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A Frederick County-based faith-based awareness group will hold a masquerade ball in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and invites the public to come out in costume Halloween night to "unveil their masks for a cure."
The Faith Striders, a group of women who have been working for three years on education and research for curing breast cancer and other forms of illness, will host its 3rd annual "A Toast for the Cure" event Saturday at the American Legion, 1450 Taney Ave., Frederick.
The theme for this year's toast and the group's task is "Unveil the Mask for the Cure." Tickets are $15 per person; food, drinks and door prizes will be available.
Proceeds from the event will go to the Faith Striders' participation in the Avon Walk for the Cure event in Washington, D.C. in May 2010.
This year's benefit is particularly important to the Faith Striders, which lost one of its members, Geri Ellis, earlier this year when her breast cancer spread to her brain.
"My team and I lost a dear team member; but her journey reemphasized the importance of community support, determination, having a will to live and making sure that everyone is educated and aware of programs that are available," said Angela Spencer, team captain of the Faith Striders. "No one has to walk this walk alone."
The group also has two new members who are breast cancer survivors, which also adds to the group's inspiration, she said.
"Just having survivors with us, it inspires us even more to do more for our community, more for your friends, more for our families," Spencer said.
For more information on the Faith Striders, go to, www.faithstriders.com.
DAR sponsors historical essay contest
The first transcontinental railroad was completed with a golden spike on May 10, 1869. Now, any student in grades five through eight can write an essay about the railroad for a chance to win a monetary prize from the Frederick Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
The essay should be written from the point of view of a settler who plans to use the train to get to his or her new home in the West, a Native American whose lifestyle was drastically changed because of the railroad or an Irish or Chinese immigrant worker who helped build the railroad. The pieces will be judged based on accuracy, relevance to topic, organization, interest, originality, spelling, grammar, punctuation and neatness. Entries are due by Dec. 4.
The chapter will also sponsor and judge the Christopher Columbus essay contest, which is open to students in grades nine through 12. It will be judged based on the same criteria and is also due on Dec. 4. The essay should "discuss and analyze the early influences and experiences of Christopher Columbus and how these contributed to successes and failures in his voyages of exploration."
Contact Mary Lee Schumeyer at 301-696-1191 or theschumeyers@ comcast.net for more information on how to submit an essay or for more rules and regulations. The authors of the winning essays will receive a monetary prize and medal and will automatically move on to a regional essay competition, Schumeyer said.
‘Riviera' charity event draws hundreds
The planning committee of the 13th annual "An Evening on the Riviera" announced that the event, which benefits Frederick nonprofit organizations, was a huge success.
The charity food and wine celebration, held Oct. 9, drew more than 400 guests, and showcased the region's finest restaurants, caterers, wine cellars and entertainment. Proceeds from the event will benefit The Boys and Girls Club of Frederick County and The Women's Giving Circle of Frederick County.
Awards were handed out to local restaurants for their presentations.
The Best Savory Dish first- and second-place winners were The Comus Inn and A Cut Above Catering, respectively. The first-place winner of the Delectable Dessert award was Valley Grill at Hollow Creek Golf Club, and the second-place award was given to Musket Ridge Golf Club.
First-place winner of the Best Creative Display was awarded to A Cut above Catering; Home at Braddock Inn took second place in the category.
Ory Custom Florals received the Table Top Design award, with a $500 donation being made to a Frederick County charity of its choice.
The event committee also congratulated raffle winners Michael Folio and Toni Kulyk, who won a two-hour cooking lesson for six and a subsequent lunch with chef Bryan Voltaggio, of the downtown Frederick restaurant Volt.
TJ Stage presents ‘Cinderella'
Gov. Thomas Johnson High School invites the public to come and enjoy its fall stage production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Cinderella."
The production will be featured at 8 p.m., today and at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., Saturday. On Sunday, a 3 p.m. matinee show is planned.
Ticket prices are $7 in advance or $10 at the door. Student ticket prices are $6 in advance, $8 at the door.
Children ages 8 and younger who dress in costume on any of the show nights will receive $2 tickets, and treats at the Halloween showing.
Tuscarora High hosts ‘Zombie Prom'
Tuscarora High School students invite the public to enjoy their rendition of the 1950s horror comic book turned musical comedy, "Zombie Prom" — a story about a girl who is faced with the choice of dumping or loving her zombie boyfriend.
Titan Players' "Zombie Prom" will be featured at 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday. Matinee performances are scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Tickets are $8; attendees are encouraged to come dressed in their favorite costume for the Halloween evening show to receive $2 off admission. No masks are allowed. In addition, the best costume will win season tickets to Titan Stage.
All performances are at Tuscarora High School, 5312 Ballenger Creek Pike, in Frederick. For more information, call 240-236-6400.
Family hosts 10th annual free haunted house
A Frederick family invites those looking for a good, down-home scare this Halloween to come and enjoy their 10th annual haunted house event in the Old Farm neighborhood near Fort Detrick.
The Campbell family will be hosting the free haunted house this year for adults and children, out of their garage. The haunted house, which they promise will be scarier and more fun than last year, is suitable for both adults and children.
The Campbells' garage will be open from 6 to 10 p.m., Saturday, at 2179 Ambleside Ct., in Frederick.
Cheerleaders don purple bows
The cheerleaders of Gov. Thomas Johnson High School will don big, bright, purple bows in honor and support of domestic violence awareness and the Frederick County haven for victims of domestic violence.
The varsity cheerleaders will celebrate the final days of Domestic Violence Awareness Month —celebrated throughout the month of October — by wearing the bows during the football game against Linganore High School Friday night.
Cheerleader Hannah Light designed and created the Heartly House Cheer Bow for the cheerleaders. Her teammates have donated money in order to participate in the fundraiser, and all proceeds will be donated to Heartly House, the lead resource for domestic violence victims in Frederick County.
Send City Beat items to Erica L. Green at egreen@gazette.net or call 301-846-2134 for more information.