Chesapeake Bay Tripper October 2011 by Chesapeake Current

October 2011

Chesapeake Bay r e p p Tri Priceless

A World Away at the Chesapeake Bay

Fall On The Chesapeake See page 10

Bringing Back the Band Shell Story Page 4

Death In the Polka Dot Shoes Story Page 5

The Buzz About Local Honey Story Page 9

CHESAPEAKE BAY TRIPPER is a monthly magazine with news and events for visitors to the Western Shore of the Chesapeake Bay. Look for us in Visitor Centers, on the Beach Trolleys, and in high-traffic areas in Washington DC and Maryland.

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Executive Editor and Publisher DIANE BURR Advertising CLARE O’SHEA JONATHAN PUGH Chesapeake Current and Chesapeake BayTripper contributors JENNY BOYLES ANNA CHANEY NICK GARRETT JAY LOUNSBURY BRIAN MCDANIEL BOB MUNRO CLARE O’SHEA JONATHAN PUGH ROBBY VINCENT For advertising rates and more information, email: ads@chesapeakecurrent.com or call Clare O’Shea at (301) 873-5885. Visit us online at: www.chesapeakebaytripper.com and friend us in Facebook! Chesapeake Bay Tripper P.O. Box 295 North Beach, MD 20714 (410) 231-0140

CHESAPEAKE BAY TRIPPER October 2011

Copyright 2011. All rights reserved. No content or images may be used without express permission from Bayside Partners, LLC. There are no authorized inserts in this issue. Please contact us immediately if there are any items inserted inside this publication.

contents

October 2011

September 2011

Chesapeake Bay r Trippe Priceless

A World Away at the Chesapeake Bay

ON THE COVER: ENJOY THE CHESAPEAKE THIS FALL With a backdrop of fiery foliage, fall is a fantastic time to enjoy the treasures of the Chesapeake Bay. Cover Story on page 10.

Fall On The Chesapeake See page 10

Bringing Back the Band Shell Story Page 4

Death In the Polka Dot Shoes

The Buzz About Local Honey

Story Page 5

BRINGING BACK THE BAND SHELL A hundred years ago, people flocked from the DC area to Chesapeake Beach for the hip sounds at the waterfront band shell. Now, a replica of that beautiful band stand is back in all its glory! See pages 4.

Story Page 9

4 Photo by Cheryl Emery

THE BUZZ ABOUT LOCAL HONEY Here’s the very intriguing story of how one area man was able to follow his dream and become a professional beekeeper. How sweet! Story page 9.

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE 5 Community

What’s former White House Press Secretary Marlin Fitzwater been up to? These days he’s writing novels. His latest is Death in the Polka Dot Shoes, a whodunit set on the Chesapeake Bay.

6 On the Water

Love that dirty water? Not really. The impact of recent storms on the Bay is quite dramatic.

12 Out & About

Family-friendly fall fun, day trips and so much more! October 2011 CHESAPEAKE BAY TRIPPER

C o mmuni ty FOCUS

Bringing Back The Band Shell

t looks as though it hovers just above the water, creating a beautiful reflection. It’s our area’s newest and unique music venue – a close replica of the band shell that was located near that spot a hundred years ago. Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa (CBRS) has undertaken this major project to recreate that band shell in all its glory, and take their Rock the Dock concerts to a new high. CBRS Manager Wes Donovan tells the Chesapeake Current, “It’s awesome, isn’t it? We’re so happy with how it turned out.” “It’s a real asset to our community,” says Chesapeake Beach Mayor Bruce Wahl. So how did they get it to look like it’s floating? “To get it out over the water, we cut off two pilings from two boat slips and put the stage platform there. It’s about 30 feet wide, 20 feet deep and 15 feet high,” he explains. “We got it from a Canadian company, and it’s completely portable,” Donovan adds. “There was a bit of a learning curve the first time we set it up – so it took four guys about four hours to figure it out, but they were able to take it down in just a few minutes. So the set-up should be a lot easier the next time. The stage breaks down completely, too. We can keep it in storage all winter.” The original Band Shell was constructed as part of the grand opening of the Boardwalk in June 1900. It is rumored that John Phillip Sousa’s Band traveled to Chesapeake Beach between 1900 and 1910 and played while marching from the railway station to the Band Shell. The original Chesapeake Beach Railway Station still stands adjacent to the Resort and serves as a museum of times gone by. Because it’s so late in the season, just two concert performances were held at the new Band Shell this year. The first was a concert was Sunday, September 11 by world-renowned impersonator Johnny Rogers who did memorable versions

Impersonator Johnny Rogers was the first to perform at the new band shell at Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa. “I’ve been all over the world, but it’s the first time I’ve been to Maryland. This is beautiful! I can’t wait to come back!” he told us.

