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

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

20080123 This week in The Tentacle

This week in The Tentacle

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Iron Chef Maryland

Kevin E. Dayhoff

As members of the Maryland General Assembly prepare a menu of legislative edicts that will save the world from global warming, the weather feels rather chilly for State Superintendent Nancy S. Grasmick.

Never fear, Mrs. Grasmick, word in the airways is that Gov. Martin O’Malley is breaking out the large backyard crab pot and the sharp knives – and you, my dear, are to be served for dinner.

Fellow Maryland crab aficionados are aware that crabs are put in water, in a large pot – alive. Heat is slowly applied and before you know it, after a brief kerfuffle, the tasty crustaceans are boiled alive. Of course, at first the crabs just think they have escaped the bushel basket to go for a swim.

In December, the state school board voted to extend Mrs. Grasmick’s contract. Ah, the cruelest hoax of all is the hope for safety. The Democrat leadership of the General Assembly and the governor’s office were less than pleased.

The program in Annapolis is really called “Iron Chef Maryland,” with all appropriate apologies to any reference to the hit “Food Channel” program “Iron Chef America.”

Today, the governor will utter the opening battle cry – and serve his State of the State “appetizer” to the legislature assembled jointly in the kitchen-chamber of the House of Delegates.

Sure to be included in the annual address will be… Read the rest of the column here: Iron Chef Maryland


A Funny Thing Happened on The Way…..

Farrell Keough

A funny thing happened to the Resource Conservation Zoning areas the other day – they got a reprieve from potential damage by the Board of County Commissioners. But, only a reprieve. These zoned areas and the rules surrounding them are still on the altar of political distortion.


Tuesday, January 22, 2008

All Over But...

Roy Meachum

Marylanders' primary vote in three weeks could mean bupkus (less than nothing). Nothing will probably matter after a whole passel of states square off the week before, February 5. It looks to me like the traditional Democratic bosses want Bill Clinton's former first lady. After the Iowa surprise, that's what we have seen. They took over in New Hampshire and Nevada.


Teaching is Not Telling

Nick Diaz

“Teaching is not telling.” Wise words spoken many years ago by a well-known Frederick County Public Schools administrator. This man is still working in the trenches, down at the school level, where he continues to make things happen.


The President Visits Frederick – Chapter Two

Richard B. Weldon Jr.

Once the other greeters had arrived, a member of the White House advance team called us together for a briefing. Nothing is left to chance, and every single movement is scripted. You’re told where to stand, how to line up, and where to go once you’re spoken to and shaken hands with the president.


Monday, January 21, 2008

The President In Frederick, Chapter 1

Richard B. Weldon Jr.

Okay, having the President of the United States in Frederick isn’t really such a big deal. In case you didn’t know, he spends many weekends up at Camp David. In fact, I think at the end of his two terms, he will have spent more time in the Catoctin Mountains than any previous president.


From Walkersville With Bias

Steven R. Berryman

Advice from the publisher of The Tentacle, John W. Ashbury given to me recently correctly told me that “A pancake, however thin, always has 2 sides,” in reminding me to consider the aspects of perspective and fairness in my columns.


Dr. King’s Call

Derek Shackelford

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is arguably the greatest orator of the last 50 years in America. Today portions of some of his Speeches will be played to celebrate the federal holiday celebrating his birth.


Friday, January 18, 2008

Governing by Fiat

Roy Meachum

Back on October 26, I offered TheTentacle.com readers this observation: "From here the omens are not good for the governor's session that opens Monday. Martin O'Malley hoped calling the legislature in would lead to answers for Maryland's staggering deficits. I don't think it's going to happen." I was wrong.


My world turned upside down

Edward Lulie III

It is amazing, as many people know, how one day can turn your life upside down with no way possible to upright it.


Thursday, January 17, 2008

How Quickly We Forget

Chris Cavey

What a difference a few years make. It seems like it was just 2004 and The Sun of Baltimore commissioned a poll where, oddly enough, a Republican governor – after his first year in office – scored a rating of 56% popularity from the citizens of Maryland. The press and media were in disbelief.


Wednesday, January 16, 2008

“When all else fails, read the Constitution”

Kevin E. Dayhoff

Last Thursday, Carroll County Circuit Court Judge Thomas F. Stansfield delivered a decision in the lawsuit filed by Republicans, which sought to overturn more than $1.3 billion in new taxes passed in the special session of the Maryland General Assembly in November.


