The October meeting of the Greater Taylorsville Citizen's Council is one not to miss. The topic of alcohol problems in our community will be discussed and is one that is relevant to virtually everyone in the community either directly or indirectly.
The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Monday at Taylorsville United Methodist Church and is open to anyone in the community. The panel presentation includes speakers that have devastating first-hand knowledge of the effects of alcohol abuse and drunk driving in our community.
The panel will include Cheryl Hammond, mother of Jessica Belknap, a 2009 South Carroll High School graduate whose life was tragically lost to a drunk driver while taking her daily walk near her home in Taylorsville. Cheryl started the Jessica Belknap Foundation and her message will focus on "Jessica's Story" and how she lived her life, the circumstances of her passing and the implications upon the family.
Phil and Cindy Mullikin's story is unfortunately similar to Hammond's as their 20-year-old daughter Catherine was killed by a drunk driver in November 1998. The Mullikins formed Catherine's Cause in memory of their daughter. Cindy Mullikin said the non-profit organization's focus is on the DUI offender. Every other month, the organization holds courses on the dangers of drunken driving where volunteer speakers discuss the impact and effects of driving while intoxicated. The course is a mandatory education requirement for those arrested for driving while intoxicated in Maryland. "We have to continue the fight," Cindy Mullikin said.
The other panelist will be Carol Mullen of the recently formed Carroll Coalition Against Underage Drinking. The Coalition is funded by a grant from the Maryland Strategic Prevention Framework Grant awarded to the Carroll County Health Department and its nonprofit partner, the Carroll County Community Media Center. "The underage drinking epidemic is running rampant in the county," Mullen said. The goals of the Coalition are to reduce underage drinking, binge drinking and alcohol related crashes in Carroll County. "I will discuss what's going on in the county as far as drinking trends," Mullen said.
The church is located at 4356 Ridge Road in Taylorsville. More information on the meeting or the Council can be found at http://www.greatertaylorsville.org. The church's phone number is 410-875-4101.
SCHS Chorus performs
If you're looking for something to do tonight, the South Carroll High School Chorus will be performing a Glee Show featuring the music from the Broadway musical "Wicked." Proceeds from ticket sales will go toward a trip the chorus plans to take in the spring to a chorus festival in Orlando. The students will be raising money at the show to benefit the anti-bullying program Rachel's Challenge. The show starts at 7 p.m. and admission is $8. Refreshments will be available for purchase.
The school is located at 1300 W. Old Liberty Road in Winfield and the phone number is 410-751-3575.
Terry Zetlmeisl covers Mount Airy, Taylorsville, Winfield, Woodbine and Lisbon.
