By Claire Gunster-Kirby
The carved pumpkin, or jack o’ lantern, is a staple of Halloween in the United States. How did this custom originate? To find the origins of the jack o’ lantern, one must go back centuries to around 500 BC when the Celts arrived in Ireland. Because the Celts did not believe in keeping any written records of their history, little is known about their customs and culture before […]
World Polio Day in 2026 will be observed on Saturday, October 24, marking the birthday of Dr. Jonas Salk and the global commitment to eradicate poliovirus
World Polio Day is an annual international observance that highlights the global efforts to end poliomyelitis (polio) worldwide. Polio is a life-threatening disease caused by the poliovirus, which the World Health Assembly committed to eradicating in 1988. The WHO European Region was declared polio-free […]
This October, join the Maryland DOT and help Maryland reach 1,000,000 steps during the Walktober Step Challenge!
In 2008, the Maryland governor issued a proclamation declaring October as “Walktober” and encouraging people of all ages to step out during Walktober to enjoy Maryland’s autumn beauty. Since then, Maryland’s official state exercise has been walking.
Walk, roll, or move your way through October, then Log Your Steps. Every […]
The second Tuesday in October is Ada Lovelace Day, which honors an extraordinary mathematician, and celebrates women in STEM. You may have seen the movie “The Imitation Game” about Alan Turing and his Enigma machine which turned the tide of WWII by deciphering coded messages. Turing’s creation was inspired by the 100-year-old writings of mathematician Ada Lovelace.
Augusta Ada Byron was the daughter […]
If you are a bit too squeamish for the full Markoff’s Haunted Forest Experience, you may want to try the Lights On Night on the Markoff Trails on Wednesday, October 28th from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
You […]
LGBT History Is American History, LGBT History Month celebrates the achievements of lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender Icons. Each day in October, a new LGBT Icon is featured with a video, bio, bibliography, downloadable images and other resources.
In 1994, Rodney Wilson, a Missouri high school teacher, believed a month should be dedicated to the celebration and teaching of gay and lesbian history, and gathered other teachers and community leaders. They selected […]
Come practice your hand at cookie decorating before the holiday season with Liz Zander on October 24th as she teaches us the art of cookie decorating.
Please join the Poolesville Seniors Board of Directors and support team for our Public FY27 Annual Meeting on October 9th at 1:00 pm. Learn about this amazing organization and the programming we offer to keep those 50+ socially, intellectually, and physically active.
Meet the people who make Poolesville Seniors events possible. Find out what keeps the program growing and give us suggestions for activities you would like us to consider adding. […]
Long before today’s digital folders, people kept health details on paper tucked inside desk drawers. Early records were often kept in small notebooks or file boxes at home. Doctors held most health details, and patients rarely had full copies.
The shift toward personal copies began as families realized quick access could save time in urgent situations. Hospitals started giving patients more paperwork after visits. Insurance changes and mobile lifestyles made scattered files harder […]
Poolesville Seniors is searching for exceptional items for our 2027 Heart ‘n Soul Auction. The auction is an important source of our funding and is an eagerly anticipated annual event. Last year’s auction drew 2,800 interested browsers and more than 100 active bidders, and we look forward to an equally strong response this year.
This year’s online auction will be open for bidding February 12–21, 2027. The closing date to accept donations […]