Raffle Tickets

The Manor Tavern in Monkton is teaming up with the Oyster Recovery Partnership for a Sunday afternoon Oyster Festival. The event will feature more than 20 types of different oysters, shucked by Maryland and World Champion Oyster Shucker George Hastings. The Oyster Festival will include displays of local arts and crafts, children's activities -- including a pirate ship moon, bounce -- and live bluegrass music by Slim Pickinz. Smyth Jewelers has donated a pearl necklace and earrings, raffle tickets are $15 with all the proceeds benefiting the Oyster Recovery Partnership . Admission to the Oyster Festival at Manor Tavern is free.

All 460 seats to the largest party of the year for Harford County's homeless and neglected animals are already sold out, but there are still plenty of ways to support the animals at the shelter. The Humane Society of Harford County's Bow Wow Boogie will be held May 3 from 7:30-11:30 p.m. at the Richlin Ballroom, 1700 Van Bibber Road, Edgewood. Local businesses and animal lovers across the region are encouraged to show support for shelter animals by donating gift cards, jewelry, artwork, professional services, tickets to area attractions, and other items for the evening's popular silent auction.

Once again this spring I'm doing my part to help jump-start the economy by buying every raffle ticket thrust at me.L I bought a raffle ticket for a 1992 Cadillac Sedan de Ville.I bought a raffle ticket for a Mitsubishi big-screen TV.I bought a raffle ticket for a 22-foot speedboat, a CD player and a Cal Ripken Jr. autographed baseball bat.I even bought a raffle ticket for a camper that sleeps four -- and my idea of roughing it is a Holiday Inn without cable.Understand, there is absolutely no chance of me winning any of these prizes.

In Fells Point, everyone knows Todd Conner's is a Steelers bar. Nearby, Sticky Rice Bmore is a true-purple Ravens-supporting establishment. On Sunday, with the Ravens in Pittsburgh, partisans of the two bars will square off for a day-long "Rumble of the Rivals," a benefit to help people affected by Hurricane Sandy in the communities of Ocean County, N.J. To keep the daylong competition friendly, organizers of the event have come up with a set of elaborate and ridiculous rules that no one could possibly keep track of or take seriously.

ON MY DRESSER at this very moment are two raffle tickets for a 1996 Chrysler LeBaron, two raffle tickets for an all-expenses-paid Caribbean vacation for two, and four raffle tickets for a 28-inch Sony Trinitron.The drawings for each of these prizes will be held in the next two weeks. Not that it matters.I won't win the Chrysler.I won't win the all-expenses-paid Caribbean vacation.I won't win the Sony Trinitron.Because I never win anything.Ever. Never, ever.As it happens, I will be at the drawing for the Chrysler LeBaron, which will take place during a fund-raising dinner my wife and I were roped in . . . er, invited to.Having observed these drawings many times (as a loser, of course)

It's not summer, but the Baltimore Orioles have the attention of their fans. Quite a few of those fans will be delighted at the appearance of the Oriole Bird, who will visit Freedom Elementary School on Thursday as part of the promotion of the new "Cal Bars" candy bars (for Cal Ripken, whose picture is on the candy wrapper)."We were hoping that the Bird would come," said Tina Crockett, fund raising chairperson for the school PTA, "but we didn't receive confirmation until this weekend. Because we weren't sure we didn't tell the kids, so an awful lot of them will be very surprised."

What: Howard Community College Grand Prix When: Saturday, Sept. 22, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Where: Marama Farm, 5610 Chamblis Drive, Clarksville Tickets: $10 for the lawn (children 10 and under free); adult bleacher seats $15, children bleachers $8; tent seats $200; box seats $250. Raffle tickets for a car are $100 each or three for $250. More information: Call 443 518-1970 or go to http://www.hccgrandprix.com..

In Fells Point, everyone knows Todd Conner's is a Steelers bar. Nearby, Sticky Rice Bmore is a true-purple Ravens-supporting establishment. On Sunday, with the Ravens in Pittsburgh, partisans of the two bars will square off for a day-long "Rumble of the Rivals," a benefit to help people affected by Hurricane Sandy in the communities of Ocean County, N.J. To keep the daylong competition friendly, organizers of the event have come up with a set of elaborate and ridiculous rules that no one could possibly keep track of or take seriously.

FILL UP and feel good at a couple of local crab feast fund-raisers this summer.The Pasadena Business Association is sponsoring its annual crab feast and bull roast picnic from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday at Kurtz's Beach, off Bayside Beach Road.Along with a menu that includes crabs, pit beef and ham, there will be dancing, door prizes and a 50/50 raffle.Tickets to the picnic are $25.Picnic or raffle tickets: Carol Cross, 410-987-4887 or Cal Shilling, 410-360-6802.The Stoney Creek Democratic Club, on Fort Smallwood Road, will hold a crab feast from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 6.Food will be served from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.Music by the Mario Trio is scheduled for 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.Cost is $20.Tickets: 410-255-7960 or 410-255-4611.

