The New York Times recently made a big deal of the high school football team at Smith Center, Kansas -- a team that, at the time of the newspaper's front-page report, had outscored opponents 704 to zero. Impressive, yes. But the Times piece never answered a basic question: Is Smith Center playing comparable opponents? Is it playing in an appropriate competitive class?

It was a glaring ommission.

By contrast, consider the football team at Hereford High School, in The Hereford Zone in Baltimore County. This team moved up a class in Maryland high school divisions -- from 2A-1A last season to 4A-3A this season -- and it has scored 555 points so far in an undefeated campaign to the state finals. That's a remarkable accomplishment, and tonight at 7 at home in The Zone the Bulls play in the state semifinals against a team from Charles County. Here's Pat O'Malley's setup piece. Good luck to the Bulls.

 

Posted by Dan Rodricks at 2:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Paul Mindus, an old friend and colleague who worked for The Evening Sun in the 1980s, has been in London for several years, and he's taken on a new and interesting venture there.

"I am starting a radio programme called Jewish Moments, which you can listen to on the Internet at http://www.jcomradio.net/ at 7 pm on Tuesdays (7 pm in London, 8 pm in Berlin, 2 pm in New York, 11 am in Los Angeles). The programme is broadcast live on JCom Radio, which is creating an Internet radio station for Britain's Jewish community. It is possible for listeners to participate by phone, email and instant message during the programme.

"Jewish Moments is taken from a feature column we started in the South Circular newsletter at South London Liberal Synagogue to encourage people to capture and share their own personal experiences which crystalised for them some insight or understanding of their Jewish identity.

"My first programme will discuss the journey I took with Rabbi James Baaden to produce a recital two years ago of music composed by my grandfather, Jakob Dymont - a Friday Evening Shabbat Service - and first performed in Berlin in 1934, more than a year after Hitler took power in
Nazi Germany. Jakob Dymont was the father of Lily Dumont, my mother, who was able to
attend the recital at South London Liberal Synagogue in London in September 2005, a few months before she passed away.

"We will play some excerpts from that recital, with gratitude to Vicki Barker for recording the performance, and Rabbi Baaden will share some of the details gleaned from German Jewish newspaper cuttings of the 1930s that describe both the impact of Jakob Dymont's music and the
tightening grip of Nazi persecution on Berlin's Jewish community at that time."

Good luck with this, Paul.

Posted by Dan Rodricks at 12:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Today's column -- along with yesterday's story on the demise of the Edelweiss Bakery and Cafe in Baltimore -- gives me the idea that we should list Great Good Places right here in the Double-R Blog.

So here's one from reader Justin King:

The next time you are traveling north through the Garden State, take a detour and go into Summit, N.J. and seek out the Summit diner.  You will be glad you did.  It's one of those "good great places" that occupies what looks like an old train car with 8 or 10 booths and maybe room for 15 at the counter. Breakfast is best.  An order of bacon is  whatever the cook's over sized spatula can pick up and throw on the plate over the eggs and huge pile of home fries.  That is good eating and well worth the  $4.95 it costs (with coffee in those coffee-stained white coffee mugs.)

Posted by Dan Rodricks at 8:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
                    

The region's economy is stronger than we think, according to the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore. A recent Sun story provided some quick facts from an alliance report:

Among the 25 largest metropolitan areas, Baltimore ranked first for income growth
per person between 2000 and 2005. It's eighth overall for per capita income, about $41,000 in 2005. . . . The region ranks eighth for private-sector employment growth from 2000 to last year, and it has one of the largest concentrations of jobs in the high-paying professional, scientific and technical services sector. . . . About a quarter of the area's office space was added between 2000 and 2006 alone.

Maryland showed up as the wealthiest state in the nation in the last government survey, and when you consider the anticipated economic growth from BRAC (an influx of at least 15,000 defense workers and their families, not to mention -- because Jay Hancock thinks it's oversold -- collateral growth as a result of the shift), and anticipated growth even without BRAC, you can make the case that we are sitting on huge potential not only for the suburban areas but for the city.

How does Balitmore -- an underpopulated city that could easily grow by another 200,000 residents -- get a piece of all this? It has to become a family-friendly city, not just a destination for young, urban professionals with no kids, or empty nesters. Interesting piece from the Wall Street Journal on this subject. It's not just Starbucks that we need here. It's solid schools, safe neighborhoods and affordable housing. A rising generation is going to figure this out. They won't want to drive an hour to work, and have no time for anything because of the long commutes. They are going to look to cities like Baltimore for a more convenient, interesting and environmentally-responsible lifestyle, and the city needs to be ready for them. Baltimore needs to break cycles of poverty, crime and drug addiction. If it does that, it will break another cycle -- young people who live in the city, work in the city, marry and start a family in the city, then head for the 'burbs to raise their kids.

