20080602 Media Release 2008 Carroll County Torch Run

June 2^nd, 2008

Flame of Hope Arrives in Carroll County!

Carroll County Law Enforcement Officers Join Forces to Escort the Special Olympics Maryland Torch, Ensuring its Safe Passage to the 2008 SOMD Summer Games

Law Enforcement officers representing the police agencies throughout Carroll County will be out in force on Wednesday, June 4^th beginning at 8:00 AM, escorting the Special Olympics Maryland “Flame of Hope” from five (5) separate points around the county to Westminster.

There they will join together and officially present the Flame of Hope in a brief ceremony at noon at City Hall.

It is the duty of these Law Enforcement Torch Runners to ensure that the Flame is protected until it is delivered to the waiting hands of Special Olympics athletes on Friday, June 6^th at the Opening Ceremony for the Special Olympic Maryland Summer Games held at Towson University, Towson Maryland.

This portion of the Torch Run Relay is part of the Central Leg, and Torch Run volunteers from the Maryland State Police, Sykesville PD, Hampstead PD, Manchester PD, Taneytown PD, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, the McDaniel College Office of Campus Safety, Springfield Hospital Police, State Fire Marshal’s Office, Maryland Police Training Commission and Westminster PD will escort the flame through various municipalities around the County, eventually converging at McDaniel College and traveling in a unified “Final Leg” along Main Street to City Hall in Westminster.

With the support of Legacy sponsor Aerotek, the law enforcement volunteers are raising funds in conjunction with the run by selling Torch Run T-shirts, holding events, and soliciting donations. (See end of press release for details on each of the 6 legs).

“We are proud to join our brother and sister law enforcement and correctional officers from around the world in demonstrating our support for these very special members of our community,” stated Chief Jeff Spaulding of the Westminster Police Department. “We are particularly pleased that we will be joined on each of our runs by Special Olympics athletes from right here in Carroll County. It is a great opportunity to further strengthen the long-standing relationship between law enforcement and Special Olympics that we enjoy in Maryland.”

Chief Spaulding invites the community to attend a short ceremony at Westminster City Hall following the Final Leg during which the Special Olympics Athletes who participate as Torch Runners will be honored for their participation.

Statewide, the Maryland Torch Run Relay consists of four different legs – Eastern, Western, Central and Southern – and during the week of June 2^nd to 6^th, thousands of law enforcement Torch Run volunteers will cover hundreds of miles, eventually converging on Towson where the individual flames will be united in the Final Leg Ceremony, and then officers from around the state will travel the final three (3) miles to the Summer Games Opening Ceremonies at Towson University.

It is there that the “Flame of Hope” is handed off to Special Olympics athletes who have the honor of lighting the cauldron and officially declaring the 2008 SOMD Summer Games open. Carroll County will be represented by Chief Jeff Spaulding and other members of the Westminster PD in the Final Leg on Friday, June 6^th.

The Maryland Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics is a year-round movement whose goal is to raise both funds and public awareness for the athletes who train and compete in Special Olympics Maryland.

When it began in 1986, only a handful of officers participated, raising about $50,000. Since that time, the Maryland Torch Run has grown tremendously, including volunteer officers from nearly every law enforcement agency and correctional facility in Maryland, raising more than $2.8 million for Special Olympics Maryland in 2007 – the largest single fund raising effort for Special Olympics in the world.

For more information about the Carroll County Torch Run Relay, or to support the Torch Run Relay by purchasing a commemorative Torch Run T-shirt for $10, contact the Westminster Police Department at (410) 848-4646.

For more information about Special Olympics Maryland and the 2008 Summer Games, contact Kelley Wallace at (410) 789-6677 x117 or visit www.somd.org.

THE CARROLL COUNTY TORCH RUN EVENT INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING LEGS:

Sykesville Leg – Members of the Maryland State Police, Maryland Police Training Commission, Sykesville PD, and the Springfield Hospital Police. Runners/bicyclists will depart Maryland Police Training Commission Training Facility @ 8:15 AM and travel north on Route 32, Johnsville Road, west on Liberty Road to Route 97, to McDaniel College.

