Carnival Season begins in Frederick County 2010

This is not the all inclusive list, but if you know of one that is not listed, by all means please use the comment field to post it.

I enjoy the carnivals.  They are always supporting the local fire departments or local community organizations.  So get out and support your local fire department and your community!!!  These guys need the funds to make sure you are helped in time of need.

Updated 2010 Frederick Carnival Schedule

• Union Bridge – May 25-31
• Woodsboro – June 7-12
• Carroll Manor – June 12-19
• Smithsburg – June 28-July 3
• Walkersville – July 5-July 10
• Guardian Hose – July 19-24
• Middletown - ????
• Winfield - July 12-17
• Burkittsville – July 13-18
• Thurmont – July 19-24
• Urbana – July 19-24
• Mount Airy – July 26-31
• Jefferson – July 26-July 31
• Libertytown - ???
• Rocky Ridge – Aug. 16-21

Have a great day (and a greasy funnel cake.)

Who’s playing at Alive at 5 on Carroll Creek?

Every year the Downtown Frederick Partnership puts on an event called Alive @ 5.  This event has become more and more popular as the word gets out.  Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month they host bands and a happy hour all for a $5 cover charge.  Located at the new amphitheater along Carroll Creek (across from the C. Burr Artz Library) with plenty of seating.  You do have to be 21 or older to enter; however you can sit across the creek and still enjoy the entertainment if you have little ones.

Alive at 5 Schedule

We enjoy going downtown with my dog, Benson, and people watch while taking in some great entertainment.   See you down by the “crick”

This schedule is subject to change without notice.  You can check for changes on the official Alive @ 5 website.

Friday Foto For Frederick Relay

It’s our 13th annual American Cancer Society Relay for Life in Frederick County.   It still surprises me that every year we still have people that say they never heard of it.  I guess it one of the reasons we continue to grow bigger and bigger every year.  Last year we had a total of 790 people signed up by the end of the event.  This year have 800 already.  The night of the event usually has a nice amount of new participant signing up.   I am hoping we top 1000 Relayers.  Not only do we need to have Relayers but we need donations to help find a cure.  Our goal is $200,000 this year.  With the economy the way it has been, we were worried that this was going to be a stretch goal.  I am please to see that we are very near to $150,000.  Tonight will close that gap.

We start at 7 PM at the Frederick Fair Grounds.  Please stop by and see what Relay is all about.  We truly Celebrate, Remember and Fight Back.

The collage below was from a new event this year called Operation: Paint it Purple.  In order to help raise awareness for Relay and Cancer Awareness, ACS has chosen a few days out of the year to “Show us your HOPE.”  We decided to get the city of Frederick involved and asked the Mayor for permission as well as a Proclimation to make that day “A day of HOPE”  Volunteers tied purple ribbons and  balloons all along North Market Street and Carroll Creek.  On top of that we had managed to cast a purple light on a majority of monuments around town.  Why purple?  You will have to visit Operation: Paint it Purple to find out.

There is still time to donate if you are unable to make it out to the Fair Grounds tonight just visit my Team website for a secure donation.  Thank you.

Asbestos Information & Tips for Maryland Homeowners

Located in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States, Maryland is renowned for being at the center of life sciences, with over 350 biotechnological industries and dozens of universities centered in the state.

Regarded as one of the great traditions, the journey to purchasing a home is one of ups, downs and happiness. But it is one that will bring many additional responsibilities.

Often appearing in roof shingles, popcorn ceilings, piping and insulation, asbestos became one of the most popular building applications of the 20^th century. Due to its flame resistant and highly durable qualities, asbestos was the ideal form of insulation for many industries. One of the main things that can go unnoticed is taking simple precautions to avoid asbestos exposure.

Potential Maryland homeowners or those seeking to remodel older homes should be aware that homes built prior to 1980 may still harvest asbestos materials. This should not make you jump out of your chair because asbestos exposure is easily avoidable by taking simple precautions.

If you locate any suspected asbestos in the home, most experts suggest leaving it un-disturbed until a home inspector can examine your property, take evaluations and determine the safest course of action. Sometimes the best action is no action at all. Disturbing asbestos in good condition may cause its fibers to be released into the air.

Long term exposure to damaged airborne asbestos fibers can lead to the development of a severe lung ailment known as mesothelioma. With a latency period that can last 20 to 50 years, this makes mesothelioma prognosis from physicians a difficult task. There are a number of factors that can impact mesothelioma survival rate. These factors include latency period, age of diagnosis and cigarette smoking.

Removal of asbestos in public facilities, workplaces and homes should be performed by licensed abatement contractors as long as the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) are not violated. They must wear protective equipment such as masks and gloves to avoid any exposure. The materials should be removed in as large pieces as possible and places in disposable bags.

If asbestos is removed, green forms of insulation should be used as replacements. These include the use implementation of recycled building materials such as lcynene foam, cotton fiber and cellulose. These alternatives not only allow for a healthy and safe home, but can bring down annual energy costs.

For example, the use of cotton fiber foam has demonstrated to reduce energy costs by 25 % per year. There is no need for any products used in construction to be made from asbestos, yet over 3,000 work and home-based materials still contain this toxin. Many locations throughout the United States are swiftly changing their construction practices to suit the environment and the health of human beings.

Content provided by.
Ben Grayson
National Awareness Coordinator
Mesothelioma Center
(407)965-5755

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