The County Times 2009-03-05

Thursday, March arch 5, 2009

P olice Technology C E O C T L ? utting dge r

rossing he ine

Story Page 15

New Racetrack May Come To St. Mary’s Story Page 5

Hospital Expands To New Wing Story Page 10

Christmas In April Volunteers Needed Story Page 33

Photo by Frank Marquart

The County Times

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Weekly Poll

RESULTS

Do you think state highway and county crews did a good job clearing roadways during this recent snowstorm?

No - 0%

Not Sure

15% 85%

Yes

Do you think there are enough options for entertainment in the county?

No 54%

31% 15%

Yes

Not Sure Do you think a new law is needed limiting the number of retail locations where alcohol can be sold?

Not Sure

Yes

23% 31%

46%

No

Inside

The County Times

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Weather

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County News Town News State News Money Defense and Military Education Crime and Punishment

< commentary> Editorial/Opinion Community Speaks

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< living>

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18 21 22 27

Lifestyles A House is a Home Real Estate Business Directory

16 25 31

Obituaries Community Newsmakers

23 26 28 29 32

Wandering Minds Food Entertainment Going On History

24 33 35 36 38

Games Recreation and Parks Basketball Sports Desk St. Mary’s College

< culture>

< recreation>

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The County Times

ews

Thursday, March 5, 2009 In a normal lifetime an American will eat 200 pounds of peanuts and 10,000 pounds of meat.

un Fact

Today’s Newsmakers In Brief

How important is it for residents to donate to the Southern Maryland blood bank?

How do county students stack up in Advanced Placement achievement?

St. Mary’s County Everybody has to take is leading the way in that that little bit of effort to area, too. We’re a very donate blood… it’s a disaster high performing district. when you don’t have it.

Mike Zabko, director of the Red Cross of Southern Maryland.

Schools Superintendent Michael Martirano

Planning Commission Will Take Up Mill Cove Case In Late March

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer A local developer wants to build 54 homes in the Lexington Park Development District near the Myrtle Grove area, but after a big turnout against his proposals, including a request for extending water and sewer lines to service just his development that some residents would have to pay for, the county planning commission opted to delay its decision.

The development proposed by Guy Curley would take place in two parts with 33 lots on Mill Cove Road and another 21 located on Mill Cove Harbor Road.

Residents already in the community

protested the extension of sewer and water lines through the land because, they said, several of them would have to pay a service improvement charge to the Metropolitan Commission if it ran within 200 feet of their property line though they would not be able to use it immediately.

And the costs, they said, of hooking into the lines could costs them tens of thousands of dollars.

“It doesn’t seem fair for people just living along the right of way to have to pay these taxes,” said Robert Willey, who lives on Mill Cove Road, and added that the extra homes would crowd the already compact community and stress its narrow roads even more.

“These two developments would double

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the number of people in the neighborhood,” Willey continued.

Steven King, director of the Metropolitan Commission, cautioned residents that the planning commission would have to give their approval to extend the sewer lines before anything could begin there.

“The design of this system has not been approved by MetCom and it’s not ready to be approved by MetCom,” King said.

Residents were even more concerned about what they considered the fragile environment in the Mill Cove area.

The Woods at Myrtle Point development nearby, which has stalled due to the sagging housing market, was a main point of erosion of soil in recent years, residents said, despite

the developer’s attempts to stop it.

But Curley said he had plans to make the development “a nice controlled environment,” especially with regards to storm water management.

“The topography on the two sites… is easier to manage from a storm water management point of view,” Curley told The County Times. “You’ll see many of these questions addressed March 23.”

Curley said he was considering using pervious types of concrete and pavement to ensure there was less storm water runoff.

Curley also said the water and sewer system would be beneficial in the community since it meant that 50 wells and septic tanks could be avoided.

CSM Growing, But Leadership Concerned About The Future

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Brad Gottfried, president of the College of Southern Maryland, told the Board of County Commissioners Tuesday that the regional community college, and especially the Leonardtown campus, is continuing on a path of success, but concerns persist about resources in a down economy.

He said that college leadership was uncertain about the funding that would be available from local, state and federal sources.

But, Gottfried said, the college would continue to update its programs and services as best it could despite financially challenging times.

“We have to continue to evolve,” Gottfried told the county commissioners. “The worst thing we can do is hunker down.”

So far, Gottfried said, since the economic recession has taken hold of the nation, more and more students are enrolling at the three campuses.

“They’re looking for retraining,” Gottfried said. “Our concern is being able to accommodate these new students.”

Enrollment college-wide is up to 22,543 credit and non-credit students, Gottfried said, from over 21,000 in 2007.

There were 2,259 students enrolled at the Leonardtown campus for the fall semester of 2008, he said, for an increase of 9.2 percent.

It was the largest percent increase off all the three campuses, Gottfried said.

“Students are finding the campus and benefiting from the campus,” he said.

Some of the new programs that the college has initiated include involve job training in the energy, construction technology and national security fields, Gottfried said, as well as 12-week educational “boot camps” that trained job seekers in various parts of the construction trade and in the energy industry to get jobs while they were being trained.

A full 29 percent of the college’s students are enrolled on-line, he said, meaning that they never had to enter a classroom to continue their education.

That represented the fastest growth of online education among community colleges in Maryland, Gottfried said.

Moreover, said Leonardtown campus Dean F. J. Talley said that the local college was beginning to feel more like its four-year counterpart with extracurricular activity.

“They used to just come to class and leave,” Talley told commissioners. “It’s now a total package college.”

The college administration has also taken more concern over the security of its students, that include an admissions review board that looked to see if applicants had criminal records with violent or sexual offenses.

“In the past we didn’t ask those questions, we do now,” Gottfried said. “We also have people regularly checking sex offender registries.”

A behavioral review team was also put in place to look at the actions of students who were disruptive or potentially violent, Gottfried said.

If their behavior became enough of a problem, he said, they could be made to leave the college.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Colleen Bowman of Hollywood snuggles up next to her snow cat, fashioned after the biggest snowstorm in almost 10 years hit the county March 1. While thousands were left without power in some

The County Times parts of the county, that didn’t stop residents from having fun with the snow. Bowman’s snow cat measured 14 feet long, 6 feet wide and 4 feet high and took about two hours to make, she said.

ews County Still Seeking Extra $30 Million In Debt From Wall Street, Banks

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer

New Motor Sports Park May Come To St. Mary’s

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer A developer has been in discussions with county economic development officials for nearly a year now about the possibility of bringing a new motor sports park for road racing to St. Mary’s County.

The concept park has only a name: Tatton Park.

The Web site www.tattonparkmd.com states only that the project would be a motor sports park and conference center. No other link or information exists on the site.

The developer behind the discussions is Crisipin Etherington, founder of Ashbourne Developments LLC based in Annapolis and head of Tatton Park Associates LLC, the organization behind the venture.

Etherington told The County Times he would be partnering with the management of Summit Point Motor Sports Park in West Virginia to run some of the proposed park’s operations.

Summit Point has been operating for nearly three decades, he said.

“We’re teaming up because they have experience running a track for 30 years,” Etherington said. “It’s a hell of a lot of value.”

Etherington said, however, that there is currently no firm site for the racetrack.

“We haven’t finalized that yet,” Etherington said, himself a racing enthusiast.

According to a release from Tatton Park LLC, the racetrack is slated to open in 2011 with two separate driving courses that can be molded into a single three-and-a-half mile track with varying elevations and tight turns.

Etherington hopes to use Tatton Park as a racecourse for national and regional driving events as well as a venue for driver’s education and accident avoidance training.

Security training for the military is also one of the park’s planned uses, according to a written statement from Tatton Park, LLC, through a contract with BSR, Inc, an internationally known training firm.

According to the statement, the facilities will be built to specifications that exceed those of the Sports Car Club of America organization and allow their events to take place there.

Bob Schaller, director of the county’s Department of Economic and Community Development, said that since Maryland International Raceway and Budds Creek, with their drag racing and motocross

facilities were already here, Tatton Park would provide even more diversity in racing opportunities since drivers could run their sports cars on a course at 100 miles-per-hour or more.

County Commissioner Thomas A. Mattingly, who visited the Summit Point sight almost a year ago to

see what the developer was proposing, said that the plan was ambitious but would raise eyebrows in the community, despite the popularity of motor sports here in general.

“They biggest issue they’d have is the noise,” Mattingly said.

“They have to convince everyone they can manage that to an acceptable level.”

Still, Schaller was hopeful.

“This could be our Blue Crabs stadium,” Schaller said of Tatton Park’s potential. “It appeals to our demographic; there’s a natural racing enthusiasm down here.

“We’re identified as a motor sports location here.”

Etherington said that among the amenities to be included at Tatton Park would be a restaurant, which similar tracks often did not have.

The layout of the track here would also be much different from the Summit Point site, he said, but many of the programs would be complimentary and open for expansion.

Schaller said that the park would appeal to both long-time and new residents in the county looking for a place to safely race their high-speed vehicles and as a place to socialize for people with similar interests.

“The grand vision is great; it’s just about getting started now,” Schaller said.

The county government still wants to incur a $30 million debt from Wall Street this year to fund future public construction projects, according to the county’s top finance official, but they may not make the trip until sometime this summer.

“We still need to go,” said Elaine Kramer, chief financial officer. “We’re still looking at what the right time will be.”

The county had initially planned to go to New York City last month to make a case for their bond debt but the financial meltdown that hit late last year made that date untenable.

“We said ‘Let’s not rush into this,’” Kramer told The County Times, but added that the economic troubles were not the only reason for their holding off.

Kramer said the recently passed federal economic stimulus package meant that the county might be able to borrow from banks at a more favorable rate, which meant they might not have to go to Wall Street at all.

Under county law the commissioners must adopt a balanced budget for all operating expenses and departments, but when it comes to building

projects like schools, roads and the like they could, and sometimes must, go into debt.

But the county has not had to borrow money for construction since 2005, which, she said, was a good sign.

So far, Kramer told The County Times, the county’s debt service, or the amount of money they have to pay each year to work towards eliminating the debt, was equal to about 7 percent of the operating budget.

This percentage, Kramer said, was very manageable.

County Commissioner Thomas A. Mattingly (D-Leonardtown) said that the federal government’s change in law that allowed for potentially better interest rates on loans also allowed them to borrow up to $30 million from banks on the open market.

The county has used that method in the past, he said, but the cap then was set at just $10 million.

Mattingly said that the extra $30 million in bond sales to either Wall Street or getting it from banks would bring the county’s total debt load to about $130 million.

But, he said, that was well within the county’s limits on debt service.

“It’s well within our affordability limits,” Mattingly told The County Times.

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The County Times

Town

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Commissioners Approve More Funds For Leonardtown Winery

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer

were not as yet entitled to any profits.

Those would all go back to the 17 members of the cooperative, Schaller said.

“It’s something we should at least be thinking about,”

Raley said. “The county and the tax payers have put a lot into it.”

Raley was also concerned that the winery would be able to produce superior wine, or else the venture might fail.

“If it’s good wine, they [consumers] will buy it,” Raley said. “If it’s not, they won’t.”

Tom Payette, the wine making consultant working on the project, based in Virginia, said that the winery project would be successful.

“I feel very confident we’ll be able to make some excellent wine,” Payette said, adding that the winery would have the right equipment and people to do the job.

The project originally had a $1 million proposed budget but that was reduced by half.

The town has also thrown in on the project by buying up the land and buildings the state owned for about $14,000.

The asking price from the state was originally about $500,000, according to Commissioner Lawrence D. Jarboe (R-Golden Beach) Schaller told commissioners that he did not expect the project would need any additional funding help in the near future.

Richard Fuller, president of the cooperative of Southern Maryland grape growers said that while the cooperative was small now, they hoped to recruit more growers into their ranks.

“The coop is open, we haven’t closed the doors at all,” Fuller told commissioners. “As soon as we see actual work at the building I think we’ll see more interest.”

St. Mary’s County Commissioners approved an additional $35,000 to help renovate an old previously state-owned building in Leonardtown into a winery Tuesday after officials overseeing the project said they needed more funding to keep the winery on schedule.

“The work that’s required, it’s taken far more commitment than the $500,000,” said Bob Schaller, director of the county’s Department of Economic and Community Development. “We believe with this we can come on line.”

Schaller said he expected that the renovations to the previously State Highway Administration owned building near Macintosh Run Road would be complete by this fall and the winery could begin operations in September.

Construction on the buildings could begin immediately, one official said.

“We’re ready to begin construction this week,” said Laschelle Miller, town administrator, adding that the effort was “right at the deadline” for producing wine this year.

Commissioner Daniel H. Raley (DGreat Mills) was concerned that tax payers and county government might share in any profits the winery made once it was more sustainable.

Schaller said that since the county government was not a full member of the grape Photo by Guy Leonard growing cooperative that would supply the St. Mary’s Board of County Commissioners approved an additional $35,000 Tuesday to help bring the means of production in the venture, they The Leonardtown Winery project on line this year.

Working To Make St.Mary’s County

A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE & WORK

Leonardtown Businesses Pass Tobacco Sales Checks Seven businesses in Leonardtown avoided selling tobacco products to an underage informant during a Feb. 28 tobacco compliance check operation by St. Mary’s County sheriff’s deputies.

Seven other establishments for a total of 14 spread throughout the Chaptico and 7th District communities also refused to sell tobacco products to the 15-year-old informant, according to press releases from the county sheriff’s office.

Those establishments in Leonardtown that passed the checks were the CVS Pharmacy, McKay’s Fine Food and Pharmacy, Food Lion, Center Liquors, Rite Aid, Dash-In and Sunoco.

Stone’s Store, Village Liquors, Chaptico Market, Quade’s Store, Captain Sam’s, Murphy’s Town and Country Market and Potomac Gardens also passed the checks.

Town To Begin Update Of Local Growth Plan

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer

DELEGATE

JOHN F. WOOD, JR. YOUR VOICE IN ANNAPOLIS

Using a $35,000 grant from the state, the Town of Leonardtown has begun work on updating its comprehensive plan, which will guide its land use and growth policies for the next five years.

The plan, last updated in 2004, will also guide the build out of community amenities like ball fields and parks as well as environmentally sensitive areas, housing and economic development.

One of the main issues the plan will have to tackle, said Laschelle Miller, town administrator, would be the town’s expansion.

“It’s going to be growth, that certainly going to be a big part of it,” Miller told The County Times.

So far, though, Miller said, the town appears to be in good shape when it comes to having enough water to satisfy the town’s growth.

Last year the town opened up another well on Greenbriar Road, Miller said, that should exceed the town’s requirements for projected growth through 2017.

“It’s the largest well in St. Mary’s County,” Miller said. “We anticipated growth for the next 20 years.

“It’s a 1.1 million-gallon-a-day well.”

A committee has been formed to work on the comprehensive plan, Miller said, along with a Wilmington, Delaware consultant. Public hearings before the town’s planning and zoning commission and the town council are set for this summer, with a projected completion date of Oct. 1.

Leslie Roberts, town councilmember, said that the council would begin discussing this week what the priorities might be in the comprehensive plan.

“It’s a fine line we have to walk here between retaining the old town feel of Leonardtown and preparing for the growth we know is going to come,” Roberts said.

She said that the council would look at possibilities for infill construction in the town and whether to build out or keep clear empty parcels.

One of the big issues, she said, was how much development they could accommodate since the capacity at the Van Wert Lane wastewater treatment plant was strictly limited. Still some development was needed to help pay for the expansion of the plant in the first place, she said.

“Right now our EDUs [equivalent dwelling units] are limited… until some development gets going we have don’t have money for the expansion.”

Thursday, March 5, 2009

The County Times

Bill To Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) _ The Maryland Senate has approved a bill that commits the state to a 25 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. The reduction would be a cut of 25 percent from 2006 levels.

Legislators voted Monday night 36-9 in favor the measure, which seeks to reduce greenhouse gas through renewable energy and recycling, easing concerns by industry that the burden won’t be put entirely on them.

Business and labor organizations support the bill because the current proposal specifically requires the state to ensure there will be no loss of manufacturing jobs as a result of the measure.

Dorchester County Republican Sen. Richard Colburn opposed the measure, saying it was tough to worry about global warming when his district got 12 inches of snow in early March.

The bill now moves to the House of Delegates.

Md. Senate Waters Down Death Penalty Repeal Bill ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) _ The Maryland Senate voted Tuesday to amend a death penalty repeal measure to keep capital punishment on the books while limiting its use to cases with biological or conclusive videotaped evidence.

The Senate voted 33-12 to accept an amendment by Sen. Robert Zirkin, D-Baltimore County, one of many amendments considered by lawmakers.

Under the amendment, either biological evidence such as DNA, a voluntary videotaped confession to a murder or a video recording that conclusively links a defendant to a kill-

Hoyer Holds Firm On Earmarks

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer appeared to chide the Obama administration Tuesday by saying that the White House doesn’t have the power to tell Congress to curb membersponsored earmarks.

According to a report in The Washington Times newspaper Hoyer was quoted as saying: “I don’t think the White House has the ability to tell us what to do. I hope you all got that down.”

Hoyer’s reported statement came a day after the White House announced that President Obama would create new rules regarding

earmarks, or spending on specific projects sponsored by congressional leaders.

A local GOP state representative, Del. Anthony O’Donnell (R-Dist. 29C) said that that kind of contention over spending in general was positive, considering the bailouts and economic stimulus bills that have rolled out of Washington recently.

“Some push back within the Democrat party could be helpful,” O’Donnell, Maryland House Minority Leader said Wednesday. “With 9,000 earmarks in that budget a whole bunch need to be looked at.”

Calls to press representatives for Hoyer were not answered as of press time Wednesday.

ing would be needed to seek the death penalty.

Zirkin said the change keeps capital punishment in Maryland while creating stronger safeguards in how it is used. ``For those of you who are for the repeal of this, you know, you may not get the full repeal and this does move the ball forward,’’ Zirkin said.

Zirkin’s amendment was approved after the Senate voted for an amendment by Sen. James Brochin, D-Baltimore County, that would have simply required evidence stronger than eyewitness testimony to bring a capital case.

Sen. Brian Frosh, who chairs the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, said Zirkin’s amendment improved the bill from the condition it was left in after Brochin’s change. ``I think this amendment improves the bill from the status that we just put it in,’’ Frosh said. ``It will provide a greater guarantee if there is a death penalty sought and it provides the state with some additional work that they have to do and some greater protection.’’

Senators were expected to bring many amendments to the bill.

Earlier Tuesday, the Senate voted 24-23 to consider a death penalty repeal measure after invoking a rarely used legislative maneuver allowing the full Senate to take up legislation, even after the bill failed to be approved by a Senate committee.

Audit: Md. Overpaid Up To $10.8m For Drug Benefits ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) _ Maryland benefit officials missed out on as much as $10.8 million in contractually guaranteed prescription drug rebates and discounts in 2005 and 2006, according to an audit released Monday.

