KEEP ON KEEPING ON... VOLUME XIV, NUMBER 10 Imaging the Politics, Culture, and Events of Our Times

Transcription

1 Next week, we will be getting close to both Easter and Cherry Blossoms as well as a special dance event that is coming to the Kennedy Center soon. Women s History Month will also be highlighted with a collage of prominent women representing various walks of life and periods of history. There are so many women who have made significant contributions to make the world a better place that it is getting very hard to choose between them. KEEP ON KEEPING ON... Fauquier County Carroll County Howard County Loudoun County Fairfax County Prince William County Arlington County Richmond Baltimore Montgomery County D.C. Alexandria Spotsylvania County Stafford County Fredericksburg Annapolis Anne Arundel County Prince George s County Westmoreland County Charles County VOLUME XIV, NUMBER 10 Imaging the Politics, Culture, and Events of Our Times FIRST AFRICAN WOMAN TO WIN THE NOBEL PRIZE FOR PEACE WANGARI MAATHAI Women are responsible for their children, they cannot sit back, waste time and see them starve. Wangari Maathai Wangari Maathai founded the Green Belt movement in Kenya in 1977, which has planted more than 10 million trees to prevent soil erosion and provide firewood for cooking fires. A 1989 United Nations report noted that only 9 trees were being replanted in Africa for every 100 that were cut down, causing serious problems with deforestation: soil runoff, water pollution, difficulty finding firewood, lack of animal nutrition, etc. The program has been carried out primarily by women in the villages of Kenya, who through protecting their environment and through the paid employment for planting the trees are able to better care for their children and their children s future. Born in 1940 in Nyeri, Wangari Maathai was able to pursue higher education, a rarity for girls in rural areas of Kenya. She earned her biology degree from Mount St. Scholastica College in Kansas and a master s degree at the University of Pittsburgh. When she returned to Kenya, Wangari Maathai worked in veterinary medicine research at the University of Nairobi, and eventually, despite the skepticism and even opposition of the male students and faculty, was able Continued on page 13

2 THE METRO HERALD NEWSPAPER The Metro Herald, a resource of Davis Communications Group, Inc., is published weekly. The Metro Herald is a member of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, the Virginia Press Association, and the Newspaper Association of America. PUBLISHER/EXECUTIVE EDITOR/ MANAGING EDITOR Paris D. Davis ART DIRECTOR/WEBMASTER Glenda S. King EXECUTIVE MANAGER Gregory Roscoe, Jr. ASSISTANT TO THE EDITOR Daisy E. Cole SENIOR BUSINESS & SECURITY CORRESPONDENT Rodney S. Azama Regular subscription rate: $75/year for home delivery. Single issue price: $.75 For advertising information and rates, call (703) , or visit Copyright 2005 by Davis Communications Group, Inc. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means without prior written consent from the publisher. All unsolicited manuscripts should be accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope. The publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material. The Metro Herald is certified by the Maryland Department of Transportation. Its corporate headquarters is located at 901 North Washington Street, Suite 603, Alexandria, VA Davis Communications Group, Inc., is certified as a small and minority business. For additional information, call (703) Circulation: 42,000 copies per week Certified by Dasai Group, CPA To obtain a one-year subscription, please send a check or money order for $75 to: The Metro Herald 901 North Washington Street, Suite 603 Alexandria, VA Name: Address: Phone (optional): Editorial In South Africa those who have the responsibility for maintaining old gravesites are now digging fresh ones... In South Africa, one in nine South Africans will die of AIDS. It is expected that in the next ten years, over six million South Africans will die of AIDS. One would expect South Africa to be the one country on the continent of Africa to have the most advanced medical treatment for its people... but it is not. And it is because at the top, President Mbeki of South Africa did not believe that AIDS was spread by a virus and that only a small portion of its people had contracted the disease. It was only after the former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, at a world-wide health conference on AIDS in South Africa four years ago broke ranks with his hand-picked successor, Mbeki, and said that AIDS was spread by a virus. Since the conference and world opinion on the causes of AIDS have become known has South Africa come to grips with the AIDS pandemic of East Asia and Africa. Perhaps even more horrific is the cavalier attitude of some black South Africans toward those who have died or are dying of AIDS. Dying of AIDS has created in South Africa a new kind of industry... where self-acclaimed entrepreneurs chase down the dying or terminally ill... the way lawyers sometimes chase ambulances in the United States seeking out clients. What has gone wrong? The answer for the world is in five words: denial and lack of education. It does not take a genius to realize that unless millions of men worldwide stop frequenting prostitutes and having multiple other liaisons, men will continue to give the HIV to their wives or partners, who will in turn infect and pass on the virus to their children: behavior must change because money and drugs can go only so far... Uganda has become the poster child for how African countries should deal with AIDS. Uganda attacked the AIDS problem by holding country-wide open discussions about the virus. At one time the leaders of Uganda were talking about their country becoming extinct... and something happened. The president of Uganda brought together all of his national and local leaders and directed that they go out among the people in the country and have direct and frank discussions about the causes of AIDS and how they could almost say, Create a country or a graveyard for the dying. The ministers, along with the president of the country, have had their faces on television almost every hour on the hour so that the Ugandan people would realize how grave and serious the illness had become. The other thing that got the populace s attention was the number of their friends and loved ones who were dying all around them; money and pharmaceuticals could go only so far. The government of Uganda preached over and over again: monogamy and pro-abstinence... And it is working. Uganda has the lowest rate of African nations south of the Sahara... as opposed to China and Malawi, where problems of culture and sexual behavior had not been addressed until recently... All babies brought into this world have a right to be born with healthy immune systems because they don t deserve risqué parents with even riskier behavior. Aren t hunger, health needs, lack of education, drought, and being born poor enough for any new infant feeding on its mother s milk? If there is something we should realize, it is AIDS is a pandemic... And with its cultures that are dying in ways AIDS victims are doing... There is a world of AIDS and it is pandemic and every time you stare back into the eyes of an infant with AIDS who can t speak and only stare: They are speaking to you in silence... PDD 2 THE METRO HERALD

3 THE METRO HERALD 3

4 AROUND THE REGION John Mellencamp American heartland rock-n-roll star, John Mellencamp, will perform at the 2005 Leukemia Ball on March 19, 2005 at the Washington Convention Center. The Leukemia Ball, which last year raised $3.2 million for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, is DC s largest non-political fundraiser with a sponsor list that reads like a virtual who s who in Washington, DC business. With the theme Portrait of America, the 2,500 expected guests will enjoy dinner, dancing, a silent auction and a Mercedes-Benz raffle. The Ball began in 1984 as a way for the accounting community to give back to Washington, DC. The event founders chose The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as the beneficiary. Katherine Smith The Paul Peck Humanities Institute at Montgomery College invites the public to learn about writing and to speak with authors as part of its two remaining spring Books and Ideas reading series. Award-winning poet Katherine Smith will speak at Montgomery College s Takoma Park Campus on Wednesday, March 16, at 7PM in the Bliss Room, located in the Campus Commons building, 7600 Takoma Avenue, Takoma Park. Author and senior editor of the Washington Post s Book World, Jabari Asim will close the spring series on Wednesday, April 13, at 7PM, at Montgomery College s Rockville Campus, Campus Center Building, Student Lounge, located at 51 Mannakee Street in Rockville. JOHN MELLENCAMP HEADLINES 2005 LEUKEMIA BALL The first Ball attracted 400 guests and raised $80,000. As the Ball has grown so have the remarkable research results. In the past decades, new drugs have been developed and used with increasing success. Remission rates for some forms of childhood leukemia have increased from 4 percent in 1964 to more than 80 percent today. However, more research funding is needed. Leukemia is still a leading disease-killer of children. The rate of lymphoma in women under 45 has been steadily increasing recently. New horizons in treatment include immunotherapy, gene therapy, advances in the use of transplantation and translational research: all under investigation by national and international researchers supported by the Society. The 2005 Leukemia Ball will be held on Saturday, March 19, 2005, at 6:30PM in the Washington Convention Center, 801 Mount Vernon Pl. NW, Washington, DC. Mellencamp s performance will begin at 10:15PM. Taping and photography will be permitted during the first five minutes or the first three songs from the press riser. No other recording devices or flash photography are permitted during the show. For more information visit AUTHORS DISCUSSION AT MONTGOMERY COLLEGE Jabari Asim Katherine Smith, author of the poetry collection, Argument by Design, will give a talk about Memory as Idea. Her poetry collection was awarded the Washington Writers Publishing House poetry award for Smith s poems have appeared or are forthcoming in the publications Poetry, The Laurel Review, and the Southern Review, among many others. Author Jabari Asim will examine the subject of Getting the News from Poems in his presentation. Asim has written several books, including The Road to Freedom, and Not Guilty: Twelve Black Men Speak out on the Law, Justice and Life (Harper Collins, 2002). For information or to request accommodations for a disability at the Books and Ideas series, please call Visit us on the web at NATIONAL CAPITAL BOAT SHOW The 10th Annual National Capital Boat Show, presented by GMC, returns to the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, VA, March 10 13, The show will feature 40 dealers from several states showing ski boats, saltwater boats, pontoons, bass boats, motor yachts, jet boats, deck boats, PWCs and runabouts. Exhibits will also feature boats accessories, parts, marinas, electronics, and boating safety products. This is one of the last boat shows of the show season and dealers will have special show prices in this final push before the boating season begins. This show affords people the opportunity to examine all types of watercraft. Those who are already boat owners can look at models to trade up to and those who are not yet boat owners can shop and compare all types of boats, models and features. Research shows that recreational boating and fishing ranks as an important part of family activities for more than 72 million Americans. Boat shows offer families a way to explore options for enjoying life on the water and are the most convenient and costeffective way to examine all the styles and models on the market. Recent research shows that nearly all boat buyers have attended a boat show and nearly two-thirds of owners attended a boat show within six months of making a boat buying decision. Hours for the show are Thursday and Friday from 2PM to 9PM, Saturday from 10AM to 8PM and Sunday from 10AM to 5PM. Adult admission is $8 with those ages 6 to 16 being charged $2 and those ages 5 and under admitted free. Parking is free. Free return passes are available for those wishing to attend the show on more than one day and discount coupons are on the website. The Dulles Expo Center is located 5 miles south of Dulles Airport on Route 28 at Willard Road. Details such as brands, dealers and driving directions can be found at DC/default.htm or by calling The Walt Disney Company s celebration of Mickey Mouse s 75th Anniversary continues as 75 Mickey statues, designed by a variety of Mickey s friends, will be displayed in Washington, DC, at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center s Woodrow Wilson Plaza from March 19 to April 30, The statues were unveiled on Mickey s 75th Anniversary November 18, 2003 at Walt Disney World Resort and have since visited 12 U.S. cities. Appropriately deemed Celebrate Mickey: 75 InspEARations, the Mickey statues were created by Disney legends, artists, actors, athletes and performing artists who lent creative talent or simply creative inspiration that resulted in 75 uniquely designed, 700-pound, 6-foot-tall Mickey statues. The impressive tribute to Mickey was provided by some of his biggest fans, including Ben Affleck, Ellen Degeneres, Tony Hawk, Elton John, Tom Hanks and Shaquille O Neal. Local muralist G. Byron Peck was selected to paint a special 76th Mickey Mouse statue, which will be on display alongside the original 75 while they are in Washington, DC. His design was selected from submissions from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. Peck will unveil his Mickey statue at a free, family oriented kick-off party on March 19. In fact, Mickey Mouse s visit to DC will feature an array of exciting events, including: March 12 Smithsonian Associate s symposium Mickey Through Ken Burns The Americans for the Arts 18th Annual Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts and Public Policy will take place on Monday, March 14 from 6:30 7:30PM at the Kennedy Center in the Concert Hall. Ken Burns will deliver this year s lecture which is a leading national forum for arts policy, intended to stimulate discussion of policy and social issues affecting the arts. Tickets are required for entry and available free at www. AmericansForTheArts. org/hanks. STATUE TOUR the Years with presentations by Disney animator Andreas Deja and historian Neal Gabler. March 18 Hecht s department stores will sponsor a fashion show featuring Raven at the grand reopening of their Wheaton, MD location in addition to a Mickey design contest. March 19 Kickoff event that s free to the public, the festivities will feature appearances by Raven, Mayor Anthony Williams and Mickey Mouse. Peck will unveil his 76th Mickey Statue. April 9 Mickey will serve as the Grand Marshal of the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade. Whether deciding to use Mickey as a canvas or finding fun ways to dress him up, each statue is a genuine work of art. Artists Raven, Wyland, David Willardson, Peter and Harrison Ellenshaw, Rosie O Donnell and MEAR ONE chose to personally paint their Mickey statue. Otherwise, TivoliToo, a Minnesota-based design and sculpting studio, transformed the remaining statues for each artist. Outside of Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort, Washington, DC is the only location where all 75 statues will be displayed together. After DC, the statues will travel to New York City where they will be auctioned by Sotheby s to benefit the charity selected by each artist. Nearly 50 charities will benefit from the sale of the statues. For more information on the Mickey statues visit www. disneyconsumerproducts.com. KEN BURNS TO DELIVER 18TH ANNUAL NANCY HANKS LECTURE Ken Burns has been making poignant documentary films for more than 20 years. Since his Academy Award-nominated film Brooklyn Bridge in 1981, Burns has directed and produced some of the most acclaimed historical documentaries ever made, including The Civil War, Baseball, and The West (all of which aired on PBS). Burns recent documentary, JAZZ, explores the culture, politics, and dreams that gave birth to jazz music. He follows this timeless American art form from its origins in blues and ragtime through swing, bebop, and fusion. Burns speech, Sharing the American Experience, will explore America s rich cultural history, including the origins of jazz music. The Howard University Art Ensemble will perform an original jazz composition that will accompany a photographic montage of scenes from 12 Ken Burns films. Murray Horwitz, Director and Chief Operating Officer, American Film Institute Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, will be introducing Ken Burns. Robert L. Lynch, president & CEO of Americans for the Arts, and Steven D. Spiess, Board Chair of Americans for the Arts, will make brief remarks. 4 THE METRO HERALD

5 AROUND THE REGION 41ST ANNUAL GEM, MINERAL AND FOSSIL SHOW The 41st Annual Gem, Mineral & Fossil Show, sponsored by the private, nonprofit, Gem, Lapidary, and Mineral Society of Montgomery County, MD Inc. will be held 10:00AM 6:00PM Saturday, March 19 and 10:00AM 5:00PM Sunday, March 20 at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds, 16 Chestnut Street, Gaithersburg, MD. Great fun for adults! Admission is only $4 and children under 12, free. Parking is free. Scouts and youth groups with adequate leadership are admitted free. A wonderful event for the whole family! Featured at the show is a workshop open from 11:00AM 3:00PM for those over 54 tall to cut and polish your own cabochon gemstone, furnished free of additional charge. Club members provide guidance. For those under 12, free mineral and fossil samples will be available. A mini-mine is also free for children. All kids like rocks! Demonstrations include Minerals under ultraviolet lights, Beading, Jewelry making, Minerals viewed through the microscope, Fossil recovery, and Flint knapping. The Maryland Geological Survey provides pamphlets about Gold, Fossils, and Earthquakes in Maryland. About forty educational exhibits of specimens of minerals, fossils, gems, jewelry, and cut stones from worldwide locations will be on view. A veritable museum! Twenty-four carefully selected reputable dealers sell to the public at low, direct-source prices. Buy with confidence: Unique gifts, jewelry, findings, beads, rough and cut gems, new age and crystal items, minerals, fossils, books, geodes, carvings, slabs, some equipment, and fluorescents in all price ranges. Something for everyone! Snack foods and lunch will be on sale. Hourly door prizes and raffle are featured. Income from the show supports scholarships for college students in earth sciences, and awards to winners at the Montgomery Area Science Fair. For many years now support has also been given to the Smithsonian Institution s National Museum of Natural History Gem and Mineral Hall. The show is organized and operated by an all-volunteer committee of Society members. For more information: , or FIRST ANNUAL GALA The Alexandria Chapter of the American Red Cross will hold its first annual Rhapsody in Red gala on Saturday March 19, at 7PM, in the lobby of the Historic Terminal at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. In keeping with the ambience of the historic setting, the event will feature a glamorous 1930s theme, with drinks and delicacies evocative of the big band era, Art Deco-style décor, and the swinging sounds of Peaches O Dell and her Orchestra. Capping the evening is an old-fashioned coffee and hot donut reception featuring models in vintage Red Cross uniforms supplied by the Art Deco Society. Given the organization s signature hue, a focus on all things red is a key event attraction. Guests are encouraged to add crimson to their attire, and a live auction categorized by themes such as Red Hot Romance, Paint the Town Red, Paris en Rouge and even Red Rover, Red Rover for the pet set promises to spur robust bidding. Highlights include a four-night retreat in a luxurious Paris penthouse, a bat signed by Red Sox World Series Champion Johnny Damon, and an autographed red guitar from famed lovebirds Faith Hill and Tim McGraw. The Alexandria Chapter of the American Red Cross is the organization s oldest chapter in Virginia. Proceeds from Rhapsody in Red will benefit the chapter s essential qualityof-life services to area residents, including disaster preparedness and response, first aid and CPR training, and youth and senior programs. Tickets are $175 per person and tables are available for parties of 6, 8 or 10. Sponsorship levels are available at $3,500, $5,000 and $10,000. Sponsors include the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), Don Beyer/Land Rover Alexandria, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, Potomac Yard Development LLC, Smith Barney Alexandria, William D. Euille and Associates, and Time & Place Homes. Rhapsody in Red co-chairs are chapter board members Robin Kershner and Nancy LaValle. Honorary Patrons include Gov. Mark Warner and Lisa Collis, Sen. Patricia Ticer and John Ticer, Mame Riley, Mayor William Euille, Don and Megan Beyer, Rep. Jim Moran and LuAnn Bennett, Del. Brian and Karen Moran, American Red Cross CEO Marsha Evans, American Red Cross COO Alan McCurry, Vice-Mayor Del Pepper and F.J. Pepper, MD, Councilman Rob Krupicka and Lisa Guernsey Krupicka, Councilman Paul Smedberg and Michael Moleskey, MWAA CEO James Bennett, and Stan and Gail Krejci. For ticket and sponsorship information, contact Aimee Moore at or visit org. THE METRO HERALD 5

