The County Times 2008.12.11 A Section

THURSDAY 12.11.2008

Established 2006 • Volume 3 • Issue 48

Seahawks vs Marymount

Toys For Tots

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INSIDE

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Soldiers Rapid Rise, Leadership Skills Earns Him Top Honors

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James Manning McKay Sr.

Dies At Age 89

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer The chief financial officer for St. Mary’s County government says that the first of four income tax allotments from the state are better than expected, which could mean that the county could make its budget goal of $63.7 million in income taxes for 2009.

Elaine Kramer, head of the finance office, said that could mean that the county may not have to make cuts in county positions or furlough employees to save money.

The first parcel of income tax revenues from state coffers came in at about $15.2 million in November, Kramer told The County Times, with three more payments to come in February, May and June.

“I think we’re on track to make budget in 2009,”Kramer said. “I’m cautiously optimistic; had it been down there would be cause to

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Mechanicsville resident and U.S. Army 1st Sergeant Kevin Bidwell loves being a soldier. For the past 15years, he has made serving his country, and serving it well, his career.

His skill and professionalism have reached such a high level that he has been named the top first sergeant for the entire U.S. Army Recruiting Command after a rigorous competition that examined his performance goals and those of his troops, his leadership qualities and his physical fitness.

No mean feat, the competition saw nearly 250 first sergeants vie for the title across all the units here in the United States as well as in Europe and the Philippines.

After numerous tests, writing assignments and inquests by a group of nine sergeant majors on policies and procedures of the U.S. Army, Bidwell won the prestigious title.

He said the men and women under his command, whom he helped groom to be the best in the army recruiting command, helped him win out over all the others.

“You have to have a proficient See Soldier Award page A-

See Tax page A-

Crosby Sworn In With Veteran Board Members Andrea Shiell Staff Writer

Local Neighborhood Rehab Project To Use State Funds James Manning McKay passed away early Tuesday morning at the age of 89. He is the founder of McKay’s Food and Drug, as well as The County Times Newspaper

Andrea Shiell Staff Writer The Greenview Village Apartment community in Great Mills will be undergoing a significant makeover in the future, and Dennis Nicholson of the Housing Authority of St. Mary’s County (HASMC) presented community rehabilitation plans to the Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday to request approval of using state funds for the project.

Nicholson presented a resolution supporting the use of Community Development Administration (CDA) funds in the amount of $1,703,052 for the project, specifically for improvements such as: site grading and new sidewalks, new site pole lights, new handicapped parking signs, rewiring of certain units to meet modern electrical code for ADA units, new ADA plumbing fixtures, new sheetrock, new interior doors and trim, new paint, ADA accessible cabinetry and countertops, new flooring, and new hardware for ADA standards. Other priorities include the replacement of exterior and patio doors, HVAC heat See Rehab page A-

INSIDE

For Continual News Updates Visit: somd.com

County: Income Tax Allotment From State On Track

Veteran, Grocer, Politician, Publisher Leaves Community Legacy

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer James Manning McKay, founder of the well known local food store chain bearing his name, former state delegate and president of the St. Mary’s Board of County Commissioners has died.

He was 89.

McKay was remembered by colleagues who had served with him county government as an effective leader who always worked in the best interests of St. Mary’s County.

“He was probably one of the most hard-working men I’ve ever known,” said Ford Dean, a former county comSee McKay page A-

The Board of Education of St. Mary’s County held their Board Member Oath of Office Ceremony on Monday afternoon at their meeting room on Moakley Street. Joining veteran board members was newly elected member Marilyn Crosby, who unseated Gary Kessler in the November election.

Veteran board member Mary Washington commented lightheartedly on Crosby’s induction, saying “she brings a lot of experience being a special education teacher in the See Crosby page A-

See Next Week For The Final Edition of The Leonardtown 300th Anniversary Celebration

Man Pleads To Murder Of Estranged Wife’s Boyfriend

Also Admits To Attempting To Kill Wife

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer A man who had shot his wife and her boyfriend, killing the man, earlier this year in a fit of jealous rage, according to county prosecutors, has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder in county Circuit Court.

Koumanne Virasith, 40, disputed the facts of his case at a plea hearing scheduled Dec. 4, according to State’s Attorney Richard Fritz who prosecuted the case.

Fritz said when he read a statement of facts Dec. 4 showing that on April 10, when the killing of Thomas John Saunders, 38, and the crippling of Melissa Virasith took place, the defendant left Liberty Street by car afSee Plea page A-

opinion A-4 • obituaries A-6 • entertainment A-9 sports B-1 • lottery B-6 • community B-5 • classifieds B-9

Thursday Sunny 44°

Weather Friday Sunny 39°

Saturday Sunny 38°

Section A -

The County Times

Thursday, December 11, 2008

The County Times

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Section A -

Murder, Carjacking Suspect May Challenge Confession

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Prosecutors say a man accused of carjacking and robbing a 75-year-old victim with a heart condition who later died made a confession, but now wants to contest it at a motions hearing in county Circuit Court.

The hearing for the accused, Stephen Joseph Brown-Santos, could take place next week.

“He gave a confession to the police,” said Public Defender John Getz. “But he does wish to litigate that statement.”

Brown-Santos, 20, was initially charged with armed robbery and carjacking against Billy Gene Gurley, but the grand jury later indicted him on first-degree murder.

Brown-Santos is said by local police to have carjacked and robbed Gurley June

20 outside Dabbs Dental Care in Leonardtown using a handgun.

After the robbery, Gurley called for help from police, complained of chest pains and later died.

Charging documents state that BrownSantos had agreed to an interview without a lawyer after anonymous witnesses to the crime had pointed to Brown-Santos as a likely suspect.

Brown admitted in charging documents to using the handgun to force Gurley back into his car at the dental care facility and drove him to the parking lot of a nearby Leonardtown shopping center where he allegedly took $37 and a class ring from Gurley.

Brown-Santos fled to his own car, police said, while Gurley drove back to the parking lot of the dental care facility and called for police.

Charging documents state that police

Go Green This Holiday Season

Both Getz and Fritz are expected to present expert witnesses for and against Brown-Santos.

Through the entire motions hearing process Dec. 8, Brown-Santos used a Spanish language interpreter to understand and relay responses to the court.

Fritz later said Brown-Santos’ command of the English language was adequate.

“He speaks English well enough to attend any high school in Maryland and graduate,” Fritz said.

Brown-Santos waived his right to have his case tried by Jan. 25 of next near, or the deadline of the 180-day period in which cases must be tried according to law, in an effort to gather defense witnesses.

Brown-Santos is still incarcerated at the St. Mary’s County Adult Detention Center.

Gurley, who lived in Town Creek, had lived in the county since 1959 and worked at the U.S. Navy’s Test Pilot School at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station.

Friends and family said he was a founding member of the Mattponi Rod and Gun Club on base and was an avid outdoorsman and deer hunter.

executed a search warrant on Brown-Santos’ apartment and found a loaded handgun they believed was used in the crime against Gurley.

Court papers went on to say the defendant’s girlfriend returned the deceased victim’s class ring.

State’s Attorney Richard Fritz said in court there would be “much evidence to be produced that will involve medical testimony.”

Gurley had a heart monitor on him at the time of the alleged crime, Fritz said.

Circuit Court Judge C. Clarke Raley said the case would be a “very complex murder case,” because there was a question as to whether Brown-Santos’ alleged actions actually caused the death of the victim.

Judge Raley also said that “it’s fairly certain you’ll have a collision of expert witnesses” in the case.

We have it. They don’t.

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With the holidays upon us, the return of holiday traditions is upon us as well. Thanksgiving football games, Christmas mornings spent opening gifts, and New Year’s parties are a few of the more standard traditions most families partake in this time of year.

Another tradition of the holiday season is decorating.

Houses adorned with colorful lights and halls decked out with holiday decor are a common element in households across the country during the holiday season. However, too often decorations and the various other traditions of the holiday season are less than environmentally friendly. Fortunately, there are ways to make this holiday season both festive and friendly to the environment. * Alter your party plans: Parties are a big part of the holiday season, whether they’re office parties, gatherings with family, or simply friends getting together to enjoy some good times. Though paper napkins and plates offer convenience, they aren’t exactly beneficial to the environment. Sustainable items such as cloth napkins and reusable plates, are an easy way to make a holiday party environmentally friendly. There are even companies that specialize in organic and sustainable linens. * Give more responsibly: Gift giving is arguably the most common of all holiday traditions. But the pageantry associated with gift giving often has a negative impact on the environment. Tissue paper and ribbons cannot be recycled.

In lieu of such items, consider wrapping gifts in the Sunday comics, posters or go the easy (and reusable) route by placing gifts in gift bags instead of wrapping paper, tissue paper and ribbon. * Decorate with natural scents and oils: Natural scents and oils can create the ambience many people want around their home during the holidays. On the positive side, these natural scents and oils don’t provide the downside that aerosol sprays and even some scented candles do. Such items can be harmful to the environment, while natural scents and oils pack the same punch without the negative impact. * Grow your own trees: If you have the room on your property, growing your own evergreen could be a good way to go this season. While planting won’t pay immediate decorating dividends, it will pay off in the long run, and save you money as well. If you can plant an evergreen, as that tree begins to grow, you can trim its branches to use for decorating around the home. Once it’s grown to an adequate size, you can then use that as your Christmas tree. This process can keep repeating itself so long as you have the room to plant the tree. * Do your shopping from home: One of the more stressful aspects of the holiday season is holiday shopping. Eliminating that stress is not only healthy, but helpful to the environment as well. Rather than driving to the nearby mall or shopping district throughout the holiday season, consider shopping online. When shopping online, you aren’t wasting any fuel, nor are you sitting idly in traffic and contributing to air pollution.

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11/24/08 10:08:01 AM

The County Times

Section A -

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Editorial & Opinion

His Greatest Gift To Our Community; Few Ever Knew

James Manning McKay, 89 passed away Tuesday morning, December 9, 2008 at St. Mary’s Hospital. Manning, as those who knew him best called him, died peacefully with his wife Marilyn, and their eight children by his side.

Later that day, James A. Forrest Sr., whom the Dr. James A. Forrest Career and Technology Center is named after, a young man himself at the fine age of 97, spoke of Manning and his memories. Mr. Forrest spoke about the time when Manning was President of The Board of County Commissioners at the same time he was President of The Board of Education.

That was a time, the mid 70’s when St. Mary’s County was emerging from a rural farming community where education had never been the higher priority, to a worldclass community where education would ultimately be the number one priority.

More than just that, it was a time shortly after integration of our county schools.

