20070514 Carroll County Times week in review

Carroll County Times Week in review

(The Carroll County Times does not use permalinks. This is being posted Monday May 14^th, 2007 – if you are interested in a story, go click on it now…)

May 14^th, 2007

Mint condition
Collectors show their wealth at Westminster Firehouse Coin and Currency Show

Hearing set for airport expansion
Recommendation includes building new, longer runway northwest of existing one

Long-term plan calls for more additions
After building additions to 10 elementary schools that opened in the past two years to accommodate full-day kindergarten students, the school system is planning to add nine more in the next 10 years.

VFW to undergo ‘facelift’
Brad Wentworth is the commander for District 7 of the Maryland Veterans of Foreign Wars, which covers eastern Baltimore County and all of Carroll and Frederick counties. The Carroll County Times sat down with him to talk about his work with the VFW.

Westminster candidate profiles

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Previous Local News

May 13th, 2007

Student uses funds to pursue career
There was never a question whether Tim Graham would go to college. How his family would pay for it was another story. “I talked to my parents about going to a junior college for a year or two to save money,” said Graham, who graduated fro…

Event celebrates Union Bridge’s history
UNION BRIDGE When Jim Rowe was growing up in Union Bridge in the 1950s and 1960s, there was no need to leave town it had its own department store, bowling alley, movie theater and grocery store. “On a Friday night, this town was bustling,&#…

Catholics await Pope's appointment of new Baltimore archbishop
A Roman Catholic cardinal is considered a prince of the church. Cardinal William Keeler, the 14th archbishop of Baltimore, submitted his resignation two years ago at age 75, as the church requires, and since then speculation has grown about whom the …

Housing prices out of reach: Rising costs push new buyers out of Carroll
Real-estate prices in Carroll County have risen sharply in the past five years, making it almost impossible for people who get jobs in the county to live in the county. Rising home values from around 2002 through 2005 pushed prices in the county up, …

Habitat group works to provide affordable homes
Few benchmarks in pursuit of the American dream are more tangible than owning a home. Habitat for Humanity of Carroll County works with county residents to provide affordable housing to people who wouldn’t qualify for normal financing. Home own…

Board says it’s young, still learning
It was a particularly tense moment at the Board of Education meeting Monday as several members of the audience were speaking out of order, criticizing the board for what appeared to them to be a disorganized process. Carroll County Commissioner Micha…

May 12th, 2007

Team to walk in 3-day event for breast cancer
Even with her second-degree black belt and experience as a certified kickboxing instructor, Kelly Patten knows walking 60 miles in three days will take a toll on her body. But it could also help save lives. This fall, the senior instructor and manage…

Carroll Lutheran Village resident finalist in Energizer contest
After 25 years of inventing devices for people with disabilities, mechanical engineer John Staehlin said he’s yet to find someone who can’t be helped by technology. The 77-year-old resident of Carroll Lutheran Village in Westminster has b…

Cracks in the road: Neighbors divided on widening, repaving project in Carroll
ALESIA When the county first told Falls Road residents it was planning to pave a gravel section of the road with blacktop, many were excited by the news that the dust and washouts would be a thing of the past. But when the county announced at a pub…

Prosecution rests in Jones trial
The prosecution rested its case against a man on trial for murder Friday, after hearing testimony from a homicide detective who linked the accused to the scene of the crime. Murder suspect Shawn Jones dropped a key to his girlfriend’s home in t…

County set to break ground at water plant
The county is scheduled to break ground this month on an addition to the Freedom District Water Treatment Plant in Sykesville. The new facility, which will be located next to the existing one, is intended to boost the county’s daily treatable c…

Man charged with sex crimes
A Sykesville man accused of sexually abusing two teenage girls after taking them to his home and providing them with marijuana has been charged with more than a dozen crimes. Marc Christopher Sanchez, 19, has been charged with two counts each of seco…

May 11th, 2007

School system to ask for suggestions for name of new high school
If the names of the two most recent schools are any guide, then the new northeast-area high school might end up with a mill or a valley in its name. But before a name is chosen, members of the Carroll County Board of Education will solicit suggestion…

Budget increase denied
School system to trim $9M in operating money The Carroll County Board of Education will have to consider next week how to trim almost $9 million from the Carroll County Public Schools’ operating budget. Requests from residents to incr…

Support group for military families started
When Master Sgt. Jose Flores and Bobbi Hollingsworth started looking for military support groups in the fall of 2006, they were unable to find any in Carroll County for friends and family of service members. Now, the two friends are facilitating thei…

Scientist links Jones to scene
Testimony: DNA on seat belt was victim’s Court testimony linked a man on trial for murder to the scene of the crime after a forensic scientist testified Thursday that one of the victim’s DNA was found in an alleged getaway vehicle. Amy Ke…

An accurate portrayal
Shellman House opens doors for third-graders, with focus on 19th century The Sherman-Fisher-Shellman House is starting a new chapter in its history. The Shellman House, as it is commonly called, is credited as the catalyst for the formation of the Hi…

Carroll News Briefs for Friday, May 11, 2007
The Carroll County Youth Service Bureau will apply for a grant to help pay for a new facility after the Carroll County Board of Commissioners OK'd the submission Thursday. The CCYSB will request $400,000 from the Community Development Block Gran…

May 10th, 2007

Finding new funding
Members of the Carroll County Arts Council remain committed to carrying on a partnership with Westminster after the city’s 2008 budget provided no financial support for the council. The city’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2008 dropped …

Carroll News Briefs for Thursday, May 10, 2007
The 2007 Arthritis Walk to benefit the Arthritis Foundation will be held Saturday at the Carroll County Farm Museum. Participants can walk one or three miles. Registration begins at 11 a.m. and the walk starts at noon. For more information, call the …

