Dayhoff Westminster Soundtrack

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Chick-fil-A will be celebrating Back to School day on August 18, 2012.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/102909357/Chick-fil-A-will-be-celebrating-Back-to-School-day-on-August-18-2012

Tuesday, August 14, 2012, Westminster MD - We stopped over at the Chick-fil-A in the Westminster Shopping Center at the corner of Englar Road and Rte 140 in Westminster, MD for dinner Tuesday evening.

Along with our food came a little flyer saying that the local Chick-fil-A will be celebrating Back to School day on August 18, 2012.

I also attached a flyer that we got last December. The Chick-fil-A Trays flyer was discussed at great length at several public safety non-profits, of which I belong.

I know that many of us go out of our way to patronize the local Chick-fil-A, because the restaurant is so supportive of our local community…

Chick-fil-A has excellent food; runs a great restaurant, has excellent customer service, and is very supportive of local firefighters and law enforcement, non-profits and the community.

By all measures, Chick-fil-A is reported to be a good employer, and is a valuable contributor to the local community.

Chick-fil-A, chicken, food, restaurants, Westminster, Maryland, firefighters, law enforcement, public safety, catering,

Chick-fil-A will be celebrating Back to School day on August 18, 2012.

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2012/08/celebrate-eat-more-chicken-buy-cott-day.html

Labels: Carroll Co Bus Chick-Fill-A, Dayhoff Media The Tentacle, Food, Free Speech, Restaurants, Westminster Bus Chick-Fil-A

http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/2012/08/celebrate-eat-more-chicken-buy-cott-day.html

Celebrate Eat More Chicken ‘Buy-cott’ Day by Kevin E. Dayhoff http://www.thetentacle.com/author.cfm?MyAuthor=41 August 1, 2012 http://www.thetentacle.com/ShowArticle.cfm?mydocid=5261

Hopefully you and your family will join former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee today and be sure to patronize your local Chick fil-A restaurant in honor of ‘Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day.’ http://www.thetentacle.com/ShowArticle.cfm?mydocid=5261

Governor Huckabee organized the event in the wake of the un-American, intolerant, hate campaign being waged against the Atlanta-based restaurant chain after its president, Dan Cathy, told the author of the “Biblical Recorder,” a journal of the Baptist Press, his personal views on gay marriage.

In an article, “‘Guilty as charged,’ Mr. Cathy says of Chick-fil-A's stand on biblical & family values,” writer K. Allan Blume, explains, “Dan Cathy oversees one of the country's most successful businesses.

“As president and chief operating officer of Chick-fil-A, Cathy leads a business with 1,608 restaurants that had sales of more than $4 billion dollars last year…

“His father, S. Truett Cathy started the business in 1946… In 1967, his father opened the first Chick-fil-A restaurant in Atlanta…

In an excellent article on the matter by Jamie Smith Hopkins, “Chick-fil-A president's words on gay marriage spark tempest,” penned for The Baltimore Sun, Ms. Hopkins reports that Mr. Cathy said that Chick-fil-A is “very much supportive of the family — the biblical definition of the family unit.”… http://www.thetentacle.com/ShowArticle.cfm?mydocid=5261

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http://www.thetentacle.com/ShowArticle.cfm?mydocid=5261

http://tinyurl.com/d8d2s4d

Celebrate Eat More Chicken ‘Buy-cott’ Day – Kevin Dayhoff The Tentacle http://tinyurl.com/d8d2s4d

August 1, 2012

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Also see:

http://www.thetentacle.com/ShowArticle.cfm?mydocid=5178

Fighting the Stuff Monster – Kevin Dayhoff The Tentacle

June 20, 2012

Westminster Bus Chick-Fil-A, Carroll Co Bus Chick-Fill-A, Free Speech, Restaurants, Food, Dayhoff Media The Tentacle,

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Kevin Dayhoff is an artist - and a columnist for:

Patuxent Publishing Co., The Carroll Eagle: www.explorecarroll.com: http://www.explorecarroll.com/search/?s=Dayhoff&action=GO
The Tentacle: www.thetentacle.com http://www.thetentacle.com/author.cfm?MyAuthor=41

Westminster Patch: http://westminster.patch.com/search?keywords=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/kevindayhoffTwitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff
Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net

Tumblr: Kevin Dayhoff Banana Stems www.kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/
Smurfs: http://babylonfluckjudd.blogspot.com/
Google profile: https://profiles.google.com/kevindayhoff/

E-mail: kevindayhoff(at)gmail.com
My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/
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Tuesday, August 14, 2012

The 2011 MidAtlantic Farm Credit calendar

In recent years MidAtlantic Farm Credit has published a wonderful calendar featuring local agricultural scenes photographed by local folks involved in the business of agriculture… http://www.scribd.com/doc/102874471/The-2011-MidAtlantic-Farm-Credit-calendar

MidAtlantic Farm Credit http://midatlanticfarmcredit.com/ makes farm and country home loans, loans for equipment and buildings, land loans, construction loans, improvement loans and production/operating loans.

