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Walkersville Middle School Principal Valda Valbrun is of Haitian descent. In fact, her retired father lives in the country for six months each year.

Unfortunately, he was in Haiti when a 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck three weeks ago, Valbrun said. When she couldn't contact him for days after the disaster, she decided she needed to use her position as principal to aid in the relief effort. Valbrun has since made contact with her father and he is now safe in his home state of Florida, she added.

"Here I have a school with 800-something students in it and a community that's always so supportive ... and I wanted to initiate something I knew we could be proud of," she said. So she contacted the Embassy of the Republic of Haiti in Washington, D.C. to see how the staff and students at the school could help and found that the embassy was collecting basic supplies to send to the country.

Valbrun said she got to work right away by purchasing six large plastic bins and placing them in the school lobby. Then she made signs and morning announcements about the collection.

She said the bins were full within a week, and members of the school community have started other projects to raise money for relief, as well. Some of the efforts coordinated by students and teachers were two bake sales and a competition to collect loose change.

Whichever staff person gets the most change in his or her jar by the end of the contest must complete an assigned challenge. If Valbrun's jar is the fullest, she will sing a song in front of the whole school; a male teacher has pledged to shave his beard and another would take a pie to the face.

Valbrun said she's been extremely moved by how eager the students are to participate in the fundraisers.

"They feel connected to [the disaster] because of me... and that makes me so proud and so honored," she said.

Walkersville Middle School will be collecting supplies to send to Haiti throughout the month of February. Some items that are needed include: powdered baby formula, baby wipes, baby bottles, diapers, baby clothes, hand sanitizer, vitamins, shampoo, soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes, First Aid kits, over-the-counter medicines, socks, blankets, mosquito repellent, flashlights, batteries, candles, flip-flops, T-shirts, pants, lightweight jackets, nonperishable food items that are not in cans (sealed packs of tuna or sardines), and any other flat, lightweight and easily packed items.

Donations will be delivered to the embassy for shipment to Haiti on a weekly basis.

Walkersville widow creates jewelry

to benefit breast cancer cure

Cathy Reid of Walkersville is a jewelry designer. She's also a widow, due to a type of cancer she says most people don't know about. Male breast cancer is what her husband, Joe Reid, died from in September 2008.

Now, profits she earns from selling jewelry go toward her foundation, Out of the Shadow of Pink, which seeks to raise awareness about male breast cancer and money for a cure.

Much of Reid's jewelry is pink, to go along with the breast cancer awareness theme, but each piece contains a single blue bead, which represents the smaller male population that is affected by the disease each year, she said.

In addition to her regular jewelry, Reid is currently selling Valentine's Day themed pieces, profits of which will also benefit her organization. All of Reid's jewelry is for sale on her Web site, outoftheshadowofpink.com.

Contest asks students to write

about strong marriages

In time for Valentine's Day, Marriage Savers of Frederick County is hosting an essay contest aimed at encouraging young adults think long and hard about committed relationships.

The organization, which seeks to raise awareness about marriages through faith-based and community initiatives, is administering the essay contest for all Frederick County middle and high school students.

"We're hoping to just do our part to get young people thinking about what it takes to help a marriage be successful," said Jonathan Switzer, a board member of Marriage Savers. "At the end of the day, it's not rocket science, but it's just getting kids to tie it together with love, respect, et cetera."

Those entering the contest are asked to write a 200- to 300-word essay that answers the question, "Whose marriage do you most admire and why?" The essay must focus on a Frederick marriage. The deadline is Feb. 12.

The winner of the contest will receive two tickets to Adventure Park USA. The couple whose marriage the writer admires will receive a free meal from the Red Horse Inn, and pair of 14-kt diamond earrings from the Wholesale Diamond Consultants.

The organization is also asking for entries for the longest marriage in Frederick. Winners of that contest will also receive a free meal from a local restaurant.

The essay contest is being promoted through Frederick County Public Schools by the principals of the junior high and high schools.

Those interested in entering should go to the Marriage Savers of Frederick County Web site at www.marriagesaversfrederick.org. On the site, go to "Contact Us" and enter your name, e-mail address and essay in the body of the e-mail.

The Marriage Savers will also be holding two other events to promote healthy relationships. On Feb.12, they plan to show the movie "Fireproof" at the Lynfield Event Complex,10142 Hansonville Road, in Frederick.

The organization is also planning a Marriage Enrichment Seminar, 1:30-4:30 p.m., Feb. 13, at the C. Burr Artz Library, at 110 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Sessions will be guided by marriage counselors.

Area schools earn performance awards

Twenty-six local schools earned praise in the 2009 Maryland School Performance Recognition Program this year, which is based on student achievement on the 2009 Maryland School Assessments and High School Assessments.

Frederick County public schools recognized for their achievements included Ballenger Creek, Carroll Manor, Centerville, Deer Crossing, Emmitsburg, Glade, Green Valley, Lewistown, Lincoln, Middletown, Myersville, New Market, New Midway/Woodsboro, North Frederick, Tuscarora, Urbana, Valley and Yellow Springs elementary schools; Middletown Primary; Middletown, Urbana and Windsor Knolls middle schools; Frederick, Gov. Thomas Johnson and Middletown high schools; and Monocacy Valley Montessori Public Charter School.

Teach Autistic Children Today

holds fundraiser

Teach Autistic Children Today (TACT) will hold its annual Longaberger Basket Bingo at noon, Feb. 13. The event will be held at the Jefferson Ruritan Club, located on Lander Road at Route 340, in Jefferson. Tickets are $20, but tickets purchased by Feb. 8 are $18.

Available for purchase at the event will be: additional sets of game cards for $5; 3 special games; two raffles; punch cards; two King Tuts, and food and drinks. Tickets can be reserved by calling 240-405-9161 or 240-818-4613 or by e-mailing tactevents@yahoo.com

All proceeds will benefit TACT, a nonprofit organization that helps local children with autism get the treatment services they need. The TACT organization was recently awarded a $10,400 grant by the Community Foundation of Frederick County, all of which will be awarded to families on a waiting list for services. For more information, go to www.tactmd.org.

Area artists featured in Annapolis

The artwork of 17 local artists is now donning the walls of the State House in Annapolis.

For the fourth year in a row, the Frederick Arts Council has hosted its "Frederick in Annapolis," exhibit, and in partnership with the Frederick County delegation, has chosen local artwork to be hung in the State House.

The Frederick County artists chosen to be featured this year are: John Connors, P. Ann Cummins, Susan Reinhardt, Rebecca Jackson, Tom Kozar, John Nickerson, Ron Roos, Karen Peacock, Robert Savannah, Russell A. Poole, John Stamos, Sara Stamos, Cindy Stegle, Christine Conko, Patrice O'Neill, Cindy Poole and Susan Ledford.

Some of the artists will join the Frederick Arts Council and other arts groups for Maryland Arts Day, on Tuesday. Visitors to the Maryland State House can see the local artwork through April 9. For a specific listing of locations, contact the Frederick Arts Council at 301-662-4190.

Send items for North County Notes to reporter Courtney Pomeroy at cpomeroy@

gazette.net. Call 301-846-2127.