Around Crownsville

Annapolis Youth Chorus Holds Spring Auditions

Calling all kids!  The Annapolis Youth Chorus (AYC) holds spring-term auditions for the second half of the 2010 concert season on Wednesday, January 13 and 20, in the evenings at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church Parish House in Annapolis.  Singers will be asked to sing the first verse of “America the Beautiful” and one prepared piece – a folk song, a Broadway show tune or hymn (singer should provide music for the accompanist or sing unaccompanied).  Depending on ability level, they may also be asked to sight-read a simple melodic and/or rhythmic line. Each audition lasts approximately 10 minutes.  To schedule an audition or for more information, call 410-263-1906. Continue reading Do You Have a Young Singer in the Family– This may be the ticket!

Hope your holiday was this merry!

YYCA of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County 25th Anniversary TWIN Awards

The YWCA of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County celebrates the 25^th Anniversary of the Tribute to Women and Industry (TWIN) awards  on June 3, 2010. Each year TWIN honors Anne Arundel County women for their outstanding achievements in business and recognizes their employers who are committed to empowering women.  Since TWIN’s inception in 1986,the program has honored more than 600 women chosen for the award by their companies. Each honoree is recognized at an annual dinner and invited to participate in YWCA activities throughout the year.

TWIN 2010 will honor county women in management or executive positions who have made significant contributions to their companies’ progress.  Both the women and their sponsoring companies receive an award at the dinner to be held on June 3, 2010. Nominations are now being accepted.  For more information, please visit the YWCA website – www.annapolisywca.org or contact Emilia Poiter at 410-626-7800 x115 or by email at epoiter@ywcaaac.org.

This weekend the Annapolis Chorale will once again present its magnificent performance of Handel’s Messiah in concert at St.  Anne’s Church in Annapolis. Obviously they are concerned about the weather.   Director J. Ernest Green wants everyone to know that  the Chorale will honor all tickets for any Messiah Performance over the weekend.     If their schedule changes, they will post an update on Green’s blog

Join Scenic Rivers Land Trust for a short hike and orientation to a hidden gem in Annapolis…. the City of Annapolis’ Waterworks Park. Limited group and parking space for guided hike, Saturday December 12, starts at 10:00 am. The hike will last  about 1.25 hours. You can RSVP for acceptance to Alyssa at Alyssa@SRLT.org or 443-597-0063. You must RSVP because NO gate-crashers will be allowed in.

Waterworks Park is located at 260 Defense Highway (Rt 450), about 1/2 – 3/4 mile west of Home Depot.

Here’s your opportunity for free access to this normally fee-permitted park.  We’ll explore the scenic trail along the reservoir and up into the woods ridgeline, learn about some of the offerings and amenities of the park, and the potential trail linkages to other County and state owned property. (See maps of adjacent property for proposed “Energy Park.”)  Children encouraged and welcome with supervision.  The hike will be conducted at a moderate adult pace. Caution though – This trail can be slippery and steeper in parts so proper footwear and caution advised. The hike will be postponed in the event of rain.

Volunteer Opportunity and Get Exercise, too — Bacon Ridge Branch Tree-Planting

Many thanks to all volunteers who came out on October 25th to plant over 1300 trees in the headwaters of Bacon Ridge Branch in the South River Greenway. The SRLT has the perfect  follow-up volunteer opportunity on this site.  You can help place tree shelters on some of the trees to protect them from deer grazing. Meet the SRLT members on  Friday, December 11th, at noon.  The event will last for 2-3 hours, depending on how many hands are on deck! Please email Alyssa@SRLT.org to volunteer.

Best wishes for the holiday season!

YWCA Annapolis and Anne Arundel Zumba classes to begin January 4!

Come the new year, you could be learning new moves at the YWCA when Zumba® classes start on January 4.  And us t what is Zumba®, you ask?   It’s the latest sensation.   “Hypnotic” Latin rhythms  fused to easy to follow moves.  The result is dynamic fitness program that fits perfectly with the YWCA’s mission to help women thrive.  January 4 continues the next eight weeks of classes offered at its Arnold location.     Sessions will be held on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9:30am to 10:30am and on Monday from 5:15pm to 6:15pm and Wednesday from 6:00pm to 7:00pm.

The cost for members is $65 for a 8-week session of 12 classes or a drop in fee of $5.  The cost for non-members is $80 for a 6-week session of 12 classes or a drop in fee of $8.  Classes will be held at the YWCA Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, 1517 Ritchie Highway in Arnold.

For more information, contact Charlene Hawkins, 410-626-7800 x109.z

Holly Thomas, artistic director of the Candlelight Concert Society, invites us all to a holiday classic when the Society presents Hansel and Gretel on December 13 at 3:00 p.m. and again at 4:30 p.m.  This Society favorite returns with the well-known classic Brothers Grimm tale set to the music by nineteenth century composer Engelbert Humperdinck told through the puppet magic of a master puppeteer.

