Congratulations to Girl Scout Troop 1565! The troop, under the direction of leaders Jenny Whitebloom and Pat Soffen, recently earned the highest award for their level, the Silver Award.

The scouts in this group include Taryn Bramel, Hannah Cho, Jessica Donnelly, Kimberly Soffen and Katelyn Whitebloom.

They participated in the annual Columbia mall sleep in, which was part of the community involvement required for the award. During the event they were required to plan and implement a project. They prepared an interactive booth in which the Junior Girl Scouts could visit and earn their Theater badge.

"Taryn, Hannah, Jessica, Kimberly and Katelyn had to research how to apply theater makeup so they could demonstrate, they had to create games about facial expressions, voice inflection and volume," Jenny Whitebloom said.

In conclusion, the scouts wrote a short play and instructed the juniors in acting and stage presence. The final performance by the juniors, complete with creative costumes, was presented after being directed by the scouts of Troop 1565.

Elkridge Landing Middle School will "strut its stuff" Friday, Nov. 21 with their 14th annual Turkey Trot. This event is a 1-mile cross-country race for the students, staff, parents, and other community members in Elkridge.

The Turkey Trot will be run by grade level participation during related arts classes. The related arts teachers and PTSA members will organize and monitor this event. Although fitness and pacing awareness is our goal, our PTSA has donated prizes to winners of various categories.

Everyone is invited! The races will begin around 8:15 a.m. and go until close to 11 a.m. Call Carol Jones at the school for specific times for each grade, 410-313-5040 or e-mail Carol_Jones@hcpss.org.

Deep Run Elementary School had a very successful pumpkin auction a few weeks ago. The auction was a fundraiser to benefit the school's culture committee, which supports the developmental assets program at Deep Run.

"The kindergarten team was very creative with their Oscar the Grouch, Big Bird, and Cookie Monster pumpkins. The fifth-grade team was very patriotic in creating all red, white and blue pumpkins persuading people to get out and vote," Deep Run technology teacher Robin Stevens said.

Many classrooms created literary themed pumpkins such as: Horton Hears a Who, I Spy and Chicka Chicka, Boom Boom. Sports were also a popular pumpkin theme, with a Fear the Turtle pumpkin, a Redskins football pumpkin, and Head of Steelers Football.

The Elkridge Volunteer Fire Department's Junior Firefighters will sponsor a "Get Into The Game" youth dance for ages 9 to 15, Saturday, Nov. 22 from 7 to 10 p.m. at the firehouse. Be a fan and wear your favorite sports team apparel, without the hat, please. Tickets will be available at the door for $8 each. For more information, call 410-761-6633, Option 5.

In honor of America Recycles Day, Deep Run Elementary had a school wide recycling celebration last week. Students displayed their crafts, sculptures and inventions made from recycling materials.

"We shouldn't think of just now, but the future of our environment. Everyone needs to recycle," said Zakiya Ince, a fifth-grader at Deep Run.

Billy Box Turtle visited with animals showing the importance of taking care of our environment so animals aren't put in danger. Steve Witkin, executive director of Grassroots Recycling in Baltimore County shared recycling tips.

Neighbor Ride launched its volunteer-based transportation service four years ago! The mission was to decrease isolation and improve the quality of life for Howard County's older residents. In the words of local passengers, "We have been able to retain our independence because of Neighbor Ride...Thanks so much and God bless."

Today, its dedicated volunteers provide an average of 500 trips per month for medical appointments, shopping, social outings, personal care and business, religious services, volunteer activities and other day-to-day needs.

You can give seniors the precious gift of independence this holiday season by volunteering as a Neighbor Ride driver. Flexible hours are available in the daytime, evening and during the weekend. Parent volunteers are also welcome and encouraged to bring along their children for a wonderful experience across the generations.

Call Rosemary Noble at 410-884-RIDE (7433) or e-mail volunteer@neighborride.org for more information or to volunteer.

Upcoming Neighbor Ride volunteer orientation dates are Friday, Nov. 21 at 10 a.m., Dec. 2 at 10 a.m., and Dec. 17 at 6 p.m.

Happy November birthdays to Linda Possehl, Conrad Brookhart, Kelly Hamilton, Theresa Webster, Tom McCarthy, Dorothy Whitman, Alison Thompson, Alex Rebaza, Susan Naylor, Colleen McDowell, and Kris Jackson.

I am always looking for friendly neighbors to acknowledge. Brainstorm with friends from your community, and let me know whom you want me to highlight.

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