The countdown has begun. Parents have only six days until they send their youngsters back to school and houses all over the area grow quiet again.

Let's remember to drive carefully and be on the lookout for kids walking to school and school buses filled with kids.

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The adult Appalachian Service Project group of Community United Methodist Church of Crofton will be sponsoring a yard sale from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday in the church parking lot off Riedel Road.

Rental spaces are still available for $10. Each space is 3 feet by 8 feet and includes a table.

In the case of rain the event will be held in the fellowship hall of the church.

Advance registration and payment will guarantee a space.

For more information or to register, call the church at 721-9129 or Margaret Holmes at 721-5551.

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The Bowie/Crofton Multiple Sclerosis Support Group will hold its next meeting at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 1 at the Adult Day Care Center of Bowie, 3112 Belair Drive.

Dr. Kenneth Johnson, professor and chairman of the Department of Neurology at the University of Maryland Hospital, will be the featured speaker.

All meetings are open to the public.

For more information, call 721-1537.

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The Walden Community Association board of directors will meet tomorrow at 7 p.m. tomorrow at the Walden Club House.

Items on the agenda will include architectural rules adoption and recreational facilities issues.

All Waldin homeowners are invited and encouraged to participate.

For more information, call 721-0434.

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Single Again, a support group for people going through separation or divorce, meets every Thursday at 7 p.m. for orientation at Prince of Peace Presbyterian Church

fellowship hall, 1651 Ardsley Place, Crofton.

For more information, call 987-8900.

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Arundel High School Class of 1979 is putting together its 15-year reunion that will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 1 at the Annapolis Holiday Inn.

For more information, call 474-9253, 898-0850.

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The Greater Crofton Chamber of Commerce, the Crofton Civic Association, the Crofton Country Club and the Greater Crofton Council will sponsor a Candidates Forum from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Sept. 7.

The event will be at the Crofton Country Club, 1691 Crofton Parkway.

Confirmed participants are:

* Democratic county executive candidates Robert Agee, Louise Beauregard, H. Erle Schafer, Theodore Sophocleus and Larry Walker; and Republican candidate John Gary.

* District 7 County Council Democratic candidates Dorothy Chaney and Joseph Collinson; and Republicans John Klocko and James Overmier.

* District 33 State House of Delegates Democratic candidates David Boschert, Michael Canning, Harold Counihan, Patricia Huecker, Sylvia Jennings, David Nataf and Marsha Perry; and Republicans Ingvard "Ed" Bach, Robert Baldwin, Janet Greenip and Ronald Pullen.

* Republican State Sen. John Cade, who is unopposed in the primary and general election in District 33.

The four groups also will sponsor a forum before the general election on Nov. 2 at the Crofton Country Club.

For more information, call Sheila Schneider at 721-9131.