New date for 8th annual Touch-A-Truck event
The Center for Children is presenting its eighth annual Touch-a-Truck event to be held 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 25, at Thomas Stone High School in Waldorf. Admission is $7 for adults, $3 for children, and children younger than 1 are admitted for free.
Touch-a-Truck is a unique and interactive community event that provides families the opportunity to touch, learn and explore trucks, construction vehicles, cars, public safety equipment while meeting those who protect, serve and build the community. This event also features special performances, local food vendors, face painting, games and more.
Vendors may contact Bill Stevenson at stevenson@ center-for-children.org or 301-609-9887, ext.129. The sponsorship deadline is June 10 and the exhibitor/ vendor deadline is June 15.
Volunteers to go bald for childhood cancer research
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a volunteer organization dedicated to raising money for children’s cancer research, will host an event June 4 in La Plata, where local volunteers will shave their heads in solidarity with kids with cancer and raise money for lifesaving research.
The event is titled “Bald for a Cause Southern MD” and is in honor of the
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families fighting cancer and in memory of those that are no longer with here but will never be forgotten. The event will be held in the parking lot of Live Out Loud Yoga studio at 406 Charles St., La Plata. In addition to the main head-shaving event there will also be a silent auction, bake sale, local vendors and entertainment for the children.
For more information, contact Marcie Robinson at 414-436-9786 or healthymom39@gmail.com, or Traci Shirk at 626-792-8247 ext.250 or traci.shirk@stbaldricks.org.
Tri-County Animal Shelter announces June events
Adopt a Shelter Cat Month will be from Wednesday, June 1 to Thursday, June 30. During the month of June, adoption fees for kittens will be reduced to $30, adult cats to $20, and senior cats to $5.
Social Pet-working Month will be from Wednesday, June 1, to Thursday, June 30. Ever y Wednesday, Charles County Government will feature a shelter animal on Facebook. Go to www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/es/animalshelter/tri-county-animal-shelter to see the available shelter pets.
National Dog Party Day will be Saturday, June 18. Shelter animals will be available for adoption and the dog adoption fee is reduced to $100 on this special day.
Bark in the Park will be 7 p.m. Monday, June 27, at the Regency Furniture Stadium, 11765 St. Linus Drive, Waldorf. Go to the Tri-County Animal Shelter table to meet adoptable pets and ask any animal-related questions.
The Tri-County Animal Shelter is located at 6707 Animal Shelter Road in Hughesville. Shelter staff can be reached at 301-932-1713 or 800-9031992. Adoption hours are Monday-Friday, noon to 5 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. To view animals available for adoption, go to www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/es/animalshelter/tri-county-animal-shelter or www.petfinder.com/shelters/MD112.html to find your “purrfect” pet.
Watershed protection and restoration plan public hearing scheduled for June 7
The Charles County Commissioners will hold a public hearing on the draft Watershed Protection and Restoration Program Financial Assurance Plan during the county commissioners meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 7, at the Charles County Government Building, 200 Baltimore St., La Plata.
This plan is prepared in accordance with Senate Bill 863 (2015 session); codified in COMAR, Subsection 4-202.1, and is required to be filed with the Maryland Department of the Environment on or prior to July 1.
The plan includes five elements specified in COMAR, which are generally described as: actions necessary to meet the national pollutant discharge elimination system Phase I municipal separate storm sewer system permit; projected costs and revenues to meet the permit’s impervious surface restoration requirements; sources of funds to meet the overall permit requirements; and specific actions and expenditures implemented in previous fiscal years to meet the permit’s impervious surface restoration requirements.
The draft document will be available beginning Friday, June 3, on the county’s Boarddocs website under the agenda for June 7: www.boarddocs.com/md/chrlsco/Board.nsf/Public.
Citizens wishing to make oral or written comments are encouraged to attend the public hearing. Those individuals or representatives of groups wishing to speak must sign in. Each speaker will have three minutes to speak.
For more information about the public hearing, contact Karen Wiggen at WiggenK@CharlesCountyMD.gov or 301-645-0540. Citizens with special needs, contact the Maryland Relay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 800-735-2258.
Commission for Women announces meeting location, schedule changes
Starting in June, the Charles County Commission for Women meetings will be held at 10665 Stanhaven Place, Suite 206, White Plains. The commission meets on the second Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for June 10. The commission will not meet in August.
The Commission for Women was established in 1996 to better define and identify services needed for the county women. The commission works to raise awareness of issues affecting women and their families by serving as a conduit between women and existing services and advocating for programs, education, and legislation. The commission’s four initiatives include partnerships, advocacy, homelessness, and youth.
