Stadium movie night to benefit Yopp memorial fund

NEWS IN BRIEF

Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009

Regency Furniture Stadium will host a movie night as a prelude to the holiday season at 7 p.m. Nov. 20 to benefit the Wayne Yopp Memorial Fund.

Yopp was a valued member of the Blue Crabs front office staff during the team's inception and inaugural season in 2008 who died in October, according to a Blue Crabs press release.

The team is asking all patrons for donations of $4. Proceeds raised will be contributed to the memorial fund. Movie-goers are encouraged to arrive early as "The Polar Express" will begin at 7 p.m. The film will be shown on the stadium video board, with the same surround sound fans experience at each Blue Crabs game during the season.

Concessions will be available. Usual ballpark fare, pizza and special holiday candy will highlight the menu for fans to snack. Outside food and beverages will not be permitted inside the ballpark.

"Wayne Yopp played such an integral role in helping our organization get off to a successful start that first season, and it's hard to imagine a better person or employee," Blue Crabs General Manager Chris Allen said in the release.

"His passing is a great tragedy magnified by the 4-year-old son he leaves behind. I hope this event raises a significant amount to help his family."

Call 301-638-9788. The stadium is at 11765 St. Linus Drive in Waldorf.

Kids participate in Kids Care Week

Nikki, Jimmy and Katie Lusk of La Plata participated in Kids Care Week 2009.

They held a food drive to help Mary's Pantry at Sacred Heart Church in La Plata to help local families.

Kidz Who Care, sponsored by the Hot Shots 4-H Club, joined clubs from Birmingham to Beijing to lead Microfinance for Kids and Feed the Hungry projects during the 10th annual Kids Care Week, Oct. 18 to 24.

The week, devoted to the power of youth volunteerism, is celebrated annually during in October and ends on Make a Difference Day, a national day of doing good, sponsored by USA Weekend and held in partnership with HandsOn Network, according to a press release.

Kids Care Week 2009, sponsored by Quaker Oats, is a week during which Kids Care clubs around the world create service projects and raise money to feed the hungry.

Kidz Who Care was started by Katie Lusk and is registered under the national Kids Care Clubs.

To learn more about Kidz Who Care or the Hot Shots 4-H Club, call Collette Lusk at 301-266-7793.

A Renaissance affair

The Maurice J. McDonough High School Performing Arts Department will hold its annual Madrigal Dinner on Dec. 10 and 11 at Middleton Hall in Waldorf. According to information provided by the Pomfret high school, the Madrigal Lords and Ladies, the school's advanced acting and play production classes, will perform a Renaissance drama with accompanying Renaissance music.

The event is $40 a person, and doors open at 5:30 p.m. Dinner starts at 6 p.m.

The madrigal dinner will include ham, roasted chicken, soup in bread bowls, roughage, vegetables, fruit, cheese and apple blossoms.

To purchase tickets, go to www.mcdonoughdrama.com by Nov. 29.

COSMIC presents Handel's ‘Messiah'

Celebrate a classic Christmas Concert with COSMIC Symphony and Community Chorus as they present Handel's "Messiah."

Performances will be at 4 p.m. Dec. 12 at Patuxent Presbyterian Church at 23421 Kingston Creek Road in California and at 5 p.m. Dec.13 at Crossroad Christian Church at the intersection of Route 2-4 and Ball Road in St. Leonard.

Individual tickets will be $10; students, seniors and military will pay $8.

Bikers benefit babies

Thanks to 160 bikers, and their friends and families, more babies in Southern Maryland will be born healthy, according to a March of Dimes press release.

On Oct. 11 at Maryland International Raceway in Budds Creek, riders came out in force to participate in Bikers for Babies and show their support for the smallest members of the community. Funds raised by Bikers for Babies support March of Dimes research and programs to help babies begin healthy lives, according to the release.

"Giving the biker community an opportunity to help babies, while doing what we love is a great combination." said Shannon Rawlings, Bikers for Babies chairwoman in the release. "Since our ties to our communities and families are so strong, helping the March of Dimes is a perfect fit."

Even though the ride is over, there's still a chance for Southern Maryland bike enthusiasts to help. Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s charitable organization the Dale Jr. Foundation has donated a custom-built Orange County Chopper to the March of Dimes.

They've teamed up with Dee Snider, rock 'n' roll performer, national radio host, father of four and national spokesperson for March of Dimes Bikers for Babies, to promote this unique opportunity.

Learn more about the chopper at bikersforbabies.org.

Sponsorship is provided by Apehangers Bar & Grill, Technical Solutions, Maryland International Raceway, Christian Motorcycle Association and GP Homes.