6 AROUND THE NATION Fantasia Barrino J/19 recording artist Fantasia who will co-host the 19th annual Soul Train Awards on March 12th takes a giant step toward fulfilling the title of her debut album, FREE YOURSELF, as it passes the RIAA platinum sales mark this week and moves up to #13 bullet on the Billboard 200 Albums chart and #4 bullet on the R&B chart. Truth Is, the first single from FREE YOURSELF, has exploded on Urban radio and becomes Fantasia s first #1 Urban Adult chart-topper this week. The record also came in at #9 on the Urban Mainstream radio chart with Urban radio tallying big reaction to Baby Mama and Free Yourself from the album. In addition to co-hosting the Awards gala on March 12th with Nicole Richie, Brian McKnight and Nick Cannon, Fantasia will perform a medley of Baby Mama and Free Yourself on the big night. Fantasia has also been nominated for a Soul Train Award herself as Best New Bruce Springsteen and Hard Rock International are teaming up for World Hunger Year a nonprofit organization, co-founded by the late singer-songwriter Harry Chapin and radio talk show host Bill Ayres, that fights hunger and poverty by launching Hard Rock s latest Signature Series T- shirt. The Springsteen T-shirt features a drawing of one of Bruce s favorite guitars and is available at Hard Rock locations in Europe, the U.S. and Canada and at The shirt comes in classic men s sizes and, for the first time in Signature Series history, is also available in a ladies junior baby-doll T-shirt. FANTASIA TO CO-HOST SOUL TRAIN AWARDS Artist, R&B/Soul or Rap (against Ciara, J-Kwon and John Legend). In other awards news, Fantasia has also been nominated for Outstanding New Artist and Outstanding Female Artist at the NAACP Image Awards, to broadcast on Friday night, March 25th. The nominations indicate the overwhelming positive critical reaction that has greeted FREE YOURSELF. In fact, Fantasia has truly won her freedom and the next phase of her career as the first American Idol to count as a discovery (San Francisco Chronicle) and the American Idol champ most likely to become a genuine pop idol (People). Fantasia first entered the pop music record books in June, when she became the first artist in the 49-year history of the Billboard Hot 100 chart to debut at #1 with her debut single, I Believe, which also set a one-week 2004 Soundscan sales record in the process. The song now serves as the climactic closing number of FREE YOURSELF, which also includes two other memorable Idol show-stoppers, the Gershwins Summertime and Chain Of Fools, a powerful homage to Fantasia s lifelong idol Aretha Franklin. With the release of her first album, raved the New York Daily News,... the now 20 year-old Barrino is ready to step out of the American Idol bubble and become a star in her own right. NEW SPRINGSTEEN T-SHIRT FOR WORLD HUNGER YEAR Springsteen is a member of World Hunger Year s Artists Against Hunger & Poverty, a group of musicians who actively work to combat these two social problems. Bruce Springsteen and Hard Rock Cafe both share a social consciousness that benefits a number of charities and organizations including World Hunger Year, said Hamish Dodds, President and Chief Executive Officer, Hard Rock International. Hard Rock has actively supported World Hunger Year for years and we are thrilled to partner with Mr. Springsteen to raise money for a great organization that envisions a world without hunger and poverty. Signature Series T-shirts have been designed by music superstars including Eric Clapton, Elton John, Sting, Peter Gabriel and Michael Stipe, raising millions for a wide variety of organizations. This year, Hard Rock Cafe is offering both the new Bruce Springsteen Signature Series T-shirt as well as last year s popular Eric Clapton Signature Series T-Shirt, in men s and women s styles. For more information on World Hunger Year, visit www. worldhungeryear.org. Professional and experienced artists from Canada, the United States, England and Africa have teamed with renowned artist Merri (Cathy Deutsch Friesenhahn) to provide online workshops designed to train aspiring art students. Being confined to a wheelchair, due to a childhood bout with polio, has never kept Merri from following her dreams as an artist. It has, however, been the basis for her successful online business, which allows her to sell her masterpieces directly from her home and studio. ONLINE ART TRAINING WORKSHOPS Through her website, people from around the world now enjoy the beauty and uniqueness of Merri s art with just the click of a mouse. Merri has also taught art lessons for the Parks and Recreation Center and YMCA of Round Rock, Texas. Merri s teaching and artistic experience, along with the wisdom of nine other artists (professional and self-taught) from around the world, is exhibited in her online art training workshops. The internet unlocks the door of opportunity for learning art skills like never before. Now, an art student from The March 25 deadline to nominate an extraordinary kid for the American Humane Association s Be Kind to Animals Kid Contest is right around the corner. The contest, which honors young people who make outstanding efforts to improve the lives of animals, is sponsored by the makers of Kibbles n Bits dog food, 9 Lives cat food, Pounce cat treats, Pup-Peroni dog snacks, Jerky Treats dog snacks, Snausages dog snacks, Meaty Bone dog biscuits, and Chew-lotta dog snacks. Do you know a child who does exceptional things for animals? A young person whose dedication to animals is inspirational and deserving of recognition? Nominate that extraordinary kid for this year s Be Kind to Animals Kid Contest. Winners of the contest will be announced during Be Kind to Animals Week, May 1 to 7, American Humane has celebrated Be Kind to Animals Week every year since 1915 to honor the companionship, friendship and love animals bring to our lives, and promote kindness to all animals. Kids and pets have always had a special bond, said Barry Shepard, managing director of Del Monte Pet Products, makers of great tasting Kibbles n Bits dog food, 9 Lives cat food, Pounce cat treats and Pup-Peroni dog snacks, and enthusiastic sponsors of the 12th Annual Be Kind to Animals Kid Contest. This contest serves as a wonderful way to acknowledge and reward the unique relationship between pet and their owners and hopefully inspires others to share their love and affection for our furry friends. To nominate a young person, you must be 18 or older and be the child s legal guardian or have written permission from the child s guardian. No purchase is necessary. Contest rules and nomination forms can be obtained at Nominations must be postmarked by March 25, 2005, and must be for children who are between the ages of 6 and 13 at the time of nomination. Nominees will be divided into two age groups 6 to 9, and 10 to 13. One grand prize winner and the United States is able to glean knowledge and skills from an artist in Africa, combining cultural and philosophical experiences as well as basic art techniques. Merri s art training website enables this one-of-a-kind learning experience to take place in a friendly, hassle-free online environment. The workshops are live and interactive. More information about the art training workshop schedules can be found at com/. DEADLINE APPROACHING FOR THE BE KIND TO ANIMALS KID CONTEST! Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty welcomed the U.S. Supreme Court decision outlawing the execution of juvenile offenders, a ruling that conforms with public opinion at home and international human rights norms abroad. We are pleased that the Court has chosen to place the United States among the family of nations that now prohibit the execution of juveniles, said Jack Payden-Travers, VADP executive director. Through this decision the US affirms what many other nations have already decided, children are different from adults and by their very nature do not qualify as the worst of the worst offenders, the standard used by some to justify a death sentence. Including Missouri, from which Roper v. Simmons sprang, 31 states ban the execution of juvenile offenders. Of the remaining states, only 12 have juvenile offenders on death row. They are Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia. During the past two decades, 22 juvenile offender executions have occurred in the United States, including 13 in the state of Texas and 3 in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Nine such executions have occurred since the year Six of those nine took place in Texas and involved an African American offender. The other three executions took place in Oklahoma and Virginia. More than half of the juvenile offenders on two runners-up will be selected from each group. Grand prize winners will each receive a $5,000 award and a fantastic prize package. All winners and runners-up will receive a prize package and will be featured in American Humane press materials and on American Humane s website at www. americanhumane.org. JUVENILE DEATH PENALTY ABOLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES death row are housed in two states Alabama and Texas and about twothirds are people of color. This decision is important for Virginia, as we have the dubious distinction if being among the seven states that have executed a juvenile since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976, and we are among the twelve states that currently have juveniles on their death rows, Payden-Travers noted. We believe that today s ruling was influenced by the decision of the courageous senators and delegates in the 2004 and 2005 Virginia General Assembly Sessions who co-patroned legislation calling for the abolition of the juvenile death penalty. I ve talked to several people today who have congratulated me on this decision as a victory, said Payden- Travers. But while I m glad that the US has taken another step in moving towards a more just and humane society, I can t see that there are ever winners when talking about capital punishment and the crimes that lead people to death row. We hope today s decision means that Shermaine Johnson, the only juvenile currently serving on Virginia s death row, will no longer face execution, but we also remember the family and friends of Hope Denise Hall, the young woman whose life was cut short by Johnson in We are glad to see an end to juvenile executions and look forward to the day when the death penalty will be totally abolished, but the real victory will be when our society begins to seriously work at preventing violent crime. 6 THE METRO HERALD

7 INSIGHTS & VIEWPOINTS OP-ED Afavorite myth perpetuated by the medical and insurance industries is that the American public is too enamored of lawsuits. The truth is, when it comes to medical malpractice, not enough lawsuits are filed. Every year hundreds of thousands of Americans receive negligent care by doctors and hospitals. But less than one in ten instances of medical malpractice is ever prosecuted, usually because malpractice victims don t know their legal rights or how to exercise them. Identifying medical malpractice. Medical professionals and institutions are required to abide by certain standards in treating patients. If they deliver substandard care, and you are harmed as a result, you may have cause to bring legal action against them. Some medical malpractice cases are tragically obvious. Among those I ve handled is the death of an eightday-old who was literally cooked to death by an overheated incubator that nurses knew was broken. Much medical malpractice, on the other hand, is not obvious- at least not right away. A child may have cerebral palsy for years before it is discovered that the condition was caused by malpractice during labor or delivery. Seek legal counsel promptly. In medical malpractice cases, time is of the essence. Every jurisdiction has time limits known as statutes of limitations on filing malpractice or wrongful death lawsuits. Statutes of limitations vary widely from less than six months to three years or more depending on the jurisdiction. Statutes for babies and other children are sometimes longer. Prompt action may determine whether you are eligible to file a claim and will make your case more attractive to an attorney. Most good lawyers are busy and need ample lead time to prepare a lawsuit. Even if you think the statute of limitations in your case has expired, call a lawyer anyway. Time limits in some jurisdictions are more flexible than in others. In some states, for example, the statute runs from the time when the malpractice was detected by the patient, which may be months or years after the injury was inflicted. For many people, the thought of pursuing a malpractice claim is overwhelming. Some worry about their doctor s reaction, being interrogated by lawyers, or the stress of a lawsuit. As you weigh these concerns, remember: Talking to a lawyer does not commit you to pursuing legal action. Everything you tell the lawyer is strictly confidential. No one-including your physician-ever needs to know you consulted a lawyer. Seek a lawyer who is experienced. Medical malpractice cases are complex and require expertise you are not likely to find among lawyers in family or general practice. You don t want a beginner to learn on your case any more than you would want an inexperienced doctor to perform heart surgery on you. If you don t know of a good malpractice lawyer, ask people you trust for referrals. Jack H. Olender, Esq. Special to The Metro Herald Clerks at your local courthouse know many attorneys, and may be willing to give a recommendation. Check legal directories. Among the best are the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory and Best Lawyers in America. Perhaps the most widely used resource is the Yellow Pages. Yellow Pages ads can tell you that a lawyer is interested in medical negligence cases, but such listings are no guarantee of experience or competence. The initial meeting. Most medical malpractice law firms take preliminary information from prospective clients over the telephone. If the attorney is interested in your case, you will be invited for an initial no-cost consultation. For many lawyers, a person s promptness and cooperation is a big factor in deciding whether to take a case. Arrive on time for your appointment. Bring along any medical records you have. Do not withhold any information that might possibly be relevant to the case. While the lawyer is sizing you up, size up the lawyer: Does he or she seem to be knowledgeable, communicative, friendly? Does he or she listen to you? Has the lawyer had much experience with your type of case? If so, what has been the rate of success? Is there a sizeable medical library? Does the office appear to be clean and well run? Notice, too, whether you are feeling pressured. A good attorney usually has plenty of business and will never pressure you. Expert Witnesses. During the meeting, ask the lawyer about whether he or she has medical experts available to evaluate your case. If the answer is No or Not yet, or if the lawyer intends to use an expensive consulting service, your case is off to a weak start. Experienced malpractice lawyers are usually willing to handle cases on a contingency basis, which means you pay a percentage-usually 33a%-of your recovery only if the case is successful. If the lawyer generally works on contingency but is unwilling to do so for you, it may signal a lack of confidence in the case. In that instance, it is probably not worthwhile to bring suit, at least with that particular attorney. Costs. Ask the attorney about payment of case costs, which can run into tens of thousands of dollars. Most successful malpractice law firms are prepared to advance costs, if necessary. These are reimbursed if the case wins or settles. Legal next steps. Because each medical malpractice case is unique, it is impossible to predict the duration or outcome of a particular case. Generally, cases pass through one or more of the following stages: Investigation. If you and the attorney decide to move forward, the attorney will initiate an investigation by obtaining your medical records and sending the records to medical experts. The experts will review them and give their opinion on whether the injury was due to negligence. Filing suit. If your lawyer is satisfied that the investigation substantiates your claim, a legal document called a IF A DOCTOR INJURES YOU OR A LOVED ONE Complaint or Petition or Claim is submitted to the appropriate court or administrative agency, making you the plaintiff in the case. Thereafter, the alleged malpractitioner becomes the defendant. Discovery. During discovery, plaintiffs, defendants and witnesses give sworn answers to attorneys questions about the case in writing (interrogatories) and in person (depositions). Settlement. Most lawsuits are settled before they reach trial. If settlement is an option, you and your attorney must have a frank discussion about your chances of winning in trial, and what level of compensation is acceptable. Based on similar cases and the individual circumstances of your injury, your attorney should be able to estimate the value of your case. Although your attorney may have a strong recommendation on whether or how much to settle for, the decision in this matter is yours. Settlements are reached at any stage of the process, even after trial has started. Mediation is regularly used during the course of a lawsuit to attempt to settle a malpractice case. It is required by D.C. court rules. A lawyer or judge experienced in malpractice cases is assigned to sit as mediator to help the parties reach settlement, if they can do so. Trial. If no settlement is reached with the defendant, your case goes before a judge and, usually, a jury to decide. Malpractice trials can last a few days to several weeks. This summary of the legal process is rudimentary. Each case is unique and each jurisdiction has different procedures. To determine the likely course of your case, ask your lawyer. Confidentiality. Speak about your case only to your attorney and staff. Anything you say to anyone else might be used to discredit your case. For example, a client of mine who was compulsive about sending thank you notes sent a flowery thank you to the doctor she was suing for malpractice! Naturally, the defense used the note to argue that the client was satisfied with the treatment she received. (She was not.) Awaiting resolution of your case. Medical malpractice cases take timeanywhere from six months to more than six years, depending on the jurisdiction. In the metropolitan D.C. area, the average time is about two years. Accordingly, patience is essential. Satisfy yourself that your lawyer is doing what is necessary, but avoid harassing him or her with too many calls. If you believe your case is not receiving the attention it deserves, talk it over and clear the air. If you aren t reassured, seek counsel elsewhere. Except at those times when you must focus on the case, let yourself forget it, if you can. Allow yourself to live as normally and enjoyably as possible. One word of caution: If you are considering a major change in your life, such as moving out of the area or changing your relationship status, inform your attorney. Report any changes in your health status, address, telephone number, etc. Without question, pursuing a case against a negligent doctor or institution is a major commitment of time, energy, and resources. The process is slow, sometimes difficult, and offers no guarantee of success. That said, the rewards of pursuing legal action often far outweigh the costs. Only when victims of medical malpractice stand up for their rights can they receive financial compensation for their injuries. Pressing a legitimate claim sends a message that the perpetrators of medical malpractice will be held accountable. Every victim who steps forward strikes a blow against negligence and injustice, and makes us all safer. Jack Olender is President, The Malpractice Law Firm, Jack H. Olender & Associates, P.C. In December, 2004, Washingtonian magazine once again named Jack Olender one of its thirty top lawyers. According to Washingtonian, Of all the medical malpractice lawyers in the country, none is more recognized or feared than Jack Olender. Olender and his team of attorneys have been called the heavyweight malpractice law firm by the Washington Business Journal. THE LEGACY OF EDUCATION Witness for Justice BERNICE POWELL JACKSON Executive Minister UCC Justice & Witness Ministries Because education was denied to slaves, African Americans for generations treasured education. Indeed, during slavery just teaching blacks to read was illegal in many Southern states. Thus, soon after the end of the Civil War, not only were schools established for African Americans, but churches and any other available spaces were used for literacy programs. Black colleges were founded and many families sacrificed greatly so that their children might attend because they realized that education or sports were the only tickets out of poverty and oppression for their children. So it is very disturbing that today, in the 21st century, in this information age, many African American, Latino and Native American students are dropping out of high school at alarming rates. Indeed, according to a recent study done by The Civil Rights Project of Harvard University, many urban high schools have become dropout factories that send hundreds of students off a figurative cliff each year. The study found that nationally only about half of all African Americans, Latinos and Native Americans who enter the ninth grade graduate with regular diplomas four years later. For males of color these figures are even lower. Schools in some districts are literally hemorrhaging students, said Gary Orfield, editor of the study. He added, Yet, we continue to invest more funds incarcerating high school dropouts than in the programs that could keep them in school and out of trouble. The Harvard study also found that the statistics reported by many school districts on dropout rates are misleading. Most of us think that if you add the number of dropouts to the number of graduates, you get 100 percent of the students. But the reality is that some districts assume that missing students are enrolled somewhere else and thus don t count them as dropouts. This allows the district to report a much higher completion rate. Both Texas and California, for instance, report very low dropout rates, but have many students who do not receive diplomas. Meanwhile, the No Child Left Behind Act puts great pressure on schools to raise test scores, but its provision to include graduation rate accountability is being widely ignored. Thus, school officials are being held accountable for assuring that students take the achievement tests, but not being held accountable for the number of students who simply disappear from their rolls. The Harvard study does maintain that the dropout crisis can be addressed, if we have the political and public will to do so. Targeted interventions could make dramatic differences, particularly for black and Latino students. For example, the study notes that there are about 2,000 high schools across the nation where graduation is not the norm. Focusing on these schools and how they educate, train and support students could make a significant difference. Unless students of color complete high school and go on for additional education or training, they will find themselves unable to support themselves and their families in this new information age. Unless we all realize that this must be a priority for all our nation s children, not just for the children of our own families, our nation will not be able to thrive. Black children of the 21st century will find themselves no better off than those of the 19th and their tickets out of poverty will have been lost. Now, that would be tragic. THE METRO HERALD 7

