Thirty little supermen, fairy princesses and other characters celebrated Halloween at the Village Co-op for Tot's annual Halloween parties last week. The event, which was held on different days for the 3- and 4-year- old classes, included various Halloween games such as Pumpkin-Pumpkin, Ghost (a variation of Duck, Duck, Goose) and fishing for bats out of a pumpkin.

The children proudly showed off their costumes and paraded to the various offices in the building and then returned to the classroom for Halloween treats.

All the costumes were great, including Hazel Helm, who was a praying mantis -- a costume that challenged her mom's creativity -- Rylen Burchett, who came as a bug because he wants to be an entomologist when he grows up, and Kameron Ettehadieh, who was a zebra.

Although the children were busy getting ready for Halloween, they still had time for a field trip to Cromwell Valley Park earlier in October. A total of 23 children ventured out to the farm and visited four learning stations.

At the corn station, they used a 100-year-old grinder to grind dried corn and then each child had a taste of corn bread. They also tried grinding the corn with a pestle and mortar like Native Americans used. At the apple station they made apple cider. Other stations included a black walnut station and a pumpkin station where they were allowed to pick a pumpkin from the vine to take home.

Everyone had a great time; the weather was crisp and sunny. Heather Helm, publicity chair, said the best part of the trip was "the hands-on activities; the kids got to really use the machines, and try out all the equipment and they got to taste their work, too."

One young student, Nathan Middleton, enjoyed the black walnut station so much that when he moved on to the apple station, he would only use one hand to grind the fruit because he would not let go of his prized black walnut.

The children will continue their learning experience with a unit on Thanksgiving this month that will include cooking activities as well as dressing up in Native American and pilgrim costumes.

Those interested in learning about the co-op are invited to an open house Dec. 4, 7-9 p.m. The program meets in the Loch Raven Recreation Center at 1801 Glen Keith Blvd.

For more information, contact the Greater Loch Raven Recreation Office at 410-887-5309 or go to www.glrrc.org and click on "Village Co-op Tots" program.

It's not too early to start the holiday shopping and at the same time raise funds to benefit AIDS patients in Africa and the homeless in Baltimore. The event is a Christmas festival, Nov. 15 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Babcock Presbyterian Church, 8240 Loch Raven Blvd., and will feature hand crafted gift items, alternative gifts (buy chickens for the hungry in a third-world country or adopt a family), a bake table and Santa.

Craft vendors may rent tables for $25 per space; contact Vi Crook at 410-668-4696 or the church office at 410-825-3314.

If you prefer bingo, attend the basket bingo (Longaberger) also on Nov. 15 at the Parkville Rec Center, 8601 Harford Road; doors open at 6 p.m.; bingo starts at 7 p.m. The event is sponsored by POP Music -- Parent Organization for Performing Arts Music at Parkville High, and proceeds will help support the school's performing arts. For tickets call Louise at 410-882-1529 or e-mail dlbenach@verizon.net.

Mark Nov. 13 on your calendar and give blood at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church and Red Cross Blood drive between 1 and 7 p.m. in Cartwright Hall at the church located at the corner of Loch Raven Boulevard and Putty Hill Avenue. Call Garrett Brown at 410-663-4357 to schedule an appointment.

Contact me by Sunday with your news.

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