Dolores wins 2 awards in county arts contest

Two pieces of Dolores's artwork took first-place awards in an annual Creative Arts Contest conducted by the Baltimore County Department of Aging.

The prizes were in the watercolor category, for a painting titled "Glengarry," and the fabric arts category, for a collage called "Monday Morning Breezes."

A delegation from the county, with a TV crew in tow, visited Oak Crest Village to present certificates to Dolores and to another resident of the complex, who won a second-place award for woodworking. In the photo here, Dolores is holding the collage and a county representative holds the watercolor.

"With each presentation, I was asked how I came to do each, what were my inspirations, and especially with the collage, describe some of the textures, things that I used in the piece," Dolores said. "The collage is a copy/derivation from a watercolor that I did in high school of some back yards in Corning. I found it a few years ago, and did a larger, better (I hope) version. The collage is loosely based on that. I also have a miniature version, so I’m getting a lot of mileage from it!"

Eventful season for senior Stephanie

It's been a very busy spring for Stephanie as she wraps up her senior year at Hilliard Darby High School. We've fallen behind on the news, but here are photos from three events in April.


At her school's Academic Awards ceremony, Stephanie received an academic honors award, a certificate for outstanding academic achievement and a presidential award for educational excellence.

Here we see Stephanie and a group of friends about to head to the school's Senior Prom.

See more photos of the group here.

Also in April, Stephanie performed again with the Columbus Youth Symphonic Band at its spring concert.

"Stephanie enjoyed performing with them this year at Capital University," Cathy writes. "It was a great opportunity to work with a new conductor and make new friends from other high schools."

Click the image at right to see videos and more photos from the concert.

Stephanie performs with Honors Wind Ensemble

Stephanie participated in the annual Honor Band Showcase held Nov. 18 at the Capital University Conservatory of Music in Columbus. She placed as 3rd chair clarinet in the Honors Wind Ensemble.

Cathy reports: The student musicians "spent time on Friday and Saturday rehearsing music that was performed on Saturday afternoon. They performed two pieces by guest composer Frank Ticheli. Steph was very excited to meet him and work with him, as she has performed some of his works over the years" in her high school concert band.

We have two video clips in which Stephanie is featured:

• Honors Wind Ensemble performs "Sun Dance" by Frank Ticheli 
• Honors Wind Ensemble performs "Earth Song" by Frank Ticheli 

Back at Hilliard Darby High School the following Monday, an awards ceremony marked the completion of the 2017 Marching Band season. "Not only is this the end of Steph's career in Darby Marching Band, but the end of my seven-year involvement as well," Cathy writes.

"Steph was recognized for being a Squad and Section Leader, for being Band President and for her Outstanding Musicianship.

"Also all the Seniors were presented with their plumes. This is the same plume that they wore on their hats for Senior Night (their last home football game) and for the OMEA State Marching Band Finals."

Another musical highlight of Stephanie's senior year is coming up in February, when she takes part in the 2018 Ohio Music Education Association All State Band.

Stephanie selected to All-State Band (Updated with band camp photos & videos)

Stephanie just had an exciting week:

She began her senior year at Hilliard-Darby High School... played in the school marching band's first football-game performance of the season...

And was notified that she'd been selected to participate in the 2018 Ohio Music Education Association All State Band. This ensemble of student musicians from around the state will get together to rehearse and perform in February.

Congratulations to our favorite clarinetist!

Earlier in August, Steph and her bandmates spent several days at band camp learning this season's show.

Band mom Cathy reports: "The students spent a week away at a conference center learning the first half of their competition show. This year's show is called "The Bridge." They also practiced the stand tunes that they play during football games."

"We had great weather all week which helped tremendously. I went along as a chaperone which allowed me to take a few (1500 or so!) photos of the students throughout the week.

I've shared some photos of Stephanie as well as a couple of videos from one of the first times they ran through their show. They learned sections 1 & 2 at camp. Now they are working on section 3 (which includes a woodwind ensemble & a clarinet solo by someone we know!).

