THURSDAY
February 26, 2009
Keepers of the City
... Even in Troubled Times
Story Page 4
Thousands of Debit Cards Compromised Story Page 5
STEM Students Battle Robots Story Page 13
Bomb Scares Could Net Federal Charges Story Page 14 Photo by Frank Marquart
The County Times
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The County Times
ews Watershed Advocates Looking for Study Funding By Guy Leonard Staff Writer
by runoff of water caused in part by impervious surfaces at new business and housing developments. Civic activists with the St. Mary’s The silt and pollution from this River Watershed Association say they runoff has a destructive effect on the are still looking for funding to pay for St. Mary’s River, they argue, by afa strategy report that will guide restora- fecting the habitat for plants and mation efforts for what they say is a trou- rine life. bled local watershed. But in recent years the associaThey asked for funding for the St. tion has partnered with local scienCreeks and streams like this one in Mary’s River Watershed Restoration Ac- tists at St. Mary’s College of Maryland suffering from heavy sediment tion Strategy (WRAS) weeks ago from as well as with some assistance from runoff in the St. Mary’s River Watershed are the reason for a the Board of County Commissioners but state natural resources agencies, to catastrategy to restore the system local the motion to approve the $30,000 they log the condition of the watershed. Photo environmentalists say. wanted never even materialized. On the organization’s Web site, Courtesy Bob Lewis, executive director of four separate studies are posted that re- of SMRWA the association, said that the WRAS is port on the conditions of different points still needful and that they were working in the water system. “It’s not one comprehensive [reto convince the county commissioners County Commissioner Thomas A. port] looking at the whole thing,’ Veith to fund it. Mattingly (D-Leonardtown) said this said. “We still have to develop one co“We’re in the process of working was one of the reasons why commis- herent management plan.” on a proposal for justification,” Lewis sioners balked at approving any more Commissioner President Francis told The County Times. “We’ll take it money for further study. Jack Russell (D-St. George’s Island) said back and hopefully they’ll move on it.” “It was originally asked for in the that the health of the river and watershed The association has been working budget last year… and there wasn’t a appears to be improving on its own, perfor years to monitor and help preserve willingness to take on new initiatives,” haps, he said, because recent dry spells the watershed of the St. Mary’s River, Mattingly told The County Times. “I have helped reduce the amount of unwhich also happens to be in the county’s don’t know what benefit we could get checked storm water run off and the most heavily populated and built out de- from adding money to that.” concurrent sediment. velopment district of Lexington Park. Sue Veith, the county’s environ“It is probably a little bit better than Leadership at the association have mental planner, said that the sheer vol- it was before,” Russell said. “It’s a pleasengaged in public education efforts to ume of information on the watershed’s ant surprise with some of it.” show that the watershed is threatened health still had to be collated. Commissioner Lawrence D. Jarboe (RGolden Beach) said that St. Mary’s Lake was likely another reason for what he believed was the watershed’s improving health, since it held back sediment from the lower part of the river. “The water that flows south of the lake [at the Great Mills kayak launch] is as clear as any mountain stream.” Jarboe said. Lewis agreed in part but said that since the state had designatJames C. Christine Dhimitri Kate Johnson, ed the water shed as a “stronghold” because it Boyd, MD Rawlings, CRNP Gross, MD CRNP is a refuge for endanBoard Certified Certified Family Board Certified Board Certified gered species and its Internal Medicine Practice Family Practice Family Practice relative quality it deNurse Practitioner Nurse Practitioner served a strategy to preserve it. St. Mary’s Medical Associates is a primary care medical group serving patients of Also, he said, the Southern Maryland since 1995. Our approach to delivering health care is that of bestate has mandated that ing in a partnership with our patients. Together, the provider and patient make health such strongholds have care decisions, set goals and initiate therapy. We offer services for well baby/child, a WRAS by 2010, or well women issues, school physicals, routine physicals, DOT Pre-employment physithey may not issue percals, chain of custody drug collections, drug testing, medical review officer services, mits for certain kinds of disease management and preventative care. The office is open from 8am until 5 pm development. Monday through Thursday and from 8am until 3pm on Friday. We look forward to It was the county’s meeting you in our office located adjacent to St. Mary’s Hospital in Leonardtown. responsibility to have one, Lewis said, but Most Insurances Accepted Accepting New Patients they needed the watershed association to Location: For Appointments Call: help. “They’re not up 41680 Miss Bessie Drive 301-997-0055 to doing a strategy on Leonardtown, MD 20650 or 301-997-0114 their own,” Lewis said, (next to St. Mary’s Hospital) Fax 301-997-0066 “They need to talk to the community, to sci“Caring for patient’s of all ages” entists, to developers; they need to talk to watermen.”
St. Mary’s Medical Associates, LLC
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Small Staff, Plenty of Volunteers Keep St. Mary’s City Running By Guy Leonard Staff Writer She’s only been on the job about four months but Regina Faden, the director of Historic St. Mary’s City, knows she and her small staff have their work cut out for them. And even though they have dwindling dollars — they’re facing a $300,000 budget cut from the state this year — the first settlement of the county has still grown. The 1667 chapel is near completion and the St. John’s Exhibit on the campus of St. Mary’s College shows visitors that inclusive government was an integral part of the county’s history. “Right now the budget is the concern because our staff is excellent,” Faden told The County Times. “The organization is in very good shape. “There’s already a lot of success here.” Members of her staff like Sue Erichsen and Margaret “Muffin” Padukiewicz, help ensure that things run smoothly. Erichsen coordinates the volunteer efforts upon which the site depends and Padukiewicz ensures that the events the site is famous for move ahead on schedule. The biggest thing they’ll do all year is to prepare for the celebration of Maryland’s 375th birthday. Since St. Mary’s is the mother county of the entire state, they know the pressure is on. “We’re dealing with everything from cakes and children’s activities to tall ships, those will be coming in too,” Padukiewicz told The County Times. “We’re into the nuts and bolts.” Erichsen has worked to catalog more stringently the number of hours that volunteers have put in to the site, from mailing letters to actually working as a historical interpreters, and has found that they’ve put forth a supreme effort. Her calculations showed that in the past year volunteers have put in between 21,000 and 22,000 hours worth of work. “They’ve always had good volunteers here,” Erichsen said. “You’re talking about hundreds of thousands of dollars worth in valuable work. “We think of our volunteers like staff; you’ve got highly functioning people who give of their time.” One such volunteer is working on creating a computer program that is custom
designed to be used down at the historic city for coordinating volunteers, Erichsen said, that would have normally cost them $15,000. But the volunteer is doing it for free, she said. But it’s important to ensure that the presentation of one of the country’s most important historical sites doesn’t become staid, Padukiewicz said, and being close to the college campus helps. “We’re always trying to figure out our audience… they force us to look at our message and how we can communicate it better,” Padukiewicz said. “It keeps us young, too.” Students often volunteer at the site, they said, but they also work over there to pay off any minor infractions committed on campus like parking violations. “They can work that off with us,” Padukiewicz said. “We get a lot of hours out of that.” As for Faden, she said that her mission right now is “to continue to build on what’s here,” that includes raising money for a project called the Maryland Heritage Interpretive Center to the tune of $2.5 million. She also wants to see the many “ghost frames,” skeletal structures of historical buildings yet to be constructed, finished. “It’s just a matter of the funding and the timing,” Faden said, adding that the archaeological staff on site is top notch. “They are so attentive to historical details; but the archaeology takes time and the planning takes time.” But perhaps one of her biggest challenges as director, she said, was to get St. Mary’s City more recognition, particularly from those in the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. regions who could visit and make donations. Her plans includes working up programs that attract middle school and high school level students as well as emphasizing the African history element of the site. After all Mathias De Souza, a navigator of African and Portugese descent, cast a vote in the state legislature there centuries ago and a slave named Antonio was beaten to death by his master for challenging his unjust status. “That’s why I came here, those stories are so interesting,” Faden said of taking the job. “You have to believe in what you’re talking about, I love the stories.”
The County Times
Thursday, February 26, 2009
un Fact
ews
A jiffy is an actual unit of time for 1/100th of a second. Thus the saying, “I will be there in a jiffy.”
Today’s Newsmakers In Brief
Will the new tourism guide for the state’s 375th anniversary drum up enthusiasm?
When the 375th [birthday celebration] comes around we’re going to give it our best shot; this is a homerun. Bob Schaller, director of the county’s Department of Economic and Community Development
Just as the recession did not begin overnight, it will not disappear in the days or weeks immediately after the economic recovery is law. Rep. Steny Hoyer, discussing the president’s signing of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
Local Banks Replacing Debit Cards After Accounts Information Compromised By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Several local banks have had to replace thousands of Visa check debit cards after learning that the third party supplier of the cards had their computer system hacked and many account numbers could have been compromised, The County Times has learned. Cedar Point Federal Credit Union has informed its customers of the problem and has begun issuing the new debit cards. One source with knowledge of the card problems said that as many 3,000 local customers’ account information may have been compromised as a result of the third party supplier’s security system being breached. Bank managers at Cedar Point Federal Credit Union revealed little officially about
the problem, including the name of the third party supplier. However, Linda Knott, vice president of the credit union at the Maple Road branch did confirm that “many financial institutions” had been affected by the problem. The credit union’s Web site confirmed that the problem existed but stated that there had been no reported credit card frauds using the compromised information. Also, the credit union Web site reported, the bank was not able to search the list for customers to see if their account information had been compromised. The Web site did state that customers will be contacted by the credit union if their account is found to be involved. Also, the Web site stated, each card that may have been compromised in the security
breach will be deactivated by March 2. The County Times has also learned that some Visa debit cards from local Maryland Bank and Trust Co. branches have been recalled because of the security breach. Capt. Rick Burris, commander of the county’s Bureau of Criminal Investigations, confirmed that his detectives are not currently
County Officials Trek to Colorado for Jail Conference By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Four county officials have traveled to Aurora, Colo. to take part in a National Institute of Corrections (NIC) course on techniques for managing the construction and expansion of local jails. Commissioner President Francis Jack Russell (D – St. George’s Island), County Administrator John Savich, Sheriff Timothy K. Cameron (R) and Capt. Michael R. Merican are attending the conference, said county spokeswoman Karen Everett, but the only costs the county is picking up are their trips to and from the airport and lunches during the week-long meeting. Everett said the course requirements for the NIC meant that not only did Cameron and Merican have to attend, but so did a county commissioner and a county executive official. “This is part of our discussions with the
NIC,” Everett said. “NIC has a role to play in the expansion of the county detention center.” All four are set to come back Friday night, she said. The county has already set into motion plans to expand and renovate the overcrowded detention center in Leonardtown, with money already in from the state to begin planning. The county has also issued notice to architectural and engineering firms that they are looking for a designer who can work out the plans for the right price. Those bids for the design contract are due March, 27 at 4 p.m., Everett said. County Commissioner Lawrence D. Jarboe (R-Golden Beach) said he did not know of the trip until Monday and would have liked to have been informed in a public setting. “We could have all nodded our heads and said ‘Have a nice trip,’” Jarboe told The County Times. “Then there wouldn’t be any questions.”
working any fraud cases related to the breach but are aware that they could happen. “That type of problem is ongoing,” Burris told The County Times Monday. “The bad guys use technology to their advantage just like the good guys do. “But we’re not working any cases so far related to that.”
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Local Ducks Unlimited Chapter Makes Top 100 St. Mary’s County Chapter Recognized Nationally MEMPHIS, Tenn. Feb. 25, 2009 – The President’s Top 100 are among Ducks Unlimited’s elite chapters throughout the nation. Every year, the list is reserved for the 100 chapters who raise the most grassroots dollars for DU’s habitat conservation work. The St. Mary’s County, Md., DU Chapter made the list as one of the organization’s highest fundraising chapters. “DU volunteers have historically gone above and beyond and these chapters exemplify our grassroots system,” said Bruce Lewis, president, Ducks Unlimited. “Volunteers within these chapters are this organization’s foundation and their passion for conservation is what fuels their hard work.” The St. Mary’s County Chapter has earned a spot on the President’s Top 100 list out of the more than 3,500 DU Chapters nationwide. DU’s grassroots system has become a model for other conservation organizations worldwide and has funded a portion of the more than 12 million acres DU has conserved since 1937. “These chapters are showing that the fu-
ture of waterfowl populations and wetlands that filter our drinking water are important to them and their communities,” Lewis said. “The more money we raise, the more habitat we can conserve and the closer we are to preserving our waterfowl hunting heritage. I would like to personally thank all our top 100 chapters for their achievement and look forward to seeing them among our elite chapters next year.” Ducks Unlimited is a unique organization because it relies on the generosity and passion of its volunteers to accomplish its goals. Striving for success, the top 100 chapter volunteers, like all DU volunteers never fail to answer the call. With more than a million supporters, Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest and most effective wetland and waterfowl conservation organization with more than 12 million acres conserved. The United States alone has lost more than half of its original wetlands - nature’s most productive ecosystem - and continues to lose more than 80,000 wetland acres each year.
Working To Make St.Mary’s County
A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE & WORK
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Experts Give Advice On Preserving Retirement Savings By Guy Leonard Staff Writer
retirement plan, one advisor said that if he moved his money elsewhere he could guarantee that loss. “If you take a 30 percent loss and move your money out of the market you’ve guaranteed you won’t make that 30 percent back,” said Jim Whitehead a financial advisor for the Naval Research Laboratory Federal Credit Union. “The only way to recoup what you’ve lost is to hang in there.” Yet another investor said that it was difficult to stay in the market after having taken heavy losses; there was just too much mistrust in the way the government and business had handled the economy, he said. “You’re saying just keep cranking money in there,” the man said, who wished his name not be used. “I saw the bubble but I’m not an expert so I stayed in but now I’m paying heavily.” In the past year-and-a-half the man said he saw his mutual fund shrink from $160,000 to just $90,000. He was worried that federal tax cuts would expire and his retirement investing would take yet another hit. “I’m going to have less an less and to invest in myself and my family,” he said.
When it comes to saving for and preserving your retirement nest egg in these tough economic times local financial planners say that disciplined personal spending and sound advice on investments are important but staying in the market for the long haul and keeping your money right where could be your best bet. “You have to make wise decisions that are based on logic and not emotion,” said Chris King of Raley, Watts and O’Neill to attendees at a College of Southern Maryland seminar. “The stock market won’t make you rich but with disciplined investing over time it can provide wealth.” King also said that a few simple principles like postponing purchases now and instead putting that money aside on investments on a consistent basis could yield four times the retirement savings over the years. With the economic recession hitting all over the country millions of American have found that their retirement savings have been greatly diminished; King said that his own wife had taken about a 40 percent hit on her retirement account. “She said: ‘What happened to my retirement account,’” King said, advising that staying in the market was still the way to go. Though he advocated “paying yourself first,” before paying bills and other expenses to ensure that money was always flowing in to your retirement account. Robert Ramos, a financial advisor with Wealth Management Partners, said that while media reports have latched onto the worst economic indicators out there, there were signs that the recession was bottoming out and that a recovery would come. Those included stronger than expected retail sales in January and better than expected home sales in December. “The media tends to focus on what does not work well and not on what does,” Ramos told the attendees. “Turn off cable TV… you’ll be able to sleep better and your blood pressure will go down.” Photo by Guy Leonard When one man said that he Chris King, of Raley, Watts and O’Neill, talk about how to protect was losing just as much money individual retirement savings at a seminar at the College of Southern as he was putting into his 401k Maryland in Leonardtown.
Spring Ridge Middle School RELAY FOR LIFE Bizarre DELEGATE
JOHN F. WOOD, JR. YOUR VOICE IN ANNAPOLIS
The Vendor/Craft Show will be held March 28th from 10am-2pm at Spring Ridge Middle School. Tastefully Simple, Avon, plus much more! Come shop until you drop and help fight cancer. Proceeds from the event will be donated to the St. Mary’s County RELAY FOR LIFE. Fighting together we can make a difference! Sponsored by the SRMS Drama Club. Call 301-904-8903 or email sherry.hobbs@verizon.net for more information.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Acorn Member to be Charged In Protest Break-in BALTIMORE (AP) _ An activist has turned himself in to Baltimore police to face a misdemeanor burglary charge after a staged break-in at a foreclosed home. Louis Beverly was charged Monday with fourth-degree burglary. Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi describes it as essentially a trespassing charge. Beverly is a member of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, or ACORN. On Thursday night, he used bolt cutters to break a padlock at a foreclosed home near Patterson Park in east Baltimore, telling supporters, ``This is our house now.’’ ACORN staged the demonstration to protest the foreclosure crisis. An ACORN organizer says in a statement that the group stands ``in solidarity’’ with its ``members who are resisting these foreclosure actions.’’ Guglielmi says police understand the break-in was a protest action, but Beverly was still breaking the law.
The County Times
Md. Gop Down, But Not Out, Compact Supporters Say Would Ease Switches for Military Kids Md. Immigrants Rally for In-state Tuition
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) _ Maryland Republicans say the economy and budget problems are creating an opening despite recent election setbacks. Former Republican Gov. Robert Ehrlich says his party is stressing ``meat and potatoes’’ issues that matter to voters. Ehrlich, who lost to current Democratic Gov. Martin O’Malley in the 2006 election says Democratic voters outnumber Republicans but many are moderate to conserva-
tive and cross party lines when unhappy. Ehrlich has not said whether he will challenge O’Malley in the 2010 election. One Democrat agrees. Former Montgomery County executive Doug Duncan, who dropped out of the 2006 Democratic gubernatorial primary against O’Malley, says he is thinks there will be a throwthe-bums out mentality among voters and would be worried if he were an incumbent.
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) _ Immigrants across Maryland are urging state legislators and Gov. Martin O’Malley to retain driver’s licenses and provide in-state tuition for all Maryland residents, regardless of immigration status. Del. Ana Sol Gutierrez said Monday evening in Spanish that she’s ready to fight ``to the death’’ to protect access to licenses during an Annapolis rally that attracted hundreds of immigrants. Maryland is one of five states where motor vehicle officials do not require applicants to prove they are in the country legally before giving out driver’s licenses. State lawmakers are considering many bills this legislative session that would change Maryland identification policies. Some lawmakers feel public safety is better when more people have licenses; others believe Maryland’s policy jeopardizes security.
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) _ Lawmakers are holding a hearing on legislation to add Maryland to an interstate compact to help children in military families transfer between school districts. Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, who is a colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves, plans to testify in favor of the bill Tuesday. The measure is part of Gov. Martin O’Malley’s priority legislative package. The interstate compact would direct participating states to cut red tape in school systems for children of active-duty service members. The idea aims to help children who often have to move frequently, because their families are in the military.