8 CAPITAL COMMENTS Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan STATEMENT REGARDING GOVERNOR EHRLICH S PLAN TO ELIMINATE THE MBE PROGRAM Iam very concerned with Governor Ehrlich s plan to end the State s Minority Business Enterprise program, which seeks to assist disadvantaged firms throughout Maryland in getting a fair share of government contracts. This State program, like those administered in counties all across Maryland, has helped thousands of small and minority businesses gain access to significant State contracting dollars. Perhaps the Governor believes the program should be ended because the State has failed to meet its goal of awarding 25% of their contracts to minority firms. According to the Maryland Office of Minority Affairs, only about 10% of the State s contracts awarded go to disadvantaged businesses. I have worked hard over the past decade to ensure that disadvantaged firms have equal access to County Government contracting dollars. In fact, under our Minority, Female and Disadvantaged (MFD) business program, we have increased the amount of County contracting dollars going to MFD firms by 85%. In addition, I recently announced a new senior-level Minority Business Affairs Manager to work with me to increase those numbers even more. And just this week, the Council s Management and Fiscal Policy Committee reported out a bill that would strengthen current law and provide additional assistance to disadvantaged firms. I fully support the measure as approved by this committee. The State of Maryland should set the example in this area, but clearly it has failed to do so. Calling for the elimination of the MBE program only makes that situation worse. I would urge the Governor to re-consider his plan to eliminate this program designed to ensure equal access for all. PUBLIC SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS FOR DOWNTOWN WHEATON With the ongoing redevelopment taking place in downtown Wheaton and the prospect of more than one million visitors expected in coming years, Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan recently announced several public safety improvements for the 70-acre downtown area. With redevelopment efforts underway and more and more people discovering that Wheaton is a great place to live, work and shop, I want to make sure we have adequate public safety resources in place, said Duncan. The improvements that I am announcing will put more cops on the street, improve lighting and enhance pedestrian safety. Following are public safety enhancements totaling nearly $900,000 that will be included in Duncan s fiscal year 2006 budget which will be submitted March 15: A dedicated Central Business District (CBD) police unit will be funded whose sole duty will be to proactively support public safety needs in the downtown. Capital funds will be allocated to add 29 additional streetlights this year in the downtown area. The Wheaton Safe Team, whose members serve as ambassadors within the downtown area, will be increased. The team gives directions, assists motorists and pedestrians, and works closely with police. Funds are included in the Department of Public Works and Transportation s budget to phase in no turn on red intersections as needed; adjust timing of pedestrian access in appropriate intersections; and implement unique crosswalk treatments. Duncan will also pursue the two major intersection improvements recommended by the Maryland Department of Transportation in its Wheaton Pedestrian Safety Study. One improvement would relocate Ennalls Avenue to intersect Georgia Avenue at Price Avenue and provide a traffic signal at the new intersection. The other includes the redesign of the Veirs Mill Road and Georgia Avenue intersection to provide a fully signalized intersection with a crosswalk for pedestrian access. Crime statistics confirm that downtown Wheaton is a safe place to live, work and do business, however, with the $131 million in renovations to Westfield Shoppingtown and more than 800 new housing units being constructed, officials want to ensure that public safety improvements are in place. Violent crime represents only slightly more than three percent of all crime committed in downtown Wheaton matching the violent crime percentage rate throughout Montgomery County. Theft and nuisance crimes account for nearly 97 percent of the crime that occurs in the downtown area. The County Executive has kept the best interests of Downtown Wheaton as one of his highest priorities, said Midcounty Regional Services Center Director Natalie Cantor. I am confident that with these additional resources and working with the community, we can help make the downtown a safe and thriving urban area for our residents and visitors. The Wheaton Public Safety Task Force a group of residents, businesspeople and County staff convened by the County Executive last year recently submitted its report with a number of recommendations to improve public safety issues in Downtown Wheaton. Entitled the Wheaton Public Safety Audit, the report will serve as a master plan for all current and future safety concerns in Wheaton. Copies of the plan are available online at gov, and click on Departments, then Regional Services Centers, or by calling Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) RECOMMENDATIONS TO TRANSFORM SOUTH CAPITOL STREET Congressman Steny Hoyer (D- MD) today applauded the National Capital Planning Commission s (NCPC) South Capitol Street Task Force after they presented their recommendations to transform South Capitol Street into a signature gateway in the nation s capital following months study with federal and local partners. Hoyer has been the lead federal partner in support of the South Capitol Gateway Project and has secured millions in federal funds to keep this project moving forward. I welcome the recommendations of NCPC s South Capitol Street Task Force, said Congressman Hoyer. Working together, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and federal, state and local officials are taking another positive step forward in this major project which will improve access to Washington, DC and enhance the safety of residents, commuters and visitors as they travel into the city. In the coming days I look forward to working with NCPC, and all of the South Capitol Gateway partners to keep this process moving forward so that we can ensure that the South Capitol Street Corridor becomes the magnificent gateway to our nation s capital that we have long envisioned, Hoyer added. Congressman Hoyer has been a strong supporter of Mayor Anthony Williams Anacostia Waterfront Initiative (AWI) and sees the restoration of the South Capitol Gateway (SCG) as a critical component of this initiative. These recommendations represent the next step forward in this major project and allows officials to move forward with the next phase of the SCG Project plan. The Anacostia River and the South Capitol Gateway deserve to be a place of dignity; a place of amenity and pride; a place for economic growth and business development for the region. Mayor Williams Anacostia Waterfront Initiative and the vision I have for the South Capitol Gateway corridor are a joint endeavor. I pledge that I will work to secure the federal resources to effect the completion of this vision, not just for the gateway, but for the surrounding neighborhoods, businesses, and visitors. This joint vision will benefit generations of Americans to come and I look forward to the day when this waterfront will become one of the most highly visited locations in Washington, DC, said Hoyer. Congressman Hoyer has secured more than $30 million over the years for projects to improve the water quality of the Anacostia River and to restore the health and natural beauty of the river and the surrounding natural resources. As a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, and a member of the subcommittee that funds the U.S. Transportation Department, Congressman Hoyer also secured $500,000 in federal funds to conduct a study of the South Capitol Street Corridor, and secured $7 million in fiscal year 2004, and $20 million with Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton in the House-passed Highway bill last year, for the rehabilitation of South Capitol Street and the Frederick Douglass Bridge. FEDERAL FIREFIGHTER GRANT PROGRAM Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) announced today that three Volunteer Fire Departments in Prince George s County have been awarded federal Fire Grants totaling more than $500,000 through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. The Silver Hill Volunteer Fire Department received a grant in the amount of $225,000; Morningside Volunteer Fire Department received a grant in the amount of $227,500; and Berwyn Heights Volunteer Fire Department received a grant in the amount of $47,838. As co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, Congressman Hoyer was very active in helping establish and fund the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, which helps local fire departments in Maryland and across the country buy equipment and provide adequate training. With the help of this federal funding, each of these fire departments will be able to purchase equipment that will better protect their firefighters, and will help keep their department running safely and efficiently, said Congressman Hoyer. Our volunteer and career firefighters sacrifice a great deal to protect our communities and it is our duty to provide them with all available resources they need to protect our neighborhoods from harm and to ensure that they are able to safely perform their job. I am pleased that these three Volunteer Fire Departments are the recipients of grants that will allow them to purchase a new fire truck, upgrade the equipment that allows a firefighter to breathe safely, and rescue tools to free someone trapped in a motor vehicle, Hoyer added. This funding will provide each of them with a capability they otherwise would not have been able to afford, allowing them to keep their department running safely and efficiently. The Silver Hill VFD was awarded a federal Fire Grant in the amount of $225,000. The grant will be used to purchase a brand new firefighting vehicle. Silver Hill is the 13th busiest station in the nation and both of our vehicles have almost reached their maximum years of service. You have no clue how bad we need a piece of apparatus in good shape up there, said Department President Charles Diana. The Morningside VFD, home of the busiest rescue squad in the state of Maryland responding to nearly 5,000 calls a year, was awarded a federal Fire Grant in the amount of $227,500 to replace the county-owned vehicle they currently use that was purchased in 1995 and has over 150,000 miles. This fire grant is very important to us because we were originally going to have to take out a 10 year loan to purchase this vehicle. This grant enabled us to purchase the truck and will allow us to also think about replacing other aging apparatus over the next 1 to 2 years, said Assistant Chief Syd Girven. The Berwyn Heights VFD was awarded a federal Fire Grant in the amount of $47,838 to purchase new hydraulic rescue tools will be utilized for freeing persons trapped in motor vehicles, industrial, and construction incidents and will replace old outdated rescue equipment. These rescue tools will be placed on their busy Heavy Duty Rescue Squads which respond to Interstates 95 and 495, the B/W Parkway and the surrounding areas, averaging 2,500 calls per year. James Ward, the Department President said, we would like to thank Congressman Hoyer for his tireless efforts to help us obtain this very important grant. This grant will financially enable the Berwyn Heights Volunteer Fire Department to purchase the equipment needed to save lives for years to come. The millions of citizens that live, work and travel through our area each day will directly benefit from this grant. Congressman Hoyer helped start the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program because fire departments often have difficulty purchasing proper equipment. A ladder truck for a local fire department can run upwards of $750,000 and outfitting one firefighter with turnout gear and breathing apparatus can approach $4,500. In addition, departments must fund training programs for paid and/or volunteer firefighters. The program funding can be used for the following: turnout gear; breathing apparatus; communications equipment; wellness and fitness programs; computer and technology improvements for record keeping and training purposes; training in fire-fighting, emergency response and arson prevention; improving the enforcement of fire codes; and modifying fire stations and fire training facilities to protect the health and safety of the firefighter personnel. President Bush s budget blueprint for fiscal year 2002 eliminated funding for the Firefighter program, contending that the fire grant program does not represent an appropriate responsibility of the federal government. Congressman Hoyer and other members of Congress have historically fought to restore funding to the program, and secured $650 million in fiscal year 2005, $150 million more than the President s request for However, the President s budget for fiscal year 2006 proposed another $150 million decrease in funds for the program and Congressman Hoyer will fight to restore these funds. The President s budget also eliminates funding for the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Firefighters (SAFER) Grant Program. Last year, Congressman Hoyer was successful in securing $65 million in funding for the SAFER Program in the Homeland Security funding bill and he will continue to be a leader in fighting for funding for this program. Funding for this historic new federal grant program will help career and volunteer fire departments hire new firefighters, recruit and retain volunteer fire fighters, and provide relief to the thousands of local fire stations across the country that are currently operating short of staff. Since 2001, Maryland has received nearly $22 million in grant funding from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. Fire departments that have received grants in Maryland s Fifth District include La Plata, Hughesville, Mechanicsville, Solomons, Laurel, Prince George s County, Seventh District, Leonardtown, College Park, Cobb Island, Second District, Brandywine, Greenbelt, Benedict, Waldorf, Newburg, Prince Frederick, Potomac Heights, and Bryans Road. 8 THE METRO HERALD

9 CAPITAL COMMENTS Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA) PROJECTS FOR ALEXANDRIA Congressman Jim Moran, Virginia Democrat, was able to secure three projects benefiting the City of Alexandria in the Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (TEA-LU), (H.R. 3). The bill is being considered by the House of Representatives this week and is expected to pass with strong bipartisan support. The bill includes: $2,500,000 for the construction of bus bays, pedestrian walkways, and lighting improvements to the Eisenhower Metro Station. With completion of the new Patent and Trademark Office (PTO), these funds will help encourage greater transit use in this developing Alexandria corridor. $500,000 to design a new bus maintenance facility at the Royal Street Bus Garage. The current WMATA facility is 50-years old and badly in need of repair. WMATA s Regional Bus Study completed in 2003 called for the facility s replacement. This funding will allow the City to begin the design phase for the new garage housing Metro and DASH buses. $500,000 to design an access ramp at Mill Road and I-95 to alleviate recurring congestion of the Telegraph Road/I-95 interchange. The project is critical to the region as a means of easing traffic congestion and providing for safe emergency evacuation. These projects will strengthen Alexandria s transportation infrastructure, helping reduce congestion and increase accessibility, said Moran. Public transit and smart growth solutions are vital for the region. Our economic success should be intertwined with efforts to create a highly livable community. MORAN REINTRODUCES LEGISLATION Congressman Jim Moran today re-introduced the Product Safety Notification and Recall Effectiveness Act, legislation backed by major consumer advocacy groups, which would require companies to provide product registration cards devoid of marketing information to help make the product recall system more efficient. Moran stated, Over 300 product recalls are issued by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) each year. But due to a recall system where registration cards are used as marketing tools to collect personal information, many Americans simply file them in the trashcan. The Product Safety Notification and Recall Effectiveness Act would call for the Consumer Product Safety Commission to enact a rule requiring Continued on page 20 THE METRO HERALD 9

10 ST. PATRICK S DAY 2005 THE NATION S SAINT PATRICK S DAY PARADE Sunday, March 13, 2005 Noon to 3 PM Constitution Avenue 7th to 17th Streets NW 2005 Grand Marshal Chris McCarron 2005 Gaels of the Year John and Joyce Flynn Gerry O Beirne HISTORY OF THE WASHINGTON, D.C. ST. PATRICK S DAY PARADE The first St. Patrick s Day Parade in Washington, D.C. was held in 1971 and traveled along Massachusetts Avenue from Dupont Cirlce to the statue of Robert Emmet. Since then, this annual affair has grown from what was little more than a leisurely stroll by a few hundred participants to what is now being called The Nation s St. Patrick s Day Parade. In 1974, the Constitution Avenue route was established and the march became a full-scale Parade with Marching Bands, Pipe Bands, our Nation s Military, Police, and Fire Departments as well as Floats, Novelty Groups and those marchers wearing green. Trophies are now awarded in a number of categories to participants. The Parade is an Irish community endeavor that was started by the Irish American Club and is now held in cooperation with the National Capital Park Service. The President of the Irish American Club maintains a place on the Board of Directors of the Parade Committee. The Parade has grown both in size and prestige. Through the work of the Parade Committee, a group of 40 or more dedicated Washingtonians, the two-and-a-half hour spectacular event is created. Their work begins in September before the March Parade. In September invitations go out to bands and marching groups and to sponsors and floats and other groups. In January, the Committee s work begins in earnest. the Parade s Magazine, considered to be one of the most professional parade magazines in the nation, is formulated and articles are solicited from prominent writers reflecting the chosen theme for that year. The Committee holds six to eight fundraisers before the parade. Every one of the local pubs sponsors a parade party. These events are almost as much fun as the parade itself and are open to the public. Irish musicians, dancers and signers get everyone in the mood for Parade Day. Choosing the Grand Marshal is an important part of the advance planning for the Parade. The men and women chosen to lead this event must be considered carefully. In 1986, retiring Speaker of the House Thomas P. Tip O Neill honored Washington by being Grand Marshal in what he called, the last greatest honor of my Washington career. Included in our distinguished list of Grand Marshals are Helen Hayes the First Lady of the American Theater, and John Hume leader of the Social Democratic and Labor Party. Also a tradition starting with the very first parades is the Gael of the Year, an honor given to an outstanding person in the Washington DC area who has made a significant contribution to the community. Some of the past Gaels include Paul Berry TV News co-anchor and Humanitarian, Father Eugene Riordan Educator and Missionary, and our recently deceased Committee Member, Parade Photographer, and friend of the Irish Community, Pat Irish Eyes Cady. For additional info visit www. dcstpatsparade.com or call ST. PATRICK S DAY CONCERT AT THE ALDEN THEATRE Renowned Irish guitarist and songwriter Gerry O Beirne teams up with fiddler Rosie Shipley and vocalist Lisa Moscatiello for an evening of traditional and contemporary Irish music at 8PM on St. Patrick s Day, Wednesday, March 16, at McLean s Alden Theatre. Tickets are $18, $14 for McLean district residents. The theatre is housed in the McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Avenue. The concert will include lively jigs and reels, intoxicating ballads and innovative instrumental pieces. Irish songwriter, guitarist and singer Gerry O Beirne was born in Ennis in County Clare and raised in the West of Ireland and in Ghana, West Africa. He is a self-taught master of the six and 12 string guitar, and is also a Lisa Moscatiello & Rosie Shipley renowned songwriter. Lisa Moscatiello and Rosie Shipley also will perform in the concert. The Maryland-based duo s largely traditional CD, Well Kept Secrets was recently nominated for Album of the Year by the Washington Area Music Association. Vocalist Moscatiello is well known to local audiences and has appeared with the Celtic progressive bands Whirligig and the New St. George. Shipley is a student of the great Irish fiddler Brendan Mulvihill, whose students include Jesse Smith of Danu, and Jim Egan. Tickets are on sale now! To purchase tickets, stop by the Alden Theatre Box Office, or to charge tickets by telephone, call Ticketmaster at SEAT (7328). For more information, call the Box Office at , or visit: ST. PATRICK S DAY CONCERT Rosheen (photo by Louise Leblanc) Celebrate St. Patrick s Day with Rosheen on Thursday, March 17, 2005 at 6:00PM and 8:30PM in the Grosvenor Auditorium, National Geographic Society Headquarters, 1600 M Street, NW, Washington, DC. Tickets: Members: $22; nonmembers: $26. Co-sponsored with the Embassy of Canada. Well-known in Québec, Rosheen is still new to most in the United States, but is quickly gaining a reputation as one of the most exciting groups in Celtic music. With a repertoire of Michael Jackson (photo courtesy Michael Jackson) Join in the celebration on Monday, March 14, 2005, 7:00PM at the Grosvenor Auditorium, National Geographic Society Headquarters, 1600 M Street, NW, Washington, DC. Tickets: Members: $50; nonmembers: $55. traditional and original songs featuring the crystal voice of singer, songwriter, and group founder Lynn Valliéres the seven-member band has excited crowds at the Montreal International Celtic Music Festival and Québec City s Le Festival Nouvelle- France. A self-titled CD is already spreading the band s blend of jigs, reels, haunting ballads, and self-described hellish polkas far beyond Canada. Don t miss this chance to catch a rising group in the world of traditional music. A CELEBRATION OF HOPS World-renowned writer and drinks authority Michael Jackson known as The Beer Hunter returns to National Geographic for a look at one of beer s main ingredients: hops. The cone-like blossom clusters of the hop vine have been called the spice of beer, adding bitterness, flavor, and aroma. The revival of microbrewing has led to a renaissance of experimentation in the use of hops in making beer. And of course, the evening will feature a specially selected tasting of beers exemplifying the different varieties and uses of hops. Must be 21 and older. Sponsored in part by the BRICKSKELLER, serving Washington s largest selection of beers since 1957 and presented with the assistance of Brewers United for Real Potables (BURP). SAINT PATRICK'S DAY IRISH SODA BREAD 4 cups unbleached flour 1 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 cup sugar 1/8 teaspoon Cardamom 1/4 cup butter 1 egg at room temperature 1 3/4 cups buttermilk at room temperature In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender or work it in with your fingers. Mix the egg and buttermilk together and then add to the dry ingredients. Stir until well blended. Add the currants and stir the mixture well. Turn out on a floured surface and knead gently for 3 minutes or until the dough is smooth. Divide the dough into two pieces, shaping each into a round loaf. Place each in a greased 8 inch cake or pie pan,pressing it down until the dough fills the pan. Use a sharp knife to cut a 1/2 inch deep cross on top of each loaf. Bake in a preheated 375 F oven for about 40 minutes or until the bread sounds hollow when you thump it. Turn out on a wire rack to cool. Do not cut for about 4 hours. Makes 2 loaves. BUY A SHAMROCK, HELP FIGHT MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY Through St. Patrick s Day, millions of Americans will paint the town green by participating in the Muscular Dystrophy Association s Shamrocks Against Dystrophy program. The popular MDA tradition, led by internationally renowned singer Maureen McGovern, runs through March 17. Patrons of thousands of businesses nationwide, including supermarkets, convenience stores, restaurants and other retailers, are supporting the fight against neuromuscular diseases by buying and signing $1 and $5 Shamrock mobiles to hang in the business locations. In 2004, Shamrocks Against Dystrophy, the nation s largest charitable campaign associated with St. Patrick s Day, raised more than $12 million through the efforts of volunteers, participating businesses and sponsors. For the fifth year, McGovern, a member of MDA s Board of Directors and a favorite performer on the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon, is serving as the chairperson of Shamrocks Against Dystrophy. Funds raised through Shamrocks support MDA s vital research and service programs, including summer camps and local clinics. For more information about MDA or the Shamrocks program, call , or visit www. mdausa.org. FAMILY FUN WALK The Montgomery County s Hearts N Parks Program will be celebrating St. Patrick s Day with two free Family Fun Walks on Thursday, March 17 at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton. The walks will be held from 10 11AM and 1 2PM. In the theme of raising health awareness, children between the ages of two and six will participate in a scavenger hunt for Lively the Leprechaun, who will guide them to the fortune of good health. A healthful snack will also be provided as well as a St. Patrick s Day craft-making activity. Each child must be accompanied by an adult during the event. To register and for more information, call IRISH COFFEE 1 1/2 cups currants 1 1/2 ounces Irish whiskey 8 ounces hot coffee 1 dash creme de menthe 1 maraschino cherry whipped cream 1 teaspoon brown sugar or to taste Pour Irish whiskey into a coffee mug. Fill with black coffee and brown sugar and stir until sugar is dissolved. Top with generous amount of whipped cream. Trickle creme de menthe to form green stripes on the whipped topping and place the cherry on top. 10 THE METRO HERALD

