New Members

Heather Schafer-Adkins, a Realtor with Joan Ryder & Associates Real Estate Inc., participated in the two-day Leadership Academy in Chicago, Aug. 6-7, sponsored by the Women's Council of Realtors, a national professional development organization with 14,000 members. Schafer-Adkins is President-elect of Women's Council of Realtors Harford County Chapter. More than 245 elected officers attended the annual, invitation-only academy, which provides leadership and chapter management training for incoming Women's Council of Realtors local and state chapter presidents.

Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna, the ecumenical non-profit housing organization devoted to building, renovating and repairing homes in partnership with low-income families, has the appointment of Katie York and Sarah Colenda to its board of directors. Katie York, of Aberdeen, is program specialist in Health Care Careers at Cecil College in North East. She is also a member of both the Committee on Nursing and Allied Health and the Administrative Professional Organization. York says of her appointment to the board, "As someone who lives in Harford County and works in Cecil County, I feel it is imperative to increase awareness of Habitat in my local community, both in regards to fundraising efforts and potential homeowners.

Reuben Dagold wasn't sure what he was going to do when he retired as a bureau director of the Baltimore City Health Department 11 years ago at age 62. He knew one thing. "I told myself that I wasn't going to take on any responsibility," Dagold recalled. The day after he retired, Dagold joined a group from the Mountain Club of Maryland for a hike through Washington Monument State Park. He had not hiked since he was a high school student at Poly, when two teachers had organized a moonlight hike.

The Open Arms Child Development Center at Our Savior Lutheran Church, 13611 Laurel Bowie Road, is excited to welcome a new director and assistant director. The new director, Rachel Clark , comes to the center from Atwood, Ala., where she was the lead teacher in a Head Start program. She has also served as an educator and administrator at Cross of Calvary Lutheran School in Memphis, Tenn. Clark holds a Bachelor of Science in early childhood education and additional child development credentials.

Like Garrison Keillor, whose column used to appear in The Sun, Dan Rodricks underestimates the power of the tea party in American politics ("Question for tea party: What now?" Aug. 4). He should have read John Malagrin's letter right across the fold ("Tea party congressmen are the last great hope," Aug. 4). The tea party isn't Republican or Democrat, but the embodiment of the American peoples' frustration with the current direction our country is heading and the continued growth of government.

Lauren Johnson, of Forest Hill, is a new junior member of the American Angus Association. Junior members of the association are eligible to register cattle in the American Angus Association, participate in programs conducted by the National Junior Angus Association and take part in association-sponsored shows and other national and regional events. The American Angus Association is the largest beef breed association in the world, with nearly 30,000 active adult and junior members.

Submit notices via email: owingsmillstimes@patuxent.com ; fax: 410-332-6336; or mail: Owings Mills Times, 501 N. Calvert St., third floor, Baltimore, MD 21278. Include sponsor or host, date, time, address of event, contact name and phone number. Deadline is noon the Wednesday before publication. Arts and Entertainment Summer Carillon Concert Series — McDonogh School, 86 McDongh Road, Owings Mills, Tagart Memorial Chapel Fridays in July, 7-8 p.m. Tours of the bell tower available after each recital.

Three new members have been appointed to the Harford County Public Library Board of Trustees and to the Harford County Public Library Foundation. Alex M. Allman, Bruce M. Smith and student representative Cara Reilly were appointed to the trustees board by Harford County Executive David Craig and confirmed unanimously by the Harford County Council at the June 7 meeting, Library Director Mary Hastler said. "We are fortunate to have these new members join our board of trustees," Hastler said in a news release announcing the appointments.

The Volunteer Center For Anne Arundel County, which is beginning its 10th year, named the following officers for 2011-2012: Talia Whitney, Premier Planning Group executive assistant, president; Mary Lynn Johnson, M&T Bank assistant vice president for Chesapeake Business Banking, vice president; Regina Bidnick, CPA, Heim Lantz senior accountant, treasurer and board member; and Benjamin W. Hahn, attorney for Schnader Harrison...

The summer heat arrived last week with the vengeance of a fireball. The West Arundel Swim Club offers a great escape from the heat with the opportunity to lounge poolside reading your favorite book; mingle with your neighbors and catch up with each other; or take a dip or a plunge in the refreshing water from the side, slide, low or high dive. For more information on how to join the fun, contact membership chairwoman Flo Venit, my mother-in-law, at 301-725-5644 or stop by the pool.