I still send letters by mail. I visit the post office almost every day and I have to say that we in West Friendship are mighty lucky to have a team like Dave Gonzalez, our letter carrier, and Shirley Barber, our extraordinary postmistress.
I have never been disappointed by the efficient and superb service offered at our post office. My love affair with this service goes back to the days when the West Friendship branch was located on Route 144 in the "strip" center which now houses the Bank of America.
Back then, Pierre "Skip" Brehm was in charge — and what a character he was. His assistant, when the postal office moved to its present location, was the affable Marian Howard. I still keep in touch with both of these once-long-time fixtures of our community.
Marian now lives in York, Pa., with her daughter. She still sends out Christmas cards, which always remind me of the days when she would hand write and hand deliver Christmas list response letters to my children signed by Santa. She never failed to include a little gift bag of goodies.
Skip Brehm has retired to Willcox, Ariz. I heard from Skip over the holidays and learned that he was recently awarded a lifetime membership in the Rex Allen "Arizona Cowboy" Museum and Willcox Cowboy Hall of Fame in his new hometown . The museum is dedicated to the lure and mystique of the cowboy spirit and proudly displays its logo of "Where the Spirit of the West Begins."
For those who recall Brehm's love of bolo ties, cowboy hats and all things southwestern, this new life in Arizona is custom made. Skip serves as a guide at the museum along with a host of other duties. Both Marian Howard and Skip Brehm send hearty hellos to all in the West Friendship community.
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.
The local committee for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life of Western Howard County, headed by community volunteer Suzy Hill, will hold a kick off meeting at the Jennings Chapel Methodist Church , 2601 Jennings Chapel Road in Woodbine on Jan. 20 at 7 p.m.
Relay for Life is a noncompetitive overnight walk-a-thon charity event that has seen contributions of more than $80,000 in recent years. This planning meeting is one in which all members of the community are invited. Local participation is what makes the event soar according to organizers.
Volunteer opportunities, the theme of the event and a myriad of planning details are to be discussed. Refreshments will be served. Questions on the event? Call Suzy Hill at 443-253-1054.