PRSTD STD US Postage Paid Permit No. 145 Waldorf

PRSTD STD US Postage Paid Permit No. 145 Waldorf, MD

Thursday, May 10, 2007 • St. Mary’s County, Maryland

Established 2006 • Volume 2 • Issue 19 • FREE

Family Mourning Soon-To-BE Retirees Anxiously Await Fate on Healthcare The Loss Of A “Free Spirit”

By Adam Ross Staff Writer

Its not making big headlines, but it affects every St. Mary’s governmental employee. If the budget is passed as presented, those waiting for their graceful exit from the life of grueling and tenuous work that comes with running a county will have to wait a little longer: 9 years longer.

The St. Mary’s Board of County Commissioners, poised to extend the amount of time a county employee works before becoming eligible for retiree health benefits, is embarking on a change that usually doesn’t bode well for approval ratings.

Commissioner Daniel H. Raley (D- Great Mills) conceded that pushing back benefits from 16 to 25 years might not be the right thing for employees, but at the “same time you’ve got a responsibility to all tax payers to do what is fiscally right.”

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer The family of Britiany Marie Mercer, 17, who was killed last week in a car accident in Waldorf, is still grieving the loss of a beloved family member who was full of life and ambition.

“She wrote in her yearbook: ‘Dream as if you’ll live forever, live as if you’ll die today,’” said Sherry Kohan, Britiany Mercer’s aunt. “She lived life to its fullest.”

Kohan said that her niece was bright and cheerful and always enjoyed helping people. Her naturally gregarious nature had profound effects.

“She lit up the room when she walked in,” Kohan said.

Mercer was killed May 3 on Route 5 in the Forest Park Drive area of Waldorf according to Maryland State Police reports. State police say that Mercer was driving her Toyota southbound on Leonardtown Road when she lost control of her vehicle and crossed into the northbound lanes.

An elderly couple from La Plata driving a Chrysler struck Mercer’s vehicle. The passengers, Stanley and Ruby Ketchal, 85 and 80 years old respectively, received incapacitating injuries and were transported to Prince George’s Hospital Center for treatment by state police helicopter.

Mercer’s aunt said her niece never regained consciousness and doctors had to perform two surgeries at Baltimore Shock Trauma to try to stabilize her.

Cohan said that they had to re-

Photo Courtesy of Brinsfield Funeral Homes

Britiany Mercer, 17, of California, was killed last week in an automobile accident in Waldorf.

suscitate Mercer several times before she died. She said Mercer was now in God’s hands.

“Everyone would’ve wanted it not to turn out like this but as it turns out with the extent of injuries she suffered it’s probably better she’s in the hands of someone else.”

Police are still investigating the details of the accident.

Mercer’s grandmother, Grace Shumaker, said that Mercer’s personality had even given her national exposure.

Last year Mercer won 12th place in a national teen pageant as a com-

The county is reeling over hefty multi-million-dollar price tag on Other Post Retirement Benefits (OPEB), which forces all county governments and municipalities around the United States to pay into the retiree health benefits that ironically push those same benefits further from its recipients.

Of the roughly 192 county employees with 5-to-14 years of service, according to Human Resources’ Director Sue Sabo, some, like Dave Chapman - a development facilitator in Land Use and Growth Management for seven years signed onto his job for the retiree benefits and not the salary.

“The benefits were attractive,” said Chapman at April’s budget public hearing at Leonardtown High School, “salary was mediocre at best, but the combination of the two was enough to entice me to work in the county.”

See Benefits page A-

Sheriff Welcomes Eight New Deputies

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer The duty roster of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office increased by eight when graduates from the Southern Maryland Criminal Justice Academy received their diplomas last week following six months of intense training.

Sheriff Tim Cameron, who is

also a member of the board of directors of the criminal justice academy, said that the office is in need of the additional hands.

“They’ll report in, do an orientation and then they’ll be assigned to field training,” Cameron said. “We don’t waste too much time getting them into field training. We need as much help as we can get.”

There were 20 graduates in the

Police Entrance Level Training Program, session 2006-3 and of them nearly half were coming here to St. Mary’s.

The other graduates went on to serve in Charles and Calvert counties as sheriff’s deputies and the Town of La Plata Police Department.

Recruits started their training in November and finished May 4, See New Sheriff page A-

See Britiany Mercer page A-

Index TDRs: Wave of the Future ?

SMAC Champs B-1

Walk for Diabetes B-2 Op.-Ed ..........Page A - 4 Obits .............Page A - 6 Police ............Page B - 5 Classifieds.....Page B - 7

For Continual News Updates Visit: somd.com Local Weather Friday T-Storms 77° Saturday T-Storms 74° Sunday Sunny 69°

By Adam Ross Staff Writer The Rural Preservation District (RPD) Task Force is, in a way, repeating history as it builds support beams for a Transferable Development Rights (TDR) program that is viewed by many as collapsing under its own weight.

TDRs are a way for landowners to sell their property’s development rights without giving up the ground under their feet. Under the current program, a landowner receives one TDR for every three acres of developable land they own. A developer can buy a farmer’s TDRs, and then use them to build elsewhere, while the farmer receives cash in hand.

The RPD task force has a new vision for the plan, one that focuses on preserving more environmentally sensitive and agriculturally rich land for the future residents of St. Mary’s County. Historically, the problem has been compensating landowners enough to make participation in the TDR program worth their while.

“I’ve been proposing that [the] RPD task force put together a program that is designed to complement the TDR task force’s proposal,” said Robin Hahnel, chairman of the RPD task force. “There are reasons people haven’t severed TDRs; it’s costly and you don’t know how many TDRs you are going to get.”

In essence, TDRs are a new currency in which the county is supplying a landowner who wishes to sell development rights for preservation purposes. Some landowners have been skeptical, scared and even lost behind the bureaucracy of what constitutes a TDR and if it will hold its See TDRs page A-

Photo by Guy Leonard

Graduates of latest class from the Southern Maryland Criminal Justice Academy wait to get their diplomas at a ceremony in their honor at Chopticon High School. Of the 20 graduates, eight are assigned to St. Mary’s County as sheriff’s deputies.

Commissioners Give Raises to Top County Employees

By Adam Ross Staff Writer The St. Mary’s Board of County Commissioners said it believes in each and everyone of its diligent department heads that delineate and sometimes even simplify government procedures and projects, Tuesday they awarded eight of them with a pay raise and new two-year contracts.

“They are the experts,” said Commissioner Thomas A. Mattingly Sr., (D-Leonardtown). “We try to make good decisions based on the good information they bring.”

The motion to sign the employment contracts, which included a

three percent raise over the first year and two percent raise over the second year unanimously passed the five-member board. Eight of county government’s finest, according to Mattingly, joined County Administrator John Savich, Director of Public Safety David Zylak and Public Information Officer Karen B. Everett in obtaining new standardized two-year contracts. Savich, Zylak and Everett agreed to their two-year contracts in past months because of premature departures from the previous department heads.

An ordinance that passed years ago requires the commissioners provide new contracts to the county’s department heads no longer than

six months after an election, according to Sue Sabo, human resources’ director.

Because this go around of contract discussions included documents all worded the same, it fostered smoother negotiations than in previous years, according to Sabo, who also received a new contract.

Both Savich and Sabo recalled contract discussions in past years that had dragged on, and cultivated an environment of thorny insecurity.

Savich said it provided equal footing to all of the department heads, except for their salaries.

“Everyone is very happy with their contracts,” Sabo said after the See Raises page A-

The County Times

Section A -

Firemen’s Association Welcomes First Woman President

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer For nearly 30 years Joan Williams of Hollywood has been running emergency medical calls with the Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad, and now she’s ready to move on to the next stage of her volunteer career: taking over the presidency of the Southern Maryland Volunteer Firemen’s Association.

This will be another in a string of firsts for her and the organization. She will be the organization’s first woman president in its 60-year history; she will also be the first rescue squad member to head

the organization instead of a man from the fire service.

She was also the first woman to be a member of the organization’s board of directors, serving as secretary.

But her gender, Williams said, is no big deal. She’s just concerned about being the best advocate for fire/EMS volunteers in the tri-county region.

“I just feel the pressure to do a good job,” Williams said.

“Not just because I’m a woman but because I just want to do a good job.”

Part of her job as president, she said, will be to see to the needs and concerns of all volunteer fire and rescue vol-

unteers in St. Mary’s, Calvert, and Charles counties and to make the organization’s presence is known in the Maryland State Firemen’s Association.

“Southern Maryland has always been fairly active… and it has a lot of influence in the state organization,” Williams said. “Basically we look after the welfare of the fire/ EMS personnel.”

She said one of the regional organization’s biggest tasks will be getting volunteers onboard, especially for the rescue squads, to meet the ever increasing demand for services in Southern Maryland.

