Howard Community Events May 15-22, 2008

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Thursday 15

PRESENTATIONS WORKSHOP,"How to Make an Effective Presentation," by Jian Wang, president and chief executive of BioFortis, on content preparation, data presentation, techniques used to hold audience attention, delivery and handling questions; 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.

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.

NOONTIME CENTRAL BOOK CLUB, a discussion of Hilma Wolitzer's novel, "Summer Reading." Noon, Central Library, 10375 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia. Free. 410-313-7860.

SOROPTIMIST CLUB MEETING, for business and professional woman, a dinner meeting of Soroptimist International of Howard County, with remarks on "Howard County Going Green," by Joshua Feldmark, director of the newly created Howard County Office of Environmental Sustainability. 6:15 p.m., Cafe de Paris, 8808 Centre Park Dr., Columbia. Meeting, free; dinner not included; reservations required. 410-750-9413.

DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION, for ages 13-17, play the dance video game. 6:30-8 p.m., Miller Branch Library, 9421 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City. 410-313-1955.

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.

ELKS JR. BOOK CLUB, for ages 7-9 with an adult, a discussion of Brian Selznick's book "The Invention of Hugo Cabret." 7 p.m., Elkridge Branch Library, 6540 Washington Blvd., Elkridge. Free, registration required. 410-313-5085.

Friday 16

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.

CHEMISTRY IN THE LIBRARY, for age 7 and older (children ages 7-8 must be accompanied by an adult), hands-on experiments with chemists from the Army Research Laboratory and the American Chemical Society. 10 a.m., Miller Branch Library, 9421 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City. Free, registration required. 410-313-1955.

CHEMISTRY PROGRAM, for children 7 and older, hands-on experiments with chemists from the Army Research Laboratory and the American Chemical Society. 1 p.m., Savage Branch Library, 9525 Durness Lane, Laurel. Free, registration required. 410-880-5980.

POETRY WORKSHOP, for poets, Sue Ellen Thompson examines different approaches to writing free verse; funded in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. 1 p.m., Ellicott City Senior Center, 9401 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City. Free. 410-313-1400.

SEED-PLANTING DEMONSTRATION, for ages 5-10, a hands-on demonstration with master gardener Pat Ferensic; plant seeds to take home. 1:30 p.m., Elkridge Branch Library, 6540 Washington Blvd., Elkridge. Free, registration required. 410-313-5085.

Saturday 17

CHILD-CARE WORKSHOP, for parents and child-care providers, "Keeping Kids Fit and Safe" focuses on emergency-preparedness planning, menu planning and other health and safety topics; continuing education credits available. 8 a.m.-noon, Howard County Office of Children's Services, 3300 N. Ridge Rd., Ellicott City. $20. 410-313-1940 or http://www.howardcountymd.gov/children.

ANIMAL ADVOCATES YARD SALE, a sale of furniture, children's clothes, books, home decor items, baked goods and refreshments to benefit Animal Advocates of Howard County. Rain date, May 18. Donated items are tax deductible. 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Applications and Research Laboratory, 10920 Route 108, Ellicott City. Free. 410-880-2488, Ext. 3, or http://animal-advocates.org.

HOLY TRINITY YARD SALE, vendor spaces available to raise funds for the American Cancer Society through the church's Relay for Life team. 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 7607 Old Sandy Spring Rd., Laurel. Admission, free; tables, $15. 301-335-1083.

CHILDREN'S YOGA, for ages 8-11, instruction by Jennifer Lewis. 10 and 11:15 a.m., East Columbia Library, 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia. Free, registration required. 410-313-7700.

PLANT CLINIC, master gardeners available to answer questions. 10 a.m.-noon Saturdays, Glenwood Branch Library, 2350 Route 97, Cooksville. Free. 410-313-5577.

CHILD-CARE WORKSHOP, for parents and child-care providers, a workshop on sudden infant death syndrome; continuing education credits available. 1-3 p.m., Howard County Office of Children's Services, 3300 N. Ridge Rd., Ellicott City. $10. 410-313-1940 or http://www.howardcountymd.gov/children.

