20070214 Key West The Day in Pictures

Key West - The Day in Pictures

February 14^th, 2007

Top to bottom:

Key West Light House

Ernest’s Café

Do Not Feed the Chickens

A friendly chicken near Mallory Square

A Key West door

Mallory Square

Cayo Hueso Habana sign in Mallory Square

Sculpture in front of the old Custom’s House

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20070207 Eye for Art Ruchlewicz an avid photographer by Lyndi McNulty in The Advocate

Eye for Art: Ruchlewicz an avid photographer

by Lyndi McNulty in The Advocate

February 7, 2007

http://westminsteradvocate.com/

http://westminsteradvocate.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=75&twindow=Default&mad=No&sdetail=1783&wpage=1&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=1322&hn=westminsteradvocate&he=.com

07.FEB.07 Eye for Art: Ruchlewicz an avid photographer

Stan Ruchlewicz is the administrator of Economic Development for the City of Westminster, and he has an artistic side, too. Ruchlewicz is an avid photographer.

He said his first love is teaching and judging high school marching bands and drum and bugle corps.

Through traveling as a judge, he said he visited many interesting places.

“So, I took pictures,” Ruchlewicz said. “Back in the dark ages, I was using a small Instamatic. Eventually, I grew out of the Instamatic into a 35mm camera.”

In 1989, Ruchlewicz was hired in Havre de Grace as director of Planning. He was also appointed to the governor’s Save the Lighthouse Commission.

“Then, I really needed to get a good camera to take pictures since we toured the various Chesapeake Bay lighthouses on our annual visits,” he said,

Also at that time, Ruchlewicz began to take photographs of downtown buildings, streetscapes and events for promotional and reference materials for his job, he said.

Later, his financee, Pat Miller, converted him to go digital.

“Now, I can take hundreds of photographs at a time and not worry about printing costs since I can view the shots on the computer and choose to print only the best,” he said.

Ruchlewicz and his fiancee both take photos.

“I do the large scale photos, such as buildings, landscapes and event crowds, while she enjoys doing architectural details, like gargoyles and grotesques and individual people,” he said. “Grotesques are the funny little guys that are on old buildings but don’t put out rainwater like gargoyles do.”

Today, Ruchlewicz is still shooting buildings and street scenes along Main Streets, events in downtown Westminster, lighthouses and his world travels.

“A lot of the photos I take are of streetscape features such as signage, trash cans, benches, streetlights, window displays, storefronts and building facades,” Ruchlewicz said. “I use them as examples of how to improve local buildings and to give local store owners new ideas on how to improve their businesses.”

Casey Willson, retail industry manager for the Maryland Small Business Development Center, uses some of Ruchlewicz’s pictures for his presentations to small business owners around the state.

Ruchlewicz’s work is everywhere in town.

The postcards of downtown Westminster, such as the view of Main Street from the roof of the old fire house, the downtown mural, the McDaniel College entrance, City Hall and the train passing in front of Johannson’s are all his work.

The postcards are all copyrighted by the City of Westminster under the Downtown Westminster Main Street Program.

Ruchlewicz’s photographs also appear in the new Westminster brochure, and recent Hickory Stick and ArtWorks billboards used his photographs, too.

Additionally, his photos from the Corbit’s Charge event can be viewed on the Pipe Creek Civil War Round Table Web site at http://www.pccwrt.addr.com.

“The most utilized image of mine is of the old clock tower in Westminster that is currently the symbol of our town. It is being used as a brand for people to remember us when they visit,” Ruchlewicz said.

Ruchlewicz’s newest project is converting his photographs into digital art.

“For example, I take photos of England and convert them into images that resemble old etchings and engravings from the 19th century,” he said. “Besides creating art, it also helps me learn how to use some of my new computer features.”

In the future, Ruchlewicz said he would like to put his photographs in an art show and perhaps sell some commercially.

And his travels continue.

“I plan to go to Budapest in the spring to continue my photographic adventures and to bring some new ideas back to Westminster’s downtown,” he said.

— Lyndi McNulty owns Gizmos Art in Westminster.

