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The New Market Grange will host a celebration of its 90th anniversary at the Libertytown Fire Hall on Jan. 16.

Grange member Richard Stonebreaker, who will be delivering a history of the Grange at the celebration, said that a number of pieces of memorabilia would be on display, including a Bible used by the organization dating back to 1874.

The current incarnation of the New Market Grange dates back to 1920, and had occupied two halls in New Market before settling at its current location on 8th Alley in the 1960s, according to Stonebreaker.

The New Market Grange is a Subordinate Grange, or a local unit of the National Grange, an organization which began after the Civil War to advocate for rural- and farm-related issues on a national level.

Ed Luttrell, president of the National Grange, will also be attending the celebration, according to Stonebreaker.

However, despite the high-profile guest and 50 or more members and their guests in attendance, Stonebreaker said grange members hoped for a "low key" evening, with a few speakers and a social hour.

"We want to have it be a time to get together with other grange members and celebrate our accomplishments," he said.

The event will begin at 2 p.m.

For more information, call Lori Anderson at 301-865-7070.

Students' citizenship honored at Deer Crossing Elementary

Deer Crossing Elementary School honored several students for their citizenship in December as part of the school's Golden Table program, which recognizes students for their character.

Honorees were selected at all grade levels, and included:

Kindergartners Josie Beezel, Ashley Chappell, Zachary Fox, Joshua Jennings, Alana Koh, Abigail LaCasse, Aiden McGill, Tyler Miller, Kevin O'Connor, Alyssa Sale, Zachary Spisso, Hannah Thomas and Emma Watkins.

First-graders Jane Allman, Gabrielle Averill, Ethan Bavender, Rose Bingham, Dylan Bliven, Peter Edwards, Faith Gansor, Justin Lund, Dylan Oskin, Kyle Perry, Madalyn Piotter and Alexis Rotella.

Second- graders Emily Baba, Kylie Burroughs, Rachel Hall, Sami Hardesty, Jack McGaha, Jordan McGill, Cayman Raff, Solana Rios, Tony Rodriguez and Cole Thrailkill.

Third-graders Colby Bannon, Abigail Church, Lander Comhaire, Mary Contardi, Jenny Cramer, Robert Evans, Aidan Flint, Alyson Flora, Billy Higgins and Elyse Palumbo.

Fourth graders Morgan Allen, Mark Dapkus, Ralph DeRose, Tom DuBoyce, Cami Felix, Clayton Holmes, Max Jagger, Tommy Moyer, Maggie Stoffer and Hannah Wizbicki.

Fifth graders Gabi Brummer, Erin Burns, Anthony Cunha, Katie Dapkus, Nick Goodman, Sophia Heitzig, Jake Hooper, Erin Lafferty, Lauren McChesney and Joshua White.

Linganore High student selected for page program

Linganore High School senior Alex Eckard is one of six Frederick County high school students who were selected to serve as pages for the Maryland General Assembly's 2010 legislative session.

Eckard is the alternate for the group.

According to a press release from Frederick County Public Schools, serving as a legislative page is an opportunity for students to learn firsthand about the workings of the legislative process in the state. Apportionment of pages, by county, is based on the census taken at the beginning of each decade.

Other Frederick County students selected include Kathleen Crockett of Walkersville High School, Sean Havern of Tuscarora High School, Jescinta Izevbigie of St. John's Catholic Prep, Caitlyn Leiter-Mason of Gov. Thomas Johnson High School and Catherine Stitely of Brunswick High School.

New Market to pick up Christmas trees

The Town of New Market has scheduled Christmas tree collection on Jan. 13 and 20. Trees must be at the curb by 6 a.m., must be free of ornaments or plastic bags. Trees over 5 feet in height should be cut in half. For more information, contact Town Hall at 301-865-5544.

Community helping Weinberg reach $1 million campaign goal

The Weinberg Center for the Arts is $25,000 closer to reaching its $1 million capital campaign goal, following what staff called an overwhelming response from the Frederick community.

"We have been making progress in the last two weeks," said Stephanie Miller, marketing and development manager for the Weinberg. "I think we all — the city, the staff and the board of directors — are all surprised by how well we've done."

The center announced last month that it was within $100,000 of reaching the $1 million mark, and Miller said this week that the campaign is now within $75,000. The goal is to reach the $1 million goal in the second quarter of this year. The campaign started in September 2008.

The theater has made a big push in the last few weeks selling bricks that can be personalized and will lie along the "Weinberg Walk of Fame," a commemorative walkway outside the main entrance of the theater that will recognize donors of various levels, Miller said.

The theater's largest donations have come from businesses, individuals and Frederick institutions.

The PNC Foundation contributed $75,000 to help replace the theater's marquee to make it more historic looking, and the Ausherman Family Foundation is matching all funds received up to $200,000. The theater's newest contributors, residents Tom Lynch and Karlys Kline each pledged and contributed $10,000 to the center.

The money will go toward the continuous restoration and renovation of the 83-year-old, 200-seat theater that sits in the center of downtown's West Patrick Street. Plans to renovate the building have been in the works for years. In 2009, the theater received new flooring and seating. The renovations were supported by city, state and county funds for capital improvements.

The capital campaign will support more renovations planned for this year, such as repairs to the original tile floor, and new carpet and paint in the theater's lobby.

Miller said she believes that the theatre may even exceed its $1 million goal, thanks to a supportive community.

"What it shows us is that the community understands the importance of the Weinberg," she said.

Residents give back during ‘First Saturday'

Residents braved the cold during the first, First Saturday of 2010 in order to spread warmth to area nonprofit groups.

January's First Saturday event sponsored by the Downtown Frederick Partnership, was themed "Downtown Frederick Gives Back." Several downtown merchants held fundraisers to benefit local nonprofits that provide resources for Frederick's most needy.

On Monday, the partnership said that at least five merchants had raised about $600 for nonprofits on Saturday. More than 25 had participated in the event pledging to donate a portion of their proceeds to nonprofits such as the Heartly House, the Frederick Rescue Mission and the Frederick Community Action Agency. The partnership's total donation goal was $1,000.

The partnership also put out boxes to collect clothing, books and food donations.

Do you have an item for News & Notes? Contact reporter Christian Brown at 301-846-2132, e-mail chbrown@gazette.net or fax news to 301-846-2124.