St. Paul’s gives $100,000 to UCC
The Rev. John Thomas, president of the United Church of Christ, said his denomination needs to face the challenges of the future by staying true to its convictions, refocusing on outreach and preparing its pastors for a changing world. “Without…

Board of Education examines revised banner guidelines
After pilot programs at Century and Francis Scott Key high schools proved that selling banners could be a successful fundraiser for school booster groups, a countywide policy has been developed to allow the sale of banners at all schools. A revised b…

Date slated for run-off election
Close elections are nothing new for New Windsor. In 1997, then-Mayor Jack “Jay” Gullo Jr. won his re-election over challenger Sam Pierce by 12 votes. Then in 1999, when Pierce ran for council, he came in third place, tied with incumbent c…

Cousin: S. Jones admitted to shootings
The cousin of a Westminster man on trial for murder testified against him Wednesday, saying Shawn Jones admitted to a double shooting that left one man dead and another wounded in 2005. “He said he shot Donnie, he shot Lamont,” Anthony Jo…

May 9th, 2007

Corrections for Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Because of an editorial assistant's error, the name of a SoundOff caller was incorrect on page A8 Thursday. The caller's name is George Harrison. Because of a reporter's error, a Manchester Town Council candidate's work experience was incorrect in an…

Chamber to host retirement seminar
The Carroll County Chamber of Commerce is trying to convince people it's never too early to start planning for retirement. On Thursday, the chamber will host an evening of seminars and expositions on senior-living options and issues in the county, wh…

Manchester residents want more police dept. funding
MANCHESTER - The Town of Manchester's proposed budget for fiscal year 2008 includes no property tax rate increases, but several Manchester residents say the town should put more money into its police department. Residents voiced their concerns at Tue…

Manchester candidates answer: Does development dictate need for northeast-area high school?
A planned northeast-area high school in Manchester intended to relieve overcrowding at North Carroll High School has been included in the Carroll County Board of Commissioners’ proposed budget. The current high school is about 350 students abov…

Schools put brakes on shoes with wheels
Add shoes with wheels in the heels to the list of things you can’t have in school anymore. The school system’s central office staff is implementing a district-wide ban on shoes with wheels. The new regulation will be introduced to the Car…

Witness: Drugs led to murder
The motive behind a shooting that left one person dead and another wounded was a $500 drug debt, a witness testified in Carroll County Circuit Court Tuesday. “I said You’re trying to kill me for $500?’” said witness…

Union Bridge newcomer wins
UNION BRIDGE Edgar Wentz is the newest town councilman, beating out one other first-time candidate and joining returning incumbents Councilman Donald Wilson and Mayor Bret Grossnickle. Election Judge George Keeney said 120 people voted in Tuesday&#…

Running on ticket pays off for Hampstead candidates
HAMPSTEAD A ticket of incumbents and one newcomer succeeded in winning four-year terms in Hampstead’s municipal election Tuesday. Incumbent Haven N. Shoemaker won the uncontested mayoral race, while incumbent Councilman Christopher M. Nevin a…

New Windsor candidates tied for third
NEW WINDSOR They checked it once, they checked it twice and still the election judges could not determine who will be the third town councilman after Tuesday’s election. Election judges were baffled Tuesday night when they found that two cand…

Environment council asks county for waste stream study
Wanting to learn more about how Carroll's landfilled waste could be diverted from landfilling or incineration through recycling, composting or reuse, the Carroll County Environmental Advisory Council passed a motion Tuesday asking the county to fund …

May 8th, 2007

Budget hearing to be held
The city of Taneytown would maintain its existing property tax rate, but boost its water and sewer rates if the proposed fiscal year 2008 budget is adopted. The city will hold a public hearing on the budget Wednesday. City Clerk Linda Hess said the p…

New Windsor candidate profiles
F. Tracey Alban II Age: 50 Marital status: Married Children/ages: Jessica, 23, Joshua, 19, Jamie, 16 Profession: Communications/computer technician Years experience: 15 Current employment: State Farm Insurance How many years: 21 Education: High schoo…

Union Bridge candidate profiles
Scott W. Davis Candidate for: Withdrawn Bret Grossnickle (I) Age: 48 Marital status: Married Children/ages: Logan, 14, and Mason, 12 Profession: Water treatment plant superintendent Years experience: 13 Current employment: City of Westminster How man…

Narrow victory
Longtime Taneytown City Councilman James L. McCarron Jr. narrowly defeated Mayor Pro Tem Darryl Glenn Hale in the city’s mayoral race Monday. Carl E. Ebaugh, a member of the city’s planning and zoning commission, and former mayor and coun…

Mount Airy: Study prompts town to pursue groundwater
MOUNT AIRY - Well exploration could start this summer in Mount Airy after the Town Council voted Monday night to accept and pursue new recommendations from the town's engineering consultant firm. Aaron Duke of Hazen and Sawyer gave a presentation at …

Manchester: Does development dictate need for high school?
A planned northeast-area high school in Manchester intended to relieve overcrowding at North Carroll High School has been included in the Carroll County Board of Commissioners' proposed budget. The current high school is about 350 students above the …

Westminster: How do you plan to encourage development?
When Westminster signed an agreement with the Maryland Department of the Environment to make improvements to the city's water system, it lifted a moratorium on growth in the city. The end of the moratorium meant water was freed up for economic develo…

Board of Education makes 3 selections
Governor O’Malley to make final decision on who will fill vacant seat A former board member, a Pennsylvania teacher and a human relations commission member are the three people the Carroll County Board of Education would like to fill the vacanc…

Jones murder trial begins
Prosecution, defense give opening statements; three witnesses testify The prosecution will continue its case today in the murder trial of Shawn A. Jones after a jury was seated and heard testimony from three witnesses. In his opening statement, Alan …

Candidate profiles for Hampstead
Danny R. Lee Age: 62 Marital status: Married Children: Three, ages 29, 33, 36 Profession: Retired Special Agent with the F.B.I. Years experience: 30 Current employment: TDM Inc. How many years: 2 - part-time Education: B.S. - Education Community grou…

