Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist

Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist
Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Md Troopers Assoc #20 & Westminster Md Fire Dept Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist

Monday, June 30, 2003

19720925 Jane Fonda in North Vietnam transcript

Jane Fonda in North Vietnam transcript

http://www.aiipowmia.com/updates/updt6003.html

19-25 September 1972

June 30, 2003 SEA - Jane Fonda Radio Hanoi Broadcast

The following public domain information is a transcript from the US Congress House Committee on Internal Security, Travel to Hostile Areas, HR 16742, 19-25 September, 1972, page 671.

"This is Jane Fonda. During my two week visit in the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, I've had the opportunity to visit a great many places and speak to a large number of people from all walks of life--workers, peasants, students, artists and dancers, historians, journalists, film actresses, soldiers, militia girls, members of the women's union, writers."

http://www.aiipowmia.com/inter23/in300603hanoiradio.html

Re: Jane Fonda Radio Hanoi Broadcast

From: POW-MIA InterNetwork

Date: June 30, 2003

"Broadcast Over Radio Hanoi

To American Servicemen Involved In The Indochina War

by Jane Fonda

American Actress, Political Activist

August 22, 1972 - The following public domain information is a transcript from the US Congress House Committee on Internal Security, Travel to Hostile Areas, HR 16742, 19-25 September, 1972, page 671.

This is Jane Fonda. During my two week visit in the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, I've had the opportunity to visit a great many places and speak to a large number of people from all walks of life--workers, peasants, students, artists and dancers, historians, journalists, film actresses, soldiers, militia girls, members of the women's union, writers.

I visited the (Dam Xuac) agricultural co-op, where the silk worms are also raised and thread is made. I visited a textile factory, a kindergarten in Hanoi. The beautiful Temple of Literature was where I saw traditional dances and heard songs of resistance. I also saw unforgettable ballet about the guerrillas training bees in the south to attack enemy soldiers. The bees were danced by women, and they did their job well.

In the shadow of the Temple of Literature I saw Vietnamese actors and actresses perform the second act of Arthur Miller's play All My Sons, and this was very moving to me--the fact that artists here are translating and performing American plays while US imperialists are bombing their country.

I cherish the memory of the blushing militia girls on the roof of their factory, encouraging one of their sisters as she sang a song praising the blue sky of Vietnam--these women, who are so gentle and poetic, whose voices are so beautiful, but who, when American planes are bombing their city, become such good fighters.

I cherish the way a farmer evacuated from Hanoi, without hesitation, offered me, an American, their best individual bomb shelter while US bombs fell near by. The daughter and I, in fact, shared the shelter wrapped in each others arms, cheek against cheek. It was on the road back from Nam Dinh, where I had witnessed the systematic destruction of civilian targets-schools, hospitals, pagodas, the factories, houses, and the dike system.

As I left the United States two weeks ago, Nixon was again telling the American people that he was winding down the war, but in the rubble-strewn streets of Nam Dinh, his words echoed with sinister (words indistinct) of a true killer. And like the young Vietnamese woman I held in my arms clinging to me tightly--and I pressed my cheek against hers--I thought, this is a war against Vietnam perhaps, but the tragedy is America's.

One thing that I have learned beyond a shadow of a doubt since I've been in this country is that Nixon will never be able to break the spirit of these people; he'll never be able to turn Vietnam, north and south, into a neo-colony of the United States by bombing, by invading, by attacking in any way. One has only to go into the countryside and listen to the peasants describe the lives they led before the revolution to understand why every bomb that is dropped only strengthens their determination to resist.

I've spoken to many peasants who talked about the days when their parents had to sell themselves to landlords as virtually slaves, when there were very few schools and much illiteracy, inadequate medical care, when they were not masters of their own lives.

But now, despite the bombs, despite the crimes being created--being committed against them by Richard Nixon, these people own their own land, build their own schools--the children learning, literacy--illiteracy is being wiped out, there is no more prostitution as there was during the time when this was a French colony. In other words, the people have taken power into their own hands, and they are controlling their own lives.

And after 4,000 years of struggling against nature and foreign invaders--and the last 25 years, prior to the revolution, of struggling against French colonialism--I don't think that the people of Vietnam are about to compromise in any way, shape or form about the freedom and independence of their country, and I think Richard Nixon would do well to read Vietnamese history, particularly their poetry, and particularly the poetry written by Ho Chi Minh."



