Happy New Year to all in the West Friendship community. Without you, and your constant reel of family, school, Scout, business, church, civic and community activities this column couldn't exist. Keep the news coming. Your neighbors love to hear all about who's doing what. I wish all in West Friendship a New Year full of peace and promise.
Many thanks to the members of the West Friendship Volunteer Fire Department for all they do and have done for our community this year. Whether it was the joyful sounds of Santa atop a bright red fire engine during the neighborhood holiday drives through town or the fervor of the fundraising events this year with a fall flea market or the Toys for Tots campaign, the volunteers and the auxiliary are always on the job.
Most important is the daily on-call nature of the firefighters and emergency medical crew at Station 3. These men and women are always at the ready for us and have demonstrated once again how responsive and invaluable the fire department members are to our community.
During 2014 the members of West Friendship Volunteer Fire Department responded to hundreds of fire incidents and even more emergency medical incidents. The members of Station 3 continue to look out for our community in the selfless way in which they always have. Thank you from all of us in West Friendship.
Toys for Tots campaigns were visible all over the county during the holiday season but it would be hard to beat the enthusiastic elves of the Curves Gym on Ten Oaks Road, particularly during the "parade of parcels" when members of the exercise group headed to the Toys for Tots depot.
Headed up by Suzy Hill, the brigade included Jane Clarke, Nancy White and Martha Rhoads who, according to Hill, are always there for assistance when it comes to community outreach. These amazing ladies along with fellow members of Curves collected in excess of 350 gifts for kids. What a gang!
Merry Mulch Your Tree is the famed logo of the Howard County Recycling Division of the Department of Public Works. Once again this wonderful service is in place for our community.
In our region, trees may be dropped off at the Alpha Ridge Landfill Wood Waste area, 2350 Marriottsville Road, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m,. Monday through Saturday, or at the Western Regional Park on Carrs Mill Road in Woodbine between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily. This service will be in place until Jan. 16.