Shepherd of the Glen annual book sale set for Sept. 8-10

College student Lauren Bennett will rearrange her schedule at school this weekend in order to make her way home to Howard County. Lauren, like other fans of the Shepherd of the Glen Lutheran Church's annual book sale, wouldn't think of missing this book sale event.

"We have over 20,000 books," said Carole Kramer, who collects books all year long in anticipation of her church's annual media sale.

The sale is a fundraiser for the church's outreach programs and has become a fixture for bibliophiles in the region. This year, Carole has an enormous collection to offer. Hundreds of hardbound popular fiction, an entire room devoted to children's books, antiquarian and vintage books, computer software, antique maps, poetry, biographies, CDs, cassettes, videos, DVDs, stationery items and 78 and 45 rpm records. This is virtually a media and book lover's paradise.

The project is a winning proposition for all involved. Book fans go away delighted and organizers can pat themselves on the back for unloading all the year's worth of collected media materials. Funds raised go to a worthy Lutheran church program.

I mention this sale so frequently because I have always been amazed by the organization of the books and the orderliness of this sale. If you love books and media materials, this one is for you.

The sale also includes some rare first editions, antiquarian selections, superb old maps, amazing vintage garden and cookbooks, autographed items and coffee table-type volumes.

The sale is scheduled for Thursday-Saturday, Sept. 8-10. Times are Friday and Saturday, 3-7 p.m.; and Sunday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. A $5 bag sale will also be in place Sept.10 from noon to 3 p.m.

Shepherd of the Glen Lutheran Church is at 14551 Burntwoods Road in Glenwood. Questions on the sale? Need directions? Call the church at 410-442-1204 or Carole at 410-442-2475.

Heard from Glenelg High School graduate Bradley Carpenter who is a sophomore at Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina. Not unlike his active civic minded routine while a student at Glenelg High, Brad is highly involved in charitable organizations while studying at Belmont.

As president of the Belmont Abbey College Motorsports Club, Carpenter has organized a blood drive at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Sunday, Sept. 11. Brad still recalls the horrors of that infamous day in 2001 and wanted to do something on the 10th anniversary to honor those who died. Brad's grandmother, Donna Carr, a Dayton resident, is always proud to hear of Brad's continued community outreach.

Need a stroller? A high chair? Some Beatrix Potter character china? A new copy of "Pat the Bunny"? Then head over to the Howard County Fairgrounds, in West Friendship, this weekend. So popular was the spring sale, that the Kids Nearly New Sale has returned for a fall sale spectacular.

This is the weekend when parents fill up their vans with loads of bargains as this sale is one big huge indoor yard sale with everything one can imagine (and more) for kids. The annual Kids Nearly New Sale will be in full swing Saturday, Sept 10 from 8 a.m. to noon. The indoor mammoth yard sale is dedicated to all things kid-sized. From children's furniture, clothes and books to toys and baby gear, the bargains are as amazing as the amounts of gear provided by the dozens and dozens of vendors.

Questions on the sale? Call 410-823-6039, go to the website at http://www.kidsnearlynewsale.com or email inquiries to kidnearlynewsale@aol.com.

Don't forget our local farm markets. Every where you turn there is a reminder to "buy local." In West Friendship, that's become an easy task between the Glenwood Farmer's Market, open each Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. through October and Jenny's Market, on Ivory road, just off of Route 32, open each weekend through the end of September.