Andrew Spang, the band director at Folly Quarter Middle School, is proud to announce the selection of several of his student musicians to elite ensembles.
Lance Mercy, playing trumpet, Jeffery Read, trombone, and Sam LeDoux, on bass, were chosen to perform with the 2014 Maryland Junior All State Band. This is an incredible honor as the ensemble is made up of the finest 7th, 8th and 9th grade musicians from across the entire state of Maryland.
Students are selected through a difficult audition process and will attend an intense weekend of rehearsals in February before presenting a concert at the Maryland Music Educators Association conference in Baltimore.
In addition, three Folly Quarter students were chosen for the Howard County Honors Band, which is made up of students from all 19 middle schools in Howard County. Students are selected through a draft process following a challenging audition in the fall. Folly Quarter students Amy Waddington, playing trumpet, Teresa Kealey Kustas, also playing trumpet, and Alena Shen on clarinet earned spots in this honor ensemble.
Congratulations to these talented musicians from Folly Quarter.
Dayton Oaks Elementary is proud of members of the third grade Green Crew who participated in the Howard County Recycling Coloring Book Contest. The students drew pictures and submitted them to the Howard County Recycling Division. Jocelyn Baker's drawing was chosen for the front cover. The coloring book includes artwork by Dayton Oaks students Eunice Kim, Gabriella Ramos, Marley Cosgrove and Taylor Leonard.
It just isn't Christmas for my family without at least one visit to a train garden. Each year there are more in the area, which means we can see trains without having to drive far. The Gary J. Arthur Community Center in Glenwood has a display provided by train enthusiast Dennis Moore featuring four continuously operating trains. Lots of buttons for sounds and movement make this layout interactive and fun for all ages. The train garden is open during regular operating hours for the Community Center, and is free to everyone.
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The Four County Society of Model Engineers has an HO display set up at the West Friendship Volunteer Fire Department. The train garden is open Monday through Friday from 6 to 9 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Jan. 5. On Monday, Dec. 23, Tuesday, Dec. 24, Tuesday, Dec. 31, and Wednesday, Jan. 1, the layout will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will be closed Christmas Day.
This is a great display designed and arranged by members of the Four County Society, many of whom are present to talk about the sections of the garden which they built.
Brother Gerry's Christmas Train Garden will be open at the Shrine of St. Anthony, 12290 Folly Quarter Road, on Sundays through the end of January from 3 to 5 p.m. Brother Gerry Seipp has been collecting trains and train accessories since he was a child, and loves to talk about trains and his garden.
The Sykesville and Patapsco Railway displays a train garden in a C&O Pullman Car and a B&O Caboose at the corner of Baldwin Drive and Oklahoma Avenue in Sykesville. The layout will be open Saturday, Dec. 21, Saturday, Jan. 4, and Sunday, Jan. 5, from noon to 4 p.m. each day. The multiple gauge model display is free and open to the public.
Christmas train gardens are a Baltimore area tradition that is exciting for children and adults, and should be on your list of things to do during the holidays.
Congratulations to Glenelg High's School Resource Officer, Steve Willingham, who was voted best Police Officer of Howard County for 2013 by the readers of Howard Magazine. Willingham is a great asset to the Glenelg High community.
Greenbridge Pottery will feature Becca Gold singing songs of the season on Saturday, Dec. 21, from noon to 2 p.m., and Kelly and Annie Maloney with acoustic harmonies on Sunday, Dec. 22, from 2 to 3 p.m. Stop by for some hot apple cider and beautiful music in front of a warm fire while you do some holiday shopping.