The County Times
Thursday, February 26, 2009
To The Editor: We Are No Longer Under The Rule of Law Government of the people, by the people and for the people is not safeguarded by career politicians or an oligarchy. It is only safeguarded by voting out of office elected officials that don’t obey our Constitution. We the People must be the ones to do it. The challenges of the last 8 years, a budget deficit, trade deficit, moral deficit and leadership deficit are made worse by the recently passed increases in what was already out of control spending. That spending is a violation of our Constitution, which our leaders swore to defend. Despite what our elected leaders in Washington seem to think, the American people are not helpless, and we do not need them to attempt to run our entire lives. For less money than the $700 billion Wall Street bailout that was rushed through Congress on October 3, 2008, the American worker could have been given a tax holiday from all income up to $100,000.00 for three years. The greatness of our nation lies in its people, our Constitutional republic, respect for the rule of law and principles like: individual responsibility, sound money, limited federal government, fiscal responsibility, economic and personal liberty, and American independence and national sovereignty. Unfortunately, we are no longer under the rule of law, but rather are being ruled by the opinions of men. What rule of law would instruct our leaders to take $700 billion dollars from the American worker and give it to hand picked financial institutions for the stated purpose of lending it back to us? What rule of law would take the hard earned dollars of workers here in Maryland and spend it for a dog park in Hercules California or a bike path in San Diego, as is the case with the most recent “stimulus” bill? Now I’m not saying that there is anything wrong with a dog park or bike path. But it is very wrong for our federal leaders to take money from working Americans in Maryland to fund projects in California. That project decision belongs to an individual or a local and/or state authority in California. What rule of law would have Congress pick the winners and losers among business and bailouts? In 1900 all government spending (local, state and federal combined) was 5% of GDP. 90% of that spending was local government. The state and federal spending combined was 10% of the total government spending. Prior to the recent bailout/stimulus spending, federal spending was 20% of GDP all by itself. This week on C-Span the ranking member on the Ways and Means committee, David Camp, stated that the federal spending as a percentage of the GDP is likely to go from about 20% to 40% under this new spending plan. That puts us in the ballpark of socialist France. The scriptures tell us the borrower is servant to the lender. Increased spending, paid for by increased debt, is enslaving the American worker to international financial institutions. Prior to the bail out and stimulus packages, the federal budget was
already 4 ½ times all of the state’s budgets combined. The national debt was large enough to fund the entire Maryland budget for over 200 years. The federal debt plus the entitlement obligations of the federal government are now greater than all American’s net worth combined. Do we really want the federal government to make all the spending decisions that used to be made and can still be made by individuals, by local government and by state government? Do we really want the federal government to place such a heavy drain on all the financial resources of individuals, local governments and state governments? The current focus on spending trillions of dollars of working American’s future wealth to delay the repercussions of the out of the control spending of the last eight years, may camouflage the real issue of too much federal government. But it will not fix our economy and does not address our challenges. The CBO has already stated that the current stimulus will hurt the American economy. In August Congress took a taxpayer paid vacation for the whole month. They didn’t seem to see any of these disasters looming then. Yet when they came back from vacation they where a tremendous hurry to rush through President Bushes Wall Street bailout so they could go on recess. We need statesmen in Washington that will restrain themselves to the least intrusive approach to fulfilling their constitutionally mandated job and leave alone all areas and issues that can be handled locally. Statesmen in the past have understood this principle. As evidence, here are some quotes from just two of them. “Society in every state is a blessing, but Government, even in its best state, is a necessary evil: in its worst state, an intolerable one.” Thomas Paine “Some writers have so confounded society with government, as to leave little or no distinction between them; whereas they are not only different, but have different origins. Society is produced by our wants and government by our wickedness; the former promotes our happiness positively by uniting our affections, the latter negatively by restraining our vices. The one encourages intercourse, the other creates distinctions. The first is a patron, the last a punisher.” Thomas Paine, Common Sense, 1776AD. “It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world.” Thomas Jefferson. “I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.” Thomas Jefferson. “My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.” Thomas Jefferson. “To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyran-
Editorial: Taking More Of Your Rights Away, And You Get To Pay More! Every January the Maryland Legislature convenes in Annapolis for 90 days. Nearly 2000 new laws are proposed each year. The math is easy to do, 20,000 new laws in ten years, 100,000 new laws in fifty years and so on. Of course, not every bill introduced by a senator or delegate is passed into law. Sometimes they are so ridiculous they are laughable. But even the ridiculous will often make their way back the next year in substance. Look for practically every proposed law to someday be passed. Times change and new solutions are needed to maintain our quality of life, maybe even improve it. So it’s not as if we propose that government does not have a role to play each year. It is just that lawmakers all too often see government as the solution. We believe people, property rights, and free markets are the solution. Lets look at just two of the 1000’s of bills now pending before the legislature in Annapolis. St. Mary’s County legislators have proposed these two bills:
House Bill 1272:
The St. Mary’s County delegation has introduced a bill that would limit the free market and ultimately cause you to pay more for beverage, have fewer new products available to consumers, and limit the number and types of places you can shop. This law, if passed would only affect citizens in St. Mary’s County. A measure to limit the number of places that can sell beer and wine to only one store for every 4,000 citizens is likely to pass into law. Folks outside of St. Mary’s County, mostly foreign descent have purchased the majority of the older liquor stores in St. Mary’s County. This proposed law seeks to protect these new owners, many who live in Virginia, from competition. Recently a couple of new modern, bright, customer friendly liquor stores have opened in St. Mary’s County offering a greater variety of wines and specialty beers that consumers today want. These types of upscale retail environments offer consumers more choices in clean, friendly environments. The result of a competitive marketplace. Best of all, these new age establishments nical.” Thomas Jefferson. And in light of our Washington leaders stated goal of re-inflating the housing bubble: “I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation,
are owned by local folks finding better ways to compete with the foreign dollars coming in that are buying the older liquor stores. Led by Delegate Bohannon and Senator Dyson, the St. Mary’s County legislators want the new stores to stop and the older stores protected from competition. The free market will be shut down and consumers will ultimately pay the price.
Senate Bill 937:
The second proposed law involves the taking of property rights. The citizens of St. Mary’s County along with Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative own a strip of land that runs all the way from the St. Mary’s/Charles County line in Charlotte Hall to Lexington Park. In most places this strip of land is approximately 60 feet wide although it varies in some areas and actually has been used for expansion of Rt. 235 in some areas. Most people know this property as the old railroad right of way. Many years ago freight trains carried supplies to the Navy base via this railroad. Of course there is no railroad there today. The right of way runs nearly the entire length of our county on the west side of Rt. 5 and Rt. 235. Thousands of folks in St. Mary’s County own property on the west side of this right of way. To gain access to their property they must cross over this right of way. Currently the St. Mary’s County Commissioners control usage and access to this property. The Commissioners over the years have looked at requests to cross over this right of way based upon the merits of each individual property owner’s request. When it was fair and reasonable the commissioners have allowed crossovers. When alternatives were reasonably available they have denied crossover requests. The commissioners have used their best efforts to protect property rights. Senator Dyson has now proposed a state law that would prohibit the commissioners from allowing any encroachments upon the railroad right of way. Notwithstanding the merits of individual property owners needs to protect their property rights, Dyson believes all encroachments should be denied. Just because a bill is introduced does not make it good legislation. the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.’ Thomas Jefferson Collins Bailey Waldorf, Md
The County Times
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Quote Of The Day
Speaks
Eighty percent of success is showing up. - Woody Allen St. Mary’s College Latest (Bait and Switch)
Maryland State Police Helicopter Program Waiting For a Rescue Maryland’s citizens have demanded and grown accustomed to the very best emergency medical system in the world. But having the best doctors and hospitals doesn’t work unless the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system is capable of delivering patients to them in reasonable amount of time. The Maryland State Police (MSP) Aviation Command’s helicopters, except when limited by weather conditions, are best able to effectively serve the state in a “scene” medevac role! The recent crash of one of Maryland’s helicopters has brought about some changes in how patients are being treated and transported. Legislation is also being proposed to destroy the multi-mission role of the state’s medevac helicopters. In a perfect world, EMS personnel would immediately arrive on the scene of your emergency and have all the time necessary to fully assess your injuries. Emergency personnel would be able to ask an infinite number of questions regarding your incident and your medical history. But providing emergency medical care never occurs in a perfect environment. Sometimes dispatch information is incomplete. Arrival times are frequently extended, especially in rural areas, and the arrival of adequate resources can be delayed or unavailable. Patients can be intoxicated and emergency scenes dangerous, dark, and dirty. Sometimes patients can’t even be reached for assessment until many minutes of rescue work have elapsed. Paramedics now must perform a radio consult with a doctor in Baltimore’s Shock Trauma Center for certain types of patients listed as “stable” by the medical protocols. This consult must be completed prior to the dispatch of a helicopter. Time is required to collect the often incomplete and unavailable information. Paramedics must “lobby” the doctor for a helicopter to be dispatched. Doctors are often directing patients, especially rural ones, by ground to local medical facilities with limited and uncertain resources. The entire EMS system is geared to over triage the patient. Paramedics and EMTs have been taught to prepare for and expect the worst when evaluating a patient. Personnel make rapid assessments based upon their training. Decisions are made in a difficult environment. Most paramedics will tell you the decisions they make are determined as they would want a member of their family treated. Police officials and firefighters have long expected their co-workers to be transported to trauma and specialty centers when there was any doubt about the seriousness of an injury. Marylanders deserve no less from their EMS system! Every provider wants to use emergency resources appropriately. Case review is a constant process for the state’s EMS community. But questions should come following the emergency, not in the middle of a medevac request! Information is required at the time of a medevac request that is often impossible to provide. Questions are being asked at a time when a paramedic may have to STOP patient care in order to become connected to and discuss the mode of transport and hospital destination with a doctor. Protocols need to be changed to eliminate delays in getting a medevac helicopter to an emergency scene! The Maryland State Police (MSP) Aviation Command’s helicopter program is a state-wide multi-mission service performed by troopers and civilian employees working for the citizens of Maryland. The medevac mission has made
the program a world-wide model and has supported the state’s EMS program (also a worldwide model) since its inception in 1970. However, other missions performed by the MSP helicopter program (search and rescue, law enforcement, homeland security) are just as important as was recently illustrated by the rescue basket hoisting of a mother and daughter from a car flooded by raging waters in Bethesda. These essential, and often life saving, missions are too diverse to fully discuss in this article. But the multi-mission role of MSP helicopters in Maryland’s public safety efforts is, without question, critically important! Maryland citizens are well served by this “full package” of services offered by the MSP helicopters. So there you have it! Maryland has some of the very finest hospitals and doctors in the world. The MSP helicopter program enables access to that care and can rescue victims from a variety of predicaments on both land and water! In addition, the helicopters perform an endless variety of missions in support to law enforcement and fire/rescue departments throughout the state. Sound like a good deal to me! Some state political leaders want to “privatize” or fragment the helicopter program by eliminating the multi-mission capabilities of state police helicopters. What state legislator can tell his or her constituents that this program is a waste? Or, that their local helicopter base is going to be closed or only able to offer limited services? What state official can say a helicopter operated by a private corporation will be able to provide the comprehensive emergency services currently available to the citizens of Maryland from the MSP helicopters? The Maryland State Police helicopter program is waiting for a rescue. State Senators E. J. Pipkin and John Astle have sponsored legislation to destroy the multi-mission capabilities of the state police helicopters. The legislation would split the law enforcement and rescue abilities from the MSP medevac helicopters and would be the end of Maryland’s multi-mission public safety helicopter program. You may voice you support for the program by telling your legislators to “rescue the state police helicopter program!” Their telephone number is 1-800-492-7122. H. Kevin Knussman EMT-Paramedic Mr. Knussman became certified as an EMT in 1976 and has also been certified as an Aviation Trauma Technician, Cardiac Rescue Technician, and Paramedic. He was in the first group of MSP medics to become Nationally Registered Paramedics in 1987. Knussman joined MSP in 1976 and retired in 1999 having served most of his career in the Aviation Division. He still works and volunteers in the Maryland EMS system. His email address is Knussman@goeaston. net. The comments do not necessarily reflect the opinion of any group in which he is affiliated. This commentary is dedicated to: TFC Phillip L. Russ, TFC Thomas A. Noyle, TFC Charles S. Rathell, Tpr. Donald E. Parkerson, Cpl/T Gregory A. May, TFC Carey S. Poetzman, Civilian Pilot Stephen H. Bunker, and TFC Michael Lippy. All of these personnel died in the line of duty while serving as Maryland State Police helicopter pilots and medics.
Well the hucksters and snake oil salesman have nothing on St Mary’s College (SMC). The public outcry over the $1.5 – $3 million bridge over Route 5 (President O’Brien’s dream for another ugly viewscape monument) went down in flames with the public demanding a more cost effective method for protecting the students at the south crosswalk. Their survey (facility/students/community) was 4 to 1 against the bridge and for a more cost effective solution (crossing guards, better lighting, better student behavior, crossing signals, stop signs). The college showed zero statistics to justify the pedestrian hazard other than one girl breaking her ankle “jumping out of the way”. SMC’s number two hero in Washington is Senator Schoomer of NY. They embrace his latest quote “the chatterboxes talk about those “porky” little earmarks” that the public doesn’t care about”. Oh really, Chuck, the liberals just added a few hundred billion dollars, like Nancy Pelosi’s $30 million for the marsh mouse and Harry Reed’s $300 million for the high speed train from Disney World to Las Vegas in the so-called “stimulus bill”. The $1.5 million of tax payer money for the bridge was snuck into some nondescript bill by Steny Hoyer. Soooooo, stand by Route 5 commuters “TRAFFIC CALMING” is on the way but it will likely be $2 - $3 million for this project. It may qualify for Lady Bird Johnson’s highway beautification but not traffic safety. No, Webster Field employees, they aren’t going to make you stop and “pop” a tranquilizer pill before letting you pass through the campus. No, they are planting trees along the roadside, adding bike lanes, adding crosswalks and trying to make it seem like you are driving through a tunnel to reduce your speed. Another “cockamamie” proposal presented was a “round about” in the center of campus on Route 5. Now our fire trucks and police
cars will have to be adept at one half circles en route to an emergency. Don’t you all love that round about in Chaptico en route to the Potomac River Bridge, butttttttttt it does slow down the traffic. Bottom line the $1.5 million SMC has in their pockets thanks to Hoyer is burning a hole and they are dying to spend it. Then they go back and say “Steny we need another one half to one million dollars to finish the project”. Poor Chip Jackson (SMC Vice President) had to tap dance while doing the firehouse fandango while trying to sell the “traffic calming round about”. The only good proposal presented was a small pedestrian/bike bridge by the creek for students walking to the north athletic fields on Route 5. That idea was brought up by community residents at the last meeting and not the brain trust of the college or its advisory group. Heads up, Route 5 entering St. Mary’s City will be lined with trees, bike trails, medians and new crossings and untried holistic traffic calming system costing $1.5 to $2 million is about to hit the tax payers. What is that old saying, “a sucker is born every minute”? Well, St. Mary’s College, nice try but this old country boy and the good ole St. Mary’s folks don’t buy this Ponzi scheme. It is just another O’Brien dream to add a palatial entrance to the college. You poor Webster Field commuters better take your “commuter calming pills”. P.S. The “proposed round about” almost got Chip Jackson egged at the meeting. No, St. Mary’s City residents aren’t suckers. Fool us once, shame on you. Fool us twice, shame on us. Donald Beck, St. Mary’s City Resident St. Mary’s County, MD
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The County Times
A Penny weighs 2.5 grams which is the average weight of a humming bird.
Oyster Ranch Booming, Expanding Too
By Sean Rice Staff Writer Circle C Oyster Ranch is already harvesting more than a million oysters a year using their floating oyster reef method, and the company’s founder expects sales to enter the multi-million dollar range pretty soon. “Our business is taking off,” Rich Pelz, owner of Circle C, told The County Times. “We’re trying to manage that it doesn’t take off too fast that we can’t keep up.” Pelz is finishing work on a deal with a national wholesale foods distributor that will eventually require many more oysters than Circle C is producing today. Pelz declined to name the distributor until the deal is finalized, but he said it will result in his oysters ending up on restaurant plates across the country. The company’s new customer will be phased-in as production increases, Pelz said, and current regular customers will not be neglected. The aquaculture farm also recently expanded to a second location in Ridge, on the other side of St. Jerome’s Creek, and will soon start buying and selling wholesale
Photo By Sean Rice
crabs and fish, and well as “shedding” softshell crabs for the local market. “Our main business up until now has been growing oysters, and selling people equipment to grow oysters,” Pelz said. Pelz said he is eager to become a major player in the local wholesale seafood market, but he is most excited about plans to launch a muchneeded oyster hatchery at the new location. The hatchery addition, which will take a couple years to get going, would allow Circle C to harvest oysters entirely in-house, with control over all stages of the shellfish’s development. Seed oysters used by Pelz
and other oyster farmers need to be purchased from an oyster hatchery, a facility were male and female oysters mate to produce larvae. “The Chesapeake Bay needs three good-sized hatcheries,” Pelz said. “Now we’ve only got one … and when he has a bad year it affects the whole industry.” “We need a hatchery because on average oyster hatcheries have a good year 40 percent of the time,” he said. “40 percent of the time isn’t good enough for the industry, we need oysters every year.” Pelz said he is seeking additional investors to join his expansion plans, and can be reached at 301-872-4177.
The St. Mary’s County Chamber of Commerce hosted its 2009 Legislative Session briefing Feb. 23, where members of the Southern Maryland Delegation came to discuss bills currently making the rounds in Annapolis that may affect local businesses.
in the air. “Nobody knows what the stimulus package even looks like yet.” The particulars of the stimulus package did not dissuade legislators from projecting where that money would be spent, however. Bohanan said the biggest portion of federal stimulus money would go toward education, and that no
Photo By Andrea Shiell From left to right: Del. John Wood, Del. John Bohanan, Sen. Roy Dyson at Monday’s Chamber of Commerce legislative breakfast.
