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 Taneytown qv Carroll Co Dist. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Taneytown qv Carroll Co Dist. Show all posts

Friday, January 18, 2008

20080114 WJZ TV: Taneytown votes down immigration resolution


WJZ TV: Taneytown votes down immigration resolution

January 14, 2008

On Monday, January 14, 2008, the Taneytown (Maryland) City Council voted down by a 3 – 2 vote a resolution introduced on December 5, 2007, declaring Taneytown to NOT be a sanctuary city.

WJZ TV, Channel 13 in Baltimore, had the best video coverage.

To find this and other news videos of breaking Maryland news, go to: http://wjz.com/video/

I touched upon the Taneytown immigration debate in my 20080118 Westminster Eagle column: Dr. Martin Luther King's enduring words

20080114 WJZ TV: Taneytown votes down immigration resolution

####

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

Related on “Soundtrack”: Immigration Reform and Taneytown

20080118 Westminster Eagle column: Dr. Martin Luther King's enduring words

20061125 OMG I want this T Shirt,

20061213 Say it in Broken English,

20061121 WE Giving thanks WE,

20061121 Yikes,

20061121 Hoby Wolf weighs in on Taneytown English First issue,

20061121 Everyone who wants to work is welcome in CC

20061120 Crablaw’s stand-up mea culpa.

20061115 Taneytown, Roger Taney, Raphael Taney, Dred Scott and Tupac Shakur

Often, when I consider the immigration discussions in Taneytown, I think of Marianne Faithfull’s “Say it in Broken English.” (I had the opportunity to see Marianne Faithful in Fells Point – quite a number of years ago and it sounded more like this.)

Related:

Immigration Gumballs

This clip from the longer video, Immigration by the Numbers, features Roy Beck demonstrating the catastrophe of the huge numbers of both legal and illegal immigration by Third World people into the modern nations. He uses standard statistics and simple gumballs to show this disaster in the making.

Video was done by roy beck:

http://www.answers.com/topic/roy-beck

Full video on google:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?doc...

####

20080118 Westminster Eagle column: Dr. Martin Luther King's enduring words

Dr. Martin Luther King's enduring words

Westminster Eagle

01/18/08 By Kevin E. Dayhoff

American civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., wrote in a book, "Strength to Love," published in 1963:

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction. ..."

Those words are as enduring today as when written 45 years ago.

The year 1963 was a long time ago and we, as a society, have come along way toward social justice since the days of legally-sanctioned segregation.

And yet we must be constantly vigilant, as new challenges are always on the horizon.

This is especially true today as our nation continues to wallow in a political tar pit like some bellowing mastodon with a hangover. It seems these days that all issues of community, race relations, the environment and public policy quickly deteriorate into a "red versus blue" coarsening of dialogue promoted by a lack of humanity and the intellectually challenged.

Here's a well-kept secret for you -- the red versus blue thing isn't real, except as promoted by pundits and cable television stations that wish to have their way with you.

Leadership is about bringing folks together -- not promoting division.

We could use a few national leaders like Dr. King these days and it's only appropriate that we set aside time every year to attempt to reacquaint ourselves with the practice of solving our problems by cultivating nonviolence and compassion.

Because I haven't taken enough abuse recently, I'll venture to share my view that the recent discussion about Taneytown not being a "Sanctuary City" would be boring if it didn't give us a massive headache.

Please re-read the first two paragraphs.

The resolution of Taneytown is a stick in the eye for those of us who are trying to promote Carroll County as a welcoming community and family-friendly place to live and prosper.

It does little, if nothing, to address the problems of illegal immigration.

The societal and economic cost of illegal immigration is certainly a fair discussion. I mean, what part of illegal is not understood?

Nevertheless, the overall solution needs to occur in Congress, a body politic that, unfortunately, gives new meaning to "pathological dysfunctia."

Furthermore, the resolution coming at a time of the year when we celebrate Dr. King could not be more ironic.

Take a memo: xenophobia as an approach to solving complicated immigration problems is interesting in the way a septic truck running off the road, through your front flower bed and ending up on your front porch is interesting.

The resulting rhetoric, gnashing of teeth and collective hand-wringing only promotes myths and misinformation that distort meaningful debate and mute the questions that demand carefully thought-out solutions.

At this point, the only "sanctuary" I'm interested in is a sanctuary from stories like this one that will only go down as indictments of community leaders who have spent years offering solutions in search of a problem in an attempt to gain political advantage by populism.

This year we commemorate the life and work of Dr. King on Jan. 21, but he was born in Atlanta on Jan. 15, 1929.

Much of our community will come together to celebrate him this Saturday when the Carroll County NAACP will hold the fifth annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast at Martin's Westminster at 8 a.m. (If you'd like to go, call the NAACP office at 410-751-7667.)

