Tim Reyburn
(301) 648 4094
Personal Facts Page and Science BLOG.
Overhead picture during Baltimore City Traffic flight out of Tipton Airport. VISITOR COUNTER: 248,346
Personal Background
03MAR2019
Welcome to my personal webpage and blog! This is a personal resource and an accurate information source on various subject matters and serves as a living and a dynamic document. Feel free to visit anytime! I currently work and live in the Mid-Atlantic region of our great country and enjoy travelling. My journey started in Honolulu Hawaii at Queen's Medical Center after being born into an Army Medical officer's family that moved all over the world. Mother and father met at Ft. Fitzsimmons in Colorado. Both served in the Army Medical corps at that time and I am the oldest of 3 siblings that included a younger brother and a sister that lives in Pensacola now. The family was stationed at varous places throughout CON-US and Japan. Mom is from Florida. Dad's from Kansas. Sister was born in Japan and my brother was born at Ft.Bragg. All this travel made us a close knit, dynamic and strong family. Our younger years were spent primarily in midwestern states on Army Bases such as, Ft. Riley Kansas and Ft. Sam Houston Texas, the old
Roswell NM Army Air Corps base and town, plus Sorth Carolina's Ft. Jackson, Valley Forge PA and Tachikawa Japan.
We later settled into the Washington DC Metro area in Northern Virginia in mid '77. Madison High School in Vienna Virginia was my fourth High School and Graduated in '79 after going a full sophomore year at Roswell New Mexico HS My freshman year was at Spring Valley HS, in Columbia SC after a partial year in San Antonio Texas.
1977 was the year the family lived in 4 different houses in the course of one year.
These flury of moves were mostly because the Vietnam war had ended in '75.and the Reduction In Force or: "R.I.F." was implemented. That year, we moved from Ft. Jackson SC to Roswell NM. My father was top Occupational Therapist for the Army at that time but since the war was over, less medical folks were needed. We moved to Roswell NM where he worked at a State of New Mexico Rehabilitation Center treating the local Indian population and elderly retirees.The Rehab center was located on the retired Roswell Army Air Corps base. Yes, THAT Roswell base. We first lived on that old base's housing area and then moved off base to my parents first house purchase on the ourskirts of Roswell.
We moved to Vienna Va. in '77 into the fourth house. My father was hired by the NIH/USPHS and became their top O.T.. He's retired now after a 30 year carree in both the US. Army and the USPHS. He was both an Army Captain in Japan and a Navy 06 Captain here in DC Metro area. It was a rather unique military carrier path after serving as the US of A's top O.T at NIH. 16.5 years Army, 13.5 USPHS/Navy. Such is the life in a quintisessential military tubleweed family. He 's doing well and retired in Florida. I decided to stay in the DC metro area to chase my science career in Maryland and started my successfuly scientific instrumentation business. I relocated in '89 to Maryland to followi my engineering / separation science job at VAREX Corportion in Rockville Maryland. Varex later moved to Burtonsville Maryland.
My wife and I moved to Montgomery County Maryland in '89 because of my job. Plus, we moved to get some relief from over development and heavy traffic inherent to Northern Virginia. Traffic is bad there 7 days a week. We later moved to Anne Arundel County Maryland in '94 because of the need to find a handicapped accessible home for my wife. The HOA we found is in AA County and has great accessibility features. Plus, retail stores located nearby and accessible by hiker biker trails. This move coincided with starting of my own hitech Scientific Instrumentation company, Ticoscen Inc. specializes in the emerging Evaporative Light Scattering Detector technology sector in life sciences. My business and volunteer grew together and were leveraged with civilty, knowldege, science and complex problem solving skills.facts, transparency and quick learning. Science is high fidelity work and close attention to detail is necessary in the science domain. I also applied these skills to my volunteer work. Helping others where (...and IF!) possible
Take a look at the 15 years of volunteer awards, accolades and recognitions I earned from both sides of the isle!
