20020414 Police object to pension proposal

Police object to pension proposal

April 14th, 2002

http://www.sunspot.net/news/local/carroll/bal-ca.pension14apr14.story?coll=bal%2Dlocal%2Dcarroll

Police object to pension proposal - Council members say $115,000-a-year package is all city can afford; 'This is not acceptable'

By Athima Chansanchai, Sun Staff, April 14, 2002

A supplemental retirement plan for Westminster's Police Department unveiled at last week's Common Council meeting was supposed to satisfy dual goals of attracting and keeping city officers, but they don't like it. "This is not what they promised. This is not acceptable," said Daniel W. Besseck, International Union of Police Associations representative, who attended Thursday night's emergency meeting of the Westminster Police Association. Eight of 38 association members were in attendance.

Besseck was referring to the plan proposed by Westminster Councilman Roy L. Chiavacci, who serves as chairman of the council's Public Safety Committee. The plan would require the city to deposit the equivalent of 5 percent to 9 percent of an officer's annual salary - depending on years of service - into an account similar to a savings plan. It would cost the city $115,000 a year.

"The council's job is to make sure their employees are taken care of. It should be their primary responsibility. This is a slap in the face," Besseck said.

Members of the Common Council said the plan was a good one and all the city could afford as it faces a $2.3 million deficit.

Besseck's group has been working with Westminster police Local 84 for the last two years to revamp the department's current retirement plan, a state pension system that returns 32 percent to 42 percent of the average of three consecutive years of an officer's highest salaries, after 30 years.

Officers at the meeting said that amount isn't enough to live on, especially if they have a family. One officer said he would receive only $1,026 a month in benefits if he were begin drawing from it when he retires in 2023.

Most officers said they would prefer the city use the Law Enforcement Officers' Pension System, or LEOPS, which returns 50 percent of an officer's salary after 25 years of service. According to the city's studies, this would cost $364,000 a year, or $17 million over 25 years.

"Though we're on a smaller scale than Baltimore City, the overall stress level doesn't change. You still put your life on the line every day," Besseck said.

"What's important here is that we work with the police officers and take into consideration their thoughts and feelings and be responsive to their needs," Mayor Kevin E. Dayhoff said. "I truly believe the council worked on this with a sense of caring, depth and integrity.

"I understand clearly that the budget will not allow the city to go in the direction of LEOPS this year, but I would rather that we wait and do LEOPS when it's financially feasible than go to a pension enhancement plan."

Council President Damian L. Halstad said there was an involved series of discussions concerning the retirement options, and of them all, the plan proposed by Chiavacci was the most viable.

"LEOPS is not fiscally possible or prudent," said Halstad. "We're talking about this in a vacuum. We have to remember that there is a $2.3 million shortfall we have to trim from the budget, but the city is still willing to find money to implement this plan. ...

"Some people even view the whole plan as much too generous a windfall for the Police Department. The council showed great commitment to the force by moving this forward."

Police Chief Roger G. Joneckis said he would not comment on the program until he learned more about it.

He mentioned steps the city has taken to improve the department's situation, including pay raises and increased hiring to bring staffing to the full complement of 43 officers.

The union has been pushing for better retirement benefits to keep senior officers from pursuing jobs in other departments.

"They continue to train new people. You can fill bodies but not experience," Besseck said. "Maturity is everything in this job."

Chiavacci hopes officers change their views when they're given an opportunity for personal projections of their supplemental benefits on April 24.

"We tried to craft a plan that was both desirable and affordable, and quite frankly, it's generous," Chiavacci said.

He said he's disappointed by the negative reaction of some officers, but that he wants to hear what they have to say.

"If they did that, they can help us make it better than what it is. I welcome that input," he said.

Copyright © 2002, The Baltimore Sun

Maryland State Police,

20020412 President Bill Clinton and the International Criminal Court by Oliver North

President Bill Clinton and the International Criminal Court by Oliver North

Global injustice By Oliver North Friday, April 12, 2002

DULLES, Va. -- On Dec. 3, 1969, Bill Clinton wrote to Col. Eugene Holmes, director of the University of Arkansas ROTC program. In that infamous letter, Clinton stated that he "loathed" the military.

On Dec. 31, 2000, 31 years later -- almost to the day -- Bill Clinton, as commander in chief, proved how much he still loathes America's military by subjecting them to the "justice" of a rogue international court.

On New Year's Eve, just days before boarding Air Force One for the last time with a load of stolen ashtrays and White House towels, Bill Clinton signed the Rome Statute for the International Criminal Court (ICC), another unaccountable United Nations bureaucracy that became reality this week.

The ICC claims jurisdiction over cases of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and "the crime of aggression," which the U.N. has never defined.

Although a permanent international court has been the globalists' dream since the end of World War II, it wasn't until widespread violence broke out in places like the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda in the 1990s that Kofi Annan and his cohorts went to work.

In July 1998, the U.N. convened the "United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court" in Rome to form a permanent international tribunal to try individuals for "the most serious offenses of global concern."

Once in motion, their court would claim jurisdiction over every person in the world and grant the ICC prosecutor extraordinary powers and ICC officials lifetime immunity.

Read the rest here: Global injustice By Oliver North Friday, April 12, 2002

20020408 “Skate parks fill the void” Boris E. Hartl, Carroll County Times Staff Writer

20020408 “Skate parks fill the void” Boris E. Hartl, Carroll County Times Staff Writer

Skate parks fill the void

By Boris E. Hartl, Times Staff Writer
April 08, 2002

Ronald J. Schroers knows the Westminster Skate Park has filled a recreational need in the city since it opened in May 1999.

