"Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things." That's the favorite motto of West Friendship Elementary School media specialist Kathy Showman, who, for the past 17 years, has been opening the world of both big and little wonders to area youngsters. The local librarian with pizzaz announces West Friendship Elementary School's Book Fair Celebration Thursday-Monday, Nov. 20-25.

"This is just such a great time for parents to stock up on holiday gifts," Showman said. "What can be a better gift than a good book?"

Book Fair hours are 9:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. in the media center. Extended hours during parent conference evenings will be in place Nov. 24 and Nov. 25.

Speaking of high quality children's literature, don't forget to stop by the Mat About You Gallery in Ellicott City Saturday, Nov. 22. West Friendship author Ellen Nibali will sign copies of her new children's holiday selection "The Secret of St. Nicholas."

In addition to hosting the book signing, the gallery, which is located at 3774 Old Columbia Pike in historic Ellicott City, will serve as a venue for display of original watercolor paintings from which illustrations for "The Secret of St. Nicholas" were printed. Ellen Nibali will sign books from noon to 5 p.m.

The residents of Lorien Nursing Home in Columbia enjoyed a special day on Nov. 8, when more than 30 students from Glenelg Country School hosted a fall fair for the residents of Lorien who suffer from Alzheimers disease and dementia.

The fair was the brainstorm of student Laila Handoo, a repeat of a similar fair held last year. With an assist from the Glenelg Country students, the senior citizens decorated pots for African Violets, created spin art and participated in a ping-pong ball throw. The Glenelg Country students gave manicures and hand massages to the residents, helped the seniors frame pictures and enjoyed refreshments together.

Another wonderful interaction between our service oriented local students and the senior citizens within our community.

Orders for Florida citrus are due by Wednesday, Nov. 26 for a Dec. 13 pickup. The annual holiday fruit sale is sponsored by the Glenelg High School Marching Unit. Tangerines, grapefruit and navel oranges are available. If you would like to order this delicious fruit, call Cindy Desrochers at 410-489-4977 or e-mail fruitsales@glenelgbands.com or go to the Web site at www.glenelgbands.com and go to the fruit sale link.

Talk about one stop shopping. Glenelg High School, home of the Gladiators, can now boast of its very own school store. Dubbed "The Big Red Zone," the school store offers Glenelg High School spirit garb, along with school supplies and sundries. The school store staff has teamed up with Glenelg High's DECA marketing student members to run the shop during school hours as well as during after school functions. This year the DECA members will offer holiday wrapping for customers.

Reality television celebrity Ethan Zohn of "Survivor: Africa" is coming to town. The "Survivor: Africa" winner will make an appearance at Glenelg High School Friday, Nov. 21, 2:45 to 4 p.m., in the media center. Zohn will be in the Washington area for World AIDS Day 2008 and has agreed to come to Glenelg High School to speak on the topic of his charity, Grassroots Soccer Campaign.

Zohn started this project while he was in Africa during the filming of "Survivor." The mission of the Grassroots Soccer Campaign is to use the power of soccer in the fight against AIDS by providing African youth with the knowledge, skills and support to live HIV free.

Glenelg High School Key Club president Bradley Carpenter read about Zohn's work with the AIDS Day and soccer campaign and realized that Zohn's schedule just might allow for a stop in Howard County. Zohn agreed and the date was set. The Glenelg High Key Club will sponsor Zohn's appearance and will also host a companion support event in early December.

Rebecca and Evan Behre and the amazingly talented crew out at Greenbridge Pottery in Dayton celebrated Greenbridge's 23rd anniversary in early November. Holiday events are beginning to fill up the annual Greenbridge roster. Saturday, Nov. 22 marks the opening of the weekend holiday open house season at Greenbridge. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 1-5 p.m on Sundays through the holiday season.

Rebecca's beautiful new celadon finish is in stock. Check out this local treasure of art and domesticity. Beautiful ceramics, mulled cider, heavenly music, guinea fowl in the yard and all only a stone's throw away. Question about Greeenbridge Pottery? Need directions? Call 410-531-5920 or go to www.greenbridgepottery.com

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