Crime Wave-Update

Thanks to the anonymous commenter who passed on some info about a suspicious person. But we here at TAA had enough journalism law classes to know that we can't print someone's name and accuse him of being a drug dealer. We can however, report suspicious activity. So if you happen to see a white male in his 20s walking back and forth from Stone Mill Court to the pool on Crisfield Drive and back again pay attention. This is during the day and he seems to be a known entity to those looking for drugs.
To the anonymous commenter who seems positive he's a dealer, just wondering if you called the sheriff's department? Wondering what they said. We here at TAA have been know to spend some time at the pool and we will be on the lookout.

UPDATE: Thanks to the anonymous commenter for this additional information. This suspect has been reported to the police, even videotaped which was turned into the sheriff's department, but so far nothing has been done. Thanks to the vigilance of the commenter for doing the right thing and we hope that readers will also now be on the lookout.
We personally are wondering why the sheriff's department has not done anything about this yet, after multiple complaints.

Crime Wave

If we were you, we'd tuck our vehicles away in the nearest garage to keep the car thieves away. If you see five or six teens walking around with backpacks, watch them closely. The sheriff's department says they're filling said backpacks with GPS, iPods, or whatever they can grab by smashing a window.
They've hit Crisfield Drive, Constant Friendship, etc. A house was even broken into. This happened during the day with people around.
The sheriff's department promised increased patrols, but we've blissfully been sunning ourselves at the shore so haven't noticed any more drive-bys since our return.
Anything happening in your neighborhood? Feel free to comment here.

Sorry We Missed the Parade...

Because it sounds as if there were more fireworks from the parade than the show later. It reminds me of Monty Python and Michael Palin yelling, "Help, help I'm being repressed!"
The Dagger has Del. McDonough's sign saga, but we just received an e-blast from Rick Impallaria about his own signage issues. Here is part of the blast:

"At the Bel Air Parade, however, my supporters and I were attacked by Mr. Michael Blum, the parade marshall, for carrying signs which clearly expressed the theme of the parade -- Patriotism Then and Now.

If there truly had been objectionable material in anyone's signs, the proper place for removal would have been the staging area, before appearing in public. But Mr. Blum stopped us on the parade route, ripping the "Support the Tea Parties" sign off our lead motorcycle, then stripping signs away from children as young as eight years old. Fortunately, my one niece, who is a true patriot, hid her sign, and for the remaining route we were left with "Stop the Taxing."

As Mr. Blum and his cohort attacked the members of my group, the spectators were outraged at what they saw, and started booing Mr. Blum, calling him a "sign Nazi" and "a Communist", and yelling "This day is all about patariotism and free speech." It was obvious that the spectators were not offended by the signs, but were offended by Mr. Blum's censoring of them.

Then, like true Nazis or Communists, they not only prevented my free speech, they attempted to confiscate my private property by refusing to return the signs. I was not about to stand for this. I repeatedly demanded they place the signs in my vehicle, and they repeatedly refused. All this was taking place in public, which was an embarassment to me, my family, and my supporters. When the van driver, my brother, got out and joined me, they realized that, in the famous words of Martin Luther King, Jr., "We shall not be moved," and the parade would be held up even further, they finally returned the signs.

As one blogger put it, "he is sick and tired of *&%^ politicians walking in the parades." I 100% agree with him, and that is exactly why we carried those signs. I believe it is the right of the people to know exactly what their elected officials stand for. If they do not support what I stand for, it is their option to boo or ridicule me. If they do, they have the right to support me for my representation of them.

Mr. Michael Blum's actions are a total disgrace. He owes a public apology to every true American who believes in freedom of speech. He should also attend classes on the Constitution given by the Institute on the Constitution which are held at Boyle Buick. Or, he should just openly admit to his fascist/community beliefs which he so clearly demonstrated at the Bel Air Parade.

As for my family, my supporters and myself, we stand 100% behind the positions we have taken, and we proudly say that we will continue to support the patriots of the past by doing all we can to be patriots of the present."

Historic Church--Abingdon Cold Case

Cokesbury Memorial United Methodist Church is getting a lot of attention this week as its Heritage Day approaches. A St. Mary's College student believes she has uncovered the arsonist responsible for destroying the Methodist college that once stood on the site more than 200 years ago.
Bonnie McCubbin will discuss her findings at 10:30 a.m. Sunday with a light luncheon afterward. The church is located near the intersection of Abingdon Road/Rte. 7.
We at TAA have gotten a firsthand look at the artifacts that were languishing in boxes for decades. Fascinating if you love history.
To see The Sun article click here
To see the story that ran on WBAL-TV, click here

Free Movies at Regal

The Regal in Constant Friendship will start its free summer movie festival soon. The movies start at 10 a.m. each Tuesday and Wednesday during the festival. First-come, first-served seating is limited to theatre capacity. Get there early for the popular ones, as day care centers arrive by the busloads.

