CBM BAY WEEKLY No. 49, December 9 - December 16, 2021 WET, WILD OR MILD?

VOL. XXIX, NO. 49 • DECEMBER 9-DECEMBER 16, 2021 • BAY WEEKLY.COM SERVING THE CHESAPEAKE SINCE 1993

WET, WILD OR MILD? A Winter Forecast for Chesapeake Country PA G E 1 1 BAY BULLETIN

Change at Annapolis Green, Annie’s Closing, Fun Bay Holiday Celebrations, Land Trust Anniversary, Building in Gingerbread, Funds for Scout Camp, A Force-ful Collection page 4

MOVIEGOER: I Don’t Love Lucy page 18

Will We be Walking in a Winter Wonderland?

How the Season’s Shaping Up

A

s I sit at my computer, blanket on my lap and the twinkle of Christmas lights outside my window visible up and down the street, I’m glad to be cozy inside. The wind kicks up, creating a blizzard of oak leaves that drop in snowdrift-like piles on the ground.

A wind advisory is in effect, warning of 20 mph northwest winds and gusts up to 50. Now I’m even gladder to be cozy inside.

This week’s forecast brings Chesapeake Country’s very first chance of snow, and overnight lows in the 20s. By the looks of it, winter is upon us. What that means, exactly, we never quite know. In Maryland, it always seems that winter could go either way.

Is it time to stow away the light jacket and get comfy in our heavy winter coats?

Is it time to cover our ears and hands every time we walk the dog? Maybe— until we get that bewildering 65-degree day in the middle of December, just to keep things interesting. Etched in my memory is Christmas Day 2015 when

the high temperature reached a near-record 71 degrees. My November baby was just 5 weeks old, and it was so warm in the house he spent most of our Christmas gathering in just a diaper.

Then, a mere month after that, January 2016’s Winter Storm Jonas dumped a record-breaking 29.2 inches of snow on Chesapeake Country, as measured at BWI. Remember how your patio furniture was buried in snowdrifts?

I’ll say it again: in Maryland, winter could really go either way. Will we get “real winter” this year, my kids are dying to know? Will Santa put shiny new sleds under the Christmas tree?

(Or will Santa regret spending money on sleds as a mild winter unfolds?)

Nobody knows for sure the answers to these questions, but CBM Bay Weekly is turning to the experts to find out their best guesses. Meteorologists have been hard at work developing predictions for the 2021-2022 season. We won’t give away their winter forecast— you’ll have to turn to page 11 for that.

We’ll also look at some less scientific winter predictions, just for fun. From woollier-than-usual horse coats to early waterfowl migration, there are plenty of signals observed in nature that may indicate a harsh winter is coming. Do any of these myths ring true? Let’s find out.

In the meantime, I’ll be rooting for a mild December so that we can enjoy all those Christmas lights walks in the neighborhood, tree lightings, and other festivities (check our Bay Planner on page 14 for this week’s events and our full Holiday Happenings guide at bayweekly.com/holiday-happenings).

And come January and February, I’ll be hoping for at least one good snowfall to put these new Christmas sleds to use! p —MEG WALBURN VIVIANO,

YOUR SAY

Volume XXIX, Number 49 December 9 - December 16, 2021 bayweekly.com Editorial Director

Meg Walburn Viviano

Managing Editor Contributing Writers Diana Beechener Dennis Doyle Bill Sells Editors Emeritus J. Alex Knoll Sandra Olivetti Martin

Kathy Knotts Wayne Bierbaum Maria Price

Bill Lambrecht

Advertising Account Executive Heather Beard Theresa Sise Production Manager Art Director

Rebecca Volosin Joe MacLeod

CHESAPEAKE BAY MEDIA, LLC 601 Sixth St., Annapolis, MD 21403 410-626-9888 chesapeakebaymagazine.com Chief Executive Officer

John Martino

Chief Operating Officer & Group Publisher

John Stefancik

Executive Vice President

HELP Association donates to Calvert Meals on Wheels The HELP Association, a local nonprofit founded in 1972, supports the work of programs assisting the needy in Calvert County. The HELP Association recently donated $5,000 to Calvert Meals on Wheels, to ensure that the county’s homebound citizens will continue to have meals delivered during the holiday season.

All of the proceeds from items purchased at the HELP Association’s volunteer-run thrift store in Owings go towards helping the community.

HELP Association President, Patty Canter, said that “donating to Calvert Meals on Wheels is just part of what we do to give back to our Calvert Coun-

Tara Davis

Director of Marketing and Client Experience

Krista Pfunder

CONTENTS BAY BULLETIN

Change at Annapolis Green, Annie’s Closing, Fun Bay Holiday Celebrations, Land Trust Anniversary, Building in Gingerbread, Funds for Scout Camp, A Force-ful Collection ................. 4 FEATURE ty Community. HELP would not exist without individual donations of cloth-

Best Santa in Chesapeake Country!

R

EADE RS, have you found the most authentic Santa in the region?

Know a Saint Nicholas that goes above and beyond for his community? Or maybe a Santa that rocks an amazing beard?

We want to meet him! Nominate your Best Santa on our Facebook page or by email (editor@bayweekly.com) and include a photo please! The winning Santa will be featured in our Christmas issue.

Deadline is Dec. 15.

2 • BAY WEEKLY • December 9 - December 16, 2021

ing and small housewares, our shoppers and the dedication of our 45 volunteers who make it all possible.”

Calvert Meals on Wheels was founded in 1982 to help homebound citizens who have difficulties preparing meals to live more independently. CMOW delivers a meal, smile, and wellness check to homebound seniors five days a week. Shirl Hendley, CMOW president, said that “this donation will allow our clients to have a very Merry Christmas! The HELP Association is one of our major supporters, and they come through every year. We are honored to partner with them to decrease food insecurity amongst our clients.”

HELP Association Store is open Tu-Sa, 10am-2pm, 1260 E Mt Harmony Rd, Owings, Facebook: @helpassociationinc Calvert Meals on Wheels, Facebook: @calvertmealsonwheels or calvertmealsonwheels.org

Wet, Wild or Mild? A Winter Forecast for Chesapeake Country ..............11 BAY PLANNER ....................... 14 CREATURE FEATURE............... 16 GARDENING FOR LIFE............. 16 SPORTING LIFE...................... 17 MOVIEGOER.......................... 18 MOON AND TIDES.................. 19 NEWS OF THE WEIRD.............. 19 PUZZLES............................... 21 CLASSIFIED........................... 22 SERVICE DIRECTORY............... 23 Send us your thoughts on CBM BAY WEEKLY:

601 Sixth St., Annapolis, MD 21403 editor@bayweekly.com LIKE US ON FACEBOOK: facebook.com/bayweekly

Visit BAYWEEKLY.COM for the CBM BAY WEEKLY Online edition!

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Elvia Thompson will leave the top position at Annapolis Green, the environmental organization she helped create. Photo: Annapolis Green.

THOMPSON STEPS BACK FROM ANNAPOLIS GREEN

BY KATHY KNOTTS

A

rea environmental group, Annapolis Green, turns over a new leaf in the new year. On January 1, 2022, founder Elvia Thompson will step down as head of the nonprofit organization. She will turn over the day-to-day reins to co-founder Lynne Forsman and welcome Maggie Hughes to the role of executive director.

“Fifteen years ago, Lynne and I embarked on a journey to shine light on the fact that protecting the environment is about protecting us—our health and our prosperity,” Thompson writes in her newsletter. “We began by connecting local businesses, governments, and the public in general with the environmental community. We also connected members of the local environmental community with one another.”

“I’m so proud of what we have accomplished.”

Annapolis Green has been active in teaching the citizens of the Chesapeake Bay how to reduce their impact on the planet, through campaigns on waste reduction, recycling and driving electric

vehicles. “Lynne and I built Annapolis Green from scratch, based on the idea that we could move our community to work together for a healthy environment by showing how global issues impact us right here where we live,” Thompson says.

The organization has been involved in high-profile events such as the Ro-

Even those who didn’t stop and eat at Annie’s will recognize its longtime presence on Kent Narrows, visible from the water and from the bridge.

END OF AN ERA ON KENT NARROWS: ANNIE’S PARAMOUNT RESTAURANT TO CLOSE

BY NIAMBI DAVIS

D

ecember 24, 2021 will mark the end of an era for a beloved Kent Narrows landmark—when Annie’s Paramount Steak and Seafood House closes the doors of its storied Kent Island restaurant.

In their farewell announcement, owners Mike and Helen Katinas thanked their family and employees for devoting 30 years to Annie’s success. They also thanked their customers and community, saying “without this wonderful community none of this would be possible.”

Since 1992 Annie’s has been symbolic of what makes the Shore renowned for its hospitality. For locals and visitors alike it was more than the award winning cream of crab soup, prime rib or the views of Kent Narrows and the Chester River. It’s been the place to go for celebrations of every occasion—from boat purchases to birthdays, engagements and christenings. On any Sunday in season football fans gathered in Annie’s sports bar. There was Sunday brunch and Thanksgiving dinner in the dining rooms. One frequent diner credited Annie’s takeout meals with boosting morale during the pandemic’s stay-at-home order.

