Wednesday, December 29, 2010

James Robert Langdon, Sr., age 91, of Westminster

By Kevin Dayhoff

Posted ~~12/17/2010~~ – 12/29/2010

James Robert Langdon, Sr., age 91, of Westminster, was laid to rest at Creek Cemetery in Union Bridge on Thursday, December 16, 2010.

Langdon, a co-founder of the Carroll County Association for Retarded Citizens and the owner of a family business, Direct-To-You-Gas, on Green Street in Westminster, died on Sunday, December 12, 2010 at the Golden Living Center in Westminster

Friends, family, neighbors and community leaders crowded into the Myers-Durboraw Funeral Home on Willis St. in Westminster last Wednesday to pay their respects to the popular businessman and community leader who never tired of giving back to the community.

His son, Jim Langdon, noted that his Dad would have been unhappy to have received so much attention. He didn’t do things to draw attention to himself, said Langdon.

When discussing his work with the Association for Retarded Citizens, another family member added, when Langdon and his late wife of 52 years, Ina Mae (Rakes) Langdon, who died August 22, 2005, decided to do something, they worked hard to make it happen.

Langdon was October 26, 1919, in New Windsor. He was the son of the late Joseph and Lula (Etzler) Langdon.

He graduated in 1936 from New Windsor High School and Western Maryland College – now McDaniel College with the class of 1940.

During World War II, he served his country as a captain in the U.S. Army Air Force in the south Pacific.

After the war, he first worked as a stockbroker before he started several family businesses in Westminster; including Polar Peak Ice Cream, Bio-Chem Company, and Langdon Oil Company.

However, he is best known for starting Direct-To-You-Gas in 1955. The gas station to this day is one of the very few in the area where attendants still pump the gas for you.

Up until 1964, an added feature of the station was the ice cream stand the family ran next to the station. Today, the gas station remains a family affair. Jim Langdon joined the family business in 1966.

It was also in 1955 that Langdon and his wife teamed-up with a number of other parents and community leaders to found the Carroll County Association for Retarded Citizens, now known as The Arc of Carroll County, to offer scholastic, recreational, and employment opportunities to their special children.

According to the ARC’s website, it “was established in 1955 by a small group of parents of children with developmental disabilities. At that time, children were excluded from public education and there were no structured social, recreational, or educational activities outside of the home.

“Those parents met to see how they could collectively foster the growth and development of their children. From their meeting came this organization, The Arc of Carroll County, Inc.”

Surviving Langdon are sons and daughters-in-law, James R. and Margaret “Maggie” Langdon, Edward A. and Linda Langdon all of Westminster, daughter and son-in-law, Susan L. and Douglas Quade of Keuka Park, N.Y.; and grandchildren, Michael Langdon, Jenny Parsley, Megan Pratt and James D. Quade; two great-grandsons and many nieces and nephews.

The Rev. Twyla Rowe conducted Langdon’s funeral service on Thursday. The family has asked that memorial contributions in Langdon’s memory may be made to Heifer Project International, 1 World Avenue, Little Rock, AR, 72202 or to Westminster Church of the Brethren, 1 Park Place, Westminster, MD 21157.

Labels: Dayhoff writing essays, People Tributes

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2010/12/james-robert-langdon-sr-age-91-of.html

http://kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/post/2513675217/james-robert-langdon-sr-age-91-of-westminster

http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/362836.html

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Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/ or http://kevindayhoffart.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/ or http://www.westgov.net/ = www.kevindayhoff.org Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net Explore Carroll: www.explorecarroll.com The Tentacle: www.thetentacle.com

@explorecarroll Carroll County, MD Year in Review – January through July 2010

Year in Review – January through July 2010

@explorecarroll Carroll County, MD

https://twitter.com/#!/explorecarroll

Celebrating the character of Carroll County.

http://explorecarroll.com

Year in Review: Most-read story in July: "Westminster mother of baby with Trisomy 18 shares story of life" http://bit.ly/ebx9sv

Year in Review: Most-read story in June: "Search for man who shot at sheriff's deputy turns statewide" http://bit.ly/f8wa07 By Kevin Dayhoff

Year in Review: Most-read story in May: "Speed cameras overturned in @Sykesville" 1,228 views that month http://bit.ly/fFn1TE

Carroll's 2 most-read stories in April were about fatal car crashes in New Windsor and Mount Airy http://bit.ly/eiQBDo http://bit.ly/htZXPg

Year in Review: Top story in March "Pa attny gen. says WTTR sports announcer exposed himself to agent" 4,840 views http://bit.ly/gAxqAu By Kevin Dayhoff

February's top story was Sykesville becomes first Carroll municipality to approve speed cameras. 1,001 views that monthhttp://bit.ly/dR2PJ4

