Traffic Question..no answers

Here's part of an inquiry I sent to my county councilwoman in February. I just resent in hopes of a reply. In case anyone from the county is reading this, could you please answer?

Dear Mrs. Chenowith,

I’m writing now because of some traffic concerns at the Constant Friendship business area – Target, BJ’s, etc. The traffic is getting increasingly worse and I see that two more lots are up for sale. My question is in two parts.

First, the new, what I believe to be a pet store and possibly a Best Buy are being built right now. I’m saying I think, because I’ve been trying to find out what businesses are going there. I missed any sort of hearings for these businesses – or were these approved a long time ago? Is there a place on the county Web site, without knowing the zoning permit numbers or whose purchasing the land, that I could find out what’s going where?

The second part of the question is I would like to know if any traffic studies are being done on this area? The traffic on the weekends is heavy and it is very difficult to exit from the businesses. For example, if you’re taking the lower exit out of Target, you have cars coming up and down Constant Friendship Blvd., cars coming out of Lowe’s and cars coming out of Chik-Fil-A. It’s very difficult to gauge who’s coming out from where. It’s a miracle there are not more accidents just at this one spot. With the two new businesses being added to the Lowe’s site, this situation will only worsen.

I know this is a big tax base for the county, but we here in Abingdon are suffering the most from the increased number of businesses. I guess my question is threefold – is there any end in sight to the building over there?

That's it -- I just resent, because obviously I now know that the big blue sign is for a pet store (its light pollution now coming through my trees). So if anyone has any answers, please write!

Addition & Clarification. We here at TAA love some of the businesses in Constant Friendship and frequent them more than we probably should (yes, we're talking about you, Target) but my question in the letter is about the traffic pattern, and the continuous adding of businesses without consideration to how people exit from these new facilities. The letter was questioning whether this was being looked at by the county. Not that I've gotten an answer.
And please keep our arguments/comments friendly ones!

Edgewood High Gets the Short Shrift Again

Edgewood High School parents were surprised to learn last week that they were to be given only two tickets to their child's graduation ceremony. It seemed it was surprising to officials that the football field which has been a construction site for the last several months would be unavailable for commencement exercises and that the ceremony would have to be moved indoors to the school's small auditorium.

When a parent questioned the school board about why this was happening, public information director Don Morrison responded that the auditorium had always been the contingent plan for inclement weather, but that other schools had used other venues.(Question: Is construction considered inclement weather?)

A response from the EHS principal stated that school officials had tried -- and so far failed -- to find another venue to hold commencement as these other sites had been booked at least a year in advance. The principal said the school is trying to work out an arrangement with Patterson Mill High School to possibly hold the graduation there. A meeting with parents is supposed to happen sometime, although no date was given.

My question is, how did the school board not know that the field was going to be unusuable for a May graduation? Anyone who has only half paid attention to the construction would have known it would be impossible. In fact, I remember during one board meeting that I happened to catch on the public access station earlier this school year, they spoke in depth about graduation ceremonies not for this year -- but for 2009 -- and making sure they could secure locations for C. Milton Wright & Bel Air High School.

I guess I really have two questions: if the Greater Edgewood Education Foundation really wanted to make a difference, wouldn't they have been concerned about trying to secure a location for graduation instead of holding a pep rally where students got to see the Ravens' mascot?

By the way, Bel Air, Fallston and C. Milton all have space secured in Towson for their commencements.

Cub Scout Shout-Out

If you check out today's Aegis you'll see one of Abingdon's own from Cub Scout Pack 810 planting some trees at the county's annual Arbor Day event last Friday. Pack 810, which meets at St. Francis de Sales, has taken part in the event for the last several years.
If you don't get The Aegis but still want to see the photo, it's on the front page of its Web site.theaegis.com

Otter Point Events

Anita Leight has 2 events coming up. Not sure if these are still open, but why not visit over spring break? It's fun.

