Thursday, February 7, 2008 • St. Mary’s County

County

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Thursday, February 7, 2008 • St. Mary’s County, Maryland

P IN

EY POINT LIGHTH

The kids are always out here to “wrestle, and every guy on the team wants to win.”

– Dave Cummins Leonardtown Wrestling Coach

SMCPS Kicks Off International Language Expo In an effort to bring awareness to world languages, St. Mary’s County Public Schools has kicked off a week of cultural activities, some of which include a traditional Chinese Opera, a school-wide international attire day, morning announcements given in foreign languages, information booths providing general information on multicultural course offerings, and question and answer periods with language teachers. Those interested in attending any of the activities are encouraged to call the schools specifically, or Dr. Linda Lymas at 301-4755511, ext. 118.

Delegate Bohanan to Hold Town Meetings Delegate John Bohanan (D-29B) has announced that he will be holding town meetings “to discuss legislation enacted by the General Assembly during the Special Session in November.” He will be talking with constituents at St. George’s Episcopal Church in Valley Lee on Feb. 12th, at Lexington Park Library on Feb. 19th, and at Ridge Firehouse on Feb. 27th. All meetings will be held from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm, and will be centered on hearing public opinions on state programs, policies, and legislation.

Those interested in attending the meetings are encouraged to call the Lexington Park District Office at 301-866-4000 or e-mail john.bohanan.district@house.state.md.us.

Board Approves Grant Application For Women’s Homeless Shelter The Board of County Commissioners approved a grant application to continue funding for the Homeless Women Crisis Shelter Home Program in the amount of $201,723 as a pass-through for the Three Oaks Center. The Three Oaks Shelter will serve as the sub-recipient agency for the program, for which no cash match from the county commissioners is required. The three-year grant is expected to provide case management services, training, communications, travel, supplies, and food for the 20-bed shelter.

Primary To Be Held Feb. 12th Registered voters are encouraged to get to their polling places on February 12th to vote in the primary elections. The closed primaries have been moved from their original date in March. Those who have not yet received their voting cards should contact the Board of Elections at 301-475-7844.

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Expansion For Bean Medical Center In The Works

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer When he came to St. Mary’s County in 1974, Dr. Vinod K. Shah could remember a cardiologist coming to see patients just once a month for about four hours.

Things have gotten much better since then, he said, but there is still a shortage of physicians, particularly specialists.

But Shah, who heads Shah Associates, said he believes he has a solution to that problem. He wants to expand the Philip J. Bean Medical Center in Hollywood, eventually doubling its current size.

“When we built this center 10 years ago we thought it would be good to build something nice to serve the community,” Shah said. “But our See Bean Center page A-

Photo by Guy Leonard

Dr. Vinod K. Shah, right, head of Shah Associates medical group, talks with Becky Sansbury a radiological technician at the Philip J. Bean Medical Center in Hollywood. Shah wants to expand the center to nearly double its size to attract more physicians to the county.

Recommendations Pedestrian Struck, Killed Presented For Enhanced Sheriff’s On Route 5 Department Pensions

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer

The family of a Hughesville man who was struck and killed Feb. 2 by an oncoming vehicle while standing in the roadway on Route 5 in Mechanicsville were shocked by the way he met his end.

The death of Donald Garfield Holton, 61, is the first this year in the county where a victim was struck and killed by a vehicle.

According to Holton’s daughter Carolyn Green, some of her father’s favorite activities were either walking, biking or hitchhiking on county roads.

The area in Donald Garfield Holton which he was killed, near the Mechanicsville Burch Mart, was one of his favorite sections to travel, she said.

“He’d been walking that route for about 20 years,” Green said of her father, who lived with her in Hughesville. “All the people in the business around there knew my dad and knew he walked up and down the street daily.”

See Holton page A-

Andrea Shiell Staff Writer On Tuesday the Board of County Commissioners heard a dizzying presentation of a proposed pension enhancement of the Sheriff’s Office Retirement Plan. Director of Human Resources Susan L. Sabo presented a plan with objectives to recruit and retain deputies and correctional officers with competitive benefits and increased contributions to include new disability and mortality assumptions.

The proposed enhancements would increase disability retirement costs by $400,000 annually, to go into effect by 2010, with a baseline increase of just over $800,000. The plan would increase the accrual rate from 2 percent to 2.5 percent, increasing the cap for retirement income from 70 percent to 80 percent. This new accrual rate would be applicable to all future service and 10 years of previous service.

Employer contributions would increase from the current 30.5 percent of payroll to 33.6 percent by 2010.

These new enhancements are

thought to help draw more recruits to the county by offering a more competitive retirement package, but board members admitted that though the enhancements were a great idea, they would need to be prudent about implementing them on the current budget.

And with a county that ranks third in the state in growth and development, the Sheriff’s Department will have concerns about staffing as well. Commissioner Thomas Mattingly said it was a balancing act. “One thing that concerns me is that we’re able to afford the enhancements…this is a tight budget.” He commented later on the increasing need for deputies, saying that not a year has gone by when the Sheriff’s Department has not asked for more deputies on the road. “It takes more than a hundred thousand dollars to put a deputy on the road,” he said.

“We’re at that point where it’s necessary to enhance that plan,” said Sheriff Timothy A. Cameron.

“Employee feedback has been that these enhancements are needed…

See Pensions page A-

Tax Rate Increases Requested Andrea Shiell Staff Writer At the Board of County Commissioners budget works session on Tuesday, the Lexington Park Volunteer Rescue Squad (LPVRS) put in their request for a tax rate increase to pay for member benefits such as uniforms (which they currently pay for themselves), physicals, health screenings, background checks, and the construction of a replacement for Station 39, which has outgrown its

capacity to serve the area. The Rescue squad is requesting that the current fire and rescue tax rate be increased from 1.1 cents to 2 cents per $100 of assessment.

LPVRS President Ralph Stotler stated in his letter to the commissioners that the increase was justified by the rising cost of operating expenses, which the department projects to increase by close to 50 percent by 2014.

The Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department presented its own request at the hearing, calling for a tax rate in-

crease from the current 4.4 cents to 5.1 cents per $100 of assessment. This increase is expected to generate $162,500 in added revenue for the department, which will facilitate the expansion of their current facility and the purchase of upgraded fire apparatus.

The Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department currently receives a tax rate of 1.1 cents per $100 assessment in the 6th Election District, and they are requesting that it be increased by 0.9 cents.

See Tax Rate page A-

The County Times

Section A -

Thursday, February 7, 2008

GOP Primary Candidates Look For Support Among St. Mary’s Republicans

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Republican voters in the 5th U.S. Congressional District have but two candidates this primary election from which to choose, but whoever gets the GOP nod will likely have a tough battle against incumbent House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer.

Hoyer faces his own primary challenge from Lexington Park Democrat James P. Cusick, Sr. Hoyer’s Republican would-be-challengers are Mike Hethmon, a public interest attorney on immigration issues who has worked with national-level lawmakers and Collins Bailey,

Collins Bailey

County Times Photo

a Charles County School Board member and Republican Central Committee member there.

Both came to St. Mary’s County Jan. 29 in an effort to raise support for their campaigns from local Republican leaders.

Bailey, 54 of Waldorf, a supporter of Texas congressional representative and presidential candidate Ron Paul, said his main focus was returning the federal government to strict constitutional roles and authority and trimming the federal debt.

“I’m a fiscal conservative; I’ve always been a fiscal conservative,” Bailey said. “They say there are a lot of tough issues [in congress] but they’re not tough issues if you’re honest about it.”

Bailey said his time on the Charles County school board have allowed him to trim expenses there and make running the school system more efficient.

He wants to take that experience to congress, he said.

“I don’t want my grandchild obligated to the Chinese and the Saudis,” Bailey said of the nation borrowing from other countries.

Hethmon, 54 of Croom, focused on illegal immigration as a main plank in his campaign platform.

He argued that illegal immigration negatively impacted every aspect of society from healthcare and employment to education. He said Congress has not met its responsibility in protecting the nation’s borders.

Hethmon also said that sanctuary cities, where local authorities defy state and federal law by allowing illegal immigrants to stay and receive services, must be made to obey the

law.

Illegal immigration also increases costs for services, Hethmon said, negatively affecting the economy for those legally living here.

“We have to stop importing poverty into the country,” Hethmon said.

Both candidates agreed far more than they differed when they spoke to members of the St. Mary’s Republican Central Committee, who organized the event with the two office seekers.

They met Republican red meat questions on issues like abortion, environmentalism and the right for citizens to own firearms with conservative answers.

“Abortion is killing,” Hethmon said, adding that when it came to the seminal Supreme Court decision Roe V. Wade that legalized abortion: “We’re going to have to deal with that.”

Bailey said that if elected, he would cosign a bill in congress that declares life begins at the moment of conception.

“Life begins at conception,” Bailey said.

“The taking of innocent life is wrong.”

Both stood as staunch supporters of the Second Amendment.

“It’s an absolutely essential part of being American,” Hethmon said of the right of citizens to own firearms.

Bailey said he supported the Second Amendment “100 percent.”

Both men said they were skeptical about concerns of climate change, known as global warming.

Hethmon favored a third reactor proposed for Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant and

Grants Awarded to Fund Simplified Summer Meals Program Andrea Shiell Staff Writer The Maryland State Department of Education has announced that federal funds will be available to assist public and private nonprofit organizations in providing free meals to lowincome children in an extension of the existing discounted or free school lunch program this summer. The USDA has simplified this program so that sponsors receive the maximum reimbursement permitted within requirements.

Bruce Schenkel, Staff Director for School

and Community Nutrition Programs defined those requirements as basic nutrition guidelines, which require each meal to include a dairy option, protein (meat or vegetarian substitute), a fruit or vegetable, and a grain product. He said that the purpose of the USDA program was to “fill the gap between the time when school ends and begins again.”

The 283,000 students in Maryland who qualify for free or reduced-price meals during the school year can now get meals during the summer. He said that last summer they distributed 1.2 million meals to recipients in the pro-

gram, which can include children and teens age 18 or younger, and people over 18 diagnosed as mentally or physically disabled.

“Now that the program simplifies the reimbursement sponsors can receive, more agencies and organizations should offer this beneficial program,” said State Superintendent of Schools Nancy Grasmick.

Reimbursement is available to sponsors in areas where at least 50 percent of the children qualify for free or reduced-price meals under the National School Lunch Program or when 50 percent of children enrolled in the program

Mechanicsville Man Found Guilty Of Assaulting Juvenile

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer

County District Court Judge Stephen Clagett pronounced a Mechanic-

sville man guilty of inappropriately touching a 14year-old girl at his home in

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the aftermath of a drunken party at his home in 2006 that involved several other teenagers.