Del. John Wood, Del. John Bohanan, and Sen. Roy Dyson all attended the event, where they admitted that they were just now getting bills out of committee for votes on the floor. They did, however, offer some hints as to the state’s priorities this year in light of the promise of federal stimulus money. “It’s an unusual situation,” said board chairman Tom Jarboe after Monday’s breakfast, “because most of the time, it’s not a surprise what they’ll be looking at, but things right now are really up
programs were likely to be approved that transferred special education or teacher retirement funding to the counties. “We’re still shouldering that burden,” he said, “we’re going to educate the next generation and they’re going to be the ones paying the bill.” The discussion also included a spirited reflection on the state’s recent slot referendum, for which projected revenues are coming in far below expectations. “The last thing you need are slot parlors in an airport with the security problems we
have today. BWI is one of the greatest airports in the country… it’s one of the easiest airports to get in and out of, and we are hoping to keep it that way,” Dyson said when discussing proposed extensions to the slots that would allow for slot machines in airports. “The last thing you want to do is step off an airplane coming into the state of Maryland and see a casino. “It is just not the image we want for our state.” Dyson added that the people had chosen to limit slot machines to certain spots and their decision should stand. Jarboe mentioned that he felt legislation on critical areas and zoning would cause a great deal of consternation in Annapolis. “There will be some critical area reviews that will affect us locally,” he said, adding that county officials and the area’s delegates are not supportive of statewide critical area management. “I can’t say in good faith that it’s a good idea to let the state decide county zoning issues…it’ll affect the housing industry down here.” Despite the vague nature of the discussion, delegates remained optimistic that, although cuts are imminent, the southern tip of the state would not see the worst of what was to come. “We do have problems in the state of Maryland,” Wood said,” but we’re not feeling that so much here in Southern Maryland.”
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un Fact
Legislators Discuss Bills and Business at Annual Breakfast By Andrea Shiell Staff Writer
Pelz works on an oyster washer at the new site.
10
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Company
Symbol
Close
Close
2/25/2009
12/31/2008
Change
WalMart
WMT
$49.26
$56.06
-12.13%
Harley Davidson
HOG
$10.17
$16.97
-40.07%
Best Buy
BBY
$28.33
$28.11
0.78%
Lockheed Martin
LMT
$70.89
$84.08
-15.69%
BAESF
$5.65
$5.41
4.44%
Computer Science Corp.
CSC
$35.20
$35.14
0.17%
Dyncorp International Inc.
DCP
$12.76
$15.17
-15.89%
General Dynamics Corp.
GD
$46.90
$57.59
-18.56%
MANT
$57.16
$54.19
5.48%
NOC
$41.37
$45.04
-8.15%
BAE Systems
Mantech International Corp. Northrop Grunman Corp.
11
Thursday, February 26, 2009
The County Times
Defense & Military College President Tours Military Installations By Sean Rice Staff Writer Jane Margaret O’Brien, president of St. Mary’s College of Maryland, was among a select group of business and community leaders invited to attend the Defense Department’s 76th Joint Civilian Orientation Conference (JCOC) this past September. O’Brien joined 47 other officials, including the founder of Earthlink and the city manager for Las Cruces, NM, on a tour of miliDefense Department Photo by Tech. Sgt. Jerry Morrison tary sites in Greece, Spain, the UK St. Mary’s College of Maryland President Jane O’Brien views and Germany, along with stops the sights of a rocket launcher while in Souda Bay, Greece. on the USS Iwo Jima and the US Coast Guard Cutter Dallas. that support the mission of our military men The Patuxent Partnership is hosting a and women. We got a good look at the Air “brown bag” lunch program on March 5 and Force’s F-15 fighter jet and cutting-edge spethe community is invited to attend and hear cial weapons. We also had a small taste of O’Brien speak about her experiences dur- what urban operations in Iraq and Afghaniing the weeklong tour of the U.S.-European stan may be like after witnessing a military Command. The event will be held at Wyle exercise at a training site.” Laboratories, Inc., on Exploration Drive, Speaking of the service members that Lexington Park, starting at 12 p.m. the JCOC group interacted with, O’Brien “Maggie’s perspective should prove to said: “Their dedication and training is stunbe both unique and enlightening,” said Bon- ning. They are responsible for performnie Green, Executive Director of The Patux- ing complex, difficult tasks under extreme ent Partnership. pressure—and they rise readily to the The JCOC is the oldest Pentagon out- challenge.” reach program, which was started in 1948 Those interested in attending the March to explain to American business leaders and 5 program titled “EUCOM: the lightspeed community leaders what the Department of version”, are invited to register in advance at Defense does. the Partnership’s web site, www.paxpartner“The JCOC experience provides a valu- ship.org. able opportunity for individuals from acaAttendees are invited to bring lunch, demia and business to experience first-hand and The Patuxent Partnership will provide the professionalism and expertise of our mil- beverages. The Tides Restaurant has proitary personnel and leadership,” Green said vided a brown-bag lunch menu link on the in a press release about the coming event. Partnership website. Attendees can call and O’Brien said the JCOC group “had the pre-order lunch from the Tides and stop by opportunity to learn more about the opera- to pick up before arriving at the Conference tions and extremely advanced technology Center.
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F-22 Fighter Faces Chopping Block KADENA AIR BASE, Japan (AP) - At $140 million each, the F-22 is the most expensive fighter ever built. And even before seeing combat, it might fall prey to President Barack Obama’s pen. In one of the president’s first major decisions on U.S. defense spending, future funding for the radar-evading stealth fighter will soon be on the block, affecting nearly 100,000 jobs spread across virtually every state in the U.S. Opponents say the $65 billion-plus F-22 program is sucking money away from other, more immediate needs and might be better spent on a different plane altogether. The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, which is under development, is seen by some as more versatile, more realistic and, more importantly, cheaper, at about $80 million per plane. Doubters in the Defense Department, including Secretary Robert Gates, have been hesitant to build more than the 183 F-22s the U.S. is now committed to. Obama must decide by March 1 whether to spend $523 million on more of the planes. That would still fall far short of the total 381 F-
22s the Air Force said it wanted to build. On Jan. 4, 44 senators, fearing the economic impact in their home states, urged Obama in a joint letter to continue production of the F-22. Before that, some 200 House members did the same. Lockheed Martin Corp., the prime contractor for the F-22, says that 95,000 jobs connected to the F-22 would be lost by 2011 if Obama does not extend funding. The F-22, which was not ready in the earlier days of the Iraq or Afghanistan conflicts, has only been deployed on a short-term basis overseas three times - twice for training in southern Japan, and once to an airshow in England. The claims of its air superiority are characterized by some as “future-war-itis” - the desire by planners to be prepared to overwhelm any potential threat that may arise in the future, despite the high costs involved. “Spending more on outrageously overpriced weapons and unproven notions of hypothetical warfare will only make our massive problems worse,’’ said Winslow Wheeler, of the Center for Defense Information.
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The women of Iceland earn two-thirds of their nation’s university degrees.
Students Face Off in Tech Challenge
Know
In The
13
Education
Funding Cuts Cause Record Turnout for Student Advocacy Day in Annapolis
CSM Students, Legislators Discuss Tuition and State Budget
Photo by Andrea Shiell Students from Maryland, Washington D.C., Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York competed at CSM’s Second Annual Tech Challenge on Saturday.
By Andrea Shiell Staff Writer
Pennsylvania and New York to compete at CSM’s La Plata Campus. This year’s competition used a CSM teamed up with BAE Sys- new robotics kit, TETRIX, which tems this year to bring the area its allowed teams to be creative in their latest First Tech Challenge Feb. 21, designs while maintaining features featuring high school teams battling that are common in high-end robotics with robots. systems. Teams began receiving their “The ultimate goal of the FTC kits in November and have been able program is to get students excited about to enhance their designs with addiscience, technology and engineering tional FIRST parts that can be ordered by providing a sports-like venue where at official sites. the lessons they learned in school can Spangler Software’s Incredibles be applied to the robots they are build- Homeschool team, “Under the Son,” ing,” said CSM Professor Jeff Tjiputra from Hollywood was ranked second who is also chair of CSM’s Business going into the championship rounds. and Technology Division. Dr. James A. Forrest Career and TechIn this second annual FTC, 40 nology Center’s “Jokers Wild” from teams came from across Maryland, Leonardtown was ranked 29th going Virginia, the District of Columbia, into the championship rounds. Leonardtown High School’s “Raider Robotics” was ranked 21st going into the finals, and a second Forrest Career and Technology Center A general meeting of the School Health team, the “TransformCouncil will be held on Monday, March 2, 2009, ers,” ranked 30th fol5:30-7:00 p.m., in the Board of Education Meeting lowing five qualifying Room of the St. Mary’s County Public Schools’ rounds. Central Administration Office in Leonardtown. The team with The council will discuss matters related to school the highest ranking health education, health services, nutrition and in the winning allifood services, physical education, and school site ance, “TwistedBots,” health promotion. coached by Jon ThompAn additional meeting is scheduled for Monson of Middle Peninsuday, May 11, 2009, at the same location and time. la Home Schoolers of For more details, contact Dr. Andrew Roper at Glouster, Va., advanced 301-475-5511, ext. 122. to the world championships in Atlanta. The winner of the Inspire Award, the highest award given by FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC), is a rookie team St. Mary’s College of Maryland, which has from McHenry in been embroiled in a debate over ways to improve Western Maryland. pedestrian and bicycle safety along Route 5, has Southern Marydecided to reject proposals for a footbridge along land teams will be the stretch, instead voting to approve traffic calmfeatured specifically ing “streetscape” projects to slow vehicle speeds March 7, when CSM throughout the college’s pedestrian corridor. will host another chalSpecific plans for the Route 5 corridor through lenge for 32 Souththe campus include a minor reduction in the width ern Maryland middle of the highway’s travel lanes and an adjustment to school teams and 35 shoulder widths to accommodate bike lanes. high school teams. Other possibilities under consideration inFor more inforclude installing additional lighting and planting mation on the event, trees at varying intervals along the highway. The visit www.csmd. traffic-calming alternative is projected to cost beedu/roboticschallenge/. tween $1.5 and $2 million.
School Health Council Meeting Scheduled
Footbridge Plan Rejected
As Maryland lawmakers grapple with tough eco- the Federal Stimulus Package to pass, to get dollars to nomic times, more than three dozen students from the states.” College of Southern Maryland advocated for community He added that Governor Martin O’Malley wants to colleges directly with their legislators during the annual restore community college funding. Student Advocacy This was seen Day Feb. 11 in as encouraging news Annapolis. by CSM President The day proBrad Gottfried, who duced a record has been in discusturnout of comsions with the state munity college stuover funding issues dents from across as their portion of the state, with more community college than 300 students funding has been talking with legiscut, with normal inlators on the status creases having been of state funding. frozen until federal CSM’s continstimulus money can gent of 38 students, be routed to higher representing cameducation. puses in Calvert, As the legislaCharles and St. tors were able to Mary’s counties, between committee met with members meetings, CSM stuof the Southern dents had an opporMaryland delegatunity to meet indition to personalize From left, Suzanne Davis, Emily Howe, Kristen Knokey, Student Association Presi- vidually with elected the impact of com- dent of the Leonardtown Campus James Carroll, Bohanan, Grace Stewart, CSM Di- officials from their munity colleges, rector of Student Services for the Leonardtown Campus Regina Bowman-Goldring, districts, including and to ask their Sharon Riley and Nathan Hurry. Sen. Middleton and support in increasing funding for community colleges. Delegates Sally Y. Jameson, Murray D. Levy, Peter F. Lt. Governor Anthony Brown told students, faculty Murphy, John F. Wood Jr., John L. Bohanan Jr., Anthony and community college presidents that it was “critical for J. O’Donnell and Sue Kullen.
Forrest Center Hosts Tenth Annual Tech Expo By Andrea Shiell Staff Writer The James A. Forrest Career and Technology Center in Leonardtown was overrun by students and parents the evening of Feb. 19, all there hoping to sign up for programs for the upcoming school year. Prospective students and parents met with staff members at the center to learn about the 23 completer programs currently being offered, as well as to talk with middle school and high school counselors to start planning their academic programs. The Forrest Center currently offers programs on automotive and aviation technology; carpentry; drafting and design; culinary arts; criminal justice; health care; masonry; production engineering and even hospitality and tourism, among others. Melissa Dodson, a 12th grader completing the program in Dental Assistant Technology, echoed the sentiments of many others when she said this year’s traffic was heavier than last year’s, as more students came to inquire about tech center programs. “We’ve had a lot more sign-ups
Photo by Andrea Shiell Parents and prospective students got a chance to see what offerings they could take advantage of at the Forrest Career and Technology Center’s 10th Annual Tech Expo, which was held on Feb. 19.
this year than last year,” she said. As for Dodson’s own experience as a student at the center giving out program information for prospective students, she said it had been rewarding. “It’s very hands-on and it gives you a lot of experience,” Dodson said. “And that’s what’s really helpful for this type of career.”
“They learn lots of specific skills that they practice here,” said Board of Education member Marilyn Crosby, who was surrounded by CPR dummies and medical equipment near the school’s medical technology quarter. “Then they go practice them in a hospital… I just really like that hands-on experience… I think it’s absolutely terrific.”
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Punishment
The County Times
Officials Focus Fire Chief Among Those Who Plead On Suicides But Reporting Guilty for Rockfish Poaching Foggy By Guy Leonard Staff Writer After a Lexington Park man committed suicide in public last week on Great Mills Road by shooting himself in broad daylight, officials here say they are focusing on preventing future occurrences, but questions remain about just how accurate tallies of suicides in the county have been over the past decade. Bennett Connelly, director of the newly formed Department of Human Services, which also seeks to monitor the mental health of the population, said officials from human services and law enforcement should come together to address issues surrounding adult suicides when they occur. “There’s a [fatality review committee] for children, but not one for adults, and their needs to be one,” Connelly said. “This is just another example of what we should be focusing on.” According to county health department figures that Connelly provided initially to The County Times, there were only four suicides in St. Mary’s two years ago in 2007. However, according to the state’s vital statistics report, the number of suicides was actually 11. But the discrepancies don’t end there. The same report, in another section, shows that in 2007 there were fewer than 20 suicides in each of the three Southern Maryland counties, so actual numbers in that part of the report do not exist. But the state still counts the total number of suicides for the tri-county area at 10.4 people. Tracy Kubinec, deputy health officer for the county, explained why the discrepancies could appear as they do, since those county residents who attempt to commit suicide here may be transported to another jurisdiction and die while awaiting care at a hospital. Others could be county residents who simply commit suicide elsewhere and are tallied there, she said. “The reason why there might be a discrepancy… could depend on where the person actually died,” Kubinec said. “That death certificate does not necessarily come back to the health department to be filed.” Connelly said that in 2008 there were eight suicides in the county, according to county health department statistics, two lower than the county’s tally for 2000. But the state’s vital statistics report shows that there was just one suicide in St. Mary’s County that year and it was the only one for the tri-county area. Connelly stated that the latest county held data showed that St. Mary’s is still below the number of suicides reported nearly 10 years ago, but the discrepancies with state figures cast doubt on just how pervasive the suicide problem in the county really is. Capt. Rick Burris, commander of the Bureau of Criminal Investigations which looks into suicides said that so far this year there have been three suicides, with last year’s tally standing at nine people having taken their own lives. In 2007 there were 10 suicides here, Burris said. The County Times also found discrepancies between local and state reports on homicides here as well as on the Eastern Shore. Connie Walker, a member of the steering board that advises the human services department and president of the Southern Maryland chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, said there appeared to be a breakdown in the sharing or reporting of information. “I think it’s pretty clear that the reporting system for Southern Maryland and the Eastern Shore isn’t working well for homicides or suicides,” Walker said.
By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Five commercial fishermen who operated in St. Mary’s County waters have pleaded guilty, just weeks after they were charged, to federal counts of poaching rockfish as part of a four-year scheme. According to information from U.S. District Attorney for Maryland Rod Rosenstein’s office in Greenbelt, the market value of the striped bass was estimated to be about $2.15 million. According to information from federal authorities, Thomas L. Crowder, 40, of Leonardtown, who is also the fire chief at the Second District Volunteer Fire Department in Valley Lee, along with John W. Dean, 53, of Scotland, Charles Quade, 55 of Churchtown, Thomas L. Hallock 48 of Catharpin, Va. and Keith A. Collins, 57, of Deale all falsely recorded the amount of rockfish they caught on a daily basis from 2003 to 2007 with the help of a designated Maryland check in station. Federal authorities further revealed that the defendants
and check-in station operator falsely inflated the number of fish caught on their records, but also fraudulently underrecorded their weight, which, federal authorities reported, made it appear they had not actually reached the pounds of fish they were allowed to catch each year. Federal authorities also state that Crowder had the highest value for the poached rockfish, totaling $956,285. The owners of Cannon Seafood, Inc., the Washington, D.C. wholesalers to whom the defendants sold the illegally harvested rockfish, have also pleaded guilty to violations of the Lacey Act, which regulates the harvesting of marine life like the striped bass. Robert Moore, Sr. and Robert Moore, Jr. both face fines and prison sentences for their involvement in the scheme. The five defendants are scheduled to be sentenced throughout the month of April by U.S. District Judge Peter J. Messitte. Each faces five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine.
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Briefs Man Arrested, Charged with Cocaine Distribution Several months ago Vice Narcotics detectives identified Marvin Leon Young aka Marvin Somerville, 32, as an alleged distributor of cocaine. Although there were various points of distribution, his reported drug dealing focused on the Callaway, Valley Lee and Piney Point areas. Detectives began making cocaine purchases from Young and after a brief with the St. Mary’s County State’s Attorney the case was presented to the Grand Jury. The St. Mary’s County Grand Jury handed down two indictments for various felony drug charges to include cocaine distribution and conspiring to distribute cocaine. Young is currently being held without bond and will be attending a bond hearing shortly. Young has a long criminal history that includes currently being a registered sexual offender. Vice Narcotics detectives are working with Bureau of Criminal Investigations detectives to file additional charges against Young for sexual offender registration violations.
Woman Charged with Disorderly Conduct On February 19, 2009 Cpl. D. Corcoran responded to the Food Lion on Great Mills Road Lexington Park for a report of a wanted person inside the store. The Emergency Communication Center advised Corcoran that Darlisha Rochelle Mackall, 21, of Lexington Park had two outstanding assault warrants for her arrest and was inside the store. When Corcoran arrived at the Food Lion he located Mackall seated in a vehicle out in the parking lot. As Corcoran was escorting Mackall to his vehicle she reportedly began to yell obscenities to others in the parking lot. Mackall was told several times to stop cursing, which she refused. Mackall was served with the warrants and charged with disorderly conduct.
