The Towerlight, September 13, 2004

TL20040913_001 "Baltimore's #1 College Paper - Published Twice-Weekly - www.thetowerlight.com Monday, 9/13/04 Students travel to support team 5 Scholars program honors inductees 5 Chipotle brings Mexican variety Thrift shopping tips and tricks 17 Departments Opinion. News 5 PawPrints 9 Nations 10 Arts 15 Entertainment Briefs 16 Sound Bites 16 Art & the City. 16 Now Showing. 17 Sports 24 In this corner. 24 Athlete of the Week 20 Classifieds 19 Phelps receives warm reception Following eight-medal showing in Olympics, local icon participates in celebration activities Aja Dorsey 77ie Towerlight An estimated 9,000 local residents swarmed the streets of Towson Saturday morning to welcome home 19-year-old Olympic swimming star Michael Phelps. Phelps, who won eight medals in the 2004 Summer Olympics - including six gold - was honored through a series of events dubbed the """"Phelpstival."""" The activities began at 9 a.m. with a temporary renaming of Cedar Avenue outside of Phelps' alma mater, Towson High School. County executive Jim Smith declared the street to be named Michael Phelps Way. Former teachers and principals, along with friends and neighbors, surrounded Phelps during the event. Following the street renaming, a parade commenced at York Road and Cross Campus Drive to celebrate Phelps' achievements. The Towson High School Pep Squad, the Milford Mill Marching Band and the Boys and Girls Club of Harford County were a few of the many groups and organizations that marched ahead of Phelps and past mobs of flag-waving fans. """"I'm glad to be part of the multitude of individuals celebrating America's champion,"""" Harford County resident Robbin Langgartner said as she stood along the parade route. """"Michael is a world class individual. We waited, he delivered."""" Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, Sen. Paul Sarbanes and Mayor Martin O'Malley were among_ the politicians who waved to the crowd from convertibles. Even Mickey Mouse, Ronald McDonald and the Oriole bird were on hand. Teenage girls went wild as Phelps rode down York Road and tossed buttons and T-shirts from the top of a black Hummer. Smith and Phelps' mother Debbie also traveled in the vehicle. Six police officers on motorcycles and several black-clad Kevin Lavezza/The Towerlight Local swimmer Michael Phelps delivers a speech following the temporary renaming of Cedar Avenue in his honor. bodyguards walked alongside it. Christen Carpenter, a high school student from The St. Paul's School for Girls, grabbed one of the coveted T-shirts. """"I'm going to frame it,"""" Carpenter said, then added she was kidding. """"But I'll probably wear it to bed every night."""" Baltimore resident Carl McKeemer caught Phelps' own red shirt that he tossed to the crowd as the parade turned onto Pennsylvania Avenue from York Road. McKeemer, who gave the shirt to his daughter Tremara, was excited to be a part of the celebration. """"I just wanted to come out and congratulate Michael and welcome him back to Baltimore,"""" he said. Fans followed the Hummer through downtown, to a ceremony at Courthouse Plaza. Gov. Robert Ehrlich, Sen. Barbara Mikulski and a host of other local officials congratulated Phelps. Smith presented Phelps with the key to the county, making him the first recipient in Baltimore County history. """"The Baltimore area has long been home to great athletes,"""" Smith said. """"Babe Ruth, Brooks Robinson, Johnny Unitas and Cal Ripken - and now we're adding the name of Michael Phelps."""" See PARADE, page 7 Today High 84 Low 65 Tuesday High 78 Low 63 Wednesday High 79 Low 65 Thursday High 81 Low 67 Friday High 77 Low 68"