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Thursday, June 7, 2007 • St. Mary’s County, Maryland

Established 2006 • Volume 2 • Issue 23 • FREE

St. Mary’s River Watershed Dying; Outlook Bright

Task Force Graduation At Last!

Will Look For Gang Threats In St. Mary’s

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer A task force of detectives will take to the streets this summer to see whether or not there truly is a gang threat in St. Mary’s County, Sheriff Timothy Cameron has just announced.

The task force has been spurred on by concerns of increased activity after a shooting on Suburban Drive in Lexington Park between two rival gangs left two men wounded and led to multiple arrests.

“This will tell me if I need to stand up a gang unit or if we can just handle it through detectives and narcotics enforcement,” Cameron said.

“This is to get into the weeds a little bit to find out what’s going on.”

Cameron made his announcement June 4 at a community forum at Lexington Park Public Library to gain information on the problem from residents.

Similar forums were planned for the following two days.

The task force will operate until September 1 and issue its recommendations then, Cameron said.

Maryland State Police, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Board of Education and police with the Department of Natural Resources will also have a hand in the task force as well, Cameron said, because an See Gang Threats page A-

Index Healthcare A-2

By Adam Ross Staff Writer

to take on the challenge.

“It’s been a great experience,” said Britnee Webster, 17, who took her diploma from Great Mills High School.

“But I’m glad it’s over, I’m ready to start something new.”

Like many of her compatriots she wasn’t exactly sure what that something new was but for now she was content to work and continue her education soon.

Webster works for a government contractor, LTM,

The St. Mary’s Watershed River Watershed is continually deteriorating and severely threatened from future land growth, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Following results from the ongoing St. Mary’s River Watershed Restoration Feasibility Study, the watershed is said to be dying from stream degradation, marginal water quality and loss of underwater vegetation.

As the study moves forward, its biggest hurdle might not be how to restore the health of the watershed and its major tributaries, but rather how long it could take Congress to pass and authorize a $43 million broad based 25 year plan.

“I haven’t seen any of the review processes take less than two years,” said Steven A. Kopecky, a project manager and geographer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to the St. Mary’s Board of County Commissioners Tuesday. “Long term commitments are expensive… It’s always a tough sell.”

The plan takes careful consideration of the unpredictable nature of weather patterns, and future shifts in water quality, calling for “real time monitoring” of 3,000 acres that will according to Kopecky be “programmatic and ongoing.”

See Graduations page A-

See Watershed page A-

Photo by Guy Leonard

Great Mills High School seniors laugh at a on-screen projection of their own graduation at St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

St. Mary’s County Graduates Look To Their Future After Jumping High School Hurdle

By Guy Leonard and Andrew Knowlton Staff Writers It’s been a long, four-year road but the Class of 2007 graduated from the county’s three public high schools last week with all the fanfare the public school system could muster for about 1,000 young people ready to embark on the next phase of their lives.

One graduating senior had mixed feelings about making the big change in her life but said she was ready

Teen Arrested For Putting Out Murder Contract On Parents

Meeting of the Minds: 21Member Transportation Commissions’ Inaugural Meeting Light Rail Considered for Region

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer

Clark B-1

Op.-Ed ..........Page A - 4 Obits .............Page A - 8 Police ............Page B - 5 Classifieds.....Page B - 7

For Continual News Updates Visit: somd.com Local Weather Friday Partly Cloudy 93° Saturday Partly Cloudy 86° Sunday Partly Cloudy 82°

Sheriff’s investigators have arrested a 16-yearold male from Valley Lee who they say tried to hire an undercover deputy posing as an assassin in an attempt to kill his mother and father.

Lt. Rick Burris, commander of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation said that investigators had dealt with murder for hire schemes in the past but not involving a suspect this young.

At a bond hearing June 5 in St. Mary’s County District Court, Judge John F. Slade III remanded the juvenile to detention until his trial date with out the possibility of making bail.

Investigators acted quickly to set up a sting when they learned of the alleged plot from a third party that the juvenile was seeking to hire someone to kill his parents, Burris said.

Because the suspect is a juvenile and because the police wish to protect the parents of the suspect, The County Times is keeping the name of those involved confidential.

Due to his alleged crime, the suspect has been charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder.

Attempts to contact the juvenile’s parents went unanswered.

Both charges carry life terms in prison if the suspect is convicted.

According to police press releases and charging documents the juvenile met with the undercover deputy at a hotel in Lexington Park to seal the deal for his parents’ murder June 2.

Other sheriff’s deputies attached to the investigation used video and audio equipment to listen in on the conversation between the suspect and the See Contract page A-

Photo by Adam Ross

A 21-member commission has its inaugural meeting to hash out a transportation plan for Southern Maryland.

By Adam Ross Staff Writer St. Mary’s County has a number of transportation needs, some documented and in line for feasibility studies, others on the shelf collecting dust. But one thing was made clear during the Commission to Study Southern Maryland’s Transportation Needs inaugural meeting Thursday: For better or for worse, every county in Southern Maryland has an effect on each other when it comes to transportation.

The 21-member commission has begun its tenuous process of developing a long-term plan for the region’s overworked and overused transportation infrastructure.

“I hope we all come with an open mind,” said Sen. Roy P. Dyson (D- Calvert, Charles, St. Mary’s). “I have a lot of ideas on how to fix this situation, and one thing is obvious in that the plan we come up with will have to be for the next 20 to 50 years. That kind of approach will See Light Rail page A-

The County Times

Section A -

Thursday, June 7, 2007

CSM Eases HealthCare Shortage Laboratory Technicians in Short Supply

By Adam Ross Staff Writer Immersed in complicated blood count testing, urinalysis, blood cross matching, pathogenic organism identification and chemical analysis, clinical laboratory technicians are considered by some to be the backbone of medical science, but according to the U.S. Department of Labor, the backbone is weakening due to a lack of replacement technicians.

In an effort to keep up with demand, The College of Southern Maryland is starting an intensive two-year medical laboratory technology program this fall.

Careers for clinical laboratory technicians are expected to show faster than average growth in employment as the demand for medical testing expands. However, due to a 17-year shortage in the profession, it has been short listed by the Maryland Higher Edu-

cation Commission as one of Maryland’s Top 25 In Demand Healthcare Occupations.

As such, the program has been deemed a health manpower shortage program, meaning that Maryland residents from outside of Charles, St. Mary’s, and Calvert counties who are entering this program are eligible for in-county tuition rates.

The initiative is another example of how CSM has kept its eyes and ears squarely on the community’s needs, highlighted by its commitment to open communication lines with the St. Mary’s County Public Schools and the Naval Air Station in bringing more classroom training in the job areas of greatest need.

“Being a medical lab technician is one of the most important and yet unseen positions within the healthcare community,” said Bill Photo Courtesy of College of Southern Maryland Montgomery, professor and The College of Southern Maryland is looking for candidates for its new medical laboratory technology program this fall. chair of CSM’s Biological and Physical Sciences department.

“They do such a variety of es- in chemistry, biology and al- gree from the program, stusential tasks and often life- gebra, and carry at least a 2.0 dents will have to complete 65 saving tests, and yet they are grade point average in each credits. While some students not limited to working in a class. Additionally, in accor- have been accepted, Mata hospital lab.” dance with careers in clinical wouldn’t say how many open According to Dr. Quincy fields, students have to provide spots were available.

Mata, the program’s coordi- proof of immunization status, Applications for the pronator, graduates of the labora- a completed health form and gram are due by July 1. tory technology program will a criminal background check.

Being a new program, be qualified to work in “pretty Students also may be required Mata said she is pleased that much any facility that uses a to provide proof of health in- she and her staff had not enlaboratory, clinics and jobs in surance and a negative drug countered any serious holdups forensics too.” screening test at the request of or complications, but added that it was a large task to bring The first semester of the agencies.

“The medical laboratory in the proper equipment and program introduces students to laboratory techniques, but technology program is highly supplies.

“I was able to make it as time progresses, students structured with a clearly decover clinical microbiology, fined progression,” Mata said. work,” Mata said, “with the hematology, blood banking “Students need to be prepared budget I had to work with.” and biochemistry. to complete the sequence of Because of the program’s classes and required rotations science base, students will be as prescribed.” required to have a background To earn an associate de-

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Photo Courtesy of College of Southern Maryland

Bill Montgomery, professor and chair of the College of Southern Maryland’s biological science department, works with students in a lab introduction class.

