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Thursday, September 6, 2007 • St. Mary’s County, Maryland
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2007 Seniors’ Restoration Of Historic Barn Outpace In St. Mary’s City To Begin Nation On SAT, But Scores Dip By Adam Ross Staff Writer St. Mary’s County high school seniors exceeded state and national averages on the SAT Reasoning Test, with an average combined score of 1516 out of 2400, according to data released from The College Board. The results reflect last year’s graduating class, although the data includes scores from students’ junior and senior years. St. Mary’s County averaged 18 points higher than the rest of Maryland, and 5 points better than the nation. However, the results produced an 18 point lower average this year than last, in part because more students took the exam. St. Mary’s County also averaged the lowest in Southern Maryland, despite scores declining in Calvert and Charles. While St. Mary’s County Public Schools do not emphasize the SAT to all students, according to SMCPS Director of Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Charles E. Ridgell, it is encouraged for all students planning to apply for college. “It is essential and critical for students going to a four-year college,” said Ridgell. “But it’s really only for students going into college, we are pleased more students are taking it because that is an indication that more students are going to college.” The College Board reported that 49.6 percent of the school system’s seniors were administered the SAT assessment this year, the highest participation rate to date. Leonardtown High School administered the SAT to 60.5 percent of its seniors, Great Mills High School to 54.7 percent of seniors, and Chopticon High School tested 33.9 percent of its seniors. To encourage continued participation and gains, SMCPS has adopted the official SAT online course through The College Board. The program is Internet based, with access to eight real SAT exams to help students practice and refine critical reading, math, and writing skills. The program is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Additionally, SMCPS has made the online course accessible in school, and adopted its own SAT course that students can register for and take as part of their daily regiment. “That class also uses a lot of the online materials,” Ridgell added of See SAT Scores page A-
By Adam Ross Staff Writer
See Restoration page A-
See Tennis page A-
Photo by Guy Leonard
By Guy Leonard Staff Writer The Mackall Barn at St. Mary’s City, built in 1785, is one of the oldest of its type in Maryland, but its current appearance makes it stick out in a place that is trying to recreate its 18th century historical roots. The barn has two side sheds that put it out of place, and the red color of the barn is not historically accurate. But that is about to change now that the St. Mary’s City Commission has raised enough money to stabilize the barn, which is structurally weak and unsafe, and return it to its original look. “We looked at the barn and thought we really needed to do something about that,” said Martin Sullivan, executive director at St. Mary’s City. “[The 18th century] is what we really wanted to bring it back to.” The funding package includes grants from three separate groups, including the Southern Maryland Heritage Area Consortium, the Ford Foundation and the 1772 Foundation, and totals about $70,000. The work was to begin this week on restoring the barn, which has a unique history all its own. When St. Mary’s City acquired the barn from the Brome-Howard family in 1980, they weren’t quite sure
Former Ryken Teacher Faces Sex Offense Charges By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Detectives with the St. Mary’s County Bureau of Criminal Investigation are waiting for the return Sept. 10 from Florida of a former teacher at Ryken High School and current Xaverian Brother on charges that he molested a student nearly three decades ago. Detectives with BCI allege that Bro. Philip Michael Spoelker persuaded a male freshman student who was 15 years old at the time to come with him into a storage room where Spoelker allegedly fondled the
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what they had. “We knew it was old but there were some guesses as to it possibly being built in the 18th century,” said Henry Miller, the history professor overseeing the restoration project. “Historical documentation of agricultural buildings is usually pretty slim.” So the staff at the time looked to tree ring dating methods to determine the age of the barn, which turned out to be exactly 1785, with the timbers being felled in 1784. “Certainly it’s one of the oldest wooden barns in Maryland if not the oldest,” Miller said. “We were quite amazed by that.” During its lifespan, the barn served as a grain storage area and then as a tobacco barn for its original builder, John Mackall, who bought the virtual entirety of St. Mary’s City in 1774, just before the Revolutionary War broke out. Mackall served as an officer in the local forces, fighting the British, but returned to agriculture at the end of the war and had this barn built, likely with slave labor. With all the wars going on around the world at that time, the prices of grain were high, so the barn
The St. Mary’s Board of County Commissioners is trying to avoid a double fault as it reapplies for a $50,000 United States Tennis Association grant for the renovation of the Cecil Park tennis courts, money denied by USTA last time around. The $250,000 project was fully funded by the commissioners in the fiscal year 2008 budget, with approximately $50,000 of it coming from program open space funds. If the USTA approves the grant this time around, the open space funds will be reinserted into the pipeline and used to help “someone else,” according to Phil Rollins, director of the county’s Department of Recreation, Parks and Community Services. Rollins cited an incomplete application, as a possible reason the grant wasn’t awarded. “We didn’t’ have a site plan done at that time,” Rollins said of the grant application, which was originally submitted in March. “We have since done so and included it in the package, we are hopeful to get the grant.” The project includes the renovation of the two existing tennis courts at Cecil Park and the construction of two additional courts. The courts there currently are poor condition from over 20 years of wear and tear. Members of the St. Mary’s
Martin Sullivan, executive director at St. Mary’s City, looks over the Mackall barn that is set to be restored to its original 18th century appearance. The barn is believed to be one of the oldest surviving wooden barns in Maryland.
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County Hopes to Ace USTA Grant Application on Second Go Around
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student. The allegations against Spoelker are a result of a five-month investigation where the victim came forward to tell his story after the alleged incident in 1978, according to Lt. Rick Burris, commander of BCI. That investigation included recorded phone conversations with Spoekler as well as with other witnesses regarding the alleged incident, Burris said. Spoelker faces one count of child abuse and one count of 4th degree sex offense when upon his expected return to Maryland next week. He was arrested on a fugitive warrant in Florida last week but was released on $25,000 bond. Burris said the investigation of Spoelker is continuing to include whether there might be other alleged victims. Burris said BCI is not releasing the name of the alleged victim in this case, but he is a 44-year-old county resident. See Ryken page A-
County Secures Six Townhouses For Affordable Housing By Adam Ross Staff Writer The St. Mary’s Board of County Commissioners approved funding to install a 6-inch water pipe across Shangri-La Drive in Lexington Park to accommodate an indoor sprinkler system for six townhouses in renovation for workforce housing. The decision was approved in light of an ordinance that requires multifamily homes to have a sprinkler system, costing the project $75,000. The townhouses currently have a 4inch pipe that services the property, but in order to properly install the sprinkler systems the Metropolitan Commission says a 6-inch pipe is required. The project calls to bring a 6-inch pipe across Shangri-La Drive into the townhouses, and to improve the waSee Townhouses page A-
Photo by Adam Ross
Director of Economic and Community Development Bob Schaller (bottom) and Housing Authority Director Dennis Nicholson go over the before and after pictures of 46799 South Shangri-La Drive in Lexington Park, a development slated for workforce housing.
The County Times
Section A -
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Park Rock Event Gives Bands Chance To Get Noticed By Guy Leonard Staff Writer The five members of the band “Yours for Mine� played their sets on the small stage at the Park Rock festival in Chancellors Run Park vigorously as a small crowd of young people gathered round The sounds they played ranged from screaming with rhythm at others. Once their 45 minutes was up, they quickly packed up their instruments, amps and other gear, fit it into their trunk and got ready to hit the road again. It was a long way to come for less than an hour of play, and they were lucky to get that much due to another band running behind schedule, but to them it was worth the trek to St. Mary’s County. They take the pains of traveling, often for little to no money, in stride.
