Environmental video contest

The Howard County Environmental Sustainability Board is sponsoring the annual Green Screen Video Festival for county elementary, middle and high school students. Cash awards, from private funds, will be given out at the board's environmental summit during the county's Greenfest on April 2 at Howard County Community College.

"Stormwater Management: Help Save the Chesapeake Bay" is this year's topic for videos in either of two categories: public service announcements or information videos. Guidelines with information sources and entry forms are available by sending an e-mail to hocogreenscreen@gmail.com or for download at howardcountymd.gov.

Videos must be submitted by March 18 to Howard County Office of Sustainability, Attn: Lindsay DeMarzo, 3430 Court House Drive, Ellicott City, 21043.

'Into the Woods'

Red Branch Theatre Company presents its first show of the season March 25 through April 9 at the Drama Learning Center, 9130-I Red Branch Road in Columbia. Show times vary. Tickets are $15-$18 in advance, $20 at the door. Information: 410-997-9352 or redbranchtheatre.com.

Auto flea market

The Chesapeake Region of the Antique Automobile Club of America sponsors the 38th annual Antique Auto Parts Flea Market from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 12 — rain or shine — at the Howard County Fairgrounds, 2210 Fairgrounds Road, West Friendship. Event features indoor, outdoor and covered vendor sites. Free admission and parking. Information: 443-744-6338 or aaca.org/chesapeake.

Scholarships

Special Olympics Howard County will award two scholarships to outstanding student volunteers who have demonstrated their commitment to the program by volunteering and advocating for the athletes. Available are the Jackie Burk Memorial Award for Outstanding Student Volunteer for Special Olympics Howard County, valued at $1,500, and the Allan Homes Award, valued at $1,000.

Interested students must complete an application (available at somdhc.org), provide at least one recommendation from a Special Olympics coach, management team member or sports coordinator, and write a 500-word essay about their experiences as a volunteer. High school seniors and college students are eligible to apply.

Completed applications should be mailed to Special Olympics Howard County, Attn: Scholarship Committee, 8970 Route 108, Suite A-1, Columbia, 21045, and must be postmarked no later than April 1.

Information: 410-740-0500.

Laser tag

The Columbia Association Teen Advisory Committee sponsors a special high school outing from 7:15 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. March 19 at Shadowland, a laser tag adventure site at 9179 Red Branch Road, Columbia. Cost of the event is $5 per person and includes two games, pizza and snacks. All Howard County high school students are welcome. Space is limited. Registration and information: 410-715-5523.

Volunteers

The Howard County Conservancy seeks volunteer naturalists to serve as educators for the conservancy's school programs at Mount Pleasant, 10520 Old Frederick Road in Woodstock. Naturalists will assist conservancy staff in leading hikes on the conservancy's historic farm property. Training is from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursdays in March. Participants will receive a manual and learn about native plants, animal species, ecological concepts and the history of Mount Pleasant. Cost for materials is $10. Registration and information: 410-465-8877.

Summer day camps

Glen Mar United Methodist Church in Ellicott City will hold weekly summer day camp sessions June 27-Aug. 5 for children entering kindergarten through sixth grade. Full-day and half-day sessions are available. Costs are $145 to $225 per week. $50 deposit is required for each camp at time of registration, balance is due by June 1. Sessions include Pioneer Outdoor Camp; Mix It Up Camp; What's Cooking?; Summer Fun and Games; Lights, Camera, Action; Celebrate; and Talent Camp. Information: Andrea Calomeris at 410-465-4995, ext. 212 or e-mail camp@glenmarumc.org. Registration forms available at glenmarumc.org.

Solar cooking contest

The Columbia Association's Teen Advisory Committee and the Columbia Archives are sponsoring a Solar Box Cooking Contest on May 14 at the Columbia Lakefront. Solar boxes can be used to make hot dogs, cookies, nachos and more. Prizes will be awarded for the best cooked item. The contest is part of the Save the Planet Day Celebration and the Columbia BikeAbout events. For more information and instructions on how to build a solar cooker, call 410-715-5523.

Culture cafe

The Columbia Association, in collaboration with the African Art Museum of Maryland and the Council of Elders of the Black Community of Howard County, invites community members and those who have an interest in Africa to help plan an Africa Culture Cafe to be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 6, at the Hawthorn Center in Columbia. The cafe will showcase African craft vendors, music, dance, videos, fashions and educational displays on West and East African countries. Information: 410-715-3162.

Scholarships

The Elkridge Adult Athletic Association is accepting applications from area high school seniors for its 2011 scholarship awards. Applications will be accepted until April 22. Information: 410-796-8088.

Parenting workshops

The Howard County Office of Children's Services presents a series of workshops for parents and guardians raising children from newborn to age 8, one Thursday of each month through April at Howard County Library's East Columbia branch, 6600 Cradlerock Way. Topics include child development, encouraging self-esteem and good behavior, positive guidance and discipline, and how to keep children safe and healthy. Classes meet from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Cost is $5 per class. Registration and information: 410-313-1940.

Art exhibit

The paintings of Marc Boone and Michael Sastre will be on display through Friday, March 13, in the Rouse Co. Foundation Gallery at Howard Community College, 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway. Information: 410-772-4804.

'Kindred Spirits'

"Kindred Spirits," a social club for individuals 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. Activities 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.

•Students at Patuxent Valley Middle School have joined the Great American Can Roundup. A collection bin for aluminum cans is outside the school, and proceeds from recycling will be used to fund green school projects and field trips. The school is at 9151 Vollmerhausen Road in Jessup.

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.

Volunteers

The Howard County Conservancy is seeking Wednesday drop-in gardening volunteers from 9:30 a.m. to noon to help maintain thematic and native plant gardens on the property. All levels of experience are welcome.

Also, drop-in workdays in the Children's Garden, within the Community Gardens, are 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. the first and third Saturdays of the month, and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesdays. No experience needed. Meet at the Nature Center.

Information: 410-465-8877 or hcconservancy.org.

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, consisting of teachers, administrators, students, parents and other community members who advise, support and advocate for the improvement of educational programs, meets 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 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.-1 p.m. or 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday; other times may be considered. Information: 410-992-1923, ext. 14.