Book sale
Shepard of the Glen Lutheran Church holds its 16th annual Book Sale Thursday-Saturday, Sept. 8-10, at 14551 Burntwoods Road in Glenwood. Event features more than 20,000 books for sale, including three rooms of children’s books and 1,000 antiquarian books. In addition there will be a large supply of near-fine “coffee table type” books, and a large assortment of DVD’s, puzzles, videos, CD’s, tapes, and records. Children’s books and paperbacks are priced at 50 cents and hardbacks $1. The antiquarian books and a limited number of near-fine books are priced higher. Hours are 3 p.m.-7 p.m. Thursday-Friday, Sept. 8-9, and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10. Directions and more information: 410-489-0063 or 410-442-2475.
Women and divorce
Classes will be held Saturday, Sept. 10 and Oct. 15, at Howard Community College, 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway. Registration, times and information: 443-518-4974.
Awards dinner
The Community Action Council will hold its 16th annual Holland Awards Dinner at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19, at Turf Valley Country Club in Ellicott City. UMBC president, Freeman Hrabowski, will be the keynote speaker. Also, David Weeks from Glenelg Country School will receive the Humanitarian Award and the Howard County Arts Council is the Service Award winner. Tickets are $75, $650 for a table of 10. RSVP by Sept. 30. Please advise if any meals should be vegetarian.
Information: 410-313-6440 or go to cac-hc.org.
Disaster training
The Volunteer Center Serving Howard County will hold two training sessions for volunteers interested in helping staff a disaster Volunteer Mobilization Center during times of disaster and recovery. Its purpose is to coordinate community needs with volunteers who come forward to help with tasks such as cleanup or information distribution. A classroom training session will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15 at the center, 10221 Wincopin Circle in Columbia, and a simulation training session will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, at the Community Room, 5000 Signal Bell Lane in Clarksville. Interested participants are encouraged to attend both training sessions. Registration must be made by Sept. 13.
To register, call 410-715-3179 or e mail [email protected]. Information: 410-715-3172 or go to volunteerhoward.org.
‘WomenFest’
The third annual “WomenFest,” a wellness event for women, will be held from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15, at the Gary J. Arthur Community Center, 2400 Route 97 in Cooksville. Event focuses on health, wellness, fashion and beauty, and is designed to inspire women to live more balanced, healthier and fuller lives. There will be health screenings, demonstrations, workshops, seminars, and a variety of vendor exhibits and food. Attendees can also participate in belly dancing, zumba and Bollywood demonstrations. There will be free blood pressure, body mass index, foot, glaucoma, glucose, cholesterol and HIV screenings available. Health experts will be on hand to offer guidance on HIV prevention, nutrition, fall prevention, and women’s wellness. Seminar topics include, “Eating for Beauty,” “Sexuality: No Expiration Date,” “Women in the Woods,” and “Money Myths that Get Smart Women in Trouble.” There will also be more than 40 vendors and exhibitors offering products and services.
Admission is free. Information: 410-313-5440 or go to howardcountyaging.org.
Soccer coaches
Special Olympics needs soccer coaches for the coming season, which runs from late August through October. Practices are held twice a week, on Wednesday evenings and Saturday afternoons. Training will be provided. All new coaches must attend a volunteer orientation at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11. Information: 410-740-0500.
Columbia Association
Organization seeks residents to serve a two-year term on the Senior Advisory Committee. Goal of this committee is to advise the association on the needs, interests and concerns of Columbia’s senior residents. Nominees must have demonstrated interest in the senior population, be at least 55 years-old and be knowledgeable of senior programs and services in the county. Letters of interest should be mailed to: Columbia Association, 10221 Wincopin Circle, Columbia, 21044, Attention Michelle Miller, or e-mailed to [email protected]. Information: 410-715-3170.
Auditions
Columbia Pro Cantare is holding auditions for all parts for its 35th anniversary season. Regular rehearsals begin Tuesday, Sept. 6, and are held from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesdays at Hammond High School in Columbia.
To schedule an audition, call 410-730-8549 or go to procantare.org.
Naturalists needed
Howard County Conservancy seeks volunteer naturalists for its fall field trip programs. Naturalists assist conservancy staff during field trips by leading nature hikes on the property. Field trips are offered during October and November, and naturalists are asked to lead a minimum of three hikes. Training takes place from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Thursdays in September for the elementary program and Tuesdays for the secondary program. Participants will receive a manual and learn ecological concepts as well as the history of plants and wildlife in Howard County. Cost for materials is $10.
To register and more information, call 410-465-8877.
Flea market
Event will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, at Christ Episcopal Church, 6800 Oakland Mills Road in Columbia. Information: 410-916-0744.
