IN CELEBRATION of the 225th anniversary of the founding of Ellicott City, Christmas Co. commissioned Ellicott City artist Alice Webb to create a Christmas ornament.
The ornament she designed features the George Ellicott house, the only Ellicott house still standing.
Webb is a self-taught watercolorist with a degree in graphic arts.
Her artistic projects vary from funky earrings to traditional drawings of historic places. Her studio is in her home, and she teaches art to students older than 13.
She drew the pen-and-ink sketch that is the basis of the Christmas ornament, which has been executed in pewter and brass. The front of the ornament has the appearance of scrimshaw.
Webb will appear at Christmas Co. to meet visitors and sign ornament packages from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Christmas Co. is next to the post office at 8289 Main St., in Ellicott City's Historic District.
Information: Ed Lilley, 410-461-2470.
Mark the calendar
Members of the Dunloggin Middle School community may want to put this date on the calendar: Sept. 21, which has been designated as Jon Gnagey day.
Gnagey is a 20-plus year veteran math teacher now working at Dunloggin Middle School.
In the second half of the last school year, he was diagnosed as having a malignant brain tumor.
He underwent surgery and, after recuperating, was able to spend time with students during the last week of school.
Gnagey has been undergoing treatments through the summer, and his prognosis for recovery is excellent.
G. L. Shacks will be host for the event, which will be an afternoon open house.
A cover charge, auction and raffle will raise funds for the family's medical expenses.
If you would like to help, call an organizers at 410-750-0228, 410-750-0349, or 410-461-7349.
Art at Mill River
Mill River Galleries in Historic Oella Mill have a number of exhibits opening in the next few weeks.
Tina Stonestreet opens her "Solo Multi-Media Exhibit" at Oella Mill Art Center, Mill River Gallery II.
The exhibit will run from Aug. 26 through Oct. 5.
The artist's reception is from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 6.
Watercolorist Fritz Schuler Briggs will display his work in Mill River Gallery I from Sept. 2 through Sept. 29, with an artist's reception from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 6.
The galleries are open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Dawg days, again
Main Street merchants in Historic Ellicott City will hold their Dawg Days Sidewalk Sale this weekend, Friday through Sunday.
The event celebrates summer's end with a streetwide clearance sale.
The sale begins at 6 p.m. Friday, and shops will remain open until midnight.
On Saturday, shops will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Sunday, from noon to 6 p.m.
Children's choir
Chapelgate Presbyterian Church will sponsor the Indian Children's Choir, which will perform at the 10: 45 a.m. worship service Aug. 31.
The choir's 20 children are from the Hmar tribe in India's Manipur State on the China-Burma border.
Chapelgate is located between Interstate 70 and Route 40 on Marriottsville Road.
Information: 410-442-5800.
Sweet Adelines
As has been reported in a previous column, Elkridge Sweet Adeline Chorus won the regional contest in a competition May 11.
Winning means that the all-woman chorus may compete at the next level in the October 1998 international contest, held in Nashville.
One way for the women to raise funds is by performing their barbershop quartet music for groups.
You can choose a performance from the full chorus of 100 singers, smaller choruses, octets or the quartet.
Information: 800-856-9868.
If you would like to hear the sounds of the Elkridge Sweet Adelines, they will be opening the Orioles game at Camden Yards on Saturday.
Senior classes
Elkridge Senior Center announces late summer activities, which are co-sponsored by Howard County Department of Aging and St. Agnes' Mission Services.
At 10: 45 a.m. Aug. 27, Judy Templeton will give a talk on Healthy Meals for Seniors Living Alone.
At 10: 30 a.m. Aug. 29, Templeton will teach Line Dancing for Seniors.
Registration is required. Information or registration: 410-313-4930.
The center's exercise program, designed specifically for senior citizens, will continue for 14 more weeks.
The program runs Mondays and Wednesdays.
The regular level -- for active, mobile seniors -- runs from 9: 30 a.m. to 10: 30 a.m. A slower-paced level, which includes chair exercise, runs from 10: 45 a.m. to 11: 30 a.m.
Classes begin Sept. 8 and continue for 14 weeks, two times per week. The cost is $28.
Transportation is available for those in need, but you must register by Aug. 29.
Information: 410-796-2075.
Jewels and pastels
This month, Gallery 44 is featuring works of artists who use color in distinctive ways.
Kerry Hallam's bold strokes and bright colors dramatize European scenes.
Viktor Shvaiko portrays romantic cafes and bistros. Jiudmila Kondakova, trained in the art of Ukrainian egg painting, washes her paintings in jewel colors.
Gallery 44 is at 10194 Baltimore National Pike in Ellicott City, one-quarter mile west of Enchanted Forest, and is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and Saturday; and from from 10 a.m. to 7: 30 p.m. Thursday and Friday.
Pub Date: 8/18/97