Assault Second Degree On February 20, 2009 Fallon Marie Birch, 25, of Dameron was involved in a verbal altercation with the victim which escalated to a physical assault when Birch allegedly struck him in the face causing a cut on his lip an abrasion on his face. Birch also allegedly choked the victim. Birch was arrested and charged with second-degree assault.
Wal-mart Bomb Scare Suspect Could Face Federal Terror Charges By Guy Leonard Staff Writer A woman arrested by local detectives for allegedly making eight bomb threats to the local Wal-Mart Superstore in California may face federal charges, according to
Chantel Denise Cook
the leader of the county’s Bureau of Criminal Investigations. “We’ve been in contact with the FBI,” Capt. Rick Burris said Monday. “They would take over our case and pursue it federally. “There could be domestic terror related charges pending.” Detectives arrested Chantel Denise Cook, 32, of Lusby Saturday after the eighth bomb threat was called in at WalMart that same day, according to police. St. Mary’s detectives executed a search warrant on Cook’s home using the agency’s tactical team after detectives searched over phone records and other evidence throughout the weekend in an effort to track down a suspect, Burris told The County Times. “It’s a lot more difficult than people realize,” Burris said of the effort to track down Cook. “You’ve got to build up a case that’ll stand up in court.” BCI detectives pushed themselves to get enough evidence to make an arrest, Burris said. “It put a drain on our resources sig-
nificantly,” Burris said of the investigation into the Wal-Mart employee. “We worked round the clock on Friday and Saturday to wrap it up.” Cook allegedly made some of the calls that cleared out the store while she was working, Burris said, adding that the events at Wal-Mart, which played out over less than two weeks, appeared to be an isolated incident. And while he did not expect the same problems to appear at other stores here, he was concerned that someone might try to repeat Cook’s alleged crime. “We’re always worried about that, copycats,” Burris said. “We hope that the message is clear… that we’ll prosecute [these cases] to the fullest extent of the law.” Cook, who is also known by the name of Chantel Katika Walker, was charged with eight counts of making a false statement of a destructive device; each charge carries a possible 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Cook remains in custody in the county detention center.
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Thursday, February 26, 2009
The County Times
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The County Times
Grace Cecelia Lawrence Blackwell, 88
Grace Cecelia Lawrence Blackwell, 88, of Piney Point departed this life Feb. 16 in Fort Washington Hospital after a brief illness. Grace was born June 1, 1920 in Great Mills to the late Janie Estelle Mason and Morris Andrew Lawrence, Sr. She was baptized July 4, 1920 in St. Michael’s Church in Ridge. Grace made her First Holy Communion and was confirmed in St. Nicholas Church in Pearson, Md. Grace completed her elementary school education in St. Mary’s County and in Baltimore. She graduated from Jarboesville High School as part of its first graduating class in 1938. She attended adult education classes at Cardinal Gibbons High School and later completed income tax preparation classes for the Office on Aging. Grace was an active member of St. George Catholic Church from 1938 until she moved with her daughters in 2004. Her service included participation on the Parish Council, where she served as Chair of the Social Concerns Committee, the Liturgy Committee, and the Baptismal Team. In addition, she was a Eucharistic Minister and a lector. Her work history was quite varied. Professional employment included positions with the St. Mary’s County Board of Education and the St Mary’s County Department of Social Services. She was a volunteer with the Maryland Extension Service and the Office on Aging. Grace retired from the Maryland State Retirement System in 1975. On Aug. 29, 1938 she married Morris Elmore Blackwell, who preceded her in death Nov. 15, 1992. Grace was also predeceased by her daughter, Barbara Ann Somerville; her grandson, William M. Thompson III; her sister, Rosalee Clayton; brothers, Morris Andrew and Joseph Aloysius Lawrence and sonin-law, Kelly W. Somerville. She leaves to cherish her memory daughters Mary Elizabeth Thompson (William) and Eleanor Cecelia Dozier (Eugene); grandchildren, Benita Henderson (Tony), Kim Dozier, Eugenia Dozier and
Kristie Clark (Gregory); greatgrandchildren, LaToya Williams, Marquita, Michael and Mercedes Henderson, LaKendra and Terrence Dozier, Tanisha Dozier and Geordan, Kameryn and Geremy Clark; great-great grandchildren, Jerrell Williams, Myles Shupe, Kaiyah Dotson and Mikayla Henderson; her aunt Agnes Blackistone; sisters, Louise Brown, Ann Clayton, Catherine Briscoe and Geneva Lawrence; sisters-in- law, Nellie Lawrence Clayton and Geneva Blackwell and brother-in-law Ralph Clayton, Sr. Grace was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She spent her life serving God, her extended family and her community. Family received friends Feb. 20 from 10 a.m. – noon in St. George Catholic Church, Valley Lee. A Mass of Christian Burial was held at noon with Monsignor Karl A. Chimiak officiating. Interment followed in the church cemetery. Serving as pallbearers were Tony Henderson, Raymond Wiggins, Jr., Dennis Lawrence, Thomas Saxon, Gregory Clark and Bruce Morgan. Condolences to the family may be made at www.brinsfieldfuneral. com. Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown.
Dickerson (Francis), and Cecilia B. Wills (James); 49 grandchildren; 67 great grandchildren; 31 great-great grandchildren; two sisters, Mary M. Bowman and Frances Israel; and a host of family and friends. She was preceded in death by five siblings; Gladys Young, Emily Barnes, Bertha Stevens, Joseph Stevens and Elmer Somerville, and three grandchildren. Family will receive friends Feb. 26 from 8:30 – 10:30 a.m. in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Morganza. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. with Reverend Keith Woods as the celebrant. Interment will follow in Queen of Peace Cemetery, Helen. Condolences to the family may be made at www.brinsfieldfuneral. com. Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown.
Steven Alan Cusic, Jr., 8
Lillian Marie Courtney, 84 Lillian Marie Courtney, 84, of Loveville was called to rest Feb. 18. Born March 18, 1924, she was the daughter of the late Richard and Emma Stevens. She was a homemaker and a devoted wife, mother and friend. She was baptized at St. John’s Catholic Church, but later became a longtime member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. On Aug. 31, 1941 she married James Alexander Courtney, Sr. and from that union they were blessed with 17 children. She loved to cook, attend gospel concerts and yard sales. Her favorite TV shows were All My Children and Passions. She also enjoyed bus trips, shopping and hanging out with the “Try Me Club.” The one thing she enjoyed most was entertaining family and friends. Her favorite holidays were Thanksgiving and Christmas, where she always had a good, nice home cooked meal ready. Lillian is survived by her 17 children, James A. Courtney, Paul D. Courtney, Joseph D. Courtney (Mary), Francis X. Courtney, Michael E. Courtney (Michelle), Ray A. Courtney, Joseph L. Courtney, George B. Courtney (Kim), Alan R. Courtney (Tina), Andrew L. Courtney, Thomas E. Courtney (Barbara), Audrey A. Courtney, Victoria E. Goldring (J.C.), Barbara A. Courtney, Theresa D. Courtney, Elaine M.
Steven Alan Cusic, Jr., 8, of Mechanicsville died Feb. 18 in his residence. Born Aug. 24, 2000, he was the son of Leslie Morgan of Mechanicsville and Steven Alan Cusic, Sr. of Marblehead, Ohio. In addition to his parents, he is also survived by his siblings Rachel Jones of Mechanicsville and Cody Cusic of Marblehead, Ohio; his maternal grandparents, Dennis and Sandy Morgan of Mechanicsville; his paternal grandparents, Wendy and Frank Wright of Marblehead, Ohio; aunts and uncles, Philip and Tina Burroughs of Mechanicsville, Ronnie and Tessa Cusic of Lusby, Tracy Cusic of Hollywood, Md. and Eric and Crystal Youngless of Ohio; cousins, Philip and Alexis Burroughs, Kayla Buckler, Heather Cusic and Tavaris, Teron and Jatori Cusic. Steven was gently carried to heaven by his guardian angel to join his paternal grandfather Gene A. Cusic, Sr. and his uncle Gene A. Cusic, Jr. Steven attended Banneker and White Marsh elementary schools. He looked forward to snack time. In
Thursday, February 26, 2009
the summer, he was always hanging out at Camp Horizons. Steven enjoyed walks in his wheelchair with the wind in his face, bubbles at bath time, swinging outdoors, bouncing on the trampoline with his cousins Philip and Alexis and swimming. He loved listening to his sister Rachel and her puppy Paris romp and play throughout the house. Steven and his mom spent hours together on Sunday watching the Redskins and NASCAR racing, rooting for who else, but Kyle Bush in the M&M car #18. He developed a taste for the finer things in life; Haagen Dazs ice-cream, sweet potatoes from Outback, dining in at the Golden Corral, chocolate delight lovingly made by his Aunt Tina, and a full bag of M&Ms. His greatest accomplishment in his short life was to love and be loved….it was a good life. The family received friends Feb. 20 from 5 – 8 p.m. in the MattingleyGardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown, where prayers were said at 7 p.m. with Deacon William Kyte officiating. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Feb. 21 at 10:30 a.m. in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Mechanicsville, with Fr. Peter Alliata officiating. Interment followed in Charles Memorial Gardens, Leonardtown. Pallbearers were his grandfather Dennis Morgan, cousin Philip Burroughs III, Uncle Ronnie Cusic and family friend Doug King. Condolences to the family may be left at www.mgfh.com. Contributions may be made to Hospice of St. Mary’s, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650 (website www.hospiceofstmarys.org) and/or Hope’s Hope, 1053 Sunset Meadow Drive Apex, NC, 27523 and/or to the study of INAD c/o Allison Gregory, MS. Molecular & Medical Genetics, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Mailcode L103A, Portland, OR 97239-3098. Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A.
Mildred Elmena Jones, 71
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Hollywood, Md. died Feb 21 in St. Mary’s Hospital. Born May 31, 1937 in Great Mills, she was the daughter of the late Clarence and Mary Margaret Langley Armsworthy. She was the loving wife of Samuel Albert Jones, whom she married June 26, 1954 in Holy Face Catholic Church. In addition to her husband, she is also survived by her children, Michael Earl Jones and his wife Annie, Barbara Snavely and her husband Jeffrey and Jeffrey Samuel Jones and his wife Robin all of Hollywood, Md., Patricia Stout and her husband Gary of Little River, S.C., Lisa Price and her husband Mike of Yellow Springs, W.V. and David Paul Jones and his wife Sonya of Umatilla, Fla.; 15 grandchildren, Melissa Garrison, Heather, Crystal and Mike Jones, Heidi, Sarah and David Quade, Joann Quade LeBeaux, Ryan Jones, Amy and April Russell, Glenn and Jonathan Price, Gary Spalding and Lauren Jones; 14n great grandchildren, Jasmine, Brianna and Kelvin LeBeaux, Malachi Bailey, Taylor and Dominique Quade, Deamonte Lacey, Gavin Jones, Kandace and Kiniya Russell, Shannon and Kaitlyn Price, Leah and Troy Jones. She was preceded in death by two grandchildren, Christopher Jones and Jocelyn LeBeaux. Mrs. Jones graduated from Great Mills High School’s Class of 1953. She was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church, Hollywood, Md. and of the Humane Society. She was an avid animal supporter. The family received friends Feb. 23 from 5 – 8 p.m. in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, where Prayers were said at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Feb. 24 at 10 a.m. in St. John’s Catholic Church with Fr. Eamon Dignan officiating. Interment followed in Charles Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers were all of her nephews, Dale Dean, Timmy Jones, Frannie Woodburn, Jerry Clements, George Jones and Leroy Jones. Contributions may be made to Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 79, Hollywood, MD 20636. To send a condolence to the family please visit our website at www. mgfh.com. Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A.
Miles Lind Moore, 82
Mildred Elmena Jones, 71, of
Miles Lind Moore, 82, of Washington D.C., died peacefully Feb. 18 with her family at her bedside. Mrs. Moore was born in Washington, D.C. June 24, 1926 to Miles Street Lind and John Eugene Lind. As a young girl, she lived on Military Road and in Tacoma Park. She was married to Roderick Bruce
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Moore, U.S. Navy, who retired in June 1948. Following life as a military wife, she moved back to Maryland and lived in Bethesda for 43 years. Five years ago she moved to Ingleside at Rock Creek, returning to Military Road. Mrs. Moore was a member of National Presbyterian Church where she served as a Deacon, was on the Board of Ushers and was a member of the Business and Professional Women’s Guild. She spent many hours helping with the annual bazaar and vacation Bible school.
Mrs. Moore was an elementary school teacher for 25 years, teaching at both Georgetown Hill and Wyngate Elementary Schools. She was known for her love of literature and correct grammar! Her children and grandchildren will miss her patiently explaining the correct use of lay and lie. After retirement, she indulged her love of gothic architecture and became a docent at the National Cathedral. Her specialty soon became the gargoyles; she enjoyed giving tours and teaching others about the unusual carvings. She traveled extensively in Europe and especially loved touring the abbey ruins in England. She is survived by her children, Merideth Hurley (Richard), Roderick Moore (Leslie), and Kathryn Franzen (Carl); her grandchildren, Lindsay, Christian, Jonathan, and Kathryn. She also leaves behind her beloved black lab, Olivia. A Memorial Service was held Feb. 21 at 3 p.m. in the Ingleside Chapel, Washington, D.C. Inurnment will be private. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of St. Mary’s, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650 or Ingleside Residents Support Fund, 3050 Military Road NW, Washington DC 20015. Condolences to the family may be made at www.brinsfieldfuneral. com. Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown
Mary Rose Turner, 76
Mary Rose Turner, 76, of Lexington Park died Feb. 23 in her home surrounded by her loving family. Born Feb. 7, 1933 in Ridge she was the daughter of the late Captain William “Taft” Tippett, Sr. and Mary Ethel (Unkle) Tippett. Rose was the owner of the nightclub, Rose’s Place II in Lexington Park. Rose was an avid collector and loved spending time with her children and reading her bible. She had a very kind and generous heart. She is survived by her husband, John Frederick “Tex” Turner,
The County Times
whom she married Oct. 24, 1969; her children, Eddie Hefner (Linda) and Linda Sue Hefner of Canton, Ga., Nancy Ann Balta (John) of Lexington Park and Bobbi Jo Magee (L.P. Mercure) of St. Mary’s City; grandchildren, Joseph M. Unick, Jeffrey S. Long, Angela R. Callander (Marvin), Michele L. Hurley (Tim), David Hefner, Brandon E. Carter, Christy R. Stephenson (Shane), Lindsay N. Cochran (Josh) and Jessica L. Balta, 15 great-grandchildren; siblings, Marjorie Ann McKim (Howard) of York, Pa., Lawrence Douglas “Captain Lou” Tippett (Betty) of Ridge, Alberta Marie Sullivan (Charlie)
of Ridge, Grace Pamela Traas of Piney Point, John Francis Tippett, Sr. of Hagerstown and Alice Rita Cooper (Eddie) of Ridge; 12 nieces and nephews; and sister in law, Rita Tippett of Mannheim, Germany. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, William Taft “Bill” Tippett, Jr., great-granddaughter, Mackenzie G. Callander, brother in law, Robert Traas and nephew, Billy Cooper. Relatives and friends are invited to Rose’s Life Celebration in St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Ridge, Feb. 26 from 5 – 8 p.m. Prayers will be recited at 7 p.m. A Mass of
Christian Burial will be celebrated Feb. 27 at 11 a.m. with Monsignor Maurice O’Connell as the celebrant. Interment will follow in St. Michael’s Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Joseph Unick, Jeffrey Long, Marvin Callander, Tim Hurley, Shane Stephenson and Josh Cochran. Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of St. Mary’s, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650 or Lexington Park Rescue Squad, Lexington Park, MD 20653 Condolences to the family may be made at www. Brinsfieldfuneral.com. Arrangements by the Brinsfield
Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown.
Joseph Lewis “J. Lewis” Yates, Jr., 80 Joseph Lewis “J. Lewis” Yates, Jr., 80, of Clements, died Feb. 22 in St. Mary’s Nursing Center. Born July 21, 1928 in Leonardtown, he was the son of the late Joseph Lewis and Agnes Jeannette “Nettie” Tennyson Yates, Sr. He was preceded in death by his wife Claudia Abell Guy Yates
Sept. 28, 1995 in Leonardtown. They were married Dec. 15, 1953 in the Leonardtown Courthouse. He is survived by his children Frankie Merson, Dale Yates, Lewis Yates and Jenny Yates all of Clements, and Gene Merson of Leesburg, Va.; siblings Jeannette Foley of N. Palm Beach, Fla., John B. Yates, Donie Alvey, Georgia Mae Nelson and Winnie Kopacko all of Clements and Linda Williams of Loveville; 12 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by one daughter, Lynn Burroughs, and four siblings, Jake Yates, Evelyn Clarke, Dale Yates and Thomas “Brent” Yates. J. Lewis was a lifelong St. Mary’s County resident where he graduated from Margaret Brent High School’s Class of 1946. He worked as a farmer and part-time testing water samples for the St. Mary’s County Health Department. He enjoyed gardening, farming, spending time with his family and grandchildren, playing poker and dancing with the Mrs. The family will receive friends Feb. 26 from 5 – 8 p.m. in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, where Prayers will be said at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Feb. 27 at 10 a.m. in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Morganza, with Fr. Keith Woods officiating. Interment will follow in the Church Cemetery. Pallbearers will be David Burroughs, Todd Merson, George Burroughs, Chris Yates, Timmy Yates and Mike Guy. Honorary Pallbearers will be all of his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Contributions may be made to American Cancer Society, St. Mary’s County Unit, P.O. Box 1032, Lexington Park, MD 20653 and/or 7th District Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 7, Avenue, MD 20609. To send a condolence to the family please visit our website at www.mgfh.com. Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A.
The County Times
Information for Expectant Parents The appearance of a plus sign, two lines, or whatever pregnancy test indicator informs a woman that she is expecting can signal a time of change and excitement. Many people look forward to having a baby and are anxious to experience the changes and joys that lie ahead. During the first few weeks of a pregnancy, the body is transforming at a rapid pace and many things are taking place. If this is a first pregnancy, you may be unaware of what to expect. While no one wants to think of complications arising early on in the pregnancy, it’s important to be aware of certain warning signs and consult with your doctor if you experience any odd conditions. A situation that may occur in the first trimester of pregnancy of which many women are unaware is a subchorionic hemorrhage. Also known as a subchorionic hematoma, subchorionic bleed or clot, a subchorionic hemorrhage (SCH) is the most common sonographic abnormality in the presence of a live embryo. It is estimated that 25 to 40 percent of all women will experience some sort of bleeding during the first trimester of pregnancy. An SCH is often the cause. An SCH is a collection of fluid and blood that forms between the uterine wall and the chorionic membrane. While there is no concrete cause, some surmise it occurs during egg implantation. The egg slightly separates or tears from the uterus causing a bleed. There is nothing a woman did or could have done to cause or prevent them.
