In an act of civil disobedience against the development of a Dollar General Store in Rock Hall, community activist Grenville Whitman spray painted “boycott” on a sign at the construction site off Route 20 and was charged with malicious destruction of property over $500.
The incident on Aug. 8 is another skirmish in a bitter fight between locals who want to keep the antiquated look and feel of an old tourist town, and support higher paying jobs from locally owned businesses, and those who see chain stores as a path towards economic development.
It was recently that opponents of the store lost a legal battle in Kent Circuit Court to stop the development on the grounds that national chains hurt locally owned businesses — in violation of the town’s comprehensive plan, which requires economic impacts be considered for new development projects.
Whitman would not return calls on Friday but his attorney Elise Davis said a statement would be released early next week.
Robin Wood Kurowski says
This is not activism , this is a vandalism.
carol cameron says
You have a dreadful mistake here. Whitman was not arrested, he was served with a criminal summons. A criminal summons is handled quite differently than an arrest. In Maryland, an arrest requires a defendant is taken into custody, photographed and fingerprinted, when arrest processing is concluded, defendant is taken before a district court commissioner for the purpose of determining condition of release, bail amount set or personal recognizance. None of that occurred here. With a criminal summons, a police officer simply hands the paper over to defendant, similar to a citation. You had better correct your head on this story in a hurry. As for the story, why do you state he did it? Not “allegedly” did it ? If Whitman could not be reached for comment, who is your source to confirm that he did it, and, not only did it, but did it as an act of civil disobedience? This is all very strange reporting.
As for the charge, shouldn’t surprise anyone coming from this guy. Although he is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty, hey, anyone who has been following R.H. politics will be quick to make up their mind.
Just hope that this dedicated, devoted and valued “activist” used an environmentally friendly paint free of VOC and other hazards for the deed.
carol cameron says
@David. In Maryland a police officer may not make an “arrest” for a misdemeanor offense NOT committed in the presence of the officer. That’s the way the laws are written. So it was not up to the police to handle it as criminal summons. From what I can gather, the police opened a CR, interviewed and took statements from the witness(es) present. Got enough to establish probable cause and applied for charge immediately. The other route for this: the property owner himself could have gone to DC Commissioner and applied for charge himself and gotten same result. Just would have been much slower to go that way. Police quicker. (Felony offenses are much different)
If, by some stroke of luck, one of the town cops, or even an off-duty sworn officer from Anywhere, had been driving by and saw Whitman do it, you can be sure he would have been arrested and given the full treatment. No different from anyone else.
He may be 75 years old. But he is not getting around in a wheelchair or accompanied by a Seeing- Eye Dog, is he. He seems to have no difficulty in getting himself all the way to Chestertown every Tuesday evening to make himself a regular nuisance at the weekly c.c. meetings.
Editor says
Editor Note: It is unfortunate and regrettable that the on-duty editor inaccurately titled the headline for this article. We greatly appreciate our readers notifying us of these errors as well as explanations of Maryland law.
Mike Hunt says
Call in Joan Baez!
eliott bbruce says
also should blame who ever put together zoning ordinance. Community have what called police power over what can be built on property called zoning. Could have hAD A COMMERCIAL DISTRIC BUT USE HAS TO BE APPROVED by planning board and they have right to turn any commercial use down. Called special purpose commercial zone.
Mike Hunt says
Joking aside, this is just the latest salvo against free speech from “an activist,” from the campaign against voluntary (non-compulsory) public prayer to defacing the signs of other people. I would fully support, even if I disagreed with it, posting signs against Dollar General, but the 1st Amendment does not give a license to vandals and should not be interpreted as giving preference to the speech of some against others. Remember, it’s freedom “of speech,” not freedom “from” speech.
carol cameron says
@ Mike I love alliteration, don’t you. Suggestion for Next Headline:
“Skunk’s Stunt Sends Strong Salvo, Serious Spraypainting Seemingly Suggests Seeking Snowman’s Status Soon”
don sparks says
activist or wack job
William Merritt Ashley Jr. says
My dear! I would never have thought a person of Mr. Whitman’s intelligence and sophistication would ever have don something so despicable.Must be some mistake,after all he’s done for this town. It must of been one of those rowdy, you need me to look after you types that call Rock Hall….HOME!
