Charity Golf Tournament for Infant And Child Loss Oct. 6

By Cassie Felch
Posted: September 25, 2008

University of Maryland women’s basketball coach Brenda Frese is the honorary chairwoman of the 18th annual Verizon Wireless SIDS Golf Invitational Oct. 6 at Turf Valley Country Club, in Ellicott City.

On Monday, Oct. 6, you can enjoy a day of golf while supporting a terrific cause at the 18th annual Verizon Wireless SIDS Golf Invitational. This year’s event begins with an 11 a.m. shotgun start at Turf Valley Country Club and concludes with a 4:30 p.m. reception and program presented by emcee Alex Cortright of WRNR-FM 103.1, in Annapolis. The evening includes live and silent auctions, music and golfing awards. All proceeds help fund the Center for Infant & Child Loss in Baltimore.

Honorary tournament chairwoman, Brenda Frese, the head coach of the University of Maryland women’s basketball team, hopes to raise awareness of and support for the Center for Infant & Child Loss.

As a new mother herself, Brenda understands the anxiety parents feel about the health and safety of their children. Every year, hundreds of Maryland families experience the abrupt, tragic loss of a child through Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or an accident. The Center for Infant & Child Loss provides these bereaved families with counseling and support, facilitates research into SIDS, offers risk reduction training, and educates the community about infant and child loss.

To register for the golf tournament or donate money to this worthy cause, call the Center at 410-706-3091 or 800-808-7437, or go to www.infantandchildloss.org.

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WFES Students Recognized as Musicians of the Month

By Cassie Felch
Posted: September 22, 2008

Amy Bejm, band director of West Friendship Elementary School, would like to congratulate her WFES Band Musicians of the Month. Students earn recognition by demonstrating superior musicianship and outstanding attitudes.

Bejm’s October Musicians of the Month include Hunter Cestone, Megan Plummer, Brent Wade, Alexandra Pickett, Jake Polinsky, Cade Buch, Niklas Schnake and Samie Costa.

Kudos to these kids for setting a great example!

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Stylist Opens Second Area Salon

By Cassie Felch
Posted: September 17, 2008

This week, I have another update from our ever-changing Waverly Woods Village Center. Nika Edwards, who has owned Nika’s Hair Studio on St. John’s Lane since 1994, launched a second salon in the Waverly Woods Village Center this year, Nika & Co. Hair Studio.

Nika grew up in Catonsville and opened her first salon in her hometown. However, after falling victim to an armed robbery, she changed locations. Another stylist told her about the Ellicott City shop, which she loved at first glance. In fact, she has now made Ellicott City her own home, too.

When the Waverly Woods location became available, a friend notified Nika and asked whether she would be interested in opening a second business. After making the decision to proceed, she needed look no further than her own clientele for a manager.

Vicki Tymann, also an Ellicott City resident, has frequented Nika’s for 10 years. Because all of her children had entered school full-time – Dean is now a senior at Mt. Hebron, and Drew, 10, and Jennifer, 7, both attend Worthington Elementary – Vicki felt a little lost and mentioned to Nika that she might begin looking for a job. Nika offered her one on the spot.

For more information, call 410-480-7030 or go to www.nikaandcompany.com.

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MRHS Art Department Seeks Your Donations

By Cassie Felch
Posted: September 17, 2008

LaVerne Miers-Bond, an art teacher at Marriotts Ridge, asks you to remember the high school while cleaning out your house this fall. The art department needs crock pots, blenders, hair driers, hand tools, power tools, and knitting supplies. Marriotts Ridge provides many opportunities for students to channel their creativity, including free drawing sessions on Tuesdays, a knitting club on Wednesdays, and National Art Honor Society and Art Club, which meet on Thursdays. E-mail LaVerne at Laverne_Miers-Bond@hcpss.org if you can donate any of the requested items.

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Local Family Enjoys Exotic Vacation in Honduras

By Cassie Felch
Posted: September 15, 2008

Sam Sisney spends a little quality time with a macaw at Gumbalimba National Park in Roatan, Honduras during the Sisney’s family vacation there this summer. (Photo by Sarah Beth Sisney).

Are you looking for a fun vacation idea? This summer, the Sisney family journeyed to one of their favorite locales: exotic Anthony’s Key Resort in Roatán, Honduras. They returned home with some great stories and some even better photos.

As certified divers, parents Steve and Tricia Sisney spent all but one day of their weeklong vacation participating in organized dives. For those unfamiliar with this pursuit, Tricia relays that each dive is unique and beautiful, providing close-up views of coral, tropical fish, and her favorite, sea turtles. Steve and Tricia chose to go deep-sea fishing on their day off from diving. Although the fish remained relatively scarce, the pair did manage to catch a few tuna and a barracuda.

Meanwhile, their children, Sam, 10, and Sarah Beth, 8, attended Dolphin Scuba Camp. Sam opted to take the junior scuba diver certification class and successfully completed all of the course requirements. He received his junior certification and may now dive to a depth of 40 feet with a dive master. For Steve and Tricia, the highlight of their trip was joining Sam during his final dive at the camp.

Although Sarah Beth was not old enough to participate in the junior scuba diving class, she, too, used scuba equipment and dove to a depth of 8 feet and she also enjoyed some horseback riding. Both children took part in guided dolphin encounters during their camp and visited Gumbalimba National Park, where they learned about the island’s history and interacted with monkeys and macaws.

Interestingly, the Sisneys met another Maryland family at AKR: a granddad from Severna Park, his pediatrician daughter from Phoenix (with her two children) and another daughter who is a commander in the Navy and resides in Laurel. Imagine traveling 1,700 miles and meeting people who live 20 to 30 miles from your home! The Sisney family so thoroughly relished their adventure that they already plan to make another trip.

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