CHESAPEAKE BAY TRIPPER October 2011

The original band shell at Chesapeake Beach in a photo taken between 1900-1910.

of classics by Johnny Cash, Buddy Holly, Conway Twitty, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Elvis Presley. The following weekend, the Hank Williams Sr. tribute band, Hankerin’ 4 Hank performed. Click the Current Code to watch a clip on your smart phone. “We’ll have a complete Band Shell Concert Series next year,” Donovan promises. “We had about 200 people for the first show, which was a good crowd, but we can handle up to 400 people here.” “We can use this for so many things, maybe even weddings in the future,” Donovan adds. There are dozens of tables and great vantage points where you can see the band shell from the Boardwalk Café and two adjacent small beaches. To continue the nostalgic theme, the waiters and waitresses all wore straw hats with red bands, similar to those in the historic photo. Their uniforms were complete with white, long sleeve shirts with black armbands and black pants. Some even sported cute fake moustaches. Concert goers were also offered picture postcards featuring the original band shell. The Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa is celebrating its 65th year in business this year. During that time, the original restaurant and marina have evolved to include a luxury hotel and full service Salon and Spa located right on the Bay, two more waterfront restaurants, meeting rooms, waterfront ballrooms, beautiful Bay views and beach front. Famous for being the Charter Fishing Capital of Maryland since 1946, the Resort also boasts two Marinas, the Rod ‘N’ Reel Dock and Rod ‘N’ Reel Marina West. Scan the Current Code with your smart phones to see a concert clip from the new band shell of Johnny Rogers playing “Don’t Be Cruel.”

The new band shell is very similar to the original, and was even draped in American flags for its first two shows, just like in the classic photo.

Judy Ward and Marlin Fitzwater of Deale.

“

’ve moved into the nether-world of fiction,” laughs former White House Press Secretary Marlin Fitzwater, who’s lived in Deale on the Chesapeake Bay since 1995. His new book, Death in the Polka Dot Shoes, is about what he knows and loves now, far away from his former life in politics in Washington. “My book examines life in a small town on the Chesapeake Bay, and explores the culture of these communities, like the one I live in.” It’s set in the fictional town of Parkers, MD. Fitzwater insists he made up every word and character in the book. Nevertheless, “Everyone around Deale is trying to figure out who the characters are and which store or restaurant they’re in, which I think is very funny!” So how did he come up with the plot? Fitzwater says, “I once asked Mary Higgins (Clark) how she came up with the ideas for her books. And she told me, when you see something interesting - ask what if?” “I read an article in the newspaper a while back about a local waterman who was killed by a tuna in a fishing contest at Ocean City. He was apparently pulling the tuna up into the boat and got his hand caught in the leader board and the tuna took him overboard. Then, I started thinking about it. What if? What if it wasn’t an accident but a murder? So I started writing a novel that would carry forth a mystery and at the same time tell people what it’s like to live in one of the many villages around the Chesapeake Bay,” Fitzwater says. “My story begins with the fellow pulled over by the tuna, and picks up with his brother, who left the Chesapeake as a boy, went to law school, and became an attorney in Washington DC. The brother who drowns leaves the lawyer the family fishing boat and property on the Chesapeake Bay – but he can only have it if he leaves the law, moves back, and becomes a waterman,” Fitzwater explains. “My book is an interesting look at ‘our’ little town through the lawyer’s eyes,” Fitzwater says. “There’s a lot going on – the mystery of who killed the waterman, there’s the village life and the characters there, plus the culture shock of the DC lawyer giving it all up and coming back to the Bay.” So how do the polka dot shoes fit in? “That’s an idea from some time ago based on my relationship with Mrs. Barbara Bush. Back

Death in the Polka Dot Shoes in the 1980’s, a shoe company gave her eight to ten pairs of their tennis shoes. They were all different - plaid, pink, dots, whatever. Mrs. Bush put all pairs in her closet and then mixed and matched them – plaids with polka dots, and stripes, and she wrote in the heels which ones she had worn together. It actually caught on for a time. I saw Mrs. Bush wearing a pair of them again about a year ago. And I thought – I’ve got to put in clues so there’s some way to figure out who committed the crime. If you’re wearing a pair of these mix-and-match shoes, there’s got to be another pair at home because you need two complete sets to make one. This is the clue. The drowning victim’s body washes up, and there’s one polka dot tennis shoe. So if you can find the other, you can find the murderer.” “It’s not War and Peace, but it’s a lot of fun!” he laughs. Fitzwater was the longest-serving White House Press Secretary in history, under both Ronald Regan and George Herbert Walker Bush. After leaving the world of politics, Fitzwater went in a new direction, “I find fiction to be the most difficult writing I’ve ever done for the simple reason that you have to make up everything on your own. As a journalist, you gather facts and do research and that gives your work meaning. But in fiction, you have to have reasons, motives for what they’re doing, and make up all the dialogue.” “Every word in this book is my own, and I’m so proud of that,” he adds. “Traveling he world, there’s no greater ego trip than carrying your own book!” Death in the Polka Dot Shoes is available in hardcover or paperback, but Fitzwater really wants a successful e-book. That’s why he enlisted neighbor and artist Judy Ward to create a catchy cover. Ward has lived next to Marlin Fitzwater in Deale for the past ten years. “But I only got to know him about six years ago,” she says. He came to her recently and asked if she’d create a cover for his book. “Marlin wanted two shoes - one should be polka dot and the other one plaid. He wanted it to look simplistic, but have a lot of color and pop so it would work well online,” Ward says. “The first one I drew was with modern athletic shoes, but that was not it. He said he wanted old-style tennis shoes, low-cut Keds, like we all used to wear. He wanted a bright yellow background, and the second

