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

Sunday, May 28, 2006

20060523 KDDC Proud Preakness needs overhaul

Proud Preakness needs overhaul (Fauquier Times-Democrat, VA)

An interesting commentary on Barbaro’s injury at the Preakness in Baltimore at the second leg of Triple Crown on Saturday, May 20th, 2006 and on race day, the track facilities and Pimlico; by someone who seems to know a little about horses and horseracing.

Hat Tip: Maryland Department of Agriculture News Clippings

Proud Preakness needs overhaul (Fauquier Times-Democrat, VA)

By Jackie Burke - an author based near Orlean.

05/23/2006

Proud Preakness needs overhaul

Staff

Mede Cahaba Stable owner Mignon Smith was so inspired by Barbaro’s Kentucky Derby win that she ordered tickets and a bus so that 44 friends could attend the Preakness Stakes with her this past Saturday.

For a number of years I was employed by the Washington, D.C.-based Mede Cahaba, a large multi-state racing and breeding business, and before that I learned to post as one of Smith’s riding students at the original Mede Cahaba stable in my native Birmingham, Ala.

So I was offered two tickets to the big event and in turn I invited friend and new neighbor Julia Thieriot. As we boarded the bus Saturday, a perfect spring morning, I promised Julia a memorable time.

The bus rumbled north, carrying a congenial group with a general air of electric anticipation that only an event such as the Preakness Stakes can generate. Had I realized what a memorable and horrific day lay before us, I would have stayed in bed.


Read the rest of the story here: Proud Preakness needs overhaul (Fauquier Times-Democrat, VA)

20060527 KDDC Its Electric fnp


Photo by Skip Lawrence. It was captioned in the article as: “Paul Garvison's Neighborhood Electric Vehicle can reach speeds of 30 mph and last about 15 miles before it must be recharged.”

It's electric


With gas prices skyrocketing, one local driver has found a way to save a few dollars by riding a current trend
Published on May 27, 2006



FREDERICK -- Paul Garvison of Frederick has found a way to escape the rising cost of traveling by car -- at least for 15 to 20 miles.

Mr. Garvison owns a battery powered Neighborhood Electric Vehicle, which can reach speeds of 30 mph and lasts about 15 miles before it needs to be recharged. The car, white with a checkered stripe on the side, has four seats, but its narrow width allows for only one windshield wiper.

Known as IT, for Innovative Transportation, the Neighborhood Electric Vehicle is made by Dynasty Electric Car Corp. of British Columbia, Canada.

"It is perfect for around town use," Mr. Garvison said.

According to the Electric Auto Association, as many as 10,000 full sized electric cars are on U.S. roads today.

Read the rest of the story here: It's electric

Saturday, May 27, 2006

20060527 KDDC 1891 Ferris Good Sense Corset Waists



1891 Ferris’ Good Sense Corset Waists

20060527 KDDC Gamber Union Bridge and St John Carnival schedules



The carnival season for the season kicks off for the summer with the Gamber and Union Bridge firefighters’ annual event and the St. John Catholic Church carnival. (The hyperlinks should take you to each carnival’s Web-page.)

Carrie Ann Knauer with the Carroll County Times has the story in the Saturday, May 27th, 2006 edition of the Carroll County Times.

The Carroll County Times does not use permalinks – please find their entire article pasted below:

Carnival season to begin early

By Carrie Ann Knauer, Times Staff Writer

Saturday, May 27, 2006

The Carroll County carnival season will kick off two days early this year as the Gamber and Community fire company opens its carnival today.

Carnivals are a major fundraising source for Carroll County's fire companies, said Clay Myers, public information officer for Gamber. The carnivals usually run from Monday to Saturday, so if it rains one of those days, you lose one-sixth of your profits, Myers said.

Gamber's carnival has traditionally started on Memorial Day, but it has seemed like every year it got rained out one or two nights, he said. So when the carnival company told them this winter that they didn't have any bookings the week before Memorial Day, both parties agreed it would be a good idea to start the carnival on a Saturday this year. They hope the two extra days will be a buffer for any rained-out nights, Myers said.

While offering the two extra nights didn't cost the fire company any extra money up front, it has been more difficult to get volunteers to work the two extra days, he said.

"Carnival week is really hard for everyone," Myers said. "We're just keeping our fingers crossed for eight nights of [great] weather."

One small change for Sunday at the carnival is that there will be no gambling or games of chance, such as bingo or the gun jar, as is required by county law, Myers said. The fire company will still be able to sell raffle tickets, since the drawing won't be until the following Saturday, he said, and all of the carnival games, such as darts and basketball toss, will be carried on.

Along with the Gamber and Community fire company carnival, the Union Bridge volunteer fire company will also hold its fire carnival this week, starting Monday.

