This week in The Tentacle

This week in The Tentacle

Thursday, March 12, 2009
Waking Up The Populace
Joan McIntyre
Are we about to see cracks in the glass ceiling in the world of our Frederick County Board of Education and Frederick County Public Schools? Will the Sacred Cow called the public schools system be held accountable?


REVIEW – Riverdance" Has It All!
Roy Meachum
While being amazed in Baltimore's Hippodrome Theatre Tuesday night, the thought occurred: In my 40-plus years reviewing I've never seen a smoother musical show. Put simply: "Riverdance" has it all!


True Measure of Success
Chris Cavey
Our society has many ways to gauge the success or failure of those involved in the political world. One unique measurement of judging those who have mounted the national platform of “being someone of note” is to be a host or to be lampooned on Saturday Night Live. Last Saturday Michael Steele made it.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009
The Dangerous Diplomacy of Pandering
Kevin E. Dayhoff
I recently had the delightful opportunity to go to Washington and have lunch with a member of the Estonian Parliament, Tõnis Kõiv.


The Weavers and the Money
Tom McLaughlin
Lombok, Indonesia – We had finished our visit with the stump tailed Macaques and the use of my teaching techniques on the troop. Our next stop, a small enterprise, located only through a side road, winding through a housing estate filled with homes (we would call them shacks) constructed of wood.


Bobby Fischer: Genius or Madman?
Michael Kurtianyk
It has often been said that there’s a fine line between genius and madness. Think of some people whom you consider to be geniuses? Does Albert Einstein come to mind? Thomas Jefferson? Benjamin Franklin?

Tuesday, March 10, 2009
GOP Spitting Contest
Roy Meachum
As a non-Republican, I find amusing the recent rhubarb within the GOP party over Michael Steele.


Misinformation and Playing Politics
Farrell Keough
Some interesting events have occurred over the last few weeks that are seemingly disparate, but in fact, have many commonalities. The main connection is the discussion of the Waste To Energy (WTE) plant.

Monday, March 9, 2009
Twitter Me This!
Steven R. Berryman
In an age when the president is only now just picking up on the notion that his public statements and the stock exchange fluctuations are related and important, why is he inviting a business-celebrity from the social networking website, http://www.twitter.com/ to the White House for cocktails?

Friday, March 6, 2009
Bob McCardell – R.I.P.
John W. Ashbury
The old saying about looking in the dictionary for a definition of a word and finding a picture of someone instead certainly applies in the case of Robert Clingan McCardell, who died January 26 at 95.


"My Littlest Fascist"
Roy Meachum
Early on I addressed him as "my littlest fascist." Alex Mooney asked me once why I said that. My reply: "Because that's what you are."


Class Traders
Joe Charlebois
Those whose trade is to pit one income bracket against another to empower themselves in no way serve our nation. These class warfare instigators are akin to a head coach intentionally creating animosity between two of his own players. It doesn't make the team effective; they'll root for each other to fail; they'll never be championship contenders.

Thursday, March 5, 2009
Time to Kill the Death Penalty
Tony Soltero
In our world there are civilized societies and uncivilized societies. Civilized societies tend to be free and democratic, philosophically based on reason and not superstition, and have a healthy respect for individuals' rights to follow their own consciences.


Winter’s Release
Patricia A. Kelly
Our first snow finally arrived and departed, just in time for spring. I’d been waiting for a real snow, accompanied by cold weather that lasted a few days.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009
The Great Man Theory of History
Kevin E. Dayhoff
Even before his election to the office of the president last November, many in the liberal chattering class were already using hype and hyperbole that then-Senator Barack Obama was destined to be one of our country’s greatest presidents.


Reflecting a Struggling Economy
Michael Kurtianyk
When I first heard the news that The Frederick News-Post was suspending its Monday edition, my first thought was: “Uh oh, it’s the beginning of the end. The FNP will go the way of other newspapers around the country.”


The Adventure Continues
Tom McLaughlin
Sengigi, Lomock Island, Indonesia – Our trip to Lombok was an example where the Internet, advance planning and advice from fellow trekkers exploded into a rusty hulk. Air Asia from Kuching to Singapore and Bali and then by ferry to Lombok, sounds simple.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Weekend Political Wash
Roy Meachum
Only The Frederick News-Post's announcement that it was "suspending" its Monday edition competed; over the weekend there was intense talk about the probability that ex-mayor Jennifer Dougherty will run for her former office again. Everyone acknowledges she could be a tough foe.


Common Sense Solution; Rejection Likely
Nick Diaz
Just as I enjoy riding my Yamaha Venture touring motorcycle on invisible roads in our four-state area, I also like driving a car for pleasure on these same pathways. Three years ago, for example, I persuaded my wife, (who insists on more comfort than even my two-wheel Venture barcalounger can provide), to take the scenic route home from Asheville, NC.

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

20060301 Westminster, Estonia and the Singing Revolution

Winchester Report: Westminster and the Singing Revolution

Kevin Dayhoff March 1, 2006 11 AM

Current whispers that Westminster will soon declare its independence and form an independent city-state are not true, although it can be admitted that many of the signs are in place.

After all, at approximately 6 square miles in size, Westminster is larger than the Vatican City, which declared its independence on February 11th, 1929 and is .2 square miles large. Actually, McDaniel College is larger than the Vatican City. By the way, the next larger country, San Marino is 23.5 square miles large.

