Dear Neighbors:
Remember our Community Spring Picnic of last year? Over 75 people braved the heavy downpours to come out and have a jolly good time anyway – huddled under the picnic shelter in the park, munching on hotdogs and burgers while getting to know their neighbors “up close and personal”! Let’s hope (and pray, for those who believe in it) for good weather and quadruple last year’s number of attendees this year!
Below are the schedule and descriptions of what we’re planning to have – and we’re counting on you to come help make it a success:
CPW-NW Community Spring Picnic
Saturday, May 16th, 2009
12 noon to 4:00 p.m.
College Park Woods Neighborhood Park
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Time
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Field
Activities
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Field
Games
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Tennis Court
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12:00 p.m.
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Picnic Food
International Sampler
Bake Sale
Aviation Museum Table
Bee-Keeping Demo
Plant Exchange
Storybook Nook
Information Tables
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Blongo
Hula Hoops
Sack Race
Spoon Race
3-Legged Race
Tug-of-War
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1:00 p.m.
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|
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2:00 p.m.
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Body & Soul Exercise Demo
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3:00 p.m.
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Note: In case of rain, Field Games will be cancelled and all activities
will be brought into the Swim Clubhouse at 3545 Marlbrough Way.
An entertaining safety video for kids & their families will also be
shown in the Swim Clubhouse.
· Picnic Food! Your favorite picnic fare including hot dogs, burgers, chips, and soft drinks!
· International Sampler – A simple food table celebrating the many places in the world where our CPW neighbors hail from. We put out two or three vegetarian toppings (Thai, Indian, African, Mexican, or other – fairly spicy but not painful!) and a big pot of rice. You can spoon a topping or two over a scoop of rice. A great alternative to hot dogs and burgers! There is also a map of the world where you can indicate where you or your family comes from or where you’ve lived or traveled and what language(s) you speak. You can even teach people a greeting or other expression in your language. We have had many wonderful conversations with our neighbors about their experiences. There might even be some local music in the background . . . . Please contact Bob Fradkin (301-935-0053 or rfradkin@umd.edu) if you’d like to contribute something for this sampler.
· Calling for Bakers! Do you bake Amish Friendship Bread? Banana Bread? Brownies? Cookies? Would you like to WOW your neighbors with your culinary expertise? If so, here’s your chance to shine! J We need donations of baked goods for the Bake Sale at the picnic, proceeds from which will help offset the cost of putting the picnic together. Please contact Rose Haldemann (301-935-0136 or prhaldemann@verizon.net) to let her know what you’d like to contribute – all submissions will be much appreciated!
· Bee-Keeping Demo with Bruce Murray – A beekeeper for over 25 years, Bruce lives in Glenn Dale, MD and maintains a large property with gardens to keep his bees happy. He often does bee-keeping demonstrations for schoolchildren, and he will be glad to answer your questions or refer you to other resources.
· Body & Soul Exercise Demo – Imagine combining the inspiration of contemporary Christian music with cardio, strength, balance, and flexibility routines including Pilates and core body work. Classes are led by ACE certified fitness instructors and modifications are readily available to meet your needs. This demo class will be taught by Shirley Werth, who has been a fitness instructor for many years. Come try a sampling of exercise routines to see what it’s like! Wear comfortable clothes and supportive shoes for exercise and bring a water bottle. (For more information and class locations near you, check out www.bodyandsoul.org.)
· College Park Aviation Museum – Mary Wolfe, a representative of The College Park Aviation Museum, will have information on the museum’s activities, upcoming events (including the Air Show in August) to celebrate the Airport’s Centennial. She will also be running a power-point presentation on the science of flight and making paper airplanes.
· Field Games – Blongo, Hoola hoops, Sack race, Three-legged race, Tug-of-War . . . . Come show us your team spirit and individual strengths! Madhyatu Mercado will serve as Field Games Coordinator from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. We could sure use more volunteers to help her out, and also fill in the time slot between 12:00 to 2:00 p.m.! Please contact Zari Malsawma (240-475-2435 or lhmalsawma@comcast.net) or Rex Powell (301-935-5289 or rex.powell@verizon.net) if you can help.
· New! Plant Exchange! Bring your extra annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs, vines, bulbs, cuttings, divisions, seedlings, seeds, or whatever you have to exchange with others in CPW. Plants should be potted and marked with the plant’s name if possible, and your name if you want to exchange cultural information. Please try not to share plants that may be considered invasive, such as English ivy. The exchange begins at 10 a.m. and will continue until all plants have found a home. You should bring at least one plant to participate in the exchange. Hope to see you there!
· Storybook Nook – The Storybook Lady will be there, delighted to share a book with the young and the young at heart. You will be able to spot her easily in her red Renaissance-era dress and snood, seated next to her treasure chest full of books. Ask for a story and she’ll read one just for you!
· Tables of Info & Resources – Provided by community clubs, organizations, City of College Park’s Departments of Public Services and Public Works; law enforcement reps, city personnel & elected officials will be there to answer your questions.
Hoping to see you all this Saturday – rain or shine! J
Rex Powell and Zari Malsawma
CPW-NW Coordinators
