20060518 KDDC Aim

"Aim"
(c) Kevin Dayhoff
May 18th, 2006

20060518 KDDC Tony Snow plays the blues video

Tony Snow plays the blues video

Hat Tip: http://www.wonkette.com/

Wonkette writes:

Can Snow Men Sing the Blues?

“Until someone finds us the audio of Tony Snow singing the theme to Spongebob Squarepants (IT EXISTS, WE KNOW IT), we will force you to listen to him play a flute solo over some of the whitest blues you’ve ever done heard…”

Added to “YouTube” on May 12, 2006, 11:33 AM

tony snow plays the blues

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1PEyzk4ADU&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ewonkette%2Ecom%2F

“Tony Snow, White House Press Secretary, plays "Stormy Monday" with Leslie West of Mountain.”

Find the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1PEyzk4ADU

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20060517 KDDC Jeff Graham and the Power of Friendships

Jeff Graham and the Power of Friendships

May 17th, 2006

My latest column in the Westminster Eagle has been posted.

Kevin E. Dayhoff Wednesday, May 17 Local ride in memory of Jeff Graham celebrates the power of friendships or you may find it here.

The Westminster Eagle does not use permalinks. So, if you are reading this post after about a week or so – you will have to go to: Local news archives to find it in archives. Click on the radio button next to my name and adjust the date span search…

Meanwhile, pasted below is the unedited, album cut version of the same column. Please enjoy.

_________________

Much has been written about the value of friends in our lives. The concept of friendships has been the source of everything from the whimsical, to novels and movies, and serious scientific studies.

This Sunday, folks from the greater Carroll County community will come together to celebrate friendships at the “Jeff Graham Memorial Ride and Picnic.”

Last September 14, 2005, Carroll County lost a good friend when Jeff Graham lost his life in Delaware, while doing one of the things he loved best, riding his motorcycle, “Casey,” with friends.

Some of the community knew Jeff as the husband of local businesswoman and community leader, Lori Welsh-Graham, a co-owner of Stewart N. Dutterer Flower Shop Inc. of Westminster.

The flower shop, a Westminster business fixture since 1919, has decorated for the inaugurations for presidents George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. However, you would never know that by spending time with Jeff. Being pretentious was not his style.

Others knew him as a master automotive technician for International Foreign Car Service Inc. in Westminster.

Graduates of Westminster High School class of 1980 knew him as a classmate.

Some knew him as Fluffy and Murphy Graham’s best friend.

Celebrants of St. John Catholic Church in Westminster knew him as a member of the church.

Others knew him from his love of restoring and fixing automobiles and vintage Victorian homes.

However, everyone who had the honor of spending time with Jeff knew him as a soft-spoken, quick witted, big huggable, teddy bear of a guy and a committed friend.

In memory of the life and work of Jeff and in honor of his committed friend, Steve Shatzer, a retired Westminster Police officer, this Sunday there will be a motorcycle ride and picnic in Jeff’s memory and to benefit a foundation started as a legacy to Jeff.

His wife, Lori, to whom he was married for 23 years, recently shared that the foundation called “The NightTrain Foundation,” was named after the model of Harley that Jeff rode. The NightTrain Foundation is a fund within the Community Foundation of Carroll County.

“In (the foundation’s) mission statement it refers to mentoring young people to strive at what they do and to always lead by example. And to make time for friends. I feel that Jeff and Steve both have and are doing just that. The scholarships go to young people interested in Automotive/Motorcycle Mechanics and Law Enforcement,” she elaborated.

The purpose statement describing the foundation states, “A key element of the Foundation is to commit funds for programs with children in mind. Consideration will be given to Shop with a Cop, the Literacy Council, COPS: Concerns of Police Survivors and other funds as deemed by the advisors.”

Of both Steve Shatzer and Jeff, the foundation statement wrote, “It was/is the goal of each of these men to always do the best in his career and to encourage others, especially youth to do the same. They are both good examples of the importance of honesty, hard work and friendship.”

“The Foundation is in memory of Jeff but more so, it is in honor of true friendships,” wrote Lori.

Everyone has their own concept of what is a good friend. Although everyone’s version is different, one thing for certain, most folks place a high value on our friendships.

For the luckiest among us, especially me, our spouses are our best friends.

No matter what your version of friendship is, there is no disagreement that friends give us a sense of belonging to a bigger picture and contribute to our satisfaction with life and our sense of self-worth.
Friends are often the folks with whom we like to spend time doing things together and sharing life experiences. Friends are people we trust. They are folks in whom we confide and believe will always act in our best interests.
Friends are travelers along the voyage of life, whom we respect. Folks in whom it is easy to agree and most importantly disagree and easily respect their right to their opinion.
Friends are always there for you. They are the special folks in our lives in which we enjoy aiding in their accomplishments are supportive in your own endeavors. They are the folks we like to help and enjoy letting them help us.