Mark Andrew Panowicz, 49, was charged with nine separate counts, eight of which involved contributing to the delinquency of minors and furnishing alcohol to minors, but these were dropped by the state prosecutor, Daniel White, during the defendant’s Feb. 5 trial.

Panowicz was still convicted of the most serious charge of second-degree assault.

After much contradictory testimony about the events of the evening, Oct. 14, 2006, about whether Panowicz, a senior manager for telecommunications firm Sprint Nextel, furnished alcohol to minors, Clagett said he believed the testimony of Panowicz’s accuser ahead of everything else regarding the assault charge.

“I don’t know that this gentleman went out and bought alcohol for these children,” Clagett said after about seven-and-ahalf hours of testimony.

“I don’t have any doubt in my mind that she sounds credible.

“I am convinced beyond a reasonable doubt of Mr. Panowicz’s guilt.”

According to court testimony the defendant’s own son had brought several of his friends to his home for a party. Two other teenagers, females, also joined the party later that

alternative forms of energy while Bailey believed that there was enough oil in Alaska to satisfy energy demands well into the future.

“I’d make it a priority to take care of our own [oil drilling],” Bailey said.

Where the two candidates did differ was on the war in Iraq.

Bailey supports getting out of Iraq and allowing Iraqi security forces to deal with insurgent threats there, while Hethmon said that U.S. forces should move out to bases in the country as a “strategic insurance policy” but stay away from day to day military activities.

Bailey said the war has “been a mess” in its handling and that the United States needs to have a more “humble foreign policy.”

Hethmon said that the United State should use more “realpolitik” answers in dealing with security threats, including nations that may not support liberalization of their own governments, to prevent terrorist strikes on American soil.

Mike Hethmon

County Times Photo

qualify. Sponsors may be reimbursed for up to two meals and snacks a day. Some, including migrant programs and camps, may be reimbursed for up to three meals daily. Sponsors can include public or nonprofit private school systems, local, municipal, county, state, or federal government agencies, private nonprofit organizations, and summer camps.

Schenkel explained the program as an investment, citing research that has proven that nutrition can be a driving factor in learning habits and academic performance. “It’s always going to fall back on readiness to learn,” he said.

Agencies interested in operating the Simplified Summer Meals Program should contact the Maryland State Department of Education at 410-767-0225. The deadline for applications is May 23, 2008. For more information about the program, visit www.mdsummermeals.com.

evening.

Panowicz’s son testified that he and other friends used a 21-year-old female accomplice to buy their alcohol — two 30 packs of beer — at a liquor store in La Plata and that they snuck the beer into his father’s house.

Soon after all the teens began to drink and become intoxicated, according to court testimony from Panowicz’s son, and some became sick.

The victim in the case had to be taken up stairs to a bedroom to lie down after vomiting, according to court testimony.

It was sometime later, according to the victim’s testimony, that Panowicz entered the room, crawled under the bed and began to rub the small of her back.

The victim woke up, saw Panowicz, she testified, and ran out of the house without waking up any of her friends at about 5a.m. the following morning and called 911.

Defense attorney James Papirmeister argued that the victim and her female friend were drunk, disoriented and lying about what happened that night — Papirmeister even introduced text messages into evidence from the other female witness to the defendant’s son that Papirmeister argued showed the two girls had given false information about the assault to police who investigated the 911 call.

Clagett said that the e-mail messages meant little in his final decision, rather that the credibility of the recorded 911 call showed the victim was lucid and believable in her accusations.

Panowicz denied ever touching in any way the victim or buying any alcohol for the teenagers at his home. He also denied knowing that the teens were drinking despite their becoming loud that night.

Panowicz testified he only found out they were drinking when he returned from a late night trip to a fast food restaurant and found them playing drinking games.

Clagett said he found much of what Panowicz had to say about what happened that night questionable.

“Mr. Panowicz’s testimony leaves a lot to be desired,” Clagett said. “It’s difficult to conclude that any parent would allow what happened there that night.

“It just doesn’t make sense that anyone would allow that to happen.”

Clagett also said he found some of the testimony surrounding the purchasing of the alcohol “hard to believe.”

Panowicz faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for his conviction Tuesday.

White said that Panowicz had been convicted of an assault charge on 12-year-old girl in Charles County prior to this case under similar circumstances and was on four years of probation.

White said that Panowicz was in violation of his probation for having the teens over to his house that night in 2006.

Clagett ordered a presentencing investigation for Panowicz’s case to be completed in about 30 to 45 days.

The County Times

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Section A -

Students Perform in Relay for Life Talent Show Andrea Shiell Staff Writer Students at Leonardtown Middle School performed a variety of acts Friday night during their annual talent show to benefit the Relay For Life.

After brief auditions and two rehearsals, the performers sang, danced, played instruments, and performed comedy acts in front of hundreds in an effort to raise money for the American Cancer Society.

Teacher Dawn Pipkin exclaimed, “this event is one of our biggest fundraisers, and there’s a lot of variety on the stage.” Students sang R&B and religious songs, danced to hip-hop, and the step team

Photo by Andrea Shiell

Photo by Andrea Shiell

One Student performs a march on his clarinet to benefit the Relay for Life

Leonardtown Middle School Step Team students perform at annual talent show benefiting the Relay For Life

performed its loud routine to school-wide fanfare.

Honor Society just kicked off its preparations for this year’s Relay for Life in January.

Pipkin, who organized the event, said the National Junior

Last year Leonartown Middle School had the highest grossing student team, raking in

$4800 at the event.

This year’s Relay for Life will be June 7.

Evans Restaurant Rebuild Could Open By Late Spring

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Chuck Kimball, a Tall Timbers developer, couldn’t be happier about the progress contractors are making on rebuilding one of the county’s most noted landmarks— Evans Seafood restaurant on St. George’s Island.

“It’s been just 55 days since we got the building permit and this is what’s been done,” Kimball said with a smile, looking at the nearly completed restaurant’s structure.

“We’ll be open before Mother’s Day, that’s what we’re shooting for.”

The old restaurant was demolished last year after being closed down by Kimball, who wanted to start afresh with a beloved institution that helped make St. George’s Island an eat-

ing destination in the early 1960s and provided many local jobs.

The Evans family sold the restaurant in 2004 to another local resident when family members were no longer able to operate it fulltime, and the buyer soon sold to Kimball.

In addition to the new restaurant, Kimball plans a 28-room lodge right next door; construction is just starting on that project.

Kimball says he expects the new restaurant to be just as successful as the original establishment was in its heyday.

Top restaurant talent coupled with former employees at Evans, some of them from the original family, were keys to the restaurant’s future success, Kimball said.

“That’s the secret; it’s

getting good people,” Kimball said.

One of those people is Michael Cotugno, a former restaurateur with experience in Long Island, New York and Alexandria, Va. He will be general manager of the two sites once they open for business, Cotugno said.

He currently owns an alpaca farm in St. Inigoes, he said.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Cotugno said of taking over the operations. “The view can’t be matched — the food we’re taking to another level.”

Cotugno said in recent years reports of the food quality at the restaurant before it closed were not shining. This time things would be done differently.

That meant going back to the traditional focus of the business.

“It’ll be strictly seafood but with pasta and a fine steak or two on the menu,” Cotungo, said. “We’re going to be purchasing as much lo-

cal seafood as we can.”

Buying from local watermen as well as getting help from old hands at Evans Seafood will help the

restaurant reestablish itself, Cotungo said.

“I think that’ll be a great asset to the restaurant,” he said.

Photo by Guy Leonard

Chuck Kimball, a Tall Timbers developer, stands on the pier outside the new Evans Seafood restaurant that could be open by late Spring on St. George’s Island.

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The County Times

Section A -

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Editorial & Opinion Potomac Primary Next Big Battleground Maryland, Virginia, D.C. voters anxious to have a say Republican Endorsement Editorial:

Democrat Endorsement Editorial:

McCain for President

Obama for President

When Republican voters in Southern Maryland go to the polls next Tuesday, they will decide between an intriguing mix of Presidential candidates.

Mitt Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, has a great deal of executive experience both in government and in the private sector. The next President will be not only the Commander in Chief of our nations military; he will be the Chief Executive of our nations 3 trillion dollar bureaucracy.

Romney offers the best credentials to manage the nations business as the Executive branch of government differs greatly from the Legislative branch of government. Much of what makes a President successful has as much to do with management abilities as it does with public policy.

Mike Huckabee offers similar executive experience as that of Romney, however Huckabee’s experience is primarily in the public sector as Governor of Arkansas. Huckabee exudes charm and homespun humor, attributes that could serve him well dealing with the partisan politics of Washington.

We believe either of these two candidates would be excellent nominees for the Republican party as it try’s to stem the tide of discontent in our nation, discontent that almost always flows through the nation after 8 years of the same President, no matter the party.

Yet, the candidate that offers the Republican party the best opportunity to maintain control of the White House is Senator John McCain.

McCain offers more tested leadership in the area of foreign affairs than any other candidate.

This, combined with his considerable experience in domestic matters, elevates McCain above the rest.

McCain is a true American hero who has the ability to restore trust in America both at home and abroad. While showing reason and compassion throughout his tenure in the U.S. Senate, McCain clearly demonstrated as a Vietnam prisoner, that he is a strong, tough, resilient soldier who will protect America.

Our choice for the Republican nomination for President of the United States is Senator John McCain.

When the voters of Southern Maryland go the polls next Tuesday to cast their ballots for the nomination from their party for President of the United States, their vote may be more important than at any other time in primary history in the state of Maryland.

This looks to be a tight race right up to the Democratic National Convention in Denver this August. Typically the Democratic nominee has been pretty well defined by the time the primary reaches Maryland, but with this years earlier primary date Southern Maryland voters should feel more energized than in past years.

This year’s selection of candidates should add to that energy for the Democrats. Both candidates are interesting in that they represent the first female and first African-American candidate to reach this point in a major party nomination. Hopefully this race provides the opportunity for Americans to put the issues of race and gender behind them and ultimately vote for the person who they feel can best lead this nation.

Senator Hillary Clinton offers the most experience in both areas of foreign matters and domestic matters. Her exposure to the Executive branch of government as the wife of the former Governor of Arkansas and the former President of the United States, Bill Clinton, in addition to her years as a United States Senator has given her the opportunity to see and experience more first hand than her opponent.