The report by the state’s Office of Legislative Audits faults employees charged with administering contracts for the mistakes and urges the state to recover overpayments. In 2005, the state received a 46.7 percent discount from the average wholesale prices on generic drugs, although a contract stipulated they were to receive discounts of 56 percent. In 2006, the state received discounts of 48.7 percent instead of the 50 percent discount required by the contract. The audit said the state is estimated to have spent up to $10.1 million in overpayments for drugs during this time. ``Our audit disclosed a number of deficiencies in the administration of the contract with the pharmacy benefit manager for the state’s prescription drug benefit program,’’ the report from the Office of Legislative Audits said.

The report also finds that department leaders did not always review and report potential cases of prescription narcotic drug abuse by plan participants in a timely manner. Department officials say they have now reported any all suspected abuse cases to the Governor’s Chief Counsel.

The County Times

Thursday, March 5, 2009

To The Editor: A Nation of Cowards We have been lied to and misled by our government representatives so often that it is hard to take anything they say seriously. However, last month, Mr. Erick Holder, our new attorney general, made a remark that really upset me. While discussing Black History Month, Mr. Holder made the claim that we are, “essentially a nation of cowards” on racial issues.

I spent over thirty years in the District of Columbia Fire Department and although I never considered myself more than just a good fire fighter I was recognized for valor on more than one occasion. I spent the preponderance of my career in African American communities and I never once hesitated, nor have I ever seen any other firefighter hesitate, to do what needed to be done based on who the victim may be.

Firefighting is a hazardous occupation but the severity or frequency of the risks involved in firefighting pale as compared to our military personnel. Their well-documented sacrifices and heroic deeds have always been a source of national pride and many have gone above and beyond their military duties for war victims of many different complexions. Beyond those who wear a uniform there are countless examples of ordinary people who have risked their lives for others with total disregard for their personal safety and without thinking about who was in need. I believe actions speak much louder than words, so for one of our high government officials to state that we are a nation of cowards, regardless of the context of the remark, is absolutely inexcusable. I

wouldn’t qualify as an expert on anything but I strongly suspect my credentials on recognizing heroism, based on my experience, are far better than Mr. Holder’s. I wonder how many times Mr. Holder has risked his life for someone else.

Judging by his choice of words I suspect he answer is none!

There has been much said about the gains in race relations attributed to the election of our first African American President. As a hand picked member of the president’s cabinet I suspect Mr. Holder’s remark has set those accomplishments back a step or two and perhaps negated any gain that may have been realized.

It is ironic that a political cartoon printed in a New York newspaper which was considered racially offensive by some, and apperaed during the same week as Mr. Holder’s remark, got top billing in the media for several days and Mr. Holder’s remark was barely mentioned in the mainstreem media. Evidentially objective reporting has gone the same way as the integrity of those who run our major corporations, financial institutions, and our government.

A serious consideration we should all think about is what comes next and is Mr. Holder’s remark a sign of things to come. I doubt if the advocates of change anticipated the trashing of our heritage by those being paid tax dollars to serve as our representatives. Their rhetoric has dipped as low as our economy and evidentially nobody sees the need for any rebuke when a bailout is in order. May God help us all I am not looking forward to the rest of the story.

David Ryan Hollywood, Md

Protecting The Lives Of The Guilty While Murdering The Innocent Dear Editor, The following is an e-mail which I sent to Governor Martin O’Malley on Feb. 26:

Dear Governor O’Malley, I am astonished at the arrogant hypocrisy you have displayed in the death penalty issue. I have read, with immense interest, your emotional appeals to the state Senate about the dignity of life.

Your words were that “Freedom, justice, the dignity of the individual, equal rights before the law, these are the principles that define ourselves as a people.” You said, “We must ask ourselves: Are these principles compatible with the simple taking of a human life?”

And yet, are you not the same man, Governor O’Malley, who supports the ruthless taking of the lives of not one but thousands of innocent babies in the womb from the beginning of conception right up to the point of birth? Aren’t you a staunch supporter of the right to abortion - the legalized murder of the innocent? How do you justify your support for the lives of the guilty while you approve of the murder of the innocent?

Your emotion and your eloquence on behalf on convicted criminals - those convicted in a court of law by a jury of their peers, and those who have endless appeals of their convictions at their disposal - are puzzling to me. You are indeed the same man who enthusiastically supports the legalized butcher-

ing and murder in the womb of innocent, helpless babies who have not been convicted of a single crime; and who are not given a hearing; and who have no appeals. I am wondering, Governor, how do you support such a position since you claim to believe in “justice, the dignity of the individual, and equal rights before the law”?

Clearly you believe in the right to life for only a chosen few. So your eloquence in pleading for the “dignity of life” is tainted by the lies of your hypocrisy.

I was especially astounded at your audacity in the invoking of the Holy Spirit in your effort to outlaw the death penalty for those convicted of heinous crimes against other human beings. I wonder if you are familiar with Galatians 6:7 which advises us to “.....not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” It would appear, Governor, that you are mocking God when you call upon His Holy Spirit to end the death penalty for convicted criminals while you have the blood of the innocent lives of babies on your soul.

I would respectfully ask you to repent of your position on abortion, seek God’s forgiveness, and then plead just as emotionally and eloquently to save the lives of the innocent babies in the womb as you have done to save the lives of those who are guilty of crimes against humanity. God just might answer your request. I will be praying for you. In the love of Christ Jesus, Rebecca Denning e-mail) (end of

Editorial:

Maryland’s Fiscal Problems Not Solved By The Stimulus

President Obama has kept a part of his campaign promises. He has put in place the means to save jobs. It may not be the millions of jobs he hoped to save, but for now it appears that thousands of state and local elected officials will be saved from losing their jobs in the 2010 elections that will take place in about 20 months.

Governors, state legislators, county commissioners and other local government officials are reveling in joy, a savior has arrived. Not all state and local governments across the country have mismanaged their affairs and need a savior, unfortunately Maryland and many of its local governments are the ones that do.

Obama’s $787 billion stimulus plan provides bailouts for state and local governments to the tune of $144 billion in aid to these mismanaged governments. Now instead of having to make tough spending choices, now rather than having to prioritize public need, now rather than finding ways to live within the taxpayers means, these elected officials are free to continue the spending spree, spreading joy to all their constituents, at least until the stimulus money runs out. Fortunately for them, it is a lot of money and even without spending constraints; this money will get these guys through the next election.

Two primary problems arise; the states are required by law to operate with a balanced budget to protect the health, welfare and sovereignty of each individual state. Second, these funds are in essence borrowed money.

Maryland will receive $9.5 billion of the $144 billion going to the states. These funds will come in the form of $3.8 billion in direct aid and $5.7 billion in indirect aid. Under constitutional restrictions, Governor O’Malley and the state legislature would not be able to borrow this money. They would have two alternatives:

not include that amount in their spending plan or raise taxes and fees. Bottom line, revenues must equal expenses, no borrowing allowed for the operating budget. Instead, Maryland will spend money over the next two years that it did not raise through either taxes or fees. Maryland will provide greater funding levels than any previous year to education, public safety, transportation, health care, the environment and many other programs. And two years from now these bills will remain, however these funds will not.

It was never the intent of our Constitution that the states could side step the balanced budget criteria by way of the federal government borrowing money on behalf of the states.

What is worse, they are borrowing these funds from our children and grand children.

Two years from now O’Malley and the state legislature will have to reconcile Maryland’s financial mess. O’Malley will have most likely survived re-election because 20 months from now all the special interest groups will be whole and happy and the average voter will have forgotten that the day of reckoning is right around the corner. For some reason voters seem to forget that whatever government is to give it must first take away.

After 2010 O’Malley will not be able to seek re-election because of term limits, therefore his solution will be for the second time in his tenure as Governor to enact “sweeping reform”. In other words, another huge tax increase on Marylanders. It will be easy this time; he will never have to face the voters.

It will not be as easy for the senators and delegates yet they will rely on the fact that they can blame the lame duck governor, and secondly they will rely on the fact that the next election isn’t until 2014 and voters may have a short memory.

I urge each of you who believes in the right to life for babies in the womb to call Gov. O’Malley at (410) 974-3901; and/or to e-mail him at governor@gov. state.md.us Ask Gov. O’Malley to end his support for abortion and to plead for the lives of babies in the womb with

the same commitment and eloquence as he has done for the repeal of the death penalty for convicted criminals.

Please do it today.

Rebecca Denning Bushwood, Md

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Quote Of The Day

Speaks

A good End cannot sanctifie evil Means; nor must we ever do Evil, that Good may come of it.

-William Penn

Senior Rides Program Provides A Much Needed Link Health Share Thank You

Home is sweet, but how about if you need to get to a doctor’s appointment or run a simple errand and you can no longer drive…what then?

Betty Ross, 75, lives in Morganza with her daughter, Tammy. Tammy works two jobs supporting herself, her son and her mother.

With a busy work schedule, there is no time during the day for Tammy to deliver her mother to an eye doctor’s appointment, but that is where a local volunteer program called “Senior Rides” comes in.

Thanks to the St. Mary’s County Department of Aging, there is a phone number that Betty can call to schedule a ride to and from her appointment.

“Otherwise, my daughter would have to take the whole day off “, says Ross. “If I can do it on my own, then that is what I’d like to do”.

As the oldest of the nation’s 79 million baby boomers turn 62 this year, the demand for these services is growing. Concern over how the bulging population of seniors will get around is paramount among advocates for the elderly.

The Senior Rides program provides St. Mary’s County

residents who are 60 or older, door-todoor transportation to medical and social appointments, shopping and basic

errands.

There are basic eligibility criteria for program participation.

Sandy Markwood, chief executive of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging states, “Half of American households don’t have access to adequate transportation options other than cars,” Markwood says. “Rural America and suburbs don’t have public transportation available.”

The Senior Rides Program relies on volunteer drivers from the local community. Drivers receive training and certification, mileage reimbursement and supplemental insurance from the St. Mary’s County Department of Aging. The Department manages all the ride coordination for the participants as well.

Barbara Lamb spotted a notice for volunteer drivers in her church bulletin. She completed her required training and has been providing transportation for seniors for many months. “I’ve met a lot of great people through the Senior Rides Program, says Lamb, “and there is a time in your life when you need “Bruce the Goose” is the newest mascot for the outside help”.

Department of Aging’s Senior Rides program, deThere is additional psychological

benefit of the Senior Rides program in that it provides a means for seniors to stay involved and active within the community.

“Many seniors are very isolated but they get to know their drivers and they ask for a particular driver,” says Denise Charlot, of the St. Mary’s County Department of Aging.

“It gets to be a friendship and a network.”

More than 600,000 people age 70 and older stop driving each year, according to a report by the Government Accountability Office, but the desire to drive does not diminish with age.

We all have places we want to go, when we want to go.

For information on the Senior Rides Program and to learn how to become a volunteer, contact St. Mary’s County Department of Aging 301.475.4200, ext 1066 or on the website at www.stmarysmd.com/aging.

signed by Thieme Creative Media.

Enhance Family Communication Skills Staying Connected with Your Teen is a five session program to improve communication skills for parents of teens. The program will help participants improve family harmony, communications, attachment and organization.

All materials needed for the program will be supplied, including light refreshments. The program is funded by the State of Maryland.

The first session of Staying Connected with Your Teen will begin on Wednesday, March 25 from 6 to 8 p.m., and will be held in Room A at the Lexington Park Library

on FDR Boulevard. Classes fill up quickly, so don’t miss out on this opportunity!

For more information and to register, contact Viet Nguyen, Department of Human Services, at viet.nguyen@stmarysmd.com or call 301475-4200 ext. 1851. The program is coordinated by the St. Mary’s County Government Department of Human Services. For more information about the Department, log on to the county’s website at www.stmarysmd.com and click on Human Services under the Services box.

The Health Share of St. Mary’s Board of Directors wishes to thank all of our sponsors and guests for making this year’s Mardi Gras Ball our most successful to date, with a record crowd of 315.

Our appreciation is also extended to the general managers and staff at the J.T. Daugherty Center and to members of the Leonardtown High School jazz band, who serenaded arriving guests and strolled through the JTD Center lobby, adding to the Mardi Gras atmosphere. As always, DJ Marc Shubrooks kept our guests dancing until midnight.

Health Share is the only non-profit group in St. Mary’s County that helps adults without health insurance defray the cost of their health care needs.

The majority of our clients are working adults who earn too much to qualify for Medical Assistance; the remainder includes adults living on disability or re-

tirement income. Without assistance from Health Share, these adults would slip through the cracks of our health care system. Because our organization operates with an all-volunteer Board of Directors, 94% of all money raised directly supports our clients; the remaining funds cover administrative costs including a certified yearly audit of our organization.

Through the ongoing support of our local community, Health Share is able to carry out our mission and help those in need. In these challenging times, your support is even more critical. Once again, thanks to all who contributed to make this our most successful Mardi Gras to date. We are grateful to all of you.

Ella May Russell President of Health Share of St. Mary’s

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County Sports Closes Shop

By Sean Rice Staff Writer County Sports, a well-known Lexington Park screen printer, shut its doors this week after 10 years in business.

Originally opened by Barbara Rivera in San Souci Plaza, County Sports moved to Tulagi Place where it was run

by Rivera until she retired about 18 months ago. Since then, the company moved to a storefront on Great Mills Road, under the direction of Rivera’s son-inlaw, Mark Isaza.

Isaza is better known as Mark I. “Paisa” with 99.1 FM, WLZL, a Spanish language radio station out of Leonard, Md. Isaza told The County Times the store is not closing because of the economy; he said the company is doing well through online sales at Dianalis697.com, and he will continue taking orders online.

Isaza’s career as a special promotions coordinator for the radio station has been taking more and more of his time, squeezing down the number of hours he can put in at the shop after the long

Thursday, March 5, 2009

commute.

County Sports provides team shirts for many softball teams, and other teams in the county, as well as embroidered gear for clubs in DC and Baltimore.

Isaza said regular customers can still have their orders dropshipped in the future. As for the equipment and merchandise in the store, everything is being sold online, at places such as Craigslist and Ebay.

“I love it down here, it’s been a very spirit-full 10 years in the county,” he said, adding that he is going to miss the retail shop setting, with people dropping by.

Any customers with artwork at the store can still retrieve their material by calling 301-863-8800

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JumpYard Up For Sale

By Sean Rice Staff Writer

The JumpYard, a children’s play center in Lexington Park, is having their anniversary next week, celebrating two years in business.

Owner Kristin Dugan is seeking a buyer for the thriving company, due to her and her husband having to relocate to Florida.

The facility is designed for children 10 years and younger and features “five huge moon bounces” as well as toys for younger kids and amenities to keep the adults busy, such as free coffee, WiFi access and a flat screen TV. “It’s just a great place for kids to burn off some steam,” Dugan said. “ And it’s a safe place for

younger kids.”

Parents can also take advantage of a quiet room to get work done while the kids play.

“It’s a good place for kids to play and interact with each other and for the moms and dads to hang out,” Dugan said.

As for the viability of the business, Dugan said business is going great, and they are selling because the couple must move. Her husband has already relocated.

“It’s really packed in here on the weekends,” Dugan said. “That’s really our busy time, with the birthday parties is just crazy busy.”

For additional information on the sale, contact Kristin at the store at 301-863-3388 or email info@ thejumpyard.com.

St. Mary’s Hospital Unveils New Wing Andrea Shiell Staff Writer

patients shortly.

“This unit has a couple of special features that are very much worth noting,” said Mary Lou Watson, Vice President for Nursing at St. Mary’s Hospital. “Each of the 15 surgical medical beds are monitored, and we also have a very special bariatric room,” she said, adding that there would also be a lift from bedrooms to bathrooms for patients who were unable to move.

“One of the main purposes of this unit is to help facilitate the patients as they get to these rooms while they’re waiting for other rooms,” Watson added, explaining that for many heart patients, the break from the madness of the ER might offer some welcome respite.

Dignitaries and hospital staff gathered on the third floor of St. Mary’s Hospital on Tuesday as they unveiled their new 15-bed nursing unit with private, telemetry-monitored rooms.

“We call this three-central…it was designed in anticipation of our larger expansion plan which will help us celebrate our hundredth anniversary and really plan for the future,” said Christine Wray, President and CEO of St. Mary’s Hospital. “We’ve kept in mind that we need to continue to grow to meet the needs of our community,” she said.

“This is a really exciting beginning for a great expansion of the hospital,” said Linda Dudderar, Chairwoman of the hospital’s Board of Directors. “This project is a great example of how our hospital is at the forefront of safe, comfortable and convenient patient care…the additional space will allow us to provide more rooms for inpatient care as our community continues to grow,” she said.

Though future expansions are still in the works for the hospital, according to board members and hospital staff, the most recent expansion including this new wing came in Photo by Andrea Shiell nearly $400,000 under budget, Commissioner Thomas Mattingly, Linda Dudderar, and Mayor J. Harry “Chip” and will be open and serving Norris at Tuesday’s ribbon-cutting.

11

Thursday, March 5, 2009

The County Times

Defense & Military

County’s New Windmill Law is Navy Friendly

By Sean Rice Staff Writer

St. Mary’s County Commissioners in December passed a law restricting the construction of electricity-generating windmills.

The law allows for a single wind turbine to be constructed per property in any zoning district as an accessory use. Stipulations are in place governing tower height, setbacks and electrical output.

Building permit issuance for a wind energy system also hinges on approval from officials with Patuxent River Naval Air Station.

The Navy was brought into the approval process due to Department of Defense studies that say wind turbines reflect radio frequency energy, which increases noise and clutter for radar and radar-based measurement systems.

“Wind farms” with multiple turbines are the major concern for military officials, Keith Fairfax, president of the Southern Maryland Navy Alliance, told The County Times.

Radio frequency “reflections often include characteristics that are similar to aircraft in flight,” Fairfax said of large wind farms. “The dynamic nature of the noise/clutter is particularly troublesome.”

The county’s law limiting wind turbines to one per property reflects the county’s commitment to protecting Pax River, Fairfax said, but more work is needed to protect the base from radar interruptions elsewhere.

“Again I think the real concern is, maybe not one turbine, but if someone said: ‘Let’s go down near Pocomoke and put up a wind turbine farm with 50 wind turbines, 120 feet in the air, or 500 feet in the air.’”

“The larger set of wind turbines, no matter where you put them, in and around the base, would be a potential problem for our radars,” Fairfax said.

Fairfax said the Navy has outreach teams that are communicating with officials on the Eastern Shore and the Northern Neck of Virginia.

“The Navy is asking those counties to take a look at things that would impact us over here,” Fairfax said.

Discussions about creating local wind turbine regulations came up in the recent meeting between county and Navy officials about encroachment, a meeting that happens twice a year.

“We always want to make sure we protect our economic engine here,” Fairfax said. “Keeping that communication open between the Navy and St. Mary’s County is a good thing,”

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F-35 Flight Testing, Assembly Line Output, Taking Off

Within the next year, the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lighting II program will complete all remaining System Development and Demonstration aircraft, deliver the first production-model F-35s to the armed services and initiate full-scale flight test operations at Edwards Air Force Base and Naval Air Station Patuxent River.

