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

Friday, July 27, 2012

Paula Waterman Opening Reception at Off Track Art Friday, July 27, 2012 5:30 - 7:30 PM


Opening Reception at Off Track Art
Friday, July 27, 2012
5:30 - 7:30 PM
Paula Waterman

Meet the Artist, and view her exceptional wildlife portraits!

Paula Waterman can’t remember a time she wasn’t making art. For the past decade she has been doing just that as a full time artist working in scratchboard, oil painting, and most recently in bronze sculpture. Her subject matter is mostly the animals she sees in the wild and in the company of people. She has a particular interest in birds, and of dog subjects, though landscape and marine subjects are also important to her.

A common thread in all her work in all media probably is the critical importance of light source and light color; in fact she feels that light is the true subject in all her work.


Please join us!

See our art at "OFF TRACK ART"
an Artist Cooperative at 11 Liberty St--side entrance
in downtown Westminster, MD
Open: Wed-Fri. Noon to 6 PM, Sat. 10 AM - 5 PM. http://offtrackart.blogspot.com/  or www.offtackart.com

[20120727 PaulaWatermanEvite2]
*****

FWD:Lunch at the fair. Caroline

Lunch at the fair.
Caroline

FWD:Ready for tonight... Caroline

Ready for tonight...
Caroline

Marilyn Corrine Reichert 66 City of Westminster



Marilyn Corrine Reichert, 66 of Westminster, died Wednesday July 25, 2012 at Carroll Hospice Dove House. Born January 14, 1946 in Westminster, she was the daughter of the late Howard Richard Niner and Mary Madeline Bixler Niner. She was the wife of Joseph Reichert Jr.

Before retiring she worked for the City of Westminster in the water department. She was a member of Westminster First Church of God.

Surviving in addition to her husband are daughters and sons-in-law Amy Bryson, Ann and Dennis Weidner, Laura and Joseph Rogers, all of Westminster, sister and brother in law Susan and Bruce Dell of Westminster, three grandchildren Andrew Stewart Jr., Tabitha DeCoursey, and Kayla Baker, and a nephew Matthew Dell all of Westminster.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday at Fletcher Funeral and Cremation Services, P.A., 254 E. Main St., Westminster with Pastor Sharon Meyer officiating. Interment will follow in Deer Park Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 3-5 and 7-9 on Friday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Carroll Hospice, 292 Stoner Avenue, Westminster, Md., 21157.

*****

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Recent ChangeMaryland Press Releases


Recent ChangeMaryland Press Releases:


For this and much - much more go to: http://www.changemaryland.org/

Maryland Leading the Nation in Job Loss in 2012

Annapolis – Maryland has lost more jobs so far this year than any other state in the nation according to the U.S. Department of Labor. After last Friday’s release of June state unemployment figures, there is now six months of data with which to compare the states. Maryland, which lost just over 10,000 jobs since the beginning of this year, is among a dozen states to have experienced declines during this period.
“This is a very disturbing trend, which needs to be addressed,” said Change Maryland Chairman Larry Hogan. “I’m deeply concerned that state government’s onslaught of taxes and fees is causing us to lose businesses, jobs and taxpayers at an alarming rate.”
Maryland has raised taxes and fees 24 times since 2007, removing an additional $2.4 billion from the economy annually.
Maryland is also performing poorly in another important time period. From the beginning of 2007 to present, Maryland has lost more jobs than any other state in the region except for Pennsylvania, where each state lost nearly 40,000 and 60,000 jobs respectively.
“Governor O’Malley says repeatedly that Maryland has fared better than other states during the recession,” said Hogan. “He should be talking about our state’s performance relative to others in this region, not compared to Michigan or Nevada. Once again he is cherry picking data in an attempt to fool people.”
A comparison frequently made on all sides of the political spectrum is between Maryland and Virginia. Maryland’s unemployment rate, at 6.9%, contrasts sharply with Virginia’s 5.7%. This is the widest gap between the two states since 2001, when Parris Glendening was governor.
The Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics measures total non-farm employment. June numbers are preliminary.
###
Background:
http://www.bls.gov/sae/#data
Posted in Press Releases | Leave a comment

For this and much - much more go to: http://www.changemaryland.org/

Statement from Change Maryland Chairman Larry Hogan on U.S. Department of Labor State Unemployment Report

