20060831 KDDC Farrah Fawcett Angel for the ages

Farrah Fawcett - Angel for the ages

On August 29, 2006, Sun Reporter Rob Hiaasen, wrote a piece in the Baltimore Sun that captured my eye.

I must admit that the cultural phenomena of Farrah Fawcett came after I had attended Elon College (1971-1972 no degree,) so I never had her pin-up in my dorm room. I had Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie, Alvin Lee, The Almond Brothers Band and the like in my dorm room.

Hollywood types have never really been my heroes, not that the likes of Hendrix, Bowie et al were – I was and still am today – into music more than Hollywood…

Never-the-less, I am fascinated by Mr. Hiaasen’s presentation of Ms. Fawcett as a cultural icon of the 1970s:

A young publicity photographer shows up on Mulholland Drive with his '37 Chevy truck and Nikon-F reflex camera to shoot pictures of an angel in a rusty red swimsuit. She chose a one-piece. When she smiles, 32 teeth radiate at an inviting angle. When she tilts her head, flips of hair gather on her tan shoulders - a look that would launch a hairstyle fad for a generation.

In the time after Betty Grable's World War II pinups and Marilyn Monroe, before the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue mania and Pamela Anderson, the original swimsuit poster of Farrah Fawcett ruled gym lockers, offices and bedrooms.

Could you pass a guy's college dorm room in the 1970s and not see it?

Whatever.

You can read Mr. Hiaasen’s article here.

Hollywood

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20060831 KDDC So just what is Frederick Commissioner Lennie Thompson for?

So just what is Frederick Commissioner Lennie Thompson for?

Writing in The Tentacle, columnist Roy Meachum asks the question: What is Frederick County Commissioner John "Lennie" Thompson for? We certainly “get it” by now that he is opposed to growth and development in Frederick County. But what is he for?

Which brings to mind a combination of words that really resonated with me; John P. Snyder, also writing in The Tentacle wrote a piece on August 24^th, 2006 entitled, “Election Year Over/Unders;” in which he said: “385. The number of times Kai Hagen, this year's Ron Sundergill, will blame "the developers" as some sinister enemy of all Frederick county residents. Developers are merely the conduit between the demand and the people, fueled by government policy that regards home ownership as a good thing and families that want a nice place to live. Ditto Lennie Thompson.” (my emphasis)

Anyone familiar with my writing is aware that I have also had enough of the houses - the congestion and the erosion of our quality of life, but any conversation that personally demonizes real estate professionals and developers is a non-starter with me.

Developers only follow the laws as set forth by government and if folks don’t want the empty, non-productive farm to be developed, then don’t zone it in a manner in which it can be developed.

Or – better yet, work hard to promote the vibrant sustainability of agriculture in the county so the farm will continue to be more valuable than a development.

You cannot take someone’s property rights by plebiscite.

If you want to maintain the beautiful view from your house, then purchase the property and maintain the view yourself - for the greater benefit of the community.

We certainly have this dynamic in Carroll County and it just leaves me cold. Folks that have moved into the community and they are now against everything.

Although I have met Commissioner Thompson on several occasions, I do not know him. The several times I had a chance to speak with him, he was certainly pleasant. However, Mr. Meachum asks questions for Frederick County voters…

Mr. Meachum begins his column by saying:

“No politician in the past 20 years has more clearly established what he is against. John "Lennie" Thompson opposes growth. He considers all developers devils incarnate.

Not without exception.

Together with fellow Commissioner Jan Gardner he urges voters to elect again David Gray, although Mr. Gray is himself a developer. The former board president does not deny he subdivided and sold property to build new houses. He quibbles only over details that cannot be proved, either way, by him or his critics.”

Please find the rest of the column here: “What’s Lennie for?”

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20060830 KDDC "Li'l Abner" is coming to Carroll County

"Li'l Abner" is coming to Carroll County

A September Song production of "Li'l Abner" is coming to Carroll County September 15, 16, 17, 22, and 23, 2006.

This is a great show for a great cause! Tickets are still available at (410) 386-4400. Please spread the word!

This is being held at Century High School this year due to the construction at Westminster High School.

The proceeds benefit programs in Carroll County that benefit people with disabilities.

Y'all Come!

According the September Song website:

September Song Community Theatre in Westminster, Maryland has organized and performed a Broadway musical at Westminster High School in each of the past 30 years.

The brainchild of school teachers Arnie Hayes and Robert "Doc" Kersey, profits earned by these productions have been given to local charities to the tune of more than $250,000 over that span. Current beneficiaries of this annual effort are CHANGE, Inc. and the Carroll County Therapeutic Recreation Council: organizations that provide services to citizens with developmental disabilities.

This late September event, ergo the name, engages a wide segment of the Carroll County community, and now regularly includes volunteers from Baltimore, Howard and Frederick Counties, as well as nearby Pennsylvania.

Thrivent for Lutherans, formerly known as the Lutheran Brotherhood, matches ticket sales for two of the five performances, and for many years, the 50-60 page program was printed without charge by the Carroll County Times Newspaper.

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