Community service has been cropping up in conversations ever since service became a requirement for Maryland high school students to graduate. In Howard County, we take community involvement for granted. Folks around here always manage to find time and energy to help someone in need.
Recently our community has rallied around the Primrose family, and St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, worshiping at Union Chapel, has taken a leading role.
After Cheryl Primrose returned home from the hospital after recuperation from a paralyzing accident, she wanted to remain at home with her husband, Mickey, and their two young children. She needs constant nursing attention, and she and her husband need money to pay the care and to purchase a specialized van.
Members of St. Andrew's decided to have a first class flea market to benefit the Cheryl Primrose Nursing Fund. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Union Chapel and Route 97 in Glenwood, church members will sell treasures from attics and treasures from their hands. Among the items are a pair of etched Victorian bottles with glass stoppers, custom-made bird houses, carved to order chairs, appliances such as a gas grill and an electric dryer and lots of clothes.
They have a large assortment of toys and games, too. Church members hope you will stop by the flea market to find a good bargain or to make a donation. You may also make a donation at Citizens Bank in Glenelg.
Last Friday, the Howard County Real Estate Masters Club made a generous donation to the Cheryl Primrose Nursing Fund. The group of 58 professional Realtors formed to help low- and moderate-income families to purchase homes. They generate funds by offering some of their commissions or holding benefits.
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I hope you're making plans to attend this year's Clarksville Picnic on June 25. The 116th event will be held rain or shine at St. Louis Church in Clarksville. If you've ever been to the Clarksville Picnic, you know it's a fun occasion from noon to 9 p.m.
There are food booths, game booths and sale booths with crafts and baked goods. Entertainment runs all day. This year there will be a Dixieland Band from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. During the afternoon, there will be karate demonstrations, a children's magic show and the Calico Cloggers. From 7 to 9 p.m., the Jimmy Purdham Country Western Band will play.
The main attraction, however, is the all-you-can-eat dinner under the big tent for just $8 for adults and $3 for children. The church is at the corner of routes 108 and 32. Admission is free, and there is plenty of parking. Phone 531-6040.
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A country breakfast at the 5th District Volunteer Fire Department has always been a treat with pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, home fries, and biscuits and gravy, but the breakfast June 26 will dazzle your eyes and make your mouth water.
Folks from the Market Place Cafe will be on hand to make Belgian waffles for you. The price for the breakfast is still only $5 for adults and $2.50 for children.
The 8 a.m. to noon breakfast will be at the fire hall at the corner of routes 108 and 32 in Clarksville. Phone 531-3984.
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Tennis, anyone? Jim Avore, tennis director at Glenelg Country School, invites community members to participate in tennis events at the school this summer.
He will hold one-hour adult clinics beginning at 6 p.m. Monday and Wednesday evenings for four weeks starting June 27. The cost is $45.
United States Tennis Association Junior Team Tennis begins at 7 p.m. June 27 on Mondays and Wednesdays. Youngsters over 8 years who would like to play tennis may participate for a fee of $25 plus $13 to join the USTA.
On Monday evenings, the team will practice, and Wednesdays they will play league matches. Beginners are welcome. For the over 50 set, at 6 p.m. Tuesday evenings starting July 12, Mr. Avore will conduct a USTA Senior League for a $15.
World Team Tennis, a recreational coed tennis league with 350,000 members world-wide, will begin play at GCS July 14. There are no age limitations for this mostly adult league. You do not need to belong to the GCS tennis club to join these events. If you'd like to try out the four year-old courts at GCS, Jim is having open free play for the community Sunday at 6 p.m. June 26, July 17 and July 31.
For more information about the tennis programs at GCS, call 381-7249.
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Eighth-grade student Jason Keller of Mount View Middle School was the second-place winner in the Maryland Instructional Computer Coordinators Association's annual graphic arts contest. He received his award at the MICCA convention in Baltimore. Mount View received computer software for the school media center because of Jason's efforts.
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School's out tomorrow, and kids have celebrated with concerts, picnics, awards programs and field days. Teachers celebrate the end of another school year, too.
Mount View Middle School sixth grade teacher Lisa Hepburn is one of two recipients the 1994 Sallie Mae First Year Teacher Award for Howard County. Ms. Hepburn is now being considered for the National Sallie Mae Award.
Second-grade teacher Jill Evans of Bushy Park was recently recognized at a reception at the Howard County Board of Education. Bushy Park principal Phil Arbaugh nominated Ms. Evans for the 1994 Sallie Mae first-year teacher award.
He said, "She's terrific for a first-year teacher. She has maturity and the skills you'd expect of a more experienced teacher. She's had an excellent first year, and the kids and their parents really like her."
Third-grade teacher Martha Brown of Bushy Park Elementary School was honored May 26 for 20 years of outstanding service to the county.
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The St. Louis Catholic Youth Ministry had its annual CYM team elections in late April. Leading the team are co-chairs Angela Comberiate and Michelle Bernhardt.
Team members are Natalie Misorek, Melissa Bartyczak, Tim Capelle, Bryn Englehart and Tim Paulson. They have already planned many fun activities and hope to get more middle and high school students involved in this active group this year. For information about the CYM and its activities, phone 531-6668.
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Kids such as my son, Tom, enter drawings, hopeful they will win something wonderful. Practical adults such as me warn them that their chances are slim.
In a recent drawing for the Coca-Cola/Shoppers Food Warehouse World Cup Ticket giveaway, Tom won two tickets for Sunday's game at RFK stadium in Washington, proving again that we should pay more attention to hope than practicality. It looks like this Father's Day our son can really treat his Dad.
I hope you have a joyous Father's Day, too. Happy Father's Day, Dads!