During the holiday season Annie’s was noted for decking the halls with an

4 • BAY WEEKLY • December 9 - December 16, 2021

tary Club’s annual Crab Feast, which Annapolis Green helped pivot into a zero-waste event, providing composting of crab shells and paper goods and recycling everything else. Their water refilling stations, Naptown Tap, can be found at major events, including the Annapolis Boat Shows, offering guests a chance to ditch plastic bottles and fill up a rearray of beautifully decorated, themed Christmas trees including a blue and white ocean-themed tree hung with Chesapeake Bay crabs. In the days leading up to closing, diners grabbed the last opportunities to experience Annie’s signature meals. As of now, reservations for the remaining Sunday brunches and the last Christmas Eve dinner are full.

With the news of Annie’s closing, reactions poured in. “It’s a sad day for us,” said a longtime resident. Annie’s will be missed, not only for the food and fond memories but for its strong continuous support of Queen Anne’s County, including the Board of Education, and a number of community organizations.

The Queen Anne’s County Chamber of Commerce posted a thank-you video on Annie’s Facebook page, expressing gratitude for the Katinas family’s support of the business community and the Chamber itself. “Without your generous contribution the Chamber wouldn’t be what it is today,” said Linda Friday, the organization’s president.

There is, however, hope despite the upcoming closing. A new Kent Island location may be in the works. It will take time, the hopeful community is told, but there’s a strong possibility that Annie’s will find a new home somewhere on Kent Island. Obviously, this will take time. “I’ve been asked why do you want to continue?” Mike Katinas says. “Because this is what we do.”

If you’ve got memories to share of a visit to Annie’s you’re invited to post them at facebook.com/annieskentisland with the hashtag #anniesmemories.

usable vessel with water for free. They erected cigarette butt bins in locations around the city and set up composting programs to collect kitchen scraps from residents.

“It seems like yesterday when we began creating momentum offering fun and engaging ways to bring local environmental efforts together and to the community’s forefront. Our unique personalities and talents made us a terrific partnership and things just took off. And in a blink, it was 15 years,” said Forsman. “It’s wonderful to now be experiencing a similar synergy with Maggie.”

Hughes, an Eastern Shore native, brings a personal commitment to environmental protection in this region as well as 10 years of environmental nonprofit experience with proven management skills and fundraising strategies. “I’m in awe of the work that Annapolis Green has done over the last 15 years and I’m excited to dive right in!”Thompson said she hopes to move on to work on state, national, and global aspects of the Climate Crisis, possibly in the area of electric vehicle adoption policy. “It’s been a joy to do this work for the past 15 years,” she writes. “It’s never really been work. Instead, it’s been a calling and a passion.”

One of two Kent Narrows crab basket trees. Photo: Queen Anne’s County Tourism.

ONLY ON THE BAY: GO SEE THESE WATERFRONT HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS

BY MEG WALBURN VIVIANO

H

ere on the Bay, we love our lighted boat parades. But there are a lot more quintessential holiday celebrations that say “Chesapeake Bay” just as loudly.

In St. Michaels this weekend, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum hosts a one-of-a-kind historical holiday happening: the firing of the Christmas See HAPPENINGS on page 6

December 9 - December 16 • BAY WEEKLY • 5

BAY BULLETIN HAPPENINGS from page 4

guns. Say what? Not many people know this was a holiday traditionin the 19th century.

“The traditions of celebrating Christmas, and the firing of guns, had been brought to the Americas by Swiss, Scandinavian, and German-speaking immigrants during the 18th and 19th centuries,” said Mark Dubin, a founding member of the Chesapeake Independent Blues, a group of interpretive volunteers. “It is probable that the militia of St. Michaels would have fired the Town’s artillery for notable occasions such as the 4th of July, New Year’s Day, and Christmas, beginning as early as 1814.”

The Chesapeake Independent Blues and the Fort McHenry Guard will carry out the demonstration on Saturday, Dec. 11 from noon–12:30pm along CBMM’s Miles River waterfront, as part of the annual Christmas in St. Michaels festivities.

Then there is the growing number of crab basket Christmas trees on display around the region. Last Saturday evening, Rock Hall, Deale, and Kent Narrows all held lighting events for their trees, cone-like structures built from dozens of crab baskets individually painted.

And for the first time, the Talbot Watermen Association will display its own tree during Christmas in St. Michaels, also Saturday, Dec. 11. It’s being built

and displayed at the Kastel Brothers propeller store on Talbot Street.

With so many crab basket trees around the Bay, which to visit? Rock Hall is generally credited as the originators of the crab basket tree. It is lit each year by none other than Santa Claus, who arrives with Mrs. Claus at the bulkhead followed by the parade of boats. They travel by fire truck to Main Street to officiate the lighting of the tree, which features several hundred decorated baskets in honor of loved ones.

The Kent Narrows holiday tree is so popular it’s actually two trees this year.

The display at Fisherman’s Inn raises money for the Queen Anne’s Watermen’s Association, helping watermen in need and making programming, including oyster restoration, possible.

The trees will be lit every night through New Year’s Eve. Organizers recommend seeing the baskets in the daylight to appreciate their decorations, and seeing them at night to enjoy them lit up.

And in Deale, the eighth annual lighting came with hot cocoa, dance performances and caroling. It was an opportune fundraiser for the Anne Arundel Watermen’s Association, since their traditional crab feast has had to be canceled the past two years.

Holiday traditions come in many forms, and there are ample opportunities to celebrate the Chesapeake Bay way—be it a gun salute or a towering tree of painted crab baskets, no two baskets exactly alike.

Executive director Greg Bowen addresses the crowd. Photo: Molly Weeks Crumbley.

Marching On: 35 Years of the American Chestnut Land Trust

BY MOLLY WEEKS CRUMBLEY

I

t was a temperate Saturday morning in December, and the woods and fields were filled with hikers as far as the eye could see. The occasion: the American Chestnut Land Trust’s 35th anniversary celebration Volksmarch. Over a hundred people helped mark the anniversary and break in the brand new Holly Hill trails, marching from different trailheads from the north and south to converge upon the property for a music-filled celebration and lunch.

Formed on December 4, 1986, the ACLT has grown and flourished over the years and certainly has much to celebrate. It began as a fledgling movement by likeminded neighbors who wanted to save the Parkers Creek watershed from development.

“What was unique about the formative days of ACLT was that none of us had a clue about how to proceed, but we kept working at it,” says ACLT charter member Don Dahmann. “Initially, it was a random walk; only eventually did we discover a pathway to preserving open space.”

Charter member Gary Loew agrees, explaining that there were very few models of land trusts for the original group to model itself after. Learning on the job was a must. “The ACLT has progressed far beyond what I, or I suspect

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6 • BAY WEEKLY • December 9 - December 16, 2021

BAY BULLETIN any, of the original founders envisioned when it was founded,” says Loew.

Former board member Peter Vogt adds, “None of us—a mix of teachers, lawyers, scientists, retirees, military— had even heard of local land trusts.”

Nevertheless, a land trust was indeed formed, the first community created land trust in Maryland.

Incorporating was just the beginning, and the board of directors were then tasked with raising the funding necessary to purchase its first parcel of land.

Vogt recalls the harrowing race to fund their first land purchase. “We had about six months to raise what today would be nearly a million dollars. We beat the bushes to persuade people to contribute money. It was a nail-biting 11th hour effort. The down payment was due around July 1987 and the last check brought us to the finish line just days before.”

Run entirely by volunteers in its first five years, ACLT eventually formalized its operations to include some paid staff to oversee operations. Maintaining a robust volunteer group and fundraising have been the biggest ongoing hurdles for the land trust. Though two-thirds of the operating budget of ACLT is covered by endowment and grants, the remaining third comes from the community in the forms of membership and donations.

Funding is necessary to maintain the existing parcels within ACLT as well as looking toward future endeavors.

Executive director Greg Bowen says that the ACLT has “grown from a seed

to a tall sturdy tree” over the course of 35 years, but that it still has more branching out and growing to do in the future.

At the Volksmarch event, he told the enthusiastic crowd about some of the upcoming projects that the organization has in the works. In particular, the ACLT has an eye towards historical preservation and education in Calvert County The newly buttressed double crib barn on the Holly Hill property is one of the most recent examples, boasting educational panels that illuminate Calvert life before the Civil War. “Historic structures really do matter. They bring context to history,” Bowen says. He also highlighted two projects to shed light on the histories of marginalized people in the community.

In 2022, interpretive panels and website information about the Piscataway Nation in the area will be available to help educate the public about Calvert County’s indigenous people. Additionally, the ACLT is part of a partnership dedicated to preserving Brown United Methodist Church, the first African American Church built in Parkers Creek.

“One of the goals of ACLT is to understand and protect our cultural history,” Bowen told the gathered crowd. “We are working hard to understand the relationship between land and humans on this landscape and the relationships between different groups of humans on this landscape.”

More information about the ACLT can be found at acltweb.org and Facebook @ AmericanChestnutLandTrust.

Crafting in Gingerbread

BY KERI LUISE

C

ookies, candy canes, gumdrops and more, Christmas is the season for delicious treats. But some sweets do double duty as building materials.

Local food artist, Nancy Baker, assembled a homemade gingerbread house in front of guests at Homestead Gardens in Severna Park on Sunday adding her signature “wow factor” into holiday baking.

