Kiwanis Club collecting bikes to send around the world

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Donate old bike-related items, as well as operating portable sewing machines. A $10 per bike donation is suggested to defray the cost of shipping to overseas charity partners, who repair the bicycles and distribute them to people in need. Checks will be accepted. Call Ron at 301-934-1471.

Bikes for the World is a sponsored project of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association. A receipt will be provided for all material and cash donations.

For more information, go to www.bikesfortheworld.org.

Soil ConservationDistrict to hold dinner

Charles Soil Conservation District will hold its annual cooperators’ dinner with a social hour at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m. May 14 at Harry Wilmer Post 82 American Legion at 6330 Crain Highway in La Plata.

Dinner is $20 per person and includes fried chicken, Southern Maryland stuffed ham, crab balls, peeled steamed shrimp and fried oysters.

R.S.V.P. required by May 2. Call 301-934-9558, Ext. 3.

Start your engines

It’s time to rev up those engines for the 14th annual Southern Maryland Blessing of the Bikes on April 27 at the Charles County Fairgrounds.

Gates open at 9 a.m. and tickets are $7 if purchased in advance (a full list of ticket outlets is available at www.blessingofthebikesmd.com) or $10 at the gate. Regional favorites The WORX will play at 11 a.m. and the bike blessing will take place at 2 p.m. The event will go on, rain or shine, and free parking is available for both motorcycles and four-wheeled vehicles.

The highlight of the day is the traditional bike blessing, but the event also offers motorcycle enthusiasts a full day of activities, including live music, great food, vendors and crafters, a bike rodeo, a bike show and an activity and entertainment area just for kids.

Thanks in part to presenting sponsor Apehangers Bar, a portion of the proceeds of the Blessing of the Bikes will benefit Special Olympics Maryland, the state’s largest sports organization dedicated to offering quality training and competition opportunities to children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

Other event sponsors include All American-Harley Davidson, The Kustom Shoppe⁄Victory Motorcycles of Southern Maryland Performance & Custom American Motorcycles,Maryland Law Enforcement Torch Run and Seattle’s Best Coffee.

For more information, go to www.blessingofthebikesmd.com or call 410-789-6677, Ext. 113.

The fairgrounds are at 8440 Fairgrounds Lane in La Plata.

A step in ahealthy direction

Put your best foot forward and join Civista Medical Center as it hosts its 13th annual 5K Run⁄Walk for Wellness at 8:30 a.m. May 18.

According to a press release, the annual event, which now attracts hundreds of runners and walkers from the Washington, D.C., metro area, features a 5K U.S.A. Track and Field certified course, through the streets of La Plata and around Civista Medical Center and is professionally timed. The event begins and ends at the La Plata Town Hall and will be held rain or shine. After the race all participants can enjoy a huge post race brunch.

The first 500 registrants receive a sports bag and a commemorative T-shirt. Door prizes will be given away and awards are given to top finishers and winners in many categories. Pre- and post-race stretching will be provided as well as post-race massages.

Participants can register with an early bird donation of $25 by calling the Civista Health Foundation at 301-609-4132 by April 30 or a $30 donation after. Online registration is also available at www.civista.org.

Event details are being organized, in large part, by volunteer leadership. Chairing the event this year is foundation board member Donna Clark. Committee members include Terri Baum, Gayle Curry, Paula Hancock, Becky Hoffman, Dana McPherson, Charles McPherson, Heather Mudd, Tom O’Farrell, Pete Perry and Carol Jackson.

The committee’s goal is to raise $20,000 and proceeds will help with needed patient enhancements and renovations to the birthing center. Through ‘‘generous” philanthropic support, Civista will receive the newest specialty instrumentation, high-tech devices and other surgical equipmentÊthat will help keep Civista on the cutting edge of technology as it expands and equips the community hospital, according to the press release.

To help the committee reach its goal, the foundation invites local businesses and community members to participate in the event’s sponsorship program. Sponsorships are available and provide numerous benefits for visibility as well as complimentary reservations.

The foundation is pleased to have strong support from sponsors who have made commitments through March 27 including sports bag sponsor Facchina Group of Companies LLC, platinum sponsor Southern Maryland Newspapers; water bottle sponsor Choice Professional Resources and runners bib sponsor Facchina Construction Company Inc. as well as walkers bib sponsor Green Crest Contracting Inc. Sponsoring the professional timing this year is Maryland Bank and Trust. The committee thanked the town of La Plata for its help and support in the press release.