May 7th, 2007

Westminster candidates: How do you propose to manage growth?
An agreement between Westminster and the Maryland Department of the Environment in April to make improvements to the city's water system lifted a moratorium on growth in the city. The agreement frees up 60,000 gallons per day of water for projects in…

Carroll News Brief for Monday, May 7, 2007
The Carroll County Board of Education will conduct interviews with the candidates for the vacant seat on the board today at 1:30 p.m. Board member Thomas Hiltz resigned in March, which created the current vacancy. There are 22 candidates that applie…

Manchester: How can town ensure adequate water supply?
With a northeast-area high school planned for Manchester, the town may soon have to look for water outside of the town limits. In the 1990s, the Maryland Department of the Environment changed its standards for water allocations and began requiring de…

Taneytown candidates
Name: Darryl Glenn Hale (I) Age: 40 Marital status: married Children/ages: Morgan, 10, and Mason, 5 Profession: Residential Sales and Service Manager, Heating, Air Conditioning, and Ventilation Years Experience: 22 Current Employment: R. M. Schmidt I…

Residents to give tips for new facility
Linwood residents on Tuesday will have a chance to discuss how a planned public safety training facility in their area should be designed and operated. Scott Campbell, administrator of the county’s Office of Public Safety Support Services, will…

Jury selection begins in murder trial
Man killed one, wounded another behind convenience store in 2005 The trial of a man accused of using a shotgun to kill one person and seriously wounding another is scheduled to start today with jury selection. The trial of Shawn A. Jones is scheduled…

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20070509 In Hampstead Shoemaker, Nevin re-elected, newcomer Zynel picked

In Hampstead Election May 8^th, 2007, Incumbent Hampstead mayor Haven Q. Shoemaker, incumbent councilman Chris Nevin re-elected, newcomer Joe Zynel picked for council seat.

Running on ticket pays off for Hampstead candidates

By Marjorie Censer, Times Staff Writer Wednesday, May 09, 2007

HAMPSTEAD — A ticket of incumbents and one newcomer succeeded in winning four-year terms in Hampstead’s municipal election Tuesday.

Incumbent Haven N. Shoemaker won the uncontested mayoral race, while incumbent Councilman Christopher M. Nevin and newcomer Joe Zynel captured the two available council seats. The three had campaigned as a ticket.

Shoemaker earned 425 votes from the 495 participating voters, which represented about 13 percent of those registered.

Nevin garnered 280 votes, while Zynel received 250, according to Town Manager Ken Decker.

Three of the other five candidates received more than 100 votes. Herbert E. Raver Sr. received 115, Danny R. Lee earned 106 and David Unglesbee garnered 105.

Kristi A. Yowell received 38 and Matthew M. Szybalski received seven, Decker said.

[…]

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20070416 Carroll County EOC opens Monday evening

Carroll County Emergency Operations Center in action Monday evening, April 16^th, 2007 (See Carroll County Public Information Administrator, Vivian Laxton’s press release pasted at the bottom of this post…

Posted April 17th, 2007

See also: 20070416 Press Releases for Baltimore Gas and Electric

Carroll County emergency response

The Carroll County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) opened for a couple of hours last Monday evening, April 16^th, 2007 to swing-in and help the residents at the adaptively re-used former Hampstead High School.

Even though – by the time the operations center began to evacuate the senior residents, who had been without power since the wee hours of the moring, BGE got the power back on. So, as it worked out, the shelter was not needed but in the long run, it was a good drill and once again the EOC essentially operated flawlessly. (See pasted at the bottom of his post – links to one of the last times the EOC was activated and once again, performed flawlessly… The December 15^th, 2007 train derailment in South Carroll.)

All of which should be comforting to Carroll County residents to know that once again, if emergency services had been needed – it runs well, by folks who really know what they are doing and are dedicated to protecting the public.

Some of the team members who gave up their evening to serve the public are in the photograph above. They are:

Mike Whitson, Carroll County Facilities Bureau Chief, is in the foreground.

Counter clockwise from Mr. Whitson is Ralph Green, the Carroll County Director of General Services.

Carroll County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Mark Gonder.

Ken Smallwood with the Red Cross.

Chrissy Calp, with the Carroll County Emergency Management – behind the computer terminal in the back.

Cyndi Ryan with the Red Cross.

Carroll County Volunteer Emergency Services Association Liaison Leon Fleming - in the green shirt.

Also staffing the Carroll County Emergency Operations Center but not pictured was Bill Hall, Carroll County Emergency Management Coordinator; who had left earlier to go to the old Hampstead High School - “Hampstead Village.”

Jolene Sullivan, the Carroll County Director of Citizen Services who had left earlier to go open the North Carroll Senior Center.

Neal Roop, President, and CEO of Carroll Area Transit System, who was coordinating transportation for the seniors from Hampstead to the North Carroll Senior Center Shelter.

Vivian Laxton, the Carroll County Public Information Administrator.

Caroline Babylon with the Red Cross. And me – I took the picture.

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20070416 Carroll County EOC opens Monday evening

News Release

For more information, contact: Vivian D. Laxton,
Public Information Administrator, 410-386-2973

For Immediate Release

Emergency Operations Center activates to assist seniors who lose electricity

April 16, 2007, 11:45 p.m. – Carroll County emergency managers activated the Emergency Operations Center this evening to assist residents of an 84-unit senior housing center in Hampstead in anticipation of a night without heat or electricity.

Residents of the Villages of Hampstead, known as the old Hampstead School, first reported being without power to BG&E at 4 a.m. Power was restored by 11:15 p.m., before anyone had to be relocated to a shelter.

Hampstead Mayor Haven Shoemaker requested the assistance of county officials as night approached. The facility is heated by electric heat pumps.

