Elkridge Landing

Two Howard County schools have teamed with the local library and each other to promote reading among middle school pupils and their families.As a result, pupils from Elkridge Landing and Mayfield Woods middle schools will get a chance to attend two reading-themed events this year, paid for with an $860 grant from the Maryland Humanities Council.Science fiction and fantasy writer Annette Curtis Klause -- author of such young adult books as "Alien Secrets" and "Blood and Chocolate" -- will speak Oct. 28 at the Elkridge branch of Howard County Public Library, and African-American folklore group the Bunjo Storytellers will perform at Mayfield Woods in March.

One Friday night each month, the sanctuary of Grace Episcopal Church in Elkridge is converted from a house of prayer to a disco club. The hymnals are neatly tucked away and the floor is cleared, making room for a crowd of energetic middle-schoolers to dance.It's becoming a trend in suburbia -- young people hustling to neighborhood churches and community centers to listen and dance to their favorite music, including songs that were hits long before most of them were born.The pupils are escorted by their parents, some of whom are active members in the organization that plans the dances: the Greater Elkridge Teen Association.

Gifted-Talented conference scheduled Friday, SaturdayThe 1998 Maryland State Conference for Gifted and Talented Education will be Friday and Saturday at Turf Valley Resort and Conference Center in Ellicott City. This year's theme is "From Potential to Performance: Best Practices in Gifted Education in Maryland."Sessions are designed for parents and educators. Friday presenters include Carolyn Callahan from the University of Virginia and A. Skipp Sanders from the state Department of Education.

KATHY PARRISH always dreamed of being a teacher. She remembers playing "school" as a child, and always choosing to be the teacher.Growing up, she moved from Bushy Park Elementary to Glenwood Middle School to Glenelg High, and her dream persisted.And when she graduated from college and signed a teaching contract with Howard County, her dream came true.Parrish now teaches at Elkridge Landing Middle School in Elkridge. And what a teacher she has become.At the end of her first year of teaching at Elkridge Landing, she was one of two Howard County teachers honored with the state Sallie Mae First Class Teacher Award.

The following activities are planned at Elkridge Landing Middle School, 7085 Montgomery Road:Parents may nominate new students in Howard County schools for possible inclusion in the gifted-and-talented classes, including math, English, science and social studies. Students nominated must be tested. Testing will take place Sept. 18 and 22.Information about sending a nomination letter: 410-313-5040.Because of the cost of the outdoor education trip -- $85 a student and $45 a chaperon -- the school is asking for donations to the scholarship fund for students unable to pay the fee. You may donate all or part of the $85 fee. Make checks payable to Elkridge Landing Middle School and make sure the note space on the check reads "OE Scholarship Fund."

Family Life Parent meeting at Elkridge Landing MiddleThe following activities are planned at Elkridge Landing Middle School, 7085 Montgomery Road:The Family Life Parent meeting will be Thursday from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Room 220.The school is collecting Giant grocery store receipts until Feb. 27. The receipts will help Elkridge Landing earn school materials. Each grade has a box marked for the receipts, and students are asked to deposit them in those boxes.PTA Council to meet Monday in Ellicott CityThe PTA Council of Howard County will hold a general membership meeting at 7: 30 p.m. Monday at the Department of Education building, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City.

BILL HERNDON smiled broadly as he hit golf balls Wednesday at The Timbers at Troy golf course in Elkridge.He had not played golf since a stroke left him paralyzed on one side and forced him to retire in his 40s.Herndon was one of 56 players who registered for the morning "Learn to Golf" clinic for the physically challenged, organized by Bill Thies and Peter Beck.Thies is assistant to the chief administrative officer, Raquel Sanudo. Beck is administrative aide to County Councilman Charles C. Feaga.

WHEN Charlotte Beam's husband of 58 years, Earl Beam, died suddenly this year, she was encouraged to express herself in her art -- photography. The product of her work, "Shifting Shadows," is now on display at the East Columbia branch library.The theme of this photography exhibit, "Count only sunny hours" -- taken from a saying on the sundial at their home -- expresses the love in their marriage.Earl Beam was an administrator of Maryland General Hospital. During the 38 years he lived in the Dunloggin community, Beam planted trees, grew prize-winning irises and peonies and nurtured his family.

In yesterday's Howard County edition of The Sun, the Ellicott City/Elkridge community column incorrectly reported that Ben Harrison had Down syndrome at the time of his death last year.The Sun regrets the error.ELKRIDGE Community Association will hold its general meeting at 7: 30 p.m. Thursday at Elkridge Fire Hall.Residents of the eastern end of the county will benefit from information to be shared at this meeting.Joe Rutter, Howard County's director of planning and zoning, will discuss zoning plans for the 1st Election District to 2000 and beyond.