Art – Eye for Art by Lyndi McNulty in The Advocate

20070214 Southernmost Point

Southernmost Point – Key West

February 14th, 2007

20070214 Gauging A Presidential Legacy

20070214 President Harry Truman and Gauging a presidential legacy

My Tentacle column for this week is up: Gauging A Presidential Legacy

Pictured to the left is the executive director of the Little White House Museum, in Key West Florida, Robert J. Wolz on February 12, 2007

February 14, 2007

Gauging A Presidential Legacy

Kevin E. Dayhoff

Recently political pundits have spent a great deal of effort pondering the legacy of President George W. Bush. Of course, those of us who consider ourselves to be students of history understand that history needs much more time and distance in order to accurately gauge the legacy and historical impact of any particular president.

Yet, uncannily, there are many parallels shared in the legacy of our 33rd president, Harry S Truman and President Bush, our 43rd president; and it is only understandable that the comparisons persist.

I took the opportunity Monday to tour President Truman's Key West White House, known as the "Little White House," in order to re-acquaint myself with the great legacy of the now-legendary president.

After the tour I interviewed the executive director of the Little White House Museum, Robert J. Wolz, at great length. The tour guide, David Lynch and Mr. Wolz are both walking encyclopedias on the life and times of President Truman.

Mr. Wolz says, with a certain "I told you so" confidence, that it is "remarkable that President Truman has gone from the least popular president of all time to the fifth most successful."

President Truman first arrived in Key West in November 1946, just days after the majority party in Congress had changed in the mid-term elections. In his case, Republicans reclaimed Congress for the first time since the administration of Republican President Herbert Hoover, the man who had immediately preceded President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Read the rest here: Gauging A Presidential Legacy

####

Florida Key West, President George W. Bush, President Harry S Truman, The Tentacle, History American Presidents

20070214 Greetings from Key West

Greetings from Key West

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Happy Valentine’s Day
Around lunchtime, when I took the picture above, I got a phone call from WJZ reporter Mike Schuh[1]. He was in Westminster tracking down a snow story.

For twenty years as an elected official, I got to work with many great journalists from the print, radio, and TV media. Mike Schuh is one of the best of the best. Always pre-occupied with getting it right and reporting relevant and community-oriented news – he is “real people.”

For more on Mr. Schuh – go here. And be sure to read his “A Bakers Dozen of Sensible Schuh's.”

Later – I checked in on how Mr. Schuh was making-out getting the story in Westminster. I was at Southernmost Point at the time… I’ll post that picture separately…

















UPDATE: For Mr. Schuh’s reporting of the snow event in Westminster go here: http://wjz.com/video/?id=24955@wjz.dayport.com

_____

[1] Mike Schuh, WJZ Channel 13 Reporter

February 14th, 2007

http://wjz.com/bios/local_bio_053095449

Mike Schuh joined WJZ Eyewitness News as a general assignment reporter in April, 1993. In 2002 Mike won a Regional Edward R. Murrow award for feature reporting. During his career at Eyewitness News he has also earned 7 Emmy Awards for Hard News Investigations, General News Reporting and Features Reporting.

Mike came to WJZ after reporting for other television stations in Indianapolis, Louisville, Missouri and Illinois. In 1983 he received his B.S. Degree in News Reporting from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Mike lives near Towson with his wife and one very, very energetic daughter.

20070214 Our Home away from home in Key West

Our Home away from home in Key West

February 14^th, 2007

Of course, we’re roughing it down here in Key West. Today it was in the 80s, the sun was out and it was another gorgeous day.

We ate lunch at a Cuban restaurant at Mallory Square, slipped down to Southernmost Point for a quick photo and then toured Hemingway’s house at 907 Whitehead Street.

Folks have asked where we are staying, so we thought that we show ya a picture of the place.

Yeah, it’s kind of ostentatious but we love it.

Yes, those are our chickens. They are quite friendly.

Okay, I thought I would wash the windows, feed the chickens and spruce the place up a bit. I’ll write more later.

Kevin and the Math Potatoes.

####

20070214 President Harry Truman and Gauging a presidential legacy

20070214 President Harry Truman and Gauging a presidential legacy

My Tentacle column for this week is up: Gauging A Presidential Legacy

Pictured to the left is the executive director of the Little White House Museum, in Key West Florida, Robert J. Wolz on February 12, 2007

February 14, 2007

Gauging A Presidential Legacy

Kevin E. Dayhoff

Recently political pundits have spent a great deal of effort pondering the legacy of President George W. Bush. Of course, those of us who consider ourselves to be students of history understand that history needs much more time and distance in order to accurately gauge the legacy and historical impact of any particular president.