According to Baker (a well-fit name for this savvy food artist), her goal with the festive project was to “create a classic type gingerbread house—very wintery themed— lots of ice and snow.”

She baked the house’s structure ahead of time so that it would be stable, and then assembled and embellished at the event.

Whether it is sculpting a pumpkin, carving a cheese block, creating a bacon bust or assembling a gingerbread home, Baker is a uniquely versatile food artist as well as an art teacher at South River High School in Edgewater.

But, Baker says “gingerbread is one of my newer mediums in which to work...

Working with sticky stuff is my least favorite but I am always up for a challenge.”

Baker has created food art pieces for many top companies including Busch Gardens, Sea World,Disney Marvel, CBS Sports, Hello Fresh, Total Wine and many more. She was also featured in the competitive TV show “Halloween Wars” on

Nancy Baker decorates a gingerbread house at Homestead Gardens in Severna Park. Photo: Keri Luise Food Network and will be appearing on Foodtastic, streaming on Disney+ Dec. 15.

While Baker assembled and decorated her gingerbread house at Homestead, she offered helpful gingerbread house-making tips to visitors passing by.

“Whether you are creating a gingerSee GINGERBREAD on page 8

December 9 - December 16, 2021 • BAY WEEKLY • 7

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8 • BAY WEEKLY • December 9 - December 16, 2021

Left: Fiona Murray took first place in the children’s division of the Darnall’s Chance Gingerbread Contest. Right: Violet Stallings placed second in the children’s division.

Photos: Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission.

GINGERBREAD from page 7

bread house for eating or just for show, do most of your decorating before putting it together,” Baker says. “That way it sets up [and] dries before you upright the walls…[And of course], never stop playing with your food.”

As Baker piped frosting around an ice cream cone to make an innovative pine tree, viewers “ooh” and “ahh” at her sugary festive treat.

“How do you keep from eating the ingredients?” one man asks. “It’s so beautiful!” a young girl cheers out.

One family, Brian, Kate and Bradley Dalgliesh, came straight to Homestead after a soccer game to see Baker at work.

“We did pick up a few insider tips that we’ll have to incorporate,” Brian Dalgliesh said. “Like these Nerd ropes that she uses for garland, so that it’s all connected and she just puts it up [on the roof]. And gelatin sheets for the windows.”

“We have a [gingerbread house] kit at home but we haven’t made it yet. It will not look as snazzy as [this one],” Brian says. “It’s the tiny things that make it slightly different and so special.”

If you didn’t get a chance to catch Baker building her jolly creation, it will remain on display at Homestead Gardens in Severna Park. But, you can also see all sorts of gingerbread creations at the Darnall’s Chance House Museum’s 22nd annual Gingerbread House Contest and Show for the next two weekends this month.

Visitors can stop by the museum in Upper Marlboro to view a unique display of edible gingerbread creations. Contestants from the region built one-of-a-kind gingerbread structures and submitted them just before Thanksgiving in three divisions—adult, child, and family.

According to Museum Director Susan Reidy, over the years the contest and show has had almost every kind of gingerbread creation you could think of.

“We’ve had New York City with Godzilla going through the middle of the street blowing fire and cruising the buildings, we’ve had sailboats, we’ve had the Eiffel Tower, we’ve had car-

ousels that spin, we’ve had an advent calendar, we’ve had a wreath,” Reidy says. “You name it, if you can think of it we’ve probably had it.”

According to Reidy, a panel of three judge the contending creations “on very specific criteria” and award nine winners—three in each division—with ribbons and a cash prize, and bragging rights.

“How do you keep from eating the ingredients?” one man asks.

The gingerbread houses must be original (no kits allowed), must have their major components made of gingerbread, and must be edible. All entries are judged on originality/creativity, overall appearance, use of materials, difficulty of design, and precision.

Aside from the panel of judges, there is also a Viewer’s Choice Award at the annual show.

“With the Viewers Choice Award, the viewers have no criteria, so they just vote for whatever one they fancy, whatever one they think is the prettiest or the biggest, the kids always like to pick one that has lots of candy on it...everybody has their own taste,” Reidy says.

This year, with only 17 contestants (the smallest they’ve ever had), the entires can be seen online, but visitors must come in-person in order to cast votes for the Viewers Choice Award.

“We wanted to offer that if people don’t feel comfortable going out they can at least see the entries this year because many of our visitors have come for every show we have ever had,” Reidy says. “It’s just a great way to bring family and friends [together]...still continuing the holiday spirit.”

View the entries: pgparks.com/3059/ Gingerbread-Contest-Show.

BAY BULLETIN

Mount Calvary Church

Camp Woodlands Gets Funding Gift

BY KERI LUISE

C

hristmas is coming a little early this year for the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland. The Girl Scouts are in the process of being awarded $500,000 in federal funding from U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen for improvements to the Girl Scout Camp Woodlands in Annapolis.

Senators have requested funding from the Appropriations Committee in order to directly benefit their states and communities. The Girl Scouts of Central Maryland have been lucky enough to be one of four projects awarded federal funding within the Annapolis and Southern Maryland area and final approval for the funding should arrive before Christmas.

“These federal funds will help renovate Camp Woodlands and allow it to expand its programs to even more Maryland children, from a greater array of backgrounds,” says Van Hollen. “I was proud to work in my role on the Appropriations Committee to include this and other key funding requests for our state in our annual funding legislation.”

According to the Senator’s office, the funds will be used to renovate the camp in order to expand access for underserved families and individuals with disabilities while also upgrading storm-water management to protect the shoreline in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Camp Woodlands is 40-acre campsite located on Broad Creek with deep woods and a ravine. It is home to the nationally acclaimed historic Lamb’s Lodge teepee, a 12-sided polygon built in the 1950s with a central fireplace that serves as the camp’s main lodge.

The private camp has been owned by the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland ever since the mid-1940s. With several cabin units, some open space campsites for tent camping and the main heated lodge, Camp Woodlands serves mainly as a Girl Scout camp but also provides access to the general public.

Various local schools use the site for environmental programming and the Annapolis Rowing Club has used the Broad Creek waterfront at the site for their rowing program over the years.

“For generations, young Marylanders have enjoyed Girl Scouts Camp Woodlands in Annapolis,” says Van Hollen.

“We want to ensure that generations to come can do the same.”

Lynne Durbin, current chair of the Nominating Committee for the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland and former board chair, has been involved with Camp Woodlands and its improvements to come.

“The Girl Scouts are incredibly grateful to our senators for getting us this money and we really look forward to being able to upgrade this camp for our girls, for the use of Anne Arundel County, and for the state,” Durbin says.

“It’s a substantial amount of money and we are very glad to have it.”

The funding will mostly go toward infrastructure work. Durbin says they will be doing roadway repairs as well as putting up new cabins, new platforms

Traditional Anglo-Catholic prayer book for worship Camp Woodlands is set to receive federal funding this month.

Photo: GSCM. for tent camping, and incorporating more water, sewer and electricity access around the site.

“We are re-envisioning Camp Woodlands,” Durbin says. “The intent would be that with new and more modern facilities we will hopefully be able to open it up to [more]...and that the property will be usable by many more people on a year round basis and at the moment with just one heated lodge it cannot accommodate [that].”

The Arundel Rivers Federation has also done some restoration work at Camp Woodlands with money awarded from the state. Durbin says there has been runoff and erosion from Riva Road and the Arundel Rivers Federation has “done stabilization work all throughout the ravine.”

“We have granted them an easement to continue with the work on the gully portion of the land hopefully leading to cleaner water going into Broad Creek and for stalling the erosion from Riva Road,” Durbin says.

According to Durbin, the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland has already raised about $1.7 million towards the campsite renovations project from individual donors and more funding from appropriations.

“We really hope that with this (federal) money coming through that we will get the construction drawings, and be able to start in the spring with the infrastructure work,” Durbin says.

“The infrastructure work itself will probably take six months...and then it’s essentially a year to 18 months to build everything that we would build in the first phase, not including the big lodge.”

Enrollment in Girl Scouts dropped off a bit last year, Durbin says, due to COVID. Meetings were essentially all virtual with online programming and “Girl Scouting in a Box” kits so that the Scouts could do some projects at home.

“They have been able to go back to meeting in-person this fall,” Durbin says. “We had a very healthy summer camp and the girls are back in force.

We’re still working on building enrollment because people did take a pause last year and we’re just hoping as things continue to open up...that more activities will be able to take place for the girls.”

For info, call 410-562-5562 Directions: Take MD 2 south to the Lothian Circle.

Continue east on Md 408 3m to church on the right.

December 9 - December 16, 2021 • BAY WEEKLY • 9

BAY BULLETIN Introducing the 2022 Hyundai Tucson With a daring new look inside and out, the 2022 Tucson features game-changing technology and safety features.

Built for the modern adventure.

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Business owner and collector Ric Taylor is selling off his collection of Star Wars memorabilia. Photo: Charlie Youngmann.