Hampstead/Manchester Leg – Members of the Hampstead PD, and Manchester PD. Runners and bicyclists will depart Hampstead City Hall @ 8:30 AM and travel north via Route 30 to Manchester where they will join the Manchester PD runners/bicyclists and travel south on Route 27 to McDaniel College.

Taneytown Leg – Members of the Taneytown Police Department and the Carroll County Crisis Response Team. Runners/bicyclists will depart Taneytown @ 9:00 AM and travel east on Route 140 to WMC Drive to McDaniel College.

Mt. Airy Leg – Members of the Maryland State Police. Runners/bicyclists will depart Mt. Airy @ 8:00 AM and travel north on Route 27 to McDaniel College.

Union Bridge/New Windsor Leg – Members of the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office. Runners/bicyclists will depart the Union Bridge Fire Hall @ 9:00 AM and travel east through New Windsor on Route 31 to McDaniel College.

Final Leg – Includes all participating law enforcement agencies in Carroll County (see above) to include members of the McDaniel College Department of Campus Safety, State Fire Marshal’s Office and Westminster Police Department. Runners/bicyclists will depart McDaniel College @ noon and travel east along Main Street to City Hall where a Torch Run welcoming ceremony and celebration will take place.

# # #

MEDIA CONTACT:

Kelley Wallace/SOMD

PH: 410-789-6677 x117

Cell: 443-386-7965

E-mail: kwallace@somd.org

OR

Chief Jeff Spaulding

Westminster Police Department

PH: 410-848-4646

E-mail: jspaulding AT westgov.com

20080602 Media Release 2008 Carroll County Torch Run

20070606 Torch Run – Annual Maryland Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Maryland

Flame of Hope Arrives in Carroll County!

Torch Run – Annual Maryland Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Maryland

June 6^th, 2007

Carroll County Law Enforcement Officers Join Forces to Escort the Special Olympics Maryland Torch, Ensuring its Safe Passage to the 2007 SOMD Summer Games

MEDIA CONTACT:

Kelley Wallace/SOMD

PH: 410-789-6677 x117

Cell: 443-386-7965

E-mail: kwallace AT somd.org

OR

Chief Jeff Spaulding

Westminster Police Department

PH: 410-848-4646

E-mail: jspaulding AT westgov.com

Law Enforcement officers representing the various police agencies throughout Carroll County will be out in force on Wednesday, June 6th beginning at 8:00 AM, escorting the Special Olympics Maryland Flame of Hope from five (5) separate points around the county to Westminster, where they will join together and officially present the Flame of Hope in a brief ceremony at noon in front of City Hall.

It is the duty of these Law Enforcement Torch Runners to ensure that the Flame is protected until it is delivered to the waiting hands of the Special Olympics athletes on Friday, June 8th at the Opening Ceremony of the SOMD Summer Games held at Towson University, Towson Maryland.

This portion of the Torch Run Relay is part of the Central Leg, and Torch Run volunteers from the Maryland State Police, Sykesville PD, Hampstead PD, Manchester PD, Taneytown PD, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, the McDaniel College Office of Campus Safety, Springfield Hospital Police, State Fire Marshals Office, and Westminster PD will escort the flame through various municipalities around the County, eventually converging at McDaniel College and traveling the Final Leg along Main Street to City Hall in Westminster.

With the support of Aerotek, the law enforcement volunteers are raising funds in conjunction with the run by selling Torch Run T-shirts, holding events, and soliciting donations. (See end of press release for details on each of the 6 legs).

“We are proud to join our brother and sister officers from around the world in demonstrating our support for these very special members of our community,” stated Chief Jeff Spaulding of the Westminster Police Department. “We are particularly pleased that we will be joined on each of our runs by Special Olympics athletes from right here in Carroll County. It is a great opportunity to further strengthen the long-standing relationship between law enforcement and Special Olympics that we enjoy in Maryland.”

