Howard Community Events April 17-24, 2008

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Thursday 17

BUSINESS TALK, for business managers, a discussion on assessment systems and merit increases, by Maury Weinstein, president of System Source, sponsored by the Howard Technology Council. 8-10 a.m., Center for Business and Technology Development, 9250 Bendix Rd., Columbia. Free, registration required. 410-313-6550, http://www.hceda.org or ttaylor@hceda.org.

CONFERENCE ON STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, for parents and professionals, "Transitioning Students with Disabilities. . . Meeting Students' Needs on the Postsecondary Level," sponsored by Project Access; lunch included; sign language interpretation, enlarged-print and Braille materials available on request. 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Howard Community College, 10901 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia. $140. 410-772-4625 or http://www.howardcc.edu.

EXERCISE CLASSES, for seniors, a drop-in class, "Age Well: Exercise." 8:30-9:20 a.m. Thursdays and Tuesdays, Elkridge Senior Center, 6540 Washington Blvd., Elkridge. $2. 410-313-5192.

TAI CHI, for people 50 and older with arthritis, a beginner class led by instructor Diane Bishop. 10-11 a.m. Thursdays and Tuesdays, East Columbia 50-Plus Center, 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia. $32 a month; registration required. 410-313-7680.

"TEA AND TOMES" BOOK CLUB, a discussion of "Digging to America," by Anne Tyler. 10:30 a.m., Miller Branch Library, 9421 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City. Free. 410-313-1950.

ASIAN BOOKS TALK, a lecture on fiction by Asian and Asian American authors by staff members from Central Library. 10:30 a.m., Bain Center, 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia. Free. 410-313-7213.

NEWCOMERS CLUB MEETING, for women new to the county, a monthly meeting of the club. 11 a.m., New Hope Lutheran Church, 8575 Guilford Rd., Columbia. Free. 410-730-2309.

"NOONTIME CENTRAL" BOOK CLUB, a discussion of "The Other Side of the Bridge," by Mary Lawson. Noon, Central Library, 10375 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia. Free. 410-313-7860.

AUTISM SOCIETY MEETING, sponsored by the Howard County Autism Society. 7-9 p.m. Thursdays, Oakland Mills Interfaith Center, 5885 Robert Oliver Pl., Columbia. Free. 410-290-6231 or http://www.howard-autism.org.

Friday 18

FORECLOSURE PREVENTION FORUM,"Celebrating 40 Years of Fair Housing: A Response to the Foreclosure Crisis," with opening remarks by Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon and keynote address by Cheryl Ziegler, general deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity; presented by the Baltimore Regional Fair Housing Workgroup. 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., War Memorial Plaza, 101 N. Gay St. Free, registration required. 410-209-6636, http://www.hud.gov/register or loarraine.richardson@hud.gov.

DROP-IN GAMES, bring lunch. Bridge, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays; pinochle, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays; duplicate bridge, 12:30-3:30 p.m. Wednesdays and 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Fridays; mah-jongg, 1-3:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Kiwanis-Wallas Recreation Center, 10481 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City. Free. 410-313-7279.

BATTLE OF THE BOOKS, a quiz-show-style competition for teams of students in grades 3-5 to test their knowledge of preselected books, sponsored by Friends of Howard County Library. 7 p.m., Marriotts Ridge High School, 12100 Woodford Rd., Marriottsville. Free. 410-313-7750.

Saturday 19

BLOOD DRIVE, for healthy donors 17 and older, a community blood drive; appointments suggested. 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Owen Brown Interfaith Center, 7246 Cradlerock Way, Columbia. 410-381-4546 or uuccblooddrive@comcast.net.

TREE PLANTING, plant trees and install tree shelters, wear gloves and bring a shovel; sponsored by the Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks. 9 a.m.-noon, West Friendship Park, Frederick and Fairgrounds roads, West Friendship. Free, registration required. 410-313-4624; weather announcements, 410-313-4452 or combs@howardcountymd.gov.

