Volunteers Are Needed

Volunteers are needed to help with the Penguin Pace 5K, to be held at 7:45 a.m. Feb. 3 at the Bain Center, 5470 Ruth KeetonWay, Columbia. Volunteers are needed to act as marshals, help atwater-stops, at the finish line and inside, with registration, packet pickup and brunch. The race raises funds for senior programming in Howard County. More than 400 runners have braved the cold to participate. Volunteers receive a Penguin Pace hat and brunch. Regina Jenkins, 410-313-1417.

Years ago, diseases like cancer and HIV/AIDS presented patients with an imminent death sentence. While there's no doubt that receiving a diagnosis of serious illness remains a life-changer, today many patients with conditions like these can look forward to a much brighter prognosis, thanks to new and better therapies and the researchers who have dedicated their lives to developing them. Yet no matter how many researchers join the effort to find treatments that improve patients' lives, the endeavor cannot move forward without the active involvement of another group of participants.

Area schools and literacy programs seek volunteers to help children and adults improve reading skills. Among them: Old Court Middle School, 4627 Old Court Road, Baltimore County, high school graduates to tutor pupils in grades six through eight in reading. Volunteers are needed every school day between 8: 30 a.m. and 2: 30 p.m. Contact: Yvonne Addison, 410-887-0788.

The Columbia Art Center Galleries and Little Patuxent Review will present a program on "Native American Traditions and Healing Ceremonies," with artist, author and dancer Henry E. Niese, from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 19 at the art center, 6100 Foreland Garth, in the Long Reach Village Center. Admission is free, and reservations are not required. The presentation is part of a continuing series sponsored by Little Patuxent Review and Columbia Art Center Galleries. Information: 410-730-0075, or visit www.columbiaartcenter.

Volunteers are needed for First Night Annapolis, Maryland's New Year's Eve celebration of the arts.The family-focused, nonalcoholic celebration has been held for the past eight years in the historic district of downtown Annapolis.Volunteers are especially needed to be site managers -- individuals who assist at the entrance to their assigned performance site.Participants can choose to work on publicity, be a stagehand, assist performers, sell admission buttons or help manage a performance venue.

Schools, libraries and literacy programs seek volunteers to help children and adults improve reading skills and assist in related projects.Among them are:Foundations Inc., which operates an after-school enrichment program in reading, math and other subjects at Baltimore's Gilmor Elementary, 1113 N. Stricker St. Volunteers are needed between 2: 30 p.m. and 6 p.m. weekdays. Contact: Jacquelyn Reed, 410-545- 0184.Youthful Inspirations Inc., at Bedford Elementary School, 7407 Dorman Drive, Pikesville, an enrichment program for elementary and middle school pupils.

Oldies But Goodies Cocker Spaniel Rescue will hold an adoption show from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 10 at PetSmart, 9041 Snowden River Parkway, Columbia. All dogs are spayed or neutered and have been vaccinated. For information on the adoption process, to check out the cockers waiting for new homes, or to volunteer to foster, go to cockerspanielrescue.com or call 703-533-2373. To view pictures and biographies of the dogs, go to the Web site and click on "Dogs Available" and then on "Best Friends."

The Howard County chapter of African American Culture will offer a countywide celebration of Kwanzaa from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 26. at the East Columbia 50 Plus Center, 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia. The public is invited. To reserve a seat: 410-313-7680. Mentors sought A-OK (Assist Our Kids) Mentoring/Tutoring Program is recruiting volunteers to work with Howard County elementary and middle schools. Volunteers are needed during school hours and after school until 6 p.m. Volunteers should be able to dedicate an hour a week for a school year.

The Howard County Office on Aging will sponsor two holiday events at the East Columbia 50+ Center, 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia. A holiday cookie contest will be held from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday. Participants should take a batch of homemade cookies and a copy of the recipe. Cookies will be sampled by a panel of judges. There will be prizes for best-decorated, best-tasting and healthiest. The Howard County Center of African-American Culture will offer a countywide celebration of Kwanzaa from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 26. The public is invited.

The chamber orchestra of Oakland Mills High School, 9410 Kilimanjaro Road, Columbia, will present a concert to benefit the WBAL Kids Campaign at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5 in the school auditorium. The concert will feature the OMHS chamber orchestra, musicians from the Wilde Lake High School Chamber Orchestra, singers from the Annapolis Chorale and area soloists. The concert is appropriate for children and adults. Tickets are $10; students ages 11 and younger admitted free with a paying adult. Information: Philip Hale, 410-313-6945.

The Judy Center and Cradlerock School will honor school fathers and other significant men in the lives of Cradlerock's kindergarten children at the fourth "Meals With Magnificent Men," an outreach program coordinated through the Judy Center. The traditional Thanksgiving lunch will be followed by interactive literacy activities, such as reading stories and learning through singing. The event will be held at 10:15 a.m. Friday at Cradlerock School, 6700 Cradlerock Way. The event is part of a program to reinforce the importance of parent involvement at the school and to provide insight into the kindergarten program.

As part of its new life-enhancement series, Columbia Art Center will offer a presentation on "The Art of Gluten-Free Cooking," from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. tomorrow at the center, 6100 Foreland Garth in Long Reach Village Center. Jules Dowler Shepard, an artist and an expert in gluten-free cooking and author of Nearly Normal Cooking for Gluten-Free Eating and The First Year: Celiac Disease and Living Gluten-Free, will offer insights on gluten-free flours, shopping, eating out and traveling.

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.

Oakland Mills High School will hold its 20th annual craft fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 8 in the main gymnasium of the school, 9410 Kilimanjaro Road, Columbia. Handmade jewelry, blankets, wooden items, scarves and other crafts for holiday gift-giving will be available. Music, food and a bake sale are also planned. Door prizes will be awarded. Vendors and artisans are needed. Admission is free for shoppers. Information: e-mail, OMHSCraftFair@yahoo.com. Center accredited The Cradlerock Children's Center, a nonprofit preschool for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years, has received state accreditation.