Kangaroo Kids Compete in Junior Olympics

By Leslie Bauer
Posted: August 28, 2009

At the end of July, members of the Kangaroo Kids Precision Jump Roping Team travelled to Des Moines, Iowa to participate in jump-roping at the AAU Junior Olympics. The kids had a wonderful time and also brought home a few blue ribbons and trophies. Mason Rogers, who will be entering eighth grade at Folly Quarter Middle School this fall won in his age group, 13-14 year old males. He swept all three individual events – speed, power and freestyle – to bring home the Gold medal overall in his age group.

In addition, the Double Dutch four-person team that Mason jumps on also earned a Gold medal in their age group. Jessica Lawson, a fifth-grader at Dayton Oaks Elementary School, along with her pairs partner, Sophie Skalny, a Triadelphia Ridge Elementary School fifth-grader, earned a Gold medal in the freestyle event for 9-10 year old girls.

Coming in right behind with the Silver medal were Cara Nardone and Christina Kratzmeier, both Dayton Oaks Elementary School students. Incidentally, there were 39 pairs from across the country competing in this age group. When it was all said and done, and the three pairs events were combined, Jessica and Sophie placed 9th overall, and Cara and Christina placed 11th overall. Not too shabby for the first time attending the AAU Junior Olympics!

Jessica Lawson, Cara Nardone, Christina Kratzmeier and Anna Lawson also competed as a Double Dutch four-person team. There were 40 teams in this age group, and the girls placed sixth in the Double Dutch Pairs Freestyle Event, and 13th overall for the combination of all 5 Double Dutch events. Some other places from the event included Anna Lawson placing 12th in the 8 and under freestyle, Sophie Skalny eighth in the 9-year old freestyle, Christina Kratzmeier placed 14th and Cara Nardone placed 18th in the 10-year old freestyle. For the 10-year old individual power rope, Christina Kratzmeier placed 5th, Cara Nardone placed 10th and Jessica Lawson placed 14th.

Under the coaching of Michaela Rogers and Jim McCleary, the Junior Team Show earned a Silver Medal. Team members included Sophie Skalny, Jessica and Anna Lawson, Christina Kratzmeier, Aaron Weingrad, and Ryan McGuire. Eli Madden, a River Hill High School senior earned a Bronze medal overall for the age 15-17 age group, and also a Silver medal in pairs, along with his partner Kristen Bork. Incidentally, jump rope wasn’t the only event attended by local youth at the AAU Junior Olympics. Julia Nardone, a seventh grader at Folly Quarter Middle School, had the opportunity to participate in the track events. She placed seventh in a 3000 meter run, and 26th in a 1500 meter run. All of the kids had a great time on this trip and brought home memories they won’t soon forget. Keep up the great work!

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Merry Acres Farm to hold Fun Horse Show to Benefit Cancer Fund

By Leslie Bauer
Posted: August 28, 2009

Howie Feaga, owner of Merry Acres Farm, asks “Are you tough enough to wear pink?” The farm will be holding their Fun Horse Show Sept. 12 to benefit Marathon of Miracles, a 501C3 organization that helps breast cancer survivors. Several years ago, one of the horse boarders at Merry Acres Farm was diagnosed with breast cancer. Howie, Chris and the rest of the Merry Acres gang was there to offer support throughout the cancer treatments. Now, Merry Acres wants to do their part to continue to support cancer survivors and their quality of life.  To learn more about the Marathon of Miracles organization, go to survivorcelebration.com.
The horse show will have different classes including dressage, show jumping, and cross country. The show starts at 9:00 a.m., and will also feature food and raffles, as well as plenty of fun. Come out and show your support. Merry Acres Farm is located at 3807 Walt Ann Drive in Ellicott City. For more information, go to MerryAcresFarm.com, e-mail Howie@merryacresfarm.com or call 410-531-2360.

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Maryland Youth Symphony Orchestra to Hold Auditions Saturday

By Leslie Bauer
Posted: August 28, 2009

Margaret Gatto, Executive Director for the Maryland Youth Symphony Orchestra shares that the orchestra, under the direction of founder Angelo Gatto, will be starting its 46th season this fall. New member auditions for the 2009/10 season of the Maryland Youth Symphony Orchestra will take place Saturday, Aug. 29 and September 5 and 12 at CCBC Catonsville, Fine and Performing Arts Building, Q121.

Go to the orchestra’s Web site, www.myso.info, for audition information, program information as well as highlights and notes from the orchestra’s concert tour of Italy this past summer.

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Girl Scout Troop 1899 Bridging Ceremony

By Leslie Bauer
Posted: August 28, 2009

I recently heard from Lisa Ogorzalek, co-leader of Girl Scout Troop 1899 in Glenwood. The troop was started 7 years ago, and this past June, all eleven girls in the troop bridged from Junior Girl Scouts to Cadette Girl Scouts. The girls are very proud of the work that they have done to reach this next level of scouting.

As the girls planned their bridging ceremony, they also planned a family cook-out to celebrate the event. As Junior Girl Scouts, most of these girls earned their Girl Scout Bronze Award, the highest award that can be earned as a Junior Girl Scout.

In order to earn the Bronze Award, a girl must earn a series of badges, then design and carry out a service project that consists of a minimum of fifteen hours of effort. For their Bronze Award Service Project, these girls, who will be in the seventh grade this fall, decided to create several activities to benefit Days End Horse Rescue and the Therapeutic Riding Center.

They learned about the services provided by Day’s End, placed donation boxes at various locations throughout western Howard County to collect items for Day’s End, and sponsored a “Horsing Around” event for other Girl Scouts. About 40 Girl Scouts from other area troops participated in the “Horsing Around” event. The other troops brought donations for Day’s End, made horse related crafts, learned more about the activities at Day’s End and made horse treats for the horses at the Therapeutic Riding Center.

Finally, the girls in Troop 1899 delivered all their donations and horse treats to the two organizations.  Members of Troop 1899 include Avani Katta, Cassy Youshaw, Miranda Bower, Elissa Dorsey, Breanne Ryan, Jennifer Thai, Rita Hung, Josie Stommel, Katie Ogorzalek, Sarah Brock, Lindsay Alley.  The troop was led this past year by Nancy Alley, and will be led next year by Lisette Dorsey and Lisa Ogorzalek.

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Family Movie Night Aug. 15 at Glenwood Community Center

By Leslie Bauer
Posted: August 12, 2009

Family movie nights continue at the Glenwood Community Center. In August, family movie night is planned for Saturday, Aug. 15 at 7 p.m. The movie for the evening will be “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.” Admission is $2 per person. Where else can you have an affordable family night at the movies – including the popcorn and a drink? Registration is preferred by calling the community center at 410-313-4840.

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