NO SCHOOL NATURE WALK
Friday, March 21, 9:30-11:30am
Anita C. Leight Estuary Center
Wondering what to do with your kids when you can’t drop them off at school? Why not take the day and spend some quality time with them in the woods? Bring some water, binoculars or even a lunch and have a picnic with the kids when the hike is over.
Ages: 5 - Adult, 5-10 w/adult
Fee: Free
To register or for additional information, please call 410.612.1688.

Fri.Mar. 21
FULL MOON FRIDAY NIGHT
Friday, March 21, 7:30-9pm
Anita C. Leight Estuary Center
Wander the trails of Leight Park by the light of the Worm Moon on day two of Spring 2008. Frogs should be calling, but will the worms be wiggling?
Ages: 5 - Adult, 5-12 w/adult
Fee: Free
To register or for additional information, please call 410.612.1688.
Check out more events online at the Otter Point Web site.

St. Patty's Day -- Don't Drink and Drive

The Harford County Sheriff's Department is stepping up its patrols today so don't forget to designate a driver if you're hitting any of the bars in Bel Air which are open most of the day today. This is a dangerous night to be out -- as one of my bartender friends called it, "amateur night."
The sheriff's department is going to have checkpoints throughout the county. Maybe they can catch some speeders while they're at it!

Survey Question (not mine)

Our e-mailing delegate Rick Impallaria just sent me this survey. He asked to forward it to anyone who might be interested in responding, so I'm posting it. Feel free to cut and paste. I'm printing it in its entirety:

Opinion Survey - March 14, 2008

Each year I like to do a survey of Maryland residents to determine how they feel on certain issues. After I receive your responses (which are kept confidential), I tally the results, which I share with the Caucus, the Governor's Office, and, of course, with you, the respondents. This way you can see how others in the community react on these issues. I hope you will enjoy participating in this survey and seeing the end results.

1. Do you believe that the Special Session of November 2007, which raised taxes, is now helping or hurting the Maryland economy?
Helping Hurting

2. Do you intend to support slots in the upcoming election? Yes No Undecided

3. Do you support re-regulation of the utility industries? Yes No Undecided

4. Do you support the building of nuclear power plants to supplement our energy sources?
Yes No Undecided

5. Do you support the death penalty? Yes No Undecided

6. On a scale of 1 to 10, how do you rate the performance of Gov. O'Malley?
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

I will not take personally the rating for the General Assembly, so please answer honestly. We will tally the results and send them back to you as soon as we can. Please feel free to forward this survey to others you think may like to participate.

Rick Impallaria
Delegate, District 7
rick.impallaria@house.state.md.us
Mailing Address: 310 Lowe House Office Bldg., Annapolis, MD 21401

How's the (cough cough) Ozone Level?

I just read an interesting article in The Daily Record about new ozone limits. The Record reports that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a mandate Wednesday to increase restrictions on ozone limits in the atmosphere, placing 11 of the 12 Maryland counties monitored for air quality in violation of the new health standards. Only Garrett County made the cut.

Here's what caught my attention: Harford has the state’s worst recorded ozone level at 93 parts per billion. Susan Kelly, Harford's director of the Bureau of Environmental Health said the area suffers from transport winds from the Ohio Valley.

Is that why I had to get an inhaler and was diagnosed with asthma when I moved here? (Even though I'm originally from the Ohio Valley?) Also, is part of the ozone problem caused by what's being blown up at APG while I'm writing?

BRAC -- official version

Here's the press release version of what happened at the BRAC meeting on Monday. The video isn't up yet to watch it unedited, but check back later.