The city's administrator of recreation and parks also knows, however, that operating a skate park isn't a sure moneymaker.

"I didn't build the skate park to make money," he said. "It was to provide a needed service to the kids."

That's the same attitude shared by Manchester leaders who continue to operate their skate park, but they have yet to recoup their costs.

Manchester officials said their $35,000 skate park, which opened in June 2001, will make money in the future. Finance Director Kelly Baldwin said the town has made about $2,000 from June 20 to Dec. 1. The costs have been kept to a minimum because no full-time staff members have been hired in connection with the park, Councilwoman Mary Minderlein said.

The council could decide in the future whether to hire personnel for the park, she said.

Schroers said a bulk of his operating expenses came from salaries for employees, insurance and maintenance. Last year, Westminster operated the park for $19,000 and generated $13,600.

He said the revenue figures have increased yearly, however. The city did add $19,000 worth of new equipment ranging from a street spine to a kicker ramp in 2000. "I set it up to break even to cover my expenses," Schroers said. "Right now, I'm bare-bonesing it as much as I can."

Westminster Councilman Gregory Pecoraro said the skate park is just one component of the city's recreation program, and officials realize that some programs make more money than others do.

"The point is we are doing a number of things to provide the recreational opportunities that the people of Westminster want. We are providing an opportunity for young people to use skate parks in a place that is safe."

In Mount Airy, town officials have used the revenues generated from the park to make improvements when needed.

"There's no hesitation because the park is making money," Councilman David Pyatt said.

The town used some of the $100,000 officials collected from developers and a $32,000 county award to build the park with 10 ramps and other equipment in 1999.

The town has sold 52 nonresident passes and 13 resident passes which help to contribute to a $3,680 earning so far in 2002, according to Town Hall numbers.

From July 1 to Feb. 28, the town received $19,700 in revenue compared to $6,907 in expenses, but the figure doesn't included wages for the park attendants, since the money is taken from the town's Parks and Recreation budget. In Fiscal Year 2000-2001, the town made $35,574 with $7,852 in expenses.

Councilwoman Laurie V. Hager said it was her opinion that the park is doing well financially because, in part, the town had a large base of people to draw from including those in Frederick County.

"There seems to be a lot of interest in skating and this, in of itself, is a reason for a park," she said.

Carroll County skaters could gain another skating option as Sykesville leaders are looking to build a facility soon.

Between 15 and 20 municipalities in Maryland operate skate parks, said James Peck, director of research for the Maryland Municipal League.

Reach staff writer Boris E. Hartl at 410-751-5902 or bhartl@lcniofmd.com.
©Carroll County Online 2002

20020225 Senate vote on Shays/Meehan is expected THIS WEEK

The Senate vote on Shays/Meehan is expected some time THIS WEEK!

Analysis by Former Minority Leader – Maryland House of Delegates, Ellen Sauerbrey:

February 25^th, 2002

This Senate vote is our last chance to stop Shays-Meehan --and that vote could take place this week!

Please take a moment to read the article below and then call any or all of the Senators listed below, who supported McCain-Feingold. Ask them to support Senator Mitch McConnell in his effort to force this bill into a Conference Committee where it can be amended to at least be Constitutional!

RUSH LIMBAUGH is calling this bill the "Campaign Finance Reform Scandal." And he's right! It protects incumbents, empowers the mainstream media, and strips ordinary citizens of free speech rights.

This bill transfers power to special interests and 3^rd party groups and away from individuals.

Shays-Meehan limits the right of federal officeholders to solicit money for political parties and other groups, but specifically allows lawmakers to continue to solicit funds for "non-partisan" entities such as the NAACP.

Furthermore, it’s unfair because it does nothing to prevent third party organizations (i.e. Unions) from continuing with their massive voter registration and GOTV programs. The Republican Party doesn’t have the Unions to turn to in order to accomplish our GOTV goals.

Under this bill a group of Maryland citizens would be banned from running an issue ad on the radio after August 11 (when no one is paying attention to politics) if they are unhappy because a candidate for Congress wants to put a casino in their neighborhood, confiscate their property, or trample on other Constitutional rights.

Read why in the article that follows:

DISMANTLING THE CONSTITUTION IN THE NAME OF REFORM

By Ellen Sauerbrey

The passage of Shays-Meehan should alarm every freedom loving American. Those who think the Constitution really means it when it says, "Congress shall make no law.... abridging the freedom of speech", are stunned that Congress is in the process of doing just that. Columnist George Will called this issue "the most pivotal moment in the history of American freedom" over the past 35 years.

Members of Congress would actually make it a federal crime for a group of citizens to broadcast ads that discuss the record of a candidate for federal office within 30 days of a primary or within 60 days of a general election. Incumbents are more likely than challengers to have a voting record that ordinary citizens might like to criticize so no wonder many call this measure an "incumbent protection act".

Congressional supporters dismiss concerns about this trampling on the Constitution as a trivial detail; one that is necessary to keep them from being corrupted. But, in fact, it will deprive citizens of free speech and voters of the variety of opinions that are necessary to help them decide how to vote.

