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

Thursday, February 14, 2008

20080213 Daily Photoblog Key West Marina

Key West Marina

Daily Photoblog - February 13, 2006

Kevin Dayhoff

I snapped this picture while I was talking with Miss Rachelle this evening. She was explaining the weather in Westminster at the time. Snow, sleet, freezing rain and cold: By the time I had taken this photograph, the temperature in Key West was below 80 degrees…

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

20080211 Westminster Road Runners Club Schedule for May - August 2008


February 11, 2008

Westminster Road Runners Club Schedule

May-August, 2008

For other posts on running or the Westminster Road Runners Club please click on: Sports Running or Westminster Road Runners Club or Westminster Sidewalks and Trails or westminster road runners club or westminster sidewalks and trails. The Westminster Road Runners Club web site is here: http://www.carr.org/%7Ewrrc/

Saturday, May 3, 8:00 am, Sandymount Four Miler, Sandymount

Elementary School, Old Westminster Pike, Westminster, Md.

Joe Loveland, 410-857-1201 or joeloveland1@hotmail.com

RACE DAY ENTRY ONLY

Saturday, May 10, 9:00 am, Carroll County Youth Services

Bureau 5K, Tahoma Farm Road and Rt. 31, Westminster, Md.

Gary Honeman, 410-848-2118 or ghoneman@ccysb.org

Saturday, May 17, 9:00 am, TRES 5K and 1 Mile Walk/Run, Twin

Ridge Elementary School, Mt. Airy, Md. Tracy Flower, Twin

Ridge Elementary School, 1106 Leafy Hollow Circle, Mt. Airy,

Md. 21771, 240-236-2300, or Tracy.Flower@fcps.org

Thursday, May 29, 7:00 pm, Twilight Series #1, Falcon Two

Mile Track Run, Winters Mill High School, Westminster, Md.

David Herlocker, 410-848-8332 or dherlock@mcdaniel.edu

RACE DAY ENTRY ONLY

Thursday, June 12, 7:00 pm, Twilight Series #2, Run With The

Knights 5K, Century High School, Eldersburg, Md. Bob

Paczynski, 410-549-1123 or vintage66pony@aol.com

RACE DAY ENTRY ONLY

Thursday, June 26, 7:00 pm, Twilight Series #3, Camp Hashawa

Three Mile Trail Run, Camp Hashawa, John Owings Road,

Westminster, Md. Gary Honeman, 410-848-2118 or

ghoneman@ccysb.org RACE DAY ENTRY ONLY

Thursday, July 10, 7:00 pm, Twilight Series #4, FSK 6K,

Francis Scott Key High School, Uniontown, Md. Tom

Russell, 410-751-1434. RACE DAY ENTRY ONLY

Sunday, July 13, 8:15 am, Women's Distance Festival 5K Run,

Union Mills Homestead, Union Mills, Md. Liuda Galinaitis,

1796 S. Pleasant Valley Rd., Westminster, Md. 21158,

410-857-5427, or liuda@carr.org

Thursday, July 24, 7:00 pm, Twilight Series #5, Pleasant Valley

Four Mile Run, Pleasant Valley Fire Hall, Pleasant Valley,

Md. Liuda Galinaitis, 410-857-5427 or liuda@carr.org

RACE DAY ENTRY ONLY

Thursday, August 7, 7:00 pm, Twilight Series #6, Runnymede 8K,

Runnymede Elementary School, Westminster, Md. David

Herlocker, 410-848-8332 or dherlock@mcdaniel.edu

RACE DAY ENTRY ONLY

Sunday, August 17, 8:00 am, Kowomu Trail 5K Road Race,

Rinehart Road, Westminster, Md. David Herlocker,

410-848-8332 or dherlock@mcdaniel.edu RACE DAY ENTRY ONLY

####

NBH

20080211 “Quintessential Key West Rooster” February 11, 2008 Photo by Mrs. Owl

Daily Photoblog

“Quintessential Key West Rooster”

February 11, 2008

Photo by Mrs. Owl

(She was dropping off my absentee ballot. See this week’s Tentacle column for some additional insight…)

