Second concert to End Hunger in Calvert set for Oct. 10

EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK

Friday, Oct. 2, 2009

The Second Annual Concert to End Hunger in Calvert County will be held Oct. 10 at the Calvert County Fairgrounds, with gates opening at 4 p.m. The concert aims to bring together residents, churches, businesses, food pantries and charities to show their commitment to the county's neediest residents.

Gospel singer and Stellar Award winner Isaiah D. Thomas headlines the concert. Also performing are Christian recording artist Stephanie Cuomo and Calvert County's Liz Chambers, Scattered Leaves and Andre Jones, according to a press release.

Tickets are $10 per person, children 10 and younger are admitted free. Parking is free and food will be available at discounted prices.

Buy tickets at endhungercalvert.org.

Bring a canned good as all net proceeds go directly to helping keep county food pantries stocked.

"We've designed this event to be completely family friendly," said the Rev. Robert P. Hahn, chairman of End Hunger in Calvert County, in the release. "Because so many businesses have stepped up to help underwrite the event, ticket prices are low, kids are free and food prices are really low. Plus, we'll collect a lot of food for our county food pantries. In times like these, we need to help each other. That's all it takes."

This year the concert's sponsors have more than doubled. As of press time, sponsoring businesses include: Bayside Primary Care, Brooke Steuart Interiors, Builtrite Homes, Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa, Collinson, Oliff & Associates, Constellation Energy, Curtis Design Homes, Gradient Construction, Kaine Homes, Kelly Generator and Equipment, Matt Boudreau-Nationwide Insurance, Scheibel Construction, Senator and Mrs. Mike V. Miller, Sisk Auto Body, Sita Tile Distributors, The Show Place Arena, Twin Shields Golf Course and Wal-Mart.

End Hunger In Calvert County is a partnership of Calvert County churches, charities, schools, businesses and government officials united behind the goal of ending hunger in Calvert County.

A centerpiece of the project is a countywide food drive that is being held during the month of October. Food collection bins will be placed in all Calvert County public schools during October, as well as other locations.

For more information, go to the project's Web site at www.endhungercalvert.org.

Mental Illness Awareness Week begins Sunday

Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW) is Oct. 4 through 10.

Established by Congress in 1990, its purpose is to promote public awareness and education about serious mental illnesses such as major depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Other illnesses include posttraumatic stress disorder — one of several serious anxiety disorders; obsessive-compulsive disorder and borderline personality disorder.

One in four adults — about 60 million Americans — experience mental health problems in any given year. One in 17 lives with the most serious conditions.

"Mental illnesses are medical illnesses," said Connie Walker of NAMI Southern Maryland, a regional affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, in a press release. "That is the starting point for understanding, as well as treatment and recovery. Mental illness does not discriminate. No one is immune."

The U.S. Surgeon General has noted that stigma is a major barrier to people seeking help when they need it. "That's why education is so important," Walker said. "Even if friends simply rent a DVD of the movie ‘The Soloist,' watch it together and then take time to discuss what they know — or don't know — about mental illness, that's the kind of dialogue that can help."

On average, people with serious mental illness live 25 years less than the rest of the population. One reason is that less than a third of adults and less than half of children and adolescents with a diagnosed illness receive treatment. Half of all lifetime cases begin by age 14. Long delays occur — as much as a decade — between the onset of symptoms and getting help.

"Treatment works if you can get it," Walker said. "Overcoming the unwarranted stigma that has surrounded these illnesses, so that people are ok with reaching out for help, is a challenge that requires action. Awareness and education are the first steps. That's what MIAW is about — taking steps forward to strengthen our community."

Event to support breast cancer foundation

The Lemondrop What-Not-Shop will host its second annual "Hope in the Garden" Prom beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, at The Greenhouse at Serenity Farm, located on Route 231 in Benedict. The event will benefit the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer in addition to three local organizations.

Cost is $60 per person and will include a chance to win a Vera Bradley "Hope Garden" Travel Set, the total of which is worth more than $500. Those who cannot attend the event can still purchase a ticket and have a chance to win the raffle — they need not be present to win.

Silent auction items will be raffled off as well as several Lemondrop prizes that can be won for $5 a ticket.

Local organizations that will benefit from the event include the Burnett-Calvert Hospice House, the Charles County Hospice House and the Angel's Watch Women's Shelter in Hughesville.

Cocktails will begin at 6 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m. Live music will be performed by John Luskey until 11 p.m.

Tickets are available at the shop, located at 541 Solomons Island Road North in Prince Frederick.

For more information or to get tickets, call 410-535-3376.

SMCN to host board meeting Oct. 21

Southern Maryland Community Network Inc. will be hosting its Annual Open Board Meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 9 a.m. SMCN is a community based, private, nonprofit mental health center which provides innovative psychiatric services to adults and children with mental health needs. SMCN's goal is to provide rehabilitative services to consumers so they can live independently within the community. This meeting is open to the public and participation is encouraged. There will be a light breakfast fare served to all guests in attendance. The meeting will consist of a discussion regarding SMCN as an agency and how it is doing; a brief review of its latest Annual Report; an awards ceremony; reflections on the past year with a look ahead to the future; and a question/answer period. The meeting will be held at SMCN's main building. SMCN is located at 305 Prince Frederick Blvd. in Prince Frederick. For more information or to register, call Corey Hilliard at 410-535-4787, Ext. 100, or e-mail chilliard@smnci.org.

Literacy Council to host tutor training

The Calvert County Literacy Council will conduct tutor training on the following Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Oct. 7, 14, 21 and 28. All training sessions, except for Oct. 14, will be held in Suite 211 in the Kaine Building at 65 Duke Street in Prince Frederick. On Oct. 14, tutor training will be held in Room 3 of the Calvert Library in Prince Frederick. New volunteer tutors are always welcomed. For more information, call the Calvert County Literacy Council at 410-535-3233. The Calvert County Literacy Council, incorporated in June 1983, is a nonprofit, volunteer-based organization that provides Calvert County adults, ages 18 and older, with one-on-one tutoring. The mission is:

- To teach adults to read, write, and speak English proficiently, to compute and solve problems and to use technology to function on the job, in society and in the family;

- To empower adults to become life-long learners, to set and achieve goals and to develop their knowledge and potential; and

- To advocate for the benefits of a literate society and break the cycle of illiteracy.

Photo contest open to teens

Teens are invited to show off their creativity and artistic talent by participating in Calvert Library's Teen Photo Contest. Drop off work at Calvert Library Prince Frederick between Oct. 5 and Oct. 10, and come back on Oct. 24 for an awards ceremony for participants. Participants can submit work for three different categories: Portrait, Landscape and Fine Art. Each participant may enter up to three pieces per category. The artwork may be no larger than 8x10, and must be matted no larger than 11x14. Include name, age, contact information and category on each piece. Don't forget to come on back to the library on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 2 to 4 p.m., to view all participants artwork and congratulate the winners. The Friends of Calvert Library will be giving away gift cards in different denominations as prizes for the first, second and third place winners in each category. Digital and traditional darkroom photographs will be accepted as long as they are matted as specified.

For more information, call Rachel Hummel at 410-535-0291.