Marriottsville/ Sykesville /Woodstock

Sisters Robyn Zumbrun and Lisa Meyer, owners of Sweet Simplici-Tea tearoom, invite you to learn more about Sykesville during their History Tea celebration July 12 at noon (with a 2 p.m. seating if demand necessitates). The event begins with a Royal Tea and concludes with a walking tour of the town, guided by local historian Kari Greenwalt.

Sweet Simplici-Tea celebrated its first anniversary June 14. For years, Robyn, a resident of Baltimore County, collected china, linens, teapots, pictures, and curios in hopes of one day opening her own tearoom. However, she did not share her aspirations with others until her birthday in November 2007, when her father gave her a charming pink and white Lenox teapot. That gift triggered a quest to realize her dream, so she and Lisa began looking for a shop location. Ultimately, they settled in at 7520 Main St., in Sykesville.

The sisters enjoy a terrific working relationship and demonstrate a natural division of talent. Lisa, an Ellicott City resident, once worked in the mortgage field and thus handles the business aspects of the tearoom. She also runs the day-to-day operations, functioning as hostess and server. Robyn, on the other hand, acts as the creative and culinary force behind the scenes. She currently maintains her position as an operating room nurse but hopes to one day join her sister full-time in the tearoom. Both enjoy the people they meet and the friendships they make in their new endeavor.

One of their regular customers, Pat Greenwald (no relation to Kari Greenwalt), lives on the Howard County side of Sykesville and works as the coordinator for the Historic Sykesville Colored Schoolhouse. She explains that the schoolhouse “served children of color from Howard and Carroll Counties from 1904 until 1939.” Although fully restored, this interesting part of our local history still requires funds for utilities and for educating our area youth about the facility.

To help raise money in support of the Schoolhouse, Robyn and Lisa have pulled together a Longaberger basket filled with tea-related goodies and are accepting donations of $3 for a chance to win, or $10 for four chances. They will draw the winner’s name during the History Tea.

To reserve a seat for this special tea, call 410-549-7676, or go to www.sweetsimplicitea.com for more information.

Joanne Abalos, Information and Guest Services Coordinator for Bon Secours Spiritual Center, announces three upcoming events.

On July 10, join fellow job seekers and career changers from 9 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. in the first “Keep the Spirit Up” workshop. Dr. Thomas E. Little, the Center’s Executive Director, and Sharon Scibek, of Swan Learning Services, facilitate a morning session of reflection and relaxation. Guests may also use the outdoor pool, weather permitting. After a noon lunch, Carol Rogers, head of Transition Services for Right Management, Inc., discusses “Making Successful Career Transitions.”

Although free of charge, this program requires a reservation; space is limited. The Center will collect a free-will offering.

Beginning July 12, Retreat Director, educator and international songwriter Jan Novatka leads “All Is Holy, All Is One,” a study inspired by the Baltimore Catechism’s question and response, “Where is God? God is Everywhere.” Guests may check in at 5 p.m. on July 12 and dine at 6, and they check out at 11 a.m. on July 17. The retreat costs $475, with a $150 deposit.

Spiritual Directors Justine Cyr, Muriel Curren, Don Evason, and Phil Cover lead a 20-person silent, Directed Retreat beginning July 18. Guests may check in at 5 p.m. and dine at 6, and they depart at 11 a.m. on July 24. The retreat costs $535, with a $150 deposit.

To register for any of these programs, visit www.BonSecoursSpiritualCenter.org or call 410-442-1320.

Additionally, folk musicians Susan and Philip Esserwein appear in the Bon Secours Chapel at 3 p.m. on July 19 for the monthly Music at Marriottsville event. The concerts are free of charge, but the center welcomes free-will offerings. Bon Secours’ address is 1525 Marriottsville Road.

Ellicott City resident Beth Drude reports much to celebrate in her household. Not only has oldest child, Danny, returned from college to resume his role as Head Dive Coach at Forest Hill Swim & Tennis Club, but daughter Laura has graduated from Marriotts Ridge High School and now joins her brother as an assistant swim coach. Both kids will attend James Madison University in the fall, Danny as a senior and Laura as a freshman.

Not to be outdone by her older siblings, daughter Courtney, a rising 8th grader at Mt. View Middle School, recently received recognition in the 2009 Fair Housing Calendar Poster Contest, sponsored by the Howard County Human Rights Commission. Her entry won second place at the middle school level.

Since Courtney swims and dives, she has the unusual distinction of calling both siblings “Coach.” In fact, diving is a true family affair since dad, Jeff, judges dive meets, and Beth acts as a team representative. Beth describes diving as “one of the few self-initiated sports kids can participate in – golf being another. The kids are not reacting to a ball; they are mentally going through their dive, executing their dive, and then putting themselves out there to be judged in front of total strangers.” Beth explains that this sport also requires courage from parents, who watch their children execute sometimes nail-biting dives.

Way to go, Drude family! Thanks for sharing your good news.

The Howard County Conservancy offers several fun events this month. On July 11 at 10 a.m., join Kathy Grall for a free Wonder Walk as she talks about “What’s the Buzz? Blooms, Bees, and Bug Pollinators.” Observe different pollinators at work on wild milkweed flowers and learn why some perform better than others, but all remain vital.

On July 16, pack a picnic dinner, load the family into the car with a blanket or chairs, and come on out to the popular “Fiddlers & Fireflies” program, from 6-9 p.m. The string section of St. John’s Parish Day School will begin the outdoor performance, and then musician Steve Hickman will entertain as he fiddles and dances with the fireflies. Children may also construct a firefly craft while learning interesting facts about fireflies.