For Serious Collectors Only

BY CHARLIE YOUNGMANN

I believe is the word,” said Ric “Eclectic, Taylor, in reference to his massive

Two

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Muddy Creek Artists Guild

“Gifts from the Arts” presents

POP-UP ART SHOW AND SALE

December 3–5 & December 10–12, 2021 MAIN ST. AT SOUTH RIVER COLONY SHOPPING CENTER 179 Mitchells Chance Road, Edgewater, Md. 21037

www.muddycreekartistsguild.org

10 • BAY WEEKLY • December 9 - December 16, 2021

collection of rare Star Wars memorabilia.

Over the years, Taylor’s acquired all manner of vintage Star Wars items from manufacturers like Rawcliffe, Gentle Giant, and Hallmark. A good portion of which gets displayed in his store, Maryland Pipe Dreams in Calvert County.

Now, he’s getting ready to sell it.

“For serious collectors only; these are not toys,” Taylor clarified.

Having recently downsized from a four-bedroom house to a two-bedroom condominium, Taylor has had to make some difficult decisions about what he can keep. It was clear he had to make a change when the collectables stored in his garage began to take up so much space that getting out of the passenger side door proved impossible with both cars parked inside.

Taylor attended the original screening of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope back in 1977 (then simply referred to as Star Wars) and was hooked. While he may not care for the more “sanitized” execution of the newer Star Wars films produced by Disney, Taylor said his love of the original franchise is what spurred him into his collecting frenzy.

Now, the walls of Taylor’s Huntingtown shop are adorned with dozens of busts and figurines representing characters as iconic as Luke Skywalker or as obscure as the entire bounty hunter lineup from Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.

“I never looked at it as ‘well, this is gonna be a value thing and I’m going to make money on it,’” Taylor said. “It just started out as ‘I like this’ or ‘I like that’ and ‘since I’ve got that and that, I might as well go ahead and get this.’”

Taylor’s collection isn’t just limited to Star Wars. In his travels, he’s picked up autographed Beatles memorabilia, home run baseballs, D.C. Comics figurines and all kinds of promotional art and posters.

Taylor’s best and most interesting piece would be his original Revenge

of the Jedi movie poster. If you’re not familiar with this installment of the franchise, it’s because the movie doesn’t exist. “Revenge” was the original title of the movie that would later become Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi.

The promotional posters were made and distributed prior to the rework of the script we know today. Given that the items tie-in with a movie that was never made, they are highly sought

Taylor’s poised to sell off his treasures.

He’s promised his wife Nancy he’s done collecting for good and looking to liquidate his hoard. after due to their rarity and have previously sold for thousands of dollars, Taylor says.

Taylor’s poster is still in mint condition and in the original mailing tube, making it a rarity even among Revenge of the Jedi posters. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to take the poster out for photography without seriously harming its value. You’ll have to take Taylor’s word for it that within that tube sits a rolled-up piece of cinematic history.

Now Taylor’s poised to sell off his treasures (with the exception of a couple autographed Beatles items). He’s promised his wife Nancy he’s done collecting for good and looking to liquidate his hoard of valuables.

If you’ve got the itch to start a Star Wars collection of your own, head on down to Maryland Pipe Dreams and chew the fat with Taylor for a while.

For the right price, you may walk home with something made a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away. p

WET, WILD OR MILD?

A Winter Forecast for Chesapeake Country

I

B Y K AT H Y K N O T T S

N FEBRUARY, WE TURN TO A PORTLY GROUNDHOG TO TELL US WHEN SPRING WILL ARRIVE. In the winter, according to old wives’ tales and the Farmer’s Almanac, we should look at acorn gathering, stripes on caterpillars and the thickness of cornhusks or onion skins to tell us what winter has in store for us.

CONTINUED O

December 9 - December 16, 2021 • BAY WEEKLY • 11

WET, WILD OR MILD? CONTINUED

? ?

?

?

?

The 2022 Old Farmer’s Almanac says this winter “will be punctuated by positively bone-chilling, below-average temperatures across most of the United States.”

“This coming winter could well be one of the longest and coldest that we’ve seen in years,” says editor Janice Stillman.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac uses solar science, climatology, and meteorology to predict weather trends.

When it comes to an accurate picture of what winter on the Chesapeake Bay will actually look like, we may be better served turning to experts with the National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association to tell us.

Will we see piles of snow and another bout with the polar vortex? Or will this season be mild with warmer days and less precipitation?

For meteorologists and climatologists, winter actually starts earlier than astronomical winter, which kicks off at the solstice, usually Dec. 21 and 22. Meteorological winter is typically categorized as the months of December, January and February. The same months when the weather in Maryland is as unpredictable as it gets.

NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center published its Winter Outlook back in October stating that above-average temperatures are favored across most of the eastern U.S. this winter.

Chris Strong is the Warning Coordination Meteorologist for the Baltimore/Washington National Weather Service. “Our expectation for winter as a whole is that temperatures will be milder than usual.

But that’s not to say we won’t see an Arctic outbreak from time to time. It will just be less frequent and not very long lasting.”

Strong says the weather service bases the winter outlook on a 30-year average of recorded temperatures; In the 2020s, “average” temperatures include data beginning in the 1990s. “Since we have shifted to the next set of averages, we aren’t looking at the data from the ‘80s.

We have still had cold winters, but they have been less frequent. But still, looking back, we first started talking about polar vortex in the early 2010s.”

While NWS doesn’t make snow predictions in its winter outlook, Strong says we can also expect below average snow amounts due to La Nina conditions, which tend to produce more rain than snow for Chesapeake Country.

La Nina and El Nino are climate patterns born in the tropical Pacific Ocean that affect the weather patterns of the entire planet. The opposing forces alternate between bringing us warmer or cooler temperatures than average, based on how much heat and moisture is being pumped into the atmosphere. A La Nina year means warmer and wetter for Maryland.

Of course, a discussion of winter weather requires noting that winter looks quite different in 2021 than it did 50 years ago.

According to the nonprofit news organization Climate Central, winters across the United States just aren’t as cold as they used to be. Using 52 years of winter temperature data in 246 locations, their analysis shows an increase in average winter temperatures in 98 percent of locations.

Many of those locations warmed by two degrees or more. The places where winter is warming the most are the Great Lakes and the Northeast.

Climate Central’s research shows

12 • BAY WEEKLY • December 9 - December 16, 2021

NATURE’S WINTER P

BY S US A N NO L A

I

S A LONG, HARSH WINTER on the way? Local experts look for s and say, “maybe.”

Deana Tice of En-Tice-Ment Farm and En-Tice-Ment Stables at Obli Harwood says her horses are growing extra thick coats this year—so, pare for a cold winter.

Esther Woodworth, a naturalist at Patuxent River Park in Upper Marl to sniff the air on a cold day. A metallic smell means snow is imminent. F forecast, she keeps an eye on the sky and an ear on early migrations of ducks, geese and butterflies c is coming early. A lot of frogs making noise in they will be going underground early.” Ac migrations happened right on time this y Park Ranger Dave Burman of Qui in Annapolis finds natural weather around him. “Woodpeckers sharing a cold winter is on its way.” And a singular woodpeckers keeping e pany these days? “More so than He also encourages us to lo over the next couple of wee poplar, red maple and red

“Anybody who’s from around here or been here a while, knows our snow is erratic. And it will be getting even more erratic with time.”

—CHRIS STRONG , WARNING COORDINATION METEOROLOGIST FOR THE BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE

PREDICTORS?

AN

signs in nature

igation Farm in , we should pre-

lboro, advises us For a long range n the pond. “The can mean winter n August means ccording to her, year. iet Waters Park r predictors all g a tree indicates are the normally each other comn usual.” ook at the trees eks. If the tulip oak hold onto

their leaves through mid-December, winter will be mild.

Lothian farmer Kayla Griffith of Griffith Family Farm grows kale and turnips. She reminds us that agriculture is a science and vegetables are products of their immediate environment, not the future.

“The greens turn brown and die off sooner when it’s colder.

With a mild winter, the growing season is longer.”

Naturalist Tania Gale at Battle Creek Cypress Swamp Sanctuary says natural weather predictors are fun, but “don’t put money on it.”

“Some people say ladybugs gathering in crevices are a sign that we are in for a cold winter,” she says, “but the lady bugs do that every winter.”

that winter is the fastest-warming season for most of the U.S. Over the past 50 years, average temps increased more in winter than in any other season for 38 states.

While some people in Maryland may embrace a warmer winter, Strong reminds us that being prepared never goes out of season. “Now through spring, when we do get those nice days that pop up time to time, we have to still be hyper-aware of the weather, and any warnings and the forecast,” he says. “When the wind comes up suddenly and you are out on or near the water, that water temperature can kill you. It remains one of our biggest threats.”

And while a warmer winter sounds nice it also has some negative impacts: More insects, less snow and ice for winter recreation, a declining snowpack out west that impacts water levels in reservoirs and crop irrigation, and lower fruit yields due to impacted tree development.

A warmer, wetter winter doesn’t mean that snowfall is a distant memory, though.

“We may see a little bit of snow this week,” says Strong. “But it’s early season and it’s hard for it to stick. January and February are our snowiest two months. So anytime from mid-December through mid-March holds the possibility of snow.”

How much snow we get is still up in the air. “Anybody who’s from around here or been here a while, knows our snow is erratic. And it will be getting even more erratic with time,” says Strong. “We will have more winters with a single-digit snowfall, those will be more frequent.