“A lot of it [the major issue] is retention and recruit-

Thursday, May 10, 2007

ment,” Williams said. “Years ago, people volunteered through their rescue squads or fire departments, but now you have so many ways to volunteer that it pulls away from fire/EMS recruiting.”

The residential and business growth in the region and in St. Mary’s especially has been rapid, Williams said, and the resources of emergency personnel, particularly for rescue squads, stretched thin.

“When people move down to this area they take for granted the service is going to be there,” Williams said. “A lot of them don’t realize it’s an all-volunteer service.”

Retention of volunteers is further strained when they leave because the demands of the service, as well as keeping up with emergency response training, give way to family and job commitments.

She is unsure how the organization can combat this problem, but said it should be one of its top priorities.

Williams said another focus of her administration will be to encourage younger vol-

unteers to share their ideas for improving service and making the organization stronger.

“With younger members you get new ideas,” Williams said. “But we need the older, more experienced members for stability.”

Williams, 57, wears a lot of hats. Aside from being an active volunteer emergency medical technician (EMT) she also teaches her skill set to other would-be EMTs for the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute.

She’s been doing that for about 21 years, and throughout that time she worked as a clerk for the Circuit Court of St. Mary’s County.

She now serves as the Clerk of the Circuit Court after winning the election in November of 2006.

She has had to cut back her teaching role to that of support teaching, she said, and she runs calls with the Hollywood crew every other Friday night now instead of every Friday night as she had done for years.

But she still feels she’ll

be able to handle the extra workload and she still has that volunteer enthusiasm that got her to join up nearly three decades ago.

“It’s just the feeling that you may have made a difference in somebody’s life,” Williams said of why she enjoys volunteering. “It’s about helping somebody here and there.”

Volunteering is also a family affair for her at the Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad. Her husband, Stanley Williams, is the assistant chief at the squad.

Jeff Williams, of no relation to Joan Wiliams, and the outgoing president of the organization, said that her knowledge and experience will serve Southern Maryland emergency workers well.

“I’ve got all kinds of trust in her,” Jeff Williams said.

“She’s very knowledgeable and she’s worked her way up.

Everybody knows her and knows what she’s capable of.”

Queen Declines Mikulski’s Invite to St. Mary’s

By Adam Ross Staff Writer

Photo by Guy Leonard

Joan Williams, newly installed president of the Southern Maryland Volunteer Firemen’s Association talks with Jeff Williams, the outgoing president, at their 60th annual conference at the Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department May 5.

Joan Williams is the first woman and rescue squad member to head the organization.

St. Mary’s College Named Among Best Education Values In The Nation

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Being the state’s only public honors college, St. Mary’s College in St. Mary’s City is used to being recognized for its academic excellence and the quality of its students, but now it has earned a new honor.

The Princeton Review, a recognized authority in evaluating the caliber of colleges and universities, named the college as one of the ten best education values in the country, meaning that students there have the opportunity to get the most bang for their tuition bucks.

The college took its place among many larger schools like the University of Virginia and the University of California at Berkeley.

College spokesman Mark Apter said the most recent honor was another step towards making the college a more prominent academic contender nationwide.

“We are aggressively working to becoming one of the nation’s best liberal arts colleges, not just one of the best liberal arts colleges in the state,” Apter said.

Wes Jordan, admissions director for the college, said the caliber of the students, faculty and the work they do

there were responsible for the college’s being recognized as an outstanding institution.

“About 50 percent of our graduates go on to graduate school or professional schools,” Jordan said. “That’s a high percentage. You have a consistent pattern of students going on to be very successful at the next level.”

Over the past four years, 51 out of 55 graduating students who applied to medical school though the college’s pre-med advisory group were accepted to the school of their choice, Jordan said, further illustrating that graduating from St. Mary’s opened doors to greater opportunities.

Along with a strong liberal arts curriculum, one of the core challenges that sets students at St. Mary’s apart is the St. Mary’s Project, a senior-thesis type project that more than half of the students choose to undertake, Jordan said.

The students pursue the project along with their major and have to defend their work as part of their graduation requirement.

Karyn Failstead, a graduating senior and English major did her project as a collection of non-fiction works about her own mother’s childhood in comparison to her own.

The challenges of the

work, plus the open atmosphere at the college, she said inspired her to do her best.

“I feel like [the college has] given me opportunities from the very start to make my roots here,” she said. “The professors here figure that if you’re good enough to be here, you’re good enough to have a voice in class and to be a leader.”

Failstead said she quickly became a residence hall leader upon coming to St. Mary’s College, and in her senior year was assigned to help 165 underclassmen while finishing her own studies.

Failstead said she is now moving on to a research staff job with the Duke University Medical Center’s Department of Community and Family Health.

Adrinda Kelly, senior editor at the New York Citybased Princeton Review, said the college’s education opportunities were second to none.

“The quality of education students receive… is unbeatable,” she said. “The school shares our philosophy that learning extends beyond the classroom and does a great job supporting students who want to pursue community service or study abroad.”

St. Mary’s College was named the state’s public honors college back in 1992, Jor-

dan said, by an act of the state legislature in an effort to boost the quality of liberal arts education in Maryland.

The act made the college more difficult to enter and made it more attractive to some of the best students to attend.

“It was about keeping the best students in Maryland,” Jordan said of the act. “And it was also about avoiding the brain drain to other schools in other states.”

The college’s pristine setting on the St. Mary’s River also make it an attractive destination for prospective students, as does the low student ratio of about 12 students for every professor, according to the Princeton Review report.

The report also confirmed that St. Mary’s College offers a high-end education at a “bargain price”.

The overall cost of attending the school for one year is just under $20,000 for in-state residents but 84 percent of students in the 2006 entering class received some sort of financial aid and 100 percent of those who applied for federal student loans received aid.

Many freshmen there apply for and receive some kind of aid from the college in either loan or grant form.

shoulders of Goddard.”

Her Majesty and Prince Philip arrived in Richmond For the first time in 50 May 3 to well-wishers and a years, the Queen of Eng- motorcade, which whisked land and the Duke of Ed- her way to the Virginia State inburgh visited Jamestown Capitol where she gave a Friday to help mark its 400th six-minute speech to a joint anniversary. session of the General AsHowever, St. Mary’s sembly. She also spent two County – whose English roots days in Virginia, although she also date back to the early arrived a week before the of17th century when Europeans ficial Jamestown anniversary settlers landed on St. Clem- events that take place May ents Island - did not receive a 11-13. similar honor when the couple The queen also attended declined to visit despite a writ- her first Kentucky Derby, ten request from Sen. Barbra which was followed by a state A. Mikulski. dinner with President Bush.

Mikulski submitted the In addition to her Godrequest to British Ambassa- dard visit, the Queen visited dor to the United States Sir the World War II Memorial David Geoffrey Manning in Washington before headin December, which briefly ing back across the pond outlined St. Mary’s County’s Tuesday. history and how it is linked to The largest and most acthe friendship the two power- cessible event for the public house countries hold today. was “Virginia’s Royal WelManning said in a re- come,” in Richmond. Thousponse letter to Mikulski’s sands of spectators converged office that he passed the re- on Capitol Square to catch a quest to Buckingham Palace brief glimpse of the queen and who gave it “very careful listened to local musicians, thoughts.” including bluegrass legend Mikulski said in Febru- Ralph Stanley. ary that she didn’t write diMore than 20,000 people rectly to the Queen, because it entered a lottery to receive is considered too aggressive. VIP passes for the Queen’s “I much regret, however, walkabout, which will include that they have concluded that a special greeting from Virwe shall have to decline your ginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine kind invitation for schedul- and first lady Anne Holton. ing reasons,” Manning wrote Her Majesty last visited in his response to Mikulski. the United States in 1991.

“Her Majesty’s stay in the United States is brief and IIer programme very full.

Mikulski spoke of her desire to land the Queen in St. In the May 3 rd edition Mary’s County last month, of The County Times Newswhen an array of local nonpaper, the article “Rockfish government and government Season Arrives With a Flurry leaders gathered with her to hash out strategies for the of Activity and New Regulanext Base Realignment and tions” incorrectly reported the allowed catch sizes of Closure (BRAC).

Rockfish.

The information During the February below was taken from MaryBRAC meeting, Mikulski land Department of Natural said making such a request Resources Fisheries Service was difficult to navigate, but website: prompted local leaders’ curiFor 2007, from April 21 osity with the question, “why should Jamestown have all the through May 15 anglers may keep one fish per person, per fun?”

While the request was day between 28-inches and “respectfully denied,” accord- 35-inches in total length or ing to Melissa Schwartz, a one fish 41-inches or greater. spokeswoman for Mikulski, Striped bass greater than Queen Elizabeth II did make 35-inches and less than 41time in her itinerary for a stop inches must be released to to NASA’s Goddard Space the water unharmed - This Flight Center in GreenBelt, ban on possession of striped bass between 35 and 41 inchMd. “I am so proud to wel- es is expected to reduce the come the Queen of England harvest of migrant striped and the Duke of Edinburgh to bass and avoid exceeding the Maryland’s world-class space 30,000 migrant striped bass facility, and to show Her limit for the spring season.

