I saw one of my favorite television commercials the other day. You've probably seen it, the one with the father joyously shopping for his children's back-to-school supplies.
The sullen looks from the children mirror the ones I get from my own little darlings when I mention the word school.
This time of year always has been a mixture of endings and beginnings as summer activities wind down and fall plans are formulated.
For me, one of the South Carroll area's most popular events always signals the encroaching end of summer. St. Joseph Catholic Community will hold its annual chicken barbecue from 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday on the church grounds, 915 Liberty Road.
Billed as an "old-fashioned barn raising," the afternoon will offer more than just great food at a reasonable price. Arts and crafts vendors, a bake table, a country store and white elephants booths will have something for everybody.
Activities for children include face painting, a moonwalk, pony rides, mule-drawn wagon rides and a puppet show by Blue Sky Theater.
Music will be provided throughout the afternoon by the Old Line Statesmen and the Alesia Band. The Four County Squares will kick up their heels early in the afternoon.
A raffle drawing will offer prices of $500, $300 and $200.
Diners can feast on half a barbecued chicken, local corn, coleslaw, home-grown tomatoes, rolls and iced tea.
The dinners cost $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $4 for children under 12. Carryouts will be available for 50 cents extra, and a hot dog dinner may be purchased for $1 less than the above prices.
All proceeds will benefit the church's "Journey of Discovery" building fund.
Information: 795-7838.
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Our area once again is alive with the sights and sounds of young people working hard to earn spots on sports teams. Band recruits are marching long hours around the school parking lots as they learn the paces for the fall shows.
Members of Liberty High School Lion's Pride marching band are gearing up for their fall performance and competition schedule. This year, the band will be under the field direction of a new drum major, Kevin Schreiner, who is planning some innovations he recently learned at a drum major camp.
The Band Boosters group is kicking off its fall fund-raising efforts with sales of pizza kits through Sunday. The pizza kits may be purchased by contacting any band member.
Roy Rogers restaurant will be the site of a carwash from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 26. Band members will wash your car to support a good cause.
Marching band enthusiasts will want to mark their calendars for Sept. 23, when Liberty High holds its 13th annual "Extravaganza" beginning at 6 p.m. The event will feature marching bands from Carroll and the surrounding area.
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The travel teams of the Freedom Optimist Soccer League will take to the fields beginning Friday evening as they hold the annual Freedom Invitational Tournament.
Nearly 40 teams from Carroll and the surrounding counties will compete at Eldersburg Elementary (boys) and on the new fields at Freedom Park (girls) off Route 32.
Information: 549-6225 or 549-1122.
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If soccer isn't your usual Friday evening fare, plan to attend the final concert of the summer presented at Sykesville's Millard Cooper Park.
Stringband America will conclude the town's popular concert series at 7 p.m. Music lovers are invited to bring blankets, chairs and a picnic dinner to the park, at Cooper Drive and Springfield Avenue, for an evening of tunes under the stars.
Information: 795-8959.
