20060113 Attempting to Park in Annapolis

20060113 Attempting to Park in Annapolis

By Kevin Dayhoff January 13, 2006 6 PM

Parking is a huge issue in Annapolis. One would think that with all the difficult challenges in front of the Maryland General Assembly (MGA)… What is the question I get asked most frequently at the beginning of every session of the MGA – Where do ya park down there?

There is nothing worse than arriving in Annapolis at the last minute and then spending a great deal of time hunting for parking. In the past, I have been there and got the T-shirt.

Apparently so has the daughter of Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., (D - 27, Calvert & Prince George's Counties):

“The session marks Miller’s 20th as president. His election was witnessed by his wife, Patti, and two daughters, Melanie and Amanda. A third daughter, Michelle, missed the event, apparently trying to find a place to park. ‘‘She’s the one that votes ‘R,’ so she has to use the Naval Academy parking lot,” Miller joked.” (Gazette Opening Day 2006 by Thomas Dennison, Douglas Tallman and Alan Brody.)

I usually prefer to park at Gott’s Court Garage off Northwest Street because it is so convenient – only a short walk from the Statehouse. However, in the future I may try parking at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium and use the shuttle. The cost of parking in Annapolis is quite reasonable. Today, for example, it cost $7.50 for the entire day. If I am not mistaken, Gott’s Court Garage has an $8.00 maximum charge. Nevertheless, it only costs $4.00 to park at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

One trick you might keep in mind is that when a sign is displayed at the entrance of the parking garage - that the parking lot is full – don’t always believe it. The first hour is free, so if go past the sign and take a look, there is nothing to lose. More often than not, there is turnover throughout the day and a space is available.

If you Google “Annapolis parking,” you will find several web sites. Perhaps the best is Downtown Garages and Parking Lots – this page has a great map and lots of misspelled words. It is a City of Annapolis web site and one would expect better.

Another good site has been developed by the “ Office of the Clerk is located at the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County” - Parking In Annapolis.

Good luck. Take a deep breath and a chill pill. After the challenge of parking comes getting through the security checkpoints and then one must navigate the byzantine labyrinth of offices and hearing rooms to find where you need to be – on time.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org

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20060111 Open Season I Love You You Love Me

20060111 Open Season I Love You You Love Me

By Kevin Dayhoff January 11, 2006 6 PM

Today was open season, err - opening day for the Maryland General Assembly (MGA).

I arrived early in Annapolis. Partially because I wanted to see if I could stop by and see a few elected officials and get some bearings on the day and upcoming session in general. And to be sure to get a parking spot in a nearby parking garage.

If you are considering visiting the Maryland General Assembly during the current session that lasts until April 10, 2006, please take a look at: Helpful Hints for 2006 Maryland General Assembly visitors and familiarize yourself with the security procedures.

Not everyone can easily make it down to Annapolis so you may want to check out: Listen to the Maryland General Assembly. At this web site, you can listen to the proceedings on your computer. I believe the sessions are available live. I usually go through the pull down list and listen to past sessions that are available to be heard.

I then proceeded to check off the next big item on my checklist – coffee. I am not a morning person and leaving Westminster at 7:30 AM was not pretty. At this point, I usually sleep walk over to “City Dock Coffee” within very easy walking distance of the Statehouse at 18 market Street.

After obtaining coffee, I found a place to sit in the Statehouse and decided to see if I could find any wireless access. I found a site – but needed a password to get in. I haven’t a clue as to whether that password will be available to members of the press. That will be a future exploration.

If I remember correctly, there is internet access down in the pressroom, on the basement floor of the Statehouse. I didn’t go near there today. The Statehouse was packed with media and I didn’t need wireless from Annapolis today.

A new House of Delegates Office building is being built and apparently, it is running behind schedule. On the House side, the chaos of construction was omnipresent. A visitor was not allowed street-access to the House office building because of construction. In order to get into the House office building, you had to enter the Legislative Services building off Lawyer’s Mall, which is directly in front of the Statehouse. Once inside you went down one floor on the elevator and walked through the tunnel over to the House office building.

I have always been fascinated with the interconnecting tunnels. I have not a clue as to when they were built or any knowledge of their history. I have it noted to research this in the future.

The Statehouse has a tunnel that goes over to the Legislative Services building. From there you can walk, by tunnel over to both the Senate office building and the House office building. This is great to know when the weather is bad, as it so often is for the next ninety days.

As far as catching up with some elected officials before the opening session began at 12 noon – forget it. Not an elected official was to be found. They were all in meetings.

Oh, I did run across Harford County Executive David Craig and his beautiful wife Melinda. I consider David to be a good friend. When I was the Mayor of Westminster, he was the Mayor of Havre de Grace. He has a long history of being an elected official and is very wise and knowledgeable. In the past, he has been a Havre De Grace Councilmember and mayor. He has also served in the Maryland Senate and recently he was appointed Harford county executive when former executive Jim Harkins was appointed to head up MES – Maryland Environmental Services, by Governor Ehrlich.

Finding no elected officials, I made my way back to the Statehouse.

I arrived early to the press area in the House chambers, thinking that I would get a good seat. What was I thinking?

First of all – the press tables had been replaced with a number of rows of chairs for dignitaries. What space remained for the press was – well, very little. Almost non-existent. We all managed. But it was an endurance contest. We all stood for the ninety minutes of the opening session.

The opening session began at exactly 12 noon. I mean, exactly.

After a very very short opening prayer, the first order of business was the election of the Speaker Pro Tem. Piece of cake. Adrienne Jones (D – Dist. 10 Baltimore County) was nominated from the floor; seconded and unanimously accepted by voice vote. Delegate Jones has been a member of House of Delegates since October 21, 1997. She was first elected to be the Speaker Pro Tem in the 2003 legislative session.

So far – so good. Perhaps the spirit of Barney was present? It was a gritted-teeth love-in. All smiles and hugs. Can you sing: “I love you, you love me?”

As I wrote in my Tentacle column for this Thursday, January 12^th, 2005: “The Kool-Aid Acid Test:”

“Maybe it is time that we ask for all the delegates and senators to go down several days early for group therapy in problem identification and conflict negotiation counseling? Or arrange for a guest appearance of Barney, the Purple Dinosaur, to lead the opening session in a rousing chorus of “I Love You – You Love Me.”

I asked a colleague who was mashed against me in the press area: “How long the love-in will last?” His prediction – 45 minutes.

He was wrong. It lasted about 12 minutes or until the time came to elect the Speaker of the House. This is when everyone started to squirm in his or her seats. The purpose of opening day is to be very friendly and ceremonial. It is universally accepted that there be no blood left on the floor the first day.

It is in that spirit, that the other day, the Republican Caucus had approached Speaker of the House Michael Erin Busch (D - Dist. 30 Anne Arundel County), to facilitate accepting a floor nomination for House Minority Leader, George C. Edwards (R - Dist. 1A, Garrett & Allegany Counties), to be Speaker of the House. Delegate Edwards has been a member of House of Delegates since January 12, 1983. He has been Minority Leader since the 2003 legislative session. Delegate Edwards didn’t have a snowball chance in heck in being elected, but the Republicans wanted to have the satisfaction of having an election instead of a plebiscite.

