Seniors in St. Mary’s getting a new ticket to ride

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

‘‘It’s designed to supplement the current transportation services in St. Mary’s County,” she said Monday afternoon.

The Senior Rides Program, which offered its first ride this month, coordinates volunteer drivers with county seniors, 60 or older, in need of transportation to appointments or shopping or other needs, both in and outside of the county. St. Mary’s Transit and the health department already offer transportation. However, the new program is designed particularly to help seniors who need to get to medical appointments in Washington, D.C., Annapolis and Baltimore, although the service can also be used within the county.

‘‘It’s not a free ride,” Barker said. Costs will range from $6 to $30, depending on the length of the trip.

The new program relies on volunteers, she said. A screening process and training provided by the department of aging are required to volunteer. Already, six volunteer drivers are prepared to participate, Barker said. But more are needed.

‘‘Without drivers, we don’t have a program,” she said.

The department of aging developed the Senior Rides Program with a $17,000 grant received from the Maryland Department of Transportation, along with matching funds of $6,000 from the board of county commissioners. Administrators of the program ask that riders contact the department at least three days in advance for local trips and at least five days in advance for longer trips.

For more information on volunteering or reserving a ride, call Denise Charlot at 301-475-4200, ext. 1066.

Animal-loving volunteers needed to check on cats

The cat adoption center at Petco in California needs volunteers to come in at least twice a day to check on and take care of St. Mary’s Animal Welfare League resident cats.

Duties include feeding, watering, scooping and just spending time with the cats.

Monday morning shifts are immediately available. Contact Jennie at jennie_vodzak@comcast.net or smawl@yahoo.com.

Hall of fame programscheduled for March 30

The Institute for Human Growth and Development is sponsoring its fifth annual ‘‘The Firsts” hall of fame program during a Boston tea party on Sunday, March 30, at 4 p.m. at St. James Hall.

Guest speaker will be Elizabeth Barber Walker, the first African-American student to graduate from St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

In addition to Walker, several community legacy builders will be inducted in the institute’s hall of fame, including Everlyn Holland and Wendy Rice Morton. Past hall-of-famers include Dolores Fleming; Janice Walthour; James, Bert and George Forrest; Jim Hill; Robert and Dorothy Gant; Mary Washington; Fran Johnson; Bonnie Elward and Elmer Brown.

The tea party will include door prizes, a raffleÊand a baby contest.

For more information or to reserve a ticket, e-mail or call 301-904-6514 no later than today, March 26, since the tea party is a catered event.

All proceeds will be used for an educational field trip to Boston and the institute’s summer arts and academic program.

Safe boating course set

The United States Power Squadron offers courses in safe boating to the public in St Mary’s and Calvert counties several times each year. The next course will begin April 16 and will run for five consecutive Wednesday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory in Solomons.

In the state of Maryland, anyone born after July 1, 1972, is required to have a certificate of successful completion of an approved boating course while operating a boat. This course satisfies that requirement, including the personal watercraft endorsement.

For more information call the Patuxent River Sail and Power Squadron at 301-475-3883 or visit www.usps.org⁄localusps⁄patuxent.

Civil War enthusiastsneeded for volunteers

Park Day will be hosted by The Friends of Point Lookout State Park, Company C and sponsored by the Civil War Preservation Trust on April 5 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Point Lookout State Park.

Park Day is an opportunity for Civil War enthusiasts to participate in preservation projects at Historic Fort Lincoln.

Volunteers must preregister with the park before March 31. Volunteers should also bring gloves and have appropriate clothing and footwear for getting dirty and possibly wet. Lunch and a living history fort and prison pen tour will also be provided for the volunteers.

Visit www.dnr.state.md.us⁄publiclands⁄southern⁄pointlookout.html or call Robert Jones at 301-872-5688.

Semi-annual children’sconsignment sale set

A semi-annual children’s consignment sale run by Leprechaun Lilly’s is designed to keep down the cost of growing up.

It gives area families the opportunity to sell baby, children and maternity items that are no longer needed but in good condition and provides others the chance to purchase name-brand items at a fraction of the retail price.

The spring sale, which will feature more than 18,000 items from 200 consignors will be held Friday, April 4, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday, April 5, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the St. Mary’s County fairgrounds. Volunteers and consignors attend an exclusive preview sale on Thursday evening.ÊFirst-time expectant birth or adoptive parents, or parents and grandparents with their oldest child or grandchild younger than 12 months old may attend a First Time Parents⁄Grandparents Presale on Thursday, April 3. Registration is required at www.LeprechaunLillys.com.

Items that can be sold at the sale include spring and summer children’s and maternity clothing, shoes, indoor and outdoor toys, baby equipment, nursery and children’s furniture and decor, accessories, books, videos⁄DVDs and more.

Items remaining after the sale will be donated to Birthright International and CareNet Pregnancy Center of Southern Maryland and other local charities.

Any local organization interested in receiving items from future sales can e-mail Mitzi@LeprechaunLillys.com or call 301-672-9543. For more information visit www.LeprechaunLillys.com.

Rebuilding programto take on 23 home projects

Christmas in April-St. Mary’s County is preparing for its 18th annual national rebuilding day on Saturday, April 26.

On that day, 23 homes and one community project will receive repairs, ranging from yard work and painting, to repairing and replacing roofs, building wheelchair ramps, repairing floors, installing new doors and windows, building hand rails and other home repairs such as plumbing and electrical.

Volunteer registration is ongoing until April 2. Those who can lend a hand to help a low-income, elderly or disabled homeowner have a warmer, dryer, and safer home are invited to participate.

Volunteers must be at least 14 years of age to work at one of the sites. Organizers are in special need of roofers, carpenters, plumbers and electricians.

They always need people who know how to install windows and help with weatherization of the homes.

Fundraising is ongoing and donations are always welcome. Donations of food and beverage and logistical support are also appreciated.

For more information call 301-863-2905 or e-mail mary.chasen@christmasinaprilsmc.org.

Food safetyregulations change

The St. Mary’s County Health Department’s Food Safety Program is notifying food service facilities and other food service providers that a revision of the food safety regulations became effective on Dec. 17.

Cold food must be refrigerated and held at or below 41 degrees. The internal temperature of potentially hazardous cooked foods that are being cooled must fall from 135 degrees to 70 degrees within two hours, and from 70 degrees to 41 degrees or less within an additional four hours. The holding temperature for hot foods can now be a minimum of 135 degrees.

Food service providers will also be accountable for a safe food handling regulation that requires no bare hand contact with ready-to-eat foods.

Protective actions that should be taken to comply include using disposable gloves, tongs, spatulas, deli paper or an automatic dispenser to ensure a barrier between food service providers’ hands and food served.

These revisions bring the Maryland Food Service Regulations closer in line with the FDA Food Code.

They apply to temporary food service providers, and are good practice for anyone preparing food for their family. The health department has issued a reminder that any food service event open to the public requires health department review and approval. Event organizers should make application for a temporary license at least two weeks in advance of their event.

Questions about the new regulations may be directed to the Environmental Health Division of the St. Mary’s County Health Department at 301-475-4321, or see www.smchd.org.

scraton@somdnews.com