Danny Jacobs of the Maryland Daily Record wrote an article in the Maryland Lawyer section yesterday about lawsuit by a health club member filed against the Maryland Athletic Club & Wellness Center (commonly known as the MAC), a Baltimore area mega health club, by a woman who claimed her locker was broken into while she was working out.   The lawsuit sought $30,000 for the Maryland Athletic Club’s alleged negligence.

I cannot imagine what the case settled for but I have to think that the MAC overpaid on the claim.  First, and I’m only going off the article, the alleged negligence appears to be she notified Maryland Athletic Club employees that her stuff had been stolen from her locker and requested the MAC check the parking lot.  The complaint alleges no one did.  But assuming this was so (how would the member know?), how does that amount to negligence on part of the MAC.  Exactly what was the negligence that caused her injury?  What should the Maryland Athletic Club have done to avoid the theft? 

 Moreover, the damages were changing her locks and the “hassle” as her lawyer describes it.   The lawsuit also alleged that several weeks later, two men were seen outside defendant’s daughter’s house.  “These men were attempting to find [Plaintiff’s] car in order to steal it, and to ‘case’ [Plaintiff’s daughter’s] house for purposes of breaking into it,” the complaint stated.

Are you kidding me?  They see two strange guys outside of their daughter’s house and then allege in a legal document that this is related to this theft at the Maryland Athletic Club? 

My guess – and it is just my guess – is that the Maryland Athletic Club knew it had no responsibility but wanted to do the right thing and offered to pay for the member’s out-of-pocket damages.  But she wanted more because she wanted to bundle every bad thing that ever happened to her and put it on the doorstep off this theft.  As the case got closer to trial, the Maryland Athletic Club wanted the case to go away and the Plaintiff began to realize the offer was far better than she was going to do at trial.  So a settlement was reached.

I've been meaning to blog about the 2008 Severna Park Parade.  Club One pathetically bailed this year as a participant after a great showing in 2007.  But we will be back next year.

The Severna Park parade was again fantastic. Veterans of World War II led the Severna Park's 4th of July parade this year.  People stood up and cheered as there drove by.  Cool stuff that makes you proud to be an American.  Other good participants were St. John the Evangelist, Magothy River Association, Sunrise of Severna Park which had a huge presentation, the Kick Connection, Pedal Pushers, Our Shepherd Lutheran Church bike brigade, Olde Severna Park Improvement Association, Chartridge, Linstead,  Jing Ying Institute (which had a really cool even if bit bizarre demonstration), Friends of Kinder Farm Park, St. Andrew's Swim club and the always fun to watch Mason Dixon Square Dancers actually square dancing.

On troubling note to me was the Sons of the Confederacy.  Do we really need to celebrate their efforts?  Wasn't this basically a war about slavery?   I hate to interrupt this otherwise feel good blog that ignores social issues but this is worth speaking up about.   No one really seems to mind their presence and by looking at them, they look like nice enough people.  Maybe they just don't understand how some people would interpret the homage paid to that small 5 year window of tragedy in our nation's history.   But the sight of small kids handing out Confederate flags just depresses me to no end.

Okay, sorry to end on a downer.  I'll come back with something more upbeat later today.

On Friday, I went to the Earleigh Heights Fire Company carnival.  The summer carnival allows the firefighters and community to connect with te under happier circumstances than when they usually meet. And it's part of a money-raising package that funds the $300,000 to $400,000 annual budget. The county contributes about $50,000 a year, according to fire company Treasurer Ken Walker. The company still runs weekly bingo games -- long the staple of fire station fundraising nationwide -- and hosts bull roasts, shrimp roasts and pit beef highway stands. The company rents its building for parties and its yard to Christmas tree sellers. It also sends an annual mailing to the community for direct donations.

"We own everything in here but the ambulance," Weitzell said. "We buy our own equipment. It's always up to date. We don't let it deteriorate."

The carnival, though, is the fundraiser that touches the widest range of people.

Within minutes of opening Monday night, the kiddie rides were under way, with cars, helicopters, dragons and bears ferrying the littlest carnival-goers in circles. The Ferris Wheel, Zipper and Street Fighter were under way with older kids, although most of the teens arrived closer to sunset.

Although a concessionaire runs the rides and game booths, the fire company operates everything under a red-and-white tent -- mostly gaming booths and food -- stuff like a $3.75 clam platter, a $4 sausage with peppers and onions and a $6 crab cake meal. The company lets the concession company prepare funnel cakes and those Oreo delicacies -- because they're no fun to make and too good to miss, said Michael Sohn, president of the fire company.

