Catonsville's Santa House 2011!

The Catonsville Santa House, located in the heart of Catonsville, next to the firehouse, is a heart warming sight. Santa arrives each year, the Saturday after Thanksgiving and this has become an annual family event for my family and judging by the crowd, many others. This tradition was started by Greg Morgan, a Catonsville native, 16 years ago when his youngest son, who now as tall as Dad, was just months old. It has grown to include caroling, refreshments and fireworks. So many volunteers have worked over the years to build, maintain and decorate the House, we will never know their names.  But their efforts are appreciate by so many.  We have attended in bitter cold years, and unseasonable warm nights, just to watch for Santa's arrive in Catonsville atop the firetruck.

It is a remarkable event, in that there are small children, shaking with excitement, middle school kids giggling and gossiping, high school teens mingling and planning the weekend. There are parents and grandparents. It just seems this is the place to be the 3rd Saturday in November. The line at Santa's door forms early. I have stood in that line with my kids to be one of the first to say, "Hi." and welcome Santa back to Catonsville. I have also stood outside when my children were "old enough to go by myself." to receive their welcoming candy cane. Each year, I enjoy watching the passengers on the detoured MTA buses, pressed against the window to see what is going on, then they smile when they realize it is a Christmas street party.   One year, my family had the privilege, to spend a Sunday afternoon in October painting the Santa House, our way of saying, "Thank you." for all the years of joy.

One year I stood with a fellow mom whose youngest are in middle school, as Santa's arrival was announced. The smallest children were all lifted atop Dad's shoulders in an effort to catch the first glimpse. My mom-friend remarked how she missed those years of exited children. And then I looked at our middle schoolers, too big and too cool to get on Dad's shoulders, instead they stretched on tippy toes to get a glimpse of the "Jolly Old Elf."

This year the Catonsville High School football team who went to the semi-state finals game on Friday night with a 12-0 season, stood on the stage to be saluted by a loving community.  When the sea of supporters cheered as each team member walked on the stage, I hope the memory of Friday night's loss melted from their minds.  The rugged football squad counted down the arrival of St. Nick, the tree lighting and the fireworks. Then they stood on tippy toes, stretching to catch the first glimps of St. Nick as he rode down the street, proving we are all kids inside. It is the magic of the Catonsville Santa House that makes everyone excited to see Santa.

I often think of our Catonsville children, as they get older and move away. Do they realize this is a unique community? When they arrive at their new town, they will ask, "Where is the Santa House?" And when they find they do not have one, will they return home to Catonsville to raise their kids? This is the real magic of the Santa House, and our community.

Merry Christmas.

Theater in Catonsville- ALIVE AND WELL!

Theater is alive and well among the young people of Catonsville.

In November, Catonsville High School will pesent Arther Milller's "The Crucible." This play is based on the actual events in 1692, that led to the Salem Witch Trials, a series of hearings before local magistrates to prosecute over 150 people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts, between February 1692 and May 1693. Students who attend CHS, especially Mr. McDaniel's English class, will study this play. John Proctor will be played by Nick Huber

In December, Catonsville Middle School will present "Willie Wonka" . This childhood favorite will be another fine musical production, complete with superb special effects. You will be amazed and dazzled bu this group of middle school students who sing, dance prepare sets, arrange props and operate the stage and sound crews.

Also in December, Relays STAR Community Theater presents "Scrooge and Marley" This lighter version of the Traditional Dickens story is appropriate for the entire family. The audience will be invited to sing carols between scenes and all of the profit will be donated to a local charity selected by the children in the cast. STAR is masterful with sets and staging. The theater seats only 125 people, so advanced tickets are a must. Scrooge is played by Nick Huber.

If you truly want to enter the Christmas season with a song in your heart, I recommend Tuba Christmas, directed by Catonsville High Schools Jim Wharten. Held outside at Baltimore's Inner Harbor, over 200 base brass players assemble the first Saturday in December at 3pm to play Christmas Carols. From musicians from all over the state, between 12 and 82, some from the high schools, Raven's marching band and Maryland colleges, come together once a year to bring joy to so many. If you love base brass, or if you have never experienced base brass (tubas, euphoniums,) this is your chance to learn to love these instruments.

