20071206 Rude Mechanicals stage the bard’s comedy with a contemporary twist By Charles Schelle

Sweet ‘Midsummer Night’s’ dreams are made of this

Rude Mechanicals stage the bard’s comedy with a contemporary twist

Thursday, Dec. 6, 2007 By Charles Schelle | Gazette Staff Writer

If Shakespeare could make a mix tape, it might have included Eurythmics’ ”Sweet Dreams” and Michael Jackson’s ‘‘Thriller.”

The Rude Mechanicals’ staging of the bard’s ‘‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream” features songs from those musicians and even a dance-off, but the story remains the same, said Tom Delise, Shakespeare Factory’s executive director.

The play opens tonight at 7 p.m. and runs through Saturday at Century High School, 355 Ronsdale Road, Eldersburg. Tickets are $6 and are available at the door.

The Rude Mechanicals (named after a troupe in ‘‘Midsummer Night’s Dream”) is composed of Century High School students.

Read the rest of the article here: Sweet ‘Midsummer Night’s’ dreams are made of this

If you go

‘‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream”

7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday

Century High School auditorium,

355 Ronsdale Road, Eldersburg

Cost: $6 at the door

For more information, call 410-386-4400.

20060331 Maverick Pipkin pulls no punches by Tom Dennison

Maverick Pipkin pulls no punches by Tom Dennison

Senator crosses the aisle to lead the charge against electric rate hike

http://www.gazette.net/stories/033106/polia%20s193642_31954.shtml

Friday, March 31, 2006

by Thomas Dennison, Gazette Staff Writer

ANNAPOLIS — Sen. E.J. Pipkin has some friends and enemies in unusual places these days.

Pipkin, an iconoclastic Republican from the Eastern Shore, has become a leading player — and a hero to Democrats — for taking on utility companies that are planning a 72 percent rate hike that could affect more than 1 million Marylanders on July 1.

‘‘He’s got guts, and he’s willing to take on anyone — a committee chairman or even the governor,” said Senate Finance Committee Chairman Thomas McLain Middleton (D-Dist. 28) of Waldorf. ‘‘If I had a bill that I really wanted to pass, I would feel very comfortable if E.J. was carrying it for me. I would know that it’s in good hands.”

Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Dist. 27) of Chesapeake Beach grabbed the freshman senator around the shoulders last week, declaring that Pipkin is one of the session’s biggest ‘‘winners.”

[…]

Somehow, Pipkin (R-Dist. 36) of Stevensville has become Maryland’s version of U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) — a darling to some Democrats and a lightning rod for some Republicans.

From the time he entered politics, Pipkin has been characterized as a hard-to-define maverick who doesn’t shun risks: Two years ago, he ran against U.S. Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski and got clobbered at the polls.

A wealthy former Wall Street stockbroker, Pipkin won his Senate seat in 2002 by knocking off Judicial Proceedings Committee Chairman Walter M. Baker, a Miller ally…

[…]

Pipkin is also known for his independence…

[…]

On electricity deregulation, Pipkin has charted his own course, clashing with some of his GOP colleagues and the Ehrlich administration, which is trying to remain neutral in the negotiations while blaming Democrats for passing deregulation in 1999.

‘‘This is about policy — not politics,” said Pipkin…

[…]

Other Republicans refrained from passing judgment on their colleague.

Pipkin is ‘‘exercising his prerogative” as a senator and it should not come as a surprise that he is out in front on the issue, said Sen. David R. Brinkley (R-Dist. 4) of New Market.

‘‘He’s been working on this issue for a long time,” Brinkley said.

[…]

Read the rest here: Maverick Pipkin pulls no punches by Tom Dennison

####

Rockinberg quits Mount Airy planning commission by Carolynne Fitzpatrick

Rockinberg quits Mount Airy planning commission

Apr. 28, 2005 Carolynne Fitzpatrick Staff Writer

http://www.gazette.net/gazette_archive/2005b/200517/mountairy/news/272576-1.html

Pat Rockinberg resigned from the Mount Airy Planning and Zoning Commission effective Wednesday, April 20, after a lot of thought and regret, he said Thursday.

"One of my goals when I joined the commission was to promote...constructive dialogue," Rockinberg said. "I feel that I have been unable to meet that goal."

"I'm sorry to see him go," Mayor James Holt said Friday. "But if that's what's best for him, it's as it should be."

Planning Commission Chair Joe Jansen Monday thanked Rockinberg for his service. "Anybody who spends a day or ten years in this job deserves gratitude and recognition," Jansen said.

Council President John Medve, liaison to the planning and zoning commission, was also sorry to see Rockinberg resign, but for other reasons. "I think it's a shame," he said. "In my opinion he's responsible for making a commitment to serve, he should fulfill that obligation."

Rockinberg cited differences of opinions over how to control residential growth as a reason for his resignation.

"There are issues we didn't agree on," Medve said, adding that disagreements and discussions are healthy for decision making. Medve said that while there might have been "friction," that Rockinberg alluded to in his letter, "he never picked up the phone and called to talk about it."

Read the entire article here: http://www.gazette.net/gazette_archive/2005b/200517/mountairy/news/272576-1.html

20050428 Rockinberg quits planning commission

*****

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/ or http://kevindayhoffart.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/ or http://www.westgov.net/ = www.kevindayhoff.org Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net Explore Carroll: www.explorecarroll.com The Tentacle: www.thetentacle.com