Agencies responded by arranging for cots to be set up in the North Carroll Senior and Community Center for as many as 70 of the approximately 100 residents.

The Departments of General Services and Citizen Services worked with the American Red Cross to establish the shelter. Carroll Area Transit Service provided two vehicles to transport residents. The Health Department agreed to send nurses to the shelter. Officers from the Hampstead Police Department and the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office assisted. Once power was restored, the Emergency Operations Center shut down.

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Carroll County emergency response

20061215 Press briefing at 6:30 pm on train derailment

20061215 Carroll Co. calling voluntary precautionary evacuation for train mishap

20061215 Sykesville Fire Dept Press Release by PIO Bill Rehkopf

20061215 CC PIO will host a news conference on train derailment

20061215 Train derails along Patapsco River

20061121 WE Giving thanks WE

Giving thanks

My Westminster Eagle column for Thanksgiving is on the Westminster Eagle web site.

For my past Thanksgiving columns and posts – go here.

Crablaw has George Washington's Proclamation of Thanksgiving from The Massachusetts Sentinel, October 14, 1789 – here.

Attila shares a Psalm for Thanksgiving here.

Maryland Conservatarian is “unabashedly thankful for having the good fortune to be an American.”

The Baltimore Reporter hopes “you have a good one!”

Go here for Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation from Washington, DC—October 3, 1863

And Monoblogue is mumbling something about helicopters, WKRP and flying turkeys.

Hopefully you have spent Thanksgiving with family and loved ones. Please be sure to say a special prayer for all our men and women in uniform, in harms way.

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Giving thanks for history, and future, of America

11/21/06 By Kevin E. Dayhoff

This Thursday, America celebrates the American version of the "Harvest Festival," gathering families together and watching football; though it should be noted that this annual holiday originated as a celebration to give thanks for the annual harvest.

Of course, outside the United States, the Thanksgiving holiday is known as "Thursday," or "Jueves" in Taneytown.

Muchas personas piensan del d’a de acci—n de gracias como una maravillosa celebraci—n, que les permite tener un largo fin de semana disfrutando de una suculenta cena.

Today, there is no holiday that is more quintessentially American than Thanksgiving, according to many people -- including Hampstead Mayor Haven Shoemaker, who shared his comments in English.

Our household has once again extended a warm invitation to Martha Stewart to join us for Thanksgiving. We're happy that she is out of the Big House, as it is imperative that America make room for more congressmen; especially since the last election has provided us with so many more great new prospects for "Club Fed."

In honor of the holiday, homage is paid to Ms. Stewart by delivering each and every paper to your door folded in the shape of a turkey.

(If yours did not arrive this way, call the editor immediately. And tell him I said, "Happy Thanksgiving!")

The layout for the newspaper was made-up of joyous and colorful words cut out of old political ads. To deliver your paper, I got up extra early, around 10 o'clock, and made an exact replica of the first Rural Free Delivery wagon used by Edwin W. Shriver to delivery mail in Carroll County on Dec. 20, 1899.

I constructed it out of scrap wood gathered from leftover stakes for political signs Ð and a glue gun.

I then created a jackass to pull the wagon, using some DNA lying around from the last election.

Thanksgiving in America was actually first observed at Berkeley Plantation, by the Virginia Colony on Dec. 4, 1619.

In the beginning of another American Thanksgiving tradition, 102 Pilgrims left Plymouth, England, in July 1620 to escape religious persecution.

They came to the New World as illegal immigrants to find a better way of life and persecute others who don't believe as they do or speak their language. But essentially they wanted to practice their religion without government interference, and since the ACLU did not exist at the time, they were allowed to do so.

The trip to the New World was planned by a government committee, which meant they arrived in December, without frozen food, Wal-Mart tents, replacement batteries for their laptops or ice cream.

The winter of 1620 to 1621 was unforgiving and half of the original boat-people died.

Although the local native Wampanoag Indians immediately passed a resolution that the illegal immigrants needed to learn the Wampanoag language; other more broad-minded Native-Americans kept the rest of them from perishing.

The pilgrims thanked the Native Americans by giving them smallpox and alcohol.

Later, as the New England colonists continued to annex Wampanoag land and build housing developments, the King Philip's War erupted, 1675Ð76, and the colonists exterminated the Native Americans and seized the rest of their lands.

Today, the tradition of King Philip's War is re-enacted in the form of public hearings in which the personal character and integrity of public officials is exterminated and all rules of civility seized.

Another American tradition began in 1621, when the New England pilgrims celebrated a feast of thanksgiving by giving thanks to God after a successful harvest.

Today, the Lord's Prayer has been replaced in school and public meetings by a moment of silent bewilderment, and any celebration of God has been systematically removed from public discourse and replaced by a greater conversation as to why our great country has lost its moral bearings.

Hopefully, this Thursday, you will spend the day with loved-ones and family.

Let us reach out to the xenophobic and to those in need of food, shelter, common sense and words of hope.

May we also remember our men and women in uniform in harm's way.

And may we ask that we be given patience, understanding, resolve, and wisdom in all that lies ahead for our great nation.

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

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20061007 O’Malley questions Hampstead By-pass

O'Malley questions priorities by Justin Palk of the Carroll County Times

Posted by Kevin Dayhoff October 10^th, 2006

Last week, Carroll County Times writer, Justin Palk, picked up the story of the Democratic Maryland gubernatorial candidate criticizing the Hampstead by-pass.

It is a classic case of over-playing one’s hand. To be sure, there must be a road project or two that warrants some Monday-morning quarterbacking.

But the Hampstead by-pass ain’t it. Especially with appropriate land-use measures put into place to not facilitate sprawl in the future.