_____

20080211 “Quintessential Key West Rooster” February 11, 2008 Photo by Mrs. Owl

20080208 WYPR: Maryland Morning with Sheilah Kast - Wynn Rousuck reviews Rosencrantz and Guilderstern are Dead at Centerstage

WYPR: Maryland Morning with Sheilah Kast - Wynn Rousuck reviews Rosencrantz and Guilderstern are Dead at Centerstage

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead

http://www.wypr.org/MD_MORNING.html

Maryland Morning with Sheilah Kast on WYPR

Friday, February 8, 2008

LISTEN

J. Wynn Rousuck reviews Tom Stoppard's play, at Centerstage in Baltimore through March 9th.

External Link: http://www.centerstage.org/index.php

20080208 WYPR: Maryland Morning with Sheilah Kast - Wynn Rousuck reviews Rosencrantz and Guilderstern are Dead at Centerstage

Friday, February 08, 2008

20080207 “Traveling with Mr. Moose” and “Leaving Orlando Airport”



“Traveling with Mr. Moose” and “Leaving Orlando Airport

Daily Photoblog

February 7th, 2008

Kevin Dayhoff

20080207 “Traveling with Mr. Moose” and “Leaving Orlando Airport”

Tuesday, February 05, 2008

20080205 The Law of the Garbage Truck



The Law of the Garbage Truck.

February 5, 2008

Hat Tip: Analog

I received this in an e-mail and found it worthy of passing along:

How often do you let other people change your mood? Do you let a bad driver, rude waiter, curt boss, or an insensitive employee ruin your day? Unless you're the Terminator, for an instant you're probably set back on your heels.

However, the mark of a successful person is how quickly she/he can get back her/his focus on what's important.

Five years ago I learned this lesson in the back of a taxicab in Indianapolis.

Here's what happened: I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us.

My taxi driver slammed on his breaks, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches!

The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us.

My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And, I mean, he was really friendly.

So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital.'

This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.'

He explained that many people are like garbage trucks.

They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and some times they'll dump it on you.

Don't take it personally.

Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day.

Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so...

Love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don't.

####

20080205 The Law of the Garbage Truck

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

20080121 The Sunday Carroll Eagle

Monday, January 21 We can't understand the kids, but in this case it's a good thing
MOM ON A MISSION

Sometimes my children say things in Spanish. It catches me off guard and (I must admit) I have no idea what they're saying. They were chanting something recently and it occurred to me that they got it from "Dora the Explorer."

This is what I get for letting them watch television...
[Read full story]


Reaching Out
Farm Museum hopes to harvest volunteers

The Carroll County Farm Museum is seeking volunteers as it prepares for its busy season in the spring and summer.

Beginning in April the museum hosts numerous group and school tours and by May the museum is open to the public on weekends, and special event...
[Read full story]


Golden oldies at the golden arches


COMMUNITY SPIRITS

The house is already jumping when Fred Ehrlich starts blasting some New Orleans jazz riffs through his weathered horn.

Singers, one in a tuxedo, another channeling Dean Martin, a third looking like Elvis Presley, start belting out lyrics.

A line of ladies who arrived ...
[Read full story]


Git Along, Little Dogies


It's something akin to a rock concert on Saturday evenings at the Carroll County Agriculture Center in Westminster.

The lights inside the Shipley Arena flash and dim, the loud music echoes over the loudspeakers and boisterous fans, some screaming with excitement, rise from the bleachers.
[Read full story]


January 13, 2008: For 115 years, Westminster's band of brothers ... and sisters EAGLE ARCHIVE by Kevin Dayhoff

Just before the holidays, I had the pleasure of attending the Westminster Municipal Band's end-of-year Christmas party and annual meeting.