 

Posted by Dan Rodricks at 7:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

Responding to today's column, reader Marge Stiemly writes:

Your column regarding your recent purchase of a partial frog leg tickled my funny bone. If you found the experience as exciting as it appeared, I recommend that you travel to the heart of Virginia.  There are two places that I know off that usually have frog legs offered.  Of course, they are prepared Southern style.  They are generally on the seafood buffet on Friday nights at the restaurant at the Peaks of Otter Lodge in Bedford County, VA and appear regularly at the Dogwood Cafe, a local restaurant in Amherst County, VA. 

As you may know, fried chicken is a Virginia specialty.  There are people who will tell you that frog legs are better than fried chicken.  I can remember as a child seeing a huge platter of wild-caught frog legs on the table for my sister's early May birthday.  This was always her birthday request, and my father went "gigging" for frogs to provide the tender, sweet delicacy for her.   

I enjoy my trips to the Dogwood Cafe to indulge in the delicacy and other down-home country cooking as it takes me on a pleasant trip down memory lane.

 

Posted by Dan Rodricks at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

That's sad news about the death of the baker and owner of Edelweiss Bakery & Cafe, located on the sharp corner where Harford Road meets Old Harford Road. The pastries and cakes were extremely good, and I purchased the German chocolate for birthdays. We had some amusing visits there. The last time, Turkey Joe Trabert, Ingmar Burger, Frank The Fifth Beatle and I sat for the lunch-size portion of sauerbraten, dumplings and red cabbage. It was delicious, and while we dined a dozen pleasant men and women gathered, as they did each Thursday, to sing along with two accordion players. One of the accordion players wore eyeglasses with no lenses - I think to hold his hair in place. But I'm not sure. I didn't ask. It didn't seem like the time or place.

Edelweiss Bakery was a great good place, and a thing about the Thursdays there: When the accordian players gathered and the customers started singing, the room filled with gemutlichkeit. That's German for camaraderie, or "the warm, comfortable feeling one receives from pleasant surroundings and atmosphere." We need all the gemutlichkeit we can get, and now, with Edelweiss's closing, Baltimore has lost a great good source of it.

Posted by Dan Rodricks at 12:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
                    

Mount St. Mary’s, the Catholic university in western Maryland, is celebrating its 200th Anniversary this year with a series of bicentennial events, including a bash in Baltimore this week (Thursday, Marriott Inner Harbor, 6-9 pm.) One of the featured attractions is a replica of the famous 200-year-old Mount cupola in a two-foot tall cake made especially for the celebration by famed baker Duff "Ace of Cakes" Goldman of Charm City Cakes and the Food Network. Sounds nice, but 200 years and just two feet of cake? Fame must be making Duff very pricey these days.

 

Posted by Dan Rodricks at 10:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
                    

Almost don't know what to say about this story. Here's a wonderful guy, very affable and funny, very much alive, very much appreciated by the people at St. Leo's in Little Italy . . . and he's gone in a puff of smoke rising from 30 years in his past. What can we say? Shell shock sets in after a while.

I've been to his celebrations of the Mass, been to a funeral or two, dined with Father Mike. I was there the proud day they installed the statue of St. Leo in the long-empty niche in the top of the facade of the church. ("My spirit's way up," Tommy D'Alesandro, the former mayor of Baltimore and brother of Nancy Pelosi, said that day in 2000. "Higher than it's been in years.")

In 1997, St. Leo's parishoners mourned the sudden loss of another
popular Pallottine pastor, the Rev. Oreste "Rusty" Pandola. Then came Salerno,
a mustachioed cross between John Travolta (as Vinnie Barbarino) and the comic
actor Nathan Lane. He spoke fluent Italian in a thick New York accent -- "I
have a habit of using five different dialects in the same sentence" -- and
spicing homilies with humor. He brought new energy to the parish, expanded its
community outreach and increased church activities for old and young. ("Under
35 -- for us, that's young," Salerno said.) Attendance at Mass grew. The
sanctuary got a new paint job. The outside niche got a new statue. Father Mike appealed to the older folks who spoke Italian, and to some of the yuppies who had moved into the neighborhood and other trendy places in southeast Baltimore; and more of the suburbanites who had grown up in Little Italy started to return to St. Leo's on the weekends.