But at the same time we can still get those massive snowfalls. There will still be extreme weather events.”

Researchers at Climate Central note that there can still be cold winters under climate change. The likelihood of extreme cold conditions in a warming world is decreasing but it is not zero. Some locations will still experience extreme cold or cold records—just not as cold or for as long as in the past. Although a majority of the U.S. has experienced an increase in winter temperatures, some northern states, including the Dakotas and Montana, have had colder winter temperatures since 1970. Meaning Maryland can still experience deep freezes, similar to last February’s cold wave in Texas.

So what’s the biggest winter weather threat in the Chesapeake region? Is it snow? Ice? Freezing rain?

The winter threat we should worry about continues to be the element of surprise, says Strong. “Here in the mid-Atlantic we can get just about any weather threat, so we really have to be ready for anything.” p

December 9 - December 16, 2021 • BAY WEEKLY • 13

M O N D AY

BAY P L A N N E R

T U E S D AY

W E D N E S D AY

By Kathy Knotts • December 9-December 16

T H U R S D AY

F R I D AY

S A T U R D AY

S U N D AY

Submit your ideas, comments and events! Email us: calendar@bayweekly.com

tions made by gingerbread architects of many ages; vote for your favorite in the Viewer’s Choice Awards—but no nibbling! FSaSu Noon-5pm, Darnall’s Chance House Museum, Upper Marlboro, $2: 301-952-8010.

Dec. 11-23: Holiday Magic

SATURDAY DECEMBER 11

Blacksmithing Workshop Learn how to make S-hooks in this workshop (ages 15+). 9am-1pm, Jefferson Patterson Park, St. Leonard, $30 w/ discounts, RSVP: jefpat.maryland.gov.

45th Deale Christmas Bazaar Browse and buy from vendors, crafters, plus baked goods, homemade soup and chili, door prizes; donations of non-perishable foods for SCAN accepted. 9am-2pm, Deale VFD: Deale42.com.

Sensory Hike

THURSDAY DECEMBER 9

Mitchell Gallery Book Club Take an online tour of the exhibit, followed by a discussion of Winslow Homer in Gloucester by D. Scott Atkinson and Jochen Wierich. 2:30-4:30pm, RSVP: lucinda.edinberg@sjc.edu.

Dec. 9: Midnight Madness

Midnight Madness Shop ’til you drop at this marathon of Christmas cheer and commerce.

Stores stay open until the witching hour during Downtown Annapolis’s three nights of sales, discounts and holiday festivities along Main St., Maryland Ave., West Street, and City Dock. Take the free circulator bus.

4pm-midnight, downtown Annapolis: downtownannapolispartnership.org.

DECEMBER 9 - 11

KIDS Santa in Lusby See the outdoor shed transformed by elves into a glorious workshop filled with Christmas trees, decorations and toys galore, just in time for Santa and

Get infants and toddlers interested in outdoor play; dress for weather. 9:3010:30am, South River Farm Park, Edgewater, RSVP: rpjarb00@aacounty.org.

Mrs. Claus’s visit. Children can have a chat with Santa, receive a toy and take a photo. 10am-2pm WThF, 9am-noon Sa, SMILE Thrift Store, Lusby: smileinc.org.

DECEMBER 9 - 12

The Colonial Players’ A Christmas Carol

This production was written for The Colonial Players by local playwright Rick Wade and composer Dick Gessner over 40 years ago and has been a family favorite and Annapolis holiday tradition ever since. This year’s production is directed by Sarah Wade with music direction by Trevor Greenfield; Also available for streaming. ThFSaSu 8pm, Colonial Players Theatre, Annapolis, $10 (both in-person or streaming), RSVP: thecolonialplayers.org.

DECEMBER 9 - 26

A Broadway Holiday

This original musical now has updated holiday show-stoppers with new song and dance numbers, performed

by Broadway performers and a live band. ThSu 7:30pm, F 8pm, plus Dec. 24 6pm, Dec. 26 7:30pm (no show Dec. 23), Classic Theatre of Maryland, Annapolis, $55-$68 w/discounts, RSVP: classictheatremaryland.org.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 10

A Celebration of Christmas This long-running tradition features the Annapolis Chorale and Chamber Chorus performing a sleigh full

of holiday musical cheer along with special guests. 8pm, Maryland Hall, Annapolis, $61 w/discounts, RSVP: marylandhall.org.

DECEMBER 10 - 12

Muddy Creek Pop-Up Show See and shop at this holiday gift show featuring 50 artists working in a variety of mediums, offering original and giclee painting, pottery, fabric art, glass work, photography, woodcraft, sculpture, mixed media and more. FSa 10am-7pm, Su 11am-5pm, 179 Mitchells Chance Rd., Edgewater: muddycreekartistsguild.org.

Twin Beach Players’ The Ghost Before Christmas

Twin Beach Players present this play, written by Rick Thompson, based on The Haunted Man and the Ghost’s Bargain, one of five Christmas novels written by Charles Dickens. FSa 7pm, Su 3pm, North Beach Boys & Girl Club, $15 w/ discounts, RSVP: twinbeachplayers.org.

Newtowne Players’ Elf The Musical

Experience the story of Buddy, the orphan human elf, who travels to New York City to find his birth father. FSa 8pm, SaSu 3:30pm, Three Notch Theatre, Lexington Park, $18 w/discounts, RSVP: newtowneplayers.org.

DECEMBER 10 - 19

Darnall’s Chance Gingerbread House Show View a village of elaborate construc-

KIDS Dutch American Christmas Families are invited to the mansion for a day of holiday stories and crafts; children enjoy storytime amidst the splendor of the ballroom decorated for the season and then create holiday decorations and learn about Dutch Christmas traditions.

10-11am, Hammond Harwood House, Annapolis, $12 w/discounts, RSVP: hammondharwoodhouse.org.

Jug Bay Railroad Join park superintendent Patricia Delgado to uncover the history of the Chesapeake Railroad that used to travel through the sanctuary. 10am-12:30pm, Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, Lothian, $5/person plus $6 vehicle fee, RSVP: jugbay.org.

All Saints Christmas Market Expert craftsmen, bakers and vendors present gifts for holiday giving, homemade gourmet cocoa and Glühwein, music and home-baked goods.

Bring your red or green boot mug from previous years to buy beverage refills; benefits parish & community projects. 10am-4pm, All Saints Episcopal Church Parish Hall, Sunderland: allsaints1692.org.

Santa on the Trail Visit with Santa and his helpers as they hand out candy canes and collect non-perishable food items for the Anne Arundel Co. Food Bank at stops along the B&A Trail. Begins 10:45am at Jones Station, ends at 3pm

To have your event listed in Bay Planner, send your information at least 10 days in advance to calendar@bayweekly.com. Include date, location, time, pricing, short description and contact information. Our online calendar at www.bayweekly.com/events is always open.

14 • BAY WEEKLY • December 9 - December 16, 2021

at Sawmill Creek Park, full schedule: https://bit.ly/BASanta.

Celebrate Kwanzaa Join the museum, guests and vendors to honor the first principle of Kwanzaa: unity (umoja), a commitment to building, developing and defending the African American community. 11am-3pm, Banneker-Douglass Museum, Annapolis, RSVP: bdmuseum.maryland.gov/events.

Governor’s Open House Bring unwrapped toys to donate and enjoy the hospitality of Maryland’s Governor Larry Hogan and First Lady Yumi Hogan, refreshments served and special holiday ornaments sold. 1-4pm, Government House, Annapolis, free: governor.maryland.gov.

Ugly Sweater Party & Food/Toy Drive Dress in your holiday sweaters for this party full of giving with live music and collection of toys, winter gear, personal items, and non-perishable food items. 1-5pm, Brian Boru, Severna Park: brianborupub.com.

St. Mary’s College Chamber Singers The St. Mary’s College of Maryland chamber singers with orchestra under the direction of Larry Vote, professor of music, will perform Handel’s Messiah. 2pm, Auerbach Auditorium, St. Mary’s Hall, 47458 Trinity Church Rd., free, RSVP: smcm.edu/messiah.

Magnificent Marsh Mammals Join resident otter expert Chuck Hatcher for a walk - the woods in search of animal activity. 3-5pm, Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, Lothian, $6 vehicle fee, RSVP: jugbay.org.

Artist Meet and Green Join the Arts Council of Calvert County for Home for the Holidays, and shop for original art, jewelry, paintings, photography, ceramics and more at affordable prices. 3-5pm, CalvART Gallery, Prince Frederick: calvertarts.org.

Crafty Campfire Program Join the town naturalist to make pinecone bird feeders and pinecone snowmen and talk about how to help wildlife in winter, followed by a campfire with apple cider and s’mores; bring chairs/ blankets. 3-5:30pm, Wetlands Overlook Park, North Beach: 443-646-2426.

Movie on the Beach Layer up in cozy hues of green and red, bring a chair or blanket to get comfy and watch the classic movie How the Grinch Stole Christmas. 5:30-7:30pm, North Beach, free: northbeachmd.org.

Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade Lighting the Annapolis harbor for decades, this glittering parade features several dozen illuminated power and sail boats that travel the waterfront in two fleets: one circles in front of Eastport, City Dock and the Naval Academy seawall; the other cruises the length of Spa Creek. 6-8pm, from

Eastport Yacht Club to Naval Academy: eastportyc.org/lights-parade.

