Kiwanis Club

Milltown Quilters of Ellicott City is celebrating the group's 10th anniversary and sponsoring a quilt show, to be held April 19-21 at First Presbyterian Church of Howard County, 9325 Presbyterian Circle, at U.S. 29 and Route 108. Demonstrations, a display of vintage quilts, a silent auction of donated handmade items, vendors, a peddler's table at which members sell quilting books, patterns and other items are planned. An award-winning quilt will be raffled. Admission is $5. Information: 410-964-2876, or www.milltownquilters.

Geiermann selected for foundation board Annie L. Geiermann, senior vice president of the Citizens National Bank's Business Banking Group, has been appointed to the board of directors of the Columbia Foundation. The appointment was announced by Glenn L. Wilson, president of the bank. She will serve two three-year terms on the 31-member board. Geiermann replaces Joseph E. Pipetone of Citizens National, who has served on the board for five years. Citizens National, with headquarters in Laurel since 1890, is wholly-owned by Mercantile Bank Corp.

Red Cross seeks blood donors The Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Region of the Red Cross is expecting a significant decline in blood donations as the Memorial Day weekend approaches, resulting in a dangerously low community blood supply. The Red Cross is urging eligible blood donors to call 800-GIVE-LIFE to schedule a donation as soon as possible. Platelet donors should call 800-272-2123 to schedule an appointment. Donors must be in generally good health; at least 17 years old or in Maryland, age 16 with written parental consent; weigh 110 pounds or more; and have not received a tattoo within the past year or donated whole blood within the past 56 days.

Lerner to address Vision lecture series General Growth Properties and Howard Community College will present a talk by Adam Lerner, executive director of the Laboratory of Art and Ideas at Belmar, in Lakewood, Colo., at 7 p.m. Thursday at the college's Smith Theatre, 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia. A former Fellow at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Lerner is affiliate curator for experimental programs at the Denver Art Museum. He is a co-editor of the book, Reimagining the Nation.

THE GAMBRILLS Athletic Under-14 boys' baseball team is making plans for a trip to Florida. After a successful season, the team has qualified to take part in the national American Athletic Union invitational baseball tournament.On July 22, the team plans to travel to the Walt Disney World sports complex to compete for the national title.To help fund this adventure, the club is sponsoring a dance for adults Saturday from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., at the Gambrills Athletic Club. A disc jockey, snacks and beverages will be available, as well as prizes and a karaoke hour.

A Pasadena landmark went up in flames early yesterday as a two-alarm fire destroyed the Wooden Nickel restaurant.Three or four employees were in the single-story brick structure when the blaze erupted in the dining area shortly after 1 a.m. They were unable to control the fire."

In Baltimore CityHoneywell to donate security systems to Habitat for HumanityHabitat for Humanity residences in the Baltimore area will receive 150 home-security systems from Honeywell Inc. as part of a $2.7 million donation to the nonprofit group, which helps the poor build and buy their houses at fair prices.In all, 6,000 Honeywell Wireless Home Security Systems will be provided to owners of Habitat houses nationwide. The best-known Habitat community in Baltimore is in the Sandtown-Winchester neighborhood on the west side.

RALPH GLASGOW, past president of the Kiwanis Club of Severna Park, is a member of ELFUN, an investment club for General Electric managers which also serves as a vehicle for community service.The group's most recent beneficiary -- Freetown Elementary School in Pasadena -- is receiving new landscaping to improve the school's appearance and pupil safety."This community-based project will not only create a beautiful, safe and creative environment," said school counselor Carolyn Crawley, "but it will help increase the pride of the students, staff and Freetown community."

HERMAN PREHN, 69, is made of sturdy stuff. In the blazing heat of July 4, the Elkridge resident cooked hot dogs for volunteers who directed parking for the Columbia fireworks display.The display is organized by the Kiwanis Club of Columbia, and members of other service clubs help out. Prehn has been a member of the Elkridge Kiwanis Club for more than 35 years.Prehn and his wife, Marge, sat in the sun on the top deck of a parking lot next to the Merrill Lynch Building, near The Mall of Columbia.

Fraternity chapter offers scholarship, award programAlpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. of Columbia offers a scholarship and awards program for Howard County residents or students who attend school in the county.The men of Kappa Phi Lambda Chapter -- the national fraternity's Columbia chapter -- will offer nine scholarships to high school seniors of African-American or African descent recognizing academic excellence and potential.The fraternity also bestows eight nonmonetary awards named after the fraternity's founders -- six for black students noting academic excellence, achievement in sports or service to their school or community.

Holliday H. Obrecht Jr., a retired executive of his family's wholesale tobacco and candy business who was active in service organizations, died Aug. 29 at the Levindale Center of complications of a fall he suffered in April outside his home. The Timonium resident was 83. Born in Baltimore and raised on Kentucky Avenue and in Guilford, he attended McDonogh School. He and fellow students talked its headmaster into letting them complete their final graduation studies early so they could enlist in the Army's Air Forces before they were drafted.

