CLINTON COLUMN FOR JANUARY 6, 2005

        For one night only, Saturday, January 8, at 8 pm, the Chesapeake Bay Floating Theatre (Black Box) in

 Indian Head, will present the port Tobacco Players in “Wildwood Park”, a 35-minutes one act play by Doug

Wright, featuring the performance of Juliette Kelsey Chagnon and Alex Zavistovich.  Tickets are $10 and will

only be sold at the door.  Door will open at 7:30 pm..  This production is the Port Tobacco Players’ entry into

the Maryland One Act Festival, and this performance is an opportunity to try the show out with an audience

before the competition.  Call 301-743-3040 for more information.

If you want a quick fix for flagging energy levels, there is no better snack than a banana.  Since it contains three natural sugars – sucrose, fructose, and glucose, combined with fiber, a banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.  Two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90 minute workout.  Bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, which is known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier, so it is good for someone with depression.  A banana is good for anemia, since it is high in iron.  It is extremely high in potassium, yet low in salt, so it is perfect to combat high blood pressure.  It can assist learning by making students more alert.  Cure a hangover with a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey; the banana will calm your stomach and with the help of the honey, will build up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and rehydrates your system.  When you have heartburn, eat a banana for soothing relief.  To make a long paragraph shorter, bananas are good for morning sickness, mosquito bites (banana skin), nerves, ulcers, temperature control of expectant mothers, SAD (seasonal affective disorder), help to give up smoking, stress, and warts (banana skin again).  When compared to an apple, the banana has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the Vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals.

Schedule tax-aide appointments for the Montgomery County Retired and Senior Volunteer program/AARP from Monday to Friday 9 am to 3 pm January 31 to April 15 at the Holiday Park Senior Center in Wheaton.  A training session will be held on January 27 at 1:30 pm at the senior center.  Volunteer tax schedulers may attend tax preparation classes in January to learn about law, forms and tax changes (classes are not required).  Call 301-725-498, 301-792-4395, or 301-486-1521.

The National MS Society is looking for volunteers who are willing to distribute brochures for fund-raising events to stores, restaurants, banks, and offices.  Call 301-296-5363 for more information.

Charles County Commissioners are reminding water and sewer customers hat their monthly bills will reflect a new fee for the state’s Bay Restoration Fund, beginning this month.  For more information, call 410-537-3567 or go to www.mde.state.md.water/CBWRF.

The Charles County Chamber of Commerce is seeking sponsors for its 49^th annual Presidential Ball to be held on January 22 at the Jaycees Center in Waldorf.  Call 301-932-6500 or 301-870-3089.

Charles County Department of Community Services is sponsoring a trip to Biloxi, MS from April 3 to 8.  Call 301-934-9305or 301-870-3388, ext. 5151 or go to www.charlescounty.org/cs

When you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.