Majesty and His Royal High- Fish over 42-inches can be ness the truly extraordinary kept as “Trophy Fish.” From contributions that Goddard May 16 through December makes to science, exploration 15 anglers may keep two fish and discovery,” said Mikul- per person per day between ski. “When astronauts go out 18 and 28 inches, or one fish into space, they stand on the between 18 and 28 inches and one fish over 28 inches.

Retraction

The County Times

Thursday, May 10, 2007

In Your Community Blood Drive The American Red Cross will be holding a blood drive at the 2nd District Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad in Valley Lee on Monday, May 21 from 2 to 7:30 p.m. Donors may call 301994-1038 to schedule an appointment or for information.

Walk-ins are welcome.

Basket Bingo fundraiser on Friday, May 18, 2007, 7:00 p.m., at the Valley Lee Fire House. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. The cost is $20.00 for regular books, with each additional book costing $5.00.

Specials are 4 for $4.00 or $1.00 each.

All children must be accompanied by an adult and must have their own ticket. All proceeds will ben-

efit ongoing Piney Point E.S. PTA projects, including the new playground for students.

For more details or to make reservations for a table of six or more people, please contact Ms. Kara Nelson at 301-8847072 or karanelson@verizon. net

Volunteer for County Government The Board of Commissioners for St. Mary’s County is seeking citizens who are interested in volunteering their time in public service to the community by serving on the St. Mary’s County Senior Property Tax Credit Review Committee.

Section A - The St. Mary’s County Senior Property Tax Credit Review Committee shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Board of County Commissioners for St. Mary’s County by; • Interviewing recipients of the Credit and reporting those findings to the County Commissioners for St. Mary’s County; and • Reviewing and reporting the annual fiscal impact of the Credit; and • Making recommendations to the County Commis-

sioners regarding the future of the Senior Property Tax Credit program; and • Responding to any inquires from the County Commissioners for St. Mary’s County regarding the Credit.

Christian Concert St. Paul United Methodist Church presents a Christian concert for all ages, featuring the Praise Team of Emmanuel Church. The concert will be on May 20 at 6 p.m. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Donations will be accepted for Summer Youth Mission Trip. Location: 11000 H.G. Trueman Rd., Lusby at the corner of 765 H.G. Trueman and Route 497, Cove Point Road.

SUMMERSEAT ANNUAL PLANT SALE The Annual Summerseat Farm Plant Sale will be held on Saturday, May 12, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Summerseat Farm on Three Notch Road (Rt. 235), Mechanicsville, Md. The sale will feature colorful annuals, perennials, hanging baskets, herbs, vegetables, shrubs, trees, as well as home baked goods and drinks. Also, a selection of homemade garden related items and crafts will be available. We’ll have wonderful gift selections for Mother’s Day. Many of these plants come directly from Summerseat’s grounds and gardens. The sale is sponsored by and benefits Summerseat, a nonprofit organization, dedicated to preserving the history, agriculture, and natural resources of this gracious 18th century farm. Visitors are invited to bring a camera and take photos of the only accessible herd of American bison (buffalo) and Barbados sheep in the region. In addition, the gardens, pond, manor house, graveyard, and farm area will be open to tour. For information, contact Sandy Woolard at 301-373-5858 or 301-6438950. The farm is located on southbound Rt. 235 (Three Notch Rd.) just 100 yards north of the blinking light at Rt. 247 (Loveville Rd). There will be signs marking the location.

11th Annual Sotterley Plant Sale / Plant Exchange At the Plant Sale, purchase annuals, perennials, shrubs, and bulbs from the Sotterley Garden Guild, and all proceeds benefit Sotterley’s garden. This event takes place beside the Corn Crib at Sotterley Plantation on Saturday. At the Free Plant Exchange, swap your plants for other annuals, perennials, herbs, vegetables, shrubs, trees, bulbs and seeds for free. Bring plants or just bring yourself! Call the Sotterley office for more information or visit the website at www.sotterley.org

Bring Kids Club Card and decorate your own Mother’s Day Cake!

8” Round Cake Single Layer $1.

00

Friday May 11th 4-8 pm Saturday May 12th 11 am - 6 pm Flowering Hanging Basket Special

$9.99

Teen Computer Class Lexington Park Library will host a free teen computer class for those interested in learning Adobe Photoshop.

The class will be on Monday from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Use photoshop images taken with library cameras to create masterpieces. Event open to those ages 12 and up, please register at 301-863-8188 or pdyson@ stmalib.org

Spring Ridge Spring Basket Bingo Join the Piney Point Elemntary School PTA for their

Available Starting May 11th

The County Times

Section A -

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Editorial & Opinion SMECO Rate Hike….

Perfect Timing You got to give it to the boys in Hughesville, unlike the boys in Baltimore, they understand that timing is everything. Three years ago they were busy raising electric rates, two years ahead of the political storm that election year politics would bring. Now, with the last election only 6 months removed and the next election more than three years away, SMECO can once again resume rate increases without noise from career politicians up for re-election.

You may recall the Maryland Legislature before the last election holding a “special session” to deal with the electric rate hikes the residents of Baltimore were facing.

The truth-twisting politicians along with a one state one party press convinced Marylanders that the BG&E rate hikes were due to Governor Ehrlich and the members of the Public Service Commission, which Ehrlich

had appointed.

You may also recall the Democrats in the Maryland Legislature were compelled to hold investigations into the conduct and actions of the Public Service Commission, those “gangsters” appointed by Governor Ehrlich. They decided to fire the Ehrlich appointees, an unconstitutional action that even Maryland’s liberal courts couldn’t stomach. The legislature was successful however in putting the rate increase off until after the election.

Finally after several years of public utility rate increases we now have in place what we were promised, a consumer friendly Public Services Commission controlled by O’Malley appointees. Quietly, without the legislature spending millions of taxpayer’s dollars to investigate, the O’Malley Public Services Commission will be looking into the

delayed rate increases requested by BG&E. They also will have the opportunity to look at the rate increases requested by SMECO. More has changed however than just a new governor and new commission members, we are back to a one party system in Maryland and it’s not an election year. Our new consumer friendly Public Service Commission will of course grant the rate increase requests and offer up strong reasons why the rate increases are necessary to maintain stability in an unstable market.

It may very well be true, increases may be necessary, but other utilities around the state would be well to take a lesson from the politically savvy folks at SMECO, it’s really not so much that you need a rate increase, it’s simply about the timing.

Letters To The Editor Selling Our Rights, an Argument Against TDR’s There is a proposal in front of the St. Mary’s County Commissioners right now that will have a profound impact on future generations of St. Mary’s County residents. It is likely to pass unless citizens are willing to voice their opposition to this proposal at the public hearing scheduled for May 15 6:30 pm at College of Southern Maryland in Leonardtown, Building A. To citizens not abreast of local news, TDR’s are Transferable Development Rights, where development rights of a given parcel of land are severed from that parcel and applied to another to allow for a higher density of development than zoning ordinances allow for without the purchase of TDR’s. St. Mary’s County is about to make a giant leap which would require almost all new residences to be built in the county to first purchase a TDR, currently selling for $20,000 to $25,000. What they will be buying is a piece of paper, of no tangible value to the purchaser, that states that somewhere in the county there are 5 acres of land that can never be developed for residential use. Some residences will be required to purchase 2 or 3 TDR’s. The County Government has created a new market for the buying and selling of these TDR’s as Marketable Commodities.

This market has potential to become a very lucrative business for outside investors, who have no stake in county affairs, which could lead to a steep rise in price. In short this proposal benefits County Government, Land Owners who sell TDR’s, and TDR Traders. It penalizes most people who will be buying or building a new home. If landowners choose not to sell their development rights and there are none to be purchased the county has decided, if this proposal passes, to charge a “Fee In Lieu” of a TDR which would be 125% of the average cost of the previous year’s TDR exchange rate.

As I sat at an informational meeting for this proposal, I was surprised at how little opposition I saw. Most of the people there were landowners interested in selling TDR’s, County Board Representatives, and farmers trying to figure out how this was going to affect them. The unrepresented group at this meeting was the younger generation, mostly school aged kids much like those who where eating their lunch, earlier in the day, in the same cafeteria where our meeting was being held.

It is mostly this generation that will be burdened with paying for this version of land preservation. The aim of this proposal is to preserve unde-

veloped land with an emphasis on agricultural preservation, so the county can maintain its rural landscape and heritage.

Newcomers and young upstarts will be paying the full price for this preservation. A point overlooked is that land is not developed unless two things happen. First the land has to be sold to or owned by a developer, second there must be a need for the development or it would not be developed.

