20080309 The Sunday Carroll Eagle

The Sunday Carroll Eagle

Tuesday, March 11 Traffic always made us see red
EAGLE ARCHIVE by Kevin Dayhoff

The concern over traffic congestion, safety and speeding tend to surface with every discussion of growth and quality of life in Carroll County. I was recently approached by folks and asked how I felt about red light and speeding cameras, and it got me thinking about Carroll County's ...
[Read full story]

---

Toy show, auction connects with childhood memories
OUT & ABOUT

Everyone has a favorite toy they remember from childhood -- a tractor, a talking doll, Lincoln Logs, or maybe a puzzle or game.

Next weekend's 13th annual Toy Show and Auction in Taneytown may just offer residents an opportunity to get their hands on one of those childhood memories.<... [Read full story]

---

Our 'cherry-ice' trees offer a delicious winter scene
IN THE GARDEN WITH MR. BEE

The stems and twigs of our leaf-losing trees and shrubs always look lovely glimmering in the sun after they've been coated with ice. But when plants with cherry-red stems and twigs have been encased within ice, they look stunning.

So if you like red, just picture a lar...
[Read full story]

---

News Briefs
Delay sought on noise variance pending state bill

Carroll County Public Schools officials are asking the Board of County Commissioners to see what happens in Annapolis before holding a hearing on a variance of the county's noise ordinance.

The school system requested a variance for Liberty High ...
[Read full story]

---

Museum unveils Taylor's 'wild' vision
John W. Taylor figures he first started painting in the fourth grade.

Now 76, Taylor still practices his art, and will display his paintings of Maryland wildlife and landscapes at the Taneytown History Museum, March 8 through October.

During a career of more than 30 years, Taylor has worked for ...
[Read full story]

---

More Headlines

Movies

Display of Pride

Birthday gifts? Tread lightly ... in high heels and boxing gloves
A turtle's pace, but a day of reckoning for Solomon
Working on the Railroad
To raise healthier kids, should we get more physical in school?

Researching a few 'first class' experiences in Carroll County EAGLE ARCHIVE by Kevin Dayhoff

News Briefs
Movies
Maggie's continues to grow on Westminster
Chicken Champagne
All Aboard!
What the wiki?!
Web series helps teens connect to the world

The life, and the lasting local influence, of Robert Moton EAGLE ARCHIVE by Kevin Dayhoff

Sportsman's Hall ... and airplane hangar
Skating history, from party 'crashing' to fitness
Reaching Out
News Briefs
Movies
Mason bees buzz in as honeybees buzz out
Education Notes
Coming clean to ease pain of cancer
Baby, it's cold outside, but it's also time to start thinking about camp
All Skate!

We can't understand the kids, but in this case it's a good thing
Reaching Out
Golden oldies at the golden arches

Git Along, Little Dogies

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

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

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

20080311 Environmental Advisory Council agenda

Carroll County Maryland ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COUNCIL

Karen Merkle, Chair

NOTE: Meeting Agenda, Tuesday,

March 11, 2008 @ 3:00 p.m. –

Room 003/004, Carroll County Office Building

Cynthia M. Parr

Chief, Administrative Services

225 N Center Street, Room 300

Westminster, MD 21157-5194

Telephone: 410-386-2232

Fax: 410-386-2485

cparr@ccg.carr.org

All meetings are scheduled for the second Tuesday of each month. If an afternoon meeting, it will be from 3:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M.; if an evening meeting, it will be from 6:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M., in Room 003/004 of the County Office Building unless otherwise noted. Notice of each meeting will be sent to local media prior to each meeting and will also appear on the website (ccgov.carr.org under meetings/agendas).