Quintessentially, this was economic and community infrastructure necessity as Hampstead was getting choked with standstill traffic every morning and evening and there was no way to widen the road through town…

The Hampstead by-pass has been discussed since the 1960s and under the leadership of Hampstead Mayor Haven Q. Shoemaker, his talented town councilmembers, the Carroll County Commissioners and the Carroll County Delegation to Annapolis - - and Governor Ehrlich; it is now finally happening.

In The Carroll Record on March 23, 1972, the by-pass was discussed.

Yes, you read that correctly – 1972.

An article that appeared in The Carroll Record said:

State Asked To Accelerate Route 30 By-pass — The County Commissioners have asked a one-year acceleration in right-of-way purchases for the proposed Route 30 by-pass around Manchester and Hampstead. In a request to the State Highway Administration, the commissioners asked that $198,000 be shifted from the 1973-77 projections for work on Route 32 and be designed for the Route 30 by-pass.Under its present 5-year plan, the state agency would spend $91,000 for preliminary engineering and $413,000 for right of ways, during fiscal 1973. In the following four years $328,000 and $163,000 is planned for right of ways. Construction funds are presently ear-marked for 1975 and 1976. (The Carroll Record, March 23, 1972.)

It is also important to remember, that Maryland Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich took office, the state budget had a huge shortfall, a structural deficit and the transportation trust fund was essentially depleted.

Getting around to all the transportation needs of the state took some time and some difficult prioritization decisions as very finite resources had to be allocated as best as possible.

My previous post about this matter can be found here.

Anyway, I have always appreciated Mr. Palk’s work and I was happy that he looked into this story.

I have pasted below, for your convenience, Mr. Palk’s complete story, but anytime you get a chance, go to the Carroll County Times on-line and take a additional moment to seek out his work…

_____

O’Malley questions priorities

By Justin Palk, Times Staff Writer

Saturday, October 07, 2006

Few people in the Hampstead area would argue against building the bypass now being constructed around the town, said Haven Shoemaker, the town's mayor.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Martin O'Malley, however, thinks it's an example of Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s lack of vision for transportation in Maryland, said Rick Abbruzzese, a spokesman for O'Malley's campaign.

Not that that means the bypass is a bad project, Abbruzzese said.

O'Malley included the bypass in a list of items Ehrlich had spent state transportation dollars on rather than Baltimore's Red Line for mass transit when responding to a questionnaire from the Baltimore Transit Alliance.

Also in the list were an expansion of I-95 and Ehrlich's using Transportation Trust Fund dollars for non-transportation projects.

If O'Malley doesn't believe that the Hampstead bypass is a necessary project, he should try sitting on Md. 30 during rush hour, Shoemaker said.

"I think we've thrown more than enough money at mass transit," he said. "I think it's high time we receive funding for projects like this, particularly given the fact that we've been waiting for 45 years."

The Hampstead bypass is an $85.2-million project that will divert traffic off Md. 30, which runs through downtown Hampstead and carried approximately 19,000 to 24,000 vehicles a day through town in 2004, according to the State Highway Administration.

Construction workers broke ground on the project this year, and it is scheduled to be completed by the fall of 2008.

The Red Line would be Baltimore's first east-west rail line, part of a comprehensive expansion of mass transit in Baltimore that has a total cost estimated at $10 billion, according to the Maryland Transit Administration.

The list was only intended to show Ehrlich's overemphasis on roads and a lack of a statewide transit plan, not to criticize any particular project, Abbruzzese said.

"[Transportation planning] needs to be more than one road in one county," he said.

In his fiscal year 2007 transportation plan, Ehrlich included $7 million for ongoing planning for the Red Line, and projected spending money on engineering and right-of-way acquisition in fiscal year 2008, with construction to start in 2010.

On his Web site, Ehrlich lists several road projects among his transportation accomplishments, but also cites planning for new transit lines in and around metropolitan Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, and laying additional tracks for light rail service in Baltimore.

In the remaining weeks before the election, Abbruzzese said, the O'Malley campaign will be releasing a comprehensive transportation plan for the state, although no details are available yet.

Reach staff writer Justin Palk at 410-751-5909 or jpalk@lcniofmd.com.

20060907 Thoughts on the Carroll County primary election

Thoughts on the Carroll County primary election on Tuesday, September 12th, 2006.
Posted by Kevin Dayhoff September 7th, 2006


The Baltimore Sun has come out with its endorsements of candidates for elected office in the Carroll County primary next Tuesday. For the complete Sun article, click here.

For my KDDC post listing all the candidates for elected office in Carroll County click here.

**For the District 4 Senate election the Baltimore Sun gives the nod to incumbent Republican Senator David Brinkley “whose district includes parts of Carroll and Frederick counties…”

The Sun notes that Senator Brinkley is a “Republican who works well with and is respected by members on both sides of the political aisle in the legislature.”

I could not agree more. I would add extraordinarily knowledgeable, wise and thoughtfulness to his accolades.

**For the District 4B Delegate race, the Sun says that incumbent Republican Del. Donald B. Elliott should get the vote. The Sun cites his positions on transportation needs and the importance of agriculture reflect his constituents' views.

Another no-brainer. “Doc” Elliott is highly approachable, pleasantly straightforward, hard-working and, his knowledge on health-care issues is renown in Annapolis.

** For the District 5 Senate, Baltimore and Carroll County, the Sun endorses “newcomer Michelle Jefferson, a former chairwoman of the local Republican Central Committee and candidate for the state senate…” The Sun suggests that “Strained relationships between local officials and the county's delegation over home rule need to be smoothed out.”

Well, the strained relationships certainly need to be ironed out, but replacing the long-serving incumbent Senator Larry Haines is NOT the answer. Hopefully as the vote next Tuesday will illustrate, many Carroll Countians have no problem with the Carroll County Delegation to Annapolis disagreeing with the Carroll County Board of Commissioners. We call it “checks and balances.”

