Howard Community College will hold a community market festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today on the college field adjacent to Little Patuxent Parkway.
The festival will include produce, fruit and crafts by local vendors, as well as educational exhibits.
The festival is the first in a series of events celebrating the installation of Howard Community College's fourth president, Kathleen Hetherington.
Information: Tracie Palm, 410- 772-4896.
Women sought for Hall of Fame
The Howard County Commission for Women invites nominations of outstanding women for induction into the Women's Hall of Fame. The 12th annual Hall of Fame induction will honor women who have achieved distinction in their work, made lasting contributions to the community and improved the quality of life for other people.
Nominees must be natives of Howard County or have lived in the county for at least 10 consecutive years.
Nomination forms, which must be received by Nov. 16, are available online at www.howard countymd.gov/CitizenServices/CS_HomePage.htm, at county libraries, or at the Gateway Building, 6751 Columbia Gateway Drive, Columbia. They also can be obtained by calling 410-313-6400.
Completed forms can be mailed to the Commission for Women, Women's Hall of Fame Committee, P.O. Box 348, Simpsonville 21150-0348. They should be sent with three letters of recommendation, a typed biographical account (limited to two pages) and a 5-inch-by-7-inch black-and-white head and shoulder photograph of the nominee.
Nominations are reviewed by an independent committee, which makes recommendations to the Women's Commission. The nominees will be honored at a public ceremony during Women's History Month in March.
Tickets available for Arc car raffle
The Arc of Howard County will raffle a luxury car to raise money for the organization's programs and services for people with cognitive and developmental disabilities and their families.
Tickets will be sold for $100 each (four tickets for $300) for a chance to win a Porsche Boxster or a six-cylinder Porsche Cayenne SUV. A cash option of $30,000 is also available to the winner of the raffle. The value of each vehicle is about $46,000. Only 1,000 tickets will be sold.
The drawing will be held Oct. 18 at a President's Breakfast for donors and other friends of The Arc of Howard County.
Information or to purchase a raffle ticket: 410-730-0638 or visit www.archoward.org.
Gavel Group formed to support leaders
The Association of Community Services, with support from the Columbia Foundation, is launching a new program in support of leaders of Howard County nonprofit organizations: the Gavel Group - a quarterly session for board presidents.
Each session will focus on an aspect of board leadership and include a brief presentation, an opportunity for questions, and networking opportunities.
The first session will be held at 7:45 a.m. Friday and will focus on board development. Barbara Lawson, CEO of the Columbia Foundation, will lead the session.
Information or to register: 410-715-9545.
Support group for children of divorce
The National Family Resiliency Center, a private nonprofit organization, is inviting teens in ninth through 12th grades whose parents have separated or divorced to participate in a support group.
The group will meet from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays, beginning Oct. 17, at the center, Suite 121, 2000 Century Plaza, off Little Patuxent Parkway in Columbia.
Teens can learn to understand and express their feelings about changes in their family relationships, hear about ways to address problems and learn ways to communicate with their parents and support each other.
Registration is required. A sliding scale of fees is available for group sessions.
Information: Kathy Helt, 410-740-9553 or e-mail, sales@ divorceabc.com.
HCC schedules information session
Howard Community College will hold high school information sessions for prospective college students and their parents.
Sessions will be held at 8 a.m. Oct. 17 in the Kittleman Room of the English, Language, Business Building, and at 1 p.m. Nov. 2 in the Transfer Center of the Rouse Company Foundation Student Services Hall.
The sessions will highlight college programs and services, including Freshman Focus, Rouse Scholars, Silas Craft Collegians and Early Entrance, and they will include a discussion of financial aid. Participants will be invited to tour the campus.
Information or reservations: 410-772-4599.
School board plans conversation session
The Board of Education's next "Coffee & Conversation" session will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday at Howard High School, 8700 Old Annapolis Road (Route 108) in Ellicott City.
The meetings give county residents an opportunity to share a cup of coffee and talk informally with board members.
Talk today to focus on immigration
A public discussion on immigration and its impact on families and employment begun Sept. 20 will be continued from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. today at Laurel Woods Elementary School, 9250 North Laurel Road in North Laurel.
The programs are presented in partnership with the Howard County Office of Human Rights, the Howard County Commission for Women, the Howard County Health Department, the Howard County Library and Howard County Gtv.
Information: 410-730-0142.
College fair set for Sunday in Columbia
Parents and students can meet with representatives from 125 colleges and universities around the country at the county's annual College Fair, to be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Atholton High School in Columbia.
Admission is free and everyone is welcome.
Atholton High School is at 6520 Freetown Road. Information: 410-313-6682 or 410-313-7065.
Taste of Howard to be held Oct. 21
Howard County Executive Ken Ulman and his wife, Jaki Ulman, are to serve as honorary chairs of the 22nd annual Taste & Auction of Howard County, a fundraising event for Hospice of Howard County.
The event will be held from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Oct. 21 at Turf Valley Resort in Ellicott City.
Hospice of Howard County, a division of Hospice of Baltimore, provides end-of-life care to county residents and their families. The organization also offers bereavement support.
The event will offer foods from 20 Howard County restaurants, entertainment, a live and silent auction, a 50/50 raffle and a raffle for a 2007 Ford Mustang convertible.
Tickets are $75 in advance; $85 at the door. Information: 410-730-5072 or www.hospiceof baltimore.org/HowardTaste Page07.html.
Resource center aids cancer patients
The Claudia Mayer Cancer Resource Center, a service of Howard County General Hospital, provides support and assistance to cancer patients and their families. Counseling and support services, a lending library and a fully equipped salon offering free consultations are among its services.
Information: 410-740-5858 or www.cmcric.org.
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. the first Wednesday of each month.
The group offers an opportunity to meet new friends in a supportive environment.
Information: 410-740-5858.
Red Cross calling for blood donors
The Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Region of the Red Cross says the community blood supply remains at crisis level and is urging eligible blood donors to call 800-GIVE-LIFE to schedule a donation. Platelet donors should call 800-272-2123 to schedule an appointment.
Donors must be in good health; at least 17 years old (in Maryland, age 16 with written parental consent), weigh 110 pounds or more, and have not received a tattoo within the previous year or donated whole blood within the previous 56 days.
Information: 800-GIVE-LIFE.