LET ME tell you about some people who are making a difference in the community. They come from the business world, private sector and churches. Their efforts have not gone unnoticed, and this week their dedication and service to others were recognized by two local clubs.
The Linthicum Lions Club honored "Linthicum's Best" on Monday at Our Place Restaurant.
Joe Owens, general manager of the Red Roof Inn at Baltimore-Washington International Airport, was named Linthicum's Best Business Person for 1999.
Club President Beth Sandifer said Owens has supported the club by making the motel available as a drop-off location for Toys for Tots, by donating 1,500 toiletry items to help fill 300 amenity bags for a Happy Helpers for the Homeless project and by participating in a program with the Anne Arundel County Police Department, which provided circus tickets to needy children and their families.
Runners-up were Lynne Marie McGowan, a self-employed massage therapist; John Freitag Jr., president of John's Auto Body in North Linthicum; and Bob Ziegler, co-owner of Whitey's Supermarket on Hammonds Ferry Road.
McGowan has provided free massages to Chesapeake Hospice residents and helped start the Linthicum Health Fest. Last year, she was instrumental in collecting more than $700 and two cars full of items that were donated to Hearth House Homeless Shelter.
Freitag's body shop is a family-owned business that has been in Linthicum for 18 years.
Ziegler's community service activities include donations to local churches, Scout groups and schools. Whitey's Supermarket, another family-owned business, has been operating since 1954.
The Woman's Club of Linthicum Heights honored Robert Abel, Sandra Hartzell and Robert Keeley on Wednesday at an ecumenical prayer breakfast that served as a fund-raiser for two homeless shelters, Hearth House in Lansdowne and Sarah's House in Fort Meade.
Abel, who has lived in Linthicum since 1974, is a member of Linthicum Heights United Methodist Church. He is on the mission and evangelism committees and participates in the church's outreach programs for Carpenter's Kitchen and the Homeless Men's Shelter Project.
Abel also is the church's representative to Arundel Habitat for Humanity, where he is a member of the board of directors, and participates in building homes for Habitat in the county. He also works with Sandtown Habitat in Baltimore.
Hartzell is active with the Youth Ministry of St. John's Lutheran Church and is a member of the board of directors of Arundel Habitat for Humanity.
She was instrumental in making St. John's a support church for Habitat and becoming a partial financial sponsor to build a house. She also serves on Habitat's sites committee and oversees fund raising and publicity.
She schedules youth groups to build tool sheds on the site of each house constructed through the Habitat program.
Keeley has been a member of St. Philip Neri Roman Catholic Church since 1966 and an ordained permanent deacon there since 1978.
For 13 years, he has worked on expanding the church's program to provide food to Our Daily Bread, a soup kitchen in Baltimore. The program started small, but through his efforts donations have grown from providing cakes and dessert once a month to 200 casseroles. Sugar, fruit and money are delivered monthly to the soup kitchen, as well.
Keeley, who retired from the Army as a major, worked for the state Department of Transportation for 18 years and is a substitute teacher in Anne Arundel County.
Woman's Club brunch
The Woman's Club of Linthicum Heights is sponsoring a brunch for working members and women interested in becoming members at 10: 30 a.m. March 20 at the clubhouse, 110 N. Hammonds Ferry Road.
The theme of the brunch is "Friendship, Food and Thought."
Short presentations will be made on the club's committees and activities, including their purpose and accomplishments.
A discussion is planned on whether to include evening meetings on the agenda for those unable to attend day meetings. Jo Barker is brunch chairman.
Reservations are required.
Information: Marge Reusch, 410-859-1269, by March 15.
Scout awards dinner
Boy Scout Troop 550 conducted its 34th awards dinner Feb. 25 in Fellowship Hall of St. Christopher's Episcopal Church.
Dan Severn received the Scout of the Year Award, was elevated to Life rank and received six merit badges and an assistant senior patrol leader certificate.
Other scouts who received awards from Assistant Scoutmaster Bill MacLeod were:
Chris LaWall, First Class and Star ranks, seven merit badges and a patrol leader certificate; Billy McKercher, First Class rank and an assistant patrol leader certificate; John Henkel, four merit badges and a senior patrol leader certificate; Scott Taylor, a merit badge; Challi Kim, five merit badges; Cory Senter, Life and Eagle ranks and nine merit badges; Sam Branham, three merit badges; Travis Elseroad, Scout, Tenderfoot and Second Class ranks, four merit badges and a patrol leader certificate; Jason Carter, Scout, Tenderfoot and Second Class ranks and six merit badges, an assistant patrol leader certificate and Advancement Scout of the Year award; Justin Elliott, Tenderfoot rank and a merit badge; Devin O'Brien, Tenderfoot rank and a merit badge; Jordan Wilson, Scout and Tenderfoot ranks and six merit badges; Ron Schweiger, Scout rank; Matthew Smith, Scout rank, and David Starr, silver and bronze palm and six merit badges.
Larry Jennings, Troop 550 committee chairman, was master of ceremonies.
Jennings also announced that committee member Valerie Severn was selected Troop 550 Scouter of the Year. Assistant District Commissioner George Kline was presented the Wise Owl Award.
Information: 410-636-6154.
Pub Date: 3/07/99