The company I founded, Ticoscen Inc, in 1994 was the first scientific services company to pecialize in Evaporative Light Scattering Detector Technology support that is in high demand. Other instrument company's have tried to copy our contracting program and service protocols but Ticoscen remains the lead innovtor in ELSD. This business endeavor coincided with an interest to volunteering at our first home's condo association on their board of directors when the condo was transitioning to homeowner control. In November of 2000 I chaired the larger HOAs tansition committee and because the first homeowner president of the community. This was also the same year my brother was lost at sea in a tragic maritime accident. This came as quite a blow to the family. So, I decided to volunteer more. Later, in 2001, I volunteered for the larger HOA when it started to transition to homeowner control. We did not realize this community was occupied by some many NSA employess though.
Note: We moved there NOT realizing that half of our neighbors work in the surveillance community. This situaiton can make for very wierd and socially awkward interactions with these people. This is because some of these people (you have never met) claim to know all about you and your personal life or nocturnal habits. Interesting how that all works, eh? Borderline Hatch act violations abound. Extra curricular surveillance via prying into peoples personal lives appears to be standard operating proceedure in this area, Beware!
Regardless of their unethical tactics and nonsense, the HOA does have handicapped friendly accessibility features.
The ADA friendliness pretty much ends with the accomodations. These accessible features are mission critical for us. So, we've had to put up with some extraordinary levels of nonsense from odd govt surveillance characters that are not to friendly towards the handcapped or regular overt civilian entrepeneur types. Mind you, there are some good people here. But, in many cases, they ara too far and few between. When you look more deeply, you will find the friendliest ones are not lifetime local parochials but are from elsewhere. Moreover, years of heavy handed developer manipulation, weak county government oversight and a large federal government surveillance footprint here make things a bit dysfunctional on the local level. The secerative nature of the work culture ads to this area's social quirkiness. Unless you are part of this closed and secretive surveillance culture, honest, socially open entreapenuers types will likely not feel very comfortable here. Choose a different county, if you have a choice! Both sides of the isle here are conservative and nothing like more progressive areas of the country. A base level of scoundrelness is preferred. Honesty, comptence and integrity are not valued qualities so much. Not even close. Civility is seen as a weakness these days. Land developers have benefitted and profited mightlily from BRAC growth, weak zoning laws and assistance from locally recruited shills they cultivate in local communties. Some of these folks take great pride in their close elationships with developers and selling their own community short. It's sad, really.
I've watched all this unfold for a long time. I, (on the other hand), "the do gooder", chose to do the opposite and fight to protect the community from the excesses of greed. That effort lasted about 15 years. Focusing on quality of life, reducing costs and increasing volunteer involvment while reducing association dues were primary goals that were all accomplished. However, not good deed goes un punished and makes you a target for special interests. However, like climbing Mt. Everest, they can't take that accomplishment away. A friend and I also succedded in lobbying for the IB program's implementation at Ft. Meade's HS after lots of pushback from the area's BOE representative and developers. One would think having 100% public schools adjacent to your community so kids can actually walk to school would be a desireable or nobal cause. Walkable schools are a proven benefit to property values everywhere else in the country. But, not here? Because thats not what the developers want.
My first battle with the developer controlled board's nonsense was stopping an effort to give away a tot lot so 11 more townhomes could be built. Turned out the developer HOA president of the time was the payee of the 30 year front footage benefit for these 11 extra townhomes in that parcel. Interesting. It was also unfortunate there were homeowners, at that time, that were eager to HELP the developers do that! Stockholm Syndrom? Perhaps.
That tot lot was saved. And, a picnic pavilion was installed with an excercise trail that is the most heavily used tot lot in the community! I believe in true volunteerism and looking out for the well being for the most people possible.
Caving to incivility, bullying, tribal mobs or special interests tactics are not in my DNA.
I believe volunteering means that one should NOT personally profit from or get paid to do volunteer work.
Around here, it's apparently an odd thing to believe in. Personally profiting from one's volunteer work is not what true volunteers should do or be motivated by. Gaining knowledge by learning new things or doing the right thing should be enough of a reward. It was for me. I chose to take on all this volunteer work while I was contending with the loss of my younger brother at sea that same year. I chose to get involved in my local community to solve problems.
I joke now that most people have to be sentenced to community service. I volunteered willingly!
Why not try to make the world a better place for the next generation?
