Seeing is bee-lieving in America at annual spelling event

NEWS OF NOTE

Friday, Feb. 27, 2009

For one thing, I'm a word guy, and that's what the whole thing's about. I like to play along, writing the words down as they come and seeing how many I get right. Apparently the bee kids put a lot of effort into it, since I, a professional newspaperman, usually only last a couple rounds. Or maybe I'm just conceited.

I like it when there are words I've never heard, like finding a new shell for a beachcomber, or seeing a new bird for a twitcher (look it up).

The other part I like is the kids themselves. My only role in the bee each year, and admittedly, it is an important one, is to show up with the prizes. This leaves me with a lot of time to observe the children competing, and I'm always entertained.

For one thing, middle school is a great three years in child development. It's when children begin to develop in a bunch of new ways, mental as well as physical. Their senses of humor begin to reach that adult fullness which is expressed at its most sublime in the works of Monty Python and the old Mad magazine. When my older perfect daughter was in eighth grade, her chorus teacher called her Queen Sarcastica, and played the Darth Vader theme from "Star Wars" whenever she came into the room. I am baffled as to where she picked up the smart-aleck habit, either genetically or through example. Must be her mother's side.

At the bee, there's always some kid who runs through all the questions they are allowed to ask the pronouncer, "What's the origin of the word? What language is it from?" etc., and then asks innocently, "Can you spell it?" Har, har. It never fails to bring down the house, but I'm just waiting for the day when the poor pronouncer, lulled by an angelic face into a momentary lapse of attention, just goes ahead and spells the word. What happens then? Disqualification? A stern talking-to? A harder word?

The other thing I like about middle school kids is the grand variation in their body types. There's always some 4-foot-nothing boy with a voice like a piccolo, invariably sitting next to some girl who's pushing 6 feet. The boy must stand on tiptoe to have a prayer of actually having his spelling attempts amplified by the microphone, while the girl crouches over like a giant in a Hobbit hole.

Both are mortified and probably permanently scarred emotionally by the experience, but I, cruel and cynical as I am, find it funny every year.

I like that the parents take it so seriously, getting indignant when their perfect angel gets a harder word than the next kid in the first round. I can relate. In an adult bee for literacy I once competed in, the team before us got "wrench" and my team got "aerospace." Fair? I think not!

The other cool thing about the bee, and, indeed, about any gathering of children in most of America these days, is the exuberant diversity on display. Every conceivable skin tone from lightest Norwegian to deepest West African; every language group, represented by Nguyen to McGee by way of Hamid; Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Jewish; all are represented. All are, in fact, shoulder to shoulder on flimsy folding chairs, giggling and poking each other in the ribs (the naughty ones), congratulating each other on a hard word spelled, commiserating at an easy one missed. It's what's good about kids and about America, when it comes right down to it, like (ah, yes, here it is, my latest tortured segue) the programs offered by the good folks in the item below.

Boys & Girls Club to host open house

The Boys & Girls Club of Southern Maryland will host an open house from 5:30 to 7:30 tonight at the Real Hope Learning Center at 7 E. Hawthorne Drive in La Plata.

Boys & Girls Clubs encourage character and leadership development, education and career development, health and life skills, arts and sports, fitness and recreation, according to a club press release.

Call 301-392-0008, e-mail srussell@bgcsm.com or go to www.bgcsm.net for more information.

Catholic boys invited to join group

The Columbian Squires Circle 4914, the official youth group of the Knights of Columbus Council 2293, is planning and organizing a membership drive at Our Lady Help of Christians Church in Waldorf after all Masses on March 29.

The Squires are taught leadership skills by counselors. They elect officers, select committee chairmen and run their own meetings. They meet bimonthly to plan for upcoming activities.

Squires are practicing Catholic boys 10 to 17. The Squires sponsor blood drives with the Red Cross. They have cooked and served the men at the local shelter; have assisted Knights with their Tootsie Roll fundraiser; and have had a variety of social and athletic events including a visit to Regency Furniture Stadium.

Call Tony Bean, chief counselor, at 240-7247339 or e-mail metalman68@comcast.net for more information.

