November 2001: Pale Blue Dot

The events of 9/11 kind of took the wind out of our web sails here, but seeing the Taliban fall and the rescue of the aid workers in Afghanistan has lifted our spirits considerably. By way of a reflection on this, we offer the following quote from the late Carl Sagan, in his book "Pale Blue Dot":

"The earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that in glory and in triumph they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot. Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of the dot on scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner of the dot. How frequent their misunderstandings, how eager they are to kill one another, how fervent their hatreds. Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the universe, are challenged by this point of pale light ... there is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly and compassionately with one another and to preserve and cherish that pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known.""

July 2001: The Dunn's Visit Maryland

We had a great Independence day visit with the Dunn's of Fort Fairfield, Maine, this week. They came and saw their fill of the National Mall, but developed the impression that it rains every day in Washington, DC. It was especially rainy on the night of the 4th, beginning around 5pm, and continuing sporadically, but with increasing intensity, until just before the scheduled fireworks. Then the skys cleared and we finally were rewarded with a clear show, but on the way home, it rained REALLY hard, making it a slow drive. We were all very wet, but the only casualty was a walkie talkie that ended up in a pool of water in the bottom of a backpack! In addition to the fireworks, other attractions included softball games, the Air and Space museum and SolarMax, the Mint, the Holocaust museum, and the monuments at midnight. See our new photo albums at the link to the left!

June 2001: Moore's visit Colorado

The Moore's toured Colorado from Denver to Boulder, to Aspen/Snowmass and back to the front range to Colorado Springs, ending up back in Denver after about a week. Among the highlights were the visit with Aunt Terry on the Boulder Pearl St. Mall, the Maroon Bells behind Snowmass village, Aspen Mountain, horseback riding and hiking on Snowmass mountain, Buffalo on the hoof, the Garden of the Gods (shown here) and Indian cliff dwellings in Colo. Spgs., and the Buskerfest in downtown Denver, visiting with Roger Piwowarski. See our new photo albums at the link to the left!

May 2001: Whitney Drives!

Actually, Whitney has been driving with a learner's permit for some months now. She has logged over 40 hours of driving as a student, including night time driving, and taken extensive driver's education classes. She will earn her drivers license by early June and be able to drive solo thereafter. Forewarned is forearmed.

Gulp!

April 2001: The (Kevyn) Fowler's Visit Maryland

Over the Easter holiday, the Moores were treated to a visit from Kevyn, Lori, Duncan, Ethan, and Aubrey Fowler of New Gloucester, Maine. Check out our photo albums for photos, appearing soon. Together, we had a great time fixing the basketball hoop, fixing the breakfast table light fixture, etc. etc. (!?) Well, actually, we did some other things too, like buying ice cream from the good humour man, heading for Annapolis, including Thomas Point, a fishing spot we'd never explored before, the Washington Zoo, and others. The Fowlers explored downtown DC museums and other fishing spots around these parts. Then we all headed north for a trip to the Gettysburg area, where we finally toured Cemetary Ridge, the Rountops, Devils Den, the Wheatfield and all those other spots we've all read about on the battlefields there. It was great, and we look forward to future explorations when the Fowlers come visiting again...

1 March 2001: Roxy the Mystery Dog: Breed Identified

Roxy, the mystery dog was initially identified as a Black Labrador Retriever, but no one was ever quite convinced. She has funny helicopter ears that are distinctly un-Lab. What's more, she is too wiry for a Lab, with chest and hindquarters that look more like a greyhound or whippet. And, she races around in circles at times in a way that is also distinctly un-Lab. On the other hand, she points like a retriever to anything that moves, like a squirrel, or possum in the back yard. Finally, after a visit here, Grampa Bob Fowler was able to positively identify Roxy as a Greenland Retriever. This is a little known breed for obvious reasons. The correct identification really helps to understand why Roxy is SO fond of snow. She acts like snow is her natural habitat, running around and diving into it, swimming in it as if it was a lake, etc. Isn't it great to have that controversy settled!?