Chief Spaulding invites the community to attend in a short ceremony at City Hall following the Final Leg during which the Special Olympics Athletes who participated as Torch Runners will be honored for their participation.

Statewide, the Maryland Torch Run Relay consists of four different legs – Eastern, Western, Central and Southern – and during the week of June 4 to 8, thousands of Torch Run volunteers will cover hundreds of miles, eventually converging on Towson where the individual flames will be united in the Final Leg Ceremony and then officers from around the state will travel the final three (3) miles to Opening Ceremonies at Towson University.

It is there that the Flame is handed off to the Special Olympics athletes who have the honor of lighting the cauldron and officially declaring the 2007 SOMD Summer Games open. Carroll County will be represented by Chief Jeff Spaulding and other members of the Westminster PD in the Final Leg on Friday, June 8th.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Maryland is a year-round movement whose goal is to raise both funds and awareness for the athletes who train and compete in Special Olympics Maryland, and 2007 marks the 22nd anniversary here in Maryland.

When the Maryland Torch Run began in 1986, only a handful of officers participated, raising $50,000. Since that time, the Maryland Torch Run has grown tremendously, including volunteer officers from nearly every law enforcement agency and correctional facility in Maryland; raising more than $2 million for Special Olympics Maryland in 2006.

For more information about the Carroll County Torch Run relay, or to support the Torch Run Relay by purchasing a commemorative Torch Run T-shirt for $10, contact the Westminster Police Department at 410-848-4646. For more information about Special Olympics Maryland and the 2007 Summer Games, contact Kelley Wallace at 410-789-6677 x117 or visit www.somd.org.

THE CARROLL COUNTY TORCH RUN EVENT INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING LEGS:

Sykesville Leg

Members of the Maryland State Police, Sykesville PD, Office of the State Fire Marshal, and the Springfield Hospital Police.

Runners/bikers will depart City Hall @ 8:15 AM and travel north on Route 32, west on Liberty Road, to Route 97 to McDaniel College.

Hampstead/Manchester Leg

Members of the Maryland State Police, Hampstead PD, and Manchester PD.

Runners/bikers will depart Hampstead City Hall @ 8:30 AM and travel north via Route 30 to Manchester where they will join the Manchester PD runners and travel south on Route 27 to McDaniel College.

Taneytown Leg

Members of the Maryland State Police and Taneytown Police Department.

Runners/bikers will depart Taneytown @ 9:00 AM and travel east on Route 140 to WMC Drive to McDaniel College.

Mt. Airy Leg

Members of the Maryland State Police.

Runners/bikers will depart Mt. Airy @ 8:00 AM and travel north on Route 27 to McDaniel College.

Union Bridge/New Windsor Leg

Members of the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office.

Runners/bikers will depart Union Bridge @ 9:00 AM and travel east through New Windsor to McDaniel College.

Final Leg

– Includes all participating law enforcement agencies from Carroll County.

Runners/bikers will depart McDaniel College @ Noon and travel east along Main Street to City Hall where a Torch Run welcoming ceremony and celebration will take place.

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20070406 Support Granite House Rock Ball

January 29, 2007

Rock On!

Support the Granite House Rock Ball!

Dear Friend,

Get ready for a night filled with music, dancing and fun! On Friday, May 11, Granite House will host its first annual Rock Ball, which will be held at the Inn at Roop’s Mill. This great event will feature classic rock and roll, amazing food, and lots of fun surprises. As a friend of Granite House, we would like you to consider supporting the Rock Ball in a number of ways:

1. Donate an item to our silent auction. Your donation will be prominently displayed for the duration of the event. Your name or your company’s name will be featured in our event materials and on the Silent Auction bid sheet and in the event program, where up to 200 attendees will see it.

