Gift Certificate

A FRIEND of ours loves bargains, whether doubling her grocery coupons or landing on a yard-sale treasure. Last week, she discovered another kind of bargain. "You've heard of leveraged buy-outs?" she said. "I'm now a leveraged donor!"Here's the story: A local public radio station is holding one of its seasonal fund-raising campaigns, complete with many of the usual incentives for larger gifts. This time around, however, the lures are especially sweet. A popular restaurant in town is offering a $25 gift certificate to anyone who donates $100 or more.

DEAR CAL -- One of the parents on our travel baseball team suggested we pay the team's coach. The head coach is a volunteer who doesn't have a kid on the team. He's been coaching this team for years and has never asked to be paid. Many other parents seem to think paying him is a nice gesture, but I'm not so sure. In addition to the fact that the expense of playing for this team already represents a stretch for us and some other parents, I think this also sets a dangerous precedent. Will this coach and others expect to be paid for their time going forward?

Dunbar's two-time All-Metro center Norman Nolan has up to two weeks to retain his final season of eligibility by returning gifts he received at a Nike basketball camp in Beaverton, Ore., earlier this month.Nolan was among 36 of the nation's top senior Division I prospects who received a $100 gift certificate and other gifts, violating high school rules governing eligibility.Nolan and his father, Sam Robertson, heard the details of the procedure at a meeting last night with Maurice Howard, the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction for Baltimore City public schools, and Donald Williams, specialist for physical education and athletics.

THE AUCTIONEER'S gavel will complete the sale of services to top bidders Sunday afternoon as teens at St. Stephen's Reformed Episcopal Church in Eldersburg endeavor to raise funds for and awareness of worldwide famine. As part of a fund-raising effort on behalf of the Christian relief organization World Vision, members of the church's Senior High Youth Group have pledged to perform chores and jobs to the highest bidders in their first "Service Auction." Each teen will provide at least three services.

City's Troy Robinson completed a 46-yard pass to teammate Deion Petty to win Sunday's Quarterback Challenge against Poly's Eric White during halftime of the Ravens-Patriots game at M&T Bank Stadium. Robinson's completion lands him in second place overall behind the 47-yard completion by Gilman's Shane Cockerille in his competition against Calvert Hall's Colar Kuhns. Kuhns also completed a 46-yard pass in the first week of the Challenge. At the end of the season, the quarterback who has thrown the longest competed pass will win new Under Armour jerseys for his football team.

The deadline for submitting sports copy is 9 a.m. on Mondays. We prefer email (howardcountysports@patuxent.com). We do not accept results by phone. When two Howard County teams play, players from both teams (first and last names) must be mentioned in the write-up. Questions? Call 410-332-6606. Running The 332 participants in the Turkey Trot 10k Prediction Run had to run 6.2 miles through Jeffers Hill, with the winner finishing closest to 11 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning without the benefit of any timing devices.

As the holiday shopping season and mad scramble to find the perfect present begins, Neil Romain already knows exactly what he is buying this time around for his wife of 15 years: a gift certificate. Lest you peg his selection as unimaginative, this particular gift certificate is for a $300 appointment with a cosmetic surgeon to blast away her varicose veins. Ah, remember the days when the worst gift you could expect was a red and green Yuletide sweater with blinking lights and appliqued snowflakes and bells?

If Mom has been glancing anxiously your way this week, that's because Sunday is Mother's Day and you still haven't gotten her a present. She knows these things -- she has eyes in the back of her head.For those having trouble finding just the right gift, a word of advice:Elegance.Some of the most appreciated gifts on Mother's Day are the ones that make Mom look great. From make-overs to lingerie, stores offer high-fashion gifts for your biggest fan.A cosmetic make-over can provide a fresh, new start at the beginning of the maternal year.

City officials are offering a trade: groceries for guns. This Saturday, Klein's ShopRite will give a $100 gift certificate to anyone who turns in a firearm. The "Goods for Guns" buyback will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Coldstream Homestead Montebello Community Corp. headquarters, located on the campus of City College. "Every single gun we get out of our neighborhoods is a success," said City Council President Bernard C. "Jack" Young, who helped organize the event.

Choosing a Christmas gift for a fitness buff seems daunting, especially if you're a couch potato whose idea of exercise is to send someone else to the Krispy Kreme doughnut store. After all, bikers already have a bike and weight-lifters have weights, right?Even if you do make your way to the alien world of a sporting goods store, what do you look for?We asked some of the people who have been profiled in The Sun's Health and Fitness section this year what they would like to find under their trees on Christmas morning.