The County Times 2008.12.18 A Section

THURSDAY 12.18.2008

Established 2006 • Volume 3 • Issue 49

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School System Completes Audit

Bank Robbery Suspect Competent To Stand Trial

Delay in Completion Will not Affect State Aid

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer

Andrea Shiell Staff Writer The St. Mary’s County Board of Education was jubilant last Wednesday upon learning that an audit required by the state was completed and that the state would now release $1.5 million in previously withheld funding.

The firm of McGladrey and Pullen, LLP completed its audit of the financial statements of the St. Mary’s County Public Schools (SMCPS) fiscal year 2008, which ended June 30, 2008, rendering an “Unqualified Opinion.” This qualifies SMCPS as a “low-risk auditee.”

“We got an unqualified opinion, which is the highest rating you can get,” said SMCPS Accounting Coordinator Robert Springer. “If you See Audit page A-

Trial For 16-Year-Old Accused Of Rape Begins

Air Expo ’09 To Feature Blue Angels May 23 and 24, 2009 Air Expo ’09 will take off here May 23 and 24, 2009 when NAS Patuxent River hosts the Navy’s Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, and the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team..

The Blue Angels will awe Air Expo ’09 spectators with the graceful, high-precision maneuvers of the fourplane “diamond” and fast-paced high performance maneuvers of the solo pilots in the number five and six jets.

All six jets will then perform together in the renowned delta formation.

The Golden Knights travel around the world, per-

forming at air shows and special events. They also compete innational and international parachuting competitions. They have performed in all 50 states as well as 47 countries.

Also headlining the show will be an exciting line-up of military and civilian performers. Past will meet present and future in the static aircraft display area, which will include historic aircraft retired from service and current models and variants being used by war fighters today.

For more information, contact Rebecca March at 301-757-6629.

When Steven King first started working for the county’s Metropolitan Commission in 1976 he had just graduated from St. Mary’s College of Maryland with a degree in social sciences and a strong background in biology.

That, plus experience working as an intern with planning and zoning authorities in Calvert Counties helped land him the job as executive assistant to the director of MetCom. When he got on the job King said he didn’t know anything about providing water services to the entire county.

See Steven King page A-

Photo by Guy Leonard

Erin Deroche, left, Katie Thompson, Lindsay Hanf and Shannon Gleason of St. John’s School in Hollywood stuff stockings for military service men and women who are away from their families at Christmas. Students at St. John’s School started the project last year as a way to provide candy, games and other sundries to troops fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Board Of Education Still Mulling Budget Request

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer St. Mary’s County Schools Superintendent Michael J. Martirano told the Board of County Commissioners today at a joint meeting that he is still uncertain just how much he will be asking for from the county for this year’s public schools’ budget.

Part of the problem, Martirano said, was that he

had not yet received a firm estimate from the state as to how much funding he would receive from them.

Martirano said that he has instead had to rely mostly on anecdotal information from the state and others that he should be preparing a lean budget for submittal to the county commissioners.

Specifically, Martirano said, he did not expect the state to fully fund the geographic cost of education inSee BOCC page A-

See Trial page A-

INSIDE

For Continual News Updates Visit: somd.com

Metcom Director Retiring After 33 Years Of Service

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer State prosecutors began their case Tuesday against a 16-year-old male juvenile accused of raping a 12-year-old girl by putting his alleged victim on the stand to testify against him.

John K. Edison, who was arrested in July on charges of seconddegree rape, watched as his accuser recounted her story in open court.

The alleged victim, now 13, testified that she and her cousin left their adult relative’s house the night of July 4 with two young males, one of them the accused, to Edison’s house in Great Mills.

The alleged victim testified that Edison forced her from the couch she was sitting on down the hallway of his home and forcibly raped her as well as hit her with a belt.

The victim’s cousin and the other male who she said was there at the time did nothing to prevent it, she testified.

Assistant State’s Attorney Julie White, the lead prosecutor on the case, told the jury in her opening statement that the victim in the case had maintained her story of being dragged by the defendant to his bedroom after coming with her cousin and the other male over to Edison’s house.

Edison, on the other hand, White claimed, had at first denied that there

A county Circuit Court judge has deemed that a defendant in a four-year-old bank robbery case can now stand trial.

Cornelius Leroy Chase, 47, has been charged with numerous counts in connection with the armed robbery of Cedar Point Federal Credit Union in Leonardtown, including armed robbery, first-degree assault and the use of a handgun in the commission of a felony.

Chase, according to court documents, has convictions for robbery, theft, assault with intent to rob and assault in St. Mary’s County dating back to 1996.

He was convicted of robbery in Calvert County in 2006 as well as See Bank Robbery 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 Steven King

Friday Rain 59°

Saturday Sunny 51°

Section A -

The County Times

Thursday, December 18, 2008

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The County Times

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Section A -

Commissioners Kick Off Budget Process With Eye On Savings

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer The St. Mary’s Board of County Commissioners began their fiscal 2010 budget process Monday with caution.

The budget outline presented by finance office head Elaine Kramer allowed for a five percent “baseline” increase from last year’s county operation budget; but some commissioners believed the projections might not be sustainable in tough economic times.

On top of that, some revenue projections, like the recordation tax, were projected to be down by about 13 percent or $1.5 million.

Highway user fees as well as state and federal grant funds are also expected to be down by a total of about $340,000.

The overall budget projection for fiscal 2010 is just over $200 million.

“We’d be better off to ask all departments to come back with just the bare bones of what they need to operate,” said Commissioner President Francis “Jack” Russell (D-St. George’s Island).

“A thorough scrubbing of these budgets is in order so we won’t have to make such drastic cuts later on.”

Russell supported having county government departments coming back to the commissioners later in the budget process with requests ref lecting only what they needed to maintain services as they were, with any additional expenditures to be granted by permission of the board.

At the beginning of the Dec. 15 meeting, Russell said the five

percent baseline increase, which is usual procedure in county yearly budgeting, might be too generous for some departments.

Some sources of revenue are up this year however, such as property taxes, which have increased by $6.7 million. Income taxes are also appear to be up, according to finance department figures, to $67.6 million.

That figure is an increase from $63.7 million from the fiscal 2009 budget.

The majority of the budget is set to go to the St. Mary’s County Board of Education and the Office of the Sheriff. Finance department projections have $80.9 million going to the public schools and $31.6 million to the sheriff’s office.

The county apportioned amount for the board of education decreased by about

IRS Mandated Changes to Affect Teacher Retirement Funds Andrea Shiell Staff Writer Non-profit employees, including teachers and public school personnel in St. Mary’s County, will see some changes to their retirement accounts after the first of the year. At the most recent Board of Education meeting, chief academic officer Linda Dudderar presented an update on the changes that will affect 403 (b) retirement accounts after the first of the year, in the first major overhaul of the rules governing such accounts since 1964.

Dudderar explained that the changes being implemented are an effort to institute risk management controls and bring a better level of oversight to 403 (b) retirement plans, in effect making them more like 401-K plans. “The government, through the IRS, is really trying to eliminate risk,” she explained, “they’re trying to make it more like a 401-K.” What this means is that those with money in 403 (b) plans will have fewer investment options and more restrictions to contend with, whereas before they could invest with numerous vendors and take out loans and withdrawals without consulting their employer.

“When you have individual employees working with a myriad of individual companies, there really is no oversight,” said Dudderar, who explained that a symptom of the lack of oversight may very well be the increasing number of employees across the country taking out hardship loans as the economy worsens.

New regulations will require plan sponsors to have several documents and agreements in place, including an approved list of vendors and detailed summaries of their plans, as well as detailed documents outlining eligibility rules, contribution limits, and distribution and withdrawal rules, among other things.

Dudderar said that the St. Mary’s County Public School system has now entered into negotiations to establish MetLife Resources as their vendor, acting on the advice of a Wachovia Securities advisor, but if an agreement is not reached soon, then negotiations will begin with their secondary vendor, ING. Dudderar said that she expects these changes to ultimately benefit both employees and employers as they are implemented. “I think for the em-

ployee there is someone at the school system level who can answer all their questions…who will be ensuring that the plan is viable…this will provide ongoing review of the plan, so if there’s a problem with one of the securities, someone will be available to address that,” she said.

When asked how many employees the new IRS mandates would affect, Dudderar said she expects that as more information and training sessions are held, the school system will see more people enter the program. “It could affect all employees if they choose to invest,” she said, “right now we have a little over 400 employees who take advantage of the pre-tax benefit.”

As for restrictions in investment options, Dudderar said that the school system is negotiating for a large number of options for each plan. “There are 14 different opportunities per plan, but the consulting group will be expanding those…they’re talking about offering a variety of different kinds of funds,” she said.

The school system will be mailing out a letter to employees the last pay period of December explaining how the changes will affect their investment plans, as well as outlining the steps they will need to take to participate. In the meantime, Dudderar said that they are still in the process of scheduling approximately 30 information forums to provide details and answer questions on the new mandates, as well as individual meetings to review employee needs and enrollment into the new program.

The Board of Education voted to approve entering into contract negotiations with MetLife Resources as the single vendor providing 403 (b) services for employees of the school system, but in light of the school system struggling to complete internal and legislative audits, changes to the 403 (b) plans came at an awkward time this year.

The original deadline for completion of the new plans was set for Jan. 1, but Dudderar told the County Times that the school system had been given an extension to complete negotiations and complete their plan document for IRS approval.

“Last week, at the end of the day, I found out they’d be giving us some wiggle room,” said Dudderar, “but my expectation is that we’ll in fact follow through with our original deadline.”

Youth Technology Summit Comes to Southern Maryland Andrea Shiell Staff Writer Even as the gray skies loomed outside and the pavement glistened with drizzling rain, students were braving the cold whilst moving between three different buildings at CSM’s Leonardtown campus for the First Southern Maryland Youth Technology Summit on Tuesday.

While students and parents arrived and registered, and companies

set up their exhibits, the creator of the event, Alland Leandre, rotated between guests and fanned himself, smiling excitedly.

“Pulling this off was not easy,” he exclaimed, adding that the original idea for the summit had occurred to him last February, after he had received the Black Engineer of the Year and Entrepreneur Award. He had achieved so much with his own

$890,000.

Com missioner Lawrence D. Jarboe (R-Golden Beach) said that in times past, county departments would present two separate budgets, one ref lecting what they wanted and one about five percent below what they needed.

If they wanted to save paper, he said, they might just want to stick to the leaner projections.

“If you want to present a budget, present us a budget that’s about five percent under,” Jarboe commented to The County Times. “We’ll be lucky to make a f lat budget this year.”

The county just received its first allotment of income taxes from the state, about $15 million, with three more payments on the way throughout the year.

Kramer has said she is cautiously optimistic about the county meeting its fiscal 2009 budget figure of $63.7 million.

Jarboe was not so hopeful and said the commissioners

should consider more tax relief for citizens this budget cycle, particularly on property taxes.

“I think the income tax distributions are going to be not as good as we expected,” Jarboe told other commissioners.

But, Commissioner Thomas A. Mattingly (D-Leonardtown) said that making cuts now that would diminish services was the wrong move.

“We’ve made too much in the areas of education and public safety to withdraw from that,” Mattingly said. “Until we know what’s coming out of the state, it’s a premature act.”

