Anne Arundel County Digest

Arts and Culture Annapolis Services and Shopping Music Entertainment Personal Income Human Interest

Theater production

Anne Arundel Community College presents "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" Dec. 6-15 in the Robert E. Kauffman Theater of the Pascal Center for Performing Arts on the Arnold campus, 101 College Parkway. Barbara Robinson's play tells what happens when the Herdman kids — the worst children in town — take over the annual Christmas pageant. Shows are at 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9. Tickets are $15; $12 for seniors, students, AACC faculty and staff, active military, and groups; $7 for AACC students with ID. Information: 410-777-2457.

Auditions

Bowie Community Theatre will hold auditions for "In the Heat of the Night" at 7:30 p.m. Dec.17-18 at the Bowie Playhouse, White Marsh Park, Route 3 South. Show dates are March 15-30, with rehearsals beginning the first week in January. Cold readings from the script and director-provided readings will be used during the auditions. For more information, email the director, Estelle Miller, at eimiller@cablespeed.com

Flower-pressing class

The Meade Area Garden Club sponsors a class on the art of pressing flowers from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 4, at the Jessup Community Hall, Wigley Avenue and Route 175. Cost is $20 per person. The class is led by Barbara Hallman of Nature Gifts. To register and for more information, call Dawn Bleess at 410-674-2017.

'Garden of Lights'

Brookside Gardens' winter walk-through holiday lights display with more than 1 million twinkling LED lights shaped into forms of flowers, animals and other natural elements is on view through Jan. 6 at 1800 Glenallan Ave. in Wheaton. There will be nightly musical performances as well as refreshments and shopping. Hours are 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays; 5:30 p.m.-10 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays; and until 9 p.m. New Year's Eve. Admission is $20 per car/van Monday-Thursday; $25 per car/van Friday-Sunday. Advance tickets are $20 and good for any night. Only cash is accepted at the entrance; the last car is admitted 30 minutes before closing. Group tours must book and pay in advance. Information: 301-962-1453 or brooksidegardens.org.

Baysox gift package

The Bowie Baysox offers a "Home For The Holidays" ticket package that features eight undated box-seat tickets and a Manny Machado bobblehead. The package is available at baysoxshop.com until Jan. 4 for $88 and $7.95 for shipping and handling. To guarantee delivery before Christmas, orders must be placed by Dec. 13. (Those who wish to pick up their package at Prince George's Stadium will not be charged shipping and handling, and packages can be picked up Dec. 6 through Dec. 21). Information: 301-464-4880.

Free parking

Two hours of free parking are offered to Annapolis shoppers at all two-hour metered parking spots through Jan. 1. Spaces on Main Street, Francis Street, West Street, Maryland Avenue, Prince George Street, City Dock and Market Space, as well as the Donner lot adjacent to the former Fawcett's on Compromise Street, are available. Motorists are not allowed to leave their car in one spot all day.

'Oklahoma!'

2nd Star Productions presents "Oklahoma!" through Dec. 8 at the Bowie Playhouse, 16500 White Marsh Park Drive. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, with a 3 p.m. matinee Sundays. Tickets are $20; $17 for seniors and students. For reservations and more information, call 410-757-5700 or 301-832-4819.

Fingerprinting service

The Annapolis Police Department will resume fingerprinting services to the public Tuesday, Dec. 11, at 199 Taylor Ave. The services are available from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, and from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. the first Saturday of the month. For fees and more information, call 410-268-9000 or go to http://www.annapolis.gov/policehttp://www.annapolis.gov/police.

New website

Fort Meade, in partnership with the Fort Meade Community Covenant Council, has launched a new website designed to help the community take advantage of the resources in the region. For more information, go to http://www.ftmeade.army.mil/community.

Holiday food drive

Donations of nonperishable food items will be collected at the Chesapeake Hearing Centers' six locations until the end of the year. The centers' goal is 1,000 pounds of food. In exchange for donating, a free pack of hearing aid batteries will be given. For more information or to find a drop-off location, call 410-647-7795 or go to helpyourhearing.com.

Rotary gala

The Rotary Club of Annapolis' annual "Black Tie and Diamonds" event will be held from 6 p.m to 11 p.m. March 9 at the Loews Annapolis Hotel on West Street in Annapolis. The gala includes a cocktail hour, silent and live auctions, a raffle, dinner and dancing to the music of NightLife. Tickets are $1,500 for a table of 10 and are on sale now. Individual tickets at $150 per person go on sale after Jan. 1. To purchase a full table, contact Rebecca Tingle at 410-267-7877, ext. 6, email Rebecca@aacasa.org, or call Ron Baradel at 410-268-6600. Information: 877-333-9667 or annapolisrotary.org.

Tax season

Volunteers are needed to assist with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program to help seniors and low-income adults with their 2012 tax returns. Participants will be trained by the IRS and the Maryland Comptroller's Office. They will help only with simple 2012 income tax returns, which will be filed electronically. Volunteers do not do tax returns involving partnerships or corporations, self-employed persons or rental properties. Volunteers are not required to have a financial background, but certified public accountants, attorneys, bookkeepers and those with financial training are encouraged to volunteer. Volunteers will be stationed at one of the county's senior activity centers and will be available by appointment between Feb. 4 and April 5. For more information, call 410-222-6717.

Museum open house

The Captain Salem Avery House Museum, 1418 E. W. Shady Side Road in Shady Side, has resumed its Sunday open house schedule from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. through Sunday, Dec. 2. Information: 410-867-4486 or captainaverymuseum.org.

Human relations panel

The county Human Relations Commission is seeking applicants to fill a vacancy. The 11-member commission is a volunteer body established to promote fairness, eliminate discrimination and harassment in public and private sectors, and advance understanding and effective communication among people of different backgrounds and cultures. Applicants must be at least 18, county residents and able to attend evening meetings on the third Wednesday of the month. Legal experience is desirable but not required. Applicants should send a resume and letter of intent to: Johnelka Stafford, 44 Calvert St., Room 330, Annapolis 21401. Information: 410-222-1234.

'Operation Paperback'

This nonprofit organization collects used books nationwide and sends them to American troops deployed overseas. Since 1999, more than a million books have been shipped to military personnel around the world. Organizing the effort in this area is Sandy Marron of Annapolis. She can be contacted at opbooksmilitary@comcast.net. Put "books" in the subject line. More information: operationpaperback.org.

Resource guide

The Anne Arundel Volunteer Center has released a Youth Resource Guide, with information about nonprofit and faith-based organizations in the county. A free copy is at volunteerannearundel.org. Printed copies can be purchased at the center, 2666 Riva Road, Suite 130, for $5 each. Information: 410-897-9207.

Disability issues

The Anne Arundel County Commission on Disability Issues has added an email notification feature to its website that provides information on disability issues. Sign-up and information: http://www.aacounty.org/aging/disabledadults/commdis.cfm.

Tours of historic house

The Ann Arrundell County Historical Society has opened the historic Benson-Hammond House and North Browse and Buy Shoppe at Aviation Boulevard and Andover Road in Linthicum for the season. Tours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 3 p.m. Sundays. Group tours are by appointment.

Historical research

The Kuethe Library's Historical & Genealogical Research Center, 5 Crain Highway S.E., operated jointly by the historical society and the Anne Arundel Genealogical Society, is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays all year. Information: 410-760-9679.