Wednesday, May 15, 2013
The 18th Relay for Life of the Westminster area to benefit local cancer patients and their caregivers will take place Friday night at the Ag Center.
- VOLUNTEERS IN THE NEWS
- Kym Byrnes
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Wednesday, May 15
If you want to hang out with more than 1,000 other Carroll County folks committed to fighting cancer and supporting those impacted by it, be sure to attend the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life of the Westminster area Friday night at the Carroll County Ag Center. The event is like no other fundraiser in the county. First of all, it lasts 12 hours and many participating will spend most of those 12 hours walking. Shipley Arena at the Ag Center becomes a mini tent city with campsites for teams planning to spend the night. Second, it's truly a good time for everyone. From 8 p.m. Friday until almost midnight there will be onsite fundraisers (games, cake sales, food, crafts, jewelry and more), a silent auction, a DJ, and kid-friendly …
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
The FY14 budget is a about a 1.14 percent decrease over the current budget.
Westminster residents had the opportunity to share their thoughts on the city's proposed fiscal year 2014 budget with local leaders in a public hearing yesterday evening. Following the hearing, Westminster's city council voted 4-1 to introduce the budget. The budget beginning July 1 totals more than $33.22 million. The budget is an approximate 1.14 percent decrease from the current $33.60 million budget. The budget includes a 1 cent reduction in the property tax rate, a 3 percent cost of living raise for city employees and no change in the water and sewer rates. Councilman Paul Whitson voted against the budget according to a Carroll County Times article, because he is concerned about the recurring cost of salary increases. In 2010 the …
Monday, April 22, 2013
Two candidates are running for mayor and four candidates are running for two City Council seats.
Westminster residents will go to the polls on May 14 to elect two City Council members and a mayor, all to serve four-year terms. The City of Westminster will conduct a general election on Tuesday, May 14, between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. Current Council President Damian Halstad will not be running for re-election. Councilman Tony Chiavacci will run as the incumbent to remain on the Council. Current Mayor Kevin Utz is running for another term as mayor. The following individuals are running for office in the May 14 election: According to the city's website 719 votes were cast in the 2011 election for mayor and Council. In 2009, 755 votes were cast; in 2007, 411 votes were cast and in 2005, 1,106 votes were cast. Voters residing on the west side…
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Police have arrested a man who allegedly robbed Peoples Bank in Westminster earlier this week.
Police report that they arrested John Virgil Hill, 47, without incident Wednesday afternoon for his alleged involvement in the Monday morning robbery of the Peoples Bank on Westminster Pike. With the help of State and Baltimore Police, Carroll County Sheriff's Department investigators located Hill in a public housing complex along North Avenue in Baltimore City, according to police. Police allege Hill entered the Peoples Bank just after 9 a.m. Monday, approached a teller, and displayed a note demanding money while implying that he was armed. The teller gave the robber an undisclosed amount of cash, police said. No one was injured during the robbery and the robber fled the scene after receiving the cash, according to police. Detectives …
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
"It’s a calculated effort to encourage people to relinquish their guns," one city leader said of the program initiated by the state attorney general's office.
Despite the Westminster police chief's support of a gun turn-in program, the town's Common Council rejected the idea, with one councilman saying the program amounts to "going down the whole gun control path." Westminster Police Chief Jeffrey Spaulding told the council Monday night that he had been asked by the state attorney general's office to participate in a statewide gun turn-in program along with other Maryland municipalities. The program would be voluntary. "This is simply a gun turn-in program, an opportunity for people who have firearms to rid themselves of them, to turn them over to the police," Spaulding said. Councilman Tony Chiavacci objected to the program. "In my opinion that's just going down the whole gun control path," …
Monday, April 8, 2013
A 47-year-old man is wanted by the Sheriff's Department for the robbery.
John Virgil Hill, 47, formerly of Union Bridge, is wanted by the Carroll County Sheriff's Department for the robbery of the Peoples Bank in the 500 block of Old Westminster Pike Monday morning, according to a release. Hill, who is described as a six-foot-tall black male of medium build with short black hair and a mustache, entered the bank just after 9 a.m. wearing a white long sleeved Baltimore Orioles shirt displaying the number 37, according to police. He was also wearing a red baseball cap displaying a multi-colored NASCAR #24 logo. After entering the bank, police said Hill approached a teller and displayed a note demanding money while implying that he was armed. The teller gave him the cash, according to police. No one was injured …
The general election in Westminster will be held on Tuesday, May 14.
The City of Westminster will conduct a general election on Tuesday, May 14, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., for the election of the mayor and two members of the Common Council, all to serve four-year terms. Each candidate for election must file a Declaration of Intention of Candidacy with the Acting City Clerk, at 56 West Main Street, accompanied by a $25 filing fee, not later than 5 p.m. on Friday, April 12. Voters residing on the West side of Maryland Route No. 31 vote at the Community Center, 325 Royer Road, and voters residing on the East side of Maryland Route No. 31 vote at the John Street Quarters of the Westminster Fire Company. The last voter registration date is Friday, April 12. For additional information,click here or call 410-848-9000.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Westminster has a number of businesses opening, closing and/or changing locations.
There are a number of businesses that have recently opened, closed or changed locations in Westminster. Artworks & Apparel Boutique moved from its space on Main Street to the Winchester Exchange at 15 E. Main St. Owner Nikki Ratti saids she is excited about the new location. “It's been wonderful to see all of our regular customers follow us and we are excited that we are finding many new customers due to the relocation!” Ratti said. “We have also loved hearing so many positive comments regarding the appearance of the store and access to parking.” Frisco Family Pub closed in December of 2012, and new Italian restaurant, le Ragazze will open in its place. Additionally, an H&R Block opened next to the spot previously owned by Frisco's as …
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Residents should be informed in advance of work scheduled in their area.
Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) will be in Westminster neighborhoods for the next couple weeks trimming vegetation around power lines. Tree and vegetation management practices are a large component of these standards and while many of BGE’s tree and vegetation management practices will remain the same the company may need to conduct additional pruning or removal of trees that have previously coexisted with power lines, according to a news release from the city of Westminster. Of particular concern are the trees around transmission stations. BGE is working with the city arborist to address these pruning efforts on Main Street from Center Street to Washington Road. Both BGE and the city are committed to maintaining the tree canopy as well …
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Officers describe a bizarre incident in which a Hanover man was fatally shot in Westminster.
A Hanover, MD, man is dead after being hit by a bullet discharged from another floor of the home, police said. On Saturday, March 16, at approximately 11:45 a.m. police officers and emergency medical personnel responded to the 400 block of South Hills Court in Westminster to investigate a reported shooting, according to police reports. When they got to the home, police said they found Vygants Tomas Campe, 46, of Hanover, MD, on the first floor of the home suffering from a single gunshot wound. The victim was alert and conscious at the scene but died in surgery at the University Of Maryland Shock Trauma Center, according to police. Investigators said that Campe was visiting with the homeowner at the time of the shooting. Police said …
romeo valianti
11:08 am on Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Great spending Mayor and Councilmen. a 1.4 percent decrease in city spending . Wow they ought to get a medal for that. As I said many times the Mayor and council spends money like drunken sailors, the only difference is, as a former sailor, when you run out of money, you stop drinking. On another note, will the Mayor and Council provide those who have already or will be registering their rental … more ›