Meanwhile, what I really wanted to write about is a persistent and perennial question from many young readers and new folks in our community:

"Who was Robert Moton?"

If you have any memories about the old Robert Moton School in Carroll County, please share them with me, so that I may include them in a future column.

Considering how angry and passionate folks are about the sanctuary city discussion, my next column may very well be written from an undisclosed location.

Hopefully it is a place that serves grits and has a good stereo system so that I can play Led Zeppelin's remake of Kansas Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnie's "When the Levee Breaks."

Anybody know what that song has to do with Robert Moton?

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

http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?show=localnews&pnpID=978&NewsID=869869&CategoryID=18317&on=1

####

Courthouse history seems to match theatrical flair of current case
The eyes of Maryland were on the Carroll County Courthouse last Friday as oral arguments were heard in the case of Michael D. Smigiel Sr., et al, v. Peter Franchot, et al.

This, of course, is the historic constitutional test case pertaining to alleged constitutional and procedural irregularities i...
[Read full story]


Something we really must talk about
On Christmas Eve, while many friends and families were preparing to get together and celebrate the holidays, the friends, colleagues and loved ones of Smithsburg police officer Christopher Nicholson, 25, gathered to bury him.

On Dec. 19, Officer Nicholson and the stranger he tried to help, Alison ...
[Read full story]

Monday, November 05, 2007

20071101 City of Taneytown Maryland Newsletter



NOVEMBER 2007 TANEYTOWN MARYLAND NEWSLETTER

COUNCIL MEETING NOV. 7 - 7:30 PM

PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION NOV. 26 – 7:30 PM

EMAIL ARTICLES TO: NBMccormick@taneytown.org

CITY OFFICE 410-751-1100 POLICE DEPT 410-751-1150

MAYOR’S (James L McCarron Jr.) MESSAGE:

Hello Everyone!

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. Albert Camus

I begin with this thought, this month. As we look forward to the coming holidays with family and friends we think of our blessings and all the gifts in our lives that surround us. It seems, in our busy lives it is often easy to forget to say thank you to all those who work together to make our town the special place that it is. Thank someone today for being special.

We have had a busy month, and by the time you are reading these words, I hope that you have had a chance to enjoy the Oktoberfest activities. The “Pumpkin People” have come to visit and the annual Halloween parade is planned for Halloween evening (October 31st). Trick or Treat is planned for the same evening. Parks Director Bob Mitchell and Economic Director Nancy McCormick have all the details. Make sure you accompany your small children to keep them safe and be sure and check their bag of treats.

The dry weather still continues and we are included in Maryland Department of Environment “Drought Watch” area, along with most of Central Maryland & the Eastern Shore. You are doing a good job conserving water and our wells are still holding their own. We need everyone’s effort to insure our water supply.

We have begun the online payment of water and sewer bills. Visit our web site (www.taneytown.org) to take advantage of the added service.

Chief Tyler and Councilman Heine report that the Community Action Group meeting will resume in December. The first meeting will be on 12/4, for Windy Hills, next is Carnival/ Grand group on 12/6 and Courier Dr on 12/20. Other dates will follow. Become involved in your neighborhood by becoming active in these meetings. Please contact the chief or Councilman Heine for future dates. All are welcome to participate.

Speaking of being thankful, I must take a few minutes to recognize the long time efforts of our City Clerk/Treasurer, Linda Hess. As many have heard, Linda has elected to retire from city service; on November 1st. Linda had worked for the city’s citizens for over thirty-one years. She has been active, statewide too, serving in many offices and as President of Maryland Municipal League’s, Clerks Association. She has been nationally recognized for her dedication. Her accomplishments have been many, and she will be greatly missed.

While it will be impossible to replace someone with such a vast array of experience, we are actively seeking a qualified and experienced candidate and hope to have her replacement named in the near future. I want to wish Linda well, in her retirement and only the best in the future for her and her family. Thank You Linda!

BUSINESS BREAKFAST: November’s Taneytown Business Breakfast will be held on Friday, November 9, 2007 at Thunderhead Bowl. Networking and continental breakfast will begin at 9:15 am with the speaker beginning at 10:00am. John Pocari, Maryland Secretary of Transportation will speak on how they are addressing our transportation issues? Reservations are necessary no later than November 6th by calling 410-751-1100 x 20 or email: nbmccormick@taneytown.org.

STREET SWEEPING: On Monday, November 19, 2007, the following streets will be swept: East and West Baltimore Street, Frederick Street, York Street, Huntinghorn Street, Huntinghorn Court, Kenan Street (Meadowbrook), Bentley Street, Kwanzan Street, Bison Street, and Morning Frost Street. Sweeping occurs between the hours of 7:00am and 3:30pm.