Editor: On behalf of the 12U Bel Air Braves travel baseball team, we would like to thank everyone who supported our fundraisers, bought raffle tickets, made donations or just wished us good luck throughout the season. The Braves have had a very successful season (29-8-1) which will culminate in playing in the Cal Ripken World Series as the host team from Harford County! Members of the team are: Camren Exter, Michael Yetter, Ryan Neuberger, Daniel Webber, Nick Robinette, Michael Koski, Kyle Bright, Brian Ballard, Zach DeLuise, Andrew Brndjar, Jordan Ly and Carter Poulsen.

Essay contest The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Commission invites county middle and high school students to participate in the commission's annual essay contest. Winners will be recognized at the commission's annual celebration Jan. 20 at Howard Community College. Essays must be typed and double-spaced and include a cover page with the student's name, address, telephone number, email address, school and grade. Middle school student essays must be 500 to 750 words in length, while high school student essays must be 750 to 1,000 words.

What: Howard Community College Grand Prix When: Saturday, Sept. 22, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Where: Marama Farm, 5610 Chamblis Drive, Clarksville Tickets: $10 for the lawn (children 10 and under free); adult bleacher seats $15, children bleachers $8; tent seats $200; box seats $250. Raffle tickets for a car are $100 each or three for $250. More information: Call 443 518-1970 or go to http://www.hccgrandprix.com..

Peace be with you, dear readers, Today marks the International Day of Peace, established by a United Nations resolution in 1982. Tomorrow, happy autumn! Officially, Sept. 22 is the first day of autumn. It's time to enjoy colorful leaves, pumpkins, fall harvests and turkeys, among other things. Acquire your fall harvest at Havre de Grace Farmers Market, 450 Pennington Ave., Saturdays through October, 9 a.m. to noon. September is National Honey Month. Celebrate with your honey and buy fresh honey at the farmers market.

Shop, dear readers, The Havre de Grace Community-wide Yard Sale Saturday, Sept. 15, for bargains galore (rain date Sept. 16) 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. For additions, check the HdG tourism website, hdgtourism.com, and download a list. Lots of good buys at: 226 N. Union Ave. ($10 spaces are still available); 719 Warren St., 616 S. Washington St.; 700 Market St.; 107 Hutchins Court (Bayview Estates); 238 Smarty Jones Terrace (Bulle Rock); and 103 Vigil Circle (Bulle Rock). We will also have a list of participating locations at the HdG Visitor Center, 450 Pennington Ave., and at La Cle D'or Guesthouse, 226 N. Union Ave. Let's shop!

It's Grandparents Day, dear readers, It's this Sunday, Sept. 9. Congratulations to all my readers who happen to be grandparents! Remember yours. Sept. 11, Tuesday, is Patriot Day and the National Day of Remembrance. Celebrate First Fridays in downtown Havre de Grace today (Friday), 5 to 9 p.m. sponsored by Havre de Grace Main Street. On Saturday morning, rise and shine early for the best produce of summer at the Havre de Grace Farmers Market, 450 Pennington Ave., 9 a.m. to noon.

Yawn, dear readers, Today, Aug. 10 is Lazy Day. Celebrate by lying in a hammock in the cool shade with an iced glass of lemonade and this column, and read on.....yawn. Ray Astor informed me that August commemorates the 67th anniversary of several important historical events from World War II. August is Peace Month. On Aug. 6, 1945, the first atomic bob was dropped upon Hiroshima, Japan, followed by a second atomic bomb dropped upon Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 1945. By Aug. 14, 1945, Japan surrendered.

Voters needed to work election days for countyThe Anne Arundel County Board of Supervisors of Elections is looking for registered voters to work on both primary Election Day, Sept. 15, and on general Election Day, Nov. 3.Individuals are needed to check in voters and assist at the voting unit. They will be paid $100 for each election worked.Information: 410-222-6600.Md. Chamber of Commerce backs Miller for re-electionThe Maryland Chamber of Commerce has endorsed Sen. Thomas V. Mike Miller for re-election to the 27th District state Senate seat.

The Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and Parks Spring Program Guide is now available. The guide, released last week at www.aacounty.org/recparks, provides information on athletic, recreation and therapeutic activities offered by Anne Arundel County Recreation and Parks. Programs are offered for all ages and include trips to New York to see Broadway shows, adult basketball and volleyball leagues, swimming, computer classes and more. Registration will be available online and at the county offices.

The Manor Tavern in Monkton is teaming up with the Oyster Recovery Partnership for a Sunday afternoon Oyster Festival. The event will feature more than 20 types of different oysters, shucked by Maryland and World Champion Oyster Shucker George Hastings. The Oyster Festival will include displays of local arts and crafts, children's activities -- including a pirate ship moon, bounce -- and live bluegrass music by Slim Pickinz. Smyth Jewelers has donated a pearl necklace and earrings, raffle tickets are $15 with all the proceeds benefiting the Oyster Recovery Partnership . Admission to the Oyster Festival at Manor Tavern is free.

It is time for the Reisterstown-Owings Mills-Glyndon Chamber of Commerce's annual Charter Night. In honor of incoming President Brian Deleonardo, whom I understand is a huge fan of Baltimore sports, this year's theme for the event is "Get in the Game. " Join chamber members on Thursday, Feb. 23 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Pikesville Hilton's Preakness Ballroom for a sports-themed menu. Raven's mascot Poe will be there, and so will the Oriole Bird, along with some yet-to-be- named mystery sports celebrities.