Yet, Senator Barack Obama offers more in the larger picture. Many Americans feel disconnected with the policies of the United States. Democrats feel the nation is ready for a fresh face; one that hasn’t been part of the old establishment that many feel leaves the nation divided.

Obama has spent his life in the Legislative branch of government and brings little Executive experience to the table. But Obama has shown the ability to motivate people, to lead with enthusiasm, and often showing the ability to work toward compromise.

But the most important asset that Obama brings to the table is that he is a Washington outsider who seems to be embraced by many Americans who believe that our nation is ready for significant change and fundamentally should change it’s path.

Obama offers the nation the opportunity to debate that issue this fall, and for the voters to decide whether or not they believe our nation should change fundamentally.

Our choice for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States is Senator Barack Obama.

Bailey for Congress The nomination on the Republican side for Congress from the 5th Congressional District which includes St. Mary’s, Calvert, and Charles Counties among parts of Prince Georges and Anne Arundel Counties features two newcomers to the race.

Mike Hethmon, an attorney from Prince Georges County specializes in matters of illegal immigration and would carry a great deal of knowledge in this area to the Congress of the United States Collins Bailey, a self-employed businessman from Charles County has been a member of the Charles County Board of Education for 14 years. Bailey is a true gentleman who would bring fiscal discipline to an institution known more for it’s “pork barrel spending” than for it’s resolutions to public policy issues.

We believe Collins Bailey is the best choice to represent the Republican Party in the general election in November.

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Hoyer for Congress The more things change, the more things remain the same. Democratic voters in the 5th Congressional District will have plenty of change to choose from for President, but will see someone who is part of the old establishment in Washington on the ballot once again.

Congressman Steny Hoyer has been a member of the United States Congress for 24 years and currently is the second highest-ranking member of the House. His knowledge and experience is unparalled by his opponent.

Hoyer has served Southern Maryland well, but as part of the national leadership it will be interesting to see how Hoyer balances the needs of his Southern Maryland constituency against the wishes of the Democrats in Congress who elect him as their majority leader.

James Patrick Cusick, Sr. is running in his first Congressional election. Cusick ran for Maryland House of Delegates in 2006.

We believe Congressman Steny Hoyer is the best choice to represent the Democratic Party in the general election in November.

To The Editor Dear Editor: Once again, we’d like to thank all of our customer-members who made contributions to Project Match. Last winter, 487 of SMECO’s customer-members contributed $27,755 to Project Match; with SMECO’s matching amount, the combined contribution totaled $55,510.

This year, even though many households are feeling the pinch of the increasing cost of living, we have continued to receive a generous amount of contributions from our Southern Maryland friends and neighbors. As of January 28, 2008, we’ve received $20,375 from 338 individual donors for this winter’s campaign. SMECO will match donations through April 15, up to a total of $50,000.

Project Match helps local needy families who simply can’t afford to heat their homes. Our customer-members can contribute to this worthy cause by including a separate check, made out to Project Match, along with their electric bill payment. Customers who normally pay their bills online can mail a check to the attention of Natalie Brown, SMECO, P.O. Box 1937, Hughesville, MD 20637.

The Project Match program benefits residents who may be unable to pay their oil, gas, or electric heating bill. Donations are forwarded to the Tri-County Fuel Fund, which is administered by the Southern Maryland Tri-County Community Action Committee.

SMECO is asking all Southern Marylanders to “conserve and contribute.” By conserving energy, residents can keep heating bills down. SMECO includes energy-saving tips in electric bills and on our Web site at www.smeco.coop. We encourage our customer-members to use these helpful measures to save energy and to save money.

As a cooperative owned by its customers, SMECO offers programs and educates customers to keep energy costs down, and by working together with the Southern Maryland community, we keep electric rates as low as possible.

Sincerely, Austin J. Slater, Jr. SMECO President and Chief Executive Officer

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The County Times

James Manning McKay - Publisher Tobie Pulliam - Office Manager............................tobiepulliam@countytimes.net Andrea Shiell - Government Correspondent......andreashiell@countytimes.net Chris Stevens - Sports Correspondent............... ........chrisstevens@countytimes.net

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

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The County Times

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Section A -

Ramblings of a Country Girl

well. Third, and perhaps most important, the dance floor is moving! We enjoy transatlantic crossings and the North Atlantic is not placid.

We have the desire to learn to dance, we made the time to learn to dance and we are going to learn to dance if it kills us! We did pretty well for the first lesson; we felt good about our progress. The instructors are very helpful and good teachers and everyone in the class seemed to have fun.

The problem, of course, is me.

I have no rhythm, no sense of timing, no musical knowledge or ability at all. I’m also The County Thursday, November 8, 2007 notTimes the most graceful person you’ve ever met, but maybe learning to dance will fix that.

I can hope, can’t I? My husband, wonderful man that he is, can read music, play both the piano and guitar and can Terri Bartz Bowles from. We chose Basic Ball- it’s rather difficult to learn sing. Yes, he is a bit annoyroom because we’re going anything. First, the lessons ing. He has rhythm, he has So the hubbie and I signed on another cruise this year are crowded! There are plen- timing, he can count the beat. up for Basic Ballroom Dance and we’re determined to hit ty of people who don’t know He has tried, and is still trynationwide.” start Norris to teach me to listen to the and By hadGuy ourLeonard first lesson this thehere. tocoming dance by andhere,” decide to ing, dance floor! We’ve been how Marty RudStaff Writer “More sales means more told The County Times. “We music, findmanagthe beat and count past week. The county Parks on jobs take advantage of the free lesthreeandcruises and have man, the that means more do really well on that Friday.”

Whaaat? and Recreation Department Second, there is abenefit lim- 1-2-3-4. er at True Value We were will The day after Thanksgiv-watched taxes.”the veterans gliding sons. Customers hardware at store from a storewide salebut that day, practicing ing,a the biggest shoppingofdayacross County officials have ited home the other offers huge assortment amount of space they the polished boards in Leonardtown, Norris said, and on certain night of theand year, known as Blackwith high hopesYes, for they the holiday and we put on a Glen activities there were quite try to accommodate everyone envy. have items, customers will be able wasn’t so optiFriday, could be the most shopping season.

Thethe first song was a few dance classes to choose dance lessons on the boat but and justout doesn’t misticCD. about to it work deals.work very Miller

Dancing CouldQueen Mean

Black Friday More Dollars Stay In St. Mary’s Retailers gearing up

“There’s a lot of hype,” Norris said of Black Fridayin for “Everybody’s basically think he would die from.” his store. “People ask when said.

Holton, a retired grounds shock,” we’ll Green have our first sale; that Holton keeper for the Charlotte Hall will be it.leaves behind three “A two lot of people areand putstepchildren Veterans Home, enjoyed children, Continued from page A- ting items away on layaway grandnow.” children, Green said. spending time with his rela- 11right The sudden death of her tives, Green said, one of whom According to reports The owner’s wife,from Paufather in such circumstances he helped care for in Charlotte theline St.Norris, Mary’swho Count helpsShermanageOffice the store, predicted a frenand familiar surroundings left Hall. iff’s Holton was killed rush to buy gifts athis year the family stunned, she said. about 7p.m. when 2005 Holton received an award at zied since the unseasonably warm “He knew those roads like for his work at the veterans Volkswagon operated weather hasGolf caused peopleby not the back of his hand,” Green home, Green said.

Shauna of Mechanto get Shaw, into the26, holiday feeling. going north to be bound a little said of Holton, who had been a traveling Several family members icsville“It’s Photo by Guy Leonard more of an adrenalin rush,” lifelong resident of St. Mary’s had just spoken with Holton on Point Lookout Road struck Jim Magno checks out Christmas season merchandise with his 3-year-old Pauline Norris said. “I think County.

“That’s the thing [bebefore the accident that killed him. son Joseph at the True Value hardware store in Leonardtown. it’s going to be a strong ing profitable struck byyet a vehicle] we inhim, Green Holton died on the scene, “We said. hope a lot of resi- season.” for retailers

Holton

Ron Pope, manager of the St. Mary’s County due to the dents buy local this year more burgeoning retail market, of- than last year,” said Karen Ev- local Target store, predicted erett, county spokeswoman. much the same for his profit ficials believe.

“We’re feeling what ev- “There are more people and margins.

He said his store exceeded ery other growing jurisdiction there’s more retail.”

Different retailers are holiday sales expectations last is feeling, that it’s significant,” said Bob Schaller, director of preparing for Black Friday, year and he expects the store sales to surpass thisskills, year’s ever, due their lack of nonagricultural Emily thetosales theFinch Department of Economic so named because expectations. many business and Community and land.higher Eventually, most former Contributing Writer Develop- volume puts money His store will be opening owners “in the black” for thesharecroppers. ment of Nov. 23. slaves became This system left With all the new retail first time during the year, in at 6 a.m. Nov. 23 to make way blacks under the domination of white creditors Many Northerners had different views and for eager shoppers.

His store shops in St. Mary’s County, different ways. staff beenseeds, increasing who provided withhave animals, and anticipations before Civil 235 War. Many, Butinall see it as a signifi-them mostly along thetheRoute boost sales and stock and working the aisles corridor, including a Lincoln Wal- cant cluding President Abraham and time otherto tools. up to attract holiday shoppers, seewithout how their profits will turn Marthoped SupertoCenter andthe sevAlthough it left leaders preserve Union hewhite said. economic dominaeral new shops in San Souci out for the year. tion unaltered, the federal of waitthe abolishing slavery or ending discrimination “We’lloccupation have a crowd Rick Norris, owner of Shopping Center, Schaller at thea front Pope Southintemporarily provided settingdoor,” in which in the North.

Although some otherRick’s Northern Jewelers Califor- ing expects more county residents said.

“We usually office have people nia, his shop won’t to stay do their leaders could seek political and whites hadhere the to same idea Christof the war assaid mostthatblack camping out.” be open early like many big mas shopping instead of going reforms as improved blacks: Slavery would end and discrimination promote such politicalPope said Black Friday, to malls in Charles County or box retailers plan to be that public education an end property qualiwould die. though histocompany calls it Friday; he plans on seeing his and elsewhere.

Friday, for should fications for voting, imprisonment debt be and a Blacks in Union Service once the ini- Green “They don’t have to drive business go up strong sales dayThe as has been died down and to Waldorf now,” Schaller tial frenzy hassegregation in public facilities. official the preceding part of the year. customers are looking for a said.

