The B & O Railroad Museum's Ellicott City Station is hosting a special event, The Role of U.S. Colored Troops in the Civil War, on Saturday, July 30, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Meet members of the 23rd Regiment U.S. Colored Troops group who will explain the engagement of African Americans in the Civil War.
Learn about Howard County citizens who were members of the USCT such as Decatur Dorsey — born a slave in the Howard County district of Anne Arundel County (now Howard County) in 1836 and whose bravery at the Battle of Crater won him the Congressional Medal of Honor.
The event date marks the anniversary of the Battle of the Crater at Petersburg, Virginia, between the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, commanded by General Robert E. Lee and the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. George G. Meade under direction from General-in-Chief, Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant.
The B&O Railroad Museum's Ellicott City Station is at 2711 Maryland Ave. in the historic district. For more information, call 410-461-1945 or go to http://www.borail.org/ECS-Plan-Your-Visit.aspx
Free concert alert. Only two more Sunset Serenades concerts before the summer season comes to a close — Gaelic Mishap (Celtic Rock) on Wednesday, July 27, and Mama's Black Sheep (Rock, Blues, Country) on Wednesday, Aug. 3.
The free, family-friendly concert series is held at 7 p.m. at Centennial Park South,10000 Route 108 in Ellicott City.
Arrive early to enjoy boat rentals at the dock house and food and refreshments sold at Adventure Shack. Or bring your own picnic dinner. Don't forget to bring a blanket or lawn chair.
The Community Action Council of Howard County will be collecting non-perishable food items for the Howard County Food Bank at all Sunset Serenades concerts. For more information about CAC, visit www.cac-hc.org.
For weather-related concert changes call 410-313-4451 after 5 p.m. on the day of the performance. For concert information, call 410-313-4700.
Glen Mar Church is also hosting a free summer event — a classical concert on Thursday, July 28, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
The concert will feature works by Beethoven, Szymanowski, Mozart and Ravel performed by award-winning opera singer Youngsoo An, violinist Dr. Ahreum Kim and pianist Dr. Sophie Hong. Refreshments will be served during intermission.
For more information, go to http://glenmarumc.org/gmcevents/summerconcert/ or call 410-465-4995 ext. 209. The church is at 4701 New Cut Road, Ellicott City.
Last call for Shakespeare fans. The Chesapeake Shakespeare Company's production of "The Three Musketeers" ends on Sunday, July 24.
The company's summer outdoor theater, located in the Patapsco Female Institute Historic Parkhigh atop a hill overlooking Ellicott City, provides a great venue for this high-energy play complete with stage combat.
Gates open 90 minutes prior to the show for picnicking on the lawn. Picnic tables ($60) and café tables ($29) are available for rent and can be reserved when purchasing tickets.
For tickets, call the Box Office at 410-244-8570 or go to http://www.chesapeakeshakespeare.com/season/the-three-musketeers/ Kids (ages 18 and under) are free with paying adult (limit of two youth tickets with every adult ticket).
Father Joe at The Shrine of St. Anthony informed me about the Shrine's upcoming Grandparents Mass and cookout.
On Tuesday, July 26, at noon, the Shrine of St. Anthony will celebrate a special Mass for all grandparents on the Feast of Saints Joachim and Ann, the grandparents of Jesus.
Allgrandparents are invited to bring their grandchildren, all ages welcome, to the noon Mass followed by a free cookout.For more information and to RSVP, contact the Shrine office at 410-531-2800 or info@shrineofstanthony.org.