Sure seemed like a good idea at the time. As part of helping the family cope with the loss of a family member, I testified before the congressional National Offshore Safety Advisory Committee at Coast Guard's HQ in DC before their congressional sub committee. I managed to get a federal rule changed after fighting Louisianna's big oil lobbyists, Lloyds of L ondon and the large resupply shipping company.
Then, 1 year later, 9/11 happened and the rule change was scrapped.
Pool bathhouse trash storage bin set on fire and pool area vandalized. Unrelated?
https://www.firehouse.com/home/news/10518317/fire-damages-russett-pool-house
I also lead the community's transition effort which landed two large developer settlements for defects and other issues. The first settlement was for Tanglewood Condominium's and their leaky window defects because flashing was misssing and causing leaking. That settlement was for ~80,000 with Bozzutto. Another large settlement for the HOA later came for ~90,000 from RCLP that covered common area defects, wall collapses, and other unacceptible oonflicts of interest issues. I also lead the effort with a majority of elected community chair votes to purchase 1.1 acres of land to maintain a green space next to the community center. This was done to prevent a 66 unit condominium going in next to a Kindercare and the commmunity center that would only require 1 parking space for every 3 dwellings.
https://www.firehouse.com/home/news/10518317/fire-damages-russett-pool-house
I also lead the community's transition effort which landed two large developer settlements for defects and other issues. The first settlement was for Tanglewood Condominium's and their leaky window defects because flashing was misssing and causing leaking. That settlement was for ~80,000 with Bozzutto. Another large settlement for the HOA later came for ~90,000 from RCLP that covered common area defects, wall collapses, and other unacceptible oonflicts of interest issues. I also lead the effort with a majority of elected community chair votes to purchase 1.1 acres of land to maintain a green space next to the community center. This was done to prevent a 66 unit condominium going in next to a Kindercare and the commmunity center that would only require 1 parking space for every 3 dwellings.
These and other "go gooder" efforts are why local developers and their shills love me so much.
During my true blue high fidelity volunteer tenure on the HOA board, I served as it's first homeowner PRESIDENT and LONGEST serving homowner board member. This was done through civility, adherence to the bylaws & CCRs, showing restraint and standing up to aggresion. Our all homeowner board also saw the largest Increase in volunteerism in the community's history. By creating, chartering and initially chairing several new committee's , many homeowners stepped forward and could choose the one they preferred. All of these committee's made a major and positive impact. It was a sight to see! Traffic calming islands. closing of exits from Walmart and additon of a new traffic light were a few of our accomplishments. Too numerous to list, really! I have a long memory and documentation of these facts.
A hard Lesson came in 2014 after being re-elected to a 5th term. Fact: Some people are problem solvers that give their time freely. Other's are takers, assist special interests and like to create problems. Such is the struggle. After years of giving my free time, following the rules, the takers came. and, took over with a vengence. What is interesting to note here is that after I was appointed by three consecutive AA County executives to various committees, recieving dozens of Executive Citations and awards. The GOP AA County exective of the time, Steve Schuh, decided at the start off his first term to flat out meddle in county volunteer organizations and tear them apart.
Our HOA was first on his list on the divide and conquer list. And, a few area democrats worked with him on this project!
NOTE: AA County's HOAs and county committee's are not ideal places to volunteer anymore.
With my being the community's FIRST homeowner 100% volunteer President after 12 years of a developer control, it could't last forever. I became and remain the longest serving volunteer board member for those lucky 14+ years.
I did my work with high fidelity. As a steward to it's 2.3 million dollar a year budget for 5 terms is nothing to sneeze at.
Our true all volunteer HOA team started in May of 2002 when homeowner board control was required because the community had reached it's 75% unit occupancy. This all volunteer homeowner movement.reached close to 300 volunteers at it's peak in 2006 -2008 and spanned 3ea County executive administrations. The first executive in my tenure was a democrat, Janet Owens. The other two were Republicans, John Leopold and Laura Newman. The fourth one, Republican Steve Schuh, was elected into office in 2014. This was a period of time when volunteers were waning and when the take over nonsense and trouble started, Interesting coincidence, eh? This H.O.A. "coup" happened after we managed to lower community assessments by 40%. While also, within the same 4 year time frame, increased the HOA's reserve balance by 600% from 1 Million to 6 million dollars in a community that only grew by 12% in assessible units. This was no easy task or small feat. How did that happen? It happened because we controlled spending and made contracting a deliberative and organized process with 3 bids. We tried to remove the chronic high drama, anger driven, vindictive and emotion driven processes of the past .We also got a traffic light installed, a police substation opened in our area that was later closed by Steve Schuh. Point is, good things don't last forever.