1. Call to Order

2. Approval of February 19, 2008 Minutes

3. Communications

4. Open Forum – An opportunity for County residents to express concerns or propose issues not already before the Council, as future EAC Agenda items; three (3) minutes per presentation

5. Presentations:

a. J. Michael Evans, Director, DPW – County’s Electronic Recycling

b. Jerry Condon – Auto Recycling

6. Unfinished or Ongoing Business

a. MTBE monthly update – CCHD

b. Bruceville Road update

c. Small Scale Wind Turbine Ordinance update

d. Solid Waste Recommendations update

7. Committee/Work Team Reports/Recommendations

a. County Water Council – Cindy Parr

b. Environmental Awareness Awards update – Kim Petry

c. Cool Counties update – Dan Andrews

8. New Business

a. Election of Vice Chair

b. Vote for Environmental Awareness Awards

9. Council members – Issues for future consideration

a. List of Council Priorities

10. Announcements from the Chair

a. The April EAC meeting, will be an evening meeting Tuesday, April 8, 2008, @ 6:30 p.m. in Room 003/004, County Office Building

11. Adjourn

ACCESSIBILITY NOTICE: The Americans with Disabilities Act applies to the Carroll County Government and its programs, services, activities, and facilities. If you have questions, suggestions, or complaints, please contact Ms. Jolene Sullivan, the Carroll County Government Americans With Disabilities Act Coordinator, at 410-386-3600/1-888-302-8978 or TTY No. 410-848-9747. The mailing address is 225 North Center Street, Westminster, Maryland 21157. Posted 04/06/05

20080306 Timeline to date on the Carroll County Maryland Integrated Waste Management Decision

Timeline to date on the Carroll County Maryland Integrated Waste Management Decision

March 6, 2008

March 2005 - Carroll County secured the services of R.W. Beck to complete a comprehensive study on the County’s waste management options.

October 2005 - R.W. Beck presented their report on long term waste disposal options indicating that WTE may be the lowest cost waste disposal option.

January 19, 2006 – Carroll County Commissioners adopted resolution 658-06, which among other things directed the Department of Public Works (DPW) and the Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority (NMWDA) to conduct a procurement for waste-to-energy facilities, as detailed in the R.W. Beck Report.

May 3, 2006 - Request for Qualifications (RFQ) was advertised in Waste News (the most widely read solid waste weekly periodical with a circulation of over 50,000. The RFQ was posted on the NMWDA’s website along with all addenda.

August 1, 2006 - The NMWDA received 12 responses from the RFQ (9) technologies/vendors were deemed qualified to submit.

October 6, 2006 – Request for Proposals (RFP) were released to prequalified vendors.

December 2006 - Frederick County secured the services of RTI International to model Frederick County’s solid waste disposal system/alternatives, using EPA’s Municipal Solid Waste-Decisions Support Tool.

March 26, through April 1, 2007 - Staff from Frederick and Carroll Counties, NMWDA and HDR Engineers visited several European waste management facilities and met with European waste management agencies.

April 20, 2007 - NMWDA receives three WTE proposals from pre-qualified vendors.

July 14, 2007 - Frederick and Carroll Counties hosted a solid waste forum, at Frederick Community College with speakers from the Environmental Protection Agency, neighboring jurisdictions and SWANA.

September 29, 2007 – DPW staff and Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) held a workshop on solid waste disposal.

October 9, 2007 - Carroll County staff attended the presentation of RTI internationals model of Frederick County’s waste disposal system/alternatives. The report showed the net total “Criteria Pollutant Emissions” for WTE to be the lowest of all options modeled (local landfill, and out of state landfill).

October, 2007- Based on a recommendation of the EAC, Carroll County secured the services of Richard Anthony to perform a resource assessment study of Carroll County’s waste.

November 15, 2007 - The EAC presented their recommendation on solid waste option to the Carroll County Commissioners.

November 19, 2007 - DPW Staff with the assistance of the NMWDA presented their recommendation to the Carroll County Commissioners

December 13, 2007 - DPW Staff, NMWDA, EAC and the Carroll County Commissioners had a panel discussion on solid waste disposal.

February 14, 2008 – Carroll County Commissioners adopted a County Government recycling policy

February 21, 2008 - DPW staff presented information on the economics of a WTE facility to the Carroll County Commissioners

February 26, 2008 - The Carroll County and Frederick County Commissioners had a joint meeting on solid waste management strategies. The Frederick County Commissioners invited the Carroll County Commissioners to join them in building a 1,600 ton per day WTE facility in Frederick County.

March 5 and 10, 2008 – DPW hosts public information meetings to explain the integrated materials management strategy for handling all of Carroll County’s waste.