Most-read of the year this week. January's top story: Boy, 9, injured by falling tree at Hashawha Env. Center dies http://bit.ly/epW0Vu

[20101231 Most Read 2010 stories in Explore Carroll]

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2010/12/explorecarroll-carroll-county-md-year.html

Labels: Dayhoff Media Explore Carroll, History 2010 Yr in Review

http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/362540.html

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Kevin Dayhoff - The Tentacle: Remembering Those in Harm’s Way

ShowArticle.cfm?mydocid=3822

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[20101229 sdosm TT Remembering those in harms way]

[20100000 Law Enforcement Fatalities Report]

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Kevin Dayhoff – The Tentacle: Police deaths spike in 2010

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

So You Want to Be a Journalist

Hat Tip Bryan Sears

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Taegan Goddard's Political Wire: Bush Memoir Selling Very Well

Former President George W. Bush's memoir, Decision Points, "has sold an astonishing two million copies since it was released in early November - and it's not even in paperback yet," the Daily Mail reports.

By contrast, former President BillClinton's memoir, My Life, has logged sales of 2.2 million copies since it was first published in 2004.

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/12/27/bush_memoir_selling_very_well.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+PoliticalWire+(Political+Wire)

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Sunday, December 26, 2010

Christmas Eve service at Taylorsville United Methodist Church

December 24, 2010

Taylorsville United Methodist Church

www.taylorsvilleumc.org

Click here to hear sermons from past weeks.

Click here for December newsletter.

“Blue Christmas” Dec 21st @ 7:00pm

Christmas Eve Service Dec 24th @ 7 pm

Dec. 26th 11 am, “Happy Birthday Jesus” and a visitor from the first century

4356 Ridge Road

Mt Airy, MD. 21771

Tel: 410-875-4101

E-mail:taylorsvilleumc@comcast.net

Rev. Sarah B. Dorrance

Sunday School Sundays 9:45 am for all ages

Worship 11:00 am & 5:36 pm Sundays

Office Hours: Mon. & Wed. 9:00 am—Noon

Secretary: Karen Mitchell

www.taylorsvilleumc.org

Labels: Annual Christmas, Dayhoff photos,Dayhoff photos Carroll Co, Religion Taylorsville United Methodist

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2010/12/christmas-eve-service-at-taylorsville.html

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Saturday, December 25, 2010

Explore Carroll: DAYHOFF: Troopers help make a toy-ful Christmas for area families

For more than 30 years, members of the Maryland Troopers Association, Lodge No. 20, have celebrated Christmas by carefully making a most-wanted list and checking it twice.

On Dec. 19, Lodge 20's nonprofit arm, Troopers of Carroll County Caring for Kids, gathered at the Westminster Fire Department John Street Quarters to host its annual Christmas party for some 45 local families, including more than 80 children.

LABELS: ANNUAL CHRISTMAS, DAYHOFF MEDIA EXPLORE CARROLL, MD STATE POLICE

http://www.explorecarroll.com/community/5035/troopers-help-make-toy-ful-christmas-area-families/
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Westminster Maryland Online http://www.westminstermarylandonline.net/ http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/

My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Explore Carroll: Plunkert cited for 50 years as Westminster fire company responder

Veteran firefighter Fred Plunkert was honored for 50-years of service at the December meeting of the Westminster Fire Engine and Hose Co. 1.

By Kevin Dayhoff 12/07/10

Explore Carroll: Plunkert cited for 50 years as Westminster fire company responder shar.es/XxKTH

Fred Plunkert displays his 50-year pin.

Dan Plunkert, the son of Fred Plunkert, congratulates his Dad for 50 years of service at the December meeting of the Westminster fire company as the president of the fire department, Bob Cumberland, (left,) Joe Ebaugh, partially obscured behind Dan and Jamie Petry, fire department secretary look on.

http://www.explorecarroll.com/community/5023/plunkert-cited-50-years-westminster-fire-company-responder/

And:

http://www.explorecarroll.com/search/?s=Dayhoff&action=GO

Veteran firefighter Fred Plunkert was honored for 50-years of service at the December meeting of the Westminster Fire Engine and Hose Co. 1.

“I joined the fire company on December 7, 1960,” Plunkert said later. “But that wasn’t the beginning of me and the fire company. When I got out of the service the first job I had was for the fire company. I was a paid man at the fire department.”

The Westminster fire department has had paid help since the 1920s to ensure full-time coverage to the community for fire and ambulance service.

