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Lanham Christian School seventh-grader Jered Butler, 12, of Greenbelt won first place in the Association of Christian Schools International's first geography bee Jan. 22 in Laurel, Del.

Jered was one of nearly 25 Lanham Christian School students who participated in the bee, and he was one of the school's four students who advanced to the top 10 in the final round, said Melanie Boyze, the Lanham Christian School geography bee coordinator.

Boyze estimated that as many as 100 students from schools across Maryland and Delaware participated in the bee.

Students prepared for the bee by studying sample questions, maps and knowledge from the school's history and geography program, Boyze said.

Students in grades three through five only participated in the preliminary round; middle school students advanced to the final round.

Public invited to air views about county public transit

The Partnership for Renewal In Southern and Central Maryland will hold a transportation and jobs public meeting from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. March 15 at the Gethsemane United Methodist Church at 910 Addison Road S. in Capitol Heights.

U.S. Rep. Donna F. Edwards (D-Dist. 4) of Fort Washington will attend to discuss the necessity of jobs in Prince George's County, and PRISCM members will talk about the need for safe and accessible public transit. Call Laura Ehle at 301-906-8153 or e-mail Renee Brereton at renee.brereton1@

gmail.com for more information.

Video and art contest open

to children and teens

Envision Prince George's will hold an art and video contest for area youth to show why they enjoy living and playing in the county.

For the art contest, children between the ages of 5 and 12 are encouraged to make their own artwork that conveys the message, "This is my Prince George's." The contest is open to those between 13 and 25.

The artwork themes include favorite places to play, things to do and what makes the county a good place to live. The video must be between 2 and 4 minutes long and should show a resident's favorite things to do in the county and what they see in its future. Entries in both contests must be submitted by March 8. Download an application at http://envisionprincegeorges.org/

contests/.

Lanham students named

to college dean's lists

Myat Nyunt of Lanham, a sophomore majoring in interdisciplinary studies at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Va., was named to the school's dean's list for the fall 2009 semester.

To be named to the dean's list at Virginia Tech, students must earn at least a 3.4 grade point average and take at least 12 credit hours.

Babatunde Cadmus, a sophomore criminal justice major at the University of Delaware in Newark, Del., was named to the school's dean's list for the fall 2009 semester.

To be named to the dean's list, students must earn at least a 3.33 grade point average and take at least 12 credit hours.

Take floral design classes, reserve a garden plot

The Cheverly Garden Club will hold a floral design workshop and competition at 7 p.m. March 15 in the fourth floor parlor of the Cheverly United Methodist Church at 2801 Cheverly Ave.

For more information, call Michael Giese at 301-773-7318 or e-mail mg9588a@msn.com. Residents interested in getting a garden plot in the Cheverly Vegetable Gardens at Boyd Park in Ward 4 are asked to visit www.cheverlycommunitymarket.com for application information. Those with further questions can e-mail CHVgardens@verizon.net.

Sleep center in Lanham

holds open house

The Sleep Center at Doctors Community Hospital in Lanham is holding an open house for National Sleep Awareness Week from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Sleep Center in the Doctors Community Hospital North Building, sixth floor at 8100 Good Luck Road in Lanham.

At the open house, participants can receive free sleep disorder screenings, facility tours and sleep study demonstrations. Information about sleep, sleep hygiene and sleep disorders will be available.

For information, call 301-552-7993.

Pajama and book drive

to benefit county's children

The Sigma Psi Zeta Chapter of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. is sponsoring its first annual pajama and book donation drive from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Largo Kettering Library at 9601 Capital Lane in Largo.

New or gently used pajamas and books for children up to age 17 will be accepted.

The sorority has partnered with the Pajama Program, a New York-based nonprofit that provides pajamas and books to children in need in the U.S.

For information, contact Krystal Hamlet at 202-627-9190 or ladyhamlet426@yahoo.com, or visit www.pajamaprogram.org.

Checks can be sent to: 34 East 39th St., Suite B, New York, NY 10016. In the check memo line, donors should write "Pajama program MD/03062010." Proceeds will come back to help children in Prince George's County.

Nonprofit hosts

hula hoop fundraiser

All Shades of Pink Inc., a Bowie-based nonprofit that assists woman and their families diagnosed with breast cancer with resource referrals, non-medical advice and/or emergency financial assistance during their treatment period, is hosting its second annual Hoop the Loop fundraiser at 11 a.m. March 20 at Curves at 7401 Forbes Blvd., Suite B1 in Lanham.

The goal is to raise $5,000 to support the nonprofit's Comfort Blanket Program. Through the program, handmade crocheted blankets are given to breast cancer patients at Doctors Community Hospital in Lanham after surgery.

The registration fee is $12 for adults, $10 for children ages 12 to 18. To register, visit

www.allshadesofpink.org.

Largo school hosts

free tax preparation

Prince George's Community College's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, which provides free tax preparation to Prince George's County residents with basic income tax returns, including free electronic filing, is available from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays and from 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays through April 10 in the Center for Advanced Technology at 301 Largo Road in Largo.

Taxpayers who need assistance should bring Social Security cards for themselves and dependents, prior year tax returns, if available, a voided check for direct deposit of refunds and their W2, Social Security statement, 1099s and all other tax documents.

For information or to schedule an appointment, call 301-583-5254.

Amusement park seeking local bands to perform

Local music performance groups from the metropolitan area are encouraged to apply by March 15 to play at Six Flags America from March 27 through April 5.

One band will be selected to perform as part of the park's annual "Live and Local" series, which highlights local musical talent. Performers will not be paid but will receive free park tickets and meal vouchers.

Most musical styles are welcome, from salsa and reggae to classic rock and R&B.

To be considered, bands should send electronic press kits and links to Web sites to the Six Flags America Entertainment Department at twiesemann@sftp.com or mail them to P.O Box 4210, Largo, MD 20775, Attn: Six Flags America Entertainment.

For more information, e-mail the Entertainment Department at twiesemann@sftp.com.

Lanham hospital to hold blood drive

Doctors Community Hospital in Lanham, the Greenbelt Lion's Club and the American Red Cross are holding a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 18 in the DSE room on the fifth floor of the North Building at 8100 Good Luck Road in Lanham.

To participate in the blood drive, donors must be at least 17, weigh at least 110 pounds, be in good health and not have donated blood within the last 56 days.

Blood donors must present identification, such as a driver's license, blood donor card, or work or school photo ID.

Donating blood takes about 20 minutes.

To make an appointment, call 301-552-8060.

Area film festival accepting submissions

The fifth annual Heritage Film Festival is accepting independently produced videos and films to screen April 9 and 10 at in the Rennie Forum at Prince George's Community College at 301 Largo Road in Largo.

This year's theme, "Independent Films with an Independent Spirit," allows local, national and international artists to share personal visions while connecting with other filmmakers and with new audiences.

A separate Saturday afternoon program showcases student work.

Submission guidelines and entry forms are available online at www.heritagefilm-videofest.org or by sending an e-mail to heritagefilmvideo@yahoo.com. The cost is $10 to submit work.

Experimental, narrative and horror, romance and documentary, action and comedy, animation and music video and gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer submissions will be considered.

Send VHS or DVD copies and a signed and completed festival entry form postmarked March 12 to:

The Heritage Film Festival, P.O. Box 7823, Largo, MD 20792

Contact O.F. Makarah at 240-374-1405 or heritagefilmvideo@yahoo.com.