The Republican Caucus got three answers: no. No. NO!

I explained this in the “The Kool-Aid Acid Test:”

“For those of you following along in your books at home – there are 141 delegates in the Maryland General Assembly. Ninety-eight are Democrats – so I guess there is a good chance that the Democrats will elect ah, let’s think about this – a Democrat to be the Speaker of the House. Gee, brilliant deduction, eh?”

Michael Erin Busch (D - Dist. 30 Anne Arundel County) was nominated and seconded. When the voice vote was called, Speaker Pro Tem recognized House Minority Leader, George C. Edwards, who requested a roll call vote.

In other words, he asked that the votes for the speaker election be recorded on the huge tally board that overlooks the chamber. Surprise, Delegate Busch was elected by a vote of 95 to 34. Yes, for those math wizards reading along at home; that totals 129. There was an absence or two, but all the Republicans in the Anne Arundel contingent did not vote, perhaps appropriately, out of respect for their fellow county colleague.

Dignitaries were recognized and there was a moving series of tributes paid to the very popular Delegate Tony E. Fulton (D – District 40 Baltimore City,) who had passed way last May 20, 2005.

There were also some remarks by Speaker of the House Busch and Governor Ehrlich…

The “Calendar of Vetoed Duplicative Bills” on the “Consent Calendar #1” was put to a vote. These are the House bills that were approved in the last session of the legislature, but were for various reasons, duplicative. They are routinely vetoed by the governor and the House routinely votes to sustain the veto.

The “Calendar of Vetoed Policy Bills #2” was special ordered until Friday. In other words – they will vote on them on Friday instead of on opening day.

The ninety minutes went by quickly and at approximately 1:30 PM, it was all over.

The large lobby area between the House and Senate chambers was packed with opening day visitors. It is an interesting ritual. Media folks hunted down various elected officials for the obligatory “Opening Day in Annapolis” pieces.

One of the better primers for the opening of the 421^st session of the Maryland General Assembly was written by my boss at the Westminster Eagle. Can you say: “suck-up?” Whatever. Please see his editorial: “A few key issues could set mood.” In part he wrote:

“While we hope for the best, there are a few keys issues facing the assembly that could give us an indication of whether partisan politics will rule in Annapolis.”

Another good piece on opening day and this year’s legislative session is today’s Frederick News Post article by Clifford G. Cumber: General Assembly gets ready to rumble. Writing for the Gazette, Doug Tallman and Thomas Dennison always do a good job covering the Maryland General Assembly. Their preview on opening day can be found at: As session dawns, veto overrides in play

For a good primer on the weekly “progress” of the Maryland General Assembly, please begin with reading General Assembly Journal 2006 - Part 1 and A 2006 Session Primer by Richard B. Weldon, Jr. (R – Dist. 3B, Frederick & Washington Counties.) Delegate Weldon had been writing a weekly commentary about his experiences in the Maryland General Assembly, ever since he first started representing Washington and Frederick counties in January 2003.

Other web sites that you may wish to visit are: Fired Up Maryland, Soccer Dad and The Hedgehog Report… to mention a few… Fired Up Maryland usually takes the Democratic Party point of view and Soccer Dad and The Hedgehog Report usually takes a conservative point of view. The Hedgehop Report also reports on many Howard County politics.

In the future, you may want to go and read the coverage of Bryan P. Sears in the Towson Times.

One of the best-kept secrets in political writing these days is the work of Justin Palk with the Carroll County Times. Mr. Palk has covered the Maryland General Assembly for four years… This will be his fourth year. Three years with the Carroll County Times and one year with the Capital News Service. For a short, quick and accurate view of the day-to-day reporting of the MGA, you will have a hard time finding better reporting.

I’d like to try and get down to Annapolis personally as often as possible, and bring you the latest on the Maryland General Assembly. Between personal trips, I’ll bring you as many updates as time will allow.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org

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20060105 Enemy Imaging

20060105 Enemy Imaging
By Kevin Dayhoff January 5, 2006 11 PM

Former Georgia Senator Max Cleland (D) has resurfaced in the news once
again. In Maryland? What the heck is going on here?

Last month Governor Robert L. Ehrlich announced hiring Bo Harmon to be his
political director for his re-election campaign. The Baltimore Sun ran an
article on December 10, 2005, which said, in part:

"Maryland Democratic Party spokesman Derek Walker said he was shocked that the governor would hire Harmon, and compared the political director to Joseph F. Steffen Jr., the former Ehrlich aide who was fired after admitting to spreading rumors about Mayor Martin O'Malley."

"Democrats here and in Georgia immediately criticized the hire, saying
Ehrlich is bringing to Maryland a virtuoso of nastiness who attacked the
patriotism of Cleland, an Army veteran who lost three limbs in Vietnam."

The Sun continued its criticism by calling the readers' attention to a
negative ad run by Senator Cleland's opponent in the 2002 Georgia Senate
race.

The ad used, what is known in the business as "enemy imaging." Identifying
an opponent with a nefarious character. Sorta like, running a picture of
Governor Ehrlich with a fired state employee - Mr. Steffen.

The only difference is that after many folks, understandably, criticized the
Chambliss campaign ad, the ad was taken off the air, changed and ran without
the nefarious character images.

In the MD4BUSH-Steffengate saga; long after it has been revealed that
MD4BUSH was a political dirty trick by democrats for which it has been
suggested that several members of the Maryland Democratic Party have lost
their jobs; the Sun is still running the negative ad which 'enemy images'
Governor Ehrlich with Mr. Steffen.

So what is the rest of the Senator Cleland story? He lost his 2002 senate
re-election bid because of his liberal voting record while serving in the
senate and representing a conservative constituency.

Rich Lowry, writing in National Review on February 20, 2004, "Max Cleland,
Liberal Victim," put it best.

Democrat Senator Cleland "was on record supporting countless tax increases, and voted with his party's leadership against protecting the Boy Scouts from a campaign to keep them out of public schools and against banning partial-birth abortion. In many of these votes, he parted ways with his more conservative and popular colleague Miller, thus creating a major political vulnerability. He lost fair and square."

This is what happened.

Senator Cleland returned home from Vietnam terribly wounded with injuries
that would stop anyone but Superman. But he didn't let being disabled stop
him and he worked hard to recover and continue to serve his community and
his country.

It was said best in a poignant Washington Post article on July 3, 2003,
entitled "Political Veteran."

After Mr. Cleland returned home from recovering from his injuries, in "1970, at 28, he became the youngest person ever elected to the Georgia Senate. In 1977 President Jimmy Carter appointed him to head the Veterans Administration. In 1982 he was elected as Georgia's secretary of state" and served until 1996."

In 1996, when Senator Sam Nunn (D) decided to retire from the U.S. Senate after serving 24 years, Georgia Secretary of State Cleland tossed his hat in the ring. Senator Nunn had always been strong on national defense and
Vietnam veteran Max Cleland seemed a perfect replacement.