“We just chanced it,� said Joey Testa, 20. “We’ve played here three years and it’s different every year. “No one remembers us.� His band mate John Woods protested. “No, no, some people remember us,� Wood said. “We play everywhere, we’ve been as far south as Dallas and as far north as New Hampshire. “We’re just trying to get the name out there.� And that’s exactly the kind of opportunity the concert’s founder and promoter, Fred Heather, of Lexington Park, wants to give aspiring musicians from all backgrounds; a chance to gain recognition. And the county, which sponsors the event, gets to hold a worthwhile community event that is alcohol, obscenity and drug free. This is the fifth year the concert has been setting up stages at Chancellors Run
Park, and this time they added a fifth stage to accommodate rhythm and blues, hip hop and go-go acts as well. Heather started the concert in 2000 after watching MusikFest in Bethlehem, Pa. on family vacation. “It was huge,� Heather said of the event that music from Rock and Roll to polkas and bag pipes. “Any music you could think of they had
it.�
The electrical engineer employed at Patuxent River Naval Air Station was inspired to recreate something like that here in the county. He got back from vacation that year and put together a concert in three weeks with more than 20 bands on two stages. “It was a humble beginning,� Heather said.
Now the concert has more than 100 acts coming to fill its playbill, including some artists from as far away as Toronto, Canada. The acts this year included genres like classic rock, hard rock, heavy metal, hardcore, rhythm and blues, go-go, punk, pop punk, screamo and a host of other alternative and independent music acts. “This was about local
and regional bands coming together and doing something that was awesome on Labor Day weekend,� Heather said. At the other end of the park, Latrice Carr was putting out her own brand of Gospel vocals. She didn’t have to go nearly as far as “Yours for Mine�, which also had a Christian message in its lyrics, because she lives in Great Mills. But her hopes for success were much the same as the band from Harrisonburg. “I’m starting to record my first album this year,� Carr said during a break from singing. “Hopefully I can just get my CD out to the masses.� Carr had done most of her music at church in Prince Frederick but now she wants to spread her wings and hopefully sing full time if she’s successful. “This is my coming out my debut,� Carr said. “I had my family and my friends here, that’s all the support I needed.� Heather said that supporting musicians was also a way of supporting the community. “You work with musicians and you create outings for the community,� Heather said. “That’s the whole idea and the world is a better place.�
Photo by Guy Leonard
Members of the band “Yours for Mine� out of Harrisonburg, Va, play for attendees of the Park Rock event held at Chancellors Run Park over the Labor Day weekend.
Witness Was Key In Arresting College Robbery Suspects By Guy Leonard Staff Writer County detectives acted quickly to arrest two suspected armed robbers who allegedly held up a visitor near St. Mary’s College last week, but the information they got which was vital to the arrest came from an observant student. The witness, who asked not to be named for security reasons, had just gotten out of class and saw the aftermath of the alleged crime. “I just saw the suspect fleeing the scene and the getaway car speed away,� the student witness said. “I was just in the right place at the right time.�
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While the scene the witness saw didn’t last long, the student was also able to identify one of the suspects in the alleged armed robbery. At the time, though, the student witness was somewhat confused by what was seen, but took the time to get the make and model of the alleged getaway vehicle as well as a license number. Investigaters apprehended the two suspects, Nathan Shelly, 21, of Lexington Park and Gene M. Jenkins, 20, from Leonardtown, about an hour later and used the information from the witness and the victim to make the actual arrest. The witness said the events took place only about 30 feet away. “I didn’t know what was happening until later,� the witness said, who later informed police investigators what happened. “I figured he was running from something so I tried to get a make, a model and a tag number. “I just sort of put two and two together.� Both Jenkins and Shelly were charged with armed robbery, first degree assault, using a handgun in the commission of a violent crime
theft and disturbing school activities. The alleged crime caused St. Mary’s College of Maryland to initiate a “shelter in place� response that had all students stay where they were in class or in residences. Students who were walking around on campus were taken inside until the any danger had passed. E-mail notifications were sent out as well as messages to individual students via phones. Once the alert of the alleged robbery at Trinity Church Road occurred at about 1 p.m. Aug. 29, it took the college about 13 minutes to enact its emergency procedure, according to Marc Apter, spokesman for the college. “We had the procedures in place and everyone got an E-mail or a voicemail,� Apter said. “Each office was called.� Apter said the emergency procedure worked well during the incident. “We were very pleased with the way the staff, students and faculty performed under stress,� Apter said. “The cooperative agreements we had with the sheriff’s office worked flawlessly.� The emergency state at
SAT Scores Continued from page A- the course’s structure. Ridgell said the school system has worked diligently to communicate with parents, students and teachers by newsletter and open house parent nights so they “understand the process and expectations.� And these programs appear to be working for the system as a whole. African American students posted increases on all three-test areas, with an 11-point gain in writing, 39-point gain in reading and 38-point gain in mathematics. Their combined score of 1332 showed an 88-point gain overall from 2006, and is building on Superintendent Michael J. Martirano’s vision of ending the achievement gap. Fifty-nine African Americans took the SAT in 2007.
Leonardtown High School led the other two high schools with 240 test takers and an average score of 1567. Great Mills High School SAT takers averaged 1415, while Chopticon High School averaged 1543 with 123 test takers. Great Mills was the only high school of the three to average below state and national averages. Chief Academic Officer Linda Dudderar said she has not heard any discussions coming down the pipeline to institute more intensive programs for the SAT through public schools. However, Ridgell said SMCPS is always looking for more materials in the classrooms and opportunities to provide information to students. The SAT includes a critical reading, math and writ-
the college was lifted before 3p.m. that day, according to press releases from the college. Apter said that there would be no changes at the college with regards to providing security in the wake of the alleged armed robbery but that the incident was certainly unexpected given the usually tranquil and open atmosphere at the college. “The realities of the 21st century come to St. Mary’s College,� Apter said. Just after the incident, students said they felt safe on campus. “They did a good job of letting everyone know [about the incident],� said senior Ryan D’Antuono. “No matter where you were you had to stay inside. “Word spread really quick, there wasn’t a person in sight.� One senior, Ali Femi, said the memories of the tragic mass murders at Virginia Tech earlier this spring informed the colleges quick response time. “I think everyone was a little surprised; with the Virginia Tech situation happening the school was very cautious,� Femi said. “But I didn’t feel like I was in danger or anything.�
ing section. The math section touches on topics such as exponential growth, absolute value, and functional notation. The SAT places greater emphasis on linear functions, manipulations with exponents, and properties of tangent lines in its math section. The critical reading section, once referred to as the verbal section, includes short reading passages along with long reading passages. Analogies have been eliminated from the SAT, but sentence-completion questions and passage-based reading questions remain. The writing section includes both multiple-choice questions and a direct writing measure in the form of an essay. Students can access the College Board’s materials by visiting www.collegeboard. com/satonlineecourseschool.
