Showing posts with label Dayhoff writing essays Sports. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dayhoff writing essays Sports. Show all posts

Friday, April 12, 2019

Westminster celebrates the 38th running of the Main Street Mile

Westminster celebrates the 38th running of the Main Street Mile

April 10, was the scene of the 38th annual Westminster rite of spring – the Westminster Road Runners Club Main Street Mile

April 10, 2019 by Kevin Dayhoff, kevindayhoff@gmail.com


https://dayhoffwestminster.blogspot.com/2019/04/westminster-celebrates-38th-running-of.html

Main Street in Westminster on Wednesday evening, April 10, was the scene of the 38th annual Westminster rite of spring – the Westminster Road Runners Club Main Street Mile – co-sponsored by the Westminster Recreation and Parks Department.

The annual event dates back to 1981 and is known as one of the fastest one-mile courses in the world, because it begins at the top of East Main Street at Fair Avenue and follows Main Street west to the Westminster Branch of the Carroll County Public Library - all downhill, with a total vertical drop of 144 feet.

This year the weather was nearly perfect as friends, families, and neighbors gathered on Main Street to take part in the historic event. In keeping with tradition the first heat began at 7 p.m. The race is run in two “heats.” Heat #1 is officially timed and scored with prizes awarded. To qualify for Heat #1, you must be age 11 or older and be capable of running a mile in less than 10 minutes.

Heat #2 is the “Connor Smith Memorial Fun Run.” It is neither officially timed nor scored. A clock showing an unofficial race time, however, will be at the finish line.

Because so many young people participate, the Main Street Mile is really quite a fun family event.  Even the “race numbers” are fun, since everyone under the age of 10 wears a race identification badge, which bears the number “1.” 

The cheers for the “number 1’s” always seem the heartiest, since finishing is quite an accomplishment for the little runners. Every “number 1” is awarded a medal at the finish line.

Hats off to the Westminster Road Runners Club - WRRC. The Main Street Mile is a five-star community event that brings together many different folks for an enjoyable family-oriented experience.

The quality of the WRRC and the greater Westminster community shines through as the race itself has regional “cult” status in the running community and brings many visitors to Carroll County.

Organizing the Main Street Mile is a feat all to itself. The race seems simple enough - a one-mile straight shot. But organizing the race is deceivingly complicated as it involves closing Main Street and many intricately moving gears which all need to come together perfectly at a precise time.

Fortunately, getting complicated things done for the greater benefit of the community is something that is second nature for Carroll County. Thanks to over 50 volunteers and the help of the Westminster Police Department and Fire Police, this year’s event was another great success.

Credit also belongs to the “Race Director.”  There have been many great Main Street Mile race directors over the years, including Beth Weisenborn, Liuda Galinaitis, and one of the founders of the event, the late Dave Herlocker.

This year’s race director extraordinaire is once again the totally unflappable Sandy Cole Matthias.

The very busy Westminster Family Center in the Jerome Day historic armory building on Longwell Avenue graciously opened its doors for pre-race registration and the after-race ice cream and results.

Yes, ice cream, the key ingredient of all successful community events.

For additional information the Westminster Road Runners web site can be found at: https://sites.google.com/site/wrrclub/

Our correspondent Kevin Dayhoff has covered the Westminster Main Street Mile for over 20-years. Some portions of this article have appeared in previous stories in previous publication.

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Photo captions:

The Westminster Road Runners Club is a non-profit organization, based in Carroll County, Maryland. The goal of the club, according to information obtained from its website, https://sites.google.com/site/wrrclub/, is to promote a healthy and active lifestyle through running. Courtesy Westminster Road Runners Club

Main Street in Westminster on Wednesday evening, April 10, was the scene of the 38th annual Westminster rite of spring. Kevin Dayhoff | www.KevinDayhoff.net

Ice cream is distributed after the race. Yes, ice cream, the key ingredient of all successful community events. Kevin Dayhoff | www.KevinDayhoff.net



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Downtown Westminster, Maryland https://www.facebook.com/DowntownWestminsterMD/



Westminster Annual Main St Mile, Mile, Westminster Annual Main St Mile, Annual Events, Dayhoff writing essays running, Dayhoff writing essays Sports, #DayByDay, Dayhoff writing, Dayhoff Media Westminster Patch,
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Kevin Dayhoff for Westminster Common Council
Westminster Municipal election May 14, 2019
Authority Caroline Babylon, Treasurer.