The Conservancy next hosts a Master Gardener presentation about heirloom vegetables at 10 a.m. on July 18. This event costs $2 at the door.

To register for any Conservancy event, e-mail hcconservancy@hcconservancy.org or call 410-465-8877. Go to  www.hcconservancy.org to learn more.

Once the first thrill of summer vacation dissipates, parents often hear the dreaded whine, “There’s nothing to do!” Our local churches offer a sure-fire boredom-buster in the form of Vacation Bible School.

Friendship Baptist invites children and teens to participate in Truth Trek, an archaeological expedition to discover God. Adults, meanwhile, can participate in a video-led Bible study that is archaeologically based. Both programs are free.

The week begins with a kickoff barbecue July 12 from 5:30-6:45 p.m. and then the activities run from 7-9 p.m. every evening through July 16. To register, go to www.fbcmd.org, or call the church office at 410-442-5506. Friendship Baptist is located at 1391 Sykesville Road (Route 32) in Sykesville.

Chapelgate Presbyterian, at 2600 Marriottsville Road in Marriottsville, offers Upward Bound Summer Camp July 13-17 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. This program serves elementary school children who have completed kindergarten through Grade 5 as of June 2009.

The church considers the camp a gift to the community and thus does not charge a registration fee. Participants must bring a lunch. To register, go to chapelgate.org/camp-registration and click on the images to view the printable PDF forms. The updated registration deadline is July 1.

St. James United Methodist invites children to attend Camp E.D.G.E. (Experience + Discover God Everywhere) July 20-24 from 9 a.m. to noon. The program costs $10 for the first child and $5 for each additional sibling. Call the church office at 410-442-2020 by July 1 to register; space is limited. The church address is 12470 Old Frederick Road (Route 99), in Marriottsville.

West Liberty United Methodist, at 2000 Sand Hill Road in Marriottsville, also offers Camp E.D.G.E. July 27-Aug. 1 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. To register for this free VBS, call the church at 410-442-2969 or e-mail generalmail@west-liberty.com.

St. James United Methodist Church, at 12470 Old Frederick Road (Route 99) in Marriottsville, invites the community to attend a coffee house Friday, June 26 from 7-9 p.m. The evening is free of charge and includes coffee, tea and live music. Call the church at 410-442-2020 for more information.

Celebrate Father’s Day this weekend in the beautiful setting of Bon Secours Spiritual Center, 1525 Marriottsville Road in Marriottsville.

BSSC invites all dads and families to attend a Father’s Day Cookout on June 21, from noon - 2 p.m. The meal includes barbecue pork, ribs, sirloin burgers, kielbasa with peppers and onions, roasted corn, baked beans, pasta salad, watermelon, sheet cake and beverages.

Adults cost $13.95, Seniors cost $10.95, Children ages 3-12 cost $8.50, and children younger than 3 are free. To register, call 410-442-1320, or go to www.bonsecoursspiritualcenter.org.

How reassuring to know that one can venture out into the world and yet still return to the security and familiarity of home. The River Hill High School Theater Arts Department thus presents its 2nd annual performance of the You Can Always Come Home Players. The group appears this year in Noel Coward’s “Blithe Spirit,” a light-hearted comedy about a novelist haunted by the ghost of his first wife.

This collaborative effort between River Hill and Marriotts Ridge high schools features past and present fine arts students under the direction of MRHS theater arts teacher Sally Livingston and assistant Cara Antico (MRHS Class of ’08).

Cast and crew include Rocky Bostick (RHHS ’09), Mike Brophy (RHHS ‘09), Jamie Driskill (RHHS ’04), Gabe Fremuth (RHHS ’07), Jimmy Hession (RHHS ’09), Robert Kubisen (MRHS ’09), Jonathan Kwolek (MRHS ‘10), Pam Land (RHHS Director of Theatre Arts), Mike Leon (RHHS ’07), David Llanso (RHHS ’12), Amanda Ogorzalek (RHHS ‘08), Martin Proulx (RHHS ’10), Abby Schwarz (MRHS ’08), Michelle Shankar (RHHS’08), Sara Vanasse (RHHS ’09), and Nick Woodhouse (RHHS ‘09).

Performances take place June 25-27 at 7:30 p.m. in the RHHS auditorium, and tickets cost $10. Proceeds benefit the “You Can Always Come Home Players” Fine Arts Scholarship Fund. To purchase, visit the RHHS front office from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Monday – Friday, or go to the box office 6-7:30 p.m. on show nights. For more information, call Nancy Duffy or Carla Styczynski at 410-313-7120.

Howard County 4-H invites youth ages 8-13 to participate in a Progressive Agricultural Safety Day at the Howard County Fairgrounds on June 29 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. The event, which costs $5, covers such topics as fire, water, sun, and road safety, and it includes snacks, lunch, a T-shirt, and a take-home bag of safety materials.

To print a registration form, go to www.howard4-h.org. Space is limited to the first 50 applicants.

Contact Howard County 4-H Extension Educator Sheryl Bennett at 410-313-1912 or sherylb@umd.edu for more information.

Neighbor Ride invites you to “Make Summer Count” by bringing the kids along as you help transport a local senior. The nonprofit Neighbor Ride organization aims to decrease isolation and improve the quality of life for Howard County residents, age 60 and older, by providing low-cost rides to appointments, classes, social activities, religious services, and other area destinations.

If you would like to participate in this flexible and gratifying volunteer experience, call Rosemary Noble at 410-884-RIDE or volunteer@neighborride.org.