From the 21034 Community E-News Editors:
NEWS FROM OUR CHURCHES
HOSANNA DINNER
Fish & Chicken Dinner to benefit Hosanna A.M.E. Church Scholarship Fund
Saturday, May 18, 2013 at 11:00 am
2418 Castleton Road, Darlington MD, 21034
Fish Dinner $12
Fish Sandwich $10
Chicken Dinner $10
Chicken Sandwich $8
Contacts: Sis. Helen A. Chapman (410) 457-5448 or Sis. Janice Johnson (410) 457-4066
Rev. Johnie Branch, Pastor
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DARLINGTON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
2118 Shuresville Rd.
Darlington, MD. 21034
410-457-4145
Please join us for a 4 week Bible study at the church.
We will meet, beginning May 1, and for the following 3 Wednesdays, the 8th,15th, 22nd.
It will be a 1 hour Bible study from 11:00 am to noon, looking at the lectionary for the week.
We will follow it with a “brown bag lunch.” Please bring a beverage.
On Friday, May 10th, 6:30 pm., we will be going to “Pop’s Place” in Level.
You are welcome to join us for an evening of good music and fellowship.
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COMMUNITY YARD SALE
May 18, 2013 from 7 AM – 2 PM on the parking lot of Dublin United Methodist Church
1528 Whiteford Road, Street, MD (across from Dublin Elementary School)
Spaces are $10.00 each.
Pit Beef, Brats, Hot & Cold Drinks, and Baked Goods are for sale.
To reserve a space call the church office – 410-457-8003 or Bob Hudson – 443-243-3994.
All proceeds benefit the Mission/Outreach programs of Dublin Church.
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18TH DUBLIN COUNTRY FAIR SATURDAY, MAY 4
Looking for something fun for your family?
The 18th annual Dublin Country Fair will be held on Saturday, May 4th starting with a parade at 10AM.
The festival continues with family friendly fun until 3PM on the grounds of Dublin Elementary School.
Craft vendors, live entertainment, children’s games, and of course, plenty of food round out the day.
All proceeds benefit the scholarship fund.
www.dublincountryfair.org for more information
Call 410-457-5442
NEWS FROM OUR SCHOOLS
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION TIME
YOUR CHILD MUST BE 5 YEARS OLD BY SEPTEMBER 1ST TO REGISTER FOR KINDERGARTEN
Please plan to register your child at Darlington Elementary School between the hours of 9:00 – 3:00, beginning Friday, May 3rd. Appointments are not necessary.
Plan to bring the following information with you:
Birth certificate
Social security card
Proof of residency (a current utility bill)
Parent’s Photo ID
Please call the school at 410-638-3700 if you have any questions.
Darlington – Harford Christian School students brought back four first place trophies in the annual Maryland Association of Christian Schools (MACS) elementary school Fine Arts Competition held at Calvary Baptist Church Christian Academy in Glen Burnie. MACS fine arts competitions take place in two divisions, Academic and Music. Both are held in the spring.
This year’s Academic & Projects first place results included (L-R) Kate Meise (Science), Joy Edwards (Sewing), Mekenzie Olinger (Painting), and Karaghan White (Drawing). All are students at HCS Elementary School.
SUMMER DAY CAMPS at Harford Christian School
Eight different camps are planned for the HCS campus this summer, ranging from music and drama to soccer and basketball. Early arrival and late pick-up available, along with full-day 2-camp option. Ages vary from K5 through high school seniors. Cost is $75 per camp (Bible Camp is free.) 410-457-5103
www.harfordchristian.org.
Harford Christian School events include:
Grandparents Day – May 3
Choir and Hand Ball concert – May 10, 7:30 PM
“Meet Me in St. Louis” – May 17, 7:30 PM
Dessert Theatre – May 11, 6 PM
HCS Baccalaureate – May 29, 7 PM
HCS Commencement – May 31, 7:30 PM
Harford Christian School office (410) 457-5103
NEWS FROM THE ARTS
WELCOME TO DEER CREEK COFFEE HOUSE
May is just around the corner and it’s time for the blues, that is, Beaucoup Blue. On Saturday, May 11 Deer Creek Coffeehouse welcomes the father/son duo of Beaucoup Blue from Philadelphia, PA. Bridging many gaps in American music, their soulful traditional and contemporary styles mesh into an innovative and authentic sound.
Although blues is a staple in their repertoire, David and Adrian Mowry base their love in music from Folk, Soul, R&B, Jazz, Country and Bluegrass. All these interests and influences come out in their original song-writing in a unique way. Beaucoup Blue had previously released two albums: “Out Of The Woodwork” 2003, and “Hearts At Home” 2005. The long awaited third album “Free To Fall” is produced by Grammy nominated Jim Salamone. A handsome range of instruments like six and twelve string guitars, slide guitar, round neck resonator guitar, combined with two soulful voices, encompasses a rich and honest feel, noticeably influenced by familial ties. Hear for yourself two generations coming together for the common good of great music everywhere. www.beaucoupblue.com
Deer Creek Coffeehouse is situated in the Grace Memorial Episcopal Church Parish Hall at 1022 Main St. Darlington, MD. Showtime is 7:30 pm and doors open at 7:00 pm. Suggested donation is $15 for Adults and $10 for Students (or pay what you can).