Annapolis – The U.S. Department of Labor’s State Unemployment survey showed today Maryland experiencing the third largest job loss in the nation among the states. Maryland’s decrease in employment was 11,000 and the June unemployment rate inched up to 6.9%.
The report comes on the heels of dismal reports in which Maryland led most other states in job loss going back to the Spring of this year.
The unemployment rate is climbing having risen from 6.6% in March. Meanwhile, Virginia is holding relatively steady at 5.7% and the differential of the rates between the two states is widening to record levels.
“Something isn’t working here,” said Change Maryland Chairman Larry Hogan. “Now would be an excellent time to re-evaluate our tax-and-spend approach to governing and start developing policies that increase private sector job growth. It’s unacceptable to have increases in the unemployment rate month after month.”
Posted in Press Releases | Leave a comment

For this and much - much more go to: http://www.changemaryland.org/

O’Malley Continues False Petty Attacks on Hogan, Change Maryland

Annapolis – Change Maryland called on the O’Malley Administration and the State Democratic Party to regroup and attempt to actually form a coherent, rational and policy-based response to the issues raised in the organization’s report on tax migration.
Change Maryland outlined a specific, modest step for them to do so – they should actually read the report.
The Maryland Democratic Party, following the O’Malley Administration the week before, leveled another petty partisan attack yesterday on Change Maryland and it’s chairman Larry Hogan, injecting class warfare talking points into a debate that has nothing to do with individual income levels.
“It’s obvious that the administration and state party still have not even read the report, ” said Change Maryland Chairman Larry Hogan. If they had read it, they would know that the word ‘millionaires’ is not referenced anywhere.  They don’t like what the report says, so they simply introduce a red herring. And rather than addressing the actual issue, they simply lash out with juvenile attacks on the messenger.”
Using IRS data, Change Maryland analyzed migration patterns at the state and county levels. Among the findings are that Maryland’s 31,000 net out-migration of residents from 2007 to 2010 was the highest in the region and seventh-highest nationally.
Business media outlet CNBC subsequently covered the Change Maryland tax report raising questions about the impact on high income households which may have confused administration and party officials accustomed to favorable press treatment.
“They are reacting to media coverage and not our report,” said Hogan. “Change Maryland analyzes publicly available IRS data which the administration should have been doing in the first place.”
A previous Change Maryland report issued in May compiled General Assembly information to quantify the cumulative tax and fee hikes imposed under the O’Malley Administration. The report is a line item accounting of 24 separate revenue increases from 2007 which remove an additional $2.4 billion from the Maryland economy annually.  Most of these measures are regressive tax and fee increases.
“We are pulling the curtain back on this administration and simply giving the hard facts about what is really happening in Maryland, and they don’t like it,” said Hogan, who also noted that none of the facts in either of the two reports have been refuted.
Meanwhile, since O’Malley’s failed partisan attack on Change Maryland on July 10, the non-partisan organization has increased its membership by over 2200, reaching a total of over 16,000 Democrats, Republicans and Independents. The group is Maryland’s largest and fastest growing non-partisan, grassroots citizen organization.
Posted in Press Releases | Leave a comment

