"It's just basically a foot-stomping, soul-stirring good time," said Colours Director Jason Cook.

This one-time production is free for county firefighters, police officers and public school employees. Please bring work photo identification.

Tickets for others are $5 for adults, and $3 for students (college identification required for college students).

Colours is a community performing arts program comprised of fifth- through twelth-graders from various Prince George's County Public Schools. The program is based at Northwestern High School. Registration for the five-week summer program will be open at the performance, and those who register Friday will receive a $20 discount off of the $300 tuition. For information, see the group's Web site, www.colours.org, e-mail coloursprogram@yahoo.com, or call 301-454-8388.

DeMatha chorus

to perform in Baltimore

Members of DeMatha Catholic High School's chorus selected by the Maryland Music Educator's Association for the 2002 Senior All-State Chorus will perform at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore. Tenor Patrick Barrett (Lanham), bass Ian Cooper (Bowie), bass Garrett Jackson (Mitchellville), bass Joseph Malochee (Brentwood), tenor Devin Minnis (Bowie) and bass Matthew Tilkins (Beltsville) will participate in the trip, which includes three days of rehearsal and a performance.

Two freshmen DeMatha singers ­ bass Jimmy Foy (Baltimore) and tenor Zachary Tilkins (Beltsville) ­ will participate in the Junior All-State Chorus at 1:30 p.m. March 10 at Urbana High School, 3471 Campus Drive, Ijamsville.

Deb Tilkins, who has a son performing in each group, said she is grateful for the singing opportunities her children have had. While she doesn't play an instrument, she said, her husband is a guitarist, and writes contemporary Christian music.

"We have music floating around all over the place," she said. "It's a big music household."

Edmonston police show

generosity, are reimbursed

It was discovered at the February Edmonston town meeting that police department members had replaced their own badges to save money for the town.

"We are one of the lowest paid police departments in the county," Damron said of his force, adding that their starting salary is $3,000 less than that at other departments. Edmonston hired two new officers this year, and has lost them both.

"We can't keep people," Damron said.

Despite budget constraints, however, Damron said he did not even consider asking the town to fund the new badges.

"The old police badges we had were old. They were scratched up. We needed a new look," Damron said, showing his new badge. "We didn't want to burden the town."

The officers paid for all but $8 apiece for the $70 badges.

Koch, a resident who attends council meetings regularly, said that police had been wearing the same badges since he was on the council.

"That's 15 years," he said. "They do wear out."

The council ultimately voted unanimously to pay for the badges.

Langley Park Day

Organizers of the fourth annual Langley Park Day are looking for performers from around the world and health professionals to participate in an afternoon of theater and learning.

Langley Park Day will take place between 12:30 and 5 p.m. April 28. It will include a folklorico (music, dance, theater), a health fair (screenings, advice and information), college admission information, children's entertainment, food and other vendors and more.

People who would like to participate should contact Alexis Rourk or Bill Hanna at 301-405-4005.

Grants workshop

The Prince George's Arts Council will hold a workshop from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday to explain the process of applying for the organization's 2003 competitive grants. County residents who have made a significant contribution to arts-in-education or in the performing, media, literary and visual arts are eligible for the grants. The grant applications are due by 5 p.m. March 29. PGAC Program Director Jan DeRight and Assistant Director Ethel Lewis will coordinate the workshop, which is free. Grant applications and proposal-writing handouts will be provided, but bring note-taking materials. The PGAC is at Building #3 of the Prince George's Metro Center, 6525 Belcrest Road, Suite 290, Hyattsville. To RSVP, call 301-277-1402.

Northwestern concert

The Maryland Chamber Orchestra Association will hold a family concert at 3 p.m. Sunday at Northwestern High School, 7000 Adelphi Road, Hyattsville. The orchestra, led by Artistic Director and Conductor Joseph Choi, will perform works by Rossini, Debussy, and Prokofiev. Tickets are $15; $10 for students and seniors. Call 301-434-1424.

Open house

Parents are invited to the Concordia Lutheran School Open Houses before registration for the 2002-2003 school year begins March 1. The event will be held between 12 and 3 p.m. Sunday for parents of children through third grade, and between 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday for parents of children through eighth grade. For information, call 301-927-0266.

Spelling bee

Prince George's County Community College will be buzzing with excitement March 1 as pupils compete in The Gazette and Star Newspapers Spelling Bee.

The competition is a chance for county pupils to advance to the 75th Annual Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee in May. Over 30 schools in the event at the Hallam Theatre inside the Queen Anne Arts Building. The event will be at 7 p.m. at the college located at Campus Way South and Route 202 in Largo. Visit www. spellingbee. com. Call Mike Molster at 301-731-2100.

Items for Community Notebook may be sent to Julia Oliver, the Gazette, 8201 Corporate Drive, Suite 1200, Landover, Md. 20785; or faxed to 301-731-2141; or e-mailed to joliver@gazette.net.