Wednesday, July 14, 2010

This week in The Tentacle

http://www.thetentacle.com/

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Kevin E. Dayhoff

On July 9, 2010, Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley released his first television commercial of this year’s featured main event for political junkies – the much-ballyhooed 2010 professional wrestling steel cage match that may be otherwise known as the Merryland gubernatorial election (re)cycle.

A Reason to Cheer – It’s Over

Tom McLaughlin

Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia – The World Cup united everyone here in Kuching. Australians, Germans, Dutch, Malaysians, English, Chinese and many others knew every player, the weaknesses and strengths of each country’s team and can replay every game down to the nano-second. A hearty camaraderie replaced any nationalistic animosities.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Crowded Wannabes

Roy Meachum

It’s entirely possible that so many candidates filed for elections in recent years, I don’t remember.

Admonitions for Candidates

Farrell Keough

The term “smoke-filled room” is generally attributed to the election of Warren G. Harding, our 29th President of the United States. President Harding was generally considered one of our worst Presidents due to the many instances of graft within his administration.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Charter, the Government of Choice

Earl 'Rocky' Mackintosh

Over the course of the last few months, I have made it pretty clear that I believe that Frederick County’s current form of government is outdated and not appropriate for the complex obligations that face our community. especially as we dig deeper into the 21^st Century.

Campaign Diary – A Wild Fourth and Beyond

Michael Kurtianyk

Today (July 3rd) is our 16th anniversary, so I thought I’d share with you how I spent this day before The Fourth of July.

Friday, July 9, 2010

“Real” Candidates

Roy Meachum

Editor and Publisher John Ashbury attached to Fridays’ TheTentacle.com the list of filed candidates for state and county races, since before most of us felt a political urge, one way or another.

My Best Friend Forever

Roy Meachum

He appeared in my life when he was a black-and-white butterball, only 12-weeks-old. Today he reached 12-years-old.

2010 Election Candidates – State Offices

John W. Ashbury

The filing deadline has passed. So today we post the entire list of candidates for this fall’s elections – primary, then general.

2010 Election Candidates – County Offices

John W. Ashbury

The filing deadline has passed. So today we post the entire list of candidates for this fall’s elections – primary, then general.

The “Triumph” of Lew Wallace

Joe Charlebois

One hundred and forty-six years ago today at the confluence of the Georgetown Pike (now Route 355), the Monocacy Junction of the B&O Railroad and just up river the Baltimore Pike to Baltimore (now Reich’s Ford Road), Union forces led by Maj. Gen. Lew Wallace lost the only Civil War battle on Union soil to Confederate forces.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Football, Futbol, and Soccer

Adam Avery

The 2010 World Cup in South Africa has stirred debate as to whether or not futbol – soccer if you prefer – is a worthwhile televised spectacle. Those bored by soccer – typically Americans – prefer to watch their neighbor's paint dry. The rest of the world considers it the most celebrated sport on Earth.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

The Wisdom of “Silent Cal”

Kevin E. Dayhoff

The Fourth of July has come and gone. The fireworks exclaimed its last hurrah along with the Ooos and Ahhhs. The remains of the day include a few partially eaten hot dogs, a half-bag of potato chips, and the sticky, syrupy goo that we can call Maryland’s heat and humidity that clung to your skin and followed you home.

A Mad Hash

Tom McLaughlin

Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia – “Good on yer mate” I yelled at the Hashers crossing the roundabout. “Darling, meet me at my condo tonight at eight” was hurled to all the pretty girls and elderly ladies walking or dashing by. “My god, my ex-wife shows up in my Borneo dream!” I shouted at a particularly ugly man dressed in lipstick, a red dress and a hairy chest.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

The Maryland Republican Mess

Roy Meachum

Mingling again at the GOP’s Barley & Hops First Friday night, I realized that most of my best friends are Republicans. They regard me as wild-eyed and totally liberal. They might put up with me because of my bald head and gray beard.

A Cuban History Lesson – Part 3

Nick Diaz

In my last installment, I mentioned how James Baker, the head of an American school in Havana, had allied himself with Father Brian Walsh for the purpose of providing for the thousands of unaccompanied Cuban children arriving in Miami.

Monday, July 5, 2010

Campaign Diary – Busy Week Plus…

Michael Kurtianyk

I’ve had the good fortune to work with www.tvfrederick.com on a weekly venture called “The Michael K Show.” As I said on the show, it’s “live, online, and archived.”

