Recent columns and articles by Kevin Dayhoff
Westminster was all abuzz for the great fly roundup of 1914Published June 28, 2009 by Carroll Eagle
On Tuesday, June 16, President Barack Obama was interrupted by a pesky, deranged and suicidal housefly during an interview with CNBC's John Harwood.
The drama was captured on video, with a life and death struggle befitting a History Channel segment pertaining to World War II.
It has since unfolded hundreds of thousands of times on YouTube.
One published account referred to the president as "Obamazilla." A writer for the Washington newspaper, Politico, regaled that the "president has been getting lots of kudos for a lightning-fast, Mr. Miyagi-worthy swipe he employed to slay a pesky house fly that was buzzing him ..."
Politico wrote a play-by-play description of the president's performance: " 'Get out of here,' Obama said as the fly buzzed him during his interview. The pest persisted, and when it landed on his left forearm, Obama smacked it. 'Now, where were we?' the president said without missing a beat. Pleased with himself, he added, 'That was pretty impressive, wasn't it? I got the sucker.' "
Many were impressed. That is, with the exception of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Politico reported that PETA called it an "execution," and wants the commander-in-chief to show a little more compassion to even "the least sympathetic animals."
It made me think that if PETA was alarmed over the president killing a fly, one can only wonder what that organization would have thought of the 1914 "Swat the Fly" campaign in Westminster.
[…]
... reminds me that it was Groucho Marx who once said, "Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana." When he is not swatting flies, Kevin Dayhoff may be reached at … or visit him at
http://www.westminstermarylandonline.net/....
DAYHOFF: Hoffa Field and the Sheathing of the SwordPublished June 23, 2009 by Carroll Eagle, Westminster Eagle
On Saturday, June 10, 1922, the formal dedication of the Hoffa athletic field took place on the campus of Western Maryland College — now McDaniel College.
Of course, many know the field as where the Baltimore Ravens hold their summer practices.
Others know the field for the great tradition of tailgating at McDaniel football games. The running track, which circles the field, is always a favorite spot for health conscious walkers and runners.
Today McDaniel College is accepted as presiding prominently in the center, more or less, of Westminster. However, this was not the case until around the 1970s when housing developments began to grow to the west of the campus.
In 1922, the campus was on the outer western edge of Westminster on the brink of a frontier of forest and farmland that stretched for ten miles until one arrived in Taneytown.
According to a definitive history of the college, “Fearless and Bold,” published just recently by Dr. James E. Lightner; the Geiman property, a 65-acre farm contiguously situated to the west of the campus became available to the college, in 1920, upon the death of W. H. Geiman.
[…]
... . Lightner and the June 1922 American Sentinel newspaper article have left us with an extensive and fascinating account of the “The Sheathing of the Sword.” Kevin Dayhoff may reached at … or visit him at
http://www.westminstermarylandonline.net/....
'Year without summer' killed crops ... and created a monsterPublished June 21, 2009 by Carroll Eagle, Westminster Eagle
It's halfway through June, and for those of us who love Maryland's melting heat and humidity, many are wondering — where is summer?
For me, though, thoughts turn to the birth of Frankenstein.
First things first. In 1816, there really was a "year without summer." Carol Lee, in her book, "Legacy of the Land," explains that the year without summer caused quite a bit of hardship in Carroll County. "Farmers in Maryland and elsewhere would remember 1816 as ... 'eighteen hundred and starve-to-death.' " According to Lee, there were freezing temperatures well into June.
What caused the year without summer? According to a July 2002 article in Smithsonian magazine, "Blast from the Past," by Robert Evans, the agricultural and economic catastrophe of 1816 was a volcanic winter, caused by the eruptions of Mount Tambora on the island of Sumbawa, in what we now know as Indonesia, April 5-15, 1815.
[…]
... village folk that it's not a bad idea to keep a torch handy on these cool summer nights. When he is not playing with laboratory-harnessed lightning, Kevin Dayhoff may be reached at … or visit him at www.westminstermarylandonline.net. ...
Historic Blue Ridge College bell dedicated In Union BridgePublished June 20, 2009 by Westminster Eagle
UNION BRIDGE — Several hundred folks braved threatening weather June 20 to witness the unveiling and dedication of the historic 1900 Blue Ridge College bell in Lehigh Square, the original site of the college which had thrived in Union Bridge from 1898 to ... ...
When city got 'sole' in the 1920s, it was cause for a celebrationPublished June 14, 2009 by Carroll Eagle
... be the guest speaker. There will be a retirement ceremony for worn flags. Guests may bring old flags for retirement. When he is not waving the flag, Kevin Dayhoff may be reached at … or visit him at
http://www.westminstermarylandonline.net/....
Remember when you could walk to work in Westminster?Published June 7, 2009 by Carroll Eagle
... . Think you know? If so, drop me a line at … and be sure to put Carroll Eagle in the subject line. Thank you. When he's not on a "walk-about" in Westminster,
Company H: from the Frizellburg greenhouses to the sands of Omaha BeachPublished June 3, 2009 by Westminster Eagle
... (have) come a long way from the old parade field in Frizellburg.” Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster.
Dayhoff: New councilmember tackles alleged hit and run driverPublished June 1, 2009 by Westminster Eagle, Carroll Eagle
... Westminster city police arrived and took control of the situation The accident is under investigation. All in a day’s work. Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster
In 1925, planting the seeds of employment, productionPublished May 31, 2009 by Carroll Eagle
When he's not roaming the streets of historic Westminster looking for old factories,
Celebration of memory and changePublished May 26, 2009 by Westminster Eagle
This year’s Westminster Memorial Day ceremonies witnessed many changes over the past — although the solemn tradition of 142 years continued.On Memorial Day the normal hustle and bustle of downtown Westminster paused to remember fallen veterans, and ... ...
20090622 sdosm Recent columns and articles by Kevin Dayhoff
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4th of July at the Shamrock Restaurant
