I have some sad news to pass on. Longtime Highland resident Pauline Sraver, a stay-at-home mom, 27 year "temporary" Highland post office mail clerk and longtime member of Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, died July 22 from heart and kidney problems. She was 83 years old.
Pauline was born to Jennings and Bonnie (True) Poffenberger May 15, 1928 in Century, W.Va. After she married Charles Sraver, they moved to the Highland area in December 1966 where they raised three children — Charlene, Bonnie and Chip.
Pauline loved large family gatherings, especially summer crab feasts where she prepared arguably the "best crabcakes in Maryland."
Working as a postal clerk gave her constant contact with the entire community where she became a friend to many. Her postal career began in the "old post office" that now houses Highland Groomery and concluded at the temporary trailer behind Serendipity.
Pauline was always sorry that she retired before the new post office was built. She was very active at Mt. Zion UMC for nearly 50 years where she added to her "abundant circle of friends" through her service and fellowship. She was a member of the choir and an active member of the United Methodist Women, earning a lifetime membership pin. She also served as the head of the flower committee for 25 years and provided additional service to the altar guild and many other church committees.
One of Pauline's passions was bowling — she'd been doing it since she was 14 years old. She started out with duck pins and moved on to 10-pins . Along with several other church members, she formed the Mt. Zion Bowling League, making many more friends with whom she loved going to lunch with her "Lunch Bunch."
She loved getting her hair styled by Jane Caswell at Living Dolls every week and shopping at Boarman's Market, where it would take her an hour to buy a few things because she would talk with everyone.
The Sraver family would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for the cards and support the family received during Pauline's illness.
This weekend, the 66th Howard County Fair kicks off, running Aug. 6-13 at the county fairgrounds, in West Friendship. I was looking over the fair schedule and it is jam-packed with all kinds of events — definitely something for everyone.
But one that I'd like to call your attention to is the square dancing demonstration put on by the Tom Thumb Square Dance Club, of Ellicott City. This group's performance witakes place Saturday, Aug. 6 at 5:15 p.m. on the stage of the main exhibition hall. Then, at 7 p.m., the club will hold a dance for anyone interested in learning how to square dance or for those who like to do-si-do with their partner around the dance floor.
It's free, fun and located in an air-conditioned building with a hardwood floor. The caller for the dance will be Gary Felton. The Tom Thumbs hold regular dances at Hollifield Elementary School, in Ellicott City.
For more information, call Tom or LuAnn Harris at 410-730-7326. Thanks go out to Wendy Woods for passing on this info.
I started a neighborhood blog for the Highland-Fulton area. It can be found at highland-fulton-md.blogspot.com. In it, I plan on keeping the communities up-to-date with any late-breaking items and other things that can't get into the column for one reason or another. Please take a look and let me know what you think about it.
Well, that's all for this week. Commit a random act of kindness. Look in on your neighbors. Say a prayer for our troops who are serving in harm's way and remember their families too.