Consider these advantages to doing business with MidAtlantic Farm Credit:

MidAtlantic Farm Credit is one of the largest ag lenders on the East Coast with over $2 billion in loans outstanding to more than 10,500 members.

MidAtlantic Farm Credit has 20 offices, serving the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Virginia, Eastern Pennsylvania, Delaware, North-Central Maryland, North-Eastern West Virginia, and North-Western Virginia.

As a member-owned co-op, MidAtlantic Farm Credit has historically returned 85% of our profits to our borrower/members through patronage refunds.

MidAtlantic Farm Credit offers a wide range of products and services - from loans to leases to crop insurance.

MidAtlantic Farm Credit employs an experienced staff, knowledgeable in agriculture and dedicated to serving you - our member and our customer.

Headquarters

45 Aileron Ct

Westminster, MD 21157 (or)

PO Box 770

Westminster, MD 21158

Phone: 410.848.1033

Toll Free: 800.442.7334

Admin Fax: 410.876.0768

[20090421 MidAtlantic Farm Credit overview] [The 2011 MidAtlantic Farm Credit calendar]

calendar, agriculture, MidAtlantic, Farm, credit, finance, art, pictures, photographs, country, animals, crops, food, farmers, artists, photographers

*****

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

Westminster turns off pair of red light cameras, saying they've done their job

Westminster turns off pair of red light cameras, saying they've done their job

Carroll Eagle – Jim Joyner: Westminster turns off pair of red light cameras, saying they've done their job

Westminster turns off pair of red light cameras, saying they've done their job

But police will maintain camera at Nursery Road, where violations are high

By Jim Joyner, http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2012/08/westminster-turns-off-pair-of-red-light.html

July 12, 2012 hhttp://www.baltimoresun.com/explore/carroll/ph-ce-red-lights-0715-20120711,0,1274939.story Law Order Traffic Red Light Cameras, Law Order Traffic Speed Cameras, Westminster Police Chief Spaulding-Jeff, Westminster Police, Westminster Police Traffic Safety, Traffic Westminster,

The City of Westminster this week pulled the plug on a pair of red light cameras at one of the county's busiest intersections — at routes 140 and 97 — saying the cameras had, by and large, done their job in helping reduce accidents and red light runners.

"You do what you say you're going to do," said Maj. Ron Stevens of the Westminster Police Department regarding the removal of the cameras, which was approved by the Westminster Common Council on Monday.

"We said all along that the cameras were needed because of safety issues," Stevens said. "They've definitely worked — people are much more aware of the dangers of the intersection."

But the department will continue to operate another red light camera a block away at Route 97 and Nursery Road, based on data that shows continued high rates of violations on that stretch of road.

It's the second time that Westminster has reduced its use of red light cameras since it first installed five of the devices in spring 2010.

[…]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/explore/carroll/ph-ce-red-lights-0715-20120711,0,1274939.story

*****

Drudge: All-star cast of 'liberal hacks' to run debates

The Drudge Report is reporting that the upcoming presidential and vice presidential debates will be moderated by a crew of "liberal hacks" including Jim Lehrer of PBS, Candy Crowley of CNN and Bob Schieffer of CBS.