11 February 2001: Crofton High School and the Anne Arundel County Board of Education

The building of Crofton High School has been stymied since the community was formed 35 years ago. About 25 years ago, in the face of strong growth, a parcel of land was reserved for a high school adjacent to Crofton Middle School. With area secondary schools overcrowded and development booming, there still is no Crofton High School. How could this be?

It isn't for lack of community interest and spirit. Recent turnouts at the AACPS budget hearings, editorial pieces in regional newspapers, and public statements by public officials, demonstrate that there is strong sentiment in the community for a 13th high school in the west county that would service the needs of the greater Crofton area. Why not just add on to an existing school? Because our high schools are already unwieldy, running well over 2000 students when the best thinking is that students are best served in smaller schools of around 1000-1500 in size.

The answer is known best to the Anne Arundel County Public School Board of Education, a group of eight, appointed by the Governor. How is this group constituted? Of its 8 members, fully half represent the densely populated northern end of our county, comprising less than 10% of its land area. Two others represent Severna Park, a community privileged with what is arguably the most successful high school in the county. One represents our State Capitol of Annapolis, and one represents the less heavily populated southern end of the county.

The minutes of the AACPS BOE meetings (online at www.aacps.org) reveal a body obsessed with the distribution of resources among the various communities. This is the nature of a school board with purview over so large a school system. But the older, established population centers are now resisting the needs of the newer parts of the county so as to retain command of the bulk of education resources. This is done from a posture of objectivity and fair-mindedness that characterizes Crofton interests in a new high school as "self-serving" and "failing to consider the best interests of the county". The terms "13th high school", or "west county high school" address board concerns that Crofton might actually feel community pride of ownership in such a high school. God forbid! We have created organizations that find it problematic when communities exhibit prideful interest in their own schools. This is a sick situation that will lead sooner or later to taxpayer revolt.

The best way for the AACPS board to show that it can represent and serve the entire county fairly and efficiently is to show some initiative in addressing the needs of the newer parts of the county (i.e., those parts that have grown up since 1965!). This will require that board members stop guarding the resources of the older communities like so many bull lions, and begin acting like responsible administrators concerned about providing for the needs of their new constituents in the western part of the county. Then they will quickly recognize the need for Crofton High School and get it off the drawing boards and into bricks and mortar.

16 January 2001: Crofton Votes for a Tax Increase

Crofton Special Tax District Voters met Tuesday night and decided to increase their taxes by 1¢ per $100 of evaluation (from 26¢ to 27¢), to undertake needed maintenance and renewal projects. After about an hour and a half of discussion, the final vote was 161 of 214 (75%) voting YES to the board's proposed budget, according to town secretary, Sue Bents. In the photo, district board officers Rich Trunnell, John Hollywood, and Doug Underhill answer questions about the proposed budget.

The 3.8% increase in the tax rate, plus funds already set aside in previous years, will support COLA and merit increases for District employees, the purchase of a new police cruiser and radio dispatch system, renewal of the HVAC system at the town hall, correction of a drainage problem at Swann Park, creation of a passive park area at Rt. 450 and Good Hope Drive, and the restoration of funding for long range community planning.

The vote contrasted with an angry reaction to the proposed district budget last year, resulting in a 1¢ drop in the tax rate at that time. There was some criticism of the budget proposed this year as well, including assertions that the current budget suffers from waste in the areas of maintenance and police patrols outside the tax district. Some residents who pitch in to correct maintenance deficiencies in public areas were critical of the district for not taking better care of those areas.

Overall, however, there was broad support for the activities supported by the tax district, and several attendees commented favorably on the police and maintenance efforts in Crofton. Others were impressed with the clarity of the budget presentation. Board members noted that the tax rate in Crofton is at its lowest level since incorporation of the tax district, and this combined with perceptions of good value appeared to carry the vote decisively for the proposed tax increase.

January 2001: The Real New Millenium?

No matter when you think the new millennium really began, we all agree that we are now in it. 2001/01/01: doesn't that sound like the start of something big?

Santa brought us a digital camera this year, so watch for more frequent updates of our Family Photo Albums, via the link at the left. There's also a link there to download a copy of our 2000 family newsletter in PDF.

Best New Year's and New Millenium's wishes from the Moores!

© 2000 Moore Family, Inc.™