As mentioned in previous columns, my good friend and Russett resident Bill Berned participated in the American Diabetes Association's fourth annual Chesapeake Bay Tour De Cure on May 16. Bill raised $5,074, making him the number two fundraiser at the event. Bill completed the Tour De Cure100-mile route through the beautiful rural countryside of Talbot County, downtown Easton, Oxford and Trappe, in six hours and three minutes. Congratulations, Bill!
Kudos to five Anne Arundel County Schools, which set the example to follow in helping their respective communities. In what has become an annual tradition, county schools led the state once again in the Harvest For The Hungry-Kids Helping Kids Drive in 2014 in terms of food and money collected. South River High School, in Edgewater, was on top in both lists having collected $31,337 in cash and 29,985 pounds of food. County schools held four of the top five positions in cash donations and three of the top five in pounds of food. The schools include: Piney Orchard Elementary School, in Odenton, second in the state in monetary donations totaling $18,381; Severna Park High School, in Severna Park, third with monies totaling $17,820; Severna Park Elementary School, in Severna Park, fourth with $14,330. Davidsonville Elementary School, in Davidsonville, came in third with the number of pounds of food collected, 18,361; and Central Elementary School, in Edgewater, came in fourth with 18,107 pounds.
The program is sponsored by the Maryland State Department of Education and the Maryland Food Bank. More information can be found by going to aacpsnews.org. . Congratulations to all!
With summer right around the corner, there are plenty of festivities taking place. On Saturday, June 6 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., stop by the annual Strawberry Festival and Bake Sale at the United Methodist Church of Savage, 9050 Baltimore St.A scrumptious menu of open pit beef, beef barbecue, chicken salad, hot dogs, potato salad, cole slaw, baked beans, ice cream, fresh strawberries and shortcake biscuits will be available. For more information, please call 301-725-7630 or go to umcsavage.org.
If you like picnics in the park with live music, then here is something for you. Summer concert series are offered at Downs Park, 8311 John Downs Loop, in Pasadena; and Quiet Waters Park, 600 Quiet Waters Park Road, in Annapolis. On Sunday, June 7 from 6 to 8 p.m., Mr. B & the Tides will be playing at Downs Park; and the first concert at Quiet Waters Park will be held Saturday, July 11 from 6 to 8 p.m., featuring Sweet Leda. For more information, go to aacounty.org/RecParks/concerts.cfm or contact Downs Park at 410-222-6230 and Quiet Waters Park at 410-222-1777.
Happy birthday to Thomas Kelley who celebrates on June 3, Connie Cole Barajas and Shannon Yunkon Jones who celebrate on June 7 and former Russett resident Derek Schmidt, who celebrates on June 13.