officers representing the police agencies throughout Carroll County will be out in force on Wednesday, June 4^th beginning at 8:00 AM, escorting the Special Olympics Maryland “Flame of Hope” from five (5) separate points around the county to Westminster.

There they will join together and officially present the Flame of Hope in a brief ceremony at noon at City Hall.

It is the duty of these Law Enforcement Torch Runners to ensure that the Flame is protected until it is delivered to the waiting hands of Special Olympics athletes on Friday, June 6^th at the Opening Ceremony for the Special Olympic Maryland Summer Games held at Towson University, Towson Maryland.

This portion of the Torch Run Relay is part of the Central Leg, and Torch Run volunteers from the Maryland State Police, Sykesville PD, Hampstead PD, Manchester PD, Taneytown PD, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, the McDaniel College Office of Campus Safety, Springfield Hospital Police, State Fire Marshal’s Office, Maryland Police Training Commission and Westminster PD will escort the flame through various municipalities around the County, eventually converging at McDaniel College and traveling in a unified “Final Leg” along Main Street to City Hall in Westminster.

With the support of Legacy sponsor Aerotek, the law enforcement volunteers are raising funds in conjunction with the run by selling Torch Run T-shirts, holding events, and soliciting donations. (See end of press release for details on each of the 6 legs).

“We are proud to join our brother and sister law enforcement and correctional officers from around the world in demonstrating our support for these very special members of our community,” stated Chief Jeff Spaulding of the Westminster Police Department. “We are particularly pleased that we will be joined on each of our runs by Special Olympics athletes from right here in Carroll County. It is a great opportunity to further strengthen the long-standing relationship between law enforcement and Special Olympics that we enjoy in Maryland.”

Chief Spaulding invites the community to attend a short ceremony at Westminster City Hall following the Final Leg during which the Special Olympics Athletes who participate as Torch Runners will be honored for their participation.

Statewide, the Maryland Torch Run Relay consists of four different legs – Eastern, Western, Central and Southern – and during the week of June 2^nd to 6^th, thousands of law enforcement Torch Run volunteers will cover hundreds of miles, eventually converging on Towson where the individual flames will be united in the Final Leg Ceremony, and then officers from around the state will travel the final three (3) miles to the Summer Games Opening Ceremonies at Towson University.

It is there that the “Flame of Hope” is handed off to Special Olympics athletes who have the honor of lighting the cauldron and officially declaring the 2008 SOMD Summer Games open. Carroll County will be represented by Chief Jeff Spaulding and other members of the Westminster PD in the Final Leg on Friday, June 6^th.

The Maryland Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics is a year-round movement whose goal is to raise both funds and public awareness for the athletes who train and compete in Special Olympics Maryland.

When it began in 1986, only a handful of officers participated, raising about $50,000. Since that time, the Maryland Torch Run has grown tremendously, including volunteer officers from nearly every law enforcement agency and correctional facility in Maryland, raising more than $2.8 million for Special Olympics Maryland in 2007 – the largest single fund raising effort for Special Olympics in the world.

For more information about the Carroll County Torch Run Relay, or to support the Torch Run Relay by purchasing a commemorative Torch Run T-shirt for $10, contact the Westminster Police Department at (410) 848-4646.

For more information about Special Olympics Maryland and the 2008 Summer Games, contact Kelley Wallace at (410) 789-6677 x117 or visit www.somd.org.

THE CARROLL COUNTY TORCH RUN EVENT INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING LEGS:

Sykesville Leg – Members of the Maryland State Police, Maryland Police Training Commission, Sykesville PD, and the Springfield Hospital Police. Runners/bicyclists will depart Maryland Police Training Commission Training Facility @ 8:15 AM and travel north on Route 32, Johnsville Road, west on Liberty Road to Route 97, to McDaniel College.

Hampstead/Manchester Leg – Members of the Hampstead PD, and Manchester PD. Runners and bicyclists will depart Hampstead City Hall @ 8:30 AM and travel north via Route 30 to Manchester where they will join the Manchester PD runners/bicyclists and travel south on Route 27 to McDaniel College.

Taneytown Leg – Members of the Taneytown Police Department and the Carroll County Crisis Response Team. Runners/bicyclists will depart Taneytown @ 9:00 AM and travel east on Route 140 to WMC Drive to McDaniel College.

