The bright, three-sided rooftop mural at The Friendly Inn is creating quite a stir. When the current owners, Jason Cooke and Ron Wildman, along with general manager Steve Iampieri, decided they wanted a new look, they really meant it.

More than a few West Friendship residents have wondered what's up with the mural at the Friendly Inn?

"We wanted new energy and a new look," Iampieri said.

And a new look is what the energetic Cooke, Wildman and Iampieri got. The bold mural is a standout along Route 144, with bright rural graphics depicting farm life and the idyllic country setting which has always been emblematic of western Howard County.

Iampieri called on artist Ezra Berger to create the enormous mural. The Friendly Inn has been in business in its present location since the early 1900s. During the 1950s, the place was a family owned pub run by the Blackburn Family. Ken Howard was the new owner in the mid 1970s and then in 1977 the Inn was purchased by Gisela Woelper. Gisela named it the Friendly Inn.

As an aside to my faithful readers, can anyone recall the name of the pub for a short time in the 1970s? I know the answer and I'll give you a hint. It was a man and a woman's name followed by Friendly Inn. E-mail me if you can recall and I'll post the answer in a future column.

The Friendly Inn has long been known as a bluegrass music destination. The new owners are keeping that tradition with music almost every night and it s open seven days a week.

The current proprietors are energetic, enthusiastic and anxious to embrace the community.

"The food is superb. The music is great. We are new and we love what we're doing," Iampieri said.

The new and improved Friendly Inn is at 11074 Frederick Road, actually you can't miss it. It's the place with the paintings on the roof.

In the early 1960s, my mother drove my brother and I out to Howard County from Montgomery County to a place called The Enchanted Forest. I still recall that outing. My brother took a shining to a young girl who was dressed as Little Bo Peep. We found out that her name was Patsy Selby.

Fast forward 45 years or so. That same Pasty Selby is on the committee at Clark's Elioak Farm, where many of the remaining Enchanted Forest displays now reside, for the second annual Enchanted Forest Employees Reunion.

The reunion is set for Aug. 15, noon to 4 p.m. Organizer Lisa Winter is desperate to get the word out about the reunion because, according to Winter, "There are no employee records surviving from the park."

If you were an employee or if you know of anyone who was ever an employee of the Enchanted Forest, please contact Winter at ClarksMotherGoose@gmail.com or phone Lisa at 410-730-8885.

This search will be a true community endeavor as it is only by word of mouth that the news of the employee reunion will get out. It's up to you. The search is on for any former employee of the Enchanted Forest.

Maggie Woodbury, reporter for the West Friendship Livestock Club, checked in recently with news of her club and its activities. During May the club membership learned all about vermicomposting.

Vermi what?

Vermicomposting is the phenomenon of worms decomposing trash. Guest speaker Kathy Buckley informed the club membership on all there is to know about worms and trash decomposition.

Club members Eric Fiege and Anna Larimore gave project talks on the health of the Chesapeake Bay and on raising pigs. Laura Allen shared her expertise with a sewing workshop with details on how to make an apron. These busy local 4-H members are already making plans for the Howard County Fair.

The members of the Howard County Antique Farm Machinery Club, which hold its base here in West Friendship, will host visitors from Australia Saturday, June 27.

The travelers from "down under" will be here as participants in "Trek Across America," a trans world tractor trek in which participants will travel cross country on Chamberlain Champion 9-G tractors.

Don't forget. The Howard County 4-H Program is coordinating a Progressive Ag Safety Day Monday, June 29 , 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Howard County fairgrounds in West Friendship. This fun filled day is open to youth ages 8-13.

Planned activities include demonstrations and discussions on safety related topics, including fire safety, sun safety, roadway safety and water safety.

A fee of $5 per child will cover the cost of lunch, snacks, a souvenir T-shirt, speaker fees and a take home goodie bag of safety materials. Registration forms are available at www.howard4-h.org.

Questions on the event? Call Sheryl Bennett, Howard County 4-H extension educator at 410-313-1912 or e-mail her at sherylb@umd.edu.

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