20031209 City of Westminster Capital Improvements Program

Tuesday, December 09, 2003

20031209 City of Westminster Capital Improvements Program

20031209 City of Westminster Capital Improvements Program is best viewed on the New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/133770.html

City of Westminster Capital Improvements Program

Fund/Department: Office of Public Safety/Public Works

Account #: G12.6200

Type: Vehicle – Other

Project Name: Little Brother

ID/File #: 1984 - 17

Contact: Mayor Kevin Dayhoff or Air Marshall Steve Shatzer, Westminster Police Department Aviation Wing or Master Sergeant Thomas Beyard, Westminster Air National Guard.

Priority: Urgent

Date: December 9^th, 2003

Description: Flir 2000-A Airborne Thermal Imaging System: It has come to our attention that a complete Flir 2000-A Airborne Thermal Imaging System with 1X and 4X Dual F.O.V. Optics has been available for purchase by the City of Westminster, for only $17,500.00. Sold new this unit was approximately $100,000.00. Of course, this new thermal imaging system is best operated on a helicopter – which will be put in the budget under a separate item.

Location: Key Street Lot

Justification: Homeland Defense

Other Remarks and Operating Considerations - A message to would-be Terrorists, Punks and Thugs. We understand how bored you are with the drab monotony of your everyday life. You hate the jobs we make you take to get money, and have nothing but contempt for us. It's obvious that you increasingly reject our morality, along with all restraint. You steal from us, lie to us, break our laws, mock our culture, and sabotage our technology.

We tolerate 'rebels" with all sorts of causes, but you laugh at us and mock us. What you seem to want is revelry without any cause at all. We recognize every "revolution" to make sure you and your friends won't break out of line everywhere at once, your only goal unlicensed pleasure. We're afraid you'd rather be burning banks, looting malls, crating havoc at City Hall or smashing computers than going to work - our demands are what really bring out the violence in you. This game has gone on long enough. Either you win or we will.

Sphere: Related Content

Posted by Kevin Dayhoff at 12/09/2003 04:34:00 AM

Kevin Dayhoff: www.westgov.net Westminster Maryland Online www.westminstermarylandonline.net http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/

20031205 Bush Derangement Syndrome by Charles Krauthammer

Bush Derangement Syndrome by Charles Krauthammer

Friday, December 5, 2003

OMG:

Diane Rehm: ``Why do you think he (Bush) is suppressing that (Sept. 11) report?''

Howard Dean: ``I don't know. There are many theories about it. The most interesting theory that I've heard so far -- which is nothing more than a theory, it can't be proved -- is that he was warned ahead of time by the Saudis. Now who knows what the real situation is?''

``Diane Rehm Show,'' NPR, Dec. 1

It has been 25 years since I discovered a psychiatric syndrome (for the record: ``Secondary Mania,'' Archives of General Psychiatry, November 1978), and in the interim I haven't been looking for new ones. But it's time to don the white coat again. A plague is abroad in the land.

Bush Derangement Syndrome: the acute onset of paranoia in otherwise normal people in reaction to the policies, the presidency -- nay -- the very existence of George W. Bush.

Now, I cannot testify to Howard Dean's sanity before this campaign, but five terms as governor by a man with no visible tics and no history of involuntary confinement is pretty good evidence of a normal mental status. When he avers, however, that ``the most interesting'' theory as to why the president is ``suppressing'' the 9/11 report is that Bush knew about 9/11 in advance, it's time to check on thorazine supplies.

[…]

Read the entire article – it gets better… Bush Derangement Syndrome by Charles Krauthammer