Commissioner Daniel H. Raley (D-Great Mills) warned that even though commissioners were in a mood to keep department budgets at status quo, there would still be added costs.

“We have to take into account the rising energy costs and… rising health care costs,” Raley said. “In maintaining the status quo it’s going to cost more.”

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12/12/08 3:53

The County Times

Section A -

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Editorial & Opinion

Sense Of Community Is Life’s Best Reward The death last week of this newspaper’s publisher, James Manning McKay brought great sorrow to many people. Mr. McKay had worked tirelessly during his 89 years, raised a large family, was a public servant, a community activist, and founded several businesses in St. Mary’s County.

Mr. McKay’s family has been showered with an outpouring of sympathy and well wishes from throughout Southern Maryland. For those who are left in this world to carry on after the

passing of a loved one, such an outpouring of condolence and support does indeed make the pain more bearable.

St. Mary’s County has been good to the McKay family throughout the many years. This kindness is what makes St. Mary’s such a great place to live. While the family grieves the loss of their beloved patriarch, they feel blessed to live in this loving and caring community.

This Christmas Season provides a perfect time for our community to reflect upon the spe-

Spirited Giving It Doesn’t Have to Cost Much By: Enid Borden What is it about the holidays? Beyond unfolding garlands of color and light, what is it that takes hold of us during the holidays that makes it such an exceptional time? Is it the rush of gift buying or whirl of holiday gatherings? Is it everything around us or is it something inside of ourselves that makes the holidays special?

The surge of celebration that sets the holiday season apart from any other time of the year is certainly a part of what captivates us, but far more than flares of activity go into making the holiday season such a special time.

Aside from the ring of tradition, the holidays resonate with meaning for many of us because they are an incomparable time for giving. Whether in good times or bad, the holidays present us with an extraordinary opportunity to reach out to others through simple acts of giving.

No matter what our actual bank account balances may be, each day during the holiday season presents us with an ideal occasion for offering family members, friends, co-workers, acquaintances, and even perfect strangers, something that can instantly lift us out of ordinary moment into an astonishingly bright place filled with the spirit of joy.

Better yet, it is so easy to do. During the holidays, a kind word or minute of time can stretch further or last longer than it can on an ordinary day. The smallest of gestures can ring larger. The most modest of donations can quickly multiply into vast sums. The chances for receiving an incalculable reward can more than double.

This holiday season, as so many of us look forward to better times ahead, what sounder way is there to make an investment for ourselves and our loved ones than to give?

Any Soldier Inc. Is Going Green!

Any Soldier Inc., a 501(c) 3 non-profit charitable organization, is teaming up with Recycle for Soldiers to introduce an environmentally-friendly recycling program that helps raise funds for Any Soldier Inc. Recycle your cell phones, PDAs, iPods, laptops, digital cameras, inkjet and laser cartridges, laptops, DVD movies, GPS devices, video games and video game consoles to Recycle for Soldiers and proceeds will benefit Any Soldier Inc. Any Soldier Inc. (www.AnySoldier.com) currently helps approximately 100,000 service members in all branches of the military, both active duty and reservists, with over 3500 military service contacts. Any Soldier Inc. supports America’s troops in dangerous deployments by facilitating a connection between our citizens and our servicemen and women. The Any Soldier® effort has given hope to most and inspired many of our soldiers knowing that the public will care for them and support them until they return home safely.

AnySoldier Inc. provides information on how anyone can send letters, care packages, and other demonstrations of support, as well as establish networks of soldiers who will be responsible for the delivery of these items. Any Soldier Inc. also aids in the facilitations and delivery of medical, school, and other humani-

cial gifts God has given each of us, the gift of living in a special place, a place where people, neighbor’s and friends are our greatest asset.

This Christmas, many families are planning to spend less money on gifts than in years past because of tougher than normal economic times.

But it doesn’t mean less needs to be spent giving gifts, in fact just the opposite, this Christmas, in the spirit of a loving and caring community, we hope that everyone in St. Mary’s County will spread Christmas gifts of kindness to everyone

you meet.

It doesn’t take much money, and it’s quite easy to do. A word of kindness will spread more gifts throughout our community than gifts of material things. Kindness doesn’t have to be complicated or well thought out, it is best if it comes natural from your heart.

When all is said and done, the best gift you can give and the best gift you can receive is to know you live in a community of kindness.

Do you have something to say?

Would like your voice to be heard?

Send us a letter telling us what’s on your mind!

Send to:

The County Times

P.O. Box 250 • Hollywood, MD 20636 Make sure you include your name, phone # and the city you live in.

We will not publish your phone #, only your name and city

E-mail letters to: opinion@countytimes.net

We are at your service with:

tarian supplies to the soldiers who donate their time and expertise to the people of the nations they are assigned. Any Soldier’s programs include not only supporting our troops deployed in the war directly but also our wounded soldiers who have arrived home safely. Many of the supported efforts can be seen on the organization’s website.

Here’s how it works: Go to www.RecycleforSoldiers.com and download a free shipping label and write “Any Soldier Inc. or Any Soldier’s account number (which can be obtained from the website). Drop it in the mail and feel good about supporting our soldiers and doing your part for our environment.

Any person or organization wanting to recycle and help raise funds for our troops can participate in the program and it is absolutely free. Businesses and individuals can also set up an ongoing collection on Any Soldier Inc.’s behalf by going on the Recycle for Soldier’s website and set up the collection. Set out a collection box, pass out fliers, get your community involved with the collection. There are advertisements already available online for you to use in your office or for any individual or community efforts, and you will receive preprinted Any Soldier® labels to send the materials back to Recycle for Soldiers.

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Holiday Entertaining -- Dial Up the Fun Factor It’s that season for making party rounds and opening up homes to friends and family. Maybe it’s your turn to play host or hostess and you’re not sure where to start or how to set your party apart from the others. More importantly, you want to ensure guests have a good time.

Even if you’ve waited until the last minute for party planning, you can still host a memorable and fun event. Here are a few ideas how. * Secret Santa gift exchange: Part of the enjoyment of the holidays is exchanging gifts with others. Instruct guests to bring along an inex-

pensive gift. You can set the price limit at $10 to $15. Place all of the gifts in a big red bag and play Santa, handing out a gift to everyone who attended. * Play games: Scour the game aisle of your favorite store for board or action games that would work well in large groups. Or, modify baby or bridal shower games to fit a holiday theme. Door prize games, or “Pin the Red Nose on Rudolph” are silly ideas that can add up to fun, especially when the cocktails are flowing. * Create the mood with lights

and music: Christmas and New Year’s are celebrated in most areas during the darkest days of winter.

So shed light on your festivities with plenty of twinkling lights and votive candles. Create a holiday playlist on your MP3 player and make sure the tunes continue all night long. * Involve guests in decorating: Short on time? Gather up supplies for decorating and advertise that you’re having a tree-trimming or house-trimming party on your invitations. Allow guests to get crafty and be involved in dressing up your home.

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

* Don’t fret about food: You don’t have to be a gourmet chef to host a winning party. If food isn’t your forte, don’t worry about catering the event or looking to prepackaged appetizers and snacks. As guests mingle and hop from party to party, they’re not going to be looking for an elaborate sit-down dinner.

Fresh veggies and dips, bite-sized finger foods and the like are standard party fare. If you want to get creative, take any of your favorite foods and just make them in miniature. Tiny burgers, bite-sized pizzas, and even small peanut butter and jelly sandwiches can delight.

* Cocktail savvy: Stock the bar with the old standards for variety and come up with one signature drink you can make in bulk. Why not try a frosty punch and give it a theme-inspired name, such as “Winter Wonderland”? Be sure to have plenty of non-alcoholic drinks on hand for those designated drivers. * Dessert bar: Top off the evening with a dessert bar where guests can create and garnish their own desserts. Set out ice cream and fixings, a fondue pot with skewers of fruit, different pies with nuts and whipped cream, or any other combination you can think of.

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 18, 2008

Board Of County Commissioners Meeting

County Administrator Items Tuesday, December 16, 2008

1.

Agenda for Special Meeting on December 24, 2008 (published)

BA (increasing the project budget by $2,341), no County funds Motion: To approve and authorize the Commissioner President 2.

Dept. of Public Works to sign the FY2009 County Coopand Transportation (George Er- erative Marketing Grant Agreement with the Maryland Tourism ichsen, P.E., Dir.; and Jackie Fournier, Transporta- Development Board. tion Mgr. ) Motion: To approve and authoFY2009 STS Grant Agreement rize the Commissioner President (funding for the ADA, SSTAP, to sign the Budget Amendment reRural Community Based, Job Ac- f lecting an increase in the FY2009 cess I and II, and Public Routes) Tourism Marketing Grant, Project Number MD0917, by $2,341. totaling $2,147,001, and related BAs Motion By: Dement Motion: To approve and authorize Commissioner President RusSecond: Mattingly sell to execute the State of MaryAction: Passed land Department of TransportaVoting Record: tion Operating Grant Agreement, Francis Jack Russell Yes in the amount of $2,147,001, and to Thomas Mattingly Yes sign the six related budget amendDaniel Raley Yes ments that include increases from Lawrence Jarboe Yes the BOCC Emergency Reserve (in Kenneth Dement Yes the total amount of $41,998) and decreases with in the departments 5.

Dept. of Recreation and projects to reduce the amount of Parks (Phil Rollins, Director) County funding.

A. MOU with the MD SHA Motion By:Mattingly for FY09 National Recreational Second:Jarboe Trails Program funding ($30k) for Action:Passed Phase V of the Three Notch Trail Voting Record: Motion: To approve and auFrancis Jack Russell Yes thorize the Commissioner PresiThomas Mattingly Yes dent to sign the Memorandum of Daniel Raley Yes Understanding with the Maryland Lawrence Jarboe Yes State Highway Administration for Kenneth Dement Yes FY09 National Recreational Trails Program funding for Phase V of 3.

Dept. of Public Safety the Three Notch Trail in the total (David Zylak, Director) amount of $30,000.

A. Homeland Security Grant MOA ($287,208) and related BA increasing the project budget by $82,198 and allocating funds in accordance with the prioritized spending plan developed by Public Safety; no required Co. match (Michelle Lilly, Mgr., Emergency Mgr. Div.; Lt. Ed Willenborg, Sheriffs Office; Bob Kelly, Dir., IT) Motion: To approve and authorize the Commissioner President to sign the Memorandum of Agreement with the Maryland Emergency Management Agency for the Federal Fiscal Year 2008 Homeland Security Grant Program, in the amount of $287,208, and the related Budget Amendment increasing the project budget revenues and expenses by $82,198 in accordance with the actual agreement/award amount.

Motion By: Mattingly Second:Dement Action:Passed Voting Record: Francis Jack Russell Yes Thomas Mattingly Yes Daniel Raley Yes Lawrence Jarboe Yes Kenneth Dement Yes B. BA ($10k) closing out MIEMSS Radio Maintenance Project, due to state grant not being received (on behalf of the state, contracted with Commercial Communications to have state radios repaired).

(Tommy Mattingly, Jr., Emergency. Communications Mgr.) Motion: To approve and authorize the Commissioner President to sign the budget amendment closing out project MD0940, MIEMSS Radio Maintenance, and returning $10,000 to Supplemental Reserve.

