North Laurel families, your help is needed. Reservoir High School has two very nice foreign exchange students who need a home till June 2010. One is a boy from Thailand, and the other is a girl from Norway. This is an excellent way to learn about other cultures without the cost of travel. For more information on the program, or to learn more about these two students, contact Cindy Clemons at 410-730-7411, or cindy.clemens@verizon.net. Your help is needed today, so please consider adding these kids to your family for the year. You'll really enjoy the experience and will make a friend for life.

Reservoir High School's second annual fall concert will be held Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. The event will feature musical performances and choruses with a witchy flair, spooky spirits and a touch of Harry Potter, too. Wear your costume and join the fun. Admission is canned or non-perishable food or a monetary donation that will be given to the Howard County Food Bank. For more information, go to www.rhsmusic.wikispaces.com

Can you believe that it is almost the end of October? Before you rake your leaves, you may want to get free paper yard waste bags from the county at 6751 Columbia Gateway Drive, Suite 514, or the Alpha Ridge Landfill at 2350 Marriottsville Road. Go to www.co.ho.md.us/DPW/recycling.htm for more details.

If bird watching appeals to your kids, they might be interested in entering the second annual Youth Birding Essay Contest sponsored by the Howard County Bird Club. Applicants must be Howard County residents between ages 9 and 13 and cannot be a pervious winner. The topic of the essay is "My Favorite Birdwatching Experience, written" in 250 words or less. Essays should be sent to Tom Miller, 6404 Glasgow Circle, Eldersburg, MD 21784. Please include name, age and contact information of the writer.

There is still room for the all day program, "Homeopathy: Self-Care for Your Family and You," Saturday, Oct. 24 at Tai Sophia Institute. It will run from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and costs $115. To find out more information or to register for this event, go to www.tai.edu, e-mail communityprograms@tai.edu, or call 410-888-9048, ext. 6611.

Don't forget to head over to the Knights of Columbus' Casino Night on Saturday, Oct. 24 from 7 to 11 p.m. at Resurrection of Our Lord Church, located at 8402 Brock Bridge Road. The event is open to anyone 21 years or older and the cost is $5 per person. For additional information, please contact Bill Brilvitch at 301-498-5758 or casinoknight@verizon.net.

Just over a week from now is Halloween but before you send your little goblins out for trick or treating, let them enjoy the fun activities at the Savage Community Association's Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct. 31 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Carroll Baldwin Hall. There will be a hayride, pumpkin painting, scarecrow making (please bring clothing), yard games, music/karaoke as well as hot coffee, cider and pie.

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