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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

demo version of sinking 1985 by The Cure

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7zr9jo58I8

Sinking

I am slowing down

As the years go by

I am sinking

So I trick myself

Like everybody else

The secrets I hide

Twist me inside

They make me weaker

So I trick myself

Like everybody else

I crouch in fear and wait

I'll never feel again...

If only I could remember

Anything at all

2010714 19850000 demo version of sinking by The Cure

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Tuesday, July 13, 2010

The Daily Caller: APNewsBreak: Ariz gov rival suspends campaign

APNewsBreak: Ariz gov rival suspends campaign

By PAUL DAVENPORT | Published: 7:22 PM 07/13/2010

PHOENIX (AP) — The last main rival to Republican Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer suspended his campaign Tuesday, likely clearing the way for a GOP primary win for the incumbent whose popularity has risen sharply following her signing of the state’s tough new illegal immigration law. Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2010/07/13/apnewsbreak-ariz-gov-rival-suspends-campaign/#ixzz0tbq7VGQv

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Saturday, July 10, 2010

Steve Berryman, Frederick News-Post: Enigmatic Frederick

Steve Berryman
Enigmatic Frederick
Originally published July 09, 2010

To have ventured downtown to Frederick 's celebration of Independence Day was to become enmeshed with real Americana, despite your political bent. To call it the Fourth of July celebration is to embrace political correctness, in my humble opinion.Giant American flags hung from the world's most expensive construction cranes and firetrucks, but my gut tells me that there was no incurred expense in that, as to be patriotic in display

[...]

Chief of Police Kim Dine personally patrolled on his two-wheeled Segway scooter. Mayor Randy McClement was found at the most critical juncture of the event, judging WFMD's chili cook-off along with some city aldermen, including Kelly Russell and Michael O'Connor.

[...]

Strategically situated between the band's high "db" harangue at the main stage, the chili, and the Marines' beer garden I found colleague Rick Weldon, city administrator. He was in a most philosophical mode, as we spent a few moments solving the region's problems, and enjoying our common ancestry writing for the Web journal The Tentacle.

The free-form style and "anything goes" nature of the most respected Tentacle site had gotten Rick into some hot water of late, as his opportunistic critics had cried foul over some obviously sarcastic commentary

... http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/opinion/display_comments_columnist.htm?section=sBerryman&storyID=107098#postComments

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What’s wrong with this picture - Frederick County MD Commissioners' expense accounts will go to nonprofits

Frederick News-Post: Commissioners should reach into own pockets Originally published in the Frederick News-Post July 08, 2010

http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/opinion/display_editorial.htm?StoryID=107050&section=ed

Three of the Frederick County Commissioners recently donated $3,547 to several local charities. Normally, we'd be more excited about the generous gesture, but there is one slight problem: It wasn't their money, it was yours.

In case you missed it, Commissioners Kai Hagen and David Gray and Commissioners President Jan Gardner took unspent money from their taxpayer-funded expense accounts and then donated it to charities of their choice last week.

We're not arguing the local charities that made out in this deal aren't needy, and $3,547 certainly isn't going to break the bank… http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/opinion/display_editorial.htm?StoryID=107050&section=ed

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Meg Tully: Frederick County MD Commissioners' expense accounts will go to nonprofits

Originally published in the Frederick News-Post July 02, 2010 By Meg Tully News-Post Staff

http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display_comments.htm?StoryID=106839#postComments

Three Frederick County Commissioners are using their expense accounts to partially offset cuts the commissioners board made to local charities earlier this year.

But one commissioner is raising objections that it's an inappropriate use of the funds.

"It infuriated me," said Commissioner Blaine Young. "I think that every nonprofit that the individuals wanted to give money to was worthy, but they needed to reach in their pocket and not the taxpayers' pocket."

The $3,500 accounts are intended to reimburse for costs such as mileage and supplies incurred by the commissioners in the performance of their duties. The commissioners president has a slightly larger account of $4,000.

