Carroll Lutheran Village's annual benefit quilt raffle is under way, and this year's quilt came together through the friendship and generosity of someone who lives states away.
The appliqued quilt top was made by Dawn Becker of Belt, Montana, who is friends with a Village resident.
That resident is not a quilter herself, but she knows members of the Village's quilt group, according to Lisa Albin, director of church and public relations at the Village.
Becker is "an old-school quilter and she likes to see everything done by hand," said Albin. "Our ladies hand quilted all of the top, and that was important to her."
Becker said, "I like the traditional versus the machine. It's the way it was done 100 years ago, 200 years ago. I appreciate that."
The 75-inch by 75-inch quilt, called "Autumn Star," was hand quilted by four members of the Village Quilters: Dot Reise, Betty Heinrich, Helen Englar and Claire Nordeck.
The quilting group at the Village has created a quilt annually for a number of years to contribute to the Carroll Lutheran Village Resident Assistance Fund, helping residents who have outlived their financial resources.
"This fund is part of our endowment but is designated to help residents who, through no fault of their own, have run out of resources," Albin said. "If someone's finances are depleted we help support them, even help pay their electric bill. This can happen through the normal course of life. There are so many reasons why these things can happen."
Albin said Becker came to visit her friend in the Village over the summer. "She had the opportunity to see the finished quilt and she was really pleased," Albin said of Becker, noting that she has also donated an appliqued quilt top for the 2015 raffle. "They are already working on the next one for next year and she is hoping to come back again next summer to see that one, too."
The 2014 raffle quilt is on display at the Shop on the Square Gift Shop at 900 Mission Square on the Carroll Lutheran Village campus in Westminster.
Tickets, which are $1 each or $5 for six, are available at the Village — in the Shop on the Square Gift Shop, which is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and in the Village Corner Gift Shop, 300 St. Luke Circle, which is open from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. daily and from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Or call 443-605-1011 or 410-833-4218 for tickets.
The drawing will take place Dec. 6 at Carroll Lutheran Village. "The winner need not be present to win, so come get those tickets at any time," Albin said.
Carroll Lutheran Village is a not-for-profit continuing-care retirement community that includes 398 homes and apartments, 50 assisted-living suites in the Diven House and 103 skilled nursing beds in the Health Care Center.
Breakfast with Santa
The Gamber fire company will have its Breakfast with Santa on Dec. 6 at the fire hall.
Doors will open at 7 a.m. and breakfast will end at 11 a.m.
The buffet-style menu will include pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, potatoes, hot apples, biscuits and gravy, cereal, milk, orange juice, coffee, tea and hot chocolate.
Families may bring a camera to take photos of their little ones with Santa or with the fire company equipment. Due to the number of children and time restrictions, no more than two photos with Santa will be permitted.
The cost of breakfast is $7 for adults, $3 for children age 6 to 11, and free for children 5 and younger.
This year the fire company will be collecting items for the Toys for Tots campaign, and canned foods for the needy. Those attending are being asked to consider bringing a new toy for a needy child or a canned goods donation.
Cash or checks only will be accepted, but an ATM machine is available onsite.
The fire company is at 3838 Niner Road, Gamber.
For additional information, call 410-795-3445.
Club sells ornaments
The General Federation of Women's Clubs, Woman's Club of Westminster, is presenting its ornament for 2014.
The club's publicity chairperson, Mary Lou Poirier, said this is the club's 12th year to offer an ornament for sale during the holidays.
"It's usually an important building in Westminster, and has included five buildings at McDaniel College," said Poirier. "This is the first time it is not a building, so now we are now saying our ornaments are buildings and landmarks."
This year's ornament depicts Wild Imaginings, the sculpture by renowned local sculptor Bart Walter which stands in the sculpture garden in front of the Carroll County Public Library's Westminster branch.
Walter's wife, Lynn Walter, is a member of the club, Poirier said.
Purchase the ornament for $21, including sales tax, at these Westminster locations: Westminster branch library, 50 E. Main St.; Carroll County Arts Council, 91 W. Main St.; Historical Society of Carroll County, 210 E. Main St.; Benn's Men's Wear, 140 Village Shopping Center; and Westminster Antique Mall, 433 Hahn Road. Ornaments may also be purchased from members of the Woman's Club of Westminster.
Money raised by the sale of ornaments helps support many community projects, according to Poirier.
The GFWC Woman's Club of Westminster is a volunteer service group, part of a state and international federation of women's clubs, working in the Westminster community to better the lives of its citizens.
For more information, email walter@gmail.com or gloupoirier@gmail.com or call 410-871-9172.
Lois Szymanski covers Finksburg, Gamber, Pleasant Valley, Reese, Sandymount, Silver Run, Smallwood, Union Mills and Westminster. To contact her, call 410-346-7321 or email loisszymanski@hotmail.com.
