Now start the busy days at West Friendship Elementary. From now until mid June the calendar is overflowing with culminating events at our local elementary. Physical education teacher Bob Talbert, is often described by his co-workers as "fabulous."

Fab he is, and energetic, too.

Talbert has organized West Friendship's all school Field Day which is set for Thursday, May 28. Follow-up activities at the elementary include a staff-hosted thank-you breakfast Monday, June 1 where parent volunteers will be honored. On Wednesday, June 3, the West Friendship Elementary PTA is hosting the annual "Donuts with Dad" event.

The students bring dad or a favorite male adult to a continental breakfast at the school. The busy end of the year activities at West Friendship continue June 4 with the finale concert of the year for the strings and chorus students. The concert is set for 7 p.m.

Congratulations to the seniors who number among the graduates in the Class of 2009 from Glenelg High School, Marriotts Ridge High School, River Hill High School, Chaplegate Academy and Glenelg Country School. These schools all have students from our region. We wish you well.

Congratulations to the five Glenelg Country School foreign language students who have attained national recognition for their excellent performance on the 2009 National Spanish Examinations. Emily Sandford, a junior from Woodbine, earned a gold medal; Sam Friedman, a sophomore from Silver Spring, earned a silver medal; Honorable Mention was awarded to Jessica Ortega, a sophomore from Columbia and to Amy Schaffman, a junior from Silver Spring; a Special Honorable Mention for Bilingual Students was awarded to Daniel Rivera, a sophomore from Laytonsville. This is the first year in which students from Glenelg Country School have participated in the National Spanish Exam. The students prepared for the two-day exam with the support of their teacher Billie Munoz.

West Friendship Livestock 4-H Club reporter Maggie Woodbury admits that she and her fellow 4-H club members "battled the rain" during the early May Sheep and Wool Festival in West Friendship.

The 4-H kids had worked long and hard in preparation for the festival which could only be described as "soggy" this year. But like all troupers, the show must go on and so too did the stalwart 4-H members who are happy to announce the winners of the Livestock Club's annual Spinning Wheel contest. Vicki Bradford won the Spinning Wheel with second place going to Leslie Broznak and third place to Lynne Warren.

Can't make it to Italy this summer? Why not enjoy the historical tour hosted by the Companions of St. Anthony at the Franciscan Friars on Folly Quarter Road instead? An historical tour of the Manor House and the Shrine of St. Anthony is planned for Sunday, May 31, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

If you'd like to join in this lovely walk, meet at the Manor House at 12290 Folly Quarter Road at 1:30 p.m.

Dina Jones and the crew at Glenelg Veterinary Clinic know how to boost employee morale. Employee Appreciation Day was May 19 for the local veterinary office where balloons were launched, gift certificates handed out and even the in-house animal patients wondered, "Who got this party going?"

Marcie Barnard has worked for months organizing a big fundraiser sale which will benefit the American Cancer Society. The antique dealers of The Pink Cabbage shop, which is located at the corner of Route 144 and Triadelphia Road, have invited vendors to join them in an outdoor flea market set for May 31, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The event which Marcie and the gang are calling "Strawberry Days" is promising table after table of flea market marvels. The Strawberry Days Yard Sale is sponsored by the Pink Cabbage in conjunction with the American Cancer Society.

Just a reminder. The Howard County Antique Farm Machinery Club will participate in the sixth annual Historic National Road Yard Sale Saturday, May 30. This sale purports to be the longest continuous yard sale in the country, with vendors tables stretching more than 800 miles, from Baltimore to St. Louis.

The sale will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Living Heritage Farm Museum, on Route 144, just across the road from the Howard County fairgrounds in West Friendship. If you'd like to sign up for a sale table at a fee of only $10, contact Virginia Frank at jsrStar@comcast.net or 410-531-2569.

Organizers of the St. James United Methodist annual yard sale are calling this year's event "The St. James Stimulus Package." Janet Sowers reports that the sale will be held rain or shine. Spaces for vendors are free if you're interested in hosting a sale table. Hot dogs, snacks, community gab sessions and bargains galore are all on the planning board for the event which will be held June 6, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. St. James United Methodist is on Route 99, just off of Route 32, in West Friendship.

A similar community yard sale is set for June 6, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Shepherd of the Glen Lutheran Church. More than 30 vendors will sell flea market and yard sale items. Organizer Carole Kramer invites the community to come out for a day of bargain hunting. Shepherd of the Glen is located at 14551 Burntwoods Road in Glenelg.

Don't forget that the Glenwood Farmers Market is open for business on Saturdays at the Glenwood Library and Community Center parking lot. Fresh produce, garden plants, breads, jams, jellies and local homegrown goodies are in abundance. The market is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Local dance instuctor Jennifer Blizzard-Sisk says, "If you're feeling 'out of sync' with our recent crazy Maryland weather, then come on out to the 15th annual performance of the Footprints Blizzard Dance Studio's spring recital."

Jennifer and her sister, Jill, long dance originals from our region, first staged the Blizzard Sister's recital at Glenelg High School more than thirty years ago. It is fitting that for this year's recital, the studio returns to its roots to perform on May 30 at Glenelg High School.

"This is where it all began," Blizzard-Sisk said.

The dance concert finale is titled "The Rhythm is Gonna Get You!" and features graduating senior dancers Claire Baldi, Julie Buonato, Ann-Marie Gover and Bryan Becraft. Under the skilled direction of Blizzard-Sisk, students from ages four to adult will showcase dances from waltz to Latin rhythms to ballet and tap and all the beats in between.

The performance will take place Saturday, May 30 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. Questions? Call the studio at 410-992-8105.

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