in brief

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Fire/EMS Supporters Take the Field in Bowie

There was a distinctive Prince George's Fire/EMS Department presence at the Bowie Baysox game Sunday evening.

A ticket to the baseball game was the reward for residents who participated in the fireworks amnesty program during the past month. Throughout the evening, members and volunteers with the department helped entertain the crowd.

Fire Chief Lawrence H. Sedgwick Jr. threw out the first pitch, and the Laurel Volunteer Fire Department No. 810 Honor Guard Team presented colors for the national anthem -- which was performed by Bridgette Wilson, an administrative assistant with the department.

The department's public affairs office and bomb squad provided fire safety and injury prevention materials and gave baseball fans a chance to see the squad's robot in action. In addition, the eighth-inning sumo wrestlers were a husband-and-wife team representing the Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association.

All fireworks are illegal in Prince George's, and under the amnesty program, residents could turn in unused fireworks without facing prosecution.

During the amnesty period, Sedgwick said, "there were no injuries or fires that involved the use of consumer fireworks."

The Bowie Baysox donated 200 tickets to the Fire/EMS Department for the program.

Hoyer Phone Town Hall Scheduled for Monday

Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) announced that he will conduct a telephone town hall meeting on Monday, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., that will focus on what Congress is doing to stimulate the economy, provide relief from rising gas prices and address the problems in the housing market.

The telephone town hall operates like a large-scale conference call that links Hoyer with residents of Maryland's 5th Congressional District, which includes portions of Prince George's County. At the outset of Monday's town hall, tens of thousands of households will receive a direct call from Hoyer inviting them to participate. Call recipients then have the option of staying on the line to hear opening remarks from Hoyer, followed by the opportunity to participate in a question-and-answer session.

To guarantee participation, residents can dial in at 877-229-8493 and enter the access number 12897. Hoyer's previous town hall meetings, last year in May and September, drew as many as 3,800 participants, his office said in a statement.

Free Friday Screenings For Blood Pressure

Doctors Community Hospital, at 8118 Good Luck Rd. in Lanham, hosts a free blood pressure screening every Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The screenings take place in the hospital's lobby, and no appointment is necessary.

According to the American Heart Association, nearly a third of U.S. adults have high blood pressure, but many are not aware of it because there are no symptoms. High blood pressure can lead to stroke, heart attack, heart failure or kidney failure.

Blood Drive Planned At Laurel Hospital

Laurel Regional Hospital and the Laurel Lions Club, in conjunction with the American Red Cross, will have a blood drive from 2 to 8 p.m. Aug. 5 in the J.R. Jones Conference Room at the hospital, 7300 Van Dusen Rd. in Laurel.

To schedule an appointment, call 301-497-7914, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome, but scheduled appointments will be given priority.

Volunteer Center Concert To Feature Luther Barnes

A Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductee and Stellar award-winning gospel artist will headline the Prince George's Volunteer Center's inaugural concert. The Rev. Luther Barnes and the Sunset Jubilaires will appear at 4 p.m. Aug. 9 at the Martin Luther King Jr. Arts Communication Center Auditorium on the campus of Bowie State University.

The Compassionate Singers of Clinton and the Fantastic Goldenaires of Richmond also will perform.

"We are excited and honored to be able to present to our community one of the pioneers of gospel music -- Rev. Luther Barnes -- along with his distinguished guests," Vania McNeary, president of the volunteer center, said in a statement.

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased by contacting McNeary at 301-503-0833 or Teresa Gardner-Williams at 301-699-2803 or by visiting http://www.princegeorgesvolunteer.org.

The Prince George's Volunteer Center is a private, nonprofit organization that provides volunteer recruitment and referral, volunteer recognition activities, and support for agencies and managers of volunteer programs. The center also supports Prince George's County government in its emergency preparedness efforts.

National Night Out Events Scheduled

The Old Fort Hills Homeowners' Association in Fort Washington will host its second annual National Night Out from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 5 at the Community Park on Old Fort Road East.

Renee Nash of WHUR-FM will serve as the mistress of ceremonies for the evening of fun, food, entertainment and information. The free event is open to the public and is part of the annual nationwide program aimed at improving police-community relations and deterring crime.