20080604 Eye for Art columns in the Advocate by Lyndi McNulty from Oct. 19, 2005 through June 4, 2008

Eye for Art columns in the Advocate by Lyndi McNulty from Oct. 19, 2005 through June 4, 2008

19.OCT.05 Eye for Art: Roger Lewis — stained glass artist

16.NOV.05 Eye for Art: Lippy named to Master Guild

23.NOV.05 A SEAT AT OUR TABLE: What Thanksgiving means to The Advocate

14.DEC.05 Eye for Art: O’Connell: Faux finish artist

14.DEC.05 Local nurse helped kids in Ecuador

11.JAN.06 Commentary: Lessons from police officers

18.JAN.06 Commentary: More lessons from police academy

22.FEB.06 Eye for Art: Tom Ferguson — wood craftsman

01.MAR.06 Paide means Peace: Where are we now?

08.MAR.06 Commentary: Paide means Peace: Where are we now?

15.MAR.06 Commentary: Paide means peace: Where are we now?

22.MAR.06 Eye for Art: Arc director collects autographs

19.APR.06 Community Briefs – April 19

26.APR.06 Eye for Art: Pencil artist focuses on precision, detail

03.MAY.06 Eye for Art: T-shirt and mural artist loves his job

24.MAY.06 Commentary: City employees our neighbors, too

31.MAY.06 Eye for Art: McDaniel professor pens book on digital collage

14.JUN.06 Eye for Art: McDaniel art professor was artist as child in Ukraine

05.JUL.06 Woodworking: Family tradition

26.JUL.06 Eye for Art: McDaniel prof painting sold for $22k

02.AUG.06 Eye for Art: Art prof travels to Genoa, Italy

23.AUG.06 Eye for Art: The Gists — Enchanted Jewelers

30.AUG.06 News in Brief – Aug. 30

06.SEP.06 Eye for Art: Dentist has love of photography

13.SEP.06 Eye for Art: Artist paints historic buildings

20.SEP.06 Historical society curator publishes photo book

18.OCT.06 Local watercolorist found talents after retirement

25.OCT.06 Community Briefs – Oct. 25

08.NOV.06 Eye for Art: Landscapes without shadows

22.NOV.06 Calendar – Nov. 22

22.NOV.06 Holiday parade, tree lighting kick off shopping season

29.NOV.06 Eye for Art: Florist has designed for inaugurations

06.DEC.06 Eye for Art: Artist paints vertical landscapes

20.DEC.06 Eye for Art: Artist began by carving decoys

10.JAN.07 Commentary: Pecoraro reflects on many changes to Westminster

24.JAN.07 Eye for Art: Singing stock broker performs with singing cab driver

31.JAN.07 Eye for Art: Firefighter collects, restores antique fire trucks

07.FEB.07 Eye for Art: Ruchlewicz an avid photog

07.FEB.07 Community Briefs – Feb. 7

21.MAR.07 Eye for Art: Artists Guild celebrates 30 years

28.MAR.07 Eye for Art: Teacher creates silk paintings

04.APR.07 Community Briefs – April 4

18.APR.07 Eye for Art: Interior designer stays away from trends

25.APR.07 Commentary: Westminster police offer many community programs

30.MAY.07 Eye for Art: Zappardino involved in art, global peace work

04.JUL.07 Eye for Art: Local man collects Napoleon items

11.JUL.07 Eye for Art: Local photographer’s images show ‘Mystic Isles’

18.JUL.07 Estonian visitor studies youth camps in Westminster

01.AUG.07 Eye for Art: Local airbrush artist famous in Hollywood for work

08.AUG.07 Eye for Art: Resident attending Mount St. Mary’s to study art

12.SEP.07 Eye for Art: Resident teaches diving

12.SEP.07 WEB UPDATE: Council hears public comment on two zoning issues

19.SEP.07 Eye for Art: McDaniel student’s family life inspired ‘Mystery Meat’

19.SEP.07 Westminster Common Council: Council hears public comment on two zoning issues

03.OCT.07 Commentary: Seven Estonians visit Westminster through partnership

31.OCT.07 Eye for Art: Award-winning artist joins guild

07.NOV.07 Eye for Art: Commerce president collects comics

28.NOV.07 City celebrates holiday season with tree lighting

02.JAN.08 Eye for Art: Wreath features local wildlife

09.JAN.08 Eye for Art: Behind the scenes at Carroll County Arts Council

09.JAN.08 Concierge service targets busy residents

23.JAN.08 Eye for Art: Retiree, now 92, found art later in life through college

30.JAN.08 Eye for Art: Artist discovered watercolors after 15-year break from art