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Sunday, June 29, 2003

20030629 Westminster Mayor's Proclamation for Corbit's Charge Day, June 29, 2003


MAYOR’S PROCLAMATION

Corbit’s Charge Day, June 29, 2003

WHEREAS, from 1861 to 1865, our nation fought in a Civil War to rid our nation of the scourge of slavery. Westminster, although a divided community, came together to see our community through the horrors of war, and played a role in the successful outcome of the war, thereby affecting the course of history for our great nation; and

WHEREAS, Captain Charles Corbit led Companies C and D, First Delaware Cavalry, in a skirmish against General J.E.B. Stuart’s Cavalry Division on June 29, 1863 in Westminster, Maryland; which was a factor in General Stuart’s failure to reach the Gettysburg Battlefield before July 2, 1863; and

WHEREAS, The Mayor and Common Council of Westminster applaud the humanitarian efforts of Westminster’s citizens, who selflessly came together to the aid of the casualties of both Armies engaged in the conflict; and

WHEREAS, the end result of the American Civil War was that these United States became THE United States as the American Civil War helped to define our identify as a nation. The penalty for our sins, as a nation for allowing the scourge of slavery, was The American Civil War – but The Good Lord had a plan as providence saw through these terrible events in our great nation and our great community to accomplish great things; and

WHEREAS, The Mayor and Common Council of Westminster wish to commemorate the 140th Anniversary of Corbit’s Charge and pay homage to the bravery of the soldiers, from the North and the South and to our community’s citizens, who came together in the face of hardship and adversity.

NOW, THEREFORE, let it be known that I, Mayor Kevin E. Dayhoff, do hereby declare Sunday, June 29, 2003 in Westminster, Maryland as:

“CORBIT’S CHARGE DAY”

In honor of the soldiers who fought here so valiantly

and the sense of a community that came together as a result

of the horrible events of that day fateful 140 years ago.

Signed at City Hall this Twenty Ninth day of June

in the Year of our Lord, Two Thousand Three

KEVIN E. DAYHOFF, Westminster Mayor

20030629 Berlin Mayor Dr. John William Pitts and Corbit’s Charge


20030629 Berlin Mayor Dr. John William Pitts and Corbit’s Charge

Dr. John William Pitts[1]

By Kevin Dayhoff © June 29th, 2003


The first Mayor of Berlin, Dr. John William Pitts, had a small role in Corbit’s Charge in Westminster Maryland on June 29th, 1863.

In 1863, young Private John William Pitts, from Worcester County, was serving in Company K 1st Va. Cavalry (almost all the men in Company K were from southern Maryland). Private Pitts had been attending the University of Virginia as a medical Student and enlisted in the Confederate Army.

The morning after the conflict, June 30th, 1863, Co. A of the 3rd Pa. Calvary came sweeping into town thinking that there was a continued substantial Confederate force still in town, when in reality there were only stragglers left behind. The morning began with the Union Forces firing a few artillery rounds across the town to lay the ground work for a clean-up operation. Private Pitts was one of 25 Confederates captured around 7:30 AM and imprisoned at Fort Delaware, just outside of Wilmington, Delaware and subsequently released. (He somehow later returned to duty.)

After the war, Dr. Pitts became prominent in Maryland in the medical field and later distinguished himself by becoming the first Mayor of Berlin, when Berlin formed in 1896. He also remained in the service, becoming a captain in the Maryland National Guard, and was vice president of the C. B. Taylor Banking Company. He served eight years on the Democratic Central Committee and reportedly voted the Democratic ticket all his life.[2]


[1] G. Thomas LeGore, phone interview, 29 April 2003


[2] “Men of Mark in Maryland”, Volume IV, B. F. Johnson, Inc. 1912, page 91.


20030629 Berlin Mayor Dr. John William Pitts and Corbit’s Charge

Tuesday, June 17, 2003

20030618 George Street Community Association Meeting

20030618 George Street Community Association Meeting

GEORGE STREET COMM. ASSOCIATION MEETING


DATE: June 18, 2003

IN ATTENDANCE: Major Dean Brewer, Town Planning – Shawn Siders, Tom Thompson, Marie Close, Marleen Gawel, Shirley Haas and Mayor Dayhoff

George Street, Westminster, MD July 18th, 2003 6 PM – Kevin, Brian, Jeff and Shawn met with the George Street Association to discuss placement of trees. The issue distilled down to whether to place them on the properties in back of the sidewalks or cut a 36” x 36’ tree well in the sidewalk, and adjust the sidewalks to facilitate ADA standards of 36” clearance.

Disposition: The George Street Association will mark where they propose to place the tree wells and how they will adjust the sidewalks to allow 36’ pathway clearance.

SHIRLEY HAAS PRESENTATION:

Improve neighborhood, improve community relations, neighborhood beautification, police presence – wants more foot patrol

*TREES:
Talked with Katmna and Brian several years ago – got nowhere
Talked with me at Prayer Breakfast – I referred her to Shawn

SOLUTION – Get together and have a meeting and mark where we can plant trees.

*TRASH:
Dumped, stored on S.L. Co. property … Code enforcement issue ….
(TOM – trash not coming from George Street – Constant vigilance ... observe and call police with information)

*TRASH:
Cans stored just below 2,4,6,8 – Dean will talk with property owner

*GEORGE STREET Clean Up Idea

*INCREASE foot patrol – Dean will look into

*l be invited to future George Street Comm. Assoc.