The County Times
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Section A -
Commissioners Authorize Relocation Help To Mobile Home Residents By Adam Ross Staff Writer Of the nearly 200 displaced residents of National and White Oak mobile home parks, 80 still need monetary assistance and a place to go, according to Dennis Nicholson, director of St. Mary’s County Housing Authority. To aid in the placement and moving costs for mobile home owners and renters, St. Mary’s County government secured $385,288 Aug. 28 in state and federal funds to conjoin with buyout packages offered from developers that residents said did not adequately cover moving costs. White Oak Property Manager Richard Eshelman offered $3,100 to residents who agreed to remove their homes and vacate the lot, but many owners argued that moving a trailer could cost $5,000 to $12,000 depending on trailer size. The grant money was gathered from left over funds used during the Lexington Manor relocation and additional funds from the state. “Our focus is securing the money, visiting residents and working out individual plans the best we can,” Nicholson said. Redevelopment of both sites located off Route 235 came separately and unexpectedly this spring – residents of White Oak were given until April of 2008 to vacate. Even with the excess money from last week’s grant acquisition, not everyone is expected to receive financial assistance. Nicholson estimated in June that 74 of the 160 displaced households could be helped, and of those, money allotted would be broken down into four categories: elderly and disabled trailer owners, who get first priority, then other owners, then elderly/disabled trailer renters, and finally all other renters. Nicholson said the housing authority is working closely with each resident to develop a strategy contingent with the resident’s needs. Additionally, he said not all families within the same priority category are guaranteed the same amounts of money; allocations are determined by need, distance of a move and size of a trailer. However, the specific amount a resident might receive is uncertain, although Commissioner Thomas A. Mattingly Sr. (D-Leonardtown) said earlier discussions rendered a figure of $3,000 to $3,500 per family. Meanwhile, choosing where to move is also a concern for many of the residents. Some have been able to successfully move to St. Clement’s Crossing, a trailer park on Great Mills Road, but others consider the park to be dirty and crime ridden. Under current St. Mary’s County zoning ordinances, trailer parks are not allowed to be built unless as part of a Planned Unit Development (PUD), which must go through the proper planning processes with the Planning Commission and be approved by the Board of County Commissioners. Additionally, relocating individual trailers in the Rural Preservation District can only be done with ownership of five acres. Such relocation would cost owners hundreds of thousands of dollars in land acquisition alone. “We ourselves have looked at other options, but they are limited and on a smaller scale,” Nicholson said. “The county isn’t blessed with available land and the supporting zoning ordinance that it had two decades ago for a mobile home.” Mattingly said the commissioners have held no discussions about changing the zoning ordinance, but it would likely come up when
the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance’s six-year review is due next year. “Depends on where [the mobile home park] is located,” Mattingly said of his support to amend the ordinance. “It could work in the development districts with public water and sewer, but I’m not sure how it would work in the rural areas.
“It’s something to look at given housing prices and where they are today, but I haven’t had anybody approach me with an interest in developing a mobile home park.” For some, moving could mean selling their mobile homes and renting a town house, while others have vowed to leave the county. Nicholson cautioned that the
housing authority is only a “supplemental resource,” and that the public sector “does not have all the answers to say where everyone is going to find a place to live.” Availability continues to be residents’ main concern, especially for mobile home owners who have an asset to secure, Nicholson said. Approximately 47 to 59 of the 80
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remaining displaced residents own a mobile home. While less of a priority, the remaining renters are still eligible for moving assistance and in some cases rental assistance. With last week’s commissioners vote, the funds should be available immediately. Once a new home is found and selected by the resident, the housing authority makes a direct check payment to the vendor upon approval. Thomas Builders in Leonardtown purchased the White Oak property for $3.9 million.
The County Times
Section A -
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Editorial & Opinion Increase Household Incomes Not All Good Labor Day News By most accounts, it’s a good time to live in Southern Maryland. Last week the Census Bureau released income statistics for the Washington metropolitan region. The report shows that income levels and personal wealth is growing substantially in the Southern Maryland region. Our neighboring counties, Calvert and Charles are now considered to be among the 10 wealthiest small counties in the United States. Calvert County’s median household income is the highest of the three Southern Maryland Counties with $84,891, only a small increase over the previous year. Charles County experienced a 15.2% increase over the prior year, with median household income now reported at $80,179. Here in St. Mary’s County, median household income rose 13% over the prior year
to $71,158. By and large, this is good news for the region, and most elected officials are speaking out with excitement. With household incomes on the rise, many elected officials see that as an opportunity to use more government as a catalyst to provide additional services in our community. It is also a signal to most elected officials that the citizens can afford more, especially more government. So for those elected officials who are sitting back counting the ways to raise taxes on our increasingly wealthy community, it may be a good time to reflect on why we celebrate “Labor Day” and how statistics can many times be misleading when viewed from a small window. For many people, Labor Day is simply a summer bookend to Memorial Day. Certainly Labor Day carry’s
much less significance then say Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Most people do not even know how or why Labor Day became a national holiday. The Central Labor Union first conceived Labor Day in 1882 in New York City. At the time, working conditions were much different than today with the average work day being closer to 12 hours, six or seven days a week. Workers enjoy little in the way of protections. Government was largely not involved as a watchdog for workers rights. In 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed the law making Labor Day an official United States holiday. Labor Day became known as the “working man’s holiday”. It still took many more years for things to improve for the working class in this country. Most federal work-
er-protection laws were not enacted until the 1930’s. Still the working class today, while much better off than those of the 1800’s and early 1900’s, carry the nations manual labor burden, while continuing to lose financial ground to higher income families. In communities like Southern Maryland, “blessed” with rapidly rising median household incomes, the working class struggles to keep pace. In fact, the rapid rise in income levels is a result of large increases in upper income levels, while those making $50,000 a year or less have seen little increase in income levels over the past year. Most people, especially the “working class” people are actually worse off, not better off. Recently local government has been busy using St. Mary’s County rising wealth to justify making our com-
munity “better”. Things such as forcing new homes to have one, two, or three development rights purchased from large property owners causing the cost of new homes to increase by $20,000 to $50,000. Plans to require new homes to have automatic sprinklers will add another $8,000 to $10,000 to the cost of a new home. Suddenly even median household income levels aren’t enough to afford a new home, what are lower income workers suppose to do? What about young families starting out with income levels in the $20,000 and $30,000 range? And for the thousands of workers who are actually making even less, government will force itself to use tax dollars to house and feed those folks. Then when elected officials use the rising wealth argument to say tax increases are necessary and our com-
munity can afford it, things get even worse. For lower to middle income folks who are sacrificing to make ends meet already, even a $100 a year tax increase can make a difference. And when taxes are raised on businesses and those with higher income levels, this burden is ultimately passed down to those who can least afford it. For those who still believe that business can absorb cost increases without raising prices, those are the most dangerous elected officials of all. And when prices rise at the grocery store, the gas pumps, the clothing store, etc., those who have the least suffer the most. So as many boast about the healthy state of Southern Maryland, let us not forget why Labor Day is important, even here in Southern Maryland
To The Editor: Dear Fellow SMECO Members: This year marks Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative’s (SMECO’s) 70th anniversary. On behalf of the Board of Directors of SMECO, I would like to thank you for your participation and attendance at your 2007 Annual Members’ Meeting. More than 2,000 of you joined together and attended the meeting to take part in the business affairs of your cooperative and to elect directors from Calvert, Charles, Prince George’s, and St. Mary’s counties. All the incumbent directors were re-elected to another term. They join me in thanking you for your support. I would also like to thank Mr. Steve Larsen, Chairman of the Maryland Public Service Commission, for his kind remarks regarding SMECO’s accomplishments and business practices,
Thomas Stone High School’s Army Junior ROTC for the Presentation of Colors, and Miss Rachel Escolopio for her outstanding rendition of our national anthem. Thanks also to Mr. Ernie Bell for his usual excellent job as Annual Meeting Chairman. We are proud to be members of your Board of Directors and will continue to work to provide safe, reliable electric power at the lowest possible cost to you, our customer-members. As Mr. Slater, our president and chief executive officer, said at the meeting, “As long as we keep our focus on our customers, we’ll keep going strong for another 70 years.” Again, thank you for your participation and support.
