Blessing planned next week for tri-county law officers

THIS ‘N' THAT

Friday, May 1, 2009

The Encounter Christian Center will host the event at 7:30 p.m. next Thursday, May 7, at its offices at 30080 Henry Lane in Charlotte Hall, in partnership with Advocates Working for Victims Right and the St. Mary's chapter of the Maryland Crime Victims Resource Center.

Gwen Bankins, St. Mary's chair for the resource center, said Wednesday that the event being held for the first time will allow the community to demonstrate its gratitude for the dedication of the members of all area law-enforcement agencies.

"The reason that we're doing this is to show appreciation for the people who are out there working for us," Bankins said. "They're out there every day, putting their lives on the line. We believe in them and the work that they're doing."

Bankins said the prayers for the law enforcement officers extend to how they deal with the difficulties of their profession, and not let those difficulties adversely affect their personal lives.

"They see people at their worst sometimes," she said, "and then go home to their families."

First Fridays return today in town

First Fridays celebrations return from 5 to 8 p.m. today in downtown Leonardtown, at Breton Marketplace along Route 5 and at the Maryland Antiques Center.

The town's art galleries, restaurants and unique retail businesses will host a variety of music, poetry readings, book signings, cooking classes, jewelry making, artist receptions and dinner specials. For more information, go online to www.leonardtownfirstfridays.com.

Mechanicsville rescue squad to host card party tonight

The Mechanicsville Volunteer Rescue Squad Auxiliary will hold its last pitch card party of the season starting at 7:30 p.m. today, Friday, at the rescue squad building on Old Flora Corner Road.

The admission charge is $5. Tonight's game will be the last event held until October. Call 301-884-4108.

Church to hold drive-through dinner

Mt. Zion United Methodist Church in Laurel Grove will be offering its annual drive-through dinner from noon to 5 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday, featuring country ham, fried chicken, parsley potatoes, green beans, pickled beets, cole slaw and applesauce. For more information, call 301-884-4132.

TCB invites nonprofits to basketball event

Tap's Community Brotherhood will hold its third annual May Madness basketball tournament tomorrow, Saturday, at St. Mary's College of Maryland's athletic and recreation center, and has invited youth-oriented nonprofit organizations and programs to set up information booths at the event.

Tap's Community Brotherhood is a nonprofit organization established in 2006 in St. Mary's in memory of Joseph "Pat" Kepferle, who attended local schools and Towson University before dying in 2000 from meningococcal disease, a severe bacterial infection.

To learn more about the basketball tournament and reserve a space for an organization, send e-mail to outreach@thetcb.org. For more information on Tap's Community Brotherhood, go online to www.thetcb.org.

‘Stuff the Bus' food drive set for Saturday

A Stuff the Bus event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday, will encourage St. Mary's residents to donate food and other goods that day at the Food Lion grocery stores in Charlotte Hall and Callaway, Giant store at First Colony, McKay's Food and Drug stores in Leonardtown and Wildewood and the Walmart store in California.

After the county's STS buses are filled with donations, deliveries will be made directly to pantries and food banks throughout the county. Local food banks are experiencing a shortage of nonperishable food items. Due to the current economy, requests have increased, while donations have decreased.

County and state employees will be stuffing their own bus with boxes of donations from their offices.

Suggested items for the event include canned goods and nonperishable foods that do not need cooking, such as canned meats and fish, canned fruits and vegetables, canned soups and puddings, canned fruit juices, dried fruit, nuts, cookies, crackers, peanut butter, jelly, coffee, tea and bottled water. For more information, call 301-475-4200, ext.1846.

Church plans Sunday dinner and festival

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church will hold its 18th annual parish dinner and festival at noon this Sunday, May 3, in the Parish Center located at 28297 Old Village Road in Mechanicsville, directly behind the church. The menu will include steamship round, crab balls and Southern fried chicken. Festivities will include a big raffle, 50-50 raffle, white elephant table, bake table, door prizes and bingo. Call 301-884-3123 or 240-256-0812.

Artist's exhibit continues at library

An exhibit by local artist Beverly Jackson consisting of photography and fiber art will run through May 15 at the Lexington Park Library Art Gallery. Artists interested in displaying artwork at the library's art gallery should contact Candy Cummings at 301-863-6693.

Tennis league seeks captains, players

The St Mary's U.S. Tennis Association Men and Women Adult League is seeking captains and players 19 and older for matches starting this month. Players rating at 3.0 and above are welcome. Contact Mai-Liem Slade at 301-481-2305 or mlslade@md.metrocast.net.

Also, the Junior USTA Tennis Team in St. Mary's begins its season on May 27 and runs through July 1, with matches from 6-8 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays at the county's Baggett, Cecil, Chancellor's Run, Dorsey and Town Creek parks. Go online to www.stmarystennis.org, or call 301-475-3150 or 301-862-2281.

Summerseat plans May 9 plant sale

The 7th Annual Plant Sale at Summerseat Farm in Mechanicsville will take place from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, with an array of annuals and perennials, hanging baskets, planted pots and gardens, herbs, vegetables, shrubs and trees.

An assortment of handmade wood crafts, garden items, unique Mother's Day gifts, and a gardener's white elephant table also will be offered. The farm has educational exhibits on pond care and vegetable growing, a petting zoo, cemetery, manor house and a herd of American buffalo and Barbados sheep. The farm is located off southbound Route 235, 100 yards north of the blinking yellow light at Loveville Road. There will be signs marking the location. Call 301-373-5858, 301-643-8950 or 301-373-6607 for more information.

jwharton@somdnews.com