*SPEED Limit and Special Issues . . .
Paint line down the center of the street
Ideas of trees down the center of street – NO
Speed bumps – NO
Speed Trailer – Dean will look into

*PARKING spaces are marked completed

*We’re looking forward to a playground – need research

*Paint George St of SL Co Property – SL Co Donate paint and material – George Street will paint …

*Put trees there

*I’ll talk with Mike Bennett

*MD Historic Trust Issue with Shirley Haas

*BGE Property

*Neighborhood permitting

*Upgrade lighting

Monday, May 26, 2003

1842 History of Westminster City Hall


HISTORY OF EMERALD HILL, LONGWELL PLACE AND WESTMINSTER CITY HALL[i]

What is now known as Westminster City Hall was a large brick mansion, with wide porches on three sides, built by Colonel John K. Longwell in 1842.

It was not realized at the time that one hundred years after its construction, this building was to become "City Hall" and remain a showplace of the City of Westminster, as it was when first completed.

The land on which the home was built, and referred to as "Emerald Hill" was Colonel Longwell's home. It was purchased from trustees of the Estate of David Fisher, and was a part of all the tract which now comprises West Street, Willis Street, Center Street, North Street, Longwell Avenue and extended to the Railroad Tracks.

When the home was completed, Colonel Longwell called it his "Mansion House," and it was considered one of the finest in the county. A plat of this area surveyed in 1907, referred to it as "Longwell's Addition to Westminster." Subsequently, with changes in ownership, the property became known as "Longwell Place."

Colonel John K. Longwell was born in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, October 18, 1810, and was educated in an academy of that town, which is believed to have been the beginnings of what we now know as Gettysburg College.

As a young man, he learned the printing trade and in 1832 he published the "Maryland Recorder" in Taneytown.

He published this paper for about one year and then moved his plant to Westminster, where he established "The Carrolltonian." Colonel Longwell played the leading role in the formation of Carroll County out of parts of Frederick and Baltimore Counties, and took an active part in all of its affairs. He became widely known as a civic and financial leader in the county.

Following the death of Colonel Longwell in 1896, the family continued to occupy the mansion until the death of his daughter, Sallie (Mrs. Sarah Longwell having preceded her daughter in death), at which time the property was transferred to the Albaugh and Babylon Grocery Company of Westminster, by a deed dated January 22, 1909, from Joshua W. Hering, Trustee for the Estate of Sallie Longwell.

It remained the property of Albaugh and Babylon Grocery Company for twenty years, during which time Mr. George W. Albaugh and his family were the occupants.

On June 4, 1929, Mr. Albaugh purchased Longwell Place from Albaugh and Babylon Grocery Company and continued to reside there until his death on May 30, 1933.

Following his death, two granddaughters, Ruth and Margaret Gillelan, and a distant relative, Miss Frances Thomson, were the remaining members of his family who continued to live there until June of 1934.

From that date, Longwell Place was vacant until The Mayor and Common Council of Westminster purchased it from the George W. Albaugh Estate in September of 1939 for $11,000.

After extensive renovations and improvements, without impairing the original features of the structure, the City offices were moved from the old Westminster Fire Engine and Hose Co., No.1 building at 63 West Main Street, to the recently acquired building during the administration of Mayor Frank A. Myers, and it became known as "City Hall."

In August of 1993, The Mayor and Common Council of Westminster approved a major contract to provide for renovations and improvements to portions of City Hall.

This was the first major change to City Hall since the original work was completed in 1940 when it first became City Hall.

A Council Chamber was constructed on the first floor, with beautiful furnishings and modern features in a period style. Additionally, a new entrance and modern restrooms were constructed on the first floor.

Finally, an elevator was installed to provide complete access to the disabled to all levels of City Hall. An interesting feature of the construction was that the outside appearance of the elevator shaft was designed to look like a chimney so that this feature would not conflict with the appearance of City Hall.

City Hall, still affectionately referred to as "Emerald Hill", has been preserved for future generations to enjoy and yet still remains a viable and heavily used City facility.

In keeping with this historical flavor, the name of the street that runs past City Hall was changed to "Emerald Hill Lane" and the street address of the building was changed to "1838 Emerald Hill Lane", reflecting the year of Westminster's Incorporation.


[i] A Westminster Informational Brochure - assembled from multiple sources –

no claim to original authorship is either claimed or implied. It was entered into a Microsoft Word document on May 26th, 2003 by Westminster Mayor Kevin Dayhoff, from a document that it is believed to have been used for the June 11th, 1994 10 AM “Westminster City Hall Dedication Ceremony and Open House” brochure.

At that time some photos were added to the document. The base for the 1994 document appears to be a similar document from 1976 entitled “Emerald Hill, Longwell Place and City Hall”.

Most of the information for 1976 and 1997 documents appears to have come from an undated (c.1945?) newspaper article by Dorothy Elderdice entitled “History of Carroll. John Longwell: A Founding Father”.

Another source of information appears to have come from an article by J. Leland Jordan in The Times in Friday, August 7th, 1942 entitled “Westminster’s City Hall”.

Saturday, May 24, 2003

20030523 The Atheist and the Bear

The Atheist and the Bear

May 23rd, 2003 - (See other posts on "

An atheist was walking through the woods one day, admiring all that evolution had created.

Suddenly he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him. Turning to look, he saw an 8-foot grizzly bear beginning to charge toward him.

