Union Chapel

Contributions sought for fund that helps aged in time of need A community fund set up by Vivian L. Reid, former director of the Howard County Office on Aging, is designed to meet personal emergencies of elderly people who may need help with food, utilities, rent or medicine. The Vivian L. Reid fund is administered by the Office on Aging. Reid contributes $1,000 annually to the fund and is reaching out to the Howard community for additional help during the holidays. The fund is intended to fill any gap in services provided by local government programs for vulnerable senior citizens.

Back when Howard County's leading industry was agriculture, and Columbia was a sleepy little crossroads, there wasn't much happening at the corner of Union Chapel and Roxbury Mills Road on Sunday mornings.There was a run-down, plain-looking building next to the Oak Grove Cemetery, with plaster and paint chips lying about its floor.It had been a church, but by the early 1960s, termites were its only communicants.Nowadays one might be able to hear organ music and hymns coming from the 160-year-old Union Chapel, see cars filling its parking lot and perhaps even candlelight shining through the ancient poured-glass windows.

Members of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church worshiping at Union Chapel in Glenwood often say they have a "really different church."This is a spirited place to worship. A steady growth in weekly attendance over the last year is due in large part to the at-home and welcome feeling of the church. The third Sunday of each month, worship service is for the family.Older parishioners are supportive of younger families, encouraging toddlers and youngsters to enjoy coming to church. St. Andrew's vibrant Sunday school, which serves 35 children, has met for the past year at the Children's Center of Glenwood.

At busy concrete-covered intersections and along ambling country lanes, the road signs in western Howard County give passers-by more than just directions.The green markers, bearing the names of mills, chapels and old county families, speak also of the area's history -- much of which is still fresh in Granville Wehland's head.An employee of the county's highway department for more than 30 years, Mr. Wehland remembers when many of the roads got official names. And he should; he named most of them.

ST. ANDREW'S Episcopal Church celebrated St. Andrew's Day a day late this year - but with a parade from Bushy Park Elementary School to the congregation's new home in Glenwood. A bagpiper led the procession, followed by a horse trailer carrying the altar that had been used for seven years at Bushy Park. A convoy made up of the entire congregation followed behind. About 280 people filled the new Parish House in Glenwood to enjoy the first service held by the 22-year-old church in its own building.

Mary Pitt Davis of Dayton, a biology teacher at Glenelg High School, was named Secondary Science Teacher of the Year by the Maryland Association of Science Teachers.At their Friday convention in Westminster, association president Al DeGenero presented Mrs. Davis with a plaque and a cash award in honor of her excellence in teaching science.The science teachers at Glenelg nominated Mrs. Davis for this award, said science department chairman Ivan Sutton. Her colleagues say that Ms. Davis has an outstanding educational background, in part because of her participation in many summer programs for teachers.

Community service has been cropping up in conversations ever since service became a requirement for Maryland high school students to graduate. In Howard County, we take community involvement for granted. Folks around here always manage to find time and energy to help someone in need.Recently our community has rallied around the Primrose family, and St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, worshiping at Union Chapel, has taken a leading role.After Cheryl Primrose returned home from the hospital after recuperation from a paralyzing accident, she wanted to remain at home with her husband, Mickey, and their two young children.

Saturday marks the arrival of spring. After last weekend's record-breaking weather, we need to see winter defrosting. I hope you suffered the storm well. Now we're all ready for the crocuses and daffodils to brighten our days.*With the advent of spring come thoughts of summer. If you're a parent looking for worthwhile summer programs for your child, Glenelg Country School probably can end your search.The 1993 Summer in the Country program includes day camp, with optional extended care, summer school for basic learning or enrichment, and day and evening sports camps.

FOLKS AT ST. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Glenwood like to reach out to the community. Their latest effort is a Care Givers Support Group, which will have its inaugural meeting at 7: 30 p.m. May 21 in the Union Chapel Parish House at Union Chapel Road and Route 97.Why a Care Givers group? People who invest much of their lives attending to the needs of someone else need an escape. This will be a chance for those who care for elderly relatives or disabled people at home to share experiences and insights and to gain release from their routines.

POLICE LOG* Glenwood: 14000 block of Union Chapel Road: Two shotguns, fishing gear and a leather jacket were stolen Monday after someone slipped through a bedroom window.