CIVIL WAR TALK, historian Greg Yaskovich presents a story with artifacts, photographs and weaponry. 2:30 p.m., Glenwood Branch Library, 2350 Route 97, Cooksville. Free. 410-313-5577.

Sunday 18

"CELEBRATING CHANGE," a discussion about change in our lives, sponsored by Journeys, a nontraditional spiritual group. 10 a.m., Vantage House Retirement Community, 5400 Vantage Point Rd., Columbia. Free. 410-730-6079 or http://journeyscommunity.org.

RIVER HILL FLEA MARKET, sponsored by the River Hill Community Association. 10 a.m.-1 p.m., River Hill Village Center, parking lot, Route 108 and Daybreak Circle, Columbia. Admission, free; vendor spaces, $10; River Hill residents spaces, $5. 410-531-1749, http://riverhill.columbiavillages.org or rhevents@columbiavillages.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 19

EXERCISE CLASS,"Stamina, Strength, Stretch and Synergy" method by personal fitness trainer O.H. Laster. 9-10 a.m. Monday, and 9-10 a.m. Wednesdays, through May 28, 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., Bain Center, 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia. Weekly fee, $2; registration required. 410-313-7320 or 410-313-7279.

ENGLISH CONVERSATION CLUB, for non-native speakers, an informal group setting in which to practice speaking English; register before your first meeting. 9:30 a.m. Mondays, Central Library, 10375 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia. Free, registration required. 410-313-7800.

"LOOK GOOD . . . FEEL BETTER," for women undergoing cancer treatment, a workshop by licensed cosmetologists to manage the appearance-related side effects of treatment; sponsored by the American Cancer Society; free cosmetics included. 3:30-5:30 p.m., Claudia Mayer Cancer Resource Center, 5900 Cedar Lane, Columbia. Free, registration required. 888-535-4555.

DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS, for age 13 and older, play the role-playing game. 7-8:30 p.m., Glenwood Branch Library, 2350 Route 97, Cooksville. Free, registration required. 410-313-5577.

Tuesday 20

VIDEO GAME CLUB, for age 55 and older, Wii interactive video games. 10 a.m. Tuesdays, Bain Center, 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia. First game, free; fees for subsequent games. 410-313-7320.

FIGURE PAINTING, draw or paint a live model; no instruction provided; a 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.

CHILD-CARE WORKSHOP, for parents and child-care providers, "Healthy Kids, Now and Later" covers nutrition topics; continuing education credits available. 6:30-9:30 p.m., Howard County Office of Children's Services, 3300 N. Ridge Rd., Ellicott City. $20. 410-313-1940 or http://www.howardcountymd.gov/children.

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.

"DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION," for ages 13-17, play the dance video game. 7-8:30 p.m., Glenwood Branch Library, 2350 Route 97, Cooksville. 410-313-5577.

BONSAI GARDENING, a presentation by master gardener Deborah Patton on Bonsai trees. 7 p.m., East Columbia Library, 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia. Free. 410-313-7700.

ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION GROUP, a meeting to educate and foster environmentally positive action, sponsored by the Town Center Community Association. 7 p.m. Tuesday and the first and third Tuesdays of each month, Historic Oakland, 5430 Vantage Point Rd., Columbia. Free; registration suggested. 410-730-4744.

PARENT-TEEN BOOK CLUB, for ages 11-17, parents welcome, a discussion of Ray Bradbury's novel "Dandelion Wine." 7-8:30 p.m., Elkridge Branch Library, 6540 Washington Blvd., Elkridge. Free. 410-313-5077.

WRITERS' CIRCLE, bring a writing sample of up to 1,000 words. 7 p.m., Glenwood Branch Library, 2350 Route 97, Cooksville. Free. 410-313-5577.