He ran as fast as he could down the path. He looked over his shoulder and saw that the bear was rapidly closing on him.

Running faster yet, he looked again and the bear was even closer. His heart was pounding in his chest. He tried to run faster. But alas, he tripped and fell to the ground.

As he rolled over to pick himself up, the bear was right over him, reaching for him with its left paw and raising its right paw to strike him.

“OH MY GOD! ...”

Time stopped.

The bear froze.

The forest was silent.

Even the river stopped moving.

As a brilliant light shone upon the man, a thunderous voice came from all around.

“YOU DENY MY EXISTENCE FOR ALL THESE YEARS, TEACH OTHERS THAT I DON’T EXIST AND EVEN CREDIT CREATION TO SOME COSMIC ACCIDENT. NOW, YOU EXPECT ME TO HELP YOU OUT OF THIS PREDICAMENT?

AM I TO COUNT YOU AS A BELIEVER?”

Difficult as it was, the atheist looked directly into the light and said, “It would be hypocritical to ask to be a Christian after all these years, but perhaps you could make the bear a Christian?”

“VERY WELL,” said the voice.

The light went out.

The river ran.

The sounds of the forest resumed.

... and the bear dropped down to his knees, brought both paws together, bowed his head and spoke:

“Lord, thank you for this food which I am about to receive.”

####

Monday, May 12, 2003

20030512 City of Westminster Statement of Election Return

CITY OF WESTMINSTER, MARYLAND

MAY 12, 2003

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 May 12, 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 Westminster City Police Chief Joneckis were present. …..

Chief Election Judges Nancy Smelser and Susan Thomas submitted the 2003 election results for the Westminster Common Council:

STATEMENT OF RETURN OF ELECTION

To the Mayor and Common Council of Westminster

We the undersigned Judges and Clerk of the Biennial Municipal Election, held in the City of Westminster, Maryland on Monday, May 12, 2003 between the hours of 7:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M. for the election of three Council Members to serve on the Common Council for the City of Westminster for four years commencing on the third Monday of May, 2003, do hereby certify that the polls were opened at 7:00 A.M. and closed at 7:00 P.M. on this 12th day of May, 2003, and that at said election the number of votes cast was 578, and of that number those cast for the candidates for the respective offices was and is as follows:

FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS: NUMBER OF VOTES:

Suzanne Albert 326

Thomas K. Ferguson 379

Robert D. Miller 124

Joseph D. Mish, Jr. 238

Josephine Velazquez 148

Robert Wack 369

And it appearing that

THOMAS K. FERGUSON, ROBERT WACK, AND SUZANNE ALBERT were the three candidates who received the highest number of votes cast for Common Council, we do hereby declare that they will hold office for the four years.

And we do further certify that the above statement is correct in all and every respect, and that notice has been given to the candidates of their election.

Witness our hands this 12th day of May 2003.

________/s/_______________________ _________/s/__________________

CHIEF JUDGE CHIEF JUDGE

Saturday, May 03, 2003

I am a Republican because:

I am a Republican because:

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

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

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

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

20050503 I am a Republican because
Kevin Dayhoff Westgov.Net: Westminster Maryland Online

Sunday, April 06, 2003

Save Some Water for the Fire!


Save Some Water for the Fire!

April 5, 2003

Tom Coe water cannoned Chief Love and Mayor Dayhoff, April 5th, 2003, on an apartment fire at 125 West Main Street (Box 0331) in Westminster.

After Tom Coe water cannoned Chief Love and Mayor Dayhoff, a very wet Chief Love discusses the “assault” with Tom Coe.

20030405 SDOSM Save Some Water for the Fire!
Kevin Dayhoff Art http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/
Kevin Dayhoff www.kevindayhoff.net http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, March 19, 2003

A MOUSETRAP -No Concern of Ours

A MOUSETRAP - No Concern of Ours
(A great version of the Pastor Martin Niemoeller quote – see below)
A mouse looked through a crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife opening a package; what food might it contain? He was aghast to discover that it was a mouse trap!
Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning, “There is a mouse trap in the house, there is a mouse trap in the house.”
The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, “Mr. Mouse, I can tell you this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me; I cannot be bothered by it.”
The mouse turned to the pig and told him, “There is a mouse trap in the house.”
“I am so very sorry Mr. Mouse,” sympathized the pig, “but there is nothing I can think of to do about it. Surely someone else will step in to help.”
The mouse turned to the cow, who replied, “Like wow, Mr. Mouse, a mouse trap; am I in grave danger, Duh?”
So the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected to fact the farmer’s mouse trap alone.
That very night a sound was heard throughout the house, like the sound of a mouse trap catching its prey. The farmer’s wife rushed to see what was caught.
In the darkness, she did not see that it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught.
The snake bit the farmer’s wife.
The farmer rushed her to the hospital.
She returned home with a fever. Now everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup’s main ingredient.
His wife’s sickness continued so that friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the  pig.
The farmer’s wife did not get well, in fact, she died, and so  many people came for her funeral the farmer had the cow slaughtered  to provide meat for all of them to eat.
So the next time you hear that someone is facing a problem and think  that it does not concern you, remember that when the least of us is threatened, we are all at risk.
____________________________________________

"First they came for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for the trade unionists, & I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant.
Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up."
Pastor Martin Niemoeller, German clergyman (1892-1984) who opposed Nazism.
*****

Monday, March 17, 2003

20030314 Maryland’s New Gov Off To Bumpy Start by Penny Riordan “Stateline.org”


Maryland’s New Gov Off To Bumpy Start


By Penny Riordan, Staff Assistant Friday, March 14, 2003

Maryland's first Republican governor in 36 years is getting a political baptism of fire as he seeks to implement his conservative agenda in the liberal-leaning Free State.

