Carroll Magazine

02/10/2021

Our February/March issue is out now! If you are looking for access to a printed version, we usually have some extra copies on hand. You can also view all the articles online at https://carrollmagazine.com/

01/27/2021

Although 2020 was a year that featured bad news on top of bad news followed by more bad news, we all yearned for whatever good news we could find to alleviate the prevailing doom and gloom. Although they sometimes seemed few and far between, those bright spots were out there — not only grand gestures of selflessness but also little acts of kindness. Sometimes you just had to be open to seeing them.

We featured 5 "good news" stories in our Dec/Jan issue. If you could use some good news right now, be sure to check the article out!

https://carrollmagazine.com/kindness-abounds-in-carroll/

01/19/2021

While an undergraduate psychology major at Salisbury University, Katie Kirby worked at Urban Ministries, which provided an after-school youth program that supplied dinner and homework help to children who were homeless and living in poverty.

One 8-year-old girl was failing academically and likely would be required to repeat second grade. Kirby met with her teachers, helped with schoolwork and provided clothing and food for her family. Then they were evicted and moved to a new school district, without a similar program.

Kirby failed to find another program to help the girl in the new district, so she created a new program instead. With paperwork signed, Kirby filed for nonprofit status; Together We Own It became official in December 2015.

Today, Together We Own It has four employees and a volunteer base of 60. They serve an average of 700 children each year with group mentoring, one-on-one mentoring and basic necessities like clothing, personal hygiene items, meals and school supplies. On site are a thrift store and a food pantry.

Read Katie Kirby's full story below!

https://carrollmagazine.com/together-we-own-it-personally-serving-families-in-need/

01/13/2021

An Immediate Impact: The Critical Need for Blood

In a typical year, the need for blood donations increases over the winter months, but in the time of COVID, the need is even greater. The American Red Cross recently reported that the blood supply in the U.S. is “critically low” and the “majority of the country’s blood centers are reporting significant declines in their blood collections.”

January is National Blood Donor Month, and it is the perfect opportunity to start the year by challenging yourself to donate. Donating blood is safe, and the need for healthy people to donate is great. Click the link to find out what you need to know to get started!

January is National Blood Donor Month by Kym Byrnes In a typical year, the need for blood donations increases over the winter months, but in the time of COV

01/08/2021

If you ask a Mount Airy local where you can fuel up with a homestyle breakfast, you’ll likely hear about Olde Town Restaurant and Bakery.

Olde Town brings a Maryland version of the classic eggs Benedict. This item features two poached eggs and crabcakes set atop a house-made English muffin. Topped with hollandaise and Old Bay Seasoning, the Chesapeake Benedict (pictured) gives you something to savor with every bite.

Read more about Olde Town by clicking below!
https://carrollmagazine.com/warm-up-to-winter-with-breakfast/#oldetown

01/07/2021

With a mission to introduce customers to gourmet coffee and authentic French cuisine, the The French Twist deliciously accomplishes both of its goals. Owner Hélène Taylor, born and raised in France, delivers extraordinary bites and beverages at this downtown Sykesville coffee shop. Those in the know can attest to Taylor’s menu of sweet crêpes and savory crêpes, known as galettes.

To complement the French Twist’s delicious fare, a bevy of coffee beverages provide just what you need to warm up on a cold winter day. In addition to the café au lait and cappuccino, you can also request flavored steamers and the Chocolat Chaud, a hot chocolate made from real chocolate (pictured).

Read more about this French café!
https://carrollmagazine.com/warm-up-to-winter-with-breakfast/

01/06/2021

JeannieBird Baking Company is a staple bakery in Westminster. Their egg sandwiches are the best-selling item on the menu. They’re so popular, in fact, that on a typical Saturday morning — prior to the coronavirus pandemic — JeannieBird would sell between 180 and 200 egg sandwiches between 7 a.m. and noon. JeannieBird’s signature egg sandwich is served on yeast-raised sweet potato biscuits that are made several times a morning in the bakery.

Read more about JeannieBird in our Dec/Jan issue!
https://carrollmagazine.com/warm-up-to-winter-with-breakfast/#jeanniebird

01/05/2021

Ruth Thompson of Westminster’s Rare Opportunity Bakehouse considers herself a savory breakfast person. Fortunately, for Thompson and for those who want a savory breakfast, Rare Opportunity Bakehouse has a full complement of breakfast specialties designed to fuel your body for a full day of activity.

For the ultimate cool-weather warmup, try the BAAT Sandwich (pictured) : Cherrywood smoked bacon, avocado, arugula, tomato, mayonnaise and peach jam offer a sweet-savory filling between two slices of whole grain bread.

Read more about this Westminster bakery!
https://bit.ly/2IN75nG

01/04/2021

In Carroll County, breakfast options abound for those who want to stay in or go out.
In our Dec/Jan issue, we explore 4 local businesses and their breakfasts worth bragging about. We'll be posting all about these local gems over the next few days. Stay tuned!