version, he liked.” “It took me about a week to create the original oil painting that we used,” Ward adds. “He decided to also use a small set of the same shoes on the spine of the book, and there’s a small black and white graphic of them beginning each chapter, which I adapted with Photo Shop.” “I wanted something bright, colorful and eye-catching for online,” he says. “I’ve done research on e-books and how they work. One of the key point points is the cover. It needs to be something that grabs the reader. When you’re looking at Amazon or the Kindle or Nook sites with 1,200 books on a page, the cover has to catch the eye. Her artwork perfect for that,” he adds. Fitzwater says he liked the cover for Death in the Polka Dot Shoes so much that he asked Judy to create new e-book covers for his two other works of fiction, Sunflowers and Esther’s Pillow. Fitzwater admits he’s hooked on technology. “I noticed on a recent flight that all six of the people in the row in front of me were reading Kindles. And in Europe, they now have these vending machines in airports that in four minutes can kick a book out for $20. It’s amazing.” He also gives lectures about Ronald Regan on cruise ships these days. “I can address an audience and say – go download my book and come back tomorrow and we’ll talk about it. They do, and it’s great!”

October 2011 CHESAPEAKE BAY TRIPPER

On The

Water

Look for Clear Water... By Bob Munro

ropical Storms Irene and Lee continue to leave their marks on the northern and mid-Chesapeake Bay areas as chocolate brown murky waters from the Susquehanna River flow south. Of immediate concern to fishermen and boaters in general is the huge amount of debris floating around out there, from large mats of aquatic vegetation to large trees to plastic of all

NASA Earth Data photo of sediments deposited into the Chesapeake Bay from the Susquehanna River and others following Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee (credit: NASA/GSFC, Rapid Response).

sorts. Just navigating around out there can be treacherous to any watercraft with a propeller, not to mention the damage an encounter with a large tree trunk can do to a boat's hull.

The Washington Post reports that more than 500 million gallons of diluted sewage was released into the Bay as well. The suspended sediments will eventually drop out of the water column and the debris will wash ashore or farther down the Bay (and to the bottom) and fishing conditions will return to "normal." Until then, look for clearer water, where fishing should be better. Days after Tropical Storm Lee the plume of brown water extended from Susquehanna Flats to the mouth of the Patuxent River. The Choptank River, however, appeared to be relatively clear according to satellite photos and personal observations. Bottom fishing for Spot has been difficult at best. There have been some very small Spot caught recently, like those that were everywhere last year, mixed in with the larger Spot. The Choptank River mouth around Buoys 7 and 9 has produced some Spot but in deeper water, so expand your search accordingly. Live liners continue to target the False Channel area around Buoy 4. Trolling with Drone Spoons and in-line planers has been productive for Stripers in the mouth of Eastern Bay and below Parker's Creek west of the main channel. There are plenty of small Bluefish around and some Spanish Mackerel as well. And a few Red Drum have been caught. Of all the fish species we catch in our part of the Bay, the Red Drum is least affected by muddy water. Another productive rig for Rockfish trolling is the full size umbrella equipped with two small 1-2 oz bucktails, tied with 18 inch leaders to opposite corners of the umbrella arms. Trim the bucktails with strips of pork rind (red or yellow are good colors) rather than plastic shad because of all the Bluefish around. And "Diamond Jim," among 600 Rockfish that were specially tagged this

summer by Maryland Department of Natural Resources, is alive and well, or at least remained uncaught earlier this month when the deadline passed. Eleven anglers caught some of the tagged fish, but not the one and only "Diamond Jim." The lucky anglers were awarded equal shares of the $25,000 award, according to tournament rules. Have a question about Chesapeake Bay fishing? Send your questions to "onthewater@chesapeakecurrent.com" and we'll do our best to get you an answer. Don't catch 'em all, Bob Munro About the Author: Bob Munro of Chesapeake Beach has been a career research biologist for the US Fish & Wildlife Service. At one time or another, he has visited every river entering the Chesapeake Bay from the Susquehanna Flats to Hampton Roads. An avid fisherman, he's fished the mid-Chesapeake since the mid-1980s.

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CHESAPEAKE BAY TRIPPER October 2011

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CBOCS Volunteer John Bacon of Chesapeake Beach hands off cages of oysters to Helen Downey and Jim Taylor of Dare’s Beach to take home and tend.

Chesapeake Beach First in MD To Grow Oysters Spat Now In Fishing Creek

Chesapeake Beach is now officially the first municipality in the State of Maryland to grow oysters. The first cages were placed in Fishing Creek on Saturday, September 17 as dozens of area residents came help – and to pick up their own cages to begin cultivating oysters at home. The project started last fall when Mayor Bruce Wahl contacted the Southern Maryland Oyster Cultivation Society (known as SMOCS) in Lusby when he heard about oyster restoration projects they were sponsoring. They’ve established more than 150,000 oysters in Mill Creek, Back Creek, and St. John’s Creek to date, and Wahl thought – why not Fishing Creek, which runs through the center of Chesapeake Beach? The town is placing the cages under the new Railway Trail to protect them from the elements as they grow and filter the water. Keith Pardieck, a biologist with the Federal government who lives in Chesapeake Beach, immediately stepped up to the plate to be the project leader. He and his son, Michael were in a canoe that Saturday morning, ready to help. Jon Farrington, owner of Johnny Oyster Seed in Lusby, is a former aerospace engineer who has designed a unique spat on shell cage that eliminates the need to constantly cultivate the oysters. He was enlisted to help put the first of them in place in Fishing Creek. “We’re putting in twelve of the cages I designed today, and I’m waiting on some parts, so we hope to put in another ten or twelve next weekend (Saturday morning, September 24). I’ve installed six pairs of poles – enough to hold 24 cages,” Farrington says.

