Showing posts with label World Europe Estonia EE. Show all posts
Showing posts with label World Europe Estonia EE. Show all posts

Sunday, July 3, 2016

After attending services at the Grace Lutheran Church contemporary service at 9 am, our Estonian guests visited the traditional sanctuary just before the 10:30 am service.


After attending services at the Grace Lutheran Church contemporary service at 9 am, our Estonian guests visited the traditional sanctuary just before the 10:30 am service. Sunday, July 3, 2016 DA CE #estonia

After singing the national anthem between services at Grace Lutheran Church, the next stop for our Estonian dancers is a walking tour of Westminster on their way to the Paide Westminster sign located at the railroad tracks and Main Street in the hearty of historic downtown Westminster. Sun. July 3, 2016 DA CE #estonia

For the past week, June 27 – July 5, 2016, Westminster has hosted two groups of Estonian folk dancers, "Südameke" and "Keerutajad" from Westminster's sister city Paide, thanks, in part, to the hard work of CSM Thomas B. Beyard of the Md National Guard, Audrey Cimino and Jaclyn Mathias-Jones of the Community Foundation of Carroll Co., Aime and Jeff Pringle, and Mari Thalman among many others. Not to be overlooked are members of the Maryland National Guard, Sgt. Matthews Akiba, and Spc. Ronald Maddox for great help with logistics

The visitors include 26 young performers and 10 adults for a total of 36. Among the group are friends of mine, Indrek Kivimäe, a former mayor of Paide, and his wife Tiina, who directs the Paide Girls Choir. Both have visited Westminster before. Most notably Indrek visited us in June 2004 and made a presentation at the Md. Municipal League Convention.

In fact Indrek and Tiina helped host my trip to Estonia in Sept. 2004 when I served as the mayor of Westminster and visited Estonia as part of a diplomatic mission for the Md. National Guard and the U.S. State Department.

Last Wednesday, June 29, 2016, the Estonian dancers and singers performed at the amphitheater at Carroll Community College


Last Wednesday, June 29, 2016, the Estonian dancers and singers performed at the amphitheater at Carroll Community College, 1601 Washington Road, Westminster.

For the past week, June 27 – July 5, 2016, Westminster has hosted two groups of Estonian folk dancers, "Südameke" and "Keerutajad" from Westminster's sister city Paide, thanks, in part, to the hard work of CSM Thomas B. Beyard of the Md National Guard, Audrey Cimino and Jaclyn Mathias-Jones of the Community Foundation of Carroll Co., Aime and Jeff Pringle, and Mari Thalman among many others. Not to be overlooked are members of the Maryland National Guard, Sgt. Matthews Akiba, and Spc. Ronald Maddox for great help with logistics

#Dayhoffphotoblog, #estonia, Dayhoff Daily Photoblog, Music Estonia, Westminster Estonia Paide Sister City, Westminster Estonia Sister City, World Europe Estonia EE, Religion Grace Lutheran Church, Dayhoff photos Grace Ch,  Religion Grace Lutheran Church, Dayhoff photos Grace Ch, 

On Tuesday, June 28, 2016, the visiting Estonian singing and dance group enjoyed a picnic at King’s Park in Westminster.



On Tuesday, June 28, 2016, the visiting Estonian singing and dance group enjoyed a picnic at King's Park in Westminster. DA CE #estonia

Estonian visitors attend orientation meeting at McDaniel College Tuesday, June 28, 2016


Estonian visitors attend orientation meeting at McDaniel College Tuesday, June 28, 2016 with Tom Beyard, Audrey Cimino, Val Westbrook, and me. DA CE #estonia

From June 27 – July 5, 2016, Westminster will host two groups of Estonian folk dancers, "Südameke" and "Keerutajad" from Westminster's sister city Paide, thanks, in part, to the hard work of CSM Thomas B. Beyard of the Md National Guard, Audrey Cimino and Jaclyn Mathias-Jones of the Community Foundation of Carroll Co., Aime and Jeff Pringle, and Mari Thalman among many others. Not to be overlooked are members of the Maryland National Guard, Sgt. Matthews Akiba, and Spc. Ronald Maddox for great help with logistics