In full disclosure, my family and I have counted Senator Haines as a friend for longer than he has been an elected official. I believe personal friendship means something. It has never interfered me with disagreeing with Senator Haines upon occasion, although no examples come quickly to mind.

I believe that as the vote will bear out; many Carroll Countians have been taken aback at the personal attacks on his profession, his church and his religion in his opponents’ overwhelming anxiety to marginalize him for disagreeing with the commissioners on issues.

The pundits, newspapers, opponents and activists have also greatly overlooked Sen. Haines’ excellent constituent service over the many years.

That is not to say I wish Ms. Jefferson to drop-out of her role in community leadership. I have a great deal of respect for her spunk. But perhaps before she eventually goes to Annapolis – or 225 North Center Street, in some capacity before her political career is over - she gets more experience before she ventures into the hallways and aisles of the Maryland General Assembly – where they eat their young and look longingly at friends for desert. At this stage in her career, Annapolis would eat Ms. Jefferson alive.

For the District 5A Delegate race, the Sun likes Republican C. Scott Stone and Del. Tanya Shewell.

I do also – however, no race in memory has given me more heartburn. My colleague as mayor, Hampstead Mayor Haven Shoemaker deserves the consideration of the voters. Quite intelligent, experienced, knowledgeable on the issues and approachable; I think that he would represent Carroll County as equally well as Mr. Stone, Del. Shewell or incumbent Del. Nancy Stocksdale.

Of all of the candidates, I have known Del. Stocksdale for much longer than she has been an elected official and she wrote the book on constituent service.

I feel very strongly that I could go to any of the four with an issue and get a fair hearing. In the long-run, that may very well be how voters make a decision in the voting booth.

All four candidates and their supporters have been very pleasant to me about the enormous quandary in which I find myself. That speaks highly of all four contenders. Of the four, I find myself agreeing with Delegates Shewell and Stocksdale much more than I agree with Mr. Stone or Mayor Shoemaker; however, all four candidates are pleasant in disagreement.

I do not necessarily look for a candidate in whom I agree with across the board, I look for knowledge base, approachability, commitment to constituent service and someone with whom I can disagree without them getting disagreeable.

I wish we could send all four to Annapolis. Take your pick.

There has been some discussion in the community that the negative tone of the election will back-fire on all challengers and voters will return all the incumbents as a result.

For more on this, see my Tentacle column of August 23rd, 2006, “Why go negative?” and my Westminster Eagle and Eldersburg Eagle columns on September 6th, 2006: Eldersburg Eagle opinion: “Just say no to reality TV mentality in Carroll County election” and for the Westminster Eagle opinion: “Just say no to reality TV mentality in Carroll County election”

In the District 9B Delegate contest to represent southern Carroll County, the Sun has endorsed incumbent Delegate Susan Krebs.

Another very difficult race for me as I very much like the positions of her challenger Larry Helminiak.

However, Delegate Krebs is quite hardworking, knowledgeable and friendly in any discussion on the issues. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with her over the years and feel that Carroll County would be well served by another four more years by Delegate Krebs.

I think that Delegate Krebs has been done a great disservice by some of her rabid supporters by their negative campaign against Mr. Helminiak – and the commissioner opponents.

How much the behavior of some of her supporters will hurt her election day is to be seen. The approach by some of her supporters is not the Delegate Krebs that I have very much enjoyed getting to know over the years.

I also like what I see and hear from Mr. Helminiak. I disagree with both candidates on several of the issues, however, my experience with both leads me to say that Carroll County would be served well in Annapolis by both contenders.

Ultimately, the nod here may go to the incumbent, in spite of the behavior of some of her supporters – but this may be one of the closer races to watch in the central Maryland area.

The Sun did not address the race for Senator from District 9; however, Senator Allen Kittleman is a rising star in Annapolis and by all means needs to be returned to office. His positions, knowledge and advocacy on agriculture, business and finance and race relations serve him and our community well.

For Board of Education, the incumbents Gary W. Bauer and Patricia W. Gadberry deserve another term, however, the idea of Dave Roush ascending to an elected leadership position will be great for Carroll County in the big picture. Take your pick.

For Judges of the Circuit Court of Carroll County: Judges J. Barry Hughes and Thomas F. Stansfield should be overwhelmingly voted into a fifteen year term. In Carroll County, we don’t take politicizing the judiciary very well. Both jurists will join a legacy of the many great judges that has come from the Carroll County legal community and history will reflect upon them well.

_________________

I’ve said it before and I’ll repeat it over and over again; a rule among classier community leaders prohibits promoting oneself by personally sniping at someone who holds a different point of view.

It is not only bad form but it makes you look like someone with the warmth and humanity of a water moccasin. It is always the source of amazement to observe folks who, in the same utterance, plead for understanding and tolerance for their views and then demonize or manufacture a personal attack on anyone who disagrees.

Often a candidate for office can more clearly define what they are against by positively articulating what they are for. Unfortunately, it would seem that many are only against things or persons and have no plan, vision or positive proposals for voters to consider.

In Carroll County the traditionally conservative Carroll County Democratic Party has disintegrated in the last 20 years. In the 1980s, some young and idealistic liberal Democrats hijacked the previously conservative Carroll County Democratic Party and swung it precipitously to the left – and off a cliff.

This has been a great disservice to Carroll County.

Formerly registered Democrats left the party in droves and joined the Republican Party. Traditional and very conservative Republicans have not adjusted well to this change and chaff at the approaches of the liberal “Rockefeller” Republicans.

(I hate to speak poorly of liberal Carroll County Democrats while they persist in a vegetative state but) since the Carroll County Democratic Party has not regained consciousness – (except in the municipalities, where liberals have quite a toehold) and shows no signs of recovering anytime soon; the tension in the Republican Party in Carroll County is palpable and will take a number of years to sort out.

It is imperative that a community have competing ideas and competition for leadership.