“I think that some shopto black Each Northern state had its own rules as corruption that was later “Ourattributed store’s doing very pers who were geared up in special item. rule in the South was merely part of a nationalin to whether blacks were allowed to enlist or well,” Pope said.

“We’re “That evening, they’ll the past to travel can now stay the top half of Target stores of government by not, and so, few blacks were initially permit- trend toward the exploitation

great but when the second one came on, he listened for a few moments and said that one wouldn’t work for what we were doing because it was an 3-count. Whaaat? I could not tell any difference.

I’m like Helen Keller – deaf, blind and mute – waiting for that eureka moment when someone spells out w-a-t-e-r in my hand while water is being poured into my other hand.

Oh, the happiness that the realization brings! My poor husband - he taps the beat to the music and says can’t you feel it? So, I try tapping my finger and he’s says I’m getting it. No, I tell him I’m just watching him and copying him. If he stopped, I’d soon lose the rhythm. You know how sometimes you’ll go to a concert or a show and invariably they want the audience to clap along? Why do they do that? I just sit there because about two claps in, I’ve lost it and I’m out of sync and I feel like a fool. I enjoy music, I love different types of music, I appreciate music and the joy it brings to life. Just don’t ask me to keep time.

Of course, when you’re

dancing, you need to start out in sync with the music. This works out okay for me because the man is the leader on the dance floor so he decides when we start. We’d be standing there all night if we had to wait for me to know when to start. So, with the hand that’s on my back, my sweet husband gently taps the beat for me and gives me a little squeeze when the timing is right. The downside about the man being the leader (on the dance floor, let’s not get too carried away) is that they do just about everything going forward while we women Section A going -7 have to do everything backward. But since he’s in charge, I figure it’s his fault if we make a mistake. With enough lessons and enough practice, we should be in good shape by cruise time.

The saving grace is, we won’t know a soul on the boat so if we don’t look like contenders on Dancing With the Stars, there won’t be a soul who will know but us.

You can email the Country Girl at countrygirlramblings@gmail.com

sales for Black Friday.

“I was Photo shocked, really Holton’s ex-wife Mary police reports state.

by Guy I Leonard “In the back Rick Norris, owner of Rick’s Jewelers in victim California, works on a piece of jewelry he hopes was,” she said.

“I’ll never unHolton, said that the had Police reports state that of my mind I to sell during the Christmas season.

Holton was wearing all dark a happy disposition and was al- derstand that one.” think it may be have translated to reap significant profits. worse [than family willinto rewilling to help someone fuel, Holton’s clothing at the last time of the ac- ways tight wallets for shoppers acThat meant that smallyear],” Rudman said, alludceive friends Friday at the out in need. cident and was in the road iling to higher fuel costs that er retailers like him had to cording to what he was heard Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral “He was a good legally just before thetovehicle retailers. That’s why this choose the man,” stock from customers will have spend carefully Home in Leonardtown Mary Holton said.

“He took struck him. year, Black Friday will befrom so they had on hand for holiday money on first. sales care or else they could lose important.

“It’s going hit thewere cus- good 10:30 a.m. to noon. A funeral of his kids.

Speed and to alcohol “Costs are tight, tomers’ wallet where hurts, for Holton willthey’re be held “He was good to every- service not contributing factorsit in the customers.

“A lot of our stuff is im- hoping that this will jump I’m afraid,” Rudman said. collision on the part of the body. He tried to help them out, at noon in the funeral home if their car was broken down or chapel. driver, police reports state.

Holton will be buried at It has not been determined something he’d help them.”

Mary Holton was equally Charles Memorial Gardens in whether alcohol was a contributing factor in Holton’s death, stunned at how her ex-husband Leonardtown. had died. police reports state.

and earlier respect to white standards among relatively successful blacks gradually gave way to an increasing sense of racial pride and social cohesion. In addition, the growth in the size and literacy of the urban black populace eas. The largest concentrations were in Wash- stimulated cultural and intellectual activity. ington, D.C., Baltimore, New Orleans, Phila- Black fraternal orders, political organizations, delphia, New York City, and Memphis. social clubs, and newspapers published by At the end of the 19th century, ambiva- blacks asserted an urban black consciousness lence about “unrefined” black folk culture and that became the foundation for the militancy emerging black urban life-styles existed among and cultural innovations of the 1920s. longer established and more educated black Black History Month residents. As these communities absorbed a Black History Month was established stream of new migrants in the decades after in 1976. The month-long celebration Photo by Guy Leonard was an John Dorsch, an assistant manager at True Value hardware in Leonardtown stocks up on merchandise for the Reconstruction, churches that were dominated expansion of Negro History Week, which Christmas season. by older residents were supplemented by less was established in 1926 by Carter G. Woodportedthat so you you get the start things,” Schaller said. “I HeBaptist believes, like countychurches formal or Pentecostal ap- hope son, director of think the Association Study it will be on for par the or better items on time,” Rudman officials, that sometimes more county pealed to poor, illiterate, newinarrivof Negro Life and History.

Woodson selected residents will keep their shop- said. “If you don’t have it for than other years.” als fromdollars the rural South. percent ping here, but with them the first time, the80 week in February that embraced the birthByretailers the early 20beth acentury, many them black won’t come more it will much of daysback.” of both Frederick Douglass and Abraham Schaller that conmore competitive market large and enough communities had become to sup- said Lincoln. sumer costs, particularly for harder for individual owners port black professionals and business people,

History of Black History Part III

ted in the northern military forces. As casual- business interests. In general, southern blacks ties mounted during 1862, however, northern attempting to exercise their newly acquired military commanders sometimes recruited rights faced growing terrorism from such black soldiers without explicit authority until groups as the Ku Klux Klan.

Although two black men, Hiram R. Revels Congress finally gave the president authority and Blanche K. Bruce, became U.S. senators, to use black troops.

Lincoln issued his Emancipation Declara- and blacks held some 15 seats in the House of tion, freeing slaves held by southerners who re- Representatives, blacks never controlled any mained in rebellion as of Jan. 1, 1863. This act state government.

Erosion of Rights had little immediate effect but did signal the Supreme Court decisions during the change in Lincoln’s racial attitudes and eventually led to the 13th Amendment, which cre- 1880s and ‘90s drastically undermined blacks’ protection under the 14th Amendment. The ated the constitutional prohibition of slavery.

Even after gaining acceptance into mili- Court’s Plessy v. Ferguson decision in 1896, tary service, black soldiers suffered racist approving separate public facilities for blacks, treatment from many of their white officers. marked the culmination of this process. Black By the endKaper of the war, however, the Union had economic through crop Amy Technology) Sequencer rights Test were sufferseroded with poor reliability Staff Writer on the services of Set186,000 (submitted Aircrew and obsolescence issues.title The become dependent lienby laws (which gave white landowners Systems The current design uses technolblack soldiers and sailors, 21 of whom received (PMA202)). to black farm production), debt peonage, and NAVAIR’s variant was ogy developed in the 1960’s. the Medal of Honor,Improvement andAvionics Congress latest agreedsequencer to vagrancy laws.

Component fielded in 2002. First deliver- Lack of calibration accuracy blackProgram demands(AvCIP), for equalmanaged pay, retroactive to the During and white ies have exceeded their the five1890s withblack this system canfarmers result in date by of enlistment. joined to are build alliance varibut Air Combat Electronics year warranty.

There no a strong up to aPopulist twenty percent (PMA209), concluded government in place anceafter in the amount of power The Freedmen’s Bureau,anestablished in test thissets coalition fell apart 1896 as a result of other cycle of candidate re- to for support applied to the major radar March 1865, assumed responsibility the out-of-warranty intimidation and white susceptibility to racist views and selected three new repairs. Available spares system, which can cause prewelfare of free slaves, but a clear national Democratic appeals. projects for funding in fiscal shelf stock is expected to be mature degradation and perpolicy regarding the future status depleted of blacksat the end By of the2008, end of formance the century, southern AvCIP white year 2008. problems. emergedAvCIP only gradually. had begunisto drasticallywith impede the funding covers which wouldleaders have resulted cost-sharing NAVICP non-recurring engineer- in parking F/A-18’s and T- to develop a of modern Reconstruction 15th Amendment’s guarantees black solution voting ing for the solutions problem 45’s.blacks This effort will designdevices that such will asimprove system Despite Unionto victory, southern rights through poll taxes and components, focusing on top and qualify a new test set performance and increase experienced severe restrictions on their freeliteracy tests.

Black political and economic readiness degraders, critical that will support repairs to reliability, resulting in apdomobsolescence/sustainability after the Civil War. Many hoped also suppressed keep they those freedom aircraft was flying. proximatelyby sheer $6.8 terror. million would be given or abandoned lands RadarAAltimeter black educator, Booker T. Washington, issues, andconfiscated top cost drivers.

APN-171 in cost avoidances by 2020.

Seven proposals were independence, ana- Single Card The of first nine projects fundand thereby gain economic but Assembly reacted to(SCA) this erosion black rights by advoby a working (submitted Air aCombat through AvCIP totaled whitelyzed landowners succeededgroup in passing “black by cating policy of ed racial accommodation.

He team of NAVAIR “gray- Electronics (PMA209)). approximately $5 million codes” to restrict black landownership and urged blacks not to emphasize the goals of sobeards” and Naval Aviation Current components are suf- in Research and Developfreedom of movement.

ThisThe southern integration political rights butThey instead Enterprise stakeholders. feringdefilow cial reliability andandment investments. are anceteam prompted Congress extend placing the life ofexcessive to acquire the occupational that would evaluated andto rated support projected skills

by NAVAIR Enprojects based upon demands H-1, H-46, H- gineering (AIR 4.2) modthe Freedmen’s Bureau and being to pass civil rightson facilitate economic advancement. executable, needs black for operaand E-2C maintainers. to provide avoidlegislation protecting rights. 53 President Black Societyels in the Early 20athcost Century tional warfighting contribuTwenty-seven percent of ance of more than $100 Andrew Johnson’s veto of this legislation, and The deteriorating conditions in the South tions, urgency, breadth of ap- the current system compo- million over life cycles the subsequent defeat of his Democratic numerousaffected. waves plication, reduction of Fleet nentsparty have after been Reconstruction classified of sparked the platforms in thepain 1866 congressional elections, led radical of black migration to the North and West. and financial return on as obsolete. This initiative, The next data call for Alnew investment. funded over two fiscal projects FY09 went funding Republicans to take charge of the Reconstructhough theyears, majority of blackfor migrants to The AvCIP Team is will fast-track provenseaboard de- is states expected in Janution of the South. theaeastern and to to come the Midwest, pleased to announce se-slaves sign into a blacks modern ary 2008.

