The community is invited to the Living Heritage Farm Museum, in West Friendship, Saturday, July 11, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., for the Howard County Antique Farm Machinery Club's annual Cutting of the Wheat event.

Club members, in conjunction with the Maryland Draft Horse and Mule Association, will be on hand for the cutting of the wheat which was planted on the property last fall.

Demonstrations include threshing, baling, horse pulls, wagon rides and tractors galore. As always, Art Boone and John Frank will be heading up the Blue Grass music and refreshments will be served. This event, which is symbolic as well as practical, is representative of the fine work the local club continues to do in an effort to foster the origins and rural roots of West Friendship as an original farming community.

"Children always love the old farm machinery," said Virginia Frank, one of the charter members of the Farm Machinery Club. Come out for a day of old time farm life. The Living Heritage Farm Museum is located on Route 144 just across the road from the Howard County fairgrounds.

Speaking of nostalgia. A recent article in this paper on the closing of Foster's Country Store brought back a flood of memories for some West Friendship residents. The general store which was somewhat of an institution in the area, was run for many years by Charles Gearhart. Charles passed away some time ago, but is recalled with fondness by many.

Folly Quarter Middle School eighth-grader Matthew Boxall has had Carolina on his mind. Matthew, a third baseman for the Howard County Raiders traveled to Myrtle Beach, S.C., for a week's worth of games recently. Matthew and his team buddies couldn't wait to hit the mound and the beach.

Sally Stone swears by "Wave" petunias. This year she's got a garden load of them. Sally learned about the magic of Wave petunias back in 2007 from Howard County master gardener Pat Greenwald. Now Greenwald will share her expertise on designing a colorful shade garden in Howard County. The garden talk and demonstration is set for Tuesday, July 14, 7 p.m. at the Glenwood Branch Library. No need to register.

Going once, going twice, sold. That's the lovely call of Ellen Hill Kilby and the auction gang at Allen T. Hill and Associates. Ellen's June 27 auction at the Howard County fairgrounds has been moved up to July 18 at 10 a.m.

So you thought that yard sale season was over. Not so for the busy folks at St. James United Methodist Church.

"There is no charge for vendor spaces," Janet Sowers said.

Yard sale, flea market and craft vendors are welcome to unload their treasures July 18 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The community is invited for what Janet calls "one-stop shopping."

If you would like to participate, call the church office at 410-442-2020 to reserve a spot. St. James is on Route 99, near Route 32 and near our great new West Friendship Fire Station 3.

Participants in the Mother-Daughter Book Club at the Glenwood Branch Library are reminded that the July selection of "Hope Was Here" by Joan Bauer, will be discussed Wednesday, July 15, 7-8:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served. No registration is required and newcomers to the book session are invited. This group is for moms and daughters ages 11 and up.

Ivy Wells is doing a smashing job with her lineup for the Town of Sykesville Summer Concert in the Park series. Opening concert of the season is set for Friday, July 10 (Hey, that's Kathy and Don Weber's 38th wedding anniversary) from 7 to 9 p.m.

The concert which will be held at the Millard Cooper Park features the band "No Stringz Attached". Bring lawn chairs, blankets or quilts for this old time concert in the park affair. Chick-fil-A sandwiches will be for sale along with Hoffman's homemade ice cream.

The event is a family friendly one, with a well lit playground as part of the draw for the youngest visitors. Questions? Need directions? Want more information? Call Ivy at 410-795-8959.

The annual Native American Pow Wow will be in West Friendship Saturday and Sunday, July 11 and 12 at the Howard County Fairgrounds. This festival features Native American singing and dancing, crafts and foods, story telling, face painting, pony rides and a host of family activities.

The festival is set for 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for children.

You gotta love West Friendship history buffs. In answer to a query in a recent column about one of the former names of the business now known as The Friendly Inn, loyal reader Charlie Schreibeis wasted no time logging in with the correct answer.

The question was, "What was The Friendly Inn called before its present name?" Charlie's correct reply was "Roy and Myrt's Friendly Inn."

The further we get from the old West Friendship, the more nostalgic it is to recall its past. Thank you, Charlie.

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