The roots of the Westminster Municipal Band are found in 1920, but according to director Sandy Miller in a July 2004 interview, "there are reco...
[Read full story]


More Headlines Education Notes
Beasts and Birthdays
Westminster businesses throw the books at Baltimore middle school
Stair steps in to assist Marriage Resource Center
Snowfall carried friendship, not isolation, in rural Carroll


December 23, 2007: Shedding a little light on early Christmas tree decorations EAGLE ARCHIVE by Kevin Dayhoff


Roll out the yule log ... all the way to the yard
News Briefs
Movie Capsules CE
Mama knows best at the newest Belisimo's
In New Windsor, Santa always comes to town
'Claus' for adoption in Mount Airy
After Christmas, resolve to ring in the New Year as a family
Setting some ground rules before it becomes 'game over'
Memories, and hope, are evergreen at Carroll Hospice
Holiday trains pull into Sykesville, Mount Airy and Pleasant Valley
Going, going ... but not GONE
Garden grows with a spirit of Christmas


December 16, 2007: Christmas reminds us of worry, and glory, of downtown business EAGLE ARCHIVE by Kevin Dayhoff


Bundle up and keep worm for the holidays

_____

The Sunday Carroll Eagle: October 28, 2007 - On October 28th, 2007 the publication for which I write, The Westminster Eagle and The Eldersburg Eagle, (which is published by Patuxent Newspapers and owned by Baltimore Sun); took over the Carroll County section of the Baltimore Sun.

“The Sunday Carroll Eagle ” is inserted into the newspaper for distribution in Carroll County. For more information, please contact:

Mr. Jim Joyner, Editor, The Westminster Eagle

121 East Main Street

Westminster, MD 21157

(410) 386-0334 ext. 5004

Jjoyner AT Patuxent DOT com

For more posts on “Soundtrack” click on: Sunday Carroll Eagle

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/search/label/Sunday%20Carroll%20Eagle

20071028 The Sunday Carroll Eagle introduction

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2007/10/20071028-sunday-carroll-eagle.html

Also see: Monday, October 22, 2007: 20071021 Baltimore Sun: “To our readers”

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2007/10/20071021-baltimore-sun-to-our-readers.html

Sunday, January 20, 2008

20080118 Code addition will set stage for police force

Code addition will set stage for police force

Westminster Eagle News briefs

01/18/08

The (Carroll County) Board of Commissioners last week gave the go-ahead for a public hearing on a proposed chapter to the County Code that will lay the groundwork for creation of a new county police department.

The hearing will be at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 31, in Room 003 of the County Office Building, 225 N. Center St., Westminster.

The proposed chapter specifies the procedure the board must follow to appoint a chief and what the chief's powers and responsibilities will be. It also stipulates duties that county officers will have.

Friday, January 18, 2008

20080113 Westminster Municipal Band: For 115 years, Westminster's band of brothers ... and sisters

Sunday Carroll Eagle

01/11/08 by Kevin E. Dayhoff

EAGLE ARCHIVE

Below please find the long – unedited version of the column…

Just before the holidays got into full swing, I had the pleasure of attending the Westminster Municipal Band’s end of the year Christmas party and annual meeting.

It is certainly not a very well kept secret that this former Westminster Mayor and his family are madly in love with the Westminster Municipal Band. And it's not just because I'm a washed-up trumpet player.

Usually when one thinks of the Westminster Municipal Band, visions of “Mom, Country, and Apple Pie” come to mind.

The purpose of leadership today is to build community. Certainly one of the chief builders of our community has been the Westminster Municipal Band.

However, the rich history of the band includes being part of rapid deployment force to hotspots around the globe, a machine gun section, and a rumored reputation of being a heavy metal grudge-garage band. Who knew?

If a Greek mythologist were to write the history of the Westminster Municipal Band, they would write the Band's Mother is the history and tradition of the Westminster Community and the Father is the 29th Division National Guard Regimental Band. That Greek mythologist would also want to write that the band's ancestral home is Belle Grove Square and that it's midwife was Mayor Joseph L. Mathias.

The roots of the present Westminster Municipal Band are found in 1920, but “there are records of a Westminster Band dating back as far as 1860,” according to the band’s director, Sandy Miller, in a July 2004 interview.

However, to the best of our knowledge, it was 1893 when it was first incorporated as the Westminster City Band of Carroll County.

It was around this time that Company H First Infantry Maryland National Guard was organized in Frizzleburg in 1898. This unit later evolved into the famous 29th Division of the Maryland National Guard. Part of the Westminster Municipal Band's lineage can be traced back to the First Maryland Infantry Band consisting of the Westminster Units of the Maryland National Guard.

Around 1900, there were a number of bands in the Carroll County community that played a prominent role in the development and maintenance of the community's character and depth.

