Poplar Springs

St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church in Poplar Springs will celebrate Bastille Day with a concert by the LePetit Chanteur de la Vierge Noire Boys Choir from Paris.The concert will be held at 8 p.m. tomorrow in the sanctuary at 1125 St. Michael's Road, south of Mount Airy.The 35-year-old choir is under the direction of Pierre Balbous. The 40-member choir of boys and men from ages 8 through 24 performs classics by Schubert, Mozart, Vivaldi and Bach, French folk music and American spirituals.

Did You Know? Howard County is known nationwide for its schools, parks, sports programs, libraries and affluence. But tucked away in faded, aging documents and longtime residents' minds, there are plenty of little-known facts that might just surprise you. #1 Take Morse to the water In the early 1800s, the village of Poplar Springs in western Howard County served as a temporary home for travelers headed west. Travelers including Samuel F.B. Morse, one of the inventors of Morse code, were drawn to the town for its lodging, food, general store, post office and blacksmith services for horses and wagons, according to “Howard's Roads to the Past,” by Barbara W. Feaga.

Seven years after the Howard County Board of License Commissioners stripped a tavern in Poplar Springs of its liquor license, the board has denied a similar application by a delicatessen operating in the same location.Although the board did not prohibit a future request, it concluded that granting a liquor license to Daisy Deli in the 17000 block of Frederick Road would harm the community."The operation of the business, if the license were granted, will unduly disturb the peace of the residents of the neighborhood," the board wrote in a decision and order released Tuesday.

Phyllis J. Rouzer, a homemaker and former jewelry sales associate, died Dec. 27 of cancer at Lorien Assisted Living in Mount Airy. The longtime resident of Poplar Springs, Howard County, was 92. The daughter of a radio station executive and homemaker, the former Phyllis J. Rhoads was born in Syracuse, N.Y., and moved to Baltimore with her family when she was a child. A 1937 graduate of Eastern High School, Mrs. Rouzer attended a secretarial school and worked briefly as a legal secretary before her marriage to George William Rouzer in 1939.

Amy R. Crooks figured that customers of her new restaurant in western Howard County might want beer or a glass of wine with their meals, so she asked for a liquor license. A group of nearby residents - whose community of Poplar Springs surrounds the restaurant - hate the idea. They're appealing a decision by the Alcoholic Beverage Hearing Board to grant the license, arguing that liquor shouldn't be sold in the neighborhood. Crooks' Country Kettle Cafe sits on Route 144, near houses and a handful of businesses.

1863: Confederate soldier caught On June 29, 1863, a Confederate soldier was captured in the Poplar Springs community of western Howard County, an area along what is now Route 144-Frederick Road. The prisoner told Union Army soldiers of the 1st Eastern Shore of Maryland Infantry Volunteers, who were camped at Poplar Springs, that his cavalry detachment was camped just two miles away and that Confederate Gen. J.E.B. Stuart's men were headed up the National Pike. It was part of the second push into Maryland by rebels trying to reach Pennsylvania.

On Friday November 18, 2005, after a prolonged battle with cancer, ELLEN F. LEUCHS, age 58, of Poplar Springs, MD, beloved wife of Ronald Leuchs, loving mother of Valerie and Jonathan Leuchs, beloved daughter of Eleanor Ferraro and the late Tom Ferraro, loving sister of Eric Ferraro. She was a Technology Education Teacher at Windsor Knolls Middle and Patapsco Middle Schools, for a total of 8 years. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 A.M. Tuesday, November 22 at St. Michael's Historical Catholic Church, Hardy Rd. and St. Michael's Rd., Poplar Springs, MD., and a Memorial Celebration, of her life, will be held 1 P.M. Saturday December 10 at St. Michael's Parish Hall, 1200 St. Michael's Rd., Poplar Springs.

On Tuesday evening, November 1, 2005, in Florence Hospital after an illness, ERNEST RICHARD SHIPLEY, JR., 76, of Florence, SC, formerly of Ellicott City. Mr. Shipley was born in Ellicott City, MD, a son of the late Ernest R. Shipley, Sr. and the late Edna Nitzel Shipley. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean Conflict era and was a retired inspector in the petroleum industry. He is survived by his wife, Janice Elizabeth Mc Donald Shipley, of Florence. Memorial Services will be held at 10 A.M. Saturday, November 19, 2005, in the Poplar Springs Cemetery in Poplar Springs, MD. Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association, PO Box 2680, North Canton, OH 44720.

Kenneth Edward Carfine, a Treasury Department official, died of cancer Friday at the Gilchrist Hospice Care. He was 60 and lived in Woodbine. Born in Baltimore and raised in Catonsville, he was a 1967 Mount St. Joseph's High School graduate. He earned a bachelor's degree in accounting at the University of Baltimore. In 2007, he was named the Treasury Department's fiscal assistant secretary. He was administered the oath of office by Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr. in the historic Cash Room in Washington.

Phyllis J. Rouzer, a homemaker and former jewelry sales associate, died Dec. 27 of cancer at Lorien Assisted Living in Mount Airy. The longtime resident of Poplar Springs, Howard County, was 92. The daughter of a radio station executive and homemaker, the former Phyllis J. Rhoads was born in Syracuse, N.Y., and moved to Baltimore with her family when she was a child. A 1937 graduate of Eastern High School, Mrs. Rouzer attended a secretarial school and worked briefly as a legal secretary before her marriage to George William Rouzer in 1939.