####

20031200 Westminster City Recreation Office: New Programs Since 1994

Westminster City Recreation Office: New Programs Since 1994

Photo caption: Westminster Recreation and Parks’ Ron Schroers

Westminster City Recreation

July 1994 – December 2003

Westminster City Recreation Office New Programs Since 1994

1. Westminster Family Center

2. Westminster Skate Park

3. Creation of full day Summer Camps

4. Creation of Dutterer’s Family Park

5. Upgrade 3 city parks

6. Creation of Mother Son Dances

7. Creation of Tea Parties and Fashion shows

8. Fallfest to new levels (midnight madness shopping, more money for nonprofits)

9. Flower and Jazz to new levels

10. Creation of Lock – Ins and all night parties for teens

11. Creation of Youth Leadership Carroll

12. Creation of Year Program Guide

13. Creation of Month of Sundays

14. Creation of Movie Nights

15. Summer Slam Car Show

16. 5k Walk Run

Activities office currently operates

1. Family Center

2. Skate Park

3. City Pool

4. Swim Team

5. Fallfest

6. Flower and Jazz Festival

7. Daddy Daughter Date

8. Swim Lessons

9. Music on Main Street

10. Outdoor Movie Nights

11. 3 on 3 Summer Basketball League

12. Summer Day Camp

13. Summer Tot Camp

14. Month of Sunday Concerts

15. Mother Son Dance

16. Veterans Day Service

17. Holiday Sports Camp

18. Mother Daughter Tea

19. Holiday Workshop

20. Holiday Luncheon

21. Retirement Parties

22. Annual Tree Lighting

23. Easter Egg Hunts

24. Annual Store Front Decorating (Mayors Cup)

Partnerships For Events and Activities

Human Service Programs Inc

Kiwanis Clubs of Westminster

Carroll County Recreation and Parks

Optimist Football & Cheering

Westminster Jaycees

Girls Jaycee Softball

Circle of Friends

Red Cross Blood Drives

Christian Home School Group

Konigsberg Tennis Tournament

Carroll County Tennis Association

Corbit’s Charge

Carroll County Health Department

Eric Byrd Day

Carroll County Arts Council

Carroll County Farm Museum

Heroin Action Coalition of Carroll County

Mrs. Maryland

Women’s Club of Westminster

The Arc of Carroll County

Greens Homeowners Association

Holiday House Tour

Junction Inc

Aging Grace

Cystic Fibrosis

West End Place

Four Square New Life Church

New Hope Fellowship

Core Service Agency

Westminster Speed and Sound

Mental Health Fair

Stand For Children

Carroll County Public Schools

Change Inc

St. Johns Catholic Church

Westminster Area Lacrosse

Charles Street Community

Timber Ridge Summer Playgroup

Carroll County Chamber of Commerce

Bands For Benefit

East Middle School

Carroll Hospice

Carroll County Public Library

The Rotary Club of Bonds Meadow

Downtown Promotions Committee

Carroll County Youth Service Bureau

Family and Children’s Services

Pray in the Park

Sunday in the Park

Estonian Partnership

Relay of Life

City Police Department

Recreation Office Accomplishment

Attorney Generals Award

Heath Department Award

Best Park Playground

Best Community Festival

Outstanding Recreation Professional Maryland Recreation and Parks

Silvia Canon Humanitarian Award

Creation of the first camp medical program

State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

The Recreation Office Has Represented The City Of Westminster In The Following

Skate Park Development: Manchester, Hampstead, Mt. Airy, Taneytown, Sykesville, Annapolis, Dallastown, Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County,

Armory Development: Caroline County and City of Frederick

Maryland Municipal League: Speaking at annual convention, Treasure (Recreation and Parks Branch)

Maryland Recreation and Parks Association: State Convention, Strategic Planning

Community College of Baltimore: Chairman, Recreation, Parks and Tourism Advisory committee, Guest Speaker

Other Related Office Duties

Supervise 22 year round staff

Supervise 34 part time summer staff

Furnish capital and operating budgets

Manage over $1,000,000,00 operating and capital budget

Supervise 10 parks

Supervise 5 tot lots

Parks Board

Support Estonian Partnership Fundraising

Hiring and firring

Supervise rentals of Community Building, parks and pavilions

Manage Web Site

Marketing of Programs and Events

Prepare daily deposits

Future Plans

Already added to dates at Martins for additional dances.

More involvement with other communities in Westminster.

Over see all activities that are happing in Westminster.

Develop additional events on Main Street and Pennsylvania Ave.

Continue involvement with existing communities because of change in board members.

Continue to develop Open Space for the growing sports programs in Westminster.

Continue to monitor the value of each program and event offered to the public.

20030904 September 4th, 2003 Carroll County MML Quarterly Chapter Meeting Minutes

20030904 September 4th, 2003 Carroll County MML Quarterly Chapter Meeting Minutes - Dutch Corner Restaurant, 3154 Main Street, Manchester, Md.

CARROLL COUNTY CHAPTER
Maryland Municipal League, Inc.



*Hampstead Mayor Haven Shoemaker President CC Chapter MML
1034 S. Carroll Street, Hampstead, Md. 21074 Telephone: (410) 239-7408
*New Windsor Mayor Sam Pierce Vice President CC Chapter MML
P. O. Box 609, New Windsor, Md. 21776 Telephone: (410) 635-6575
*Westminster Mayor Kevin Dayhoff Secretary - Treasurer CC Chapter MML
P. O. Box 1245, Westminster, Md. 21158-1245 Telephone: (410) 857-4208

September 4th, 2003
Quarterly Chapter Meeting Minutes
Dutch Corner Restaurant, 3154 Main Street, Manchester, Md.

6:30 pm Social hour
7:00 pm Welcome – Manchester Mayor Chris D’Amario
Invocation - Manchester Councilmember Mary Minderlein
Introductions - MML Chapter President Haven Shoemaker
7:10-7:45 pm Dinner
7:45 pm Business Meeting

Attendance:
There were 24 in attendance:
Manchester: Mayor Chris D'Amario, Councilmembers Steve Bankert, Mary Minderlein and Dan Riley
Mt. Airy: Mayor James S. Holt, Councilmembers Peter Helt and David Pyatt.
New Windsor: Mayor Sam Pierce, Councilmembers Ed Palsgrove and Charlotte Hollenbeck.
Sykesville: Mayor Jonathan Herman, Councilmembers Jeannie Nichols and Debby Ellis and Town Manager Matt Candland
Taneytown: No representatives in attendance
Union Bridge: Mayor Bret Grossnickle
Westminster: Mayor Kevin Dayhoff, Councilman Robert Wack.
Hampstead: Mayor Haven Shoemaker, Councilmembers Wayne H. Thomas and Chris Nevin.