The National Marionette Theatre imbues the story of childhood curisosity, greed, trust, treachery, and salvation with a beautiful storybook aura appealing to audiences of all ages.  The Theatre brings over forty years of performance experience to Columbia, MD from their world-wide tours.  They have been lauded with national and international awards for excellence in puppetry.

Hansel and Gretel will come to life at the Smith Theatre in the Horowitz Center at Howard Community College, 10901 Little Patuxent parkway, Columbia, MD. General admission tickets are $9.00 in advance ad $10.00 at the door.   Perfect for ages 4 and above  For tickets and more information, contact Candlelight Office at  410-997-2324 or by e-mail: info@candlelightconcerts.org.  For more information about the  Society and its programs visit www.candlelightconcerts.org

You won’t be able to go to the county library over Thanksgiving because all branches of the Anne Arundel County Public Library (AACPL) and Library Headquarters will close at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, November 25 and remain closed on Thursday, November 26 and Friday, November 27 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. The 15 County Public Library Branches will reopen on Saturday, November 28 at 9 a.m.

If you want to celebrate or to start a new tradition for season, though, watch for Thanksgiving programs in the coming weeks and for holiday-themed cookbooks, craft ideas, stories and history.

The AACPL catalog contains more than 600 Thanksgiving-related items in a variety of formats – including nearly 100 with recipes – for everyone from preschoolers to adults.

This list of children’s Thanksgiving programs planned for branch libraries are bound to engage your little pilgrim. (For detailed descriptions, refer to Library Happenings!, available in any branch and online at www.aacpl.net, or call the branch for more information.)

•  Annapolis Area Library, 1410 West Street, Annapolis, 410.222.1750:

Turkey Trot Storytime – Tuesday, November 24 at 10 a.m.

•  Crofton Branch Library, 1681 Riedel Road, Crofton, 410.222.7915:

Thanks for Family and Friends – Wednesday, November 18 at 1:30 p.m.

•  Eastport-Annapolis Neck Branch Library, 269 Hillsmere Drive, Annapolis, 410.222.1770:

Turkey Time – Monday, November 23 from 1 to 5 p.m.

•  Edgewater Branch Library, 25 Stepneys Lane, Edgewater, 410.222.1538:

Gobble, Gobble Craft Week – Monday, November 16 through Saturday, November 21, during branch hours

•  North County Area Library, 1010 Eastway, Glen Burnie, 410.222.6270

Talkin’ Turkey – Thursday, November 19 at 10 a.m.; repeated Saturday, November 21 at 10 a.m.

Our librarians want to remind you that even when the Library’s doors are closed, you can access your account information, click through the catalog, place holds on materials, and use the AACPL’s vast array of electronic databases by logging on to www.aacpl.net. Not only that but you can use a really great service: reference assistance is available 24/7, 365 days a year, by clicking on the AskUsNow button on the Library’s homepage I know.  I’ve used it.  It’s like having your very own librarian.

When Indian Creek School faculty member and drama director Anne Crossman chose The Diary of Anne Frank as the fall drama for performance by the student at Indian Creek’s Upper School, she did so know she had not made an easy choice.  The play would challenge the student actors theatrically and emotionally.

The theatrical challenge keeps all actors on stage for the entire play.  That means even when a character is silent and sitting still, he/she is performing.

The emotional challenge goes much deeper.  Although the students have studied the Holocaust, playing real people who suffered the ultimate fate helped them develop a deep sense of purpose for their performances.  They were deeply moved by the play and will transfer that emotion to their audience.

Anne Frank is played by senior and Indian Creek stage veteran Neena Boyle.  Joining her on stage are Tyler Cohen, Lindsey Elling, Samantha Couto, Robby Montgomery, Liza Slutskaya, Dawson Olsen, Gunner Sledgeski, Marylee Morrison, Vitaly Mayes, Sam Roush, Isaac Helfman, and Max Hall.

All technical aspects of the production will be handled by a student technical crew.  ICS teacher and technical director MaryBeth Duckett has worked with the crew to bring the Annex to the stage.

The Upper School students will perform in a preview for Middle School students and for a group from Aleph Bet Jewish Day School on Friday morning.  They will perform for the public on Friday, November 13 and Saturday, November 14 at 7:00 p.m. in the Jack and Nancy Becker Center for the Performing Arts at the Upper School campus on 1130 Anne Chambers Way in Crownsville.

Tickets are available at boxoffice@indiancreekschool.com for $10 each or at the door.  The Eagles Nest, the school store, will be open at intermission for refreshments.

The Diary of Anne Frank by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, newly adapted by Wendy Kesselman. Based upon Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl. Performed through an arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc.