"Come back to school Friday night," says Stan Rappaport, PTA president at Mayfield Woods Middle School.
Mr. Rappaport has arranged tandem events to lure the community out, a silent auction and a talent show. The auction begins at 6:30 p.m. The talent show runs from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The auction concludes after the show.
The silent auction's inventory includes 125 items -- everything from a weekend at a luxury hotel to a tire change, from a meal for two to tickets for a sports event.
Children can bid on items from a Teachers' Table, including goodies such as three dozen homemade chocolate chip cookies, a McDonald's lunch served in the cafeteria, free time using the art room's pottery wheel, and lunch recess in the gym with nine of friends for one week.
The event is the result of two months' effort by Mr. Rappaport and his committee, Irene Jackson, Barbara Holden and Charla Phillips.
Money earned will be spent on the school's cultural arts program.
Fifth-graders at Rockburn, Phelps Luck, Waterloo and Deep Run elementary schools -- feeder schools for Mayfield Woods -- are welcome to get acquainted with the school.
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Betty Merson Leishear told me that Elkridge High School's Class of 1944 recently celebrated its 50th class reunion by spending an October weekend in Ocean City.
Twenty-one graduates and 15 spouses and guests attended.
The class graduated at 8 p.m. June 6, 1944, an unusual graduation night by any standard: it was D-Day.
Many people in the audience carried in their hearts a relative who was in Normandy. Five boys had already left school to help in the war effort, and were awarded their diplomas in absentia. Three ++ of them did not return from the war to see their diplomas.
The Class of 1944 has gathered for a reunion every five years since 1969. Now the group will get together every two years to share old memories and make new ones.
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Zack Ward and Aaron Altscher, eighth-graders at Dunloggin Middle School, believe that their generation should stay drug-free.
With the help of faculty sponsors Penny Zimring and Nancy Wagner, the boys are planning a Red Ribbon Day for Dec. 22, when they'll present a day of healthful alternatives to drug use.
The kids have already lined up "Spinny" Johnson, a former
Harlem Globetrotter, to speak on living a drug-free lifestyle.
The school is looking to the community for additional help. Adults are needed for small group demonstrations of activities that middle-schoolers would enjoy, such as magic, art and cooking projects, cartooning or sports.
This would make a great Christmas project for a business that wants to help kids.
If you can spend part of your day at Dunloggin, call Mr. Zimring or Mrs. Wagner at 313-2831.
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Turf Valley Overlook held its third annual Halloween parade Oct. 30. This year, Karen Cooper, Laura Moore and Lisa Schubert organized the event, which drew 156 participants.
Firefighters from the Bethany Station led the parade with sirens blaring and lights flashing.
The community is making plans for the holiday season.
A Christmas breakfast with Santa is being planned for small children. Boxes of candles have been purchased to light luminarias Christmas Eve.
The next Homeowners Association meeting will be held at 8 p.m. on Nov. 17 at Waverly Elementary School.
A welcome is extended to all new neighbors.
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Cub Scout Pack 361 Den 2 Scouts Andrew Bechta, Evan Calvert, Peter Kerwin, David and Mark Nakasone, Grant Rizzi, Jason Spencer, Sid Tarason and Peter Young have spent the last month completing the requirements for their Outdoorsman Award.
The den went on a camp-out where they pitched tents, cooked their meals and learned about camping fire safety. The highlight of the night was seeing the planet Saturn and its rings.
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This weekend is full of events sponsored by groups working to earn funds for community projects.
I think there's no better restaurant than a church basement, no better gift than one bought at a craft sale. Here are a few future "fun raisers":
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St. Paul's Catholic Church is holding a spaghetti dinner Sunday at Resurrection Church Hall, on Chatham Road one block off Route 40 West.
Dinner will include spaghetti, meatballs, Italian bread, all-you-can-eat salad, dessert and a beverage.
The church will also have games to play after you eat.
Tickets cost $5 for adults and $3 for children under 12 years. For tickets or information, call 465-4483.
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Mount Hebron High School Viking Backers, an energetic group of parents who fund the school's many extracurricular activities, begin their fund-raising year Saturday by holding an Art Show and Auction.
Included in the show are oil paintings, etchings, enamels, prints and more, created by well-known artists.
The Heisman Fine Arts Gallery of Ardmore, Pa., is bringing works to sell. Most bids start between $50 and $150, but the Backers guarantee that the art will sell below gallery prices.
You can preview the works between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. The auction starts at 8 p.m. The Backers will provide refreshments and door prizes.
The auction will be held at the school, at 9440 Route 99 in Ellicott City. Tickets are $5 per person, $25 for six tickets.
For information, call Alice Bounds at 465-6216.
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The Ladies Auxiliary to the Elkridge Volunteer Fire Department is holding its seventh annual Christmas at the Station Craft Bazaar from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
Thirty area craft people will sell their wares. Parents, bring your little ones to see Santa arrive on a fire engine at 11 a.m.
L A camera will be set up to take pictures of kids with Santa.
Funds raised will be used to finish the new hall, especially the kitchen.
The bazaar will be at the Elkridge Volunteer Fire Department at 6275 Old Washington Road in Elkridge.
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St. Augustine's Catholic Church is holding its monthly all-you-can-eat breakfast from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Sunday. The menu includes eggs, sausage, hash browns, pancakes, toast and beverages.
Tickets cost $3.50 for adults and $2 for children ages 3 to 12. Children under 3 eat for free. For information, call 796-1069.
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You may know something about Jazzercize: it's a dance routine exercise, backed by popular music.
Perhaps you don't know that Ellicott City has four Jazzercize classes each week in the armory on Montgomery Road.
"It's a lot of fun, and a great way to stay fit," says instructor Laurie Angelaras, who started the classes a year ago.
Class times are Mondays at 6:30 p.m., and Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6 p.m. A Saturday Fast & Fit class begins at 8:45 a.m.
A one-time trial class costs $5. If you attend, take a water bottle and a mat.
Call Laurie at (301) 210-4210 for information on the pay-as-you-go price.