• Click here to see the photo album.
• Watch the videos: Part 1 (about 1 min) - Part 2 (2 1/2 min)

Stephanie selected to National Honor Society

Stephanie was inducted into the National Honor Society on March 16 at Hilliard Darby High School. "This is an outstanding accomplishment," writes proud mom Cathy. "Besides having a strong academic record, students must have completed at least 20 hours of community service and obtain five teacher recommendations affirming their character and leadership skills."

Dolores takes award in plein air event

Dolores took a "best in show" award in a plein air art event last month.

Hugh writes: On Saturday, September 24 Dolores took part in a plein air event at Spruce Forest Artisan’s Village in Grantsville, Md. Beginning at about 10 a.m. and finishing about 1 p.m., she produced this pastel painting, which Dolores calls “September Shadows.”

The painting shows a wooded area across the Castleman River. The river was at a lower water level at the time. The piece was awarded a prize as best in show.

Cathy collects ribbons at county fair

Cathy won several ribbons at the Franklin County Fair in Hilliard, Ohio, last weekend.

Cathy submitted examples of her photography and her scrapbooking. Scrapbook pages of photos from last year's Hilliard-Darby High School production of "Peter Pan" (in which Christopher played a pirate) won a first-place blue ribbon, and pages featuring her photos of the school's marching band (featuring both Christopher and Stephanie) took a second-place red ribbon.  

This photo of a rock band and concert audience silhouetted against stage lights also won a red ribbon, and a still-life of colored chalk took third-place honors.

Stephanie ends school year with concert, awards

As the school year wrapped up, Stephanie received awards for both her academic standing and her participation in the music program at Hilliard Darby High School.


At the school's Academic Awards presentation, Stephanie was among those recognized for having GPAs of 3.75 or higher for the year.


And following the end-of-year band concert, Stephanie received an award for "Outstanding Sophomore."

Awards for Steph as freshman year concludes

Cathy writes: 'Tis the season for end-of-the-year awards.

At the Hilliard-Darby High School Spring band Concert, Steph received an award for Outstanding Freshman. They award this to one male and one female in each grade.


Steph also was recognized at the annual Academic Awards Ceremony. She received a Varsity Academic Letter for having a GPA over 3.75.

Julie honored by Girl Scouts for volunteer work

At the Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey council's annual Volunteer Recognition dinner, Julie received the Thanks Badge in recognition of her "selfless volunteerism over the years and her lasting commitment to the mission of Girl Scouts." Above, Julie stands with two other award recipients. Behind her are the executive director and two board members of the council.

The award citation noted that Julie has been a troop leader, Service Unit Manager for Scotch Plains-Fanwood, nut-sale manager, religious award liason and recording secretary for the service unit, "and much more." She also served on the committee that guided the merger of three councils into Heart of New Jersey.

In addition, Julie and the other members of the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Service Unit team received the President's Award as one of the outstanding teams in the council.

"With a service team comprised of over 25 volunteers, this team spends countless hours planning various activities throughout the year to keep the girls engaged in Girl Scouting," the citation said.

Stephanie's artwork wins top honors at county fair

Stephanie created this piece in colored pencil and marker for a school art class, and it was selected by her teacher for a school exhibit. This month, she entered it in the Franklin County (Ohio) Fair. It won a first-place blue ribbon - and was selected as Best in Show. "So proud of my Stephanie," said her mom, Cathy.

Art, dance and shifting into summer on Cape Cod

"Waiting and Watching," acrylic on canvas

"Waiting and Watching" by Tish received an award at the opening reception of the Cape Code Art Association's exhibit, "Points of View: Artists' Interpretations of Photography." The exhibit runs through July 9 at the association's gallery in Barnstable.

Tish also is one of the artists in a group that will be exhibiting every Monday this summer on the Village Green in Dennis.

During May, Tish took a break from painting to prepare costumes for a spring ballet show by the Academy of Performing Arts, where daughter Lizzie is a dancer.

The show was called "Ballet, Broadway and Beyond" and played to a sold-out house on May 20.

"Ballet, Broadway and Beyond" cast backstage.

Assistant teaching at Academy of Performing Arts

Tish writes: "Lizzie has had a busy end of the dance and school year with finals, SAT's, performances, a photoshoot at the beach, and assistant teaching the little dancers. She is now officially a senior at Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School, as school ended on June 22nd.