This letter is based on an average citizen’s understanding of a very long and complicated document. Complacency and inaction will almost certainly guarantee passage of this proposal. I strongly urge people concerned with issues related to this proposal to learn more about it and attend the public hearing on May 15 6:30pm at College of Southern Maryland, Leonardtown Campus Building A. It is probably worth missing the kid’s baseball game. It may even be a good idea for them to attend also because this will have a direct impact on their future if they decide to make a life in St. Mary’s County.

GEORGE MCKAY JR Callaway

On February 13, 2007, The County Times published a photograph depicting rescue personnel responding to an automobile accident that was taken from a story originally published by The Bay Net on February 12, 2007. The photograph is owned by The Bay Net and was used without credit, attribution, or authorization. The County Times apologizes to its readers and to The Bay Net for this incident of plagiarism.

New TDR Program Proposal Unfair to Family Farms!

I recently attended the information meeting held by the Department of Land Use and Growth Management on April 25 at Spring Ridge Elementary School. My family and I own two adjoining farms in Morganza in which I share ownership with several siblings and a few other close relatives, totaling close to 170 acres. While I am not opposed to the TDR program, I am concerned that the proposed revisions to the program no longer contain any special provisions or exemptions for transfer of gift property to family members (such as offspring) as has been the practice in the past, recognizing the value of families that have strived to keep their farms as a legacy for their children. Again, I am not opposed to the program and in fact understand the mechanics of it and its intended purpose to preserve farmland in the county however, the proposed revision will now require the use of a TDR for each dwelling after the initial dwelling on a farm property even for inter-familiar transfers, which is totally unfair.

During the meeting, I stood up and spoke to my concerns several times and was met with comments by some of the committee members as well as other community members as to the unfairness of a family in our position to be exempt from the TDR requirement, that we have a “luxury” in having extra acreage to set aside, or that our situation is somewhat “unique” and therefore not worth the language to provide special provisions. I would like to address these issues now. First off, I would like to elaborate on what the impact of the proposed TDR revisions to families that own farms and want to pass on building lots to their children. Currently, the zoning laws require a density of 1 in 5 acres unless TDRs are purchased to reduce it to 1 in 3 acres. I am currently in the process of giving a lot to one of my children and what I have had to do is place the balance of the 5 acre density requirement in what is called a “density parcel” elsewhere on the farm. In this case I elected to give my child 3 acres and place 2 acres in a density parcel, which can never be used for building or developing. At any rate, I am only taking 5 acres “out of service” (so to speak) with regard to building/developing. Under the proposed regulation, if I want to give this same three acres to my child and cannot afford to purchase a TDR at the current going rate of $15,000 to $25,000, I need to set aside 5 acres for the TDR and in effect lose the use of 8 acres instead of the 5 acres that I am currently losing. Furthermore, if I want to give my child a full 5 acres I then lose 10 acres total. At a minimum, I stand to

lose 6 acres for each lot as the minimum practical lot size to put a house on is 1 acre plus the 5 acres placed in the TDR program. For myself and my family members, in this situation, this reduces the potential for the number of lots on our farms from 34 lots down to as low as 17 lots based on the amount of acreage we want to give each child in succeeding generations.

With regard to the fairness issue, I would like to state that our family has owned these 2 farms for three generations now and have worked and fought hard to keep these farms in our family as a legacy for our children despite the rapid growth and reduction in farm properties experienced over the last few decades. With the loss of the tobacco industry in Southern Maryland, which was the only cash crop down here, it has been hard to keep these small farms going. We are not rich farmers down here like the extremely large farms in the Midwest are. Our farms just aren’t large enough due to the hilly terrain to farm grain, cattle, etc. lucratively. I worked hard all my young life with my blood sweat and tears trying to survive on our farm until we had to finally give it up as adults and work regular jobs, renting out most of the cropland to tenant farmers and still farming a portion part time. I can remember the years we had droughts, etc. and didn’t even sell our tobacco crop one year (1963) in which my parents could only afford to by us a pair of tennis shoes at the beginning of the school year to wear all winter long. Only by the grace of God and the fact we could grow or raise our own food, did our family manage to survive and keep the farm. Also, over the past 70 plus years our family has paid thousands of dollars in taxes, which was used to help build this county and keep it growing. Yes, others relocating here will have to pay for a TDR along with their building lot but they have not put anything into the community over the last 70 plus years as our family has so I don’t see where it is fair for us to be subject to that same rule. There should be an exemption for family farms giving children a building lot as a gift. We are not selling the lot and passing the cost of the TDR on to the buyer as a developer would do, it comes out of our packet either in the form of cash for purchase of a TDR or loss of additional acreage. So to all those who stated that family farms have a luxury or that it would not be fair for us to be exempt, I say them that they are totally wrong and that it is extremely unfair to us who have strived to keep these farms as a legacy for our children for several generations not be exempted from this rule.

In closing I would like to address the fact that the TDR program has not necessarily 100% served to preserve farms in the Rural Preservation Districts (RPD). A glaring example is the proposed Grandview Haven Subdivision that is slated to be built on two farms located directly across from our farm on Route 5. These were two of the most beautiful farms in the county and now 162 homes are scheduled to be built their, right in the middle of an RPD and several adjoining farms.

Our family fought to have this stopped or at least reduce the density from 1 in 3 acres back to 1 in 5 acres to minimize the impact to an already crowded and dangerous intersection and to further overcrowding of the 3 schools in the area, of which 2 are officially overfull.

Our efforts were of no avail as the current rules allow for this type of a development in an RPD and it passed through the Planning Commission.

Our tenant farmers have already expressed concerns to us, that when this development gets built, about driving their large equipment up to the farm with the projected 800 or so additional vehicles coming through the intersection each day and the potential complaints of the noise and the manure smell from our farm. Even though there are “Right to Farm” provisions in the zoning laws, complaints will still come and will have to be dealt with. If it becomes too difficult, then they may pull out, thereby taking away our source of revenue to pay the taxes on the farm. If this happens, then our family will have no choice but to join the bandwagon and sell our farm out for development and lose another beautiful farm in an RPD. I can assure you also, we are not a unique situation as I have several other relatives, friends, and neighbors in the same situation throughout the county and all have the same concerns. If some consideration is not given to exemptions for inter-familiar transfers, we might possibly see the opposite effect of what is intended by the new TDR proposal as it may force more farms in our situation to sell out and decrease the number of farms instead of preserving them.

For anyone who feels as I do concerning the proposed TDR amendment, I strongly encourage you to join me at the public hearing on the proposal scheduled for Tuesday, May 15, 2007 at 6:30 in the Auditorium of the College of Southern Maryland, Leonardtown Campus to voice our concerns.

BILLY JOHNSON Lifetime resident of St. Mary’s for 52 years.

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The County Times

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Section A -

Big City Boy, Small Town Heart Marathon Taskers

Adam Ross Staff Writer The Rural Preservation District Task Force managed to accomplish nothing in its fifth meeting Monday. The meeting was so devoid of order and sense, it even took an extra half hour for the members to show up.

But what I noticed most was an all too familiar scene

from one task force to another: disorder.

Chairman Robin Hahnel did his best to set an agenda that he thought would lead the task force to its goal in a quantifiable way. If only the entire board was an economist.

Hahnel, the Alan Greenspan of the group, is like a shark swimming with a sea of guppies. And that’s not to say the other group members aren’t

smart, because they are. In fact, because of the group’s diverse experiences it is quite capable of achieving the task.

However, when the group has a question, they turn to Hahnel. When the group is confused, they turn to Hahnel. And when the group has a point of contention it’s usually with Hahnel. Ultimately, Hahnel will have his imprint on anything and everything

that comes out of this task force, and I expect that it will be a strong compensation package for landowners who want to preserve their land. It was his idea. He said it in the first meeting, and at some point in each meeting, the group has ended up back at that philosophy. As far as Hahnel is concerned, a legitimate compensation package is the only way to link the

Ramblings of a Country Girl

My Grandmother’s Garden Terri Bartz Bowles Contributing Writer As spring begins to spew forth nature’s bounty in the form of good and fresh vegetables, I cannot help but think about the garden at my grandmother’s house. My mom and my grandmother planted and cared for the garden all the through the summer and we enjoyed the bounty long into the winter. As is the way so often, it’s not until years later that one truly appreciates the

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goodness of previous periods.

Each spring, my grandfather would plow the garden when he plowed the fields.

My mother and grandmother would buy seeds and onion sets and seed potatoes from the feed store or the old Maryland Tobacco Grower’s Association store. The white and sweet potatoes had their own patch, as did the melons. My grandfather was a man who thoroughly enjoyed a good watermelon and a sizable patch of watermel-

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ons and cantaloupes ensured those sweet treats would be available come the heat of full summer.

