The Oakland Mills Community Association will present its International Festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 11, rain or shine, indoors at The Other Barn and outdoors at Oakland Mills Village Center.
Artisans will display their wares. Entertainment will include a rhythm drum circle in which visitors can participate, a Chinese Dragon and Lion Dance, Los Compadres strolling Latin singers, Irish dancers and Vinata Vedan, an Indian dancer.
Tails of Hope Sanctuary will have on-site pet adoptions, and the police and fire departments will present displays and free blood pressure checks.
A Moon Bounce and pumpkin decorating are planned.
Information: 410-730-4610.
Newcomers Club plans coffee meeting Thursday
The Newcomers Club of Howard County will hold a coffee meeting at 10 a.m. Thursday at New Hope Lutheran Church, 8575 Guilford Road, in Kings Contrivance village.
The club offers arts and crafts, a book club, Bunco, mah-jongg, bridge, indoor and outdoor walking groups, a movie and theater group, trips and other activities. The club, which has about 120 members, is for women, including longtime residents. Some activities include spouses and friends.
Information: 410-309-9644.
Military
Graduates: Air Force Tech. Sgt. Mark H. Dawson, son of Stephen D. and Barbara P. Dawson of Kings Contrivance, has graduated from the Noncommissioned Officer Academy at McGuire Air Force Base, Wrightstown, N.J. He is a communications-computer systems control craftsman, assigned to the 23rd Information Operations Squadron at Fort Meade, Laurel.
Birth
Praagna Kashyap: To Karthik and Saraswathi Kashyap of Oakland Mills on Aug. 19.
Around Town
Volunteers needed: The east Columbia library, 6600 Cradlerock Way, will offer a volunteer forum, presenting unusual volunteer opportunities for youths ages 12 to 16 who qualify to fulfill the Howard County public schools' community service requirement. The forum will be held from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. today. Registration is required. 410-313-7700.
Children's theater: Mr. Bernie & Miss Desales Interactive Hands-On Music Program will launch the 26th season of Lively Arts for Little Ones on Friday at The Other Barn in Oakland Mills Village Center. Performances of this nonscary Halloween show, for children ages 2 1/2 to 5, will be held at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. The show runs about 45 minutes. Hawaiian Rhythms, which includes dance, music and Hawaiian culture, is planned for Nov. 14; Interact Story Theatre, Dec. 5; Kathleen Jacobs & Puppets, Jan. 9; storyteller Arianna Ross, Feb. 6; Kinderman, March 12; and Pam the Kindersinger, April 2. Tickets are $4.25; $25 for a subscription. Group rates are available. 410-730-4610 or 301-596-5237.
Yard sale: The PTA of Guilford Elementary School, 7335 Oakland Mills Road, will hold its Community Yard Sale from 8 a.m. to noon Oct. 11. The cost for vendors is $10 a space. Tables are not included. Nancy Yeroshefsky, 301-490-4242.
PTA requests: Thunder Hill Elementary School PTA is looking for neighbors to join its group to help provide better, safer schools and more educational resources for children. It also seeks corporate sponsors, grants and after-school programs. Linda Lagala-Spano, 410-997-0682.
Martial arts: Oakland Mills Community Association will offer Hale Martial Arts Academy classes at The Other Barn in Oakland Mills Village Center on Mondays and Wednesdays. Classes - which incorporate the martial arts systems of karate, tae kwon do and jujitsu - are for children, teen-agers and adults. Tuition is $35 a month. 410-730-4610.
Bridge, mah-jongg: The 50+ Center in east Columbia is offering bridge lessons for beginners from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesdays and from 10 a.m. to noon Mondays. Daytime and evening mah-jongg classes are also available. 410-290-5430.
Karate: Long Reach Community Association is offering karate classes for children ages 6 and older and for adults. Classes for children ages 6 to 9 will meet from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays and from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturdays. For children ages 10 and older, classes will meet from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays and from 11 a.m. to noon Saturdays. Adult classes meet from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays. The cost for an eight-week session is $78 for one class a week and $126 for two classes a week. A 5 percent discount is offered to residents of Columbia. 410-730-8113.