“2009 is shaping up to be a year of firsts for the F-35 program, with the first flight of our F-35C carrier variant, the first vertical landing of our F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing variant, the first stand-ups of our test sites as Edwards and Pax River, the first training aircraft delivered to the U.S. Air Force and the first F-35 orders from our international partners,” Dan Crowley, Lockheed Martin executive vice president and F-35 program general manager said in a press release.”Already, we have delivered eight of 19 SDD jets, and we are moving aircraft off the assembly line at a rate of about one per month, a pace that continues to accelerate.”

Additionally, the program will continue to validate the F-35’s highly evolved mission systems software and hardware by adding to the more than 1,100 hours of flight testing and 115,000 hours of laboratory testing already completed.

“As we mature the F-35, we continue to see evidence of ever-strengthening customer support - in the U.S. Air Force’s request for stepped-up production, in the U.S. Navy’s call for reinstatement of three early-production F-35Cs, and in Norway’s and the Netherlands’ endorsement of the F-35 as their future fighter,” Crowley said. “We will see more of the same in 2009, as we prove out the Lightning II’s capabilities, and as our international partners begin ordering their first airplanes.”

The BF-2 model is on schedule to deploy to Naval Air Station Patuxent River later this year. It will remain in Fort Worth for the next several months to conduct a series of tests.

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In The

Know Education

St. Michael’s School To Showcase Artwork In Baltimore

Students Participate In Model United Nations Conference

13

The County Times

Thursday, March 5, 2009

un Fact

The world’s record for continuous pogo stick jumping is 41 hours.

Andrea Shiell Staff Writer Though student artwork has always found a place on the refrigerator at home, there are some lucky children who get to see their paintings displayed alongside the likes of artistic giants at some of the nation’s most prestigious museums.

Though medieval scribes would sharpen their quills and create what are known as “illuminated manuscripts,” biblical passages illustrated with decorations, often incorporating gold leaf and richly colored paints, modern scribes at St. Michael’s and other participating schools are using watercolors, crayon, or colored pencils to illustrate biblical passages, some with decidedly

Photo by Carol Morris Sara Luffey, an 8th grader at St. Michael’s Catholic School, working on an icon for this year’s exhibit, which will be featured at the Walters Art Gallery in Baltimore.

Such is the case for the students at St. Michael’s Catholic School in Ridge, who will display illuminated manuscripts and religious icons at the Walters Art Gallery in Baltimore. Their work will join that of artists from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic School in Essex, and the St. Michael’s Academy Home schooling Co-Op in Woodstock.

“There’s a second exhibit, the main exhibit at the Walters, called the St. John’s Bible,” said Carol Morris, an art teacher from St. Michael’s.

“It’s the first bible that’s been done totally by hand since the middle ages, but they’ve incorporated medieval techniques and modern design,” she said.

Martial Arts Master to Give Lecture Master drummer and choreographer Amen Santo will visit St. Mary’s College of Maryland (SMCM) March 9 for a lecture and workshop.

His lecture is titled, “From Plantation’s Shadows to Global Spotlight: A Master Recounts Capoeira’s Trajectory from Slave Culture to the Hip World of Global Youth Culture,” and is at 4:45 p.m. in Cole Cinema of the Campus Center.

Capoeira is a mixture of African and Brazilian martial art, spanning from plantation-era origins to its contemporary status as a hip, global phenomenon. Santo directs the Brasil Cultural Center, the Ballet Folclòrico do Brasil Dance Company, and the Capoeira Batuque academy in Los Angeles, Calif., where he resides.

This lecture is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Zara Bennett at zbennett@smcm.edu.

modern themes.

“We’re doing modern paints and a more modern interpretation of bible passages,” Morris said, adding later that one student had drawn Jesus, Mary and Joseph as traveling in a minivan to Jerusalem.

“The icons are something we do from year to year from fifth grade to eighth,” said Morris, explaining that the icons focus on “the art of reproduction, not the art of interpretation…these are designs that are repeated from generation to generation…these are religious characters or people that are from ancient and medieval times to today,” she said.

The Walters will not be the only showplace

for the students’ work, as icons will also be displayed at Cafe Des Artistes in Leonardtown (with a student artist reception on March 19), where Morris said she got the idea for the exhibit in the first place.

“I took my niece to Cafe Des Artistes, and I was sitting there with her and she was enjoying herself so much and I noticed behind her that there were all kinds of local artists,” she said, adding that from there she spoke with the owners, “and they accepted to put up the icons and illuminated manuscripts as a local exhibit, so the students would be able to see some of their work even if they weren’t able to make it to the Walters.”

Students from St. Michael’s will be invited to the Walters for the opening of the exhibit on April 7. The exhibit itself will be open to the public from Aril 8 to April 29. “It’ll be in the sculpture court at the Walters Museum, in my opinion the best part of the whole museum,” said Morris. “It’s a very grand room, so when you come in there’s marble, and two stories and a stained glass ceiling…it’s very beautiful.”

Morris said that she was indeed excited to see the exhibit, which will be the second exhibit for local students to be featured at the Walters. “It’s totally different how each child has interpreted the bible,” she said, “and it’s been a very rewarding thing to work with the students.”

This past weekend, more than 30 students, under the guidance of Scott Russell and Michael Denny, participated in the Thirty-Second Annual Model United Nations Conference sponsored by Old Dominion University.

This conference was a student-directed simulation that examined real-world issues confronting the global community such as national security, economic interdependence, and humanitarian concerns.

This problem-solving activity engaged the students to develop research and public-speaking skills, as well as become informed citizens on international events. In addition, it provided an in-depth understanding of the purpose, functions, and procedures of the United Nations.

For this simulation, students represented an array of nations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Chopticon High School students assumed the role of delegates for the Russian Federation and Oxfam International.

Leonardtown High School students represented the United Kingdom, Jordan, Spain, the Russian Federation, and Amnesty International.

Students from both schools earned numerous awards and honors including Chopticon High School earning the Jean Bernard Gazarian Award for Diplomacy, and Leonardtown High School receiving recognition for the Secretary General’s Award for Outstanding Delegation.

In addition to these awards, there were more than ten honors awarded for outstanding group and individual achievements.

Maryland Honors 463 Elementary And Middle Schools And 73 High Schools For Improved Performance The Maryland State Department of Education is recognizing 463 elementary and middle schools and 73 high schools across the State for the academic performance of their students. The recognition program honors schools for their performance on the 2008 Maryland School Assessment (MSA) or the High School Assessment (HSA), and for improving the performance of special populations of students for two years.

Only schools that made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for 2007-2008 were eligible for the awards.

Special populations include race/ethnicity, special education, limited English proficiency, and students who are receiving free or reduced price meals. The program, established by the Maryland General Assembly in 1996, is now required by the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB).

“Each year the School Recognition Program allows us to acknowledge the success of staff and students in raising the performance levels of all public school students,” said State Superintendent of Schools Nancy S. Grasmick.

“This year, we share our pride in 536 elementary, middle, and high schools for their overall achievement or for improving the performance of their special populations or both.”

All recognized schools will receive certificates of recognition for public display. Only Title I elementary and middle schools will each receive a modest financial award that can be used for activities and equipment to improve student performance and family involvement.

School recognition, a feature of the federal No Child Left Behind program, helps states recognize the achievement of schools, as well as their students and teachers.

State Approves Anti-Bullying Policy Andrea Shiell Staff Writer

SMCPS to Submit Policies to the State for Review

The Maryland State Board of Education announced last Tuesday that it has approved Maryland’s Model Anti-Bullying, Harassment, and Intimidation Policy, with the aim of setting a statewide definition of bullying behavior. MSDE will also be requiring school systems to submit copies of their anti-bullying policies to the State Superintendent for review.

“Bullying has existed for a long time, but that does not make it right or something we as educators should ignore,” said State Superintendent of Schools Nancy S. Grasmick. “Today’s bullies come in many forms, including those who use electronic means.

The brighter the spotlight on this unacceptable behavior, the better chance we have to eliminate it from

the school yard and the Internet.”

“We have over the years adopted a number of things…with respect to our policies on bullying… you can’t learn if you’re too worried about what’s going on around you. It’s mentally stressful, it’s physically challenging, and it’s just plain wrong,” said Board Member Cathy Allen, who added that SMCPS processes each incident under a series of codes, and board members receive monthly updates on bullying or discipline problems.

The new policy prohibits bullying, harassment, or intimidation of any person on school property or at school-sponsored functions, including harassment by the use of electronic technology at a public school.

Reprisals against individuals reporting bullying are also prohibited.

The policy also stresses professional develop-

ment for educators in order to better intervene in bullying situations, a stipulation that SMCPS officials say they have already been enforcing.

Jeff Maher, SMCPS Director of Professional and Organizational Development, said that the school system has consistently trained staff and administrators to handle bullying and cyber-bullying cases.

“We’ve prepared teachers as well as parents by doing presentations at PTA meetings,” he said, “but this is obviously a very new policy…and when we get all the details from the state we’ll do everything we can to meet those regulations” he said.

Local school systems are now required to submit copies of their anti-bullying policies to the State Superintendent by July 1 for her review.

Crime&

Punishment

The County Times

A man accused of raping a woman at a party last year in Lexington Park has waived his right to have a trial within 180 days of being charged, since his public defender said he needed more time to pore over DNA evidence and build a defense.

Alverio Dominguez, 24, a Guatemalan national, may also challenge a statement he gave police during their investigation, according to his attorney John Getz.

“He has told me he did not understand his rights,” Getz told Circuit Court Judge C. Clarke Raley.

Dominguez was charged with allegedly raping and assaulting a female victim while she slept during a party at the victim’s home in the late night hours of July 12, 2008.

The victim attempted to fight off Dominguez’s alleged assault, charging documents against the defendant state, and several witnesses were said to have seen him flee the residence after the victim cried for help.

Witnesses chased Dominguez to a nearby house, court papers reveal, and detectives stated they found him hiding under a bed in a back room of the house.

Detectives with the Bureau of Criminal Investigations arrested Dominguez after they found scratch marks on the defendant’s chest and stomach areas, and he has been held ever since in the county detention facility.

Dominguez proceeded with his motions hearing Feb. 26 with the aid of a Spanish speaking interpreter.

Assistant State’s Attorney Robyn Riddle said of the alleged victim that “she would like to voice her displeasure about this [case] going on and on” but Riddle herself said she understood that the defense counsel needed more time to review the DNA evidence the state had provided.

Raley agreed that the defense “could not reasonably be expected to move forward” with their case in just 30 days.

If convicted, Dominguez could spend up to 20 years in jail for the second-degree rape charge.

Deputy makes arrest near pancake house On March 1, 2009 Deputy Snyder observed Josh Alonzo Maddox, 35, of Lexington Park walking near the construction site adjacent to IHOP in Lexington Park, Maryland. Maddox was allegedly intoxicated and had fallen down. After completing a warrant check Maddox was sent on his way. Maddox started walking away but then returned and began yelling at the deputies. IHOP customers were in the parking lot observing Maddox’s disorderly behavior. The deputies instructed Maddox to leave several times and told him if he did not comply he would be arrested. Maddox refused to comply was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and failing to obey a lawful order of a police officer.

Photo by Guy Leonard

Police converged on a residence in Hollywood last week after a man who had been pulled over in a traffic stop fled on foot when a deputy learned he had a warrant out for his arrest.

Deputies and state troopers captured Izella Edgar Bush, 40, of Lexington Park Feb. 27 after he fled on foot to a house on Clover Hill Road, police said, seeking to evade arrest after he allegedly gave a false name and birth date to the arresting deputy.

As Sgt. Eric Walker performed a check to see if Bush was wanted or not, the suspect fled and contacted the family in the

Deputy makes arrest for obstruction On February 27, 2009 deputies responded to Valley Estate Drive in Lexington Park for a report of a fight in process. Deputy Boyer was attempting to arrest a juvenile female for disorderly conduct when Decarl Savoy Smith, 18, of Lexington Park, allegedly charged the deputies, cursing profanity and insisting they not arrest the juvenile. Smith would not comply with the deputy’s orders not to hinder the arrest and back away. Smith was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and obstruction of justice.

Search leads to suspected drugs, paraphernalia On February 27, 2009 Sgt. Walker stopped a 1992 Dodge Dakota on Three Notch Road in the area of Clover Hill Road.

The operator was identified as Herbert Elmar Russell, 46, of Lusby,. Russell’s privilege to operate a motor vehicle in Maryland was suspended. Russell was arrested for driving while on a suspended license. Search of the vehicle incident to the arrest revealed suspected marijuana and controlled dangerous substance paraphernalia.

Police Arrest Man After Bail Out From Traffic Stop

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer

14

Briefs

Rape Suspect Waives Right To Speedy Trial

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer

Thursday, March 5, 2009

house asking to use their phone, claiming he had been in an automobile accident.

Bush had a warrant issued against him for six counts of theft.

Deputies and state troopers who rushed up Three Notch Road to the scene searched for Bush and found him at the Clover Hill residence.

One state trooper on the scene said that they were initially concerned that a barricade situation might ensue from Bush’s flight to the residence.

Bush was arrested, served with a warrant and charged with giving a false name to a police officer.

Man Pleads Guilty To Child Abuse Against Son

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer A man accused of causing his 2-month-old son to be badly injured last year pleaded guilty to second-degree child abuse Feb. 26.

His plea agreement before Administrative Judge Karen H. Abrams held that his seven-year sentence would be suspended down to 18-months to be served in the county’s detention facility.

Ryan T. Woodford was originally charged with first-degree child abuse and second- degree assault.

According to a statement of facts regarding the case read by Assistant State’s Attorney Joseph Stanalonis, Woodford said he accidentally dropped his infant son, but, Stanalonis said, medical examiners at Children’s Hospital disagreed and said the boy appeared to have injuries consistent with Shaken Baby Syndrome.

Detectives charged Woodford, 26, of Hollywood with firstdegree child abuse and placed him under arrest.

Woodford, though he agreed to make the guilty plea, insisted he had done nothing wrong and maintained his innocence.

His attorney David W. Densford said his client had not been cognizant of his actions that May 15, 2008 and that he did not intend to hurt his child. The injuries to the boy, Densford said, turned out to be less serious than originally thought.

While he was separated from his family, his grandparents cared for the boy.

Densford said that Woodford had successfully completed anger management and drug and alcohol recovery programs and “has earned his way out of being a convicted felon.”

Densford even said that once his client’s term and probation had been completed, his case could “be the one in a million” that could go back before the court in an effort to exonerate him of the charges.

“This is not what it appeared to be,” Woodford told Judge Abrams. “I did not intentionally abuse my child.”

But Judge Abrams, who ruled that Woodford was to have no unsupervised contact with his son, said she did not believe the defendant’s story.

“The experts did say something happened,” Judge Abrams said. “That won’t help you in the long run if can’t take responsibility for your actions.

“People don’t go to jail because their lawyers tell them to.”

15

Thursday, March 5, 2009

The County Times

Tag Reader Ushers In New Era For Policing

By Sean Rice Staff Writer “Big Brother” is watching … or better yet, Cpl. Mike Peacher of the St. Mary’s Sheriff’s Office traffic safety division is watching.

Drivers in St. Mary’s County should take heed.

Over are the days of slipping through the cracks while driving around with expired tags or a suspended

sion of tools already available to any officer.

“The tag information is in a database that’s searchable all the time,” Sheriff Tim Cameron told the County Times. “Just like we normally would get if we were notified from a dispatcher … except much faster.”

“It’s really amazing what this thing does,” Cameron continued. “And we’re really just beginning to realize the full potential of this device.”

Philip H. Dorsey III Attorney at Law

-Serious Personal Injury CasesLEONARDTOWN: 301-475-5000 TOLL FREE: 1-800-660-3493 EMAIL: phild@dorseylaw.net

Photos by Sean Rice

license.

Cpl. Peacher’s vehicle is the first Sheriff’s cruiser in the county to be equipped with an infrared license plate scanner, which can read hundreds of plates per hour as Deputy Peacher drives around on patrol, alerting him to bad tags and suspended or wanted drivers.

“It kind of lets the bad guys come to you,” Peacher told The County Times during a ride-along to demonstrate the new device.

Every morning at the start of his shift, Deputy Peacher downloads an updated database of license plate numbers from the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration that are suspended, expired or otherwise in violation of Maryland law.

He also collects an updated list of tag numbers maintained by the FBI in the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), which contains missing persons, stolen vehicles and any other tag numbers wanted by the FBI. Peacher plugs this information in his Mobile Plate Reader 900 and goes on patrol. As he drives down the road, one of two cameras attached to the trunk of his vehicle scans license plates that are passing him going the opposite direction across the double yellow line.

When the officer passes a car with bad tags or a suspended driver, an alarm sounds on his laptop and a picture is displayed of the license plate in question.

“Here’s one that we wouldn’t have got if it were not for the plate reader,” Peacher says after stopping a driver with a suspended license, but valid tags.

The equipment was fully funded by two grants, totaling $21,500, using Homeland Security funding and money from the Maryland Vehicle Theft Prevention Council.

“We’re hoping it’s going to increase the recovery of stolen vehicles and wanted drivers,” Peacher said, adding that the device has led him to many minor infractions, but he has yet to land a stolen vehicle or high-profile wanted person.

While the impressive effectiveness of the device may raise some eyebrows as being wholesale police work, officials say the equipment is merely an exten-

www.dorseylaw.net

Kevin J. McDevitt Attorney At Law

Cameron said he became a believer in tag readers after an incident about a year ago when a DC-area task force came to St. Mary’s County to assist with a special warrant sweep. Officers from the Washington Area Vehicle Theft Task Force stopped for pizza in St. Mary’s Square and the plate reader alerted them to stolen plates. Shortly after, two fugitives were arrested with guns and drugs.

“It was all because this thing alerted them to stolen tags,” Cameron said.

“The reason we have license plates is so they can be publicly read, that’s the whole purpose, and if we can use technology to make law enforcement more efficient, its sounds very interesting,” said Maryland Delegate Anthony O’Donnell.

O’Donnell is an vocal opponent of current efforts in Annapolis to allow the use of ticket-issuing speed cameras in the state, which he says, “don’t allow you to see your accuser.”

“This sounds like it’s already within the bounds of existing law,” he said, adding that he did not know this technology was being used in St. Mary’s County.

“This seems to me to be just a tool that would allow the normal process to take place.”

Though not everyone thinks the equipment is welcome news.

“Unfortunatly it sounds like big brother is watching, it sounds like the beginning of 1984,” St. Mary’s Commissioner Larry Jarboe told The County Times.

“It really makes you appreciate the horse and buggy and the bicycle,” he said.

Former Former Baltimore Baltimore City City Assist.

Assist. State’s State’s Attorney Attorney Former Former St. St. Mary’s Mary’s County County Assist.

Assist. State’s State’s Attorney Attorney

CRIMINAL & DUI/DWI

Office: 301-475-0093 Cell: 410-925-8992 Dorsey Professional Building 22835 Washington Street P.O. Box 952, Leonardtown, MD 20650

www.kjmcdevittlaw.com

The County Times

Francis Arlee Abell, 83 Francis Arlee Abell, 83, of Leonardtown died Feb. 21 in his residence.

Born Aug. 3, 1925 in Leonardtown he was the son of Tom T. Abell and Violet Ching Bussler. He was raised by Joe and Maide Thompson.