For Sohn, vice president Charlie Disney, Demasky and dozens of others, the fire company is a home away from home. Many have full-time jobs but spend up to 40 hours a week at the station. For Sohn, firefighting is a family affair -- his wife, Pat, and daughter, Nicole, 20, help with the auxiliary, and his son, Bryan, 26, fights fires for another station.

They all enjoy the carnival, which runs from seven to 10 days and engages all the official volunteers and other friends of the station.

Weitzell remembers the early days of the carnival -- it's been part of the Earleigh Heights tradition for 28 years. "Back then, all the tents were two-by-fours with a piece of plastic over them. We had a dunking booth, but the rides were nothing like now."

Fortunately, these types of carnivals -- and the volunteer companies they support -- show no sign of drifting toward extinction.

Looking for a fun diversion for summer and a great place to take your kids? "Camp Hawyah" is playing at the Talent Machine Company at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. July 17, 18, and 19 and at 2 p.m. July 20 in the Francis Scott Key auditorium at St. John's College, 60 College Ave., Annapolis, Maryland.

"Camp Hawyah" is the story of a group of young actors enjoying a summer at a performing arts camp. The show is about a boy named Harvey, a young camper on a quest to find who he is and his place in the world.

"Camp Hawyah" is written by Steve Love and Jake Thornhill. The executive director is Lea Capps. Original choreography by Bobbi Smith, with additional choreography by Amy Sonntag and Steve Love. Tickets are only $10. Call 410-956-0512 or go online to www.talentmachine.com.

I'm going to try to see it this weekend. If I do, I'll give you a full review.

Join me tonight for a new, fun, calorie-burning class at 6 o'clock! No coordination required...I promise! We will use hand weights and the body bar to tone our entire body and have some fun doing so! Hope to see you there!

The Associated Press reports that fewer than half of children in this country who live within a mile of school walk or ride a bike to get to class.

I used to walk 5 miles to school in the snow, blah, blah, blah. This may not be a bad thing in and of itself. It might be an example of society simply becoming more modern and safety issues with children walking or riding alone being taken more seriously. For example, while the walk down the Baltimore Annapolis Trail is a nice one on the way for many to Severna Park Elementary School, do you really want your 2nd grader walking alone down that trail in the moring? Twenty years ago when we were all bouncing around with child seats, such a walk was more frequent. But far less so today.

But the issue is worth raising because of escalating rates of childhood obesity. With the No Child Left Behind Act, many schools have been cutting back on recess and physical education to focus on test scores. One way or another, kids do need to find a way to exercise.

Most studies suggest that less-educated families exercise less and have higher rates of obesity. This is good news for kids in Millersville and Severna Park. But this survey found that the children of well-educated parents were more likely to get a ride to school. So if we have smart kids pushing harder in academics over PE class and we have them catching a ride to school, these are factors that are going to push child obesity north. She said in those families, both parents are likely to have jobs and may believe it is safer and more expedient for one of them to drive their child to school on their way to work.

Besides the fact that walking may be dangerous in some areas because of crime or traffic, I also think walking is boring. In 2008, there are so many fun things competing for time in the evening, kids are more prone to stay up later and have less time to for the boring walk to school.

This month, Tony Jeter and I, along with two other partners, started a promotional company, Better Promotions. Better Promotions will be holding boxing shows every six to eight weeks and will feature members of the Club One Fitness boxing team! Our first show will be September 19th and will feature Tony Jeter as the main event. Both Sami Fiataugaluia and Doug Greene will be making their pro-debut! The show will be at the Sportsplex (right around the corner)! More details will follow in the August newsletter...but, get it on your social calendar now! You won't want to miss it!

Beginning July 11, 2008, I will begin teaching class again! The Friday morning class is going to change time and format. Body Sculpt will be the new format and will be a total body conditioning workout! In addition, the class will now be offered at 10 a.m. as opposed to 9 o'clock. Come check out this fun-filled, calorie-burning workout!

Christine Brus is the newest member of the Club One staff here to help you! Christine will be here for the summer and will go back to school in the fall to start her third year. Christine is majoring in marketing. Christine will be here, at the club, mornings and weekends. Besides working out at Club One, she enjoys snowboarding, rock climbing, reading, and going to the beach. Please come introduce yourself to Christine - she can't wait to meet everyone here at Club One Fitness!