Children's good deed noted by neighbors in Callaway

THIS ‘N' THAT

Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009

Click here to enlarge this photo Submitted photo From left, Madison Mushrush, Chynah Smith, Zachary Wolfe and Molly Mushrush, along with Alexander Wolfe, not pictured, held a food drive to benefit the Maryland Food Bank in the fall. E-Mail This Article | Print This Story

Back in November, Bill and Julie Hoppmann of Callaway were struck by the philanthropic project of several of their young neighbors. This month, Julie contacted The Enterprise to see if that project could be publicized.

A group of friends — Madison Mushrush, Chynah Smith, Zachary Wolfe, Molly Mushrush and Alexander Wolfe, ranging in age from 5 to 11 — went door to door, asking neighbors if they could rake their leaves in exchange for food donations for the Maryland Food Bank or for money to go to the food bank.

Zachary reported this week that the one-day effort raised about $35 or $40. The whole project was Chynah's idea, he said. "Well, since all the schools were doing food drives [for Harvest for the Hungry], we raked the leaves for money or canned food," he said.

During the summer, the group of friends had discussed trying to mow lawns to make some extra money for themselves. "But that didn't work out so well," Zachary said.

They decided to rake leaves, not to make spending money but for a good cause. "We already had enough money for ourselves, so we thought of all the people that might need it," he said.

Their neighbors were receptive to the idea. "Some were like, ‘Wow, that's very nice of you guys,'" Zachary said. "Our original charge was $5 just for the front yard, but because we did such a good job, some people gave us $10."

Zachary said they were exhausted by the end of the day. "I ate dinner and went to bed at 7 p.m.," he said.

Julie Hoppmann, one of the neighbors who hired the young raking crew, was impressed. "We seem to live among, and see, much selfishness around us, but these children were examples of selflessness in their efforts to help those less fortunate than they," she wrote in her note reporting the event.

All of the children attend Piney Point Elementary School, except for Zachary, who is a sixth-grader at Leonardtown Middle School.

Seeking shy, romantic types

Shy romantics who want to send a Valentine message to someone can enlist the help of a barbershop harmony quartet on the big day, Feb. 14.

"Because Valentine's Day falls on a Saturday, the singing messages will also be available on Friday, Feb. 13," said Matt Menard, vice president of the Tri-County Chapter, Barbershop Harmony Society, in a statement.

In previous years, recipients of the group's singing valentines have been mostly women. "But, we also have sung romantic ballads to some men, included a hard-nosed Marine Corps gunnery sergeant, two construction workers and a top-level corporate business executive," Menard said.

The musical messages have been delivered by costumed quartet singers in schools, restaurants, hospitals and at private homes, he said.

The service includes two romantic ballads sung in four-part harmony for a fee of $40. Singing Valentines are also delivered by telephone anywhere outside the Southern Maryland area for a $20 fee. Funds raised by the not-for-profit organization are used to purchase music and costumes. To order a visit by the quartet, call John Lachkovic at 301-862-1160.

Free tax preparation being offered

The AARP in cooperation with the IRS and St. Mary's County Department of Aging will complete taxes at no charge. Volunteers will work from Feb. 2 until April 14 at a nearby site. Appointments are required. For more information call Mrs. Liles between 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 301-994-2527.

Pool offers new pass options

The St. Mary's County Department of Recreation and Parks has announced new options for purchasing a household pass for use at the Great Mills Swimming Pool. Area residents may now purchase a weekend-only or weekday-only household pass. The passes allow unlimited family member swimming from Jan. 12 through Aug. 31.

Passes now available include a household annual seven-day a week pass for $275, a household weekend-only pass for $150 and a household weekdays-only pass for $150.

For more information call 301-866-6560 or visit the pool at 21100 Great Mills Road (next to Great Mills High School in Great Mills). For general information about the Great Mills Swimming Pool, see www.stmarysmd.com/recreate/facilities/swimmingpool.asp.

Church to host sweetheart dinner

A sweetheart dinner featuring entertainment by Walls of Jasper will be held Saturday, Feb. 7, at 6 p.m. at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church in Mechanicsville, by the Apple Basket.

The menu for the annual dinner will include prime rib and crab cake, catered by Patrick of Sunshine Catering.

Price is $30 per person by reservation only. No walk-ins. Make reservations by calling Frank Hill at 301-884-3811. Babysitting provided by reservation only. Reservations must be made by Feb. 1.

Auction items needed for school fundraiser

The Chesapeake Charter School Alliance is gearing up for its third annual "A Vintage Affair" fundraiser, an event billed as an evening of wine, food, music and friends.

"A Vintage Affair" will be held Saturday, Feb. 21, at 7 p.m. Donated items for the silent auction are needed as well as volunteers for planning and working the day of the event.

This event is one of the school's major fundraisers for the year, with a goal of $15,000. Those with auction items to donate or who would like to help with this event are encouraged to contact Michelle Gagnard at gagnard@md.metrocast.net.

To purchase tickets at $40 each, with $20 being tax deductible, contact Maribeth Boeke Ganzell at 301-872-5753 or mboeke@yahoo.com.

Project grant applications available

The Southern Maryland Heritage Area Consortium announces that applications for funding from the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority are available to qualified applicants. This program funds both capital and non-capital projects for sites that will support heritage cultural projects and activities in the tri-county region. The Southern Maryland Heritage Area will be accepting the applications at its office in Hughesville.

The grants are for projects slated to begin in fiscal year 2010, which begins July 1, and all potential applicants must file an intent-to-apply form with the Southern Maryland Heritage Area Consortium. This one-page form is available from the SMHAC office and at www.SouthernMDisFun.com. (Click on "Heritage News" and find the link there.)

Eligible applicants will include nonprofit organizations and government agencies that support the mission of heritage tourism in Southern Maryland. The non-capital project grants awards are for a maximum of $50,000 and the capital project grants are for a maximum of $100,000. Applicants must be able to provide dollar-for-dollar matching funds for all grants. To qualify for a capital grant, the project must be within one of the targeted investment zones identified in the consortium's management plan. For an online version of the management plan, see www.SouthernMDisFun.com.

The intent-to-apply form is due by end of day on Feb. 2, and is available on the Web site listed above, or contact Heritage Area Director Roz Racanello by e-mail to receive the forms at SoMdHeritage@tccsmd.org or call 301-274-4083. Office hours are Tuesday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The mission of the Southern Maryland Heritage Area Consortium is to enhance the economic activity of Southern Maryland through combining quality heritage tourism and small business development with preservation, cultural and natural resource conservation and education. Contact the consortium at 301-274-4083 or by e-mail to SoMdHeritage@tccsmd.org.

scraton@somdnews.com