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Rebuilding program in St. Mary's advertised in Africa
THIS ‘N' THAT
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
 Click here to enlarge this photo Submitted photo
A man in Kenya wears a T-shirt from Christmas in April-St. Mary's County 2003.
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For 19 years, Christmas in April-St. Mary's County has organized an army of volunteers to spend the fourth Saturday in April repairing and renovating county homes owned by low income, elderly or disabled residents. And each year Christmas in April gives out T-shirts advertising that year's efforts to those volunteers.
Apparently, some of those T-shirts have found a home in some far-flung locales.
"About five years ago when one of our high school volunteers was preparing to do mission work in Kenya, she asked if she could have the remaining T-shirts we had not used on Christmas in April day," wrote Mary Ann Chasen, executive director of Christmas in April-St. Mary's County, in an e-mail last week. "I gave her several boxes of T-shirts that remained from previous years."
When the volunteer was in Kenya, she handed out the T-shirts to children and adults she met while she was there.
Years later, another person from the volunteer's church, who is also involved with Christmas in April, went to Kenya to also participate in mission work. "She was walking down the road when she spotted a man walking toward her wearing a Christmas in April-St. Mary's T-shirt. She asked if she could take his photo because she was from St. Mary's County … and had been a volunteer with our program," Chasen said.
The photo was eventually forwarded to Chasen who brought it up at a recent committee meeting. "So far away and yet so close to home," Chasen said of the photo, laughing.
Christmas in April-St. Mary's County is already gearing up for next year's event — the 20th for the organization. Chasen noted that applications for free home repairs for the 2010 event are already available. "If anyone who lives in St. Mary's County who is low income, elderly or disabled would like to apply for help, they can just give me a call and I'll send out a free application," she said. The applications will be available until mid-October. Decisions on which projects will be accepted will be made at the end of December or beginning of January.
To receive an application, call Chasen at 301-863-2905.
Senior rides program seeking volunteers
A reception recognizing participants in the St. Mary's County Department of Aging's Senior Rides program, and offering information to potential volunteers, will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. this Thursday, June 25, at the J.T. Daugherty Conference Center in Lexington Park.
Senior Rides is a volunteer based transportation program for senior citizens who need transportation to medical appointments, errands and shopping. To register to attend the event, call 301-475-4200, ext. 1064.
Collections continue through Saturday for care packages
The St. Mary's County Farm Bureau Women's Committee is collecting items through Saturday for care packages to military service members serving overseas.
Drop-off boxes are located at the Charlotte Hall, Leonardtown and Lexington Park libraries.
The organization will accept any non-perishable items except liquids and aerosols. Recommended items include cards, magazines, games, phone cards, personal care items, candy, gum and books. For more information, call 301-475-3589 or 301-884-3086.
Hospital to sponsor event for veterans and families
St. Mary's Hospital has announced an upcoming program for Southern Maryland veterans and their families on Aug. 9 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Linda's Cafe in Lexington Park.
Participants will have the opportunity to meet, greet and connect with fellow veterans and their families.
St. Mary's Hospital is sponsoring this afternoon of conversation and ice cream sundaes. The southern regional resource coordinator with the Maryland's Commitment to Veterans Initiative will be present to answer questions about veterans benefits and services. To attend, call 301-475-6019.
ACLU director to speak Thursday
John Barnes, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union for the National Capital Area, will be the keynote speaker at 7 p.m. this Thursday, June 25, at a Community Awareness Event in Cole Cinema at St. Mary's College of Maryland.
The St. Mary's County Human Relations Commission will host the event, where Barnes will address the "Impact of President Barack Obama on Civil Rights during his first 200 Days." Barnes is a former congressional legislative counsel and chief of staff, a former political director for Washington, D.C., Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly and a former law professor at the Georgetown Law Center.
Admission is free to the event. For more information, contact Cynthia Brown of the Department of Human Services at 301-475-4200, ext. 1846.
New library service designed to connect families
Kathleen Reif, director of St. Mary's County Library, has announced that the library has a new service to connect families and friends geographically separated. This new service called "Face Time @ your library" uses dedicated computers equipped with video Web cams to enable families to have "face-to-face" chats with loved ones living anywhere in the world. To use the service, family members living elsewhere will need access to a Web cam-equipped computer and high speed Internet.
Although initially intended to connect military families, Face Time @ your library can be used by anyone who is separated by distance from their loved ones. Recently, Leonardtown library staff member Raisa White used the service to visit with former library employee, Maggie Phalen, who is studying abroad.
