Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Funeral arrangements set for Joanne Parrott
Funeral arrangements have been announced for former Delegate Joanne S. Parrott. Calling hours are Thursday, March 12 from 6 to 8 p.m. and Friday, March 13 from 1 to 3 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m. at the Fallston Volunteer Fire Company, 2201 Carrs Mill Road, Fallston. A memorial service will take place Saturday, March 14 at 10 a.m. at Oak Grove Baptist Church, corner of Route 22 and Thomas Run Road, Bel Air.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Farewell, Joanne
Joanne Parrott, 68, who was the first woman president of the Harford County Council and the District 35A Maryland state delegate from 1998 to 2006, was found dead at her home in Fallston Wednesday, March 4. The cause of death was reportedly unknown, according to a statement from the office of County Executive David R. Craig.
A Republican known for being outspoken and carrying a toy stuffed parrot, Parrott served on the County Council from 1986 to 1998, serving as District B representative first, then as president from 1994 to 1998. She was a founder and director of the Highlands School for children with learning disabilities. She will be remembered as a supporter of Boy Scouts and 4-H.
Joanne was one of the first people I met when I came to Harford County in the late 1980s. She made quite an impression as a strong, vibrant woman who was quick to speak up for her beliefs - whether as a representative of the community or as a woman. Harford County will miss Joanne. As of this writing, her funeral arrangements had not been announced.
A Republican known for being outspoken and carrying a toy stuffed parrot, Parrott served on the County Council from 1986 to 1998, serving as District B representative first, then as president from 1994 to 1998. She was a founder and director of the Highlands School for children with learning disabilities. She will be remembered as a supporter of Boy Scouts and 4-H.
Joanne was one of the first people I met when I came to Harford County in the late 1980s. She made quite an impression as a strong, vibrant woman who was quick to speak up for her beliefs - whether as a representative of the community or as a woman. Harford County will miss Joanne. As of this writing, her funeral arrangements had not been announced.
More competition should be a good thing
After waiting 20 years for more choices in grocery shopping for Harford County, I'm glad to see some are here or on the horizon. I'm excited about Wegman's coming to Abingdon (love their seafood and produce), and I'm hopeful about the Klein family's new partnership with Shoprite. I want to check out the newly expanded David's Natural Market at its new location in Forest Hill. The only downside seems to be the loss of Super Fresh after so many years.
If the opening of new stores means more savings and a better selection of foods in Harford County, great!Now, if only we could get a Trader Joe's here, things would be wonderful. I really like their organics and natural products. If Wegman's can choose Abingdon, maybe there's hope for a Trader Joe's in Bel Air South!
If the opening of new stores means more savings and a better selection of foods in Harford County, great!Now, if only we could get a Trader Joe's here, things would be wonderful. I really like their organics and natural products. If Wegman's can choose Abingdon, maybe there's hope for a Trader Joe's in Bel Air South!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Uniform question put on hold
This just in: Harford County Public Schools announced today that it is cancelling all of the remaining parents' uniform community meetings, saying the question of school uniforms has been deferred due to "economic constraints."
The first meeting last week at Patterson Mill Middle High School drew a crowd of parents, students, teachers and administrators. Parents were allowed to comment, but students, who overwhelmingly oppose the proposal to introduce school uniforms, were not allowed to speak.
The decision to defer the question of uniforms is good news not only for the students, but also for parents like me who also oppose the idea. Middle and high school in particular are a period of personal growth, where healthy expression of self should be encouraged. The schools would do well to enforce the current rules regarding dress code, which often seem to be disregarded, instead of seeking to require uniforms.
A sign of the economic times, or a good decision in light of future opposition? It's difficult to say, but for now, my family will applaud the school board for deferring the question.
The first meeting last week at Patterson Mill Middle High School drew a crowd of parents, students, teachers and administrators. Parents were allowed to comment, but students, who overwhelmingly oppose the proposal to introduce school uniforms, were not allowed to speak.
The decision to defer the question of uniforms is good news not only for the students, but also for parents like me who also oppose the idea. Middle and high school in particular are a period of personal growth, where healthy expression of self should be encouraged. The schools would do well to enforce the current rules regarding dress code, which often seem to be disregarded, instead of seeking to require uniforms.
