Other stuff grows around my compost piles — [...]]]> My compost piles are not well kept.  I don’t turn them like I’m supposed to do.  I don’t even use the compost as much as I should. Still the piles do pay their dividends.  Last year I got pineapple plants.  This spring I had an incredible crop of earthworms.

Other stuff grows around my compost piles — ferns, jewelweed, wineberries to name a few and assorted saplings.  About ten feet behind and to the left of the pile is a large cherry tree.  At one point I figured out what kind of cherry, but I’ve forgotten.  I don’t get the cherries anyway.  The squirrels do.

Because of the proximity of the cherry tree, I assumed that the sapling coming up right next to the pile was another cherry tree.  It bloomed this spring at about the same time, but it didn’t bear cherries.

Today, as I went to dispose of some yard clippings, I looked at the sapling and was joyously surprised to see– of all things — peaches.  The little tree has at least a dozen peaches. Had I actually planted and nurtured a peach tree, it would, undoubtedly, be dead by now.  As a counted the young fruits,  visions of peach cobbler immediately began to dance in my head, warm with ice cream.

As quickly as that vision appeared so did another.  I saw fat, happy raccoons eating my peaches.

Now I have a new project: devising a raccoon-proof shield for my peaches.  I suspect that if I am successful , I will have a marketable product.  Success, however, is highly unlikely.

Still, you can bet I’ll be checking the crop each day.  Maybe I can get at least one little treat from my lovely, new peach tree.

Enjoy the tastes of outdoor grilling and food specials. Have a crush or any of their great drafts for just $5.  If beer by the bottle [...]]]> Join the party!

What’s more summer than a deck party, and it’s summer at Lures.  Join the gang on Saturday July 10  from 7:00 p.m. -11:00 p.m. for their annual Deck Party.

Enjoy the tastes of outdoor grilling and food specials. Have a crush or any of their great drafts for just $5.  If beer by the bottle is your preference, enjoy each domestic bottle for $3.    You can get ready for the party as early as 2:00 p.m. when the live music starts.  It stops at 6:00 p.m. but it picks up again at 7:30 p.m. and goes until 11:30!  Good foods, good friends, and a cool beverage—what more can you want from a summer’s day.   1397 Generals Highway in Crownsville. info@luresbarandgrille.com

See what it’s all about and even experience the thrill of [...]]]> Experience the Fun of Radio-controlled Airplanes.

Located between Indian Creek School’s Evergreen Campus and Arden-on-the-Severn Section V, The Chesapeake Bay Radio Control Club wants to share their enthusiasm for flying with them at their annual open house on June 19 from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

See what it’s all about and even experience the thrill of piloting the plane on a buddy box with an experienced pilot.  They’ll have flight demos and amazing planes on display.  They’re holding a raffle and will have refreshments available. For more information visit their site at www.crabrag.com or contact Susan at 410-533-4641.

Sponsored by the Chesapeake Bay Radio Club,  the First Electric Fly-in promises to be tons of fun.  The event is October 2 from 9:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.  An AMA card is required to fly, but you don’t need one to just watch.  The $5 landing fee includes a hot dog, soda, and chips.

The club has [...]]]>

Sponsored by the Chesapeake Bay Radio Club,  the First Electric Fly-in promises to be tons of fun.  The event is October 2 from 9:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.  An AMA card is required to fly, but you don’t need one to just watch.  The $5 landing fee includes a hot dog, soda, and chips.

The club has quite an air field.  Located next to the Indian Creek School Evergreen Campus,  it’s like being a giant watching offer a airport!  It’s easy to find—

From Baltimore:Take I-97 south to Benfield Road exit.  Turn left on to Veterans Highway.  Left on to Generals Highway.  Left on to Sunrise Beach Road and left on to Evergreen Road.  The field is located just beyond Indian Creek School.

From the South: Take I-97 north to Benfield Road exit and follow the directions above.

For details contact Ron Bergsmith CD, rager24@verizon.net

We know that exercise is good for anyone, regardless of [...]]]> You know that you have old sports equipment lying around.   You know– the stuff you really are gonna use someday. WAKE UP and SMELL THE ROSES– not gonna happen.  Why not get yourself some new space and a possible tax deduction.

Why Does Hope House Need Sports Equipment?

We know that exercise is good for anyone, regardless of whether or not they’re struggling to overcome an addiction. The patients at Hope House are battling a disease that takes a devastating physical and emotional toll. By offering regular opportunities for exercise, we are giving our patients activities that are beneficial to a healthy body, mind and spirit.

We would be grateful for donations from the community for assorted sports equipment, including basketballs, softballs and bats and gloves.  Gift cards and cash donations can also be designated for the purchase of sports equipment.

Hope House Treatment Center is a non-profit substance abuse treatment center located in Crownsville, MD. Since 1983 we have assisted more than 10,000 men and women in their journey to a life of sobriety and recovery. When you support the work of Hope House, you partner with us in our mission to reach out to those in the community who so desperately need our services. We provide 24-hour nursing care, detoxification, short term inpatient, intensive outpatient, individual and group counseling, DWI/DUI Education classes and more. Please contact us if we can be of service in any way, 410-923-6700 or visit our website, www.hopehousemd.org.