For this and much - much more go to: http://www.changemaryland.org/

In Case You Missed It: Change Maryland/Larry Hogan

Profile of Change Maryland:
Easton Star Democrat 6.20.12
Group Targets Spending and Tax Hikes
http://www.stardem.com/news/local_news/article_0450af08-ba65-11e1-b1b2-001a4bcf887a.html
Change Maryland Tax Migration Report:
State and Local
Washington Times 7.03.12
Many Marylanders who leave go to Virginia, study finds
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jul/3/most-marylanders-who-leave-go-virginia-study-finds/
The Daily Record 7.04.12
Maryland’s biggest jurisdictions are losing tax filers
http://thedailyrecord.com/2012/07/04/marylands-biggest-jurisdictions-are-losing-tax-filers/
St. Mary’s County Times 7.05.12
Local Tax Base Growth Among Best in State
http://countytimes.somd.com/archive/2012/07-jul/2012-07-05.pdf
Washington Examiner 7.05.12
Examiner Local Editorial: Maryland taxpayers head for the hills — and the shore
http://washingtonexaminer.com/examiner-local-editorial-marylander-taxpayers-head-for-the-hills-and-the-shore/article/2501389
Monoblogue 7.06.12
Shocker: capital leaves a high-tax state
http://monoblogue.us/2012/07/06/shocker-capital-leaves-a-high-tax-state/
Ocean City Dispatch 7.06.12
Worcester Leads Md. In Incoming Taxpayer Migration
http://www.mdcoastdispatch.com/articles/2012/07/06/Top-Stories/Worcester-Leads-Md.-In-Incoming-Taxpayer-Migration
Washington Examiner 7.07.12
Wealthy leave Md. suburbs, IRS data show
http://washingtonexaminer.com/wealthy-leave-md.-suburbs-irs-data-show/article/2501533
Washington Times 7.10.12
EDITORIAL: Escape from Maryland
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jul/10/editorial-escape-maryland/
WTOP 7.10.12
Report: Higher taxes may drive out rich Marylanders
http://www.wtop.com/?nid=1029
Cross Purposes 7.10.12
Somebody Got Somebody’s Attention
http://rjc-crosspurposes.blogspot.com/2012/07/somebody-got-somebodys-attention.html
Frederick News-Post 7.11.12
Population shift swells county tax dollars
http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?StoryID=138029
Washington Times 7.11.12
O’Malley blog rebutting exodus report causes stir
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jul/11/omalley-blog-rebutting-exodus-report-causes-stir/
Patch: SPEAK OUT:   7.11.12
Are Taxes Driving Out Maryland’s Millionaires?
http://germantown.patch.com/articles/speak-out-are-taxes-driving-out-maryland-s-millionaires
Pocomoke Public Eye 7.11.12
Change Maryland Responds to Gov. Martin O’Malley’s Political Attack
http://thepocomokepubliceye.blogspot.com/2012/07/change-maryland-responds-to-gov-martin.html
Worcester County Times 7.12.12
Worcester’s tax base sees most new residents
http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20120712/WCT01/207120387
The Tentacle 7.12.12
A Sorry State of Affairs
http://www.thetentacle.com/ShowArticle.cfm?mydocid=5222
Global Rhetoric 7.12.12
O’Malley’s Meltdown
http://www.globalrhetoric.com/2012/07/12/omalleys-meltdown/
SBY News 7.12.12
Change Maryland Responds To Gov. Martin O’Malley’s Political Attack
http://sbynews.blogspot.com/2012/07/change-maryland-responds-to-gov-martin.html
National
CNBC 7.09.12
In Maryland, Higher Taxes Chase Out Rich: Study
http://www.cnbc.com/id/48120446
Hot Air 7.09.12
Surprise: Higher taxes in Maryland chasing out the wealthy
http://hotair.com/archives/2012/07/09/surprise-higher-taxes-in-maryland-chasing-out-the-wealthy/
Daily Caller  7.10.12
Study: Marylanders moving to Virginia because of high taxes
http://dailycaller.com/2012/07/10/study-marylanders-moving-to-virginia-because-of-high-taxes/#ixzz20RCKY1Gr
CNBC 7.10.12
Hogan: Tax & Regulatory Policies Key to Attracting Business
http://www.cnbc.com/id/48117890
Fox Business News 7.12.12
Higher Taxes Cost Maryland $1.7 Billion in Tax Revenue
http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/1732098456001/
Other States
West Virginia
Charleston Daily Mail 7.11.12
Maryland shows folly of overtaxing people
http://www.dailymail.com/Opinion/Editorials/201207100185
New York
Diary of a Republican Hater 7.09.12
Don’t Worry the Right Just Wants to Increase the Tax Base
http://diaryofarepublicanhater.blogspot.com/2012/07/dont-worry-right-just-wants-to-increase.html
New Mexico
News New Mexico 7.10.12
Taxes Backfire in Maryland
http://newsnewmexico.blogspot.com/2012/07/attempt-to-tax-rich-in-maryland.html
North Dakota
Say Anything Blog 7.09.12
Maryland Learns If You Tax Rich People You Get Fewer Rich People
http://sayanythingblog.com/entry/maryland-learns-if-you-tax-reach-people-you-get-fewer-rich-people/
Virginia
Jefferson Policy Journal 7.12.12
Overtaxed Marylanders Flee to Virginia
http://www.jeffersonpolicyjournal.com/?p=2544
Washington D.C.
Washington Free Beacon 7.09.12
Marylander’s Flee O’Malley’s Taxes
http://freebeacon.com/marylanders-flee-omalleys-taxes/
Michigan
Dennis Tubbergen blog 7.12.12
Tax the Rich and they Move?
http://www.dennistubbergen.com/index.php/archives/2430
Posted in Press Releases | Leave a comment