He wasn't.

In 1996, Mr. Cleland narrowly defeated his opponent, businessperson Guy
Millner by 30,000 votes. He only got 49 percent of the vote.

Slate published an article by Michael Crowley on April 4, 2004 called: "How
the disabled war veteran became the Democrats' mascot." It is not a
poignant or deferential piece. Mr. Crowley wrote, "There was little reason
to expect Cleland to be a star senator, and he wasn't."

Of his 1996 campaign, Mr. Crowley wrote:

"In that campaign, Cleland made up for his lack of political skill-the Atlanta-Journal Constitution noted that he "has never been known as a deep thinker" and was prone to "platitudes" in debates-by harnessing the emotional power of his war injuries..."

After six years in the Senate, Senator Cleland's re-election was in deep
trouble at home. Although he could serve his southern constituency well
enough on local Georgia issues, "Cleland's undoing was that he couldn't
negotiate the dilemma facing many Southern Democrats - how to vote liberal
in Washington while appearing conservative at home." (Rich Lowry, February
20, 2004, "Max Cleland, Liberal Victim" National Review)

In the 2002 election, Senator Cleland was challenged by four-term
conservative Republican congressman Saxby Chambliss, "who'd been elected in
the "Contract With America" class of 1994." (July 3, 2003, "Political
Veteran" Washington Post)

Mr. Crowley wrote: "Most of Chambliss' attacks were based on Cleland's most "liberal" votes on social issues like partial-birth abortion. But in the race's closing weeks, Bush and Chambliss hammered at the fact that Cleland was voting with Senate Democrats against Bush's proposed Homeland Security Department because of its infamous provision limiting union rights. The message was that Cleland was kowtowing to big labor at the cost of protecting America."

Then came those "GOP television ads." They crossed the line. They were
unnecessary and inappropriate and should have never been aired.

In the Washington Post July 3, 2003 article it was noted:

"both sides ran attack ads, but none was as controversial as Chambliss'homeland security spot. It opened with pictures of Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein. "As America faces terrorists and extremist dictators," said a narrator, "Max Cleland runs television ads claiming he has the courage to lead. He says he supports President Bush at every opportunity, but that's not the truth. Since July, Max Cleland voted against President Bush's vital homeland security efforts 11 times!"

After both democrats and republicans condemned the inappropriate ad, the ad was removed from the air.

Which brings us full circle. Since the Sun has brought it up. Beyond the issue of comparing how many articles the Baltimore Sun ran on
MD4BUSH-Steffengate with how many articles it ran about the alleged criminal
identity theft of Lt. Gov. Michael Steele's personal financial records by
Senator Schumer's staff at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee...

Now that MD4BUSH has been outed as a democratic dirty trick, the Sun needs to do a reality check and realize that by continuing to run the picture of
Governor Ehrlich with Mr. Steffen on their web site, they may think that
they are cleverly perpetuating a negative "enemy-imaging" ad on Governor
Ehrlich.

What they are really doing is perpetuating a reminder of despicable gutter politics at its worse.

It is a rule of classier political practitioners that the family of an
elected official or candidate for office is off limits - out of bounds. No
matter what party to which they belong.

When is the Sun going to take the picture off their web site?

Just asking.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster, Maryland USA
E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org
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20060106 Security Badge

20060106 Security Badge
By Kevin Dayhoff January 6, 2006 6 PM

Today was the day I had set aside to travel to Annapolis, present my press
credentials, and be processed for a Maryland state security badge for the
purposes of covering the 2006 session of the Maryland General Assembly.

Thanks to the Westminster Eagle and Patuxent Publishing Co, I may very well
be one of the first bloggers to be press-credentialed in Annapolis? I
should mention that Patuxent Publishing Company is owned by Tribune, which
also owns the Baltimore Sun.

For a really interesting piece on the affect of blogging and the internet
media on government and state-level politics, please read the "Cover
Story/Politics & Technology" of the July 2005 issue of Governing magazine,
"Instant Influence" by Christopher Swope. Mr. Swopes invites the reader to
review his piece with an opening line, which reads: "A new generation of web
scribes is shaking up state capitol politics."

Also of interest is an article entitled: "Web logs challenging mainstream
media" by Ryan Pitts, in the Spokane Spokesman-Review on Thursday, October
14, 2004. Unfortunately, I did not get the URL address of the article when
I clipped it and they have a paywall in front of their archives... It
mentions Matthew Testa and Scott Hollenbeck from Westminster:

"Of the ones I've checked out, blogs are poorly written and boring diaries,"
said Matthew Testa of Westminster."

"I trust the blogs because they are open and upfront about who they are,"
said Scott Hellenbeck (sic) of Westminster. "They don't have to make the big
money like networks do, so they have different priorities and have to earn
their audience."

I have enjoyed working with both gentlemen... Matthew, I hope that this
blog is not one of those "poorly written and boring diaries."

The process of getting my security badge was painless and quick. There were
only a few folks in line. The Department of General Services police were
very courteous and helpful. It took - perhaps 15 minutes. Of course, the
picture for the badge is almost as bad as the photo on my driver's license.
Whatever.

I'm glad that my security badge identifies me as "media." I would hate to
have to wear a badge that identified me as a "lobbyist" - shades of
Nathaniel Hawthorne and "The Scarlet Letter" - Salem, Massachusetts in
the1630s under the leadership of Speaker Busch - err, John Winthrop.

Although considering the Maryland General Assembly majority party's
intolerance of dissenting ideas - perhaps mentioning The Scarlet Letter was
Freudian:

"The religious sect was known for its intolerance of dissenting ideas and lifestyles. In The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne uses the repressive, authoritarian Puritan society as an analogue for humankind in general. The Puritan setting also enables him to portray the human soul under extreme -pressures. Hester, Dimmesdale, and Chillingworth, while unquestionably part of the Puritan society in which they live, also reflect universal experiences."

In the past, I had a badge that identified me as an elected official and that badge was also quite helpful. Otherwise, standing in the lines to get through the checkpoints can be time consuming. Especially since, I always have a laptop and briefcase... And I'm always running late. I've gotten to know quite a few folks down there and every trip down the hall is measured in however many 'conversation stops' it takes. I guess this is a good thing - I mean it's better than being ignored...

There have been a few articles written about the issue of security passes in Annapolis - in the last year. Since the decisions about security issues are being made by several pay grades above mine, I'm not sure what my 2 cents is worth. Besides, in the post 9/11 world, safety is an overriding concern.

Richard B. Weldon, Jr. (R – Dist. 3B, Frederick & Washington Counties) had a thing or two to say about the security badges in his piece: General Assembly Journal 2006 - Part 1.

Recently, on January 1, 2006, David Nitkin, with the Baltimore Sun, wrote a piece on the issue called "Lobbyists get a pass on lines."