Charity golf event
The annual Lisbon Open, sponsored by the men of Lisbon United Methodist Church, will be held Sept. 27 at the Whiskey Creek Golf Club in Ijamsville. Proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society and flood and tornado victims. Cost is $150 per person. To register and for more information, call Mike Mattingly at 301-854-6141 or e mail [email protected].
Legacy Leaders
The county Legacy Leadership Institute for the Environment is recruiting for the 2012 Class of Legacy Leaders.
The program is designed for people 50 and older who want to gain skills and knowledge and create a legacy through their volunteer work with partner organizations. Six weeks of classes from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays begin Feb. 1. After completion on March 14, Legacy Leaders begin 150 hours of field placement with partner organizations from March-September.
Classes meet at the Robinson Nature Center, 6692 Cedar Lane in Columbia, the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt and the Howard County Conservancy at Mount Pleasant Farm in Woodstock. Field trips to significant local environmental sites are part of the program. A $50 fee is required at enrollment.
Partners are Climate Change Initiative of Howard County, Department of Recreation and Parks Robinson Nature Center, Howard County public schools, Howard County Conservancy, University of Maryland Extension Howard County, James and Anne Robinson Foundation, and the Friends of Patapsco Valley and Heritage Greenway.
More information and application forms can be obtained at howardllie.com. To apply for the institute, call Barbara Schmeckpeper at 410-381-5279 or Cathy Hudson at 410-796-7232.
‘Volunteer of the Year’
Nomination forms for Howard County’s Volunteer of the Year are available at howardcountymd.gov. Program recognizes individuals (youth and adults), nonprofit groups and agencies, or businesses that have demonstrated commitment and dedication to the community. Deadline is Friday, Sept. 16.
To qualify, nominees must either live or do their volunteer work in Howard County. In addition, their efforts should have an effect on an individual or the community. Individuals nominated must perform their service outside the scope of the nominee’s paid employment.
Completed forms should be mailed to: Howard County Government, Office of Public Information, 3430 Courthouse Drive, Ellicott City, 21043, or faxed to 410-313-3299.
All nominees will be recognized at a ceremony at the George Howard Building on Oct. 26. Event is free and open to the public.
Tutors needed
A-OK (Assist Our Kids) Mentoring-Tutoring Inc. seeks adult volunteers to work in Howard County public schools and in after-school programs. Volunteers may work with individual students and/or small groups during and after school. Volunteers are asked to commit for one hour a week for a minimum of one school year. Among the schools the organization is associated with are Atholton, Bryant Woods, Cradlerock, Longfellow, Phelps Luck, Running Brook and Stevens Forest elementary schools, along with several new partner schools in North Laurel. Information: 410-730-6030 or 410-740-3850.
Teen advisory committees
The Columbia Association is recruiting youth, ages 11-19, to become members of its Middle School and Teen Advisory Committees. The association is looking for teens who want to make a difference, get involved in their community and be a part of the solution. As members of the committee, teens can create and implement events and programs for their peers. Past activities have included the Teen Idol Competition, Teen Role Model Competition, Battle of the Dance, charity fundraisers, Teen Tuesdays concerts at the lakefront, a free college fair, Save the Planet Day and more. Information: 410-715-5523.
Gardening volunteers
The Howard County Conservancy seeks Wednesday morning drop-in gardening volunteers to help maintain thematic and native plant gardens on the property. All levels of experience are welcome. Call Chris Garbart at 410-465-8877 or e mail him at [email protected].
Disaster information
The Volunteer Center Serving Howard County hosts a disaster volunteer information and orientation session from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7, at Columbia Association Headquarters, 10221 Wincopin Circle in Columbia. Session is to inform community members on how to plan, prepare and effectively serve in times of disaster to improve community preparedness and resiliency. To register and for more information, call 410-715-3179.
Construction
A Howard County construction project to replace a water main along Ducketts Lane, between U.S. 1 and Kyle Leaf Court in Elkridge, is under way. The project will include the installation of approximately 14,000 linear feet of PVC pipe. Construction will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays with a minimal effect on traffic in the area. Signs will be in place to advise motorists. Weather permitting, the project should be completed by late September. Information: 410-313-3440.
Guided hikes
The Howard County Conservancy offers free guided hikes and talks on the second Saturday of the month. Visitors can enjoy an easy walk in the meadows and woods and along stream banks of the conservancy, 10520 Old Frederick Road in Woodstock. Information: 410-465-8877 or go to hcconservancy.org.
Theater rental
The Howard County Arts Council has announced the availability of the Black Box Theatre for rental. It is a 98-seat multipurpose performance space and is equipped with professional sound and lighting equipment, nearby dressing rooms, padded seats, black stage curtains and a sprung dance floor. A performance grand piano is also available for rental through a separate agreement with the Howard County Music Teachers Association. All renters of the theater are required to carry a commercial liability insurance policy of $1 million. Other requirements and rental request forms and rates can be found at hocoarts.org. Rental request forms should be mailed to Room Rentals at the Howard County Arts Council, 8510 High Ridge Road, Ellicott City, 21043.