Joining The Great Society

Norman M. Covert

Whether one likes it or not, this is the moment when the reality of socialism strikes my generation in the face. We cannot avoid it. All manner of protestations about the rightness of conservative values cannot compete with the reality of Big Government – and truly this is not George Bush’s fault.


Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Elitist Commissioners

Roy Meachum

John "Lennie" Thompson and the commissioners he continues to dominate see Frederick's development strictly in terms of profit hungry and all-powerful builders.


What’s Behind This Moratorium?

Farrell Keough

To moratorium or not to moratorium; that is not necessarily the question. Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer the traffic jams and loss of beautiful landscape, or take action against our development issues and end them…


Monday, January 14, 2008

Lessons Learned

Steven R. Berryman

I consider myself fortunate to have witnessed the quasi-legal proceedings of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Inc.’s (AMC) hearings to obtain approval of a special exception that would allow them to build a 43,000 square foot convention building in Walkersville.


General Assembly Journal 2008 – Volume 1

Richard B. Weldon Jr.

With the tension of the recently completed special session still hanging thick in the Annapolis air, and the unusual spring-like warmth banishing the normal overcoats and gloves, 188 legislators again descended on the state capitol to begin the 425th session of the Maryland General Assembly.

_____

January 16, 2008

“When all else fails, read the Constitution”

Kevin E. Dayhoff

Last Thursday, Carroll County Circuit Court Judge Thomas F. Stansfield delivered a decision in the lawsuit filed by Republicans, which sought to overturn more than $1.3 billion in new taxes passed in the special session of the Maryland General Assembly in November.

January 9, 2008

The Special Session Lawsuit

Kevin E. Dayhoff

The 425th session of the Maryland General Assembly begins today. Hopefully, the first order of business for that august body will be to re-visit and fix all the problems created during the special taxing session last November.

January 2, 2008

Spiro Agnew: Patron Saint of Alaska

Kevin E. Dayhoff

I was treated to a white Christmas last week. It snowed everyday the entire week I stayed at the Captain Cook Hotel in Anchorage, Alaska, which is incidentally the same hotel where the patron saint of Alaska, Maryland’s own Spiro Agnew, stayed on an impromptu stopover in 1981.

20080123 This week in The Tentacle

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

20080120 Westminster cops to add computers to vehicles By Ryan Marshall for the Carroll County Times

Westminster cops to add computers to vehicles by Ryan Marshall for the Carroll County Times

Westminster cops to add computers to vehicles

By Ryan Marshall, Times Staff Writer Sunday, January 20, 2008

Westminster police officers on patrol will soon have faster access to information now that the city police department was awarded a grant to outfit three of its vehicles with portable computers.

The computers were purchased with money from the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention, said Capt. Randy Barnes, a spokesman for the police department. The grant totaled $20,442.

The grant also included money for docking stations, so officers can set up their computers in their cars.

The computers will let police check driver’s licenses and vehicle information and see if suspects have outstanding warrants, Barnes said. Officers will also be able to create reports from their vehicles, allowing them to stay out on patrol longer, he said.

The computers will be connected to a network that will let Westminster officers communicate with police in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., who are logged onto the system at the time, Barnes said.

Read the entire article here: Westminster cops to add computers to vehicles

20080121 The Sunday Carroll Eagle

Monday, January 21 We can't understand the kids, but in this case it's a good thing
MOM ON A MISSION

Sometimes my children say things in Spanish. It catches me off guard and (I must admit) I have no idea what they're saying. They were chanting something recently and it occurred to me that they got it from "Dora the Explorer."

This is what I get for letting them watch television...
[Read full story]


Reaching Out
Farm Museum hopes to harvest volunteers

The Carroll County Farm Museum is seeking volunteers as it prepares for its busy season in the spring and summer.

Beginning in April the museum hosts numerous group and school tours and by May the museum is open to the public on weekends, and special event...
[Read full story]


Golden oldies at the golden arches


COMMUNITY SPIRITS

The house is already jumping when Fred Ehrlich starts blasting some New Orleans jazz riffs through his weathered horn.

Singers, one in a tuxedo, another channeling Dean Martin, a third looking like Elvis Presley, start belting out lyrics.

A line of ladies who arrived ...
[Read full story]


Git Along, Little Dogies


It's something akin to a rock concert on Saturday evenings at the Carroll County Agriculture Center in Westminster.

