The snowdrops have appeared. The daffodils are shooting up gray-green leaves. The forsythia is in bloom. (The forsythia is under the dryer vent, so I'm not sure it's a real sign that spring is finally here.)
The holiday bills have been paid; now that's a sign of spring!
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The Howard County Library announces another running of the ever popular preschool story time, "Just For Me." Parents are specifically requested to stay away from the story room during the presentation.
That means parents can scan the bookshelves and read the magazines in uninterrupted solitary splendor, while the wee one listens to the best tall-tale tellers in the business.
Registration begins on Tuesday, for this popular five-week series that begins March 7.
The programs run weekly on Tuesdays at 1:30 p.m. and Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m.
Call Kathryn Bloom at (410) 880-5978 for details and registration.
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The Savage Boys and Girls Club is winding down the season as the weather heats up and spring beckons.
In the Instructional League, the Terrapins defeated the Gophers 28-18. Brian Nagle scored 18 points for the raucous reptiles, with Katie McFarland and Alex Arciero bringing down eight rebounds. Brandon Boy led the Gophers with six points followed by Paul Johnsen with four, ably supported by Chris Cronk's defense.
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The Hoosiers squeaked by the Tarheels 19-17. Daniel Slaughter led the Hoosiers with six points, with Jimmy List contributing three and Alison Baitz two points. The Tarheels rallied in the fourth quarter thanks to Marty Lewis' four points and the able defensive work of Justin Himes and Steven Sherman.
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The Wolverines topped the Deacons 18-7. Sean McLean, C. J. O'Dell and Daniel Parish led the Wolverines. Brian Blush and Chelsey Barrett led the Deacons.
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In the Junior League, the Hoosiers beat the Wolverines 44-31. Brian Brewer and Zach Floyd led the Hoosiers' solid offense, and Julie Bixler was outstanding on the defensive. Linsey Greer and Megan Galli van led the Wolverines, supported by Daniel Rusk's effective defense.
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The Bucks then narrowly defeated the Hoosiers 40-38. Keegan Wilkinson and Frank Jones led the Bucks to the first of two victories this week. Zack Floyd and Chris Kincus led for the Hoosiers with the support of defensive player Ryan Kessler.
In their second victory, the battling Bucks defeated the Wildcats This time the Bucks were led by John Wayne, Mark Nowacek and Adam Arciero. Tara Zammiichieli, Brian Cunningham and Jess Erbacher led the Wildcats.
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The Hawkeyes emerged victorious twice this week. First, they defeated the Spartans 48-44 in a closely fought contest. Casey Gunther led the Hawkeyes, with great defensive support from Travis McDonnell and James Blackwood. Kevin Hall, Richard Delia and Justin Kevan played hard for the Spartans.In the second game, the Hawkeyes defeated the Lions 42-39. The Hawkeyes rallied around the efforts of Jason Davis, Brad Stewart and Mike Frankos. David Ortiz led the Lions, with able defense from Nick Wilson.
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In the intermediate league, the Knicks beat the Hawks 81-39. Earl Kelly led the Knicks with 38 points, followed by Todd Gledhill with 20 and Michael Ryan with 8. Jason Harriman scored 12 points for the Hawks, followed by Chris Polan with 14 and Ryan Leakan with 4.
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It should be apparent that the children in the Savage Boys and Girls Club have a blast. It's equally apparent that none of this could take place without the active support of the parents and friends involved.
The coaches spend time with the teams, teaching players the finer points of the game. Of course, the coaches also get the fun of watching players blossom into their talents.
The volunteers we rarely notice are the ones who do the thankless, boring bits of work required for any enterprise this complex. There are registration forms to read, teams to organize, concessions stands to clean, playing sites to acquire, and a thousand mundane, picayune tedious details to attend to.
So here's a tip of the hat to the other volunteers.