Behind the scenes of one of Clarksville’s longest-running traditions is a volunteer effort generations in the making. The annual Clarksville Picnic , hosted by St. Louis Catholic Church , returns on June 28, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on the parish grounds at 12500 Clarksville Pike. First held in the late 1800s, the event has grown into a vibrant community celebration featuring carnival games, live music, food trucks, a silent auction, and a White Elephant Sale — one of the largest flea markets in Howard County.

While guests enjoy the festivities, hundreds of volunteers — many from the parish and surrounding community — work quietly behind the scenes to bring it all together. Months of planning and countless hours of preparation lead up to the event, bringing together families and friends. From setting up booths and organizing donations to managing parking and overseeing activities, their efforts are essential to the event’s success. Many volunteer shifts are still available, and everyone is welcome to sign up, making it a great opportunity for service groups and students seeking volunteer hours.

Donations for the White Elephant Sale are now being accepted, allowing the volunteer team to sort and prepare items for the expansive indoor and outdoor resale areas. The outdoor sale area opens on June 16, and the indoor sale begins on June 18. The sale runs through the end of the picnic but is closed on Sundays. For the complete sale hours, event schedules and donation guidelines, visit clarksvillepicnic.com .

The River Hill Independence Day Parade will mark its 25th anniversary this year. Thousands of spectators are expected to gather along Great Star Drive in Clarksville to watch fire trucks, veterans groups, vintage cars, scouts and local organizations kick off the Fourth of July festivities.

The parade will begin at 9 a.m. on July 4 at Clarksville Middle School and conclude at the Fifth District Volunteer Fire Department on Signal Bell Lane. Community members— including classic car owners, float builders, children’s bike brigades, civic and religious groups, and local businesses — are invited to participate. Advance registration is required. Forms are available on the River Hill Community Association website ( villageofriverhill.org ) and must be submitted by June 25.

River Hill High School is preparing to celebrate its 30th anniversary and is seeking volunteers to help plan the event, which will be held Aug. 21. The school looks forward to honoring three decades of excellence and is inviting parents, alumni and community members to join the planning effort. Those interested in volunteering can contact Assistant Principal Farah Jawhar at [email protected].

Congratulations to River Hill staff members Wisty Battles, Kelly Pfefferkorn, Yvette Pruett, and Becca Weinberg for winning the Howard County Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee Gladiator Award . The program recognizes staff who have made a positive impact in supporting students with Individualized Education Programs. Kudos also go to Caroline Appel , a fine arts teacher at River Hill, for being recognized as the Howard County Public School System Advocate for Inclusivity Through Art Educator of the Year . Appel is one of nine HCPSS art educators to be recognized in collaboration with the Maryland Art Education Association for “exemplary work with students and their commitment to excellence in art education.”

To mark its 100th anniversary, the Scripps National Spelling Bee held its first-ever Champion Showdown during Bee Week. The event featured eight past winners, who earned titles between 1973 and 2019. Clarksville native Saketh Sundar won the alumni competition. Sundar, who advanced to the national spelling bee four times, was one of eight co-champions in 2019. He is now studying neuroscience and linguistics at Harvard University .