West Liberty Celebrates Annual Women’s Day Nov. 23

By Cassie Felch
Posted: November 11, 2008

West Liberty United Methodist presents its annual Women’s Day celebration Nov. 23. The church will offer two services — one at 9 a.m. and the other at 3 p.m., with a complimentary meal in the interim. The first service will feature a special guest, Evangelist Sonji Williams, and the second service will feature the Rev. Patricia Johnson. All are welcome to attend.

Comment on this entry • No responses

Local Resident Offers Hope to Disadvantaged Children

By Cassie Felch
Posted: November 6, 2008

Denny Bilter is surrounded by students at the opening of a new vocational center in Nakuru, Kenya. (Photo courtesy of Danny Bilter).

The media bombards us with images of celebrity humanitarians — Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, Angelina Jolie, and so forth — but we do not often meet true philanthropists in our walk of life. Recently I enjoyed a chance to talk with one such person.

Marriottsville resident Denny Bilter, a retired Ciena Corp. executive, is the humble and enthusiastic founder of Mephibosheth Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing vocational training and spiritual guidance to impoverished, undereducated “throw-away kids” of the world.

Denny explained that the name Mephibosheth comes from the Biblical figure who had to flee his home at a young age after his father, Jonathan, and grandfather, King Saul, died in battle. In the process, Mephibosheth suffered an injury that caused lameness in both feet and rendered him a helpless burden.

However, King David demonstrated great charity by restoring Mephibosheth’s family wealth and he honored the man by inviting him to dine at his table. Similarly, the Mephibosheth Foundation instills a sense of worth in neglected children.

Denny first witnessed the deplorable places some children live — prisons, orphanages, and garbage dumps — during a 1999 trip to the Ukraine and then a 2000 trip to Mexico. He felt called to make a difference and learned that many of his business associates also wanted to improve the lives of these disadvantaged children. However, rather than just throw money at a cause, Denny aimed to teach the children and make them self-sufficient.

The Mephibosheth Foundation launched its first vocational training center in Managua, Nicaragua in 2002. Because the area had suffered a civil war, many men had died and the boys often turned to gangs as substitute families. The center provided these boys with carpentry training, as well as life skills like budgeting and how to be a good father.

Now, six years later, the foundation has opened centers in seven other countries — Guatemala, Cambodia, India, Ghana, Kenya, Russia and Bosnia — and it currently counts approximately 1000 young men and 1000 young women in training.
Students at the vocational centers use their newly acquired skills, such as auto mechanics or sewing, in service to the community. The fees that they earn go towards staff salaries, supplies, and small allowances for the students. In such a way, the centers become fully self-supporting. The Mephibosheth Foundation funds only the setup of the centers and then turns the reins over to the nationals.

As an extension of the foundation, Denny began organizing mission trips at Marriottsville’s Chapelgate Academy in 2006. During the last spring break, he took a group of 50 youth and adults to Guatemala City where they performed construction tasks in the morning and then, in the afternoons, offered basketball lessons and a vacation Bible school-type program to the Guatemalan children. The Chapelgate students also provided a hot meal to 300 children each day. In an area where family incomes average $30 per month, hot meals remain a luxury.

Now that Denny has retired, he devotes most of his time to the foundation and hopes to construct a Web site for it. Thus far, the Mephibosheth Foundation has sought donations solely through word of mouth.

If you are interested in contributing time or money to this worthy cause, please write a check payable to the Mephibosheth Foundation and mail it to Denny Bilter at 1991 Barley Road, Marriottsville, MD 21104. The foundation uses 100 percent of donations collected to fund its various projects. E-mail Denny at dbilter@mephibo.org or call 410-552-1424 for further information.

Comment on this entry • No responses

Marriotts Ridge Seeks Science Fair Judges

By Cassie Felch
Posted: October 30, 2008

Calling all mathematicians, scientists and engineers! Marriotts Ridge High School requests your help evaluating science fair projects Jan. 28, 2009 (rain date Feb. 3). The school needs 100 judges, each of whom will judge between 10 and 15 projects during a two-hour time slot: either 8 to 10 a.m. or 10 a.m. to noon.

If you can assist, e-mail science instructional leader Dan Sageman at daniel_sageman@hcpss.org or science assistant Amy Harich at amy_harich@hcpss.org, or call the MRHS science department at 410-313-5568.

Indicate your name, phone number, e-mail address, which time slot(s) you prefer, and which of the following areas best fit your background: physics, chemistry, environmental science, earth and space science, behavioral and social sciences, animal biology, plant biology, microbiology, computer science, engineering technology or mathematics. The department will try to match you with your area of expertise.

