Toys For Tots

Fourteen Comfort Inns and Comfort Suites in Maryland, including five in the Baltimore area, are collecting toys for needy children in the Marine Corps Reserve's annual nationwide Toys for Tots program.Participants may leave new, unwrapped toys in collection boxes in the hotels' lobbies through Dec. 18.The hotels in the Baltimore area are at 6700 Security Blvd. in Baltimore County; 815 Elkridge Landing Road in Linthicum Heights; 6921 Baltimore-Annapolis Blvd. in North Linthicum; 10 Wooded Way in Pikesville; and 1700 Van Bibber Road in Edgewood.

Editor: On behalf of the officers and members of the Havre de Grace Ambulance Corps, I would like to thank everyone who contributed to our fifth annual Toys for Tots campaign this season. Our goal this was to fill, from front to back, all three of our Medic Units with new, unwrapped toys. I am happy to say that we were able to fulfill that goal for the U.S. Marine Corps' Reserves Toys for Tots Foundation so that hundreds of boys and girls could wake up on Christmas morning and have a brand new toy under their Christmas tree.

From: John A. Agro Jr.Md. Transportation AuthorityI would like to take this opportunity to say "thank you" to the hundreds of motorists who contributed toys to the Maryland Transportation Authority's Toll Facilities Police Toys for Tots campaign which took place Dec. 3-5. More than 3,800 new toys were left at our toll plaza and turned over to the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve for distribution to the area's needy children.This is the first year our toll facilities police participated in the Toys for Tots campaign, and I would also like to commend them for their volunteer spirit and hard work which led to a very successful drive.

For the 22nd year, Maryland Transportation Authority employees will be collecting new, unwrapped toys this week for the Marine Corps Reserves Toys for Tots campaign. Drop-off sites will be staffed from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at the Baltimore Harbor and Fort McHenry tunnels, the Francis Scott Key Bridge, the U.S. 40 Hatem Memorial Bridge, the U.S. 301 Nice Memorial Bridge, the Intercounty Connector and the Dundalk Marine Terminal.

The River Hill Chapter of the National Honor Society is collecting new, unwrapped toys for the Marine Corps' Toys for Tots campaign. Toys can be dropped off at the school's guidance office between 6:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Information: 410-313-7400. School offers session on gifted program Marriotts Ridge High School will hold an Information Night for its Gifted and Talented program at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Information will be presented about Mentor classes, which offer students an opportunity to participate in college-level research, help with assembling a portfolio for college admissions and opportunities for participants to choose their own area of study.

Crain Highway may look like a movie set from a new John Waters film this weekend when street rods, hot rods and a few '57 Chevys arrive for a Rod and Custom Car Show to benefit Toys for Tots.On most Saturday nights, the parking lot across from Faye's Sub Shop at Crain Highway and New Jersey Avenue is full of vintage cars and their owners, sharing the mood of a long-gone era.But on Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., car owners from all over the state will meet there and in adjacent areas to display their street rods and custom automobiles.

THE HOLIDAYS are a time for family, traditions and memories. The folks at Clemens Crossing Elementary School just wrapped up one of their annual traditions and have agreed to share some of their favorite holiday memories. On Monday, Marine Staff Sgt. Richard Weir and Cpl. Alan Collins came to Clemens Crossing to pick up donations for the Toys for Tots drive. Under the direction of gifted-and-talented resource teacher Terri Via, Clemens Crossing schoolchildren Julia Nicholson, Katherine Griffin, Julie Lustbader and Meghan Yi organized this year's drive, which netted 350 toys for underprivileged children.

CHICAGO - Toys fill the gymnasium - boxes of teddy bears press against a weapons cabinet, bags of dolls and games are stacked high - but it isn't Christmas as usual at the Marine Corps Reserves training center. This year, Toys for Tots - the program that has put toys into the hands of millions of kids and let the nation see the softer side of Marines for close to 60 years - is missing many of the men and women who are its driving force. "We had 270 reservists helping us with Toys for Tots last year," said Maj. Rick Coates of the 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines.

Chamber to hold holiday mixer at Savage Mill The Baltimore-Washington Corridor Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual Holiday Mixer, the organization's major fund-raiser for the Baltimore/Washington Corridor Chamber Foundation, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Great Room at Historic Savage Mill, 8600 Foundry St., Savage. The foundation provides scholarships for high school students and supports other community educational programs. The cost is $35. Information: 301-725-4000 or www.baltwashchamber.

Hard Rock memorabilia Tonight at 7, head to the Hard Rock Cafe, 601 E. Pratt St., to check out the restaurant's "memorabilia overhaul." New items, including the jacket from the 1962 Elvis Presley film Girls!, Girls!, Girls!, will be in stalled. At 8:30, soul singer Marc Broussard performs. Admission is free with one canned good or new children's toy or gift, to be donated to the U.S. Marine Corps' Toys for Tots program. Call 410-347-7625.

