Maryland Community Newspapers Online
A number of schools in the Hyattsville and Port Towns areas are celebrating national Hispanic Heritage Month, which is October, with events and changes to the regular daily school routine.
Students at Hyattsville Middle School were treated to a performance Sept. 25 by a musical group, Andes Manta, which is comprised of four brothers from Ecuador. The group performed traditional Andean folk music and can play more than 35 instruments, all made from materials native to South America.
Students took the reigns at Langley Park-McCormick Elementary School on Tuesday when they hosted a dinner and program for parents and other family members.
Parkdale High School's morning announcements will include short biographies on prominent Latin-Americans. Students will also write essays about the impact a book, authored by Latin-American writer, had on their lives.
Riverdale Elementary School's event takes place at 6:30 p.m. tonight, in the school cafeteria, located at 5006 Riverdale Road. The school invites parents and students to bring a dish from their native cultures to share during their third annual multicultural night. Call Neftali Ortiz at 301-985-1850.
Hyattsville son deployed
to support Iraq War
Alexander B. Ayotunde, the son of Hyattsville resident Beverley Headley-Ayotunde, was deployed to an overseas base to support operations in Iraq.
Ayotunde will join other Army reserve sergeants in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He is a personnel and postal work technician who has served in the military for eight years. He is normally assigned to the 444th Human Resources Company in Richmond, Va.
Ayotunde received his bachelor's degree from Huston-Tillotson University in Austin, Texas in 2000.
Mocha Moms
to hold Business Expo
The Northern Prince George's County chapter of Mocha Moms, Inc. is hosting its fourth annual Home Business Extravaganza in order for residents to display their local home businesses.
The event will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 13 at Four Points by Sheraton, located at 8500 Annapolis Road in New Carrollton.
The event is free to attend, and 200 Mocha Mom members are expected to attend, with at least 50 businesses on display. There will also be door prizes and activities for children.
Residents can display their business by registering as a vendor. E-mail lmh_armstrong@mail.com. The vendor fee is $100 for Mocha Moms and $150 for non-members.
Honoring commitments
to adult basic education
The Literacy Council of Prince George's County will focus on county residents who have improved their lives through adult basic education classes during their 10th annual banquet and silent auction.
The event will be held at 5:30 p.m. at the Newton White Mansion, located at 2707 Enterprise Road in Mitchellville.
About 200 local adult learners and community leaders will gather during the event, with Del. Joanne Benson serving as the keynote speaker. Tickets are $35 for general admission, and $25 for Literacy Council students. Visit www.literacycouncil.org or call 301-699-9770.
The Literacy Council helps adults build literacy skills through year-round courses, high school diploma program, civic instruction and family literacy classes.
50 Million Pound Challenge walk to be held at BSU
The Prince George's County Health Department will host the 50 Million Pound Challenge 5k walk at 9 a.m. on Saturday at Bowie State University, 14000 Jericho Park Road.
The goal of the 5k walk is to encourage county residents to take the first step as a community to assume responsibility for their health and well being.
State Farm Insurance and doctor Ian Smith, the founder of the nationwide challenge, are also sponsoring the event.
"The first step of living a healthier lifestyle is acknowledging that there is a need to be healthier. The second step is including physical activity and healthy nutritional choices in our daily routine," said county health officer Donald Shell. "The best way to improve and or prevent high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, and high cholesterol is participate in regular physical activity and adopt health eating habits."
There will also be opportunities to have Smith sign copies of his books.
Residents encouraged to give input at Friday forum
The "Envision Prince George's County" forum will be held 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday at the University of Maryland University College Inn and Conference Center at 3501 University Blvd. East, Adelphi. The theme is "Securing Prince George's County's Place in the Shifting Economic Landscape." Attendees can sound off on topics such as retaining high performing employees, remembering diversity and making the most out of a business location during a series of panel discussions. Guest speakers include Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown (D), Richard Florida, professor of Business and Creativity at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management, and author of "The Rise of the Creative Class" and Stephen Fuller, professor of public policy and director of George Mason University's Center for Regional Analysis. The event costs $25 and a networking reception will occur after 4 p.m. Register at 301-952-4487, visit www.mncppc.org/Envision2008 or www.pgcedc.com or e-mail publicaffairs@ppd.mncppc.org.
