Volunteers needed 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 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. Oct. 5 at the Greater Waldorf Jaycees Community Center in Waldorf.

Volunteers are needed to be “navigators” to assist the clients by guiding them through the many services that are being 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 searches; 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.

Capital Clubhouse Bridal Show cancelled

The Capital Clubhouse Bridal Show, featuring Serendipity bridal fashion, scheduled for noon-3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25 is cancelled. Email events@ capitalclubhouse for more information.

Maryland Legal Aid develops free criminal record expungement app

Maryland Legal Aid has developed a new app for expunging criminal records. ExpungeItMD. org is a free, user-friendly app that enables legal professionals to easily search Maryland criminal records and generate documents to file expungement petitions with the Maryland courts on behalf of low-income citizens.

Changes in Mar yland law in October 2015 resulted in a dramatic increase in the types of criminal cases that could be expunged. Consequently, the demand for assistance in expunging criminal records has soared. To address this need, Maryland Legal Aid joined with other legal services organizations to develop legal clinics with community partners throughout the state. As part of its Lawyer in the Librar y program, Mar yland Legal Aid hosts monthly expungement clinics at the Enoch Pratt Free Library Pennsylvania Avenue branch. At a recent Maryland Legal Aid expungement clinic, more than 600 people came for record expungement help.

To meet the increasing demand for help with expungements, Maryland Legal Aid used internal resources and talents to design, develop and test the app.

ExpungeItMD.org includes:

• Editable fields to update client information (e.g., current phone number and address);

• Easy PDF generation of all documents needed to file expungements; and

• An expert system that “learns” what cases are expungable based on previous cases filed for expungement.

As part of the final stage of development for ExpungeItMD.org, Maryland Legal Aid will host an open house 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Sept. 15 at its Baltimore City office, 500 E. Lexington St., for legal services partners and organizations as well as the media to give demonstrations and answer questions about the app.

Local organizations provide wounded warriors free fishing event

Four Southern Maryland organizations have joined forces to provide active duty and retired wounded warriors a free fishing outing on Wednesday, Oct. 19. The event is sponsored by Project Healing Waters (PHW) with support from the Greenwell Foundation, the Southern Maryland Chapter of the Maryland Saltwater Sportfishing Association (MSSA), and Parran’s Flooring Center of Leonardtown.

The event will take place at Greenwell State Park where wounded warriors, with the assistance of PHW representatives, will board boats provided by members of the MSSA and Parrran’s Flooring Center.

Wounded warriors can register by simply sending an email to flypax@ md.metrocast.net with the subject line as “Light Tackle Boat Fishing”, and the wounded warrior’s name, telephone number, and any accessibility/accommodations needed.

New Economic Development Advisory Board announced

Charles County announced this week the formation of a new Economic Development Advisory Board (EDAB), an entity created by the County Commissioners and one of the Economic Development Strategic Plan’s key recommendations. Applications are now available for eligible Charles County candidates to serve on the board. Final selection of board members will be announced in October 2016.

“The new Economic Development Advisor y Board will serve as a communications platform for our business community and the public sector to inform the county’s economic development policy and programs,” Commissioners’ President Peter Murphy (D) said in a press release.

The board will advise the director of economic development by sharing ideas, solutions and creative approaches to business and economic development issues.

Selection criteria to become a board member include having corporate level experience in business, especially companies in the county’s target industries. Terms are for three years, with some initial terms of one or two years to create staggered terms. Members will serve as Charles County economic development ambassadors and expected to participate in the Department of Economic Development’s events.

To apply for the EDAB, go to www.CharlesCountyMD.gov, click on “Board and Commissions” and then click “Application for Appointment.” All applicants will be asked to read and be ready to actively support the implementation of the new Charles County Economic Development Strategic Plan, “A Proactive Approach to Shaping the Economic Future of Charles County, Maryland.” For more information about the county’s economic development efforts, go to www. MeetCharlesCounty.com.

Maryland courts seek students’ help to promote peace

The Maryland Judiciary is inviting young artists to help promote peacemaking in the 11th annual Conflict Resolution Day Student Bookmark Art Contest. The contest for Maryland students in grades K-8 celebrates national Conflict Resolution Day, which is Thursday, Oct. 20.

The contest began in 2005 and is sponsored by the Maryland Judiciary’s Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office (MACRO). Last year, more than 1,900 students from across Maryland participated in the contest, with 15 bookmarks chosen as winners and 61 honorable mentions.

Students are asked to create bookmarks based on the theme of resolving or preventing conflict. Topics can include peer mediation, talking things out, apologizing, respecting differences, solving problems together, listening, tolerance, building peace or alternatives to violence.

Submissions will be judged on creativity and message. Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place in three age groups: grades K-2, 3-5, and 6-8. For each age group, the prize awards will be $75 for first place, $50 for second place and $25 for third place. In addition to the prizes, six of the nine winning entries will be printed as bookmarks that will be distributed throughout Maryland to promote conflict resolution.

Students whose entries are awarded prizes will be invited with their families to a ceremony and reception in their honor at the Judiciary Education and Conference Center in Annapolis on Tuesday, Dec. 13. Chief Judge Barbera will meet with the students and families and present the awards. The best 1,000 entries will be displayed in the conference center

in December, and some submissions may appear in other judiciary documents.

Submissions are due by Thursday, Oct. 20, which is Conflict Resolution Day. MACRO’s website includes a template that may be used for original artwork submissions. Any other paper format may also be used. The finished image size must be no larger than 3 inches high by 9 inches wide. Student artwork should be labeled, either on the back of the entry or on the label provided in the template, with the following information:

• Student’s name, age, and grade;

• School or program name, if applicable;

• Teacher’s or parent’s name and email address;

• Address where artwork can be returned after the contest.

Participants are asked not to fold entries, and mail or deliver entries no later than Oct. 20, to Alecia Parker, MACRO, 2001 Commerce Park Drive, Suite C, Annapolis, MD 21401.

For more information about the Conflict Resolution Day Student Bookmark Art Contest, contact Alecia Parker, 410-260-3540, or alecia. parker@mdcourts.gov.