Especially in this current climate and emerging era of incivility and callous disregard for the rules or civil discourse.
I call this era we are experiencing and witnessing: "The Taking". It just came early for our area.
No doubt, it is a challenge to manage and run a large not for profit organization when one has to hire a for profit management company to run it. Inherently, a mixing of oil and water situation.
Management company's often succum to outside influence and become sympathetic to developers. Challenging to keep straight for sure. Our honest "do gooder" running streak lasted until an internal group convinced, coopted, coached, misguided and funded by a variety of outside special interests, agreed to fund a less than ethical non-democratic take over of our HOA in 2015. This was accomplished by way of randomly coached individucals that were recruited in secret to "volunteer" to be appointed as reps by folks with an unethical agenda. There was an uncharacteristic in-rush of appointee requests. Yes, 12 of the 14 they recruited for the dirtly deed to "reacall" two board members and flip the majority of the board were APPOINTED by me and the board at that time. Not elected. Their falsely claimed desire to "represent their neighborhoods" was the premis of their appointment requests Which, turned out, to NOT be the case or their primary intent. The vast majority of these folks were not elected or declared as candidates on any ballot to the homeowners in their neighborhoods. This major point and incovenient FACT was a point the local paper ignored investigating or mentioning or asking about. Gotta sell the special interest narravtive instead. The recall process was overseen by the former GOP county executive . This is a fact because he called me to ask me if I was gping appeal the decision. And said: "Let it go brother, it's just politics." On top of my battling this outragous and heavy handed 3rd world take over tactic and nonsense,I remained focused on family. We fought the good fight to the end. and did not quit the fight. This battle raged while my father in law, whom was in his final year due to his fight with cancer, was my priority while this was all going on. He passed away during that same period of time. The wicked never rest.
It was, no doubt, a challenging year to juggle and dedicate bandwidth to with their being so many falsehoods and lies being bandied about by various local demogogues. Moreover, 3 law firms and 7 attorney's made dubious claims of working "pro bono" on the marauder's side was also fascinating to hear. So many attorney's agreeing to work probono, right? Right. BS! The local newspaper simply would not investigate this "probono" point and brushed it aside to sell a different special interest narrative. Contrived and manufactured controversy sells. The takeover was really an extraordinary thing to watch and experience. Especially from my perspective! The incivility on display was unreal. It was a well funded tribal, 3rd world mob swarm tactic orchestrated on one of the largest HOAs in AA County. Several of the most aggressive individuals involved with leading this local effort work at the NSA. This did not escape notice. Interesting extracurricular Hatch Act activity? Maybe. Maybe not. So, if you move here, don't be surprised if you recieve systematic harrassment. It's just how AA County is. It's the dark nature of the area. The marauders money, planning and secret meeting ideas came from somewhere.
Literally, it got to the point I had to hire a personal body guard for 3 months. This was required after being stalked , harrassed and threatened at meetings for 3 months. The board, at that time, also had to hire State Sheriff's Deputys for security because the county executive had the police stand down when we called in for help with aggressive mob antics. Trump and Putin would be proud of these aggressive tactics! We fought the good fight to save the HOA from it's predictible demise and for the right reasons to the end. Why, do you ask? Because I am a volunteer that stood up to corruption and nonsense. We followed the rules and stood against special interests that were not interested in having a working democracy or elections here. The fix was in at the county though.
My solid volunteer work was recognized by way of dozens of county committee appointments, executive citations across three county executive administrations. US Congressional, US senatorial and state congressional and senatorial citations right up until 2015. It's quite a coincidence that suddenly I recieve no appointments from the new executive.
All the trouble began when he took office. Fascinating coincicdence? No. This timeline and fact speak volumes. The fix was in at the county level. Facts, rules, civility and reality didn't matter because the ends justified all means necessary for them.