BRAC TOWN HALL MEETING DRAWS LARGE AUDIENCE
(Bel Air, MD – March 11, 2008) - - A near capacity crowd of 400 attended the third BRAC Town Hall meeting Monday evening at the Aberdeen High School. The event was hosted by County Executive David R. Craig and James Richardson, Director of the Office of Economic Development for Harford County.
Among the officials participating in the community meeting were Colonel Jeffrey Weissman, Aberdeen Proving Ground Garrison Commander, Aberdeen Mayor Michael Bennett, Sheriff L. Jesse Bane, Marlene Lieb, Associate Vice President, Harford Community College, David Volrath, Executive Director of Secondary Education, Harford County Public Schools, Bob Cooper, Director, Harford County Department of Public Works, James Richardson, Director, Office of Economic Development and County Executive Craig.
“We are extremely pleased with the attendance at the BRAC Town Hall meeting,” said County Executive Craig. “Clearly the citizens of Harford County and the surrounding communities have a keen interest in BRAC and the positive impact it will have on our county,” Craig remarked.
The Harford County Office of Economic Development, the lead department for Harford County with BRAC issues, served as coordinator for the event. A fourth BRAC Town Hall meeting will be held later this year in Havre de Grace at a date and time to be determined.
The panel of officials responded to 40 questions posed by those in attendance. A concern of many of those who attended was transportation and the ability of the state, county and federal government to fund the necessary infrastructure improvements necessary to meet the needs of the BRAC.
“We will continue to work with our federal, state and local government partners to meet the challenges and opportunities that BRAC presents,” stated James Richardson, Director of the Office of Economic Development. “BRAC is a reality. Jobs are coming to Harford County and that means we must be ready to address the needs of the people who move to Harford County as well,” Richardson stated.
The BRAC Town Hall meetings are part of the county executive’s “Open Government” initiative, sharing information with citizens and those interested in BRAC and the impact to Harford County. The Town Meeting can be viewed on the Harford County Government website. For more information regarding BRAC visit www.harfordcountymd.gov or the Office of Economic Development website at www.harfordbusiness.org

St. Patty's Day Dinner

Cokesbury Memorial United Methodist Church is having its annual St. Patrick’s Day Dinner from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Saturday March 15th. The cost is $9 for Adults, $5 for children(5-12). Children younger than 5 eat for free. The church is located on Abingdon Road, about 2/10 mile south of its intersection with Maryland Route 7 (just south of the 7-11 on Abingdon Road).
I can personally vouch for the corned beef, cabbage and ham. Delicious and for a great price.
The Falmanac did a nice photo essay on the church recently if you'd like to check it out.

Abingdon...No Country for Old Men

Just got back from playing hooky this afternoon at Regal Cinemas where I caught the matinee of "No Country for Old Men."
Some observations:
Regal management, please don't put loud films like Will Farrell's "Semi-Pro" next to a relatively quiet movie from the Coen Brothers. At one point I thought that the loud bass music was actually the soundtrack for my movie. Wrong. I couldn't figure out why the disco beat was accompanying Josh Brolin as he was viewing a deadly scene. It reminded me of when I used to live in an apartment and I could hear the guy next door playing bass.
Also to Regal: I understand now why some art house movies never make it here. I apologize. To my dozen or so other moviegoers who shouted at the screen when the credits rolled, "IS THAT IT?" All movies don't have happy endings. For future reference, if you see a movie with the Coen Brothers on the credits, just skip it.
And they wonder why people aren't going to the movies anymore!

Bluebirds

Am happy to report that the bluebirds which visited my back yard almost every day last winter have finally returned. I had rarely seen any before last winter.
It's such a beautiful day. Enjoy the outdoors of Harford County while you can -- you know, before they pave over it to put up another PetSmart or Walgreen's.

Edgewood Alternate Governance Plan

The Edgewood Middle School Alternative Governance Board presented its recommendations to the school board last week. To read the entire proposal click here.
It's pages and pages of ideas. You can decide for yourself. I'd love to hear some comments.
One question I have is in the budgeted items. Under "contracted services" there is $50,000 requested for "related leadership services." The proposal doesn't say specifically what that is. Just curious if anyone can figure that out -- seems vague for that kind of money.
Also, when you look at how many hours a month the school administrators are supposed to allocate to the success of the school -- am I reading that correctly? Is the school improvement coordinator for the district really only required to spend 10 hours a month on EMS? With that much dedicated time, success is assured!