The lights inside the Shipley Arena flash and dim, the loud music echoes over the loudspeakers and boisterous fans, some screaming with excitement, rise from the bleachers.
[Read full story]


January 13, 2008: For 115 years, Westminster's band of brothers ... and sisters EAGLE ARCHIVE by Kevin Dayhoff

Just before the holidays, I had the pleasure of attending the Westminster Municipal Band's end-of-year Christmas party and annual meeting.

The roots of the Westminster Municipal Band are found in 1920, but according to director Sandy Miller in a July 2004 interview, "there are reco...
[Read full story]


More Headlines Education Notes
Beasts and Birthdays
Westminster businesses throw the books at Baltimore middle school
Stair steps in to assist Marriage Resource Center
Snowfall carried friendship, not isolation, in rural Carroll


December 23, 2007: Shedding a little light on early Christmas tree decorations EAGLE ARCHIVE by Kevin Dayhoff


Roll out the yule log ... all the way to the yard
News Briefs
Movie Capsules CE
Mama knows best at the newest Belisimo's
In New Windsor, Santa always comes to town
'Claus' for adoption in Mount Airy
After Christmas, resolve to ring in the New Year as a family
Setting some ground rules before it becomes 'game over'
Memories, and hope, are evergreen at Carroll Hospice
Holiday trains pull into Sykesville, Mount Airy and Pleasant Valley
Going, going ... but not GONE
Garden grows with a spirit of Christmas


December 16, 2007: Christmas reminds us of worry, and glory, of downtown business EAGLE ARCHIVE by Kevin Dayhoff


Bundle up and keep worm for the holidays

_____

The Sunday Carroll Eagle: October 28, 2007 - On October 28th, 2007 the publication for which I write, The Westminster Eagle and The Eldersburg Eagle, (which is published by Patuxent Newspapers and owned by Baltimore Sun); took over the Carroll County section of the Baltimore Sun.

“The Sunday Carroll Eagle ” is inserted into the newspaper for distribution in Carroll County. For more information, please contact:

Mr. Jim Joyner, Editor, The Westminster Eagle

121 East Main Street

Westminster, MD 21157

(410) 386-0334 ext. 5004

Jjoyner AT Patuxent DOT com

For more posts on “Soundtrack” click on: Sunday Carroll Eagle

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/search/label/Sunday%20Carroll%20Eagle

20071028 The Sunday Carroll Eagle introduction

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2007/10/20071028-sunday-carroll-eagle.html

Also see: Monday, October 22, 2007: 20071021 Baltimore Sun: “To our readers”

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2007/10/20071021-baltimore-sun-to-our-readers.html

Monday, January 21, 2008

20080121 That is the Question: The Ultimate Shakespeare Quiz Book by Tom Delise


That is the Question: The Ultimate Shakespeare Quiz Book (Paperback)

by Thomas Delise

Publisher: Career Press, Incorporated

Pub. Date: April 2004

ISBN-13: 9781564147349

283pp

Table of Contents

Introduction 13

Section I Quoting Shakespeare 17

Quiz 1 This Is the True Beginning: Identify the Play by the Opening Lines 19

Quiz 2 What Do You Call the Play?: Identify the Play by a Quote 21

Quiz 3 I Would My Horse Had the Speed of Your Tongue: Identify the Play by an Insult Used 23

Quiz 4 Thus Men May Grow Wiser Every Day: Identify the Play by a Wise Quote 25

Quiz 5 This Bud of Love: Identify the Play by a Love Quote 26

Quiz 6 Will You Rhyme Upon't?: Complete the Play's Rhyming Couplet 28

Quiz 7 Say But the Word: Complete the Play's Quote 31

Quiz 8 Why, How Now, Hamlet!: Complete the Hamlet Quote 33

Quiz 9 To Be, or Not To Be: Complete the Hamlet Soliloquy 34

Quiz 10 All the World's a Stage: Complete the As You Like It Soliloquy 36

Quiz 11 Now Is the Winter of Our Discontent: Complete the Richard III Soliloquy 37

Quiz 12 Here Is Part of My Rhyme: Complete the Sonnet Rhyme 38

Quiz 13 'Tis Well Said Again: Identify the Play Where a Famous Phrase May Be Found 40