Today Grace Church welcomes a visiting troupe of Estonian singers and dancers at the 9 o'clock service


Today Grace Church welcomes a visiting troupe of Estonian singers and dancers at the 9 o'clock service. Sun. July 3, 2016


#Dayhoffphotoblog, #estonia, Dayhoff Daily Photoblog, Music Estonia, Westminster Estonia Paide Sister City, Westminster Estonia Sister City, World Europe Estonia EE, Religion Grace Lutheran Church, Dayhoff photos Grace Ch, 

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Annapolis diverts sister city funding

Annapolis Mayor Cohen Diverts Sister City Funding to Reduce Budget Deficit

Annapolis, MD (01-12-10) – As part of his continuing effort to attack the city's financial deficit, Mayor Joshua J. Cohen announced today that he is redirecting the $27,500 remaining in the Sister Cities program to the general fund for the current fiscal year.

"Now is not the time to be spending $27,500 on the Sister Cities program when we are struggling even to fund essential services," said Mayor Cohen, whose administration is focused on eliminating an estimated $6.5 million budget deficit for FY 2011.

The Mayor also is convening a group of community stakeholders to review the Sister Cities program and recommend ways to explore public/private partnerships that would provide long-term benefit to the city.

"A strategically thought-out international exchange program has the potential to add value to our economic development efforts, as well as our educational and cultural institutions within the city," Mayor Cohen said. "It is time to take the Sister Cities program out from under the umbrella of city government and make it a more community-based initiative."

Individuals who have accepted the Mayor's invitation to review the Sister Cities program and make recommendations include:

Linnell Bowen, Executive Director, Maryland Hall for the Performing Arts
Reginald Broddie, Chief Professional Officer, Boys & Girls Clubs of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County
Bob Burdon, President and CEO, Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce
Connie Del Signore, President and CEO, Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Conference & Visitors Bureau
Kevin Maxwell, Superintendent, Anne Arundel County Public Schools
Joe Rubino, Director of Governmental Affairs, U.S. Naval Academy

Annapolis first began as a Sister City in 1980, partnering with Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, Canada. Since then, Annapolis has partnered with many other cities, including Wexford, Ireland; Dumfries, Scotland; Tallin, Estonia; Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Rochefort, France; Richmond, North Yorkshire; and Newport, Wales.

###


20100112 Annapolis diverts sister city funding MD muni Annapolis, Westminster Estonia Paide Sister City, World Europe Estonia EE

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2010/01/annapolis-diverts-sister-city-funding.html http://tinyurl.com/ydmhtrp

