Red Cross says blood donors are needed here immediately

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Summer is traditionally a difficult time for blood supplies, according to Mike Zabko, CEO of the Southern Maryland Chapter. ‘‘People are thinking about going on vacation ... they’re putting it off,” he said of summer’s donation trends.

However, the need for blood donors is high during the summer, when people tend to be out and more active than other times of the year, putting them more at risk for accidents.

But something is happening this summer to make supplies even lower than normal. Zabko suggested that perhaps regular donors are distracted by gas prices and the ongoing war in Iraq.

Whatever the cause, the need is great. ‘‘We have less than half a day’s supply on the shelves for O negative, O positive and B-type bloods,” he said. ‘‘So, it’s imperative that if you can donate blood, you do.”

All eligible donors are encouraged to call 800-GIVE-LIFE to schedule a blood donation appointment.

‘‘The local blood supply is well below normal,” said Earl Buffaloe, chairman of the chapter’s board of directors, in a statement. ‘‘Yet, local patients continue to depend on the blood supply. This summer has proven difficult to collect enough blood to meet the local need of patients. We are asking all local donors to respond by scheduling an appointment before the end of July.”

Donors must be in generally good health, be at least 17 (or 16 with parental consent), weigh no less than 110 pounds; have not received a tattoo within the past year and have not donated whole blood within the past 56 days.

The American Red Cross also encourages businesses and community groups to schedule and organize emergency blood drives, some of which may even be accommodated before the end of July.

Dates and locations for Southern Maryland blood donations can be found at http:⁄⁄SouthernMaryland.RedCross.org. Groups interested in scheduling a drive can call 888-276-2767, ext. 313.

Haircuts to showsupport for Hunter

Toby’s Barbershop at 21797 North Coral Drive in Lexington Park will sponsor ‘‘Haircuts for Hunter” on July 26 at 10 a.m.

Hunter Scott is a 4-year-old boy who just recently had a malignant tumor removed from his brain. He will be undergoing chemotherapy for the next several months. He will start to lose his hair during this process, and family and friends are asking for community support by getting a haircut for Hunter.

Nina Guy, the shop owner, and her staff have donated their time, and all proceeds will go directly to Hunter. For more information call Becky Russell at 301-904-1398.

NAMI Family-to-Family class scheduled

Area residents who have a loved one who suffers from a serious mental illness (depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, panic disorder, etc.) are encouraged to participate in an upcoming National Alliance on Mental Illness Family-to-Family program starting next month.

On Wednesday, Aug. 27, NAMI Southern Maryland will begin its fall 2008 session of the family-to-family education program at the Lexington Park library.

Delivered by NAMI-trained teaching teams, the program is free to participants and offers instruction and course materials on the range of serious mental illnesses and current treatment, strategies for emotional and practical support, tools for advocacy with mental health and recovery support providers and a workshop on problem solving and communications skills for those working to assist a loved one.

Since its inception in 1990, the course has graduated more than 115,000 students. NAMI Southern Maryland has graduated three family-to-family classes since last year.

The family-to-family class in Lexington Park will meet every Wednesday evening for 12 weeks starting Aug. 27 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. To register for the fall 2008 class, call 240-298-1433.

‘‘Serious mental illnesses are brain disorders,” said Connie Walker, the president of NAMI’s southern Maryland affiliate, in a statement. ‘‘They are far more common than the general public realizes. All too often, the unwarranted stigma associated with [serious mental illnesses] keeps people from talking about the problem or seeking help. The fact is brain disorders are treatable illnesses. There should be no more stigma associated with them than there is with diseases like cancer and diabetes.

‘‘And, just like families working to support a loved one with cancer or diabetes ... families with a loved one who has a [serious mental illness] experience very high levels of stress. They need information and support to assist their ill relative, and to maintain a sense of balance in their own lives ...This is where the family-to-family education program comes in.”

