Marietta Historic Site & Museum Presents:
Black Fashion: Wearable Language in the 19th & 20th Centuries
By STACEY HAWKINS
Marietta Historic Site & Museum
Please join Sonya McKenney, Montpelier Historic Site & Museum’s collections manager, on Saturday, October 10 at 1 p.m. for a discussion on how fashion was a form of communication by the men and women, with and without agency in the 19th & 20th centuries. Following Q & A, guests will make a fabric craft, and light refreshments will be served. $5/person. Ages 12 & up. Registration is required. Please register on www.pgparksdirect.com and use ticket code: MHM-SPEC-GA-20261010.
For more information, please call 301-464-5291 or email mariettahouse@pgparks.com. Marietta Historic Site & Museum is located at 5626 Bell Station Road, Glenn Dale, MD, and is a property of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission.
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Laurel Historical Society Presents “Heritage on Tap: A Laurel Oktoberfest”
By PRESS OFFICER
Laurel Historical Society
LAUREL, Md. (Sept. 23, 2026)—Oktoberfest is coming to Laurel! The Laurel Historical Society (LHS) will host its inaugural Heritage on Tap: A Laurel Oktoberfest on Saturday, October 17 from 4–8 p.m. at the Laurel-Beltsville Senior Activity Center (7120 Contee Road, Laurel, MD 20707). This festive fall event will feature local craft breweries, Oktoberfest-inspired fare, German wines, casino games, friendly competitions, and more all while raising critical funds to support LHS’s mission to preserve Laurel’s past for the future.
Guests are invited to enjoy craft beers from three local breweries, including Laurel’s own Jailbreak Brewing Company, as well as nearby Denizen Brewing Co. and Pherm Brewing Co. The evening will also feature German wines, hors d’oeuvres and delicious desserts with Oktoberfest flair. And what would Oktoberfest be without a little friendly competition? Guests can test their knowledge of local history with pub-style trivia, compete in a stein holding competition, and try their luck at a variety of classic casino games for a chance to win fantastic prizes.
“We invite you to join us for our first Heritage on Tap and help us toast Laurel’s history!” said LHS Executive Director Kristen Norton. “At the heart of this event is an opportunity to come together to celebrate our community and its rich cultural heritage. All while raising critical funds to support the Laurel Historical Society’s efforts to preserve and share Laurel’s history.”
Heritage on Tap is a fun new fundraiser, offering an alternative to the organization’s more formal Annual Gala. Going forward, LHS will alternate yearly between a formal spring gala, and this relaxed fall celebration.
Tickets are $55 for LHS members and $65 for nonmembers. Designated driver tickets are available at a discounted price of $45. This event is for guests 21 and older. Please note that there will be no day-of ticket sales. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.laurelhistoricalsociety.org/heritage-on-tap. Tickets may also be purchased at the Laurel Museum (817 Main Street, Laurel, MD 20707) prior to the event during the museum’s open hours, Friday to Sunday, from 12 to 4 p.m.
Heritage on Tap is sponsored in part by Fred Frederick Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ramp and H.J. Poist Gas Company.
The Laurel Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1975 with the mission to deepen the understanding of the past and cultural heritage of Laurel, Maryland to connect and inspire, for today and the future. To learn more please visit laurelhistoricalsociety.org
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Prince George’s Community College Foundation to Host 2026 Partners for Success Gala
By SONJI JOYNER
Prince George’s Community College
LARGO, Md. (Sept. 22, 2026)—Prince George’s Community College Foundation will host the 2026 Partners for Success Gala on Friday, Oct. 16, at MGM National Harbor. The biennial event raises funds for scholarships that support PGCC students as they pursue their education and prepare for life after college.
This year’s gala, themed “Future in Focus,” highlights the connection between a student’s experience at PGCC and the opportunities that follow. Proceeds from the event support scholarships that allow students to remain enrolled, complete their programs and prepare for what comes next.
The evening will keep PGCC students at the center, including a special video presentation offering a closer look at their experiences at the College. PGCC alumnus and saxophonist Michael Murphy also will perform during the evening.
