Reef project looks to benefit largemouth bass

Charles County Public Schools students can apply for the 2017 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program, which honors middle and high school student volunteers. The annual program recognizes students for exemplary acts of volunteer service in their communities. The awards are given to students for serving their communities through volunteer activities, such as helping the less fortunate, promoting health and safety, or protecting the environment.

Students in grades 5 through 12 are eligible to apply and must have participated in a volunteer activity that occurred in the past 12 months. Students can apply online at http://spirit.prudential.com or at www.nassp. org/spirit. Applications must be completed by Nov. 8 and submitted to the student’s principal. Two state-level honorees — one at the middle-school level and one at the high-school level — will be announced in February. Finalists at the state level receive bronze medallions and runner-ups receive Certificates of Excellence awards.

State-level honorees receive $1,000 awards and travel to Washington, D.C., in the spring for recognition events. Ten national honorees will be selected from the finalist group to receive an additional $5,000 award. Additionally, $5,000 grants will be awarded on behalf of national honorees by the Prudential Foundation to the nonprofit, charitable organization of their choice.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program was created by the National Association of Secondar y School Principals and Prudential Financial in 1995 to honor both middle and high school students for outstanding acts of community service. The program is the largest youth recognition program based solely on volunteer service. Go to www.nassp.org/spirit for additional program information.

Residents invited to participate in online survey

Charles County Government is partnering with National Research Center Inc. to conduct the National Citizen Survey (NCS). The survey centers on community livability and includes questions about the quality of life in the community, local policies, demographics, rating of local government services and residents’ use of ser vices.

Earlier this month, a random and scientific sample of 1,500 households received invitations by mail. Residents who have not yet participated are invited to take the survey online at www.n-r-c.com/survey/ charlescountysurvey.htm through Wednesday, Oct. 12.

The NCS is designed to provide a baseline of how Charles County Government is serving residents, to better gauge perceptions of the county, and to make comparisons with peer local government agencies.

Veterans outreach rescheduled at CSM Prince Frederick

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affair has rescheduled a visit by one of its counselors to the College of Southern Maryland’s Prince Frederick Campus. A VA center outreach coordinator will be on the campus at 115 J.W. Williams Road in Prince Frederick from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 11 in Flagship Building A, Room 107.

The visit previously had been scheduled for Sept. 29.

VA outreach coordinators help guide veterans and their families through many of the major adjustments in their lifestyle that often occur after a veteran returns from combat. Services for a veteran might include individual and group counseling in areas such as post-traumatic stress disorder, alcohol and drug assessment, and suicide prevention referrals. All counseling services are provided free of charge and are strictly confidential.

The VA estimates there are 422,282 veterans living in Maryland; nearly 42,000 of them reside in Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties.

For more information about veterans outreach, go to http://vetcenter. va.gov/.

Humane Society hosts Mutt Madness

The Humane Society of Charles County is hosting Mutt Madness which will be held rain or shine 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9, at the Charles County Fairgrounds. All proceeds from this event go directly to the Humane Society of Charles County which is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit located at 71 Industrial Park Drive, Waldorf. Mutt Madness is a pet, kid and family friendly event with games, costume contests, dog parades, lure chasing, agility course, tiny dog races, pie eating contests for both humans and dogs, demonstrations from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office, pet first aide, weight pull, and Kid Zone featuring face painting, pony rides, moon bounce and more.

DAR offering scholarships

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution offers multiple scholarships to high school students and to those already enrolled in college each year. For a listing of scholarships and an application, please contact Vicki Kelly at PortTobaccoDAR@ gmail.com.

Volunteers sought for Community Resource Day

The Charles County Homeless and Emergency Shelter Committee is planning its eighth Community Resource Day to help those in need throughout Charles County. The event is scheduled for Oct. 5 at the Greater Waldorf Jaycees Community Center in Waldorf. Services will be provided from10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Volunteers are needed to be “navigators” to assist the clients by guiding them through the many services that will be offered. Volunteers are asked to arrive at the Jaycees by 9:30 a.m. that morning for a brief training.

Many nonprofits and government organizations will

be participating that day to provide services such as free immunizations, dental screenings, medical exams; help with literacy training, job search; help with applying for identification materials or VA benefits to name only a few. Agencies will be on hand to provide clothing, food and personal care items.

To volunteer and for more information, call United Way of Charles County at 301-609-4844 or email dhadden@unitedwaycharles.org.