12/29/2020

Edwin Singer, the head of the Health Department in Carroll County, is just fine with the community not knowing who he is. He doesn’t work to be in the limelight, he isn’t interested in being a public figure.

Singer is leading a staff of about 185 to keep Carroll County safe through a global pandemic. Leading through this level of unprecedented chaos requires a laser-sharp focus, a network of established relationships, the ability to learn on the fly, and a confidence that inspires trust. Ed Singer has done all this and more — not just this year, but in his more than 30 years as a public servant, and it is for those reasons that we’ve named him Carroll Magazine’s 2020 Person of the Year.

Click below to read more about Singer and all he has done for the community.
https://carrollmagazine.com/carroll-magazine-person-of-the-year-edwin-singer/

12/22/2020

The Carroll County Board of Commissioners unveiled the Carroll Rebound Program in June as one way the county could help businesses hurt by the pandemic. Businesses like Little People’s Place Child Development Center in Westminster & Finksburg Dental Associates shared how the grants impacted them.

Click below to read all about it!
https://carrollmagazine.com/carroll-businesses-rebound-after-covid/

12/15/2020

As letter writing continues to swing from being hailed as an important tradition to a dying one, many Carroll County residents still cherish letters.

Westminster resident Rebecca “Beckie” Teeter Herrick cherishes hundreds of letters she saved that were written by relatives and friends (above). A decorative box under her sofa holds letters bundled with colorful ribbons. There are bundles from her Aunt Mary, her Uncle Jim, and there is a bundle of cards painted by the Carmelites of Reno, a monastery of nuns in Nevada.

In her barn, Herrick has letters that her mother saved. In the basement, she has letters exchanged between her parents.

“There is nothing extraordinary in these letters,” Herrick said. “They are special to me because they are penned by people I loved — they offer a physical connection to some special people.”

Read more special stories where letter writing connects lovers, families, and friends.
https://carrollmagazine.com/sincerely-yours-letter-writing-still-connects-lovers-families-friends/

12/08/2020

Festive & Fun Virtual Holiday Gift Exchanges

For many families, the ridiculously hard decision to stay distanced this holiday season might make it feel like we’re forfeiting the holidays altogether. But with a little tweaking and some technology, you can still have fun and exchange gifts with family, friends and co-workers. Check out these ideas for virtual gift exchanges!

by Kym Byrnes For many families, the ridiculously hard decision to stay distanced this holiday season might make it feel like we’re forfeiting the holidays

12/02/2020

’Tis the Season

Are you looking for the perfect Christmas tree this year?🎄 We put together a list of local farms who are open and excited to help continue the tradition of packing up the family, trotting around a tree-filled hillside, and sawing down the perfect Christmas tree. While most farms are heeding COVID-19 safety precautions, they are still offering cut-your-own trees, pre-cut trees, holiday goods for sale and even some festive activities including Santa visits!

by Kym Byrnes COVID-19 has forced many of us to re-imagine our holiday traditions this year. But don’t despair — local farms are open and excited to help

11/30/2020

Q&A: Stephanie Halley, Westminster Rescue Mission

For Stephanie Halley, Executive Director, of the Addiction Healing Center at Westminster Rescue Mission, the opportunity to lead the Westminster Rescue Mission came about in a perfect storm.

Her personal experience with battling alcoholism paired with almost three decades of nonprofit work and her lifelong roots in Carroll County made her an ideal leader for a nonprofit that has been helping men through addiction for more than 50 years.

Halley has her work cut out for her as she aims to destigmatize addiction, and, as she said it, work herself out of a job. “I’d love to be successful enough that this job isn’t needed and we could focus on other issues, but until then, we’re here working towards our mission.”

Read our interview with Stephanie about the work the Addiction Healing Center at WRM is doing for those battling with addiction.

Stephanie Halley, Executive Director, Addiction Healing Center at Westminster Rescue Mission by Kym Byrnes Photography by Nikola Tzenov For Stephanie Halley

11/23/2020

Thanksgiving Day: Let the Games Begin

Picture this: It’s Thanksgiving Day. The turkey aroma from the oven is mouth-watering, the potatoes destined for mashing are boiling, and sweet apples are being peeled for pies. Meanwhile, hungry kids are bouncing off the walls, adults are running out of things to say, the dog is lying right in the middle of the kitchen floor, and dinner is still hours away from being served. Sound familiar?

Fortunately, creative games and activities can help pass the time and beat the boredom that often comes along with the wait. Read the article below for numerous holiday-themed activities and games you can play with just simple household items!