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Brighten up the Tooth-Brushing Experience As any parent knows, getting kids excited about anything that isn’t the latest toy or gadget is a hard sell. When it comes to getting kids excited about personal grooming habits, parents know the task is even taller than usual.
When kids get excited about brushing their teeth, they can proudly show off their pearly whites.
An SCH occurs to pregnant women of all ages and races. Depending upon the severity of the hemorrhage, a woman could experience mild to moderate bleeding, cramping and other symptoms -- or no symptoms at all. An SCH is a risk early in pregnancy because t h e
blood clot itself can cause a miscarriage. The clot can release completely from the uterus and cause the fetus and placenta to miscarry. According to WebMD, pregnant women with a demonstrable hematoma have a prognosis worse than women without a hematoma. The outcome of the fetus depends on the size of the hematoma, the mother’s age, and the fetus’ gestational age. Rates of miscarriage increase with advancing maternal age and increasing size of hematoma. Late firstor second-trimester bleeding also worsens the prognosis. An ultrasound can shed light on whether you are experiencing a subchorionic hemorrhage and help determine By Ashton Carkhuff the course of action. Treatment for an Contributing Writer SCH varies among doctors and there is no definitive cure for the condiNot many people know more about procrastination than I do. I have suffered from this tion. Nature simply has to take problem from an early age. In high school I waited until the night before an assignment was due to its course. Most hematomas restart typing my work. When I entered college I had hit a low point and waited until an hour before solve themselves by 20 weeks class started before I sat down in front of a computer to even think about the assignment, hoping that of pregnancy, either being the professor would somehow not make it into school that day. I had always passed my classes with reabsorbed or bled out. Docrespectable grades and to me that meant that I must be a good writer. I had rationalized that if I can write tors may suggest you go on my term papers in an hour and pass them; then if put time and effort into my papers they would probably with your normal activities. win a Pulitzer Prize. For me that concept of winning a Pulitzer Prize was further away than the stars, Others advise you take it because I am a person who would rather clean my house than scratch an item off my to-do list (as long as easy, meaning no heavy cleaning is not on the to-do list.) lifting, frequent resting, As I have grown I have learned the hard way that ignoring things does not make them go away. Most no exercise, and no sexual of the time if you turn a blind eye to something over time it creates a larger problem than the problem you intercourse. Bed rest may had in the first place. For example it is easier to practice good dental hygiene than to get a filling. It is easier be suggested if deemed to stay active and eat a healthy diet than to try to lose the excess weight and take daily doctor prescribed necessary. medications. It is easier to turn down the thermostat and unplug small appliances than to write a large check With frequent docto the utility company each month. It is easier to carpool or use mass transit than to replace your tires on tor check-ups and care your vehicle more frequently. on the part of the mother, One of the biggest mistakes that we make is thinking that someone else will take care of our problems many pregnancies go on to for us. When we are walking and notice litter on the roadside, why assume that someone else will pick it full term despite an SCH. up? Dispose of it yourself; we are part this community everyone will benefit from your actions. On the Consult with your obstetrireverse side everyone is affected by the actions and recklessness of the individuals who flip that one cigacian to learn more about the rette butt outside the window at the intersection. They don’t evaporate and disappear; they make friends, condition and to discuss any multiply, and live in small communes on the curbside. concerns if you experience It seems like we don’t have enough time in our days to complete the things that we need to. Howany bleeding or abnormaliever, if you really kept a log of your daily activities where would you spend most of your time? What ties during the pregnancy. It if you took the two hours that you watched the TV and used it doing something beneficial to your is preferable to err on the side health, the environment, or the community? Your life would be more fulfilled and you would have of caution if you find anything more energy to do the things on your list. Investing in yourself and the community is the best that goes against the norm. Do not contribution you can make. hesitate to call your doctor and assuage your fears. That is what he or she is there for.
N W O D to Earth
lifestyles@countytimes.net
Perhaps no grooming habit has proven more of a challenge over the years than proper dental care. As hard as parents may try, kids seem to have an innate aversion to brushing their teeth. Recognizing that, Dr. Fresh(R), Inc., the renowned manufacturer of popular and affordable oral care products, offers parents the following tips to get kids excited about taking care of their teeth. * Make brushing fun: Even parents can admit that brushing your teeth isn’t the most fun thing a person does every day. However, that doesn’t mean this morning and nightly ritual can’t be spiced up with a little creativity. Thanks to his own daughter’s stubbornness when it came to brushing her teeth, Dr. Fresh was inspired to add some dazzle to dental care. By taking the LCD light out of a pair of fancy sneakers and placing it in the bottom of a regular toothbrush, Dr. Fresh did just that. After some more thorough research and development, the Firefly(R) was born. Employing the same blinking technology used in a pair of sneakers, the Firefly blinks for 60 seconds, instilling the dentist-recommended one-minute per arch brushing routine, but doing it in a way that’s fun for kids. * Take the hurt out of brushing: One of the foremost reasons many kids don’t like brushing or even trips to the dentist is the pain principle. Kids, and even adults, often associate dental care or dental visits with pain. That’s why Dr. Fresh recommends parents go gentle on young gums. A brush such as the Firefly, with its soft and individually rounded bristles, is the perfect way to comfortable dental care. In fact, dentists have even recommended the Firefly to adults who have experienced difficulty with the harder bristle brushes made for men and women. * Start early: Good dental care habits start at a young age. Unfortunately, so do bad ones, emphasizing the importance of reinforcing proper dental habits in children as early as possible. Studies have shown that childhood tooth decay is reaching an epidemic level in the United States, and it’s been well documented that cavities in baby teeth set the stage for cavities in adult teeth. Dental professionals recommend replacing a toothbrush once every three months. In fact, the lights on the Firefly toothbrush stop functioning after the optimal number of uses, reminding kids and parents alike that it’s time for a new toothbrush. By giving kids a new, bright and blinking toothbrush when the light stops blinking, you can renew kids’ interest in brushing their teeth simply by following your dentist’s guidelines. For more information on the Firefly toothbrush, visit www.drfresh.com.
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The County Times
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Announcing the
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ASK OUR FRIENDLY PHARMACIST FOR ALL OF THE DETAILS! Wildewood Shopping Center California, MD 20619
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Route 245 Hollywood, MD 20636
301-862-7702 301-884-5636 301-475-2531
The County Times
Thursday, February 26, 2009
20
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Thursday, February 26, 2009
The County Times
A House is a Home Now Arriving What Can My Country Do for Me?
By Patrick Dugan Contributing Writer Not quite the way President Kennedy worded it but…On February 18th President Obama let the country know the main points of his Homeowner affordability and Stability Plan. It is thought that this plan will help between 7 and 9 million homeowners avoid foreclosure. Supposedly this will be accomplished through refinancing or restructuring of their current mortgage. It is amazing to me every day that I hear things such as 75 BILLION DOLLARS, 100 BILLION DOLLARS, AND 850 BILLION DOLLARS being tossed around as if we are talking about a small amount of money. I cannot believe that we are burdening our children and their children with the problems we have created. Our children and our grandchildren will be paying back the debt we are currently incurring But, that is for a letter to the editor. This column will be about how the bill will help current homeowners and future buyers. First the government is giving ANOTHER 100 BILLION DOLLARS each to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. These two Government Sponsored Entities, (GSE’s) help to insure that mortgages can be resold, or actually buy the packages of mortgages themselves. By infusing each GSE with cash, the government is encouraging them to buy up, “bad”
mortgages and get them off the books of other lenders. It is thought that by removing bad debt, or showing that the bad debt is insured, lenders will turn loose more money into the economy and give it a jump-start. Of course, this also means that government money, (yours, your children’s and grandchildren’s tax dollars) have now been used to buy bad investments. Whether or not the influx of cash generates enough spending to get the economy going, and thereby send enough tax dollars back to the government to make up for the investment is the TRILLION DOLLAR question. Who will get help? Homeowners who took advantage of the opportunity to buy more expensive homes than they could afford to pay back will benefit. The sub prime, or exotic loan may end up being great for many borrowers. If they have fallen behind in their mortgage and do not owe more than 105% of their house value they may be able to have their mortgage redone and end up with the same low initial payment, but this would be for the life of the loan. They make out great! What about the homeowner who had a good credit record? Paid their bills on time, but have fallen victim to the times and their household income has dropped? They may qualify as well. If your income has fallen and you just simply cannot keep up with your payments
there is a proposal to let you modify your loan for 5 years. This would lower your mortgage payments over that time to help you stay in your home. This is a great idea! This will actually let you start working with your lender before you are behind on payments, and before your credit is ruined. The new homebuyer makes out as well. You will receive an $8000 tax credit if you buy before the first of December 2009. Look closely, it is the first of December, not the end of the year. This is important to remember so that you do not miss out on this great benefit. Who does not qualify? Many many people. If your mortgage is over $417,000, in St. Mary’s County and $729,750 in Calvert County you will not qualify. You also cannot use this program to modify your loans on investment properties. It is only for your primary residence. If your primary residence happens to be in a row house, or apartment building of less than 4 units, and you own the building you do may qualify to redo your loan. Full details of this plan are due out March 4th. I will attempt to read it and get you all the important information that may make the decision easier for you to buy a house. If you have any questions or comments, or if you need help buying, selling or renting please contact me at PatrickDugan@mris.com
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A House is a Home
The County Times
Thursday, February 26, 2009
22
Marrick Homes Pushes the Limits of Customer Satisfaction
By Sean Rice Staff Writer It’s no exaggeration to say that Marrick Homes has a satisfaction rate of near 100 percent among past customers – they have the data to prove it. Woodland, O’Brien & Associates, an independent research firm that has 22 years experience in customer satisfaction research for the country’s larger homebuilders, reports that Marrick has satisfaction grades that are among the best in the country. “Your buyers were genuinely thrilled with the condition of the homes as delivered, and product quality ratings are in the top 10 percent of our clients nationwide with literally none disappointed.,” J. Keith O’Brien wrote in a recent report to Marrick Properties. O’Brien reported that during the last five years his company has a response rate from past customers between 65 and 80 percent. Among those buyers who responded to the detailed surveys, 100 percent reported they were satisfied. “The feedback is accompanied by continuous accolades – ‘love the home’, ‘great place to live’, ‘superior design’, ‘great value for the $’,” O’Brien wrote. Marrick Properties has been building homes, shopping centers and office buildings in Southern Maryland for 25 years, and currently has three housing subdivisions in St. Mary’s County. From an affordability standpoint, Marrick Homes VP of Sales and Marketing Jay Webster points to Cecil’s Mill subdivision, off Great Mills Road. “It’s tucked back in there very nicely, and it has great-sized home sites,” Webster told The Photos Showcase the Breton Model at Cecil’s Mill Subdivision
County Times. “We have a variety of homes styles available, ranging from 2,200 to 3,400 square feet,” Webster said. “And you can make quite a few modifications.” Marrick is in the third phase of building at Cecil’s Mill, with 80 homes already built and 40 more on the way. Prices start at $299,900. A “Breton” style home is on display as a model at Cecil’s Mill and potential customers are invited to visit Marrick’s design center in Prince Frederick to have a hand-on look at possible upgrades and styles available. “We take a lot of pride in satisfying our customers,” Webster said.
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The County Times
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wanderings of an Aimless
d
Min
Pleasure of the Spoken or Written Word By Shelby Oppermann Contributing Writer One of my favorite simple pleasures is listening to audio books. Most anyone knows that has stopped in my shop that I usually say, ”I’ll be right with you, let me turn off my mystery.” I receive hours of enjoyment from books on tape. At home, I normally have a book I’m reading and then various magazines are always at hand. This fills my head with vast amounts of trivial knowledge, yet it is so relaxing. I’m ready for my stint on Jeopardy. I
know the Internet is now one stop shopping for lots of things including e-books, but hearing or reading the written word is an indescribable pleasure to me. You keep hearing about print media slowly declining; but I still feel that if you can keep the feel of a book or the smell of a book in kid’s hands from when they are little that they will always find time to read. It warms my heart to walk in the Library and see so many people utilizing the computers and reference room, besides just checking out books and audio books. For me, I get so excited when I
Creature Feature The Amazing Giraffe
By Theresa Morr Contributing Writer Can you imagine cleaning your ears with your tongue? Giraffes do. But these guys can do other neat stuff with their incredibly long tongues, like some serious dining out. Giraffes have colorful pink and black prehensile or wrap-around tongues that are anything but short. How about a tongue 18 to 22 inches long? The giraffe just wraps it around a tree branch, and with a swift movement of its head, the leaves are stripped away. Dinner is served! Giraffes are the world’s tallest land mammals. Adults range from 14 to 19 feet tall, so reaching for high tree branches is easy. They weigh about 1,200 to 4,000 pounds or more, and spend a good part of each day feasting on yummy leaves and shoots from the acacia, their favorite tree. Giraffes eat about 75 pounds of foliage every day while roaming the African savannahs and open acacia woodlands south of the Sahara Desert. Like camels, giraffes don’t drink water often. And when they do, they have to spread their long forelegs in a wide, awkward position, head down, to reach the water. But mostly, they depend on the morning dew on leaves or the water in them to satisfy thirst. Long-legged giraffes look a little silly when pacing or galloping. When pacing, the legs on one side of the body are lifted at the same time. This special gait saves energy and allows for a longer stride, too. But giraffes can also reach speeds of 35 miles per hour when galloping along, as their hind feet reach in
front of their fore feet, all the while their neck swinging from side to side. Have you ever wondered why giraffes don’t fall over when galloping? Well, they have seven supporting neck bones called vertebrae – the same number as you do in your neck! But unlike yours, their vertebrae are elongated and keep the animal balanced when its neck sways. Giraffes also have a special neck circulatory system, which takes care of blood pressure changes. And guess what? This is an animal with plenty of heart – more than 24 pounds worth. Giraffes can rest on the ground, but prefer sleeping standing up, but only for a few minutes at a time. They have great eyesight, but keep one eye open just in case they have to make a quick getaway from an approaching lion. And for safety, they like hanging out with zebras and antelopes. The giraffe’s reddish to chestnut brown pattern in various shapes and sizes on a buff ground helps it to blend in with its surroundings. And just like your fingerprint, each giraffe has its own unique markings. And about those funny looking knobs atop their heads – they’re not horns, just bones covered with skin and tufts of hair. Females give birth while standing up. Newborns are over six feet long and weigh 110 to 120 pounds when dropped about six feet to earth. Ouch! But within 20 minutes or so, the calf is standing up, ready to meet the world. In the wild, giraffes live around 26 years, and in the zoo, about 36 years. For some really cool giraffe pictures, surf over to rosswarner.com/giraffe.html. Comments to Kikusan2@verizon.net.
know I have time to spend picking out the right mysteries to listen to during the day. Many times I have picked out the same audio book twice. It is like when I bought Watership Down by Richard Adams again after 20 years because the cover had changed. I was tricked. Also, never go to the library after you’ve had dinner and a glass or two of wine - that time three of the audio books were ones I had already listened to. There are times when one wants a brand new ”hot off the press book” just for themselves or as a gift. I’m someone who tries to shop local as much as possible, and really I just prefer smaller spaces. I love Bay Books in California for new books and audio books. The new book smell is so completely different. When you walk in someone speaks to you and helps you right away. Going on the hunt for old books is like finding treasure. Walking into Fenwick Street Used Music and Books in Leonardtown is the feeling of being in a secret garden of books. The most amazing out of print and up to date books can be found there. I found an instrumental CD that I couldn’t believe I would ever come across again. I went into a cute shop in Leonardtown for the first time last week with friends called The White Rabbit, a children’s bookstore. I was in heaven. I thought for sure they wouldn’t have this one particular book that my son Ryan carried around with him for months as a little one called Stella Luna, but there it was, one of the most beautifully illustrated books I’ve ever seen. My sons always laughed about me watching “Murder she Wrote” over and over. I very rarely can remember “who done it”. I believe that is because moms are usually multi-tasking and never really watch an entire show in one sitting.
Now it’s more likely that I doze off for five or ten minutes and miss crucial scenes that explain who the murderer is. I break my audio books and TV shows down into two categories: Murder She Wrote, Diagnosis Murder, or Hallmark mysteries and the like I think of as “happy murder mysteries” since you never really see blood or someone get murdered. It’s more about the process. These are the ones I prefer. The other category is obviously the realism style like, Cold Case, Criminal Minds, CSI’s, or in books, Jeffery Deaver, etc. Jeffery Deaver can be so scary that I have had to stop listening at a section for a week or two before I can go back to it. I normally listen to a happy mystery and then a scary mystery, and so on. I’ve tried to relisten to the classics or romances, or contemporary novels. They don’t seem to hold my interest. I need a mystery, but still have a good amount of mindless dribble. Sometimes, I think it’s easier to visualize in your head the author’s scenes, because then you can put on your own limits. On TV, you are watching and all of a sudden it’s all right there in front of you in full goriness. I enjoy visualization better. I wrote a short story a while back and had my friend read it. She said, “She thought it started it out so nice, but then she wasn’t expecting it to turn so violent.” I told her, “That’s kind of the point, you remember it this way, when it has a twist.” I think she mumbled something to the effect of, “Yeah, like your mind”. But, I’m not sure… To each new day’s imaginings, Shelby. Please send comments or ideas to: shelbys. wanderings@yahoo.com
Over 250,000 Southern Marylanders can’t be wrong!
The County Times
1. Part of the NFL 4. Sums 8. Hits lightly 12. Poetic meadows 14. Scotttish hillside 15. Sole genus of the family Najadaceae 16. Freedom from difficulty 17. A cutting remark 18. Electronic communication 19. Coffee additives 22. Feeling ill 23. Droop 24. “The _____ Show” with Jon Stewart 26. Move unsteadily 29. Scandinavian name for small herring 30. 4840 square yards 31. Gray sea eagle 34. Food from dried orchid tubers 36. An upper limb 37. _____ and Vanzetti 39. ___ Lilly, drug company 40. This (Spanish) 42. American state 43. Baseball championship playoff 45. Elastance unit 47. Shovel earth
Last Week’s Puzzle Solutions
ner
KiddKioer
CLUES ACROSS
Thursday, February 26, 2009
48. Gambling town 49. Notre Dame team nickname 55. Botswana monetary unit 57. 12th Jewish month 58. Dull sustained pain 59. _____bore: lenton rose 60. Cease to have 61. Heidi Klum’s husband 62. Gomer ____, marine 63. Paul ____, Swiss painter 64. Shaft horsepower (abbr.)