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.
Continued from page A- ter line and plumbing where necessary. “This is the way MetCom gave us to provide necessary water service to the townhouses,” said Dennis Nicholson, director of the St. Mary’s County Housing Authority. The cost was a concern to the commissioners, who this month will hold a public hearing to look into requiring all
new residential developments to have an indoor sprinkler system, with a possible exception to the Amish and Mennonite communities throughout the county. The bulk of the cost is not in bringing the water line across the four lane ShangriLa, but the with the system’s installation into each unit, Nicholson said. According
County Government to Hold Annual 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony The Board of County Commissioners invites the public and County staff to attend the Annual Remembrance Ceremony to reflect on the tragedies that occurred to our nation on September 11, 2001. The ceremony will be held on Tuesday, September 11, 2007, at noon, outside of the Governmental Center at the flagpole and the Freedom Garden. For more information, contact the Public Information Office at 301-475-4200 extension 1340.
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to preliminary cost analysis, Nicholson said each unit would cost roughly $12,000 to install the system, because of the level of rehab the project will require. The building was constructed in the 1970s. MetCom does have a pumping station located close to the property, where 8-inch pipes are installed. Commissioner Thomas A. Mattingly Sr. (D-Leonardtown) asked Nicholson if tapping into the station would be more economically feasible, but Nicholson maintained that the
current plan would be the cheapest and most reasonable way to fulfill the sprinkler requirement. Once the project is complete Nicholson hopes to sell each townhouse for $150,000 to $160,000, but said each property would be available for rent, or on a rent to own continuum depending on the buyer’s financial status. “It could go a number of directions,” Nicholson said, “we don’t’ want to limit our opportunities.” The six townhouses will
Ryken
enforcement. No charges are pending against those officials, Burris said. Mary Joy Hurlburt, president of St. Mary’s Ryken High School, in a released statement on the incident, said that Spoelker had started teaching at Ryken High School in 1969. “The school takes all allegations of abuse against students very seriously,” Hurlburt wrote in her statement. “Our hearts go out to the person who came forward. We will cooperate with the local and state authorities.” Bro. Lawrence Harvey, general superior of the Xaverian Brothers order, released a similar prepared statement regarding the charges against his fellow religious. “The Xaverian Brothers have not been fully informed of the allegations against the
Continued from page A- “We’re certainly contacting people who were there at the time who may have information that can help us,” Burris said. “We believe there may be at least one other victim.” Burris said detectives are still trying to confirm whether an incident that was alleged to have occurred in 1982 involving a female child who was not a student at the school actually happened. This event may have led to Spoelker’s leaving his teaching position there that same year, Burris said. Burris added that investigators believed officials at Ryken High School during the first alleged incident were aware of it but it was not reported as a crime to law
be open to the community, however family’s with a combined income of $60,000 or less, depending on size, will be who the project targets. “The housing authority is going to own them, but the ultimate goal is to pass home ownership to the homeowners,” Nicholson added. Nicholson hopes the project could be completed as soon as January of 2008, but anticipates a spring 2008 grand opening. “It looks like the finished product is going to be an asset
Bro. Philip Spoelker’s arrest photo
member of our community but we take any such claim very seriously and will fully cooperate with civil authorities in the investigation,” Harvey stated in the release. “We understand that even though an incident of abuse may have occurred decades ago, the effects of that abuse on a victim is lifelong. We earnestly and readily apologize to anyone who may have experienced any form of abuse involving a member of our congregation.”
to the community,” Commissioner Francis Jack Russell (D-Point Lookout) said. Mattingly took Russell’s comment one step further and said the with the work done to the library, school, fire house and church in that area, this project would just add onto a “dramatic change in the community.” With partnership from Mercantile Southern Maryland Bank, the housing authority was able to secure the six townhouses for affordable housing. Ryken High School merged with St. Mary’s Academy, to form the coeducational St. Mary’s Ryken in 1981 According to information from BCI, detectives traveled to Venice, Fla. Aug. 30 to affect the fugitive arrest of Spoelker, 64, an adjunct teacher at Manatee Community College. According to the college’s spokeswoman Katherine Walker, because he could no longer fulfill his duties as a science teacher, Spoelker’s employment was terminated. “We had no [reports of] sexual allegations against him,” Walker said. A release from Manatee Community College stated that a complete state and federal background check was completed on Spoelker’s application for employment in 2004 and came back without any criminal history.
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The County Times
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Section A -
Investigators Looking For Stolen Money In Bank Robbery
Suspects face court in Montgomery County first By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Detectives with the St. Mary’s County Bureau of Criminal Investigations say they have two suspects they believe are responsible for the robbery at the Bank of American branch office in Mechanicsville Aug. 17, but they have not found the money those suspects allegedly stole. The two suspects, Valeriy V. Kouznetsov, 23 and David
Concepcion, 33, both from Rockville, were captured by Montgomery County police Aug. 27 after allegedly attempting a bank robbery which failed. Lt. Rick Burris, commander of BCI, said the search continues for the money that was allegedly stolen from Bank of America. According to Burris, the two suspects reportedly used a vehicle in that robbery they had carjacked earlier Aug. 17
in Montgomery County. Burris said it would be some time before the two suspects could be arraigned and tried here in St. Mary’s because of all the charges they face in Montgomery County. “They’ll have to go through various legal processes before we can bring them down,” Burris said. “We’d been working with them [Montgomery County police] since the [Aug.17] robbery occurred.
“All the evidence kind of fell together.” Burris said that after the Mechanicsville robbery, detectives were able to use a partial tag number and vehicle description matching that of a carjacking that had occurred in Montgomery County. The two suspects continued their alleged crime spree when they reportedly carjacked another vehicle in Montgomery County Aug. 25 and used it in another attempt
two days later to hold up a bank in Rockville. The morning of the Rockville robbery, according to information from the Montgomery County Police Department, one of the suspects attempted to gain entry to the United Bank located on Rockville Pike with what witnesses described as a handgun. A teller did not allow the suspect into the second foyer of the bank and the suspect fled into a black Chevrolet Cavalier driven by the second suspect. Montgomery police later found the car and the two suspects and arrested them. They recovered a replica of a semiautomatic handgun during the search of the vehicle, according to Montgomery police reports. Both Concepcion and
Kouznetsov face charges of first degree assault, conspiracy to commit armed robbery and armed robbery for their alleged crimes in St. Mary’s. In Montgomery County, Concepcion faces charges of attempted armed robbery, armed carjacking, felony theft, and the unlawful taking of a motor vehicle. Kouznetsov was charged with attempted armed robbery, two counts of armed carjacking, two counts of felony theft and two counts of unlawful taking of a motor vehicle. Burris said the robbery here in St. Mary’s was among the most serious in recent memory. “It’s pretty brazen,” Burris said. “We were certainly glad to get them into custody.”
