The Warfield Complex

We hear that something may be happening at the Warfield Complex, and we wonder what it is. Perhaps it is a new developer, or some new tenants, perhaps a combination of several things. Whatever it is, we're all anxious to know what it is.

The Sykesville Blame Game

It is not as simple any more to blame a previous administration for the woes of today. And it is also not as simple any more to just blame it on the liberals, as both liberal and conservatives politicians all hail from the same dirty gene pool. Both parties have completely failed the people on every single level of government in this country. The previous Mayor and three council members are gone because the election was a rejection of a the failed policies of the federal government, and local officials took the brunt of that anger. The 3 council members that remained did so because they were not up for re-election.

The policies of previous administration(s) gave us a revitalized Main Street, restored Town House, restored Train Station, Gate House Museum of History, rebuilt Interlocking Tower with Post Office, 10 miles of hiker-biker trails, a protected Historic District, 10 Town Parks, a new Police Station, improved Maintenance Buildings, the Little Sykes Railroad, the new McElroy parking lot, revitilized the old junkyard into new commercial development, made a plan for developing both the Warfield and South Branch Park properties, and created many other amenities. And they did it all at one of the lowest tax rates in Carroll County, and for only 1.6 million in debt?

These things worked because each newly elected administration tried to build on the successes of the outgoing administration, and were guided by annual Town Workshops, Town Opinion Surveys and supported by the work of like-minded volunteers.

You cannot blame the current depression on the previous administration's money policies either, it is the end result of a totally corrupt and failed federal government that we have inherited, and their failed leadership has taken every good thing with it.

Government officials need to lead, and create, and build, not simply blame others for a stagnation of ideas.

And far as "thanking you" when the tax bill arrives, anytime that government "saves me money", it costs me more, so I don't expect anything but another increase.

Government is by it's very nature, a parasite, living on the toil and success of others, and sadly, it no longer works toward a better tomorrow.

Sykesville Becomes a Christmas Postcard Again.

We're snowed in about 5 miles outside of town today, but can just picture how beautiful the old part of town must look in all of this snow. Yes, it's just like a picture postcard again, we're just wishing we could see it. Perhaps some good photos will surface on Sykesville Online!

Sykesville Online Newspaper

There is a new online newspaper for the South Carroll area. We would like to see it grow into a success, so we never see the return of those awful local newspapers thrown on our driveways.
Here is the link

Thelma Crumpacker Wimmer 1909-2009

Thelma Wimmer's spirit is gone from the earth. We will greatly miss her, for she was no ordinary woman. She rode into the world on the back of a horse, and left it on a spaceship.
She lived through the founding of the Boy Scouts, the Model T, the Russian Revolution, World War I, World War II, Prohibition, Women's Right to Vote, the Great Depression, the Hindenburg Disaster, Hitler, FDR, Stalin, Einstein, the Atom Bomb, Elvis, JFK, the Beatles, Man's Landing on the Moon, and the Fall of Communism. In her lifetime, Halley's Comet visited our skies two times.
Thank you, Mrs. Wimmer for creating The Rooms of History, the 1985 Slideshow of Sykesville Architecture, and the Gate House Museum of History.
Thank you for your dedicated work on the Town Council, the Sykesville Improvement Association, the Sykesville Gardening Club, the Sykesville Ladies Club, the Rotary Club, and countless other organizations that are lost to time.
Thank you for teaching us that dogged persistence can yield results.
Thank you for teaching us to love gardening.
Thank you for teaching us to love History.
Thank you for leading by example.
You were the most noble, regal, and extraordinary woman that I ever knew.
Rest in your well deserved peace, we will not see your kind again.

Corn and Pumpkin Day

"Corn and Pumpkin Day" was an annual event that was held in the Autumn of each year in the old town. Not much is written about it, at least not much has been located in our Gate House Museum, but there is an interesting photo. It shows an old car, obviously in a parade, and all along the fenders, windscreen frame, and roof are partially husked corn, and other vegetable regalia of the recent harvest. Local farmers would gather to compete for ribbons or prizes for the best corn, or largest pumpkin, or some other local record breaking title.
We imagine that there were baking contests, pie-eating contests, picnics, and a grand feeling of community spirit. Perhaps someday we will be inspired to return to these simple ideas of what a Fall Festival should be.

Sykesville Fall Festival

I always dread this festival, perhaps it's from when we used to live on Main St. and had to endure the noise, or perhaps it was the year they had the idiotic Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley impersonators. At least one of the reasons is the loud rock band that is set up in front of the shop every year, making it impossible to communicate with customers.
Every year, I think I will just keep the shop closed that day, and every year I open the door. I'm always glad I open, because the kids expect to see the trains running. So, it looks like it will be the same this year. At least we can get a pit beef sandwich for lunch.

Afternoon Update: We made it until almost 4:00, and just had to close to avoid the frustration of not being able to communicate with customers. That's it, our last fall festival in town, NEVER AGAIN will we be open on that day, it is just impossible to do any business.

Long Term Growth Plan

Why is there no long term growth plan, such as the development of the Warfield Project? It just seems to be sitting there, on hold. The danger is that in the hands of inexperienced "leadership" needing a quick dollar, parts of the Warfield Project could be sold off to anyone who wants a site for some undesirable use that does not serve the town citizens well. The Warfield Project is controlled by a group operating independent of the town, perhaps that will protect the project from being sold off in pieces.
Again, I would like to ask... WHY DOES THE TOWN NOT APPROACH THE FORMER MAYOR ABOUT HIS HELP IN DEVELOPING THE WARFIELD PROJECT. No one knows as much about this project than the former Mayor.

Cut and Run

So, it sounds like the new plan for the town is "Cut and Run". Cut the staff and services and run when the residents come after you. How is this a plan? Being in the retail business in a state that is not business friendly, I painfully understand the effects of the economy, but I still have a vision, a plan, even if there is no money to implement it.
So they will cut staff and services in an effort to not raise taxes, perhaps that is some kind of plan. It is a survival plan, a fearful, cringing, look the other way until it gets better plan. What happens when the economy improves, if it ever does? Do they then start hiring new staff and adding services again? That is just being a victim of the whims of the expanding and contracting economy. Hire, fire, run and hide, hire, fire, run and hide.
Be a man, stand up, point to the distant horizon, and tell us where you are going to lead us, and then do it!

The Warfield Project

One of the things that I worry about the most is the state of the Warfield Project. The town has owned the property for about ten years, and many improvements have been made to the property including a new intersection and roundabout, and 2 new tenants.
Will town government ever re-focus it's attention on the project? And will the Warfield Development Corporation ever get some traction on rejuvenating the plan?
We can only watch and wait, as the roofs leak, and vandals roam the grounds around the buildings, it's only a matter of time before it is lost.
How do we get the town's attention?