Maryland Community Newspapers Online
The Friends of the Surratts-Clinton Library celebrated the one-year anniversary Oct. 24 of its bookstore, located inside the library branch in Clinton.
The group opened the bookstore last fall to raise more funds for library programming. They currently stock about 200 books, all donated by community members, and have raised more than $3,000 so far.
"This bookstore is more than a place where people can buy books for great prices," wrote Nathaniel Brown, chair of the group's Board of Directors, in a statement. "It's a way for everyone to support the library."
The bookstore is open from noon until 4 p.m. on Saturdays from September to June.
Furniture sale fundraiser at Upper Marlboro church
The youth of Union United Methodist Church in Upper Marlboro are holding a furniture sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday to raise funds for the church's Transportation Ministry.
Items to be sold include new loveseats, entertainment centers and dressers. Call the church at 301-627-5088.
Green craft fair features recycled goods
The Watkins Nature Center in Upper Marlboro is hosting a "green" craft fair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 14 that will feature work by local artists using recycled, reused and other sustainable materials.
The event will also feature an art raffle to benefit animals at the center, a Planet Aid Inc. clothing donation station and a book exchange, among other environmentally friendly activities.
Contact Carla Rohde at 301-218-6702.
Skateboarders organizing trip to area skate park
Local skateboarders are invited to spend Saturday at the Mt. Rainier Skate Park, which opened in July. The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission and local youth group Dude Skateboards are organizing the event.
The group will leave from the Clearwater Nature Center in Clinton at noon, and they plan to stay at the park until around 5 p.m. Organizers are encouraging people to arrange their own transportation.
For more information, visit the Dude Skateboards Web site at http://dudeskate.com.
More than 50 schools expected at Clinton college fair
The Kappa Epsilon Lambda chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. is sponsoring a free college fair for high school students at the Stephen Decatur Community Center in Clinton from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Nov. 14.
More than 50 colleges — including the University of Maryland, Florida A&M University and Bowie State University — are expected to send representatives. Attendees are also eligible to win a free laptop or scholarship money.
For more information, contact the community center at 301-297-4648.
Recycling awareness event to be held in Upper Marlboro
County residents are invited to attend an open house Saturday at the Prince George's County composting facility and wastewater treatment plant in Upper Marlboro, kicking off a week of activities to encourage recycling in the county.
The event, hosted by the county Department of Environmental Resources and the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, is in anticipation of the national America Recycles Day on Nov. 14.
The free tours will start at 10 a.m. and run until 2 p.m. from the composting facility, at 6100 Crain Highway, and the wastewater treatment plant, at 6600 Crain Highway.
Visitors will learn about recycling and ways to help the environment at home. For more information, contact Kim Knox at the wastewater treatment plant at 301-206-8233.
High school hosting countywide college fair
Largo High School is hosting a college fair from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Nov. 17 in the school's gymnasium at 505 Largo Road in Upper Marlboro.
The fair is open to all county high school students.
Representatives from 50 and 150 colleges are expected.
For information, call the school's career specialist, Cora Moore, at 301-808-8880, Ext. 234.
Area nonprofit gets grant to benefit breast cancer patients
All Shades of Pink Inc., a Glenn Dale-based nonprofit organization that assists women and their families diagnosed with breast cancer with resource referrals, nonmedical advice and/or emergency financial assistance during their treatment period, received a $1,500 grant Oct. 16 from the Wal-Mart Foundation in recognition of ASOP's efforts in helping families fight breast cancer.
Denice Whalen-White, founder and president of ASOP, said the nonprofit will allocate specific percentages of the grant to buy yarn and have volunteers make blankets for the Comfort Blanket program, help fund the utility assistance program and make available a coloring book free of charge to breast cancer patients with young children.
For information, visit
www.allshadesofpink.org.
County sponsoring financial advice forum
The "Meet the Lenders Day" half-day financial advice event will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 12 at 3400 Pennsy Drive in Landover. The event is being held by the Prince George's County Office of Central Services Minority Business Development Division and the Maryland Small Business Development Center and the Prince George's Chamber of Commerce.
Residents can attend the "Writing a Business for Your Banker" and "SBA Recovery Act Lending Resources" and meet with lenders to discuss their businesses. Call 301-883-6480 for more information and register at www.princegeorgescountymd.gov.
County hospital announces visitor policy change
Doctors Community Hospital in Lanham recently changed its visitor policy to better protect patients and visitors during flu season.
Visitors with runny noses, a cough and/or fever higher than 100 degrees will not be allowed to enter patient rooms. Also, visiting hours are restricted from noon to 8 p.m., and visitors under 18 aren't permitted in patient rooms except for a family member in an end-of-life situation.
These policies are subject to change as the hospital continues to monitor the flu. Visitors are encouraged to cover their nose or mouth with a tissue or inside of their elbow when sneezing or coughing and to wash their hands frequently.
Volunteers needed for community Thanksgiving feast
Valuable Blessings Inc. and LePearl Ballroom will hold a community Thanksgiving banquet from noon to 5 p.m. Nov. 26 at LePearl at 7929 Central Ave. in Capitol Heights. Valuable Blessings Inc. is a Capitol Heights-based nonprofit focused on mentoring and community outreach. Volunteers are needed to help serve and host attending families as well as to deliver to families who cannot attend. Youth may earn community service hours for school. Residents in need of a meal must display a ticket. Call 301-917-5391 or 240-375-3376.
County college hosting retirement education class
Prince George's Community College in Largo is hosting the financial literacy program, "Budgeting for the Future: How To Begin Saving Today," from 2 to 4 p.m. Monday in conference Room 2 in the Largo Student Center at 301 Largo Road in Largo.
Member services staff from Educational Systems Federal Credit Union will address financial planning and decision making skills. Call 301-322-0181.
Bookstore hosting book signings and discussions
Harrine Freeman is having a book signing of "How To Get Out of Debt" at 6 p.m. Friday; Suzetta Perkins, author of "Déjà Vu," is having a book signing at 1 p.m. Saturday; Cheryl Donovan is having a book signing and discussion of her book "The Ministry of Motherhood" at 5 p.m. Saturday; Tinesha Davis, author of "Holler At the Moon" is having a book signing at 5 p.m. Sunday; and B. Smith is having a book discussion and signing of "B. Smith Cooks Southern Style" at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
All book signing and discussions are at Borders Books and Music at 931 Capital Centre Blvd. in Largo.
For information, call 301-499-2173.
Moms group holding home business extravaganza
The Northern Prince George's County Chapter of Mocha Moms Inc., a national organization that serves as a support group for stay-at-home mothers of color who choose not to work full-time outside of the home in order to devote more time to their families, is hosting its fifth annual Home Business Extravaganza from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 14 at Perrywood Elementary School at 501 Watkins Park Drive in Upper Marlboro.
The event is designed to help moms considering working at home and support those who have already begun. Several home-based business owners will be available to discuss what they're doing from home, explain why it works for them and sell their services and products.
Children activities will be available. The event is free and open to the public.
For information, visit www.mochamoms.org.