Republican Club

The South Carroll Republican Club will meet at 7: 30 p.m. tomorrow in the community room of Carroll County Bank and Trust Co. in Eldersburg.County school board member Joseph D. Mish will discuss recent board decisions and answer questions.Refreshments will be served afterward.The bank is at Routes 32 and 26. Use the door to the left of the bank lobby.Information: 410-781-6316.FireGamber: Firefighters responded at 7: 27 p.m. Thursday to investigate smoke in the 600 block of Klees Mill Road.

At its last gathering, the ready-to-disband Mount Royal Democratic Club drew one of its biggest crowds in recent years to mark the end of an era Saturday evening at the club's annual holiday bash. Organizers said it was the final hurrah for a club that no longer has a place in an age of community association activism, the Internet and too many other demands on members' time. Several hundred formally dressed people, including current and former members and invited guests, mingled with top elected Democrats over cocktails and pate while a brass quartet entertained in the marble lobby of the MICA building in the 1300 block of Mount Royal Ave. Gov. Martin O'Malley joked that the club's president, former state Sen. Julian L. Lapides, had come up with a great marketing gimmick, advertising the bash each year as the final one, likening it to "the Cher farewell tour.

Mount Airy Republicans have formed a new organization to get out the vote next year."We're going to have a grass-roots effort and really try to make things work for Republicans in '94," said Wendi Peters, vice president of the recently created Greater Mount Airy Republican Club."

It seems to be a tradition in Maryland for Republicans to say they are planning to run for governor - but would happily bow out if Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. gets in the race. Audrey E. Scott, now the state Republican chairwoman, and businessman John M. Kane stepped forward nearly a decade ago as admitted backup candidates before Ehrlich, then in Congress, announced his candidacy for governor and eventually won. This year, Del. Patrick L. McDonough, a Baltimore County Republican, says he's thinking of running but is willing to step aside if Ehrlich jumps in this winter.

LONACONING -- Republicans from far and wide have come to a grand old place in Lonaconing -- the meeting hall of the Grand Old Party where members have assembled for debate, drink and duckpins for 49 years.Hidden away in the Western Maryland mountains of Allegany County, the Lonaconing Republican Club is legendary for its party loyalty, so much so that its members boast that it is the largest such Republican club in the nation."I think we are considered the largest Republican Club incorporated in the United States," said club President Marvin "Huck" Shockey.

The Howard County African-American Republican Club yesterday has widened the party's so-called big tent enough to endorse Circuit Judges Donna Hill Staton and Diane O. Leasure -- winners of the Democratic primary and Gov. Parris N. Glendening's appointees.The women's qualifications -- along with the gender and racial diversity they bring as the county's first female circuit judge and first black judge -- swayed the 15-member group to endorse them, club president Delroy L. Cornick Sr. said.

The dart teams walked out on David D. Morgan Sr. late last week. Three of his pool squads had already left, packing their cue sticks when they learned the Hampden Republican Club could no longer sell its $1.50 beers. For the dart-tossing, pool-shooting crowd, that was simply an unacceptable change after decades of being able to buy drinks there. "For 19 1/2 years the Democratic Club served alcohol," said Morgan, 61, referring to a former life of the establishment he now runs. Pacing in his empty club in an Orioles cap and T-shirt, Morgan added, "I drank with Schaefer at this very bar while he was running for mayor."

50 Years Ago (week of Sept. 29-Oct. 5, 1940):A committee was formed this week in Howard County for the purpose of aiding Jewish citizens of Poland and other parts of Europe who were suffering from persecution as well as other hardships caused by World War II. A fund drive was scheduled to take place during the month of October, with a countywide goal of $1,750 in donations. Committee members stated that the persecution of Jews in Europe should be considered an affront to freedom and democracy for all people.

Wal-Mart plans donation from sales to Food SundayThe Westminster Wal-Mart store has announced that a percentage of its sales from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday will go to Carroll County Food Sunday.Manager L. J. Thomas said all Wal-Mart stores do a benefit sale every year and that the store's associates pick the charity."Carroll County Food Sunday needs the help, so they picked that," he said.Last year, the Westminster store donated a portion of the sale to Roads to Recovery.Republican Club to meet Monday in WestminsterThe Carroll County Republican Club will meet at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Kountry Kafe Kitchen in Sherwood Square, Westminster.

Name: Donald TaylorHonored by The Carroll County Sun for: Being appointed to the Advisory Board of Carroll Community College for a two-year termAge: 66Residence; hometown: Westminster; Relay, Baltimore CountyEducation: Bachelor of science degree in engineering, University of Maryland, 1951Family: Wife: Ellen, 61, homemaker; children:Karen Walters, 41, of Ada, Okla.; Donald Craig, 39; Allan, 38; and Wayne, 36, all of Westminster; Scott, 34, of Montrose, Colo.; and Barbara, 28, at home; and 12 grandchildrenActivities/hobbies: RetiredJuly 1987 from Westinghouse Corp.