elaine barker fithian says
I would like to know how many wealthy permanent or partime residents compared to the less fortunate residents of rock hall need this store. If you dont know its very needed for the non-rich to buy a fan when its hot, a lg plastic storage container for storage, amd thousands of other items they may not be able to get from the other stores your so worried about. What a shame rock hall has turned into chestertown. Good for whitman getting a fine ! Why dont you people worry more about he the young folks and what there going to do and become. The rich have bought up the land and seem to have all the say. Well now this poor person will come to visit her grandaughters and have an affordable place to take them to buy things. Boycott something really important . How about the rampant drug dealers ?
Sandy Mayer says
I think that is why you have to be an adult to buy stray paint. Economically the local people of Rock Hall would benefit from a discount store near by. More jobs and better prices for people on limited seasonal incomes. Take it to town council if you have a problem with progress and zoning.
Janice D says
Anyone who lives within 50 miles of Rock Hall recognizes that the Town Council has other gut-wrenching issues on the table, and evidently no time to consider zoning regs. or a comprehensive plan. GET A NEW LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
Keith Thompson says
Janice, they actually DO have a new government in Rock Hall with a new mayor and three new town council members since the last mayoral election in 2011. If you have a similar turnaround after the Chestertown mayor and council election this fall, it’s not hard to imagine Chestertown going through what Rock Hall is going through now…only worse.
carol cameron says
Egads, things are going from bad to worse here, editorially. Who put up the new head he was “Fined” ? How can he be fined, he hasn’t even been to court yet!
Yes, Virginia, there is a court for M.D.O.P. charges. It is not a parking ticket where a check can be written and dispatched to pay a “fine”
In all MDOP cases, the defendant must appear before a judge. For the record, Whitman’s court date is Sept 10, l 2013 8:30 am in Kent County District Courtroom (That’s on the 2nd floor of the courthouse bldg. if the Spy reporter needs help in finding the place)
Malicious destruction refers to willfully and maliciously destroying, injuring, or defacing property belonging to someone else. The charge and potential sentence you face for this Maryland property damage offense depends wholly on the value of the damage committed.
If the damage is greater than $500, you will face misdemeanor charges and be sentenced to up to 3 years in prison and fines of up to $2,500. (This is Whitman’s type case)
Can we get things right now?
joe diamond says
Who appointed Mr. Whitman to do the thinking for anybody?
Furthur, is there anybody over the age of about seven who will change their conduct because they read a spry painted message?
If you want to change the behavior of others you have to repeat the message. It has to be in an authoritative setting. It has to have some relation to truth. Nowhere in advertising school do they suggest spray paint as a effective means of moving the hearts and minds of a population. That is why when politicians lie they get on TV to do it.
“My fellow Americans, I am sorry for being late for this meeting. My puppy died. We had just fed him food from DOLLAR GENERAL. He just made a painful sounding little noise and rolled over…………..Now we can start the meeting.”
Like that!
Joe
Gretchen Stroh says
This “Dollar Store” will not create a wave of new jobs. Best case scenario is a few part time jobs and one manager. Rock Hall does not have the population to support one, let alone 2 dollar stores. I believe they need around 8000 people to support one store. Rock Hall and the surrounding area has a population of around 2400 (depending on time of year and stats)…. Kent County is a population bubble, the people in Rock Hall who will patronize this store, will stop patronizing the Chestertown store. Their sales will go down. Unfortunately the “dollar store” issue appears to come down to a battle between haves and have nots. That said, I don’t have a lot, after 4.5 years my husband has finally gotten a full time job in this county (through no fault of his own, thank you Bush economics), but I still will not patronize the “Dollar Stores” on a regular or irregular basis. Please remember that 4 better paying jobs were lost to Rock Hall when PNC bailed out on us, so we aren’t really gaining anything economically.