He was the loving husband of Rosalie C. Abell.

He is survived by his children John F. Abell, Billy Abell, and Brenda Abell; siblings Roger Bussler, Mary Tennyson, Ada Russell, Annie McCully, Claudia Mattingly and Katie Kozak; five grandchildren Mike Abell, John F. Abell, Jr., Julie Jackson, Tammy Buckler and Christina Buckler; five great grandchildren, Victoria Johnson, Dylan Jackson, Carmen Jackson, Kya Abell and Trent Abell.

He was preceded in death by two children, Deborah Buckler Abell and Michael W. Abell; five siblings, Frank Abell, Johnny Abell, Joe Thompson, Nathaniel Thompson and Hoover Bussler.

Mr. Abell was a lifelong St. Mary’s County resident. He worked as an equipment operator for the State of Maryland.

The family received friends Feb. 25 from 5 – 8 p.m. in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, where Prayers were said at 5:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Feb. 26 at 1 p.m. in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Morganza, with Fr. Keith Woods officiating. Interment followed in Charles Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers were John F. Abell, Jr., Joe Jackson, Frankie Lathrum, David Abell, Ricky Burris and Clifton Wyrick.

Contributions may be made to Hospice of St. Mary’s, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650.

To send a condolence to the family, visit www.mgfh.com.

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

George Mattingly Beavan, 80 George Mattingly Beavan, 80, of Pomfret, and formerly of St. Mary’s County, died Feb. 28 in his residence.

Born Oct. 8, 1928 in Beavue, he was the son of the late Bernard Stanton and Lillian Catherine Mattingly Beavan.

He was the loving husband of Mary Zeller Beavan whom he married Feb. 6, 1951 in St. Aloysius Roman Catholic Church, Leonardtown.

He is also survived by his daughter; Catherine Elizabeth Jager of Pomfret; siblings Loretta B. Norris and Bernard F. Beavan, both of Leonardtown.

He was preceded in death by his brother James B. Beavan, Stanton

Beavan and Ann R. Bowman.

George was an equipment supervisor for the Maryland State Highway Administration for 32 years (1951-1983), retiring April 1, 1983.

He served in the Maryland National Guard for nine years (1948-1957) and was a Master Sergeant, Company B, and 121st Engineering Battalion at the Leonardtown Armory. He enjoyed vegetable gardening, raising flowers, shrubbery, landscaping and yard work. He was also a recreational bird watcher.

The family received friends March 4 from 5 – 8 p.m. in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, where Prayers were said at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held March 5 at 10 a.m. in St. Aloysius Catholic Church, Leonardtown, with Fr. John Dakes officiating. Interment will follow in Charles Memorial Gardens, Leonardtown. Pallbearers will be Bernard S. Beavan (Bernie’s son), George Beavan (GMB’s nephew), Rick Jager (son-in-law), Gregory Copado, Francis Shepherd and David Bowman (nephew). Knights of Columbus will be honorary pallbearers.

Condolences to the family may be left at www.mgfh.com.

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

Dorothy “Dottie” Angie Chick, 94 Dorothy “Dottie” Angie Chick, 94, of Leonardtown, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, passed away Feb. 19.

She was born Sept.

13, 1914, the daughter of the late Charles and Edith (Maynard) Dwelley. Dorothy was a graduate of Bangor (Maine) High School. She was a saleslady for Tupperware, the former Robert Hall’s Clothing Store, Brewer and Avon. Most importantly, she enjoyed life with family and friends. She was a member of the Church of Christ.

She was predeceased by her husband, Herman Chick Sr.; brothers, Clarence Dwelley and Charles Dwelley Jr.; one sister, Louise Gilman; son Herman Chick Jr.; son-inlaw, Andrew Garland Jr.; grandsons, Stephen Dunning, Stephen Dubay and infant twins.

She is survived by sons, William Shaw Sr. and wife Carol of Charleston, Maine and Richard Chick of Bradenton, Fla.; daughters Jacqueline Thorne and husband Gerald of Hyattsville, Evelyn Garland of Great Mills, Judith Dunning of Brewer, Maine and Jacquelyn Dubay and husband Norman of Bangor, Maine; daughter-in-laws Dorothy Chick from the state of California and Cathy Chick of Bradenton, Fla.; 14 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

A sincere thank you to all the doctors and staff at St. Mary’s Nurs-

ing Home for the special care and love they gave to “Mrs. Chick” for the past six years.

A graveside service will be held at a future date at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Bangor, Maine.

To send a condolence to the family visit www.mgfh.com.

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

Joanne Mary Coty, 83 Joanne Mary Coty, 83, of Leonardtown died Feb. 24 in St. Mary’s Hospital.

Born July 8, 1925 in Watertown, N.Y., she was the daughter of the late Thomas Earl Coty, and Hazel (Brainard) Coty.

Joanne served honorably in the U.S. Navy W.A.V.E.S from 1949 until 1952 at NAS Patuxent River, and retired from Jefferson Savings Bank, Watertown, N.Y. as the Executive Secretary in 1989. She loved hiking, bowling, swimming and most of all spending time with her family and friends.

Joanne is survived by her devoted son, Randy Boatwright and his wife Karrie; three step-grandchildren, Tammy Linger, Anthony Ciavattone and Abriana Ciavattone all of California, Md. She was preceded in death by her son Bruce Boatwright.

Private Memorial Services will be held in the spring in Watertown, N.Y. Condolences to the family may be made at www.brinsfieldfuneral. com.

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

Charles Richard “Big Slew” Estep, Jr., 67 Charles Richard “Big Slew” Estep, Jr., 67, of Lexington Park, formerly of Mechanicsville, died Feb. 25 in St. Mary’s Hospital.

Born May 30, 1941 in Maryland, he was the son of the late Charles Richard and Ruth Eleanor Johnson Estep, Sr. He was the loving husband of Gladys M. Estep of Lexington Park.

He is survived by his seven children, Diane Harris of Clinton, Shelia Coates of Upper Marlboro, Charles Estep, Mary Estep and Jerry Estep all of Lexington Park, Wayne Estep of Hollywood, and Cheryl Warren of Chesapeake, Va.; two brothers, Lawrence Estep of Mechanicsville and David Estep of Lexington Park;

Thursday, March 5, 2009

11 grandchildren and one great grandchild.

He was also preceded in death by his siblings Charlotte Estep, James Estep, Joseph Estep, Rodney Estep, Louis Estep and Michael Estep.

Mr. Estep was a lifelong St. Mary’s County resident where he worked as a self-employed plumber.

He attended both Charles and St. Mary’s County Public Schools.

The family received friends March 2 from 10 a.m. – noon in Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Lexington Park, where a Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at noon with Fr. Jack Kennealy officiating. Interment followed in the Church Cemetery. Pallbearers were Julius Estep, Marcus Estep, Damon Estep, Rodney Estep, Patrick Mason and Tony Estep. Honorary Pallbearers were Alvin Jordan, Michael “M.J.” Estep, Jr., Joe Joe Medley and E Toye.

To send a condolence to the family visit www.mgfh.com.

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

Ronald Alvin Evans, 65 Ronald Alvin Evans, 65, of Piney Point, died Feb. 24 in his home surrounded by his loving family.

B o r n July 17, 1943 in Baltimore, he was the son of the late Robert Alvin Evans and Agnes Cecilia (Russell) Evans.

Ronnie was a lifelong resident of Piney Point, where he, along with his father Robert “Buggs” Evans and other family members started Evans Seafood.

They first started catching oysters, crabs, fish and other seafood from the waters around St. George Island and selling them.

In 1963 they opened Evans Crab House, which later became the well-known Evans Seafood Restaurant of St. George Island. He served in the Maryland National Guard from 1966 to 1971 and he was a three time National Oyster Shucking Champion.

Ronnie is survived by his wife Carol Jean (Swann) Evans; a daughter, Swann Marie Tippett of Piney Point; three sons, David F. Evans of Piney Point, Robert H. Evans and Roland L. Evans both of Leonardtown; a nephew who was loved like a son, Dennis M. Evans, Jr. of Valley Lee; three sisters, Victoria E. Siegel of Lexington Park, Frances Sola of Sarasota, Fla., Anita Evans of California, Md.; six brothers, Dennis Evans and Michael Evans of Piney Point, Gerry Evans of Clyde, N.C., Charles Evans of Leonardtown, Joseph Evans of Hollywood and Tony Evans of

16

Mechanicsville. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Relatives and friends attended Ronnie’s Life Celebration in the Brinsfield Funeral Home, Leonardtown, Feb. 27 from 5 – 8 p.m. with prayers recited at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Feb. 28 at 10 a.m. in St. George Catholic Church, Valley Lee. Monsignor Karl A. Chimiak was the celebrant. Interment followed in St. George Cemetery.

Serving as pallbearers were David F. Evans, Robert H. Evans, Ronald L. Evans, Dennis M. Evans, Jr., David R. Evans, Daniel B. Evans and James S. Tippett, Jr. Honorary pallbearers were his brothers Dennis, Gerald, Michael, Joseph, Tony, and Charles Evans.

Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of St. Mary’s, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650 or Second District Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 1, Valley Lee, MD 20692 Condolences to the family may be made at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com.

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

Reba Iola Frazier, 83 Reba Iola Frazier, 83, of Leonardtown died Feb. 26 in her residence.

Born Aug. 25, 1925 in Madisonville, Tenn. she was the daughter of the late Rankin Reynolds and Lucy Scruggs Reynolds. She was a teacher.

Reba is survived by her daughter, Karen L. Frazier-Kline of Leonardtown.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Randal Frazier and siblings, Floyd Reynolds, Zola Payne, and Bruce Reynolds.

Services will be private.

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

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

Joann Patricia Lacey, 52 J o a n n Pa t r ic i a Lacey, 52, of Loveville died Feb. 26 in St. Mary’s Hospital, Leonardtown.

She was born March 27, 1956 in Leonardtown to the late Bernard Kerwin and Zita (Taroni) Kerwin.

Joann is survived by her loving husband Joseph Dean (J.D.) Lacey of Loveville, whom she married Sept. 16, 1978; daughter Kimberly Dawn Chamberlain and her husband Joe of Loveville;

17

The County Times

Thursday, March 5, 2009

three sisters, Anita L. Gerek (Joe) of St. Mary’s City, Violet M. Edwards of Valley Lee and Vicky L. Estevez (Donnie) of Lexington Park.

Family received friends for Joann’s Life Celebration March 2 from 5 – 8 p.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home, Leonardtown.

Prayers were recited at 7 p.m.

by Deacon George L’Heureux. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated March 3 at 10 a.m. in St. George’s Catholic Church, Valley Lee. Monsignor Karl A. Chimiak was the celebrant. Interment followed in the Charles Memorial Gardens, Leonardtown, MD. Memorial contributions may be made to the Leonardtown Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 299, Leonardtown, MD 20650 Condolences to the family may be made at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com.

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

JoAnne Patricia Norris, 63 JoAnne Patricia Norris, 63, of Hollywood, Md. passed away in her residence Feb. 27.

Born March 15, 1945 in Annapolis, she was the daughter of the late James Manning and Jean Perie Belk Adams, Sr. She was the loving wife of the late Louis Norris.

She is survived by her sons Randy Norris and his wife June, Nick Norris and his wife Sharon and Jason Norris and his wife Jessica; grandchildren Jake Norris, Jordan Norris, Nicholas Norris and Zack Norris; siblings Jeannette Way and Buddy Adams.

An award-winning and published author, JoAnne took great pleasure in attending her writing group. She also enjoyed playing cards, traveling and spending time with her family and friends.

The family received friends March 1 from 2 – 5 p.m. in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, where Prayers were said at 3 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated March 3 at 10 a.m. in St. John’s Catholic Church, Hollywood, with Fr. Raymond Schmidt officiating. Interment followed in the Church Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Ricky Guy, Mike Norris, Wayne Dorsch, Danny Greer, John Holder and Roger Ridgell. Honorary Pallbearers were Lenny Guy, Terry Howard, Ray Norris and Mike Harrison.

Contributions may be made to Hospice of St. Mary’s, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650 www.hospiceofstmarys.org.

To send a condolence to the family please visit our website at www.mgf h.com.

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

Brenda May Oliver Pilkerton, 51 Brenda May Oliver Pilkerton, 51, of Bushwood died Feb. 25 in her residence.

Born Feb. 12, 1958 in Leonardtown, she was the daughter of Helen Virgin-

The family received friends Feb. 27 from 5 – 8 p.m. in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, where Prayers were said at 7 p.m.

by Deacon Joe Lloyd. A funeral service was held at 10 a.m. Feb. 28 in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home with Fr. William Gurnee officiating. Interment followed in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Bushwood. Pallbearers were Patrick Pilkerton, James Oliver, Jr., Jay Pilkerton, Ronald Keller, Matthew Oliver and Anthony Pilkerton.

Honorary pallbearers were Donald Pilkerton, Lawrence Pilkerton, Michael Farr and Paul Redman.

Contributions may be made to Hospice of St. Mary’s, P.O. Box

Cuba, Ill. Kenneth was a 1956 graduate of Cuba High School, Cuba, IL, and a retired Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Air Force, serving from 1963 until 1981. Following his retirement from the service, he was an electrical engineer for the Civil Service.

Kenneth is survived by his wife, Gloria Ann Runyan; his sons, Mark Runyan and James Runyan, both of Commerce, Colo. and Michael Runyan of Leonardtown; two brothers, Charles (Cheri) Runyan of Peoria, Ill., Robert (Carolyn) Runyan of rural Canton, Ill.; and one sister, Jean (Ron) Henderson of East Peoria, Ill.; two grandchil-

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ia Welty Oliver of Bushwood and the late James Matthew Oliver, Sr. She was the loving wife of Stanley Patrick Pilkerton, whom she married May 24, 1981 in Holy Angels Catholic Church, Avenue.

She is also survived by her son Patrick Lee Pilkerton of Bushwood, and her siblings Christine Keller of Butternut, Wis. and James M. Oliver, Jr. and Matthew B. Oliver, both of Bushwood. A lifelong resident of St. Mary’s County, Brenda graduated from St. Mary’s Academy’s “Class of 1976” and was a medical records coder for St. Mary’s Hospital in Leonardtown for over 30 years.

625, Leonardtown, MD 20650.

To send a condolence to the family visit www.mgf h.com.

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

Kenneth Raymond Runyan, 71 Kenneth Raymond Runyan, 71, of Leonardtown died Feb. 23 at his residence.

Born Dec. 28, 1937, in Oakwood, Ill., he was the son of the late Raymond Roland Runyan and Millie Agnes (Miller) Runyan of

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He enjoyed spending time with his family, golfing, mushroom hunting in Illinois, and trout fishing in New Mexico.

Family will receive friends March 7 from 10 – 11 a.m. in St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Leonardtown. A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. Cremation rites accorded. Interment will be private.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 1032, Lexington Park, MD 20653.

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

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

Ida Christine Chase Thomas, 90 Ida Christine Chase Thomas, 90, of Mechanicsville was called to rest Feb. 25 after a lengthy illness.

She was born Jan. 30, 1919 in Pearson, now known as Patuxent River Naval Base, and is the last surviving child of William and Anastasia (Annie) Chase-the ninth of ten siblings.

She attended Hermansville Elementary School in Hermansville, Shaw Middle School, Armstrong High School and Minor Normal Teacher’s College all in Washington, D.C. A devoted wife, she married Theodore Thomas, now deceased, in 1947. The couple was not blessed with children, but led a life filled with love of many nieces and nephews.

She was a former member of St. Francis De Sales Catholic Church in Washington, D.C. and a lifelong member of the Ladies Sodality.

She was employed by the Naval Air Systems Command and retired in 1974 after many years of dedicated service.

Since leaving Washington D. C., she has resided with her nephew, Lawrence (Alvin) and his family for the last few years.

Her hobbies included crocheting, knitting, cross-stitch, entertaining and traveling.

Affectionately known as “Auntie Chris,” she leaves to cherish her memory two nephews, Lawrence (Alvin) and Thomas (Darnell) Chase and six nieces, Laurice White of Lexington Park, Marva Glover of Sacramento, Calif., Irma Bryant of Lexington Park, Barbara Morris of California, Md., Diane Mays of Sacramento, Calif. and Marlene Crute of Vienna, Va. The family received friends March 4 from 8:30 – 10 a.m. in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Morganza. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 10 a.m. with Reverend Keith Woods officiating.

Interment followed in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Washington, D.C. Condolences to the family may be made at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com.

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

The County Times

Thursday, March 5, 2009

18

Taking Back the Snack

Not The Right Time For A Pet? Try These Options

By COLLEEN NEWVINE Associated Press Writer Bob.

Daphne loves her Aunt Kathleen and Uncle

She enjoys when they come to visit, and she gets so excited when she gets to spend the night at their house that she flops on her back, wags her tail and demands a belly rub. ``We have been blessed to have a doggie aunt and uncle situation so close by and so willing to host our little beast for the occasional weekend or overnight,’’ said Matthew Steward, whose beagle and terrier mix, Daphne, stays with friends Kathleen Beardmore and Bob Skon when Steward and his wife, Suzi, need a dog sitter.

Beardmore and Skon enjoy the visits, too.

They get some of the benefits of sharing their Ann Arbor, Mich., home with a dog but without a fulltime commitment. ``It’s nice to have her visit but it’s nice to have her go home,’’ Skon said. Having their own dog, he said, ``would be a major lifestyle change.’’

Thirty-seven percent of U.S. households have no pet, according to a 2007-2008 survey by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association. Some people who would like to have an animal companion find they can’t; perhaps their job involves too much travel, or their apartment prohibits pets, or someone in the family has allergies.

There are plenty of ways, however, for animal lovers who can’t have a pet to find a little puppy (or kitten) love.

PET-SIT Skon had cats before he and Beardmore started dating, and although she’s allergic, she learned

to cope. After the cats died, however, Skon felt he should give Beardmore a break. Dog visitation is a good compromise.

GO TO ANIMAL-FRIENDLY BUSINESSES For even less commitment, load your pockets with treats and head to a dog-friendly bar or restaurant.

Adams Mill Bar and Grill in Washington, D.C., collaborates with nearby Doggie Style Bakery to offer doggy happy hours on the patio on Fridays. Bartender and manager Paul Kerins said people always stop to pet the dogs who stick their heads through the fence, and kids in particular enjoy seeing a yard full of pooches. ``People love it, not just the ones who bring their dogs,’’ Kerins said.

Pet Friendly Travel has an online directory of restaurants, hotels or beaches nationwide that welcome animals.

VOLUNTEER AT A SHELTER The number of animals entering shelters in the United States each year _ and the number euthanized _ are both estimated to be in the millions.

Volunteering at a local shelter to play with cats or walk dogs can make them and you happy, said Judah Battista of Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah.

Best Friends runs the nation’s largest sanctuary for abused and abandoned animals. Some people vacation there to spend time helping animals, Battista said, and some who stay in onsite lodging enjoy having a cat sleep over in their room.

FOSTER A PET To get a little more time with an animal in need of a home, consider fostering, Battista said.

