East Columbia

The East Columbia 50+Center will offer a five-part series of classes, "Mediation for Seniors and Families," with mediators Marcia S. Kearly and Larry Blosser, starting at 7 p.m. Sept. 11. The series will teach a mediation approach in which families arrive together at resolutions to problems. Admission is free. A "Harmonize Exercise Class" will be offered from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, starting next month. O.H. Laster, a personal fitness trainer, will teach the fitness method called "Stamina, Strength, Stretch and Synergy."

The Drama Learning Center, 9130-1 Red Branch Road, will present Once on This Island - performed by Teaching Young Actors, the center's teen professional company - at 7 p.m. Saturday, and Dec. 13, 14 and 15, and 2 p.m. Dec. 9 and 15. Tickets are $12 for the evening performances. Reservations are recommended. The matinees for student groups feature a backstage tour, a chance to learn choreography and an opportunity to get autographs. The matinees are open to everyone. Reservations are required.

Residents and elected officials in Columbia, which has served as a "new town" model for 35 years, are seeking ways to polish the aging neighborhoods and keep the town and Howard County prosperous in the next century.A group of 18 people -- many residents of the east Columbia portion of the 2nd Councilmanic District, and others from areas east to the Anne Arundel County line -- met last night in the county's Gateway Building to plan how to help Howard remain the state's most prosperous jurisdiction.

More details of the problems existing in many of the schools in Columbia emerged last night at the second of three school equity meetings sponsored by the Howard County Council.Parents and community members from three committees created by the council shared reports with the council. The panels have been working on their reports since the first meeting Oct. 18.The meetings seek to determine why there is a public perception of inequities between older and newer county schools.The committees -- representing east Columbia, west Columbia and focus schools -- were asked last month to talk with parents in their communities and write a report that addresses several topics, including redistricting, open enrollment and equity among schools.

All branches of the Howard County Library will be closed May 31 in observance of Memorial Day. Regular service will resume June 1.The central library and the East Columbia and Miller branches will be closed on Sundays beginning May 30. Sunday hours will resume on Sept. 12.

IF CHILDREN play a part in your life, be sure to attend the Howard County "Children On Board" fair from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Columbia Hilton, 5485 Twin Knolls Road.Debbie Yare, program manager for the new Howard County Child Care Resource Center, reports that representatives from 44 community organizations will answer questions.Parents, guardians, grandparents, teachers, child-care providers and neighbors are welcome.Each visitor will receive a free copy of the 1999 "Childhood Education Guide."

THE END of the academic year means graduations, awards and kudos for teachers and students.Hammond High School English teacher Carla Bayton has been invited to attend a reception at Government House in Annapolis on Saturday. First lady Frances Hughes Glendening will present the national fourth-place award to Bayton for her entry in Level II "Letters About Literature," a contest sponsored by Maryland Center for the Book.She will receive a certificate of merit and gift certificate from Borders Books and Music.

SWIMMERS CAN dive into their neighborhood pools for the first time this season when the Columbia outdoor pools open this weekend.John Herdson, the new Columbia Association aquatics director, and his staff have been occupied for the past few months staffing the Columbia pools and scheduling swim meets and other events.Herdson is missed by swimmers and staff at the Wilde Lake swim center, where he kept the facility running smoothly.Columbia has 23 neighborhood pools, including 12 in east Columbia.

Not everyone will be watching the last episode of "Seinfeld" tonight.If you live in Howard's Legislative District 13A, you have the choice of seeing Republican state Sen. Martin G. Madden and Democratic Dels. Shane Pendergrass and Frank S. Turner instead of Jerry, Elaine and George.The legislators will be holding a wrap-up meeting about this year's General Assembly session at 7: 30 p.m. in Conference Room 6 of the Howard County Office Building, 7121 Columbia Gateway Drive in Columbia. The legislators will give a brief overview of issues and take questions from the audience.

Though Democrats outnumber them 5 to 3 in House of Delegates District 13A, Republicans think they might have a chance in the district, which takes in east Columbia and much of southern Howard County.Hans K. Meeder is hoping voters there will cross party lines. He announced his candidacy for a House seat last night, characterizing himself as a tax-cutting, reform-minded conservative who wants to serve constituents the way businesses serve customers."Today, we're going to start reaching out," said Meeder, speaking at a baseball-themed "Opening Day" fund-raiser at the Apple Ford dealership on Snowden River Parkway.