Carroll County Times: www.tinyurl.com/KED-CCT
Baltimore Sun Carroll Eagle: http://tinyurl.com/KED-Sun

Facebook Dayhoff for Westminster: https://www.facebook.com/DayhoffforWestminster/
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Thursday, January 19, 2017

Baltimore Sports writer Mike Preston will be the guest speaker Sat., Jan. 28, 2016 at the annual CC NAACP MLK breakfast


Baltimore Sports writer Mike Preston will be the guest speaker Sat., Jan. 28, 2016 at the annual Carroll County NAACP Dr. Martin Luther King breakfast

Thursday, January 19th, 2017

On Saturday, January 28th, at 9:00 a.m., at Martin’s Caterers, in Westminster, Baltimore Sun sports writer Mike Preston will be the guest speaker at the 14th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. breakfast, sponsored by the Carroll County NAACP Branch 7014.

This breakfast was previously scheduled on Saturday, January 14, but was postponed due to the threat of bad weather.

I will have the privilege and honor of introducing my Baltimore Sun – Sun Media Group colleague, Mr. Preston that morning.

Veteran journalist Preston is a sports columnist for The Baltimore Sun, focusing on the Ravens and lacrosse. He is a 1977 graduate of Kenwood High, and a 1981 Towson University graduate. Preston has been writing for The Sun since 1987 and has been a columnist since 2000.

Additional tickets may be purchased at this time. If you would like to purchase tickets for the new date, there are several options: online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2017-carroll-county-naacp-dr-martin-luther-king-jr-breakfast-tickets-30496299252 or call Jean at 410-861-6872.

On the other hand, you can email me at kevindayhoff@gmail.com. Make sure the words Preston NAACP breakfast are in the subject line. On the other hand, if you know my phone number, just give me a call.

Over the years, the annual MLK breakfast has turned into a popular and well-attended event and a great break from the gray and cold of Maryland’s winters.

We need to turn in the final count to the caterer soon, so if you want tickets, be in touch soon. Thanks.

Please make checks payable to ‘Carroll County NAACP Branch7014.’ Contributions or gifts to this NAACP unit are generally not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. 

2017 Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast
Saturday, January 28th, 2017
Martin’s of Westminster 9:00 am
Guest Speaker:  Mr. Mike Preston, Baltimore Sun sports writer
Tickets:  $30

Follow Mr. Mike Preston in the Baltimore Sun here http://www.baltimoresun.com/balnews-mike-preston-20130507-staff.html  or on Twitter here https://twitter.com/MikePrestonSun

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http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2017/01/baltimore-sports-writer-mike-preston_19.html

Journalists sports, Sports, Dayhoff writing essays Sports, NAACP, NAACP Carroll Co, Diversity NAACP Carroll Co Chap, Annual Martin Luther King Day, Annual Martin Luther King Breakfast
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E-mail: kevindayhoff(at)gmail.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/


See also - Kevin Earl Dayhoff Art www.kevindayhoff.com: Travel, art, artists, authors, books, newspapers, media, writers and writing, journalists and journalism, reporters and reporting, music, culture, opera... Ad maiorem Dei gloriam inque hominum salutem. “Deadline U.S.A.” 1952. Ed Hutcheson: “That's the press, baby. The press! And there's nothing you can do about it. Nothing!” - See more at: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/#sthash.4HNLwtfd.dpuf
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Monday, April 30, 2012

Eagle Archive: Calling all 'well-behaved players' for baseball in Carroll County

Eagle Archive: Calling all 'well-behaved players' for baseball in Carroll County






You may have noticed that the Baltimore Orioles have gotten off to a good start so far in the young 2012 season.

