So. Md. Women’s League to hold Women of Impact event

The Southern Maryland Women’s League (SMWL) will hold its second annual Women of Impact Awards Ceremony and Dinner as well as a Silent Auction at the Greater Waldorf Jaycees Community Center 6-10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4. Tickets to the event are $45 each.

The SMWL Women of Impact Awards Ceremony and Dinner pays tribute to outstanding girls and women who are making an impact in the world today. Each year, they call for nominations in order to identify and recognize girls and women who accomplish extraordinary things within the Southern Maryland community.

By highlighting the nominees and their contributions, SMWL has an opportunity to show appre- ciation for the nominees’ efforts, and to encourage others to do the same.

The categories for nom- inations are: Young Girls Who Make a Difference (ages 7-14); Young Woman Contributor (ages 15-25); Woman in Business Leadership; Woman Community Contributor; Woman of Service — Military, First Responders, Health Care; and Woman in Education. Each nominee will attend the event free of charge and will receive a commemorative award and certificate. The final winner from each of the six categories will receive an engraved cr ystal award and a donation will be made in their honor to a charity of their choice.

The SMWL 2015 Women of Impact event received 58 nominations for 45 girls, young ladies and women. All nominees were invited to the Awards Ceremony Dinner and Celebration, and were honored for their individual contributions. One nominee from each category was selected as the final award recipient.

SMWL was formed in 2006 by 10 women who wanted to have fellowship and fun but raise money for women in need in the Southern Maryland area. Each year, the SMWL holds an annual event to raise funds in support of their mission to serve women and children within the Southern Maryland community.

For more information on this year’s event or on SMWL in general, go to https://www.smwl.org or www/facebook.com/SoMDWomensLeague.

Health department to offer smoking cessation program

The Charles County Department of Health will offer an eight-week Quit Smoking Program starting in early January 2017. Quitting aids (medication or patch), weekly support and strategies to quit will be available. Pre-registration is required. To register and for more information call Mary Beth Klick at 301-609-6932.

March of Dimes to highlight National Prematurity Awareness Day

Schools, companies and organizations throughout Maryland will be wearing jeans on Fridays in November in an effort to bring awareness to premature births during National Prematurity Awareness month. The month of awareness is highlighted by National Prematurity Awareness Day on Nov. 17.

To take part in the Blue Jeans for Babies Campaign, employees/ members would make a donation to the March of Dimes in exchange for the opportunity to wear jeans at work on one Friday or all Fridays throughout November. Your local March of Dimes office will support the campaign by providing posters, pins and stickers for those participating.

Participation in the Blue Jeans for Babies Campaign, makes a statement that a school, organization or company cares about local families and the health of all babies. Funds raised through Blue Jeans for Babies support March of Dimes research and programs that help all moms have full-term pregnancies and healthy babies.

Schools, companies, and/or organizations interested in participating in the Blue Jeans for Babies Campaign may contact Sandra Sanna-Buckles, Suburban Maryland March of Dimes Community Director, at 571-2572324 or ssannabuckles@marchofdimes.org

Holi-Pop Gallery seeks artwork submissions

In an effort to increase the visibility of local artists in the tri-county area of Southern Maryland, three local artists have joined forces with Quality Printers and SMC3 to bring forth the second annual Holi-Pop Galler y.

Up to three art works may be submitted per person. Submissions will not be accepted after 11:59 p.m. Nov. 4. A public reception will be held on Nov. 25

Full submission guidelines and entry form can be found at http://qualprnt.com/holi-pop. Email holipop.gallery@gmail.com for more information.

Econ. development to hold annual fall meeting

The Charles County Department of Economic Development is hosting its annual Fall Meeting 8 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1, at the Greater Waldorf Jaycees Community Center, 3090 Crain Highway, Wal- dorf. The event entitled, “Shaping the Economic Future of Charles County” will focus on the recently completed, five-year economic development strategic plan and provide an inside look behind the curtain of economic development in the county. Explore the Department of Economic Development plan for growth and prosperity while members of the public and private sectors discuss their unique visions.

Meeting highlights will include: Panel discussion: The Future of Entrepreneurship in Charles County; Panel discussion: Infrastructure and Redevelopment; Marketing initiatives review; and Investment Update: CPV from Prospect, to Investment, to Jobs. The meeting will be tweeted live at twitter.com/MeetCharlesCo.

Hazardous waste collection scheduled for Nov. 5

The next Charles County Department of Public Works household hazardous waste collection will be 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, in the parking lot of the Department of Public Works building, located at 10430 Audie Lane, off of Radio Station Road in La Plata.

Items accepted free of charge include: pesticides, herbicides, fertilizer, gasoline, oil-based paint, cleaning supplies, pool chemicals, fluorescent lights, mercury thermometers, and other poisons found in the home. Mark any container that does not have a readable, original label.

Unacceptable materials include bio-medical waste (sharps, needles, anything with bodily fluids), latex paint, prescription drugs, and ammunition. Used motor oil, anti-freeze, propane tanks, and batteries are accepted on a regular basis at various collection sites. Latex paint is not considered hazardous waste and can be placed in your household trash as long as it is solidified. This can be accomplished by adding kitty litter, shredded paper, paint hardener, or sawdust to aid in drying it out.

For more information, call the Charles County Department of Public Works, Environmental Resources Division at 301-932-3599 or 301-8702778, or the landfill and recycling information line at 301-932-5656. Citizens with special needs may contact the Maryland Relay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 800735-2258.

Suicide Survivor event set for Nov. 19

The Southern Maryland Survivor Day event will be held in Brandywine at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 19 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 13500 Baden Westwood Road, in recognition of International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day.

International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day is the one day a year when people affected by suicide loss gather in their local communities to find comfort and gain understanding as they share stories of healing and hope. The day was created by an act of Congress in 1999 and since then has been sponsored and supported by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).

For many loss survivors, attending a Survivor Day event is an opportunity to discover that they are not alone in their experience of losing someone they know and love to suicide. For those who are unable to attend a Survivor Day event in person, AFSP hosts a Survivor Day program online at afsp.org/SurvivorDay.

To learn more about International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day, go to afsp.org/SurvivorDay, call 301-751-8781, or email survivordaysomd@gmail.com.