The Havre de Grace Ambulance Corps, Inc., along with the Marine Corps Reserve and the Toys for Tots Foundation, have designated the Havre de Grace Ambulance Corps station as a Toys for Tots drop-off location again this year. "We are looking for new, unwrapped toys or clothing items that will be distributed to needy children in our community during this holiday season," Ambulance Corps spokesman Mark Hemler said. Last year the Ambulance Corps was again, the 3rd largest Toys for Tots drop off site in the State.

 Toy drives will be held this holiday season at Baltimore-area Giant Food stores and at Toys R Us in Glen Burnie. The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation has joined forces with Giant Food of Landover for the second year. Toys will be collected at all 170 Giant locations throughout the holiday season. And from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 3rd, Baltimore Ravens players Jameel McClain and Courtney Upshaw will join the Marine Toys for Tots in hosting a shopping spree for needy kids at the Toys "R" Us on Ritchie Highway in Glen Burnie.  Ravens players, along with children from YES Mentorship and uniformed Marines will shop for toys to provide to children in the YES Mentorship program.  After the toys are purchased, the Marines will load toys into a truck outside.

On behalf of the officers and members of the Havre de Grace Ambulance Corps, I would like to thank everyone who contributed to our fourth annual Toys for Tots campaign this year. Editor: On behalf of the officers and members of the Havre de Grace Ambulance Corps, I would like to thank everyone who contributed to our fourth annual Toys for Tots campaign this year. Our goal this year was to fill, from front to back, both of our Medic Units with new, unwrapped toys. We were able to fulfill this goal for the U.S. Marine Corps' Toys for Tots Foundation so that hundreds of boys and girls could wake up on Christmas morning and have a brand new toy under their Christmas tree. We received everything from video games and super hero figures to bicycles and baseballs. We could not have done this if it weren't for the generosity and kindness of our great community.  Thank you so much for buying that extra toy while out Christmas shopping and dropping it off at our station. Some of you even brought bags and car trunks full of toys.  We live in a very special community of caring people.  We would also like to thank the media, especially The Record and The Aegis newspapers and the Havre de Grace "Patch" for advertising our toy drive this year. As you start shopping for Christmas 2012 please remember to pick up an extra toy for Toys for Tots.  We will be back next year and our goal will again be to fill our Medic Units with new toys.

The Havre de Grace Ambulance Corps, along with the Marine Corps Reserves and the Toys for Tots Foundation, have designated the Havre de Grace Ambulance Corps station as a drop-off site for the local fourth annual Toys for Tots campaign. The Havre de Grace Ambulance Corps, at 1601 Level Road (Route 155) in Havre de Grace, is looking for new, unwrapped toys or clothing items for distribution to needy children in the community during this holiday season. Last year the ambulance corps was the third largest Toys for Tots drop-off site in Maryland, and this year's campaign organizers in Havre de Grace say they want to do better.

Transportation service available on demand Harford Transit has started a new Demand Response Service for eligible senior citizens, individuals with disabilities and low-income wage earners. The service is available from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays. The fare is $2 (Harford Transit-issued vouchers will be accepted) to take eligible participants wherever they need to go. Reservations must be made by 2 p.m. the working day before travel is planned. The service area includes parts of Aberdeen, Bel Air, Edgewood and Havre de Grace, and areas in between.

County Executive John R. Leopold has announced that the county has purchased thousands of gallons of gasoline at less than $2 per gallon, under a purchasing process that aims to help save taxpayer dollars. The county purchased a total of 34,000 gallons of regular gas for $1.97 a gallon and diesel for $2.30 a gallon on Oct. 30. It was the lowest amount the county has paid for gasoline in almost two years and will result in a projected 11 percent savings against the 2009 budget allowance if prices remain constant.

William L. "Bill" Hendricks, 87, the retired Marine Corps colonel who was inspired by a homemade rag doll to found the Toys for Tots campaign that has brought a measure of Christmas festivity to millions of needy youngsters for 45 years, died Sunday in Burbank, Calif. His civilian career included the production of films, cartoons and TV commercials for Warner Bros. It was a suggestion from his wife in 1947, he recalled in a 1982 interview with the Los Angeles Times, that produced what now is a nationwide outpouring of toys.

Success In Style, a local nonprofit that provides business attire and coaching to disadvantaged women seeking employment, is displaying two Holiday Giving Trees, at the Maplelawn branch of Howard Bank, 10985 Johns Hopkins Road, North Laurel, and at Keller Williams Realty Centre, 6230 Old Dobbin Lane, Suite 150, Columbia. The trees, made of white shimmery material and decorated with pink purses and black pumps, represent the contributions of Success in Style to the community; the organization has helped more than 1,000 women find meaningful employment in the past six years.

Printers association gives holiday gift The Printing and Graphics Association MidAtlantic, based in Columbia, donated about $20,000 to Santa Claus Anonymous and Toys for Tots through the association's annual benefit auction, held Dec. 7 at Chartwell Country Golf & Club in Severna Park. The event marked the 43rd year that printers in the region have supported Santa Claus Anonymous through the auction. Toys for Tots was added as a beneficiary this year. Proceeds from the fundraiser will be used to purchase toys and clothing for needy children.