Let's get our walking shoes on and join the Freestate Happy Wanderers Maryland Walk Into Spring. The event will be held Saturday, April 25, in conjunction with the Montpelier Festival of Herbs, Tea and the Arts. You can begin the 5K or 10K walks between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Educational Tent on the Montpelier Mansion grounds. The trails wind through the mansion grounds and the neighboring streets. The event finishes at 4 p.m.For more information, contact Linda Hassell at 410-437-2164 or wahasse1798@verizon.net, or go to mdvolks.org/freestate .
Before or after your walk, stop by the mansion grounds for the annual Festival of Herbs, Tea and the Arts.There will be more than 30 arts and crafts vendors, live music, gardening talks and tours of the historic house, as well as the springtime scents of the herbs in the garden;all at no cost.Tickets may be purchased for a treat of tea and scones in the mansion's period dining room. Tickets are $29 per person, $25 for members of the Friends of Montpelier. Reservations for the tea are required and may be obtained by calling 301-377-7817. Tickets for these teas go quickly, so it is best to make your reservation early. This will be a fun way to (finally!) say goodbye to winter and hello to spring.
State Del. Geraldine Valentino-Smith informs us that, for a limited time, there is still a chance to enroll in the Maryland Health Exchange. Certain qualifications apply; for example, if you lacked health coverage in 2014 and had to pay a fine.The exchange website, MarylandHealthConnection.gov contains further information on the opportunity, which extends through April 30.You may also contact Valentino-Smith at 301-858-3340 or Geraldine.Valentino@House.state.md.us, if you have questions concerning this option, or other issues you would like to discuss with her or her staff.
Attention high school students in our community: The University of Maryland is sponsoring the UM High School Innovation Challenge. The University of Maryland will award a prize of $500 to a current Maryland high school student who submits the winning suggestion for an app to help fellow students "more effectively search and select colleges to attend." The University of Maryland is one of the top entrepreneurial schools in the country. The challenge winner will have the opportunity to further develop the idea and to interact with other entrepreneur faculty and students. Applicants must describe their idea, but do not have to code or program it. For further information and an application form, go to mtech.umd.edu/innovationchallenge. Deadline for applications is midnight (EDT) May 1.