Gift Baskets

Wearing pigtails and a pink sweat shirt, Jennifer Gilbert-Duran skipped up the steps of a Pasadena home to deliver a Valentine's Day gift basket. But as 21-year-old Richard McLeod signed for the package, he got a less romantic surprise. A sheriff's deputy placed him under arrest on a charge of failing to appear in court on an open-container violation. "So that isn't mine?" McLeod asked as he was handcuffed. Anne Arundel County Sheriff Ron Bateman is no Cupid, but he did spend yesterday playing matchmaker: pairing a dozen crime suspects with their outstanding warrants.

Gilchrist Hospice Care raised more than $218,000 to help pay for uncompensated care at its 27th annual Taste & Auction of Howard County. The money will benefit patients at Gilchrist Center Howard County, which opened last year. Nearly 500 people attended the event Sunday at Turf Valley that featured food tastings from 23 Howard County restaurants that included Aida Bistro, Clyde's of Columbia and Tersiguel's. There also was a live auction and a silent auction for such items as gourmet wines, gift baskets, Ravens tickets and a trip to Hawaii.

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo as St. Mary of the Mills School hosts its annual Spring Gala Saturday, May 5, at 7 p.m. at Pallotti High School, 113 St. Mary's Place. Enjoy food, lively music and an opportunity to bid on an array of themed gift baskets and silent auction items. Tickets are on sale now, and advertising opportunities are also available. Contact Dana Harzer, dharzer@stmaryofthemills.org or 301-498-1433 or Diana Guzman at dguzman@stmaryofthemills.org .

Holiday bazaar St. Paul's Episcopal Church holds its annual Holiday Bazaar at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, at 16457 Old Frederick Road in Mount Airy. The event features baked goods, candies, a silent auction, gift baskets, Christmas tree ornaments, crafts and more. Also, raffle tickets will be sold for a 50-50 drawing, a basket of cheer and a hand-made multi-colored afghan. Information: 410-489-4411. Holiday fair The Gary J. Arthur Community Center holds its sixth annual Holiday Vendor Fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 10 at 2400 Route 97 in Cooksville.

A Westminster charity is turning castoffs into cash to finance programs for the needy. Shepherd's Staff, an ecumenical outreach ministry that has for a decade provided help to Carroll families, counts its annual clothing donations in tons, said director Kathryn C. Brown. Some donations are suitable for the charity's career and school clothing cupboards, but others are not much more than rags - stained, frayed or well-worn. The discard pile has decreased significantly since Ruth Hernandez offered her sewing skills to the charity that once helped her. "Kathy and I got to talking about sewing and what she needed," said Hernandez, 48. "I wanted something to do and I had ideas that could help."

First came the food trucks. Now, there's a cookie scooter. Back in June, Columbia resident Casey Dyson launched CookieRide, which sells home-baked cookies from an environmentally-friendly scooter. Dyson has been bringing CookieRide to Columbia gathering spots like Lake Kittamaqundi, office parks and outdoor pools. CookieRide also deliver cookies -- as well as pastry platters, brownies and gift baskets -- to homes and businesses year-round, but curbside sales will wrap up in November and resume next March.

Gilchrist Hospice Care raised more than $218,000 to help pay for uncompensated care at its 27th annual Taste & Auction of Howard County. The money will benefit patients at Gilchrist Center Howard County, which opened last year. Nearly 500 people attended the event Sunday at Turf Valley that featured food tastings from 23 Howard County restaurants that included Aida Bistro, Clyde's of Columbia and Tersiguel's. There also was a live auction and a silent auction for such items as gourmet wines, gift baskets, Ravens tickets and a trip to Hawaii.

Santa Claus in Howard County is named Daniel W. Bennett Jr."If I can find no one else to help a senior, I always can call Dan because he always comes through," said Vivian L. Reid, director of Howard County's Office of Aging.Mr. Bennett, an architect with Howard County's Public Works Department, was busy this week, purchasing yams, greens, corn and fruit at Produce Galore in Columbia for gift baskets that the Howard County Office of Aging will distribute to needy elderly people at Christmas.

A Westminster charity is turning castoffs into cash to finance programs for the needy. Shepherd's Staff, an ecumenical outreach ministry that has for a decade provided help to Carroll families, counts its annual clothing donations in tons, said director Kathryn C. Brown. Some donations are suitable for the charity's career and school clothing cupboards, but others are not much more than rags - stained, frayed or well-worn. The discard pile has decreased significantly since Ruth Hernandez offered her sewing skills to the charity that once helped her. "Kathy and I got to talking about sewing and what she needed," said Hernandez, 48. "I wanted something to do and I had ideas that could help."

Timeout Sports Grille opens in TownMall Timeout Sports Grille, a sports-themed restaurant featuring American cuisine, has opened in TownMall of Westminster. Owners Susan Metcalf and Lee Nardyz have decorated the walls with authentic sports memorabilia. There also are two projection televisions and several video games. The menu features steak, seafood, burgers, a raw bar and children's menu. Signature dishes include Maryland crab cakes, cream of crab soup, chicken wings in a variety of flavors and barbecue spare ribs.