20080306 Recent Eagle columns

Recent Eagle columns

Kevin E. Dayhoff

Thursday, March 06

Trouble with trash is nothing new, but the technology may be
One of the difficult decisions currently facing our community is the trouble with trash.

When the last major decision occurred in 1996 and 1997, I was chair of the county's Environmental Affairs Advisory Board.

At that time, I was impressed with the combination of an aggressive recycling program...
[Read full story]

---

Don't let 'wrap rage' leave you in stitches
It's been two months since Christmas and, with any luck and the power of prayer, perhaps you have been able to break free most of your family's gifts from the dreaded, adult proof, clamshell plastic "blister" packaging.

This oppression of over-packaging is not only a leading cause of holiday depre...
[Read full story]

---

Looking at Bowling Brook one year later
More than a year has passed since, on a cold Jan. 23, 2007, Isaiah Simmons III, 17, died after being restrained by staff at Bowling Brook Preparatory School in Middleburg.

Mr. Simmons, from Baltimore, had only been at the facility for a couple of weeks -- since Jan. 10, after a court had sent him...
[Read full story]

---

'Tech Tax' will have crippling impact on Carroll
The frenzied and frenetic Maryland General Assembly special taxing session has been over for several months, yet the more the layers of this onion are peeled-away, the more it just wants to make you cry.

In a recent phone conversation, Ted Zaleski, Carroll County's director of management and budge...
[Read full story]

---

It's easy to demonstrate for peace; harder to work for it
Watching the movie, "The Singing Revolution," discussed in last week's column, brought back memories from my trip to Estonia back in Sept. 17-23, 2004.

It was a unique opportunity to represent Westminster in an "assessment and support tour" for the Maryland and Estonia Partner City Partners For Pe...
[Read full story]

---

More Headlines

How culture and song can save a nation

Dr. Martin Luther King's enduring words

Courthouse history seems to match theatrical flair of current case

Something we really must talk about

####

20080305 This week in The Tentacle

20080305 This week in The Tentacle

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Making Trash Go Away – Part One

Kevin E. Dayhoff

On February 26, the Frederick and Carroll County commissioners met to discuss how to make a combined 1,100 tons of trash-a-day go away.

One outcome of the meeting was the Frederick County Commissioners voted to extend a 45-day window of opportunity for the Carroll County commissioners to decide whether or not to join its neighbor in building a two-county waste-to-energy facility.

This comes after two days of hearings in mid-December in which hundreds participated. Then on December 13, in response to requests that Frederick County conduct more studies, the commissioners wisely said enough with the endless studies.

Indeed, the best research and studies are already readily available from the European Union (EU), in addition to over two decades of study and deliberations on the matter in Central Maryland.

This is not the first time that the two counties have discussed joining forces to deal with trash. The waste-to-energy option had earlier been investigated in 1984 with Howard and Carroll counties.

Read the rest here: Making Trash Go Away – Part One

Booze News

Tom McLaughlin

I have started to go back to bars. In my drinking days, I loved them, but with all the medication I take now, it puts a damper on that exercise.

---

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Real "Super Tuesday"

Roy Meachum

Pundits and people alike figured the Democratic presidential primaries would be all over after last month's "Super Tuesday." But today we face another Tuesday that shapes up even more "super."

In The “Now”

Nick Diaz

Why do I ride motorcycles? Many who have been riders for a while often ask themselves that question, and every time what seems to be the same old answer reappears in their minds.

---

Monday, March 3, 2008

General Assembly Journal 2008 – Volume 3
The Mid-way Point

Richard B. Weldon Jr.

No, the title does not refer to the famous naval battle involving bombardment of the island in World War II. I’m talking about being halfway through the 425^th Session of the Maryland General Assembly.

---

Friday, February 29, 2008

Finally, the Courts (I Hope)

Roy Meachum

My opinion on the subject is known. It was formed in part by stupidities like the Walkersville resident warning the town would become a new Mecca. At issue was the request by a splinter Islamic group to put up a mosque and convention center. You know the story.