As it is, Carroll County must depend on competing ideas to come from the same party – the Republican Party. For many of us – we’re okay with that…

In central Maryland, many new folks have moved into the area and now that they occupy a home in a former corn field, they feel strongly that many of the folks in a leadership role and have handled issues, such as growth and development, poorly.

For someone like me that has become exhausted with the erosion of our traditional Carroll County quality of life, the NIMBYism, the increased complexity – and the growth and expense of government, as a result of poorly planned growth - - there are certainly examples that a sea-change in approach is/was necessary.

However, often many – not all - the new folks aspiring to be community leaders feel a huge sense of entitlement and are vehement about their positions and justify their unpleasantness by their sense of entitled outrage. Often these folks are insufferable.

To repeat a wonderful observation by the Washington Post some time ago – that I sure wish I had written: “The numbing repetition of uncorrected falsehoods creates a phony atmosphere of uncertainty around key questions... Eventually voters throw up their hands and accept the fact that they’ll never know for sure what the truth is, and confusion ensues.

Add to this dynamic: the unpleasantness of the challengers and in some cases, the incumbents, has turned-off many voters. Faced with the devil we know or the unpleasant challenger, many citizens are going to go in the voting booth and choose the incumbent. Whether this is a good thing or a bad thing, history will tell; besides, there will be more elections and we’ll have a plenty of opportunities to tweak or change the direction of government.

Carroll County has done quite well for almost 170 years, the next four years will work their way into the fabric of history just fine.

This is a wonderful place to live and it can only get better, because of, or in spite of government and elected officials.

Whether you agree or disagree with my thoughts, be sure to vote next Tuesday. In most races, the primary will determine our future.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.orgwww.thetentacle.comWestminster Eagle Opinion andWinchester Reportwww.thewestminstereagle.comwww.kevindayhoff.com

20060831 KDDC Farrah Fawcett Angel for the ages

Farrah Fawcett - Angel for the ages

On August 29, 2006, Sun Reporter Rob Hiaasen, wrote a piece in the Baltimore Sun that captured my eye.

I must admit that the cultural phenomena of Farrah Fawcett came after I had attended Elon College (1971-1972 no degree,) so I never had her pin-up in my dorm room. I had Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie, Alvin Lee, The Almond Brothers Band and the like in my dorm room.

I have heard that Hampstead Mayor Haven Q. Shoemaker definitely had a poster of Ms. Fawcett in his room...

Hollywood types have never really been my heroes, not that the likes of Hendrix, Bowie et al were – I was and still am today – into music more than Hollywood…

Never-the-less, I am fascinated by Mr. Hiaasen’s presentation of Ms. Fawcett as a cultural icon of the 1970s:

A young publicity photographer shows up on Mulholland Drive with his '37 Chevy truck and Nikon-F reflex camera to shoot pictures of an angel in a rusty red swimsuit. She chose a one-piece. When she smiles, 32 teeth radiate at an inviting angle. When she tilts her head, flips of hair gather on her tan shoulders - a look that would launch a hairstyle fad for a generation.

In the time after Betty Grable's World War II pinups and Marilyn Monroe, before the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue mania and Pamela Anderson, the original swimsuit poster of Farrah Fawcett ruled gym lockers, offices and bedrooms.

Could you pass a guy's college dorm room in the 1970s and not see it?

Whatever.

You can read Mr. Hiaasen’s article here.

Hollywood

####

20060820 Carroll County Primary Election Coverage

Carroll County Primary Election Coverage
Last updated August 20th, 2006

Listed below are the candidates for elected office in Carroll as of the June 27th, 2006 filing deadline.

This post will stay here at the top of the blog posts until the primary.

The primary election is Tuesday, September 12th, 2006.

Of course, since it is a primary, I will probably not endorse anyone. I have never felt that endorsing candidates in a primary to be very smart. Once the primary election is over, you have to work with these folks and since, to the best of my knowledge, all the candidates are human, folks tend to have a memory… I know that I do…

Anyone who dares to leave the comfort of the little cocoon of their life and stick their necks out to run for political office is a winner. They are all to be respected and congratulated.

As time allows, I will attempt to get something for each and every candidate up on the blog. If you are a candidate or a supporter of a particular candidate and you have information that you would like to see on the blog, please feel free to email it to me at kdayhoff@carr.org. Please include the term: KDDC in the subject line. As time allows, I will be happy to get it up on the blog.

The best way to search for information about any particular candidate is to use the search engine at the very top left of the blog. Go to the silver bar at the top of the page and look for an entry field to the left of “search this blog.” It is an excellent search engine. Type in the last name of a particular candidate and hit enter.

The last day to register to vote in the Tuesday, September 12th, 2006primary is Tuesday, August 22, 2006

The last day to register for the November 7th, 2006 general election is October 17th, 2006

You may download a registration application form here. The phone number for the Carroll County Board of Elections is: (410) 386-2080. The web site for the Carroll County Board of Elections is here. If you have not had the opportunity to work with the folks at the Carroll County Board of Elections, you will pleasantly surprised how friendly, knowledgeable and helpful they are. They are definitely in the customer service business. (Disclosure: I was an election judge for 10 years in the 1990s…)

If you see any mistakes on this page, please email me at kdayhoff@carr.org and let me know. Please include the term: KDDC in the subject line.