Comment on this entry • No responses

Locals Choose Different Ways to Save Gas

By Cassie Felch
Posted: October 29, 2008

Susan Fugate waited six months to get her Smart Car, but the wait was worth it for an automobile that gets 40 to 45 miles per gallon. (Photo by Cassie Felch).

This past summer, as I gassed up my “mommy-van” in Glenelg, my area of choice for lower gasoline prices, I contemplated the irony of driving out of my way to save a few cents per gallon at the pump. Although gas prices have since dropped considerably, our community – the Howard County portion of Marriottsville, Sykesville and Woodstock – contains no gas stations, so many of us, by necessity, still drive a distance to fill up our tanks. Some of our neighbors have chosen to spend less time in this pursuit.

Susan Fugate, data clerk for Marriotts Ridge High School, decided to purchase a Smart Car, a tiny two-seater manufactured by a division of Mercedes-Benz. Smart Cars became available in the U.S. in January 2008 through select Mercedes dealerships. In Maryland, only Mercedes-Benz of Annapolis and Euro Motorcars Germantown offer Smart Centers.

Susan and her husband, Carl, explain that interested customers must first register online at www.SmartUSA.com and pay a registration fee, which later applies to the cost of the vehicle. Do not expect speedy service – the Fugates waited six months before a car became available through the “Orphan List,” an inventory of vehicles that others ordered and then opted not to purchase. Smart Car then allotted the Fugates 24 hours to make their decision.

Susan believes that her “orphan” was definitely worth the wait. Foremost, she appreciates the fuel efficiency – 40 to 45 MPG as opposed to the 17 she logged with her other vehicle, a Pontiac Aztek. Of course, she hangs onto the Aztek for occasions when she needs to transport more than two people. Susan also finds her semi-automatic Smart Car great fun to drive and values the knowledge that it boasts the highest possible safety ratings in its class. Susan cannot believe the amount of attention her new vehicle garners, but happily answers the many questions other drivers direct her way.

Walt Kehoe, who works for Herb Gordon Mercedes-Benz in Silver Spring, limits his trips to the gas station in another way. Instead of driving his Mercedes C230, which averages about 25 MPG or his Jeep, which registers an even lower 14 MPG, he uses one of his two motorcycles as frequently as possible. Walt’s Harley Davidson Heritage Softail averages 38 MPG, while his Kawasaki KLR650 logs an impressive 49 MPG.

For Walt, another benefit to motorcycle travel is sheer enjoyment. However, he acknowledges the danger involved and explains that he drives with extra vigilance when on a motorcycle. Unfortunately, he did not notice many vehicles driving slower in response to high gas prices over the summer, especially in the more urban areas.

Mark Bosley, who works as a meat cutter for Weis Markets in Waverly Woods Village Center, has experienced a more positive reaction from the drivers around him and finds truckers especially supportive. His savings come in the form of a different bike – the human-powered kind.

Although Mark has always biked to work on occasion, he began doing so more frequently in response to the recent higher gas prices. Weather permitting, Mark bikes to work three or four days in a row, then drives his Chevy Silverado one day. He can make the 14-mile trip from his home in Owings Mills in about 50 minutes and, since his pickup averages only 14 MPG, estimates that he saved about $500 per month in gasoline over the summer.

Since Mark participates in mountain bike competitions, he views his ride as training time, but he also feels closer to nature during his commute. He describes the experience as therapeutic. Biking certainly provides a good way to keep fit while preserving the environment.

Do you know other neighbors who have chosen different means for reducing their time spent “commuting” to gas stations? Keep the tips coming! Maybe a little positive peer pressure will encourage the rest of us to make some changes, too.

Comment on this entry • No responses

St. Alphonsus’ Bull and Oyster Roast Nov. 8

By Cassie Felch
Posted: October 27, 2008

Edward Pelsinsky, Financial Secretary for St. Alphonsus Rodriguez Knights of Columbus, invites the community to a Bull & Oyster Roast Nov. 8 from 7 p.m. to midnight on November 8. In addition to a full buffet menu with raw bar and drinks, the event will feature live music by The Keepsakes and 50/50 games of chance.

Tickets, which cost $45, will help support the work Father Walter Kongari, a Christian missionary in India. The Roast will take place in the church hall at St. Alphonsus Rodriguez Catholic Church, 10800 Old Court Road in Woodstock. Call Ed at 410-313-8808 or email epelsinsky@verizon.net for tickets.

Comment on this entry • No responses