06.FEB.08 Eye for Art: Local artist did plein air paintings at Grand Teton

13.FEB.08 Eye for Art: Crisis counselor uses art for self expression

20.FEB.08 Eye for Art: Crawford captures personality in portraits of pets

05.MAR.08 Community Voices- Administrator aims to improve Westminster’s customer service

12.MAR.08 Eye for Art: Shop promises Perfect Plants

12.MAR.08 Community Briefs-March 19

12.MAR.08 Eye for Art: Making it fresh with a new hairdo

26.MAR.08 Trend: Buying the basics

09.APR.08 Eye for Art: Local artist travels nation for painting passion

16.APR.08 Eye for Art: Understanding a love of drawing, dislike of science

23.APR.08 Eye for Art: Artist thinks outside of the pot when creating

07.MAY.08 Eye for Art: Local man gets more creative, artistic with age

14.MAY.08 Eye for Art: Young photographer has high hopes for artistic future

14.MAY.08 Eye for Art: Local artist uses jewelry as outlet

04.JUN.08 Eye for Art: Art, math give good foundation

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20080622 Corbit’s Charge events scheduled in Westminster for June 27 through 29 2008

20080622 Corbit’s Charge events scheduled in Westminster for June 27 through 29 2008

Commemoration of the 145th Anniversary of Corbit’s Charge is Slated for June 27th – 29th

Excerpted from “THE DOWNTOWN WESTMINSTER MAIN STREET NEWS – May/June 2008,” written by the Westminster Administrator of Economic Development Stan Ruchlewicz.

His office is located at 56 West Main Street, Westminster, Maryland.

He can be contacted at 410-848-5294 or send him an email.

If it wasn’t for the Battle of Westminster, more commonly known as Corbit’s Charge, 145 years ago, we all might be speaking with a Southern accent or so the story goes.

The skirmish here delayed General J.E.B. Stuart and his 5,000 Confederate cavalrymen from reaching Gettysburg until July 2, 1863, the 2nd day of the Battle of Gettysburg.

Join the Corbit’s Charge Commemoration Committee, City of Westminster, Historical Society of Carroll County and Pipe Creek Civil War Round Table in commemorating the 145th anniversary of the cavalry skirmish that took place on the streets of Westminster on June 29, 1863 by attending a weekend of events from June 27th through June 29th.

On the evening of Friday, June 27th, there will be a period music concert by O’ Be Joyfull on the Locust Lane Stage, beginning at 6:30 p.m.; troops will be patrolling Main Street that evening and a walking tour led by noted local Civil War historian G. Thomas LeGore will kick off the event.

Beginning on the morning of Saturday, June 28th, a Civil War encampment, featuring civilian and military re-enactors, artisans, sutlers, blacksmiths, tinsmiths, chair caners, cavalry horses, cannon firing demonstrations, camp life demonstrations, and artifact and museum displays, will be in place all weekend on the grounds of the Carroll County Multi-Service Center at 225 North Center Street, across the street from the County Office Building.

The annual parade from the encampment to the Corbit’s Charge Monument and Lt. Murray’s gravesite in the cemetery of the Ascension Episcopal Church, followed by a wreath-laying ceremony, will take place at 1:00 p.m.

The encampment closes to the public after a free period music concert by “The Susquehanna Travelers” that begins at 7:00 p.m.

However, the activities do not end for the day, as a Civil War Ball will take place at The Old Longwell Armory (Westminster Recreation & Parks), 11 Longwell Avenue, from 8:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. Admission to the ball is $10.00 per person and space is limited.

Briant & Karin Bohleke will serve as dance masters while music will be performed by Peg Shutes and Bruce Young.

The inaugural Corbit’s Charge Civil War Ball is being sponsored by Ms. Kim Prehn and Unique Jewelry.

Sunday's activities will begin with a Civil War tent church service at 10:00 a.m. Guided walking tours of the battle site will be offered Sunday afternoon.

The encampment will be open from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, with various demonstrations throughout the day.

With the exception of the Civil War Ball, all events are FREE and open to the public.

For more information or directions to the events, visit the Pipe Creek Civil War Round Table website at http://www.pccwrt.addr.com/Corbits_Charge.htm.


History Westminster 18630629 Corbit's Charge June 29 1863

History Westminster

History Carroll Co. 18630629 Corbit's Charge June 29 1863

20070207 Eye for Art Ruchlewicz an avid photographer by Lyndi McNulty in The Advocate

Eye for Art: Ruchlewicz an avid photographer

by Lyndi McNulty in The Advocate

February 7, 2007

http://westminsteradvocate.com/

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07.FEB.07 Eye for Art: Ruchlewicz an avid photographer

Stan Ruchlewicz is the administrator of Economic Development for the City of Westminster, and he has an artistic side, too. Ruchlewicz is an avid photographer.