Turkey group chapter takes top honors

The local chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation won a Best Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship Event award for its work in introducing youth to the outdoors through a JAKES outreach event.

The Southern Maryland chapter, headquartered in Newburg, received the award during the NWTF's annual national convention in Nashville, Tenn.

"Each chapter that holds a JAKES event deserves special recognition, but the Southern Maryland local chapter went above and beyond the challenge of hosting a JAKES Conservation Field Day," said Mandy Harling, JAKES program manager, in a press release. "This chapter creatively implemented new and fun activities to introduce youth in their community to the outdoors and the hunting tradition."

The program is dedicated to teaching the principles of wildlife management and passing along the traditions of safe, ethical and responsible hunting to kids up to 12.

Blue Crabs open auditions

Calling all ventriloquists, comedians, singers, bands, dancers or face painters.

At 2 p.m. Feb. 28, the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs will hold open auditions at Regency Furniture Stadium at 11765 St. Linus Drive in Waldorf.

The rules are simple — perform in front of the panel of judges and you could end up performing at the stadium this season. The Blue Crabs are looking for clowns, singers, dancers, mascots, actors and bands to perform on the field during the 2009 season.

Those wishing to perform the national anthem at one of the 70 home games are encouraged to try out at the talent show as well. Singers will audition with no musical accompaniment.

Those wishing to perform are asked to register by completing an open auditions form at www.somdbluecrabs.com. Call 301-638-9788 or 240-320-7194 for more information.

Park service announces ranger graduates

The Department of Natural Resources, Maryland Park Service recognized the newest graduating class of the Maryland Park Service Ranger School.

The ceremony marks the first class of new Maryland Park Ranger graduates since 1996.

Local graduates were Patrick Bright Jr. of Newburg, Wanda Sandy of Scotland and Meghan Sochowski of Lexington Park.

The four-week academy was held at Janes Island State Park in Crisfield, incorporating classroom instruction with practical park experience through the operation of the hypothetical Julie Schweikert State Park, named in memory of Ranger Julie Schweikert, the recently deceased manager of Janes Island State Park.

New teen program begins at park

Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum is offering teenagers the chance to have hands-on experience in maintaining its newly built replica of an eastern woodland Indian village.

Students 13 to 17 will learn how native people lived along the Patuxent River. They will also grow plants in the village garden, participate in research experiments on native culture and learn how to demonstrate crafts and skills that people used 1,000 years ago. Volunteers will help introduce the public to archery, music, and other crafts and skills at the American Indian Lifeways Festival held in October at the Indian village.

Call 410-586-8595 or e-mail tthoman@mdp.state.md.us . There are a limited number of spaces in the volunteer group.

JPPM is in St. Leonard, approximately seven miles north of Solomons Island at 10515 Mackall Road.

Go to www.jefpat.org for more information.

Farmers' seminar set

Maryland Cooperative extension will host a Southern Maryland small farmers seminar, "Farming Challenges and Opportunities in the 21st Century" from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. March 21 at the Maryland Cooperative Extension office at 6707 Groveton Drive in Clinton.

Topics will include family finances, value added opportunities partnerships and grants, natural resources conservation programs, young and beginning farmers grants and loans and more.

Cost to attend is $5. Make checks payable to PGCEAC and mail to Prince George's Cooperative Extension, 6707 Groveton Drive, Clinton, MD 20735. Registration must be received no later than March 16. Call 301-868-9410.

Agriculture workshop scheduled

Make plans to attend the field crops and pasture workshop, 6 to 9 p.m March 16, at the Davidsonville Family Recreation Center at 3789 Queen Anne Bridge Road in Davidsonville.

The workshop will explore advanced concepts of pasture and field crop production in the Southern Maryland region from establishment to harvest, including livestock use, according to a press release.

Topics will include crop selection, integrated crop management, soil fertility, weed control, insect control and disease control for soybeans, corn, wheat, barley and hay crops.

Private Pesticide Applicator Recertification and Nutrient Applicator Voucher Recertification will be awarded for full class participation.

Call Anne Arundel County Extension Office at 410 222-6759 or 301- 970-8250, Ext. 6759.