"I don't want to say who it was," the Rev. Frank Amato, Pallottine provincial and Salerno's superior, kidded the crowd in the wooden pews on the day of the statue installation. "But at one of the [Little Italy] festivals, someone cutting dough pointed a knife at me and said, `You better not move him. If you move him, you better not set foot in Little Italy again.' "
   Amato assured the parish that Salerno would not be transferred any time soon. To that there was great applause, and when someone asked for a special salute to Salerno, the applause was prolonged and spiked with "bravos," like a curtain call for an opera star.

And now this . . . .  The Catholic hierarchy thinks they've weathered the worst of this scandalous storm, but as time goes by more of these allegations emerge. What a surreal and tragic nightmare.

I hear that a St. Leo's parish group will be holding a prayer service in a home in Little Italy this evening.

 

Posted by Dan Rodricks at 10:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

It's here! It's finally here! It's bottles-and-cans recycling day in Baltimore. We haven't had one since Oct. 22. With the Veterans Day holiday falling as it did and the city bureaucracy apparently being less than willing to make workers make up for lost work -- or to change the curbside recycling pickup date -- those of us who still care have a mound of bulky blue bags, the biggest of the year. Be careful out there as piles of blue bags will present obstacles to drivers and pedestrians as they try to traverse the city streets today. This pickup should take all day, too. When the city waits five weeks to collect, I can only imagine what a strain and backup this puts on the system. Anyway, let us rejoice! The big blue B is finally on the calendar again! It's time to Purge, Baby, Purge!

Posted by Dan Rodricks at 7:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
                    

Several readers already have contacted me about today's column -- to share their own thoughts and experiences when it comes to family and choices and distance. Please post your comments on this blog for others to read.

Robert Byrnes, who edited the column, just returned from visiting in-laws in Florida and noted the loss of a central place for family gatherings, and how easy it used to be for families to get together. "Maybe a follow-up," he suggested in a note last night, "could be people who move away and then come back to Baltimore to be near family."

Here's a comment from reader Mannlou: "Thanks for a very reflective piece. There is often so much pain in family life through divorce and separation. I often wonder how it is for those whose parents never bother to marry. Your insights might help us to better understand the suffering of
many of the Latino immigrants who come here to earn enough money to send home, or who hope to bring their family to the US. Separation from family, even when we think we don't need them, is the ultimate form of loss only made more real through death."

 

 

Posted by Dan Rodricks at 2:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

We have a winner -- Charles Mannion has made what I consider a serious bid for the homemade Italian subs (that could have gone to the Ravens offense, had Brian Billick just picked up the phone and asked for them). Anyway, Mr. Mannion gets the subs for his holiday party in return for a donation to the Patterson Park Stars, an ice hockey program for inner-city kids for which I have great affection.

For those just catching up (or responding to this blog only because it has the word "Ravens" in the title) here's the background:

See, I said I love the Ravens, but that they were borning me and I wanted to see 40 points in a game but would settle for 30. I said that, if the Ravens scored 30 in at least one game before Christmas, I'd send Head Coach Brian Billick and the starting offense a basket of homemade Italian subs, with the good soppressato and fresh mozzarella.

So what happens? They scored 30 in a frustrating loss to Cleveland.

Does Billick or any other member of the offense contact me to make good on the offer?

No.

And you know what? This deal does not automatically kick in. I'm not going to make subs and send them out to the Ravens complex so they can sit for 10 hours in a basket at the front desk in the lobby with Mr. Modell's oil painting looking down on them. I have to get the call that says, "Hey, Dan, how about those subs?"

It's been a week now and I haven't heard a thing, so fine then.

As far as I'm concerned the deal is off. The Ravens don't get my best subs. But if your office needs a lunch -- 12 high-quality Italian subs -- I'll make them and deliver them in return for a donation to a favorite charity. If you want to make a deal, drop me a line at dan.rodricks@baltsun.com

Posted by Dan Rodricks at 11:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

