Every Columbia resident has visitors at some time. Whether family or friends, it would be nice to take visitors on a "cultural" tour of Columbia.
Do you know which villages have outdoor sculptures? Do you know where the "Rouse Brothers" sculpture is located? Have you taken the time to appreciate "The Hug"?
Answers to all of your outdoor sculpture questions will be answered on the "Columbia's Hidden Treasures" field trip March 23.
It will begin at Columbia Art Center, Long Reach Village Shopping Center, at 9 a.m.
You will see the art, learn about its sculptor and why it was commissioned.
Information: (410) 730-0075.
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Columbia Art Center also is sponsoring art trips "Strictly for Seniors."
Art historian Lee Mills will lead the tour from Columbia Art Center to Baltimore Museum of Art March 9 at 10 a.m.
Having met Mr. Mills, you may want to attend the public reception of his mixed media exhibit, "Styx and Stones" the next day at 6 p.m. at Columbia Art Center.
Baltimore artist and sculptor Al Zaruba is curator of the show, which features works incorporating found wood and objects.
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Children's singer and writer Barry Louis Polistar will be in Columbia Sunday to perform at a fund-raiser concert for Oakland Mills' Bet Yeladim Jewish School.
The performance at Howard High School costs $5. Call (410) 992-8526 for reservations.
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Christmas was two months ago, but bookkeeping takes time.
Here are the statistics from the "Recycling Cycles" project: 36 bicycles and tricycles plus seven pairs of roller skates were repaired and repainted and presented to families in St. Edward's and Immaculate Conception parishes in Baltimore.
Columbia Bicycle, Long Reach Village Shopping Center, repaired 12 bikes free and supplied other parts at a discount.
Columbia based "Bikemobile" donated repairs and supplied discounted parts for 11 bikes. Tom Sutton helped with repairs. Bob Hartman, Karen Roberts and Lisa Jaworski did "pickups" with their vehicles. And the like-new bikes had preholiday storage in the basements of Jean Sonnenberg, Donna Weedorker and Larry and Joan Tarbell.
Eight-hundred children's books were donated as well. Families are encouraged to hold outgrown bikes or even bikes that have reuseable parts until the call goes out this fall for the next roundup.
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Basic American Foods donated $1,000 to Oakland Mills' Stevens Forest Elementary School.
Many employers pledge donations to schools that employees' children attend. In this case, Patrick and Robbie Black's mother, Kathy Black, requested a donation from her company.
Volunteers give contributions, too. Susan LoPresto can give first-hand accounts of volunteers' importance to students and teachers at Stevens Forest Elementary School.
She coordinates a group that meets each Friday to help prepare teachers' material.
The school's Volunteers of the Month are given gift certificates of appreciation by the Oakland Mills Village Merchants Association.
Honored December volunteers were Vicki Ballard and Dianne Finneran. Last month, Donna Berman and Sally Villamor were selected.
& Information: 381-9022.
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"Introduction to Judaism" is an 11-session course open to everyone in the Howard County community who is interested in exploring Judaism or considering conversion.
Oakland Mills' Temple Isaiah's Rabbi Mark Panoff will teach all aspects of Judaism with emphasis on the Reform perspective.
The classes begin March 12 at 11 a.m. at Harper's Choice Middle School, Harper's Choice village.
Class members also will share a traditional Shabbat dinner and visit the U.S.Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.
Registration and information: (410) 730-8277.
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Children ages 2 and under can enjoy a four-week series of story times, "All Together Now," if they bring their parents.
The readings at East Columbia Library begin March 9 at 10:30 a.m.
Registration, in person or by phone, 313-7730, begins Thursday.
Boys and girls who are 2 years old by Monday may register with their parents for "Time For Us."
The Monday and Wednesday six-week series begins at 10:15 a.m. Monday at the East Columbia Library.