Dave Buffington, fire carnival chairman, said the fire company enjoys having the carnival start on Memorial Day. Many of the town residents attend the Memorial Day service organized by the Union Bridge VFW, which will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, and then come to the carnival for dinner, Buffington said.

"It kind of works hand in hand," Buffington said. "Memorial Day is always a big event."


What makes the Union Bridge carnival special is that all of the food is homemade, Buffington said. Fried chicken, pit beef, pit turkey, Italian sausage, pizza and funnel cakes - volunteers within the community prepare all of it, he said.

St. John Church and School members are looking forward to kicking off their carnival on Monday as well. Jenny Scott, president of the school's Parents, Teachers and Friends Association, said the carnival committee will build on its experiences from the first carnival last year to make this year's carnival bigger and better.

Scott said the theme of this year's carnival will be "A Christian Family Tradition." The church has a congregation of about 14,000 people, she said, so many of the members don't get to meet at the usual church events. The carnival, however, was an opportunity for all different sectors of the church to meet and interact, Scott said.

"We had lots of young families," Scott said, and will try to offer even more games for the very young children who come to the carnival.

Even in its first year, the carnival quickly became one of the biggest fundraisers for the church, Scott said. The money raised from the carnival will go toward the school and youth ministries, she said.

If you go:

Gamber Carnival Schedule

n Today: Entertainment by Iron Ridge (bluegrass)

n Sunday: Entertainment by Bob Plunkert and Real Country

n Monday: Fireworks at night, entertainment by Ten Cent Penny Band (classic country rock)

n Tuesday: Entertainment by Salem Bottom Boys (bluegrass)

n Wednesday: Entertainment by Big Cam and the Lifters (oldies)

n Thursday: Entertainment by Just Plain Country

n Friday: Entertainment by C.B. Pickers (bluegrass)

n June 3: Raffle drawings, entertainment by Poison Whiskey (good ol' classic southern rock)

Carnival opens 6 p.m. nightly, special ride prices on Tuesday and Thursday.

St. John Carnival Schedule

n Monday: Noon to 5 p.m. matinee rides after the Memorial Day Parade

n Tuesday: 6 to 10 p.m., entertainment by Big Cam & the Lifters

n Wednesday: 6 to 10 p.m., entertainment by Full Gospel Boogie Band

n Thursday: 6 to 10 p.m., Karaoke Night, "Your Idol Time"

n Friday: 6 to 11 p.m., entertainment by Satyr Hill Band

n Saturday: Matinee rides from noon to 4 p.m., entertainment by Aces Up

Discount tickets available in advance at St. John School; call 410-848-4744.

Union Bridge Carnival Schedule

n Monday: 6 p.m. Memorial Day Service at Mountain View Cemetery (across from 7-Eleven), entertainment by Country Fever

n Tuesday: Special Ride Night from 7 to 10 p.m., entertainment by Tall in the Saddle (country variety)

n Wednesday: Fireman's Parade at 7 p.m.

n Thursday: Special Ride Night from 7 to 10 p.m., entertainment by Bob Plunkert and Real Country

n Friday: Entertainment by No Alibi (country rock)

n Saturday: Raffle drawings, entertainment by No Xit Band (rock)

Lunches served 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday to Friday. Dinner platters served 4 to 7 p.m. Monday to Saturday.

20060527 KDDC Iowa Painted Rock





Iowa Painted Rock

This series of photos, just in time for Memorial Day, was e-mailed me by my Tentacle editor, John Ashbury.
If I am not mistaken, this e-mail has made the rounds before; nevertheless, it is appreciated on Memorial Day weekend…
Apparently, according to the forwarded e-mail:

“… there is a huge rock near a gravel pit on Hwy.25 in rural Iowa. For generations, kids have painted slogans, names, and obscenities on this rock, changing its character many times.

A few months back, the rock received its latest paint job, and since then it has been left completely undisturbed. It's quite an impressive sight. Be sure to scroll down and check out the multiple photos (all angles) of the rock. I thought the flag was draped over the rock, but it's not. It's actually painted on the rock too.”

The bottom picture is attributed to bethe artist Ray "Bubba" Sorensen.”

####

20060526 KDDC May 20 Willis St Tag Sale Pics






20060523 KDDC OC eyes use of electric minicars



OC eyes use of electric mini-cars

This is interesting. This just in from an:

Article published May 23, 2006 in the Salisbury Delmarva Daily Times.
OC eyes use of electric mini-cars

OCEAN CITY -- Presenters for a 100 percent electric, zero emission, lightweight DaimlerChrysler vehicle showed up at last week's Police Commission meeting, and Mayor Jim Mathias' eyes lit up.