When Your Pet Outlives You Since most companion animals don’t enjoy the average life span of humans, chances are that pet owners will have many pets during the course of their life. Have you thought what would happen to your pet if they were to outlive you? The Tri-County Animal Shelter would like to give you some information so you can develop a plan now that ensures your pet is cared for should the worst happen to you.

Specific arrangements need to be made. Do not just ask a family member or friend to take care of your pet if something happens to you. “Take care of” means different things to different people, and not everyone will feel about your pet the way

you do. Many times, pets of deceased owners are turned over to animal shelters or veterinarians, with no guarantee of placement or with the intent to have the animals euthanized.

Legislation has been introduced in many areas to allow pets to be included in wills, and for trusts to be set aside for pets. When preparing your will, speak with your attorney about making arrangements for any pet you may have at the time of your death. It is only fair to provide funds for the person who will care for your pet to cover the cost of food, veterinary care and emergencies.

Should you have no one to care for your pet after you’re gone, speak with your

veterinarian about options or research the issue yourself. Some rescue groups and companies associated with veterinary colleges will care for your pet for a fee, but may keep your pet in a cage if no home can be found.

A great resource is a book entitled “When Your Pet Outlives You”, by David Congalton and Charlotte Alexander.

It provides sample wills and contracts, and gives you plenty to consider. You can order the book through a bookstore or online.

Plan today in case your pet outlives you and give yourself piece of mind knowing that your pets will be cared for. You and your pets will be glad you did.

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The County Times

Thursday, June 7, 2007

Local School Wins Award for “Magical” Curriculum

By Adam Ross Staff Writer Taking a few ideas from the fictional world of Harry Potter, Dynard Elementary School in Chaptico is rewarding teams of students for supporting each other while building up social character by breaking down social barriers.

Call it teamwork, and it comes in the forms of the Knights, the Falcons, the Lions, and the Vikings, each of which represent a grade level, giving students the opportunity to work with their classmates earning points for attendance and behavior.

And it’s working like magic.

According to Dynard Principal Kim Summers, the school has experienced a 60 percent reduction in disciplinary measures since it implemented the Harry Potter style house teams, now in their second year.

“I have to tell you this was a brainstorm I had two summers ago because my own children were fascinated with the whole Harry Potter scene,” said Summers. “I presented the idea to the staff and let the kids come up with the team names.”

Team flags drape each classroom door, and a large bulletin board in the front hallway keeping score so students can see if their team has enough points to bask in a celebratory Monday party.

Unlike Hogwarts, the magic school Harry Potter attends, there are no fierce Quidditch battles between Gryffindor and Slytherin, instead it’s all about including character building in the curriculum, and teaching students to be respectful and honest citizens.

Teachers reinforce team ideals with special character education lesson plans, and a school counselor works in different classrooms everyday to go over the pillars of the program.

Summers’ idea and commitment to character education has been so successful, Dynard Elementary was recently named a 2007 Maryland Center for Character Education (MCCE) School of the Year.

MCCE is a non-profit, non-partisan organization whose primary purpose is to encourage family-focused character education as a part of a full approach to education. Each school district throughout the state receives a certain number of these awards based on its size.

Because St. Mary’s

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County has 27 schools, it only receives one award, according to Linda Muska, secretary of MCCE. “Part of the criteria we are looking for is a school that implements a school-wide approach,” Muska, who worked in the Carroll County school system for 30 years, said, “teaching and reinforcing character.”

In partnership with Superintendent Michael J. Martirano, MCCE will receive anywhere from one to three nominations, Muska said.

“We ask them to nominate a school in their system they want to recognize as doing an outstanding job in character education,” Muska added.

Once the nominations are received, MCCE reviews and assigns the awards. This is the second time Dynard Elementary School has won, the first time being in 2004. Last year, Lettie Marshall Dent Elemen-

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tary School was the winner of the distinguished award.

According to MCCE’s website, the organization has three main purposes: to provide the framework for understanding and practicing

exemplary character traits in American society, serve as resource center, and to foster research in Maryland as to the educational impact of character education endeavors.

MCCE will host a recog-

nition luncheon for Maryland schools Sept. 27 in the Holiday Inn at the Baltimore/Washington International Airport.

Photo Courtesy of Maryland Center for Character Education

Lettie Dent Marshall Elementary School winners of the 2006 Maryland Character Education Award.

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The County Times

Section A -

Thursday, June 7, 2007

Editorial & Opinion From Three To None, So. Md. Big Loser!

Martin O’Malley received full support from Senator Roy Dyson, a Democrat representing St. Mary’s and parts of Calvert County, and Senator Mac Middleton, a Democrat representing Charles County, and Senator Mike Miller, a Democrat representing the balance of Calvert County, in his efforts to unseat Governor Robert Ehrlich last November. All of the Senators from Southern Maryland gave their unconditional backing to the Mayor from Baltimore City.

O’Malley also received full support from most (not all) the Democrats in the House of Delegates from Southern Maryland, including Delegate John Bohannon who represents a portion of St. Mary’s County. While it is without argument that Ehrlich was one of the most Pro-Southern Maryland governors in the history of Maryland, these career legislators decided to once again place party politics ahead of the communities they pledged to represent.

Last week, O’Malley proved beyond doubt that despite the blind support from the party loyalist, he will be the Governor for metropolitan Maryland, not rural Maryland.

This Governor has always had dreams that went well beyond his political career in the small state of Maryland, and showing loyalty to a few fledging career politicians in Southern Maryland just doesn’t fit his long-range plans.

Last Friday, Governor O’Malley announced the appointment of former Baltimore County Police Chief Terrence B. Sheridan to the post of Superintendent of the Maryland State Police. This is the last key Cabinet position left over from the Ehrlich administration. Sheridan replaces Col. Thomas E. “Tim” Hutchins who was appointed by Ehrlich three and a half years ago.

Col. Hutchins, a career state trooper, and former Maryland Delegate is a Southern Marylander. A Charles County resident,

Hutchins was one of three key Ehrlich administration appointees who hailed from Southern Maryland. Along with Hutchins, George Owings, a Calvert resident served as Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and Van Mitchell, a Charles County resident was Deputy Secretary for Health and Mental Hygiene.

In addition, Ehrlich maintained close relations and was accessible to key local elected officials in all three counties.

Not only was Delegate Tony O’Donnell one of Ehrlich key Southern Maryland advisors, St. Mary’s Commissioner President Thomas McKay, Calvert Commissioner President David Hale, and Charles Commissioner Danny Mayer all maintained a close relationship and exercised great influence when it came to key decisions effecting Southern Maryland.

With the appointment last week of Sheridan, this leaves Southern Maryland without any key O’Malley administra-

Thank you for covering the library’s FY08 budget request for sufficient funding to provide library staff with the same salary increase as the county staff. The Library Board is pleased to report that the BOCC’s FY08 Approved Budget provides the necessary funding to make this happen.

Our county’s 67,000 library card holders will also be interested in knowing that the FY08 budget includes an additional $40,000 to purchase materials for check out….bringing the materials budget to $330,000. This is very welcome news since

this year’s circulation is 12% higher than last year’s record breaker of 1,200,000!

The increased funding to keep our library thriving will come from the following sources: • Board of County Commissioners funded the library staff’s OPEB costs as well as an additional $89,000 to support staff costs; • State elected officials approved an increase in library funding which will bring an additional $55,000; • Projected revenue from overdue fines or, as I like to call them, extended loan fees!

There was further good news in the BOCC’s Approved

have seen an early indication of the impact this will have on our community over the next four years. O’Malley’s first budget was big on spending increases, including spending the excess cash Ehrlich had managed to put away in the State’s rainy day fund, yet O’Malley found it necessary to take away funding which Ehrlich had designated for the College of Southern Maryland for a new Wellness Center for the Leonardtown Campus. O’Malley also derailed Ehrlich’s commitment to begin the process for planning the expansion of the Thomas Johnson Bridge linking southern Calvert County to St. Mary’s County.

With tighter budgets ahead, it is unlikely our region will have much success over the next four years in gaining funding for major projects. Most likely we will see a lot of fanfare surrounding small initiatives such as the $600,000 grant to the Local Management Board where the

7:30 Club

Library Says Thank You for Full Funding To the Editor:

tion appointments, and a large void of regional representation within the new Governors Cabinet. Not only does the Governors Cabinet lack political diversity, it now lacks statewide diversity as well.

Plus O’Malley has not bothered to forge relations with any local elected officials.