So far in the current legislative session, Gov. Robert Ehrlich's signature proposal to legalize slot machines is stalled in the General Assembly and his choice to head the Environment Department was rejected by the state Senate. Democrats control the legislature.

"He's really learning on the job," Baltimore Sun Statehouse bureau chief David Nitkin said of the governor's first few weeks in office.

Ehrlich is the first Republican elected governor since Spiro Agnew in 1966 and this is the first time since the Agnew administration that Maryland has different parties in power in the executive and legislative branches. Although legislators from both parties said after last year's election they had high hopes for the new governor, many have now given up hope for a productive legislative session. Ehrlich, a former state legislator and U.S. representative, defeated Democratic Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend in the race for the state's top office.

The centerpiece of Ehrlich's agenda is to help plug the state's $1.8 billion budget deficit by gleaning revenue from 10,500 slots that would be at placed at four Maryland racetracks. Currently the governor is still ironing out the details and has not submitted a bill to the General Assembly.

Ehrlich's proposal has alienated some of his old friends in the legislature. On Feb. 26, when newly elected House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel) questioned why Ehrlich would put slot machines at racetracks in low-income and heavily black neighborhoods, Ehrlich accused Busch of racism.

"Just about everybody was shocked," said House Majority Leader Kumar P. Barve (D-Montgomery). "(It eroded) a tone of civility that has existed in Maryland forever."

In addition to problems with his slot proposal, Ehrlich's nominee for secretary of the Department of the Environment was rejected by the state Senate on March 11. It was the first time in Maryland history that a governor's nominee has been turned down.

Lawmakers and legislative observers are asking if these political missteps can be attributed to growing pains or if this foreshadows four long years of partisan squabbling.

Tom Stuckey, a long-time Annapolis correspondent for the Associated Press, said any governor faced with a budget deficit and trying to legalize gambling would hit roadblocks with a Democratic legislature.

"They've certainly made some missteps but they are trying to learn," said Stuckey, who has been covering the General Assembly for 40 years. "Any one of these [issues] would make for a difficult beginning."

Stuckey also said that legislature has undergone some significant changes, with an unusually large number of freshman legislators and a brand new host of leaders in the House and Senate. Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. is the only party leader returning from last year.

In the past, other governors have also gotten off to a rocky start. As soon as Ehrlich's predecessor, Gov. Parris Glendening took office, he was embroiled in a scandal over a pension deal he had arranged from his previous job as Prince George's County Executive. Gov. William Donald Shaefer, Ehrlich's predecessor twice removed, also had a difficult time forging relationship with legislators. Both were Democrats.

Despite Ehrlich's missteps, reporters and legislators say he is a friendly and approachable governor, which should work to his advantage in the long run.

They also say other elements of his agenda are being overshadowed by current problems. Ehrlich's other priorities include charter schools, faith-based programs and Project Exile, a crime-reduction initiative modeled after a Virginia program.

Riordan - Penny Riordan, Governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., Maryland General Assembly Opera, Slots, Maryland State Budget,

20030314 Maryland’s New Gov Off To Bumpy Start by Penny Riordan “Stateline.org”


Maryland’s New Gov Off To Bumpy Start


By Penny Riordan, Staff Assistant Friday, March 14, 2003

Maryland's first Republican governor in 36 years is getting a political baptism of fire as he seeks to implement his conservative agenda in the liberal-leaning Free State.

So far in the current legislative session, Gov. Robert Ehrlich's signature proposal to legalize slot machines is stalled in the General Assembly and his choice to head the Environment Department was rejected by the state Senate. Democrats control the legislature.

"He's really learning on the job," Baltimore Sun Statehouse bureau chief David Nitkin said of the governor's first few weeks in office.

Ehrlich is the first Republican elected governor since Spiro Agnew in 1966 and this is the first time since the Agnew administration that Maryland has different parties in power in the executive and legislative branches. Although legislators from both parties said after last year's election they had high hopes for the new governor, many have now given up hope for a productive legislative session. Ehrlich, a former state legislator and U.S. representative, defeated Democratic Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend in the race for the state's top office.

The centerpiece of Ehrlich's agenda is to help plug the state's $1.8 billion budget deficit by gleaning revenue from 10,500 slots that would be at placed at four Maryland racetracks. Currently the governor is still ironing out the details and has not submitted a bill to the General Assembly.