DECEMBER 11 - 19

Ballet Theatre of Maryland’s Nutcracker

Discover the wonder of this timeless holiday tradition be swept away by the tale of the young heroine Clara and her adventures to rescue her beloved Nutcracker from the Rat Queen’s evil spell.

Sa 7pm, Su 1:30pm & 4:30pm, virtual options available, Maryland Hall, Annapolis, $47 w/discounts, RSVP: balletmaryland.org.

DECEMBER 11 - 23

Holiday Magic The Talent Machine Company returns with its high-energy musical revue featuring holiday classics like Rudolf, the Elves, and Frosty, plus new numbers, all performed by a talented cast of children and teens. 10am, 2pm & 7pm SaSu (Dec. 11 & 12), 7pm TuWTh (Dec. 21-23), Indian Creek School, Crownsville, $20, RSVP: talentmachine.com.

SUNDAY DECEMBER 12

KIDS Photos & Cookies with Santa Unwrapped gift donations accepted for Toys for Tots. 1-3pm, Chesapeake Health & Fitness, Deale, RSVP: 410867-7440.

Owl & Kestrel

dren and collect toys for kids in need throughout the county. 3:30-7pm. Get a list of Santa Run stops or request Santa to visit your neighborhood: annapolissantarun.com.

MONDAY DECEMBER 13

Tween and Teen Paint Night Join Calvert Library in a paint night with a digital resource for all things crafty: Creativebug! Registrants will need to bring all materials, view and follow a Creativebug tutorial, and leave with an abstract doodle painting of a pet or animal of their choosing; materials list online. 4:30-6:30pm, Calvert Library, Prince Frederick, RSVP: CalvertLibrary.info.

TUESDAY DECEMBER 14

KIDS Holiday Storytime Children join in a holiday story, crafts and games. 10:30-11:30am, Jefferson Patterson Park, St. Leonard, $5 w/discounts, RSVP: jefpat.maryland.gov.

A Groovy Jingle Party Boogie back to the 1970s with MC3 and All the Rage Vintage for a holiday party with the ultimate throwback jams, a specialty cocktail, a photo opp with a groovy backdrop and 70s-inspired outfits; portion of bar proceeds benefits MC3. 5-7:30pm, Red Red Wine Bar, Annapolis, free: rileyhoaglin@MC3annapolis.org.

KIDS Dine with Santa

Meet two of North America’s smallest birds of prey: the American kestrel and the eastern screech owl. 1:30-2:30pm, National Wildlife Visitor Center, Laurel, RSVP: 301-497-5887.

Kids enjoy dinner with the Jolly Old Elf in an authentic diner setting.

6-8pm, Double T Diner, Annapolis, RSVP: 410-571-9070.

Santa Paws

Knights of Columbus Bingo

Benefits Mid-Atlantic German Shepherd Dog Rescue. 2:30-5pm, Perfect Pet Resort, Lothian, $15: perfectpetresort.com.

Doors open 5:30pm, game start 7pm, The Knights of Columbus Council 2577, 6111 Columbian Way, Bowie: kofc2577. com.

Annapolis Santa Run Give unwrapped presents to St. Nick at the annual Santa Run toy drive.

Fire trucks carry the jolly old elf to over 50 communities in the Annapolis area to pass out candy, greet chil-

Dec. 11: Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade

New boutique in Annapolis Towne Center specializing in apparel, jewelry, accessories and shoes.

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 15

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December 9 - December 16, 2021 • BAY WEEKLY • 15

GARDENING FOR HEALTH

STORY AND PHOTO BY MARIA PRICE

Prepare Your Garden for Winter

A

s winter arrives, you want to make sure you have prepared your garden so that you have good soil to work with in the spring. Try not to leave your garden soil barren during the winter as you can lose too many nutrients to wind and rain that contribute to the nutrient pollution of the Chesapeake Bay and groundwater.

The late Dr. Frank Gouin, former Bay Weekly columnist, plant scientist and professor at the University of Maryland said that research has shown that leaving agricultural soils fallow during the winter months harms the environment and depletes the soil. Fallow land can

even develop more soil borne disease problems the following year.

It is recommended to plant a cover crop of winter rye or daikon radish to replenish the soil especially in a vegetable garden. In a perennial garden, it’s best to add organic material such as chopped leaves, straw, old hay or animal bedding into the soil.

Leaves are free and very plentiful this year. As you collect your leaves, run over them with a lawn mower to chop them and then add them to your perennial garden.

Nutrients like nitrogen, potassium

sure to cover any bare soil with a cover crop or organic matter to prevent soil erosion and nutrient loss. It’s nature’s blanket for the cold winter months ahead. p

here to spend the winter in our marshes and grasslands, where they will hunt for rodents and small birds. They are so commonly found in marshes that their original name was the marsh hawk but because they so different from hawks, they have been reclassified as northern harriers.

They spend their summers and raise a family in the grasslands and marshes from the northern Midwest and into the far reaches of Canada. In winter, they can be found in Florida and Central America. A few years ago, I saw one flying over the marshes in Costa

Rica. They are so attached to grasslands and marshes that they are they only bird of prey that makes a nest on the ground out of grass. That is one of the attributes that make them different from hawks.

Something else that is distinctive from hawks is the way they hunt.

Hawks are sight predators as are most daylight hunting birds of prey.

Owls have good hearing but also great night vision. Northern harriers have good daytime vision and excellent hearing. They hunt by listening for prey.

Their face looks like an owl’s with a sound-collecting shape. To find their prey, they slowly glide low over the grasses, tilting and sweeping side to side, as they listen for movement underneath. When they hear something stirring in the grass, they will hover and then drop on the meal or fly past and turn around and then drop.

Northern harrier males are gray and white and known as the Gray Ghosts. The Gray Ghosts are very striking to see and they seem to be much less common than the brownish females but that may be because juveniles are also brownish. The difference between the adult female and the juvenile birds is in the color of the eyes. Adult birds have a yellow iris while juvenile males have a greenish iris and juvenile females have a dark brown iris.

Northern harriers have another distinction from hawks in that they are polygamous. A male harrier may have up to five females that he is mated to and brings food to each nest. That is a busy bird.

I have seen northern harriers at many sites with grasslands such as Sands Road Park, Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, Blackwater NWR, Bombay Hook NWR, Prime Hook NWR, Assateague Island and the marshes around Elliot Island. p

CREATURE FEATURE

STORY AND PHOTO BY WAYNE BIERBAUM

Gray Ghost

I

love taking photos of birds of prey.

Hawks, eagles, falcons, kites, owls, and harriers are frequently my prime targets on my outings to wildlife areas.

Harriers are a little frustrating to try to photograph. They will appear to fly in a predictable pattern and right when I am setting up for that perfect photo, they will break the pattern and fly away or pop up behind me. Many times I have been on a wildlife drive and as I go around a corner, a harrier will be

sitting on a post or a muskrat mound but on the right hand side of the road. I cannot take a photo through the windshield and as I slowly pull forward, the bird will take off. The only time I have been able to get a photo of one on the ground was when I walked in a snowy ditch and then used a tree to sneak up on one sitting in snow (the photo above).

Winter is the best time to find these amazing birds. A few harriers will nest in Maryland but most have migrated

16 • BAY WEEKLY • December 9 - December 16, 2021

Pictured is a pile of chopped leaves the author will add to her perennial garden.

and magnesium are highly soluble and any of these nutrients that were not absorbed by your plants in the summer, will leech into the groundwater. Winter rye will scavenge these nutrients from the soil. In the spring when you roto-till the rye into the soil, these nutrients will be released to next year’s crop. If you add 3 to 4 inches of chopped leaves or straw, they will absorb the excess nutrients. The breakdown of the organic matter will also increase the cation-exchange capacity (CEC) of the soil while also fixing the nutrients as they become available and holding them there.

Good garden soil is biologically active.

We have to always feed the soil in order to feed the plants. Good soil contains beneficial organisms that also help to control disease-causing organisms. Some of these beneficial organisms produce disease-suppressing fungicides. So make

SPORTING LIFE

STORY BY DENNIS DOYLE

FISHFINDER

rockfish season closes on Dec. 10. pickerel, white perch, snakeheads and catfish remain open in the Bay. Oceanside it’s one rockfish from 28 to 34 inches, four tautog of at least 16 inches, and 15 black sea bass, 12.5-inch minimum size.

Some Fine Caroline County Quail C losing the now-loaded barrels on my Beretta 20-gauge over-under, I strolled into a strengthening crosswind up the edge of a wide, open field of thick grasses. My 2-year-old black Lab, Hobbes, was loping out to the front of us with his nose in the air in fierce concentration as my son, Harrison, pushed ahead on the upwind side.

The pup was eager and willing, we had exercised him earlier to try and keep his energy in check but it was obviously not enough, his feet barely touched the ground as he worked the cover about 30 yards out. Fearing he would spook the quail into an early flush I called him back closer and he responded, though reluctantly. Then I released him ahead once again.