Submissions will Black Codes restrictedthe freed severealsoSCA participated in the general westlection of the following proj- architecture replacement be evaluated and selected ly, and in to many casesFY08 blackAvCIP people felt they had that ward movement. ects receive component will signifi- for allocation of nearly $4 no rights at all.

For example, in Mississippi, blacks For weremore among the funding totaling $1.6 milcantly improve Mexican-born reliability million. informain Research, Developfreedlion blacks were not able to purchase and liquor, reduce founders Fleet burdens. tion concerning AvCIP of Los Angeles, and blackthe “buffalo Testvote & orEvaluation: Radarfought RF “Indians,” program or year’s seleccarryment, firearms, own property.E-2C APS-145 soldiers” inthis order to open NACES (Navy Aircrew Com- Power by of tions, contact Tom Congressional Reconstruction failed Meter to up(submitted a large part the Southwest for Maday, white mon Ejection Seat) FAST the E-2/C-2 program office PMA209 AvCIP IPT Lead, eliminate black economic dependency, but the This settlement.

(Future Advances Sequencer (PMA231)). component at 301-757-0910.

Freedmen’s Bureau provided needed rations By the beginning of the twentieth cenand medical care for ex-slaves. The bureau’s tury, the distribution of the black population greatest success was in literacy training and in had changed significantly from what it had helping to establish black colleges, including been before the Civil War. Although still overHoward University. Many blacks were forced whelmingly concentrated in the South, almost back into conditions resembling slavery, how- one-quarter of all blacks now lived in urban ar-

Navy News

Three Avionics Improvement Projects Slated for FY08 Funding

St. Mary’s St. Mary'sCity City DATE Fri. Feb. 8 Sat. Feb. 9 Sun. Feb. 10 Mon. Feb. 11 Tue. Feb. 12 Wed. Feb. 13 Thu. Feb. 14

HIGH 2:20 a.m.

2:59 a.m.

3:40 a.m.

4:24 a.m.

5:12 a.m.

6:04 a.m.

7:03 a.m.

LOW 8:41 a.m.

9:27 a.m.

10:15 a.m.

11:06 p.m.

12:01 p.m.

1:00 p.m.

2:04 p.m.

HIGH 2:38 p.m.

3:20 p.m.

4:05 p.m.

4:54 p.m.

5:48 p.m.

6:47 p.m.

7:53 p.m.

LOCATION Breton Bay Bushwood Wharf Colton's Point Point Lookout Piney Point Wicomico Beach Solomons Island

HIGH "+31 min." "+45 min." "+50 min."

"-39 min." "+9 min." "+58 min." "+2 min."

LOW "+29 min." "+45 min." "+24 min."

"-52 min."

"-8 min." "+63 min."

"-8 min."

LOW 9:06 p.m.

9:43 p.m.

10:22 p.m.

11:03 a.m.

11:50 p.m.

12:45 a.m.

1:50 a.m.

The County Times

Section A -

Thursday, February 7, 2008

2 Steamed Lobster Tails (4oz.)

• 1 lb. Steamed Mixed Vegetables • 2 Baked Potatoes • 6” Fudge Brownie Cheesecake

$19.

99

With Gold Card Price Effective Friday, February 8 - Sunday, February 10

Route 245 Hollywood, MD 20636

301-475-2531 Wildewood Shopping Center California, MD 20619

301-866-5702

Route 5 & Mohawk Drive Charlotte Hall, MD 20622

301-884-5636

Route 246 & Great Mills Rd. Lexington Park, MD 20653

301-862-7702

The Shops at Breton Bay Leonardtown, MD 20650

301-997-1828

Thursday, February 7, 2008

The County Times

Section A -

St. Mary’s County Woman Faces 20 Years In Prison Legal Notices For Less Than Half-Gram Of Crack NOTICE TO FATHER

BY PUBLICATION LEGAL NOTICE

In The Matter of the Paternity of S.E. to J.E and John Doe (real name unknown).

You have been identified as the biological father or possible biological fatherof a Caucasian/Hispanic male child whom the biological mother currently intends to place for adoption. The placement occurred on July 26, 2006.

S.E. was conceived on or about August 18, 2004 in Maryland and was born on May 18, 2005 in Frederick, MD. You have the right to: 1) deny paternity; 2) waive any parental rights you may have; 3) relinquish and consent to adoption; 4) file a Notice of Objection to Adoption and Intent to Obtain Custody pursuant to Nebraska Revised Statue section 43-104.02 or; 5) object to the adoption in a pro-

ceeding before any Nebraska court which has adjudicated him to be the biological father of the child prior to his receipt of notice.

In order to deny paternity, waive your parental rights, relinquish and consent to the adoption or receive additional information to determine whether you are the father of S.E., you must contact the undersigned agency. If you wish to object to the adoption and seek custody of the child you must seek legal counsel from your own attorney immediately.

By: Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Nancy Cole Protective Services Worker Adoption Unit 1313 Farnam – On – The- Mall Omaha, NE 68102 (402) 595-2823 (402) 595-2045 fax

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer A jury of 12 citizens convicted a Lexington Park woman last week of selling just four-tenths of a gram of crack to an undercover narcotics officer almost four years ago, slapping her with a two decade long sentence.

While the charges against Donna Marie Hill, 52, of possession of narcotics and distributing them are common, and the amount small, the circumstances surrounding the case and to why it took so long to go to trial are anything but.

After undercover narcotics officers bought narcotics from Hill in November of 2004 at a trailer park in Lexington Park, according to court testimony, law enforcement officers could not find Hill in St. Mary’s to serve the indictment and even enlisted the help of the U.S. Marshal’s Service to track her down.

Hill remained free for about threeand-a-half years.

In court Hill said she was not aware of any Circuit Court indictment made against her years ago after the narcotics

sale.

Hill said she learned of the indictment while living in Anne Arundel County when she called the local sheriff’s office there in reference to another legal matter.

Defense attorney Daun Weiers argued to the jury that the audio recordings of the suspect making the transactions were not available because the devices malfunctioned, according to court testimony from undercover officers.

Also, there was no video recording of the suspect making the narcotics transaction with undercover officers, with only one officer making contact with Hill on tape, according to court testimony.

The officers, Weiers said, also gave testimony that differed from details in their original charges filed with their initial police report nearly four years ago.

Weiers also argued that police had charged the wrong woman, to boot.

“This is a case of identification,” Weiers argued to the jury. “There were a lot of mistakes made in the transaction… they don’t seem to have a very good recollection.

“If you put together all these mistakes

County Budget Request For Sheriff May Not Allow Any Extras

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer The finance manager for the county sheriff’s office says that the extra $500,000 the Board of County Commissioners has initially offered the agency for it’s fiscal 2009 budget is really not extra at all.

Erin Shoemaker told The County Times that the commissioners’ figure might only just cover operating expenses for the office.

“The bottom line is… we need more than this $500,000 to operate as is,” Shoemaker said.

The issue, Shoemaker said, remains over differing starting

amounts, or baselines, for operating expenses between the county and the sheriff’s office.

The sheriff’s office calculation for the baseline budget is about $28.2 million just to keep the agency running, Shoemaker said. The county’s calculated baseline is about $27.8 million.

The half-million dollars the county is offering initially will be eaten by costs the office is already dealing with, Shoemaker said, and will not help with any additional hires or equipment purchases this next fiscal year.

Shoemaker claims that the county’s baseline figure is too low.

“We can’t afford a deputy

Odd News

There’s a Reason They Call it Dope 24 year-old Steven Zahorsky may have been high on his own product when he posted an ad on Cragslist for “Mary Jane in Fairfield County,” offering half-ounces of “A plus” marijuana for $220, and “B plus” marijuana for $160. The buyer who contacted him turned out to be an undercover police officer.

Zahorsky agreed to sell three quarters of an ounce to the officer and met him at an Interstate 95 rest stop McDonald’s, where he was arrested after making the sale. Police searched Zahorsky’s home and found three bags of marijuana, one bag of psilocybin mushrooms, a shotgun, ammunition, and a digital scale. When police officers confronted him at the scene of the sale, he claimed he was at the McDonald’s to eat and had no idea why he was being arrested, even though the $320 was found on his person, and the undercover officer’s number was found on his cell phone.

Another Reason to Avoid Cable Ann Beam of Wheatland, Wisconsin received a $2,000 bill from Time Warner Cable for equipment damaged during a Jan. 7 twister that destroyed hers and over two dozen other homes in the area, as well as 80 homes in Kenosha county. When she called the cable company she was told to take her bill to her insurance company, but her equipment was over nine years old, so the insurance company agreed to only pay for its depreciated value. Time Warner Cable spokeswoman Celeste Flynn said that the whole thing was a misunderstanding, and the only customers who received the extra charges for the equipment were those who had canceled or transferred their service without mentioning the tornado. Flynn said customers needed to call, and that the equipment would be taken off their accounts.

Not a Hot Dog Cindy Gravelle walked into a local 7-Eleven to buy milk and saw a miserable looking American Eskimo dog locked in the walk-in cooler, pressing its face against the glass door.

When she came back the next day and saw the same dog still in the refrigerator, the horrified Gravelle got the Calgary Humane Society involved. According to 7-Eleven spokesman Alyn Edwards, the dog’s owners, who were 7-Eleven employees, thought that because it was an Eskimo dog, it needed to be kept in very cold climates. The owners had taken to locking the dog in the cooler for safe keeping while working their shifts at the store.

French Fry Missiles Launched Three 13 year-old girls in Laramie, Wyoming are being charged with “hurling missiles” after they were caught throwing French fries during lunchtime in their school cafeteria.

The principal of Laramie Junior High and a police officer had spent the previous day warning students of the consequences of throwing food after school officials had heard rumors of a large-scale impending food fight. The girls were suspended for three days in addition to the “hurling missiles” charge, which is an adult infraction covered by city ordinances. Some observers, including the American Civil Liberties Union, are saying that the police and school officials overreacted.

or a correctional officer until the baseline is a true baseline,” Shoemaker told The County Times. “We’re nickel and diming that [$500,000] because we don’t have a true baseline.”

Without additional money the sheriff’s office will not be able to afford promotions for some senior deputies, Shoemaker said. Those deputies who have reached the required years of service will have to wait for a chance at a promotion, she said.

A new canine unit, which was needed for sniffing explosives and bomb making materials, was also not included in the county’s baseline calculations, Shoemaker said.