First came the food trucks. Now, there's a cookie scooter. Back in June, Columbia resident Casey Dyson launched CookieRide, which sells home-baked cookies from an environmentally-friendly scooter. Dyson has been bringing CookieRide to Columbia gathering spots like Lake Kittamaqundi, office parks and outdoor pools. CookieRide also deliver cookies -- as well as pastry platters, brownies and gift baskets -- to homes and businesses year-round, but curbside sales will wrap up in November and resume next March.

Celebrate International Art Month in Havre de Grace at the Fall 2012 Havre de Grace Art Walk this Saturday, Oct. 20, from 11 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The fifth annual Havre de Grace Art Walk is sponsored by The Art Rooms Professional Art Supplies. This family event is held every year during October in celebration of International Art Month. It's free, and no purchases are necessary. Those attending will gain the benefit of exercise by walking around Havre de Grace getting your flier stamped by the participating businesses.

Donzel Clayton "Clay" Wildey, a former human resources director who became a co-owner of The Nut Farm and Creamery at Green Spring Station in Brooklandville, died June 13 of pneumonia at Greater Baltimore Medical Center. The longtime Rodgers Forge resident was 64. The son of a Methodist minister and a homemaker, Mr. Wildey — who never used his first name, according to his wife of 43 years, the former Marjorie Cole — was born in Lewes, Del. Eventually, his family settled in Timonium, and Mr. Wildey graduated in 1965 from Dulaney High School.

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo as St. Mary of the Mills School hosts its annual Spring Gala Saturday, May 5, at 7 p.m. at Pallotti High School, 113 St. Mary's Place. Enjoy food, lively music and an opportunity to bid on an array of themed gift baskets and silent auction items. Tickets are on sale now, and advertising opportunities are also available. Contact Dana Harzer, dharzer@stmaryofthemills.org or 301-498-1433 or Diana Guzman at dguzman@stmaryofthemills.org .

I don't normally attend Eagle Scout ceremonies. The North County News runs announcements of new Eagle Scouts and their photos in the paper, so the scouts get their much-deserved press without me showing up at their official Eagle Court of Honor. But I went to Dylan Norwood's ceremony last night. You see, Dylan is one special scout. I got to know him earlier this year when he was the subject of a cover story. He had half his brain removed when he was just 2 years old by Dr. Ben Carson.

Wearing pigtails and a pink sweat shirt, Jennifer Gilbert-Duran skipped up the steps of a Pasadena home to deliver a Valentine's Day gift basket. But as 21-year-old Richard McLeod signed for the package, he got a less romantic surprise. A sheriff's deputy placed him under arrest on a charge of failing to appear in court on an open-container violation. "So that isn't mine?" McLeod asked as he was handcuffed. Anne Arundel County Sheriff Ron Bateman is no Cupid, but he did spend yesterday playing matchmaker: pairing a dozen crime suspects with their outstanding warrants.

Donzel Clayton "Clay" Wildey, a former human resources director who became a co-owner of The Nut Farm and Creamery at Green Spring Station in Brooklandville, died June 13 of pneumonia at Greater Baltimore Medical Center. The longtime Rodgers Forge resident was 64. The son of a Methodist minister and a homemaker, Mr. Wildey — who never used his first name, according to his wife of 43 years, the former Marjorie Cole — was born in Lewes, Del. Eventually, his family settled in Timonium, and Mr. Wildey graduated in 1965 from Dulaney High School.

That little pig-shaped basket may look like a planter to you.But to Rose DiFonzo, owner of Executive Expressions in Finksburg, it's a Harley Hog just waiting to be stuffed with Harley-Davidson paraphernalia, candy and other goodies for the motorcycle enthusiast.From house-shaped baskets for real estate agents, to pink and blue baskets for new mothers, to chocolate-lovers' baskets filled with treats, Ms. DiFonzo has been creating individualized gift baskets for about 10 years."This was a great way to use my creativity," said Ms. DiFonzo, pointing to the baskets and silk flower arrangements decorating her tiny showroom in the Finksburg warehouse from which she also runs her retail basket business, Mayberry Sales Inc."

Timeout Sports Grille opens in TownMall Timeout Sports Grille, a sports-themed restaurant featuring American cuisine, has opened in TownMall of Westminster. Owners Susan Metcalf and Lee Nardyz have decorated the walls with authentic sports memorabilia. There also are two projection televisions and several video games. The menu features steak, seafood, burgers, a raw bar and children's menu. Signature dishes include Maryland crab cakes, cream of crab soup, chicken wings in a variety of flavors and barbecue spare ribs.

What better way to celebrate the Mexican holiday Cinco de Mayo than by mixing up a batch of guacamole? When choosing avocados to make the dip, select fruit that yields to gentle pressure. If you're planning to use it later in the week, look for firmness. The California Avocado Commission offers these tips as well: * To peel an avocado, cut the fruit in half and remove the seed. Then start at the small end to remove the skin with a knife. * To retain a fresh green color, peeled avocados should either be eaten immediately or should be sprinkled with lemon or lime juice and covered in an air-tight container.