2. Attend the Rock Ball. Tickets for the event are $100 per person.

3. Be a sponsor for the Rock Ball to help decrease our overhead.

This ball will help support individuals and families with mental illness to have successful, satisfying and productive lives. Our clinical staff of psychiatrists, clinical social workers, nurses and licensed counselors has tremendous impact on the lives of our clients. Our rehabilitation and housing staff has helped those in need to make a fresh start since 1979—a start that has truly made a difference in their lives. We would like to extend these services to other folks in the community who desperately need our services but cannot afford them.

Our Rock Ball will specifically raise dollars for our “Charitable Fund”. The Charitable Fund has been created to help folks who cannot afford to pay their co-pay from their insurance plan or even have no insurance coverage at all, ie: the working poor. We believe strongly that mentally healthy people are more productive community members and that all people should be able to receive the care they need. All donations are tax deductible. Sponsorship levels are attached to the back of this letter.

The “Rock Ball” will become our annual event with dinner, dance and an auction. In addition, we will also be featuring a sale of our Consumer made art work. We hope that this event will be successful not only in raising funds for those who need it most, but also in shattering the stigma associated with mental illness.

For more information, please contact Laura Rhodes at 410-876-3007 x140. If you are interested in specific information about our programs, you can view our website at http://www.granitehouse.org/ or contact us at 410-751-5970.

Very Truly Yours,

Spencer Gear

Executive Director

Note: Granite House is a 501 c (3) non-profit registered with the Maryland Secretary of State to allow us to raise funds. (This does not imply endorsement of the Secretary of State). A copy of the current financial statement of Granite House, Inc. is available by writing to 288 E. Green Street, Westminster, MD or by calling (410) 876-3007-Ext 127. Documents and information submitted under the Maryland Solicitations Act are also available, for the cost of postage and copies, from the Maryland Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis MD 21401, (410) 974-5534.

Granite House Rock Ball

Gift-In-Kind Record

Name: _________________________

Company: __________________________________

A Gift-In-Kind donation was made to the Granite House Rock Ball on Friday, May 11, 2007:

Date Received/Approved: ____________ Estimated Value: ____________

_________________________________ __________________________________

Signature of Donor Signature of GH staff member

Please send acknowledgement of this donation to:

Donor Name: _________________________

Address: _________________________

_________________________

Phone: __________________ Email: ___________________

Thank you for your generosity!

Granite House Rock Ball Sponsorship Levels

Specific Tactic Sponsorships

Invitation Sponsor 1000 invitations, stress balls custom cylinders	$4,000	Name of sponsor on stress ball and cylinder Full page ad in program Banner at event Announcement at event
Open Bar Sponsor	$5,280	Banner across bar Full page ad in program Table of 8 at event Announcement at event
Appetizer Hour Sponsor	$3,600	Banner at event Full page ad in program 2 free tickets to event Announcement at event
Goody Bag Sponsor Bags at each table, will include autograph book, rock candy, disposable camera and sponsor logo items	$2,000	Packaged in sponsor-provided logo bag Sponsor may provide logo pens Banner at event Full page ad in program
Photo Sponsor Attraction at Ball: photographer will morph faces of attendees onto bodies of famous celebrities onto photo magnets	$1500	Sponsor’s name and logo on back of all photos taken Attendees will receive photo magnets at the ball Photographer will be at ball for 4 hours- unlimited magnets for attendees Sponsor will have Full page ad in program

Event Sponsorships

Advertiser	$50	½ page ad in the program
Advertiser	$100	Full page ad in the program
Star Level	$1250-1999	Table of 8 at event Full page ad in the program Announcement at event
Quartz Level	$2000-3999	Table of 8 at event Full page ad in the program Banner at event Announcement at event
Granite Level	$4,000	Table of 8 at event Full page ad on back cover of program Banner at event Announcement at event

20070103 Regarding the “Be the best you can be” post from Nov 27 2006

Regarding the “20061127 Be the best you can be.” post from Nov 27 2006

January 3^rd, 2006

The photographer, Lindy Rodman has been in touch…

Meanwhile, Ms. Rodman, pretty please consider putting the video for which you referred in your comment, on YouTube, so that I may post it on my web site?