For this and much - much more go to: http://www.changemaryland.org/

O’Malley Admits to Falsifying Data on State Website

Following Governor Martin O’Malley’s misstatement of key statistics
measuring Maryland’s tax burden, Change Maryland acknowledged the
Washington D.C.-based Tax Foundation’s critical role in clarifying the
issue.
“In this economy, with people struggling to make ends meet, the last
thing we need right now is false information from our elected
officials about Maryland’s tax burden,” said Change Maryland
Chairman Larry Hogan. “Fortunately, someone was paying attention, and
I applaud their diligence in helping Governor O’Malley arrive at the
truth.”
The Tax Foundation noted that the O’Malley Administration eliminated
Delaware in a comparison of sales tax burdens because the state has no
sales tax. Virginia’s sales tax burden was misstated in an attempt to
make Maryland look more competitive.
The admission of error came as a direct result of a Tax Foundation
criticism of O’Malley’s blog post in which he personally attacked
Change Maryland and it’s members. The attack came as a result of
unexpected media attention in the wake of Change Maryland’s report of
tax filers moving to other states.
“Maryland’s tax system is not a competitive one, so I can understand
the pressure O’Malley is under to show that it’s somehow not that
bad,” said Tax Foundation Vice President for State Projects Joseph
Henchman. “We’re still critical of his approach of picking a few data
points while missing the overall picture, but it crossed the line when
his office put out wrong data on other states’ tax rates.”
“We take a lot of pride in giving accurate information,” said Tax
Foundation economist Scott Drenkard to the Washington Times, which
reported that O’Malley spokesman Raquel Guillory “admitted that the
blog post had been incorrect on Virginia.”
Similarly, Delaware was later added to the comparison.
Posted in Press Releases | 4 Comments

For this and much - much more go to: http://www.changemaryland.org/

Change Maryland Responds to Gov. Martin O’Malley’s Political Attack

Change Maryland Chairman Larry Hogan appeared on WBAL’s “C-4″ show this afternoon to discuss the organization’s study on tax flight and the Governor’s response yesterday.
Posted in Press Releases | 3 Comments

Change Maryland Releases County-by-County Analysis of Tax Base

Annapolis – Change Maryland released today an analysis of how the state’s 24
jurisdictions are performing in a key metric of their ability to
provide essential government services, improve quality of life and
maintain fiscal responsibility – the rise or fall of the tax base.
Posted in Press Releases | Leave a comment

Maryland Spending Growth Highest in Region

Annapolis, MD – A report issued yesterday underscores again dramatic spending growth in Maryland, where the budget has increased more than any other state on the eastern seaboard and the mid-Atlantic region. Nationally, the rate of growth is higher than all but five other states, according to the non-partisan National Governor’s Association which compares state general fund budgets from fiscal years 2011 to 2013.
Also posted in In the News | Leave a comment

Change Maryland Drives National Messaging on O’Malley’s Record

Annapolis, MD – As Governor Martin O’Malley diverts attention from Maryland again to focus on personal political ambitions, national media platforms are delivering Change Maryland’s message of the problems massive tax increases have had on job growth here at home.O’Malley is headed to Wisconsin today to campaign for the recall effort of Gov. Scott Walker.
Posted in Press Releases | Leave a comment

Maryland Taxes Spark Largest Exodus of Any State in Region

Annapolis, MD – Maryland accounted for the largest migration exodus of any
state in the region between 2007 and 2010, with a net migration resulting in
nearly 31,000 residents having left the state. Where did most of them go?
Virginia. Virginia is now home to 11,455 former Marylanders, taking $390
million from the tax rolls during this three-year period.
Posted in Press Releases | 1 Comment
*****

Monday, July 23, 2012

Progress photo report on #McDaniel College stadium grandstand #Westminster MD


Progress on the McDaniel College stadium scoreboard steps

Dinner with Mr Moose - a crust of bread and a fat carrot


Dayhoff Adventures of Mr. Moose

1931 Maryland State Firemen’s Association Convention

By Kevin Dayhoff July 15, 2012 Westminster Patch


A lengthy July 17, 1931 newspaper article describes the Westminster Municipal Band and the Westminster Fire Department arriving home from participating in the Maryland State Firemen’s Association annual convention earlier that July “in a jubilant mood, as the band brought home $100 for the best band in line of parade…”

The history page from the Frostburg Maryland Fire Department reports that it was one of nine member fire companies that organized the first Maryland State Firemen's Association convention in Frederick in June 1893. 