Motion By: Dement Second:Mattingly Action:Passed Voting Record: Francis Jack Russell Yes Thomas Mattingly Yes Daniel Raley Yes Lawrence Jarboe Yes Kenneth Dement Yes 4.

Dept. of Economic and Community Development (Bob Schaller, Director; Carolyn Laray, Tourism Mgr.) FY2009 State Marketing Grant Agreement ($62,341) with the MD Tourism Dev. Board and related

Motion By: Jarboe Second:Dement Action:Passed Voting Record: Francis Jack Russell Yes Thomas Mattingly Yes Daniel Raley Yes Lawrence Jarboe Yes Kenneth Dement Yes B. POS grant application and project agreement for Phase V of the Three Notch Trail ($276,408) and related BA (transferring $175,000 in State funds from Phase IV A to Phase V) Motion: To approve and authorize the Commissioner President to execute the revised FY09 Program Open Space grant application and project management agreement for Phase V of the Three Notch Trail in the total amount of $276,408, and to sign the related budget amendment that realigns $175,000 from the Phase IV A project PA0106 to the Phase V project PA0804.

Motion By: Dement Second: Mattingly Action:Passed Voting Record: Francis Jack Russell Yes Thomas Mattingly Yes Daniel Raley Yes Lawrence Jarboe Yes Kenneth Dement Yes (Debra Pence, Museum Division Manager) C. MD Heritage Areas Authority grant agreement ($92,500) for the Piney Point Lighthouse Museum and related BA (decreasing the project budget by $7,500) Motion: To approve and authorize the Commissioner President to sign the FY09 Maryland Heritage Areas grant agreement and related assurances in the total amount of $92,500 for the Piney Point Lighthouse Museum, and the related budget amendment that decrease the project RF0103 by $7,500 to align the project with the actual grant award.

Motion By: Dement Second:Mattingly Action: Passed Voting Record: Francis Jack Russell Yes Thomas Mattingly Yes Daniel Raley Yes Lawrence Jarboe Yes Kenneth Dement Yes

Section A -

Board of Education Voting Record Meeting Held Dec. 10 Consent Agenda 11.03 Personnel - Administrative and Supervisory In accordance with the Annotated Code of Maryland (Section 6-201), “the superintendent shall nominate for appointment by the county Board of Education all principals, teachers, and other certificated personnel.” The superintendent “shall assign them to their positions and transfer them as the needs of the system require.”

Motion: To approve the consent agenda as presented.

Motion By: Cathy Allen Second: Mary M Washington Action: Unanimous Voting Record: William M Mattingly Yes Cathy Allen Yes Salvatore L Raspa Yes Mary M Washington Yes Marilyn A Crosby Yes 11.04 Policy BID: Board Member Compensation Attached for your review and approval is a minor revision to “Policy BID - Board Member Compensation” to remove bullet A under Policy Statement as this paragraph no longer applies to this policy.

Motion: To approve the consent agenda as presented.

Motion By: Cathy Allen Second: Mary M Washington Action: Unanimous Voting Record: William M Mattingly Yes Cathy Allen Yes Salvatore L Raspa Yes Mary M Washington Yes Marilyn A Crosby Yes Action Items 12.01 Financial Audit for FY 2008 The audit firm of McGladrey and Pullen, LLP has completed its audit of the financial statements of the St. Mary’s County Public Schools (SMCPS) fiscal year 2008, which ended June 30, 2008. The Board’s Audit Committee recommends acceptance of the audit report, as reviewed by them Dec. 9, 2008.

The auditors have expressed an opinion that the financial statements of SMCPS fairly represent the financial condition of the school system.

They found no material weaknesses, and have issued an “Unqualified” opinion (the highest they can assign).

The audited information reflects an excess of Revenue over Expenditures of $8.7 million on a budgetary basis. We now have 13.3 million in unreserved fund balance.

Motion: To accept the report as presented.

Upon receipt, the printed version of this audit will be forwarded to the BOCC, state, and federal authorities. It will also be available at the public libraries in St. Mary’s County.

Motion By: Mary M Washington

Second: Cathy Allen Action: Unanimous Voting Record:

William M Mattingly Cathy Allen Salvatore L Raspa Mary M Washington Marilyn A Crosby

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

12.02 403(b) Retirement Plan Contract Award In August, the school system solicited requests for proposals from current vendors, as well as other providers of 403(b) retirement plans. The proposals were accepted on Sept. 12, 2008. The proposals were reviewed by Wachovia Securities, a consultant working with the school system on developing a plan to meet the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) mandated changes. Four firms were short-listed and were interviewed Nov. 6, 2008. The school system had an information forum Nov. 17, 2008, and met with the employees associations earlier that same day. Wachovia Securities, in working with school system staff, evaluated the vendors utilizing 12 areas of consideration and narrowed the potential vendors to two; MetLife Resources and ING. Staff is recommending that the Board of Education approve entering into contract negotiations with MetLife Resources as a single vendor for providing the 403(b) services to the school system. If the school system and MetLife Resources are not able to come to agreement as the provider of the 403(b) services, the school system would open discussions with ING. Motion: That the Board of Education approve school system staff entering into contract negotiations with MetLife Resources as the single vendor for providing the 403(b) services to the school system and that if the school system and MetLife Resources are not able to come to agreement for MetLife Resources being the provider of the 403(b) services, the school system would open discussions with ING. Motion By: Cathy Allen Second: Slavatore L Raspa Action: Unanimous Voting Record: William M Mattingly Yes Cathy Allen Yes Salvatore L Raspa Yes Mary M Washington Yes Marilyn A Crosby Yes 12.03 High School Program of Studies The proposed revisions for the St. Mary’s County Public Schools High School Program of Studies 2009-2010 is presented for approval. Proposals include additional courses and updating current programs.

The first reading was held Nov. 12, 2008. The proposed changes were posted on the website for public feedback. No one spoke at the public meeting Nov. 25, 2008. No changes are being submitted today as a result of public feedback.

Motion: To approve the St. Mary’s County Public Schools High School Program of Studies 2009-2010 as presented.

Motion By: Salvatore L Raspa

Second: Cathy Allen Action: Unanimous Voting Record: William M Mattingly Yes Cathy Allen Yes Salvatore L Raspa Yes Mary M Washington Yes Marilyn A Crosby Yes

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The County Times The County Times

Thursday, August 21, 2008 Section A -

Section A - Thursday, December 18, 2008

Obituaries Toney L. Berry “BlackAlice Mildred Brown, 99 berry,” 38 Toney L. Berry “Blackberry,” 38, of Lutz, Fla., formerly of St. Mary’s County, died Dec. 8 in University Community Hospital in Tampa, Fla. after a short illness.

Born March 3, 1970 in Leonardtown, he was the son of Mitchell L. Grimes and Phyllis (Berry) Somerville.

Toney received his education in St. Mary’s County Public Schools and graduated from Leonardtown High School. He was a mechanic by trade. He loved working on cars and goto the racetrack with Toney ing Alice Mildred Brown, 99 Goddard and family. of Leonardtown died Aug. 16 also loved to spin rein herHe home. cords.

He worked DJ Fox, Born Nov. 9,for1908 in DJ Brown Productions andthe LiBaltimore, Md., she was Co. onel Blackwell daughter of the Production, late James and He enjoyed playingRebham. softball and Lilly Mae Jackson wasShe a fanwas of any kind of racing, a member of St. no matter what it was. He also George’s Episcopal Church, enjoyed watching the Redskins Valley Lee, and Order of the on Sunday and wrestling.

Eastern Star, Chapter 107, JuToney always had a big lia Halla, Hollywood. smile on his face. Heiswas known Mrs. Brown survived as two “Blackberry” to his by sons, Lloyd E. friends.

(Jerry) His special were Lionel Brown, Jr. friends of Leonardtown Blackwell, Toney Goddard and and Willard Bruce Brown family, DJ Brown, and Bobby of Terra Alta, W. Va. She is Beansurvived and family. will be also byToney six grandremembered as a loving son, children, Julie Brown-Rund, husband, stepfather, cousin, Jeff Brown, Nancy Deal, godfather, uncle, brother and Wendy Jarda, Judy Graybill friend. and Pheobe Brown, and eight cherish Toney leaves toClay great-grandchildren and his memory, devoted Will Rund, Kristen and wife; Josh Lara Berry, three stepchildren; Brown, Shawn and Bruce Ashely, Andrew, andSamantha Jacob ViDeal, Audrey and mother; Phyllis Somerverette, Jarda. ville,She father; Mitchell Grimes, was predeceased brother; Joseph B.Betty Somerville, by a daughter Ruth Jr., sister in law; D. Brown and a brotherZelma John B. Somerville, nephew; Quinton Fenwick.

Remied, grandmother; Lucille Relatives and friends atBerry, Aunts; Vera Fenwick, tended Mrs. Brown’s Life Agnes Moore Cheryl Celebration in theand Brinsfield Castle, Uncles; Charles Berry, Funeral Home, Leonardtown Lavaghn Berry and Troy Berry Wednesday, Aug. 20 from 5– as well as a host of cousins 8 p.m. with prayers recitedand at 7friends. p.m. A funeral service will Mr. Berry was preceded in be held Thursday, Aug. 21 at death by his stepfather; Joseph 11 a.m. in St. George’s EpisBernard Somerville, Sr., grandcopal Church, Valley Lee. father; James Turner Berry and Reverend Greg Syler, pastor his uncle; James Levi Berry. of the church, will officiate.

Serving as pallbearers Interment will follow in the were Wayne Jorden, Kevin church cemetery.

Brown, Toney Goddard, Lionel Memorial Blackwell, Contributions Bobby Bean may be made to The Misand Dwight Smith. sionsFamily Endowment or receivedFund friends Cemetery and Grounds Fund, Dec. 15 from 9 – 11 a.m. in c/o St. George’s Episcopal the Brinsfield Funeral Home, Church, P.O. Box 30, Valley Leonardtown. A Funeral SerLee, vice MD was 20692. held at 11 a.m. Interto the fammentCondolences will be private. ily may be made Condolences to atthewww. fambrinsfieldfuneral.com. ily can be made at www.brinsArrangements by the fieldfuneral.com.

Brinsfield Funeral byHome, Arrangements the P.A., Leonardtown.

Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown.

Henry 70 and Luis Antonia Castillo,

Eva Schooley.

Dee 70, is Luis Antonia Castillo, survived by of Leonardtown died Aug. 16 her husband, in St. Mary’s Nursing Center, AlLeonardtown. Gerald Born Sept. len 20, Burandt, 1937 in brother; WilPuerto Rico, he was the son of Schoolliam and the late Luis Antonia Elsa ey, daughters; BunnyCastillo.

Russell, Monserrate Morales Happy and Dee LuisEstes is survived

by Estep, three son; Thomas Burandt, grandsisters, M. Elaine Ohler of children; Tiffany Harrell, CasLacMillsboro, Del., Evelyn tillo of Chestertown, and ey Russell, Nichole Md. Russell, Elsie Collins of Victoria Las Vegas, Heather Russell, RusNev. He is also survived by Swords and Paige sell, Mikala several nieces and nephews.

Estep and great-granddaughFamilyRussell. received friends ter; Trinity Wednesday, Aug.as20 from 11 Dee worked a secretary a.m.

