Marriottsville/ Sykesville /Woodstock

Most of us have heard the Chinese proverb, “Give a man a fish, and he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” Dan West, a Midwestern farmer, realized the wisdom of that statement while rationing milk to children during the Spanish Civil War of the 1930s. In his words, “These children don’t need a cup. They need a cow.”

West went on to found Heifer International (www.heifer.org), a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending hunger by providing livestock to the impoverished of the world and training them how to care for their animals, their families, and the environment. A cornerstone of the organization’s philosophy is to “pass on the gift.” Those who receive livestock must share their knowledge and their animals’ offspring with others, thus encouraging the community to become self-reliant.

Kathy Harp, a National Honor Society adviser at Chapelgate Christian Academy, proudly shares that the school’s NHS organized a collection for Heifer International and raised $1,380 in one week! With that money, they donated one “milk menagerie” (a heifer, two goats and a water buffalo), one llama, one sheep, a flock of geese, a trio of rabbits, and a hive of honeybees. The students so enjoyed their efforts that they hope to coordinate the fundraiser again next year. Kudos to the NHS students on their generous accomplishment!

Did you miss the Mustang Flea Market at Marriotts Ridge High School March 7? Or maybe you just love yard sales? If so, get ready to visit Frisky’s Wildlife & Primate Sanctuary at 10790 Old Frederick Road (Route 99) in Woodstock. Every Saturday and Sunday during the month of April, Frisky’s will host its annual Garage Sale fundraiser. Come between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to look over the selection of furniture, collectibles, books, toys, and more, or fill a large bag with clothing for just $5.

Since Frisky’s is a nonprofit organization run by volunteers, it relies upon donations to continue its work and will gratefully accept your contributions for the sale. As part of its mission, the Sanctuary rehabilitates injured, orphaned, abandoned and displaced wildlife and provides temporary refuge until the animals can safely return to their natural surroundings. Frisky’s also takes in exotic pets if the owners can no longer keep them and seeks adoptive homes for most. The Sanctuary provides lifetime care for primates.

Although Frisky’s cannot give tours during the month of April, it does offer four community tours each year. To see available dates, go to www.friskys.org. Call 410-418-8899 or e-mail friskyswildlife@yahoo.com for more information.

At Glenelg High School, “dream” stands for Diversity Reaching Everyone Across Minds. The student-lead Dream Team embraces racial, cultural and individual differences and strives to create a welcoming environment for all. In conjunction with this mission, the group has guided the student body in building a “Wall of Intolerance” out of paper bricks upon which the students describe examples of situations that have left them feeling persecuted.

On March 31, the students will symbolically tear down this wall. Also, beginning at 10 a.m., they will enjoy an International Performance composed of Indian, Russian, Latin and Irish dance routines, black and Native American poetry, and more. The school invites the community to attend.

For more information, call guidance counselor Moira O’Malley at 410-313-5535 or e-mail moira_o’malley@hcpss.org.

With all of the bad news of late, many of us seek relief in the form of light-hearted entertainment. Marriotts Ridge High School offers one solution: “The Boy Friend,” a fun and flirtatious spoof of 1920s musical comedy. More than 100 students will help bring to life this family-friendly production, which first catapulted Julie Andrews to fame in the 1950s.

Set in the French Riviera, The Boy Friend follows the romantic antics of an English heiress and her finishing school friends and promises humor, jazzy tunes, lively dancing, and the requisite happy ending.

Performances are Thursday-Saturday, March 19-21 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 22 at 3 p.m. Purchase tickets at the door or in advance by calling Jeanne Jurney at 301-854-5628 or e-mail jcjurney@verizon.net. Marriotts Ridge High is at 12100 Woodford Road in Marriottsville.

The youth of St. James United Methodist Church also plan a fundraiser for Saturday, March 14. They are hosting a lasagna dinner in support of their annual Camp Hope mission trip, where they will perform home repair for needy families in western Maryland. The youth offer two dinner seatings, at 5 and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $7 per person and children younger than 5 are free. Call the church office at 442-2020 to make your reservation. St. James is at 12470 Frederick Road, in Marriottsville.

This is the weekend for the Marriotts Ridge Music Foundation’s huge Mustang Flea Market! Visit the school cafeteria Saturday, March 7 from 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. to browse for furniture, baby items, electronics, collectibles, household and sporting goods, clothes, toys, tools, seasonal items and more. All purchases are cash only, and the school requests no early birds. The address for Marriotts Ridge High School is 12100 Woodford Drive in Marriottsville. E-mail mustangfleamarket@gmail.com for more information.