The day of Dallas.
Forty-four years ago, 1963.
I have a memory from that day -- dismissal from school on the afternoon President Kennedy was killed. It was a Friday, clear and bright, and Officer Charlie Thomas, the usually jolly crossing guard for my town, wept as he held up his arms to stop traffic in front of our school. Whenever we get to November, around Thanksgiving, I look at the silver bark of trees, washed in bright afternoon sunlight, and I think of the day Kennedy died and how the world seemed to shatter.
It was a heart-scorching moment that no longer seems like yesterday. It was a huge national tragedy and an international event that, by the force of time, has finally become a still life rather than living history, black-and-white instead of color.
Those who can remember Nov. 22, 1963, are saddened by the memories, but the hurt is not as acute as it once was. The scars have faded. Only time has made that possible.
The JFK assassination was the 9/11 of my childhood, and 9/11 is the JFK assassination of my children's lives. My daughter was 9 when the terrorists attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. I was the same age when JFK was killed. The memories of the effect of JFK's assassination on the grownups around us --- their shock at the murder of promise and the death of an ideal -- will remain forever with those of us of an age to remember.
I used to think we dwelled too much on JFK's death and that we attributed to Dallas more of an impact on American life, politics and culture than any such single event deserved. But I've changed my mind as time goes by. I think it marked the birth of an age of cynicism that persists to this day. The events that followed Dallas -- within five years, JFK's brother Robert and Martin Luther King Jr. were murdered; and the Vietnam War ripped the country apart -- compounded the condition. We have not been upset or particularly disturbed by it; we've grown used to it. Though its wings have flickered in the shadows of American life from time to time, I have not yet seen the great, exotic bird of idealism, fully restored and perched on the arm of a president. John F. Kennedy said: "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." Four decades later, the president told an interviewer that it's sufficient sacrifice for Americans to watch TV news about the Iraq war and feel distressed. After the terrorist attacks of 2001, he did not call for more volunteerism and public service; he suggested "live your lives" and go shopping, and we certainly do plenty of that now.

Posted by Dan Rodricks at 11:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

The day of Dallas.
Forty-four years ago, 1963.
I have a memory from that day -- dismissal from school on the afternoon President Kennedy was killed. It was a Friday, clear and bright, and Officer Charlie Thomas, the usually jolly crossing guard for my town, wept as he held up his arms to stop traffic in front of our school. Whenever we get to November, around Thanksgiving, I look at the silver bark of trees, washed in bright afternoon sunlight, and I think of the day Kennedy died and how the world seemed to shatter.
It was a heart-scorching moment that no longer seems like yesterday. It was a huge national tragedy and an international event that, by the force of time, has finally become a still life rather than living history, black-and-white instead of color.
Those who can remember Nov. 22, 1963, are saddened by the memories, but the hurt is not as acute as it once was. The scars have faded. Only time has made that possible.
The JFK assassination was the 9/11 of my childhood, and 9/11 is the JFK assassination of my children's lives. My daughter was 9 when the terrorists attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. I was the same age when JFK was killed. The memories of the effect of JFK's assassination on the grownups around us --- their shock at the murder of promise and the death of an ideal -- will remain forever with those of us of an age to remember.
I used to think we dwelled too much on JFK's death and that we attributed to Dallas more of an impact on American life, politics and culture than any such single event deserved. But I've changed my mind as time goes by. I think it marked the birth of an age of cynicism that persists to this day. The events that followed Dallas -- within five years, JFK's brother Robert and Martin Luther King Jr. were murdered; and the Vietnam War ripped the country apart -- compounded the condition. We have not been upset or particularly disturbed by it; we've grown used to it. Though its wings have flickered in the shadows of American life from time to time, I have not yet seen the great, exotic bird of idealism, fully restored and perched on the arm of a president. John F. Kennedy said: "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." Four decades later, the president told an interviewer that it's sufficient sacrifice for Americans to watch TV news about the Iraq war and feel distressed. After the terrorist attacks of 2001, he did not call for more volunteerism and public service; he suggested "live your lives" and go shopping, and we certainly do plenty of that now.

Posted by Dan Rodricks at 9:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

A link to an interesting story regarding JFK and the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks comes to us from Chris Cheesman, the news editor at Amateur Photographer magazine in London. Story summary: The estate of President John F. Kennedy's personal photographer has accepted an undisclosed sum over the loss of 40,000 negatives at the World Trade Center in 2001.

Posted by Dan Rodricks at 8:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

What did I say -- in this space and in print?

I said I love the Ravens, but that they were borning me and I wanted to see 40 points in a game but would settle for 30. I said that, if the Ravens scored 30 in at least one game before Christmas, I'd send Head Coach Brian Billick and the starting offense a basket of homemade Italian subs, with the good soppressato and fresh mozzarella.

So what happens? They scored 30 in a frustrating loss to Cleveland.

Does Billick or any other member of the offense contact me to make good on the offer?

No.

And you know what? This deal does not automatically kick in. I'm not going to make subs and send them out to Owings Mills so they can sit for 10 hours in a basket at the front desk in the lobby with Mr. Modell's oil painting looking down on them. I have to get the call that says, "Hey, Dan, how about those subs?"