Hope springs eternal, and spring makes me eternally hopeful, so it's only fitting to note that baseball was also on the minds of Carroll County readers more than 110 years ago.

On this day in 1899, a local newspaper carried a news story that the local "Westminster Base Ball Club" was looking for a few good baseball players…

"The Westminster Base Ball Club ... desires to win the championship and toward that end desires to have a team composed of good players who will be able to play good base ball, and will take full advantage of the five mile limit in order to obtain the players if they can not be gotten in this city." …

What is that 'five-mile limit' all about? We may need to call upon local historian and Carroll County baseball history expert Dan Hartzler.


[…]

According to Mary Ann Ashcraft, an historian for the Historical Society, "Baseball was a big draw in all parts of the county, and competition between local teams often got very intense…"

[…]

In the April 22, 1899 article that appeared in the now-defunct Democratic Advocate newspaper, it is interesting to review the set of qualifications desired by the Westminster Base Ball Club.

“While no roughness or rowdyism on the team will be permitted, the team will be no kid glove affair, to the detriment of good ball playing, but every effort will be made to obtain a representative club of conscientious, efficient, and well-behaved ball players…

“The team announced last week will be permanent only so far as the members, so announced, are able to play good ball and play regularly.”

Where do I sign up? Put me in coach, I’m ready to play.

When he is not listening to Orioles baseball on WTTR, Kevin Dayhoff may be reached at… http://www.baltimoresun.com/explore/carroll/news/community/ph-ce-eagle-archives-0422-20120418,0,1682881.story

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Recently on www.explorecarroll.com Eagle Archives by Kevin Dayhoff




New Windsor history includes hogs, white elephants and health-giving waters March 24, 2012 By Kevin Dayhoff, http://www.baltimoresun.com/explore/carroll/news/community/ph-ce-eagle-archive-0325-20120324,0,7033929.story

Eagle Archive: Carroll County Pasta Growers Association faced serious issues in spring 1917, April 1, 2012 by Kevin Dayhoff - http://www.baltimoresun.com/explore/carroll/opinion-talk/ph-ce-eagle-archives-0401-20120328,0,7758279.story

Eagle Archive: Minding your manners, the community college, and post office were in the news years ago April 8, 2012 By Kevin Dayhoff

Eagle Archive: Measuring county's wealth in terms of cash, crops and heritage Baltimore Sun By Kevin Dayhoff, April 14, 2012 http://www.baltimoresun.com/explore/carroll/news/community/ph-ce-eagle-archive-0415-20120411,0,6968390.story Around 1919, a local newspaper took issue with an article in a Baltimore paper that had credited "Yolo County, Calif., with the record of any county in the United States as being the wealthiest." April 15, 2012 http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2012/04/eagle-archive-by-kevin-dayhoff.html

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April 14, 2012 ...overlooked Carroll county." When he's not bragging about how great it is to live and work in Carroll County…

Eagle Archive: Carroll County Pasta Growers Association faced serious issues in spring 1917 BY KEVIN DAYHOFF, April 1, 2012 ...When he's not celebrating April Fool's Day with his rare "Westminster Imagination" pasta bushes…

Eagle Archive: Shopping for a silver anniversary present for TownMall March 24, 2012 ...around from 1987. Happy birthday to TownMall. When he is not looking for birthday cake in the food court, Kevin Dayhoff

Eagle Archives: New Windsor history includes hogs, white elephants and health-giving waters March 24, 2012 ...to the Public Service Commission." When he is not worrying about chasing hogs and white elephants out of town, Kevin Dayhoff may be reached at BY KEVIN DAYHOFF

Eagle Archive: In 1879, it didn't take much to get run out of Westminster March 17, 2012 ...Crapster fined Green $2 and $8 costs, and the State's attorney gave Hines fifteen minutes to leave the city." Kevin Dayhoff is on his best behavior so he is not run out of town. He may be reached at … BY KEVIN DAYHOFF, …