Recently a memorial plaque in Jeff’s honor was dedicated at Panera Bread. Many friends, including Sam Greenholtz and Pastor Richard Krebs attended.

Former Westminster Common Council Member Sam Greenholtz said in a recent e-mail, “… I really think that you should mention Mark Bomse, Vice President of Greenberg Commercial for donating the space in front of Panera Bread and for providing the monument honoring Jeff. This is something they do in the communities they serve.

“They recognize prominent deceased community leaders by placing these monuments throughout the property. Mark worked through the GWDC (Greater Westminster Development Corporation) to get this accomplished and we look forward to Greenberg providing more as time goes on - although we are in no hurry to find people to honor if you know what I mean.”

Westminster Police Chief Jeff Spaulding shared a few words at the dedication on behalf of the City of Westminster.

In preparing his remarks, Chief Spaulding took the opportunity to speak with many of Jeff’s friends. What he found was why Jeff is such a study in everything a person would want in a friend: Quiet and supportive; quick witted; a keen sense of humor; a big kid at heart:

“Quiet and supportive – Jeff didn’t like to be the center of attention, but was very comfortable… quietly supporting (his wife, Lori’s) efforts to improve our community and make Westminster a better place to live and work. He did the same for all of his friends – if you needed Jeff, he was there to help at any time and in any way he could.

“Jeff had a keen sense of humor that was often 2-steps ahead of his “victims”. There was frequently a little gleam in his eye that reminded you that he was quietly scheming to get you. As Steve Shatzer put it, ‘it would sometimes take me a minute or two to figure our he got me.’

“‘A big kid at heart’ - Jeff loved to have a good time and he greatly enjoyed the simple things in life – such as taking a motorcycle ride with a group of friends to get some ice cream on a warm summer evening. He also enjoyed greatly spending time with kids – typically children of friends such as Tyler Plank and Garrett Wimmer. Jeff helped Tyler get into dirt bike and go-cart racing, and was apparently so successful that Tyler once told his dad that he was firing him and hiring Jeff as his coach and surrogate father. As Willy Plank told me, ‘for a fellow with no kids, he had a lot of kids.’

Chief Spaulding concluded his remarks by saying what we can only hope that our friends would say about us:

“The phrase I heard repeated time after time was “Committed friend” – … once (Jeff) was your friend he was a friend for life. There wasn’t anything that Jeff wouldn’t do for you or your family. This is clearly Jeff’s legacy and our reason for gathering today - to take a moment and celebrate just how much Jeff touched so many of us in his quiet but positive way.

“And this legacy clearly extends to Lori - and to their entire extended family. The Dutterers have been committed friends to the Police Department and the greater Westminster community for decades – never failing to do what is necessary and appropriate to improve the quality of life for our community.

“It is said that “a good friend is hard to find, difficult to lose and impossible to forget”. This garden will serve as a consistent reminder of Jeff’s legacy of friendship, dedication and self-less service to those gathered here today - and through his extended family - the larger Westminster Community.”

Murphy Graham said that Jeff was “a loyal friend, who was always there for me.”

Tony Ott, who helped map out this Sunday’s motorcycle ride, said Jeff “was a good guy and good friend… He loved to ride motorcycles and this (Sunday’s) ride is a celebration of friendship and Jeff’s life by folks whose lives he touched.”

The Memorial Ride on May 21 will take off at 1PM from Westminster Crossing (Bed, Bath and Beyond Center) and tour covered bridges in Frederick and York Counties. At 4 p.m., there will be a picnic in Dutterer Family Park with Food and Fun for all.

“I really hope the events and scholarships that are given by the foundation celebrate Jeff's love for his work, love for his adopted kids and love for his family and friends,” emphasized Lori.

Jeff’s sister-in-law, Jalna Brown has been helping to organize the day. If you would like more information about celebrating friendships with Jeff’s friends this Sunday, contact Jalna Brown at Dutterer Florist at (410) 848-9350. If you would like to make a contribution to the NightTrain Foundation, you can get in touch with either Ms. Brown or contact the Community Foundation of Carroll County at (410) 876-5505.

To paraphrase Chief Spaulding, who said it best, the greater Westminster community owes Jeff and Lori Graham thanks “for their ongoing stewardship of the spirit of “community” and “friendship” that make Westminster such a special place to live and work.”

