The newly elected mayor of Westminster, Kevin Utz, hits the ground running

The newly elected mayor of Westminster, Kevin Utz, hits the ground running.

By Kevin Dayhoff June 4, 2009

Westminster, MD - Yesterday afternoon, I had “Off Track Art” studio duty in downtown Westminster.

While I kept shop I had the opportunity to talk with a number of the downtown Westminster merchants.

The shopping district was all-abuzz over newly-elected Westminster Mayor Kevin Utz taking the time to stop and talk with the merchants this morning.

Hats off to the newly elected mayor of Westminster; apparently he took the time to ask questions, answer questions, and look into some opportunities to fix some things.

In a phone conversation later in the afternoon with Mayor Utz, he said that he had some time available during the annual Torch Run and really enjoyed getting out and talking with folks.

Mayor Utz, a local businessman in the real estate business, knows the value of doing business with local business and it is expected that we will see much more of Mayor Utz in downtown and at local community events.

In a later phone conversation – and a broad-sweeping conversation with Mayor Utz, the former Westminster Fire Department chief, - after the monthly fire department company meeting yesterday evening, he reiterated that after he gets settled into office, reinvigorating the downtown shopping district will be one of his first priorities, along with pursuing increasing the supply of water for Westminster, for the purpose of facilitating economic and employment development.

At the moment, in addition to getting feedback from citizens and the downtown merchants, he is meeting with Westminster city government department heads and supervisors to take stock of Westminster’s current strengths, challenges, and opportunities, from the Westminster staff point of view.

It certainly appears that he has hit the ground running.

In addition, I have had the opportunity since the election on May 11, 2009, to talk with newly-elected councilmembers Damian Halstad and Tony Chiavacci; and both appeared to have many good new ideas and have a great deal of fresh new energy for Westminster and Westminster government.

Many folks that I have talked to since the election are excited about the new administration. There is certainly a lot of work to do.

20090603 Hats off to the newly elected mayor of Westminster

Westminster File Main St, Westminster Econ Dev, Westminster Mayor 2009 Utz Kevin, People Chiavacci Tony, Westminster Council Pres Halstad Damian, Westminster Elections 20090511, Restaurants Giulianova Groceria,

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"Westminster Plaza to be ready in 2010" By Bryan Schutt

Westminster Plaza to be ready in 2010 By Bryan Schutt, Carroll County Times Staff Writer

Friday, March 13, 2009

The doors to a Westminster Best Buy will be open in the spring of 2010 if a developer has its way.

In a briefing to the Westminster Planning and Zoning Commission Thursday night, spokespeople for Connecticut-based Konover Development Corp. said ground-breaking for the Westminster Plaza shopping center, anchored by the electronics retailer Best Buy, is imminent.

Konover took over development from Frontier Development LLC six weeks ago and has been progressing aggressively since.

Vitamin Shoppe has also signed a lease to be part of the shopping center. The German discount grocer ALDI is interested, too, according to city officials.

[…]

The shopping center will be sandwiched between Md. 140 westbound and Leidy Road between First Mariner Bank and Wawa.

[…]

More: Westminster Plaza to be ready in 2010 By Bryan Schutt, Carroll County Times Staff Writer

http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/articles/2009/03/13/news/local_news/newsstory2.txt

20090313 Westminster Plaza to be ready in 2010 By Bryan Schutt
Kevin Dayhoff www.kevindayhoff.net http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/

Recent Missie Wilcox columns in Explore Carroll

Recent Missie Wilcox columns in Explore Carroll

Gallery taps Carroll's eclectic mix
Published February 20, 2009 by Sunday Carroll Eagle
Carroll County's art scene recently revealed a bright spot in a bleak winter landscape with the opening of Off Track Art Gallery in downtown Westminster....

Off Track gets on track with local artists
Published February 18, 2009 by Westminster Eagle
Between winter's gray skies and dark news headlines, the world can seem pretty bleak these days. However, a trip to Westminster reveals a veritable rainbow emerging...

Westminster says Bon Jour, Guten Tag and Hola
Published January 28, 2009 by Westminster Eagle
Westminster Watch Local residents looking for something to do on a cold Friday evening can find some warmth -- and perhaps impress their friends...

Starlight is a bright spot for shoppers
Published December 3, 2008 by Westminster Eagle
Main Street Minute Thanksgiving was late this year, leaving fewer than usual shopping days until Christmas. But fear not. On Saturday, Dec. 6, downtown Westminster...

Holidays step off in parade
Published November 24, 2008 by Westminster Eagle
Tree lighting festivities scheduled for Nov. 29 In the week before Thanksgiving, nearly every inch of downtown Westminster was being transformed into a holiday wonderland,...

I'll be home for a Main St. Thanksgiving
Published November 19, 2008 by Westminster Eagle
Main Street Minute Holiday recipes from our downtown chefs Thanksgiving is next week. And guess what? It seems really late this year, so we have even less...

