Frederick Maryland Online

Check out this Newsweek article by a Frederick resident about his return to school after a long layoff. Thanks for sending the link Sarah.

~Guy~

Check out Frederick Foodie, a fun new (at least to me) blog about “quips, comments, and culinary happenings in Frederick, MD and across the US.” It is written by Chef Christine, who owns and operates The Kitchen Studio Cooking School, and teaches recreational cooking classes to kids and adults. Christine also appears weekly on “A Frederick Home” on Cable 10 in Frederick.

~Guy~

From the FNP …

If there’s one thing Frederick doesn’t have enough of, 38-year-old investment advisor Henry Becker told me this morning, it’s events where young professionals can meet and socialize.

That’s why he started Frederick Young Professionals Networking Group two days ago.

Becker, a New market resident, moved from Pittsburgh to Frederick two years ago, and although he noticed a lot of people like him around town — married, kids, working — he couldn’t find anywhere where his peers could get together.

Well, now there is. Becker is using the online social networking site MeetUp to organize get togethers: www.businessnetwork.meetup.com/412/

And the first gathering date is set: 6 p.m., Sept. 19 at Isabella’s Tavern and Tapas, 44 N. Market St., Frederick.

I’m in, although I don’t think I qualify as young, or even professional

~Guy~

I was reading this fun story from the FNP about our own local Batman and I couldn’t help thinking to myself that we are blessed with some great local celebrities. Maybe you prefer a more traditional celeb like a radio DJ. Or maybe you love (or love to hate) following our local politcos. Or maybe your interests run in the abstract and a sighting of a local character is more your cup of tea. But no matter what floats your boat, Frederick County is chocked full of interesting people.

Now my question to you is, who is your favorite local celeb or character? Please share your thoughts in the comments below! Maybe we will all learn about a new Frederick resident to keep our eyes on.

P.S. Sorry for the late Friday Free-For-All again. Next week I will try and get back on schedule. Thanks!

~Guy~

Check out this interesting article from the FNP that explores the origins, implications, and uses of the term Fredneck.

~Guy~

Charlotte Winters of Boonsboro, Maryland, the last surviving female veteran of World War I–and one of only 5 remaining living WWI veterans–passed away this week at the impressive age of 109. Raise a glass in honor of this patriot and women’s rights pioneer who proudly served her nation. You can read more about Charlotte’s accomplishments here and here.

Charlotte’s funeral is tomorrow and she will be interred in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Frederick.

RandomAnna 

I’m not sure if you have ever visited David’s blog (located in the blogroll) but is always been one of my favorites because of his great photography. Now David is putting that photography on display at the Weinberg.

David Raimist enjoys taking ordinary objects and making people look at them from a different angle.

Raimist, 43, of Woodsboro, likes to call attention to the patterns and textures of the veins in plants, the railing poking out of the staircase or the snow freshly fallen on bricks. He likes to point out things in objects that people don’t normally see.

Raimist currently has one of his photography exhibits on display at the Urbana Regional Library at 9020 Amelung St. He is the first in a series of up and coming artists to be displayed at the library. The show, which began Feb. 22, ends Saturday.

“Everybody kept saying I should (show my work)” he said. “I thought it would be interesting to try.”

So far, Raimist has only gotten positive feed back from the handful of shows he has done. His photos will be displayed next at the Weinberg Center for the Arts beginning April 7 during First Saturday Gallery Walk and ending Memorial Day weekend.

A little more info from David himself:

Hello! After another successful show at the Urbana Regional Public Library, I am working on my next gallery show - a solo exhibition at the Weinberg Center for the Arts that also plays host to local artists in an ongoing display of multimedia art exhibits.

Various images will be on display at the Weinberg beginning Saturday, April 7th. The exhibition will run through the Memorial Day weekend and will coincide with the 1st Saturday Gallery Walk celebration in downtown Frederick in April and May. While I am not having a formal reception I plan on being at the Weinberg during the 1st Saturday Gallery Walk each month. Learn more about the 1st Saturday Gallery Walk.

I will definitely stop by to see exhibition!

~Guy~ 

The FNP is reporting that Frederick County Commissioner Kai Hagen is starting an online forum for residents of Frederick.

Frederick County Commissioner Kai Hagen, no stranger to a computer, is building a new online community.

He’s beginning with forums — a place for people to come, post messages, respond and start debates. Hagen is now adding members.

He hopes the new site will change the way commissioners traditionally communicate. The board spends a lot of time reading and responding to e-mails, written letters, and on the phone. Well-functioning forums can enhance those traditional communication methods, Hagen said.

“Not the least of which is what happens when a diverse collection of people, with a variety of perspectives and different types of information and experience, engage in a broader discussion,” he said.

Or, as the forums allow, a number of discussions on a number of different topics.

So far, nearly 100 have joined. No one will be excluded from participating as long as they are civil. And if they’re not, they may be blocked from posting, but will still be able to read.

All five county commissioners have access. Four have visited already and three are posting, Hagen said.

Two mayors and a few other elected municipal leaders are using the forum, as is one state delegate and two members of the county’s board of education.

“And there will be many more,” Hagen said. “Beyond them, so far, a few dozen citizens who have kick started the conversations.”

Sounds like a good idea. Here is what I think the link to the forum is http://kaihagen.com/forums.html although you cant really do anything there. I wonder if it isn’t open to the general public yet or maybe there is a different link.

I didn’t see a link in the FNP article, maybe I just missed it. Anyone out there know where the forum is located?

~Guy~

WiredFrederick is a new blog by Kevin Smith, a former reporter for the Frederick Gazette. Kevin says …

Welcome to Frederick’s resident day-tripper. I’ll be doing reviews of things to do in and around Frederick County, Maryland - as long as it’s convenient to get to by car. Sometimes I might be found in Gettysburg, Hagerstown, the Cumberland Gap, West Virginia, Washington, DC and any other place that might be close by.

Sounds awesome!

From Frederick blogger RandomAnna …

Crystal Yourtee of Brunswick, Maryland, is in desperate need of surgery to remove a debilitating cyst from her brain. Crystal, age 26, is dealing with crippling memory loss and pain, and needs constant care. Her mother, Pam Boore of Brunswick, was told that the surgery Crystal needs will cost about $150,000, and Crystal has no health insurance to cover it.

Pam has started a fund for Crystal. Please consider making a donation, however small, if you are a Brunswick resident, or even if you are not. Every dollar will help, so even if you can only spare $1, please try to contribute so that this young woman can have the cyst removed and regain a normal life.

Donations to help Crystal can be accepted at any BB&T bank branch–just say the donation is for Crystal Yourtee in care of her mother, Pam Boore. You can drop off a dollar bill (or more) in person, or else send in a check for more, like we did. Here is the mailing address and phone number for the BB&T branch in Brunswick:

BB&T
94 Souder Rd
Brunswick, MD 21716
(301) 834-5306

Mark any donations as “Crystal Yourtee Fund c/o Pam Boore.”

Sounds like a good cause. Hopefully you could spare a couple bucks and share this news with your freinds and family.

~Guy~