These two individuals, Mr. McKay and Mr. Forrest, one a white man and one an AfricanAmerican man held the highest posts in local government and local education at a time when our community benefited the most.

These two men knew each other long before they would meet together on the stage of public policy. They were friends to each other and servants to a greater cause. For both of these men, the inequities of race relations had no place in our society. But it wasn’t their cause that made these two friends men of the same cloth, it was their collective understanding of people, both white and black that enabled them both to be a couple of the greatest leaders our community ever knew.

I’d Like To Be Your Commissioner President Written to the citizens of St. Mary’s County by James Manning McKay in 1974 in his race for County Commissioner

They both understood that the transition of people would take time, that violence and a heavy hand would cause hatred and failure.

Just as important however was to show determination and strength. As friends, they each practiced the morals of equality throughout the 50’s and 60’s. But always with the delicacy that reforming people required.

By the time they reached center stage in the mid 70’s, they had together and separately blazed a trail that would set the standards for race relations to come. Teaching patience and understanding, on both sides, these two men lead not just a county but a nation that will celebrate the culmination of the hard work and dedication of people like Mr. McKay and Mr. Forrest this coming January with the Inauguration of Barack Obama as the first African American President of the United States.

Mr. McKay will be watching the Inauguration with God from Heaven above with the same expectation that he has always had, no matter your color, no matter how difficult your task, work hard and get the job done.

As time keeps moving it’s good to reflect on days gone by and the great men and women who left our community better than they found it. Mr. McKay will certainly be missed by the thousands of people who remember him as the kind man who could often be found picking up trash in the store parking lot and always helping customers take their groceries to the car. What folks may not as readily remember is the kind man who instilled respect upon so many fellow men.

Countywide Survey Results Show Positive Community Response to SMCM Nine Out of Ten People Say SMCM Is Good Neighbor A survey of St. Mary’s County residents conducted in November by Gonzales Research & Marketing Strategies for St. Mary’s College of Maryland (SMCM) to gauge community attitudes toward the college yielded useful feedback for the school. The survey results show that 90 percent of county residents polled have an overall favorable opinion of the college. Twenty-five percent of respondents said they or a family member have taken a class at SMCM within the past year, with 93 percent responding that they “would be proud to have a family member attend” SMCM. The response to questions on events attended outside the classroom shows that about 50 percent of those surveyed have been to one or more cultural events at SMCM in the past year.

The response to the following questions reflected well on how most citizens view the college’s relationship with its local community.

Ninety percent of those surveyed agreed that the college is “a good neighbor to the residents of St. Mary’s County.” Almost 80 percent agreed that SMCM is an “environmentally friendly and sensitive institution.” Ninety-six percent of respondents agreed that SMCM is an “important educational institution in St. Mary’s County.”

When asked if SMCM provides “important contributions to the cultural offerings” of the county, 92 percent responded favorably. Almost half have attended a concert in the past year and 20 percent said they’ve attended a lecture at SMCM during that time. Ninety percent of county residents agree that SMCM adds to the quality of life in the county.

“We conducted this survey to find out what the citizens of St. Mary’s County think of the college’s relationship with the community. We know our record—exceptional community programs and an excellent record on the environment. Sustainability awards from the U.S. Green Building Council and the Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership attest to this. So we took the time to understand what the attitude of our community is really. Nine out of ten people surveyed said SMCM is a good neighbor, and we do well offering educational and cultural opportunities for both the campus and local communities,” said SMCM President Jane Margaret O’Brien.

“Whether by bringing known musicians here through the River Concert Series like country music star Suzy Bogguss or by inviting prominent guest speakers such as Tom Brokaw, our

goal is to continue to add to the quality of life in our community. And we’ll continue to listen and to improve, and we welcome community feedback,” O’Brien said.

Only six percent of survey respondents disagreed with the statement that SMCM “students participate in public service activities in the local community.” Examples of involvement in the community include a group of students who visit residents of the Bayside Nursing Home in Lexington Park, Maryland, every week and those involved in volunteering at the local soup kitchens.

A Thanksgiving food drive this year, for example, resulted in SMCM students delivering 350 pounds of food, enough for about 20 families, to the Southern Maryland Food Bank.

Other survey results show that 18 percent of community members questioned have attended an athletic event at the college or have used the SMCM library. Thirteen percent have used the college’s athletic facilities.

Among the five colleges in the state tested, St. Mary’s County residents rated SMCM the highest. The college had a mean average of 7.99 on a scale of 1 to 10 with regard to academic quality when compared to other colleges in the state. The other colleges ranking below SMCM, in order of rank, are University of Maryland at College Park, Towson State University, Salisbury University and Loyola College.

The poll by Gonzales Research & Marketing Strategies, Inc. was conducted between Nov. 5 and Nov. 11. A total of 403 St. Mary’s County residents, 18 years of age or older, were interviewed by telephone. The margin of error is no more than plus or minus five percentage points for the entire sample. The full survey may be viewed at www.smcm.edu. Click on the link identified to see the results.

Gonzales Research & Marketing Strategies is a ten-year-old polling and market research firm based in Annapolis, Maryland. Gonzales Research works with public and private clients, from large corporations and government agencies to small businesses and associations. The firm has conducted surveys nationally and statewide. The firm’s political and issue-oriented polls are widely cited by the Associated Press, the Washington Post and the Baltimore Sun. Clients include the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, the Maryland State Teachers Association, the Carroll County Board of Education and Kaiser Permanente.

The County Times P.O. Box 250 • Hollywood, Maryland 20636 News, advertising, circulation, classifieds: 301-373-4125

I am 54 years old, son of the late George Franklin and Blanch Clements McKay. I was born and raised at Hollywood, Maryland where I presently reside with my wife, Marilyn Dixon McKay, and 4 of our 8 children. I attended both the public and parochial school systems here in St. Mary’s County. I have lived in St. Mary’s County most of my life except for about 4 ½ years in the late 1930’s and the early 1940’s during which time I was employed by such companies as Consolidated Engineering Company and the Bethlehem Steel Company.

My mother and father operated a small tobacco farm on which I helped prior to seeking employment in Washington and Baltimore. I was also absent from Saint Mary’s County during the time I was on active duty in the United States Navy in the early and mid 1940’s. Upon leaving active duty with the Navy I resumed my employment with the government at Patuxent River, Maryland and remained there until August 1968. In 1968 I expanded my retail food business to two markets being the same type of business my wife and I had entered into in late 1948.

Throughout all of those years I continued my education by night classes and any other means at my disposal including the Popular Educator and a course in American Law and Procedures. In 1970 I decided to seek nomination and election to the Maryland House of Delegates. Upon taking my seat in the House and working very close with St. Mary’s County’s other Delegate, Speaker John Hanson Briscoe along with Senator Paul Bailey we passed much important legislation for St. Mary’s County and the State of Maryland. Some of the legislation of note was authorizing our county to fund such projects as the addition to the nursing home, the county’s share of the cost of the Mentally Retarded Center, expanding the Board of County Commissioners, providing the first consumer protection legislation for St. Mary’s County, establishing a senior citizens commission, enacting legislation to prevent an oil refinery from operating at Piney Point and many other important pieces of legislation. I was a member of the important Environmental Matters Committee during my entire 4 years in the Maryland House and was also a member of the joint House Senate Open Spaces Committee for the last 2 years.

I decided in April of this year not to seek reelection to my House seat. After being urged to remain active in politics by my family and many friends from throughout the County I decided to seek the nomination and election as President of the Board of County Commissioners. I chose to seek that office because there are many organizational and operational changes needed in County government to make it more efficient and responsive to the public need. I have set forth in several press releases and public statements my position on a few of the issues of which the people appear to be concerned. My one very emphatic promise to the people of St. Mary’s County is if nominated and elected that I will do the best job for them that I can.

James Manning McKay

Dear Editor:

U.S. Car Dealership Closings in 2009 Make Right to Repair Act More Critical to Vehicle Owners Dear Editor: Reuters reports that the number of U.S. car dealerships closing is expected to increase into 2009, with as many as 3,800 dealerships at risk of closure because of dwindling sales and tighter credit, according to a newly released study by Grant Thornton LLP. With so many car dealerships in America projected to close next year, the need for the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act (HR 2694) is even more critical to car owners than ever before.

The fact is that there already aren’t enough dealerships in all the right places to keep every motor vehicle serviced, repaired and operating safely. Now it appears that this situation is going to become worse. Without the Right to Repair Act, millions of motorists may be forced back to fewer dealers for service, making convenient

and affordable local auto repair a thing of the past. In addition, many motorists may forgo important vehicle repairs due to the added costs of fuel and travel time because there is no dealership in the area.

The Right to Repair Act was introduced in Congress to protect vehicle owners by making it illegal for manufacturers to withhold safety alerts and repair information from car owners and their trusted repair shops.

Please visit www.righttorepair.org to send a letter to each of your congressional representatives, urging them to support the Right to Repair Act by adding their names to the growing list of co-sponsors.

Sincerely, Aaron Lowe Vice President, Government Affairs Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association

James Manning McKay - Founder Tobie Pulliam - Office Manager............................tobiepulliam@countytimes.net Andrea Shiell - Community Correspondent.......andreashiell@countytimes.net Chris Stevens - Sports Correspondent............... ........chrisstevens@countytimes.net Guy Leonard - Government Correspondent..............guyleonard@countytimes.net Preston Pratt- Sales Representative...........................prestonpratt@countytimes.net Matt Suite- Sales Representative......................................mattsuite@countytimes.net

The County Times

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Board Of County Commissioners Meeting

County Administrator Items Tuesday, December 8, 2008 County Administrator Items Dept. of Economic and Community Development (Bob Schaller, Director) Resolution and PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) Agreement, Victory Woods Senior Housing Project Motion: To sign the Resolution supporting the Victory Woods Senior Housing Project to be financed either directly by the MD Department of Housing and Community Development or through the Departments Community Development Administration, in the form of a loan in the approximate amount of $2,000,000.

Motion By: Mattingly Second: Jarboe Action: Unanimous Voting Record: Russell Yes Mattingly Yes Dement Yes Jarboe Yes Raley Yes Resolution in support of and for the use of CDA (Community Dev. Admin.) funds in the approx. amount of $1,703,052, for the Greenview Village Apartments Rehabilitation Project.

Note: The BOCC approved Resolution 2006-19 endorsing the use of CDA funds for the rehabilitation of Greenview Village Apartments, which consists of 65 units.

Motion: To approve and sign the resolution endorsing the Greenview Village Apartments Rehabilitation Project located at 45770 Church Drive, Great Mills, and supporting the use of Community Development Administration funds and/or programs for this project. (Motion amended including the installation of sprinkler systems as a top priority.)