Why is this important?

Because as decisions are made relative to providing government services throughout Maryland, rural parts of the State such as Southern Maryland, Western Maryland, and the Eastern Shore will often be left with less than their fair share of funds. O’Malley has a long history of being a populist who governs from the far left, using as many tax payer dollars as possible to feed the urban masses in exchange for their vote.

There appears to be no room in O’Malley’s government for middle of the road conservatives who come from parts of Maryland with relatively few voters. We already

Capital Projects budget. The Leonardtown library expansion is included in FY09 with total funding of $8,100,000 through FY13. We will keep you informed as this exciting new project moves forward.

Thank you to the county tax payers for their funding and thank you to our local and state elected officials who, through their wise allocation decisions, recognize the educational value of a strong public library for ALL residents. It is a pleasure serving a county with such voracious library users.

Kathleen Reif St. Mary’s County Library Director

To the Editor:

I was very encouraged to see and read your article, “Mechanicsville Club Offers Drug and Alcohol Free Fun for the Teens,” in your May 31 issue. Although it seemed to focus more on the work that my wife and I have put into it, I would like to point out that other parents, music artists and indeed, Immaculate Conception Church in Mechanicsville Maryland, have contributed vital time and resources

to the project as well. The 7:30 Club is not about our efforts however. More importantly, it is about the social crisis our young people in this country are facing. The statistics (teen pregnancy, abortion, suicide, violence, crime, alcohol and drug addiction) are staggering.

The 7:30 Club is a place where our youth can gather and have fun listening to “their style” of music in an exciting atmosphere with the satisfaction of knowing they won’t be getting a negative message or be ex-

Lt. Governor was dispatched to provide media attention, these relatively small sums of money that happened regularly under the Ehrlich administration will be relied upon to keep the people of Southern Maryland happy, while the priority is placed elsewhere, where the votes are.

While all this doesn’t do much to provide needed services for our growing region, it should make life in Annapolis a bit easier for those career politicians from Southern Maryland who threw their support behind O’Malley. No longer will they have to put up with their fellow Senators from Baltimore, Prince Georges, and Montgomery County complaining that Southern Maryland is getting funding that could have and should have gone to their county.

posed to dangerous influences.

If you’d like to find out more about the club such as future events, listen to some of the music that is performed, or get directions, please visit the web sites; www. freewebs.com/seventhirtyclub <http://www.freewebs. com/seventhirtyclub> or w w w.mys p a c e.c om /t he 730club <http://www. myspace.com/the730club>

Robert Baldauff

Mechanicsville, Md.

Letters to the Editor If you wish to send a letter to the editor, please include your name, address and phone number for confirmation purposes. We will only publish your name and city of residence. We can withhold your name by request if circumstances merit it. We must receive all letters by Monday morning for publication in the next issue. Any letter received later than Monday will be held for the following issue.

James Manning McKay - Publisher Tobie Pulliam - Office Manager............................tobiepulliam@countytimes.net Adam Ross - Government Correspondent...............adamross@countytimes.net Andrew Knowlton - Sports Correspondent....... andrewknowlton@countytimes.net

P.O. Box 250 • Hollywood, Maryland 20636

Guy Leonard - Community Correspondent................guyleonard@countytimes.net

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Eileen McDonald - Advertising Rep...............eileenmcdonald@countytimes.net

With Rising Temps, Pet Owners Need to be More Cautious Similar to humans, most pets begin to get a little antsy around the beginning of spring. After a winter spent indoors, pets are just as ready as their human companions for some fun in the sun. And just like for people, certain precautionary measures need to be taken to ensure pets can withstand the rising temperatures of spring and summer and avoid a host of other potential problems.

• Beware of lawns: One of the biggest concerns for pet owners, particularly dog owners, during the summer months should be neighboring lawns or even large fields at parks. This is due to the pesticides, fertilizers and insecticides many homeowners use to protect their lawns during warmer months.

Certain plants and flowers, if ingested, can be harmful to pets as well. As the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) points out, more than

700 plants have been identified as producing toxic substances that can be harmful to animals. Some you may even have in your own backyard, such as apple trees (seeds can be detrimental to an animal’s health) and holly shrubs (berries can be poisonous). While it’s impossible for pet owners and their pets to avoid lawns entirely, keep a watchful eye whenever you and your pet are out strolling around the neighborhood.

• Avoid certain temptations: Once the warm weather returns it’s tempting for many pet owners to take their pets along with them on routine errands. Car trips to the post office or supermarket can seem relatively harmless but can turn into a nightmare for your pet. Cars don’t take very long to heat up, even when parked in the shade. On a hot day, it’s common for the temperature inside a car to reach 120 F in a matter of minutes. While pet owners will likely have the air

conditioning on while they’re driving, once they get out of the car the A/C is typically turned off, leaving pets to sit in what soon becomes sweltering heat. Heat stroke, heat exhaustion and even brain damage can occur. In general, during summer months it’s best to leave your pet at home while you’re out running errands.

• Protect against heartworm: Over the winter, many pet owners stop giving their pets heartworm medication.

Most veterinarians accept this because heartworm is transmitted through mosquitoes, which aren’t present during colder months. But once the weather heats up it’s imperative pets again begin taking heartworm medication. Heartworm is a blood diseases that can be very painful for pets.

Once a pet is infected, the heartworm larva can grow and develop into worms, which then live in the blood vessels surrounding the heart and

lungs. The adult worms then mate and circulate throughout an animal’s bloodstream.

Because of the relatively low cost of prevention, many veterinarians are surprised at the prevalence of heartworm. While heartworm can be treated once an animal has been infected, such treatment is often very painful for the animal. To avoid this fate, simply begin giving your pet (heartworm is most common in dogs, but can infect cats, too) heartworm medication before the start of spring, or continue the medication year-round.

• Know your pet and what he’s capable of: In general, pet owners should have a feel for how much activity their pet can handle in warmer weather.

Short-nosed dogs, dogs with thick coats, and dogs who are getting on in years generally can’t handle as much activity in the summer as they can in other seasons. That’s not to

say they don’t still need exercise, but owners should be selective about when these types of pets get their exercise. Early morning or evening hours, when the temperature is at its coolest, is recommended by the HSUS. • Avoid summer fairs with pets: Heat can be stressful

enough for some pets. Add large crowds and a lot of noise, and pets can can begin suffering from anxiety.

In general, leave pets at home whenever you attend such gatherings. Midsummer celebrations, such as Fourth of July fireworks, can also cause anxiety in pets and should be avoided.

Pet owners need to keep a watchful eye on pets once the temperature begins to rise.

The County Times

Thursday, June 7, 2007

Section A -

Ramblings of a Country Girl Photo by Adam Ross

One Good Turn Deserves A Signal

Gang Threats Continued from page A- important key to combating the rising gang problem was sharing information in the community.

“I thought that all the law enforcement agencies in the county should be involved,” Cameron said. “It’s going to cross borders, it’s going to cross jurisdictions.”

One prime example of that was the notorious and violent Hispanic gang MS13 which has strongholds in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties as well as in Northern Virginia coming down to Point Lookout State Park to have meetings among its members.

The gang also had ways of avoiding detection or throwing off suspicious law

enforcement officials, Cameron said.

“If an officer comes up and asks them questions they roll out a soccer ball and say they’re having a party,” Cameron said.

Reaching out to Hispanics this summer was important, Cameron said, to head off potential recruitment of young people, especially those who are recent immigrants to the country with few prospects, little in the way of community support and virtually no English language skills.

Educating them in the dangers of gangs would be an important step in combating their criminal activity.

“We need to get out and communicate with vulnerable

(R) vetoed the bill for cost and the fact that it contradicted the 1998 plan. The Democratic-controlled legislature later overturned his action.

Now, the commission will spend millions of dollars to explore land preservation for possible light rail transit use along the Route 5 corridor and dozens of enhancement improvements including the Thomas Johnson Bridge and the expansion of park and ride locations.

Diane Ratliff of the Maryland Transit Association (MTA) said Southern Maryland’s commuter bus service is one of the fastest growing in all of Maryland because of its proximity to Washington D.C. There are currently six new park and rides in the planning stages, and two moving towards construction, Ratliff said. However, some of those park and rides have been slow to develop because of resistance from individuals or counties with stringent land use regulations.

Dyson joked that years

Light Rail Continued from page A- serve the constituents well.”

