Thursday, January 17, 2008

Phone Bank Will Offer Resources for Gay Youths

Maryland Public Television will offer telephone referrals from 9 to 10:30 p.m. tomorrow for gay youths and their families during a broadcast of the documentary "Anyone and Everyone," about parents of gay youths from different religions and cultures. The phone bank will be staffed by volunteers from the Columbia/Howard County Chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, Brother Help Thyself, the Interfaith Coalition of Maryland and other organizations. 800-222-1292.

The Community Action Council of Howard County's main office is now open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and 9 to 11 a.m. and 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays. The council, at 6751 Columbia Gateway Dr., Columbia, provides housing and energy assistance, a food bank and Head Start programs to low-income residents. 410-313-6440 or http://www.cac-hc.org.

The Howard County Public Transportation Board will host Tuesday the first of several public sessions to help prepare a plan for Howard Transit's growth over the next five years. Certified HT-Ride clients and those who wish to attend but do not have transportation may request a ride at least three days in advance by calling 410-313-1921. Sign-language interpretation requests may be made at least three days in advance at TDD 410-313-6401. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the Tyson Room, George Howard Building, 3430 Court House Dr., Ellicott City.

Howard County government offices, courts, animal shelter and library branches will be closed Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The landfill will remain open, and trash and recycling will be collected. Parking meters must be paid, and parking regulations will be in effect.

A child-care and preschool information fair will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Ten Oaks Ballroom, 5000 Signal Bell Lane, Clarksville. Participants will receive a copy of the 2008 Early Childhood Education Guide and have a chance to meet program directors and teachers from local child-care centers and preschools as well as representatives from community service organizations that offer services for young children. 410-313-1940.

The Howard County library system is seeking people 50 and older who work or live in the county to share their memories as part of its This Is Your Life project, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday at the East Columbia Branch Library, 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia. Participants will be given a CD copy of their interviews. 410-313-7750 or http://www.hclibrary.org.

Registration is underway for the annual Cultural Arts Showcase presented by the Howard County Arts Council, the Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks and the Recreation and Leisure Service Branch of the Maryland Recreation and Parks Association. Those attending can meet visual and performing artists and view their work. The registration deadline is Feb. 29. The showcase will be March 5-6 at the Howard County Center for the Arts, 8510 High Ridge Rd., Ellicott City. 410-313-2787 or mary@hocoarts.org.

A public hearing before the Board of Education will be at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday on School Superintendent Sydney L. Cousin's proposed operating budget for fiscal 2009. The hearing will take place in the boardroom at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City.

Individuals who wish to testify are asked to limit their remarks to three minutes and to provide 15 copies of their testimony. Preregistration will take place until 4:30 p.m. Monday. To sign up to testify, contact the board's office at 410-313-7194.