"She will have a full summer trying to fit in a little beach time between scooping ice cream, ballet classes, assistant-teaching ballet, volunteering in the Early Childhood Program that is located at her high school and writing college essays."

Lizzie selected for National Honor Society

Lizzie has been accepted into the National Honor Society. A junior at Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School, she will be inducted at a ceremony on Oct. 27.

The National Honor Society was established in 1921. Students do not apply; they are nominated, complete an application process, and then have their files reviewed by the principal and a committee at their school.

The letter from her principal notifying Lizzie said, "You were selected for induction this fall because you met the criteria of Character, Leadership, Service, and Scholarship."

Cathy wins 8 ribbons at county fair

Cathy's skills at photography, scrapbook making and cross-stitching won her eight ribbons at the Franklin County Fair in Hilliard, Ohio last week. Two of her entries - a photo and a scrapbook page - won blue ribbons.

Here are photos of her award-winning entries.

SPFHS Marching Band wins state championship in its category (UPDATED 10/29 with more video)

At the US Scholastic Band Association New Jersey state finals on Sunday, the Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School Marching Band took first place in its category, edging out three other bands from around the state. SPFHS also took the awards for best music and best percussion in the "Group VI-A" competition.

Christine, in her fourth year as a member of the band, is captain of the flute section. Freshman Andy plays drums and percussion in "the pit," which also includes marimbas, xylophones, vibraphones, bells, an electric piano and a guitar.

Click the image below to see a short video clip of two portions of the show. The first features percussion - including the marching drum line and the pit. That's followed by the finale, with the camera following Christine's fancy footwork.



UPDATE: Here's a longer video showing most of the program, which features music from the Disney Epcot fireworks show.

Embroiders' Guild chapter honors Dolores

The Constellation Chapter of The Embroiderers’ Guild of America (EGA) recently honored long-standing members of the group. The honorees include Dolores, who was one of the chapter's charter members. Over the years, Dolores has served on the board of the chapter and chaired several committees.

In her remarks at the gathering, she reminded the group that she was the first hospitality chair. According to Dolores, she assumed this office because she lived closest to the chapter's meeting place -- and could most easily go home to get ice!

Andy continues his Scouting advancement

Andy received a pair of merit badges in a Court of Awards ceremony held during Boy Scout Troop 33's annual picnic on Saturday. Here he receives the badges from his Scoutmaster.

Andy moved up to First Class rank in December. The badges he earned this spring (Personal Fitness and Citizenship in the World) are among those required on the path to Eagle rank.

A great day of riding for Christine (Updated with video)

Christine had a very successful day at the Watchung Stable Spring Troop Horse Show, winning blue and red ribbons and taking part in a Drill Team performance.

The three-day horse show features dozens of judged events in which troop members exhibit their skills riding and controlling horses, which they draw at random from more than 50 school horses at the stable. On Saturday (May 29) Christine was entered in two events for A-level troopers 16 years old and up.

In the first event, riding a horse named Chowder, she won the blue ribbon, which automatically promoted her to AA level. In the second event she won the red ribbon for second place. Those ribbons made her eligible for a "ride-off" Sunday against about ten other 1st and 2nd place A and AA winners; she did not win that trophy but was happy to have made it that far.

Christine has been taking riding lessons at Watchung Stables since she was nine. This spring she was invited to join the troop's Drill Team, which meant a second lesson each week to prepare for the show. The team performed a 15-minute routine of precision riding - quite impressive. Here's a look at the highlights (about 3 1/2 minutes worth):

Dan is 'Outstanding' in his class

At the Gavilan College graduation ceremony on May 22, Dan received the school's Outstanding Scholar Award for having finished his Associate's degree with the highest grade point average in his class.

Dan had completed his Associate's degree in December, finishing with a 3.99 GPA. He recently finished his first semester at San Jose State University, majoring in communications.

After a couple of years of going to school year-round, he's taking this summer off to relax a bit, while continuing to work mornings at the Peet's Coffee and Tea shop in Morgan Hill.

The graduation write-up in the local papers mentions Dan's award

Here he celebrates with Eyvonne and Ozzie. (Click for larger views)