– noon in the Union Brinsfield for the Steamfitters LoFuneral Home, Leonardtown, cal 602 in Washington, D.C. with She prayers at noon. is a recited past Matron of Deacon George L’Heureux the Order of the Eastern Star officiated.

Graveside service in both North Carolina and followed at 2 p.m. at Cedar Maryland.

Hill Cemetery, Suitland, Md. She is also a MajorMemorial Contributions ity Member of Job’s Daughters may be made to the St. Mary’s International.

Nursing Center Foundation, Inc., Family received friends Dec.21585 13 from 1 – 2 p.m. at Peabody Street, Brinsfield Funeral Home, Leonardtown, MD 20650.

Leonardtown, where a MemoCondolences to the famrial may Service conducted at 2 ily bewas made at www. p.m. brinsfieldfuneral.com.

A reception followed at Arrangements by the Thomas J. Shryock Masonic Brinsfield Funeral Home, Lodge, 22410 Mervell Dean P.A., Leonardtown.

Road, Hollywood, MD 20636.

The Family is requesting that in lieu of flowers, donaLloyd Raymond made to 97 the Ameritions be Harris, can Diabetes Association Washington, DC-MD Office, 1025 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Suite # 1005, Washington, DC 20036-4104 and/or Hospice of St. Mary’s, Inc., P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650 Condolences to the family may be made at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com.

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

Delma Lenore Bennett, 91

Mary’s Valorie County, Anne Delma graduated from Great Mills High School’s Henry, Class of481935. She was a homemaker who loved gardening and her flowers.

The family received friends Dec. 15 from 5 – 8 p.m. in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown, where prayers were said at 7 p.m. A funeral service was held Dec. 16 at 11a.m. in St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, California, with Rev. Shearon Sykes-Williams officiating. Interment followed in the church cemetery. Pallbearers were Stephen Bennett, Robert Bennett, Tommy Bennett, William Ridgell, Bruce Milburn and Justin Bowers.

Contributions may be made to St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 44078 St. Andrew’s Church Road, CaliforValorie Anne Henry, 48, nia,Mechanicsville, MD 20619. of formerly Arrangements provided of Grandview, Mo., died Aug. by the Mattingley-Gardiner 17, in Lexington Park.

Funeral BornHome, Oct.P.A. 31, 1959 in Lincoln, Neb. she was the MichaelofS.James Daugherty, 58 daughter Ray Dickinson of Mouldrow, Okla.

Michael S.Anne Daugherty, 58, and Hortense Campbell of Adamstown, Md. died Dec. Crawford of Grandview, Mo. 12 inwas California Md. wife of She the loving 1950,she he Earl Born AllanMarch Henry,23,whom was the July son 16, of 1986 Rev. in Charles married WarDaughertyMo. and Jessie (Wise) rensburg, Daugherty.

Michael by washera She is survived computer programmer for son Earl Ian Henry.

WyleMrs. Labs, Inc. Henry graduaddition to his parents, ated Infrom Grandview High Michael Class is survived

by She his School’s of 1977. wife, Marie Daugherty, and moved to St.B.Mary’s County sonOctober John H. Daugherty. in 1988 from WalMemorial Service will dorf,AMd. be held 21 atwill 2 p.m. in St. TheDec. family receive Andrew’s Episcopal Church, friends Saturday, Aug. 23 California. folfrom 10 – Inurnment 11 a.m. inwill Patuxlow in the church cemetery. ent River Assembly of God Memorial contributions Church, California, where a may be made to Friends Funeral Service will beMeetheld ing11School, 3232Pastor Green Lanny Valley at a.m. with Drive, Ijamsville, Clark officiating.MD 21754.

Interment to the family will Condolences be held Wednesday, Aug. mayatbe10made 27 a.m. atinwww.brinsMaryland fieldfuneral.com.

Veteran’s Cemetery, Cheltenby the ham,Arrangements Md. Brinsfield Funeral Home, Contributions may P.A., be Leonardtown. made to Hospice if St. Mary’s, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650.

George Magee LongfelArrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner low, 95 Funeral Home, P.A. George Magee LongKarenfellow, A. 95, of L e x51 ington McEntyre, Park died Dec. 8 in51St. Karen A. McEntyre, of NursLexington Park,Mary’s formerly of ingAug. Center.

Plano, Texas, died 13 in o r n Washington HospitalBCenter.

Aug.Born 12, 1913 Feb. in24,Richmond, 1957 in Va., he was the son ofshe the was late Sweetwater, Texas Johndaughter Gilman Longfellow the of Carold and Mary Bettie Mary AleeseMagee.

Benson of PlaMr. Longfellow spent alno, Texas. mostShe thirty yearssurvived in the U.S. is also by Marine CorpsJeremy as a Master her children Porter Gunnery served of Snyder,Sergeant. He Texas, Jonathan in the Asiatic Pacific CamPorter of Plano, Texas, Angie paign, the Korean Conflict, and Porter, Sheila Horton and Mathe Vietnam Conflict.

During rissa Horton, all of Lexington his time served, Park as well as Mr. her Longfelbrother low received medVictor Bensonnumerous of Plano, Texas als and honors including a Five and three grandchildren.

StarKaren Air Medal, four Bronze was employed as a Stars, and four Gold Stars. He registered nurse. was All a Master Mason a 32nd services are and private. degree Shriner. Following his Arrangements provided service in the Marine Corps, by the Mattingley-Gardiner he was aHome, flight engineer for the Funeral P.A.

Delma Lenore Bennett, 91, of Leonardtown died Dec. 11 Lloyd Raymond Harin St. Mary’s ris, 97, died peacefully Aug. 12 in the St. Mary’s Nursing Hospital.

Center.

B o r n Mr. Harris was Jan.a longtime 4, 1917 resident of St.Md. Mary’s in Drayden, she County. was the He was born in late Gallatin, daughter of the OliverMo. and June 13,Adams 1911 toMilburn. the late HowLouise ard May Harris and Frankie She was the loving wife of Lee Jackson. married the late ThomasHeWashington his beloved wifeshe ofmarried 59 years, Bennett, whom in Mary Catherine “Sis” St. George’s Episcopal Nelson Church at Cathedral in the 1949Washington and who preceded her in Washington D.C. in death Aug. 9, 1974. Sept. 2, 1939.She She preceded himchilin is survived by her death in 1998. He was also dren; Louise Blanche Bennett preceded in death in 1998 by of Towson, Stephen Richhis belovedMd., sister Margaret Bennett of Mechanicsville, ard Harris.

Md.,Mr. Ruth Delma Bennett of Harris served in the Houston, Texas and Robert United States Army as an AsHenry Chaplain.

Bennett of Following Leonardsistant as well as her sisters Virtown, his army service he was emginia Stone of Medley’s Neck, ployed in Washington, D.C. Elizabeth Johnson of Leonarby the Federal Government andyears Charlotte Bennett dtown for many before retirFrancis Joseph of Lusby.

She is also survived ing.

He then worked in the Edith “Dee” Irene Brown, Sr., 66 by six grandchildren andState one tax department for the Burandt, 69 great-grandchild. of Maryland and retired in Francis Joseph Brown, 1971.She was preceded in death During his retirement, Edithpassed “Dee” Irene Sr., 66, awayBurandt, in his he by and her son Oliver travBenhisThomas wife enjoyed 69 of California, diedN.C. Dec home in IndianMd., Trail, eling throughout the Harvey, United and her siblings; nett 10 in her residence.

Aug. 12.

States. James, Robert and ElDee was born Aug. 17, Stephen,enjoyed Mr. Brown was born July liottHe Milburn. playing cards, 1939 in Washington, D.C. to and buying newof cars.

1, 1942 in Leonardtown, son dancing A lifelong resident St. of the late Mary Edna Brown Ray loved life and most of all he enjoyed helping others Norris.

Timothy Brian Mr. Brown is survived while expecting nothing in by his wife Jacqueline Mer- return. He was devoted in the McGrath, 50 wife and sister unT/A CHARLES MEMORIAL GARDENS, Inc. cer Brown; a son Francis J. care of his Timothy Brian McGrath, Brown, Jr. and his wife Shelia til their death.

The family received 50, of Lexington Park died of 26325 Stanfield, N.C.; a daughter Leonardtown, MD Pt. Lookout Rd. Jennifer Lynn Brown of Indi- friends in the Mattingley- Aug. 11 in St. Mary’s HospiGardiner Funeral Home, P.A., tal, Leonardtown. an Trail, N.C. and two grandLeonardtown, Friday, Aug. 15 Born June 14, 1958 in daughters Christianna Page from 9 – 10 a.m. with a funerFreeport, Ill., he was the son and Allyson Grace Brown. al service that followed at 10 The family received a.m. officiated by Rev. Keith of Patricia (Chambers) Mcfriends Sunday, Aug. 17 from Schukraft. Interment followed Grath of Mesa, Ariz. and the 2 – 5 p.m. in the Matting- at Charles Memorial Gardens late Charles McGrath.

Timothy attended Laley-Gardiner Funeral Home, in Leonardtown. Pallbearers where Prayers were said at were Frank Nelson, Donnie salle-Peru High School in La3 p.m. A Mass of Christian Bowles, Fred Nelson, Harry salle, Ill. where he graduated Burial was celebrated Mon- Nelson, Jr., Michael Russell in 1976. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1976 until 1999. day, Aug. 18 at 9:30 a.m. in and Roy Copsey.

St. Francis Xavier Catholic Contributions may be After his service in the Navy, Church with Fr. John Mat- made to American Heart Timothy was employed by a tingly officiating. Interment Association, 415 N. Charles Government Contractor and Baltimore, MD worked at the Patuxent River followed in Charles Memo- Street, 21201-4101.

Naval Air Station. He was an rial Gardens.

Arrangements provided Elks Lodge member and a Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner by the Mattingley-Gardiner past member of the LexingFuneral Home, P.A. ton Park Volunteer Rescue Funeral Home, P.A.

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Shilleadaghs Flying Club. In Squad. his free time, Mr. Longfellow In addition to his mother, enjoyed working in his by garden Timothy is survived his and on his cars. wife Debra Kay (Houtz) McHe his is son, survived his Grath, Sean by Patrick daughters, Robin June LongMcGrath of Lexington Park, fellow of Jacksonville, Fla. and his sister, Karen McGrath of Judith Anne Longfellow-WalMesa, Ariz. and his brother, Park, lace of Lexington Michael McGrath of Ill. three grandchildren; Cynthia A memorial service Gibwill of Jacksonville, Fla.,23 Jenbons be held Saturday, Aug. at nifer Hawse of Prince George, 10 a.m. at the Bay District Va. and Brian Baker of LexVolunteer Fire Department, ington Park; great grandchilLexington Park. dren, Alexandra and Victoria Condolences to the famGibbons of Jacksonville, Fla., ily may be made at www.

Devon and Dakota Rebarchick brinsfieldfuneral.com. of Prince George, Va., sisters; Arrangements by the Mary Brown of Warren, Ohio Brinsfield Funeral Home, and Martha Whited of Dayton, P.A., Leonardtown.

Ohio.

He was preceded in death by his wife, June; sisters, PrisPatrick Connor 2 cilla Johnson, andMiller Virginia Sherman; and brothers, Harry and Elmer Longfellow.