Motion By: Raley Second: Dement Action: Unanimous Voting Record: Russell Yes Mattingly Yes Dement Yes Jarboe Yes Raley Yes St. Marys County Public Schools (Theo Cramer, Dir. of Academic Support; Rhonda Meleen, Coord. Of Financial Services) Request for approval of the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) Bright Futures 21st Century Grant for after school programs (in the amount of $330,224 per year for three years). (Motion is for Grant period 7/1/08 to 9/30/08) Motion: To approve the Bright Futures 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant in the amount of $330,224 per year for three years, which was approved by the St. Marys County Board of Education on October 29, 2008, and to sign the letter of consent evidencing this approval.

Motion By: Jarboe Second: Dement Action: Unanimous Voting Record: Russell Yes Mattingly Yes Dement Yes Jarboe Yes Raley Yes St. Marys County Metropolitan Commission (Steve King, Director; Dan Ichniowski, Assist. Dir.; Anne Mary Cullins, Dir. of HR; Mike Sullivan, Admin. Operations/Facilities Mgmt.; and Metcom Board Members ) Request for approval of two new MetCom staff positions (funding is in the MetCom FY09 Operating Budget).

Motion: In accordance with the requirements of Chapter 113-1C of the Public Local Laws of St. Marys County, to approve the Metropolitan Commissions creation of one new System Control and Data Acquisition Technician position and one new Water Treatment and Distribution/Wastewater Collection System Operator position, effective immediately. (Amended to approve one of the two positions.)

Motion By: Raley Second: Mattingly Action: Motion Carried Voting Record: Russell Yes Mattingly Yes Dement Yes Jarboe No Raley Yes Office of the Sheriff (Sheriff Tim Cameron) Lease Agreement use of premises at 46922 So. Shangri La Drive for “CSAFE” Motion: To approve and authorize the Commissioner President to sign the Lease Agreement with Hal Edwin Cole, Sr., for the use of the premises at 46922 South Shangri La Drive in Lexington Park for the St. Marys County Sheriffs Collaborative Supervision and Focused Enforcement (CSAFE) program.

Motion By: Dement Second: Raley Action: Unanimous Voting Record: Russell Yes Mattingly Yes Dement Yes Jarboe Yes Raley Yes Dept. of Finance (Elaine Kramer, CFO) Six (6) BAs closing out projects, realigning $611,190 to the Supplemental Reserve Accounts, $38,332 will be returned to the BOCC Emergency Reserve.

Motion: To approve and authorize the Commissioner President to sign the six budget amendments to closeout the related project budgets, move the budget authority to the Supplemental Reserve Accounts, and return funding to

the BOCC Emergency Reserve.

Motion By: Raley Second: Jarboe Action: Unanimous Voting Record: Russell Yes Mattingly Yes Dement Yes Jarboe Yes Raley Yes Three (3) BAs adjusting project budgets (for grants that were budgeted at more than will be received).

Motion: To approve and authorize the Commissioner President to sign the three budget amendments, which will adjust the relative project budgets to be in accordance with the actual awards, and move the budget authority to the Supplemental Reserve Accounts.

Motion By: Raley Second: Jarboe Action: Unanimous Voting Record: Russell Yes Mattingly Yes Dement Yes Jarboe Yes Raley Yes Department of Aging (Lori Jennings-Harris, Director; Jennie Page, Dep. Director; Peggy Maio, Fiscal Supervisor) Grant Agreement - Senior Rides Operating Assistance (FY09); total grant amount $25,250 - $17k State, $6,250 County match, and projected revenue of $2k.

Motion: To approve and authorize the Commissioner President to sign the Maryland Department of Transportation FY09 Operating Grant Agreement for Senior Ride Operating Assistance.

Motion By: Dement Second: Jarboe Action: Unanimous Voting Record: Russell Yes Mattingly Yes Dement Yes Jarboe Yes Raley Yes Dept. of Public Safety (Dave Zylak, Director; Dennis Gordge, Pres., St. Marys Co. Advanced Life Support Unit) Acknowledgement of MIEMSS Advanced Life Support Education Grant ($3,600) and BA decreasing the grant budget by $600 (County funding remains the same at $8,740).

Motion: To acknowledge the Maryland Institute of Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Advanced Life Support Education Grant Agreement, as signed by the Advanced Life Support Unit, and to approve and authorize the Commissioner President to sign the related budget amendment, decreasing the grant budget by $600.

Motion By: Mattingly Second: Raley Action: Unanimous Voting Record: Russell Yes Mattingly Yes Dement Yes Jarboe Yes Raley Yes Dept. of Public Works and Transportation (George Erichsen, P.E., Director) Public Works Agreement (re-issue) and Addenda (a.) Public Works Agreement Addendum for Hanover at Breton Bay Subdivision located in the 3rd Election District with an Expiration Date of January 1, 2009. The roads included in this Agreement are: Hanover Drive (2,009), Hanover Court (299), Hanover Woods Court (746), Orchard Court (350), and Barn Court (744). (b.) Public Works Agreement Addendum for Dahlia Park of Wildewood, Phase 1, located in the 8th Election District with an Expiration Date of October 1, 2009. The roads included in this Agreement are: Tallwood Road, (1,063), Dahlia Drive (1,404), Dianthus Court (135), Camelia Street (812), Camelia Street-Extended (386), and Canna Court (1,098). (c.) Public Works Agreement Addendum for FDR Boulevard at Buck Hewitt Road located in the 8th Election District with an Expiration Date of December 1, 2009. The road included in this Agreement is: FDR Boulevard (1,418). (d.) Public Works Agreement re-issued for Columbia Colony at First Colony Subdivision located in the 8th Election District with an Expiration Date of December 1, 2009. The roads included in this Agreement are: Clark Drive (549), Brown Street (952), McCool Street (765), Husband Street (730), and Clark Street (852).

Motion By: Mattingly Second: Raley Action: Unanimous Voting Record: Russell Yes Mattingly Yes Dement Yes Jarboe Yes Raley Yes FY2010 Maryland Transportation Administrative Grant Application and Operating/Capital budget for St. Marys Transit Transportation Programs (originally presented at the 10/21/08 BOCC meeting) Motion: To approve and authorize the Commissioner President to execute the FY2010 Maryland Transportation Administrative Grant Application and Assurances, in the amount of $3,131,377, for the St. Marys Transit System.

Motion By: Jarboe Second: Dement Action: Unanimous Voting Record: Russell Yes Mattingly Yes Dement Yes Jarboe Yes Raley Yes

Section A -

Legal Notice

Tax Continued from page A-

Notice Of Request For Bid Proposal For An Integrated Residential And Commercial Water Meter System The Commissioners of Leonardtown will be accepting bids for an integrated residential and commercial water meter system. This system shall include meters of various sizes; a radio based meter reading system, and any other peripheral system or equipment including supporting software for the purpose of accurate measurement of water usage. Specifications for the water meter system are available from The Commissioners of Leonardtown office at 41660 Courthouse Drive, Leonardtown, MD. between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Interested bidders shall send sealed bids to Tony Wheatley, Capital Project Coordinator, Commissioners of Leonardtown, P.O.B 1, 41660 Courthouse Dr., Leonardtown, Maryland 20650. Sealed bids will be received until 11:00 a.m. December 19th, 2008, at which time they will be publicly opened and read. For further information please contact Tony Wheatley at 301-475-9791.

The Commissioners of Leonardtown reserves the right to reject any and all bids and proposals, and to accept any proposals deemed to be in the best interest of the Town.

Rehab Continued from page A- pump systems, replacement of windows, Grounded Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) protected outlets, and the removal of drop ceilings and replacement with 5/8” drywall.

Commissioner Daniel Raley argued that the resolution should have specifically included plans for retrofitting the units with fire protection sprinkler systems, as would be required in light of the passage of an ordinance requiring residential fire protection sprinklers in all new residences served by public water systems last November.

“Residential sprinkler systems save lives,” said Commissioner Thomas Mattingly when the motion was passed, and others echoed the same sentiment while debating the ordinance in relation to the Greenview Village rehabilitation project.

Mattingly commented that sprinkler systems would

need to be established as a priority “if we’re going to spend that much money…that would make more sense,” particularly since plans for ceiling repair would need to be changed as a result.

“The housing authority is trying to secure more than 1.7 million,” said Nicholson, “I just don’t want to lose the window,” he added. Nicholson explained that the resolution would only be a statement of support for the use of state funds for the project, and that specific priorities could be determined later. “We’re directing how the money is being used,” he said.

The Commissioners voted to approve the support resolution, provided that sprinkler systems were listed as a top priority.

“I see all the other things we’re going to get out of this,” said Raley, “but we don’t have sprinklers in there now and this won’t get them in there…perhaps I’m not in the Christmas spirit yet, but this is important.”

Photo by Andrea Shiell

Greenview Village Apartments is planning an extensive community rehabilitation project, for which the housing department is applying for state funds.

Office of the County Administrator (John Savich) Motion: To appoint the following citizens to boards, committees, and commissions: Boards, Committees and Commissions Term to Expire Adult Public Guardianship Review Board Maureen McCarthy Ault (Reappointment) - 12/31/2011 Joseph B Bush (Reappointment) - 12/31/2011 Andree J Wells (Reappointment) - 12/31/2011 Airport Advisory Committee Lt. Col. A.H. Richardson (Reappointment) 12/31/2011 Commission for People with Disabilities Sam F Brown - 12/31/2012 Vicki L Brown - 12/31/2012 Jennifer Irvin (STS Representative) - 12/31/2012 Tomica L Scriber (Housing Authority Rep) - 12/31/2012 Commission on Aging Claudia A Knowlton - 12/31/2011 Commission on the Environment Judy Gilman - 12/31/2012 John B Wheeler (Reappointment) - 12/31/2012 Community Health Advisory Committee Lt. Louis F Burris (Reappointment) - 12/31/2011 Laine Doggett (Reappointment) - 12/31/2011 Larry Polsky (Reappointment) - 12/31/2011 Andree Wells (Reappointment) - 12/31/2011 Michael J Roby - 12/31/2011 Development Review Forum Robin O Guyther (Reappointment) - 12/31/2011 Ethics Commission Elizabeth Long (Alternate) - 12/31/2011 Robert Elwood - 12/31/2011 Historic Preservation Commission Victor Govier - 12/31/2011 Metropolitan Commission Charles V Owen (Reappointment) - 12/31/2011

worry.”