A similar regional transportation plan, constructed in the 1990s, has largely been shelved due to rapid and unexpected growth in the region over the past decade.

However, the commission intends to revisit the goals of the old plan, and to use them as a stepping-stone in determining the transportation needs of the next 50 years.

“I served a three year imprisonment on the [U.S. 301 South Corridor Transportation Study Task Force],” said Sen. Thomas M. Middleton (DCharles). “I don’t plan to do that again and I’m certain this won’t sit on a shelf collecting dust, but be a real plan.”

The meeting came more than three years after Sens.

Dyson and Middleton first proposed the commission’s creation during the 2004 legislative session.

Listed as Senate Bill 281, then Gov. Robert L. Erlich Jr.

groups,” Cameron said. “The gangs will come up and say ‘We’ll give you an identity and we’ll support you.’

“That’s a challenge for us, we have to go to them.”

Along with community outreach and intelligence gathering, sheriff’s deputies will cast their nets in crime saturation patrol throughout the county, Cameron said.

Cameron said that could include 10 to 15 deputies at a time patrolling crime hot spots “block by block.”

Deputies would patrol in their squad cars, on mountain bikes, motorcycles and even on foot patrols to crack down on crime, whether it was gang related or not.

Cameron said that gang activity in the county is currently centered mostly around the two factions that participated in the gunfight on Suburban Drive.

Those two groups, Cam-

eron said, concentrated mostly on raising money through illegal narcotics sales and were mostly local in nature.

The groups, the Outsiders and the Boon Squad, were clustered around family ties that spread out to close friends and affiliates to ply their illegal activities.

“I don’t think they wanted to have the moniker of a gang,” Cameron said. “I think they wanted to stay under the radar screen and make their money.”

Pastor Henry Briscoe, of the House of Disciples International, who attended the forum, said that it was difficult to tell how bad the gang problem was here but that it was a fact of life now.

“It’s here and the only ones who know about it are the ones involved,” Briscoe said. “As a whole I think our community is vulnerable.”

ago you would never campaign at a bus stop in Southern Maryland and now it’s “one of the most popular places you can go.”

However, this is also part of the reason the 21-member commission includes representatives from federal, state and local levels.

Charles County Commissioner Gary V. Hodge said Transportation Secretary John D. Porcari will soon receive letters detailing the county’s commitment from a “land use policy side” to facilitate future transportation improvements.

“We’re taking this very seriously,” Hodge said, “we know there needs to be an integration.”

Hodge added that the return on investment in Southern Maryland is “extremely good,” noting back in the mid 1990s when base realignment and closure took place, the area had a strong return on a 200 million dollar investment over a four to five year span.

“So yes we are asking for significant investments,” added Hodge, “but this is one of your best returns you are go-

ing to get in Maryland.”

The commission outlined six tasks, including the identification of existing and future transportation needs, cost estimation and report preparation.

The Tri-County Council of Southern Maryland, who will help provide staff support to the panel, will facilitate each task.

In its first order of business, the commission unanimously elected Del. Sally Jameson (D- Charles) as chairman and Del. John L. Bohanan Jr. (D- St. Mary’s) as vice chairman.

The committee brings together representatives from the three Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s Counties, Sen. Steny Hoyer’s office, Sen. Ben Cardin’s office, Sen. Barbra Mikulski’s office, Maryland Transit Association, State Highway Administration and Maryland Department of Transportation.

The group has a target end date of February 2008.

“This is one of the most important undertakings of the current term,” said Bohanan.

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Terri Bartz Bowles There is a nifty mechanism that comes standard on every car and truck sold in America that’s safe, easy to use and serves a good purpose. Lots and lots and lots of people don’t use these devices, however. I can’t help but wonder why they don’t. It’s not a new invention and it’s not difficult to use. Using it may save your life or someone else’s life. What is it? The turn signal. The directional indicator. The blinker.

The need for indicating your driving intentions predates this nifty little item. Before turn signals were mechanized, drivers stuck their arm out of the car window to indicate turns. Then some brilliant person invented the humble yet infinitely useful turn signal. How much better and easier to see than an arm sticking out of a window! But as necessary and as simple to use as a blinker is, many people are apparently confused as to their proper use.

Let’s break it down: you’re going to be turning

100-200 yards down the road so you reach for the turn signal indicator and flip it up for a right turn or down for a left turn. That’s pretty much all there is to it. It will even turn itself off after you make the turn! It just can’t get any better. Well, if it could read your mind and flip itself on for you, that would be better, I guess.

It doesn’t seem to much to ask though, for everyone to make the minimal effort to just use it.

Here’s another little clue; once you’ve started to make your turn, it’s too late to turn your signal on. The rest of us are making a pretty good guess about what you’re doing and calling you unflattering names in our heads. Okay, sometimes we say them out loud. When you’re already in the turn lane, it’s too late to turn your signal on. When half of your car is already in half of my lane, it’s too late to turn your signal on.

Your turn signal is free to use, simple to use and important to use, so give everybody a break and just use the thing.

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The County Times

Section A -

In Your Community Dog Rescue Golden Retriever Rescue of Southern Maryland will meet on Saturday, June 30 at 10 a.m. at the Lexington Park Library. The newly formed rescue group serves Charles, Calvert and St. Mary‚s counties. Dog lovers who can provide temporary, loving homes to golden retrievers in need and talented fundraisers are

especially invited to join the group. For more information go to www.goldenretrieverrescueofsouthernmaryland. org or call 301.994.0132.

Talk on Flounder to Highlight CCA Meeting Keith McGuire, Chesapeake Bay charter mate, will

speak on “Trolling for Summer Flounder” at the upcoming meeting of the Coastal Conservation Association Maryland (CCA MD), Patuxent River Chapter. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m., June 13, at Lenny’s Restaurant, 23418 Three Notch Rd., California. The public is invited.

Leonardtown Teacher Wins Award Ms. Kim Weaver, a teacher at Benjamin Banneker Elementary School, is named the 2007 recipient of the annual Hope Swann Educator’s Hall of Fame Award. This award, established by the Margaret Brent High School

Thursday, June 7, 2007 Alumni Association, recognizes an outstanding educator who best exemplifies the strong character, standards, and ideals of Hope Swann, a long-time science educator in St. Mary’s County who made countless contributions to the community.

C&L Calendar of Events The Color and Light Society, Southern Maryland artists will be exhibiting original art works for show and sale at the Solomon’s Island River Walk Pavilion on June 23 from

11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Book Discussion Monday, June 11, 6:00 p.m., Lexington Park Library Discuss Simon Winchester’s book, “The Professor and the Madman.” Event is free. No registration required. Call 301-863-8188 for more information.

Three Notch Trail Groundbreaking Ceremony The Board of County Commissioners and the Department of Recreation, Parks and Community Services are pleased to invite the public to the Groundbreaking Ceremony for Phase II of the Three Notch Trail. The Ceremony will be held on Saturday, June 9, at 11:30 a.m., near the entrance of the Northern Senior Center, 29675 Charlotte Hall Road, in Charlotte Hall. The Ceremony is being planned in conjunction with the Community Celebration of the Charlotte Hall Library’s 25th Birthday that begins at 10:00 a.m. at the library.

Summer School Review Courses Registration for the High School Summer School review courses will be held Monday and Tuesday, June 18 and 19, at Leonardtown High School, from 7:30 a.m. until noon. The high school summer school program is planned for public and nonpublic high school students presently enrolled in grades 912 who have received a grade of E in a course or have completed a course with a grade of D and wish to improve their skills. A grade of E indicates the student had at least a 45% in the course and no more than 10 unlawful absences in the semester.

Golf Tournament The Bay District Volunteer Fire Department is hosting its 11th annual golf tournament Monday July 9 at the Wicomico Shores Golf Course. Shotgun starts at 9 a.m., in scramble – captain’s choice format. Cost is $65.00 per player, which includes fees, cart, lunch, beverages and prizes. Open to the general public. For more information call Joe Cooper at 301-863-5362.

Art Reception The Lexington Park Library Art Gallery will be holding an opening reception for the members of the Calvert Art Guild who have their artwork on display at library during the month of June. Reception is free, call 301-863-8188 for more information.

Parade The Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department and Ladies Auxiliary is having its 50th Anniversary parade June 30 starting at 3:30 p.m.

Music and fireworks will accompany the parade. Music provide by the kings of classic rock, Great Train Robbery.

Fireworks at dusk on the fire department grounds, food and refreshments available throughout. Fire related vendor space contact John Gatton, Jr., at 301-373-3602.

