Western Howard County, home to the Glenwood Senior Center, is in all its splendor during the fall. The trees have already started to turn color, and the air smells of newly bailed hay and sweet ripening fruit. Of the abundant fruit, apples can be found at many a farm, in many a landowner's orchard, and yes, at the Glenwood Senior Center, too.

Did you know that the Glenwood Senior Center provides a hot cooked lunch daily for a $2 donation? The menus vary daily, and are well-balanced (and one needs to sign up a week in advance). A couple of times a month, however, the center offers a special lunch, and Oct. 23, the center will celebrate October Fest at noon with a Blue Plate Special. The day's German-inspired menu will include roasted pork loin with sauerkraut, German potato salad, applesauce, pumpernickel bread and apple cake. Polka music will accompany the meal. To attend, register by Oct. 21. Cost: $5.

"An apple a day can keep the doctor away" was an old adage that many of us grew up with. Looking to improve your daily health routine? An apple can certainly benefit along with the Food for Life program to be held Thursday, Oct. 16, from 8:30 to 11 a.m. During this program, you will meet with a registered dietitian to discuss your dietary needs. Cost: Free. Other nutritional programs include Nutrition With Jodi on Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 10 a.m.. Call 410-313-5440 to schedule your dietary or nutritional appointment. Note also that the center offers blood pressure screenings on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month from 9 to 11 a.m. The screenings are free and are sponsored by Howard County General Hospital.

Health and Wellness has always been the focus of the 50+ Expo, and at the Expo's 10th Anniversary Celebration Oct. 17 at Wilde Lake High School in Columbia, one can find more than 140 exhibitors, many educational seminars and health screenings. According to Sue Vaeth and Star Sowers of the Howard County Office on Aging, this year's highlights include "Hop Into Health" -- a room where one can visit a dietitian, receive lifestyle counseling and information from the county health department, promoters of the Healthy Howard initiative. Flu shots will also be available throughout the day. Other screenings offered include osteoporosis, blood pressure, and hearing.

County Executive Kenneth Ulman is scheduled to speak at about 12:30 p.m., and the entertainment will include the Capital Steps and the Milkshake Trio, a nationally acclaimed group. Event sponsors include H.C. General Hospital, St. Agnes Hospital, Care First Blue-Cross Blue Shield, the Columbia Association, the county's Office on Aging, and the county's Department of Citizen Services.

The expo takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Parking is at the Columbia mall, and shuttle service is available from the Sears bus stop.

To top off the fall season, the Glenwood Senior Center will sponsor a trip to Toby's Dinner Theatre in Columbia to see "The Producers" Oct. 22, at 10:30 a.m. This best musical ever is about making the worst musical ever. A down-on-his-luck Broadway producer comes up with a scheme to produce the most notorious flop in history. Only one thing goes wrong, and the show is a smash hit! Admission includes a full buffet lunch, show and gratuity. Purchase tickets by Oct. 10. Cost: $40.

For information and registration, call 410-313-5440 or go to www.glenwoodseniorcenter.org.

E-mail Shyami Codippily Murphy at shyami1@comcast.net.

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