In 1885, Westminster did a little Orioles bird hunting on the diamond February 25, 2012 ...team by a score of 9 to 7." When he's not trying out as a walk-on candidate for Orioles' spring training, Kevin Dayhoff may be reached at … BY KEVIN DAYHOFF
McDaniel's new Gill Stadium will take its place in college's athletic history February 9, 2012 ...ball ... providing for both men and women." When is not walking in circles on the track at McDaniel College, Kevin Dayhoff may be reached at … BY KEVIN DAYHOFF …
February 4, 2012 ...They are desperate men and declared that they would not be taken alive." When he not hiding under the sofa, Kevin Dayhoff may be reached at BY KEVIN DAYHOFF
Eagle Archive: High school basketball has always been a great remedy for cabin fever January 29, 2012 ...schoolroom in which basketball was conducted." When is he not bouncing a basketball around in the living room, Kevin Dayhoff may be reached at … BY KEVIN DAYHOFF …
Eagle Archive: Murder and mayhem led to Carroll's last public hanging in 1916 February 15, 2012 ...had assembled as early as the night before to witness the hanging. When he's not stooped over pouring milk, Kevin Dayhoff may be reached at … BY KEVIN DAYHOFF …

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Kevin Dayhoff is an artist - and a columnist for:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoffTwitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff
Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net

Tumblr: Kevin Dayhoff Banana Stems www.kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/
Smurfs: http://babylonfluckjudd.blogspot.com/
Google profile: https://profiles.google.com/kevindayhoff/

E-mail: kevindayhoff(at)gmail.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/
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Saturday, May 15, 2010

A few of the reasons I am not attending the Preakness today.


A few of the reasons I am not attending the Preakness today. And a few reasons I’d like to attend.

May 15, 2010

By Kevin Dayhoff http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2010/05/few-of-reasons-i-am-not-attending.html

Not withstanding the above picture, a few of the reasons I am not attending the Preakness today… And a few reasons I’d like to attend. I mean it is on the “A” list of Maryland - Baltimore must-attend cultural events.

Check out “Preakness infield through the years,” in the Baltimore Sun: http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/horse-racing/preakness/bal-preaknessinfield-pg,0,7196896.photogallery. It is a great photo spread.

Ah hem, well, this is not the staid, curmudgeon Preakness – or publication of H. L. Mencken, now is it. I guess that is a good thing – or a whatever.

Oh snap. Ya know, I'd head on down to the Preakness, but I don't seem to have a hat for the occasion.

The bikini contest pictures start at picture number three… Okay, moving on… This looks a Steffenesque view of the Preakness. Photograph number 6 - - Reason number two I did not go to the Preakness; I don't have the legs I never had.

There are perp-walk pictures sprinkled throughout the spread. Seems some folks in the past have misbehaved in the Preakness infield festivities. I’m shocked I tell you, shocked I say.

Me, I liked the hat pictures. No seriously, I really like the horsey-set fashion and hat pictures… Check out picture 33 might be my favorite – among many favorites.

The pics of the U.S. Navy's parachute team, also known as the "Leap Frogs,” are fun.

And yes folks, the day is a veritable sports lollapalooza. The pictures of the volleyball match in the infield start at number 23, followed quickly by some great pictures of ZZ Top. Picture number 29 is pretty cool.

Oh, how sophisticated… No further comment on picture number 49.

The few pictures starting at number 51 appear to portray someone who is hoping to get a Darwin award… The horses are on the track. Some of the horses’ asses may be found in the infield.

Another "Running of the Urinals" pic at 64.

Seems Westminster folks have figured somewhat prominently in the Preakness infield festivities in the past.

In picture number 67 “Aimee Gable of Westminster downs a vodka, cranberry and peach schnapps concoction supplied by Peter Perrine of Lancaster, Pa., on the infield at Pimlico Race Course. Several friends took turns at the spigot on the morning of the Preakness.” I wonder if Ms. Gable gave her Mom a copy of that picture for Mother’s Day?

Picture number 68…Oh, nevermind.

Picture number 80, ugh, just ugh.

Katie Hutchinson may be found in picture number 86 from May 17, 2008.

