Putt Putt Closing

The Putt Putt Fun Center/Stars and Stripes Grill is closing on Oct. 31. A result of the economy? We will keep our thoughts to ourselves on this one. We studied journalism law in college.

Lane Closures/New Traffic Pattern

The new traffic pattern went into effect last night, and we must say it sounded last night as if they were bombing the new traffic pattern into place. Very loud.
Here's the official release. We've corrected the dates. The project was delayed last week because of the torrential rain. This says the lane closures should be over, but sources tell us some are still in place.

WHAT: Weather permitting, a new traffic pattern will be put into place at the MD 24 and MD 924/Tollgate Road temporary intersection which will result in two traffic signals for MD 924/Tollgate Road motorists. The new pattern also will have traffic shifted onto the new ramps from MD 24 to MD 924/Tollgate Road.
To prepare for the new pattern, single-lane closures will be in effect on northbound and southbound MD 24 approaching MD 924. In addition, periodic traffic drags will take place in both directions of MD 24 and on the ramp from southbound Interstate 95 to northbound MD 24. During the traffic drags, police will bring vehicles to a reduced pace prior to the work zone.
WHEN: On MONDAY OCT 11, at approximately 7 p.m., the right lane of southbound MD 24 will be closed. At approximately 8 p.m., the right lane of northbound MD 24 will be closed. Traffic drags will take place throughout the night. Work is anticipated to be complete and the new pattern put into effect by 5 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12. In the event of inclement weather, the work will take place Wednesday night beginning at 7 p.m.
WHY: The new traffic pattern is being implemented to allow construction of the MD 24 bridge over MD 924 and Tollgate Road as part of the I-95/MD 24 Improvement Project.

Election Results and Thoughts on Voting

Here are the unofficial election results from yesterday's primary:

Harford election results

We voted in the primary election yesterday to cast a vote for our elected school board. While we were very excited about this, our excitement was dashed when we realized that as a Democrat, we had absolutely no say in how this county will be run in the coming years.

We did not have a choice on the county council, of which Abingdon of course again, will not be represented. Please don't tell me that Joe Woods is concerned with Abingdon. If he did he might have expressed concern that we are in the middle of a crime wave, which has not been mentioned by anyone (and of course not our local newspaper). We are especially saddened to not have a choice because the last race was very tight against incumbent Roni Chenowith.

We also did not have a choice in county executive. As we watch more and more trees come down in Abingdon to make way for more retail and minimum wage jobs, we would have liked to have a chance to at least express our displeasure. But this option was not available.

As we drove past the palatial rec center that bears her name last week, we recalled a conversation we had with the late county councilwoman who said how for years she thought about trying to get us some "greenspace" in Abingdon. And (we're paraphrasing but not too much), how it would be great if we could have a "park" in Abingdon.
Well now we do. It's going to be called the Box Hill South office park with theaters and just tons of things to do.

We could not be more upset with the Democratic party who did not even field candidates. While you're giving up, we're getting paved over. Rant over.

Aegis Editorial Cartoon

Maybe we've had too much coffee or read too much forwarded invective from a certain political party, but we really were offended by The Aegis editorial cartoon in today's paper.
In it, two people are talking. One white, one African-American. The white man is enthusing, wide-eyed, about how it's only a few people in Edgewood who are giving it a bad reputation. "Together we can take back the community." While the other person replies, "That shouldn't be too hard...'cept the guns and no respect for the law."
Our problem with this is twofold. The first is that it has nothing to do with anything else in the paper. The Bel Air police blotter is just as long as Edgewood in today's paper.
The second, is why does the African-American woman have to say, "'cept the guns.." Because she's African-American and assumably living in Edgewood does she have to speak in slang?
Edgewood is not perfect and that's not what we're saying. It has nothing to do with that. It has to do with the fact that there are so many stereotypes in this one small political cartoon it is mind-numbing. People who talk about the liberal media bias need just to look at this cartoon. There is no such thing in Harford County.

Crime on Crisfield Drive

Crisfield Drive seems to be in the midst of a crime wave. There was a breaking and entering and several car break-ins in the last few weeks, all on Crisfield Drive. Also several accounts of shots fired near the apartments.
Keep your car doors locked and your house doors locked, especially the sliders. That's how the burglars got in the house in the breaking and entering.
Be alert, and if you see anything suspicious, call 911.

Cokesbury Memorial UMC to Celebrate College's 225th Anniversary

Cokesbury Memorial United Methodist Church is gearing up to celebrate the 225th anniversary of Cokesbury College, the first Methodist college in the world on June 20.
The celebration will begin with worship on the lawn at 10:30 a.m. with featured speaker the Rev. Dr. Laurence Hull Stookey. Following the service, a box lunch will be served and Bonnie McCubbin will give her presentation, “Mystery Unearthed: Cokesbury College An Investigation into the History and Demise of the First Methodist College.” The discussion will focus on the mysterious circumstances of the fire that led to the total destruction of the college in 1795.
At 1 p.m., the afternoon festivities kick off with a circuit rider and Ken Steward as Francis Asbury, who will recreate the “foundation sermon” Bishop Asbury gave on June 5, 1785 at the site.
The Rev. Dennis Schulze will rededicate the college monument that was erected during his tenure as pastor of Cokesbury Memorial UMC at 2 p.m.. He will also discuss the excavation of the college site that he led in the late 1960s.
There also will be live music by the Lickety Split Banjo Boys and the church’s praise band, Joyful Noise.
Visitors also can tour the church and its grounds and view the famous Abingdon Bell, which will be making its way back to Abingdon from the Methodist archives at Lovely Lane especially for the celebration.
The free celebration will take place rain or shine. Please bring lawn chairs or picnic blankets. The church is located at 1304 Abingdon Road, Abingdon, MD. For more information phone (410) 676-6295 or visit cokesburymemorial.org.

Free Movies at Regal Summer 2010

Regal is once again offering free movies. This is great for us here at TAA. With ticket prices going up, we're probably limiting ourselves to Toy Story 3 this summer.

06/22/2010-06/23/2010 Charlotte's Web (G)
Astro Boy (PG)
06/29/2010-06/30/2010 Doogal (G)
Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs (PG)
07/06/2010-07/07/2010 Horton Hears A Who (G)
Aliens In The Attic (PG)
07/13/2010-07/14/2010 Rugrats The Movie (G)
Planet 51 (PG)
07/20/2010-07/21/2010 Pirates Who Don't Do Anything (G)
Bandslam (PG)
07/27/2010-07/28/2010 Wallace and Gromit (G)
Night At The Museum II (PG)
08/03/2010-08/04/2010 Tale of Despereaux (G)
Alvin And The Chipmunks Squeakquel (PG)
08/10/2010-08/11/2010 Space Chimps (G)
Hotel For Dogs (PG)
08/17/2010-08/18/2010 Muppets From Space (G)
Monsters Vs. Aliens (PG)