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
Showing posts with label Carroll Co Govt Employees. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Carroll Co Govt Employees. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 03, 2012

Kevin Dayhoff: A Tribute to Calvin Brothers, long serving firefighter, 4-H volunteer and Chief Building Inspector for Carroll County



Calvin Brothers, long serving firefighter, 4-H volunteer and Chief Building Inspector for Carroll County, has died at age 79

Kevin Dayhoff,
Monday, January 2, 2012





Updated: 3:25 p.m. Firefighters and friends from across Carroll County gathered at the Haight Funeral Home in Sykesville on Jan. 1 to celebrate the life of... 



Firefighters from all across Carroll County gathered at the Haight Funeral Home in Sykesville on Sunday to celebrate the life of Calvin Warren Brothers, 79, of Finksburg, who died Wednesday, December 28, 2011, at Carroll Hospital Center in Westminster.

The service was conducted by the Carroll County Volunteer Emergency Services Association Chaplain, Deacon Charles Barnhart, of whom many emergency services personnel turn to in times of trouble or grief in Carroll County.

Barnhart began the service by saying, “My friends, we have gathered here to praise God and to witness our faith as we celebrate the life of Calvin Brothers. We come together in grief, acknowledging our human loss. May God grant us grace, that in pain we may find comfort, in sorrow hope, in death resurrection.”

Brothers wore many different hats in the greater Carroll County community and many folks knew him well by his steadfast community leadership in the many responsibilities he took upon himself. The one common thread is that he did everything well and no matter how difficult the task, he was always a good friend to everyone.

He was born February 2, 1932 in Finksburg, and was the son of the late Ernest Claude and Amelia I. Ward Brothers. He was the husband of the late Carol Ann Baumes Brothers, who died in 2010.

He was a U.S. Army veteran, who served in Korea. He was a member of the Westminster VFW, Westminster Moose, and the Westminster American Legion.

He worked for many years for Luther L. Brothers Builders and later as the Chief Building Inspector for Carroll County.

Others knew him well as a volunteer with Carroll County 4H and FFA programs where he once served as the Chair of the Board for the Carroll County 4H and FFA Fair.

Folks gathered Sunday evening to celebrate Brothers’ service to our community as a volunteer firefighter. In May 1964, after several devastating fires in the Gamber area of Carroll County, the Gamber and Community Fire Company was organized. According to an old newspaper article, “Two months after the company established itself, Calvin Brothers joined up. His uncle, a member, recruited him. ‘Between 1965 and 1975, this was a very small company,’ he said. ‘It didn't seem like we were going to go too far.’”

But through the hard work of Brothers and countless other community leaders, the upstart fire company has gone far over the years.

“By 1965, the company purchased land and a building at the intersection of Md. 32 and Md. 91, and ordered the first piece of fire equipment…”

Here, Barnhart picked-up the story of Brothers’ work for our community at his memorial service. Brothers “gave his volunteer spirit for 46 years.” He was the company president for a total of eleven-years in five different decades.

Over the years, in addition to serving as a delegate to the Carroll County Volunteer Firemen’s Association, and member of numerous committees, he also served as Gamber fire chief, first vice-president for four years, second vice-president for three years, and a member of the board of directors for an additional four years.

He also served as president of the county firefighters’ association from 1992-1993 and was elected to the Carroll County Volunteer Firemen’s Association Hall of Fame in 1990.

Barnhart spoke for many when he said, “There is so much to share about Calvin’s dedication to” the Gamber volunteer fire company. “His personality and devotion will never be forgotten. In every role, Calvin touched your lives with charm and wit, with courage and hope, with kindness and love. And I’m sure that it was a great reunion at the heavenly gate when Calvin arrived this past Wednesday…

“Calvin became for all, the model of what it means to be an honest hard working sensitive adult. And now, as long as you live in the memory of his witness and faith, he will always live through you…

“We have been blessed with various gifts of service. We give thanks for the life of Calvin W. Brothers and say thank you for his 46 years of service to the Gamber and Community Volunteer Fire Company and the Gamber community. We are grateful for his time and commitment for the betterment of others.”

According to attribute ob the fire company website by Gamber fire company treasurer Clay Myers, Brothers was the husband of Carol Ann Brothers who died in 2010. Surviving are daughter and son-in-law Jen and Chad Dean of Odenton, sons and daughter-in-law Rick Bartels of Glen Burnie, and John and Alisha Bartels of Gamber.

Also surviving are brothers and sisters-in-law Robert Brothers of Gamber, Luther L. and Eva M. Brothers of Gamber, and Carl Melvin and Bonnie Brothers of Traverse City, MI, sister Joan Gist of Gamber, and grandchildren Kera Jefcoat, Kaitlyn Crabtree, Tyler Bartels and Olivia Hope Bartels, and great grandson Layton Jefcoat.

He was predeceased by his sisters Grace Shipley, Jeanette Robertson, Marietta Clark, and Amelia Sue Green, his brother-in-law Richard Gist, and his grandson John Eric Bartels.

Funeral services were held Monday, January 2, 2012, at 10:00 am at Haight Funeral Home & Chapel with Deacon Charles Barnhart officiating. Interment was at the Providence Cemetery, Gamber.

Donations in the honor of the memory of Brothers may be made to the Gamber and Community Fire Department, 3939 Niner Rd., Finksburg, MD 21048.