The bomb dog costs about

Pensions Continued from page A- and I know how hard it is to recruit and retain good people.”

The board agreed to move forward with public hearings on the matter, and

$10,000, she said.

The current budget squeeze is being felt by many county departments since dire budget shortfalls from the state have forced officials to reconsider exactly how much they can afford to spend on services to the community versus keeping the county fiscally solvent in the event of an emergency.

Back in January the county commissioners sent a letter to the sheriff’s office as well as the Board of Education telling them of their plans to hold back some of the county’s $5.6 million in unallocated money.

In that letter the Board of Education was to receive the vast majority of the funds, $1.2 million, while the sheriff’s ofthe board could come to its final decision as early as March, depending on how quickly hearings and comments are considered. The first public hearing is scheduled for February 26th. The hearing will be held at 6:00 pm at the Board of County Commissioners.

and bad recollections together… it doesn’t fit.”

The state’s case also consisted of officer testimony and chemical analysis of the drugs, since the narcotics had been inadvertently destroyed before trial.

Assistant State’s Attorney Julie White argued that even after nearly four years of trying to find her, undercover officers still were able to make a positive identification.

“He [the officer who made the buy] related what he remembered,” White told the jury. “He made contact with her… he had plenty of opportunity to interact with Donna Hill.

“This case is a little older but it’s still a good case. It’s certainly not the crime of the century but 0.4 grams is 0.4 grams and it’s illegal.”

The jury took only about 10 minutes to return with a guilty verdict on all counts; the distribution of a controlled dangerous substance carries a 20-year prison sentence.

Judge C. Clarke Raley ordered a presentencing investigation for Hill after revoking Hill’s bond.

fice would likely get just the $500,000.

The other county departments would get the remainder of the funds, but about $2.6 million would be held back to maintain the county’s financial standing.

Since that time it has been revealed that more money for education could be coming from the state in the form of about $4 million.

Sheriff Timothy K. Cameron has said that he would be as fiscally conservative as possible in making his budget request this year but that the planned expansion of the county’s detention center, which is overcrowded, would have to be a priority issue in the negotiations for the capital improvement budget.

Shoemaker said that the apparent inability to hire any new correctional officers is the foreseeable future made expanding the jail problematic.

New correctional officers

would have to be hired, trained and ready to work before the expansion was completed, she said.

The plan has been delayed for several years because of a lack of funding from the state.

The estimated cost of the minimum-security wing is $33 million.

Commissioner Thomas Mattingly (D-Leonardtown) said he was unsure of Shoemaker’s baseline figures but said that he was set to talk to the sheriff about his budget needs.

Mattingly said that depending on circumstances with the budget process the county may consider taking some of the $2.6 million held in reserve and allocating it to the sheriff’s office.

“That’s certainly not the final number,” Mattingly said of the half-million dollar figure from the county. “It’s a preliminary amount.”

Tax Rate

to relocate or build a new building on their current lot in the future.

Public hearings will be held in the near future to discuss the impact these rate increases might have on residential and commercial properties serviced by the stations.

Continued from page A- They also receive 0.8 cents per $100 of assessment in the 7th Election District, and they are requesting an increase of one cent. The squad is requesting a tax rate increase

The County Times

Section A -

Bean Center Continued from page A- community has grown since then, the Department of Defense is still bringing in people.”

The goal is to provide a place where physicians and specialists can come and hone their craft in a top-notch facility and an area with a growing demand. He also wants to create a place where specialists in advanced fields can see patients in need in St. Mary’s County, saving residents trips to places like Georgetown University or Washington Hospital Center until an actual procedure needs to be done.

“Maryland has a shortage of physicians, particularly Southern Maryland,” Shah said.

“We plan on adding 30,000 square feet right now, but we want to add on a second phase.

“If we can create a center for excellence we’d like to attract people from Washington Hospital Center and Georgetown.”

The concept for the expansion has made it to the pre-application stage, according to the Department of Land Use and Growth Management.

“We’ll be turning in all the official documents soon,” said Alan Buster, Chief Operating Officer of Shah Associates.

Buster, who worked formerly for St. Mary’s Hospital, said the number of people

seeking primary care in the hospital’s emergency room was increasing, meaning another entity had to help out.

“If there’s a lot of patients in there looking for primary care you know there’s a need for more physicians,” Buster said.

Currently a task force of county government and health care officials are examining how best to improve health and human services in St. Mary’s. One of their top priorities is drawing more physicians to the area to begin a practice.

Dr. William Icenhower, county health officer, applauded the idea of expanding the medical center and getting more doctors for St. Mary’s patients.

“If you want to talk to a family practitioner it could be several weeks before you can get an appointment,” Icenhower told The County Times. “I know of several family practitioners who aren’t taking any new patients.

“If we expand medical services that would be great.”

Icenhower said obstetricians, endocrinologists and orthopedists were also in short supply here.

There are currently about 60 physicians working for the Shah medical group, Shah said, but he hopes to expand that by about 10 to 15 doctors in the first expansion of the center.

Shah said specialists in endocrinology, mental health and infectious diseases were all

needed here. Even plastic surgeons who cannot afford to maintain a practice in St. Mary’s could use the expanded medical center to assess patients, talk about procedures and prepare them for procedures at a different facility.

This would give county residents far more options for health care and elective procedures than are currently available, Shah said.

During the last part of the year and the first month of this year I have been telling you all the reasons to buy a home soon. Interest rates are near all time lows. Housing prices are down from their peak of 2-3 years ago, and the inventory is high. Now that you have decided

“This is not an ambitious project,” Shah said. “But it’s a project that comes out of necessity.

“This is about what is the best of the best [medical care] and how do you get [the community] the best care.”

Photo by Guy Leonard

Dr. Vinod K. Shah, right, talks with Dr. Manisha Bhatt, a radiologist looking at x-rays at the Philip J. Bean Medical Center.

Buy New Construction Or A Resale Home?

By: Patrick Dugan

Thursday, February 7, 2008

years ago. However builders still have to stay in business. Their workers, the plumbers and carpenters, the electricians and the laborers still need work. The carpet manufacturers, the lumber companies and appliance companies still need sales. So what is a builder to do?

It seems the first thing they did was to to buy a new home we should talk about the start offering great incentive packages. Helpadvantages of a new construction home versus ing with the buyers closing costs, giving them a a resale home. Next week we will talk about furnished basement, or a home theatre system, the advantages that getting a resale home has or any of a dozen alternatives. That worked for over building. awhile, but now buyers expect many of those I was speaking with Paul Bennett, of things, so the builders are responding by lowBennett Homes in Leonardtown and he let me ering prices in many communities. know a few things that made me realize this a In some communities where you would great time to be buying new construction. have been paying $500,000 for a house just For one, new home construction prices three years ago, you can now get a home for are down. This is not just for the houses that are much less than what your neighbors paid. This already built, what builders call “Spec houses”. has left the builders and current homeowners These good prices are also reflected in a new in a tight spot in some cases. The current home “to be built” house you may want to purchase. owners don’t want to see houses in their com“Buyers are in a very good spot right now” munity going down in price, but buyers are said Bennett, “They know that builders have not willing today pay what others were paying inventory on hand and the buyers are trying a little while ago. In order to stay in business to get that inventory for as low a price as pos- builders are lowering their prices to attract sible. Buyers also know that most builders are buyers, and thereby making it tougher on the not putting up new houses right now because average home owner to sell their home in the of having so many spec houses on hand. When same neighborhood. a buyer decides to build, they know that they Now you have decided that building is the have the builder’s full attention, and they are way you want to go, here are some tips when going to be getting some great upgrades, or a looking for a community and a builder. wonderful price, or help with the closing cost What are the “standard Features” in the or all three.” home? Some builders have granite kitchen Most builders have realized that they counter top, others have Formica. Some have are in a softer market than they were just three

marble surrounds around the fireplace, some don’t have fireplaces. Some have plumbing roughed in for a bathroom in the basement, others don’t have basements. This is all very important to research. Do not be fooled by a low “Sticker Price”, make sure you know all the costs that will be associated with building.

What about the community? What are the community amenities? Is there an H.O.A.?

And if so who controls it? Is it still in the hands of the builder or do the homeowners have it?

Who sits on the board of the HOA? Know that the real estate agent working for the builder is, working for the builder. If you are going to drive around the area looking at new home communities, take a stack of your Realtors business cards with you. When you meet the sales manager at a neighborhood, just give him or her business card and they will know that you have somebody looking out for your best interest.

Actually, just a few years ago, builders were selling so many homes that they would not honor the agent’s representation if the agent were not with you for your first visits.

But in another example of builders looking for buyers just about all of them are courting realtors and their buyers once again. So make sure you have your own representation when you shop for homes.

As always, if you have questions, comments or just want to suggest a topic for one of my columns, please contact me at Patrick. dugan@obrienrealty.com

Obituaries Dorothy Elizabeth Barnes, 66

Dorothy Elizabeth Barnes, 66, of Great Mills died Jan. 27 in Washington Hospital Center.

Born Sept. 15, 1941 in Leonardtown, she was the daughter of the late John Steven Hebb and Ella Louise Price.

She is survived by four daughters, Doris Wilson Price (Iggie) of Jacksonville, N.C., Brenda Morgan (Eddie) of Great Mills, Mary Barnes Forbes of Great Mills, Dorothy “Bernice” Barnes Smith (Bryant) of Mechanicsville, three sons, Francis Morgan (Tina), Ronald Morgan, and Ronnie Morgan, all of Great Mills, six grandchildren, Corey Price, Marquita Price, Demontrise Morgan, Brittney Smith, Ernest Morgan and Deedra Dickerson, two great grandchildren, Jordyn Gale Price and Alyssa Price, three brothers, James Price, Jr., John Price and Thomas Price, four sisters, Ella Cutchember, Helen Price, Loretta Price, and Mary Miller, as well as a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and close

friends.

She was predeceased by a son, James Lester Morgan, Jr., and a sister, Alice Wilson.

Dorothy was a lifelong resident of St. Mary’s County.

She earned her early education through the St. Mary’s County School System. Dorothy dedicated her life to being a homemaker and a Child of God. Not until her children were grown did she work outside her home. She worked at the North Ridge Café on Route 235 for approximately four years. Once the business changed ownership, Dorothy returned home continuing to be a homemaker. Dorothy enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren, watching her soaps, and spending countless hours reading her Bible.

