WFES Announces April Band Musicians of the Month

By Cassie Felch
Posted: April 16, 2009

Amy Bejm, band director at West Friendship Elementary School, would like to applaud her April Band Musicians of the Month: Trey Conroy, Marc Davidson, Grant Felch, Joey Naidu, Samuel Running, Katie Sharbaugh and Julia Ulmer. These students have demonstrated great attitudes and superior musicianship.

Additionally, Claire Martin and Emma Woodbury have progressed to the blue belt level in their band karate assessments. I would also like to correct an error in my April 2 column, in which I wrote that Anna Lee had earned her black belt. She actually earned her brown belt.

Congratulations on your accomplishments, WFES band students!

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MRHS Student Travels Italy during Spring Break

By Cassie Felch
Posted: April 15, 2009

Over Spring Break, some county students “stay-cationed,” some vacationed, and others adventured. Casey Weickgenannt, a senior at Marriotts Ridge High School, enjoyed the latter alternative, along with several classmates and peers from Wilde Lake High School. Under the guidance of their Italian language teachers, this dual-school assemblage toured Milan, Venice, Padua, Florence and Rome April 3-10.

Unfortunately, as reported in world news, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake rocked the city of L’Aquila, in central Italy, on April 6, killing hundreds, injuring more than a thousand, and leaving tens of thousands homeless. Howard County parents understandably worried about their sightseeing children, but Casey explains that the students did not even realize a quake occurred until their teachers informed them. The group was safely located in northern Italy at the time and traveled no closer to the epicenter than Rome, which lies 70 miles (110 km) southwest of L’Aquila. Perhaps because the students spent so much time in tourist pursuits, they did not witness a large public outpouring over the event, as we did in this country after Hurricane Katrina.

Casey noted other variances between our cultures, too. She says that most Italians smoke, including teens, but her Italian counterparts cannot legally drive until age 18. The roads contain a large number of bikes and scooters, in addition to cars, and these vehicles all share the cobblestone streets with pedestrians in both Florence and Rome.

Casey reports that Italians greatly anticipate their morning meal and seldom skip breakfast like Americans. She saw no Starbucks, but a great many gelaterias, and although she visited a McDonald’s, she found the menu slightly different and the prices more expensive. Instead, she favored an Italian chain called Autogrill, which specializes in sandwiches and pastries. Casey describes the restaurant as somewhat quirky since patrons queue in an orderly fashion to pay for their food, then elbow their way through the crowd to present their orders to the cooks.

According to Casey, Italian hotels also differ from those in America; for instance, none of the doors contain door viewers (peepholes), but all of the bathrooms contain bidets. Another intriguing difference is that hotel key cards allow patrons access not only to their rooms, but also to the rooms’ electricity. After entering the door, patrons must insert their cards into a slot in the wall in order to power the room. One benefit of this setup is that visitors always know where to find their key cards, but more importantly, they do not waste electricity when they leave.

Although Casey thought she would most enjoy Venice and Rome, she actually preferred Florence because the city was so friendly and beautiful, and her group could walk to all of its destinations. The landscape in northern Italy reminded her of California, perhaps because of the mountainous backdrop. Just like Spring Break in Florida, too, crowds thronged the cities in Italy, most obviously in Rome because of visitors celebrating Lent and Easter in the Vatican City.

All in all, Casey considered her trip “amazing” but far too short. She enjoyed the diverse areas she saw and hopes someday to return and more fully immerse herself in the culture. Casey highly recommends study tours to students of any foreign language as a way to practice one’s language skills and more fully appreciate the country’s customs.

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Local Churches Celebrate Holy Week

By Cassie Felch
Posted: April 10, 2009

Our local churches celebrate Holy Week with many special services.

St. James United Methodist has a Good Friday Tenebrae. Congregants will gather at the “cross” for this “service of shadows” and  extinguish their candles until the sanctuary darkens. Easter morning celebrations begin with a 6:30 sunrise service in the Outdoor Chapel, followed by breakfast and then a full service at 10 a.m.

West Liberty United Methodist, at 2000 Sand Hill Road in Marriottsville, offers a Good Friday service at noon, and two opportunities to worship on Easter: a  ‘Sonrise’ service at 6 followed by breakfast, and a 9 a.m. Easter service.

Friendship Baptist Church, at 1391 Sykesville Road (Rt. 32) in Sykesville, offers a Good Friday service at 7 p.m. and three Easter morning services at 8, 9:30, and 11.

Chapelgate Presbyterian, at 2600 Marriottsville Road in Marriottsville, offers two Easter services, at 9 and 10:30 a.m. The church also invites the community to an Easter egg hunt at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Remember to bring your own basket.

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WFES and DOES Band Students Named ‘March Musicians of the Month’

By Cassie Felch
Posted: April 3, 2009

Amy Bejm, band director for both West Friendship Elementary and Dayton Oaks Elementary, announces her March Musicians of the Month, selected for their hard work and positive attitudes.

WFES Students of the Month include Emma Woodbury, Tommy Stiles, Noah Nies, Eve Neal, Cade Buch, Timothy Beschner, Daniel Degenford, Benjamin Skopic and Grace Ellrich.

DOES Students of the Month include Brian Doughty, Justin Argauer, Julia Swanner, Edward Frederick-Bittner, Colin Waddington, Kevin Cincotta, Griffin Brightbill, Connor Brainard and James Huh.

Congratulations to these fine young musicians!

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Sykesville’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt Is April 10

By Cassie Felch
Posted: April 3, 2009

The Town of Sykesville’s Parks and Events Committee presents its annual Easter egg hunt at Millard Cooper Town Park on Friday, April 10 at 10 a.m. Children, ages 2-8, can hunt for candy- and toy-filled eggs, play on the playground, and visit with the Easter bunny! The park lies on Cooper Drive near the intersection with Sykesville Road (Route 32). Go to www.sykesville.net for more details.

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