If you would like more information about any of these events, please let me know. I hope to see you there!

Fall in Catonsville

It's Fall in Catonsville. The fields are in full use from the "Turf" at the high school to the new improved field at Bloomsbury to CMS' well worn grass, there are games all weekend long. The Trolly Trail is covered with colorful leaves, and Opies and the Tasty Zone prepare for a "long winter's nap." The elementary school kids are breaking out their coats on chilly mornings. The middle schoolers are still wearing hoodies and shorts.

The best place to be on a Friday night is a CHS football game. Win or lose, it's an entertaining evening spent with friends from the community. Homecoming Night, looks like any other weekend, as the parents in the stands are also the alumni! This is definately the place to be if you are a teen. Loud and happy kids having a great time in a safe environment, makes any parent smile.

Keep an eye on the Santa House, as it will begin to show signs of life. It is just weeks until it opens. As you race around town, dropping of and picking up kids, take a look at all the colorful trees which line our roads. It will pass quickly into winter. Reflect on the poor fellows who live in other parts of the county, who never see the changing colors of leaves. How fortunate we are.

POOL FRIENDS, A GIFT OF SUMMER.

Pool friends. A unique relationship of summer. The bonds are made by warm weather, the smells of chlorine and sunscreen, and unspoken promises not to laugh at you in a swim suit. These friends share the best of times. Lazy days relaxing in a beach chair, good foods and junk foods, and stories of vacations both simple and exotic. Sure there is the occasional complaint about the weather and how fast the summer is going by, but generally these friendships are positive and intimate. What else could they be, they were formed while sitting in a bathing suit.

These are the people that accept you whether you sit baking in the sun or following the illusive shade. They understand if you sit by yourself after greeting them because they know the pleasure of the rare quite moment to read a book. They will also welcome your company when you finish. They will stop in mid sentence while you chase small child heading too close to deep water, and pick up again once you resume a comfortable pose. They don't care if you do not get wet all summer.

When our children were young we had daily meetings at the pool. Like punching a clock, we arrived with regular, predictable schedules and sat in our usual seats. As our children grew, we found new freedom, allowing them to attend the pool unchaperoned while we catch up on long overdue chores. Now, we make a special effort to see our pool friend, scheduling appointments and pot lucks. Never the less, these dates are just as relaxing and fun.

We spend the winter counting how many days until the pool opens and our summers counting how many days we have left. While sitting with our pool friends, we can enjoy the day or evening with out worrying about tomorrow. Farewell until next season.

Art in the Patapsco.

A most interesting phenomenon in the Patapsco River as you cross over the bridge into Ellicott City. Rocks and sticks transformed into sculpture. About a month ago, a creative member of the Friends of the Patapsco Valley spent a Saturday, stacking rocks and sticks into towers, statues, some resembling people. His feats did not go unnoticed. People were stopping on the bridge to take a look. Some of the local kids joined in and the "sculpture garden" began to expand even further up the stream. These talented kids made even more challenging designs, using sticks to create balances with various size rocks across the level. The onlookers increased, with tourists and photographers standing on the bridge almost everyday. I have even seen some people wade into the river to be photographed among the statues.

On my daily trips by the scene, I watch and keep tabs on their progress. I even stopped to take pictures. On a couple of occasions, rain, high waters or vandals, knocked down every one of the creations. I am happy to report, on each one of the occasions, the artists returned to create another series.

The local press has taken note, photographing and interviewing this creative bunch. Keep an eye out in the View or Howard Live Magazine.

Thank you to this un-named group of artist who have brought wonder, joy and anticipation to so may strangers.

More Articles on this topic. http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-te.md.river18jul18,0,6114487.story

Another Fabulous 4th of July in Catonsville!

I always tell people I meet "Catonsville owns 4th of July. The rest of the country just doesn't know it!" Every year this thought is renewed. From the games at the high school, to the concerts, parade and fireworks, I challenge, who does this holiday better than Catonsville?