State Senator, District 04
Paul Chamberlain (R)
(I) David R. Brinkley (R)

State Senator, District 05
(I) Larry E. Haines (R)
Michelle Jefferson (R)

State Senator, District 09
Rich Corkran (D)
(I) Allen H. Kittleman (R)

House Of Delegates District 04b
(I) Donald B. Elliott (R)
Bob Lubitz (R)
Timothy Schlauch (D)

House Of Delegates District/Circuit 05a
William C. Niner (R)
David D. Wallace II (R)
(I) Tanya Shewell (R)
Haven N. Shoemaker Jr. (R)
(I) Nancy R. Stocksdale (R)
Scott C. Stone (R)
Kevin R. Utz (R)

House Of Delegates District/Circuit 09b
Larry Helminiak (R)
(I) Susan Krebs (R)
Anita Lombardi Riley (D)

Judge Of The Circuit Court District/Circuit 05 (Choose two)
(Non-Partisan)
(I) Barry J. Hughes
(I) Thomas Stansfield
Kevin D. Wise

Carroll County Commissioners (Choose three)
Douglas Eugene Myers (R)
(I) Perry L. Jones Jr. (R)
Wade Emory Miracle (R)
Dave Greenwalt (R)
(I) Dean L. Minnich (R)
(I) Julia Walsh Gouge (R)
Christopher Eric Bouchat (R)
Doug Howard (R)
Michael D. Zimmer (R)
Mary Kowalski (R)
Dennis E. Beard (D)
Vincent F. DiPietro (D)
Richard F. Solomon (D)

Clerk Of The Court (Choose one)
Sarah E. Hackett (R)
Donald Sealing II (R)
Diane O'Leary (R)
Pamela L. Masimore-Grimes (R)
Florence J. Barnes (R)
Marlene K. Titus (R)
Nimrod Davis (D)

Judge Of The Orphans Court (Choose three)
(I) Dorothy V Utz (R)
(I) Herbert J. Reisig (R)
(I) John D. Carbaugh (R)
Richard Thomas Yates (R)

State’s Attorney - Unopposed
(I) Jerry F. Barnes (R)

Sheriff - unopposed
(I) Ken Tregoning (R)

Board Of Education
(Non-Partisan)
George E. Maloney
(I) Gary Bauer
(I) Patricia W. Gadberry
Dan Dekowski
Dave Roush
Ernest F. Sharff
Eric M. Weber
Barbara Shreeve

Register Of Wills
(I) Paul G. Zimmermann (R)
V. Valerie Shultz (D)

####

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.
E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org
www.thetentacle.com
Westminster Eagle Opinion and
Winchester Report
www.thewestminstereagle.com
www.kevindayhoff.com

20050907 If technology Available Why Not WiFi?

If technology available, why not Wi-Fi?

http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?pnpid=978&show=archivedetails&ArchiveID=1132527&om=1

Westminster Eagle

09/07/05 By Kevin E. Dayhoff

I've been fascinated with public Wi-Fi and all the possibilities it can provide Carroll County.

On Aug. 15, Silver Spring, in Montgomery County, announced that it now has public Wi-Fi - this put my random access memory into overdrive.

Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity) is a wireless high-frequency local area network that provides Internet access.

In June 2004, Newsweek previewed a sampling of 10 places in the world that are currently utilizing Wi-Fi. What caught my attention was the example of Hermiston, Ore., where the service covers 600-square-miles for a population of 13,200.

Can you imagine what it would be like to be anywhere in Carroll County and be able to go online for directions, restaurant menus or just to have access to information about all the exciting shops and businesses in the area?

Or download the latest corrections to your PowerPoint presentation from Bangalore, India, just before a meeting - just by powering up your laptop, Web browser enhanced cell phone, PDA or even a hand-held game device?

With the talent we have in Carroll, I would say that if it can be done in Hermiston, Oregon or Montgomery County, we could do it too.

Montgomery County is in the middle of an aggressive Wi-Fi initiative. The county is starting with the higher population areas first and then steadily expanding the coverage. The same approach would work in Carroll.

Alisoun Moore, Montgomery County Department of Technology Services Chief Information Officer, said that in Silver Spring, 10 unobtrusive antennae located on traffic signals, light poles and buildings provide the Wi-Fi service. This serves all downtown Silver Spring, (which is larger than the Main Street area of Westminster from Washington Road to McDaniel College).

Remember years ago when Silver Spring was a nondescript stretch of bypassed suburbia? Not so anymore. Go visit www.silversprung.com/home.html and see for yourself.

An Aug. 15, a Montgomery County press release stated, "The redeveloped Downtown Silver Spring, known as a hotspot for entertainment, dining and shopping, now is also a hotspot for wireless internet accessÉ

"The Community Wi-Fi initiative is designed to É (provide) no-cost community Internet access where it currently does not exist - in our open-air public places. É This endeavor demonstrates Montgomery County's commitment to the substantial benefits that broadband information access bringsÉ"

When I asked Moore how Montgomery County did it, the first words out of her mouth were music to my ears: "It's a private-public partnership. The county has very little money in it."

Atlantech Online provides the technical component in return for a $1,700 per year fee from the county. Atlantech is a local Internet Service Provider and for them it's a marketing piece.

Moore noted that, "Montgomery County did not want to get anyway near É competing with the private sector." This service is for public areas only.

Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan said in a release, "The successful revitalization of downtown Silver Spring is a national model for urban redevelopment. After years of delays, I am proud that we were able to break the gridlock and get this project moving.

The area is now an arts and entertainment destination in the Washington, D.C. region, and our Wi-Fi agreement ensures that Silver Spring will remain on the cutting edge."

The consensus of an informal survey conducted locally was, yeah, there are questions to be answered; but let's roll up our sleeves and do it.

Wi-Fi presents unlimited opportunities for Carroll County.

Since the initiative would need to start in Carroll's municipalities, I contacted the Carroll County Maryland Municipal League Chapter President, Hampstead Mayor Haven Shoemaker.

Haven put it best: "I have many questions, but I'm willing to investigate any cost-effective private-public technology initiative that will stimulate economic development and quality of life for our citizens."

Taneytown Mayor Pro Tem Darryl Hale agreed, and Mount Airy Council President John Medve added that, "anything which enhances communication and access to government is a good thing."

I couldn't agree more.

Opportunities multiply once they are seized. The future is here, and Wi-Fi is a great opportunity for Carroll County.

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

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