The Howard Soil Conservation District, Maryland Cooperative Extension and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resource Conservation Service will sponsor the annual Howard County Mid-Winter Agriculture Meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Lisbon Fire Hall.

The meeting will begin with a light meal at 6:30 p.m.

Topics will include agricultural nutrient trading and the business side of farming.

Admission is free, but registration is required. Information: 410-489-7987.

Horse rescue farm to hold fundraiser

Days End Farm Horse Rescue will hold its first Grapes of Hooves wine tasting and live and silent auction fundraiser from 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. March 29 at the Ten Oaks Ballroom in Clarksville.

Wine can be purchased after the event, which will include hot Maryland crab dip, a gourmet cheese board, carved roast sirloin, fresh vegetables with dip and a chocolate and dessert station.

Tickets are $65. Proceeds will help provide medical care and rehabilitation for unwanted, abused or neglected horses. The farm also provides community outreach, humane education programs and volunteer opportunities.

Information: 301-854-5037, 410-442-1564 or www.defhr.org.

Around town

Construction halted -- Construction of the roundabout at Brighton Dam and Ten Oaks roads in Clarksville has been temporarily halted. Construction is expected to resume next month as temperatures rise. The project is expected to be completed by spring. Traffic patterns on Brighton Dam Road and Ten Oaks Road will be maintained during the halt in construction. Lisa Brightwell, 410-313-3440.

Teen space -- The Glenwood Community Center's game room for teens is open from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The room, designed by teenagers, is for young people ages 12 and older. It includes a pool table, table tennis, bumper pool and a video game area around a big-screen television set. After-school activities and teen programs are planned. A center identification is required. The program is provided with assistance from the Horizon Foundation. The center is at 2400 Route 97 in Cooksville. 410-313-4840.

Aspiring writers -- The Glenwood library branch, 2350 Route 97 in Cooksville, will sponsor a meeting of the Glenwood Writers' Group at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Aspiring authors can help one another craft their prose and find outlets for publication. Participants are encouraged to bring a fiction or nonfiction writing sample of up to 1,000 words to share. 410-313-5577.

Beginning Italian -- The Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks will offer a Beginning Italian course from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesdays from March 12 through April 16 at the Glenwood Community Center. The basics of language and grammar will be taught through interactive class activities. The cost is $89 and includes a textbook. The class is open to ages 18 and older. Registration is requested as soon as possible. 410-313-4634. Registration: 410-313-7275.

Road work -- The State Highway Administration is working to relieve congestion and improve safety along Route 32 at Burntwoods Road by constructing a $30 million interchange that will remove two traffic signals at Burntwoods and Ten Oaks roads and relocate private driveways and local roads that intersect Route 32. The Route 32-Burntwoods Road intersection will be relocated, and a roundabout, ramps, a bridge and an access point will be added. Lane closings are planned along Route 32 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday through Friday. Lanes might be closed along Ten Oaks, Pfefferkorn and Burntwoods roads from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Traffic signs and cones will guide motorists through work zones. Completion is expected by fall 2009. 301-624-8100 or www.marylandroads.com.