Council honors student and citizen of the month

Councilwoman Gayle Snyder (Ward 1) presented Babendreier with the award for her services to both Pallotti and the Laurel community.

‘‘Her most visible contribution is the recycling program she started at Pallotti two years ago,” Snyder said. ‘‘She is in the top 10 of her class and is involved in the school’s multiple band programs.”

County Councilman Tom Dernoga (D-Dist. 1) of Laurel received the citizen of the month award. He was recognized for his support of the Laurel Museum.

The Laurel Historical Society also presented Dernoga with a framed map of the city’s walking tour.

Laurel writers featuredat College Park expo

A group of county authors will share their advice and expertise at an author’s forum from 3 to 5 p.m. April 15 at College Perk Coffeehouse, 9078 Baltimore Ave. in College Park.

Laurel resident Cassandra Zaruba, author of ‘‘Liquid Bones,” will join Greenbelt resident Mark Opsasnick, author of seven books and host of the inaugural event and Baltimore author Catherine Donaldson, who wrote, ‘‘The Captain’s Marshal,” to discuss the writing and publishing process.

After an hour will be spent discussing each author’s publishing experience, the panel will take questions from the audience, said Opsasnick, who wrote ‘‘The Lizard King Was Here: The Life and Times of Jim Morrison in Alexandria, Virginia,” which documented the famous Doors frontman’s teenage years in Northern Virginia. He also wrote 1996’s ‘‘Capitol Rock,” which documented the history of the Washington, D.C. rock scene.

‘‘It’s like a showcase for us to present our books and allow aspiring authors to approach us and ask us their questions,” said Opsasnick, who has participated in writers’ expos at Greenbelt’s New Deal Café. ‘‘We can relate their experiences.”

The College Park expo is free of charge, Opsasnick said.

Nu-Monic Steppers win on BET’s Wild Out Wednesday

Laurel High School’s Nu-Monic Steppers were selected March 28 out of three high school step teams to win Wild Out Wednesday on Black Entertainment Television’s ‘‘106 & Park.”

The step team from Watkins Mill High School in Gaithersburg and another team from Jamaica, New York, also competed.

During Wild Out Wednesday, three performers compete and viewers vote for their favorite performance online.

‘‘106 & Park” is a top-10 music video countdown show that is the network’s highest rated show.

Harrison congratulatesscience fair winners

James H. Harrison Elementary School recognizes its science fair winners.

In third grade, Anya Coleman placed first, Justin Branch received second place, Albina Pineda placed third and Andre Giles received honorable mention.

In fourth grade, first place went to Tyla Holiday, second place was awarded to Tanika Christian, Ariel Quevedo placed third and Tessa Toler received honorable mention.

In fifth grade, first place was awarded to Stephanie Beja, Devonte Cook placed second, third place went to Diamond Wood and Kiyara Cottman received honorable mention.

In sixth grade, Tiy Young-Brooks placed first, Devin Latimer and Rebekah Mathew received second place awards, third place went to Nadia Hines and Aysia Wallace and Rachel Daniel received honorable mentions.

Reservoir High Schoolstudent receives honor

Laurel resident Brianna Bradford, a sophomore at Reservoir High School, has been selected for membership in the National Society of High School Scholars.

The society, formed in 2002, recognizes high school students for academic excellence. It has more than 150,000 members representing 15,000 high schools in almost 20 countries, according to the group.

Members are eligible for scholarship opportunities and special academic competitions.

Bradford, enrolled in Advanced Placement and gifted-and-talented classes, has a 4.0 grade-point average. She is also the starting point guard for Reservoir’s girls varsity basketball team and volunteers for the Horizon Foundation, where she is organizing a youth summit this spring.

Laurel pupil represents county at Maryland Day

Daidra Watson, a pupil at Scotchtown Hills Elementary School, represented Prince George’s County on March 25 at a Maryland Day celebration in St. Mary’s City.

One fourth-grader from each county and Baltimore city was selected at the Ceremony of Flags.

Maryland Day is a state holiday commemorating March 25, 1634, when settlers from the Ark and the Dove first set foot on Maryland soil.

Special education group seeks award nominations

The Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee of Prince George’s County (SECAC-PG) is seeking nominations for its third annual Extraordinary Service Award, which recognizes outstanding county teachers and school staff members who help students with disabilities succeed.

Parents, teachers, school administrators, SECAC-PG members and community members can nominate a teacher or staff member by submitting a nomination essay of 500 words or fewer.

Award recipients will be selected next month by a panel of parents of educators.

The application deadline is April 23. Applications can be e-mailed to mjmac5@verizon.net or mailed to SECAC-PG; Attn: Award Subcommitee; c⁄o The Arc of Prince George’s County, 1401 McCormick Dr., Largo, MD 20774.

‘Civility’ book adopted as Howard Co. common reader

The Howard County Library system is inviting community members to read ‘‘Choosing Civility: The Twenty-five Rules of Considerate Conduct” by P.M. Forni and discuss the book with their neighbors during talks scheduled at their local library.

Forni is founder of the Johns Hopkins Civility Project and the inspiration for the Howard County initiative. His book is available at all county library branches.

A discussion about the book will be held at Savage Library, 9525 Durness Lane, 7 p.m. on May 24.

The effort is part of the Choose Civility campaign, which promotes respect, consideration, empathy and tolerance. More information is available at www.choosecivility.org.

Anne Arundel kindergarten registration this week

Kindergarten and pre-kindergarten registration for the 2007-08 academic year for Anne Arundel County pupils will be held at public schools during school hours April 10 and 11.

Children five years old on or before Sept. 1 are required by state law to attend public or private kindergarten.

Anne Arundel County Schools’ pre-kindergarten program is open to 4-year-olds the school system identifies as demonstrating a economic or educational need.

Documents required for kindergarten and pre-kindergarten registration include the pupil’s original birth certificate or birth record, a copy of the pupil’s immunization record and two documents that show proof of residency. Accepted proof-of-residency documents include a rental agreement, mortgage or utility bill.

The pupil’s Social Security card is requested but not required. Persons registering pupils for pre-kindergarten based on economic need must provide verification of total household income, such as a 1040 statement and records of any additional sources of income such as child support and temporary cash assistance.

For more information visit www.aacps.org.