Carroll County: Carroll County Emergency Management Coordinator William Martin, Administrator of the Carroll County Office of Public Safety Buddy Redman.
Carroll County Municipal Liaison Frank Johnson
Maryland Municipal League Executive Director Scott Hancock and Liaison Candice Donoho

_____

1. Treasurer's Report - Westminster Mayor Kevin Dayhoff

The Treasurer’s report was given by Westminster Mayor Kevin Dayhoff and accepted. The MML CC Chapter Treasury has a total of $3,062.07 in it at present – however, the balance, after the $2,000.00 in outstanding checks recently written for the MML CC Chapter Scholarship are cashed, will be $1,062.07 in the account.

2. Discussion of the future of the Annual MML Scholarship.

MML Executive Director Scott Hancock and MML Liaison Candice Donoho gave a presentation on the 12-year old MML Chapter Scholarship Program. The MML Board of Directors has recently re-directed funds that had helped to support the Chapter Scholarship Program, in order to support a new academic fellowship/intern scholarship program initiative, which will create a partnership with the University of Maryland School of Public Affairs and the MML.

The MML Board of Directors is encouraging individual MML Chapters to continue self-funded scholarship programs and to develop scholarship program criteria that best fit the needs and desires of our respective chapters.

In the past, the Carroll County MML Chapter has assessed the Carroll County member municipalities a total of $1,500 to add to the $1,000 annual contribution from the MML. We then distributed five scholarships of $500 each at the annual June joint Carroll County/Frederick County Chapter meeting in Mt. Airy.

After thoughtful discussion, it was agreed to continue our own self-funded scholarship program within the Carroll County Chapter.

It was moved by Sykesville Councilwoman Jeannie Nichols and seconded by Hampstead Councilman Chris Nevin to sponsor two $1,000 scholarships for Carroll County students who reside within the corporate boundaries of a Carroll County Municipality and to bill the eight municipalities for the $2,000. The motion passed unanimously.

The purpose of the scholarship is to increase public awareness of municipal government in Carroll County and to foster interest and research in municipal government, to recognize students who have demonstrated a commitment to public service, and to provide needed financial support for students pursuing studies leading to a career in government or public service.

Particulars as to how the MML Carroll County Chapter will adapt and implement the Scholarship Program will be discussed after the first of the year. Meanwhile, the Treasurer was directed to assess the eight municipalities pro-rata for the $2,000 for the scholarships.

Sykesville Councilwoman Jeannie Nichols will continue as Chair of the Carroll County MML Scholarship Committee. Anyone who would like to work on the Scholarship Committee should contact Councilwoman Nichols.

2. Presentation by Carroll County Emergency Management Coordinator William Martin and Administrator of the Carroll County Office of Public Safety Buddy Redman

Bill Martin and Buddy Redman gave a general overview of the Carroll County Emergency Operations Plan. They also discussed the GIS Enhanced Base Mapping Project and other issues involving our current 911 system. Bill Martin discussed his background in the fire service and emergency response and shared some insights as to his plans in his new position with the Carroll County Office of Public Safety. The report was followed by questions and answers.

3. COG Report

Sykesville Councilwoman Jeannie Nichols discussed that Emergency Services issues in Carroll County were comprehensively discussed and reviewed in the May 29, 2003 COG meeting. The meeting was well attended and everyone seemed to get a great deal of value out of the meeting. The next COG meeting will be held on September 18, 2003 at 7 PM.

4. Carroll County Commissioner Report - Frank Johnson, Municipal Liaison

Frank Johnson discussed various issues and gave a thorough overview of the many initiatives presently being undertaken by the Board of Commissioners. They included but were not limited to: State Roads and county transportation issues; billboards; the Commissioners upcoming Legislative Package which will include a Transfer Tax (growth paying for growth); the deferral process; adequacy standards; the growth task force - which will next meet on September 17, 2003. A question and answer period followed which included discussions of impact fees; schools and parks; senior citizen developments; fire and EMS service and roads and libraries.

5. MML Remarks - MML staff member Candace Donoho, MML Executive Director Scott Hancock

Scott Hancock extended regrets from MML President Mark Frazer who could not attend due to an unexpected commitment. This year's MML Theme under the leadership of President Frazer is Information Technology. The MML has hired a full time Information Technology expert. Every municipality now has a page available on the MML website for announcements.

Candace Donoho was recently given a significant and prestigious promotion to Carroll County MML Liaison. Candace Donoho discussed the recent municipal budget survey and the impacts of state budget cuts on municipalities state-wide. She also discussed the work of the MML Legislative Committee and the upcoming MML Fall Conference. This year's fall conference includes many more workshops and seminars than past fall conferences and attendance is expected to be the best ever. Washington DC Mayor Anthony Williams is the scheduled luncheon speaker.

6. Open discussion and Other Business

Buddy Redman asked that each municipality establish an emergency contact person.