Oh, the video – find it here: “VIDEO: George Dennehy , Nov 22 2006, 12:10 AM Meet George Dennehy, a 12-year old with no arms, but a huge talent for playing the cello.”

Bring it up in Microsoft Internet Explorer…

Anyway, getting to Ms. Rodman’s comment…

“Lindy Rodman has left a new comment on your post ‘20061127 Be the best you can be.’ ”:

“Thank you for the kind words regarding the George Dennehy photo and story done by Holly and I and published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch. If you get a chance you might want to listen to the video I did in which you can hear George play his cello and say some amazingly thought provoking things. As its only my second attempt at a video its more home-movie than Hollywood but worth the look strictly for the content.”

http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/HTMLPage/RTD_HTMLPage&c=HTMLPage&cid=1149191912331#top should take you to it....

The video is good stuff, Ms. Rodman is being modest…

Back to the beginning…

If you will recall the post from November 27^th, 2006:

Pictured above: George Dennehy, right, plays first-chair cello at Oak Knoll Middle School in Hanover County, Va.. George, born with bilateral upper-limb deficiency, has no limbs beyond his shoulder blades and has learned to do almost everything with his feet. (Lindy Keast Rodman, Associated Press)

For more pictures from the November 23rd, 2006 Richmond Times-Dispatch story, “Boy triumphs over limitation - Child born without arms is grateful for gift of music,” - - go here.

For more on the great work of Lindy Rodman, an award winning photographer, (Feature story photograph category from the 2003 VNPA Pictures of the Year…,) go here, - - here, here, and here .

[…]

I found this picture in “The Day in Pictures” section of the Baltimore Sun web site. I recognized the name of the photographer and went to the Richmond Times-Dispatch web site to try and find the picture on the web site…

I did not find the picture, but I found the article for which the picture may very well have accompanied. The article, “With feet and toes, young cellist makes beautiful music,” By HOLLY PRESTIDGE, Richmond Times-Dispatch; is worth a quick read. You can find it here.

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20061127 Be the best you can be.

Be the best you can be.

Overcoming obstacles

Pictured above: George Dennehy, right, plays first-chair cello at Oak Knoll Middle School in Hanover County, Va.. George, born with bilateral upper-limb deficiency, has no limbs beyond his shoulder blades and has learned to do almost everything with his feet. (Lindy Keast Rodman, Associated Press)

Although I have a reputation for reading (too) many newspapers, I’ll tell ya a secret – I really scan the articles and just look at the pictures. Often the articles have too many big words for me.

In all seriousness, I am a newspaper photograph junkie and I had noticed Lindy Keast Rodman’s work in the Richmond Times-Dispatch some time ago.

I found this picture in “The Day in Pictures” section of the Baltimore Sun web site. I recognized the name of the photographer and went to the Richmond Times-Dispatch web site to try and find the picture on the web site…

I did not find the picture, but I found the article for which the picture may very well have accompanied. The article, “With feet and toes, young cellist makes beautiful music,” By HOLLY PRESTIDGE, Richmond Times-Dispatch; is worth a quick read. You can find it here.

It begins:

HANOVER, Va. - George Dennehy sits first chair in the cello section of the string orchestra at Oak Knoll Middle School in Hanover County.

As he leans back slightly on a stool, the toes on George's right foot move over the cello's strings as the toes on his left foot control the bow.

George's feet are his hands; his toes are his fingers. He was born with bilateral upper-limb deficiency, so he has no limbs beyond his shoulder blades.

He has learned to do almost everything with his feet _ typing on the computer, eating, setting the table, opening doors, playing the cello.

Read the rest here. (I do not know if the Richmond Times-Dispatch uses permalinks – so if you are accessing this post and the link is dead, e-mail me at kevindayhoff(at)gmail.com and I’ll load the rest of the article…)

Thank you Richmond Times-Dispatch, Holly Prestidge and Lindy Keast Rodman, for a great and uplifting story.