Relatives and friends were invited to Mrs. Barnes Life Celebration Friday, Feb. 1 from 9 – 10 a.m. at St. Matthew’s Free Gospel Church of Christ in Leonardtown.

A Funeral Service was conducted at 10 a.m. Interment followed in Charles Memorial Gardens.

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

Lewis Theodore “Ted” Birch, 53 Lewis Theodore “Ted” Birch, 53, of Piney Point, died Jan. 30 in John Hopkins University Hospital, Baltimore, Md. Born Feb. 25, 1954 in Leonardtown, he was the son of Raymond Thomas and Ada Stone Birch. He was the beloved husband of Agnes Elizabeth Goddard Birch, whom he married Dec. 8, 1979 in

ary Pallbearers were Tom Ray Birch, Randy Birch and Joe Birch.

Contributions may be made to the 2nd District Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 1, Valley Lee, MD 20692.

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

Timothy Lowell “Big Tim” Bowen, 58 Leonardtown.

He is survived by his children: Tammy Vincena and her husband Bill, Ruthie Birch, Ben Birch and Katie Birch; siblings: Tom Ray Birch, Randy Birch, Gail Dean, Joe Birch, Judy Free, Lou Lou Pulliam, Cheryl Rogers and Janet Jenkins and two grandchildren. Mr. Birch was a lifelong St. Mary’s County resident, where he graduated from Great Mills High School Class of 1972.

Ted served in the U.S. Navy for six years from Feb. 9, 1973 – April 23, 1979. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, crabbing and making woodcarvings. The family received friends Friday, Feb. 1 from 5 – 8 p.m. in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, with Prayers being said at 7 p.m. followed by Knights of Columbus Prayers at 7:10 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Saturday, Feb. 2, at 12:30 p.m. in Holy Face Catholic Church, Great Mills, with Msgr. John Mylinsky officiating along with Fr. Ron Amiot, S.J. and Fr. Joseph Sileo co-officiating. Interment followed in the Church Cemetery. Pallbearers were Willie Free, Rodney Thompson, Jimmy Hanson, Dan Garrett, Steve Henderson and Donnie Poe. Honor-

Timothy Lowell “Big Tim” Bowen, 58, of Lexington Park died Jan. 28 in St. Mary’s Hospital, Leonardtown, MD. Born Feb. 16, 1949 in Prince Frederick, Md., he was the son Audrey Mae Buckler Bowen and the late Briscoe Burdel Bowen, Sr. Timmy was a beloved member of the community, everyone knew him as the “big guy in the tow truck riding around with his son”. He was employed for 17 years with Southern Maryland Towing in Ridge. He was a 1967 graduate of Calvert High School.

Mr. Bowen is survived by his mother, Audrey Mae Bowen, two daughters, Valerie Johnson of Lexington Park,

Christy Long of Lusby, Md., a son, Thomas Bowen of Lexington Park, six grandchildren, Jennifer, Becky, Christina, Timmy, Brandon, Taylor and five great grandchildren, Mandy Justin, Katie, Hailey and Kera.

He was preceded in death by his father, Briscoe Burdel Bowen, Sr, and two brothers, Briscoe Burdel Bowen, Jr. and Robert Lee Bowen.

Timmy Bowen will be sorely missed by his friends, family and colleagues.

Honoring Mr. Bowen’s wishes, there will not be any memorial services.

Contributions in memory of Mr. Bowen can be made to the Timothy Lowell Bowen Memorial Fund at Cedar Point Federal Credit Union located in St. Mary’s and Calvert County. All donations will go to benefit Mr. Bowen’s 8 year old son Thomas.

Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.

Joseph Frederick “Fred” Bowles, 89

Joseph Frederick “Fred” Bowles, 89, of Loveville, died

Feb. 3 in St. Mary’s Hospital.

Born Sept. 29, 1918 in Loveville he was the son of the late William Alfred and Rena Olivia Bowles.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Frances Nina Bowles: his children: Joan Olivia Snodderly of Mechanicsville, and Donna Marie Adams of Hollywood, MD., and two grandchildren, Derek Ryan Adams and Michaela Marie Adams.

He was preceded in death by his son-in-law George R. Adams, Jr. and his siblings; Mabel Cooke, Catherine Boyer, Emily Council, Alice, Daniel, William, Elmer and Olivia Bowles.

Mr. Bowles was a lifelong St. Mary’s County resident where he graduated from Margaret Brent High School. He served in the U.S. Army from April 30, 1941 – June 6, 1941 and was employed as a pipe insulator for Patuxent River Naval Air Station for 31 years, retiring June 28, 1974. He enjoyed fishing, gardening, traveling and especially spending time with his grandchildren.

The family will receive friends Thursday, Feb. 7 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 Friday, Feb. 8 at 10 a.m. in St. Joseph Catholic Church, Morganza, with Fr. Keith Woods officiating. Interment will follow in Charles Memorial Gardens, Leonardtown. Pallbearers will be: Ernest Mudd, Pat Gardiner, Jimmy Lyon, Vernon Hare, Joe Schindler, James Bowles and Derek Adams. Michaela Adams will be an honorary pallbearer.

Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner

Thursday, February 7, 2008

The County Times

Section A -

Obituaries Funeral Home, P.A.

Mary Ruth “Ruthie” Delozier, 63

Mary Ruth “Ruthie” Delozier, 63, of Loveville died Jan. 29 in St. Mary’s Hospital.

Born Oct. 1, 1944 in Leonardtown she was the daughter of the late Joseph Alton and Rita Louise Vallandingham Bailey.

She is survived by her exhusband John Wayne Delozier, Sr.; children, J. Wayne Delozier, Jr., of Leonardtown, Bryan A. Delozier of Ridge and M. Dawn Delozier of Loveville; siblings, Karen Rogers of Baltimore, Md., Joseph A. Bailey and Bridgett Abell both of Loveville; grandchildren, Ashley Mattingly of Lexington Park, Amber Delozier of Okla., Shyann Delozier of Hollywood, Md (children of J. Wayne Delozier) and Sebastian Yotko of Hollywood, Md. (son of M. Dawn Delozier/Yotko and Jason Yotko). A lifelong resident of St. Mary’s County, Ruthie graduated from St. Mary’s Academy, Leonardtown, “Class of 1963.”

She was a school bus driver for Mother Catherine Spaulding School and the Mennonite Community as well as an STS driver. She enjoyed fishing, crabbing, hunting, cookouts, going to restaurants (she loved her seafood she could never get enough oysters or crabs to eat). Even though her job was to drive the bus it was more of a pastime than a job, she loved driving the school bus with all of her heart, and all of her children from the schools were like second children to her and the STS drivers were her second family. You could always count on her for a laugh and a smile, and she loved spending time with family, friends, and her dogs Shyra and Gypsy.

The family received friends on Sunday, Feb. 3 from 2 – 4 p.m. in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown, where prayers were said at 3 p.m. A funeral service was held Monday, Feb. 4 at 10 a.m. in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home Chapel with Fr. Keith Woods officiating.

Interment will be private.

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

Thomas Michael “Tommy” Ellis, Sr., 58 Thomas Michael “Tommy” Ellis, Sr., 58, of Leonardtown, died Feb. 3 in his residence.

Born Feb. 27, 1949 in Leonardtown, he was the son of the late John William and Edna Mae Ellis, Sr. He was the loving husband of Brenda Lee Ellis, whom he married Feb. 26, 1973 in Norfolk, Va. He is survived by his children: Mike Ellis and his wife Rebecca of California, Wendy Ellis and her fiance’ Michael Lee, Sr. of Leonardtown, and Cindy Longfield and her husband Patrick of Hollywood, Md.; siblings: Anne Aeby of Newark, Ohio, Joseph Ellis of Harrington, Del., June Twinam, Bernard Ellis, Donald Ellis and Lillian Prettyman all of Leonardtown, Mary C. Gilkerson of Danese, WV, Peggy Johnston of California, Dorothy Brown and Charles

Ellis both of Dunn, N.C.; nine grandchildren: Emily Lee and Alexis Longfield both of Dameron, Christian Ellis, Madison Ellis and Jordan Ellis all of California, Bryan McDonald and Chase Longfield both of Hollywood, and Michael Lee, Jr. of Leonardtown.

He was also preceded in death by his siblings: John Ellis, Jr., James Ellis and Walter Ellis; granddaughter: Kimberly Ellis.

Mr. Ellis was a lifelong St. Mary’s County resident where he graduated from Chopticon High School Class of 1967. He worked for 42 years as an auto mechanic. He enjoyed fishing, shooting pool, playing cards, watching wrestling and old westerns, going for walks, telling stories, listening to music and spending time with his family.

The family will receive friends Friday, Feb 8 from 5 – 8 p.m. in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, where Prayers were said at 7 p.m. A Funeral Service will be held Saturday, Feb. 9 at 10 a.m. in the Funeral Home Chapel with Deacon Bill Nickerson officiating. Interment will follow in Charles Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers will be Mike Ellis, Patrick Longfield, Michael Lee, Sr., Charles Ellis, Christian Ellis and Bryan McDonald. Honorary Pallbearers will be Paul Tippett, Jr. and Pat Hurley.

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

Mary Dora Morris Gibson, 90

Mary Dora Morris Gibson, 90, of Abell died Jan. 29 in her residence.

Born June 25, 1917 in Abell, she was the daughter of the late John Foster and Frances Geneva Ellis Morris.

She was preceded in death by her husband John David Gibson, Sr. April 20, 1993 in St. Mary’s Hospital; they were married April 19, 1942 in Washington, D.C. She is survived by her children: John David Gibson, Jr. and his wife Phyllis of Avenue, and Frances Dolores Burch of Abell; sister: Eunice Marie Morris Guy of Mechanicsville; grandchildren: Pamela Long and her husband Paul of Hollywood, Md., Lisa Buckler and her husband Glenn of Avenue, Gerald Burch and his wife Nancy of Mechanicsville, and Charles Burch of Abell, and 11 great grandchildren.

She was also preceded in death by her siblings: Joseph Earl “Popeye” Morris, Charles Ernest “Tootsie” Morris, Frank Victor Morris, John Sylvester “Neutsie” Morris, Irvin Foster “Piggy” Morris and James Bernard Morris.

Mrs. Gibson was a life long St. Mary’s County resident, where she attended River Springs High School. She enjoyed playing bingo and cards, making ceramics, gardening and spending time on the water.

The family received friends Friday, Feb. 1 from 5 – 8 p.m. in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, where Prayers were said at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008 at 10 a.m. in Holy Angels Catholic Church with Fr. William Gurnee officiating. Interment followed in Sacred Heart Cemetery.

