Turkey and pumpkin pie, parades and football games, family and friends. Thanksgiving is not just a day, it's an event.
Personally, I credit the Thanksgiving celebration for raising my consciousness concerning equal rights for women. I believe the exact moment of my enlightenment was 4:47 p.m., Thanksgiving Day 1971 when my grandmother handed my cousin Michael the T. V. Guide and tossed me a dishcloth and an S. O. S. pad.
But dishes aside, let us take a moment to reflect on the positive things in our lives as we log yet another year.
* For example, isn't it reassuring that so many new businesses -- Wal-Mart, B. J.'s, Total Crafts -- all have enough confidence in our local economy to open new stores in our community. Now if only they could convince the tellers at my bank that I have enough money in my account to actually pay for the merchandise.
* A nod of thanks to Marley Station Mall for waiting until the day after Thanksgiving to launch the official opening of its Christmas shopping season. I get quite enough peer shopping pressure from my friend who already has all of her gifts bought, wrapped and returned by the time I have decided on a Halloween costume for my children.
* In some kind of bizarre twist of logic, we find ourselves pleased that the proposed jail site on New Ordnance Road has been found to be contaminated with radioactive material, therefore bumping this location to another list entirely.
* And isn't it nice that the county managed to get property tax bills to a few thousand residents even though it wasn't able to notify four adult video stores that zoning changes made them unwelcome in residential neighborhoods?
May you all enjoy dinner in a house with a dishwasher.
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An attempt to give Glen Burnie parents more support in their parenting efforts is the objective of a four-week workshop sponsored by the guidance department at Glen Burnie Senior High.
The sessions are scheduled from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., Jan. 20 and 27 and Feb. 3 and 10 at the high school.
"Parent to Parent" uses videos to trigger discussions about problems and issues that may arise between a parent and a child.
After the viewing, members of the guidance staff will lead a question-and-answer period addressing specific areas of concern.
Registration forms have been sent home with the December newsletter.
Completed forms should be returned to the guidance office by Jan. 5.
For additional forms or information, call the school office, 761-8950.
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Reservations are needed by Tuesday for the Christmas buffet party sponsored by the Glen Burnie Chapter of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees.
The annual celebration is scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m., Dec. 9 at the Columbian Center, 335 North Ritchie Highway.
Tickets are $12 for members and their guests and include a luncheon, music, prizes and special holiday surprises.
Tickets will not be available at the door. Contact Neva Koester to reserve your ticket: 761-1430.
NARFE assists retirees with pensions, health benefits and services available for senior citizens.
As part of its commitment to its members, the organization is in the process of establishing a NARFE service center at the Curtis Bay Coast Guard yard.
That center is scheduled to open Thursday, Dec. 10 at 10 a.m.
For additional information on any NARFE functions or activities, call Edward Thomas, 761-1054.
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With funding cutbacks restricting their budget, the students at Marley Glen Special School turned to a caring group for help in obtaining several new items for their school.
When the school needed a wheelchair scale to help keep accurate health records for students who are handicapped and medically fragile it sought the assistance of the Civitan Club of Glen Burnie.
Not only was the club able to help with the purchase of the scale, it also paid for several switch-activated toys for the primary students as well as a tape recorder for the classroom.
Many people don't realize that the Civitan Club's activities and donations are largely funded from the profits of pizza sales at the annual Big Glen Burnie Carnival.
It's just one more way our community works together.
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While doing last-minute Thanksgiving shopping, why not add a few extra canned or boxed goods to your shopping list?
Members of Boy Scout Troop 955 will be visiting door to door in the Rippling Estates and Old Mill communities on Saturday, Dec. 5, collecting food to help fill the county food banks.
Boys ages 11 and older are invited to join Troop 955.
Scoutmaster Howard Higgens meets with the boys at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Christ Lutheran Church on Elvaton Road.
In addition to various community projects like the food drive, the Scouts also enjoy fun activities such as camping.
For information on the food drive or Troop 955, call Mr. Higgens at 969-2839.