Lauren Butz, a fourth grader at Beach Elementary School, helped to prepare the oysters for the cages. She and her family also came to watch them moved into place.

A weight filled with sand causes his cage to rotate very slowly with tides so that sediment and waste from the spat on shells rinses out naturally. With these cages, volunteers only have to touch them four times a year. Old-fashioned oyster cages from the State of Maryland require manual tending, but they are free. Dozens of area residents signed up to take responsibility for them in Fishing Creek by promising to swish them up and down several times once a week until next year when the oysters will be moved to a bed. Many others who live on the waterfront came to take theirs home. John Bacon, who chairs the Water Monitoring Committee was pulling up the cages and handing them over to residents along with volunteers Terry Klazer and Steve LoVecchio that morning. Bacon tests water quality in Fishing Creek to make sure that conditions are right for the oysters, and now has ten members of his committee. “Since people have been reading about this, hearing about it, it’s exploded. We have more than 60 volunteers and more people calling with questions and getting involved all the time,” Bacon says. Helen Downey and Jim Taylor of Dare’s Beach volunteered to take several cages and tend to them at their home on the Bay. “There’s nowhere else

From the Railway Trail above, volunteers Wayne and Theresa Montgomery help pull the oyster cages into place. CBOCS Team Leader Keith Pardiek and his son, Michael in the dark canoe help Eunice Lin in the red kayak steady them in the currents. Jon Farrington of Lusby directs the operation.

around here doing this. When we heard about it, we volunteered to take some right away,” Downey says. Another area resident, Amada Brown, came and took home four cages of oysters as well along with many others. Lauren Butz, a fourth grader at Beach Elementary School, rode her bike down the down the Railway Trail to watch the oysters put in place. She and her parents helped prepare the spat for the cages. Mom Mary Butz is a 5th grade teacher at Beach Elementary and will teach a unit on oysters this fall. Her dad, Paul Butz, is a second grade teacher in PG County. Lauren became quite an expert on oysters and proudly spouted off from memory some impressive facts and figures. “There was an average of 120 oyster shells in each bag… so we figured we put about 344 in each big cage. We counted the spat – which looks like little brown seashells carved on the oyster shells – and the highest number was 12 on one but we even had a dud without any on it. The average was five to six spat per shell.” Beach Elementary Principal Michael Shisler also came by, and told us that the nearby school is sponsoring two of the cages, which students will learn more about and visit. Mayor Wahl says, “The State of Maryland offers $500 tax breaks residents who grow oysters… so what you can do is buy the cage, and donate it to the town, and we’ll install it and take care of it for you. Then, you take the tax break. It’s win-win for everyone.” About the Author: Diane Burr is the publisher and executive editor of the Chesapeake Current, which was named the Bay Business Group’s Best New Business in 2010.

Scan the Current Code to watch a video of a barge taking four of the oyster cages up Fishing Creek.

Scan this Current Code to watch a video of Jon Farrington explaining how he installs the cages under the Railway Trail in Fishing Creek.

October 2011 CHESAPEAKE BAY TRIPPER

C o mmuni ty FOCUS

The Wind Beneath My Wings One of the people attending the 9/11 Ceremony at Chesapeake Beach Veteran’s Memorial Park said, “At first I thought it was seagulls. I thought – wow, that was perfect timing! How’d they manage to get them to do that?” No, it wasn’t a flock of gulls. It was Walter Kuklane crouched behind the fountain with his basket of 50 homing hybrids, specially bred and trained for events just like this. He’s owned and operated a Maryland business called Dove Tales for the past three years. “I actually got the first birds from Roy Disney – the son of the famous Walt Disney – at Disney World in Florida,” he says. So how does this work? “When they’re four to five weeks old, you begin training them two-and-a-half hours a day, showing them one-way doors in their loft. It only takes them three to four days to learn that – they catch on very quickly. And then we start with 20 feet, and a little more each day so they can find their way home for short distances. Now these return home from long distances.” He predicted they’d be home to Kingsville, MD from Chesapeake Beach later that evening. “For some reason it takes them about twice as long if it’s cloudy, so they must use the sun, and if there’s an easterly wind. And I have lost some because hawks will sometimes attack them, so that can be a problem,” Kuklane adds. “They can work until they’re about ten years old, and I have a mix in this flock of all ages. Most are three-year-olds. They’re not doves and they’re not pigeons but a hybrid. They’re smaller than both and look more like doves, but doves don’t have the muscle for flying long distances,” he says. “I select the most

CHESAPEAKE BAY TRIPPER October 2011

Walter Kuklane carries the basket he uses to transport his homing hybrids to their jobs. He says the birds return home in a matter of hours.

reliable ones for breeding, and I have about 20 pairs of my

best ‘retired’ homers now and about 15 young ones in training. I go on the Internet every day in search of more. Quality birds like these are around $100 each, so that was about $5,000 worth of birds I just released.” “When they get back to their roost, they immediately want some water. So I treat them like athletes. I often spike their water with GatorAde to help them get re-hydrated,” Kuklane chuckles. “They like it after they get back from working. Then they usually sit quietly on their perch for a few minutes, then get a couple bites to eat, not a lot of food right away. Then they head to their own individual nesting area to rest.” If you’d like to hire Dove Tales for your special event, rates start at $220 to $500 depending on the number of birds and your location. “We do a lot of weddings, funerals, corporate events, ribbon cuttings, birthday parties, and things around DC,” Kuklane says. “The farthest my flock has gone so far was the Lancaster, PA area for a wedding, and they made it home just fine.” For more information, visit their web site at www.dovetalesinfo.com.