11 HEALTH AND WELLNESS NEW WRAPS FOR 7-ELEVEN To answer consumer demand for a fresh, tasty alternative to the traditional lunchtime burger and fries, 7-Eleven, Inc. is introducing two Big Eats Wrap sandwiches Turkey and Capicolla Ham Club and Chicken Breast with Southwestern Mustard at thousands of stores this month. Made fresh daily in local USDA-inspected kitchens, the Big Eats Wraps retail for $3.89 each. (Price and participation may vary). In keeping with the company s expanding menu of high-quality and gourmet-style fresh food items, the goal was to create not only a lightertasting menu substitute to heavier lunchtime options, but also one that was portable and easy to eat, according to Joanne DeLorenzo, 7- Eleven vice president of fresh foods merchandising. Another growing trend that directed the development of the new Big Eats Wraps was the increasing interest in bolder, international flavors. Based on positive feedback in initial taste tests, DeLorenzo said she believes the first two introductions will appeal to 7-Eleven customers: Turkey and Capicolla Ham Club Capicolla ham and roasted turkey with bacon bits, asiago cheese, romaine lettuce and basil aioli spread on a sun-dried tomato flour tortilla Chicken Breast with Southwestern Mustard Roasted chicken, red bell pepper, red onion rings, julienne radish, romaine lettuce and Southwestern mustard on a spinach flour tortilla The company plans to introduce new Big Eats Wrap varieties periodically. LONG-DISTANCE CAREGIVING: HOW TO HELP ACROSS THE MILES Mark L. Turner Owner, Right at Home Special to The Metro Herald Today s families are more geographically spread out than they used to be. With many seniors choosing to spend their retirements in warmer climates or their adult children relocating to jobs in other areas of the country, caring for family living far away is a growing concern for many in the United States. Current estimates show that up to seven million Americans are currently providing long-distance care to an elderly loved one. In the past, the expectation was that family members would always be there to take care of family members. But every day, we see the frustration of men and women who live too far away to help the seniors in their lives as much as they want to. Fortunately, many more options exist today to allow families that are geographically separated to help care for seniors. The first challenge families may need to overcome is that many seniors, for generational, emotional or cultural reasons, are reluctant to accept help from people other than family members. You need to take into account your senior s concerns in discussing the need for assistance. An honest conversation is in order to assess the needs of the senior and to find out the kinds of activities they are finding difficult on a daily basis. Explain that some extra help will allow them to remain independent. There are so many different levels of care available, starting with a few hours of help around the house per week. Keeping seniors involved in determining the level of care they need will help ease some of their anxiety. Once a need for care is established, the first step families should take is to be prepared before the need for care arises. Research community-based services in your senior s community, such as local agencies on aging, inhome supportive care providers and senior centers, so you have a list of resources you can turn to. You can find this information on the Internet or by picking up a copy of a phone book from your senior s local area on your next visit. Be prepared with specific medical, legal and other personal details that pertain to your senior. Having the names of doctors, medications, insurance policy information and legal counsel will help you make well-informed decisions quickly and efficiently if you suddenly find yourself in that position. Another way for families to stay involved across the miles is to get creative with their use of modern technologies. With your senior s permission, you can ask for updates from his or her doctors or caregivers. Better still, ask to be conferenced-in via telephone for medical appointments so that you have firsthand understanding of what is going on with your senior s health, or have a caregiver attend with them. CALENDAR OF EVENTS ACoping Skills Tool Box Boost your health-enhancing feelings of peace and calm, balance, and relaxation and relieve the emotional distress of anger, anxiety, depression, and sadness. This is a very effective, fun, and easy-to-do program. Fee. For more information, please call Kay Powell at Hospital is located at 7503 Surratts Road, Clinton, MD DATE: Every Tuesday (March 15, 22, 29) TIME: 5:30 6:30PM LOCATION: So. MD Hospital Center s Library (Ground Floor) Weight Management for a Healthy Lifestyle Participants will learn how to change their eating and exercise behaviors for weight loss. FREE. No registration required. For more information, please call DATES: Monday, March 14th and 28th TIME: 11:00AM Noon LOCATION: So. MD Hospital Center s 4th Floor Lobby Smoking Cessation Workshop The Fresh Start Program Sponsored by the American Cancer Society. FREE workshop designed to teach participants how to stop smoking. To register, please call DATES: March 15, 17 TIME: 6:00 7:00PM LOCATION: So. MD Hospital Center s Cardiopulmonary Rehab Department THE METRO HERALD 11

12 WOMEN S HISTORY MONTH 2005 FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN TO BE PROMOTED TO REAR ADMIRAL IN THE U.S. NAVY LILLIAN ELAINE FISHBURNE Although she retired in 2001, Rear Admiral Lillian Elaine Fishburne is part of a group of women who have opened doors for other women in the military. During her 25 years of military service, she was always committed to doing all her jobs well no matter the task or assignment. She is a true African American hero. Fishburne was born March 25, 1949 in Patuxent River, Maryland, into a navy family. Her active duty father never questioned his daughter s military career ambitions. Raised in Rockville, Maryland, in Montgomery County, she attended Richard Montgomery H.S. Fishburne graduated from Lincoln University in Oxford, Pennsylvania, in 1971 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology. She received a Master of Arts in Management from Webster College, St. Louis, Missouri in 1980, and in 1982, she was awarded a Master of Science degree in Telecommunications Systems Management from the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California. In addition, Fishburne is a 1993 graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C. Fishburne was commissioned an Ensign upon completion of Women Officers School at Newport, Rhode Island in February Her first duty assignment was Personnel and Legal Officer at the Naval Air Test Facility, Lakehurst, New Jersey. In August 1974, she was assigned to Miami, Florida as an Officer Programs recruiter until November From November 1977 to August 1980, Fishburne was the Officer in Charge of the Naval Telecommunications Center, Great Lakes, Illinois. She then spent two years as a student at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. Upon completion of postgraduate school, she reported to the Command, Control, Communications Directorate, Chief of Naval Operations (OP-940). There, she served as the Assistant Head in the Joint Allied Command and Control Matters Branch until December Fishburne s next assignment was Executive Officer at the Naval Communication Station, Yokosuka, Japan. In February 1987, she was assigned to the Command, Control, and Communications Directorate, Chief of Naval Operations (OP-942) as a Special Projects Officer. Her next duty assignment was Commanding Officer, Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station, Key West, Florida from July 1990 to July Following this tour, Fishburne studied at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces until Upon graduation, she was assigned to the Command, Control, Communications and Computer Systems Directorate, The Joint Staff, Washington, D.C., assuming the position as Chief, Command and Control Systems Support Division (J6C) in December Fishburne assumed command of Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station, Easter Pacific, Wahiawa, Hawaii on August 25, Fishburne was promoted to Rear Admiral on February 1, She is the first African-American woman to wear this rank. Before retiring in February 2001, Fishburne was assigned as the Director of the Information Transfer Division for the Space, Information Warfare, Command and Control Directorate, Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C. The same year that Fishburne was promoted to the position of Rear Admiral, former Secretary of Defense, William Cohen, referred to her as a woman whose story helps us to understand the truth that women are an indispensable part of today s military. Fishburne attributes her success over the past 25 years to being focused in her commitment to doing all her jobs well. Every promotion and job assignment I get makes me more confident and draws upon my strengths and wisdom to do it correctly, she stated. Fishburne has received several awards and decorations, including the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Navy Commendation Medal (two awards) and the Navy Achievement Medal. Fishburne and her husband, Albert J. Sullivan of Daytona Beach, Florida have one daughter, Cherese. Every promotion and job assignment I get makes me more confident and draws upon my strengths and wisdom to do it correctly. Lillian Elaine Fishburne First African American woman to be promoted to Rear Admiral in the U.S. Navy COMMISSION FOR WOMEN CELEBRATES WOMEN S HISTORY MONTH In celebration of Women s History Month, the Montgomery County Commission for Women Counseling and Career Center has announced educational exhibits and events that are open to the public. Commenting on the significance of Women s History Month, Commission President Pat Cornish said, Women s History Month reminds us to stop for a moment and reflect on and celebrate the accomplishments of women throughout history. It reminds us that we must continue to protect the precious, hard fought human and civil rights issues that women before us have won. Finally, Cornish said, Women s History Month also reminds us that we must continue the work with the same vision and spirit as those who paved the way. Following are the exhibits and programs presented and/or co-sponsored by the Commission for Women. Women s History Showcase at the Rockville Public Library, 99 Maryland Avenue, features photographs of the 30 women included in the Montgomery County Women s History Archives and Quilt, whose lives have been of historical significance to Montgomery County, and also includes a history of the Commission s work over the past 32 years to improve the lives of women in the county. For hours, call the library at Women s History Quilt, a handcrafted work of art features squares for 30 women of historical significance to Montgomery County. The women selected for the quilt lived a major portion of their lives in the county, have made significant contributions to their fields, were the first women in their professions, or have made major contributions to the betterment of their communities. The quilt was created by fiber artist Anne Sanderoff-Walker, president of the Commission for Women. The quilt is on display at the Commission for Women, 401 N. Washington St., Rockville; 8:30AM to 5PM, Monday, Thursday and Friday, and 8:30AM through 8:30PM, Tuesday and Wednesday. For more information, call Women s History Archives lists the 30 Montgomery County women honored on the quilt, with accompanying biographical information on each. Available online at www. montgomerycountymd.gov/cfw. Women: Back to the Future Role Models for a New Generation on March 15 at the Doubletree Hotel, 1750 Rockville Pike. Meet notable women in history in a one-woman show presented by Kate Campbell Stevenson, local actress and Montgomery County resident. Networking 6 to 7PM; dinner at 7PM, followed by program at 8PM. Cost: dinner and program, $33; program only $20, $10 students. Cosponsored by the Commission for Women, Montgomery County Business and Professional Women, Montgomery College Office of Equity and Diversity, Federally Employed Women/Bethesda, Montgomery County Women s Fair and the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce. Free underground parking available at the hotel; Twinbrook Metro, one block away. Contact Erin Rosenfeldt at or , ext. 1202; Eat Well, Live Well 6th Annual Health Empowerment Forum for Women on April 20 at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington, 6125 Montrose Rd., Rockville. The free seminar will feature a panel of experts discussing important nutrition and diet issues and their implications for women s and family health. Speakers include Shirley Watkins of the Institute of Medicine s Committee on Preventing Childhood Obesity; Eric Hentges (invited), director of the Center of Nutrition Policy and Promotion; Dr. Carol Garvey, former Public Health Officer for Montgomery County; and Yvonne Maddox, deputy director of the NIH Child Health and Human Development. The forum is co-sponsored by the Suburban Maryland Business and Professional Women, Sarah s Sisters of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington, American Association of University Women Interbranch Council, American Public Health Association, Federally Employed Women Parklawn Chapter, Maryland National Organization for Women, Montgomery County National Organization for Women, Montgomery County Business and Professional Women, Montgomery County Commission for Women and Safeway. Networking, exhibits, refreshments begin at 6:30PM, followed by the program at 7PM. Free parking; photo identification is required for admission. Contact Aileen Worrell at THE METRO HERALD

13 WOMEN S HISTORY MONTH 2005 NOBEL PEACE PRIZE Continued from page 1 to earn a Ph.D. there. She worked her way up through the academic ranks, becoming head of the veterinary medicine faculty, a first for a woman at any department at that university. Wangari Maathai s husband ran for Parliament in the 1970s, and Wangari Maathai became involved in organizing work for poor people and eventually this became a national grass-roots organization, providing work and improving the environment at the same time. The project has made significant headway against Kenya s deforestation. Wangari Maathai s husband divorced her in the 1980s, complaining that she was too educated, too strong, too successful, too stubborn and too hard to control. (quote from Encyclopedia of World Biography, 1999, Gale Group.) They had three children. Wangari Maathai continued her work with the Green Belt Movement, and working for environmental and women s causes. She also served as national chairperson for the National Council of Women of Kenya. In 1997 Wangari Maathai ran for the presidency of Kenya, though the party withdrew her candidacy a few days before the election without letting her know; she was defeated for a seat in Parliament in the same election. In 1998, Wangari Maathai gained worldwide attention when the Kenyan President backed development of a luxury housing project and building began by clearing hundreds of acres of Kenya forest. In 1991, she was arrested and imprisoned; an Amnesty International letter-writing campaign helped free her. In 1999 she suffered head injuries when attacked while planting trees in the Karura Public Forest in Nairobi, part of a protest against continuing deforestation. She was arrested numerous times by the government of Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi. In January, 2002, Wangari Maathai accepted a position as Visiting Fellow at Yale University s Global Institute for Sustainable Forestry. And in December, 2002, Wangari Maathai was elected to Parliament, as Mwai Kibabi defeated Maathai s longtime political nemesis, Daniel arap Moi, for 24 years the President of Kenya. Kibabi named Maathai as Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Wildlife in January, WOMEN S HISTORY MONTH IN ALEXANDRIA Saturday, March 12 In recognition of March as National Women s History Month, the City s Fort Ward Museum will host a lecture on THE WOMEN WHO SAVED MOUNT VERNON at 1PM on Saturday, March 12, at 4301 W. Braddock Rd. Mary Thompson, a research specialist from the Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens, will give insight on Pamela Cunningham and Sarah Tracy and their heroic and determined efforts to establish Mount Vernon as an historic site. For more information, call Monday, March 28 In 2004, Wangari Maathai was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. It s very exciting that the first Nobel Peace Prize recognizing the environment is going to an African woman who had the foresight 30 years ago to preserve and regenerate the environment so that it can support future generations, says AAI President Mora McLean. We are delighted that Professor Maathai is an AAI alumna, adds AAI Chair Kofi Appenteng. This is a profound endorsement of the value of longterm investment in human capital. Ambassador Andrew Young notes, It is very refreshing to see such a prestigious award go to a dedicated African woman whose work is having such a positive impact not only in environmental issues, but in all aspects of humanity that are crucial to peace and prosperity. AAI is to be congratulated for contributing to the early careers of so many influential Africans, and today especially, to that of Wangari Maathai, a true first. The Nobel Peace Prize rightly honors the extraordinary work of a dedicated activist who recognized very early that a rapidly growing population and diminishing natural resources in Kenya would lead to more poverty and hunger, and created a movement to reverse this dynamic, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) commented on hearing the news. The award also recognizes that advanced education, such as AAI provides, plays a role in solving global problems. African women in general need to know that it s OK for them to be the way they are to see the way they are as a strength, and to be liberated from fear and from silence. Wangari Maathai First African woman win the Nobel Prize for Peace The City will continue its observance of National Women s History Month with a ceremony honoring local women who have made exceptional contributions to their communities. The 25TH ANNUAL SALUTE TO WOMEN AWARDS Banquet recognizes Alexandria women for achievements in health and safety, legislative advocacy, cultural affairs, and providing opportunities to youth. The banquet will be held at 6PM on Monday, March 28, at the Holiday Inn Hotel Suites, 625 First St. For additional information, call the City s Office on Women at or visit alexwomen.com. ANDERSON COMMUNICATIONS SELECTS CELESTE JONSON AS NEW HOST OF FOCUS ON WOMEN Celeste Jonson Al Anderson, Chairman & Founder of Anderson Communications, announced that noted motivational speaker, author and corporate coach Celeste Jonson will be the new host of its nationally syndicated radio program Focus On Women. In making the announcement Anderson stated, Celeste will bring new energy as well as considerable expertise to our efforts to provide vital information to African American women via their favorite medium, Black radio. Focus On Women is now in its 17th year of broadcasting, Monday through Friday, on many of America s Black radio stations. The program provides helpful information African American women can use in their daily lives. Subjects as diverse as male-female relationships, health & wellness, career development, self-realization, spirituality, effective child rearing and many others are addressed in a practical manner offering African American women realistic answers to many of the issues they face. The program also features interviews with successful Black women as well as authors that are producing meaningful books that offer solutions to many problems. Black women face a host of issues on a daily basis and they need a vehicle available to them that will deal with issues that are important to them, said Celeste Jonson. Our goal is not to just to talk about issues but to offer practical information that will help Black women live happier and more productive lives, Ms. Johson added. The only nationally syndicated radio program of its type, Focus On Women has been continually broadcasting on leading Black radio stations. In addition to the daily radio program, the Focus On Women marketing program includes a website with links to information that Black women can find helpful (focusonwomen.net). Future aspects of the Focus On Women program will include; newspaper and magazine columns, special events and television among others. Anderson stated, Focus On Women is not just a daily radio program but a fully integrated marketing program that is a perfect fit for brands that wish to target African American women. African American women control over 75% of all purchases so they are an important audience for all brands. It is also a well documented fact that relationships drive business, so a program like Focus On Women will produce results for those brands that make it a cornerstone of their outreach program targeting this important audience, said Anderson. Celeste Jonson is founder and president of Celeste Jonson International, a corporate coaching and training organization. Author of seven motivational books, Celeste is an experienced media professional, a frequent keynote speaker and a trusted resource for many of the country s major corporations, educational institutions and nonprofit organizations. She has also conducted hundreds of workshops. A protégé of noted motivational speaker Les Brown, Celeste is a two-time participant in the New York City Marathon. She also works tirelessly as a community volunteer to help eradicate many of the diseases afflicting the African American community. Further information on Celeste Jonson and Celeste Jonson International can be found by visiting their website at www. celestejonson.com. Anderson Communications (ACI) is one of the nation s oldest African American owned marketing services companies. Now in its 34th year, it offers its clients fully integrated go to market and brand activation strategies and tactical programs. ACI has worked with a host of major corporations including: P&G, Kraft, Pillsbury, Johnson & Johnson, Dr. Pepper, Reebok and others helping them to develop successful strategies to grow their business with the vital African American consumer market. ACI pioneered the concept of integrated marketing as a mechanism for major brands to develop successful relationships with African American consumers. ACI provides; strategic development, consumer promotions, Church-based marketing, sports marketing, local marketing, healthcare marketing, product sampling and other marketing services to leading corporate clients. The syndicated radio division of Anderson Communications is the oldest Black owned radio syndication operation in the country producing some of Black radio s most listened to programs. In addition to Focus On Women, ACI also produces: Inspirations Across America, the longest running Black syndicated radio program on the air, a weekly two-hour program of contemporary Gospel music; The Power Minute, a daily M-F one-minute motivational program; Journey To Wellness, a daily one-minute vignette on African American health; and The Good Life Radio Show, a weekly twohour program that blends Gospel hiphop with contemporary Gospel and R&B music. Further information on Anderson Communications can be found by visiting their website at www. andercom.com. Visit us on the web at WOMEN S VOICES FORUM If you care about the wellbeing of women and girls in Fairfax County, let your voice be heard! Come to the 2005 Women s Voices Forum on Wednesday, April 6 from 9:15AM to 2:45PM at the Fairfax County Government Center, Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA The forum is sponsored by the county s Commission for Women and Office for Women. This is a chance to hear from panel experts and participate in discussions about key issues affecting women in our community: affordable housing, domestic violence, financial independence, nontraditional career paths, nutrition, and issues affecting seniors. Information from the day s discussions will be shared with the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and other policymakers. Maxine Baker, Vice President, Community Relations for Freddie Mac and President and CEO of the Freddie Mac Foundation, is the event s keynote speaker. Sharon Bulova, Supervisor for Fairfax County s Braddock District, is also a featured speaker. The forum is open to the public, free of charge, and a light lunch will be provided. Preregistration is required. You can make a difference in the lives of women and girls in Fairfax County. Come, learn, and let your voice be heard! For directions to the Fairfax County Government Center visit locatmap.htm For more information, to make reservations or to request special accommodations, please call the Fairfax County Office for Women at ; TTY: or visit gov/ofw. THE METRO HERALD 13