The list of vegetables grown, besides the potatoes, onions and melons mentioned, included peas, lima beans, tomatoes, carrots, beets, yellow and green string beans, broccoli, turnips, cucumbers and sweet peppers. In the fall, of course, the greens were planted – kale, watercress and mustard. After planting and watering, the dreaded weed-

ing would start. I did not like to weed! Nearly forty years later, I find myself content to sit among my flower beds and pull weeds by the hour but as a child, it was a hateful task that I wanted no part of.

However, gardens take work and all labor available must be employed. My mother will tell you now that I didn’t weed much and I’m sure that’s right. I’m also sure that garden looked to my small eyes like a 40-acre field that I’d never see the end of and so when would

board’s goals with the new TDR proposal. To him it’s logical and it works.

Unfortunately for him, at times, logical is has no place in the task force’s meetings.

It’s a common phenomenon in these types of work sessions, usually because issues are so multi-faceted they demand officials to attack them in strict order.

Hahnel recognized this early. He pointed out the misfortunes and missteps unrelated task forces have had in the past, and then he provided the framework for the RPD Task Force. The group however, has faltered in its organizational approach. They too get caught up in the bureaucratic tailspin and a line of analyzing information from the middle outward, instead of the reverse.

Take a look at Monday’s meeting for a specific example - Hahnel organized the agenda into three categories: issue A, issue B and Issue C. Issue A dealt with how much, what, and eligibility criteria for preserving selected land. Issue B’s goals were to assign the appropriate down zoning, the type of compensation package and how many transferable development rights per acre are required for full financial compensation.

Issue C was theoretical based

on assumptions from issues A and B. Hahnel even went as far as outlining how and why the three issues can come together.

“In any case, discussing issues B and C prior to discussing issue A with Denis [Canavan] present next week makes very good sense,” wrote Hahnel in his agenda Monday. “This week I hope we can concentrate on issue B, and time permitting issue C.” Only, that never happened. John K. Parlett Jr. decided the group wouldn’t be able to discuss the terms of the compensation package unless he knew how much land he was considering. The disagreement led to an hour and half discussion of why the group could discuss Issue B before attacking Issue C. “I hope we can keep from getting drawn into a premature discussion of different aspects of issue A,” wrote Hahnel, “which we can better address the following week with Denis present.”

The group did, and it resulted in nothing. The marathon continues.

I be able to play?!

Weeding wasn’t the only task I did not enjoy. It wasn’t long before the garden needed to be picked and it needed it every day. Tomatoes and peppers were easy pickings, of course, any thing not a bean or a pod was fine. Picking peas wasn’t too bad, you can feel the fullness of the pod and pick efficiently. String beans were a problem because you had to eyeball each one.

They hid under the leaves and you had to search them out and make sure you picked all the ‘good eating’ size beans. If you left them on the vine too long, they would be tough and not ‘good eating’. I much preferred picking yellow string beans, they were much easier to see even though hiding the way all string beans did! I absolutely love lima beans, they are far and away my favorite vegetable. I never loved picking, them though. You have to feel each pod to ensure there are mature beans inside and they have a thick pod; oh, they’re just no fun to pick!

The next task wasn’t so bad. After picking beans or peas, they need to be shelled and I remember a lot of afternoons on the porch doing just that. Then it was just a matter of washing the loot and preparing it for the meal. Everyone knows grandmothers are the best of cooks and my grandmother was no exception. With a bountiful garden,

though, there’s no way we could eat everything that was produced during the course of the summer. So, my mother and grandmother canned and froze and “put up” for the winter.

They also made relish – I will tell you that I didn’t eat relish then nor do I now. But, the smell of the ingredients was heavenly and I always wanted to help make it. Like a lot of good farm wives, my grandmother didn’t use recipes; she was just a natural and fantastic cook. Now, my mother and I don’t know how to make relish because my grandmother was able to just add this and that with no thought of ever needing to write anything like that down. Even though we can’t make the relish, my mom and I still talk about it and remember the chopping and the smells and heat of the kitchen in the middle of summer. We don’t remember it as a hot and tiring chore fit in between the work of cooking the regular meals; we remember it as time the three of us spent together doing something that would bring enjoyment and the remembrance of sweet summer to family members.

And we’d both of us give anything to stand in that kitchen again and smell the relish that my grandmother produced like so much magic.

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The County Times

Section A -

Obituaries Mary Estelle Collins, 83 Mary Estelle Collins, 83, of Leonardtown, Md. died May 2, 2007 in Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, D.C. Born June 30, 1923 in Hollywood, Md., she was the daughter of the late James Victor and Nettie Lyles Scriber.

Estelle grew up in Hollywood, Md. with five sisters and nine brothers. She was raised in St. John’s Regis Catholic Church and attended school in Hollywood, Md. In 1940, Estelle met and married the love of her life, the late James LeVaughn Collins, Sr. Together they shared 52 years of life and love. From this union three children were born; Regina, Elaine, and James. Along with being a homemaker, Estelle enjoyed fashion, planning parties, staying in touch with family and friends, watching television especially westerns and the “The Walton’s”. Even though LeVaughn was the face out front, Estelle was the power behind the scenes with her soul food and desserts, known as Collins Catering.

From her homemade rolls to her paper-thin sliced cakes, you were sure to enjoy atmosphere, laughter and countrystyle food at places such as Shirley K Hotel, Two Spot, and Club Paradise.

Along with a full life surrounded by family and friends, Estelle found a new niche particularly in various activities at Cedar Lane through and volunteering her time and talents at Cedar Lane and through “Helping Hands”. This allowed Estelle to provide food and nourishment to the less fortunate and elderly citizens of St. Mary’s County.

Estelle is survived by her daughter, Elaine (Willie) Gee of Capital Heights, Md., son, James L. (Theresa) Collins, Jr. of Hollywood, Md., three sisters, Civilla Crawford of Rockville, Md., Anna Adams of California, Md., Nettie Stevens of Leonardtown, Md., three brothers, Frank (Patricia) Scriber of California, Md., Phillip (Diane) Scriber of Hollywood, Md., Spencer Scriber of Hollywood, Md., nine grandchildren, 10 greatgrandchildren, and a host of relatives and friends.

In addition to her parents and husband, she is preceded in death by her daughter, Regina, sisters, Venita Kelly and E. Virginia Chappell, and brothers, Edward, Victor, Clarence, Stansbury, Saunders, and Douglas Scriber.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, May 9 from 10-11 a.m. in St. Aloysius Catholic Church, Leonardtown, Md.; with a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 11 a.m. Father John Dakes will be the celebrant. Interment will follow in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery, Bushwood, Md. Serving as pallbearers will be Thomas Brooks, Joseph Collins, Norbert Collins, Raymon Collins, Robert Scriber, and Stephon Scriber.

Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., 22955 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, Md. 20650.

James Alexander Forrest, Jr. 70 J a m e s Alexander Forrest, Jr. affect ionately known as “Jimmy”, 70, of San Francisco, Ca. formerly of Leonardtown, Md., died April 27, 2007 at his residence.

Born July 16, 1936 in Leonardtown, Md., he was the beloved son of James A. Forrest, Sr. and Harriett A. Forrest.

Jimmy attended Banneker

ristic minister and member of St. George Catholic Church.

She was active within the community by baking meals for the sick. She was also a member of the Catholic High School in Loveville, Daughters of America and Md., after graduation he at- Waldorf Volunteer Fire Detended Morgan State College partment Ladies Auxiliary. graduating with a Bachelors She enjoyed cooking, baking, Degree in History. He also crocheting, and family Sunreceived a commission in the day picnics.

She is survived by her U. S. Army through the Reserve Officers Training Corp daughter, Joyce Gateau Mori (ROTC). While at Morgan he of Waldorf, Md., son, George was a member of the Morgan “Chip” Gateau, Jr. of ChapState all male elite choir and tico, Md., nine grandchildren, the Omega Psi Phi fraternity. 17 great-grandchildren, and He began his federal service one great-great grandchild.

In addition to her parwith the Department of the Navy at the old Navy An- ents, she is preceded in death nex. In 1969 he moved to San by her husband, George CeFrancisco where he was em- lestine Gateau, Sr., daughployed for the past 35 years ter, Shirley Sue Bernardon, with the Environmental Pro- great-granddaughter, Stephatection Agency as a computer nie Bernardon, son, Gerard Gene “Gerry” Gateau, sisters, analyst.

Jimmy enjoyed his fam- Myrtle Watson, Anna Mills, ily and friends, singing in St. Irene Milton, Clara Gallahan, Anthony’s Church choir, gar- Audrey Wallace, and brother, dening, attending his flowers Eugene Daffan.

The family will receive and coming home for family gatherings. He loved ice friends on Thursday, May 10 cream and thought himself a from 5-8 p.m. in St. George wine connoisseur. He loved Catholic Church, Valley Lee, classical music and often at- Md. Prayers will be recited at tended the San Francisco 7:00 p.m. A Mass of ChrisSymphony with his friends. tian Burial will be celebrated He was an avid San Fran- on Friday, May 11 at 11:00 cisco 49er’s fan and attended a.m. in the church. Reverend their home games. He was Mark Ervin will be the celan animal lover and enjoyed ebrant. Interment will follow time with his dog “Jasmine” in the church cemetery.