Let’s see how this gag rule would work. Let's pretend that a candidate for Congress had supported legislation that allowed government to grab people's property and put it to use for other purposes in the name of the "public good". Suppose that a group of the homeowners, whose properties were in danger of being confiscated, were outraged and decided to band together and run an ad. Perhaps that ad would point out that the candidate had shown little respect for their private property rights. Maybe that knowledge would be of importance and interest to other voters as they decide how to cast their ballot.

But when our group of citizens prepares to run their ad they find they have a problem. This year, the General Election is on November 5th, so they are banned from running their ad for sixty days prior to the election. Sixty days prior to the General Election happens to be September 6^th. But our homeowners can not run their ad in early September because the Primary Election is September 10^th and the law says no ads can be run for thirty days prior to the Primary. They now count back thirty days prior to the September 10^th primary and find…Bingo! They can finally run their ad but only prior to August 11.

So under the guise of campaign finance reform our citizens are muzzled. The only time that our homeowners can broadcast their ad is while people are on the beaches in Ocean City and paying little attention to the upcoming November election. Even worse, the candidate who will run in the General Election has not even been nominated so maybe the candidate who wanted to take their property will not even be on the ballot in November.

Maybe the press will report on the candidate’s position on this issue. Or maybe the press supports the candidate and doesn’t want to remind voters of an unpopular position that the candidate has taken.

The gag rule does not apply to an individual, so maybe our homeowners can find a "sugar daddy’ willing to spend $50,000 to broadcast their ad; but this is not likely. How ironic that supporters of Shays-Meehan would bar middle class citizens from banding together to do what millionaires and media moguls will be able to do.

There is really only one way to avoid corruption in politics. That is to elect honest people.

Former Minority Leader – Maryland House of Delegates

________________________

The following Republican Senators voted Yea on McCain- Feingold.

Chafee (R-RI)
Cochran (R-MS)
Collins (R-ME)
Domenici (R-NM)
Fitzgerald (R-IL)
Jeffords (R-VT)
Lugar (R-IN)
McCain (R-AZ)
Snowe (R-ME)
Specter (R-PA)
Stevens (R-AK)
Thompson (R-TN)

If you haven't done so already, please take a moment to contact your two U.S. Senators,

Sen. Barbara Mikulski
Sen. Paul Sarbanes

Ellen Sauerbrey

Web Site: www.SauerbreyOnline.com

20020130 Carroll Technology Council inaugural event Feb 20 2002

Wednesday, January 30, 2002

Carroll County Chamber of Commerce Invites You to the Carroll Technology Council's Inaugural event

February 20, 2002 from 4:30 - 6:30 pm,
83 E. Main Street in Westminster. $10 per person. Reservations required.

See what's been done with the Old Post Office...It's New Again!

BECOME A CHARTER MEMBER
Join that night and become a CHARTER MEMBER of the Carroll Technology Council
Get listed in the new directory
Meet people who can help you develop your business
Hear brief remarks about the CTC and the unveiling of their NEW LOGO
Be a part of Carroll's biggest new development
Receive discounts for the upcoming BIZtech Exposition
Enter to win a new CELL PHONE!
Enjoy food and drink

Please FAX or mail this form to Bonnie Grady at Carroll County Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 871, Westminster, MD 21158(FAX: 410-876-1023) to reserve your spot.


Name_______________________________________________
Address_____________________________________________
City_____________________State______Zip_______________
Phone___________________E-mail_______________________
Credit Card: Visa - M/C - AMEX
No._____________________________Exp. Date____________

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

20020130 Carroll Technology Council inaugural event Feb 20 2002

Wednesday, January 30, 2002

Carroll County Chamber of Commerce Invites You to the Carroll Technology Council's

February 20, 2002 from 4:30 - 6:30 pm,
83 E. Main Street in Westminster. $10 per person. Reservations required.

See what's been done with the Old Post Office...It's New Again!

BECOME A CHARTER MEMBER
Join that night and become a CHARTER MEMBER of the Carroll Technology Council
Get listed in the new directory
Meet people who can help you develop your business
Hear brief remarks about the CTC and the unveiling of their NEW LOGO
Be a part of Carroll's biggest new development
Receive discounts for the upcoming BIZtech Exposition
Enter to win a new CELL PHONE!
Enjoy food and drink

Please FAX or mail this form to Bonnie Grady at Carroll County Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 871, Westminster, MD 21158(FAX: 410-876-1023) to reserve your spot.


Name_______________________________________________
Address_____________________________________________
City_____________________State______Zip_______________
Phone___________________E-mail_______________________
Credit Card: Visa - M/C - AMEX
No._____________________________Exp. Date____________

20020125 A Tribute to Westminster City Clerk John D. Dudderar

A Tribute to Westminster City Clerk John D. Dudderar

The Cal Ripken of the City of Westminster

January 25, 2002

Mayor Kevin Dayhoff

1,447 words - 8 minutes

City Clerk John Dudderar is a Westminster institution. A quiet intense man of few words and deep thought. His quiet, helpful demeanor and immeasurable institutional knowledge will be missed. Mr. Dudderar has served our community with extraordinary distinction and honor. I've always been impressed with his sense of fairness and penchant for the appropriate. In many ways, he has defined who we are as a community in the later 20th century.

His journey of service to Westminster began 37 years ago, but before we go back 37 years, let's pick up the story just a few months ago.

November 28, 2001 was a fairly uneventful day in City Hall. For some time I had been asking Mr. Dudderar to provide the historians with his famous handwritten minutes and agendas. I thought the envelope on my desk contained John's notes from the previous meeting.

