Area students earn college degrees at UMES

Jennifer Green-Butler of Riverdale graduated with a bachelor's degree in accounting. Aaron Credle, also of Riverdale, graduated with a bachelor's degree in sociology. Larnetta Matthews of Hyattsville graduated with a bachelor's degree in sociology.

The university also awarded 52 master's degrees and seven doctoral degrees during its commencement ceremony.

Langley Park plans

annual health fair

The Langley Park Boys and Girls Club is holding its annual health fair, where a number of free services will be offered. The fair will be held 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Aug. 23, at 1515 Merrimac Drive in unincorporated Hyattsville.

The free fair will feature blood pressure screening and information from Planned Parenthood and the Prince George's Hospital Center. Gospel rapper Travy Joe will offer a guest performance.

Special arts program

now registering

The Shalom School after-school for the arts program is now accepting registration for a pilot art program designed for kindergartners.

The program is called Integrated Creative Experiential Education and will be held beginning on Aug.25 from 2 to 6 p.m. on Monday through Friday. The limit for classes is 10 students, and parents have until August 23 to register their children. The classes will be held at the First United Methodist Church, located at 6201 Belcrest Road in Hyattsville.

To register, call Moira Jackson at 202-374-1866 or e-mail moiralee@juno.com. The cost for the class is $75 per week, plus a one-time registration fee of $25.

Thai restaurant to open

in Hyattsville Art District

Tara Thai, a Thai restaurant, announced it will lease space in the EYA Arts District in Hyattsville.

This will be the 10th Tara Thai restaurant in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.

Retail construction is slated to begin in the fall and retailers could be open by fall or winter of 2009.

The restaurant is the fifth business to commit to leasing in the Arts District in Hyattsville, located on Route 1. The others include a flagship cafÈ, Busboys and Poets, as well as Weight Watchers, Woodmont Dry Cleaners and Hyatts Market.

Cheverly resident attains Eagle Scout rank

The town of Cheverly declared July 2008 as Eagle Scout Benjamin Misleh Month in honor of Misleh, a Boy Scout in Troop 257 who became an Eagle Scout May 13. Misleh's Eagle Scout project was recruiting his fellow troop members in rehabilitating bicycles and sending them overseas through the nonprofit Bikes for the World. Misleh is a 2008 graduate of Hyattsville's DeMatha Catholic High School.

Riverdale church celebrates anniversary

The Word of Faith Church, Inc. in Riverdale is celebrating its 12th anniversary. In April 1996, Pastor Larry Frazier, Sr. began holding Bible classes in his basement. Eventually he found a building to occupy in Riverdale and reached out to community members as it was being refurbished. The first service g was held Aug. 4, 1996 in a temporary space. The first service in the building was held in September of 1996. The church expanded its space in 2004.

Hyattsville son graduates Navy basic training

Samuel J. Woodworth just completed his U.S. Navy basic training, an eight-week program, held at the recruit training command in Great Lakes, Ill.

He is the son of Joyce and Laurence Woodworth of Hyattsville. He is also a 2004 graduate of Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt.

Samuel Woodworth completed a range of activities which included classroom study, first aid, firefighting, water safety and survival and shipboard and aircraft safety.

During Battle Stations, recruits learned the skills necessary to participate in fleet exercises.