Unfortunately, the Baltimore Sun does not use permalinks, so the hyperlink will probably not work. The first several paragraphs of his piece are:

"A new security system in Annapolis means that visitors should expect longer lines outside the State House and other government buildings when the General Assembly session begins this month.

But most Annapolis lobbyists won't be waiting in them.

The professional State House lobbying corps, which boasts 14 members who earned more than $500,000 in 2004, has managed to preserve its rapid access to the historic capitol complex, overturning an earlier decision that would
have made them stand outside and pass through metal detectors like day
visitors.

The Maryland Department of General Services, which provides security at state buildings, had first determined that lobbyists should not receive the same entry privileges as the governor, the first lady, lawmakers, legislative services workers and members of the news media.

But some of the most powerful players in Annapolis, including former legislators who now work as lobbyists, refused to accept a decision handed
down in November.

"I went ballistic. A couple of other people went ballistic," said lobbyist Bruce C. Bereano. "We brought pressure to bear and turned it around."

A few weeks after the fall ruling, state officials changed the regulation and decided that registered lobbyists can bypass the police and security equipment at the entrance to government buildings. The privilege will go only to those who are registered with the Maryland State Ethics Commission, undergo a background check and pay a $50 fee for their badges.

Among those fighting to maintain rapid access was Barbara A. Hoffman, the former chairwoman of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee who became a lobbyist after a 2002 election defeat."

Next trip to Annapolis is for Opening Day - The second Wednesday of every
January - January 11, 2006, this year.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster, Maryland, USA
E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org
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20051206 More on Jan Historical Civil Rights Tour

20051206 More on Jan Historical Civil Rights Tour
By Kevin Dayhoff, December 6, 2005 11 PM

This coming January, local Carroll Countians, Dr. Pam Zappardino and Dr.
Charles Collyer are headed south. Are they "snow-birds" looking for an
escape from the cold and the snow? No - but we certainly couldn't blame them
if they were. This writer finds that the older I get, the more I find myself
increasingly intolerant of the cold.

Actually, their annual pilgrimage to the south has a greater, more important
meaning than their personal comfort.

For the sixth January in a row, Drs. Pam and Charlie, as they are
affectionately known, are leading folks on an Historical Civil Rights Tour
called: "Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around!: Retracing the American
Civil Rights Movement."

The Ira and Mary Zepp Center for Nonviolence and Peace Education, a program
of Common Ground on the Hill, a nonprofit organization that brings different
people together through traditional arts and music at McDaniel College,
helps sponsor the tour.

The Zepp Center is named for two longtime Westminster teachers. Ira and
Mary Zepp have had a long association with McDaniel College and with the
promotion of justice by peaceful means The Zepp Center is directed and
staffed by Drs. Pam and Charlie.

Ira and Mary Zepp have also supported and advised Common Ground since its
founding over a decade ago. Walt Michael, the director of Common Ground and
a person who really "gets" nonviolence both personally and artistically, has
been a partner in creating the Zepp Center and introducing it to the
community.

This year's Christmas season; when we take time to celebrate family,
community and our religious foundations; there has been much attention to
the increased intolerance and sharp divides in which we currently find our
nation.

Good grief, this year the recent debate over whether or not we can say
"Merry Christmas," has reached a new level of unpleasantness. Memo to the
politically correct lexicon warriors - give us a break and take your petty
squabble somewhere else, why don't ya?

The purpose of celebrating the Christmas season is to take time out to share
and give thanks to that which makes our community and our country great.

Syndicated columnist Larry Elder recently wrote "rudeness plagues America."
He called to our attention a recent Associated Press-Ipsos poll that
revealed nearly 70 percent of Americans consider people "more rude" that 20
or 30 years ago. Americans are engaged in a "great sorting-out," causing
folks to stake out "well-defined, even intolerant, ideological camps."

Yes, I plead guilty to being an eternal "pollyanna," but I insist that all
problems in our great country and community could be solved by an outbreak
of something truly bold - be nice about it.

If you will recall, "Pollyanna" was a children's novel written in 1913 by
Eleanor H. Porter. As a result of this classic work, the term "pollyanna"
has become part of language to describe someone who is always cheerfully
optimistic. Wikipedia says that "pollyanna" has become a derogatory term for
a naïve person who always expects people to act decently, despite strong
evidence to the contrary.

I think that all behavior modification in our great nation starts at the
grass roots level. It starts with how we treat each other right here in our
own homes, in our own community. In a meeting a number of years ago, one of
my harshest critics, assessed my take on a particular challenge as a
"pollyanna" approach. He meant the criticism in the most mean-spirited
manner. It made me proud.

This is a great example of where folks like Drs. Pam and Charlie come into
play; helping us find meaningful solutions to the challenges we face through
the practice of nonviolence. Aided by taking classes with Dr. Ira Zepp and
Drs. Pam and Charlie, I was able to ignore him. Drs. Pam and Charlie stress
that practicing nonviolence often involves finding the hidden humor,
opportunities, and "silver linings" in the problems we face.

Their mentor (and mine) is Dr. Bernard LaFayette. He has visited
Westminster several times, and is remembered at McDaniel for his remark
that, as an approach to solving problems, violence is "cute, but not tough
enough," because it usually creates even more problems. I had the pleasure
of attending a class with Dr. Bernard LaFayette, a few years ago. Dr.
Bernard LaFayette worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King and along with
the likes of Dr. Ira G. Zepp, is a beloved figure among this generation of
nonviolence educators.

Most of the violence and hostility in the world does not occur in isolated
patches; it happens in cycles and chains of back and forth retaliation.
Whether from impulse or conscious choice, people use violence as a way to
respond to violence, and so it is not surprising that violence goes on and
on. Breaking these chains could prevent a lot of violence and human
suffering. But it is often not obvious how to bring in a creative
alternative to violence, and this is where nonviolence education can add
value. Learning to replace violence with truly successful ways of solving
our problems will help us to build a better world.

Which brings us back to the January History Civil Rights Tours that The Zepp
Center helps to sponsor each year. The tour takes folks to locations where
nonviolence was used to achieve gains for African Americans and to open up
the political process to wider participation in some of the darkest days of
our country's fight out of the intolerance of segregation.

The purpose of studying history is not to take us back to these dark days
but to bring the past to the present and capitalize on the positive lessons
learned - and apply them to our day-to-day problem solving.

The Ira and Mary Zepp Center for Nonviolence and Peace Education continues
the American tradition of nonviolent problem solving associated with Martin
Luther King, Jr. It provides workshops and resources to the community on
the skills, philosophy, and history of nonviolence, from the personal level
up to movements such as those of Gandhi and King. Opportunities such as the
January Civil rights tour teach us how the traditions of nonviolence have
developed over time and how they are relevant for folks today.