Since graduating its first 12-week class in April 2007, the group now has more trained volunteers to offer more NAMI programs in the region, such as the ‘‘In Our Own Voice” Recovery Education Program and NAMI Connection twice-monthly recovery support groups for consumers of mental health services.

St. George’s offers Bible school

St. George’s Episcopal Church will present its vacation Bible school, ‘‘Jerusalem Marketplace,” from July 28 through Aug. 1 from 9 a.m. to noon.

Participants will have the chance to taste and smell new foods, explore new traditions and discover new talents as well as build relationships with other tribe members and explore authentic traditions

For more information call 301-994-0585 or visit stgeorgesvalleylee.org.

Chicken dinner tobenefit Ridge VFD

The Ridge Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary will be holding a drive-through chicken dinner on Sunday, July 27, from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the firehouse in Ridge, located at 13820 Point lookout Road.

Dinners are $8 and will include half a chicken, parsley potatoes, green beans, cole slaw and a roll. Call 301-872-5090 or 301-872-5671.

State promotes Buy Local Challenge Week

Counties across Maryland have joined in to declare this last week in July the annual Buy Local Challenge Week. Participating involves pledging to eat at least one item from a local farm every day during the week.

Maryland residents looking for local farms, farmers markets, menu ideas or shopping tips and more can go to www.buy-local-challenge.com. Or, regional farms, restaurants or retail stores interested in participating can go to the www.buy-local-challenge.com and click on ‘‘regional resources” or contact the agricultural commission at www.somarylandsogood.com or by calling 301-274-1922. Participants receive supporting promotional materials, signs and decals.

College preparesfor yacht race

‘‘One of sailing’s 10 best parties,” according to Sailing World, is fast approaching, as St. Mary’s College of Maryland prepares to host 2008 Governor’s Cup Yacht Race festivities Aug. 2, beginning at noon.

There will be party fare and live music performed by Joe Bachman and the Crew and others as visitors party along the riverfront at St. Mary’s College of Maryland after the yachts have come in. The race awards ceremony will be held at 5 p.m. in the afternoon in the entertainment tent.

Registrations after July 26 will be accepted with a $50 late fee. Final deadline for registration is July 30. Boats can also compete for the Patuxent Partnership trophy and the St. Mary’s Alumni class trophy.

The race begins at 6 p.m. in Annapolis on Friday, Aug. 1. Registration continues until July 26, with late registrations accepted until July 30 with a fee. Register online at www.smcm.edu⁄govcup.Ê

Benefit auction planned

A benefit dinner, dance and auction for Denise Lacey, who is fighting breast cancer, will be held Saturday, Aug. 9, at the Leonardtown firehouse. Doors open at 4 p.m. Tickets are $20 at the door.

The event will include dinner, with food provided by Bear Creek Barbecue. An auction with Rodney Thompson begins at 6 p.m. There will be beer, wine, soda, and water for purchase. D.J. music provided by CW promotions. There will be a cooler of booze raffle and 50⁄50 raffle.

Monetary donations can be sent to Cedar Point Credit Union, c⁄o Denise Lacey. For more information or to buy tickets in advance, call Brenda Filby at 240-925-2324.

Benefit tractor pull set

The Southern Maryland Antique Power Association is holding its 14th Annual Benefit Tractor Pull on Aug. 2 at Richie Copsey’s track on Morganza-Turner Road, behind Captain Leonard’s Restaurant in Mechanicsville. The pull will start at 10 a.m. Food and drinks will be available by Lynn’s Catering. Admission is free.

The pull is to benefit Erin Payne Mattingly, who has Lou Gehrig’s disease. She is a 34-year-old daughter, wife and mother of three children. Her children are 9, 7 and almost 2.

There is a money raffle being held also, and tickets can be purchased the day of the event. Monetary contributions are also being accepted, which can be mailed to SMAPA, P.O. Box 104, Morganza, MD 20660. To purchase raffle tickets call Mary Bowles at 301-475-0409.

The tractor club is a nonprofit organization that annually sponsors a person or family from the county who needs help.