County is seeking vendors for special scrapbook event

Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2009

Charles County Parks and Recreation is currently seeking vendors for its After the Holidays Mini Scrapbooking special event at Somers Community Center in La Plata 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 23. Setup starts at 8 a.m. Take this opportunity to reach scrapbookers who are in the market for uninterrupted scrapbooking time, learning new techniques and have an opportunity to buy the latest supplies or scrapbooking tools. Register early for tables and/or space.

The registration deadline is Jan. 16.

The vendor fee is a $50 donation of products. Day care is also available for children 2 to 8 for a fee of $10 for county residents, nonresidents $15. Registration deadline for day care is also Jan. 16.

For information on participating as a vendor, call 301-932-6679 or 301-743-3020. Register online at www.charlescountyparks.com.

Investment workshop planned

A retirement planning and investment workshop for farm families has been rescheduled to 6 p.m. Jan. 20.

The workshop is the fourth in a series of educational financial planning workshops hosted by the Southern Maryland Agriculture Development Commission to help farm families prepare for their financial future as the tobacco buyout comes to an end. Members of the public are welcome to attend.

The workshop is free. It will be held at the SMECO auditorium at 15035 Burnt Store Road in Hughesville. Call 301-274-1922, ext.1 or e-mail info@somarylandsogood.com to register.

Special education committee meets bimonthly

The Charles County Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee is for all parents or guardians of children with special education needs who currently have Individualized Education Programs and are students in Charles County schools.

SECAC meets bi-monthly and provides a forum to meet other parents with special needs children and a chance to discuss broad issues relating to the education of students with disabilities. The director of special education attends the SECAC meetings along with support staff.

In a press release, a group representative stated it needs more participation from parents. Call 301-934-7456 for more information.

Diversity forum set for Jan. 23

The Charles County commissioners, College of Southern Maryland, Charles County Blue Ribbon Commission on Diversity and Inter-Group Relations and other organizations will hold the third Unity in Our Community diversity forum from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Jan. 23 at the CSM La Plata campus in the Center for Business and Industry at 8730 Mitchell Road.

The theme for the 2010 forum is "Building Bridges Through Dialogue and Conversation."

The open forum will include two interactive, small-group breakout sessions, led by facilitators to invite the community to consider and discuss issues confronting Charles County in order to build a healthier, more tolerant community that appreciates and celebrates diversity.

The forum is free but space is limited. Lunch will be provided.

Registration is required by Jan. 15. Contact Amy Calvin at 301-885-1342 or e-mail calvina@charlescounty.org. Register online at www.charlescounty.org/unityinourcommunity.

State announces park closings due to furloughs

Maryland state parks and other public lands managed by the state will be closed during service reduction days for the 2009 holiday season as part of the state's furlough and temporary salary reduction plan, and for normal holiday closings, according to a press release.

Public use parking lots, buildings and other facilities will not be available on those days.

Affected facilities in Charles County are Purse, Smallwood, Chapman and Chapel Point state parks and Allens Fresh, Blossom Point, Mattawoman, Myrtle Point and Nanjemoy wildlife management or natural resources management areas.

State parks will remain open on New Year's Day.

Parks will be closed on New Year's Eve.