For more information about the January Civil rights tour or the
opportunities provided our community by the Zepp center, contact the Zepp
Center through the Common Ground office, 410-857-2771 or e-mail e-mail
Pamela Zappardino at paxwarthog@aol.com. Tell her Pollyanna Dayhoff sent
ya. And oh - Merry Christmas.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster. E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org
####

The Tentacle Who is Wendi Thomas? By Kevin E. Dayhoff March 15, 2006

The Tentacle Who is Wendi Thomas? By Kevin E. Dayhoff March 15, 2006

In an internal memo distributed to Baltimore Sun employees last Friday, it was announced that Wendi Thomas, an award winning newspaper columnist from Memphis, will be joining the newspaper in April replacing former Michael Olesker, who retired in January.

Many have anxiously awaited a fresh new approach on the part of The Sun. Mr. Olesker, whose erudite wit and repartee had graced Baltimore newspapers for nearly 30 years, has been noticeably missed during the 2006 session of the Maryland General Assembly.

Certainly no one could possible miss Mr. Olesker more than WBAL’s Ron Smith, who wrote in January that he was sorry to see Mr. Olesker leave...… “I’m going to miss him and the reflexive urban liberalism that so often, as expressed in his column, provided a most convenient target for ridicule.”

[…]

A quick review of her columns certainly indicates an insightful and humorous approach. She, without a doubt, speaks her mind and does not stand on ceremony. Many of her pieces had me spiting out my Doctor Pepper laughing.

[…]

Read the entire column here: Who is Wendi Thomas?

http://thetentacle.com/ShowArticle.cfm?mydocid=1516

20060315 SDOSM TT Who is Wendi Thomas ttked
Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: www.kevindayhoff.net http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/
Kevin Dayhoff Art: www.kevindayhoff.com
Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: www.westgov.net

20060315 Westminster Eagle Coverage of the death of Cpl Snyder in Iraq

20060315 Westminster Eagle Coverage of the death of Cpl Snyder in Iraq

Westminster Eagle Coverage of the death of Cpl Snyder in Iraq

Iraq War Reaction in Carroll Co. - Cpl. Matthew A. Snyder Killed in Iraq March 2 2006

03/15/06 - Extended family bids farewell Matthew Snyder, the Westminster Marine who died March 3 in a Humvee accident in Iraq. Leo Patalinghug, one of three clergy who conducted the funeral Mass, recalled several years ago visiting the S...

03/07/06 - Finksburg resident killed in Iraq Matthew A. Snyder, 20, was deployed in February to serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom, assigned to Combat Service Support Group-1, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force.

03/15/06 - Obituaries Matthew Snyder, 20, of Westminster

Lance Corporal Matthew A. Snyder, USMC, of Westminster was killed instantly March 3, while on assignment in Al Qaim, Iraq.

A Mass of Christian burial was he...

03/15/06 - In face of tragedy, outpouring of support showed community's be Matthew Snyder brought home the tragedy of war last week, as the local resident and Westminster High graduate returned for the last time to his family and friends.

Besides, there's plenty of me...

04/05/06 - Letters 2006-04-05 00:00:00 Opinion Letters Community support, comfort was greatly appreciated

The family of Lance Cpl.

Matthew Snyder

03/29/06 - After Westminster incident, House passes bill to ban funeral pr 2006-03-29 00:00:00 Local News After Westminster incident, House passes bill to ban funeral pr By GEORGE R. ALTMAN
Capital News Service

Inspired by the recent protest at the funeral of a sol...

20060315 Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, 20, of Westminster

Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, 20, of Westminster

Westminster Eagle Obituaries 03/15/06

Lance Corporal Matthew A. Snyder, USMC, of Westminster was killed instantly March 3, while on assignment in Al Qaim, Iraq.

Stationed out of Twenty-Nine Palms, Calif., he was on a convoy mission for which he volunteered when the Humvee he was traveling in overturned.

Lance Cpl. Snyder was born July 18, 1985, and lived in Carroll County until he followed his heart and chose to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps upon graduating in 2003 from Westminster High School.

After completing training at Parris Island and Camp LeJeune, he was stationed at Twenty-Nine Palms until his deployment to Iraq in February 2006.

He was a young man who truly loved and embraced life, and lived his 20 years to the fullest.

He attended Sandymount Elementary School and loved sports. He played soccer and baseball for many years through various recreational programs. He also loved everything outdoors, including fishing and being at the beach.

He loved hiking and activity, and spent many days at Cascade Lake and the Westminster Skate Park.

Snyder was a devoted brother and cousin who enjoyed family parties, playing football games and swimming in the pool. He was a wonderful role model to his younger cousins.

He was proud to be a Marine and filled the position with dignity. Just before his deployment, he said he volunteered for convoy escort security because in his words, "there was a position that needs to be filled and I'm a Marine."

He was the beloved son of Julia A. Snyder (nee Francis) of Westminster and Albert L. Snyder of York, Pa., and the beloved brother of Sarah Anne and Tracie Lynne.

He was the cherished grandson of maternal grandparents John and Cay Francis and paternal grandparents Albert and Rosemary Snyder; great-grandson of maternal grandmother Helyn Pessaro; dear nephew of Cathy and Grant Menefee, Jane and Tommy Perkins, Andy and Mary Anne Francis, Bonnie Snyder and Debbie and Mark Krause; loving cousin of Emilie, Luke and John Menefee, Tommy, Heather, Billy and Catie Perkins, Drew and Kayla Francis, Sam and Jess Krause; and many close friends.

He was preceded in death by a cousin, Lauren Francis.

A Mass of Christian burial was held in his home parish of St. John Catholic Church in Westminster on March 10, and burial took place at Garrison Forest Cemetery. Arrangements were by Pritts Funeral Home, Westminster.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions may be made to the Disabled American Veterans Memorial Program, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301 (www.dav.org).

20060306 Richard Haddad named new leader of Carroll Co. Chamber

Richard Haddad named new leader of Carroll County Chamber of Commerce

March 6th, 2006

It was recently just announced that Richard Haddad has been named President – or is it Executive Director of the

Carroll County Chamber of Commerce.

I had the pleasure of working with Mr. Haddad when I was the mayor of Westminster and many of us are expecting great things from him taking over the reins of this venerable organizations of business and community leaders.

For a bit of history on the Chamber – go here.

For more posts on the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce on “Soundtrack,” click here.

Carrie Knauer, who has won numerous journalism awards, (here and here,) has written a “Question and Answer” piece with Mr. Haddad. Her article appeared in the Carroll County Times on March 6th, 2006.

The Carroll County Times unfortunately does not use hyperlinks, so the entire piece, which belongs to Ms. Knauer and the Carroll County Times, is pasted below.

For more work from Ms. Knauer, click here. Or enter “Carrie Ann Knauer” in your favorite search engine.

By Carrie Ann Knauer,
Times Staff Writer Monday,
March 06, 2006

Q&A
Name: Richard Haddad

Age: 64

Residence: Westminster

Title: Carroll County Chamber of Commerce President

Last book read: "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson

Richard Haddad started his position as president of the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce Feb. 27. Haddad was a member of the Carroll chamber for a number of years, and as a volunteer, he chaired the chamber's business and education committee and also served briefly on the organization's board of directors. Haddad said he is excited to take this position toward the end of his career so he will be able to apply much of the management skills he has learned at other positions to help his local community.

