(Enlarge) Eighth-graders Ben Klawson, Paul Han, Daniel Lee, Melinda Fu and seventh-grader Katie Tich, from left, all students at Mt. View Middle School, were chosen for the All-State Junior Band. (Submitted photo)

Congratulations to the five Mt. View Middle School students who auditioned and earned acceptance into the All-State Junior Band!

These young musicians include alto saxophonist Ben Klawson, trumpeters Paul Han and Daniel Lee, and flutists Melinda Fu and Katie Tich.

The band will rehearse together Feb. 25-27 at the Sheraton Baltimore City Center and will then perform Feb. 27 at 5 p.m. at the Carl J. Murphy Fine Arts Center, located on the campus of Morgan State University, in Baltimore.

Interestingly, 42 percent of the All-State Junior band members and alternates hail from Howard County. According to the 2000 census, Howard County accounts for less than 5 percent of the state's population, making this band achievement even more impressive. We are fortunate to live in an area that values music and the arts so highly!

Speaking of music, the Marriotts Ridge Music Foundation has announced its fourth and final citrus fruit sale for the season, so make sure you order your mouth-watering Ruby Red grapefruit, Navel oranges, tangerines or Temple oranges by Feb. 19 for March 4 pickup at the school. This fundraiser helps finance the students' annual spring trip, which takes place April 15-18 at the Festivals of Music in Virginia Beach, Va.

To order your citrus fruit, go to www.mrhsmusic.net for an online form. Questions? E-mail mrhsfruit@yahoo.com for more information.

Two weeks ago, I promised more details about another MRHS Music Foundation fundraiser -- the second annual Mustang Flea Market, scheduled for March 6, rain or shine. This cash-only event takes place from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the school cafeteria and commons area and offers a huge array of yard sale items, plus refreshments.

Beginning Feb. 19, a storage pod will be available on the east side of the front school entrance for your flea market donations. You can drop off items every Friday from 5-7 p.m. and every Saturday from 9-11 a.m., up until the event date, but please hold larger items, like furniture, for drop-off on March 5. E-mail Kathy Wehr at mustangfleamarket@gmail.com for more details.

Woodmont Academy, a pre-K through grade 8 Catholic school in Cooksville, seeks the generous assistance of area businesses as it revs up for its 14th annual Benefit Gala and Auction. The event, which takes place at the school April 24 at 6 p.m., draws between 300 and 400 guests. Proceeds help fund the Academy's educational and extracurricular activities and support its mission to form the whole child through academic excellence and character development.

If your organization would like to increase its visibility in the community and can provide an auction item for the Gala, call silent auction Chairwoman Andrea Wills at 410-215-1141 or aewills@verizon.net. All donations are tax-deductible.

For more information about placing a program advertisement or becoming a corporate sponsor, call gala Chairwoman Emily Jensen at 443-786-7353.

Everyone loves a bargain. How about visiting the National Aquarium, in Baltimore, for a third of the normal cost? On Tuesday, Feb. 9, members of the Howard County Conservancy can do just that when they pay an entrance fee of $10 instead of $29.95. If you are not yet a Conservancy member, you can still join! Space is limited to the first 100 registrants.

Additionally, on Feb. 13 at 10 a.m., the Conservancy hosts a free Wonder Talk entitled, "Maryland's Amazing Turtles: Live and in Person," the first of a two-part series. Ray Bosmans and Gregg Pokrywka, of the Mid-Atlantic Turtle and Tortoise Society, will teach participants how to identify local turtles and help them survive, and they will also provide information about the reptiles' habitats.

Part two of the series, which takes place April 10, includes a woodland hike to observe turtles in the wild.

Call 410-465-8877 to register for any of these programs, or e-mail hcconservancy@hcconservancy.org. The Conservancy address is 10520 Old Frederick Road (Route 99), in Woodstock, and its Web site is www.hcconservancy.org.

Bon Secours Spiritual Center invites caregivers to join in its bi-monthly time of respite, "Care for the Caregiver," offered Saturday, Feb. 6 from 9-11 a.m. and again Feb. 18 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The suggested donation for this program is $15, or a free-will offering for those whose personal situation does not permit that amount.

The center also offers its annual Valentine's Day dinner for married couples Feb. 14 at 4:30 p.m. with a renewal of vows and a wine and cheese reception. Dinner follows at 6 p.m., and then Phil and Susan Robison discuss ways to bring more love and romance into the marriage relationship. The evening costs $75 per couple.

The monthly Music at Marriottsville concert takes place in the BSSC chapel Feb. 21 at 3 p.m. and features "Music and Song Prayer," by Ginny Novak.

Other BSSC events this month include an RCIA Lenten Day of Reflection Feb. 13 from 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. (Cost: $55), a retreat entitled, "Rhythms of the Spiritual Life: Spirituality, Religion, and the Struggle for Integrity" Feb. 26-28 (Cost: $225 with a $50 deposit), and "Compassion through the Eyes of St. Ignatius of Loyola" from 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. on the 27th (Cost: $55).

To learn more or to register for any of these programs, call 410-442-1320, e-mail bsscretreats@bshsi.org, or go to www.BonSecoursSpiritualCenter.org.

The University of Maryland Extension would like to remind the community that the new pesticide applicator training class takes place at Glenwood Community Center Feb. 17, with the new pesticide applicator examination in the same location Feb. 24. Both classes are free and run from 7-9 p.m. The Community Center address is 2400 Route 97, in Cooksville.

Register by Feb. 12 by calling Carolyn Kulp at 410-313-2707. To see classes offered in other counties, go to extension.umd.edu/local.

Make a note: Because of the snowstorm Jan. 30, the Conservancy has rescheduled George Grall's slide presentation of "Life on a Wharf Piling in the Chesapeake Bay." The program will now take place Friday, Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. Adults cost $12 at the door; children younger than 16 are free.

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