Joanne Alioto watched her daughter, Victoria, graduate from Glen Mar Preschool with special pride because she is also a graduate of the program. Joanne's parents, Harry and Dixie Miliner, are charter members of Glen Mar United Methodist Church and enrolled her in the popular program about 37 years ago.

The preschool, for children ages 2-5, is a nonprofit, nondenominational outreach of the church and has always had a great reputation. In my other life, I managed child-care programs and know many of the neighborhood children who attended Glen Mar. It was a great intellectual, physical, emotional and social experience for them before they entered kindergarten.

Alioto is an accomplished flutist and credits her experience at Glen Mar for her love of music. Even though the program had a music teacher and music classes her preschool teacher, Jean Cline, also played the piano in class.

Cline, who is still at Glen Mar, was also Victoria's teacher this year.

"Mrs. Cline still plays the piano in her classroom to this day," Alioto said, who is expecting her second child in September and said she plans to "absolutely" enroll him or her in the program.

Congratulations to the winners of the fourth annual amateur photo contest sponsored by the Ellicott City Restoration Foundation, Inc. The photos, taken within the Ellicott City Historic District, will be on display this month at the Howard County Historical Society Museum, in Ellicott City.

Winners included Matthew Brown, Robert Detweiler, Benjamin Skolnik, Leah McLean, Kristen McLean and George Goeller; Honorable mentions included Holly and Brendle Hoenes and Benjamin Skolnik. Special thanks go out to contest judges Ken Losurdo, of Losurdo Photography; Natalie Harvey, a retired photojournalist; and Doug Bruns, of Gallery f64.

The Veterans Elementary School PTA elected the following new officers for the 2008-2009 school year: Liz Eldridge, president; Andrea Solan, First Vice President; Masami Stratton, Second vice president; Lisa Davis, recording secretary (returning from '07-'08) Ali Landow, corresponding secretary; and Karen Mitchell, treasurer.

"It has been an incredible experience getting to establish a PTA in a brand new school and it would not have been possible without the dedicated officers, chairpeople, staff and families of Veterans Elementary School," outgoing PTA President Rachel Drohat said.

Special recognition goes out to Drohat and the following PTA officers and committee chairs who worked so hard this school year: Laurie Ressler, first vice president; Nancy Toth, second vice president; Leah McIlvain, corresponding secretary; Debbie Tuck, treasurer; Nilanjana Moulick and Patrick Agbortarh, PTA Council delegates; Ann Davis, staff representative; Robert Bruce, principal; and Kelley Hough and Mary Nimmich, assistant principals. Committee chairs included Anna Marie Baker, Maria DeSimone, Liz Eldridge, Tiffany Fowble, Cheryl Godsey, Karen Good, Biz Merkey, Esther Gooding, Michelle Greene, Kathy Gustafson, Kelly Hendriksen, Sherry Houff, Kathy Kartak, Ali Landow, Regina Lasco, Rick Pochop, Angie Lehman, Heidi Potter, Julie McClure, Elisa Oaksmith, Laurie Ressler, Tamara Rigaud, Robyn Ringgold, Nancy Smith, Ann Strozyk, Nancy Toth, Debbie Tuck and Mara Winters.

Congratulations go out to first time grandparents Dave and Sandi Catania on the birth of their grandson, Nicholas Leo Catania, and to Nicholas' parents, David and Cara Catania.

"He's an angel baby," David Catania said. "He eats, sleeps and weighs over 10 pounds now."

Much to his parents dismay, Nicholas decided to come several weeks early weighing in at 4 pounds, 12 ounces. Dave assured me they are taking lots of pictures of Nicholas, especially with his paternal great grandparents, Nick and Betty Catania, to document the family's four generations.

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