Ehrlich's proposal has alienated some of his old friends in the legislature. On Feb. 26, when newly elected House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel) questioned why Ehrlich would put slot machines at racetracks in low-income and heavily black neighborhoods, Ehrlich accused Busch of racism.

"Just about everybody was shocked," said House Majority Leader Kumar P. Barve (D-Montgomery). "(It eroded) a tone of civility that has existed in Maryland forever."

In addition to problems with his slot proposal, Ehrlich's nominee for secretary of the Department of the Environment was rejected by the state Senate on March 11. It was the first time in Maryland history that a governor's nominee has been turned down.

Lawmakers and legislative observers are asking if these political missteps can be attributed to growing pains or if this foreshadows four long years of partisan squabbling.

Tom Stuckey, a long-time Annapolis correspondent for the Associated Press, said any governor faced with a budget deficit and trying to legalize gambling would hit roadblocks with a Democratic legislature.

"They've certainly made some missteps but they are trying to learn," said Stuckey, who has been covering the General Assembly for 40 years. "Any one of these [issues] would make for a difficult beginning."

Stuckey also said that legislature has undergone some significant changes, with an unusually large number of freshman legislators and a brand new host of leaders in the House and Senate. Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. is the only party leader returning from last year.

In the past, other governors have also gotten off to a rocky start. As soon as Ehrlich's predecessor, Gov. Parris Glendening took office, he was embroiled in a scandal over a pension deal he had arranged from his previous job as Prince George's County Executive. Gov. William Donald Shaefer, Ehrlich's predecessor twice removed, also had a difficult time forging relationship with legislators. Both were Democrats.

Despite Ehrlich's missteps, reporters and legislators say he is a friendly and approachable governor, which should work to his advantage in the long run.

They also say other elements of his agenda are being overshadowed by current problems. Ehrlich's other priorities include charter schools, faith-based programs and Project Exile, a crime-reduction initiative modeled after a Virginia program.

Riordan - Penny Riordan, Governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., Maryland General Assembly Opera, Slots, Maryland State Budget,

Saturday, March 15, 2003

Suzanne Albert Web Site Bio


Suzanne Albert Web Site Bio


Westminster Councilwoman Suzanne P. Albert

Retrieved March 15, 2003

Suzanne is married (husband Charles) and has three daughters and five grandchildren.

She is a native of Westminster and was first elected to the Westminster City Council in May 1995, on which she is currently chair of the Public Works Committee and vice-chair of the Committee on Finance.

Suzanne also serves as the Council's Liaison to the Historical Society of Carroll County.

Suzanne is a graduate of the Women’s Hospital Nursing School (now GBMC), University of Baltimore and Western Maryland College graduate.

She participated in the Leadership Maryland, Class 1996 and is a former member of the following: Nurse Practice Issues Committee of the State Board of Nurses, past District President of the Maryland Nurses Association, Governor’s Board of Drug Abuse Prevention and the Anne Arundel County Executive Board of Health Cost Review.

Suzanne is active in the community as a Board of Trustees, and Vice Chair, of the Carroll County Rape Crisis Intervention Center, Vice President of the Greater Westminster Kiwanis Club and a Board Member at Large for the Women in Government Services (WINGS).

She is past President of the St. John’s Roman Catholic Church Parish Council.

Her term expires in May 2003.

If you wish to contact Councilwoman Albert, you may send her an email, or a fax (410-876-0299). If you wish to call or make an appointment to see her, please call 410-848-2522.

20030315 Suzanne Albert Web Site Bio

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

Tuesday, February 25, 2003

20030225 Golf vs Corporate America

Golf vs Corporate America

February 25th, 2003

THE QUESTION: Over a generation ago, in 1923, who was:

1. President of the largest steel company?

2. President of the largest gas company?

3. President of the New York Stock Exchange?

4. Greatest wheat speculator?

5. President of the Bank of International Settlement?

6. Great Bear of Wall Street?

These men were considered some of the world's most successful of their day. Now, 80 years later, the history book asks us, if we know what ultimately became of them.

The answer:

1. The president of the largest steel company, Charles Schwab, died a pauper.

2. The president of the largest gas company, Edward Hopson, went insane.

3. The president of the NYSE, Richard Whitney, was released from prison to die at home.

4. The greatest wheat speculator, Arthur Cooger, died abroad, penniless.

5. The president of the Bank of International Settlement, shot himself.

6. The Great Bear of Wall Street, Cosabee Livermore, also committed suicide.

However, in that same year, 1923, the PGA Champion and the winner of the most important golf tournament, the US Open, was Gene Sarazen.

What became of him?

He played golf until he was 92, died in 1999 at the age of 95. He was financially secure at the time of his death.

THE MORAL: Screw work. Play golf. You'll live longer and be better off in the end.

Friday, February 21, 2003

20030221 Manchester MAYOR and TOWN COUNCIL

Manchester Carroll County Maryland MAYOR and TOWN COUNCIL

http://members.fortunecity.com/manchester/manchester/index.html

Information retrieved February 21st, 2003

A Mayor and Town Council, serving executive and legislative functions govern the town. The mayor and town council meet at the Town Office at 7:30 PM, the second Tuesday of every month.

