Towns & Villages Column by Trish Ethier

Submit New Baltimore community news to Trish Ethier.

Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012

Spring is just around the corner

Happy Valentine Day wishes to all my friends and neighbors. May the love and friendship of friends and family get you through February, as spring is just around the corner.

Our snowdrops and crocus are blooming already; I wonder if they will bloom again in March.

Beginning today, Wednesday, Feb. 8 through Tuesday, Feb. 14, you can earn for your school an extra 250 Labels for Education Bonus Points at Harris Teeter with your $10 purchase of participating Labels for Education products in a single transaction.

Consider stocking up on Campbell soup, Pop Secret popcorn and Glad products, for example, then donating your bonus points to your favorite school.

I still collect these points and give them to local elementary schools since my youngest is a graduating senior this year. Consider doing the same.

The 4Jenna Relay for Life team invites you to its second Chocolate Extravaganza fundraiser on Saturday, Feb. 11 at St. John’s Mercy Hall from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Come and enjoy the fun and chocolate. Tickets can be purchased at the door but also from various merchants in Warrenton, such as Warrenton Décor, Amy’s Gift Shop at Rhodes Drugstore, Oreo Dog Bakery and Simple Comforts. Credits cards will be accepted.

A bake sale hosted by local students traveling to Italy and Spain will take place on Saturday, Feb. 11 at Giant in Warrenton from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For a wonderful education experience, these students are working hard to earn some of the funds for this expensive trip.

Congratulations to Auburn Middle School 7th grade Sydney’s Warriors volleyball team for winning a preseason middle school volleyball tournament hosted by Daniel Beaver Always Active Sport and Recreation on Jan. 29 at Coleman Elementary in Marshall.

Sydney’s Warriors, Allison Baccus, Kaitlin Joyce, Ashley Lehman, Mackenzie Fitzpatrick, Ivy Jaynes, Emmaline Walters and Madison Fitzpatrick decided to name their team after fellow 7th grader and friend Sydney Davies, who is fighting leukemia and thankfully, has recently been diagnosed as being in remission.

This year’s Pinewood Derby winners for Cub Scout Pack 1161 included the first-place winners from each den who then ran in a championship race.

The overall winners were 1st place Mason Rhodes, a Webelos II. Second place was Ryan Wood, Bear rank, and 3thid place was Caige Wine, Wolf rank.

Congratulations to all Scouts who participated. Pack 1161 is proudly sponsored by New Baltimore Volunteer Fire and Rescue Co.

Buckland Farm Market is now open Fridays through Sundays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Stop on by and check out all their wonderful baked goods just in time for Valentine’s Day.

Preorders are accepted by Wednesdays by calling 341-4739.

Happy belated birthday wishes to Wesley Edwards who celebrated his 88th birthday on Saturday, Jan. 27. Wesley has lived in this area his entire life and just last year retired from working.

He went to work for B.M. Brosius at what used to be Broken Hills Farm on Feb. 16, 1950, which was renamed Brookfield Farm when Ed Miller took over in 1985.

He has made hay on what is now Waters Edge and Brookside subdivisions, and Hidden Lake at Brookside has been renamed Lake Wesley for the man who built it.

Wesley has seen many changes in the time he's been in our neighborhood, and his stories of how life used to be around here are fascinating.

Please call or email with your news.

Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012

Get ready for a bumper crops of bugs

OK, so we will have a lot of bugs next summer. Without a long period of cold weather to kill off this year’s crop of bugs, expect an extra buggy summer.

We have had one of the most memorable winters on record, but don’t let this nice weather fool you.

We still have all of February to go, and if I remember correctly, February 2010 was a disaster for many.

I remember being snowed in for more than a week and hurt my back when I fell at the barn. I am keeping my fingers crossed for a mild February.

Cub Scout Pack 1161 held its annual Pinewood Derby at the New Baltimore Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company this past Saturday.

In the Tiger class, first place went to David Low, second place to Kevin Rosamond, and third place to John Lunglhofer, all from Tiger Den 10.

All Scouts participated with good sportsmanship and camaraderie . There were many very proud parents in attendance.

Congratulations to the Kettle Run High School swim team for placing first as the Evergreen District Champions this past Saturday.

Boy Scout Troop 175 is sponsoring a lock-in for troop members and Webelos Scouts from area Cub Scout Packs on Friday, Feb. 3, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Warrenton United Methodist Church behind Pizza Hut in Warrenton.

Always a lot of fun and Webelos Scouts get a first-hand look at what Troop 175 has to offer in the way of scouting, leadership and friendship.

Would you like to support the American Cancer Society and sample some wonderful chocolate at the same time?

The 4Jenna Relay for Life team will be holding its second Chocolate Extravaganza on Saturday, Feb. 11, at St. John’s Mercy Hall in Warrenton from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. There will be many different samples available.

Tickets are available at the door and are being sold in advance at several local businesses, such as Warrenton Décor, Amy’s Gift Shop in the Rhodes Drugstore, Oreo’s Dog Bakery and Simple Comforts.

Contact Carol Hamann at (540) 347-0537.

Happy birthday wishes to some wonderful people in my life who just happen to share a birthday on Friday, Feb. 3; Kit Carson, Lisa Dodge and Karla Anderson.

Happy birthday wishes also to Debby Waln and Betty Pickett who will celebrate their birthdays on Sunday, Feb. 5 and Monday, Feb. 6, respectively.

Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012

Hang on, spring is just six weeks away

I realize I usually start each column with a brief mention about the weather but I cannot help it.

Keeping in touch with the weather is extremely important to those, like me, dealing with livestock every day, and especially for people whose jobs keep them outdoors all day.

We have been lucky this winter in that it really is just now getting started. Spring will be here in about six weeks, so this year our winter will be a short one.

I thoroughly enjoyed walking out of Dulles Airport last week wearing a souvenir T-shirt from my cruise to Cozumel, Mexico.

Of course, the weather went downhill from there, and we experienced a nasty weekend, but that’s okay, we really do need the moisture.

At least there was no blizzard as a result of the precipitation, and the timing was perfect. Kids have been on mid-term break from school this past couple of days. Today begins the second term for this school year.

I was on my cruise leaving Cozumel and heading back to Tampa, Fl., when we heard the devastating news about the Costa Concordia cruise ship listing near Tuscany, Italy.

Surprisingly, it had little effect on me as I felt completely safe on our Royal Caribbean ship.

Described by my husband as a 13-story building, three blocks long, the Jewel of the Seas was actually smaller than the Costa Concordia with only 2,000 passengers.

Our cruise was a wonderful experience, and I encourage anyone who wants a great getaway to take a cruise to somewhere — or nowhere, if that’s what you prefer. Cruising is a great way to relax, eat well and enjoy short visits to different places.

Thank you, Mom and Dad for this unexpected but wonderful Christmas gift.

Congratulations to Warren Nooger, who received his Eagle Award at his troop meeting on Thursday, Jan. 19. Warren is a senior at Kettle Run High School and is a major player in the recycling program at the school.

Kettle Run High School sports boosters are always looking for volunteers to help out in concessions and to sell spirit wear. If you are on the volunteer list, consider making a small contribution of time to this worthwhile parent organization.

Happy birthday, ladies. Cheryl Morgan and Erika Payne are celebrating their birthdays today, Wednesday, Jan. 25.

Happy birthday wishes also to Ryan Waddell, Scott Heckerthorn, Colleen Cragun, Daniel Morgan, Emily Hodge, Jeremy Ryan, Catheryn Ennis, and Josh Wicka.

Please call or email me with your news.