At these Olympic games, the athletes wear jeans, opening ceremonies consist of a whistle blow and medals are creatively fashioned from construction paper.About 150 eighth-graders at Elkridge Landing Middle School participated in nine Math Olympics events Friday. They calculated scoring percentages after shooting basketballs, formed geometric shapes with giant rubber bands and converted softball throws to yards and meters."This is cool," said eighth-grader Tyler Drewes, figuring out how long it would take him to run a mile based on his 300-yard time of 54 seconds.

Pupils' library mural to be dedicated County Executive Ken Ulman will be the host of a dedication ceremony for "Underwater Treasures," a sculpted mural by artist Mary Deacon Opasik and her Elkridge Landing Middle School students, at 5:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Elkridge library. The art project was created in response to the Route 1 Corridor Revitalization initiative while Opasik was artist in residence at Elkridge Landing Middle from September 2007 through June 2008. Opasik and Elkridge Landing art teacher Patty Battaglia set up a working studio in the art classroom.

Tension hung in the air as contestants in the Howard County Library Teen Idol Competition waited for the results. Daniel Goldstein, a rising eighth-grader at Elkridge Landing Middle School who had donned a sparkly top hat and belted out "There's No Business Like Show Business," passed the time by playing a piano in the hallway. Others contestants nibbled on cookies and pretzels. Jamie Goldstein, Daniel's father, said the event for his son was "a little bit serious and a little bit fun," adding that the young singer had rehearsed quite a bit during the days leading to the competition.

Ricky Knight, a 12-year-old boy who never lost his sense of humor, determination or love of sports while battling brain cancer for more than a year, died of the disease Monday. Ricky, a sixth-grader at Elkridge Landing Middle School, was diagnosed with the cancer in April 2007. After a grueling summer of surgeries and treatment, he played football in the fall with the Elkridge Hurricanes. His father, Rick Knight, described the game as "good therapy," and coaches and teammates marveled at the boy's courage.

Area's past discussed The Howard County Genealogical Society will present a talk on the founding of Elkridge Landing, which predates the Revolutionary War, by local historian Joetta Cramm. She will describe the earliest places of worship, the early families and why much of the town's history has disappeared. Cramm, who is author of Howard County: A Pictorial History and other books, teaches local history at Howard Community College and leads walking tours of Historic Ellicott City. Around Town Cheerleading, Football : The Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks is accepting registration for Elkridge Hurricanes Flag and Tackle football and cheerleading.

As their coaches shout instructions, the boys in shoulder pads and helmets go through their practice routines. Among them is Ricky Knight, 10, a slight boy with freckles and brown eyes. His coach, Frank Curley, said Ricky is doing great. "In two weeks, he has gone from not playing to being the starting cornerback," he said. "He's worked himself into a starting position. He's not hesitant to tackle anyone of any size." Which, given the circumstances, makes sense, for Ricky already has tackled a more difficult opponent.

As their coaches shout instructions, the boys in shoulder pads and helmets go through their practice routines. Among them is Ricky Knight, 10, a slight boy with freckles and brown eyes. His coach, Frank Curley, said Ricky is doing great. "In two weeks, he has gone from not playing to being the starting cornerback," he said. "He's worked himself into a starting position. He's not hesitant to tackle anyone of any size." Which, given the circumstances, makes sense, for Ricky already has tackled a more difficult opponent.

At the mention of her name, the 12-year-old girl clutched her jean jacket, shrieked with glee and made her way to the back of the classroom to claim her prize. The spoils: an envelope filled with gift certificates and coupons for pizza, movies, and doughnuts. Alyssa Coates won the award after her name was picked from a group of students at Elkridge Landing Middle School in Howard County who had demonstrated good test-taking skills and preparation on the first day of the math portion of the Maryland School Assessment.

Michael Adamovich, 12, a seventh-grader at Elkridge Landing Middle School, knows what it takes to be a leader. "Not many people can become leaders. But those who are, it is a real honor," Michael said a day after completing the school system's first Youth Empowerment Summit on Tuesday at Wilde Lake Interfaith Center in Columbia. Sixty-five pupils from Clarksville, Elkridge Landing and Murray Hill middle schools learned how to become better leaders and, in the process, prevent bullying at their schools.

The soundtrack from High School Musical blared in the Elkridge Landing Middle School cafeteria as pupils took their seating assignments. They would be sitting today with kids they barely knew, instead of with their friends, as their school took part in national Mix It Up At Lunch Day, sponsored by Tolerance.org, a Web site that promotes diversity. Across the country, about 10,000 schools participated this year by asking students to switch seats and get to know kids outside their social circles.

Lions Club International, New Spirit Community Church and BW Eye Care will sponsor a "Sight Night Trunk or Treat" from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. today at the Homewood School, 10914 Route 108, in Ellicott City. A cake walk and decorated car trunks filled with Halloween treats are planned for the children, who will go from trunk to trunk to collect the goodies. Those who attend are asked to bring old eyeglasses to donate to the Gift of Sight Foundation. Admission is free. Information: 410-290-7901.