Memorial contributions who was at his side when he passed. Jimmy had an infec- may be made to St. George tious laugh and you couldn’t Catholic Church, P.O. Box 9, Valley Lee, Md. 20692 and/ help but love him.

In addition to his mother or HOSPICE HOUSE c/o St. and father, he leaves to cher- Mary’s, Inc., P.O. Box 625, ish his memory and rejoice Leonardtown, Md. 20650.

Arrangements by the his life, three brothers and one sister; George (Chiquita) For- Brinsfield Funeral Home, rest of Fairfax, Va., Lewis I P.A., 22955 Hollywood Road, (Eudora) Forrest of Dale City, Leonardtown, Md. 20650.

Va., Barbara (Nace) Thompson of Leonardtown, MD, and Edward “Ed” Anthony Francis “Bert” (Margaret), Gray, 87 Forrest, Sr. of Leonardtown, Md., nieces and nephews; Edward Verion, Christopher, Patrick, “Ed” Anthony Timothy, Marlene, Lewis II, Gray, 87, of Nocola, Michelle, Francis, Jr., Leonardtown, and their families. He also Md. formerly leaves behind beloved friends of Philadelphia, in California: Marina Sarao Pa. (K&A Secand her extended family, tion) died April Dr. & Mrs. Nelson Artega, 30, 2007 in DDS, and their family, Rox- Doylestown, Pa. anne Johnson, Stacey Berfer, Born February 18, 1920 Joan and Coe Owens, Pat and in Philadelphia, Pa. he was Jim Hopkins, Neil Oliver, his the son of the late Edward friends and loving neighbors and Susannah “Anne” Wilon Rhode Island Street and son Gray. He is survived by especially his best and trust- his nephew: Richard Crager ed friend Bernard (Bernie) and his wife Janice of LeonGranda. ardtown, Md., niece: Virginia He was preceded in death Joyce and her husband Trevor by his grandfather and grand- of Philadelphia, Pa.; great mother, the late Charles For- nieces and nephews: Richie rest and Helen Burrell.

Crager of Miss., Tony Crager The family received of Leonardtown, Md., Chris friends on Monday, May 7 Crager of Boston, Mass., in St. Peter Claver Catholic Janice Marvel of Md., VirChurch, Ridge, Md.; with a ginia Engle, Susan McNeill of Mass of Christian Burial cel- Yardley, Pa., Charles Wilson ebrated at 11 a.m. Reverend of N.J., Angelique Prima and Damian Shadwell was the Robert Wilson both of Warmcelebrant. Interment followed inster, Pa., Heather Peronace in the church cemetery. of Doylestown, Pa.; 18 greatServing as pallbearers great nieces and nephews and were Verion Forrest, Lewis one great great-great niece. He Forrest II, Francis Forrest, Jr., was preceded in death by his Patrick Forrest, Christopher sisters: Betty Crager and VeForrest, and Timothy Forrest. ronica Grant; one great-great Serving as honorary pallbear- nephew: Nicholas Crager. ers were James R. Young, Mr. Gray moved to St. Willam “Nace” Bowman, Mary’s County from PhiladelQuincy Williams, and Ken- phia, Pa. in Aug. of 1996. He neth Smith. worked as a trouble shooter for Memorial contributions Philco/Ford. He enjoyed going in Jimmy’s name can be made to the Garvey Senior Center, to the Cardinal Gibbons In- he liked to dance, play guistitute Scholarship Fund, tar, sing, play cards especially ATTN: Marvell Thornton, pitch and he loved watching 8400 Autumn Way, Clinton, the redskins and orioles play.

Md. 20735 or the Society for In his younger days he played the Prevention of Cruelty to for the Kenington Rookies in Animals (SPCA) in San Fran- Philadelphia, Pa. as a pitcher. cisco, Ca. at 2500 16th St, San He was very knowledgeable Francisco, Ca. 94103. about sports facts, both footArrangements by the ball and baseball. He also Brinsfield Funeral Home, loved St. Mary’s County and P.A., 22955 Hollywood Road, its people.

Leonardtown, Md. 20650.

The family received friends on Friday, May 4th at Madeline Aurelia (DafBurris Funeral Home, 9708 Frankfurt Avenue, Philadelfan) Gateau, 93 phia, Pa. 19114. A Funeral Mass was held in Christ the Madeli ne King Church, Morrell Avenue Aurelia (Dafand Chesterfield Road. Interfan) Gateau, ment followed in Ressurec93, of Tall Timtion Cemetery, Bensalem, Pa. bers, Md. died Contributions may be made May 7, 2007 at to Hospice of St. Mary’s, P.O. her residence.

Box 625, Leonardtown, Md. B o r n 20650 and/or Leonardtown March 8, 1914 in Stafford County, VA, she Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. was the daughter of the late Box 299, Leonardtown, Md. Branson Daffan and Susie 20650. Arrangements provided by the Burris Funeral (Staples) Daffan.

Mrs. Gateau was Eucha- Home, 9708 Frankfurt Av-

enue, Philadelphia, Pa. 19114.

Blanche Elizabeth Holt, 77 Blanche Elizabeth “Tinker” Holt, 77 of Leonardtown, Md., died April 30, 2007 at Washington Hospital Center.

She was born February 16, 1930 in Leonardtown, Md. and was the daughter of the late Joseph E. and Estelle E Thomas. She was the loving wife of the late James L. Holt whom she married on June 30, 1951 and who preceded her in death on May 30, 1980.

She is survived by her daughter Missy Holt of Leonardtown and her devoted grandson, Thomas C. Holt as well as hosts of close friends, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her brother Joseph A. Thomas.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Friday, May 4 in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Morganza, Md. Interment followed in Queen of Peace Cemetery, Helen, Md. Pallbearers were: Junior Mason, Allen Mason, Richard Holly, Will Holly, Tommy Brooks and Richard Mosley.

Arrangements provided by Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home of Leonardtown, Md.

Mary Catherine “Kitty” Kidwell, 87 M a r y Catherine “Kitty” Kidwell, 87, of Hollywood, Md. and formerly of Virginia and Prince George’s County died May 5, 2007 at Bayside Care Center.

Born December 3, 1919 in New Market, Va. she was the daughter of the late Herbert James and Margaret Edward Wilson Sowers. She was the loving wife of the late George Leonard Kidwell whom she married on January 14, 1938 in Forestville, Md. and who preceded her in death on April 11, 1992.

She is survived by her daughter Margaret “Peggy” Brady of Hollywood, Md., sister, Elinor “Bessie” Brown of Hollywood, Md., grandchildren; Dennis Brady Sr. and Susan Mileto, 6 greatgrandchildren and 4 greatgreat-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her sisters Frances Riley and Margaret Sowers.

She was a graduate of Hine High School, Class of 1937. Kitty moved to St. Mary’s County in 1982 from Prince Georges’ County and was employed as an Insurance Administrator for GSIGovernment Services Inc. for 30 years, retiring in 1987. She volunteered at the Office on Aging, and enjoyed playing bingo, crafts and gardening.

The family received friends on Tuesday, May 8 at Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown, Md. where a Funeral Service was held on Wednesday, May 9th at 9:30 a.m. with Rev. Paul Dennis officiating. Interment followed in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Suitland, Md. Pallbearers were Dennis Brady, Sr., Dennis Brady, Jr., Richard Brady, Louis Mileto, David Mileto and Jason Long.

Contributions may be made to Hospice of St. Mary’s, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, Md. and/or Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 7, Hollywood, Md. 20636.

Arrangements provided by Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A.

Nancy Ann Pickeral, 73 Nancy Ann Pickeral, 73, of Leonardtown, Md. died April 30, 2007 in St. Mary’s Nursing Center, Leonardtown, Md. Born No-

Thursday, May 10, 2007 vember 12, 1933 in Upper Marlboro, Md., she was the daughter of the late Henry McKenzie and Pearl (Smith) McKenzie.

She is survived by nine children, Dorothy M. Anderson of Greenbelt, Md., Cynthia Lou Pickeral of Baltimore, Md., Curtis Richard Pickeral of Laurel, Md., Deborah Jean Beggarly of Seat Pleasant, Md., Nancy Lee Stroud of Mechanicsville, Md., Catherine Marie Jones of Hollywood, Md., Judy Hestelle Pickeral of Waldorf, Md., William Edward Pickeral of Tall Timbers, Md., William Douglas Pickeral of Mechanicsville, Md., nine siblings, Shirley (McKenzie) Crawford, Beverly McKenzie, Sue McKenzie, Gladys Fortman, Margaret Belle, Joann Evansburg, James McKenzie, Tommy McKenzie, and Danny McKenzie, 19 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two children, Gloria Ann Shultz and Charles Michael Pickeral and two siblings, Betty Armstrong and Russell McKenzie.