Solomon and Shaw

Roy Meachum

George Bernard usually precedes the headline's "Shaw," as if the three words are irretrievably wed. The famous playwright receives as handsome a homage as he's ever been awarded currently at the Shakespeare Theatre Company. As you will read, I was thoroughly delighted with "Major Barbara," which opened at Washington's Sidney Harman Hall this week.

---

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Take a Closer Look….

Joan McIntyre

Budget time is here. Moratorium is in the works. Last year was spent nickel and dime-ing the property owners, fighting with municipalities and the delegation. So many issues, so little time, what’s a commissioner to do? I’ve got the answer. Say no to out of control budget requests. Stop the “tax-n-spend” mentality.

Inside The Smoke-Filled Back Room…

Chris Cavey

The world of party politics is a strange entanglement of political clubs, candidate campaigns, entourages of elected officials and the organized political party apparatus. Many know the value and can recognize the former; but few understand the organization of the party faithful consistently struggling in the trenches – the state central committee.

---

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Reality takes The Year Off

Kevin E. Dayhoff

Last weekend the nation’s governors met in Washington for the 100th annual National Governors Association 2008 winter meeting. They had lots to talk about; but it was the faltering economy that eventually stole the show.

News from Ocean City….

Tom McLaughlin

The Town of Ocean City has come up with a brilliant idea to lower their taxes by $14 mil or so, and to raise the taxes of the good people of Worcester County by the same amount.

---

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Wayne, I Never Knew You

Roy Meachum

We saw each other on North Market Street; sometimes he was walking that obviously sweet dog. We nodded and smiled to each other. He was usually in black jacket and pants: the usual priest's "off-duty" attire.

A Crack in The Door

Farrell Keough

Over the next few articles, we are going to explore the issues and possible solutions to illegal immigration. During this process, we will ensure correctness of documentation as well as making certain we are not allowing a sense of racism to infect our perspectives.

---

Monday, February 25, 2008

Pondering a Political Future

Richard B. Weldon Jr.

At a Farm Bureau/Pomona Grange legislative luncheon a few weeks ago, audience members were treated to a little surprise along with their roast beef and ham.

Words, Just Words

Steven R. Berryman

A presidential primary campaign is upon us now, much earlier in impact than in years past. The issues that are forced “off the table” are, in some cases, the ones that should be the defining ones. Shame on us for not forcing them back into the light of day for our proper examination.

Mr Moose visits with Doreen Negley and Amanda Miller

Monday, March 3, 2008

20080303 Mr Moose visits with Doreen Negley and Amanda Miller

20080303 Mr Moose visits with Doreen Negley and Amanda Miller

March 3, 2008

While in the Carroll County office building earlier today, Mr. Moose had an opportunity to have a wonderful conversation with Doreen Negley (L) and Amanda Miller (R.) He found them to be very knowledgeable and friendly.

Posted by Kevin Dayhoff at Monday, March 03, 2008

Kevin Dayhoff Art http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/

20080229 Westminster Eagle: “A pie in the face for a good cause,” by Kevin Dayhoff

Westminster Eagle Article

“A pie in the face for a good cause”

February 29, 2008 by Kevin Dayhoff

Photo by Kevin Dayhoff

Former Carroll County Commissioner Perry Jones, left, takes bids from Fraternal Order of Eagles’ members for the opportunity to toss a pie in the face of the local Aeries’ president, Ralph Goodwin, right, after last Thursday’s meeting at the non-profit’s facility on Airport Drive.

_____

Westminster - Last Thursday, after the regular board meeting of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles Post 4378 in Westminster, Ralph Goodwin got a pie in the face.

However Goodwin, who is the president of the local Aerie (lodge) on Airport Drive, was all smiles.

Former Carroll County Commissioner, Perry Jones, quickly explained that Goodwin was on the receiving end of the pie as a result of a friendly and very successful contest to raise money for the Eagles’ building fund.

Goodwin acknowledged that he got the pie in the face because Jones had raised more money that he did.

Then Jones opportunistically auctioned off the chance to wield the pie to Brandon Dillon, who energetically outbid a cabal of women in the auxiliary, for the pie-tossing opportunity.