Adjournment

The next meeting is in New Windsor on December 4th, 2003 at 6:30 p.m. for Social time; Dinner at 7:00 p.m.; Meeting at 7:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Westminster Mayor Kevin Dayhoff,
MML CC Chapter Secretary/Treasurer

20030904 September 4th, 2003 Carroll County MML Quarterly Chapter Meeting Minutes

MD Municipal League Carroll Co. Chap. Meeting Minutes
Labels: MD Municipal League Carroll Co. Chap., MD Municipal League Carroll Co. Chap. Scholarship Program, Westminster Mayor 200105 200505 Kevin E. Dayhoff

20031204 Class projects puts McDaniel students on the front lines of a biological attack by Jamie Schmidt for the Carroll County Times

20031204 Class projects puts McDaniel students on the front lines of a biological attack by Jamie Schmidt for the Carroll County Times

Class projects puts McDaniel students on the front lines of a biological attack

By Jamie Schmidt, Times Staff Writer

December 4th, 2003

Westminster city officials gathered and spent several hours discussing how to respond to a biological attack. The plan unrolled like a Tom Clancy novel, including road barriers, hotlines, shelters, press releases, volunteers and preparing a hospital for infected patients.

However, there was no real infectious outbreak, and the officials were actually McDaniel College political science students - although the real officials attended, to observe and question the students' research.

The students convened in a mock round table Wednesday night attended by Westminster Mayor Kevin Dayhoff, Westminster fire company chief Kevin Utz and Larry Leitch, health officer at the county's Health Department, among others.

The students' teacher, Volker Franke, assistant professor of political science and international studies, said that one student came to him earlier Wednesday worried about presenting a plan to men and women who thought about emergency response for a living.

Franke consulted Dayhoff in designing the exercise.

"He gave me a list of people he told me he would want to hear from, and I assigned the roles of the responders to the students," he said.

Students then had to interview everyone to learn about the roles they would have to play. Howard "Buddy" Redman Jr., director of emergency management for the county, spoke to several students about his responsibilities managing manmade disasters and attacks.

"It is interesting to have others interested in what you do," Redman said. "I have been working in emergency management for 27 years, and for the first 25, we were there but people didn't think about us as much."

Student Farzin Farzad said that he gained an enormous admiration for Tom Beyard, Westminster's director of planning and public works, after learning about his responsibilities.

Franke said that he wanted the students to understand their roles before he gave them a pretend scenario: plague bacilli released during a sold-out performance at the Joseph Myerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore.

During the roundtable, as students threw out plans, Dayhoff piped up that the students should consider recommending that the mayor declare marshal law.

"With the hurricane, I ordered everyone off the streets at 6," Dayhoff said. "If I did it for a hurricane, I'd sure as heck do it for this."

Utz piped up that he immediately wanted to know the names of every person who attended the symphony hall. Bob Cumberland, longtime Westminster volunteer fire company member, told students to remember the fire company's mutual aid agreements - that it was okay to ask for help.

"Let's look to Pennsylvania to assist," he said.

In the last 12 weeks, Franke's students discussed and studied the threats on the United States that developed over the past decade and examined changing global security requirements. Franke said that he was impressed how the students worked together in their culminating project for the semester.

"Preparing is hard," said student Danielle Goodnow. "You get a great amount of respect for what people do."

*****

WestGovNet: Colleges and schools McDaniel College, Dayhoff Kevin Dayhoff press clippings, Colleges and schools McDaniel College Dr. Franke Fall BioTerrorism Simulation Exercise,

KevinDayhoffNet: Colleges and Universities McDaniel College, Dayhoff press clippings, Colleges and Universities McDaniel College Dr. Franke Fall BioTerrorism Simulation Exercise

NBH: McDaniel College Franke Fall BioT Sim Ex, Colleges and Universities McDaniel College, Dayhoff press clippings

20031110 Westminster Mayor and Council Meeting Minutes

20031110 Westminster Mayor and Council Meeting Minutes

City Council

Minutes of City Council Meetings Agenda for next City Council Meeting

MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING

CITY OF WESTMINSTER, MARYLAND

November 10, 2003

http://www.westgov.com/citygovernment/minutes/111003.asp

QUORUM:

A meeting of The Mayor and Common Council was held in the City Hall Council Chambers, located at 1838 Emerald Hill Lane, on the evening of November 10, 2003, at 7:00 p.m. Mayor Dayhoff; Council President Halstad; Council Members Albert, Chiavacci, Ferguson and Wack; Department Heads Beyard and Urban; City Attorney Walsh; and Acting Westminster City Police Chief Brewer were present.

Minutes

On motion of Mrs. Albert, seconded by Mr. Ferguson, the Minutes of the Meeting of October 27, 2003 were approved as presented.