14 COMMUNITY NEWS ARLINGTON TOWN HALL MEETING Congressman Moran will hold a Town Hall Meeting on Monday, March 14, :30-9:00PM at the Arlington County Board, Room Clarendon Blvd. Arlington, Virginia to discuss constituents concerns about the future of Metro. With ridership levels at an all time high, how do we ensure that Metro gets commuters to and from work safely and efficiently? Featured Guest Speaker, Richard White, General Manager and CEO of Metro. Fairfax County Supervisor and Chairman of Metro s Board of Directors Dana Kauffman and Arlington County Board member and Metro Board member Chris Zimmerman will also be in attendance. GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY MEETING The March 15th meeting of the Mount Vernon Genealogical Society (MVGS) in Alexandria, Virginia will feature a presentation entitled Antiquary Photography. The program will be presented by Dan Dennison. After Dan Dennison retired, he directed his attention to his true love, photographs from the time-frame. He collects photographs and negatives and has learned how to restore photographs to their original quality. The speaker will explain to the audience how to examine a photograph and find all of the genealogical clues. Learn the importance of what is in the picture and the style of the picture as well as the techniques used to make the photograph. As photographs age, they loose detail. Dan will show the audience what can be accomplished in restoring an old photograph with before and after images. The meeting is free and open to the public. It will be held on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 at 1:00PM in the Hollin Hall Senior Center, 1500 Shenandoah Road, Room 112, Alexandria, Virginia. The Center is located 4 miles south of Alexandria just off Fort Hunt Road. Additional information about the meeting and MVGS can be found at Any questions about the program should be directed to Harold McClendon at ALEXANDRIA BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ROUNDTABLE Make plans to attend the next Business Development Roundtable on Tuesday, March 15, from noon to 1:00PM at the Alexandria Chamber office located at 801 N. Fairfax Street in Suite 402. This month s Roundtable topic is Getting Paid: Is It A Problem For Your Company? Bring your lunch and come to this free Roundtable to discuss strategies for reducing receivables and collecting on overdue accounts. The Roundtable is sponsored by pseudonym and presented cooperatively by the Alexandria Small Business Development Center and the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce. For more information, contact Erika Mendez at , ext. 212 or emendez@alexchamber.com. FAMILY DRAWING WORKSHOP The Alexandria Black History Museum hosts a Family Drawing Workshop, a simple drawing activity for children and parents that will begin with a museum walk and discussion focusing on still life watercolors. Participants will then create a still life painting from a pencil drawing using watercolor techniques, exploring various brush strokes and mixing color. Workshop will be held on Saturday, March 12 from 10 11:30AM at the Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe Street, Alexandria. This workshop is free and open to the general public. For more information, call JOB FAIR United Community Ministries (UCM) Workforce Development Center will be sponsoring and hosting a job fair on Friday, March 18 at the South County Government Building, located at 8350 Richmond Highway. If you are looking for employees, this is an opportunity to recruit for positions you have open. To register to have your business at the Job Fair, please contact Rigoberto Luis, the new Workforce Development Center Director, at , ext.109. Space is limited, and spots are going fast! UCM is a qualified 501(c)3 nonprofit human services agency that has served the community for over 34 years. UCM s mission is to help others achieve self-sufficiency and its programs have helped thousands of individuals help themselves. UCM and its programs are made possible through the generous support of the community. Over 100 churches in UCM s service area have provided support to the agency. For more information on UCM and its programs, or to make a contribution, provide in-kind goods or services, or volunteer, please contact , x325. BALTIMORE PAINTED SCREEN WORKSHOP Learn the basics of the authentically Baltimore folk art of screen painting at a hands-on workshop led by Dee Herget, master screen painter and member of the Painted Screen Society of Baltimore. Workshop will be held at the Maryland Historical Society located at 201 W. Monument Street in the Mount Vernon Cultural District, Baltimore, MD on Saturday, March 19, 9AM 1PM. Registration: $40/Non-members and $35/MdHS Members. Advance registration is required. Call the Box Office at ext. 321 for registration information. Supplies: Bring your own window screen; other supplies provided. Program registration includes a continental breakfast and an optional tour of American Fancy: Exuberance in the Arts, following the workshop. FAIRFAX COUNTY FREE ADOPTION INFORMATION MEETINGS Adoptions Together is a licensed, nonprofit agency that provides quality child placement services and lifelong support to anyone touched by adoption regardless of race, age, religion, or medical condition. Join us for a FREE information meeting on international and domestic adoption. Date: March 14, April 27, and May 25, 2005 Time: 7:00PM 8:15PM Place: Tysons-Pimmit Library, 7584 Leesburg Pike. Falls Church,VA Information: COUNCIL COORDINATOR APPOINTED Robert A. Bermingham Jr., MPA was recently appointed as the coordinator of the Fairfax County Coordinating Council on Gang Prevention was announced at the Fairfax County Gang Prevention Summit. Bermingham will coordinate the development and implementation of interdepartmental plans, strategies, policies and communication related to the county s gang prevention efforts. Bermingham has worked for Fairfax County for 17 years and is currently a probation supervisor with the Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. In that position, he supervises 16 professional staff that provide probation services to juveniles. Bermingham has been with the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court for his entire career with the county and has considerable experience working with juvenile offenders. He serves on the Fairfax County Gang Assessment Team, the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice Gang Response Team and as a resource for the court concerning gangs. Bermingham holds a bachelor s degree in psychology from Marymount University and a master s degree in public administration from George Mason University. He currently serves as president of the Virginia Juvenile Justice Association and is a member of the American Correctional Association, the Fairfax Friends of the Court, the Fairfax County Gang Response Steering Committee and the Fairfax County Character Counts Task Force. He received the Virginia Juvenile Justice Association Meritorious Service Award in TORNADO PREPAREDNESS The Fairfax County Office of Emergency Management encourages county residents, business owners, schools, nonprofit organizations, homeowners associations and others to participate in Virginia s Tornado Preparedness Day on Tuesday, March 15. As part of the awareness day, a statewide tornado drill will be held at 9:45AM that will allow an opportunity to practice tornado safety plans. At the same time, the National Weather Service along with state and local emergency officials test their public warning systems. Last year there were 86 tornadoes in Virginia, said C. Douglas Bass, coordinator of Emergency Management. One of those tornadoes struck in Fairfax County and damaged approximately 70 properties in the Pleasant Valley and Country Club Manor neighborhoods. We hope our residents will participate in the tornado drill on March 15, but if they can t, we encourage everyone to become more familiar with tornadoes, their warning signs and specific steps that can be taken to ensure personal safety. For more information about tornado preparedness, visit www. fairfaxcounty.gov/emergency or call the Fairfax County Office of Emergency Management at , TTY 711. Additional information is available on the Virginia Department of Emergency Management website at WATERSHED FORUM Residents of all ages, organizations and businesses in Fairfax County interested in the quality of the Cub Run and Bull Run watershed are invited to attend a free Community Watershed Forum on Saturday, March 19, at Westfield High School, 4701 Stonecroft Boulevard, Chantilly, from 10AM. to 2PM. The forum is being held to offer residents a chance to provide ideas and suggestions for remedying the major watershed problems of storm water overflows, stream erosion, habitat degradation, polluted runoff, trash and sedimentation. Registration will begin at 9:30AM for the forum, which is sponsored by the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services. Participants will be provided a light lunch. During the forum, participants will learn from local experts about watershed issues affecting their streams and neighborhoods, as well as innovative new methods for correcting these problems. A new film by David Eckert, Reining in the Storm, One Building at a Time, will introduce participants to five key elements of low-impact development - conservation, minimization, disconnection, infiltration and education. Participants will then be asked to identify specific locations of water-related problems in their community, and provide suggestions on the kinds of strategies they would most like the county to pursue to remedy the problems. The forum is also offering a special environmental education session for youth that is concurrent with the main forum. Parents are encouraged to bring their children while attending the main forum or stay with their children to learn about watersheds, animals that live in streams and stream valleys and stream monitoring with fun hands-on activities. Advance registration for the March 19 forum is recommended, but not required. Registration is particularly recommended for the children s environmental education session. To register, contact Bill Barrack at , TTY 711 or via For additional information about Fairfax County s watershed planning effort, contact Matthew Meyers, Stormwater Planning Division, at , TTY or visit SYMPOSIUM ON AGING The Symposium on Aging is a two-day conference on aging well in place, and self-advocacy for the senior community. It is being held at the Washington Dulles Marriott Hotel on Friday and Saturday, March 18 and 19, Organized by the School of Continuing Education at Shenandoah University s Northern Virginia Campus, and the Loudoun Area Agency on Aging, it offers compelling presentations and papers on a range of topics, form health care and aging environments, to national policy issues that affect our aging community. The symposium will emphasize helping people to understand how current laws affect them, and how they can personally advocate for change. Call or mlewis@su.edu for registration, and event information. MONTGOMERY COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES BRIEFING The public is invited to attend a briefing on Thursday, March 17, to discuss the County Executive s FY2006 recommended operating budget for the Department of Health and Human Services. The event will begin at 7PM in the auditorium of the Children s Resource Center, located at 332 West Edmonston Drive in Rockville. Free parking is available. Department of Health and Human Services Director Carolyn Colvin and senior leadership staff will brief citizens and interested parties on the department s portion of the recommended budget. To request sign language interpreter services or other assistance to participate in this meeting, call Karen Ricucci at (voice), (TTY) or to Karen. Ricucci@montgomerycountymd.gov by March 14. RAIN BARREL WORKSHOP The Wildlife Achievement Chapter of the Izaak Walton League and the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection are co-sponsoring a free build your own rain barrel workshop on Tuesday, March 15 from 7:30 to 9:30PM at the Chapter House at Mullinix Mill Rd. near Damascus. All materials and easy instructions will be provided. The workshop is limited to 40 people and one rain barrel for each household. Participants should bring a vehicle large enough to transport a 50-gallon barrel. Rain barrels reduce or prevent the impact of stormwater on the environment by allowing a homeowner to store rain water for later use in the garden. Rain barrels help conserve water and keep stormwater from carrying roadway pollutants or other contaminants into neighborhood streams and rivers and, eventually, the Chesapeake Bay. Registration for the workshop is required. Call Jeff Deschamps at or send an to jeff. deschamps@verizon.net. For more information on reducing the impacts of stormwater on your yard, see FORUM ON BACKLOGS The Montgomery County Council will hold a rare Saturday forum on March 19 to receive 14 THE METRO HERALD

15 COMMUNITY NEWS a report from a Council task force, chaired by Councilmember Marilyn Praisner, that is examining the backlog in needed maintenance and County infrastructure. The forum is free and open to the public and will be held from 10AM to 12noon. Forum will be held in the Council Office Bldg., 100 Maryland Avenue in Rockville, 7th Floor Chamber For more information contact: Patrick Lacefield NOMINATIONS SOUGHT Montgomery County is seeking nominations for the 8th annual Path of Achievement Awards, honoring County residents, age 60 and over, whose work and spirit have led to special accomplishment in personal and community endeavors. The awards will recognize residents from among five categories-advocacy, Arts & Humanities, Community Service, Sports & Fitness, and Workplace Contributions. Nominations, which must be received by March 14, 2005, should include an application form and letter of recommendation, no more than two pages in length, describing the nature and extent of the nominee s achievements. Submissions should be mailed to the Montgomery County Volunteer Center at 401 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, or faxed to Applications for the awards and a description of categories can be obtained by calling the Montgomery County Volunteer Center at , or by visiting gov/volunteer. PUBLIC FORUM ON YOUTH VIOLENCE Youth violence and gang prevention will be the subject of a public forum hosted by the Montgomery County Department of Police on Saturday, March 19, from 10AM to 1PM, at Wheaton High School, Dalewood Drive. Directed at parents and youth in the Wheaton area, the forum will address such topics as gangs, substance abuse, education, employment and behavioral issues related to middle and high school students. The purpose of the forum is to educate parents, as well as provide prevention information and intervention assistance for youth and their families. Experts will conduct presentations, and public and private service providers will be on site to talk with potential clients about prevention and intervention strategies. The 4th District Police Station is working with the State s Collaborative Supervision and Focused Enforcement (CSAFE) staff, the County s Department of Recreation and the Montgomery County Collaboration Council for Children, Youth and Families to organize the event. Also assisting with the event are members of the Joint County Gang Prevention Task Force, whose report recommendations will be addressed. For more information about the forum, call Officer Rob Musser at MC SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA The Montgomery College Symphony Orchestra will present a special concert featuring some of the metropolitan area s top string experts on Monday, March 14 at 8PM, at the Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center on Montgomery College s Rockville Campus. Entitled Education on the Stage: Meeting Our String Sectional Advisors, there is no cost for admission to the concert and the public is invited to attend. The Montgomery College Symphony Orchestra is a unique group of talented musicians from Montgomery College and local high schools who play together with college faculty and professional performers during weekly rehearsals and performances, noted Dr. Wen Kurkul, music director for the orchestra. This exciting mix of musical talent provides a wonderful mentoring relationship for developing musicians. The repertoire for the March 14 concert will include Eccles s Sonata for Double Bass and Piano, Rachmaninoff s Sonata for Cello and Piano. Beethoven s String Quartet Op. 18, Sarasate s Gypsy Airs, and Bach s Brandenburg Concerto, No. 2. Among the featured string experts who will join the orchestra for the concert are Professor Lynn Fleming, Cellist Ai-Lin Hsieh, Professor William L. Hurd with Covington String Quartet, and Professor Chien-Tai Hsu. For more information, call Dr. Wen Kurkul at NORTHERN VIRGINIA DAFFODIL DAYS NEEDS VOLUNTEERS The American Cancer Society is currently recruiting volunteer drivers to assist with Daffodil Days. Flowers are ordered in February and delivered across the Northern Virginia area on Tues. March 15th. When you participate in the American Cancer Society s Daffodil Days you help make a difference in the lives of cancer patients in our community. All proceeds support programs of research, education, advocacy and patient services. Drivers must have their own transportation and a valid driver s license. For more information on Daffodil Days or to become a volunteer driver, please contact, Meagan Ulrich PRINCE GEORGE S COUNTY ANNUAL COLLEGE FAIR Prince George s Community College is hosting the Prince George s County Public Schools 31st Annual College Fair on Thursday, March 17 from 4 to 6PM at the Largo Student Center, 301 Largo Rd., Largo, MD. Participating in the fair are representatives from more than 100 colleges, universities and technical schools from throughout the United States. Students and parents are invited to attend the free event, which attracts more than 3,000 students each year. Interested students can talk to college representatives and admissions counselors to learn how to apply to the schools of their choice. Prince George s Community College will have a booth with information on all of its programs and course offerings, admissions and financial aid. Special presentations and events will be held throughout the evening and announcements of scholarships to several local high school seniors are expected. Presentations will be made in English and Spanish. Local participating colleges and universities include Goucher College, Towson University, Virginia Tech and Washington College. Other participants include Alabama State University, High Point University, Lafayette College, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Wingate University and many others. For more information, contact Norm Sugar, Prince George s County Public Schools, PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED The Prince George s County Planning Board of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) and the Prince George s County Council will hold a joint public hearing on Tuesday, March 15 on the recently released preliminary Suitland Mixed-Use Town Center Development Plan and Zoning Map Amendment. The hearing will be held at 7:00PM in the County Administration Building, Council Hearing Room, First floor, Governor Oden Bowie Drive, Upper Marlboro. M-NCPPC Planning staff will be available to answer questions in the first floor lobby from 6:00 7:00PM. Copies of the preliminary Suitland Mixed-Use town Center Development Plan and proposed Zoning Map Amendment are available at the following locations: Prince George s County Memorial Library System, Spauldings Branch, 5811 Old Silver Hill Road, Suitland; and M-NCPPC Planning Information Services Offices, Lower Level, or Office of the Clerk to the County Council, 2md Floor, County Administration Building, Upper Marlboro. Individuals desiring to speak at the March 15 public hearing may register in advance by contacting the M- NCPPC Public Affairs Office at , TTY For more information: or ST. MARY S CITY HSMC LAUNCHES 2005 SEASON Historic St. Mary s City is opening for the 2005 season on March 15. Exhibits at the outdoor museum a tall ship, a tobacco plantation, an Indian hamlet, and town center and costumed interpreters help visitors understand what life was like in colonial Maryland. In the Visitor Center, guests can view exhibits that examine the history and archaeology of St. Mary s City, which was the first capital of Maryland and the birthplace of religious freedom in the New World. A new exhibit focuses on 17th-century ceramic figurines from archaeological excavations in Southern Maryland. Entitled Figures in Clay it features artifacts from the historic city and a specially loaned object that was found by archaeologists working aboard the Patuxent River Naval Air Station. These small ceramic statues represent very rare examples of objects d art from what was the 17th century frontier of European expansion. Parts of three different figurines are featured in the new exhibit. They include a fragment of a Madonna and Child statue recovered from Garret Vansweringen s site in St. Mary s City and the head of a cherub statue from the St. John s site. The most striking object in the display is the headless figure of a king in armor, which was found at the Naval Air Station. Similar figures have been found in England, the Netherlands, and other North American sites. These clay figures were made by the same crafts people who made the white clay pipes that are found in great quantity at 17th century sites in St. Mary s City. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 10AM until 5PM. For more information visit or call WASHINGTON, DC FOOD SAFETY SUMMIT The 7th Annual Food Safety Summit will be held at the Washington, DC Convention Center from March 16 through March 18. It is the nation s largest and most important Conference & Expo on food safety, quality assurance, and food security. This three-day event provides food manufacturers, processors, and restaurant and foodservice professionals with the very latest updates on new technologies, as well as updates on regulatory and scientific issues in food safety, food security and bioterrorism, and other topics. Over 1,300 industry decision-makers from such leading companies as Kraft, Tyson/McDonald s, Red Lobster, General Mills, ConAgra, Tropicana, Marriott, Burger King, Disney, USDA and the FDA among others will attend. Six conference tracks will be offered including food plant operations, QA, meat and poultry, regulation and compliance, restaurant and foodservice, and lab and technology. Over two dozen new sessions will be available this year, including FDA s New GMPs, New Tools for Testing, HACCP in Your Hand, CSI: Your Food Plant, Biotech and Food Safety, and Predictive Microbiology, Biosensors, Nanotech, and the Future of Food Safety. In addition to the conference program, attendees will be able to visit the exhibit area where hundreds of companies will display several brand new technologies, including the new food security simulation exercise. For more information and schedule of events visit com/splash.cfm. LECTURE AT CUA The Catholic University of America will hold a lecture on Wednesday, march 16 at 7PM in the Caldwell Hall Auditorium, 620 Michigan Ave., NE, Washington, DC. Nora Heimann, CUA associate professor of art, will deliver the second lecture in this series Faith, Reason and the Imagination: Seeing the Sacred. In her talk, titled Joan of Arc: A Saint for a Secular Age, Heimann will explore the spiritual inspiration that St. Joan of Arc has provided to artists throughout the ages, and her particular relevance today as an abiding image of heroic virtue and faith. Heimann s lecture accompanies an exhibit at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center titled Contemplating the Sacred: Religious Works of Contemporary Artists, which will open March 8 and run through April 15. Provided by the Foundation for Sacred Arts, the installation of the exhibit is the first of several stops on a national tour. All the lectures are free and open to the public. For more information, call You're invited to join The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission in celebrating the Rachel Carson Greenway with a series of three hikes along the greenway named in honor of the late environmental activist who received world-wide acclaim for her writings about the natural world. Saturday, March 19, 2005 "The Sense of Wonder" Hike at 10:00am, led by M-NCPPC Forest Ecologist / Botanist Carole Bergmann. Begins at Rachel Carson Conservation Park entrance, Zion Road, Olney, continues about two miles through one of the county's premier conservation areas. Underground Railroad History at 10:00am, led by M-NCPPC Historian Susan Soderberg. Begins at Woodlawn Manor Park, Norwood Road, Sandy Spring, continues nearly two miles along the Rural Legacy Trail portion of the Rachel Carson Greenway to the Sandy Spring Friends Meeting House. Return transportation to Woodlawn will be available. Families and Kids Nature Fun at 10:00am, led by M-NCPPC Park Naturalist Steve Findley. Begins at Colesville Road (US 29), at the Burnt Mills Dam, Silver Spring, hiking about one mile roundtrip, north along Northwest Branch Stream Valley Park. Hikes will be held, rain or shine. Please wear sturdy boots and layers of clothing. For more information, please call RTE 355 RACHEL CARSON CONSERVATION PARK ZION RD SUNDOWN RD GEORGIA AVE HOWARD COUNTY RAN DOLPH RD UNIVERSITY BLVD NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE OLNEY SAN D Y SPRING RD WOODLAWN MANOR RTE 495 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA N ORBECK RD LAYHILL RD WHEATON REGIONAL PARK NORW OOD RD EDNOR RD COLESVILLE RD NORTHWEST BRANCH SV PARK PRINCE GEORGES CO THE METRO HERALD 15