"This is another fine example of the library applying technology to help improve the lives of our county residents," said Robert Palmer, lead computer services technician for St. Mary's County Library.
For more information or to set up a Face Time session, contact a library branch.
Deadline approaches for Sotterley camp
From July 20 to 24, children between 8 and 12 will have the opportunity to investigate Sotterley Plantation in Hollywood throughout its 300-year history. The week's activities include investigating history, life as a colonial child, African-American history, archaeology, hiking and more. For those who enjoy the challenge of sleuthing, there will be a scavenger hunt. The camp features hands-on activities and daily crafts.
There are only a few spaces left. Deadline for registration is July 1. The summer camp fee is $150 per child, $125 for Sotterley members and a $25 registration fee is required.
To reserve a space, contact Carolyn Hoey, education director, at 301-373-2280 or e-mail education@sotterley.org.
Piano auditions held in St. Mary's
150 local piano students from the studios of Patricia Blanchard, Diane Crofford, Barbara Graham, Hyun Sook Kim, Rebekah Morrissette and Debra Smedley and Donna White were adjudicated as participants in the National Piano Playing Auditions, St. Mary's County.
Sharon Banks of Richmond was the judge of the eight-day event, running from May 30 to June 8 at Grace and Peace Presbyterian Church in California.
A closing recital was held June 13 at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church in Lexington Park.
Participants from Blanchard Piano Studio were Ruth Alonzo, Patricia Blanchard, Stephanie Broussard, Katrina Chan, Branford Coleman, Andrea Eastburg, Emily Dunn, Daniel Gray, Camille Heinz, Dietrich Heinz, Micah Heinz, Christen Hicks, Clay King, Micah Lee, Eric MacQuilliam, Hannah Mumbert, David Neal, Joshua Neal, Eumi Pok, Andrea Prevatt, Michael Prevatt, Jannah Ryan, Jessica Ryan, Christopher Shupe, Daniel Shupe, Christina Smith, Elijah Smoot, Cullen Taylor, Madison Taylor, Murphy Taylor, Olivia Taylor, Jacklyn Wong and Jonathan Yu.
Students from Graham Piano Studio were Jana Backhaus, Nicholas Baldauff, Samuel Baldauff, Caira Cartwright, Camille Cartwright, Zachary Donahue, Jenita Joe, Elizabeth Landmann, Michael Leepa, Jude Luke, Ben Paskoff, Lucy Paskoff, Olivia Sowa, Christopher Weller, Allyson Wilt and Michael Wilt.
Students from Smedley Piano Studio were Graeme Colby, Gabrielle Crofford, Mina Fahmi and Hannah Wichrowski.
Students from White Piano Studio were Shenia Allen, Loretta Alvey, Ashley Anderson, Cristina Barreto, Natalia Barreto, Melissa Boughton, Virginia Canter, Emma Carpenter, Erin Carpenter, Kelly Carpenter, Stephen Cathey, Carol Connolly, Jolene Dodson, Nathan Dodson, Paul Dudash, David Eby, Noah Eby, Robert Eby, Mardette Fitzgerald, Katee Fletcher, Matthew Gemmel, Diane Haderly, John Haderly, Emily Herring, Kirsten Keeney, Michael Kelly, Allan Li, Daniel Long, Katherine Long, Sarah Long, Melissa Lucas, Hannah McCoy, Joshua McCoy, Rie Naito Moore, Desiree Ortiz, Julia Republica, Lauryn Ridley, Sharize Roper, Arhum Shah, Sohum Shah, Kelly Shields, Lisa Shields, Shannon Smith, Raymart Tuazon, Scott Tustin, Joshua Tyson and Joshua Youn.
The Piano Guild, (a division of the American College of Musicians), was founded in 1929 by Irl Allison. Forty-six entrants participated in the first audition (then called a "tournament") at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas.
Since that time, the guild has grown to more than 118,000 participants who enroll annually in our international auditions, which are held in more than 800 locations throughout the United States and abroad.
The guild's primary function is to establish definite goals and awards — in noncompetitive auditions — for students of all levels, from the earliest beginner to the gifted prodigy. With the exception of special programs, teachers have the flexibility to choose all repertoire for student auditions. Students are judged on individual merit, by a well-qualified music professional, in the areas of accuracy, continuity, phrasing, pedaling, dynamics, rhythm, tempo, tone, interpretation, style, and technique.
The purpose is to encourage growth and enjoyment through the study of piano.
To become a member of the guild, contact Patricia Blanchard at 301-862-5114.