Pallbearers were: Gerald F.

Burch, Jr., Charles D. Burch, Paul A. Long, R. Glenn Buckler, Bernie Owens and Jimmy Downs.

Contributions may be made to Holy Angels Catholic Church, 21335 Coltons Point Road, Avenue, MD 20609.

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

vin Knott.

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

Helen Rebecca Lee Long, 84

John William “Bill” Goldsborough, 66

vice was held Tuesday, Feb. 5 at 10 a.m. in Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, Mechanicsville, with Rev. Ann Strickler officiating.

Contributions may be made to Hospice of St. Mary’s, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD and/or Mechanicsville Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 552, Mechanicsville, MD 20659.

Arrangements provided

by Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home P.A.

Bernard Eugene “Bird” Purcell, 67

John William “Bill” Goldsborough, 66, of Hollywood died Feb. 1 in Baltimore Washington Medical Center in Glen Burnie, Md. Born July 30, 1941 in Leonardtown, he was the son of Loretta Abell Goldsborough and the late Joseph Preston Goldsborough. He was the brother of Jerome Goldsborough of Hollywood, Md., Paul and Wayne Goldsborough, both of Loveville, Mary Saunders of Leonardtown and the late James P. Goldsborough.

The family will receive friends Thursday, Feb. 7 from 8:30-9:30 a.m. in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home Chapel, Leonardtown. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10 a.m. in St. John’s Catholic Church, Hollywood, with Fr. Raymond Schmidt officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Pallbearers will be Joe Saunders, Brad Scehnet, Wayne, Paul, Jerome and Mike Goldsborough.

Contributions may be made to Pathways, P.O. Box 129, Hollywood, MD 20636.

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

Donald Garfield “Pop Pop” Holton, 61 Donald Garfield “Pop Pop” Holton, 61, of Hughesville, Md., formerly of Oakville, died Feb. 2 in St. Mary’s County.

Born April 1, 1946 in Washington, D.C., he was the son of James Edward Key and the late Mary Cecilia Holton.

He is survived by his children: James S. Dorsey, James Knott, Mary A. Knott, Carolyn T. Green and Felicia M. Dorsey and 11 grandchildren: DeAndre L. Dorsey, Lakeisha R. Dorsey, Jamara S. Dorsey, Jazmen R. Dorsey, Angelica M. Emory, Omar T. Emory, Shaneal Parker, Candis Knott, Shyron Parker, Sterling Green, II and Mareecka’ Green.

Mr. Holton was a lifelong St. Mary’s County resident where he graduated from Banneker High School Class of 1964. He worked as a grounds keeper for the Charlotte Hall Veteran’s Home where he retired in 1986, the same year he received an Outstanding Service Award. He enjoyed doing crossword puzzles, riding and walking the roads of St. Mary’s County to visit and/or help family and friends.

The family will receive friends Friday, Feb. 8 from 10:30 a.m. – noon in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, where a funeral service was held at noon in the Funeral Home Chapel with Fr. Keith Woods officiating. Interment will follow in Charles Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers will be Ricky Holton, Kevin Holton, Trent Holton, James “Sam” Dade, Kenny Barnes and Felton “Niles” Rothwell. Honorary Pallbearers will be Kelly Butler, Chris Holton, Paris Butler and Mar-

Helen Rebecca Lee Long, 84 of Mechanicsville, died Feb. 1 in her residence.

Born Jan. 21, 1924 in Oakville, she was the daughter of the late Myrtle Marie Curry Lee and Edward Newton Lee, Sr. She was preceded in death by her husband James Robert (Buddy) Long whom she married Aug. 31, 1946 at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Leonardtown.

She is survived by her children, Brenda Long (Peanut) Pruett and her husband Joe of Mechanicsville, Bonnie Sue Abell and her husband Wallace of Hollywood, Md., and Jay Robert Long and his wife Kim of Mechanicsville.

She was dearly loved by her five grandchildren; Jami and April Abell of Hollywood, Md., Jesse Long of Mechanicsville, Josh Pruett of Wake Forest, N.C. and Amy Lambert of Indian Head, Md. and seven great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her siblings, Bertha Lee Russell and Robert Morris (Bobby) Lee. Mrs. Long enjoyed baking, gardening, country music, going out to eat and spending time with her many friends and family. A graduate of Margaret Brent High School “Class of 1941,” she headed off to Washington, D.C. after graduation to work for Garfinkles Department Store and then the newly formed Patuxent River Naval Air Station until her marriage in 1946. In later years she worked as a teacher’s aid at Mechanicsville Elementary School and as a food service worker at both Leonardtown High and Margaret Brent Middle Schools. She also worked at DeLaBrooke Manor along with her late husband.

The family received friends Monday, Feb. 4 from 4 – 8 p.m. in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home Chapel where prayers were said at 7 p.m. A funeral ser-

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Bernard Eugene “Bird” Purcell, 67 of Drayden, Md. died Jan. 28 in St. Mary’s Hospital. Born April 29, 1940 in Pearson, Md., he was the son of the late George T. and Lillian Marie Dyer Purcell.

He is survived by his loving wife Diane M. Purcell whom he married Feb. 11, 2005 in Calvert County, Md.. He is survived by his siblings; George Purcell, Shirley Long and Paul Purcell, all of Drayden, Md., nieces; Patricia Purcell Wince and her husband Donnie of Valley Lee, Gail Purcell Wood and her husband Ron of Hollywood, Md. and her nephew Thomas Purcell and his wife Mary of Drayden, Md. He is also survived by his great-nieces Meaghan Wince of Valley Lee and Kayla and Hanna Purcell of Drayden, as well as his great-nephews Jay Wince of Valley Lee and Dale Wince of Compton.

He was preceded in death by his sister Hope Carey and his brother Phillip Purcell.

A lifelong resident of St. Mary’s County, Bird graduated from St. Michael High School. He was employed as a barge pumper for Exxon Mobil for 23 years, retiring in 1993. He was a charter member of The Moose Patuxent Lodge and The Waterman’s Association and he also enjoyed gardening, his kitties and watching television.

The family received friends Thursday, Jan. 31 from 9:30-11:00 a.m. in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home Chapel where a funeral service was held at 11 a.m. with Msgr. Karl Chimiak officiating. Interment followed in St. George’s Catholic Cemetery, Valley Lee.. Pallbearers were Tommy Deagle, T.J. Boothe, Johnny Adams, Joseph Purcell, Jimmy Trossbach and Donald Goddard.

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

Rodney James Reining, 68

Rodney James Reining, 68, of Olympia, Wash. died Feb. 1 in St. Mary’s Hospital, Leonardtown.

Born March 5, 1939 in Endicott, N.Y., he was the son of Grant O. Reining and Mildred I. Woodley Reining. Mr. Reining served his country in the U.S. Air Force. He was the owner of a tree service company.

He is survived by his wife, Stephanie S. Reining of Olympia, Wash. two daughters, Renee Welch of Olympia, Wash., Sheri Humphrey of Tacoma, Wash., two sons, James K. Reining of Mechanicsville, John G. Reining of Savannah, Ga., ten grandchildren, and a brother, Donald Reining of Endicott, N.Y. All services were private.

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

John Donald Tennyson, 93 John Donald Tennyson, 93, of Chaptico, and formerly of Avenue, died Feb. 3 in his residence.

Born Dec. 12, 1914 in Leonardtown, he was the son of the late George S. and Mary Ruth Mattingly Tennyson.

He is survived by his children John D. Tennyson, Jr. and his wife Lois A. of Avenue and Dorothy E. Reynolds and her late husband Richard B. of Chaptico, two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

He is also survived by his sister Evelyn Hutchinson of Clinton, Md. He was preceded in death by his brothers Joseph Kelly and George S. Tennyson.

A lifelong resident of St. Mary’s County, Seventh District, John attended River Springs School and was employed as a waterman.

He was a loving and devoted single father to Donnie and Dottie.

The family received friends Wednesday, Feb. 6 from 8:30–9:30 a.m. in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown.

A Mass of Christian Burial followed at 10 a.m. in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Morganza, with Fr. Keith Woods officiating. Interment followed in the church cemetery. Pallbearers were Donnie Tennyson, Ernie Woodall, Eddie Faunce, Robert Anderson, Tucker Brown and Robert T. Brown. Honorary pallbearers were Ernie Friess, Pat Wood and John Tennyson III. Contributions may be made to the Seventh District Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 7, Avenue, MD 20609.

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

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Specializing in Valentines Day We Deliver Vases, Baskets, Chocolates, 301-862-9109 Baloons, and Bears

Lafern & Shi rley Mon - Fri: 9 - 5 F

available exclusively at: Hallmark Gold Crown Pamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hallmark locations at: -First Colony Center, California -McKayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Plaza, Charlotte Hall -Leonardtown Center Offer valid while supplies last.

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Last Time

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Saturday: 9 - 1 22576 McArthur Blvd â&#x20AC;˘ San Souci Plaza

Crab Legs

301-475-3354 Come on down to DO DAH DELI with your sweetie for a GROOVY VALENTINES DAY...

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Your Sweetheart With Brand New Furniture This Valentines Day!

Snow, Dungeness, King

Spend Valentines Day at T he W illows Have A Candelight Dinner with Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day Specials

F Call In or R

Lobster Tails 301-884-5251

Thompsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Seafood Corner

5% Off On Wine!

Thompsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

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vations

301-475-6553

http://willows.somd.com

In Business For 60 Years

Furniture City

301-373-2151 or 1-800-273-1959 â&#x20AC;˘ www.thomsponsfurniturecity.com

Mone Ordersy Only 5 0¢

ily m a F al i c e Sp

16â&#x20AC;? Specialty Pizza

County Liquors

and

1. 10oz Lobster Tail w/ 6oz Filet Mignon $38

99

2. 10oz Lobster Tail w/ 6oz N.Y. Strip $33

99

3. 10oz Lobster Tail $27

16â&#x20AC;? 2 topping $22.99 plus tax

99

4. 6oz Filet Mignon w/ Fried Crab Cake $26

99

5. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Cajunâ&#x20AC;? Triple Delight

Call For Reservations:

301-862-3600 21600 Great Mills Rd. Suite 5, Lexington Park MD 20653

Email: countyliquors@yahoo.com

410-326-4855 www.naughtygullpub.com

m and Popâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s o M

$2199

6. Broiled Salmon w/cream sauce topped w/crabmeat

$1899 Located Next To the Holiday Inn

301-863-2500