The Friends of the Catonsville Library sponsored a weeding workgroup and lunch May 29.
Many thanks to neighbors who came ready to pitch in and beautify the grounds.
"The middle school volunteers were wonderful," said Karen Nicolaus, president of the group.
Thanks also to Maureen Sweeney Smith, Carolyn Tancock, David and Cheryl Wasmund, Mike Nicolaus, Luke and Mitchell Wieland, Sam and Jesse Bower, Evan Marcus, Joshua Wood, Drew and Dan Nicolaus, and Ashley McAvoy.
Local landscaper extraordinaire Amy Wieland of Amy's Garden Design supervised, and sweated with, the crew.
"We might do another day like this again over the summer since it was such a success and is a win-win deal for all," she said. "The library gets a facelift it needs and the kids all receive community service hours required, as well as we all had fun and yummy pizza for lunch too."
Giving Circle on learning curve
The Catonsville Women's Giving Circle is now accepting grant requests from local nonprofits.
This nonpartisan group of like-minded women from Catonsville welcomes other women who want to help improve the quality of life in the community by supporting charitable programs and organizations selected by its membership.
Using models in neighboring communities and across the country, the Catonsville Heritage Foundation formed the group in the winter of 2010 to ensure a collective impact of involved citizens.
There are currently 35 members who donated $250. Their goal is to increase that membership to 100.
The group meets quarterly to discuss and brainstorm ideas, review grant applications, and share ways to increase communication.
For information, contact Joan Plisko at jplisko@hotmail.com or Siri Quirk at sirisvaeren@comcast.net.
Carrying on
Sean Urban, a member of Catonsville High School's Class of 2011, had a long run with his Jansport back pack.
He's used it since kindergarten and may bring it with him when he goes to Western State College of Colorado in the fall.
Moved to join Zumbathon
Barb Miller and Natalie Powell are hosting a Party in Pink Zumbathon Saturday, June 11, 9-11 a.m., at the Bloomsbury Community Center, 106 Bloomsbury Ave.
The event is to benefit the Susan G. Komen 3-Day 60-Mile Walk for the Cure.
The two Catonsville residents are walking for the third year in a row Sept. 23-25 in honor of the many Catonsville friends who have suffered from breast cancer and other cancers.
"Whether you are new to Zumba or not, wear your pink and come," Barb said. "The music, the dancing, the atmosphere, it's just one big party."
Suggested donation is $10 per person, but any donation is accepted.
All monies collected are donated to the Susan G Komen 3-Day 60-Mile Walk for the Cure.
For information, contact Barb Miller at barb@archivalsilo.com.
Hair-raising tale
Bryce Armstrong started getting his haircut at Hair-M when he was in elementary school and always wanted a Mohawk cut.
His parents, Bill and Linda, would usually let him get one in the summer.
The dark-haired youth really wanted it blond, but his parents doubted he would sit long enough for it.
Super stylist Susan Flanagan, who loves a challenge, convinced his parents to let him have one if he earned straight A's.
Bryce, who also likes a challenge, did just that.
Soon he was allowed to have the Mohawk all year.
Later, Bryce wanted a pink Mohawk.
"Again the grades came up, again he succeeded and pink it was," Flanagan said.
When Bryce finished Catonsville Middle School, his parents thought he needed to make a good impression at the high school, so Susan shaved the Mohawk off.
"What an uproar!", Flanagan said. "Bryce's signature haircut was gone. I got yelled at by everyone, except (Hair M owner) Kathie Nilsen, who thought he should lose the cut.
Needless to say, he grew it back pronto. Since then, he has had pink, blond, rainbow and the Catonsville High class color for 2011— green.
Bryce has maintained an A average all through high school and will attend the University of Maryland in College Park in the fall.
He kept his promise to Nilsen that he would shave it off for last week's graduation and she could do the job. She enjoyed it.
Sweet surprise
You Scream Ice Cream (Frederick Road was voted among the top ten "Great Maryland Milkshake" by the Baltimore Sun.
Enjoying a malted milkshake made with hand-dipped Hershey's ice cream, malt powder and milk "takes you back to an earlier time," according to proprietor Rhonda Chase, whose Catonsville shop also sells retro candy and soda pop, snowballs, Italian ice and fruit smoothies.
Customers can enjoy classic movies while waiting for their orders.
Your vote counts
Joan Wallace, a resident of the Charlestown retirement community who is also a big fan of Catonsville's annual July 4th celebration, wants everyone to take part in Liberty Mutual Insurance Company's Bring Back the 4th online contest.
The top 10 hometowns get $10,000 grants to use for their July 4th celebrations.
