CLINTON COLUMN FOR SEPTEMBER 23,2004

            North Clinton Citizens Association is well on the way to another busy season.  They started out with a wonderful spaghetti dinner on Friday night.  The sauce was delicious, the salad was nice and crisp, and the desserts were outstanding.  I hope you did not miss it; I didn’t.  Next exciting event will be a Tribute to George Burns on September 25.  This organization has been busy getting ready for the winter, and the cleanup will be happening soon.  Be a part of this great group.  Call 301-297-8784 for more information.

            The Black Box Theatre in Indianhead is having lots of good stuff happening.  If you are one of the first 100 people to reserve tickets for their performance of “The Last of the Red Hot Lovers” October 8 through 24, you will be entered in a drawing to win two free tickets for the last show of the year, “Brighton Beach Memoirs.”  The Chesapeake Bay Floating Theatre’s Black Box Theatre is getting lots of support from the public.  For reservations, call 1-800-494-8497.  Tickets are $15 for general admission, $12 for seniors, students, and groups of 10 or more.  Both of these plays are comedies by Neil Simon.  If you need directions, let them know when you call, or call me, and I will give them to you.

            AARP’s Driver Safety Course is being offered on October 1 and 8, at Doctors Community Hospital in Lanham (call 301-559-6575), October 6 and 7 at Harriet Hunter Senior Center in Camp Springs (call 301-599-0947), October 7 and 8 at Bowie Senior Center (call 301-809-2300), October 11 and 12 at Rollingcrest-Chillum Rec. Center in Hyattsville (call 301-853-2005), October 13 and 14 at Clinton United Methodist Church in Clinton (call 301-868-1281), and at Kettering Community Center in Kettering (call 301-249-9571, October 18 at Greenbelt Community Center (call 301-509-8580), October 19 and 20 at Faith United Methodist Church in Accokeek (call 301-292-3274), and October 25 and 27 at Beltsville Community Center in Beltsville (call 301-937-6613),  This is a wonderful course for anyone who has been driving for a while, especially those over 55.  Some of the insurance companies give a discount if you take the course every three years and the cost is only $10.

            Don’t forget the Country Fest happening at the Brandywine Lions Park on October 16.  Lots of music, food and festivities will happen. Call 301-372-1491 or log on to css1995@aol.com to purchase tickets.

            Ladies Auxiliary of the Clinton Volunteer Fire Department is still looking for crafters for the annual craft fair on Saturday, November 13.  Call 301-472-1844 or 301-868-1686, or email SAM025vfd@aol.com.

            On October 4, the Corcoran Art Gallery will be hosting An Evening with Peter Bogdanovich at 7 pm.  Mr. Bogdanovich is a talented producer, director, screenwriter, and author of 13 books.  He will be telling many tales of Hollywood’s most acclaimed movie actors, and people he has known.  On October 6, Sir Winston Churchill’s granddaughter-in-law will be showing slides of Churchill’s paintings at 7 pm.  If you are interested in either of these, or any other event that is happening at this gallery, give them a call at 202-639-1770.

            From the American Institute for Cancer Research newsletter, we learn that scientists are getting a more complete picture of how physical activity may lower cancer risk.  Results are emerging from a number of large, long-term human studies which show that physical activity, hormones, dietary fat and cancer development are all connected.  As far back as 1984, it was found that men with desk jobs had a 60% greater risk of colon cancer than men whose jobs involved strenuous physical activity.  As of 2002, 43 out of 51 studies show that exercising more is associated with a lower risk of colon cancer.  Studies have shown that exercise also lowers the risk of breast cancer.  If you would like to know any more about this subject, give me a call.  I will keep the newsletter around for a while.

            Calvary United Methodist Church in Waldorf is celebrating 100 years with a Praise service on Saturday night and a performance by Joyful Noise on Sunday afternoon.

             FCC Chairman Mark S. Fowler said “If somebody has a bad heart, they can plug this jack in at night as they go to bed and it will monitor their heart throughout the night.  The next morning, if they wake up dead, there will be a record.”

.