Read & Comment

Drudge: All-star cast of 'liberal hacks' to run debates

U.S. ignores abuse of Christian women in Egypt

Book: Holder pot raids distract from gun scandal

U.S. Olympian waves Mexican flag after medal win

Obama camp bars reporter from talking to voters

Obama invited to lunch with Morsi, Ahmadinejad

Introducing Janna Ryan, the possible second lady

Americans reject crony capitalism

House committee to file Holder contempt charges

Soros gets hitched: Wife No. 3 and half his age

Why we shouldn't make voting easy

Here comes the media slant against Ryan

Ryan leap from Congress to VP would be huge

Romney taps Ryan as running mate

Stop the presses: Obama team calls Ryan 'radical'

Ryan is exactly what Romney needs to nail Dems

DNC script offers 'real people,' saccharine stories

Inside the Beltway: The Hollywood script

Health law readiness follows state, party lines

From Olympians to lawmakers

Consumer bureau seeks sleuths for bad bankers

F-35 cost can’t be tamed, analysts say

Police group backs Allen; credit unions go with Kaine

Poll shows most Americans know little about Paul Ryan

McCain: Attacks on Romney 'succeeded to a certain degree'

Kyrgyzstan eyes law to curb extravagance

Obama team deflecting criticism by citing Bush

GHEI: The Social Security Ponzi scheme

DECKER: Romney-Ryan ticket takes fight to Obama

MILLER: Exploiting gun tragedies

WOLF: Desperate Democrats reek of fear

GREEN: Ryan pick is popular, bold

EDITORIAL: Obama: Let's take over every industry

KNIGHT: Slinging mud from the Soptic tank

LAMBRO: Backing Obama a blood sport

MILLER: The work-to-welfare president

DEHAVEN: Cut big business's corporate welfare

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WJZ-TV Channel 13 Baltimore MD: Westminster Deactivating Most Red Light Cameras On Concerns They’re Causing Accidents

Westminster Deactivating Most Red Light Cameras On Concerns They’re Causing Accidents

July 11, 2012 http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2012/07/11/westminster-deactivating-most-red-light-cameras-on-concerns-theyre-causing-accidents/

WESTMINSTER, Md. (WJZ)– Westminster is putting a stop to most of their red light cameras. Police say they may have been causing more accidents than they were preventing.

Andrea Fujii has the story.

After more than two years, the red light cameras at Route 97 and Route 140 in Westminster have been turned off. The City Council voted Monday to deactivate them.

“These cameras were not in a break-even mode. They were literally costing the city taxpayers money,” Chief Jeff Spaulding of the Westminster Police Department said.

They were meant to make the intersection safer and generate revenue, but police say they did neither.

In the two years they’ve been up, police say there were 11 serious crashes and 35 fender benders… http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2012/07/11/westminster-deactivating-most-red-light-cameras-on-concerns-theyre-causing-accidents/ WJZ-TV Channel 13 Baltimore MD: Westminster Deactivating Most Red Light Cameras On Concerns They’re Causing Accidents

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Celebrities Who Lean To The Right « Photo Galleries « CBS Baltimore

Celebrities Who Lean To The Right « Photo Galleries « CBS Baltimore

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/photo-galleries/2012/03/25/celebrities-who-lean-to-the-right/#photo-2882

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Monday, August 13, 2012

Maryland Special Session: Delegate Ready Fights in Special Session to Encourage Real, Lasting Job Growth

Delegate Ready Fights in Special Session to Encourage Real, Lasting Job Growth

Annapolis – Delegate Justin Ready (R-5A) has introduced two bills in the House of Delegates to address Maryland’s stagnant economy and nation-worst rate of job loss. The bills were introduced by Senator E.J. Pipkin in the State Senate and are part of a “Jobs Package” to encourage private sector business growth in Maryland. “While I do not believe we should be having this special session to address gambling, there is no question that jobs are leaving Maryland. If anything, that’s the “emergency” we should be focused on here,” Delegate Ready said. Both bills are aimed at reducing the 8.25% business tax rate and using additional tax credits to incentivize out of state and international investment into Maryland’s smaller, rural counties. Delegate Ready has brought these bills to the House in an attempt to put light on serious economic issues facing the state.

“Since my first Session in 2011, I have tried to promote and support policies to encourage job growth in Maryland, particularly in the private sector. Governor O’Malley has talked before about Jobs, Jobs, Jobs, but other than occasional bursts of government spending on temporary projects like road construction, his administration has failed to take action,” continued Ready. “This Special Session could be used as a rare opportunity to re-visit and correct our state’s punitive tax and regulatory policies that are suffocating small business.”

In July, the Washington Times reported that Maryland was the worst among the nation for job loss in the first six months of 2012. TheMaryland Gazette has also reported that venture capital in Maryland has plummeted to its lowest levels in sixteen years.

“Right now we are looking at the exact “doomsday” scenario that my Republican colleagues and I have warned about – job loss, and businesses leaving Maryland. Now is the time to choose progress and correct course,” Ready concluded.