Many shelters work with volunteers to place animals in homes temporarily rather than leaving them in kennels or cages, he said. Socialization at home can help prepare animals for adoption. ``It can be good for you and good for the animal,’’ Battista said.

Best Friends, for example, runs a program called Date with a Dog in Los Angeles, in which participants spend a day or a week with a dog. For some people, it’s a chance to test-drive the reality of having a dog. For others, it’s a way to enjoy commitment-free animal companionship.

Often, Battista said, foster families connect with a houseguest pet and end up adopting.

PART-TIME TO PERMANENT Some temporary arrangements do have a way of turning permanent, as Rachel Masters learned.

Masters lived in Manhattan and traveled frequently for work, so for several years her Pomeranian, Malka, would spend extended time with Masters’ parents, Stuart and Ellen Masters, in Pittsfield, Mass. Gradually, the fluffy little dog acquired her own bed in Pittsfield, then started having vet and grooming appointments there. Rachel’s city apartment got hot in the summer, so off Malka went to Stuart and Ellen’s. ``She would spend summers in the Berkshires,’’ Rachel said. ``My dog had a better life than me.’’

When Masters got a job that required relocating to Silicon Valley, she realized that her parents had no intention of giving up their part-time pooch. ``It was too hard for them to lose both of us,’’ she said. ``She has a really good life with them.’’

Summer is the time to bare it all, and not just in your swimsuit. Whether you’re at the beach or barbecuing on the patio, try going “au natural,” starting with your snacks.

This summer, many Americans are taking back the snack, in a natural and wholesome way.

A survey commissioned by Pepperidge Farm in early 2008 revealed that Americans love to snack and will enjoy their snacks just about anywhere. More than 55 percent say they snack in the car and almost the same amount admit they keep snacks in their desk at work. Six percent even say they give up full meals just to keep snacking.

Fortunately, you can feel good about snacking when it’s done the right way. To help encourage wholesome snacking, celebrity natural food chef, Bethenny Frankel, has partnered with Pepperidge Farm Baked Naturals crackers to create several tips that embrace snacking as a part of a balanced lifestyle, as well as simple and delicious recipes to be paired with the new line of snack crackers.

“Go ahead and ruin your appetite. Smart snacking can help maintain a balanced lifestyle by helping keep cravings under control in between meals,” said Frankel.

Frankel offers these tips to have snacking be part of a wholesome lifestyle: Get Moving. Whether it’s taking a walk, going for a run or working in the garden, enjoy activities that will energize you. Afterwards, revive with a wholesome and hearty snack. Your body will appreciate you fueling yourself with the best ingredients possible. Pretzel Thins are a great choice for dipping in honey mustard or topping with melted parmesan cheese.

Loosen Up. It’s the little things that make life fun.

Take a few minutes out of your day to share a good laugh and enjoy a snack that makes you feel good. Try a savory snack like Zesty Tomato Herb Wheat Crisps with a spicy avocado dip for a well-rounded treat that’s both tasty and satisfying.

Kick Back. Our lives can be so hectic -- take a moment every day to unwind with a snack that is inviting and delicious. Wrap Artisan Cheese Snack Sticks in prosciutto. The balance of textures and flavors can keep you going all day long.

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Thursday, March 5, 2009

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Awnings: The Home Improvement That Pays You Back Even in the midst of economic turbulence, it still is important to continue to invest in your home as an asset. Now more than ever, home improvements should go beyond just adding aesthetics and provide return on investment.

One home improvement that provides ROI in any climate -- hot or cold, economically good or bad -- is awnings.

Awnings, both aesthetically appealing and functional, can provide savings on home cooling costs by reducing heat gain, and therefore the load on air conditioners. In most homes, more cooling energy is lost through glass doors and windows than any other part of the house. No one wants to see their dollars flying out the window in the form of energy costs.

When added above a window or door, an awning reduces the amount of heat that enters a home by blocking the sunâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rays from penetrating the glass.

Keeping excess heat out reduces the load on the air conditioner, allowing the unit to cool the space and maintain a constant temperature more efficiently. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Awnings over a patio or deck can in essence create a cost effective additional room in oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home,â&#x20AC;? says Michelle Sahlin, managing director of the Professional Awning Manufacturerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Association (PAMA). â&#x20AC;&#x153;The combination of contributing to the houseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s character while conserving energy makes awnings an outstanding home improvement.â&#x20AC;?

An energy study conducted by the Center for Sustainable Building Research at the University of Minnesota revealed the impact of awnings in residential buildings. According to the study, awnings can reduce annual cooling energy by as much as 16 percent in hot climates, such as Houston, and as much as 14 percent in moderate climates, such as Washington, D.C., compared to homes with completely unshaded windows. The amount of cooling energy saved varies depending on the number of windows, type of glass in the windows, window orientation and the climate the house is in. The homes that receive the greatest energy-savings benefits from awnings have mostly west-facing windows.

Homeowners who already have installed awnings are noticing the difference and are wanting more. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A long-time customer of ours had four awnings and was thinking of adding nine more awnings, but needed to convince her husband,â&#x20AC;? says Ann Hunzinger, co-owner of Evanston Awning Co. in Evanston, Ill. â&#x20AC;&#x153;She just needed to do a bit of math to

see how her homeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cooling costs would be reduced, and was able to convince her husband in no time that they would easily be able to recoup the cost of the awnings.â&#x20AC;?

Beyond the return on investment, awnings have simply served as an effective substitute for central air conditioning for some homeowners. Sahlin decided to install awnings instead of central air conditioning in her century-old home to keep cool. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Installing central air conditioning would have required knocking holes in the walls and disrupting the house layout,â&#x20AC;? says Sahlin. â&#x20AC;&#x153;By adding awnings, I was able to keep my house cool and intact while adding color and To learn beauty to the exterior.â&#x20AC;? more about how Awnings can provide benefits to people living without awnings can provide air conditioning by reducing inside temperatures by as a return on your much as 8 to 15 degrees. A home improvement well-placed awning can add thousands of dollars to the spending, please price of a home, especially in visit smaller homes where square footage is at a premium -- and is less expensive than putting www.awningstoday.com on an entire sunroom.

Awnings can save homeowners money on cooling costs and improve the aesthetic of the home.

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21

Thursday, March 5, 2009

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A House is There is a reason why our signs a Home are everywhere!!

Playing

Doctor With Your Home

CALL US

Tips for giving your home a post-winter checkup When the winter starts to wind down, homeowners across the country begin thinking about spring cleaning.

While some projects, like putting away the winter clothing, are symbolic and associated with the fun in the sun that lies ahead, others, such as clearing away a winter’s worth of clutter, are merely associated with an afternoon spent working off a season’s worth of procrastination.

While all spring cleaning projects need to be done sooner or later, some carry more weight than others. Such is the case with post-winter home repairs. Much like an automobile can take a beating over a long winter, so, too, can a home. That heightens the importance of a post winter home checkup. Once the cold weather has winded down, consider the following tips to ensure that your home has made it through another winter in one piece. * See your ceilings for the very first time. For those who live in areas with heavy winter snowfall, a telltale sign of a leak is a stained ceiling, which might appear brown or yellow after a few months of water infiltration. Note where these stains are, and then go outside and examine the corresponding areas of your roof. Even if you notice stains in the middle of winter, it’s best to wait till after the winter to inspect this problem. Going up on a roof in bad weather is asking for trouble.

Once you’ve identified the trouble spots, you can seek the help of a professional roofer. Unfortunately, if you’ve noticed the aforementioned brown or yellow spots on your ceilings, you’ll likely need to seal and paint the entire ceiling, even where no spots exist. Otherwise, the ceilings will not look as uniform or appealing. * Locate your ladder and get ready to climb and clean.

Areas almost all homeowners will notice need some postwinter work are the gutters and downspouts. While a leaky roof could be the culprit with respect to water damage, that water damage could also be the result of clogged gutters or downspouts. And just because you might have made it through winter without water damage, that doesn’t necessarily mean your gutters and downspouts aren’t backed up.

One of the first post-winter projects to address is to clean out these gutters and downspouts. Remove any and all debris that could lead to backup. And do so on a day that’s guaranteed to be sunny, so you can dismantle the downspouts to be sure they’re clear from top to bottom. * Address any possible door damage. While storm doors aren’t as prevalent as they once were, they do still exist, and they often bear the brunt of winter weather. When winter winds begin to howl, they often do so at the expense of storm doors, which can become bent or even break.

If the main entrance to your home doesn’t have a storm door to bear the brunt of Mother Nature’s winter wrath, the front door itself likely took the brunt of weather over the last several months. Check the door for any nicks or scratching, and inspect to see if it could use a new coat of paint. * Don’t forget the basement. For many, the basement is not the most popular place in a home throughout the winter months. That’s because cold air descends, making the basement the coldest room in the house. But just because you might have overlooked the basement the last several months, that doesn’t mean Mother Nature has. Water buildup in the basement can lead to dry rot and the accumulation of mold. Make a basement inspection a top priority once winter has finally left for the season.

Brooks & Barbour www.brooksandbarbour.com 23063 Three Notch Rd. California, MD 20619 Office: 301-862-2169 Fax: 301-862-2179 Lucy Barbour lucybarbour@mris.com CELL: 301-904-9914

Karen Alford Brooks karenalfordbrooks@mris.com CELL: 301-481-0644

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22

Don’t Let A Spring Thaw Lead To A Wet Basement

Whether your region is covered in a blanket of white snow or water from continual rainfall, you may experience basement moisture problems. New homeowners may not even be safe from the water Mother Nature delivers each year.

The majority of homeowners’ water seepage problems can be attributed to seasonal conditions. Rapid runoff and the frozen ground’s inability to absorb the water leave only one place for the water to go -- and unfortunately, it’s right through the walls. Typically, the spring and fall rainy seasons are peak times to experience water seepage.

Homeowners commonly associate water problems with expensive excavation and drainage.

But, a waterproofing project can be completed for around Here are the steps to take to address $500.00 using a high-quality masonry waterproofing seepage and stop basement damage paint, such as DRYLOK(R) Find the Water Source Masonry Waterproofer by Homeowners must remember that a wet basement wall United Gilsonite Laboratomight be a symptom of a larger problem. Water may be coming ries, a Scranton, Pennsylvafrom a variety of sources such as leaky downspouts or gutters, nia based manufacturer that blocked drainage pipes, improper grading, or ruts that direct has been helping homeownground runoff toward foundations. Correcting these problems -ers safeguard against wacombined with the application of a quality waterproofing paint -- is ter seepage problems since the best way to prevent water on masonry surfaces.

1957.

Similarly, it is necessary to find out if seepage or condensation is the source behind wet walls. This can be determined by The first thing to rememperforming a simple test. Tape a one-foot square piece of alumiber when looking for a prodnum foil tightly to a dried interior basement wall. You can dry a uct to stop water seepage is small area to test with a cloth or hair dryer. Remove the foil after that you need a waterproofer, several days. If the room side is wet, the problem is condensation not a watersealer. There are and a dehumidifier should be used. If the wall side of the foil is differences between the two. wet, there is seepage. Remember that both problems can occur Watersealers only repel water at the same time.

Once you determine your problem, there are two main parts but will not stop actual water of any waterproofing job: Surface preparation and application of penetration. A product, such the waterproofer itself. as DRYLOK(R) Masonry Waterproofer penetrates the Surface Preparation surface and bonds itself to the As in any painting job, surface preparation is a critical step. masonry to act as an integral Loose or broken mortar, dirt, dust and other foreign matter should barrier to stop water seepalways be removed before putting on a new coat of paint. age. Ordinary paint merely Before applying the waterproofer, clean the surface thoroughly. Waterproofing paint works best when applied to a clean, adheres to the surface, and bare masonry surface. It may be applied on a slightly damp suroncoming water pressure can face but best results are obtained when applied over a dry surforce it off. face. To determine if the wall is too wet to paint, try this simple test:

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Rub your fingertips over the surface you want to paint. If your For fingertips are wet, do not paint the surface. Wait 48 hours and the free booklet, repeat the test. For best results, wait for a dry spell.

Remove old paint by wire-brushing, sandblasting or “Waterproofing Made suitable means. The worst enemy for any maEasy,” and a dealer nearest another sonry paint is efflorescence, or white, crystal-like salt you, write to UGL, deposits that prevent a waterproofer from adhering to a P.O. Box 70, Scranton, PA, surface. Muriatic acid or a product like DRYLOK(R) Etch should be used to rid the surface of efflorescence. Holes 18501, visit the Web site should be patched with an hydraulic cement. www.ugl.com, or A common area that may be overlooked as a source of water seepage is the floor/wall joint. Normally, when call toll free concrete floors cure, they shrink and pull away from the 1-800-272-3235. wall, allowing a space for water to enter. That’s why it’s necessary to seal all gaps between floor and walls with a fast-drying cement, such as DRYLOK(R) Fast Plug.

Clean the area and wash with water prior to sealing.

Applying the Waterproofer Now, you’re ready to apply waterproofer to your basement walls. For best results, apply the first coat with a nylon or polyester bristle brush. The second coat can be applied with a brush or masonry roller. Work the paint thoroughly into the pores of the masonry. For optimum bonding, apply to a dry surface.

Follow directions for application carefully. If the area you covered is more than the recommendation on the label, you’re spreading the paint too thin. Two coats are usually sufficient to stop seepage. However, if seepage is still present after several days, an additional coat may be necessary.

Open windows and use a non-sparking exhaust fan to provide adequate ventilation when applying a waterproofer in closed areas. In places, where good cross-ventilation is not possible, or if you are sensitive to solvent odors, the experts at UGL recommend using a latex-based product, such as Latex Base DRYLOK(R) or DRYLOK Extreme(R). Remember to read the label of the product thoroughly for application and ventilation requirements.

23

The County Times

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Wanderings of an Aimless

d

Min

Snow Watch

By Shelby Oppermann Contributing Writer Of course I have to write about the snow!

I’m writing this during the beautiful snowfall.

The other article can wait. March’s lion was really the king this year: he came in ready to impress. You have no-coat weather a few days before, then wham! In a day or two it’s Springlike again. And there’s always the excitement that never goes away that there is no school!!! I tried calling my sons to say “no school tomorrow!” for old time sake, but their voicemails picked up. I guess once they turn 21 and 26 the fun just goes right out of it. But not for me.

I love Maryland weather. I have heard people remark how different it is then when they grew up. It seemed like we used to have these huge snowfalls of two or three feet. I remember one in the early 60’s where there was enough that my two brothers made an igloo in the front yard. There is also a picture of me as a sled dog with my oldest brother laughing and raising his arm in the “mush” stance behind the sled. No wonder I’ve always felt closest to dogs.

The blizzard of ’79 was a good one too. I was home in Clinton from St. Mary’s College thinking, Ahhhh, leisure from all that hard work studying. Oh, that’s right, you all read

Book Review

“Harry Houdini for Kids” by Laurie Carlson

c.2009, Chicago Review Press

$16.95 / $18.95 Canada

Have you ever watched a card trick really close?

The performer shows you a card and asks you to memorize it. He puts it in the deck and then –abracadabra, poof – it’s gone. But wait, there it is, back in his hand. How did he do that?

You know it’s not magic. It’s just your eyes playing tricks on you and maybe, if you watch long enough, you can figure out how it’s done.

But some tricks may be secret forever. In the new book “Harry Houdini for Kids” by Laurie Carlson, you’ll read about the man who some believe is the greatest magician and escape artist of all time.

Ehrich Weisz was born in Budapest, Hungary on March 24, 1874. When Ehrich was a boy, the family immigrated to America and settled in Wisconsin. As soon as he was old enough, Ehrich took odd jobs to help his parents. One of his jobs was as a tightrope walker in the Jack Hoeffler 5-Cent Circus.

That job started Ehrich on a training schedule. He loved being in shape, and gymnastics and acrobatics were his favorites. He won medals in many sports, but his talent as a contortionist was what started his rise to fame.

When he was 17 years old, Ehrich and a friend created a magic act so that they could make some money. This was before television, when traveling performances were sometimes the only entertainment around. In his new act, Ehrich called himself “Houdini” in honor of a French magician.

136 pages

For many years, Harry Houdini struggled to make ends meet. He and his wife, Bess (whom he met while on tour) worked on their stage performance, and while they were perfecting their act, Harry studied other illusionists and developed many tricks. He grew famous in Europe by challenging policemen to trap him in handcuffs, from which Harry would quickly escape. He brought his act to America and became a sensation. Harry Houdini died on Halloween, 1927.

Even though he’s been gone over 80 years, there are still lots of things we don’t know about Houdini.

How did he do some of the harder stunts? Did Houdini work as a spy? And was he murdered?

No matter what our age, we love acts of illusion. Kids love to do them, so when you get “Harry Houdini for Kids” and give it to your young prestidigitator, you know you’ll be conjuring up a good time.

Author Laurie Carlson gives kids (and adults) a thorough overview of the life of an American enigma, his reason for fame, and a few hints on how Houdini performed some of his stunts. What I found most valuable about this book wasn’t just the biography, which is obvious. I also appreciated the science in here, as well as the history and social studies of the times. Kids will also love the 21 “magic” tricks included.

Nine-to-15-year-olds will enjoy this book, as will an adult fan of illusion or circus lore.

Give them “Harry Houdini for Kids” and watch the time disappear.

the first article about Monk’s Inn and the Oar House didn’t you? Anyway, the snow was two feet as I remember. The snow plows had not hit our road, so all the neighbors were out helping each other shovel. It was so much fun; some of the neighbors hadn’t seen each other since the last snowfall 13 or so years earlier. Frisbee in the snow is great! My Mother was saying that she didn’t know that one of the neighbors was even still alive. The lady was 100 but came out in the snow that day. Then after the snow was shoveled and news caught up everyone went back in their burrows until the next great snowfall.

I have wondered occasionally what it would be like to live in California, Taos, or in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. (my wandering Grandfather, whom I never met, lived for a time in the latter – I like the name). Warm, mostly dry climates. I don’t think I could do it forever; there is no change of season. Here they change almost daily. Who wouldn’t love that? The doctor’s must enjoy it. The men, probably some women now, waiting eagerly to hook up those snow plows on their pick up trucks and help their neighbors, or earn a little extra cash enjoy it too.

We left after church today to visit an ailing relative in the hospital and on our way back through Waldorf stopped to grab a bite to eat. It was so strange to walk in and have green grass outside and when we came out everything was all blanketed with snow and in a near white-out condition. Robert’s daughter called as we were leaving, and said that snowballs were coming down in St. Mary’s County. He said “Yeah, right, snowmen too?” The drive home was, as expected, slow going. My husband and I were amazed at how close some of the drivers were to each other, some within one to two car lengths.

When we got home, I called a friend and

she said”the snow was coming down in great clumps.” I was picturing scoopable kitty litter, had to shake my head to get rid of that thought.

It sure was pretty though. My husband went outside to take pictures and to let Tidbit out.

Then the winds came and started buffeting the house. The wine glasses in their rack hanging from the ceiling and all my Bavarian china in the cabinet were rattling. The power started flashing on and off. It was scary. We have huge trees next to the house and I could feel my head pounding in worry. Motrin. I went and grabbed my purse, coat, and cell phone from their spot near the dining room and brought them back to the bedroom. I got my beautiful fused glass out of the bay window and slid it under a dresser.