Belief, lies, special interest narratives, wants, rhetoric, hidden agendas and politics all dove into the fray.
Truly crazy stuff and that is no exaggeration. While outrageous at the time, these happenings in 2014
were simply a precursor to and an early indication of the tracherous times to come for the nation in 2016.
What has become standard operating proceedure in AA County's hyperpartisan government's pro-developer accommodation practices, these aggresive tactics have also become a national phenomenea.
3 years later, I shake my head at all the toxic soup they created. HOA dues have almost doubled, volunteerism is way down, legal and collections costs have skyrocketed, the swim team organization lost all of its races in 2018 after getting everything they wanted. The community center looks delapitated because the cedar shingle Apline theme was replaced with vinyl siding. These results come as no surprise and were predicted 3 years ago. It is also sad to note is how many people were fair weather friends and taken in by the lies and rhetoric. Just look at whats happening on the national level.
Our HOA is not alone. Other Large HOAs in the US have suffered similar special interest take overs:
Irvine California's large HOA take over by swim team parents. FBI busts a
Las Vegas criminal network of law firms,contractors & developers taking over HOAs
To provide a sense of scale, the HOA is LARGE with over 3700 homes and 13,000 people on 610 acres.
The areas is now ripe for exploitatyion. With a 2.3 million dollar a year budget and 6 million in reserves we built up, it's enticing. Because of this, it was worth fighting back but was a doomed effort. However, we knew being raided and exploited through a dubiously planned / hostile take over was not going to work out well for the general membership.
Moreover, it was the second HOA take over by hostile outside special interests to happen in west AA County that year.
Actualy democratic elections are a thing of the past now too.
AA County's government has been weakened by chronic special interests, anemic revenues and a long history of heavily integrated developers into zoning oversight and its governance culture. Nothing happens in the county without developer cabal approval. A totally backwards way to govern. Blatant Hatch Act violations also affect a large portion of the local population. This is because of the secretive nature of the surveillance type jobs of people that live in this community. The HOA take over was also an early reflection of the overall lack of civility, heavy handed nonsense, and lack of transparency trending in the US's tribal siloing via social media. Again, I refer to this occurance as: "The Taking". The taking was done by those who couldn't be bothered with actual rules, civility, honesty, normal elections or regular election cycles via open meetings. The coup was planned in secret closed meetings, was appointee based, special interest funded and completely non democratic. Any means were justified for an ends.
The homeowners did not vote for it. Neighborhood elections are now a thing of the past except for in the 4 condominium communities. The takeover was a bell weather event. This is because it turned out to be an early reflection of what was coming nationally and repeated in the 2016 election process. Meme's, robo calls, anymous signage, social media, anymous threats all happened in this attack on true honest volunteers. It also should be noted that this take over included attacking and removing the first African American president on our HOA board.
Astroturf and not grassroots by any means. A few brave and ethical souls had the audacity to fight to stop that foreseable disaster would bring. We failed to stop them. The political fix was already dialed in at the county level which was 100% GOP run. After recieving an interestingly timed phone call to my mobile phone from the GOP county executive, I suddenly realized then and there that he was involved in monitoring my movments and the takeover's status. Now, after 3 years, 2018 has proven our concerns in 2015 were justified. The community has already seen a close to doubling of its dues, decline in its community center, nasty board meetings, poor communications, secret meetings that continue with a huge decline in volunteers. A very predictible and non surprising outcome in a toxic environment.
Competency, actual elections, facts, civility and an academic approach used to be considered valued commodities.
These are not values the local culture likes to see. Strange times and strange happenings. This general decline is civility the nation is now contending with came early to our community. Kleptocracy, profiting from and helping private or special interests, exploitation to win by cheating the system (Russia's Putin inspired antics et al) is on the rise all over.
Democracy and honest elections, on the other hand, is in dire straights locally and nationally. The need has never been greater for objective, ethical, civil, competent, level headed and normal people to step forward. Exploitation of ones volunteer elected station for personal profit? Very wrong. Science, truth, the envirionment and facts still matter to me and others. Personal profitering off ones volunteer work? Unacceptible. Some folks will never learn or understand the concept of what being an unpaid, high fidelity volunteer actually is because of their own moral paucity projections.