After Mathias took the doorless four-seat Global Electric Motorcar -- a vehicle that passes all federal safety regulations to be driven on roads 35 mph and less -- for a spin with Town Councilmen Jay Hancock and Jim Hall, he brimmed at the possible uses for the town.

"It's timely in nature because of all the gas price problems and energy rates. It really does fit in, and it's something for the future of this town," Mathias said. "I hope (City Manager Dennis Dare) can look at it."

CleanCities.com President Luis MacDonald and Daniel MacDonald presented options of the vehicle that ranged from two-seat to six-seat models that had a range of 35 to 40 miles, could be recharged in a regular outlet at home within a few hours and could carry a 1,200 pound payload in the back bed area.

The vehicle was recently approved for use on Maryland roads by the Maryland General Assembly and the city of Baltimore is already using the vehicles in the Inner Harbor area, MacDonald said.

For Ocean City, the men pitched their initial intention to start business operations with condo associations and other private groups to shuttle members from their homes across Coastal Highway to the beach.

Police commission members, however, discussed a much wider range of uses from hotels renting the vehicles to vacationers to use by the police force around the Boardwalk or use by town officials and maintenance people.

Police were not as excited about the GEMs, however, as Ofc. Hugh Bean cited safety issues because of the light vehicle weight, people driving the vehicle on high-speed roads and a likelihood operators wouldn't use their seat belts in the golf cart-like vehicles.

"Trying to get people to understand what they can and can't do would be an insurmountable feat, and we'd be the bad guys for busting people," Bean said.

Chief Bernadette DiPino also said she saw too much trouble to support wide commercial use of the vehicles or town use, but admitted the vehicles were legal and anyone could purchase and drive the $8,000-to-$12,000 vehicles provided they follow the rules.

Looking for a wider vision for the vehicles, Mathias told police, "I hope as we pursue this we can pursue it with a can-do attitude and not a can't-do attitude."

"I'm not advocating we do this overnight," he said, "but paying attention to where the world is going, this is somewhere we want to go."

About the cars

Ocean City was shown options of a vehicle that ranges from two-seat to six-seat models that can drive 35 to 40 miles, can be charged in a regular outlet and can carry up to 1,200 pounds. The vehicles pass federal safety regulations to be driven on roads 35 mph and less.

The Maryland General Assembly recently approved their use in the state. Similar vehicles are already used by the city of Baltimore in the Inner Harbor area.

Reach Jay Hodgkins at 410-213-9442 or jhodgkins@smgpo.gannett.com.

20060526 KDDC The 50 greatest conservative rock songs NRO



TOP 50 CONSERVATIVE SONGS

TOP 50 CONSERVATIVE SONGS

By Michelle Malkin · May 26, 2006 09:21 AM

John Mellencamp? Sammy Hagar? Kid Rock? The Who? Yup, they're all on National Review's list.

Take a look--and bring your iPod.

The 50 greatest conservative rock songs.

Rockin' the Right

By John J. Miller

EDITOR’S NOTE: This week on NRO, we’ve been rolling out the first five and now all 50 songs from a list John J. Miller compiled that appears in the June 5 issue of National Review . Here’s a look at #1 and get the whole list—complete with purchasing links—here.

On first glance, rock ’n’ roll music isn’t very conservative. It doesn’t fare much better on second or third glance (or listen), either. Neil Young has a new song called “Let’s Impeach the President.” Last year, the Rolling Stones made news with “Sweet Neo Con,” another anti-Bush ditty. For conservatives who enjoy rock, it isn’t hard to agree with the opinion Johnny Cash expressed in “The One on the Right Is on the Left”: “Don’t go mixin’ politics with the folk songs of our land / Just work on harmony and diction / Play your banjo well / And if you have political convictions, keep them to yourself.” In other words: Shut up and sing.

But some rock songs really are conservative — and there are more of them than you might think. Last year, I asked readers of National Review Online to nominate conservative rock songs. Hundreds of suggestions poured in. I’ve sifted through them all, downloaded scores of mp3s, and puzzled over a lot of lyrics. What follows is a list of the 50 greatest conservative rock songs of all time, as determined by me and a few others. The result is of course arbitrary, though we did apply a handful of criteria.

What makes a great conservative rock song? The lyrics must convey a conservative idea or sentiment, such as skepticism of government or support for traditional values. And, to be sure, it must be a great rock song. We’re biased in favor of songs that are already popular, but have tossed in a few little-known gems. In several cases, the musicians are outspoken liberals. Others are notorious libertines. For the purposes of this list, however, we don’t hold any of this against them. Finally, it would have been easy to include half a dozen songs by both the Kinks and Rush, but we’ve made an effort to cast a wide net. Who ever said diversity isn’t a conservative principle?