Instead, it was a handwritten note from John. "Dear Mayor Dayhoff, I intend to retire from the City of Westminster on February 1, 2002. It has certainly been a pleasure working for the City for the past thirty-seven years. Sincerely, John D. Dudderar."

For Mr. Dudderar, a man of few words, this was a novel.

This was history in the making. We had all assumed that Mr. Dudderar would be around forever. We never gave it much thought that he would actually retire. I told him that we were going to pass an ordinance that he couldn't retire. He responded by proclaiming - "I don't think so. Who do you think would record it?"

In 1964 Mr. Dudderar worked for the Maryland Water Company. This was the private company that owned and operated the City water system. When the Mayor and Council purchased the Water Company for $962,000.00, Mr. John Dudderar was the dividend package that came along with the deal. For the City of Westminster, the asset purchased was great enough, but the residual consisting of water meter reader John Dudderar has given an even greater return.

In 1969, Mr. Dudderar was promoted to Assistant City Clerk/Zoning Administrator. In 1972 he was promoted to his current job, a job he has held for the past 30 years.

In the year Mr. Dudderar came to work for the City of Westminster; 1964 - it was the 200^th anniversary of the City of Westminster. The year was marked by many festivities. Little did the celebrants of the day know - that the real celebration was John Dudderar coming to work for the City of Westminster.

The population of Westminster back then was 6,123 folks. The City Police force consisted of a Chief and 6 officers, who were referred to as bailiffs at the time. The City Council served 2 year staggered terms. There was an election every year and the Council met once a month in a smoke filled room.

A home in the City of Westminster cost anywhere from 7,000 to 13,000 dollars. The brand new luxury air-conditioned Westminster Apartments on Poole Road were renting for $89.50 a month. The Carroll County Times was published once a week, every Thursday, and cost $0.05 at the newsstand.

The starting salary for a Carroll County teacher was $4,800 per year. Johnny Unitas and the Baltimore Colts held their summer football practice at Western Maryland College. Carroll County General Hospital had just opened in the spring of 1961.

In 1964 the County was negotiating to bring a Random House distribution center just outside of Westminster. The big issue for Random House was tapping in to Westminster's City Water Supply.

One of the big topics of discussion of the day was the State proposed East-West Expressway, which would help move traffic around Route 140 and Westminster. The main political discussion of the day was whether or not Carroll County should adopt Charter Government. Shortly before the City of Westminster purchased the Maryland Water Works, the Carroll County Times featured an article on the front page about citizens complaining about high water bills. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

In 1964, Lyndon Baines Johnson was the President of the United States - having succeeded President Kennedy who had just been assassinated on November 22, 1963. We had 25,000 troops in Vietnam. The Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King won the Nobel Peace Prize.

Yes - 1964 was a while ago. Many of the traffic lights still only had a red and green light, with no yellow caution light. There were no computers in the entire city. There is STILL no computer in John Dudderar's office. Stamps cost $0.05. We did have automobiles and electricity -but we didn't have faxes, photocopiers, cell phones, or the Internet.

In the 37 years Mr. Dudderar has worked for the City of Westminster, he has kept 5 different Mayors in line, as well as many many Council members and City Staff members.

Around the time Mr. Dudderar joined the City, calls for police services were received at the Westminster Fire Department over on Main Street. A dispatcher would then activate a yellow flashing barn light with a green cover suspended over Main Street in front of the Fire Hall where a patrolling officer would see it and then stop in the Fire Department for the information concerning the need for police assistance. In 1976 the Police Department "expanded" to three rooms in City Hall. Police during this period were also using the basement storage room in City Hall for detaining prisoners.

In the past 37 years, the City Council meeting has moved from the first floor, upstairs to the second floor and then downstairs again to the renovated meeting room on the main floor of City Hall. Mr. Dudderar's office has made a similar transition, from the first floor (where Stan Ruchlewicz's office is now) to the second and then back down to the first. He was here for the big City Hall renovations and Rededication in 1994.

On Saturday, October 3, 1970 Mr. Dudderar and his family were part of the auspicious group, including the Maryland Governor, who met with the Lord Mayor and Mayoress of Westminster England, Mr. and Mrs. Brian Fitzgerald-Moore. Mr. Dudderar's daughter, Angie, presented a bouquet of flowers to the Mayoress.

Other changes Mr. Dudderar has witnessed over the years include the replacement of the original 1932 Green Street Bridge; straightening out John and Bond Streets and straightening out Liberty Street and Railroad Avenue.

There were many improvements to the water and sewer system that occurred during Mr. Dudderar's watch. In 1964/65 the City of Westminster sold approximately $1.45 million dollars worth of bonds to pay for the water system and immediate improvements and expansions. Some of these bonds were only retired recently, in 1994. Another significant improvement was acquiring the right of ways and relocating the sewer plant from back off Goodwin Quarry Road to Avondale.

In 1964 there were 477 acres incorporated into the City of Westminster. Beginning with Annexation #1, effective September 9, 1967 and 35 more annexations later, the City incorporates 3,589 acres or 5.6 square miles. John Dudderar has overseen every annexation in the City of Westminster's modern history.

The important factor in these many years since 1964 is the immeasurable contribution Mr. Dudderar has made to the City of Westminster. John Dudderar has been the Iron Man, the ever-reliable ship's mate at the helm of the City Council meetings, reliably generating the agenda and the minutes twice a month.