The county’s total collection of income tax revenues from the state in 2008 did not meet budget, Kramer said.

Instead the sum was about $3 million short. The county had budgeted to receive $65.2 million but only received $62.8 million.

In the most recent budget session, the commissioners voted to lower their expectations somewhat with the $63.7 million figure, but approved, with one exception, to allow higher assessments on residential properties to produce a projected $14 million increase in property taxes.

Commissioner Lawrence D. Jarboe (R) of Golden Beach proposed and supported initiating a constant yield plan on the rate of property tax collection, so that even if assessments went up homeowners would pay at reduced rate to balance out the equation.

That measure failed, however, during the budget process.

On Tuesday Jarboe said he was pleased at the brighter economic news from the state, which has had to make its own painful budget cuts as have jurisdictions around the state.

“Thank God for the U.S. Navy,” Jarboe said in reference to the county’s largest employer at Patuxent River Naval Air Station.

He also held out hope that the constant yield property tax might be successful next time around since a faltering national economy was making things tougher on just about everyone.

“I would hope [for some relief] on the property tax side,” Jarboe said.

“It’s not as tough a sell as it was last year.”

Kramer said that homeowners who had owned their property from one year to the next would actually be taxed a lower assessment value than what the state had recently seen fit to increase, while those who had just acquired the home would be taxed on the full assessment.

“It can take years for the taxable assessment for property taxes to reach the state assessed value,” Kramer said.

Kathleen M Werner (Reappointment) - 12/31/2011 Bryan M Barthelme (5th Election District Representative) - 12/31/2011 Nursing Center Governance Board Jill S Knott - 12/31/2011 Planning Commission Martin Siebert - 12/31/2009 Recreation and Parks Board Sabrina Hecht - 12/31/2012 Tri-County Youth Services Bureau Heather Garvey - 12/31/2011 Wicomico Shores Golf Course Advisory Board Richard A Smith (Reappointment) - 12/31/2012 Gloria Tippett (Reappointment) - 12/31/2012 Zoning Board of Appeals David “Wayne” Miedzinski (Reappointment) - 12/31/2011 Ronald Ray Payne, Sr. (Reappointment-Alternate) - 12/31/2011 Gertrude V Neale (Reappointment) - 12/31/2011 James Howard Thompson - 12/31/2011 Action: Unanimous Voting Record: Russell Mattingly Dement Jarboe Raley

Yes Yes Ys Yes Yes

Elected Officials Compensation Commission Report and Recommendations Motion: To sign transmittal letter forwarding the recommendations of the 2008 Compensation Commission to the Southern Maryland Delegation for their consideration.

Motion By: Dement Second: Raley Action: Unanimous Voting Record: Russell Yes Mattingly Yes Dement Yes Jarboe Yes Raley Yes

The County Times The County Times

Thursday, August 21, 2008 Section A -

Section A - Thursday, December 11, 2008

Obituaries Alice Mildred Brown, 99 James “Manning” McKay, 89

James “Manning” McKay, 89, of Hollywood, Md. died Dec. 9 in St. Mary’s Hospital.

He was bornBrown, Oct. 23, Alice Mildred 99 1919 in Hollywood, of Leonardtown died Aug.Md. 16 thehome. late George Frankintoher and Mary lin Born Nov. Blanche 9, 1908Clein ments McKay. Baltimore, Md., she was the He ofwas the loving daughter the late James and husband of Marilyn Ann Lilly Mae Jackson Rebham.

McKay anda member the devoted She was of St. father of Patricia of George’s Episcopal Murr Church, Adelphi, Md., Elizabeth Valley Lee, and Order of the Johnson, James McKay, Jr., Eastern Star, Chapter 107, JuThomas McKay and David lia Halla, Hollywood.

McKay all of Hollywood, Mrs. Brown is survived Md.; Cherry Price of Leonby two sons, Lloyd E. (Jerry) ardtown, Beverly Ryan of Brown, Jr. of Leonardtown Derwood, Md. and Edward and Willard Bruce Brown McKay of Fairfax Station, of Terra Alta, W. Va. She is Va. His 25 grandchildren also survived by six grandand 26 great-grandchilchildren, Julie Brown-Rund, dren, as well as one great Jeff Brown, Nancy Deal, great grandchild also surWendy Jarda, Judy Graybill vive him. and Pheobe andby eight He wasBrown, preceded his great-grandchildren Clay siblings Ernest McKay, and AgWill Rund, Kristen andLeonJosh nes “Doris” McKay, Brown, Shawn and Bruce ard McKay, Pearl Green, Deal, and Samantha Otha Audrey Sylvestor McKay, Jarda.

Elizabeth Steele Robey, She Irva was Miedzinski, predeceased Mary by a daughter BettyMcKay Ruth George Franklin Brown and a brother John B. Jr., William Mervil McKFenwick. ay, Joseph Calvert McKay, Relatives and and friends atGrace Rudisill Robert tended Mrs. Brown’s Life Cross.

Celebration in thewas Brinsfield Mr. McKay a lifeFuneral Home, Leonardtown long St. Mary’s County Wednesday, Aug. 20 5– resident where hefrom attend8ed p.m. with prayers recited in schools locally and at 7Washington, p.m. A funeral service D.C. He will was be Thursday, Aug. 21 at theheld owner and founder of 11 a.m. in St. George’s Epis“McKay’s Food & Drug” copal Lee. Store Church, and the Valley “The CounReverend Syler, pastor ty TimesGreg Newspaper.”

He ofserved the church, officiate. for fourwill years in the Interment will follow in the United States Navy during church cemetery.

World War II. Additionally, Memorial he was electedContributions to the Marymay be made of to The Misland House Delegates sions Endowment Fund or in 1970 where he served Cemetery Grounds Fund, one term,and and was elected c/o St. George’s Episcopal President of the St. Mary’s Church, Box 30, Valley County P.O. Commissioners in Lee, 20692.

1974MD where he also served to the famoneCondolences term. ily may be made www.

The family at will rebrinsfieldfuneral.com. ceive friends in St. John’s Arrangements by the Catholic Church, 43927 St. Brinsfield Funeral Home, John’s Road, Hollywood, P.A., Md. Leonardtown.

Dec. 11 from 5 – 8 p.m. with prayers being said at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Francis Burial will beJoseph celebrated at St. John’s Catholic Brown, Sr., 66Church Dec. 12 at 10 a.m. with Fr. Francis Ray officiating and Joseph Brown, Msgr.

Harris away co-officiatSr., 66, passed in his ing. Interment home in Indian will Trail,follow N.C. in the Aug. 12. Church Cemetery.

Pallbearers Mr. Brownwill was be bornJustin July Ryan, Ste1,McKay, 1942 in Chris Leonardtown, son ven of theHammett, late Mary Eric EdnaMcKay, Brown Ricky Hammett, Michael Norris.

Murr Joe Johnson.

Mr.and Brown is survived Contributions may by his wife Jacqueline Merbe made to the St. John’s cer Brown; a son Francis J. Monsignor ScholarBrown, Jr. andHarris his wife Shelia Fund, 43950 St. John’s ship of Stanfield, N.C.; a daughter Road, Lynn Hollywood, MD Jennifer Brown of Indi20636. an Trail, N.C. and two grandArrangements provided daughters Christianna Page by the Mattingley-Gardiner and Allyson Grace Brown.

Funeral The Home, familyP.A.received friends Sunday, Aug. 17 from Frances 2 –Cora 5 p.m. in the Norris Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Redman, 75Home, where Prayers were said at 3 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Monday, Aug. 18 at 9:30 a.m. in St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church with Fr. John Mattingly officiating. Interment followed in Charles Memorial Gardens.

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

Luis Antonia Castillo, 70 Cora Frances Norris Luis Antonia 70, Redman, 75, of Castillo, Lusby died of Leonardtown Aug. 16 Nov. 27 in her died residence. in St.Born Mary’s Nursing Center, Nov. 11, 1933 in Leonardtown.

Leonardtown to Herbert Born Sept.

1937 Luin Eugene and 20, Mary Puerto Rico, he was the son of cille Norris, she was secthe andofElsa ondlate toLuis the Antonia youngest 13 Monserrate Morales Castillo. children.

Luis is survived Frances grew byupthree on sisters, M. Elaine Ohler of the family’s sharecropper Millsboro, Del., Evelyn farm in Medley’s NeckCasand tillo of Chestertown, Md.Mills and graduated from Great Elsie Vegas, High Collins SchoolofinLas 1951.

She Nev. He is also survived by and her sisters commuted several nieces and nephews. .where to Washington D.C friends Family received she worked her first Wednesday, Aug. 20 from job 11 as a– stenographer for the a.m. noon in the Brinsfield Chamber of Leonardtown, Commerce.

Funeral Home, She then worked secwith prayers recitedas at anoon. for various governretary Deacon George L’Heureux ment contractors board officiated.

Gravesideonservice the Patuxent River Naval followed at 2 p.m. at Cedar Air Cemetery, Station and as a Md. Unit Hill Suitland, Secretary St. Mary’s MemorialforContributions Hospital until retiremay be made to theher St. Mary’s ment in Center December 1996.

Nursing Foundation, Inc., Frances was an avid 21585 Street, reader andPeabody was especially Leonardtown, MD 20650. fond of Agatha Christie Condolences the much fammysteries.

She to very ily may be watching made at www. enjoyed relibrinsfieldfuneral.com. gious television shows and Arrangements by the evangelical preachers, esBrinsfield Funeral Home, Osteen.

She pecially Joel P.A., Leonardtown. attended Sunday services at both Holy Face Church in Great Mills and CrossRaymond Christian Church in roadsLloyd St. Leonard.

She97 was a lifeHarris, long resident of St. Mary’s County, but moved to Lusby in May 2005 to live with her eldest daughter and son-in-law.

Frances married John Charles ‘Buster’ Redman in 1957 in Leonardtown and had five children.

She is survived by her children: Son James Redman and wife Marsha of Hollywood, daughter Jeanette Witkowski and husband C.J. of Lusby, son Jeffrey Redman of Lusby, daughter Juanita Redman of California, Md., and daughter Joanne Wescott and fiancé Michael Cook Lloyd Raymond Harof Hollywood. ris, 97, peacefully Aug. Shedied is also survived by 12 in the St. Mary’s Nursing her grandchildren; James Center.

Redman Jr., Jonathan Mr. Harris was a Redman, longtime Wheeler, Kyle resident of St. Mary’s County.

Justin Redman, Dale RedHe was born inRedman, Gallatin, Mo. man , Kaitlyn MeJune 13, 1911 toRebecca the late Howgan Redman, Redard May andWescott.

