And the winners are...

Congratulations to youngsters Leah McLean and her sister, Kristen McLean, for their winning entries in the recent fourth annual Ellicott City Historic District Photo Contest, sponsored by the Ellicott City Restoration Foundation.

Leah, a 10-year-old fifth grader, took first place for her photograph titled "B&O Railroad." Kristen, an 8-year-old third grader, won second place for her photograph titled "Patapsco River Bridge Walkway."

Both girls attend Manor Woods Elementary School. The girls' parents, Lynn and Rory McLean, are simply delighted about their childrens' award winning photos.

But they are even more delighted at the interest the girls have taken in photography. According to Lynn McLean, it was Rory who first got them interested. Rory, himself a shutterbug, is enjoying all the new features associated with digital photography.

The girls entered the contest last year as well when local nurseryman Dennis Whittaker was among those receiving accolades.

Ed Lilley, the Ellicott City Restoration Foundation treasurer who commandeered the entire photo contest, is pleased that so many people from the West Friendship area have participated.

Congratulations to the members of Girl Scout Troop 4123 who earned their Bronze Award on May 14. The Bronze Award, Junior Girl Scouting's highest achievement, was issued to the girls by the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland.

The scouts collective service project was called "Happy Socks," collecting and filled donated socks with catnip laced stuffing. The happy socks were delivered to purring cats and kittens at several cat rescue missions throughout Howard County. The Bronze Award recipients include Jessica Cooper, Casey Desrosiers, Emily Dorsey, Shelby Ellegood, Alexandra Miller, Andrea Montanti, Jillian Reilly, Carolyn Stacey, Alyssa Sumpter and Shannon Wood. These young girl scouts will soon be bridging to Cadette status within the Girl Scouts. The faithful leader of these scouts is the beloved Lisette Dorsey.

Looking for a mini day camp for the youngsters? Look no further than the session are being held at the Living Heritage Farm Museum, in West Friendship, during late June and early July.

Sponsored by the Howard County Antique Farm Machinery Club and held at West Friendship's Hebb House and surrounding campus, each session will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Kids ages 7-11 are encouraged to join in the fun. The day camp will be Monday, June 30 and Wednesday, July 2.

Children may attend one session or both. Fees are $30 for one-day attendance or $55 for two-day sessions. The idyllic farm setting of Hebb House and the surrounding farm museum campus will be the backdrop for a camp which includes crafts and farm life activities.

Interested? Call the museum at 410-489-2345, e-mail info@farmheritage.org or go to the Web site at www.farmheritage.org. Early registration is suggested.

Registration for teen fitness training at the Glenwood Branch Library begins this week. The session for children ages 11-17, is billed as fitness fun with Leo Conlon of the Glenwood Community Center. The free session is set for July 8, 7-8 p.m. and will be held at the library. Call 410-313-5577 to sign up for the event.

The best bargain hunting grounds in Howard County are alive and well. Did you realize that the large brick warehouse building just over the Patapsco bridge in Sykesville was at one time an apple butter factory?

Thanks to the clever innovations of The Apple Butter Market founder Melissa Delbusso, the grounds of the old apple butter factory are currently the site of a monthly outdoor flea market.

Sykesville's popular year-old Sunday flea market series, continues this summer with opening day set for Sunday, June 29, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Vendors include a watercolor artist, many stalls of fresh farm produce, a seller of vintage jewelry, flea market stalls, crafted items and collectibles and vintage books and ephemera.

Follow-up flea market days will be held on the last Sunday of each month including July 27, Aug. 31, Sept. 28 and Oct. 26. Town planners hope to see the flea market eventually move indoors as a permanent year round venue.

Questions about the flea market? Call 410-795-8959.

Now is the time of year when summer travel begins and stories begin to roll in about distant places as well as nearby treasures. E-mail me with news of your summer sojourns. Your neighbors love to hear about who's been where.

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