Churches aim to send students back to school with inspiration

THIS ‘N' THAT

Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2009

A back-to-school gospelfest featuring choirs from several St. Mary's County churches will be held Aug. 7 at 7 p.m. at Park Hall True Holiness Church in Park Hall, presented by the Ministers Alliance of St. Mary's County and Vicinity.

Choirs from Gospel Tabernacle of Prayer in Clements, To Tell the Truth Ministries in Great Mills, God's House of Refuge in Lexington Park, First Missionary Baptist Church of Lexington Park and Park Hall True Holiness Church in Park Hall will participate in the event. It will be an evening of gospel music and liturgical dancing.

But the event is designed to be more than inspirational. "The purpose of it is to give backpacks and school supplies to students in need," said the Rev. R.W. McClanahan, pastor of First Missionary and president of Ministers Alliance of St. Mary's County and Vicinity.

There is no charge to attend the gospelfest, and McClanahan said organizers are hoping to see "children from all over the community" attend.

Organizers have prepared school supplies for approximately 25 children. "If we have students beyond that, we will do whatever we can to meet that," McClanahan said.

For more information call the ministers alliance at 240-237-5489.

Space available at farm life festival

Space for antique vendors and crafters is available at the 12th annual Southern Maryland Farm-Life Festival, which will be held Oct. 10 and 11 at the Parlett farm in Charlotte Hall.

This family event features more than 60,000 square feet of indoor historical exhibits and demonstrations. Included will be a power tractor parade both days at noon, children's events and crafts, petting zoo, Southern Maryland Mini Pullers, Southern Maryland Antique Power Association Tractor Pull, National Lawn Mower Association and an auction on Saturday. Local bands will provide live entertainment both days.

Proceeds from the festival will benefit Christmas in April-St. Mary's County.

Spaces to sell crafts and antiques are available for $25 per day and $40 for both days. Contact Julia Bohle at 301-884-5678 or e-mail jbohle@md.metrocast.net.

For more information about the festival, contact Darene Kleinsorgen at 301-290-1621 or e-mail barnaby@md.metrocast.net.

Dinner to benefit monument, honor community members

The United States Colored Troops memorial monument committee will host a country buffet dinner and memorial ceremony on Sunday, Aug. 23, at 3 p.m. at the Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department social hall in honor of United States Colored Troops, all Union soldiers, sailors and USCT Sons of St. Mary's County Congressional Medal of Honor recipients who served during the Civil War. Cost is $50 per person. There will be special recognition of community honorees.

All proceeds will benefit the erection of a United States Colored Troops Memorial Monument, to be located in Lancaster Park in Lexington Park.

For more information, call Idolia Shubrooks at 301-863-2150, Janice Walthour at 301-862-2296 or Elfreda Mathis at 301-994-0766 or e-mail ucacstaff@verizon.net.

VFW announces essay contest

Area students are invited to participate in the Veterans of Foreign Wars Essay Contest. Entries are due Nov. 1.

Students in grades sixth through eighth will write 300- to 400-word essays about "When Is the Right Time to Honor Our Military Heroes?" for the Patriot's Pen Contest. Students submit a required entry form, along with the essay.

Students in ninth through 12th grades can participate in the Voice of Democracy Contest, an audio essay competition. Participating students can write and record a three- to five-minute audio essay expressing their view of the theme "Does America Still Have Heroes?" Contestants will be judged on the originality, content and delivery of their speech and how well it relates to the theme. Students submit entry form, written essay and audio.

Contestants can win prizes and scholarships at various levels. Students can submit entries to the VFW Post closest to them, including Waldorf Post 8810 or California Post 2632. For more information call Mike or Linda Reamy at 301-372-8755 or visit www.vfw.org.

Trip planned to craft festival in Thurmont

A one-day bus trip to the Thurmont Craft Festival is being sponsored by NARFE, St. Mary's Chapter, on Saturday, Oct. 10.

Cost is $73, which includes round-trip bus transportation provided by New World Tours; buffet dinner at Cozy's Restaurant, driver gratuity and a morning snack.

Departures will be at 7:30 a.m. from the Charlotte Hall Food Lion and at 8 a.m. from the Wildewood shopping center. Departure from Thurmont will be 6 p.m.

If interested, contact Pat Myers at 301-884-8714. People do not have to be NARFE members to participate.

Stammerjohn honored by U.S. Power Squadrons

Past Squadron Education Officer Robert G. Stammerjohn, a senior navigator in the Patuxent River Sail and Power Squadron boating safety club, received the National Teacher of the Year award by the United States Power Squadrons in ceremonies at the USPS annual meeting in Anaheim, Calif., earlier this year, according to a club press release.

Stammerjohn has been a member of the Patuxent River Sail and Power Squadron, also known as Southern Maryland Boating Club, since 1993. He achieved senior status in 2000 and has supported the education program for all of his years with the squadron, according to the release. He was the squadron education officer for four years and a certified instructor for more than 10 years. Since joining the Squadron, Stammerjohn has taught most of the courses offered by USPS. 

Golf tournament to help hospital

The St. Mary's Hospital Auxiliary is hosting its annual golf tournament on Sept. 15 at Breton Bay Golf and Country Club in Leonardtown. The event will raise money for new equipment in the emergency department at St. Mary's Hospital.

Golfers can participate for $75 each, which will include a round of golf, snacks and beverages throughout the day as well as a meal donated from Bear Creek open pit Barbecue. Cash prizes will be awarded for first-, second- and third-place teams, along with competitions for men's and women's longest drive and closest-to-the-pin.

Last year's golf tournament raised $15,422 to go toward a mobile EKG machine for the hospital's emergency department. This year's goal is to purchase a bariatric stretcher or a fluoro trauma stretcher for the department.

For details about the tournament, sponsorship opportunities or to register a foursome or business for a day of golf, e-mail Kay Owens at crosstitcher9@gmail.com.

scraton@somdnews.com