20061015 Celebrate Local Heroes Festival in Westminster

Celebrate Local Heroes Festival in Westminster

October 15^th, 2006

This Sunday afternoon, Caroline and I attended the 4^th annual Local Heroes Festival from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Dutterer Family Park at Winter's Alley and Monroe Street in Westminster.

It is at this event, put on by the Westminster Department of Recreation and Parks that the local community comes out to honor the fire, police and street department volunteers and staffs that work so hard for our community. Local organizations also displayed information and there were also games, food from neighborhood vendors and 4-H animals.

Former Carroll Times writer, Joanne Morvay Weant, a dairy farmer, helped bring the 4-H animals. She brought several rabbits and a chicken. Also present were a couple of goats and a friendly horse.

Lots of folks came together for this year’s successful event. First among equals being the new Westminster Recreation and Parks Program Director Jen Mellor.

Ms. Mellor certainly demonstrated that she is wonderful with kids. She helped children paint 65 pumpkins and create many lollipop ghosts and goblins – decorated tootsie roll pops.

Also available at this year’s festivities was moon bounce and face painting.

The Westminster Police Department under the leadership of Chief Jeff Spaulding, the Westminster Street Department’s Larry Bloom and Wayne Reifsnider; and the Westminster Fire Department also rolled their sleeves up and were out in force. The local National Guard Unit stationed at the Armory on Hahn Road brought a 105 Howitzer.

Of course, Lori Walsh Graham, her sister Jalna Brown and Mrs. Dutterer Gist need an honorable mention for their steadfast support and hard work.

Without public safety, we have no community and I think it's important to take time out to recognize the fire department, the police department and the street department.

The weather was beautiful and it was great to see so many of the folks who do the heavy lifting for our community.

NOTE: I'll get some more pictures posted as soon as I get a chance...

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