ON-LINE WATER PAYMENTS: The City of Taneytown now has the capability of collecting water and sewer bills on-line with your Master Card or VISA Credit Card. Simply go to the City’s website www.taneytown.org and click on the box for water and sewer bill payment. Fill in the entire questionnaire and submit. The City will receive notice of your payment the next day and will credit your account based on that information. It will be necessary for you to complete this questionnaire each time you wish to pay by credit card. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Clerk’s Office at 410-751-1100.

APPROVED RESOLUTIONS: The Mayor and City Council approved the following Resolutions at their October 8, 2007 Council Meeting: Resolution No. 2007-19, State Retirement System Tax Pickup Program and Resolution No. 2007-20, Water Allocations through November 1, 2007.

LEAF PICK-UP: The Public Works Department will continue curbside leaf pick-up on Tuesdays, through December 4, 2007. Please pack the leaves in plastic bags only and place them at the curb by 7:30am. Bags must be tied, and contain leaves only. No tree branches, sod, or trash will be picked-up. Bags should not weigh more than 30 pounds each and limit bag size to 50 gallons. Leaves will be taken to a local farm and used as compost, allowing the use of plastic bags. Paper kraft bags are still required for grass clipping disposal. Leaves will be collected without scheduling for pick-up, but you must continue to call the City Office before 3:00pm on Monday to schedule for grass pick-up on Tuesdays.

CITY OFFICE CLOSINGS: The Taneytown City Offices will be closed on Monday, November 12, 2007 for Veteran’s Day and on Thursday, November 22, 2007 and Friday, November 23, 2007 for Thanksgiving.

BULL AND OYSTER FEED: The American Legion-Hesson-Snider Post #120 will host a Bull and Oyster Feed on Saturday, November 3, 2007 from 1:00pm to 4:00pm at the Legion. Tickets are $25.00 per person and are available at the Legion Lounge or call Ralph Green at 410-756-4550 or Mike Stonesifer at 410-756-2628.

BINGO: St. Joseph Catholic Church, 44 Frederick Street, Taneytown, will hold bingo on Saturday, November 3, 2007 ~ Theme: Thanksgiving and Saturday, December 1, 2007 ~ Theme: Christmas. Doors open at 5:00 P.M. Early Bird games begin at 6:40 PM. Regular games immediately follow. Soups, sandwiches, desserts are available.

FSK JR. EAGLES FOOTBALL: FSK Jr. Eagles Football Board Meeting is November 14th in the large football field building. We will be voting on bylaw changes and review the season. Everyone is welcome. Visit www.fskjreagles.com for year round information.

MERRY METHODIST CHRISTMAS BAZAAR: Come to the Merry Methodist Christmas Bazaar sponsored by the United Methodist Women, at the United Methodist Church, 20 Middle Street, on Saturday, November 10, 2007 from 9 am until 3 pm. Crafts, Little Angels Room, PaPa's Closet, book nook, all kinds of great food - homemade soups, country ham sandwiches, homemade jellies, candies, cheese balls for holidays, and bake table.

VETERAN’S DAY PROGRAM: The American Legion Hesson-Snider Post #120 will be holding a Veteran’s Day Ceremony at the Post Home at 9 Broad Street in Taneytown on Saturday, November 11th at 11:00am. Everyone is encouraged to attend to show their respect and appreciation to our Veterans. All military veterans please attend so we may formally honor you for your service to our Country. All attendees are invited to a luncheon following the ceremony, compliments of the American Legion. If you have questions, call Elaine May-Stem at 443-340-8017.

BREAKFAST BUFFET: Knights of Columbus, St. Joseph Taneytown Council 11631 will sponsor a Country Style Breakfast Buffet (all you can eat) at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Social Hall, 44 Frederick St., Taneytown, on Sunday, November 11, 2007, 7 am - Noon. Cost: Adults $6.00, Children 7-10, $3.50, (6 & under Free).Early Bird Special: 7 am to 8 am - Adults: $5.00 Children (7 - 10), $3.00. Menu consists of Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, Sausage, Pancakes, Potatoes, Hominy, Sausage Gravy, Chip Beef, Toast, Orange Juice, Tea, & Coffee.

PANCAKE BREAKFAST: The Taneytown Lions Club’s 2007 Fall Pancake Breakfast will be held from 6 am until 11 am on Saturday, November 17, 2007. The breakfast will be held in the building on the Taneytown Carnival Ground on Memorial Drive. The breakfast is an All You Can Eat pancake breakfast featuring sausage, old-fashioned pudding and hominy, eggs fried-to-order, sausage gravy, with orange juice, coffee and tea. Prices continue to be held at $5.50 for adults, $3.00 for children ages 6-12, and children under 6 will be free. This breakfast again will benefit the Sight and Hearing projects supported by the Taneytown Lions, including vision screening for pre-schoolers. Questions- contact Claude Elmore at 410-751-1227, Jim Fair at 410-751-1120, or Mike Garner at 410-751-1977.

19TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS STAR BAZAAR: The Christmas Star Bazaar will be held Saturday, November 24, 2007, 8:00 AM until 3:00 PM at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, 44 Frederick Street, Taneytown. Vendor space is available. Please contact Terry Smith (410-756-6758) or the Church office (410-756-2500).

HOLIDAY OF TREES DISPLAY: “Holiday of Trees” display will be reopening November 24, 2007 with its Tree Decorating Contest, Silent Auction and Holiday Celebration at the Taneytown History Museum, 24 East Baltimore Street. This year the popular display/event has added miniature trees. Stop in to vote for your favorites during normal museum hours until December 15 at 3:30 pm. On December 1, 2007, the museum will have special hours to coincide with the City Tree Lighting. For more information call 410 756-4234.

TANEYTOWN LIBRARY: Check out these terrific programs for the month of November. For more information, pick up a copy of Currents at the library, or log onto library.carr.org and click on “Library Events”. For adults/teens: Scrapbooking: Tools & Techniques II Thursday, November 1 at 7. Taneytown Book Club: The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards. Thursday, November 8 at 6:30 pm (For adults) Digital Scrapbooking Thursday, November 15 at 7 pm (For ages 14-adult). Make-n-Take Razzle Dazzle Holiday Cards (For ages 13 - adult) Thursday, November 29 at 7 pm Kris Buker of Stampin’ Up! For kids: For ages birth-24 mos. with accompanying adult caregiver Read & Play Tuesdays at 9:45 am Wednesdays at 11am. For ages 2-3 with accompanying adult caregiver: Story Pals Tuesdays at 11 am. For ages 3-6: On My Own Storytime Wednesdays at 9:45 am, Thursdays at 1:30 pm. For children of all ages. Year-Round Family Storytime Wednesdays at 7 pm, Thursdays at 9:45 am. For ages 7-17: Yu-Gi-Oh Monday, November 19 at 1 pm Bring your Yu-Gi-Oh! Cards and join other fans. Refreshments served. For ages 11-17: Xbox Party at the Library Monday, November 19 at 3 pm Play games on the library’s Xbox console. To register, go to Information Desk or log onto library.carr.org, click on “Library Events”.

FRUIT SALE: The Taneytown Chamber of Commerce is continuing the former Taneytown Kiwanis Club tradition of providing the Holiday Traditional Fruit Sale. As always the fruit sold is fresh Florida Fruit sold by the box (4/5 Bushel carton). Fruit will be available for pick up at the Taneytown Shopping Center parking lot on Saturday, December 8th from 8 am until 5 pm and Sunday, December 9th from 12 pm until 5 pm. Orders are due by November 23rd. Payment is due on pick up day. You may pay for your order in advance. Payments by check or money order should be made out to the Taneytown Chamber of Commerce. For more information or to place an order by phone please contact Roger Diehl at 410 751-1400 or 410 984-7815 or Donna Sako at 410 756-4234 or 410 371-4265.

FSK LACROSSE: Information for Boys: Boys in grades 5th -8th will be playing at Four Seasons in Hampstead. Games are held during the week on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday evenings. First session begins November 10th. Second session begins January 5th. Information for Girls: Girls in grades 5th – 8th will be playing their first session at the Frederick Sportsplex, with games held on Saturdays. The girls’ second session will be held at Carroll Indoor, with games also scheduled for Saturdays. First session begins November 3rd. Second session begins January 12th. There is open registration for experienced players, no practices - games only: $85.00 for one session, $150 for both. 2008 Season Registration begins November 1st with an early bird discount for returning players (save $10) 11/1/07 (registration will be sent via mail) Early bird discount for new players: 11/15/07 - must contact us for registration materials. Open registration: 12/1/07 - 1/31/08. Open Clinics to be held at Taneytown Elementary for interested players to try out lacrosse for FREE after school in January - Date to announced registration: 2/1/08. Open registration: $75.00, $65.00 with early bird discount. Contact Laura Furbay Maring at 410-751-0224 for more information or lfurbay@yahoo.com. Visit our website at www.fsklax.com for more info.

SLEEP-OUT FOR HOMELESSNESS: The Youth Group of Grace United Church of Christ, 49 West Baltimore Street, Taneytown will sponsor a “Sleep-Out for Homelessness Awareness” on November 17th. After an evening of awareness events and spending a night without a home, the group will gather donated items to be blessed during the 10:15 A.M. worship service themed around “thankfulness and the importance of caring for those in need”. The Taneytown Community is invited to join with us in helping provide for those in desperate need by dropping off personal care items, paper products, laundry soap, and cleaning supplies. Non-perishable food items will also be collected and given to the Carroll Food Sunday Pantry of Taneytown. Residents may drive by the church and drop items off during the week in the outdoor collection boxes or to the youth gathered for the sleep-out between the hours of 7:00-11:00 P.M. on Saturday or 7:00 -10:00 A.M. on Sunday.

