County opens annual flu shot clinic series

The Carroll County Health Department will hold several flu and pneumonia vaccination clinics during October, at the following times and locations:

*Oct. 9, 9 a.m. to noon, Mount Airy Senior Center, 703 Ridge Ave., Mount Airy.

*Oct. 16, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Westminster Senior Center, 125 Stoner Ave., Westminster.

*Oct. 21, 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Carroll County Health Department, 290 S. Center St., Westminster.

*Oct. 23, 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., North Carroll Senior Center, 2338 Hanover Pike, Hampstead.

Flu vaccinations are available to anyone over 18. The cost is $20 for anyone not eligible under Medicare Plan B.

At each clinic, pneumonia vaccinations will be available to those over 18 who have a doctor's order. Pneumonia vaccinations cost $45 for those under 65 with a doctor's order. Medicare will be billed for those eligible and 65 or older.

For details, call 410-876-4900. For dates and locations of clinics in November, call 410-876-3003.

Environmental panel seeks more autonomy

The Board of County Commissioners voted 2-1 to hold a public hearing on a request by members of the county's Environmental Advisory Council that would give EAC members the authority to elect their own chair.

Under existing county ordinances, the commissioners have the authority to appoint the chair of the nine-person EAC.

In casting the lone opposing vote, Commissioner Michael Zimmer said that since the commissioners have only limited authority as it is, he was against relinquishing the authority that they do have.

The public hearing is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 6, at 11 a.m. in Room 311 of the County Office Building, 225 N. Center St., Westminster. In addition, a pre-hearing workshop is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 27, at 3 p.m. in Room 105. For more details, call the Department of the County Attorney at 410-386-2030.

-- Bob Allen

USDA aids Taneytown and college projects

Representatives of the U.S. Department of Agriculture were in Carroll County last week to award more that $3.74 million in federal grants and loans aimed at two projects -- one in Taneytown and the other at Carroll Community College.

Ceremonies announcing the awards were conducted Sept. 30 by U.S. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R) and USDA Rural Development State Director Marlene Elliott Brown.

For Taneytown, funding of $3.7 million will benefit wastewater system improvements. At CCC, a $48,910 grant will help with the purchase of an emergency communications system.

The money coming to Taneytown stems from a recent farm bill intended to reduce the backlog of pending rural water and wastewater projects across the country.

The funding will help the city improve its York Street Pump Station, which was built in the mid-1950s and currently handles half of the total wastewater flows for the city.

At CCC, the college is nearing completion of an emergency communications system on campus that cost approximately $140,000.

In addition to the USDA grant, the college added $92,500 of its own to improve security by adding a "Code Blue" emergency parking lot call box system and a digital monitoring system that will boost public safety on campus.

Of the funding, Bartlett said the CCC award will "improve the college's ability to contribute to the disaster preparedness and civil response capabilities of Carroll County."

Striking up the bands at Westminster High

The Maryland Super Saturday Marching Band Show will be held beginning at 5 p.m. on Saturday at Westminster High School, 1225 Washington Road, Westminster.

Eighteen high school bands will compete, including units from Century, North Carroll and Westminster high schools.

The cost is $10 general admission, $8 for students and seniors, and free for kids 5 and under. Gates open at 4 p.m. The event is sponsored by the U.S. Scholastic Band Association.

Bipartisan softball set for Westminster park

Carroll County Republicans and Democrats will put aside political barbs -- at least for a few hours -- when they take to the field at Westminster City Park for the Election Year "All Politics Aside - Bipartisan Softball Game." The game will be held Friday, Oct. 10, 7 to 9 p.m.

The teams are co-ed, and members were encouraged to sign the "Politics Aside" pledge that prohibits blasting President George Bush's leadership or assailing Barack Obama's youthful inexperience.

The pledge also encourages participants to recruit spectators to their respective political parties.

"I haven't heard that anyone else in the country has games like this one," said Josh Kohn, president of Kohn Creative in Westminster.

Kohn said he initiated the event to rally spirits and rally voters during a critical election year.

Spectators may bring lawn chairs, blankets, a picnic dinner and a sense of humor. For more information call Kohn at 410-840-3805.

Proposal would clarify sprinkler requirement

The Board of County Commissioners this week voted to hold a public hearing on a proposal to amend county construction codes clarifying sprinkler requirements for renovated or reconstructed residential dwellings.

Under the proposal, any single-family or multi-family residential dwelling that undergoes renovations costing more than 50 percent of the property's assessed value would be required to install a fire suppression sprinkler system in accordance with National Fire Protection Association standards.

Any residential dwelling reconstructed after being damaged or destroyed by fire would also be subject to the same requirement.

The commissioners voted on Oct. 2 to send the issue to public hearing. The hearing is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 6, at 11 a.m. in Room 311 of the County Office Building, 225 N. Center St., Westminster. In addition, a pre-hearing workshop is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 20, at 3 p.m. in Room 105. For more details, call the Department of the County Attorney at 410-386-2030.

-- Bob Allen

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