Frankie man, andHarris Samuel Lee Jackson.

He married Frances is also survived his beloved wife of 59 years, by her siblings; sister and Mary Catherine “Sis” Nelson friend Mary Viratdearest the Washington Cathedral Boggs Bean of Park ginia in Washington D.C. Sept. 2, Hall, She brother Josephhim Elmer 1939. preceded in Norris of Chaptico, sisdeath in 1998. He was also ter Agnes MarieinHiggs of preceded in death 1998 by Leonardtown, and brother his beloved sister Margaret Charles Benedict Norris of Harris.

Grand Texas.in the Mr. Prairie, Harris served Frances was as an predeUnited States Army Asceased Chaplain. by her Following husband sistant ‘Buster’ Redman, her his army service he was emgrandson Charles Wheelployed in Washington, D.C. er the Jr., her parents Herbert by Federal Government Eugene for many and yearsMary beforeLucille retiring.

He then the Norris, her worked brothersin Antax department for the State drew Paul, Thomas Edof Maryland retired in ward, Robertand Dellie, James 1971.

During his retirement, Allen, Herbert Eugene and he and his wife enjoyed Ernest Ignatius Norris,travand eling throughout United her sisters Mary the Reddehase States. and Alice Haley.

He enjoyed playing cards, The family received dancing and buying new friends Dec. 2 from 5cars.

– 8 Ray life Face and most of p.m.loved in Holy Church all he enjoyed helping others in Great Mills where while expecting nothing in prayers were said at 7 p.m. return.

He was devoted in the A Mass of Christian Burial care of his wife and sister unwas celebrated Dec. 3 at 11 til their death. a.m.The in Holy Facereceived Cathofamily Church, Great Mills lic friends in the Mattingleywith Fr. Joseph Sileo ofGardiner Funeral Home, P.A., Pallbearers were ficiating.

Leonardtown, Friday, Aug. 15 her 9grandsons from – 10 a.m. withJonathan a funerKyle Redman, alWheeler, service that followed at 10 Justin Redman, Dale Keith Reda.m. officiated

by Rev. and John Hardin and man Schukraft. Interment followed Molly Harings.

Honorary at Charles Memorial Gardens pallbearers were Andy in Leonardtown.

Pallbearers Norris and Steve Boggs. were Frank Nelson, Donnie Contributions be Bowles, Fred Nelson,may Harry made to Nelson, Jr., Calvert Michael County Russell Hospice, P.O. Box 838, and Roy Copsey.

Contributions may MD be Prince Frederick, made American Heart 20678 toand/or St. Mary’s Association, 415 N.P.O. Charles County Hospice, Box Street, Baltimore, MD 625, Leonardtown, MD 21201-4101.

20650.

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

Valorie Anne Pamela Diane “Pam” Henry, 48 Sparks, 46

Pamela Diane “Pam” Sparks, 46,Anne Lexington Park, Valorie Henry, 48, died Nov. 28 in Washington of Mechanicsville, formerly Hospital Center. of Grandview, Mo., died Aug. Born July Park.

16, 1962 in 17, in Lexington Leonardtown, she was the Born Oct. 31, 1959 in daughter of Joseph Lincoln, Neb. she was Nelthe son of Avenue daughter of Jamesand RayPhyllis DickSmith ofDyson of Orange inson Mouldrow, Okla.

Park, Fla. She wasCampbell the lovand Hortense Anne ing wife of Sparks, Crawford of Tommy Grandview, Mo. whom she married Aug. She was the loving wife 17, of 1988Allan in Leonardtown.

Earl Henry, whom she SheJuly is survived her married 16, 1986 inbyWarchildren: Jacquelyn Delay rensburg, Mo. andShe heris husband of survived Ron by her Jacksonville, Fla. and Ranson Earl Ian Henry. daeMrs. SparksHenry of Lexington graduPark;from siblings: Joseph High Nelated Grandview and his wife Michelle son School’s Class of 1977. She of Great moved to St.Mills, Mary’s Patricia County Beekman and husband in October 1988her from WalDaniel dorf, Md. of Orange Park, Fla.The and family of Christina willSmith receive Jacksonville, Fla., as well friends Saturday, Aug. 23 as three from 10 –grandchildren.

11 a.m. in PatuxPam a lifelong St. ent River was Assembly of God Mary’s County resident Church, California, where a where she graduated Funeral Service will be from held Leonardtown High School’s at 11 a.m. with Pastor Lanny Class officiating. of 1981. She worked Clark Interment as a manager for Southland will be held Wednesday, Aug. Corp.

(Highs Store) 27 at 10 a.m. Dairy in Maryland from 1981 – 1994.

She was Veteran’s Cemetery, Cheltenthe Vice President of the ham, Md. Monday Night Women’s Contributions may be Pool League. made to Hospice if St. Mary’s, The family will reP.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, friends Dec.4 from 5 ceive MD 20650.

– 8 p.m. in the MattingleyArrangements provided Gardiner Funeral Home, by the Mattingley-Gardiner with Prayers being said at Funeral Home, P.A. 7 p.m. A Funeral Service will be held Dec. 5 at 10 a.m. in the MattingleyA. Home GardinerKaren Funeral McEntyre, 51 Chapel with Fr. Raymond Schmidt officiating. InterKaren McEntyre, 51 of will A. follow in Charles ment Lexington Park, formerly of Memorial Gardens, LeonPlano, Texas, died Aug. 13will in Pallbearers ardtown.

Washington be Darrell Hospital Goode, Center.

Mikey Born Feb. 24, Redman, 1957 in Redman, Jeremy Sweetwater, Texas was Mike Sparks, Gatorshe Sparks the daughter of Carold and and Clinton Smith. HonMary Aleese Benson of Plaorary Pallbearers will be no, Texas.

Aaron Nelson, Amy Nelis also survived by Beekman son,SheAnastasia her and children Brandon Jeremy Smith. Porter of Snyder, Texas, provided Jonathan Arrangements Porter Plano, Texas, Angie by theof Mattingley-Gardiner Porter, Sheila Horton Funeral Home, P.A.and Marissa Horton, all of Lexington Park as well as her(Nicobrother Karen Laura Victor Benson of Plano, Texas tera) Taylor, 60 and three grandchildren.

Karen was employed as a registered nurse.

All services are private.

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

Timothy Brian McGrath, 50 Timothy Brian McGrath, 50, of Lexington Park died Aug. 11 in St. Mary’s Hospital, Leonardtown.

Born June 14, 1958 in Freeport, Ill., he was the son of Patricia (Chambers) McGrathKaren of Mesa, Ariz. and the Laura (Nicotera) late Charles McGrath.

Taylor, 60, of Dameron died attended HosLaNov.Timothy 29 in Washington salle-Peru High School in Lapital Center. salle,Born Ill. where Aug.he5,graduated 1948 in in 1976.

He served in she the U.S. Tokoma Park, Md., was Navy from 1976 until 1999. the daughter of the late PeAfter his serviceand in the Navy, Dorothy ter Nicotera Timothy wasNicotera. employed by a (Sandman) Government Contractor from and Karen graduated worked the Patuxent River Great at Mills High School Naval Air Station.

He was her an in 1967.

She married childhood HerElks Lodgesweetheart, member and a “Woody” April man member past of Taylor the Lexingin St. Michael’s 8, 1967 ton Park Volunteer Rescue Catholic Church in Ridge.

She was a loving, dedicated wife and mother. She was a tax preparer for thirty years. She has been the

Squad. owner of the H&R Block, In additionPark to his mother, Lexington branch since 1991.

Karen enjoyed Timothy is survived by his weekend with Mcher wife Debra drives Kay (Houtz) late husband, out Grath, his son, girls Sean day Patrick with her daughter, watching McGrath of Lexington Park, mystery/detective shows, his sister, Karen McGrath of and Sunday family Mesa, Ariz. and his dinners. brother, Most of McGrath all, she enjoyed Michael of Ill. givhermemorial time andservice love towill her ing A family friends. be held and Saturday, Aug. 23 at Karen is survived by 10 a.m. at the Bay District her daughter, Laurie A. Volunteer Fire Department, Quade (Tim), Lexington Park.and son, Brian S. Taylor, both of DamCondolences to the fameron, Picily maysiblings; be madeGayle at www. keral (Jim) of Leonardtown, brinsfieldfuneral.com.

James Nicotera (Michelle) Arrangements by the of Fairfax, Va., JoyceHome, NicoBrinsfield Funeral tera of Granby, Conn. and P.A., Leonardtown.

Sherry Johns of Sauquoit, N.Y., sister in law, Mary Lou Troutman (Jeff) of Ridge, Patrick Connor Miller 2 aunt, Nathalia (Cella) Crosby of St. Inigoes, nieces and nephews; Linda, Jeannine, Daniel N., Kevin, Christopher, Daniel B., Joey, Rachel, Andy and Shannon.

In addition to her husband and parents, Karen was preceded in death by her stepfather, Francis “Ski” Zawadski, and mother and father in law, Elwood and Thelma “Tillie” Taylor.

Family will receive friends for Karen’s Life Celebration Dec. 7 from 2 – 5 p.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home, Leonardtown.

Patrick service Connor will MillA funeral be er 2, of Avenue died MonAug. conducted at 4 p.m.; 12 in St. Mary’sO’Connell, Hospital, signor Maurice Leonardtown. pastor of St. Michael’s CathOct.will 11, Churchwas inborn Ridge olicConnor 2005 in Anne Arundel Mediofficiate. Interment will be cal Center, Annapolis, Md., private. the son of James L. Miller Memorial contributions and Krystal Kaldenbach of may be made to Hospice Avenue.

House St. Mary’s, He isofsurvived by twoP.O. sisBox 625, Leonardtown, ters, Lillian and Kayla Miller, 20650 or Susan G. aMD brother Kyle Miller, his paKomen For the Cure, P.O. ternal grandparents James L. BoxDarlene 650309, Dallas, and Oliver MillerTX of 75265-0309.

Chaptico, maternal grandparto the faments,Condolences Eugene Kaldenbach of ily may beTenn., madeand at Debra www.

Harrimon, brinsfieldfuneral.com.

Adams Kaldenbach of WinArrangements by the chester, Ky.; great-grandparBrinsfield Home, ents Francis Funeral and Audrey OliP.A., ver of Leonardtown.