Between you and me, the photographs are technically and artistically quite good. A news photographer can only take pictures of what they see… I’ve love to attend the Preakness some day if only to take a bunch of pictures. As for the infield, I’m no longer as young as I never was.

Labels: Art Artists Culture Maryland, Dayhoff writing essays Sports, Sports Horse Racing, Sports Horse Racing Preakness, Sports Horse Racing Triple Crown

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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


*****
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, February 25, 2010

Explore Carroll: Which comes first, baseball or digging out my driveway?

EAGLE ARCHIVE By Kevin Dayhoff (Enlarge) Posted http://www.explorecarroll.com/community/3973/which-comes-first-baseball-or-digging-my-driveway/ 2/21/10 http://tinyurl.com/ykabspm

Click here for a larger image: http://twitpic.com/157t3v or here: http://kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/post/410923602/february-11-2010-snow-picture-photo-caption-my [20100211 Moody snow pics UTR]


Click here for a larger image: http://twitpic.com/157uiv or here: http://kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/post/410805246/collage-orioles-spring-training-ed-smith-stadium [20100218 BirdsKEDSarasotacollage caption]

I say with a sigh,
With the snow piled so high,
It's time to write about anything I know,
Other than the snow and the cold.
If I may be so bold.

So let's talk about baseball? I'm happy to report that this past Wednesday, the Baltimore Orioles pitchers and catchers reported to spring training in Sarasota, Fla.

Carroll County has always had a love affair with baseball. Some of my best memories of growing up in Carroll came from listening to Orioles baseball on WTTR or getting together with friends and family to attend Little League or Babe Ruth games. Baseball has been a favorite topic for many local history writers. And why not? Writing about baseball is fun.

Read the entire column here: EAGLE ARCHIVE: Which comes first, baseball or digging out my driveway?

http://www.explorecarroll.com/community/3973/which-comes-first-baseball-or-digging-my-driveway/ http://tinyurl.com/ykabspm

SCE Which comes 1st baseball digging out driveway sceked Dayhoff Media Explore Carroll, Dayhoff photos, Dayhoff photos sports, Dayhoff writing essays Sports, Sports Baltimore Orioles, Sports Baseball, US st Fl Long Boat Sarasota 2010 Feb

Which comes first, baseball or digging out my driveway? http://www.explorecarroll.com/ http://tinyurl.com/ykabspm

Baseball or digging out driveway http://www.explorecarroll.com/ http://tinyurl.com/ykabspm - http://tinyurl.com/yb9tudo http://twitpic.com/157t3v

Collage Orioles Spring Training Ed Smith Stadium Sarasota http://tinyurl.com/ykabspm-http://tinyurl.com/yb9tudo http://twitpic.com/157uiv

Related: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2010/02/orioles-manager-trembley-with-evelyn.html Orioles’ manager Trembley with Evelyn Babylon in Sarasota training camp http://tinyurl.com/yh46oxh

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2010/02/caroline-babylon-of-westminster-md-gets.html http://tinyurl.com/yfduskq Caroline Babylon of Westminster MD gets the autograph of Orioles manager Dave Trembley http://tinyurl.com/yfduskq http://twitpic.com/142s9y

[20100218 OriolesSarasotaTrembleyCB] Dayhoff Daily Photoblog, Dayhoff photos, Dayhoff photos family, Dayhoff photos sports, Sports Baltimore Orioles, Sports Baseball, US st Fl Long Boat Sarasota 2010 Feb, US st Florida 2010 Feb

Interviewing Orioles director of public relations Monica Barlow http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2010/02/interviewing-orioles-director-of-public.html http://tinyurl.com/yhhqpm9

EAGLE ARCHIVE: Which comes first, baseball or digging out my driveway? EAGLE ARCHIVE By Kevin Dayhoff (Enlarge) Posted http://www.explorecarroll.com/community/3973/which-comes-first-baseball-or-digging-my-driveway/ 2/21/10 http://tinyurl.com/ykabspm

Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Sarasota Snowbird http://www.thetentacle.com/ShowArticle.cfm?mydocid=3620
Kevin E. Dayhoff http://www.thetentacle.com/author.cfm?MyAuthor=41
Sarasota FL – The Orioles’ pitchers and catchers took the field last Thursday for the first day of spring training in their new training facilities in Sarasota after spending the pre-season the last 14 years in Fort Lauderdale.