Following the cookie crumbs in Westminster
Published October 29, 2008 by Westminster Eagle
November: The advent of decorations, shopping and holiday spirit throughout the land. In downtown Westminster, November means Holiday Open Houses and the fourth annual Cookie...

'Little Bit' adds lotta Tuscany to Main Street
Published October 15, 2008 by Westminster Eagle
Main Street Minute After a long week of work, chores, carpools and practices, it's time to kick back and have some fun. When looking for a...

Don't get mad, get Midnight Madness
Published September 17, 2008 by Westminster Eagle
Are you ready for some shopping? Grab a baby-sitter, don your walking shoes and gather your pals. On Friday Sept. 26, downtown Westminster welcomes...

Take a hike and enjoy downtown Westminster
Published September 3, 2008 by Westminster Eagle
On a recent vacation, we visited a bed and breakfast that provided a series of walk/run routes of the area. It was a great way...

20090223 SDOSM Recent Missie Wilcox columns in Explore Carroll
Kevin Dayhoff www.kevindayhoff.net http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/

Economic development will revitalize Pennsylvania Avenue in Westminster

Westminster Eagle column by Kevin Dayhoff: Economic development will revitalize Pennsylvania Avenue in Westminster

Economic development will revitalize Pennsylvania Avenue

Is rezoning for business development the right idea for a comeback on Pennsylvania Avenue?

By Kevin Dayhoff kdayhoff@carr.org Posted on www.explorecarroll.com 8/27/08 (573 words)

At a recent meeting of the Westminster Common Council, it was announced that Councilman Greg Pecoraro will chair another Pennsylvania Avenue initiative, and that Councilwoman Suzanne Albert will serve as vice-chair.

You may recall it was on Sept. 18, 2002, that a previous Pennsylvania Avenue committee announced its findings.

Previously, there had been a number of community-based initiatives to address crime on Pennsylvania Avenue; which had started to become a matter of heightened public discussion in 1999.

One of the immediate impetuses to form the 2002 initiative was the February 2002 groundbreaking for the Carroll Arts Center. At the time, there was enthusiasm to unleash market forces on Pennsylvania Avenue and extend the Westminster business footprint back to the area by encouraging art and cultural venues and businesses.

The 2002 Pennsylvania Avenue initiative resulted in an extensive set of recommendations pertaining to various ways government could stimulate revitalization of this critical area of town. The recommendations addressed public safety, housing and economic development opportunities. It included changing the zoning of the area to open it up to art studios, professional offices, coffee shops, barber shops and beauty parlors and the like.

In short, it aimed to restore the area to what it looked like -- and what made the area of town successful -- before the disastrous November 1979 decision by the then-Westminster mayor and council to rezone this thriving business section of town to strictly residential.

Prior to 1979, Pennsylvania Avenue looked like East Main Street, with a successful mix of residential and business uses of property.
Almost 30 years later, East Main is flourishing with art shops, coffee houses, professional offices, and residential housing -- mixed together in an approach that looks like a traditional town in the 1800s and 1900s. It looks like the very recipe of property uses that made Westminster great.

Most, but not all, of the 2002 committee recommendations were adopted. However, the one proposal recognized as the best long-range systemic solution -- economic development -- never materialized.

As a result, since then, even more opportunities have been lost as constraints in water supply have stopped almost all economic development in Westminster. However, if rezoning efforts had been in place, adaptive reuse of properties on Pennsylvania Avenue could have presented wonderful opportunities for Westminster (because a property's existing water allocation could have been transferred).

Providing Pennsylvania Avenue property owners with the opportunities currently available to East Main Street would give owners alternatives in land use that they have been denied since November 1979.

How we treat an area that needs attention says a great deal about who we are as a community. And one of the best solutions to our budget problems is expanding our business footprint and the commercial tax base.

I recently spoke with Pecoraro, who is considered by many as a national authority on urban planning and public policy analysis. He says he has an open mind on the solutions for Pennsylvania Avenue, and emphasized that he wants to hear from citizens and explore any option that may help.

"I've put a great deal of thought into it. I want to build upon our successes; (and) be honest about what did not work," Pecoraro said.

The time has come to take a fresh look at the job creation and business opportunities on Pennsylvania Avenue. After many years, problems persist. It's time to try a different approach. The stakes are high for all of Westminster.

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

20080827 WE Economic development will revitalize PA Avenue weked

http://explorecarroll.com/opinion/760/economic-development-will-revitalize-pennsylvania-avenue/

Related on www.kevindayhoff.net: Westminster File PA Ave

20080824 Sunday Carroll Eagle column for August 24 2008: “Years ago, folks celebrated The Forks in Westminster” by Kevin Dayhoff

Related on www.Westgov.net: Westminster File PA Ave

20080824 Sunday Carroll Eagle column for August 24 2008: “Years ago, folks celebrated The Forks in Westminster” by Kevin Dayhoff

20060816 Vota for Mona

20060816 Vota for Mona

Thursday, August 17, 2006

20060816 Vota for Mona

“Vota for Moana”

© Kevin Dayhoff

August 16^th, 2006

This is the season for signs.

