Austin Johnson, a rising seventh-grader at Glenelg Country School, took a goat to visit the residents at Angel's Touch Assisted Living at the end of June.
Austin is raising two Boer goats as a 4-H market goat project. He plans to show them at the Howard County Fair. This is his first year raising goats and he's really enjoying them. He says goats are "maybe not as intelligent as pigs, but they are athletic, jump on anything, get into everything and are very mischievous." The goats, Fluffy, a doe, and Bandit, a wether, are "hard work, but fun." They were born in February. Bandit was not ready to visit with people, so Fluffy was the only one Austin could take to Angel's Touch.
Austin was accompanied by his mother, Jen, and his 6-year-old niece, Annabelle, and 4-year-old nephew, Rowan. The two younger children handed out goat food so everyone could feed Fluffy. The residents liked petting the goat and talking with the children. Some of the care givers brought their children to see Fluffy. Children and animals are a perfect combination, one which made for a great day filled with happy people at Angel's Touch.
Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church will host an Inclusion Dance on Saturday, July 16, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. An Inclusion Dance is an opportunity for people to dance and have fun, regardless of age, size or abilities. The cost will be $5 per person, payable at the door. Light refreshments will be served. The church, at 16151 Old Frederick Road, is handicap accessible. For more information contact Jennifer at 410-440-7374 or by email at jennibeck@comcast.net.
Congratulations to Karen Mobley and Neighbor Network, the Dayton-based nonprofit organization, for receiving a Hire Power Award from the Howard County Board to Promote Self Sufficiency. Neighbor Network works hard to make Howard County a better place by helping low-income families. I mention the organization a lot in this column for the partnership with Folly Quarter Middle School students. The students have raised money by sponsoring the Indoor Yard Sale; collecting school supplies to fill backpacks for students returning to school; collecting food for Thanksgiving dinners and organizing Adopt-a-Family programs at Christmas time, all in conjunction with Neighbor Network. Not only is Karen helping the community, she is teaching young people about the good feelings that come from helping our neighbors.
The last few weeks have been noisy in the neighborhood. After the tornado blew through, gasoline generators were the predominant sound, as people compensated for the lack of electricity. Then there was the noise from chain saws and chippers cleaning up the trees that fell. The cutting and chipping on our property will be going on for a while and there will be enough firewood to keep us warm for years. We are grateful for good neighbors and friends who shared their machinery and helped with the clean-up.
The loss of trees around our house was upsetting, but no one was hurt and no buildings were damaged. It was quite an experience; one which made me realize that I don't want to live any place where tornadoes are routine.