When you are sitting on the curb for the parade (because you didn't have a chance to put out you chair last week), the crowd is shouting to all of their friends and neighbors participating in the one mile walk down Frederick Rd. The predicatability of the participants is also something, my kids look forward to seeing. They know they will see our neighbor in his historic car, the CHS steel drum Band and the Bumii Temple riders on the vehicles. Not to mention all the firetrucks! I am sure anticipating this one day a year is the reason people live on a busy street like Frederick Rd the other 364.

Not even the threat of showers could keep Catonsville from the fireworks. We don't know how spoiled we are to witness a fabulous 45 minute show. Last year, we went "down-ey Ocean hun" on July 5 (my kids refused to leave town for the 4th) and witnessed the rain date for Ocean City fireworks on the boardwalk. After the 15 minutes of display, the show was over and my family remarked "Was that it?" Few towns or cities can boast a fireworks event like ours which is funded and staged completely by volunteers. We should even marvel at the cooperation of the police to direct the same traffic patterns every year so you know exactly which route to use and how long it will take to get home .

The flags on every street, the snowball stop at the Candy Box, even the rain shower at 5pm each year as the end of the parade passes by, these are the tradition of Catonsville 4th of July that make this town special.

To Salute Our Scouts: Take a Seat or Take a Hike!

Only 2% of all Boy Scouts ever complete the rigorous process to become an Eagle Scout, yet West Catonsville is fortunate this season to have two in our midst’s. Danny Neighoff, a Catonsville High School Junior and Brian Sommer, a Catonsville High School Senior, have just completed this process and left their mark on our community.

Danny contributed the 3 new benches, 2 planters and trash receptacle which enhance the front porch of the Catonsville Public Library. He raised the $3500 to fund the project and installed the fixtures to make the entrance more welcoming. Danny began scouting in May 2002. He holds his troop’s record for number of nights camping out, with a lifetime total of 195 and counting. (The previous record set in the 1970’s was 141 nights.) No doubt this number will increase as he spends his 3rd summer living in a tent, working as a camp counselor. Danny was also elected to the Order of the Arrow by fellow troop members and has served as the Order’s Chief, Vice Chief and Web Master. Danny’s advice for young scouts, “You can not give up on your dream. Just keep working on it and it will happen.”

Brian set his sights on becoming an Eagle Scout early in his scouting career after attending the ceremony of a friend years ago. In turn, Brian set a strong example to potential future Eagles when he enlisted the help of some younger scouts on his Eagle Project, the clean up a portion of the Trolly Line #8 Trail in Paradise. Over grown by weeds, trees and stumps, the gravel trail was in need of some TLC. Scouting has offered many opportunities for example the chance to travel and camp in the southwestern United States. Most recently he was awarded a scholarship from his first choice college in recognition of obtaining the honor of Eagle Scout. Scouting has also offered opportunities to spend time with his dad, Jerry, an active scouting volunteer.

It is wonderful to know the 98 year tradition of Boy Scouts is alive and well in Catonsville as these two young men are awarded their Eagle Scout Honor this month. They have exemplified the Boy Scouting mission of strong character, personal fitness and good citizenship to the benefit all of us. Please remember Danny and Brian next time you take a seat or take a hike!

Happy 200th Birthday Oella!

Just around the corner, on the side of the Patapsco River, tiny Oella is celebrating a big birthday. This year, Oella celebrates her bi-centennial. Here is a brief history of the little town.

The water power of the Patapsco River brought the Union Manufacturing Company to the area in 1808. This was the first textile company chartered by the State of Maryland. They quickly, however brief, become the largest cotton mill in America. In 1887, William J. Dickey bought the mill and town, where he begin the production of woolens. Fire burned the mill in 1918. Once rebuilt, it became America’s foremost producer of fancy menswear woolens. Hundreds of workers poured in and out of the mill during this time. The smell of dyes, chemicals and wools filled the air. The sound of looms echoed off the granite hills. The 1 3/4 mile mill race was the largest in America to power just one mill.

As you drive along Oella Ave, imagine the generations of families that lived in the mill homes lining the road side. They were the people who turned out millions of yards of cotton, tweed, saxonies and shetlands. These homes are as varied as the people. Just before the War of 1812, the first homes here were constructed of local stone mixed with log cabins. Just before the Civil War brick homes were added. At the turn of the century, Victorian homes arrived and around World War I, a few cottage style kit-homes were delivered to the hills.

