When the doors of West Friendship Elementary close for dismissal on June 19 there surely will be many tears flowing. After more years than anyone can recall, Linda Chrest is retiring. "Miss Chrest" and West Friendship Elementary have become synonymous with all that is good about public education. My own adult children were the lucky recipients of Miss Chrest, as both first- and third-grade teacher, during the 1980s. Her natural love of the students, her enthusiasm for all things Snoopy, her amazing ability to listen, discern and hone in on just what each student needed: these are just a few of the stellar attributes which made her one of the finest teachers ever to grace the halls of our local school. Not a year went by when Linda didn't dress up for the Halloween parade, or shower the children with treats during field days or festival events or teach them to count, to read, to punctuate, to question. Many local residents can claim scrapbooks filled with Linda's personal and handwritten thank you notes. Such a star is hard to find and we as a community have been more than blessed that she devoted herself to our children. Linda admits to being conflicted about retirement and plans to still be involved in some capacity with the students and with teaching. Teaching is what she was meant to do and do it right she did. All of the children of our community were her Miss Chrest's children. Many of her students have gone on to amazing careers and accomplishments and still keep in touch. And many of her original students now have kids of their own who were lucky enough to be in her classroom at West Friendship.
Over the past 40 years much has changed in our little community. One thing that stayed the same was the continuity and assurance of the likes of Linda Chrest. We bid a fond farewell to this absolute gem of our community but not forever, just, "until we meet again."
A family event with free admission is set for June 20 at the West Friendship Living Heritage Farm Museum when the annual Cutting of the Grain event takes place. This year the harvested crop is barley, which was planted last fall. The cutting of the barley and all manner of crop harvest demonstrations begins at 10 a.m. Members of the Farm Machinery Club in cooperation with the Maryland Draft Horse and Mule Association will show how grain was cut with binders before it later went to the modern threshing machines. Farm life exhibits galore include baling, wagon rides, horse pull, refreshments and more. The Living Farm Heritage Museum is just across from the Howard County fairgrounds in West Friendship at 12985 Frederick Road (Route 144).
St. James United Methodist will hold Vacation Bible School July 6-10, from 9 a.m. to noon. Children, preschool through fifth-grade are invited to participate. Crafts, stories, recreation, music and snacks make up the daily routine with an overall theme of the Amazing Grace Adventures of "Gangway to Galilee," To sign up for the one-week Vacation Bible School call the church office, Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 410-442-2020 or email stjamessec@verizon.net.
St. James, which is on Route 99, is hosting a community yard sale on June 20, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Don't miss it. Lots of bargains for all.
The St. Andrew's monthly feast is set for June 25, 6-8 p.m. at 2892 Route 97 in Glenwood. "It's Italian with all the trimmings," said Lynne Quinn who organizes the event. The meal is $9 per person or $30 for the entire family. Dine in or carry out. Proceeds from the June dinner benefit church programs.
Area high school student alert: Learning CPR is a requirement for high school students. With this in mind, Howard County Fire and Rescue personnel are offering free training at the Glenwood branch library on June 24, 7 to 8 p.m. Stop by the library to register.