The Foundation’s Excellence, Equity and Elevation Awards recognize three individuals whose work reflects the values and partnerships that advance the College and its students.
This year, Troy Weaver will receive the Excellence Award, presented by Educational Systems Federal Credit Union; Samantha Howard will receive the Equity Award; and Kathleen deLaski will receive the Elevation Award.
The gala reflects the College’s broader commitment to ensuring students have the resources and opportunities they need to complete their education and move into what comes next. PGCC President Falecia D. Williams, Ed.D., said that investment extends beyond individual students to the future of the region.
“The future is not something we wait for. It is something we build. Every investment in Prince George’s Community College strengthens the talent and ambition that will shape our region,” Williams said. “Our partners help students move from promise to preparation, and from preparation to impact. When we put the future in focus, investing in our students today is how we build a stronger tomorrow.”
The gala also offers an opportunity to recognize the donors, sponsors and community partners whose support makes scholarship opportunities possible. Dena Wilson, executive director of the PGCC Foundation, said the theme reflects what that support can mean for students beyond the financial award itself.
“Future in Focus reflects what is possible when philanthropy and partnership come together around our students,” Wilson said. “Our donors and partners help expand opportunities for students to achieve their goals and strengthen the communities they will serve. When we invest in their future, we invest in our shared future.”
The 2026 Partners for Success Sponsors include: Educational Systems Federal Credit Union as the Visionary sponsor and Atlantic Union Bank as the Trustee Circle sponsor, in addition to a host of other friends and supporters.
For more information about Partners for Success and to purchase tickets, visit the Partners for Success web page: https://www.pgcc.edu/pfsgala/
Named a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance, designated by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security (2022–2027), Prince George’s Community College (PGCC) provides high-quality education and training for the progressive and career-oriented residents of Prince George’s County. From new high school graduates and career seekers to more seasoned professionals and senior citizens looking to enhance their skill sets, PGCC is comprised of students who represent a wide range of ages, backgrounds, and goals. Serving nearly 25,000 individuals annually, the College is the first choice for higher education for residents of Prince George’s County. Collaborative partnerships, responsive degree programs, and training programs, and a commitment to student success enable PGCC to address diverse education and workforce development demands. For more information, visit the College’s website at www.pgcc.edu. Prince George’s Community College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104; (267-284-5000); www.msche.org. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council on Higher Education.
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Andrews Federal Credit Union Donates $25,000 to Serve Our Willing Warriors
By NATALIE TATE
Andrews Federal Credit Union
SUITLAND, Md. (Sept. 22, 2026)—Andrews Federal recently provided a $25,000 donation to support Serve Our Willing Warriors, a Northern Virginia-based charitable organization that provides cost-free respite stays and restorative programs for wounded, ill, and injured active-duty service members, veterans, and their families.
The $25,000 donation will fund an expansion of the organization’s Mental Health Wellness Program to include financial education. Participants in the new programming will receive a one-week on-site intensive workshop that includes lodging, meals, materials, activities, mental health resiliency support, and financial education training.
Participants will receive instruction in budgeting, debt reduction, savings strategies, credit management, insurance, investing, retirement planning, money mindset, family communication, and long-term planning. A recent survey by Blue Star Families indicated that financial stress is a major concern for the majority of military service members. According to credit union leadership, this partnership underscores Andrews Federal’s commitment to reducing that strain for those who have served. “Serve Our Willing Warriors helps military service members, veterans and families to restore their lives following illness and injury,” said Kenneth Orgeron, President and CEO of Andrews Federal Credit Union. “We are proud to support the program’s focus on financial education and resilience, and to give our service members and veterans the tools they need to enhance their economic well-being and quality of life.”
Serve Our Willing Warriors President/Co-Founder Shirley Dominick and Executive Director Sarah Ford visited the Andrews Federal headquarters to meet with the executive leadership team and accept the donation.
Founded in 1948, Andrews Federal Credit Union has grown to serve more than 163,000 members in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, and military installations in central Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. For more information about Andrews Federal, visit andrewsfcu.org.
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