Emergency management to test alert system, sirens

EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK

Friday, July 3, 2009

The testing is conducted to enhance siren operation and increase public awareness of the alert and notification siren system. If the sirens sound at any other time, residents should tune to one of the local radio stations listed below for information and instructions.

Contact the Calvert County Division of Emergency Management at 410-535-1600, Ext. 2638, for additional emergency or disaster preparedness information.

Emergency Alert System stations include: WPTX 920 AM Lexington Park; WKIK 102.9 FM Mechanicsville; WAAI 100.9 FM Cambridge; WMDM 97.7 FM Lexington Park; WCEM 1240 AM Cambridge; WCMD 1560 AM La Plata; WCEM 106.3 FM Cambridge; WXTR 104.1 FM La Plata; WCEI 1460 AM Easton; WSMD 98.3 FM Mechanicsville; and WCEI 96.7 FM Easton.

Host families sought for foreign high school students

Foreign high school students are scheduled to arrive soon for academic semester and year homestay programs, and the sponsoring organization needs a few more local host families.The students are awaiting news of their new families. This is the last chance for these young ambassadors to fulfill their life-long dreams.

According to Pacific Intercultural Exchange President John Doty, the students are all between the ages of 15 and 18 years, are English-speaking, have their own spending money, carry accident and health insurance and are anxious to share their cultural experiences with their new American families. P.I.E. currently has programs to match almost every family's needs, ranging in length from one semester to a full academic year, where the students attend local public and private high schools.

P.I.E. area representatives match students with host families by finding common interests and lifestyles through an informal in-home meeting. Prospective host families are able to review student applications and select the perfect match. As there are no "typical" host families, P.I.E. can fit a student into just about any situation, whether it is a single parent, a childless couple, a retired couple or a large family.

Families who host for P.I.E. are also eligible to claim a monthly charitable contribution deduction on their itemized tax returns for each month they host a sponsored student.

For the upcoming programs, P.I.E. has students from Germany, the former Soviet Union, Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil, Hungary, Korea, Mexico, Australia, China, and many other countries.

P.I.E. is also participating in two special government-funded programs to bring scholarship students from the Newly Independent States of the former Soviet Union as well as predominantly Islamic countries such as Yemen, Syria, Jordan, Morocco, Kuwait, Iraq and Qatar to the United States.

P.I.E. is a nonprofit educational organization that has sponsored more than 25,000 students from 45 countries since its founding in 1975. The organization is designated by the United States Department of State and is listed by the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel, certifying that the organization complies with the standards set forth in CSIET's Standards for International Educational Travel Programs.

Doty encourages families to contact the program immediately, as it will allow the proper time for the students and hosts to get to know one another before they actually meet for the first time.

Calvert area families interested in learning more about student exchange or arranging for a meeting with a community representative may call P.I.E., toll-free, at 1-866-546-1402. The agency also has travel/study program opportunities available for American high school students as well as possibilities for community volunteers to assist and work with area host families, students and schools.

Chamber of Commerce to host annual Mini-Expo

Get out business cards - and lots of them - because it's time for the 2009 Calvert County Chamber of Commerce Mini-Expo.

The Mini-Expo will be held on Thursday, July 9, at the Calvert County Fairgrounds Administration Building from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. The event is presented by the Calvert County Chamber of Commerce, Calvert County Fair Inc. and PNC Bank.

The Mini-Expo provides an opportunity for all business men and women. Attendees have an opportunity to network and exhibitors can showcase their organization's services and products.

Last year, more than 200 business men and women attended the event. This year, Dave Benson of Maryland County Caterers will provide food. Thirty-seven exhibitors will be giving away door prizes to attendees.

Sponsors for the event are College of Southern Maryland, Community Bank of Tri-County, Fantasy World Entertainment and Hilton Garden Inn Solomons.

Cost for Chamber members is $5 and cost for the public (21 years or older) is $10. For reservations or for more information, contact the Calvert Chamber at 410-535-2577.