A sign of the economic times, or a good decision in light of future opposition? It's difficult to say, but for now, my family will applaud the school board for deferring the question.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
So who's your neighbor?
Who lives near you? You can find out who's been convicted of a felony by visiting www.felonspy.com and searching near your address (or any address in the United States).
The site pinpoints all the people nearby who have been convicted of any felonies - murder, attempted murder, sex offenses, kidnapping, firearms violations, etc. You can click on the red pins or balloons on the map to see the person's name, age, and felony offense.
Felon Spy describes itself as "a small group of dedicated community activists who are committed to making sure that you do not fall victim to any crime, not rape, murder, robbery or even petty theft." The site describes the members of the group as "former law enforcement officers, information technologists, land developers and community leaders, all of whom have given up our posts in pursuit of this noble, sometimes misunderstood quest to label the underbelly of society by their actions."
The Harford County Sheriff's Office offers some useful links on its Web site as well, including its crime data posted on http://crimereports.com - an independent Web site that gives law enforcement agencies a place to share crime data with citizens. You can check out crime reports for other areas, too.
The sheriff's office also offers links to Harford County's Ten Most Wanted, the Harford County Sex Offender Registry, and the Harford County Child Support Enforcement Unit's Ten Most Wanted:
http://www.harfordsheriff.org/10_most_wanted/
http://www.harfordsheriff.org/sex_offender_registry/
http://www.harfordsheriff.org/10_most_wanted_child_support/
The site pinpoints all the people nearby who have been convicted of any felonies - murder, attempted murder, sex offenses, kidnapping, firearms violations, etc. You can click on the red pins or balloons on the map to see the person's name, age, and felony offense.
Felon Spy describes itself as "a small group of dedicated community activists who are committed to making sure that you do not fall victim to any crime, not rape, murder, robbery or even petty theft." The site describes the members of the group as "former law enforcement officers, information technologists, land developers and community leaders, all of whom have given up our posts in pursuit of this noble, sometimes misunderstood quest to label the underbelly of society by their actions."
The Harford County Sheriff's Office offers some useful links on its Web site as well, including its crime data posted on http://crimereports.com - an independent Web site that gives law enforcement agencies a place to share crime data with citizens. You can check out crime reports for other areas, too.
The sheriff's office also offers links to Harford County's Ten Most Wanted, the Harford County Sex Offender Registry, and the Harford County Child Support Enforcement Unit's Ten Most Wanted:
http://www.harfordsheriff.org/10_most_wanted/
http://www.harfordsheriff.org/sex_offender_registry/
http://www.harfordsheriff.org/10_most_wanted_child_support/
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Main Street celebration coming Sept. 27
Mark your calendar for some September fun! A ribbon cutting and all-day street festival to celebrate the reopening of Main Street in Bel Air following the Streetscape Project will take place Saturday, Sept. 27 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
In Bel Air South, the day begins with the Hunters Run and Gleneyre at Hunters Run neighborhood Fall Yard Sale from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The neighborhoods are located off Laurel Bush Road.
In Bel Air South, the day begins with the Hunters Run and Gleneyre at Hunters Run neighborhood Fall Yard Sale from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The neighborhoods are located off Laurel Bush Road.
Say goodbye to the old Bel Air High
This just in from District C County Councilman Jim McMahan -
The Bel Air High School building as we know it will be demolished in June 2009. One last activity is being planned: "Say Goodbye to Bel Air High." Open to all BHS grads, wanna-be grads, faculty then and now, staff, and friends, the event will be Saturday, April 25, 2009 from 7 to 11 p.m. in the cafeteria. Outback Steakhouse will cater dinner. The "Old Gym" will be transformed into the "Dance Hall" many remember and loved. The school will be open so folks can walk through one last time. All this nostalgia is for $40 per person in advance. Any money left over will be donated to the new school in the name of the alum.
Contact everyone you know who graduated from BHS and get them to register at
www.saygoodbyetobelairhigh.com. Tickets are limited due to the space available.