So here are
NR’s top 50 conservative rock songs of all time. Go ahead and quibble with the rankings, complain about what we put on, and send us outraged letters and e-mails about what we left off. In the end, though, we hope you’ll admit that it’s a pretty cool playlist for your iPod.

Read the entire list here: The 50 greatest conservative rock songs.

####

Friday, May 26, 2006

20060525 KDDC Westminster Fire Department Big Money Raffle






Westminster Fire Department Big Money Raffle

Thursday, May 25th, 2006

Thursday evening was the occasion of the Westminster Fire Department’s Big Money raffle. This is the major fund raising event of the year for the Fire Department.

Attached to this post are some photos that I took. Unfortunately, my camera battery died on me early in the event and these are the only photos that I got.

As usual, it was a sold out event. There are only 3000 chances sold for $10.00 each. In return the ticket holder gets all the fried chicken, hot dogs, potato chips, pretzels, macaroni salad and sauerkraut that they can eat and a chance to win any of nine prizes. First prize is $10,000.00. Second prize is $1250.00. Third prize is $1,000.00. Fourth prize is $500.00. Fifth and sixth prize is $250.00 and seventh, eighth and ninth prize is $100.00.

This year’s $10,000.00 winner is a well-known community leader that is sure to do good things with the money.

I’m not sure how many years we have had this raffle, but the idea is certainly not new. According to an article from the J. Leland Jordan Collection, c. January 1896, provided to me by Jay Graybeal of the Historical Society of Carroll County, 210 East Main Street, Westminster, Maryland 21157, a number of years ago:

“In 1840 the citizens petitioned the legislature to pass an act enabling them to hold a lottery to raise $5,000 to purchase a new fire engine, build a new engine-house, town hall and market-house, but nothing came of it.”

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

####

20060525 KDDC 1974 Carroll County Office Building

January 8th, 1974 Carroll County Office Building

Recently Ralph Green, the Director of General Services for Carroll County, sent out an e-mail about a construction project at the Carroll County Office Building at 225 North Center Street, which is going to close the main rear entrance of the building from May 30th, 2006, for approximately two weeks.

Apparently the ramp and rear entrance are going to be completely replaced?

The e-mail brought back memories as I worked on the Carroll County Office Building when it was first built in 1973-1974.

The picture attached to this post was taken by me on January 8th, 1974. I worked on the Carroll County Office Building from December 31, 1973 to April 11, 1974. I worked for F&S Masonry as a mason’s tender and one of the jobs I had during that time period was helping set all the cap stones on the building.

Somewhere, I have a bunch of pictures from when I worked on the building – and I have a history of the building written-up. Sometime in my spare time, I’d like to dig those pictures and that information out…

Oh – are you aware that the County Office Building was built on swampland. There was a house there that I remember. I do have a very poor aerial photocopy of a photograph of the area…, which shows the house and the out-buildings. I think that I can get a better copy of the photograph…

As a matter of fact, as I wrote in my January 25th, 2006 Westminster Eagle column, “Days of swine and ice cream greeted 20th century Westminster:”



Mrs. S. LaRue Crowl recently wrote to share with me that her grandfather, J. David Crowl, "owned and operated an ice cream factory on Center Street - the very spot where the Carroll County Office Building is now located.



"I don't know the exact dates of operation," she said, "but am assuming it was somewhere from 1910 through the 1920s.



"He died in 1931. My father, Ernest Crowl, would often tell how, as a boy, on Sundays he would deliver a half gallon of ice cream to the homes on Willis Street for a quarter."



Folks may be surprised to know – at least as I understand it - that Center Street did not go all the way to Rte 140, when Rte 140 was built.



I was not quite one year old when Rte 140 was dedicated, although I remember “Crowl Town” well. So some of this is from folklore and the memory of a small child.



Center Street only went to Crowl Town, which was a large group of houses between the stream that parallels Rte 140 and Rte 140 itself.



At the stream, there was a wooden bridge that allowed access to Crowl Town, but I do not believe that Center Street went all the way to Rte 140. If anyone remembers this differently, let me know.



Now, does anyone remember the name of the gas station at the corner of Center Street and Rte 140?



Meanwhile I’ll paste the rest of Mr. Green’s e-mail below, for those who need to visit the office building in the next several weeks.




The temporary public entrance effective Tuesday, May 30th and during the construction time will be at the lower level at the Public Hearing Room 003/004. Handicap access as well as parking will be designated and signs will be posted for directional purposes. Public parking will also be designated in that area.



Employees with access cards can continue to use all other entrances to enter the building.



