I ran into Jean Anderson at Wal-Mart and was delighted to get the chance to catch up. She is a life-long Ellicott City resident and still lives on Old Columbia Pike in the house her parents bought in the mid-1940s.

I hadn't seen her since our sons were friends at Ellicott Mills Middle School when we lost touch because they went to different high schools. She told me her son, Josh, graduated from Centennial High School in 2002 and Frostburg State University (cum laude) in 2006 where he majored in pre-medical biology with a minor in chemistry.

When I contacted Josh, he told me he considered going to medical school, but decided to be a physician's assistant instead because it "best suited my goals of not accumulating loads of debt and I would be able to combine my love of learning with my abilities to assist people heal." Enrolled in the Community College of Baltimore County--Essex/Towson physician's assistant program, Josh will graduate in 2010.

Josh lives in Towson with his older brother, Jason, who graduated from Mt. Hebron High School in 1995. Jason attended the Berklee College of Music, in Boston, for two years and is currently working for a medical billing company and taking courses to pursue a degree in nursing.

He worked hard losing about 200 pounds in a two year period and looks and feels terrific. He also loves music. "(He is) a multi-instrumental kind of guy," Josh said, but mostly plays guitar and is a great singer. He and Josh, who plays violin and mandolin, play at open mic nights in Ellicott City at The Judge's Bench and The Phoenix Emporium.

Jean's daughter, Jessica, graduated from Centennial High School in 2003, attended Howard Community College and has been working with children and babysitting for more than 10 years. She also works with a temporary agency and enjoys the variety of assignments she gets. She's an avid cross stitcher, Jean said, and "has made some beautiful pieces, most recently a lovely intricate piece for a wedding gift for a friend."

Anderson has seen a lot of changes along Old Columbia Pike, mostly the growth in residential development and traffic. Having a larger piece of property the increase in property taxes has made it more difficult to continue maintaining the family home, but she is determined to not "fall prey to the developers." On the up side they are the recipients of wildlife, deer, foxes, etc., that the construction and traffic has chased away.

The Folly Quarter Middle School volunteer PTA officers and committee chairs for the 2008-2009 school year are Peggy Johnson, president; Cathy Corrao, first vice president; Janet Rohner, second vice president; Becky Reich, treasurer; Maureen Turney, recording secretary; Kathy Doughty, corresponding secretary; and Debbie Brock, PTA Council delegate.

Committee chairpeople include: Kim Clawson, cultural arts; Diane Megahan and Cindy Faulconer, school store; Leah Healey, spiritwear; Susan Joseph, after-school programs; Celia O'Brien, book fair; Rita Morsberger, boxtops; Dana Potts and Ann Margaret Knauff, communications; Karen Mobley, community outreach; Karen Kelly and Laura Moody, magazine drive; Chris Geibel, volunteer coordinator; Kristin Robertson and Donna Hawkes, grade level activities.

Congratulations to Scott and Julia Alexander on the birth of their son, Dominic John Alexander, born July 9 weighing in at 6 pounds, 14 ounces and measures 21 inches long. My father always said good people should have lots of children. I hope Dominic is the first of many to bless the Alexander family.

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