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Pre-school and elementary children who want to help families overseas can raise money through the "Read to Feed" program, being sponsored locally by St. Matthews United Methodist Church in Bowie.

Students find sponsors who pledge donations based on the number of books they read.

At the end of the program on Oct. 30, the children will gather the pledges, pool their money and donate the total to Heifer International to provide livestock, seeds, trees and training to families around the world.

Students also receive the booklet, "Real Kids, Real Animals." For more information, call the church office at 301-262-1408 or contact the coordinator, Galen R. Menn, at galencarolyn@verizon.net.

Church to host Sunday feast

St. Matthew's United Methodist Church in Bowie has scheduled its fourth annual Feast for the Soul, beginning at 12:15 p.m. Sunday. The dinner is a chance for visitors to learn more about the congregation.

Admission is $10, and children younger than 12 are admitted free. The feast includes barbecued pulled pork and chicken, side dishes and desserts. The church is located at 14900 Annapolis Road near Bowie High School. For more information, or to buy tickets, call 301-262-1408. For more about the church, go to http://stmatthews-bowie.org.

Animal welfare group to meet Tuesday

Bowie CLAW (Citizens for Local Animal Welfare) plans to hold a general meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Bowie Community Center at 3209 Stoneybrook Drive. The agenda includes a discussion of future fundraisers and the status of communications with Bowie city government. All interested individuals are welcome.

Chamber to host first annual Women's Expo

The Greater Bowie Chamber of Commerce Women in Business Committee plans to host the first annual Bowie Women's Expo from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sept. 18 at the Comfort Inn Hotel & Conference Center, 4500 Crain Highway, Bowie.

The event offers a chance to network with other women and includes lunch, vendor tables and raffle drawings. Proceeds support the chamber's Business Scholarship Fund.

Maureen Bunyan, a news anchor with ABC7/WJLA-TV, is the scheduled keynote speaker. Chamber officials said that with more than 30 years of broadcasting experience, she represents the progress made by women and minorities into careers once considered unachievable.

Admission, which includes lunch, is $25 with pre-paid registration and $40 at the door. For more information, call the chamber at 301-262-0920 or e-mail kelly@bowie

chamber.org.

Marine with local ties graduates from engineering course

Marine Corps Cpl. Patrick M. Sheets, son of Olive E. Johnson of Kingwood, W. Va., and Todd A. Sheets, of Bowie, recently graduated from the Marine Corps Basic Combat Engineer Course at Marine Corps Engineer School, Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Sheets is a 2006 graduate of Preston High School of Kingwood, W. Va. and joined the Marine Corps in December 2006.

Bowie grad completes Marine Corps course

Marine Corps Pvt. Danielle N. Reed, daughter of Sharon D. Reed of Bowie and Carl L. Reed, of Washington, D.C., recently completed the Marine Corps Basic Enlisted Supply Course.

Reed, a 1999 graduate of Fairmont Heights High School of Capitol Heights, joined the Marine Corps Reserve in January.

Bowie-area students awarded diplomas

Greg Nercessian, a business administration major and resident of the Bowie area, and Marquita Robinson, a public health major and resident of Mitchellville, were among more than 4,000 students receiving degrees from American Public University and American Military University at the schools' spring 2010 commencement at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C.

American Public University System offers more than 100 online certificate and degree programs through its American Public University and American Military University institutions.

County animal facility schedules open house

The county's Animal Management division is hosting its first community open house from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sept. 18 at its facility in Upper Marlboro.

Staff plans to highlight the importance of adopting animals as well as provide free pet ownership seminars and workshops, showcase pet vendors and offer a variety of other activities, including a moon bounce for children.

The one-story facility, which opened in July 2009, includes interaction rooms, a spay/neuter clinic, an isolation/quarantine room, puppy and kitten nursery, cat mall and an exotic animal room.

The building has environmentally friendly features that include bio-retention landscaping and tree buffers at its location at 3750 Brown Station Road in Upper Marlboro.

For more information about the Animal Management division, go to www.princegeorgescountymd.gov.

Army colonel with Bowie ties earns master's degree

Army Col. John T. Owens III recently graduated from the U.S. Army War College at Carlisle Barracks in Carlisle, Pa., earning a master's degree in Strategic Studies.

Owens, son of John T. and Grace M. Owens of Arbor Hill Lane in Bowie, is an imagery analyst with 25 years of military service.

The War College is the Army's senior educational institution. The 10-month curriculum is designed to train officers in the U.S. military services and foreign military officers, as well as senior civilian officials of federal agencies, to serve in top-level command and staff positions with the U.S. Armed Forces worldwide.

Owens graduated in 1981 from Largo Senior High School and received a bachelor's degree in 1985 from Morgan State University in Baltimore. His wife, Andrea, is the daughter of Joseph L. and Barbara D. Howard of Mill Wheel St., Capitol Heights.

Rockledge Elementary hosts fall fun event

The PTA at Rockledge Elementary invites everyone to celebrate the coming fall season from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sept. 25 with moon bounces, face painting, pumpkin picking, arts and crafts, scarecrow making, food and games. Admission is free, and ticket prices for games start at 50 cents. Organizers said the event will be held rain or shine, and everyone is welcome. The school is located at 7701 Laurel-Bowie Road in Bowie.