Annapolis Mayor Cohen Diverts Sister City Funding to Reduce Budget Deficit http://tinyurl.com/ydmhtrp
~~~~~
*****
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/
*****
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, March 12, 2009

This week in The Tentacle


This week in The Tentacle

Thursday, March 12, 2009
Waking Up The Populace
Joan McIntyre
Are we about to see cracks in the glass ceiling in the world of our Frederick County Board of Education and Frederick County Public Schools? Will the Sacred Cow called the public schools system be held accountable?


REVIEW – Riverdance" Has It All!
Roy Meachum
While being amazed in Baltimore's Hippodrome Theatre Tuesday night, the thought occurred: In my 40-plus years reviewing I've never seen a smoother musical show. Put simply: "Riverdance" has it all!


True Measure of Success
Chris Cavey
Our society has many ways to gauge the success or failure of those involved in the political world. One unique measurement of judging those who have mounted the national platform of “being someone of note” is to be a host or to be lampooned on Saturday Night Live. Last Saturday Michael Steele made it.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009
The Dangerous Diplomacy of Pandering
Kevin E. Dayhoff
I recently had the delightful opportunity to go to Washington and have lunch with a member of the Estonian Parliament, Tõnis Kõiv.


The Weavers and the Money
Tom McLaughlin
Lombok, Indonesia – We had finished our visit with the stump tailed Macaques and the use of my teaching techniques on the troop. Our next stop, a small enterprise, located only through a side road, winding through a housing estate filled with homes (we would call them shacks) constructed of wood.


Bobby Fischer: Genius or Madman?
Michael Kurtianyk
It has often been said that there’s a fine line between genius and madness. Think of some people whom you consider to be geniuses? Does Albert Einstein come to mind? Thomas Jefferson? Benjamin Franklin?

Tuesday, March 10, 2009
GOP Spitting Contest
Roy Meachum
As a non-Republican, I find amusing the recent rhubarb within the GOP party over Michael Steele.


Misinformation and Playing Politics
Farrell Keough
Some interesting events have occurred over the last few weeks that are seemingly disparate, but in fact, have many commonalities. The main connection is the discussion of the Waste To Energy (WTE) plant.

Monday, March 9, 2009
Twitter Me This!
Steven R. Berryman
In an age when the president is only now just picking up on the notion that his public statements and the stock exchange fluctuations are related and important, why is he inviting a business-celebrity from the social networking website, http://www.twitter.com/ to the White House for cocktails?

Friday, March 6, 2009
Bob McCardell – R.I.P.
John W. Ashbury
The old saying about looking in the dictionary for a definition of a word and finding a picture of someone instead certainly applies in the case of Robert Clingan McCardell, who died January 26 at 95.


"My Littlest Fascist"
Roy Meachum
Early on I addressed him as "my littlest fascist." Alex Mooney asked me once why I said that. My reply: "Because that's what you are."


Class Traders
Joe Charlebois
Those whose trade is to pit one income bracket against another to empower themselves in no way serve our nation. These class warfare instigators are akin to a head coach intentionally creating animosity between two of his own players. It doesn't make the team effective; they'll root for each other to fail; they'll never be championship contenders.

Thursday, March 5, 2009
Time to Kill the Death Penalty
Tony Soltero
In our world there are civilized societies and uncivilized societies. Civilized societies tend to be free and democratic, philosophically based on reason and not superstition, and have a healthy respect for individuals' rights to follow their own consciences.


Winter’s Release
Patricia A. Kelly
Our first snow finally arrived and departed, just in time for spring. I’d been waiting for a real snow, accompanied by cold weather that lasted a few days.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009
The Great Man Theory of History
Kevin E. Dayhoff
Even before his election to the office of the president last November, many in the liberal chattering class were already using hype and hyperbole that then-Senator Barack Obama was destined to be one of our country’s greatest presidents.


Reflecting a Struggling Economy
Michael Kurtianyk
When I first heard the news that The Frederick News-Post was suspending its Monday edition, my first thought was: “Uh oh, it’s the beginning of the end. The FNP will go the way of other newspapers around the country.”


