Slayton House

Slayton House Camp of the Arts and Conservatory Camp will hold an open house from 10 a.m. to noon Feb. 14 at Slayton House in the Wilde Lake Village Green. Exhibits, tours of the facilities and discounts for early registration will be offered, and parents will have an opportunity to see firsthand what their children will experience at camp. Information: Kathy Verheul, 410-730-3987 or 301-596-4883. Artists sought Slayton House Gallery is accepting applications from artists interested in exhibiting at the gallery during the 2009-2010 season.

Slayton House, in Wilde Lake Village Center, will present its annual Bingo/Splashdown School's Out Program on Jan. 20.The program is recommended for children ages 6 to 12. The day will start with bingo at Slayton House from 10 a.m. to noon, offering a variety of prizes.From noon to 2 p.m., children can play at the Indoor Swim Center, where lunch will be provided.After the swim, they will return to Slayton House for activities from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.The cost for the entire day is $8 per child, including lunch.

Wilde Lake village officials are asking residents expecting to receive mailed absentee ballots to come to Slayton House, the village association headquarters, and pick them up instead. The bulk mail of roughly 2,800 absentee ballots, mailed late last month, have not been accounted for, said Bernice Kish, the village manager. She said the post office is trying to trace the mailed ballots. Wilde Lake elections are scheduled for April 22. Kish said the absentee ballots have to be signed by residents and returned by the election date.

Art exhibits: Two-person exhibit features the photographs of Youlong Yang and the Chinese brush paintings of Irene Hou in the Lobby Gallery through June 20. A reception will be held 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. today. Hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. 410-730-3987 or 301-596-4883. Camp of the arts : Drama camp is open, by audition, to experienced drama students in grades eight through 12. Campers will perform a full-scale musical in the Slayton House theater.

The new Wilde Lake Student Gallery opened yesterday at Slayton House. The first exhibit, "Out of the Woods," is displaying works by young artists from Bryant Woods Elementary School.Yesterday, the students were welcomed at a reception in the Wilde Lake Room of the Slayton House Gallery, where their artwork will be exhibited until July 1.Bernice Kish, gallery director, says she hopes this is the first student display in what will become a continuing feature of the gallery, giving all the Wilde Lake schools a chance to show the best work of their young artists.

Slayton House Theatre in the Wilde Lake Village Center will begin its new season of "Marvelous Movies and More" with the 1933 classic film, King Kong, starring Fay Wray, at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 8. Film critic Mike Giuliano will lead a short discussion after the film. Dessert and coffee will be provided. The cost is $7; $6 for senior citizens and students. Seating is limited. Information: 410-730-3987. Performing arts classes start Sept. 11 Judy Templeton and Shari Grue of the new Imagine Foundation will present performing arts classes for children, youth and adults at Slayton House, starting Sept.

Slayton House in Wilde Lake Village Center will continue its Marvelous Movies and More film series with a 1934 film, The Thin Man, at 7:30 p.m. April 15. Based on a novel by Dashiell Hammett, the film stars Myrna Loy and William Powell. Dessert and coffee will be available after a short discussion of the film. The cost is $7; $6 for senior citizens and students. Seating is limited. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door. Information: 410-730-3987. Open Mic Poetry Night for ages 11-15 set April 12 The central library, 10375 Little Patuxent Parkway, will sponsor an Open Mic Poetry Night, for youths ages 11 to 15, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. April 12. Participants will have a chance to share their poems or favorite works.

Slayton House on Wilde Lake Village Green will hold belly-dance lessons with Egyptian Cabaret dancer Salima Aza. There will be two sessions -- six weeks each -- in the fall and winter. Each session costs $54. There is also a $10 drop-in fee for advanced beginners only. The fall session will be held from Sept. 13 to Oct. 18; the winter session will be held from Oct. 25 to Dec. 6. Columbia lien payers may request a 10 percent discount. Beginners will meet from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; advanced beginners, from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Space is limited.

Whether we want to admit it or not, crime is rapidly becoming a major problem in Columbia and the rest of Howard County.Trapped as we are between two major East Coast crime centers -- Washington and Baltimore -- it is almost inevitable that our community will increasingly become a target.At a recent meeting of concerned residents living in the Hannibal Grove apartment complex in Wilde Lake, one resident rightly noted that "we can't build walls to keep the criminals out."So, we are left to seek alternatives.