He said his first love is teaching and judging high school marching bands and drum and bugle corps.

Through traveling as a judge, he said he visited many interesting places.

“So, I took pictures,” Ruchlewicz said. “Back in the dark ages, I was using a small Instamatic. Eventually, I grew out of the Instamatic into a 35mm camera.”

In 1989, Ruchlewicz was hired in Havre de Grace as director of Planning. He was also appointed to the governor’s Save the Lighthouse Commission.

“Then, I really needed to get a good camera to take pictures since we toured the various Chesapeake Bay lighthouses on our annual visits,” he said,

Also at that time, Ruchlewicz began to take photographs of downtown buildings, streetscapes and events for promotional and reference materials for his job, he said.

Later, his financee, Pat Miller, converted him to go digital.

“Now, I can take hundreds of photographs at a time and not worry about printing costs since I can view the shots on the computer and choose to print only the best,” he said.

Ruchlewicz and his fiancee both take photos.

“I do the large scale photos, such as buildings, landscapes and event crowds, while she enjoys doing architectural details, like gargoyles and grotesques and individual people,” he said. “Grotesques are the funny little guys that are on old buildings but don’t put out rainwater like gargoyles do.”

Today, Ruchlewicz is still shooting buildings and street scenes along Main Streets, events in downtown Westminster, lighthouses and his world travels.

“A lot of the photos I take are of streetscape features such as signage, trash cans, benches, streetlights, window displays, storefronts and building facades,” Ruchlewicz said. “I use them as examples of how to improve local buildings and to give local store owners new ideas on how to improve their businesses.”

Casey Willson, retail industry manager for the Maryland Small Business Development Center, uses some of Ruchlewicz’s pictures for his presentations to small business owners around the state.

Ruchlewicz’s work is everywhere in town.

The postcards of downtown Westminster, such as the view of Main Street from the roof of the old fire house, the downtown mural, the McDaniel College entrance, City Hall and the train passing in front of Johannson’s are all his work.

The postcards are all copyrighted by the City of Westminster under the Downtown Westminster Main Street Program.

Ruchlewicz’s photographs also appear in the new Westminster brochure, and recent Hickory Stick and ArtWorks billboards used his photographs, too.

Additionally, his photos from the Corbit’s Charge event can be viewed on the Pipe Creek Civil War Round Table Web site at http://www.pccwrt.addr.com.

“The most utilized image of mine is of the old clock tower in Westminster that is currently the symbol of our town. It is being used as a brand for people to remember us when they visit,” Ruchlewicz said.

Ruchlewicz’s newest project is converting his photographs into digital art.

“For example, I take photos of England and convert them into images that resemble old etchings and engravings from the 19th century,” he said. “Besides creating art, it also helps me learn how to use some of my new computer features.”

In the future, Ruchlewicz said he would like to put his photographs in an art show and perhaps sell some commercially.

And his travels continue.

“I plan to go to Budapest in the spring to continue my photographic adventures and to bring some new ideas back to Westminster’s downtown,” he said.

— Lyndi McNulty owns Gizmos Art in Westminster.

Art – Eye for Art by Lyndi McNulty in The Advocate

20060816 Vota for Mona

Thursday, August 17, 2006

20060816 Vota for Mona

“Vota for Moana”

© Kevin Dayhoff

August 16^th, 2006

This is the season for signs.

Recently your intrepid blogger found this group of signs at Main Street and the railroad tracks in Westminster MD.

Mystery surrounds just what Ms. Mona Lisa is running for.

In a related matter, we asked Westminster’s administrator of economic development, Stanta Ruchlewicz, about the economic impact of the Carroll County election season. “Well, ya know, it brings dollars into downtown Westminster,” remarked Mr. Ruchlewicz. “Recently it is about the only thing that’s happening in these parts.”

Asked if he knew just what office Ms. Lisa was running for, Mr. Ruchlewicz responded, “Don’t know. Don’t really care as long as the mysterious sign brings money into Westminster. It’s kinda neat, if I may say so myself.”

Jeff Glass, Westminster’s assistant director for parks, buildings, streets, water, wastewater, kitchen sinks, development review, planning, fly swatters, public works, utilities maintenance and the soundtrack division of old silent movies said, “It’s like a Norman Rockwell moment. America at its best.”

Asked how long the sign for Ms. Lisa has been at the intersection, “Don’t know. Been kinda busy recently,” remarked the assistant director for parks, buildings, streets, water, wastewater, kitchen sinks, development review, planning, fly swatters, public works, fleet management, kite flying, road sign, grass clippings removal, utilities maintenance and the soundtrack division of old silent movies.

Marianne Sheehan, the administrative assistant for the assistant director for parks, buildings, streets, water, wastewater, kitchen sinks, development review, planning, fly swatters, public works, fleet management, kite flying, road sign, grass clippings removal, utilities maintenance, letters and art, heavy metal music and the soundtrack division of old silent movies, remarked that the sign “looked good in that location and that it went well with the overall ambiance of downtown Westminster.”

Wayne Reifsnider, the assistant superintendent for streets, buildings, and parks said, “Well, ya know… Well, it’s a free country and people have a right to put up signs on private property, ya know. But I don’t know, ya know. Then on the other hand, well, ya know, it’s a neat sign and I just do my job. Mind my own business, ya know. Well, I best be moving along. See ya.”

More on this developing story as it unravels.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA. E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org www.thetentacle.com Westminster Eagle Opinion and Winchester Report www.thewestminstereagle.com www.kevindayhoff.com has moved to http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/

Posted by Kevin Dayhoff at 8/17/2006 01:12:00 AM

20050316 Bring Back the Westminster Christmas Parade

Westminster Advocate

Bring Back the Westminster Christmas Parade

The Westminster Christmas Parade

March 16th, 2005 by Westminster Mayor Kevin Dayhoff (528 words)

As I am certain you are aware, it is only 284 days until Christmas. But even more importantly, there are only 262 days until the Westminster Christmas Parade on December 3rd, 2005. Please mark this date on your calendar now, so you do not miss all the fun with your friends and neighbors.

In keeping with the theme; “Westminster An Excellent Experience”, The Greater Westminster Development Corporation (GWDC), along with the City of Westminster and the Main Street Program are reviving an old Westminster Christmas tradition; the Christmas Parade.

Community leaders such as former Councilmember Sam Greenholtz, now Chair of the GWDC Board of Directors; Kathy O’Dell, Chair of the GWDC Downtown Main Street Promotions Committee; Lori Graham, President of the GWDC; Missie Wilcox; Sandy Scott; Lynn Aaron and Ron Schroers have rolled up their sleeves to plan this excellent experience.

Over fifty years ago, Christmas tradition in Westminster included a parade and shopping downtown with the family. In those days, the downtown-shopping district included East Green Street, West and East Main Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. Some of the many shops and businesses on Pennsylvania Avenue included, Earhart Motors, O’Farrell Brothers Pontiac, The Avenue Barber Shop, Westminster TV and Radio Shop, Carroll Electric Service, Dutty’s Beauty Salon, Everhart’s Barber Shop, Wine’s Sports Shop, and Wilson’s Garage to name just a few. Moreover, who can forget the huge toy department in Hollander’s Auto Store, Bobby’s Hobby Lobby, Rosenstock’s Ladies’ Shop, Gehr’s Hardware Store, The Treat Shop, and the Bixler and Guild Drug Store on Main Street.

The early parades marched west along Main Street to the “Forks” at Main Street and Pennsylvania Avenue where Santa Claus had his “temporary residence”. The jolly old fellow recently moved to Locust Lane, along with the Westminster Community Christmas Tree. The Democratic Advocate on December 26, 1947 describes the parade with the “city’s two bands”, the American Legion, and the 29th Division Association. Christmas carols, led by Kale Mathias, were sung by the community.

This year’s parade will be reminiscent of those former parades. Participants will include bands, antique cars, fire trucks and floats. Businesses are encouraged to provide a float depicting their business and the holiday spirit. The merchants from the TownMall, Westminster Crossing and other areas are invited to participate and call attention to the many fine products that they too offer. Store windows will be decorated and musical groups will be strolling the streets to entertain both young and old.

While much of the program revolves around the downtown merchants, you should know that the GWDC represents all of the greater Westminster environs and this event is one of many excellent experiences promoting shopping in all of the Westminster area.

The GWDC was created in 1994 as a private public partnership of business and city leaders to work together cooperatively to maintain and further a positive business environment in Westminster. Planning for the parade has already begun in earnest and sponsors, at various levels are welcome to help finance the project. More information can be obtained from Sam Greenholtz or calling the Westminster Main Street Program Manger, Stan Ruchlewicz at (410) 848-5294. And keep your hot chocolate at the ready.

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GWDC Greater Westminster Dev. Corp., Christmas Westminster, Pennsylvania Avenue in Westminster, History Westminster