The family received friends Thursday, May 3 in the Brinsfield Funeral Home Chapel, Leonardtown, Md. A Funeral Service will be conducted on Friday, May 4 in the funeral home chapel.

Deacon George L’Heureux will conduct the service. Interment will follow in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Suitland, Md. Condolences to the family may be left at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com.

Elizabeth “Bette” Jane (Viant) Ridgell, 84 Elizabeth “Bette” Jane (Viant) Ridgell, 84, of Scotland, Md. died May 2, 2007 in Great Mills, Md. Born January 14, 1923 in Marquette, Mich., she was the daughter of the late William T. and Lydia S. Viant.

She married Judge “Bud” Ridgell on May 16, 1942. She was a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Ridge, Md. She was employed at the Census Bureau as a statistician in Washington for several years. Bette worked at Pax River starting in 1952 and retired in 1978. She will be fondly remembered for being actively involved with the youth of the first district of St. Mary’s County. Bette founded the Ridge Girl Scout Troup #1 and the Ridge Drum and Bugle Corps. She pioneered a gymnastic tumbling team and majorette squad. She was a proud member of the Ridge Lions Club, The American Legion Auxiliary Post 255, and a member of the Mistress Margaret Grant Garden Club.

As a Red Cross water safety instructor since 1959, she was best known for teaching swimming to generations of children in St. Mary’s County.

Additionally she taught at St. Mary’s College as well as the Patuxent Naval Air Station. It is impossible to measure the number of lives which were saved as a result of her talents and passion.

Bette was notorious for her vast array of hobbies, which included horticulture, botany and gardening—for which she was very passionate. She was an herbalist, always on a quest to learn more about natural healing. Bette was a State Fair award winning winemaker.

She also was fond of stained glass making and was a gifted painter. She was a strong advocate for women’s rights and she was actively involved in local politics. She loved to travel and experience newness in life.

Bette was an enthusiast for life and set an extraordinary example of community service and commitment to self and others. She was always believed that we could accomplish any goal we were sharp enough to imagine. She believed in being actively involved with making to quality of life better for others. She was famous for making her home open to anyone who

could use some love and discipline. Because of this, many feel that they were raised by this great woman as if they were her own children.

The mark she has left in this world can be best remembered by the lives we all choose to live. Words disappoint us as we try to express the deep sadness we feel.

She was deeply cherished by her family, her community, and her pets that she loved and cared for during her lifetime.

She is survived by a daughter, Bette Joe Hudnall of Garrett County, MD, son, Bill Ridgell of Calvert County, Md, seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents she is preceded in death by her husband who passed away on March 15, 2006.

The family received friends Sunday, May 6 in the Brinsfield Funeral Home Chapel, Leonardtown, Md. Prayers were recited. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Monday, May 7 in St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Ridge, Md. Monsignor O’Connell was the celebrant. Interment followed in the church cemetery.

Frances Estelle Smallwood, 80 Frances Estelle Smallwood, 80, of Hollywood, Md. died May 6, 2007 in Bay Health Medical Center, Dover, Del. The family will receive friends on Friday, May 11, from 10-11 a.m. in St. Aloysius Catholic Church, Leonardtown, Md., where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Father John Dakes will be the celebrant. Interment will follow in Queen of Peace Cemetery, Helen, Md. Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., 22955 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, Md. 20650.

A full obituary will appear at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to Ridge Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 456, Ridge, Md. 20680 and/or HOSPICE House c/o HOSPICE of St. Mary’s, Inc., P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, Md. 20650.

James Randolph Somerville, 47 James Randolph “Junior” Somerville, 47, of Great Mills, Md., formerly of Compton, Md. died April 29, 2007 in Sinai Hospital, Baltimore, Md. Born September 12, 1959 in Washington, D.C., he was the son of Mary Estelle Somerville of Leonardtown, Md. and James Henry Stewart of Forestville, Md. He was the loving husband of Sheila Marie Somerville whom he married on June 23, 2001 in Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. He is survived by his children; Danielle of Lexington Park, Md., James, Antwaun and Jamar, all of Great Mills, Md., Lakeysha and Aja both of California, Md. and Janketta and Shaneka both of Washington, D.C., siblings; John of Landover, Md., Linda of Compton, Md., Rosetta, Dorothy and Bernadette all of Lexington Park, Md. and Stacy of Park Hall, Md. as well as six grandchildren. A lifelong resident of St. Mary’s County, Junior was a self-employed car detailer and enjoyed washing cars. The family received friends on Tuesday, May 8 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Lexington Park, Md., where a Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated with Fr. Jack Kennealy officiating. Interment followed in St. Francis Xavier Cemetery, Compton, Md. Pallbearers will be Thomas Herbert, Maurice Stewart, Jeffrey Barnes, Maurice Robinson, Tyrone Kane and Jay Camp. Honorary pallbearers will be Marcus Chase, Scott Bush and Scotty Jordan.

Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A.

The County Times

Thursday, May 10, 2007

New Sheriff Continued from page A-1 where they were awarded their diplomas during a ceremony in Chopticon High School in Chaptico.

The training was intense, and included physical workouts, academic instruction in law and police procedures, firearms and marksmanship, defensive tactics and operating a vehicle at high speeds safely.

Lt. Reynal Aportedara, commander of the criminal justice academy, said the objective was to mold recruits into the best law enforcement officers possible with a warrior mentality.

“We broke them down and then we built them back up,” Aportadara said.

Two St. Mary’s County sheriff’s graduates took first and second place in the academy class for scholastic aptitude, scoring in the high 90s on their tests.

Deputy Scott Ruest took second place and told his new commanding officer he

would’ve liked to have best his colleague Deputy Michael Boyer, but was still happy with his performance.

“You’ve got two from St. Mary’s [in the top scholastic slots], so it’s still good,” he told Cameron.

Deputy Megan Shreiner, born and raised in St. Mary’s and now living in Calvert County, was anxious to get on with her duties.

“It feels great,” Shreiner said of graduating. “I’m finally through it; it’s been a long time in coming.”

Shreiner said she started training one-and-a-half years ago at the academy, but tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during the course and had to drop out and wait for it to heal.

Before becoming a sheriff’s deputy, Shreiner had been a police officer in the U.S. Army and had decided law enforcement was the career path she wanted to pursue.

Shreiner, 23, celebrated

that evening with her family and 3-year-old son.

“I plan on making him proud along with the rest of Continued from page A-1 my family,” Shreiner said.

Cameron’s message to petitor from St. Mary’s Counthe new deputies on taking ty, Shumaker said, and had up their responsibilities was received an invitation from to remember the code of con- the organization to participate duct that defined their service in the competition again this and to remember that dedica- year. tion to duty would bear good Mercer was already in results. preparations to compete “You have proven your- again, Shumaker said. selves,” Cameron said. “You “I’ve been with her since must act within our profes- day one, when she was born,” sion’s strict ethical code, but Shumaker said of her grandyou know what these [stan- daughter. “You name it I did dards] are because you’ve al- it with her. ready demonstrated them. We “She was an outgoing expect a great deal of you… girl, very outgoing.” but remember you can make a Kohan said her niece was difference every day.” planning on attending the The other new patrol of- College of Southern Maryficers are Deputies Michael R. land and then another fourCampbell, Nicole C. Chim- year institution to become an ko-Fahey, Jeremy L. Green, accountant.

Richard J. McCoy and Kristi M. Nelson.

Section A -

Britiany Mercer Shumaker said her granddaughter had top grades in school.

According to information in Mercer’s obituary, she was originally born in La Plata but had lived in St. Mary’s most of her life.

She attended three different schools here and left Great Mills High School to attend class at Calvert High School in Calvert County.

She maintained a residence in the county, Shumaker said, but she lived with family friends there to attend the other high school.

Susan Johnson, principal at Calvert High School said that Mercer was an attentive student who put great stock

in her grades and her high school career.

“She was a lovely young lady who the teachers all thought highly of,” Johnson said. “She cared about her grades.”

Johnson said Mercer made quite a few friends during her studies at Calvert high and she was always willing to help other students with their work.

She was a member of the Future Business Leaders of America there and was attending classes in the school’s Academy of Finance.

She also kept stats for the wrestling team, Johnson said.

Mercer is the third county resident to die in a car crash since April. The first was Ethan Chewning, 16, of Chaptico and the second was Kenneth “Kenny” Bacon, 23, of Leonardtown.

of County Commissioners, residents familiar with the current TDR program are up in arms over some of the proposed changes.

Letters to The County Times and other local media outlets have detailed concerns mainly stemming from the costly exchange of a family conveyance. Currently, a TDR is valued anywhere from $10,000 to $25,000, and would cost that much to convey three acres to a family member. The regulation is troubling to farmers who have struggled to maintain their farms through the years.