Q: Where are you from and how did you come to Carroll County?

A: Brooklyn, N.Y., born and raised. I had been pretty well on in my career, I was maybe 30 and working at Citibank in New York, and I was doing EEO program development [Equal Employment Opportunity] for Citibank at the time. I was their first EEO officer, and this was like in 1969.

There was a utility down here in the Washington, D.C.-area that had a lot of EEO problems and was looking for an EEO officer. I was interested in leaving New York, and I wound up taking that job. That's how I came down to Maryland, and that was in 1971 when I finally moved down here.

I lived in Howard County for about 25 years and then moved to Carroll County about 10 years ago.

Q: How do you see your role at the Chamber of Commerce?

A: I think that there's what you might call "back at the ranch" roles and then just the public roles. The back at the ranch roles basically include the management of the office and the operations and just making sure that everything moves smoothly and that sort of thing. Also very importantly, working with the staff, supervising staff, helping them develop potential, encouraging them to talk about issues, so that we can work together and congeal as a team. And that is the stuff that the public very rarely sees, that businesses just take for granted that somebody takes care of those sorts of things.

The out-in-the-public-eye roles are basically acting as a spokesperson for the chamber, and maybe most importantly for the chamber's long- term health, is working with the board to develop a vision for the chamber and then developing planning for that vision, that we have a step-by-step process for achieving where we want to go and that sort of thing.

And that's one of the things that really interested me in the chamber job because I have background in strategic planning, and so I was really excited about that. I did consulting here in Carroll County for a few years and did strategic planning, some of the board members knew about that, so they were anxious to bring that expertise here.

Q: What do you see as the chamber's role in the community?

A: Carroll is not like a county that's filled with Fortune 500 companies that recruit people from all around the world, and they put in their five or 10 years and then move on to somewhere else where they get another opportunity, where you have a lot of turnover and flow and no one's really invested in the community.

We're overwhelmingly small business owners; men and women who not only live in our community but send their kids to our schools, they attend our churches, they belong to our service organizations like Rotary, Kiwanis and Lions and that sort of stuff. These people have an important stake in the health of the community. There's not going to be the clash between what's good for the business climate and what's good for the community because they are such a part of the community that they're the same. So, they will work to create a strong business climate, and that in turn makes for a stronger and healthier county. I mean that's the way that I see things, no conflict at all, everything blends very well.

Q: What have you learned from your experience at other chambers?

A: First and foremost that a good staff is very important, but that a lot of involved volunteers is critical. A chamber is as good, is as active, is as effective as its volunteer members want it to be. And I firmly believe that we can be anything that we want to be. We can be the finest chamber in the country if we want to be. We've got the talent, the skills, the energy - it's all here. The question is how can we project ourselves to the community to get those people to bring all that stuff to us, so we can bring it all together.

That's something that I get excited thinking about, bringing that all together, and I've seen a little bit of that. I've chaired committees, with this chamber and other committees. You throw a new idea on the table, people go "we never thought of that before," and suddenly you're pulling people in who have never been involved with the chamber before because they like that particular idea.

The job shadow program started that way. It was existing all around the country but we had not done it in Carroll, the schools were doing it, and we started a job shadow program to see if we could match businesses with students who were interested in doing that kind of stuff. And it turned out to be one of the chamber's biggest events. We have a couple of hundred kids involved. It's a feel-good event also for the business community, doing something for the kids.

Q: There's been a lot of turnover with the staff and the board of directors at the chamber. Why do you think that has happened and how do you think this can be improved?

A; I'm not aware of unusual turnover on the board. I know there's been an isolated case here and there of somebody dropping off and that sort of thing.

I am aware that there's been a big issue with the staff. When I was in New York, I did a turnover analysis program for Citibank, that's what one of my responsibilities was as employee relations manager. And I learned there that there are lots of reasons why you can have [turnover] - you don't make assumptions about turnover.

The assumptions that most people make is that you're paying too little, and that's usually the wrong assumption - it's not what drives people in and out of organizations. Distribution of work, particularly in a small organization, is extremely important, and working conditions that you create, the kind of rapport with all the staff involved and that sort of thing.

We are now 100 percent staffed with newly restructured positions, and what I really want to do is keep my employee relations eye on the situation. I've already had conversations with the staff members. It's extremely important to me that they share problems, frustrations, that we work together as a team. But it's basically good communication, working together and being very open and honest with each other. I'm just going to try to see if we can do that and take it from there.

Q: What are some goals you would like to accomplish here at the Carroll chamber?

A: I love this community. I'm happy first of all to be here and I want to help to do something for this community. I'm very anxious to use all of my skills that I've picked up in my management career to basically try to apply them to specific situations here in Carroll to see what I can do to help improve things.

There's the routine ones, like grow membership, increase revenue, that sort of stuff, and obviously we need to do that to be a healthy chamber and to continue to growing. We've got a tight budget right now, and one way to relieve that budget is to bring in more money. So I've got to figure out ways to bring in more money and loosen that up a bit.

But that's an example of a situation in which I've faced a lot of problems like that in previous jobs. So I go back into my data bank, and I go "what would apply in this situation?" I just want to have an impact, and I think I can.

Q: What will be the next opportunity for the general membership of the chamber to meet you?

A: We have networking breakfasts, we have member luncheons where we have speakers, and there's a business fair that's coming up in March. The ones where I get the most interaction with the membership are the breakfasts and the luncheons and the mixers. And those are on the chamber Web site. I make it a point to get there and just introduce myself to as many people as I can.

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20060303 Westminster Director deployed to the Middle East

Westminster Director deployed to the Middle East

March 3rd, 2006 by Kevin Dayhoff

The latest of a seemingly never-ending string of new reporters writing for the Baltimore Sun in Carroll County has written an article in the February 28th, 2006 edition of the Carroll Sun on the Westminster Director of Planning and Public Works (DPPW) being deployed to the Middle East. I was interviewed for her article, however, I was not included…

Mr. Beyard is 1973 graduate of South Hagerstown High School, Hagerstown, MD and earned an A.A. Degree from Hagerstown Junior College, Hagerstown, MD in 1973. He then went on to earn a B.S. Degree from Towson State University, Towson, MD in 1977.

Mr. Beyard and I have worked together on quite a number of issues over the years.

My father-in-law, David S. Babylon, Jr., was the Westminster Common Council President when Mr. Beyard was hired on September 29th, 1987. Mr. Babylon always spoke very highly of Mr. Beyard. He was always aware, (as I became,) that Mr. Beyard has the consummate prerequisite knowledge, skills and abilities to competently look after all the affairs of Westminster in his purview.

Long before I became a Westminster elected official on May 10, 1999 – and shortly after Mr. Beyard arrived on the job, I met him when I was a member of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources District Conservancy Board (1988 – 1991.) The Conservancy Board worked with Mr. Beyard on some issues that had developed as the Maryland State Highway Administration planned to rebuild Westminster’s East Main Street.

