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After a local little league suffered a financial blow when a storage shed went up in flames, people far and wide generously donated to get the lost materials back into the game.

Four County Little League president Jim Gill said when the story broke of the April 9 fire, "everything went crazy" with people wanting to know more and donate.

According to the Frederick County Fire Marshal's Office, the fire was discovered by a passer-by at the Russell Windsor Field, which is located near 12350 Jessie Smith Road on the Frederick County side of Mount Airy. Vandals set fire to portable toilets near the shed, destroying the shed as well.

Gill said the structure contained a tractor, pitching machines, balls, bats, tools, landscaping materials, banners, bases and bags of concrete.

He estimated the loss to value between $10,000 and $15,000.

Though the league has insurance on the field, it does not cover fires.

Gill said a manager at Century Car Dealership in Mount Airy saw what had happened and brought it up in a manager's meeting, where the group felt compelled to do something for the organization that both employees' and customers' children were involved with. They decided to donate $10,000.

Century wasn't the only large donator to the group, with Dan Snyder, owner of the Washington Redskins, calling and donating $10,000 as well.

"I thought maybe we'll get a couple hundred, couple thousand [dollars] to repair," Gill said. "I never in a million years would imagine we'd have Redskins and Century stepping up."

"That all happened in the same day, last Tuesday," Gill said of April 19. "...going from despair on Monday with no knowing what was going to happen, to having all this money pouring in... that happened in a 24 hour period."

Century isn't the only local donor, with a number of other businesses, community groups and residents pitching in.

The league is currently in the process of planning for the rebuild.

"We went out to the site last Wednesday and cleaned up the site; it's completely bare," Gill said. "We want to rebuild and we want to rebuild right."

They're looking at making a larger building combined with the concessions stand, along with some precautions against some vandalism.

"Not putting porta pots right up against the shed," he said. "That might cost a little more money and take a little more time."

He said things might start moving in a week or two hopefully in time for district championships the middle of June.

"Now we can rebuild," Gill said.

‘Fame' musical hits

South Carroll High School

The clothes will be bright and the dancing energetic as the musical "Fame" shows this week at South Carroll High School.

"It's a fun show and the students have worked really, really hard," said director Michelle Steshoski, who has directed the last four of the school's annual spring musicals. "They'll [the audience] walk out of the auditorium singing the songs; it's just fun and catchy."

The show is about the ups and downs of a group of diverse students in a New York performing arts high school. She said for the first musical in the new auditorium, she had wanted something upbeat.

Steshoski said the new auditorium that opened this year was very different, not only in looks and comfort, but also with what the students can do in it.

"There's so much more than you can do," she said. "The sets can be so much bigger and more elaborate; it's definitely a little bit easier I think."

Hayley Tevelow, a 17-year-old senior is playing the female lead Carmen Diaz — a "loud rambunctious teenager who wants to make it big."

"I like that she's very different from me, it's a fun role because it's a big step outside of my box and my comfort zone," she said.

She said the show is very bright and vibrant, not only visually.

"It's fun, you get to play a very vibrant acting style too...valley girls a lot," she said. "You get to play around with the characters."

Costumes weren't too hard to come by this year. "They actually were able to bring in a lot of their own costumes," Steshoski said. "They've had a lot of fun making themselves into 80's."

Auditions were held in February and around 50 students have been working on the production since, in lighting, acting and stage work.

"It's a big undertaking for a high school to perform this show, I think it will be interesting for people to see what we've done with it," said Tevelov.

Performances will be Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., with an additional 2 p.m. matinee performance on Saturday afternoon.

Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. Ticket sales go into the fund the students use for the productions.

The performance is in the South Carroll High School's Fine Arts Center, 1300 W. Old Liberty Road, Sykesville.

Adamstown native finalist

in Miss Maryland Pageant

Alexandra Moran, 7, of Adamstown, has been chosen as a state finalist in the National American Miss Maryland Pageant, according to a press release.

The National American Miss pageants are held for girls aged four to 18 with five different age divisions. Alexandra will be participating the Jr. Pre-Teen (ages seven through nine) age division.

The pageant will be held Aug. 13 through 15 at the Hyatt Regency Reston, located at 1800 Presidents St. in Reston, Va. Admission is $15.

The winner of the pageant receives a $1,000 cash award, the official crown and banner, a bouquet of roses and air transportation to compete in the national pageant in California, as well as where she will receive a tour of Hollywood and two VIP tickets to Disneyland.

Habitat's ReStore

grand opening planned

Although the Frederick County branch of Habitat for Humanity moved its ReStore location from East Patrick Street to 622 N. Market St. in Frederick earlier this year, the grand opening and an all-day Earth Day celebration will take place Saturday.

Ron Cramer, executive director of the branch, said ReStore generates about one-third of the organization's funds.

The nonprofit operates the store and receives income through the sale of home improvement materials and home furnishings, which are donated by retailers and individuals.

At 11 a.m., Del. Kelly Schulz (R-Dist. 4A) and Sen. Ron Young (D-Dist. 3) will speak at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Afterwards, Habitat for Humanity will sponsor fun for the whole family, including children's activities, live music, food vendors, a market of seasonal flowers and more.

Contact Angie Cochrun at acochrun@gazette.net.