When the pup moved to the spot that had earlier caught his attention I warned Harrison to be ready. Hobbes tensed and focused his vision on a thick clump of tall grass just four feet from his nose, when my son finally closed in, the dog lunged forward as if to pin his prey with his front paws. A small brown cannon ball shot out of the grass in a rattle of feathers up into the wind and then curved away from Harry who was desperately tracking the bird with his gun barrels.

The first shot was wide but the

second drew a burst of feathers and the brown speedster dropped into the open field. I immediately lost sight of it but luckily Hobbes was on the job and scooped up the fallen critter in full stride and brought it quickly back to my hand. Not a bad start.

Handing the bird to Harry, who slipped it into his game bag, we resumed pushing the rest of the section. We were hunting on Donny Swann’s Eastern Shore, Caroline County Shooting Preserve on the family’s 600-acre working farm. Their operation features bobwhite quail, chukar, and ring-necked pheasant, raised, maintained and released on their farm.

I first hunted the Swann’s place many years ago with my first German shorthaired pointer, Maggie, and had grown quite fond of the Swann family and their bird hunting operation. They were all devout sportspeople and understood the environment necessary for fostering upland birds. And, I noticed, they still had the big kennels holding about a dozen setters and pointers that were their own personal animals, as well as hunting companions for visitors.

Harrison and I continued down the fields of cover harboring the game birds.

It was quite emotional to remember those early days on this farm, years ago,

Harrison Doyle with Hobbes. as my first pointer learned her skills and we both began an exciting sport that I would pursue for over 50 years, on five continents, seven countries and quite a number of American states.

Within another hour or so my son and I had bagged enough birds for a nice dinner, one of the best things that quail hunting provides. We wrap each of the cleaned birds in a strip of bacon and place them on a hot charcoal grill

or in an oven broiler, turning them once the bacon has crisped on one side. Once it is crisped on the other, the result is a perfectly done bird and a truly delicious meal. Paired with wild rice, some sautéed carrots or green beans, artisanal bread and a nice Boston lettuce salad there are few dining experiences that can compare. Well-chilled champagne would not be out of place as an accompanying beverage. p

Schedule Your Furnace Tune up!

December 9 - December 16, 2021 • BAY WEEKLY • 17

MOVIEGOER

BY DIANA BEECHENER

Javier Bardem, J.K. Simmons, Nina Arianda, and Nicole Kidman star in Being the Ricardos.

Being the Ricardos

I don’t love Lucy in this behind-the-scenes drama

I

n 1953, Lucille Ball (Nicole Kidman: Nine Perfect Strangers) was one of the most powerful women in the country.

The star of America’s favorite sitcom, her show influenced how the country behaved, how they laughed, even when they showered. Sixty million people stopped whatever they were doing Monday nights to watch the antics of Lucy Ricardo as she tried to outwit her loving husband in increasingly zany ways.

So when gossip magnate Walter Winchell accused her of being a Communist, she had a lot more to fear than the wrath of her husband.

During the height of the Red Scare, an accusation like that could land any actor, no matter how beloved, on the Blacklist.

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They wouldn’t be able to work, even people associated with them would be tainted, and their career was, in effect, over.

But Lucy can’t just worry about a potential career-ending blow. She’s also pregnant with her second child and dealing with reports that her husband and costar, Desi Arnaz (Javier Bardem: Dune) is cheating on her.

The former is the real problem for CBS, who can’t conceive of allowing an openly pregnant woman on the air.

“People will wonder how she got that way!” cries an executive, aghast at the suggestion that Lucy’s pregnancy is written into the story.

Furious that his wife’s pregnancy is considered taboo, Desi wants to fight the decision. But his righteous fervor might be for naught. If Lucy is condemned as a Communist in the mainstream press, there won’t be a show. Lucy just wants to know why Desi hasn’t been coming home – he’s got some ‘splainin’ to do.

If Desi and Lucy can survive this week and manage to make a show, it’ll be a miracle.

Wry, sharply observed, and beautifully written, Being the Ricardos manages to cram a whole lot into two hours. Writer/director Aaron Sorkin (The Trial of the Chicago 7) deftly weaves backstage comedy, Hollywood satire, domestic drama, and political upheaval into a film that covers five production days on the set of America’s most famous sitcom. It’s a tall order, but Sorkin’s trademark brilliant dialogue and lickety-split plotting are up to the challenge.

Though Sorkin molds a compelling story with great performances, there’s a glaring problem at the center: Kidman.

While Bardem manages to transcend his physical differences to embody the role of Desi, Kidman has no such luck.

Her brittle, controlled style of acting takes away the sarcastic bite of Lucy’s words. She’s supposed to be cutting and funny like Bette Davis, instead, we get a middling, bitter-sounding Lucy who’s so snide and insecure that it’s a wonder anyone loves her. Worse still is when Kidman apes Lucy’s most famous comedy bits. The film makes a point to talk about Ball’s natural physical comedy gifts. Kidman has none of them. Instead, we get a mannered, stiff

Lucy making unnatural faces as she tries desperately to be funny. It turns comedy into tragedy.

And there’s the rub: Can an I Love Lucy movie be good if the actor portraying Lucy isn’t? In this reviewer’s opinion, it’s an exercise in frustration.

With a great supporting cast and a smart script, the film could have been one of the best of the year, but it drags every time Kidman is on screen.

But the show must go on, and it does, often impressively. Bardem is a charming Desi, fiercely loyal to his wife and what they built, even if he doesn’t come home when he should. As Vivian Vance and William Frawley, Nina Arianda and JK Simmons are dynamite.

Arianda gets one of the more compelling storylines, coming to terms with being pigeonholed as the “unattractive second banana” to Lucy. The team does great work keeping the film dynamic, even when the lead performance isn’t.

If you’re a fan of the original show, or of Sorkin’s writing, Being the Ricardos is worth a look—on Prime. Save yourself the cost of a ticket and wait until the movie is available for streaming on Amazon, Dec. 21.

Fair Biopic * R * 125 mins.

p

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NEWS OF THE WEIRD

BY THE EDITORS AT ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION A Dog’s Life

Gunther VI, a German shepherd, is selling his Biscayne Bay, Florida, Tuscan-style villa that once belonged to Madonna. Yes, you heard that right.

Gunther inherited the mansion from Gunther IV, his handlers told The Associated Press, along with a “vast fortune.” It all began when Gunther III came into a multimillion-dollar trust from his owner, German countess Karlotta Liebenstein. Since then, the Gunthers and their handlers have lived a lavish lifestyle, jetting around the world and eating out at restaurants.

With the home listed for nearly $32 million, Gunther VI hopes to take advantage of the hot real estate market. But he’ll surely miss his round red velvet bed overlooking the bay.

When Pigs Fly

Wyverne Flatt of Canajoharie, New York, is willing to go to the mat for his 100-pound emotional support pig, Ellie, News10-TV reported. But the village doesn’t believe Ellie should be allowed to live with Flatt, who has been fighting her exile for two years. “I have gotten shot records from the vet, notes from the doctor, and all the paperwork,” Flatt said.

“I’ve done everything they’ve asked me to do, and we just keep going to court.”

Flatt said after a divorce and losing family members, he is comforted by the pig: Ellie “jumps right up on the couch to watch TV, and she does all this stuff. Her going away from me would be just as detrimental for her as it would be for me.”

Wrong Place, Wrong Time

Suleman Shaikh, a newly minted phy-

ASOS PRESENTS

MOON & TIDES

sician in England, gifted his parents with a trip to Seville, Spain. Humaira and Farooq Shaikh were scheduled to leave on Oct. 4, and indeed they boarded a Ryanair flight—but when they landed, they were in Greece. It was their taxi driver who informed them of their whereabouts, so they returned to the airport, the Mirror reported.

But Ryanair agents laughed at their predicament and offered to cover only one night’s hotel stay, even though the next flight back to London wasn’t for four days. Suleman said he’s out about 1,100 pounds and is “completely outraged and shocked that this has been allowed to happen. It has triggered severe strain and anxiety on my parents.” But Ryanair stuck to its position: “It is the responsibility of every passenger to ensure they follow the correct procedures and take note of the information available to them.”

Undignified Death

A 30-year-old man who was fishing with two friends in Brasilandia de Minas, Brazil, met a bizarre death on Oct. 31, Newsweek reported. When a swarm of bees surrounded the men, all three jumped into the lake to escape them. Two managed to swim to safety, but authorities believe the third man drowned and then was torn apart by piranhas. Fire department personnel found his body about 4 meters from the shoreline.

Bright Idea

Johnny Masesa, 45, was due in court in Connecticut on Nov. 4 to face a first-degree larceny charge, CTPost.com reported.

Masesa was charged with scamming an

T HURSD AY

F RI D AY

82-year-old Milford, Connecticut, woman out of $83,000 by telling her that she was “in the running” for a Publisher’s Clearing House prize and she needed to send money to claim it. But Masesa didn’t turn up for his hearing because, as his lawyer, Douglas Rudolph, explained, he had died in June from complications of malaria in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where he had family. When Rudolph emailed the assistant state’s attorney, Howard Stein, to let him know of the death, the prosecutor asked for a death certificate. The document Stein received, however, was handwritten and showed several changes made with correction fluid. Rudolph said he has tried to reach the doctor who signed the death certificate, to no avail.

