A few weeks back, I wrote about Thomas Underwood, a local teenager who was working on an Eagle Scout project. He led a local effort to collect bicycles, bike parts and accessories, sewing machines and cell phones which would then be shipped to a developing or needy country.

I wanted to follow up with Thomas about how the drive went. He wrote, "Wonderful! We collected more than $1,100 and 164 bikes, in addition to several sewing machines, a couple cell phones and more than $200 worth of parts.

The bikes went to Bridgetown, Barbados, with the Pinelands Creative Workshop, which works with low-income children." Now that's pretty fantastic. Look what one individual can do with an idea.

Way to go, Thomas.

The Frederick County Fair was last month and our granddaughter, Brittni Souder, of Union Bridge, participated in it through her involvement with the 4-H Club of Union Bridge. She has been involved with 4-H for a number of years now.

This year, she's a senior at Walkersville High School, up near Frederick. It will also be her last year in 4-H. Each year, she raises at least one steer for the competition. This year, she had a heifer and her calf. When I asked her how she did at the fair, she said, "Oh, I don't know. I think I won some award."

So humble she is. So I checked with her mom, Stacey Johnston who keeps up with that kind of stuff. Brittni won four ribbons: Grand Champion, Cow and Calf; Grand Champion, Pair of Two Females; Grand Champion, Bred and Owned, Heifer; and, Reserve Grand Champion, Heifer.

Dr. Rashmi Parmar, one of the local dentists, is sponsoring the second annual Treats for Troops Candy Buy-back. If your kids bring home way more candy than you would like them to have, bring the extras over to her office located between Highland and Clarskville at 12620 Clarksville Pike, Nov. 1 from noon to 4 p.m. She's offering a buck a pound.

Dr. Parmar will donate the candy to the troops for their enjoyment. Last year, your kids gave her more than 200 pounds of candy, most of which was shipped to the troops but some of it made it over to the USO lounge at BWI. That was awesome.

If you have any questions or about the event, ring up her office at 410-531-5639 (tell her you saw it here) or go to www.Parmarmd.com.

It's not too late to fill Scott's office with foodstuffs. Scott Conroy is the principal of Lime Kiln Middle School and the food drive will benefit Fish of Howard County. The "Fish Wish List" contains many items but essentially, the school is looking for non-perishable dry goods and canned food- anything that won't spoil.

For more info or a more complete list, contact Norm Belden at the school at 410-880-5988 or drop him a line at Norm_Belden@hcpss.org.

And the PTA is sponsoring a coat drive. This is a good time to donate those gently-used unwanted coats where's they'd find a good home. They will also accept new coats, too. The drive runs through Oct. 30. Just drop off the coats in the "coat drive" box located in the lobby of the school. Your support is greatly appreciated.

I got a short note from Celia O'Brien, the Book Fair chairperson at Folly Quarter Middle School. The school is sponsoring a book fair which will run until Nov. 5. The fair will be held in the media center and is open every school day from 7:30 to 3:30 with evening hours Monday, Oct. 26 from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Jan Roth, a Reservoir High School music booster, is the mother of sophomore Marilyn Roth, a member of the concert choir, sent an e-mail about the upcoming spooky concert Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m.

It's the second annual Fall Concert which will feature musical performances and choruses with a witchy flair, spooky spirits and a touch of Harry Potter.

To get into the concert, you'll need to make a donation of canned or non-perishable foods (or a monetary donation). All food and monetary donations will benefit the Howard County Food Bank, on Route 108.

Like many organizations, this recession has hit them pretty hard and they've seen a significant drop in resources and donations so please be generous. By the way, you are invited to wear your costume and join in the fun too!

Well, that's all I have for this week. Look after your neighbors. Commit a random act of kindness. Say a prayer for our troops who are serving in harm's way. And remember their families, too.

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