The Adventure Continues
Tom McLaughlin
Sengigi, Lomock Island, Indonesia – Our trip to Lombok was an example where the Internet, advance planning and advice from fellow trekkers exploded into a rusty hulk. Air Asia from Kuching to Singapore and Bali and then by ferry to Lombok, sounds simple.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Weekend Political Wash
Roy Meachum
Only The Frederick News-Post's announcement that it was "suspending" its Monday edition competed; over the weekend there was intense talk about the probability that ex-mayor Jennifer Dougherty will run for her former office again. Everyone acknowledges she could be a tough foe.


Common Sense Solution; Rejection Likely
Nick Diaz
Just as I enjoy riding my Yamaha Venture touring motorcycle on invisible roads in our four-state area, I also like driving a car for pleasure on these same pathways. Three years ago, for example, I persuaded my wife, (who insists on more comfort than even my two-wheel Venture barcalounger can provide), to take the scenic route home from Asheville, NC.

Kevin Dayhoff www.kevindayhoff.net http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/
Kevin Dayhoff: www.westgov.net Westminster Maryland Online www.westminstermarylandonline.net http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Estonian movie “Headwind Hall” – “ Vastutuulesaal” comes to Maryland


Estonian movie “Headwind Hall” – “ Vastutuulesaal” comes to Maryland

February 14, 2009

The English narrative is cobbled together from an e-mail… The Estonian material is from: http://eestiasi.co.cc/2008/11/27/vastutuulesaal/

Vastutuulesaal (2007) [Headwind Hall]
Estonia
Directed by Priit Valkna.
Cinematography by Rein Kotov (Somnambuul), Margus Malm, and Tauno Sirel.

Friends of Estonia,

Because Estonia is now in its final stages of being an official Sister State of Maryland, Estonia has been added to the list of being part of the State's International Art and Film events. In 2009, the first part of this is the showing of some international films around the state. An Estonian film, a documentary, will be shown at the following locations on the following dates at no charge: .

Monday, February 16 – Headwind Hall (Vastutuulesaal (Salisbury University, Caruthers Hall Auditorium);

Friday, February 27 – Headwind Hall (Vastutuulesaal ) (Towson University, Van Bokkelen Hall Auditorium);

Wednesday, March 4 – Headwind Hall (Vastutuulesaal ) (Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, Annapolis); and

Tuesday, March 10 – Headwind Hall (Vastutuulesaal ) (Room 201) (Frostburg University, Lane University Center).

All shows are at 7:00 PM.

Producer and co-writer of Headwind Hall, Artur Talvik, offers a light-hearted summary of the film.

Headwind Hall is a documentary film about the conductor Tõnu Kaljuste and his crazy idea of building an opera house on the estate of the past inventor Schmidt in Naissaar; an island which even today has no regular ferry line, no electricity and only one permanent resident.

In order to carry his idea through, Kaljuste must face situations bordering on the absurd, involving potential investors, snobby bureaucrats, construction workers, and the general public.

He transports construction materials and other necessities to the island with his own small boat.

The press and the representatives of different institutions cannot refrain from gloating - what is he trying to prove? The idea is almost as crazy as inventor Schmidt's erstwhile headwind ship that used the energy of headwind in order to move ahead with double power. However, in the summer of 2006, the Nargen Opera is completed and the first performances are carried through.

This amusing and dynamic film follows the activities of Tõnu Kaljuste during a period of five years.

The building of an opera house may not strike most people as a subject for a very dramatic film. Notwithstanding, sometimes the most extreme circumstances can be the setting for the most compelling stories.

The charismatic conductor Tõnu Kaljuste resigned his position as music director and chief conductor of the world renowned Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir in late 1999 and set out on a quixotic quest to build an opera/concert hall on the island of Naissaar, located about 12 miles north of Tallinn (the Estonian capital).

Naissaar, also known as the Island of Nargen, was once the family home of world renowned telescope and optical lens inventor Bernhard Schmidt (1879-1935) among whose other theoretical inventions was a wind-powered sail/propeller boat which used the force of the wind to sail directly into the wind itself.