Golf Tournament

301-862-7702 Route 246 & Great Mills Rd. Lexington Park, MD 20653

Join Esperanza Middle School’s Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS) Committee for its 3rd Annual Golf Tournament on Monday, June 11, 2007, 9 a.m., at the Breton Bay Country Club in Leonardtown, MD. Check in will begin at 8:00 a.m. The cost is $70 per person or $260 for a team of four. First, second, third, and fourth place prizes will be awarded. Proceeds from this event will benefit Esperanza Middle Schools PBIS program. For more details, contact Esperanza Middle School Assistant Principal, Mr. Michael Barnes, by phone at 301-863-4016, or by email at mbbarnes@smcps. org. The rain date for this event is Thursday, June 14.

The County Times

Thursday, June 7, 2007

Lexington Park Rescue Squad Preparing To Build A New Home

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer The Lexington Park Volunteer Rescue Squad has purchased just under two acres of land near the Lexington Park Public Library and the Bay District Volunteer Fire Department to set up a new base of operations.

Rescue squad officials say they purchased the property from a prominent local landowner just last week at reduced price.

The squad still has to decide what kind of building they will construct on the new site, but they say it should serve them well.

“It’s all coming together now,” said Ken Hicks, president of the rescue squad. “We definitely have to build for the future.”

The old rescue squad building on Great Mills Road has become too cramped to house the rescue squad’s operations, particularly when it comes to training for its members and new recruits, Hicks said.

The ever-increasing size of ambulances also necessitated a move to a site that could allow a much larger building.

Currently the rescue squad sits on a site that is far less spacious in size than the

new site.

“It’s old, it’s small and the ambulances aren’t getting any smaller,” Hicks said. “That station’s just so old.”

The rescue squad’s governing body spent $30,000 to renovate the interior of the old squad site last year, Hicks said, but they could no longer afford to put money into an aging and inadequate structure.

“You can’t keep throwing money at the place,” Hicks said.

The land purchase is also timely, Hicks explained, since the state plans to widen and improve Great Mills Road in the next year or so, which means the extra construction could make it more difficult to get ambulances crews out on emergency calls, creating longer response times for service.

And the rescue squad can use all the time advantage it can get, apparently, since they are the busiest rescue squad in the county.

According to squad statistics, there is no sign that demand for their services will diminish anytime soon.

In 2003 the squad broke the 4,000-call service mark and the number steadily increased to 4,851 calls for service as of last year.

Hicks said that breaking

Watershed Continued from page A- Once the funding is set in place and the problems are nailed down, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has proposed less focus towards stream restoration, but rather restoring old storm water facilities, and plant and oyster supplies.

Specifically, Kopecky recommends restoring 462 acres of oysters, 1380 acres of submerged aquatic vegetation habitat and 28 hydrology improvements.

However due to diseases filtrating down, Commissioner Lawrence Jarboe cautioned the program’s leaders to look at pollution and water quality upstream before restoring oyster stocks “We did analysis with the College of Southern Maryland on a oyster restoration plan and found that the water quality was there, but we don’t have the oysters,” said Kopecky. “We’re not sure how long it would take to take x amount of oysters to filter x amount of water.”

Further, because the best way to learn from nature is to adapt to it, according to Kopecky, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is planning a dedicated program to each estuary, including Breton Bay, St. Clement’s Bay, Wicomico River and St. Mary’s River.

“Water is always uncertain,” added Kopecky. “We want to react to that in a programmatic reaction, so, 10 years per estuary with the majority of the work going

into the St. Mary’s [River Watershed].”

In its current configuration, the plan does little to address shoreline erosion; an issue Commissioner Thomas A. Mattingly Sr. says is a salient obstacle in restoring health to the watershed.

“That shoreline is going somewhere in the estuary,” said Mattingly. “That has an affect on oysters and fish more than storm water runoff occurring from farm land and other places around the watershed.”

Kopecky did not necessarily concur with Mattingly’s conclusion, but said that a separate ongoing study of 7,000 miles of eroded shoreline is happening right now in Maryland, independently of the watershed restoration feasibility study.

Mattingly also was hesitant to support a program when according to him polluters up and down the river and Chesapeake Bay’s shorelines were not being tamed.

“Until the federal and state levels go after these polluters, the little things we do aren’t going to change much,” said Mattingly.

The $43 million program would be funded in part by St. Mary’s County. The program calls for a 65 to 35 percent federal to non-federal funding ratio, however several entities would share in the cost of the non-federal portion.

In addition, the St. Mary’s Board of County Commis-

the 5,000-call mark, the largest ever call volume for a rescue squad in the county, was a virtual certainty this year.

Currently, the squad operates six ambulances and built another squad bay on Buck Hewitt Road in 2000 to meet demands for service.

The rescue squad has an ambulance staffed 24 hours a day at a time when other squads have problems getting enough volunteers to staff rescue vehicles during critical day-time hours.

While the squad does not know when exactly the new building will be constructed, Hicks said that the land was selling at the right price, $337,000 for 1.7 acres, of which the landowner, Robert “Gabe” Gabrelcik, donated half of the price back to the rescue squad.

“We couldn’t pass it up,” Hicks said.

Rank and file members of the squad said that the prospect of a move to more spacious quarters was a welcome one.

“It’s a really exciting development,” said Shawn Davidson, a squad member for 18 years. “We’ve been in that station for 30 years… it was a gas station at one time.

“We’re looking forward to having some elbow room.”

sions would have to dedicate Sue Veith, a county environmental planner with the department of land use and growth management, to oversee and assist in the program’s long-term success Commissioner Daniel H. Raley was unsupportive of taking Veith’s services away from the county’s citizens who struggle with their own land use issues, and the time it can take to approve critical area projects.

Raley opposed the motion.

“How I vote on this will be perceived as I don’t care about water quality,” said Raley. “That’s not the case.”

Raley was also disgruntled about $100,000 cash the county handed to the program in 2000.

“Now it’s 2007 and we’re talking at least two more years,” Raley said.

Amy M. Guise, chief of the civil project development branch of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers based in Baltimore District said moving a bill through Congress for a similar program would typically take 18 months.

Guise oversees all of the congressionally directed, non-military projects that go through Congress.

“This is my interest in being here and making sure this project stays on the right path,” said Guise. “We want to see the recommendations come to fruition.”

Section A -

Expansion for Leah’s House Moving Ahead

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer The expansion project for Leah’s House, a shelter for displaced, battered and homeless women and their families, has moved beyond the planning stages and the head of the organization couldn’t be happier.

“This is exciting; we’re finally moving dirt on this project,” said Marguerite Morris, who is also pastor of the New Beginnings Christian Worship Center.

About seven months ago, Morris unveiled her plans to demolish the Happyland Bar in Valley Lee, rebuild it into a family services center and build a shelter right next to it that could house as many as 10 families that are homeless or seeking refuge from abuse.

Morris was busy last week with county health department officials testing the overgrown parcel to see if it perked for water and sewer, which it did.

As one of the requirements to build the shelter, Morris was pleased that the land passed.

In a little less than two weeks, Morris said she plans to go to closing to actually own the property and demolish the abandoned bar, but needs a total of $80,000 to make that happen.

“We’re almost there; we still have room for donations,” Morris said. “We still need the community to get financially behind this.”

Morris said that the problem of homeless women in the county is a growing one that so far only Leah’s House has been able to deal with in a limited way.

“The need for this is obvious in St. Mary’s County,” Morris said. “We get calls on a regular basis of women who need to be placed.”

But Leah’s House can only help about three families at a time, Morris and her staff said, and that meant having to turn people away who needed help.

“Unfortunately this is the one of the only places in St. Mary’s County that offers assistance to homeless women,” said Traci Epps, one of Morris’s employees at Leah’s House.

Leah’s House can provide shelter for up to 90 days and can even provide transitioning assistance to women and their children for one year to 18 months.

They also offer workforce training and counseling to help stave off homelessness in the future.

Epps said that she and other workers there are getting constant referrals from both inside and outside the county to help homeless women.

Since Leah’s House got started only about nine months ago, Morris said they have received at least 150 referrals, many of whom they could not help because of the limited space available.

But they’ve done what they could, Morris said.

“We’ve served 40 plus clients in the home,” Morris said.

According to recent data compiled by research firms in the employ of the Local Management Board, there are fewer shelter beds overall in St. Mary’s County than in neighboring Charles and Calvert counties.

