Columbia Teen Idol
The annual "Hear My Voice Teen Day" and "Teen Idol Competition" will be held from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9, at Lake Kittamaqundi in Columbia Town Center. Ten finalists will compete for the title of Columbia Teen Idol and the winner will take home a $300 cash prize. Audience members will also vote for their favorite performer to win the People's Choice Award and a $100 Lord & Taylor gift package. Howard County middle and high school students are encouraged to attend this free event. The school with the most students attending will win a free day of activities at the Columbia SportsPark.
Musical
Marriotts Ridge High School's signature original musical revue, "Jukebox VII," runs at 7 p.m. Oct. 13-15 in the school's auditorium, 12100 Woodford Drive in Marriottsville. The show features more than 100 students dancing to and singing music from the past to the present. A 25-piece band provides the accompanying music. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased in advance by emailing caren.fitzpatrick@comcast.net. Information: mrhstheatre.org.
Legacy leaders
The Howard County Legacy Leadership Institute for the Environment will host an Information Night from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Robinson Nature Center, 6692 Cedar Lane in Columbia, as part of recruitment for the 2012 Class of Legacy Leaders. The environmental education and volunteer leadership program is designed for persons 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 3:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays begin Feb. 1 and continue through March. After completing the classes, Legacy Leaders begin 150 hours of field placement with partner organizations from March through September.
The classes meet at the nature center, the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt and the Howard County Conservancy in Woodstock. Field trips to significant local environmental sites are part of the program. A $50 fee is required at enrollment.
To enroll and more information, call 410-381-5279 or 410-796-7232.
Support groups
National Alliance on Mental Illness of Howard County offers several support groups each month. Sessions include groups for family and friends of adults with a mental illness, groups for parents of school-age children with mental health issues, a group for young adults (18-30) living with a mental illness and a weekly group for adults of any age living with a mental illness. For times and locations, call 410-772-9300 or go to nami.org/sites/namihowardcounty.
Concert
St. Louis Church Concert Series presents "Keeping it Close to Home," featuring musicians from county churches, at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, at 12500 Clarksville Pike. Admission is free. Information: 410-531-6040.
Women and divorce
A class will be held Saturday, 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 A. Hrabowski III will be the keynote speaker. David Weeks from Glenelg Country School will receive the Humanitarian Award, and the Howard County Arts Council is the Service Award winner. Information: 410-313-6440 or go to cac-hc.org.
Columbia Association
The organization seeks residents to serve a two-year term on the Senior Advisory Committee. The 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 emailed to michelle.miller@columbiaassociation.com. Information: 410-715-3170.
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. 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.
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 youths age 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 and get involved in their community. 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 and Save the Planet Day. 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 email him at chris.garbart@hcconservancy.org.
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 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. The 98-seat multipurpose performance space 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.
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 this month, 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. 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 jumiller@howardcountymd.gov. 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 electronic devices rather than throw them away. Dropoff locations include the Alpha Ridge Landfill Resident's Convenience Area, 2350 Marriottsville Road. The facility is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Saturday and accepts TVs, computers, keyboards, printers, scanners, laptops, VCRs, radios and other electronics. Also, Best Buy's Customer Take-Back Program allows customers to bring in old TVs (32 inches or smaller) at no charge. Offer 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 jspieler1025@aol.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
The Bernice Kish Gallery at Slayton House, formerly Slayton House Gallery, is accepting applications to exhibit for the coming season. Applications are available by emailing cjblack@columbiavillages.org. 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.