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Residents looking to give the ultimate white elephant gift after the holidays can recycle their Christmas trees into mulch through a free county recycling program. The Prince George's County Department of Environmental Resources will begin collecting undecorated trees left at curbsides from Dec. 26 through Jan. 15. County residents should place their trees outside for collection before 6:30 a.m. They can also bring trees to the Prince George's County Yard Waste Recycling Facility at Western Branch or to the Brown Station Road Public Convenience Center through Jan. 31.
The Yard Waste Recycling Facility, located at 6601 Southeast Crain Highway in Upper Marlboro will accept one Christmas tree per vehicle, Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Brown Station Road Public Convenience Center, located at 3501 Brown Station Road in Upper Marlboro, will accept unlimited Christmas trees Monday through Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
"This is an eco-friendly way to dispose of your Christmas trees," said DER Director Charles W. Wilson, in a press release. "Every tree that is collected will be shredded and cured into mulch for our annual Mulch Giveaway event that is held in the spring."
Call the Waste Management Groups' Recycling Team at 301-883-5045.
Auditions open for dance showcase
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission is accepting auditions for its World Dance Showcase until Monday.
Dancers representing world cultures will perform for judges by appointment from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Jan. 11. Contestants will be judged on authenticity, costumes, skill and overall presentation, with the winners performing in the World Dance Showcase in March at The Publick Playhouse in Cheverly.
Call 301-454-1450 or visit www.pgparks.com.
Burlington Coat Factory asks for used coats for poor
Burlington Coat Factory stores in Forestville are accepting winter coats that will be donated to needy children and adults until Jan. 16.
The store is partnering with San Francisco-based One Warm Coat, a national nonprofit that donates coats to low-income people, and ABC's Good Morning America in the second annual Warm Coats Drive. Residents can leave used coats in good condition in a drop-off box at the Burlington Coat Factory at 3200 Donnell Drive, or at stores in Greenbelt and Hillcrest Heights.
Volunteers deliver Christmas food baskets
The Prince George's County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association joined members from area churches and ministries Dec. 23 at the Glenn Dale Fire Association, Inc. to load fire trucks with food baskets and 1,200 turkeys for delivery to local needy families.
G.S. Proctor and Associates, Inc., an Upper Marlboro-based government and private sector advocacy organization, donated the turkeys, according to a Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department press release.
Food baskets were distributed by different area churches and ministries.
MLK students named to Renaissance Roll
Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School in Beltsville announced its Renaissance Roll winners from the week of Dec. 12.
Students that demonstrate good behavior are given "Renaissance Living the Dream" cards by their teachers.
Each week, those students put their cards in a pot for a weekly drawing. Normally, students are eligible to win prizes such as pencils, pens, locker mirrors and calculators.
Four winners are named from each of the school's three teams.
The Dec. 12 winners from Team M are William Benitez, Kyle Hill, Brandon Obeng and Jose Zelaya. The winners from Team L are Ruth Achu, Roselyn Calderon, Ryan Leaman and Vanessa Paz-Turicios. The Team K winners for the week are Crhisst Lazo, Ginamarie Shrader, Roger Singh and Stanola Stanley.