FAREWELL MY FRIENDS: It is with mixed emotions that I must say farewell to my friends in Taneytown. I will be retiring November 2nd after more than thirty-one years of service to the Citizens of Taneytown. I have been fortunate in that I have worked most of my life doing what I have enjoyed. I hope I have served you well and will think of the City of Taneytown with the fondest of memories.

####

Monday, September 10, 2007

20070910 Civil War exhibit receives praise by Tom LeGore


Taneytown Civil War exhibit receives praise by Tom LeGore

September 10th, 2007

My colleague Tom LeGore has a letter to the editor in the Carroll County Times this worth reprinting. Taneytown has done a great job with their history museum and it is nice to see their efforts get attention.

Editor:

Taneytown's Civil War Legacy exhibit, displayed in the second-floor gallery of the Taneytown Museum is a must-see for any Carroll countian with an interest in local Civil War memorabilia, genealogy or a great display of weapons, flags and other items from private homes and collections never before available for public viewing. The museum and volunteers have done an excellent job of providing detailed labels interpreting each item.

Young men from the Taneytown area who enlisted in the Union Army in 1862 are featured in the displays. One in particular is Sgt. John Ezra Buffington, 6th Maryland Volunteer Infantry, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for being the first Union enlisted man to mount the parapet of the Confederate entrenchment at Petersburg, Va., on April 2, 1865.

His heroic actions will be the subject of a granite and bronze monument designed by the renowned sculptor Gary Casteel. The monument is scheduled to be dedicated April 2, 2008, according to a press release by the 6th Maryland Regiment of Infantry Descendants Association.

The full Civil War exhibit at Taneytown is schedule to close Oct. 27, however, portions of the exhibit will be displayed elsewhere in the museum after that.

I have been a student of Carroll County's Civil War history for more than four decades, and I rate this special exhibit outstanding!

Tom LeGore

Finksburg

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

20061213 Say It In Broken English

Say it in Broken English

December 13, 2006 by Kevin Dayhoff (668 words)

http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?pnpid=978&show=archivedetails&ArchiveID=1247802&om=1

I was watching the current TV series “Studio 60” when this column came to life. In the curious and paradoxical world of word associations, there was an oblique reference to Anita Pallenberg in the show.

Ms. Pallenberg was a protégée of the early “Rolling Stones” and Marianne Faithful; who cut one of my all time favorite albums, “Broken English,” in October 1979. (One song, “The Ballad Of Lucy Jordan," was used in Ridley Scott’s 1991 movie “Thelma and Louise.”)

In a later conversation with my wife (pray for my wife) I segued into the current discussions about the history of English as the predominant language in Carroll County. English speaking Europeans came to Carroll County slowly at first, but in the end it appears that the English speakers write the history books.

Before 1744, the predominant government in Carroll County was the Haudenosaunee Nation – the “Six Nations.” The Haudenosaunee played a key role in the evolution of American democracy and paradoxically, they are why we speak English today.

Much of our current way of life is owed to the heritage and legacy of the Haudenosaunee Nation. Several main roads in Carroll County have their beginnings as Haudenosaunee trading routes. And several towns in Carroll County - Patapsco for example - had their beginnings as Haudenosaunee settlements.

It was not until after the Treaty of the Six Nations was signed on July 4, 1744 with the Haudenosaunee Nation, and the dispute over the Mason-Dixon Line was settled in 1767 that settlers started to come here in greater numbers.

It was near present-day Linwood, that the first recorded structure in the territory was built around 1715 by John Steelman. In 1744, approximately 65 families lived in Carroll County.

The Treaty of Paris in 1763 signaled the end of the North American portion of a global war between France and England, the French and Indian War, 1754–63.

It was one of the last pieces of the puzzle enabling settlement in Carroll County with relative freedom from violence. The last piece, of course, was the American Revolution, 1775-83.

But the very first “settlers” were the Algonquians who arrived around 800 B.C. The original Algonquians divided into a number of distinct tribe-nations, which formed a multi-nation government under a constitution that dates to approximately August 31, 1142.

The Algonquians called themselves the “Haudenosaunee” meaning “People of the Longhouse” and their government was one of the first true participatory democracies in history. It also incorporated full political and leadership rights for women.

The French term for the Six Nations confederacy was “Iroquois.” The term is considered a racial slur by many Native-Americans. The original Carroll Countians spoke one of many dialects of the Algonquian-Wakashan linguistic family of North America.

The Six Nations consisted of “nation-states” made up from different areas governed by the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, Senecas and the Tuscaroras. The Six Nations extended from Labrador to South Carolina.

