Turkey day on the links gets golfers chance to give

NEWS IN BRIEF

Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009

Wicomico Shores Golf Course staff will host its ninth annual Thanksgiving Day charity golf event as staff members once again plan to donate their time to open the course on the holiday.

The staff will waive greens and cart fees for patrons who contribute nonperishable food and household items for charity.

This year's donations will be provided to the Catholic Community Services St. Clement's Family Center food bank, a program located on Route 242 in Avenue that serves the 7th District community and also helps citizens in need throughout St. Mary's County.

The family center provides direct aid to individuals and families who face unexpected hardships and need temporary assistance with food, counseling and utility and rental/mortgage assistance. The family center also houses the Salvation Army program for St. Mary's County.

The golf course's staff hopes to exceed last year's event total of more than 2,000 items collected, a press release stated. Traditionally, most players donate at least one bag of nonperishable groceries including items such as canned fruits and vegetables, boxed mixes, baby items, paper products and cleaning supplies. Cash donations also will be accepted. Patrons are encouraged to reserve tee times. Call the golf course at 301-884-4601 or 301-934-8191 for more information on the event and to reserve tee times for a group.

Free H1N1 vaccinations to be offered for students

The Charles County Department of Health and Charles County Public Schools are offering two free H1N1 vaccination clinics for school-aged children 3 to 19.

H1N1 vaccination clinics will be held 3 to 7 p.m. Nov. 30 at Westlake High School in Waldorf and 3 to 7 p.m. Dec. 7 at La Plata High School. An adult must accompany children younger than 18.

The health department is offering a number of vaccination clinics. For times and locations of other clinics, go to www.charlescountyhealth.org.

Call 301-609-6900 for more information.

Concert to benefit Safe Nights

A gospel concert to benefit LifeStyles of Maryland's Safe Nights program will be 6 p.m. Jan. 1 at the Fellowship Church in White Plains.

Performers will include Jimmy Passwaters, Bay City Quartet, J.D. Davenport, Butch Hunt, Jeff Hunt and The Pickin' Pals.

Donations will be accepted and donated to the Safe Nights program that provides the county's homeless population shelter at night from Nov. 1 to April 1 at local churches.

The church is at 9805 Faith Baptist Church Road.

Call Hunt at 301-870-3025.

Change in fingerprinting services

The Charles County Sheriff's Office generally offers fingerprinting services to citizens from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at its headquarters at 6915 Crain Highway in La Plata.

During the holiday season, fingerprinting services will continue to be offered Tuesdays but will be closed Nov. 26 and Dec. 17, 24 and 31.

Plans under way for House and Garden tour

Twenty members of the Charles County Garden Club planning committee for the 2010 House and Garden Pilgrimage met recently, and the co-chairwomen of the tour announced the homes that will be featured May 8.

The Charles County Garden Club in conjunction with the Maryland House and Garden Pilgrimage Committee in Baltimore sponsors the tour, and it is held once every three years in Charles County. Homes from the southern area of the county were represented in 2007 and the homes on the 2010 tour are all west of La Plata. They are Thomas Stone National Historic Site, Carmel of Port Tobacco, the Chadwick residence, Oak Grove, three homes of Mount Zephyr — Greenweigh, Persistence and Westwood — and the Captain Fowler residence.

Funds from the 2010 Charles County tour will be used to improve the area around Friendship House, a historic building on the La Plata campus of College of Southern Maryland. The Charles County Garden Club contributes to beautifying the county and it plants trees and shrubs by highways, in towns and at historic sites.

For information on tickets for the tour, call 301-934-8036. There are gift certificates available, which are often used as Christmas or birthday gifts, according to a press release from the club.

For bus tour information only (prepaid reservations), call 301-934-8487 or e-mail MayTour2010@aol.com.