The Fraternal Order of the Eagles (FOE) purchased the former location of Bullock’s Airport Inn on May 31, 2006 after quickly outgrowing their first home base on Main Street in Westminster.

Since the move, membership has doubled in size. The FOE Auxiliary – the fundraising wing of the local lodge - was recently lauded for having the number one gain in new membership of all the Aeries in over 1700 cities across the United States and Canada,

The extraordinary membership growth has come in spite of being “the best kept secret in Carroll County,” said Josie Goodwin, Ralph Goodwin’s wife, and the president of the auxiliary.

As Mrs. Goodwin took a break from cheering on lodge member Dillon, an employee of Finch Services, she detailed with a big smile, “We’re people helping people… That’s our philosophy. In 2007, we donated $9,000 to charities. We take care of our own and we take care of the community.”

Jones, who has been a member for several years, said, “I always wanted to join when I was a commissioner and the Eagles were on Main Street, but I just couldn’t find the time to commit … and do it right… I felt it was a great way to keep working for the community. These are some of the nicest people around – and hardworking too.”

Blaine Brown, a Westminster volunteer firefighter and Aerie member said he joined because he likes the family environment of the local organization. “This lodge helps people and does good things for the community.”

Tim Kyle of Kyle Electric nodded in agreement as he munched on some popcorn. He said that he’s a member “because it is a good American diverse club” that comes together for Carroll County.

As he wiped the pie away from his mouth, Mr. Goodwin proudly concurred. “Our lodge here in Westminster – and our whole Eagles’ organization emphasizes diversity in our membership. We are an inclusive club that looks like our community.”

As Kyle looked around the room, he also pointed out that members come from all walks of life; “from white-collar professionals to laborers.”

“And the FOE just put President John F. Kennedy’s membership card in our national archives in Grove City, Ohio,” added Mr. Goodwin. “Seven U.S. presidents have been FOE members.”

Mr. Goodwin elaborated that the philosophy of the Eagles to share its good fortune as much as possible in the community. The local post contributes annually to several charitable funds throughout its national organization.

These include donations to help fight heart disease, diabetes, cancer, kidney ailments, and spinal cord injury. Then, locally, the Eagles have donated to Junction Inc., Change Inc., Carroll Hospice, the Westminster Public Library and needy families.

Funds donated by the Eagles come primarily through events at the FOE hall, and through raffles, 50/50 drawings, and members' dues. “You name it, we try it," said Mrs. Goodwin, who approved of the growing agitation that “Perry (Jones) should take a pie too.”

1977 Western Maryland College graduate Bill Treherne looked up from his sandwich and said that the lodge is “bunch of good people who support a lot of charities, while we have fun… Very family oriented and good food too…”

And smoke free too, said Gina Greene excitedly from behind the counter as she served up a BLT sandwich. The transition to a smoke free facility was “absolutely no problem. I think it’s brought out more people. The members switched (effortlessly)…”

Since it was first chartered in Westminster on July 21, 1996, the local Aerie has gathered almost 900 members.

“We have lots of members but… there’s always room for more help, and always a lot to do,” said Mr. Goodwin.

Established in Seattle in 1898, the Fraternal Order of Eagles is recognized nationally and internationally for humanitarian, charitable and community service. Each year, the Eagles raise funds to help combat diseases like cancer and diabetes, and support children and older adults in need.

For more information about the Eagles and the Eagles Auxiliary, call Ralph or Josephine Goodwin at 410-848-0668.

Kevin Dayhoff can be reached at kdayhoff@carr.org. Jim Joyner contributed to this article.

20080219 Carroll County Commissioner Mike Zimmer Press Release: Waste to Energy and solid waste management deliberations

Carroll County Commissioner Mike Zimmer Press Release: Waste to Energy and solid waste management deliberations

PRESS RELEASE

February 20th, 2008

I have become concerned with certain advocacy I’ve observed regarding our Commissioner Board research and discussion of solid waste management. I’ve concluded that some members of our Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) have engaged in agenda based advocacy rather than factually based advocacy.

When the EAC presented their recommendations to the Board last November 15th, 2007, I expressed grave concerns about comments shared by an EAC member to our special assistants in a private briefing prior to the formal presentation. It would appear that my concerns about politicization by certain EAC members have become reality.