Quiz 14 Our Revels Now Are Ended: Identify the Play by the Ending Lines 42

Section II Shakespeare's Characters 45

Quiz 15 Have We Not Affections?: Identify the Significant Others 47

Quiz 16 Lord, What Fools: Identify the Fool 48

Quiz 17 Where Are My Children?: Identify the Parent and Child 49

Quiz 18 O, Odious Is the Name: Identify the Character With the Unusual Name 50

Quiz 19 Double, Double, Toil and Trouble: Multiple Use of Character Names 51

Quiz 20 This Title Honors Me and Mine: Identify Characters by Their Title 52

Quiz 21 Our Parts So Poor: Identify the Play in Which a Minor Character Appears 53

Quiz 22 We Were the First, Part I: Identify the Female Character by Her First Words 54

Quiz 23 We Were the First, Part II: Identify the Male Character by His First Words 56

Quiz 24 A Woman Is a Dish for the Gods: Identify the Female Character From a Quote 58

Quiz 25 What a Piece of Work Is a Man!: Identify the Male Character From a Quote 60

Quiz 26 A Long Farewell to All My Greatness: Identify the Characters by Their Dying Words 63

Quiz 27 Which Is the Villain?: Identify the Villain by the Quote 65

Quiz 28 What Art Thou That Talk'st of Kings and Queens?: Identify the Kings and Queens in the Plays 68

Quiz 29 We Shall Speak of You: Identify the Character Mentioned or Addressed 70

Section III Shakespeare's Infinite Variety 73

Quiz 30 To Peruse Him by Items: Identify the Play by the Item in It 75

Quiz 31 Particular Additions: Identify the Play by a Description 76

Quiz 32 The Game's Afoot: Identify the Play by the Opening Situation 78

Quiz 33 A Pretty Plot, Well Chosen To Build Upon: Identify the Play by Plot Development 80

Quiz 34 It Is a Sweet Comedy: Questions on the Comedies 81

Quiz 35 The Complot of This Timeless Tragedy: Questions on the Tragedies 84

Quiz 36 Is Not This Something More Than Fantasy?: Questions on the Romances 87

Quiz 37 It Is a Kind of History: Questions on the Histories 89

Quiz 38 At First and Last the Hearty Welcome: Firsts and Lasts Associated With Shakespeare 92

Quiz 39 O, Horrible, O, Horrible, Most Horrible!: Identify the Play Where the Horrible Event Can Be Found 95

Quiz 40 This Supernatural Soliciting: Identify the Play Where the Supernatural Occurs 96

Quiz 41 All the Places That the Eye of Heaven Visits: Identify the Play by the Setting 98

Quiz 42 Away, the Gentles Are at Their Game: Games and Sports in the Plays 99

Quiz 43 How Many Goodly Creatures Are There Here!: Creatures in the Plays 101

Quiz 44 Sir, 'Tis My Occupation: The World of Work in Shakespeare 103

Quiz 45 Tales of Woeful Ages Long Ago: Mythological References in the Plays 104

Quiz 46 I'll Tell You My Dream: Dream References in Shakespeare 106

Quiz 47 He Hath Songs for Man or Woman: Songs in Shakespeare 108

Quiz 48 Doctor, Cast the Water of My Land, Find Her Disease: Shakespeare and the World of Medicine 109

Section IV Film, Stage, and Literature 113

Quiz 49 This Wide and Universal Theatre: Shakespeare in Film 115

Quiz 50 You Precious Winners All: Academy Awards for Shakespeare 118

Quiz 51 The Best Actors in the World, Part I: Actors in Shakespearean Film 121

Quiz 52 The Best Actors in the World, Part II: Actors in Shakespearean Film 124

Quiz 53 Let Her Shine as Gloriously, Part I: Actresses in Shakespearean Film 126

Quiz 54 Let Her Shine as Gloriously, Part II: Actresses in Shakespearean Film 129

Quiz 55 Derived From Honorable Loins: Shakespearean Film Offshoots 132

Quiz 56 The Two Hours' Traffic of Our Stage: Shakespeare on the Stage 134

Quiz 57 Stars Give Light to Thy Fair Way!: Shakespeare and Star Trek 137

Quiz 58 O, for a Muse of Fire: Titles of Other Works Derived From Shakespeare 140

Quiz 59 An Advocate for an Imposter!: Is the Quote Shakespeare or Someone Else? 142

Quiz 60 It May Be You Have Mistaken Him: Is It Shakespeare or the Bible? 144

Quiz 61 Forgive the Comment That My Passion Made: Other Writers' Comments About Shakespeare 145