By the way, please remember, this Dollar General will impact quite a few businesses in Rock Hall, namely Walgreens, Village Hardware, Rock Hall Lumber, Bayside Foods, and Rock Hall Deli and Liquor (once the DG starts selling beer as it has at other locations)
I only hope this economic gamble is worth it, drive through any down and out town in Jersey and see all the closed Dollar Stores, next to closed grocery stores.
carol cameron says
Gretchen, does Bayside Food sell beer and wine? Like the Giant or Safeway in Easton ? Please don’t muddy things up with a fallacious argument that DG will start selling beer . The state ABC laws are such that it is up to each county to decide if their supermarkets and grocery stores can sell beer and wine for off-premise consumption or they will limit it to the true “package” stores. Talbot, Worcester, a few others opened that up. So far, Kent County has had no inclination to do so. I hardly think the arrival of a $ General store in Rock Hall will cause them to jump on bandwagon for opening up sales in supermarkets and groceries.
This ain’t New Joisey !
Gerry Maynes says
Hi, Yes it isn!t New Jersey, where people have real jobs a great governor and a future for their kids, But gosh they don!~t have a crosss between the Three Stoogers and the Marks Brothers run a town like you fo0lks have in Rock Hall. Verry Entertaining. Almost as fun as Chestertown land of empty stores. But lets make fun of New Jersey
Robin wood kurowski says
And they all vacation , buy second homes , retire or berth their boats
In Rock Hall for the weekend .
There are a lot of opportunities for those that are
willing to commit and invest . There is new hope
with the CCC and RH Learning center and
Clam House renovation . We have real jobs
and are seeing more created .
Our real jobs are realtive to how our town has
historically made its way and living. Crafts people,
mechanics, marine trades , sales , commercial fisheries ,
hospitality , food services, retail,
agriculture and those that work with their hands …
heard of the masons ?
These are real jobs and real people.
I don’t disagree that there are problems but
none that deserve the continued bashing .
gerry maynes says
Hi Robin Wood, Ah yes you are wrong most come to Delaware to live to retire or educate their kids, or to purchase second homes,. Just like it seems 50Per cent of most folks from Maryland. Its known as voting with your feet. you know low taxes, great schools etc.
If it wasn!t for the federal government jobs in your state and the military jobs being sent to Aberdeen and Fort Meade. There would be zero growth and even more new Delawareans./ New Jersey has to create real jobs to grow, does not have the Uncle Sam to rely on ( Or is that Uncle Obama).
Roland Arnold says
Not so fast on the Joisey revolution…The governor is a bag of hot air, our jobless rate is soaring, and I’m planning on moving to Chestertown and opening a business as New Jersey is so corrupt and anti-small business. The grass looks greener along the Chester to me…See you soon,
Roland
Robin Wood Kurowski says
I am happy to report that Mike Joiner – Gagalski has been hired as the new manager of Rock Hall Dollar General.
Mike comes from a long line of Rock Hall family business operations and entrepreneur’s. His mother owned two bakeries in Rock Hall and his father worked for Acme in Chestertown. Also in his family was Mr. Pete Burgess, owner of the Rock Hall funeral home and also Kent County Register of Wills.
Mike’s wife’s family owned Gagalski’s store where Java Rock is located now.
Mike was having to travel to Delaware for work, but he will have a less than 5 minute commute now.
Robin Wood Kurowski says
Mike has not accepted the position …. but it was offered to him.
Gretchen Stroh says
Ummm, yes Bayside does sell Beer and Wine. It has for at least 10 years. The point is the end goal for Dollar General is to sell Beer. That is a fact, from DG. I’m not sure who originates the licensing, the town or the county. However, since we are down a few facilities (2 bars) it seems that the opportunity is there. Sorry I don’t know what fallaciousness is, just know what products are sold in Rock Hall and where.
Stephan Sonn says
Mr Whitman protested in the manner of the day,
with knowledge of the consequences.
It was his right.
Mike Hunt says
Uh, a “right” refers to those powers an individual may exercise without fear of lawful political or legal retribution. I am glad that at least in my 7th Grade Civics course, our teacher did not teach us to think of “choice” as synonymous with “right.” Whitman’s choice was quite obviously without legal right.
Stephan Sonn says
Excuse me sir. He has every right to protest
and pay the price for any criminal act performed.