There are also fewer Sec-

tion 8, or low-income, properties available to house the homeless or disadvantaged than in Charles or Calvert.

The 67 beds that are currently available for the homeless in the county are apparently being taxed to the limit as well, since they provide 34,919 bed nights of use, the report said.

Ella May Russell, director of the county’s Department of Social Services, said Leah’s House would be joined by a shelter program for women and children at the Three Oaks facility in Lexington Park.

The county is still trying to catch up and provide more and better services for the homeless, particularly women and children.

“Because we’re a growing county there’s a growing need for services like shelter for homeless women and children,” Russell said. “We don’t have the capacity to meet the demand.”

The project to build a new shelter with the family services center still has to receive county approval, Morris said, but she is confident that they’ll be able to begin construction on the new shelter by 2008.

Once the Happyland Bar is demolished, it will also serve as a restaurant, day care and temporary shelter to help deal with the demand for emergency housing.

Morris said that so far, about 230 organizations and individuals have supported the project to expand Leah’s House in some way, and that community attention has become focused on the project.

“People are watching because this is so important to the county,” Morris said.

Photo by Guy Leonard

Marguerite Morris, founder of the women’s shelter Leah’s House, smiles as inspectors test land for water perking points that she intends to be the home of an expanded shelter that can house about 10 families in Valley Lee.

Contract Continued from page A- undercover officer, charging documents said.

The two then had a conversation detailing a formal

agreement to have the suspect’s parents murdered to include payment for the undercover deputy.

Charging documents stated that when the undercover deputy asked how the killing should be done the suspect replied: “Two bullets is all it

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Additional undercover officers approached the juvenile suspect after the deal was made and placed him under arrest.

Burris said the juvenile was arrested without incident.

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The County Times

Section A -

Thursday, June 7, 2007

Obituaries Anthony Dennis Bowman, 40 Anthony “Tony” Dennis Bowman, 40, of Mechanicsville, Md., died June 2, 2007 at the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Born Feb. 3, 1967 in Leonardtown, Md., he was the son of the late Lester Scriber and Thelma Elaine Bowman.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, June 7 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown, Md. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at Our Lady of the Wayside Catholic Church, Chaptico, Md. at 11 a.m. with Fr. Timothy Baer officiating.

A full obituary will appear at a later date.

where she graduated from Margaret Brent High School, Class of 1937.

The family will receive friends on Friday, June 1 from 5 – 8 p.m. in the MattingleyGardiner Funeral Home, with Prayers being said at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Saturday, June 2 at 10 a.m. in Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Bushwood, Md. with Fr. Timothy Baer officiating. Interment followed in the Church Cemetery. Pallbearers were: Joseph R. Davis, Jr., Richard Fowler, Michael Fowler, Dominick Davis, John L. Davis and Jason Stant. Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A.

Robert Norman Gileau, 68

Dorothy Louise Davis, 87

Dorothy Louise Davis, 87, of Waldorf, Md., formerly of Chaptico, Md., died May 30, 2007 in Capital Hospice, Arlington, Va. Born June 3, 1919 in Chaptico, Md., she was the daughter of the late James L. and Effie Elizabeth Hancock Thomas. She was preceded in death by her husband Roy R. Davis on Jan. 3, 1997, whom she married on June 30, 1940 in Chaptico, Md. She is survived by her children: Dorothy E. Smigal of La Plata, Md., William L. Davis and Joseph R. Davis both of Waldorf, Md.; eight grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by her siblings: Elton Thomas, Ambrose Thomas, James Thomas, Joseph Thomas, Mary Ellen Thomas, Harry Thomas, Ray Thomas, Vincent Thomas and Bessie Oliver.

Mrs. Davis was a life long St. Mary’s County resident

Robert Norman Gileau, 68, of Leonardtown, Md., died May 22, 2007 in St. Mary’s Hospital, Leonardtown, Md. Born Aug. 16, 1938 in West Warwick, R.I., he was the son of the late Henry Gileau and Blanche J. (Gamelin) Gileau.

He is survived by his wife, Hilda Fay Gileau, son, Robert Norman Gileau, Jr., and two step-daughters, Brenda Moody of Inwood, W.Va. and Anita Parker of Exeter, R.I. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his brother, Henry Gileau.

A Graveside service was conducted on Monday, June 4, at 2 p.m. in Maryland Veterans Cemetery, Cheltenham, Md. Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A. in Leonardtown, Md.

Joseph Oscar Hayden, Jr., 83

Washington Hospital Center.

Born October 17, 1923 in Oakley, Md., he was the son of the late Joseph Oscar and Edna Wheeler Hayden, Sr. He was the loving husband of Virginia M. Hayden whom he married in Sacred Heart Church, Bushwood, Md. He is survived by his children; Jeffrey Mark Hayden and Wendell Patrick Hayden, both of Bushwood, Md., and Judi Hayden Wills of Kernersville, N.C., siblings; Martin Hayden, Milfred Hayden, Bertram Hayden and Eloise Hayden, all of Bushwood, MD, three grandchildren and six great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his daughter Charlene Jacobson and his brother Hemmy Hayden.

A graduate of Margaret Brent High School, Joe was employed as a tobacco farmer.

The family received friends on Monday, June 4 from 5-8 p.m. in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown, Md., where prayers were led by Deacon Bill Nickerson at 7 p.m.. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Tuesday, June 5 at 9 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Bushwood, Md., with Fr. Francis Early officiating. Interment followed in the church cemetery. Pallbearers were Mike Hayden, Phil Hayden, Eddie Hayden, Eric Gibson, David Gibson and John Harville. Honorary pallbearers were Marty Hayden, Chris Hayden, Joey Hayden, DeSalles Gibson and Steve Gibson. Contributions may be made to the 7th District Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 7, Avenue, Md., 20609. Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A.

Cidney Paige Jacobs, 11

Joseph Oscar “Joe” Hayden, Jr., 83, of Bushwood, Md., died May 31, 2007 at

Cidney Paige Jacobs, 11, of Lexington Park, Md., died May 21, 2007 in Children’s Hospital, Washington, D.C. Born August 24, 1995 in Coupeville, Wash., she was the daughter of Cedric Harper and Kari Jacobs of Lexington Park, Md. In addition to her parents, she is survived by her siblings, Trae Jacobs, Ce’Drice Jacobs, Destiny Harper, all of Lexington Park, Md. and Tyree Harper of Kirkland, Wash.

For funeral arrangements please call the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A. at 301-475-5588.

Condolences to the fam-

ily may be left at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com.

Thelma Taylor “Tillie” Lusby, 83 Thelma Taylor “Tillie” Lusby, 83, of Solomons, Md., died June 4, 2007 in Mary’s Home Care, Great Mills, Md. Born Aug. 1, 1923 in Washington, D.C., she was the daughter of the late Paul Davis and Susie (Houghton) Davis.

She is survived by her husband, Carroll B. Lusby of Solomons, Md., daughter, Mary Lou Taylor Troutman of Dameron, Md., sister, Mary Collier of Winter Park, Fla., brother, Paul Davis of Miami, Fla., and four grandchildren.

All services are private.

Condolences to the family may be left at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com.

Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A. in Leonardtown, Md.

Chester Aubrey Personette, 88 Chester Aubrey Personette, 88, of Hollywood, Md., died May 28, 2007 in Fairfax Nursing Center, Fairfax, Va. Born Mar. 17, 1919 in Baltimore, Md., he was the son of the late Presley Aubrey Personette and Mary Kathryn (White) Personette.

Mr. Personette was a member of the St. Mary’s County Office on Aging Home Delivered Meals Program and also a member of the Literacy Council of St. Mary’s. He was a member and treasurer for Hollywood United Methodist Church, Hollywood, Md. His hobbies included fishing, boating, gardening, and cutting grass.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Rosalie Theresa Personette, four children, Joseph Robert Personette of Springfield, Va., Judith Anne Darnell of Lubbock, Tex., Richard David Personette of Hollywood, Md., and Michael George Personette of Fairfax, Va., and one grandchild.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his brother, Edward Alexander Personette.

The family received friends on Friday, June 1 from 5- 8 p.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home Chapel, Leonardtown, Md. A Funeral Service was conducted on Saturday, June 2, at 11 a.m. in Hollywood United Method-

ist Church, Hollywood, Md. Reverend Sheldon Reese conducted the service. Interment will follow in Joy Chapel Cemetery, Hollywood, Md. Condolences to the family may be left at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com.

Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A. in Leonardtown, Md.

Clifford Blaine Shupe, 64 Clifford Blaine Shupe, 64, of Washington, D.C. died April 30, 2007 in Washington Hospital Center, Washington, D.C. Born April 25, 1943 in Washington, D.C., he was the son of the late Wallace Clifford Shupe and Dorothy E. (Johns) Shupe.

Mr. Shupe was a shipmate on his father’s charter boat the Eileen III, which operated out of Deale, Md. He is survived by his son, Clifford Blaine Shupe and his brothers, Henry Stephen Shupe and John William Shupe. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his sister, Dorothy Eileen Hilton and brother, Thomas Leroy Shupe.

All services are private.

Condolences to the family may be left at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com.

Anna Marie Tydings, 92 Anna Marie Tydings, 92, of Lexington Park, Md., died May 30, 2007 at her residence.

Born Aug. 22, 1914 in Erie, Pa., she was the daughter of the late George Marcus Quirk and Eleanor (Miller) Quirk.

She was raised in Washington, D.C. and spent most of her married life in Laytonsville, Md. She retired in St. Mary’s County, Md. and Hillsboro Beach, Fla. She was a 1936 graduate of Maryland University. She attended University of Munich in Germany and was a member of the Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority.

She was member of the Manor Country Club, Down to Earth Garden Club, Crippled Children Society of Potomac, Stitch and Chatter Serving Club, Mt. Zion Head Start Program, Redland and Goshen Hunt Clubs, Antiques Club, and Gaithersburg Women’s Club.

Mrs. Tydings was the president of the Montgomery County General Federa-

tion of Women’s Clubs and the founder of Laytonsville Women’s Club. She and her husband built the Montgomery Country Club in Laytonsville. She was one of the first women jurors in Montgomery County and also was a member on the founding board of the First Community Psychiatric Association. She was associated with the first pilot summer program for public school children with cerebral palsy which led to special education classes in public schools.

On retiring in St. Mary’s County, Mrs. Tydings became active in the St. Ignatius Society and opened her home to fundraisers for the Society as well as HealthShare and St. Mary’s River Yacht Club. She was also active in the St. Mary’s Garden Club and enjoyed arranging prize winning miniatures for the county fair.

She is survived by her children, Eleanor TydingsReynolds of St. Mary’s City, Md., George R. Tydings of Chevy Chase, MD, and Warren E. Tydings, Jr. of Laytonsville, Md., sister, Mrs. Richard S. Abbey of Galesville, Md., six grandchildren, Thomas Reynolds and his wife, Suzanne, William Reynolds and his wife, Elizabeth, Chase Tydings and his wife, Kirsten, George Tydings, Jr. and his wife, Carrie, Alexandra Tydings, and Warren E. Tydings III, and nine great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Warren E. Tydings and her sister, Elizabeth Quirk Clarke.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Saturday, June 2 at 10 a.m. in St. Ignatius Church, St. Inigoes, Md. Father Maurice O’Connell was the celebrant. Interment followed at 2:30 p.m. in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Silver Spring, Md. Memorial contributions may be made to HOSPICE House c/o HOSPICE of St. Mary’s, Inc., P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, Md., 20650.

Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A. in Leonardtown, Md.

Follow a Recipe for Food Safety For many people, food makes the party. All other elements can be average, but if the food is delicious, the event is a success. Regardless of whether you’re hosting two or two hundred, there’s more to serving food than just ensuring it is enjoyed - food safety should also be a top priority.

Food-borne illnesses, also known as food poisoning, are often linked to improper handling and preparation of food.

Food-borne diseases cause approximately 76 million illnesses, 325,000 hospitalizations, and 5,000 deaths in the United States each year, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Known pathogens account for an estimated 14 million illnesses, 60,000 hospitalizations, and 1,800 deaths. Some of the top pathogens include salmonella, listeria, and toxoplasma.

When planning your party and menu, keep these important food-safety tips in mind:

SAFE FOOD PURCHASING/ STORAGE Convenience foods These foods can be lifesavers and offer quick alternatives

when you don’t have the time to prepare everything from scratch. From deli meats to canned products, convenience foods are plentiful. Remember, these products - although often carefully packaged - do have a limited shelf life. Deli meats should be discarded three to five days after purchase. Canned foods should be avoided if they show signs of bulging. Clean cans before opening them to avoid the chances of food contamination. Frozen foods should be selected from the back of the grocer’s freezer where they have the best chance of staying frozen. After thawing out frozen foods, do not refreeze them as pathogens can infiltrate the product during the thawing process. Use promptly or trash.

Dairy products - Milk and cheeses have a relatively short shelf life, depending upon consistency. Generally, the softer the dairy product, the shorter a time it can last without spoiling. Purchase these items at the tail end of a shopping trip to maintain their chill and store within the refrigerator to keep them cold. Milk shouldn’t be stored on a refrigerator door where it is subjected to the warming temperatures each time the door is opened. In regard

to eggs, only purchase those that are stored in a refrigerated unit. Eggs must be chilled to maintain freshness. Avoid eating raw eggs or products that contain them, such as uncooked cookie dough, Caesar dressing or “health drinks.”

Produce - As a rule of thumb, make small, frequent produce purchases rather than large ones. This will eliminate spoilage at home and ensure you’re eating tasty, fresh fruit.

Don’t purchase produce with bruises, cuts or mold. Promptly store produce that needs refrigeration. Bananas and potatoes don’t need refrigeration.

If you’ve cut up the produce, refrigerate within two hours.

Throw away any leftover cut produce that has been left at room temperature for more than two hours, like those served with dips, etc.

Meats/poultry - Pick out meats that have been tightly packaged and look for Safe Food Handling labels, which tell you that the meat was prepared in a safe manner. Poultry should be pink in appearance, not gray or yellow. Store meats in the coldest part of the refrigerator, the meat bin, or freeze it for use at a later time.

Raw meat and poultry should be used within three to four days of purchase if stored in the fridge.

SAFE PREPARATION The safest way to avoid food-related illnesses is to be diligent in washing up. When handling any raw foods, thoroughly wash your hands in soapy water prior to touching any food. Produce should be scrubbed in cool water to remove any pesticides prior to use (there are produce brushes for this purpose). Even fruits that will need to be peeled, such as oranges or melons, should be washed because surface pathogens could contaminate the fruit during peeling. An easy thing to do is to wash produce upon purchase and store it in tightly sealed baggies so it will be ready for use when you’re cooking.

Strawberries and mushrooms should be washed closer to use time because they can get moldy if washed too far in advance.

When handling meats and poultry, always use caution.

Foods that are being thawed from the freezer should NEVER be defrosted on a counter at room temperature. It may take longer, but a safer spot is in the refrigerator. Or take advantage of the defrost setting of the microwave. Always

use a separate cutting board for meat than for produce. If it helps, color-code the cutting boards so no cross-contamination can occur. Wash your hands again, as well as any surface areas that came in contact with food after preparation is finished.

SERVING AND DISPLAY Remember that foods that are supposed to be served hot should remain hot, and the same can be said for cold menu items. Buffets or occasions where food is left to sit out at room temperature are inviting trouble. Use chafing dishes to keep foods heated, and set dips, produce and other refrigerated items on ice.

Remove any items that have been left out too long and discard - better safe than sorry when it comes to food-borne illnesses. Check the internal temperature of meats and poultry with a thermometer and ensure that they are of the right temperature for safe serving. If guests arrive late, offer to reheat items or take them out of the refrigerator. It might mean more work, but at least you are taking measures to guarantee safety for the guests.

LEFTOVERS If you’re like any good party host, you’ve ensured there are plenty of foods to snack upon, which means you may have a refrigerator full of leftovers. Any prepared meat dishes should be eaten within three days and then tossed.

The same can generally be said for soft cheeses, provided they weren’t left out and then refrigerated. Harder cheeses like provolone or cheddar can be stored tightly wrapped for two weeks or more.

If you have doubts about when you will enjoy the leftovers, freeze them instead.

Just label with the date they were put into the freezer. Remember, food quality declines when foods are frozen, so don’t let them sit in there too long. If you haven’t eaten the food in a few months’ worth of time, get rid of it.

By taking the right precautions, you can help ensure guests will go home with a stomach food of delicious - and safe - food. Their only cause for stomach upset should be due to overindulgence.

