Jonathan Heineman of Dunloggin Middle School was in the basement of the Maryland Society to Prevent Blindness last year helping his mother in her work there.
He found the pamphlets she asked him to fetch, and then an old cigar box caught his eye. Inside the box he found several pairs of old eyeglasses.
Intrigued, Jonathan brought the glasses to his mother and asked her if he could use them in a school project.
After the society's director, Katrin Starratt, gave permission for Jonathan to use them, he went to his Gifted and Talented teacher, Penny Zimring, with the idea.
This was the beginning of a Type III project, currently on display at Miller Branch Library in Ellicott City.
A Type III project requires that the student do research on the chosen subject and present findings at the end of the year.
So last year sixth-grader Jon researched the history of eyeglass production and started work on the presentation.
Meanwhile, Ms. Zimring located head models on which to display the eyeglasses and art teacher Colleen Colburn taught him to paint features on them.
Carol Runion of Baltimore's Museum of Industry further helped the display and told Jon how to store and care for the old glasses, which will be returned to the society after the project is finished.
At the end of the year, Jon had one model completed. Work has progressed on the project to the point that it now fills a large display case in the library until the end of this month.
Stop to enjoy Jon's hard work on the way in to return those overdue books.
And if you have some old eyeglasses in your home, the Maryland Society to Prevent Blindness would be glad to add them to their collection.
5) Their phone number is (410) 243-2020.
*
Last Saturday, members of Chapelview Community Improvement Association celebrated Community Service Day by cleaning Ellicott Mills Road of trash and debris.
Here's a thank you from all of us who use the road in the Historic District of Ellicott City.
*
Fifteen of us gathered at Elkridge's Furnace Inn, circa 1744, to enjoy lunch last Tuesday. The luncheon was sponsored by Howard County Recreation and Parks Department.
After a tour of the recently renovated tavern, the group ate a leisurely repast of soup, choice of eight entrees, a dessert and beverage.
Meanwhile, we got to know each other a bit, exchanging stories of recent travels and tips on group tours.
The group included Stanley Czark, Thea Czark, Paul Geisenkotter, Elizabeth Kirkham, Betsy and Bill Hedeman, Rosemarie Seipp, Elfie Stotler, Mary Digman, Nadine Berkheimer, Audrey Gill, Louise Hager, Eve Hoffman, Frances Nahrgang, Joetta Cramm and myself.
After dessert, we gathered in an adjoining room to see Ms. Cramm's slide show and presentation on the history of Elkridge and the inn.
She also shared with us old maps of the area, locating contemporary signposts for us.
A self-taught researcher and teacher, Ms. Cramm's knowledge about this county encompasses both the breadth of geography and the depth of its history. Additionally, she articulates what she knows in a casual, accessible style.
She also will offer a morning bus trip to West County on Nov. 5 and a walking tour of Ellicott City on Nov. 12.
G; Call Rec and Parks at 313-7254 or 313-2762 for details.
*
Learning Disabilities Association of Howard County will hold its monthly meeting tomorrow at 7:30 p.m.
The meeting will take place at Howard High School's Media Center. This month, Clarice Miller, Licensed Social Worker, will give a presentation on parenting skills.
The program should be of interest to all parents.
A5 Call Janet Nuse at 992-0636 for more information.
Thanksgiving is only a month away now, and community groups are gearing up to help less fortunate neighbors.
Elkridge Area Jaycees needs volunteers to help run their annual Thanksgiving Food Baskets project. Last year, the Jaycees helped to feed 33 families.
A committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
The Jaycees need help with mailings, follow-up phone calls, shopping, stocking baskets and delivery.
For directions to the meeting or more information, contact Beth Niessner at (410) 536-0566 or (410) 536-0173.
*
FISH of Howard County will begin its annual food drive on Nov. 7 and needs community help to gather and distribute the food to needy people.
"There are bare shelves in the pantries," says Joan Chiarenza of FISH.
"There's little cereal and only tuna fish as meat."
Two types of help are needed. Volunteers are needed to coordinate the drive in several schools. The volunteer will contact the school before the drive begins and pick up the food at the end of the drive to deliver it to the closest pantry.
FISH also seeks organizations, churches or groups that want to run a drive for FISH.
To offer a helping hand or for more information, call Ms. Chiarenza at (410) 730-5480 or Judy Morrison at (410) 992-7194.
*
The teens of Bethany United Methodist Church on Bethany Lane Ellicott City, have been busy with their "ghoul work."
The Youth Group is presenting a House of Terror to celebrate Halloween on Saturday from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
This event is the youth group's main fund-raiser. Profits will help to send the group's members to youth camps and work camps where the teens help construct homes for poverty-stricken families.
Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for children ages 12 and under. For directions or information, call the church at 465-2919.
*
Also on Saturday, the Elkridge SuperFresh grocery will hold a costume party for the little ones.
The festivities will begin at 11 a.m.
Children will strut in their costumes around the store while customers in the store pick winners in several age categories.
SuperFresh will give prizes to contest winners and Halloween bags for all children in costume.
*
Rockburn Elementary School's vocal music teacher Eileen Bottamiller became interested in chime bells, "the affordable elementary school answer to handbells" about eight years ago. They're shaped like a tuning fork and range in size from 5 to 12 inches.
Learning the chimes isn't a part of the music curriculum; and they were somewhat expensive, though much less than the handbell.
She begged supervisor Gene Miller to fund a set of chimes, and when he found some money left, she was in business.
She taught her first group of fifth-graders how to play the chimes seven years ago.
Children recently auditioned for Ms. Bottamiller's seventh Chime Choir Ensemble.
To audition, each child has to demonstrate score reading and singing ability.
Two-thirds of the fifth-graders auditioned for the choir, but only 11 children could participate.
The children chosen for the 1994-1995 ensemble are: Justin Anderson, David Craig, Gil Davis, Amanda Koch, Megan Manuele, Bree McCausland, Russ Osborn, Andre Paras, Doreen Pope, Lauren Ritterman and Veronica Szabo.
The children rehearse for one hour each Thursday, which gives them about 10 rehearsals in which to learn the music to perform at the winter concert.
"The kids are very hard working and there's no time to waste," says Ms. Bottamiller.