This does not license criminality.
MBTroup says
Protesting and law breaking are exclusive concepts. The BoR and subsequent court holdings define protected speech within peoples’ rights.
It was his choice. That’s different from a right. Ewww here we go methinks…
Zach Milash says
Activism is speaking your mind. Destroying the property of others is vandalism.
Sam Johnston says
What Mr. Whitman did was rather childish but I guess he wanted to make a statement. Some folks in town are all worked up over his prank when on the same day there was an armed robbery in Rock Hall, and no one mentions it. Also, the sign he defaced was not on private property. It was on the highway right of way. Sometimes priorities are screwed up.
Joe Lill says
…..The plot thickens! “Could the graffiti artist be a part of a diversion to allow the armed robbery of Shore Stop?”, one might ask.
Sam Johnston says
I think we should blame it on him. Lets also blame the substance abuse problems in this county (probably the underlying cause of crimes like this) on Mr Whitman as well. Lets add the Willis-Fithian follies, the water treatment problems, the struggling store fronts and all the other problems in the county on him. Because every town needs a scape goat, rather than a solution. and this MDOP seems to be more important than these other problems.
Robin Wood Kurowski says
The Chestertown Spy does not have a post on the robbery. If it did, they I am sure there would be comments.
I had submitted a longer response …. but it has not been posted.
MBTroup says
Over the last few years, I have learned to agree to disagree with the story’s subject. This détente has made for the occasional productive discussion. But this is what it is…
While I am aware of his contributions to the civil rights movement, in this particular instance, I think we’re playing fast and loose with the term activist. This isn’t synonymous with sitting at a lunch counter, nor is it the case of an innocent seamstress who just wanted to get home after a tiring day at work. In the latter case, activism chose her. Furthermore, this action is no more a right than shouting “fire” in a crowded theater. I’d like to think that the individual who contributed that statement would prefer to walk that one back.
If anything, assuming this report is accurate, the action undermines the cause. If the motivation is genuine concern for the town, then what greater good is accomplished here? What perception would a visitor have if that welcomed them?
****
And then there’s this…
“…a bitter fight between locals who want to keep the antiquated look and feel of an old tourist town, and support higher paying jobs from locally owned businesses, and those who see chain stores as a path towards economic development.”
Who are “those”? If this “bitter fight” is couched as having merely two sides, does that mean the other side are solely out of town interests? Does this mean that locals aren’t interested in economic development? Really?
If this bitter fight were happening in Detroit, Pittsburgh, or Baltimore, they would call it protectionism versus free trade. The protectionists will matter-of-factly use general terms like “higher paying jobs” and the free traders will lean on “everyday low prices” as their means to the end of “for the good of the town.”
Of course equilibrium is reached when these forces meet somewhere in the middle. I’m certain that Bayside Foods runs a good business that is vital to the Town’s well being. Its continued survival (or at the most basic level, the survival of a town’s grocery store) should be of interest to the town. I’m rather sure they would admit that through limitations in square footage and distribution, they can’t carry all consumable products that Rock Hall residents need. The tertiary retailers think they can fill in the blanks. They may siphon some business from Bayside Foods. In turn, Bayside may have goods that bring little to no margin, but they carry as loss leaders to ensure they can sell more profitable items. Perhaps Bayside jettisons those goods, and expands their strengths.
Curious…has BF definitively said how much staff would have to be shed? I’m thinking even if BF were forced to decrease staff (taken in isolation, an unfortunate occurrence), when all stores find their niche, the town will be on the plus side in number of employees with two manager’s wages replacing (presumed) lower level wages. Add in the propensity for consumption that comes with Rock Hall’s working families no longer having to travel 12 miles each way to pick up those extra goods. Economic health takes the buyers and the sellers into account. [/broken record]
And now for something completely different…
I’m wondering why there isn’t more screaming from the Chestertown side of the issue. If these stores cannibalize their C’town locations, will that create more vacancies? If so, how does C’town adapt?
carol cameron says
Nice try, MBT, but you are decades way off in your assessment of Whitman’s “activism” He is best known for the name he made for himself over in Baltimore’s nice (until he moved in) Charles Village neighborhood. As recently as less than 10 years ago. Haven’t you seen this before? I thought everyone had. Oh, well. Just scroll down to the 2nd letter to editor on the page, entitled “Whitman’s Trampler”.