Recently your intrepid blogger found this group of signs at Main Street and the railroad tracks in Westminster MD.

Mystery surrounds just what Ms. Mona Lisa is running for.

In a related matter, we asked Westminster’s administrator of economic development, Stanta Ruchlewicz, about the economic impact of the Carroll County election season. “Well, ya know, it brings dollars into downtown Westminster,” remarked Mr. Ruchlewicz. “Recently it is about the only thing that’s happening in these parts.”

Asked if he knew just what office Ms. Lisa was running for, Mr. Ruchlewicz responded, “Don’t know. Don’t really care as long as the mysterious sign brings money into Westminster. It’s kinda neat, if I may say so myself.”

Jeff Glass, Westminster’s assistant director for parks, buildings, streets, water, wastewater, kitchen sinks, development review, planning, fly swatters, public works, utilities maintenance and the soundtrack division of old silent movies said, “It’s like a Norman Rockwell moment. America at its best.”

Asked how long the sign for Ms. Lisa has been at the intersection, “Don’t know. Been kinda busy recently,” remarked the assistant director for parks, buildings, streets, water, wastewater, kitchen sinks, development review, planning, fly swatters, public works, fleet management, kite flying, road sign, grass clippings removal, utilities maintenance and the soundtrack division of old silent movies.

Marianne Sheehan, the administrative assistant for the assistant director for parks, buildings, streets, water, wastewater, kitchen sinks, development review, planning, fly swatters, public works, fleet management, kite flying, road sign, grass clippings removal, utilities maintenance, letters and art, heavy metal music and the soundtrack division of old silent movies, remarked that the sign “looked good in that location and that it went well with the overall ambiance of downtown Westminster.”

Wayne Reifsnider, the assistant superintendent for streets, buildings, and parks said, “Well, ya know… Well, it’s a free country and people have a right to put up signs on private property, ya know. But I don’t know, ya know. Then on the other hand, well, ya know, it’s a neat sign and I just do my job. Mind my own business, ya know. Well, I best be moving along. See ya.”

More on this developing story as it unravels.

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

Posted by Kevin Dayhoff at 8/17/2006 01:12:00 AM

Posted by Kevin Dayhoff at Thursday, August 17, 2006

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20060721 KDDC S Ruchlewicz's great picture of the Clydesdales in Westminster

Great Stan Ruchlewicz photograph of the Clydesdales in Westminster on July 17th, 2006

July 21, 2006

Stan Ruchlewicz is one of the better artists/photographers around. Since he first came to Westminster on Monday, June 11, 2001, he has amassed a wonderful set of downtown Westminster photographs. The photo posted above is no exception.

Mr. Ruchlewicz was the primary lead on getting the Budweiser Clydesdales to come to Westminster. He swung into action and put together the visit in literally a day, just a couple days before the Clydesdales arrived on Monday, July 17^th, 2006.

For additional information on the Clydesdale’s visit please see: “20060716 KDDC Budweiser Clydesdales in will be in Westminster Monday.”

Although Mr. Ruchlewicz came to Westminster five years ago as an economic development expert, he also has an extensive background in urban planning

For many years before he came to Westminster, Mr. Ruchlewicz handled economic development and planning issues for several municipalities such as Havre de Grace, MD and Reading, PA. In Havre de Grace, where he worked for twelve years, Mr. Ruchlewicz was the Director of Planning

Additionally, Mr. Ruchlewicz has served as President of the Maryland Downtown Development Association since 1997. He has also served on the Main Street Maryland Main Street Review Committee since 1997.

What many in Carroll County are not aware is that Mr. Ruchlewicz, a musician, is also the Chapter 5 Coordinator for the “Tournament of Bands” (TOB.)

According to information on the TOB web site, the TOB “is one of the largest competitive band organizations in the country…” It “sanctions approximately 140 field band events, about 100 indoor events and several comprehensive music festivals each year.”

“Tournament of Bands is a non-profit educational organization that is available to any middle, junior high, senior high, college or university. Founded in 1972 by the National Judges Association, Tournament has grown to over 400 active schools. Tournament provides performance opportunities in field band, indoor guard, majorette, percussion and dance team as well as comprehensive festivals with instrumental and choral events.”

When he is not promoting economic development for the City of Westminster or taking pictures, most any Saturday evening in the fall, you can find Mr. Ruchlewicz on a band competition field working with young adult musicians in a band event.

Until I can find an extra minute to post the number of pictures I took last Monday when the Clydesdales in town, please enjoy the picture posted above graciously provided to KDDC courtesy of Stan Ruchlewicz.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

E-mail him at: kdayhoff AT carr.org

####

20060512 The latest edition of the Westminster Main Street News

Extra! Extra! Read all about it. The latest edition of the Westminster Main Street News, by Westminster Economic Development Administrator Stan Ruchlewicz.

Always informative and well written - click here: "Downtown Westminster Main Street News!"
to download the latest edition.

http://www.westgov.com/assets/MainStNews051206.pdf

20060512 The latest edition of the Westminster Main Street News