Yet, uncannily, there are many parallels shared in the legacy of our 33rd president, Harry S Truman and President Bush, our 43rd president; and it is only understandable that the comparisons persist.

I took the opportunity Monday to tour President Truman's Key West White House, known as the "Little White House," in order to re-acquaint myself with the great legacy of the now-legendary president.

After the tour I interviewed the executive director of the Little White House Museum, Robert J. Wolz, at great length. The tour guide, David Lynch and Mr. Wolz are both walking encyclopedias on the life and times of President Truman.

Mr. Wolz says, with a certain "I told you so" confidence, that it is "remarkable that President Truman has gone from the least popular president of all time to the fifth most successful."

President Truman first arrived in Key West in November 1946, just days after the majority party in Congress had changed in the mid-term elections. In his case, Republicans reclaimed Congress for the first time since the administration of Republican President Herbert Hoover, the man who had immediately preceded President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Read the rest here: Gauging A Presidential Legacy

####

Florida Key West, President George W. Bush, President Harry S Truman, The Tentacle, History American Presidents

20070213 Thai Cuisine in Key West Florida

Thai Cuisine in Key West Florida

February 13^th, 2007

For dinner this evening we ate at a Thai restaurant, “Thai Cuisine,” at the corner of Greene and Ann Streets.

Just as we sat down at our table, the Westminster, Maryland acting director of planning and public works, Jeff Glass called.

The picture of the old Key West City Hall was the view I had from my seat as I chatted with Mr. Glass at several minutes past 7 PM Tuesday evening, February 13^th, 2007.

Of course in Key West, the outside is blurred with the inside - - and what is inside is outside and what is outside is inside. We had a table that was under-roof, however, it was as much outside as it was inside.

Gee, that sounds like a keen observation of the “Math Potatoes,” Pi, Algebra (Al), Geometry (Geo) and Isosceles.

Mr. Glass was the focus of my last column in the Westminster Eagle – last Wednesday, February 7^th, 2007: “Westminster is great, even if it does get your goat .”

In Key West, as I chatted with Mr. Glass, the temperature was in the 80s and it was simply a beautiful evening. In Westminster, it was well below zero and they were in the middle of a wintry mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain.

I had called earlier to how the guys in the Street Department were making out. They have been putting an incredible amount of hours in the last several weeks. As much as I feel guilty about being in Key West while the folks in the Street Department are fighting with frozen equipment, slippery and treacherous roads, long hours and the cold - - I have come to simply hate the cold, snow and ice of winter and I am very happy to be in Key West.

The Westminster Street Department is the focus of my column in the Westminster Eagle that will be coming out tomorrow, Wednesday, February 14^th, 2007.

This is a great group of professionals that are a key part of why we have such a high quality of life in Westminster. It is my view that they don’t get enough credit.

Meanwhile, our dinner at the Thai restaurant was exquisite. I had a large selection of sushi. The service was prompt and courteous and as much as everything in Key West is expensive, at least I felt that we got value from what we spent.

The doggie with the sunglasses was a hoot and I couldn’t resist taking the dinner guest’s picture. Chickens, cats, and dogs are frequent dinner guests in many of the restaurants in Key West… Just part of the quirky charm.

Kevin

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20070213 Rooftop Gardens in Key West

The Rooftop Gardens above the Whiskey Bar on Duval Street in Key West

February 13th, 2007

20070213 Key West Door

Key West Door
February 13th, 2007

20070213 The Yellow Bicycle

The Yellow Bicycle

February 13th, 2007

20070213 Key West Sign

Key West Sign

Tuesday, February 13^th, 2007

Garden of Eden Clothing Optional Bar

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20070213 Key West Coast Guard Boat

Key West Coast Guard Boat

February 13^th, 2007

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20070213 Good Morning Key West

20070212 Kellys Restaurant

Kelly’s Restaurant

301 Whitehead Street,

Key West, FL 33040

305-293-8484

Monday, February 12^th, 2007

Restaurants,

20070212 Good Morning Key West

Good Morning Key West

Monday morning, February 12^th, 2007 in Key West Florida.