People are needed for the following committees:
Decorating Committee
Beverage Committee (no alcoholic beverages ... school, you know)
Check-in Committee (8 to 10 at the door to make sure you paid)
(Suggestion: Maybe members of the Class of 2010 can stay to check in the stragglers.)
The Bel Air High School building as we know it will be demolished in June 2009. One last activity is being planned: "Say Goodbye to Bel Air High." Open to all BHS grads, wanna-be grads, faculty then and now, staff, and friends, the event will be Saturday, April 25, 2009 from 7 to 11 p.m. in the cafeteria. Outback Steakhouse will cater dinner. The "Old Gym" will be transformed into the "Dance Hall" many remember and loved. The school will be open so folks can walk through one last time. All this nostalgia is for $40 per person in advance. Any money left over will be donated to the new school in the name of the alum.
Contact everyone you know who graduated from BHS and get them to register at
www.saygoodbyetobelairhigh.com. Tickets are limited due to the space available.
People are needed for the following committees:
Decorating Committee
Beverage Committee (no alcoholic beverages ... school, you know)
Check-in Committee (8 to 10 at the door to make sure you paid)
(Suggestion: Maybe members of the Class of 2010 can stay to check in the stragglers.)
Detours and delays
Summer time and the living is ... full of traffic. It's getting harder to get around Bel Air South these days with all the people on the roads. Lots of fender-benders out there. And then there's the inconvenience of Plumtree Road being closed between Emmorton Road and Route 24 due to construction projects. It's enough to try your patience!
Park Centre by Plumtree LLC is going up at what will be 108 Plumtree Road, Bel Air. Plumtree LLC received a special exception for a health services and medical clinic, special development to permit a bank, and a variance to locate five wall signs and two free-standing signs in the Residential Office District there. Plumtree Orthopaedic Associates, LLC will have 109, 111, 113, 201 and 203 Plumtree Road, Bel Air. They received a special exception and special development permit to allow a medical clinic 39 feet high in the Residential Office District. You can see this building going up near the corner of Plumtree and Route 24.
We need more health care in Harford County, to be sure, but it makes me sad to see more wooded areas lost to development. Where will the deer go now?
Park Centre by Plumtree LLC is going up at what will be 108 Plumtree Road, Bel Air. Plumtree LLC received a special exception for a health services and medical clinic, special development to permit a bank, and a variance to locate five wall signs and two free-standing signs in the Residential Office District there. Plumtree Orthopaedic Associates, LLC will have 109, 111, 113, 201 and 203 Plumtree Road, Bel Air. They received a special exception and special development permit to allow a medical clinic 39 feet high in the Residential Office District. You can see this building going up near the corner of Plumtree and Route 24.
We need more health care in Harford County, to be sure, but it makes me sad to see more wooded areas lost to development. Where will the deer go now?
No surprise: Governor passes over school board nominees
As two new Harford County Board of Education members were expected to be sworn in to five-year terms this week, it comes as no surprise that the two school board nominees recommended by the temporary Harford County Board of Education Nominating Committee were not approved by Gov. Martin O'Malley.
The Governor appointed Alysson Krchnavy and Leonard Wheeler to the school board on July 9, passing over committee nominees Nancy Reynolds of Bel Air, a recently retired principal, and Mohammed Shahab, who ran vocational programs in Iran and Washington, D.C.
Krchnavy was among five candidates interviewed July 7 by the nominating committee, although not recommended, and is a PTA member and substitute teacher at Hickory Elementary School. Wheeler told The Baltimore Sun he was not interviewed by the committee because he couldn't meet its deadline to participate. He is a retired educator with 30 years experience in Baltimore schools and a former member of the Harford County Democratic Central Committee. An African-American endorsed by the Harford chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), he served on the Harford Schools’ Ad Hoc Committee on Minority Affairs and holds a doctorate in education from Temple University. He also taught education research at the College of Notre Dame of Maryland.
Krchnavy and Wheeler fill seats vacated by President Thomas L. Fidler Jr. and Vice President Salina M. Williams, which expired in July. Williams was not reappointed, and Fidler did not seek reappointment.
