20051207 Carroll Public Schools’ Extracurricular Activities teaches values

Carroll Public Schools’ Extracurricular Activities teaches values

December 7, 2005 by Kevin Dayhoff (680 words)

(Related – see: Sports in Carroll County Football Westminster High School, 20021019 Freestate Spectacular XVI Marching Band Competition)

Originally published in the Westminster Eagle

While researching last week’s column on the 1951 football game between City College and the Westminster High School Owls, I leafed through the 1951 and 1952 Owl yearbooks, graciously loaned to me by Dr. Dean Griffin. Each page rejoiced in wonderful extra-curricular school activities, a great community, wonderful teachers, school administrators and students who later assumed community leadership.

The same feelings occurred looking at my Westminster High School (WHS) yearbooks from 1969 to 1971, twenty years after 1951. Attending the game last Friday night brought back a flood of great memories of growing up in Carroll County in the 1950s and 60s. The more things change, the more they stay the same, only updated.

Last week was a great week for our community. The South Carroll Cavaliers and Westminster Owls advanced to the state football championships and the Westminster Christmas parade came back. These are all positive things that bring a community together – just as years ago.

School extra-curricular activities build citizens, leaders and community. These activities teach positive consequences for hard work and discipline, the value of teamwork and the pride and confidence that come with accomplishment or just knowing that you did your best.

My nieces play in a high school band. It is inspiring to go to band competition events and see hundreds of young adults proudly displaying the results of hours of practice, teamwork and discipline in finely choreographed routines.

In a recent long conversation, Superintendent of Carroll County Public Schools, Dr. Chuck Ecker agreed. He went on further to say that when he was growing up “near Uniontown… I came home [from school] and … had many other chores. Often today’s children don’t have many home responsibilities… [Extra-curricular activities] teach meaningful teamwork relationships with others. Today we have too many rights and not enough responsibilities. With school activities, students learn to have a responsibility for what is best for the team… And the consequences for not fulfilling those responsibilities come from their peers and not an authority figure. It’s more that just sports...” Dr. Ecker continued excitedly, mentioning school bands, music programs and theatre…

Caroline and I stopped at Harry’s after the Westminster Christmas Parade last Saturday for my routine “two with everything.” Two Harry’s hot dogs have been a “Dayhoff Nutritional Pyramid” staple since the 1960s.

As Kim Henn took our take-out order for dinner, she noticed our “Go Owls” buttons and shared her excitement about the football game against City. Ms. Henn, WHS Class of 2007, works at Harry’s, runs on the track team and maintains good grades. She explained that extra-curricular activities “have taught me time management skills… I realize the value of my time…” Ms. Henn is looking forward to a career in broadcast journalism. What she is learning by staying active will serve her well in her future professional life.

In my interviews with Dr. John Steers, Sr. and Dr. Griffin; the same words were repeated as to the values that extra-curricular activities taught them: inspiration, work ethic, overcoming difficulty, focus, tenacity and the adrenaline rush of hard work.

Dr. Griffin took the opportunity to reminisce about the careers of the 1951 Owl football team. Raymond Bankert went on to work many years at Westminster Bank and Trust Company. Allen Baugher continued the family restaurant business. Donald Copenhaver worked for Baltimore Gas and Electric in their Westminster office. Charles Barrick ran “Nubbins” on Washington Road. Charles Havens became a successful D.C. attorney and worked with the likes of Dean Rusk. Urban Bowman coached in the Canadian Football League. Dean Leppo worked with the county Sheriff’s Department.

All got their start in Carroll County Public Schools and learned to excel by participating in extra curricular activates.

Local attorney, classmate and teammate Bill Finch (WHS Class of 1972), says “extra curricular activities keep teenaged boys and girls occupied and tired… and this a good thing…” He mentioned sports and high school band. He cited that “various studies indicate that children involved in extra curricular activities have better academic performance.”

The grades are critical, but winning’s not bad either. Go Owls and Cavaliers.

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

20051207 Carroll Public Schools’ Extracurricular Activities teaches values

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20051201 I am a Republican because

I am a Republican because:

· I believe the strength of our nation lies with the individual and that each person’s dignity, freedom, ability and responsibility must be honored.

· I believe government must practice fiscal responsibility and allow individuals to keep more of the money they earn.

· I believe the proper role of government is to provide only those critical functions that cannot be performed by individuals or private organizations and that the best government is that which governs least.

· Finally, I believe the Republican Party is the best vehicle for translating these ideals into positive and successful principles of government.

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20051200 20061005 Kevin Dayhoff Brief Bio w Dates

Kevin E. Dayhoff

October 5th, 2006

Kevin, age 53, is a Westminster native who lives on Uniontown Road with his wife, Caroline Babylon. He has been a self-employed businessperson and artist; a free-lance journalist and columnist since 1974. He has been exhibiting art since 1981.

He has written a weekly political and history column for The Tentacle, an on-line columnist collective, since June 9, 2005. Since June 2, 2005, he has written a weekly community events and history column for the Westminster Eagle, a weekly newspaper publication of Patuxent Publishing Company, a subsidiary of Tribune. He has written an on-line column, the Winchester Report for the Westminster Eagle, since December 2005.

