1. JANUARY 6, 2011 THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY SENTINEL 3
BUSINESS OBITUARY
Margaret Virginia High School in New Windsor, 1946-
Teaching the old fashioned way Fleming 94, of
1952 at Indian Head High School in
Indian Head, 1952-1956 at Northern
Garrett Jr-Sr. High School, and
By Nick Coletta
to trigger specific skills in each stu- Taneytown 1956-1972 at Kensington Jr. High
dent, according to Parker. She said School in Kensington. She retired on
Special to the Sentinel Died Monday, January 3, July 1, 1972. Between 1938 and
during the school year, classes meet
In an era during which technol- for one hour each week at a variety of 2011 at Country Companions 1940 she worked at Sauble’s Inn in
ogy-mediated communication has convenient locations in Montgomery Assisted Living in Taneytown. Taneytown and J.C. Penny’s in West-
become the norm, one local entre- County at times that best fit the minster.
preneur says she is using drama and schedules of the students and their Born on September 12, 1916 in Surviving her is a daughter Vir-
theatre programs to help children parents. Johnsville, she was the daughter of ginia Fair of Taneytown, grand-
and young adults develop the es- Since some children and young the late Birnie and Carrie Brown daughter and husband Marti Virginia
sential skills that were lost when adults jump at the chance to act, Harman. She was the wife of the late and Steven L. Hobson of Taneytown,
verbal communication “went out of while others are just looking to gain William J. Fleming. grandson and wife Benjamin James
style.” confidence, Parker said her pro- She graduated from Westmin- and Sarah Fair of Westminster, 3
In March 2009, professional grams target students from all walks ster High School in 1933 and re- great-grandchildren Samantha M.
singer and actress Carolyn Stewart of life. ceived the Rotary Medal. She attend- Hayden, Evan J. Fair and Aubrey G.
Parker opened the east Montgomery “We are definitely not directed ed Columbia University in the sum- Fair, sister Betty Lee Harman Rill of
County sector of Drama Kids Inter- toward aspiring actors and actress- mer of 1946, University of Maryland Pounding Mill, VA, and also by nu-
national, a drama- and theater-based es,” Parker said, concluding that the for evening and summer classes in merous nieces and nephews. She was
program designed for children ages 5 programs are especially great for COURTESY PHOTO 1956-1962, and Western Maryland predeceased by brothers and sisters
to 17 designed to foster life skills, those who are afraid of speaking or Carolyn Stewart Parker College summer school sessions Thelma Harman Spencer, Samuel
such as both verbal and non-verbal acting in front of other people. “They from 1944-1948 where she received Hall Harman, Carroll Seiss Harman
communication, confidence, team- come in here and are willing to eat up a Master of Education Degree in and Viola Harman Spencer.
settled down in McLean, Va., and
work, leadership and on-your-feet whatever I throw at them. That, in 1948. In college she belonged to the The Family will receive friends
she went to Langley High School
thinking, according to the company’s and of itself, is a real eye-opener, be- BBB - Alpha Mu Chapter and the on Thursday, January 6, from 7 to 9
and signed up for a theater class.
website. cause there is either no fear in them Argonauts. After college she be- p.m. at Pritts Funeral Home and
Parker said the teacher of that class,
Drama Kids sees the important or they learn to work through the longed to Phi Delta Gamma - Psi Chapel, 412 Washington Road,
Leah Munson, would change her
life lessons learned in drama and im- fear.” Chapter where she served as treasur- Westminster.
life.
presses them upon their students Parker brings in a thorough er for 8 years. From 1972 to present Funeral services will be held at
Throughout the course of her
through interactive activities, ac- background as being the owner of she belonged to the National Retired the funeral home on Friday, January
high school studies, Parker said
cording to Parker. this area’s Drama Kids program. Teachers Assoc, Maryland Retired 7, at 11:00 a.m. with Melvin James
looked up to Munson as a role model
“In any line of business that you Over the past 30 years, she has per- Teachers Assoc, the Montgomery Fair, Jr. officiating. Interment will be
and a mentor.
go into, you have to be able to com- formed in more than 70 stage pro- County Retired Teachers Assoc and at Evergreen Memorial Garden,
“She was my inspiration and my
municate with other people to be ductions, acted in dozens of films was a life member of the Maryland Finksburg.
best friend in high school,” Parker
able to succeed,” Parker said. “That, and sings the national anthem at least Congress PTA. She taught Science In lieu of flowers, memorial do-
said about Munson. “She was my
in and of itself, is what we are really once a season at Camden Yards be- and/or Mathematics from 1937-1938 nations may be made to the Susan G.