Robert said, “What are you doing?” I said, “I’m getting ready for when one of these trees falls on that side of the house.” Tidbit followed me back and forth then curled up next to the bed in a little ball.

Its funny Tidbit will not go outside when it’s raining, she hovers under the overhang of the house with her ears back, batting her eyes, trying to tell me she’s melting. But come snow, she’s out there like a little puppy again prancing around, and throwing snow around with her nose. Tidbit’s favorite thing to do in the snow is pretend she is a snow shovel. She puts her mouth to the ground, leaves it open and travels for a few feet at a time gobbling up the snow.

She’s a funny girl to watch. In the morning I will venture out to watch her play and prance and enjoy the beauty of this magic that like the lion has majesty and power all its own.

To each new day’s adventure, Shelby Please send your comments or ideas to: shelbys.wanderings@yahoo.com

THE ANGLICAN MISSION OF SOUTHERN MARYLAND (Scripturally (Scripturally based based worship) worship)

Sundays - 9:30 AM Southern MD Higher Ed Ctr (Rm, 108/109) 44219 Airport Road, California, MD

301/475-9337 www.amosm.net

The County Times

1. Beach particles 5. Immediate memory (abbr.)

8. Droop 11. Largest Canadian tribe 12. Geological times 14. Queen of Sparta 15. Avocado variety 16. IX 17. Cavalry sword 18. Individualize 21. Fish eggs 22. Before 23. Pushed with force 26. Agressively interfered with 31. Chemical analysis counterweight 32. Broadway awards 33. Wing-like structure 34. Titles for Turkish leaders 35. A metal-bearing mineral 36. N.W. Algerian city 37. Jog 38. Purchases 40. C____: Greek island 41. Boat races 43. Conditions of balance 45. Historic U.S. woman’s

Last Week’s Puzzle Solutions

ner

KiddKioer

CLUES ACROSS

Thursday, March 5, 2009

organization 46. Artist Chagall 47. Archer sign 51. Buncos 53. Al____: llama wool 54. A Scottish girl 57. At some prior time 58. A housemaid in India 59. Freshwater duck genus 60. Expression of disappointment 61. Radioactive element #84 62. Exchange

CLUES DOWN

1. Austrian coin (abbr.)

2. Macaws 3. Highwater tide 4. Is worthy 5. Perceived 6. Threes 7. “Buddenbrooks” author 8. One point E of SE 9. Citrus fruit drink 10. Billfish 13. A large body of water 14. Lays about 17. Begets

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19. ___ v. Wade 20. Dutch painter Sir Peter 23. Drummer Ringo 24. Dutch city 25. _____utang: ape of Borneo 26. Fundamental values 27. Digits 28. Plural of 31 across 29. Fill with high spirits 30. Citizens of Denmark 32. Unit of weight (Indian) 36. Delphic 38. Adult male deer 39. ____um: skylighted court 42. Song “There is Nothing Like _ ____” 43. Isaac’s mother (Bib.) 44. Denotes three 46. S. China seaport 47. A bag for purchases 48. Yearly tonnage (abbr.)

49. A way to compact 50. Capital of Yemen 51. A chronic drinker 52. Central nervous system 55. Unhappy 56. Point midway between S and SE

25

The County Times

Thursday, March 5, 2009

un J. Edgar Hoover liked to fire FBI agents whose Fact palms were sweaty when shaking hands.

Community Mediation Center “Looking for Trouble”

By Andrea Shiell Staff Writer Lindsey Bradley laughed as she explained that she had been working on a mediation at the St. Mary’s County Community Mediation Center until 10 p.m. the previous night, but with the center averaging between 600 and 700 referrals in the last year, culminating in over 100 percent increase in cases, Bradley said it was all in a day’s work, and part of her job these days as operations manager has been to organize a little play time for the center.

So on April 4, 2009, the Community Mediation Center of St. Mary’s County is holding the second annual “We’re Looking for Trouble” 5K run/walk and kids’ fun run. The 5K run starts at 9 a.m. and takes place on the new Three Notch Trail in Charlotte Hall, Maryland. The race will begin from the Northern Senior Center.

Sheriff Cameron and Captain Black will even be emceeing the event, as seems appropriate since the largest portion of the center’s referrals come from the sheriff’s office, typically as a result of domestic disputes or incidences that do not result in criminal charges.

The Community Mediation Center of St. Mary’s was formed in 2001. As a local nonprofit, the Center provides free mediation and alternative dispute resolution services to the residents of Southern Maryland. These services help the court system deal with overloaded dockets and individuals with interpersonal issues.

“We provide mediation services but we also do conflict resolution workshops,” said Bradley, adding that volunteers at the center have also started working with at-risk youth at Spring Valley Apartments on a weekly basis in an attempt to teach youths about alternatives to violence.

Bradley explained that aside from community referrals, the Center has also had a huge influx of peace order mediations. Judge E. Gregory Wells, who took the bench in October, has been extremely enthusiastic in referring these peace order cases to the Mediation Center.

Although this has added significantly to the center’s workload, Bradley said that the center’s growth had a positive effect on the community.

“Mediation offers people an opportunity to talk… so now that the community is finding out about the mediation center and what we offer, I think they want an opportunity to experience it,” said Bradley, adding that the growing number of cases at the center is prompting them to shoot for more fundraising this year.

“We’re moving for $20,000 so we can get a larger grant,” said Bradley, explaining that the funds raised satisfy the requirements of a matching grant given to the Center from the Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office.

Participants can pay a $20 pre-registration fee for the “We’re Looking for Trouble” run/walk if they register before April 1, and $25 if they register on the day of the race. The kid’s fun run will be for children 10 and under; the cost for registration is $10.

“We had about 49 runners,” said Bradley of the First “Looking for Trouble” run. “We anticipated more but it was a really cold day in March…but we’re shooting high this year, and hoping for 200 racers,” she said.

Community

Forrest Center Students Compete in SkillsUSA Competition Recently students from the Dr. James A. Forrest Career and Technology Center competed in the SkillsUSA Regional Criminal Justice and Crime Scene Investigations contests, held in Calvert County. Students from St. Mary’s, Charles and Calvert Counties competed to see who will represent the Tri-County at the State Competition.

Students in the Criminal Justice competition were required to take a Constitutional Law test, complete a safe traffic stop, respond to a building intrusion alarm, and handle a domestic dispute. These students also were required to participate in a job interview. Students participating were Nikita Alleyne, Will Stone, Cody Thompson, Brent Thorward, and Billy Yost. For his efforts, Will Stone won the first place gold medal.

In the Crime Scene Investigations competition, students worked in teams of three, and were required to photograph, measure, collect evidence, and draw a sketch of a staged homicide crime scene. These students also were required to dust for fingerprints, roll fingerprints, and complete a written exam. Participating in this contest were the teams of George Delozier, Lakea Stewart, and Stephanie Wyant. A second team consisted of Kristina Battenfield, Abigail Crim, and Jessica Herbert. The final group members were Marissa Emeigh, Nathan

(Left to Right): Front Row: Jessica Herbert, Abigail Crim, Lakea Stewart, Cody Thompson, Jessica Trossbach. Row Two: Marissa Emeigh, Nathan Seevers, George Delozier, Stephanie Wyant, Kristina Battenfield. Third Row: Brent Thorward, Billy Yost, Will Stone, Nikita Alleyne.

Seevers, and Jessica Trossbach. The team of Delozier, Stewart and Wyant placed second, and the team of Battenfield, Crim and Herbert placed third. These two teams will join Criminal Justice winner Will Stone at the

SkillsUSA State Competition in Catonsville this March.

For more information about the Forrest Center’s Criminal Justice, contact the school at 301-475-0242.

“ALL VETS” PTSD SUPPORT GROUP meets the 2nd

and 4th Thursday of every month at 6:00 PM at On Our Own of St. Mary’s Wellness & Recovery Center at 41660 Park Avenue, across from Executive Suites Hotel in old town Leonardtown. This is a veterans only group but all vets are welcome. Call 301-997-1066 for more info.

Double Trouble Recovery Support Group meets every Monday evening at 6 p.m. at On Our Own of St. Mary’s Wellness & Recovery Center,41660 Park Avenue, across from Executive Suites Hotel in old town Leonardtown. Call 301-997-1066 for more info.

Call Our Leasing Office For Details 301-737-0737 Apartments of Wildewood

301-862-5307

Call For More Information Bella Bailey Marketing & Leasing MGR.

WildeRidge Apartments

“GROWN UPS” Senior Support Group meets the last Wednesday of every month at 1 p.m. at On Our Own of St. Mary’s Wellness and Recovery Center, 41660 Park Avenue, across from Executive Suites Hotel in old town Leonardtown. Call at 301-997-1066 for more info.

23314 Surrey Way • California, Maryland 20619 Fax: 301-737-0853 • leasing@apartmentsofwildewood.com

Cuisine

& More

On The Menu

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!

Wildewood Center, California, MD

301- 866-0777, www.petruzzis.com Delicious fresh bread and seasoned dipping oil are just the beginning of your Petruzzi’s Italian experience. Whether you are looking for a fresh baked pizza or specialty pasta Petruzzi’s has something for you. Try their stuffed chicken featuring pasta smothered in garlic cream sauce and topped with chicken breast stuffed with cheese, spinach and sun dried tomatoes. You can also enjoy shrimp scampi,lasagna or fresh made pizza with anything.

Entrée prices begin at $8.99 up to $16.99. A large selection of appetizers, soups and salads and sandwiches are also available. You can top it all off with cheesecake, authentic Italian cannolis or a dish of gelato. If something simple and relaxing is what you are looking for you can relax in their bar and enjoy live music on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 6:00-9:00 p.m. A full bar and extensive wine menu is available.

Owner Dana Rebarchick Spicuzza also offers specials throughout the week including a lunch buffet Monday-Saturday from 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. and Spaghetti Wednesday featuring all you can eat spaghetti, salad and breadsticks for $6.99. Sunday brunch is served from 8:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. for $8.99.

Petruzzi’s is open seven days a week, MondayWednesday from 11:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m., ThursdaySaturday from 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. and Sundays from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Benvenuto a Petruzzi’s!

On The Vine

Wyndham Estates Australian Wines www.wyndhamestate.com

George Wyndham became the father of Australian Shiraz after planting Australia’s first commercial Shiraz vineyard in 1830. Wyndham Estates winemaking philosophy continues in George’s proud legacy today offering soft, generous, ripe, flavorsome wines. Wyndham’s wine flagship brand is the BIN range. These high quality wines reflect the intense fruit style which Wyndham Estate is famous for.

BIN 222 Chardonnay with fresh melon and peach aromas; BIN 444 Cabernet Sauvignon with deep rich color and full berry fruit and mint flavors; BIN 555 Shiraz with distinct, rich plum and pepper characteristics and BIN 999 Merlot displays flavorsome berry and cherry fruit are among the BIN range. These wines are available locally at a tremendous value of under $9.00 per bottle.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

26

Healthy Bites Healthy Fried Chicken From The Oven, Not Drivethru

By JIM ROMANOFF For The Associated Press

Popcorn chicken is a perfect snack; crunchy, bite-sized and seriously addictive. Too bad it’s deep fried, or you could eat it all the time.

Actually, you can. You just need to lose all the grease and saturated fat.

The key to this crunchy munchy miracle is an oven-frying technique that uses only a misting of oil to get a perfect golden crunch. You start with bite-sized chunks of boneless, skinless chicken breast, the same as most takeout restaurants.

The chicken pieces get coated in a zesty blend of Dijon mustard and fat-free egg whites. If you like, you could toss in some cayenne pepper or even your favorite blend of fried chicken seasonings.

The chicken chunks then get dredged in panko, a Japanesestyle breadcrumb that can be found in the Asian section of most grocers. Panko is made from bread with no crusts, so it has lighter and crispier texture than traditional breadcrumbs.

The final step before baking is to spritz the chicken with olive oil cooking spray, which will help brown and crisp the chicken.

This super-low-fat oven-frying method always yields golden, crunchy, guilt-free results. You also can use it to make healthy chicken nuggets and fingers, as well as crunchy chicken, pork or fish fillets.

Recipe

BAKED POPCORN CHICKEN

Start to finish: 30 minutes (10 minutes active) Servings: 8 (48 pieces total) Olive oil cooking spray 2 large egg whites 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 cups Panko (Japanese-style) breadcrumbs 1 1/2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch cubes Heat the oven to 450 F. Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg whites, mustard and salt. In a shallow bowl or pie plate, spread the panko.

Add the chicken pieces to the egg white mixture and toss to coat. A few pieces at a time, transfer the chicken to the breadcrumbs and toss to thoroughly coat.

Transfer the breaded chicken pieces to the prepared baking sheet, arranging them close together but not touching. When all of the chicken is on the baking sheet, spritz them lightly with cooking spray.

Bake for 15 minutes, then use a spatula or tongs to flip the chicken pieces. Continue baking until golden brown and no longer pink at the center, another 5 to 10 minutes. Serve hot.

Nutrition information per serving (values are rounded to the nearest whole number): 143 calories; 11 calories from fat; 1 g fat (0 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 49 mg cholesterol; 10 g carbohydrate; 22 g protein; 0 g fiber; 339 mg sodium.

27

Thursday, March 5, 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

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

Apartment Rentals

Spring Valley Apartments 46533 Valley Court 301-863-2239 (p) 301-863-6905 (f) springvalley@hrehllc.com

Two bedrooms available 805-1103 Sq. ft. $938-$992 One 1 BR Available One 3 BR Available

Call For Current Specials!

Log and Custom Homes, Home Improvement, Sheds, Farm Structures, Tree Removal, Excavation, Demolition, Hauling, Commercial and Residential MHIC: 98388

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.

Vehicles

301-737-0777

Wednesday:

6

$

Spaghetti Night

99

Adult •

3

$

99

8 & Under

Wildewood Shop. Ctr., California, MD www.petruzzis.com 301-866-0777

CORVETTES WANTED! Any year, any condition. Cash buyer. 1-800-369-6148.

Pets

Prime Rib • Seafood • Sunday Brunch Banquet & Meeting Facilities 23418 Three Notch Road • California, MD 20619 www.lennys.net

Beagle Pups, Vet Checked, Shots, Wormed, $100 each.

41233 Friendship Ct off Friendship School Rd.

General Merchandise

Another Fantastic Multi Estate Auction March 7th 9am Charles County Fairgrounds Absolutely Something for Everyone

Room The The TeaTeaRoom Open Daily Open Daily

- 4:00 p.m.

11:0011:00 a.m.a.m.

- 4:00 p.m.

(301) 475-1980

First Fridays Dinner Special 5pm - 8pm leonardtowntearoom@gmail.com

26005 Point Lookout Road (Rt 5) Leonardtown MD, 20650

For the Latest info & pics visit... www.charlescountyauctions.com

10%buyers premium, seating & refreshments.

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, March 5, 2009

Sanford Concert Series Presents Maryland State Boy’s Choir

By Andrea Shiell Staff Writer As the Sanford Concert Series celebrates its 10th year, they will ring in this spring with the fresh, young voices of the Maryland State Boy’s Choir March 14 in St. Andrew’s Church in California.

This visit to St. Mary’s County will serve as an opportunity to share in their mission of fostering diversity in the community and teaching self-discipline and character, but for such a prolific group with several choirs performing more than 60 shows each year, this will also give Maryland’s mother-county a taste of what other areas in the state have enjoyed for years.

What started in 1987 with 14 members has since blossomed into a well-traveled group of 145 members performing in five different choirs grouped by musical ability. And few other groups are as diverse as these boys, as they boast a set list that includes everything from medieval dirges to modern pop music.

“They do classical, Renaissance, secular and sacred, from all periods… they really do run the gamut,” said Lyn Schramm, who is handling reservations for the event.

Artistic Director Frank Cimino founded the choir in 1987, inspired by what he saw as a lack of artistic opportunities for young boys in the community.

“I just had a vision that boys should have the same rights and exposure to the arts as girls,” he said, adding that he has kept the mission of the choir clear since its inception: to foster the boy choir tradition, celebrate diversity in the community, and teach self-discipline while building self esteem.

“I truly believe that the choir does more than teach them music, or the proper ways of singing… it helps them learn self-discipline, self-poise, and build character,” he said.

The performance begins at 7:30 p.m.

March 14 in St. Andrew’s Church on Route 4 South.

The audience will have the opportunity to meet the performers during the reception immediately following the concert in the Parish Hall.

Tickets are $10 for adults and are $5 for children. Seating for this performance is limited; reservations are suggested. Reservations can be made by contacting Schramm at 301-862-9541.

The Maryland State Boy’s Choir has performed at many prominent venues including the White House, the National Cathedral in Washington D.C., St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Photo from marylandstateboychoir.org Holy Trinity Cathedral The Maryland State Boy’s Choir will be performing on March 14th at St. Andrew’s Church in New York, the Kennedy Center, and throughout Maryland at venues including the Baltimore Museum of Art, the Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, the United States Naval Academy Chapel, the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, the Lyric Opera House, the State House, the Governor’s Mansion, the College of Notre Dame of Maryland and Loyola College; and many other colleges and universities around the country.

ry’s a M

St.

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.

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

Slumdog Millionaire R, 120 min

Taken PG-13, 93 min

Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail PG-13, 103 min

Watchmen R, 163 min

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The County Times

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Thursday, March 5 $100 + $20 Deep Stack Hold’Em

Donovan’s Irish Pub – 7:30 p.m.

Proceeds go to Family First of Southern Maryland. Call 443-975-1591 for more information.

Billy Breslin @ Cheeseburger in Paradise p.m.

Wildewood Shopping Center – 6

Ladies Night

Country Store Bar (Leonardtown) – 7 p.m. ½ price drinks for ladies from 7 – 9 p.m.

Blonde Ambition

Corbels Fine Dining & Spirits (Leonardtown) – 7:30 p.m.

Acoustic duo Patty Dorsch and Sheila Mattingly playing pop, rock, blues, and jazz.

Basket Bingo

Sponsored by Ladies Workout Express Relay for Life Team to benefit American Cancer Society Mechanicsville Fire Department Hall. Doors open at 6 p.m. Bingo starts at 7 p.m. Admission $20 per person includes 1 admission ticket and 1 pack of cards for 20 games; additional cards are $5 per pack. Kids must purchase an admission ticket and be accompanied by a paying adult. Concessions will be available, 20 door prizes, specials throughout the evening, a raffle and a 50/50 drawing.

The baskets to be won are genuine Longaberger baskets, however, are no way endorsed by the Longaberger Company. All baskets will come with protectors, Bath & Body products and other surprises. An

Friday, March 6

First Friday Reception

North End Gallery (Leonardtown) – 5 p.m.

Reception to celebrate Maryland’s 375th Anniversary, with cake and refreshments. Call 301-475-3130 for more information.

Margaret Brent High School Old Gymnasium – 8 p.m.

All alumni and guests are invited. Proceeds will benefit The Alumni Association. For info or tickets call L. Pilkerton at 301-475-9049 or 301-475-8105.

