On Sept. 17, 2007, Citizens National Bank in Clarksville Square became PNC. Did you notice? Did I? Not really. There was only a vague awareness on my part until they recently sent out a promotional card. Belatedly, I stopped for a nice chat with their friendly customer service associate, Ashley Mitchell.

There is some new banking competition in town. The M&T Bank branch in the former Chicken Out building in River Hill Village Center had a mini-grand opening Oct. 27. Senior branch manager Greg Smith says there will be more hoopla coming in 2009, probably in conjunction with the opening of the Maple Lawn branch set for January.

Smith is delighted with the warm Clarksville-area welcome he has received. The Clarksville Lions and other service groups will be pleased to know Smith is interested in becoming active in local community service. He has enjoyed doing some mentoring in the past.

Philip Hosmer, M&T vice president of corporate communications, said M&T Bank Corp. was founded in 1856 and is one of the top 20 bank holding companies in the nation. More information can be found at www.mtb.com .

While out checking the local business scene, I stopped at Walgreen's and met manager Matt Heidel. People were scurrying about getting ready to open for business Nov. 10. Our long-awaited Walgreen's is now open. More information will be coming or you can just stop by to check it out for yourself.

When I got home, there was a really nice spiral-bound calendar at the door from Griffith Energy Services, Inc. The oil tank is full and ready for winter, which feels to me like it's already here. Br-r-r-r!

The holiday rush is on. Relax. Take a breather and enjoy a hearty country breakfast with friends and family in the lovely Ten Oaks Ballroom Sunday, Nov. 23 from 8 a.m. to noon. The Fifth District Volunteer Fire Department will be serving pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, scrapple, toast, gravy, potatoes, applesauce, breakfast beverages and all the trimmings.

Proceeds help provide firefighters and other emergency responders with equipment not covered by the regular county budget. For more information, go to www.fdvfd.com or call 410-313-7215.

Is a young person in your house thinking about a career in music? "So ... You Want To Major In Music?" will be presented at River Hill High Monday, Nov. 24 at 6:30 p.m. in the Auditorium. Should you choose a conservatory or liberal arts college? How do you prepare for an audition? Will you choose music education, performance or technology? These important topics and more will be presented. Go to www.riverhillmusic.org for more informatiom. Click on any of the blue topics to be covered. To avoid paper waste, handouts will NOT be available. If you still have questions, e-mail joe_fischer@hcpss.org.

Margaret Walton sends thanks to all who helped give Team Randy a most successful second year in the JDSA Buddy Walk. Grandson Randy, who has Down syndrome, is only 2 years old and has learned to walk, so you can imagine how ecstatic he was to be able to lead the parade of walkers on Jacksonville Beach, Fla. All 23 Team Randy members were thrilled to be able to raise more than $4,000 for this worthy cause.

Margaret is also a very active supporter of the American Cancer Society. "I know it seems like I'm always collecting cash, cell phones and other things, but someone's got to do it. Funding is important," she said.

Margaret's most recent donation request was one for the books. She wanted my bra! Not just mine. She collected quite a few locally and while in Florida and turned them in to Making Strides Against Breast Cancer in Baltimore.

They were used to encircle the governor's mansion Oct. 29 to draw attention to a program that provides breast and cervical cancer screening and treatment to Maryland's uninsured and low-income women who also will get the nice, new bras. It is estimated 1,000 women will die from these two cancers this year in Maryland alone.

The sudden untimely death of close friend and neighbor, Elaine Pickens Davis, though, left Margaret too grief-stricken to attend the rally, but the bras attended and Margaret was there in spirit.

Elaine's passing has been a great shock to family, friends and acquaintances at Boarman's Market. Elaine was expecting her first grandchild in early January.

Ree Cascioli and Elaine's daughter, Shawn Leagan, are setting up a trust fund for the soon-to-arrive grandson, Cameron Layne Leagan in Memory of Grandmother Elaine Pickens Davis.

Donations, cards and notes for a scrapbook can be dropped off at Boarman's or mailed to Ree Cascioli, P.O. Box 144, Clarksville, MD 21029. Layne will get to know Grandma Elaine through your memories.

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