Ellicott City sustains a couple of Rotary Clubs: the Sunrise Club, which meets for breakfast, and the Evening Club, which gets together over dinner.
So it's appropriate that a couple -- a married couple -- preside over them.
Flavia Lewis is president of the Sunrise Club, and Rick Lewis is president of the Evening Club.
Previously an all-male organization, Rotary first admitted women to its membership about five years ago.
This makes Flavia one of the first female presidents in the world of Rotary, and, she says, the Lewises the first married couple to head two different Rotary Clubs simultaneously.
The Lewises are both veterinarians. Rick and his father, Fred Lewis, run the Lewis Veterinary Hospital on Route 108, a venerable Howard County institution.
Flavia owns the Fulton Animal Hospital.
Rotary Club was founded in 1905 as a network for professionals and business people.
Soon the club's focus turned to charitable activities, a focus that has continued to the present day, as evidenced by the club motto: "Service About Self."
Rotary now is an international organization, supporting large-scale projects.
Recently $4 billion was raised to fund PolioPlus, a bid to vaccinate all third-world children against polio and DPT.
Since the project's goal was $2 billion, the $2 billion excess will underwrite vaccinations of children in American inner cities.
The Sunrise club has supported such projects as an ophthalmic project in Tunisia, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, and Voices for Children, an advocacy group for abused children, in addition to helping needy community families. Plans are under way to start a dental clinic in Argentina.
The annual fund-raiser to underwrite project costs is February's Mardi Gras, a masquerade ball at which silent and live auctions are held.
*
Here's yet another communityyard sale: Epiphany Lutheran Church at 9122 Sybert Drive in Columbia Hills is holding its third annual yard sale from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, rain or shine.
In addition to traditional yard sale items, spring flowers and refreshments will be sold.
If you would like to rent a table, they cost $7.50; call Pastor David Berg at 730-6626 to make arrangements.
For additional information, call Al Honey at (301) 596-3114.
*
Two Ellicott City educators believe strongly in the importance of music education for their students, and they have the Maryland Music Educators Award for Excellence for 1993-94, North Central District, to show for it.
The two educators are Jim DeGeorge, Burleigh Manor Middle School's principal, and Crystie Adams, Ellicott Mills Middle School's music teacher.
Mr. DeGeorge won the Secondary School Administrator Award, nominated by three of his music staff: Jeffrey Brodie, Kathy Cammarata and Ellen Doring.
His belief in the importance of music led to some practical efforts on the behalf of music: scheduling adequate time for daily music classes, funding equipment and instruments, and supporting the efforts of the music teachers.
When Burleigh Manor Middle School opened in the fall of 1992, Mr. DeGeorge insisted that there be sufficient in-school time devoted to music. In fact, students may participate for one full period each school day.
Because of his support, Burleigh Manor has a Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Sixth-Grade Chorus, Seventh/Eighth-Grade Choir andOrchestra, a computer-assisted composition class and an after-school Jazz Ensemble.
All students also study music as part of the related-arts curriculum. Mr. DeGeorge has underwritten student field trips, concerts by professionals and band performances at feeder elementary schools.
Ms. Adams, winner of the Secondary Vocal/General Music Teacher Award, teaches general music to Ellicott Mills Middle students and directs the after-school chorus.
She combines her great enthusiasm for music with her enjoyment of her students. She loves to introduce them to a wide range of music they otherwise might not hear.
A current seventh-grader made her day when he told her of a new-found appreciation of opera.
Mary Jennings, of Hammond Middle School, nominated Ms. Adams for the award, describing her as "the best at what she does, the consummate teacher."
Among her accomplishments in her 23-year career are the foundation of statewide and countywide middle school choruses and her work as adjudicator at many country music festivals throughout Maryland.
*
Learning Disabilities Association President Janet Nuse announced that this Tuesday Ann and Donald Kline will lead the workshop "Parenting the Temperamental Child."
Topics to be discussed will include issues of behavior management and discipline in the home. LDA will meet in Howard High School's Media Center at 7:30 p.m.
The group's regular monthly meeting continues on the fourth Tuesday of each month. If you would like further information about LDA, an educational support group foradults or children who must deal with learning disabilities, call Janet Nuse at 992-0636.
*
Kaye Dee Richards moved into the Meadowbrook development Ellicott City last month, and the new paint's scarcely dry, the boxes just unpacked.
But she's already hanging out her shingle. Kaye Dee, pronounced Kadie, is a piano teacher who has 16 years of experience, a bachelor's degree in Piano Performance and a master's degree in Music Eduction.
Kay Dee offers private lessons to children and adults age 5 and older.
Call her at 750-3346 for more information.
*
Daniel Bruno, of River Road in Elkridge, has been working hard to find answers to some important questions: Shouldn't our legislators be accountable to us? Why can't Congress pass a balanced budget? Why can't we control our country's crime rate?
To answer these questions, he's made hundreds of phone calls in the past few months to help organize the local chapter of United We Stand.
You might remember that in the waning months of 1993, defeated presidential candidate Ross Perot started the group with the goal of affecting governmental reform by advocacy and education.
Mr. Bruno got involved during one phone call to the state headquarters in Annapolis. He's been busy ever since.
Call Dan at 796-1638 for more information on the group, which is seeking members.