Once again, the Christmas season is upon us and what holiday wouldn't be complete without a holiday concert. This year is no different. You are all invited to this year's annual winter concert at Reservoir High School on the nights of Friday and Wednesday, Dec. 11 and 16. The concerts on noth nights begin at 7 p.m. and take place in the school auditorium.

The first night you'll hear performances by the concert orchestra, the concert band and the concert choir. On Dec. 16, the jazz band, Madrigals, the symphonic band and vocal ensembles will perform their stuff.

Tickets for each night are $5 with a family pack of four for $13. Come on out and get your Christmas spirit on.

We have a deck attached to the back of our home and, during the winter, my wife, Jennie, and I spread bird seed on the table out there for the birds (and, inevitably, the squirrels) to enjoy.

Then, we stand at the kitchen sink window and watch the antics of the birds when they come flitting in for something to eat. This is a perfect segue for this next item. If you have children ages 9-13, then the Howard County Bird Club has an essay contest for them.

The club, a chapter of the Maryland Ornithological Society, is holding its second annual Youth Birding Essay Contest. Entrants must be Howard County residents ages 9-13.

Previous winners are not eligible. The topic for this year's essay is "My Favorite Birdwatching Experience."

The essay should not be longer than 250 words. The prize for the best essay will be a backpack containing a pair of Eagle Optics Triumph 8 x 42 binoculars, a field guide and a one year free membership in the Howard County Bird Club.

Essays should be sent to: Tom Miller, 6404 Glasgow Circle, Sykesville, MD 21784 or email to: birderTWM@verizon.net. Please include name, age and contact information. The deadline for submissions is Jan. 31.

Recently I got an e-mail from John Neal who wanted to know if my brother-in-law, Bill Leishear, is related to the family for whom Leishear Road is named. So I asked Bill. I knew he grew up nearby in Montgomery County. The short answer was no. Probably somewhere in the dusty reaches of the past the two family lines are related, though.

Along with the Master Gardener program, the Howard County office of the University of MD Extension has other training opportunities available in the comming weeks and months.

There will be a "New Pesticide Applicator Training class" Feb. 11 with the exam Feb. 18. Both are from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Carroll County office.

For registration information, contact the office at 410-386-2760. There will also be three "Private Applicator Pesticide Recertification" classes offered. These will also be held at the Carroll County office and registration information can be gotten from the same phone number.

And finally, there will also be two Nutrient Management Voucher Training classes in January and March. For specific details, call the number above.

Janine MacDonald, the office administrator at Emmanuel Methodist Preschool, dropped me an e-mail about their recent "Share Day" at the preschool. It was an early Thanksgiving where the kids invited a family member to come to the school on that day and share a meal prepared by the children. It was well attended by moms, dads, grandmothers and grandfathers. Everyone had a grand time and the children learned about Thanksgiving and sharing.

Well, that's all for this week. Merry Christmas. Happy Hanukkah. Only 14 more shopping days til Christmas. 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.

user comments (0)