I also had some contact with him as a member of the Carroll County Landscape Manual Committee (1987 – 1989.)

Later, when I was a member of the Carroll County Environmental Affairs Advisory Board (1994 – 1999,) I worked with Mr. Beyard on some “waste –to-energy” ideas; especially in 1997, when I was by the Carroll County Board of Commissioners to participate in the Carroll County Department of Public Works’ development of Carroll County’s Ten-Year Solid Waste Management Plan.

Mr. Beyard has always been a forceful advocate for Westminster (and his employees.)

When I was mayor (2001 - 2005,) the DPPW had one of the most difficult and complex jobs in the entire City of Westminster structure, which required nearly daily contact with Mr. Beyard.

If you read the Baltimore Sun article, the current administration of the City of Westminster is interested in making some structural changes to the management of the growing municipality. The merit and wisdom of those changes is the fodder for perhaps another column. Meanwhile, Westminster citizens voted for this group of community leaders and they, for the most part, were not bashful in telling potential voters that they aimed to make Westminster’s government bigger…

The DPPW was responsible for managing the City’s largest department. This department includes everything from providing safe drinking water, street maintenance, snow removal, parks and recreation, solid waste and recycling collection, comprehensive planning, housing and community development and wastewater treatment. Additional responsibilities added over the years included economic development, code enforcement, particularly with the property maintenance code, and service for the City on various boards.

The DPPW was responsible for all City activities, with the exception of finance and police. This includes well over 125 full and part-time employees with budgets totaling over $16 million. This equates to approximately 75% of all City employees and budget.

One of the many things to admire about Mr. Beyard is his commitment and service to our country. He enlisted in the U. S. Army Reserve on March 22, 1982 and served in the U. S. Army Reserve until February 12, 1997 when he was released from the Reserves to join the Maryland Army National Guard.

Since he first enlisted with the Army Reserve in 1982 as a Private First Class, he has completed extensive formal military classes and earned a number of commendations and awards for his service; not to mention that he has risen through the ranks steadily. As of September 1, 2005, his rank is that of Command Sergeant Major.

The Baltimore Sun picks up the story well at this point. Excerpted from the article:

Carroll official is called to active duty

Westminster planning chief Beyard, 51, to leave in June for Kuwait with National Guard

By Laura McCandlish, Sun reporter. Originally published February 28, 2006

The man integral to running the daily business of Westminster for nearly 20 years announced last night that he has been called to active duty in the Middle East.

Thomas B. Beyard, Westminster's director of planning and public works since 1987, told the City Council he will depart in mid-June for a deployment based in Kuwait with the Maryland Army National Guard. Beyard, 51, who joined the Guard in 1997 after years with the Army Reserve, expects to return to his job in late 2007.

I’m sure you join me in wishing Mr. Beyard well and God-speed as he continues to serve our community and our nation in another capacity. We are quite proud of him.

Kevin Dayhoff

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA. E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org http://www.thetentacle.com/ Westminster Eagle Opinion and Winchester Report http://www.thewestminstereagle.com/ and http://www.kevindayhoff.com/

20060301 Diary of a Desperate Dumpster Diver

Diary of a Desperate Dumpster Diver.

March 1, 2006 By Kevin Dayhoff (1072 words)

Warning: Because the following humor column is intended for human consumption, the Food and Drug Administration wanted it to be tested on animals.

However, the animal rights activists protested, forcing me to abandon testing and release the distressed critters. I released them in the lobby of the animal rights office. I figured those friendly folks could best take care of the mice and we all shared a common goal – that the mice be free.

Nevertheless, the long-term effects of reading this column remain uncertain. Please proceed at your own risk.

I enjoy folks, who in the past exhibited no interest in being human; who have contacted me recently, feigning a genuine interest in my well-being – and then casually ask: “Oh by the way, what are your future political plans?”

To which I would like to respond.

Thank you all, for your recent inquiries as to my well-being. I am touched.

How’s my day?

I’m having a great day.

Yes, I’m still overweight. Are you still mean and ill tempered? I can go on a diet and lose weight…”

Am I still unemployed?

Yes, I’m still writing for a living.

Of course, now that I am no longer in political office. I have no meaning in my life. I must be unemployed and homeless.

What am I doing with my days?

I’m so happy that you asked…

Today, for example, as I continue slouching towards dementia, I will investigate the haiku of dumpster diving consciousness and the real meaning of life. The Kabuki Morals Play of day-to-day existence in contemporary Maryland, when you are homeless and hungry, like most successful writers and artists.

I've reached the zenith of my existence. A 52 year old artist and writer; I consider being unemployed a badge of honor. I wear it proudly in humor, err, I mean honor, of artists and writers everywhere.

In a few minutes, I was about to go out and see what soup kitchen to visit. Put on my best clothes courtesy of the dumpster behind Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart has been heaven-sent for those of us who are otherwise, road kill, on the highway to prosperity and plenty. Are you still trying to put it out of business?

I've developed dumpster diving into an art. Bet ya never knew that about me.

Ya know, the best table scraps are behind the pizza place… over at the shopping center, where I see you so frequently.

Yes, that one – the one you fought so aggressively commenting that it would be the end of civilization, as we know it.

Yes, it was a great farm, completely surrounded by new developments, the farmer went bankrupt. Shame isn’t it. The farmer reneged on a public trust and financial responsibility to maintain that property so the new residents could have a scenic view.

I understand the new development, on the land of that great farm, really supports your efforts to stop growth.

Oh - that neighborhood development that fought the shopping center now wants a sidewalk from their neighborhood to the shopping center. Didn’t you fight that sidewalk when it was proposed? I read recently where you are winning over the hearts and minds of the new folks by supporting the sidewalk and rebuilding the street in front of your house – with taxpayer dollars.

You use the word, “outrage” a lot. You should get help for that. Try eating more friendly vegetables. Go see “Brokeback Mountain” a fourth time.

Recently, I've been scouting a new place to live. I was living high on a hill, in the wooded area in the middle of the Rte 140 and Rte 27 interchange.

From there I monitored the comings and goings of so many folks like you… like so many busy ants, running here, then running there and then back again. It all seems so purposeful. So meaningful. The interchange of accomplishment. The crossroads to the future. And I observed it all, from my hilltop hide-away perch.

Anyway – I had to leave my Shangri-la, on top of the hill. One day, I gathered my meager belongings and traveled down river on a raft to a great place on the bank of the river on the other side of the old Westminster Power Plant.

It is a great place to continue my studies of the political-sociological development of benthic macroinvertebrates, phytoplankton, and echinoderms.

The real challenge to dumpster diving these days, is the thrill of breaking into locked dumpsters. I mean, isn’t it amusing that we have evolved so far as a sophisticated society, that some folks have elevated the art of supreme narcissism to the extent that they actually lock their trash away.

I guess I find the idea of sifting through office trash distasteful. The diving into the abyss of our oppressors is devoid of vision and creativity. It also involves an investment into personal protection gear.