Mt. Airy Leg – Members of the Maryland State Police. Runners/bicyclists will depart Mt. Airy @ 8:00 AM and travel north on Route 27 to McDaniel College.

Union Bridge/New Windsor Leg – Members of the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office. Runners/bicyclists will depart the Union Bridge Fire Hall @ 9:00 AM and travel east through New Windsor on Route 31 to McDaniel College.

Final Leg – Includes all participating law enforcement agencies in Carroll County (see above) to include members of the McDaniel College Department of Campus Safety, State Fire Marshal’s Office and Westminster Police Department. Runners/bicyclists will depart McDaniel College @ noon and travel east along Main Street to City Hall where a Torch Run welcoming ceremony and celebration will take place.

# # #

MEDIA CONTACT:

Kelley Wallace/SOMD

PH: 410-789-6677 x117

Cell: 443-386-7965

E-mail: kwallace@somd.org

OR

Chief Jeff Spaulding

Westminster Police Department

PH: 410-848-4646

E-mail: jspaulding AT westgov.com

20080602 Media Release 2008 Carroll County Torch Run

20070606 Torch Run – Annual Maryland Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Maryland

Flame of Hope Arrives in Carroll County!

Torch Run – Annual Maryland Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Maryland

June 6^th, 2007

Carroll County Law Enforcement Officers Join Forces to Escort the Special Olympics Maryland Torch, Ensuring its Safe Passage to the 2007 SOMD Summer Games

MEDIA CONTACT:

Kelley Wallace/SOMD

PH: 410-789-6677 x117

Cell: 443-386-7965

E-mail: kwallace AT somd.org

OR

Chief Jeff Spaulding

Westminster Police Department

PH: 410-848-4646

E-mail: jspaulding AT westgov.com

Law Enforcement officers representing the various police agencies throughout Carroll County will be out in force on Wednesday, June 6th beginning at 8:00 AM, escorting the Special Olympics Maryland Flame of Hope from five (5) separate points around the county to Westminster, where they will join together and officially present the Flame of Hope in a brief ceremony at noon in front of City Hall.

It is the duty of these Law Enforcement Torch Runners to ensure that the Flame is protected until it is delivered to the waiting hands of the Special Olympics athletes on Friday, June 8th at the Opening Ceremony of the SOMD Summer Games held at Towson University, Towson Maryland.

This portion of the Torch Run Relay is part of the Central Leg, and Torch Run volunteers from the Maryland State Police, Sykesville PD, Hampstead PD, Manchester PD, Taneytown PD, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, the McDaniel College Office of Campus Safety, Springfield Hospital Police, State Fire Marshals Office, and Westminster PD will escort the flame through various municipalities around the County, eventually converging at McDaniel College and traveling the Final Leg along Main Street to City Hall in Westminster.

With the support of Aerotek, the law enforcement volunteers are raising funds in conjunction with the run by selling Torch Run T-shirts, holding events, and soliciting donations. (See end of press release for details on each of the 6 legs).

“We are proud to join our brother and sister officers from around the world in demonstrating our support for these very special members of our community,” stated Chief Jeff Spaulding of the Westminster Police Department. “We are particularly pleased that we will be joined on each of our runs by Special Olympics athletes from right here in Carroll County. It is a great opportunity to further strengthen the long-standing relationship between law enforcement and Special Olympics that we enjoy in Maryland.”

Chief Spaulding invites the community to attend in a short ceremony at City Hall following the Final Leg during which the Special Olympics Athletes who participated as Torch Runners will be honored for their participation.

Statewide, the Maryland Torch Run Relay consists of four different legs – Eastern, Western, Central and Southern – and during the week of June 4 to 8, thousands of Torch Run volunteers will cover hundreds of miles, eventually converging on Towson where the individual flames will be united in the Final Leg Ceremony and then officers from around the state will travel the final three (3) miles to Opening Ceremonies at Towson University.

It is there that the Flame is handed off to the Special Olympics athletes who have the honor of lighting the cauldron and officially declaring the 2007 SOMD Summer Games open. Carroll County will be represented by Chief Jeff Spaulding and other members of the Westminster PD in the Final Leg on Friday, June 8th.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Maryland is a year-round movement whose goal is to raise both funds and awareness for the athletes who train and compete in Special Olympics Maryland, and 2007 marks the 22nd anniversary here in Maryland.

