Arts celebration to be held April 26

The Chamber of Commerce program is to start at noon and will be held at the Turf Valley Resort and Conference Center in Ellicott City.

Information or tickets to that event: 410-730-4111.

Arc holding benefit raffle

The Arc of Howard County is selling raffle tickets for a home-theater system with 50-inch plasma television. The tickets cost $25 each; 1,000 tickets will be sold.

The winning ticket will be drawn at a Super Bowl social to be held from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Jan. 31 at the Arc's offices. Refreshments will be served.

The Arc was started by a group of parents in 1961 as an advocacy and support group. The organization provides housing, job placement, vocational training and individual and family-support services to people with cognitive and developmental disabilities and their families.

Information: 410-730-0638.

GGP executive to speak at meeting

Transportation Advocates will meet from 7:45 a.m. to 9 a.m. Tuesday at the Bain Center, 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia.

Gregory F. Hamm, the new regional vice president and general manager of Columbia for General Growth Properties, will present an overview of the company's vision for downtown Columbia, its potential to be more convenient for pedestrians and to support alternatives to private cars, and its role in regional transportation.

There will be an opportunity to ask questions.

Information: 410-992-1997.

Recycle your Christmas tree

The Howard County "Merry Mulch" program allows county residents to recycle their Christmas trees at parks, garden centers and at the landfill. Since its inception in 1993, the program has kept thousands of trees out of the landfill, helping the county's budget and its environment.

Recycled trees will be delivered to the composting site at the Alpha Ridge Landfill, to be made into compost and mulch.

Trees can be recycled from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, through Jan. 21, at these drop-off sites:

Kendall's Hardware, 12260 Route 108, Clarksville; River Hill Garden Center, 12165 Route 108, Clarksville.

Cedar Lane Park, 5081 Cedar Lane, Columbia; Grandfather's Garden Center, 5320 Phelps Luck Drive, Columbia.

Rockburn Park, 5400 Landing Road, Elkridge.

Small Circuit Court parking lot on upper Court House Drive, Ellicott City.

Schooley Mill Park, 12975 Hall Shop Road, Highland.

Alpha Ridge Landfill composting site, 2350 Marriottsville, Road, Marriottsville. The landfill is only open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Savage Park, 8400 Fair Street, Savage.

Western Regional Park, 14800 Carrs Mill Road, Woodbine.

Eastern county residents with yard-trimming collection services can set their Christmas trees out on the regular curbside recycling collections days, through Jan. 21.

Trees must be no taller than 4 feet high; taller trees must be cut to 4 feet. Decorations, including lights and tree stands, must be removed. Flocked trees (with artificial sprayed snow) can not be recycled. Christmas trees and other recyclable items should be put out for collection the night before, or by 6 a.m. on collection day.

After Jan. 21, Christmas trees can be brought to the Alpha Ridge Landfill from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Information: 410-313-6444.