Between 1857 and 1952 there were 40 bands incorporated in Carroll County. Names such as the “Carroll County Concert Band”, the “Warfieldsburg Brass Band” and the “Double Creek Cornet Band” to name just a few. Of all those community bands, The Westminster Municipal Band is the one band that marches on.

Ms. Miller explained that in 1916, “many members of the band went into the Maryland National Guard under the heading ‘First Regimental Band of Maryland National Guard,” and shortly after that they were deployed to the Mexican border to participate in an undeclared war between the United States and Mexico.

United States Army Center of Military History officially refers to the conflict as the “Mexican Expedition,” with the “official” beginning and ending dates of March 14, 1916 to February 7, 1917.

In 1918, the band was deployed to France for World War I. After the members of the band returned home from France, the returning veteran band members, those who had remained stateside and folks from a “Boy Scouts band” formed “The Westminster Band, Inc.” in 1920. In 1950, the name was changed to “The Westminster Municipal Band” when Westminster Mayor Joseph L. Mathias took a particular interest in the band and the band re-organized.

At the event last December, there was no mention as to whether or not the Westminster Band still maintains a “rapid deployment” force. If anyone has that information, please be in touch.

According to a November 18, 1921 newspaper article, the Westminster Band led the community in a parade and subsequent daylong celebration of “Armistice Day.” The festivities included Western Maryland College Military students and Westminster Fire Department and machine gun demonstration on Liberty Street. Yes, you read that correctly. I’m not making this up.

The article says, “A demonstration was given with machine guns on Liberty street extended which was interesting to the crowd that watched the machines in action. A target was placed on the hill below Dr. Fitzhugh's which was riddled by bullets from the guns, showing the good marksmanship of the men.”

To the best of my knowledge, the current band does not have a “machine gun” section. Or do they?

At last December’s event, Westminster Band president Greg Wantz gave an extensive year in review in which he noted that several members of the Westminster Common Council were in attendance and Mayor Ferguson shared a few words of appreciation.

President Wantz said the band participated in 32 engagements in 2007 with an average of 38 members participating in each event. Years of Service awards were handed out to several band members, including Karen Wantz for 5 years, Rob Rollins for 20, Charlie Simpson for 25, Ron Charnigo and Jim Mora for 30, and Ray Shipley and Delbert Myerly for 45.

The President’s top ten awards were given to the members that attended the most jobs and they were as follows, making 42 total appearances – Dan Carl. Dan received a gift certificate from Harry’s Main Street Grill. Also making 42 – Sue Mora, who received a certificate from Frisco Pub.

Making 44 – Eric Utermahlen, who received a certificate from Applebee’s.

Coming in at #8, with 44, it was Bette Shepherd, who received a certificate from Frisco Pub.

#7 with 45 appearances, it was Mike Buffington, who received a certificate from Stu’s Music.

# 6 was Chris Crofoot with 45 appearances. He received a certificate from Rafael’s.

# 5 was Mike McQuay with 50 appearances. Mike received a certificate from Applebee’s.

#4 was Brandy Simpson with 51 appearances. She received a certificate from House of Liquors. #3 was Tony LaRose making 52 appearances. Tony received a certificate from Time Out sports grille.

#2 was Larry Myers with 53 appearances. Larry received a certificate from Bullock’s Beef house.

#1 was Dave Miller making 56 appearances. Dave received a certificate from Baugher’s restaurant. The #1 Color Guard attendee was Raymond Bankert, who received a certificate from Davids Jewelers.

The officers for the 2008-09 were introduced and they are as follows, President - Greg Wantz, Vice President – Scott Flohr, Secretary – Chris Crofoot, Asst. Secretary – Mike Buffington, Treasurer – Delbert Myerly, Asst. Treasurer – Larry Myers, Director – Sandy Miller, Asst. Directors – Ellen Martin and Paul Ricci, Drum Major – Steve Wantz, Asst. Drum Majors – Dave Miller, Scott Flohr.

The band serves as an ambassador of the citizens of Westminster in concerts and parades all over the mid-Atlantic region. And once again, the band represented Westminster at the annual Maryland State Firemen's Convention in Ocean City last summer.