Chaptico and G r e a t- g r a n d m o t h e r s Mary Lou Adams of Waldorf, Faith Noel Urtz, infant Md. and Shirley Miller of Newburg, Faith Md. Noel Urtz, of The family received Leonardtown, passed away friends for Connor’s Life Dec. 4 in Johns Hopkins Celebration Sunday, Aug. 17 Hospital in Baltimore, Md. from 3 – 4 p.m. in the BrinsFaith was the infant field Funeral Home, Leonarddaughter of Gregory Edwin town, with a funeral service at and Sherrye Lynwas LaRocque 4 p.m. Interment private.

Urtz.

Condolences to the famIn addition parily may be madeto atherwww. ents, she is survived by her brinsfieldfuneral.com. brother; Jackson Urtz of Arrangements by the Leonardtown; grandparents Brinsfield Funeral Home, Edwin Urtz, Jr. and PatriP.A., Leonardtown. cia Urtz of West Lyden, N.Y., Eugene LaRocque of Tupper Lake, N.Y. and AdMary Aleathea elaide LaRocque of Saranac Redmond, 84 Lake, N.Y. and great-grandmother Anna Urtz of West Lyden, N.Y. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated Dec. 13 at 10 a.m. in Holy Face Catholic Church with Father Joseph Sileo officiating.

Interment will be private.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation, 7800 S. Elati Street, #111, Littleton, CO 80120 Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown.

Mary Aleathea Redmond, 84, ofJoseph Leonardtown died Aug. Ellsworth 16 in St. Mary’s Hospital.

Young, 57 Born April 18, 1924 in Mechanicsville she was the Joseph Ellsworth Young, daughter of Clarence Leo Ev57, of Waldorf, Md. died ans M. (PilkerNov.and21Gertrude in Civista Mediton) Evans. cal Center. Born March 18, graduated from 1951Aleathea in Leonardtown, he Margaret Brent High School was the son of the late Join 1941. She worked from seph to Henry and Mary 1961 1971 Young as a secretary/reJosephine Herbert Young of ceptionist for St. Mary’s ColLeonardtown. lege. She enjoyed cooking, The family will receive croqueting, playing cards, friends Dec. 6 from 9:30gardening, and sewing; often 10:30 a.m. in the making clothing forMattingher and ley-Gardiner her daughter. Funeral Home, Leonardtown, wherein adeath serShe is preceded will beJames held at 10:30 vicehusband by Franklin a.m. Interment will follow in Charles Memorial Gardens, Leonardtown.

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

Redmond, whom she married March 4, 1945 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Mechanicville. She is survived by her beloved children Gayle A. Hancock and her husband William of Fairfax, Va., and James “Frank” Redmond and his wife Wanda of Fredericksburg, Va. She is also survived by three grandchildren, Jeffery A. Hancock and his wife Jennifer of Fairfax, Va., Mark D. Redmond and his wife Tanya of Fredericksburg, Va., Jason P. Redmond of Fredericksburg; and four great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her sister Agnes Rice.

Family received friends Wednesday, Aug. 20 from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated 11 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 20 at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, Leonardtown, with Rev. John Dakes officiating. Interment followed in Charles Memorial Gardens, Leonardtown.

Serving, as pallbearers were Mark Redmond, Jason Redmond, Jeffery Hancock, Bill Hancock, Lawrence Pilkerton, and Arthur Pilkerton.

Honorary pallbearer was Earl Dean.

Memorial contribution can be made to the Ridge Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 456, Ridge, MD 20680.

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

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

Louis Marshall “Junior” Thompson, Jr., 84

Morganza, Donnie Thompson and his wife Debbie of Mechanicsville and Rose Mary George and her husband John of Avenue; 16 grandchildren, 44 great-grandchildren, two step-grandchildren and his sisters Mary Ozella Lacey of Abell, Gertrude Osborne of King George, Va. and Susan Vallandingham of Bushwood.

He was preceded in death by one great-grandchild and his sisters Catherine Hall and Louise Bryant.

A lifelong resident of St. Mary’s County, Junior was a self-employed waterman.

While enlisted in the U.S. Army from Oct. 19, 1944 to Nov. 19, 1945, he served as a rifleman, a light machine gunner and a cook.

He belonged to the Knights of Columbus and enjoyed playing cards and being with his family and his two special buddies Maynard and Ringo.

The family received friends in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home Thursday, Aug. 7 from 5 – 8 p.m. with prayers being said at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Friday, Aug. 8 at 9:30 a.m. in Holy Angels Catholic Church, Avenue, with Fr. William Gurnee officiating.

Interment followed in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Bushwood.

Pallbearers were Johnny George, Jereme George, Tina Fay Ferguson, Dave Hodges, Matthew Thompson and Donnie Thompson. Honorary pallbearers were his grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Contributions may be made to Holy Angels Sacred Heart School, 21335 Colton’s Point Road, Avenue, MD 20609, Seventh District Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 7, Avenue, MD 20609 and/or Hospice of St. Mary’s, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650.

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

Evelyn Tillotson Woods, 86

Louis Marshall “Junior” Thompson, Jr., 84, of Avenue died Aug. 4 in his residence.

He was born July 20, 1924 in Dynard to the late Louis Marshall and Catherine Eleanor Harris Thompson Sr. He was the loving husband of Rose Lee Thompson whom he married July 26, 1942 in Sacred Heart Church, Bushwood. He is also survived by his children, Margaret Taylor and her husband George of Hollywood, Buddy Thompson and his wife Debbie of Avenue, Benny Thompson and his wife Mary of

Evelyn Tillotson Woods, 86, of California died Aug. 14 in St. Mary’s Nursing Center, Leonardtown.

Born Dec. 18, 1921 in LeMoyne, Pa., she was the daughter of the late George C. Tillotson and Eva (Dowhower) Tillotson. Evelyn was an avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan.

Evelyn is survived by her daughters, Christine W. Moore of Chesapeake Beach, Md. and Deborah J. Standish of California, four grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

All services are private.

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

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

To Place a Memorial Ad Please Call The County Times at 301-373-4125

The County Times

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Crosby Continued from page A-

school system…I think she’ll do a great job.” Washington was sworn in on Monday and will be serving her fourth term. Board member Cathy Allen was also sworn in for her third term.

Joining these two veterans was Marilyn Crosby, whom Board Chairman William Mattingly called “the new kid on the

Photo by Andrea Shiell

Marilyn Crosby was sworn in as the newest member of the Board of Education on Monday.

Photo by Andrea Shiell

Marilyn Crosby with Superintendent Michael Martirano.

block.”

“Being from the system she’s going to be fine,” said Mattingly. “She’s lucky because you’ve got a Superintendent that’s easy to work with, and she said she’s going to ask some hard questions, but that’s expected.”

“They fed us a lot,” said Crosby, laughing as she later reflected on her dizzying training schedule, as she has been traveling back and forth from Annapolis and Columbia to learn parliamentary procedure and other aspects of her new job.

“I remember there were a lot of lawyers there, too…and one guy looked me right in the eye and asked why I wanted to be a board member…so I said that I had been working with children for years,” Crosby said, adding that following her career as a teacher she had become a vocal advocate, writing letters to editors and board members about educational issues. “So after all those letters…I kind of figured it would be great to do something more…to me it was a natural progression.”

Crosby declined to list her projected priorities upon taking office and joining the board as a member for the first time on Wednesday, but she expressed her gratitude and excitement nonetheless. “The first and foremost thing in my heart is the children,” said Crosby after she took her oath of office, “as long as we keep focusing on the children, we’ll keep moving forward.”

Section A - through marksmanship, field marching and orienteering skills day and night.

Bowens said only about two percent of army non-commissioned officers were soldier enough to be admitted to the club, named for one of the most highly decorated combat veterans of World War II who went on to become a successful Hollywood actor.

Bidwell, a Chopticon High School graduate whose girlfriend and future wife also enlisted in the army, started out his military career by volunteering during the first Gulf War as a specialist in nuclear, chemical and biological warfare.

He also served with the 82nd Airborne Division out of Fort Bragg, N.C. and eventually became a jumpmaster.

Bidwell also served in the Middle East with the Joint Special Operations Command as a psychological warfare specialist in the first war against then Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

Bidwell said he did not want to continue with school once he got his diploma, but found guidance and a career path in the army.

“The army’s great,” Bidwell said.

“I’ve got a master’s degree [in human resources] that the army’s paid for.

“The army promotes off of potential.

It’s the best thing that could’ve happened to me by far.”

Soldier Award Continued from page A- unit… it’s how you lead your people pretty much,” Bidwell told The County Times.

Soldiers under his command have earned the Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year award, the Regular Army Recruiter of the Year runner up award and the Recruiting Station Commander of the Year award, Bidwell said.

Bidwell oversees recruiting efforts for Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia, and has 60 soldiers under his command.

His immediate superior non-commissioned officer, Command Sgt. Maj. Stephen Bowens, praised Bidwell’s winning the award, especially at the young age of 36.

“He’s our best, he epitomizes what a first sergeant should do every day,” Bowens told The County Times. “It normally takes someone 21 or 23 years to become a first sergeant.

“He’s moving very fast; he’s the model soldier.”

Bowens also said Bidwell and his soldiers have met and exceeded the recruiting goals set for them by the army.

Bidwell is also a member of an elite army fraternity, The Sgt. Audie Murphy Club, which tests a soldier’s mettle

Photo by Guy Leonard

1 Sergeant Kevin Bidwell, of Mechanicsville, sits behind several trophies he has won for excellence as soldier.

The award on the right is his most recent, which names him as the top first sergeant in the U.S. Army Recruiting Command. st

Spring Dell Center Connecting People With Disabilities to the Community & Employment

Vocational Program Coordinator $30,103 per yr. yr.

Training Coordinator $30,103 per

Ensure program operations are implemented and individuals as well as staff are actively during their entire shift.

Flexible,engaged Energetic person with excellent Responsibilities include: supervision of direct support staff, coordination/management of assigned program and coordination of all required individualized plan paperwork. Applicant must be computer savvy, demonstrate communicacomputer skills andeffective be proficient in Excel tion skills, sound time management and and Access. Previous training or teaching dependability. 3 years supervisory experience required.

to the Community & Employment

Vocational Human Resources

Program Coordinator Recruiting & Training Coordinator mented and individualsper as well $30,103 yr.as staff are actively during their shift.

Flexible,engaged Energetic person withentire excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills needed to coordinate the recruiting and training process. Schedulenation ofevenings all required plan includes andindividualized weekends. Applicant must have excellent computer skills and be proficient in Excel and Access. Previous training or teaching experience required. Bachelors Degree and experience in a human service field preferred.

Activity Coordinator $24,730 per yr.

Creative person needed to generate daily staffing schedule as well as plan and implement activities while ensuring that all individuals are exposed to a variety of opportunities. Experience working with developmentally disabled individuals preferred.