The Buzz About Local Honey Fascinating Facts About Bees By Anna Chaney

ob Greenwell is an unassuming building contractor with an eye for design, attention to detail, and an appreciation for the values of the client. I have had the pleasure of working with Bob on several building projects from historic home restoration to the renovation of Honey’s Harvest, a market and deli in Rose Haven. One of the inspirations for the name of the new store was Bob. “Honey” of course, is the iconic Queen Bee who ensures the population of the hive’s worker bees to produce the golden honey from which the drink of the gods (Mead) is produced! Bob Greenwell, beekeeper, is the President of BUMBA, the Bowie-Upper Marlboro Beekeeping Association, the organization which offers beginning and continuing beekeeping classes and support for member beekeepers. Membership is only $15/year and more information about classes, membership, and bees can be found at www.bumbabees.com. In an interview with Bob, I asked him what inspired him to beekeeping. He recounted his experience as an elementary school student in 1968 when he became, “Absolutely enthralled with the observation of a beehive at the Anne Arundel County Fair.” As a bonus, Retired Commander, E.R. Mumford, US Navy, a Master Beekeeper lived next to Bob’s elementary school, allowing Bob to learn beekeeping techniques and skills from a true master. Shortly thereafter, the beekeeping Merit Badge was a natural accomplishment for Bob in Boy Scouts. Then, Bob took a long hiatus from beekeeping. Not until almost 40 years later did Bob become re-inspired to adopt bees as a serious hobby. Mr. Greenwell recalls reading a newspaper article in 2005 entitled, “Where are all the Honey Bees?” After conducting additional research, Bob discovered that honeybees have contracted parasitic diseases in endemic proportions over the last 40 years. Learning that, he says, “I had a strong desire to do my part in saving the species.” He adds that his interest in bees has proven to be an ongoing life lesson that instills an incredible sense of humility. “When you think you know it all about bees, they teach you a brand new lesson. This is one interest that I will probably never master as long as I live,” he adds. However, many of Bob’s beekeeping peers view him as a “master.” I spoke with Phil Hazen, beekeeper who lives in Tracy's Landing, who recounts a recent beekeeping lesson. “I have been supplied with three new queens this year from a well-versed beekeeper (Bob Greenwell), and each time I was taught something new. Bob

reassured me that this is the way of the bees. They will teach us over and over,” Hazen adds. Bob began with two beehives in 2006 and by the end of 2011, he will run 40 hives in five different locations. Recently, Bob began working on a pollination project with Joe-Sam Swann at Swann Farms in Owings. Bob plans to start with ten hives on Swann’s 350-acre farm that is dedicated to fruit and vegetable crops. The ultimate goal over time is to have four times as many thriving honeybee hives located at Swann Farms for the purpose of pollinating the fruits and vegetables from peaches to pumpkins! I asked Bob what advice he would offer to aspiring beekeepers. He suggested, “Get a good book, such as Backyard Beekeeping or Beekeeping for Dummies. Then, most definitely join a local beekeeping club and take their classes.“ He suggests you focus on learning about these topics: hive management, honey and pollen harvesting, pollination benefits, diseases, pest control, bee handling, and humans and bees co-existing. Bee colonies in Maryland are required to be registered with the State of Maryland Department of Agriculture (no fee). Jerry Fischer, our region’s beekeeper inspector is a great resource as is the Maryland State Bee Association website. Mr. Greenwell’s future in beekeeping sounds exciting as he branches out into yet another phase. His pursuit of maintaining a sustainable honeybee population in our area has lead him to the pursuit of breeding and producing queens that will be regionally pest and disease resistant. In listening to the intricacy of the pests and diseases that bees deal with, it occurred to me that the genetic plant bio-engineering and systemic agricultural pesticides so widely used across the world have impacted the honey bees tremendously. It then became evident that Bob’s next phase will prove to be a challenging one with all of the environmental elements inherent to the co-existence of humans and nature. Honey connoisseurs have pronounced Bob’s Wildflower Honey, produced under the label, West River Apiary, as “Magnificent, incredible, and the best I’ve ever had.” If you like it, we bet you’ll like it! Bob’s Wildflower Honey is available at Honey’s Harvest, 7150 Lake Shore Drive, in Rose Haven. About the Author: Anna Chaney is the founder of Herrington on the Bay Catering in Rose Haven, which has achieved the first level of certification from the Green Restaurant Association. She is the founder of Honey’s Harvest deli/market.