16 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CHORAL CONCERT The Fairfax Choral Society will perform the Mass of the Children on Sunday, March 13, 2005, 4:00PM at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center, Northern Virginia Community College, Alexandria Campus, 3001 North Beauregard St., Alexandria, VA The emotion of music will be heard and felt in this program of sacred music. Experience the simplicity of Poulenc s art in his musical prayer, Litanies à la Vierge noire, as it humbly yet fervently evokes the spirit of the warlike Virgin. Feel the enchantment of Fauré s Messe basse in the premier of an orchestration by our own Douglas Mears. Be at peace among the flowing melodies and echoes of Gregorian chant in Duruflé s Messe Cum Jubilo. Finally, celebrate the fullness of life in the great exuberance and serene introspection of Rutter s Mass of the Children. The Fairfax Choral Society will be joined by soloists Jacqueline Horner (formerly of Anonymous 4) and Darren Perry as well as members of the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra. Tickets start at $25; ; For more information contact: Erica Johnston, Managing Director, Fairfax Choral Society, Tel: , Fax: , ejohnston@ fairfaxchoralsociety.org or visit www. fairfaxchoralsociety.org. FESTIVAL OF NEW PLAYS AT GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY Theater of the First Amendment, George Mason University s professional theater company in residence announces its 5th annual festival of new plays, First Light. With performances and readings in Theater- Space on George Mason s Fairfax campus, on Saturday, March 19 and Sunday, March 20, this year s First Light features workshops of the highly-anticipated new musical from Mary Hall Surface and David Maddox, Lift: Icarus and Me; a hard look at vigilantism from Paul D Andrea, The Two-Bit Taj Mahal; and The Book Club Play, a new dark comedy from Karen Zacarías. On Saturday, March 19, the Festival opens with a brunch hosted by members of George Mason s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), and two short play readings Nervous, written by Barry Berkey, and Tell Truth by Diane Ney are one-act comedies that feature performances by members of OLLI s own Reader s Theater troupe. TFA Managing Director Kevin Murray directs both plays. In August 2004, Theater of the First Amendment (TFA) announced a unique mentoring program and competition for all aspiring Fairfax County High School and George Mason University playwrights. Selected applicants worked with theater professionals on play development during the fall, submitting their final plays to TFA s First Light Festival Competition. The winners from both categories are read on Saturday, March 19. Ulysses, the winning high school entry by Dan Wright, a senior at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, is read at 1:00PM, and Blue Devil Slip by George Mason University senior Kim Eagan starts at 4:00PM. Sunday s Festival continues with new works by playwrights well known to TFA audiences. Mary Hall Surface and David Maddox (The Odyssey of Telémaca, Perseus Bayou and more) begin development of their latest family-friendly musical, Lift: Icarus and Me, a musical tale inspired by the myth of the highflying Icarus and his inventor-father, Daedalus. Lift has an East Texas setting and the music of ragtime, rodeos and Texas Swing. This work is cocommissioned by Theater of the First Amendment and the Clarice Smith Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Maryland. Paul D Andrea s (Nathan the Wise, The Wonderful One-Hoss Shay) Two- Bit Taj Mahal is the story of a small American town that unanimously voted to kill the local bully, and the subsequent murder investigation, after which no indictment was ever returned. Directed by Tom Prewitt. During the 2002 First Light Festival, Karen Zacarías developed her play Mariela in the Desert, which recently enjoyed its world premiere production at Chicago s renowned Goodman Theatre. In her new work, The Book Club Play, treachery, subversion and gossip threaten a spirited book club. In a matter of months a coup is staged, people are ousted, and marriages are rocked. Directed by Nick Olcott. Discussions and catered intermissions are included throughout the days events. Tickets for FIRST LIGHT are $10 per day, general admission. Charge by phone at or visit The Center for the Arts complex is located on the Fairfax campus of George Mason University at the intersection of Braddock Road and Route 123. Paid parking is located in the deck adjacent to the mainstage Concert Hall and FREE parking is located in university lot K. Visit MR SOUSA COMES TOFAIRFAX FORD S THEATRE PRESENTS Ford s Theatre ends its season with the exciting Washington premiere of Deaf West Theatre s Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the American Sign Language (ASL) adaptation, running March 18 May 1, Jeff Calhoun, the Tony nominated visionary whiz who developed the original production at Deaf West in North Hollywood, directs and choreographs. Music and lyrics are by Roger Miller, with book by William Hauptman (adapted from the novel by Mark Twain). This innovative production includes deaf, hard of hearing and hearing actors in a synchronized performance that utilizes spoken English, American Sign Language (ASL), gestures, dance and song. Those elements, paired with storytelling techniques from deaf and hearing cultures, form a third language that creates a groundbreaking theatrical experience. Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn won rave reviews during its extended run on Broadway in following a critically acclaimed engagement at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles. Michael McElroy, who recreates the role of Jim at Ford s, received a Tony nomination for best featured actor in a musical and a Drama Desk Award nomination for outstanding actor in a musical on Broadway. The New York Times called Big River an energetic and inventive new revival and Variety said it was exhilarating and big-hearted! An eye-opening adventure. Ford s Theatre is thrilled to present the Washington premiere of Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Deaf West Theatre brings new excitement and interest to this wellknown classic and creates a mesmerizing experience for us all. In addition, we are proud to bring to our stage members of the local deaf community, among them a Gallaudet University professor, and several current and former Gallaudet students, including Christopher B. Corrigan as Huck Finn, said Ford s Theatre Producing Director Paul R. Tetreault. Other members of the Washington area deaf community include Willy Conley (Gallaudet University faculty) (Ensemble); Christopher Michael DeSouza (Gallaudet student) (Simon); Andres Otalora (Gallaudet) (Dick/Hank); and Darren Frazier (Gallaudet graduate) (Duke/Silas Phelps). The production also includes Bill O Brien (Mark Twain), Stanley Bahorek (Tom Sawyer); Michelle Banks (Alice s daughter); Jeannette Bayardelle (Alice, Voice of Alice s daughter); Chris Bloch (Voice of Dick, Hank, Trader); Linda Bove (Miss Watson, Joanna Wilkes, Sally World renowned in his own lifetime as The March King, John Philip Sousa performed throughout the world from the 1880s until his death in This experience will be recreated as we welcome guest conductor Mr. Keith Brion, conductor and leader of The New Sousa Band of New Haven, Connecticut, to the podium on Saturday, March 19 at 8PM at Fairfax High School, 3500 Old Lee Highway in Fairfax, VA. Attired in a replica of Sousa s bandleader uniform and conducting in a style modeled on Sousa s own methods and mannerisms, Maestro Brion brings to life carefully researched concerts that are just like ones led by Sousa himself filled with music spanning light classics, virtuoso solos by guests Beverley Benda (soprano), Nan Raphael (piccolo), and Scott Shelsta (trombone), and patriotic marches. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 seniors/students. Contact the City of Fairfax Band at or at for tickets and details. Phelps); Catherine Brunell (Mary Jane Wilkes, Voice of Miss Watson); Debra Buonaccorsi (Ensemble); Walter Charles (Judge Thatcher/Doctor/ Voice of Duke); Desiré DuBose (Ensemble); Elizabeth Greene (Widow Douglas, Voice of Sally Phelps); Jay Lusteck (Pap, King, Voice of Silas Phelps); Dan Manning (Preacher); David McLellan (Jo Harper, Lafe, Donald Robinson); David Michael Roth (Ben Rogers, Andy, Ronald Robinson); Ben Thompson (Voice of Simon, Trader, and Sheriff Bell); and Charles Wallace (Ensemble). Deaf West Theatre, in North Hollywood, originally developed this award winning production in the fall of 2001, and transferred the show to the Mark Taper Forum in The next year, the production moved to the Roundabout Theatre on Broadway, in a coproduction with Deaf West and Roundabout in association with the Mark Taper Forum, where it received a special Tony for Excellence in Theatre as well as two nominations, including Best Revival of a Musical. The original production of Big River opened on Local musicians and music fans are invited to RCC s new Community Jam Sessions. Make music with your neighbors in the lovely Jo Ann Rose Gallery at the Lake Anne RCC. All instruments, musical styles and levels of musical ability are welcome. The Jam Sessions will be held on Sunday March 13 and Sunday May 15 from 7 9PM. The sessions are free and no registrations are required. Free light refreshments will be served. Two accomplished musicians will be on hand to provide accompaniment on request on piano, bass or guitar. Thomas A. Korth is Professor of Music, and Chair of the Department of Music at Howard University. After receiving the Mus. B and M. Mus. degrees from Howard, he earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition from the University of Maryland. He has composed chamber music that has been performed in this country and Europe, as well as electronic music film scores for the United States Information Agency. Collaborating with his wife, director Vera J. Katz, he has also written background music for the Howard University Department of Theatre Arts dramatic productions. Listed in Who s Who in Entertainment; he has performed for many years as a jazz Broadway on April 25, 1985, at the Eugene O Neill Theatre and won seven Tony Awards, including best musical, best book and best score. Musical numbers include Do You Want to Go to Heaven?; Waiting for the Light to Shine; Muddy Water; When the Sun Goes Down in the South; and Worlds Apart. The initial staging at Deaf West won six Theatre L.A. Ovation Awards, five Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards and five Back Stage West Garland Awards, including best musical. The show is produced by Atlanta s Theatre of the Stars and Deaf West Theatre, in association with Dallas Summer Musicals, Houston s Theater Under the Stars, Boston s Wang Center for the Performing Arts, in association with the Center Theater Group, Roundabout Theater Company and Jeff Calhoun. Ford s production of Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is made possible by the generous support of Nortel and Raytheon. For more information on Ford s Theatre, please call or visit RCC HOSTS COMMUNITY JAM SESSIONS and commercial pianist/keyboardist in the greater DC area and has accompanied such artists as Gloria Lynne, Jimmy Witherspoon, Al Hibbler and Chuck Berry. John Starr graduated in music from Washington College. He studied with Asher Zlotnik, a highly influential teacher of numerous renowned professional musicians. In 2003, Mr. Starr traveled to Italy with Mozart to Motown, as both musician and orchestrator. Mr. Starr has performed for many years in the Washington, DC metropolitan area for various corporate, political and embassy events. He is currently the head of Jazz Bands at the Key School. Bring your instruments, your voices, your families and your neighbors and remember the Community that plays together, stays together. For further information, directions, or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact the Reston Community Center at (V/TTY) or visit com. The Reston Community Center, Hunters Woods, is located in the lower level of the Hunters Woods Shopping Center, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston, VA. 16 THE METRO HERALD

17 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT MICAH STAMPLEY PREPARES FOR DEBUT ALBUM, SPRING CONCERT TOUR With a grand prize win in the 2004 Stellar Awards Talent Search under his belt and three tracks on Bishop T.D. Jakes He- Motions album, Dexterity/EMI Gospel recording artist Micah Stampley is poised to soar with his debut release, The Songbook of Micah. The album s first single, War Cry a call for Christian soldiers to go out into the world and seek their ministry and mission impacted at gospel radio on February 11. Music lovers got a taste of Stampley s powerful gift during the taping of the January 26 fundraiser in Nashville, An Evening for Restoration: Music City Comes Together for Tsunami Relief. Sharing the stage with music greats CeCe Winans, Ricky Skaggs, Michael W. Smith and Mercy Me, the Oak Ridge Boys and others, Stampley delivered a performance that had the audience buzzing and was widely excerpted on local newscasts the following day. Currently, Stampley is preparing for jam-packed spring and summer that includes a church concert tour that kicked off March 5 and runs through April 11. Scheduled cities include Washington, DC on Sunday, March 13 at Union Temple Baptist and Great Mt. Calvary; Maryland: First Baptist Church of Glenarden also on March 13. Upcoming promotional duties for The Songbook of Micah add to Stampley s busy schedule. Radio days in Washington, DC, Atlanta and Dallas are scheduled for March 14, March 18 and April 1, respectively, and music lovers will be able to stream War Cry via a new Internet campaign that hit February 18. Starting March 1, Stampley will reach out to fans via online chats on sites such as GospelFlava. com, ChristianityToday.com and GospelCity.com. It s been an extraordinary journey for Stampley, who grew up the son and grandson of pastors in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I m more nervous now than I ve ever been, he admits. I ve come through some tough times I ve been broke, even homeless. To see me now, my parents are blown away. I m blown away. Stampley and his wife, Heidi, wrote all but three of the 10 songs on The Songbook of Micah, and the young artist says the songs are his exploration of redemption, worship and wholeness. Stampley even researched his namesake, the Biblical Micah, and discovered that most of the prophet s messages were delivered via rhythmic poetry something perhaps close to singing and that most of the biblical Micah messages were aimed at churches doing ungodly things, urging them to change their ways. Stampley focuses his messages on Christians who may have lost their way. The songs on this project cry out for people to return to the reason we were created solely to worship Him, says Stampley. I want this to be a reminder that the real soldiers don t compromise. Lyrically, much of the music on The Songbook of Micah pours from the heart and soul of Stampley s personal experiences. He is particularly fervent about the troubling behavior he has witnessed among some of his fellow church musicians and ministers of music. It s so important for musicians to live a lifestyle of holiness, because whatever s in our spirit will go out into the church, says Stampley. I have seen musicians and singers out in the church parking lot doing drugs, drinking and then coming right into the church to lead praise and worship. After a whirlwind year that s seen him win a national talent search and earn the respect and guidance of Bishop T.D. Jakes and others in contemporary Gospel, Stampley stays grounded through his continued work at St. Agnes Baptist Church in Houston, where he s assistant minister of music; his devotion to family, the Stampley s have five children; and his music. My wife and I started writing these songs long before I ever had a recording contract, says Stampley. It s been years that God has been giving us this music. The Landless Theatre Company brings Maury Yeston and Arthur Kopit s award winning musical Nine to Washington, DC in the first local production since the Tony Award winning Broadway revival in The production will be presented on the stage of the beautiful, newly renovated GALA Hispanic Theatre at Tivoli in Washington s Columbia Heights, which opened its doors in January. The musical, based on Fellini s film, 8 1 2, features an almost all-female cast and a brilliant score including Unusual Way, LANDLESS THEATRE CO. PRESENTS NINE THE MUSICAL My Husband Makes Movies, and Simple. Landless unique production will combine music, theatre, and film in tribute to Fellini s influence. The production is directed by Asha Srinivasan (Peabody Conservatory) and features a cast of dynamic local talent with Landless Artistic Director Andrew Lloyd Baughman starring as Guido Contini and 15 local actresses including Julie Herber, Jen Morris, and Casie Platt as the various women in his life. Nine The Musical runs March 17 April 17. We are thrilled to present one of the first productions at this gorgeous new theatre, Baughman said. Part of Landless mission is to find theatre spaces that compliment our material, and you could not find a better venue for the Italian influenced Nine. Walking into the Tivoli is like strolling around Europe. Nine tells the story of Guido Contini, a brilliant and successful filmmaker, who is plagued by his impending middle age, writer s block, the insatiable press, and the many women in his life whom he yearns to escape and yet continues to turn to for inspiration. While Nine is based on Fellini s 8 1 2, the creative team had never seen a production that was particularly influenced by his film, Baughman said. Our concept is to tie Fellini s life work and style into the production through incorporation of original Fellini-esque film footage by local film director/producer Hilarey Kirsner. It is our hope that this production will appeal to film buffs along with lovers of musical theatre. Nine The Musical will run March 17 through April 17, 2005 on Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00PM and Sunday afternoons at 2:00PM with one Sunday evening performance on April 10 at 8:00PM. Pay-what-you-can preview night is Thursday, March 17 at 8:00PM. The theater is located at th Street, NW, Washington, DC Tickets are $20.00 each and can be purchased online at or by calling When responding to an ad, tell them you saw it in The Metro Herald THE METRO HERALD 17