It's been a few days now and I haven't heard a thing, so fine then.

As far as I'm concerned the deal is off. The Ravens don't get my best subs. But if your office needs a lunch -- 12 high-quality Italian subs -- I'll make them and deliver them in return for a donation to a favorite charity. If you want to make a deal, drop me a line at dan.rodricks@baltsun.com

 

Posted by Dan Rodricks at 6:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

This Just In, from a supporter of the Rev. Michael (Father Mike) Salerno, the pastor of St. Leo's in Little Italy who stepped down midst allegations that he sexually abused a teenager some 30 years ago in New York:

On Monday, November 26th at 6:30pm we will be gathering at the corner of Stiles and South Exeter Street (outside the church) to hold a Prayer Service/Candlelight Vigil in support of Fr. Michael Salerno, the St. Leo's Community and victims of sexual abuse. Fr. Mike worked so hard to build a strong parish and community. Let's come together to show him our support, continue his work, and to help everyone heal. If Fr. Mike has helped you, your family, loved ones, community--please come and show your support for him, St. Leo's and all victims of sexual abuse.
We are asking those that can to bring safety candles (and dixie cups for the wax).

People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered.
LOVE THEM ANYWAY

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives,
DO GOOD ANYWAY

If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies,
SUCCEED ANYWAY

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow,
DO GOOD ANYWAY
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable,
BE HONEST AND FRANK ANYWAY
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight,
BUILD ANYWAY.
People really need help but may attack you if you do help them,
HELP PEOPLE ANYWAY
Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
GIVE THE WORLD THE BEST YOU'VE GOT ANYWAY

Posted by Dan Rodricks at 11:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

Posted by Dan Rodricks at 7:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
                    

A reader named Fred Cusimano shares a study in human nature from the weekend. It's kind of a bathroom story, but it speaks to that old adage: Never judge a book by its cover.

 "My wife and I had a 7:30 dinner engagement with two other couples this past Saturday evening.  We were to meet at a restaurant in Edgewood known as Giovanni’s. The two of us arrived about 45 minutes early and decided to wait in the lounge for our friends. Before going into the lounge, I asked my wife to wait for me while I made a quick stop to the restroom.
  "When I entered the restroom there was a young man standing there kind of lurking around one of the stalls. The only description to characterize him was a full-fledged skinhead. He had, of course, a completely shaven head along with an earring and requisite facial hair (think Edward Norton in American History X), T-shirt, jeans, and pointed boots. He was very scary to me and I kinda’ kept him in view while I did my business.
  "As I was standing there I heard, from the stall, the voice of what seemed to be a little girl of about 6 or 7 say, 'Daddy, are you still there?' 
  "Whereupon this scary skinhead replied, 'Yes, I am, sweetheart.'
  "'I see you now, daddy,' she said, as he peered through the closed stall door. 'And I can see your eyes.'
  "The little girl then said, 'Daddy, the wall is pretty.' (It is decorated in square tiles that are inlaid in a pattern of diamonds). The skinhead said, “Yes, the wall is pretty.'
  "'It’s all diamonds,' said the girl.
  "'It sure is,' said the skinhead. 'They're also called rhombuses.' 
  "I think you get the picture and you can't imagine my thoughts. I walk in and immediately peg this guy as some bad and dangerous person, and he’s in there not only engaging and comforting his little daughter in the men’s room but also taking the opportunity to turn it into a learning experience in geometry. I was flabbergasted, moved, and embarrassed all at the same time. When I told my wife, she said it reminded her of the movie Crash and how we so quickly judge others."

Posted by Dan Rodricks at 9:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
                    

According to Maryland records, Frank Gulbrandsen, the maintenance man hired by the Rev. Ray Martin to work at Holy Cross Church in South Baltimore, had most of his scrapes with the law in the 1990s, when he was in his 20s. The offenses and resolutions were: Possession of marijuana (1991, Anne Arundel County, case inactive); manufacture, distribution PCP (1993, Anne Arundel County, defendant committed to drug treatment); breaking and entering of a dwelling (1991, Anne Arundel, guilty, $250 fine); possession controlled dangerous substance, PCP (1994, Anne Arundel, defendant committed to drug treatment). Two bad-check charges in the 1990s were dropped. Other than this, and some speeding tickets in more recent years, there is nothing else on Gulbrandsen's record. His record is similar to those of many other ex-offenders and recovering or recovered drug abusers or addicts who have contacted The Sun since June 2005 in search of employment.

Posted by Dan Rodricks at 8:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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