Merry Mulch

Collection of Christmas trees for mulching takes place through Jan. 22. Residents can recycle their trees curbside or at one of these locations:

* Kendall Hardware.

* River Hill Garden Center.

* Cedar Lane Park.

* Grandfather's Garden Center.

* Rockburn Park.

* Howard County Circuit Court's upper parking lot.

* Schooley Mill Park.

* Wood waste area at Alpha Ridge Landfill.

* Savage Park.

* Western Regional Park.

Look for the Merry Mulch signs designating the drop-off areas.

Essay contest

Howard County's Commission for Women invites students, public, private, home-schooled, grades 6-12, to participate in its essay contest in honor of Women's History Month. This year's theme is "Writing Women Back into History." Deadline is Jan. 20.

Essays should be e-mailed to women@howardcountymd.gov or mailed to the Commission for Women Student Essay Contest, 6751 Columbia Gateway Drive, Suite 300, Columbia 21046.

First-place winners will receive a $200 U.S. Savings Bond and be invited to read their essays at the Women's Hall of Fame induction ceremony on March 11 at Howard Community College.

For more information, call 410-313-6400 or go to howardcountymd.gov.

Road work

Construction project at the intersection of Dobbin Road and Dobbin Center Way, south of Route 175 in Columbia, is under way. Project includes the construction of a right-turn lane from southbound Dobbin Road onto westbound Dobbin Center Way. Completion is scheduled for May.

For questions or concerns about Capital Project J-4211, call 410-313-3440.

Friends of Education Award

Nominations are being accepted for this award, which recognizes individuals, businesses or organizations for innovative or unique contributions that directly support the school system's mission of excellence in teaching and learning, and student achievement. Nomination forms can be obtained by calling 410-313-7346 or go to hcpss.org and click on "forms." Completed nominations should be returned to the Howard County Department of Education, 10910 Route 108, Ellicott City 21042 by Jan. 29.

Call 410-313-5634 for more information.

New bank manager

Loretta Warfield-Davis has been appointed manager at Howard Bank's Maple Lawn branch. She holds bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Baltimore and is a member of the Maryland Bankers Association, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Notary Public of Baltimore, the Prestigious Business Network and the National Association of Professional Women.