MAYOR Chris D'Amario (term expires 2003) E-mail: chrisd@qis.net

COUNCIL MEMBERS:

Stephen Bankert (term expires 2005)
Mary Minderlein (term expires 2003) Home Phone: 410-239-7502
Daniel Riley (term expires 2005) E-mail: Kriley@carr.org

Ryan Warner (term expires 2003) E-mail: warner@qis.net

Dale Wilder Home Phone: 410-239-4336 (term expires 2005)

STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE Will Berry

TOWN OFFICE: 410-239-3200

Kelly Baldwin, Director
Sue Edwards
Michelle Wilder
Gerri Berwager
Laurie Miller

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS:
410-239-1482

Steve Miller, Director
Don Nott
Levi Kontz
Raymond Wike
Randy Baer
Fred Haifley
Delbert Green
Tedd Reed
Chris Resh
Brad Herman
Milton Herman
Bud Dell
Don Nott, Sr.

WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT:
410-239-7900

MAINTENANCE SHOP:
410-374-6097

POLICE DEPARTMENT:
410-239-6900

Charles Lewis, Chief
Gerald Gall, Sgt.
Steve Goetz
Matt Warehime

Memorial Building
3208 York ST * PO Box 830
Manchester, MD 21102

Phone: 410-239-3200
Fax: 410-239-6430
E-mail: manchest@qis.net

Thursday, February 20, 2003

Childs Walker Baltimore Sun: Roush 38-year Lehigh employee retires

A towering feat caps his career

February 12, 2003

Cement: After completing a once-in-a-lifetime project, the $270 million expansion of the Lehigh plant in Union Bridge, manager Dave Roush, a 38-year company employee, retires.

By Childs Walker, Sun Staff, February 20, 2003

Through the 12-hour work days, the tedious permit hearings and the nights spent hearing people tell him he was blocking out the stars, Dave Roush never lost his enthusiasm for the tower.

His thick hands would always come to life when he talked of it, the steel structure rising as high as 20 stacked farmhouses above the crop fields of western Carroll County.

And when it was done, Roush knew he had succeeded in the greatest endeavor of his life. So he quit.

At 60, Roush could have spent a few more years as manager of Lehigh Portland Cement Co.'s Union Bridge plant. But how many chances would he have to bring North America's most productive cement kiln to a rural town of about 1,000? After seven years of all-consuming work, it seemed an impressive way to go out.

[…]

Cement has been at the heart of Roush's working life, but his formal relationship with the substance ended last month, when he retired after 38 years with Lehigh, a Pennsylvania company now owned by German conglomerate Heidelberger Zement AG. Heidelberger has not appointed his replacement.

A respected but usually soft-spoken member of Carroll County's business community, Roush oversaw the $270 million expansion that gave out-of-the way Union Bridge a monument to modern ingenuity.

"He's one of the highest-quality individuals I've known in my life," said Paul Denton, president of Maryland Midland Railway, which has done business with Lehigh for 17 years. "He's just all integrity from top to bottom. He knows all aspects of the business, and he is very thorough."

[…]

… It was good training for Union Bridge, where he moved in 1977.

Happy to be back in Maryland, Roush was assistant manager for seven years, then took over the plant just as a new quarry was about to open outside nearby New Windsor. The prospect of a giant rock-blasting operation next door did not please residents of that quiet town, so Roush had to learn public relations on the fly. He began attending community and government meetings and, for the first time, offered regular plant tours.

People had long regarded Lehigh, which has operated in Union Bridge since 1909, as the big, bad company on the hill. So Roush set to convincing people that the plant was staffed by 200 trustworthy friends and neighbors. The medicine he delivered was sometimes bitter, but he developed a reputation as a reasonable man, even among critics of the company.

"I would not have wanted his job," said county Commissioner Perry L. Jones Jr., who was mayor of Union Bridge from 1990 until last year. "People would always be on his back about the dust or the trucks or the noise, but he just sat there and rolled with the criticism, never raised his voice. He handled the job as well as any public relations guy Lehigh could ever hire."

Roush had a gift for talking about cement, an ability to make people understand what he and his co-workers were doing at the plant.

Jones said Roush earned more respect for Lehigh by commissioning charitable contributions to the town, county and country.

Lehigh began to sponsor a town picnic, set up a scholarship at nearby Francis Scott Key High School and frequently donated $20,000 or $30,000 to help the town with a construction project. After the big snowstorm of 1996, Roush sent company machines to clear back roads around the county. In 2001, Lehigh sent one of the huge cranes used for the expansion to New York City to help pull apart World Trade Center rubble.

[…]

Read Mr. Walker’s entire article here: http://www.sunspot.net/news/local/carroll/bal-ca.cement20feb20,0,3423020.story?coll=bal%2Dlocal%2Dcarroll

20030220 A towering feat caps his career sun

*****

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

Sunday, February 09, 2003

20030209 Carroll County Times editorial: Frank Johnson – “A problem of wearing many hats”

20030209 Carroll County Times editorial: Frank Johnson – “A problem of wearing many hats”

Carroll County Times editorial: Frank Johnson – “A problem of wearing many hats”

Editorial for Feb. 9, 2003
February 09, 2003

A problem of wearing many hats

Mount Airy Town Councilman Frank Johnson has been wearing a lot of different hats lately, but the time has come for him to step back and make some realistic decisions about where he believes he can do the most good.