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Oriole pitchers and catchers take to the field for the first day of spring training http://tinyurl.com/yb9tudo http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2010/02/oriole-pitchers-and-catchers-take-to.html

Westminster MD fans join Oriole pitchers and catchers for the first day of spring training http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2010/02/oriole-pitchers-and-catchers-take-to.html or here: http://tinyurl.com/yb9tudo Click here for a larger image: http://twitpic.com/14999i on my Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff http://kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/post/410746018/westminster-md-fans-join-oriole-pitchers-and

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Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://www.westgov.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/

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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/

Friday, January 29, 2010

Saturday night Roller Derby Opera at the Ag Center arena in Westminster

Saturday night Roller Derby Opera at the Ag Center arena in Westminster

By Kevin Dayhoff January 24, 2010
The local Chesapeake Roller Derby team, “Mutiny” defended the ship well, but it was the South Jersey Derby Girls who staged the mutiny last Saturday evening at the Danele Shipley Memorial Arena at the Carroll County Ag Center in Westminster and took the flag.

The real winners for the evening were the more than 1000 fans that packed the arena for the debut of roller derby in Carroll County on a cold dark night in the middle of the winter.

Inside the crowd warmed up quickly to the thrills, spills, and personalities of the roller derby event of operatic proportions.

Craig Giles of Westminster attended the event with his wife, Lois, and son, Jeff. “It’s a life experience. You have to see it (at least) once. It was either this or go to the opera and (this was so convenient,) you can get right down close and up front with the action,” said Giles. Lois Giles, interjected, “I was curious.”

Jalna Brown, who was there with her sister, Lori Graham, said, “We were out for an adventure and ended-up at the roller derby. It reminds me of skating on Pennsylvania Avenue (in Westminster) in the 70s.”

“I missed my calling,” said Graham; who was all smiles as she followed the action.

Brenda Roper, also from Westminster, interjected, “I think I could take Lori Graham out,” as everyone laughed. “I’m here with my husband, (Gil Roper,) he’s here for the costumes.” A point, which Gil did not deny.

Bruce Main, the afternoon host on WTTR introduced all the players before the event. “I’ll bet you can’t put all the players’ names in a newspaper article,” said Main in an interview at the arena.

All of the skaters, most of whom are employed as professionals, such as lawyers, doctors, accountants and architects in their daytime jobs, adopted a “derby name.” Many of which were, ah, colorful, advised Main as he displayed a print-out of the rosters.

As he surveyed the mayhem and excitement that was unfolding at the arena, Main said WTTR has entered into a media partnership with the roller derby team. “We’re thrilled to be a part of bringing such a colorful event to Carroll County.

“First time we have ever had a roller derby in Carroll County,” repeated Main, who also served as the official starter for the game last Saturday.

“It’s going to be a learning experience with the ‘jammers’ and understanding how the scoring goes,” explained Main.

For more information as to the rules and intricacies of roller derby, be sure to read Explore Carroll writer, Charles Schelle’s “Shipwrecked in a concrete jungle,” and “Mutiny at the Ag Center” in the January 17 Carroll Eagle.

The roller derby “has been well received by the listeners,” continued Main. “I was in tears laughing so hard on air announcing the names last Friday…”

The announcer and one of the organizers of the event, Jeff "Homescar Runner" Tomhave said “it looked like everyone is having a good time.” He mentioned that it was good to see the community come out to support the team and raise money to help fight breast cancer. Tomhave, whose wife, Brandy "Marzipain" Tomhave skates with the team, said he also serves as one of the referees when they practice at the arena during the week,

“It’s been fun,” said the Mutiny team coach, “Siouxsie Slaughter,” during a brief break in the action. Slaughter, goes by the name of Susan Rose at her daytime job at Vinci Stone Products in Marriottsville - and is the owner of the Black Eyed Susan Skate Shop.