Quiz 62 All the Peers Are Here at Hand: Theatrical and Literary Contemporaries of Shakespeare 147

Quiz 63 Art Thou Base, Common and Popular?: Shakespeare in Pop Culture 149

Section V Individual Plays 153

Quiz 64 We Have Kiss'd Away Kingdoms and Provinces: The Play Antony and Cleopatra 155

Quiz 65 O Wonderful, Wonderful, Most Wonderful: The Play As You Like It 157

Quiz 66 Pardon's the Word to All: The Play Cymbeline 159

Quiz 67 Now Cracks a Noble Heart: The Play Hamlet 161

Quiz 68 Company, Villainous Company: The Play Henry IV, Part One 163

Quiz 69 A Little Touch of Harry in the Night: The Play Henry V 165

Quiz 70 This Was the Most Unkindest Cut of All: The Play Julius Caesar 168

Quiz 71 Nothing Will Come of Nothing: The Play King Lear 170

Quiz 72 This Dead Butcher and His Fiend-like Queen: The Play Macbeth 172

Quiz 73 I Like Not Fair Terms and Villain's Mind: The Play The Merchant of Venice 176

Quiz 74 If We Shadows Have Offended: The Play A Midsummer Night's Dream 177

Quiz 75 A Kind of Merry War: The Play Much Ado About Nothing 179

Quiz 76 O! Beware My Lord of Jealousy: The Play Othello 181

Quiz 77 Cheated of Feature by Dissembling Nature: The Play Richard III 183

Quiz 78 For Never Was a Story of More Woe: The Play Romeo and Juliet 185

Quiz 79 Pluck My Magic Garment From Me: The Play The Tempest 187

Quiz 80 Laugh Yourself Into Stitches: The Play Twelfth Night 189

Quiz 81 A Sad Tale's Best for Winter: The Play The Winter's Tale 191

Section VI Just for Fun 195

Quiz 82 Wild and Whirling Words: Shakespearean Vocabulary 197

Quiz 83 I Smell a Device: Literary Features and Terms Used by Shakespeare 199

Quiz 84 The Articles Collected From His Life: Biography of William Shakespeare 201

Quiz 85 I Have a Sonnet Will Serve the Turn: Sonnets and Other Poetry 203

Quiz 86 The Numbers True: Statistical Shakespeare 206

Quiz 87 This Wooden O: The Theater of Shakespeare 208

Quiz 88 Behold the Poor Remains, Part I: Shakespearean Odds and Ends 210

Quiz 89 Behold the Poor Remains, Part II: Shakespearean Odds and Ends 213

Quiz 90 Let's Set Our Men in Order: Put Kings in Chronological Order 216

Quiz 91 Mince Not the General Tongue: Unscramble the Play Titles 216

Quiz 92 What's in a Name?, Part I: Unscramble Female Character Names 217

Quiz 93 What's in a Name?, Part II: Unscramble Male Character Names 218

Quiz 94 My Nearest Dearest Enemy: Find the Rivals Word Search 219

Quiz 95 I of These Will Wrest an Alphabet: Shakespeare A-Z Crossword Puzzle 220

Answer Key 223

Grading Scales 225

Bibliography 281

About the Author 283

20080110 Other Highlights from the Carroll County Board of Commissioners’ January 10, 2007 Carroll County State of the County Speech


Other Highlights from the Carroll County Board of Commissioners’ January 10, 2007 Carroll County State of the County Speech

“Our goal with the Pathways Plan is to have a draft presented to the Planning and Zoning Commission next month. After that we will hold both a public workshop and public hearing before final adoption this spring.”

“Both Ebb Valley Elementary and the Finksburg Library will boast geothermal systems to heat and cool the buildings.”

Other Highlights from 2007

Bond Rating

Each year the county sells bonds to pay for a portion of the costs of capital expenses such as schools, roads, parks, and government buildings. The bonds are rated on the county’s credit-worthiness and ability to repay the investors who purchase the bonds. Again this year, Carroll earned excellent ratings from all three rating agencies. Fitch gave the county a rating of AA+, Standard and Poor’s a rating of AA, and Moody’s Aa2. As a result, the county’s interest rate was 3.94 percent on the $37,105,000 in bonds it issued November 13, 2007. The lower the interest rate, the less money the county must pay back over the life of the bonds.

