"A quiet moment." That was the experience for the members of West Friendship Volunteer Fire Department's Station 3 members who took advantage of the free massage offerings from local massage therapists during a three day stint in October.

The brain storm idea of Carol Lancaster, who practices her therapy at the Glenwood Community Center, the idea is to give a measure of thanks to our local volunteer fire and emergency personnel.

Carol rallied Joan Orcutt, another local massage therapist who offered free massages to the folks at the West Friendship Station during the week of Oct. 13.

According to Joan, seven volunteers took advantage of the free services.

If the idea of a therapeutic massage appeals to you, Joan is available through Studio 10, in Glenelg, at 410-531-2448 and Carol Lancaster can be caught at the Glenwood Community Center or by e-mail at aquietmoment1@yahoo.com.

The Manor House of the Franciscan Friary on Folly Quarter Road is the new gallery space for West Friendship artist Shyami Codippily Murphy.

During November Shyami's collection of oil paintings "Churches Never to be Forgotten" will be on exhibit, 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday during the month. The 14 paintings are done in oil paint on cross shaped canvasses and depict fourteen churches located in Howard County.

One of the paintings depicts the Grotto at the Franciscan Friary. The exhibit opens Saturday, Nov. 7, 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. with a presentation by the artist at 4 p.m.

The community is encouraged to attend the exhibit and to enjoy the beauty of the Franciscan Friary as well. The address of the Manor House is 12280 Folly Quarter Road.

Rainy weather spoiled the plans for the Celestial Searchers Astronomers Club Galilean Nights Celebration. The star gazing gathering has been rescheduled for Nov. 21. More details to follow in upcoming columns.

Welcome home to Charlie and Nancy White who have returned from a ten day cruise to Puerto Rico. Nancy recalls back in the early 60s when as a University of Maryland freshman, she traveled to Puerto Rico with the college choir. At that time Nancy and her fellow co-eds stayed at La Concha Hotel.

Nancy mused about whether the place was still in existence. Well, lo and behold, the La Concha is now considered a retro wonder with spectacular mid-century modern renovations from its early beginnings of 1958.

Several travel magazines tout the place as the new in spot. I hope Charlie and Nancy got to take a look.

Nancy remembers too that she and her fellow University of Maryland Choir members, many of whom were experiencing their very first airplane ride, reveled in the fact that the choir was accompanied by Pablo Casals. What's old is new and what's new is old. Welcome home to the Whites.

Clark's Elioak Farm has a special weekend planned. Families are invited to come out to the farm Saturday, Nov. 7 and 8 for a Pumpkin Chucking Weekend. It's the final weekend for the fall season at the farm so this is a chance to come out and chuck a few pumpkins while the sun shines. Bring your own pumpkin and see how far it will fly.

The addition of C.J.'s pit beef makes this a great fall outing for the family. Clark's Elioak Farm, where all the refurbished Enchanted Forest figures now reside, is located at 10500 Clarksville Pike (Route 108).

Kudos to the volunteers throughout the Glenelg Country School family who participated in an environmental day at the school's pond. Community Planting Day included teachers, staff, students and parents who planted White Turtlehead plants in an effort to improve the school's pond habitat restoration project and ultimately provide a home for the Checkerspot Butterfly. Well done student naturalists.

The holiday church, school and community bazaars have begun. And not a moment too soon for busy West Friendship author Ellen Nibali, who is making the book signing circuit with her delightful glossy holiday children's book. Ellen's book, "The Secret of St. Nicholas," surely destined to be a holiday classic, is a heartwarming story which reveals the legend of St. Nicholas in a beautiful way.

Good deeds and humility are key to the story which is embellished with illustrations both lush and whimsical. A wonderful tale to be read by parents or grandparents to little ones, the book is both bright and uplifting and peppered with a dash of intrigue.

Nibali has been thrilled by the positive response to her book. She will sign copies of the book during the 38th Annual Greek Heritage Festival, in Baltimore, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 6-7, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 8, noon to 6 p.m.

The Greek Festival will be held at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral on West Preston St., in Baltimore. The festival promises, food, dancing, tours of the Cathedral, vendors and Greek pastries galore.

For more on the Greek Festival, go to the Web site at www.goannun.org/festival. Go to Ellen's Web site at www.secretofstnicholas.com, to order the book, to learn about future local book signing events and to garner the answers to some intriguing questions about the St. Nicholas story as well.

The first frost is about to take a bite thus local gardens are being put to bed for the winter season. The perfect time to sign on with Georgia Eacker's popular Master Gardener training sessions which will begin Jan. 27, 2010.

The classes for this training, which is offered by the Howard County branch of the Maryland Cooperative Extension office, meet from 9 a.m. to noon on Mondays and Wednesdays at the Extension office, in Ellicott City. Classes will run from late January until late March of 2010. If you would like to become a Master Gardener, contact the office at 410-313-2707 for a registration packet.

Several readers have called or e-mailed to inquire about the annual Christmas Wonderland show at the Howard County Fairgrounds. For many years, that show was a staple of craft events at the fairgrounds in November.

For two years now, that show has been replaced by one known as the Howard County Crafts Spectacular. The show is promoted by Beverly Zienda, a crafter with more than 30 years of experience, which includes heading up the well known Colorfest in Thurmont.

The Howard County Crafts Spectacular boasts more than 200 juried craft vendors and promises booths which will display and sell only hand- crafted items.

Holiday shoppers are encouraged. Magic shows for the kids will be presented Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 7 and 8 at 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., as well as visits by Santa Claus Saturday, Nov. 7 and 8 at 1 and 4 p.m. The craft fair will be held Friday-Sunday, Nov. 6-8, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is $5 for adults daily or a three day pass for $7. There is no admission for children.

Questions about this event? Call 301-271-4432 or e-mail Beverly at info@atozcrafts.net.

Mark your calendar for Nov. 14, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. for St. James United Methodist Church's "Shop for the Holidays and Pancake Breakfast."

The lively holiday event will feature a line of craft vendors, scrap booking, cosmetics, home goods, jewelry and cutlery for shopping and browsing. Proceeds from the holiday sale will benefit the youth group's Camp Hope mission. St. James is at 12470 Old Frederick Road (Route 99).

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