“The majority of the people (involved in roller derby locally) are professionals who have gotten together to support raising money for the American Breast Cancer Foundation” the charity partner with the Chesapeake Roller Derby.

Knockout Rose, who was introduced by Main as “Roses are red, some are pink too, but watch out for her or you will be black and blue,” was interrupted, as she started to explain some of the game, by living up to Main’s introduction, and was sent to the penalty box.

As she skated away, she blurted-out that her real name is Monica Yankovich. She is a landscape architect with the firm of Mahan Rykiel Associates.

Knockout Rose explained that she discovered the Ag Center because she is also involved with the Oriole Dog Training Club, which has agility trials at the arena.

Slaughter said of the evening’s bout, “the team worked well together… Some of the (players) are new skaters. Great first event. We’re looking forward to (our next event) at the Shipley Arena in March.”

At that point, she caught the eye of the team physician, Dr. Jason W. Hammond, of the Union Memorial Orthopedics and Sports Medicine practice at the Westminster Professional Building.

Other than a few cuts and bruises, there were no reports of significant injuries at the event. Hammond, explained later, “I don’t skate or I would have to treat myself,” as he kept a watchful eye on the athletes skating in the oval.

Reinforcing the opera component of the drama of the skating event at the arena last Saturday evening was, Lara Bruckmann, a lyric soprano classical opera singer, who sang the national anthem during the opening ceremonies.

Bruckmann, whose skater name is “Doris Day of Reckoning,” also skates with the Junkyard Dolls with the Charm City Roller Girls. She said, “our opener is Saturday, January 30 at the Du Burns Arena in Canton, Baltimore.

I haven’t figured how to use my voice as a weapon on the track yet because I become too winded from skating,” said Bruckmann with a wry smile.

Bruckmann added, “One of the things that makes (local) roller derby so effective as a grass roots is there are so many of the skill sets required represented by all the professionals who skate in the leagues. We have graphic artists, lawyers, nurses…” and it’s all good family fun.

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[20100123 RollerDerbyAgCtr 28 29]
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Monday, April 27, 2009

Jackie Robinson, the great American experiment




Jackie Robinson, the great American experiment

By Kevin Dayhoff April 15, 2009

Photo credit: Published in LOOK, v. 19, no. 4, 1955 Feb. 22, p. 78. Photo by Bob Sandberg: Jackie Robinson swinging a bat in Dodgers uniform, 1954. (19550222 1954 Jrobinson.jpg)

Art: (19880412 283) "Baltimore Baseball" by Kevin Dayhoff

Folks have been asking where they may find my column on “Jackie Robinson, the great American experiment.”

The column appeared in both the Westminster Eagle and the Carroll Eagle: Thoughts turn to baseball and Jackie Robinson Published April 17, 2009 by Carroll Eagle, Westminster Eagle and Dayhoff: Recalling Jackie Robinson, the great American experiment Published April 15, 2009 by Westminster Eagle

Pasted below is the column as it filed…

My thoughts today turn to one of my very few sports heroes – Jackie Robinson. For it was today, April 15, in 1947, that Jackie Robinson broke the Major League Baseball color barrier that had begun in the 1880s.

Wearing a Brooklyn Dodgers uniform with the number 42, Robinson, to paraphrase sports writer William McNeil, made his debut in front of 26,623 baseball fans at the old Ebbets Field. Approximately 14,000 of the spectators in the stands were African-Americans.

The Dodgers won 5-3; however, the real winner that day was all of us.

It was about time. As Washington Post columnist Shirley Povich wrote on March 28, 1997: “Four hundred fifty-five years after Columbus discovered America, white America discovered that blacks could play major league baseball. The first definitive clue was offered by the fifth child of a Cairo, Ga., sharecropper who was selected for the daring racial experiment.”