The RPD task force has yet to address this inefficiency in the system and others, including a clause that guarantees a developer set aside 50 percent of its acquired land for open space in the Development District.

“It’s mind boggling and a terrible inefficiency,” said Hahnel, “naturally, correcting it means efficiency gain, but now what do you with it? Share it with achieving the public goal of affordable

housing and effective land preservation?”

John K. Parlett Jr., a developer and member of the RPD task force said he would be interested in the prospect of building more affordable housing for the arriving workforce whose median incomes in most cases are not enough to meet the costs of living prevalent throughout the region – but only if the amount of required open space was reduced.

Whatever the task force comes up with, their ideas will be heard at the May 14 meeting when Land Use and Growth Management Director Dennis Canavan offers his idea of a floating zone.

A floating zone would be a sliding scale, to downzone property deemed agriculturally rich or environmentally sound. The zone is established by eligibility rules and selection criteria, and is completely voluntary.

commissioners approved the contracts Tuesday. “I’ve been in this type of hiring for awhile, and it went very smoothly.”

Elaine Kramer, chief financial officer, Phil Rollins, director of Recreations, Parks and Community services, Denis D. Canavan, director of Land Use and Growth Management, George Erichsen, director of Public Works and Transportation, Lori Jennings-Harris, director of Department of Aging, and County Attorney Christy H. Chesser were the staff reemployed by the county starting July 2, 2007.

All of the department heads besides Everett, Zylak, Jennings-Harris and Sabo make $100,000 or more.

Meanwhile, Bob Schaller, Ph.D., was appointed as director of Economic and Community Development, a position Savich previously held, and had been attending too even

as county administrator.

“Bob Schaller is the right person for this job,” said Commission President Francis Jack Russell. “He is a lifelong county resident and is committed to helping us find the right balance between a rich place in heritage and tradition and a growing community of technological change and progress.”

Schaller currently chairs the College of Southern Maryland’s Department of Business, Economics and Legal Studies. He has over 30 years of experience in all phases of business management, according to a press release distributed by county government.

The county searched for a replacement to Savich for several months, but during that time failed to interview even one candidate in person, other than Schaller, according to Sabo.

Sabo said two candi-

dates were given phone interviews, and 11 applications in total were received for the position.

The hiring of Schaller is eerily similar to the hiring of Savich as county administrator in that no other applicants were interviewed in spite of human resources’ receiving of eight applications.

Sabo said she has heard no positive or negative feedback from the community regarding either the hiring of Schaller, or the sustained employment of the five department heads.

“This group of department heads is extremely responsible,” said Commissioner Daniel H. Raley (DGreat Mills). “More so than some I’ve had contact with in the last nine years I’ve been here.”

he said.

Paul said his research data did not measure the amount of the sediment, but he did say oxygen levels in the river, particularly at the bottom, went to zero or near zero at times in the summer months as a result of the increased sedimentation.

He said the action strategy would quantify just how much sediment was settling into critical streams in the watershed.

“Everyone thought it was really clean and pristine out there but it’s not,” Paul said.

He explained that the increased sediment and run-

off in streams brought in nutrients that allowed algae to grow, but when it died and fell to the bottom in the summer time, it rotted and depleted the oxygen at the river’s bottom.

“It kills everything; oysters, worms and insects,” Paul said.

Mattingly said if the sediment was coming from increased development, the county would have to take steps to correct it.

“If it is coming from development… we need to make sure we implement the best storm water management practices available to protect the watershed.”

Veith said that the work of the two-year study should include provisions to protect trees and other forestation nearest to streams in the watershed and find ways to reduce the number of impervious surfaces, such as asphalt driveways and streets, that prevent rain water from seeping into the ground and instead forced it to run off and take mud and dirt with it.

“We need less asphalt and fewer pipes with runoff,” Veith said. “We need to let the rainwater soak into the ground… and keep big floods from wiping out stream banks.”

TDRs Continued from page A-1 value.

“We should consider an advisory committee with different parties that have a stake in a well functioning program,” said Hahnel. “This way [landowners] have some sort of guarantee because they are being compensated with TDRs and not cash.”

The RPD task force aims to change that sentiment by establishing a strong market for TDRs that utilizes a healthy supply and demand market.

“The idea is to create an alternative that is financially attractive enough to attract volunteers,” said Hahnel. “I don’t see too many obstacles in creating such a package where we could afford to offer a considerable amount to landowners.”

Although the RPD task force has only met five times and has not yet rendered a recommendation to the Board Photo by Guy Leonard

St. Mary’s County Sheriff Timothy Cameron presents a diploma to Deputy Megan Shreiner, one of eight graduates from the latest class from the Southern Maryland Criminal Justice Academy.

Raises Continued from page A-1

Watershed Study to Shed Light on Causes of Decreased Water Quality

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Environmentalists in the community and county officials say that the water quality in the St. Mary’s River Watershed, the largest watershed in the county, is deteriorating and that the county must take steps to preserve it while balancing development interests there as well.

To that end, members of the St. Mary’s River Watershed Association and county environmental planners announced the formation a twoyear partnership to study, among other things, whether development is the cause of the perceived decrease in water quality.

“We’re going to have to figure out a way to accommodate development without destroying the environment surrounding it,” said Sue Veith, county environmental planner.

Veith said the balance between development and preservation had to be struck to ensure that preservation did not stunt economic growth.

Veith, along with Robert Paul, a senior biologist at St. Mary’s College of Maryland who has been studying the water quality of St. Mary’s River and its tributaries, made

their presentation to members of the association May 5.

Both believed that development was responsible, at least in part, for increased sedimentation and run-off from rainstorms filtering into St. Mary’s River Watershed.

This in turn was detrimental to aquatic animals and vegetation, according to Paul.

Veith said the plan had the blessing of the Board of County Commissioners.

They said the two-year study would be called the St. Mary’s River Watershed Restoration Action Strategy and would rely mainly on citizen, government and developer input to assess how to best preserve the critical watershed.

Jurisdictions are obliged under the federal Clean Water Act to come up with plans to preserve their watersheds and maintain water quality by 2010, Veith said, or the county could face a moratorium on development.

“Under the language in the Clean Water Act, development could be shut down,” Veith said. “I don’t think it’s imminent in Maryland but it is out there.”

County Commissioner Thomas Mattingly Sr., (DLeonardtown) said he was unsure that development was the culprit in increased sediments

in the streams or river.

He expressed a desire to wait and see what the study finds before rushing to a judgment.

“It’s a process to truly determine the issues in the watershed,” Mattingly said. “[That development is responsible for increased sediment in the watershed] is a predetermined conclusion that I don’t know is necessarily the case.”

Mattingly said a similar plan for the Breton Bay watershed completed in 2003 showed that community concerns about sedimentation there came from different source than they expected.

That report showed the sediment came from the Potomac River and not from the surrounding landscape in the watershed.

“We went in expecting one thing and came out with another,” Mattingly said.

Paul, who has been tracking chemicals in the streams and the water quality in the watershed, said for the past nine years he has seen increased sediments and runoff caused by increased development going into streams and the river.

This sediment in the streams is proving harmful to the water quality and is killing critical aquatic wildlife,

The County Times

Section A -

Benefits Continued from page A- Raley said Chapman has been in correspondence with the commissioners, and they are doing their best to find a “middle ground.” Because Chapman is stuck in the middle of the proposition, he would no longer be able to receive his retiree health benefits at age 63 as he originally planned. Instead, he would have to wait until he is 72 years old, a prospect he said he is not happy about.

And yet things could get even worse in the future for Chapman and others in his situation. Commissioner Lawrence Jarboe (R-Golden Beach) has said this budget is the most daunting he has come across in all his years,

and next year’s positioning is going to be worse. Chief Financial Officer Elaine Kramer likely offered the scariest message of all: “The reality is we don’t have adequate funding to maintain this benefit through its life,” she said Friday to The County Times.

Just how the county got to this point is still in contention, Raley chalks it up to a county “pay as you go” mentality and OPEB, while Kramer relies more on actuary studies to tell her where the county is, rather than how it got there.

“I know we cannot afford to pay this benefit,” said Kramer, a county employee for over 14 years. “Many think we are doing this for [bond] ratings and [OPEB], but the reality is if your going to pay benefits after a retirement you fund a pension, if it’s health you fund

a trust and if you don’t start funding at some point those benefits are going to grow far past the budget.”

According to Kramer, changing the vesting schedule from 16-to-25 years would save the county $900,000 a year.

If passed, the change would not take place until 2011, meaning any county employees scheduled to receive their retiree health benefits in the next three years would still have that option.

In order to be eligible for a county retiree health package, an employee must first be eligible for a pension from the state of Maryland. In some cases, an employee with 16 years of service might not even be close to eligibility for retirement.

Thursday, May 10, 2007

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