Back to News and Events Menu

NEWS RELEASE

September 29, 2008

Media Contacts:

Howard County’s 50+EXPO Celebrates 10 Spectacular Years

ELLICOTT CITY, MD – The popular 50+EXPO is back for a spectacular 10-year anniversary that promises to be bigger and better than ever! The premier event for the age-50-and-over population will take place on Friday, October 17 from 9 am to 4 pm at Wilde Lake High School, 5460 Trumpeter Road in Columbia. Admission is free.

This year’s 50+EXPO features more than 140 exhibitors with information to help you plan for the future. In addition, there will be educational seminars, a health fair with flu shots and free health screenings, the EXPO’s first-ever speed dating event, great food, all-day entertainment and free shuttle service from the Mall in Columbia.

The “Hop into Health” area will feature “ask the pharmacist,” lifestyle counseling, exercise consultations and demonstrations, diabetes screenings. Back by popular demand, both St. Agnes and Howard County General Hospitals will have speakers who will talk about chronic back pain, osteoarthritis, breast cancer, stroke, joint replacement incontinence for women, heart disease and exercising your brain.

New to this year’s EXPO, a series of informative consumer workshops on topics like the County’s Moderate Income Housing Unit Program, the digital television transition which takes effect in February 2009, and emergency preparedness.

Special entertainment in the Rouse Theatre includes an intergenerational performance by The Milkshake Trio -- great for elementary-aged students; and, back for a 7th hilarious year, the Capital Steps. Daylong entertainment in the Columbia Association’s Café 50+ includes The Mudbugs, Petrock, Carroll County Cloggers and Thirst & Howl productions.

Free shuttle buses will run continuously between the 50+EXPO and the Mall in Columbia (parking area near Sears lower parking lot) throughout the day, with the first bus departing the Mall at 8:45 am and the last shuttle leaving the 50+EXPO at 4:30 pm.

For more information, visit the Office of Aging’s homepage at www.howardcountymd.gov/OA/CS_OfficeAging.htm or call the hotline at 410-313-6410 or TTY: 410-313-5927. Sign language interpreters are available for the hearing impaired, but requests must be received by October 10 by calling MD Access Point of Howard County at 410-313-5980 or TTY 410-313-5927.