He has also authored an arts, history, community events and political blog, “Kevin Dayhoff” (formerly www.kevindayhoff.com) since December 2005. The blog was moved October 1, 2006 to blogspot’s platform: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/.

On January 6^th, 2006, thanks to the Westminster Eagle and Patuxent Publishing Co, I may very well be the first blogger to be credentialed in Annapolis. I should mention that Patuxent Publishing Company is owned by Tribune, which also owns the Baltimore Sun.

Since June 30, 2006, he has been a member of the Maryland Bloggers’ Alliance, a consortium of Maryland political bloggers. [Pillage Idiot (Rockville); Soccer Dad (Baltimore); Maryland Conservatarian (Baltimore); The Baltimore Reporter (Baltimore); The Sun Lies (Baltimore Area); The Not So Free State (Woodlawn); monoblogue (Salisbury); Crablaw (Reisterstown); Kevin Dayhoff (Westminster); Free State Politics (Baltimore)]

From June 30, 2004 through October 21, 2005, he wrote a weekly column on Westminster and Carroll County community affairs and history for the Westminster Advocate, weekly newspaper published by the Carroll County Times, a Landmark Community Newspapers publication.

He is retired from being self-employed as a landscape designer, horticulturist and nursery stock farmer for 25 years (1974-1999). He was an elected official in the City of Westminster serving as a Common Council member and Mayor (1999-2005).

Kevin was appointed by Governor Ehrlich on September 7th, 2004, to the “Bay Restoration Fund Advisory Committee” (09/07/2004 – 06/30/2005) and was additionally assigned to the “Best Available Technologies” Workgroup and the OSDS Subcommittee.

The Carroll County Board of Commissioners (CCBOC) also appointed him to the Carroll County Environmental Advisory Council on September 23rd, 2004 (09/23/2004 – 07/05/2006). He served as Chair until December 14, 2005.

He was appointed to the Carroll County Right To Farm Agriculture Reconciliation Committee by the CCBOC on July 22nd, 2003 and elected Chair of the Committee on November 29th, 2004 (07/22/2003 – 05/16/2005).

On November 23rd, 2004, the CCBOC appointed Kevin to the Route 140 Blue Ribbon Panel – Westminster Bypass. (11/23/2004 – 06/16/2005)

He was first elected to the Westminster City Council in May of 1999 and served as the Mayor of Westminster from May 2001 until May 16th, 2005.

Kevin served on the Maryland Municipal League’s Legislative Committee in 1999-2000 and 2001-2002. He served as Secretary/Treasurer of the Carroll County Chapter of the Maryland Municipal League for five years (12/07/1999 – 05/16/2005).

Kevin served on the Maryland Municipal League Board of Directors annually for five consecutive years, from June 2000 to May 2005. He graduated from the University of Maryland Academy for Excellence in Local Government in June 2001.

Kevin attended Carroll County Public Schools from 1959 through graduation from Westminster Senior High School in 1971. He served in the United States Marine Corp Reserve (1971-1973). He has also taken classes at Elon College, NC 1971-1973, Towson University in 1980, and McDaniel College 1999-2001 without receiving a degree.

Kevin has taught design and horticulture classes for various institutions from 1979 through 1993, including C.E.T.A., Federated Garden Clubs, the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension Service and as an Adjunct Faculty Member: Carroll Community College (Branch of Catonsville Community College) (1988 to 1991).

He was a guest horticultural expert for Stu Kerr's radio talk show, "The Garden Club", on WCBM several times in 1989 and 1990.

He has served on a number of state and county advisory boards including; the Carroll County Landscape Manual Committee (1987 – 1989), the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forestry Board (1988 – 1991), University of Maryland Cooperative Extension Service Agriculture Advisory Committees (1980-1989) and the Carroll County Environmental Affairs Advisory Board (1994 – 1999). In 1997 he was asked by the CCBOC to participate in the Carroll County Department of Public Works’ development of Carroll County’s Ten-Year Solid Waste Management Plan.

Kevin served as an election judge for the Carroll County Board of Election Supervisors (1990-2000). He was a member of the Maryland Nurserymen's Association (1976 – 1989). He is a member of Grace Lutheran Church (10/25/1998), the Westminster Fire Department (01/05/2001), the Carroll County Chapter of the NAACP (01/2001), a volunteer with the 4-H Therapeutic Riding Program of Carroll County (1995), Carroll County Red Cross Disaster Action Team (11/2001) and serves on the Board of Junction (a community drug rehabilitation outreach facility) (10/05/2000), the Westminster Town Center Corporation (06/12/2001 – 05/16/2005), Historical Society of Carroll County (11/08/2001 – 11/13/2003) and the Westminster Cemetery Board (01/2000 – 05/16/2005). He is an Honorary Board Member of the Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation (05/2004).

Please feel free to email him at kdayhoff AT carr.org or kevindayhoff AT gmail.com

His USPS address is: P. O. Box 1245, Westminster, MD 21158-1245

Dayhoff Brief Bio:

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His USPS address is: P. O. Box 1245, Westminster, MD 21158-1245

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Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA. E-mail him at: kdayhoff AT carr.org http://www.thetentacle.com/ Westminster Eagle Opinion and Winchester Report http://www.thewestminstereagle.com/ www.kevindayhoff.com has moved to http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/