In 1972 the mill closed. The popularity of synthetic and double knits (remember leisure suits?) devastated many in the community where generations of families had worked in the mill. In June of the same year, the floods of Hurricane Agnes filled the low lying areas of the Valley destroying the mill, the mill race and homes along the river. At the time, many of the homes in the community still used outhouses, and the few homes with indoor plumbing, poured sewage into the old mill race and Patapsco River. The flooding only added to the local sewage problems.

Soon after, Charles Wagandt, a great grandson of William J. Dickey, bought Oella, excluding the mill, and began work with Baltimore County and the newly formed Oella Community Association, to restore the area homes. In 1984, public water and sewer arrived in Oella.

The current residents of Oella are a mix of people who have lived here their entire lives and new folks who appreciate the rock, hills and history. The unofficial mayor, Jay Patel, proprietor of the Country Store, himself an immigrant to America, is the care taker of much of the history of Oella. Stop into the Country Store to see Jay or purchase the 200th anniversary commemorative book. Jay has an ice cream freezer (yes an actual ice cream freezer) full of photos and first hand accounts of life in the area. Included in these artifacts are the photos of classes at the Westchester Annex (including my sister), now the Westchester Community Center. Late in the afternoon, some of the old timers gather in the store and are quick to tell tales of life near the mill.

Two hundred years of history and pride are just around the corner!

You can visit some of the homes and gardens on May 18, as Oella represents Baltimore County in the 2008 Maryland Home & Garden Tour. Tickets are on sale now.

It's A Dirty Job. Thank Goodness Someone Will Do It!

Volunteers from our community and beyond are responsible for the heath and cleanliness of our local streams, lead by the tireless efforts of Betsy McMilllion, Stream Watch Director for Friends of the Patapsco Valley & Heritage Greenway. Saturday, April 5, while many of us were delivering mulch, 10 Stream Clean Up groups where busy combing the Patapsco tributaries in search of debris. One group of 45 volunteers (13 adults, 32 children) spent three hours pulling 2000 lbs of muddy trash from Coopers Run, the stream that runs beside the #9 Trolly Trail. The Trolly Trail Team Captain is a resident of Oella and her crew consisted of wonderful people from Salem Lutheran Church, the Venture Crew of Troop 456, Owings Mills High School ESOL Program (students from 8 different countries), and of course, the Friends of the Patapsco Valley & Heritage Greenway

Each year, Betsy organizes at least 30 Stream Clean Up Days in the Catonsville/Ellicott City area, one of which is always along Coopers Run. On this particular day they found: bottles, cans, plastic bags, 12 tires, metal drums, bed springs, street signs, metal and ceramic pipes, hub cap, water tank for truck, tent poles and remains of tent, chaise lounge and cushion, lawn chair, 2 sleds, skate board, baseball bat, car battery, old freezer and compressor – weight at least 250 lbs., 2 hypodermic needles (caps on) and enough trash to fill 70 large trash bags. (If any of these items are yours and you were hoping to reclaim them, sorry the highway crew picked it all up this week.)

On a warm weekend we can see how much Catonsville enjoys the local trails. Some Saturdays you need a reservation just to walk your dog along the trail. We know these trails are treasures but the folks who get down and dirty in the streams are treasures too! THANKS, the stream looks great!

If you would like more information about local trails, including #9 Trolly Trail, you can learn more on the following website
http://www.patapscoheritagegreenway.org/recreation/hiking.html

There is another Stream Clean Up planned for this weekend. Volunteers are always welcome!

Top 10 Ways you can tell it's Spring in Catonsville.

10. Lacross is EVERYWHERE.

9. The grass turned green over night and it grew 2 inches.

8. Trucks, piled high with bags of mulch, are all over town, thanks to Catonsville Middle School.

7. You need a reservation to walk on the Trolly Trail.

6. The sound of batting practice can be heard behind Hillcrest.

5. It has rained almost everyday.

4. My dog's allergies are acting up.

3. Yard sale signs are posted on every corner.

2. The High school seniors have stopped studying.

The #1 way to know it's Spring in Catonsville... Opies is OPEN!