Enjoy
https://www2.citypaper.com/printStory.asp?id=8739
Joe Lill says
Trying not to line sign up in either the “For” or “Against” Gren Whitman camps, I read this article and felt that it mirrored what is reality in general. There was one letter that said he was a pain in the a_s, and one letter that he was a dedicated citizen that volunteered consistently, advocated more transparency in his community, and requested information constantly to which he was legally entitled.
The ongoing character assassinations in the town of Rock Hall seem counter productive to progress, whether it be the Willis’s, Ronnie Fithian, or Gren Whitman.
It’s sad that on the same day, two horrendous crimes were committed, one by a graffiti vandal with a $3.47 can of spray paint that receives an “Above The Fold” news article, and one armed robbery by unknown perpetrators at the only gas station in town that doesn’t even get mentioned.
joe diamond says
Carol,
The whole Charles Village & Homewood Community idea is viewed by others (over there in Baltimore City) as a bunch of white guys expecting superior public service from a local government that has lost the ability to meet payroll. Irrelevant activism….deck chair alignment as the Titanic goes down…. is not the same as thing as petitioning the government to redress grievances. Painting personal views on other folks signs is, likewise, irrelevant, me thinks.
joe
Robin Wood Kurowski says
“…a bitter fight between locals who want to keep the antiquated look and feel of an old tourist town, and support higher paying jobs from locally owned businesses, and those who see chain stores as a path towards economic development.”
Who are “those”? If this “bitter fight” is couched as having merely two sides, does that mean the other side are solely out of town interests? Does this mean that locals aren’t interested in economic development? Really?”
Thank you for pointing this out. I have lived in Rock Hall all my life … and the sentence is like something out of Mad Magazine …. or maybe the Walking Dead …..
This is not accurate at all. There is not bitter fighting.
Keith Thompson says
“Who are “those”? If this “bitter fight” is couched as having merely two sides, does that mean the other side are solely out of town interests? Does this mean that locals aren’t interested in economic development? Really?”
I don’t see this as two separates sides as the sides will shift based on the issue. To focus this in on the subject of this thread, Gren Whitman; one of his “activist” concerns was his and his allies’ campaign against the reading of the Lord’s Prayer at town hall meetings. This put him at odds with the town council and especially Butch Price. who was perhaps most vocal in upholding the town’s tradition. Of course, as Mr. Whitman and his allies got involved in the attempts of Mayor Willis’s to oust Ron Fithian as town manager on the side against the mayor (especially lately in the debate over the out of town property owners on the town’s sewer system), this put Gren on the same side in the debate as councilman Price, plus councilmen Jones and Nesspor. Given Mr. Whitman’s announcement before his criminal charges that the concerned citizens group is demanding return of the sewer fees dating from 2009 and is challenging the town’s legal representation from Funk & Bolton and Chip McLeod, I find it rather ironic that at last Monday night’s town marathon council meeting, that both Mayor Willis and councilwoman Susan Francis (both of whom Gren routinely criticizes) are also challenging the town’s legal representation (albeit for different reasons). Politics makes for strange bedfellows sometimes, and Rock Hall demonstrates this rather well these days. I’m not sure that this is a bad thing either.
Keith Thompson says
“And now for something completely different…
I’m wondering why there isn’t more screaming from the Chestertown side of the issue. If these stores cannibalize their C’town locations, will that create more vacancies? If so, how does C’town adapt?”
Well, part of it is Chestertown laughing at what is going on in Rock Hall right now. Of course what is going on in Rock Hall? I think much of this stems from the mayor and council election from a couple of years ago where you have a new mayor and some new town council members. You have a new mayor who is determined to enact economic development ideas in the town and as run up against quite a bit of opposition from certain community members as well as the old guard in the town government. Granted I believe that Mayor Willis has been somewhat heavy-handed in his approach which has led to a lot of animosity (some of it well-earned), but the end result is that there is a challenge to the status quo.