Plunkert simply explained, “They had a job opening,” when asked why he got involved with the fire service. He had grown-up on a farm just north of Westminster in was then known as Mt. Pleasant – on Route 97 near the intersection of Stone Road… http://www.explorecarroll.com/community/5023/plunkert-cited-50-years-westminster-fire-company-responder/

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2010/12/explore-carroll-plunkert-cited-for-50_23.html

Labels: Dayhoff photos people, Fire CC Depts 03 Westminster, Fire CC Depts History, Firefighters

http://kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/post/2433225701/explore-carroll-plunkert-cited-for-50-years
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Wednesday, December 22, 2010

This week in The Tentacle

This week in The Tentacle http://www.thetentacle.com/

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Christmas night – long ago http://www.thetentacle.com/ShowArticle.cfm?mydocid=4122

Kevin E. Dayhoff

As we prepare to celebrate the holiday with friends and family this Saturday, say a prayer for our way of life, our great country and for Gen. George Washington and the brave men who helped save Christmas for our country on a dark, cold, and stormy night in 1776.

Joy to the World

Norman M. Covert

The excitement of Christmas has the grandson agog, full of hope that Santa Claus’ imminent visit Friday night will yield a bounty for everyone, especially him. He also wants lights, lots of them, to herald the big “Eve.” Age and infirmity haven’t dimmed my anticipation of Christmas, but stringing lights has always been an adventure.

After Birth Confinement in Borneo

Tom McLaughlin

Kuching, Malaysian, Borneo – In the Sarawak Malay world, the mother is usually confined to the kampung house for about 40 days. (interesting how that number keeps coming up).

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

The Art of Politics

Roy Meachum

Rushing to exit the Capitol for America’s High Holidays, the U.S. Senate once again put on national display what politics is really about. I’ve never been able to find the genius who described the game-playing as “the art of compromise.”

The Road to Successful Learning

Nick Diaz

Having inhabited the teaching trenches for 41 years and thousands of students, I’ve grown tired of educationists telling teachers not to use the “drill and kill” method for fear of boring our students.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Defining the Division

Richard B. Weldon Jr.

Asked recently about the state of our Republic, the challenge wasn’t describing the problem, the really hard part was trying to diagnose a prescription for change.

Ideas Whose Time Has Come

Shawn Burns

Sometimes ideas seem to appear out of thin air. Other times ideas are nurtured and developed over long periods of time. Regardless of how ideas come about, they are essential to our existence. Of course, with those ideas, we are also faced with their positive and negative consequences.

To Charter or Not

Michael Kurtianyk

Well, they did it. On December 14 the Frederick Board of County Commissioners voted 4-0 to appoint a charter writing board for a new form of county government. Long time readers know that I have been an advocate for this change.

Friday, December 17, 2010

Ruling Ourselves

Roy Meachum

Never tied to a partisan point of view, I’ve always considered charter to be the best of all possible forms of government for Frederick County.

Morning-After Pill

Norman M. Covert

The era of “Hope ‘n Change” in Frederick County began with re-elected Clerk of the Court Sandra Dalton swearing in the all-Republican Board of County Commissioners and new members to the Board of Education. It is a time of political euphoria for “our side,” but with it the optimism that the elixir of victory doesn’t turn into a morning hangover.

End the Corruption

Joe Charlebois

The argument that eliminating earmarks won’t help reduce the deficit is either naïveté or simply misleading. Those who look only at the effect in actual dollars that the elimination of earmarks would have on the overall budget aren’t seeing the entire picture. Those who do understand are just looking to protect their pet projects, or, in the case of elected officials, their campaign coffers.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

The 12 Topics of December

Joan Marie Aquilino

As the end of the year approaches decisions are being made which portend an exciting year ahead. Here are some of the issues that struck my fancy over the past few weeks.

The Grinch Who Stole My Gifts…etc.

Amanda Haddaway

One would think that holiday shopping online would be a convenience, but this year it has turned into more of a nightmare. My Christmas spirit was slightly tarnished earlier this month when packages were stolen from my front porch in the middle of the afternoon.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Fruitcake is forever

Kevin E. Dayhoff

I’m not a psychic and I have never read much of the work of Michel de Nostredame. However, as December stumbles to a close and writers begin to run out of evergreen material on the Top 10 best uses for fruitcake, or do Christmas trees have a soul, our keyboards will often drift aimlessly to the real meaning of the past year and what the heck will happen next.

Ancient Kampung Ways

Tom McLaughlin

Sibu and Kuching, Malaysian Borneo – Following the delivery of my third child and first son via C-section, a sterile clothed masked person handed me a package wrapped in plastic. She informed it was the placenta.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Poor Republicans

Roy Meachum

Bob Ehrlich broke Maryland Republicans’ hearts. By way of expiation, in choosing a chairman for the state GOP, they rejected running mate Mary Kane and chose rightist radical ex-Sen. Alex Mooney.

The Devil’s in the Details

Farrell Keough

When we were last together, we noted that a change in the economy may drive our political choices – good, bad, or indifferent. When we are ‘fat and happy,’ we often do not keep track of what is going on with our politicians, government agencies, or new legislation.