He can always be counted on to accurately measure the mood of the voters on any particular issue and always serves as wise counsel for the elected officials. He knows the history of the code and ordinances, and essentially keeps all of us in line and on the right page as we all try to do our best for the citizens of Westminster.

Mr. Dudderar has always performed his tasks in a quiet unassuming manner, eschewing public attention and always putting the best interests of the City of Westminster first. As with Former Mayor Yowan - public attention for the performance of his duties was not much different from having a root canal.

John Dudderar has been a source of knowledge and strength for all of us, and will be greatly missed in City Hall. We weren't sad when the wooden pipes that came with the Water Department were replaced, but we are all going to miss John Dudderar. We all know he deserves a long and happy retirement.

God Bless you Mr. Dudderar.

20020100 Congressman Bartlett visits Ft Bragg MWR

Congressman Bartlett visits Ft Bragg MWR

Maryland Congressman Roscoe Bartlett visits the MWR program at Ft Bragg North Carolina

January 24th, 2002

Last week, Maryland Congressman Roscoe Bartlett toured the Moral, Welfare and Recreation programs at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

In the pictures above, Colonel Bill Babylon answers questions and shares the Ft. Bragg MWR story with Congressman Bartlett and his delegation.

####

20020102 Wster Mayor Wishes Club Well in 2002

Westminster Mayor Wishes Club Well in 2002

Westminster Road Runners Club

http://ccpl.carr.org/~wrrc/news_MayorWishesClubWell.htm

by Kevin Spradlin January 2^nd, 2002

WESTMINSTER, Jan. 02 -- City of Westminster Mayor Kevin E. Dayhoff expressed his condolences for missing some of the recent Westminster Road Runners Club races, but promised he and his wife, Caroline, will be on the running scene soon.

"I guess one might say that I am taking a break from running that is not quite of my choosing," wrote a very busy Mayor on Tuesday in an email to the club. "It has just happened. I'm not necessarily happy about this turn of events -- but it is what it is and I'm going to make like a ball and roll with it."

Many remember the Mayor making an appearance last July at the Bell Road 5K/10K race. He was on hand to congratulate long-time club member Bob Leatherman for his participation in his 100th consecutive Twilight Series road race. Mayor Dayoff also volunteered at a water aid station at the Sullivan Road Four-Miler in August. Since then, however, the Mayor has rarely been seen.

"I've taken breaks from running and college before and managed to get back into the groove at a later time," said Mayor Dayhoff, who is close to earning his Bachelor's Degree in Public Policy Administration and Analysis from Western Maryland College. "I guess my attitude is that being the Mayor is something that has a four-year cycle and that this is no rehearsal - I must do it well now. I feel a lot of responsibility."

"My first love is running," he said. "Caroline and I always look forward to the WRRC events, even if we don't run in them and just help out in any way that we can contribute. I'm quite out of shape and to try and run a race these days would not be responsible. I'll run again and I will get my degree."

In the meantime, WRRC members and Westminster residents will just have to deal with the fact that their mayor is busy with various projects, including running-related issues.

"I'm working hard on such things as the Terry Burk Trail - which is happening," said Mayor Dayhoff, "and the Westminster [Main Street] Mile run and being the Mayor."

Copyright 2002 Westminster Road Runners Club. Webmasters Rich Beck and Kevin Spradlin.
For problems or questions regarding this web contact [WRRC].
Last updated: January 02, 2002.

NBH

The thinking bicycle

The Thinking bicycle

December 17, 2001

20011217 KED on bicycle

20011217 The Artist and the Frog

The Artist and the Frog

Kant Betrue, Staff Reporter,
December 17, 2001
New Bedford Herald

Westminster — A man was crossing a road one day when a frog called out to him and said, if you kiss me, I'll turn into a beautiful princess." He bent over, picked up the frog and put it in his pocket.

The frog spoke up again and said, "If you kiss me and turn me back into a beautiful princess, I will stay with you for one week." The man took the frog out of his pocket, smiled at it and returned it to the pocket.

The frog then cried out, "If you kiss me and turn me back into a princess, I'll stay with you and do ANYTHING you want." Again the man took the frog out, smiled at it and put it back into his pocket.

Finally, the frog asked, "What is the matter? I've told you I'm a beautiful princess, that I'll stay with you for a week and do anything you want. Why won't you kiss me?"

The man said, Look, I'm an artist. I don't have time for a girlfriend, but a talking frog is cool."

________________________________________
Back to News Index
________________________________________
Copyright © 2001 New Bedford Herald

20011215 Terry Burk/Wakefield Valley Trail - New bridge to safety

New bridge to safety

Carroll County Times

By: Megen Wessel, Times Staff Writer

December 15, 2001

Span over stream all but completes middle portion of pedestrian trail

Through the early Friday morning rain, workers dressed in bright yellow raincoats and boots the color of mud installed two 55-foot sections of a steel walking bridge over the floodplain of a small stream along Tahoma Farm Road in Westminster.

The bridge is in the middle of the city's portion of the Wakefield Community Trail and nearly completes the first section of the city's first walking and biking trail.

The trail, when finished, will span about three miles from Wakefield Valley to West Main Street, allowing residents to walk or bike safely along Md. 31 and into downtown.

"They obviously can't do that now," said Thomas B. Beyard, director of planning and public works for the city.

The city began planning the trail in 1994, but money and land restraints kept the project from beginning.