Boating season
The Department of Recreation and Parks has opened its newly renovated boat-launching ramp and fishing pier at Centennial Park. Located on the south side of the park, the ramp and pier improvements include an enlarged pier and an ADA-compliant walkway. The start of this year’s boating season, which normally begins March 1, was pushed back to April 22 because of the construction project. As a result, the cost of an annual boat permit has been reduced from $35 to $30. Permit is good for the entire season, which ends Nov. 30. Information: 410-313-7271 or howardcountymd.gov/rap.
Renovation project
The Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks has received a $30,000 grant from the National Recreational Trails Program Fund. The grant will be used for the renovation of the Village of Owen Brown’s pedestrian pathway system.
The project, scheduled to begin in October, will allow the restoration of the deteriorating East Columbia pathway with a new overlay of asphalt. Howard County will provide $30,000 in matching funds, along with any remaining funds needed.
Renovations will consist of repaving the 3,909-foot pathway that serves the Owen Brown Community Center, Owen Brown Interfaith Center, Owen Brown Village Shopping Center, Cradlerock School, the Howard County Library’s East Columbia branch, and the Southwick and Elkhorn housing communities. Anticipated completion date is the summer of 2012.
Information: 410-313-2022.
Yard waste collection
Howard County’s Bureau of Environmental Services will resume weekly yard waste collections through Jan. 20, 2012. Yard waste will be picked up weekly during regular recycling days and should be placed outside by 6 a.m. Allowable yard waste items include grass, leaves, hedge clippings/light brush, small limbs or branches less than 4 inches in diameter and 4 feet in length, dry seed pods, straw, hay and bamboo. Residents are encouraged to use paper bags or reusable containers. To obtain a free paper yard waste bag (limit two bags per family), go to the Bureau of Environmental Services at 6751 Columbia Gateway Drive, Suite 514 in Columbia, or the Alpha Ridge Landfill at 2350 Marriottsville Road in Marriottsville.
For a complete list of what yard waste is and is not accepted, or for more information, go to howardcountymd.gov/dpw/recycling.htm.
Kindred Spirits
Kindred Spirits, a social club for people diagnosed with early memory loss or dementia, will meet from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays in the 50+ Center at the Gary J. Arthur Community Center at Glenwood. Highlights include speakers, discussion of current events, yoga, meditation and art therapy. Daily fee of $26 includes snacks, lunch, coffee and tea. Information: Judy Miller at 410-313-5441 or [email protected]. The program is sponsored by the Howard County Office on Aging and the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Maryland.
Recycling cans
Habitat for Humanity and the Boy Scouts of America have placed a collection bin for aluminum cans at the entrance to the parking lot of Christ Memorial Presbyterian Church, 6410 Amherst Ave., in Allview Estates. Information: 410-997-4949.
Recycle old TVs
The Howard County Bureau of Environmental Services reminds residents to recycle analog TVs rather than throw them away. Options available:
The Alpha Ridge Landfill Resident’s Convenience Area, 2350 Marriottsville Road, is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Saturday and accepts TVs, computers, keyboards, printers, scanners, laptops, VCRs, radios and other electronics.
Best Buy’s Customer Take-Back Program allows customers to bring in old TVs (32 inches or smaller) at no charge. Limited to two televisions per person per day. Console televisions are not accepted.
Services directory
The Southeast Howard County Health Services Directory, a guide to resources near North Laurel and Savage, is available free at the North Laurel-Savage Multiservice Center, 9900 Washington Blvd. The directory includes listings of clinics, pharmacies, hospitals, general and family practices, dentists, obstetricians and gynecologists, transportation and crisis contacts. The guide also indicates whether Spanish and Korean are spoken at the facility, as well as the address, contact information and hours
of operation. Hours and information: 410-880-5917.
Theater workers needed
Red Branch Theatre Company is accepting resumes for costume designers, lighting designers and stage managers for the remaining shows this season. Send applications to Jennifer Spieler at [email protected].
Panel seeks members
The Secondary Language Arts Advisory Committee seeks new members. The committee consists of teachers, administrators, students, parents and other community members who advise, support and advocate for the improvement of educational programs. Meetings will take place four times during the school year at a central location. Information: 410-313-6620.
Call for artists
The Bernice Kish Gallery at Slayton House, formerly Slayton House Gallery, is accepting applications to exhibit for the coming season. Applications are available by e mailing [email protected]. Information: 410-730-3987.
Spanish speakers wanted
The Foreign Born Information and Referral Network, 5999 Harpers Farm Road, Suite 200-E, Columbia, needs Spanish-speaking volunteers to greet clients, answer basic questions, make appointments and support the staff. Hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday; other times may be considered. Information: 410-992-1923, ext. 14.