When the Maryland Torch Run began in 1986, only a handful of officers participated, raising $50,000. Since that time, the Maryland Torch Run has grown tremendously, including volunteer officers from nearly every law enforcement agency and correctional facility in Maryland; raising more than $2 million for Special Olympics Maryland in 2006.

For more information about the Carroll County Torch Run relay, or to support the Torch Run Relay by purchasing a commemorative Torch Run T-shirt for $10, contact the Westminster Police Department at 410-848-4646. For more information about Special Olympics Maryland and the 2007 Summer Games, contact Kelley Wallace at 410-789-6677 x117 or visit www.somd.org.

THE CARROLL COUNTY TORCH RUN EVENT INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING LEGS:

Sykesville Leg

Members of the Maryland State Police, Sykesville PD, Office of the State Fire Marshal, and the Springfield Hospital Police.

Runners/bikers will depart City Hall @ 8:15 AM and travel north on Route 32, west on Liberty Road, to Route 97 to McDaniel College.

Hampstead/Manchester Leg

Members of the Maryland State Police, Hampstead PD, and Manchester PD.

Runners/bikers will depart Hampstead City Hall @ 8:30 AM and travel north via Route 30 to Manchester where they will join the Manchester PD runners and travel south on Route 27 to McDaniel College.

Taneytown Leg

Members of the Maryland State Police and Taneytown Police Department.

Runners/bikers will depart Taneytown @ 9:00 AM and travel east on Route 140 to WMC Drive to McDaniel College.

Mt. Airy Leg

Members of the Maryland State Police.

Runners/bikers will depart Mt. Airy @ 8:00 AM and travel north on Route 27 to McDaniel College.

Union Bridge/New Windsor Leg

Members of the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office.

Runners/bikers will depart Union Bridge @ 9:00 AM and travel east through New Windsor to McDaniel College.

Final Leg

– Includes all participating law enforcement agencies from Carroll County.

Runners/bikers will depart McDaniel College @ Noon and travel east along Main Street to City Hall where a Torch Run welcoming ceremony and celebration will take place.

####

20070406 Support Granite House Rock Ball

January 29, 2007

Rock On!

Support the Granite House Rock Ball!

Dear Friend,

Get ready for a night filled with music, dancing and fun! On Friday, May 11, Granite House will host its first annual Rock Ball, which will be held at the Inn at Roop’s Mill. This great event will feature classic rock and roll, amazing food, and lots of fun surprises. As a friend of Granite House, we would like you to consider supporting the Rock Ball in a number of ways:

1. Donate an item to our silent auction. Your donation will be prominently displayed for the duration of the event. Your name or your company’s name will be featured in our event materials and on the Silent Auction bid sheet and in the event program, where up to 200 attendees will see it.

2. Attend the Rock Ball. Tickets for the event are $100 per person.

3. Be a sponsor for the Rock Ball to help decrease our overhead.

This ball will help support individuals and families with mental illness to have successful, satisfying and productive lives. Our clinical staff of psychiatrists, clinical social workers, nurses and licensed counselors has tremendous impact on the lives of our clients. Our rehabilitation and housing staff has helped those in need to make a fresh start since 1979—a start that has truly made a difference in their lives. We would like to extend these services to other folks in the community who desperately need our services but cannot afford them.

Our Rock Ball will specifically raise dollars for our “Charitable Fund”. The Charitable Fund has been created to help folks who cannot afford to pay their co-pay from their insurance plan or even have no insurance coverage at all, ie: the working poor. We believe strongly that mentally healthy people are more productive community members and that all people should be able to receive the care they need. All donations are tax deductible. Sponsorship levels are attached to the back of this letter.

The “Rock Ball” will become our annual event with dinner, dance and an auction. In addition, we will also be featuring a sale of our Consumer made art work. We hope that this event will be successful not only in raising funds for those who need it most, but also in shattering the stigma associated with mental illness.

For more information, please contact Laura Rhodes at 410-876-3007 x140. If you are interested in specific information about our programs, you can view our website at http://www.granitehouse.org/ or contact us at 410-751-5970.

