Accokeek student takes first place in Reading Rainbow contest

Darbeau is the daughter of Michele Darbeau of Accokeek. Her story can be viewed online at www.weta.org⁄pdfdocs⁄rr_2008_2nd1_zoebirthday.pdf.

South countyGirl Scouts honored

The Girl Scout Council of Troop 464 of Fort Washington presented a Gold and Silver Award to two troop members June 7 at its Court of Awards ceremony at Harmony Hall Community Center.

The Gold Award, considered the highest award a Girl Scout ages 14 to 18 can receive, was presented to Jessica Collins of Clinton. The Silver Award recipient was Erica Williams of Fort Washington. The Silver Award represents a girl’s accomplishments in scouting and in her community, according to girlscouts.org.

This is the first Gold Award for the troop since its inception in 1991. Troop leaders are Jeanette Vaughn and Yvonne Smallwood.

South county womancompletes basic training

Air Force Airman Tiffany N. Burnett, daughter of Joyce Bridges of Cheltenham and a Gwynn Park graduate, recently completed her basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio.

During the six weeks of training, Burnett studied the Air Force mission, organization, and military customs and courtesies; performed drill and ceremony marches; and received physical training, rifle marksmanship, field training exercises, and special training in human relations.

Burnett also earned credits toward an associate degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

Residents graduatefrom Lafayette College

Two Prince George’s County residents were among 578 graduating seniors who were awarded 599 degrees at Lafayette College’s 173rd commencement May 24 in Easton, Pa.

Jonte Cherise Dalton of Brandywine graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Adrian M. Lawson of Laurel graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in engineering.

Author, journalist, and contributing political analyst for the Fox News Channel, Juan A. Williams, was the keynote speaker.

Accokeek Foundation offers rain barrel workshop

The Accokeek Foundation is offering several gardening workshops for adults and children this summer. The workshops are affordable and benefit gardeners of all ages and levels of experience.

Up next on the schedule is a rain barrel workshop 1 to 3 p.m. Aug. 9. The workshop is free. The workshop will cover installation, maintenance and landscaping. Rain barrels cost $90. The registration deadline is Aug. 5.

For information on this and other events, go to the Accokeek Foundation’s Web site at www.accokeek.org or call 301-283-2113.

Hospital center winsthree-year accreditation

The Joint Commission recently awarded Southern Maryland Hospital Center a full, three-year accreditation as a result of its compliance with nationally-recognized health care standards, according to a SMHC news release. The Subacute Care Center at SMHC also received a three-year accreditation.

The Joint Commission was formed to improve the quality of the nation’s health care through voluntary accreditation. Surveys, reviewing the quality of many factors within the hospital, are conducted on site by the Joint Commission. Accreditation by the Joint Commission ensures that SMHC meets national standards for quality care, organizational performance and outcomes measurement, the release said.

National Concert Band offers free concert

The National Concert Band of America will hold a free summer concert 3 p.m. July 19 on the grounds of the historic Harmony Hall Mansion, next to the Harmony Hall Recreation Center at 10701 Livingston Road in Fort Washington.

The concert, sponsored by the National Park Service and the Silesia Citizens Association Inc., will highlight Harmony Hall and the history surrounding the mansion. There will be an exhibit about the site on display on the first floor of the mansion. Visitors will be able to walk through and view the displays prior to and during the concert.

Visitors are invited to bring family and friends, make a picnic on a blanket or bring lawn chairs to enjoy an afternoon of music. Gates open at 1:30 p.m. Rain date is July 26.

South county residents deployed by armed forces

Navy Chief Petty Officer Kimani Y. Grays and Army Staff Sgt. Kevin J. Pearson recently were deployed.

Grays, the son of Rita L. Grays of Oxon Hill, departed on a scheduled deployment as part of the Peleliu Expeditionary Strike Group while assigned to the guided-missile cruiser U.S.S. Cape St. George home ported in San Diego.

He is a 1990 graduate of Oxon Hill High School. He joined the Navy in September 1995.

Pearson, the son of Penny R. Smith of Clinton, is deployed as a member of Task Force Marine, one of more than 20,000 soldiers from the Fort Stewart, Ga.-based 3rd Infantry Division and elements of the 101st Airborne Division from Fort Campbell, Ky. The soldier is serving a 15-month tour in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Pearson, a 1996 graduate of Oxon Hill High School, is a joint network node section sergeant with the 3rd Signal Company, Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division. His home station is Fort Stewart, Ga. He has served in the military for nine years.

Soldiers return homefrom Iraq

Three Army National Guard sergeants returned home from an overseas forward operating base in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Ishmael A. Matthews, the son of Joseph A. and Anita S. Matthews of Upper Marlboro, returned to the 1st Battalion, 175th Infantry, in Towson. He is a Brandywine resident and 1998 graduate of Gwynn Park High School. Matthews is a light wheeled vehicle mechanic with 10 years of military service.

Cedric C. Wells, the son of Henry G. and Mary B. Wells of Roxboro, N.C., returned to the 1st Battalion, 175th Infantry, in Dundalk. Wells, who lives in Upper Marlboro, is a 1985 graduate of the University of the District of Columbia, in Washington, D.C. He is a signal support systems specialist with 19 years of military service.

William J. Ruffin, the son of William J. Ruffin Sr. and Thelma J. Walker of District Heights, returned to the 1st Battalion, 175th Infantry, in Elkton. Ruffin, a 1989 graduate of Suitland High School in Forestville, is an infantryman with 10 years of military service.