Commissioners Kai Hagen and David Gray and Commissioners President Jan Gardner asked Tuesday that leftover money from their accounts be given to nonprofit organizations whose county funding was cut this year…

http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display_comments.htm?StoryID=106839#postComments

~~~~~~

20100702 Tully FredCo BOCC exp accs will go to nonprofits

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Does anyone in Frederick County politics know where they live?

Meg Tully of the Frederick News-Post has the stories…

Two BoCC candidates out of race over new residency requirements

Originally published July 09, 2010 By Meg Tully News-Post Staff

http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display_comments.htm?StoryID=107125#postComments

Frederick County Commissioners candidates Caroline Eader and Adam Avery have been disqualified from the race.

In an e-mail Thursday, Frederick County Board of Elections Director Stuart Harvey said they were disqualified because they did not meet the residency requirements. Specifically, they registered to vote in Frederick County after May 2.

Eader, a Democrat, said she will look into the appeals process. Harvey said Eader had been informed that if she would like to appeal, she should look to the courts.

[…]

But Avery said he's not complaining about the law…

http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display_comments.htm?StoryID=107125#postComments

~~~~~~

Delegate candidate claims model home as legal residence

Originally published July 09, 2010 By Meg Tully News-Post Staff

http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?StoryID=107124

State delegate candidate Scott Rolle is registered to vote at a house being used as a model home.

Rolle, a Republican, is living in an apartment temporarily while the new house is being finished, he said.

In order to qualify as a candidate for state delegate, Rolle must be a resident of the district he seeks to represent for six months prior to the election. The apartment is located outside District 3A, the seat he is running for.

Rolle, a former Frederick County state's attorney, said he thinks the model home on West Greenleaf Drive in Whittier qualifies as his legal residence, and he considers the house and not the apartment his primary residence, even though he doesn't live in the house… http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?StoryID=107124

20100709 FNP Tully Does anyone in FC politics know where they live?

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Friday, July 09, 2010

Northern Carroll County Sunset

Northern Carroll County Sunset July 9, 2010 by Kevin Dayhoff

[20100705 GrangePicnic (15)c sunset]

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Investigative Voice: Baltimore City Hall Shake-Up: Baltimore DPW Director David Scott Forced To Resign

Investigative Voice: Baltimore City Hall Shake-Up: Baltimore DPW Director David Scott Forced To Resign http://tinyurl.com/28ba7e8

BREAKING NEWS - CITY HALL SHAKE-UP: DPW DIRECTOR DAVID SCOTT FORCED TO RESIGN Click here to read more

http://investigativevoice.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4812:news-flash-dpw-director-david-scott-forced-out&catid=25:the-project&Itemid=44

Baltimore Department of Public Works director David Scott was forced to resign his position as head of the agency today as part of city hall shake-up that may included other cabinet members.

Scott, a holdover from the administration of former mayor Sheila Dixon was asked to resign, sources told Investigative Voice.

The departure comes in the wake of Scott’s firing of Waste and Wastewater Bureau Chief Kishia Powell last week, a move that allegedly stoked controversy inside the agency. Powell was appointed by DPW Director David Scott to head the Water and Wastewater Bureau in 2008…

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In other news:

COUNCILMAN PAYS BACK CITY $6000 FOR BAR TAB AND OTHER QUESTIONABLE EXPENSES SAID MONEY WAS SPENT DOING CITY BUSINESS click here to read more

'SUNSHINE LAW" SUIT MAY HALT WORK ON ORIOLES FLORIDA HOME FATE OF $31 RELOCATION DEAL IN THE HANDS OF FLORIDA JUDGE Click here to read more

CASA DE MARYLAND SEEKS TO QUESTION FALL CANDIDATES FLEX POL. MUSCLE new spin-off org will work to register voters Click here to read more

CITY HALL INSIDER

TEMPERS FLARE AS CONTROVERSY GROWS OVER FATHER'S DAY EVENT RELOCATED TO CHERRY HILL Also, some council members steamed over lack of heads up on new health commissioner Click here to read more

NATIONAL EXCLUSIVE

FEDS SEND ONLY 3 VETS TO HELP WILDLIFE IN GULF OIL SPILL

'It's an impossible situation,' environmentalist says after trip to region.

Click here to read more

CHECK OUT MYLOCALCRIME.COM

NEW FROM SPOTCRIME.COM

THE FASTEST, EASIEST WAY TO CHECK CRIME IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD! WE INPUT THE ADDRESS FOR CITY HALL! WOW IT'S DANGEROUS DOWN THERE! CHECK OUT THE RESULTS

COMMUNITY ACTIVIST JOINS RACE FOR GOVERNOR

Maria Allwine, best known for battling Constellation Energy, joins Green Party ticket in Md. Click here to read more

TOP PUBLIC WORKS OFFICIAL FORCED OUT? Click here to read more

IS CRIME REALLY DOWN??? 8 HOMICIDES, 8 SHOOTINGS, 44 ROBBERIES IN 1 WEEK Click here to read more

POPULAR SOUTHERN DISTRICT MAJOR TRANSFERRED DESPITE COMMUNITY SUPPORT Click here to read more

CLINTON 2012? I.V. reporter Al Forman tells you why it's possible
Click here to read more

NEW SUSPENSION IN SEX OFFENDER CASE DPW director confirms latest disciplinary action related to payroll fraud. Click here to read more

20100709 IV DPW Director David Scott Forced To Resign

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News from The Hill: Obama says his WH is not anti-business

Yeah right...