To gain the high ratings, the Departments of the Comptroller, Economic Development, and Management and Budget presented information to the rating agencies about the county’s finances, management, economy, and demographics.

In their analysis Fitch commented on Carroll’s financial health that:

“The 'AA+' rating reflects Carroll County’s strong financial position, continued adherence to prudent fiscal policies, comprehensive long-term planning, steadily growing tax base, and low to moderate debt levels.”

The impartial judging panel said Carroll’s annual report met high standards, including demonstrating a “spirit of full disclosure” to communicate clearly the county’s financial story.

Citizen Services

The “Get Connected” Family Resource Center opened in August providing information, referral and family navigation services for families of children with intensive needs in Carroll County. Granite House Inc. operates the center at 225 Clifton Boulevard in Westminster.

As an alternative to out-of-home placement, the Adventure Diversion Program served 30 juveniles who violated court orders. This program is a partnership with the Local Management Board, Department of Juvenile Services, and Carroll County Youth Service Bureau.

During the second year of the National Association of Counties (NACo) Prescription Drug Discount Card Program, Carroll County residents filled 18,481 prescriptions and saved more than $260,000.

In December, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held for the Long-Term Treatment Facility, which will open this year to help people with addictions. The idea for such a center was conceived after 10 heroin overdoses occurred in the county from 1997-2000. A partnership between Carroll County Government and the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene led to plans for this 15,000-square-foot facility located on the Springfield Hospital campus.

The opening of the cold weather shelter addition at Safe Haven expanded the facility to service approximately 25 additional men and women with day rooms, sleeping space for men and women, kitchen and laundry facilities, restrooms and showers, and additional storage space.

Comptroller

For the 22nd consecutive year, Carroll County was awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. This prestigious national award recognizes conformance with the highest standards for the preparation of state and local government financial reports. In order to be awarded a Certificate of Achievement, the County published an easily readable and efficiently organized annual financial report.

In July a newly designed annual real estate tax bill was introduced. The new tax bill is a single-sheet, self-sealing form with no envelope. An automated system cuts preparation time by using a machine that does the folding and sealing.

Economic Development

The Department of Economic Development won three NACo 2007 Achievement Awards for the following programs that promote quality and effectiveness: 1) Fresh Start Farmers' Market, a partnership with the Department of Health that provides Women, Infants & Children (WIC) recipients their own market to purchase locally grown produce with vouchers provided by WIC; 2) Four Partners One Purpose, a small business education program delivered by Carroll Community College, the Small Business Development Center and Start-up Carroll and underwritten by Economic Development; and 3) Partnership for Technology Driven Economic Development, a dynamic partnership with the Carroll Technology Council that enhances technology cluster development through a supportive business climate and provides educational programs and business development resources for existing technology companies.

Eldersburg was named No. 56 of the “Top 100 Places to Live” by CNN’s Money Magazine. The top 466 places were ranked based on factors such as: purchasing power, property taxes, education, job growth, availability of leisure and cultural activities, weather, and health.

Human Resources

Carroll County Government job classifications and pay scales are available on the County’s web site (http://ccgovernment.carr.org) and residents may also apply for job vacancies online. The online application submissions account for more than 70 percent of the applications processed.

Information Technology Services

The first phase of an Integrated Land Management System was completed. When the next phase is completed early this year, the system will provide a centralized database that allows departments to track and manage building and planning activities, including: permitting, inspections, workflow, contractor licenses, zoning, development plan review, and other critical functions.

To improve services for residents, Carroll County Government is undertaking a data collection project. Spatial Systems Associates of Columbia has been contracted to gather information on street centerlines and attributes, building locations, addresses, access roads and driveways. The project is expected to be completed in October and will enhance the ability of Planning, Public Safety and other government agencies to improve the quality of life in Carroll County while keeping it one of the safest counties in Maryland.

We are one year into a three- to four-year project to provide high-speed voice and data connections to all County Government facilities. The Carroll County Public Network (CCPN) is a partnership between County Government, Carroll County Public Schools, Carroll County Public Library, and Carroll Community College. When completed, this project will save more than $900,000 a year. The vision of CCPN is to create a community network to improve communication with citizens, attract economic development to the region, improve the services and general quality of life, and prepare students and the community for success.

A document management and records retention program has begun that will create backup copies of all necessary paper documents onto a computer-based system. This system will allow staff to search the entire database for information and will fit in with the County’s continuity of operations plan. Implementation will eliminate the need for approximately 600 filing cabinets.