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Sunday, August 12, 2012

FY 2001 Compensation Survey of Maryland Local Governments

Compensation Survey of Maryland Local Governments

http://www.scribd.com/doc/102709596/FY-2001-Compensation-Survey-of-Maryland-Local-Governments

FY 2001

Compiled by:

Jeanne E. Bilanin

Clare Capotosto

and

Jeffrey R. Kummer

A Collaborative Project

Maryland Association of Counties

Maryland Municipal League

and Institute for Governmental Service

Center for Applied Policy Studies University of Maryland, College Park

January 2001

Originally received December 14, 2002

Retrieved August 12, 2012 from archives for records review, retention or disposition – otherwise known as Fighting the “Stuff Monster,” Kevin E. Dayhoff June 20, 2012 The Tentacle http://www.thetentacle.com/author.cfm?MyAuthor=41 - - The mindless meanderings of a mad writer. http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2012/08/kevin-dayhoff-tentacle-fighting-stuff.html

It is interesting to see how compensation for local government workers has changed in the past ten years.

Sadly, while much of the public’s attention has been distracted by perceived excesses in compensation and job security among state and federal workers – and in some situations, workers higher-up on local county and municipal government pay scales; the workers at the bottom of the pay scale have not seen any increases for as much as five-years.

…

From the preface of the survey:

Preface

The Institute for Governmental Service (IGS) of the University of Maryland, College Park, in collaboration with the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) and the Maryland Municipal League (MML), is pleased to present this report of the fiscal year 2001 Compensation Survey of Maryland Local Governments, the latest of a series of wage surveys that IGS began in the 1980s. One hundred thirty jurisdictions, including 107 municipalities and all 23 counties, participated in the survey and contributed to the data for more than 150 different positions. This report also includes information regarding the benefits offered by these participating jurisdictions during the 2001 fiscal year. In addition, compensation information for a number of positions was provided by the administrative office of the courts, boards of education, and public library systems.

In this report, Baltimore City is treated as both a county and a municipality. For positions that are unique to counties, Baltimore City is listed as a county. For positions that are unique to municipalities, Baltimore City is listed as a municipality. For positions and other information that occur in both counties and municipalities, Baltimore City is listed separately at the end of the county list and before the municipal list.

The first table in the report, "Represented Counties and Municipalities," provides estimated populations, expenditure budgets, and numbers of employees for jurisdictions represented in this report. This information may be helpful in the selection of jurisdictions to serve as a reference group against which comparisons can be made.

In using the salary data, we suggest that you refer to the job descriptions given for each position. Respondents were asked to read these descriptions before recording salary data under any particular job title. It is more important that the job description match the position you are comparing than that the job titles match. Also, be aware that the standard workweek varies among jurisdictions, as reported in the table, "Normal Work Schedule," which begins on page 7.

IGS, MACo, and MML would like to thank all of those who completed the questionnaire and who have offered suggestions throughout the years on ways to improve the survey.

FY 2001 Compensation Survey of Maryland Local Governments

Pay scales. compensation, government workers, Maryland

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Kevin Dayhoff - The Tentacle: Fighting the “Stuff Monster”

Fighting the “Stuff Monster” http://www.thetentacle.com/ShowArticle.cfm?mydocid=5178

Kevin E. Dayhoff June 20, 2012 The Tentacle http://www.thetentacle.com/author.cfm?MyAuthor=41 The mindless meanderings of a mad writer. http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2012/08/kevin-dayhoff-tentacle-fighting-stuff.html

There comes a time in a person’s life when one needs to get a fresh supply of trash bags, buy a new heavy-duty paper shredder, back the pick-up truck to the basement door, get out the large party-size coffee maker, and clear the clutter.

http://www.thetentacle.com/author.cfm?MyAuthor=41

For me, periodically fighting the “Stuff Monster” has been a survival tool – or I would have been the tragic-lead character in a serial reality horror show on hoarding a long time ago.

Yet, in my personal journey of a life-long struggle with the “Stuff Monster,” the deck has always been stacked against me.

For, you see, my situation has been exacerbated by the fact that I have been self-employed all my life. Many colleagues have been able to fight the “Stuff Monster” much more easily because all the filing cabinets full of papers and pallets of boxes in records storage, has been the responsibility of their respective employers.

Well, with me – since the late 1960s – I’ve been my own employer and keeping records, documents and stuff has always been my responsibility.