News from The Hill:

Obama says his White House is not anti-business
By Walter Alarkon President Barack Obama pushed back at criticism that his administration is anti-business on Friday, arguing White House actions have boosted the private sector. Read more

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MRC Alert: CBS's Couric to Netanyahu: 'Should You Be More Strongly Advocating' on Obama's Behalf?

A daily compilation edited by Brent H. Baker, CyberAlert items are drawn from daily BiasAlert posts and distributed by the Media Research Center's News Analysis Division, the leader since 1987 in documenting, exposing and neutralizing liberal media bias.

Tracking Liberal Media Bias Since 1996
Friday July 09, 2010 @ 08:32 AM EDT

1. CBS's Couric to Netanyahu: 'Should You Be More Strongly Advocating' on Obama's Behalf?
In an interview with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric noted President Obama's unpopularity in Israel and pressed Netanyahu to remedy that fact: "To change public opinion in your country, should you be more strongly advocating on his behalf?" Couric preceded that question by citing a recent poll of Israelis, which she seemed perplexed by: "Can you explain this to me, then? In a poll conducted a month ago – just a month ago – 71 percent of the Jews in Israel surveyed said they dislike President Obama; 47 percent expressed a strong dislike."

2. Morning Shows Devote 52 Minutes to Lindsay Lohan, a Scant 20 Seconds to Appointment of Controversial Doctor
Over the span of two days, the network morning shows have given just 20 seconds of coverage to the recess appointment of Donald Berwick, a pro-rationing doctor who will run Medicare. In contrast, Good Morning America, Today and Early Show devoted 52 minutes of coverage to every detail of Lindsay Lohan's sentencing.

3. State Lawmaker Discredits Campbell Brown's 'Misinformation' About Arizona's Immigration Law
Debating the fallout of the Obama administration's attempt to squelch Arizona's popular immigration law before it goes into effect later this month, CNN's Campbell Brown on July 6 challenged a chief advocate of the law with a multi-pronged assault, only to see her attacks thwarted and her "misinformation" corrected. In a blatant contradiction, Brown dismissed State Senator Russell Pearce's (R-Ariz.) "anecdote" about ranchers who are under siege because of the federal government's failure to secure the porous border, but highlighted anecdotal evidence of opposition to the new law.

4. Former Time Reporter Carlson: I Would Vote for Kagan 'Twice'
During the July 2 edition of Bloomberg Television’s Political Capital, Bloomberg News columnist Margaret Carlson exalted Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan. Carlson stated she would vote for Kagan "twice" because "It has been so long since I saw someone in public life joyful about being there." The gushing didn't stop there for Carlson who continued to adorn Kagan for her impeccable "intellectual ability" and "temperament," despite admitting that there was little substance known about Kagan. This however was not important to Carlson who then proceeded to fawn over Kagan's joke that "brought the house down."

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Nick Diaz Retired math teacher tutors at nonprofit

Nick Diaz Retired math teacher tutors at nonprofit By Nicholas C. Stern News-Post Staff July 09, 2010

http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?StoryID=107114

At the age of 13, Nick Diaz left his native Cuba with his mother in 1960 for the promise of a new life in the United States.

He arrived in Miami, soon accompanied by thousands of other Cuban children fleeing in exile. He found that relying on his foreign compatriots for advice and aid in adapting to life in a new country was key to success.

So when Elizabeth Chung, executive director of LIFE and Discovery, asked him to tutor young students, many of whom are immigrants, he said he could not refuse. Diaz teaches the math classes year-round at the educational nonprofit's offices in Frederick.

"We think of it as an investment in the future," he said… http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?StoryID=107114

20100709 FNP Nick Diaz Retired math teacher tutors at nonprofit

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Newsweek: The Workers of the Future Are millennials better at navigating the current job market?