LIVING WELL HEALTH FAIR, more than 30 physicians will be available to conduct screenings and tests, including blood, blood pressure, dental, vision and stroke-risk assessments; mammogram vouchers available; sponsored by the Howard County Muslim Foundation. 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Bain Center, 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia. Free. 410-465-7400.

FINANCIAL LITERACY SUMMIT, an overview of financial education programs and services available, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; panel discussion, 12:45-1:30 p.m.; hosted by Howard County Council member Calvin Ball. 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Howard Community College, Cafe on the Quad, Rouse Company Foundation Student Services Hall, 10901 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia. Free. 410-313-2001.

BLOSSOMS OF HOPE LANTERNMAKING, for children and adults, make a paper lantern to be displayed in the Lanterns of Hope parade during Comcast Cherrybration on May 3 at Centennial Park. 1 p.m., Central Library, 10375 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia. Free, registration required. 410-313-7800.

"STAR WARS" LINEUP, for ages 5-11, a visit from costumed "Star Wars" characters from the 501st Legion, Old Line Garrison, a "Star Wars" costuming group. 1 p.m., East Columbia Library, 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia. Free, registration required. 410-313-7700.

Sunday 20

"INNER CALLINGS," a discussion of finding one's passion in life, sponsored by Journeys Community, a nontraditional spiritual group. 10 a.m., Vantage House Retirement Community, 5400 Vantage Point Rd., Columbia. 410-730-6079 or http://journeyscommunity.org.

CHESS CLUB, for players 11 and older; snacks provided. 2-4 p.m., Central Library, 10375 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia. Free. 410-313-7860.

Monday 21

EXERCISE CLASS,"Stamina, Strength, Stretch and Synergy" method by personal fitness trainer O.H. Laster. 9-10 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, through May, East Columbia 50-Plus Center, 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia. $24 a month; registration required. 410-313-7680.

LAUGHTER CLUB, for age 60 and older, laughter exercises and group sharing, sponsored by Howard County Department of Parks and Recreation. 9-9:40 a.m. Mondays, Bain Center, 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia. Weekly fee, $2; registration required. 410-313-7320 or 410-313-7279.

Tuesday 22

ELECTRONICS RECYCLING, drop off computers, monitors, printers, scanners, telephones, power cords and related items for recycling; sponsored by TargetGov, CDM eCycling and Cindi Arnold, the Green Realtor. 11 a.m.-3 p.m., MVA Express, parking lot, 6400 Dobbin Rd., Columbia. Free. 410-715-3284 or cindi@thegreenrealtor.com.

FIGURE PAINTING, draw or paint a live model; no instruction provided; limited number of easels available. Portrait sessions, clothed models, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesdays; life sessions, nude models, 7-10 p.m. Tuesdays, Howard County Center for the Arts, 8510 High Ridge Rd., Ellicott City. Portrait sessions, $10 each, $42 for six; life sessions, $12 each, $60 for six. 410-313-2787 or http://www.hocoarts.org.

MENTAL ILLNESS SUPPORT GROUP, for people living with mental illness who work, go to school or regularly interact in the community, sponsored by the National Alliance on Mental Illness. 6:30-8 p.m., Wilde Lake Interfaith Center, 10431 Twin Rivers Rd., Columbia. Free. 410-772-9300 or http://www.namihcmd.org.

COMPUTER CLUB, tips and tricks at a meeting of the Windows Special Interest Group for Personal Computers. 7-9 p.m., Bain Center, 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia. Free. 410-465-1131 or http://www.mycmug.org.

LIFE COACH, for women, a talk with coach Marilyn Thorpe about attitude, balance and creating a life plan. 7 p.m., Central Library, 10375 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia. Free, registration required. 410-313-7860.

LITERARY CLUB, share original works at a meeting of the Literary and Visual Arts Group (LAVA). 7-8:30 p.m., St. John Baptist Church, 8910 Old Annapolis Rd., Columbia. Free. 410-507-2373.

SCRAPBOOK-MAKING WORKSHOP, led by scrapbook enthusiast Virginia Phelps. 7 p.m., East Columbia Library, 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia. Free. 410-313-7700.