A brief account by the Library of Congress reveals “Dodgers general manager Branch Rickey signed a contract with Robinson to play for the team on October 23, 1945. Robinson then spent a year on a minor league team to sharpen his skills.

“Rickey, who called the move baseball's ‘great experiment,’ chose Robinson because of his excellent athletic record and strength of character. The first player to ‘cross the color line’ would have to be able to withstand intense public scrutiny and to avoid confrontation even when met with insults and hostility.”

As an aside, Richey also deserves a special place in history for having the character and insight to make it all happen. According to Povich, breaking the color barrier “had become a cause. Rickey was a former player and later a team president with high morals and a religious bent.”

It is interesting to note that Richey’s strength of conviction caused him, in earlier years when he played the game as an American League catcher, to “steadfastly” refuse to play baseball on Sundays, according to Povich.

Richey’s baseball scouts found Robinson playing for the Kansas City Monarchs in the “Negro baseball leagues” in 1945.

Povich writes that Richey “warned Robinson of the insults and the racial slurs he would hear from both players and fans in every city in the league. ‘I want a player with guts — the guts not to fight back, to turn the other cheek,’ Rickey told Robinson…”

“Rickey's bargain was for Robinson to hold his temper for two years. After that he was his own man, free to combat prejudice any way he saw fit.”

Robinson, by all accounts, endured a great deal of horrific abuse. However, according to the Library of Congress account, “Not only was Robinson able to quell opposition to his presence on the field, but he quickly won the respect and enthusiasm of the fans.”

That same account says that Robinson “retired from baseball after the 1956 season with a lifetime batting average of .311 and the distinction of having stolen home an incredible 19 times. A legend even in his day, he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962, his first year of eligibility.”

I should note that Robinson is the focal point of one of my three favorite baseball trivia stories – two of the stories happened in April and involve the Dodgers, but do have anything to do with a baseball. The third involves a potato…

The first favorite baseball moment also took place on April 25, 1976. It was that day that outfielder Rick Monday of the Chicago Cubs dashed between two men in the Dodger Stadium outfield in Los Angeles and grabbed away an American flag that protesters were about to burn.

The other event, which involves Robinson, is memorialized by a statute in front of “KeySpan Park,” a minor league baseball stadium in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York. The statute is of Dodgers shortstop Pee Wee Reese with his arm around Robinson.

Povich got the story behind the statute from New York Times’ writer Bob Herbert. In a game in Cincinnati: “As the crowd heaped abuse on Robinson, Reese called time and walked across the diamond and draped an arm around Robinson's shoulder, standing with him in defiance of the crowd's mood.

“It was at once a sentimental display of friendship for a beleaguered teammate and a resounding rebuke to the lackwits who could not come to terms with Jackie Robinson in a major league lineup.”

Povich notes that Roger Kahn, author of “The Boys of Summer,” said of the scene: “It gets my vote as baseball’s finest moment.”

And mine also.

And oh, the third story occurred on Aug. 31, 1987 and it involves a potato. Who knows the story? Tell us what you know of the “tater caper” in readers’ comments below.

That’s my two cents. What’s yours? Leave any comments here: Thoughts turn to baseball and Jackie Robinson Published April 17, 2009 by Carroll Eagle, Westminster Eagle and Dayhoff: Recalling Jackie Robinson, the great American experiment

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster. E-mail him at kevindayhoff AT gmail.com.
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Other Recent Explore Carroll columns by Kevin Dayhoff

Cutting the 'Horse Train Stop' of Sykesville out of Howard County
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Dayhoff: Getting the Community Media Center out of the closet
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Thoughts turn to baseball and Jackie Robinson
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Dayhoff: Recalling Jackie Robinson, the great American experiment
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Mills' contributions to hospital follow a healthful tradition
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... Spring Carnival. It is never too early to start teaching your children fire safety. As history shows us -- it's everyone's concern and it can be a matter of life and death. Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster. E-mail him at kevindayhoff AT gmail.com....

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... Navy; a proud heritage few Carroll Countians know. Now you know it too. Well, perhaps not. Happy April Fool's Day. Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster.

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