YOU ARE invited to spend a series of Sunday afternoons enjoying the concert series "Sundays at Three" at "Old Brick" Christ Episcopal Church.
This series, described as "an intimate experience with classical music," starts Sept. 20 at the historic church at Dobbin and Oakland Mills roads when Steven Barta, principal clarinetist with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra since 1976, will be featured in Brahms' autumnal Quintet for Clarinet and Strings in B minor.
Mozart's youthful Divertimento No. 3 in F major for string quartet and his more mature String Quartet in D major K, which features a cello, will provide a harmonic and adventurous finale to the afternoon.
Barta is a member of Peabody Conservatory faculty and was a soloist with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra.
Subscriptions for the six concerts are available for $60, or individual tickets may be purchased for $12 at the door. Students accompanied by a paying adult are admitted free.
The church board of directors will be represented at receptions after the concerts by Secretary Maud Banks and Vice President Phyllis Brown. Guests will have an opportunity to meet the artists at the receptions.
Last year's concert series at Old Brick came from the inspiration of Brenda Bell and Daniel Malkin, members of the artistic committee. The Rev. James Shields, the pastor, reports that church members Bruce Moore, Mari Matsumoto, Amy Ward-Butler and Ronald Mutchnik, members of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, will perform in some of the Sunday concerts.
The next concert will be "Violin Recital" on Nov. 1. "Bring on the New Year!" will be performed Jan. 24; "It's Spring!" will be offered March 21; "Celebrations" will be performed April 18; the "Grand Finale" is scheduled May 23.
Information: 410-381-3240.
Country fair
Come to Long Reach village Saturday and share in the events of the 19th Annual Country Fair and the "Renovation Celebration."
Homemade food, music, crafts, games and a raffle will be available from 10: 30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The fair, sponsored by the Long Reach village and the Long Reach Merchants' Association, is free.
Long Reach community center's Stonehouse staff and volunteers have been planning the event for many months; the merchants have new "faces" and bright yellow awnings to add to the festive atmosphere.
Algae management
Those hay bales floating in Luckpenny and Dannon Garth ponds are not discards from a scarecrow-making contest. Columbia Association ecologist Chick Rhodehamel and pond crew foreman Mel Carenas say the bales are central to a new algae management program for the ponds.
Barley straw bales tied with chicken wire and bird netting float on the surface of the pond. The bales act like giant tea bags, infusing the water with compounds that discourage algae growth. The 25-pound bales -- four are required for each acre of pond surface -- are replaced every 90 days.
Rhodehamel and Carenas said algae on the treated ponds has been significantly reduced.
This method -- imported from England -- has been used with much success in Carroll County, the first place in the United States to try it.
The procedure is being evaluated in Columbia.
Welcome caravan
Phelps Luck Elementary School Principal Jim Weisner and Assistant Principal Sana Wilson say the school's Welcoming Caravan the week before school reopened was a success.
They extend thanks to the merchants, community leaders and school staff for their support.
Capt. Tony Grable and firefighter Jenny Shilling from Fire and Rescue Station 8, brought the red pumper truck complete with )) lights and sirens. Howard County Police Officer Lisa Bridgeforth rode in her patrol car. Trucks filled with hay were furnished by Truck Options of Laurel, Grandfather's Garden and Victory Martial Arts.
Waterloo Limousine partnered with Loews Palace Nine to furnish transportation for teachers, staff and various candidates for county and state offices.
Computer Curriculum Corp., Target Stores, Loews Theaters and Baltimore Business Exchange donated backpacks, school supplies and family entertainment passes for the raffle held at the school after the parade.
Howard County schools Superintendent Michael E. Hickey also took part.
Grand prize winners of the raffle were fifth-grader Kathryn Johnson and fourth-grader T. J. Ross.
Back to school
The date for Oakland Mills Elementary's back-to-school PTA night has been changed to Sept. 17, at 7 p.m. in the school cafeteria.
Plan to attend and meet the teachers, especially the new staff members. Carl Fischer, Robin Barwick and Angela Veguilla are with the special education unit. Leah Donovan teaches science. Aida Jones teaches mathematics. Andre Weichbrod teaches technical education, and Brian Drake teaches instrumental music and band. Stephanie Anderson works part-time as a teachers' secretary.
There was a new face at the school during this summer, too. College student Carrie Colton, daughter of Oakland Mills Middle School reading teacher Kathy Colton, volunteered to help the staff prepare for the fall term. A day in Washington
East Columbia 50+ Center Director CC Pleasants has planned a day of activities -- a Mazza Gallerie visit, a stop at National Zoo in Washington and shopping at Filene's and Neiman Marcus. The fee for the Oct. 2 trip is $10, and registration is required. The bus will leave at 9 a.m. from the East Columbia library parking lot.
Next week, learn to make gifts at the 50+ Center. Maryland Cooperative Extension Service's Madeleine Green will provide inspiration for holiday gifts at 11 a.m. Sept. 16. The session is free, but registration is requested.
Information: 410-313-7680.
Free music
Kings Contrivance Merchants and Columbia Management Inc. are sponsoring the Friday Courtyard Concerts at 11: 30 a.m. through Oct. 16. This week, "The Reasons" will entertain with tunes from the '50s, '60s and '70s.
Pub Date: 9/08/98