Visits with Santa
Santa Claus will be available for photos, chatting about wish lists and general visits from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. every weekend through Dec. 19 at Greenstreet Gardens, 391 West Bay Front Road in Lothian. Information: 410-867-9500, ext. 218 or greenstreetgardens.com.
Lights parade
The annual Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 11 in Annapolis. Event takes place rain or shine and concludes with a fireworks display. Some of the entries this year include "Nautical Lights," "Rudolph" and "Holiday Lights." Information: eastportyc.org.
Youth volunteer guide
The Volunteer Opportunities for Youth Guide is available for downloading for free on the center's website, volunteerannearundel.org. Printed copies can also be ordered for $5 each. Mail checks to Volunteer Center for Anne Arundel County, 2666 Riva Road, Suite 130, Annapolis, 21401 or make a purchase at the center during regular business hours. Information: 410-897-9207.
Basketball leagues
Leadership Through Athletics at 2900 Hammonds Ferry Road in Lansdowne will host five winter boys basketball leagues this year. Play begins the week of Dec. 6 and continues for 12 weeks. League groups are fifth grade through high school. Registration and information: 410-737-2117 or leadershipthroughathletics.org. Players on a high school roster are not eligible.
Holiday poinsettias
Orders are being taken for poinsettias to benefit the Pets on Wheels program, in which volunteers and their pets visit residents of nursing homes, hospitals and assisted-living facilities. Red, white or pink flowers with gift sleeves can be purchased for $12.50 or three for $35. Plants will be available for pickup from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3, at the Pascal Senior Activity Center, 125 Dorsey Road in Glen Burnie. Group delivery available on request. To order and for information: 410-222-0738.
Access gates at Fort Meade
The main gate to Fort Meade on Reece Road will be open for incoming traffic only from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. while improvements are made to the gate. The Mapes Road gate will temporarily serve as the 24-hour gate for incoming and outgoing traffic. In addition, the Llewellyn Avenue gate will remain open to inbound traffic only between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. and again for outbound traffic only between 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. Although these gate improvements are expected to cause significant delays to traffic, especially during morning rush hour periods, operations at the Fort Meade Visitor Control Center will not be affected.
Resource guide
The Anne Arundel Volunteer Center has released its 2010-2011 Youth Resource Guide, which provides information about nonprofit and faith-based organizations in the county. A free copy is at volunteerannearundel.org. A limited number of hard copies can be purchased at the center, 2666 Riva Road, Suite 130, for $5 each. Information: 410-897-9207.
Disability issues
The Anne Arundel County Commission on Disability Issues has added an e-mail notification feature to its website that provides information on topics regarding disability issues. Sign-up and information: http://www.aacounty.org/aging/disabledadults/commdis.cfm.
Register your bike
The Annapolis Police Department has announced a new bicycle registration program. When an owner registers a bike, the owner's name, address, phone number, bike's serial number, manufacturer and color are recorded in the Police Department's database. Any resident of Annapolis can register a bike. To schedule an appointment, call Cpl. Craig Medley at 410-268-9000, ext. 7225, or e-mail him at
. Owners must bring their bikes when registering. Neighborhood associations should contact Medley if they want to hold a communitywide registration.
Farmers' market
•The Riva Road Farmers' Market is open from 7 a.m. to noon Saturdays through Dec. 18 at Riva Road and Harry S. Truman Parkway in Annapolis. Information: 410-349-0317.
Doll collection
More than 100 handmade dolls from the Vilma Stockton collection are on display and for sale at the Captain Salem Avery House Museum, 1418 E. West Shady Side Road. Hours are 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays. Information: 410-867-4486.
Fingerprinting service
The Annapolis Police Department offers fingerprinting service at 199 Taylor Ave. from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursdays. Service will be available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. the first Saturday of the month. The fee is $5 per fingerprint card, and the person being printed must supply the cards. Check or money order only. Information: 410-268-9000.
Tours of historic house
The Anne Arundel County Historical Society has opened the historic Benson-Hammond House and North Browse and Buy Shoppe at Aviation Boulevard and Andover Road in Linthicum for the season. Tours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. Group tours are by appointment. The Kuethe Library for Historical and Genealogical Research, 5 Crain Highway S.E., operated jointly with the Anne Arundel Genealogical Society, is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays year-round. Information: 410-760-9679.