First Friday in Leonardtown

Fundraiser

Leonardtown Square – 5 p.m.

Tour shops, galleries, restaurants and more, with live music, book signings, poetry readings, etc. Visit www. leonardtownfirstfridays.com for more information.

CSM Connections: Marble Mountain

CSM Leonardtown, Building A, Auditorium – 7:30 p.m.

Local author Wayne Karlin to read excerpts from his seventh novel, “Marble Mountain.” Admission $3. Call 301-934-7864 or 301-870-3008 for more information.

“The Music of Spring”

Art reflecting the sounds of Nature and Music from 5 - 8 p.m. for Leonardtown’s First Friday. Call for Entries.

301-904-2532 for info. Show is at Shelby’s Creative Custom Framing and Art located in Bldg. 2 at the MD. Antique Center, 26005 Point Lookout Rd. Leonardtown, MD 20650. Show runs March thru April.

Saturday, March 7 The Worx, DJ Rob & Full Steam p.m.

Hotel Charles (Hughesville) – 9

The Worx w/DJ Rob playing during intermissions in the Party Room.

Full Steam in the Front Bar. Cover Charge. Call 301-274-4612 for more information.

Celtic Music with Captain John

Dan Harbin & Richard Wagner

Texas Hold’Em Tournament

No Limit Texas Hold’Em “Bounty” Tournament

The Brewing Grounds Café (Leonardtown) – 6:30 p.m.

VFW Post 2632 (23282 Three Notch Road) – 7 p.m.

For more information or to preregister contact Brian: Email: poker@ vfw2632.com, Cell: 240-925-4000.

Toot’s Bar (Hollywood) – 8 p.m.

p.m.

St. Mary’s County Elk’s Lodge – 3

Call 240-925-5697 (Linda) for more information.

n O g n i o G

What’s

Rock & Roll Dance - Social

Fundraiser supporting the St. Mary’s County Juvenile Drug Court Program at the Paul Hall Center in Piney Point. Social Hour at 6 p.m., Dinner at 7 p.m. Silent Auction at 8 p.m. Dancing at 9 p.m. Cost is $35 a person For tickets contact Carl Franzen at 301-862-2222

Cheerleading Open House

Maryland Superstarz All-Star Cheerleading is holding a FREE Open House for children ages 4 – 18, from , 3 to 5 p.m. For more information please contact Lisa Shaw, co-owner, Unique Sports Academy, 109D Post Office Road, Waldorf, Maryland at 301-861-6535 or e-mail marylandsuperstarz@hotmail. Visit our web site at http://www.uniquesportsacademy. com/.

Sunday, March 8 All You Can Eat Breakfast

8 to 11 a.m. Valley Lee Fire House Valley Lee, MD $8.00 ADULTS, $4.00 CHILDREN AGES 5-12, CHILDREN UNDER 5 – FREE Sponsored (and prepared) by the 2nd District Fire Dept. & Rescue Squad Auxiliary For more information contact: Darlene Johnson at 240-434-1095.

Sundays in the Park p.m.

Knott Lodge, Greenwell State Park – 1

Register for camps, sign up for kayak lessons and trips, and learn about all the other great programs at Greenwell State Park. Visit www. greenwellfoundation.org or call 301-373-9775 for more information.

FOP-7 Poker Leader Board Challenge

FOP-7, Chancellor’s Run Road – 2 p.m.

For more info or questions contact fop7maryland.poker@gmail.com or call 301-863-6007.

Karaoke Night

Applebee’s (California) – 9 p.m.

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.

Lenten Seafood Dinners @ The Knights Of St. Jerome’s Hall Dameron, Md from now thru April 3 11 a.m.. To 7 p.m.

Dine-In Or Carry Out Orders For More Info. Call: 301-872-4566

LIBRARY ANNOUNCEMENTS Free online homework help Libraries celebrate Dr. now available Seuss’s birthday

The library now offers free online homework help daily from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. for third grade students and higher. HelpNow! Provides live expert tutors in all core subjects including AP courses. A writing lab, foreign language lab, and a skills building component are also available. This new service can be accessed by clicking on HelpNow! at www. stmalib.org. A library card is required.

Activities planned for teens

Teen Tech Week is March 8-14. Several special teen programs are scheduled. 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 Mar. 9 at Charlotte Hall, on Mar. 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.

Teen Gaming Fun is planned at Leonardtown from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Mar. 10.

Teens can challenge fellow teens to Wii and other games. Snacks will be provided. Please register for this free program.

Children of all ages will enjoy stories, activities, and songs related to Dr. Seuss when the libraries celebrate his 105th birthday on Mar. 7 at 10 a.m. at both Charlotte Hall and Leonardtown. The programs are free but registration is required.

An evening storytime for all ages will be held at 6:30 tonight at Lexington Park and tomorrow night at Charlotte Hall and Leonardtown.

The biggest Friends Book Sale ever is planned

The Friends of the Library will hold their annual book sale Mar. 13-15 in three buildings at the County Fairgrounds. The book sale will be open on Friday evening, Mar. 13, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. for Friends members only with membership 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.

Donations of good used books, audios and puzzles can be dropped off at the fairgrounds on Sat, Mar. 7 from 9 a.m. to noon, Mon, Mar. 9 through Wed, Mar. 11 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Thurs, Mar. 12 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. To volunteer to help before, during or after the sale, please contact Carol Moody at 240-725-0051

The County Times

The Merchants of Great Mills Rd Wish to thank their loyal customers for their continued support!

A

Thursday, March 5, 2009

B Midas auto & truck center MIDAS Dealer for 25 Years

21544 Great Mills Rd 1 Mile South of Gate 2 on Md. Rt 246 – Great Mills Rd.

Under New Management

March Money saving specials

301-862-9501

Call for appt or just stop in! *Please Mention Ad

• Nationwide Lifetime Warranties • Free Estimates • Competitive Prices

• Brakes • Exhaust • Maintenance • Tune – Ups • Radiators • Timing Belts • And Much More

3995

$

LIFETIME GUARANTEED BRAKE PADS OR SHOES

per axle

• Free Brake Inspection • Installation extra

Ceramic pads extra Additional parts and labor extra. Additional shop supply fee may be charged, where permitted by law. Lifetime guarantee valid for as long as you own your car. See manager for limited guarantee terms. Consumer pays all taxes. Most vehicles. Cash value 1/100th of 1¢. Coupon must be presented at time of purchase. Not good with any other offer.

Valid at participating location(s). Void if sold, copied or transferred and where prohibited by law. Expires 3/31/09.

ViP card discounts:

Additional Locations:

Reserve Your Keg

Prince Frederick

410-535-3600 Waldorf

301-862-3600 Email: countyliquors@yahoo.com 21600 Great Mills Rd.

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301-932-9366

Money Orders

Authorized

Everyday Low Price!

Tire Dealer

Where Kids Play and Parents Relax!

C

the join inexcitement

We Welcome Children Ages 10 & Under *Socks are required for all patrons in the play areas (We sell socks if you forget!)

2

Monday Closed Tues - Thurs 10am - 4pm Fri - Sat 10am - 8pm Sunday 11am - 6pm

as we celebrate our

r a e y Anniversary $

2 off

EACH CHILD ADMISSION & A BAG OF POPCORN!

Valid March 10 - 13, 2009. Canot be used with any other offer or discount.

Both Children’s & Parent’s Areas!

Entire Facility Can Be Rented for a Private Party

301-863-3388

Millison Plaza

21703-C Great Mills Rd. Lexington Park, MD 20653 (Just outside of NAS Patuxent River, Gate 2)

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St. Mary’s Square

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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”?

rs Ru R n d

Birthday Parties • Field Trips • Day Cares • Team Parties

Millison Plaza

Tulagi Place

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Thursday, March 5, 2009

Question Interview Interviewing: Harold Rugner

Harold Rugner, 36, of Mechanicsville, has been giving guitar lessons in St. Mary’s and Calvert County for the last seven years.

CT: What’s the average age of your students and what are they interested in learning?

HR: I get students of all ages. Probably the youngest now is 11, and the oldest right now that I’m teaching is in his 50s, I believe, and they all come to me for different reasons and with different interests. Of course the younger kids want to learn more rock so I give them the basics, roots and chords. I encourage them to bring in music that they like, and I find that they learn quicker and easier if they start off learning songs that they know. It seems to work a lot better than those guitar books that have people playing “Three Blind Mice” or songs like that. I think most people can agree that those books are pretty boring.

CT: What’s the most unusual song you’ve been asked to teach somebody?

HR: I had one kid who was really into death metal, and that type of stuff, like Cannibal Corpse, so I did a little research and found the tablature for a few of their songs… we slowed it down and I taught it to him…it’s not really the type of music that I like. Stuff like that really isn’t my cup of tea.

CT: So what is your cup of tea?

HR: (Laughing) Well I’m kind of a cliché. I’m into Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, and I’m into a lot of American roots music. Of course I grew up on the Beatles and the Stones, and I learned to play guitar by listening to those bands, same as a lot of other players my age.

The County Times

Newsmakers

NAACP Establishes Claudia Pickeral Scholarship

By Andrea Shiell Staff Writer On February 19, 1997, tragedy struck St. Mary’s County when 13 year-old Claudia Pickeral was attacked and murdered after exiting a school bus in the Bushwood area of the county one chilly afternoon. Years later, after many memorials, countless vigils, and a trial that dominated the local media, her family members gathered with community members and dignitaries on February 25 to sign a memorandum of understanding establishing a scholarship fund in her name.

“We believe this to be a very appropriate way to honor Claudia’s memory,” said Wayne Scriber, President of the St. Mary’s County branch of the NAACP, as he discussed the scholarship program. “Her young life ended too soon for her to realize her potential, but with the help of this scholarship she will be helping another person realize theirs,” he said.

The scholarship fund will award two $500 academic scholarships annually to deserving students who have been accepted to (or are currently attending) an accredited college, university, trade or technical school.

NAACP Vice President Rose Frederick said that the Pickeral family had been trying for two years to establish the scholarship fund. “They had collected funds for a reward at the time,” said Frederick, “but since they didn’t need that money they put it into this instead…the family was so happy when they signed the MOU, it was a really proud moment for them.”

Though the scholarship fund is starting at $500, Frederick said that various fundraisers, as well as donations from individuals, would continue growing the scholarship funds, which the St. Mary’s County Business, Education and Community Al-

Photo Courtesy of Rose Frederick

The Pickeral family met last Wednesday with local chapters of the NAACP and BECA to sign a memorandum of understanding establishing a scholarship fund to honor their daughter, Claudia, who was murdered 12 years ago in St. Mary’s County.

liance, Inc. (BECA) will help administer as long as the scholarship program exists. “We really want these funds to grow,” said Frederick, “so maybe in future years it’ll be $1,000 or more.”

Frederick said that eligibility criteria was still being worked out by local chapters of the NAACP and BECA. “We’re working those details out,” she said, “but the eligibility criteria will be announced on our webpage.”

For information on the Claudia Pickeral Scholarship, or to make donations to the scholarship fund, interested parties are encouraged to call 301-863-3011, or to visit the NAACP’s website at www.stmarysnaacp.org.

NOW OPEN! w Restuarant in the N eMexican

Charlotte Hall/Mechanicsville Area!

MEXICAN CARRY OUT

301-884-9730 301-884-9731 Locally owned & operated

28255 Three Notch Road Mechanicsville, MD 20659 HOURS Monday - Saturday 11:00 am to 9:00 pm Closed Sundays

Bienvenidos Amigos

(Welcome Friends)

The County Times

Thursday, March 5, 2009

32

A Journey Through Time The

Chronicle

Columnist Linda Reno after the Revolutionary War. is a historian and genealogist This week we’ll discuss some specializing in Southern Maryland of the early Episcopal clergy. history. Mrs. Reno is a member of Not all were saints and not all were sinners. But then that’s the St. Mary’s County Historical Society, true regardless of religious St. Mary’s County Genealogical Society, affiliation.

Charles County Genealogical Society, Reverend John Donaldson was born in Scotland prior Maryland Historical Society, and the to 1688. He came to Maryland Maryland Genealogical Society. She about 1712 and after two brief has authored many books and appointments elsewhere, he articles on local history. We hope was inducted as rector of King and Queen Parish of St. Mary’s you will enjoy these articles and County in 1715 where he would welcome your comments and serve until his death in 1748. suggestions for future In 1722, one of the English church representatives described Rev. Donaldsubjects.

By Linda Reno Contributing Writer In 1689 John Coode, Henry Jowles, John Campbell, Nehemiah Blackistone, and Ninian Beall successfully led a protestant rebellion to capture St. Mary’s City and take over Maryland’s government. All Catholics were removed from public office and the Anglican (Episcopal) Church was declared the official church of the colony. This would be the end of open worship by Catholics in Maryland until

son as “A Grand Tory and a Rake.” In Rev. Donaldson’s defense, he did receive a slightly better evaluation than Rev. James Williamson, Rector of All Saint’s Parish in Calvert County, who was described as “An Idiot and a Tory.”

Rev. William Maconchie, Rector of Port Tobacco and Durham Parishes in Charles County, seemed to have fared best of all as it was stated only that he was “A mighty stickler for the present establishment.”

In 1724 Rev. Donaldson and other local ministers were discussed in a couple of letters written by their colleague, Rev.Giles Rainsford to the Bishop of London.

Extract from a letter from Mr. Giles Rainsford, from Maryland to London dated April

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10th, 1724: “I am sorry to acquaint you, that we have among us men of our Robe of ‘most lewd & profligate lives’, men that have been presented and fined for ‘drunkeness and swearing’, & are carrying on the interest of the Devil and his Dominion with all their might, among the number of which was Mr. James Williamson, Rector of All Saints’ and Mr. John Donaldson, rector of William and Mary Parish, the former of which his own parishoners design to petition against to my Lord of London. I have a large field of discourse open before me on this melancholy subject, but must beg of you to conceal what I offer from the Bp. of London, till you hear again from me which shall be some Christ Episcopal Church, Chaptico time this summer.” ners consider him as a very bad man none of Extract from a letter from Rev. Mr. Rains- them will even yet attend Divine Service at his ford to the Secretary. Patuxent River, Mary- Church” land, August 16th, 1724: Rev. Richard Brown was the son of Dr. “Mr. Williamson is grown notorious and Gustavus Brown, born April 10, 1689 in consummate in villainy. He is really an origi- Dalkeith, Scotland. Dr. Brown is said to have nal for drinking and swearing. His own paris- arrived in Maryland in 1708 aboard one of the honers design to petition my Lord of London King’s vessels, upon which he was a surgeon on the occasion and a presbyterian minister is or surgeon’s mate, and that he came ashore and now gathering a congregation out of the disaf- was stranded because of a severe storm and defected part of his flock. Mr. Donaldson is so cided to stay. Many years later, Dr. Brown sent vile that the other day, being sent for to a dying his eldest son Richard to Edinburgh, Scotland person, came drunk, and the poor dying soul, to finish his theological education and “while seeing his hopeful parson in that condition, there he[Richard] was forced into the ranks refused the Sacrament at his hands, and died of Prince Charles, the Pretender; captured at without it. He’s notorious for lying and sins of the battle of Culloden, he was condemned to be the first magnitude. His own people can best shot, but escaped by proving himself of Ameridescribe him. Mr. Mackonchie is a mere nui- can birth, and one forced into service.” sance and makes the church stink. He fights and drinks on all occasions and as I am told, alienas permolet uxores.” [forces his attentions on the wives of others].

Regardless of what Rev. Mr. Rainsford may have reported, these men were never removed from their posts and either they or their children married into some of the best families in Southern Maryland. And, as far as we know, none of them ever approached the level of Rev. Richard Brown, Rev. Donaldson’s successor. In 1773, he was forced to resign by his parishioners for several reasons, including murder.

Rev. Richard Brown had been “lately accused of murdering one of his Slaves & actually fled thereupon to Virginia where he remained Last week we mistakenly omitted acknowledging several Months till his Son, Mr. Michael J. Deas, the artist of this beautiful portrait who could be the only posiwho also granted permission for its use. tive Witness against him Our apologies. could be ship’t away thence to Scotland ... his Parishio-

33

Thursday, March 5, 2009

&

Recreation Parks The County Times

Skilled Volunteers Needed for Annual Rebuilding Day

By Sean Rice Staff Writer

Christmas in April is right around the corner, and volunteers with carpentry skills are needed to make this 19th annual National Rebuilding Day in St. Mary’s County a success.

“We’re going to need a lot of skilled people this year,” said Mary Ann Chasen, executive director of Christmas in April St. Mary’s County.

“We’ve never done so many roof jobs before.”

Chasen works with program organizers and board members all year preparing for the rebuilding day, which is April 25 this year, soliciting funds and preparing a list of worthy recipients.

A total of 22 homes are on the list to receive much-needed repairs and upgrades, from roofs and windows to wheelchair ramps and weatherization.

Christmas is April is a local chapter of the national organization Rebuilding Together, which is focused on improving accessibility and mobility for low income, elderly homeowners.

“When we first started when didn’t take on many heavy-duty repairs, maybe we did six roofs … now on the homes we’re doing a lot more intense repairs,” Chasen said.

Volunteers are needed, 14 and older, who are skilled in carpentry, electrical work, heating and cooling and other fields.

Chasen seeks out grant funding each year to support the program, and this year she attained a $7,500 grant from the “Heroes at Home” program funded by Sears Holding Corporation.

The funds are going toward repairs for an 85year-old widow of a veteran who served in WWII, Korea and Vietnam. Her home has a list of repairs needed, including a new lift chair to take her upstairs where her only bathroom is located.

There are also funds in the federal budget secured by Congressman Steny Hoyer (D. Md 5th) for the Rebuilding Together program in Southern Maryland.

Chasen was not certain how much of the $285,000 line item is earmarked for St. Mary’s County projects, and representatives with Hoyer’s office did not return calls for comment on the program this week.

“If we are going to get some of that, well that’s wonderful,” Chasen said of the earmarked funds secured by Congressman Hoyer.

Persons interested in volunteers for the rebuilding day can contact Chasen at 301.863.2905.

Submitted Photo

Volunteers with the St. Mary’s County Christmas in April program make much needed repairs.

The County Times

Registration Open for Adult Indoor Soccer

Tennis League Seeks Players United States Tennis Association (USTA) is 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 2 months and are held on 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 Sundays (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.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Residents of St. Mary’s County are invited to register for Adult Indoor Soccer.

Ages: 18 and up Registration Dates: Thursdays, March 5 and 12 · Location: Leonard Hall Recreation Center · Time: 7 – 9 p.m.

$550 per team with shirts; $490 per team without shirts; $55 per individual · Cost: Game Dates:

· · ·

Time: Location: Information:

Co-Ed Competitive – Thursdays Co-Ed Recreational – Thursdays Men’s Competitive – Tuesdays Men’s Recreational – Tuesdays Women’s 16 & up – Tuesdays 6 – 10:30 p.m.

Leonard Hall Recreation Center, Leonardtown Kenny Sothoron at 301-475-1800 ext. 1830

Additional Registration Information 1. Mail in registrations will be accepted from March 5 – March 12.