CLUES DOWN
1. One of the Baldwin brothers 2. Fright and alarm 3. Pillow slip 4. An abbot’s jurisdiction 5. Consumed liquids 6. C. ____en: O.J. prosecutor 7. Point that is one point S of SE 8. Equipment casualty 9. Slightly open 10. ___liff: court officer 11. Software Sight License 13. Where she sold seashells 15. Contradicts 20. Metric capacity unit
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21. Consumer 24. The face of a clock 25. European shad 26. Counterweights 27. Electronic countermeasures 28. _____ngle: 4-sided figure 29. Point midway between S and SE 32. Canadian flyers 33. Japanese classical theater 35. Orbital point where satellite is nearest to the earth 36. Consumed food 38. Atmospheric light bands 41. Suspiration 44. Suitable for use as food 45. Unit of a temperature scale 46. Black tropical American cuckoo 48. Ribonuclease 49. Cut down a tree 50. Use language 51. Object that is worshipped as a god 52. Frosts 53. Former ruler of Iran 54. Give assistance to 55. Thrust horse power (abbr.) 56. Expression to attract attention
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Thursday, February 26, 2009
The County Times
un If you are right handed, you will tend to chew your food on your right side. Fact If you are left handed, you will tend to chew your food on your left side.
Community
Father Andrew White School Collects Cans for Helping Hands
During Catholic Schools Week, Father Andrew White Students and their families collected over 1200 items that were donated to Helping Hands in Hollywood, Maryland. Helping Hands will distribute these items to the needy in our local area.
Spring Camps Being Offered to All Girls!! Spend your spring break at camp with us. All girls grades K – 12th are invited to join us for a fun filled week. All Spring Camps offer Supervised Fun, Hands-on Activities, Games, Songs, Crafts, Adventure and Excitement for all girls! Join us for an amazing spring break! Bus Transportation Available for All Locations!! Prince George’s County – Camp Wonderland April 6 -10, 2009 Southern Maryland District Youth Camp, Cheltenham, MD Charles County – It’s a Girl’s Life April 6 – 9, 2009 William B. Wade Elementary, Waldorf, MD Charles, Calvert and St. Mary’s Counties – Get in the Picture April 6 – 9, 2009 Camp Winona, Hughesville, MD Volunteers always welcomed!!
(left to right) Gabe Sarlo, Max Gaston, Chris Tennyson, Nick Carroll, Ryan Bunch; all are 8th grade students who helped to load the Helping Hands truck with the driver.
Employees at the College of Southern Maryland are Honored for Their Service
Registration is Limited So Register Soon!! Visit www.girlscouts4u.org or contact Lori Davis at 1-800-834-1702 or 301-638-5373 or ldavis@gscnc.org for more information. For more camp options, please visit www.gscnc.org.
Call Our Leasing Office For Details 301-737-0737 Apartments of Wildewood
Among employees honored at the College of Southern Maryland for their years of service are, front row from left, Becky Cockerham, Bob St. Pierre, Richard Siciliano, Dona Batten, Susan Needham and Patrick Allen; middle row from left, Tabitha Krauel, Joel Kinison, Carol Harrison, Linda Smith and Susan Vencelov; and rear from left, Gene Kirscht, Theresa Beckett, Charlene Cole-Newkirk and Barbara Bowling.
301-862-5307
Call For More Information Bella Bailey Marketing & Leasing MGR.
WildeRidge Apartments
23314 Surrey Way • California, Maryland 20619 Fax: 301-737-0853 • leasing@apartmentsofwildewood.com
Cuisine
The County Times Today in St. Mary’s County we have many wonderful options for dining out. Each week we will feature a local restaurant and give our readers an overview of what they can enjoy on the menu at each location. Bon Appétit!
& More
On The Menu
Fiesta Café 28255 Three Notch Road, Mechanicsville, MD 301-884-9730 Conveniently located along Three Notch
Recipe Start to finish: 20 minutes
Road in Mechanicsville, the new Fiesta Café brings an extensive menu with all your Mexican favorites! Opened earlier this month, local owners Temo and Cindy Amezcua, provide fast, friendly service and great food whether you are dining in or carrying out. Open Monday-Saturday from 11:00 a.m.9:00 p.m. Start your meal off with chips and salsa and one of their great appetizers. Then enjoy one of the authentic entrees including combination platters, tacos, fajitas, salads or creative house specials ranging in price from $5.75- $14.95. Homemade desserts such as flan, fried ice cream or fried cheesecake will finish out your meal. Stop by and say hello and try a new alternative for dinner tonight.
PENNE WITH MUSHROOMS Servings: 4 AND MINT
1 1/2 pounds mixed mushrooms, such as shiitake, bluefoot, oyster, chanterelle and hedgehog 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil Salt and ground black pepper, to taste 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 1/2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh thyme 1 pound penne pasta 3 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh mint 2 cups grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese (or similar Parmesan cheese) Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. While the water heats, remove and discard any mushroom stems. Cut large mushroom caps into halves or quarters; leave smaller ones whole.
In a large, heavy skillet heat the oil over medium-high. A handful at a time, add the mushrooms (just enough to form a single layer in the pan), season lightly with salt and pepper, and saute until they start to brown, about 3 minutes. Push the browned mushrooms to the side of the pan, then add the next batch and repeat. Once all of the mushrooms have been browned, add the butter and let it foam, then add the garlic and thyme. Stir well, then remove the skillet from the heat. When the water boils, cook the pasta until al dente according to package directions. Drain the pasta and immediately toss with the mushrooms. Add the mint and half of the cheese. Toss well, then add the remaining cheese. Adjust the seasonings.
Think outside the mojito By PERVAIZ SHALLWANI For The Associated Press Most people in the U.S. are familiar with mint as a flavoring in candies, chewing gum, ice cream, the occasional cocktail, maybe a tea, and as a particularly dated sauce for lamb. But elsewhere in the world, mint is a key _ and refreshing _ ingredient in numerous savory recipes. In Thailand, whole mint leaves add a pleasantly bracing flavor to spring rolls. In Vietnam, they are folded into meaty lettuce wraps. In Italy, mint is stirred into a pasta sauce and pureed for a variation on pesto. And in India and Pakistan, it spikes a spicy chutney that is as
New Uses For Mint
ubiquitous on restaurant tables as ketchup is in American diners. Like any good weed, mint adapts well to its environment (mints are, after all, a highly invasive plant). This produces countless varieties that can vary widely in aroma and flavor. Some even smell and taste of chocolate and pineapple. Mint can be found growing around the globe, from dry, rocky ridges in the Mediterranean to gardens in Vietnam. The fresh leaf offered most often at American grocers is spearmint. ``Most people use it not only for its flavor, but for its health reasons,’’ says Boston chef Ana Sortun, whose cookbook ``Spice’’ dedicates an entire chapter to savory dishes
featuring mint. ``It’s a digestive and an antioxidant.’’ In savory dishes at her restaurant, Oleana, Sortun uses mint the classic Turkish way, which is combined with dill and parsley. ``Mint as a fresh herb is best combined with other herbs,’’ she says. ``It creates a warm flavor.’’ Try cutting it in into ribbons to freshen salad recipes. Stir a few chopped teaspoons at the last minute into cooked peas. Add it to a marinade for grilled beef, lamb or trout. Or use it to add depth to a classic tomato sauce. In this Tuscan pasta, mint invigorates the meatiness of wild mushrooms.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
On The Vine
26
Beringer Vineyards www.beringer.com
Beringer boasts “Time Honored Tradition” for good reason, as Napa Valley’s benchmark producer since 1876 they offer contemporary elegance along with cutting edge quality. Beringer offers a large assortment of collections; a favorite is their Founders Estate collection which provides their legacy quality with everyday value. This collection features a wonderfully refreshing Riesling with peach and apricot flavors balanced with a touch of lemon/lime. Or for red wine lovers try their Shiraz with full and lush flavors of plums, blackberries and a touch of cloves. The Founders Estate collection also features delightful Chardonnay, Zinfandel and Merlot varietals. All are available locally for under $12.00 per bottle. This Beringer collection marries seamlessly with a variety of culinary tastes. Try these great food and wine pairing tips from Beringer to help you decide what your preferences are: • The judicious addition of salt to food, especially to sauces and other savory dishes can be useful in some cases to tone down the bitterness and astringency (sharp taste) in some wines. • Sour foods with high amounts of acidity will decrease our perception of sourness or tartness in wine and make it taste richer and mellower. Pair with crisp and fruity wines. • Sweetness in food will increase the perception of bitterness and astringency in wine, making it seem less sweet (drier), less fruity and stronger. Pair with sweet dessert wines. • Savory (sweet, spicy or protein dominant, also called umami) tastes in food will also increase our perception of acidity and bitterness in wine. Serve with off-dry or light wines. • Spicy food will exaggerate the tannins and bitterness in a wine but adding something salty or sour to the food will counteract this effect. For instance, squeezing lime juice (which is acidic) over hot enchiladas makes for a more wine-friendly dish. Pair with a wine that is low on acid and tannins.
Healthy Bites When Stewing for Health, Pick Meat Carefully
By JIM ROMANOFF For The Associated Press Meaty stews can be rich comfort foods... that often come at a nutritional price. But giving a bit of thought to your choice and quantity of meat can lower the cost of comfort. When making beef stew, chuck is the best choice. Bottom round, which is leaner but still has enough fat to keep it moist and flavorful, also works well, especially if you cook it low and slow _ that is, for a long time at low heat. Pork butt and shoulder definitely make for flavorful results, but are high in fat. Lower-fat pork sirloin and tenderloin can make a sumptuous and tender stew. But they must be cooked for less time, usually under an hour, so they don’t end up tough and dry. For lamb stew, leg meat is considerably lower in fat than other cuts and offers great flavor. The leg meat contains enough connective tissue so that it becomes relatively tender when cooked at a low temperature for a long time. To keep things significantly healthier, always be sure to trim all meats of any visible fat before you cook them. Another strategy for making a stew lean is to load it with vegetables. They add essential flavor and are filling, but low in fat and calories. Mushrooms in particular add a deep, satisfying flavor to stew, plus they have a chewy, almost meaty texture.
27
Thursday, February 26, 2009
The County Times
Business Directory
Deadlines for Classifieds are Tuesday at 12 pm. To Place a Classified Ad, please email your ad to: classifieds@countytimes.net or Call: 301-373-4125 or Fax: 301-373-4128 for a price quote. Office hours are: Monday thru Friday 8am - 4pm. The County Times is published each Thursday.
Classifieds Real Estate
Don’t spend what you don’t have! www.ProfessorMoneyWise.com
(301) 997-8271
3 bedroom, 2 full-bath home situated on 5 ACRES!! Private, yet very convenient location, within just 10 minutes of Pax River Naval Base. Features include a wrap-around porch with recessed lighting for entertaining; cathedral ceiling in the living room; wood stove with beautiful stone chimney for back-up on those really cold winter nights; new dishwasher; new stove; and the whole house has been freshly painted. Detached garage is mechanics dream! There is one large bay door but will accomodate up to 4 vehicles! There are also many ATV trails throughout the property for those who love to ride 4-wheelers, motorcycles, go-carts, etc.! Pictures are available by emailing sparkstammike@aol.com. $335,000. Owner is motivated to sell, come make an offer!! 301-994-2941. Lexington Park - 3 bdrm, 1 ba trailer 4 sale. $9,000. New carpet & doors. 3/4 tank of fuel oil. Call 240577-4565, 410-741-1179
Real Estate Rentals Log and Custom Homes, Home Improvement, Sheds, Farm Structures, Tree Removal, Excavation, Demolition, Hauling, Commercial and Residential MHIC: 98388
Freshly Painted w/New Carpet 2 Bdrm, 2 Bath For an immediate response please call Jimmy (240) 538-8772. A one year lease a must. No pets and no section 8s. Price: $775.
Apartment Rentals
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Two bedrooms available 805-1103 Sq. ft. $938-$992 One 1 BR Available One 3 BR Available
Call For Current Specials! Help Wanted Winegardner Motor Company in search for body shop mechanics. If interested, please call Tommy Cooksey at 301-292-6500. Also NOW HIRING Qualified Sales Consultant, contact Sales Manager. Fireworks Tent Operator Needed Earn 3-5K in just 12 days No investment. Must be 21.Good credit req. You supply all staffing. California Walmart Ava. Call 410-749-3354
Vehicles
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1997 Nissan SENTRA GXE. Auto,power windows,locks,cd,clean runs great low miles great reliable commuter, student, or second car.. great on gas*clean title in hand* $2450obo call (240)421-3141 CORVETTES WANTED! Any year, any condition. Cash buyer. 1-800-369-6148.
Important The County Times will not be held responsible for any ads omitted for any reason. The County Times reserves the right to edit or reject any classified ad not meeting the standards of The County Times. It is your responsiblity to check the ad on its first publication and call us if a mistake is found. We will correct your ad only if notified after the first day of the first publication ran.
The County Times
Thursday, February 26, 2009
28
“Salute to Jazz at the College” Celebrates Alumni Musicians By Andrea Shiell Staff Writer Musicians decades apart in age will celebrate America’s gift to the world of music in a “Salute to Jazz at the College” reunion concert on Saturday, Feb. 28 at St. Mary’s College of Maryland in historic St. Mary’s City. The concert is at 7:30 p.m. in the main arena of the Athletics and Recreation Center. The jazz retrospective will feature performances by the St. Mary’s College Jazz Ensemble and the Alumni Jazz Ensemble, whose members were
students at the college in the 1970s. Bob Levy, who began the jazz program at the college in 1971, said that he had always seen jazz as a good draw for the school’s music program, which later added a music major to its list of offerings. “I felt a great way to inspire and entice students into the music program would be to put together a jazz ensemble,” he said, adding that many of his former students would be joining him at the college along with many local alumni who have enjoyed successful careers in music. Levy said that five performers from his
Photo courtesy of Bob Levy
The 1977 St. Mary’s College of Maryland Jazz Ensemble included saxophone players (from left) Rick Humphreys, a Calvert County High School graduate; Doug Riley; Johnny Long, a Great Mills High School graduate; Al Friedrich; and Scott Taylor, most of whom will return to campus on Feb. 28 for a “Salute to Jazz at the College” reunion concert.
very first jazz ensemble would join nearly 40 other former students and alumni for the event. “This is actually the fourth time our 1970s alumni jazz students have come back to the college,” said Levy, adding that the interest generated by the reunion show has even prompted the college to adopt a bigger venue for Saturday’s concert. “It’ll be a jazz retrospective concert,” said Levy, “and they’re expecting an overflow crowd, so they’ve moved it from St. Mary’s Hall over to the new athletic center.” In the meantime, Levy said he’s dusting off his Gibson custom-made trumpet and preparing for a quick round of rehearsals before the show. “We’re just getting together Friday and Saturday and that’s it,” he said, “that’s all the rehearsal we’ll have.” Levy also reflected on the reunion crowd, explaining that the dynamic shared by this year’s performers would be different than before, as this is the first reunion concert that Levy has organized since 1996. “I think an interesting element to this is we have some players who’ve gone on to become professional musicians, while there are other former students who may not have played for a while, or in 10 or 15 years,” he said. Tr o m b o n i s t Greg Boyer, who went from performing with the col-
lege’s jazz ensemble to play with George Clinton and the P-Funk Allstars and Prince’s NPG band, will be joining other musicians who have played with the likes of Ray Charles, Wilson Pickett, Maceo Parker and others. “He has a brand new composition, a blues that’s called “Faxlempt” and we’ll performing it that night too,” said Levy. Also reuniting with former band mates will be trumpet player and Chopticon High School graduate, Terry Alvey, band director at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, Maryland. Other St. Mary’s county natives and college alumni performing include Great Mills High School graduates Johnny Long on saxophone, Jim Gardner and Jon Corbin on trombone, and Bob Lococo on trumpet. “The reunion and performance should serve as a wonderful model for today’s music students, and allow them to see and hear firsthand the impact jazz has had on the lives of students who were once their age,” said Levy.
ry’s a M
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Show T ime Get Ou t&
Have Fu n Right Here in St. Mar y’s Coun ty! Now Playing AMC Loews, Lexington Park 6, (301) 862-5010
Shows and Rating Provided By Yahoo Entertainment. Check Local Listings For Show Times.
Confessions of a Shopaholic PG, 112 min
Friday the 13th (2009) R, 95 min
He’s Just Not That Into You PG-13, 129 min
Paul Blart: Mall Cop PG, 87 min
Taken PG-13, 93 min
Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail PG-13, 103 min
29
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Thursday, February 26 An Evening With Joe Stead
Calvert Marine Museum Auditorium – 7:30 p.m. Great Britain’s well-known folk musician, collector, teacher, and performer. Admission $10, tickets available online at www.calvertmarinemuseum.com.
$100 + $20 Deep Stack Hold’Em
Donovan’s Irish Pub – 7:30 p.m. All proceeds go to Family First of Southern Maryland. Call 443-975-1591 for more information.
Ladies Night
Country Store Bar (Leonardtown) – 7 p.m. ½ price drinks for ladies from 7-9 p.m.
Outback Steakhouse Luncheon to Benefit Walden/Sierra
Walden/Sierra will hold a fundraising luncheon at the Outback Steakhouse in California, Maryland, on Thursday, February 26th, at 11:30 a.m. Tickets are $20 each, and proceeds will help support Walden’s communitybased programs, including crisis intervention, trauma counseling for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse, and substance abuse treatment programs for Southern Maryland residents. For more information or to purchase tickets, please call Valerie Colvin at 301-997-1300 ext. 804, or visit www.waldensierra.org.
Friday, February 27 Texas Hold’Em
Mechanicsville Fire House (21865 Hills Club Rd) – 7 p.m. Benefits Optimist Club and Mechanicsville VFD Ladies Auxiliary. Call 301884-4709 for more information.
Film & Concert: ‘Espace Ouvert’
Joy Lane Healing Center – 7 p.m. Concert and film featuring Malcolm Goldstein, Violinist-Maestro of Improvisation. Go to www.joylanehealingcenter.net or call 301-373-2522 for registration and information.