Diving into a restaurant dumpster is not as hazardous to your health as diving into the dumpster of say, the liberal legislative offices in Annapolis. One might emerge, thinking thoughts of world domination or terminal narcissism.

My real goal in life is to dive in a dumpster some day and find a "Power Ranger."

The local college is the nirvana of dumpster diving. Just yesterday I traveled there and came away with a mother lode of great things that wasteful college students have tossed into the dumpster. I got an entertainment center shelf thingy-ma-jiggy. I'll put my TV, DVD, radio, and computer on it.

I do all my holiday shopping for my family up at the college.

When I was young, we used to go the county landfill on Kate Wagner Road. Oh, the good ole days. I once witnessed two pillars of the community fight over a cream and burgundy colored Victorian sofa.

Actually, the lure of dumpster diving is the thrill of the hunt. The quest for buried treasure and personal responsibility. The call of the wild in an increasingly civilized society that has taken the life-on-the-edge, life and death struggle out of our day-to-day experience.

Bet you didn't know that I could be quite so passionate about something. Did ya?

The coat you loaned me for last winter… I've dropped that in the mail. To save on postage, I cut the buttons off and put them in the pockets, in accordance with the latest law passed by the Maryland General Assembly.

Bye for now. Hope to talk with you again soon.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster. E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org

NBH
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20060301 Westminster, Estonia and the Singing Revolution

Winchester Report: Westminster and the Singing Revolution

Kevin Dayhoff March 1, 2006 11 AM

Current whispers that Westminster will soon declare its independence and form an independent city-state are not true, although it can be admitted that many of the signs are in place.

After all, at approximately 6 square miles in size, Westminster is larger than the Vatican City, which declared its independence on February 11th, 1929 and is .2 square miles large. Actually, McDaniel College is larger than the Vatican City. By the way, the next larger country, San Marino is 23.5 square miles large.

Perhaps the beginnings of this whisper campaign perhaps began in 2002, when Westminster did sign a Declaration of Understanding and a Declaration of Friendship with Paide, Estonia.

Although they are not “treaties” with a foreign nation, we have exchanged a trade delegation, and had several cultural, academic and diplomatic exchanges. Moreover, we have continued fermenting an artistic, cultural and singing revolution.

In the past, Westminster has had several informal sister city relationships with Westminster, England, and Westminster, Colorado.

Creating a relationship with Paide grew from a program called Partners for Peace, a military program that started in 1991 to help Estonia to become stable, train management and improve communication between civilians and military personnel.

The program, headed by the Army National Guard, developed into a partner-city program in 1993.

The first presentation of the idea of Westminster developing a sister city relationship came at a meeting of the Mayor and Common Council on November 27th, 2000. The presentation was given by Col. Grant Hayden of the Maryland Army National Guard and James D. Ball, Carroll Community College vice president of instruction and student development.

Westminster’s Director of Planning and Public Works, Tom Beyard, then a Master Sergeant with the Maryland National Guard, was in Estonia during the summer of 2000, as part of his guard duty.
Over the past decade, the program has moved from strictly military-to-military events to predominantly civilian-to-civilian exchanges. The current focus of the program includes education, health, government, economic development, culture and philanthropy.

The partner city program pairs similar Maryland and Estonian municipalities to engage in mutual programs and activities. The Westminster Paide program is the most active and successful to date.

The Guard’s partner city program now includes several Maryland municipalities, as well as 14 other states. In addition to Westminster and Paide, the other nine partner city communities include Annapolis and Tallinn, Salisbury and Tartu, Oakland and Valga, Frostburg and Viljandi, Cumberland and Tapa, Harve de Grace and Sillamae, Grantsville and Torva, McHenry and Otepaa and Ocean City and Parnu. La Plata and Jogeva are candidates for 2004. These municipalities are engaging in a variety of activities to further good relations.

Paide, Estonia and Westminster, MD have many things in common. Paide got its name from the limestone, used when the town was constructed. This is a similarity shared with Westminster, which also has ties to limestone with a limestone quarry located just outside the city.

Other similarities between the two municipalities include tree-lined streets and a prominent Lutheran church in the downtown area. Paide is a little older that Westminster, by about 450 years. It became a municipality on September 30th, 1265.

Paide’s population is approximately 10,000 compared to Westminster’s population of 17,000. We are both located in a piedmont area.
Additionally, many are not aware that there are over 1,000 Estonians living in Maryland.

In order to support the Westminster – Paide partnership program initiatives in Westminster, a fund was created at the Carroll Community Foundation in October 2002, in an effort for our program to be self-sufficient and not utilize taxpayer dollars for the efforts, making it truly a grass-roots, community initiative.

We have an active advisory committee of approximately 25 members who provide guidance to our work. Our local businesses are involved and engaged in this process and see the benefits of participation.

Our partner city relationship brings favorable attention to Westminster. The visit of international guests provides great opportunities to highlight and showcase our city.
Exchange opportunities including municipal and student exchanges offer the potential for meaningful learning and professional development for municipal officials and staff. Cultural exchanges offer Westminster performers venues in Estonia to sing and dance and the same for Estonian performers who come here.

As part of our efforts to have cultural exchanges, the Partnership has had several highly successful fund raising events, for example, the visit from the Estonian Television Girls Choir performance on Feb. 8, 2003 and the January 22, 2004 concert featuring an Estonian singing group, “Rondellus,” both at Winters Mill High School.

Other successful partnership for peace efforts have included a July 2003 Community Foundation workshop in Paide and coordinated performances by Audrey Cimino and Eric Byrd Trio in the Paide Shanty Festival and Haapsalu Sea Music Festival.

Another exciting success was the visit, from July 10th through the 21st, 2004, by "Voce Viaggio" (Italian for "Traveling Voices") to Estonia, Finland and Sweden.

Voce Viaggio is a traveling troupe of singers from the Carroll County Children’s Chorus, led by executive director Diane Jones. During their tour, the chorus sang American-themed songs at several venues. The songs gave European audiences a better feel for America, as many elements of American history were incorporated in the music, according to Director Jones.

Roughly one-third of the European trip was paid for through fund raising, with the children's parents are paying for the rest. Not only did the 24-member peace delegation from Westminster, and their support staff (read: parents) build relationships and spread goodwill, but the trip also helped the chorus members learn about three distinct cultures.

The children took educational tours while on the trip and had many opportunities to experience different aspects of the countries they visit.
Thanks to our history and tradition of private public partnerships, our Paide Sister City Partnership program is a great success and enables Westminster to give as much it receives.

Many more exciting cultural, educational, economic development and artistic exchanges are planned for the future.

I guess as long as we can continue to do our small part for world peace and prosperity, perhaps, we can postpone declaring our independence and forming our own city-state.

Although, I can only imagine independence would come easily and bloodlessly for Westminster if Tom Beyard, Lyndi McNulty, Lori Graham, Diane Jones, Audrey Cimino and I held hands in front of the Carroll County Office Building and started singing Kum Ba Ya or "All we are saying, is give peace a chance," by the Beatles.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster. E-mail him at: kdayhoff AT carr.org
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