Very Truly Yours,

Spencer Gear

Executive Director

Note: Granite House is a 501 c (3) non-profit registered with the Maryland Secretary of State to allow us to raise funds. (This does not imply endorsement of the Secretary of State). A copy of the current financial statement of Granite House, Inc. is available by writing to 288 E. Green Street, Westminster, MD or by calling (410) 876-3007-Ext 127. Documents and information submitted under the Maryland Solicitations Act are also available, for the cost of postage and copies, from the Maryland Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis MD 21401, (410) 974-5534.

Granite House Rock Ball

Gift-In-Kind Record

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A Gift-In-Kind donation was made to the Granite House Rock Ball on Friday, May 11, 2007:

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Granite House Rock Ball Sponsorship Levels

Specific Tactic Sponsorships

Invitation Sponsor 1000 invitations, stress balls custom cylinders	$4,000	Name of sponsor on stress ball and cylinder Full page ad in program Banner at event Announcement at event
Open Bar Sponsor	$5,280	Banner across bar Full page ad in program Table of 8 at event Announcement at event
Appetizer Hour Sponsor	$3,600	Banner at event Full page ad in program 2 free tickets to event Announcement at event
Goody Bag Sponsor Bags at each table, will include autograph book, rock candy, disposable camera and sponsor logo items	$2,000	Packaged in sponsor-provided logo bag Sponsor may provide logo pens Banner at event Full page ad in program
Photo Sponsor Attraction at Ball: photographer will morph faces of attendees onto bodies of famous celebrities onto photo magnets	$1500	Sponsor’s name and logo on back of all photos taken Attendees will receive photo magnets at the ball Photographer will be at ball for 4 hours- unlimited magnets for attendees Sponsor will have Full page ad in program

Event Sponsorships

Advertiser	$50	½ page ad in the program
Advertiser	$100	Full page ad in the program
Star Level	$1250-1999	Table of 8 at event Full page ad in the program Announcement at event
Quartz Level	$2000-3999	Table of 8 at event Full page ad in the program Banner at event Announcement at event
Granite Level	$4,000	Table of 8 at event Full page ad on back cover of program Banner at event Announcement at event

20070103 Regarding the “Be the best you can be” post from Nov 27 2006

Regarding the “20061127 Be the best you can be.” post from Nov 27 2006

January 3^rd, 2006

The photographer, Lindy Rodman has been in touch…

Meanwhile, Ms. Rodman, pretty please consider putting the video for which you referred in your comment, on YouTube, so that I may post it on my web site?

Oh, the video – find it here: “VIDEO: George Dennehy , Nov 22 2006, 12:10 AM Meet George Dennehy, a 12-year old with no arms, but a huge talent for playing the cello.”

Bring it up in Microsoft Internet Explorer…

Anyway, getting to Ms. Rodman’s comment…

“Lindy Rodman has left a new comment on your post ‘20061127 Be the best you can be.’ ”:

“Thank you for the kind words regarding the George Dennehy photo and story done by Holly and I and published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch. If you get a chance you might want to listen to the video I did in which you can hear George play his cello and say some amazingly thought provoking things. As its only my second attempt at a video its more home-movie than Hollywood but worth the look strictly for the content.”

http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/HTMLPage/RTD_HTMLPage&c=HTMLPage&cid=1149191912331#top should take you to it....

The video is good stuff, Ms. Rodman is being modest…

Back to the beginning…

If you will recall the post from November 27^th, 2006:

Pictured above: George Dennehy, right, plays first-chair cello at Oak Knoll Middle School in Hanover County, Va.. George, born with bilateral upper-limb deficiency, has no limbs beyond his shoulder blades and has learned to do almost everything with his feet. (Lindy Keast Rodman, Associated Press)

For more pictures from the November 23rd, 2006 Richmond Times-Dispatch story, “Boy triumphs over limitation - Child born without arms is grateful for gift of music,” - - go here.

For more on the great work of Lindy Rodman, an award winning photographer, (Feature story photograph category from the 2003 VNPA Pictures of the Year…,) go here, - - here, here, and here .

[…]

I found this picture in “The Day in Pictures” section of the Baltimore Sun web site. I recognized the name of the photographer and went to the Richmond Times-Dispatch web site to try and find the picture on the web site…

I did not find the picture, but I found the article for which the picture may very well have accompanied. The article, “With feet and toes, young cellist makes beautiful music,” By HOLLY PRESTIDGE, Richmond Times-Dispatch; is worth a quick read. You can find it here.

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