The economy has hit Open Space Arts, just as it has hit many other artistic organizations. Open Space Arts is celebrating its 20th year this summer. Members of Open Space Arts say they will try to stay the course through "alternative fundraisers," new programming designed to engage more people and "fun" events during the summer. Donations, however, are desperately needed to meet their monthly operating expenses, and to continue their artistic mission.

Open Space Arts will hold a yard sale in July, but it won't be your average neighborhood yard sale. Instead of offering items your children have outgrown, or home furnishings you wish you'd never purchased, they will be offering costumes and masks from past year's performances. So even though it is summer, think Halloween, and how you could have an original get-up that would make you the life of a party.

Another Open Space Arts event is their Summer Playwright Festival in August. The group will perform a series of six short plays about summer, written by various playwrights. Dates and times are available on line at www.osarts.org or by calling 410-526-9377. Open Space Arts is located at 16 Hanover Road, in Reisterstown.

This year's fifth annual Bloomin' ArtFest became a two-day affair after last year's one-day event was rained out. Committee Chair Lauretta Nagel called this a "transition year." She said the committee hoped that by making the fest a two-day event, as is the Reister's Towne Festival, they would attract more vendors and more sponsors.

Unfortunately, attendance at the May Bloomin' ArtFest was off. Nagel attributed the low numbers to the less- than-stellar weather and economy.

That said, the merchants of Main Street did experience a bump in sales.

Scott Carothers, of Bay Country Rentals, said his business was noticeably up. While rentals of tools and equipment have been down, wedding and party rentals are going strong, he said.

Chad and Cindy Meneses, at Alice's Cafe, have also been doing more business. In fact, recently, they were so busy they remained open past their normal weekend closing times. It's been eight months since they purchased the restaurant from Drew Burton.

Mark your calendars for the sixth annual Bloomin' ArtFest on May 15 and May 16, 2010.

By the way, the Reistertown-Owings Mills-Glyndon Chamber's annual Crab Feast will not take place this year. Our crustaceans have become a rather cost-prohibitive item for a fundraising event. Additionally, the closing of the North Star Restaurant, where the event had been held for a number of years, also figured into the decision to cancel the event.

Instead, the chamber is gearing up for a less expensive, more family-oriented Summer Barbecue. The target date for the barbecue is July 23 at the Irvine Nature Center, 11201 Garrison Forest Road, in Owings Mills. Contact the Chamber at 410-702-7073 for more information.

Members of the Reisterstown Senior Center might want to attend a discussion by Ann Gearhart of the Snyder Foundation on Aug. 18 at 10:30 a.m. Gearhart will talk about "Species in Danger." The Snyder Foundation's mission is animal awareness. Pick up a schedule of events for the various Baltimore County Senior Centers by contacting the Baltimore County Department of Aging at 410-887-2594.

A very special birthday wish to Esther "Eppie" Herman (88) and Harold Morganstern (90).

Congratulations on your milestone wedding anniversary: Betty and Herb Aaron (50).

Mazel tov on the bar mitzvah of Mason Bernstein, Mitchell Traub, Aiden Kline, Adam Epstein, Benjamin Yumkas, Mitchell Caplan, Cory Dalcin, Jason Greenberg and Ryan Ciresi.

Mazel tov on the bat mitzvah of Sara Adler, Ilona Nakshun, Kara Seidel, Kathryn Glick, Courtney Levitt, Meredith Smith, Brooke Garfield, Mackenzie Lewis, Sarah Cohen, Sophie Strome, Marla Gordon, Carly Tilson, Claudia Deitch, Amy Shapiro, Jordan Alperstein, Hanna Fiddle, Alexa Ain and Laura Steininger.

Here's to stars in your eyes on the engagement of Victoria Roffe to Jesse Hervitz and Tova Jacobs to Jonathan Handel.

Welcome to our world, Chana Karlip, born to Shoshana and Joshua, Jack Aldon Kaufman, born to Terry and Justin, Dylan Scott Bernstein, born to Gail and Jerry.

Wishing a complete and speedy recovery to Marcia Yumkas.

My condolences on the passing of Helen Haas and Harvey Cummins.

Look for my next column on Thursday, July 16.

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