Training Specialist $9.05 per hr.

Monday – Friday 7:30 am 3:30 pm.

Motivated and structured people needed to assist adults with disabilities. Applicants must be organized, and possess the ability to problem solve and work independently. Duties will also include implementing goals, monitoring and documenting progress. Several Positions Available.

• 1:1-1:4 Training Specialists: Experience and/or education in autism disorders required.

• Retail Training Specialist: Assist individuals with disabilities gain experience in retail.

Help train and monitor activities while providing support and encouragement. Retail experience preferred.

Qualifications: All applicants must have 2 yrs driving experience, a clean driving record and the ability to lift 50 lbs.

Please specify position when applying.

Residential Full Time Residential Staff $9.05 per hr.

Administer medications, Assist individuals in their homes with daily living skills and hygiene needs, including: Cooking, cleaning, outings, money skills, shopping. Applicants must have a clean driving record and reliable vehicle.

• Day Split Shift: Flexible person needed for residential house in La Plata, Monday through Friday 6 am – 8 am and then 3:30 pm – 8:00 pm.

• Overnight: 10 pm – 7 am, Sunday –Thursday at a residential home in Waldorf.

Part Time Residential Staff $9.05 per hr.

Assist individuals in their homes with daily living skills such as cooking, cleaning, hygiene needs, activities and outings. Go out to movies, bingo, bowling, shopping and more. Applicant must have a reliable vehicle. Position may include administering medications.

4 pm – 8 pm • Monday – Friday: • Every Other Weekend: 10 am – 6 pm • Every Other Weekend: Overnight 11 pm – 7 am • Every Weekend: Friday 5 am-8 am and then 4 pm – 9 pm, Saturday 10 am – 6pm.

Send all resumes and applications to: Spring Dell Center, Inc. | 6040 Radio Station Road | La Plata, MD 20646 Phone: 301.934.4561 | Fax: 301.392.2060 | Website: www.springdellcenter.org Email: gcannon@springdellcenter.org

The County Times

Section A -

Wanderings of an Aimless Mind

A Brisk Morning

Shelby Oppermann

By Shelby Oppermann I sit here this early morning, afraid to move even a fraction of an inch, afraid that I might lose this perfect view out of our upstairs bay window.

The pale yellow sun is still on the rise and is caught at this moment between two large trees and boughs a few hundred feet away. It’s captivating, blinding.

The sky is just beginning to turn its brilliant, cool winter blue above this halo of light and warmth.

Shards of bright amber light shine through the large burnt-orange circle of fused glass which sits on the ledge of the window. Leaves are still falling, caught in what looks like a brisk wind this morning. I say my thanks for this beautiful day.

Ahhhh….

And then Tidbit comes prancing and wiggling up to me to let me know it’s time to go outside.

She’s had her half a cup of Irish Breakfast tea, so it could be a “Jig”. (I give her half of my cup in her own little tea bowl every morning). “But Tidbit”, I say,” Isn’t it just as beautiful from in here this morning with the wood stove warming our bones?” Her look while doing a circle jig tells me that this is not acceptable to her. I tell her, “Yes, I see the beauty in Winter, I’ve written about it, But it is 10 degrees out there and the trees are all leaning hard in the 150 mph winds now.” Tidbit’s eyebrows come together in her “Oh, how you exaggerate look.” She really does this, and it’s very unsettling.

As I throw the slimy, frosty tennis ball for the fifth time for Tidbit’s amusement and exercise, I realize it was good to come outside. She keeps over-running the ball, because the wind brings it up shorter than where she knows it should go. I stand leaning into the wind, laughing at her antics with the ball. Then she abruptly stops for the calls of nature. Whew, thank goodness, back on with the gloves. Then we are off for our walk around the yard.

For Tidbit, it is more of a walk of exploration.

We live on a large corner lot, which serves as a bus stop during the week, and a repository of sorts along the edge for neighborhood dogs. There is endless fascination for one whose nose is one foot from the ground. The occasional deer hoof prints in the earth can send Tidbit into a “find the scent” frenzy. She is a hound dog after all.

In the center of the front yard is a large copse of trees maybe 30 ‘ x 50’ where I convinced my husband to put several paths in. I had him add a new path before Halloween this year, since we host our Haunted Halloween Trails night for neighborhood kids. Near the end of our morning walk, Tidbit and I always close with a leisurely stroll through the paths. As I look down at the leaves covered with the morning frost, I think again how much they remind me of cornflakes with a dusting of sugar on top.

Depending on the weather, we sometimes sit in the area by the fire pit and enjoy watching the sunlight filter through the trees. It is a fairly quiet and meditative way to start the day. Tidbit, never one to sit idle for too long finds rocks on the path and amuses herself kicking them around with her paws, usually by running up to the rock full speed and sending it skipping across the ground.

She picks them up with her mouth also and throws them around only to lose them in the leaves. She scratches away at the leaves and the dirt to find them. My friend Karen loves Tidbit to chase rocks on her property because she tills up the ground at the same time. On mornings like this though, we just enjoy the stroll. It’s almost like having your own private park.

At the end of the main path, Tidbit sneezes, breaks my nature reverie and starts running towards the house, looking back at me every few feet to say, “O.k., have you had enough playtime, don’t you know it’s freezing out here?” I’m happy to follow her inside and see the world again from my bay window.

To each new day’s adventure, Shelby Send comments to: shelbys.wanderings@yahoo.com

McKay Continued from page A- missioner. “He had a sense of the people.

“I consider it a privilege to have served with Manning on the Board of County Commissioners.”

Dean said that when he served with McKay on the commissioner board back in the 1970’s, McKay always tried to stick to business.

“Mannings approach to government was a businessman’s approach to government,” Dean said of McKay, who had been building his family’s chain of grocery stores in the county while serving first in the Maryland legislature and then at the commissioner level.

Dean remembered that McKay had championed a law that required developers building subdivisions to provide letters of credit from a bank or corporate bonds rather than personal bonds for surety on their projects.

If a developer personally ran out of money, Dean said, the county would still get what it was owed.

“Manning saw the wisdom of letters of credit as being in the public interest,” Dean said. “He brought a level of maturity and experience to the position.”

Ford said that McKay was also largely responsible for the board’s current makeup.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

missioners to five instead of three, with the commissioner president elected at-large.

After serving in Annapolis for four years he returned to local government and ran successfully for commissioner president.

Dean said that McKay’s support of the bill insured greater representation for county residents.

McKay was the first commissioner president elected by county residents.

Ernest Bell, Leonardtown-based lawyer and former county attorney who worked for the commissioner board under McKay’s leadership, remembered when McKay ran for his delegate’s seat in 1970.

“I had just gotten out of the Marine Corp and I was always interested in politics, and there was a debate down at the middle school, there were a lot of candidates [for delegate],” Bell said of a debate he attended were McKay spoke.

forgot the value of hard work.

“I’ve seen him mop floors, pick up trash and stock items,” Briscoe said. “And he’d give things to people who couldn’t pay for them.

“That’s the kind of person he was.”

While McKay served as a delegate, Bell remembered, he also helped tackle one of the most important and memorable of county issues: the proposal to build an oil refinery at Piney Point.

County voters overwhelmingly cast ballots to oppose the refinery in a referendum.

Photo Provided By The Family

McKay in his younger years showing some of the produce in one of his earlier grocery stores.

“He was so impressive that night.”

John Hanson Briscoe, who served with McKay for those four years in the legislature, said that he remembered McKay and his wife, Marilyn McKay opening up their first store in Leonardtown in the early 50s.

He was still working on the navy base in public works at the time, Briscoe said, but would leave to Photo Provided By The Family go back to work there at James Manning McKay holds up one of the earliest issues of The County his fledgling business.

Times, the newspaper he recently founded.

“She [Marilyn McKay] ran it and he’d leave When McKay was a delegate in the state legislature, Dean told The County work and come there,” Briscoe remembered that as McKay Times, he introduced and supported a bill that expanded the number of county com- became more and more successful he never

Rod Rosado, right, and Tony Foust, center, of the Southern Maryland Charger Group help Santa Claus load up toys for the Toys for Tots drive at the Lexington Park Dodge dealership Dec. 6.

Plea Continued from page A- ter initially shooting both victims and then turned around and shot Saunders once in the back of the head.

Virasith used a .38 caliber snub-nosed revolver in the commission of the killings, Fritz told The County Times.

Fritz said Virasith had driven to Saun-

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(301) 997-8271

ders’ home that night and got in a heated verbal argument with both Saunders and his estranged wife.

The argument escalated to the point where the defendant fired four shots that hit his wife twice, and Saunders once in the chest initially.

One of the shots missed, Fritz said, and struck a nearby car windshield.

Virasith denied returning to shoot Saunders in the back of the head at the Dec. 4 plea hearing, which led to another motions hearing the following day. There, Virasith admitted to pointing the gun at Saunders’ head and pulling the trigger.

Melissa Virasith, who was shot twice by her estranged husband, remains paralyzed below the waist as a result of the attack, Fritz said.

“It is a sad tragic case,” Fritz said of the shooting. “It certainly signals a greater responsibility to those victims of domestic violence.

“It shows a need for the system, me and all these other organizations included, to find better ways to reach out to those who are potential targets of domestic violence.”

Court documents showed that Melissa

McKay helped insure that the refinery issue was placed on the ballot, Bell said.

“It was a really big issue,” Bell said.

“He insured the people had a right to vote on it.”

When Bell started to work for McKay and the county commissioners, he said, McKay, a down-to-earth and gregarious spirit tried to get Bell to simply call him Manning.

But he just couldn’t bring himself to do it, Bell said.

“He said ‘Call me Manning,’ but I always called him Mr. McKay.” Bell said.

“He was so generous, hard working and decent.”

Bell compared McKay with two other greats in county politics: Judge Philip Dorsey and Sen. Paul Bailey.

“They were cut from the same cloth,” Bell said. “We’ve lost an icon in the community.”

Before McKay rose to become an independent grocer and a state and local official, he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He later worked in the public works department at Patuxent Naval Air Station.

There are now five McKay’s grocery stores throughout the county.

In his final years, McKay continued to be active as the publisher of The County Times newspaper, which was the culmination of a long held desire to stake a claim in the newspaper industry.

One of McKay’s sons, Thomas F. McKay, who went on to serve in the same local position as his father, said that serving the public was always a value his father tried to instill.

“My father always encouraged his children to public service and he always led us by the example of hard work and dedication to what we were doing,” Thomas McKay said. “Serving in the same position as him serving the citizens of St. Mary’s County was one of the greatest honors of my life as it was for his.”

