Parents of children with special ed. plans will meet

NEWS OF NOTE

Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2008

Angela Deal of Priority Partners will give a presentation on being your own health advocate prior to the meeting. The meeting is sponsored by the Charles County Special Education Citizen's Advisory Committee. Call 301-934-7456 for more information.

Habitat restoration grants available

FishAmerica, in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Trust, is accepting proposals for community-based fisheries habitat restoration efforts in the Chesapeake Bay watershed of Maryland with up to $100,000 in funding.

The deadline for proposals is Dec. 5, with grants to be announced in February. Eligible project types include, but are not limited to, riparian restoration; stream bank stabilization; stream restoration; wetland creation and improvement, including shoreline wetland restoration; fish passage enhancement; and fish passage enhancement design. Potential applicants are encouraged to contact Erica George at 703-519-9691, Ext. 247 or egeorge@asafishing.org before submitting an application.

Civista gives

Thanksgiving baskets

to military families

For more than 20 years, the employees and physicians of Civista Medical Center have prepared dozens of baskets of canned and boxed foods for donation during Thanksgiving week. Each department, individually or with other departments, decorates and fills huge containers with food, often including turkeys or gift certificates, for local individuals or organizations in need.

This year's food baskets went to families who have loved ones serving in the military.

On Nov. 24, Civista's medical staff hospital committee, under the direction of Dr. Guillermo Sanchez, held a special event in which the baskets were presented to representatives from the Indian Head Naval base. The La Plata High School Choir performed, as they have for several years, and departments cited reasons to be thankful as part of the event.

Previous recipients of the Thanksgiving baskets have been Catholic Charities, church families in need, local homeless shelters and military families.

Tours of Stone

site offered

Candlelight tours of Haberdeventure will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Dec. 13 at Thomas Stone National Historic Site in Port Tobacco.

Tour the house and travel back in time to visit the Stone family as they discuss the momentous events of the year 1782. Park staff dressed in period clothing will lead free tours starting at 4 p.m. The program is appropriate for all age groups.

The historic house will be decorated in traditional colonial style with wreaths and greenery. Lanterns will light the landscape. A horse and carriage will transport visitors from the visitor center to the house or from the 21st century back to the 18th in the blink of an eye.

Light refreshments including hot cider and cookies will be provided by the Charles County Historic Trust along with a generous helping of Southern hospitality.

Thomas Stone National Historic Site will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. In preparation for the carriage ride, visitors are asked to dress for the weather.

The park features a sales area and exhibits highlighting Thomas Stone and the American Revolution.

Haberdeventure is the home of Thomas Stone, a signer of the Declaration of Independence from Maryland. Admission to the park is free, and parking is available near the event.

The site is on Rose Hill Road between routes 6 and 225, three miles west of La Plata. The park is open Wednesday through Sunday from Labor Day until Memorial Day. Normal hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 301-392-1776.

Arts alliance sponsors free paint party

The Charles County Arts Alliance, in partnership with the Corner Studio, will offer two free opportunities for teens and adults to come play with a new kind of paint. The first session will be held from 10 a.m.to 12:30 p.m. Dec. 6 and the second session will take place from 1 to 3:30 p.m. The patent-pending formulation allows even touch-dry paint to be reworked or ragged-off to blend or reveal layers. Bring brushes and a surface on which to paint (canvas or watercolor paper).

Call 301-392-5900 or e-mail info@charlescountyarts.org to register.