18 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT MONTGOMERY COLLEGE TO HOST SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL WASHINGTON CONVENTION CENTER WASHINGTON, DC MARCH 17 MARCH 20, 2005 The Washington Home & Garden Show is the biggest and best home & garden show on the entire East Coast. With over 800+ booths and more than 24 fully landscaped full sized gardens, plan to spend the day. THE MOUNT VERNON PLAYERS The Historic Mount Vernon Players of Washington, DC announces its March presentation of Clare Boothe Luce s comedy classic, The Women. This fast-paced hilarious comedy opened Friday, March 4 and will run for three consecutive weekends with performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30PM and with Sunday Matinees at 2:00PM on the 20th and 27th. A distinguished cast has assembled cast from opera, television, motion pictures and the community. This production stars distinguished actresses Beth Osborne, MaryAnne Mosher, and Liesyl Franz. These 3 ladies are supported by a cast of 35 more characters. The play is directed by the noted theatrical and motion picture historian Darryl Winston. Mr. Winston is the theater s managing director who is taking this Historic theatre into new theatrical vistas. Originally produced in New York, in 1936 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre and ran for 666 performances and another 18 months on tour. This opus became Renaissance Woman Clare Boothe Luce s greatest theatrical success. Set in the swanky New York City of the 1930 s it tells much about the secret world of women and much more. The Historic Mount Vernon Players opened its doors in It was the Nation s Capital s first integrated theater. The famed Arena Stage is an outgrowth of this theater. In keeping with this fine tradition the Mount Vernon Players is a multicultural and multigenerational theater showcasing Visit hundreds of displays, see thousands of products and millions of flowers. For the gardener, visit the Garden Marketplace with vendors from 41 states and treasures from around the world. Shop till you drop for everything under the sun from water lilies to bamboo table fountains to exotic bulbs, to orchids, to bonsai to cut flowers and garden gizmos. Carry home all the goodies you can hold. For the home, you will find everything for kitchens, baths, remodeling, flooring, granite & marble, professional grade appliances, architectural antiques the list is endless. And for your first breath of spring, walk through the gardens all forced into full bloom. Cherry trees, gold daffodils, a rainbow of tulips and a million new ideas. Meet Washington s very best landscapers and make plans for your own backyard. talents of both up and coming as actors and singers who are learning their craft as well as veteran thespians who want to hone their talents as well as give back to the community. Our dress rehearsals are opened to schools as well as geriatric centers and nursing homes. We are proud to keep up this outstanding church outreach program. Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church, at 900 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, diagonally across from the Convention Center and 3 blocks north on 9th Street from the Gallery Place Metro, The intimate little theater on the square seats 150. Suggested donations: General admission is $15, students and seniors, $12. Professional actors teach students about stage combat at a WillPower! Workshop in Montgomery College will present WillPower, a six-day festival of master classes, performances, lectures, workshops, and exhibits that celebrate the world of author William Shakespeare. Events, which are free and open to the public, will be held Monday, March 14 to Saturday, March 19, at the College s Rockville and Takoma Park Campuses. Some of the week s highlights will include: WillPower! Opening Ceremonies Monday, March 14, at 1PM. Humanities Amphitheatre, next to the Humanities Building, Rockville Campus (Rain/snow location: Theatre Arts Arena, Theatre Arts Building). The six-day festival will begin with an opening celebration that will highlight Shakespeare s contributions to the arts and humanities. Actors will be dressed in traditional Shakespearean costumes. Performance Measure for Measure Tuesday, March 15, at 7:30PM. Theatre Arts Arena, Theatre Arts Building, Rockville Campus, 51 Mannakee Street. The Virginia-based Shenandoah Shakespeare Express (SSE) will perform Measure for Measure, which examines the nature of absolute power and the power of absolution. SSE takes a fresh, energetic approach to Shakespeare by remaining true to the performance conventions of his time, but giving his works a contemporary flair. Lecture Hung be the Heavens with Black: A Historical Retrospective on Who Owns Shakespeare Tuesday, March 15, at 6:30PM, Takoma Park Campus, Room 103, Communications Arts Center, Chicago Avenue, Takoma Park Wednesday, March 16, at 2PM, Rockville Campus, Theatre Arts Arena, Theatre Arts Building, 51 Mannakee Street, Rockville. Dr. Marvin McAllister, author of a book on the African Grove Theatre Company, will discuss the contributions of the company, the first African-American theatre company in the United States, to the increasingly multicultural approach to producing Shakespeare. Performance Twelfth Night Wednesday, March 16, at 10AM. Theatre Arts Arena, Theatre Arts Building, Rockville Campus, 51 Mannakee Street. Shenandoah Shakespeare Express (SSE) will perform Twelfth Night, one of Shakespeare s most popular plays. The comedy uses both slapstick, irony, and gender-bending to show love in all its guises and disguises. Lecture Shakespeare by the Numbers Wednesday, March 16, at 4PM. Theatre Arts Arena, Theatre Arts Building, Rockville Campus, 51 Mannakee Street. Montgomery College Math Professor Florence Ashby will explore Shakespeare s use of mathematics in his two plays, Measure for Measure and Twelfth Night. Workshop Sound and the Fury: Exploring Shakespeare s Text Through Sound and Movement Wednesday, March 16, at 7PM, Takoma Park Campus, Room 103, Communications Arts Center, Chicago Avenue, Takoma Park Friday, March 18, at 10AM, Rockville Campus, Theatre Arts Arena, Theatre Arts Building, 51 Mannakee Street, Rockville. Professors Celia Madeoy and Sasha Olinick will present this interactive workshop. Lecture/Demonstration Shakespeare s Poetry: Diction, Imagery, Meter and Sound Wednesday, March 16, at 7PM. Theatre Arts Arena, Theatre Arts Building, Rockville Campus, 51 Mannakee Street. Cam Magee, a member of the Folger Library s education team and director for Bill s Buddies, will teach an interactive workshop on Shakespeare s language, unlocking the power and beauty of his words through an examination of his use of poetry and sound. Workshop Nobilita di Dame: Dances of the Renaissance Thursday, March 17, at 11AM, Rockville Campus, Theatre Arts Arena, Theatre Arts Building, 51 Mannakee Street Thursday, March 17, at 1PM, Takoma Park Campus, Room 103, Communication Arts Center, Chicago Avenue, Takoma Park. Renee Camus Centuries Historical Dance Company, a professional performance troupe dedicated to recreating and presenting period social dances, will demonstrate dances of the Renaissance and describe how the social climate influenced their development. Support for WillPower! was provided by The Webber Family Foundation and the Maryland Humanities Council. Additional support was provided by Montgomery College s Department of Speech, Dance, Theatre, and ASL; the Department of English Composition, Literature, and Professional Writing; the Department of Fine, Performing, and Visual Arts; the Department of the Humanities; and the Office of Student Life. For a detailed schedule of WillPower! events, visit www. montgomerycollege.edu or call THE METRO HERALD

19 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT KOOL & THE GANG THE HITS: RELOADED Gang today. Formed in the mid-1960s, the pop-r&b group best known for its upbeat song Celebration has re-created itself several times over the decades to keep pace with an ever-changing music scene. For more information, visit www. koolandthegang. com. YOUTH ART MONTH Celebrate the magical moment when a child s imagination takes flight at Chrysalis, a special exhibition by Reston Elementary Schools in honor of Youth Art Month which will be on display at the Jo Ann Rose Gallery at the Reston Community Center, Lake Anne from March 1 to April 3, Art teachers from the eight Reston elementary schools have selected work from a variety of emerging artists to be displayed in the gallery. The eight elementary schools are Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, Dogwood, Hunters Woods, Forest Edge, Lake Anne, Sunrise Valley and Terraset. Youth Art Month is an annual observance celebrated since It emphasizes the value of art education and encourages support for quality school art programs. For further information, directions, or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact the Reston Community Center at (V/TTY) or visit The Reston Community Center, Lake Anne, is located in Lake Anne Plaza, near the intersection of North Shore Drive and Village Road in Reston, VA. Kool and the Gang celebrates 40 years together with an amazing package featuring superstar guest appearances by artists including, ASHANTI, BLU CANTRELL and LI L KIM. The group has rounded up numerous hit acts to appear on revamped versions of their best-known songs, including Angie Stone, Jamiroquai and Jamelia. With 11 tracks, many artists faithfully pay homage to the originals, and a handful have stamped their own mark on the Kool classics. Sean Paul s Ladies Night is an instant smash, Youssou N Dour and Lauryn Hill collaborate on a lovely cover of Summer Madness and Lisa Stansfield s jazzy Too Hot is inspiring. The New Jersey Pop and R&B legends have recruited a host of chart-topping stars on The Hits: Reloaded available on KTFA Entertainment/ Sanctuary Urban. Kool notes: We were lucky to get BEVERLY KNIGHT, JAMELIA, ATOMIC KITTEN and JAMIROQUAI which was amazing. The BLACK EYED PEAS couldn t fit their schedule around ours We ll save that one for the future! From Joanna to Too Hot to Jungle Boogie, the song that awakened Generation X to old-school funk when Quentin Tarantino included it in Pulp Fiction Kool is forever cool. The seven-piece Gang, which is still led by Robert Kool Bell more than 40 years after he formed the group with his Jersey City, N.J., pals, tours and now has released a new CD with many of their peers and new school artists. Kool and the Gang have sold more than 70 million albums worldwide during the course of the band s history. Songs such as Celebration, Cherish, Jungle Boogie and Ladies Night have brought the band two Grammy Awards and seven American Music Awards. The group has 25 Top 10 rhythm and blues hits, nine Top 10 pop hits and 31 gold and platinum albums to their credit. As the band continues to tour into its fourth decade, it still enjoys enormous popularity. Consisting of Robert Kool Bell, Khalis Bayyan, George Brown, Dennis Thomas and Charles Smith. With the release of its newest album, the band has expanded its sound. The future of our sound will be an infusion of classic Kool & the Gang with hiphop, said band member Bayyan. I feel that our longevity in the music industry is a result of our relentless pursuit of excellence and consistency. And after 40 years together we re having more fun now than ever it just gets better and better. SO they now invite their fans to Cherish the sound of Kool & the THE METRO HERALD 19

20 TODAY S WOMAN/SPORTS AND RECREATION/CAPITAL COMMENTS MEAL EXCHANGE SIMPLIFIES EVERYDAY DINNERS Dear Betty, My friends and I would like some ideas for making weeknight meals ahead. Thanks! Sacramento, Calif. You ve heard of a cookie exchange, so why not plan a meal exchange! It s the same concept friends make a variety of family favorites and everyone gets to take some of each home. I asked my friend Art Smith, Oprah Winfrey s personal chef, about meal exchanges, and he says they re one of the hot new helps for harried cooks. If you and several friends want to give a meal exchange a try, start by deciding what you ll make. Casseroles, meatballs, taco-seasoned meat, chili, hearty soups and skillet suppers are ideal for exchanges. My Web site can give you ideas and recipes for wonderfully creative and delicious make ahead main dishes. There are a couple of ways to organize your exchange: Have each person make and freeze their contribution, then meet to exchange the prepared dishes. Be sure to include the recipe and thawing, baking or reheating instructions for everyone. Gather at one friend s house for a cook-a-thon. With a little planning, your meal assembly line will go smoothly. For instance, add up the total amount of chopped onions you ll need so you can chop them all at once. Have your group bring their own baking pans (disposable foil ones work great) and wrapping materials. Then get cookin! Not only will you have several nights of meals to show for your efforts, you ll discover how fun cooking with friends can be. Dear Betty, I ve started making some meals for the week ahead and would like to know the best way to freeze casseroles. Can you help? Chattanooga, Tenn. You ve found one of the best ways to take the stress out of weeknight meals! So that you don t tie up all of your baking dishes in the freezer, line the dish with foil leaving plenty of overhang on each side for wrapping the casserole and spray lightly with cooking spray (or use nonstick foil.) Spoon in or layer the casserole. Wrap tightly and freeze. When frozen solid, lift out the casserole. Label with the date and baking instructions, place in a plastic freezer bag and return to the freezer. When you re ready to bake the casserole, remove the wrappings, place it in the original baking dish, thaw in the fridge or microwave, then bake. Or bake the casserole, wrap airtight, label and freeze. Just thaw and reheat for a meal in minutes. Send questions to Ask Betty Crocker, One General Mills Boulevard, Minneapolis, MN 55426; toll-free: 1-888/ASK BETTY or visit < KIM COLES APPEARING AT ASHLEY STEWART S GRAND OPENING Multitalented actress/comedian Kim Coles will heat up the Ashley Stewart grand opening store celebrations on March 12th at their newest store locations in Largo and Oxon Hill, MD. Kim will be at the Largo location, Boulevard at Capital Center from 1:00 3:00PM and at the Oxon Hill store from 4:00 6:00PM signing autographs, wowing the crowds and simply being the Great Woman of Style that she is known to be. Kim Coles really relates to our customers, said Maria Minns Ashley Stewart s Vice President, General Merchandise Manager, because she personifies the Ashley Stewart woman; stylish, hip and confident. Both the Largo and Oxon Hill instore celebrations will include hot spring fashion shows, door prizes, raffles, and free gifts with purchases, live musical performances and local celebrities. Radio personality Adimu and 95.5 WPGC s DJ Rico will be hosting the Largo event from 12:00 5:00PM. The Oxon Hill event goes from 1:00 6:00PM with DC s own 93.9 WKYS sultry Jeannie Jones emceeing from 1:00 3:00PM. Since 1991, Ashley Stewart has continued to provide great styles and accessories for fashion-forward fullfigured females. Known for stylish, sexy and great-priced apparel, Ashley Stewart s clothing reflects its customers inner-confidence. With 164 stores (and counting) located in urban areas from New York to Los Angeles, Ashley Stewart is the premier destination for Great Women of Style. NEW STORE LOCATIONS Ashley Capital Center, 820-c Boulevard at Capital Center, Largo, MD Ashley Oxon Hill, 5215 Indian Head Highway, Oxon Hill, MD THE HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS COME TO FAIRFAX AND WASHINGTON, DC Playing in 250 U.S. cities and over 40 countries, the Harlem Globetrotters are truly having a world of fun. The World Famous Harlem Globetrotters are bringing their 2005 World of Fun North American Tour to Fairfax and Washington, DC. The Globetrotters will pay a doubleheader on Friday, March 18 and Saturday, March 19 at 7:30PM when they face the New York Nationals at the George Mason University Patriot Center. On Saturday, March 19 at 1:00PM the Globetrotters will also play against the New York Nationals at MCI Center. Schedule for The George Mason University Patriot Center, 4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax, VA Friday, March Over 800 basketball players from around the Commonwealth will converge on seen Stafford County Schools and Chancellor High School on March 18 & 19 to participate in skills competitions and the more than 70 games that make up the Special Olympics Virginia State Basketball Championship. The Championship begins at Colonial Forge High School on Friday, March 18 at 7:30PM with the GEICO All-Star Friday Night Opening Ceremony. This event includes the ceremonial lighting of the Olympic Torch along with a series of basketball skills contests for the athletes. A dance for the athletes will follow in the high school s cafeteria. The basketball competition begins Saturday at 9:00AM and will continue through mid-afternoon. Fullcourt games will take place at North Stafford HS, Stafford Senior HS, Gayle MS, Poole MS, Stafford MS, 18 7:30PM; Saturday, March 19, 7:30PM. Schedule for The MCI Center, 601 F Street, NW, Washington, DC Saturday, March 19 1:00PM. Tickets for the Patriot Center shows start at $15.50 and for the MCI Center $14. Tickets are on currently on sale and are available at all Ticketmaster outlets including the Patriot Center box office, the MCI Center box office, online at or via Phonecharge at SEAT, SEAT. For information online: THE TEAM THAT CHANGED THE WORLD The Globetrotters historical impact is captured for the first time in a documentary entitled, The Team That Changed the World. This 60-minute feature produced by Chicago-based TeamWorks Media, will air nationally on public television throughout the months of February and March. The Team That Changed the World tells the story of two basketball games that helped shaped post-world War II society, both in the United States and abroad. The program chronicles the Globetrotters legendary upset of the World Champion Minneapolis Lakers in 1948, paving the way for the integration of the NBA, as well as the team s historic trip to Berlin in 1951, where over 75,000 fans witnessed the return of Olympic Champion, Jesse Owens, who 15 years earlier, was shunned in the same stadium by Adolf Hitler. The documentary places the Globetrotters in a historical context that allows the viewer to see the immense impact the team has had on the world as well as the world of basketball. The Team That Changed the World will follow the Globetrotters on their path to open the world s eyes to the accomplishments of African-American athletes, as well as to their messages of peace and tolerance that earned them the title of global Ambassadors of Goodwill. Their story will be told through former Globetrotters, current and former NBA players, as well as celebrities, musicians and authors. Chuck D, of the pioneer rap group, Public Enemy, will narrate the documentary. Check local listings at www. pbs.org. SPECIAL OLYMPICS VIRGINIA and Wright MS. Half-court action will take place at Colonial Forge High School and Thompson Middle School. Individual skills athletes will compete at Chancellor High School in Spotsylvania County. The media and public are encouraged to attend this free Special Olympics event. Sponsors of the 2005 State Basketball Championship included GEICO, Adelphia, The Free-Lance Star, Arby s, Ukrops, Stafford County Economic Development, Northrop Grumman and Mary Washington Hospital. Special Olympics Virginia, the state chapter of Special Olympics International, provides year-round sports training and athletic competition to 14,000 children and adults with mental disabilities in the Commonwealth. For more information: , GOLD or visit MORAN REINTRODUCES LEGISLATION Continued from page 9 companies to provide a postagepaid product registration card that requests only a consumer s name, address, and phone number. In lieu of a registration card, companies could instead provide a website for consumers to enter the aforementioned information for certain products. Currently, companies include questions on the cards regarding, among other things, income and product choices, thereby using the cards for their own marketing purposes. More than 93 percent of the consumers who buy products with registration cards do not return them because of the voluminous information being asked of them. Moran went on to say, Consumers should not be forced to fill out irrelevant and oftentimes very personal information, just so they can be notified of a recall. The legislation defines the scope of products requiring a marketing-free registration card to encompass juvenile products and small household appliances. Items that are specifically identified in the legislation include, among other items, cribs, bath seats for babies, car seats, and strollers. Small household appliances that would require product registration cards include, among other items, toasters, toaster ovens, and coffee makers. Rachel Weintraub, Assistant General Counsel at Consumer Federation of America (CFA), whose organization supports the Moran bill states, This legislation is especially important in light of the two year anniversary of the CPSC s rejection of CFA s petition to require manufacturers of children s products to accompany such products with product safety registration cards. The CPSC chose to reject a specific proposal to fix the nation s defective recall notification system, without offering a concrete timeline or plan of their own to deal with this problem. It is now two years later and CPSC still relies upon a smoke signal to communicate news of a recall. Sally Greenberg, Senior Product Safety Counsel at Consumers Union states, There is nothing difficult or new about a recall product registration card. Congressman Moran is asking companies to do something they already do provide registration cards to consumers but his bill makes consumers and their safety the focus of those cards, not the company s marketing system. In February of 2003, Congressman Moran and Congressman James McGovern (MA-03) sent a letter to the Chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) supporting the petition filed by CFA, Consumers Union and U.S. PRIG which called on the commission to reform the recall system and consider revamping product safety card guidelines. The CPSC voted against the petition and has refused to take further action towards implementing product safety card reform benefiting the public s safety. 20 THE METRO HERALD

