Hampstead candidate Roark asks for vote
Hi, I’m Jim Roark and I’m running for reelection to the Hampstead Town Council. In 2013, when I was asked to consider joining the Planning & Zoning Commission, I agreed to do it for one reason. I love this town. I feel that the people of Hampstead deserve the best possible representation they can get and I know I am capable of doing that. Some of the strengths I think I have that benefit the town are patience, making rational decisions, doing the research necessary to know all the facts involved and not jumping to conclusions. Then you must make a decision based on what is in the best interest of the entire town, not just a select few.
It’s budget time in Hampstead. My goals are, number one, is no increase in taxes. Hampstead’s property tax rate is one of the lowest in the county, and will remain there. Goal number two is that we need to make sure that we meet the needs of our police and public works departments. The Hampstead Police and Public Works departments are more important than any other division of this town and they need to be properly funded and equipped to do the best job necessary.
We have had over a half-dozen new businesses come into town in the last year, and there are more on the way. I will continue to welcome new businesses to Hampstead, and then make sure they thrive. I’m not talking big box stores, but local small businesses. And the emphasis will be on filling our existing retail spaces and buildings along Main Street. Speaking of Main Street, we are almost there! Hopefully by late fall we should have a smooth roadway all the way to Md. 482.
Hampstead is such a special place, a small town where the emphasis is on family values, sense of community with a high quality of life standard that we all enjoy. My vision for Hampstead moving forward is to retain all those qualities and values that make our town great, while at the same time making sure that the town remains fiscally sound.
Thanks, and I would appreciate your vote for me, Jim Roark, on May 14 at Town Hall on Carroll Street. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Please stop by and say hello before or after you vote. Thanks again!
Jim Roark
Hampstead
Hampstead candidate Unglesbee asks for vote
I have had the privilege to serve Hampstead over the past four years as your councilman. I have worked with Mayor Nevin, Councilman Roark and the rest of the council on many projects that have benefited Hampstead. We replaced all the water lines on Main St. saving hundreds of gallons of water each month. We constructed a solar farm making our municipal buildings energy independent and saving our town money. We hired a new police chief who has already hired more officers. Along with students, moms and dads, we fought hard to keep North Carroll High open. We started on the largest infrastructure project in our town's history, a complete upgrade of the downtown Main Street. We have already seen what the finished project will look like with the new LED lamp posts that are shining bright, just like Hampstead's future is.
I am working with the University of Maryland and master gardeners in order to transform the Richards Cemetery, where the town fathers are buried, into an old English garden, complete with flowers and native plantings. I have already sent to the State Historical Society my proposal to place a road side marker to commemorate the visit of President Coolidge to our town in 1928. I along with Councilman Thomas and the town staff have applied for a grant to renovate the War Memorial site downtown. We will replace the bandstand, seats, walkways, lights and landscaping. This will be the new downtown hub in town hosting many activities throughout the year. Work has just begun on repainting the Panther water tower. We were able to also repaint the letters spelling out: North Carroll Panthers ,for all to see when driving into town.
I will also keep working … to find a solution for the future of the North Carroll High campus. I live right down the street from the campus. My son and his wife both graduated from North Carroll. I support using the campus for a sports turf field and to use the auditorium for plays and concerts, along with the Sheriff's continued use as a training academy.
Thank you for allowing me to serve over the past four years. Please come out to vote on May 14 for Unglesbee and Roark for council and Nevin for mayor. Help us finish the job the three of us have started, and help us to keep moving Hampstead forward.
David Unglesbee
Hampstead
Endorsement of Gilbert for Westminster council
I have known Ann Thomas [Gilbert] for over a decade and have worked directly with her on a variety of issues, initiatives, and projects both large and small during that time frame. Additionally, I have worked with her on deeply personal issues directed at our senior population of the county. She has great experience with outcome driven problem solving. Her experience includes working with individuals and special groups in need of both human and social services. This includes her commitment to the seniors living in Carroll County through her work at the Carroll County Department of Social Services.