The councilman was instrumental in rallying support and bringing together a Council of Governments in Carroll at a time when communication between the county office building and Carroll's municipalities was sorely lacking. He remains a vocal advocate and is actively involved as the organization gets up and running.


(Webmaster’s note: The idea that Mr. Johnson “was instrumental in rallying support and bringing together a Council of Governments in Carroll” is not consistent with how many of us remember it. See:
20020822 “Mayors consider an area council” By Mary Gail Hare, Sun Staff)

Johnson also took a job as assistant to County Commissioner Julia Walsh Gouge. And while he and others have said there is nothing legally wrong with collecting paychecks from both the Town of Mount Airy and the county, there likely is an ethical issue involved.

That issue is compounded by Johnson's other involvement in Mount Airy, where he serves as zoning administrator and is the council's liaison to the planning commission.

At the very least, Johnson has spread himself too thin to be entirely effective in any one of the positions. And because his many positions span from Mount Airy to Carroll's municipalities to county government, that means the impact is being felt everywhere in the county.

Johnson owes it to the people of Mount Airy, owes it to the towns, cities and organizations that make up the Council of Governments and owes it to taxpayers who pay his salary as Gouge's assistant to step back from some of these responsibilities.

He must assess where he believes he can be most effective, and then concentrate on those areas.

Wanting to help out in as many different ways as possible is an admirable trait, but it does no good if the person is running in so many different directions that it takes away from all of his various jobs and duties.


20030209 Carroll County Times editorial: Frank Johnson – “A problem of wearing many hats”

Labels: People Carroll Co. Johnson – Frank Johnson, People Carroll County

Saturday, February 01, 2003

20030201 Maryland Municipal League’s Maryland Mayor’s Association - Mayor’s Press Conference February 1st, 2003

February 1, 2003 Mayor’s Briefing Sheet

Maryland State Budget Municipal Impacts

Maryland Municipal League’s Maryland Mayor’s Association - Mayor’s Press Conference February 1st, 2003

Also see:

20030131 State's mayors brace for state budget cut by Janie Schmidt and Carrie Knauer writing for the Carroll County Times

For more information, click on: Maryland General Assembly Opera, Maryland Municipal League, Westminster City Finance, Maryland State Budget, Taxes Maryland.

[For past posts on “Soundtrack” about the Maryland Municipal League click on: Maryland Municipal League. Disclosure: I served on the Maryland Municipal League Board of Directors annually for five consecutive years, from June 2000 to May 2005.]

The recently released Maryland state budget included cuts in aid to municipal government as the new Ehrlich Administration attempts to address budget deficits exceeding $1 billion. While the budget document touts overall increases in aid to local governments, those increases are largely confined to education and libraries – programs that do not affect Maryland’s incorporated cities and towns.

Provisions of the FY 2004 state budget with potential negative impacts on municipal government include proposals to:

Withhold from local governments $102.4 million in Highway User Revenues. Cost to municipal governments in FY 2004 is $12,267,074 according to an analysis prepared last week by the Maryland Department of Legislative Services

Withhold $10 million in circuit breaker tax credit reimbursement payments to local governments to help pay for administrative costs of the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation. Municipal impacts could approach $0.5 million.

Transfer to the state's general fund $29.9 million dollars from the local share of Program Open Space (POS) revenues. This represents a 48% reduction from the FY 02-03 program fund total. Total municipal losses will vary depending on what projects were planned for the coming year. However, an estimated 50% reduction to municipalities is likely in FY 2004.

Transfer to the state's general fund $8 million in the current fiscal year and $10 million in FY 2004 from the Waterway Improvement Program. Municipal impacts could approach $2.0 million.

Eliminate the Department of Natural Resources Community Parks and Playgrounds grant program. Since its inception two years ago, the program has provided around $11 million to local governments, with approximately 60% or $3.2 million of the funds going to municipalities in FY 2003 and 91% or $4.3 million in FY 2002.

Municipalities stand to receive additional funding through the following programs, which received more money in the Governor’s proposed FY 04 budget:

Increase to $8.7 million funding for the Community Legacy Program. Program funding has been $13 million and $6.5 million in each of the past two years. Municipalities received 76% or $10.7 million of these funds in FY 2002 and 83% or $2.3 million of available funds allocated thus far have been awarded to municipalities in FY 2003.

Increase by over $22 million, funding for the Maryland Water Quality Revolving Loan Fund and the Maryland Drinking Water Revolving Loan Program. Municipalities received $127 million or 32% of the available Water Quality Revolving Loan Fund monies from FY 2000 through FY 2003. Of the funding allocated from the Maryland Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund from FY 00 through FY 03, 75% or $15 million of the monies went to municipalities. State estimates put the total funds needed to rehabilitate aging wastewater treatment plants over the next twenty years to be $4 billion.

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