Girl marches to the beat of dimes

ALL ABOUT CHARLES

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Click here to enlarge this photo Submitted photo Adryana Ramirez is a first-grader at William B. Wade Elementary School in Waldorf. E-Mail This Article | Print This Story

Jennifer S. Abell, school board member and the March of Dimes Suburban Maryland community director, sent a note about a recent fundraiser for her group.

She said William B. Wade Elementary School's annual "Pennies for Preemies" fundraiser was a success once again this year. Students in prekindergarten through fifth grade brought in their change and donated it to the March of Dimes.

But, one child, Abell said, gave more than just her change. Like most children her age Adryana Ramirez, a first-grader lost a tooth. Instead of getting money from the Tooth Fairy, Adryana told her parents that she wanted the Tooth Fairy to give her money to the "babies." The Tooth Fairy left a note for the child under her pillow that read:

"Adryana,

I stopped by to give you money, but you said you wanted to give it to the babies. I donated the money to the babies for you. I hope that is okay.

The Tooth Fairy"

"Adryana is a remarkable young lady who is unconditionally giving, caring and holds a lot of the innocence many of us should have today," Abell wrote in her e-mail.

For more information on the local March of Dimes, call 301-934-2235.

Group keeping Mother's Day under wraps

Members of My Sister' Keeper will be at St. Charles Town Center May 8 through 10 to wrap Mother's Day gifts.

"We've offered the community gift wrapping services during the Christmas holiday season," said MSK vice president Lisa Slappy in a press release. "So when mall management asked us to provide the services for Mother's Day shoppers, we thought it would be a great chance for us to spread some Mother's Day flare."

The gift-wrapping station, located in the center of the mall, will be open from 5 to 8:30 p.m. on May 8, 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on May 9 and from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on May 10.

"We have great, stylish wrapping paper that we picked especially for this event," said Lorice Parker, MSK events coordinator in the release. "We are extremely excited to offer this service to our community.'

The cost to get a small gift wrapped is $2, a medium gift will cost $5 and a large gift will be $8 to wrap.

"The money raised from this fundraiser will go to the MSK scholarship fund and to help support many of our MSK community-based events throughout the year," said Marcia Hart-Wise, MSK founder and president. "Every dollar we raise goes back into the community."

In addition to the Mother's Day gift wrapping fundraiser at the mall, MSK will also wrap Father's Day gifts and hold its annual Christmas holiday gift wrapping service later this year.

For more information about MSK, go to www.mysisters-keeper.org or call 240-346-8532. The mall is at 111100 Mall Circle in Waldorf.

Need help managing money?

The Charles County parks and recreation department will hold two workshops to help residents manage their money.

A workshop for women will address how to set short- and long-term financial goals. It will be offered from 7 to 9 p.m. May 14 at Somers Community Center.

A Smart Start to Mutual Funds Workshop will be offered from 7 to 8:30 p.m. June 10, also at the Somers center.

Both free workshops will be led by Ernie Espejo.

The community center is at 300 Willow Lane in La Plata. To register, call 301-932-6679.

Mudd season

The Dr. Samuel A. Mudd House and Farm Museum has opened its 2009-2010 season.

Admission is $5 per adult and $2 for children 16 and younger. The museum, located at 3725 Dr. Samuel Mudd Road in Waldorf, is open from noon to 4 p.m. every Sunday. It is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday and Saturday. The last house tour will be at 3:30 pm.

The museum is currently recruiting docents — fancy name for "tour guide." If you're interested in the volunteer job, call the museum at 301-274-9358.

Miss Pre Teen and Miss Teen

Miss Pre Teen Maryland International is looking for girls to compete in the Miss Pre Teen Charles County International 2010. Applicants must be between 9 and 12 and live or attend school in Maryland. The pageant will be held April 9 and 10, 2010. Contestants will compete in onstage introduction, fun fashion, aerobic wear, formal wear and give a 12-minute speech. The winner will receive free entry into the Miss Teen Maryland International Pageant when they are eligible by age.