Structured Settlements: Providing Economic Peace of Mind sion that would guarantee me money every month so I could focus on recovery and eventually on living my life.” Today, Megan works for the World Institute on Disability as a leading advocate for people with disabilities. A graduate of The University of Texas at Austin, she is empowering people with disabilities to know the facts about financial planning. Megan’s situation is not unique. Each year, tens of thousands of people in the United States win settlements as plaintiffs in personal injury cases. During the expanse of time between court dates and depositions, many personal injury plaintiffs are unemployed and coping with injuries some times for years. This situation can quickly deplete savings and result in the need to borrow money from family or incur large amounts of debt. So when the verdict arrives in the plaintiff’s favor, or a settlement is reached out of court, the idea of receiving a large sum of money all at once could be very attractive. But many financial experts agree that structured settlement payments may be the smarter option long-term. “Many people view those who receive lump sum payments as just the recipients of a big financial windfall,” says Susan Bradley, founder of Sudden Money Institute. “However it’s important to remember that those involved in personal injury accidents are going through more than just a financial event, it’s a life event. So it is vital for these people and their families to deal with this new reality carefully and take the time to make the best financial decision possible for their future.” Instead of taking a lump sum at the time of In the event of a financial settlement in a personal settlement, the ininjury case, structured settlements are a smarter jured party or the long-term financial investment than one lump surviving family October 10, 1995, is a day that changed Megan O’Neil’s life forever. Megan was riding as a passenger on her way back from a school-related trip when she was in a car accident that left her paralyzed. In addition to the physical and emotional recovery, Megan was forced to make a financial decision that would impact the rest of her life. She was awarded a financial settlement for her injuries from her accident and faced twIn the event of a financial settlement in a personal injury case, structured settlements are a smarter long-term financial investment than one lump sum.choices: take the settlement as a onetime lump sum payment or receive the money through a structured settlement annuity contract, which would provide her with a future stream of payments exempt from state and federal income taxes. While the lump sum was enticing, Megan opted for the structured settlement. As a young woman with limited investment experience and facing a lifetime of expenses associated with her injury, she recognized that she was too young to make long-term investment decisions associated with the lump sum settlement. “I knew that while I couldn’t change the circumstance I was in, what I could do was make the right decision for my future,” says Megan. “So, I made a deci-
members in a wrongful death suit have the option of receiving payments for life via an annuity contract issued by a reputable life insurance company, such as American General Life Insurance Company (American General Life). It is true that a lump sum can earn a considerable amount of interest when invested or placed in a highyield savings account. However, the interest earned (not the sum itself) is subject to state and federal income tax regulations. This can add up quickly even on a modest settlement. Structured settlements, on the other hand, are free from state and federal income taxes. Payments made are non-taxable by state and federal tax guidelines outlined in Section 104(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code. “In addition to the tax benefits, structured settlements provide peace of mind and other benefits,” adds J.P. Steele, president of structured settlements of American General Life and immediate past president of the National Structured Settlements Trade Association (NSSTA). “For example, the individual can receive a set stream of payments punctuated by larger individual payments to help
Megan. “However, by opting for a structured settlement, having that safety and security allows them to take risks, like it did me, with the peace of mind knowing they have regular cash flow to meet their
basic needs.” People should know about structured settlements even though the majority of Americans may never need to worry about using one, she adds.
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The County Times
Section A -
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Ramblings of a Country Girl Photo by Adam Ross
Made in China Terri Bartz Bowles People who know me know that I have been railing against the tsunami hitting our shores in recent years of goods made in China. Absolutely everything, it seems, is made in China. Apparently, we’re not capable of
making anything in America anymore. But of course we are. We simply don’t. Why? Greed. Plain and simple, it comes down to greed. And it’s not only on the part of the manufacturers, it’s also consumer greed. Manufacturer greed is a big part of it, but manufac-
Odd News CHESTERFIELD, Mo. - The last straw was the fake palm trees for Dwight DeGolia’s neighbors. The 62-year-old retiree had spent years fixing up the sliver of sloping land outside his home, adding two putting greens that were almost 30 feet long, a small creek and a gazebo. Then he added 50 tons of beach sand to complete the illusion of a tropical golf vacation, as well as a portable golf hitting cage and a bar with a pergola roof. “We had that place really shining,” DeGolia said. But the 8- to 12-foot palm trees made it impossible for neighbors to ignore DeGolia’s project anymore, a passion that they said was making the neighborhood look tacky and led them to take DeGolia to court. “We gave it a nickname,” said Dennis Taylor, a former subdivision trustee. “Wally World.” Cities and neighborhood associations have struggled for years with how to handle situations in which eccentric people with a penchant for lawn decoration get into fights with nearby homeowners. The battles often feature issues that are far from straightforward, such as whose property rights are more important — the woman who fancies dozens of cupid statues on her front lawn, or the nextdoor neighbor who has to look at it? In any event, he and his wife moved to Oklahoma, in part because of the fight with landscaping. BIGGS, Ore. - Three commercial truck drivers blocked a car leading authorities on a high-speed chase for more than 50 miles. The truckers pulled alongside each other and slowed to about 5 mph, forming a rolling roadblock. The fleeing driver stopped and fled on foot but was quickly captured, authorities said. Trucker Edwin Beach said he had heard police radio traffic and said, “OK, where’s the high-speed chase at?” He coordinated with two other drivers over CB and placed his truck in the middle on Interstate 84. “We were all kind of laughing because he was running down the freeway,” said Beach, of Kelso, Wash. Identities of the other two truckers were not immediately available. The chase began Saturday near Boardman and ended near the John Day Dam on the Columbia River about 100 miles east of Portland, police said. Speeds during the chase exceeded 100 mph. The fleeing car had been reported to have been involved in a hit-and-run. FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - A Flagstaff man allegedly climbed into a hearse during a funeral to nap a pile of flowers. Christopher Billie, 37, was booked into the Yavapai County jail on one count of auto burglary, said Sgt. Tom Boughner, a Flagstaff police spokesman. Police were called to Our Lady of Guadalupe Church just after 8 p.m. Thursday by a funeral director who watched as Billie opened the hearse door, climbed inside and began grabbing flower vases, Boughner said. Billie, who reportedly was intoxicated, was detained by the mortician until officers arrived. ELK RIVER, Minn. - A 7-foot statue of Buddha, covered in copper-landen bronze was stolen from an outdoor temple shire at the Thai Buddhist Center of Minnesota because of what appears to be growing prices for scrap metal, police said. Police Chief Jeff Beahen said a 45-year-old Elk River woman was arrested Friday night, and a male family member was being looked at as another suspect in the theft. The statue, valued at $10,000, was stolen Wednesday night, and a detective issued a statewide alert to police and scrap dealers Thursday with a photo of the stolen statue. Early Friday afternoon, a recycling company in Monticello called the detective, saying they had taken in two pieces of scrap they believed to be from the statue. Police recovered the right shoulder and right hip of the statue, each weighing about 60 pounds, and with the help of the recycler were able to identify the woman who had brought them in. “There are another 10 pieces or so, and I hope the other recycling companies are as diligent in talking with us,” Beahen said. The statue was specially made in Thailand for the center. “It’s too bad,” said temple member Jay Cramer. “The whole community is real sad. It’s a sacred piece.” But Cramer said there was some relief in knowing that the statue was stolen for money and not because of bigotry. A new law took effect in Minnesota Aug. 1 requiring scrap dealers to keep detailed records of all transactions. Sellers must show state-issued IDs, and dealers must pay them with checks or electronic transfers and take pictures of them and their vehicles.
turers are competing for consumer dollars and consumers want things cheap. But the manufacturers’ profit margins are pretty large. I read an article that stated only 35 cents stayed in China for a product that retails in America for $20. Wow. Even when you consider the cost of the raw
goods, shipping, packaging and marketing; that seems like a pretty large profit margin. Consumers are also guilty – if there were two packages of pencils and the one made in China sold for 50 cents and the one made in the USA sold for $1.00, an awful lot of folks would opt to save the 50 cents.