Virasith had on several occasions applied for protective orders against her husband.

The estranged wife wrote in a domestic violence civil case logged back in 2003 that while they were living together her husband had allegedly struck her, causing her lip to bleed in the fall of 1999 and had shoved her while she was pregnant with the last of her three children that same year.

Her husband would also act out and smash the television set as well as punch and damage the walls of their home, she alleged.

That 2003 petition from protection was granted, but the second one, filed last year was denied by District Court Judge John D. Slade III because there was no basis in the law for relief, court documents stated.

Saunders’ relatives cautioned him to be careful in his relationship with the estranged wife also, since he had allegedly threatened Saunders on several occasions prior to the shooting.

Koummane Virasith and his wife had three children together and the defendant was ordered to pay child support for them even while incarcerated, court documents show.

The County Times

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Section A -

Friday, December 12

274-4612 for more information.

Homespun Coffee House Holiday Open Mic Christ Episcopal Church Parish Hall in Chaptico- 7 p.m.

To sign up to play or get details go to www.smtmd. org.

CSM Latin Ensamble CSM Fine Arts Center in La Plata- 8 p.m.

CSM’s Latin Ensemble will perform its winter concert under the direction of CSM Professor Stephen Johnson. Admission $5. Call 301-934-7828, 240-7255499, 443-550-6199, 301-870-2309, Ext. 7828 or visit BxOff@csmd.edu for more information.

Contra Dance St. Andrews Church Parish Hall in California- 7 p.m.

Casual instruction will be held at 7 p.m.. Live music will be provided by the Southern Maryland Open Band.

There’s an ice cream social following the dance.

Please wear floorfriendly, non-scuff shoes. Admission is $8 and $6 for SMTMD members.

For more information and/or directions visit www. smtmd.org or call 301-769-4762.

Jilted Generation Steals Spotlight in “SubUrbia” Andrea Shiell Staff Writer

Christmas Cantata First Saints Community Church- 7 p.m.

First Saints Community church presents this year’s Christmas cantata, “On This Very Night,” at its St. Paul’s campus (next to St. Mary’s Hospital). Performances will be Friday & Saturday, December 12/13 at 7pm and Sunday, December 14 at 2pm. The concert is free, but a free-will offering will be collected.

chusetts, but the genre itself has been around for a long time. Best described as a piece for, by, and about “disaffected youth,” SubUrbia follows in the tradition of Osborne’s 1957 classic, “Look Back in Anger,” which chronicles a similar group of angry young adults struggling to find their place in the world.

Indeed, there is some of the wit and humor that made the “lovable loser” character come to life in movies like “Clerks,” but Bogosian’s play does less to glorify the angry young ones, and more to paint their angst as justified. To be young and restless and going nowhere is anything but a laugh riot, and it seems easy to imagine such a rag-tag group of young adults haunting the local convenience store parking lot today, especially as news broadcasts report that fewer and fewer twenty-somethings believe in the “American dream.”

“Mine is a cynical generation,” said 23year old director Josh Bristol, who is presenting the play for his senior thesis. “And Suburbia captures the cynicism of a generation that had little to hope for and less to care about…it’s a generation that felt cheated out of the promise of an American way of life, of a comfortable suburban life. Everything had been figured out for them, even going to college.

“But once they did everything they were told to do, what happens? Everything begins to unravel and to fall apart.”

Due to adult themes and language, this production may not be suitable for younger audiences. Suburbia will be performed at the Bruce Davis Theater, Montgomery Hall Fine Arts Center, on the St. Mary’s College of Maryland campus Dec. 10-13 at 8 p.m. and Dec. 14 at 2 p.m. Ticket prices are $4 or $6. To make reservations, call the Theater Box Office at 240-895-4243 or e-mail boxoffice@smcm. edu.

The Bruce Davis Theater at St. Mary’s College of Maryland will present playwright Eric Bogosian’s “SubUrbia,” a play that has become a cult-classic of modern theater, featuring an interesting group of characters that offer blistering social satire mixed with flat out comedy.

In a town called Burnfield, three twentysomethings inhabit the parking lot of their local 7-Eleven and pass the time by getting high, talking “trash,” harassing Nazeer (Adam Wise), the Pakistani owner of the convenience store, and reveling in their high school glory days, when life seemed to offer so much promise.

Jeff (played by Adam S. Curtis) is an angst-ridden philosopher “taking one class on the history of Cuba and barely holding a job packing boxes.” between eating Oreos and drinking beer with his friends, Buff (Alex C. Vaughan) and Tim (Jon H. Noble), he ponders his problematic relationship with his artist girlfriend Sooze (Emily Atkins).

Though the story generally deals with the lost twenty-something generation struggling to grow up, the focal point of this particular story is the sudden reappearance of the trio’s former high school classmate, Neil “Pony” Moynihan (Jonathan Wagner), who has long blown town, “gotten a life,” and become a rock celebrity. When Pony arrives with his publicist Erica (Alana L. Slater), tensions mount and flair until the night ultimately takes a tragic turn.

Bogosian may have based the play on his own experiences growing up in suburban Massa-

Saturday, December 13 Santa & Mrs. Claus on the Square Leonardtown Square- 11 a.m.

Kids of all ages can visit Santa and Mrs. Claus in downtown Leonardtown. Bring your own camera!

Sponsored by the Commissioners of Leonardtown 301-475-9791. (In the event of inclement weather, Santa & Mrs. Claus will be in the Bell Motor Company Showroom.)

Lost in Paris & DJ Rob Hotel Charles in Hughesville- 9:30 pm Lost in Paris in the Party Room with DJ Rob playing during intermissions. Cover charge. Call 301-

007

Madagascar

Bolt

Twilight

AMC Loews Lexington Park 6

Australia Rated PG-13, 2 hr 45 min Showtimes: 4:15, 7:40

Bolt Rated PG, 1 hr 36 min Showtimes: 5:30, 7:50

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa Rated PG, 1 hr 29 min Showtimes: 5:35, 7:55 Quantum of Solace Rated PG-13, 1 hr 46 min Showtimes: 4:30, 7:35

Four Christmases Rated PG-13, 1 hr 22 min Showtimes: 5:00, 7:15

Twilight Rated PG-13, 2 hr 0 min Showtimes: 4:45, 7:45

Shows and Rating Provided By Yahoo Entertainment. Check Local Listings For Show Times.

Shows and Rating Provided By Yahoo Entertainment. Check Local Listings For Show Times.

Pax River Ringers Hand Bell Concert SAYSF Bible Church in Lexington Park- 7 p.m.

The Pax River Ringers, St. Mary’s County Community Hand Bell Choir, will present their Christmas Holiday Concert.

Come for a great evening of music.

Contact: Emma Grimes 301-8637575 or grimesre@ md.metrocast.net.

The Mystery of the Manger L e on a rdt ow n Baptist Church - 2 p.m.

L e on a rdt ow n Baptist Church extends a special invitation to the community to join us for our free children’s Christmas musical.

Christmas Caroling Mechanicsville Optimist Club - 5 p.m.

Starting at the Old Route 5 in the Immaculate Conception Old Hall, come out and carol! We provide an oldfashioned hay wagon with Christmas lights and sheet music. It is an open-air wagon, so dress warmly. We meet at the old gas station beside the Immaculate Conception Church and travel up and down old Route 5 for as long as your voice can hold out!

Fundraiser Dance Our Lady of the Wayside Church Hall in Chaptico- 9 p.m.

Nuttin Fancy Band playing from 9 a.m.

– 1 p.m. BYOB setups available.

Sunday, December 14 Greenwell Holiday Open House Rosedale Manor, Greenwell State Park- 1 p.m.

Music, refreshments, and more at Greenwell’s Annual Holiday Open House.

For more information, visit www.greenwellfoundation.org or call 301-373-9775.

Holly Jolly Christmas Show Bowles Farm - 2 and 5 p.m.

Holly Jolly Christmas Musical & Dance Revue will perform two great shows (A Tapping Penguin, Hip Hop Frosty, Dancing Gingerbread and Jingles the Dancing Horse).

Advanced tickets $10, at the door $15. To purchase tickets email GGHollyJollyXmas@ aol.com or call 301475-5265 for Box Office dates and times! SEATING IS LIMITED - get your tickets early!

The County Times

Section A - 10

Thursday, December 11, 2008

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ELL MOTOR COMPANY, INC. ELL MOTOR COMPANY, INC. On The Square In Downtown Leonardtown Located OnLocated The Square In Downtown Leonardtown 22675 WASHINGTON STREET 22675 WASHINGTON STREET

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2008 Pontiac G5 )''0 Gfek`XZ >-

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O P ELL MOTOR COMPANY, INC. ELL MOTOR COMPANY, INC. On The Square In Downtown Leonardtown Located OnLocated The Square In Downtown Leonardtown E 301-475-2355Now *'#)/) 301-475-2355 N $32,000 Now $37,400 Efn *+#+', *,#0', 866-475-2355

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2009 Pontiac G8GT Loaded, Sunroof

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2008)''0 :_\mifc\k :fYXck Chevrolet Trailblazer LT LS, 2DR 4WD, Blue Was $18,185 Was $30815

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T H R O U G H

2008 Chevrolet Suburban LT 4WD, Lthr Interior, Loaded, Ruby

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2009 Pontiac G8GT

2008 GMC Canyon Truck

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2008 Chevrolet Equinox LS

2009 Cobalt LS

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Loaded, Sunroof

Regular Cab, White

Now *'#)/) $32,000

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Coupe Coupe

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Loaded, Gold Mist

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2009 Chevrolet Traverse LT

2008 GMC Acadia

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2009 Chevrolet Malibu

1666989

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2009 Pontiac Vibe

FWD, Power Windows, Power Locks, Air Conditioning

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2008 GMC Canyon Truck

2009 Chevrolet 2009 Chevrolet Impala Auto, LS,Impala PW/Locks,LS4 Cyl., Silver V6 Auto, PW/L, Cruise, Dark Silver Loaded, Gold Mist Was $21,475 Was $24,215 Was $24,020

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2009 Chevrolet HHR LT

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2009 HHR LT Regular Cab,Chevrolet White

Panel 19,865 Van, White, Auto, Remote Vehicle Start Was Was $21,015

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2009 Chevy Colorado 2WD, Extended Cab

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2009 Chevy Colorado

2009 Chevrolet MalibuCab 2WD, Extended

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Auto, LS, PW/Locks, 4 Cyl., Silver

Was $22,275 Was $21,475

2008 Buick Lucerne CXL Was $31,955

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