The proposed trail was to extend northeast from Old New Windsor Road to Uniontown Road, but the first section of the trail, between Old New Windsor Road and Long Valley Drive, was to be located on property owned by the Avondale Run Homeowner's Association.

Approval to build the trail on the property would have required consent from a majority of the property owners in the association, said Chris Batten, a local land planning and design consultant hired to develop the initial plans for the trail.

So the city decided instead to develop plans for another section of the trail between Long Valley Road and Windsor Drive.

In July, the City Council awarded a $348,000 contract to Thomas Bennett & Hunter Inc. of Westminster for the construction of the 0.8-mile segment of blacktop pathway from Long Valley Road to Tahoma Farm Road.

This phase of the project, which includes widening of a sidewalk on Tahoma Farm Road near the newly installed bridge should be complete by April, Beyard said.

The city is using two federal grants, totaling about $193,000, and city money for the project, Beyard said.

Design work on the remaining portion of the trail, between Tahoma Farm Road and Windsor Drive, will begin this winter and construction is scheduled to begin in the summer.

The trail will be dedicated in memory of Terrence "Terry" Burk, 48, owner of the Treat Shop, his family candy business located in the TownMall of Westminster. Burk was killed while jogging in 1995.

Burk was running with two friends on Route 97 at Kalten Road when a car struck him and fellow jogger David W. Herlocker. Police said the 19-year-old man who was driving the car apparently fell asleep while coming home from work.

Burk's family established a memorial fund in Burk's name to help build the trail.

The Community Foundation of Carroll County sponsored the fund-raising effort, which eventually raised more than $6,000.

Another portion of the trail, from Windsor Drive to Uniontown Road, is already complete and usuable. Developers privately paid for the section, Beyard said.

"This will probably be one of the city's highest priorities behind the Carroll Theater project in the upcoming year," Beyard said.

©Carroll County Online 2001

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=2792495&BRD=1289&PAG=461&dept_id=156627&rfi=6

Westminster Sidewalks and Trails, Westminster Road Runners Club, Terry Burk, Dave Herlocker

NBH

2001111 On Veterans Day and Heroes

On Veterans Day and Heroes

Veterans Day Program
November 11, 2001 2:00 PM
At the Old Armory, Westminster, Md.
D.A.V. Old Glory Chapter #22
(c) Remarks by Westminster Mayor Kevin Dayhoff -
At the luncheon after the program at the V.F.W. Post 467
515 words - 3 minutes

__________________________________________________

It is an honor and a privilege to have an opportunity to stand before so many distinguished members of our community and share a few remarks about the meaning of Veteran's Day for me.

For me - it's all about heroes. The real heroes in our lives. September 11th changed - make that appropriately changed - the concept of hero for most Americans. It's a darn shame that we had to have such a dramatic cathartic moment for our collective social conscience to be re-ordered.

But President John F. Kennedy said it best when he said, "Things do not happen, things are made to happen." Now is the time in which we need to make things happen.

For me, September 11th only accentuated feelings that I've always maintained - since childhood. Athletes and movie stars have never been my heroes. I always felt that such hero worship was misplaced, displaced and inappropriate.

I always felt such Hollywood and sports hero worship sent the wrong message to our children and demonstrated a wrong set of values for our community. My heroes have always been teachers, soldiers, police officers, fire fighters and public servants.

One of my heroes - my grandfather, William Earl Wright, served in WWI and was a very proud charter member of Carroll Post #31 of the American Legion.

My father, Ed Frock, Sr., served with the Navy in heavy combat throughout WWII in the Pacific.

My father-in-law, David S. Babylon, Jr., served in WWII. He also served 25 years on Westminster City Council.

My brother-in-law, Colonel William T. Babylon, serves with the 18th Airborne Corps at Ft. Bragg, N.C.

Freddy Magsamen, is one of our native sons who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam. He was my childhood friend.

As I look out across this audience, and I look into the eyes of the many community leaders here today - I see many true living heroes. We all share the values of the veterans who we are here today recognizing. We stand here today, to pay homage to those, whose commitment and sacrifice to our community are inspirations for us all. Commitment and sacrifice to our community as epitomized by our true living heroes, who contribute daily to our community's quality of life.

To quote another living hero of mine - President George W. Bush. He said in his Inauguration speech on January 20th, 2001:

"America, at its best, is also courageous.

Our national courage has been clear in times of depression and war, when defending common dangers defined our common good. Now we must choose if the example of our fathers and mothers will inspire us or condemn us. We must show courage in a time of blessing by confronting problems instead of passing them on to future generations."

Indeed, those are the words of another living American hero who is also a visionary. If it is possible, those words are even more true today, than they were when he said them many months ago.

May God bless all those who serve the cause of freedom and may God bless America. Thank you.

####

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA. E-mail him at: kdayhoff@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/

Vote Nov 6, 2001 for Joe Baldi, Frederick City Alderman

Vote Nov 6, 2001 for Joe Baldi, Frederick City Alderman: “Good People making Good Things Happen”

[20011101 Vote Joe Baldi Nov 6 2001]

*****

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://www.westgov.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/

Yes, there is a sushi bar in Carroll County

Yes, there is a sushi bar in Carroll County

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=2572212&BRD=1289&PAG=461&dept_id=156638&rfi=6

By: Stephen Snyder, Times Staff Writer October 31, 2001

Though Chinese food has changed significantly since being popularized in America, the ancient Japanese art of sushi has changed little

When it comes to sushi, it seems there's little room for improvement.

