SENIORS GATHERED Tuesday morning at the Western Howard County Senior Center for a tree-trimming party.
Marilyn Rogers of West Friendship played Christmas carols on a piano as the small group of men and women enjoyed refreshments at tables.
"I have a book of carols," Rogers said to the group. "If you know them, sing along."
Rogers visits the center monthly to provide entertainment.
"There are a lot of nice activities here," she said.
Betty Frey, the center director, invited guests to place ornaments on the tree after she had strung the lights. She chatted with visitors as they took turns decorating the tree.
Homemade goodies were provided. Frey had prepared spinach dip, ambrosia (fruit, marshmallows and whipped cream) and Christmas cookies. Kathy Matthews brought old-fashioned potato candy (made of potatoes, powdered sugar and peanut butter).
"It was my grandmother's recipe," Matthews said.
"She's a wonderful person," Frey said of Matthews, who regularly attends activities at the center.
Louise Hubbard of Ellicott City and Jean Hall of Glenelg worked diligently to decorate the tree. Hall has been going to the center since March. Dressed in a festive red vest, she said she regularly attends the armchair exercise class and the walking group, the Happy Wanderers.
As the guests sang "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear," senior Eileen Kazer shouted, "Put some life into it!" Several people chuckled and continued to sing.
After the festivities, the seniors stayed for the twice-weekly armchair exercise class. Susan Kain of Woodbine led the group in an hour of simple arm and leg exercises, using a chair for balance. The group ended the hour of exercise with games and stretching.
During the exercises, Kain and the seniors talked about past and future center activities and traded jokes.
William Blum of Woodbine attended the exercise class. "I come here not so much to exercise, but to find out what's going on," he said.
Afterward, Frey served lunch to those who had signed up.
Catherine Simpson, who attends regularly for the special events and the exercise class, said she had fun trimming the tree and talking with her friends. "I come here all the time," she said.
Newcomers are welcome to join the group.
"We'll be glad to have them," Simpson said.
Planting trees
On Friday, Troop 72 Eagle Scout candidate Kyle Swisher, 14, of Glenwood led a tree-planting mission along the Tiber-Hudson Watershed in Ellicott City.
Aided by 30 volunteers - members of his Scout troop and others - Kyle coordinated the planting and mulching of 100 3-foot native trees.
The group also spruced up the Tiber-Hudson tributary.
As part of his Eagle Scout project, Kyle acted as coordinator and led the effort to complete the plantings and cleanup. Funding for the project was obtained through his successful grant application to the Chesapeake Bay Trust.
Months of planning and preparation went into the project.
"Planning and leading this project was the most complex thing I've ever done," Kyle said. "But with the help of a lot of good people, I was able to pull it together."
The new trees will control erosion and provide food and habitat for local wildlife. Kyle was inspired to complete the project after adult Scout John Esworthy noticed that the banks of the stream were eroding because of the lack of trees.
Assisting Kyle on the project were Scouts and their families: Nick, Tom and Matt Swisher of Clarksville; Charlie Froehlich of Columbia; Bobby, Jimmy and Mike Corrigan, Bob and Theodore Hesse, and Bill and Chris Talbot of Dayton; Kevin, Nancy and Stephen Reuter of Elkridge; Dominic and Tammy Cinotto and Hans and Nickolas Kratzmeier of Glenelg; Craig, David, George and Jordan Brindza, Brendon, Nancy, Ryan and Sean Carter, Jimmy and Tracy Herriotts, and Jonathan and John Knighton-Wisor of Glenwood; and Chris Leonavicius of West Friendship.
Those who came before
Recent Glenelg High School graduate Joseph McDonald attended a Veterans Day ceremony to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington.
McDonald, a first-year cadet at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., was a guest of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Michael Gormalley, assistant adjutant general of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, was the host for the Nov. 11 event, which honored 50 men and women who were awarded the Purple Heart for service in Vietnam.
McDonald's father, Bob McDonald, was the recipient of two Purple Hearts while serving with the 9th Infantry Division in South Vietnam.
The younger McDonald and Gormalley placed a wreath at Vietnam Veterans Memorial during the ceremony.
The cadet also met Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Help your cat
Can acupuncture help your cat? Find out at the Howard County Cat Club meeting Monday.
Dr. Julia Sturm, a veterinarian at Glenelg Animal Hospital, will discuss ways that acupuncture, Chinese herbs and other alternative health care choices can enhance your pet's health.
The meeting is to begin at 7:30 p.m. at Howard County Central Library, 10375 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia.
To visit the group's adoptable cats online, go to www.howard countycats.petfinder.com.
Information: 410-730-3679.