Recreation and Parks

Improvements were made to a number of facilities, including a new walking trail at Deer Park and a new climbing rock at Freedom Park. A sampling of other projects includes installation of a 15-car parking lot and new docks at Piney Run Park, landscaping at Double Pipe Creek Park, and maintenance of equestrian trails at Union Mills and Spiegel Hill.

The Department was faced with a major challenge when the rifle range at the Hap Baker Firearms Facility burned down in February. While the pistol range was undamaged and remained open, significant effort went into the reconstruction of the rifle range, which reopened in October in time for the 2007 hunting season.

Our Community Recreation Programs expanded to more than 300 offerings last year.

Hashawha

Hashawha Environmental Center celebrated its 30th Anniversary in 2007, marking 30 years of environmental awareness in Carroll County.

Outdoor School hosted the “Wild School Grounds” workshop at Hashawha, where 30 teachers helped to install a bird garden including 150 native trees, plants and shrubs.

Piney Run

Added six new rowboats for rentals to replace aging fleet

Completed a larger fishing area on the Lake Trail consisting of decking, benches and picnic area.

Added three new piers at lakefront to replace aging piers

Eagle Scout projects included the installation of new bridge on Equestrian Trail, the installation of new steps on Inlet Trail to enhance quality of trail, and the continued use of fish habitat structures to improving angling

2008 Recreation and Parks projects:

Krimgold Park – a new active regional park on 100 plus acres in the South Carroll area. The park will include ball fields, multi-purpose fields, pavilions, a playground, and a parking area with 200 spaces. The park will also offer opportunities for fishing, hiking, and walking activities.

Leister Park – a new 100-acre multi-purpose park to serve the Hampstead and Manchester communities. The park will include pavilions, a playground, bike paths, trails, baseball and softball fields, and a multi-purpose field. An indoor recreational facility is also planned to provide opportunities for additional recreational activities.

Public Safety

During drought conditions, firefighters cannot rely upon ponds and small streams to battle blazes. That is why the Commissioners launched an initiative to establish regional underground fire protection tanks for the county’s volunteer fire companies to use. Carroll’s latest regional fire protection tank was dedicated in August. Firefighters from the Pleasant Valley Volunteer Fire Co. and surrounding departments can utilize the 30,000-gallon fiberglass tank on Cherrytown Road to battle blazes in and around Silver Run.

In August, the Board of County Commissioners presented the Carroll County Volunteer Emergency Services Association with funds totaling $418,415 for two reserve units. Both vehicles will replace aging equipment used extensively by all 14 volunteer companies in Carroll County. Reserve units fill in when fire companies’ own units are out of service.

As of September, residents and business in Carroll County whose primary telephone is cellular or Internet-based can register to have their phone numbers included in the emergency notification system. The system, often referred to as Reverse 911®, is managed by the County’s Office of Public Safety Support Services. It is used to contact people in the event of an emergency, such as evacuations, natural disasters, water contamination, or alerts for missing people. All traditional telephone lines are automatically included in the service.

In October, Carroll County’s 911 center announced plans to implement new protocols to follow when callers report a fire.

The county is testing a 40-acre parcel of Lehigh Cement Co. property along McKinstrys Mill Road as a potential location for a new public safety training center. The parcel lies between Shepherds Mill Road and McKinstrys Mill Road, south of Maryland Route 75.

Miscellaneous

Freedom District Water Treatment Plant Groundbreaking – A new water treatment plant along Liberty Reservoir will allow Carroll County to more than double the amount of water the system can provide, from the current 3 million gallons a day to a total of 7 million gallons a day.

Carroll County Builders for the Bay brings together the Home Builders Association of Maryland, the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, the Center for Watershed Protection, and Carroll County Government to evaluate existing development practices. A kick-off roundtable in September launched a yearlong process to find ways to more effectively protect natural resources through innovative and cost-effective site design and land planning techniques.

Carroll County Public Library’s sixth branch will be a 15,000-square-foot “green” building on more than 10 acres in Finksburg. With a geothermal energy system and other sustainable design features, the eco-friendly structure will provide a central gathering place for the Finksburg community. Ground was broken last August, with its opening planned for later this year.

20080110 Other Highlights from the Carroll County Board of Commissioners’ January 10, 2007 Carroll CountyState of the County Speech