It’s Thanksgiving Day. The turkey aroma from the oven is mouth-watering, the potatoes destined for mashing are boiling, and sweet apples are being peeled for

11/19/2020

Holiday Connections: Tech Provides a Lifeline for Holiday Celebrations

As the holiday season approaches, plans are underway for celebrations with family and friends. But since the onset of the coronavirus, this year’s gatherings may look a little different. Maryland’s stay-at-home order kept families apart, and although the state relaxed its limitations this summer, many families and senior living communities are readying for celebrations to take place virtually instead of in person.

Bonnie Catron admittedly hasn’t yet thought about a virtual Thanksgiving or Christmas celebration with her 97-year-old mother, Jean Colton (pictured). “I’m hoping by then that I’ll be able to have my mother over in person to open gifts,” she said.

Read more about the stories of Carroll County residents as they find ways to meet with loved ones over the holiday season.

by Linda L. Esterson, photography by Nikola Tzenov As the holiday season approaches, plans are underway for celebrations with family and friends. But since t

11/16/2020

Fresh from the Farm Turkeys for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is just around the corner! Where are you going to buy your turkey this year?? 🦃

One advantage of “fresh from the farm” is that farmers are available to answer questions about how their turkeys are raised. Farmers say that their customers look forward to enjoying a flavor and texture that are better than store-bought meat.

You can buy a fresh turkey from K.L. Lemmon and Son in Manchester, Baugher’s Orchard and Farm in Westminster, or Whispering Breeze Farm in Taneytown. Click the link to read all about it!

By Sylvia Blair While grocery stores stock up on frozen turkeys for the Thanksgiving rush, local farmers are seeing increased repeat business from shoppers w

11/13/2020

Doug Starliper served as a Staff Sergeant in the Army from 2001-2006. He was deployed in Afghanistan several times and in Iraq. A current student, read about the life lessons he has learned below.

"I look forward to graduating from McDaniel College in May 2021 with a Bachelor’s in social work, heading directly into grad school at University of Maryland for a Master’s in social work in order to work for the VA, combining both my experience as a soldier and the education from my degrees to help combat current crises that are plaguing our veteran community. (All thanks to the GI Bill, an incredible benefit.)

"Some of the greatest life lessons that I have learned from my time in service are time management, resiliency, camaraderie, selfless service, integrity, and most importantly, leadership. These lessons have set me up to be in a fantastic place right now as I venture off into my second career.

"Should I ever get a chance to explain how a veteran would like to see Veterans Day celebrated, I’d simply have to say: Honor their sacrifice. Not so much the veterans still here, but the ones that didn’t make it home. Safeguard your freedoms above all, never take them for granted, and live a life that’s worth the sacrifice men and women far better than me secured for me and all of us."

11/12/2020

Jose A. Flores served in the Army for 30 years as a First Sergeant/E-8. He was deployed in Desert Shield/Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom & Operation Iraqi Freedom. Read his story below.

"The No. 1 military life lesson I took away, among many, is being in a diverse environment (in the Army and serving overseas) has taught me how to work with other people. It made me a more aware and a more well-rounded person. It taught me how to challenge the views I was accustomed to. Diversity is a force multiplier. Being Latino myself, I have felt the sting of racism, and know how that can make one feel. This is an area that we as Americans need to work on.

"A few other skill sets that I have acquired which have all served me now: leadership, discipline, decision-making and resourcefulness skills, which I use every day to accomplish my missions. Every day I wake up with a purpose and highly motivated to engage the day.

"On Veterans Day it the norm to say thank you. Acknowledge their sacrifice, teach your children what it means to serve and what selfless service is, but let’s go beyond that. You can help by knowing where your local American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) organizations are and what they do.

"Know what services are in your community, like the veteran services program of Carroll County, so that you let veterans know this information. You can also support those organizations that help veterans and their families.

"You can also volunteer with many of these organizations and make a difference in a veteran’s life. I will leave you with this: We enjoy our freedoms today because of those who came before me. Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it. It flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it.

11/12/2020

Sean Lawlor served in the Marine Corps since 1993 (current reservist). He was deployed in Fallujah, Iraq (2005) and Al-Qaim/Haditha, Iraq (2006-07). Read his story below.

"My brother, a Marine Huey helicopter pilot, was killed in a crash in 2004. I was activated a few months later to deploy to Fallujah. I ended up going back-to-back tours, with the last tour being an extension. When I came home the last time in 2007, I was physically and emotionally exhausted, but I learned to never allow myself to stop moving … always move forward. I never looked back.

"When I came home, I went right back to work, got married, started a family and kept myself fully involved in life. My wife and I have built a family and a small farm. The same principles that kept you alive in combat will keep you alive and successful in life. Continue making yourself hard to kill … stay resilient.

"It’s important to me to see that young children understand and know their local veteran community. I think it’s very important that children hear the experiences of veterans from those veterans in their own words. Any youngster considering a future in the Armed Forces should seek out the advice of veterans and listen to their experiences."

https://carrollmagazine.com/local-veterans-reflect-on-service/