2. Mail to: Recreation & Parks, P.O. Box 653, Leonardtown, MD 20650. Any registrations received after March 12 risk being placed on a waiting list and/or not being assigned to a team.

3. You may download a form from http://www.co.saint-marys.md.us/recreate/Forms/FormD.pdf .

4. You may also call 301-475-4200 ext 1800 to have one sent to you.

34

Pax River Silver Stars Try-Outs Coming up The Pax River Silver Stars AAU basketball team will have try-outs for both 15 and Under and 16 and Under girls’ basketball teams March 8 in the Carver Recreation Center in Lexington Park. The tryouts will run from 2 – 4 p.m. and the try-out fee is $14, the price of an AAU membership. For More information, please contact Savannah Webb at 301-737-1792 or via e-mail at savweb@msn.com.

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 301-904-1654 or diam.jim@gmail.com

Sp rts High School Basketball 35

The County Times

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Knights Tame Lions Before Losing To DeMatha

By Chris Stevens Staff Writer The St. Mary’s Ryken boys’ basketball team had a season of ups and downs, but their home schedule ended on a more positive note.

Led by Gokhan Sirin’s 27 points and Gorkem Sonmez’s 17, the eighth-seeded Knights refused to see their season end on their home floor, pounding number nine seed Archbishop Carroll 73-51 Feb. 26th in a Washington Catholic Conference play-in game.

“I think the guys were too psyched up early on, but we came out great, this was close to a complete game for us,” said head coach Dave Tallman.

The Knights were never as seriously challenged as Sirin and Sonmez, the two Turkish transfer students who dominated the overmatched Lions with deft outside shooting and strong finishes around the basket.

“When those two are on,” senior guard R.J. Buck said,

“we’re almost unstoppable.”

Sirin capped a huge first half with a three-pointer from the top of the key that finished off a 27-6 second quarter run to give Ryken an 18-point cushion at the half.

Not to be outdone, Sonmez caught a fullcourt pass from Kai Smith and nailed a three-pointer at the end of the third period for a 58-35 Ryken lead.

“Those two are gym rats, we’ve been waiting for a night where they both were on,” Tallman said. “It happened tonight.”

The Knights avoided a repeat of last year, when St. John’s held them scoreless in overtime on their way to a 43-35 play-in victory, and Buck, the team leader, wanted to make sure there would be no similar occurrences in 2009.

“This win was good for the program and it was good for the team to come out focused and get the win,” Buck said. “This

was my last time playing in this gym, I have a lot of great memories and I wanted to go out with a win.”

Saturday afternoon at Gallaudet University, the Knights would come up against DeMatha Catholic, one of the more storied basketball programs in the country (“We know we’re going to have our hands full,” Tallman said Thursday evening) and would not be intimidated.

Going into the fourth quarter, Ryken trailed by one point (33-32), but the second-seeded Stags advanced to the WCAC semi-finals with a 22-10 fourth quarter scoring edge, winning the game 55-42. The Knights got balanced scoring as three players – Smith, Sirin and Sonmez – scored eight points while Kamaron Barker, Traveon Graham, Elijah Matthews and Buck added six, five, four and three points respectively.

Photo By Frank Marquart The Knights ended their season with St. Mary’s Ryken’s Gorkem Sonmez fires a pass over Carroll’s a record of 12-17.

Stephane Manga.

Ryken Girls Scare Holy Cross Before Falling

By Chris Stevens Staff Writer

Photo By Frank Marquart

The Knights’ Kai Smith is fouled on a lay-up attempt by the Lions’ Darrin Robinson in the first half of Thursday’s game.

WASHINGTON – The right mix of youth and experience was almost enough for the St. Mary’s Ryken girls’ basketball team in their Washington Catholic Athletic Conference quarterfinal game Saturday afternoon.

However, the Academy of Holy Cross used their own overwhelming experience to their advantage and outlasted the Knights 5849 at Gonzaga College High School, advancing to the WCAC semi-finals.

The Knights advanced to Saturday’s showdown by pounding 10th seed Bishop Ireton 57-30 Feb. 26 at home.

“I thought we gave a great effort and we matched up well with them,” said head coach Tara Everly. “We just couldn’t get in sync and we couldn’t finish.”

The seventh-seeded Knights, who finished their season at 9-15, were led by senior forward Erin Leddy’s 16 points and played the second-seeded Tartans tough for three and a half quarters. Ryken also got 11 points from Katie McCormick and nine from Diana Logan in the losing effort.

“They played with more intensity than we did in that quarter,” Leddy said of the 14-4 run the Tarts went on to close the game out. “We had Photo By Frank Marquart some bad passes and we just didn’t make Erin Leddy’s 16 points almost lifted Ryken to an upset, but shots.”

In the early going, Ryken surprised the Knights fell to Holy Cross 58-49 Saturday.

“We’ve never made it past this round, so hopefully Holy Cross with an evenly-played first quarter, capped by Molly Grund’s three-pointer in the cor- we can do that,” said Hunter, who will be a junior next ner with seven seconds to go that gave the Knights a season. “This is definitely motivation for us.”

Leddy, who played her last basketball game as 14-11 lead. Holy Cross fought back to take a three-point advantage (26-23) at intermission, but the determined a Knight, looked back on the experience with fond memories.

Knights kept coming.

“It has been a bumpy ride since freshman year, but McCormick’s three-pointer from the left corner three minutes into the fourth gave Ryken its last lead at it’s one of the best memories I have, I love all of my 45-44, but led by 18 points from Tyonna Williams and teammates,” she said of her four years on varsity and 12 from Natasha Thames, the Tarts forced eight turn- her close bond with the girls she has played with.

“I think we grew together as a team this season, overs in the final minutes and advanced to the semifinals, a round Knights guard Zakiya Chambers-Hunter and I’m happy with the way the girls played today,” Everly added. hopes her team has the talent to see next year.

Sp rts

The County Times

36

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Honey has been used both as a centre for golf balls and in antifreeze mixtures.

un Fact

Fro

he T m

SPORTS DESK Snow Snow, If the four of the five teams (Chopticon Go Away and Great Mills squared off in the girls’ tour-

By Chris Stevens Staff Writer Coming from Northern Delaware, bordering on Pennsylvania and New Jersey, I’m all too familiar with snowstorms and bitter temperatures like what hit St. Mary’s County earlier this week.

So much so, that when I went outside to clean the white stuff off my car Monday morning, I did so without a jacket, hat or gloves, and my neighbors, who were bundled up to the max while either cleaning off their own cars or watching their kids run around, cast a glance at me as though I should be in rehab for substance abuse.

Such is life in a place where winters, from what I’ve been told, are relatively calm, and that is why the boys and girls basketball playoffs have been delayed until Wednesday night – no school means no games of course. That could be a bit of a problem for the St. Mary’s County Public School teams who were fortunate enough to earn first-round byes in their respective regions.

When the regional quarterfinal games finally tipped off Wednesday night, the Chopticon boys and Great Mills girls basketball teams (both Number Three seeds in the Class 3A South Region) had not seen game action in a week, while the Leonardtown girls (third seed in the 4A East region) did not a play a game for two weeks in between. That kind of layoff in a game that relies on tempo and a fast start like basketball can be dangerous for a team that’s trying to shake off the rust from not having held practices, let alone a game for a week or more.

ney Wednesday night) from the county are still standing come Thursday morning, the Maryland Public Secondary School Athletic Association (whew, that’s a lot to say and type) will send them to their next destination THAT night.

In order to keep the state semi-finals on schedule at Maryland-College Park (boys) and Maryland-Baltimore County (girls), the regional playoff games will be played on consecutive nights until the March 12 semi-finals, which potentially means a three games in three nights gauntlet is being thrown at any team across the state that has championship round aspirations.

Now, I’m sure many are thinking “what is three games in three nights? It’s not that bad.”

Well, considering the local teams will more than likely battle opponents from other parts of the state (not exactly regular opponents), you have no time to practice or prepare for a foreign opponent, and with that type of circumstance, you can get caught slipping easy and start the spring sports season quicker than you anticipated.

Mother Nature has a good sense of humor about this sort of thing. Due to the region being hit so hard by snow, a lot of basketball playoffs will be delayed some days, with most state championships being decided about the middle of the month. So while the snow has become a nuisenance for us non-athletes, the basketball players will get a true taste of March Madness. For that, we can let Mother Nature slide – just this once.

Any comments about this week’s From The Sports Desk? Contact Chris Stevens at chrisstevens@countytimes.net and share your thoughts about this week’s column.

High School Sports Schedule 03/05/09-03/11/09 Friday March 6 Wrestling MPSSAA Wrestling State Tournament at University of Maryland-College Park

Saturday March 7 Wrestling MPSSAA Wrestling State Tournament at University of Maryland-College Park

Great Mills Swimming Pool Announces Aqua Aerobics Classes The Great Mills Swimming Pool has announced the addition of two new Aqua Aerobics classes. Beginning March 2 there will be a “Wake-up Workout” class from 6 – 7 a.m. offered Mondays and Wednesdays. For those interested in jumpstarting their day, why not try this aqua aerobics program? The benefits are numerous from cardiovascular benefits, to meeting new friends, to even starting a new lifestyle. Call 301-866-6560 for more information or drop by in person. The pool is located right next to Great Mills High School on Great Mills road.

More information about all of the programs at the Great Mills Pool is available at http://www.stmarysmd.com/recreate/facilities/swimmingpool.asp

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

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The County Times

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Sp rts St. Mary’s Sweeps Mary Washington

The County Times

Thursday, March 5, 2009

38

St. Mary’s College SMC Women’s Lacrosse Scoring For Breast Cancer on Saturday

St. Mary’s City Fredericksburg, Va. – Since 2000, the St. Mary’s College of – “Support the Seahawks Maryland baseball team has never swept the University of Mary and breast cancer reWashington in any given season as the Eagles owned an 18-5 research!” says St. Mary’s cord during the eight-year span.

College of Maryland However, the Seahawks swept Mary Washington in the Feb. women’s lacrosse head 28 doubleheader to complete the three-game series sweep, as St. coach Kara Reber.

Mary’s picked up an 18-2 victory in a single game Feb. 25.

The women’s lacrosse The Seahawks (9-3, 3-0 CAC) scored five runs in the sixth inteam will hold its inauguning and the game-winner in the seventh to overcome a 5-0 deficit ral Breast Cancer Awareen route to their 6-5 victory in the first game. St. Mary’s followed ness lacrosse game against up with a 6-4 win in the nightcap, with three runs in the sixth to McDaniel College March erase Mary Washington’s 4-3 lead.

7 at 1 p.m. in the Seahawk Freshman closer Matt Siciliano (Ardmore, Pa./Lower Merion) Stadium at SMCM. The recorded two saves to bring his season total to four. game will be played in reIn the first game, freshman RHP Eric Gronbeck (Owings, membrance of Christine Md./Northern) pitched just 1.0 inning to pick up the first collegiate A. DeWitt, of Frederick. win of his career, facing four batters with one walk.

DeWitt was the mothMary Washington (3-3, 0-3 CAC) rushed out a 5-0 lead after er of a player coached by three innings as the Eagles scored four runs on four hits and one Reber, who lost her life Seahawk error. to breast cancer last year.

The Seahawks capitalized on three UMW errors and connectThe lacrosse team will coled on six hits, including three doubles, as the visitors exploded for lect donations for “Climb six runs in the final two innings of the first half of the twin bill. for Hope,” a division of This week’s Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) Player-of-thebreast cancer research that Week, senior Andrew Cox (Orlando, Fla.) suffered his first loss of DeWitt supported. They the season, pitching the complete game, allowing six runs (only aim to raise over $3,000. two earned) on eight hits with five strikeouts and four walks.

Cash donations are also The pitching victory in the second game went to the aptly welcome. For more infornamed freshman RHP Mike Victory (Westford, Mass./Westford Photo Courtesy of SMCM mation about the game and Academy) (2-0), who threw 4.0 innings of relief allowing one run activities, contact Reber at The St. Mary’s College of Maryland’s women’s lacrosse team will raise money for breast cancer on two hits.

240-895-3304 or klreber@ research during the March 7th game against McDaniel College at SMCM. The contest was tied 3-3 after the first inning before the Eagles smcm.edu. broke the deadlock with a run in the fifth as junior Will Wright (St. “Climb for Hope” was organized tion has raised over $550,000 for a vac- dress some of the most aggressive Louis, Mo.) singled to score junior Seamus Bergen (Fredericksto raise and channel funds toward tar- cine being developed at Johns Hopkins and lethal forms of breast cancer, but burg, Va.) who lead off the inning wit ha single to center field. geted and promising research in the University by Dr. Leisha Emens. This the research is expected to promote St. Mary’s three runs in the sixth resulted from junior centerfight against breast cancer. Its mission research will one day allow patients to treatment advances for many forms of fielder Jacen Killebrew’s (La Plata, Md./La Plata) walk with bases is to find a viable treatment for breast successfully battle the disease using cancer.

For more information on a specialized vaccine in conjunction loaded and senior third baseman Blake Beaudoin’s (Damascus, cancer within the next three years.

“Climb for Hope,” visit www.climbwith lower doses of chemotherapy.

Md./Damascus) two-run double down the right field line.

In the past two years, the organizaNot only does the vaccine ad- forhope.com.

Senior RHP Wes Hayden (Burlington, Vt./Burr & Burton Academy) took the loss for the Eagles as Hayden (1-1) threw a complete game and gave up six runs on 10 hits with six strikeouts and four walks.

Sophomore shortstop Matt Baden (Sunderland, Md./Huntingtown) led the Seahawk offense on the day with a 4-for-7 effort at the plate, including a triple, two runs and an RBI, while sophomore DH Brad Potomac, Md. – Five goals in the fourth quar- third period with his first tally of the season. Junior attackShepherd ter propelled the St. Mary’s College of Mary- man Chris Dodson (Bethesda, Md./Landon) brought the (Columbia, land men’s lacrosse team to a dominant 9-2 Red Devils within 4-2 at 7:35 as Dodson completed a feed Md./Oakvictory over Dickinson College in non-con- from junior defenseman Chris Breslin (Garden City, N.Y./ land Mills) ference action Saturday afternoon at the Bul- Garden City). went 3lis School.

St. Mary’s exploded for five unanswered goals in the BALTIMORE (AP) _ The Orioles want fans to celebrate their for-3 with Sophomore attackmen Dennis Rosson fourth stanza as Burns and Rosson both scored a pair, while birthdays at Camden Yards _ so much so that they’re giving away a double, (Severna Park, Md./Severn) and Sam Burns Alexander assisted on three of them. Freshman middie Billy free tickets. a run and (Potomac, Md./T.S. Wootton) along with Scheurer (Telford, Pa./Souderton Area) netted the final goal The team announced Tuesday that any fan can get a free ticket an RBI. sophomore midfielder Chris Morihlatko of the game at 3:06 for his first collegiate goal. to a game during the month of his or her birthday _ unless the Ori(Arnold, Md./Broadneck) each scored two St. Mary’s edged the Red Devils, 36-33, but Dickinson oles are playing the Yankees or Red Sox. New York and Boston are goals to lead the Seahawk offense. posted a 29-25 margin in ground balls. the only opponents that have consistently drawn sellout crowds to St. Mary’s (1-1) went ahead 2-0 after the Senior face-off specialist Marc DiPasquale (Fallston, Camden Yards in recent years. first 15 minutes as Morihlatko found the back Md./Boys’ Latin) won 8-of-15 face-offs to give the SeThe tickets being given away are for seats in the upper of the net with a pair of unassisted goals. ahawks the edge. part of the third deck, which cost $8 to $15.

The Seahawks took a 3-1 lead into halfSophomore Pat Simpson (Arnold, Md./Broadneck) reFans can register their birthdays online at time as sophomore attackman Chris Becraft corded 20 saves, including eight in the second period, and orioles.com/birthdays and receive a voucher for a free (Rockville, Md./Good Counsel) scored for St. scooped up a game-high four ground balls in lifting St. birthday ticket. People with birthdays from January Mary’s at 11:08. Senior middie Clark Appleby Mary’s to the win. Senior Russell Matthews (Chestertown, through March can get a ticket to an April (Chevy Chase, Md./Bullis) helped Dickinson (1-1) Md./Kent County) turned away 13 shots in the loss. game, and those born between October avoid the shutout with an unassisted goal at 8:12.

St. Mary’s will return to action March 7 when the Seand December can go to a Junior captain Ryan Alexander (Laurel, Md./Pallotti) ahawks take on No. 9 Roanoke College in non-conference September game. gave the Seahawks a three-goal cushion 1:42 to start the action at 2 p.m. in Salem, Va.

Orioles To Give Fans Free Birthday Tickets

Seahawks Men’s Lacrosse Blows by Dickinson, 9-2

39

Thursday, March 5, 2009

The County Times

Sp rts

Leonardtown Athlete Chooses Towson for College

Photo Courtesy of Hank Evitts

Surrounded by her mother Eleanor, father Barry, and various Leonardtown high school coaches and administrators, Alex Evitts signs her letter of intent to play women’s soccer at Towson University.

By Chris Stevens Staff Writer Originally, Alex Evitts was not focused on playing NCAA Division I women’s soccer until after the Leonardtown girls’ soccer team wrapped up their second state title in three seasons this past November. “[It] wasn’t really on my mind till late last year after our season was over; so my options became very limited by the time I made my mind up to switch my decision,” Evitts admitted.

Still, Towson University offered her a scholarship to play soccer and attend school there, and Evitts signed her letter of intent last month to seal the deal.

Evitts, a defensive standout on the Raiders’ Class 4A State Championship team and a standout indoor track athlete, admits that Towson wasn’t her first choice, but the offer of a scholarship and a chance to stay close to home were too great to ignore.

“My scholarship made the choice easier. I want to play college soccer and Towson seems to be the best fit for me,” she said. “I know I am truly blessed for this opportunity and can’t wait for my new experiences next year.”

Evitts will see at least one familiar face at Towson - her Raider teammate Southern Maryland Athletic Conference player of the

year Emily Gehrig will suit up for the Lady Tigers as well in the fall.

Evitts says her ideas of what her major will be in college “change every week. I was considering anything from business to physical therapy. It took me so long to pick a college I haven’t even thought about majors till recently.”

A soccer player since the age of five, Evitts credits the game and sports as a whole for her athletic and social development, helping her get to the point of accepting a scholarship to college.

“Sports have prepared me for the next chapter in my life in so many ways. In the biggest way it is helping me pay for college to help… set myself up,” she said. “High school sports have prepared me for collegiate level athletics, plus they have taught me leadership and teamwork that can help me in all aspects of my life.”

The memories from high school that she plans to keep with her even while in college are the championship successes of the Raider girls’ soccer team and the friendships that formed while they were on their bountiful journey.

“I love how close we all become during the season and it is the best feeling accomplishing such a big thing with some of your best friends,” Evitts said.

Ryken

THURSDAY

Dunks Carroll MARCH 5, 2009

Page 35

Knights Tame Lions Story Page 35

NAACP Establishes New Scholarship Story Page 31

Father Pleads Guilty To Child Abuse Story Page 14

Photo By Frank Marquart