| Construction on elevator started CATONSVILLE Activities arent being curtailed this summer, in spite of the mounds of dirt, torn-up walls, heavy equipment and loud noises as Catonsville UMC  begins construction of a five-story elevator tower. The ground breaking was held June 23 and construction of the foundation began July 1 as truckloads of sand, block, stone and steel beams began arriving at the site. Completion is expected in December, said Bob Carroll of the churchs Architectural, Construction and Design Committee. Its a big mess, Carroll said, but if we focus on the wonderful addition this will make to our church now and for generations to come, six to seven months of inconvenience will be a small price to pay. Two Scouts from same troop attain Eagle CHEVY CHASE Among the seven young men who recently became Eagle Scouts from Troop 255, which is sponsored by Chevy Chase UMC, were two members who grew up in the church. Ryan Denchfield, 16, and Jonathan Sears, 16, each contributed their skills to projects to enhance the beauty and usefulness of the church. For his Eagle Scout project, Denchfield, the son of Randy and Susan Denchfield, made the cross on the Shepherd Street and Connecticut Avenue corner of the church, and did the landscaping around it for the Lenten and Easter seasons. Sears, the son of John and Bonnie Sears, designed and constructed an easily assembled backdrop for the chapel stage, making it possible to readily convert the stage into a worship setting for contemporary worship services. Church celebrates pastors marriage W ASHINGTON, D.C. When several couples from Hughes Memorial UMC renewed their marriage vows Aug. 4, they also celebrated their pastors marriage. The Rev. B. Kevin Smalls and Lisa K. Temoche were married the day before. The Rev. Donald Stewart, conference council director, was the communion celebrant at the service of reaffirmation and welcomed the bride and groom to their first worship service as a married couple. Youth commit to keeping playground CUMBERLAND When the city of Cumberland decided to deactivate the Mapleside Playground, residents and Mapleside UMC church members resisted. Under the leadership of Amanda ONeal, who attends the church, they began forming a neighborhood association to take control of the playground, located on city property a block away from the church. More than 30 teens in the church youth group have committed themselves to helping with maintenance of the playground and to assist in fund raising, said Jane Riggleman, wife of the Rev. Charles Riggleman. The city had planned to phase out the playground, as equipment, which is already aging and out of style, becomes useless. Because of the community action, the association now has a year or two to raise the money needed and take over the management. Childrens art enhances storage unit  LANDOVER HILLS The storage shed at Christ UMC is now a work of art. Children from the Mothers Morning Out preschool program painted murals of Goldilocks and the three bears, and a four-seasons theme to cover the cinderblocks.
The children meet on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and expect to complete the project in the fall. The childrens names and hand prints are hidden in the pictures, along with lots of insects and woods critters, said Dorothy Tamai, program director. | 
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