Many historians to this day credit the multi-cultural and multi-lingual participatory democracy as exemplified by the Haudenosaunee Nation to be the inspiration for our nation’s founders’ ideas for our system of government.

Other historians have vigorously contested this theory as anecdotal and supposition. Read: history is written by the victorious. However, there is evidence, for example, that both Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson in particular used material delineated in a famous speech made by the great Haudenosaunee “sachem” (chief,) Canassatego, in 1744 at the signing of the Treaty of Six Nations.

In the Constitutional Convention of May through September, 1787, the basis for the “federal system” of government advocated by Messrs. Jefferson and Franklin was based on the Haudenosaunee system of government.

Today it is a paradox that for 75 percent of Carroll County’s history, we did not speak English. But to this day, the English speakers are (re)writing history.

And Marianne Faithful; four decades later, she is currently victorious over many personal challenges, living in Paris and enjoying yet another successful re-write of her singing and acting career – and performing in French.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

E-mail him at: kdayhoff AT carr.org

####

Often, when I consider the immigration discussions in Taneytown, I think of Marianne Faithfull’s “Say it in Broken English.” (I had the opportunity to see Marianne Faithful in Fells Point – quite a number of years ago and it sounded more like this.)


_____

Related:

Immigration Gumballs

This clip from the longer video, Immigration by the Numbers, features Roy Beck demonstrating the catastrophe of the huge numbers of both legal and illegal immigration by Third World people into the modern nations. He uses standard statistics and simple gumballs to show this disaster in the making.

Video was done by roy beck:

http://www.answers.com/topic/roy-beck

Full video on google:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5871651411393887069

####

"Five Easy Pieces"

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

20061121 Hoby Wolf weighs in on Taneytown English First issue

Hoby Wolf weighs in on Taneytown English First issue

On of my Westminster Eagle columnist colleagues has weighed-in on the Taneytown English First initiative:

Logic of press reports from Taneytown seems foreign to me

11/21/06 By Hoby Wolf

Nothing warms the cockles of a former public relations man's heart like watching the press getting sucked into a non-story; mostly because of the young liberal reporters who sense blood -- when it's really a dry field.

This, to me anyway, is the non-story that got Taneytown some national press this past week.

The town council Taneytown voted 3-2 to pass something it called the English Language Unity Resolution, which asserts that all city government business will be conducted in English.

According to press accounts, there is no penalty for breaking the resolution, nor does it conflict with federal laws requiring interpreters to be provided when necessary.

But that didn't stop people from objecting to it, of course. Why, we even had quotes from a high official from a local jurisdiction on how shameful that action was!

I say two things:

Read the rest of his column here.

####

20061121 “Everyone who wants to work is welcome in Carroll County”

“Everyone who wants to work is welcome in Carroll County”

November 21st, 2006 by Kevin Dayhoff (845 words)

As to the unfortunate matter in Taneytown, whereby the city’s elected leadership recently passed legislation declaring English as the official language of the city; it sends the wrong signal to folks inside and especially outside of Carroll County.

Whether the legislation is a “statement” without force of law or just a publicity stunt, it is not a true signal of what we are as a greater community. Everyone who wants to work should be welcomed in our community.

In the past, I have worked with most of the current elected leadership of Taneytown and they are a great group of folks. They are quite committed to their community and put in long hours.

I do not know Taneytown Councilman Paul E. Chamberlain Jr. In all candor, when Councilman Chamberlain first brought up the “English first” issue, I though it was campaign rhetoric in his bid to be relevant in his bid to unseat the popular Maryland Senator David Brinkley.

This initiative has caused a “media storm” of unwanted attention to Carroll County for all the wrong reasons.

We do so many things well in Carroll County. This legislation is a “darn shame.”

Historically Carroll County is a welcoming community.

By way of our historic roots, either as innkeepers and provisioners to travelers on their way west, or as shopkeepers, or as folks looking to expand our economic base in the golden age of Carroll County’s small towns in the first part of the 1900s as communities looked to expand their economic base and attract folks to move to the country.

Not too mention Carroll County’s agricultural roots, in which a visitor to the farm in the days before automobiles was a holiday and folks were welcomed with open arms.

Why even when Carroll County used German POWs for agricultural labor during WWII, there are plenty of stories and anecdotes about the German prisoners eating at the family dinner table on the farms…

A solution in search of a problem.

But Councilman Chamberlain’s continued pursuit has presented to those of us who are somewhat familiar with Taneytown, to be a solution in search of a problem.

I have not attempted to talk with Councilman Chamberlain, but I have played phone tag with Councilman James L. McCarron. Councilman McCarron is the gold standard of a locally elected official working hard for what is best for his city. I have served on several Maryland Municipal League committees with Councilman McCarron and we both served on the MML Board together.

