Sunday, April 8
'Next to Normal' Red Branch Theatre Company presents this rock musical about a family trying to take care of itself the best way it knows how through April 22 at the Drama Learning Center, 9130-I Red Branch Road in Columbia. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $18, $16 for seniors and students. Information: 410-997-9352 or redbranchtheatre.com/index.html.
Wednesday, April 11
Master gardener series The Oakland Mills Community Association presents "Create a Flower Arrangement" at 7 p.m. at The Other Barn, 5851 Robert Oliver Place. Participants can learn how to create a table centerpiece for spring using fresh flowers. Free. Registration and information: 410-730-4610 or go to oaklandmills.org.
Thursday, April 12
School news The Board of Education holds a regularly scheduled meeting at 4 p.m. in the department's Board Room, 10910 Clarksville Pike in Ellicott City. Both the afternoon and the evening session, which convenes at 7:30 p.m., will begin with a forum in which members of the public may address the board on any topic other than those for which a formal public hearing process exists. Information: 410-313-6680
Saturday, April 14
GreenFest The county's fifth annual GreenFest will be held 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Howard Community College's Burrill Galleria, 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway in Columbia. More than 100 vendors will participate. The free event features exhibits, demonstrations, workshops, activities and tips for easy ways to "green" your home, workplace and life. The theme this year is "Saving the Environment One Yard at a Time" and focuses on the importance of taking steps at home. There will be information on creatively reusing waste products, stream-friendly lawn care, composting, beekeeping, energy efficiency and water conservation, green buildings and consumer products. Attendees can learn more about native animals, improving indoor air quality, green car care, eating local and seasonal foods, and biking to work. Workshops will be held on outdoor play spaces, keeping chickens in your backyard, how to build a rain barrel, stopping stream erosion in your yard, natural weed controls, children's nature crafts and minimizing light pollution. For information and a schedule of events, call 410-313-0700 or go to hcgreenfest.org.
'Financial Zone' The county's Public School System Academy of Finance sponsors a financial literacy event for high school and college students 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Bridgeway Community Church, 9189 Red Branch Road in Columbia. Participants will take part in interactive workshops on topics including saving and investing, budgeting, establishing credit, insurance and identity theft. Free. Space is limited and registration is required. To register, send name, phone number and email address to areyouinthefinancialzone@hotmail.com.
Cocker Spaniel Adoption Day The Oldies But Goodies Cocker Spaniel Rescue group will hold an adoption day 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Columbia Petsmart, 9041 Snowden River Parkway. Information: cockerspanielrescue.com.
Concert Billy J Carter, Steve Lanocha and Purple Jim perform in a free Music Matters showcase 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Anna's Cafe, 8827 Centre Park Drive, Suite D, Columbia. Information: 443-546-4131.
Future
Bridal showcase Historic Oakland's annual Bridal Showcase will be held 1:30 p.m. to 4:40 p.m. April 15 at 5430 Vantage Point Road in Columbia. More than 50 exhibitors will be on hand to provide a look at products and services. The event also includes a free bridal planner, previews of fashions by the Bridal Boutique, live performances, food and cake sampling, and door prizes. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door. Information: 410-730-4801 or historic-oakland.com.
Meeting In partnership with the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Morgan Chapel United Methodist Church will host "Understanding the Experience of Mental Illness: Learn From Those Who Live With it and Those Who Love Them," 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. April 17 at 6750 Woodbine Road, Woodbine. Free. Information: 410-772-9300.
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Special Olympics The organization sponsors its 11th annual Inspiration Walk on April 21 at Centennial Park. Proceeds will provide funding for year-round training and competition in 19 sports for county children and adults with mental disabilities. Activities including face-painting, games, a Zumba warm-up, blood pressure screenings and interaction with high school mascots. Participants can choose between a 2.6-mile walk around Centennial Lake and a half-mile family fun walk. The registration fee is $25. Each walker will receive an Inspiration Walk T-shirt and be entered in a drawing for prizes. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the walk begins at 9:15 a.m. Registration and information: 410-740-0500 or go to somdhc.org.
Film series The Columbia Jewish Congregation concludes its annual film series April 21 with "Jewish Luck" at the Columbia Jewish Congregation, 5885 Robert Oliver Place, Room 200. Tickets are $9. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.; screening begins at 8 p.m. Refreshments and post-film discussion included. Information: 410-381-4809, 410-997-0694 or SBloch@comcast.net.
Spring fair The Mount Hebron Nursery School will hold its 28th annual Spring Fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 28 at 2330 Mount Hebron Drive in Ellicott City. The fair will be held rain or shine, and includes food, games, face-painting, moon bounces, dance shows, crafts, and book, bake and flower sales. Admission is free. Information: 410-461-2773.
Classical music The Sundays at Three Chamber Music Series presents Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Associate Concertmaster Madeline Adkins and other orchestra members in a performance of the Schubert Octet and Mozart's String Quartet in C, K.465 at 3 p.m. April 29 at Christ Episcopal Church, 6800 Oakland Mills Road in Columbia. Tickets are $15, ages 17 and younger admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Information: 443-288-3179 or sundaysatthree.org.
St. Louis Church Concert Series "Mostly Mozart and a Little Bernstein," featuring soloists, the St. Louis Choir and St. Louis Concert Orchestra, will be presented at 4 p.m. April 29 at 12500 Clarksville Pike in Clarksville. Admission is free. Information: 410-531-6040 or stlouisparish.org.
Spring Party The Columbia Foundation, which raises, manages and distributes funds to support the county's nonprofit organizations, will hold its 30th annual Spring Party from 5:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. May 15 at Howard Community College's Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center, 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia. Tickets are $75 per person. Information: 410-730-7840 or columbiafoundation.org.
Announcements for the datebook may be sent by mail to The Baltimore Sun in Howard County, 501 N. Calvert St., Baltimore 21278; by email to howard.events@baltsun.com; or by fax to 410-332-6455.