In addition, Miss Teen Maryland International is looking for contestants 13 to 18 interested in competing for the title on April 9 and 10, 2010. Like the younger girls, Miss Teen contestants will compete in fun fashion and aerobic wear.

The teen contestants will also give an interview and compete in an evening gown competition.

Call 410-490-0879 or mrsmaryland@man.com.

Thomas Stone to celebrate 40 years

Currently, event organizers are on the hunt for Thomas Stone High School memorabilia spanning four decades.

Items such as yearbooks, letterman jackets, class pictures, prom tickets, newspaper clippings, anything to do with Cougar history is being sought for loan.

The items will be displayed with the donor's name and returned at the end of the year.

For more information or to lend memorabilia, call Michael Meiser at 301-753-1756 or e-mail mlmeiser@ccboe.com. 

Knights in blue argyle

The La Plata Blue Knights Youth Football and Cheerleading organization is seeking sponsors for its fourth annual Dylan Raymond Memorial Golf Tournament. Held on Oct. 16 at the Swan Point Yacht and Country Club in Issue, the tournament raises money for the fund and league.

More than 500 youth athletes between 5 and 13 are involved with the Blue Knights program.

For more information about sponsoring the event or to play in the tournament, e-mail Diana at lpbkfundraising@comcast.net.

To find out more about the Blue Knights, go to www.lpbk.com

Zonta taking scholarship applications

Applications are now available for the 2009 Zonta International Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarships through the Zonta Club of Charles County.

First awarded in 1998, the scholarships are open to women pursuing an undergraduate degree in business leading to a business management career.

The program is designed to encourage women to enter careers and to seek leadership positions in business-related fields.

The Klausman scholarship looks to the women of today to be the leaders of tomorrow.

Zonta Club of Charles County is a service club made up of 41 members. One scholarship applicant will be recognized by the club and nominated to the district level. Last year, the club recognized Leah Shirley of Salisbury State University as its nominee. To get an application, call Ann Rees at 301-392-9457 or e-mail ann.rees@verizon.net. Send completed applications by June 1 via e-mail to Rees or mail them to her at P.O. Box 2010, La Plata, MD  20646.  To learn more about Zonta, go to www.zontacharlescounty.org.

Summer camp volunteers

Girls Scouts of American needs volunteers to work its summer camps. Open to all girls — not just Scouts — adult volunteers will supervise the camp goings-on, including arts and crafts, songs and hands-on activities

For more information about the locations of the camps go to www.girlscouts4u.org or call Lori Davis at 800-834-1702 or 301-638-5373. 

Dust off the clubs

Harry White Wilmer American Legion Post 82 and the Sons of The American Legion Squadron 82 of La Plata will hold the fourth annual Joe Williams Memorial Golf Tournament June 26 at the Wicomico Shores Golf Course in Chaptico.

The entry fee is $80 per person or $100 after June 19, which includes green fees, cart, lunch, beer, sodas and water on the course and dinner at Post 82. 

There will be four hole-in-one prizes including a new car from Ken Dixon Automotive; golf gift packages for everyone; door prizes at the dinner; and cash prizes for first-, second- and third-place winners. 

Corporate and individual sponsorships are available. Proceeds will benefit legion and community charities.

During the current administrative year the post and squadron have donated more than $15,000 to charities, including the Children's Miracle Network, the Child Welfare Foundation, Special Olympics of Charles County, Charlotte Hall Veterans Home, Project Graduation and the American Legion National Emergency Fund.

This year, a portion of the tournament proceeds will fund the $2,500 Sons of the American Legion Squadron 82 Veterans' Memorial Scholarship which is given each year to a graduating senior from La Plata High School.

For more information, stop by the post on Crain Highway in La Plata.

Call 301-934-8221 or 301-645-1537.

Delaware trip planned

NARFE Chapter 1972 is sponsoring a June 4 trip to Midway Slots in Harrington, Del. The bus will leave Waldorf at 10 a.m. and return at 6 p.m.

The cost is $25 for NARFE members and $30 for nonmembers. The reservation deadline is May 12. Call 301-392-1105.