I have some insight as to his thinking process when it comes to municipal government and it means something to me when he says, as he as quoted in an article in the November 14th, 2006 Baltimore Sun by Laura McCandlish:

Councilman James L. McCarron denounced the measure. In his more than 22 years on the council, he said, no one ever came forward with a comment or complaint who didn't speak English.

"I have no problem making English the official language of the state of Maryland or even America, but to make it the official language of Taneytown is simply a nonissue," McCarron said. "It's not a unity resolution. It's a disunity one."

When someone is an elected community leader, one of his or her main responsibilities is to see to it that taxpayer dollars are handled as frugally as possible.

Introducing and pursuing municipal legislation, such as “English First” is a waste of taxpayer money and a waste of time for municipal elected and appointed officials.

Disagreement with the councilman needs to be respectful.

I respectfully disagree with Councilman Chamberlain… Ultimately he need not answer to me. He has to answer to his constituents and provide leadership for Taneytown as he sees fit…

The worst thing that can happen to a community is that everybody thinks the same way all the time. It will be catastrophic if potential leaders are unwilling to step out of the comfortable cocoon of their lives to assume a leadership role or proffer a different point of view for fear of the politics of personal destruction.

Spanish-speaking workers are welcome in our community.

I grew up in the nursery and landscaping industry and have worked with Spanish-speaking folks all my life. Not only are they, by and large, hard working and family oriented, but they are critical to the labor pool for agriculture in Carroll County and Maryland.

Ultimately, we are talking about are fellow human beings who have come to this country - just like us or our ancestors, at some point in time - to make a better life for our families and work hard in a foreign land.

In October 1833, in the area we now know as Carroll County, a vote was taken as to whether or not we should form Carroll County. Did you know that the ballots for that vote were printed in German, and English, for all the non-German speaking citizens?

Our Spanish-speaking workers will learn English, just as German-speaking Carroll Countians eventually did.

Perhaps we should extend a helping hand, instead of backhanding them.



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

20061120 Crablaw’s stand-up mea culpa.



On November 17th, 2006 Crablaw wrote yet another stand-up post for which I admired: “Thank You to Kevin Dayhoff and MD Conservatarian for Taney Correction.”

Thank you for this post. Yes you may have not been aware of the history of Taneytown, (20061115 Taney Taneytown and Tupac Shakur,) but please do not lose sight that you never-the-less made your point.

What it is that can be learned from Crablaw’s post is that the “English First” initiative in Taneytown sends a negative and perhaps, even more importantly; an inaccurate message as to how welcoming a greater community that is our Carroll County.

My family roots in Carroll County may very well go back to the 1700s and the Carroll County I grew up in is by and large, a much more welcoming community than what it is that I worry, is our reputation.

To be certain, we have our challenges and we have to be ever constantly vigilant, but Carroll County is still, to a great extent, a friendly and welcoming community that cherishes hard work and family, and values a work-ethic that places emphasis on “it’s performance that counts.” Look that up in the dictionary and you will see a picture that includes a hard-working Spanish speaking family.

Yes, before anyone reaches for their keyboard with their itching flaming fingers to call to my attention slights and unpleasant behavior, there are examples of folks behaving badly in Carroll County, just as there is in any community.

The problems are important, but it is the response that is critical and for the most part, the Carroll County community comes together to address the unpleasant behavior as aggressively as possible.

Crablaw’s inadvertent point was excellent; that folks are going to be pre-disposed to think the worst of not only Taneytown, which is, by the way, is a wonderful community; but folks will also think poorly of Carroll County as a result of this misguided “English First” initiative.

Thank you for both your posts (here and here) Crablaw. I have more to say about the “English First” initiative in a piece that I began writing as soon as I read your original post. Time has not been my friend recently; however, as soon as I get this up on the blog, I’ll take a look at what I already wrote and see if I can’t get that post up also.

I grew up in the green industry and I made a living as a landscape contractor, designer – and raised nursery stock on a small farm for over 25 years. I have spent my entire life around Spanish speaking workers and they have my utmost respect and I think that “English First” effort is misguided and ultimately, unfair. Please read my Tentacle column on May 31, 2006: “The Great Mexican Maginot Line,” which begins;

Last Thursday, the United States Senate passed the "Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006" by a vote of 62 to 36. The legislation has sparked rigorous and rancorous debate as it supports a bi-partisan, multi-disciplinary approach to the challenges of immigration reform embraced by President George W. Bush.

Meanwhile, Crablaw’s forthrightness is exemplary. Besides, I will make more “mistakes” than you and I depend on colleagues and friends to keep me straight.

Mi amigo, te deseo a ti y tu familia un felíz día de acción de gracias. No comas y no bebas demasiado. Cuida tu dieta.

