Norma Jean's Column for Southern Prince George's County

CLINTON COLUMN FOR NOVEMBER 7, 2002

It is hard to believe, but I was able to buy a replacement car, in the same model, though two years older, but with 40,000 less miles. It is red with a black top instead of green with a white top, but it looks like a new car, so look for me out on the road. Every day, I get up and thank God that I wasn't killed when I had the accident, but I have always told everyone that I have wonderful Guardian Angels, and now I know that is definitely true!!

Spent a great afternoon on the 26th with two of my daughters, listening to and watching a performance of the Sweet Adelines. In case you don't know who they are, this a group of women who sing like the men's Barbershop. They sang songs from the movies, and it was a lot of fun.

The fourteenth annual fall open house will be held at Surratt House Museum on Brandywine Road in Clinton, during the weekend of November 16 and 17, from noon to 4 pm. Tours of the Civil War era home will be free and the gift shop will be stocked with special holiday items. Call 301-868-1121 if you need further information. Individuals with disabilities are welcomed and if you would like to request a language interpreter, support staff, etc., contact the museum two weeks in advance of the program.

National Association of Retired Federal Employees Chapter 1260 will hold its monthly meeting at 1 pm Thursday, November 21, at the Surratts-Clinton Library on Piscataway Road. Kenneth Glass, NARFE's National Representative on Federal Employees Health benefits will speak. Please bring canned goods or non-perishable food items for our Thanksgiving Food Drive or bring any school supply item for our "Adopt-a-School" program.

Toys for Tots began in 1947 when Major Bill Hendricks, and a group of Marine Reservists in Los Angeles, collected and distributed 5,000 toys to needy children. The idea came from Bill's wife Diane. She handcrafted a Raggedy Ann doll and asked Bill to deliver it to an organization that would give it to a needy child at Christmas. When Bill found that no agency existed for this purpose, Diane told him he should start one. The 1947 campaign was so successful that the Marine Corps adopted Toys for Tots in 1948 and expanded it into a nationwide campaign. The initial goal that remains the hallmark of he program today is to bring the joy of Christmas to America's needy children . 

For 55 years, the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves has been the unchallenged leader in looking after America's needy children at Christmas. However, since Christmas 1980, they have been distributing new toys only to children who may not otherwise receive any. If you are interested in helping out the effort this year, know that they cannot accept toys which may be either used for, or considered, as weapons such as toy guns or knives of any kind. They cannot accept clothing or food. Each toy should have a value of $10 or more. In many cases, this may be the one and only present a child will receive. If you cannot afford $10, give a check in any amount or get together with someone else to buy a more expensive toy. Checks should be made payable to the "Toys for Tots Foundation."

The ages of the children served by Toys for Tots range from toddlers to seventeen years of age, but older kids often suffer a lack of gifts, so please consider giving such as items as CDs, watches, cosmetic kits, grooming aids, and such for older age groups. The hotline for T4T is 202-433-8487. Web address is www.toysfortots.org. Mailing address is P.O.Box 8124, Washington, DC 20336-8124.

Check out the Sports and Learning Complex, which is on the same property as FedEx Field. They have many different types of classes, like Investing Basics, and others. Call 301-583-2430 (TTY) 301-583-2441.

You think your car uses a lot of gas? The cruiser Queen Elizabeth II moves six inches for each gallon of fuel it burns.

Norma Jean Fazenbaker's column can be found in the Clinton Gazette, Prince George's Post, Prince George's Sentinel, and the Enquirer Gazette. You can contact Norma Jean by email - click this link.

2002 Archives: May 30, June 6, June 13, June 20, June 27, July 4, July 11, July 18, July 25, Aug. 1, Aug. 8, Aug. 15, Aug. 22, Aug. 28, Sept. 5, Sept. 12, Sept. 18, Sept. 26, Oct. 3, Oct. 10, Oct. 17, Oct. 24, Oct. 31

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