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.
E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org
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20060517 Power Line gives some context on poll numbers

Power Line gives some context on poll numbers

http://powerlineblog.com/

May 17, 2006

Some Context on Those Poll Numbers

“How many times have we seen headlines like this one, from UPI this morning: "Iraq war drags Bush to record poll low." So many "record lows" have been announced in President Bush's poll numbers that the casual headline-watcher could be excused for thinking that no President in history has ever been so reviled.

“As we noted here, however, Bush's poll numbers are typical for just about any president at his low ebb. Bush, according to UPI, is currently at 33 percent. Here are the low water marks for presidents from Lyndon Johnson through Bill Clinton:

*Johnson: 35%
*Nixon: 24%
*Ford: 37%
*Carter: 28%
*Reagan: 35%
*Bush I: 29%
*Clinton: 37%

“Contrary to what you might surmise from screaming newspaper headlines, every president from Johnson to the present has gone through a period when his poll numbers were around where Bush's are now; in several instances, lower. So maybe it's time to ease off on the poll hysteria and get back to talking about the substantive pros and cons of the president's policies.”

Posted by John at 07:25 AM

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20060517 KDDC Guns Cigars and Liberals

I follow a number of blogs that emanate from the eastern shore. “Justice for All” is one such site. I’m behind on my reading and have spent the last hour or so trying to catch up and came across this one that I will post in honor of Ken Kandell of the Westminster Cigar Company.

Hat tip: Justice For All?

May 3^rd, 2006

Guns, Cigars, And Liberals....

http://reallifejustice.blogspot.com/2006/05/guns-cigars-and-liberals.html

..... three of my favorite subjects all in one very funny article by my now favorite criminology professor Mike S. Adams. I can vouch for the La Flor Dominica and the 230 grain hollow point. Both have one heck of a bang.

Three great cigars and why I smoked them

May 3, 2006
by Mike S. Adams

I have a new favorite cigar. It is the La Flor Dominica Double Ligero Chisel. This 6-inch, 54-ring wedge is one of the few natural wrapper cigars in my humidor. Once you taste the rich, woody (and slightly spicy) flavor of this full-bodied beauty, you’ll understand why I love it. This Dominican figurado leaves some kind of mild fruity taste on the palate that I can’t identify. I plan to smoke 100 more until I find out just what that taste is.

Read the rest here: http://www.townhall.com/opinion/columns/mikeadams/2006/05/03/196029.html

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20060517 KDDC Westminster City Budget column directory

20060517 KDDC Westminster City Budget column directory

A Directory of pieces that I have written on the Westminster City Budget/Westminster City Administrator position, to date:

20060517 KDDC WE 20060503 Tales of the Wster City Budget

Wednesday, May 17, 2006 by Kevin Dayhoff

20060517 KDDC WE 20060503 Tales of the Wster City Budget

Many folks have been in touch as to where/how

they can find my Westminster Eagle column on the Westminster City Budget.

Please find it pasted below in its entirety:

Tales of the Liberty Pole, squawking geese and the Westminster city budget

20060504 The Six Makes No Cents

5 May 2006 by Kevin Dayhoff

"The Six Makes No Cents" May 3, 2006 (c) Kevin Dayhoff.

Kevin Dayhoff - http://www.kevindayhoff.com/index.html

20060503 KDDC Speak or forever hold your peace

5 May 2006 by Kevin Dayhoff

“The county tax rate is fifty cents on the $100, the lowest of any county in the State, and the municipal rate is but twenty cents on the $100, five of which are for water.” Fast forward to the present. ...

Kevin Dayhoff - http://www.kevindayhoff.com/index.html

20060430 An analysis of the FY 2007 Westminster City Budget

30 Apr 2006 by Kevin Dayhoff

An analysis of the FY 2007 Westminster City, Carroll County, Maryland Budget Why a tax increase is not necessary. The following was posted on the Westminster Eagle Website on April 30, 2006. ©2004 MyWebPal.com. All rights reserved. ...

Kevin Dayhoff - http://www.kevindayhoff.com/index.html

The section that in which I wrote about my view of the idea to bring a City Administrator to the City of Westminster is found in:20060430 An analysis of the FY 2007 Westminster City Budget

If it saves you a minute – what I wrote is:

Rescind the recent decision to hire a City Administrator.

Not mentioned in this list is the newly created City Administrator position, which has been reported to cost $100,000. Perhaps we may want to amend that cost by adding the $22,500 for the consulting group hired to find this person and additional dollars for benefits, relocation expenses, office space, staff support and computer equipment. It has been whispered that this new position will cost the taxpayers as much as $200,000 – over a penny to the tax rate.

Hiring a City Administrator is an affront to the employees and destroys a sense of team. Westminster citizens “hired” the mayor to do this job. In 1991, the last time the city hired a City Administrator it didn’t work. Previously in the 1980s, the City also did away with the position in lieu of the department-director cabinet form of government. It works. If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.