Lawrence W. Reter, founder and owner of a construction company that bears his name and a longtime active Kiwanis Club member and volunteer, died Wednesday of complications from dementia at Seasons Hospice at Northwest Hospital Center. A Reisterstown resident since 1974, Mr. Reter was 87. Mr. Reter, the son of dairy farmers, was born and raised in Owings Mills. He attended Baltimore County public schools. "He dropped out in the seventh grade and worked on the farm and as a carpenter," said his wife of 40 years, the former Margaret "Peggy" Fisher.

The Ellicott City Patriots Football & Cheer Program is seeking volunteer coaches with dance, cheer or gymnastic experience. Needed are head and assistant coaches, teen coaches, stunt coaches, dance coaches, cheer gymnastic coaches, competition coaches and fitness trainers. Training and certification is offered to those who participate. Information: Linda Lagala-Spano, 410-461-1225. Or visit www.ecpatriots. com. Wills, legal program Attorney Paul Nathan will be at Ellicott City Senior Center, 9401 Frederick Road, for the 60 Plus Wills and Legal Screening Program from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 28. Services will include simple wills, powers of attorney, living wills, small estates and deed changes.

The Ellicott City Restoration Foundation Inc. is sponsoring a holiday window decorating contest for retail businesses in the Ellicott City historic district. A people's choice award will be chosen by ballot. Ballots for the people's choice award are available at the Howard County Tourism Visitor Information Center, 8267 Main St. Visitors will be able to vote by returning their ballots to the center on or before Dec. 31 at 3 p.m. The popular ballot winner will be announced Jan. 5, and a ribbon will be awarded.

The Elkridge Volunteer Fire Department, 6275 Old Washington Blvd., Elkridge, will hold Quartermania, a combination of bingo and a raffle, at 7 p.m. Thursday and Jan. 15. Home-party vendors will be on hand; each consultant will have at least 10 products on which to bid. The cost to bid depends on the cost of the item. Take quarters for bidding. Tickets, which cost $3, are limited. A Craft & Vendor Show, with home-party vendors and local artisans, is planned from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 22. A holiday craft workshop for children will be available.

Friends of the Patapsco Female Institute Inc. will sponsor a Victorian tea and 19th-century fashion show at 3 p.m. Nov. 9 at the Mount Ida Visitor Center, Patapsco Female Institute Historic Park, 3691 Sarahs Lane, Ellicott City. Clothing from the 1800s will be featured in the fashion show. Tea will be served in the early Victorian parlors of the center, built about 1828. The halls and parlors display furnishings, art and garments appropriate to the institute, a once-famous school for girls that closed in 1891.

The Kiwanis Club of Ellicott City will hold its seventh pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at Kiwanis-Wallas Park in Ellicott City. The cost is $6 and includes pancakes, sausage, sausage gravy, eggs, fruit and beverages. Children ages 8 and younger eat free. Entertainment Books for 2009 will be for sale and craft tables will offer seasonal gifts. Proceeds will help fund the club's local and international public service projects. Information: Gus Katsampis, 410-465-1891. Library happenings The Miller branch library, 9421 Frederick Road, Ellicott City, will offer a fall cookie decorating class for ages 11 to 17 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Nov. 3. Participants can design and decorate cookies with seasonal colors and themes; then eat their creations.

Barnes & Noble Booksellers in Ellicott City will host a book-release party at 6 p.m. Friday for local author Wayne Batson's new book, Isle of Fire. The event will begin with a reading and book-signing by the author. Fans of all ages are invited to join in the "Walk the Plank Runway" costume contest and submit a sea chantey for a Pirate Poetry and Song Contest. Batson, a teacher, is also author of The Door Within, The Wyrm Lord and The Final Storm. Organic farmer is guest The Miller branch library, 9421 Frederick Road, Ellicott City, will sponsor a program on "The Importance of Buying Local," with organic farmer Joan Norman, at 7 p.m. tomorrow.

The Elkridge library, 6540 Washington Blvd., will hold a meeting of its Elks Parent-Teen Book Club for youngsters ages 11 to 17 and their parents from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday. The book to be discussed is Cheaper by the Dozen, by Frank B. Gilbreth. The 1950 movie based on the book will be shown at 6 p.m. Registration is not needed. Information: 410-313-5077. The Miller branch library's Tween Book Club, for middle-schoolers ages 11-13, will meet from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 27. The book is American Born Chinese, by Gene Yang.

Attorney Thomas A. Burns will be at Ellicott City Senior Center, 9401 Frederick Road, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 27 for the 60 Plus Wills and Legal Screening Program. Burns will draw up powers of attorney, living wills and help with small estates and deed changes. The program, sponsored by the Howard County Department of Citizen Services' Office on Aging, is available on the fourth Wednesday of each month. It is open to Howard County residents, ages 60 and older. The cost is on a sliding scale.