Maryland, My Maryland Exhibit
North End Gallery (Leonardtown) – 11 a.m. Call 301-475-3130 for more information.
The County Times
Homespun CoffeeHouse Open Mic
Christ Episcopal Church Parish Hall in Chaptico – 7 p.m. Admission is $5.00 per person (performers free). Doors open at 7pm and play starts at 7:30pm. For more information, call John at (301) 994-2843 or visit our website at www.smtmd.org.
DJ Mango
DragN Inn (Charlotte Hall) – 9 p.m.
Economics Reading Group
The first meeting of the Free Market Economics Reading Group is Friday, February 27, 2009 from 7 to 8 p.m. at Dunkin Donuts on Three Notch Road in California, MD. The group is open to the public. Anyone interested in learning about economics is invited to attend. For more information, call Cindy Jones at 301-994-0074.
Saturday, February 28
Greenwell has several camp options to choose from: Camp Greenwell - our traditional outdoor recreation camp Horse Camp - spend a week riding and learning about our equine friends (Also offered during Spring Break April 6-9) Kayak Camp - a week of skills and thrills on the river Intermediate Kayak Camp - for those with previous kayaking experience Fishing Camp - new offering in ‘09 for the curious and the enthusiast
Sunday, March 1
Camps begin June 22 and continue through Aug. 21. All camps run from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.; before and aftercare is available. With reasonable fees, Greenwell offers one of the best summer camp values for your dollar in Southern Maryland. Come Play in Our Backyard!
All-You-Can-Eat Breakfast Bay District VFD (Lexington Park) – 8 a.m. $8.00 Adults / $5.00 Kids 5-12, 4 and under free.
FOP-7 Poker Leader Board Challenge FOP-7 Lodge (Chancellor’s Run Rd) – 2 p.m. For more info or questions contact fop7maryland.poker@gmail.com or call 301-863-6007.
Camp Greenwell COSMIC Symphony Family Concert – 7 p.m. Registration Great Mills High School – 7 p.m. Featuring Young Artist Competition winners. Go to www.cosmicmusic.org for performance schedules and more information.
Full Effect & DJ Rob
Hotel Charles (Hughesville) – 9 p.m. Full Effect with DJ Rob playing during intermissions in the Party Room. Cover charge. Call 301-274-4612.
DJ Katie
Online registration for Greenwell’s summer camps opens to the general public on March 1. Visit www.greenwellfoundation.org for dates and rates and to register for summer fun.
All You Can Eat Breakfast
Father Andrew White School’s Home and School Association is sponsoring a community all-you-can-eat breakfast on Sunday March 1, 2009, from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm, at Father Andrew White School in Leonardtown, MD. The menu is: Eggs, Bacon, Sausage, Biscuits, Sausage Gravy, Pancakes, Fried Potatoes, Danish, Coffee, Tea, Cocoa, Juice, Milk Cost is: Ages 13 - up: $7 Ages 8 - 12: $5 Ages 5 - 7: $3 Ages under 5: FREE fatherandrewwhite.org
Lenten Seafood Dinners Immaculate Heart of Mary Church located on Three Notch Road in Lexington Park will host its annual Lenten Seafood Dinners beginning Friday February 27th – April 3rd, from 4:30 – 7 p.m. Carryout will be available. Prices will range form $7 - $14. Children meals available – children under three eat FREE. For more information call 301-863-8144.
Mechanicsville Moose Lodge – 8 p.m.
TOOMANYMIKES
Cadillac Jacks (Lexington Park) – 9 p.m. Proceeds go to help Matt Mattingly.
Shop For a Cure
Come Join Us To Support Breast Cancer Awareness on: Saturday February 28th, 2009 Leonardtown Volunteer Rescue Squad 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Longaberger, Tastefully Simple, Avon, Creative Memories, Slumber Party, Pampered Chef, Home Interiors, Silpada Jewelry, Party Lite, Greeting Cards, Purses, Tupperware, Local Crafters and Much More!
Free Women’s Wellness Program
St. Mary’s Hospital and St. Mary’s Deli-
n O g n i o G
What’s
cados, Inc., announce a free Women’s Wellness program to be held Saturday, Feb. 28 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church of Laurel Grove in Mechanicsville, Md. The program includes health screenings, continental breakfast and lunch, health displays and educational materials. Health care professionals will discuss anemia, living well with arthritis, dental health and medical issues, riding the hormone rollercoaster, and tips on women’s health and wellness. Pre-registration is required. For more information, or to register for the day’s activities, please call 301-475-6019 or visit www.smhwecare.com.
LIBRARY ANNOUNCEMENTS Activities planned for teens
Teens can enjoy an afternoon of gaming fun from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. today at Lexington Park or watch a movie with other teens from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Leonardtown. Both programs, sponsored by the library’s TAG (Teen Advisory Groups), are free and snacks will be provided. Teens must be 13 years old or older to attend the movie. Several special teen programs are being offered during Teen Tech Week, Mar. 814. Deb Daniel from Discover U Children’s Museum will conduct a class on designing a computer game using Scratch from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on March 9 at Charlotte Hall, on March 11 at Lexington Park, and on Mar. 12 at Leonardtown. Teens will have fun experimenting with avatar creation in a class to be held on Mar. 11 from 4 p.m. to 5:30
p.m. at Lexington Park. These free classes are for teens ages 12 years and older and do require registration since space is limited. Teens are invited to Teen Gaming Fun at Leonardtown Library from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Mar. 10 to play Wii and other games with teens. Snacks will be provided. Please register for this free program.
Libraries celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday
Children of all ages will enjoy stories, activities, and songs related to Dr. Seuss when the libraries celebrate his 105th birthday. The free programs will be Feb. 28 at 2 p.m. at Lexington Park and on Mar. 7 at 10 a.m. at both Charlotte Hall and Leonardtown. Registration is required.
Friends Annual Book Sale planned
The Friends of the Library will hold their annual book sale March 13-15 at the County Fairgrounds. Donations of good used books, audios and puzzles can be dropped off at the Leonardtown Library. Individuals donating boxes of items are asked to bring their donations directly to the fairgrounds the week of the sale. To volunteer to help before, during or after the sale, please contact Carol Moody at 240-725-0051. The book sale will be open on Friday evening, March 13, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. for Friends members only. Membership will be available at the door. The sale is open to the public on Sat, Mar. 14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sun, Mar. 15 from noon until 4:30 p.m.
The County Times
Thursday, February 26, 2009
30
The Merchants of Great Mills Rd
Wish to thank their loyal customers for their continued support!
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Located just minutes outside Gate 2 of PAX NAS, Great Mills Rd offers a multitude of businesses to serve you. Why not spend your dollars locally with businesses that have invested in the future of “Old Lexington Park”?
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31
Thursday, February 26, 2009
The County Times
Newsmakers
Question Interview Cheseldine Discusses Self-Help Housing Program
Interviewing: Joseph “Frenchy” Leclerc
Joseph has lived in Southern Maryland since 1967, having worked as an aircraft maintenance engineer for Air Force One for more than 20 years. He spent 23 years in the military, getting out of the Air National Guard in 1987. CT: Which presidents did you work for? Did you ever get to meet or talk to any of them? JL: The only one that I ever got really close to, about 12 feet away, was President Kennedy…back in the old days they didn’t have a landing tower like they do now. They had the old World War 2 system, which was on the Navy side of Andrews Air Force Base, and in those days it didn’t matter that he was president of the United States. He used to fly his own plane…and he had a very small motorcade so if you were near the fence he’d come out and say hi…that’s the way it was. You could get close to the president before the incident…but after he got shot, everything changed. CT: What’s the most outrageous story you’ve ever heard about an Air Force One trip? JL: (Laughing) Well I don’t want to get myself in trouble here…but there was one president, and I’m not going to tell you the name, and he carried his dog on Air Force One all the time…and they would clean the carpet, but if he urinated or something [which he did, often] they would change the carpets completely…it just goes to show you that Air Force One is a very special aircraft. CT: What was your proudest or biggest stand-out moment when you did that job? JL: Just having the job! You need clearance just to work on those birds…I was an aircraft mechanic, I wasn’t a flight specialist or anything…but we did a lot of special projects to please him or whomever…everything had to be catered to every individual… and of course they were high maintenance.
By Andrea Shiell Staff Writer
Margie Cheseldine, of Cheseldine Management Consulting, said she has projects lined up in Leonardtown and Prince Frederick, but her passion lies with community development, particularly as it applies to affordable housing programs in the area. For that reason, the flurry of construction at Lexington Park’s Hunting Creek housing development is especially close to her heart. Along with the Southern Maryland Tri-County Community Action Committee, her company is constructing 15 duplex units for 30 low-income families, using low interest loans provided by the USDA’s rural development division for families that qualify, and who are willing to work 30 hours per week in order to construct the homes themselves with help and guidPhoto Courtesy of www.cheseldine.org ance from licensed building contractors. Families have begun constructing duplexes for the self-help hous“The income limits are based on family size and divided ing program at Hunting Creek, but more applicants are needed into low income and very low income, with priority going to for the project. very low income families,” she said. Cheseldine admitted though that finding qualified ap- may not qualify as of yet. “If you do have a problem with your credit, you are given plicants had been a struggle since the program was first conceived. “What we really need is applicants for the program,” about a six month opportunity to improve your credit, to work she said, “we have gone through about 354 applications, and with your creditors…in some cases we have been able to qualiwe’ve right now gone to settlement with three families, so fy families…who have reapplied for the program,” she said. In the meantime Cheseldine said that her company has we’re in need of more applicants.” Added to the stress of a slowing economy and the drop- teamed up with county officials to try and get the word out ping availability of loans are concerns about the USDA’s strict about the program as they have begun constructing the first credit requirements for applicants, which Cheseldine said had duplex units. “We had some families this weekend…and you could tell created problems for finding qualified participants despite a it was the first time they’d ever hauled gravel or dug in the great deal of community interest. “Credit worthiness is a big issue and it’s also a barrier dirt,” she said, “but it’s rewarding. I don’t think there’s any to certifying some of the families,” she said, adding that her doubt that owning your own home is a great achievement.” Those interested in finding out more about the self-help company along with the Southern Maryland Tri-County Community Action Committee could offer credit counseling to pro- housing program at Hunting Creek can call 301-274-4474, ext. spective participants, which they encourage for applicants who 210, or visit www.cheseldine.org/SelfHelp.html.
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(Welcome Friends)
The County Times
Thursday, February 26, 2009
32
A Journey Through Time The
Chronicle
Columnist Linda Reno ary 6, 1759 she married George is a historian and genealogist Washington and they moved to specializing in Southern Maryland Mt. Vernon, that George inherhistory. Mrs. Reno is a member of ited from his half brother Lawrence. Lawrence Washington the St. Mary’s County Historical Society, had named this property Mt. St. Mary’s County Genealogical Society, Vernon in honor of Admiral Charles County Genealogical Society, Edward Vernon of the British Navy under whom he had Maryland Historical Society, and the served during the War of JenMaryland Genealogical Society. She kin’s Ear in 1739. One of his has authored many books and shipmates was William Hebb articles on local history. We hope of St. Mary’s County who was also so impressed by Admiral you will enjoy these articles and Vernon that he named his planwelcome your comments and tation “Porto Bello” for one of the suggestions for future battles they fought and then named his son Vernon in honor of the Admiral. subjects.
By Linda Reno Contributing Writer George Washington, the father of our country, was born February 22, 1732 near Pope’s Creek in Westmoreland County, Virginia. His wife was Martha Dandridge, born June 2, 1731 in New Kent County, Virginia. At age 19 she married Daniel Parke Custis and had four children of whom John Parke Custis, born 1754, was the only one to survive to adulthood. Martha was widowed in 1757. On Janu-
On February 3, 1774 John Parke Custis married Eleanor Calvert at her father’s home, “Mt. Airy” in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Eleanor was the daughter of Benedict Calvert, son of Charles Calvert, 5th Lord Baltimore. Four of their seven children survived infancy. John Parke Custis, within days of his appointment as aide-de-camp to his stepfather who was then at Yorktown, contracted camp fever and died on November 5, 1781. George and Martha Washington took two of his children and raised them, e.g., George Washington Parke Custis who married Mary Lee Fitzhugh (their daughter and only child was Mary Anna Randolph Custis, wife of General Robert E.
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Lee) and Eleanor Parke “Nelly” Custis who married Lawrence Lewis, George Washington’s nephew. In the summer of 1775, George was in Cambridge, Massachusetts trying to get his army in shape however, Martha was at home and the British knew it; there were rumors that they planned to abduct her and then to burn Mt. Vernon. The British were marauding along the Potomac River, burning and looting. Many families fled inland to safety. John Augustine Washington, one of George Washington’s younger brothers, tried to get Martha to leave, but she did not believe she was in serious danger. George was much alarmed and in a letter dated August 20, 1775 he wrote to his cousin, Lund Washington, who was managing Mt. Vernon in his absence: “I can hardly think that Lord Dunmore can act so low, and unmanly a part, as to think of seizing Mrs. Washington by way of revenge upon me; howev’r, as I suppose she is, before this time gone over to Mr. Calvert’s [Mt. Airy], and will soon after retng., go down to New Kent, she will be out of his reach for 2 or 3 months to come, in which time matters may, and probably will, take such a turn as to render her removal either absolutely necessary, or quite useless. I am nevertheless exceedingly thankful to the Gentlemen of Alexandria for their friendly attention to this point and desire you will if there is any sort of reason to suspect a thing of this kind provide a Kitchen for her in Alexandria, or some other place of safety elsewhere for her and my Papers.” During the Revolutionary War, Martha either accompanied her husband or joined him at many of his various headquarters, including Valley Forge that terrible winter when so many soldiers died from lack of food and clothing or simply froze to death. In 1789, George was elected President. At that time, the temporary capital was in New
York where he arrived alone to be sworn in. His inaugural ball was held before Martha even arrived. The capital would shortly be moved to Philadelphia, this time for 10 years while waiting for the completion of the new capital that would ultimately be named Washington, D.C. George Washington died at Mt. Vernon on December 14, 1799. He had become ill the day before, complaining of chills. Early on the morning of the 14th, his personal physician, Dr. James Craik, of Alexandria was summoned. Later that day, Dr. Elisha Cullen Dick of Alexandria, and Dr. Gustavus Brown, of Charles County, Maryland were called in as well. To Dr. Craik he said “I am dying, sir—but am not afraid to die.” Martha never returned to their bedroom or her late husband’s study. She moved to a small room on the third floor of Mt. Vernon. Consumed with grief, she was unable to attend his funeral. Sometime after his death, she burned all of the letters she and George had written to each other over the years (except two which were later found in her desk). In March 1802, she made her will. Martha died on May 22, 1802 and is entombed with her husband at Mt. Vernon.
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Thursday, February 26, 2009
The County Times
Recreation Parks
Spring Leisure Programs Blooming
By Sean Rice Staff Writer Spring is in the air … or at least it’s on people’s minds. Not a moment too soon, the pleasant weather of spring is creeping forward, and the St. Mary’s County Recreation and Parks Department has a slew of leisure programs aimed at curing cabin fever. While spring doesn’t officially begin until 11:44 a.m. March 20, when the sun lines up directly over the equator, registration for parks programs opens on March 4. Shortly after March 4, the Spring 2009 Program Guide will available to the public in print. The nearly 50-page guide to activities will be available at public libraries and the parks office. Can’t wait? It is available now for downloading at the parks department Web Site, at www.stmarysmd.com/recreate/docs/ currentprogramguide.pdf Christi Bishop, therapeutic recreation specialist, says there are dozens and dozens of
programs available from the parks department, and the selection is so varied that there is something for everyone. “There are a huge number of dance programs for youth and adults, from ballroom and belly dancing to hip hop and salsa, there’s even line dancing,” Bishop tells The County Times. There’s arts and crafts, ceramics, quilting, drawing, sign language, self-defense training and tole painting, which is a folk art form of decorative painting on tin and wooden utensils, objects and furniture. “We have lots and lots of new fitness programs,” Bishop said, including aerobic boot camp, junior jazzercise, cardio hip hop, yoga and turbokick. There’s also dozens of programs that require little or no physical activity, including health workshops, free financial seminars, Computer training to learn how to use common programs or do some desktop publishing, and even “etiquette 101” for kids and teens, which teaches about proper manners and speaking clearly and respectfully.
Photo Courtesy of St. Mary’s County Recreation & Parks
Instructors Carver Center to Needed; Earn Cash Host Open House The St. Mary’s County Recreation and Parks Department is seeking additional instructors for a variety of upleisure programs including, but not limited to: Irish dancing, hula dancing, cooking, programs for individuals with disabilities, Tai-Chi, calligraphy, daytime programs for toddlers and more. Come share your talent or passion and get paid for it. Interested persons are asked to complete a prospective instructor survey found at http://www.co.saintmarys.md.us/recreate/Forms/INSTRUCTORPROSPECTsurvey.pdf and mail or email it to Christina Bishop, 23150 Leonard Hall Drive, P.O. Box 653, Leonardtown, MD 20650. E-mail to christina_bishop@co.saintmarys.md.us
St. Mary’s County Recreation and Parks invites the community to attend an Open House and Program Registration On Wednesday March 11, from 5-7 p.m. at the Carver Recreation Center located on Lincoln Avenue in Lexington Park. The main focus of the evening is to register neighborhood children in the new Carver Afterschool program to be held each Wednesday from 3 - 7 p.m. beginning March 18. Volunteers are also invited to attend. You can make an excellent contribution to the Lexington Park community by mentoring 1st through 8th grade students each Wednesday. For more information contact Program Director BJ Waldron or Arthur Shepherd, Recreation Division Manager at 301-475-4200 extension 1800.