Here is the summer schedule.

06/16/2009-06/17/2009 The Tale Of Despereaux (G)
Igor (PG)
06/23/2009-06/24/2009 Mr. Bean's Holiday (G)
Inkheart (PG)
06/30/2009-07/01/2009 Kit Kittredge: American Girl (G)
Spiderwick Chronicles (PG)
07/07/2009-07/08/2009 Horton Hears A Who (G)
Madagascar 2: Escape To Africa (PG)
07/14/2009-07/15/2009 Space Chimps (G)
Alvin And The Chipmunks (PG)
07/21/2009-07/22/2009 Everyone's Hero (G)
Kung Fu Panda (PG)
07/28/2009-07/29/2009 Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (G)
Star Wars: Clone Wars (PG)
08/04/2009-08/05/2009 Charlotte's Web (G)
Barnyard (PG)
08/11/2009-08/12/2009 Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: Veggie Tale Movie (G)
Monster House (PG)

Constant Friendship -- What's Old is New Again

With even more traffic nightmares coming and renewed interest in what the county has previously said about Constant Friendship, I thought it would be helpful to review an earlier post.
Here is the original letter our friend Hilda received from the county:

"Thank you for your email regarding land use and traffic concerns along Constant Friendship Boulevard. Constant Friendship received approval for full build out prior to the establishment of Harford County’s Adequate Public Facilities (APF). However, a traffic study for the project was prepared by The RBA Group in June of 1987. All road improvements required in that traffic study are in place.
In addition, the Maryland Transportation Authority (MdTA) is planning improvements to the traffic patterns in that area by reconstructing the I-95/MD 24 interchange and reconstructing the intersection of MD 24/MD 924/Tollgate Road with a grade separated intersection. The improvements to the MD24/MD924 intersection should begin this year, hopefully as early as June. This project is proposed to alleviate the traffic issues at Constant Friendship Boulevard and Tollgate Road. The site, however, is physically constrained from providing an additional access into the development.
All of the lots along Constant Friendship Boulevard were approved as part of the original plan for the area. Under Harford County’s Subdivision Approval Procedure, all large-scale developments proposed for that area must be reviewed by the Development Advisory Committee (DAC). According to Section 5.03 (c) of the Harford County Subdivision Regulation, a notice is posted on the property at least 2 weeks prior to a DAC meeting with the date, time and location of the meeting and telephone number of the Department of Planning and Zoning. The regulations require that the notice be conspicuously placed on the property along the frontage near the right of way with a sign measuring 22-inches by 28-inches and with red lettering. I realize that it can be difficult to read the specifics of the sign as you drive by, so please do not hesitate to contact our Development Review Section to get more information about the project being proposed."


Here are our original comments on this post, which we stand by.
This would be funny if it wasn't so sad/discouraging. Think back to 1987. For those of us who didn't live here then, someone filled us in on what the neighborhood was like:
No Wal-Mart
No Constant Friendship townhomes, Dominion apartments
No Abingdon Elementary School (or neighboring townhouses)
Tollgate Road did not go through, stopped at Singer Road (no Monmouth Meadows)--in fact when this person bought her house, they said Tollgate would NEVER be a through-road.
Only development: Constant Branch


Also, were those signs for the new stores posted in 1987? I remember the sign for Lowe's, but never saw a sign for the pet store. (update: there also were NO signs for what's going in across from Wal-Mart)

Feel free to add your comments below. And I guess the message from the county is this: there's nothing you can do, because it was all mapped out 21 years ago.

Governor Signs School Board Bill

It's official. We here at TAA did not believe that the current school board would let this happen, but Gov. O'Malley signed this into law this a.m.:

HB0639
Harford County Delegation
HARFORD COUNTY – BOARD OF EDUCATION – SELECTION OF
MEMBERS
Requiring that specified members of the Harford County Board of
Education be elected; requiring that specified members of the county board
be appointed within a specified period of time; establishing the composition
of the county board; providing for the qualifications, terms of office, and
the filling of a vacancy of members of the county board; establishing a
procedure for the election and appointment of members of the county
board; etc.
EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2009