And, of course, for the last 35 or so years, in addition to art and farming, I have continuously served on any number of local, county or state boards, committees or commissions – and for many years, as an elected official – all of which was accompanied by my bringing home papers, documents and records by the wheelbarrow load.

[….]

http://www.thetentacle.com/author.cfm?MyAuthor=41

I am trying to go as paperless as possible.

My paperless initiative is in part, because technology has advanced to the point that I can now handle many office and administrative functions more efficiently - without paper.

However, my reasons for going as paperless as possible are in part, as a matter of practicality. Above and beyond the fact that we travel a lot and are simply not at home to get hardcopy paper-mail at our post office box; at my advanced age, handling mountains of paper day-in and day-out has not gotten any easier.

Curiously, after almost 40-years of office administration, if you hand me a piece of paper, in several hours, I have no clue as to where it is. However, I always seem to be able to find electronic paperwork… Caroline will tell you that I have come to like reading online so much that I scan-in letters and writing-newspaper-research materials just so that I can read it on the computer…

Moreover, a large part of my decision to go paperless is a product of my environmental activism, which in part springs forth from faith beliefs…

Whatever - - I am a geek and although a few electrons may be inconvenienced; paperless is far more efficient…

That said, LOL – the initiative sure has had some interesting moments – and a few profound failures; however, it has been for the most part, quite successful…

Fighting the “Stuff Monster”

Kevin E. Dayhoff June 20, 2012 The Tentacle http://www.thetentacle.com/author.cfm?MyAuthor=41 The mindless meanderings of a mad writer. Click here for a larger image: http://twitpic.com/hnwxx

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McDaniel College stadium progress picture.

3rd Annual Autism Society Baltimore Chesapeake Chapter Golf tournament on September 14, 2012

To register please visit the website www.AdvancingAutismAwareness.org

Registration deadline September 5, 2012

http://www.advancingautismawareness.org/tourny.php

The 3rd Annual Autism Society Baltimore Chesapeake Chapter Golf tournament will be held at Quail Valley Golf Course, in Littlestown Pennsylvania, on Friday August 26th, 2011.

Last year’s event was a huge success in raising funds, and Autism Awareness. The tournament is a 4-person best ball format. This year’s tournament will feature: a Long Drive Contest, Closest to the Pin Contest, Putting Contest, Prizes to the top teams, Door Prizes, a silent auction, complimentary breakfast and lunch, and much more.

For more details, or to be a part of this year’s event, please contact Scott Greenholtz or Heidi Shoemaker at (410) 596-3811, or send an email to AAAGolfTournament@gmail.com

3rd Annual Autism Society Baltimore Chesapeake Chapter Golf tournament on September 14, 2012

http://www.scribd.com/doc/102664739/3rd-Annual-Autism-Society-Baltimore-Chesapeake-Chapter-Golf-tournament-on-September-14-2012

Autism, Society Baltimore Chesapeake Chapter, Golf tournament, Quail Valley Golf Course

[20120914 3^rd annual Autism Society Golf Tournament

20120914 3^rd annual Autism Soc Golf Tourno flyer]

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Kevin Dayhoff is an artist - and a columnist for:

Westminster Patch: http://westminster.patch.com/search?keywords=Dayhoff

*****

Thursday, August 09, 2012

2006 United States Olympic Committee Calendar

Like many, I have thoroughly enjoyed watching the 2012 London Olympics on TV. http://www.scribd.com/doc/102422157/2006-United-States-Olympic-Committee-Calendar

So imagine how happy I was to find a 2006 United States Olympic Committee calendar in a box of old papers the other day. Please enjoy.

2006 United States Olympic Committee Calendar

[20060000 US Olympic Committee Calendar]

2006, Olympics, calendar, pictures, athletes

Sports Athletes Athletics Olympics http://www.scribd.com/doc/102422157/2006-United-States-Olympic-Committee-Calendar

*****

Wednesday, August 08, 2012

Sitting on hole #12 Links at Gettysburg 4 MTA Christmas for Kids golf tornament

Team Utz Realty one of the many sponsors MTA Christmas for Kids golf tournament

Set up fairly complete Md Troopers Assoc Christmas for Kids Golf Tournament

Monday, August 06, 2012

Progress picture on the #McDaniel College athletic stadium project

Colleges McDaniel, Colleges McDaniel stadium, Dayhoff photos McDaniel College

Friday, August 03, 2012

The livestock auction for the benefit of the FFA & 4-H'ers at Carroll Co Fair

Wednesday, August 01, 2012

Celebrate Eat More Chicken ‘Buy-cott’ Day by Kevin E. Dayhoff

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2012/08/celebrate-eat-more-chicken-buy-cott-day.html