The County Times

Thursday, June 7, 2007

Graduations Continued from page A- Inc., as a secretary now and is considering taking logistics courses at the College of

tinged with sadness.

“It’s going to be really sad leaving there,” McKay said.

Section A -

macy and that really got me interested in it.”

Belcher, who learned to speak Chinese from her Taiwanese mother, has already gotten the international travel bug after making trips to Shanghai and Beijing. This

Photo by Guy Leonard

Great Mills High School graduate Jason Lusk embraces his class sponsor and school media specialist Deborah Kole after receiving his diploma.

Photo by Andrew Knowlton

Leonardtown graduate and Class of 2007 Valedictorian Eric Nicholas Switick holds up his painting of the crowd during his address last week.

Southern Maryland since that is a skill much in demand in her company.

Webster said that her teachers helped make all the difference for her during her time at Great Mills.

“I’ve been going to school with a lot of this kids since kindergarten.

“Everybody’s breaking up and going their separate ways.”

McKay will go on to

“This is an incredible accomplishment,” Martirano told graduates at Leonardtown and similarly at Chopticon and Great Mills.

The high levels of achievement at the three high schools also shown through at how much money they raked in through scholarships and the

day.

She relished the thought of getting out on her own after a full 12 years of schooling from elementary to high school grades.

“Just being able to do things on my own, now it’s going to be different,” Warner said.

summer she plans to travel to Taiwan.

“I know what I want out of life,” Belcher said.

Students with varied interests and high levels of achievement typify the kind

Manish Mathur steps up on stage excited to recieve their deploma.

Photo by Guy Leonard

Students at Chopticon High School stand and wait eagerly to receive their diplomas after four years of intense work and study.

“They genuinely care about their students,” Webster said. “They set us up to succeed, not to fail.”

James Madison University in Virginia to study social science and secondary education with the goal of becoming a

Graduates at Ryken High School wait anxiously for their deplomas.

Despite being successful at school and at work Webster said that stepping away from high school was a bit of a nerve-wracking move.

“I got senioritis, just like everyone else I was feeling like this was never going to end,” Webster said. “Now that it’s over we’re wondering what do we do now?

“Now it’s up to us.”

Jackie McKay, a graduate of St. Mary’s Ryken High School was glad to graduate as well but her success was

teacher.

Still there were struggles along the way to be sure.

Jennifer Belcher, 17, who just graduated from Leonardtown High School said she had a definite lock on her future.

She will enroll at the University of Maryland College Park and work for her degree in international affairs.

She hopes to work at the United Nations in New York City after graduating.

“I can speak fluent Chinese and I took global diplo-

with high school like many others but said he would make good on his future opportunity at a technical school where he would learn to be an electrician.

“It was hard but through perseverance and dedication I made it,” Battle said, relief clear in his voice. “Now I’m

that county high schools graduated this year.

Schools Superintendent Michael J. Martirano made it

schools to which they were accepted.

Martirano said that the Class of 2007 earned about $3 million in scholarships and some students would go on to study at one of the U.S. Military Academies and high-caliber universities like Virginia Tech.

“You have impressed me beyond belief,” Martirano told members of the Class of 2007.

“You have earned excellent grades. You are a talented bunch.”

Martirano praised the students for not only for their hard work and dedication, but for keeping their unique personalities through it all.

“You always make my day,” he said to Chopticon High School graduates he praised for their sense of humor. “You’re down right great kids.”

Jessica Warner, another Great Mills graduate, said she would miss her friends and all the memories she had collected there but it was worth it to leave the hassle of difficult classes behind.

“I had problems with a math class and my teacher said he wouldn’t let me graduate but I got a ‘C’ in his class and proved him wrong,” Warner said. “So the stress is over.

I couldn’t be happier.”

Warner will move on to St. Mary’s College next semester and major in accounting, which she hopes nets her a financial advisor’s job some

After he collected his diploma at the Chopticon High School graduation, Derek Battle joined his comrades in the triumphal procession with their diplomas in hand.

He did a victory dance all

Photo by Eric McKay

just ready for whatever life holds for me in the future.”

In looking forward to the future, Chopticon High School salutatorian Michael Craton said it would take sacrifice, but the rewards were

Photo by Andrew Knowlton

Leonardtown seniors file into the gymnasium at Saint Mary’s College, where the 28th Annual Commencement Ceremony was held.

the way back up to the school where family and friends awaited him.

“I feel great,” Battle said.

“I finally made it.”

Battle said he struggled

worth it.

“We are forced to face the prospect of letting go,” Craton said. “But the only way to experience life is to let go.”

Photo by Eric McKay

a point to tell students at each of the graduations for Great Mills, Leonardtown and Chopticon high schools that they were the cream of the crop of students nationally.

According to a recent report from Newsweek magazine all three public high schools here in St. Mary’s ranked among the elite out of 27,000 high schools nationwide.

Leonardtown ranked 327, Great Mills, 578 and Chopticon came in at 923.

Photo by Guy Leonard

Derek Battle, center, plays his kazoo, special issue to the Class of 2007 at Chopticon High School in celebration of earning his diploma.

The County Times

Section A - 10

Thursday, June 7, 2007

First of its Kind Community in St. Mary’s Will Be Preserved Two Flat Tops Units Will Become Landmarks

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Eddie Draheim remembers his birth home at 43 Coral Place in Lexington Park as a place where everyone knew everyone else and children played in the streets freely.

Draheim’s family moved there in 1954, and for the next seven years raised a family in one of the cookie cutter homes that later became known as Lexington Manor or The Flat Tops.

His father and mother both worked at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, as an engineering technician and secretary respectively, and the Flat Tops community was made just for folks like them, who had come to make their living on the air station. “[The neighborhood] was small and crowded and there were lots of kids,” Draheim, 52, of Hollywood said. “But it was a fine neighborhood.

Kids would play dodge-ball and shoot marbles and people kept up with their yards.”

As Draheim walked what used to be the Coral Avenue

of his childhood, all he could see where empty lots with overgrown grass.

The more than 350 housing units have long since been torn down after falling into years of disrepair and looming too close to Pax River’s flight operations.

Small bits of trash were scattered here and there, but mostly the old Flat Tops community, except for the roadways, had been reclaimed by foliage.

Only two gutted and condemned homes, with broken glass and other debris strewn about them, remained.

These homes the county plans to preserve as part of a history project displaying what was the first housing project of its kind in the county.

“At the time it was the first example of modern community planning in St. Mary’s County,” said Cynthia DellaGatta, economic development coordinator with the county Department of Economic Development.

DellaGatta is overseeing the project that will elicit

historical information from residents who lived in the Flat Tops from their first construction in 1943 until they were demolished last year.

Residents are encouraged to bring back photographs or other historical memorabilia from their time there to be used in the project.

DellaGatta said the project, in conjunction with the Maryland Historical Trust, will include an oral history, video and transcript of the oral history available to the public once it is completed.

The documentation portion of the project will run from August until September, DellaGatta said, with a public meeting for residents to bring in their items scheduled June 11 at the nearby Lexington Park Public Library.

The meeting will run from 2 – 6p.m.

Ed Russell, former housing project manager at the Flat Tops community, until 1963 said the housing “…was not for the military, it was for civilian employees of the base.”

The community was run first by the federal govern-

ment and then came under the control of the Department of the Navy.

“When it was owned by the Navy… it was a really nice place to live,” Russell, 90, said.

Draheim said before his old home was demolished last year, he made a special trip

there to soak in old memories.

They were memories of a vibrant community where crab feasts and card parties were common.

“Trick or treating was always a big thing because we did it over two days and not just one, and it was always in the Flat Tops community,” Draheim said, adding that the structure of the old home had not changed from what was in his memory.

“It was like I was walking into the same place I walked out of in 1961,” Draheim said.

“I was glad I did it[returned to his boyhood home].”

The more than 100 families who up until recently lived

in Lexington Mannor were relocated before the Flat Tops were flattened. The northern part of the site will be redeveloped for commercial use, while the southern end of the site will remain open space.

The two homes will be rebuilt and preserved complete with interpretive signage as part of the historical project.

Draheim said he was participating in the historical project because it was where he first got his start.

“It was where I lived, it was where I was raised,” Draheim said. “It was my birth home.”

Photo by Guy Leonard

Eddie Draheim, of Hollywood, surveys an old, gutted home at the Lexington Manor community, also known as the Flat Tops, that will be preserved as part of a historical project.

Draheim lived in the community as a small boy and is participating in the project.

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