Written By Lisa Breslin

More than 225 people gathered in Winters Mills High School auditorium on August 16 to watch “Be Moved: Dance for a Cure,” a benefit recital choreographed by Kaila and Jenna Contestabile. It was the second year that the sisters, both dancers, have choreographed the event to raise money for The American Cancer Society.

Thirty-two dancers, more than twice the number in last year’s recital, performed 15 dances that represented such diverse styles as Hip-Hop, Contemporary, Jazz, Modern and Lyrical.

The recital raised $2,010. The total was bolstered by an $800 grant from the R. Coleman & Anne Murray Reid Endowment for Community Service of Bridgewater College, where Jenna is a senior. Kaila is a sophomore at Carroll Community College.

Dancers included: Teal Anderson, Alyssa Arnold, Jessica Barnes, Laura Barnes, Danielle Bowers, Jess Bronner, Jon Contestabile, Jesse Cook, Kayla Copperthite, Kayla Davis, Francesca DiPaula, Carson Fogarty, Andrew Gear, Samantha Godwin, Jackie Guercio, Glen Harrison, Nathan Harrison, Christian Henderson, Margo Huffman, Morgan Kavanagh, Corrine Kavanagh, Lauren Lamon, Alyson Marks, Hannah Miller, Elise Morengo, Brittany Morris, Leo Ndingwan, Rachel Petrie, Amanda Pope, Kathryn Reitenbach, Kelsey Tier, Natalie Tier, Matt Wilfong, and Calley Zamecki. J.T. Wojtowicz and Haley Zincon served as the dancers support team.

Two Fund-Raisers Benefit Carroll Child Care Center

Fund raisers in July and August succeeded in raising more than $3,000 for the Carroll Child Care Center.

The August fund-raiser, which garnered $300 for the Child Care Center, took place on August 15.

On that magical Saturday, lollipops dangled from the trees and members of The Carroll Players convinced an attentive audience at Gypsy’sTea Room that the world’s givers are the ones who find joy.

The message shone through in their performance of “The Invisible Dragon” during a Children’s Benefit Tea on the lawn (and under the gazebo) at the Westminster tea room.

In addition to Pink Princess Potion and Queen’s Blend Tea, attendees savored King of Hearts tea sandwiches, Dragon Burgers, Vanishing Chocolate Cupcakes and Crown-Prince Shortbread Cookies.

This is the fifth year that Gypsy’s Tea Room has hosted a Children’s Benefit Tea.

The Carroll Players who donated their time and talent included: Rose Bryson (producer), Dan Beirne (King), Denise McCoy (Queen), Nicole Kimball (princess), Roger Voter (Prince), Katie Gowlan (Storyteller), Chris Vance, Julia Thomas and Maggie Quick (Townspeople), Sarah Reifsnider (Stage Manager).

For information about additional fund raisers for the Child Care Center, call 410-871-4079.

Chef’s Tasting for Four

On July 27, Bud’s at Silver Run opened its doors to 110 people eager to support Carroll Child Care Center, Inc. the county’s oldest, most accredited nonprofit children’s facility.

Ticket sales and a raffle for a Chef’s Tasting for Four (donated by Bud’s owners Ken Lurie & Blinn “Buddy” Salisbury) raised approximately $2,800.

Carroll Child Care Center first opened its doors in 1969, as The Committee for the Daycare of Children, offering low-income families child care and a jump on early learning.

The mission remains the same, but funding is much more scarce, according to Reverend David Schafer, chairman of Carroll Child Care Center’s board of directors. In fact, Fred Teeter, the organization’s executive director, noted that the biggest accomplishment during the last year was that “we survived.”