The Columbia Art Center offers a camp for grades 1-8, Monday through Aug. 19 at 6100 Foreland Garth. Children will experience printmaking, painting, sculpture, collage, drawing, working with clay and more. Artists will teach campers how to experiment with colors, textures and media in a variety of theme-based projects as they go from studio to studio. Camp also includes Zumba dancing and swimming. Camp is offered in one and two week sessions: Cost for the one-week sessions are $235 for residents and $275 for non-residents. Two-week sessions are $405 and $475.
Information: 410-730-0075 or go to columbiaartcenter.org.
'Fiddler on the Roof'
The Howard County Summer Junior Theatre presents this musical centering on the life of a poor dairyman and his efforts to keep his family's traditions in place while marrying off his three oldest daughters. Shows will be held 2 p.m. Thursday, June 30 and 7 p.m. Friday, July 1, at Long Reach Hill High School, 6101 Old Dobbin Lane in Columbia. Tickets are $7. Information: 410-313-7117. Proceeds benefit Prepare for Success and Grassroots Crisis Prevention Center.
Festival and fireworks
The annual Fourth of July festival and fireworks display will be held Monday, July 4, at the Columbia Lakefront. Festival kicks off at 5 p.m. with children's entertainment featuring the Blue Sky Puppet Theater, Kinderman and comedy juggler Michael Rosman. There will also be carnival games and crafts, with a "Stars & Stripes" theme. At 7:30 p.m., the main stage will host a rock performance by Cruise. Fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m. Free parking. Information: 410-313-4451. Rain date for the fireworks display is Tuesday, July 5.
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 email him at email@example.com.
The Laurel Mill Playhouse presents "Twelfth Night" by its Summer Youth Shakespeare Theatre at 508 Main St. in Laurel. Show continues through July 17 with 8 p.m. performances Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. matinees on July 10 and 17. Tickets are $13, $10 for students and seniors. For reservations and more information, call 301-617-9906, ext. 2 or go to laurelmillplayhouse.org.
Disaster information sessions
The Volunteer Center Serving Howard County hosts monthly disaster volunteer information and orientation sessions to inform community members on how to plan, prepare and effectively serve in times of disaster to improve community preparedness and resiliency. Sessions will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 28; Tuesday, July 26; Thursday, Aug. 18; and Wednesday, Sept. 7, at Columbia
Association Headquarters, 10221 Wincopin Circle in Columbia. To register and more information, call 410-715-3179.
A Howard County construction project to replace a water main along Ducketts Lane, between U.S. 1 and Kyle Leaf Court in Elkridge, is underway. The project will include the installation of approximately 14,000 linear feet of PVC pipe. Construction will take place weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a minimal effect on traffic in the area. Signs will be in place to advise motorists. Weather permitting, project should be completed by late September. Information: 410-313-3440.
The Columbia Association's Board of Directors' Planning and Strategy Committee seeks volunteers, preferably those whose backgrounds or careers are preferably in the financial management area, to serve a one-year term on the Columbia Association's Financial Advisory Committee. The mission of the committee is to provide community input to the planning and strategy committee to inform and advise the association on budget issues and financial matters related to planning and strategy. Letters of interest, along with resume, should be submitted by Wednesday via mail to Chick Rhodehamel, Columbia Association, 10221 Wincopin Circle, Suite 100, Columbia, 21044; via fax to 410-312-6327; or via e-mail to firstname.lastname@example.org. Information: 410-381-3551.
The Howard County Office of Children's Services will present a series of workshops for parents and guardians raising children from birth to age 8. Topics include child development, encouraging self-esteem and good behavior, positive guidance and discipline, and how to keep children safe and healthy. Classes are offered in an interactive group format and will include practical tips and advice for common
situations, as well as hands-on activities. Interested persons can take just one class or the entire series of six. Each class is $5 and will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. every other Tuesday through August 23 at the North Laurel Savage MultiService Center, 9900 Washington Blvd. in Laurel. To register and more information, call 410-313-1940.
Calling all artists!
The Howard County Arts Council is now accepting submissions for Art HoCo 2011. If you are a visual artist, 18 or older, who lives, works or studies in Howard County, you are eligible to apply to this biennial juried exhibit. The juror will be David Gracyalny, dean of the School of Professional and Continuing Studies at Maryland Institute College of Art. For entry forms and more information, call 410-313-2787. Deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26.
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.
The Howard County Arts Council seeks two volunteers to serve on the Baltimore City Arts & Cultural grant
review panel. Interested individuals should have expertise in science/history museums, aquariums, libraries or zoos. Attendance at a three- to four-hour meeting on Wednesday, June 15, is required. Send resume and letter of interest to email@example.com. Information: hocoarts.org.
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.
Howard County resident Elaine Ritchey has established the Arnold Braer and Maggie Endowment Fund, a
donor-advised fund at the Columbia Foundation, that will support organizations dedicated to animal welfare. Fund is a memorial to her brother, Arnold Braer, who lived in Laurel, and his beagle, Maggie. The two died in November 2006. For more information about the Columbia Foundation, call 410-730-7840 or go to columbiafoundation.org.
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.
Vendors for International Day
The Columbia Association seeks vendors for the 17th annual Columbia International Day, 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 23, at the downtown Columbia lakefront. The celebration highlights and celebrates the cultural and ethnic diversity of Columbia. The free event features live music and entertainment representing a variety of cultures; international food and crafts vendors; and children's activities.
Applications are being accepted from vendors and artisans who would like to display or sell items with an international theme. For an application and more information, call 410-715-3161 or go to columbiaassociation.org/events.
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 for the project.
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.
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, 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 firstname.lastname@example.org. The program is sponsored by the Howard County Office on Aging and the Alzheimer's Association of Greater Maryland.
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.
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.
Council seeks members
The Community Advisory Council to the Board of Education is seeking at-large members for the coming
school year. The council sponsors educational programming for members and provides the opportunity to study and have input into curriculum, educational policy, redistricting and budget. It meets at 7:30 p.m. the third Thursday of each month at the Department of Education in Ellicott City. At-large members serve a two-year term. Information: 410-313-6682.
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@example.com.
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
Slayton House Gallery is accepting applications to exhibit for the coming season. Applications are available by e-mailing firstname.lastname@example.org. Information: 410-730-3987.
Spanish speakers wanted
Latest Howard County
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.
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