Family received friends for George’s Life Celebration Dec. 11 from 5 – 8 p.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home, Leonardtown. A Funeral Service was conducted at 7 p.m. Interment will be held Jan. 30, 2009 at 1 p.m. in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA. Condolences to the family can be made at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com.

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

Patrick Connor Miller 2, ofBartholomew Avenue died “SolAug. James 12 inlie”St.Norris, Mary’s Sr.,Hospital, 87 Leonardtown.

Connor was born J aOct. m e11,s 2005 in Anne Arundel MediBartholomew cal Center, Annapolis, Md., “Sollie” Northe son of James L. Miller ris, Sr., 87, of and Krystal Kaldenbach of Chaptico died Avenue.

Dec. in sishis He is survived by15 two ters, Lillian and residence.

Kayla Miller, n B his o rpaa brother Kyle Miller, Oct. 1, 1921 ternal grandparents James L. in Avenue, and Darlene Oliver Miller he of was the son of the late Joseph Chaptico, maternal grandparStewart and Alice Selina Wise ents, Eugene Kaldenbach of Norris.

Harrimon, Tenn., and Debra He was preceded of in death Adams Kaldenbach Winby his wife Veronica chester, Ky.; Helen great-grandparHall Norris 1992; they ents FrancisJuly and12, Audrey Oliver Chaptico and16, 1942 in wereofmarried Feb. G rHeart e a t- gCatholic r a n d m Church, others Sacred Mary Lou Adams of Waldorf, Bushwood.

Md. He and Shirley by Miller of is survived his chilNewburg, Md. dren: Jean Carolyn Quade of The family Mechanicsville, Bubbyreceived Norris friends for Carolyn Connor’s Life and his wife of ChapCelebration Sunday,Norris Aug.and 17 tico, Francis Steuart from 3 – 4Jessie p.m. in Brinshis wife of the Pikeville, field Home, “Mickey” LeonardN.C. Funeral and Miriam town, with a funeral service at McGinnis and her husband 4William p.m. Interment was private. of Waldorf; and the famhis Condolences sister: Eleanorto Christenily may be made at www. bery; 10 grandchildren; seven brinsfieldfuneral.com. greatArrangements grandchildren and two by the step-great-grandchildren.

Brinsfield Funeral Home, was preceded in death P.A.,He Leonardtown. by his son in law: James Harold Quade, siblings: Earl Norris, Elliot Norris, Irving Norris, Mary Aleathea Cecil Norris, Norman Norris, 84 Baily, ConnieRedmond, Norris, Elvie Gertrude Cusic, Mary Agnes Ellis and Frances Turner Hall Saunders.

Sollie was a lifelong St. Mary’s County resident where he attended River Springs Elementary and Margaret Brent High School. He worked as a carpenter at Cedar Point, and as an auto salesman for Guy Chevrolet, Park Pontiac and Sponsler Pontiac. He also worked at a Pepco Plant.

He served in the U.S. Army from Aug. 28, 1944 – Feb. 16, 1946 where he was stationed in the Luzon Philippines; his decoration of honors include: Good Conduct, Asiatic Pacific Philippine Theater MaryRibbon, Aleathea Redmond, Liberation Ribbon and Victory 84, of Leonardtown died Aug. Ribbon WWII. 16 in St. Mary’s Hospital.

Sollie April enjoyed fishing, Born 18, 1924 in and spending hunting, farming she Mechanicsville was the time with of hisClarence family. Leo Evdaughter The family receive ans and Gertrudewill M. (Pilkerfriends Dec. 18 from 4 – 8 p.m. ton) Evans. in Aleathea the Mattingley-Gardiner graduated from Funeral Home, Margaret Brentwhere High Prayers School will1941. be saidShe at 7worked p.m. A Mass in from of Christian will be cel1961 to 1971Burial as a secretary/receptionist for 19 St.atMary’s Col10 a.m. in ebrated Dec. lege.

SacredShe Heartenjoyed Catholiccooking, Church, croqueting, playing cards, Bushwood, with Fr. Francis gardening, and sewing; often Early officiating.

Interment making clothing for herCemand in the Church will follow her daughter. etery.

Pallbearers will be Mark SheSean is preceded in death Norris, Norris, Kyle Mcby husband James Franklin Ginnis, Gary Norris, Scott Armsworthy and Josh Norris. Honorary Pallbearers will be Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren. Contributions may be made to: Hospice of St.

Mary’s, P.O. whom Box 625,she LeonarRedmond, marth dtown, MD 4, 20650, ried March 1945 7at District the ImOptimist Club Scholarship maculate Conception Catholic Fund, P.O. Box 53, Bushwood, Church in Mechanicville.

She MD 20618 by and/or 7th District is survived her beloved chilVolunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. dren Gayle A. Hancock and Box 7, Avenue,William MD 20609. her husband of Fairfax, Arrangements Va., and James provided “Frank” by the Mattingley-Gardiner Redmond and his wife Wanda Funeral Home, P.A. Va. She is of Fredericksburg, also survived by three grandchildren, Jeffery A. Hancock and wife Jennifer FairDr.his Robert “Bob” J.ofOtt fax, Va., Mark D. Redmond Sr.,Tanya 76 of Fredand his wife ericksburg, Va., Jason P. RedDr. Robmond of Fredericksburg; and ert “Bob” J. four great-grandchildren.

Ott Sr.inpassed She was preceded death awayRice. peaceby her sister Agnes fully atfriends home Family received with Wednesday, Aug. 20 fromfam9:30 him – 10:30 a.m. in ily thebeside Brinsfield after Funeral Home, Dec. P.A., 12, Leonarbattle dtown. A Massa oflong Christian with Prostate Cancer. 11 a.m., Burial was celebrated He is preceded Wednesday, Aug. in20death at by St. his parents Andrew Emma Aloysius CatholicandChurch, Leonardtown, Rev. John Ott, along with with his brother AnDakesB. officiating.

Interment drew Ott Jr., and sisters Ruth followedand in Charles Memorial O’Brien Jane Schmauder.

Gardens, Leonardtown.

His biggest joy was being pallbearers withServing, his family;as his loving wife were Mark Redmond, Mary, and his childrenJason and Redmond, Jeffery grandchildren who Hancock, lovingly Bill Hancock, Lawrence Pilkcalled him Pop-Pop. erton, ArthurbyPilkerton.

He and is survived his wife Honorary was Earl of 52 years,pallbearer Mary Rose, whom Dean. he married in 1956. He is also Memorial contribution survived by his son Robert J. can be made to Ridge Ott Jr. and wife Judy;the daughter Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Regina O. Sommer and husBox 456, Ridge, MD 20680.

Mike; daughter Mary O. bandCondolences to the famPrice and husband David; son ily may be made at www.

Captain Gregory M. Ott, USN brinsfieldfuneral.com. and Arrangements wife Rebecca, and by son the Charles B.W. Ott; grandchilBrinsfield Funeral Home, dren and Eric Flynn, JesP.A., Kyle Leonardtown. sica and Michael Ott, Katie and Christopher Ott, and Delaney and Zachary Ott. “Junior” Louis Marshall Bob was born August 1, Jr.,He 84grad1932Thompson, in Irvington, N.J. uated from Seton Hall Prep in 1950, attended Georgetown University and graduated with his DDS in 1956. After graduation he served in the United States Navy for two years and was honorably discharged and moved to Westfield, N.J. In Westfield, he practiced general dentistry for over 25 years before joining Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey as the Vice President of Professional Services in 1983. Six years later he was promoted to President and CEO and served in that capacity until his retirement in June 1996.

Louis Marshall “Junior” In addition, from June Thompson, Jr.,June 84, of1996, Avenue 1994 through he died Aug. 4 inChairman his residence. served as the of the Heof was bornDental July 20,Plans 1924 Board Delta in Dynard to the late Louis Association. He was a memMarshall Catherine of theand ADA, NJDA,Eleaand ber nor Central Harris Thompson Sr. as the Dental Society He was loving Colhuspresident, thethe American band of Rose Lee Thompson lege of Dentists, and the Interwhom he married July 26, national College of Dentists.

1942While in Sacred Heart Church, in Westfield, Bob Bushwood.

He is also surwas drawn to community vived by his children, Marservice. He served as a regaret Taylor and her husband member for the gional Georgeboard of Hollywood, Buddy Bank of New York.

He was Thompson and his wife Debalso memberBenny of the local bie ofaAvenue, ThompAmerican Red Cross, serving son and his wife Mary of as their chairman. He was a member of the Civil Defense, the Rotary Club of Westfield, the Westfield High School Booster Club, scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 73, and a member of Echo Lake Country Club.

He was active with Holy Trinity Catholic Church serving on the Parish Council and as a Eucharistic Minister and was a member of the Knights of Columbus. In 2003, he and Mary moved to Hollywood, Maryland where he retired continuing his hobbies of golf, boating and gardening and adding crabbing.

In Hollywood, he was a member of St. John Francis Regis Catholic Church and served briefly on the Parish Council. He was also a member of the local Lions Club and the Navy League.

The family received friends at Brinsfield Funeral Home Dec. 16 5 – 8 p.m. A funeral mass was held at St. John Francis Regis Catholic Church Dec. 17 at 10 a.m. Interment followed at St. George’s Catholic Church Cemetery in Valley Lee, Maryland.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to St. Jude Children’s Hospital 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 and/or the Hospice

House of Donnie St. Mary’s, P.O. Morganza, Thompson Box 625,wife Leonardtown, and his Debbie of MD Me20650 chanicsville and Rose Mary George and her husband John Mary Ruth16Neale Somerof Avenue; grandchildren, 44 great-grandchildren, two ville, 75 step-grandchildren and his sisters Mary OzellaMLacey a r of y Abell, GertrudeRuth Osborne of Neale King George, Va. and ville, Susan Somer Vallandingham75 of Bushwood. of LeonHe was preceded in death ardtown died by one great-grandchild and Dec. 8, in her his sisters Catherine Hall and Louise Bryant. residence.

B o ofr St. n A lifelong resident Oct. 29, 1933 Mary’s County, Junior was in Md., she was the a Maddox, self-employed waterman. daughter of the late Clarence While enlisted in the U.S. Thomas and Oct. Nellie19,Gertrude Army from 1944 to Neale.

Nov. 19, 1945, he served as She was athelight loving wife a rifleman, machine of George Mitchell Somergunner and a cook. she married ville,HeSr. whom belonged to the Oct. 12, 1957 in Leonardtown.

Knights of Columbus and enShe also survived her joyedisplaying cards andbybeing children; Chesley and two his with his Roy family and his wife Jackie of Waldorf, Joyce special buddies Maynard and Ringo.and her husband RichWhite The family received Tanzania, Africa, Debard of friends in the Mattingley-Garorah Khavkin of Arlington, dinerBarbara Funeral Home Thursday, Va., Somerville and Aug. 7 fromWilliam 5 – 8 p.m. with her husband of Silver prayers being said at 7Somerp.m. A Spring, Md., George Mass of Christian Burial was ville, Jr. of Leonardtown, and celebrated Friday, Aug. 8 at Clarence Somerville of Jessup, 9:30 a.m. in Holy Angels CathMd.; her siblings; Helen Hebb olic Church, Avenue, with Fr. and her husband William of William Gurnee officiating.

Hollywood, Theresa Collins Interment followed James in Sacred and her husband of Heart Cemetery, Bushwood.