Bob Greenwell’s Bee Facts: • Honeybees fly at about 15 MPH. • In a strong managed colony, there are about 60,000 - 90,000 bees. But, there is only one queen, who is mother of all others! • The average lifespan of a queen bee is three years. However, they are productive in a beehive for about one year. The oldest queen bee on record lived eight years. • It takes 12 pounds of nectar to make one pound of honey. • The average worker bee’s lifespan is only about six weeks. October 2011 CHESAPEAKE BAY TRIPPER

Fall Fun at Along the Chesapeake

all is one of the best times of the year to visit the Chesapeake Bay! While enjoying the beautiful colors and scenery, check out these family-friendly upcoming events at the Calvert Marine Museum! October is outstanding at the Museum with activities, events, and programs all month long. Visit their website at www.calvertmarinemuseum.com for a complete listing. Saturday, October 1 J.C. Lore Oyster House Experience Visit the J.C. Lore Oyster House and learn about oyster processing from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., from the dock through to the shipping room. Find out how heavy a basket full of oysters really is. In the J.C. Lore & Sons oyster house was designated a shucking room learn National Historic Landmark by the U.S. how to shuck an Secretary of the Interior in 2001. oyster, and learn a song to help move the work along faster. See the giant fabric oyster, "Rock E. Feller" and all the amazing parts of this bivalve. Free to everyone. Saturday and Sunday, October 8 and 9 Patuxent River Appreciation Days Celebrate the river with activities and FREE fun for visitors of all ages from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.! Enjoy boat rides, juried Arts & Crafts Fair, and great food and music all weekend. On Saturday, the highlights include toy boat building, environmental exhibits, and Bounty of the Patuxent featuring local wine tasting. The PRAD parade is on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Fee charged for pony rides and face painting. Visit www.pradinc.org for complete schedule. Thursday, October 13 and 20 Sea Squirts Incredible, Amazing Dinosaurs! Free drop-in program for children 18 months to 3 years old and their caregivers from 10:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Friday, October 21 Gordon Bok Gordon Bok, American folksinger/songwriter is appearing live at 7:30 p.m. in the museum auditorium. Tickets are $15 in advance and available at http://calvertmarinemuseum.ticketforce.com. Bok’s repertoire consists of a rich trove of ballads of Maine and the Maritimes, songs and dances of the Americas and abroad, stories of boats and sailors, his own composition of sea folk tales, contemporary songs, and instrumentals. He’s recorded over twenty albums, and plays at concert halls, festivals, and folk clubs throughout the United States, Canada, Great Britain, and Scandinavia. Tickets are available at the door for $20 each. Saturday, October 22 Fossil Field Experience Go to a local beach to search for fossils with a trained guide from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. For ages 8 and up. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Pre-registration required. Fee is $20. Call 410-326-2042 ext. 41 to register.

CHESAPEAKE BAY TRIPPER October 2011

Wednesday, October 26

Homeschool Open House Homeschool families are invited from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. to participate in hands-on activities based around the museum’s three themes of paleontology, the environment and maritime history. 30-minute scheduled programs will be repeated throughout the day. Fee is $5 per person. Space is limited. Visit the website for the complete schedule at www.calvertmarinemuseum.com. Call 410-326-2042, ext. 41 to register. Thursday, October 27 Little Minnows A Pirate’s Life For Me! Children ages 3 -5 are welcome from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Fee is $4 for members and $5 for non-members. Space is limited. Call 410-326-2042 ext. 41. Thursday, October 27 PEM Talks: Lost Landmarks Kirsti Uunila, Historic Preservation Planner for Calvert County, will share her research on the history of African Americans in Calvert County. Using churches, graveyards, school records, oral histories, settlement patterns, court records, population data, photographs, letters, and family stories, she will discuss visible traces of the legacy of segregation. FREE at 7:00 p.m. in the museum auditorium. Sunday, October 23 Sunday Conversation with Chesapeake Authors Dr. Ralph Eshelman, world traveler, scientist, historian, Renaissance Man, and previous director of the Calvert Marine Museum will feature his trio of books about the War of 1812. Enjoy a historical tour following the steps of the American and British Troops two centuries ago at 2:00 p.m. in the lounge. Books available in the museum store. Saturday, October 29 Annual Monster Mash Cruise and Costume Contest Little goblins and their families are welcome to cruise aboard the Wm. B. Tennison from 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Adults $7, Children 5-12 $5, children 4 and under $4. Preregistration required. Call 410-326-2042 ext. 41.

The Calvert Marine Museum is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is $7.00 for adults, $6.00 for seniors and military with valid I.D., and $2.00 for children ages 5 – 12; children under 5 and museum members are always admitted free. For more information about the museum, upcoming events, or membership, visit their website at www.calvertmarinemuseum.com or call 410-326-2042. Become a fan on Facebook, too!

October 2011 CHESAPEAKE BAY TRIPPER

Chesapeake Bay

Tripper

 THROUGH SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 – OCTOBER 2

events calendar

Calvert County Fair 140 Calvert Fair Drive • Prince Frederick, MD 20678 410-535-0026 • 410-286-0877 • www.calvertcountyfair.com Calvert County’s long agricultural heritage and history is celebrated each year with an old-fashioned county fair complete with farm animals, displays of all kinds, demonstrations, and delicious Southern Maryland cooking.

