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Oakcrest Towers Apartments, a 1,500-unit complex in Forestville, will celebrate National Night Out on Tuesday with events such as a moon bounce, snow cones, a disc jockey, and opportunities for residents to meet Prince George's County police officers in District 3.

This is the 27th annual National Night Out, held to reduce crime and violence and unite neighborhoods by improving communication between residents and local law-enforcement groups. Last year an estimated 36 million people nationwide participated.

The Oakcrest Towers event will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. and is open to residents of the complex and surrounding communities.

In Upper Marlboro, the District 2 police station and CSA 23 Leadership Council, a local community group, will host their National Night Out at the Marlboro Village Shopping Center from 5 to 8:30 p.m. The event will feature a moon bounce, crafts table, food provided by a local Dutch market, martial arts demonstrations and also opportunities to interact with Prince George's County police officers from District 2.

The town of Morningside will host its National Night Out celebration from 6 to 9 p.m. at the town hall building. The event will feature water slides, food, a disc jockey, demonstrations from the Morningside Volunteer Fire Department, raffles, and an opportunity to see a Maryland State Police helicopter up close.

Miss Prince George's County Farm Bureau 2010 selected

The Prince George's County Farm Bureau selected Lauren Miller, 18, of Clinton, as the 2010 Miss Prince George's County Farm Bureau at its annual picnic on July 11.

Miller, a rising sophomore at the College of Southern Maryland studying nursing, said she is excited to carry on the family name in the competition; older sister Rachel Miller took the title last year and was also named Miss Maryland Agriculture. The Miller family runs Miller Farms in Clinton.

"It is a great feeling," Lauren Miller said. "Farming has always been a family tradition and ... we want to keep farming in the family."

Miller will compete for the title of Miss Maryland Agriculture on August 27 in Baltimore.

Young Clinton singer takes

top prize at Apollo Theater

Jasmine Dantzler of Clinton, a rising fifth-grader at Clinton Christian School, won first place in the "Stars of Tomorrow" competition July 7 at the Apollo Theater in New York City.

Jasmine, who also sings in the choir at Ebenezer African Methodist Episcopal Church in Fort Washington, beat out two other acts during the children's section of the legendary theater's weekly Amateur Night. She sang "Home" from the musical "The Wiz."

Jasmine will return to the Apollo Theater to compete in the next round of competition in August, according to her mother, Renee Dantzler.

"I am just elated," Dantzler said. "I think she's really outstanding."

Fort Washington woman celebrates centennial

A Fort Washington woman is celebrating her centennial birthday. Nancy Poore Tufts, a woman who has spent more than seven decades in Fort Washington, celebrated her 100th birthday this month with friends and community members at St. John's Episcopal Church Broad Creek in Fort Washington.

In the 1940s, Tufts and her parents built a house along the Potomac River on a 14-acre property where she has lived ever since. In 2008, the Fort Washington house was designated as an official heritage site by Prince George's County.

Local students graduate,

earn college honors

Emily Turner of Upper Marlboro, who graduated from Villanova University's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, was named to the Pennsylvania school's dean's list for the spring semester.

Skye Snyder of Aquasco recently graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston with a degree in music business and management.

Eric C. Phillips of Camp Springs recently graduated from Excelsior College in Albany with an associate's degree in science.

Kenneth Jacobs of Upper Marlboro recently graduated from Rider University in Lawrenceville, N.J., with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Shantelle Marie Campbell of Clinton recently graduated from Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, W.V.

Several county residents recently graduated from the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore in Princess Anne: Karin Neal of Clinton earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice; Rico Konohia of Clinton earned a bachelor's in business administration; Jessica Sharpe of Forestville earned a bachelor's in sociology; Earl Lee of Temple Hills earned a bachelor's in business administration; Umu Bah of Upper Marlboro earned a bachelor's as a physician assistant; Brittney Branson of Upper Marlboro earned a bachelor's in human ecology; Domonique Chapman of Upper Marlboro earned a bachelor's in rehabilitation services; Adrienne Newby of Upper Marlboro earned a bachelor's in exercise science; Aderemileku Popoola of Upper Marlboro earned a bachelor's in computer science; Gerica Smith of Upper Marlboro earned a bachelor's in biology; and Talisa Taylor of Upper Marlboro earned a bachelor's in sociology.