Labels: Carroll Co Bus Chick-Fill-A, Dayhoff Media The Tentacle, Food, Free Speech, Restaurants, Westminster Bus Chick-Fil-A

Celebrate Eat More Chicken ‘Buy-cott’ Day by Kevin E. Dayhoff http://www.thetentacle.com/author.cfm?MyAuthor=41 August 1, 2012 http://www.thetentacle.com/ShowArticle.cfm?mydocid=5261

“As president and chief operating officer of Chick-fil-A, Cathy leads a business with 1,608 restaurants that had sales of more than $4 billion dollars last year…

“His father, S. Truett Cathy started the business in 1946… In 1967, his father opened the first Chick-fil-A restaurant in Atlanta…

*****

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Just a cow-ual conversation among bovine friends at the Carroll Co 4-H FFA Fair

Monday, July 30, 2012

I've enjoyed the chainsaw artist at the Carroll Co 4-H Fair.

The Buck Miller Memorial Arch at the Carroll County 4-H FFA Fair

The 4-Hers have worked so hard on their sheep projects at Carroll County Fair

All of the livestock at the Carroll County 4-H Fair are talking with one another

This evening is sheep judging at the Carroll County 4-H Fair

Enjoying all the activity at the Shipley Arena at the Carroll County 4-H Fair

Eating at the Carroll County 4-H FFA Fair.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Kevin Dayhoff - Eagle Archive: Celebrating Carroll County at the 4-H and FFA Fair

Eagle Archive: Celebrating Carroll County at the 4-H and FFA Fair

By Kevin Dayhoff July 30, 2012 http://www.baltimoresun.com/explore/carroll/opinion-talk/ph-ce-eagle-archive-0729-20120725,0,418259.story

Carroll County Agriculture Center has been a beehive of activity in preparation of the annual Carroll County 4-H and FFA Fair, which officially opened on July 27.

Historically, the summer and end of harvest events have always played an important role in Carroll County because of the region's agricultural roots.

Prior to 1865, the business of farming was, for the most part, our subsistence existence. Farmers were essentially self-sufficient.

However, after the Civil War, farmers became increasingly "dependent on creditors, merchants and railroads for their livelihoods," according to James Stewart of Reed College, who has concentrated his studies on this period of agriculture and economics. "These relationships created opportunities for economic gain, but also obligations, hardships and risks that many farmers did not welcome."

"Like" explorecarroll on Facebook

In Carroll, this period evoked celebrations of the farming way of life. A "program of events" found in an 1871 publication of the oldAmerican Sentinel refers to a "Grand Exhibition of Farm machinery under the auspices of the Carroll County Agriculture Society on the Fair Grounds, Westminster, MD."

Actually, the first authoritative mention of an organized agricultural fair event in Carroll County occurs in 1869. Nancy Warner writes in her book, "Carroll County Maryland, A History," that on Jan. 11, 1869, the Carroll County Agricultural Society was organized "at a meeting at the Court House."

"Capital of $25,000 was raised through the sale of 500 shares of stock at $50.00 per share. Thirty acres of land was bought between the present Fair Street and Malcolm Drive," Warner wrote.

It is believed that the first agricultural fair in Carroll County may have taken place on July 4, 1869, on East Main Street in Westminster — though the current Carroll County 4-H and FFA Fair celebrates its roots going back to a picnic held Aug. 14, 1897, at the Otterdale Schoolhouse, in Taneytown.

The fair moved to Westminster in 1954. The Carroll County Agriculture Center was established as a private organization on March 20, 1954, by a group of visionary leaders who purchased the land at the end of an old dirt lane off Gist Road, way outside of town — or at least it was back then — with their own money.

This year's fair runs through Saturday, Aug. 4, with racing pigs, the annual Combine Demolition Derby, Wild West Night, Car Demolition Derby, Lawn Mower Racing, Tractor Pull and more. Many are looking forward to seeing country music singer and songwriter Kip Moore on Aug. 4, at 8 p.m.

For a calendar of events and more information, go to carrollcountyfair.com.

See you at the fair.

When he is not eating his way from one end of the fair to the other, Kevin Dayhoff …

http://www.baltimoresun.com/explore/carroll/opinion-talk/ph-ce-eagle-archive-0729-20120725,0,418259.story

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