Maryland Community Newspapers Online
Kathy Siggins has walked a lot of miles to battle Alzheimer's — 16 years to be exact.
Oct. 25 marked just another time that the Mount Airy resident teamed up with friends and family at the Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk held at the Maryland School for the Deaf in Frederick.
"They announced a total of $112,000 raised the day of the walk but the figure continues to rise," said Siggins, who raised $3,831 this year, but has collected about $50,000 throughout her years of involvement with the fundraiser.
She was announced as the top fundraiser, and has been for seven of the 16 years of her involvement with the walk. "My support continues to be from the Mount Airy community, family, friends and neighbors, some of which have been with me all 16 years," she said.
The event is more than a walk to Siggins. It's also a time that extended family comes together to celebrate and remember the life of loved ones taken away one piece at a time.
"I was thankful that the Alzheimer's Association was there for me when I was caring for my late husband, who had Alzheimer's for 13 years," she said. "I continue to do the walk because I want to make sure that the same support I received continues to be available to others whose loved ones have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's."
Siggins, an Alzheimer's activist who has worked on starting an Alzheimer's Semipostal Stamp, is also involved in Alzheimer's awareness and public policy forums.
Santa Claus Lane
comes back to town
The Mount Airy Lions Club will help continue a long-time tradition by hosting a Santa Claus Lane downtown this weekend. The two-day event will take place in the Old Train Station on Main Street on Saturday and Sunday. The lane will be open 6-9 p.m. Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday to children of all ages.
Santa will arrive at 6 p.m. on his Harley motorcycle on Saturday, accompanied by his elf.
Mrs. Claus will tell Christmas Stories and Rudolf's Room will be open to visitors.
Free hot chocolate will be served and the Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce will be provide a Christmas craft for all children.
Throughout the year, the Mount Airy Lions Club conducts fundraisers which provide much needed medical equipment, holiday gift baskets for those less fortunate, eye screening for school age children, and a variety of other programs for the area. The Santa Claus Lane is a way for the Lions Club to say "Thank You" to the community for supporting them in these endeavors.
A Main Street Christmas
kicks off next week
‘Tis the Season... to get involved in Mount Airy's town Christmas events.
Mount Airy Main Street Association promotions chair Ellie Bonde said that volunteers with this year's event are looking for participants in the Twinkling Santa Parade.
The parade, schedule for Dec. 5, will begin at 6 p.m. at Mount Airy Elementary School, travel south along Main Street and end at Calvary United Methodist Church.
There is no fee to enter. The parade is open to businesses, neighborhoods, scouts and more.
The only requirement is that the entry be decorated for the holidays, with lights and music suggested. Floats and displays cannot be larger than a pick-up truck, but can be as small as pulling something like a wagon.
Bonde suggested golf carts and garden tractors.
To enter the parade, call the Mount Airy Volunteer Fire Company at 301-829-0010 ext. 73.
The Mount Airy Main Street Association is also asking that homes and businesses on the three miles facing the Main Street loop from Md. Route 27 south to Route 27 north decorate for the holidays. The association is hosting a decorating contest for the area with four winners: two for businesses and two for homes in the categories of traditional and innovative. Judging will take place on Dec 5.
Group accepts applications
for holiday help
Mount Airy Net is accepting applications for "Adoption For The Holidays" to anyone in the Mount Airy Zip Code 21771 who will need help at Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Applications are available at the Net Office, 403 S. Main St., Mount Airy or by calling 301-829-0472.
Post donates money
At a Nov. 8 Veterans Day Celebration at American Legion Gold Star Post 191 in Mount Airy the legion gave a contribution of $5,200 to Hospice of Frederick County, "Kline House." $4,000 of the donation was raised from the group's yearly golf outing. The legion sends a special thanks to all of the golfers and hole sponsors that made the contribution possible.
Cooking for a cure
A local pediatric dental office is offering cookbook packages for sale, with the proceeds benefitting both a local food pantry and nonprofit organization.
Mount Airy Children's Dental Associates usually has the $5 cookbooks available, compiled with recipes from staff. Proceeds from the cookbooks go to the Erik Lerch Foundation a Mount Airy nonprofit dedicated to helping area families with children with medical emergencies or conditions.
During the months of November and December, or until the cookbooks run out, a non perishable food item will be donated to Mount Airy Net for every $5 cookbook sold, with the full $5 still going to the foundation. There are still about 225 cookbooks left.
In the month of October more than 100 cookbooks were sold with funds donated to the Erik Lerch Foundation and additional funds towards breast cancer awareness funds.
Mount Airy Children's Dental Associates is located at 602 Center St., Suite 203 in Mount Airy off of Md. Route 27 by Watkins Park. For more information call 301-829-6588.
Red Cross needs help to provide holiday cheer to military
The Frederick County chapter of the American Red Cross is participating in a national effort to provide current and former members of the U.S. military with holiday cheer.
The Holiday Mail for Heroes program is in its third year of sending holiday cards provided by volunteers to military bases, military hospitals and veterans hospitals across the globe.
This year, at least 2,000 cards from all over the country will be sent back to the Frederick County chapter and distributed to veterans, service personnel and their families in area communities, Peterson said.
Anyone who wants to participate should send cards to: Holiday Mail for Heroes, P.O. Box 5456, Capitol Heights, MD, 20791.