THE ATHOLTON HIGH School marching band tied for best overall performance in a Tournament of Bands competition Saturday at Queen Anne's County High School.
Sharing first place was Mount Vernon High School in Virginia.
The Atholton band, which includes about 80 students, received trophies for best percussion, best music, best drum majors and best color guard.
The color guard award was a first for Atholton.
The previous weekend, Atholton's band competed in a tournament in Walkersville. The band took first place over seven other bands in its group and earned the highest grades among all participants that night.
Ushers mark 25 years
The adult usher board at St. John Baptist Church will celebrate its 25th anniversary Oct. 20 at the Wilde Lake Interfaith Center.
The theme of the day will be "Giving Your All to the Service of Christ."
The ushers, under the direction of head usher Vickie Manning, prepare the sanctuary and greet congregants.
Patricia Speights presides over the adult board.
Celebrating with the adult ushers will be the youth board, formed in 1976 for those ages 10 to 18, and the young adult board, formed three years ago.
The ushers' special day is part of a yearlong celebration of the church's 25th anniversary that will continue through March.
Leading the Oct. 20 event are Ossie Clay and Barbara Miller.
The 11: 45 a.m. service will feature the Rev. Lewis Anthony of the Metropolitan Wesley AME Zion Baptist Church in Washington.
The Rev. Richard Dickens of the New Metropolitan Baptist Church in Baltimore will speak at the 4 p.m. service.
Home Improvement Expo
Helping West Columbia residents spruce up their homes is the goal of Home Improvement Expo '96 to be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Slayton House.
The event is free and will be held rain or shine.
"Many homeowners have no clue who to call" for home repairs, said Wilde Lake's Sharon Lea, expo coordinator.
She hopes to provide at least two vendors for each renovation topic.
Vendors will present information on roofing, siding, chimneys, windows, flooring, electrical work, insulation, ceramic tile, brick work, concrete, driveways, landscaping, tree and leaf removal, decks, security and financing.
Logan Jennings, a home inspector, will speak on "Home Maintenance/Common House Problems" at 10 a.m.
Covenant advisers will be available to answer questions and provide architectural guidelines and applications for all the villages.
Hourly door prizes will be awarded. A color TV will be the early bird prize.
"Professor Shenanigan" will entertain children with his comedy/magic shows at 11: 30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Hot dogs and soda will be sold for 25 cents each.
Working with Lea are Janet Blumenthal, chairwoman of the Wilde Lake Village Board, and Jane Parrish, Hickory Ridge village manager.
Also serving as sponsors are the villages of Dorsey's Search, Harper's Choice, River Hill and Town Center.
Children join chorus
Longfellow Elementary School extends congratulations to three fifth-graders who have been chosen to participate in the Howard County Children's Chorus.
The students, who were selected based on an audition, are Matthew Basch, Caitlin McGing and Laura Zimmerman.
Atholton High turns 30
Atholton High School will mark its 30th birthday during homecoming festivities Oct. 18 and 19.
The Booster Club will sponsor a spaghetti dinner from 5: 30 p.m. to 7: 30 p.m. Oct 18 in the school cafeteria. Cheryl Williams, club president, is chairing the event.
Discount dinner tickets are available by calling (301) 498-4581 or 992-7072. Tickets ($6 for adults, $5 for students, children and senior citizens) will be sold at the door. Families of six or fewer pay $16. Children under age 6 are free.
An alumni luncheon will be held at noon Oct. 19 in the school cafeteria.
Tickets for the lunch are $5 each, and may be obtained by calling Bonnie Luepkes at 313-7065.
An alumna herself, Luepkes teaches science at Atholton.
A parade will begin at 1 p.m. Oct. 19 at the Hickory Ridge Village Center and proceed to the school. Birthday activities, including a proclamation from the county government delivered by County Council member Mary Lorsung, will follow.
Principal Roger Plunkett promises "a few surprises."
A football game against River Hill High School also is scheduled. The homecoming dance will start at 8 p.m. Oct. 19.
Dance tickets are $8 each and are available at the school or by calling 313-7065.
Pub Date: 10/09/96