"Sushi originally came from Japan about 1,500 years ago," said [the] owner of North China restaurant in the Cranberry Plaza off Md. 140 in Westminster.

Since opening North China five years ago, {the restaurant] has operated the only sushi bar in Carroll County and attracted some notable patrons, including Westminster mayor Kevin Dayhoff.

[S]ushi chef Zheng Liu boast the ability to serve more than 80 varieties of sushi and the menu ranges from tuna to eel to sea urchin.

The sushi bar at North China is actually a bar, complete with bar stools and a bartender (the sushi chef). Patrons can order three basic variations on raw fish: sushi, sashimi and maki (or rolls).

Not all raw fish is sushi. Sushi actually means fish with rice. Each piece of fish is served on top of a small bed of sticky rice. Sashimi is the pure sliced pieces of raw fish that most people think about when they picture sushi.

Rolls, on the other hand, are combinations, usually raw fish and some fruit or vegetable, stuffed with sticky rice and rolled together with a thin sheet of roasted seaweed. There are rolls, like the kappa or cucumber roll, that contain no raw seafood at all.

Liu says their most popular item is California roll, a mixture of imitation crab meat and an avocado slice.

… [S]ushi is very popular at North China. The restaurant sells about 65 percent traditional Chinese food and 35 percent sushi….

Liu explained that sushi is popular because eating raw fish is actually healthier than eating it cooked. There is virtually no fat in sushi and you don't cook out any of the nutrients.

"I eat sushi a lot," said Lui while patting his stomach behind the bar. "Not fat," he added smiling.

Although sushi has been in Japan for hundreds of years, it is a relatively new phenomenon in China, where Lee lived before emigrating to the United States 12 years ago. Sushi only came when China began opening its borders to foreign trade. In fact, he said, it began showing up in China the same time that McDonalds did.

Liu learned how to be a sushi chef while living in Hong Kong.

©Carroll County Online 2001

20011031 Yes there is a sushi bar in Carroll County

*****

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://www.westgov.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/kevindayhoff Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1040426835 Kevin Dayhoff Banana Stems: http://kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/ Blip.fm: http://blip.fm/kevindayhoff_soundtrack

20011011 Halloween Trick or Treating memo for October 31, 2001

Westminster Maryland Halloween Trick or Treating

MEMORANDUM - October 11, 2001

TO: Council Members

Thomas Beyard

John Dudderar

Chief Roger Joneckis

Carroll County Times

The Baltimore Sun - Carroll County

WTTR Radio

SUBJECT: HALLOWEEN TRICK OR TREATING

Each year, The Mayor and Council designates a night for Halloween Trick or Treating. Pursuant to your approval at the Council Meeting of October 22, 2001, I would like to recommend that Halloween Trick or Treating take place on the evening of Wednesday, October 31, 2001.

Trick or Treating should be conducted between the hours of dusk and 8:00 p.m. and be restricted to children age 12 and under plus accompanying parents or adult guardians. Residents who wish to participate by providing treats to the children should turn on their outside light. Children are advised to wear some light colored clothing so as to be more visible to motorists and to go to homes in their immediate neighborhoods with lights. Motorists should pay particular care on the evening of October 31^st with so many children walking around City streets.

KEVIN E. DAYHOFF

Mayor

Baltimore Fall Cleanup October 13th, 2001

We were mayors once – and young.

Baltimore Fall Cleanup October 13^th, 2001

Ocean City Mayor Jim Mathias, Baltimore City Mayor Martin O'Malley and Westminster Mayor Kevin Dayhoff share a moment to demonstrate that the key ingredient in community is 'unity', at the Biggest Clean Up Ever! Homecoming '01 Clean Up" - “Clean Up is Contagious” Baltimore Fall Cleanup October 13, 2001 (20011013 MM JM KD Trashsm)

20011013 Baltimore Fall Cleanup, Dayhoff Flat Kevin Files, Dayhoff selfportraits, People Mathias Jim, People O'Malley-Martin, 

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2013/06/baltimore-fall-cleanup-october-13th-2001.html
*****

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

20010829 MDE: Westminster awarded grant to upgrade wastewater treatment plant

20010829 MDE: Westminster awarded grant to upgrade wastewater treatment plant

Press Releases

Maryland Department of the Environment

Richard McIntire (410) 537-3012 (410) 716-8784-Pager

CARROLL COUNTY AWARDED GRANT TO UPGRADE WESTMINSTER'S WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT

http://www.mde.state.md.us/PressReleases/133.html

ANNAPOLIS, MD (August 29, 2001) – Governor Parris N. Glendening today announced Maryland Board of Public Works’ approval of a $164,562 grant for Carroll County to upgrade and expand the existing Westminster Wastewater Treatment Plant so that it may operate more efficiently.

“We are taking progressive steps to protect our finite natural resources without compromising the high quality of service Marylanders expect,” said Governor Glendening. “This funding will allow Carroll County to serve citizens from the Westminster Wastewater Treatment Plant in a more efficient and effective way while at the same time, reducing the amount of nutrients being released into Maryland’s waterways. This grant assists with our on-going efforts to target state funds in Priority Funding Areas consistent with our Smart Growth Initiative.”

The upgrade to the existing Westminster treatment plant will include the construction of a Biological Nutrient Removal facility to improve nitrogen removal to a level of 8 milligrams per liter. The project also includes an expansion to increase the wastewater treatment capacity to 5 million gallons per day.