Tennis Continued from page A- County Tennis Association (SMCTA) have been strong advocates of the park’s revitalization effort, including lending hands to write the grant proposal to USTA. For years, SMCTA members have played at local schools, but those facilities are often congested with after-school activities, and a lack of open bathrooms and shelters from the sun. There are roughly 1,600 active tennis
It’s 50 crummy cents, surely most people could afford the difference. But they have chosen not to and by making that choice, we have sent countless manufacturing jobs overseas, most to China. Go in the stores and try to find something made in the USA. Try to find something made somewhere other than China. Look at every product you pick up – until you start looking at everything, you don’t realize the magnitude of what I’m talking about. We hardly make anything in America anymore. Major light bulb brand – made in China. Bandages and all sorts of medical supplies – made in China. Most shoes are made in China. Every purse in the world is apparently made in China. There are a few American companies making shoes but they are mostly special items like work shoes and boots. I challenge you to try and buy not made in China for a week. It’s nearly impossible. Even a surprising number of food products are made in China. We just don’t make any products here any more, so what do we do? Service, people tell me, we do service. Not so much. Have you called your cell phone carrier lately? Tried to make a medical appointment? Called the 800 number on the back of the shampoo bottle? Where are
players in St. Mary’s County who could benefit from the Cecil Park project, according to Katie Keen, a board member for SMCTA, who spoke with The County Times in March. “I see this as a way our whole team can practice at one time,” Keen said of her 16-person team. “It’s just so exciting to have four courts at one [public] location.” The courts are expected to have a softer surface, not quite as soft as clay that will help maintain the vitality of older players. SMCTA is a non-profit charter association partnered with the USTA.
you calling? India. Why are we unable to do anything here any more? I find it sad and depressing. More people are paying attention now - after the dog food scare, the toothpaste scare and the lead paint toy scare. The Christmas shopping season will be upon us soon. Try this – do an internet search on made in America and made in USA. You’ll find a surprising number of hits, there are sites dedicated to this and an encouraging number of small companies still making goods in America. Support them. And support your local shops that carry handmade goods, local wine, and original art. There are also lots of retailers, both virtual and brick-andmortar, that carry handcrafted goods made in other parts of the world that are beautiful and interesting. Understand this, I’m not against all imports. I’m against the rising monopoly of goods made in one country that is impacting the rest of the world economy. I am against cheap, shoddy goods that have replaced quality items. And I’m against people with personal financial tunnel-vision who refuse to see the difference. I’m going to have a T-shirt made that says “China – I told you so.”
They have also worked closely with Rollins to make the project go forward. Rollins proposed lighting to Dorsey Park’s courts in fiscal year 2010, in part because the project at Cecil Park does not include nighttime playing lights. The commissioners unanimously approved resubmitting the grant application to USTA, which requires them to sign a letter. Commissioner Kenny Dement (RCallaway) made the motion, which was seconded by by Commissioner Daniel H. Raley (D-Great Mills).
Fifth Annual Skateboard Series Results The Ledo Pizza 2007 Mid Atlantic Skate Series celebrated the conclusion of our 5th year at St. Mary’s County Skatepark last weekend, and what a year it was! MASS 2007 included 8 contests and over 400 skaters representing 11 states, an army of tremendous volunteers, and a lot of great skating. For complete results see www.ledopizzaskateboardseries.com.
Top 3 overall in each class were:
2. Jake Hilbish 3. Daniel Hobson 14-17 Bowl: 1. Corey Rubin 2. Charles Dagley 3. Chuck Morris 18-29 Bowl: 1. Chris Williams 2. Ed Latus 3. Ryan Magyar 30-39 Bowl: 1. John Fudala 2. Robert Roper 3. Zac Reed
10 and Under Bowl: 1. Neal Hailey 2. Joe Rutkowski 3. Nic Potts
40+ Bowl: 1. Bob Pribble 2. Curt Kimbel 3. Jeff Swayne
11-13 Bowl: 1. Frank Schaffroth
Women Bowl: 1. Alexandra Hailey 2. Jackie Dorney
3. Olivia Branch Longboard Bowl: 1. Frank Schaffroth 2. Coco Branch 3. Neal Hailey Novice Street: 1. Neal Hailey 2. Daniel Crowe 3. Myles Willard Intermediate Street: 1. Korey Gandy and Trevor Colden (tie) 2. Coco Branch 3. Charles Dagley Expert Street: 1. Alex Johns 2. Chris Williams 3. Dakota Welty Red Bull Manny Mania Best Trick: Old School Skatepark #1:
Tyrone Reed Arlington: Trevor Colden Olney: Jonathan Lankford Old School Skatepark #2: Trevor Colden Charles County: Chris Williams St. Mary’s: Chris Van Eeklin www.gobro.tv Big Air (at Olney) 1. Tom Knox 2. Ronnie Oneal and Tommy Little (tie) I would like to sincerely thank Ledo Pizza, Red Bull and all of our sponsors, and the many volunteers we depend on each week to make the series come alive. It was a great year, and I look forward to seeing everyone again in 2008! Curt
Navy News NAVAIR Vice Commander Retiring at Month’s End Amy Kaper Staff Writer Rear Admiral Steven L. Enewold, Vice Commander of Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), will end his Navy career Sept. 26 after 35 years of service. Enewold took over as Vice Commander in August 2006. Within NAVAIR, he has acted as Program Executive Officer for the Joint Strike Fighter Program Office; Director, Air Vehicle Division; Program Manager for the EA-6B (PMA-234); and Program Executive Officer for Air ASW, Assault and Special Missions Program (PEO-A). Enewold also taught at the
United States Naval Test Pilot School at Naval Air Station Patuxent River from 19881991. “More than half of the military program managers within NAVAIR are my former students,” he said. “Rear Admiral Enewold has always been people focused. His call sign, ‘Smiley,’ captures the essence of his character,” Captain Barbara Bell, a member of Enewold’s team at NAVAIR, said. “He is continually engaged in coaching, mentoring, and, most importantly, empowering the people who work for him.” Captain Ralph Portnoy, co-lead of the Total Force Strategy and Management Department, has known En-
ewold since test pilot school in 1991. “What I learned way back then, and [what] I still see today, is that Rear Admiral Enewold is a true people person whose caring and easy-going manner puts people at ease right away,” Portnoy said. “I think his willingness to tackle big jobs as the vice commander is complemented and enabled because he works so well with people.” Captain Mat Winter, Program Manager for the Precision Strike Weapons Program Office (PMA-201), knows Enewold as a true leader, mentor and friend. “He combines the right mix of authority and camaraderie to bring out the absolute best in each person he touches,” said Winter. Enewold said his job has
been much different than anything he’s ever done before. “As a program manager I focused on a product, but in the command office, I focused on the people and facilities of the organization.” According to Enewold, the people that make up NAVAIR are a unique and rare commodity. However, he is looking forward to change as he seeks employment within the aeronautical community. “I was spoiled as the program manager for Joint Strike Fighter (JSF),” he said. “I’m really looking forward to building something again.” Rear Admiral William Shannon, NAVAIR’s Assistant Commander for Logistics and Industrial Operations, will assume the duties of Vice Commander Oct. 1”
The County Times
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Section A -
Obituaries Charlotte Louise (Prois) Andes, 85
to Recorded Books at your local library. Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A. in Leonardtown, Md.
Marco Bellosi, Sr.
