“Capt’n” Jim McMahan’s Coffee Talk: Aug. 23 — MACO Report, Hays House, Quarter Auction, Festival for the Arts

From Harford County Council District C Councilman “Capt’n” Jim McMahan:

NEWS
Saturday I returned from two days at the Md Assoc. of Counties annual conference in Ocean City. I drove down at 5 a.m. Thursday and came back Saturday eliminating one costly overnight. I stayed at the Holiday Inn ($593.00) 2 nights; Convention registration was $285 and gasoline $108. I attended two breakfast meetings for elected officials. Funding health care for public employees was the subject of two different discussion groups I attended. Dealing with the “RAIN” tax had a standing room only crowd. Long term budget planning was the subject of Thursday afternoon’s session. Friday morning was devoted to meeting with technology folks from Sprint and Motorola as I continued to search for a solution to the problems in the Grempler Way neighborhood. Those meetings were very productive I might add and I will unveil my ideas at the next meeting of the group that visited Edgewood on 18 July. Friday afternoon I attended the session devoted to waste management and the goal of total recycling. Harford County is ahead of the curve here compared to a majority of counties. Was my attendance worth the one thousand dollars of tax payer money? I feel it definitely was and the council and public will benefit from the information I received. (There was no time spent on the beach or boardwalk)

Captain’s Comments
In recent weeks you have heard plenty of discussion about the budget, the Board of Education, the role the Executive and Council play in it all. It is obvious that most people do not know how the system is designed by law. I really do not blame them. The real point at this place in time is that we have a new team in place at the Board of Education. Nancy Reynolds is the new Board of Ed President. Barbara Canavan is the new Superintendent (interim). I know them both and they are top notch educators of the no nonsense discipline. As these public officials go about their duties in cleaning up or “out” the current system they do NOT deserve disrespect by any member of the public in any public meeting. Due to social media, anonymous individuals use a public forum to berate others’ opinions because they know they will never get called out to personally defend their baseless vituperation. Because they chose to hide among the wireless weave of transistors and silicon circuitry, it has created a culture of personal disrespect. We have lost our ability to communicate in a civil manner. Mrs. Reynolds endured this abuse at the Edgewood Community Council meeting. It is a sad commentary on our times. Thank you Mrs. Reynolds for standing your ground eloquently and professionally.

SEP 7 – 22 DECORATORS SHOW CASE to benefit Chesapeake Cancer Alliance . Rockfield Manor Tickets are $20 For more information call 410-838-7706

SEP 7 QUARTER AUCTION to benefit the Jobs Daughters and DeMolay. Held from 1 to 3 PM at Mt Ararat Lodge, Gordon St at Hickory Ave Bel Air

SEP 8 Hays House Museum will celebrate Grandparents’ Day with an event for nature lovers young and old entitled A Walk on the Wild Side. Wildlife rehabilitators from the Phoenix Wildlife Center will present an educational program on wildlife rehabilitation and the conservation of wildlife habitat. Beekeepers from the Susquehanna Beekeepers Association will present a program and demonstration on honeybees, beekeeping and related arts. 1 to 4 PM Admission Free

SEP 15 BEL AIR FESTIVAL FOR THE ARTS. Shamrock Park behind Town Hall Hickory Ave Bel Air. 10 AM to 5 PM Free parking and shuttle from the Motor Vehicle Admin parking lot on Rt 24 opposite Upper Chesapeake Hospital. Free admission www.belairfestival.com

OCT 26 HARVEST MOON DINNER & AUCTION Benefits the HARFORD LAND TRUST . $60 per person. Bel Air Armory 41 N Main Street Bel Air. To view auction items and purchase tickets go to www.harfordlandtrust.org

NOV 7 PUBLIC MEETING at the Jarrettsville Library Branch for BGE to inform the public about the improvements to the Northeast Transmission System. Meeting begins at 7 PM.