I’ve seen this group at least three times and can’t wait to see ‘em again. Catch you at the show.
Jeff King
Deer Creek Coffeehouse 410-378-4350
LIBRARY NEWS
Friends of the Darlington Library Book Sale and Annual Plant Sale
May 11, 2013 will be the next BOOK SALE at the Darlington library from 10am to 2pm.
The MONTHLY SPECIAL has been permanently extended
Bring a non-perishable food item or personal health item for the TWICE BLESSED THRIFT SHOP and get a free novel! Then, mark your calendar now for the May 11 book sale which will once again feature a plant sale just in time for Mother’s Day. Tree saplings from the DNR, vegetable and ornamental plants will be available while they last.
DARLINGTON VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY NEWS
This is the time of year we all start doing more outside. Be prepared. If you and your family are planning an activity outside, follow these simple steps.
– First, be a weather watcher. Look on your smart phone, check on the computer, or simply watch TV for the weather. Don’t be caught by surprise by a storm. Remember to take shelter in the event of lightning.
– Second, drink lots of water. Your body needs lots of water to remain hydrated, so do the right thing.
– Third, be aware of Mother Nature. Stinging insects, poisonous plants other wildlife can cause problems. Any spider or snake can cause a problem if they bite you. And many plants will cause a skin irritation. When in doubt, stay clear.
If you have any questions or concerns please let us help you. Stop by either station at any time. After all, we are THE Darlington Volunteer Fire Company. 410.638.3760
NEWS FROM THE COMMUNITY
Mark Your Calendar! Members of the community are welcome to join us in the Grace Church Parish Hall on Wednesday, June 12 at 7pm, for a community meeting to discuss plans to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Wilson Center. This will be a time to get together to share memories, view some wonderful photos of your friends and neighbors from 20 years ago and to make plans for the future. Please join us for an evening of friendship and light snacks as we celebrate our community! All are welcome!
Summer Camp
Time is running out to register for Summer Fun Camp at the Wilson Center! The camp program is for children entering grades K through 8th and will run for eight weeks this summer beginning June 24 and ending on August 16. Camp hours are 7:30am to 5:30pm, Monday through Friday. Activities include recreation, games, art and crafts, drama and fun! There will also be several special programs offered each week, which will include music, candy making, art instruction, MMA demonstrations, cooking, conversational Spanish, yoga and stress reduction techniques, bike rodeo, dirt bike demonstrations, weekly visits from the Plant Lady and more!
Register now as space is limited. Call 410-836-3555 or email wilsoncc1@verizon.net to get a registration form sent to you or to receive more information. Please note that there are a limited number of camp scholarships available for qualifying families.
News from Billy Boniface, County Council President
The Stormwater Remediation Fee legislation passed on Tuesday, April 16, 2013. Through the efforts of all the council members the fee has been dramatically reduced for the first year of its collection. The original proposal by the administration was a $125/year fee for residential properties and $7 per 500 sq. ft. of impervious surface for business and commercial properties. We will only be collecting 10% of that for the first year this bill becomes law. This is so we can put together a task force made of 9 members, one selected by each council member and two by the county executive in order to come up with a fee that works best and meets the requirements demanded by the state. There have also been amendments added so that if you make environmental improvements to your property you can receive up to a 100% tax credit for your efforts.
It is unfortunate that we had to come up with a plan to raise taxes here in Harford County, but it was mandated by the state and was unavoidable. If you have any questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to contact my office or my Legislative Aide Andrew Tress. president@harfordcountycouncil.com 410-638-3525.
Darlington Dublin Community Council TOWN MEETING Synopsis
The spring Town Meeting took place on Thursday, April 25 at the Darlington Volunteer Fire Company. Guests included County Executive David Craig, State Senator Barry Glassman, Delegate Wayne Norman, County Council President Billy Boniface, District D Councilman Chad Shrodes and Captain Jack Meckley, Northern Precinct Commander of the Sheriff’s Office. David Craig distributed Copies of the Proposed Budget in Brief for Fiscal Year 2014 and fielded questions. The complete budget can be viewed at www.harfordcountymd.gov/Budget/. Barry Glassman and Wayne Norman debriefed attendees on key legislative items of interest including the “hot topics” of repeal of the death penalty, gun legislation and the stormwater run-off fee. Billy Boniface thanked everyone for support of the Palmer State Park project. He said it is a 7-10 year undertaking that will need volunteer muscle. Captain Jack Meckley presented recent crime statistics from the Uniform Crime Report and for Sector 100. In general, the news is good. Harford is the second safest County in the State. Sector 100 worst statistics come from traffic deaths and burglaries.