Online condolences may be offered at www.haightfuneralhome.com

Photo of Calvin W. Brothers in uniform courtesy of the Gamber and Community Fire Department


Kevin Dayhoff: A Tribute to Calvin Brothers, long serving firefighter, 4-H volunteer and Chief Building Inspector for Carroll County
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Wednesday, December 02, 2009

Budget problems continue for Maryland’s local governments




And it is only going to worse…

December 1, 2009 by Kevin Dayhoff

I did this piece of art in September 1994. The more things change the more they stay the same. At some point, the entire manner in which local government in Maryland is funded needs to be changed so that all our tax revenue does not get lost in a black hole in Annapolis and gets re-directed to the government that is closest to the citizens. Woman with the Ones above Carroll County
http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/2009/12/woman-with-ones-above-carroll-county.html)

Read: See Charles Schelle’s article on the press conference today when the employee layoffs were announced: 18 county government employees to lose jobs By Charles Schelle Move to save estimated $3 million http://www.explorecarroll.com/news/3672/layoffs/

See also: Carroll County Commissioners to hold news conference on budget http://tinyurl.com/yhcoklt - and - Carroll Co Budget, Carroll Co employees, MD State Budget

18 county government employees to lose jobs:

This is so sad. And at this time of the year; not that any time of the year is a good time to lose employees – or your job...

My heart and prayers go out to the employees who have lost their job – and to the folks who were forced to make theses difficult decisions.

I happen to agree with the Carroll County government press release today, Carroll Co MD Commissioners eliminate positions http://tinyurl.com/y9zyanu http://tinyurl.com/y9zyanu: “Carroll County already has one of the leanest staffs in Maryland. A survey by the Maryland Association of Counties ranks Carroll as the second-lowest number of employees per capita.”

The problem is certainly not with over-staffing on the part of Carroll County government.

The problem is the systematic irresponsible spending in Annapolis and now the state is balancing its books on the backs of local government.

Neither the current administration or the Maryland General Assembly has the stomach for raising taxes – especially after the fiasco from the Maryland Special Taxing Session from November 2007, which only made matters worse…

So instead of doing the correct thing and cutting-out systemic wasteful spending, they want to force local government to raise taxes.

Add this to the incredible amount of money that Maryland has lost to surrounding states in retail sales as a result of raising the retail sales tax. Remember there is barely any location in Maryland that is not within 40 miles of the state line…

And add to this the large number of high income Marylanders who have simply left the state as a result of the prohibitive tax increase that was levied against them…

The result is a net loss of a great deal of state revenue that is above and beyond the turndown in the economy – especially since, until the recent taxing initiatives had such a disastrous result, most economist and political pundits considered Maryland recession proof.

This is a mess. And it is not a mess that will be solved anytime soon because nothing will hold the Maryland General Assembly accountable and the ruling party in Maryland is so arrogant they are completely inaccessible to any contrarian argument or debate, discussion or dialogue…

~~~~~

20091201 sdosmked Budget probs continue for MD local govt
[19940914 0758b Woman w Ones above CC]


*****

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

18 county government employees to lose jobs By Charles Schelle

18 county government employees to lose jobs By Charles Schelle

Move to save estimated $3 million Posted http://www.explorecarroll.com/news/3672/layoffs/ 12/01/09

WESTMINSTER MARYLAND — Moments before Carroll County Government readied to light its holiday tree tonight, officials announced that 18 county workers will lose their jobs as part of eliminating 62 positions.

County Commissioner Julia Gouge and Steven Powell, chief-of-staff for Carroll County Government made the announcement at a 5 p.m. news conference at the County Office Building, wrapping up in time to celebrate the holidays at a 6 p.m. ceremony.

"It has been the single most difficult day of my career in Carroll County, and I'm glad it's over," Powell said as his voice cracked and quivered. "I know that it has only just begun for 18 people."

Read Mr. Schelle’s entire article here: 18 county government employees to lose jobs By Charles Schelle

20091201 18 county govt emps to lose jobs by Schelle
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Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://www.westgov.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/

Carroll Co MD Commissioners eliminate positions


See Charles Schelle’s article on the press conference today when the employee layoffs were announced: 18 county government employees to lose jobs By Charles Schelle Move to save estimated $3 million http://www.explorecarroll.com/news/3672/layoffs/


Board of County Commissioners
Julia W. Gouge, President
Dean L. Minnich, Vice President
Michael D. Zimmer, Secretary
Carroll County Government
225 North Center Street
Westminster, Maryland 21157
410-386-2043; 1-888-302-8978
fax 410-386-2485; TT 410-848-9747

News Release
For more information, contact: Vivian D. Laxton,
Public Information Administrator, 410-386-2973
For Immediate Release

Commissioners eliminate positions


December 1, 2009 – In recognition of the economic situation and its impact on state and local revenues, the Board of County Commissioners today voted to eliminate more than 60 positions in Carroll County Government.

Eighteen of those positions are filled. “We regret losing these hard-working employees, who we consider to be our friends,” Commissioner Julia W. Gouge said during a news conference this afternoon.

Carroll County already has one of the leanest staffs in Maryland. A survey by the Maryland Association of Counties ranks Carroll as the second-lowest number of employees per capita.

Since July 1, the regular workforce has been reduced by 12 percent through retirements, attrition and lay-offs. The downsizing will result in an estimated $3 million savings a year.

As a result of the reduced workforce, programming at county parks will be reduced, response time for permits inspections will be lengthened, roads will take longer to clear of snow and ice, and services and hours at senior centers will be reduced.


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20091201 sdosm PR Carroll Co Commissioners eliminate positions

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