I LOVE TO WATCH Jeopardy and pit my trivia skills against the TV contestants. It's a long way to California, and I probably will never be a contestant on the show. Still, on Saturday mornings, I test myself with the trivia board at the local Chesapeake Bagel Bakery. While waiting for my bagel, I try out the question of the day.
Sometimes I even know the answer. Then the cashier rings a ship's bell and awards me a free bagel. But even if I don't know, it's fun. And the questions lead to interesting discussions.
The trivia board was the brainchild of Tim Smyth, a manager at the restaurant. Several years ago, Smyth was writing the daily specials on a bulletin board and decided to make the board more interesting. So he threw in a trivia question. The customer response was so lively that the store decided to continue the practice.
Smyth still remembers that first question: "Who was the father on Happy Days?" (Howard Cunningham.) Many questions come from popular culture. But topics covered reflect a variety of interests. Smyth is a history buff, so lots of questions are on that topic. (Saturday's question asked about Germany's plans to take over Europe one country at a time. I was clueless about the order in which countries were attacked.)
Shakespeare is another popular subject. Sometimes high school students find out that English lessons can have practical applications in unusual places -- such as the bagel shop.
Sports, geography and politics lead to other questions. Smyth says that many staff members contribute topics. Sometimes customers give him ideas. Questions may come from newspaper stories or radio reports or a book that someone is reading.
Smyth jokes that the only hard thing about the trivia board is that, starting out as a novelty, it became an obligation to find a new question each day. But he is not complaining because it is fun for the staff as well as the customers.
Mike Carzon visited the bagel shop for the first time Sunday. He saw a question about Jack Nicholson's films and knew the answer. So, in his honor, the ship's bell was rung and he got a free bagel. What a nice way to start the day.
Christmas concert
Crofton Community United Methodist Church will present a Christmas concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the church on Riedel Road.
The Chancel Choir and Jubilate Bells will perform holiday music.
Information: 410-721-9129.
Holiday service
The 11 a.m. Christmas Day Mass at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Crofton will be signed for deaf and hearing-impaired worshippers.
Worshippers from other churches are invited.
Information: 410-721-5770.
Time of penance
Penance services will be offered at three area Catholic parishes this week in preparation for Christmas.
Several priests will take part in each service so participants will have the opportunity for confession.
The services have been scheduled as follows:
Today: 7:30 p.m. at Our Lady of the Fields, Millersville.
Thursday: 7:30 p.m. at St. Philip Neri, Linthicum.
Saturday: 11 a.m. at St. Joseph, Odenton.
Visits from Santa
Santa Claus will make an early visit to area neighborhoods this week, courtesy of the Arundel Volunteer Fire Department's Station 7.
For more than 15 years, the volunteer firefighters have treated Santa to a ride on a red firetruck to help him plan his Christmas Eve journey.
Santa and his helpers will wave holiday greetings to neighborhood families and share Christmas treats.
Rudolph is resting up for Christmas Eve, but flashing red lights and blaring horns will let children know when Santa is approaching their street.
Santa and his helpers will travel throughout Station 7's primary service area. The area includes Crofton, Davidsonville and Gambrills.
Watch out for Santa through Friday.
Santa will visit these neighborhoods on the fire engine from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.:
Today: Eagles Passages, Gravely, the Route 450 side of Patuxent River Road, Greens of Crofton, Cedar Grove, and G, U, W and A sections.
Tomorrow: Chapman Farms, Walden, T and S sections; Crofton Mews, Nantucket Drive and Riedel and Johns Hopkins roads.
Thursday: Layton Street and sections J, K, H, F, E, D, Crofton Commons, Carlisle Drive, Pleasant Meadow, Courts of Crofton, Orchards and R section.
Friday: Crofton Meadows, Chelmsford, Charing Cross, Keswick Apartments, Highlands, Seton Woods.
Firefighters must remain available for emergency calls and might not be able to adhere strictly to announced routes. Updates are available through the Fire Department's community events hot line at 301-267- 8000.