When the neighbors in West Friendship's Fox Valley neighborhood rally for a good cause they always do it in a big way. Such was the case May 22 when the neighbors held their inaugural Community 5k Run in support of the Baltimore-based charity Casey Cares. Fox Valley resident Julie Diamond, along with her daughter, Stacy, a junior at Glenelg High School, organized the neighborhood run and were thrilled with the enthusiastic response of their neighbors.
According to neighbor Rachael Aiello, tons of kids from the development turned out for the run. Many of the school aged children attend Triadelphia Ridge Elementary and Folly Quarter Middle School. Julie chose Casey Cares as the recipient of funds raised by the 5k because of the wonderful work being done by the local charity. Casey Baynes, founder of Casey Cares, helped kick off the run and explained the organizations mission as "one which provides ongoing, uplifting programs with a special touch to critically ill children and their families."
Julie masterminded the neighborhood run and doled out T-shirts and prizes for top runners. Diamond and fellow organizers were thrilled that the day they selected turned out to be such a beautiful and clear morning after a week's worth of rain. More than being pleased with the funds raised for Casey Cares, Diamond and the adults in the neighborhood were delighted to teach the youngest members of the community a good lesson in giving to those in need.
The enthusiastic way in which Angie Grim describes the Shake it Up Café, the summer vacation Bible school program at Saint James United Methodist Church, makes me want to sign up. The program which is geared towards children pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, is set for July 18-22 , 9 a.m. to noon. The cost of the program is $15 and registration is required. Activities will include puppetry in the morning, compliments of Scraps the raccoon puppet. Theme songs such as "Shake it Up" and plans for the days lessons, interspersed with crafts, stories, snacks, music, crafts and community projects will fill each day. Children older than fifth grade may participate as assistants. If you would like to sign your child up for this vacation Bible school, contact Angie at makgrim@verizon.net, call 410-442-2020 or go to the church website at http://www.saintjamesweb.org.
Relay for Life of Western Howard County will hold its annual overnight "walkathon" June 10 at Western Regional Park. The entire community is invited to participate in what is described as a free of charge, fun-filled overnight event designed to celebrate cancer survivorship and raise money for the American Cancer Society. Opening ceremonies will begin at 6:30 p.m. In 2010, Western Howard County teams raised more than $128,000 and received the All-American Award for overall excellence in activities both on the day of the event as well as throughout the year. Western Howard County's Relay for Life also won the State Spirit of Relay Award in 2010.
This year, the event will feature a Survivor's Lap, (I'm proud to report that my pal, Mary Chrest, finished the Survivor's Lap splendidly in 2010), a luminary ceremony, a kids' walk and a silent auction. If you would like to participate or if you would like to learn more about this local event, email Shelby.williford@cancer.org, call 410-781-4316 or go to the website for registration at http://www.relayforlife.org/westernhoward. According to Ray Yuan, a relay committee member, "Relay participants keep an overnight vigil because cancer never sleeps."
The Howard County Historical Society will present lecturer and photographer Louis LeConte during a program titled, "The Evolution of Photography and the Preservation of Old Photographs: A Brief Overview Covering the Different Types of Photographs and How to Preserve Them." The informative lecture is set for Sunday, June 5 at 2 p.m. at the Howard County Historical Society Museum, 8328 Court Ave., in Historic Ellicott City. Admission is $5 for the general public and $3 for Historical Society members. Interested in this program or details about the Howard County Historical Society? Go to the website at http://www.hchsmd.org or telephone at 410-750-0370.
The community is also invited to a reception and an exhibit of the winning photographs in the Ellicott City Historic District Photo Contest sponsored by the Ellicott City Restoration Foundation. The reception will take place Friday, June 3 at 7 p.m. at the Howard County Historical Society. The reception will include wine, cheese, refreshments and, most notably, the announcement of the annual Historic District Person of the Year Award. There is no charge for this event. Questions? Call Ed Lilley, president of the Ellicott City Restoration Foundation at 410-303-2959 or e-mail Ed at ecrfpres@aol.com.
The members of the Sunshine and Clover 4-H Club were thrilled recently when club meeting guests included Phyllis Duvall, an emergency medical technician from the Lisbon Volunteer Fire Department. Club member sisters Eleanor and Margaret Vranken volunteered as "victims" for Duvall's demonstration of the Heimlich maneuver. Aside from acting as faux choking victims, the Vranken sisters are getting ready for the Howard County Fair with crafts, hobbies, horticulture and photography projects. Fellow club members Karen Vanisko and Jason Hallam pitched in recently during the St. Louis Catholic Church spaghetti dinner. The club members love participating in community service. Especially when they are able to hone their meatball-rolling expertise. Sunshine 4-H and Clover Club meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the 4-H building at the Howard County fairgrounds. New members are always welcome.
Two reminders. Marcie Barnard has worked for months organizing a big fundraiser sale which will benefit the American Cancer Society. The antique dealers of The Pink Cabbage shop, at the corner of Route 144 and Triadelphia Road, have invited vendors to join them in an outdoor flea market set for Saturday, June 4, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. The event which Marcie and the gang are calling "The Funky Flea" is promising table after table of flea market marvels. The Funky Flea Yard Sale is sponsored by the Pink Cabbage in conjunction with the American Cancer Society. Marcie says that this is always a fun filled event, with great buys for customers and a shared common purpose of supporting the mission of The American Cancer Society. Questions? Call Marcie at 410-461-3985 or go to the Pink Cabbage online at http://www.thepinkcabbageshop.com.
Members of the Antique Farm Machinery Club are ready to roll for the National Road Yard Sale Saturday, June 4. Virginia Frank is looking for vendors who would like to participate in the famed National Pike sale which is said to run from Baltimore to St. Louis, all along the old Route 40 or th National Road, which in our neck of the woods is Route 144 or Frederick Road. The sale in our region is set for June 4, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Living Farm Heritage Museum, 12985 Frederick Road (Route 144) in West Friendship. Virginia describes the historic road sale as "the longest continuous yard sale in the country." With more than 824 miles of participants, surely there should be bargains for all who gather. If you would like to be a vendor with the West Friendship group, call Virginia at 410-531-2569 by phone or e-mail her at jsrstar@verizon.net. Spaces for vendors are $10.
Horse lovers alight. The Maryland Western Horse Association will hold an all-day show Sunday, June 5, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Howard County fairgrounds. A perfect opportunity to take the kids out for an equestrian outing.
Mark your calendar for two upcoming yard sale and flea market events. The folks at Eyre Tour and Travel will hold a community yard sale June 11 from 9 a.m. until all the goodies are sold. Eyre Bus is at the intersection of Triadelphia Road and Ten Oaks Road.
Shepherd of the Glen Lutheran Church will host an outdoor flea market and mini book sale set for June 11, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Shepherd of the Glen Lutheran Church is at 14551 Burnt Woods Road just past Glenelg High School.