ECO City Farms/Submitted Muralist Matthew Gifford of Hyattsville paints on Sept. 30 the new ECO City Farms mural that will be unveiled during a ceremony on Friday in Edmonston.

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Edmonston-based ECO City Farms will unveil a new mural Friday to promote a healthy-eating community.

The educational nonprofit hosts an urban produce farm in Edmonston, designed to serve as a prototype for sustainable local living, said ECO City Farms Green Builder Adam Schwartz.

The urban farm’s new mural was painted by Hyattsville resident Matthew Gifford, who recently painted the mural inside the Busboys and Poets restaurant in Hyattsville, Schwartz said.

“We are thrilled to have this engaging public art grace our community farm,” said Margaret Morgan-Hubbard, CEO of ECO City Farms. “Matt has captured the connections that ought to exist and that once did exist between food and the community, and beautifully rendered some of the ways in which we are trying to rebuild those connections.”

Schwartz said the $10,000 mural was made possible through the National Endowment for the Arts, which went to supplies and paying Gifford.

Renee Catacalos, ECO City Farms’ director of strategic communications, said the very vibrant-colored mural joins the healthy food and urban community themes together and incorporates waterways that flow from one end to the other.

“The underlying theme of water represents the source of life and food,” she said, noting that Gifford spent a lot of time interviewing residents before painting, to include community input into the mural.

In addition to the mural unveiling, ECO City Farms will share plans to expand the urban farm into the tennis court space adjacent to the farm’s property, Schwartz said. The mural unveiling will be held from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at its urban farm at 4913 Crittenden St. in Edmonston.

The farm staff is also hosting a free community celebration of the projects from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday. Visitors will participate in farm tours, food samples and door prize drawings.

Hyattsville fire department hosts 5-mile run

To celebrate Fire Prevention Month, the Hyattsville Volunteer Fire Department will host its second annual five-mile run throughout the city Saturday.

The race begins and ends at the firehouse and loops through all five wards of Hyattsville.

Individual on-site registration is $30 and proceeds from the race will go towards the department’s fire prevention programs and volunteer fire/EMS operations.

In addition to the race, the fire department will host an open house, which will include a fire safety course for children and will have their apparatus on display for residents to see up-close.

HYFD Chairman Bill Moran said it is a great event for the community to gather and learn more about the fire department.

“Our events will really showcase the best of our department and the city,” said Moran, who is organizing the event. “We hope for a great turnout. Whether you're looking to take a tour through the city or cheer on the runners in the morning or spend the day with us at the firehouse, it will be a very dynamic community event.”

The race will begin at 8:15 a.m. at 6200 Belcrest Road in Hyattsville.

Laurel Toastmasters club celebrates 50th anniversary

The Columbians Toastmasters Club will celebrate its 50th anniversary Saturday at the Holiday Inn Laurel West, 15101 Sweitzer Lane. Congresswoman Donna Edwards (D-Dist. 4) of Fort Washington will be the keynote speaker.

Columbians is one of more than 13,000 clubs under Toasters International, a recognized non-profit communication and leadership organization based in California. The organization was founded in 1924, and the Columbians club was chartered in 1961 by members of the Knights of Columbus.

Lianne Gayle, the immediate past president of the Columbians club, said that this anniversary is especially important as it comes after a recent struggle with membership and keeping the club alive.

“Part of the event is to celebrate actually achieving this year because at one point the club dwindled down to about five members,” she said. “We have come back to 20 current members, but are looking to get the word out also.”

Gayle said that the club meets twice a month at Capitol College in Laurel. Members who have completed the program have used their skills towards motivational speaking or to become organizational and community leaders.

“I don’t think a lot of people are aware of Toastmasters and it is something that the community would benefit from in so many ways with their involvement,” she said.

The anniversary event is open to any community residents wishing to attend, however they must notify the club ahead of time so that they can be added to a guest list. More information regarding the Columbians club and contact information for the event can be found at www.columbians.toastmastersclub.org.

Beltsville Academy seeks speakers for Career Day

The Beltsville Academy is hosting its annual Career Day on Nov. 18 for middle school students and the academy is seeking additional volunteers to come and speak to students about various professions.

Beltsville Academy sixth-grade counselor Caren McCalla said they are looking for presenters who feel comfortable sharing personal experiences in the workplace and are willing to expand on their career goals, lessons they may have learned and challenges they may have encountered.

McCalla said presentations that are activity based are encouraged, as the middle school students respond well to hands-on learning. Presentations are expected to last 20 minutes, leaving 10 minutes for the students to ask questions.

To register to speak at Career Day or for more information, contact McCalla at 301-572-0630 or caren.mccalla@pgcps.org. The deadline to register is Nov. 4.

Career Day will be held from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Beltsville Academy on 4300 Wicomico Ave. in Beltsville.

West Laurel school seeks vendors for student activities

Bond Mill Elementary School in West Laurel is looking for vendors for its Nov. 19 craft show. The event, which is in its 29th year now, hosts about 40 vendors to help raise money for the fifth grade end-of-year activities.

Interested vendors can rent a table for $25 or $35 and the proceeds from the fees will directly support the fifth-grade class.

Sandee Leibson, a secretary at Bond Mill, said that much of the event’s success comes from the tradition.

“The craft show is always the Saturday before Thanksgiving and it has become quite the community tradition,” she said. “People come in to buy all sorts of goods, especially with the holidays ahead, but many people come back to see old friends or classmates too.”

Leibson said that many of the show’s vendors have been returning for years and sell a variety of homemade goods ranging from jewelry to pottery to knitted clothing.

“About a third of our vendors are usually new each year so we look forward to seeing this year’s turnout,” she said.

Crafters and vendors who are interested in renting a table at the show can contact Leibson at 301-497-4600.

Honor those who make a difference

Each December, The Gazette honors Prince George’s County residents and groups that made a positive impact on the county. In 2011, these difference makers remain as essential as ever and we want your help in recognizing those who make Prince George’s County a better place to live, work and worship.

Nominations must be submitted by Dec. 8, 2011. Nominations must include your name, phone number and address; the name of the nominee, their contact information and detailed information about how they made a difference in 2011.

Nominations can be emailed to jlyles@gazette.net (Please type “Those who made a difference” in the subject line); mailed to Jeffrey Lyles, The Gazette, Attention: Those who made a difference, 13501 Virginia Manor Road, Laurel, MD, 20707 or faxed to 240-473-7501, addressed to “Those who made a difference.”

The winners will be featured in the Dec. 29, 2011 edition of The Gazette and online at www.gazette.net.