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Greenbelt author Amy S. Hansen released her latest children's book "Bugs and Bugsicles" in February.

"The idea for the book came from my own questions as a kid," Hansen said. "I remember wondering about these bugs when I was little. Why didn't they freeze? If they did freeze, why were they back?"

After forgetting about the questions and starting her own family, Hansen was asked the same questions by her children, but couldn't find any answers. Her research took her to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Library, where she tracked down the information, bug by bug.

"Bugs and Bugsicles" is available for purchase at the Greenbelt Co-operative Grocery Store and online stores like Amazon.com. Hansen has also authored numerous other children's books, such as "Time for Learning: How Things Work," "Wild Animals: My First Time Learning" and "Science Experiments: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know About Science Experiments!"

Hansen will also be speaking at the Patuxent Wildlife Visitor's Center Birthday Bash at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. For more information, visit Hansen's Web site at http://www.amyshansen.com.

Port Towns youth use calendar sales to aid community

The Port Towns Youth Council raised money this winter to donate to a garden and local business.

The youth developed the idea to raise funds by selling a 2010 calendar, filled with pictures of previous projects, and they sold it at various events, schools and businesses throughout Prince George's County.

The youth donated $1,000 to the Cottage City Community Garden and another $1,000 to help rebuild the Colmar Manor IHOP, which burned down Dec. 30.

Rufus Lusk, who owns the shopping center where the IHOP is located, said he will use the $1,000 to help former IHOP employees who lost their jobs as a result of the fire.

The Rev. Gail Addison, who runs the PTYC, said the youth are getting ready to donate even more money they raised with the calendar sales to a nonprofit that works with the homeless population.

"These young people are just phenomenal, and they really believe in investing in their own community," she said.

King Middle salutes Renaissance Roll recipients

Twelve students at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School in Beltsville were named to the school's weekly Renaissance Roll on Feb. 19.

The Renaissance Roll program honors students who exhibit good citizenship and academic achievement. Each nominee is given a "Renaissance Living the Dream" card, which is then placed in a weekly drawing.

Prizes this week were pens, pencils, hats and pouches.

The winners were Britney Katta, Reginald Parks, Robie Rowe, John Sterling, David Livingstone, Francine Paul, Maria Velasquez, Hy Vu, Amanda Bradley, Jazzmin Jenkins, Devonte Johnson and Janae Seegers.

Greenbelt resident

completes basic training

Army Pvt. Clement Adu-Anakwah has graduated from Basic Combat Training at Fort Sill, Lawton, Okla.

He is the son of Nana Danso of Greenbelt and received his associate degree from the University of Maryland, College Park, in 2008.

Over a period of nine weeks, Adu-Anakwah studied the Army mission and received instruction and training exercises in drill and ceremonies, Army history, core values and traditions, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid, rifle marksmanship, weapons use, map reading and land navigation, foot marches, armed and unarmed combat and field maneuvers and tactics.

Beltsville native earns a spot on Syracuse dean's list

Christiona Hawkins of Beltsville has been named to the fall 2009 semester dean's list at Syracuse University in Syracuse, N.Y.

Hawkins, a student in the university's College of Arts and Sciences, was named to the list after earning a grade-point average of 3.4 or greater during the semester.

She is a 2009 graduate of Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt.