BATTING AVERAGES, home runs, RBIs and ERAs are statistics used to measure baseball players' performances. But in the world of Little League, there's another number that's important -- fund- raising dollars.
Adam Mikulis of western Ellicott City earned the title of "sponsor champion" in the Howard County Youth Program's (HCYP) Hits for Kids fund-raising effort this year.
Ten-year-old Adam raised more than $500, making him the leader in money raised for the organization for the third year in a row, and helping his team, the Rangers, become sponsor champion for the International League.
Adam said money collected this year will go toward new batting cages for Kiwanis-Wallas Park.
Hits for Kids is an annual program in which HCYP baseball players sign up sponsors who pledge money based on the players' hitting performance on Hits for Kids Day.
"In addition to improving the ballpark, you get some pretty cool prizes," Adam said.
For his efforts, he received Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig commemorative bats, four commemorative baseballs, two equipment bags and a box of baseball cards.
Adam is a fifth-grader at Triadelphia Ridge Elementary School, where he is in the gifted and talented program. He lives with his parents, Dwight and Diane, and two younger brothers, David and Patrick. In addition to baseball, Adam enjoys soccer, swimming and playing on the computer.
Sister departs
For more than 17 years, Sister Louann Sciubba, a Sister of Notre Dame de Namur, has been a pastoral counselor at St. Louis Roman Catholic Church in Clarksville. She left the parish last Thursday to begin serving a four-year term as part of the administrative team for the local province of her religious order, which has its headquarters in Rome.
On Saturday, as an expression of gratitude for her service to the congregation and in recognition of her new elected position, a Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated at St. Louis Church, followed by a reception in her honor in the school auditorium.
Sciubba, a native of Philadelphia, is an energetic woman who recently celebrated the 40th anniversary of her entrance into religious life.
She received her undergraduate degree from Trinity College in Washington and began her career as a teacher at St. Ursula's School in Parkville.
Following the trend of sisters in her teaching order of choosing diverse career paths, Sciubba became a director of religious education at St. Isaac Jogues Parish on Old Harford Road, and continued in similar positions at St. Thomas More Parish on Perring Parkway and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Woodlawn.
She received her pastoral counseling degree from Loyola College, then accepted the position at St. Louis Church.
For 17 years, she has been an integral member of the parish administrative team. "It's been a wonderful, fruitful time at St. Louis," she said. "I collaborated with lay people on everything I did.
"It has been mutually enriching work that involved parishioners in a very collaborative way. My main focus at St. Louis has been helping people into a life of faith. It has been exciting work because St. Louis has always been such an active and alive parish," she said.
Sciubba has been involved in numerous activities outside counseling. She worked with a women's group called Faith and Feminism, and led a grief recovery/support group. She was active in a program called RCIA, or the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, helping hundreds become members of the church.
While it was a difficult decision for Sciubba to leave St. Louis, she said she is excited about the position to which she has been elected by the members of her province.
Award for training
This summer the members of the Fifth District Volunteer Fire Department of Clarksville received the Zembower Training Award at the State Firemen's Convention in Ocean City.
This award is given annually to the volunteer fire station that has accumulated the highest number of training hours per active member.
Chief F. Patrick Marlott and the 35 department volunteers will display the 4-foot-tall Zembower trophy in their new fire station until next June.
The station, directly west of the River Hill Village Center, will open in September. Mark your calendars for the formal dedication of the station Oct. 16-18.
Many activities are planned, including a parade, a 50th anniversary banquet and a fire-prevention open house.
New school
A new school may have opened its doors on Aug. 24, but to many students, parents and staff, Triadelphia Ridge Elementary School already seems like home.
PTA President Kathy Rogers says her goal is "to build a community where we can all come together for our kids."
To further this end, school families are invited to a dessert social tonight at 7 o'clock at the school. A brief PTA business meeting, including a vote on the budget, will be conducted during the social. Those who attend should bring a dessert to share.
Two weeks from tonight, Sept. 17, is Triadelphia Ridge Night at Camden Yards as the Orioles take on the Boston Red Sox. Triadelphia Ridge fifth-graders will sing the national anthem.
Manor Woods news
Manor Woods Elementary School PTA President Terry Beckmann is enthusiastic about the school year, saying that "parent involvement and support at Manor Woods are truly amazing."
Beckmann mentions in her welcome letter to Manor Woods families that the school PTA, now in its fifth year, offers many opportunities for fresh ideas and energy. One of the new committees being formed centers on the environment.
Other elected officers for the 1998-1999 school year are Kim Henry, first vice president, Cindy Scruggs, second vice president, Lisha Utt, treasurer, Monique Summers, recording secretary, Bernadette Miller, corresponding secretary, and Karen Boyarsky and Rosanne Shoemaker, council delegates.
The first general meeting of the Manor Woods PTA is scheduled Sept. 22.
Fall dance
The Glenelg Bands and Marching Unit will be sponsoring their fourth Fall Dance from 8 p.m. to midnight Sept. 18 at Circle D Tennis Club, 15535 Carrs Mill Road in Woodbine.
Tickets for the adults-only dance, which features the band Cashmere, are $15 a person and include beer, soda, chips, and pretzels. There will be a cash bar and appetizers available for purchase.
Come out and dance the night away while supporting the band program for which Glenelg High is famous! Information: Betsy Ford at 410-489-4852 or Leslie Simpson at 410-549-6033.
Gift wrap
It must be back-to-school time, because Sally Foster gift wrap is being sold as a fund-raiser at many local schools.
Triadelphia Ridge Elementary School students will be selling the gift wrap through Sept. 25. Orders: Marian Miller, 410-531-2181.
The Glenelg Bands and Marching Unit are also selling the gift wrap until Oct. 1.
Contact any band or marching unit member, or call Mary Jo Shields at 410-489-4497.
Massage for seniors
Have you had a relaxing massage lately? If you're over 50 and have the time, consider scheduling an appointment at the Howard County Senior Center from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on the first Monday of the month.
The cost is $15 for a 30-minute massage by Carol Lancaster, a certified massage practitioner who specializes in Swedish and relaxation massages.
Because of the Labor Day holiday, the next massage date will be Sept. 14.
The center is also offering conflict resolution training workshops on Oct. 7, 14, 21 and 28 from 11 a.m. to noon.
The purpose of the workshops is to help seniors work with their adult children to make collaborative and constructive decisions regarding their quality of life.
The four sessions will focus on empathy, communication, anger management and problem solving. Information or registration: Betty Frey, 410-313-5440.
The Howard County Senior Center is at 2398 Route 97 in Cooksville.
Pub Date: 9/03/98