Public Hearing:

Mayor Dayhoff conducted a public hearing on the City of Westminster’s Public Housing Agency Plan. Ms. Karen Blandford summarized the federally mandated five-year plan. Ms. Blandford indicated that the requirements stipulate that the plan be updated annually and the document is not a strategic planning document. Ms. Blandford stated that the Section VIII program in the City of Westminster serves 289 families. Ms. Blandford stated that graduates of job training programs would not be eligible for assistance unless their children are under three years of age. Council President Halstad requested that a provision be included to ensure that recent graduates, within six months of graduation be eligible for assistance. Ms. Blandford advised The Mayor and Council that a timing provision could be included but staff’s recommendation would limit the time restriction to four months of graduation. Mayor Dayhoff requested that Ms. Blandford and Mr. Walsh work together to define “Government Action.” Ms. Blandford advised that would occur.

Ms. Josephine Velazquez indicated her concern with the program and the potential for loopholes that could be created to abuse the program. Ms. Blandford addressed the plans on how to combat program abuse.

The Mayor closed the Public Hearing at 7:28 and closed the public record as well.

Consent Calendar

On motion of Mr. Ferguson, seconded by Mr. Chiavacci, the consent calendar was approved as presented which consisted of the acceptance of a sanitary sewer easement at the Carroll County Agriculture Center, Good Cause Waiver No. GCW 03-11 and Job Reclassifications.

Reports from the Mayor:

… Noted that he attended the Maryland Municipal League Legislative Conference.

Reports from Standing Committees:

Mrs. Albert indicated that she is working with the residents of Manchester Avenue to resolve parking related concerns of the business and residential community.

Mr. Ferguson indicated that BGE had a very successful meeting with the residents of West Green Street.

Mr. Ferguson noted that he had received a complaint about taxicab operators in Carroll County.

Mr. Chiavacci congratulated Mr. Ferguson for being the Westminster Rotary Club Outstanding Citizen of the Year.

Dr. Wack noted that BGE representatives were able to address many concerns of the residents on West Green Street and would follow up with those that required more investigation.

Mr. Halstad deferred his time to Mr. Frank Johnson, Special Assistant to Commissioner Gouge to discuss the County’s growth initiatives.

Mr. Johnson outlined the County’s growth initiatives to date and discussed in length Carroll County’s development deferral process.

Mr. Halstad announced that Mr. Steve Horn, Planning Director and Mr. Steve Powell, Chief of Staff, Carroll County Government would attend the December 22, 2003 meeting of The Mayor and Common Council to further discuss the County’s growth initiatives.

Mr. Ferguson noted that he attended the Carroll County Landlords Association meeting and States Attorney Jerry Barnes gave an overview of the Nuisance Abatement law as outlined in the Annotated Code of Maryland. Mr. Ferguson indicated that many of the members of the Carroll County Landlords Association own property in Westminster.

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS:

Mr. Halstad summarized Resolution No. R03-10 – Annexation No. 53 “Arnold Property.” Mr. Chiavacci inquired about the result of the Public Hearing. Dr. Wack indicated that there was some concern on behalf of the community but overall the applicant had sufficiently addressed many of the site specific concerns. Mr. Chiavacci requested staff to work with the developer and the community to ensure that all parties are involved in the site planning process. On motion of Dr. Wack, seconded by Mr. Ferguson, Resolution No. R03-10 – Annexation No. 53 “Arnold Property” was unanimously adopted.

On Motion of Mr. Chiavacci, seconded by Mrs. Albert, Ordinance No. 712 – Arnold Property “R-10,000 Residential Rezoning” was unanimously introduced for consideration.

DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS:

Mr. Urban stated that the 2003 Annual Audit was completed in October 2003. The City expects include General Fund Contributed Assets in the 2004 Audit.

Mr. Beyard reminded The Mayor and Common Council of the Planning and Growth Session scheduled for Saturday, November 15, 2003 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at McDaniel College.

CITIZEN COMMENTS:

Ms. Josephine Velazquez, 59 Pennsylvania Avenue, commended the Westminster Police Department for its prompt response to her report of a party at a property near her home.

Mr. Erik Horgos, Westminster, Maryland, indicated his support of the infill annexation of the Arnold Property. Mr. Horgos expressed his concern with the proposed layout of the development.

Council President Halstad adjourned the meeting at 8:30 p.m.

SHAWN SIDERS

20031000 Dayhoff Inc Pocomoke City

20031000 Dayhoff Inc Pocomoke City

Dayhoff Inc Pocomoke City

Photo by Pocomoke City Police Chief J. D. Ervin

One day I arrived at a Maryland Municipal League meeting and sat beside Pocomoke City Police Chief J. D. Ervin as was my habit. And he presented me with this photo from the old Campbell Soup factory grounds in that city.

I later had the pleasure of seeing the building before it was torn-down.

What fun picture.

11/14/2003

####

20031111 Vets Day idea list of things to send to military in Iraq

Vets Day Idea list of things to send to Military Personnel in Iraq

City of Westminster Office of Mayor Kevin Dayhoff
P. O. Box 710 – City Hall, Westminster, MD, 21158
November 11, 2003

Today, on Veterans Day – as every day, it is important that we not only remember our men and woman in uniform serving our country and protecting our freedoms, but it is particularly important that we do something to support them. One way that you can help our military as they serve us, is to send them some items they need.

Scott Jeznach, who works for The City of Westminster, recently found the following request in the 82nd Airborne Division Association newsletter of October 2003:

Our troops in Iraq are in need of hard-to-get supplies and would be most grateful for any assistance we can give them.