County officials are hoping this grant from the Maryland Department of the Environment’s (MDE) Water Quality Infrastructure Program will assist them in helping meet the Chesapeake Bay nutrient reduction goal of 40 percent.

“The financial assistance from MDE and the state of Maryland is essential to allow the city to upgrade its wastewater treatment plant,” said Westminster Mayor Kenneth A. Yowan. “This project will enhance water quality in the Little Pipe Creek watershed and, ultimately, the Chesapeake Bay.

The total cost of the project is $4.2 million of which $2.1 million is the local share being paid by the city of Westminster. The grant approved today increases the state’s participation in the project to more than $2.1 million.

###

Water and Sewer Westminster, Water and Sewer Westminster Wastewater Treatment Plant

20010824 Columnist Barry Rascovar is leaving the Baltimore Sun

Sun's Rascovar to retire next Friday

Aug. 24, 2001 by Josh Kurtz, Staff Writer

ANNAPOLIS -- It's official: Barry Rascovar, the influential political columnist and deputy editorial page editor of The (Baltimore) Sun, will end his 30-year career on the newspaper next Friday.

Maryland politics may never be the same.

"The Sun paper's losing really one of the premiere columnists," said state Comptroller William Donald Schaefer, a former governor and Baltimore mayor. "He was never very good to me. ... But I think he had some of the best insights into politics."

Rascovar, 55, accepted an early retirement package offered this summer by the Tribune Co., the Sun's Chicago parent.

[…]

For 10 years as a reporter and 20 years as an opinion writer, Rascovar has been one of the most visible and powerful observers of Maryland politics.

[…]

Some friends of Rascovar's privately grumble that he was the victim of a power struggle with Jacqueline Thomas, the editorial page editor who was brought in to replace Rascovar's friend and mentor, Joseph Sterne, who retired in 1998.

Read the rest here: “Sun's Rascovar to retire next Friday.”

20010818 A conversation between God and St. Francis on the subject of lawns

A conversation between God and St. Francis on the subject of lawns:

August 18th, 2001

GOD: Frank, you know all about gardens and Nature. What in the world is going on down there in the Midwestern part of that place they call America?

What happened to the dandelions, violets, and thistle I created eons ago?

I had a perfect, no- maintenance garden plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand drought and multiply with great abundance. The nectar from the long lasting blossoms attracts butterflies, honeybees, and flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast garden of colors by now, but all I see are these green rectangles.

ST. FRANCIS: It’s the tribes that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites. They started calling your flowers weeds and went to great lengths to kill them and replace them with grass.

GOD: Grass? But it’s so boring! It’s not colorful. It doesn’t attract butterflies, birds, and bees, only grubs and sod worms. It’s temperamental with temperatures. Do these Suburbanites really want all that grass growing there?

ST. FRANCIS: Apparently so, Lord, they go to great pains to grow it and keep it green. They begin each spring by fertilizing grass and poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn.

GOD: The spring rains and warm weather probably make grass grow really fast. That must make the Suburbanites happy.

ST. FRANCIS: Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little, they cut it-sometimes twice a week.

GOD: They cut it? Do they bail it like hay? ST. FRANCIS: Not exactly, Lord. Most of them rake it up and put it in bags.

GOD: They bag it? Why is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?

ST. FRANCIS: No sir, just the opposite, they pay to throw it away.

GOD: Now let me get this straight. They fertilize grass so it will grow, and when it does grow, they cut it off and pay to throw it away?

ST. FRANCIS: Yes, Sir.

GOD: These Suburbanites must be relieved in the summer when we cut down on the rain and turn up the heat. That surely slows down the growth and saves them a lot of work.

ST. FRANCIS: You aren’t going to believe this Lord, when the grass stops growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay more money to water it so they can continue to mow it and pay to get rid of it.

GOD: What nonsense. At least they kept some of the trees. That was a sheer stroke of genius, if I do say so myself. The trees grow leaves in the spring to provide beauty and shade in the summer. In the autumn they fall to the ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture in the soil and protect the trees and bushes. Plus, as they rot, the leaves form compost to enhance the soil. It’s a natural circle of life.

ST. FRANCIS: You better sit down, Lord. The Suburbanites have drawn a new circle. As soon as the leaves fall, they rake them into piles and pay to have them hauled away.

GOD: NO. What do they do to protect the shrubs and tree roots in the winter and to keep the soil moist and loose?

ST. FRANCIS: After throwing away the leaves, they go out and buy something which they call mulch. They haul it home and spread it around in place of the leaves.

GOD: Where do they get this mulch?

ST. FRANCIS: They cut down trees and grind them to make mulch.

GOD: Enough. I don’t want to think about this anymore. St. Catherine, you’re in charge of the Arts. What movie have they scheduled for us tonight?

ST. CATHERINE: Dumb and Dumber, Lord. It’s a real stupid movie about..........

GOD: Never mind, I think I just heard the whole story from St. Francis.

_____

20010818: Turfgrass, Lawn care, Lawn Grass, Bagging Grass, Yard waste

Agriculture Nursery Stock and Landscaping Humor

Agriculture Nursery Stock and Landscaping Maintenance

See also: Agriculture Nursery Stock and Landscaping Plant Diseases

Agriculture Nursery Stock and Landscaping Plant Selection