Taneytown

RESIDENTS and businesses throughout northwest Carroll County decked their premises in recent weeks for the holiday season.One of the nicest displays in Taneytown was the one of candy canes and ribbons by Rick and Robin Watson, who live at 141 W. Baltimore St., near Memorial Park.Their design took top overall honors in the residential division of the Door/Housefront Decorating Contest.The Taneytown Heritage Committee donated prizes for the residential winners, while the Taneytown Chamber of Commerce donated the business prizes.

A NEW GATHERING place is open in Taneytown. The Irish Moon, a coffeehouse at Frederick and Baltimore streets, has become a magnet for residents in this small, northwest Carroll County town. "It's bringing back the neighborhood," said Nancy McCormick, Taneytown's economic development director. "It's getting to be the place to go. It's giving visibility to downtown." During a recent visit, Taneytown resident Richard Stonsifer sat sipping a cup of java and chatting with other customers. "Taneytown needed it, obviously," he said.

Carroll County Pregnancy Center will sponsor a Run for Life fund-raiser Sunday in Taneytown. Registration will begin at 11:45 a.m., with a 5-kilometer run starting at 1 p.m. A half-mile fun run for the elderly, young or short-distance runners will be available. The run will start and end at Baltimore and York streets. Entry fee is $10 per runner or $20 for a family. Medals will be awarded to the top finishers in three age groups. Certificates and other prizes will be awarded to all runners.

The 9-week-old Taneytown girl was injured yesterday when the car driven by her father struck a utility pole on Black's Schoolhouse Road.Elizabeth Rhoten was taken to Hanover General Hospital after the crash.Hospital officials last night said her injuries did not appear to be serious, and she was expected to be released after treatment.Her father, Dennis Rhoten, 30, of the first block of E. Baltimore St., told Taneytown police Sgt. Greg Woelfel that his car left the road when a sheep wandered into its path as he drove along Black's Schoolhouse Road near Stone Road about 5:30 p.m.He said Elizabeth was in a car seat in the back of his Chevette.

Four people who were awakened by a smoke detector escaped from their Taneytown home without injury when a fire erupted in one of the bedrooms about 11:45 p.m. Friday.Investigators from the state fire marshal's office said the blaze, which caused about $10,000 damage to the home, was accidental. The cause was an extension cord in the bedroom that burned.Fire officials said the house, in the first block of Wilson Ave., was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Jerrold Utz and their two children, Shane and Shannon.

Taneytown suffers from an embarrassment of riches. The town has more money than it can spend.Last fiscal year, which ended June 30, 1992, the town needed only $636,719 to meet its expenses. But its tax collections amounted to $895,612 -- giving it a surplus of about $260,000. With the surplus from last year, the town now has a nest egg of about $970,000. That is the kind of budgeting likely to make H. Ross Perot break into a huge grin.There may be some town residents who aren't smiling, however.

For the 6,500 residents of Taneytown, Monday's election is an automatic reaffirmation of the current direction of their municipal government. Three seats on the five-member council are up for grabs, but only one person has decided to challenge the three incumbents running for re-election.The three incumbents -- Thomas J. Denike, Henry C. Heine and James L. McCarron -- are standing on their records. Challenger Roger Keller concurs with the basic initiatives of the council but complains that the body hasn't related well enough to residents.

It would be a mistake to turn Taneytown's rejection of $100,000 in state money for a community health center into a referendum on abortion, according to a group of religious leaders."

TANEYTOWN YOUTH Jeremy Rodkey took first place in his division in the 2002 Coca-Cola Youth Bowling Championships last week in Winter Haven, Fla. The Francis Scott Key High School sophomore qualified for the competition at Thunderhead Bowling Centre in Taneytown. He then competed in a regional contest in Randallstown. That win propelled him to the state competition in Ellicott City, where he won. He went to the international competition - which included 200 bowlers from Puerto Rico, six Canadian provinces, and military zones in the Caribbean, Europe and Far East - with a 150 average.

THIS WEEKEND will not want for fun things to do. Celebrate Taneytown and Middleburg Days will be held Saturday and Sunday. Taneytown will celebrate its rich heritage with Civil War battle and camp re-enactments, a visit from an Abraham Lincoln impersonator and candlelight ghost tours. About 250 re-enactors from across the country will open camp at 9 a.m. Saturday at the city's Memorial Park on Route 140. The weekend also will feature children's and Boy Scouts' activities, a display of vintage steam engines and entertainment.