They have requested baby wipes with Aloe, bar soap, deodorant, foot cream, foot powder, sun block, chapstick, disposable razors, shaving cream, hand lotion, q-tips, batteries, fans, insect repellent, paper, pens, envelopes, stamps, nuts, beef jerky, hard candy, gum, snacks and powdered drinks.

December 20th, 2006 UPDATE:

Please send any of the above to

CSM Thomas Beyard
TF AVCRAD 06-08
Camp Arifjan, Kuwait
APO AE 09366

LTC David E. Smith

Division Chaplain

82^nd Airborne Division

APO AE 09384

LTC Smith CSM Thomas Beyard will make the distribution to our troops there.

Please feel free to enclose a note indicating who you are, where you are from, and expressing your support of their work protecting our freedoms.

If you have any questions, please contact Scott Jeznach or Mayor Kevin Dayhoff.

####

20031106 Trying not to judge Chief Justice Taney

http://www.sunspot.net/news/local/bal-md.taney06nov06,0,5030183.story?coll=bal-local-headlines

Trying not to judge Chief Justice Taney History: The 'shrine' home of Taney, who has a thorny legacy because of Dred Scott, will be presented more impartially.

By Jeff Barker, Sun Staff, November 6, 2003

FREDERICK -- Nowhere is Maryland's ambivalence toward Roger Brooke Taney more evident than in this city, his adopted home.

Taney, the second- longest-serving chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, had a house here that now bears a plaque proclaiming it "a national shrine."

But Taney (pronounced TAW-nee) is best known for writing the 1857 Dred Scott decision holding that black Americans were not citizens, so "there's a lot of animosity about the house," says Dick Wettrich, who lives next door.

The difficulty in handling Taney's legacy is apparent as the Frederick County Historical Society prepares exhibits for the house and slave quarters he owned here from 1815 to 1823. The society acquired the buildings this year and is revisiting the manner in which they are presented to the public.

The society is planning a less reverential, more impartial approach -- one that doesn't judge whether Taney was a hero, villain or something in between.

"Taney was an enigmatic character," says Mark Hudson, the society's executive director. "We want to be as truthful and forthright as possible."

For 35 years, the house was owned by a foundation whose president, former Alderman H. Thomas Summers, calls Taney "a great man."

"He swore in seven presidents, including Abraham Lincoln," Summers says. "Dred Scott was a bad decision, but he was backed by other members of the court. Everybody makes mistakes during their lifetime."

The foundation donated the house to the historical society in June, mostly because of difficulty maintaining it.

The house sits in an old section of downtown Frederick where many of the residents today are black. The three-story brick home -- featuring many portraits of the long-haired, lanky-looking chief justice -- is connected by a breezeway to a slave quarters in the back.

Visitors to the home have long been greeted by the marble plaque declaring the structure a shrine, but it is probably going to be removed as part of the "reinterpreting" process, Hudson said. "The connotation of a shrine is that this is a great person and I don't necessarily challenge that, but our interpretative approach is going to be more objective," he said.

Also being removed is a bust of Taney -- a copy of a statue at Frederick City Hall -- that sits in a parlor room. The bust wouldn't have been there when Taney occupied the house, and the society says it wants all of the furnishings to be as authentic as possible.

The society doesn't know what to do with a large painting of Taney swearing in Lincoln. The painting has long hung in the house but it includes notables of the time who either weren't at the swearing-in, or weren't in the spots they are depicted in. "It doesn't accurately reflect history. It's stylized," Hudson said. "But it's been here a long time."

The society plans to close the house for several months beginning in mid-December while it makes the changes. It is informally soliciting comments from the neighborhood on what would be suitable for display.

In the 1857 decision, Taney said that Scott, a longtime slave suing for his freedom, was not a citizen and that no slave -- nor their free descendants -- had standing to sue in the federal courts. He based his ruling on an interpretation of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence. Of the latter document, he wrote: "It is too clear for dispute that the enslaved African race were not intended to be included, and formed no part of the people who framed and adopted this declaration."

But analyzing Taney, who was born in Calvert County but made Frederick his home, is no simple task.

In 1819, he successfully defended a Methodist minister from Pennsylvania accused of inciting slaves to riot. In his argument, Taney called slavery "a blot on our national character" left over from Colonial times.

Taney, who also served as U.S. attorney general and treasury secretary, "was known for his astute and acute legal mind," said Maryland Archivist Edward C. Papenfuse. "Do I believe he was a racist at heart? Yes. He was a strong believer in slavery. Was he a creature of his time? Yes. Should we ignore his historical contributions? No."

One of the Taney statues sits on the grounds of the State House, not far from one of Thurgood Marshall, the court's first African-American justice. There are also statues of both men in Baltimore.

In Frederick, an outdated, barracks-style public housing complex in an area known for crime bears Taney's name.

Willie Mahone, a black Frederick attorney, said he tried years ago to get the name changed -- he wanted it named after Marshall -- but authorities resisted.