springboard.”
trying to teach.” fore a Baltimore Orioles game. at Allegheny High School in Cum- Komen Foundation, Maryland, 200
Now, long after Munson has
In order to grow, children and When the Boston Red Sox came into berland, 1940-1941at Snow Hill E. Joppa Road, Suite 407, Towson,
passed away, Parker said she hopes
young adults need to gain indepen- town, Parker was asked to sing the High School in Snow Hill and Wash- MD 21286
to have that type of impact on her
dence and self-confidence and work national anthem before 48,000 fans ington High School in Princess Online condolences may be
students at Drama Kids. But Park-
with others, according to Parker, who ¬– the fourth largest crowd in the his- Anne, 1941-1946 at New Windsor made a www.prittsfuneralhome.com
er admits that while she teaches
is the owner and only employee at tory of Camden Yards. her students so much, they contin-
the east Montgomery County sector. Personal achievements aside, ue to teach her just as much every
She said the goal of Drama Kids is to Parker said one of her fondest mem- day. Montgomery County, Maryland
challenge its students and push their ories in life, and probably the reason “These kids allow themselves to
limits, while making them feel confi- she is where she is today, is of a Department of Environmental Protection
be expressive, fearless, crazy and
dent in themselves. teacher she met in her freshman wacky. It’s just raw creativity,” Park-
“Drama Kids is a developmen- year of high school.Parker discov- er said. “They give me more incen- PUBLIC NOTICE
tal drama program,” Parker said. ered her passion for acting and tive to take risks, take chances and Application for Annual Quarry License Certification
“We take the fun and the creativity of singing at a young age, but with her put myself out there. It’s a privilege
drama to teach children essential life family always moving, she never to be able to touch lives and teach Ben Porto & Son, LTD/Tri-State Stone & Building Supply, Inc.
skills. That’s the bottom line.” had a chance to take any type of ex- these kids, giving them the opportu-
Divided by age, each class fol- tracurricular arts class. By the time nity to grow. It really just knocks my The Department of Environmental Protection is currently evaluat-
lows a unique curriculum designed she was a teenager, her family had socks off.” ing the annual quarry license certification submitted by Tri-State
Stone & Building Supply, Inc. Quarry Licenses are granted
for three years, with the requirement that all license application in-
County unemployment falls formation be certified as correct annually in the years between re-
newal.
in job growth," Goldstein said. "We to Bloomberg’s survey, and the La- Certification and related documents are available for public in-
By Nick Coletta spection. The Department will receive written comments on the
Special to the Sentinel
may even get to a point, conceivably bor Department’s seasonal adjust-
by spring, where the consumer is ment process takes that into ac- completeness and accuracy of the certification for 14 days after
In the week before Christmas, going to say that it no longer feels count. publication of this notice. On request of any interested party dur-
the number of first-time filings for like we're still in a recession." Other data in the survey indi- ing the 14-day comment period, the Department must conduct an
unemployment claims fell by In Montgomery County, the cates U.S. businesses expanded in information meeting within 30 days to receive public comments
34,000 to just 388,000 claims, ac- unemployment rate fell from 6.2 December at the fastest pace in two upon the completeness and accuracy of the certification.
cording to the U.S. Department of percent in January – the highest rate decades.
Labor. Officials say the new figure in 20 years – to 5.2 percent in Octo- Labor Department figures also
— the lowest the nation has seen in ber, according to the U.S. Bureau of showed a decline in firings, which is Written comments, questions or requests to examine documents
two years — is a sign the labor mar- Labor Statistics. “a necessary step toward increases may be directed to Steve Martin, DEP/DEPC, 255 Rockville Pike,
ket is accelerating into 2011. According to Bloomberg sur- in employment that will sustain de- Suite 120 Rockville, MD, 20850. Telephone 240-777-7746, Fax
According to Conference vey analysts, unemployment claims mand,” according to the Bloomberg 240-777-7752 or email steve.martin@montgomerycountymd.gov
Board economist Kenneth Gold- are difficult to seasonally adjust news survey. Fewer firings lay the
stein, the number of people apply- near the holidays. groundwork for job creation that 01534663 1t 01/06/11
ing for unemployment benefits pre- Unemployment claims typical- will generate incomes and spur job
dicts where the job market will go ly increase during the period be- creation, which accounts for 70 per-
over the next few months. tween the Veterans Day and cent of the economy, the survey
"We're starting to see a pickup Thanksgiving holidays, according concludes. www.thesentinel.com