The bailiffs will relocate to the lower level entrance and will direct visitors to other areas of the building via the public elevators. Anyone not sure of where they are going or the bailiffs don't know which office to send them to will be directed to the public information desk on the first floor via the public



The existing public parking area can be used by staff during this time so our customers can park and access the temporary entrance to conduct business.



The areas the contractor will be working in and staging materials in will be taped off to accommodate construction needs. Parking is permitted in any area not taped off and can be used by staff as well as visitors to the building. Remember to park in designated parking spaces only so construction equipment and deliveries can access the aisles of the parking lot.



Facilities will be taping off areas and installing temporary directional signs, handicap parking signs, etc., tomorrow afternoon, Friday, May 26th, in preparation for the construction to begin on Tuesday when you return to work from the Memorial Day Holiday.



Any changes, as well as more information, will be communicated via e-mail to everyone by Tom Rio, Bureau of Building Construction.



I appreciate your cooperation and we will make this inconvenience as short as possible.



Thank you!

20060525 KDDC Willis and Center St circa 1900?


Willis and Center St circa 1900?

Posted above is an undated picture, from my collection, of the intersection of Willis and Center Street looking southeast towards the Court House. Circa 1900? The source of the photograph is unknown and the photographer is unknown. If you are aware of any additional information about this photograph, please be in touch. Meanwhile, please enjoy.


Thursday, May 25, 2006

Joe Trippi Fighting for his Eastern Shore home

Joe Trippi Fighting for his Eastern Shore home

From the Baltimore Sun: Fighting for his Eastern Shore home By Rona Kobell Sun reporter May 1, 2006

Political campaigner turns grass-roots environmentalist to protect the Chesapeake Bay

WITTMAN -- Just before the sun sets over Cummings Creek, Joe Trippi ambles over to say hello to Yoda, the one-horned goat, and Mrs. Lucky, one of his favorite ducks.

He seems a world away from where he was three years ago: inhaling Diet Pepsi, stuffing his cheeks with Skoal, and trying to elect an obscure former Vermont governor as president of the United States.

These days, when Trippi's not in Italy advising Romano Prodi's campaign or in Moscow addressing the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, he is here, surrounded by old-growth pines and noisy chickens, trying to safeguard the Eastern Shore's open spaces from fast- encroaching development.

For the past several months, Trippi has quietly been working with the
Chesapeake Bay Foundation in an effort to stop the Blackwater Resort, a 3,200-home development slated to be built near Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge and Cambridge. He has joined the board of the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, an organization dedicated to preserving the Shore's rural landscapes.

But his biggest plans are ahead of him. He wants to coordinate grass-roots gatherings and mass Internet drives in the style of the Howard Dean campaign, this time to rile the public about imminent threats to the bay. Trippi hopes to connect people who care about environmental issues, whether or not they live along the estuary and regardless of their political affiliation, and help them collaborate.

It's a different sort of cause for the inveterate campaigner, who has worked seven presidential runs. This one is not ideological, not focused around a cult of personality, and not likely to end anytime soon. It is, he says, about fighting for his home.

[…]

Trippi, 49, still advises congressional candidates, among them Democrat Kweisi Mfume, who is running for U.S. Senate in Maryland. But he seems to have settled in to life on the Eastern Shore.

In a barn on his 47-acre farm between
St. Michaels and Tilghman Island, and just a few creeks away from the weekend homes of Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and Vice President Dick Cheney, Trippi is restoring one of the bay's few remaining two-masted wooden bugeyes. A smaller sailboat is tied to his dock.

There are few signs of the rumpled, mile-a-minute talker who ran himself and his young staff ragged. He looks relaxed in his faded jeans, denim jacket and work shirt.

"The second I get over the Bay Bridge, this big sigh of relief happens, and I let go," Trippi said.

[…]

Trippi's ability to tap into voter anger prompted Republican media consultant Frank Luntz to call him for the job of unseating Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Prodi, the challenger, was looking to refine his message and beat the incumbent billionaire. Prodi won by a hair; Berlusconi indicated that he will resign this week.

During their trips to Italy, Luntz said, Trippi spoke often of his beloved farm.

"His comment was, 'If you saw what I see every morning, you'd live there, too,'" Luntz said. "This is something very special to him. This is part of his definition of quality of life. He lives what he preaches."

[…]

Trippi has experience wrangling with developers. In the late 1990s, he and his wife, Kathleen Lash, fell in love at first sight with a 20-acre waterfront farm near
St. Michaels. They bought it that day.

Before long, Trippi said, a developer bought the two large tracts on either side and got Talbot County to upzone all three parcels so his company could build hundreds of houses. By the time Trippi learned what had happened, county officials told him he could do nothing to stop it.