Just a short note to report that yesterday’s live radio interview went well.  I was able to cover most [...]]]> Friends and Members of Community Services Center at Crownsville (CSCC):

(Note- This is a group of concerned citizens who have been working on behalf of non-profits for the future of the Crownsville Hospital Campus)

Just a short note to report that yesterday’s live radio interview went well.  I was able to cover most of the basic ideas and vision we have for the future of the hospital.  I was interviewed by News Director Karl Magenhofer.  He is very supportive of the plan and indicated that we needed more air time and another interview to complete the whole story.  I promised him to keep him in the loop of information and whenever WNAV was ready, I would return with some more information and details. (I hope it’s not on a holiday afternoon at 2 P.M. again – I doubt if anyone listened).

The Capital Newspaper today has another editorial today about the hospital.  Basically it is calling for the officials to take some action on their statements about the future of the campus.  Included is a statement:  “We have advocated making the property a central location for the offices of nonprofit organizations. Some of which are currently housed there. Leopold has also promoted the site as a ‘supercampus of nonprofits.’ So have many other organizations, including a consortium of nonprofits currently operating at the former hospital; the consortium made this suggestions long before any politician announced his candidacy.” For the whole editorial see: www.hometownannapolis.com. We should very pleased with the attention, momentum and progress the our proposal is making.

The next meeting of CSCC is Friday, June 18, 2010 at 11:00 at the Food Bank.  We will be making plans for the future such as another Open House designed for churches and non profits.  This is a critical time for us in our response to our exposure.  What we do now will have great bearing on our success.  Please make time to join the meeting and help with ideas and input.

Owen Taylor, Board Chairman

A brief message…a power outage necessitated the cancellation of our May meeting, which was to have highlighted Sen. Ed Reilly.  He refuses to blame his political opponents for the failure, and has agreed to address us [...]]]> Generals Highway Council of Community Associations – PO Box 14 Crownsville, MD  21032

P.O. Box 14 Crownsville, MD 21032

A brief message…a power outage necessitated the cancellation of our May meeting, which was to have highlighted Sen. Ed Reilly.  He refuses to blame his political opponents for the failure, and has agreed to address us at the August meeting.

Our next meeting is June 8, at which time Councilman Jamie Benoit and Brenda Reiber, of County Executive John Leopold’s office will update GHCCA on the latest goings on from the County’s legislative and executive fronts.

Our meeting place is the same — the School House behind Historic Baldwin Hall at the intersection of Millersville Road and Generals Highway.

I will not be at the June meeting, as my wife Carole and I, along with our Standard Poodle Daisy will be aboard “Gatsby” (yes, we do like Fitzgerald) en route to North Carolina. I look forward to seeing you all for the July meeting.

Date:           SUNDAY, June 13, 2010: Time:           [...]]]> Ravel, Haydn, Marsalis Await You

Are you caught up in the wedding-graduation circuit that June brings?  Take a break and relax with a chamber music concert as Candlelight  Concerts presents “Harlem by Candlelight”Venue: Smith Theatre, Howard Community College
10901 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, MD

Date:           SUNDAY, June 13, 2010:
Time:                   3:30PM
Seating:                General Admission
At-the-door             General Admission $30, $28, $12
Advance Price   General Admission $29, $26, $12
Group Rates are available – Please call Bonnie Hoff at 410-997-2324

About The Harlem Quartet

The Harlem Quartet is one of America’s most exciting young chamber
ensembles. Formed in 2006, they have already performed by invitation with
the legendary Itzhak Perlman and played two command performances at the
White House. At this concert, you will hear works by Haydn and Ravel, music
from Wynton Marsalis’ At the Octoroon Balls, and the jazz standard “Take the
A Train.”

PROGRAM
Haydn: Op.76 No.1
Ravel: Quartet in F
Marsalis “At the Octoroon Balls”
VII. Rampart St. Row House Rag
II. Mating Calls and Delta Rhythms
IV. Many Gone
V.  Hellbound Highball
Strayhorn: Take the A Train

ARTISTS:
Ilmar Gavilan, violin
Melissa White, violin
Juan-Miguel Hernandez, viola
Desmond Neysmith, cello

Be enthralled by these superb young artists exploring new ways for a string
quartet to interact with audience. By presenting varied repertoire and
highlighting works by minority composers, the quartet is able to advance
diversity, winning young and new audiences.

The Harlem Quartet is an ensemble of first-place Laureates of the Sphinx
Competition for young Black and Latino string players. Dedicated to
education and community engagement, the quartet serves as principal faculty
at the Sphinx Performance Academy at Walnut Hill School in Massachusetts,
and as visiting faculty at the Sphinx Preparatory Music Institute at Wayne
State University in Detroit. The quartet opened its 2009-10 season as
featured soloists on the national Sphinx Chamber Orchestra Tour.

In 2009 the quartet performed with Itzhak Perlman, by invitation, at the
Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Quartet also toured Brazil for concerts in
Rio de Janeiro and Recife, and made its London debut performing at the
residence of the US ambassador.

Most recently, the quartet played two command performances at the White
House for President Obama and the First Lady. In May 2010 the Harlem travels
to Caracas and Valencia Venezuela to perform for and work with the
internationally renowned El Sistema. In the fall the Quartet will begin a
two-year residency at the New England Conservatory in Boston as winners of
the NEC Professional String Quartet Program.

Candlelight Concert Society
The Candlelight Concert Society is a Maryland based concert presenter
offering professional world class chamber music concerts, professional
children’s programs, community outreach programs, master classes, and
pre-concert lectures and discussions. www.candlelightconcerts.org