Volunteer Center

The Volunteer Center For Anne Arundel County, which is beginning its 10th year, named the following officers for 2011-2012: Talia Whitney, Premier Planning Group executive assistant, president; Mary Lynn Johnson, M&T Bank assistant vice president for Chesapeake Business Banking, vice president; Regina Bidnick, CPA, Heim Lantz senior accountant, treasurer and board member; and Benjamin W. Hahn, attorney for Schnader Harrison...

Music festival This year's Silopanna Music Festival will be held Saturday, Aug. 11, at the Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds in Crownsville. The complete lineup will be announced June 11. For tickets and more information, go to silopannafest.com. Volunteer center fundraiser Annual benefit event for the Volunteer Center for Anne Arundel County takes place from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, May 11, at the Loews Annapolis Hotel, 126 West St. Event features music by Sparks, Raymond & McCoy, video horse racing on a large screen, "betting windows" for play-money and prizes, a two-hour open bar, food, and live and silent auction items including a Rolling Stones autographed guitar, Army-Navy football tickets, sports memorabilia and tickets, and dining packages.

The Columbia Association has hired a director for its recently expanded volunteer center. Michael-Anne Rubenstien began her job yesterday as head of the Volunteer Center Serving Howard County. The post pays from $36,600 to $59,000 a year. The center matches volunteers with opportunities at agencies or charities serving Howard County. Rubenstien was director of the William R. Butler Volunteer Services Center at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Fla., from 1995 to 2000. She was a volunteer coordinator at the center from 1993 to 1995.

April is a month of volunteer service opportunities, with National Volunteer Week, April 15-21; Global Youth Service Day April 20-22; and Earth Day, April 22 The Volunteer Center For Anne Arundel County - Works with local agencies to provide a variety of opportunities to serve the community throughout April and beyond. Go to http://www.volunteerannearundel.org/SpecialEvents to download a free guide, "Celebrating People in Action," and information on volunteering with Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, National Electronics Museum Robot Fest, Greenscape in Annapolis; the SPCA's annual Walk for the Animals; and more.

The Department of Aging and Disabilities is partnering with the Volunteer Center for Anne Arundel County and the Citizens Corps Council to recruit youth groups, Scouts, families and other groups for the "Snow Patrol." Volunteers help elderly residents and those with disabilities during inclement weather, clearing snow and ice and helping with medical needs. Groups must pre-register. For an intake form, call Bill at the Volunteer Center for Anne Arundel County at 410-897-9207 or e-mail bill@volunteerannearundel.

Sunday, April 8 Theater performance The Colonial Players' production of "The Spitfire Grill" runs through April 21 at 108 East St. in Annapolis. Tickets are $15 and $20. For tickets, showtimes and more information, call 410-268-7373 or go to thecolonialplayers.org. Tuesday, April 10 Lecture Architect Chip Bohl will deliver a lecture, "Richard Neutra's Mellon Hall at St. John's College," at 7:30 p.m. in Mellon Hall, 60 College Ave. in Annapolis. Neutra, a modernist architect, designed Mellon Hall and Bohl is the architect of the building's renovations.

Annapolis officials announced a new initiative Monday to recruit and train mentors for youth outreach programs as part of a continuing effort to reduce crime in the state capital. The Volunteer Center for Anne Arundel County will manage the Treasure Hunters Clearinghouse, which hopes to recruit, screen and train 60 volunteers in the next year to serve as youth mentors in existing programs. The effort will be funded with about $45,000 from city, county and state sources. "I know the importance of having strong adult role models for so many of our young people," said House of Delegates Speaker Michael E. Busch, a Democrat, at a late-afternoon news conference to announce the initiative.

Many people find the holiday season a time to share their blessings with the less fortunate. Local organizations and advocacy groups such as those below would put your gift to good use. Fish of Laurel/Elizabeth House helps needy neighbors in the greater Laurel area by providing dinners, groceries, referral services and, on a very limited basis, some financial help. Elizabeth House kitchen, 301-776-9296. Fish of Laurel groceries and financial help, 301-262-7106. Wish List: Donations of food (fresh meat, cheeses, fresh fruit and vegetables, dry or canned food)

The Volunteer Center celebrated 10 years of operations with a special event on Nov. 1. Many speakers acknowledged the contributions the Volunteer Center has made on both the local and national level. Howard County Council Chairman Calvin Ball presented an Honorary Resolution; a Howard County Executive Proclamation was presented by Ken Ulman's Chief of Staff, Jessica Feldmark ; and a letter recognizing the contributions the Center has made to the community from U.S. Senator Barbara Milkulski ; Mickey Gomez , Center Director was presented with a Governor's Citation for her leadership of the Center; and Michael Cornell , CA Board Chair, made remarks in appreciation of the Center on behalf of the Columbia Association.

In an effort to honor those who lost their lives during the attacks of Sept. 11, U.S. Naval Academy midshipmen will take part today in the second annual Project Green: 9/11 Day of Service & Remembrance. The event is organized by the Volunteer Center for Anne Arundel County as a way to honor the victims of the attacks as well as the Marylanders who have died in service to the country. It's also a way to give back by cleaning up the shoreline at Jonas Green Park in Annapolis. As many as 50 midshipmen are expected at the event, which begins at noon with an opening ceremony at the Maryland World War II Memorial on Ritchie Highway overlooking Jonas Green Park.

The Volunteer Center For Anne Arundel County, which is beginning its 10th year, named the following officers for 2011-2012: Talia Whitney, Premier Planning Group executive assistant, president; Mary Lynn Johnson, M&T Bank assistant vice president for Chesapeake Business Banking, vice president; Regina Bidnick, CPA, Heim Lantz senior accountant, treasurer and board member; and Benjamin W. Hahn, attorney for Schnader Harrison...

Midshipman First Class Natalie Logan, a chemistry major at the U.S. Naval Academy, tutors students on Saturday mornings in math and science. Mike Elliott began mentoring a fatherless teen boy when he was attending seventh grade at Corkran Middle School in Glen Burnie. The teen's now in 11th grade and Elliott's still there. The Volunteer Center for Anne Arundel County has named Logan and Elliott "Mentors of the Year" for their service, and plans to honor them and several others at its sixth annual awards ceremony this week.