Backyard Bird Count is this weekend

The National Audubon Society and Cornell Lab of Ornithology will sponsor the 11th annual Great Backyard Bird Count this weekend. Volunteers in the United States and Canada will be invited to participate.

A member of the Audubon Society will lead a demonstration count and answer questions about bird identification and how to conduct a count at home, at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Howard County Conservancy, 10520 Old Frederick Road, Woodstock.

People can count birds from wherever they are and enter the tallies online at www.bird count.org. People of all ages and experience are invited to take part at home, in schoolyards, at local parks or wildlife refuges. The reports will document where birds are across the continent and provide information for scientific study and conservation.

In case of inclement weather, the counting can be done from indoors.

Information: 410-465-8877, 410-381-0449 or www.birdcount.org. The Web site provides hints for identifying the birds, photos, bird sounds, maps and information on more than 500 bird species, and allows comparison with bird count results from various towns or regions.

Budget hearing set at senior center

County Executive Ken Ulman, Chief Administrative Officer Lonnie Robbins and Budget Director Raymond S. Wacks will attend a budget hearing at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Ellicott City Senior Center, 9401 Frederick Road.

The meeting has been scheduled to give residents who might find it difficult to attend the usual nighttime budget hearings an opportunity to share their budget priorities and concerns.

Sign-up for those wishing to testify will begin at 12:30 p.m., and testimony will be heard on a first-to-sign-up, first-to-speak basis. For those who would like to present their testimony via the Internet, the form is available online from the home page of the county's Web site, www.howardcountymd.gov. Testimony submitted via the Internet is considered public information and is subject to the Freedom of Information Act.

The county executive will hold his final budget hearing for the fiscal 2009 budget at 7:30 p.m. March 6 in the Banneker Room of the George Howard Building.

GOP committee seeks nominations

The Howard County Republican Central Committee is seeking nominations for a candidate to replace Robert Ballinger on the nine-member committee.

Applicants must be registered Republican voters living in Howard County. Those interested should send a resume and a paragraph explaining their interest in the position to John_Bailey@HOCOGOP.org or mail it to Howard County Republican Party, P.O. Box 26, Ellicott City 21041 by Feb. 22.

Those who qualify will be interviewed by the committee.

AARP, IRS to help with tax filing

The AARP and the Internal Revenue Service will sponsor free personal income tax preparation for low- and middle-income Howard County residents, with emphasis on those ages 60 and older, at more than 10 locations in the county.

Self-employment returns with more than $5,000 in expenses and other very complex returns are not eligible for the service.

To schedule an appointment, call:

Ellicott City Senior Center (410-313-1400), Monday, Thursday and Friday mornings, and some Tuesday evenings.

Glenwood Community Center (410-313-5440), selected Wednesdays.

East Columbia Senior Center (410-313-7680), selected Thursdays.

Bain Center (410-313-7387), Monday, Tuesday afternoons; Wednesday, Thursday, Friday mornings; selected Saturdays.

Elkridge and Savage Senior Centers (410-313-7387), alternate Wednesdays.

WomenHeart to meet Feb. 20

WomenHeart, a support group for women with heart disease, will meet at 10 a.m. Feb. 20 in the Nordstrom's cafe on the second floor of The Mall in Columbia.

Information: reddress05@ verizon.net.

Report underage drinking to police

Parents and school staff can help reduce underage drinking by calling the Howard County Police Department's Party Buster Hotline: 410-313-2284.

Anyone who learns about or observes a party where alcohol is going to be served to underage people should call and leave a message with the address of the residence or cross streets, and a telephone number, if possible. A name can also be left but is not required.

The Alcohol Enforcement Unit will listen to the messages and investigate.

For parties in progress, when an immediate police response is needed: 410-313-2929 or 911.

Teen job fair planned March 8

HC DrugFree's Teen Job and Volunteer Fair, sponsored by Howard County General Hospital, will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 8 at Long Reach High School in Columbia.

For handouts with information on Senior Week in Ocean City: www.hcdrugfree.org, and click on "programs." Useful information on planning the week is available at www.playitsafe oceancity.com. Information: 443-325-0040.

Online registration open for camps

The Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks has improved its online registration system for summer camps and activities.

Parents can now register their children at 6 p.m., rather than at the usual midnight starting time. Registration by phone, mail or in person is also available.

The county has upgraded the computer system to accommodate the expected online demand.

Summer Camp Guides are being sent to county households and are available online at www.howardcountymd.gov/RAP by clicking on "Seasonal Activities and Information" or at Recreation and Parks headquarters, 7120 Oakland Mills Road, Columbia.

Information: 410-313-4700.

Jewish group offers caregivers support

Jewish Family Services in Howard County offers a support group for adults who are caring for an elderly family member or friend. The group meets from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the second Monday of each month at Federation offices, Century Plaza 1000, 10630 Little Patuxent Parkway, Suite 401, Columbia.

The group, which will provide an opportunity for caregivers to share concerns and resources, will meet March 10, April 14, May 12 and June 9. The cost is $5 a session.

Information registration: Liz Schoen, 410-730-4976, Ext. 25.

Register online to testify at hearing

Residents who want to testify at the Howard County Council's legislative hearing Tuesday can sign up electronically. The new Web-based sign-up sheet will be available at www.howard countymd.gov/CountyCouncil/CC_HomePage.htm. (Click on "give testimony" and follow instructions.) Information: 410-313-2001.