This great picture of Mr. Dennehy provides a bit of a springboard to mention the importance of Special Education programs in our school systems and the subject of mainstreaming.

When at all possible, I believe passionately about mainstreaming, i.e., integrating children with disabilities or special needs into the classrooms as much as possible. The rewards for all the children and society in general far outweigh the expense.

Give a child a chance and they will engage, adapt and overcome every time; provided they are given the proper opportunity to excel; given proper support and allowed to develop compensatory approaches to many of the day-to-day activities we tend to accept as routine.

And this is win-win for everyone.

Kevin

20061127 An incredible story about an amazing swimmer

An incredible story about an amazing swimmer

November 27th, 2006

For more on this story, please see Crablaw’s post.

For a related post, please see, "2oo61127 Be the best you can be,"

or posts on Carroll County 4-H Therapeutic Riding.

Top photo: Paralympian Jessica Long holds multiple swimming world records. "I like being chased," she says. (Sun photo by Doug Kapustin) Nov 17, 2006 For the Related story, please see: Catch me if you can in the Baltimore Sun.

Bottom photo: Paralympian Jessica Long, 14, of Middle River, holds multiple swimming world records. "I like being chased," she says. (Sun photo by Doug Kapustin) Nov 27, 2006

“Catch me if you can,” From the Baltimore Sun By Paul McMullen, Sun reporter, November 27, 2006

At 14, Jessica Long of Middle River is winning gold and setting records with the U.S. Paralympic swim team

Jessica Long's proficiency in the pool is apparent after a few strokes. Bobbing up and down on the breaststroke, she's indistinguishable from the practice partners in her lane, but something seems missing from her otherwise impeccable freestyle form.

The less splash swimmers make with their hands, the faster they go, but Long's kick leaves a curiously scant trail.

The 14-year-old from Middle River has mastered the pull and push of water well enough to set multiple world records, but her athleticism is fully comprehended only on the pool deck. A double amputee below the knees, Long walks on prosthetic legs.

On Thursday morning, Long left her parents and siblings for Thanksgiving in Chicago, joining the other members of the U.S. Paralympic swim team.

Read the rest of the story here.

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20060603 KDDC Maryland Equestrian Special Olympics

Maryland Equestrian Special Olympics
June 3, 2006

Caroline and spent the day at the Prince George's Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, Maryland volunteering with the 4-H Therapeutic Riding Program of Carroll County at the Maryland Equestrian Special Olympics.

Unfortunately, I did not take my camera, so I drew a few pictures of the event. Please enjoy them above.

According to the Special Olympics Maryland Web-site:

"Equestrian sports events have been a part of Special Olympics since 1983, when the first competition was held in Louisiana, USA. At the 1987 World Games, 38 athletes competed in the equestrian competition, and one year later the sport was added to the official program of Special Olympics Sports . At the 1991 World Games, 140 athletes competed in this event, and in 1995 the number of athletes rose to over 200, representing 33 countries. Events Special Olympics athletes who compete in the equestrian events learn to ride, develop sports skills and gain the self confidence to direct and control a horse. Athletes are able to compete in a variety of English and Western style events, including relays, drill teams and prix caprilli (jumping events). "

If you are asking, "What is Special Olympics?"; according to the Special Olympics Web-site:

"Special Olympics is an international organization that changes lives by promoting understanding, acceptance and inclusion between people with and without intellectual disabilities. Through year-round sports training and athletic competition and other related programming for more than 2.25 million children and adults with intellectual disabilities in more than 150 countries, Special Olympics has created a model community that celebrates people’s diverse gifts. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics provides people with intellectual disabilities continuing opportunities to realize their potential, develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage and experience joy and friendship. There is no cost to participate in Special Olympics."

To make a donation to the 4-H Therapeutic Riding Program of Carroll County, please contact:

Program Coordinator: Karen Scott: trp4h AT adelphia.net

Information/ Registration: Peggie Roland: peggier AT att.net

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