 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1 Maker’s Market 9 a.m. - Noon Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center 13480 Dowell Road • Solomons, MD 20688 410-326-4640 • www.annmariegarden.org produce, handmade crafts and products.

 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1 Boy Scout Archaeology Day 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Jeﬀerson Patterson Park & Museum 10515 Mackall Road • St. Leonard, MD 20685 410-586-8501 • www.jefpat.org A day of Archaeological Exploration! Explore interactive exhibits, tour the MD Archaeological Conservation Lab and spend time with professional archaeologists learning how they use artifacts to solve history’s mysteries! Advance registration required.

 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1 Astronomy Club of Southern Maryland 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. Jeﬀerson Patterson Park & Museum 10515 Mackall Road • St. Leonard, MD 20685 410-586-8501 • www.jefpat.org Join the Astronomy Club of Southern Maryland for discussions and night sky observations. For information call 301-602-5251 or email tom_dugan@hotmail.com 12

CHESAPEAKE BAY TRIPPER October 2011

 OCTOBER 5 – NOVEMBER 6 “Art for Charity: Honoring ARC and County Food Banks” CalvART Gallery Prince Frederick Shopping Center • 98 S. Solomons Island Rd Prince Frederick, MD 20678 410-257-7005 • www.calvertarts.org Join us for the opening reception, Saturday, October 8, 5 – 8 p.m.

 WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5 Back-to-Back Tours – Point Farm and Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory 7 - 10 p.m. Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum 10515 Mackall Road • St. Leonard, MD 20685 410-586-8501 • www.jefpat.org Join us on the first Wednesday of every month and enjoy guided tours of the Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory and Point Farm’s house and gardens. Discover all that Jeﬀerson Patterson Park and Museum has to oﬀer, from state-of-the-art science to local history and lore.

 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6 Calvert County Farmers Market – Solomons 4 – 8 p.m. Solomons Riverwalk • North of Solomons Pavilion • Solomons, MD 20688 410-535-4583 • www.calvertag.org Seasonal delights from local farms including vegetables, fruit, cut flowers, bedding plants, fresh herbs, seafood and baked goods. Also enjoy the Southern Maryland Sailing Association’s small boat races on the water in front of the gazebo starting at 6 p.m.

 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7 First Free Friday 5 – 8 p.m. Calvert Marine Museum 14200 Solomons Island Road • Solomons, MD 20688 410-326-2042 • www.calvertmarinemuseum.com The first Friday of every month will feature our First FREE Friday program. The museum is open free to the public from 5 – 8 p.m. with special entertainment and activities each month. The Drum Point Lighthouse will be open and 30-minute cruises are available on the “Wm. B. Tennison.” Please visit the website for complete details.

Bed & Breakfast

Just 15 minutes to the beaches and boats – 20 minutes to Annapolis!

looking to “get away from it all” while still being so close to bustling city life. In Lothian on MD Rt. 408 between Routes 2 & 4 (Pennsylvania Avenue)

(410) 271-1433

Spacious rooms have private baths and beautiful pasture views Delicious farm breakfast included! Goose at the Door Pottery on the premises October 2011 CHESAPEAKE BAY TRIPPER

Chesapeake Bay

Tripper

events calendar

 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7 North Beach Friday Night Farmers Market & Classic Car Cruise-In 6 – 9 p.m. 5th Street and Bay Avenue on the Boardwalk • North Beach, MD 20714 310-855-6681 • 410-257-9618 • www.northbeachmd.org seafood and baked goods. Free entertainment. Classic car enthusiasts will enjoy viewing some of the coolest vehicles in the area at the simultaneous Friday Night Cruise-Ins.

 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8 Calvert County Farmers Market – Prince Frederick 9 a.m. – Noon Calvert County Fairgrounds • 140 Calvert Fair Drive • Prince Frederick, MD 20678 410-535-4583 • www.calvertag.com seafood and baked goods.

 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8 Patriot Classic – Tournament of Bands Competition 4 – 9 p.m. Northern High School 2950 • Chaneyville Road • Owings, MD 20736 410-257-1539 Join the marching Patriots for the 18th annual Patriot Classic Tournament of Bands Competition at the formations and marching bands as the Patriots host bands from across the region.

 SATURDAY-SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8-9 Patuxent River Appreciation Days (PRAD) 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Calvert Marine Museum 14200 Solomons Island Road • Solomons, MD 20688 410-326-2042 • www.calvertmarinemuseum.com Celebrate the past, present and future of the Patuxent River. Toy boat building, local musicians, juried arts and crafts fair, great food, games and environmental displays and activities promise fun for visitors of all ages. PRAD parade is Sunday, October 10 at 2:00 p.m. 14

CHESAPEAKE BAY TRIPPER October 2011

October 2011 CHESAPEAKE BAY TRIPPER

Chesapeake Bay

Tripper

 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15

events calendar

American Indian Heritage Day 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Jeﬀerson Patterson Park & Museum 10515 Mackall Road • St. Leonard, MD 20685 410-586-8501 • www.jefpat.org Join us as we experience and discover the knowledge and traditions of America’s first culture. Enjoy craft and skill demonstrations and hands-on projects. A small fee is required to participate.