Wednesday 23

"MORNING BOOKS WITH COFFEE," a discussion of "North River," by Pete Hamill. 10:30 a.m., East Columbia Library, 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia. Free. 410-313-7700.

KNITTING AND CROCHETING, for cancer patients, knit or crochet chemo caps, lap blankets or preemie hats for others; instruction provided; two groups meet on alternating Wednesdays. 10:30 a.m.-noon, Claudia Mayer Cancer Resource Center, 5900 Cedar Lane, Columbia. Free. 410-740-5858.

COMMUNITY SERVICE NEEDLEWORK, knit and crochet afghans, blankets, baby clothes and other items to donate to local charities, hospitals and senior centers; donations of yarn appreciated. 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Kiwanis-Wallas Recreation Center, 10481 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City. Free. 410-313-7279.

BREAST-FEEDING SUPPORT GROUP, monthly meeting of La Leche League of Eldersburg. Noon Wednesdays, Eldersburg Branch Library, 6400 Hemlock Dr., Sykesville. Free. 410-864-8080, 410-905-5208, jenster15@comcast.net or jmosley@dynaccsys.com.

LEGAL DOCUMENT PREPARATION, for Howard County residents 60 and older, an attorney will prepare simple documents such as simple wills, powers of attorney, living wills, small estates and deed changes; part of the 60 Plus Wills and Legal Screening Program, sponsored by the Howard County Department of Citizen Services, Office on Aging. 1-4 p.m., Ellicott City Senior Center, 9401 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City. Fees vary by income; appointment required. 410-313-1400.

"ALL ABOUT EBAY," for adults, a workshop covering the basics of doing business on eBay. 7 p.m., East Columbia Library, 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia. Free, registration required. 410-313-7700.

CHESS CLUB, for players 13 and older; snacks provided. 7-8:30 p.m., Elkridge Branch Library, 6540 Washington Blvd., Elkridge. Free. 410-313-5077.

ENGLISH CONVERSATION CLUB, for nonnative English speakers, a group setting to practice speaking English. Register before attending your first meeting. 7:45-8:45 p.m., Miller Branch Library, 9421 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City. Free. 410-313-1950.

"WHAT JEWS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ISLAM," a talk by Imam Yahya Hendi, Muslim chaplain at Georgetown University, sponsored by Columbia Jewish Congregation. 8 p.m., Oakland Mills Interfaith Center, 5885 Robert Oliver Pl., Columbia. Free. 410-730-6044.

Thursday 24

"MEDICARE 102: WHY MEDICARE ISN'T ENOUGH," a workshop on how to cover gaps in Medicare insurance; sponsored by the Senior Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), Howard County Office on Aging. 10 a.m., Glenwood Senior Center, 2400 Route 97, Cooksville. Free, registration required. 410-313-7391.

NEEDLEWORK GROUP, bring your current stitching, knitting or crocheting projects. 10 a.m., Miller Branch Library, 9421 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City. Free. 410-331-1950.

"WRITING THE BODY," for people with life-threatening illnesses and their caregivers, a workshop by Anne Becker on writing therapy. Noon-1 p.m., Claudia Mayer Cancer Resource Center, 5900 Cedar Lane, Columbia. Free, registration required. 410-740-5858.

MARYLAND STUDENT LEGISLATURE DINNER, a fundraising dinner for the educational nonprofit organization; keynote speech by former Maryland governor Harry R. Hughes (D), the state's 57th governor. 7 p.m., Sheraton BWI Hotel, Four Points, 1100 Old Elkridge Landing Rd., Linthicum. $50. 888-675-0717, http://www.msl.org/events/tlt-2008 or donate@msl.org.

RAIN FOREST PROGRAM, for ages 5-9, a lesson on ecology with dancing, an origami frog craft and Black Forest cake. 7 p.m., Elkridge Branch Library, 6540 Washington Blvd., Elkridge. Free, registration required. 410-313-5085.

TEEN BOOK CLUB, for age 13 and older, a discussion of "So Yesterday," a novel by Scott Westerfeld. 7-8:30 p.m., Savage Branch Library, 9525 Durness Lane, Laurel. Free. 410-880-5980.

-- Compiled by CARRIE DONOVAN

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