Hollywood, Veronica Scriber Pallbearers were Johnny of Clements, Md., Christopher George, Jereme George, Tina Neale and his wife Norma of Fay Ferguson, Dave HodgRiverdale, Md. and George es, Matthew Thompson and Curtis Washington, D.C. DonnieofThompson.

Honorary She was preceded in death pallbearers were his grandby her daughter Gertrude children, nieces and nephews.

Priestly and her siblings; Contributions mayWilbe liam Neale, Lawrence Neale, made to Holy Angels Sacred Clarence Neale21335 II and John Heart School, Colton’s Francis Neale. Avenue, MD Point Road, A lifelong St. 20609, Seventhresident DistrictofVolMary’s graduunteer County, Rescue Mary Squad, P.O. ated from Banneker High Box 7, Avenue, MD 20609 School’s Class of St. 1951.

She and/or Hospice Mary’s, attended of P.O. Box the 625, University Leonardtown, MD 20650. on the Eastern Maryland, Arrangements provided Shore, from 1951-1953.

She by been the Mattingley-Gardiner has an active Jehovah’s Funeral Home, P.A. when she Witness since 1965 was baptized and was a full time minister for more than thirty Evelyn years. Tillotson A Memorial was Woods,Service 86 held Dec. 17 at 1 p.m. in the Kingdom of Jehovah’s EvelynHall Tillotson Woods, Witnesses, Callaway, with 86, of California died Aug. 14 Floyd JohnsonNursing officiating.

Inin St. Mary’s Center, will be private. terment Leonardtown.

Born Dec. 18, provided 1921 in Arrangements LeMoyne, Pa., she was the by the Mattingley-Gardiner daughterHome, of the P.A. late George C. Funeral Tillotson and Eva (Dowhower) Tillotson.

Evelyn was54an Sharon Ruth Varela, avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan.

Evelyn is survived S h a r oby n her daughters, Christine Ruth Varela, W. Moore of Chesapeake 54 of Deborah Waldorf Beach, Md. and died Dec. 14 J. Standish of California, in St. Mary’s four grandchildren, and four Hospital. great-grandchildren. o r n All services areBprivate.

April 25, Condolences to the 1954 famin at Prince ily may be made www.

G e o r g e’s brinsfieldfuneral.com.

County, she was the daughter Arrangements by the of Norma Marie Headley of Brinsfield Funeral Home, Waldorf and the late Stanley P.A., Leonardtown.

Clark Headley.

She was the loving wife of Frederico Michael Varela, whom she married Sept. 10, 1973 in Upper Marlboro, Md. She is also survived by her children; Tony Varela, Stacey Varela, Brandy Yates and Christopher Varela, all of Mechanicsville, as well as her brother Michael Headley of Merced, Calif., her sister Katheleen Stanalonis of Woodstock, Ga. and ten grandchildren.

Sharon was a graduate of Potomac Senior High School who enjoyed crocheting and playing bingo. She was a member of the Ladies of Moose and was employed with Nordstrom Department Stores, where she was an inventory, integrity and quality assurance person.

The family received friends Dec. 16 from 5 – 8 p.m. in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home were a funeral service was held at 7 p.m. with Deacon Jeff Delano officiating. Interment was private.

Contributions may be made to Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, c/o Jodi Stanalonis, 42142 Cider Lane, Hollywood, MD 20636.

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

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

The County Times

Thursday, December 18, 2008

“Paws to Protect”

by Sharon Sakson

Bank Robbery Continued from page A-

c.2008, Alyson Books $24.95 / $30.00 Canada 288 pages By: Terri Schlichenmeyer One of your co-workers is a fool.

He’s always bragging about his mutt, some cur that’s supposedly in high-demand for pretty much everything. Listening to this guy, you’d think his dog was a descendant of Einstein or Galileo, or had graduated from Harvard. It’s blah blah blah all day long, like that fleabag invented the wheel or something.

Poor deluded fool. You have to feel sorry for him. He thinks his dog is so great, but everybody knows that the Smartest Dog in the World lives in your house.

But can your dog do more than just bark at pizza deliverers and keep the sofa warm?

In the new book “Paws to Protect” by Sharon Sakson, you’ll meet dogs that work, fight, sleuth, and protect.

Ever since the first canine slinked toward a campfire and barked a warning, dogs have worked with humans. Author Sharon Sakson says we’d be living in a different world if it hadn’t been for dogs: legend says that Alexander the Great had a Greyhound by his side, Attila the Hun used giant hounds in battle, Napoleon was supposedly saved from drowning by a Newfie, and nearly every important American skirmish included dogs on the battlefield.

Sakson tells the story of Stubby, a Staffordshire Terrier who followed his master in battle and saved his battalion several times.

One meeting with mustard gas almost ended Stubby’s life, but the dog went on to become the most decorated canine war hero and Georgetown University’s first football mascot.

Steven King Continued from page A- He was just 22 years old.

“I learned everything on the job,” King, now the director of MetCom told The County Times. “I was the jack of all trades.”

After 23 years serving in just about every capacity from human resources to grant administrator, overseeing engineering and planning of facilities to overall operations and another 10 as MetCom’s director, King is ready to move on to other things.

“I can’t work here forever and 33 years is a longtime,” King said.

But there is still plenty to do at MetCom before he leaves, King said, and he is trying to get as much done as he can.

“Anyone who knows me knows I can’t sit still,” King said. “I want to leave the commission as sound fiscally and managerially as I

Many of the stories Sakson presents are of brave German shepherds and Belgian Malinois on the battlefield. Years ago, those most loyal soldiers were often betrayed by the military but lately, government officials are making sure the right thing is done both for the dog and for the soldier who loves him.

And before you think “large” when you think of a working or military dog, be sure to read the story of the Yorkie who helped save lives during World War II. Dogs work to catch criminals, find missing people and objects, and bring home our dead. To protect ourselves, we’ve learned to use a dog’s ever-watchful eyes, his keen hearing, and his extraordinary nose.

We’ve also learned to take advantage of his huge heart.

Have you been whining about a lack of things to read this winter? Then grab this book and chomp into it. You won’t be sorry.

Although author Sharon Sakson offers a slightly unbalanced collection of stories (many military dog accounts but surprisingly few other protecting-dog tales), this book is still an irresistible treat for animal lovers, particularly those of the canine variety.

Some of Sakson’s true stories are warm and fuzzy. Others will make you howl with outrage and will make you dog your Congressman until laws are changed. Most will make you proud, and at least one of them will bring tears to your eyes.

If you’ve been scratching around for a good book to read, chase this one down. For dog lovers, “Paws to Protect” is a tail-wagger, for sure.

“What needs to be replaced now will be replaced now,” King said. “That’s one less thing he or she will [his replacement] have to deal with.”

King also said that the last few wells in the county that contained arsenic in greater quantities than federal Environmental Protection Agency rules allowed would be replaced

by Jan. 23.

King was unsure if the overall facilities plan for servicing the water system in conjunction with other county services for the next 20 years, which started in 2006, would be completed by the time he left. But said he would push ahead on the project.

“It’ll be the blueprint for the next 20 years,” King said, stating his last day on the job was Feb 27. “It’ll be close.”

While King has been the public face of MetCom for years now, he credited the 73 employees there for keeping the system running smoothly, from the ones who make repairs to

second-degree assault in Anne Arundel County in 2005.

In presiding over his competency hearing, Judge C. Clarke Raley said in his review of the case file and all the competency reports from the state’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, he has never seen any indication that Chase was not able to fully understand the gravity of his situation or stand trial.

Chase, who remained mostly unresponsive during his hearing Dec. 12, declined to testify on his own behalf.

“This is a case for the books,” Judge Raley said in open court. “[Chase]… is perfectly competent and perfectly responsible.”

A “very clever individual,” Judge Raley said, Chase has “the skills to figure out how the criminal justice system works and how the people at [the psychiatric facility where Chase was examined] work.”

During court proceedings, it was made known that Chase may choose to dismiss his current counsel, Public Defender John Getz, for private counsel.

After Judge Raley informed the court and Chase that he had the absolute right to represent himself in court, even though he was advised to retain counsel, his lack of counsel on the day of the trial would not stop the proceedings of a case that has dragged on more than four years.

Judge Raley, known for sharing humorous stories from his legal experiences on the bench, told Chase a story of a man who had been charged with a crime, but who seemingly never went to trial because of his ability to stall the system.

“He was a constant source of irritation,” Judge Raley said of the unidentified man.

He continued by saying the man finally wrote a letter to the court demanding his case be heard by a judge with an intelli-

Section A - gence quotient greater than 70.

“To which I coolly replied to him: ‘We don’t have anyone like that in this jurisdiction. You’re stuck with me,’” Judge Raley said. “You’re stuck with me Mr. Chase.”

Judge Raley left the trial date for Chase open to negotiation between the state and the defense, but intimated that the case had been left untried for too long.

He said there would be no continuances.

“It’s going to trial on that date,” Judge Raley said. “Whether the lawyers are prepared or not, I don’t care.”

According to charging documents, on Aug. 21, 2004, Chase, along with another masked accomplice, allegedly robbed the credit union located on Point Lookout Road in Leonardtown by exiting a nearby cornfield and forcing employees at gunpoint to hand over $262,000 in cash.

Police used canine units to track the suspects through the cornfields to Potato Hill Road; officers found in the cornfield nearest the bank a car-sized swath that could have been used to observe the bank without suspects being seen, according to charging documents.

Police found $10,000 in a money brick in the cornfield on the trail of the suspects.

Police later arrested Chase after a tip from a Charles County sheriff who had contact with Chase.

He said Chase wanted to buy a used car he had for sale for $12,000, charging documents state, and had put down a down payment of $2,500 in $50 dollar bills, some of which were in sequential order.

The sheriff called BCI detectives and told them of the contact, and they began to investigate, charging documents state.

A search of Chase’s home, vehicle and the motel room he was using in early September of 2004 turned up more than $60,000 in cash, charging documents state.

Charging documents further allege that Chase used more than $20,000 to pay for two automobiles in the days after the robbery.

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Steven L. King, director of the St. Mary’s County Metropolitan Commission, retiring after overseeing distribution of water and sewer services for more than three decades.

could.

“That’s the condition it’s in now.”

King touted the recent state-approved change in the billing of customers county-wide with a service improvement charge as a drastic improvement in raising funds to build sewer projects in smaller communities.

In years past, he said, small communities in St. Mary’s had to foot the bill themselves for sewer improvements. Now the costs are spread out among all MetCom customers.

King said it might also be possible to avoid raising service rates for another three or four years.

Also the adoption of a renovation plan for the Marlay-Taylor wastewater treatment plant is nearly complete, King said, with the costs of the project much reduced.

The plan is critical not only to increase the capacity of the plant to meet increased demand but also to meet stringent state mandates for removing nitrogen and phosphorous from wastewater.

The plan to build a new facility for $125 million, which King said was astronomically high, has been changed to a $20 million refit of the existing site.

the system out in the field to the administrators who do monthly billing.

King said he is the longest serving employee at MetCom with his more than three decades on the job.

“I hope somebody beats that one day,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of good people at MetCom.” After retirement King plans to continue working with the Internationa Rural Water Association to provide clean drinking water to remote villages in Honduras and other Third World locales.