A lengthy July 17, 1931 newspaper article describes the band and the Westminster Fire Department arriving home from participating in the convention earlier that July; “in a jubilant mood, as the band brought home the bacon, $100, for the best band in line of parade.”

The parade extended over 2 miles long that year. The band also gave concerts on the boardwalk and at the Del-Mar-Va Hotel and Hastings Hotel. The article also mentions “a pajama parade by the Westminster Band at 11 o'clock at night which was followed by several hundred people cheering as they passed down the board walk.”

A February 15, 1946 newspaper article gives us a great deal of insight into the names of many of the community leaders who participated in the band in the mid-1900s with its detailed description of the band holding its “first ladies' night since the war.”

At the time, John Schweigart was the director of the band. Other names mentioned are James Earp, John W. Peltz, J. Daniel Smith, Orville Earhart, Samuel P. Calrider, Walter Bell, Raymond H. Bennighof, Glenn A. Miller and Edgar Weigle, Francis Keefer, and J. Pearre Wantz, Jr.

For over 100 years the Westminster Municipal Band has truly been a part of the fabric of our close-knit village we call Westminster. The band was important 100 years ago, and it is even more valuable today as they serve as our city's ambassadors, and cheerleader as they share their music not only here in our community but throughout Maryland and our neighboring states.

Indeed, Westminster is not the only community to experience that thrill as the Band marches down their streets.

In order for a community an individual or an organization to remain meaningful, relevant and vibrant it must constantly re-invent itself and adapt to the context in which it serves. Hardly any organization in our community epitomizes this more than the Westminster Band. They are certainly the pride of our community. We are very proud of the Westminster Municipal Band.

The Westminster Municipal Band is always looking for new members to join during its Monday night rehearsals at 40 John Street. You can check the band out at its website, www.westminsterband.com.

_____

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

www.kevindayhoff.net

E-mail him at: kdayhoff AT carr.org or kevindayhoff AT gmail.com

His columns and articles appear in The Tentacle - www.thetentacle.com; Westminster Eagle Opinion; www.thewestminstereagle.com, Winchester Report and The Sunday Carroll Eagle – in the Sunday Carroll County section of the Baltimore Sun. Get Westminster Eagle RSS Feed

20080118 Westminster Eagle column: Dr. Martin Luther King's enduring words

Dr. Martin Luther King's enduring words

Westminster Eagle

01/18/08 By Kevin E. Dayhoff

American civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., wrote in a book, "Strength to Love," published in 1963:

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction. ..."

Those words are as enduring today as when written 45 years ago.

The year 1963 was a long time ago and we, as a society, have come along way toward social justice since the days of legally-sanctioned segregation.

And yet we must be constantly vigilant, as new challenges are always on the horizon.

This is especially true today as our nation continues to wallow in a political tar pit like some bellowing mastodon with a hangover. It seems these days that all issues of community, race relations, the environment and public policy quickly deteriorate into a "red versus blue" coarsening of dialogue promoted by a lack of humanity and the intellectually challenged.

Here's a well-kept secret for you -- the red versus blue thing isn't real, except as promoted by pundits and cable television stations that wish to have their way with you.

Leadership is about bringing folks together -- not promoting division.

We could use a few national leaders like Dr. King these days and it's only appropriate that we set aside time every year to attempt to reacquaint ourselves with the practice of solving our problems by cultivating nonviolence and compassion.

Because I haven't taken enough abuse recently, I'll venture to share my view that the recent discussion about Taneytown not being a "Sanctuary City" would be boring if it didn't give us a massive headache.

Please re-read the first two paragraphs.

The resolution of Taneytown is a stick in the eye for those of us who are trying to promote Carroll County as a welcoming community and family-friendly place to live and prosper.

It does little, if nothing, to address the problems of illegal immigration.

The societal and economic cost of illegal immigration is certainly a fair discussion. I mean, what part of illegal is not understood?

Nevertheless, the overall solution needs to occur in Congress, a body politic that, unfortunately, gives new meaning to "pathological dysfunctia."

Furthermore, the resolution coming at a time of the year when we celebrate Dr. King could not be more ironic.

Take a memo: xenophobia as an approach to solving complicated immigration problems is interesting in the way a septic truck running off the road, through your front flower bed and ending up on your front porch is interesting.