Charlotte Louise (Prois) Andes, 85, of Hollywood, Md., died Aug. 29, 2007 at her residence. Born Dec. 25, 1921 in Rutherford, N.J., she was the daughter of the late Eman Prois and Sophie Satinover Prois. She attended Rutherford school system. She graduated from Passaic School of Nursing and joined the Army Nurse Corp during World War II, serving in the Philippines, Manila and Cebu. She then took her discharge from the Army in Hawaii and for several months ran a Nursery school at Schofield Barracks for the Army. Upon returning to Rutherford, she attended Seton Hall College majoring in Public Health and went 38 years in Occupational Health. She was employed at Olonite in Passaic, N.J. and Wyoming Industries, American Bosch in Springfield, Mass. and in the Trenton, N.J. area for GTE. GM. Essex Rubber and retired after 24 years of service at Circle F. Industry. She was a member of the Rutherford Alumni, the Medical Center of Passaic Alumni, A/A/O/H/N, Senior Center Club D in Trenton, N.J., a lifetime member of the American Legion Post 162, Lexington Park, Md., VFW in California, Md., Red Hat Society, Calvert County Market in Prince Frederick, Md., and the Northern Senior Center. She enjoyed making coiled rugs and listening to recorded books. She is survived by her daughter, Barbara Jane Ferrante with whom she lived, granddaughter, Jillian Marie, both of Hollywood, Md., a niece and two nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard Andes, son-in-law, Ralph Ferrante, and sister, Rhoda Wood. All services will be private. Memorial contributions may be to Hospice of St. Mary’s, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650 or donate
On Thursday, Aug. 23, 2007, of Dunkirk, MD, beloved husband of Linda Bellosi; loving father of Marco, Jr., Ricky, Gracy, Kim, Brian, Dbo, Madison, Little Gracy and Vincent; brother of Joe, Rosey and John. Also survived by 20 grandchildren; numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and other family. Family invite friends to call at the LEE FUNERAL HOME, CALVERT, P.A., 8125 Southern Maryland Blvd., (Rt. 4 and Fowler Rd.) Owings, MD, on Wednesday and Thursday, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Friday, Aug. 31, 10 a.m. at Jesus the Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 1601 W. Mount Harmony Rd., Owings, MD.
William Clayton Combs, 85
William Clayton Combs, 85, of Greenville, N.H., formerly of Valley Lee, Md., died Sept. 2, 2007 at home after a long illness. Born in Valley Lee, Md. on Jan. 8, 1922 he was the son of the late Joseph Franklin and Margaret Lucille Redman Combs Sr. He was the husband of Mary Virginia Crump, whom he married at St. Gabriel’s Church in Washington, D.C. on July 13, 1945. He is survived by his wife of 62 years; his daughter, Nancy Lee Courage and husband David M. Courage; three grandchildren, Christopher and William Courage and Kelly Ann Clark; two great-grandsons, Colby and Jordan Clark. Mr. Combs is also survived by his sister, Loretta Marie Rule, of Leonardtown, Md. He was preceded in death by his son, Robert William Combs in 1992 and his brothers and sisters, Thomas Lester Combs,
Joseph Earl Combs, Joseph Franklin Combs, Franklin E.Combs, John R. Combs, Louis M. Combs, Michael H. Combs, Paul Jenifer Combs, Margaret Cullison, Lucy Loretta Combs and Rose Celeste Combs. Mr. Combs attended Great Mills High School. He moved to Washington, D.C. in 1937, where he joined the C.C. Camp as a heavy equipment operator. In 1939 he joined the U.S. Merchant Marines as an ordinary seaman. He sailed around the world and was on two ships that were torpedoed during World War II. He was honorably discharged in 1943 as a boatswain. He then owned and operated an Auto Body Shop in Washington, D.C. He worked as an auto body repairman until his retirement in 1984. He then moved to Valley Lee, Md., where he made his home until moving to Greenville, N.H. in 2005 to be near his daughter and family. His greatest passions in life were his family, fishing, crabbing and gardening. The family will receive friends on Friday, Sept. 7, 2007 from 5 – 8 p.m. in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, where prayers will be said at 7 p.m.. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, Sept. 8 2007 at 10 a.m. in Holy Face Catholic Church, Great Mills, Md., with Fr. Joseph Sileo officiating. Interment will follow in the church Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Brian T. Combs, David J. Combs, James M. Combs, Joseph M. Combs, Richard T. Combs and Stephen Todd Combs. Honorary pallbearers will be Richard Goldsborough, James Hansen and Earl Russell. Contributions may be made to the Second District Volunteer Fire Dept. and Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 1, Valley Lee, MD 20692. Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A.
Salvatore Victor Greco, 89 Salvatore Victor Greco, 89, of Lexington Park, Md., died Sept. 3, 2007 at his residence. Born June 19, 1918 in Manhattan, N.Y., he was the son of the late Frank Greco and Filomena DiGiorno Greco. The family will receive friends on Friday, Sept. 7, 2007 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in Leonardtown Baptist Church, Leonardtown, Md., where a Funeral Service will be conducted at 12 p.m. Reverend Clyde Phillips will conduct the service. Interment will follow in Charles Memo-
rial Gardens, Leonardtown, Md. Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A. in Leonardtown, Md. Condolences to the family may be left at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com. A full obituary will appear at a later date.
George Louis Holloway, III George Louis Holloway passed away peacefully at his home on Aug. 26, 2007. He is survived by his beloved wife, Barbara A. Holloway; loving daughter, Vicki A. Weeks (James); two sons, Marc L. (Jonese) and Michael G. Holloway; two loving grandsons, Zachary J. and Devin A. Weeks. Visitation was Thursday, August 30, 2007 6 to 8 p.m. at LEE FUNERAL HOME, INC., Branch Ave. and Coventry Way, Clinton, MD and Friday, August 31 from 10 a.m. until time of service 11 a.m. at Israel Baptist Church, 1251 Saratoga Ave., NE. Interment Arlington National with Full Military Honors at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the scholarship fund at Israel Baptist Church.
Anna Marie Hughes, 86
Anna Marie Hughes, 86, of Mayfair, Pa., died Aug. 25, 2007 in St. Mary’s Hospital, Leonardtown, Md. She has gone home to live evermore in the kingdom of God. Born Sept. 7, 1920 in Philadelphia, Pa., she was the daughter of the late Robert Wallace and Emma Yates Wallace. She was recently the proud recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award. Her life epitomized selflessness, a servant’s heart, and the unconditional love of God. Memories of her will forever cling to the heart, soul, and mind of all who had the pleasure to know her.
She is survived by her son, John R. Hughes and his wife Phyllis, of Lexington Park, Md, five grandchildren, Carol and David DeBenedictis, Linda and Mark Paolini, Mark Hughes, all of Philadelphia, Pa, Nicole and John Grant-Barajas of Honolulu, HI, and Brittany Grant of Hollywood, Md., and five great-grandchildren, Gianna Paolini, Marcella DeBenedictis, Mariano DeBenedictis, Zeke Grant and Emily Grant. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, John M. Hughes. A Memorial Service to celebrate her life will be announced by the family. Memorial contributions may be made to Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, 5005 LBJ Freeway, Suite 250, Dallas, TX 75244. Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A. in Leonardtown, Md.