For more information about the Commission for Women, go to www. CharlesCountyMD.gov/ CCCW or email at cccw@ CharlesCountyMD.gov. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ CharlesCoWomen, or find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ CharlesCountyCommissionforWomen.
2016 Farmers’ Market Guide now available
The “So. Maryland So Good” Farmers’ Market Guide lists more than 30 farmers’ markets in Southern Maryland and around the Washington, D.C., area which feature genuine farm-grown produce, meats, poultry and seafood, baked goods, pickles, jams, dairy products and local wine and beer.
The free guide lists markets by county and includes a handy regional market locater map, a harvesting chart unique to the area’s growing seasons, plus the markets’ websites and Facebook pages.
The “So. Maryland, So Good” Farmers’ Market Guide is available now to view or download on the ‘Get the Guides’ page at www.smadc.com. Pick up a copy, beginning the first week of June (while stocks last) at participating Southern Maryland farmers’ markets, regional public libraries and welcome centers. For a list of pick-up sites go to the ‘News and Announcements’ page on the SMADC website.
Community foundation accepting proposals for beautification grants
The Chaney Beautification Fund is making grants
available to non-profit organizations to encourage beautiful, sustainable landscapes in Southern Maryland and Virginia. Grants of up to $1,000 are awarded annually to non-profit groups, specifically 501(c) (3) organizations, public or private educational institutions, or government agencies. Beautification projects must be located in counties where Chaney Enterprises has a presence.
In Mar yland, projects in the counties of Anne Arundel, Calvert, Caroline, Charles, southern Prince George’s and St. Mary’s are eligible for grants. In Virginia, projects in Caroline County are eligible.
Guidelines for the Chaney Beautification Fund Grants are available on the Community Foundation of Southern Maryland’s website at www.cfsomd.org/grants. Applicants are encouraged to submit projects that incorporate “green” gardening practices, such as water conservation measures, organic fertilizers, and native plant species. Schools may use grants to incorporate beautification projects into the education curriculum.
Grant proposals must be submitted via email only by 5 p.m., June 17. Grant awards will be up to $1,000 and will be announced in August. Organizations are required to match grant funds with cash or in-kind goods and services. Organizations receiving funds must commit and expend the full amount of the grant by Dec. 15. Only one application per applicant will be accepted, and applicants are advised to review the guidelines to ensure compliance prior to submitting applications.
Applications are available online at www.cfsomd.org/ grants. For more information, contact Gretchen Hardman, executive director of the Community Foundation of Southern Maryland, at 240-670-4483 or at Gretchen@cfsomd.org.
CSM to host Project Graduation
The College of Southern Maryland La Plata Campus will host the 31st annual Project Graduation for Charles County’s high school graduating seniors including the classes of North Point, Lackey, McDonough, Westlake, St. Charles, La Plata and Thomas Stone from 9 p.m2 a.m. June 2-4.
Classes and programs will continue as scheduled on the La Plata Campus the evenings of June 2-4, however the south entrance will be closed each evening beginning at 7:30 p.m. All traffic beginning at 7:30 p.m. will be directed to use the college’s north entrance at Mitchell Road and Campus Drive.
Sponsored by the Charles County Citizens for Substance Free Youth and held at the Physical Education (PE) Building of CSM’s La Plata Campus, the event features free activities including music provided by a DJ, airbrush tattoos, bull riding, arcade games, foosball and skeeball for graduating seniors and their guest. Additionally the pool is open for those who wish to swim.
Since 1986, the mission of Project Graduation has been to provide a safe, substance-free party environment for the graduating seniors of Charles County. For information on Project Graduation or to offer support, contact John Hayden at 301-934-9047.
For information on the college’s public safety, contact CSM Public Safety and Preparedness Executive Director Don Frick at dfrick@csmd.edu or 301539-4753.
Tri-county committee seeks board members
Southern Maryland Tri-County Community Action Committee Inc. is recruiting members for its volunteer board of directors with backgrounds in finance or banking, early childhood education, economic development and community advocacy. The nonprofit’s mission is to provide services to eligible citizens that alleviate the causes and conditions of poverty, promote upward mobility and enrich the quality of life.
Private businesses, organizations or individuals interested in being considered for membership should submit a letter of interest and resume: SMTCCAC, Inc., Attn: Board Selection and Credential Committee, P.O. Box 280, Hughesville, MD 20637, or email information to Delilah@smtccac.org.