Thursday, Oct. 25, 2007
A group of Sykesville and Eldersburg women have reached their goal and are heading to San Diego to help fight breast cancer.
‘‘It’s like a breath of fresh air,” said team leader Kelly Patten. ‘‘We were almost holding our breath to see if we can make it all. It was a huge relief.”
The group, which is associated with Sykesville Tae Kwon Do Academy, are heading to California to participate in the 2007 Breast Cancer 3-Day walk, which benefits the Susan G. Komen Foundation
Collectively, they raised $15,500 so far. Each member has to raise $2,200 to participate and most are at that level, she said.
The team includes team captain Clara Izadi and teammates Cyndy Izadi, Kim Johnston, Sue Lovelace, Kelly Patten, Cindy Steinebrunner and Kathy Tschiegg.
The women have trained since May to build stamina for the Nov. 9-11 walk. On Sunday, they hiked 20 miles on Crampton Gap from Burkittsville to Harpers Ferry, W Va., and back to make sure they’re in shape for the walk.
The 3-day walk has participants walking 24 miles each of the first two days then 16 miles on the final day.
‘‘I think we’ll all make it, but we will all be sore,” Patten said. The team will be ready for the walk with two pairs of shoes, water and a little post-walk relief.
‘‘The day after we have a massage planned,” she said.
Just because the group reached its goal doesn’t mean it is finished.
The last fundraiser includes raffling off a Suzuki DRZ 125 dirt bike from Ellicott City Motorsports. The bike is valued at $2,499.
Tickets cost $2 and are available at Ellicott City Motorsports, 3275 Bethany Lane, Ellicott City or the academy, 6400 Ridge Road, Sykesville as well as at local motorcross events and through team members. The drawing will be Nov. 3.
The group is looking to start fundraising for a cause next year, she said. For more information, call the academy at 410-549-KICK.
Sykesville woman named counselor of the year
Diane DeAtley of Sykesville is this year’s recipient of the Maryland School Counselor Association’s School Counselor of the Year Award for the middle⁄junior high school level.
‘‘I was very honored,” said DeAtley, who is the guidance counselor at Mount Airy Middle School.
‘‘The purpose of the award is to recognize school counselors for outstanding achievement and service to students in communities across the state of Maryland,” according to a Carroll County Public Schools press release. ‘‘Nominees for the award must possess the personal characteristics thought to be desirable in a school counselor and must be responsible for innovation in guidance and counseling programs, providing leadership in further development of existing guidance and counseling services, and⁄or performing outstanding service to the school community.”
DeAtley, who has been a counselor at Mount Airy Middle for 11 years, has brought several mentor programs on board that help students build relationships with each other and with the community.
Students can choose to participate in peer mentoring The Mount Airy Kiwanis Club and other members of the Mount Airy community volunteer their time to come into the school as part of the Mentor Club, and the group takes field trips and celebrates student success as well as birthdays.
‘‘That’s the kind of community we have here,” she said. ‘‘I just think it’s awesome.”
Having the students get involved early in mentoring gives them the opportunity to help their peers reach their goals and gives them responsibility, DeAtley said, and the mentor programs are expanding to the neighboring schools to bridge the students together and give them familiar faces who can offer them support. She said she was inspired to help others ‘‘pay it forward” by a mentor she had while attending the University of Maryland.
‘‘I just feel that they’re my kids...They move me, in so many ways,” she said. ‘‘I love my job.”
Allen joins Freedom Area Citizens’ Council
Jon Allen of Eldersburg was appointed as a member of the Freedom Area Citizens’ Council at its Oct. 18 meeting.
Allen, who runs Eldersburg.net, joins the 12 other members that compose the group of area residents who look out for the concerns of the Sykesville⁄Eldersburg residents.
Membership to FACC is $15 per household.
FACC President Nicole-Musgrave Burdette said she would also like more members to attend the meetings as it failed to have a quorum at two recent meetings to take votes.
For more information about FACC, visit www.freedomareacitizens.org.
Veterans to be recognized at Century High School
Two local high schools will honor our local veterans in school ceremonies and are welcoming them to attend.
Century High School, 355 Ronsdale Road, Eldersburg, will host its second annual Veterans Day ceremony from 8 a.m. to noon on Nov. 7 at the school.
The assembly will feature a living history museum where veterans can bring in their memorabilia from their experience in the service and share stories with Century High students.
All veterans are welcome to attend. Please RSVP by calling Ryan Melhorn at Century High School office at 410-386-4400 by Friday.
South Carroll High School, 1300 W. Old Liberty Road, Sykesville, will recognize veterans from 10 a.m. to 11:05 a.m. on Nov. 12 at the school.
U.S. History students will have a chance to interview veterans an a question-and-answer session with the veterans will also take place along with other activities and tributes.
Veterans interested in attending should call Bonnie McElroy at the school at 410-751-3575, ext. 205 by Nov. 7.
Share news items from your child’s school in the School Notes column. Items can be sent to The Gazette, 218 S. Main Street, Mount Airy, MD 21771, or e-mail to cschelle@gazette.net or fax, 301-829-9101.
