Carroll Hospital program awarded $30,000 pledge

‘‘Right now, we only deal with sexual assault, but we would like to also focus on domestic violence and go into the community and schools to increase awareness about the program and abuse,” said Mary Lambertson, program coordinator.

EMA is a professional association that provides the hospital with emergency medicine physicians.

The Carroll Hospital Center Auxiliary is hosting its sixth annual Longaberger basket calendar raffle starting Aug. 1.

Throughout August, one of 26 themed Longaberger baskets will be given away each day, excluding Sundays. The baskets are filled with a variety of items, including pasta, jams and jellies, note cards, pens, candles and teas.

The raffle concludes with a 12-piece dinnerware set prize on the last day of August. Proceeds will benefit renovations of Carroll Hospital Center’s operating rooms.

Tickets are $5 each and can be purchased at The Candy Striper gift shop at Carroll Hospital Center or at The White Rabbit Thrift Shop located on the hospital campus.

To sponsor a basket or for more information, call 410-871-7280.

Banquet, silent auctionbenefits detention ministry

The 12th annual Good News Jail and Prison Ministry banquet and silent auction to benefit the chaplain’s ministry at the Carroll County Detention Center will be held Aug. 24 at Martin’s Westminster, 140 Village Shopping Center.

Doors open at 12:15 p.m. for the auction; lunch and the program begin at 1:15 pm. Tickets are $30 per person.

For reservations, call Trisha Ellis at 410-346-7164 or 443-789-9102 by Aug. 18 and leave your name, number of tickets requested and phone number.

Take the Buy LocalChallenge from Aug. 2-9

Residents can take part in the Buy Local Challenge devised by the Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission from Aug. 2-9.

The challenge is to boost the local farm economy and to highlight the flavor, nutrition and health benefits local products can provide, according to a Carroll County Department of Economic Development press release.

Participants promise to eat at least one item from a local farm every day during the week.

‘‘Fresh picked fruits and vegetables provide more nutrition because of their freshness and buying local products provides the benefit of knowing where your food comes from and how it was raised or produced,” said Gabe Zepp, Carroll County agriculture development specialist. ‘‘Additionally, buying local helps support the local agricultural economy and maintain Carroll’s rural character.”

Visit Carroll’s agricultural Web site at www.carrollag.org or pickup the ‘‘Carroll County, Maryland Farmers’ Markets 2008” brochure at local libraries and tourism centers to locate produce stands.

Some restaurants will also display signage to indicate their participation.

Farmers, restaurant owners or other businesses selling locally produced products that would like to participate can contact Zepp at 410-386-2070.

External Diploma Program holds information sessions

The External Diploma Program (EDP), administered through Carroll Community College, will hold two information sessions about the alternative to the GED at 224 N. Center St., Westminster.

The first session takes place 9 a.m., Aug. 6; the second session, 6:30 p.m., Aug. 7.

To register, call 410-386-2550.

Nonprofit organizations that would like to share news in Service Notes may send the information to The Gazette, 218 S. Main St., Mount Airy, MD 21771, e-mail to Carroll@gazette.net or fax to 301-829-9101.