I have observed advocacy by individual EAC members that is not factually accurate and contributes negatively to a dialogue based decision making path. This is most unfortunate.

On the 13th day of December, we held a panel discussion meeting that included EAC members, staff and outside experts. The discussion at that time was very strong from all parties. I do not understand why some EAC members have chosen to depart from this sort of factually based interaction in favor of what I consider pure spin.

Based on emails I’ve received from those attending a recent meeting of the Carroll County Democrat Club I have concluded that EAC member Sher Horosko provided information that was not contextually accurate when she made a presentation to this group. EAC member Dan Andrews recently wrote in a letter to the editor of a local paper that a waste-to-energy facility would contribute to higher taxes in Carroll County.

I find absolutely no basis to support the claim that waste-to-energy facilities lead to higher taxes. Our current system of long haul transfer is actually one of the most expensive methods of trash disposal available to us. In a climate of rising fuel prices this is likely to get worse over time. I’m also gravely concerned with pollution associated with trucking our trash hundreds of miles away.

Once landfills in Virginia are occupied we may be forced to truck trash even greater distances with yet greater economic and environmental costs. The time is now for this Board of Commissioners to consider more thoughtful options.

I consider burning trash to create electricity to be a viable option. That doesn’t make it the sole option. There are positives and negatives associated with just about any decision that the Board of Commissioners make. I retain an open mind on the set of solution paths we might wish to take.

We have been working on this problem for many months in an open and transparent process. One of the decision points we may have to make is whether to join in a shared waste-to-energy facility with Frederick County. The current proposal is to build 1,500 tons per day facility to be located in Frederick County. Staff from both counties believes this would be a smart solution for our mutual long terms needs.

Staff and outside experts advise that 600 tons would meet current and future needs for Carroll County. They similarly target Frederick’s need at 900 tons per day. The chief advantage of joining together in a partnership of this kind would be to lower the cost per ton of burning the trash.

As a Carroll County Board of Commissioners we can only go so far with our research and deliberation into waste-to-energy as a joint project. My view is that the Frederick County Board of Commissioners must first invite us to join in this project. If no offer is made then we need to consider our other options which might include a stand alone waste-to-energy facility located in Carroll County. If the offer is made then we as a Board would have to consider the full implications of such a partnership and the particular technology being proposed.

There are perfectly legitimate reasons to either accept or reject the regional waste-to-energy offer should it be put on the table. The fear that it might raise our taxes is not one of them. I’ve included a recent letter dated 14th day of February from an official from Montgomery County regarding various costs associated with their waste disposal system. I believe this letter explains very clearly that waste-to-energy has not led to higher taxes or fees for them.

There are some individuals who in my view have an anti-waste-to-energy agenda. They are taking things out of context with Montgomery County’s figures in order to further this agenda.

Folks need to keep in mind that in Carroll County people (outside of municipalities) hire private contractors to pick up their trash and recycling and deliver it to our county transfer station and landfill. In Montgomery County the government picks the trash up in the most densely populated areas. They charge a system user fee to cover all services. In other words instead of having private citizens pay a private hauler to pick up trash and recyclables the government does it directly. This service still costs money and the workers who pick up the trash still have to be paid.

How’s this for irony? Our towns follow the same billing procedure as Montgomery County.

According to Mr. Locke’s letter, the cost associated with trash disposal has remained constant between pre and post use of waste-to-energy. He relates, “When compared to inflation, they have substantially declined.”

This is a very simple concept. For particular EAC members to attempt to make political hay by spinning these facts is completely inappropriate. Volunteer members of an appointed government body need to be held to a higher standard.

I’ll repeat my advice to our EAC members. Those who want to wage political campaigns should do so in the right context. Such opportunities include political clubs, advocacy groups, central committees of either party or running for office. Folks should not take advantage of a government appointed position with efforts to spin public opinion.

I have now lost faith in some of our EAC members to contribute in a helpful way to our deliberative process on waste-to-energy. That is most unfortunate for them, for the public and for the Board of Commissioners.