The idea of this "against the headwind ship" becomes the metaphor for Kaljuste's dream to realize the construction of his opera/concert hall despite all the forces of bureaucracy, financing, and common sense working against him. Naissaar Island had no electrical supply, a barely functioning harbor, and only one or two permanent residents at the time this story begins.

How Kaljuste overcame nearly endless adversity and ultimately achieved his goal is shown in this exhilarating film.

Headwind Hall ends with the pop hit Minu inimesed [My People] by the Estonian rap/dance-club performer Chalice (the stagename of singer Jarek Kasar) and provides a musical benediction to Kaljuste's efforts.

At the same time, composer Arvo Pärt declares on-screen that "the Estonian people can't begin to appreciate the trouble that Tõnu has gone through"

Thanks to director Priit Valkna's triumphant film, audiences get the chance to see it and appreciate it for themselves.

Headwind Hall was given standing ovations at the 2007 Nordic Film Days in Lübeck. The film runs 60 minutes.


Vastutuulesaal

http://eestiasi.co.cc/2008/11/27/vastutuulesaal/

“Vastutuulesaal” on dokumentaalfilm dirigent
Tõnu Kaljustest ja tema hullust ideest rajada kunagise leiutaja Schmidti talumaadele ooperisaal. Idee pöörasus seisneb aga selles, et leiutaja Schmidti maad asuvad Naissaarel. Saarel, mis hiljuti oli Nõukogude Armee kinniseks sõjaväebaasiks ja millel tänaseni puudub regulaarne laevaühendus, kus pole elektrit ja kus elab aastaringselt ainult üks elanik. Kes seal ooperis käima hakkab? Mis mõte see selline on? Karismaatiline Tõnu Kaljuste aga tahab kõigi kiuste ja hoolimata üldsuse ning rahamaailma vastuseisust rajada sinna omanäolist kultuurikeskust, kus traditsioonid ja kaasaeg kohtuvad. Kus ooperi kõrgstiil kohtub looduslähedusega. Idee elluviimiseks peab Kaljuste läbima absurdseid situatsioone potentsiaalsete rahastajatega, üleolevate ametnikega, ehitajate ja laiema üldsusega. Ta veab oma isikliku väikepaadiga saarele ehitusmaterjale ja muud hädavajalikku. Laiem üldsus ja eri instantside ametnikud aga ei suuda oma muiet varjata – mida ta tahab sellega tõestada? Võiks öelda, et idee on sama hull, nagu omal ajal leiutaja Schmidti loodud vastutuulelaev, mis kasutas vastu puhuva tuule energiat topeltjõuga edasi liikumiseks.

Aga 2006. aasta suvel saab Nargen Opera valmis.

Lõbus ja hoogne film jälgib Kaljuste tegemisi viie aasta jooksul.

Režissöör: Priit Valkna
Idee autor: Artur Talvik,
Monteerija: Tambet Tasuja
Muusikaline kujundus: Priit Valkna
Operaatorid: Margus Malm, Rein Kotov, Tauno Sirel
Stsenaristid: Artur Talvik, Andri Luup, Priit Valkna
Produtsent: Artur Talvik
Tootja:
RUUT
allikas: EFSA
Tags: dokumentaal, RUUT

20090216 SDOSM Headwind Hall Vastutuulesaal
Kevin Dayhoff Art http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/
Kevin Dayhoff: www.westgov.net Westminster Maryland Online www.westminstermarylandonline.net http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

20080702 Paide Estonia Wednesday morning July 2, 2008

Paide Estonia Wednesday morning 8:06 AM July 2, 2008
Paide Keskväljak
Wednesday morning, July 2, 2008
2 Juuli 2008
http://www.paide.ee:8888/view/view.shtml

Linnavolikogu

Chairman of the Town Council of Paide Mr.
Ants Hiiemaa (Faction of Civic Union of Fatherland and Social Democrats)

Valimised on läbi ja nüüd me peame õigustama oma valijate usaldust. Seetõttu pean ma enda ja volinike tähtsaimaks ülesandeks valimislubaduste alusel sündinud koalitsioonileppe täitmist.

Volikogu eduka tegutsemise eeldus on hästi tunda linnakodanike vajadusi. Seetõttu pean vajalikuks pidevat koostööd erinevate huvigruppidega. Tuleb muuta regulaarseks volikogu kohtumised noorte, eakate ja teiste linnakodanikega, tuleb moodustada ettevõtjate ümarlaud jne. Pean tähtsaks väärtustada kodanike omaalgatust ja korraldada arutelusid.

Minu arvates on volikogu ülesanne eelkõige linna arengusuundade väljatöötamine. Volinike üheks tähtsamaks tööks saab linna uue arengukava väljatöötamine, mille tegemisse tuleb kaasata võimalikult palju linnakodanikke. Paide tähtsus peab Kesk-Eesti linnana suurenema.

Ants Hiiemaa,
Paide linnavolikogu esimees
tel 383 8604
e-mail:
ants.hiiemaa@paide.ee

Kersti Sarapuu – linnapea
Curriculum Vitae
Mayor Mrs. Kersti Sarapuu (Faction of Central Party)

Nimi: KERSTI SARAPUU
Sünniaeg: 05.05.1954
Perekonnaseis: abielus, 5 last

Haridus: kõrgem
1986 Tallinna Polütehniline Instituut, tööstuse juhtimine ja planeerimine
1972 Tartu 7.Keskkool

Täiendharidus:
1996 finantsjuhtimisalane koolitus Rootsis Göteborgis, praktika Rootsi pankades
