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May is officially the Month of Peace in Mount Rainier, and the city kicked it off with the dedication of a peace garden at 30th Street and Arundel Road on May 3. Herbs and vegetables are now growing at the site.

There are still events left during the peace month. At 8 p.m. tonight and May 28, there will be a prayer circle of peace at 4503 31st St. Call Pay Robbins at 301-927-3838.

From 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, there will be a giveaway of unwanted and reusable items and a potluck dinner at Joe's Movement Emporium. Then at 6 p.m., a Square Dance for Green fundraiser for the performing arts center, costing $15. The venue is located at 3309 Bunker Hill Road.

MJ Park will lead a Wellness Wheel and Peace Train event from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday. Call 240-838-4549. Julie Barnet is hosting a family potluck from 5:30 to 8 p.m. May 21. Call 301-277-8466. Also on May 21 is a walk and pick up at the nature center, from 7 to 8 p.m. at 31st Street and Arundel Road.

There are many other events this month in honor of peace month. Go to www.lffp.org or call 240-838-4549. The suggested minimum donation for presentations is $5.

Muffins for Moms at Lewisdale

Lewisdale Elementary School hosted its annual Muffins for Moms program on May 7. Over 120 mothers attended and were honored during the event. Fourth-grade teacher Mary Harris, who is also the mother of three children, spoke to parents about the important roles mothers have in children's lives.

Parkdale alumnus graduates basic training

Parkdale High School alumnus Heimy M. Benitez-Lopez graduated from basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

Benitez-Lopez spent eight weeks in a program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness and basic warfare principles and skills.

Benitez-Lopez, who graduated from Parkdale High School in 2007, is the daughter of Maria Benitez-Wilkerson and stepdaughter of John Wilkerson, both of New Carrollton.

Rain barrel workshop in Riverdale Park

The Anacostia Watershed Society is hosting a rain barrel workshop at the Riverdale Park Town Hall at 10 a.m. Saturday. The town hall is located at 5008 Queensbury Road.

The workshop, sponsored with a grant from the Prince George's Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, will teach homeowners how to capture rainwater from roofs for lawn or garden use. Doing so could reduce water bills and cut storm water flow to the Anacostia River. There will also be rain barrels for purchase at the event. Contact Steve McKindley-Ward at 301-699-6204 or steve@anacostiaws.org.

Volunteer expo in Hyattsville

The Mall at Prince Georges is hosting a volunteer expo from noon to 4 p.m. May 23 in center court.

More than a dozen volunteer groups, non-profit organizations and training program representatives will be on hand to connect volunteers with volunteer opportunities. The mall is at 3500 East West Highway. Go to www.princegeorgesvolunteer.org.

Joe's Movement Emporium receives boost

Joe's Movement Emporium, a Mount Rainier performing arts center, received a $30,000 grant from The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation.

The funding will support year-round programs in arts education, artistic productions and services to artists based in the Gateway Arts District. The arts district is a 2.1 mile stretch of Route 1 that extends from Mount Rainier through Hyattsville.

Hyattsville native finishes Navy basic training

Norman W. Davis completed U.S. Navy basic training at the Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Ill. Davis is the son of Hyattsville resident Audrey L. Dixon.

Davis spent eight weeks training in classroom study and practical instruction on naval customs, first aid, firefighting, water safety and survival and shipboard and aircraft safety.

Health and community fair

A spring health and community fair in Templeton Knolls from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday will include information on mental health, domestic abuse, HIV and AIDS, alcohol, safety, fitness, legal aid and housing.

The event at Templeton Elementary School, located at 6001 Carters Lane in Riverdale, will also have door prizes, a bake and food sale and a yard sale. Experts from the Prince George's County Health Department, New Image Fitness and the Prince George's County Sheriff's Department will be on hand. To reserve a table to offer information or participate in the yard sale, call 301-927-3603.

The event is sponsored by the Templeton Knolls Civic Association, Templeton Knolls Teen Council and Councilman Eric Olson (D-Dist. 3) of College Park.

Downtown Hyattsville Arts Festival and studio tour

The second annual Downtown Hyattsville Arts Festival and the fifth annual Gateway Arts District Open Studio Tour will both take place from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday

The Hyattsville festival will be along Route 1 and Longfellow Street, and art studios will be open along a 2.1 mile stretch of Route 1 from Hyattsville to Mount Rainier. More than 100 artists will showcase work.

Last year, the Hyattsville event drew more than 1,110 attendees and this year will have 40 local visual and performing artistsb craft and jewelry vendors along downtown streets. Busboys and Poets and Franklin's Restaurant and Brewery will be serving food and Ben and Jerry's will be serving ice cream.

The event will also feature musicians, dancers and street performers. ArtDC.org will provide art activities in the Lustine Center at 5710 Baltimore Ave.