Michael D. Zimmer

Commissioner

CC: Commissioner Julia W. Gouge

Commissioner Dean L. Minnich

Steve Powell, Chief of Staff

Cindy Parr, Chief of Administrative Services

Vivian Laxton, Public Information Administrator

Mike Evans, Director of Public Works

Daniel Andrews, EAC

Robyn Gilden, EAC

Sher Horosko, EAC

Jim Johnson, EAC

Karen Merkle, EAC

Kimberly Petry, EAC

David Pyatt, EAC
Brian Rhoten, EAC

Christopher Spaur, EAC

Robin Davidov, Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority

Jan Gardner, Frederick County Commissioner

David Gray, Frederick County Commissioner

Kai John Hagen, Frederick County Commissioner

Charles A. Jenkins, Frederick County Commissioner

John (Lennie) Thompson, Jr., Frederick County Commissioner

Douglas Browning, Frederick County Manager

Michael Marschner, Frederick County Director of Utilities and Solid Waste Management

County Executive David Craig, Harford County

David Bliden, Executive Director, MACo

Daniel Locke, Montgomery County, Chief of the Division of Solid Waste Services

20080224 Recent Westminster Eagle columns

Recent Westminster Eagle columns

Kevin E. Dayhoff Sunday, February 24 Looking at Bowling Brook one year later
More than a year has passed since, on a cold Jan. 23, 2007, Isaiah Simmons III, 17, died after being restrained by staff at Bowling Brook Preparatory School in Middleburg.

Mr. Simmons, from Baltimore, had only been at the facility for a couple of weeks -- since Jan. 10, after a court had sent him...
[Read full story]

---

'Tech Tax' will have crippling impact on Carroll
The frenzied and frenetic Maryland General Assembly special taxing session has been over for several months, yet the more the layers of this onion are peeled-away, the more it just wants to make you cry.

In a recent phone conversation, Ted Zaleski, Carroll County's director of management and budge...
[Read full story]

---

It's easy to demonstrate for peace; harder to work for it
Watching the movie, "The Singing Revolution," discussed in last week's column, brought back memories from my trip to Estonia back in Sept. 17-23, 2004.

It was a unique opportunity to represent Westminster in an "assessment and support tour" for the Maryland and Estonia Partner City Partners For Pe...
[Read full story]

---

How culture and song can save a nation
On Jan. 13, I had the opportunity to travel to the Charles Theater in Baltimore and watch "The Singing Revolution," a documentary by James Tusty and Maureen Castle Tusty about Estonia's nonviolent "singing struggle" -- which ended the brutal Soviet occupation of the tiny Baltic nation on Aug. 20, 19...
[Read full story]

---

Dr. Martin Luther King's enduring words
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 multipli...
[Read full story]

---

More Headlines

Courthouse history seems to match theatrical flair of current case

Something we really must talk about

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

“When I stop working the rest of the day is posthumous. I'm only really alive when I'm writing.” Tennessee Williams

20080222 Carroll County Board of Commissioners set meeting on solid waste for March 5 2008 at 7 PM

Carroll County Board of Commissioners set meeting on solid waste for March 5 2008 at 7 PM

Board of County Commissioners

Julia W. Gouge, President

Dean L. Minnich, Vice President

Michael D. Zimmer, Secretary

Carroll County Government

225 North Center Street

Westminster, Maryland 21157

410-386-2043; 1-888-302-8978

fax 410-386-2485; TT 410-848-9747

News Release

For more information, contact: Vivian D. Laxton, Public Information Administrator, 410-386-2973

For Immediate Release

Public meeting on solid waste set for March 5^th

February 22, 2008 – The Board of County Commissioners will hold two public meetings on options for the future of solid waste.

The first is scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, March 5, in Room 003 of the County Office Building.

The date and time of the second meeting will be announced later. Topics include waste-to-energy, recycling and composting. The public is encouraged to attend.

Anyone seeking information prior to the March 5th meeting on solid waste management can view several in-depth presentations that have been made by the Carroll County Department of Public Works to the Board of County Commissioners and by other experts to the Environmental Advisory Council by visiting http://ccgovernment.carr.org and clicking on Video Library & Agendas.

Relevant Commissioners’ meetings occurred on August 14, 2007, November 19, 2007, February 14, 2008, and February 21, 2008.

# # #

ACCESSIBILITY NOTICE: The Americans With Disabilities Act applies to the Carroll County Government and its programs, services, activities, and facilities. If you have questions, suggestions, or complaints, please contact Jolene Sullivan, the Carroll County Government Americans With Disabilities Act Coordinator, 410-386-3600 or 1-888-302-8978, or TT (410) 848-9747. The mailing address is: 10 Distillery Drive, First Floor, Suite 101, Westminster, MD 21157.

CARROLL COUNTY

a great place to live, a great place to work, a great place to play

20080220 Long Boat Key Marina

Long Boat Key Marina

Long Boat Key Sarasota Florida

February 20, 2008

Kevin Dayhoff

The Long Boat Key Dry Dock Waterfront Grill

http://www.spindrift-yachts.com/

http://www.drydockwaterfrontgrill.com/

20080220 Long Boat Key Marina

20080217 Long Boat Key sunrise

Long Boat Key sunrise

February 17, 2008

Kevin Dayhoff

Florida Long Boat Key Sarasota Feb 2008

Florida Long Boat Key Sarasota

Key West Custom House exhibit

Key West Custom House exhibit

February 14, 2008

Photos:

Top - 20080210 Key West Custom House American Gothic sculpture…
Bottom - 20080214 Key West Custom House outside sculpture…

The Key West Museum of Art & History in the Custom House: The living past in a vibrant future

http://www.kwahs.com/customhouse.htm


Follow a path once traveled by wreckers, pirates, and politicians to South Florida's most important historic building. The Custom House, built in 1891, served as a post office, court house and government center when wrecking made Key West the richest city, per capita, in the U.S. But by the 1930s, the island city was bankrupt. Eventually, the building was boarded up and completely abandoned. Now, after a 9-year, $9 million restoration project, the Key West Art & Historical Society has returned the big red brick building to its former glory.

See folk artist Mario Sanchez's colorful wood paintings of old Key West.

Meet Key West's famous people through portraits by Paul Collins.

Stand in the very room where the U.S. decided to go to war with Spain, following the sinking of the battleship USS Maine.

Learn about Ernest Hemingway's life in Key West, where he wrote many of his most famous novels. See his bloodstained WWI uniform and other personal items that created his legendary status as an adventurer and writer.

Discover how pirates prowled the inlets of the Keys to hide themselves and their loot - and how the Navy rid the local waters of the "Brethren of the Coast.”

Feel the history of Key West come alive in the big red brick building - The "Coolest" Museum in Town!

Who Is Key West? Internationally acclaimed painter Paul Collins displays his modern renditions of Key West's most memorable characters past and present, featuring subjects from Henry Flagler to Mario Sanchez, Fuzzy the Cobbler to Ernest Hemingway and more.

Mario Sanchez - Painter Of Old Key West - 2nd Floor. His detailed depictions of life in Key West during the early 20th Century have made him one of the country's most sought after folk artists. Sanchez' creations are mostly reliefs carved into wood panels and then brightly colored. They reflect street scenes, places and people from his past in amazingly accurate detail and with a profound sense of humor.

Coping With Depression, the WPA in the 1930s - Dogwood Gallery - Exhibit depicts Key West in the '30s through drawings, sketches, intaglio prints, paintings and promotional brochures produced by the artists of the Works Art Project.

The Key West Museum of Art & History in the Custom House, 281 Front Street, Key West, Florida 33040

Click here to find the Custom House with Google Maps

Open Everyday from 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

Closed Christmas

Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children (children under 6 Free) and students with ID. $9.00 for Seniors (62+), AAA Travelers, and Locals with ID.Members - Free.

Group Rates also available. Rental of the facility and free tours are available.

Call 305-295-6616 Ext. 16 for information.

Click Here to See More Pictures of the Custom House in Key West

custom house lighthouse east martello featured exhibition store kwahs education new join weddings

This site maintained by Key West Art & Historical Society All contents copyright. All rights reserved.

20080214 Key West Custom House exhibit
Kevin Dayhoff www.kevindayhoff.net http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/

Kevin Dayhoff Art http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/