Dust off those Musical Instruments!

By Susan Lavin
Posted: September 23, 2008

“I guess with the economic times being tough, families are having a harder time being able to pay for expenses. I’m seeing this in band at Elkridge Elementary School. More parents are asking for financial aid. The PTA, fundraising and donations have built up our instrument inventory, but I’m falling short this year,” band teacher Steve Wampler said.

If you have musical instruments gathering dust in your closets or storages places, why not donate them to the school? You would get a tax deduction and a great warm feeling when you make it possible for a child to participate in music.

Band instruments such as clarinets, flutes, trumpets, trombones, saxaphones are needed! The strings teacher, Valerie Lawrence also chimed in her need for violins, violas, cellos. For additional information, call the school at 410-313-5006.

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“Been There, Done That, Bought the Shirt” Youth Dance

By Susan Lavin
Posted: September 23, 2008

Prize winners for the Elkridge Volunteer Fire Department’s Youth Dance Sept. 13 at the Elkridge Volunteer Fire Department firehouse included, from left: Jenna Fioretti, Cutest Shirt; Kevin McAllister, Most Creative Shirt; and Abigail Lord, Funniest Shirt. (Photo by Mike Barnett).

The Elkridge Volunteer Fire Department’s Junior Firefighters sponsored a “Been There, Done That, Bought the Shirt” youth dance, for ages 9 to 15, on Sat., Sept. 13 at the firehouse. A great time was had by all, the children spent the evening dancing and socializing!

A bunch of the kids really got into the theme of the dance and wore a shirt from somewhere they had been this summer, such as Ocean City, Sea World or Florida. Congratulations to the prize winners: Jenna Fioretti - Cutest Shirt; Kevin McAllister - Most Creative Shirt; Abigail Lord: Funniest Shirt.

The next youth dance at the firehouse will be a Halloween Dance, scheduled for Oct. 25.

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Vera Bradley Purse Bingo at Elkridge Firehouse this Sunday

By Susan Lavin
Posted: September 23, 2008

The Ladies Auxiliary at the Elkridge Volunteer Fire Department is sponsoring a Purse Bingo Sunday, Sept 28. For all you fans of Vera Bradley purses, you don’t want to miss this opportunity. Admission is $18 in advance and $20 at the door. Seating is limited, so call 410-761-6633 to get your tickets right away. Children are welcome when paying admission. The kitchen will be open starting at 12:30 p.m., with the games beginning at 2 p.m.

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Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Underwater Treasures

By Susan Lavin
Posted: September 17, 2008

Artist Mary Deacon Opasik stands with the artwork titled, “Underwater Treasures,” at at the Elkridge Branch Library. (Photo by Joanne Thomas).

I recently attended the dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony of the beautiful mosaic artwork, “Underwater Treasures,” at the Elkridge Branch Library.  It was a lovely, sunny afternoon with a large crowd of supportive community members, teachers, parents, elected officials, students, library staff, and representatives of the school board.

If you haven’t seen it yet, stop by the Elkridge Branch Library soon!  It’s even more amazing close up, where you can see the details.

County Executive Ken Ulman said, “the project represents the Route 1 revitalization, and cooperation between community and students”  He went on to say “The $4,000 was an incredibly well spent investment.”

The artist, Mary Deacon Opasik spoke during the ceremony and said, “This was a special year of my life!  I loved working with the great children at ELMS, they showed enthusiasm while working on this project.”

“It not only brightens up the Route 1 corridor but it will also remind the Elkridge community of the talents and dedication of one of the best art teachers in the HCPSS, Patti Battalia.” Carol Jones said.

Battalia, the art instructor at the school who was instrumental in getting this Underwater Treasure project off the ground stated, “I love driving down the Route 1 corridor now.”  She is extremely pleased with the completed masterpiece.

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Change Matters Campaign Will Raise Funds for Shelter Playground

By Susan Lavin
Posted: September 17, 2008

The Change Matters Committee members include (top row, from left) Walker Smith, Andrew Rotolo, Che Brown, Dylan Singleton and (bottom row from left) Adejire Bademosi, Lunden Hawkins, Alison Spatz and Corinne Tomaszewski. (Photo by Joseph V. Murray Sr.)

The Elkridge Horizon Council and Howard High School are joining forces to raise funds for Grassroots, which provides Howard County’s only emergency shelter program and 24-hour crisis intervention services.

Plans are underway to begin a program that will raise funds to build a shelter playground. The Elkridge Horizon Council is an advisory group consisting of people who live and work in the Elkridge area. The group advises The Horizon Foundation about topics of concern and importance to the community and makes suggestions about ways to address those issues.

Howard High students Che Brown, Walker Smith and Alison Spatz are members of the Elkridge Horizon Council.  They are leading the program that will purchase playground equipment for homeless children who are sheltered at Grassroots. The two-week campaign, called Change Matters, will be launched Oct. 10.

The students involved with the Elkridge Horizon Council will be collecting coins from students and school staff at Howard High and elsewhere in the community.  Please be generous, as the Grassroots program is essential to our community!

“ Last year, Grassroots had 23,474 Hotline contacts and 468 personal contacts.The Mobile Crisis Team made 331 community responses, serving 856 people.  The shelter programs housed 389 people, 165 of which were children, from infants to high school students. Grassroots is housed in newly expanded and renovated quarters on Freetown Road in Columbia, where it has operated for 18 years,” the representatives explained.

In addition to Brown, Smith and Spatz, Change Matters committee members include former Deep Run Elementary School Principal Fran Donaldson, Marriotts Ridge High School junior Adejire Bademosi, Wilde Lake High School senior Dylan Singleton, Howard High School guidance counselor Sonya Sutter and seniors Lunden Hawkins and Amy Sichler and juniors Andrew Rotolo and Corinne Tomaszewski, and Grassroots board members Mimi O’Donnell and Steve Koren.  Donaldson and Sutter are members of the Elkridge Horizon Council.

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