So, when the Cummings Creek farm went up for sale, Trippi offered the developer his farm in exchange. Trippi says his condition was that the company move to the new farm the barn and chicken coop he'd built with his sons. The developer agreed.

Trippi and Lash have settled into their new house, which is actually three structures - a one-room schoolhouse, an old waterman's cottage and a farmhouse fused together. Trippi's longtime friend, Newsweek contributing editor Peter Goldman, said the house is like the man - elements you wouldn't think to put together, but work once they're merged.

"If they try to move me off of this, we'll be seceding from the state of Maryland," Trippi said. "This is where I intend to die. As far as I'm concerned, this is where they're going to bury me."

rona.kobell@baltsun.com

Read the entire article here: Joe Trippi Fighting for his Eastern Shore home

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-te.md.trippi01may01,0,3860993.story?coll=bal-home-headlines
Kevin Dayhoff: www.westgov.net Westminster Maryland Online www.westminstermarylandonline.net http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/

Kevin Dayhoff Art: www.kevindayhoff.com (http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/)

20060520 KDDC The Willis Street New England Bazaar

The Willis Street New England Bazaar

~ I took a number of photos of the day, which I hope to get posted soon…

May 20th, 2006 by Kevin Dayhoff

On Saturday, May 20th, 2006, the usually quiet Willis Street in Westminster looked like a New England bazaar as folks packed the street in search of bargains and treasures at the first annual Willis Street Tag Sale.

Willis Street is the neighborhood in Westminster adjacent to City Hall.

What is now known as Westminster City Hall was a large brick mansion, with wide porches on three sides, built by Colonel John K. Longwell in 1842.

The land on which the home was built, and referred to as "Emerald Hill" was Colonel Longwell's home. It was purchased from trustees of the Estate of David Fisher, and was a part of the entire tract, which now comprises West Street, Willis Street, Center Street, North Street, Longwell Avenue and extended to the Railroad Tracks.

When the home was completed, Colonel Longwell called it his "Mansion House," and it was considered one of the finest in the county. A plat of this area surveyed in 1907, referred to it as "Longwell's Addition to Westminster." Subsequently, with changes in ownership, the property became known as "Longwell Place."

Following the death of Colonel Longwell in 1896, the family continued to occupy the mansion until the death of his daughter, Sallie. Col. Longwell’s wife, Mrs. Sarah Longwell had preceded her daughter’s death.

At this time, in 1907, a portion of the property was developed into what we now know as Willis Street, west of Center Street. Several of the homes on Willis were built by the Shriver family.

With the generous cooperation of the Westminster Police Department and the Westminster Street Department, the street was closed from 8 AM through 1 PM to vehicular traffic for a New England style yard sale.

According to one of the Willis Street organizers, Mrs. Kirsten Vandervalk; “in New England, they don’t have “yard sales,” they have “tag sales.”

Apparently, a tag sale is an upscale yard sale.

Whatever one would like to refer to the event, by all reports the day was a huge success.

Various neighbors had different accounts as to why the day was such a great success except everyone said they enjoyed getting out on a pretty spring day and getting to see friends and neighbors after a long winter.

Also mentioned was getting the house cleaned out and most of all, everyone enjoyed raising money for a local community charity.

It was agreed by all the neighbors that they would donate a percentage of the proceeds to Shepherd’s Staff - A Christian Outreach and Support Center Serving the Needy in Carroll County. In the end, almost everyone donated extra beyond the percentage and even some visitors donated money specifically for Shepard’s Staff. Over $400.00 was raised.

Ms. Vandervalk worked in concert with a number of neighbors to organize the tag sale. Neighbors such as Sue Thomas, Nicky Smelser, Chris Fisher, Doris Wisner, Peggy Bair, Madeleine Miller, Joyce Myers, Jean Pacardi and Bonnie Bosley all served on “The Planning Committee.”

Ms Vandervalk said that she was “surprised to have as many visitors ask if this is going to be an annual event.”

Her response was “if there is a lot of interest and we can find a date, I have all the notes, work materials and hopefully it would be easy to do it again.”

The neighborhood sale was a great deal of work. But no one seemed to be complaining. “Everyone has a good time… It was well worth the effort,” said Ms. Vandervalk. “Neighborhoods are full of special people…”

Sue Thomas, one of the organizers of the event, “enjoyed the day.”

“It’s a great neighborhood” and the tag sale was a “nice neighborhood thing to do.” Mrs. Thomas gave most of her proceeds for the day to Shepherd’s Staff.

The Willis Street neighborhood is well known for an annual block party, lining the street with Christmas luminaries and Christmas caroling.

It was “no problem” working with the city to get approval for closing down the street for the day. Westminster Police Officers Tony Ott and Captain Randy Barnes handled most of the coordination.

