RUNNYMEDE Elementary School recently celebrated the completion of its native garden as part of its efforts to preserve the Chesapeake Bay.

"Many people wonder how we, in Carroll County, many miles from the bay, can help," said Clare Wieber, a third-grade teacher who lead the project. "Carroll County is part of the bay's watershed. Water that lands on Runnymede's property runs into the Big Pipe Creek, which then runs into the Monocacy River that drains into the Chesapeake Bay."

Wieber said the garden began after she and fellow teacher Michele Ziegler attended a workshop in June last year at Hashawha Environmental Center. They learned about different habitats and how those habitats can help the bay. They learned which plants are native. They learned about writing grants to obtain funding for a garden.

After the workshop, the two teachers, Keri Bentkowski from the Chesapeake Bay Trust, and Vice Principal Theresa Ball walked around the school to find the best spot for the garden.

In October, the two teachers' classes started their unit on the bay. As part of the garden project, pupils conducted their survey of the school grounds, studied plants at Hashawha, wrote letters to nurseries about plants native to Maryland, and organized the garden.

Wieber and Ziegler finished their grant application in December and learned in February that the Chesapeake Bay Trust had awarded them $2,800 for the project.

Wieber's third-graders were upbeat about the project.

"I liked working with mulch," Timmy Davis said.

Timothy Miller added: "We worked on it pretty hard. I look forward to watching it over the next two years."

On May 29, the school unveiled the garden.

Wieber said she never had completed a project quite like this one.

"It brought more school spirit," she said. "It gave us a sense of community. I think it has been very motivational for the kids."

Stonesifer best athlete

Brad Stonesifer, Francis Scott Key's running back, defensive back, shortstop and centerfield star, has been named WTTR's Male Co-Athlete for Carroll County.

According to his football coach, Dave Dolch, this is the first time in 20 years in which that competition was a tie. (Sharing the award is Josh Lewis, a senior at South Carroll High School.)

During the school year, WTTR picks a male and female athlete of the week. At the end of the year, the radio station asks coaches, teachers and administrators for the county award. The athletes must compete in at least one varsity sport. Brad excelled in varsity football and baseball, Dolch said.

In baseball, he batted .356 and was named all-county and all-conference player by the Monocacy Valley Athletic League. He will play in the Crown All-Star game Sunday at Camden Yards.

His accomplishments on the football field are equally impressive, Dolch said. Brad led the state in scoring - at 200 points, including 33 touchdowns and a two-point conversion.

"That 200 points also broke the all-time scoring record in Carroll County," Dolch said.

In addition, this season, he rushed for 1,593 yards, which set a school record.

"Brad is the best high school football player I ever coached and I have coached for 25 years, including at five colleges," Dolch said.

Brad said he was surprised he earned the WTTR title.

"Usually winners play in three sports and I only played in two sports," he said. "So, when they called the other guy's name, I thought, 'Well, he deserves it.' Then they called my name."

He said he finds football more exciting than baseball but has always had a love for the latter sport. He has played since he was 5 years old. Brad also excels academically. He earned a 3.44 grade point average. He will attend Towson University with a baseball scholarship.

Bowling for grades

Thunderhead Bowling Centre will offer free bowling to youths who take in their final report cards.

Straight A pupils will get two free games for their final report card. All others will get one free game for the final report.

Students who take in a report card will get a "credit" card in which they will get one free game each week. Games don't carry over.

Marcia Gorsuch, who runs the program, said exemplary grades aren't the only requirement. She looks at any "redeeming qualities."

"I don't think I've ever turned a child away," she said with a laugh.

Jean Marie Beall's Northwest neighborhood column appears each Thursday in the Carroll County edition of The Sun.