1994-1999 Erinevad juhtimisalased koolitused ja seminarid (Mercuri, Invicta)
1973-1994 Erinevad koolitused koolieelse hariduse valdkonnas
1969-1972 Tartu 7.Keskkool, kaubanduse eriala

Töökogemus:
2005-...Paide linnapea
2005 Paide Linnavalitsus, abilinnapea
1998-2005 AS Kingstor, AS Neli Kuningat, juhatuse liige
1996-1998 Eesti Maapank, regiooni direktor
1994-1996 Virumaa Kommertspank, Paide kontori juhataja
1988-1994 Paide Sookure Lasteaed, juhataja
1973-1977 Karinu 8.-kl. Kool, õpetaja
1977-1988 Alliku Sovhoosi Lastepäevakodu, juhataja
1972-1973 Tartu Kaubandusvalitsus, müüja

Täiendavad andmed:
B kategooria autojuhiluba
Keeled: eesti, inglise, vene
Hobid: reisimine, lugemine

_____

Vice Mayor Mr.
Kaido Ivask (Faction of Civic Union of Fatherland and Social Democrats)

Vice Mayor Mr.
Toomas Ponkin ( Faction of Pro Patria and Res Publica)

Area: 10,036 km²

Inhabitants: 9 272 (1.06.2007)

Budget: approx. 10 900 000 EUR


Sunday, January 29, 2006

Westminster should rethink partnership Letters to the Editor for Sat., Jan. 28, 2006

Letters to the Editor for Saturday, January 28, 2006

Westminster should rethink partnership

Editor:

Thank you for John Westerman's Jan. 21 article on Estonia and its recent refusal to prosecute Harry Mannil.

I have been troubled by Westminster's strong association with Estonia for several years for another reason. Disturbing to me is the fact that the financing of our municipality's partnership program with that country is kept from the public record.

Since the Westminster/Estonia Partnership's money is handled by a powerful local non-profit, financial records like donor lists and expenditures abroad are unavailable for public examination. Yet Westminster City Hall employees, on city time, travel there. Any taxpayers' questions about costs at city council meetings I have been present at have not been well received or explained. We have recently seen in the news the possibly problematic relationship between government and non-profits.

Now we are facing some troubling international news about the justice system in Estonia.

To understand the hunt for Mannil, one has to understand who his hunter is and who Evald Mikson was. Dr. Efraim Zuroff is director of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Jerusalem, a world respected human rights organization, and he is its coordinator on Nazi War Crimes Research.

Zuroff considers Mannil to be one of the top 10 Nazi war criminals left living. It was while investigating another Estonian, Evald Mikson, Mannil's unit leader, that Mannil's name first surfaced.

Briefly, Mikson had served as deputy chief of the Estonian Political Police in Tallinn and as leader of the fascist Omakaitse vigilante squads in the Vonnu district during World War II.

Zuroff wrote in his 1998 paper, "anti-Semitism in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia," that "These units assisted the Nazi invasion in July 1941 and helped round up and slaughter Jews. In January 1942 the Nazi leadership reported that Estonia was judenfrei."

Zuroff discovered Mikson living in Iceland. The evidence he presented convinced the Icelandic Justice Ministry to seek a criminal murder case against Mikson, but Mikson died before he could be tried in Reykjavik. But before his death, Mikson revealed the Venezuelan whereabouts of former squad member Mannil.

It must be also considered that Mannil has grown extremely wealthy in the auto parts business in South America, where he fled in 1943 and where he still lives. He is a heavy monetary contributor to his homeland, Estonia. His financial success is considered a source of pride by the Estonian government. He is listed in the current Famous People of Estonia as "policeman and philanthropist." However, our own Justice Department doesn't allow him to walk on U.S. soil.

Perhaps it is time for our mayor and city council to examine the cost to all taxpayers of the city's four-year entanglement with Estonia. After reading the Mannil saga, I believe even more strongly that it is time for our city elected officials to do some important soul searching.

Rebekah Orenstein

Westminster


http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/articles/2006/01/28/news/opinion/letters/letters28.txt

20060128 Westminster should rethink partnership rocctltte

Kevin Dayhoff www.kevindayhoff.net http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/

Kevin Dayhoff: www.westgov.net Westminster Maryland Online www.westminstermarylandonline.net http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, September 22, 2004

Kevin Dayhoff in group photo in the Riigikogu chambers