Auditions * The Columbia Orchestra will hold auditions 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. today and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday at Christ Episcopal Church, 6800 Oakland Mills Road. Call 410-465-8777, ext. 4, or e-mail join@columbiaorchestra.org. * Silhouette Stages (formerly Shadow Block Productions) will hold auditions for a cast of 18 to 30 actors, singers and dancers ages 16 and older, for its production of "Sugar," a Broadway musical based on the screenplay of the film "Some Like it Hot." The play is about two musicians who are witnesses to a murder and are forced to hide from the bad guys by disguising themselves as women and joining an all-female orchestra.

Feeling confused while driving in Columbia is a common anxiety for the occasional visitor, as Rep. John Sarbanes found out Monday night when he tried to find the Howard County Council for a little televised chat. The renovation of the county's offices in Ellicott City and the council's resulting relocation to quarters in east Columbia made the task all the harder. The freshman Democrat, who represents east Columbia along with sections of Anne Arundel and Baltimore counties and Baltimore City, spent much of the day talking with county business owners, Chamber of Commerce officials and County Executive Ken Ulman, he said, followed by a public town hall meeting at the central library in Columbia.

The Phoenix Cultural Singles Group, a Columbia social group for those 50 and older, meets from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Sundays at the Oakland Mills Interfaith Center, 5885 Robert Oliver Place in the Oakland Mills Village Center. Coffee, tea and a light snack are served. The group plans trips to places of interest, such as the White House and Ocean City, and events, such as dancing to the music of the Glenn Miller Orchestra at Turf Valley Resort. Information: 410-997-0739. Around town Single again : Changing Focus/Single Again, a nonprofit program for adults who are separated, widowed or in the process of divorce, provides weekly presentations and small-group discussions in a confidential, comfortable atmosphere.

Participants in the Morning Books With Coffee book club will discuss The Maytrees by Annie Dillard at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the East Columbia Library, 6600 Cradlerock Way. Also at the library, the Anime Club, a monthly get-together for anime fans ages 13 to 18, meets 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday. Information: 410-313-7700. Singles social group The Phoenix Cultural Singles Group, a Columbia social group for those 50 and older, meets from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Sundays at the Oakland Mills Interfaith Center, 5885 Robert Oliver Place in the Oakland Mills Village Center.

Event takes place 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday at the East Columbia 50+ Center, 6600 Cradlerock Way. Participants receive a 12-point evaluation that examines how well drivers fit into their vehicles. A technician will examine the vehicle and make suggestions on steering-wheel height, seats and mirrors, with safety in mind. To schedule an appointment, call 410-313-7680. Relay for Life Support Relay for Life by eating at Michael's Pub in Kings Contrivance Shopping Center, 8630 Guilford Road, 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Wednesday.

The Wilde Lake Village Board unanimously voted to expand the size of the board to six members for the 2009-10 term and to appoint Terry Kuhn to the 2009-2010 village board. This appointment was effective May 4. Library events The east Columbia library, 6600 Cradlerock Way, will host the Good Reads book club to discuss The Power of One, by Bryce Courtenay, at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Participants in the Morning Books with Coffee book club will discuss The Maytrees, by Annie Dillard, at 10 a.m. May 27. The Anime Club, a monthly get-together for anime fans ages 13 to 18, will meet from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. May 28. Registration begins Thursday.

Monthlong bridge repairs are scheduled to begin Sunday on Snowden River Parkway near Robert Fulton Drive in East Columbia, according to the Howard County Department of Public Works. The work, to repair the bridge deck and joints, is scheduled, weather permitting, for 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.. Traffic may be shifted during the work. Information: 410-313-3440.

The East Columbia 50+ center will sponsor an "Older American Celebration" May 7 (not May 5, as previously announced) at the center in the east Columbia branch library building, 6600 Cradlerock Way. A reception is planned from 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. A jazz concert by the Carl Grubbs Ensemble and free refreshments, provided by Zeta Alpha Sigma Chapter Inc. of the Columbia Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., will be offered from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Reservations are...

The East Columbia 50+ Center, in the east Columbia library, 6600 Cradlerock Way, will offer a free program on diabetes and carbohydrate control from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. tomorrow. Nutritional consultant Rona Martiyan will offer recipes and talk about healthy eating for those affected by diabetes and controlling carbohydrates. There will be an opportunity to ask questions. Jan Brady, a professional organizer, will explain how to organize home-filing systems from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 10 at the 50+ center.

The Howard County Library and 40 community partners will offer "Lessons of Forgiveness," a part of the multiyear initiative "Choose Civility" designed to make Howard County a national model of respect, consideration, empathy and tolerance. The program, which explores how justice, forgiveness and remembrance can transcend trauma and lead to new relationships, will be led by Katharina von Kellenbach, associate professor of Religious Studies at St. Mary's College of Maryland. It will be held at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 14 at the east Columbia branch library, 6600 Cradlerock Way. Information: 410-313-7700.