For event details or to register, go to www.civista.org or call the Civista Health Foundation at 301-609-4132.

Sun-filled travelswith NAACP

Charles County branch of NAACP will take a trip to Sunset Beach Resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica, for five days and four nights from Sept. 25 to 29.

The cost is $995 double per person, or $975 triple.

Package includes roundtrip motor coach transportation from a pickup point at La Plata Food Lion at 5 a.m. in the parking lot and Clinton Sears at 5:30 a.m. in the parking lot to BWI airport.

Resort view rooms available, along with all inclusive features.

Deposit is $150 per person, nonrefundable, to hold space. Monthly payments of $100 per person will be accepted on the 15th of each month, until the final payment due date, which is July 15. Money orders, certified checks and personal checks are accepted and can be mailed to 6206 Hard Bargain Circle, Indian Head, MD 20640.

Trip insurance is strongly recommended. The trip protection varies from $50 to $110 per person, depending on age of traveler. Passport is required.

Call Rose Short at 301-283-5382 or 301-802-0619 for further details.

Walking for a cure

Team Cynthia of Hughesville will join thousands of women and men in the upcoming Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in Washington, D.C., raising funds and awareness that will help defeat breast cancer and support those facing the disease.

The team, including Elysia Sligh, Erica Sligh, Keona Campbell and Deirdre Campbell-Alston, will participate in the noncompetitive event by completing a marathon and a half over the weekend of May 3 to 4.

‘‘Thanks to thousands of people like Team Cynthia we are able to save lives by providing significant funds for vital breast cancer research as well as access to care, screening, support services and education,” said Carol Kurzig, executive director of the Avon Foundation, in a press release. ‘‘The continued commitment of those who participate in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer events gives us hope that one day we will know a world without breast cancer.”

The Avon Walk in Washington, D.C., is one of nine weekend walks taking place this year. Every walker commits to raising at least $1,800 in donations, and each Avon Walk attracts several thousand participants from across the country.

Team Cynthia members, who were inspired to take part in the Avon Walk in Washington, D.C., because of their cousin Cynthia Riley, aspire to a $7,200 fundraising goal.

According to the press release, Riley is a 10-year breast cancer survivor who has been an inspiration for the family to become active in raising funds for breast cancer research. This is the first year that the members have participated in the Avon Walk, but they have committed that this is not their last.

Elysia and Erica are Thomas Stone High School students. The other two team members, Campbell and Campbell-Alston, are their older sisters who retain strong ties to the community.

To support Team Cynthia’s fundraising campaign, donations can be sent to http:⁄⁄walk.avonfoundation.org. Click the ‘‘Make a Donation” tab, then choose ‘Donate to a Participant’ and you will have to do a search for Team Cynthia before to making a donation on the team’s behalf.

For a complete list of Avon Foundation funding, go to www.avonfoundation.org.

Girl Scouts hit the road

Girls Scouts of the Nation’s Capital are hitting the road to experience shows, whitewater rafting activities, archery events and all sorts of spectaculars this spring and summer.

Girls between 11 and 17 from Charles, Calvert, St. Mary’s and Prince George’s counties are invited to take part in the fun. Adults are also welcome to attend as space allows.

Register for the following activities:

*‘‘Wizard of Oz” dinner theater at Toby’s in Baltimore, May 18. Cost is $60.

*Whitewater rafting on the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers, June 20. Cost is $85 with meals.

*Tubing on Antietam Creek, July 25. Cost is $65 with meals.

*Slice of Camp at Camp Winona in Hughesville with swimming, archery, canoeing, crafts and lunch, Aug. 4. Cost is $30.

For details and online registration and payment, go to www.campsomd.org, call Dominique Williams at 800-834-1702, Ext. 4020 or e-mail dwilliams@gscnc.org.

A bus ride to the nation’s capital

St. Mary’s Genealogical Society is sponsoring a research bus trip to Washington, D.C., May 1.

Stops will be made at the National Archives and the Daughters of the American Revolution Library.

Reservations are required by April 25. Cost of the trip is $16.

Call Loranna Gray for pickup locations at 301-373-8458.