The police and street department “were very customer service oriented, cooperative and helpful,” praised Ms. Vandervalk.

The day of the event, Lt. Ott showed up at 7 AM to get preparations underway. He promptly offered $1.50 for my farm truck that was used for ferrying tables and supplies for the event.

From antiques to boutiques were sold at the sale. Good used furniture, fine used clothing, stained glass, purses, sporting and gardening equipment, pots and pans and a “Blue’s Clues Thinking Chair.” (Hint: “Blue’s Clues for Parents” is a show on the “Nickelodeon Jr.” television network.)

Apparently folks were “fighting over” the thinking chair, according to Ms. Madeleine Miller, who was also quite happy that she was able to sell a “Jason” hockey costume mask.

At which point, Ms. Vandervalk remarked that “what is one person’s trash is another person’s treasure.”

Jeff Smelser, who, according to rumor, gave up playing golf “for the first time in 43 years,” so that he could attend the sale, was happy that he sold a pair of “vintage 1962 ‘212’ Head racing snow skis.”

He claimed that he was his wife’s “runner,” dutifully responding to ‘Do this,” and “Do that.”

Smart man.

In between assigned tasks, he was happy to get some yard maintenance accomplished during the sale.

Nicky Smelser “sold designer clothing and jewelry.” She was happy to spend time with so many visitors and neighbors and even happened across some of her “1965 classmates from Hampstead Middle School,” who were in the neighborhood yardsale-ing, err, tag sale-ing.

Madeleine Miller was amazed that bargain hunters arrived at 7 a.m. Some came all the way from Southern Maryland. She remarked that she “did not make a lot of money but got the house cleaned out and had a great time meeting a lot of neat people.” One the prizes she sold was a “St. Tropez print.”

Neighbors noted that Ms. Miller even “gift wrapped” many of her sales and even offered “packing service.”

Mrs. Vandervalk sold some pieces of furniture that had been in the family for several generations.

These folks were serious about having a yard sale – err, tag sale.

Ms. Miller said the event “brought back nostalgic memories.” She was "happy to see items go to a good home.”

It was beautiful day and everyone was so nice, several neighbors exclaimed.

It is events and neighborhoods like Willis Street that make Westminster a wonderful place to raise a family. In the end, everyone seems to be the winner. Col. Longwell would have been proud.

Hat’s off to Willis Street.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org

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20050526 KDDC Westminster Fire Department Big Money Raffle





Westminster Fire Department Big Money Raffle


Tonight, May 25, 2006 is the annual Westminster Fire Engine and Hose Co. #1 Big Money Raffle. Posted are pictures from last year’s event. This is usually a sold out event – to make plans to attend the 2007 event, contact a member of the Westminster Fire Department.

Harry Sirinakis of Harry’s Main Street Grille in Westminster, Maryland.


Harry Sirinakis of Harry’s Main Street Grille in Westminster, Maryland.

May 2006 by Kevin Dayhoff

20060500 HSirinakis
Kevin Dayhoff www.kevindayhoff.net http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/

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

20060521 KDDC Pictures from the Jeff Graham Memorial Ride and Picnic





Pictures from the Jeff Graham Memorial Ride and Picnic

May 21st, 2006

Over 100 motorcyclists turned out for a beautiful ride through four covered bridges and parts of Frederick County, Carroll County and southern Pennsylvania on May 21st, 2006.

Back in Westminster, many more folks joined the riders at Dutterer Park in Westminster, Maryland for the Jeff Graham Memorial Ride and Picnic for the benefit of the “The NightTrain Foundation” in memory of Jeff Graham and in honor of the value of friendships.

There was plenty of pizza, hot dogs, hamburgers and cake to go around complimenting the smiles of friends who gathered to honor a Westminster native son and the value of friendships.

Jeff’s sister-in-law, Jalna Brown helped organize the day. If you would like more information about The NightTrain Foundation, 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.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org

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Wednesday, May 24, 2006

20060524 KDDC Flower and Jazz Festival pics and posts

Westminster Flower and Jazz Festival

Flower and Jazz Festival pics and posts

Folks have been asking where the Flower and Jazz Festival pictures are posted.

They can be found at:

http://www.kevindayhoff.com/2006/05/20060516-kddc-wster-flower-and-jazz.html

or use this link:

20060516 KDDC Wster Flower and Jazz Festival Pictures

A write-up on the Flower and Jazz Festival has also been posted on the Winchester Report on The Westminster Eagle Web-site.