21 BUSINESS NEWS/BIDS & PROPOSALS IRS HAS $8.2 MILLION FOR DC RESIDENTS Unclaimed refunds totaling more than $8.2 million are awaiting about 6,200 DC residents who failed to file a 2001 income tax return, the Internal Revenue Service announced recently. However, in order to collect the money, a return must be filed with an IRS office no later than April 15, Nationally, the IRS has more than $2 billion waiting for about 1.7 million people. The IRS estimates that half of those who could claim refunds would receive more than $484. In some cases, individuals had taxes withheld from their wages or made payments against their taxes out of self-employed earnings but had too little income to require filing a tax return. Some taxpayers may also be eligible for the refundable Earned Income Tax Credit. The window is closing for 2001 refunds, IRS Commissioner Mark W. Everson said. As soon as you send us your tax return, you ll get your money. But if you don t file, you won t get anything. In cases where a return was not filed, the law provides most taxpayers with a three-year window of opportunity to claim a refund. If no return is filed to claim the refund within three years, the money becomes property of the U.S. Treasury. There is no penalty assessed by the IRS for filing a late return qualifying for a refund. The IRS reminds taxpayers seeking a 2001 refund that their checks will be held if they have not filed tax returns for 2002 or In addition, the refund will be applied to any amounts still owed to the IRS and may be used to satisfy unpaid child support or past due federal debts such as student loans. By failing to file a return, individuals stand to lose more than refunds of taxes withheld or paid during Many low-income workers may not have claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Although eligible taxpayers may get a refund when their EITC is more than their tax, those who file returns more than three years late would be able only to offset their tax. They would not be able to receive refunds if the credit exceeds their tax. Generally, individuals qualified for the EITC in 2001 if they earned less than $32,121 and had two or more qualifying children living with them, earned less than $28,281 with one qualifying child or earned less than $10,710 with no qualifying child. Current and prior year tax forms are available on the IRS website ( or by calling TAX-FORM ( ). Taxpayers who need help may also call the IRS help line at Archive issues are available at The National Association of Minority Contractors (NMAC) presented their 2005 Charter Member Award to Hilton O. Smith, Vice President and National Director of Community Affairs for Turner Construction at the recent Gala Awards Dinner in Washington, DC. Smith and Thomas C. Leppert, Chairman and CEO of The Turner Corporation, were jointly honored at the event, along with U.S. Congressman Elijah E. Cummings and former U.S. NMACs CHARTER MEMBER AWARD representative Parren J. Mitchell. The award recognizes Turner s commitment and devotion to the overall mission of MAMC, the Washington, DC-based nonprofit trade association created to address the needs and concerns of minority contractors. As part of the evening s agenda, Leppert delivered the dinner s keynote speech, entitled Building America with an Equal Playing Field, which highlighted the critical and far-reaching roles played by the nearly 5,000 minority contracting firms operating in BID NO. B SUSANNA LANE ROCK CREEK STREAM VALLEY UNIT #2 The Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) (Montgomery County) hereby invites sealed bids from interested parties for the removal and replacement of an existing pedestrian bridge, abutments, and related paving improvements. The bridge is located on the Rock Creek Hiker/Biker Trail approximately 400 east of the end of Black Chestnut Lane. Copies of the bid documents are furnished by the Park Development Division of the Montgomery County Department of Park and Planning from its offices at 9500 Brunett Avenue, Room B107, Silver Spring, Maryland 20901, after noon on Thursday, March 10, The cost per bid document is $50.00 (payable to M-NCPPC) and non-refundable. Payments must be made with check or money order only. Cash, credit and debit cards are not accepted. Bidding Documents may be sent by express delivery service. Call for instructions. A pre-bid meeting will not be held. Technical questions for this project must be submitted in writing on or before Thursday, April 7, Questions can be faxed or ed to Rhonda Brown at or rhonda.brown@mncppc-mc.org. Sealed bids must be received by the Commission s Purchasing Office, c/o Rhonda Brown, M-NCPPC, 9500 Brunett Avenue, Room B107, Silver Spring, Maryland 20901, not later than Thursday, April 14, 2005, at 11:00 a.m. The Commission reserves the right to reject any and all bids received, and to waive irregularities. THE DEPARTMENT OF PARK AND PLANNING STRONGLY ENCOURAGES THE PARTICIPATION OF MINORITY, FEMALE, AND DISABLED OWNED BUSINESSES IN THE SOLICITATION PROCESS, AND INVITES THEM TO EXPLORE POSSIBLE CON- TRACTING AND SUBCONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES. Questions and concerns regarding this solicitation should be directed to Rhonda Brown, Contract Specialist, at CALL OUR HOTLINE: OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE: THE MARYLAND-NATIONAL CAPITAL PARK AND PLANNING COMMISSION (M-NCPPC) hereby invites sealed bids from interested parties for Invitation for Bid No. B for Swimming Pool Chemicals for Prince George s County Parks and Recreation Department in accordance with the scope of services to be furnished by the Purchasing Division, 6611 Kenilworth Ave., Suite 300, Riverdale, MD Each bid must be submitted to the Purchasing Office at the above address. Bids must be received before 3:00 pm, Thursday, March 31, Request for copies of the solicitation and any questions regarding this bid may be directed to Flora Lindsay, Administrative Specialist at (301) , TTY (301) All bids and associated documents will become the property of the M-NCPPC and will be considered public information. The Commission is an E.O.E. with special procurement rules for Minorities, Females, and the Disabled. the U.S., the Virgin Islands and Great Britain. For Smith, an ordained minister, the NMAC award is the latest in a long list of professional honors bestowed by the construction industry including the keys to several U.S. cities and recognition from Senators, Congressmen and even the state of New York. Thanks to his role in managing Turner s corporate affairs, minority and women business, equal employment and educational programs, Smith is largely responsible for leading Turner s efforts to award more than $15 billion to approximately 39,000 minority and women business enterprises. CONSULTANT INSPECTION SERVICES The Virginia Department of Transportation is seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) from consulting engineering firms who wish to be considered to provide professional engineering services for: A Northern Virginia District-Wide Technical Construction Engineering Inspection Contract providing inspection services under a Fixed Billable Rate Contract. This contract will be for a 1 year contract period with optional 2 one-year renewable terms. The proposed one-year contract will have a total maximum compensation not to exceed $ 1,500, Project inspection will require 1 Construction Inspector Coordinator and 14 inspectors during peak construction operations consisting of 3 Construction Inspector Seniors, 3 Senior Technical Inspectors, and 8 Construction Inspectors. The 3 Senior Technical Inspectors should be knowledgeable in system/software integration, testing, and factory acceptance monitoring for ITS (Intelligent Transportation Systems) equipment. This staff should also be knowledgeable in the management of software development and software/hardware upgrades, for various ITS applications. In addition the technical inspection staff should have experience working in multi-disciplined ITS environments. Staff should have personal knowledge in systems engineering, database technology, operating systems, transportation engineering, electrical engineering, local area networks, wide area networks and telecommunications. Additional Engineering functions, which may be required, include, but are not limited to, the review of shop drawings, schedule review, and analysis and notice of intent analysis. In the event the Virginia Department of Transportation chooses to assign in-house personnel to this contract, the number of inspectors to be furnished by the consultant may be reduced at any time during the duration of the contract. Expressions of interest must be received by 4:00 p.m. on March 23, A copy of the request for proposal (RFP) may be obtained through VDOT s website at If you experience difficulty in downloading the RFP please contact Mr. W. Peyton Carney (804) or fax (804) TTY/TDD/Voice Calls: (For Hearing-Impaired Only) The Department assures compliance with Title VI requirements of nondiscrimination in all activities pursuant to this advertisement. REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS RFP 130-RO The Virginia Department of Transportation is seeking proposals from qualified firms to provide competency-based software that will support how VDOT selects, hires, assesses, develops, and manages performance of employees to position them for the future. All proposals must be received by 10:30AM, March 31, 2005, at the Virginia Department of Transportation, 1201 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia A copy of Request for Proposals 130-RO may be obtained on www. VDOT.Virginia.gov or For the hearing impaired only, TDD access is available at The Department assures compliance with Title VI requirements of non-discrimination in all activities pursuant to this advertisement. THE METRO HERALD 21

22 CLASSIFIED ADS/BIDS & PROPOSALS Only $250 buys a 25-word classified ad in 98 newspapers across Virginia. Call: The Metro Herald at OR Virginia Press Services at to place your ad in the AD NETWORK CLASSIFIEDS EARN $1,000 Per Sale! WE Help YOU Advertise. WE Take the Calls. WE Close the Sales. Insurance. $2,000 Investment ID# 8229BM. EMPLOYMENT LISTINGS Government & Postal Jobs Public Announcement. $12-48/hour. Now Hiring. BENEFITS & RETIRE- MENT. Application and Info: Dept. P a.m. 11 p.m. 7 days. Fee. Now Hiring 2005 Postal Positions Federal, State & Local. $14.80/$48+/ Hour. No experience necessary. Entry Levels. Full Benefits. Paid Training. Call 7 days (888) Ext Fee. $ PER WEEK possible mailing our simple postcards from home. Supplies & training provided. Genuine opportunity. FT/PT. FREE Information package. Call (24 hour recording). Fee. EQUIPMENT FOR SALE SAWMILLS $2, Lumbermate-2000 & LumberLite-24. Norwood Industries also manufactures utility ATV attachments, log skidders, portable board edgers and forestry equipment. Free information: ext. 300N. FARM/LIVESTOCK Live Fish for Ponds-Lakes. Plants. Lilies. 32 Species Available. Free Catalog. Delivery or Pick-Up. ZETTS FISH HATCHERY, 878 Hatchery Road, Inwood, WV (304) FINANCIAL SERVICES/ MONEY TO LEND ANY CREDIT RATING! 1st & 2nd Mortgages Fast! Low Rates! Easy Payment Plans! No Upfront Fees! Apply Free/Call Charles or Kim Toney (804) or toll-free (800) Aggressive Mortgage. $$ As seen on TV. Cash now for your future Settlement and Lottery payments. Don t wait for your $$$. Call Prosperity Partners (800) HEALTH/BEAUTY Family Health Care w/prescription Plan! $69.95/month: Best network, Excellent coverage. No limitations, includes Dental, Vision, Pre-existing Conditions OK! Call WCS ext GENERAL HELP WANTED STATE CONTRACTOR LICENSE EXAM PREP COURSE No pass no pay guarantee. Offering a seminar in a city near you www. examprep.org. PROFESSIONAL Mature Licensed Independent Life/ Health Person to call, visit with Seniors for legal survey with seniors. Travel, excellent phone, computer, organization skills. Reply: bk@shentel.net. SALES Virginia Press Services Inc., located in Glen Allen, VA, has an immediate opening for a seasoned sales representative to sell newspaper advertising in the Virginia/DC territory. We are seeking a high-energy team player. Previous sales experience necessary. VPS offers an excellent compensation and benefits package. Position is salary plus commission. If you thrive in a sales environment in which you have an unlimited income based on your own sales, please your resume for consideration to: dianas@vpa.net (EOE). TRUCK DRIVERS COMPANY DRIVERS WITH MINIMUM 1 YEAR OTR EXPERIENCE, $.35 CPM AND $1500 SIGNING BONUS, EAST COAST OPERATION, WILLIAM EDWARDS, INC EPES TRANSPORT, Drivers Home Every Weekend. No NYC/Canada. Company drivers up to.40cpm, O/O.86cpm, 1 year OTR experience required. CDL-A. O/O $1,500 SIGN-ON BONUS, Paid Base Plates, Permits, Liability Insurance. Fuel Tax, Fuel Surcharge. Benefits program available. 30-month zero out Lease Purchase program , Driver COVENANT TRANSPORT. Regional Runs Available. Home Weekly. Excellent Pay & Benefits. Experienced Drivers, O/O & Students Welcome. Equal Opportunity Employer MORE PAY ( ). Heartland offers a refresher training program for drivers who have AUCTIONS ABSOLUTE AUCTION. MARCH 23, 12 NOON, 284+/- acres, Town of Pearisburg, Giles County. Offered in tracts ranging from 2.1+/- acres to 86.1+/- acres. Great development opportunity less than 30 minutes from Blacksburg/Virginia Tech and 40 miles from Bluefield. 279+/- acres are contiguous and are located adjacent to Wal-mart and Giles County High School. Zoning: B-3, Planned Business; R-2, Residential; R-4, Townhouse Development and R-6, Planned Unit Development. One 5+/- acre tract is located in Giles County adjacent to Rt Several parcels have panoramic views. Previews: March 9 and 16 from 12 noon until 3:00 PM. For information, call Jonna McGraw (VA #2434), Woltz & Associates, Inc., Brokers & Auctioneers , or visit PUBLIC AUCTION COMMON- WEALTH OF VIRGINIA SATURDAY MARCH 12, :00 AM VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE & STATE UNIVERSITY, 1411 SOUTH MAIN STREET, BLACKSBURG, VA VEHICLES COMPUTER EQUIPMENT * VARIOUS OFFICE & HOUSEHOLD ITEMS & MUCH MORE. PUBLIC AUCTION COMMON- WEALTH OF VIRGINIA SATURDAY MARCH 19, :00 AM RAD- FORD UNIVERSITY, SURPLUS PROP- ERTY TEMPORARY STORAGE AREA, 5999 BELSPRINGS ROAD, RAD- FORD, VA VEHICLES MISC. COM- PUTER EQUIPMENT FURNITURE OFFICE, HOUSEHOLD ITEMS & MORE DPS /- Acres, 323 US221 Frontage, Homes, Zoned C Forest Road, Forest, VA, Bedford County. Estate Auction: March 16. Call for brochure! (VAAF93). GOVERNMENT SURPLUS Great deals on local and national surplus and confiscated items right at your computer. Items added daily. Register free www. govdeals.com or call (800) AUTOS FOR SALE $500! Police Impounds! Hondas, Chevys, Toyotas, Jeeps, etc.! Cars/ Trucks/SUVs, from $500! For Listings Call V030. FEE. BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES ALL CASH CANDY ROUTE. Do you earn $800 in a day? Your own local candy route. Includes 30 Machines and Candy. All for $9, Are you making $1,710 per week? All cash vending routes with prime locations available now! Under $9,000 investment required. Call Toll Free (24 7) $$$$$ Weekly Use e-bay to get Paid. Get $250 in FREE products to Start. No Inventory Required. No Experience Required. Call OnlineSupplier. For More Info Ext www. onlinesupplier.com Fee. 22 THE METRO HERALD

23 CLASSIFIED ADS/BIDS & PROPOSALS been off the road! We ll get you back on the road again! For details call HEARTLAND EXPRESS DRIVER GET YOUR CDL!! CDL TRAINING FOR CLASS A OR CLASS B. Local and O-T-R jobs available for CDS Grads! CDS Tractor Trailer Training Drivers Up to 40 /mile PLUS Benefit Package (=3 /mile more!) PLUS Bonuses $50 $250/month! Low cost CDL Training SWIFT TRANSPOR- TATION www. SwiftTruckingJobs.com. Why not make what you deserve? $.43-$.46/mile for OTR! Miles AND Money! $.41 $.44/mile for regional. Home most weekends! If you want to make more in 2005 call today. HEART- LAND EXPRESS Drivers $1,000 Sign-on for Experienced OTR. No NYC! Dedicated & Regional Available also. Owner Operators, Teams & CDL grads welcome. USA Truck ACT NOW. DRIVERS Flatbed, Bulk Tank and Refrigerated Divisions. Performance based pay. Experienced operators, Independent Contractors or Company Drivers. CDL Instruction Program available www. primeinc.com. 65 DRIVER TRAINEES NEEDED! No experience needed! Learn to drive a truck at Shippers Choice! Job ready in 4 weeks! Good pay & benefits! Drivers/Driving school graduates wanted. Tuition reimbursement. No waiting for trainers. Passenger policy. No NYC. Guaranteed Hometime. Dedicated and regional available. USA Truck MEASURE YOUR SUCCESS IN DOL- LARS PER MILE NOT CENTS! Do you own your truck? Don t haul another load for less than $1 per mile that s what you average with a base of 90 cpm plus a profitable fuel surcharge! Receive your earnings each Thursday through weekly settlements with fuel deduction; choose direct deposit or Comdata to receive your funds. We ll cover the cost of plates, permits, tolls, scales and lumpers; plus we offer significant discounts on tires and maintenance. Complete voluntary benefits and maintenance escrow are available. And there s no forced dispatch! This incredible partnership opportunity doesn t make cents it makes sense! We know the business inside and out, and we help our contracting partners achieve financial success. Call us now! JB- HUNT. EOE. Subject to d/s. 3 months experience required. Now com MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY NEAR ASHEVILLE, NC Spectacular view and riverfront homesites. Paved roads, clubhouse, world class trout fishing, hiking trails & more! Bear River Community LAWN AND GARDEN PRIVACY HEDGE SPRING SALE Leyland Cypress, Cedar Fast Grower 3-4 high. Free Delivery. Regularly $29.95 only $12.95 each. Also Red Maple, Dogwood, Cryptomeria LOTS AND ACREAGE 12 ACRES ONLY $79,990! Lexington, VA. Nestle your dream home on 12+/- acres of mature hardwoods. Seclusion, privacy and mountain views can be yours! Driveway in, soils tested, underground utilities, only $79,990! Owner www. atlanticland.info. COUNTRY ESTATE 20 ACRES STREAM FRONTAGE OVERLOOKING VALLEY, ROMNEY, WV. $119, MEDICAL ARE YOU wanting to go to school and stay at home? Earn your Associate degree at PCI Online in Business & Computers STEEL BUILDINGS PIONEER BUILDING SALE! Rock Bottom Prices! Quick Delivery. Beat Next Price Increase. Go direct/save. 20x26. 25x30. 30x40. 30x44. 40x60. 50x90. Many others. Pioneer VACATION RENTALS ADVERTISE YOUR VACATION property to over 1.4 million Virginia newspaper readers. To find out how your classified ad can be placed in over 98 newspapers at a fraction of the retail cost, call this newspaper or Janet Madison at Virginia Press HOLDEN BEACH, NC. Free brochure. Alan Holden Vacations, , and online booking. Home sales too! RE/MAX at the Beach, Holden Beach: , Sunset Beach: Sell (7355), Oak Island: SOLD (7653), Calabash: TIMESHARE/CAMPGROUND MEM- BERSHIP RESALES. Can t use it! Let us sell it for you. Sales & Rentals. We can help you. Largest Clearinghouse CALL MYRTLE BEACH/North, SC OCEANFRONT! To $150 Discount Summer Beach Rentals. Private homes/ condos. Spring/Summer Get-A-Ways! Free Brochure. Call or Preview Properties! WATERFRONT PROPERTY FOR SALE NEW ESTATE, PRIVATE BAY BEACH. 6 BEDROOMS, 5 BATHS, ELEVATOR, DEEP SEA FISHING, WORLD CLASS GOLF, DEER, DUCKS AND SUNSETS. $2,800,000.LAMAR LONG & FOSTER REALTORS. HOME IMPROVEMENT HAS YOUR BUILDING SHIFTED? Structural repairs of barns, houses and garages. Call Woodford Bros., Inc. for straightening, leveling, foundation and wood frame repairs OLD-BARN. LAND FOR SALE MOUNTAIN BARGAINS 20+ Acre Parcels. Creeks, useable mountain property, 50 mile views. 2 hours DC. Minutes from C&O Canal/Potomac River. MOUNTAIN BARGAIN! 20+/- Acres $109,900. Mountaintop living! Level ridge, Level building site, hardwoods! Enjoy spectacular sunset views. Short distance DC. Special financing. Will sell quickly, call www. landinwv.com. Early Spring Special: Nature Lover s Dream. 20+/- Acres $149,231. Ridgetop setting, 50 mile sunrise views! Privacy galore. Close to DC. Bonus: Minutes to C&O Canal/Potomac River. Lowest financing! Only one like this! Call MEDICARE PATIENTS USING NEBU- LIZERS. We provide old and new therapies including Albuterol and Xopenex and still bill Medicare and deliver to you. Med-A-Save MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE 2005 DIRECTORY OF VIRGINIA NEWSPAPERS NOW AVAILABLE Call the Virginia Press to order your copy today ($46.35 includes postage and handling). SWIMMING POOLS $688 New 19 x31 Pools. Includes Sundeck, Fence, Filter, Liner & Ladders! Factory Installation Required & Additional! Financing Available. Call Today Limited area. POOLS! WE GOT EM! FOR EXAM- PLE: A HUGE 31 x19 POOL w/sundeck, fence, filter, ladders only $745! 100% Financing! Installation Extra. Homeowners! Call Us! Limited area. The Lowest Prescription Prices! Prices LOWER THAN CANADA. American Physician owned. Cottonwood, Arizona www. globalmedicines.net. Fee. FREE 4-ROOM DIRECTV SYSTEM including standard installation. 3 MONTHS FREE 50+ Premium Channels. Access to over 225 channels! Limited time offer. S&H, restrictions apply RVs/CAMPERS/MOTORHOMES TJC 1100 RV Sale Extended. Tom Johnson Camping Center, March 10th, 11 and 12th. Tremendous selection at Incredible savings. Free Refreshments, Factory Incentives and Rebates Up to $10,000, Super Low Interest Rates, Door Prizes and More. Marion, NC ; Concord, NC: , com. SCHOOLS/INSTRUCTION EARN YOUR DEGREE Online from home. Business, Paralegal, Computers. Job Placement Assistance. Computer & Financial aid if qualify com. AIRLINE MECHANIC Rapid Training for high paying career. FAA predicts severe shortage. FAA approved. Job placement assistance. AIM THE METRO HERALD 23

24 24 THE METRO HERALD