The resulting rhetoric, gnashing of teeth and collective hand-wringing only promotes myths and misinformation that distort meaningful debate and mute the questions that demand carefully thought-out solutions.

At this point, the only "sanctuary" I'm interested in is a sanctuary from stories like this one that will only go down as indictments of community leaders who have spent years offering solutions in search of a problem in an attempt to gain political advantage by populism.

This year we commemorate the life and work of Dr. King on Jan. 21, but he was born in Atlanta on Jan. 15, 1929.

Much of our community will come together to celebrate him this Saturday when the Carroll County NAACP will hold the fifth annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast at Martin's Westminster at 8 a.m. (If you'd like to go, call the NAACP office at 410-751-7667.)

Meanwhile, what I really wanted to write about is a persistent and perennial question from many young readers and new folks in our community:

"Who was Robert Moton?"

If you have any memories about the old Robert Moton School in Carroll County, please share them with me, so that I may include them in a future column.

Considering how angry and passionate folks are about the sanctuary city discussion, my next column may very well be written from an undisclosed location.

Hopefully it is a place that serves grits and has a good stereo system so that I can play Led Zeppelin's remake of Kansas Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnie's "When the Levee Breaks."

Anybody know what that song has to do with Robert Moton?

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

http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?show=localnews&pnpID=978&NewsID=869869&CategoryID=18317&on=1

####

Courthouse history seems to match theatrical flair of current case
The eyes of Maryland were on the Carroll County Courthouse last Friday as oral arguments were heard in the case of Michael D. Smigiel Sr., et al, v. Peter Franchot, et al.

This, of course, is the historic constitutional test case pertaining to alleged constitutional and procedural irregularities i...
[Read full story]


Something we really must talk about
On Christmas Eve, while many friends and families were preparing to get together and celebrate the holidays, the friends, colleagues and loved ones of Smithsburg police officer Christopher Nicholson, 25, gathered to bury him.

On Dec. 19, Officer Nicholson and the stranger he tried to help, Alison ...
[Read full story]

Thursday, January 17, 2008

20080109 Westminster Eagle: Districting plan faces hearing in January by Bob Allen

Westminster Eagle: Districting plan faces hearing in January by Bob Allen

Posted January 17, 2008

01/09/08 By Bob Allen

http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?show=localnews&pnpID=978&NewsID=867252&CategoryID=17320&on=1


Bill would create four districts, one at-large

The latest proposal to expand the Board of County Commissioners from three to five members will be open for public comment at a hearing set for Jan. 19 in Westminster.

State Del. Donald Elliott (R-Dist. 4B) said he co-created the plan with State Sen. Allan Kittleman (R-Dist. 9). It calls for four commissioners to be elected by districts with a fifth elected at-large, or county-wide.

The at-large commissioner would serve as president of the Board of Commissioners.

Under the plan, Carroll voters would vote for two commissioner candidates, one running in their district and one at-large.

On the eve of the General Assembly opening in Annapolis this week, Elliott said he believes his proposal has enough bipartisan support to get it through the assembly. A similar plan failed to make it to the floor in 2006, mostly because of disagreement over how and where district lines should be drawn.

"Last (time) a lot of people felt the (commissioner) districts should align with state legislative districts," Elliott said. "This time, that has been done to the extent that it could be done."

The failed proposal also differed in that it called for five commissioners, all elected by district. That's what voters selected in a 2004 referendum.

Elliott said his four-district plan is a compromise that carves out districts as equitably as possible, based on population, a per capita balance between registered Republicans, Democrats and independents and geography.

"The bottom line is, we are trying to make a compromise with this," Elliott said. "I feel very strongly that with this county growing the way it is, a change in governance is in order."

Skeptics have said the new proposal should not go forward because it differs from the five-district plan chosen in the 2004 referendum -- and as a result may eventually be overturned in court.

Elliott says his proposal does not need to go to referendum and is on solid legal ground.

"We're not violating the public's wishes," he said. "We have checked with the Attorney General's office and we have a written opinion from them that this is not in violation of the referendum and that we are not doing anything illegal.

"For some of these people (who oppose his plan), they are using that (argument) as a way to try to kill this bill, as in the past," he added. "There are still people who want three commissioners and others who still want five at-large commissioners.