"CRISIS INTERVENTION RESOURCES IN HOWARD COUNTY," an educational forum about mental-illness-related crises, facilitated by Andrea S. Ingram, executive director of the Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center; sponsored by the Howard County Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. 7:30 p.m., Wilde Lake Interfaith Center, 10431 Twin Rivers Rd., Columbia. Free. 410-772-9300 or http://www.namihcmd.org.

Wednesday 21

CHILD-CARE WORKSHOP, for parents and child-care providers, "Social Play Skills and Positive Behavioral Support Strategies" shows how to use picture schedules and social stories in a classroom setting to create behavior in children; continuing education credits available. 6:30-9:30 p.m., Howard County Office of Children's Services, 3300 N. Ridge Rd., Ellicott City. $20. 410-313-1940 or http://www.howardcountymd.gov/children.

"MEDICARE 102," a workshop on the gaps in Medicare coverage and ways to compensate for them, sponsored by the Senior Health Insurance Assistance Program, Howard County Office on Aging. 7 p.m., Church of the Resurrection, Pastoral Center, 3175 Paulskirk Dr., Ellicott City. Free, registration required. 410-461-9111, Ext. 204.

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.

HIROSHIMA TALK, a talk by former NASA chief and author Werner Gruhl about Japan's actions from 1931 to 1945, leading up to the atomic bombing of Hiroshima; copies of Gruhl's book, "Imperial Japan's World War Two: 1931-1945" will be available for purchase and signing. 7 p.m., East Columbia Library, 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia. Free. 410-313-7700.

NONFICTION BOOK CLUB, a discussion of Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring." 7 p.m., Savage Branch Library, 9525 Durness Lane, Laurel. Free. 410-880-5980.

COLUMBIANS TOASTMASTERS CLUB, tips on public speaking skills. 7:15-8:30 p.m., Capitol College, Room 137, 11301 Springfield Rd., Laurel. Free. 301-498-2295 or columbianstm@hotmail.com.

COMPUTER CLUB, a meeting of the Central Maryland User Group. 7:30 p.m., Bain Center, 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia. Free. 301-774-0331 or http://www.mycmug.org.

ENGLISH CONVERSATION CLUB, for non-native 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.

Thursday 22

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

CREATIVE CRAFTS, a workshop on paper crafts and stamping. 1:30-3 p.m., Claudia Mayer Cancer Resource Center, 5900 Cedar Lane, Columbia. Free. 410-740-5858.

CHILD-CARE WORKSHOP, for parents and child-care providers, "Create a Better Plan" helps participants plan lessons for infants and toddlers; continuing education credits available. 6:30-9:30 p.m., Howard County Office of Children's Services, 3300 N. Ridge Rd., Ellicott City. $20. 410-313-1940 or http://www.howardcountymd.gov/children.

"ALIEN INVASION" IN THE GARDEN, a presentation by master gardeners Aylene Gard and Carol Filipczak on how to identify and control non-native invasive plants. 7 p.m., Glenwood Branch Library, 2350 Route 97, Cooksville. Free. 410-313-5577.

"MEDICARE 102," a workshop on the gaps in Medicare coverage and ways to compensate for them, sponsored by the Senior Health Insurance Assistance Program, Howard County Office on Aging. 7 p.m., Bain Center, 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia. Free. 410-313-7391.

TEEN BOOK CLUB, for age 13 and older, a discussion of Carl Hiaasen's novel "Hoot." 7-8:30 p.m., Savage Branch Library, 9525 Durness Lane, Laurel. Free. 410-880-5980.

-- Compiled by CARRIE DONOVAN

To Submit an Item

E-mail:hocoextra@washpost.com

Fax: 410-267-6972

Mail: Community Events, The Washington Post, 3 Church Cir., Annapolis, Md. 21401

Details: Announcements are accepted on a space-available basis from public and nonprofit organizations only and must be received at least 14 days before the Thursday publication date. Include event name, dates, times, exact address, prices and a publishable contact phone number.