I do and I showed it could be done for 15 years plus.
We chose to live here because we have to live here. The wants of the few imposed upon
the needs of the many is now the norm.
Of course, this is my personal opinion, I could be wrong.
Anne Arundel County Executive
Committee Appointments
and Executive Citations recieved.
Janet Owens, (D), 2002-2010, 14ea
John Leopold, (R): 2010-2012 8ea
Laura Newman, (R): 2012-2014 6ea
Steve Schuh, (R): 2014-2018 0ea, ZERO
Growth Action Network Original founding Board Member 2007-2018 and sustaining member.
Established and own:
Ticoscen Inc.
1994 to Present
An ISNetworld and GRMS
globally certifed company
LC/GC magazine ELSD
white paper contributor. .
Maryland League of Conservation Voters,
Anne Arundel County Chapter Board Member
One of the original founding members.
2010-2018
DEM and GOP Anne Arundel County Executive Appointments:
BRAC Growth Committee,
Public Safety Sub-Committee Chair.
2004 2006 Janet Owens (D)
PAB SAC, Planning Advisory Board Special Advisory Committee.
2006-2009 John Leopold (R)
Laurel Impact Fee Committee
2002 - 2014
Storm Water Fee Advisory Committee
2014 to 2014 Laura Newman (R)
Other stuff:
Rotary Club Volunteer Award 2014
AA County Volunteer of the Year Nominee 2003
Citizen's Emergency Respose Team
"CERT" team leader, West County.
2008-2014
Green Committee Chair
2005-2014
Community Center LEEDS certification project and "Green Day" events.
Storm water bay drain marking project.
West County Federation
President.
Waxter Children's Center
Advisory board.
Campaign Treasurer 2004-2008
for Gerald J. Benoit, "Jamie"
County Council member
2006-2014
Strong supporter for Andrew Pruski
AA County Council
2014 to present.
President Barak Obama
Innauguration Day
Committee Volunteer
2012
White House tour 2014
White House tour 2009
DOJ assisted us with an elevator
project for our house due to a
Fair Housing Act Violation in 1998
by the builder, Ryan Homes.
US Congressional Sub Committee
2002 testimony before the National Offshore Safety Advisory Committee in DC at Coast Guard HQ. (NOSAC)
VAREX 1985-1994:
Designed custom HPLC instrumentation. Prep LC and Prep GC. USDA's " Onion meter" is pictured above was built for the USDA and was featured in OMNI magazine:
Dr. Peter Varadi, my old boss at Varex, started the whole terrestial solar panel business in the early '70 at Solarex before he started VAREX.
Kojo Namdi show on Solar in 2018:
Tim's voluneerism in the news:
ACA 2018:
Growth Action Network 2018 Election:
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1Local Sports team SupportTicoscen sponsored Ft.Meade's High School track team by funding $2000.00 for their new uniform purchase in 2018. An underfunded field and track team that now has the jerseys they deserve to shine! The kids appreciate it . -
2City of LaurelLaurel Gude Park stage door I designed and donated. A stainless steel door laser etched with the city's coat of arms. No maintenance required and will last a long time. Presented by Ticoscen in 2005 to the Mayor of Laurel. -
3TECH: eBikes and MotorcyclesCustom personal engineering projects included a motorcycle towing jig I designed and tested in the neighborhood. Carries two motorcycles without a trailer. eBikes are another interest I have after travelling to California and renting one! eBikes (bicycles) are amazing.
Led many "Green Initiatives"
Organized several "Green Day". events. Electric cars, rain gardens, environmental were subjects that were covered including strom water management system upgrade ideas.
CERT Emergency Prep
Led a local forum on emergency preparedness based on my MEMA and FEMA training and CERT team leader position. Guest speaker from the FEMA was also there to coach people on their "GO BAG" perparation.
Only volunteer for things you enjoy doing. TPR 2018
The laws of physics never sleep and apply to people & everything equally. TPR 1985
"I'm an inspiration to others to do what they do best.
Good people go on
to do better things. Jerks go on to do worse things." TPR 2015
" You've become too knowledgeable." former BOD members 2007