Or use this link:

http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?pnpID=978&NewsID=721108&CategoryID=18298&show=localnews&om=1

20060524 KDDC And a glass of beer for my dog too


And a glass of beer for my dog too

Hat Tip: Mr. Smurf. Thanks

And a glass of beer for my dog too

May 24 - Napa Valley is a region known for its premiere wines and breathtaking vistas. So, it's no surprise that a beer produced in the region has gone to the dogs, literally.

Dog Star Brewing Company makes a specialty beer for dogs. Located in the heart of Napa Valley, founder Jamie Miller says she wanted Kodi, her 120 pound Akita, to be able to let loose and enjoy an icy cold one, but she worried about the negative effects alcohol has on pups. She went about creating a non-alcoholic beer for dogs, Happy Tail Ale.

In addition to being sold online, grocers are stocking the canine beverage on shelves in their pet section.

FEATURED SPEAKER: Jamie Miller, Founder of Dog Star Brewing Company

20060523 KDDC BE editorial MD legislators fail basic economics

Baltimore Examiner editorial: MD legislators fail basic economics

An editorial I wish I had written. It was emailed to me and I do not have a hyperlink to the Web-site… Editorial: Maryland legislators fail basic economics

BALTIMORE - A prevailing majority of representatives of “we the people” in Maryland consistently seem to work at proving themselves dopey when it comes to business.

The 2006 Wal-Mart legislation, that forces a single company to provide health care benefits is a case in point. The vast majority of people in the state and the country without health insurance work for small businesses — not the target of the bill. The law forces companies with 10,000 or more employees in the state (Wal-Mart is the only one) to pay at least 8 percent of their payroll toward health benefits.

Behaving that way means one thing — fewer jobs other than the ones fueled by taxes. Don’t you think large companies will have an incentive to move elsewhere once they near the 10,000 employee mark? Or choose elsewhere if they are planning a move to the East Coast?

And it shows that the legislature was more intent on punishing a single company than finding a way to insure more people in the state. Unfortunately, it’s not an isolated incident.

A review of some of their decisions on our behalf:

In 1999 legislators capped electricity prices at Baltimore Gas & Electric Co. for six years at prices 6.5 percent below 1993 rates, squashing electricity competition (who would compete for below market rates?) and paving the way for the looming 72 percent rate hikes.

Legislators are mulling whether to call a special session to reconsider the rate hike and the planned merger of BGE’s parent company, Constellation Energy, with FPL Group — a clear signal once again that business exists at the pleasure of the legislature.

» In December 2004, Gov. Ehrlich called the General Assembly into a special session to take “immediate action ... to ensure the costs of medical malpractice insurance are curtailed and that access to health care is maintained.”

Liability reform is the American Medical Association’s top legislative priority because “America’s patients are losing access to care because the nation’s out-of-control legal system is forcing physicians in some areas of the country to retire early, relocate or give up performing high-risk medical procedures.”

The General Assembly’s response: Maryland Patients’ Access to Quality Health Care act of 2004. The legislation trimmed about 3 percent off malpractice premiums — at a time when rates are rising in the double digits. It also raised taxes on HMOs, making it more difficult for small businesses, who employ the majority of people in the state, to purchase health care for employees. Since 1999, the number of small employers offering plans has declined by 13 percent. The 2004 legislation is not the only reason that many small business owners don’t offer insurance, of course, but it only made it more difficult.

» In January, the General Assembly passed legislation raising the minimum wage $1 to $6.15 per hour. In rich sections of the state where jobs are in short supply, this legislation will do nothing. In poorer sections it will decrease demand for jobs because for some businesses $1 an hour will make the difference between being able to hire someone or not.

Jim Brady, the Secretary of Business and Economic Development under Gov. Glendening, says he does not think that legislators purposely try to be anti-business. “It’s not a cabal, I just don’t think they think through the ramifications of what they do,” he said.

We wish they would.

Don’t you?

To prevent future Wal-Mart, et al laws, the business community must actively recruit candidates who understand economics and withhold support from those who don’t. We don’t need any more lemmings in the General Assembly taking us over an economic cliff.

Examiner

20060523 How Dems Store Their Bribes



How Dems Store Their Bribes

A photoshop that I wish I had done.

You can do whatever you wish with the information, I liked the photoshop art.

Nevertheless.

Does the word, “schadenfreude come to mind?

Hat tip: Michelle Malkin

_________________

HOW DEMS STORE THEIR BRIBES

By Michelle Malkin · May 23, 2006 10:39 PM

Hot Air affiliate Flip Pidot of Suitably Flip, inspired by the Rep. William Jefferson case, has the photoshop of the day:

http://suitablyflip.blogs.com/suitably_flip/2006/05/a_pictures_wort.html

***

Meanwhile, Roger L. Simon notes Newt Gingrich's tin ear. Denny Hastert's got it, too. Glenn Reynolds has more.

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Foiled again!