20070211 Irish Kevins

Irish Kevins

Sunday, February 11^th, 2007

Well, first of all, to the best of my knowledge, although I am a typical Heinz 57 American and I am not aware of that much Irish heritage in my family.

But nevertheless, the opportunity to do the above photo collage of scenes on Duval Street in Key West, Florida, Sunday evening, February 11^th, 2007, was too fun to pass up.

####

20070211 Soundtrack Daily Photoblog

Soundtrack Daily Photoblog

Sunday, February 11th, 2007

Key West, Florida: Around 7:30 this morning this Mourning Dove sat on the railing on the balcony outside our bedroom and announced that it was morning.

The weather is a bit overcast and the temperature is 69 degrees, but nevertheless a great deal more comfortable than the 20 degrees in Westminster, Maryland.

Daily Photoblog

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20070210 Daily Photoblog The Bicycle

Daily Photoblog: The Bicycle

Saturday, February 10th, 2007

Hampton Inn, Homestead Florida

20070209 Daily Photoblog Galindos Café Mural

Daily Photoblog Galindos Café Mural

Friday, February 9th, 2007

Mural on the outside wall of Galindos Café, Homestead Florida.

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20070209 Feather Eyes

Feather Eyes

February 9^th, 2007

“Feather Eyes” is actually a photo of the cover photo of one of the airline magazines. I wish that I had recorded the photographer and the name of the magazine, but I did not. It is not “my picture.” It is my picture of someone else’s picture. Nevertheless, I just thought it was fun…

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20070207 Daily Photoblog Deborah Burrell Triptych

Deborah Burrell, Case Manager for 6th District Maryland Congressman Roscoe Bartlett

Wednesday, February 7th, 2007

Deborah L. Burrell, Case Manager for 6th District Maryland Congressman Roscoe Bartlett, answers the phone, keeps track of her computer screen, answers questions and fights an ever-growing mound of paperwork in her 15 East Main Street, Westminster office.

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20070207 Good Morning

Good Morning

February 7^th, 2007

As much as I hate cold and snow – it sure was pretty early this morning.

But then again, in a conversation this morning, with the Westminster City Clerk, Laurell Taylor – she reminded me of a Garfield quote: “February of the Monday of the year.” Oh – how true.

Kevin

Westminster, MD USA

Daily Photoblog, Photography

20070207 Good Morning

Good Morning

Wednesday, February 7^th, 2007

As much as I hate cold and snow – it sure was pretty early this morning.

But then again, in a conversation this morning, with the Westminster City Clerk, Laurell Taylor – she reminded me of a Garfield quote: “February of the Monday of the year.” Oh – how true.

Kevin

Westminster, MD USA

Daily Photoblog, Photography

20070205 20061205 The Escalator

The Escalator

Originally e-mailed to me December 5th, 2006 Posted February 5th, 2007

H/t: Juniperus Hetzi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAqvJgiyoOM

Once the escalator stops - laugh, in an attempt to avoid crying, at the reaction of the folks on the escalator. Way too funny. How many folks do you know who would react this way. This was delightfully e-mailed to me and I do not know whom to credit. If someone knows the source of this hilarity, please be in touch.

20070204 Daily Photoblog Window Flag

20070204 Daily Photoblog Window Flag

20070204 Window Flag

20070203 Daily Photoblog Window to a world of snow and cold

Daily Photoblog: Window to a world of snow and cold

20070203 February morning

20070131 MSNBC Political Calendar

MSNBC Political Calendar

MSNBC.com

Updated: 6:41 p.m. ET Jan. 31, 2007, © 2007 MSNBC.com

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16910834/

FEBRUARY 2007
1
President Bush speaks to House Democrats at their retreat in Williamsburg, Va.

Mitt Romney travels to New Hampshire

Michael Steele begins chairmanship of GOPAC
1-2
Tom Vilsack campaigns in Nevada
1-3
DNC's winter meeting in D.C.
2
Condoleezza Rice hosts foreign leaders in D.C. to talk about Israel & the Palestinians.

Sam Brownback campaigns in South Carolina
3
President Bush speaks to House Democrats at their retreat in Williamsburg, Va.