South county students make dean's list at University of Maryland

The following students made the dean's list for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore: Ke'ana Davis, Shakia Lawrence and Brittney Massenburg, all of Oxon Hill; Valencia Courtney, Kevin Jackson, Kiya Myers, Reginald Williams and Jasmyn Jones, all of Fort Washington; and Quiana Montgomery of Accokeek.

Community group raises money for families in need

The Marvelous and Magnificent Moms has announced it has raised nearly $1,000 to help children and families in need in Prince George's County.

The group, based in Fort Washington, is a community nonprofit organization that engages youth and families throughout the county. Funds raised for the project are a part of the group's "Wish Jar" program, which challenged community youth to think of a wish they would like granted to another child.

Wishes granted include two bikes with accessories, 10 Safeway grocery gift cards, Six Flags season passes for a foster family of five and money to Habitat for Humanity.

South county students graduate from Salisbury University

More than 50 Prince George's County students graduated recently from Salisbury University. The list of south county students includes Accokeek residents Leanne Lechoco, with a degree in communication arts, and Emily Wright, with a degree in art.

Clinton area residents include Cory Curtis, with a degree in management and marketing; Jay Johnson, with a degree in communication arts; Roger Warren, with a degree in interdisciplinary studies; and Lindsay Paxton, with a degree in accounting.

Fort Washington area residents include Shaniece Roseborough, with a degree in marketing; and Krystal Williams and John Hammond III, with a degree in management. Oxon Hill area residents include Zekarias Solomon, with a degree in athletic training; Kellie Washington, with a degree in biology; and Patricia Hunt.

Upper Marlboro area residents include Joseph Austin, with a degree in communication arts; Renee Ayala, with a degree in conflict analysis and dispute resolution; Lauren Foreman, with a degree in exercise science; Julicia Fraser, with a degree in communication arts; Satinae Robinson, with a degree in business administration; and Shariva Smith.

Service members with local ties complete training

Air Force Airman Christopher W. Curry recently graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. Curry is the son of Gwendolyn Curry of Clinton and is a 2008 graduate of Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School in Upper Marlboro.

Army Pvt. Jhanjulani L. Robinson graduated from basic combat training at Fort Sill in Lawton, Okla. Robinson is the son of Thomasine Everette of Clinton.

Army Pvt. Everett J. Spencer Jr. graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson in Columbia, S.C. Spencer , a 2005 graduate of Gwynn Park High School in Brandywine, is the son of Everett Spencer Sr. of Accokeek and Yaa Aseda Rice of Oakland, Calif.

Army Pvt. Michael A. Thompson graduated from basic combat training at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. Thompson graduated from Suitland High School in 2003 and is the son of Donna Talley of Clinton.

Summer lunch program continues in county public schools

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Summer Food Service Program, sponsored by Prince George's County Public Schools, will provide free lunches at the following locations from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. until Aug. 5: Andrew Jackson Academy in Forestville, Buck Lodge Middle in Adelphi, Chillum Elementary, Clinton Grove Elementary in Clinton, District Heights Elementary, Flintstone Elementary in Oxon Hill, Gladys Noon Spellman Elementary in Cheverly, Glenridge Elementary in Landover Hills, Highland Park Elementary in Landover, Hillcrest Heights Elementary in Temple Hills, James McHenry Elementary in Lanham, Judge Sylvania Woods Elementary in Glenarden, Langley Park-McCormick Elementary, Overlook Elementary in Temple Hills, Ridgecrest Elementary in Hyattsville, Robert R. Gray Elementary in Capitol Heights, Rosa Parks Elementary in Hyattsville, Templeton Elementary in Riverdale, Thomas Stone Elementary in Mount Rainier and William Wirt Middle in Riverdale.

Buck Lodge, Ridgecrest, Rosa Parks, Thomas Stone and William Wirt schools also will serve a free breakfast from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Call the Prince George's County Public Schools Food and Nutrition Services at 301-952-6580 for more information.