Mahone keeps a copy of the Dred Scott decision in his desk -- "as a reminder," he said. When asked to pose for a newspaper photograph years ago, he chose to stand in front of Taney's statue at City Hall "because I wanted to imagine him turning over in his grave."

He applauded the historical society "for saying they're not going to do a governmental endorsement of the concept that he's a great man. It's proper to let the public make its own determination."

Copyright © 2003, The Baltimore Sun

20030222 Audrey Cimino’s vocalist performing bio

AUDREY CIMINO

Vocalist

February 22, 2003

Audrey’s performing credits start at the age of three when she was lifted on to a tabletop at the local VFW hall in her hometown of Burlington, Vermont to sing, Papa Won’t You Dance With Me. She fell in love with the applause and hasn’t stopped singing since.

During her high school years Audrey sang in the school’s chorus and several other smaller vocal groups. She was also a repeat qualifier for all-state chorus. On weekends she was the lead vocalist for the town’s big band jazz orchestra that was formed by several former members of the Tommy Dorsey and Glenn Miller orchestras. During this period she also placed second in the state of Vermont level of the Talentville USA competition. This was a national competition that pitted a variety of performing talents against one another.

After moving to Baltimore in 1973, Audrey’s performing focus centered on theatre for a long while. Her theatre credits include leading roles in Oliver, Kiss Me Kate, Gypsie, Kiss of the Spider Woman, All My Sons, Nunsense, Into the Woods, Man of La Mancha, the King and I, and Fiddler on the Roof among others. She did continue during this span, however, to do solo vocalist work for weddings, variety shows, and voice-over vocals for industrial films.

In recent times, Audrey has also been guest vocalist with the Carroll County Jazz Ensemble and Herb Sell’s Jazz Quintet among her solo performances. She has also stayed active in choral music, singing with two church choirs during this period, as well as the Carroll County Choral Society and the Masterworks Chorale of Carroll County. During the past couple of years she has joined with her husband, Joe, in performing professionally for large group events. Their music selections offer a collage that spans from theatre to the classic tunes of the 1940’s.

Away from the performing arts, Audrey is an attorney and the Executive Director of the Community Foundation of Carroll County, Maryland.

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20031007 In Defense of Rush by Mary Katharine Ham/Richmond County Daily Journal

Editorials: IN DEFENSE OF RUSH: The media need to call it both ways

By Mary Katharine Ham/Richmond County Daily Journal

Tuesday, October 7, 2003

All right, hold on to your hats, folks, because this white girl's about to write about race and Rush Limbaugh.

If you haven't heard already, Limbaugh resigned from his position as a commentator for ESPN's "Sunday NFL Countdown" after being lambasted by the media for remarks he made Sept. 28 about Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb.

His comments went a little something like this: "I think what we've had here is a little social concern in the NFL. The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well. There is a little hope invested in McNabb, and he got a lot of credit for the performance of this team that he didn't deserve. The defense carried this team."

Now comes the part where the media get to shake their collective head and tremble with manufactured outrage over Limbaugh's "incendiary" remarks, as they like to call them.

Limbaugh's "insensitive" remarks have been plastered on every sports page, sports show and newscast in the country for the past week. Newspaper coverage of his comments has been paired with "it serves that bigot right" columns from sportswriters giddy with the chance to jump on the Rush-bashing bandwagon.

So, why the rush to hang Rush? Does the punishment fit the crime?

First, it is certainly true that McNabb has not shined recently, even according to McNabb.

Whether the media give him too much credit for his team's performance is debatable, but it's certainly a valid sports opinion open to discussion on any sports show. So Rush is safe so far.

Now, here's where Limbaugh did the unthinkable. He mentioned McNabb's race.

Limbaugh claims McNabb is overrated because the sports media are concerned about the status of black quarterbacks in the NFL. Are they?

Of course they are. If there wasn't social concern for the status of black athletes and coaches in the NFL, there would not have been such a stink over the Detroit Lions hiring Steve Mariuchi (a white coach) before interviewing any black candidates.

Any guess who that stink was raised by?

That's right, the nation's sports media - the same media which now claim to be socially un-concerned with the performance of black QBs and coaches in the NFL.

Whether you agree with Limbaugh's comments, they're neither totally off the wall nor racist. Limbaugh mentioned McNabb's race, but didn't disparage it. I can't count the number of times I've heard mainstream sports journalists refer to McNabb's race, so what's the difference?

Make no mistake about it, the problem is not what was said, but who said it.

Limbaugh is a conservative, white man who, in the eyes of the overwhelmingly liberal media, has no right to talk about race. As soon as the word "black" comes out of his mouth, he's a racist.

On the other hand, if you're a minority or a liberal, you can say pretty much whatever you want and the press, ever the rooter-out of racism, has nothing to say about it.

Take Dusty Baker, who is black. The Chicago Cubs manager made some gross ethnic generalizations in July when he said:

"Personally, I like to play in the heat," he said. "It's easier for me. It's easier for most Latin guys and easier for most minority people.

"Your skin color is more conducive to the heat than it is to the light-skinned people, right? You don't see brothers running around burnt and stuff, running around with white stuff on their ears and nose and stuff."

And what did the press do? It didn't demand an apology; it didn't call Dusty a bigot.

In fact, very little was written about the incident. Conservative critics roared that white men would have lost their jobs for comments like that.

In fact, two white men already had.

In the late 80s, sports commentator Jimmy "The Greek" Snyder and Dodger executive Al Campanis were both fired for making racial statements very similar to Baker's.

And it's not just sports where racist remarks from minorities are treated with kid gloves.

New York City Councilman Charles Barron attended a reparations rally in Washington, D.C., in August 2002. The black councilman addressed a crowd of several thousand, including many reporters, saying: "I want to go up to the closest white person and say 'You can't understand this, it's a black thing' and then slap him, just for my mental health."

You probably never even heard this before I wrote it, did you?

That's because only Reuters news service wrote a story on it. Evidently, the other reporters didn't think it was a story, even though it was an elected official, speaking in a public forum, making violent threats based solely on race.

Barron's response to criticism from conservative radio broadcaster Steve Malzberg was that he was using a form of humor called "black hyperbole" that "y'all wouldn't understand because you're uptight and you're gonna take it where it was not intended." (WABC Radio, Aug. 18, 2001.)

Maybe Rush should try that.

But the double standard doesn't stop there. As long as you're liberal, you're safe it seems.

Take Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), a white man and former member of the Ku Klux Klan who used the "n-word" twice in one interview on Fox News in March 2001.

Did you hear about that one? Probably not.

The New York Times ignored the story. CNN did one report, according to Newsmax.com, a conservative news Web site.

California's Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante addressed the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists in 2001 using the "n-word." The press has yet to publicize the incident during the California recall race, in which Bustamante is the Democrats' best hope to defeat Republican front-runner Arnold Schwarzenegger.

If the press is going to cast itself as racism's biggest enemy, it should fight it on all fronts instead of creating it where it doesn't exist.

But the liberal press is on a witch-hunt.

Not for racists, but for white conservatives it can portray as racists. Limbaugh has made that point many times and now the media are clamoring for all they're worth to prove him right.

If you want a witch worth hunting, start looking for corrupt journalists. You won't have to look very hard.

Contact reporter Mary Katharine Ham at 997-3111, ext. 19; e-mail mkham@yourdailyjournal.com

http://www.yourdailyjournal.com/articles/2003/10/07/news/editorials/oped02.txt

20031013 Westminster Choir College by The Daily Princetonian

Westminster Choir College by The Daily Princetonian

Higher Education in Princeton — The other institutions

http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/archives/2003/10/13/page3/

Westminster Choir College

By Zack Surak, Princetonian Senior Writer

Imagine walking on to one of the smallest campuses you've ever seen. As you walk into a dramatic hall — similar in beauty and presence to Princeton's Nassau Hall — images of venerated men and women stare at you from the depths of the canvases that line the walls. History resonates from the soul of the building.

The rest of the interior is reminiscent of the elegant beauty of Prospect House with antique artifacts indicating a rich history. But the setting is not that of Prospect House or Nassau Hall.

As you ascend to the main lobby up a story from the entrance, a wall of singing suspends you in your tracks. Peering into the room awash with late afternoon sunlight, you see a woman — no more than 25 years old — standing adjacent to a black grand piano. She is sweetly singing an aria from an opera that this writer never had the privilege of hearing. The notes range at least three octaves and the emotions of the lyrics are played out on the singer's face.

Then, the surreal scene is interrupted. A member of the small audience calls out, "More legato . . . suspend . . . suspend . . . and release."

[…]

Westminster is a small music college with an undergraduate program of roughly 330 students pursuing scholarship in music. Classes include music education, organ performance, piano, sacred music, theory and composition, voice performance and music theater.

At the graduate level, Westminster also has about 110 students who are working towards a Master of Music degree.

The story of Westminster began in 1920 when John Finley Williamson established the Westminster Choir at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Dayton, Ohio. Within a few short years, Williamson had his volunteer choir singing at a professional level at national venues.

The early success motivated Williamson to start the Westminster Choir School in 1926 to professionally train musicians. The school moved to Ithaca, New York, in 1929 and became part of Ithaca College.

Then, in 1932, the institution moved to be close to major cities with symphonic orchestras and to a seminary that would complement the school's study of sacred music. With the help of Charles Erdman, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church and professor at the Princeton Theological Seminary, the Westminster Choir School moved to Princeton and was renamed Westminster Choir College.

At the time, Princeton President John Hibben helped Westminster's move as he lobbied the New Jersey governor for approval of college's charter. In those first years, Hibben also made the University chapel available for choral services and allowed the college to use University grounds for Westminster's annual spring festival. Close ties were forged between the University and Westminster.

Westminster continued to expand its renown during the 20th century, attracting many prominent musicians to its conservatory and faculty.

Then, in 1992, Westminster merged with Rider University.

Today, Westminster continues to attract topflight musicians. The school is home to musicians from 40 states and 18 countries.

[…]

Read the entire article here: Higher Education in Princeton — The other institutions

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Westminster Choir College Princeton New Jersey, New Jersey,