Two schools receive beautification grants
Two Harford elementary schools have received county grants that will help volunteers complete several beautification projects. County Executive David R. Craig, who visited both schools last week, commended their PTA volunteers.
The program "is an excellent example of an effective government initiative that brings schools, the parent community and businesses together," he said.
A $10,000 grant for Riverside Elementary brings to more than $65,000 the funds dedicated to upgrading the playground on the Joppa campus, a project that parent volunteers have tackled for nearly a year.
Homestead-Wakefield School in Bel Air will receive $9,990 for several projects. More than half the award will pay for improvements to the lobby, which will be refurnished, painted and decorated with a mural. The remaining money is to be used for a new marquee, landscaping, mulching and benches and picnic tables for the courtyard.
"These grants help schools replace or upgrade playgrounds and make other site improvements," said Robert B. Thomas, a county spokesman. "But there is a sweat equity component. Volunteers have to contribute services."
Book fair at college
Cecil College's Administrative Professionals Organization will sponsor a Barnes & Noble Book Fair from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday in the Technology Center Student Lounge on the college's North East campus.
The fair will feature fiction, nonfiction and holiday books, digital video discs, compact discs, cards and other items. Gift-wrapping is available for a donation. Proceeds will benefit the APO's student scholarship fund.
Authors Milt Diggins and Larry Willis will sign their books, which will be available for purchase. Diggins, author of Cecil County, will be at the fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday.
Willis will attend from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday to sign his book, The Perryville Commuter, about his obstacles and adventures during his daily work commute from Perryville to Washington.
Information: 410-287-6060, ext. 565.
Health careers session
Cecil College is offering a free information session about training options for careers in the health field from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Elkton Station.
The college offers full-time and part-time training programs for medical assistants and receptionists, medical coders/billers, dental assistants, certified medicine aides, certified nursing assistants, phlebotomists and medical transcriptionists.