Contrast Rock Hall with what is on the horizon in Cherstertown. This fall there is a mayor and council election with a definite new mayor and the possibility of two (or even three) new town council members, meaning there is huge potential for Chestertown to face the exact same thing Rock Hall is going through in about a year or around 18 months.
MBTroup says
Keith – I was going for the micro aspects of it, though both of our thoughts point to our old friend’s (don’t see him here much) truism: If C’town sneezes, everyone else gets a cold.
Might be worth its own piece…
Chain stores in Rock Hall
Farmers market in Millington
Are the incorporated areas unconsciously competing against one another? What are those pros and cons?
Keith Thompson says
Michael, I think I got what you were saying but my point was that many in Chestertown seem to see what’s going on in Rock Hall as entertainment…and given the controversies over LED signs, sign ordinances, the i-Sign, the Farmer’s Market, busking, parking meters, plastic bags, the marina, the arrest of Frosty, etc.; the attitude of certain Chestertownies viewing Rock Hall as entertainment is somewhat ironic.
Cora Dickson says
Keith – What is happening in Rock Hall is no laughing matter. If the whole purpose of posting these articles on the Chestertown Spy is to give Chestertown some sort of smug superiority over Rock Hall, I ask that they please stop. We can always find informative and unbiased articles elsewhere. (I won’t bother mentioning the actual URL here since the editors of the Chestertown Spy might decide not to post my comment if I do so.)
I have been at town meetings and seen the dynamic with my own eyes. It’s not just about the mayor trying to challenge the status quo, or the townspeople challenging the status quo for that matter. We have serious governance issues. This dollar store issue is the tip of the iceberg. Too much passivity led to a violation of the town comprehensive plan, an agreement reached in writing to protect the welfare of the town in a variety of ways including economic development. Furthermore, some people have been misled into thinking that a dollar store is good for the low income residents of the town (very debatable), but the plain truth is that if we have a significant number of people in such dire straits that they can’t drive to Chestertown where there are 3 dollar stores, we have a much larger problem that needs to be addressed by the town. Instead the mayor seems to be trying to distract us with grandiose schemes and spurious allegations against the town manager and other council members.
The political situation in Rock Hall is embarrassing but don’t make it worse by pointing and laughing at us and implying we are just having growing pains. Sadly, the mayor has enough friends and family validating his paranoid sense that people are just “out to get him” and he will never realize how much harm his erratic and unprofessional behavior is causing the town.
Keith Thompson says
Cora, I wasn’t pointing and laughing. I was criticizing those who are pointing and laughing. I think what is going on in Rock Hall is quite serious, but I think it also points out a town that is in transition and that residents and leaders now realize it is in transition but aren’t united yet on how to adjust. Unfortunately, the personalities and the egos have gotten in the way of the discourse; but after the rancor dies (and it eventually will), the town will already be on the path of addressing things that need to be addressed and perhaps haven’t been addressed for awhile. I don’t think Chestertown has reached that point of transition yet and when it does, I think Rock Hall can point back and say “been there, done that”.
Robin Wood Kurowski says
Keith,
Much of what Cora has to say I do not agree with. And this online source is not going to stop … unless it wants to …. is not searching for or fed information ……..
Now …..
There are people in Rock Hall that shop in the Dollar Stores in town regularly and are happy that they are coming.
Quite a few people have applied for jobs.
Hey … where was everyone when 3 yacht brokerages moved in to Rock Hall?
Some of the same people that are objecting ….. objecting to the town purchase of the old Rock Hall Inn for the Museum ….. only to object now to it being in a private individuals hands.
We need less government … not more government not more regulation.
I would like to know what the Mayor’s grandiose schemes are ….. ? Rock Hall Learning Center and GED, the trams and the jeeps, the Clam House?
Yes, it is unfortunate that there is fighting. But that’s what happens when people have different ideas and opinions.
As far as the mayor having friends and family …. of course so …. but they are not medicating him or inducing him ….
His mother and father will straight up tell you that he is his own man …. and they never got involved at all until the sewer saga ……
mark einstein says
Please explain why you are not posting my comments. You have my email address. Thank you.
Mark