Gartrell

The Carroll County Volunteer Firemen's Association held its fifth annual Carroll County Prevention & Life Safety Poster Contest awards program Oct. 21 for elementary-school children. At a reception for children and their parents, the committee, led by Debbie Gartrell-Kemp, presented awards to children who entered a poster. Winners honored were: Grand prize: first grade, Falesha Lewis from Charles Carroll Elementary; second grade, Christina Staines from Mount Airy Elementary; third grade, Shannon McHale from Sandymount Elementary; fourth grade, Nicholas Vidi from Winfield Elementary; fifth grade, Chris Schultz from Sandymount.

Baltimore's Afro-American newspaper has a rich photo archive - 1.5 million images dating from the Depression, World War II and the civil rights era up to today. But one of the nation's oldest African-American newspapers didn't have the hundreds of thousands of dollars needed to digitize its historic images for the Internet age. Now, thanks to a little robot built by a former Johns Hopkins student, the effort has gotten a lot cheaper. Using off-the-shelf electronics, Thomas Smith, a 2011 Hopkins graduate, built Gado, a swiveling, motorized arm with a nozzle that uses vacuum suction to "grab" photos and place them on a scanner.

While leading the latest of Union Bridge's Main Street Revitalization meetings, Carroll County Planning Liaison Brenda Dinne discovered that getting a restaurant and a barber shop in town is a big priority.Resident John Gartrell had an explanation for both."We like to eat," Mr. Gartrell said, laughing during the meeting Monday night. "And, well, you've got to look good when you go out to eat."Ms. Dinne, a county planner assigned to the town, is using information from the meetings to develop a proposal for restoring the town's main strip to a vibrant centerpiece for the community.

25 Years Ago: Council held Monday night at the Town Hall, the main subject for discussion was the proposed park for Mt. Airy. As proposed, the 4.6 acre park to be located on Prospect Road would provide a picnic area, a playground area, pond, etc. Mrs. Eugenia Gartrell, a well-known local resident who attended the meeting, stated she is concerned about the proposed location. She stated she knew the area very well, having grown up in it, and that she would not allow her children to go to a park that is isolated.

A NEW MOUNT Airy Fire Prevention Queen was crowned July 20.Anne Marie Histon, a 15-year-old junior at South Carroll High School, received her title during a ceremony held that evening at the Mount Airy carnival grounds.Amanda Cauffman, the first runner-up Maryland State Miss Fire Prevention Queen and a Gaithersburg resident, delivered a speech and gave flowers to Anne Marie and Christina Gue, the departing Miss Mount Airy.Christina, a 16-year-old student at South Carroll, also holds the title of Miss Maryland Fire Chiefs Queen.

WINFIELD Community Volunteer Fire Department is in the market for a new firetruck.Instead of a full-size, state-of-the-art fire engine, Winfield's newest firetruck will be child-sized and feature a Dalmatian fire dog who talks to children about fire prevention.Miniature remote-control firetrucks, used as a fire-prevention educational tool, have become popular in recent years with neighboring fire departments.Most models are equipped with working sirens and lights, and a phone set that enables an unseen controller to speak with children.

Battling a heavy rainstorm along with summer traffic proved too much for some Carroll County drivers this weekend, as five auto accidents resulted in injuries to at least 13 people, according to state police.Among the most seriously injured were Glenn J. Catherwood, 21, of Woodcliff, N.J., and his passenger, Michael Eric Dudley, 27, of Baltimore.Police said Mr. Catherwood, driving a 1990 Saab, was trying to pass three other vehicles on southbound Route 97 in the Berrett area Saturday night, when he swerved to avoid an oncoming vehicle, drove into a nearby yard and hit a tree.

Carroll County firefighters and ladies auxiliary members won several awards at the 110th annual Maryland State Firemen's Association convention last month in Ocean City. Award winners included: John Means Sr. of the Pleasant Valley Community Volunteer Fire Company, who won the Marbery F. Gates Service Cup for more than 50 years of service to his company and county and state associations. C. Oscar Baker of Mount Airy Volunteer Fire Company, who was given the Gladhil-Thompson Trophy for outstanding contributions to the future welfare of the MSFA.

Coach: Steve Harward, sixth year.Assistants: Dick Fordyce, JerryLee, Jack Nichols.Last year's record: 12-1, county champs, Class 3A state runners-up.Returnees: Ryan Arist (sr., G, DT), Mike Weichert (sr., SE, DB), Chris Gill (sr., RB, DB), Jason Joines (sr., OT, DT), Jeff Hawk (sr., QB, DB), Zi Shum (sr., FB, LB), Dan Gartrell (sr., RB, DB), Mike Whitehead (sr., TE, DE), Jesse Sostrin (jr., RB, DB), Chad Bosley (sr., C, DE), Greg Cooper (sr., FB, LB), Corey Lambroff (jr., G, DE), Brad Fordyce (jr., TE, DB)

Carroll County firefighters, fire prevention queens and ladies' auxiliary members earned awards during the Maryland State Firemen's Association's annual convention June 15-19 in Ocean City. Two families, both from the Pleasant Valley Community Fire Company that have three or more generations in the fire service, were recognized. The families were: John Means Sr., John Means Jr., Donna Geiman, Lucas Geiman and Zack Means; and Scott Smith, Richard Smith, Robert Smith, Jason Smith and Kara Smith.