Sam Brownback campaigns in Florida

John McCain meets with state GOP party leaders in Columbia, S.C.
4
Dan Quayle’s birthday

Dennis Kucinich holds a town hall in New Hampshire
5
President Bush releases his budget plan
6
Ted Kennedy & John Boehner speak at the Washington Press Club Foundation's dinner in D.C.
8
Hillary Clinton hosts a book party for Terry McAuliffe in D.C.
9-11
Rudy Giuliani keynotes the California GOP's annual convention
10
Barack Obama speaks about his 2008 bid in Illinois
11
Hillary Clinton attends fundraisers in Los Angeles
12
Dave McCurdy becomes president of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers

Rudy Giuliani attends a fundraiser in Fresno, Calif.
17
Barack Obama headlines a Virginia Democrats' fundraiser in Richmond, Va.
19
Dick Cheney goes this week to Japan, Australia & Guam
20
Steven Spielberg, David Geffen & Jeffrey Katzenberg host a fundraiser for Barack Obama
21
2008 Democratic presidential candidate forum in Carson City, Nev.
22
Bill Frist’s birthday
26
Democratic Governors Association's Taste of America in D.C.
27
Chicago mayoral election(pdf)

Kansas City mayoral election

Janet Napolitano speaks at the National Press Club
MARCH 2007
1-3
34th Annual Conservative Political Action Conference in D.C.
2
Russ Feingold‘s birthday
8
George Allen’s birthday
10
Hillary Clinton headlines a New Hampshire Democrats' fundraiser
24
2008 presidential health care forum in Nevada

Hillary Clinton holds a fundraiser in Los Angeles
31
Al Gore’s birthday
APRIL 2007
7
World Health Day
13
Newt Gingrich speaks to the American Medical Association in Tampa, Fla.
14
Iowa GOP's Lincoln Day fundraiser
17
Chicago mayoral election (pdf)
21
Minnesota Democrats' Humphrey Day fundraiser

Rich Little performs at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner in D.C.
26
MSNBC's 2008 Democratic primary presidential debate in Orangeburg, S.C.
27-28
South Carolina Democrats' state convention
MAY 2007
1
Denver mayoral election
3-6
Log Cabin Republicans' national conference in Denver
15
South Carolina GOP hosts a presidential debate in Columbia

Philadelphia & Pittsburgh mayoral primaries
19
South Carolina GOP state convention & possible 2008 straw poll

George H.W. Bush & Bill Clinton speak at the University of New Hampshire
22
Kentucky gubernatorial primary
23-25
U.S. Chamber of Commerce's small business summit in D.C.
28
Rudy Giuliani’s birthday.
JUNE 2007
22-26
75th Annual Conference of Mayors in Los Angeles
JULY 2007
7-12
NAACP's annual convention in Detroit
AUGUST 2007
2
Nashville mayoral election
7
Mississippi gubernatorial primary
11
Iowa GOP presidential straw poll in Ames, Iowa
SEPTEMBER 2007
11
Baltimore mayoral primary
OCTOBER 2007
4
Memphis mayoral election
20
Louisiana gubernatorial primary
SEPTEMBER 2007
24
Bill Clinton chairs the Little Rock Nine 50th Anniversary Gala
OCTOBER 2007
2
Salt Lake City mayoral primary
18-21
Possible Florida GOP 2008 straw poll
NOVEMBER 2007
2
2008 Democratic presidential candidate debate in Las Vegas
6
Gubernatorial elections in Kentucky & Mississippi

Mayoral primary in Houston and mayoral elections in Philadelphia & San Francisco
17
Louisiana gubernatorial runoff
JANUARY 2008
5
2008 Republican presidential debate in Johnstown, Iowa
6
2008 Democratic presidential debate in Johnstown, Iowa
14
Iowa caucuses
15
2008 Democratic presidential candidate debate in Las Vegas
19
Nevada Democratic caucuses
29
South Carolina Democratic primary
FEBRUARY 2008
2
South Carolina Republican primary
AUGUST 2008
25-28
Democratic National Convention in Denver
SEPTEMBER 2008
1-4
Republican National Convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul
NOVEMBER 2008
4
Election Day