Stein said he believes Rudolph is clear of any wrongdoing but asked for a rearrest of Masesa in the case. “Obviously, if Mr. Masesa is in fact deceased, it would be difficult for the authorities to execute that warrant,” Stein said.

Scrooge

In Fulford, York, England, pub owners Steve and Rebecca Eccles planned a fun event for families: Santa and two of his reindeer would appear at the pub’s beer garden on the Saturday before Christmas. But Freedom for Animals, an animal rights group, had other ideas.

On Nov. 2, the Daily Mail reported, the group rallied its supporters to contact the owners and ask for the event to be “animal-free.” One post that the Eccleses received threatened to burn down the building, with the owners inside, if the event went ahead. When they contacted police, officers advised them to cancel the event, which they

S ATU RD AY

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did. “After everything we have done to support the local community in the nearly two years we have been here, we now have to seriously consider ... whether or not we feel safe enough to stay here at the pub,” the Eccleses wrote. “I hope you’re happy with what you have done.”

Americans Behaving Badly

The Colosseum in Rome, always high on the list of sites to see in the Italian capital, closes at 4:30 p.m. But that didn’t deter two American tourists, 24 and 25 years old, who were spotted around 5:30 a.m. on Nov. 15, sitting on the second tier of the relic, casually having beers. A passerby alerted police, who fined them 800 euros, the Guardian reported. Fortunately, no damage was reported.

Least Competent Criminals

Can’t we all just follow the rules?

Three people in Massachusetts were arrested on the evening of Nov. 11 after they shot a deer decoy with a crossbow, msn.com reported. Massachusetts Environmental Police officers spotted a truck with a spotlight shining on the “deer” just before the shot was taken. The hunters realized it was a decoy and took off, but they were apprehended, and officers found “deer legs within the truck bed in plain view.” They were arraigned on multiple charges including hunting with artificial light, hunting with the aid of a vehicle and hunting after hours. p Send your weird news items with subject line WEIRD NEWS to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com.

WEDNESDAY

ANNAPOLIS

Dec Sunrise/Sunset 9 7:13 am 4:43 pm 10 7:14 am 4:43 pm 11 7:14 am 4:43 pm 12 7:15 am 4:44 pm 13 7:16 am 4:44 pm 14 7:17 am 4:44 pm 15 7:17 am 4:44 pm 16 7:18 am 4:45 pm Dec Moonrise/set/rise 9 12:06 pm 10:47 pm 10 12:35 pm 11:53 pm 11 1:00 pm - 12 - 12:55 am 1:24 pm 13 - 1:56 am 1:47 pm 14 - 2:56 am 2:11 pm 15 - 3:56 am 2:36 pm 16 - 4:56 am 3:05 pm

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PUZZLES THE INSIDE WORD

How many 2 or more letter words can you make in 2 minutes from the letters in: Camelopard (40 words) When the Greeks visited Africa, they saw a longnecked spotted animal, and comparing its long neck with the camel, and its spots to the leopard, decided ‘Camelopard’ was the perfect name. But the native word and later Arabic word was zarafa, which the Italians pronounced giraffa. We call it a giraffe. Other African animals whose names have been forgotten with time are: Crocbunny, Ape-a-snake, Rhinosnipe, Batmole, Eliphanteater, and Pelican-of-worms.

KRISS KROSS

TRIVIA

U.S. Cities

1. What country has the highest number of saunas per capita? (a) Sweden (b) Finland (c) Denmark 2. Where is the world’s shortest funicular railway? (a) Barcelona (b) Lisbon (c) Los Angeles 3. What carmaker has historically provided the Vatican with ‘Popemobiles’? (a) Mercedes-Benz (b) Cadillac (c) Ford 4. Where is the world’s largest lock for ships? (a) The Netherlands (b) Panama (c) Belgium 5. What president hosted his daughter’s prom at the White House? (a) Richard Nixon (b) Gerald Ford (c) Harry S Truman

Scoring: 3 1 - 40 = Aloft; 26 - 30 = Ahead; 21 - 25 = Aweigh; 16 - 20 = Amidships; 11 - 15 = Aboard; 05 - 10 = Adrift; 01 - 05 = Aground

by Bill Sells

SUDOKU

Fill in the blank squares in the grid, making sure that every row, column and 3-by-3 box includes all digits 1 to 9.

CRYPTOQUIP

4 Letter Words Erie Taos

Seattle

Fresno Toledo Tucson

8 Letter Words

5 Letter Words 7 Letter Words Dover Miami Ogden Tulsa

6 Letter Words Boston Camden Dallas Denver

Atlanta Chicago Concord Memphis New York Newport Norfolk Oakland Phoenix Raleigh

Billings Bismarck Las Vegas Portland

CROSSWORD 61 Adroit 1 Greek war god 64 100 kopecks 5 Words from 66 Up in the air Wordsworth 68 Tailless Australian 9 Kon-Tiki Museum site arboreal marsupial 13 Greet the day 70 Marvin Neil ___ (play14 Not a lick wright) 15 Safe place 71 Descartes’s “therefore” 17 Large American feline 72 Diner sign resembling a lion 73 Barbershop call 19 Go fish 74 Musical interval 20 Court figure 75 “Peter Pan” pirate 21 Vermin DOWN 23 Campus bigwig 1 Circle segments 24 Analyze, as metals 2 Gaucho’s accessory 26 Pastoral expanses 3 ___ Park, Colo.

28 It filters plankton from 4 Connery and Bean, e.g. the water 5 Lennon’s love 34 Gulf of the Ionian Sea 6 Gloomy 38 Duffer’s goal 7 Sicilian resort 39 Gymnast Comaneci 8 Agree out of court 40 Cordelia’s father 9 Egg cells 41 Involuntary twitch 10 Shallow-water fish 44 Guns, as a motor with sharp jagged teeth 45 Draw forth 11 Olympic sled 47 Water tester 12 Paella pot 48 Patella’s place 16 Jack’s inferior 49 Water moccasin 18 Scenic Utah city 53 Understanding words 22 Cambodian coin 54 Eagle’s nest 25 Sounds in pounds 58 Pear variety 27 Barley bristle

Animal Crackers

29 Race unit 30 Muse with a lyre 31 Yemeni city 32 Not prerecorded 33 Leisure 34 Knighted Guinness 35 Make over 36 Lacking slack 37 Animal of the North Frigid Zone 42 Former French coin 43 Prefix with physics 46 Dawn goddess 50 Aussie outlaw Kelly 51 More docile 52 Juno’s Greek counterpart 55 Hayseeds 56 Steel girder 57 Fill with joy 58 ___-Rhin (Strasbourg’s department) 59 Lena of “Havana” 60 Not all 62 Duffer’s cry 63 After name and price 65 Highlands tongue 67 Explosive inits.

69 Fortune © Copyright 2021 PuzzleJunction.com solution on page 22

The CryptoQuip below is a quote in substitution code, where A could equal R, H could equal P, etc. One way to break the code is to look for repeated letters. E, T, A, O, N and I are the most often used letters.

A single letter is usually A or I; OF, IS and IT are common 2-letter words; and THE and AND are common 3-letter words.

Good luck!

10 Letter Words Charleston Cincinnati Sacramento Sioux Falls

9 Letter Words Fort Worth Pocatello Vancouver © Copyright 2021 PuzzleJunction.com solution on page 22

© Copyright 2021 PuzzleJunction.com • solution on page 22

ACROSS

Random Trivia

© Copyright 2021 PuzzleJunction.com • solution on page 22

December 9 - December 16 • BAY WEEKLY • 21

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1. B 2. C

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22 • BAY WEEKLY • December 9 - December 16, 2021

COLORING CORNER

from page 21

–Dave Schatz, Annapolis

TRIVIA ANSWERS

from page 21

0 3 + , 6 2 2 5 $ / ( , * + 7 5 ' / , ( & $ ( 1 $ 6 1 2 0 ' 3 ' 2 ( 7 8 & 6 2 1 . $ 7 7 2 ( / 2 / $ ( : < 2 5 . / 7 / $ 1 7 $ 1 '

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SUDOKU SOLUTION

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5 & , ( 1 & , 1 1 $ 7 + ,

CRYPTOQUIP SOLUTION

7 0 ( / $ 6 9 ( * $ 6 2 $ , 6 1 ( : 3 2 5 7 & 8 2 3 + 2 ( 1 , ; / 8 ) 5 ( ' 2 9 ( 5 $ ' ( / 2 9 ( 5 / % , 6 0 $ , 6 $ & 5 $ 0 ' ( 0 6 $ $ , / 7 % / 7 2 + $ 5 / ( 6 7 2 1 6 ( 7 2 & % , / / , 1 * 6

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REPURPOSE THRIFT SHOP

Sat. Dec 11 Sat. Dec 18

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for any occasion in the DMV area including: family portraits, holiday, weddings, advertising, etc. With discounts on family holiday photos this year! JCP PRICING WITH THE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, HOURLY PHOTOGRAPHIC ATTENTION, AND 5+ YEARS OF PHOTOSHOP & LIGHTROOM EXPERIENCE! Enter the link to view my site and contact via phone/email to book! I look forward to meeting with you! www.annajphotography.com

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Part-Time Help Wanted Part time

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HELP WANTED

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24 • BAY WEEKLY • December 9 - December 16, 2021