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Laurel's annual "Halloween Spooktacular" is set for 2 p.m. Saturday at the Robert J. DiPietro Community Center at 7901 Cypress St. The event will feature costume judging, food, games and a magic performance. All the activities are free and open to the public.

Call 301-725-7800 for more information.

Mayor Craig A. Moe has also announced that trick-or-treating will take place in the city of Laurel from 6 to 8 p.m. Moe advises residents to turn on an outdoor light if they wish to receive trick-or-treaters at their homes.

Laurel business donates heating systems to families

Minnick's Inc., a Laurel-based heating and air-conditioning company, will donate and install six heating units to families in Anne Arundel, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George's counties to help those who lack functioning systems.

Rob Minnick, who operates the company with his father and two brothers, said he had the idea for the giveaway after hearing about similar raffles at a conference in Phoenix.

"It's a great way to give back to the community ... especially with the way things are nowadays, there couldn't be a better time to do it," Minnick said, referring to the economic downturn.

People can nominate their friends, family members or neighbors up until the end of the giveaway in mid-December. Minnick's workers will select a random household in six weekly drawings starting next week.

The application form is available online at www.minnicks.net or in-person at the company's office, located at 5200 Minnick Road in Laurel. For more information, contact Minnick's at 301-953-2820.

Savage Community Association hosts fall festival

The Savage Community Association will host its fall-themed family day from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Carroll Baldwin Hall in Savage. The event will include hayrides, pumpkin painting and scarecrow making. Refreshments will also be served.

Travis Clever, president of the community association, said the event has been held in the past, but this year marks the festival's return after the SCA's three-year hiatus.

"We're trying to get back on track," Clever said.

For more information, contact Clever at 301-875-3714 or tclever1987@gmail.com.

Red Cross plans blood

drive Saturday

The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in the Best Buy parking lot at the Laurel Lakes Centre. All participants will receive a complimentary trick-or-treat bag and a raffle ticket for gift cards, family photography packages and other prizes. The event is co-sponsored by Best Buy and Comcast. For more information or to register for the drive, contact the Laurel Best Buy at 301-497-1890 or Nathan Carl of Comcast at 301-523-3255.

Scotchtown Hills recognizes Drug-Free Schools Week

Scotchtown Hills Elementary School is wrapping up its celebration of Drug-Free Schools Week, which began Friday and runs through Saturday. Students in all grades have worn red ribbons to remind them of their choice to say no to drugs, and the fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grades have watched a DVD about living a healthy and drug-free lifestyle.

"It's important for kids to be educated on knowing the things that are out there and knowing about the choices that they can make," said Assistant Principal Nicole Dorn-Pekins. "We just want to support what their families are hopefully already talking to them about."

Free cab rides

Halloween night

Would-be drunk drivers in Prince George's County have a safer alternative on Halloween night. The Washington Regional Alcohol Program will be offering free cab rides through the SoberRide program from 10 p.m. Saturday to 6 a.m. Sunday. During that time, residents who are 21 and older can call 1-800-200-TAXI and get a no-cost ride home that normally would cost up to $50.

Tiger Cub's journey reaches Eagle Scout rank

Stephen R. Pidliskey III achieved the rank of Eagle Scout on Aug. 3. Pidliskey is a member of troop BSA Troop 602, based in Laurel.

Pidliskey began his journey as a Tiger Cub with Cub Scout Pack 62 and earned the pack's highest honor, the Arrow of Light.

His accomplishment was celebrated in an Eagle Court of Honor Oct. 24 at Emmanuel United Methodist Church in Laurel.

To earn his Eagle Scout rank, Pidliskey led a group of scouts in replacing 18 Bluebird nesting boxes and predator guards at the Howard County Conservancy in Woodstock.

Pidliskey is completing his senior year at Reservoir High School and maintains Troop 602's Web site.

"I was a little bit surprised. He mentioned when he had joined the Boy Scouts that he had no idea that he would go all the way," said his father Steve Pidliskey, who is also a Troop 602 committee member. "I was impressed that he stuck with it as less than 5 percent that join ever accomplish this rank. I was proud of him."

Laurel student to join ambassador program

Kieran Woynicz, an eighth-grade student at Patuxent Valley Middle School in Jessup has been accepted into the People to People World Leadership Forum.

Kieran will join a select group of students from March 8 to March 13 in Washington, D.C., to study leadership and explore some of the United States most prominent monuments and institutions including Capitol Hill, The National Museum of American History and Gettysburg.

Kieran, who was nominated by his teachers, was accepted for the honor based on outstanding scholastic merit, civic involvement and leadership potential.

"I'm pretty excited because it will give him an opportunity to meet students from other parts of the country and kind of blossom that leadership that I think is there but just needs a little fertilizer," said his father Mark Woynicz.

County church collecting

shoes for Haitians

In an effort to provide shoes to poor people in Haiti, the Greater Mount Nebo African Methodist Episcopal Church in Bowie is holding a shoe drive through Saturday.

The church is collecting as many new and slightly worn shoes as possible, which will be distributed to Haitians in rural villages in early November, said the Rev. Jonathan L. Weaver, pastor of the church.

"This is a great opportunity for persons to provide help by donating an item we take for granted, shoes," Weaver said in a statement. "There are literally hundreds of thousands of Haitians living in rural villages who can't afford shoes, who walk everyday with their feet uncovered and unprotected, exposing themselves to the threat of all kinds of illnesses and diseases."

Anyone who would like to donate shoes to the effort can drop them off at the church through Saturday or contact the Rev. Roslyn Roberts at 301-249-7545. The church is located at 1001 Old Mitchellville Road.