Ann is a Carroll County native and she and her family have lived in Westminster for over 50 years. Currently Ann has volunteered her time and energies to act as a board member of the Carroll County Veterans Independence Project. This project focuses on military veterans and their family’s needs here in Carroll County. Ann has demonstrated time and time again her willingness to give over 100% of her dedication, diligence, and discipline regardless of the need. She volunteers her time on numerous city, county and area events and causes, including public safety, chamber of commerce issues, faith based initiatives, and again our senior population. Ann has both an undergraduate and a master’s degree; she brings a deep sense of commitment and follows through on everything she does.
Ann is a graduate of the Carroll Leadership Class of 2012 further developing both her leadership skills and increasing her broad knowledge base of local Carroll County issues. Ann has the experience and talent to be able to integrate her life skills with the governance of the City of Westminster and lead in every way possible. Ann will work to increase public safety, commercial development, and communication with citizens. My name is Frank Valenti and I am a veteran, the former Director of the Carroll County Department of Social Services, former Chair of the Carroll County Veterans Advisory Council and current chair of the Carroll County Veterans Independence Project.
Frank Valenti
Taneytown
Veterinarian defends how farmers treat dairy cattle
In an ironic twist, a May 7 [letter to the editor] requested us to consider the cow — “the icon of motherhood” by abandoning her entire sense of purpose. A century ago William D. Hoard, former Wisconsin governor and perhaps the nation’s most notable dairyman, hung a notice to his staff at the door of his farm (which still hangs today) stating the following “Remember this is the Home of Mothers. Treat each cow as a Mother should be treated.”
His intentional illustrative use of capitalization emphasized his profound expectation for the exceptional care he demanded for his cows and where they live. This sentiment is alive and well today. As a veterinarian serving dairy farmers in Maryland I assure you we are providing exceptional care to our dairy cattle. We are blessed in this nation to have the dedication of 2% of our population providing the most plentiful, productive and safe food supply the world has ever known. As W.D. Hoard stated “giving milk is a function of motherhood and rough treatment lessens the flow.” I know firsthand how committed our dairy farmers are to providing an exceptional life for their cows. I know firsthand the sight of a single tear trickling across the hardened, wrinkled face of the 76-year-old farmer who just lost his battle to save the cow that owed him nothing.
Rather than being content with the personal decisions of others, there’ll always be individuals in this world who would rather create grossly inaccurate depictions of farmers and what life is like on the dairy farm. Activists simply can’t accept the fact that choice within the market place is a phenomenal thing. There’s truly no way to replace dairy products with grain or nut alternatives but we can share some cooler space with those who find refreshment in the artificially sweetened, high calorie, low protein, estrogen laden and chalky satisfaction of soy/almond juice. I want my fellow dairymen to know the majority of us care about you and we appreciate all you are doing to take exceptional care of our livestock. I want readers to remember they can visit working dairy farms, see the cows firsthand and speak with knowledgeable producers and veterinarians like me by signing up for Breakfast on the Farm hosted by University of Maryland Extension. Most importantly recognize that the facts of the dairy industry aren’t represented by the hyperbolic ramblings of activists.
Matthew Weeman
Centreville
Animals were created to provide for humans
The writer [of the letter “Think of the cows this Mother’s Day] has a right to express their opinion about what they think is good nutrition. Unfortunately some of their references about a cow and their offspring resembling a human is off base. Animals were created to provide for humans.
Please visit a modern farm if you want to know firsthand how dairy or any animals are cared for and used to provide products of all kinds for human consumption. Dairy products are not laden with added hormones, antibiotics, and so on, as previously listed. There are strong guidelines for milk testing before it’s even transported from the farm. Modern dairies have progressed and continue to improve since the beginning of time.
Everyone has free choice of the products they purchase, please respect our choice. If farmers no longer produced products for the supermarket; the supermarket will have bare shelves. All farmers produce safe, affordable and abundant variety of food and other products, hunger could be in our future without people wanting to farm.
There’s room for everyone at the table.
Belinda Burrier
Union Bridge