He also plans to travel with his wife, who recently retired from the county’s public schools system, and get in more outdoors time fishing and hunting.

Hunting wild turkeys has become his latest passion, he said.

Kathleen Werner, MetCom board member, said she had asked King if he would stay and make his tenure at MetCom a full 35 years, but she knew he was ready to go.

“I wish he weren’t,” Werner said. “He’s totally dedicated to MetCom. He’s certainly going to be missed. It’s going to be a great loss.”

The County Times

Section A -

Wanderings of an Aimless Mind

Mr. McKay

Shelby Oppermann

By Shelby Oppermann My heart and prayers go out to Mrs. McKay and the McKay family after the passing of their muchloved patriarch, James Manning McKay. Most people on the Earth are loved and missed as they pass on by their family and friends, but Mr. McKay is of a special kind of person who has left a tangible legacy that more than just a close circle of friends will feel his loss. We see and shop in his stores most every day, and we read his newspaper every week. There are employees who have given that extra 100 percent because they worked for Mr. McKay and were treated well through their careers, customers who received conversation or smiles for no reason other than walking through the grocery store doors. You were appreciated. Every last employee and customer was appreciated and made to feel special.

I was, and am, one of those customers. I have shopped in every McKay’s store, depending on where I have lived while in St. Mary’s County. My fondest memories are of the Hollywood store. I love the old-style size of it. When I want comfort, that’s where I shop. When I lived in Hollywood, I would look forward to shopping there during the week and on Sunday mornings. I can still see Mr. McKay walking with his longer stride, stopping to say hello, and Mrs. McKay with her brisker, very purposeful walk, ever busy but asking what you might need. Even with its compact size, it always had everything I needed.

My Mother wouldn’t believe me when I told her that they took your groceries out for you and put them in your car. She came down from Clinton many times in the 1980’s and 1990’s to shop at McKay’s because it reminded her of the way things used to be; when customer service was the number one priority.

And the baggers would not take a tip. ”No ma’am, we

can’t take tips, it’s part of our service.” Another time, after the Charlotte Hall store was built, my Mother called and said to meet her at McKay’s. Charlotte Hall was always our halfway meeting point. She had hit on a lottery number, I don’t remember how much. All I know is I walked out of McKay’s with about $400 worth of groceries that night when I really needed it.

So I have some nice memories of McKay’s.

I have one tradition that I hope my sons carry on. Every birthday cake for each of them has been a McKay’s cake. ½ sheet chocolate for Robert the oldest, and ½ sheet yellow cake for Ryan the youngest, but always with the whipped cream frosting. The cake decorators have decorated them anyway I have ever asked from that first helicopter cake for Robert (he was born on one) to this year’s 21st for Ryan.

Even if I forgot the cake until the last hour, it would be ready when needed. That’s quality, service, and happy employees. Employees that do not mind going out of their way for the customer. I wonder who taught them that.

Tommy McKay delivered a beautiful eulogy on his Father at the funeral, and mentioned how many letters the family had received from customers about their Dad’s impact or impression on their lives. The portion of a customer letter he read was touching. What a wonderful gift of love to receive in the midst of such pain. It was also an inspiring eulogy. Mr. McKay was apparently still working on solving problems of the world, thinking ahead for next year’s garden, and planning ahead for the grocery stores and the newspaper. No wonder he accomplished so much in his life, and was still accomplishing in the last two weeks. He was a whirlwind of innovation and ideas. He really needed another hundred years to complete all his projects.

I am sure that each of Mr. McKay’s eight children embody all of his and Mrs. McKay’s special qualities and have their own unique areas of expertise. They will continue furthering the legacy of McKay’s service and community goodwill. I, personally, have had the most contact over the years with David McKay, who has always been, just as his Father, greeting everyone who comes through the grocery store doors as if they were part of the family.

I often wondered how he or his dad could get any other work done, but maybe that was their work – making each customer feel so special – remembering things about their lives, helping them to get something off a high shelf, or ordering special items.

I just want to say that I’m thankful for small businessmen like Mr. McKay and his family for helping to keep the small-town feel in our community with their hands-on approach and gracious ways. I am honored to be associated with his dream of a county based newspaper.

Best wishes to the McKay family, Shelby

May the coming season bring health, wealth and happiness to you and your loved ones.

For your trust in us, we are deeply grateful.

Tech Continued from page A- business, Vyalex Management Solutions, Inc., an engineering firm specializing in avionics engineering and program management services, that he said he wanted to spread a little more of his passion around.

Leandre’s interest in engineering started when he was three years old, when he watched as his father boarded a plane to travel from his homeland of Haiti to the United States.

“I remember thinking that one day I will know how this mysterious winged tube can travel to such wonderful places. I committed myself from that point to endeavor to learn as much as I could about flight,” he said.

Leandre’s determination paid off with the help of mentors and specifically an internship he worked when in high school. “I was able to, with one internship over the summer, see the light,” he said, explaining that he had gone to work for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, where he was exposed the hands-on activities that not only peeked his curiosity about a career in engineering, but gave him experience to start with as he pursued that career.

It was that experience that Leandre was hoping to bring to middle and high school students on Tuesday. The summit, conceived

by Leandre and sponsored by C&M Solutions, Patriots Technology Training Center, LLC and the College of Southern Maryland, focused on four subject areas: aerospace technologies, energetics/ordnance technologies, health care technologies, and education and scholarship opportunities.

BOCC Continued from page A- dex, which helps school systems meet rising costs of teacher salaries and instructional operations each year.

“We’ve just eliminated that from our planning process,” Martirano told county commissioners and members of the St. Mary’s County School Board. “We’re not anticipating that that money will survive.”

The county commissioners set targets Tuesday for the board of education and sheriff’s office at five percent above last year’s budget; commissioners are still working on targets for other departments but want to ensure that the county can still maintain its level of service and avoid cuts where possible.

Martirano said that, so far this year, county schools both administratively and academically have performed well.

“We’ve not compromised service delivery this year,” Martirano said. “This will be a lean [fiscal 2010] budget… to make sure that we don’t backslide.”

Audit Continued from page A- were thinking in terms of grades, it would be an A.” This news quells fears expressed in recent weeks regarding the audit, since it was completed late this year. The penalty for filing late could have been as much as $1.5 million in state aid being withheld.

In a form letter to Superintendent Michael Martirano dated Nov. 13, the state declared that approximately 10 percent of the county’s bi-monthly aid package would be withheld until the audit documents, which were due on the first of the month, were in hand.

“We were a little late this year…we had a lot of things hit us this past year though,” said Springer, who explained that in addition to the regular financial audit for FY08, the school system had also been selected to complete a legislative audit required by a recently passed state law.

The law was written to create more effective oversight of practices, procedures, and money transactions in the state’s school systems. SMCPS is still in the process of completing the legislative audit.

Board of Education Chairman William Mattingly said in November that former Chief financial officer Daniel Carney had also retired this year, adding to an already con-

Trial Continued from page A-

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were any girls at his house to police when interviewed as a suspect and then changed his story three times, finally saying that the sexual contact between he and the girl had been consensual.

“In each one he lied,” White said of Edison’s statements to police about the events of July 4 leading to July 5.

White also told jurors that DNA evidence presented by the state would show that Edison had raped the girl.

Kevin McDevitt, Edison’s defense attorney, said that medical exams taken of the alleged victim after the incident showed that there appeared to be no bruising or other damage to her body or private areas.

He also said that the DNA evidence that the state would present was so insignificant that it “is not consistent with rape.”

On cross examination of the victim, the

Thursday, December 18, 2008 “This is more to drive them into the STEM initiative,” said Leandre, “the kids that are doing well will go into it anyway, but the ones who aren’t, there seems to be this idea that there’s nothing in those programs for them, and we want to change that,” he said.

“It is essential to reach as many young students as possible to expose them to the incredible variety of careers related to science and technology,” said F.J. Talley, President and Dean of the Leonardtown campus. “My hope is that students who have yet to begin considering careers will include in their career exploration those fields, and that their introduction to these fields can be compelling and fun.”

The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division at Pax River provided displays and demonstrations including a telemetry tracking van, a post-flight debriefing system for pilots and high-speed video playback technology used in crash simulation testing. NAVAIR also provided simulation equipment to support naval aviation. Others in attendance, including scientists and engineers from Naval Surface Warfare Centers across the state engaged students in experiments using electricity, magnets, liquid nitrogen, and robotics, to name a few.

Over 300 students registered for the summit online, but more may have been in attendance that night as the engines roared, the lights flashed, and the instruments beeped their greetings to each visitor, some as wideeyed and curious as Leandre said he had been when he was young. “It’s the idea of plugging them in,” he said, “connecting the dots for them…showing them what’s there.”

All of the county’s public schools have met their federally mandated achievement goals in reading and mathematics, school system reports indicate, and close to 90 percent of elementary school students were proficient in those two areas when it came to state standardized tests.

Middle school students tested at about 84 percent proficient in reading and nearly 78 percent in math; in high school scholastic aptitude test scores rose by an average of 16 points with graduation rates at 86.23 percent.

This is slightly higher than the state average.

Despite rising costs and a perceived need to tighten fiscal belts board members and commissioners agreed that opening the new Evergreen Elementary School in Wildewood was a top priority.

The school is set to open in the fall of 2009.

The new school adheres to the “green” concept of smaller environmental impacts and greater efficiency of energy use and has received “attention locally, at the state and national levels as a model school” Martirano said.

siderable staff shortage with the school system’s department of financial services.

“We lost 40 percent of our staff…most due to retirement,” said Springer, adding that an odd coincidence of simultaneous retirements had left the payroll department virtually without a staff. “But I really want to highlight the finance staff and everything they did,” he said, “they put in a lot of overtime, they took on new tasks that they’d never done before.”

Yet another hurdle delaying this year’s audit was revising the school system’s 403(b) retirement plan in accordance with new IRS mandates. In the first major overhaul of the governing rules of such plans since 1964, tax sheltered accounts are to be fully integrated plans for which the school system will have the responsibility for developing the plan, plan administration, and regulatory compliance.

SMCPS, in addition to dealing with two audits and a shortage of staff, has been meeting with a financial securities consultant to put together an integrated plan by the deadline of Jan. 1, 2009.

The Board’s Audit Committee recommended acceptance of the audit report, as it was reviewed by them Dec. 9.

“Although we were a little late this year, still coming out with an unqualified opinion says a lot,” said Martirano, “the good news is that it’s finished, and we’ll be sending it to MSDE tomorrow.”

young girl said she had not flirted with Edison prior to the alleged incident and did try to push him away, but admitted that she did not scream or cry out for help.

She also admitted that she and her female cousin had stayed at Edison’s residence for three hours — from the time they arrived, including an uncertain amount of time during which the alleged incident took place —before they left to return to her relative’s home at about 7 a.m. July 5.

After Edison’s arrest for second-degree rape, second-degree sex offense and seconddegree assault he was held in the detention center on a criminal information. His family protested as did his lawyer for an emergency bond hearing for Edison in August but was denied.

Subsequent hearings to send Edison to a juvenile program, and then to contest the legality of his detention were defeated in circuit court.

The trial for Edison is set to last as long as four days.

The County Times

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Section A -

Thursday, Dec. 18 BBQ Pork Night VFW (California, MD) - 5:30 p.m.