Kenneth Edward Carfine, a Treasury Department official, died of cancer Friday at the Gilchrist Hospice Care. He was 60 and lived in Woodbine. Born in Baltimore and raised in Catonsville, he was a 1967 Mount St. Joseph's High School graduate. He earned a bachelor's degree in accounting at the University of Baltimore. In 2007, he was named the Treasury Department's fiscal assistant secretary. He was administered the oath of office by Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr. in the historic Cash Room in Washington.

Pancake breakfast in Poplar Springs The Men's Club of St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church in Poplar Springs will hold its annual pancake breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. tomorrow in the church's multipurpose room, 1125 St. Michaels Road. Pancakes, sausage, home fries, scrambled eggs, juice and coffee will be served, and free rides in Santa's sleigh, with Santa, will be offered. A photographer will be available to take pictures; donations are requested. Those who attend are asked to bring a new unwrapped toy for the Men's Club's Toys for Tots Program; the toys will be given to needy children in the community.

1863: Confederate soldier caught On June 29, 1863, a Confederate soldier was captured in the Poplar Springs community of western Howard County, an area along what is now Route 144-Frederick Road. The prisoner told Union Army soldiers of the 1st Eastern Shore of Maryland Infantry Volunteers, who were camped at Poplar Springs, that his cavalry detachment was camped just two miles away and that Confederate Gen. J.E.B. Stuart's men were headed up the National Pike. It was part of the second push into Maryland by rebels trying to reach Pennsylvania.

DAVID MORRISON, 52 of Mt. Airy, Maryland passed away Tuesday, December 20, 2005. He was the husband of Nancy Morrison. He was employed for 31 years with Asplundh Tree Expert Company where he currently served as Vice President. He enjoyed spending time with his family, fishing, cooking, gardening and golfing. In addition to his wife Nancy he is survived by a son, David Morrison, three daughters, Sonya Morrison, Heather Freligh and husband Jim, and Rebecca Morrison, three grandchildren, Brittany, Luke and Alex, two brothers, one sister, four nephews and one niece.

On Friday November 18, 2005, after a prolonged battle with cancer, ELLEN F. LEUCHS, age 58, of Poplar Springs, MD, beloved wife of Ronald Leuchs, loving mother of Valerie and Jonathan Leuchs, beloved daughter of Eleanor Ferraro and the late Tom Ferraro, loving sister of Eric Ferraro. She was a Technology Education Teacher at Windsor Knolls Middle and Patapsco Middle Schools, for a total of 8 years. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 A.M. Tuesday, November 22 at St. Michael's Historical Catholic Church, Hardy Rd. and St. Michael's Rd., Poplar Springs, MD., and a Memorial Celebration, of her life, will be held 1 P.M. Saturday December 10 at St. Michael's Parish Hall, 1200 St. Michael's Rd., Poplar Springs.

On Tuesday evening, November 1, 2005, in Florence Hospital after an illness, ERNEST RICHARD SHIPLEY, JR., 76, of Florence, SC, formerly of Ellicott City. Mr. Shipley was born in Ellicott City, MD, a son of the late Ernest R. Shipley, Sr. and the late Edna Nitzel Shipley. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean Conflict era and was a retired inspector in the petroleum industry. He is survived by his wife, Janice Elizabeth Mc Donald Shipley, of Florence. Memorial Services will be held at 10 A.M. Saturday, November 19, 2005, in the Poplar Springs Cemetery in Poplar Springs, MD. Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association, PO Box 2680, North Canton, OH 44720.

* Brenda Mullinix, 32, of Poplar Springs, secretary for the University of Maryland:No. I think his salary should be cut. Right now, Idon't know what (else) he should cut. I don't think he should increase the workweek, either, without pay. Maybe people should get retirement early, and those jobs should not be refilled. There's always jobsthat need more people than other jobs do.

On February 27, 2003, LORETTA L. DONOVAN, beloved companion of Jeffery Meyers; devoted mother of Danielle A. Donovan, Samuel J. Meyers and Alexander C. Meyers; loving sister of Joanne M. Mazepink; loving grandmother of Gavin D. Thompson. Friends may call on Sunday from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the MacNabb Funeral Home, 301 Frederick Road, in Catonsville (at Beltway Exit 13), where a Celebration of Life will be held on Monday at 11 A.M. Interment St. Michael's Catholic Church Cemetery, Poplar Springs.

Residents of the western Howard County community of Poplar Springs have long been a resourceful bunch, if this bit of Civil War history is any indication. According to a story credited to one G. Earl Hilton, a detachment of Confederate cavalry with headquarters in New Market and Frederick from Sept. 7 to Sept. 11, 1862, rode into Poplar Springs at some point to rest and water their horses. "In the center of town was a large wooden flagpole," according to the account by Jane Bowman Fleming in Howard's Roads To The Past.

On May 1, 2005, SYDNEY LAWRENCE, JR., of West Friendship, beloved husband of Helen Saters-Lawrence, devoted father of Christopher, James Patrick, Anna and Madelaine Rose Lawrence, father-in-law of Jessica Lawrence, dear son of Margaret Rita Lawrence and the late Sydney Lawrence, Sr., son-in-law of June Saters, loving brother of Rita Mc Laughlin, Janet Thompson, Marian Cascio, Deborah Navarro, Alicia Jarboe, Ellen Mc Gowan, Frederic Lawrence, Geralyn Roberson...