The Workers of the Future

Are millennials better at navigating the current job market?

http://www.newsweek.com/2010/02/25/the-workers-of-the-future.html

by Nancy CookFebruary 26, 2010

Since Andrew Benton graduated from college less than four years ago, he has dropped out of a Princeton Ph.D. program in economics, moved to rural Georgia to start a Web-software company that he's trying to sell, and now works freelance for a cloud-computing company in Silicon Valley. He buys his own health insurance and contributes to his retirement accounts; neither his policy nor his accounts receive corporate contributions. Does his job instability and lack of benefits worry him? Nope. The 26-year-old does not expect to hold a traditional 9-to-5 job unless he starts his own business again, and he is not overly pessimistic about the recession's long-term effect on his career. "I don't pay that much attention to what is going on in the economy," he says. "I just found stuff I was interested in."

Whatever you make of this attitude—smart, entitled, tech savvy, risky, or bold—Benton is arguably the prototype of the new and perhaps ideal worker in the post-recession economy. Like many millennials, a.k.a. Generation Yers, he does not mind flitting from project to project and doesn't miss the traditional climb up the corporate ladder. He does not look to companies to provide safety nets such as health insurance, 401(k)s, or paid sick leave. "The recession has confirmed a skepticism that's very deep for Gen Yers that there is no such thing as job security. You've got to be a free agent to pay the bills," says Bruce Tulgan, founder of RainmakerThinking, a Connecticut-based research firm that studies young people in the workplace... http://www.newsweek.com/2010/02/25/the-workers-of-the-future.html

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Del. Joseph R. Bartlett drops out of state race

Bartlett drops out of state race

Says decision not a result of ‘recent political turbulence' over housing rental arrangement

by Katherine Heerbrandt | Staff Writer Thursday, July 8, 2010

http://www.gazette.net/stories/07082010/frednew164427_32549.php

It's official. Following a weekend of speculation surrounding his decision to withdraw from his re-election bid, Del. Joseph R. Bartlett announced Tuesday that he is out.

Bartlett (R-Dist. 4A) of Middletown said in a statement that his decision had been forthcoming for months, and had nothing to do with "recent political turbulence or a fear of not being re-elected." He also stated that he will be unavailable for comment or interviews for several days.

Talk about Bartlett's withdrawal began after The Gazette published a story last week that he was reconsidering running for a fourth term. He filed the papers on June 4 to run again, six days before The Gazette published a story detailing his housing rental arrangement that financially benefited his girlfriend, Katharine Hopkins… http://www.gazette.net/stories/07082010/frednew164427_32549.php

20100708 Gaz Heerbrandt Bartlett drops out of state race

Thursday, July 1, 2010 Bartlett considers not running again

Three-term delegate's ethics called into question by colleagues

by Katherine Heerbrandt | Staff Writer

http://www.gazette.net/stories/07012010/thurnew165422_32550.php

A state delegate from Frederick County is considering not running for a fourth term, following fallout from a story published in The Gazette about a housing rental arrangement with his girlfriend at taxpayers' expense.

This week Del. Joseph R. Bartlett (R-Dist. 4) of Middletown, who has served as a state delegate since 1998, said that as the July 6 filing deadline approaches, "you always search your soul and see if this is something you want to do again." ...

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Bartlett rethinks ‘sweetheart deal' Friday, June 11, 2010

Delegate within law, but rental payments to girlfriend raise questions

by Katherine Heerbrandt | Staff Writer http://www.gazette.net/stories/06112010/polinew184800_32556.php

A state delegate from Frederick County said he is rethinking a housing rental arrangement in which the state paid his girlfriend $30,000 over three years while the General Assembly was in session.

Del. Joseph R. Bartlett (R-Dist. 4) of Middletown acknowledged this week that he has stayed with his girlfriend in her Annapolis home at taxpayers' expense during the 2008, 2009 and 2010 sessions of the General Assembly.

Legally and ethically, Bartlett's actions comply with state law, but he admits he did not think the situation through and likely will discontinue the practice if he is re-elected this year...

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Rejected to Perfected: Fine Art from Recyclables photo by Lyndi McNulty

June 18, 2010 photo by Lyndi McNulty

"Rejected to Perfected: Fine Art from Recyclables" currently at the Carroll Arts Center's Tevis Gallery in Westminster. Exhibit is open through Aug. 6.

For more information, click on http://tinyurl.com/2bu5h6t

Labels: Art Carroll Arts Center, Dayhoff Art show, Dayhoff Art Shows CCAC, Dayhoff Art Shows CCAC 20100618

Sponsor: The Maryland Sustainable Living Fair

Where: The Carroll Art Center, 91 West Main Street, Westminster, MD, 21157 View Google Map

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2010/07/pam-zappardino-in-arts-artists-find.html

20100618 McN2 KED at CCAC

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