Attendees can tour the studios and attend Mount Rainier Day with the free Gateway Shuttle Bus, departing from the West Hyattsville Metro Station.

For Hyattsville event information, call 301-209-0116. For exhibitor and sponsor information, call 301-634-8667 or e-mail jenniferh@eya.com. For information on the studio tour, visit www.gateway-cdc.org or call 301-864-3860.

The event is sponsored by EYA, Arts District Hyattsville and the Hyattsville Community Development Corp.

Monthly food distribution and community dinner

St. Michael & All Angels Church in Adelphi is holding its monthly food distribution and community dinner from 5 to 6 p.m. Saturday.

The church distributes fresh produce, canned goods and other food items to attendees every third Saturday of the month. The church is located at 8501 New Hampshire Ave. Call 301-434-4646.

Flowers student named Gates Millennium Scholar

Charles H. Flowers High School senior Ariel Smallwood, 17, of Upper Marlboro was named a Gates Millenium Scholar and will receive scholarship money to attend college. The Bill and Melinda Gates Millennium Scholars Program is geared toward assisting high achieving minority students afford college. Smallwood, who is in the Springdale school's Science and Technology Program, plans to attend Duke University in Durham, N.C.

Police, local football league offer chance for volunteer hours

County youth interested in community service learning may participate in a service project through Project Responsible Service Initiative from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday after meeting at Landover's Police Service Complex at 7600 Barlowe Road. Project Responsible Service Initiative is a partnership between the Prince George's County Police Athletic League and the Metropolitan Washington American Youth Football League. Youth must register at the Police Service Complex between 8 and 8:30 a.m. Saturday. Youth will be transported to their service project locations at 10 a.m. and will return to Landover by 3 p.m. Call the Prince George's County Police Department's Community Services Division at 301-772-4402 or Greg Holmes, Metropolitan Washington American Youth Football League commissioner, at 301-675-3733.

Protect yourself, neighbors and furry friends

The Prince George's County Health Department will hold its remaining rabies vaccination clinics from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and May 30. The Saturday clinic will be held at Temple Hills' Crossland High School at 6901 Temple Hills Road. The May 30 clinic will be held at Bowie High School at 15200 Annapolis Road. The cost is $5. Call 301-883-3782 or visit www.

princegeorgescountymd.gov/

Government/AgencyIndex/Health/

index.asp for more information.

Health fair is around the corner at Springdale school

Springdale's Charles H. Flowers High School will hold its "Spring into Health" health fair from 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesday inside and outside the school at 10001 Ardwick Ardmore Road. A raffle will be held. E-mail Flowers' school nurse Tanya Hankton at tanya.hankton@pgcps.org.

Event geared toward business, women's health

Three county business groups will join together Tuesday for the fourth annual "It's All About ME! Women's Business and Wellness Conference" at 3400 Pennsy Drive in Landover. The county's Office of Central Services Minority Business Development Division, Prince George's County Women Business Owners and the county's Small Business Initiative will hold the event. Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson's wife, Leslie Johnson, will host the event whose special guests include Terri Holley, Angela Marshall and Christine M. Bussey. The event costs $50. Register at www.prince

georgescountymd.gov or www.wbo.org.

Little Orphan Annie comes to Cheverly

The Cheverly Young Actors Guild will present "Annie" at 7:30 p.m. tonight, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Cheverly's Publick Playhouse for the Performing Arts at 5445 Landover Road. This year's director is DéWight Snowden and the musical director is Daniel D. Spruill. Assistant Director Nova Tate is the choreographer. Tickets are $8 for children 12 years and under, $10 for seniors and $12 for adults. Call 301-277-1710 to purchase tickets. Visit www.cheverlyyoungactors.org.

Charity motorcycle ride to fight domestic violence

The Family Crisis Center of Prince George's County will have its second annual Ride to Survive charity motorcycle ride and classic car exhibition June 6 outside FedEx Field in Landover.

Proceeds from the day will go to the Family Crisis Center, a nonprofit organization that aids families affected by domestic violence. Volunteers will collect donations on-site.

The event will take place at FedEx Field's Parking Lot D. The fee to register for the motorcycle ride is $25 per bike and the car show is free. Biker registration begins at 9 a.m. and the ride begins at 11 a.m.

Participants are encouraged to pre-register. For more information or to pre-register, call Rex Little at 301-779-2100.

Teens needed for community service program

The Prince George's County Police Athletic League and Metropolitan Washington American Youth Football League are inviting county teenagers to participate in a day of community service Saturday.

Student participants will be able to receive service learning hours.

Participants will meet at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday at the Police Service Complex, located at 7600 Barlowe Road in Landover. Registration will be from 8 to 8:30 a.m.

Volunteers are to travel to their locations by 10 a.m. and return to Landover at 3 p.m.

Participants can also pre-register at their local police station. For more information, call police Cpl. William Steen at 301-772-4402.