Kevin Dayhoff in group photo in the Riigikogu chambers

September 21, 2004

Kevin Dayhoff (back row - center left) with the Maryland Army National Guard - Maryland partner city mayors visit to Estonia. This group picture was taken in the Estonian Parliament chambers, the Riigikogu, on September 21, 2004.
(20040921 Parliament 3 KED)
KED EE Visit 2004 Sept 17-23
Kevin Dayhoff www.kevindayhoff.net http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/

Kevin Dayhoff: www.westgov.net Westminster Maryland Online www.westminstermarylandonline.net http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, August 11, 2004

"Voce Viaggio" The Power of Partnership By Diane Jones

The Power of Partnership

By Diane Jones, Other Voices
Carroll County Times

Monday, August 09, 2004

"Voce Viaggio" of the Children's Chorus of Carroll County is back from a highly successful first trip abroad.

Undoubtedly there will be those who say, "Oh no, not the Chorus again," and that would be understandable since we have recently gotten such great press coverage. Please bear with me briefly so I can report a few of the benefits of our trip and extend a partial thank-you for the ground-swell of support we received.

We traveled to Finland, Sweden and Estonia and enjoyed the sights, the sounds, the foods and all of the sensory experiences of European travel.

However, the heart of our endeavor was the day we spent in a rather small town in Estonia named Paide, Westminster's Partner City. We had been in Helsinki with its Rock Church and Scandinavian intrigues; we had been in Tallinn with its medieval charm; we were in Stockholm with its cultural and architectural sophistication, but Paide captured our hearts and imaginations.

This is where we sang and danced with children who had awaited our visit as much as we looked forward to seeing them. This is where both the Estonian hymn and the Star Spangled Banner were sung and citizens from opposite sides of the world were moved to tears. This is where children from both countries sang in Estonian and English and even incorporated sign language into their presentation.

This is where our children learned Estonian folk dances and the Estonians learned the macarina in an impromptu gathering on the street in front of the town church. This is where e-mail addresses and gifts were exchanged with promises of seeing one another again. This is where friendships and the beginnings of international relations began. And this is where international peace was reinforced through learning to delight in the differences and commonalties of others.

Voce Viaggio has been the beneficiary of a successful series of partnerships that enabled us to make our dream a reality. The Westminster - Paide Partner City Program captured our imagination and provided our goal. Thomas Beyard, Kevin Dayhoff, Audrey Cimino and other Westminster - Paide Committee members supported us by networking within the community to raise funds and give our trip visibility.

Many organizations and individuals partnered with us, sharing our vision and helping make our trip possible. And of course, there are our Estonian friends, our new partners, with whom we have begun friendships with the promise of more personal and cultural exchanges.

This was more than just a trip to Europe with performance opportunities. In Estonia, the struggle between tyranny and freedom is very immediate and tangible; not one of us will be the same after experiencing this post-Soviet culture.

For example, our sense of materialism is put into perspective after being in a place where the standard of living is much simpler, but happiness comes from more fundamental sources, such as friendship and nature. The blessings of the United States are highlighted as we hear first-hand accounts of women and children being deported to Siberia just because they weren't Russian. Our own national anthem takes on greater significance as we meet Estonians who were forbidden to enjoy their national hymn or cultural heritage for 50 years.

The 24 students and the adults who traveled will be forever changed, their knowledge base and sensitivities having been greatly expanded. Sincere thanks to those of you who helped make this possible. It will be exciting to see where our partnerships take us next.

Diane Jones, of Westminster, is director of the Children's Chorus of Carroll County.


20040809 The Power of Partnership Jones
Kevin Dayhoff www.kevindayhoff.net http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/
Kevin Dayhoff: www.westgov.net Westminster Maryland Online www.westminstermarylandonline.net http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/