After the nominating committee interviewed the five candidates on July 7, it announced that its top choice was Nancy Reynolds, a retired principal of Bel Air Middle School with 30 years of education experience, and its second choice was Mohammad Reza Shahab, a retired educator who coordinated vocational education in Washington, D.C. public schools. Governor O'Malley was not bound by the committee's recommendations.
The Harford County Council created the nominating committee in the spring as a temporary measure to gain more input into the appointment process until general elections of school board members can be approved. The committee has a one-year timeframe, unless the council votes to extend it next year. It includes three County Council representatives, two members of the Harford County Executive Branch, one Harford County General Assembly delegate, and one Harford County state senator.
Several of Harford County's representatives in Annapolis have tried unsuccessfully over the last two years to pass legislation that would make the Governor-appointed school board either partially or completely elected. While the nominating committee is made up of elected officials and does not include members of the general public, it at least attempted to gain a greater voice for the county in the appointment process.
Don't expect things to change anytime soon - unless we can elect new representatives who will hear the demands of the public for elections.
The Governor appointed Alysson Krchnavy and Leonard Wheeler to the school board on July 9, passing over committee nominees Nancy Reynolds of Bel Air, a recently retired principal, and Mohammed Shahab, who ran vocational programs in Iran and Washington, D.C.
Krchnavy was among five candidates interviewed July 7 by the nominating committee, although not recommended, and is a PTA member and substitute teacher at Hickory Elementary School. Wheeler told The Baltimore Sun he was not interviewed by the committee because he couldn't meet its deadline to participate. He is a retired educator with 30 years experience in Baltimore schools and a former member of the Harford County Democratic Central Committee. An African-American endorsed by the Harford chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), he served on the Harford Schools’ Ad Hoc Committee on Minority Affairs and holds a doctorate in education from Temple University. He also taught education research at the College of Notre Dame of Maryland.
Krchnavy and Wheeler fill seats vacated by President Thomas L. Fidler Jr. and Vice President Salina M. Williams, which expired in July. Williams was not reappointed, and Fidler did not seek reappointment.
After the nominating committee interviewed the five candidates on July 7, it announced that its top choice was Nancy Reynolds, a retired principal of Bel Air Middle School with 30 years of education experience, and its second choice was Mohammad Reza Shahab, a retired educator who coordinated vocational education in Washington, D.C. public schools. Governor O'Malley was not bound by the committee's recommendations.
The Harford County Council created the nominating committee in the spring as a temporary measure to gain more input into the appointment process until general elections of school board members can be approved. The committee has a one-year timeframe, unless the council votes to extend it next year. It includes three County Council representatives, two members of the Harford County Executive Branch, one Harford County General Assembly delegate, and one Harford County state senator.
Several of Harford County's representatives in Annapolis have tried unsuccessfully over the last two years to pass legislation that would make the Governor-appointed school board either partially or completely elected. While the nominating committee is made up of elected officials and does not include members of the general public, it at least attempted to gain a greater voice for the county in the appointment process.
Don't expect things to change anytime soon - unless we can elect new representatives who will hear the demands of the public for elections.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
First public meeting for school board nominating committee is June 12
The initial public meeting of the temporary Harford County Board of Education Nominating Committee will be Thursday, June 12 at 8 a.m. This meeting, on the last day of school for Harford County Public Schools students, will take place in Harford County Council Chambers, 212 S. Bond St., Bel Air.
The seven-member board was created by the Harford County Council "to provide the Governor with the names of qualified candidates to fill vacancies" on the Harford County Board of Education. The board includes three County Council representatives, two members of the Harford County Executive Branch, one Harford County General Assembly delegate and one Harford County state senator. School board members are currently appointed by the Governor for five-year terms. The council created the nominating committee as a temporary measure until elections of school board members can be approved. The committee has a one-year timeframe, unless the council votes to extend it next year.
The seven-member board was created by the Harford County Council "to provide the Governor with the names of qualified candidates to fill vacancies" on the Harford County Board of Education. The board includes three County Council representatives, two members of the Harford County Executive Branch, one Harford County General Assembly delegate and one Harford County state senator. School board members are currently appointed by the Governor for five-year terms. The council created the nominating committee as a temporary measure until elections of school board members can be approved. The committee has a one-year timeframe, unless the council votes to extend it next year.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