 SATURDAY-SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15-16 13th Annual Calvert County Farm Tour 1 – 4 p.m. Calvert County Agriculture Association 410-535-4583 • www.calvertag.org Get to know Calvert County’s rural community by spending the day on three working farms. The 14th annual Farm Tour takes place Saturday and Sunday, October 15 and 16, rain or shine. It promises to be a great family outing with special activities and educational opportunities at these three local farms: • Fridays Creek Winery, 3485 Chaneyville Road, Owings, 410-286-WINE or www.fridayscreek.com . • Lucky Cricket Farm LLC, 1935 Emmanuel Church Rd., Huntingtown, 410-610-4849 or www.luckycricketfarm.com • Spider Hall Farm, 3915 Hallowing Point Road, Prince Frederick, 410-610-0094 or www.spiderhallfarm.com Enjoy hay rides, sample wines, purchase pumpkins and other fall produce, visit with farm animals and much more. For more information on the 2011 Calvert County Farm Tour, visit www.calvertag.com or email at info@ecalvert.com.

 SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16 Annual Fall Family Fund Day at Chesapeake Beach Railroad Museum 1 – 4 p.m. Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum 4155 Mears Avenue • Chesapeake Beach, MD 20732 410-257-3892 • www.cbrm.org Free children's programs crafts, games and exploration of the museum and its history.

 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22 Girl Scout Native American Day 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Jeﬀerson Patterson Park & Museum 10515 Mackall Road • St. Leonard, MD 20685 410-586-8501 • www.jefpat.org Explore Southern Maryland’s native American heritage. Learn who lived, and continue to live, in this region. Visit our indian village, work in the native garden and experience cooking with Native American techniques. Advance registration is required.

CHESAPEAKE BAY TRIPPER October 2011

 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22 Halloween in the Garden 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center 13480 Dowell Road • Solomons, MD 20688 410-326-4640 • www.annmariegarden.org Looking for something SPOOKtacular to do for Halloween? Bring the family to the Garden for a safe and spook-free daytime trick-or-treating event. Children are able to meander through the woods along the paved pathway, free of vehicles, and receive candy from reputable organizations and businesses within their own community. Free ooky, spooky art activities are always provided. Dress the whole family and enjoy a day of trick-or-treating in the garden and unique photo opportunities with the boo-tiful decorations. $1 per person donation benefits a charity.

 SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23 Barn Work Day 8 a.m. - Noon American Chestnut Land Trust Warriors Rest Sanctuary • 1920 Scientists Cliﬀs Road • Port Republic, MD 20676 410-414-3400 • www.acltweb.org Join the Barn Volunteer Crew as they maintain these historic barns. Bring work gloves, clippers and a smile. Contact the oﬃce for more information and meeting location.

 SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23 Halloween Family Fun Night at the Water Park 6:30 – 8 p.m. Chesapeake Beach Water Park 4079 Gordon Stinnett Avenue • Chesapeake Beach, MD 20732 410-257-1404 • 301-855-3803 • www.chesapeake-beach.md.us The Chesapeake Beach Water Park celebrates Halloween on Sunday, October 23, with a free family event. From 6:30 – 8 p.m. come in costume and go through the haunted river, and trick or treat throughout the park for Halloween treats supplied by the Town and their local merchants. For more information 410-257-1404 • 301-855-3803 • www.chesapeake-beach.md.us

 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29 Fall Foliage Hike at Double Oak Farm 1 – 3 p.m. American Chestnut Land Trust Double Oak Road • Prince Frederick, MD 20678 410-414-3400 • www.acltweb.org Join ACLT for a hike through the woods and enjoy the fall colors from 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather. Registration requested.

 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29 Vine Vindicator Work Day American Chestnut Land Trust Warriors Rest Sanctuary • 1920 Scientists Cliffs Road • Port Republic, MD 20676 410-414-3400 • www.acltweb.org Work to improve native plant species on ACLT lands by identifying and removing non-natuive invasive plant species. Meet at the ACLT south side trailhead barn on Scientists’ Cliffs Road, Port Republic. Bring work gloves and loppers or clippers if you have them. Please notify the office if you are planning to participate in this land management activity. October 2011 CHESAPEAKE BAY TRIPPER

Chesapeake Bay

Tripper

 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29

events calendar

BOOfest 2 – 7 p.m. 5th Street and Bay Avenue on the Boardwalk • North Beach, MD 20714 310-855-6681 • 410-257-9618 • www.northbeachmd.org Join the fun at the North Beach boardwalk. Children will parade in costume on the boardwalk for prizes in a variety of categories. Trick or treat throughout the businesses where you will receive prizes and candy. Facepainting and other activities will be available. End your day at Tan’s Cycle for the Halloween train display.

 SUNDAY, OCTOBER 31 9th Annual Monster Mash Cruise and Costume Contest 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. “Wm. B. Tennison” • Calvert Marine Museum 14200 Solomons Island Road • Solomons, MD 20688 410-326-2042 ext. 41 • www.calvertmarinemuseum.com This cruise is for the little goblins and their families. Registration is required by Wednesday, October 27. Adults $7, children 5-12 $6, children 4 and under $4. For more information contact 410-326-2042, ext. 41 or mccormmj@co.cal.md.us.

CHESAPEAKE BAY TRIPPER October 2011

October 2011 CHESAPEAKE BAY TRIPPER