Money to be used on the City Administrator is not necessary and could be better spent elsewhere. The City Administrator will only add an additional insulating layer between employees and the elected officials. The City Administrator position does not have support of many employees. Often citizens currently have direct access to city employees and can get things done quickly and efficiently. The City Administrator adds a complicating layer between public and city departments.

A City Administrator is another step towards “Big Government.” Westminster has never been tolerant of “Big Government or “tax and spend” management.

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20060517 KDDC WE 20060503 Tales of the Wster City Budget

20060517 KDDC WE 20060503 Tales of the Wster City Budget

Many folks have been in touch as to where/how

they can find my Westminster Eagle column on the Westminster City Budget.

Please find it pasted below in its entirety:

Tales of the Liberty Pole, squawking geese and the Westminster city budget

05/03/06

By Kevin E. Dayhoff

Perhaps one of the most difficult tasks for any local government is preparation of its annual budget.

There simply is never enough money to go around.

Even before there was a Carroll County, Carroll Countians have not tolerated big government and have always agitated for the lowest taxation rate possible. Perhaps we get it honestly from the gentleman for whom the county is named, Charles Carroll.

"In the late 1750s, when Catholics in Maryland were faced with a double tax on their property to pay for defense against the French and Indians É Charles Carroll of Carrollton became so angry that he declared he would go 'anywhere so long as there be freedom ... ' " (From "A brief history of É the Department of Assessments and Taxation," Karen Hare and Dr. Edward Papenfuse, 2002.)

In March 1791, when George Washington was president, the federal government passed The Whiskey Tax.

In a published account by local historian Jay Graybeal, "Col. Joshua Gist and the Whiskey Boys," it is noted that: "Farmers were morally outraged by the tax and they led the open revolt in the summer of 1794. É Public orations and heated discussions led to open warfare on July 16, 1794.

"Rebels attacked the homes of tax collectors and destroyed the stills of farmers who had obeyed the tax law."

Alas, the rebellion came to Westminster that summer.

Miss Mary B. Shellman wrote of the event: "A mob of men, known as the" Whiskey Boys," marched into Westminster and set up what they called a "Liberty Pole."

Becoming alarmed and knowing the personal bravery of Col. [Joshua] Gist É was sent for, and responded immediately. Riding into town with a drawn sword in his hand, he ordered the pole to be cut down, and dismounting, he placed one foot upon it, and stood there until the pole was cut in pieces, the whiskey boys leaving quietly while it was being done."

Fast forward to the present.

After several years of a depressed economy, when tax revenues for Westminster actually decreased in at least one year and the state balanced its ailing budget on the backs of local government, our city government recently announced a budget that included a 6-cent tax increase.

A wise person once said, "Taxation is the gentle art of picking the goose in such a way as to secure the greatest amount of feathers with the least amount of squawking."

A tax rebellion has come to Westminster this spring, and folks are squawking that core services can be maintained without a tax increase.

Roads need repair, and there continue to be increased demands for services in the face of rapidly escalating costs.

Most importantly, city employees have gone for too many years without an appropriate adjustment in their pay and benefits. Westminster has one of the finest municipal public works, water and wastewater treatment and police departments in the state.

However, now more than ever, they need our support.

Fortunately, this budget year is witnessing a surge in income tax and property tax revenue. The budget is still excruciatingly tight, and our elected officials have no doubt worked hard to trim the budget as best as possible.

However, they need our help. It is important that citizens get involved.

There is no need to be angry like Charles Carroll or have "Liberty Pole" demonstrations.

Get in touch with your elected officials today. Please be friendly, positive and constructive.

After all, our elected officials, who are struggling with their responsibilities, are our friends and neighbors.

The City of Westminster is asking residents what they think of the proposed budget for the coming year - with its proposed tax rate increase of 15 percent. My opinion on this matter can be found in The Winchester Report at The Westminster Eagle's Web site, www.thewestminstereagle.com.

There you'll find my thoughts - where are yours? Let us know what you think by writing to The Westminster Eagle at thewestminstereagle@patuxent.com.

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

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20060517 KDDC Tentacle Column Water Wars

"Water Wars"
(c) Kevin Dayhoff

Water Wars

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

My latest column for The Tentacle has been posted:

The Water Wars Are Heating Up

Kevin E. Dayhoff

“The increasing problems over water availability as a key component of the current warfare over growth are only going to continue to be complex, contentious and difficult.”

Read the rest at: http://www.thetentacle.com/ShowArticle.cfm?mydocid=1605

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org

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20060516 KED 12 ½ cent Westminster Bank Note