The Homeowners Tax Credit-Enhanced Supplement for Qualifying Seniors became available to Charles County seniors starting in fiscal 2012, which began July 1.

The Homeowner's Tax Credit is a state program that limits the amount of property taxes due based on the owner's income.

The state allows local subdivisions to create their own supplements to the Homeowner's Tax Credit, which Charles County has done, according to a news release from the Charles County commissioners.

The requirements for eligibility are that one of the homeowners must be at least 70; one of the homeowners must have resided in the dwelling for more than 20 years; the homeowners must have a combined net worth of $200,000 or less; and the homeowners must have a combined income of $50,000 or less.

There was a filing deadline of Oct. 31, but it does not apply to applicants 70 and older.

The tax credit application is available online at www.dat.state.md.us/sdatweb/HTC-60.pdf.

For more information, call Eric Jackson at 301-645-0712 or email JacksonE@CharlesCounty.

org.

Bluegrass at Legion schedule released

As the summer festival season ends and the cold winter chills approach, it’s time once again to move inside for some warm and cozy bluegrass music.

This year, Jay Armsworthy and the Sons of the American Legion Post 238 in Hughesville bring an award-winning lineup of recent 2011 International Bluegrass Music Association winners including IIIrd Tyme Out, The Boxcars and Larry Sparks, according to a news release from Armsworthy.

The shows will be held at the post at the corner of routes 381 and 231 and will begin at 2 p.m. with the doors opening at noon. Tickets for each show will be $15. Food will be available for sale before the shows.

Starting off the shows on Dec. 4 will be The Paul Adkins Band. He has played with Bill Harrell & the Virginians and J.D. Crowe and the New South. By the mid-’80s Adkins launched his own band, Paul Adkins & the Borderline Band.

Other upcoming shows at the Legion include 2011 IBMA winners, The Boxcars Jan. 29; 2011 IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year, Russell Moore and the IIIrd Tyme Out Feb. 12; and back again, Larry Sparks on March 11.

For more information, tickets and directions, go to www.americanlegionbluegrass.com or call 301-737-3004.

Nonperishable food donations will be accepted for the Helping Hands Food Bank.

Bone marrow

match nonprofit

sets session

Volunteers from Be the Match national marrow donor registry will hold a registry drive and fundraiser 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 25 at American Legion Post 82 at 6330 Crain Highway in La Plata.

The procedure is a simple cheek swab and you are put on the registry for the possible bone marrow or stem cell donation that could save a life, according to a news release from event organizer Paddy Mudd.

The event honors 7-month-old Ellie Jane Mudd of La Plata who is one of more than 10,000 patients who need a transplant to save their lives.

Go to www.marrow.org for more about being a registrant and www.bethematchfoundation.org/goto/Ellie for more about Ellie’s story or to make a monetary donation.

Nanjemoy community day scheduled

A community day for needy residents of Nanjemoy will be noon to 5 p.m. Nov. 19 at the Nanjemoy Community Center at 4375 Port Tobacco Road in Nanjemoy.

Free turkeys, food baskets and water will be distributed, and people may register to request housing repairs and other assistance. Live music will entertain visitors and volunteers.

Representatives from Gov. Martin O’Malley's office will be on hand, a news release from event organizers states.

Sponsors include the Western Charles County Community Association, High Hopes, Urban Inspirational Kickball League and community advocates Cornell Posey, Eddie Kayne and Rob Lo.

Call 240-419-8771 for more information.

Charles County NAACP turns 70

The Charles County branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the College of Southern Maryland will sponsor a 70th anniversary celebration and salute to veterans 2 to 4 p.m. Nov. 19 at the college’s Business and Industry Center at the La Plata campus at 8730 Mitchell Road.

The local NAACP is reaching a milestone and continues as one of the nation’s most significant civil rights organizations.

Dedicated works, organizers and leaders forged this great organization and maintain its status as a champion for social justice, according to an NAACP press release.

In addition, the event will honor the men and women who have stepped forward and served the nation.

For more information and to RSVP, contact Delores Moses at 301-396-4455 or email helpyoutoo2004@yahoo.com.

Red Cross announces program manager for Southern Maryland

The American Red Cross welcomes Michelle Thompson to the staff of the American Red Cross of the Chesapeake Region.

Thompson has been hired as the Red Cross emergency services program manager for Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties, according to a Red Cross news release.

“Michelle’s resume is impressive,” Gonzalo Hernández, acting Red Cross emergency services director for the Chesapeake Region, said in the release. “She brings a great deal of Red Cross and government related disaster response experience to this role.”

Before coming to Maryland, Thompson spent five years with the Red Cross of Greater Grand Rapids as the disaster services program manager.

Prior to the Red Cross, she served as the program manager for the Metropolitan Medical Response System with Kent County, Mich. Emergency Medical Services.

A native of Grand Haven, Mich., Thompson now calls Annapolis home.

For more information, call Hernández at 410-624-2043.

For more information or to donate, go to www.redcross-cmd.org. Tweet the organization at www.twitter.com/RedCrossCntrlMD.