May meeting change of location to Camp Ramblewood
2564 Silver Road, Darlington MD 20134
Guest Speaker will be Mary Hastler, Harford County Public Library Director
The meeting is open to the public, but please RSVP to Jane at 410-457-4849 so we can prepare handouts
Maryland Faerie Festival Comes to Camp Ramblewood
Do you believe in faeries? Come celebrate the faeries and enjoy the pageantry, magic, music, and mischief.
Friday, May 10th through Sunday, May 12th
2564 Silver Road, Darlington, MD 20134
Admission prices for the day are $5 for ages 3-11; $15 for 12-99, free for under 3 or over 100
$5 fee per car for parking
$1 discount for coming in costume!
See www.marylandfaeriefestival.org for more information and ticket sales.
HEALTH NEWS
HEALTH DEPARTMENT KEEPS COSTS LOW DURING ANNUAL RABIES VACCINATION CLINICS
Sunday, May 5, 2013:
— Corner of Rogers & Franklin Sts., Aberdeen
— 1209 Castleton Rd. (near intersection of Rts. 1 & 623), Darlington
Jarrettsville Volunteer Fire Dept. — 3825 Federal Hill Rd., Jarrettsville
-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Dept. — Rte. 7 & Mountain Rd. (Route 152), Joppa
In order for pets to be vaccinated at the clinic sites, dogs must be on a leash while cats and ferrets should be secured in cages. No animals other than dogs, cats, and ferrets will be vaccinated. Pets must be at least 3 months of age. Certificates given at the clinics provide necessary proof of vaccination for dog licensing in Maryland.
$5 Per Animal
*For more information, contact the Harford County Health Department at (410) 877-2300
Harford County Master Gardeners Offer Free Help for Community Gardens
How does your garden grow? If you have been reading the news, you can’t help but get caught up in the frenzy of spring gardening enthusiasm that is sweeping the nation. Growing some, if not all, of the food we put on our plates used to be routine. Our great grandparents knew what to do. But subsequent generations lost the knowledge and the desire to grow vegetables. And then several movements came together to inspire renewed interest in a more healthy lifestyle that included fresh, home grown fruits and vegetables. Whether it was the Slow Food, “Buy Local”, organic or anti-GMO trends, not to forget the serious food poisoning scares in recent years, many of us started to pay attention to where our food comes from and how it is grown.
In Harford County, the number of farmers’ markets has increased. So have the number of CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture). In response to demands for education, the University of Maryland established the “Grow it Eat it” initiative. Now in its fifth year, Harford County Master Gardeners teach basic and advanced gardening classes in multiple locations including the public library system for families and individuals looking to get back to their “roots”, literally.
Community Gardens joined the garden party in the most recent resurgence of interest. To meet this new demand for education, Harford County Master Gardeners created a “Community Garden Consulting Group”(CGCG) to help faith based and civic organizations, schools and other public facilities plan, plant and harvest food from public spaces that are both safe and well thought out.
Community Gardens differ from private gardens in that they generally are open to the public and are used by people who do not own or live on the land. In that sense, they cross over into the public health domain. The CGCG saw the need to provide initial site evaluation which includes a soil test. All gardens start with the soil whether in your own back yard or the local park. We take soil for granted. We call it dirt. It’s not dirt, it’s soil.
Why do a soil test? There are two major reasons. The first is that you need to know about the nutrition of your garden soil so you can provide the appropriate amendments without further polluting our National Treasure, the Chesapeake Bay, through run off. The other and most often overlooked reason is to check for contaminants – heavy metals. Lead is everywhere. After years of lead paint, leaded gasoline, lead arsenate pesticides, not one person can assume their chosen garden space is safe. Add to that atmospheric deposition from pollutants that wash out of the sky in rainfall, and the wise choice is to get a soil test first.
Then, the CGCG will help with planning, planting, maintaining and harvesting. They won’t do the work for you, but they will provide an on-going and supportive presence. They even have a resource guide for grant money. Most recently, the CGCG entered into partnership with the Harford County Obesity Task Force to form a subcommittee which includes representatives from Harford County Parks and Recreation and other stakeholders. The goal is to provide community space to people who do not have a plot to garden.
If you are interested in starting a community garden or would just like more information, contact the Harford County Extension Office at 410-638-3255 or go to the website at http://extension.umd.edu/harford-county. By the way, if you grow your food in it, call it soil. If it gets under your fingernails at the end of a day in the garden, you can call it dirt.
COMING UP SOON – MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Darlington Independence Day Parade and Celebration
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Call Jerry at 410-836-3506 to register for the parade
Best fireworks in Harford County!
Maryland’s “rain tax” has made the national news, and comments on the internet make it clear that it is the laughing stock of the country. Many people commented that they were glad they had moved out of Maryland and others had lamented they would like to go but could not.
Maryland is a beautiful state, and it is a shame that people have to pack up and leave due to the government. Maybe when O’Malley’s term is up, people will realize that their neighbors, whose states are run by Republicans, are doing a better job of bringing debt under control and moving ahead with policies that will benefit all citizens.