Tiombe Paige at Cutivated

Caroline and I were happy to have a chance to stop by to see our friend and former neighbor, Tiombe Paige, at Cutivated in historic downtown Westminster. Next stop, Giulianova Groceria for pit beef sandwiches. It was a great day in historic downtown Westminster. May 22, 2021 Saturday.

Westminster Downtown Farmers'Market

It is wonderful to have the Westminster Downtown Farmers' Market begin a new season. We saw so many friends and really enjoyed getting outside to spend time with local vendors. Hats off to the newly elected Mayor Mona Becker and looking forward to another season with the market's manager and huge downtown Main Street promoter Brooke Hagerty. Thanks for all your great leadership. Sat. May 15, 2021

Happy Easter.

Happy Easter

National Vietnam War Veterans Day March 29

National Vietnam War Veterans Day March 29, 1973: 

Today - March 29th is National Vietnam War Veterans Day, marking the day U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, disestablished on March 29, 1973. 

Caroline and I stopped by the Vietnam Memorial at Willis and Court Street over the weekend and cleaned-up the area. This is the 4th year of Vietnam Veterans Day – I think in the future we ought to hold a small ceremony at the memorial like we do for Memorial Day, Veterans Day and over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. 

This year, for Woman's History Month and National Vietnam War Veterans Day, I wrote a story about Barbara Robbins. Robbins is something of a legend - in a hushed tone of voice - in the agency. I have always found this story so haunting and sad: Barbara Robbins was the first female killed in the line of duty in Vietnam. Please find the story here: https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll/lifestyles/cc-lt-dayhoff-032121-20210319-zsdd6doivjadbi275p234jsqyy-story.html

Mission BBQ opened today in Westminster

Mission BBQ opened today in Westminster where Friendly's Restaurant used to be located at 584 Jermor Way

Friendly's had closed at that location on Nov. 27, 2018. According to an article in the Carroll County Times on Nov. 28, 2018, "The company that was founded in 1935 the middle of the Great Depression in Springfield, Massachusetts, and would become Friendly Ice Cream Corp. filed for bankruptcy in 2011, according to the Wall Street Journal.."

It was a great day. At 12-noon, Westminster Police Officer Terrence McGowan sang the National Anthem as fire equipment surrounded the restaurant and Westminster Fire Department Tower 3 flew the American Flag. 

Vietnam vets were treated to sandwich. Mission BBQ chose to open today - March 29th on National Vietnam War Veterans Day, marking the day U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, disestablished on March 29, 1973.

13th Annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event

Leslie Krebs-White, the community educator at Rape Crisis Intervention Service of Carroll County, https://www.rapecrisiscc.org/ has been in touch with the CC NAACP branch and asked that we help spread the word about a popular fundraiser - the 13th Annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event.

Since 1978 RCIS has provided free counseling and support services to victims of sexual violence and their families. RCIS also offers prevention education programs and professional training. Rape Crisis provides a 24-hour hot line and therapy services to both male and female victims of sexual violence. All services are free and confidential. Every dollar donated makes a huge difference in a survivor’s healing journey at RCIS.

The Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event helps provide awareness to these valuable services in our community.

Please see the attached flyer and visit www.walkamilecc.org for more information. 

Ms. Krebs-White reported, “We are also looking for sponsors if you know anyone who may be interested. Thank you so much for all your help…” 

Sincerely, Leslie Krebs-White, Community Educator 

Rape Crisis Intervention Service of Carroll County

https://www.rapecrisiscc.org/ 

224 North Center Street, Room 102

Westminster, MD  21157

24-hour crisis hotline: 410.857.7322

Office:  410.857.0900

Disclosure: Yup – in full disclosure I have helped support RCIS, anonymously as a private citizen, as a public official and as a fire and police chaplain since the days in which it was known as the “The Carroll County Sexual Assault Center,” before it changed its name in 1985 to RCIS. For many years the director of Rape Crisis was a Carroll County Public School classmate of mine, and from time to time I have ghost-written a few articles for the organization. 

On March 25, 1996, I wrote, in part, “Rape Crisis provides a valuable service to the community involving an ugly crime. In an ideal world, such services would not be needed, unfortunately, Rape Crisis provides a needed program in Carroll County. A few of the services that come quickly to mind are: 1.Victim walk-in service. 2. Accompaniment for medical attention, police investigation and court appearances. 3. Individual, group and support group therapy service, 4. 24 Hour hotline, and 5. Community education and professional training. “Rape Crisis provides these valuable counseling, support and advocacy programs for free and maintains a person's ability to seek help anonymously…” 

https://www.facebook.com/ccnaacp/posts/4142110702474241 

The snow is just starting to stick to the roads

The snow is just starting to stick to the roads and get slippery. Might be a good time to stay at home and enjoy some time with your family until the storm passes, and the Westminster Street Department and the county and state roads department gets the roadways cleared. Stay safe. Wed. 10:30 PM Feb. 10, 2021