The County Times
Thursday, February 26, 2009
34
Culpepper Swims To State Championship By Chris Stevens Staff Writer Brittany Culpepper refused to let the pressure of a state final get to her in last Saturday’s 4A/3A State Championship Swim Meet. “I really didn’t think about it that much, I just wanted to swim as fast as I could,” the Leonardtown senior said of her close victory over Severna Park’s Kim Weyand in the 100-yard breaststroke, giving her the state championship in that event. “I knew she was going to push me to swim my fastest and it was exciting to know that everybody was cheering for me.” Culpepper, who cites the 100-yard breaststroke as one of her favorite events to swim, won the championship with a state record time of 1:08.65, edging out Weyand’s time of 1:09.13. Culpepper’s triumph was a major part of the Raider girls’ overall success in the meet, as they finished fourth out of 24 schools in the meet, held at the Prince Georges’ Sports Complex in Landover. Leonardtown won the Southern Maryland Athletic Conference girls’ swimming championship for the fifth straight year, then proceeded to win both boys and girls’ 4A East Regional meets before advancing to states. “We knew we wanted to go higher than fifth this year,” Culpepper said of the girls moving up one spot from 2008 in the state meet. “It was a really exciting and fun experience, we’re sad it had to end, but now everyone’s getting ready for spring sports.” Culpepper will be participating in Tennis this spring, and while she looks forward to attending college, she doesn’t plan to share the nervousness that most high school seniors have when applying to the colleges and universities of their choice. “I don’t think I’m going to have time to be anxious about it,” she said with a laugh.
Women
Team Scores From the 4A/3A State Swimming Championships:
1. Severna Park High School 334 2. Urbana High School 275.5 3. Eleanor Roosevelt High School 269 4. Leonardtown High School 186 5. South River High School 183.5 6. Broadneck High School 174 7. C. Milton Wright High School 159 8. Thomas Johnson High School 104 9. Old Mill High School 92 10. Westlake High School 69.5 11. Laurel High School 66 12. Bel Air High School 53.5 13. Great Mills High School 53 14. Chesapeake High School 41 15. North County High School 22 16. Thomas Stone High School 18 17. Meade High School 16 18. Chopticon High School 14 19. Glen Burnie High School 12 20. High Point High School 8 21. Arundel High School 7 22. Bowie High School 6 23. Linganore High School 4 24. Huntingtown High School 2 25. Flowers High School 1 Men 1. Broadneck High School 3. Thomas Johnson High School 5. Huntingtown High School 7. South River High School 9. Old Mill High School 11. Bowie High School 13. Eleanor Roosevelt High School 15. Thomas Stone High School 17. Glen Burnie High School 19. Laurel High School 21. Arundel High School 23. Chopticon High School
294 2. Severna Park High School 189.5 4. Urbana High School 165.5 6. Great Mills High School 142 8. Leonardtown High School 121 10. C. Milton Wright High School 89 12. Meade High School 59 13. Linganore High School 58 16. Flowers High School 30 18. Aberdeen High School 13 20. Parkdale High School 6 22. Bel Air High School 3 24. North County High School
Tennis League Seeks Players We are looking for 2.5 or 3.0 men and women to play in the 6.0 mixed adult USTA league. Matches begin in early March, run approximately two months and are held on the weekends. If interested, contact Marisa Mansueti at goliathscout@yahoo.com or Karolyn Clarke at karolynclarke@navy.mil. Four Mixed 7.0 teams have formed - captains are Ray Gagnon, Gary Richard, Doug Bellis & Jason Wynn. Contact these team captains or the St Mary’s USTA League Coordinator - Ms. Mai Liem Slade - mslade@ md.metrocast.net. Matches are at Cecil Park on Sundays
239 167 149 136 118 60 59 43 16 7 4 2
(Mixed 7.0) and Saturdays (Mixed 6.0). Currently there is no Mixed 8.0 league in St Mary’s County, but there is still time to form teams and create a league. Contact Mai Liem Slade if interested. Ospreys 10U Softball Team looking for players The Southern Maryland Ospreys 10 and Under fast pitch softball team is currently looking for players of all positions to try out for the team. For more information, contact League Manager Jim Sewell at 301-904-1654 or diam. jim@gmail.com
Sp rts High School Basketball 35
The County Times
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Senior Night Is All Right For Hornet Girls
By Chris Stevens Staff Writer GREAT MILLS – After being honored for four years of basketball excellence, the five seniors on the Great Mills girls’ basketball team went out and showed that they still
have enough fire for maybe two more weeks of action. “It feels great to win on senior night because we’ve been together a long time, and it’s big for us to go into the playoffs with these wins,” guard Shamara Adams said after the Hornets downed Lackey 64-41 Tuesday
Photo By Chris Stevens
Great Mills’ RyShawn Butler defends Lackey’s Kendra Mosley.
Photo By Chris Stevens
Shawnese Taylor scores two of her 15 points over Lackey’s Shovonne Duckett.
night. “I think we can go back to states if everyone plays to their full potential.” The Hornets, who ended the regular season at 17-5, played to their
full potential and put the game away with a 14-0 second quarter scoring streak that gave them a 31-9 lead late in the period, wrapping up their sixth straight win to close the regular sea-
Coaches Prepare for Regional Battles By Chris Stevens Staff Writer Brian Weisner is not concerned with the way the 3A South Region in girls’ basketball came to be, nor is Terry Mumau in the boys bracket. However, both Weisner and Mumau, Great Mills girls’ head coach and Chopticon boys’ coach respectively, will get their players geared up for the all-out war that is Maryland State Regionals, scheduled to begin with first round games Feb. 27 across the state. The Hornets are the defending 3A South champions, thanks in some part to a decisive home court advantage they earned as the number one seed in 2008. This year, the Hornets (16-5 in the regular season) will attempt to head back to the state semifinals as a number three seed. “The advantage of having that number one seed is that your opponents have to come to you,” Weisner, who is also director of the 3A South region, said the evening of Feb. 22 after the draw was announced. “Your fans have a shorter distance to come and see you play, but being any seed you’re going to prepare in a similar fashion. “At this point in the season, the hay is already in the barn.” The Hornets have ripped off five wins in a row (allowing just one team above 30 points) after a stretch that
saw them lose heartbreakers to North Point and Leonardtown. “The coaches and players, we talk like we normally do,” Weisner said when asked if any changes contributed to Great Mills’ recent hot streak. “The girls are just doing what they have to do win and doing the things they can do well.” Weisner was not ready to gauge similarities in this season’s team to the teams of the previous two years, which won or shared the Southern Maryland Athletic Conference championship. The Hornets finished second to North Point in this season’s title race. “Those years where we won the conference, I can’t even compare because they were different teams and you have different kids year to year,” Weisner said. Meanwhile, Mumau’s Braves are sitting at 17-4 and ready to go. The coach plans to keep things as they are in a region that features SMAC champion Lackey at number two and Friendly High School of Prince Georges County as the top seed. “One thing that we’ve stressed all season and all year is just play the next game,” Mumau said of the preparation process. “We’d better be ready because the winner of that Great Mills-La Plata game can upset us if we take them lightly. “We’re not looking down the road at all.”
Photo By Chris Stevens
Brian Weisner, shown here congratulating RyShawn Butler, feels the Hornets have what it takes to repeat as 3A South Regional Champions.
son out and prepare for the winner of the Potomac/Chopticon 3A South regional contest. Great Mills will host the winner of that game Tuesday March 3rd at 7:00 p.m. “I think we did a real good job with our pressure defense and the way we shot our free throws,” said Hornets coach Brian Weisner. “We had a great deal of open looks at the basket because of execution and you have to be very happy with that.” Before the game, the five seniors on the team (Adams, Corleda Naylor, Tyneshia Baker, RyShawn Butler and Shawnese Taylor) were honored with gifts by their parents and coaches for two conference championships and a state semi-final appearance last season. The Hornets struggled in the early stages of the first quarter, but back-to-back three-point shots by Baker and Butler put Great Mills ahead to stay at 12-6. The Chargers called on leading scorer Shovonne Duckett, who wasn’t expected to play due to an injury, but came off the bench in the second quarter and made her first shot of the game to close the gap to 17-9. That’s as close as the Hornets would allow Lackey to get, as Adams, Naylor and Taylor - Great Mills’ leading scorer on the evening with 15 points – put together a burst that also was keyed by what Weisner characterized as “great defense” that junior forward Tori Bradburn played on Duckett in that quarter, a tribute to the Hornets’ team defensive approach. “We don’t double team players, we play man-to-man,” he explained. “We don’t look at just one player on any team and say ‘we have to stop her.’” Duckett did lead all scorers with 25 points, but many of those came long after the game’s outcome had been decided.
Sp rts
The County Times
On November 29, 2000, Pope John Paul II was named an “Honorary Harlem Globetrotter.”
A View From The
Bleachers
Youth Served…A Helping Of Disrespect
By Ronald N. Guy Jr. Contributing Writer Do you know what started the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue? Besides the obvious appeal to the basic, primitive tendencies of the majority of male sports fans (SI’s target audience), Sports Illustrated needed a filler. See, the postSuperbowl sports calendar is about as exciting as that of the typical Friday night for parents of young children (I speak of what I know). It’s almost as
Thursday, February 26, 2009
if the sports gods give fans an opportunity to detox from the NFL season and check off a few honey do’s before college basketball’s March Madness and baseball’s opening day arrive. But February 2009 has hardly been defined by scantily clad swimsuit models frolicking in exotic locales; Michael Phelps and Alex Rodriguez have made sure of that. Unless you’re a sportsatheist (in which case I doubt you’ve found your way to this column…lest the powers of boredom have consumed you), you’ve heard all about the internet photo of Phelps smok-
ing marijuana and Rodriguez’s positive steroid test. Not surprisingly, now that they’ve been caught with overwhelmingly incriminating evidence, both have issued contrite statements expressing how so terribly sorry they are for the disgrace they’ve brought upon their sports and sponsors and the pain they’ve inflicted upon their families and fans (especially little Johnny and little Suzy of suburbia). Okay, fair enough. Does anyone doubt they’re sorry? Heck, Phelps will potentially lose millions in endorsements and Rodriguez was supposed to be the
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magic elixir that cured all the tainted baseball records that fell courtesy of the steroid era in baseball. So the apology isn’t bothersome. The excuse they provided is. Here’s what Phelps had to say for himself: “I’m 23 years old, and despite the success I have had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner that people have come to expect from me.” And Rodriguez, “ I’m here to say that I’m sorry. I’m here to say that in some ways I wish I went to college and got an opportunity to grow up at my own pace. You know, I guess when you’re young and stupid, you’re young and stupid and I’m very guilty for both of those.” Oh that’s beautiful, gentlemen (sniff, sniff)...can I get a tissue? In their defense, both men tried to take responsibility for their actions…sort of. It was an “I’m sorry”, with a healthy dash of, “I was young and dumb.” It’s as if they tried to appeal to the court of public opinion by saying, “Hey, we were young, just like you all were young…so you can’t hold me totally accountable, right?” No, actually we can. True, we were all young once. We all did things in our youths that we wouldn’t repeat as adults. Reckless adolescence, however, and the ability to use it as a behavioral excuse, ends well before a person’s mid20’s. Phelps, as he so selfincriminatingly said, was 23 when he smoked weed at a college party a few weeks ago. Rodriguez admitted to steroid use in 2001-2003. Flip to back of his baseball card and you’ll find Rodriguez was 2528 years old when he was on the homer juice. Memo (from the real world) to Phelps and Rodriguez: when you’re comfortably in your 20’s, you’ve waived your right to cite the immaturity of youth for your transgressions. At that point, poor judgment, bad decisions and illegal acts are just that. Period. In their apologies, both men seemed concerned with the impact of their acts on the impressionable minds of their adolescent fans. Okay…but what about their young adult fans? With their “yeah, but” apologies, Phelps and Rodriguez dignified and gave credence to a 25-year-old chalking up a poor decision to age. That’s not only unacceptable, it’s also disrespectful to mature, young adults who wouldn’t think of blaming age for their mistakes. Phelps and Rodriguez weren’t young and dumb, they were immature and irresponsible which, as we are all occasionally reminded, are timeless traits. Send your comments to rguyjoon@yahoo.com
36
un Fact
High School Sports Schedule 02/26/09-03/04/09 Thursday Feb. 26 Boys’ Basketball WCAC Play-In Game Archbishop Carroll at St. Mary’s Ryken, 7:30 p.m. Girls’ Basketball WCAC Play-In Game Bishop Iretonat St. Mary’s Ryken, 5:30 p.m.
Friday Feb. 27 Boys’ Basketball 3A South Regional First Round La Plata at Great Mills, 7:00 p.m. 4A East Regional First Round Leonardtown at Chesapeake (Anne Arundel), 7:00 p.m. Wrestling Leonardtown/Chopticon/Great Mills at 4A/3A South Regional Tournament (South River High School)
Saturday Feb. 28 Spring Sports Practice Begins Girls’ Basketball 3A South Regional First Round Chopticon at Potomac, 12:00 p.m. Wrestling Leonardtown/Chopticon/Great Mills at 4A/3A South Regional Tournament (South River High School)
Tuesday March 3 Boys’ Basketball 3A South Regional Second Round Great Mills/La Plata Winner at Chopticon, 7:00 p.m. Girls’ Basketball 3A South Regional Second Round Chopticon/Potomac Winner at Great Mills, 7:00 p.m. 4A East Regional Second Round Thomas Stone at Leonardtown, 7:00 p.m.
SPECIAL NOTE: All high school, recreational and youth league coaches, if you would like the scores, statistics and standings from your respective games and leagues to be published, contact Chris Stevens at 301-373-4125 or at chrisstevens@countytimes.net
37
Thursday, February 26, 2009
The County Times
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Sp rts
38
Champions Aplenty at SMAC Wrestling Meet
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Photo By Chris Stevens
Aaron Rodenizer of Great Mills bested Chopticon’s Robert Newton to win the 285-pound weight class championship Saturday night.
By Chris Stevens Staff Writer LEONARDTOWN – A last-second victory, an upset and a dominating win by pin-fall all added up to three wrestlers, one from each of the St. Mary’s County public high schools, winning individual championships in the Southern Maryland Athletic Conference meet, hosted by Leonardtown High Feb. 21. Finishing off a night where all of the previous weight class championships were won on points, Great Mills senior Aaron Rodenizer wasted little time in winning his first conference title at 285 pounds, as he pinned Chopticon’s Robert Newton just over a minute into the first period. Rodenizer was the only Hornet wrestler to advance to the championship round and was very proud to represent his school on the conference’s biggest wrestling stage. “It feels great,” Rodenizer said after accepting the gold medal. “I worked hard for this and I’m very happy to get [first place].” Chopticon, who finished second as a team to La Plata in the meet, placed four wrestlers in championship matches, but senior Vincent Shontere was the only one to win a championship match. He did so by edging Leonardtown’s B.J.
Frederick 4-3 in the 145-pound final, a surprise to many including Shontere himself. “I definitely didn’t come in here expecting to win, but maybe about a half an hour ago, I said to myself ‘hey, I can win this,’” Shontere said after wrestling an aggressive match that saw him denying Frederick’s attempts to turn the tide as time expired in the final period. “All I was thinking was ‘don’t let him turn you over.’ “B.J.’s a good wrestler, so I had to give more of my all, give a little extra to win it.” Leonardtown also played a part in the most exciting match of the championship round, as Raiders senior Brian Samuels staged a gutsy comeback in the final seconds to squeak by Huntingtown’s Marcus Jarboe 9-8 on points and win the 135-pound conference title. Leading 7-6 with just about 30 seconds left in the final period, Samuels surrendered the lead when Jarboe took him down for two points and held on for as long as he could. With the title hanging in the balance, Samuels struggled to his feet, wheeled around Jarboe and scored a dramatic two-point takedown as time expired, igniting a roar from the Leonardtown faithful in attendance. “I knew I had a short amount of time to work with, so I had to come out on top by any means possible,” Samuels said. “I was able to come out on top and it’s a great feeling to win this for the first time.”
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Photo By Chris Stevens
Chopticon’s Stephen Cannon holds on to La Plata’s Chase Ursitti during the 140-pound finals of the SMAC wresting tournament.
39
Thursday, February 26, 2009
The County Times
St. Mary’s College
Sp rts
Franz Lifts Seahawks to Regular Season Title
By Chris Stevens Staff Writer ST. MARY’S CITY – Missing two of their starters, the St. Mary’s College men’s basketball team decided it would take a total team effort to defeat visiting Wesley College Saturday afternoon. Instead, sophomore point guard Alex Franz took center stage with a career-high 23 points as the Seahawks edged the Wolverines 79-73 to wrap up their first Capital Athletic Conference regular season championship in 18 years. James Davenport of St. Mary’s College surveys the floor during Saturday’s 79-73 win over Wesley college. Photo By Chris Stevens
“We knew without Camontae [Griffin] and ‘Irm,’ we weren’t going to win without a team effort, we played 12 guys today,” Franz said of everyone from himself to little-used Sam Burum seeing key minutes for the Hawks. Griffin and Alex Irmer were forced to miss Saturday’s game because of a dustup with some players from Gallaudet University during their Feb. 7 contest. “It’s all about those other guys who stepped up tonight,” Harney said of his bench players. “What happened today was a young team pulled together and pulled out a win against a tough team, and that’s what’s so great about sports, team sports as a whole.” It was not easy for SMC (21-4 overall, 14-2 in CAC play) as Wesley used a balanced scoring attack, led by 19 points from Junior Guard James Stratton, to keep the game close.
Franz, however, had other plans. With 7:05 remaining in the game, and the Wolverines shrinking a double-digit Seahawk lead to just four (62-58), Franz rose up and fired in a three-pointer from the right corner as he was fouled by Evan Martin, pushing the lead back to eight after the free throw. The Wolverines refused to quit, and thanks to St. Mary’s College missing six straight free throws at one point, closed to within two (7573) after Stratton swished two freethrows of his own. With the shot clock running down and 46 seconds left in the contest, Franz took the Hawks’ fate into his hands again. Dribbling beyond the three-point line, he pulled the plug on Wesley’s championship dreams with another long-range shot, this one over Rudy Thomas, to send the Seahawk crowd into a frenzy. “I knew they were going to play off of me, and I had a lot of confidence in my shot, I knew it was going in,” Franz said. “At first, I was scared to be honest,” joked senior forward Calvin Wise, who scored 14 points and hauled in 14 rebounds. “But Alex has such confidence in himself; I wouldn’t want the ball in anyone else’s hands but his.” The Hawks will now host the
Photo By Chris Stevens
The Seahawks’ Mike Fitzpatrick guards Wesley’s Rashawn Johnson closely.
semi-finals of the CAC tournament Feb. 26 at 7 p.m., and provided they win, will host the championship game Feb. 28 at 2 p.m. for the right to go to the NCAA Division III National tournament, and according to
Franz, SMC will be that team. “I love our fans so much, they just give us so much energy,” he said. “I don’t think anyone can beat us on our court.”
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 26, 2009
Page 38
Suicide Reporting Not up to Par Story Page 14
Coaches Prepare for State Regionals Story Page 35
Photo By Frank Marquart