There's nothing quite like making a new friend. That's the way it was for me last week when the delightful Jeannette Johnson called me out of the blue.

Jeannette is a woman who defies her "senior citizen" status as she bounds about and exudes all the enthusiasm of a youngster. Johnson called me because she had read in this column about the tribute to the World War II veterans of Elioak.

Recently, John Goodman, whose father was one of the World War II veterans from the Elioak neighborhood, held a memorial service at Clark's Elioak Farm, on Route 108, to commemorate the service of the six men who were not only neighbors in the 1940s, but also were combat vets.

Jeannette read the article and was touched. Her husband, the late Charles Johnson, had also served in France and Germany during World War II. Reading the column brought back lots of old Howard County memories for Jeannette. She recalled buying produce from Sen. James Clark's farm stand back in the 1950s.

Clark is one of the six World War II Veterans who is memorialized at Clark's Elioak Farm. She shared a torrent of county memories including her years at Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company, 31 years to be exact.

Johnson worked on Main Street, in Ellicott City, in her early years with C&P. She went on to put in another 20 years at St. Agnes Hospital. Jeannette and Charles were married for 58 years. Now a widow and also the mother of an adult daughter who passed away several years ago, she resides in a senior living home in Catonsville.

She still gets about, enjoying her country and blue grass music and hearing from her relatives, the Johnsons, of Dayton. I was touched to know that according to Jeannette, "I read the columns in the Howard County Times every week."

Heather Thamer has all the right moves. The local West Friendship yoga instructor wants to share her secrets for relieving holiday stress. Come to Heather's Yoga Studio at 2717 Friendship Farm Court, in West Friendship, Dec. 17 at 10 a.m. for demonstrations, refreshments, explanations of just what Heather's upcoming classes will include and of course, some wonderful holiday camaraderie with your neighbors.

Questions about the morning event? Call Heather at 410-666-3452.

Don't forget that Eyre Tour and Travel will once again act as a local host venue for Toys for Tots. According to office staff Angie Elswick, "The bins are really getting full."

This beloved and long traditional holiday giving effort begun by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve in 1947, is alive and well. The first toy donated back in 1947 was a Raggedy Ann doll handcrafted by the wife of Toys for Tots founder, Col. Bill Hendricks. Bring your new toys and games to the lobby of Eyre's offices up until Dec. 18.

The holiday season hums with the musical strains of Rebecca Gold and the Greenbridge Folk Band with guitar, banjo and accordion music over at Greenbridge Pottery, in Dayton, Saturday, Dec. 12, 12 - 2 p.m. Hot mulled cider, Bean Hollow coffee and refreshments are always on the buffet.

The December weekend schedule at Greenbridge Pottery will include musical guests and refreshments, in addition to Rebecca Moy and Evan Behre's signature pottery and ceramics, through to the end of the year.

Questions? Call Greenbridge at 410-531-5920 or go to the colorful Web site at www.greenbridgepottery.com for the full line up of winter festivities. The pottery barns are open most weekends 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

St. James United Methodist will also host a live nativity Saturday, Dec. 12 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the church, 12470 Old Frederick Road (Route 99) in West Friendship. Refreshments and hot drinks will be offered to guests who come to experience the living manger scene complete with live animals.

Following the Live Nativity, St. James will carol all around the neighborhood Sunday, Dec. 13. If you would like to join the carolers, come to St. James United Methodist Church at 11:30 a.m. where carolers will board a bus to visit friends and neighbors and sing holiday songs. Refreshments will be served after the traditional caroling.

Never been to the West Friendship Farm Museum? Now's the chance and in particular when the Hebb House portion of the museum is decked out in holiday splendor.

The Howard County Living Farm Heritage Museum's Hebb House will be the setting for a Holiday Open House Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 12 and 13, from noon to 4 p.m.

This is an excellent opportunity to view the local farm museum, a dream that has come true for the members of the Howard County Antique Farm Machine Club.

Virginia and John Frank and all the committees have worked tirelessly for several years now to see the fruition of this local museum which is dedicated to life in simpler times. There is no admission, though donations are gratefully accepted.

The open house will feature a train garden, antique displays, live music and refreshments. Virginia notes that the motif will be one of holiday seasons from years past.

Hebb House is at 12985 Frederick Road (Route 144), just across the street from the Howard County fairgrounds. Questions? Call 410-531-2569 or go to the club Web site at www.farmheritage.org.

user comments (0)