It seems to be a tradition in Maryland for Republicans to say they are planning to run for governor - but would happily bow out if Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. gets in the race. Audrey E. Scott, now the state Republican chairwoman, and businessman John M. Kane stepped forward nearly a decade ago as admitted backup candidates before Ehrlich, then in Congress, announced his candidacy for governor and eventually won. This year, Del. Patrick L. McDonough, a Baltimore County Republican, says he's thinking of running but is willing to step aside if Ehrlich jumps in this winter.

For several months, the Carroll County Republican Club met inconspicuously at a Woodbine residence, while two of its officers faced campaign finance charges. The political club's lawyers had advised keeping a low-profile and limiting interaction with the media while the case was pending. But the club embarked on a significant change of course last week. With the charges thrown out earlier this summer, the club gathered publicly for the first time, undertaking an effort to expand membership and generate support for conservative Republican causes in Carroll and across Maryland.

A rebellion among Republicans in conservative Carroll County has some GOP faithful doing the unthinkable in the commissioner election this year: supporting a Democrat who aims to be the first of his party on the three-member board in more than a dozen years. Prominent Republicans throughout the county are lending support to a ticket with Republican incumbents Julia Walsh Gouge and Dean L. Minnich and Democrat Dennis E. Beard, a retired firefighter from Sykesville. That's unusual in a county where registered Republican voters outnumber Democrats by nearly 2 to 1. The effort could mean defeat for Michael D. Zimmer, an Eldersburg attorney who ousted incumbent Commissioner Perry L. Jones in the Republican primary.

The Republican Women's Club of Carroll County and a few male guests who gathered last week in Eldersburg talked politics, sipped punch and munched on star-shaped cookies coated with red, white and blue sprinkles. But the main item on their agenda was an imminent phone call. First lady Laura Bush would be "calling with a personal message," announced Gerrye Johnston, party hostess and the club's membership committee chairwoman. "This is a phenomenal blessing for us," Johnston said. That the one small party with about 15 guests was among 7,000 other groups sharing in the conversation did not dampen their enthusiasm.

African American Republican Club sets essay contest The African American Republican Club of Howard County is sponsoring its annual essay contest for high school seniors. The essay is to profile a prominent African-American. This year's topic is "The Life and Accomplishments of Dr. Delroy Leon Cornick, Sr.," a veteran of World War II and Howard County Republican activist and politician. The winner, who will be selected for his or her initiative, research and writing skill, will receive a $500 scholarship.

The dart teams walked out on David D. Morgan Sr. late last week. Three of his pool squads had already left, packing their cue sticks when they learned the Hampden Republican Club could no longer sell its $1.50 beers. For the dart-tossing, pool-shooting crowd, that was simply an unacceptable change after decades of being able to buy drinks there. "For 19 1/2 years the Democratic Club served alcohol," said Morgan, 61, referring to a former life of the establishment he now runs. Pacing in his empty club in an Orioles cap and T-shirt, Morgan added, "I drank with Schaefer at this very bar while he was running for mayor."

Senior Republican Club plans to meet Sept. 1The Senior Republican Club will meet at 2 p.m. Sept. 1 in the meeting room of the Harundale Library. The guest speaker will be Richard N. Dixon, the state treasurer, and his topic will be "The State Treasurer's Office: Its Purpose, Mission and Responsibilities."All are welcome. Light refreshments will be served. Information: 410-647-5667.Mobile home owners' group will hold candidates' nightAnne Arundel County Mobile Home Owners' Association will hold a candidates' night at 7: 30 Aug. 26 in the auditorium of Wesley Grove United Methodist Church, 1320 Dorsey Board, Harmans.

Senator to speak to Republican clubState Sen. Timothy R. Ferguson will speak at the May 15 meeting of the West Carroll Republican Club. Mr. Ferguson, a Republican from Taylorsville representing District 4, recently finished his first term in Annapolis.Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. at a cost of $3 at United Methodist Church, 200 Main St., New Windsor.The program will begin at 7:30 p.m.Information: 635-2645.Rotary Club gives $1,000 to literacy groupThe Rotary Club of Bonds Meadow recently presented $1,000 to the Literacy Council of Carroll County from proceeds of a St. Patrick's Day dinner in March that more than 300 people attended.

Robin Kriete of Eldersburg was elected Thursday night to the Carroll County Republican Central Committee, replacing Betty L. Smith, who resigned in January in protest of the organization's gun raffle. Kriete has been actively involved with the Republican Party more than five years, starting with the South Carroll Republican Club. She was treasurer two years, president two years and is vice president. "Through her efforts, the South Carroll club has become very strong, with quite a few new members there," said W. David Blair, Central Committee chairman.