Strange the path that life takes us down. That's what I was thinking as I entered the main building that was to be dedicated late last month as the Forbush School at Glyndon. It was about the same time of year in 2003 when I walked through the same doors for the dedication of Beth Tfiloh Dahan Lower School on the Beth Tfiloh Weiner Glyndon Campus. Gosh, it was even the same caterer for the event, Charles Levine. Talk about déjà vu!

The property at 407 Central Ave., in Reisterstown, was first owned by the American Diabetes Association from 1952 until 1999. The property was used as a camp for children with diabetes until it was acquired by the Beth Tfiloh Congregation in a title transfer.

Beth Tfiloh Congregation built a campus in harmony with its natural surroundings. Low, well-situated buildings with stone facades replaced dilapidated structures that were covered with natural vegetation. Neighbors appeared pleased with the improvements on 25 of the 44 available acres. A small 155-seat chapel, and then an auditorium followed to complete the school campus.

But rumors swelled that the school as well as the services in the chapel were underattended, and that the costs of operating and maintaining a second campus were putting a financial strain on the congregation. In May 2007, news broke confirming the Jewish day school was up for sale. Proceeds from the sale would be used to finance construction of new classrooms on the main school campus on Old Court Road, in Pikesville.

In 2008, Beth Tfiloh sold the property to the Sheppard Pratt Health System for $17.3 million. For the past 18 months, the campus was modified -- new HVAC system, new wiring, unbreakable glass windows, new offices, chapel turned into an activities building and the auditorium the school cafeteria -- to meet the needs of the 120 students and 125 staffers who now grace the corridors.

The Forbush School opened July 6. It offers an education to youngsters, through grade 12, who exhibit a wide range of emotional, behavioral and developmental disorders.

The School is planning a "Phase 2" for its campus. They are raising funds for the construction of a gymnasium.

Mazel tov to Amy Chapper. She is the Hebrew Loan Association's first female president in the organization's 111-year history.

Mazel tov to Lowell Glazer, who received the Distinguished Leadership Award from Baltimore Hebrew University.

Mazel tov to Charlee Sterling, the recipient of the Woman of Vision Award from the Federation of Jewish Women's Organizations of Maryland.

Congratulations to Deidre Lipiscas who was named to the dean's list at the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences at Northwestern University.

A very special birthday wish to Elizabeth Foreman (95).

Congratulations on your milestone wedding anniversary, Leone and Robert Goldsmith (65), Betty and Irwin Meyers (60), Amie and Burt Bank (60), Beth and Larry Pozanek (50), Judy and Louis Culiner (60), Beverly and Toby Wiseman (55), Lois and Mark Rosenfield (50), Ruth and Robert Taubman (65), Margie and Dr. H. Leonard Warres (70).

Mazel tov on the bar mitzvah of Seth Buckner and Jack Halpert.

Mazel tov on the bat mitzvah of Jordana Lachow, Hannah Seidman, Elise Shanholtz and Rachel Snyder.

Best wishes for wedded bliss on the marriage of Amanda Macht to Nathan Blumberg, Bets Ow to Eric Bloom, Lauren Eichler to Jeff Langevin, Melanie Maron to Kenneth Pell and Beth Yaker to Scott Schwartzberg.

Welcome to our world, Madden Paige Sysantos, born to Bryony and Joseph, Ella Sloan Fink, born to Stefanie and Adam, Dylan Jack Rauseo, born to Lauren and David, Alexander Jakob Klein, born to Sasha and Ben, Reese Cameron Paul, born to Sherry and Michael.

My condolences on the passing of Gerald "Capt. Jerry" Millman, Jodie Alter Buerger and Harry Campbell.

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