COMMUNITY NOTES

The Baltimore Sun

City history quiz open to residents

Columbia history will be the focus tomorrow of a 40th Birthday contest, "Magical History Tour," that includes a citywide hunt for answers to questions about Columbia's past.

Participants should pick up contest directions and other materials between 8 a.m. and noon at Slayton House in the Wilde Lake Village Green. The self-guided tour requires contestants to visit every village to complete the questionnaire.

A shorter "Walking Shoes" version of the Magical History Tour is limited to questions about Wilde Lake and Town Center, and is designed to be family-friendly.

Completed questionnaires must be turned in to Slayton House by 5 p.m. tomorrow.

The questionnaires will be entered in a raffle drawing for gift certificates and other prizes to be awarded at 6 p.m. Sunday at the "Celebrate Merriweather" day of family activities at Merriweather Post Pavilion.

Information: Carol Wasser, Carol.Wasser@columbiaassociation.com.

Powwow tomorrow at fairgrounds

The 14th Howard County Pow-Wow will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. tomorrow and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Howard County Fairgrounds in West Friendship. Native American dancing and singing, Aztec dancers from Mexico City, craft demonstrations, storytelling, pony rides, a tepee, face painting, Native American foods and performances by flutist Tsa' Ne Dose are planned. Tickets are $6; $5 for children. 410-442-1022.

County executive holds forum

Howard County Executive Ken Ulman will hold an open public forum for all county residents from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on July 25 in the Oakland Mills High School cafeteria. The school is located at 9410 Kilimanjaro Road in Columbia.

The event will offer residents the opportunity to speak with the county executive and the heads of every county government department.

"Although I feel like this administration is quite accessible, I want to keep finding new and creative ways to hear from Howard County residents. Hopefully this event and this format will allow those people we have not heard from an outlet to directly ask questions or make comments," Ulman said in a statement.

Those who wish to speak will be asked to sign up when they arrive in the cafeteria. Citizens will be asked to limit their questions or comments to two minutes, and then Ulman will either answer the question or direct the inquiry to the appropriate department head.

Teen committee needs volunteers

The Columbia Association's Teen Advisory Committee is seeking youths, ages 13-19, to join in creating events for Columbia teenagers.

Members of the committee are asked to make a commitment to attend meetings from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. every other Thursday and to help at events.

The committee accepts new members throughout the year. Information: 410-715-5523.

Relatives as Parents on hold for summer

Relatives as Parents (formerly Grandparents as Parents), an information and support group for those raising the children of relatives, meets from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month, except during the summer, at the Bain Center, 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia.

The group offers information, referrals and other services. Its regular meetings will resume in September.

Information: 410-381-4800, or 410-313-1940.

Sheriff to address Triad/SALT group

Triad/SALT of Howard County invites the community to join in a discussion with Sheriff James Fitzgerald at 1 p.m. Monday in the community room at the Bain Center, 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia.

There will be an opportunity to ask questions.

The session is sponsored by Triad/SALT (Seniors and Law Enforcement Together). The organization's local branch is a cooperative venture of AARP and the sheriff's and police departments.

Admission to the talk is free. Reservations are not required.

Information: 531-6638.

Red Cross seeks blood donors

The Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Region of the Red Cross is urging eligible blood donors to call 800-GIVE-LIFE to schedule a donation as soon as possible.

Platelet donors should call 800-272-2123 to schedule an appointment.

Donors must be in generally good health; at least 17 years old, or in Maryland, age 16 with written parental consent; weigh 110 pounds or more; and have not received a tattoo within the past year or donated whole blood within the past 56 days.

Information: 800-GIVE- LIFE.

Housing application period has opened

Howard County Executive Ken Ulman has announced that the county's second open application period for the Moderate Income Housing Unit Program runs through July 31.

The zoning program requires developers of new housing in specific districts to sell or rent a percentage of the dwelling units to moderate-income households.

The units are sold or rented through the Department of Housing and Community Development. Those who want to purchase or rent a unit must fill out an application for a "certificate of eligibility" based on income, assets, household size, whether the applicant wants to rent or purchase and other factors. Certified applicants will be placed on a waiting list.

The next Moderate Income Housing Unit Program lottery, which is to include for-sale townhouses in the development of Shipley's Grant and condominiums in Elkridge Crossing, will be held next month. Those eligible for the lottery will be notified and invited to attend.

Eligible renters will be chosen from the list, based on application dates, when the units become available.

Maximum permitted incomes range from $51,063 for purchasers in a one-person household and $38,297 for renters to $96,290 for purchasers in an eight-person household and $72,218 for renters.

Information: 410-313-6318, or www.howardcountymd.gov.

History project seeks participants

The Howard County Library invites residents to tell their personal history or help collect the stories of others as part of the This Is Your Life project.

The project is designed to enable Howard County residents ages 50 and older to celebrate their lives by creating oral histories, writing memoirs, investigating genealogy and scrapbooking.

Anyone interested in being interviewed or in being trained to conduct an interview should call Kelli Shimabukuro, 410-313-7763.

The project is co-sponsored by the Howard County Office on Aging, Columbia Archives, Howard County Historical Society, Vantage House and American Literary Press.

Woodworking shop open to seniors

The Bain Center operates a woodworking shop equipped with power tools and staffed by volunteers from the Howard County Woodworkers' Guild.

The shop is open to senior citizens working on projects of their own. Hours are from 9 a.m. to noon weekdays.

Information: 410-313-7213.

Widows, widowers meet once a month

Howard County Young Widows and Widowers, a support and social group, meets from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month.

The group offers an opportunity to meet new friends in a supportive atmosphere.

Information: 410-740-5858.

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