MOUNT AIRY MAY seem like a quiet, small town, but Saturday night, an army of street rods, muscle cars, custom cars, street machines and antique cars will roar into town.
The cars are headed for Cruise Night, an informal, family-orientated car show held bimonthly in the Jimmie Cone parking lot at South Main Street and Ridgeville Avenue.
Tomorrow night's car show will be the last Cruise Night of the season. In its third year, the event has proved to be very popular with the local community, drawing hundreds of spectators and 200 car enthusiasts.
A bright red 1932 Ford High Boy Roadster is the pride and joy of show organizer Mark Woods. Describing himself as a "car nut," Woods initially organized Cruise Night so other car enthusiasts like himself would have a "fun, laid-back atmosphere" to get together and showcase their cars.
Describing the area as "rich in cars," Woods is not surprised that the car show has attracted so many fans, some traveling from as far as Tennessee, Pennsylvania and Delaware. With the show billed as a family event, Cruise Night has consistently attracted a large group of onlookers.
Cruise Night will start its 2001 season in April, with shows scheduled for the first and third Saturdays of each month continuing through October.
Information: Mark Woods, 301-831-6164.
Computer training
New computers, and catalog software program have given the Mount Airy branch of Carroll County library a whole new look.
"WebPac," Carroll County public library's newest online catalog and data base, Web-based system offers library patrons easy access to encyclopedia, newspaper and magazine indexes, full text articles, and their personal library records.
Branch manager Cindy Ahmann says that library staff has been spending the past several months instructing patrons on the operation of WebPac. Ahmann says that although most people are computer savvy, some instruction is almost always necessary because the system is so very than what was in use before.
In response to the many questions the library has received, a personal one-on-one training program has been implemented. WebPac Personal Training, developed by Nadine Rosendale, adult services supervisor at the branch, teaches adults the ins and outs of the online catalog.
The training course is taught daily, but appointments are required.
Information: 301-829-5290 or 410-386-4470.
Triumphant music
The South Carroll High School Cavaliers Marching Band gave another stellar performance Saturday night at the Tournament of Bands at Triton High School in Runnemede, N.J.
Competing in a field of eight marching bands in the Group II division, the Cavaliers captured first place, with a high score of 84.80. All seven of the other bands in attendance were units that the Cavaliers had previously not seen this season, making it a particularly gratifying win for the band.
The Cavaliers will next perform in the Mount Airy Fall Festival tomorrow morning, before heading to Westminster High School to compete in its Tournament of Bands.
Horse show
Riders and spectators are invited to the Mount Airy Saddle Pals English and Western Horse Show.
The show begins at 9 a.m. Sunday at Mount Airy Firemen's Carnival Grounds, Route 27 and Twin Arch Road. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m.
More than 40 horses are expected to participate in the judged event.
Parking and admission are free, and plenty of food will be available for sale.
A fee is charged to participate in the show.
Information: Betsy Gates, 301-829-5014.
Top honors
Hats off to Pat King, English department chairwoman at South Carroll High School, for her recent selection as a finalist for the Conference on English Leadership Excellence Award.
South Carroll students and staff are proud of King's commitment to excellence.
Christy Kruhm's Southwest Neighbors column appears each Friday in the Carroll County edition of The Sun.
