Crab Cake Eating Contest

Al Nalley and slate mate, Stephen Whisler (candidate for Baltimore County Councilman), participated in a crab cake eating contest for the Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department.  Gianni’s Italian Bistro, of Halethorpe, was the location for the event.  The crab cakes were large, bountiful, and tasty.  If only there was enough time to fill up!

The Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. proudly protects 50,000 people in a 40-square-mile area of southwest Baltimore County, Maryland. They are an all-volunteer, non-profit organization dedicated to providing the highest quality Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Medical Services to their community www.arbutusvfd.org.

Polar Bear Plunge

Earlier this year, on January 30, in what had to be one of the coldest days ever for the Annual Polar Bear Plunge for Special Olympics, Al Nalley, Dave Augenbaugh (candidate for Maryland House of Delegates), Stephen Whisler (candidate for Baltimore County Councilman), and many friends took the big plunge in this tremendous event.  It was a great day at Sandy Point State Park.  The air, snow, and water were a force to be reckoned with.

Plungapalooza 2010 featuring the Maryland State Police Polar Bear Plunge! benefits the Special Olympics, which “provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for citizens with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.”  Check out all the latest info at www.plungemd.com.

Adopt-a-Road

Four times each year, the Patapsco Valley Republican Club (PVRC) walks the length of Bloomsbury Avenue, from Frederick Road to South Rolling Road (in Catonsville), picking up trash, as part of the county’s “Adopt-a-Road” Program.  Club members (pictured) include Harry Korrell, Mike and Ree Reininger, their granddaughter, Kayla, along with Betty Schwartz and Al Nalley. For information regarding PVRC see www.patapscovalleygop.org/.

The “Adopt-a-Road” program authorizes volunteer groups and/or individuals to pick up litter and recyclables along the County right-of-ways, and to recognize them for their efforts to improve the appearance of the community and decrease the amount of debris that washes into the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.  For additional information see www.baltimorecountymd.gov/Agencies/publicworks/highways/adoptaroad.html.

Flag Pole Gets Face-lift

The Arbutus Business and Professional Association (ABPA) was looking for a contractor to paint the community flag pole and clock on Oregon Avenue in downtown Arbutus. When the quotes exceeded $10,000, Al Nalley and his brother, Paul Nalley, stepped up and volunteered their services to paint the flag pole and clock.  The only expense to ABPA was that for the paint, approx. $150.00.  The project was completed in one weekend.  A special thank you was extended to United Rental of Arbutus for donating the 50 ft. man lift.

Vandalized Flag Poles

The weekend before Memorial Day, several years ago, vandals damaged the 44 flag poles at the Dewey Lowman American Legion Post 109, in Arbutus.  Al Nalley, his son, Albert Jr., and several employees of WACO Products, in Arbutus, came to the rescue to repair the flag poles in time for the Memorial Day Ceremony.

Six weeks later, Al and his son, along with Chris Melcher, a Post 109 member, repaired or replaced, and reinforced all the flag poles.  A special thank you was extended to Verizon for the use of their bucket truck.

Flag Poles Join Welcome Sign

The Community Associations in Baltimore Highlands, Lansdowne, and Riverview joined together to build a Community Welcome Sign at the corner of Hollinsferry Road and Lansdowne Blvd. (located near Lansdowne High School).  To enhance the Welcome Sign, Al Nalley provided four flag poles, one for the American Flag and one for each of the Community Associations’ flags.

Wilken’s Precinct Memorial

In the spring of 2007, the Baltimore County Police, Wilken’s Precinct, dedicated a memorial in front of the station.  The trees were stout, the flowers beautiful, and the monument distinguished.  The only problem, there was no place to sit.

Al Nalley, George Kapusinski, and Joe Hooe bought two park benches and donated them to the Wilken’s Police and Community Relations Association.  They in turn gave them to the Police for the Park.  Now people can sit and reflect on the spirit of the memorial.

Legislators’ voting records not what they appear to be

Letter to the Editor; Catonsville Times; 12/12/07

A few reflections on the three-week circus in Annapolis, called the legislative Special Session:

With an overwhelming response by citizens against the $1.7 billion tax increase, the legislature, dominated by Democrats, went against the wishes of the people and passed Gov. Martin O’Malley’s tax plan.

A letter I received from Del. Steve DeBoy, plus letters to the editor from Jim Malone and other representatives, denied they voted for the taxes, which causes me to wonder who did. But for the uninformed, they can say they voted against the taxes.

The District 12A delegates will tell you that they hold leadership positions in Annapolis and serve on some of the committees that heard the tax legislation mentioned above. I must admit they do have important positions on those committees. How do you think they received them?

Not by going against the party, but by supporting the governor and Speaker Michael Busch. They will and do vote for bills in committee as instructed and, with the Democratic super majority, the leadership will protect them on the final vote, by allowing them to vote against this legislation.

Remember they are part of the leadership.

The big question I have is: Who are they serving — Gov. O’Malley, Speaker Busch and higher taxes, or you and me, who oppose higher taxes and prefer spending cuts?

Albert Nalley
Catonsville

Put Courthouse in the Plans for the Promenade Project

Letter to the Editor; Catonsville Times; 08/15/07

It is great to see such interest in the Promenade, both pro and con, but there are other interests to consider.

UMBC wants more land, the police and the District Court need larger facilities, and Spring Grove Hospital Center needs updated facilities.

Please consider the following.

Build a new District Court as part of the Promenade.

Why not get our police out of the small antiquated building off Wilkens Avenue by moving them into the old district courthouse across the street from their existing building?

With the additional land there, the K-9 Unit could return to the Wilkens Precinct and the old police station could be transferred to UMBC.

Everybody benefits. Spring Grove gets updated facilities. Public safety receives a great boost in an upgraded courthouse and police station, new athletic fields (to go with our new $1.2 million all-purpose field at Catonsville High School) and for the outdoor enthusiasts, we still have Patapsco Valley State Park bordering Catonsville from Gun Road to River Road.

Albert Nalley
Catonsville