Alma Mae Mason, 86 Alma Mae Mason, 86, of White Plains died of lung cancer on Aug.16, 2007 at Civista Medical Center. Born April 11, 1921, in Millville, N.J., she was one of ten children born to the late Raymond and Elizabeth Stormes. On June 15, 1941, she marreid Wilbur S. Mason of Brookneal,Va. They were married nearly 45 years before his death in 1986. They lived most of their married life in Marlow Heights, Md., where they raised their five children. Alma moved to Charles County where she lived with her son Gary, his wife Sandy and their two children until her death. She is survived by her five children, Wayne Mason of Mechanicsville,MD, Sherry Green of College Park, Md., Barbara Shisler of Glen Allen, Va, Gary Mason of White Plains, Md. and Lori Sullivan of Pomfret, Md. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren, Mike Mason, Cheryl Iverson, Terry Green, Dawn Green, Heathr Shisler, Jessica Shisler, Megan Yancy, Aaron Mason, Sarah Mason, Eric Morris and Kevin Sullivan plus nine great-grandchildren. Her surviving siblings are Peggy, Mary, and Junior from Millville, N.J. Memorial Contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society.
Marilyn Elizabeth Mathes, 57 Marilyn Elizabeth Mathes, 57, of Hollywood, Md., died September 1, 2007 at her residence.
The family will receive friends Thursday, Sept. 6, 2007 from 4-8 p.m. and Friday, Sept. 7, 2007 from 5-8 p.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home Chapel, Leonardtown, Md. Prayers will be recited at 7 p.m. on both evenings. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, Sept. 8, 2007 at 11 a.m. in St. John Francis Regis Catholic Church, Hollywood, Md. Father Ray Schmidt will conduct the service. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A. in Leonardtown, MD. A full obituary will appear at a later date.
Dorothy Lee Johnson Seipp, 74 Dorothy Lee Johnson Seipp, 74, a 23-year resident of Tracys Landing, died of cancer Aug. 25 at her home after a brief illness. Mrs. Seipp was born Nov. 10, 1932, in Charlottesville, Va., and attended Prince George\’s Community College. She worked in human resources for the former C&P Telephone Co. for more than 28 years, retiring in 1995. In 1999 she started her own business, Dorothy\’s Gifts and Consignments, in Deale. She lived in Washington, D.C., with her former husband, the late Cecil W. Johnson, until 1966 when she moved to Churchton. An avid Oriole fan, she also enjoyed playing bingo at the Deale Elks lodge, collecting porcelain dolls and taking trips to Charles Town, W.Va. Surviving are her husband, LeRoy Seipp, whom she married April 24, 1984; one son, Danny Johnson of Ellicott City; two daughters, Patricia Smith of Waldorf and Diane Powers of Churchton; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and six stepchildren, Susan Owen, LeRoy Seipp III, Kate Kalins, John Seipp, Joseph \”Samuel\” Seipp and Sally Leapley. She was the mother of the late Louis Johnson. Visitation is from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at Lee Funeral Home Calvert, 8125 Southern Maryland Blvd., Owings on Wednesday, where services will be at 11:30 a.m. Thursday. Burial will follow at 1 p.m. in Maryland Veterans Cemetery, 11301 Crain Highway, Cheltenham. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hospice of the Chesapeake, 445 Defense Highway, Annapolis, MD 21401.
The County Times
Section A -
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Restoration Continued from page A- first saw use for grain storage, Miller said, but once grain prices dropped and tobacco was in demand the purpose of the barn was changed to keep profits rolling in to Mackall’s 1,700-acre estate. Aside from its uses in the agricultural life of Maryland in the 18th century, the barn’s structure gives historians a glimpse into ancient English building methods. While the barn was built in 1785, the techniques used to erect it came from 17th century England nearly 100 years before. The use of tilted false plates as a way of securing the roof, a kind of pegging techniques0 to keep the timbers of the barn together for so long point to a time long past, Miller said. “We’re lucky this has survived, so lucky,” Miller said of the Mackall barn. But the story the barn can tell historians about the land’s past doesn’t end there, Miller
said. By boring down into the ground underneath the barn, where no rain has fallen since 1785 and the pollen has stopped seeping and winding through the soil, historians and scientists can ascertain from pollen samples what crops were grown in the area and when. This gives historians and scientists a more accurate vision of what the environment was like around St. Mary’s City centuries ago and changes that have occurred since. Richard Moe, chair of the St. Mary’s Commission, said the tobacco barns of Southern Maryland were an endangered breed and worth preserving. The Mackall barn was particularly important, he said. “It’s been an anomaly for a long time and we thought about what to do with it,” Moe told The County Times. “It was never an option to destroy it, it was too significant.”
Photo by Guy Leonard
The Mackall barn, built in 1785, was used to store grain, tobacco and livestock throughout its life. It has also given scientists and historians insight into the environment and agriculture in Maryland’s colonial era.
MSDE Awarded $6.2 Million Grant to Create Online Portal By Adam Ross Staff Writer Using a $6.2 million federal grant awarded this month, the Maryland State Department of Education is cooking up a special education development portal, a “super site” with online resources, courses and tools to help educators and parents manage the educations of children with disabilities. The site will be readily accessible to local school systems across the state via the Internet, outlining seven MSDE solutions to training, retraining and retaining
special education teachers, along with enhancing interest and awareness of the state’s curriculum. The grant is spread out over five years, with the first planning meeting scheduled for Sept. 18, according to Sharon West, a section chief for instructional support and professional development at MSDE. “We are going to come together and roll out a plan,” West said of the first meeting. “But we would like to first see what pieces we have online and get those together as a foundation and build from there.”
West said all of the state’s local school systems have unique needs, but the grant is broad based dealing with training and recruitment of highly qualified teachers, and access for parents to the state’s special education curriculum. The portal will contain links for teachers interested in obtaining a highly qualified status by acquiring different certifications offered throughout the state. “With special education a lot has to do with service delivery,” West said. “Highly qualified status for special educators, if they are a teacher, they are responsible for content, they have to be certified in a content area.” The money will also go towards bringing on an additional alternative teacher pro-
gram in local schools. One currently exists where teachers can partner up and coteach in a content area, however MSDE would like to see an additional program implemented for special education. Furthermore, another goal is to increase interest and awareness of special education, enhancing the quality of life for students. MSDE has partnered with John Hopkins University Center for Technology in Education to meet the project’s seven goals. “This grant will help MSDE’s work in several areas critical to improving success for many of our most vulnerable students,” said State Superintendent of Schools Nancy S. Grasmick in a written release. “We continue to place a high priority on the search
for new funding to continue this important work.” Part of future funding efforts will go towards the improvement of preschool special education, including knowledge and personnel enhancements. “This is a collaborative partnership to provide statewide resources for parents with questions about what is happening for their child at the preschool age,” West said of the preschool portion. For parents without Internet access, West said MSDE is working with Parents Place of Maryland, a center for families and children with disabilities, to address the issue. “We would like to use another grant funding to maybe buy some computers to be housed at the parent training
centers at local school systems,” West said. “Also a possibility of using computers at libraries across the state.” The parent information and training centers are located within each school system. Parents can also contact their local special education citizens advisory committee for any issues they might have. “Anything we can do to enhance communication with parents is critical,” West said. The grant is worth $1.24 million a year, awarded from the U.S. Education Department’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
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Photo by Adam Ross
The St. Mary’s Board of County Commissioners declared September as National Youth Court month, in response to the overwhelmingly successful teen court program. Commissioners Thomas A. Mattingly Sr. and Francis Jack Russell give a proclamation to Cynthia Brown, the county’s community services manager and Kelsey Bush, a county youth coordinator. The teen court program has offered resolution to nearly 250 cases, with just a 15 percent recidivism rate, half of the national average. In teen court, juvenile offenders try their own cases, acting as lawyers, judges and prosecutors.
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