Dinners include a BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich (Regular or Carolina Style), fries and coleslaw for a bargain price of $6 per dinner. Everyone is welcome so bring your family, friends and associates; or take it to go!

Proceeds support Ladies Auxiliary programs which benefit Veterans of Foreign Wars and their families.

Christmas Doll & Train Exhibit St. Clements Island Museum - 12 noon The twenty-third Annual Christmas Doll & Train Exhibit hosts dolls representing 14 different countries

Ringing in Christmas with…Tubas?

Program Puts Spotlight on Underrated Group of Instruments Andrea Shiell Staff Writer

p.m. Dec. 20, promises to be as big and bold as the instruments it showcases, and according to White, the growing pains are pleasurable.

“I never imagined that we would outgrow the auditorium and parking lot at the Calvert Marine Museum,” he wrote, “or that tuba players would be sitting elbow-to-elbow with each other and face-to-face with the audience!”

And it’s not just the tubas and sousaphones that this program thrusts into the spotlight, but euphoniums as well, also known as baritones, both instruments commonly relegated to the back row of any orchestra or band.

“If you can see both the horn and the player, it’s probably a euphonium. If you can see the horn but not the player, it’s a tuba!” said White.

The first TUBACHRISTMAS concert was held in New York City’s Rockefeller Center in 1974 with over 300 tuba and euphonium players sharing the stage to pay homage to creator Harvey Phillips’s mentor and teacher William Bell, who was born on Christmas Day in 1902. This year marks the 35th anniversary of the event, and White claims it will be just as big and bold as any of the concerts that will be presented in more than 200 cities throughout the world this season.

White said players will register and then spend about an hour rehearsing before the show, but he is expecting players from Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia and Delaware, in numbers surpassing last year’s turnout.

“We had about 40 last year and each year it’s gone up…so I hope I ordered enough supplies.”

For White, this is a unique opportunity to shine the spotlight on an instrument that normally doesn’t get a lot of fanfare, explaining that the tuba had been the only instrument he had ever been interested in playing, even as a little boy.

“I didn’t realize I’d be a lowly servant in the back row, sitting in the back of the bus of every band I’d ever be in,” he said, laughing.

“But for one day in the year…we’ll be able to play the melody and the harmony,” he said, “and the last shall be first.”

It may not seem like an instrument that normally echoes with Christmas cheer, instead hiding in the back row and giving the rest of the brass section a punch of bass, but things are changing for the Tuba.

According to the Harvey Phillips Foundation in New York, a non profit organization that first coined the term “TUBACHRISTMAS,” moving these huge wallflowers up to the front row is gives a whole new perspective on the old instruments.

As the foundation’s website proclaims, “the Foundation focuses special attention on musical instruments not ordinarily the object of other support,” by offering scholarship assistance to schools that teach music performance, and by assisting with new compositions for such instruments, like the ones being performed this year by brass players from Calvert and St. Mary’s.

Performers do not charm audiences with the treble twang of bells or flutes, but rather, the roar of brass, and nothing could possibly sound sweeter to coordinator Bill White. White’s lifelong enthusiasm for the instrument led him to routinely take students to go with him to see TUBACHRISTMAS at the Kennedy Center in D.C. before he and Jim Martz, both members of the Calvert Brass Consortium, decided to contact the Harvey Phillips Foundation and Calvert Marine Museum about holding their own event in Solomons.

The annual Solomons TUBACHRISTMAS events were held the past six years at Calvert Marine Museum, where the event grew from 11 local tuba players, family and museum members to 40 tuba players and hundreds of attendees last year.

“The last couple of years we were basically bursting at the seems,” White said, “and we couldn’t play comfortably.”

The new event location, Southern Calvert Baptist Church, at 12140 H. G. Trueman Rd (2.5 miles north of Solomons) will provide much needed additional room for attendees, not to mention dozens of musicians sporting very large instruments.

This year’s free concert, which will be held at 4

with interesting information about that country’s holiday traditions. Displays include a 7-foot dollhouse, Cinderella dolls, snow babies, etc. Admission: $3 adults, $2 senior citizens and military, $1.50 children 6-18, and free for children under 5. Call 301-769-2222 for more information.

Drop in Salsa House of Dance (25741-C Three Notch Road, Hollywood) - 7:30 p.m.

Class is designed for first time dancers or more experienced alike. Instructors for all levels will be available to teach salsa rhythms, timing, basic steps, turns, footwork, and partnering techniques. Sneakers or soft rubber soles not recommended. Practice party after class! Admission $10. Call 301-373-6330 for more information.

Community Christmas Concert Great Mills High School - 7 p.m.

The sixth annual Community Christmas Concert sponsored by Living Hope Church will feature children’s choirs, adult and children’s singing teams, a

youth ensemble, the Blue Grass Gospel Express, the Menard Family, Kings Christian Academy Ensemble, and more. Door prizes will be given away, as well as a grand prize $250 WalMart card giveaway.

Refreshments will be provided after the show. Call 301862-9805 for more information.

Friday, Dec. 19 Count Your Blessings Hotel Charles (Hughesville) - 9 p.m.

Original music night, Shallow Deep, Everyone But Pete and Just Like Always in the party room. Cover charge. Call 301274-4612 for more information.

Saturday, Dec. 20 Lunch with St. Nicholas Holy Angels Hall (Avenue) - 12 noon Serving hamburgers, chicken tenders, macaroni salad, applesauce, chips and drinks.

Children 4 and under are free. Ages 5-12 are $7, and 13 and up are $10.

Pictures with Santa will be sold for $5.

Steak Night VFW (California, MD) - 5 p.m.

Dinner includes Delmonico steak, green beans, baked potato, beef vegetable soup, salad, bread, iced tea. $13 per plate. Karaoke with Crazy Craig starts at 8:30 p.m.

Australia

Yes Man

Bolt

Twilight

AMC Loews Lexington Park 6

Australia Rated PG-13, 2 hr 45 min Showtimes: 3:45, 7:15

Quantum of Solace Rated PG-13, 1 hr 46 min Showtimes: 5:15, 7:45

Bolt Rated PG, 1 hr 36 min Showtimes: 4:00, 7:00

Seven Pounds Starts on Friday, Dec. 19

Day the Earth Stood Still, The Rated PG-13, 1 hr 50 min Showtimes: 5:00, 8:00

Twilight Rated PG-13, 2 hr 0 min Showtimes: 4:45, 7:50

Four Christmases Rated PG-13, 1 hr 22 min Showtimes: 4:30, 7:30

Yes Man Starts on Friday, Dec. 19

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.

T U B AC H R I S TMAS Southern Calvert Baptist Church - 4 p.m.

12140 H G Trueman Road, Lusby. Seventh Annual TUBACHRISTMAS concert will feature musicians from Southern Maryland playing traditional Christmas carols on tubas and euphoniums.

Concert is free and open to the public. For more details, visit www.tubachristmas.com.

Christmas: A Cause for Celebration Three Notch Theater - 7 p.m.

Come out and celebrate the meaning of Christmas with up and coming artist Latrice Carr, Montario Hill, and Johnne. They will take you on a musical journey through the meaning of Christmas.

Tickets are $10. Produced by Yclone Entertainment and the Newtowne Players.

Kristen & the Noise with DJ Rob & Signature Live Hotel Charles (Hugheville) - 9:30 p.m.

Kristen & The Noise in the party room with DJ Rob playing during intermissions.

Signature Live in front bar. Cover charge. Call 301-274-4612 for more information.

Sunday, Dec. 21 Christmas Caroling Wildewood Shopping Center - 6 p.m.

Join the fellowship of Lexington Park Baptist Church between 6 and 8 p.m. to sing Christmas carols and celebrate.

The County Times

Section A - 10

Thursday, December 18, 2008

2/$18 2/$22 1999 2/$16 40% OFF (FLOOR MODELS ONLY)

Dinettes, Jewelry Armoire, TV Consoles, Vanities

20% OFF

(FLOOR MODELS ONLY)

Grey Goose Vodka

25% OFF

Assorted Varieties 750 Ml. Btl.

Bailey’s Irish Cream

Assorted Varieties 750 Ml. Btl.

Seagram’s 7 Crown

1.75 Ltr. Btl.

Tanqueray London Dry Gin

750 Ml. Btl.

Childrens Furniture Sets & Bunkbeds

(FLOOR MODELS ONLY)

301-884-2513 Fax: 301-884-5382

TEMP7-28-004

1683233

"Serving Southern Maryland Since 1965"

Mon - Fri 10am - 7pm • Sat 10am - 6pm Sun Noon - 4pm

Holiday Gift Baskets Available

2899 2199 1299 1799

Furniture & Mattress Mechanicsville 28967 Route 5 South Center 1-800-794-0693

Holiday Beverage Specials

Friexenet Sparkling Wine

750 Ml. Btl.

Korbel Champagne

Assorted Varieties 750 Ml. Btl.

Bacardi Superior Light Rum

1.75 Ltr. Btl.

Mirassou Wine

Assorted Varieties 750 Ml. Btl.

MCKAYS WRAP B 12.12.08 X X X X

Adult Bedroom Sets

”New” 100 Proof Captain Morgan Rum

1.75 Ltr. Btl.

Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante

750 Ml. Btl.

Holiday Gift Baskets Available

2599 2/$22 899 599

Canadian Club Whiskey

6 Year Old 750 Ml. Btl.

Dekuyper Triple Sec

750 Ml. Btl.

s l a i c e p S e g a r e v e B y a Holid

Friexenet Sparkling Wine

Assorted Varieties 750 Ml. Btl.

1.75 Ltr. Btl.

Kahula Coffee Liqueur

Bailey’s Irish Cream

750 Ml. Btl.

Dekuyper Sour Apple Pucker

28 99 21 99 12 99 17 99

1.75 Ltr. Btl.

Mirassou Wine

Assorted Varieties 750 Ml. Btl.

Seagram’s 7 Crown 1.75 Ltr. Btl.

Tanqueray London Dry Gin 750 Ml. Btl.

MCKAYS WRAP B 12.12.08 X X X X

25 $ 2/ 22 99 8 99 5

”New” 100 Proof Captain Morgan Rum Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante 750 Ml. Btl.

1699 799 2199 2/$14

Bacardi Superior Light Rum

Assorted Varieties 750 Ml. Btl.

750 Ml. Btl.

Assorted Varieties 750 Ml. Btl.

Courvoisier Cognac VS

Korbel Champagne

2/ 18 $ 2/ 22 99 19 $ 2/ 16 750 Ml. Btl.

Concha Y Toro Frontera Wine

Assorted Varieties 1.5 Ltr. Btl.

750 Ml. Btl.

$

Grey Goose Vodka

Canadian Club Whiskey 6 Year Old 750 Ml. Btl.

Dekuyper Triple Sec 750 Ml. Btl.

99

Kahula Coffee Liqueur

750 Ml. Btl.

Dekuyper Sour Apple Pucker 750 Ml. Btl.

Courvoisier Cognac VS 750 Ml. Btl.

Concha Y Toro Frontera Wine Assorted Varieties 1.5 Ltr. Btl.

16 99 7 99 21 $ 2/ 14 99

Egg Nog

18 Pk Assor

Budw or Co

2 Ltr. Assor

Cok Pro