In 1899 the convention was held in Westminster. A June 8, 1899 Baltimore Sun article, “Have A Hot Time In Westminster And Make Brave Show MANY DROP OUT OF RANKS Twenty-Six Companies And Forty Organizations In The Line Of The Great Parade” observed:

“…From 10,000 to 12,000 people were in Westminster for the opening of the seventh annual convention of the Maryland State Firemen's Association. From midnight until noon today trainloads of people arrived. By everyone it is conceded to have been the greatest day in the history of Westminster...” … http://westminster.patch.com/blog_posts/1931-maryland-state-firemens-association-convention

The 1931 newspaper article described the trip to Ocean City in the days long before the Chesapeake Bay Bridge was built. “The firemen and band left Wednesday morning at 6:35 and arrived at Ocean City at 12:15 p.m. in a Blue Ridge line bus. They traveled by Green Spring Valley to Towson to Havre de Grace, Elkton, Dover to Ocean City, about 190 miles…

“Thursday passed off in sight-seeing with a pajama parade by the Westminster Band at 11 o'clock at night which was followed by several hundred people cheering as they passed down the board walk…” The band also gave concerts on the boardwalk and at the Del-Mar-Va Hotel and Hastings Hotel. 

One of the biggest attractions at the end of the convention is the grand parade which is described in great detail by the 1931 newspaper account, “On Friday morning at 11 o'clock the firemen's parade was the feature.

The parade was led by Gov. Ritchie, Comptroller William S. Gordy, and Mayor William W. McCabe. Twelve hundred firemen, representing 83 Maryland and Delaware fire units, paraded.” The parade extended over 2 miles long that year. 

According to the newspaper article, “Members of Westminster Fire Department taking part in the convention were Frank T. Shaeffer, Michael E. Walsh, Edw. O. Diffendal, Francis N. Keefer, J. Floyd Diffendal, Frank B. Dillard, James Pearre Wantz, Jr., Ralph Royer, Edward B. Orendorff, Wilbur Weller, J. H. Ryland and Claude Buckingham.”

“The $100 purse was a princely sum in 1931,” says local historian Jay Graybeal. “In this early year of the Depression, a pound of coffee cost 20 cents; a pound of peanut butter, 21 cents; and two cans of tomatoes were 15 cents.”
*****

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Cross Purposes: Somebody Got Somebody's Attention

Cross Purposes: Somebody Got Somebody's Attention: The Democratic monopoly in Annapolis regards the state’s outgunned Republican Party and its ideological allies as little more than irritant... http://rjc-crosspurposes.blogspot.com/2012/07/somebody-got-somebodys-attention.html


Tuesday, July 10, 2012


Somebody Got Somebody's Attention

The Democratic monopoly in Annapolis regards the state’s outgunned Republican Party and its ideological allies as little more than irritants and convenient scapegoats.

In the rare instance in which Democrats choose to respond to a volley from the other side, it tends to be of the dismissive variety, like a hand lazily swatting at a pesky insect.  

So, when the Democratic establishment actually chooses to engage its ideological foes in a substantive manner, it is a noteworthy development.

That’s what happened recently when the O’Malley Administration returned fire on an organization headed by a frequently mentioned possible 2014 candidate for governor.

ChangeMaryland, which bills itself as “the grassroots movement fighting to bring fiscal responsibility and common sense to Annapolis,” was founded and is chaired by Larry Hogan, a fellow veteran of the Ehrlich Administration.

The organization, which has over 14,000 followers on Facebook, is a burr in the saddle of the O’Malley Administration, frequently criticizing its policies in the areas of taxation, the budget, and the state’s job growth and retention efforts.

Recently, ChangeMaryland released a study in which it maintains that 31,000 high income citizens disaffected by Governor O’Malley’s tax and spend policies fled the state between 2007 and 2010, taking $1.7 billion in lost tax revenue with them... http://rjc-crosspurposes.blogspot.com/2012/07/somebody-got-somebodys-attention.html


*****

The Battle for Marjah




The Battle for Marjah is an HBO documentary, covering the efforts of Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, in Operation Moshtarak.

- HBO.com


*****

Crab mallets...

Art Deco Buildings: Crescent Hotel, Miami


Art Deco Buildings: Crescent Hotel, Miami: The Crescent Hotel on in Miami South Beach. Another masterpiece by Henry Hohauser built in 1938. And like all the hotels along Ocean Drive ...

“Off Track Art” is an artists’ co-op and gallery located in the historic Liberty Building at 11 Liberty Street – next to the railroad tracks, off of the Sentinel parking lot at the corner of West Main St and MD 27-Liberty St - in historic downtown Westminster, Carroll County Maryland. 


Labels:  

Open: Wed-Fri. Noon to 6 PM , Sat. 10 AM - 5 PM. http://offtrackart.blogspot.com/ 
 For news and information on Off Track Art previous to December 15, 2011, you can go to http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/search/label/Art%20Off%20Track%20Art
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