Perhaps the beginnings of this whisper campaign perhaps began in 2002, when Westminster did sign a Declaration of Understanding and a Declaration of Friendship with Paide, Estonia.

Although they are not “treaties” with a foreign nation, we have exchanged a trade delegation, and had several cultural, academic and diplomatic exchanges. Moreover, we have continued fermenting an artistic, cultural and singing revolution.

In the past, Westminster has had several informal sister city relationships with Westminster, England, and Westminster, Colorado.

Creating a relationship with Paide grew from a program called Partners for Peace, a military program that started in 1991 to help Estonia to become stable, train management and improve communication between civilians and military personnel.

The program, headed by the Army National Guard, developed into a partner-city program in 1993.

The first presentation of the idea of Westminster developing a sister city relationship came at a meeting of the Mayor and Common Council on November 27th, 2000. The presentation was given by Col. Grant Hayden of the Maryland Army National Guard and James D. Ball, Carroll Community College vice president of instruction and student development.

Westminster’s Director of Planning and Public Works, Tom Beyard, then a Master Sergeant with the Maryland National Guard, was in Estonia during the summer of 2000, as part of his guard duty.
Over the past decade, the program has moved from strictly military-to-military events to predominantly civilian-to-civilian exchanges. The current focus of the program includes education, health, government, economic development, culture and philanthropy.

The partner city program pairs similar Maryland and Estonian municipalities to engage in mutual programs and activities. The Westminster Paide program is the most active and successful to date.

The Guard’s partner city program now includes several Maryland municipalities, as well as 14 other states. In addition to Westminster and Paide, the other nine partner city communities include Annapolis and Tallinn, Salisbury and Tartu, Oakland and Valga, Frostburg and Viljandi, Cumberland and Tapa, Harve de Grace and Sillamae, Grantsville and Torva, McHenry and Otepaa and Ocean City and Parnu. La Plata and Jogeva are candidates for 2004. These municipalities are engaging in a variety of activities to further good relations.

Paide, Estonia and Westminster, MD have many things in common. Paide got its name from the limestone, used when the town was constructed. This is a similarity shared with Westminster, which also has ties to limestone with a limestone quarry located just outside the city.

Other similarities between the two municipalities include tree-lined streets and a prominent Lutheran church in the downtown area. Paide is a little older that Westminster, by about 450 years. It became a municipality on September 30th, 1265.

Paide’s population is approximately 10,000 compared to Westminster’s population of 17,000. We are both located in a piedmont area.
Additionally, many are not aware that there are over 1,000 Estonians living in Maryland.

In order to support the Westminster – Paide partnership program initiatives in Westminster, a fund was created at the Carroll Community Foundation in October 2002, in an effort for our program to be self-sufficient and not utilize taxpayer dollars for the efforts, making it truly a grass-roots, community initiative.

We have an active advisory committee of approximately 25 members who provide guidance to our work. Our local businesses are involved and engaged in this process and see the benefits of participation.

Our partner city relationship brings favorable attention to Westminster. The visit of international guests provides great opportunities to highlight and showcase our city.
Exchange opportunities including municipal and student exchanges offer the potential for meaningful learning and professional development for municipal officials and staff. Cultural exchanges offer Westminster performers venues in Estonia to sing and dance and the same for Estonian performers who come here.

As part of our efforts to have cultural exchanges, the Partnership has had several highly successful fund raising events, for example, the visit from the Estonian Television Girls Choir performance on Feb. 8, 2003 and the January 22, 2004 concert featuring an Estonian singing group, “Rondellus,” both at Winters Mill High School.

Other successful partnership for peace efforts have included a July 2003 Community Foundation workshop in Paide and coordinated performances by Audrey Cimino and Eric Byrd Trio in the Paide Shanty Festival and Haapsalu Sea Music Festival.

Another exciting success was the visit, from July 10th through the 21st, 2004, by "Voce Viaggio" (Italian for "Traveling Voices") to Estonia, Finland and Sweden.

Voce Viaggio is a traveling troupe of singers from the Carroll County Children’s Chorus, led by executive director Diane Jones. During their tour, the chorus sang American-themed songs at several venues. The songs gave European audiences a better feel for America, as many elements of American history were incorporated in the music, according to Director Jones.

Roughly one-third of the European trip was paid for through fund raising, with the children's parents are paying for the rest. Not only did the 24-member peace delegation from Westminster, and their support staff (read: parents) build relationships and spread goodwill, but the trip also helped the chorus members learn about three distinct cultures.

The children took educational tours while on the trip and had many opportunities to experience different aspects of the countries they visit.
Thanks to our history and tradition of private public partnerships, our Paide Sister City Partnership program is a great success and enables Westminster to give as much it receives.

Many more exciting cultural, educational, economic development and artistic exchanges are planned for the future.

I guess as long as we can continue to do our small part for world peace and prosperity, perhaps, we can postpone declaring our independence and forming our own city-state.

Although, I can only imagine independence would come easily and bloodlessly for Westminster if Tom Beyard, Lyndi McNulty, Lori Graham, Diane Jones, Audrey Cimino and I held hands in front of the Carroll County Office Building and started singing Kum Ba Ya or "All we are saying, is give peace a chance," by the Beatles.

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