Olde Mill Village Crier

Volume 40,  Number  1  / JANUARY 2010

President’s Message
   I hope that everyone has had a safe and happy holiday season. The area was hit with a winter storm on December 19 that dumped up to 24 inches of snow, keeping most county residents in for the weekend. The main roads were cleared and I commend the Anne Arundel County Road Operations for their hard work in removing much of the snow. These men and women worked in 12-hour shifts around the clock during and after the storm to clear the roads.
   The 2010 budget for VOMCA and the Olde Mill Swim Club has been completed. We will post the budgets on the VOMCA web site and here in the Crier. The fee for the 2010 swim season is proposed at $325. I would like to thank the volunteers and treasurer Sarah Hakulin for preparing the 2010 budget.
   I would like to inform all VOMCA members that you should be receiving a ballot for voting on changes to the VOMCA Bylaws as they were published in the December Crier. It is important that everyone complete and return the ballot to VOMCA. This will be coming in the mail. The primary proposal is to delete two (2) board positions. This will allow VOMCA to operate and conduct official business with a smaller quorum.
   The next VOMCA meeting will be at 7:00 p.m. on January 6, 2010. The meeting will be held at Old Mill High School. If the county cancels after-school activities because of weather, then our meeting will also be cancelled because we would not have access to the building.
   Current financial status:
VOMCA Checking:  $ 2,935.49
VOMCA Savings:     $ 3,062.38
--Tom Stag, VOMCA President

Santa’s Sleigh Stuck at North Pole
   Due to the unexpected and almost unprecedented amount of snow that fell on Dec. 19, Santa’s arrival on the Glen Burnie VFD’s fire truck was cancelled. Food that was collected by Hair Expressions for NCEON was held over until Wednesday when it was picked up and delivered, by the Hakulins, to NCEON’s Food Bank on 5th Avenue in Glen Burnie. The Community Association also donated $130 to help with expenses running the outreach program.
   Even though collections could not be made at each house, the amount donated was very generous and greatly appreciated. We wish to thank Cheri at Hair Expressions for donating the use of her business, each year, as a drop-off station for this worthy annual event.

NCEON Helping the County’s Most Needy
   What is NCEON? Often pronounced shorthand as “neon,” the acronym stands for North County Emergency Outreach Network. It is a Christian organization comprising more that 36 churches and 6 civic organizations from Glen Burnie, Hanover, Linthicum, Pasadena, and Severn. It is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit, and an all-volunteer organization. NCEON does not receive any government funding. All funds are donated by member churches, organizations, and private individuals.
   Assistance is offered in court-ordered evictions, utility shut-off notices, fuel issues, food, budget counseling, pastoral counseling, referrals, and homeless programs. No fee is charged for any food and no volunteer is paid.
   NCEON was established in 1989 and has distributed over $5.5 million in food and funds to the less fortunate members of the communities it serves. Those areas include Glen Burnie, Harmans, Hanover, Linthicum, Millersville, Orchard Beach, Pasadena, Riviera Beach, and Severn. Their phone number is 410-766-1826.
   I discovered this information upon visiting their facility on 5th Avenue. Boy and Girl Scout troops, as well as churches, were also delivering food and some clothes and toys the day we delivered our Olde Mill donations. It was a good feeling to be part of this effort, to meet these dedicated people and see the difference they make in people’s lives.
―Sarah Hakulin

Holiday Lights Judged In Olde Mill
   Judging of holiday lights in Olde Mill this year occurred on December 12. There were many beautiful displays of lights and decorations this year from the decorating of a car with a snowman driving to all the mechanical deer and inflatable yard ornaments.
   The winners this year are:
432 Mali Court
8200 Weyburn Rd.
507 Old Mill Rd.
Honorable Mentions:  452  Mali Court and 8335 Williamstowne Dr.
Also, all the homes on Mali Ct. were decorated this year, a nice, well-organized touch.
   Thanks to all who made Olde Mill a village of lights.

FOOM Plans More 2010 Improvements―With Your Help
   Friends of Olde Mill (FOOM) would like to extend their thanks to all those who have donated money to their continuing efforts to maintain and buy equipment for the playground. If you are able, please give what you can to this worthy effort. Take a moment to send in the donation letter that was included in the December Crier to FOOM, Box 1605, Millersville, MD 21108.
   The coming year will see a change to the Olde Mill sign on the edge of the basketball court. Alex Pardoe, a Boy Scout wishing to attain his Eagle badge, will be rehabbing our sign as his Eagle project this January. Plans have been approved and work should begin in the immediate future.
―Mike Hakulin, Jr., President of FOOM

VOMCA Membership Drive Off To Good Start
   Thanks to all who have renewed their membership in the Village of Olde Mill Community Association this year. We have received at least 60 applications thus far. Membership cards will be mailed out early in January. 
   If you have not joined yet, please do so today. See the membership application below. The $15 provides you many advantages that enhance our community, which would not be possible without an association. 
   We still need a quorum of 11 members to come to the meetings at Old Mill High School the first Wednesday of every month, in order for us to conduct business such as elections and budgets for the year ahead. Get involved, we need your support and attendance.