Kevin

Ref: http://www.crablaw.com/2006/11/thank-you-to-kevin-dayhoff-and-md.html

Thursday, November 16, 2006

20061115 Taney Taneytown and Tupac Shakur



Taneytown, Roger Taney, Raphael Taney, Dred Scott and Tupac Shakur

November 15th, 2006




Maryland Blogger Alliance member
Crablaw has pondered in a November 11th, 2006 post, as to whether or not Taneytown was named after Roger Brooke Taney, the fifth Chief Justice of the United States from 1836 until his death in 1864. Chief Justice Taney lived from March 17, 1777 – October 12, 1864.

Another Maryland Blogger Alliance member,
Maryland Conservatarian, joined Crablaw in discussion in the comment section.

First things first, as far as
Crablaw’s oblique suggestion that Taneytown re-name Main Street to “Tupac Amaru Shakur Boulevard;” perhaps he may wanna take that up with Taneytown Councilman Paul E. Chamberlain Jr.

The idea is a great example of an opportunity to discuss semiotics and syntagma…

But I’ll tell ya what, if ya know anything about 2Pac’s life, you don’t wanna ever
go jaywalking [21][22] on Shakur Boulevard.

For the rest of this post, I’m going to play referee over the matter as to whether or not Taneytown was named for the fifth Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

As to the discussion over the historical legacy of Chief Justice Taney,
Crablaw is an attorney and I will defer to him on the Dred Scott decision and Chief Justice Taney’s place in judicial history. Although I had to smile at Maryland Conservatarian’s observations… But ultimately, I’ve got just enough horse-sense not to get between the two of them… Although I’ll enjoy watching.

I am quite conflicted on Chief Justice Taney myself. Above and beyond the moral challenges with what the fifth Chief Justice ad lib-ed in the Dred Scott decision, (great example of a violation of Occam’s Razor,) I tend to agree with many scholars that say:
“The Dred Scott decision was widely condemned at the time … as an illegitimate use of judicial power.”

Then again, the gentleman was a Federalist for pity sake, what does one expect…?

But ultimately Chief Justice Taney was an extraordinarily complicated and conflicted man. I mean, study this sentence and make some sense out of it: “…who had supported a broad role for the federal government in the area of economic regulation, Taney and the other justices appointed by Jackson more often favored the power of the states…”

And yet he helped start the Panic of 1837 by helping undermining the Second Bank of the United States.

Okay – this all hurts my head, so moving on to something I do understand; Taneytown was named, to the best of my knowledge, after Raphael Taney, who, along with Edward Diggs, “founded” Taneytown on May 2nd, 1754. I am not aware as to whether Raphael Taney was related to Chief Justice Roger Taney?

Most of my notes on Chief justice Taney are self-study and hand written from over 30 years ago, so for a quick and convenient double-check, I used Wikipedia. I might add that I have found mistakes in Wikipedia, but for something like this, I’m betting that it is correct…

Roger Taney was once a nearby Frederick, Maryland resident, but, according to Wikipedia: “Taney began his political career in Maryland in 1799 as a Federalist, elected at age 22 to the House of Delegates. After he was defeated for reelection in 1801 he moved to Frederick, Maryland, where he practiced law until 1823, when he relocated his family and practice to Baltimore… He married Anne Phebe Charlton Key, sister of Francis Scott Key, in 1806.”

Wikipedia calls to our attention, “He was the first Roman Catholic to hold this office. Taney died on the same day that his home state of Maryland abolished slavery.”

In consideration of his participation in the “Dred Scott Case,” I like the part where he “died on the same day that his home state of Maryland abolished slavery.”

Again, using Wikipedia for convenience, “Dred Scott v. Sandford,
[1] 60 U.S. (19 How.) 393 (1857)[2], known as the "Dred Scott Case" or the "Dred Scott Decision", was a lawsuit decided by the United States Supreme Court in 1857 that ruled that people of African descent, whether or not they were slaves, could never be citizens of the United States, and that Congress had no authority to prohibit slavery in federal territories. The decision for the court was written by Chief Justice Roger Taney.”

As mentioned earlier, Taneytown was “founded” on May 2nd, 1754 by Edward Diggs and Raphael Taney (taalw-nee), who were granted “a patent under the designation of ‘The Resurvey of Brothers Agreement of 7900 acres.” This, according to a history written by Miss Elizabeth Annan, which was published in September 1954 in a “Bulletin of the Historical Society of Carroll County – Special Taneytown Issue,” upon the occasion of the Taneytown bi-centennial.

But land in what we now know as Taneytown today was first obtained on April 14, 1744. I mention this because many folks find it of interest that in 1744, what we now know as Taneytown was in Prince George’s County until Frederick County was formed in 1748. It later became part of Carroll County on January 19th, 1837.

“Lots were laid out and the first deeds registered in 1762…”

I hope this was helpful. In the words of Tupac, “
I Ain't Mad at Cha"




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/ www.kevindayhoff.com has moved to http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/