Janet Jump, former president of the Board of Elections who also served on the committee that drew up the initial districting plan, likes Elliott's revised plan and thinks a commissioner-by-district system is long overdue.

"Carroll County is very diverse; South Carroll is a world away from North Carroll," Jump said. "These (sectional) differences deserve to be honored and recognized in running the county government, and the present system doesn't do this."

"I think creating districts is the only way we can recognize these differences," she said.

Elliott said his plan is modeled after Charles County and it works effectively there.

"I've talked to people in Charles County and other counties (where the board of commissioners has been expanded) and they told me it does make a difference," he said.

The new five-commissioner plan has been submitted to members of Carroll's delegation to Annapolis. The delegation will vote on it sometime after taking public comment at the Jan. 19 hearing.

"If approved by the delegation, it will be dropped in the hopper and be voted on by the Maryland General Assembly," he said. "Hopefully this time we have bipartisan support we need."

The public hearing on the proposed five-commissioner plan and other local bills proposed for the 2008 General Assembly is scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Jan. 19, in Room 003 of the County Office Building, 225 N. Center St., Westminster.

####

20080116 Carroll County Times columnist will be missed


Carroll County Times columnist will be missed

Letters to the Editor for Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Carroll County Times

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Editor:

I was sad to read in the Neighbors of Central Carroll section of the paper on January 11 that Ruth Seitler has discontinued her column for health reasons.

Seitler has delighted readers, historians and fellow writers for almost 20 years with her column, "Of Times Past."

Charles Caleb Colton wrote in 1825: "Our admiration of fine writing will always be in proportion to its real difficulty and its apparent ease."

Seitler always made fine writing look easy and many readers were delighted with her insights and experiences.

Her column was comforting, and comfortable, and best read curled up on the couch with a warm cup of tea and honey. She always gave her readers a break from the hecticness of today as she took us on a journey back to times past.

Her son, Jim Seitler wrote the last column in which he noted that his mom "loved writing (the) column every week. She would often read it to me and tell me about the letters or calls she had received from 'her readers.'"

He wrote poignantly: "As children we think that time stands still and as adults we realize that it moves faster than we want."

Ruth Seitler wrote for so many years that many of us took it for granted that she would write forever. Obviously, time moves faster than we want.

It was apparent that she loved writing, and as one of her many dedicated readers I loved reading her writing. Her column will be missed. Our hearts and prayers go out to her and her family. Thank you for sharing the last 20 years.

Kevin Dayhoff

Westminster

http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/articles/2008/01/16/news/opinion/letters/letters762.txt


Friday, January 11, 2008

20080111 I am exercising - Blogging is hard work.

I am exercising - Blogging is hard work
True Geek!

January 11, 2008

Will someone please tell my well-intentioned sister-in-law, that I am exercising? Blogging is hard work.

Can someone run to the frig and get me another Arizona Green Tea with ginseng and honey so that I may have my beauty and taste revived. I’m kinda exhausted over here…

####

20080111 Ozzy brings us this week’s Thank Goodness It’s Friday

Ozzy brings us this week’s Thank Goodness It’s Friday

January 11, 2008

It’s been a long week. Turn up the volume and settle back and enjoy. Whatever inference to current events may very well be up to your imagination… “Your lips are so cold I don’t what else to say.”

Ozzy Osbourne - No More Tears

Oh what the heck. A big thanks to Don Surber.

The light from Obama is a jolt of despair
He’s the first black candidate who has a prayer
Your levee of tears taught the people you might not come back
The Audacious Hope will bring another attack.

Your Billy told you that you’re not supposed to lose to strangers
Look in the mirror tell me do you think your life’s in danger here?
No more tears

Another vote passes and you lost big time
The deadline approacheth and you’re falling behind
You see Barack is gaining, will you lose the presidency?
You close your eyes as the pressure rises and you run out of money
No more tears

So now is it over? Will we just say good-bye?
I’d like to move on and make the most of the night
Maybe the Senate is not so bad a place
Your lips are so cold, what can you do to save face?
I never wanted it to end this way, before November
Believe me when I say the lesson is one to remember:
No more tears

Now play this and go back to work.

####