SYKESVILLE'S Concerts in Cooper Park clearly are enjoying a fifth summer of success. About 100 people attended Friday night's performance by Fill.Dish.
Concertgoers included families who live nearby and wanted to picnic and enjoy the music.
Children flocked to the playground and created luminescent artwork on the pavement with fluorescent sidewalk chalk, provided by the concert's organizers.
Across the street, at Gate House Museum, residents sat on the porch, chatting and enjoying ice cream and lemonade, sold by volunteer Madeline Klein, 11.
She is one of many young volunteers who receive credit for community service hours for their assistance at the museum, said assistant curator Kari Greenwalt.
Gayle Ford bicycled to the park from town to attend her first concert of the season.
She wanted to relax after a long workday, and said the band was quite good.
"The concerts are different this year than they have been in the past," said Lynne Ronayne, the town's director of parks and recreation. "We decided to screen the bands."
She enlisted the help of Ivy Wells, a Sykesville resident who once worked as a professional booking agent.
Wells chose the bands based on demo tapes of their performances, and reviewed their promotional material. The town also decided to pay the bands this year, and to schedule only one band a night. In the past, two performed at each concert.
"In past years, we just took bands first come, first served. This year, we have been more selective," Ronayne said.
Fill.Dish, a newly formed band, performs blues and rock music. Tony Lord plays keyboards, Mike Forton plays guitar, Michael Spangler plays drums, and all three sing.
The concert Friday will feature Cherrysmash, an alternative rock band.
The performance will run from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Parking is available at Sykesville Middle School.
The snack bar in the park sells hot dogs, pizza, soda and candy.
Information: 410-795-6390.
Night Out Against Crime
Sykesville Police Department is encouraging the community to attend the 18th annual National Night Out Against Crime from 6 to 9 today at Burkett Park in Sykesville.
Thousands of communities nationwide participate in the event, designed to highlight prevention of crime and drug use, and generate support for local anti-crime efforts. It also is designed to strengthen neighborhoods.
The Police Department will sponsor a cookout, children's games and radar demonstrations. McGruff the Crime Dog will be on hand with cotton candy and popcorn.
The event is free. Information: 410-795-0757.
Registration for fall soccer
Freedom Area Recreation Council's Fall Optimist Soccer league, open to girls and boys ages 5 to 17, is accepting late registration. Spots on intramural and travel teams are open.
The season runs from August through November. Forms are available at the Eldersburg branch of the Carroll public library.
Information: 410-795-7697.
Debra Taylor Young's Southeast neighborhood column appears each Tuesday in the Carroll County edition of The Sun.
